             ,,*APT] ,,XII4
  ,IT M/ A BE5 CLOSE ON 6"O O'C :5 WE
GOT 2L ! ISL& AT LA/1 &! RAFT DID SEEM
6G MI<TY SL[4 ,IF A BOAT 0 6-E AL;G WE 0
GO+ 6TAKE 6! CANOE & BR1K =! ,ILL9OIS
%ORE2 & X 0 WELL A BOAT DIDN'T -E1 = WE
_HN'T "E ?"\ 6PUT ! GUN 9 ! CANOE1 OR A
FI%+-L9E1 OR ANY?+ 6EAT4 ,WE 0 9 RU!R
TOO M* (A SW1T 6?9K ( S _M ?+S4 ,X W>N'T
GD JUDG;T 6PUT ,,"EY?+ ON ! RAFT4
  ,IF ! M5 W5T 6! ISL& ,I J EXPECT !Y
F.D ! CAMP FIRE ,I BUILT1 & WAT*$ X ALL
NI<T = ,JIM 6-E4 ,ANYWAYS1 !Y /AY$ AWAY
F U1 & IF MY BUILD+ ! FIRE N"E FOOL$ !M
X W>N'T NO FAULT ( M9E4 ,I PLAY$ X Z L[
D[N ON !M Z ,I CD4
  ,:5 ! F/ /R1K ( "D 2GAN 6%[ WE TI$ UP
6A T[H1D 9 A BIG B5D ON ! ,ILL9OIS SIDE1
& HACK$ (F COTTONWOOD BRAN*ES )! HAT*ET1
& COV]$ UP ! RAFT ) !M S %E LOOK$ L "!
_H BE5 A CAVE-IN 9 ! BANK "!4 ,A T[H1D
IS A S&B> T HAS COTTONWOODS ON X Z ?ICK
Z H>R[-TEE?4
  ,WE _H M.TA9S ON ! ,MISS\RI %ORE &
H1VY TIMB] ON ! ,ILL9OIS SIDE1 &! *ANNEL
0 D[N ! ,MISS\RI %ORE AT T PLACE1 S WE
W>N'T AFRAID ( ANYBODY RUNN+ ACR U4 ,WE
LAID "! ALL "D1 & WAT*$ ! RAFTS &
/1MBOATS SP9 D[N ! ,MISS\RI %ORE1 & UP-
B.D /1MBOATS FI<T ! BIG RIV] 9 ! MI4LE4
,I TOLD ,JIM ALL AB ! "T ,I _H JA2]+ ) T
WOMAN2 & ,JIM SD %E 0 A SM>T "O1 & IF %E
0 6/>T AF U H]F %E WDN'T SET D[N & WAT*
A CAMP FIRE--NO1 SIR1 %E'D FET* A DOG4
,WELL1 !N1 ,I SD1 :Y CDN'T %E TELL H]
HUSB& 6FET* A DOG8 ,JIM SD HE BET %E DID
?9K ( X 0! "T ! M5 0 R1DY 6/>T1 & HE
2LIEV$ !Y M/ A G"O UP-T[N 6GET A DOG & S
!Y LO/ ALL T "T1 OR ELSE WE WDN'T 2 "H
ON A T[H1D SIXTE5 OR SEV5TE5 MILE 2L !
VILLAGE--NO1 9DE$Y1 WE WD 2 9 T SAME OLD
T[N AG4 ,S ,I SD ,I DIDN'T C>E :AT 0 !
R1SON !Y DIDN'T GET U Z L;G Z !Y DIDN'T4
  ,:5 X 0 2G9N+ 6-E ON D>K WE POK$ \R
H1DS \ (! COTTONWOOD ?ICKET1 & LOOK$ UP
& D[N & ACR2 NO?+ 9 SI<T2 S ,JIM TOOK UP
"S (! TOP PLANKS (! RAFT & BUILT A SNUG
WIGWAM 6GET "U 9 BLAZ+ W1!R & RA9Y1 &
6KEEP ! ?+S DRY4 ,JIM MADE A FLOOR =!
WIGWAM1 & RAIS$ X A FOOT OR M ABV !
