             ,,*APT] ,,XI4
  8,-E IN10 SAYS ! WOMAN1 & ,I DID4 ,%E
SAYS3 8,TAKE A *E]40
  ,I D"O X4 ,%E LOOK$ ME ALL OV] ) H] LL
%9Y EYES1 & SAYS3
  8,:AT MI<T YR "N BE80
  8,S>AH ,WILLIAMS40
  8,": ,8B\TS D Y LIVE8 ,9 ?
NEI<BORHOOD80'
  8,NO'M4 ,9 ,HOOK]VILLE1 SEV5 MILE 2L4
,I'VE WALK$ ALL ! WAY & ,I'M ALL TIR$
\40
  8,HUNGRY1 TOO1 ,I RECKON4 ,I'LL F9D Y
"S?+40
  8,NO'M1 ,I A9'T HUNGRY4 ,I 0 S HUNGRY
,I _H 6/OP TWO MILES 2L "H AT A F>M2 S
,I A9'T HUNGRY NO M4 ,X'S :AT MAKES ME S
LATE4 ,MY "M'S D[N SICK1 & \ ( M"OY &
"EY?+1 & ,I -E 6TELL MY UNCLE ,ABN]
,MOORE4 ,HE LIVES AT ! UPP] 5D (! T[N1
%E SAYS4 ,I HA9'T "E BE5 "H 2F4 ,D Y "K
HM80
  8,NO2 B ,I DON'T "K "EYBODY YET4 ,I
HAV5'T LIV$ "H Q TWO WEEKS4 ,X'S A
3SID]A# WAYS 6! UPP] 5D (! T[N4 ,Y BETT]
/AY "H ALL NI<T4 ,TAKE (F YR BONNET40
  8,NO10 ,I SAYS2 8,I'LL RE/ A :ILE1 ,I
RECKON1 & G ON4 ,I A9'T AFE>$ (! D>K40
  ,%E SD %E WDN'T LET ME G 0MYF1 B H]
HUSB& WD 2 9 BY & BY1 MAYBE 9 A H\R &A
HALF1 & %E'D S5D HM AL;G ) ME4 ,!N %E
GOT 6TALK+ AB H] HUSB&1 & AB H] REL,NS
UP ! RIV]1 & H] REL,NS D[N ! RIV]1 & AB
H[ M* BETT] (F !Y US$ 6WAS1 & H[ !Y
DIDN'T "K B !Y'D MADE A MISTAKE -+ 6\R
T[N1 9/1D ( LETT+ WELL AL"O--& S ON & S
ON1 TILL ,I 0 AFE>D ,I _H MADE A MISTAKE
-+ 6H] 6F9D \ :AT 0 GO+ ON 9 ! T[N2 B BY
& BY %E DROPP$ ON 6PAP &! MURD]1 & !N ,I
0 PRETTY WILL+ 6LET H] CLATT] "R AL;G4
,%E TOLD AB ME & ,TOM ,SAWY] F9D+ ! SIX
?\S& DOLL>S 7ONLY %E GOT X T57 & ALL AB
PAP & :AT A H>D LOT HE WAS1 & :AT A H>D
LOT ,I WAS1 & AT LA/ %E GOT D[N 6": ,I 0
MURD]$4 ,I SAYS3
  8,:O D"O X8 ,WE'VE HE>D 3SID]A# AB ^!
