            ,,*APT] ,,XXXII4
  ,,:5 ,I GOT "! X 0 ALL / & ,SUN"D-L1 &
HOT & SUN%9Y2 ! H&S 0 G"O 6! FIELDS2 &
"! 0 !M K9D ( FA9T DRON+S ( BUGS & FLIES
9 ! AIR T MAKES X SEEM S L"O"S & L
"EYBODY'S D1D & G"O2 & IF A BREEZE FANS
AL;G & QUIV]S ! L1VES X MAKES Y FEEL
M\RN;L1 2C Y FEEL L X'S _SS :ISP]+--_SS
T'S BE5 D1D "E S _M YE>S--& Y ALW ?9K
!Y'RE TALK+ AB ,,Y4 ,Z A G5]AL ?+ X
MAKES A BODY WI% ,,HE 0 D1D1 TOO1 & D"O
) X ALL4
  ,PHELPS' 0 "O ( ^! LL "O-HORSE COTTON
PLANT,NS1 & !Y ALL LOOK ALIKE4 ,A RAIL
F;E R.D A TWO-ACRE Y>D2 A /ILE MADE \ (
LOGS SAW$ (F & UP-5D$ 9 /EPS1 L B>RELS (
A DI6]5T L5G?1 6CLIMB OV] ! F;E )1 &=!
WOM5 6/& ON :5 !Y >E GO+ 6JUMP ON 6A
HORSE2 "S SICKLY GRASS-PAT*ES 9 ! BIG
Y>D1 B MO/LY X 0 B>E & SMOO?1 L AN OLD
HAT )! NAP RU2$ (F2 BIG D\# LOG-H\SE =!
:ITE FOLKS--HEW$ LOGS1 )! *9KS /OPP$ UP
) MUD OR MORT>1 & ^! MUD-/RIPES BE5
:ITEWA%$ "S "T OR ANO!R2 R.D-LOG KIT*51
)A BIG BROAD1 OP5 B RO($ PASSAGE JO9+ X
6! H\SE2 LOG SMOKEH\SE BACK (! KIT*52
?REE LL LOG NI7]-CAB9S 9 A R[ T'O!R SIDE
! SMOKE-H\SE2 "O LL HUT ALL 0XF AWAY D[N
AG/ ! BACK F;E1 & "S \TBUILD+S D[N A
PIECE ! O!R SIDE2 A%- HOPP] & BIG KETTLE
6BILE SOAP 9 0! LL HUT2 B5* 0! KIT*5
DOOR1 ) BUCKET ( WAT] &A G\RD2 H.D
ASLEEP "! 9 ! SUN2 M H.DS ASLEEP R.D AB2
AB ?REE %ADE TREES AWAY (F 9 A CORN]2 "S
CURRANT BU%ES & GOOSEB]RY BU%ES 9 "O
PLACE 0! F;E2 \TSIDE (! F;E A G>D5 &A
WAT]MELON PAT*2 !N ! COTTON FIELDS 2G9S1
& AF ! FIELDS ! WOODS4
  ,I W5T >.D & CLUMB OV] ! BACK /ILE 0!
A%-HOPP]1 & />T$ =! KIT*54 ,:5 ,I GOT A
LL WAYS ,I HE>D ! DIM HUM (A SP9N+-:EEL
WAIL+ AL;G UP & S9K+ AL;G D[N AG2 & !N
,I "K$ = C]TA9 ,I WI%$ ,I 0 D1D--= T
,,IS ! L"O"S/ S.D 9 ! :OLE _W4
  ,I W5T "R AL;G1 N FIX+ UP ANY "PICUL>
PLAN1 B J TRU/+ 6,PROVID;E 6PUT ! "R ^WS
9 MY M\? :5 ! "T -E2 = ,I'D NOTIC$ T
,PROVID;E ALW DID PUT ! "R ^WS 9 MY M\?
