ut, an' Lijah, he lays down on de bed plumb
wo'n out.

In de mawnin' he tell his wife all 'bout it. She sez nothin' fo' a
while but jes' set a-figgerin'. Den she sez, "Yo' one fool, niggah.
Go an' kill de bes' hawg an' cut him up. Den yo' take one side to
Aunt Maria an' be mighty perlite."

Lijah, he don' like dis nohow, but he done what his wife tole him.
He tote dat side of hawg to Aunt Maria, an' she smile wicked when
she see him comin'.

"I brung yo' a side of nice hawg what I jes' kill't," says he
perlite.

"I sho's mighty bleeged," sez Aunt Maria. "I kin use a bit of hawg
meat. An' how is yo' gittin' 'long?"

"Not very good," sez Lijah. "Ah don' seem to have no luck."

"Mebbe yo' luck will change," says Aunt Maria, smilin'-like.

An' sho'nuf, Lijah, he don' have no bad luck no mo'. But he wuz
allays perlite aftah dat, an' he don' say nothin' disrespectfu'
'bout hoodoos an' ha'nts.

* * * * *

Hortense sat thoughtfully.

"We don't know anybody to give anything to because of Tom and Jerry,"
said she.

Uncle Jonah moved uneasily.

"I reckon we jes' gotta wait an' see whut happens," said he. "I don'
know nothin' 'bout it, an' I ain't gwine mix up wid it. Yo' tek my
advice and keep clear uv 'em."

CHAPTER X

"_Ride, ride, ride
For the world is fair and wide._"

Andy and Hortense were planning what they should do next, for it was
certain that they must go back to the Cat's house and secure the monkey
charm, if they could. Also, they wished very much to see the Little
People again, dancing on the rock in the moonlight.

"If we hide in the barn, perhaps we can see Grater and Jeremiah ride
away on Tom and Jerry," said Hortense.

"But what good will that do?" Andy asked.

"Let's take every one along--Alligator, and Malay Kris, and Highboy,
and Lowboy, and Coal and Ember, and Owl. Perhaps we'll think of
something. Or maybe Alligator will swallow Grater!"

"It doesn't do any good for Alligator to swallow anything," said Andy.
"It's always found in the sofa in the morning anyhow."

"Grandfather might know what to do with it," said Hortense. "And
perhaps it would go away."

Andy had nothing better to propose and so it was agreed to do as
Hortense suggested. That evening, when all was dark and silent,
Hortense gathered every one in the parlor and told them the plan.

"It doesn't soun