             ,,*APT] ,,VII4
  ,RGIT UP6 ,:AT Y ,8B\T80
  ,I OP5$ MY EYES & LOOK$ >.D1 TRY+
6MAKE \ ": ,I WAS4 ,X 0 AF SUN-UP1 & ,I
_H BE5 S.D ASLEEP4 ,PAP 0 /&+ OV] ME
LOOK+ S\R,Q& SICK1 TOO4 ,HE SAYS3
  8,:AT Y DO9' ) ? GUN80
  ,I JUDG$ HE DIDN'T "K NO?+ AB :AT HE
_H BE5 DO+1 S ,I SAYS3
  8,"SBODY TRI$ 6GET IN1 S ,I 0 LAY+ =
HM40
  8,:Y DIDN'T Y R\/ ME \80
  8,WELL1 ,I TRI$ TO1 B ,I CDN'T2 ,I
CDN'T BUDGE Y40
  8,WELL1 ALL "R4 ,DON'T /& "! PALAV]+
ALL "D1 B \ ) Y & SEE IF "!'S A FI% ON !
L9ES = BR1KFA/4 ,I'LL 2 AL;G 9 A M9UTE40
  ,HE UNLOCK$ ! DOOR1 & ,I CLE>$ \ UP !
RIV]-BANK4 ,I NOTIC$ "S PIECES ( LIMBS &
S* ?+S FLOAT+ D[N1 &A SPR9KL+ ( B>K2 S
,I "K$ ! RIV] _H 2GUN 6RISE4 ,I RECKON$
,I WD H GRT "TS N[ IF ,I 0 OV] AT ! T[N4
,! ,JUNE RISE US$ 6BE ALW LUCK = ME2 2C
Z SOON Z T RISE 2G9S "H -ES CORDWOOD
FLOAT+ D[N1 & PIECES ( LOG RAFTS--"S"TS
A DOZ5 LOGS TGR2 S ALL Y H 6D IS 6CAT*
!M & SELL !M 6! WOOD-Y>DS &! SAWMILL4
  ,I W5T AL;G UP ! BANK ) "O EYE \ = PAP
& T'O!R "O \ = :AT ! RISE MI<T FET*
AL;G4 ,WELL1 ALL AT ONCE "H -ES A CANOE2
J A B1UTY1 TOO1 AB ?IRTE5 OR F\RTE5 FOOT
L;G1 RID+ HI< L A DUCK4 ,I %OT H1D-F/ (F
(! BANK L A FROG1 CLO!S & ALL ON1 &
/RUCK \ =! CANOE4 ,I J EXPECT$ "!'D 2
"SBODY LAY+ D[N 9 X1 2C P (T5 D"O T
6FOOL FOLKS1 & :5 A *AP _H PULL$ A SKIFF
\ MO/ 6X !Y'D RAISE UP & LAU< AT HM4 ,B
X W>N'T S ? "T4 ,X 0 A DRIFT-CANOE SURE
5\<1 & ,I CLUMB 9 & PA4L$ H] A%ORE4
,?9KS ,I1 ! OLD MAN W 2 GLAD :5 HE SEES
?--%E'S WOR? T5 DOLL>S4 ,B :5 ,I GOT
6%ORE PAP WASN'T 9 SI<T YET1 & Z ,I 0
RUNN+ H] 96A LL CREEK L A GULLY1 ALL
HUNG OV] ) V9ES & WILL[S1 ,I /RUCK ANO!R
IDEA3 ,I JUDG$ ,I'D HIDE H] GD1 & !N1
,8/1D ( TAK+ 6! WOODS :5 ,I RUN (F1 ,I'D
G D[N ! RIV] AB FIFTY MILE & CAMP 9 "O
PLACE = GD1 & N H S* A R\< "T TRAMP+ ON
FOOT4
  ,X 0 PRETTY CLOSE 6! %ANTY1 & ,I ?"\
,I HE>D ! OLD MAN -+ ALL ! "T2 B ,I GOT
H] HID2 & !N ,I \ & LOOK$ >.D A BUN* (
WILL[S1 & "! 0 ! OLD MAN D[N ! PA? A
PIECE J DRAW+ A B1D ON A BIRD ) 8 GUN4
,S HE _HN'T SE5 ANY?+4
  ,:5 HE GOT AL;G ,I 0 H>D AT X TAK+ UP
A 8TROT0 L9E4 ,HE ABUS$ ME A LL = 2+ S
