H mOl hAd bin warkN vEri hyrd Yl H mYrnN, spriN-klInN hiz litl hOm. farst wiT brMmz, Hen wiT dastarz; Hen on lAdarz n steps n cErz, wiT a braS n a pEl v `FtwyS; til hI hAd dast in hiz TrOt n Fz, n splASz v `FtwyS Yl Ovar hiz blAk far, n an EkN bAk n wIri yrmz. spriN waz mMvN in H Er abav n in H arT bilO n yrQnd him, penicrEtN Ivan hiz dyrk n lOli litl hQs wiT its spirit v divFn diskantant n loNN. i waz smYl wandar, Hen, HAt hI sadanli flaN dQn hiz braS on H flYr, sed "boHar!" n "O blO!" n YlsO "hAN spriN-klInN!" n bOltd Qt v H hQs wiTQt Ivan wEtN t pat on hiz kOt. samTiN ap abav waz kYlN him impErIasli, n hI mEd f H stIp litl tanl `ic Ansard in hiz kEs t H grAvald kEriJ-JrFv Ond bF Anamlz hMz rezidansz yr nIrar t H san n Er. sO hI skrEpd n skrAcd n scrAbld n skrMJd n Hen hI skrMJd agen n skrAbld n skrAcd n skrApd, warkN bizili wiT hiz litl pYz n matarN t himself, "ap wI gO! ap wI gO!" til At lAst, pop! hiz snQt kEm Qt intM H sanlFt, n hI fQnd himself rOlN in H wYrm grAs v a grEt medO.
"His z fFn!" hI sed t himself. "His z betar Hen `FtwySN!" H sanSFn scrak hot on hiz far, soft brIzz karesd hiz hItd brQ, n Aftar H siklMZn v H selariJ hI hAd livd in sO loN H kEral v hApi bardz fel on hiz dald hIrN YlmOst lFk a SQt. JampN of Yl hiz fYr legz At wans, in H Jq v livN n H dilFt v spriN wiTQt its klInN, hI parsUd hiz wE akros H medO til hI rIcd H heJ on H farHar sFd.
"hOld ap!" sed an eldarli rAbit At H gAp. "sikspens f H privliJ v pAsN bF H prFvit rOd!" hI waz bOld Ovar in an instant bF H impESant n kntempSas mOl, hM crotd aloN H sFd v H heJ cAfN H aHar rAbits Az HE pIpd haredli fram HEr hOlz t sI `at H rO waz abQt. "anjan-sYs! anjan-sYs!" hI rimyrkd JIrNli, n waz gon bifYr HE kUd TiNk v a TarOli satisfAktari riplF. Hen HE Yl styrtd gramblN At Ic aHar. "hQ stMpid jM yr! `F didnt jM tel him----" "wel, `F didnt jM sE----" "jM mFt hAv rimFndd him----" n sO on, in H jMZjMal wE; bat, v kYrs, i waz Hen mac tM lEt, Az z YlwEz H kEs.
i Yl sImd tM gUd t b crM. hiHar n TiHar TrM H medOz hI rAmbld bizili, aloN H heJrOz, akros H kopsz, fFndN evrI`Er bardz bildN, flQarz badN, lIvz TrastN-- evrITiN hApi, n pragresiv, n okjMpFd. n insted v hAvN an anIzi konSans prikN him n `isparN "`FtwyS!" hI samhQ kUd Onli fIl hQ Joli i waz t b H Onli Fdl dYg amaN Yl HIz bizi sitizanz. Aftar Yl, H best pyrt v a holidE z parhAps not sO mac t b restN jYrself, Az t sI Yl H aHar felOz bizi warkN.
hI TYt hiz hApInis waz kmplIt `en, Az hI mIAndard Emlisli aloN, sadanli hI stUd bF H eJ v a fal-fed rivar. nevar in hiz lFf hAd hI sIn a rivar bifYr--His slIk, sinjMas, fal-bodId Anaml, cEsN n caklN, gripN TiNz wiT a gargl n lIvN Hem wiT a lAf, t fliN itself on freS plEmEts HAt SUk Hemselvz frI, n war kYt n held agen. Yl waz a-SEk n a-Sivar--glints n glImz n spyrklz, rasl n swarl, cAtar n babl. H mOl waz biwicd, encrAnsd, fAsinEtd. bF H sFd v a rivar Hi crotd Az wan crots, `en vEri smYl, bF H sFd v a mAn hM hOldz wan spel-bQnd bF iksFtN stYrIz; n `en H rivar stil cAtard on t him, a bAblN praseSn v H best stYrIz in H warld, sent fram H hyrt v H arT t b tOld At lAst t H insEcIabl sI.
