,,*APT] ,,XVII
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  ,! NEXT "D ,MR4 ,H5D]L& F.D = ME A MAN
:O _H A BOAT ( 8 [N & 0 6CROSS ! ,L9NHE
,LO* T AFN 96,APP91 FI%+4 ,HM HE
PREVAIL$ ON 6TAKE ME1 = HE 0 "O ( 8
FLOCK2 & 9 ? WAY ,I SAV$ A L;G "D'S
TRAVEL &! PRICE (! TWO PUBLIC F]RIES ,I
M/ O!RWISE H PASS$4
  ,X 0 NE> NOON 2F WE SET \2 A D>K "D )
CL\DS1 &! SUN %9+ ^U LL PAT*ES4 ,! SEA 0
"H V DEEP & /1 & _H SC>CE A WAVE ^U X2 S
T ,I M/ PUT ! WAT] 6MY LIPS 2F ,I CD
2LIEVE X 6BE TRULY SALT4 ,! M.TA9S ON EI
SIDE 7 HI<1 R\< & B>R51 V BLACK & GLOOMY
9 ! %AD[ (! CL\DS1 B ALL SILV]-LAC$ ) LL
WAT]C\RSES ": ! SUN %"O ^U !M4 ,X SEEM$
A H>D C.TRY1 ? ( ,APP91 = P 6C>E Z M* AB
Z ,ALAN DID4
  ,"! 0 B "O ?+ 6M5;N4 ,A LL AF WE _H
/>T$1 ! SUN %"O ^U A LL MOV+ CLUMP (
SC>LET CLOSE 9 AL;G ! WAT]-SIDE 6! NOR?4
,X 0 M* (! SAME R$ Z SOLDI]S' COATS2 E
N[ & !N1 TOO1 "! CAME LL SP>KS &
LI<TN+S1 Z ?\< ! SUN _H /RUCK ^U B"R
/EEL4
  ,I ASK$ MY BOATMAN :AT X %D BE1 & HE
ANSW]$ HE SUPPOS$ X 0 "S (! R$ SOLDI]S
-+ F ,=T ,WILLIAM 96,APP91 AG/ ! POOR
T5ANTRY (! C.TRY4 ,WELL1 X 0 A SAD SI<T
6ME2 & :E!R X 0 2C ( MY ?"\S ( ,ALAN1 OR
F "S?+ PROPHETIC 9 MY BOSOM1 AL? ? 0 B !
SECOND "T ,I _H SE5 ,K+ ,GEORGE'S
TROOPS1 ,I _H NO GD W 6!M4
  ,AT LA/ WE CAME S NE> ! PO9T ( L& AT !
5T]+ 9 ( ,LO* ,LEV5 T ,I BE7$ 6BE SET ON
%ORE4 ,MY BOATMAN 7:O 0 AN H"O/ FELL[ &
M9D;L ( 8 PROMISE 6! CATE*I/7 WD FA9 H
C>RI$ ME ON 6,BALA*ULI%2 B Z ? 0 6TAKE
ME F>!R F MY SECRET DE/9,N1 ,I 9SI/$1 &
0 SET ON %ORE AT LA/ "U ! WOOD ( ,LRMORE
7OR ,LRVORE1 = ,I H HE>D X BO? WAYS7 9
,ALAN'S C.TRY ( ,APP94
  ,? 0 A WOOD ( BIR*ES1 GR[+ ON A /EEP1
CRA7Y SIDE (A M.TA9 T OV]HUNG ! LO*4 ,X
_H _M OP5+S & F]NY H[ES2 &A ROAD OR
BRIDLE TRACK RAN NOR? & S\? "? ! MID/ (
X1 0! $GE ( :1 ": 0 A SPR+1 ,I SAT D[N
6EAT "S OAT-BR1D ( ,MR4 ,H5D]L&'S & ?9K
^U MY SITU,N4
  ,"H ,I 0 N ONLY TR\#D 0A CL\D ( /++
MIDGES1 B F> M 0! D\BTS ( MY M9D4 ,:AT