SL[2 B ,I TOLD HM ,I FELL 9 ! RIV]1 & T
0 :AT MADE ME S L;G4 ,I "K$ HE WD SEE ,I
0 WET1 & !N HE WD 2 ASK+ "QS4 ,WE GOT
FIVE CATFI% (F ! L9ES & W5T HOME4
  ,:ILE WE LAID (F AF BR1KFA/ 6SLEEP UP1
BO? ( U 2+ AB WORE \1 ,I GOT 6?9K+ T IF
,I CD FIX UP "S WAY 6KEEP PAP &! WID[ F
TRY+ 6FOLL[ ME1 X WD 2 A C]TA9] ?+ ?AN
TRU/+ 6LUCK 6GET F> 5 (F 2F !Y MISS$ ME2
Y SEE1 ALL K9DS ( ?+S MI<T HAPP54 ,WELL1
,I DIDN'T SEE NO WAY =A :ILE1 B BY & BY
PAP RAIS$ UP A M9UTE 6DR9K ANO!R B>REL (
WAT]1 & HE SAYS3
  8,ANO!R "T A MAN -ES A-PR[L+ R.D "H Y
R\/ ME \1 Y HE>8 ,T MAN W>N'T "H = NO
GD4 ,I'D A %OT HM4 ,NEXT "T Y R\/ ME \1
Y HE>80
  ,!N HE DROPP$ D[N & W5T 6SLEEP AG2 B
:AT HE _H BE5 SAY+ GIVE ME ! V IDEA ,I
WANT$4 ,I SAYS 6MYF1 ,I C FIX X N[ S
NOBODY WON'T ?9K ( FOLL[+ ME4
  ,AB TWELVE O'C WE TURN$ \ & W5T AL;G
UP ! BANK4 ,! RIV] 0 -+ UP PRETTY FA/1 &
LOTS ( DRIFTWOOD GO+ 0ON ! RISE4 ,BY &
BY AL;G -ES "P (A LOG RAFT--N9E LOGS FA/
TGR4 ,WE W5T \ )! SKIFF & T[$ X A%ORE4
,!N WE _H D9N]4 ,ANYBODY B PAP WD A
WAIT$ & SE5 ! "D "?1 S Z 6CAT* M /UFF2 B
T W>N'T PAP'S /YLE4 ,N9E LOGS 0 5 = "O
"T2 HE M/ %OVE "R OV] 6T[N & SELL4 ,S HE
LOCK$ ME 9 & TOOK ! SKIFF1 & />T$ (F T[+
! RAFT AB HALF- PA/ ?REE4 ,I JUDG$ HE
WDN'T -E BACK T NI<T4 ,I WAIT$ TILL ,I
RECKON$ HE _H GOT A GD />T2 !N ,I \ ) MY
SAW1 & W5T 6"W ON T LOG AG4 ,2F HE 0
T'O!R SIDE (! RIV] ,I 0 \ (! HOLE2 HM &
8 RAFT 0 J A SPECK ON ! WAT] AWAY (F
YOND]4
  ,I TOOK ! SACK ( CORN M1L & TOOK X 6":
! CANOE 0 HID1 & %OV$ ! V9ES & BRAN*ES
A"P & PUT X IN2 !N ,I D"O ! SAME )! SIDE
( BACON2 !N ! :ISKY-JUG4 ,I TOOK ALL !
C(FEE & SUG> "! WAS1 & ALL ! AMMUNI;N2
,I TOOK ! WA4+2 ,I TOOK ! BUCKET & G\RD2
,I TOOK A DIPP] &A T9 CUP1 & MY OLD SAW
& TWO BLANKETS1 &! SKILLET &! C(FEE-POT4
,I TOOK FI%-L9ES & MAT*ES & O!R ?+S--
"EY?+ T 0 WOR? A C5T4 ,I CL1N$ \ !
PLACE4 ,I WANT$ AN AXE1 B "! WASN'T ANY1
ONLY ! "O \ AT ! WOODPILE1 & ,I "K$ :Y
,I 0 GO+ 6L1VE T4 ,I FET*$ \ ! GUN1 & N[
,I 0 D"O4
  ,I _H WORE ! GR.D A GD D1L CRAWL+ \ (!
HOLE & DRA7+ \ S _M ?+S4 ,S ,I FIX$ T Z
GD Z ,I CD F ! \TSIDE 0SCATT]+ DU/ ON !
