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"I will, sir, I will, honest -- but don't leave us, please. It's the -- the -- gentle-

men, 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

Mowed it to us. Your pap's got the small-pox, 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 told everybody before, and then they

just went away and left us." ssssssssss

"Poor devil, there's something in that. We are right down sorry for you,

but we -- well, hang it, we don't want the small-pox, you see. Look here, I'll

tell you what to do. Don't you try to land by yourself, or you'll smash every-

thing to pieces. You float along down about twenty miles and you'll come to a

town on the left-hand 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, and let people guess what is the matter. Now we're

trying to do you a kindness; so you just put twenty miles between us, that's a

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