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At the end of Chapter 6, why does Jem return to the Radley place alone?

One summer evening, Scout, Jem, and Dill decide to sneak into the Radley yard to spy on Boo.  They hope to catch a glimpse of the infamous figure.  Instead, Mr. Radley comes out and shoots his gun into the air.  The children escape through the fence, but Jem's pants get caught in the barbed wire.  His is unable to get them free, so he leaves them behind.  


Jem knows that he needs to get...

One summer evening, Scout, Jem, and Dill decide to sneak into the Radley yard to spy on Boo.  They hope to catch a glimpse of the infamous figure.  Instead, Mr. Radley comes out and shoots his gun into the air.  The children escape through the fence, but Jem's pants get caught in the barbed wire.  His is unable to get them free, so he leaves them behind.  


Jem knows that he needs to get his pants back.  He is sure that he will get in trouble with his father if he does not get them back.  He had told Atticus that he lost his pants to Dill in a game of strip poker.  He decides to sneak back to the Radley's yard to retrieve his pants.  


Scout begs Jem not to go.  She is worried that something bad might happen to him.  She is terrified that he will get shot:



I began to feel sick. Going back to that place by himself—I remembered Miss Stephanie: Mr. Nathan had the other barrel waiting for the next sound he heard (To Kill a Mockingbird, Chapter 6).



Despite Scout's protests, Jem leaves anyway to retrieve his pants.  She watches as he sneaks out in the night.

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