Chapter 30

           WHENtheygotaboardthekingwentforme,andshookmebythecollar,andsays:

           "Tryin’togiveustheslip,wasye,youpup!Tiredofourcompany,hey?"

           Isays:

           "No,yourmajesty,wewarn’t—PLEASEdon’t,yourmajesty!"

           "Quick,then,andtelluswhatWASyouridea,orI’llshaketheinsidesouto’you!"

           "Honest,I’lltellyoueverythingjustasithappened,yourmajesty.Themanthathada-holtofmewasverygoodtome,andkeptsayinghehadaboyaboutasbigasmethatdiedlastyear,andhewassorrytoseeaboyinsuchadangerousfix;andwhentheywasalltookbysurprisebyfindingthegold,andmadearushforthecoffin,heletsgoofmeandwhispers,’Heelitnow,orthey’llhangye,sure!’andIlitout.Itdidn’tseemnogoodforMEtostay—Icouldn’tdonothing,andIdidn’twanttobehungifIcouldgetaway.SoIneverstoppedrunningtillIfoundthecanoe;andwhenIgothereItoldJimtohurry,orthey’dcatchmeandhangmeyet,andsaidIwasafeardyouandthedukewasn’talivenow,andIwasawfulsorry,andsowasJim,andwasawfulgladwhenweseeyoucoming;youmayaskJimifIdidn’t."

           Jimsaiditwasso;andthekingtoldhimtoshutup,andsaid,"Oh,yes,it’sMIGHTYlikely!"andshookmeupagain,andsaidhereckonedhe’ddrowndme.