            ,,*APT] ,,XXIV4
  ,,NEXT "D1 T[>DS NI<T1 WE LAID UP "U A
LL WILL[ T[H1D \ 9 ! MI4LE1 ": "! 0 A
VILLAGE ON EA* SIDE (! RIV]1 &! DUKE &!
K+ 2GUN 6LAY \ A PLAN = "W+ !M T[NS4
,JIM HE SPOKE 6! DUKE1 & SD HE HOP$ X
WDN'T TAKE B A FEW H\RS1 2C X GOT MI<TY
H1VY & TIRE"S 6HM :5 HE _H 6LAY ALL "D 9
! WIGWAM TI$ )! ROPE4 ,Y SEE1 :5 WE LEFT
HM ALL AL"O WE _H 6TIE HM1 2C IF ANYBODY
HAPP5$ ON 6HM ALL 0HMF & N TI$ X WDN'T
LOOK M* L HE 0 A RUNAWAY NI7]1 Y "K4 ,S
! DUKE SD X ,,0 K9D ( H>D 6H 6LAY ROP$
ALL "D1 & HE'D CIPH] \ "S WAY 6GET >.D
X4
  ,HE 0 UNCOMMON B"R1 ! DUKE WAS1 & HE
SOON /RUCK X4 ,HE DRESS$ ,JIM UP 9 ,K+
,LE>'S \TFIT--X 0 A L;G CURTA9-CALICO
G[N1 &A :ITE HORSE-HAIR WIG & :ISK]S2 &
!N HE TOOK 8 !AT] PA9T & PA9T$ ,JIM'S
FACE & H&S & E>S & NECK ALL OV] A D1D1
DULL1 SOLID BLUE1 L A MAN T'S BE5 DR[ND$
N9E "DS4 ,BLAM$ IF HE W>N'T ! HORRI#/
LOOK+ \TRAGE ,I "E SEE4 ,!N ! DUKE TOOK
& WROTE \ A SIGN ON A %+LE S3
  ,SICK ,>AB--B H>M.S :5 N \ ( 8 H1D4
  ,& HE NAIL$ T %+LE 6A LA?1 & /OOD !
LA? UP F\R OR FIVE FOOT 9 FRONT (!
WIGWAM4 ,JIM 0 SATISFI$4 ,HE SD X 0 A
SI<T BETT] ?AN LY+ TI$ A C\PLE ( YE>S E
"D1 & TREMBL+ ALL OV] E "T "! 0 A S.D4
,! DUKE TOLD HM 6MAKE HMF FREE & EASY1 &
IF ANYBODY "E -E M$DL+ >.D1 HE M/ HOP \
(! WIGWAM1 & C>RY ON A LL1 & FET* A H[L
OR TWO L A WILD B1/1 & HE RECKON$ !Y WD
LI<T \ & L1VE HM AL"O4 ,: 0 S.D 5
JUDG;T2 B Y TAKE ! AV]AGE MAN1 & HE
WDN'T WAIT = HM 6H[L4 ,:Y1 HE DIDN'T
ONLY LOOK L HE 0 D1D1 HE LOOK$ 3SID]A# M
?AN T4
  ,^! RAPSCALLIONS WANT$ 6TRY ! ,N"OS*
AG1 2C "! 0 S M* M"OY 9 X1 B !Y JUDG$ X
WDN'T 2 SAFE1 2C MAYBE ! NEWS MI<T A "W$
AL;G D[N 0? "T4 ,!Y CDN'T HIT NO PROJECT
T SUIT$ EXACTLY2 S AT LA/ ! DUKE SD HE
RECKON$ HE'D LAY (F & "W 8 BRA9S AN H\R
OR TWO & SEE IF HE CDN'T PUT UP "S?+ ON
! ,>KANSAW VILLAGE2 &! K+ HE ALL[$ HE WD
DROP OV] TO ;T'O!R VILLAGE )\T ANY PLAN1
B J TRU/ 9 ,PROVID;E 6L1D HM ! PR(ITA#
WAY--M1N+ ! DEVIL1 ,I RECKON4 ,WE _H ALL
B"\ /ORE CLO!S ": WE /OPP$ LA/2 & N[ !
