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then went creeping through the woods to see what I could find out. I hadn't

got far when I hear a man say: ssssssssss

"We better camp here, if we can find a good place; the horses is about beat

out. Let's look around." ssssssssss

I didn't wait, but shoved out and paddled away easy. I tied up in the old

place, and reckoned I would sleep in the canoe.

I didn't sleep much. I couldn't, somehow, for thinking. And every time I

waked up I thought somebody had me by the neck. So the sleep didn't do me

no good. By-and-by I says to myself, I can't live this way; I'm agoing to find

out who it is that's here on the island with me; I'll find it out or bust. Well, I

felt better, right off. ssssssssss

So I took my paddle and slid out from shore just a step or two, and then let

the canoe drop along down amongst the shadows. The moon was shining, and

outside of the shadows it made it most as light as day. I poked along well onto

an hour, everything still as rocks and sound asleep. Well by this time I was

most down to the foot of the island. A little ripply, cool breeze begun to blow,

and that was as good as saying the night was about done. I give her a turn with

the paddle and brung her nose to shore; then I got my gun and slipped out and

into the edge of the woods. I set down there on a log and looked out through

the leaves. I see the moon go off watch and the darkness begin to blanket the

river. But in a little while I see a pale streak over the tree-tops, and knowed the

day was coming. So I took my gun and slipped off towards where I had run

across that camp fire, stopping every minute or two to listen. But I hadn't no

luck, somehow; I couldn't seem to find the place. But by-and-by, sure enough,

I catched a glimpse of fire, away through the trees. I went for it, cautious and

slow. By-and-by I was close enough to have a look, and there laid a man on the

ground. It most give me the fan-tods. He had a blanket around his head, and

his head was nearly in the fire. I set there behind a clump of bushes, in

about six foot of him, and kept my eyes on him steady. It was getting gray

daylight, now. Pretty soon he gapped, and stretched himself, and hove off

the blanket, and it was Miss Watson's Jim! I bet I was glad to see him. I

says:

"Hello, Jim!" and skipped out.

ssssssssss

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