54 TOM HICKATHRIFT.

 

Hickathrift- had secured to himself a
trusty friend and comrade, almost his
equal in strength and courage, for
though he was but a tinker, yet he was
a great and lusty one. Now the sheriff:
of the county came to Tom, under
cover of night, full of fear and tremb-
ling, and begged his aid and protection
against the rebels, ‘“‘else” said he, ‘‘ we
be all dead men!” ‘Tom, nothing loth,

called his friend the tinker, and as soon