Our big men am tired to def dat Massa Reade stop do men from havin' a little liquor and playin' cairds evenin's." "Fine!" thought Tom, with a start.

"If Sambo knew how close I am he'd carry out his orders right now! He has his pistol with him." "An' den, if dey's any fuss made," the black went on, "Misto Hazelton, he done gottah go nex'.

Maybe Ah get cotch' w'en I do fo' Misto Reade.

Ef dat happen, den dere's anodder man ready to do fo' Misto Hazelton." "And maybe the second man will get caught, too," suggested Evarts.

"Then there'll be two of you with nooses around your necks." "We maybe get cotch', an' put in de jail," smirked Sambo Ebony, "but doan' yo' beliebe nothin' worse happen.