,I "\ 6D1 :Y ,I 0 GO+ 6JO9 MYF ) AN
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%D N 2 ACT+ M L A MAN ( S5SE 6TRAMP BACK
6! S\? C.TRY DIRECT1 0MY [N GUID.E & AT
MY [N *>GES1 & :AT ,MR4 ,CAMPBELL OR EV5
,MR4 ,H5D]L& WD ?9K ( ME IF !Y %D "E
LE>N MY FOLLY & PRESUMP;N3 ^! 7 ! D\BTS
T N[ 2GAN 6-E 9 ON ME /R;G] ?AN "E4
  ,Z ,I ,0 S SITT+ & ?9K+1 A S.D ( M5 &
HORSES CAME 6ME "? ! WOOD2 & PRES5TLY
AF1 AT A TURN+ (! ROAD1 ,I SAW F\R
TRAVELL]S -E 96VIEW4 ,! WAY 0 9 ? "P S
R\< & N>R[ T !Y CAME S+LE & L$ _! HORSES
0! RE9S4 ,! F/ 0 A GRT1 R$-H1D$
G5TLEMAN1 ( AN IMP]I\S & FLU%$ FACE1 :O
C>RI$ 8 HAT 9 8 H& & FANN$ HMF1 = HE 0 9
A BR1?+ H1T4 ,! SECOND1 0HIS DEC5T BLACK
G>B & :ITE WIG1 ,I CORRECTLY TOOK 6BE A
LAWY]4 ,! ?IRD 0 A S]VANT1 & WORE "S "P
( 8 CLO!S 9 T>TAN1 : %[$ T 8 MA/] 0 (A
,HI<L& FAMILY1 & EI AN \TLAW OR ELSE 9
S+UL> GD OD\R )! ,GOV]N;T1 S9CE ! WE>+ (
T>TAN 0 AG/ ! ,ACT4 ,IF ,I _H BE5 BETT]
V]S$ 9 ^! ?+S1 ,I WD H "KN ! T>TAN 6BE (
! ,>GYLE 7OR ,CAMPBELL7 COL\RS4 ,?
S]VANT _H A GD-SIZ$ PORTMANT1U /RAPP$ ON
8 HORSE1 &A NET ( LEMONS 76BREW PUN* )7
HANG+ AT ! SA4LE-B[2 Z 0 (T5 5 ! CU/OM )
LUXURI\S TRAVELL]S 9 T "P (! C.TRY4
  ,Z =! F\R?1 :O BR"\ UP ! TAIL1 ,I _H
SE5 8 L 2F1 & KNEW HM AT ONCE 6BE A
%]IFF'S (FIC]4
  ,I _H NO SOON] SE5 ^! P -+ ?AN ,I MADE
UP MY M9D 7= NO R1SON T ,I C TELL7 6G "?
) MY ADV5TURE2 & :5 ! F/ CAME AL;GSIDE (
ME1 ,I ROSE UP F ! BRACK5 & ASK$ HM !
WAY 6,AU*>N4
  ,HE /OPP$ & LOOK$ AT ME1 Z ,I ?"\1 A
LL O4LY2 & !N1 TURN+ 6! LAWY]1 8,MUNGO10
SD HE1 8"!'S _M A MAN WD ?9K ? M (A W>N+
?AN TWO PYATS4 ,"H AM ,I ON MY ROAD
6,DUROR ON ! JOB YE K52 & "H IS A "Y LAD
/>TS UP \ (! BRACK51 & SPE]S IF ,I AM ON
! WAY 6,AU*>N40
  8,GL5URE10 SD ! O!R1 8? IS AN ILL
SUBJECT = JE/+40
  ,^! TWO _H N[ DRAWN CLOSE UP & 7 GAZ+
AT ME1 :ILE ! TWO FOLL[]S _H HALT$ AB A
/"O-CA/ 9 ! RE>4
  8,& :AT SEEK YE 9 ,AU*>N80 SD ,COL9
,ROY ,CAMPBELL ( ,GL5URE1 HM !Y CALL$ !
