HUCKLEBERRYFINN,ByMarkTwain,Complete

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byMarkTwain(SamuelClemens)

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Title:AdventuresofHuckleberryFinn,Complete

Author:MarkTwain(SamuelClemens)

ReleaseDate:August20,2006[EBook#76]

LastUpdated:May25,2018

Language:English

***STARTOFTHISPROJECTGUTENBERGEBOOKHUCKLEBERRYFINN***

ProducedbyDavidWidger

ADVENTURES

OF

HUCKLEBERRYFINN(TomSawyer’sComrade)

ByMarkTwain

Complete

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CONTENTS.

CHAPTERI.CivilizingHuck.—MissWatson.—TomSawyerWaits.

CHAPTERII.TheBoysEscapeJim.—TornSawyer’sGang.—Deep-laidPlans.

CHAPTERIII.AGoodGoing-over.—GraceTriumphant.—“OneofTomSawyers’sLies”.

CHAPTERIV.HuckandtheJudge.—Superstition.

CHAPTERV.Huck’sFather.—TheFondParent.—Reform.

CHAPTERVI.HeWentforJudgeThatcher.—HuckDecidedtoLeave.—PoliticalEconomy.—ThrashingAround.

CHAPTERVII.LayingforHim.—LockedintheCabin.—SinkingtheBody.—Resting.

CHAPTERVIII.SleepingintheWoods.—RaisingtheDead.—ExploringtheIsland.—FindingJim.—Jim’sEscape.—Signs.—Balum.

CHAPTERIX.TheCave.—TheFloatingHouse.

CHAPTERX.TheFind.—OldHankBunker.—InDisguise.

CHAPTERXI.HuckandtheWoman.—TheSearch.—Prevarication.—GoingtoGoshen.

CHAPTERXII.SlowNavigation.—BorrowingThings.—BoardingtheWreck.—ThePlotters.—HuntingfortheBoat.

CHAPTERXIII.EscapingfromtheWreck.—TheWatchman.—Sinking.

CHAPTERXIV.AGeneralGoodTime.—TheHarem.—French.

CHAPTERXV.HuckLosestheRaft.—IntheFog.—HuckFindstheRaft.—Trash.

CHAPTERXVI.Expectation.—AWhiteLie.—FloatingCurrency.—RunningbyCairo.—SwimmingAshore.

CHAPTERXVII.AnEveningCall.—TheFarminArkansaw.—InteriorDecorations.—StephenDowlingBots.—PoeticalEffusions.

CHAPTERXVIII.Col.Grangerford.—Aristocracy.—Feuds.—TheTestament.—RecoveringtheRaft.—TheWood—pile.—PorkandCabbage.

CHAPTERXIX.TyingUpDay—times.—AnAstronomicalTheory.—RunningaTemperanceRevival.—TheDukeofBridgewater.—TheTroublesofRoyalty.

CHAPTERXX.HuckExplains.—LayingOutaCampaign.—WorkingtheCamp—meeting.—APirateattheCamp—meeting.—TheDukeasaPrinter.

CHAPTERXXI.SwordExercise.—Hamlet’sSoliloquy.—TheyLoafedAroundTown.—ALazyTown.—OldBoggs.—Dead.

CHAPTERXXII.

Sherburn.—AttendingtheCircus.—IntoxicationintheRing.—TheThrillingTragedy.

CHAPTERXXIII.Sold.—RoyalComparisons.—JimGetsHome-sick.

CHAPTERXXIV.JiminRoyalRobes.—TheyTakeaPassenger.—GettingInformation.—FamilyGrief.

CHAPTERXXV.IsItThem?—Singingthe“Doxologer.”—AwfulSquare—FuneralOrgies.—ABadInvestment.

CHAPTERXXVI.APiousKing.—TheKing’sClergy.—SheAskedHisPardon.—HidingintheRoom.—HuckTakestheMoney.

CHAPTERXXVII.TheFuneral.—SatisfyingCuriosity.—SuspiciousofHuck,—QuickSalesandSmall.

CHAPTERXXVIII.TheTriptoEngland.—“TheBrute!”—MaryJaneDecidestoLeave.—HuckPartingwithMaryJane.—Mumps.—TheOppositionLine.

CHAPTERXXIX.ContestedRelationship.—TheKingExplainstheLoss.—AQuestionofHandwriting.—DigginguptheCorpse.—HuckEscapes.

CHAPTERXXX.TheKingWentforHim.—ARoyalRow.—PowerfulMellow.

CHAPTERXXXI.OminousPlans.—NewsfromJim.—OldRecollections.—ASheepStory.—ValuableInformation.

CHAPTERXXXII.StillandSunday—like.—MistakenIdentity.—UpaStump.—InaDilemma.

CHAPTERXXXIII.ANiggerStealer.—SouthernHospitality.—APrettyLongBlessing.—TarandFeathers.

CHAPTERXXXIV.TheHutbytheAshHopper.—Outrageous.—ClimbingtheLightningRod.—TroubledwithWitches.

CHAPTERXXXV.EscapingProperly.—DarkSchemes.—DiscriminationinStealing.—ADeepHole.

CHAPTERXXXVI.TheLightningRod.—HisLevelBest.—ABequesttoPosterity.—AHighFigure.

CHAPTERXXXVII.TheLastShirt.—MooningAround.—SailingOrders.—TheWitchPie.

CHAPTERXXXVIII.TheCoatofArms.—ASkilledSuperintendent.—UnpleasantGlory.—ATearfulSubject.

CHAPTERXXXIX.Rats.—LivelyBed—fellows.—TheStrawDummy.

CHAPTERXL.Fishing.—TheVigilanceCommittee.—ALivelyRun.—JimAdvisesaDoctor.

CHAPTERXLI.TheDoctor.—UncleSilas.—SisterHotchkiss.—AuntSallyinTrouble.

CHAPTERXLII.TomSawyerWounded.—TheDoctor’sStory.—TomConfesses.—AuntPollyArrives.—HandOutThemLetters.

CHAPTERTHELAST.OutofBondage.—PayingtheCaptive.—YoursTruly,HuckFinn.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

TheWidows

Mosesandthe“Bulrushers"

MissWatson

HuckStealingAway

TheyTip-toedAlong

Jim

TomSawyer’sBandofRobbers

HuckCreepsintohisWindow

MissWatson’sLecture

TheRobbersDispersed

RubbingtheLamp

!!!!

JudgeThatchersurprised

JimListening

"Pap"

HuckandhisFather

ReformingtheDrunkard

FallingfromGrace

GettingoutoftheWay

SolidComfort

ThinkingitOver

RaisingaHowl

"GitUp"

TheShanty

ShootingthePig

TakingaRest

IntheWoods

WatchingtheBoat

DiscoveringtheCampFire

JimandtheGhost

MistoBradish’sNigger

ExploringtheCave

IntheCave

JimseesaDeadMan

TheyFoundEightDollars

JimandtheSnake

OldHankBunker

"AFairFit"

"ComeIn"

"HimandanotherMan"

SheputsupaSnack

"HumpYourself"

OntheRaft

HesometimesLiftedaChicken

"Pleasedon’t,Bill"

"Itain’tGoodMorals"

"Oh!Lordy,Lordy!”

InaFix

"Hello,What’sUp?"

TheWreck

WeturnedinandSlept

TurningovertheTruck

SolomonandhisMillionWives

Thestoryof“Sollermun"

"WeWouldSelltheRaft"

AmongtheSnags

AsleepontheRaft

"SomethingbeingRaftsman"

"Boy,that’saLie"

"HereIis,Huck"

ClimbinguptheBank

"Who’sThere?"

"Buck"

"ItmadeHerlookSpidery"

"TheygothimoutandemptiedHim"

TheHouse

Col.Grangerford

YoungHarneyShepherdson

MissCharlotte

"AndaskedmeifILikedHer"

"BehindtheWood-pile"

HidingDay-times

"AndDogsa-Coming"

"ByrightsIamaDuke!”

"IamtheLateDauphin"

TailPiece

OntheRaft

TheKingasJuliet

"CourtingontheSly"

"APirateforThirtyYears"

AnotherlittleJob

Practizing

Hamlet’sSoliloquy

"GimmeaChaw"

ALittleMonthlyDrunk

TheDeathofBoggs

Sherburnstepsout

ADeadHead

HeshedSeventeenSuits

Tragedy

TheirPocketsBulged

HenrytheEighthinBostonHarbor

Harmless

Adolphus

HefairlyemptiedthatYoungFellow

"Alas,ourPoorBrother"

"YouBetitis"

Leaking

Makingupthe“Deffisit"

Goingforhim

TheDoctor

TheBagofMoney

TheCubby

SupperwiththeHare-Lip

HonestInjun

TheDukelooksundertheBed

HucktakestheMoney

ACrackintheDining-roomDoor

TheUndertaker

"HehadaRat!”

"WasyouinmyRoom?"

Jawing

InTrouble

Indignation

HowtoFindThem

HeWrote

HannahwiththeMumps

TheAuction

TheTrueBrothers

TheDoctorleadsHuck

TheDukeWrote

"Gentlemen,Gentlemen!”

"JimLitOut"

TheKingshakesHuck

TheDukewentforHim

SpanishMoss

"WhoNailedHim?"

Thinking

HegavehimTenCents

StrikingfortheBackCountry

StillandSunday-like

Shehuggedhimtight

"Whodoyoureckonitis?"

"ItwasTomSawyer"

"Mr.ArchibaldNichols,Ipresume?"

AprettylongBlessing

TravelingByRail

Vittles

ASimpleJob

Witches

GettingWood

OneoftheBestAuthorities

TheBreakfast-Horn

SmouchingtheKnives

GoingdowntheLightning-Rod

Stealingspoons

TomadvisesaWitchPie

TheRubbage-Pile

"Missus,dey’saSheetGone"

InaTearingWay

OneofhisAncestors

Jim’sCoatofArms

AToughJob

ButtonsontheirTails

Irrigation

KeepingoffDullTimes

SawdustDiet

TroubleisBrewing

Fishing

EveryonehadaGun

TomcaughtonaSplinter

JimadvisesaDoctor

TheDoctor

UncleSilasinDanger

OldMrs.Hotchkiss

AuntSallytalkstoHuck

TomSawyerwounded

TheDoctorspeaksforJim

TomrosesquareupinBed

"HandoutthemLetters"

OutofBondage

Tom’sLiberality

YoursTruly

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EXPLANATORYINthisbookanumberofdialectsareused,towit:theMissourinegrodialect;

theextremest formof thebackwoodsSouthwesterndialect; theordinary“PikeCounty”dialect;andfourmodifiedvarietiesofthislast.Theshadingshavenotbeendoneinahaphazardfashion,orbyguesswork;butpainstakingly,andwiththe trustworthyguidanceandsupportofpersonal familiaritywith theseseveralformsofspeech.I make this explanation for the reason that without it many readers would

supposethatallthesecharactersweretryingtotalkalikeandnotsucceeding.THEAUTHOR.