PLACE1 : COV]$ UP ! SMOO?;S &! SAWDU/4
,!N ,I FIX$ ! PIECE ( LOG BACK 96XS
PLACE1 & PUT TWO ROCKS "U X & "O AG/ X
6HOLD X "!1 = X 0 B5T UP AT T PLACE &
DIDN'T Q T\* GR.D4 ,IF Y /OOD F\R OR
FIVE FOOT AWAY & DIDN'T "K X 0 SAW$1 Y
WDN'T N"E NOTICE X2 & 2SS1 ? 0 ! BACK (!
CAB91 & X W>N'T LIKELY ANYBODY WD G
FOOL+ >.D "!4
  ,X 0 ALL GRASS CLE> 6! CANOE1 S ,I
_HN'T LEFT A TRACK4 ,I FOLL[$ >.D 6SEE4
,I /OOD ON ! BANK & LOOK$ \ OV] ! RIV]4
,ALL SAFE4 ,S ,I TOOK ! GUN & W5T UP A
PIECE 96! WOODS1 & 0 HUNT+ >.D = "S
BIRDS :5 ,I SEE A WILD PIG2 HOGS SOON
W5T WILD 9 !M BOTTOMS AF !Y _H GOT AWAY
F ! PRAIRIE F>MS4 ,I %OT ? FELL[ & TOOK
HM 96CAMP4
  ,I TOOK ! AXE & SMA%$ 9 ! DOOR4 ,I B1T
X & HACK$ X 3SID]A# A-DO+ X4 ,I FET*$ !
PIG IN1 & TOOK HM BACK NE>LY 6! TA# &
HACK$ 96HIS ?ROAT )! AXE1 & LAID HM D[N
ON ! GR.D 6BLE$2 ,I SAY GR.D 2C X 0 GR.D
--H>D PACK$1 & NO BO>DS4 ,WELL1 NEXT ,I
TOOK AN OLD SACK & PUT A LOT ( BIG ROCKS
9 X--ALL ,I CD DRAG--& ,I />T$ X F !
PIG1 & DRA7$ X 6! DOOR & "? ! WOODS D[N
6! RIV] & DUMP$ X IN1 & D[N X SUNK1 \ (
SI<T4 ,Y CD EASY SEE T "S?+ _H BE5 DRA7$
OV] ! GR.D4 ,I DID WI% ,TOM ,SAWY] 0 "!2
,I "K$ HE WD TAKE AN 9T]E/ 9 ? K9D (
BUSI;S1 & ?R[ 9 ! FANCY T\*ES4 ,NOBODY
CD SPR1D HMF L ,TOM ,SAWY] 9 S* A ?+ Z
T4
  ,WELL1 LA/ ,I PULL$ \ "S ( MY HAIR1 &
BLOOD$ ! AXE GD1 & /UCK X ON ! BACK
SIDE1 & SLUNG ! AXE 9 ! CORN]4 ,!N ,I
TOOK UP ! PIG & HELD HM 6MY BR1/ ) MY
JACKET 7S HE CDN'T DRIP7 TILL ,I GOT A
GD PIECE 2L ! H\SE & !N DUMP$ HM 96!
RIV]4 ,N[ ,I ?"\ ( "S?+ ELSE4 ,S ,I W5T
& GOT ! BAG ( M1L & MY OLD SAW \ (!
CANOE1 & FET*$ !M 6! H\SE4 ,I TOOK ! BAG
6": X US$ 6/&1 & RIPP$ A HOLE 9 ! BOTTOM
( X )! SAW1 = "! W>N'T NO KNIVES & =KS
ON ! PLACE--PAP D"O "EY?+ ) 8 CLASP-
KNIFE AB ! COOK+4 ,!N ,I C>RI$ ! SACK AB
A HUNDR$ Y>DS ACR ! GRASS & "? ! WILL[S
EA/ (! H\SE1 6A %ALL[ LAKE T 0 FIVE MILE
WIDE & FULL ( RU%ES--& DUCKS TOO1 Y MI<T
SAY1 9 ! S1SON4 ,"! 0 A SL\< OR A CREEK
L1D+ \ ( X ON ! O!R SIDE T W5T MILES
AWAY1 ,I DON'T "K ":1 B X DIDN'T G 6!