LEVEL (! RAFT1 S N[ ! BLANKETS & ALL !
TRAPS 0 \ ( R1* ( /1MBOAT WAVES4 ,"R 9 !
MI4LE (! WIGWAM WE MADE A LAY] ( DIRT AB
FIVE OR SIX 9*ES DEEP )A FRAME >.D X =
6HOLD X 6XS PLACE2 ? 0 6BUILD A FIRE ON
9 SLOPPY W1!R OR *ILLY2 ! WIGWAM WD KEEP
X F 2+ SE54 ,WE MADE AN EXTRA /E]+-O>1
TOO1 2C "O (! O!RS MI<T GET BROKE ON A
SNAG OR "S?+4 ,WE FIX$ UP A %ORT =K$
/ICK 6HANG ! OLD LANT]N ON1 2C WE M/ ALW
LI<T ! LANT]N :5"E WE SEE A /1MBOAT -+
D[N-/R1M1 6KEEP F GETT+ RUN OV]2 B WE
WDN'T H 6LI<T X = UP-/R1M BOATS UN.S WE
SEE WE 0 9 :AT !Y CALL A 8CROSS+02 =!
RIV] 0 PRETTY HI< YET1 V L[ BANKS 2+ / A
LL "U WAT]2 S UP-B.D BOATS DIDN'T ALW
RUN ! *ANNEL1 B HUNT$ EASY WAT]4
  ,? SECOND NI<T WE RUN 2T SEV5 & EI<T
H\RS1 )A CURR5T T 0 MAK+ OV] F\R MILE AN
H\R4 ,WE CAT*$ FI% & TALK$1 & WE TOOK A
SWIM N[ & !N 6KEEP (F SLEEPI;S4 ,X 0 K9D
( SOLEMN1 DRIFT+ D[N ! BIG1 / RIV]1 LAY+
ON \R BACKS LOOK+ UP AT ! />S1 & WE
DIDN'T "E FEEL L TALK+ L\D1 & X W>N'T
(T5 T WE LAU<$--ONLY A LL K9D (A L[
*UCKLE4 ,WE _H MI<TY GD W1!R Z A G5]AL
?+1 & NO?+ "E HAPP5$ 6U AT ALL--T NI<T1
NOR ! NEXT1 NOR ! NEXT4
  ,E NI<T WE PASS$ T[NS1 "S ( !M AWAY UP
ON BLACK HILLSIDES1 NO?+ B J A %9Y B$ (
LI<TS2 N A H\SE CD Y SEE4 ,! FIF? NI<T
WE PASS$ ,/4 ,L\IS1 & X 0 L ! :OLE _W
LIT UP4 ,9 ,/4 ,PET]SBURG !Y US$ 6SAY "!
0 TW5TY OR ?IRTY ?\S& P 9 ,/4 ,L\IS1 B
,I N"E 2LIEV$ X TILL ,I SEE T WOND];L
SPR1D ( LI<TS AT TWO O'C T / NI<T4 ,"!
W>N'T A S.D "!2 "EYBODY 0 ASLEEP4
  ,E NI<T N[ ,I US$ 6SLIP A%ORE T[>DS T5
O'C AT "S LL VILLAGE1 & BUY T5 OR FIFTE5
C5TS' WOR? ( M1L OR BACON OR O!R /UFF
6EAT2 & "S"TS ,I LIFT$ A *ICK5 T W>N'T
ROO/+ -=TA#1 & TOOK HM AL;G4 ,PAP ALW
SD1 TAKE A *ICK5 :5 Y GET A *.E1 2C IF Y
DON'T WANT HM YRF Y C EASY F9D "SBODY T
DOES1 &A GD DE$ A9'T "E =GOT4 ,I N"E SEE
PAP :5 HE DIDN'T WANT ! *ICK5 HMF1 B T
IS :AT HE US$ 6SAY1 ANYWAY4
  ,MORN+S 2F "DLI<T ,I SLIPP$
96CORNFIELDS & BORR[$ A WAT]MELON1 OR A
MU%MELON1 OR A PUNK91 OR "S NEW CORN1 OR
?+S ( T K9D4 ,PAP ALW SD X W>N'T NO H>M
6BORR[ ?+S IF Y 0 M1N+ 6PAY !M BACK "S
"T2 B ! WID[ SD X W>N'T ANY?+ B A S(T "N
= /1L+1 & NO DEC5T BODY WD D X4 ,JIM SD
HE RECKON$ ! WID[ 0 "PLY "R & PAP 0 "PLY
"R2 S ! BE/ WAY WD 2 = U 6PICK \ TWO OR
?REE ?+S F ! LI/ & SAY WE WDN'T BORR[ !M
ANY M--!N HE RECKON$ X WDN'T 2 NO H>M
6BORR[ ! O!RS4 ,S WE TALK$ X OV] ALL "O
NI<T1 DRIFT+ AL;G D[N ! RIV]1 TRY+ 6MAKE
UP \R M9DS :E!R 6DROP ! WAT]MELONS1 OR !