,R$ ,FOX2 = HE X 0 T ,I _H /OPP$4
  8,! MAN T LIVES "!10 SD ,I4
  8,JAMES (! ,GL5S10 SAYS ,GL5URE1
MUS+LY2 & !N 6! LAWY]3 8,IS HE GA!R+ 8
P1 ?9K YE80
  8,ANYWAY10 SAYS ! LAWY]1 8WE % D BETT]
6BIDE ": WE >E1 & LET ! SOLDI]S R,Y U40
  8,IF Y >E 3C]N$ = ME10 SD ,I1 8,I AM
NEI ( 8 P NOR YRS1 B AN H"O/ SUBJECT (
,K+ ,GEORGE1 [+ NO MAN & FE>+ NO MAN40
  8,:Y1 V WELL SD10 REPLIES ! ,FACTOR4
8,B IF ,I MAY MAKE S BOLD Z ASK1 :AT
DOES ? H"O/ MAN S F> F 8 C.TRY8 & :Y
DOES HE -E SEEK+ ! BRO!R ( ,>D%IEL8 ,I H
P[] "H1 ,I M/ TELL Y4 ,I AM ,K+'S
,FACTOR ^U S"EAL ( ^! E/ATES1 & H TWELVE
FILES ( SOLDI]S AT MY BACK40
  8,I H HE>D A WAIF ^W 9 ! C.TRY10 SD
,I1 A LL NETTL$1 8T Y 7 A H>D MAN
6DRIVE40
  ,HE / KEPT LOOK+ AT ME1 Z IF 9 D\BT4
  8,WELL10 SD HE1 AT LA/1 8YR T;GUE IS
BOLD2 B ,I AM NO UNFR 6PLA9;S4 ,IF YE _H
ASK$ ME ! WAY 6! DOOR ( ,JAMES ,/EW>T ON
ANY O!R "D B ?1 ,I WD H SET YE "R & BI45
YE ,GOD SPE$4 ,B TO-"D--EH1 ,MUNGO80 ,&
HE TURN$ AG 6LOOK AT ! LAWY]4
  ,B J Z HE TURN$ "! CAME ! %OT (A
FIRELOCK F HI<] UP ! HILL2 &)! V S.D ( X
,GL5URE FELL ^U ! ROAD4
  8,O1 ,I AM D1D60 HE CRI$1 S"EAL "TS
OV]4
  ,! LAWY] _H CAU<T HM UP & HELD HM 9 8
>MS1 ! S]VANT /&+ OV] & CLASP+ 8 H&S4 ,&
N[ ! W.D$ MAN LOOK$ F "O 6ANO!R ) SC>$
EYES1 & "! 0 A *ANGE 9 8 VOICE1 T W5T 6!
HE>T4
  8,TAKE C>E ( YRVS10 SAYS HE4 8,I AM
D1D40
  ,HE TRI$ 6OP5 8 CLO!S Z IF 6LOOK =!
W.D1 B 8 F+]S SLIPP$ ON ! BUTTONS4 ,) T
HE GAVE A GRT SI<1 8 H1D ROLL$ ON 8
%\LD]1 & HE PASS$ AWAY4
  ,! LAWY] SD N"E A ^W1 B 8 FACE 0 Z %>P
Z A P5 & Z :ITE Z ! D1D MAN'S2 ! S]VANT
BROKE \ 96A GRT NOISE ( CRY+ & WEEP+1 L
A *2 & ,I1 ON MY SIDE1 /OOD />+ AT !M 9
A K9D ( HORROR4 ,! %]IFF'S (FIC] _H RUN
BACK AT ! F/ S.D (! %OT1 6HA/5 ! -+ (!
SOLDI]S4
  ,AT LA/ ! LAWY] LAID D[N ! D1D MAN 9 8
BLOOD ^U ! ROAD1 & GOT 6HIS [N FEET )A
K9D ( /A7]4
  ,I 2LIEVE X 0 8 MOVE;T T BR"\ ME 6MY
S5SES2 = HE _H NO SOON] D"O S ?AN ,I
2GAN 6SCRAM# UP ! HILL1 CRY+ \1 8,!
MURD]]6 ! MURD]]60
  ,S LL A "T _H ELAPS$1 T :5 ,I GOT 6!
TOP (! F/ /EEP;S1 & CD SEE "S "P (! OP5
M.TA91 ! MURD]] 0 / MOV+ AWAY AT NO GRT
4T.E4 ,HE 0 A BIG MAN1 9 A BLACK COAT1 )
METAL BUTTONS1 & C>RI$ A L;G F[L+-PIECE4
  8,"H60 ,I CRI$4 8,I SEE HM60
  ,AT T ! MURD]] GAVE A LL1 QK LOOK OV]
8 %\LD]1 & 2GAN 6RUN4 ,! NEXT MO;T HE 0
LO/ 9 A FR+E ( BIR*ES2 !N HE CAME \ AG
ON ! UPP] SIDE1 ": ,I CD SEE HM CLIMB+ L
A JACKANAPES1 = T "P 0 AG V /EEP2 & !N
HE DIPP$ 2H A %\LD]1 & ,I SAW HM NO M4
  ,ALL ? "T ,I _H BE5 RUNN+ ON MY SIDE1
& _H GOT A GD WAY UP1 :5 A VOICE CRI$ ^U
ME 6/&4
  ,I 0 AT ! $GE (! UPP] WOOD1 & S N[1 :5
,I HALT$ & LOOK$ BACK1 ,I SAW ALL ! OP5
"P (! HILL 2L ME4
  ,! LAWY] &! %]IFF'S (FIC] 7 /&+ J ABV
! ROAD1 CRY+ & WAV+ ON ME 6-E BACK2 & ON
_! LEFT1 ! R$-COATS1 MUSKET 9 H&1 7
2G9N+ 6/RU7LE S+LY \ (! L[] WOOD4
  8,:Y %D ,I -E BACK80 ,I CRI$4 8,-E Y
ON60
  8,T5 P.DS IF YE TAKE T LAD60 CRI$ !
