             ,,*APT] ,,XV4
  ,WE JUDG$ T ?REE NI<TS M WD FET* U
6,CAIRO1 AT ! BOTTOM ( ,ILL9OIS1 ": !
,OHIO ,RIV] -ES IN1 & T 0 :AT WE 0 AF4
,WE WD SELL ! RAFT & GET ON A /1MBOAT &
G WAY UP ! ,OHIO AM;G/ ! FREE ,/ATES1 &
!N 2 \ ( TR\#4
  ,WELL1 ! SECOND NI<T A FOG 2GUN 6-E
ON1 & WE MADE =A T[H1D 6TIE TO1 = X
WDN'T D 6TRY 6RUN 9 A FOG2 B :5 ,I PA4L$
AH1D 9 ! CANOE1 )! L9E 6MAKE FA/1 "!
W>N'T ANY?+ B LL SAPL+S 6TIE TO4 ,I
PASS$ ! L9E >.D "O ( !M "R ON ! $GE (!
CUT BANK1 B "! 0 A /IFF CURR5T1 &! RAFT
-E BOOM+ D[N S LIVELY %E TORE X \ 0!
ROOTS & AWAY %E W5T4 ,I SEE ! FOG CLOS+
D[N1 & X MADE ME S SICK & SC>$ ,I CDN'T
BUDGE = MO/ A HALF A M9UTE X SEEM$ 6ME--
& !N "! W>N'T NO RAFT 9 SI<T2 Y CDN'T
SEE TW5TY Y>DS4 ,I JUMP$ 96! CANOE & RUN
BACK 6! /]N1 & GRA2$ ! PA4LE & SET H]
BACK A /ROKE4 ,B %E DIDN'T -E4 ,I 0 9 S*
A HURRY ,I _HN'T UNTI$ H]4 ,I GOT UP &
TRI$ 6UNTIE H]1 B ,I 0 S EXCIT$ MY H&S
%OOK S ,I CDN'T H>DLY D ANY?+ ) !M4
  ,Z SOON Z ,I GOT />T$ ,I TOOK \ AF !
RAFT1 HOT & H1VY1 "R D[N ! T[H1D4 ,T 0
ALL "R Z F> Z X W5T1 B ! T[H1D W>N'T
SIXTY Y>DS L;G1 &! M9UTE ,I FLEW 0! FOOT
( X ,I %OT \ 96! SOLID :ITE FOG1 & _HN'T
NO M IDEA : WAY ,I 0 GO+ ?AN A D1D MAN4
  ,?9KS ,I1 X WON'T D 6PA4LE2 F/ ,I "K
,I'LL RUN 96! BANK OR A T[H1D OR "S?+2
,I GOT 6SET / & FLOAT1 & YET X'S MI<TY
FIDGETY BUSI;S 6H 6HOLD YR H&S / AT S* A
"T4 ,I :OOP$ & LI/5$4 ,AWAY D[N "! "S":S
,I HE>S A SMALL :OOP1 & UP -ES MY _SS4
,I W5T TE>+ AF X1 LI/5+ %>P 6HE> X AG4
,! NEXT "T X -E ,I SEE ,I W>N'T H1D+ =
X1 B H1D+ AWAY 6! "R ( X4 ,&! NEXT "T ,I
0 H1D+ AWAY 6! LEFT ( X--& N GA9+ ON X
M* EI1 = ,I 0 FLY+ >.D1 ? WAY & T &
T'O!R1 B X 0 GO+ /RAI<T AH1D ALL ! "T4
  ,I DID WI% ! FOOL WD ?9K 6B1T A T9
PAN1 & B1T X ALL ! "T1 B HE N"E DID1 & X
0 ! / PLACES 2T ! :OOPS T 0 MAK+ ! TR\#
= ME4 ,WELL1 ,I F"\ AL;G1 & DIRECTLY ,I
HE>S ! :OOP ,,2H ME4 ,I 0 TANGL$ GD N[4
,T 0 "SBODY ELSE'S :OOP1 OR ELSE ,I 0
TURN$ >.D4
  ,I ?R[$ ! PA4LE D[N4 ,I HE>D ! :OOP
AG2 X 0 2H ME YET1 B 9 A DI6]5T PLACE2 X
KEPT -+1 & KEPT *ANG+ XS PLACE1 & ,I
KEPT ANSW]+1 TILL BY & BY X 0 9 FRONT (
ME AG1 & ,I "K$ ! CURR5T _H SWUNG !
