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           "Giveyouahandup,"hemutteredtoDill."Wait,though."Jemgrabbedhisleftwristandmyrightwrist,IgrabbedmyleftwristandJem’srightwrist,wecrouched,andDillsatonoursaddle.Weraisedhimandhecaughtthewindowsill.

           "Hurry,"Jemwhispered,"wecan’tlastmuchlonger."

           Dillpunchedmyshoulder,andweloweredhimtotheground.

           "What’dyousee?"

           "Nothing.Curtains.There’salittleteenylightwayoffsomewhere,though."

           "Let’sgetawayfromhere,"breathedJem."Let’sgo‘roundinbackagain.Sh-h,"hewarnedme,asIwasabouttoprotest.

           "Let’strythebackwindow."

           "Dill,no,"Isaid.

           DillstoppedandletJemgoahead.WhenJemputhisfootonthebottomstep,thestepsqueaked.Hestoodstill,thentriedhisweightbydegrees.Thestepwassilent.Jemskippedtwosteps,puthisfootontheporch,heavedhimselftoit,andteeteredalongmoment.Heregainedhisbalanceanddroppedtohisknees.Hecrawledtothewindow,raisedhisheadandlookedin.

           ThenIsawtheshadow.Itwastheshadowofamanwithahaton.AtfirstIthoughtitwasatree,buttherewasnowindblowing,andtree-trunksneverwalked.Thebackporchwasbathedinmoonlight,andtheshadow,crispastoast,movedacrosstheporchtowardJem.