He looked at Ephraim standing there in the moonlight almost as if he were a spirit.
"She ain't let me for some time; I've been sick," admitted Ephraim, yet with defiance.
"I heard you was awful sick," said Ezra.
"I was; but the doctor give me some medicine that cured me." Ephraim placed his sled in position and got on stiffly.

The other boy still watched.

"She know you're out to-night ?" he inquired, abruptly.
Ephraim looked up at him.

"S'pose you think you'll go an' tell her, if she don't," said he.
"No, I won't, honest." "Hope to die if you do ?" "Yes." "Well, then, I run out of the side door." "Both on 'em asleep ?" Ephraim nodded.
Ezra Ray whistled.

"You'll get a whippin' when your mother finds it out." "No, I sha'n't.