,,*APT] ;,X

,AF WE _H _H \ \R LAU<1 ,LOP-,E> & ,I
  CURV$
BACK 9 \R FLI<T & GOT BR1KFA/ 9 !
  BLUEB]RY
SWAMP4 ,X 0 ! SAME SWAMP 6: ,I _H MADE
  MY
F/ J\RNEYS 9 ! _W1 YE>S 2F1 A3OMPANI$
0MY "M4 ,I _H SE5 LL ( H] 9 !
9T]V5+ "T4 ,USU,Y1 :5 %E VISIT$ ! HORDE
AT ! CAVES1 ,I 0 AWAY 9 ! =E/4 ,I _H
  ONCE OR
TWICE CAU<T GLIMPSES (! ,*ATT]] 9 ! OP5
SPACE1 & _H _H ! PL1SURE ( MAK+ FACES AT
  HM
& ANG]+ HM F ! M\? ( MY CAVE4 ,2Y
S* AM5ITIES ,I _H LEFT MY FAMILY SEV]ELY
  AL"O4 ,I
0 N M* 9T]E/$ 9 X1 & ANYWAY ,I 0 DO+
V WELL 0MYF4



,AF EAT+ \R FILL ( B]RIES1 ) TWO NE/;LS
  (
"PLY HAT*$ QUAIL-E7S = DESS]T1 ,LOP-,E>
  & ,I
W&]$ CIRCUMSPECTLY 96! WOODS T[>D !
  RIV]4
,"H 0 ": /OOD MY OLD HOME-TREE1 \ ( : ,I
_H BE5 ?R[N 0! ,*ATT]]4 ,X 0 /
O3UPI$4 ,"! _H BE5 9CR1SE 9 ! FAMILY4
,CL++ TI<T 6MY "M 0 A LL BABY4 ,AL1
"! 0 A GIRL1 "PLY GR[N1 :O CAUTI\SLY
  REG>D$
U F "O (! L[] BRAN*ES4 ,%E 0 EVID5TLY
MY SI/]1 OR HALF-SI/]1 R4











,MY "M RECOGNIZ$ ME1 B %E W>N$ ME AWAY
  :5 ,I
/>T$ 6CLIMB 96! TREE4 ,LOP-,E>1 :O 0 M
CAUTI\S 0F> ?AN ,I1 B1T A RETR1T1 NOR CD
  ,I
P]SUADE HM 6RETURN4 ,LAT] 9 ! "D1 H["E1
  MY
SI/] CAME D[N 6! GR.D1 & "! & 9
NEI<BOR+ TREES WE ROMP$ & PLAY$ ALL AFN4
,& !N CAME TR\#4 ,%E 0 MY SI/]1 B T DID
N PREV5T H] F TR1T+ ME ABOM9ABLY1 = %E
_H 9H]IT$ ALL ! VICI\S;S (! ,*ATT]]4
,%E TURN$ ^U ME SU45LY1 9 A PETTY RAGE1
  &
SCRAT*$ ME1 TORE MY HAIR1 & SANK H] %>P
  LL
TEE? DEEP 96MY =E>M4 ,I LO/ MY TEMP]4 ,I
  DID
N 9JURE H]1 B X 0 UND\BT$LY ! S.DE/
SPANK+ %E _H RCVD UP 6T "T4





,H[ %E YELL$ & SQUALL$4 ,! ,*ATT]]1 :O
  _H
BE5 AWAY ALL "D & :O 0 ONLY !N RETURN+1
HE>D ! NOISE & RU%$ =! SPOT4 ,MY "M
AL RU%$1 B HE GOT "! F/4 ,LOP-,E> & ,I
  DID
N WAIT 8 -+4 ,WE 7 (F & AWAY1 &!
,*ATT]] GAVE U ! *ASE ( \R LIVES "? !
TREES4
















