             ,,*APT] ,,XL4
  ,,WE 0 FEEL+ PRETTY GD AF BR1KFA/1 &
TOOK MY CANOE & W5T OV] ! RIV] A-FI%+1 )
A LUN*1 & _H A GD "T1 & TOOK A LOOK AT !
RAFT & F.D H] ALL "R1 & GOT HOME LATE
6SUPP]1 & F.D !M 9 S* A SW1T & WORRY !Y
DIDN'T "K : 5D !Y 0 /&+ ON1 & MADE U G
"R (F 6B$ ! M9UTE WE 0 D"O SUPP]1 &
WDN'T TELL U :AT ! TR\# WAS1 & N"E LET
ON A ^W AB ! NEW LR1 B DIDN'T NE$ TO1 2C
WE "K$ Z M* AB X Z ANYBODY DID1 & Z SOON
Z WE 0 HALF UP /AIRS & H] BACK 0 TURN$
WE SLID =! CELL> CU2O>D & LOAD$ UP A GD
LUN* & TOOK X UP 6\R ROOM & W5T 6B$1 &
GOT UP AB HALF-PA/ ELEV51 & ,TOM PUT ON
,AUNT ,S,Y'S DRESS T HE /OLE & 0 GO+
6/>T )! LUN*1 B SAYS3
  8,":'S ! BUTT]80
  8,I LAID \ A HUNK ( X10 ,I SAYS1 8ON A
PIECE (A CORN-P"O40
  8,WELL1 Y ,,LEFT X LAID \1 !N--X A9'T
"H40
  8,WE C GET AL;G )\T X10 ,I SAYS4
  8,WE C GET AL;G ,,) X1 TOO10 HE SAYS2
8J Y SLIDE D[N CELL> & FET* X4 ,& !N
MOSEY "R D[N ! LI<TN+-ROD & -E AL;G4
,I'LL G & /UFF ! /RAW 96,JIM'S CLO!S
6REPRES5T 8 "M 9 4GUISE1 & 2 R1DY 6,,BA
L A %EEP & %OVE SOON Z Y GET "!40
  ,S \ HE W5T1 & D[N CELL> W5T ,I4 ,!
HUNK ( BUTT]1 BIG Z A P]SON'S FI/1 0 ":
,I _H LEFT X1 S ,I TOOK UP ! SLAB (
CORN-P"O ) X ON1 & BL[$ \ MY LI<T1 &
/>T$ UP /AIRS V /1L?Y1 & GOT UP 6! MA9
FLOOR ALL "R1 B "H -ES ,AUNT ,S,Y )A
C&LE1 & ,I CLAPP$ ! TRUCK 9 MY HAT1 &
CLAPP$ MY HAT ON MY H1D1 &! NEXT SECOND
%E SEE ME2 & %E SAYS3
  8,Y BE5 D[N CELL>80
  8,YES'M40
  8,:AT Y BE5 DO+ D[N "!80
  8,NO?'N40
  8,,NO?'N60
  8,NO'M40
  8,WELL1 !N1 :AT POSSESS$ Y 6G D[N "! ?
"T ( NI<T80
  8,I DON'T "K 'M40
  8,Y DON'T ,,"K8 ,DON'T ANSW] ME T WAY4
,TOM1 ,I WANT 6"K :AT Y BE5 ,,DO+ D[N
"!40
  8,I HA9'T BE5 DO+ A S+LE ?+1 ,AUNT
,S,Y1 ,I HOPE 6GRACI\S IF ,I H40
  ,I RECKON$ %E'D LET ME G N[1 & Z A
G5]L ?+ %E WD2 B ,I S'POSE "! 0 S _M
/RANGE ?+S GO+ ON %E 0 J 9 A SW1T AB E
LL ?+ T W>N'T Y>D-/ICK /RAI<T2 S %E
SAYS1 V DECID$3
  8,Y J M>* 96T SETT+-ROOM & /AY "! TILL
,I -E4 ,Y BE5 UP 6"S?+ Y NO BUSI;S TO1 &
,I LAY ,I'LL F9D \ :AT X IS 2F ,I',M D"O
) Y40
  ,S %E W5T AWAY Z ,I OP5$ ! DOOR &
WALK$ 96! SETT+-ROOM4 ,MY1 B "! 0 A CR[D
"!6 ,FIFTE5 F>M]S1 & E "O ( !M _H A GUN4
,I 0 MO/ P[];L SICK1 & SLUNK 6A *AIR &
SET D[N4 ,!Y 0 SETT+ >.D1 "S ( !M TALK+
A LL1 9 A L[ VOICE1 & ALL ( !M FIDGETY &
UNEASY1 B TRY+ 6LOOK L !Y W>N'T2 B ,I
"K$ !Y WAS1 2C !Y 0 ALW TAK+ (F _! HATS1
& PUTT+ !M ON1 & SCRAT*+ _! H1DS1 &
*ANG+ _! S1TS1 & FUMBL+ ) _! BUTTONS4 ,I
W>N'T EASY MYF1 B ,I DIDN'T TAKE MY HAT
(F1 ALL ! SAME4
  ,I DID WI% ,AUNT ,S,Y WD -E1 & GET D"O
) ME1 & LICK ME1 IF %E WANT$ TO1 & LET
ME GET AWAY & TELL ,TOM H[ WE'D OV]D"O ?
