English
COL.GRANGERFORDwasagentleman,yousee.
Hewasagentlemanallover;andsowashisfamily.
Hewaswellborn,asthesayingis,andthat’sworthasmuchinamanasitisinahorse,sotheWidowDouglassaid,andnobodyeverdeniedthatshewasofthefirstaristocracyinourtown;andpaphealwayssaidit,too,thoughhewarn’tnomorequalitythanamudcathimself.
Col.Grangerfordwasverytallandveryslim,andhadadarkish-palycomplexion,notasignofredinitanywheres;hewascleanshavedeverymorningalloverhisthinface,andhehadthethinnestkindoflips,andthethinnestkindofnostrils,andahighnose,andheavyeyebrows,andtheblackestkindofeyes,sunksodeepbackthattheyseemedliketheywaslookingoutofcavernsatyou,asyoumaysay.
Hisforeheadwashigh,andhishairwasblackandstraightandhungtohisshoulders.
Hishandswaslongandthin,andeverydayofhislifeheputonacleanshirtandafullsuitfromheadtofootmadeoutoflinensowhiteithurtyoureyestolookatit;andonSundaysheworeabluetail-coatwithbrassbuttonsonit.
Hecarriedamahoganycanewithasilverheadtoit.
Therewarn’tnofrivolishnessabouthim,notabit,andhewarn’teverloud.
Hewasaskindashecouldbe–youcouldfeelthat,youknow,andsoyouhadconfidence.
Sometimeshesmiled,anditwasgoodtosee;butwhenhestraightenedhimselfuplikealiberty-pole,andthelightningbeguntoflickeroutfromunderhiseyebrows,youwantedtoclimbatreefirst,andfindoutwhatthematterwasafterwards.
Hedidn’teverhavetotellanybodytomindtheirmanners–everybodywasalwaysgoodmanneredwherehewas.
Everybodylovedtohavehimaround,too;hewassunshinemostalways–Imeanhemadeitseemlikegoodweather.
Whenheturnedintoacloudbankitwasawfuldarkforhalfaminute,andthatwasenough;therewouldn’tnothinggowrongagainforaweek.
Whenhimandtheoldladycomedowninthemorningallthefamilygotupoutoftheirchairsandgivethemgood-day,anddidn’tsetdownagaintilltheyhadsetdown.
ThenTomandBobwenttothesideboardwherethedecanterwas,andmixedaglassofbittersandhandedittohim,andhehelditinhishandandwaitedtillTom’sandBob’swasmixed,andthentheybowedandsaid,“Ourdutytoyou,sir,andmadam;”andTHEYbowedtheleastbitintheworldandsaidthankyou,andsotheydrank,allthree,andBobandTompouredaspoonfulofwateronthesugarandthemiteofwhiskyorapplebrandyinthebottomoftheirtumblers,andgiveittomeandBuck,andwedranktotheoldpeopletoo.
BobwastheoldestandTomnext–tall,beautifulmenwithverybroadshouldersandbrownfaces,andlongblackhairandblackeyes.
Theydressedinwhitelinenfromheadtofoot,liketheoldgentleman,andworebroadPanamahats.
ThentherewasMissCharlotte;shewastwentyfive,andtallandproudandgrand,butasgoodasshecouldbewhenshewarn’tstirredup;butwhenshewasshehadalookthatwouldmakeyouwiltinyourtracks,likeherfather.Shewasbeautiful.
Sowashersister,MissSophia,butitwasadifferentkind.Shewasgentleandsweetlikeadove,andshewasonlytwenty.
Eachpersonhadtheirownniggertowaitonthem–Bucktoo.
Myniggerhadamonstrouseasytime,becauseIwarn’tusedtohavinganybodydoanythingforme,butBuck’swasonthejumpmostofthetime.
Thiswasalltherewasofthefamilynow,butthereusedtobemore–threesons;theygotkilled;andEmmelinethatdied.
