X

“it amounted Ⓐemendation to something
being a raftsman.”

Click the thumbnail to see the illustrated chapter heading

We slept mostⒶemendation all day, and started out,Ⓐhistorical collation at night, a little ways behind a monstrous long raft that was as long going by as a procession. She had four long sweeps at each end, so we judged she carried as many as thirty men, likely. She had five big wigwamsⒶhistorical collation aboard, wide apart, and an open camp fire in the middle, and a tall flag poleⒶhistorical collation at each end. There was a power of style about her. It amounted Ⓐalteration in the MS to somethingⒶalteration in the MS being a raftsmanⒶemendation on such a craft as that.

We went drifting down into a big bend, and the night clouded up and got hot. The river was very wideⒶhistorical collation and was walled with solid timber on both sides; you couldn’t see a break in it,Ⓐhistorical collation hardly ever, or a light. We talked about Cairo, and wondered whether we would know it when we got to it. I said likely we wouldn’t, because I had heard say there warn’t but about a dozen houses there, and if they didn’t happen to have them lit up, how was we going to know we was passing a town? Jim said if the two big rivers joined together there, that would show. But I said maybe we might think we was passing the foot of an island and coming into the same old river again. That disturbed Jim—and me too. So the question was, what to do? I said, paddle ashore the first time a light showed, and tell them papⒶemendation was behind,Ⓐalteration in the MS coming along with a trading scowⒶhistorical collation, and was a green hand at the business, and wanted to know how far it was to Cairo. Jim thought it wasⒶalteration in the MS a good idea, so we took a smoke on it and waited.

[begin page 107] But you know a young person can’t wait very well when he isⒶalteration in the MS impatient to find a thing outⒶemendation. We talked it over, and by and by Jim said it was such a black night, now, that it wouldn’tⒶhistorical collation be no reskⒶemendation Ⓐtextual note to swim down to the big raft and crawl aboard and listenⒶhistorical collation—they would talk about Cairo, because they would be calculating to goⒶalteration in the MS ashore there for a spree, maybe, or anyway they would send boats ashore to buy whiskyⒶhistorical collation or fresh meat or something. Jim had a wonderful level head, for a nigger;Ⓐhistorical collation he could most always start a good planⒶalteration in the MS whenⒶalteration in the MS you wanted one.

X

“i swum down Ⓐemendation along the raft.”

I stood up and shook my rags off and jumped into the river, and struck out for the raft’s light. By and by, when I got down nearly to herⒶhistorical collation I eased up and went slow and cautious. ButⒶemendation everything was all right—nobody at the sweeps. So I swum down along the raft till I was most abreast the camp fire in the middle. ThenⒶhistorical collation I crawled aboard and inched along and got in amongst some bundles of shingles on the weather side of the fire. ThereⒶemendation was thirteen men there—they wasⒶalteration in the MS the watch on deck,Ⓐhistorical collation of course. And a mighty rough lookingⒶhistorical collation lot, too. They had a jug, and tin cups, and they kept the jug moving. One man was singing—roaring, you may say; and it warn’tⒶhistorical collation Ⓐtextual note a nice song—for a parlor,Ⓐhistorical collation anywayⒶemendation. He roared through his nose, and strung out the last word of every line very long. When he was done they all fetched a kind of Injun war-whoop, and then another wasⒶemendation sung. It begun:Ⓐhistorical collation

And so on—fourteen verses. It was kind of poor, and when he was going to start on the next verseⒶalteration in the MS one of them said it was the tune the old cow died onⒺexplanatory note; and another one said, “OⒶhistorical collation, give us a rest;” andⒶhistorical collation another one told him to takeⒶalteration in the MS a walk. They made fun of him till he got mad and jumped up and begun to cuss the crowd, and said he could lam any thief in the lot.

They wasⒶalteration in the MS all about to make a break for him, but the biggest man there jumped up and says:Ⓐhistorical collation

“Set whar you are, gentlemen. Leave him to me; he’sⒶhistorical collation my meat.”

X

“he jumped up in the air.”

Then he jumped up in the air three times and cracked his heels [begin page 109] together every time. He flung off a buckskin coat that was all hung with fringes, and says, “You lay thar tell the chawin-up’sⒶhistorical collation done;” and flung his hat down, which was all over ribbons, and says, “You lay thar tell his sufferins is over.”

Then he jumped up in theⒶalteration in the MS air and cracked his heels together again and shouted out:Ⓐhistorical collation

“Whoo-oopⒶemendation! I’mⒶhistorical collation the old original iron-jawed, brass-mountedⒶemendation, copper-bellied corpse-maker from the wilds of Arkansaw! LookⒶemendation at me! I’mⒶhistorical collation the man they call Sudden Death and General Desolation! Sired by a hurricane, dam’d by an earthquakeⒶemendation, half-brother to the cholera, nearly related to the small-pox on the mother’s side! Look at me! IⒶemendation takeⒶalteration in the MS nineteenⒶalteration in the MS alligators and a bar’lⒶalteration in the MS of whiskyⒶalteration in the MS Ⓐhistorical collation for breakfast when I’mⒶhistorical collation in robust health, and a bushel of rattlesnakesⒶhistorical collation and a dead body when I’mⒶhistorical collation ailing! I split the everlasting rocks with my glanceⒶemendation and I squenchⒶalteration in the MS the thunder when I speak! Whoo-oopⒶemendation! standⒶhistorical collation back and give me room according to my strength! Blood’sⒶhistorical collation my natural drink, and the wails of the dying is music to my ear! Cast your eye on me, gentlemenⒶemendation!—and lay low,Ⓐhistorical collation and hold your breath, for I’mⒶhistorical collation ’boutⒶemendation Ⓐtextual note to turn myself loose!”

X

“went around in a little Ⓐemendation circle.”

All the time he was getting this off, he was shaking his head and looking fierce, and kind of swelling around in a little circle, tucking up his wristbandsⒶhistorical collation, and now and then straightening up and beating his breast with his fist, sayingⒶhistorical collation “Look at me, gentlemen!” When he got through, he jumped up and cracked his heels together three times, andⒶalteration in the MS let off aⒶalteration in the MS roaring “whoo-oopⒶemendation! I’mⒶhistorical collation the bloodiest son of a wildcat that lives!”

