Pirate's Promise by Clyde Robert Bulla Page B

want us to be together.”
    â€œSo do I,” said Tom. “When I get work in London, we will be together. First we’ll have a room or two. Then, when I get ahead in my work, we’ll have a whole house.”
    â€œWith a little garden?” she asked.
    â€œWe’ll have a big garden if you want it,” he said.
    â€œI hope we can have a garden like the one at home,” she said, “and I can sit there in summer and watch the moon come up. Tom, what made Uncle John change?” she asked. “Last night he was going to turn us out.”
    â€œMaybe he was cold and tired last night,” said Tom. “Maybe he feels better today. Did you see him, Dinah? He even smiled at us.”
    â€œI saw him, and I didn’t like it. It wasn’t a good smile.” Tears came to Dinah’s eyes. “I wish he wouldn’t take you away.”
    â€œMaybe he won’t,” said Tom. “He may forget all about it.”
    But Big John did not forget.
    The next day he said to Tom, “Be ready in the morning. If tomorrow is a fine day, I’ll take you down to London.”

3. Down to London
    The next day was fair. The wind had stopped blowing.
    Big John said to Tom, “Get your clothes.”
    Dinah packed Tom’s clothes. She tied them in a small, neat roll.
    She said, “I wish London weren’t so far.”
    â€œIt isn’t so far,” he said.
    â€œWhen will you send for me?” she asked.
    â€œAs soon as I can,” he said. “Don’t forget, first we’ll have a room. Next we’ll have a house. Then we’ll have a garden.”
    She tried not to cry when they said good-by. Big John’s wife stood beside her in the doorway. They both waved. Jacky looked out from behind them and made a face. Then Tom and Big John were on their way to London.
    They walked through the village and down the road. Horses and wheels had made tracks in the snow. Tom and Big John walked in the tracks.
    Late in the day they came to London. Tom had thought it would be a beautiful place. He was disappointed to find the streets so dirty. The smoke in the air made him sneeze.
    But there was much to see. There were horses and carriages. There were Christmas trees in the windows. There were people everywhere—more people than Tom had ever seen before.
    Big John took him to a room in an inn. It was a tiny room with a bed and a chair. There was a window that looked down on the street.
    â€œWait here,” said Big John, “and don’t try to go anywhere by yourself. If you do, you’re sure to get lost.”
    He went away.
    Tom looked out the window. The city was growing dark. He saw a lamplighter go by and light the lamps along the street.
    Far away a church bell rang. He could hear boys and girls singing in the street. They were singing a Christmas song.
    Tom turned from the window. He was sleepy and tired. He lay down on the bed and pulled the covers over him. Almost at once he was asleep.
    There was a light in the room when he woke. Big John was there with a little man in a long black cloak.
    â€œGet up.” Big John pulled Tom out of bed. “You’re going with Sparrow.”
    The other man had Tom’s roll of clothing in his hands. He threw it, and Tom caught it.
    â€œCome along, Redhead,” he said.
    Tom was still half asleep. Sparrow caught his arm and led him out of the room.

    â€œWhere are we going?” asked Tom.
    â€œNot far,” said the man.
    â€œIsn’t my uncle coming with us?”
    â€œYou don’t see him, do you?”
    They were out in the street. The cold air struck Tom in the face. He was wide awake now.
    â€œAm I going to work for you?” he asked.
    The man did not answer. He led the way down a dark street. Tom could smell the river. At the end of the street he could see light shining on the water.
    They walked out onto a wharf. There was a plank from the wharf to the deck of a ship. Tom