GO+S ON D[N 9 ,HOOK]VILLE1 B WE DON'T "K
:O 'TWAS T KILL$ ,HUCK ,F9N40
  8,WELL1 ,I RECKON "!'S A "R SM>T *.E (
P ,,"H T'D L 6"K :O KILL$ HM4 ,"S ?9K
OLD ,F9N D"O X HMF40
  8,NO--IS T S80
  8,MO/ "EYBODY ?"\ X AT F/4 ,HE'LL N"E
"K H[ NI< HE -E 6GETT+ LYN*$4 ,B 2F NI<T
!Y *ANG$ >.D & JUDG$ X 0 D"O 0A RUNAWAY
NI7] "ND ,JIM40
  8,:Y ,,HE--0
  ,I /OPP$4 ,I RECKON$ ,I BETT] KEEP /4
,%E RUN ON1 & N"E NOTIC$ ,I _H PUT 9 AT
ALL3
  8,! NI7] RUN (F ! V NI<T ,HUCK ,F9N 0
KILL$4 ,S "!'S A REW>D \ = HM--?REE
HUNDR$ DOLL>S4 ,& "!'S A REW>D \ = OLD
,F9N1 TOO--TWO HUNDR$ DOLL>S4 ,Y SEE1 HE
-E 6T[N ! MORN+ AF ! MURD]1 & TOLD AB X1
& 0 \ ) 'EM ON ! F]RYBOAT HUNT1 & "R
AWAY AF HE UP & LEFT4 ,2F NI<T !Y WANT$
6LYN* HM1 B HE 0 G"O1 Y SEE4 ,WELL1 NEXT
"D !Y F.D \ ! NI7] 0 G"O2 !Y F.D \ HE
_HN'T B5 SE5 S;E T5 O'C ! NI<T ! MURD] 0
D"O4 ,S !N !Y PUT X ON HM1 Y SEE2 & :ILE
!Y 0 FULL ( X1 NEXT "D1 BACK -ES OLD
,F9N1 & W5T BOO-HOO+ 6,JUDGE ,?AT*] 6GET
M"OY 6HUNT =! NI7] ALL OV] ,ILL9OIS )4
,! JUDGE GAVE HM "S1 & T EV5+ HE GOT
DRUNK1 & 0 >.D TILL AF MIDNI<T )A C\PLE
( MI<TY H>D-LOOK+ /RANG]S1 & !N W5T (F )
!M4 ,WELL1 HE HA9'T -E BACK S;E1 & !Y
A9'T LOOK+ = HM BACK TILL ? ?+ BL[S OV]
A LL1 = P ?9KS N[ T HE KILL$ 8 BOY &
FIX$ ?+S S FOLKS WD ?9K RO2]S D"O X1 &
!N HE'D GET ,HUCK'S M"OY )\T HAV+ 6BO!R
A L;G "T )A LAWSUIT4 ,P D SAY HE W>N'T
ANY TOO GD 6D X4 ,OH1 HE'S SLY1 ,I
RECKON4 ,IF HE DON'T -E BACK =A YE>
HE'LL 2 ALL "R4 ,Y C'T PROVE ANY?+ ON
HM1 Y "K2 "EY?+ W 2 QUIET$ D[N !N1 &
HE'LL WALK 9 ,HUCK'S M"OY Z EASY Z
NO?+40
  8,YES1 ,I RECKON S1 'M4 ,I DON'T SEE
NO?+ 9 ! WAY ( X4 ,HAS "EYBODY GUIT ?9K+
! NI7] D"O X80
  8,OH1 NO1 N "EYBODY4 ,A GD _M ?9KS HE
D"O X4 ,B !Y'LL GET ! NI7] PRETTY SOON
N[1 & MAYBE !Y C SC>E X \ ( HM40
  8,:Y1 >E !Y AF HM YET80
  8,WELL1 Y'RE 9NOC5T1 A9'T Y6 ,DOES
?REE HUNDR$ DOLL>S LAY >.D E "D = P
6PICK UP8 ,"S FOLKS ?9K ! NI7] A9'T F> F
"H4 ,I'M "O ( !M--B ,I HA9'T TALK$ X
>.D4 ,A FEW "DS AGO ,I 0 TALK+ ) AN OLD
C\PLE T LIVES NEXT DOOR 9 ! LOG %ANTY1 &
!Y HAPP5$ 6SAY H>DLY ANYBODY "E GOES 6T
ISL& OV] YOND] T !Y CALL ,JACKSON'S
,ISL&4 ,DON'T ANYBODY LIVE "!8 SAYS ,I4
,NO1 NOBODY1 SAYS !Y4 ,I DIDN'T SAY ANY
M1 B ,I D"O "S ?9K+4 ,I 0 PRETTY NE>
C]TA9 ,I'D SE5 SMOKE OV] "!1 AB ! H1D (!