IF ,I LEFT X AL"O4
  ,:5 ,I GOT HALF-WAY1 F/ "O H.D & !N
ANO!R GOT UP & W5T = ME1 &( C\RSE ,I
/OPP$ & FAC$ !M1 & KEPT /4 ,& S* ANO!R
P[W[ Z !Y MADE6 ,9 A QU>T] (A M9UTE ,I 0
A K9D (A HUB (A :EEL1 Z Y MAY SAY--
SPOKES MADE \ ( DOGS--CIRCLE ( FIFTE5 (
!M PACK$ TGR >.D ME1 ) _! NECKS & NOSES
/RET*$ UP T[>DS ME1 A-B>K+ & H[L+2 & M
A-COM+2 Y CD SEE !M SAIL+ OV] F;ES & >.D
CORN]S F "EY":S4
  ,A NI7] WOMAN -E TE>+ \ (! KIT*5 )A
ROLL+-P9 9 H] H&1 S++ \1 8,2G"O ,,Y
,TIGE6 Y ,SPOT6 2G"O SAH60 & %E FET*$ F/
"O & !N ANO!R ( !M A CLIP & S5T !M H[L+1
& !N ! RE/ FOLL[$2 &! NEXT SECOND HALF (
!M -E BACK1 WA7+ _! TAILS >.D ME1 & MAK+
FRS ) ME4 ,"! A9'T NO H>M 9 A H.D1 NOH[4
  ,& 2H ! WOMAN -ES A LL NI7] GIRL & TWO
LL NI7] BOYS )\T ANY?+ ON B T[-L95
%IRTS1 & !Y HUNG ON 6_! "M'S G[N1 &
PEEP$ \ F 2H H] AT ME1 BA%;L1 ! WAY !Y
ALW D4 ,& "H -ES ! :ITE WOMAN RUNN+ F !
H\SE1 AB =TY-FIVE OR FIFTY YE> OLD1
B>EH1D$1 & H] SP9N+-/ICK 9 H] H&2 & 2H
H] -ES H] LL :ITE *N1 ACT+ ! SAME WAY !
LL NI7]S 0 GO+4 ,%E 0 SMIL+ ALL OV] S %E
CD H>DLY /&--& SAYS3
  8,X'S ,,Y1 AT LA/6--,,A9'T X80
  ,I \ )A 8,YES'M0 2F ,I ?"\4
  ,%E GRA2$ ME & HU7$ ME TI<T2 & !N
GRIPP$ ME 0BO? H&S & %OOK & %OOK2 &!
TE>S -E 9 H] EYES1 & RUN D[N OV]2 & %E
CDN'T SEEM 6HUG & %AKE 5\<1 & KEPT SAY+1
8,Y DON'T LOOK Z M* L YR "M Z ,I RECKON$
Y WD2 B LAW SAKES1 ,I DON'T C>E = T1
,I'M S GLAD 6SEE Y6 ,DE>1 DE>1 X DOES
SEEM L ,I CD EAT Y UP6 ,*N1 X'S YR C\S9
,TOM6--TELL HM H[DY40
  ,B !Y DUCK$ _! H1DS1 & PUT _! F+]S 9
_! M\?S1 & HID 2H H]4 ,S %E RUN ON3
  8,LIZE1 HURRY UP & GET HM A HOT
BR1KFA/ "R AWAY--OR DID Y GET YR BR1KFA/
ON ! BOAT80
  ,I SD ,I _H GOT X ON ! BOAT4 ,S !N %E
/>T$ =! H\SE1 L1D+ ME 0! H&1 &! *N TA7+
AF4 ,:5 WE GOT "! %E SET ME D[N 9 A
SPLIT-BOTTOM$ *AIR1 & SET H]F D[N ON A
LL L[ /OOL 9 FRONT ( ME1 HOLD+ BO? ( MY
