             ,,*APT] ,,XVI4
  ,WE SLEPT MO/ ALL "D1 & />T$ \ AT
NI<T1 A LL WAYS 2H A MON/R\S L;G RAFT T
0 Z L;G GO+ 0Z A PROCES.N4 ,%E _H F\R
L;G SWEEPS AT EA* 5D1 S WE JUDG$ %E
C>RI$ Z _M Z ?IRTY M51 LIKELY4 ,%E _H
FIVE BIG WIGWAMS ABO>D1 WIDE A"P1 & AN
OP5 CAMP FIRE 9 ! MI4LE1 &A TALL FLAG-
POLE AT EA* 5D4 ,"! 0 A P[] ( /YLE AB
H]4 ,X ,,AM.T$ 6"S?+ 2+ A RAFTSMAN ON S*
A CRAFT Z T4
  ,WE W5T DRIFT+ D[N 96A BIG B5D1 &!
NI<T CL\D$ UP & GOT HOT4 ,! RIV] 0 V
WIDE1 & 0 WALL$ ) SOLID TIMB] ON BO?
SIDES2 Y CDN'T SEE A BR1K 9 X H>DLY "E1
OR A LI<T4 ,WE TALK$ AB ,CAIRO1 & WOND]$
:E!R WE WD "K X :5 WE GOT 6X4 ,I SD
LIKELY WE WDN'T1 2C ,I _H HE>D SAY "!
W>N'T B AB A DOZ5 H\SES "!1 & IF !Y
DIDN'T HAPP5 6H !M LIT UP1 H[ 0 WE GO+
6"K WE 0 PASS+ A T[N8 ,JIM SD IF ! TWO
BIG RIV]S JO9$ TGR "!1 T WD %[4 ,B ,I SD
MAYBE WE MI<T ?9K WE 0 PASS+ ! FOOT ( AN
ISL& & -+ 96! SAME OLD RIV] AG4 ,T
4TURB$ ,JIM--& ME TOO4 ,S ! "Q WAS1 :AT
6D8 ,I SD1 PA4LE A%ORE ! F/ "T A LI<T
%[$1 & TELL !M PAP 0 2H1 -+ AL;G )A
TRAD+-SC[1 & 0 A GRE5 H& AT ! BUSI;S1 &
WANT$ 6"K H[ F> X 0 6,CAIRO4 ,JIM ?"\ X
0 A GD IDEA1 S WE TOOK A SMOKE ON X &
WAIT$4
  ,"! W>N'T NO?+ 6D N[ B 6LOOK \ %>P =!
T[N1 & N PASS X )\T SEE+ X4 ,HE SD HE'D
2 MI<TY SURE 6SEE X1 2C HE'D 2 A FREE
MAN ! M9UTE HE SE5 X1 B IF HE MISS$ X
HE'D 2 9 A SLAVE C.TRY AG & NO M %[ =
FREEDOM4 ,E LL :ILE HE JUMPS UP & SAYS3
  8,DAH %E IS80
  ,B X W>N'T4 ,X 0 ,JACK-O'-LANT]NS1 OR
LI<TN+ BUGS2 S HE SET D[N AG1 & W5T
6WAT*+1 SAME Z 2F4 ,JIM SD X MADE HM ALL
OV] TREMBLY & FEV]I% 6BE S CLOSE
6FREEDOM4 ,WELL1 ,I C TELL Y X MADE ME
ALL OV] TREMBLY & FEV]I%1 TOO1 6HE> HM1
2C ,I 2GUN 6GET X "? MY H1D T HE ,,0 MO/
FREE--& :O 0 6BLAME = X8 ,:Y1 ,,ME4 ,I
CDN'T GET T \ ( MY 3SCI;E1 NO H[ NOR NO
WAY4 ,X GOT 6TR\BL+ ME S ,I CDN'T RE/2
,I CDN'T /AY / 9 "O PLACE4 ,X _HN'T "E
-E HOME 6ME 2F1 :AT ? ?+ 0 T ,I 0 DO+4
,B N[ X DID2 & X /AY$ ) ME1 & SCOR*$ ME
M & M4 ,I TRI$ 6MAKE \ 6MYF T ,I W>N'T
6BLAME1 2C ,I DIDN'T RUN ,JIM (F F 8
"R;L [N]2 B X W>N'T NO USE1 3SCI;E UP &
SAYS1 E "T1 8,B Y "K$ HE 0 RUNN+ = 8
FREEDOM1 & Y CD A PA4L$ A%ORE & TOLD
"SBODY40 ,T 0 S--,I CDN'T GET >.D T
NOWAY4 ,T 0 ": X P9*$4 ,3SCI;E SAYS 6ME1
8,:AT _H POOR ,MISS ,WATSON D"O 6Y T Y
CD SEE H] NI7] G (F "R "U YR EYES & N"E
SAY "O S+LE ^W8 ,:AT DID T POOR OLD
WOMAN D 6Y T Y CD TR1T H] S M1N8 ,:Y1 %E
TRI$ 6LE>N Y YR BOOK1 %E TRI$ 6LE>N Y YR
MANN]S1 %E TRI$ 6BE GD 6Y E WAY %E "K$
H[4 ,,T'S :AT %E D"O40
  ,I GOT 6FEEL+ S M1N & S MIS]A# ,I MO/
WI%$ ,I 0 D1D4 ,I FIDGET$ UP & D[N !
