Raymond S. Spears

“ He could see dimly, when his eyes became accustomed to the dark. The falling rain made the distance invisible, and drowned all sounds while it lasted. Out of the gray mist of a downpour he saw something approaching. ”

“ He set his shoulder to the pole and twisted it, and then the other boy took hold and together they pried.
Catching the imprisoned leg by the knee, Sib suddenly felt it ease out, and with a cry he caught Jep up on his shoulder and started for the shanty-boat over the floating island. The other boy followed him.
"Keep hold of the rope!" Sib warned. "Hold the lantern so we’ll see where to step!"
"She’s strainin’!" the stranger gasped, as the rope rose from the drift ahead of him. ”

“ Sib grinned, "and the salvage will be worth a hundred dollars to us!"
For "findings is keepings" down Old Misissip, against all claims but that of an owner. If one rescues a boat, a log, or other valuable drift, the finder is paid for his trouble by the owner—the salvage fee varying according to circumstances. "Drifting" for logs and boats is a regular flood-time occupation. ”

“ I never saw so many books onto a shanty-boat before!"
"We use them when we’re tied in," Sib explained. "Father and Mother are great hands to read."
"Dad’s that-way, too," Jimmy said. "He don’t ever stop in anywheres but what he buys a newspaper. We was to St. Louis a week, and Dad bought two newspapers there. He never misses a word. Everytime he reads a piece, he marks it with a pencil, so’s he’ll know he read it. He don’t b’lieve in wastin’ any time, readin’ the same thing twicet. ”

“ It’s only when the squeeze gits you that there’s trouble! This is a nice boat, too! She rose right up when the logs come in under ’er. If we could see, we mout pull in, but it’d be better to wait for day, ’count o’ sawyers and drift piles and things along the edge. ”