           ,,*APT] ,,XXXVII4
  ,,T 0 ALL FIX$4 ,S !N WE W5T AWAY &
W5T 6! RU2AGE-PILE 9 ! BACK Y>D1 ": !Y
KEEP ! OLD BOOTS1 & RAGS1 & PIECES (
BOTTLES1 & WORE-\ T9 ?+S1 & ALL S*
TRUCK1 & SCRAT*$ >.D & F.D AN OLD T9
WA%PAN1 & /OPP$ UP ! HOLES Z WELL Z WE
CD1 6BAKE ! PIE IN1 & TOOK X D[N CELL> &
/OLE X FULL ( FL\R & />T$ = BR1KFA/1 &
F.D A C\PLE ( %+LE-NAILS T ,TOM SD WD 2
H&Y =A PRISON] 6SCRAB# 8 "N & SORR[S ON
! DUNGEON WALLS )1 & DROPP$ "O ( !M 9
,AUNT ,S,Y'S APRON-POCKET : 0 HANG+ ON A
*AIR1 & T'O!R WE /UCK 9 ! B& ( ,UNCLE
,SILAS'S HAT1 : 0 ON ! BUR1U1 2C WE HE>D
! *N SAY _! PA & MA 0 GO+ 6! RUNAWAY
NI7]'S H\SE ? MORN+1 & !N W5T 6BR1KFA/1
& ,TOM DROPP$ ! PEWT] SPOON 9 ,UNCLE
,SILAS'S COAT-POCKET1 & ,AUNT ,S,Y
WASN'T -E YET1 S WE _H 6WAIT A LL :ILE4
  ,& :5 %E -E %E 0 HOT & R$ & CROSS1 &
CDN'T H>DLY WAIT =! B.S+2 & !N %E W5T
6SLUIC+ \ C(FEE ) "O H& & CRACK+ ! H&IE/
*'S H1D ) H] ?IM# )! O!R1 & SAYS3
  8,I'VE HUNT$ HI< & ,I'VE HUNT$ L[1 & X
DOES B1T ALL :AT ,,HAS 2COME ( YR O!R
%IRT40
  ,MY HE>T FELL D[N AM;G/ MY LUNGS &
LIV]S & ?+S1 &A H>D PIECE ( CORN-CRU/
/>T$ D[N MY ?ROAT AF X & GOT MET ON !
ROAD )A C\<1 & 0 %OT ACR ! TA#1 & TOOK
"O (! *N 9 ! EYE & CURL$ HM UP L A FI%+-
WORM1 & LET A CRY \ ( HM ! SIZE (A
W>:OOP1 & ,TOM HE TURN$ K9D] BLUE >.D !
GILLS1 & X ALL AM.T$ 6A 3SID]A# /ATE (
?+S = AB A QU>T] (A M9UTE OR Z M* Z T1 &
,I WD A SOLD \ = HALF PRICE IF "! 0 A
BI4]4 ,B AF T WE 0 ALL "R AG--X 0 ! SU45
SURPRISE ( X T KNOCK$ U S K9D ( COLD4
,UNCLE ,SILAS HE SAYS3
  8,X'S MO/ UNCOMMON CURI\S1 ,I C'T "U/&
X4 ,I "K P]FECTLY WELL ,I TOOK X ,,(F1
2C--0
  8,2C Y HA9'T GOT B "O ,,ON4 ,J ,,LI/5
AT ! MAN6 ,I "K Y TOOK X (F1 & "K X 0A
BETT] WAY ?AN YR WOOL-GE!R+ MEMORY1 TOO1
2C X 0 ON ! CLO'S-L9E YE/]"D--,I SEE X
"! MYF4 ,B X'S G"O1 T'S ! L;G &! %ORT (
X1 & Y'LL J H 6*ANGE 6A R$ FLANN'L "O
TILL ,I C GET "T 6MAKE A NEW "O4 ,& X
'LL 2 ! ?IRD ,I'VE MADE 9 TWO YE>S4 ,X J
KEEPS A BODY ON ! JUMP 6KEEP Y 9 %IRTS2
& :AT"E Y D MANAGE 6,,D ) 'M ALL IS
MORE'N ,I C MAKE \4 ,A BODY 'D ?9K Y
,,WD LE>N 6TAKE "S SORT ( C>E ( 'EM AT
YR "T ( LIFE40
  8,I "K X1 ,S,Y1 & ,I D TRY ALL ,I C4
,B X "\N'T 6BE ALT MY FAULT1 2C1 Y "K1
,I DON'T SEE !M NOR H NO?+ 6D ) !M
EXCEPT :5 !Y'RE ON ME2 & ,I DON'T 2LIEVE
,I'VE "E LO/ "O ( !M ,,(F ( ME40
  8,WELL1 X A9'T ,,YR FAULT IF Y HAV5'T1
,SILAS2 Y'D A D"O X IF Y CD1 ,I RECKON4
,&! %IRT A9'T ALL T'S G"O1 NU!R4 ,!R'S A
SPOON G"O2 & ,,T A9'T ALL4 ,"! 0 T51 &
N[ !R'S ONLY N9E4 ,! CALF GOT ! %IRT1 ,I
RECKON1 B ! CALF N"E TOOK ! SPOON1 ,,T'S
C]TA940
  8,:Y1 :AT ELSE IS G"O1 ,S,Y80
  8,!R'S SIX ,,C&LES G"O--T'S :AT4 ,!