K+ PUT HIS'N ON1 & HE TOLD ME 6PUT M9E
ON4 ,I D"O X1 ( C\RSE4 ,! K+'S DUDS 0
ALL BLACK1 & HE DID LOOK R1L SWELL &
/>*Y4 ,I N"E "K$ H[ CLO!S CD *ANGE A
BODY 2F4 ,:Y1 2F1 HE LOOK$ L ! ORN]IE/
OLD RIP T "E WAS2 B N[1 :5 HE'D TAKE (F
8 NEW :ITE B1V] & MAKE A B[ & D A SMILE1
HE LOOK$ T GR& & GD & PI\S T Y'D SAY HE
_H WALK$ "R \ (! >K1 & MAYBE 0 OLD
,LEVITICUS HMF4 ,JIM CL1N$ UP ! CANOE1 &
,I GOT MY PA4LE R1DY4 ,"! 0 A BIG
/1MBOAT LAY+ AT ! %ORE AWAY UP "U !
PO9T1 AB ?REE MILE ABV ! T[N--BE5 "! A
C\PLE ( H\RS1 TAK+ ON FREI<T4 ,SAYS !
K+3
  8,SEE9' H[ ,I'M DRESS$1 ,I RECKON
MAYBE ,I BETT] >RIVE D[N F ,/4 ,L\IS OR
,C9C9NATI1 OR "S O!R BIG PLACE4 ,G =!
/1MBOAT1 ,HUCKLEB]RY2 WE'LL -E D[N 6!
VILLAGE ON H]40
  ,I DIDN'T H 6BE ORD]$ TWICE 6G & TAKE
A /1MBOAT RIDE4 ,I FET*$ ! %ORE A HALF A
MILE ABV ! VILLAGE1 & !N W5T SCOOT+ AL;G
! BLUFF BANK 9 ! EASY WAT]4 ,PRETTY SOON
WE -E 6A NICE 9NOC5T-LOOK+ "Y C.TRY JAKE
SETT+ ON A LOG SWA2+ ! SW1T (F ( 8 FACE1
= X 0 P[];L W>M W1!R2 & HE _H A C\PLE (
BIG C>PET-BAGS 0HM4
  8,RUN H] NOSE 9 %ORE10 SAYS ! K+4 ,I
D"O X4 8,:]0' Y B.D =1 "Y MAN80
  8,=! /1MBOAT2 GO+ 6,ORL1NS40
  8,GIT ABO>D10 SAYS ! K+4 8,HOLD ON A
M9UTE1 MY S]VANT 'LL HE'P Y ) !M BAGS4
,JUMP \ & HE'P ! G5TLEMAN1 ,ADOLPHUS0--
M1N+ ME1 ,I SEE4
  ,I D"O S1 & !N WE ALL ?REE />T$ ON AG4
,! "Y *AP 0 MI<TY ?ANK;L2 SD X 0 T\< "W
TOT+ 8 BA7AGE S* W1!R4 ,HE ASK$ ! K+ ":
HE 0 GO+1 &! K+ TOLD HM HE'D -E D[N !
RIV] & L&$ AT ! O!R VILLAGE ? MORN+1 &
N[ HE 0 GO+ UP A FEW MILE 6SEE AN OLD FR
ON A F>M UP "!4 ,! "Y FELL[ SAYS3
  8,:5 ,I F/ SEE Y ,I SAYS 6MYF1 ,8,X'S
,MR4 ,WILKS1 SURE1 & HE -E MI<TY NE>
GETT+ "H 9 "T40' ,B !N ,I SAYS AG1
,8,NO1 ,I RECKON X A9'T HM1 OR ELSE HE
WDN'T 2 PA4L+ UP ! RIV]40' ,Y ,,A9'T HM1
>E Y80
  8,NO1 MY "N'S ,BLODGETT--,ELEX&]
,BLODGETT--,,R"E5D ,ELEX&] ,BLODGETT1 ,I
S'POSE ,I M/ SAY1 Z ,I'M "O O' ! ,"L'S
POOR S]VANTS4 ,B / ,I'M JI/ Z A# 6BE
SORRY = ,MR4 ,WILKS = N >RIV+ 9 "T1 ALL
! SAME1 IF HE'S MISS$ ANY?+ 0X--: ,I
HOPE HE HASN'T40
  8,WELL1 HE DON'T MISS ANY PROP]TY 0X1
2C HE'LL GET T ALL "R2 B HE'S MISS$ SEE+
8 BRO!R ,PET] DIE--: HE MAYN'T M9D1
NOBODY C TELL Z 6T--B 8 BRO!R WD A GIVE
ANY?+ 9 ? _W 6SEE ,,HM 2F HE DI$2 N"E
TALK$ AB NO?+ ELSE ALL ^! ?REE WEEKS2
_HN'T SE5 HM S9CE !Y 0 BOYS TGR--& _HN'T
"E SE5 8 BRO!R ,WILLIAM AT ALL--T'S !