?+1 & :AT A ?"U+ HORNET'S-NE/ WE'D GOT
\RVS 9TO1 S WE CD /OP FOOL+ >.D /RAI<T
(F1 & CLE> \ ) ,JIM 2F ^! RIPS GOT \ (
PATI;E & -E = U4
  ,AT LA/ %E -E & 2GUN 6ASK ME "QS1 B ,I
,,CDN'T ANSW] !M /RAI<T1 ,I DIDN'T "K :
5D ( ME 0 UP2 2C ^! M5 0 9 S* A FIDGET
N[ T "S 0 WANT+ 6/>T "R ,,N[ & LAY = !M
DESP]ADOES1 & SAY+ X W>N'T B A FEW
M9UTES 6MIDNI<T2 & O!RS 0 TRY+ 6GET !M
6HOLD ON & WAIT =! %EEP-SIGNAL2 & "H 0
,AUNTY PE7+ AWAY AT ! "QS1 & ME A-%AK+
ALL OV] & R1DY 6S9K D[N 9 MY TRACKS ,I 0
T SC>$2 &! PLACE GETT+ HOTT] & HOTT]1 &!
BUTT] 2G9N+ 6MELT & RUN D[N MY NECK & 2H
MY E>S2 & PRETTY SOON1 :5 "O ( !M SAYS1
8,I',M = GO+ & GETT+ 9 ! CAB9 ,,F/ & "R
,,N[1 & CAT*+ !M :5 !Y -E10 ,I MO/
DROPP$2 &A /R1K ( BUTT] -E A-TRICKL+ D[N
MY =EH1D1 & ,AUNT ,S,Y %E SEE X1 & TURNS
:ITE Z A %EET1 & SAYS3
  8,=! L&'S SAKE1 :AT ,,IS ! MATT] )! *8
,HE'S GOT ! BRA9-FEV] Z %ORE Z Y'RE
BORN1 & !Y'RE OOZ+ \60
  ,& "EYBODY RUNS 6SEE1 & %E SNAT*ES (F
MY HAT1 & \ -ES ! BR1D & :AT 0 LEFT (!
BUTT]1 & %E GRA2$ ME1 & HU7$ ME1 & SAYS3
  8,OH1 :AT A TURN Y DID GIVE ME6 & H[
GLAD & GRATE;L ,I AM X A9'T NO WORSE2 =
LUCK'S AG/ U1 & X N"E RA9S B X P\RS1 &
:5 ,I SEE T TRUCK ,I ?"\ WE'D LO/ Y1 =
,I "K$ 0! COLOR & ALL X 0 J L YR BRA9S
WD 2 IF--,DE>1 DE>1 :YD'NT Y ,,TELL ME T
0 :AT Y'D BE5 D[N "! =1 ,I WDN'T A C>$4
,N[ CL] \ 6B$1 & DON'T LEMME SEE NO M (
Y TILL MORN+60
  ,I 0 UP /AIRS 9 A SECOND1 & D[N !
LI<TN+- ROD 9 ANO!R "O1 & %9N+ "? ! D>K
=! L1N-TO4 ,I CDN'T H>DLY GET MY ^WS \1
,I 0 S ANXI\S2 B ,I TOLD ,TOM Z QK Z ,I
CD WE M/ JUMP = X N[1 & N A M9UTE 6LOSE
--! H\SE FULL ( M51 YOND]1 ) GUNS6
  ,8 EYES J BLAZ$2 & HE SAYS3
  8,NO6--IS T S8 ,,A9'T X BULLY6 ,:Y1
,HUCK1 IF X 0 6D OV] AG1 ,I BET ,I CD
FET* TWO HUNDR$6 ,IF WE CD PUT X (F
TILL--0
  8,HURRY6 ,,HURRY60 ,I SAYS4 8,":'S
,JIM80
  8,"R AT YR ELB[2 IF Y R1* \ YR >M Y C
T\* HM4 ,HE'S DRESS$1 & "EY?+'S R1DY4
,N[ WE'LL SLIDE \ & GIVE ! %EEP-
SIGNAL40
  ,B !N WE HE>D ! TRAMP ( M5 -+ 6! DOOR1
& HE>D !M 2G9 6FUM# )! PADLOCK1 & HE>D A
MAN SAY3
  8,I ,,TOLD Y WE'D 2 TOO SOON2 !Y
HAV5'T -E
  -- ! DOOR IS LOCK$4 ,"H1 ,I'LL LOCK "S
( Y 96! CAB91 & Y LAY = 'EM 9 ! D>K &
KILL 'EM :5 !Y -E2 &! RE/ SCATT] >.D A
PIECE1 & LI/5 IF Y C HE> 'EM -+40
  ,S 9 !Y -E1 B CDN'T SEE U 9 ! D>K1 &
MO/ TROD ON U :IL/ WE 0 HU/L+ 6GET "U !