RATS CD A GOT ! C&LES1 & ,I RECKON !Y
DID2 ,I WOND] !Y DON'T WALK (F )! :OLE
PLACE1 ! WAY Y'RE ALW GO+ 6/OP _! HOLES
& DON'T D X2 & IF !Y W>N'T FOOLS !Y'D
SLEEP 9 YR HAIR1 ,SILAS--,,Y'D N"E F9D X
\2 B Y C'T LAY ! ,,SPOON ON ! RATS1 & T
,I "K40
  8,WELL1 ,S,Y1 ,I'M 9 FAULT1 & ,I
AC"KL$GE X2 ,I'VE BE5 REMISS2 B ,I WON'T
LET TO-MORR[ G 0)\T /OPP+ UP !M HOLES40
  8,OH1 ,I WDN'T HURRY2 NEXT YE> 'LL D4
,MATILDA ,ANGEL9A ,>AM9TA ,,PHELPS60
  ,:ACK -ES ! ?IM#1 &! * SNAT*ES H]
CLAWS \ (! SUG>-B[L )\T FOOL+ >.D ANY4
,J !N ! NI7] WOMAN /EPS ON 6! PASSAGE1 &
SAYS3
  8,MISSUS1 DEY'S A %EET G"O40
  8,A ,,%EET G"O6 ,WELL1 =! L&'S SAKE60
  8,I'LL /OP UP !M HOLES TO-"D10 SAYS
,UNCLE ,SILAS1 LOOK+ SORR[;L4
  8,OH1 ,,D %ET UP6--S'POSE ! RATS TOOK
! ,,%EET8 ,,":'S X G"O1 ,LIZE80
  8,CLAH 6GD;S ,I HA9'T NO NO;N1 ,MISS'
,S,Y4 ,%E WUZ ON DE CLO'SL9E YI/I4Y1 B
%E D"O G"O3 %E A9' DAH NO MO0' N[40
  8,I RECKON ! _W ,,IS -+ 6AN 5D4 ,I
,,N"E SEE ! B1T ( X 9 ALL MY BORN "DS4
,A %IRT1 &A %EET1 &A SPOON1 & SIX C--0
  8,MISSUS10 -ES A "Y YALL] W5*1 8DEY'S
A BRASS CANNEL/ICK MISS'N40
  8,CL] \ F "H1 Y HUSSY1 ] ,I'LL TAKE A
SKILLET 6YE60
  ,WELL1 %E 0 J A-BIL+4 ,I 2GUN 6LAY =A
*.E2 ,I RECKON$ ,I WD SN1K \ & G =!