Az hI sAt on H grAs n lUkd akros H rivar, a dyrk hOl in H bANk opazit, Jast abav H wYtarz eJ, kYt hiz F, n JrImili hI fel t knsidarN `at a nFs snag dwelN-plEs i wUd mEk f an Anaml wiT fjM wynts n fond v a bIZM rivarsFd rezidans, abav flad levl n rimOt fram nqz n dast. Az hI gEzd, samTiNbrFt n smYl sImd t twiNkl dQn in H hyrt v i, vAniSd, Hen twiNkld wans mYr lFk a tFni styr. bat i kUd hyrdli bI a styr in sac an anlFkli sicMESn; n i waz tM glitarN n smYl f a glO-warm. Hen, Az hI lUkd, i wiNkd At him, n sO diklErd itself t b an F; n a smYl fEs bigAn grAJMali t grO ap rQnd i, lFk a frEm rQnd a pikSar.
a brQn litl fEs, wiT `iskars.
a grEv rQnd fEs, wiT H sEm twiNkl in its F HAt hAd farst acrAktd hiz nOtis.
smYl nIt Irz n Tik silki hEr.
i waz H wytar rAt!
Hen H tM Anamlz stUd n rigyrdd Ic aHar kYSasli.
"halO, mOl!" sed H wytar rAt.
"halO, rAt!" sed H mOl.
"wUd jM lFk t kam Ovar?" inkwFrd H rAt prezantli.
"O, its Yl vEri wel t tYk," sed H mOl, rAHar petiSli, hI bIiN nM t a rivar n rivarsFd lFf n its wEz.
H rAt sed naTiN, bat stMpd n anfAsand a rOp n hYld on i; Hen lFtli stepd intM a litl bOt `ic H mOl hAd not abzarvd. i waz pEntd blM QtsFd n `Ft wiHin, n waz Jast H sFz f tM Anamlz; n H mOlz hOl hyrt went Qt t i At wans, Ivan HO hI did not jet fali andarstAnd its jMsz.
H rAt skald smyrtli akros n mEd fAst. Hen hI held ap hiz fYrpY Az H mOl stepd JinJarli dQn. "lIn on HAt!" hI sed. "nQ Hen, step lFvli!" n H mOl t hiz sarprFz n rApcar fQnd himself AkcMali sItd in H starn v a rIl bOt.
"His hAz bin a wandarfal dE!" sed hI, Az H rAt Savd Yf n tUk t H skalz agen. "dM jM nO, Fv nevar bin in a bOt bifYr in Yl mF lFf."
"`at?" krFd H rAt, Opan-mQTd : "nevar bin in a--jM nevar--wel F--`at hAv jM bin dOiN, Hen?"
"z i sO nFs Az Yl HAt?" Askd H mOl SFli, HO hI waz kwFt pripErd t bilIv i Az hI lInt bAk in hiz sIt n sarvEd H kaSanz, H Yrz, H rOloks, n Yl H fAsinEtN fitNz, n felt H bOt swE lFtli andar him.
"nFs? its H Onli TiN," sed H wytar rAt solamli, Az hI lInt fYrward fYr hiz scrOk. "bilIv mI, mF jaN frend, HEr z naTN--AbsOlatli naTN--hAf sO mac warT dOiN Az simpli mesN abQt in bOts. simpli mesN," hI went on JrImili: "mesN--abQt--in--bOts; mesN----"
"lUk ahed, rAt!" krId H mOl sadanli.
i waz tM lEt. H bOt scrak H bANk fal tilt. H JrImar, H Jqas Yrzman, lE on hiz bAk At H botam v hiz bOt, hiz hIlz in H Er.