Theoldgentlemanownedalotoffarmsandoverahundredniggers.
Sometimesastackofpeoplewouldcomethere,horseback,fromtenorfifteenmilearound,andstayfiveorsixdays,andhavesuchjunketingsroundaboutandontheriver,anddancesandpicnicsinthewoodsdaytimes,andballsatthehousenights.
Thesepeoplewasmostlykinfolksofthefamily.Themenbroughttheirgunswiththem.
Itwasahandsomelotofquality,Itellyou.
Therewasanotherclanofaristocracyaroundthere–fiveorsixfamilies–mostlyofthenameofShepherdson.
Theywasashigh-tonedandwellbornandrichandgrandasthetribeofGrangerfords.
TheShepherdsonsandGrangerfordsusedthesamesteamboatlanding,whichwasabouttwomileaboveourhouse;sosometimeswhenIwentuptherewithalotofourfolksIusedtoseealotoftheShepherdsonsthereontheirfinehorses.
OnedayBuckandmewasawayoutinthewoodshunting,andheardahorsecoming.Wewascrossingtheroad.Bucksays:
“Quick!Jumpforthewoods!”
Wedoneit,andthenpeepeddownthewoodsthroughtheleaves.
Prettysoonasplendidyoungmancomegallopingdowntheroad,settinghishorseeasyandlookinglikeasoldier.Hehadhisgunacrosshispommel.Ihadseenhimbefore.ItwasyoungHarneyShepherdson.
IheardBuck’sgungooffatmyear,andHarney’shattumbledofffromhishead.
Hegrabbedhisgunandrodestraighttotheplacewherewewashid.Butwedidn’twait.Westartedthroughthewoodsonarun.
Thewoodswarn’tthick,soIlookedovermyshouldertododgethebullet,andtwiceIseenHarneycoverBuckwithhisgun;andthenherodeawaythewayhecome–togethishat,Ireckon,butIcouldn’tsee.
Weneverstoppedrunningtillwegothome.
Theoldgentleman’seyesblazedaminute–‘twaspleasure,mainly,Ijudged–thenhisfacesortofsmootheddown,andhesays,kindofgentle:
“Idon’tlikethatshootingfrombehindabush.Whydidn’tyoustepintotheroad,myboy?”
“TheShepherdsonsdon’t,father.Theyalwaystakeadvantage.”
MissCharlottesheheldherheaduplikeaqueenwhileBuckwastellinghistale,andhernostrilsspreadandhereyessnapped.
Thetwoyoungmenlookeddark,butneversaidnothing.
MissSophiasheturnedpale,butthecolorcomebackwhenshefoundthemanwarn’thurt.
SoonasIcouldgetBuckdownbythecorn-cribsunderthetreesbyourselves,Isays:
“Didyouwanttokillhim,Buck?”
“Well,IbetIdid.”
“Whatdidhedotoyou?”
“Him?Heneverdonenothingtome.”
“Well,then,whatdidyouwanttokillhimfor?”
“Why,nothing–onlyit’sonaccountofthefeud.”
“What’safeud?”
“Why,wherewasyouraised?Don’tyouknowwhatafeudis?”
“Neverheardofitbefore–tellmeaboutit.”
“Well,”saysBuck,“afeudisthisway:Amanhasaquarrelwithanotherman,andkillshim;thenthatotherman’sbrotherkillsHIM;thentheotherbrothers,onbothsides,goesforoneanother;thentheCOUSINSchipin–andbyandbyeverybody’skilledoff,andthereain’tnomorefeud.
Butit’skindofslow,andtakesalongtime.”
“Hasthisonebeengoingonlong,Buck?”
“Well,IshouldRECKON!Itstartedthirtyyearago,orsom’ersalongthere.
Therewastrouble‘boutsomething,andthenalawsuittosettleit;andthesuitwentaginoneofthemen,andsoheupandshotthemanthatwonthesuit–whichhewouldnaturallydo,ofcourse.Anybodywould.”
