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Chapter 26
Suddenlyheturnedandsquirmedupintothebrush,deepintoapoison-oakthicket.Andhelaystill.Thefootstepscamenear,thelightbeamsglancedalongthestreambottom.Tomwriggledupthroughthethickettothetop.Heemergedinanorchard.Andstillhecouldhearthecalls,thepursuitinthestreambottom.Hebentlowandranoverthecultivatedearth;theclodsslippedandrolledunderhisfeet.Aheadhesawthebushesthatboundedthefield,bushesalongtheedgesofanirrigationditch.Heslippedthroughthefence,edgedinamongvinesandblackberrybushes.Andthenhelaystill,pantinghoarsely.Hefelthisnumbfaceandnose.Thenosewascrushed,andatrickleofblooddrippedfromhischin.Helaystillonhisstomachuntilhismindcameback.Andthenhecrawledslowlyovertheedgeoftheditch.Hebathedhisfaceinthecoolwater,toreoffthetailofhisblueshirtanddippeditandhelditagainsthistorncheekandnose.Thewaterstungandburned.
Theblackcloudhadcrossedthesky,ablobofdarkagainstthestars.Thenightwasquietagain.
Tomsteppedintothewaterandfeltthebottomdropfromunderhisfeet.Hethreshedthetwostrokesacrosstheditchandpulledhimselfheavilyuptheotherbank.Hisclothesclungtohim.Hemovedandmadeasloppingnoise;hisshoessquished.Thenhesatdown,tookoffhisshoesandemptiedthem.Hewrungthebottomsofhistrousers,tookoffhiscoatandsqueezedthewaterfromit.
Alongthehighwayhesawthedancingbeamsoftheflashlights,searchingtheditches.