"abQt in bOts--Yr wiT bOts," H rAt went on kmpOzdli, pikN kimself ap wiT a plezant lAf. "in Yr Qt v 'em, i daznt mAtar. naTN sImz rIli t mAtar, HAts H cyrm v i. `eHar jM get awE, yr `eHar jM dOnt; `eHar jM yrFv At jYr destinESn Yr `eHar jM rIc sam`Er els, Yr `eHar jM nevar get enI`Er At Yl, jYr YlwEz bizi, n jM nevar dM enITiN in pyrtikjMlar; n `en jMv dan i HErz YlwEz samTiN els t dM, n jM kAn dM i if jM lFf, bat jMd mac betar not. lUk hIr! if jMv rIli naTiN els on hAnd His mYrnN, sapOzN wI Jrop dQn H rivar tageHar, n hAv a loN dE v i?"
H mOl wAgld hiz tOz fram SIr hApInis, spred hiz cest wiT a sF v fal kntentmant, n lInd bAk blisfali intM H sYft kUSnz. "`at a dE Fm hAvN!" hI sed. "let as styrt At wans!"
"hOld hyrd a minit, Hen!" sed H rAt. hI lMpd H pEntar TrM a riN in hiz lAndN-stEJ, klFmd ap intM hiz hOl abav, n Aftar a SYrt intarvl rIypIrd stAgarN andar a fAt, wikar lancan-bAskit.
"Sav HAt andar jYr fIt," hI abzarvd t H mOl, Az hI pAsd i dQn intM H bOt. Hen hI antFd H pEntar n tUk H skalz agen.
"`ats insFd i?" Askd H mOl, riglN wiT kjMrIositi.
"HErz kOld cikan insFd i," riplFd H rAt brIfli; "kOldtaNkOldhAmkOldbIfpikldgarkinssAladfrencrOlz kresAndwiczspotdmItJinJarbIrlemanEdsOdawytar----"
"O stop, stop," krFd H mOl in ekstasIz: "His z tM mac!"
"dM jM rIli TiNk sO?" inkwFrd H rAt sIrIasli. "its Onli `at F YlwEz tEk on HIz litl ikskarZnz; n H aHar Anamlz yr YlwEz telN mI HAt Fm a mIn bIst n kat i vEri fFn!"
H mOl nevar hard a ward hI waz sEiN. AbzYrbd in H nM lFf hI waz entarN apon, intoksikEtd wiT H spyrkl, H ripl, H sents n H sQndz n H sanlFt, hI crEld a pY in H wytar n JrImd loN wEkN JrImz. H wytar rAt, lFk H gUd litl felO hI waz, skald stedili on n fYrbYr t distarb him.
"F lFk jYr klOz Yfali, Old cAp," hI rimyrkd Aftar sam hAf an Qr Yr sO hAd pAsd. "Fm gOiN t get a blAk velvit smOkN-sMt mFself sam dE, Az sMn Az F kAn afYrd i."
"F beg jYr pyrdan," sed H mOl, pUlN himself tageHar wiT an efart. "jM mast TiNk mI vEri rMd; bat Yl His z sO nM t mI. sO--His--z--a--rivar!"
"H rivar," karektd H rAt.
"n jM rIli liv bF H rivar? `at a Joli lFf!"
"bF i n wiT i n on i n in i," sed H rAt. "its braHar n sistar t mI, n Ynts, n kampani, n fMd n JriNk, n (nAcarali) wySN. its mF warld, n F dOnt wynt eni aHar. `at i hAznt got z not warT hAvN, n `at i daznt nOz not warT nOiN. lYrd! H tFmz wIv hAd tageHar! `eHar in wintar Yr samar, spriN Yr Ytam, its YlwEz got its fan n its iksFtmants. `en H fladz yr on in febjMEri, n mF selarz n bEsmant yr brimN wiT JriNk HAts nO gUd t mI, n H brQn wytar ranz bF mF best bedrMm windO; Yr agen `en i Yl Jrops awE n, SOz pAcz v mad HAt smelz lFk plam-kEk, n H raSz n wId klog H cAnlz, n F kAn potar abQt JrF SYd Ovar mOst v H bed v i n fFnd freS fMd t It, n TiNz kErlis pIpl hAv Jropd Qt v bOts!"
"bat iznt i a bit dal At tFmz?" H mOl vencard t Ask. "Jast jM n H rivar, n nO wan els t pAs a ward wiT?"