Then the man that had started the row tilted his old slouch hatⒶalteration in the MS down over his right eye; then he bent,Ⓐhistorical collation [begin page 110] stooping forward, with his back sagged andⒶalteration in the MS his southⒶemendation end sticking out far, and his fists a-shovingⒶalteration in the MS out and drawing in in front of him, and so went around in a little circle about three times, swelling himself up and breathing hard. Then he straightened, and jumped up and cracked his heels together three times before he lit again (that made them cheer)Ⓐemendation and he begun to shout like this:Ⓐemendation

“Whoo-oopⒶemendation! BowⒶhistorical collation your neck and spreadⒺexplanatory note, for the kingdom of sorrow’sⒶalteration in the MS Ⓐhistorical collation a-coming! Hold me down to the earth, for I feel my powers a-working! whoo-oopⒶemendation! I’mⒶhistorical collation a child of sin, don’t let me getⒶemendation a start! Smoked glass, here, for all! don’tⒶhistorical collation attempt to look at me with the naked eye, gentlemenⒶhistorical collation! When I’mⒶhistorical collation playful I use the meridians of longitude and parallels of latitude for a seine,Ⓐalteration in the MS and drag the Atlantic oceanⒶhistorical collation for whales! I scratch my head with the lightningⒶalteration in the MS and purr myself to sleep with the thunderⒶalteration in the MS! When I’mⒶhistorical collation cold, I bileⒶemendation the Gulf of Mexico and bathe in it; when I’mⒶhistorical collation hot I fan myself with an equinoctial storm; when I’mⒶhistorical collation thirstyⒶalteration in the MS I reach up and suck a cloud dry like a sponge; when I range the earth hungry, famine follows in my tracksⒶalteration in the MS! Whoo-oopⒶemendation! Bow your neck and spread! I put my hand on the sun’s face and make it night in the earth; I bite a piece out of the moon and hurry the seasons; I shake myself and crumbleⒶalteration in the MS Ⓐemendation the mountains! Contemplate me through leather—don’t use the naked eye! I’mⒶhistorical collation the man with a petrified heart and biler-ironⒶemendation bowelsⒶalteration in the MS Ⓐemendation! TheⒶalteration in the MS massacre of isolated communities is the pastime of my idle moments, the destructionⒶalteration in the MS of nationalities the serious business of my life! The boundless vastness of the great American desertⒶemendation Ⓐtextual note is my enclosed property, and I bury my dead on my own premises!”Ⓐalteration in the MS

HeⒶhistorical collation jumped up and cracked his heels together three times before he lit (they cheered him again), and as he come down he shoutedⒶemendation out:Ⓐalteration in the MS “Whoo-oopⒶemendation! BowⒶhistorical collation Ⓐalteration in the MS your neck and spread, for the pet child of Calamity’sⒶalteration in the MS Ⓐhistorical collation a-coming!”

Then the other one went to swelling around and blowing again—the first one—the one they called Bob; nextⒶalteration in the MS, the ChildⒶalteration in the MS of Calamity chipped in again, bigger than ever; then they both got at it at the same time, swelling round and round each other and punching their fists most into each other’s faces, and whooping and jawing like Injuns; then Bob called the Child namesⒶalteration in the MS, and the Child called him names back again;Ⓐhistorical collation nextⒶalteration in the MS, Bob called him a heap rougher names and the Child come back at him with the very worst kind of language; [begin page 111] next, Bob knocked the Child’sⒶalteration in the MS hat off, and the Child picked it up and kicked Bob’sⒶalteration in the MS ribbony hat about six foot; Bob went and got it and said never mind, this warn’tⒶhistorical collation going to be the last of this thing, because he was a man that never forgot and never forgive, and so the Child better look out, for there was a time a-comingⒶemendation, just as sure as he was a living man, that he would have to answer to himⒶalteration in the MS with the best blood in his body. The Child said no man was willinger than he was,Ⓐhistorical collation for that time to come, and he would give Bob fair warning, now, never to cross his path again, for he could never rest till he had waded in his blood, for such was his nature, though he was sparing him now on account of his family, if he had one.

Both of them was edging away in different directions, growling and shaking their heads and going on about what they was going to do; but a little black-whiskeredⒶalteration in the MS chap skipped up and says:Ⓐhistorical collation

“Come back here, you couple of chicken-liveredⒶemendation cowards, and I’llⒶhistorical collation thrash the two of ye!”

And he done it, too. He snatched them, he jerked them this way and that, he booted them around, he knocked them sprawling faster than they could get up. Why, it warn’tⒶhistorical collation two minutes till they begged like dogs—and how the other lot did yell and laugh and clap their hands all the way through, and shout “Sail in, Corpse-Maker!” “Hi! at him againⒶemendation, Child of Calamity!” “Bully for you, little Davy!”

WellⒶhistorical collation, it was a perfect pow-wow for a while. Bob and the ChildⒶalteration in the MS had red noses and black eyes when they got through. Little Davy made them own up that they wasⒶalteration in the MS sneaks and cowards and not fit to eat with a dog or drink with a nigger; thenⒶalteration in the MS Bob and the ChildⒶalteration in the MS shook hands with each other, very solemn, and said they had always respected each other and was willing to let bygones be bygones. So then they washed their faces in the river,Ⓐhistorical collation and just then there was a loud order to stand by for a crossing, and some of them went forward to man the sweeps there, and the rest went aft to handle the after sweepsⒶhistorical collation.Ⓔexplanatory note

I laid still and waited for fifteen minutes, and had a smoke out of a pipe that one of them left in reach; then the crossing was finishedⒶhistorical collation and they stumped back and had a drink around and went to talking and singing again.

NextⒶhistorical collation they got out an old fiddle, and one played, and another patted JubaⒶhistorical collation Ⓔexplanatory note, and the rest turned themselves loose on a regular [begin page 112] old-fashionedⒶemendation keel-boat break-downⒺexplanatory note. They couldn’t keep that up very long without getting winded, so by and by they settled around the jug again. Ⓐemendation

TheyⒶalteration in the MS sung “JollyⒶhistorical collation, jolly raftsman’s the life for me,”Ⓔexplanatory note with a rousing chorus, and then they got to talking about differences betwixt hogs, and their different kind of habits; and next about women and their different ways; and next about the best ways to put out houses that was afire; and next about what ought to be done with the Injuns; and next about what a king had to do, and how much he got; and next about how to make cats fight; and nextⒶalteration in the MS about what to do when a man has fits; and next about differences betwixt clear-waterⒶhistorical collation rivers and muddy-waterⒶemendation ones. The man they called Ed,Ⓐhistorical collation said the muddy Mississippi water was wholesomer to drink than the clear water of the OhioⒺexplanatory note; he said if you let a pint ofⒶalteration in the MS this yaller Mississippi water settle, you would have about a half to three-quartersⒶemendation of an inchⒶalteration in the MS of mudⒶalteration in the MS in the bottom, according to the stage of the river, and then it warn’tⒶhistorical collation no better thanⒶhistorical collation Ohio water—what you wanted to do was to [begin page 113] keep it stirred up—andⒶalteration in the MS when the river was low, keep mud on hand to put in and thicken the water up the way it ought to be.

X

“he knocked them sprawling.”