HUCKLEBERRYFINN

Scene:TheMississippiValleyTime:Fortytofiftyyearsago

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CHAPTERI.YOUdon’tknowaboutmewithoutyouhavereadabookbythenameofThe

AdventuresofTomSawyer;but thatain’tnomatter. ThatbookwasmadebyMr. Mark Twain, and he told the truth, mainly. There was things which hestretched,butmainlyhe told the truth. That isnothing. Ineverseenanybodybutliedonetimeoranother,withoutitwasAuntPolly,orthewidow,ormaybeMary. Aunt Polly—Tom’s Aunt Polly, she is—and Mary, and the WidowDouglas isall toldabout in thatbook,which ismostlya truebook,withsomestretchers,asIsaidbefore.Nowthewaythat thebookwindsupis this: Tomandmefoundthemoney

thattherobbershidinthecave,anditmadeusrich.Wegotsixthousanddollarsapiece—allgold. Itwasanawfulsightofmoneywhenitwaspiledup. Well,JudgeThatcherhetookitandput itoutat interest,andit fetchedusadollaradayapiecealltheyearround—morethanabodycouldtellwhattodowith.TheWidowDouglasshetookmeforherson,andallowedshewouldsivilizeme;butitwasroughlivinginthehouseallthetime,consideringhowdismalregularanddecentthewidowwasinallherways;andsowhenIcouldn’tstanditnolongerIlitout. Igotintomyoldragsandmysugar-hogsheadagain,andwasfreeandsatisfied. ButTomSawyer hehuntedmeup and saidhewasgoing to start a

band of robbers, and I might join if I would go back to the widow and berespectable.SoIwentback.Thewidowshecriedoverme,andcalledmeapoorlostlamb,andshecalled

mealotofothernames,too,butshenevermeantnoharmbyit.Sheputmeinthemnewclothesagain,andIcouldn’tdonothingbutsweatandsweat,andfeelallcrampedup.Well,then,theoldthingcommencedagain.Thewidowrungabell for supper, and you had to come to time.When you got to the table youcouldn’tgorighttoeating,butyouhadtowaitforthewidowtotuckdownherheadandgrumblealittleoverthevictuals, thoughtherewarn’treallyanythingthematterwiththem,—thatis,nothingonlyeverythingwascookedbyitself.Inabarrelofoddsandendsitisdifferent;thingsgetmixedup,andthejuicekindofswapsaround,andthethingsgobetter.After supper she got out her book and learned me about Moses and the

Bulrushers,andIwasinasweattofindoutallabouthim;butbyandbysheletitoutthatMoseshadbeendeadaconsiderablelongtime;sothenIdidn’tcarenomoreabouthim,becauseIdon’ttakenostockindeadpeople.

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Pretty soon I wanted to smoke, and asked the widow to let me. But shewouldn’t.Shesaiditwasameanpracticeandwasn’tclean,andImusttrytonotdo it anymore. That is just thewaywith somepeople. Theygetdownonathingwhentheydon’tknownothingabout it. Hereshewasa-botheringaboutMoses,whichwasnokintoher,andnousetoanybody,beinggone,yousee,yetfindingapoweroffaultwithmefordoingathingthathadsomegoodinit.Andshetooksnuff,too;ofcoursethatwasallright,becauseshedoneitherself.Hersister,MissWatson,atolerableslimoldmaid,withgoggleson,hadjust

come to live with her, and took a set at me now with a spelling-book. Sheworkedmemiddlinghardforaboutanhour,andthenthewidowmadehereaseup.Icouldn’tstooditmuchlonger.Thenforanhouritwasdeadlydull,andIwas fidgety. Miss Watson would say, “Don’t put your feet up there,Huckleberry;” and “Don’t scrunchup like that,Huckleberry—set up straight;”

andprettysoonshewouldsay,“Don’tgapandstretchlikethat,Huckleberry—whydon’tyoutrytobehave?”Thenshetoldmeallaboutthebadplace,andIsaidIwishedIwasthere.Shegotmadthen,butIdidn’tmeannoharm.AllIwantedwas togo somewheres; all Iwantedwas a change, Iwarn’t particular.ShesaiditwaswickedtosaywhatIsaid;saidshewouldn’tsayitforthewholeworld;shewasgoingtolivesoastogotothegoodplace.Well,Icouldn’tseenoadvantageingoingwhereshewasgoing,soImadeupmymindIwouldn’ttryforit.ButIneversaidso,becauseitwouldonlymaketrouble,andwouldn’tdonogood.

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Nowshehadgotastart,andshewentonandtoldmeallaboutthegoodplace.Shesaidallabodywouldhavetodotherewastogoaroundalldaylongwithaharpandsing,foreverandever.SoIdidn’tthinkmuchofit.ButIneversaidso.IaskedherifshereckonedTomSawyerwouldgothere,andshesaidnotbyaconsiderablesight. Iwasgladabout that,because Iwantedhimandme tobetogether.MissWatsonshekeptpeckingatme,anditgot tiresomeandlonesome. By

andbytheyfetchedtheniggersinandhadprayers,andtheneverybodywasofftobed. Iwentup tomy roomwithapieceofcandle, andput iton the table. Then I set down in a chair by the window and tried to think of somethingcheerful,butitwarn’tnouse.IfeltsolonesomeImostwishedIwasdead.Thestarswereshining,andtheleavesrustledinthewoodseversomournful;andIheard an owl, away off, who-whooing about somebody that was dead, and awhippowill and a dog crying about somebody that was going to die; and thewindwas trying towhisper something tome, and I couldn’tmakeoutwhat itwas,andsoitmadethecoldshiversrunoverme.ThenawayoutinthewoodsIheard that kind of a sound that a ghost makes when it wants to tell aboutsomethingthat’sonitsmindandcan’tmakeitselfunderstood,andsocan’tresteasy in itsgrave, andhas togoabout thatwayeverynightgrieving. Igot sodown-heartedandscaredIdidwishIhadsomecompany.Prettysoonaspiderwentcrawlingupmyshoulder,andI flipped itoffand it lit in thecandle;and

beforeIcouldbudge itwasallshriveledup. Ididn’tneedanybody to tellmethat thatwas an awful bad sign andwould fetchme some bad luck, so Iwasscaredandmostshooktheclothesoffofme.Igotupandturnedaroundinmytracks three timesandcrossedmybreastevery time;and thenI tiedupa littlelockofmyhairwithathreadtokeepwitchesaway.ButIhadn’tnoconfidence.Youdothatwhenyou’velostahorseshoethatyou’vefound,insteadofnailingitupoverthedoor,butIhadn’teverheardanybodysayitwasanywaytokeepoffbadluckwhenyou’dkilledaspider.Isetdownagain,a-shakingallover,andgotoutmypipeforasmoke;forthe

housewasallasstillasdeathnow,andsothewidowwouldn’tknow.Well,aftera longtimeIheardtheclockawayoff in the towngoboom—boom—boom—twelvelicks;andallstillagain—stillerthanever.PrettysoonIheardatwigsnapdown in the dark amongst the trees—somethingwas a stirring. I set still andlistened. Directly I could just barely hear a “me-yow!me-yow!” down there.Thatwasgood!SaysI,“me-yow!me-yow!”assoftasIcould,andthenIputout the lightandscrambledoutof thewindowon to theshed. Then I slippeddowntothegroundandcrawledinamongthetrees,and,sureenough,therewasTomSawyerwaitingforme.

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CHAPTERII.WEwenttiptoeingalongapathamongstthetreesbacktowardstheendofthe

widow’sgarden, stoopingdownsoas thebrancheswouldn’t scrapeourheads.

Whenwewaspassingby thekitchenI fellovera rootandmadeanoise. Wescroucheddownandlaidstill.MissWatson’sbignigger,namedJim,wassettingin the kitchen door; we could see him pretty clear, because there was a lightbehind him. He got up and stretched his neck out about aminute, listening.Thenhesays:“Whodah?”Helistenedsomemore;thenhecometiptoeingdownandstoodrightbetween

us;wecouldatouchedhim,nearly.Well,likelyitwasminutesandminutesthattherewarn’tasound,andweall theresoclosetogether. Therewasaplaceonmyankle thatgot to itching,but Idasn’t scratch it; and thenmyearbegun toitch; andnextmyback, rightbetweenmy shoulders. Seemed like I’ddie if Icouldn’tscratch.Well,I’venoticedthatthingplentytimessince.Ifyouarewiththequality,oratafuneral,ortryingtogotosleepwhenyouain’tsleepy—ifyouareanywhereswhereitwon’tdoforyoutoscratch,whyyouwillitchalloverinupwardsofathousandplaces.PrettysoonJimsays:“Say,whoisyou?Wharisyou?DogmycatsefIdidn’hearsumf’n.Well,I

knowwhatI’sgwynetodo:I’sgwynetosetdownhereandlistentellIhearsitagin.”

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Sohesetdownon thegroundbetwixtmeandTom. He leanedhisbackupagainst a tree, and stretchedhis legsout till oneof themmost touchedoneofmine.Mynosebeguntoitch.Ititchedtillthetearscomeintomyeyes.ButIdasn’t scratch. Then it begun to itch on the inside. Next I got to itchingunderneath.Ididn’tknowhowIwasgoingtosetstill.Thismiserablenesswentonasmuchassixorsevenminutes;butitseemedasightlongerthanthat.Iwasitching inelevendifferentplacesnow. I reckonedIcouldn’tstand itmore’naminutelonger,butIsetmyteethhardandgotreadytotry.JustthenJimbegunto breathe heavy; next he begun to snore—and then I was pretty sooncomfortableagain.Tomhemade a sign tome—kind of a little noisewith hismouth—andwe

wentcreepingawayonourhandsandknees. Whenwewas ten footoffTomwhispered tome, andwanted to tie Jim to the tree for fun. But I saidno; hemightwakeandmakeadisturbance,andthenthey’dfindoutIwarn’tin.ThenTomsaidhehadn’tgotcandlesenough,andhewouldslipinthekitchenandgetsomemore.Ididn’twanthimtotry.IsaidJimmightwakeupandcome.ButTomwantedtoreskit;soweslid in thereandgot threecandles,andTomlaidfive cents on the table for pay. Thenwe got out, and Iwas in a sweat to getaway;butnothingwoulddoTombuthemustcrawl towhere Jimwas,onhishandsandknees,andplaysomethingonhim. Iwaited,and it seemedagoodwhile,everythingwassostillandlonesome.AssoonasTomwasbackwecutalongthepath,aroundthegardenfence,and

byandbyfetcheduponthesteeptopofthehilltheothersideofthehouse.TomsaidheslippedJim’shatoffofhisheadandhungitonalimbrightoverhim,andJim stirred a little, but he didn’t wake. Afterwards Jim said the witches bewitchedhimandputhiminatrance,androdehimallovertheState,andthensethimunderthetreesagain,andhunghishatonalimbtoshowwhodoneit.AndnexttimeJimtoldithesaidtheyrodehimdowntoNewOrleans;and,afterthat,everytimehetoldithespreaditmoreandmore,tillbyandbyhesaidtheyrodehimallover theworld,and tiredhimmost todeath,andhisbackwasalloversaddle-boils. Jim was monstrous proud about it, and he got so he wouldn’thardlynoticetheotherniggers.NiggerswouldcomemilestohearJimtellaboutit, and he was more looked up to than any nigger in that country. Strangeniggerswouldstandwiththeirmouthsopenandlookhimallover,sameasifhewas a wonder. Niggers is always talking about witches in the dark by thekitchenfire;butwheneveronewastalkingandlettingontoknowallaboutsuchthings,Jimwouldhappeninandsay,“Hm!Whatyouknow’boutwitches?”andthatniggerwascorkedupandhadtotakeabackseat.Jimalwayskeptthatfive-centerpieceroundhisneckwithastring,andsaiditwasacharmthedevilgivetohimwithhisownhands,andtoldhimhecouldcureanybodywithitandfetchwitcheswheneverhewantedtojustbysayingsomethingtoit;buthenevertoldwhat itwashesaid to it. Niggerswouldcomefromallaround thereandgiveJimanythingtheyhad,justforasightofthatfive-centerpiece;buttheywouldn’ttouchit,becausethedevilhadhadhishandsonit. Jimwasmostruinedforaservant,becausehegotstuckuponaccountofhavingseen thedevilandbeenrodebywitches.Well,whenTomandmegottotheedgeofthehilltopwelookedawaydown

intothevillageandcouldseethreeorfourlightstwinkling,wheretherewassickfolks,maybe;andthestarsoveruswassparklingeversofine;anddownbythe

villagewas theriver,awholemilebroad,andawfulstillandgrand. WewentdownthehillandfoundJoHarperandBenRogers,andtwoorthreemoreoftheboys,hidintheoldtanyard.Soweunhitchedaskiffandpulleddowntherivertwomileandahalf,tothebigscaronthehillside,andwentashore.Wewent toaclumpofbushes,andTommadeeverybodyswear tokeep the

secret,andthenshowedthemaholeinthehill,rightinthethickestpartofthebushes. Thenwe lit thecandles,andcrawled inonourhandsandknees. Wewentabouttwohundredyards,andthenthecaveopenedup.Tompokedaboutamongstthepassages,andprettysoonduckedunderawallwhereyouwouldn’tanoticed that therewasahole. Wewentalonganarrowplaceandgot intoakindofroom,alldampandsweatyandcold,andtherewestopped.Tomsays:“Now, we’ll start this band of robbers and call it Tom Sawyer’s Gang.