ISL&1 A "D OR TWO 2F T1 S ,I SAYS 6MYF1
L Z N T NI7]'S HID+ OV] "!2 ANYWAY1 SAYS
,I1 X'S WOR? ! TR\# 6GIVE ! PLACE A
HUNT4 ,I HA9'T SE5 ANY SMOKE S;E1 S ,I
RECKON MAYBE HE'S G"O1 IF X 0 HM2 B
HUSB&'S GO+ OV] 6SEE--HM & ANO!R MAN4
,HE 0 G"O UP ! RIV]2 B HE GOT BACK TO-
"D1 & ,I TOLD HM Z SOON Z HE GOT "H TWO
H\RS AGO40
  ,I _H GOT S UNEASY ,I CDN'T SET /4 ,I
_H 6D "S?+ ) MY H&S2 S ,I TOOK UP A
NE$LE (F (! TA# & W5T 6?R1D+ X4 ,MY H&S
%OOK1 & ,I 0 MAK+ A BAD JOB ( X4 ,:5 !
WOMAN /OPP$ TALK+ ,I LOOK$ UP1 & %E 0
LOOK+ AT ME PRETTY CURI\S & SMIL+ A LL4
,I PUT D[N ! NE$LE & ?R1D1 & LET ON 6BE
9T]E/$--& ,I WAS1 TOO--& SAYS3
  8,?REE HUNDR$ DOLL>S IS A P[] ( M"OY4
,I WI% MY "M CD GET X4 ,IS YR HUSB& GO+
OV] "! TO-NI<T80
  8,OH1 YES4 ,HE W5T UP-T[N )! MAN ,I 0
TELL+ Y (1 6GET A BOAT & SEE IF !Y CD
BORR[ ANO!R GUN4 ,!Y'LL G OV] AF
MIDNI<T40
  8,CDN'T !Y SEE BETT] IF !Y 0 6WAIT
TILL "D"T80
  8,YES4 ,& CDN'T ! NI7] SEE BETT]1 TOO8
,AF MIDNI<T HE'LL LIKELY 2 ASLEEP1 & !Y
C SLIP >.D "? ! WOODS & HUNT UP 8 CAMP
FIRE ALL ! BETT] =! D>K1 IF HE'S GOT
"O40
  8,I DIDN'T ?9K ( T40
  ,! WOMAN KEPT LOOK+ AT ME PRETTY
CURI\S1 & ,I DIDN'T FEEL A BIT -=TA#4
,PRETTY SOON %E SAYS0
  8,:AT DID Y SAY YR "N WAS1 H"OY80
  8;,M--,M>Y ,WILLIAMS40
  ,"SH[ X DIDN'T SEEM 6ME T ,I SD X 0
,M>Y 2F1 S ,I DIDN'T LOOK UP--SEEM$ 6ME
,I SD X 0 ,S>AH2 S ,I FELT SORT (
CORN]$1 & 0 AFE>$ MAYBE ,I 0 LOOK+ X1
TOO4 ,I WI%$ ! WOMAN WD SAY "S?+ M2 !
L;G] %E SET / ! UNEASI] ,I WAS4 ,B N[ %E
SAYS3
  8,H"OY1 ,I ?"\ Y SD X 0 ,S>AH :5 Y F/
-E IN80
  8,OH1 YES'M1 ,I DID4 ,S>AH ,M>Y
,WILLIAMS4 ,S>AH'S MY F/ "N4 ,"S CALLS
ME ,S>AH1 "S CALLS ME ,M>Y40
  8,OH1 T'S ! WAY ( X80
  8,YES'M40
  ,I 0 FEEL+ BETT] !N1 B ,I WI%$ ,I 0 \
( "!1 ANYWAY4 ,I CDN'T LOOK UP YET4
  ,WELL1 ! WOMAN FELL 6TALK+ AB H[ H>D
"TS WAS1 & H[ POOR !Y _H 6LIVE1 & H[ !