TheⒶemendation Child of Calamity said that was so; he said there was nutritiousnessⒶemendation in the mud, and a man that drunk Mississippi water could grow corn in his stomach if he wanted to. He says:Ⓐhistorical collation

“You look at the graveyardsⒶemendation Ⓐtextual note; that tells the tale. Trees won’t grow worth shucks in a Cincinnati graveyard, but in a Sent Louis graveyard they grow upwards of eight hundred foot high. It’sⒶhistorical collation all on accountⒶemendation of the water the people drunk before they laid up. A Cincinnati corpse don’t richen a soil any.”

X

an old-fashioned break-down.

And they talked about how Ohio water didn’tⒶhistorical collation like to mix with Mississippi water. Ed said if you take the Mississippi on a rise when the Ohio is low, you’llⒶhistorical collation find a wide band of clear water all the way down the east side of the Mississippi for a hundred mileⒶemendation or moreⒺexplanatory note, and the minute you get out a quarter of a mile from shore and pass the line, it is all thick and yaller the rest of the way across.

ThenⒶhistorical collation they talked about how to keep tobacco from getting mouldy, and from that they went into ghosts and told about a lot that other folks had seen; but Ed says:Ⓐhistorical collation

[begin page 114] “Why don’t you tell something that you’veⒶhistorical collation seen yourselves? NowⒶemendation let me have a say. Five yearsⒶalteration in the MS Ⓐemendation ago I was on a raft as big as this, and right along here it was a bright moonshinyⒶalteration in the MS night, just after midnight,Ⓐemendation Ⓐtextual note and I was on watch and boss of the stabboard oar forrard, and one of my pards was a man named Dick Allbright, and he come along to where I was settingⒶhistorical collation Ⓐtextual note, forrard—gaping and stretching, he was—and stooped down on the edge of the raft and washedⒶalteration in the MS his face in the river, and come and set down by me and got out his pipe, and had just got it filled, when he looks up and says,Ⓐhistorical collation ‘WhyⒶhistorical collation looky-here,’ he says, ‘ain’t that Buck Miller’s place, over yanderⒶalteration in the MS in the bend?’ ‘YesⒶhistorical collation,’ says I, ‘it is—why?’ He laid his pipe down and leant his head onⒶemendation his hand, and says,Ⓐhistorical collation ‘IⒶhistorical collation thought we’dⒶhistorical collation be furder down.’ I says,Ⓐhistorical collation ‘IⒶhistorical collation thought it too, when I went offⒶalteration in the MS watch’—we was standing six hours on and six off—‘but the boys told me,’ I saysⒶalteration in the MS, ‘that the raft didn’t seem to hardly move, for the last hour,’Ⓐhistorical collation says I, ‘though she’sⒶhistorical collation a slipping along all right, now,’ says I. He give a kind of a groanⒶhistorical collation and says,Ⓐhistorical collation ‘I’veⒶhistorical collation seed a raft act so before, along here,’ he says;Ⓐhistorical collation ‘ ’pears to me the current has most quit,Ⓐalteration in the MS Ⓐhistorical collation above the head of this bend durin’ the last two years,’ he says.

“WellⒶemendation, he raised up two or three times, and looked away off and around on the water. That started me at it, too. A body is always doing what he sees somebody else doing, though there mayn’tⒶhistorical collation be no sense in it. Pretty soon I see a black something floating on the water away off to stabboardⒶalteration in the MS and quartering behind us. I see he was looking at it, too. I says,Ⓐhistorical collation ‘What’sⒶhistorical collation that?’ He says, sort of pettish,Ⓐhistorical collation “Tain’tⒶhistorical collation nothing but an old empty bar’l.’ ‘AnⒶhistorical collation empty bar’l!’ says I, ‘why,’ says I, ‘a spy-glass is a fool to your eyes. HowⒶemendation can you tell it’sⒶhistorical collation an empty bar’l?Ⓐemendation’ He says,Ⓐhistorical collation ‘IⒶhistorical collation don’t know; I reckon it ain’t a bar’l;Ⓐhistorical collation but I thought it might be,’ says he. ‘YesⒶhistorical collation,’ I says, ‘so it might be;Ⓐhistorical collation and it might be anything else, too;Ⓐalteration in the MS a body can’t tell nothing about it, such a distance as that,’ I says.

“We hadn’tⒶhistorical collation nothing else to do, so we kept on watching it. By and by I says,Ⓐhistorical collation ‘WhyⒶhistorical collation looky-here, Dick Allbright, that thing’sⒶhistorical collation a-gaining on us, IⒶemendation believe.’ HeⒶhistorical collation never said nothing. The thing gained and gained, and I judged it must be a dog that was about tired out. Well, we swung down into the crossing, and the thing floated across the bright streak of the moonshine, and by GeorgeⒶhistorical collation it was a bar’l.

“SaysⒶhistorical collation I,Ⓐhistorical collation ‘DickⒶhistorical collation AllbrightⒶalteration in the MS, what made you think that thing was a [begin page 115] bar’l, when it was a half a mileⒶemendation off,’ says I. Says he,Ⓐhistorical collation ‘IⒶhistorical collation don’t know.’ Says I,Ⓐhistorical collation ‘YouⒶhistorical collation tell me, Dick Allbright.’Ⓐemendation He says,Ⓐhistorical collation ‘WellⒶhistorical collation, I knowed it was a bar’l; I’veⒶhistorical collation seen it before; lots has seen it; they saysⒶemendation it’sⒶhistorical collation a ha’ntedⒶhistorical collation bar’l.’ IⒶhistorical collation called the rest of the watchⒶhistorical collation and they come and stood there, and I told them what Dick said. It floated right along abreast, now, and didn’tⒶhistorical collation gain any more. It was about twenty foot off. Some was for having it aboard, but the rest didn’tⒶhistorical collation want to. Dick Allbright said rafts that had fooled with it had got bad luck by it. The captain of the watch said he didn’tⒶhistorical collation believe in it. He said he reckoned the bar’l gained on us because it was in a little better current than what we was; heⒶhistorical collation said it would leave by and by.

X

the mysterious barrel.