Everybody that wants to join has got to take an oath, and write his name inblood.”

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Everybodywaswilling.SoTomgotoutasheetofpaperthathehadwrotetheoathon,andreadit.Itsworeeveryboytosticktotheband,andnevertellanyofthesecrets;andifanybodydoneanythingtoanyboyintheband,whicheverboywasorderedtokillthatpersonandhisfamilymustdoit,andhemustn’teatandhemustn’tsleeptillhehadkilledthemandhackedacrossintheirbreasts,whichwasthesignoftheband.Andnobodythatdidn’tbelongtothebandcouldusethatmark, and if he did hemust be sued; and if he done it again hemust bekilled.Andifanybodythatbelongedtothebandtoldthesecrets,hemusthavehis throat cut, and then have his carcass burnt up and the ashes scattered allaround, and his name blotted off of the list with blood and never mentionedagainbythegang,buthaveacurseputonitandbeforgotforever.Everybodysaiditwasarealbeautifuloath,andaskedTomifhegotitoutof

his own head. He said, some of it, but the rest was out of pirate-books androbber-books,andeverygangthatwashigh-tonedhadit.Some thought it would be good to kill the families of boys that told the

secrets.Tomsaiditwasagoodidea,sohetookapencilandwroteitin.ThenBenRogerssays:“Here’sHuckFinn,hehain’tgotnofamily;whatyougoingtodo’bouthim?”“Well,hain’thegotafather?”saysTomSawyer.“Yes,he’sgotafather,butyoucan’tneverfindhimthesedays. Heusedto

laydrunkwiththehogsinthetanyard,buthehain’tbeenseeninthesepartsforayearormore.”They talked it over, and they was going to rule me out, because they said

everyboymusthaveafamilyorsomebodytokill,orelseitwouldn’tbefairandsquarefortheothers. Well,nobodycouldthinkofanythingtodo—everybodywasstumped,andsetstill.Iwasmostreadytocry;butallatonceIthoughtofaway,andsoIofferedthemMissWatson—theycouldkillher.Everybodysaid:“Oh,she’lldo.That’sallright.Huckcancomein.”Thentheyallstuckapinintheirfingerstogetbloodtosignwith,andImade

mymarkonthepaper.“Now,”saysBenRogers,“what’sthelineofbusinessofthisGang?”“Nothingonlyrobberyandmurder,”Tomsaid.

“Butwhoarewegoingtorob?—houses,orcattle,or—”“Stuff!stealingcattleandsuchthingsain’trobbery; it’sburglary,”saysTom

Sawyer. "Weain’tburglars. Thatain’tnosortofstyle. Wearehighwaymen.Westopstagesandcarriagesontheroad,withmaskson,andkillthepeopleandtaketheirwatchesandmoney.”“Mustwealwayskillthepeople?”“Oh, certainly. It’s best. Some authorities think different, but mostly it’s

consideredbesttokill them—exceptsomethatyoubringtothecavehere,andkeepthemtillthey’reransomed.”“Ransomed?What’sthat?”“Idon’tknow.Butthat’swhattheydo.I’veseenitinbooks;andsoofcourse

that’swhatwe’vegottodo.”“Buthowcanwedoitifwedon’tknowwhatitis?”“Why,blameitall,we’vegottodoit.Don’tItellyouit’sinthebooks?Do

youwant togo todoingdifferent fromwhat’s in thebooks, andget things allmuddledup?”“Oh,that’sallveryfinetosay,TomSawyer,buthowinthenationarethese

fellowsgoingtoberansomedifwedon’tknowhowtodoittothem?—that’sthethingIwanttogetat.Now,whatdoyoureckonitis?”“Well, I don’t know. But per’aps ifwe keep them till they’re ransomed, it

meansthatwekeepthemtillthey’redead.”“Now, that’s something like. That’ll answer. Why couldn’t you said that

before? We’llkeep them till they’re ransomed todeath; andabothersome lotthey’llbe,too—eatingupeverything,andalwaystryingtogetloose.”“Howyou talk,BenRogers. Howcan theyget loosewhen there’s aguard

overthem,readytoshootthemdowniftheymoveapeg?”“Aguard!Well,thatisgood.Sosomebody’sgottosetupallnightandnever

getanysleep,justsoastowatchthem.Ithinkthat’sfoolishness.Whycan’tabodytakeaclubandransomthemassoonastheygethere?”“Becauseitain’tinthebooksso—that’swhy.Now,BenRogers,doyouwant

todothingsregular,ordon’tyou?—that’s the idea. Don’tyoureckonthat thepeople that made the books knows what’s the correct thing to do? Do youreckonyoucanlearn’emanything?Notbyagooddeal.No,sir,we’lljustgoonandransomthemintheregularway.”“Allright.Idon’tmind;butIsayit’safoolway,anyhow.Say,dowekillthe

women,too?”

“Well, BenRogers, if Iwas as ignorant as you Iwouldn’t let on. Kill thewomen?No;nobodyeversawanythinginthebookslikethat.Youfetchthemtothecave,andyou’realwaysaspoliteaspietothem;andbyandbytheyfallinlovewithyou,andneverwanttogohomeanymore.”“Well,ifthat’sthewayI’magreed,butIdon’ttakenostockinit.Mightysoon

we’ll have the cave so cluttered up with women, and fellows waiting to beransomed,thattherewon’tbenoplacefortherobbers.Butgoahead,Iain’tgotnothingtosay.”LittleTommyBarneswasasleepnow,andwhentheywakedhimuphewas

scared,andcried,andsaidhewantedtogohometohisma,anddidn’twanttobearobberanymore.Sotheyallmadefunofhim,andcalledhimcry-baby,andthatmadehimmad,

andhesaidhewouldgostraightandtellallthesecrets.ButTomgivehimfivecentstokeepquiet,andsaidwewouldallgohomeandmeetnextweek,androbsomebodyandkillsomepeople.BenRogerssaidhecouldn’tgetoutmuch,onlySundays,andsohewantedto

beginnextSunday;butalltheboyssaiditwouldbewickedtodoitonSunday,andthatsettledthething.Theyagreedtogettogetherandfixadayassoonastheycould,andthenweelectedTomSawyerfirstcaptainandJoHarpersecondcaptainoftheGang,andsostartedhome.Iclumbuptheshedandcreptintomywindowjustbeforedaywasbreaking.

Mynewclotheswasallgreasedupandclayey,andIwasdog-tired.

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CHAPTERIII.WELL, I got a good going-over in the morning from oldMissWatson on

accountofmyclothes;butthewidowshedidn’tscold,butonlycleanedoffthegreaseandclay,and lookedsosorry that I thought Iwouldbehaveawhile if Icould. ThenMissWatson she tookme in the closet and prayed, but nothingcomeofit.Shetoldmetoprayeveryday,andwhateverIaskedforIwouldgetit.Butitwarn’tso.Itriedit.OnceIgotafish-line,butnohooks.Itwarn’tanygood to me without hooks. I tried for the hooks three or four times, butsomehowIcouldn’tmakeitwork.Byandby,oneday,IaskedMissWatsontotry forme, but she said Iwas a fool. Shenever toldmewhy, and I couldn’tmakeitoutnoway.Isetdownonetimebackinthewoods,andhadalongthinkaboutit.Isaysto

myself, if a bodycanget anything theypray for,whydon’tDeaconWinngetback the money he lost on pork? Why can’t the widow get back her silversnuffboxthatwasstole?Whycan’tMissWatsonfatup?No,saysItomyself,thereain’tnothing in it. Iwent and told thewidowabout it, and she said thethingabodycouldgetbyprayingforitwas“spiritualgifts.”Thiswastoomanyfor me, but she told me what she meant—I must help other people, and doeverythingIcouldforotherpeople,andlookoutforthemallthetime,andneverthinkaboutmyself.ThiswasincludingMissWatson,asItookit.Iwentoutinthe woods and turned it over in mymind a long time, but I couldn’t see noadvantageaboutit—exceptfortheotherpeople;soatlastIreckonedIwouldn’tworryaboutitanymore,butjustletitgo.SometimesthewidowwouldtakemeonesideandtalkaboutProvidenceinawaytomakeabody’smouthwater;butmaybenextdayMissWatsonwould takeholdandknock it alldownagain. IjudgedIcouldseethattherewastwoProvidences,andapoorchapwouldstandconsiderableshowwith thewidow’sProvidence,but ifMissWatson’sgothimtherewarn’tnohelpforhimanymore.Ithoughtitallout,andreckonedIwouldbelongtothewidow’sifhewantedme,thoughIcouldn’tmakeouthowhewasa-going to be any better off then than what he was before, seeing I was soignorant,andsokindoflow-downandornery.Paphehadn’tbeenseen formore thanayear, and thatwascomfortable for

me;Ididn’twanttoseehimnomore.Heusedtoalwayswhalemewhenhewassoberandcouldgethishandsonme;thoughIusedtotaketothewoodsmostof

the timewhenhewasaround. Well,about this timehewasfoundin theriverdrownded,about twelvemileabove town, sopeoplesaid. They judged itwashim,anyway;saidthisdrowndedmanwasjusthissize,andwasragged,andhaduncommonlonghair,whichwasalllikepap;buttheycouldn’tmakenothingoutoftheface,becauseithadbeeninthewatersolongitwarn’tmuchlikeafaceatall. They said hewas floating on his back in thewater. They took him andburiedhimonthebank.ButIwarn’tcomfortablelong,becauseIhappenedtothinkofsomething.Iknowedmightywellthatadrowndedmandon’tfloatonhisback,butonhisface.SoIknowed,then,thatthiswarn’tpap,butawomandressedupinaman’sclothes.SoIwasuncomfortableagain.Ijudgedtheoldmanwouldturnupagainbyandby,thoughIwishedhewouldn’t.Weplayedrobbernowandthenaboutamonth,andthenIresigned.Allthe

boys did. We hadn’t robbed nobody, hadn’t killed any people, but only justpretended. We used to hop out of thewoods and go charging down on hog-driversandwomenincartstakinggardenstufftomarket,butweneverhivedanyof them. TomSawyer called the hogs “ingots,” andhe called the turnips andstuff “julery,” and we would go to the cave and powwow over what we haddone,andhowmanypeoplewehadkilledandmarked. But Icouldn’t seenoprofit in it. One timeTomsent aboy to runabout townwith ablazing stick,whichhecalledaslogan(whichwasthesignfortheGangtogettogether),andthenhesaidhehadgotsecretnewsbyhisspiesthatnextdayawholeparcelofSpanishmerchantsandrichA-rabswasgoingtocampinCaveHollowwithtwohundredelephants,andsixhundredcamels,andoverathousand“sumter”mules,all loaded down with di’monds, and they didn’t have only a guard of fourhundredsoldiers,andsowewouldlayinambuscade,ashecalledit,andkillthelotandscoopthethings.Hesaidwemustslickupourswordsandguns,andgetready.Henevercouldgoafterevenaturnip-cartbuthemusthavetheswordsandgunsallscouredupforit, thoughtheywasonlylathandbroomsticks,andyoumightscouratthemtillyourotted,andthentheywarn’tworthamouthfulofashesmore thanwhat theywas before. I didn’t believewe could lick such acrowdofSpaniardsandA-rabs,butIwantedtoseethecamelsandelephants,soIwasonhandnextday,Saturday,intheambuscade;andwhenwegotthewordwerushedoutof thewoodsanddownthehill. But therewarn’tnoSpaniardsandA-rabs,andtherewarn’tnocamelsnornoelephants.Itwarn’tanythingbutaSunday-schoolpicnic, andonly aprimer-class at that. Webusted it up, andchased the children up the hollow; but we never got anything but somedoughnuts and jam, though Ben Rogers got a rag doll, and Jo Harper got ahymn-book and a tract; and then the teacher charged in, and made us drop

everythingandcut.