RIV]4 ,! M1L SIFT$ \ & MADE A LL TRACK
ALL ! WAY 6! LAKE4 ,I DROPP$ PAP'S
:ET/"O "! TOO1 S Z 6LOOK L X _H BE5 D"O
0A3ID5T4 ,!N ,I TI$ UP ! RIP 9 ! M1L
SACK )A /R+1 S X WDN'T L1K NO M1 & TOOK
X & MY SAW 6! CANOE AG4
  ,X 0 AB D>K N[2 S ,I DROPP$ ! CANOE
D[N ! RIV] "U "S WILL[S T HUNG OV] !
BANK1 & WAIT$ =! MOON 6RISE4 ,I MADE FA/
6A WILL[2 !N ,I TOOK A BITE 6EAT1 & BY &
BY LAID D[N 9 ! CANOE 6SMOKE A PIPE &
LAY \ A PLAN4 ,I SAYS 6MYF1 !Y'LL FOLL[
! TRACK ( T SACK;L ( ROCKS 6! %ORE & !N
DRAG ! RIV] = ME4 ,& !Y'LL FOLL[ T M1L
TRACK 6! LAKE & G BR[S+ D[N ! CREEK T
L1DS \ ( X 6F9D ! RO2]S T KILL$ ME &
TOOK ! ?+S4 ,!Y WON'T "E HUNT ! RIV] =
ANY?+ B MY D1D C>CASS4 ,!Y'LL SOON GET
TIR$ ( T1 & WON'T BO!R NO M AB ME4 ,ALL
"R2 ,I C /OP ANY": ,I WANT TO4
,JACKSON'S ,ISL& IS GD 5 = ME2 ,I "K T
ISL& PRETTY WELL1 & NOBODY "E -ES "!4 ,&
!N ,I C PA4LE OV] 6T[N NI<TS1 & SL9K >.D
& PICK UP ?+S ,I WANT4 ,JACKSON'S
,ISL&'S ! PLACE4
  ,I 0 PRETTY TIR$1 &! F/ ?+ ,I "K$ ,I 0
ASLEEP4 ,:5 ,I WOKE UP ,I DIDN'T "K ":
,I 0 =A M9UTE4 ,I SET UP & LOOK$ >.D1 A
LL SC>$4 ,!N ,I REMEMB]$4 ,! RIV] LOOK$
MILES & MILES ACR4 ,! MOON 0 S B"R ,I CD
A C.T$ ! DRIFT LOGS T W5T A-SLIPP+ AL;G1
BLACK & /1 HUNDR$S ( Y>DS \ F %ORE4
,"EY?+ 0 D1D QUIET1 & X LOOK$ LATE1 &
,,SMELT LATE4 ,Y "K :AT ,I M1N--,I DON'T
"K ! ^WS 6PUT X IN4
  ,I TOOK A GD GAP &A /RET*1 & 0 J GO+
6UNHIT* & />T :5 ,I HE>D A S.D AWAY OV]
! WAT]4 ,I LI/5$4 ,PRETTY SOON ,I MADE X
\4 ,X 0 T DULL K9D (A REGUL> S.D T -ES F
O>S "W+ 9 R[LOCKS :5 X'S A / NI<T4 ,I
PEEP$ \ "? ! WILL[ BRAN*ES1 & "! X WAS--
A SKIFF1 AWAY ACR ! WAT]4 ,I CDN'T TELL
H[ _M 0 9 X4 ,X KEPT A-COM+1 & :5 X 0
ABR1/ ( ME ,I SEE "! W>N'T B "O MAN 9 X4
,?9K'S ,I1 MAYBE X'S PAP1 ?\< ,I W>N'T
EXPECT+ HM4 ,HE DROPP$ 2L ME )! CURR5T1
& BY & BY HE CAME A-SW++ UP %ORE 9 !
EASY WAT]1 & HE W5T 0S CLOSE ,I CD A
R1*$ \ ! GUN & T\*$ HM4 ,WELL1 X ,,0
PAP1 SURE 5--& SOB]1 TOO1 0! WAY HE LAID
8 O>S4
  ,I DIDN'T LOSE NO "T4 ,! NEXT M9UTE ,I
0 A- SP9N+ D[N /R1M S(T B QK 9 ! %ADE (!
BANK4 ,I MADE TWO MILE &A HALF1 & !N
/RUCK \ A QU>T] (A MILE OR M T[>DS !