DEEF & DUMB "O--,WILLIAM A9'T M ?AN
?IRTY OR ?IRTY-FIVE4 ,PET] & ,GEORGE 7 !
ONLY "OS T -E \ "H2 ,GEORGE 0 ! M>RI$
BRO!R2 HM & 8 WIFE BO? DI$ LA/ YE>4
,H>VEY & ,WILLIAM'S ! ONLY "OS T'S LEFT
N[2 &1 Z ,I 0 SAY+1 !Y HAV5'T GOT "H 9
"T40
  8,DID ANYBODY S5D 'EM ^W80
  8,OH1 YES2 A MON? OR TWO AGO1 :5 ,PET]
0 F/ TOOK2 2C ,PET] SD !N T HE SORT]
FELT L HE W>N'T GO+ 6GET WELL ? "T4 ,Y
SEE1 HE 0 PRETTY OLD1 & ,GEORGE'S
G'YIRLS 0 TOO "Y 6BE M* -PANY = HM1
EXCEPT ,M>Y ,JANE1 ! R$-H1D$ "O2 & S HE
0 K9D] L"O"S AF ,GEORGE & 8 WIFE DI$1 &
DIDN'T SEEM 6C>E M* 6LIVE4 ,HE MO/
DESP]ATELY WANT$ 6SEE ,H>VEY--&
,WILLIAM1 TOO1 = T MATT]--2C HE 0 "O (
!M K9D T C'T BE> 6MAKE A W4 ,HE LEFT A
LR 2H = ,H>VEY1 & SD HE'D TOLD 9 X ": 8
M"OY 0 HID1 & H[ HE WANT$ ! RE/ (!
PROP]TY DIVID$ UP S ,GEORGE'S G'YIRLS WD
2 ALL "R--= ,GEORGE DIDN'T L1VE NO?+4 ,&
T LR 0 ALL !Y CD GET HM 6PUT A P5 TO40
  8,:Y D Y RECKON ,H>VEY DON'T -E8 ,:]0'
DOES HE LIVE80
  8,OH1 HE LIVES 9 ,5GL&--,%E6IELD--
PR1*ES "!--HASN'T "E BE5 9 ? C.TRY4 ,HE
HASN'T _H ANY TOO M* "T--& 2SS HE
MI<TN'T A GOT ! LR AT ALL1 Y "K40
  8,TOO BAD1 TOO BAD HE CDN'T A LIV$
6SEE 8 BRO!RS1 POOR S\L4 ,Y GO+
6,ORL1NS1 Y SAY80
  8,YES1 B T A9'T ONLY A "P ( X4 ,I'M
GO+ 9 A %IP1 NEXT ,W$NES"D1 = ,RYO
,JANE]O1 ": MY UNCLE LIVES40
  8,X'S A PRETTY L;G J\RNEY4 ,B X'LL 2
LOVELY2 WI%T ,I 0 A-GO+4 ,IS ,M>Y ,JANE
! OLDE/8 ,H[ OLD IS ! O!RS80
  8,M>Y ,JANE'S N9ETE51 ,SUSAN'S FIFTE51
& ,JOANNA'S AB F\RTE5--T'S ! "O T GIVES
H]F 6GD "WS & HAS A H>E-LIP40
  8,POOR ?+S6 6BE LEFT AL"O 9 ! COLD _W
S40
  8,WELL1 !Y CD 2 WORSE (F4 ,OLD ,PET]
_H FRS1 & !Y A9'T GO+ 6LET !M -E 6NO
H>M4 ,"!'S ,HOBSON1 ! ,BABTIS' PR1*]2 &
,D1CON ,LOT ,HOVEY1 & ,B5 ,RUCK]1 &
,ABN] ,%ACKLE=D1 & ,LEVI ,BELL1 ! LAWY]2
& ,DR4 ,ROB9SON1 & _! WIVES1 &! WID[
,B>TLEY1 &--WELL1 "!'S A LOT ( !M2 B ^!