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Ididn’tseenodi’monds,andItoldTomSawyerso.Hesaidtherewasloadsof them there, anyway;andhe said therewasA-rabs there, too, andelephantsand things. I said, why couldn’t we see them, then? He said if I warn’t soignorant,buthadreadabookcalledDonQuixote,Iwouldknowwithoutasking.Hesaiditwasalldonebyenchantment.Hesaidtherewashundredsofsoldiersthere,andelephantsandtreasure,andsoon,butwehadenemieswhichhecalledmagicians; and they had turned thewhole thing into an infant Sunday-school,justoutofspite. Isaid,all right; thenthe thingforus todowas togofor themagicians.TomSawyersaidIwasanumskull.“Why,”saidhe,“amagiciancouldcallupalotofgenies,andtheywouldhash

youuplikenothingbeforeyoucouldsayJackRobinson.Theyareastallasatreeandasbigaroundasachurch.”“Well,”Isays,“s’posewegotsomegeniestohelpus—can’twelicktheother

crowdthen?”“Howyougoingtogetthem?”“Idon’tknow.Howdotheygetthem?”“Why, they rub an old tin lamp or an iron ring, and then the genies come

tearing in, with the thunder and lightning a-ripping around and the smoke a-rolling, andeverything they’re told todo theyupanddo it. Theydon’t thinknothing of pulling a shot-tower up by the roots, and belting a Sunday-schoolsuperintendentovertheheadwithit—oranyotherman.”“Whomakesthemteararoundso?”“Why,whoeverrubsthelamporthering. Theybelongtowhoeverrubsthe

lampor the ring, and they’ve got to dowhatever he says. If he tells them tobuildapalacefortymileslongoutofdi’monds,andfillitfullofchewing-gum,orwhateveryouwant,and fetchanemperor’sdaughter fromChina foryou tomarry,they’vegottodoit—andthey’vegottodoitbeforesun-upnextmorning,

too. And more: they’ve got to waltz that palace around over the countrywhereveryouwantit,youunderstand.”“Well,”saysI,“Ithinktheyareapackofflat-headsfornotkeepingthepalace

themselves ’steadof fooling themaway like that. Andwhat’smore—if IwasoneofthemIwouldseeamaninJerichobeforeIwoulddropmybusinessandcometohimfortherubbingofanoldtinlamp.”“How you talk,Huck Finn. Why, you’d have to comewhen he rubbed it,

whetheryouwantedtoornot.”“What!andIashighasatreeandasbigasachurch?Allright,then;Iwould

come; but I lay I’d make that man climb the highest tree there was in thecountry.”“Shucks,itain’tnousetotalktoyou,HuckFinn. Youdon’tseemtoknow

anything,somehow—perfectsaphead.”Ithoughtallthisoverfortwoorthreedays,andthenIreckonedIwouldseeif

therewasanythinginit.Igotanoldtinlampandanironring,andwentoutinthewoodsandrubbedandrubbedtillIsweatlikeanInjun,calculatingtobuildapalace and sell it; but it warn’t no use, none of the genies come. So then IjudgedthatallthatstuffwasonlyjustoneofTomSawyer’slies.IreckonedhebelievedintheA-rabsandtheelephants,butasformeIthinkdifferent.IthadallthemarksofaSunday-school.

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CHAPTERIV.WELL,threeorfourmonthsrunalong,anditwaswellintothewinternow.I

hadbeen toschoolmostall the timeandcouldspelland readandwrite justalittle,andcouldsaythemultiplicationtableuptosixtimessevenisthirty-five,andIdon’treckonIcouldevergetanyfurtherthanthatifIwastoliveforever.Idon’ttakenostockinmathematics,anyway.AtfirstIhatedtheschool,butbyandbyIgotsoIcouldstandit.WheneverI

got uncommon tired I played hookey, and the hiding I got next day donemegoodandcheeredmeup.SothelongerIwenttoschooltheeasieritgottobe.Iwasgettingsortofusedtothewidow’sways,too,andtheywarn’tsoraspyonme.Livinginahouseandsleepinginabedpulledonmeprettytightmostly,butbefore thecoldweather Iused to slideout and sleep in thewoods sometimes,andso thatwasa rest tome. I liked theoldwaysbest,but Iwasgettingso Ilikedthenewones,too,alittlebit.ThewidowsaidIwascomingalongslowbutsure,anddoingverysatisfactory.Shesaidshewarn’tashamedofme.OnemorningIhappenedtoturnoverthesalt-cellaratbreakfast.Ireachedfor

someof itasquickasIcould to throwovermyleftshoulderandkeepoff thebad luck,butMissWatsonwas inaheadofme,andcrossedmeoff.Shesays,“Take your hands away, Huckleberry; what a mess you are always making!”Thewidowputinagoodwordforme,butthatwarn’tgoingtokeepoffthebadluck,Iknowedthatwellenough. Istartedout,afterbreakfast, feelingworriedand shaky, andwonderingwhere itwas going to fall onme, andwhat itwasgoingtobe.Thereiswaystokeepoffsomekindsofbadluck,butthiswasn’tone of them kind; so I never tried to do anything, but just poked along low-spiritedandonthewatch-out.I went down to the front garden and clumb over the stile where you go

throughthehighboardfence. Therewasan inchofnewsnowon theground,and I seen somebody’s tracks. They had come up from the quarry and stoodaroundthestileawhile,andthenwentonaroundthegardenfence.Itwasfunnytheyhadn’t come in, after standingaround so. I couldn’tmake itout. Itwasvery curious, somehow. Iwasgoing to followaround, but I stoopeddown tolookatthetracksfirst.Ididn’tnoticeanythingatfirst,butnextIdid.Therewasacrossintheleftboot-heelmadewithbignails,tokeepoffthedevil.Iwasupinasecondandshinningdownthehill.Ilookedovermyshoulder

everynowandthen,butIdidn’tseenobody.IwasatJudgeThatcher’sasquickasIcouldgetthere.Hesaid:

“Why,myboy,youarealloutofbreath.Didyoucomeforyourinterest?”“No,sir,”Isays;“istheresomeforme?”“Oh, yes, a half-yearly is in last night—over a hundred and fifty dollars.

Quite a fortune for you. You had better letme invest it alongwith your sixthousand,becauseifyoutakeityou’llspendit.”“No,sir,”Isays,“Idon’twanttospendit.Idon’twantitatall—northesix

thousand, nuther. I want you to take it; I want to give it to you—the sixthousandandall.”

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Helookedsurprised.Hecouldn’tseemtomakeitout.Hesays:“Why,whatcanyoumean,myboy?”Isays,“Don’tyouaskmenoquestionsaboutit,please.You’lltakeit—won’t

you?”Hesays:“Well,I’mpuzzled.Issomethingthematter?”“Pleasetakeit,”saysI,“anddon’taskmenothing—thenIwon’thavetotell

nolies.”Hestudiedawhile,andthenhesays:“Oho-o!IthinkIsee.Youwanttosellallyourpropertytome—notgiveit.

That’sthecorrectidea.”Thenhewrotesomethingonapaperandreaditover,andsays:“There;youseeitsays‘foraconsideration.’ThatmeansIhaveboughtitof

youandpaidyouforit.Here’sadollarforyou.Nowyousignit.”SoIsignedit,andleft.MissWatson’snigger,Jim,hadahair-ballasbigasyourfist,whichhadbeen

tookoutofthefourthstomachofanox,andheusedtodomagicwithit.Hesaidtherewasaspiritinsideofit,anditknowedeverything.SoIwenttohimthatnightandtoldhimpapwashereagain,forIfoundhistracksinthesnow.WhatI

wantedtoknowwas,whathewasgoingtodo,andwashegoingtostay?Jimgot out his hair-ball and said something over it, and then he held it up anddroppeditonthefloor. Itfellprettysolid,andonlyrolledaboutaninch. Jimtrieditagain,andthenanothertime,anditactedjustthesame.Jimgotdownonhisknees,andputhisearagainstitandlistened.Butitwarn’tnouse;hesaiditwouldn’ttalk.Hesaidsometimesitwouldn’ttalkwithoutmoney. I toldhimIhad an old slick counterfeit quarter that warn’t no good because the brassshowedthroughthesilveralittle,anditwouldn’tpassnohow,evenifthebrassdidn’t show,because itwas so slick it felt greasy, and so thatwould tell on iteverytime. (IreckonedIwouldn’tsaynothingaboutthedollarIgotfromthejudge.) I said itwas pretty badmoney, butmaybe the hair-ballwould take it,because maybe it wouldn’t know the difference. Jim smelt it and bit it andrubbed it,andsaidhewouldmanageso thehair-ballwould think itwasgood.HesaidhewouldsplitopenarawIrishpotatoandstickthequarterinbetweenandkeep it thereallnight,andnextmorningyoucouldn’t seenobrass,and itwouldn’tfeelgreasynomore,andsoanybodyintownwouldtakeitinaminute,let aloneahair-ball. Well, Iknowedapotatowoulddo thatbefore,but Ihadforgotit.

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Jimputthequarterunderthehair-ball,andgotdownandlistenedagain.Thistimehesaidthehair-ballwasallright.HesaiditwouldtellmywholefortuneifIwanteditto.Isays,goon.Sothehair-balltalkedtoJim,andJimtoldittome.Hesays:“Yo’olefatherdoan’knowyitwhathe’sa-gwynetodo.Sometimeshespec

he’llgo’way,endenaginhespeche’llstay.Debes’wayistores’easyenletdeolemantakehisownway.Dey’stwoangelshoverin’roun’’bouthim.Oneuv’emiswhiteenshiny,ent’otheroneisblack.Dewhiteonegitshimtogorightalittlewhile,dendeblackonesailinenbustitallup.Abodycan’ttellyitwhichone gwyne to fetch him at de las’. But you is all right. You gwyne to haveconsidable trouble inyo’ life,enconsidable joy. Sometimesyougwyne togithurt,ensometimesyougwynetogitsick;buteverytimeyou’sgwynetogitwell

agin.Dey’stwogalsflyin’’boutyouinyo’life.Oneuv’em’slightent’otheroneisdark.Oneisrichent’otherispo’.You’sgwynetomarrydepo’onefustenderichonebyenby.Youwantstokeep’wayfumdewaterasmuchasyoukin, en don’t run no resk, ’kase it’s down in de bills dat you’s gwyne to githung.”WhenIlitmycandleandwentuptomyroomthatnighttheresatpaphisown

self!