“SoⒶemendation then we went to talking about other things, and we had a song, and then a breakdown; and after that the captain of the watch called for another song; but it was clouding up, now, and the bar’l stuck right thar in the same place, and the song didn’tⒶhistorical collation seem to have much warm-up to it, somehow, and so they didn’tⒶhistorical collation finish it, and there warn’tⒶhistorical collation any cheers, but it sort of dropped flat, and nobody said anything for a minute. Then everybody tried to talk at once, and one chap got off a joke, but it warn’tⒶhistorical collation no use, they didn’tⒶhistorical collation laugh, and even the chap that made the joke didn’tⒶhistorical collation laugh at it, which ain’t usual. We all just settled down glum, and watched the bar’l, and was oneasy and oncomfortable. WellⒶhistorical collation sir, it shut down black and still, and then the wind begin to moan around, and next the lightning begin to play and the thunder to grumble. And pretty soon there was a regular storm, and in the middle of it a man that was runningⒶemendation aftⒶalteration in the MS stumbled and fell and sprained his ancleⒶhistorical collation so badⒶhistorical collation he had to lay upⒶtextual note. This made the boys shake their heads. And every time the lightning come, there was that bar’l,Ⓐhistorical collation with the blue lights [begin page 116] winkingⒶalteration in the MS around it. We was always on the lookoutⒶhistorical collation for it. But by and by, towards dawn, she was gone. When the day come we couldn’tⒶhistorical collation see her anywhere, and we warn’tⒶalteration in the MS Ⓐhistorical collation sorry, neither.

“But next night about half pastⒶhistorical collation nine, when there was songs and high jinks going on, here she comes again, and took her old roost on the stabboard side. ThereⒶemendation warn’tⒶhistorical collation no more high jinks. Everybody got solemn; nobody talked; you couldn’tⒶhistorical collation get anybody to do anything but set around moody and look at the bar’l. It begun to cloud up again. When the watch changed, the off watch stayed up, ’stead of turning in. The storm ripped and roared around all night, and in the middle of it another man tripped and sprained his ancleⒶhistorical collation and had to knock off. The bar’l left,Ⓐhistorical collation towards day, and nobody see it go.

X

“soon there was a regular storm.”

“EverybodyⒶalteration in the MS was sober and down in the mouth all day. I don’t mean the kind of sober that comes of leaving liquor alone. NotⒶhistorical collation that. They was quiet, but they all drunk more than usualⒶhistorical collation—not together,Ⓐhistorical collation but each man sidled off and took it private, by himself.

“AfterⒶalteration in the MS dark the off watch didn’tⒶhistorical collation turn in; nobody sung,Ⓐalteration in the MS nobody talked; the boys didn’tⒶhistorical collation scatter around, neither; they sort of huddled [begin page 117] together, forrard,Ⓐhistorical collation and for two hours they set there, perfectly still, looking steady in the one direction, and heaving a sigh once in a while. And then, here comes the bar’l again. She took up her old place. She staid there all night; nobody turned in. The storm come on again, after midnight. It got awful dark; the rain poured down; hail, too; the thunder boomed and roared and bellowed; the wind blowed a hurricane;Ⓐalteration in the MS and the lightning spread over everything in big sheets of glare, and showed the whole raft as plain as day,Ⓐhistorical collation and the river lashed up white as milk as far as you could see for miles, and there was that bar’l jiggering along, same as ever. The captain ordered the watch to man the after sweeps for a crossing, and nobody would goⒶhistorical collation—no more sprained anclesⒶhistorical collation for them, they said. They wouldn’tⒶhistorical collation even walk aft. Well then, just then the sky split wide open, with a crash, and the lightning killed two men of the after watchⒶhistorical collation and crippled two more. Crippled them how, says you? WhyⒶemendation, sprained their ancles! Ⓐemendation

X

“the lightning killed two men.”

“The bar’l left,Ⓐhistorical collation in the dark betwixtⒶemendation lightnings, towards dawn. WellⒶhistorical collation not a body eat a bite at breakfastⒶemendation that morning. After that the men loafed around, in twos and threes,Ⓐemendation and talked low together. But none of them herded with Dick All bright. They allⒶalteration in the MS give him the cold shake. If he comeⒶalteration in the MS around where any of the men was, they split up and sidled away. They wouldn’tⒶhistorical collation man a sweepⒶhistorical collation Ⓐtextual note with him. The captain had all the skiffs hauled up on the raft, alongside of his wigwam, and wouldn’tⒶhistorical collation let the dead men be took ashore to be planted; he didn’tⒶhistorical collation believe a man that got ashore would come back; and he was right.

“AfterⒶalteration in the MS night come,Ⓐalteration in the MS you could see pretty plain that there was going to be trouble if that bar’l come again,Ⓐhistorical collation there was such a muttering [begin page 118] going on. A good many wanted to kill Dick Allbright, because he’d seen the bar’l on other tripsⒶhistorical collation and that had an ugly look. Some wanted to put him ashore. Some said, let’sⒶhistorical collation all go ashore in a pile, if the bar’l comes again.

“This kind of whispersⒶalteration in the MS was still going on, the men being bunched together forrard watching for the bar’l, whenⒶhistorical collation lo and behold you, here she comes again. Down she comes, slow and steady, and settles into her old tracks. You could a heard a pin drop. Then up comes the captain, and says:Ⓐhistorical collation ‘BoysⒶhistorical collation, don’t be a pack of children and fools; I don’t want this bar’l to be dogging us all the way to Orleans, and you don’t; well, then, how’sⒶhistorical collation the best way to stop it? Burn it up—that’sⒶhistorical collation the way. I’mⒶhistorical collation going to fetch it aboard,’ he says. And before anybody could say a word, in he went.

“He swum to it, and as he come pushing it to the raft, the men spread to one side. But the old man got it aboard and busted in the head, and there was a baby in it!Ⓐemendation Yes sir, a stark nakedⒶemendation Ⓐalteration in the MS baby. It was Dick Allbright’s baby; he owned up and said so. ‘YesⒶhistorical collation,’ he says, a leaningⒶhistorical collation over it, ‘YesⒶalteration in the MS Ⓐhistorical collation, it is my own lamented darling, my poor lost Charles William Allbright deceased,’ says he—forⒶhistorical collation he could curl his tongue around the bulliest words in the language when he was a mind to, and lay them before you without a j’intⒶhistorical collation started, anywheres. Yes, he said he used to live up at the head of this bend, and one night he choked his child, which was crying, not intending to kill it,Ⓐhistorical collation which was prob’ly a lie,Ⓐhistorical collation and then he was scaredⒶalteration in the MS, and buried it in a bar’lⒶalteration in the MS, before his wife got home, and off he went, and struck the northern trail and went to rafting,Ⓐhistorical collation and this was the third year that the bar’l had chased him. He said the bad luck alwaysⒶalteration in the MS begun light, and lasted till four men was killed, and then the bar’l didn’tⒶhistorical collation come any more after that. He said if the men would stand it one more night—Ⓐhistorical collationand was agoingⒶalteration in the MS Ⓐemendation on like that,Ⓐhistorical collation but the men had got enough. They started to get out a boat to take him ashore and lynch him, but he grabbed the little child all of a sudden and jumped overboardⒶhistorical collation with it hugged up to his breast and shedding tears, and we never see him again in this life, poorⒶalteration in the MS old suffering soul, nor Charles William neither.”