CANTELOPES1 OR ! MU%MELONS1 OR :AT4 ,B
T[>DS "DLI<T WE GOT X ALL SETTL$
SATISFACTORY1 & 3CLUD$ 6DROP CRABAPPLES
& P'SIMMONS4 ,WE W>N'T FEEL+ J "R 2F T1
B X 0 ALL -=TA# N[4 ,I 0 GLAD ! WAY X -E
\1 TOO1 2C CRABAPPLES A9'T "E GD1 &!
P'SIMMONS WDN'T 2 RIPE = TWO OR ?REE
MON?S YET4
  ,WE %OT A WAT]-F[L N[ & !N T GOT UP
TOO E>LY 9 ! MORN+ OR DIDN'T G 6B$ E>LY
5 9 ! EV5+4 ,TAKE X ALL R.D1 WE LIV$
PRETTY HI<4
  ,! FIF? NI<T 2L ,/4 ,L\IS WE _H A BIG
/ORM AF MIDNI<T1 )A P[] ( ?"U & LI<TN+1
&! RA9 P\R$ D[N 9 A SOLID %EET4 ,WE /AY$
9 ! WIGWAM & LET ! RAFT TAKE C>E ( XF4
,:5 ! LI<TN+ GL>$ \ WE CD SEE A BIG
/RAI<T RIV] AH1D1 & HI<1 ROCKY BLU6S ON
BO? SIDES4 ,BY & BY SAYS ,I1 8,HEL-,,LO1
,JIM1 LOOKY YOND]60 ,X 0 A /1MBOAT T _H
KILL$ H]F ON A ROCK4 ,WE 0 DRIFT+ /RAI<T
D[N = H]4 ,! LI<TN+ %[$ H] V 4T9CT4 ,%E
0 L1N+ OV]1 ) "P ( H] UPP] DECK ABV
WAT]1 & Y CD SEE E LL *IMBLY-GUY CL1N &
CLE>1 &A *AIR 0! BIG BELL1 ) AN OLD SL\*
HAT HANG+ ON ! BACK ( X1 :5 ! FLA%ES -E4
  ,WELL1 X 2+ AWAY 9 ! NI<T & /ORMY1 &
ALL S MY/]I\S-L1 ,I FELT J ! WAY ANY O!R
BOY WD A FELT :5 ,I SEE T WRECK LAY+ "!