RAFT1 ABUS+ MYF 6MYF1 & ,JIM 0 FIDGET+
UP & D[N PA/ ME4 ,WE NEI ( U CD KEEP /4
,E "T HE D.ED >.D & SAYS1 8,DAH'S
,CAIRO60 X W5T "? ME L A %OT1 & ,I ?"\
IF X ,,0 ,CAIRO ,I RECKON$ ,I WD DIE (
MIS]A#;S4
  ,JIM TALK$ \ L\D ALL ! "T :ILE ,I 0
TALK+ 6MYF4 ,HE 0 SAY+ H[ ! F/ ?+ HE WD
D :5 HE GOT 6A FREE ,/ATE HE WD G 6SAV+
UP M"OY & N"E SP5D A S+LE C5T1 & :5 HE
GOT 5 HE WD BUY 8 WIFE1 : 0 [N$ ON A F>M
CLOSE 6": ,MISS ,WATSON LIV$2 & !N !Y WD
BO? "W 6BUY ! TWO *N1 & IF _! MA/] WDN'T
SELL !M1 !Y'D GET AN ,AB'LI;NI/ 6G & /1L
!M4
  ,X MO/ FROZE ME 6HE> S* TALK4 ,HE
WDN'T "E D>$ 6TALK S* TALK 9 8 LIFE 2F4
,J SEE :AT A DI6];E X MADE 9 HM ! M9UTE
HE JUDG$ HE 0 AB FREE4 ,X 0 AC 6! OLD
SAY+1 8,GIVE A NI7] AN 9* & HE'LL TAKE
AN ELL40 ,?9KS ,I1 ? IS :AT -ES ( MY N
?9K+4 ,"H 0 ? NI7]1 : ,I _H Z GD Z HELP$
6RUN AWAY1 -+ "R \ FLAT-FOOT$ & SAY+ HE
WD /1L 8 *N--*N T 2L;G$ 6A MAN ,I DIDN'T
EV5 "K2 A MAN T _HN'T "E D"O ME NO H>M4
  ,I 0 SORRY 6HE> ,JIM SAY T1 X 0 S* A
L[]+ ( HM4 ,MY 3SCI;E GOT 6/IRR+ ME UP
HOTT] ?AN "E1 UNTIL AT LA/ ,I SAYS 6X1
8,LET UP ON ME--X A9'T TOO LATE YET--
,I'LL PA4LE A%ORE AT ! F/ LI<T & TELL40
,I FELT EASY & HAPPY & LI<T Z A F1!R "R
(F4 ,ALL MY TR\#S 0 G"O4 ,I W5T 6LOOK+ \
%>P =A LI<T1 & SORT ( S++ 6MYF4 ,BY & BY
"O %[$4 ,JIM S+S \3
  8,WE'S SAFE1 ,HUCK1 WE'S SAFE6 ,JUMP
UP & CRACK YO0' HEELS6 ,DAT'S DE GD OLE
,CAIRO AT LAS0'1 ,I JIS "KS X60
  ,I SAYS3
  8,I'LL TAKE ! CANOE & G & SEE1 ,JIM4
,X MI<TN'T BE1 Y "K40
  ,HE JUMP$ & GOT ! CANOE R1DY1 & PUT 8
OLD COAT 9 ! BOTTOM = ME 6SET ON1 & GIVE
ME ! PA4LE2 & Z ,I %OV$ (F1 HE SAYS3
  8,POOTY SOON ,I'LL 2 A-%\T'N' = JOY1
EN ,I'LL SAY1 X'S ALL ON A3.TS O' ,HUCK2
;,I'S A FREE MAN1 EN ,I CDN'T "E B5 FREE
EF X _HN0' B5 = ,HUCK2 ,HUCK D"O X4 ,JIM