B$4 ,B WE GOT "U ALL "R1 & \ "? ! HOLE1
SWIFT B S(T--,JIM F/1 ME NEXT1 & ,TOM
LA/1 : 0 AC 6,TOM'S ORD]S4 ,N[ WE 0 9 !
L1N-TO1 & HE>D TRAMP+S CLOSE 0\TSIDE4 ,S
WE CREPT 6! DOOR1 & ,TOM /OPP$ U "! &
PUT 8 EYE 6! CRACK1 B CDN'T MAKE \ NO?+1
X 0 S D>K2 & :ISP]$ & SD HE WD LI/5 =!
/EPS 6GET FUR!R1 & :5 HE NUDG$ U ,JIM M/
GLIDE \ F/1 & HM LA/4 ,S HE SET 8 E> 6!
CRACK & LI/5$1 & LI/5$1 & LI/5$1 &! /EPS
A-SCRAP+ >.D \ "! ALL ! "T2 & AT LA/ HE
NUDG$ U1 & WE SLID \1 & /OOP$ D[N1 N
BR1?+1 & N MAK+ ! L1/ NOISE1 & SLIPP$
/1L?Y T[>DS ! F;E 9 ,9JUN FILE1 & GOT 6X
ALL "R1 & ME & ,JIM OV] X2 B ,TOM'S
BRIT*ES CAT*$ FA/ ON A SPL9T] ON ! TOP
RAIL1 & !N HE HE> ! /EPS -+1 S HE _H
6PULL LOOSE1 : SNAPP$ ! SPL9T] & MADE A
NOISE2 & Z HE DROPP$ 9 \R TRACKS & />T$
"SBODY S+S \3
  8,:O'S T8 ,ANSW]1 OR ,I'LL %OOT60
  ,B WE DIDN'T ANSW]2 WE J UNFURL$ \R
HEELS & %OV$4 ,!N "! 0 A RU%1 &A ,,BANG1
,,BANG1 ,,BANG6 &! BULLETS FAIRLY :IZZ$
>.D U6 ,WE HE>D !M S+ \3
  8,"H !Y >E6 ,!Y'VE BROKE =! RIV]6 ,AF
'EM1 BOYS1 & TURN LOOSE ! DOGS60
  ,S "H !Y -E1 FULL TILT4 ,WE CD HE> !M
2C !Y WORE BOOTS & YELL$1 B WE DIDN'T
WE> NO BOOTS & DIDN'T YELL4 ,WE 0 9 !
PA? 6! MILL2 & :5 !Y GOT PRETTY CLOSE ON
6U WE DODG$ 96! BU% & LET !M G BY1 & !N
DROPP$ 9 2H !M4 ,!Y'D _H ALL ! DOGS %UT
UP1 S !Y WDN'T SC>E (F ! RO2]S2 B 0? "T
"SBODY _H LET !M LOOSE1 & "H !Y -E1 MAK+
P[W[ 5 =A MILLION2 B !Y 0 \R DOGS2 S WE
/OPP$ 9 \R TRACKS TILL !Y CAT*$ UP2 & :5
!Y SEE X W>N'T NOBODY B U1 & NO EXCITE;T
6(F] !M1 !Y ONLY J SD H[DY1 & TORE "R
AH1D T[>DS ! %\T+ & CLATT]+2 & !N WE UP-
/1M AG1 & :IZZ$ AL;G AF !M TILL WE 0
NE>LY 6! MILL1 & !N /RUCK UP "? ! BU%
6": MY CANOE 0 TI$1 & HOPP$ 9 & PULL$ =
DE> LIFE T[>DS ! MI4LE (! RIV]1 B DIDN'T
MAKE NO M NOISE ?AN WE 0 OBLEEG$ TO4 ,!N
WE /RUCK \1 EASY & -=TA#1 =! ISL& ": MY
RAFT WAS2 & WE CD HE> !M YELL+ & B>K+ AT
EA* O!R ALL UP & D[N ! BANK1 TILL WE 0 S
F> AWAY ! S.DS GOT DIM & DI$ \4 ,& :5 WE
/EPP$ ON 6! RAFT ,I SAYS3
  8,,N[1 OLD ,JIM1 Y'RE A FREE MAN AG1 &
,I BET Y WON'T "E 2 A SLAVE NO M40
  8,EN A MI<TY GD JOB X WUZ1 TOO1 ,HUCK4
,X ,8UZ PLANN$ B1UTI;L1 EN X ,8UZ D"O
B1UTI;L2 EN DEY A9'T ,,NOBODY K9 GIT UP
A PLAN DAT'S MO0' MIX$-UP EN SPL5DID D5
:AT DAT "O WUZ40
  ,WE 0 ALL GLAD Z WE CD BE1 B ,TOM 0 !