“Who was shedding tears?” says Bob; “was it Allbright,Ⓐhistorical collation or the baby?”

“Why, Allbright, of course; didn’t I tell you the baby was dead? Been dead three years—how could it cry?”

[begin page 119] “Well, never mind how it could cry—how could it keep Ⓐalteration in the MS,Ⓐhistorical collation all that time?” says Davy.Ⓐalteration in the MS “You answer me that.”

“I don’t know how it done it,” says Ed. “It done it,Ⓐhistorical collation though,Ⓐhistorical collation—that’sⒶalteration in the MS Ⓐhistorical collation all I know about it.”

X

“grabbed the little child.”

“Say—what did they do with the bar’l?” says the Child of Calamity.

“Why, they hove it overboardⒶemendation and it sunk like a chunk of lead.”

“Edward, didⒶalteration in the MS the child look likeⒶalteration in the MS it was choked?” says one.

“Did it have its hair parted?” says another.

“What was the brand on that bar’l, Eddy?” says a fellow they called Bill.

“Have you got the papers for them statisticsⒶemendation, Edmund?” says Jimmy.

“Say, Edwin, was you one of the men that was killed by the lightning?” says Davy.

“Him? O, no, he was bothⒶemendation of ’em,” says Bob. Then they all haw-hawed.Ⓐalteration in the MS

“Say, Edward, don’t you reckon you’dⒶemendation better take a pill? You look bad—don’t you feel pale?Ⓐemendation” says the Child of Calamity.

“O, come, now, Eddy,” says Jimmy, “show up; you must a kept part of that bar’l to prove the thing by. Show us the bunghole—do—and we’llⒶhistorical collation all believe you.”

“Say, boys,” says Bill, “less divide it up. Thar’sⒶhistorical collation thirteen of us. I can swaller a thirteenth of the yarn, if you can worry down the rest.”

Ed got up madⒶalteration in the MS and said they could all go to some place which he ripped out pretty savage, and then walked off aft cussing to himself, and they yelling and jeering at himⒶhistorical collation and roaring and laughing so you could hear them a mile.

“BoysⒶemendation, we’llⒶhistorical collation split a watermelonⒶemendation on that,” says the ChildⒶalteration in the MS of Calamity,Ⓐhistorical collation andⒶalteration in the MS he come rummaging around in the dark amongst the [begin page 120] shingle bundles where I was, and put his hand on me. I was warm and soft and naked; so he saysⒶalteration in the MS “Ouch!” and jumped back.

“Fetch a lantern or a chunk of fire here, boys—there’sⒶhistorical collation Ⓐalteration in the MS a snake here as big as a cow!”

So they run there with a lantern and crowded up and looked in on me.

X

“ed got up mad.”

“Come out of that, you beggar!” says one.

“Who are you?” says another.

“What areⒶemendation you after here? Speak up prompt, or overboard you go.”

“Snake him out, boys. Snatch him out by the heels.”

I beganⒶemendation to beg, and crept out amongst them trembling. TheyⒶemendation looked me over, wondering, and the Child of Calamity says:Ⓐhistorical collation

“A cussed thief! Lend a hand and less heave him overboard!”

“No,” says Big BobⒶemendation, “lessⒶalteration in the MS get out the paint potⒶhistorical collation and paint him a sky blue all over from head to heel, and then heave him over!”

“Good! That’sⒶhistorical collation it. Go for the paint, Jimmy.”Ⓐalteration in the MS

When the paint come, and Bob took the brush and was just going to begin, the others laughing and rubbing their hands, I begunⒶalteration in the MS to cry,Ⓐalteration in the MS and that sort of worked on DavyⒶhistorical collation and he says:Ⓐhistorical collation

[begin page 121] “ ’Vast there! He’sⒶhistorical collation nothing but a cub. I’llⒶhistorical collation paint the man thatⒶemendation tetchesⒶalteration in the MS him!”

So heⒶtextual note Ⓐhistorical collation looked around on them, and some of them grumbled and growled, andⒶemendation Bob put down the paintⒶhistorical collation and the others didn’tⒶhistorical collation take it up.

X

“who are you?”

“Come here to the fire, and less see what you’reⒶhistorical collation up to here,” says Davy. “Now set down there and give an account of yourself.Ⓐalteration in the MS How long have you beenⒶemendation aboard here?Ⓐalteration in the MS”

“Not over a quarter of a minute, sir,” says I.

“How did you getⒶemendation dry so quick?”

“I don’t know, sir. I’mⒶhistorical collation always that way, mostly.”

“OⒶhistorical collation, you are, are you?Ⓐalteration in the MS What’sⒶhistorical collation your name?”

I warn’tⒶhistorical collation going to tell my name. I didn’tⒶhistorical collation know what to say, so I just says:

“Charles William Allbright, sir.”

Then they roared—the whole crowd; and I was mighty glad I said that, because maybe laughing would get them in a better humor.

When they got done laughing, Davy says:Ⓐhistorical collation

“It won’t hardly do, Charles William. You couldn’tⒶhistorical collation have growed this much in five year, and you was a baby when you come out of the bar’l, you know, and dead at that. Come, now, tell a straight story, and nobodyⒶalteration in the MS ’ll hurt you, if you ain’t up to anything wrong. What is your name?”

[begin page 122] “Aleck Hopkins, sir. Aleck James Hopkins.”

“Well, Aleck, where did you come from, here?”

X

“charles william allbright, sir.”

“From a trading scow. She lays up the bend yonder. I was born on her. Pap has traded up and down here all his life; and he told me to swim off here, because when you went by he said he would like to get some of you to speak to a Mr. Jonas Turner, in Cairo, and tell him—”

“OⒶhistorical collation, come!”

“Yes, sir, it’sⒶhistorical collation as true as the world; Pap he says—”

“OⒶhistorical collation, your grandmother!”

They all laughed, and I tried again to talk, but they broke in on me and stopped me.

“NowⒶhistorical collation looky-here,” says Davy; “you’reⒶhistorical collation scared, and so you talk wild. HonestⒶemendation, now, do you live in a scow, or is it a lie?”

“Yes, sir, in a trading scow. She lays up at the head of the bend. But I warn’tⒶhistorical collation born in her. It’sⒶhistorical collation our first trip.”

[begin page 123] “Now you’reⒶhistorical collation talkingⒶalteration in the MS!Ⓐemendation What did you come aboard here, for? To steal?”

“No, sir, I didn’t. ItⒶemendation was only to get a ride on the raft. All boys does that.”

“Well, I know that. But what did you hide,Ⓐhistorical collation for?”

“Sometimes they drive the boys off.”

“So they do. They might steal. Looky-here; if we let you off this time, will you keep out of these kindⒶemendation of scrapes hereafter?”

“ ’Deed I will, boss. You try me.”

