morandum to him and he'd come and give it back when
he had plenty of money sometime, maybe.

But when I went back there wasn't any chance to do that, because all
the fellows were still crowding around. I stood up on the edge of the
ditch and I heard somebody say that El Sawyer had gone to Bridgeboro.
Doc looked up at me and he said, "It isn't bad, kiddo, don't worry." And
I knew he was right and it made me feel good.

Anyway, I don't know why he called me kiddo sometimes. Because I'm leader
of the Silver Fox patrol, why should he call me kiddo. But I guess he
felt sorry for me, as you might say.

It was funny, but as soon as I knew Westy was going to get better, I
didn't want to stay there. I was afraid he might look at me and see that
everything wasn't all right. I was afraid he might see something in my
eyes--you know. So I walked away, and besides, anyway, I wanted to think
and I just felt I wanted to be alone by myself.

Just as I was going away one of the fellows said, "Here you go, kiddo,"
and chucked a book up at me. "You take care of it; it was in his pocket,"
he said. I guessed it was the book Westy had got out of the library and I
was pretty glad because when you're all alone and haven't got any friends
and everybody goes back on you, kind of, it's dandy to read a book.
Because, anyway, books never go back on you, that's one sure thing, and
they don't take--anyway they're good friends. When I looked at this one,
I saw it was "Treasure Island" and I was glad because I always liked that
one.

That fellow, Jim Hawkins, he was a fine fellow anyway. Gee, I said to
myself, I'd like to have him for a friend, that's sure. Because a fellow
in a book can be a friend to you just like a real one. Even better,
sometimes.

CHAPTER XXV

THE SHORT CUT

One thing, I hoped they'd all go home soon so I could sit down on a log
and read some more in that book. Only lately I read it, but cracky, that
doesn't make any difference when it's a good book. I thought I'd go back
to the ditch pretty soon--as soon as Ed Sawyer came with the doctor. But
anyway, I wanted to be alone now.

So I stuffed the book in my pocket and strolled over to where we had been
cutting the saplings. Then I went over close and looked at the one Skinny
had been chopping. I guess I didn't know what I was doing and thinking
about. Anyway, now that I looked at it, I was sorry I made fun of him and
got mad at him. It wasn't only because I knew he d