H&S1 & SAYS3
  8,N[ ,I C H A ,,GD LOOK AT Y2 &1 LAWS-
A- ME1 ,I'VE BE5 HUNGRY = X A _M &A _M A
"T1 ALL ^! L;G YE>S1 & X'S -E AT LA/6
,WE BE5 EXPECT+ Y A C\PLE ( "DS & M4
,:AT KEP0' Y8--BOAT GET AGR.D80
  8,YES'M--%E--0
  8,DON'T SAY YES'M--SAY ,AUNT ,S,Y4
,":'D %E GET AGR.D80
  ,I DIDN'T "RLY "K :AT 6SAY1 2C ,I
DIDN'T "K :E!R ! BOAT WD 2 -+ UP ! RIV]
OR D[N4 ,B ,I G A GD D1L ON 9/9CT2 & MY
9/9CT SD %E WD 2 -+ UP--F D[N T[>DS
,ORL1NS4 ,T DIDN'T HELP ME M*1 ?\<2 = ,I
DIDN'T "K ! "NS ( B>S D[N T WAY4 ,I SEE
,I'D GOT 69V5T A B>1 OR =GET ! "N (! "O
WE GOT AGR.D ON--OR--,N[ ,I /RUCK AN
IDEA1 & FET*$ X \3
  8,X W>N'T ! GR.D+--T DIDN'T KEEP U
BACK B A LL4 ,WE BL[$ \ A CYL9D]-H1D40
  8,GD GRACI\S6 ANYBODY HURT80
  8,NO'M4 ,KILL$ A NI7]40
  8,WELL1 X'S LUCKY2 2C "S"TS P D GET
HURT4 ,TWO YE>S AGO LA/ ,*RI/MAS YR
UNCLE ,SILAS 0 -+ UP F ,NEWRL1NS ON !
OLD ,L,Y ,ROOK1 & %E BL[$ \ A CYL9D]-H1D
& CRIPPL$ A MAN4 ,& ,I ?9K HE DI$ AFWS4
,HE 0 A ,BAPTI/4 ,YR UNCLE ,SILAS "K$ A
FAMILY 9 ,BATON ,R\GE T "K$ 8 P V WELL4
,YES1 ,I REMEMB] N[1 HE ,,DID DIE4
,MORTIFIC,N SET IN1 & !Y _H 6AMPUTATE
HM4 ,B X DIDN'T SAVE HM4 ,YES1 X 0
MORTIFIC,N--T 0 X4 ,HE TURN$ BLUE ALL
OV]1 & DI$ 9 ! HOPE (A GLORI\S
RESURREC;N4 ,!Y SAY HE 0 A SI<T 6LOOK
AT4 ,YR UNCLE'S BE5 UP 6! T[N E "D 6FET*
Y4 ,& HE'S G"O AG1 N MORE'N AN H\R AGO2
HE'LL 2 BACK ANY M9UTE N[4 ,Y M/ A MET
HM ON ! ROAD1 DIDN'T Y8--OLDI% MAN1
)A--0
  8,NO1 ,I DIDN'T SEE NOBODY1 ,AUNT
,S,Y4 ,! BOAT L&$ J AT "DLI<T1 & ,I LEFT
MY BA7AGE ON ! :>F-BOAT & W5T LOOK+ >.D
! T[N & \ A PIECE 9 ! C.TRY1 6PUT 9 ! "T
& N GET "H TOO SOON2 & S ,I -E D[N !
BACK WAY40
  8,:O'D Y GIVE ! BA7AGE TO80
  8,NOBODY40
  8,:Y1 *1 X 'LL 2 /OLE60
  8,N ": ,I HID X ,I RECKON X WON'T10 ,I
SAYS4
  8,H['D Y GET YR BR1KFA/ S E>LY ON !