“All right, then. You ain’t but little ways from shore. OverboardⒶhistorical collation with you, and don’t you make a fool of yourself another time this way. BlastⒶemendation it, boy, some raftsmenⒶemendation would rawhide you till you wereⒶemendation black and blue!”

X

I didn’tⒶhistorical collation wait to kiss good-bye, but went overboardⒶemendation and broke for shore. WhenⒶalteration in the MS Jim come along by and by, the bigⒶalteration in the MS raft was away out of sight around the point. I swum out and got aboard, and was mighty glad to see home again.Ⓐhistorical collation Ⓔexplanatory note

I had to tell Jim I didn’t find out how far it was to Cairo. He was pretty sorry. ThereⒶemendation warn’t nothingⒶhistorical collation to do nowⒶhistorical collation but to look out sharp for the townⒶhistorical collation and not pass it without seeing it. He said he’dⒶemendation be mighty sure to see it, because he’dⒶemendation be a free man the minute he seenⒶemendation it, but if he missed it he’dⒶemendation be in the slave country again and no more show for freedom. EveryⒶalteration in the MS little while he jumpsⒶemendation up and says:

“Dah she is!”

But it warn’tⒶemendation. It was jack-o’-lanternsⒶhistorical collation, or lightning bugsⒶhistorical collation; so he set down again,Ⓐalteration in the MS and went to watching, same as before. Jim said it made him all over trembly and feverish to be so close to freedom. Well, I can tell you it made me all over trembly and feverish, too, to hear him, because I begun to get it through my head that he was most free—and who was to blame for it? WhyⒶemendation, me. I couldn’t get that out of my conscience, no how nor no wayⒶemendation. It got to troubling me so I couldn’t restⒶalteration in the MS,Ⓐhistorical collation I couldn’t stayⒶalteration in the MS still in one place. It hadn’t ever come home to me beforeⒶhistorical collation what this thing was that I was doing. But now it did; and it staid with me, and scorched me more and more. I tried to make out to myself that I warn’tⒶemendation to blame, because I didn’t runⒶemendation Jim [begin page 124] off from his rightful owner; but it warn’t noⒶemendation use, conscience up and says, every time, ‘ButⒶhistorical collation you knowed he was running for his freedomⒶhistorical collation and you could a paddled ashore and told somebody.’Ⓐhistorical collation That was so—I couldn’t get around that, no wayⒶhistorical collation. That was where it pinched. Conscience says to me, ‘WhatⒶhistorical collation had poor Miss Watson done to you, that you could see her nigger go off right under your eyes and never say one single word? What did that poor old woman do to you, that you could treat her so mean? WhyⒶhistorical collation she tried to learn you your book, she tried to learn you your manners, she tried to be good to you every way she knowed how. That’s what she done.’Ⓐhistorical collation

I got to feeling so mean and so miserable I most wished I was dead. I fidgeted up and down the raft, abusing myself to myself, and Jim was fidgeting up and down past me. We neither of us could keep still. Every time he danced around and saysⒶhistorical collation ‘Dah’s Cairo!’Ⓐhistorical collation it went through me like aⒶemendation shot, and I thought if it was Cairo I reckoned I would die of miserableness.

Jim talked out loud all the time while I was talking to myself. He was saying how the first thing he would do when he got to a free State he would go to saving up money and never spend a single cent, and when he got enough he would buy his wife, which was owned on a farm close to where Miss Watson lived; and then they would both work to buyⒶemendation the two children;Ⓐhistorical collation and if their master wouldn’t sell them, they’dⒶemendation get an ab’litionistⒶalteration in the MS Ⓐhistorical collation to go and steal them.

It most froze me to hear such talk. He wouldn’t ever dared to talk such talk in his life before. Just see what a difference it made in him the minute he judged he was about free. It was according to the old saying, ‘GiveⒶhistorical collation a nigger an inch and he’ll take an ell.’Ⓐhistorical collation Ⓔexplanatory note Thinks I, this is what comes of my not thinking. Here was this nigger which I had as good as helped to run away, coming right out flat-footedⒶemendation and saying he would steal his children—children that belonged to a man I didn’t even know;Ⓐemendation a man that hadn’t ever done me no harm.Ⓐalteration in the MS

I was sorry to hear Jim say that, it was such a lowering of him. MyⒶalteration in the MS conscience got to stirring me up hotter than ever, untilⒶalteration in the MS Ⓐemendation at last I says to it,Ⓐalteration in the MS Ⓐemendation ‘LetⒶhistorical collation up on me—it ain’t too late, yet—I’llⒶalteration in the MS paddle ashore at the first lightⒶhistorical collation and tell.’Ⓐhistorical collation I felt easyⒶhistorical collation and happyⒶhistorical collation and light as a featherⒶhistorical collation right off. All my troubles was gone. I went to looking out sharp for a lightⒶhistorical collation and sort of singing to myself. By and byⒶhistorical collation one showed. Jim singsⒶalteration in the MS out:

“We’s safe, Huck, we’s safe! Jump up and crack yo’ heels, dat’s de good ole Cairo at las’Ⓐhistorical collation I jis’Ⓐalteration in the MS Ⓐemendation knows it!”

[begin page 125] I says:

“I’ll take the canoe and go see, Jim. It mightn’tⒶalteration in the MS be, you know.”Ⓐtextual note Ⓐalteration in the MS Ⓐemendation

He jumped and got the canoe ready, and put his old coat in the bottom for me to set on, and give me the paddle; and as I shoved offⒶhistorical collation he says:

“PootyⒶemendation soon I’ll be a-shout’nⒶemendation for joy, enⒶalteration in the MS I’ll say, it’s all on accounts o’Ⓐemendation Huck; I’s a free man, enⒶalteration in the MS I couldn’t everⒶemendation ben free efⒶemendation it hadn’Ⓐemendation ben for Huck; Huck done it. Jim won’t everⒶemendation forgit you, Huck; you’s de bes’ fren’ Jim’sⒶemendation everⒶalteration in the MS hadⒶalteration in the MS; enⒶalteration in the MS you’s de only fren’ ole Jim’s got,Ⓐhistorical collation now.”

I was paddling off, all in a sweat to tell on him; but when he says thisⒶemendation it seemed to kind of take the tuckⒶalteration in the MS all out of me. I went along slow,Ⓐhistorical collation then, and I warn’t right down certain whether I was glad I started or whether I warn’t. When I was fifty yards off, Jim says:

“Dah you goes, de ole true Huck; de on’yⒶemendation white genlman dat ever kep’ his promise to ole Jim.”Ⓐalteration in the MS

Well, I just felt sick. But I saysⒶemendation, I got to do it—I can’t getⒶalteration in the MS out Ⓐemendation of it. Right then, along comes a skiff with two men in it, with guns, and they stopped and I stopped. One of them says:

“What’sⒶemendation that, yonder?”

