of his little finger for a pen. Then he showed Huckleberry how to make an H and an F, and the oath was complete. They buried the shingle close to the wall, with some dismal ceremonies and incantations, and the fetters that bound their tongues were considered to be locked and the key thrown away.A figure crept stealthily through a break in the other end of the ruined building, now, but they did not notice it."Tom," whispered Huckleberry, "does this keep us from ever telling -- always?""Of course it does. It don't make any difference what happens, we got to keep mum. We'd drop down dead -- don't you know that?""Yes, I reckon that's so."They continued to whisper for some little time. presently a dog set up a long, lugubrious howl just outside -- within ten feet of them. The boys clasped each other suddenly, in an agony of fright."Which of us does he mean?" gasped Huckleberry."I dono -- peep through the crack. Quick!""No, you, Tom!""I can't -- I can't do it, Huck!""please, Tom. There 'tis again!""Oh, lordy, I'm thankful!" whispered Tom. "I know his voice. It's Bull Harbison."*[* If Mr. Harbison owned a slave named Bull, Tom would have spoken of him as "Harbison's Bull," but a son or a dog of that name was "Bull Harbison."]"Oh, that's good -- I tell you, Tom, I was most scared to death; I'd a bet anything it was a stray dog."The dog howled again. The boys' hearts sank once more."Oh, my! that ain't no Bull Harbison!" whispered Huckleberry. "do, Tom!"Tom, quaking with fear, yielded, and put his eye to the crack. His whisper was hardly audible when he said:"Oh, Huck, it's a stray dog!""Quick, Tom, quick! Who does he mean?""Huck, he must mean us both -- we're right together.""Oh, Tom, I reckon we're goners. I reckon there ain't no mistake 'bout where I'll go to. I been so wicked.""Dad fetch it! This comes of playing hookey and doing everything a feller's told not to do. I might a been good, like Sid, if I'd a tried -- but no, I wouldn't, of course. But if ever I get off this
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