“Whatwasthetroubleabout,Buck?–land?”
“Ireckonmaybe–Idon’tknow.”
“Well,whodonetheshooting?WasitaGrangerfordoraShepherdson?”
“Laws,howdoIknow?Itwassolongago.”
“Don’tanybodyknow?”
“Oh,yes,paknows,Ireckon,andsomeoftheotheroldpeople;buttheydon’tknownowwhattherowwasaboutinthefirstplace.”
“Hastherebeenmanykilled,Buck?”
“Yes;rightsmartchanceoffunerals.Buttheydon’talwayskill.
Pa’sgotafewbuckshotinhim;buthedon’tmindit‘cuzhedon’tweighmuch,anyway.
Bob’sbeencarvedupsomewithabowie,andTom’sbeenhurtonceortwice.”
“Hasanybodybeenkilledthisyear,Buck?”
“Yes;wegotoneandtheygotone.‘BoutthreemonthsagomycousinBud,fourteenyearold,wasridingthroughthewoodsont’othersideoftheriver,anddidn’thavenoweaponwithhim,whichwasblame’foolishness,andinalonesomeplacehehearsahorsea-comingbehindhim,andseesoldBaldyShepherdsona-linkin’afterhimwithhisguninhishandandhiswhitehaira-flyinginthewind;and‘steadofjumpingoffandtakingtothebrush,Bud‘lowedhecouldoutrunhim;sotheyhadit,nipandtuck,forfivemileormore,theoldmana-gainingallthetime;soatlastBudseenitwarn’tanyuse,sohestoppedandfacedaroundsoastohavethebulletholesinfront,youknow,andtheoldmanherodeupandshothimdown.
Buthedidn’tgitmuchchancetoenjoyhisluck,forinsideofaweekourfolkslaidHIMout.”
“Ireckonthatoldmanwasacoward,Buck.”
“IreckonheWARN’Tacoward.Notbyablame’sight.
Thereain’tacowardamongstthemShepherdsons–notaone.
Andthereain’tnocowardsamongsttheGrangerfordseither.
Why,thatoldmankep’uphisendinafightonedayforhalfanhouragainstthreeGrangerfords,andcomeoutwinner.
Theywasalla-horseback;helitoffofhishorseandgotbehindalittlewoodpile,andkep’hishorsebeforehimtostopthebullets;buttheGrangerfordsstayedontheirhorsesandcaperedaroundtheoldman,andpepperedawayathim,andhepepperedawayatthem.
Himandhishorsebothwenthomeprettyleakyandcrippled,buttheGrangerfordshadtobeFETCHEDhome–andoneof‘emwasdead,andanotherdiedthenextday.
No,sir;ifabody’southuntingforcowardshedon’twanttofoolawayanytimeamongstthemShepherdsons,becuztheydon’tbreedanyofthatKIND.”
NextSundayweallwenttochurch,aboutthreemile,everybodya-horseback.
Thementooktheirgunsalong,sodidBuck,andkeptthembetweentheirkneesorstoodthemhandyagainstthewall.TheShepherdsonsdonethesame.
Itwasprettyornerypreaching–allaboutbrotherlylove,andsuch-liketiresomeness;buteverybodysaiditwasagoodsermon,andtheyalltalkeditovergoinghome,andhadsuchapowerfullottosayaboutfaithandgoodworksandfreegraceandpreforeordestination,andIdon’tknowwhatall,thatitdidseemtometobeoneoftheroughestSundaysIhadrunacrossyet.
Aboutanhourafterdinnereverybodywasdozingaround,someintheirchairsandsomeintheirrooms,anditgottobeprettydull.
Buckandadogwasstretchedoutonthegrassinthesunsoundasleep.
Iwentuptoourroom,andjudgedIwouldtakeanapmyself.
IfoundthatsweetMissSophiastandinginherdoor,whichwasnexttoours,andshetookmeinherroomandshutthedoorverysoft,andaskedmeifIlikedher,andIsaidIdid;andsheaskedmeifIwoulddosomethingforherandnottellanybody,andIsaidIwould.