GLA4E/ ( ALL 2C HE _H A BULLET 9 ! CALF
( 8 LEG4
  ,:5 ME & ,JIM HE>D T WE DIDN'T FEEL S
BRA% Z :AT WE DID 2F4 ,X 0 HURT+ HM
3SID]A#1 & BLE$+2 S WE LAID HM 9 !
WIGWAM & TORE UP "O (! DUKE'S %IRTS =
6B&AGE HM1 B HE SAYS3
  8,GIMME ! RAGS2 ,I C D X MYF4 ,DON'T
/OP N[2 DON'T FOOL >.D "H1 &! EVA.N
BOOM+ AL;G S H&"S2 MAN ! SWEEPS1 & SET
H] LOOSE6 ,BOYS1 WE D"O X ELEGANT6--
,8DE$ WE DID4 ,I WI% ,,WE'D A _H ! H&L+
( ,L\IS ,,XVI41 "! WDN'T A BE5 NO ,8,SON
( ,SA9T ,L\IS1 ASC5D 6H1V560' WROTE D[N
9 ,,HIS BIOGRAPHY2 NO1 SIR1 WE'D A :OOP$
HM OV] ! ,,BORD]--T'S :AT WE'D A D"O )
,,HM--& D"O X J Z SLICK Z NO?+ AT ALL1
TOO4 ,MAN ! SWEEPS--MAN ! SWEEPS60
  ,B ME & ,JIM 0 3SULT+--& ?9K+4 ,& AF
WE'D ?"\ A M9UTE1 ,I SAYS3
  8,SAY X1 ,JIM40
  ,S HE SAYS3
  8,WELL1 D51 DIS IS DE WAY X LOOK 6ME1
,HUCK4 ,EF X WUZ ,,HM DAT ,8UZ 2IN' SOT
FREE1 EN "O ] DE BOYS WUZ 6GIT %OT1 WD
HE SAY1 ,8,G ON EN SAVE ME1 NEMM9E ,8B\T
A DOCTOR F'R 6SAVE DIS "O80' ,IS DAT L
,M>S ,TOM ,SAWY]8 ,WD HE SAY DAT8 ,Y
,,BET HE WDN'T6 ,,WELL1 D51 IS ,,JIM
GYWNE 6SAY X8 ,NO1 SAH--,I DOAN0' BUDGE
A /EP \'N DIS PLACE ,8D\T A ,,DOCTOR1 N
IF X'S =TY YE>60
  ,I "K$ HE 0 :ITE 9SIDE1 & ,I RECKON$
HE'D SAY :AT HE DID SAY--S X 0 ALL "R
N[1 & ,I TOLD ,TOM ,I 0 A-GO+ =A DOCTOR4
,HE RAIS$ 3SID]A# R[ AB X1 B ME & ,JIM
/UCK 6X & WDN'T BUDGE2 S HE 0 = CRAWL+ \
& SETT+ ! RAFT LOOSE HMF2 B WE WDN'T LET
HM4 ,!N HE GIVE U A PIECE ( 8 M9D1 B X
DIDN'T D NO GD4
  ,S :5 HE SEES ME GETT+ ! CANOE R1DY1
HE SAYS3
  8,WELL1 !N1 IF Y RE B.D 6G1 ,I'LL TELL
Y ! WAY 6D :5 Y GET 6! VILLAGE4 ,%UT !
DOOR & BLFOLD ! DOCTOR TI<T & FA/1 &
MAKE HM SWE> 6BE SIL5T Z ! GRAVE1 & PUT
A PURSE FULL ( GOLD 9 8 H&1 & !N TAKE &
L1D HM ALL >.D ! BACK ALLEYS & "EY":S 9
! D>K1 & !N FET* HM "H 9 ! CANOE1 9 A
R.DAB WAY AM;G/ ! ISL&S1 & SE>* HM &
TAKE 8 *ALK AWAY F HM1 & DON'T GIVE X
BACK 6HM TILL Y GET HM BACK 6! VILLAGE1
OR ELSE HE W *ALK ? RAFT S HE C F9D X
AG4 ,X'S ! WAY !Y ALL D40
  ,S ,I SD ,I WD1 & LEFT1 & ,JIM 0 6HIDE
9 ! WOODS :5 HE SEE ! DOCTOR -+ TILL HE
0 G"O AG4
