             ,,*APT] ,,XLI4
  ,,! DOCTOR 0 AN OLD MAN2 A V NICE1
K9D-LOOK+ OLD MAN :5 ,I GOT HM UP4 ,I
TOLD HM ME & MY BRO!R 0 OV] ON ,SPANI%
,ISL& HUNT+ YE/]"D AFN1 & CAMP$ ON A
PIECE (A RAFT WE F.D1 & AB MIDNI<T HE M/
A KICK$ 8 GUN 9 8 DR1MS1 = X W5T (F &
%OT HM 9 ! LEG1 & WE WANT$ HM 6G OV] "!
& FIX X & N SAY NO?+ AB X1 NOR LET
ANYBODY "K1 2C WE WANT$ 6-E HOME ? EV5+
& SURPRISE ! FOLKS4
  8,:O IS YR FOLKS80 HE SAYS4
  8,! ,PHELPSES1 D[N YOND]40
  8,OH10 HE SAYS4 ,& AF A M9UTE1 HE
SAYS3
  8,H['D Y SAY HE GOT %OT80
  8,HE _H A DR1M10 ,I SAYS1 8& X %OT
HM40
  8,S+UL> DR1M10 HE SAYS4
  ,S HE LIT UP 8 LANT]N1 & GOT 8 SA4LE-
BAGS1 & WE />T$4 ,B :5 HE SEES ! CANOE
HE DIDN'T L ! LOOK ( H]--SD %E 0 BIG 5 =
"O1 B DIDN'T LOOK PRETTY SAFE = TWO4 ,I
SAYS3
  8,OH1 Y NE$N'T 2 AFE>D1 SIR1 %E C>RI$
! ?REE ( U EASY 5\<40
  8,:AT ?REE80
  8,:Y1 ME & ,SID1 &--&--& ,,! ,,GUNS2
T'S :AT ,I M1N40
  8,OH10 HE SAYS4
  ,B HE PUT 8 FOOT ON ! GUNNEL & ROCK$
H]1 & %OOK 8 H1D1 & SD HE RECKON$ HE'D
LOOK >.D =A BI7] "O4 ,B !Y 0 ALL LOCK$ &
*A9$2 S HE TOOK MY CANOE1 & SD = ME
6WAIT TILL HE -E BACK1 OR ,I CD HUNT >.D
FUR!R1 OR MAYBE ,I BETT] G D[N HOME &
GET !M R1DY =! SURPRISE IF ,I WANT$ TO4
,B ,I SD ,I DIDN'T2 S ,I TOLD HM J H[
6F9D ! RAFT1 & !N HE />T$4
  ,I /RUCK AN IDEA PRETTY SOON4 ,I SAYS
6MYF1 SPOS'N HE C'T FIX T LEG J 9 ?REE
%AKES (A %EEP'S TAIL1 Z ! SAY+ IS8
SPOS'N X TAKES HM ?REE OR F\R "DS8 ,:AT
>E WE GO+ 6D8--LAY >.D "! TILL HE LETS !
CAT \ (! BAG8 ,NO1 SIR2 ,I "K :AT ,,I'LL
D4 ,I'LL WAIT1 & :5 HE -ES BACK IF HE
SAYS HE'S GOT 6G ANY M ,I'LL GET D[N "!1
TOO1 IF ,I SWIM2 & WE'LL TAKE & TIE HM1
& KEEP HM1 & %OVE \ D[N ! RIV]2 & :5
,TOM'S D"O ) HM WE'LL GIVE HM :AT X'S
WOR?1 OR ALL WE GOT1 & !N LET HM GET
A%ORE4
  ,S !N ,I CREPT 96A LUMB]-PILE 6GET "S
SLEEP2 & NEXT "T ,I WAK$ UP ! SUN 0 AWAY
UP OV] MY H1D6 ,I %OT \ & W5T =!