Thenshesaidshe’dforgotherTestament,andleftitintheseatatchurchbetweentwootherbooks,andwouldIslipoutquietandgothereandfetchittoher,andnotsaynothingtonobody.IsaidIwould.
SoIslidoutandslippedoffuptheroad,andtherewarn’tanybodyatthechurch,exceptmaybeahogortwo,fortherewarn’tanylockonthedoor,andhogslikesapuncheonfloorinsummer-timebecauseit’scool.
Ifyounotice,mostfolksdon’tgotochurchonlywhenthey’vegotto;butahogisdifferent.
SaysItomyself,something’sup;itain’tnaturalforagirltobeinsuchasweataboutaTestament.
SoIgiveitashake,andoutdropsalittlepieceofpaperwith“HALF-PASTTWO”wroteonitwithapencil.
Iransackedit,butcouldn’tfindanythingelse.
Icouldn’tmakeanythingoutofthat,soIputthepaperinthebookagain,andwhenIgothomeandupstairstherewasMissSophiainherdoorwaitingforme.
Shepulledmeinandshutthedoor;thenshelookedintheTestamenttillshefoundthepaper,andassoonasshereaditshelookedglad;andbeforeabodycouldthinkshegrabbedmeandgivemeasqueeze,andsaidIwasthebestboyintheworld,andnottotellanybody.
Shewasmightyredinthefaceforaminute,andhereyeslightedup,anditmadeherpowerfulpretty.
Iwasagooddealastonished,butwhenIgotmybreathIaskedherwhatthepaperwasabout,andsheaskedmeifIhadreadit,andIsaidno,andsheaskedmeifIcouldreadwriting,andItoldher“no,onlycoarse-hand,”andthenshesaidthepaperwarn’tanythingbutabook-marktokeepherplace,andImightgoandplaynow.
Iwentoffdowntotheriver,studyingoverthisthing,andprettysoonInoticedthatmyniggerwasfollowingalongbehind.
Whenwewasoutofsightofthehousehelookedbackandaroundasecond,andthencomesa-running,andsays:
“MarsJawge,ifyou’llcomedownintodeswampI’llshowyouawholestacko’water-moccasins.”
ThinksI,that’smightycurious;hesaidthatyesterday.Heoughterknowabodydon’tlovewatermoccasinsenoughtogoaroundhuntingforthem.Whatisheupto,anyway?SoIsays:
“Allright;trotahead.”
Ifollowedahalfamile;thenhestruckoutovertheswamp,andwadedankledeepasmuchasanotherhalf-mile.
Wecometoalittleflatpieceoflandwhichwasdryandverythickwithtreesandbushesandvines,andhesays:
“Youshoverightindahjistafewsteps,MarsJawge;dah’swhahdeyis.I’sseed‘mbefo’;Idon’tk’yertosee‘emnomo’.”
Thenhesloppedrightalongandwentaway,andprettysoonthetreeshidhim.
Ipokedintotheplacea-waysandcometoalittleopenpatchasbigasabedroomallhungaroundwithvines,andfoundamanlayingthereasleep–and,byjings,itwasmyoldJim!
Iwakedhimup,andIreckoneditwasgoingtobeagrandsurprisetohimtoseemeagain,butitwarn’t.
Henearlycriedhewassoglad,buthewarn’tsurprised.
Saidheswumalongbehindmethatnight,andheardmeyelleverytime,butdasn’tanswer,becausehedidn’twantnobodytopickHIMupandtakehimintoslaveryagain.Sayshe:
“Igothurtalittle,encouldn’tswimfas’,soIwuzaconsidablewaysbehineyoutowardsdelas’;whenyoulandedIreck’nedIcouldketchupwidyouondelan’‘douthavin’toshoutatyou,butwhenIseedathouseIbegintogoslow.
