Posted by An Observer on April 11, 2000 at 16:19:42:
In Reply to: Travelin' West posted by Bent Twigg on April 10, 2000 at 18:32:32:
: Here it is, by golly! The old Susquehanna herself. Sure took a mighty traipse through the woods to get here, but luck has pretty much stuck with me, specially meeting up with that trader who wanted to sell his canoe. Good little canoe, all right - seems well built and watertight. Should get me to, ummm let's see what's the name of that settlement where Uncle Will O'Twigg put down his roots? Umadilly? Armadillo? No, I think that's down in the Texas Territories or somewhere. Hmmmm. Something like that. Doesn't sound quite right, but I'll think of it. Anyways, a couple of days on the river ought to set me to rights. Feeling better already. Nothing like a good trek through the howling wilderness to sweat off the effects of a jug of spruce.
: What I need is a good vacation. Fresh air, pure water, venison cooked over an open campfire, the freedom of the woods and the water - make a new man of me. Give me plenty of time to pore through this old book on the family trees, too. Canoe ought to float down by herself for a bit - water seems pretty clear of rocks and stuff for a ways. Let's see, page 25 was where I come across that part about my ancestor sewing his buckskins out of moose pelt. Take up there and see what he used to make those fancy Indian tattoos on his arms.
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Doggone it! Never should have fallen asleep reading that @#**% book in the canoe! Must have drifted into some side creek, 'cause this sure isn't the Big River. Can't be more'n ten feet wide - maybe twenty under all that overhangin' brush and tree branches. Shallow enough that I could walk it! And which way is it goin'? North, south, east, west? Lost all my sense of direction in this consarned forest! Which way do I paddle to get back to the river? Hmmmmmmmm, let's see - moss on the south side of the tree - - or is it the north? Hey! Ducks flyin' over - they got to be flying north since it's Spring. No, the fool birds are circlin'. That's no help. Wish I had She Who Tracks with me. She'd know which way is up around this howling wilderness.
What's that I hear in the bushes over there? Sounds like something big moving just a little bit - - -
Zzzzzzzziiiiiiiiiipppppppppppp - THWANG!
Holy moley, an arrow right through the side of the canoe! Better paddle - but which way?
Zzzzzzzzzzziiiiiiiiiiipppppppppp - CRACK!
There goes my paddle! Grab the rifle and into the creek - swim to the other side! Into the bushes! SPLASH! Chug chug chug chug. Can't swim. It's nothin' but mud. Wade - wade fast - wade faster - - -
Well, hello there folks. Nice paint job and outstanding hair roaches ye got there. Me friend. You friends. Friends, right?
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