“A piece of a raft,” I says.

“Do you belong on it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Any men on it?”

“Only one, sir.”

“Well, there’s five niggers run off,Ⓐhistorical collation to-night, up yonder above the head of the bend. Is your man white,Ⓐhistorical collation or black?”

I didn’t answer up prompt. I tried to, but the words wouldn’t come. I tried, for a second or two,Ⓐalteration in the MS to brace up,Ⓐhistorical collation and out with it, but I warn’t man enough—hadn’t the spunk of a rabbitⒶemendation. I see I was weakening; so I just give up trying, and up and says—Ⓐalteration in the MS Ⓐalteration in the MS

“He’s white.”

“I reckon we’ll go and see for ourselves.”

“I wish you would,” says I, “becauseⒶalteration in the MS it’s papⒶemendation that’s there, and maybe you’d help me tow the raft ashore where the light is. He’s sick—and so is mamⒶemendation and Mary Ann.”

“Oh, the devil! We’reⒶhistorical collation in a hurry, boy. But I s’pose we’ve got to. Come—buckle to your paddle,Ⓐalteration in the MS and let’s get along.”

I buckled to my paddle and they laid to their oars. When we had made a stroke or two,Ⓐalteration in the MS I says:

[begin page 126] “Pap ’llⒶhistorical collation be mighty much obleegedⒶemendation to you, I can tell you. Everybody goes away when I want them to help me tow the raft ashoreⒶhistorical collation and I can’t do it by myself.”

“Well, that’s infernal meanⒶalteration in the MS. Odd, too. Say, boy, what’s the matter with your father?”Ⓐalteration in the MS

“It’s the—a—the—well, it ain’t anything, much.”

They stopped pulling. It warn’t but a mighty little ways to the raft, now. One says:

“Boy, that’s a lie. WhatⒶemendation is the matter with your pap? Answer up square, now, and it’ll be the better for you.”

“I will, sir, I will, honest—but don’tⒶemendation leave us, please. It’s the—the—gentlemenⒶhistorical collation, if you’ll only pull ahead, and let me heave you the head-line, you won’t have to come a-near the raft—please do.”

“Set her back, John, set her back!” says one. They backed water. “Keep away, boy—keep to looard. Confound it, I just expect the wind has blowed it to us. Your pap’s got the small-pox,Ⓐalteration in the MS and you know it precious well. Why didn’t you come out and say so? Do you want to spread it all over?”

“Well,” says I, a-blubbering, “I’veⒶemendation told everybody before, and then they just went away and left us.”

X

“boy, that’s a lie.”

“Poor devil, there’s something in that. We are right down sorry for you, but weⒶalteration in the MS—well, hang it, we don’t want the small-pox, you see. [begin page 127] Look hereⒶemendation, I’ll tell you what to do. Don’t you try to land by yourself, or you’ll smash everything to pieces. You float along down about twenty milesⒶemendation and you’ll come to a town on the left handⒶhistorical collation side of the river. It will be long after sun-up, then, and when you ask for help, you tell them your folks are all down with chills and fever. Don’t be a fool againⒶhistorical collation and let people guess what is the matter. Now we’re trying to do you a kindness; so you just put twenty milesⒶemendation between us, that’s a good boy. It wouldn’t do any good to land yonder where the light is—it’s only a wood yardⒶhistorical collation. Say—I reckon your father’s poor, and I’m bound to say he’s in pretty hard luck. Here—I’ll put a twenty-dollarⒶhistorical collation gold pieceⒺexplanatory note on this board, and you get it when it floats by. IⒶemendation feel mighty mean to leave you, but my kingdom! it won’t do to fool with small-pox, don’t you see?”

“Hold on, Parker,” says the other man, “here’s a twenty to put on the board for me.Ⓐalteration in the MS Good-byeⒶemendation, boy, you do as Mr. Parker told youⒶhistorical collation and you’ll be all right.”

“That’s so, my boy—good-bye, good-bye. If you see any runaway niggers, you getⒶalteration in the MS help and nab them, and you can make some money by it.”

“Good-bye, sir,” says I, “I won’t let no runaway niggers get by me if I can help it.”

They went off, and I gotⒶemendation aboard the raft, feeling bad and low, because I knowed very well I had done wrong, and I see it warn’t no use for me to try to learn to do right; a body that don’t get started right when he’s little, ain’t got no showⒺexplanatory note—when the pinch comes there ain’t nothing to back him up and keep him to his work, and so he gets beat. Then I thought a minute, and says to myself, hold on,—s’pose you’d a done right and give Jim up; would you felt better than what you do now? No, says I, I’d feel bad—I’d feel just the same way I do now. Well, then, says I, what’s the use you learning to do right, when it’s troublesome to do right and ain’t no trouble to do wrong, and the wages is just the same? I was stuck. I couldn’t answer that. So I reckoned I wouldn’t bother no more about it, but after this always do whichever come handiest at the time.Ⓐalteration in the MS Ⓐemendation

I went into the wigwamⒶemendation; Jim warn’t there. I looked all around; he warn’t anywhere. I says:

“Jim!”

“Here I is, Huck. Is dey out o’ sight,Ⓐhistorical collation yit? Don’t talk loud.”

[begin page 128] He was in the river, under the stern-oarⒶhistorical collation, with just his nose out. I told him they was out of sight, so he come aboard. He says:

“I was a-listenin’ to all de talk, en IⒶalteration in the MS slips into de riverⒶemendation en wasⒶalteration in the MS gwyne to shove for sho’ if dey come aboard. Den I was gwyne to swim to de raf’ agin when dey was gone. But lawsy, how you did fool ’em, Huck!Ⓐemendation Dat wuz Ⓐemendation de smartes’Ⓐemendation dodgeⒺexplanatory note! I tell you, chile, I ’speck it save’Ⓐalteration in the MS ole Jim—ole Jim ain’t gwyne to forgitⒶemendation you for dat, honey.”

X

“here Ⓐemendation i is, huck.”

Then we talked about the money. It was a pretty good raise, twentyⒶalteration in the MS dollars apiece. Jim said we could take deck passage on a steamboat,Ⓐemendation now,Ⓐalteration in the MS and the money would last us as far as we wanted to go in the free States. He said twenty mile more warn’t far for the raft to go, but he wished we was already there.

Towards daybreak we tied up, and Jim was mighty particular about hiding the raft good. Then he worked all day fixing things in bundlesⒶhistorical collation and getting all ready to quit rafting.

That night about ten we hove in sight of the lights of a town away down in a left-hand bend.Ⓐalteration in the MS

IⒶemendation went off in the canoe,Ⓐalteration in the MS to ask about it. Pretty soon I found a man out in the river with a skiff, setting a trot-line. I ranged up and says:

[begin page 129] “Mister, is that town Cairo?”

