BeforewereachedtheDeams’Iwishedthatwehadcarriedthemasmothertoldus，forwehadlostthree，andifwestoppedtohuntthem，morewouldhide。BythetimewedrovethemunderthefloodgatecrossingthecreekbetweenourlandandtheDeams’fourweregone。LeonleftmeonthegatewithbothswitchestokeepthemfromgoingbackandherantocallMrs。Deam。Shehadredhairandahottemper，andwewerenotveryanxioustoseeher，butwehadtodoit。WhileLeonwasgoneIwasthinkingprettyfastandIknewexactlyhowthingswouldhappen。FirsttimemothersawMrs。Deamshewouldaskheriftheduckswereallright，andshewouldtellthatfourweregone。Motherwouldaskhowmanyshehad，andshewouldsaytwelve，thenmotherwouldrememberthatshestarteduswithtwelveinthebasket——Ohwhat’stheuse！Somethinghadtobedone。Ithadtobedonequicklytoo，forIcouldhearAmandaDeam，herboySammyandLeoncomingacrossthebarnyard。Ilookedaroundindespair，butwhenthingsaretheveryworst，thereisalmostalwayssomewayout。
Onthedrystrawworkedbetweenandpushingagainstthepanelsofthefloodgate，notfarfromme，Isawabigblackwatersnake。I
tookonegoodlookatit：nocopperyhead，nogeometrypatterns，norattlebox，soIknewitwasn’tpoisonousandwouldn’tbiteuntilitwashurt，andifitdid，allyouhadtodowastosucktheplace，anditwouldn’tamounttomorethantwolittlepricksasifpinshadstuckyou；butabigsnakewasagoodexcuse。I
rolledfromthefloodgateamongtheducks，andcried，“Snake！“
Theyscatteredeverywhere。Thesnakelazilyuncoiledandslidacrossthestrawsoslowlythat——thankgoodness！AmandaDeamgotafairlookatit。Sheimmediatelybegantojumpupanddownandscream。Leongrabbedastickandcamerunningtothewater。I
criedsohehadtohelpmeoutfirst。
“Don’tlethercountthem！“Iwhispered。
Leongavemeoneswiftlookandallthemischiefinhisblueeyespeepedout。Hewasthefunniestboyyoueverknew，anyway。
Mostlyhelookedscowlyandabused。Hehadagrievanceagainsteverybodyandeverything。Hesaidnoneofuslikedhim，andweimposedonhim。FathersaidthatifhetannedLeon’sjacketforanything，andsethimdowntothinkitover，hewouldpoutawhile，thenhewouldlookthoughtful，suddenlyhisfacewouldlightupandhewouldgoawaysparkling；andyoucoulddependuponithewoulddothesamethingover，orsomethingworse，insideanhour。Whenhewantedto，hecouldsmilethemostwinningsmile，andhecouldcoaxyouintoanything。Mothersaidshedreadedtohavetoborrowadimefromhim，ifapeddlercaughtherwithoutchange，becausesheknewshe’dbekeptpayingitbackforthenextsixmonths。Rightnowhewasthebusiestkindofaboy。
“Whereisit？Letmegetagoodlickatit！Don’tscaretheducks！“hewouldcry，andchasethemfromonebanktotheother，whileAmandadancedandfoughtimaginarysnakes。Forawomanwhohadseenasmanyasshemusthaveinherlife，itwastoofunny。
Idon’tthinkIcouldlaughharder，orLeonandSammy。Weenjoyedourselvessomuchthatatlastshebegantobeangry。
Shequitdancing，andcommencedhuntingducks，forsure。Sheheldherskirtshigh，pokedalongthebanks，jumpedthecreekanddidn’talwaysgetclearacross。Herhairshookdown，shelostasidecomb，andshecouldn’tfindhalftheducks。
“Youyoungunspackrightoutofhere，“shesaid。“MeandSammycangetthembetterourselves，andifwedon’tfindallofthem，we’llknowwheretheyare。“
“Wehaven’tgotanyofyourducks，“Isaidangrily，butLeonsmiledhismostangelicsmile，anditseemedasifheweregoingtocry。
“Ofcourse，ifyouwanttoaccusemotherofstealingyourducks，youcan，“hesaidplaintively，“butIshouldthinkyou’dbeashamedtodoit，afterallthetroublewetooktocatchthembeforetheyswamtotheriver，whereyouneverwouldhavefoundoneofthem。Comeon，LittleSister，let’sgohome。“
HestartedandIfollowed。Assoonaswegotaroundthebendwesatonthebank，hungourfeetinthewater，leanedagainsteachotherandlaughed。Wejustlaughedourselvesalmostsick。WhenAmanda’sfacegotfirered，andherhaircamedown，andshejumpedanddidn’tgoquiteover，shelookedaperfectfright。
“Willsheeverfindallofthem？“Iaskedatlast。
“Ofcourse，“saidLeon。“Shewillcombthegrassandstrainthewateruntilshegetseveryone。“
“Hoo-hoo！“