WOODS TILL ! W1!R MOD]AT$4 ,%E KEPT A-
RAG+ "R AL;G1 RUNN+ H] 9SURREC;N ALL
0H]F1 & "EYBODY ELSE MI<TY MEEK & QUIET2
& AT LA/ ,UNCLE ,SILAS1 LOOK+ K9D (
FOOLI%1 FI%ES UP T SPOON \ ( 8 POCKET4
,%E /OPP$1 ) H] M\? OP5 & H] H&S UP2 & Z
= ME1 ,I WI%$ ,I 0 9 ,J]USLEM OR "S":S4
,B N L;G1 2C %E SAYS3
  8,X'S ,,J Z ,I EXPECT$4 ,S Y _H X 9 YR
POCKET ALL ! "T2 & L Z N Y'VE GOT ! O!R
?+S "!1 TOO4 ,H['D X GET "!80
  8,I REELY DON'T "K1 ,S,Y10 HE SAYS1
K9D ( APOLOGIZ+1 8OR Y "K ,I WD TELL4 ,I
0 A- /UDY+ OV] MY TEXT 9 ,ACTS ,SEV5TE5
2F BR1KFA/1 & ,I RECKON ,I PUT X 9 "!1 N
NOTIC+1 M1N+ 6PUT MY ,TE/A;T IN1 & X M/
2 S1 2C MY ,TE/A;T A9'T IN2 B ,I'LL G &
SEE2 & IF ! ,TE/A;T IS ": ,I _H X1 ,I'LL
"K ,I DIDN'T PUT X IN1 & T W %[ T ,I
LAID ! ,TE/A;T D[N & TOOK UP ! SPOON1
&--0
  8,OH1 =! L&'S SAKE6 ,GIVE A BODY A
RE/6 ,G ,8L;G N[1 ! :OLE KIT & BIL+ (
YE2 & DON'T -E NI< ME AG TILL ,I'VE GOT
BACK MY P1CE ( M9D40
  ,I',D A HE>D H] IF %E'D A SD X 6H]F1
LET AL"O SP1K+ X \2 & ,I'D A GOT UP &
OBEY$ H] IF ,I'D A BE5 D1D4 ,Z WE 0
PASS+ "? ! SETT+-ROOM ! OLD MAN HE TOOK
UP 8 HAT1 &! %+LE-NAIL FELL \ ON !
FLOOR1 & HE J M]ELY PICK$ X UP & LAID X
ON ! MANTEL-%ELF1 & N"E SD NO?+1 & W5T
\4 ,TOM SEE HM D X1 & REMEMB]$ AB !
SPOON1 & SAYS3
  8,WELL1 X A9'T NO USE 6S5D ?+S 0,,HM
NO M1 HE A9'T RELIA#40 ,!N HE SAYS3 8,B
HE D"O U A GD TURN )! SPOON1 ANYWAY1 )\T
"K+ X1 & S WE'LL G & D HM "O )\T ,,HM
"K+ X--/OP UP 8 RAT-HOLES40
  ,"! 0 A NO# GD LOT ( !M D[N CELL>1 & X
TOOK U A :OLE H\R1 B WE D"O ! JOB TI<T &
GD & %IP%APE4 ,!N WE HE>D /EPS ON !
/AIRS1 & BL[$ \ \R LI<T & HID2 & "H -ES
! OLD MAN1 )A C&LE 9 "O H& &A BUNDLE (
/UFF 9 T'O!R1 LOOK+ Z ABS5T-M9D$ Z YE>
2F LA/4 ,HE W5T A MOON+ >.D1 F/ 6"O RAT-
HOLE & !N ANO!R1 TILL HE'D BE5 6!M ALL4
,!N HE /OOD AB FIVE M9UTES1 PICK+ TALL[-
DRIP (F ( 8 C&LE & ?9K+4 ,!N HE TURNS (F
SL[ & DR1MY T[>DS ! /AIRS1 SAY+3
  8,WELL1 =! LIFE ( ME ,I C'T REMEMB] :5
,I D"O X4 ,I CD %[ H] N[ T ,I W>N'T
6BLAME ON A3.T (! RATS4 ,B N"E M9D--LET
X G4 ,I RECKON X WDN'T D NO GD40
  ,& S HE W5T ON A-MUMBL+ UP /AIRS1 & !N
WE LEFT4 ,HE 0 A MI<TY NICE OLD MAN4 ,&
ALW IS4
  ,TOM 0 A GD D1L BO!R$ AB :AT 6D =A
SPOON1 B HE SD WE'D GOT 6H X2 S HE TOOK
A ?9K4 ,:5 HE _H CIPH]$ X \ HE TOLD ME
H[ WE 0 6D2 !N WE W5T & WAIT$ >.D !