S M\RN;L & L"O"S 9 ! MI4LE (! RIV]4 ,I
WANT$ 6GET ABO>D ( H] & SL9K >.D A LL1 &
SEE :AT "! 0 "!4 ,S ,I SAYS3
  8,LE'S L& ON H]1 ,JIM40
  ,B ,JIM 0 D1D AG/ X AT F/4 ,HE SAYS3
  8,I DOAN0' WANT 6G FOOL'N ,8L;G ] NO
WRACK4
  ,WE'S DO9' BLAME0' WELL1 EN WE BETT]
LET BLAME0' WELL AL"O1 Z DE GD BOOK
SAYS4 ,L Z N DEY'S A WAT*MAN ON DAT
WRACK40
  8,WAT*MAN YR GR&"M10 ,I SAYS2 8"! A9'T
NO?+ 6WAT* B ! TEXAS &! PILOTH\SE2 & D Y
RECKON ANYBODY'S GO+ 6RESK 8 LIFE =A
TEXAS &A PILOT-H\SE S* A NI<T Z ?1 :5
X'S LIKELY 6BR1K UP & WA% (F D[N ! RIV]
ANY M9UTE80 ,JIM CDN'T SAY NO?+ 6T1 S HE
DIDN'T TRY4 8,& 2SS10 ,I SAYS1 8WE MI<T
BORR[ "S?+ WOR? HAV+ \ (! CAPTA9'S
/ATEROOM4 ,SEEG>S1 ,I BET Y--& CO/ FIVE
C5TS APIECE1 SOLID CA%4 ,/1MBOAT CAPTA9S
IS ALW RI*1 & GET SIXTY DOLL>S A MON?1 &
,,!Y DON'T C>E A C5T :AT A ?+ CO/S1 Y
"K1 L;G Z !Y WANT X4 ,/ICK A C&LE 9 YR
POCKET2 ,I C'T RE/1 ,JIM1 TILL WE GIVE
H] A RUMMAG+4 ,D Y RECKON ,TOM ,SAWY] WD
"E G 0? ?+8 ,N = PIE1 HE WDN'T4 ,HE'D
CALL X AN ADV5TURE--T'S :AT HE'D CALL X2
& HE'D L& ON T WRECK IF X 0 8 LA/ ACT4
,& WDN'T HE ?R[ /YLE 96X8--WDN'T HE
SPR1D HMF1 NOR NO?+8 ,:Y1 Y'D ?9K X 0
,*RI/OPH] ,C'LUMBUS 4COV]+ ,K+DOM-,COME4
,I WI% ,TOM ,SAWY] ,,0 "H40
  ,JIM HE GRUM#D A LL1 B GIVE IN4 ,HE SD
WE M/N'T TALK ANY M ?AN WE CD HELP1 & !N
TALK MI<TY L[4 ,! LI<TN+ %[$ U ! WRECK
AG J 9 "T1 & WE FET*$ ! /A2O>D D]RICK1 &
MADE FA/ "!4
  ,! DECK 0 HI< \ "H4 ,WE W5T SN1K+ D[N
! SLOPE ( X 6LA2O>D1 9 ! D>K1 T[>DS !
TEXAS1 FEEL+ \R WAY SL[ ) \R FEET1 &
SPR1D+ \R H&S \ 6F5D (F ! GUYS1 = X 0 S
D>K WE CDN'T SEE NO SIGN ( !M4 ,PRETTY
SOON WE /RUCK ! =W>D 5D (! SKYLI<T1 &
CLUMB ON 6X2 &! NEXT /EP FET*$ U 9 FRONT
(! CAPTA9'S DOOR1 : 0 OP51 & 0,JIMM9Y1
AWAY D[N "? ! TEXAS-HALL WE SEE A LI<T6
& ALL 9 ! SAME SECOND WE SEEM 6HE> L[
VOICES 9 YOND]6
  ,JIM :ISP]$ & SD HE 0 FEEL+ P[];L
SICK1 & TOLD ME 6-E AL;G4 ,I SAYS1 ALL
"R1 & 0 GO+ 6/>T =! RAFT2 B J !N ,I HE>D
A VOICE WAIL \ & SAY3
  8,OH1 PL1SE DON'T1 BOYS2 ,I SWE> ,I
WON'T "E TELL60
  ,ANO!R VOICE SD1 PRETTY L\D3
  8,X'S A LIE1 ,JIM ,TURN]4 ,Y'VE ACT$ ?
WAY 2F4 ,Y ALW WANT MORE'N YR %>E (!
TRUCK1 & Y'VE ALW GOT X1 TOO1 2C Y'VE
SWORE 'T IF Y DIDN'T Y'D TELL4 ,B ? "T
Y'VE SD X JE/ "O "T TOO _M4 ,Y'RE !
M1NE/1 TR1*]\SE/ H.D 9 ? C.TRY40
  ,0? "T ,JIM 0 G"O =! RAFT4 ,I 0 J A-
BIL+ ) CURIOS;Y2 & ,I SAYS 6MYF1 ,TOM
,SAWY] WDN'T BACK \ N[1 & S ,I WON'T EI2
,I'M A-GO+ 6SEE :AT'S GO+ ON "H4 ,S ,I
DROPP$ ON MY H&S & KNEES 9 ! LL PASSAGE1
& CREPT AFT 9 ! D>K TILL "! W>N'T B "O
/ATEROOM 2TWIXT ME &! CROSS-HALL (!
