Well, about an hour after dark, we come along down in our trading-scow, and it was so dark we didn't notice the wreck till we was right on it; and so we saddle-baggsed; but all of us was saved but Bill Whipple- and oh, he was the best cretur!- I most wish't it had been me, I do."
? ? ? ? "My George! It's the beatenest thing I ever struck. And then what did you all do?"
? ? ? ? "Well, we hollered and took on, but it's so wide there, we couldn't make nobody hear. So pap said somebody got to get ashore and get help somehow. I was the only one that could swim, so I made a dash for it, and Miss Hooker she said if I didn't strike help sooner, come here and hunt up her uncle, and he'd fix the thing. I made the land about a mile below, and been fooling along ever since, trying to get people to do something, but they said, 'What, in such a night and such a current? there ain't no sense in it; go for the steam-ferry.' Now if you'll go, and-"
? ? ? ? "By Jackson, I'd like to, and blame it I don't know but I will; but who in the dingnation's agoin' to pay for it? Do you reckon your pap-"
? ? ? ? "Why that's all right.
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