WON'T "E =GIT Y1 ,HUCK2 Y\'S DE BES'
FR50' ,JIM'S "E _H2 EN Y\'S DE ,,ONLY
FR50' OLE ,JIM'S GOT N[40
  ,I 0 PA4L+ (F1 ALL 9 A SW1T 6TELL ON
HM2 B :5 HE SAYS ?1 X SEEM$ 6K9D ( TAKE
! TUCK ALL \ ( ME4 ,I W5T AL;G SL[ !N1 &
,I W>N'T "R D[N C]TA9 :E!R ,I 0 GLAD ,I
/>T$ OR :E!R ,I W>N'T4 ,:5 ,I 0 FIFTY
Y>DS (F1 ,JIM SAYS3
  8,DAH Y GOES1 DE OLE TRUE ,HUCK2 DE
ON'Y :ITE G5LMAN DAT "E KEP0' 8 PROMISE
6OLE ,JIM40
  ,WELL1 ,I J FELT SICK4 ,B ,I SAYS1 ,I
,,GOT 6D X--,I C'T GET ,,\ ( X4 ,"R !N
AL;G -ES A SKIFF ) TWO M5 9 X ) GUNS1 &
!Y /OPP$ & ,I /OPP$4 ,"O ( !M SAYS3
  8,:AT'S T YOND]80
  8,A PIECE (A RAFT10 ,I SAYS4
  8,D Y 2L;G ON X80
  8,YES1 SIR40
  8,ANY M5 ON X80
  8,ONLY "O1 SIR40
  8,WELL1 "!'S FIVE NI7]S RUN (F TO-NI<T
UP YOND]1 ABV ! H1D (! B5D4 ,IS YR MAN
:ITE OR BLACK80
  ,I DIDN'T ANSW] UP PROMPT4 ,I TRI$ TO1
B ! ^WS WDN'T -E4 ,I TRI$ =A SECOND OR
TWO 6BRACE UP & \ ) X1 B ,I W>N'T MAN
5--_HN'T ! SPUNK (A RA2IT4 ,I SEE ,I 0
W1K5+2 S ,I J GIVE UP TRY+1 & UP & SAYS3
  8,HE'S :ITE40
  8,I RECKON WE'LL G & SEE = \RVS40
  8,I WI% Y WD10 SAYS ,I1 82C X'S PAP
T'S "!1 & MAYBE Y'D HELP ME T[ ! RAFT
A%ORE ": ! LI<T IS4 ,HE'S SICK--& S IS
MAM & ,M>Y ,ANN40
  8,OH1 ! DEVIL6 WE'RE 9 A HURRY1 BOY4
,B ,I S'POSE WE'VE GOT TO4 ,-E1 BUCKLE
6YR PA4LE1 & LET'S GET AL;G40
  ,I BUCKL$ 6MY PA4LE & !Y LAID 6_! O>S4
,:5 WE _H MADE A /ROKE OR TWO1 ,I SAYS3
  8,PAP'LL 2 MI<TY M* OBLEEG$ 6Y1 ,I C
TELL Y4 ,"EYBODY GOES AWAY :5 ,I WANT !M
6HELP ME T[ ! RAFT A%ORE1 & ,I C'T D X
0MYF40
  8,WELL1 T'S 9F]NAL M1N4 ,ODD1 TOO4
,SAY1 BOY1 :AT'S ! MATT] ) YR "F80
  8,X'S !--A--!--WELL1 X A9'T ANY?+ M*40
  ,!Y /OPP$ PULL+4 ,X W>N'T B A MI<TY LL
WAYS 6! RAFT N[4 ,"O SAYS3
  8,BOY1 T'S A LIE4 ,:AT ,,IS ! MATT] )
YR PAP8 ,ANSW] UP SQU>E N[1 & X'LL 2 !