I‘uzofftoofurtohearwhatdeysaytoyou–Iwuz‘fraido’dedogs;butwhenit‘uzallquietaginIknowedyou’sindehouse,soIstruckoutfordewoodstowaitforday.
Earlyindemawnin’someerdeniggerscomealong,gwynetodefields,endeytukmeenshowedmedisplace,whahdedogscan’ttrackmeonaccountso’dewater,endeybringsmetrucktoeateverynight,entellsmehowyou’sa-gitt’nalong.”
“Whydidn’tyoutellmyJacktofetchmeheresooner,Jim?”
“Well,‘twarn’tnouseto‘sturbyou,Huck,tellwecoulddosumfn–butwe’sallrightnow.Ibenabuyin’potsenpansenvittles,asIgotachanst,enapatchin’upderaf’nightswhen–”
“WHATraft,Jim?”
“Ouroleraf’.”
“Youmeantosayouroldraftwarn’tsmashedalltoflinders?”
“No,shewarn’t.Shewastoreupagooddeal–oneen’ofherwas;butdeywarn’tnogreatharmdone,on’yourtrapswasmos’alllos’.
Efwehadn’dive’sodeepenswumsofurunderwater,endenighthadn’bensodark,enwewarn’tsosk’yerd,enbensichpunkin-heads,asdesayin’is,we’daseedderaf’.
Butit’sjis’aswellwedidn’t,‘kasenowshe’sallfixedupaginmos’asgoodasnew,enwe’sgotanewloto’stuff,indeplaceo’what‘uzlos’.”
“Why,howdidyougetholdoftheraftagain,Jim–didyoucatchher?”
“HowIgwynetoketchherenIoutindewoods?
No;someerdeniggersfoun’herketchedonasnagalongheahindeben’,endeyhidherinacrick‘mongstdewillows,endeywuzsomuchjawin’‘boutwhichun‘umsheb’longtodemos’datIcometoheah‘boutitpootysoon,soIupsensettlesdetroublebytellin’‘umshedon’tb’longtononeuvum,buttoyouenme;enIast‘mifdeygwynetograbayoungwhitegenlman’spropaty,engitahid’nforit?
DenIgin‘mtencentsapiece,endey‘uzmightywellsatisfied,enwishtsomemo’raf’s‘udcomealongenmake‘mrichagin.
Dey’smightygoodtome,deseniggersis,enwhateverIwants‘mtodofurmeIdoan’havetoast‘mtwice,honey.
DatJack’sagoodnigger,enpootysmart.”
“Yes,heis.Heain’tevertoldmeyouwashere;toldmetocome,andhe’dshowmealotofwatermoccasins.
IfanythinghappensHEain’tmixedupinit.
Hecansayheneverseenustogether,andit‘llbethetruth.”
Idon’twanttotalkmuchaboutthenextday.IreckonI’llcutitprettyshort.
Iwakedupaboutdawn,andwasa-goingtoturnoverandgotosleepagainwhenInoticedhowstillitwas–didn’tseemtobeanybodystirring.Thatwarn’tusual.
NextInoticedthatBuckwasupandgone.
Well,Igetsup,a-wondering,andgoesdownstairs–nobodyaround;everythingasstillasamouse.Justthesameoutside.ThinksI,whatdoesitmean?
DownbythewoodpileIcomesacrossmyJack,andsays:
“What’sitallabout?”
Sayshe:
“Don’tyouknow,MarsJawge?”
“No,”saysI,“Idon’t.”
“Well,den,MissSophia’srunoff!‘deedshehas.
Sherunoffindenightsometime–nobodydon’tknowjis’when;runofftogetmarriedtodatyoungHarneyShepherdson,youknow–leastways,sodey‘spec.
Defamblyfoun’itout‘bouthalfanhourago–maybealittlemo’–en’ITELLyoudeywarn’tnotimelos’.
Sichanotherhurryin’upgunsenhossesYOUneversee!