TEXAS4 ,!N 9 "! ,I SEE A MAN /RET*$ ON !
FLOOR & TI$ H& & FOOT1 & TWO M5 /&+ OV]
HM1 & "O ( !M _H A DIM LANT]N 9 8 H&1 &!
O!R "O _H A PI/OL4 ,? "O KEPT PO9T+ !
PI/OL AT ! MAN'S H1D ON ! FLOOR1 & SAY+3
  8,I'D ,,L TO6 ,& ,I ORT]1 TOO--A M1N
SKUNK60
  ,! MAN ON ! FLOOR WD %RIVEL UP & SAY1
8,OH1 PL1SE DON'T1 ,BILL2 ,I HA9'T "E
GO9' 6TELL40
  ,& E "T HE SD T ! MAN )! LANT]N WD
LAU< & SAY3
  8,8,DE$ Y ,,A9'T6 ,Y N"E SD NO TRU] ?+
'N T1 Y BET Y40 ,& ONCE HE SD3 8,HE> HM
BEG6 & YIT IF WE _HN'T GOT ! BE/ ( HM &
TI$ HM HE'D A KILL$ U BO?4 ,& :AT ,,=8
,JI/ = NO?'N4 ,JI/ 2C WE /OOD ON \R
,,"RS--T'S :AT =4 ,B ,I LAY Y A9'T A-
GO9' 6?R1T5 NOBODY ANY M1 ,JIM ,TURN]4
,PUT ,,UP T PI/OL1 ,BILL40
  ,BILL SAYS3
  8,I DON'T WANT TO1 ,JAKE ,PACK>D4 ,I'M
= KILL9' HM--& DIDN'T HE KILL OLD
,HATFIELD JI/ ! SAME WAY--& DON'T HE
DES]VE X80
  8,B ,I DON'T ,,WANT HM KILL$1 & ,I'VE
GOT MY R1SONS = X40
  8,B.S YO0' HE>T = !M ^WS1 ,JAKE
,PACK>D6 ,I'LL N"E =GIT Y L;G'S ,I
LIVE60 SAYS ! MAN ON ! FLOOR1 SORT (
BLU2]+4
  ,PACK>D DIDN'T TAKE NO NOTICE ( T1 B
HUNG UP 8 LANT]N ON A NAIL & />T$ T[>DS
": ,I 0 "! 9 ! D>K1 & MO;N$ ,BILL 6-E4
,I CRAWFI%$ Z FA/ Z ,I CD AB TWO Y>DS1 B
! BOAT SLANT$ S T ,I CDN'T MAKE V GD "T2
S 6KEEP F GETT+ RUN OV] & CAT*$ ,I
CRAWL$ 96A /ATEROOM ON ! UPP] SIDE4 ,!
MAN CAME A- PAW+ AL;G 9 ! D>K1 & :5
,PACK>D GOT 6MY /ATEROOM1 HE SAYS3
  8,"H--COME 9 "H40
  ,& 9 HE -E1 & ,BILL AF HM4 ,B 2F !Y
GOT 9 ,I 0 UP 9 ! UPP] B]?1 CORN]$1 &
SORRY ,I -E4 ,!N !Y /OOD "!1 ) _! H&S ON
! L$GE (! B]?1 & TALK$4 ,I CDN'T SEE !M1
B ,I CD TELL ": !Y 0 0! :ISKY !Y'D BE5
HAV+4 ,I 0 GLAD ,I DIDN'T DR9K :ISKY2 B
X WDN'T MADE M* DI6];E ANYWAY1 2C MO/ (!