BETT] = Y40
  8,I W1 SIR1 ,I W1 H"O/--B DON'T L1VE
U1 PL1SE4 ,X'S !--!--,G5TLEM51 IF Y'LL
ONLY PULL AH1D1 & LET ME H1VE Y !
H1DL9E1 Y WON'T H 6-E A-NE> ! RAFT--
PL1SE D40
  8,SET H] BACK1 ,JOHN1 SET H] BACK60
SAYS "O4 ,!Y BACK$ WAT]4 8,KEEP AWAY1
BOY--KEEP 6LOO>D4 ,3F.D X1 ,I J EXPECT !
W9D HAS BL[$ X 6U4 ,YR PAP'S GOT !
SMALL-POX1 & Y "K X PRECI\S WELL4 ,:Y
DIDN'T Y -E \ & SAY S8 ,D Y WANT 6SPR1D
X ALL OV]80
  8,WELL10 SAYS ,I1 A-BLU2]+1 8,I'VE
TOLD "EYBODY 2F1 & !Y J W5T AWAY & LEFT
U40
  8,POOR DEVIL1 "!'S "S?+ 9 T4 ,WE >E "R
D[N SORRY = Y1 B WE--WELL1 HANG X1 WE
DON'T WANT ! SMALL-POX1 Y SEE4 ,LOOK "H1
,I'LL TELL Y :AT 6D4 ,DON'T Y TRY 6L&
0YRF1 OR Y'LL SMA% "EY?+ 6PIECES4 ,Y
FLOAT AL;G D[N AB TW5TY MILES1 & Y'LL -E
6A T[N ON ! LEFT-H& SIDE (! RIV]4 ,X W 2
L;G AF SUN-UP !N1 & :5 Y ASK = HELP Y
TELL !M YR FOLKS >E ALL D[N ) *ILLS &
FEV]4 ,DON'T 2 A FOOL AG1 & LET P GUESS
:AT IS ! MATT]4 ,N[ WE'RE TRY+ 6D Y A
K9D;S2 S Y J PUT TW5TY MILES 2T U1 T'S A
GD BOY4 ,X WDN'T D ANY GD 6L& YOND] ": !
LI<T IS--X'S ONLY A WOOD-Y>D4 ,SAY1 ,I
RECKON YR "F'S POOR1 & ,I'M B.D 6SAY
HE'S 9 PRETTY H>D LUCK4 ,"H1 ,I'LL PUT A
TW5TY- DOLL> GOLD PIECE ON ? BO>D1 & Y
GET X :5 X FLOATS BY4 ,I FEEL MI<TY M1N
6L1VE Y2 B MY K+DOM6 X WON'T D 6FOOL )
SMALL-POX1 DON'T Y SEE80
  8,HOLD ON1 ,P>K]10 SAYS ! O!R MAN1
8"H'S A TW5TY 6PUT ON ! BO>D = ME4 ,GD-
BYE1 BOY2 Y D Z ,MR4 ,P>K] TOLD Y1 &
Y'LL 2 ALL "R40
  8,T'S S1 MY BOY--GD-BYE1 GD-BYE4 ,IF Y
SEE ANY RUNAWAY NI7]S Y GET HELP & NAB
!M1 & Y C MAKE "S M"OY 0X40
  8,GD-BYE1 SIR10 SAYS ,I2 8,I WON'T LET
NO RUNAWAY NI7]S GET 0ME IF ,I C HELP
X40
  ,!Y W5T (F & ,I GOT ABO>D ! RAFT1
FEEL+ BAD & L[1 2C ,I "K$ V WELL ,I _H
D"O WR;G1 & ,I SEE X W>N'T NO USE = ME
6TRY 6LE>N 6D "R2 A BODY T DON'T GET
,,/>T$ "R :5 HE'S LL A9'T GOT NO %[--:5
! P9* -ES "! A9'T NO?+ 6BACK HM UP &
KEEP HM 6HIS "W1 & S HE GETS B1T4 ,!N ,I
?"\ A M9UTE1 & SAYS 6MYF1 HOLD ON2
S'POSE Y'D A D"O "R & GIVE ,JIM UP1 WD Y
FELT BETT] ?AN :AT Y D N[8 ,NO1 SAYS ,I1
,I'D FEEL BAD--,I'D FEEL J ! SAME WAY ,I
D N[4 ,WELL1 !N1 SAYS ,I1 :AT'S ! USE Y
LE>N+ 6D "R :5 X'S TR\#"S 6D "R & A9'T
NO TR\# 6D WR;G1 &! WAGES IS J ! SAME8
,I 0 /UCK4 ,I CDN'T ANSW] T4 ,S ,I
RECKON$ ,I WDN'T BO!R NO M AB X1 B AF ?