"nO wan els t--wel, F masnt b hyrd on jM," sed H rAt wiT fYrbErans. "jYr nM t i, n v kYrs jM dOnt nO. H bANk z sO krQdd nQadEz HAt meni pIpl yr mMvN awE YltageHar: O nO, i iznt `at i jMzd t b, At Yl. otarz, dAbciks, mUrhenz, Yl v Hem abQt Yl dE loN n YlwEz wyntN jM t dM samTiN--Az if a felO hAd nO biznis v hiz On t atend t!"
"`at lFz Ovar HEr?" Askd H mOl, wEvN a pY tYrdz a bAkgrQnd v wUdland HAt dyrkli frEmd H wytar-medOz on wan sFd v H rivar.
"HAt? O, HAts Jast H wFld wUd," sed H rAt SYrtli. "wI dOnt gO HEr vEri mac, wI rivar-bANkarz."
"yrnt HE--yrnt HE vEri nFs pIpl in HEr?" sed H mOl, a crFfl narvasli.
"w-e-l," riplFd H rAt, "let mI sI. H skwarlz yr Yl rFt. n H rAbits--sam v 'em, bat rAbits yr a miksd lot. n Hen HErz bAJar, v kYrs. hI livz rFt in H hyrt v i; wUdnt liv enI`Er els, IHar, if jM pEd him t dM i. dIr bAJar! nObadi intarfIrz wiT him. HEd betar not," hI Add signifikantli.
"`F, hM SUd intarfIr wiT him?" Askd H mOl.
"wel, v kYrs--HEr--yr aHarz," iksplEnd H rAt in a hezitEtN sYrt v wE.
"wIzlz--n stOts--n foksz--n sO on. HEr Yl rFt in a wE--Fm vEri gUd frendz wiT Hem--pAs H tFm v dE `en wI mIt, n Yl HAt--bat HE brEk Qt samtFmz, HErz nO dinFiN i, n Hen--wel, jM kAnt rIli crast Hem, n HAts H fAkt."
H mOl nM wel HAt i z kwFt agenst Anaml-etakit t dwel on posabl crabl ahed, Yr Ivan t alMd t i; sO hI Jropd H sabJekt.
"n bIond H wFld wUd agen?" hI Askd: "`Er its Yl blM n dim, n wan sIz `at mE bI hilz Yr parhAps HE mEnt, n samTiN lFk H smOk v tQnz, Yr z i Onli klQd-Jrift?"
"bIond H wFld wUd kamz H wFd warld," sed H rAt. "n HAts samTiN HAt daznt mAtar, IHar t jM Yr mI. Fv nevar bin HEr, n Fm nevar gOiN, nYr jM IHar, if jMv got eni sens At Yl. dOnt evar rifar t i agen, plIz! nQ Hen! hIrz Qr bAkwytar At lAst, `Er wIr gOiN t lanc."
lIvN H mEn scrIm, HE nQ pAsd intM `at sImd At farst sFt lFk a litl lAnd-lokd lEk. grIn tarf slOpd dQn t IHar eJ, brQn snEki crI-rMts glImd bilO H sarfis v H kwFit wytar, `Fl ahed v Hem H silvari SOldar n fOmi tambl v a wIr, yrm-in-yrm wiT a restlis JripN mil-`Il, HAt held ap in its tarn a grE-gAbld mil-hQs, fild H Er wiT a sMHN marmar v sQnd, dal n smaHari, jet wiT litl klIr vqsz spIkN ap cIrfali Qt v i At intarvlz. i waz sO vEri bjMtafal HAt H mOl kUd Onli hOld ap bOT fYrpYz n gAsp, "O mF! O mF! O mF!"
H rAt brYt H bOt aloNsFd H bANk, mEd har fAst, helpd H stil Ykward mOl sEfli aSYr, n swaN Qt H lancan-bAskit. H mOl begd Az a fEvar t b alQd t anpAk i Yl bF himself; n H rAt waz vEri plIzd t indalJ him, n t sprYl At fal leNT on H grAs n rest, `Fl hiz iksFtd frend SUk Qt H tEbl-cloT n spred i, tUk Qt Yl H mistIrIas pAkits wan bF wan n arEnJd HEr kontants in dM Yrdar, stil gAspN, "O mF! O mF!" At Ic freS revalESn. `en Yl waz redi, H rAt sed, "nQ, pic in, Old felO!" n H mOl waz indId vEri glAd t ObE, f hI hAd styrtd hiz spriN-klInN At a vEri arli Qr HAt mYrnN, Az pIpl wil dM, n hAd not pYzd f bFt Yr sap; n hI hAd bin TrM a vEri grEt dIl sins HAt distant tFm `ic nQ sImd sO meni dEz agO.