IlookedatLeon。Hewassointentlywatchinganoldturkeybuzzardhangingintheair，heneverheardthecallthatmeantitwastimeforustobehomeandcleaningupforSunday。Itwasdifficulttohurry，forafterwehadbeensoapedandscoured，wehadtositonthebackstepsandcommittomemoryversesfromtheBible。Atlastwewadedtowardhome。Twooftheduckswehadlostswambeforeusalltheway，soweknewtheywerealive，andalltheyneededwasfinding。
“Ifshehadn’taccusedmotherofstealingheroldducks，I’dcatchthoseandcarrythembacktoher，“saidLeon。“Butsinceshethinkswearesomean，I’lljustletherandlittleSammyfindthem。“
Thenweheardtheirvoicesastheycamedownthecreek，soLeonreachedmehishandandwescamperedacrossthewaterandmeadow，neverstoppinguntilwesatonthetoprailofourbackorchardfence。Thereweheardanothercall，butthatwasonlytwo。Wesatthere，restedandlookedatthegreenapplesaboveourheads，wishingtheywereripe，andtalkingabouttheducks。WecouldseeMrs。DeamandSammycomingdownthecreek，oneoneachside。
Weslidfromthefenceandranintoaqueerhollowthatwascutintothehillbetweenthenever-failandtheBaldwinappletrees。
Thathollowwasovergrownwithweeds，andfulloftrimmingsfromtrees，stumps，everythingthatnoonewantedanyplaceelseintheorchard。Itwastheonlyunkeptspotonourland，andI
alwayswonderedwhyfatherdidn’tcleanitoutandmakeitlookrespectable。IsaidsotoLeonaswecrouchedtherewatchingdownthehillwhereMrs。DeamandSammyhuntedduckswithnotsuchverygrandsuccess。Theyseemedtohavesomanytheycouldn’tdecidewhethertogobackorgoon，sotheymusthavefoundmostofthem。
“YouknowI’vealwayshadmysuspicionsaboutthisplace，“saidLeon。“Thereissomewhereonourlandthatpeoplecanbehiddenforalongtime。Icanrememberwellenoughbeforethewareversolong，andwhileitwasgoingworst，wewouldfindthewagoncoveredwithmoremudinthemorningthanhadbeenonitatnight；andthehorseswouldbesplashedandtired。OnceIwasawakeinthenightandheardvoices。Itmademewantadrink，soIwentdownstairsforit，andranrightintothebiggest，blackestmanwhoevergrew。Iffatherandmotherhadn’tbeenthereI’dhavebeenscaredintofits。Nextmorninghewasgoneandtherewasn’tawhisper。FathersaidI’dhadbaddreams。
Thatnightthehorsesmadeanothermysterioustrip。Nowwheredidtheykeeptheblackmanallthatday？“
“Whatdidtheyhaveablackmanfor？“
“TheywerehelpinghimrunawayfromslaverytobefreeinCanada。Itwasallright。I’dhavedonethesamething。Theyhelpedalot。FatherwasafriendoftheGovernor。Therewerelettersfromhim，andtherewassomegoodreasonwhyfatherstayedathome，whenhewascrazyaboutthewar。IthinkthisfarmwaswhattheycalledanUndergroundStation。WhatIwanttoknowiswherethestationwas。“
“Maybeit’shere。Let’shunt，“Isaid。“Iftheblackmenwereheresometime，theywouldhavetobefed，andthisisnotfarfromthehouse。“
Sowetooklongsticksandbeganpokingintotheweeds。Thenwemovedthebrush，andsureasyoulive，wefoundanolddoorwithabigstoneagainstit。IlookedatLeonandhelookedatme。
“Hoo-hoo！“camemother’svoice，andthatwasthethirdcall。
“Hum！Mustbeforus，“saidLeon。“Webettergoassoonaswegetalittledryer。“
Hesliddownthebankononeside，andIontheother，andwepushedatthestone。Ithoughtweneverwouldgetitrolledawaysowecouldopenthedooracrack，butwhenwedidwhatwesawwasmostsurprising。Therewasalittleroom，dreadfullysmall。
butaroom。Therewasstrawscatteredoverthefloor，verydeepononeside，whereanoldblanketshowedthatithadbeenabed。
Acrosstheendtherewasashelf。Onitwasacandlestick，withahalf-burnedcandleinit，apiepanwithsomemouldycrumbs，crusts，bonesinit，andatincan。Leonpickedupthecanandlookedin。Icouldseetoo。
Ithadbeenusedforwaterorcoffee，astheplatehadforfood，once，butnowitwasstuffedfullofmoney。IsawLeonpullsomeoutandthenshoveitback，andhecametothedoorwhiteascouldbe，shutitbehindhimandbegantopushatthestone。
Whenwegotitinplaceweputthebrushoverit，andfixedeverythinglikeithadbeen。
AtlastLeonsaid：“That’sthetimewegotintosomethingnotintendedforus，andiffatherfindsitout，weareinforagoodthrashing。Areyoujustablubberingbaby，orareyoubigenoughtokeepstill？“
“IamoldenoughthatIcouldhavegonetoschooltwoyearsago，andIwon’ttell！“Isaidstoutly。