CANOE'S H1D D[N-/R1M1 & ,I 0 ALL "R IF T
0 ,JIM & N "S O!R RAFTSMAN HOLL]+4 ,I
CDN'T TELL NO?+ AB VOICES 9 A FOG1 =
NO?+ DON'T LOOK NATURAL NOR S.D NATURAL
9 A FOG4
  ,! :OOP+ W5T ON1 & 9 AB A M9UTE ,I -E
A-BOOM+ D[N ON A CUT BANK ) SMOKY <O/S (
BIG TREES ON X1 &! CURR5T ?R[$ ME (F 6!
LEFT & %OT BY1 AM;G/ A LOT ( SNAGS T
FAIRLY RO>$1 ! CURRR5T 0 TE>+ 0!M S
SWIFT4
  ,9 ANO!R SECOND OR TWO X 0 SOLID :ITE
& / AG4 ,I SET P]FECTLY / !N1 LI/5+ 6MY
HE>T ?UMP1 & ,I RECKON ,I DIDN'T DRAW A
BR1? :ILE X ?UMP$ A HUNDR$4
  ,I J GIVE UP !N4 ,I "K$ :AT ! MATT]
WAS4 ,T CUT BANK 0 AN ISL&1 & ,JIM _H
G"O D[N T'O!R SIDE ( X4 ,X W>N'T NO
T[H1D T Y CD FLOAT 0IN T5 M9UTES4 ,X _H
! BIG TIMB] (A REGUL> ISL&2 X MI<T 2
FIVE OR SIX MILES L;G & M ?AN HALF A
MILE WIDE4
  ,I KEPT QUIET1 ) MY E>S COCK$1 AB
FIFTE5 M9UTES1 ,I RECKON4 ,I 0 FLOAT+
AL;G1 ( C\RSE1 F\R OR FIVE MILES AN H\R2
B Y DON'T "E ?9K ( T4 ,NO1 Y ,,FEEL L Y
>E LAY+ D1D / ON ! WAT]2 & IF A LL
GLIMPSE (A SNAG SLIPS 0Y DON'T ?9K 6YRF
H[ FA/ ,,Y'RE GO+1 B Y CAT* YR BR1? &
?9K1 MY6 H[ T SNAG'S TE>+ AL;G4 ,IF Y
?9K X A9'T 4MAL & L"O"S \ 9 A FOG T WAY
0YRF 9 ! NI<T1 Y TRY X ONCE--Y'LL SEE4
  ,NEXT1 = AB A HALF AN H\R1 ,I :OOPS N[
& !N2 AT LA/ ,I HE>S ! ANSW] A L;G WAYS
(F1 & TRIES 6FOLL[ X1 B ,I CDN'T D X1 &
DIRECTLY ,I JUDG$ ,I'D GOT 96A NE/ (
T[H1DS1 = ,I _H LL DIM GLIMPSES ( !M ON
BO? SIDES ( ME--"S"TS J A N>R[ *ANNEL
2T1 & "S T ,I CDN'T SEE ,I "K$ 0 "! 2C
,I'D HE> ! WA% (! CURR5T AG/ ! OLD D1D
BRU% & TRA% T HUNG OV] ! BANKS4 ,WELL1
,I W>N'T L;G LOOS+ ! :OOPS D[N AM;G/ !
T[H1DS2 & ,I ONLY TRI$ 6*ASE !M A LL
:ILE1 ANYWAY1 2C X 0 WORSE ?AN *AS+ A
,JACK-O'-LANT]N4 ,Y N"E "K$ A S.D DODGE
>.D S1 & SWAP PLACES S QK & S M*4
  ,I _H 6CLAW AWAY F ! BANK PRETTY
LIVELY F\R OR FIVE "TS1 6KEEP F KNOCK+ !