"`at yr jM lUkN At?" sed H rAt prezantli, `en H eJ v HEr haNgar waz sam`at dald, n H mOlz Fz war Ebl t wyndar of H tEbl-kloT a litl.
"F em lUkN," sed H mOl, "At a scrIk v bablz HAt F sI crAvalN aloN H sarfis v H wytar. HAt z a TiN HAt scrFks mI Az fani."
"bablz? OhO!" sed H rAt, n cIrapd cIrili in an invFtN sYrt v wE.
a brYd glisanN mazl SOd itself abav H eJ v H bANk, n H otar hYld himself Qt n SUk H wytar fram hiz kOt.
"grIdi begarz!" hI abzarvd, mEkN f H provandar. "`F didnt jM invFt mI, rAti?"
"His waz an impromptM afEr," iksplEnd H rAt. "bF H wE--mF frend /mr mOl."
"prQd, Fm Sar," sed H otar, n H tM Anamlz war frendz fYrTwiT.
"sac a rampas evrI`Er!" kntinjMd H otar. "Yl H warld sImz Qt on H rivar tMdE. F kEm ap His bAkwytar t crF n get a mOmants pIs, n Hen stambl apon jM felOz!--At lIst--F beg pyrdan--F dOnt igzAktli mIn HAt, jM nO."
HEr waz a rasl bihFnd Hem, prasIdN fram a heJ `Erin lAst jIrz lIvz stil klaN Tik, n a scrFpi hed, wiT hF SOldarz bihFnd i, pIrd fYrT on Hem.
"kam on, Old bAJar!" SQtd H rAt.
H bAJar crotd fYrward a pEs Yr tM; Hen grantd, "h'm! kmpani," n tarnd hiz bAk n disapIrd fram vjM.
"HAts Jast H sYrt v felO hI z!" abzarvd H disapqntd rAt. "simpli hEts sasFiti! nQ wI SAnt sI eni mYr v him tM-dE. wel, tel as, hMz Qt on H rivar?"
"tOdz Qt, f wan," riplFd H otar. "in hiz brAnd-nM wEJar-bOt; nM togz, nM evrITiN!"
H tM Anamlz lUkd At Ic aHar n lAfd.
"wans, i waz naTiN bat sElN," sed H rAt, "Hen, hI tFrd v HAt n tUk t pantN. naTiN wUd plIz him bat t pant Yl dE n evri dE, n a nFs mes hI mEd v i. lAst jIr i waz hQs-bOtN, n wI Yl hAd t gO n stE wiT him in hiz hQs-bOt, n pritend wI lFkd i. hI waz gOiN t spend H rest v hiz lFf in a hQs-bOt. its Yl H sEm, `atevar hI tEks ap; hI gets tFrd v i, n styrts on samTiN freS."
"sac a gUd felO, tM" rimyrkd H otar riflektivli: "bat nO stabiliti--espeSali in a bOt!"
fram `Er HE sAt HE kUd get a glimps v H mEn scrIm akros H Fland HAt separEtd Hem; n Jast Hen a wEJar-bOt flASd intM vjM, H rOar--a SYrt, stQt figjar--splASN bAdli n rOlN a gUd dIl, bat warkN hiz hyrdist. H rAt stUd ap n hEld him, bat tOd--f i waz hI--SUk hiz hed n setld starnli t hiz wark.
"hIl b Qt v H bOt in a minit if hI rOlz lFk HAt," sed H rAt, sitN dQn agen.
"v kYrs hI wil," cakld H otar. "did F evar tel jM HAt gUd stYri abQt tOd n H lok-kIpar? i hApand His wE. tOd...."
an erant mE-flF swarvd anstedili aTwYrt H karant in H intoksikEtd fASn afektd bF jaN bladz v mE-flFz sIiN lFf. a swarl v wytar n a "klMp!" n H mE-flF waz vizabl nO mYr.
nIHar waz H otar.
