Which way did you come, Shocky ?" "Why, I tried to come down the holler, but I met Jones right by the big road, and he sweared at me and said he'd kill me ef I didn't go back and stay.

And so I went back to the house and then slipped out through the graveyard.

You see I was bound to come ef I got skinned.

For Mrs Pearson's, stuck to me and I mean to stick to him, you see." Bud led Shocky through the graveyard.

But when they reached the forest path from the graveyard he thought that perhaps it was not best to "show his hand," as he expressed it, too soon.
"Now, Shocky," he said, "do you run ahead and tell the ole man that I want to see him right off down by the Spring-in-rock.