BOAT80
  ,X 0 K9D] ?9 ICE1 B ,I SAYS3
  8,! CAPTA9 SEE ME /&+ >.D1 & TOLD ME
,I BETT] H "S?+ 6EAT 2F ,I W5T A%ORE2 S
HE TOOK ME 9 ! TEXAS 6! (FIC]S' LUN*1 &
GIVE ME ALL ,I WANT$40
  ,I 0 GETT+ S UNEASY ,I CDN'T LI/5 GD4
,I _H MY M9D ON ! *N ALL ! "T2 ,I WANT$
6GET !M \ 6"O SIDE & PUMP !M A LL1 & F9D
\ :O ,I WAS4 ,B ,I CDN'T GET NO %[1
,MRS4 ,PHELPS KEPT X UP & RUN ON S4
,PRETTY SOON %E MADE ! COLD *ILLS /R1K
ALL D[N MY BACK1 2C %E SAYS3
  8,B "H WE'RE A-RUNN+ ON ? WAY1 & Y
HA9'T TOLD ME A ^W AB ,SIS1 NOR ANY (
!M4 ,N[ ,I'LL RE/ MY "WS A LL1 & Y />T
UP Y\RN2 J TELL ME ,,"EY?+--TELL ME ALL
AB 'M ALL E "O ( 'M2 & H[ !Y >E1 & :AT
!Y'RE DO+1 & :AT !Y TOLD Y 6TELL ME2 & E
LA/ ?+ Y C ?9K (40
  ,WELL1 ,I SEE ,I 0 UP A /UMP--& UP X
GD4 ,PROVID;E _H /OOD 0ME ? FUR ALL "R1
B ,I 0 H>D & TI<T AGR.D N[4 ,I SEE X
W>N'T A BIT ( USE 6TRY 6G AH1D--,I'D GOT
6?R[ UP MY H&4 ,S ,I SAYS 6MYF1 "H'S
ANO!R PLACE ": ,I GOT 6RESK ! TRU?4 ,I
OP5$ MY M\? 62G92 B %E GRA2$ ME & HU/L$
ME 9 2H ! B$1 & SAYS3
  8,"H HE -ES6 ,/ICK YR H1D D[N L[]--"!1
T'LL D2 Y C'T 2 SE5 N[4 ,DON'T Y LET ON
Y'RE "H4 ,I'LL PLAY A JOKE ON HM4 ,*N1
DON'T Y SAY A ^W40
  ,I SEE ,I 0 9 A FIX N[4 ,B X W>N'T NO
USE 6WORRY2 "! W>N'T NO?+ 6D B J HOLD /1
& TRY & 2 R1DY 6/& F "U :5 ! LI<TN+
/RUCK4
  ,I _H J "O LL GLIMPSE (! OLD G5TLEMAN
:5 HE -E IN2 !N ! B$ HID HM4 ,MRS4
,PHELPS %E JUMPS = HM1 & SAYS3
  8,HAS HE -E80
  8,NO10 SAYS H] HUSB&4
  8,GD-,,NESS GRACI\S60 %E SAYS1 8:AT 9
! W>LD C H 2COME ( HM80
  8,I C'T IMAG9E10 SAYS ! OLD G5TLEMAN2
8& ,I M/ SAY X MAKES ME DR1D;L UNEASY40
  8,UNEASY60 %E SAYS2 8,I'M R1DY 6G
4TRACT$6 ,HE ,,M/ A -E2 & Y'VE MISS$ HM
AL;G ! ROAD4 ,I ,,"K X'S S--"S?+ TELLS
ME S40
  8,:Y1 ,S,Y1 ,I ,,CDN'T MISS HM AL;G !
ROAD--,,Y "K T40
  8,B OH1 DE>1 DE>1 :AT ,,W ,SIS SAY6
,HE M/ A -E6 ,Y M/ A MISS$ HM4 ,HE--0
  8,OH1 DON'T 4TRESS ME ANY MORE'N ,I'M
ALR 4TRESS$4 ,I DON'T "K :AT 9 ! _W
6MAKE ( X4 ,I'M AT MY WIT'S 5D1 & ,I
DON'T M9D AC"KL$G+ 'T ,I'M "R D[N SC>$4
,B "!'S NO HOPE T HE'S -E2 = HE ,,CDN'T
-E & ME MISS HM4 ,S,Y1 X'S T]RI#--J
T]RI#--"S?+'S HAPP5$ 6! BOAT1 SURE60
  8,:Y1 ,SILAS6 ,LOOK YOND]6--UP ! ROAD6
--A9'T T "SBODY -+80
  ,HE SPRUNG 6! W9D[ AT ! H1D (! B$1 & T
GIVE ,MRS4 ,PHELPS ! *.E %E WANT$4 ,%E
/OOP$ D[N QK AT ! FOOT (! B$ & GIVE ME A
PULL1 & \ ,I -E2 & :5 HE TURN$ BACK F !