DOCTOR'S H\SE1 B !Y TOLD ME HE'D G"O
AWAY 9 ! NI<T "S "T OR O!R1 & W>N'T BACK
YET4 ,WELL1 ?9KS ,I1 T LOOKS P[];L BAD =
,TOM1 & ,I'LL DIG \ =! ISL& "R (F4 ,S
AWAY ,I %OV$1 & TURN$ ! CORN]1 & NE>LY
RAMM$ MY H1D 96,UNCLE ,SILAS'S /OMA*6
,HE SAYS3
  8,:Y1 ,,TOM6 ,": Y BE5 ALL ? "T1 Y
RASCAL80
  8,I HA9'T BE5 NO":S10 ,I SAYS1 8ONLY J
HUNT+ =! RUNAWAY NI7]--ME & ,SID40
  8,:Y1 ": "E DID Y G80 HE SAYS4 8,YR
AUNT'S BE5 MI<TY UNEASY40
  8,%E NE$N'T10 ,I SAYS1 82C WE 0 ALL
"R4 ,WE FOLL[$ ! M5 &! DOGS1 B !Y \TRUN
U1 & WE LO/ !M2 B WE ?"\ WE HE>D !M ON !
WAT]1 S WE GOT A CANOE & TOOK \ AF !M &
CROSS$ OV]1 B CDN'T F9D NO?+ ( !M2 S WE
CRUIS$ AL;G UP-%ORE TILL WE GOT K9D (
TIR$ & B1T \2 & TI$ UP ! CANOE & W5T
6SLEEP1 & N"E WAK$ UP TILL AB AN H\R
AGO2 !N WE PA4L$ OV] "H 6HE> ! NEWS1 &
,SID'S AT ! PO/-(FICE 6SEE :AT HE C HE>1
& ,I'M A-BRAN*- 9G \ 6GET "S?+ 6EAT = U1
& !N WE'RE GO+ HOME40
  ,S !N WE W5T 6! PO/-(FICE 6GET 8,SID02
B J Z ,I SUSPICION$1 HE W>N'T "!2 S !
OLD MAN HE GOT A LR \ (! (FICE1 & WE
WAIT$ A:ILE L;G]1 B ,SID DIDN'T -E2 S !
OLD MAN SD1 -E AL;G1 LET ,SID FOOT X
HOME1 OR CANOE X1 :5 HE GOT D"O FOOL+
>.D--B WE WD RIDE4 ,I CDN'T GET HM 6LET
ME /AY & WAIT = ,SID2 & HE SD "! W>N'T
NO USE 9 X1 & ,I M/ -E AL;G1 & LET ,AUNT
,S,Y SEE WE 0 ALL "R4
  ,:5 WE GOT HOME ,AUNT ,S,Y 0 T GLAD
6SEE ME %E LAU<$ & CRI$ BO?1 & HU7$ ME1
& GIVE ME "O ( !M LICK+S ( H]N T DON'T
AM.T 6%UCKS1 & SD %E'D S]VE ,SID ! SAME
:5 HE -E4
  ,&! PLACE 0 PLUM FULL ( F>M]S & F>M]S'
WIVES1 6D9N]2 & S* ANO!R CLACK A BODY
N"E HE>D4 ,OLD ,MRS4 ,HOT*KISS 0 ! WOR/2
H] T;GUE 0 A-GO+ ALL ! "T4 ,%E SAYS3
  8,WELL1 ,SI/] ,PHELPS1 ,I'VE RANSACK$
T-AIR CAB9 OV]1 AN0' ,I B'LIEVE ! NI7] 0
CRAZY4 ,I SAYS 6,SI/] ,DAMRELL--DIDN'T
,I1 ,SI/] ,DAMRELL8--S',I1 HE'S CRAZY1
S',I--!M'S ! V ^WS ,I SD4 ,Y ALL HE>N
ME3 HE'S CRAZY1 S',I2 "EY?+ %[S X1 S',I4
,LOOK AT T-AIR GR9D/"O1 S',I2 WANT 6TELL
,,ME,''T ANY CRETUR ,8;T'S 9 8 "R M9D 'S
A GO9' 6SCRAB# ALL !M CRAZY ?+S ONTO A
GR9D/"O1 S',I8 ,"H SI* 'N' SI* A P]SON
BU/$ 8 HE>T2 'N' "H S 'N' S PE7$ AL;G =
?IRTY-SEV5 YE>1 'N' ALL T--NAT*]L SON O'
,L\IS "SBODY1 'N' SI* "ELA/'N RU2AGE4
,HE'S PLUMB CRAZY1 S',I2 X'S :AT ,I SAYS
9 ! FU/ PLACE1 X'S :AT ,I SAYS 9 !
