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It was pretty close to the shanty, and I thought I heard the old man coming,

all the time; but I got her hid; and then I out and looked around a bunch of

willows, and there was the old man down the path apiece just drawing a bead on

a bird with his gun. So he hadn't seen anything.

When he got along, I was hard at it taking up a "trot" line. He abused me a

little for being so slow, but I told him I fell in the river and that was what made

me so long. I knowed he would see I was wet, and then he would be asking

questions. We got five cat-fish off of the lines and went home.

While we laid off, after breakfast, to sleep up, both of us being about wore

out, I got to thinking that if I could fix up some way to keep pap and the widow

from trying to follow me, it would be a certainer thing than trusting to luck to

get far enough off before they missed me; you see, all kinds of things might

happen. Well, I didn't see no way for a while, but by-and-by pap raised up a

minute, to drink another barrel of water, and he says:

"Another time a man comes a-prowling round here, you roust me out, you

hear? That man warn't here for no good. I'd a shot him, Next time, you

roust me out, you hear?" ssssssssss

Then he dropped down and went to sleep again -- but what he had been saying

give me the very idea I wanted. I says to myself, I can fix it now so nobody

won't think of following me. ssssssssss

About twelve o'clock we turned out and went along up the bank. The river

was coming up pretty fast, and lots of drift-wood going by on the rise. By-and-

by, along comes part of a log raft -- nine logs fast together. We went out with

the skiff and towed it ashore. Then we had dinner. Anybody but pap would a

waited and seen the day through, so as to catch more stuff; but that warn't pap's

style. Nine logs was enough for one time; he must shove right over to town

and sell. So he locked me in and took the skiff and started off towing the raft

about half-past three. I judged he wouldn't come back that night. I waited

till I reckoned he had got a good start, then I out with my saw and went to

work on that log again. Before he was 'tother side of the river I was out of the

hole; him and his raft was just a speck on the water away off yonder.

I took the sack of corn meal and took it to where the canoe was hid, and

shoved the vines and branches apart and put it in; then I done the same with

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