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CHAPTERV.Ihadshutthedoorto.ThenIturnedaroundandtherehewas.Iusedtobe

scaredofhimallthetime,hetannedmesomuch.IreckonedIwasscarednow,too;butinaminuteIseeIwasmistaken—thatis,afterthefirstjolt,asyoumaysay,whenmybreathsortofhitched,hebeingsounexpected;butrightawayafterIseeIwarn’tscaredofhimworthbothringabout.Hewasmostfifty,andhelookedit.Hishairwaslongandtangledandgreasy,

andhungdown,andyoucouldseehiseyesshiningthroughlikehewasbehindvines. Itwas all black, no gray; sowas his long,mixed-upwhiskers. Therewarn’tnocolorinhisface,wherehisfaceshowed;itwaswhite;notlikeanotherman’swhite,butawhite tomakeabodysick,awhite tomakeabody’s fleshcrawl—atree-toadwhite,afish-bellywhite.Asforhisclothes—justrags,thatwas all. He had one ankle resting on t’other knee; the boot on that footwasbusted,and twoofhis toes stuck through,andheworked themnowand then.Hishatwaslayingonthefloor—anoldblackslouchwiththetopcavedin,likealid.I stood a-looking at him; he set there a-looking atme,with his chair tilted

backa little. I set thecandledown. Inoticed thewindowwasup; sohehad

clumbinbytheshed.Hekepta-lookingmeallover.Byandbyhesays:“Starchy clothes—very. You think you’re a good deal of a big-bug, don’t

you?”“MaybeIam,maybeIain’t,”Isays.“Don’tyougivemenoneo’yourlip,”sayshe."You’veputonconsiderable

manyfrillssinceIbeenaway.I’lltakeyoudownapegbeforeIgetdonewithyou. You’re educated, too, they say—can read and write. You think you’rebetter’nyour father,now,don’tyou,becausehecan’t? I’ll take itoutofyou.Who told you youmightmeddlewith such hifalut’n foolishness, hey?—whotoldyouyoucould?”“Thewidow.Shetoldme.”“Thewidow,hey?—andwhotoldthewidowshecouldputinhershovelabout

athingthatain’tnoneofherbusiness?”“Nobodynevertoldher.”“Well,I’lllearnherhowtomeddle.Andlookyhere—youdropthatschool,

youhear?I’lllearnpeopletobringupaboytoputonairsoverhisownfatherandletontobebetter’nwhatheis. Youlemmecatchyoufoolingaroundthatschool again, you hear? Your mother couldn’t read, and she couldn’t write,nuther,beforeshedied.Noneofthefamilycouldn’tbeforetheydied. Ican’t;andhereyou’rea-swellingyourselfuplikethis.Iain’tthemantostandit—youhear?Say,lemmehearyouread.”I took up a book and begun something about GeneralWashington and the

wars.WhenI’dreadaboutahalfaminute,hefetchedthebookawhackwithhishandandknockeditacrossthehouse.Hesays:“It’sso.Youcandoit.Ihadmydoubtswhenyoutoldme.Nowlookyhere;

youstopthatputtingonfrills.Iwon’thaveit.I’lllayforyou,mysmarty;andifI catch you about that school I’ll tan you good. First you know you’ll getreligion,too.Ineverseesuchason.”Hetookupalittleblueandyallerpictureofsomecowsandaboy,andsays:“What’sthis?”“It’ssomethingtheygivemeforlearningmylessonsgood.”Hetoreitup,andsays:“I’llgiveyousomethingbetter—I’llgiveyouacowhide.”Hesettherea-mumblinganda-growlingaminute,andthenhesays:“Ain’t you a sweet-scented dandy, though? A bed; and bedclothes; and a

look’n’-glass; and a piece of carpet on the floor—and your own father got tosleepwiththehogsinthetanyard.Ineverseesuchason.IbetI’lltakesomeo’thesefrillsouto’youbeforeI’mdonewithyou.Why,thereain’tnoendtoyourairs—theysayyou’rerich.Hey?—how’sthat?”

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“Theylie—that’show.”“Lookyhere—mindhowyoutalktome;I’ma-standingaboutallIcanstand

now—sodon’tgimmenosass. I’vebeenintowntwodays,andIhain’theardnothing but about you bein’ rich. I heard about it away down the river, too.That’swhyIcome.Yougitmethatmoneyto-morrow—Iwantit.”“Ihain’tgotnomoney.”“It’salie.JudgeThatcher’sgotit.Yougitit.Iwantit.”“Ihain’tgotnomoney,Itellyou.YouaskJudgeThatcher;he’lltellyouthe

same.”“Allright.I’llaskhim;andI’llmakehimpungle,too,orI’llknowthereason

why.Say,howmuchyougotinyourpocket?Iwantit.”“Ihain’tgotonlyadollar,andIwantthatto—”“Itdon’tmakenodifferencewhatyouwantitfor—youjustshellitout.”Hetookitandbitittoseeifitwasgood,andthenhesaidhewasgoingdown

towntogetsomewhisky;saidhehadn’thadadrinkallday.Whenhehadgotoutontheshedheputhisheadinagain,andcussedmeforputtingonfrillsandtryingtobebetterthanhim;andwhenIreckonedhewasgonehecomebackandput his head in again, and toldme tomind about that school, because hewasgoingtolayformeandlickmeifIdidn’tdropthat.Nextdayhewasdrunk,andhewenttoJudgeThatcher’sandbullyraggedhim,

and tried tomakehimgiveup themoney;buthecouldn’t, and thenhe sworehe’dmakethelawforcehim.Thejudgeandthewidowwenttolawtogetthecourttotakemeawayfrom

himand letoneof thembemyguardian;but itwasanew judge thathad just

come,andhedidn’tknowtheoldman;sohesaidcourtsmustn’t interfereandseparate families if theycouldhelp it; saidhe’ddruthernot takeachildawayfromitsfather.SoJudgeThatcherandthewidowhadtoquitonthebusiness.Thatpleasedtheoldmantillhecouldn’trest.Hesaidhe’dcowhidemetillI

was black and blue if I didn’t raise some money for him. I borrowed threedollarsfromJudgeThatcher,andpaptookitandgotdrunk,andwenta-blowingaround and cussing andwhooping and carrying on; andhe kept it up all overtown,withatinpan,tillmostmidnight;thentheyjailedhim,andnextdaytheyhad him before court, and jailed him again for a week. But he said he wassatisfied;saidhewasbossofhisson,andhe’dmakeitwarmforhim.Whenhegotoutthenewjudgesaidhewasa-goingtomakeamanofhim.So

hetookhimtohisownhouse,anddressedhimupcleanandnice,andhadhimtobreakfastanddinnerandsupperwiththefamily,andwasjustoldpietohim,sotospeak. Andaftersupperhetalkedtohimabouttemperanceandsuchthingstill theoldmancried,andsaidhe’dbeena fool,and fooledawayhis life;butnowhewasa-goingtoturnoveranewleafandbeamannobodywouldn’tbeashamedof,andhehopedthejudgewouldhelphimandnotlookdownonhim.Thejudgesaidhecouldhughimforthemwords;sohecried,andhiswifeshecried again; pap said he’d been a man that had always been misunderstoodbefore, and the judge said he believed it. The oldman said thatwhat amanwantedthatwasdownwassympathy,andthejudgesaiditwasso;sotheycriedagain.Andwhenitwasbedtimetheoldmanroseupandheldouthishand,andsays:“Lookatit,gentlemenandladiesall;takea-holdofit;shakeit.There’sahand

thatwasthehandofahog;butitain’tsonomore;it’sthehandofamanthat’sstartedinonanewlife,and’lldiebeforehe’llgoback.Youmarkthemwords—don’tforgetIsaidthem.It’sacleanhandnow;shakeit—don’tbeafeard.”

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Sotheyshookit,oneaftertheother,allaround,andcried.Thejudge’swifeshekissedit.Thentheoldmanhesignedapledge—madehismark.Thejudge

saiditwastheholiesttimeonrecord,orsomethinglikethat.Thentheytuckedtheoldmanintoabeautifulroom,whichwas thespareroom,andin thenightsometimehegotpowerful thirstyandclumbouton to theporch-roofandsliddownastanchionandtradedhisnewcoatforajugofforty-rod,andclumbbackagainandhadagoodoldtime;andtowardsdaylighthecrawledoutagain,drunkasa fiddler,androlledoff theporchandbrokehis leftarm in twoplaces,andwasmost froze to deathwhen somebody found him after sun-up. Andwhenthey come to look at that spare room they had to take soundings before theycouldnavigateit.Thejudgehefeltkindofsore.Hesaidhereckonedabodycouldreformthe

oldmanwithashotgun,maybe,buthedidn’tknownootherway.

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CHAPTERVI.WELL,prettysoontheoldmanwasupandaroundagain,andthenhewent

forJudgeThatcherinthecourtstomakehimgiveupthatmoney,andhewentfor me, too, for not stopping school. He catched me a couple of times andthrashedme,butIwenttoschooljustthesame,anddodgedhimoroutrunhimmostofthetime.Ididn’twanttogotoschoolmuchbefore,butIreckonedI’dgo now to spite pap. That law trialwas a slowbusiness—appeared like theywarn’tevergoingtogetstartedonit;soeverynowandthenI’dborrowtwoorthreedollarsoffofthejudgeforhim,tokeepfromgettingacowhiding.Everytimehe gotmoneyhe got drunk; and every timehe got drunk he raisedCain

aroundtown;andeverytimeheraisedCainhegotjailed.Hewasjustsuited—thiskindofthingwasrightinhisline.Hegot tohangingaround thewidow’s toomuchandsoshe toldhimat last

thatifhedidn’tquitusingaroundthereshewouldmaketroubleforhim.Well,wasn’t hemad? He said hewould showwhowasHuck Finn’s boss. So hewatchedoutformeonedayinthespring,andcatchedme,andtookmeuptheriverabout threemileinaskiff,andcrossedoverto theIllinoisshorewhereitwaswoodyandtherewarn’tnohousesbutanoldloghutinaplacewherethetimberwassothickyoucouldn’tfinditifyoudidn’tknowwhereitwas.Hekeptmewithhimallthetime,andInevergotachancetorunoff.Welived

inthatoldcabin,andhealwayslockedthedoorandputthekeyunderhisheadnights. Hehadagunwhichhehadstole, I reckon,andwefishedandhunted,and thatwaswhatwe lived on. Every littlewhile he lockedme in andwentdowntothestore,threemiles,totheferry,andtradedfishandgameforwhisky,and fetched it home andgot drunk andhad a good time, and lickedme. ThewidowshefoundoutwhereIwasbyandby,andshesentamanovertotrytogetholdofme;butpapdrovehimoffwiththegun,anditwarn’tlongafterthattillIwasusedtobeingwhereIwas,andlikedit—allbutthecowhidepart.It was kind of lazy and jolly, laying off comfortable all day, smoking and

fishing,andnobooksnorstudy.Twomonthsormorerunalong,andmyclothesgottobeallragsanddirt,andIdidn’tseehowI’devergottolikeitsowellatthewidow’s,whereyouhadtowash,andeatonaplate,andcombup,andgotobedandgetupregular,andbeforeverbotheringoverabook,andhaveoldMissWatsonpeckingatyouall the time. Ididn’twant togobacknomore. Ihadstopped cussing, because thewidow didn’t like it; but now I took to it againbecause pap hadn’t no objections. It was pretty good times up in thewoodsthere,takeitallaround.