MI4LE1 'N' X'S :AT ,I SAYS LA/ 'N' ALL !
"T--! NI7]'S CRAZY--CRAZY 'S
,NEBOKOODNEEZ]1 S',I40
  8,AN0' LOOK AT T-AIR LA4] MADE \'N
RAGS1 ,SI/] ,HOT*KISS10 SAYS OLD ,MRS4
,DAMRELL2 8:AT 9 ! "N O' GD;S ,,CD HE "E
WANT (--0
  8,! V ^WS ,I 0 A-SAY9' NO L;G] AGO ?'N
? M9UTE 6,SI/] ,UTT]BACK1 'N' %E'LL TELL
Y S H]F4 ,SH-%E1 LOOK AT T-AIR RAG LA4]1
SH-%E2 'N' S',I1 YES1 ,,LOOK AT X1 S',I
--:AT ,,CD HE A-WANT$ ( X1 S',I4 ,SH-%E1
,SI/] ,HOT*KISS1 SH-%E--0
  8,B H[ 9 ! N,N'D !Y "E ,,GIT T GR9D/"O
,,9 "!1 ,,ANYWAY8 'N' :O DUG T-AIR
,,HOLE8 'N' :O--0
  8,MY V ,,^WS1 ,BR] ,P5ROD6 ,I 0 A-
SAY9'--PASS T-AIR SASS] O' M'LASSES1
WON'T YE8--,I 0 A-SAY9' 6,SI/] ,DUNLAP1
JI/ ? M9UTE1 H[ ,,DID !Y GIT T GR9D/"O 9
"!1 S',I4 ,)\T ,,HELP1 M9D Y--,8?\T
,,HELP6 ,,T'S :] 'TIS4 ,DON'T TELL ,,ME1
S',I2 "! ,,WUZ HELP1 S',I2 'N' !R0' WUZ
A ,,PL5TY HELP1 TOO1 S',I2 !R'S B5 A
,,DOZ5 A-HELP9' T NI7]1 'N' ,I LAY ,I'D
SK9 E LA/ NI7] ON ? PLACE B ,I',D F9D \
:O D"O X1 S',I2 'N' MOREOV]1 S',I--0
  8,A ,,DOZ5 SAYS Y6--,,=TY CDN'T A D"O
E ?+ T'S BE5 D"O4 ,LOOK AT !M CASE-KNIFE
SAWS & ?+S1 H[ T$I\S !Y'VE BE5 MADE2
LOOK AT T B$-LEG SAW$ (F ) 'M1 A WEEK'S
"W = SIX M52 LOOK AT T NI7] MADE \'N
/RAW ON ! B$2 & LOOK AT--0
  8,Y MAY ,,WELL SAY X1 ,BR] ,HI<T[]6
,X'S JI/ Z ,I 0 A-SAY9' 6,BR] ,PHELPS1 8
[N SELF4 ,S'E1 :AT D ,,Y ?9K ( X1 ,SI/]
,HOT*KISS1 S'E8 ,?9K O' :AT1 ,BR]
,PHELPS1 S',I8 ,?9K O' T B$-LEG SAW$ (F
T A WAY1 S'E8 ,,?9K ( X1 S',I8 ,I LAY X
N"E SAW$ ,,XF (F1 S',I--"SBODY ,,SAW$ X1
S',I2 T'S MY OP9ION1 TAKE X OR L1VE X1 X
