Raftsmen

In this chapter you get a feel of the way raftsmen are looked at. Raftsmen are usually characterized as lower to middle class citizens where the upper class use steamboats rather then rafts. When the steamboat ran into Huck's raft and didn't stop to see if anyone was alright shows the reader how low raftsmen are seen as by the upper class. The raftsmen are also very generous and helpful people. When Huck told them that his pap was sick and needed to get him help they lended him a hand without thinking twice or asking any questions. Once they couldn't get to shore they still provided Huck with money for his upcoming journey.  The one negative quality is since they were so low on the food chain, they were willing to find slaves and turn them in. In one part of the chapter they go around asking if people have seen slaves so they can return them for money. Overall the raftsmen are nice and helpful, seen as scum by the upper class and are to be avoided by slaves.