RATS 0 Z FREE Z IF !Y [N$ ! PLACE1 & S
=? & S ON1 & !N ,I GOT EASY AG4 ,%E 0 "R
AB ! RATS4 ,Y'D SEE "O /ICK 8 NOSE \ (A
HOLE 9 ! CORN] E LL :ILE4 ,%E SD %E _H
6H ?+S H&Y 6?R[ AT !M :5 %E 0 AL"O1 OR
!Y WDN'T GIVE H] NO P1CE4 ,%E %[$ ME A
B> ( L1D TWI/$ UP 96A KNOT1 & SD %E 0 A
GD %OT ) X G5]LY1 B %E'D WR5*$ H] >M A
"D OR TWO AGO1 & DIDN'T "K :E!R %E CD
?R[ TRUE N[4 ,B %E WAT*$ =A *.E1 &
DIRECTLY BANG$ AWAY AT A RAT2 B %E MISS$
HM WIDE1 & SD 8,\*60 X HURT H] >M S4 ,!N
%E TOLD ME 6TRY =! NEXT "O4 ,I WANT$ 6BE
GETT+ AWAY 2F ! OLD MAN GOT BACK1 B (
C\RSE ,I DIDN'T LET ON4 ,I GOT ! ?+1 &!
F/ RAT T %[$ 8 NOSE ,I LET DRIVE1 & IF
HE'D A /AY$ ": HE 0 HE'D A BE5 A TOL]A#
SICK RAT4 ,%E SD T 0 F/-RATE1 & %E
RECKON$ ,I WD HIVE ! NEXT "O4 ,%E W5T &
GOT ! LUMP ( L1D & FET*$ X BACK1 & BR"\
AL;G A HANK ( Y>N : %E WANT$ ME 6HELP H]
)4 ,I HELD UP MY TWO H&S & %E PUT ! HANK
OV] !M1 & W5T ON TALK+ AB H] & H]
HUSB&'S MATT]S4 ,B %E BROKE (F 6SAY3
  8,KEEP YR EYE ON ! RATS4 ,Y BETT] H !
L1D 9 YR LAP1 H&Y40
  ,S %E DROPP$ ! LUMP 96MY LAP J AT T
MO;T1 & ,I CLAPP$ MY LEGS TGR ON X & %E
W5T ON TALK+4 ,B ONLY AB A M9UTE4 ,!N %E
TOOK (F ! HANK & LOOK$ ME /RAI<T 9 !
FACE1 & V PL1SANT1 & SAYS3
  8,-E1 N[1 :AT'S YR R1L "N80
  8,WH--:AT1 MUM80
  8,:AT'S YR R1L "N8 ,IS X ,BILL1 OR
,TOM1 OR ,BOB8--OR :AT IS X80
  ,I RECKON ,I %OOK L A L1F1 & ,I DIDN'T
"K H>DLY :AT 6D4 ,B ,I SAYS3
  8,PL1SE 6DON'T POKE FUN AT A POOR GIRL
L ME1 MUM4 ,IF ,I'M 9 ! WAY "H1 ,I'LL--0
  8,NO1 Y WON'T4 ,SET D[N & /AY ": Y >E4
,I A9'T GO+ 6HURT Y1 & ,I A9'T GO+ 6TELL
ON Y1 NU!R4 ,Y J TELL ME YR SECRET1 &
TRU/ ME4 ,I'LL KEEP X2 &1 :AT'S M1 ,I'LL
HELP Y4 ,S'LL MY OLD MAN IF Y WANT HM
TO4 ,Y SEE1 Y'RE A RUNAWAY 'PR5TICE1 T'S
ALL4 ,X A9'T ANY?+4 ,"! A9'T NO H>M 9 X4
,Y'VE BE5 TR1T$ BAD1 & Y MADE UP YR M9D
6CUT4 ,B.S Y1 *1 ,I WDN'T TELL ON Y4
,TELL ME ALL AB X N[1 T'S A GD BOY40
  ,S ,I SD X WDN'T 2 NO USE 6TRY 6PLAY X
ANY L;G]1 & ,I WD J MAKE A CL1N BR1/ &
TELL H] "EY?+1 B %E MUSN'T G BACK ON H]
PROMISE4 ,!N ,I TOLD H] MY "F & "M 0
D1D1 &! LAW _H B.D ME \ 6A M1N OLD F>M]
9 ! C.TRY ?IRTY MILE BACK F ! RIV]1 & HE
TR1T$ ME S BAD ,I CDN'T /& X NO L;G]2 HE
W5T AWAY 6BE G"O A C\PLE ( "DS1 & S ,I
TOOK MY *.E & /OLE "S ( 8 DAU<T]'S OLD
CLO!S & CLE>$ \1 & ,I _H BE5 ?REE NI<TS
-+ ! ?IRTY MILES4 ,I TRAVEL$ NI<TS1 &
HID "D"TS & SLEPT1 &! BAG ( BR1D & M1T
,I C>RI$ F HOME LA/$ ME ALL ! WAY1 & ,I
_H A-PL5TY4 ,I SD ,I 2LIEV$ MY UNCLE
,ABN] ,MOORE WD TAKE C>E ( ME1 & S T 0
:Y ,I /RUCK \ = ? T[N ( ,GO%54
  8,GO%51 *8 ,? A9'T ,GO%54 ,? IS ,/4
,PET]SBURG4 ,GO%5'S T5 MILE FUR!R UP !