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Butbyandbypapgottoohandywithhishick’ry,andIcouldn’tstandit.Iwasalloverwelts.Hegottogoingawaysomuch,too,andlockingmein.Oncehe

lockedmeinandwasgonethreedays.Itwasdreadfullonesome.Ijudgedhehadgotdrownded,andIwasn’tevergoingtogetoutanymore.Iwasscared.ImadeupmymindIwouldfixupsomewaytoleavethere.Ihadtriedtogetoutofthatcabinmanyatime,butIcouldn’tfindnoway.Therewarn’tawindowtoitbigenoughforadogtogetthrough.Icouldn’tgetupthechimbly;itwastoonarrow.Thedoorwasthick,solidoakslabs.Papwasprettycarefulnottoleaveaknifeoranything in thecabinwhenhewasaway; I reckonIhadhunted theplace over as much as a hundred times; well, I was most all the time at it,because it was about the onlyway to put in the time. But this time I foundsomethingatlast;Ifoundanoldrustywood-sawwithoutanyhandle;itwaslaidinbetweena rafterand theclapboardsof the roof. Igreased itupandwent towork. Therewasanoldhorse-blanketnailedagainst the logsat thefarendofthe cabin behind the table, to keep thewind fromblowing through the chinksandputtingthecandleout.Igotunderthetableandraisedtheblanket,andwentto work to saw a section of the big bottom log out—big enough to let methrough. Well, itwasagood long job,but Iwasgetting towards theendof itwhen Iheardpap’sgun in thewoods. Igot ridof the signsofmywork, anddroppedtheblanketandhidmysaw,andprettysoonpapcomein.Papwarn’tinagoodhumor—sohewashisnaturalself.Hesaidhewasdown

town,andeverythingwasgoingwrong.Hislawyersaidhereckonedhewouldwinhislawsuitandgetthemoneyiftheyevergotstartedonthetrial;butthentherewaswaystoputitoffalongtime,andJudgeThatcherknowedhowtodoit.Andhesaidpeopleallowedthere’dbeanothertrialtogetmeawayfromhimandgivemetothewidowformyguardian,andtheyguesseditwouldwinthistime. Thisshookmeupconsiderable,because Ididn’twant togoback to thewidow’sanymoreandbesocrampedupandsivilized,astheycalledit. Thentheoldmangottocussing,andcussedeverythingandeverybodyhecouldthinkof,andthencussedthemalloveragaintomakesurehehadn’tskippedany,andafter that he polished offwith a kind of a general cuss all round, including aconsiderableparcelofpeoplewhichhedidn’tknowthenamesof,andsocalledthem what’s-his-name when he got to them, and went right along with hiscussing.Hesaidhewouldliketoseethewidowgetme.Hesaidhewouldwatchout,

and if they tried to come any such gameon himhe knowedof a place six orsevenmileofftostowmein,wheretheymighthunttilltheydroppedandtheycouldn’t findme. Thatmademeprettyuneasyagain,butonly foraminute; IreckonedIwouldn’tstayonhandtillhegotthatchance.Theoldmanmademegototheskiffandfetchthethingshehadgot.There

was a fifty-pound sack of cornmeal, and a side of bacon, ammunition, and afour-gallon jug ofwhisky, and an old book and two newspapers forwadding,besidessometow.Itotedupaload,andwentbackandsetdownonthebowoftheskifftorest.Ithoughtitallover,andIreckonedIwouldwalkoffwiththegun and some lines, and take to the woods when I run away. I guessed Iwouldn’tstayinoneplace,butjusttramprightacrossthecountry,mostlynighttimes,andhuntandfishtokeepalive,andsogetsofarawaythattheoldmannorthewidowcouldn’teverfindmeanymore. I judgedIwouldsawoutandleavethatnightifpapgotdrunkenough,andIreckonedhewould.IgotsofullofitIdidn’tnoticehowlongIwasstayingtill theoldmanholleredandaskedmewhetherIwasasleepordrownded.

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Igotthethingsalluptothecabin,andthenitwasaboutdark.WhileIwascookingsuppertheoldmantookaswigortwoandgotsortofwarmedup,andwenttorippingagain.Hehadbeendrunkoverintown,andlaidinthegutterallnight,andhewasasighttolookat.AbodywouldathoughthewasAdam—hewasjustallmud.Wheneverhisliquorbeguntoworkhemostalwayswentforthegovment,thistimehesays:“Callthisagovment!why,justlookatitandseewhatit’slike.Here’sthelaw

a-standingreadytotakeaman’ssonawayfromhim—aman’sownson,whichhehashadallthetroubleandalltheanxietyandalltheexpenseofraising.Yes,justasthatmanhasgotthatsonraisedatlast,andreadytogotoworkandbegintodosuthin’forhimandgivehimarest,thelawupandgoesforhim.Andtheycallthatgovment!Thatain’tall,nuther.ThelawbacksthatoldJudgeThatcherupandhelpshimtokeepmeouto’myproperty.Here’swhatthelawdoes:Thelawtakesamanworthsix thousanddollarsandup’ards,and jamshimintoanoldtrapofacabinlikethis,andletshimgoroundinclothesthatain’tfittenforahog.Theycallthatgovment!Amancan’tgethisrightsinagovmentlikethis.SometimesI’veamightynotiontojustleavethecountryforgoodandall.Yes,andItold’emso;ItoldoldThatchersotohisface.Lotsof’emheardme,andcantellwhatIsaid.SaysI,fortwocentsI’dleavetheblamedcountryandnever

comea-nearitagin.Them’stheverywords.Isayslookatmyhat—ifyoucallitahat—butthelidraisesupandtherestofitgoesdowntillit’sbelowmychin,and then it ain’t rightly a hat at all, but more like my head was shoved upthroughajinto’stove-pipe.Lookatit,saysI—suchahatformetowear—oneofthewealthiestmeninthistownifIcouldgitmyrights.“Oh, yes, this is awonderful govment,wonderful. Why, lookyhere.There

wasa freenigger there fromOhio—amulatter,mostaswhiteasawhiteman.Hehadthewhitestshirtonyoueversee,too,andtheshiniesthat;andthereain’tamaninthattownthat’sgotasfineclothesaswhathehad;andhehadagoldwatchandchain,andasilver-headedcane—theawfulestoldgray-headednabobintheState.Andwhatdoyouthink?Theysaidhewasap’fessorinacollege,andcouldtalkallkindsoflanguages,andknowedeverything.Andthatain’tthewust. They said he could vote when he was at home. Well, that let me out.ThinksI,what is thecountrya-coming to? Itwas’lectionday,andIwas justabouttogoandvotemyselfifIwarn’ttoodrunktogetthere;butwhentheytoldmetherewasaStateinthiscountrywherethey’dletthatniggervote,Idrawedout.IsaysI’llnevervoteagin.Them’stheverywordsIsaid;theyallheardme;andthecountrymayrotforallme—I’llnevervoteaginaslongasIlive.Andtoseethecoolwayofthatnigger—why,hewouldn’tagivemetheroadifIhadn’tshovedhimouto’theway.Isaystothepeople,whyain’tthisniggerputupatauctionandsold?—that’swhatIwant toknow. Andwhatdoyoureckontheysaid?Why,theysaidhecouldn’tbesoldtillhe’dbeenintheStatesixmonths,andhehadn’tbeen there that longyet. There,now—that’saspecimen. Theycall that a govment that can’t sell a free nigger till he’s been in the State sixmonths. Here’s a govment that calls itself a govment, and lets on to be agovment,andthinksitisagovment,andyet’sgottosetstock-stillforsixwholemonthsbeforeitcantakeaholdofaprowling,thieving,infernal,white-shirtedfreenigger,and—”Papwasagoingonsohenevernoticedwherehisoldlimberlegswastaking

him to, so hewent head over heels over the tub of salt pork and barked bothshins, and the rest of his speechwas all the hottest kind of language—mostlyhoveattheniggerandthegovment,thoughhegivethetubsome,too,allalong,hereandthere. Hehoppedaroundthecabinconsiderable,firstononelegandthenontheother,holdingfirstoneshinandthentheotherone,andatlastheletoutwithhisleftfootallofasuddenandfetchedthetubarattlingkick. Butitwarn’tgood judgment,because thatwas theboot thathadacoupleofhis toesleaking out of the front end of it; so nowhe raised a howl that fairlymade abody’shair raise, anddownhewent in thedirt, and rolled there, andheldhis

toes;andthecussinghedonethenlaidoveranythinghehadeverdoneprevious.Hesaidsohisownselfafterwards. HehadheardoldSowberryHaganinhisbestdays,andhesaiditlaidoverhim,too;butIreckonthatwassortofpilingiton,maybe.Aftersupperpaptookthe jug,andsaidhehadenoughwhiskytherefor two

drunksandonedeliriumtremens.Thatwasalwayshisword.Ijudgedhewouldbeblinddrunkinaboutanhour,andthenIwouldstealthekey,orsawmyselfout,oneort’other.Hedrankanddrank,andtumbleddownonhisblanketsbyandby;butluckdidn’trunmyway.Hedidn’tgosoundasleep,butwasuneasy.Hegroanedandmoanedandthrashedaroundthiswayandthatforalongtime.AtlastIgotsosleepyIcouldn’tkeepmyeyesopenallIcoulddo,andsobeforeIknowedwhatIwasaboutIwassoundasleep,andthecandleburning.

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Idon’tknowhowlongIwasasleep,butallofasudden therewasanawfulscreamandIwasup. Therewaspaplookingwild,andskippingaroundeverywhichwayandyellingaboutsnakes.Hesaidtheywascrawlinguphislegs;andthenhewouldgiveajumpandscream,andsayonehadbithimonthecheek—but I couldn’t see no snakes. He started and run round and round the cabin,hollering“Takehimoff!takehimoff!he’sbitingmeontheneck!”Ineverseeamanlooksowildintheeyes.Prettysoonhewasallfaggedout,andfelldownpanting;thenherolledoverandoverwonderfulfast,kickingthingseverywhichway, and striking and grabbing at the air with his hands, and screaming andsayingtherewasdevilsa-holdofhim. Heworeoutbyandby,andlaidstillawhile,moaning.Thenhelaidstiller,anddidn’tmakeasound.Icouldheartheowlsandthewolvesawayoffinthewoods,anditseemedterriblestill.Hewaslayingoverbythecorner.Byandbyheraiseduppartwayandlistened,withhisheadtooneside.Hesays,verylow:“Tramp—tramp—tramp; that’s the dead; tramp—tramp—tramp; they’re

coming after me; but I won’t go. Oh, they’re here! don’t touch me—don’t!handsoff—they’recold;letgo.Oh,letapoordevilalone!”Then hewent down on all fours and crawled off, begging them to let him

alone,andherolledhimselfupinhisblanketandwallowedinundertheoldpinetable,stilla-begging;andthenhewenttocrying.Icouldhearhimthroughtheblanket.Byandbyherolledoutandjumpeduponhisfeetlookingwild,andheseeme

andwentforme.Hechasedmeroundandroundtheplacewithaclasp-knife,callingmetheAngelofDeath,andsayinghewouldkillme,andthenIcouldn’tcomeforhimnomore.Ibegged,andtoldhimIwasonlyHuck;buthelaughedsuchascreechylaugh,androaredandcussed,andkeptonchasingmeup.OncewhenIturnedshortanddodgedunderhisarmhemadeagrabandgotmebythejacket betweenmy shoulders, and I thought I was gone; but I slid out of thejacketquickaslightning,andsavedmyself.Prettysoonhewasalltiredout,anddroppeddownwithhisbackagainst thedoor,andsaidhewouldrestaminuteand thenkillme.Heputhisknifeunderhim,andsaidhewouldsleepandgetstrong,andthenhewouldseewhowaswho.Sohedozedoffprettysoon. ByandbyIgottheoldsplit-bottomchairand

clumbupaseasyas Icould,not tomakeanynoise,andgotdown thegun. Islippedtheramroddownittomakesureitwasloaded,thenIlaiditacrosstheturnipbarrel,pointingtowardspap,andsetdownbehindittowaitforhimtostir.Andhowslowandstillthetimediddragalong.

