But I know what I'll do." "What will you do--run away from home ?" said Tom.
"Like a coward, and make him feel sure that I knew all this and told a lie.

No, I won't.

I'll just show him." "Show him what ?" "That I'm innocent." "Yes, that's all very well; but how are you going to do it ?" "Find out the people and let him see." "Yes, but how ?" cried Tom eagerly, as he knocked an apple off one of the trees and tried to take a bite, but it was so hard and green that he jerked it away.
"I don't know yet; but someone does all these cowardly things, and I mean to find it out before I've done." "Oh, I am disappointed!" said Tom dolefully.
"Disappointed! Why?
Won't you help me ?" "Yes, I will.

But I thought we were going to find an island of our own somewhere out in the mere, where no one ever goes, and have no end of fun." "And so we will," said Dick eagerly.

"We could keep it secret, and there would be the sort of place to be and watch." "What, out there ?" "To be sure! Whoever does all this mischief comes in a boat, I'm sure of that, and he wouldn't suspect us of watching, and so we could catch him." Tom screwed up his face in doubt, but the idea of starting a sort of home out there in the middle of the wild fen-land had its fascinations, and the plan was discussed for long enough before they parted that day..