RIV]4 ,:O TOLD Y ? 0 ,GO%580
  8,:Y1 A MAN ,I MET AT "DBR1K ? MORN+1
J Z ,I 0 GO+ 6TURN 96! WOODS = MY REGUL>
SLEEP4 ,HE TOLD ME :5 ! ROADS =K$ ,I M/
TAKE ! "R H&1 & FIVE MILE WD FET* ME
6,GO%540
  8,HE 0 DRUNK1 ,I RECKON4 ,HE TOLD Y J
EXACTLY WR;G40
  8,WELL11HE DID ACT L HE 0 DRUNK1 B X
A9'T NO MATT] N[4 ,I GOT 6BE MOV+ AL;G4
,I'LL FET* ,GO%5 2F "DLI<T40
  8,HOLD ON A M9UTE4 ,I'LL PUT Y UP A
SNACK 6EAT4 ,Y MI<T WANT X40
  ,S %E PUT ME UP A SNACK1 & SAYS3
  8,SAY1 :5 A C['S LAY+ D[N1 : 5D ( H]
GETS UP F/8 ,ANSW] UP PROMPT N[--DON'T
/OP 6/UDY OV] X4 ,: 5D GETS UP F/80
  8,! H9D 5D1 MUM40
  8,WELL1 !N1 A HORSE80
  8,! ='R>D 5D1 MUM40
  8,: SIDE (A TREE DOES ! MOSS GR[ ON80
  8,NOR? SIDE40
  8,IF FIFTE5 C[S IS BR[S+ ON A
HILLSIDE1 H[ _M ( !M EATS ) _! H1DS
PO9T$ ! SAME DIREC;N80
  8,! :OLE FIFTE51 MUM40
  8,WELL1 ,I RECKON Y ,,H LIV$ 9 !
C.TRY4 ,I ?"\ MAYBE Y 0 TRY+ 6HOCUS ME
AG4 ,:AT'S YR R1L "N1 N[80
  8,GEORGE ,PET]S1 MUM40
  8,WELL1 TRY 6REMEMB] X1 ,GEORGE4
,DON'T =GET & TELL ME X'S ,ELEX&] 2F Y
G1 & !N GET \ 0SAY+ X'S ,GEORGE ,ELEX&]
:5 ,I CAT* Y4 ,& DON'T G AB WOM5 9 T OLD
CALICO4 ,Y D A GIRL TOL]A# POOR1 B Y
MI<T FOOL M51 MAYBE4 ,B.S Y1 *1 :5 Y SET
\ 6?R1D A NE$LE DON'T HOLD ! ?R1D / &
FET* ! NE$LE UP 6X2 HOLD ! NE$LE / &
POKE ! ?R1D AT X2 T'S ! WAY A WOMAN MO/
ALW DOES1 B A MAN ALW DOES T'O!R WAY4 ,&
:5 Y ?R[ AT A RAT OR ANY?+1 HIT* YRF UP
A TIPTOE & FET* YR H& UP OV] YR H1D Z
AWKW>D Z Y C1 & MISS YR RAT AB SIX OR
SEV5 FOOT4 ,?R[ /IFF->M$ F ! %\LD]1 L "!
