I'm--I'm 'fraid he's goin' to be burnt up," I stammered.
"It's so.

I said 'em," my uncle confessed.
Aunt Deel turned to me and said: "Bart, you go right down to the barn and bring me a strap--ayes!--you bring me a strap--right away." I walked slowly toward the barn.

For the moment, I was sorry that I had told on my uncle.

Scalding tears began to flow down my cheeks.

I sat on the steps to the hay loft for a moment to collect my thoughts.
Then I heard Aunt Deel call to me: "Hurry up, Bart." I rose and picked out the smallest strap I could find and walked slowly back to the house.