>E ! "OS T ,PET] 0 ?ICKE/ )1 & US$
6WRITE AB "S"TS1 :5 HE WROTE HOME2 S
,H>VEY 'LL "K ": 6LOOK = FRS :5 HE GETS
"H40
  ,WELL1 ! OLD MAN W5T ON ASK+ "QS TILL
HE J FAIRLY EMPTI$ T "Y FELL[4 ,BLAM$ IF
HE DIDN'T 9QUIRE AB "EYBODY & "EY?+ 9 T
B.S$ T[N1 & ALL AB ! ,WILKSES2 & AB
,PET]'S BUSI;S--: 0 A TANN]2 & AB
,GEORGE'S--: 0 A C>P5T]2 & AB ,H>VEY'S--
: 0 A 4S5T]+ M9I/]2 & S ON1 & S ON4 ,!N
HE SAYS3
  8,:AT DID Y WANT 6WALK ALL ! WAY UP 6!
/1MBOAT =80
  8,2C %E'S A BIG ,ORL1NS BOAT1 & ,I 0
AFE>D %E MI<TN'T /OP "!4 ,:5 !Y'RE DEEP
!Y WON'T /OP =A HAIL4 ,A ,C9C9NATI BOAT
W1 B ? IS A ,/4 ,L\IS "O40
  8,WAS ,PET] ,WILKS WELL (F80
  8,OH1 YES1 PRETTY WELL (F4 ,HE _H
H\SES & L&1 & X'S RECKON$ HE LEFT ?REE
OR F\R ?\S& 9 CA% HID UP SOM']S40
  8,:5 DID Y SAY HE DI$80
  8,I DIDN'T SAY1 B X 0 LA/ NI<T40
  8,FUN]AL TO-MORR[1 LIKELY80
  8,YES1 ,8B\T ! MI4LE (! "D40
  8,WELL1 X'S ALL T]RI# SAD2 B WE'VE ALL
GOT 6G1 "O "T OR ANO!R4 ,S :AT WE WANT
6D IS 6BE PREP>$2 !N WE'RE ALL "R40
  8,YES1 SIR1 X'S ! BE/ WAY4 ,MA US$
6ALW SAY T40
  ,:5 WE /RUCK ! BOAT %E 0 AB D"O LOAD+1
& PRETTY SOON %E GOT (F4 ,! K+ N"E SD
NO?+ AB GO+ ABO>D1 S ,I LO/ MY RIDE1 AF
ALL4 ,:5 ! BOAT 0 G"O ! K+ MADE ME PA4LE
UP ANO!R MILE 6A L"O"S PLACE1 & !N HE
GOT A%ORE & SAYS3
  8,N[ HU/LE BACK1 "R (F1 & FET* ! DUKE
UP "H1 &! NEW C>PET-BAGS4 ,& IF HE'S G"O
OV] TO ;T'O!R SIDE1 G OV] "! & GIT HM4
,& TELL HM 6GIT HMF UP REG>D.S4 ,%OVE
AL;G1 N[40
  ,I SEE :AT ,,HE 0 UP TO2 B ,I N"E SD
NO?+1 ( C\RSE4 ,:5 ,I GOT BACK )! DUKE
WE HID ! CANOE1 & !N !Y SET D[N ON A
LOG1 &! K+ TOLD HM "EY?+1 J L ! "Y FELL[
_H SD X--E LA/ ^W ( X4 ,& ALL ! "T HE 0
A-DO+ X HE TRI$ 6TALK L AN ,5GLI%MAN2 &
HE D"O X PRETTY WELL1 TOO1 =A SL\*4 ,I
C'T IMITATE HM1 & S ,I A9'T A-GO+ 6TRY
TO2 B HE RE,Y D"O X PRETTY GD4 ,!N HE
SAYS3
  8,H[ >E Y ON ! DEEF & DUMB1
,BILGEWAT]80
  ,! DUKE SD1 L1VE HM AL"O = T2 SD HE _H
PLAY$ A DEEF & DUMB P]SON ON ! HI/RONIC
BO>DS4 ,S !N !Y WAIT$ =A /1MBOAT4
  ,AB ! MI4LE (! AFN A C\PLE ( LL BOATS
-E AL;G1 B !Y DIDN'T -E F HI< 5 UP !