W9D[ "! %E /OOD1 A-B1M+ & A-SMIL- 9G L A
H\SE AFIRE1 & ,I /&+ PRETTY MEEK & SW1TY
AL;GSIDE4 ,! OLD G5TLEMAN />$1 & SAYS3
  8,:Y1 :O'S T80
  8,:O D Y RECKON 'T IS80
  8,I HA9'T NO IDEA4 ,:O ,,IS X80
  8,X'S ,,TOM ,,SAWY]60
  ,0J+S1 ,I MO/ SLUMP$ "? ! FLOOR6 ,B "!
W>N'T NO "T 6SWAP KNIVES2 ! OLD MAN
GRA2$ ME 0! H& & %OOK1 & KEPT ON %AK+2 &
ALL ! "T H[ ! WOMAN DID D.E >.D & LAU< &
CRY2 & !N H[ !Y BO? DID FIRE (F "QS AB
,SID1 & ,M>Y1 &! RE/ (! TRIBE4
  ,B IF !Y 0 JOY;L1 X W>N'T NO?+ 6:AT ,I
WAS2 = X 0 L 2+ BORN AG1 ,I 0 S GLAD
6F9D \ :O ,I WAS4 ,WELL1 !Y FROZE 6ME =
TWO H\RS2 & AT LA/1 :5 MY *9 0 S TIR$ X
CDN'T H>DLY G ANY M1 ,I _H TOLD !M M AB
MY FAMILY--,I M1N ! ,SAWY] FAMILY--?AN
"E HAPP5$ 6ANY SIX ,SAWY] FAMILIES4 ,&
,I EXPLA9$ ALL AB H[ WE BL[$ \ A CYL9D]-
H1D AT ! M\? ( ,:ITE ,RIV]1 & X TOOK U
?REE "DS 6FIX X4 ,: 0 ALL "R1 & "W$
F/-RATE2 2C ,,!Y DIDN'T "K B :AT X WD
TAKE ?REE "DS 6FIX X4 ,IF ,I'D A CALL$ X
A BOLTH1D X WD A D"O J Z WELL4
  ,N[ ,I 0 FEEL+ PRETTY -=TA# ALL D[N "O
SIDE1 & PRETTY UNCOM=TA# ALL UP ! O!R4
,2+ ,TOM ,SAWY] 0 EASY & -=TA#1 & X /AY$
EASY & -=TA# TILL BY & BY ;,I HE> A
/1MBOAT C\<+ AL;G D[N ! RIV]4 ,!N ,I
SAYS 6MYF1 S'POSE ,TOM ,SAWY] -ES D[N ON
T BOAT8 ,& S'POSE HE /EPS 9 "H ANY
M9UTE1 & S+S \ MY "N 2F ,I C ?R[ HM A
W9K 6KEEP QUIET8
  ,WELL1 ,I CDN'T ,,H X T WAY2 X WDN'T D
AT ALL4 ,I M/ G UP ! ROAD & WAYLAY HM4
,S ,I TOLD ! FOLKS ,I RECKON$ ,I WD G UP
6! T[N & FET* D[N MY BA7AGE4 ,! OLD
G5TLEMAN 0 = GO+ AL;G ) ME1 B ,I SD NO1
,I CD DRIVE ! HORSE MYF1 & ,I DRU!R HE
WDN'T TAKE NO TR\# AB ME4
