Chapter 15

           AfewminuteslaterTomwasintheshoalwaterofthebar,wadingtowardtheIllinoisshore. Beforethedepthreachedhismiddlehewashalf-wayover;thecurrentwouldpermitnomorewading,now,sohestruckoutconfidentlytoswimtheremaininghundredyards. Heswamquarteringupstream,butstillwassweptdownwardratherfasterthanhehadexpected. However,hereachedtheshorefinally,anddriftedalongtillhefoundalowplaceanddrewhimselfout. Heputhishandonhisjacketpocket,foundhispieceofbarksafe,andthenstruckthroughthewoods,followingtheshore,withstreaminggarments. Shortlybeforeteno’clockhecameoutintoanopenplaceoppositethevillage,andsawtheferryboatlyingintheshadowofthetreesandthehighbank. Everythingwasquietundertheblinkingstars. Hecreptdownthebank,watchingwithallhiseyes,slippedintothewater,swamthreeorfourstrokesandclimbedintotheskiffthatdid"yawl"dutyattheboat’sstern. Helaidhimselfdownunderthethwartsandwaited,panting. 

           Presentlythecrackedbelltappedandavoicegavetheorderto"castoff." Aminuteortwolatertheskiff’sheadwasstandinghighup,againsttheboat’sswell,andthevoyagewasbegun. Tomfelthappyinhissuccess,forheknewitwastheboat’slasttripforthenight. Attheendofalongtwelveorfifteenminutesthewheelsstopped,andTomslippedoverboardandswamashoreinthedusk,landingfiftyyardsdownstream,outofdangerofpossiblestragglers. 

           Heflewalongunfrequentedalleys,andshortlyfoundhimselfathisaunt’sbackfence. Heclimbedover,approachedthe"ell,"andlookedinatthesitting-roomwindow,foralightwasburningthere. TheresatAuntPolly,Sid,Mary,andJoeHarper’smother,groupedtogether,talking. Theywerebythebed,andthebedwasbetweenthemandthedoor. 

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