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CHAPTERVII.“GITup!Whatyou’bout?”Iopenedmyeyesandlookedaround,tryingtomakeoutwhereIwas.Itwas

aftersun-up,andIhadbeensoundasleep. Papwasstandingoverme lookingsourandsick,too.Hesays:“Whatyoudoin’withthisgun?”Ijudgedhedidn’tknownothingaboutwhathehadbeendoing,soIsays:“Somebodytriedtogetin,soIwaslayingforhim.”“Whydidn’tyouroustmeout?”“Well,Itriedto,butIcouldn’t;Icouldn’tbudgeyou.”“Well,allright.Don’tstandtherepalaveringallday,butoutwithyouandsee

ifthere’safishonthelinesforbreakfast.I’llbealonginaminute.”He unlocked the door, and I cleared out up the river-bank. I noticed some

pieces of limbs and such things floating down, and a sprinkling of bark; so Iknowedtheriverhadbeguntorise.IreckonedIwouldhavegreattimesnowifIwasoveratthetown.TheJuneriseusedtobealwaysluckforme;becauseassoonasthatrisebeginsherecomescordwoodfloatingdown,andpiecesoflografts—sometimesadozenlogstogether;soallyouhavetodois tocatchthemandsellthemtothewood-yardsandthesawmill.Iwentalongupthebankwithoneeyeoutforpapandt’otheroneoutforwhat

therisemightfetchalong.Well,allatonceherecomesacanoe;justabeauty,too,aboutthirteenorfourteenfootlong,ridinghighlikeaduck.Ishothead-firstoffofthebanklikeafrog,clothesandallon,andstruckoutforthecanoe.Ijustexpectedthere’dbesomebodylayingdowninit,becausepeopleoftendonethattofoolfolks,andwhenachaphadpulledaskiffoutmosttoit they’draiseupandlaughathim.Butitwarn’tsothistime.Itwasadrift-canoesureenough,andIclumbinandpaddledherashore.ThinksI,theoldmanwillbegladwhenhe sees this—she’sworth ten dollars. Butwhen I got to shore papwasn’t insightyet,andasIwasrunningherintoalittlecreeklikeagully,allhungoverwithvinesandwillows,Istruckanother idea: I judgedI’dhidehergood,andthen,’steadoftakingtothewoodswhenIrunoff,I’dgodowntheriveraboutfifty mile and camp in one place for good, and not have such a rough timetrampingonfoot.

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Itwasprettyclosetotheshanty,andIthoughtIheardtheoldmancomingallthetime;butIgotherhid;andthenIoutandlookedaroundabunchofwillows,andtherewastheoldmandownthepathapiecejustdrawingabeadonabirdwithhisgun.Sohehadn’tseenanything.WhenhegotalongIwashardat it takingupa“trot” line. Heabusedmea

littleforbeingsoslow;butItoldhimIfellintheriver,andthatwaswhatmademe so long. I knowedhewould see Iwaswet, and thenhewouldbe askingquestions.Wegotfivecatfishoffthelinesandwenthome.Whilewelaidoffafterbreakfasttosleepup,bothofusbeingaboutworeout,

IgottothinkingthatifIcouldfixupsomewaytokeeppapandthewidowfromtryingtofollowme,itwouldbeacertainerthingthantrustingtolucktogetfarenoughoff before theymissedme; you see, all kinds of thingsmight happen.Well,Ididn’tseenowayforawhile,butbyandbypapraisedupaminutetodrinkanotherbarrelofwater,andhesays:“Another time a man comes a-prowling round here you roust me out, you

hear?Thatmanwarn’therefornogood.I’dashothim.Nexttimeyouroustme

out,youhear?”Thenhedroppeddownandwenttosleepagain;butwhathehadbeensaying

giveme thevery idea Iwanted. I says tomyself, I can fix it nowsonobodywon’tthinkoffollowingme.About twelveo’clockweturnedoutandwentalongup thebank. Theriver

wascomingupprettyfast,andlotsofdriftwoodgoingbyontherise.Byandbyalongcomespartofa log raft—nine logs fast together. Wewentoutwith theskiffandtoweditashore.Thenwehaddinner.Anybodybutpapwouldawaitedandseenthedaythrough,soastocatchmorestuff;butthatwarn’tpap’sstyle.Ninelogswasenoughforonetime;hemustshoverightovertotownandsell.Sohelockedmeinandtooktheskiff,andstartedofftowingtheraftabouthalf-pastthree.Ijudgedhewouldn’tcomebackthatnight.IwaitedtillIreckonedhehadgotagoodstart; thenIoutwithmysaw,andwent toworkon that logagain.Beforehewast’othersideoftheriverIwasoutofthehole;himandhisraftwasjustaspeckonthewaterawayoffyonder.I took the sack of corn meal and took it to where the canoe was hid, and

shovedthevinesandbranchesapartandputitin;thenIdonethesamewiththesideofbacon;thenthewhisky-jug.Itookallthecoffeeandsugartherewas,andall theammunition; I took thewadding; I took thebucket andgourd; I tookadipperanda tincup,andmyoldsawandtwoblankets,andtheskilletandthecoffee-pot.Itookfish-linesandmatchesandotherthings—everythingthatwaswortha cent. I cleanedout theplace. Iwantedanaxe,but therewasn’t any,onlytheoneoutatthewoodpile,andIknowedwhyIwasgoingtoleavethat.Ifetchedoutthegun,andnowIwasdone.Ihadworethegroundagooddealcrawlingoutoftheholeanddraggingout

somanythings.SoIfixedthatasgoodasIcouldfromtheoutsidebyscatteringdust on theplace,which coveredup the smoothness and the sawdust. Then Ifixed the piece of log back into its place, and put two rocks under it and oneagainstittoholditthere,foritwasbentupatthatplaceanddidn’tquitetouchground.Ifyoustoodfourorfivefootawayanddidn’tknowitwassawed,youwouldn’t never notice it; and besides, this was the back of the cabin, and itwarn’tlikelyanybodywouldgofoolingaroundthere.Itwasallgrasscleartothecanoe,soIhadn’tleftatrack.Ifollowedaroundto

see.Istoodonthebankandlookedoutovertheriver.Allsafe.SoItookthegunandwentupapieceintothewoods,andwashuntingaroundforsomebirdswhenIseeawildpig;hogssoonwentwildinthembottomsaftertheyhadgotawayfromtheprairiefarms.Ishotthisfellowandtookhimintocamp.

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Itooktheaxeandsmashedinthedoor.Ibeatitandhackeditconsiderablea-doingit.Ifetchedthepigin,andtookhimbacknearlytothetableandhackedinto his throatwith the axe, and laid himdownon the ground to bleed; I saygroundbecauseitwasground—hardpacked,andnoboards. Well,nextI tookanold sack andput a lot of big rocks in it—all I coulddrag—and I started itfromthepig,anddraggedittothedoorandthroughthewoodsdowntotheriverand dumped it in, and down it sunk, out of sight. You could easy see thatsomethinghadbeendraggedovertheground.IdidwishTomSawyerwasthere;I knowed hewould take an interest in this kind of business, and throw in thefancytouches.NobodycouldspreadhimselflikeTomSawyerinsuchathingasthat.Well,lastIpulledoutsomeofmyhair,andbloodedtheaxegood,andstuckit

on thebackside,andslung theaxe in thecorner. Then I tookup thepigandheldhimtomybreastwithmyjacket(sohecouldn’tdrip)tillIgotagoodpiecebelow the house and then dumped him into the river. Now I thought ofsomethingelse. SoIwentandgot thebagofmealandmyoldsawoutof thecanoe,andfetchedthemtothehouse.Itookthebagtowhereitusedtostand,andrippedaholeinthebottomofitwiththesaw,fortherewarn’tnoknivesandforksontheplace—papdoneeverythingwithhisclasp-knifeaboutthecooking.ThenIcarriedthesackaboutahundredyardsacrossthegrassandthroughthewillowseastofthehouse,toashallowlakethatwasfivemilewideandfullofrushes—andduckstoo,youmightsay, intheseason. Therewasasloughoracreek leading out of it on the other side that went miles away, I don’t knowwhere,butitdidn’tgototheriver.Themealsiftedoutandmadealittletrackallthewaytothelake.Idroppedpap’swhetstonetheretoo,soastolooklikeithadbeendonebyaccident.ThenItieduptheripinthemealsackwithastring,soitwouldn’tleaknomore,andtookitandmysawtothecanoeagain.Itwas about dark now; so I dropped the canoe down the river under some

willowsthathungoverthebank,andwaitedforthemoontorise.Imadefasttoawillow; then I took a bite to eat, and by and by laid down in the canoe to

smokeapipeandlayoutaplan.Isaystomyself,they’llfollowthetrackofthatsackfulofrockstotheshoreandthendragtheriverforme.Andthey’llfollowthatmealtracktothelakeandgobrowsingdownthecreekthatleadsoutofittofind the robbers thatkilledmeand took the things. Theywon’t everhunt theriverforanythingbutmydeadcarcass.They’llsoongettiredofthat,andwon’tbothernomoreaboutme. All right; Icanstopanywhere Iwant to. Jackson’sIsland isgoodenoughforme;Iknowthat islandprettywell,andnobodyevercomesthere. AndthenIcanpaddleovertotownnights,andslinkaroundandpickupthingsIwant.Jackson’sIsland’stheplace.Iwasprettytired,andthefirstthingIknowedIwasasleep.WhenIwokeupI

didn’t know where I was for a minute. I set up and looked around, a littlescared. Then I remembered. The river lookedmiles andmiles across. ThemoonwassobrightIcouldacountedthedrift logsthatwenta-slippingalong,blackandstill,hundredsofyardsoutfromshore.Everythingwasdeadquiet,anditlookedlate,andsmeltlate.YouknowwhatImean—Idon’tknowthewordstoputitin.Itookagoodgapandastretch,andwasjustgoingtounhitchandstartwhenI

heardasoundawayoverthewater.Ilistened.PrettysoonImadeitout.Itwasthatdullkindofaregularsoundthatcomesfromoarsworkinginrowlockswhenit’sastillnight.Ipeepedoutthroughthewillowbranches,andthereitwas—askiff, away across the water. I couldn’t tell howmanywas in it. It kept a-coming, andwhen it was abreast ofme I see therewarn’t but oneman in it.Think’sI,maybeit’spap,thoughIwarn’texpectinghim.Hedroppedbelowmewiththecurrent,andbyandbyhecamea-swingingupshoreintheeasywater,andhewentbysocloseIcouldareachedoutthegunandtouchedhim.Well,itwaspap,sureenough—andsober,too,bythewayhelaidhisoars.Ididn’tlosenotime.ThenextminuteIwasa-spinningdownstreamsoftbut

quickintheshadeofthebank.Imadetwomileandahalf,andthenstruckoutaquarterofamileormoretowardsthemiddleoftheriver,becauseprettysoonIwouldbepassingtheferrylanding,andpeoplemightseemeandhailme.Igotoutamongstthedriftwood,andthenlaiddowninthebottomofthecanoeandletherfloat.