MAYN'T 2 NO ,8C.T1 S',I1 B SI* Z 'T IS1
X'S MY OP9ION1 S',I1 'N' IF ANY BODY K'N
/>T A BETT] "O1 S',I1 LET HM ,,D X1
S',I1 T'S ALL4 ,I SAYS 6,SI/] ,DUNLAP1
S',I--0
  8,:Y1 DOG MY CATS1 !Y M/ A B5 A H\SE-
FULL O' NI7]S 9 "! E NI<T = F\R WEEKS 6A
D"O ALL T "W1 ,SI/] ,PHELPS4 ,LOOK AT T
%IRT--E LA/ 9* ( X KIV]$ OV] ) SECRET
,AFRICAN WRIT'N D"O ) BLOOD6 ,M/ A B5 A
RAFT UV 'M AT X "R AL;G1 ALL ! "T1 AMO/4
,:Y1 ,I'D GIVE TWO DOLL>S 6H X R1D 6ME2
'N' Z =! NI7]S T WROTE X1 ,I ,8L[ ,I'D
TAKE 'N' LA% 'M T'LL--0
  8,P 6,,HELP HM1 ,BRO!R ,M>PLES6 ,WELL1
,I RECKON Y'D ,,?9K S IF Y'D A BE5 9 ?
H\SE =A :ILE BACK4 ,:Y1 !Y'VE /OLE "EY?+
!Y CD LAY _! H&S ON--& WE A-WAT*+ ALL !
"T1 M9D Y4 ,!Y /OLE T %IRT "R (F O' !
L9E6 & Z = T %EET !Y MADE ! RAG LA4] \
(1 !R0' A9'T NO TELL+ H[ _M "TS !Y
,,DIDN'T /1L T2 & FL\R1 & C&LES1 &
C&LE/ICKS1 & SPOONS1 &! OLD W>M+-PAN1 &
MO/ A ?\S& ?+S T ,I 4REMEMB] N[1 & MY
NEW CALICO DRESS2 & ME & ,SILAS & MY
,SID & ,TOM ON ! 3/ANT WAT* "D ,,& NI<T1
Z ,I 0 A-TELL+ Y1 & N A "O ( U CD CAT*
HIDE NOR HAIR NOR SI<T NOR S.D ( !M2 &
"H AT ! LA/ M9UTE1 LO & 2HOLD Y1 !Y
SLIDES "R 9 "U \R NOSES & FOOLS U1 & N
ONLY FOOLS ,,US B ! ,9JUN ,T]RITORY
RO2]S TOO1 & ACTULY GETS ,,AWAY ) T NI7]
SAFE & S.D1 & T ) SIXTE5 M5 & TW5TY- TWO
DOGS "R ON _! V HEELS AT T V "T6 ,I TELL
Y1 X J BANGS ANY?+ ,I "E ,,HE>D (4 ,:Y1
,,SP]ITS CDN'T A D"O BETT] & BE5 NO
SM>T]4 ,& ,I RECKON !Y M/ A ,,BE5 SP]ITS
--2C1 ,,Y "K \R DOGS1 & !R0' A9'T NO
BETT]2 WELL1 !M DOGS N"E EV5 GOT ON !