“Cairo? NoⒶhistorical collation. You must be a blame’Ⓐemendation fool.”

“What town is it, mister?”

“If you want to know, go and find out. If you stay here botherin’Ⓐemendation around me for about a half a minute longer, you’ll get something you won’t want.”

I paddledⒶemendation to the raft. Jim was awfulⒶemendation disappointed, but I said never mind, Cairo would be the next place, I reckoned.

We passed another town before daylightⒶhistorical collation and I was goingⒶalteration in the MS out again; butⒶemendation it was high ground, so I didn’t go. No high ground about Cairo, Jim said. I had forgot it. We laid up for the day,Ⓐalteration in the MS on a tow-head tolerable close to the left-hand bank. I begun to suspicion something. So did Jim. I says:

“Maybe we went by Cairo in the fog that night.”Ⓔexplanatory note

He says:

“Doan’Ⓐemendation lessⒶhistorical collation talk about it,Ⓐalteration in the MS Huck. Po’ niggers can’t have no luck. IⒶemendation awluzⒶemendation ’spected dat rattle-snake skin warn’t done wid itsⒶhistorical collation work.”

“I wish I’d never seen that snake-skin, Jim—I do wish I’d never laidⒶalteration in the MS eyes on it.”

“It ain’t yo’Ⓐalteration in the MS fault, Huck; you didn’Ⓐemendation know. Don’t you blame yo’selfⒶalteration in the MS Ⓐemendation ’bout it.”

When it was daylightⒶemendation, here was the clear Ohio water in shore, sure enough, and outside was the old regular Muddy!Ⓐemendation So it was all up with CairoⒺexplanatory note.

We talked it all over. It wouldn’t do to take to the shore; we couldn’t take theⒶalteration in the MS raft up streamⒶtextual note Ⓐhistorical collation, of course. There warn’t noⒶemendation way but to wait for darkⒶhistorical collation and start back in the canoe and take the chances. So we slept all day amongst the cottonwoodⒶhistorical collation thicket, so as to be fresh for the work, and when we went back to the raft about dark the canoe was gone!Ⓐalteration in the MS

We didn’t say a word for a good while. There warn’t anything to say. We both knowed well enough it was some more work of the rattlesnakeⒶhistorical collation skin; so what was the use to talk about it? It would only lookⒶemendation like we was finding fault, and that would be bound to fetchⒶalteration in the MS more bad luck—and keep on fetching it, too, till we knowed enough to keep still.

By and byⒶhistorical collation we talked about what we better do, and found there warn’t noⒶemendation way but just to go along down with the raft till we got a chance to buy a canoe to go back in. We warn’t going to borrow it [begin page 130] when there warn’t anybody around, the way papⒶemendation would do, for that mightⒶemendation set people after us.

So weⒶhistorical collation shoved out, after dark, onⒶalteration in the MS the raft.

Anybody that don’tⒶalteration in the MS believe,Ⓐhistorical collation yet, that it’sⒶemendation foolishness to handle a snake-skin, afterⒶalteration in the MS all that that snake-skin done for us, will believe it now, if they readⒶemendation on and see what more it done for us.Ⓐemendation

The place to buy canoes is off of rafts laying up at shore. But we didn’t see noⒶemendation rafts laying up; soⒶemendation we went along,Ⓐhistorical collation during three hours and more. Well, the night got grayⒶhistorical collation and ruther thick, which is the next meanest thing to fog. You can’t tell the shape of the river, and you can’t see no distance. It got to be very late and still, and then along comes a steamboatⒶhistorical collation up the river. We lit the lantern,Ⓐhistorical collation and judged she would see it. Up-streamⒶemendation boats didn’t generlyⒶemendation come close to us; they go out and follow the bars and hunt for easy water under the reefs; but nights like this they bull right up the channel against the whole river.

We could hear her pounding along, but we didn’t see her good till she was close. She aimed right for us. Often they do thatⒶhistorical collation and try to see how close they can come without touching; sometimes the wheel bites off a sweep, and then the pilot sticks his head out and laughsⒶhistorical collation and thinks he’sⒶemendation mighty smart. Well, here she comesⒶhistorical collation and we said she was going to try to shave usⒺexplanatory note;Ⓐalteration in the MS but she didn’t seemⒶalteration in the MS to be sheering off a bit. She was a big oneⒶhistorical collation and she was coming in a hurry, too—Ⓐhistorical collationlooking like a blackⒶemendation cloud with rows of glow-wormsⒶemendation around it; but all of a sudden she bulged out, big and scaryⒶemendation, with a long row of wide-open furnace-doorsⒶhistorical collation shiningⒶalteration in the MS like red-hot teeth, and her monstrous bows and guards hanging right over us. ThereⒶemendation was a yell at us,Ⓐalteration in the MS and a jingling of bells to stop the engines, a pow-wowⒶemendation of cussing, and whistling of steam—and as Jim went overboardⒶemendation on one side and I on the other, she comeⒶalteration in the MS smashing straightⒶemendation through the raftⒶemendation.

IⒶemendation dived—and I aimed to find the bottomⒺexplanatory note, too, for a thirty-foot wheel had got to go over meⒶhistorical collation and I wanted it to have plenty of room. I could always stay under waterⒶemendation a minute; this time I reckon I staid under water a minute and a half. Then I bounced for the top in a hurry, for I was nearly busting. IⒶemendation popped out to my arm-pits and blowed the water out of my noseⒶhistorical collation and puffed a bit. Of course there was a booming current; and of course that boat started her engines again ten seconds after she stopped them, for they never cared much [begin page 131] for raftsmenⒶhistorical collation; so now she was churning along up the river, out of sight in the thick weatherⒶemendation, though I could hear her.

I sung out for Jim about a dozen times, but I didn’t get any answer,Ⓐhistorical collation so I grabbed a plank that touched me while I was “treading water,”Ⓐemendation and struck outⒶalteration in the MS forⒶalteration in the MS shore, shoving it ahead of me. But I made out to see that the drift of the current was towardsⒶhistorical collation the left-hand shore, whichⒶalteration in the MS meant that I was in a crossing; so I changed off and went that way.

It was one of these long, slanting, two-mile crossings; so I was a good long time inⒶemendation getting over. IⒶemendation made a safe landingⒶhistorical collation Ⓔexplanatory note and clumbⒶhistorical collation up the bank. I couldn’t see but a little ways, but I went poking along over rough ground for a quarter of a mile or more, and then I run across a big old-fashionedⒶemendation double log house before I noticed it. I was going to rush by and get away, but a lot of dogs jumped out and went to howling and barking at meⒶhistorical collation and I knowed better than to move another peg.

X

climbing up the bank.