LAWY]4 8,HE'S AN ACOMPLICE4 ,HE 0 PO/$
"H 6HOLD U 9 TALK40
  ,AT T ^W 7: ,I CD HE> Q PLA9LY1 ?\< X
0 6! SOLDI]S & N 6ME T HE 0 CRY+ X7 MY
HE>T CAME 9 MY M\? ) Q A NEW K9D (
T]ROR4 ,9DE$1 X IS "O ?+ 6/& ! DANG] (
YR LIFE1 & Q ANO!R 6RUN ! P]IL ( BO?
LIFE & "*4 ,! ?+1 2SS1 _H -E S SU45LY1 L
?"U \ (A CLE> SKY1 T ,I 0 ALL AMAZ$ &
HELP.S4
  ,! SOLDI]S 2GAN 6SPR1D1 "S ( !M 6RUN1
& O!RS 6PUT UP _! PIECES & COV] ME2 & /
,I /OOD4
  8,J\K ,7DUCK7' 9 "H AM;G ! TREES10 SD
A VOICE CLOSE BY4
  ,9DE$1 ,I SC>CE KNEW :AT ,I 0 DO+1 B
,I OBEY$2 & Z ,I DID S1 ,I HE>D !
FIRELOCKS BANG &! BALLS :I/LE 9 !
BIR*ES4
  ,J 9SIDE ! %ELT] (! TREES ,I F.D ,ALAN
,BRECK /&+1 )A FI%+-ROD4 ,HE GAVE ME NO
SALUT,N2 9DE$ X 0 NO "T = CIVILITIES2
ONLY 8,-E60 SAYS HE1 & SET (F RUNN+ AL;G
! SIDE (! M.TA9 T[>DS ,BALAEHULI%2 & ,I1
L A %EEP1 6FOLL[ HM4
  ,N[ WE RAN AM;G ! BIR*ES2 N[ /OOP+ 2H
L[ HUMPS ^U ! M.TA9-SIDE2 N[ CRAWL+ ON
ALL F\RS AM;G ! H1!R4 ,! PACE 0 D1DLY3
MY HE>T SEEM$ BUR/+ AG/ MY RIBS2 & ,I _H
NEI "T 6?9K NOR BR1? 6SP1K )4 ,ONLY ,I
REMEMB] SEE+ ) WOND]1 T ,ALAN E N[ & !N
WD /RAI<T5 HMF 6HIS FULL HEI<T & LOOK
BACK2 & E "T HE DID S1 "! CAME A GRT F>-
AWAY *E]+ & CRY+ (! SOLDI]S4
  ,QU>T] ( AN H\R LAT]1 ,ALAN /OPP$1
CLAPP$ D[N FLAT 9 ! H1!R1 & TURN$ 6ME4
  8,N[10 SD HE1 8X'S E>NE/4 ,D Z ,I D1 =
YR LIFE40
  ,& AT ! SAME SPE$1 B N[ ) 9F9ITELY M
PRECAU;N1 WE TRAC$ BACK AG ACR ! M.TA9-
SIDE 0! SAME WAY T WE _H -E1 ONLY P]H
HI<]2 TILL AT LA/ ,ALAN ?REW HM-SELF D[N
9 ! UPP] WOOD ( ,LRMORE1 ": ,I _H F.D HM
AT ! F/1 & LAY1 ) 8 FACE 9 ! BRACK51
PANT+ L A DOG4
  ,MY [N SIDES S A*$1 MY H1D S SWAM1 MY
T;GUE S HUNG \ ( MY M\? ) H1T & DRY;S1 T
,I LAY 2S HM L "O D1D4