Dewomenfolkshasgonefortostirupderelations,enoleMarsSaulendeboystuckdeygunsenrodeupderiverroadfortotrytoketchdatyoungmanenkillhim‘fo’hekingitacrostderiverwidMissSophia.
Ireck’ndey’sgwynetobemightyroughtimes.”
“Buckwentoff‘thoutwakingmeup.”
“Well,Ireck’nheDID!Deywarn’tgwynetomixyouupinit.
MarsBuckheloadeduphisgunen‘lowedhe’sgwynetofetchhomeaShepherdsonorbust.
Well,dey’llbeplentyun‘mdah,Ireck’n,enyoubetyouhe’llfetchoneefhegitsachanst.”
ItookuptheriverroadashardasIcouldput.
ByandbyIbegintoheargunsagoodwaysoff.
WhenIcameinsightofthelogstoreandthewoodpilewherethesteamboatslandsIworkedalongunderthetreesandbrushtillIgottoagoodplace,andthenIclumbupintotheforksofacottonwoodthatwasoutofreach,andwatched.
Therewasawood-rankfourfoothighalittlewaysinfrontofthetree,andfirstIwasgoingtohidebehindthat;butmaybeitwasluckierIdidn’t.
Therewasfourorfivemencavortingaroundontheirhorsesintheopenplacebeforethelogstore,cussingandyelling,andtryingtogetatacoupleofyoungchapsthatwasbehindthewood-rankalongsideofthesteamboatlanding;buttheycouldn’tcomeit.
Everytimeoneofthemshowedhimselfontheriversideofthewoodpilehegotshotat.
Thetwoboyswassquattingbacktobackbehindthepile,sotheycouldwatchbothways.
Byandbythemenstoppedcavortingaroundandyelling.
Theystartedridingtowardsthestore;thenupgetsoneoftheboys,drawsasteadybeadoverthewood-rank,anddropsoneofthemoutofhissaddle.
Allthemenjumpedoffoftheirhorsesandgrabbedthehurtoneandstartedtocarryhimtothestore;andthatminutethetwoboysstartedontherun.
TheygothalfwaytothetreeIwasinbeforethemennoticed.
Thenthemenseethem,andjumpedontheirhorsesandtookoutafterthem.
Theygainedontheboys,butitdidn’tdonogood,theboyshadtoogoodastart;theygottothewoodpilethatwasinfrontofmytree,andslippedinbehindit,andsotheyhadthebulgeonthemenagain.
OneoftheboyswasBuck,andtheotherwasaslimyoungchapaboutnineteenyearsold.
Themenrippedaroundawhile,andthenrodeaway.
AssoonastheywasoutofsightIsungouttoBuckandtoldhim.
Hedidn’tknowwhattomakeofmyvoicecomingoutofthetreeatfirst.Hewasawfulsurprised.
Hetoldmetowatchoutsharpandlethimknowwhenthemencomeinsightagain;saidtheywasuptosomedevilmentorother–wouldn’tbegonelong.
IwishedIwasoutofthattree,butIdasn’tcomedown.
Buckbeguntocryandrip,and‘lowedthathimandhiscousinJoe(thatwastheotheryoungchap)wouldmakeupforthisdayyet.
Hesaidhisfatherandhistwobrotherswaskilled,andtwoorthreeoftheenemy.
SaidtheShepherdsonslaidfortheminambush.
Bucksaidhisfatherandbrothersoughttowaitedfortheirrelations–theShepherdsonswastoostrongforthem.
IaskedhimwhatwasbecomeofyoungHarneyandMissSophia.
Hesaidthey’dgotacrosstheriverandwassafe.
Iwasgladofthat;butthewayBuckdidtakeonbecausehedidn’tmanagetokillHarneythatdayheshotathim–Ihain’teverheardanythinglikeit.
Allofasudden,bang!bang!bang!
goesthreeorfourguns–themenhadslippedaroundthroughthewoodsandcomeinfrombehindwithouttheirhorses!