ISL&S \ (! RIV]2 & S ,I JUDG$ ! RAFT M/
2 BUTT+ 96! BANK E N[ & !N1 OR ELSE X WD
GET FUR!R AH1D & CLE> \ ( HE>+--X 0
FLOAT+ A LL FA/] ?AN :AT ,I WAS4
  ,WELL1 ,I SEEM$ 6BE 9 ! OP5 RIV] AG BY
& BY1 B ,I CDN'T HE> NO SIGN (A :OOP
NO":S4 ,I RECKON$ ,JIM _H FET*$ UP ON A
SNAG1 MAYBE1 & X 0 ALL UP ) HM4 ,I 0 GD
& TIR$1 S ,I LAID D[N 9 ! CANOE & SD ,I
WDN'T BO!R NO M4 ,I DIDN'T WANT 6G
6SLEEP1 ( C\RSE2 B ,I 0 S SLEEPY ,I
CDN'T HELP X2 S ,I ?"\ ,I WD TAKE JE/ "O
LL CAT-NAP4
  ,B ,I RECKON X 0 M ?AN A CAT-NAP1 = :5
,I WAK$ UP ! />S 0 %9+ B"R1 ! FOG 0 ALL
G"O1 & ,I 0 SP9N+ D[N A BIG B5D /]N F/4
,F/ ,I DIDN'T "K ": ,I WAS2 ,I ?"\ ,I 0
DR1M+2 & :5 ?+S 2GAN 6-E BACK 6ME !Y
SEEM$ 6-E UP DIM \ ( LA/ WEEK4
  ,X 0 A MON/R\S BIG RIV] "H1 )! TALLE/
&! ?ICKE/ K9D ( TIMB] ON BO? BANKS2 J A
SOLID WALL1 Z WELL Z ,I CD SEE 0! />S4
,I LOOK$ AWAY D[N-/R1M1 & SE5 A BLACK
SPECK ON ! WAT]4 ,I TOOK AF X2 B :5 ,I
GOT 6X X W>N'T NO?+ B A C\PLE ( SAWLOGS
MADE FA/ TGR4 ,!N ,I SEE ANO!R SPECK1 &
*AS$ T2 !N ANO!R1 & ? "T ,I 0 "R4 ,X 0 !
RAFT4
  ,:5 ,I GOT 6X ,JIM 0 SETT+ "! ) 8 H1D
D[N 2T 8 KNEES1 ASLEEP1 ) 8 "R >M HANG+
OV] ! /E]+-O>4 ,! O!R O> 0 SMA%$ (F1 &!
RAFT 0 LITT]$ UP ) L1VES & BRAN*ES &
DIRT4 ,S %E'D _H A R\< "T4
  ,I MADE FA/ & LAID D[N "U ,JIM'S NOSE
ON ! RAFT1 & 2GAN 6GAP1 & /RET* MY FI/S
\ AG/ ,JIM1 & SAYS3
  8,HELLO1 ,JIM1 H ,I BE5 ASLEEP8 ,:Y
DIDN'T Y /IR ME UP80
  8,GD;S GRACI\S1 IS DAT Y1 ,HUCK8 ,EN Y
A9' D1D--Y A9' DR[ND$--Y\'S BACK AG98
,X'S TOO GD = TRUE1 H"OY1 X'S TOO GD =
TRUE4 ,LEMME LOOK AT Y *ILE1 LEMME FEEL
O' Y4 ,NO1 Y A9' D1D6 Y\'S BACK AG91
,8LIVE EN S\N0'1 JIS DE SAME OLE ,HUCK--
DE SAME OLE ,HUCK1 ?ANKS 6GD;S60
  8,:AT'S ! MATT] ) Y1 ,JIM8 ,Y BE5 A-
DR9K+80
  8,DR9K9'8 ,HAS ,I B5 A-DR9K9'8 ,HAS ,I
_H A *.E 6BE A-DR9K9'80
  8,WELL1 !N1 :AT MAKES Y TALK S WILD80
  8,H[ DOES ,I TALK WILD80
  8,,H[8 ,:Y1 HA9'T Y BE5 TALK+ AB MY -+
BACK1 & ALL T /UFF1 Z IF ,I'D BE5 G"O
AWAY80