,AF ! *ASE 0 OV]1 & ,LOP-,E> & ,I _H _H
  \
\R LAU<1 WE 4COV]$ T TWILI<T 0 FALL+4
,"H 0 NI<T ) ALL XS T]RORS ^U U1 & TO
RETURN 6! CAVES 0 \ (! "Q4 ,R$-,EYE
MADE T IMPOSSI#4 ,WE TOOK REFUGE 9 A
  TREE T
/OOD A"P F O!R TREES1 & HI< UP 9 A =K WE
PASS$ ! NI<T4 ,X 0 A MIS]A# NI<T4 ,=!
F/ FEW H\RS X RA9$ H1VILY1 !N X TURN$
  COLD
&A *ILL W9D BLEW ^U U4 ,SOAK$ "?1 )
%IV]+ BODIES & *ATT]+ TEE?1 WE HU4L$ 9
EA* O!R'S >MS4 ,WE MISS$ ! SNUG1 DRY
  CAVE T
S QKLY W>M$ )! H1T ( \R BODIES4









,MORN+ F.D U WRET*$ & RESOLV$4 ,WE WD N
SP5D ANO!R S* NI<T4 ,REMEMB]+ !
TREE-%ELT]S ( \R ELD]S1 WE SET 6"W 6MAKE
  "O
= \RVS4 ,WE BUILT ! FRAME"W (A R\< NE/1
& ON HI<] =KS OV]H1D EV5 GOT 9 S"EAL
RIDGE-POLES =! RO(4 ,!N ! SUN CAME \1 &
"U XS 2NIGN 9FLU;E WE =GOT ! H>D%IPS (
! NI<T & W5T (F 9 SE>* ( BR1KFA/4 ,AF
T1 6%[ ! 9CONSEQU5TIAL;Y ( LIFE 9 ^?
"DS1 WE FELL 6PLAY+4 ,X M/ H TAK5 U ALL
  (
A MON?1 "W+ 9T]MITT5TLY1 6MAKE \R
TREE-H\SE2 & !N1 :5 X 0 -PLET$1 WE N"E
US$ X AG4










,B ,I RUN AH1D ( MY /ORY4 ,:5 WE FELL
  6PLAY+1
AF BR1KFA/1 ON ! SECOND "D AWAY F !
  CAVES1
,LOP-,E> L$ ME A *ASE "? ! TREES & D[N
  TO
! RIV]4 ,WE CAME \ ^U X ": A L>GE SL\<
5T]$ F ! BLUEB]RY SWAMP4 ,! M\? ( ?
SL\< 0 WIDE1 :ILE ! SL\< XF 0
PRACTIC,Y )\T A CURR5T4 ,9 ! D1D WAT]1 J
9SIDE XS M\?1 LAY A TANGL$ MASS ( TREE
  TRUNKS4
,"S ( ^!1 :AT (! WE> & TE> ( FRE%ETS
&( 2+ /R&$ L;G SUMM]S ON S&-B>S1 7
S1SON$ & DRY & )\T BRAN*ES4 ,!Y FLOAT$
HI< 9 ! WAT]1 & BO2$ UP & D[N OR ROLL$
OV] :5 WE PUT \R WEI<T ^U !M4








,"H & "! 2T ! TRUNKS 7 WAT]-CRACKS1
& "? !M WE CD SEE S*OOLS ( SMALL FI%1
L M9N[S1 D>T+ BACK & =?4 ,LOP-,E> & ,I
2CAME FI%]M5 AT ONCE4 ,LY+ FLAT ON !
  LOGS1
KEEP+ P]FECTLY QUIET1 WAIT+ TILL ! M9N[S
  CAME
CLOSE1 WE WD MAKE SWIFT PASSES ) \R H&S4
  ,\R
PRIZES WE ATE ON ! SPOT1 WRI7L+ & MOI/4
  ,WE DID
N NOTICE ! LACK ( SALT4