ALW D :I*"E -E H&IE/ AT ! "T4
  ,I W5T 96! WIGWAM2 ,JIM W>N'T "!4 ,I
LOOK$ ALL >.D2 HE W>N'T ANY":4 ,I SAYS3
  8,JIM60
  8,"H ,I IS1 ,HUCK4 ,IS DEY \ O' SI<T
YIT8 ,DON'T TALK L\D40
  ,HE 0 9 ! RIV] "U ! /]N O>1 ) J 8 NOSE
\4 ,I TOLD HM !Y 7 \ ( SI<T1 S HE -E
ABO>D4 ,HE SAYS3
  8,I 0 A-LI/59' 6ALL DE TALK1 EN ,I
SLIPS 96DE RIV] EN 0 GWYNE 6%OVE = %O0'
IF DEY -E ABO>D4 ,D5 ,I 0 GWYNE 6SWIM
6DE RAF0' AG9 :5 DEY 0 G"O4 ,B LAWSY1 H[
Y DID FOOL 'EM1 ,HUCK6 ,DAT ,,WUZ DE
SM>TES0' DODGE6 ,I TELL Y1 *ILE1 ,I'SPEC
X SAVE0' OLE ,JIM--OLE ,JIM A9'T GO+
6=GIT Y = DAT1 H"OY40
  ,!N WE TALK$ AB ! M"OY4 ,X 0 A PRETTY
GD RAISE--TW5TY DOLL>S APIECE4 ,JIM SD
WE CD TAKE DECK PASSAGE ON A /1MBOAT N[1
&! M"OY WD LA/ U Z F> Z WE WANT$ 6G 9 !
FREE ,/ATES4 ,HE SD TW5TY MILE M W>N'T
F> =! RAFT 6G1 B HE WI%$ WE 0 ALR "!4
  ,T[>DS "DBR1K WE TI$ UP1 & ,JIM 0
MI<TY "PICUL> AB HID+ ! RAFT GD4 ,!N HE
"W$ ALL "D FIX+ ?+S 9 BUNDLES1 & GETT+
ALL R1DY 6QUIT RAFT+4
  ,T NI<T AB T5 WE HOVE 9 SI<T (! LI<TS
(A T[N AWAY D[N 9 A LEFT-H& B5D4
  ,I W5T (F 9 ! CANOE 6ASK AB X4 ,PRETTY
SOON ,I F.D A MAN \ 9 ! RIV] )A SKIFF1
SETT+ A TROT- L9E4 ,I RANG$ UP & SAYS3
  8,MI/]1 IS T T[N ,CAIRO80
  8,CAIRO8 NO4 ,Y M/ 2 A BLAME0' FOOL40
  8,:AT T[N IS X1 MI/]80
  8,IF Y WANT 6"K1 G & F9D \4 ,IF Y /AY
"H BO!R9' >.D ME = AB A HALF A M9UTE
L;G] Y'LL GET "S?+ Y WON'T WANT40
  ,I PA4L$ 6! RAFT4 ,JIM 0 AW;L
4APPO9T$1 B ,I SD N"E M9D1 ,CAIRO WD 2 !