H mOl lUkd dQn. H vqs waz stil in hiz Irz, bat H tarf `Eron hI hAd sprYld waz klIrli vEkant. not an otar t b sIn, Az fyr Az H distant harFzan.
bat agen HEr waz a scrIk v bablz on H sarfis v H rivar.
H rAt hamd a tMn, n H mOl rekalektd HAt Anaml-etakit fYrbEd eni sYrt v komant on H sadan disapIrans v wanz frendz At eni mOmant, f eni rIzan Yr nO rIzan `atevar.
"wel, wel," sed H rAt, "F sapOz wI Yt t b mMvN. F wandar `ic v as hAd betar pAk H lancan-bAskit?" hI did not spIk Az if hI waz frFtfali Igar f H crIt.
"O, plIz let mI," sed H mOl. sO, v kYrs, H rAt let him.
pAkN H bAskit waz not kwFt sac plezant wark Az anpAkN H bAskit. i nevar waz. bat H mOl waz bent on enJqiN evrITiN, n YlHO Jast `en hI hAd got H bAskit pAkd n scrApd ap tFtli hI sY a plEt stErN ap At him fram H grAs, n `en H Job hAd bin dan agen H rAt pqntd Qt a fYrk `ic enIbadi Yt t hAv sIn, n lAst v Yl, bihOld! H mastard pot, `ic hI hAd bin sitN on wiTQt nOiN i--stil, samhQ, H TiN got finiSd At lAst, wiTQt mac los v tempar.
H AftarnMn san waz getN lO Az H rAt skald Jentli hOmwardz in a JrImi mMd, marmarN pOacri-TiNz Ovar t himself, n not pEiN mac atenSn t mOl. bat mOl waz vEri fal v lanc, n self-sAtisfAkSn, n prFd, n Ylredi kwFt At hOm in a bOt (sO hI TYt) n waz getN a bit restlis bisFdz: n prezantli hI sed, "rAti! plIz, _F_ wynt t rO, nQ!"
H rAt SUk hiz hed wiT a smFl. "not jet, mF jaN frend," hI sed--"wEt til jMv hAd a fjM lesanz. its not Az Izi Az i lUks."
H mOl waz kwFet f a minit Yr tM. bat hI bigAn t fIl mYr n mYr Jelas v rAt, skalN sO scroNli n sO Izili aloN, n hiz prFd bigAn t `ispar HAt hI kUd d i evri bit Az wel. hI Jampd ap n sIzd H skalz, sO sadanli, HAt H rAt, hM waz gEzN Qt Ovar H wytar n sEiN mYr pOicri-TiNz t himself, waz tEkan bF n fel bAkwardz of hiz sIt wiT hiz legz in H Er f H sekand tFm, `Fl H crFamfant mOl tMk hiz plEs n grAbd H skalz wiT intFr konfidans.
"stop i, jM sili As!" krFd H rAt, fram H botam v H bOt. "jM kAnt d i! jMl hAv as Ovar!"
H mOl flaN hiz skalz bAk wiT a flariS, n mEd a grEt dig At H wytar. hI misd H sarfis YltageHar, hiz legz flM ap abav hiz hed, n hI fQnd himself lFiN on H top v H proscrEt rAt. grEtli alyrmd, hI mEd a grAb At H sFd v H bOt, n H nekst mOmant--splMS!
Ovar went H bOt, n hI fQnd himself scraglN in H rivar.
O mF, hQ kOld H wytar waz, n O, hQ vEri wet i felt. hQ i sAN in hiz Irz Az hI went dQn, dQn, dQn! hQ brFt n welkam H san lUkd Az hI rOz t H sarfis kYfN n splatarN! hQ blAk waz hiz dispEr `en hI felt himself siNkN agen! Hen a farm pY gripd him bF H bAk v hiz nek. i waz H rAt, n hI waz evidantli lAfN--H mOl kUd fIl him lAfN, rFt dQn hiz yrm n TrM hiz pY, n sO intM hiz--H mOlz--nek.