“Allright！Comeonthen，“saidLeon。“Idon’tknowbutmotherhasbeencallingus。“
Westarteduptheorchardpathatthefourthcall。
“Hoo-hoo！“answeredLeoninasicklittlevoicetomakeitsoundfaraway。MusthavemademotherthinkwewereonDeams’hill。
Thenwewentonsidebyside。
“SayLeon，youfoundtheStation，didn’tyou？“
“Don’ttalkaboutit！“snappedLeon。
Ichangedthesubject“Whosemoneydoyousupposethatis？“
“Ohcrackey！Youcandependonagirltoseeeverything，“
groanedLeon。“Doyouthinkyou’llbeabletostandtheswitchingthatjobwillbringyou，withoutgettingsickinbed？“
NowIneverhadbeensickinbed，andfromwhatIhadseenofotherpeoplewhowere，Ineverwantedtobe。Theideaofbeingswitcheduntilitmademesickwastoomuchforme。IshutmymouthtightandIneveropeneditabouttheStationplace。Aswereachedthemaiden’s-blushappletreecameanothercall，anditsoundedprettycross，Icantellyou。Leonreachedhishand。
“Now，it’stimetorun。Letmedothetalking。“
Wewereoutofbreathwhenwereachedthebackdoor。Therestoodthetubonthekitchenfloor，theboileronthestove，soap，towels，andcleanclothingonchairs。Leonhadhisturnathavinghisearswashedfirst，becausehecouldbathehimselfwhilemotherdidmyhair。
“WasMrs。Deamgladtogetherducksback？“sheaskedasshefine-combedLeon。
“Aw，younevercantellwhethershe’sgladaboutanythingornot，“growledLeon。“You’dhavethoughtfromthewaysheacted，thatwe’dbeentryingtostealherducks。Shesaidifshemissedanyshe’dknowwheretofindthem。“
“WellasIlive！“criedmother。“WhyIwouldn’thavebelievedthatofAmandaDeam。Youtoldheryouthoughttheywerewild，ofcourse。“
“Ididn’thaveachancetotellheranything。Theminutetheducksstruckthewatertheystartedrightbackdownstream，andtherewasabigsnake，andwehadanawfultime。Wegotwettryingtoheadthemback，andthenwedidn’tfindallofthem。“
“Theyarelikelittleeels。YoushouldhavehelpedAmanda。“
“Well，youcalledsocrosswethoughtyouwouldcomeafterus，sowehadtorun。“
“Oneneverknows，“sighedmother。“Ithoughtyouwereloitering。
OfcourseifIhadknownyouwerehavingtroublewiththeducks！
Ithinkyouhadbettergobackandhelpthem。“
“Didn’tIdoenoughtotakethemhome？Can’tSammyDeamcatchducksasfastasIcan？“
“Isupposeso，“saidmother。“AndImustgetyourbathingoutofthewayofsupper。YouusethetubwhileIdoLittleSister’shair。“
IalmosthatedSunday，becauseofwhathadtobedonetomyhaironSaturday，togetreadyforit。Allweekithungintwolongbraidsthatwerebrushedandarrangedeachmorning。ButonSaturdayithadtobecombedwithafinecomb，oiledandrolledaroundstripsoftinuntilSundaymorning。Motherdideverythingthoroughly。Sherakedthatfinecomboverourscalpsuntilshealmostraisedtheblood。Shehadn’ttimetofoolwithtangles，andwehadsomuchhairshedidn’tknowwhattodowithallofit，anyway。Whenshewasbusytalkingshereachedaroundtoofarandcombedacrossourforeheadsorrakedthetipofanear。
ButonSundaymorningweforgotallthat，whenwewalkeddowntheaislewithshiningcurlshangingbelowourwaists。Motherwasusingthefinecomb，whenshelookedup，andtherestoodMrs。
Freshett。Wecouldseeataglancethatshewasoutofbreath。
“HaveIbeatthem？“shecried。
“Whomareyoutryingtobeat？“askedmotherasshetoldMaytosetachairforMrs。Freshettandbringheradrink。
“Thegrave-kivermen，“shesaid。“Iwantedtogettoyoufirst。“
“Well，youhave，“saidmother。“Restawhileandthentellme。“
ButMrs。Freshettwassoexcitedshecouldn’trest。
“Ithoughttheywerecomingstraightondown，“shesaid，“buttheymusthaveturnedoffatthecrossroads。Iwanttodowhat’srightbymychildrenhereorthere，“pantedMrs。Freshett，“andthesemenseemedtothinkthecontrivancetheywassellin’
perfectlygrand，an’liketobeanaidtothesoul’ssalvation。
Niceasitseemed，an’convincin’astheytalked，Icouldn’tgettheconsentofmymindtoorder，untilIknowedifyouwasgoin’
tokiveryourdeadwiththecontraption。Noneoftherestoftheneighboursseemoverfriendlytome，an’I’vetoldJosiahmany’sthetime，thatIdidn’tcarearapiftheywa’n’t，solongasI
hadyou。SaysI，`Josiah，tomywayofthinkin’，sheistopcrustinthisneighbourhood，andI’monthesafesideapin’herwaysclostaspossible。’“