  8,HUCK--,HUCK ,F9N1 Y LOOK ME 9 DE
EYE2 LOOK ME 9 DE EYE4 ,,HA9'T Y B5 G"O
AWAY80
  8,G"O AWAY8 ,:Y1 :AT 9 ! N,N D Y M1N8
,I HA9'T BE5 G"O ANY":S4 ,": WD ,I G
TO80
  8,WELL1 LOOKY "H1 BOSS1 DEY'S SUMF'N
WR;G1 DEY IS4 ,IS ,I ,,ME1 OR :O ,,IS
,I8 ,IS ,I H1H1 OR :AH ,,IS ,I8 ,N[
DAT'S :AT ,I WANTS 6"K40
  8,WELL1 ,I ?9K Y'RE "H1 PLA9 5\<1 B ,I
?9K Y'RE A TANGLE-H1D$ OLD FOOL1 ,JIM40
  8,I IS1 IS ,I8 ,WELL1 Y ANSW] ME DIS3
,DIDN'T Y TOTE \ DE L9E 9 DE CANOE F]
6MAKE FAS' 6DE T[H1D80
  8,NO1 ,I DIDN'T4 ,:AT T[-H1D8 ,I HA9'T
SEE NO T[-H1D40
  8,Y HA9'T SE5 NO T[H1D8 ,LOOKY "H1
DIDN'T DE L9E PULL LOOSE EN DE RAF0' G
A-HUMM9' D[N DE RIV]1 EN L1VE Y EN DE
CANOE 2H9E 9 DE FOG80
  8,:AT FOG80
  8,:Y1 DE FOG6--DE FOG DAT'S BE5 >\N0'
ALL NI<T4 ,EN DIDN'T Y :OOP1 EN DIDN'T
,I :OOP1 TELL WE GOT MIX0' UP 9 DE ISL&S
EN "O UN U GOT LOS' EN T'O!R "O 0 JIS' Z
GD Z LOS0'1 ,8KASE HE DIDN0' "K :AH HE
WUZ8 ,EN DIDN'T ,I BU/ UP AG9 A LOT ]
DEM ISL&S EN H A TURRI# "T EN MOS' GIT
DR[ND$8 ,N[ A9' DAT S1 BOSS--A9'T X S8
,Y ANSW] ME DAT40
  8,WELL1 ? IS TOO _M = ME1 ,JIM4 ,I
HA9'T SE5 NO FOG1 NOR NO ISL&S1 NOR NO
TR\#S1 NOR NO?+4 ,I BE5 SETT+ "H TALK+ )
Y ALL NI<T TILL Y W5T 6SLEEP AB T5
M9UTES AGO1 & ,I RECKON ,I D"O ! SAME4
,Y CDN'T A GOT DRUNK 9 T "T1 S ( C\RSE
Y'VE BE5 DR1M+40
  8,DAD FET* X1 H[ IS ,I GWYNE 6DR1M ALL
DAT 9 T5 M9UTES80
  8,WELL1 HANG X ALL1 Y DID DR1M X1 2C
"! DIDN'T ANY ( X HAPP540
  8,B1 ,HUCK1 X'S ALL JIS' Z PLA9 6ME
Z--0
  8,X DON'T MAKE NO DI6];E H[ PLA9 X IS2
"! A9'T NO?+ 9 X4 ,I "K1 2C ,I'VE BE5 "H
ALL ! "T40
  ,JIM DIDN'T SAY NO?+ = AB FIVE M9UTES1
B SET "! /UDY+ OV] X4 ,!N HE SAYS3
  8,WELL1 D51 ,I RECK'N ,I DID DR1M X1
,HUCK2 B DOG MY CATS EF X A9'T DE
P[];LLE/ DR1M ,I "E SEE4 ,EN ,I HA9'T "E
_H NO DR1M B'FO0' DAT'S TIR$ ME L DIS
"O40
  8,OH1 WELL1 T'S ALL "R1 2C A DR1M DOES
TIRE A BODY L "EY?+ "S"TS4 ,B ? "O 0 A
/AV+ DR1M2 TELL ME ALL AB X1 ,JIM40
  ,S ,JIM W5T 6"W & TOLD ME ! :OLE ?+ "R
