and warm, I was soon fast asleep, and the boat drifted on and on. It ran 
into a shoal where there was a fall clear across the river. I was sound 
asleep when all at once my boat began to rock and pitch which, of 
couise, awoke me. My boat had lodged on a rock that projected out 
ot the water. I saw at a glance that I was in a very swift rapid and I 
could see the fall not more than 10 or 15 feet below me. The water 
was running like a mill-tail and I was in a dangerous predicament. 
I knew I could not make it to the bank as the water would carry me 
over the falls and I could see the only way to keep my boat straight 
vrns to head it for the falls. I stood on the rock on which the boat 
Avas lodged and led it until I had it on the lower side of the rock, 
which faced the falls. Giving it the hardest shove I could, I jumped 
in it and leaped the falls as perfectly as a good jumping horse could 
have done it and as she went over the only sound was a big “surplash.” 
The leap w T as so perfect that I don’t think that one drop of water 
went into the boat. After this narrow escape I tied the boat to a limb 
that swung over the river and there I remained until the next day. 
The next day I pursued my course. One day I met another farmer 
who had thousands of watermelons. He gave me some fine ones and 
offered to sell me my pick at five cents each. He told me I could 
easily get 25 cents each for them in Little Rock, which was now only 
about 50 miles aw r ay. I thought I might as well pick up a few cents 
on the side, so I purchased all my boat would hold. When I did finally 
arrive at Little Rock and investigate the market I found they were 
worth from two to three cents each. Of course, after paying for 
drayage uptown, this would leave me nothing so I thought I might as 
well give the negroes and poor people a treat. I did this and there 
was enough to swell a number of sides. 
The following day I pulled for Pine Bluff and from there to Wild 
Cat landing, where I sold my boat, cleaned myself up and hit out for 
Andrew Climan’s, my friend, whom I had stayed with the previous 
winter. Upon my arrival I was given a most hearty welcome by 
Andrew Climan and James Climan, his brother, who had taken the 
old buck by the horns. Uncle Adam said, ‘‘Mister Alexander, we 
niggers all welcome youse back. We knows now we will have plenty 
of deer dis winter. Old Blumore, my old rifle, am lyin’ in the rack 
and when I goes home and tells her youse am back. I looks to see her 
stand on her feet.” 
— 45 — 
