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I had the road all to myself, and I fairly flew -- leastways I had it all to myself

except the solid dark, and the now-and-then glares, and the buzzing of the rain,

and the thrashing of the wind, and the splitting of the thunder; and sure as you

are born I did clip it along! ssssssssss

When I struck the town, I see there warn't nobody out in the storm, so I

never hunted for no back streets, but humped it straight through the main one;

and when I begun to get towards our house I aimed my eye and set it. No light

there; the house all dark -- which made me feel sorry and disappointed, I didn't

know why. But at last, just as I was sailing by, flash comes the light in Mary

Jane's window! and my heart swelled up sudden, like to bust; and the same

second the house and all was behind me in the dark, and wasn't ever going to be

before me no more in this world. She was the best girl I ever see, and had the

most sand. ssssssssss

The minute I was far enough above the town to see I could make the tow-

head, I begun to look sharp for a boat to borrow; and the first time the lightning

showed me one that wasn't chained, I snatched it and shoved. It was a canoe,

and wanrt fastened with nothing but a rope. The towhead was a rattling big

distance off, away out there in the middle of the river, but I didn't lose no time;

and when I struck the raft at last, I was so fagged I would a just laid down

to blow and gasp if I could afforded it. But I didn't. As I sprung aboard

I sung out: ssssssssss

"Out with you Jim, and set her loose! Glory be to goodness, we're shut

of them!" ssssssssss

Jim lit out, and was a coming for me with both arms spread, he was so

full of joy; but when I glimpsed him in the lightning, my heart shot up in my

mouth, and I went overboard backwards; for I forgot he was old King Lear

and a drownded A-rab all in one, and it most scared the livers and lights out

of me. But Jim fished me out, and was going to hug me and bless me, and

so on, he was so glad I was back and we was shut of the king and the duke,

but I says: ssssssssss

"Not now -- have it for breakfast, have it for breakfast! Cut loose and let

her slide!" ssssssssss

ssssssssss

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