"?1 J Z X HAPP5$1 ONLY HE PA9T$ X UP
3SID]A#4 ,!N HE SD HE M/ />T 9 &
8,8T]PRET0 X1 2C X 0 S5T =A W>N+4 ,HE SD
! F/ T[H1D /OOD =A MAN T WD TRY 6D U "S
GD1 B ! CURR5T 0 ANO!R MAN T WD GET U
AWAY F HM4 ,! :OOPS 0 W>N+S T WD -E 6U E
N[ & !N1 & IF WE DIDN'T TRY H>D 6MAKE \
6"U/& !M !Y'D J TAKE U 96BAD LUCK1 ,8/1D
( KEEP+ U \ ( X4 ,! LOT ( T[H1DS 0 TR\#S
WE 0 GO+ 6GET 96) QU>REL"S P & ALL K9DS
( M1N FOLKS1 B IF WE M9D$ \R BUSI;S &
DIDN'T TALK BACK & A7RAVATE !M1 WE WD
PULL "? & GET \ (! FOG & 96! BIG CLE>
RIV]1 : 0 ! FREE ,/ATES1 & WDN'T H NO M
TR\#4
  ,X _H CL\D$ UP PRETTY D>K J AF ,I GOT
ON 6! RAFT1 B X 0 CLE>+ UP AG N[4
  8,OH1 WELL1 T'S ALL 9T]PRET$ WELL 5 Z
F> Z X GOES1 ,JIM10 ,I SAYS2 8B :AT DOES
,,^! ?+S /& =80
  ,X 0 ! L1VES & RU2I% ON ! RAFT &!
SMA%$ O>4 ,Y CD SEE !M F/-RATE N[4
  ,JIM LOOK$ AT ! TRA%1 & !N LOOK$ AT
ME1 & BACK AT ! TRA% AG4 ,HE _H GOT !
DR1M FIX$ S /R;G 9 8 H1D T HE CDN'T SEEM
6%AKE X LOOSE & GET ! FACTS BACK 96XS
PLACE AG "R AWAY4 ,B :5 HE DID GET ! ?+
/RAI<T5$ >.D HE LOOK$ AT ME /1DY )\T "E
SMIL+1 & SAYS3
  8,:AT D DEY /AN0' =8 ,I'SE GWYNE 6TELL
Y4 ,:5 ,I GOT ALL WORE \ WID "W1 EN WID
DE CALL9' = Y1 EN W5T 6SLEEP1 MY HE>T
WUZ MOS' BROKE 2KASE Y WUZ LOS0'1 EN ,I
DIDN0' K'Y] NO0' MO0' :AT 2COME ] ME EN
DE RAF0'4 ,EN :5 ,I WAKE UP EN F9E Y
BACK AG91 ALL SAFE EN S\N0'1 DE TE>S -E1
EN ,I CD A GOT D[N ON MY KNEES EN KISS
YO0' FOOT1 ;,I'S S ?ANK;L4 ,EN ALL Y WUZ
?9K9' ,8B\T WUZ H[ Y CD MAKE A FOOL UV
OLE ,JIM WID A LIE4 ,DAT TRUCK DAH IS
,,TRA%2 EN TRA% IS :AT P IS DAT PUTS
DIRT ON DE H1D ] DEY FR5'S EN MAKES 'EM
A%AM$40
  ,!N HE GOT UP SL[ & WALK$ 6! WIGWAM1 &
W5T 9 "! )\T SAY+ ANY?+ B T4 ,B T 0 5\<4
,X MADE ME FEEL S M1N ,I CD ALM KISS$
,,HIS FOOT 6GET HM 6TAKE X BACK4
  ,X 0 FIFTE5 M9UTES 2F ,I CD "W MYF UP
6G & HUM# MYF 6A NI7]2 B ,I D"O X1 & ,I
W>N'T "E SORRY = X AFWS1 NEI4 ,I DIDN'T
D HM NO M M1N TRICKS1 & ,I WDN'T D"O T
"O IF ,I'D A "K$ X WD MAKE HM FEEL T
WAY4