H rAt got hOld v a skal n Savd i andar H mOlz yrm; Hen hI did H sEm bF H aHar sFd v him n, swimN bihFnd, prapeld H helplis Anaml t SYr, hYld him Qt, n set him dQn on H bANk, a skwoSi, palpi lamp v mizari.
`en H rAt hAd rabd him dQn a bit, n raN sam v H wet Qt v him, hI sed, "nQ, Hen, Old felO! crot ap n dQn H tOiN-pAT Az hyrd Az jM kAn, til jYr wYrm n JrF agen, `Fl F dFv f H lancan-bAskit."
sO H dizml mOl, wet wiTQt n aSEmd wiHin, crotd abQt til hI waz fErli JrF, `Fl H rAt planJd intM H wytar agen, rikavard H bOt, rFtd har n mEd har fAst, fecd hiz flOtN proparti t SYr bF digrIz, n fFnali dFvd sakesfali f H lancan-bAskit n scragld t lAnd wiT i.
`en Yl waz redi f a styrt wans mYr, H mOl, limp n diJektd, tUk hiz sIt in H starn v H bOt; n Az HE set of, hI sed in a lO vqs, brOkan wiT imOSn, "rAti, mF Jenaras frend! F em vEri sori indId f mF fMliS n angrEtfal kondakt. mF hyrt kwFt fElz mI `en F TiNk hQ F mFt hAv lost HAt bjMtafal lancan-bAskit. indId, F hAv bin a kmplIt As, n F nO i. wil jM OvarlUk i His wans n fYrgiv mI, n let TiNz gO on Az bifYr?"
"HAts Yl rFt, bles jM!" rispondd H rAt cIrili. "`ats a litl wet t a wytar rAt? Fm mYr in H wytar HAn Qt v i mOst dEz. dOnt jM TiNk eni mYr abQt i; n, lUk hIr! F rIli TiNk jM hAd betar kam n stop wiT mI f a litl tFm. its vEri plEn n raf, jM nO--not lFk tOdz hQs At Yl--bat jM hAvnt sIn HAt jet; stil, F kAn mEk jM kamfartabl. n Fl tIc jM t rO, n t swim, n jMl sMn b Az hAndi on H wytar Az eni v as."
H mOl waz sO tacd bF hiz kFnd mAnar v spIkN HAt hI kUd fFnd nO vqs t Ansar him; n hI hAd t braS awE a tIr Yr tM wiT H bAk v hiz pY. bat H rAt kFndli lUkd in anaHar darekSn, n prezantli H mOlz spIrits rivFvd agen, n hI waz Ivan Ebl t giv sam scrEt bAk-tYk t Ic aHar abQt hiz biJrAgld apIrans.
`en HE got hOm, H rAt mEd a brFt fFr in H pyrlar, n plAntd H mOl in an yrm-cEr in frant v i, hAvN fect dQn a JresN-gQn n sliparz f him, n tOld him rivar stYrIz til sapar-tFm. vEri TrilN stYrIz HE war, tM, t an arT-dwelN Anaml lFk mOl. stYrIz abQt wIrz, n sadan fladz, n lIpN pFk, n stImarz HAt flaN hyrd botlz--At lIst botlz war sartanli flaN, n fram stImarz, sO prizamabli bF Hem; n abQt heranz, n hQ pyrtikjmlar HE war hMm HE spOk t; n abQt Advencarz dQn JrEnz, n nFt-fiSNz wiT otar, Yr ikskarZnz fyr a-fIld wiT bAJar. sapar waz a mOst cIrfal mIl; bat vEri SYrtli Aftarwardz a terabli slIpi mOl hAd t b eskYrtd apstErz bF hiz knsidarit hOst, t H best bedrMm, `Er hI sMn lEd hiz hed on hiz pilO in grEt pIs n kntentmant, nOiN HAt hiz nM-fQnd frend H rivar waz lApN H sil v hiz windO.
His dE waz Onli H farst v meni similar wanz f H imAnsapEtd mOl, Ic v Hem loNar n fal v intarist Az H rFpanN samar mMvd onward. hI larnt t swim n t rO, n entard intM H Jq v ranN wytar; n wiT hiz Ir t H rId-stemz hI kYt, At intarvlz, samTiN v `at H wind went `isparN sO konstantli amaN Hem.