RIV]2 B AT LA/ "! 0 A BIG "O1 & !Y HAIL$
H]4 ,%E S5T \ H] YAWL1 & WE W5T ABO>D1 &
%E 0 F ,C9C9NATI2 & :5 !Y F.D WE ONLY
WANT$ 6G F\R OR FIVE MILE !Y 0 BOOM+
MAD1 & GAVE U A CUSS+1 & SD !Y WDN'T L&
U4 ,B ! K+ 0 CA'M4 ,HE SAYS3
  8,IF G5TLEM5 K9 AF=D 6PAY A DOLL> A
MILE APIECE 6BE TOOK ON & PUT (F 9 A
YAWL1 A /1MBOAT K9 AF=D 6C>RY 'EM1 C'T
X80
  ,S !Y S(T5$ D[N & SD X 0 ALL "R2 & :5
WE GOT 6! VILLAGE !Y YAWL$ U A%ORE4 ,AB
TWO DOZ5 M5 FLOCK$ D[N :5 !Y SEE ! YAWL
A-COM+1 & :5 ! K+ SAYS3
  8,K9 ANY ( Y G5TLEM5 TELL ME :]0' ,MR4
,PET] ,WILKS LIVES80 !Y GIVE A GL.E AT
"O ANO!R1 & NO4$ _! H1DS1 Z M* Z 6SAY1
8,:AT D0' ,I TELL Y80 ,!N "O ( !M SAYS1
K9D ( S(T & G5TLE3
  8,I'M SORRY4 SIR1 B ! BE/ WE C D IS
6TELL Y ": HE ,,DID LIVE YE/]"D EV5+40
  ,SU45 Z W9K+ ! ORN]Y OLD CRETUR W5T AN
6SMA%1 & FELL UP AG/ ! MAN1 & PUT 8 *9
ON 8 %\LD]1 & CRI$ D[N 8 BACK1 & SAYS3
  8,ALAS1 ALAS1 \R POOR BRO!R--G"O1 & WE
N"E GOT 6SEE HM2 OH1 X'S TOO1 TOO H>D60
  ,!N HE TURNS >.D1 BLU2]+1 & MAKES A
LOT ( IDIOTIC SIGNS 6! DUKE ON 8 H&S1 &
BLAM$ IF HE DIDN'T DROP A C>PET-BAG &
BU/ \ A-CRY+4 ,IF !Y W>N'T ! B1T5E/ LOT1
!M TWO FRAUDS1 T "E ,I /RUCK4
  ,WELL1 ! M5 GA!R$ >.D & SYMPA?IZ$ )
!M1 & SD ALL SORTS ( K9D ?+S 6!M1 &
C>RI$ _! C>PET-BAGS UP ! HILL = !M1 &
LET !M L1N ON !M & CRY1 & TOLD ! K+ ALL
AB 8 BRO!R'S LA/ MO;TS1 &! K+ HE TOLD X
ALL OV] AG ON 8 H&S 6! DUKE1 & BO? ( !M
TOOK ON AB T D1D TANN] L !Y'D LO/ !
TWELVE 4CIPLES4 ,WELL1 IF "E ,I /RUCK
ANY?+ L X1 ,I'M A NI7]4 ,X 0 5 6MAKE A
BODY A%AM$ (! HUMAN RACE4