"T !Y CDN'T A TRE$ ME 2C ,I DIDN'T BR1!4
,I 0 TOO SC>$4 ,&1 2SS1 A BODY ,,CDN'T
BR1! & HE> S* TALK4 ,!Y TALK$ L[ &
E>NE/4 ,BILL WANT$ 6KILL ,TURN]4 ,HE
SAYS3
  8,HE'S SD HE'LL TELL1 & HE W4 ,IF WE 0
6GIVE BO? \R %>ES 6HM ,,N[ X WDN'T MAKE
NO DI6];E AF ! R[ &! WAY WE'VE S]V$ HM4
,%ORE'S Y'RE BORN1 HE'LL TURN ,/ATE'S
EVID;E2 N[ Y HE> ,,ME4 ,I'M = PUTT+ HM \
( 8 TR\#S40
  8,S'M ,I10 SAYS ,PACK>D1 V QUIET4
  8,BLAME X1 ,I'D SORT] 2GUN 6?9K Y
WASN,UT4 ,WELL1 !N1 T'S ALL "R4 ,LE'S G
& D X40
  8,HOLD ON A M9UTE2 ,I HA9'T _H MY SAY
YIT4 ,Y LI/5 6ME4 ,%OOT+'S GD1 B "!'S
QUIET] WAYS IF ! ?+'S ,,GOT 6BE D"O4 ,B
:AT ,I SAY IS ?3 X A9'T GD S5SE 6G
C\RT'N >.D AF A HALT] IF Y C GIT AT :AT
Y'RE UP 6IN "S WAY T'S JI/ Z GD & AT !
SAME "T DON'T BR+ Y 96NO RESKS4 ,A9'T T
S80
  8,Y BET X IS4 ,B H[ Y GO9' 6MANAGE X ?
"T80
  8,WELL1 MY IDEA IS ?3 WE'LL RU/LE >.D
& GA!R UP :AT"E PICK9S WE'VE OV]LOOK$ 9
! /ATEROOMS1 & %OVE = %ORE & HIDE !
TRUCK4 ,!N WE'LL WAIT4 ,N[ ,I SAY X A9'T
A-GO9' 6BE MORE'N TWO H\RS 2FO0' ? WRACK
BR1KS UP & WA%ES (F D[N ! RIV]4 ,SEE8
,HE'LL 2 DR[ND$1 & WON'T H NOBODY 6BLAME
= X B 8 [N SELF4 ,I RECKON T'S A 3SID]#
SI<T BETT] 'N KILL9' ( HM4 ,I'M
UNFAVORA# 6KILL9' A MAN Z L;G Z Y C GIT
>\N0' X2 X A9'T GD S5SE1 X A9'T GD
MORALS4 ,A9'T ,I "R80
  8,YES1 ,I RECK'N Y >E4 ,B S'POSE %E
,,DON'T BR1K UP & WA% (F80
  8,WELL1 WE C WAIT ! TWO H\RS ANYWAY &
SEE1 C'T WE80
  8,ALL "R1 !N2 -E AL;G40
  ,S !Y />T$1 & ,I LIT \1 ALL 9 A COLD
SW1T1 & SCRAM#D =W>D4 ,X 0 D>K Z PIT*
"!2 B ,I SD1 9 A K9D (A CO>SE :ISP]1
8,JIM @68 & HE ANSW]$ UP1 "R AT MY ELB[1
)A SORT (A MOAN1 & ,I SAYS3
  8,QK1 ,JIM1 X A9'T NO "T = FOOL+ >.D &
MOAN+2 "!'S A GANG ( MURD]]S 9 YOND]1 &
IF WE DON'T HUNT UP _! BOAT & SET H]
DRIFT+ D[N ! RIV] S ^! FELL[S C'T GET
AWAY F ! WRECK "!'S "O ( 'EM GO+ 6BE 9 A
BAD FIX4 ,B IF WE F9D _! BOAT WE C PUT
,,ALL ( 'EM 9 A BAD FIX--=! %]IFF 'LL
GET 'EM4 ,QK--HURRY6 ,I'LL HUNT ! LA2O>D
SIDE1 Y HUNT ! /A2O>D4 ,Y />T AT ! RAFT1
&--0
  8,OH1 MY "LY1 "LY6 ,,RAF0'8 ,DEY A9'
NO RAF0' NO MO0'2 %E D"O BROKE LOOSE EN
G"O ,I--EN "H WE IS60
