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           Therewasnoacknowledgementsavehe-enbouncingoffthedistantschoolhousewall.

           "I’llgethim,"saidJem."He-y!"

           Hay-e-hay-e-hay-ey,answeredtheschoolhousewall.ItwasunlikeCeciltoholdoutforsolong;oncehepulledajokehe’drepeatittimeandagain.Weshouldhavebeenleaptatalready.Jemsignaledformetostopagain.

           Hesaidsoftly,"Scout,canyoutakethatthingoff?"

           "Ithinkso,butIain’tgotanythingonunderitmuch."

           "I’vegotyourdresshere."

           "Ican’tgetitoninthedark."

           "Okay,"hesaid,"nevermind."

           "Jem,areyouafraid?"

           "No.Thinkwe’realmosttothetreenow.Fewyardsfromthat,an’we’llbetotheroad.Wecanseethestreetlightthen."Jemwastalkinginanunhurried,flattonelessvoice.IwonderedhowlonghewouldtrytokeeptheCecilmythgoing.

           "Youreckonweoughtasing,Jem?"

           "No.Berealquietagain,Scout."

           Wehadnotincreasedourpace.JemknewaswellasIthatitwasdifficulttowalkfastwithoutstumpingatoe,trippingonstones,andotherinconveniences,andIwasbarefooted.Maybeitwasthewindrustlingthetrees.Buttherewasn’tanywindandthereweren’tanytreesexceptthebigoak.

           Ourcompanyshuffledanddraggedhisfeet,asifwearingheavyshoes.Whoeveritwasworethickcottonpants;whatIthoughtweretreesrustlingwasthesoftswishofcottononcotton,wheek,wheek,witheverystep.

           IfeltthesandgocoldundermyfeetandIknewwewerenearthebigoak.Jempressedmyhead.Westoppedandlistened.