Steamboat Round the Bend Page #3

Some swamp people come along

in their shanty boats.

I used to wave at 'em, tryin' to

be friends with 'em.

But they'd never wave back

or nothin'.

Just make their womenfolk

get indoors.

First time I seen Fleety Belle, I...

I thought she was a boy the way

she was dressed.

Well, I blowed my whistle...

and-and she waved back.

And her old man came out

and gave her a whippin'.

After that, I seen her pretty

near every, day.

Then her folks found out, and

her old man gave...

her a worse whippin;

And that's why she run away.

-Was it one of her kinfolks you killed?

-No, sir.

-It was Big Steve.

-Who's he?

Engineer on the Memphis Girl.

When he found Fleety Belle on

the steamboat...

where I was hiding her...

he started after her.

You know I don't get mad easy, but...

but when I do, it's like a-like

a thorn tree...

a-growin' and growin' inside

of me, and-

Well, we started in fightin'.

He drawed a knife...

and I picked up a chunk of

stove wood and...

throwed it at his hand.

And he ducked right into it,

and I knowed...

by the way he fell that he

was dead.

Well, then, ain't nobody can say

that that wasn't self-defense.

-Did anybody see it?

-Nobody but a-a preacher fella.

-Calls hisself the New Moses.

-I know 'im. I know him.

He come up on the Pride of

Paducah with me.

I sent a message to you by him.

Did he give it to you?

Yeah, he told me.

-He-He seen it, huh?

-He seen it.

And it was night, and he was

sleepin' on deck.

He didn't blame me none. Just

done a lot of prayin'...

and told me to give myself up.

I don't know nothin about

religion.

But he's right.

He-He's right.

You gotta give yourself up.

There ain't no jury could blame

you for...

doin' a thing like that.

Now, come on. Come on and sit

down there. Come sit down.

Get you something to eat here now.

Then we'll go on over. We'll

see the sheriff,...

and you can give yourself up.

No!

He ain't gonna give his self up.

Listen here. Who asked for any

opinion of...

yours on this thing?

You've done enough to him already.

Now, sit down there and get you

something to eat.

He's gonna do as I say. He knows

that he can trust me.

No, he ain't gonna do what you say.

We heard tell of this hangin' judge.

Ain't nobody gonna hurt Duke.

-Sit down!

-Sit down, Fleety Belle.

Eat some thin'.

Uncle John's right.

There ain't no thin' to run

away from.

I told you not to come here. We'd

be safe in the swamp.

Aw, swamps! He's a river man.

He couldn't live in the swamps.

He's not that kind of people.

But they'll hang you, Duke.

I know they will!

Aw, they won't do any such a

thing. They won't hang him.

Don't pay any attention to her,

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