,! M\? (! SL\< 2CAME \R FAVORITE
  PLAYGR.D4
,"H WE SP5T _M H\RS EA* "D1 CAT*+ FI% &
PLAY+ ON ! LOGS1 & "H1 "O "D1 WE LE>N$
  \R
F/ LESSONS 9 NAVIG,N4 ,! LOG ON : ,LOP-
  ,E>
0 LY+ GOT ADRIFT4 ,HE 0 CURL$ UP ON 8
  SIDE1
ASLEEP4 ,A LI<T FAN ( AIR SL[LY DRIFT$ !
  LOG AWAY
F ! %ORE1 & :5 ,I NOTIC$ 8 PREDICA;T !
4T.E 0 ALR TOO GRT = HM 6L1P4












,AT F/ ! EPISODE SEEM$ M]ELY FUNNY 6ME4
  ,B
:5 "O (! VAGRANT IMPULSES ( FE>1 -MON 9
T AGE ( P]PETUAL 9SECUR;Y1 MOV$ )9 ME1
  ,I
0 /RUCK ) MY [N L"OLI;S4 ,I 0 MADE
  SU45LY
AW>E ( ,LOP-,E>'S REMOTE;S \ "! ON T
  ALI5
ELE;T A FEW FEET AWAY4 ,I CALL$ L\DLY
  6HM A
W>N+ CRY4 ,HE AWOKE F"R5$1 & %IFT$ 8
WEI<T RA%LY ON ! LOG4 ,X TURN$ OV]1 S\S+
  HM
"U4 ,?REE "TS AG X S\S$ HM "U Z HE
TRI$ 6CLIMB \ ^U X4 ,!N HE SU3E$$1
CR\*+ ^U X & *ATT]+ ) FE>4








,I CD D NO?+4 ,NOR CD HE4 ,SWIMM+ 0
"S?+ ( : WE KNEW NO?+4 ,WE 7 ALR
TOO F> REMOV$ F ! L[] LIFE-=MS 6H !
9/9CT = SWIMM+1 & WE _H N YET 2COME
SU6ICI5TLY MAN-L 6"UTAKE X Z ! "W+
\ (A PRO#M4 ,I ROAM$ 4CONSOLATELY UP &
  D[N
! BANK1 KEEP+ Z CLOSE 6HM 9 8 9VOLUNT>Y
TRAVELS Z ,I CD1 :ILE HE WAIL$ & CRI$
  TILL X
0 A WOND] T HE DID N BR+ D[N ^U U E
HUNT+ ANIMAL )9 A MILE4

,! H\RS PASS$4 ,! SUN CLIMB$ OV]H1D &
  2GAN
XS DESC5T 6! WE/4 ,! LI<T W9D DI$ D[N &
LEFT ,LOP-,E> ON 8 LOG FLOAT+ >.D A
  HUNDR$ FEET
AWAY4 ,& !N1 "SH[1 ,I "K N H[1 ,LOP-,E>
  MADE
! GRT 4COV]Y4 ,HE 2GAN PA4L+ ) 8 H&S4
,AT F/ 8 PROGRESS 0 SL[ & ]RATIC4 ,!N HE
/RAI<T5$ \ & 2GAN LABORI\SLY 6PA4LE NE>]
& NE>]4 ,I CD N "U/&4 ,I SAT D[N &
WAT*$ & WAIT$ UNTIL HE GA9$ ! %ORE4
,B HE _H LE>N$ "S?+1 : 0 M ?AN ,I _H
D"O4 ,LAT] 9 ! AFN1 HE DELIB]ATELY
  LAUN*$
\ F %ORE ON ! LOG4 ,/ LAT] HE P]SUAD$ ME
6JO9 HM1 & ,I1 TOO1 LE>N$ ! TRICK (
  PA4L+4
,=! NEXT S"EAL "DS WE CD N TE> \RVS
AWAY F ! SL\<4 ,S ABSORB$ 7 WE 9 \R NEW
GAME T WE ALM NEGLECT$ 6EAT4 ,WE EV5
  ROO/$
9 A NE>BY TREE AT NI<T4 ,& WE =GOT T
  ,R$-,EYE
EXI/$4