SPOON-BASKET TILL WE SEE ,AUNT ,S,Y -+1
& !N ,TOM W5T 6C.T+ ! SPOONS & LAY+ !M \
6"O SIDE1 & ,I SLID "O ( !M UP MY
SLEEVE1 & ,TOM SAYS3
  8,:Y1 ,AUNT ,S,Y1 "! A9'T B N9E SPOONS
,,YET40
  ,%E SAYS3
  8,G ,8L;G 6YR PLAY1 & DON'T BO!R ME4
,I "K BETT]1 ,I C.T$ 'M MYF40
  8,WELL1 ,I'VE C.T$ !M TWICE1 ,AUNTY1 &
,I C'T MAKE B N9E40
  ,%E LOOK$ \ ( ALL PATI;E1 B ( C\RSE %E
-E 6C.T--ANYBODY WD4
  8,I DCL 6GRACI\S !R0' ,,A9'T B N9E60
%E SAYS4 8,:Y1 :AT 9 ! _W--PLAGUE ,,TAKE
! ?+S1 ,I'LL C.T 'M AG40
  ,S ,I SLIPP$ BACK ! "O ,I _H1 & :5 %E
GOT D"O C.T+1 %E SAYS3
  8,HANG ! TR\#"S RU2AGE1 !R'S ,,T5 N[60
& %E LOOK$ HU6Y & BO!R$ BO?4 ,B ,TOM
SAYS3
  8,:Y1 ,AUNTY1 ,I DON'T ?9K "!'S T540
  8,Y NUMSKULL1 DIDN'T Y SEE ME ,,C.T
'M80
  8,I "K1 B--0
  8,WELL1 ,I'LL C.T 'M ,,AG40
  ,S ,I SM\*$ "O1 & !Y -E \ N9E1 SAME Z
! O!R "T4 ,WELL1 %E ,,0 9 A TE>+ WAY--J
A-TREMBL+ ALL OV]1 %E 0 S MAD4 ,B %E
C.T$ & C.T$ TILL %E GOT T A4L$ %E'D />T
6C.T 9 ! BASKET =A SPOON "S"TS2 & S1
?REE "TS !Y -E \ "R1 & ?REE "TS !Y -E \
WR;G4 ,!N %E GRA2$ UP ! BASKET & SLAMM$
X ACR ! H\SE & KNOCK$ ! CAT GALLEY-WE/2
& %E SD CLE'R \ & LET H] H "S P1CE1 & IF
WE -E BO!R+ >.D H] AG 2TWIXT T & D9N]
%E'D SK9 U4 ,S WE _H ! ODD SPOON1 &
DROPP$ X 9 H] APRON-POCKET :IL/ %E 0 A-
GIV+ U \R SAIL+ ORD]S1 & ,JIM GOT X ALL
"R1 AL;G ) H] %+LE NAIL1 2F NOON4 ,WE 0
V WELL SATISFI$ ) ? BUSI;S1 & ,TOM ALL[$
X 0 WOR? TWICE ! TR\# X TOOK1 2C HE SD
,,N[ %E CDN'T "E C.T !M SPOONS TWICE
ALIKE AG 6SAVE H] LIFE2 & WDN'T 2LIEVE
%E'D C.T$ !M "R IF %E ,,DID2 & SD T AF
%E'D AB C.T$ H] H1D (F =! NEXT ?REE "DS
HE JUDG$ %E'D GIVE X UP & (F] 6KILL
ANYBODY T WANT$ H] 6"E C.T !M ANY M4
  ,S WE PUT ! %EET BACK ON ! L9E T NI<T1
& /OLE "O \ ( H] CLOSET2 & KEPT ON PUTT+
X BACK & /1L+ X AG =A C\PLE ( "DS TILL
%E DIDN'T "K H[ _M %EETS %E _H ANY M1 &
%E DIDN'T ,,C>E1 & W>N'T A-GO+ 6BULLYRAG
! RE/ ( H] S\L \ AB X1 & WDN'T C.T !M AG
N 6SAVE H] LIFE2 %E DRU!R DIE F/4
  ,S WE 0 ALL "R N[1 Z 6! %IRT &! %EET &
! SPOON &! C&LES1 0! HELP (! CALF &!