Theboysjumpedfortheriver–bothofthemhurt–andastheyswumdownthecurrentthemenrunalongthebankshootingatthemandsingingout,“Killthem,killthem!”
ItmademesosickImostfelloutofthetree.
Iain’ta-goingtotellALLthathappened–itwouldmakemesickagainifIwastodothat.
IwishedIhadn’tevercomeashorethatnighttoseesuchthings.
Iain’tevergoingtogetshutofthem–lotsoftimesIdreamaboutthem.
Istayedinthetreetillitbeguntogetdark,afraidtocomedown.
SometimesIheardgunsawayoffinthewoods;andtwiceIseenlittlegangsofmengalloppastthelogstorewithguns;soIreckonedthetroublewasstilla-goingon.
Iwasmightydownhearted;soImadeupmymindIwouldn’tevergoanearthathouseagain,becauseIreckonedIwastoblame,somehow.
IjudgedthatthatpieceofpapermeantthatMissSophiawastomeetHarneysomewheresathalf-pasttwoandrunoff;andIjudgedIoughttotoldherfatheraboutthatpaperandthecuriouswaysheacted,andthenmaybehewouldalockedherup,andthisawfulmesswouldn’teverhappened.
WhenIgotdownoutofthetreeIcreptalongdowntheriverbankapiece,andfoundthetwobodieslayingintheedgeofthewater,andtuggedatthemtillIgotthemashore;thenIcovereduptheirfaces,andgotawayasquickasIcould.
IcriedalittlewhenIwascoveringupBuck’sface,forhewasmightygoodtome.
Itwasjustdarknow.Ineverwentnearthehouse,butstruckthroughthewoodsandmadefortheswamp.
Jimwarn’tonhisisland,soItrampedoffinahurryforthecrick,andcrowdedthroughthewillows,red-hottojumpaboardandgetoutofthatawfulcountry.Theraftwasgone!Mysouls,butIwasscared!
Icouldn’tgetmybreathformostaminute.ThenIraisedayell.
Avoicenottwenty-fivefootfrommesays:
“Goodlan’!isdatyou,honey?Doan’makenonoise.”
ItwasJim’svoice–nothingeversoundedsogoodbefore.Irunalongthebankapieceandgotaboard,andJimhegrabbedmeandhuggedme,hewassogladtoseeme.Hesays:
“Lawsblessyou,chile,I‘uzrightdownsho’you’sdeadagin.
Jack’sbeenheah;hesayhereck’nyou’sbenshot,kaseyoudidn’comehomenomo’;soI’sjes’disminuteastartin’deraf’downtowardsdemouferdecrick,so’stobeallreadyfortoshoveoutenleavesoonasJackcomesaginentellsmeforcertainyouISdead.
Lawsy,I’smightygladtogityoubackagain,honey.
Isays:
“Allright–that’smightygood;theywon’tfindme,andthey’llthinkI’vebeenkilled,andfloateddowntheriver–there’ssomethinguptherethat‘llhelpthemthinkso–sodon’tyoulosenotime,Jim,butjustshoveoffforthebigwaterasfastaseveryoucan.”
IneverfelteasytilltheraftwastwomilebelowthereandoutinthemiddleoftheMississippi.
Thenwehungupoursignallantern,andjudgedthatwewasfreeandsafeoncemore.
Ihadn’thadabitetoeatsinceyesterday,soJimhegotoutsomecorn-dodgersandbuttermilk,andporkandcabbageandgreens–thereain’tnothingintheworldsogoodwhenit’scookedright–andwhilstIeatmysupperwetalkedandhadagoodtime.
Iwaspowerfulgladtogetawayfromthefeuds,andsowasJimtogetawayfromtheswamp.
Wesaidtherewarn’tnohomelikearaft,afterall.
Otherplacesdoseemsocrampedupandsmothery,butaraftdon’t.
Youfeelmightyfreeandeasyandcomfortableonaraft.
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