,WE 7 ALW TRY+ NEW LOGS1 & WE LE>N$ T !
SMALL] ! LOG ! FA/] WE CD MAKE X G4 ,AL1
WE LE>N$ T ! SMALL] ! LOG ! M LIA# X
0 6ROLL OV] & GIVE U A DUCK+4 ,/ ANO!R
?+ AB SMALL LOGS WE LE>N$4 ,"O "D WE
  PA4L$
\R 9DIVIDUAL LOGS AL;GSIDE EA* O!R4 ,&
  !N1
Q 0A3ID5T1 9 ! C\RSE ( PLAY1 WE 4COV]$
T :5 EA*1 ) "O H& & FOOT1 HELD ON 6!
O!R'S LOG1 ! LOGS 7 /1DI$ & DID N TURN
OV]4 ,LY+ SIDE 0SIDE 9 ? POSI;N1 \R
  \TSIDE
H&S & FEET 7 LEFT FREE = PA4L+4 ,\R F9AL
4COV]Y 0 T ? >RANGE;T 5A#D U 6USE
/ SMALL] LOGS & "!BY GA9 GRT] SPE$4 ,&
"! \R 4COV]IES 5D$4 ,WE _H 9V5T$ ! MO/
PRIMITIVE CATAM>AN1 & WE DID N H S5SE 5
6"K X4 ,X N"E 5T]$ \R H1DS 6LA% !
LOGS TGR ) T\< V9ES OR /R+Y ROOTS4 ,WE
7 3T5T 6HOLD ! LOGS TGR ) \R H&S
& FEET4



,X 0 N UNTIL WE GOT OV] \R F/ 5?USIASM =
NAVIG,N & _H 2GUN 6RETURN 6\R TREE-%ELT]
6SLEEP AT NI<T1 T WE F.D ! ,SWIFT ,"O4
  ,I SAW
H] F/1 GA!R+ "Y ACORNS F ! BRAN*ES (
A L>GE OAK NE> \R TREE4 ,%E 0 V TIMID4
  ,AT
F/1 %E KEPT V /2 B :5 %E SAW T %E
0 4COV]$ %E DROPP$ 6! GR.D & DA%$
WILDLY AWAY4 ,WE CAU<T O3A.NAL GLIMPSES
  ( H] F
"D 6"D1 & CAME 6LOOK = H] :5 WE TRAVELL$
BACK & =? 2T \R TREE &! M\? (!
SL\<4











,& !N1 "O "D1 %E DID N RUN AWAY4 ,%E
  WAIT$
\R -+1 & MADE S(T P1CE-S.DS4 ,WE CD N
GET V NE>1 H["E4 ,:5 WE SEEM$ 6APPROA*
  TOO
CLOSE1 %E D>T$ SU45LY AWAY & F A SAFE
4T.E UTT]$ ! S(T S.DS AG4 ,? 3T9U$
= "S "DS4 ,X TOOK A L;G :ILE 6GET
  ACQUA9T$
) H]1 B F9,Y X 0 A3OMPLI%$ & %E
JO9$ U "S"TS 9 \R PLAY4

,I LIK$ H] F ! F/4 ,%E 0 ( MO/ PL1S+
APPE>.E4 ,%E 0 V MILD4 ,H] EYES 7 !
MILDE/ ,I _H "E SE54 ,9 ? %E 0 Q UNLIKE
! RE/ (! GIRLS & WOM5 (! ,FOLK1 :O 7
BORN VIRAGOS4 ,%E N"E MADE H>%1 ANGRY
  CRIES1 &
X SEEM$ 6BE H] NATURE 6FLEE AWAY F TR\#