RATS &! MIX$-UP C.T+2 & Z 6! C&LE/ICK1 X
W>N'T NO 3SEQU;E1 X WD BL[ OV] BY & BY4
  ,B T PIE 0 A JOB2 WE _H NO 5D ( TR\# )
T PIE4 ,WE FIX$ X UP AWAY D[N 9 ! WOODS1
& COOK$ X "!2 & WE GOT X D"O AT LA/1 & V
SATISFACTORY1 TOO2 B N ALL 9 "O "D2 & WE
_H 6USE UP ?REE WA%-PANS FULL ( FL\R 2F
WE GOT "?1 & WE GOT BURNT PRETTY M* ALL
OV]1 9 PLACES1 & EYES PUT \ )! SMOKE2
2C1 Y SEE1 WE DIDN'T WANT NO?+ B A CRU/1
& WE CDN'T PROP X UP "R1 & %E WD ALW
CAVE IN4 ,B ( C\RSE WE ?"\ (! "R WAY AT
LA/--: 0 6COOK ! LA4]1 TOO1 9 ! PIE4 ,S
!N WE LAID 9 ) ,JIM ! SECOND NI<T1 &
TORE UP ! %EET ALL 9 LL /R+S & TWI/$ !M
TGR1 & L;G 2F "DLI<T WE _H A LOVELY ROPE
T Y CD A HUNG A P]SON )4 ,WE LET ON X
TOOK N9E MON?S 6MAKE X4
  ,& 9 ! =ENOON WE TOOK X D[N 6! WOODS1
B X WDN'T G 96! PIE4 ,2+ MADE (A :OLE
%EET1 T WAY1 "! 0 ROPE 5 = =TY PIES IF
WE'D A WANT$ !M1 & PL5TY LEFT OV] = S\P1
OR SAUSAGE1 OR ANY?+ Y *OOSE4 ,WE CD A
_H A :OLE D9N]4
  ,B WE DIDN'T NE$ X4 ,ALL WE NE$$ 0 J 5
=! PIE1 & S WE ?R[$ ! RE/ AWAY4 ,WE
DIDN'T COOK N"O (! PIES 9 ! WA%-PAN--
AFRAID ! SOLD] WD MELT2 B ,UNCLE ,SILAS
HE _H A NO# BRASS W>M+-PAN : HE ?"\
3SID]A# (1 2C X 2L;G$ 6"O ( 8 ANCE/]S )A
L;G WOOD5 H&LE T -E OV] F ,5GL& )
,WILLIAM ! ,3QU]OR 9 ! ,MAYFL[] OR "O (
!M E>LY %IPS & 0 HID AWAY UP G>RET )A
LOT ( O!R OLD POTS & ?+S T 0 VALUA#1 N
ON A3.T ( 2+ ANY A3.T1 2C !Y W>N'T1 B ON
A3.T ( !M 2+ RELICTS1 Y "K1 & WE SNAK$
H] \1 PRIVATE1 & TOOK H] D[N "!1 B %E
FAIL$ ON ! F/ PIES1 2C WE DIDN'T "K H[1
B %E -E UP SMIL+ ON ! LA/ "O4 ,WE TOOK &
L9$ H] ) D\<1 & SET H] 9 ! COALS1 &
LOAD$ H] UP ) RAG ROPE1 & PUT ON A D\<
RO(1 & %UT D[N ! LID1 & PUT HOT EMB]S ON
TOP1 & /OOD (F FIVE FOOT1 )! L;G H&LE1
COOL & -=TA#1 & 9 FIFTE5 M9UTES %E TURN$
\ A PIE T 0 A SATISFAC;N 6LOOK AT4 ,B !
P]SON T ET X WD WANT 6FET* A C\PLE (
KAGS ( TOO?PICKS AL;G1 = IF T ROPE LA4]
WDN'T CRAMP HM D[N 6BUSI;S ,I DON'T "K
NO?+ :AT ,I'M TALK+ AB1 & LAY HM 9 5
/OMA*-A*E 6LA/ HM TILL NEXT "T1 TOO4
  ,NAT DIDN'T LOOK :5 WE PUT ! WIT* PIE
9 ,JIM'S PAN2 & WE PUT ! ?REE T9 PLATES
9 ! BOTTOM (! PAN "U ! VITTLES2 & S ,JIM
GOT "EY?+ ALL "R1 & Z SOON Z HE 0 0HMF
HE BU/$ 96! PIE & HID ! ROPE LA4] 9SIDE
( 8 /RAW TICK1 & SCRAT*$ "S M>KS ON A T9
PLATE & ?R[$ X \ (! W9D[-HOLE4
