Page "Deliverance" Paragraph 11

Later, as the men prepare to drive home, the sheriff suddenly asks Ed why there were four life jackets when only Lewis, Ed and Bobby came out of the river.

Stammering, Bobby suggests there may have been an extra one, then realizes his mistake.

But Ed says no, that Drew was not wearing his life jacket and he does not know why.

The sheriff remains suspicious, but having no evidence simply tells Ed, " Don't ever do nothin ' like this again.

Don't come back up here.

I'd kinda like to see this town die peaceful ," to which Ed readily agrees.

The men vow to keep their story a secret for the rest of their lives, which proves to be psychologically burdensome for Ed ; in the final scene, he awakes screaming from a nightmare in which a dead man's hand rises from the lake.