,,TRACK ( 'M ONCE6 ,Y EXPLA9 ,,T 6ME IF
Y C6--,,ANY ( Y60
  8,WELL1 X DOES B1T--0
  8,LAWS ALIVE1 ,I N"E--0
  8,S HELP ME1 ,I WDN'T A BE--0
  8,,H\SE,'-?IEVES Z WELL Z--0
  8,GD;SGRACI\SSAKES1 ,I'D A B5 AFE>D
6LIVE 9 SI* A--0
  8,8,FRAID 6,,LIVE6--:Y1 ,I 0 T SC>$ ,I
DASN'T H>DLY G 6B$1 OR GET UP1 OR LAY
D[N1 OR ,,SET D[N1 ,SI/] ,RIDGEWAY4 ,:Y1
!Y'D /1L ! V--:Y1 GD;S SAKES1 Y C GUESS
:AT K9D (A FLU/] ,I 0 9 0! "T MIDNI<T -E
LA/ NI<T4 ,I HOPE 6GRACI\S IF ,I W>N'T
AFRAID !Y'D /1L "S O' ! FAMILY6 ,I 0 J
6T PASS ,I DIDN'T H NO R1SON+ FACULTIES
NO M4 ,X LOOKS FOOLI% 5 ,,N[1 9 ! "D"T2
B ,I SAYS 6MYF1 "!'S MY TWO POOR BOYS
ASLEEP1 ,8WAY UP /AIRS 9 T L"O"S ROOM1 &
,I DCL 6GD;S ,I 0 T UNEASY 'T ,I CREP0'
UP "! & LOCK$ 'EM IN6 ,I ,,DID4 ,&
ANYBODY WD4 ,2C1 Y "K1 :5 Y GET SC>$ T
WAY1 & X KEEPS RUNN+ ON1 & GETT+ WORSE &
WORSE ALL ! "T1 & YR WITS GETS 6A4L+1 &
Y GET 6DO+ ALL SORTS O' WILD ?+S1 & BY &
BY Y ?9K 6YRF1 SPOS'N ,I 0 A BOY1 & 0
AWAY UP "!1 &! DOOR A9'T LOCK$1 & Y--0
,%E /OPP$1 LOOK+ K9D ( WOND]+1 & !N %E
TURN$ H] H1D >.D SL[1 & :5 H] EYE LIT ON
ME--,I GOT UP & TOOK A WALK4
  ,SAYS ,I 6MYF1 ,I C EXPLA9 BETT] H[ WE
-E 6N 2 9 T ROOM ? MORN+ IF ,I G \ 6"O
SIDE & /UDY OV] X A LL4 ,S ,I D"O X4 ,B
,I DASN'T G FUR1 OR %E'D A S5T = ME4 ,&
:5 X 0 LATE 9 ! "D ! P ALL W5T1 & !N ,I
-E 9 & TOLD H] ! NOISE & %OOT+ WAK$ UP
ME & 8,SID10 &! DOOR 0 LOCK$1 & WE WANT$
6SEE ! FUN1 S WE W5T D[N ! LI<TN+- ROD1
& BO? ( U GOT HURT A LL1 & WE DIDN'T N"E
WANT 6TRY ,,T NO M4 ,& !N ,I W5T ON &
TOLD H] ALL :AT ,I TOLD ,UNCLE ,SILAS
2F2 & !N %E SD %E'D =GIVE U1 & MAYBE X 0
ALL "R 5 ANYWAY1 & AB :AT A BODY MI<T
EXPECT ( BOYS1 = ALL BOYS 0 A PRETTY
H>UM-SC>UM LOT Z FUR Z %E CD SEE2 & S1 Z
L;G Z NO H>M _HN'T -E ( X1 %E JUDG$ %E
BETT] PUT 9 H] "T 2+ GRATE;L WE 0 ALIVE
& WELL & %E _H U /1 /1D ( FRETT+ OV] :AT
0 PA/ & D"O4 ,S !N %E KISS$ ME1 & PATT$
ME ON ! H1D1 & DROPP$ 96A K9D (A BR[N
/UDY2 & PRETTY SOON JUMPS UP1 & SAYS3