NEXT PLACE1 ,I RECKON$4
  ,WE PASS$ ANO!R T[N 2F "DLI<T1 & ,I 0
GO+ \ AG2 B X 0 HI< GR.D1 S ,I DIDN'T G4
,NO HI< GR.D AB ,CAIRO1 ,JIM SD4 ,I _H
=GOT X4 ,WE LAID UP =! "D ON A T[H1D
TOL]A# CLOSE 6! LEFT-H& BANK4 ,I 2GUN
6SUSPICION "S?+4 ,S DID ,JIM4 ,I SAYS3
  8,MAYBE WE W5T 0,CAIRO 9 ! FOG T
NI<T40
  ,HE SAYS3
  8,DOAN0' LE'S TALK AB X1 ,HUCK4 ,PO0'
NI7]S C'T H NO LUCK4 ,I AWLUZ ,8SPECT$
DAT RATTLESNAKE-SK9 W>N'T D"O WID XS
"W40
  8,I WI% ,I'D N"E SE5 T SNAKE-SK91 ,JIM
--,I D WI% ,I'D N"E LAID EYES ON X40
  8,X A9'T YO0' FAULT1 ,HUCK2 Y DIDN0'
"K4 ,DON'T Y BLAME YO'SELF ,8B\T X40
  ,:5 X 0 "DLI<T1 "H 0 ! CLE> ,OHIO WAT]
9%ORE1 SURE 5\<1 & \TSIDE 0 ! OLD REGUL>
,MU4Y6 ,S X 0 ALL UP ) ,CAIRO4
  ,WE TALK$ X ALL OV]4 ,X WDN'T D 6TAKE
6! %ORE2 WE CDN'T TAKE ! RAFT UP ! /R1M1
( C\RSE4 ,"! W>N'T NO WAY B 6WAIT = D>K1
& />T BACK 9 ! CANOE & TAKE ! *.ES4 ,S
WE SLEPT ALL "D AM;G/ ! COTTONWOOD
?ICKET1 S Z 6BE FRE% =! "W1 & :5 WE W5T
BACK 6! RAFT AB D>K ! CANOE 0 G"O6
  ,WE DIDN'T SAY A ^W =A GD :ILE4 ,"!
W>N'T ANY?+ 6SAY4 ,WE BO? "K$ WELL 5 X 0
"S M "W (! RATTLESNAKE-SK92 S :AT 0 !
USE 6TALK AB X8 ,X WD ONLY LOOK L WE 0
F9D+ FAULT1 & T WD 2 B.D 6FET* M BAD
LUCK--& KEEP ON FET*+ X1 TOO1 TILL WE
"K$ 5 6KEEP /4
  ,BY & BY WE TALK$ AB :AT WE BETT] D1 &
F.D "! W>N'T NO WAY B J 6G AL;G D[N )!
RAFT TILL WE GOT A *.E 6BUY A CANOE 6G
BACK IN4 ,WE W>N'T GO+ 6BORR[ X :5 "!
W>N'T ANYBODY >.D1 ! WAY PAP WD D1 = T
MI<T SET P AF U4
  ,S WE %OV$ \ AF D>K ON ! RAFT4
  ,ANYBODY T DON'T 2LIEVE YET T X'S
FOOLI%;S 6H&LE A SNAKE-SK91 AF ALL T T
SNAKE-SK9 D"O = U1 W 2LIEVE X N[ IF !Y
R1D ON & SEE :AT M X D"O = U4
  ,! PLACE 6BUY CANOES IS (F ( RAFTS
LAY+ UP AT %ORE4 ,B WE DIDN'T SEE NO
RAFTS LAY+ UP2 S WE W5T AL;G DUR+ ?REE
H\RS & M4 ,WELL1 ! NI<T GOT GRAY & RU!R
?ICK1 : IS ! NEXT M1NE/ ?+ 6FOG4 ,Y C'T
TELL ! %APE (! RIV]1 & Y C'T SEE NO
4T.E4 ,X GOT 6BE V LATE & /1 & !N AL;G
-ES A /1MBOAT UP ! RIV]4 ,WE LIT !
LANT]N1 & JUDG$ %E WD SEE X4 ,UP-/R1M
BOATS DIDN'T G5]LY -E CLOSE 6U2 !Y G \ &
FOLL[ ! B>S & HUNT = EASY WAT] "U !