MI4LE (! RIV]1 2C PRETTY SOON ,I WD 2
PASS+ ! F]RY L&+1 & P MI<T SEE ME & HAIL
ME4 ,I GOT \ AM;G/ ! DRIFTWOOD1 & !N
LAID D[N 9 ! BOTTOM (! CANOE & LET H]
FLOAT4 ,I LAID "!1 & _H A GD RE/ &A
SMOKE \ ( MY PIPE1 LOOK+ AWAY 96! SKY2 N
A CL\D 9 X4 ,! SKY LOOKS "E S DEEP :5 Y
LAY D[N ON YR BACK 9 ! MOON%9E2 ,I N"E
"K$ X 2F4 ,& H[ F> A BODY C HE> ON !
WAT] S* NI<TS6 ,I HE>D P TALK+ AT ! F]RY
L&+4 ,I HE>D :AT !Y SD1 TOO--E ^W ( X4
,"O MAN SD X 0 GETT+ T[>DS ! L;G "DS &!
%ORT NI<TS N[4 ,T'O!R "O SD ,,? W>N'T "O
(! %ORT "OS1 HE RECKON$--& !N !Y LAU<$1
& HE SD X OV] AG1 & !Y LAU<$ AG2 !N !Y
WAK$ UP ANO!R FELL[ & TOLD HM1 & LAU<$1
B HE DIDN'T LAU<2 HE RIPP$ \ "S?+ BRISK1
& SD LET HM AL"O4 ,! F/ FELL[ SD HE
,8L[$ 6TELL X 6HIS OLD WOMAN--%E WD ?9K
X 0 PRETTY GD2 B HE SD T W>N'T NO?+ 6"S
?+S HE _H SD 9 8 "T4 ,I HE>D "O MAN SAY
X 0 NE>LY ?REE O'C1 & HE HOP$ "DLI<T
WDN'T WAIT M ?AN AB A WEEK L;G]4 ,AF T !
TALK GOT FUR!R & FUR!R AWAY1 & ,I CDN'T
MAKE \ ! ^WS ANY M2 B ,I CD HE> ! MUM#1
& N[ & !N A LAU<1 TOO1 B X SEEM$ A L;G
WAYS (F4
  ,I 0 AWAY 2L ! F]RY N[4 ,I ROSE UP1 &
"! 0 ,JACKSON'S ,ISL&1 AB TWO MILE &A
HALF D[N /R1M1 H1VY TIMB]$ & /&+ UP \ (!
MI4LE (! RIV]1 BIG & D>K & SOLID1 L A
/1MBOAT )\T ANY LI<TS4 ,"! W>N'T ANY
SIGNS (! B> AT ! H1D--X 0 ALL "U WAT]
N[4
  ,X DIDN'T TAKE ME L;G 6GET "!4 ,I %OT
PA/ ! H1D AT A RIPP+ RATE1 ! CURR5T 0 S
SWIFT1 & !N ,I GOT 96! D1D WAT] & L&$ ON
! SIDE T[>DS ! ,ILL9OIS %ORE4 ,I RUN !
CANOE 96A DEEP D5T 9 ! BANK T ,I "K$ AB2
,I _H 6"P ! WILL[ BRAN*ES 6GET IN2 & :5
,I MADE FA/ NOBODY CD A SE5 ! CANOE F !
\TSIDE4
  ,I W5T UP & SET D[N ON A LOG AT ! H1D
(! ISL&1 & LOOK$ \ ON ! BIG RIV] &!
BLACK DRIFTWOOD & AWAY OV] 6! T[N1 ?REE
MILE AWAY1 ": "! 0 ?REE OR F\R LI<TS
TW9KL+4 ,A MON/R\S BIG LUMB]-RAFT 0 AB A
MILE UP /R1M1 -+ AL;G D[N1 )A LANT]N 9 !
MI4LE ( X4 ,I WAT*$ X -E CREEP+ D[N1 &
:5 X 0 MO/ ABR1/ ( ": ,I /OOD ,I HE>D A
MAN SAY1 8,/]N O>S1 "!6 H1VE H] H1D
6/AB- BO>D60 ,I HE>D T J Z PLA9 Z IF !
MAN 0 0MY SIDE4
  ,"! 0 A LL GRAY 9 ! SKY N[2 S ,I /EPP$
96! WOODS1 & LAID D[N =A NAP 2F BR1KFA/4