  8,:Y1 LAWSAM]CY1 X'S MO/ NI<T1 & ,SID
N -E YET6 ,:AT ,,HAS 2COME ( T BOY80
  ,I SEE MY *.E2 S ,I SKIPS UP & SAYS3
  8,I'LL RUN "R UP 6T[N & GET HM10 ,I
SAYS4
  8,NO Y WON'T10 %E SAYS4 8,Y'LL /AY "R
:]0' Y >E2 ,,"O'S 5 6BE LO/ AT A "T4 ,IF
HE A9'T "H 6SUPP]1 YR UNCLE 'LL G40
  ,WELL1 HE W>N'T "! 6SUPP]2 S "R AF
SUPP] UNCLE W5T4
  ,HE -E BACK AB T5 A LL BIT UNEASY2
_HN'T RUN ACR ,TOM'S TRACK4 ,AUNT ,S,Y 0
A GD ,,D1L UNEASY2 B ,UNCLE ,SILAS HE SD
"! W>N'T NO O3A.N 6BE--BOYS W 2 BOYS1 HE
SD1 & Y'LL SEE ? "O TURN UP 9 ! MORN+
ALL S.D & "R4 ,S %E _H 6BE SATISFI$4 ,B
%E SD %E'D SET UP = HM A :ILE ANYWAY1 &
KEEP A LI<T BURN+ S HE CD SEE X4
  ,& !N :5 ,I W5T UP 6B$ %E -E UP ) ME &
FET*$ H] C&LE1 & TUCK$ ME IN1 & "M$ ME S
GD ,I FELT M1N1 & L ,I CDN'T LOOK H] 9 !
FACE2 & %E SET D[N ON ! B$ & TALK$ ) ME
A L;G "T1 & SD :AT A SPL5DID BOY ,SID
WAS1 & DIDN'T SEEM 6WANT 6"E /OP TALK+
AB HM2 & KEPT ASK+ ME E N[ & !N IF ,I
RECKON$ HE CD A GOT LO/1 OR HURT1 OR
MAYBE DR[ND$1 & MI<T 2 LAY+ AT ? M9UTE
"S":S SU6]+ OR D1D1 & %E N 0HM 6HELP HM1
& S ! TE>S WD DRIP D[N SIL5T1 & ,I WD
TELL H] T ,SID 0 ALL "R1 & WD 2 HOME 9 !
MORN+1 SURE2 & %E WD SQUEEZE MY H&1 OR
MAYBE KISS ME1 & TELL ME 6SAY X AG1 &
KEEP ON SAY+ X1 2C X D"O H] GD1 & %E 0 9
S M* TR\#4 ,& :5 %E 0 GO+ AWAY %E LOOK$
D[N 9 MY EYES S /1DY & G5TLE1 & SAYS3
  8,! DOOR A9'T GO+ 6BE LOCK$1 ,TOM1 &
"!'S ! W9D[ &! ROD2 B Y'LL 2 GD1 ,,WON'T
Y8 ,& Y WON'T G8 ,= ,,MY SAKE40
  ,LAWS "KS ,I ,,WANT$ 6G BAD 5 6SEE AB
,TOM1 & 0 ALL 9T5D+ 6G2 B AF T ,I WDN'T
A W5T1 N = K+DOMS4
  ,B %E 0 ON MY M9D & ,TOM 0 ON MY M9D1
S ,I SLEPT V RE/.S4 ,& TWICE ,I W5T D[N
! ROD AWAY 9 ! NI<T1 & SLIPP$ >.D FRONT1
& SEE H] SETT+ "! 0H] C&LE 9 ! W9D[ ) H]
EYES T[>DS ! ROAD &! TE>S 9 !M2 & ,I
WI%$ ,I CD D "S?+ = H]1 B ,I CDN'T1 ONLY
6SWE> T ,I WDN'T N"E D NO?+ 6GRIEVE H]
ANY M4 ,&! ?IRD "T ,I WAK$ UP AT DAWN1 &
SLID D[N1 & %E 0 "! YET1 & H] C&LE 0 MO/
\1 & H] OLD GRAY H1D 0 RE/+ ON H] H&1 &
%E 0 ASLEEP4