  R ?AN 6REMA9 & FI<T4




,! MILD;S ,I H M5;N$ SEEM$ 6EMANATE F
H] :OLE 2+4 ,H] BODILY Z WELL Z FACIAL
APPE>.E 0 ! CAUSE ( ?4 ,H] EYES 7 L>G]
?AN MO/ ( H] K9D1 & !Y 7 N S DEEP-SET1
:ILE ! LA%ES 7 L;G] & M REGUL>4 ,NOR 0
H] NOSE S ?ICK & SQUAT4 ,X _H Q A
  BRIDGE1
&! NO/RILS OP5$ D[NW>D4 ,H] 9CISORS 7
N L>GE1 NOR 0 H] UPP] LIP L;G & D[N-
  HANG+1
NOR H] L[] LIP PROTRUD+4 ,%E 0 N V
  HAIRY1
EXCEPT ON ! \TSIDES ( >MS & LEGS & ACR !
%\LD]S2 & :ILE %E 0 ?9-HIPP$1 H] CALVES
7 N TWI/$ & GN>LY4










,I H (T5 WOND]$1 LOOK+ BACK ^U H] F !
TW5TIE? C5TURY "? ! M$IUM ( MY DR1MS1 &
X HAS ALW O3URR$ 6ME T POSSIBLY %E MAY H
BE5 RELAT$ 6! ,FIRE ,P4 ,H] "F1 OR
"M1 MI<T WELL H -E F T HI<] /OCK4
,:ILE S* ?+S 7 N -MON1 / !Y DID
O3UR1 & ,I H SE5 ! PRO( ( !M ) MY [N
EYES1 EV5 6! EXT5T ( MEMB]S (! HORDE
TURN+ R5EGADE & GO+ 6LIVE )! ,TREE
,P4















,ALL ( : IS NEI "H NOR "!4 ,! ,SWIFT ,"O
0 RADIC,Y DI6]5T F ANY (! FEMALES (!
HORDE1 & ,I _H A LIK+ = H] F ! F/4 ,H]
MILD;S & G5TLE;S ATTRACT$ ME4 ,%E 0 N"E
R\<1 & %E N"E F"\4 ,%E ALW RAN AWAY1 &
"R "H MAY 2 NOT$ ! SIGNIFIC.E (! NAM+
( H]4 ,%E 0 A BETT] CLIMB] ?AN ,LOP-,E>
  OR ,I4
,:5 WE PLAY$ TAG WE CD N"E CAT* H]
  EXCEPT BY
A3ID5T1 :ILE %E CD CAT* U AT W4 ,%E 0
REM>KABLY SWIFT 9 ALL H] MOVE;TS1 & %E
  _H A
G5IUS = JUDG+ 4T.ES T 0 EQUALL$ ONLY BY
H] D>+4 ,EXCESSIVELY TIMID 9 ALL O!R
  MATT]S1
%E 0 )\T FE> :5 X CAME 6CLIMB+ OR
RUNN+ "? ! TREES1 & ,LOP-,E> & ,I 7
AWKW>D & LUMB]+ & C[>DLY 9 -P>ISON4






,%E 0 AN ORPHAN4 ,WE N"E SAW H] ) ANY
  "O1 &
"! 0 NO TELL+ H[ L;G %E _H LIV$ AL"O 9
! _W4 ,%E M/ H LE>N$ E>LY 9 H] HELP.S
*ILDHOOD T SAFETY LAY ONLY 9 FLI<T4 ,%E
  0 V
WISE & V 4CREET4 ,X 2CAME A SORT ( GAME
  )
,LOP-,E> & ME 6TRY 6F9D ": %E LIV$4 ,X 0
C]TA9 T %E _H A TREE-%ELT] "S":1 & N
V F> AWAY2 B TRAIL H] Z WE WD1 WE CD
N"E F9D X4 ,%E 0 WILL+ 5 6JO9 ) U
AT PLAY 9 ! "D-"T1 B ! SECRET ( H]
ABID+-PLACE %E GU>D$ J1L\SLY4