0 A PIVOT "! = X 6TURN ON1 L A GIRL2 N F
! WRI/ & ELB[1 ) YR >M \ 6"O SIDE1 L A
BOY4 ,&1 M9D Y1 :5 A GIRL TRIES 6CAT*
ANY?+ 9 H] LAP %E ?R[S H] KNEES A"P2 %E
DON'T CLAP !M TGR1 ! WAY Y DID :5 Y
CAT*$ ! LUMP ( L1D4 ,:Y1 ,I SPOTT$ Y =A
BOY :5 Y 0 ?R1D+ ! NE$LE2 & ,I 3TRIV$ !
O!R ?+S J 6MAKE C]TA94 ,N[ TROT AL;G 6YR
UNCLE1 ,S>AH ,M>Y ,WILLIAMS ,GEORGE
,ELEX&] ,PET]S1 & IF Y GET 96TR\# Y S5D
^W 6,MRS4 ,JUDI? ,L(TUS1 : IS ME1 &
,I'LL D :AT ,I C 6GET Y \ ( X4 ,KEEP !
RIV] ROAD ALL ! WAY1 & NEXT "T Y TRAMP
TAKE %OES & SOCKS ) Y4 ,! RIV] ROAD'S A
ROCKY "O1 & YR FEET'LL 2 9 A 3DI;N :5 Y
GET 6,GO%51 ,I RECKON40
  ,I W5T UP ! BANK AB FIFTY Y>DS1 & !N
,I D\#D ON MY TRACKS & SLIPP$ BACK 6":
MY CANOE WAS1 A GD PIECE 2L ! H\SE4 ,I
JUMP$ IN1 & 0 (F 9 A HURRY4 ,I W5T UP-
/R1M F> 5 6MAKE ! H1D (! ISL&1 & !N />T$
ACR4 ,I TOOK (F ! SUN-BONNET1 = ,I
DIDN'T WANT NO BL9D]S ON !N4 ,:5 ,I 0 AB
! MI4LE ,I HE>D ! CLOCK 2G9 6/RIKE1 S ,I
/OPS & LI/5S2 ! S.D -E FA9T OV] ! WAT] B
CLE>--ELEV54 ,:5 ,I /RUCK ! H1D (! ISL&
,I N"E WAIT$ 6BL[1 ?\< ,I 0 MO/ W9D$1 B
,I %OV$ "R 96! TIMB] ": MY OLD CAMP US$
6BE1 & />T$ A GD FIRE "! ON A HI< & DRY
SPOT4
  ,!N ,I JUMP$ 9 ! CANOE & DUG \ = \R
PLACE1 A MILE &A HALF 2L1 Z H>D Z ,I CD
G4 ,I L&$1 & SLOPP$ "? ! TIMB] & UP !
RIDGE & 96! CAV]N4 ,"! ,JIM LAID1 S.D
ASLEEP ON ! GR.D4 ,I R\S$ HM \ & SAYS3
  8,GIT UP & HUMP YRF1 ,JIM6 ,"! A9'T A
M9UTE 6LOSE4 ,!Y'RE AF U60
  ,JIM N"E ASK$ NO "QS1 HE N"E SD A ^W2
B ! WAY HE "W$ =! NEXT HALF AN H\R %[$
AB H[ HE 0 SC>$4 ,0T "T "EY?+ WE _H 9 !
_W 0 ON \R RAFT1 & %E 0 R1DY 6BE %OV$ \
F ! WILL[ COVE ": %E 0 HID4 ,WE PUT \ !
CAMP FIRE AT ! CAV]N ! F/ ?+1 & DIDN'T
%[ A C&LE \TSIDE AF T4
  ,I TOOK ! CANOE \ F ! %ORE A LL PIECE1
& TOOK A LOOK2 B IF "! 0 A BOAT >.D ,I
CDN'T SEE X1 = />S & %AD[S A9'T GD 6SEE
BY4 ,!N WE GOT \ ! RAFT & SLIPP$ AL;G
D[N 9 ! %ADE1 PA/ ! FOOT (! ISL& D1D /--
N"E SAY+ A ^W4
