I never went near the house, but struck through the woods and made for the swamp.

Jim warn't on his island, so I tramped off in a hurry for the crick, and crowded through the willows, red-hot to jump aboard and get out of that awful country.

The raft was gone! My souls, but I was scared! I couldn't get my breath for most a minute.
Then I raised a yell.

A voice not twenty-five foot from me says: "Good lan'! is dat you, honey?
Doan' make no noise." It was Jim's voice--nothing ever sounded so good before.

I run along the bank a piece and got aboard, and Jim he grabbed me and hugged me, he was so glad to see me.