REEFS2 B NI<TS L ? !Y BULL "R UP !
*ANNEL AG/ ! :OLE RIV]4
  ,WE CD HE> H] P.D+ AL;G1 B WE DIDN'T
SEE H] GD TILL %E 0 CLOSE4 ,%E AIM$ "R =
U4 ,(T5 !Y D T & TRY 6SEE H[ CLOSE !Y C
-E )\T T\*+2 "S"TS ! :EEL BITES (F A
SWEEP1 & !N ! PILOT /ICKS 8 H1D \ &
LAU<S1 & ?9KS HE'S MI<TY SM>T4 ,WELL1 "H
%E -ES1 & WE SD %E 0 GO+ 6TRY & %AVE U2
B %E DIDN'T SEEM 6BE %E]+ (F A BIT4 ,%E
0 A BIG "O1 & %E 0 -+ 9 A HURRY1 TOO1
LOOK+ L A BLACK CL\D ) R[S ( GL[-WORMS
>.D X2 B ALL (A SU45 %E BULG$ \1 BIG &
SC>Y1 )A L;G R[ ( WIDE-OP5 FURNACE DOORS
%9+ L R$-HOT TEE?1 & H] MON/R\S B[S &
GU>DS HANG+ "R OV] U4 ,"! 0 A YELL AT U1
&A J+L+ ( BELLS 6/OP ! 5G9ES1 A P[W[ (
CUSS+1 & :I/L+ ( /1M--& Z ,JIM W5T
OV]BO>D ON "O SIDE & ,I ON ! O!R1 %E -E
SMA%+ /RAI<T "? ! RAFT4
  ,I DIV$--& ,I AIM$ 6F9D ! BOTTOM1 TOO1
=A ?IRTY-FOOT :EEL _H GOT 6G OV] ME1 &
,I WANT$ X 6H PL5TY ( ROOM4 ,I CD ALW
/AY "U WAT] A M9UTE2 ? "T ,I RECKON ,I
/AY$ "U A M9UTE &A HALF4 ,!N ,I B\NC$ =!
TOP 9 A HURRY1 = ,I 0 NE>LY BU/+4 ,I
POPP$ \ 6MY >MPITS & BL[$ ! WAT] \ ( MY
NOSE1 & PU6$ A BIT4 ,( C\RSE "! 0 A
BOOM+ CURR5T2 &( C\RSE T BOAT />T$ H]
5G9ES AG T5 SECONDS AF %E /OPP$ !M1 = !Y
N"E C>$ M* = RAFTSM52 S N[ %E 0 *URN+
AL;G UP ! RIV]1 \ ( SI<T 9 ! ?ICK W1!R1
?\< ,I CD HE> H]4
  ,I SUNG \ = ,JIM AB A DOZ5 "TS1 B ,I
DIDN'T GET ANY ANSW]2 S ,I GRA2$ A PLANK
T T\*$ ME :ILE ,I 0 8TR1D+ WAT]10 &
/RUCK \ = %ORE1 %OV+ X AH1D ( ME4 ,B ,I
MADE \ 6SEE T ! DRIFT (! CURR5T 0 T[>DS
! LEFT- H& %ORE1 : M1NT T ,I 0 9 A
CROSS+2 S ,I *ANG$ (F & W5T T WAY4
  ,X 0 "O ( ^! L;G1 SLANT+1 TWO-MILE
CROSS+S2 S ,I 0 A GD L;G "T 9 GETT+ OV]4
,I MADE A SAFE L&+1 & CLUMB UP ! BANK4
,I CDN'T SEE B A LL WAYS1 B ,I W5T POK+
AL;G OV] R\< GR.D =A QU>T] (A MILE OR M1
& !N ,I RUN ACR A BIG OLD-FA%ION$ D\#
LOG-H\SE 2F ,I NOTIC$ X4 ,I 0 GO+ 6RU%
BY & GET AWAY1 B A LOT ( DOGS JUMP$ \ &
W5T 6H[L+ & B>K+ AT ME1 & ,I "K$ BETT]
?AN 6MOVE ANO!R PEG4
