y them. At last we quit trying to land,
and concluded just to go ahead as well as we could, for we found we
couldn't do any better.

"Some time in the night I was down in the cabin of one of the boats,
sitting by the fire, thinking on what a hobble we had got into; and how
much better bear-hunting was on hard land, than floating along on the
water, when a fellow had to go ahead whether he was exactly willing or
not. The hatch-way of the cabin came slap down, right through the top
of the boat; and it was the only way out, except a small hole in the
side which we had used for putting our arms through to dip up water
before we lashed the boats together.

"We were now floating sideways, and the boat I was in was the hindmost
as we went. All at once I heard the hands begin to run over the top of
the boat in great confusion, and pull with all their might. And the
first thing I know'd after this we went broadside full tilt against the
head of an island, where a large raft of drift timber had lodged. The
nature of such a place would be, as everybody knows, to suck the boats
down and turn them right under this raft; and the uppermost boat would,
of course, be suck'd down and go under first. As soon as we struck, I
bulged for my hatchway, as the boat was turning under sure enough. But
when I got to it, the water was pouring through in a current as large
as the hole would let it, and as strong as the weight of the river
would force it. I found I couldn't get out here, for the boat was now
turned down in such a way that it was steeper than a house-top. I now
thought of the hole in the side, and made my way in a hurry for that.

"With difficulty I got to it, and when I got there, I found it was too
small for me to get out by my own power, and I began to think that I
was in a worse box than ever. But I put my arms through, and hollered
as loud as I could roar, as the boat I was in hadn't yet quite filled
with water up to my head; and the hands who were next to the raft,
seeing my arms out, and hearing me holler, seized them, and began to
pull. I told them I was sinking, and to pull my arms off, or force me
through, for now I know'd well enough it was neck or nothing, come out
or sink.

"By a violent effort they jerked me through; but I was in a pretty
pickle when I got through. I had been sitting without any clothing over
my shirt; this was tom off, and I was literally skinn'd like a rabbit.
I was, however, well pleased to get ou