that's in him, an' theh's a heap of
wrestlin' when one an' tother catches holt an' fights."

"Hit's seo!" Prebol admitted, reluctantly. He didn't have much use for
religious arguments. "I wisht yo'd read them books to me, Parson. I
ain't neveh had much eddycation. I'll watch the riveh, an' warn ye, 'gin
we make the crossin's."

Nothing suited them better. Rasba read aloud, stabbing each word with
his finger while he sought the range and rhythm of the sentences, and,
as they happened to strike a book of fables, their minds could grasp the
stories and the morals at least sufficiently to entertain and hold their
attention.

Prebol said, warningly, after a time:

"Betteh hit that sweep a lick, Parson, she's a-swingin' in onto that bar
p'int."

A few leisurely strokes, the boats drifted away into deep water, and
Rasba expressed his admiration.

"Sho, Prebol! Yo' seen that bar a mile up. We'd run down onto hit."

"Yas, suh," the wounded man grinned. "Three-four licks on the oars up
theh, and down yeah yo' save pullin' yo' livin' daylights out, to keep
from goin' onto a sandbar or into a dryin'-up chute."

"How's that?" Rasba cocked his ear. "Say hit oveh--slow!"

"Why, if yo's into the set of the current up theh, hit ain't strong; yo'
jes' give two-three licks an' yo' send out clear. Down theh on the bar
she draws yo' right into shallow water, an' yo' hang up."

Rasba looked up the river; he looked down at the nearing sandbar, and as
they passed the rippling head in safety he turned a grave face toward
the pilot.

"Up theh, theh wasn't much suck to hit, but down yeah, afteh yo've
drawed into the current, theh's a strong drag an' bad shoals?"

"Jes' so!"

"Hit's easy to git shut of sin, away long in the beginnin'," Rasba bit
his words out, "but when yo' git a long ways down into hit--Ho law!"

Prebol started, caught by surprise. Then both laughed together. They
could understand each other better and if Prebol felt himself being
drawn in spite of his own reluctance by a new current in his life, Rasba
did not fail to gratify the river man's pride by turning always to him
for advice about the river, its currents and its jeopardies.

"I've tripped down with all kinds," Prebol grinned as he spoke, "but
this yeah's the firstest time I eveh did get to pilot a mission boat."

"If you take it through in safety, do yo' reckon God will forget?" Rasba
asked, and Prebol's jaw dropped. He didn't want to be reformed; he ha