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Ilaidthere,andhadagoodrestandasmokeoutofmypipe,lookingawayintothesky;notacloudinit.Theskylookseversodeepwhenyoulaydownonyourbackinthemoonshine;Ineverknoweditbefore.Andhowfarabodycanhearonthewatersuchnights!Iheardpeopletalkingattheferrylanding.Iheardwhattheysaid,too—everywordofit.Onemansaiditwasgettingtowardsthelongdaysandtheshortnightsnow.T’otheronesaidthiswarn’toneoftheshortones,he reckoned—and then they laughed,andhesaid itoveragain,and theylaughedagain;thentheywakedupanotherfellowandtoldhim,andlaughed,buthedidn’tlaugh;herippedoutsomethingbrisk,andsaidlethimalone.Thefirstfellowsaidhe’lowedtotellittohisoldwoman—shewouldthinkitwasprettygood;buthesaid thatwarn’tnothing tosome thingshehadsaid inhis time. Iheardonemansayitwasnearlythreeo’clock,andhehopeddaylightwouldn’twaitmorethanaboutaweeklonger.Afterthatthetalkgotfurtherandfurtheraway,andIcouldn’tmakeoutthewordsanymore;butIcouldhearthemumble,andnowandthenalaugh,too,butitseemedalongwaysoff.Iwasawaybelowtheferrynow. I roseup,and therewasJackson’sIsland,

abouttwomileandahalfdownstream,heavytimberedandstandingupoutofthemiddle of the river, big and dark and solid, like a steamboat without anylights. Therewarn’t any signs of the bar at the head—itwas all underwaternow.Itdidn’ttakemelongtogetthere.Ishotpasttheheadatarippingrate,the

currentwassoswift,andthenIgotintothedeadwaterandlandedonthesidetowards the Illinois shore. I run thecanoe into adeepdent in thebank that Iknowedabout;Ihadtopartthewillowbranchestogetin;andwhenImadefastnobodycouldaseenthecanoefromtheoutside.Iwentupandsetdownonalogattheheadoftheisland,andlookedouton

the big river and the black driftwood and away over to the town, three mileaway,wheretherewasthreeorfourlightstwinkling.Amonstrousbiglumber-raft was about a mile up stream, coming along down, with a lantern in themiddleofit.Iwatcheditcomecreepingdown,andwhenitwasmostabreastofwhere I stood I heard a man say, “Stern oars, there! heave her head tostabboard!”Iheardthatjustasplainasifthemanwasbymyside.Therewasalittlegrayintheskynow;soIsteppedintothewoods,andlaid

downforanapbeforebreakfast.

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CHAPTERVIII.THEsunwasupsohighwhenIwakedthatIjudgeditwasaftereighto’clock.

I laid there in thegrassand thecool shade thinkingabout things, and feelingrestedandruthercomfortableandsatisfied.Icouldseethesunoutatoneortwoholes,butmostlyitwasbigtreesallabout,andgloomyinthereamongstthem.Therewasfreckledplacesonthegroundwherethelightsifteddownthroughtheleaves,andthefreckledplacesswappedaboutalittle,showingtherewasalittlebreezeup there. A couple of squirrels set on a limb and jabbered atmeveryfriendly.I was powerful lazy and comfortable—didn’t want to get up and cook

breakfast. Well, IwasdozingoffagainwhenI thinksIhearsadeepsoundof“boom!” away up the river. I rouses up, and rests onmy elbow and listens;prettysoonIhearsitagain.Ihoppedup,andwentandlookedoutataholeinthe leaves, and I see abunchof smoke layingon thewater a longwaysup—aboutabreasttheferry.Andtherewastheferryboatfullofpeoplefloatingalongdown. I knowedwhatwas thematter now. "Boom!” I see thewhite smokesquirt out of the ferryboat’s side. You see, they was firing cannon over thewater,tryingtomakemycarcasscometothetop.Iwasprettyhungry,but itwarn’tgoing todo forme tostarta fire,because

theymight see the smoke. So I set there andwatched the cannon-smoke andlistenedtotheboom.Theriverwasamilewidethere,anditalwayslooksprettyonasummermorning—soIwashavingagoodenoughtimeseeingthemhuntformyremaindersifIonlyhadabitetoeat.Well,thenIhappenedtothinkhowtheyalwaysputquicksilverinloavesofbreadandfloatthemoff,becausetheyalwaysgorighttothedrowndedcarcassandstopthere. So,saysI,I’llkeepalookout,andifanyofthem’sfloatingaroundaftermeI’llgivethemashow.I

changed to the Illinoisedgeof the island to seewhat luck I couldhave, and Iwarn’tdisappointed.Abigdoubleloafcomealong,andImostgotitwithalongstick,butmyfootslippedandshefloatedoutfurther.OfcourseIwaswherethecurrentsetintheclosesttotheshore—Iknowedenoughforthat.Butbyandbyalongcomesanotherone,andthistimeIwon.Itookouttheplugandshookoutthelittledabofquicksilver,andsetmyteethin.Itwas“baker’sbread”—whatthequalityeat;noneofyourlow-downcorn-pone.Igotagoodplaceamongst the leaves,andset thereona log,munching the

breadandwatchingtheferry-boat,andverywellsatisfied.Andthensomethingstruckme. Isays,nowIreckonthewidowor theparsonorsomebodyprayedthatthisbreadwouldfindme,andhereithasgoneanddoneit.Sothereain’tnodoubtbutthereissomethinginthatthing—thatis,there’ssomethinginitwhenabodylikethewidowortheparsonprays,butitdon’tworkforme,andIreckonitdon’tworkforonlyjusttherightkind.

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Ilitapipeandhadagoodlongsmoke,andwentonwatching.Theferryboatwasfloatingwith thecurrent,andIallowedI’dhaveachance toseewhowasaboardwhenshecomealong,becauseshewouldcomeinclose,wherethebreaddid.Whenshe’dgotprettywellalongdowntowardsme,IputoutmypipeandwenttowhereIfishedoutthebread,andlaiddownbehindalogonthebankinalittleopenplace.WherethelogforkedIcouldpeepthrough.Byandbyshecomealong,andshedriftedinsoclosethattheycouldarunout

aplankandwalkedashore. Mosteverybodywasontheboat. Pap,andJudgeThatcher, and Bessie Thatcher, and Jo Harper, and Tom Sawyer, and his oldAuntPolly,andSidandMary,andplentymore. Everybodywastalkingaboutthemurder,butthecaptainbrokeinandsays:“Looksharp,now;thecurrentsetsintheclosesthere,andmaybehe’swashed

ashore and got tangled amongst the brush at the water’s edge. I hope so,anyway.”Ididn’thopeso.Theyallcrowdedupandleanedovertherails,nearlyinmy

face,andkeptstill,watchingwithalltheirmight.Icouldseethemfirst-rate,buttheycouldn’tseeme.Thenthecaptainsungout:“Standaway!”andthecannonletoffsuchablastrightbeforemethatitmade

medeefwiththenoiseandprettynearblindwiththesmoke,andIjudgedIwasgone.Ifthey’dahadsomebulletsin,Ireckonthey’dagotthecorpsetheywasafter.Well,IseeIwarn’thurt,thankstogoodness.Theboatfloatedonandwentoutofsightaroundtheshoulderoftheisland.Icouldheartheboomingnowandthen, further and further off, and by and by, after an hour, I didn’t hear it nomore.Theislandwasthreemilelong.Ijudgedtheyhadgottothefoot,andwasgiving itup. But theydidn’tyet awhile. They turnedaround the footof theisland and started up the channel on the Missouri side, under steam, andboomingonceinawhileastheywent.Icrossedovertothatsideandwatchedthem. When they got abreast the head of the island they quit shooting anddroppedovertotheMissourishoreandwenthometothetown.IknowedIwasallrightnow.Nobodyelsewouldcomea-huntingafterme.I

gotmytrapsoutofthecanoeandmademeanicecampinthethickwoods. Imade a kind of a tent out ofmy blankets to putmy things under so the raincouldn’tgetatthem.Icatchedacatfishandhaggledhimopenwithmysaw,andtowardssundownIstartedmycampfireandhadsupper.ThenIsetoutalinetocatchsomefishforbreakfast.When it was dark I set by my camp fire smoking, and feeling pretty well

satisfied;butbyandbyitgotsortoflonesome,andsoIwentandsetonthebankandlistenedtothecurrentswashingalong,andcountedthestarsanddrift logsandraftsthatcomedown,andthenwenttobed;thereain’tnobetterwaytoputintimewhenyouarelonesome;youcan’tstayso,yousoongetoverit.Andsoforthreedaysandnights.Nodifference—justthesamething.Butthe

nextdayIwentexploringarounddownthroughtheisland.Iwasbossofit;itallbelongedtome,sotosay,andIwantedtoknowallaboutit;butmainlyIwantedto put in the time. I found plenty strawberries, ripe and prime; and greensummer grapes, and green razberries; and the green blackberries was justbeginningtoshow.Theywouldallcomehandybyandby,Ijudged.Well,IwentfoolingalonginthedeepwoodstillIjudgedIwarn’tfarfromthe

foot of the island. I hadmy gun along, but I hadn’t shot nothing; itwas forprotection;thoughtIwouldkillsomegamenighhome.AboutthistimeImightynearsteppedonagood-sizedsnake,anditwentslidingoffthroughthegrassandflowers, and I after it, trying to get a shot at it. I clipped along, and all of asuddenIboundedrightontotheashesofacampfirethatwasstillsmoking.

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Myheartjumpedupamongstmylungs.Ineverwaitedfortolookfurther,butuncockedmygunandwentsneakingbackonmytiptoesasfastaseverIcould.EverynowandthenIstoppedasecondamongstthethickleavesandlistened,butmybreathcomesohardIcouldn’thearnothingelse.Islunkalonganotherpiecefurther,thenlistenedagain;andsoon,andsoon.IfIseeastump,Itookitforaman;ifItrodonastickandbrokeit,itmademefeellikeapersonhadcutoneofmybreathsintwoandIonlygothalf,andtheshorthalf,too.WhenIgottocampIwarn’tfeelingverybrash,therewarn’tmuchsandinmy

craw;butIsays, thisain’tnotimetobefoolingaround. SoIgotallmytrapsintomycanoeagainsoastohavethemoutofsight,andIputout thefireandscatteredtheashesaroundtolooklikeanoldlastyear’scamp,andthenclumbatree.IreckonIwasupinthetreetwohours;butIdidn’tseenothing,Ididn’thear

nothing—IonlythoughtIheardandseenasmuchasathousandthings.Well,Icouldn’tstayupthereforever;soatlastIgotdown,butIkeptinthethickwoodsandonthelookoutallthetime.AllIcouldgettoeatwasberriesandwhatwasleftoverfrombreakfast.BythetimeitwasnightIwasprettyhungry.SowhenitwasgoodanddarkI

slidoutfromshorebeforemoonriseandpaddledovertotheIllinoisbank—abouta quarter of amile. Iwent out in thewoods and cooked a supper, and I hadaboutmade upmymind Iwould stay there all nightwhen I hear aplunkety-plunk, plunkety-plunk, and says to myself, horses coming; and next I hearpeople’svoices. I got everything into thecanoeasquickas I could, and thenwentcreepingthroughthewoodstoseewhatIcouldfindout.Ihadn’tgotfarwhenIhearamansay:“Webettercamphereifwecanfindagoodplace;thehorsesisaboutbeatout.

Let’slookaround.”Ididn’twait,butshovedoutandpaddledawayeasy.Itiedupintheoldplace,

andreckonedIwouldsleepinthecanoe.

I didn’t sleepmuch. I couldn’t, somehow, for thinking. And every time IwakedupIthoughtsomebodyhadmebytheneck.Sothesleepdidn’tdomenogood.ByandbyIsaystomyself,Ican’tlivethisway;I’ma-goingtofindoutwhoit is that’shereon the islandwithme;I’ll find itoutorbust. Well, I feltbetterrightoff.SoItookmypaddleandslidoutfromshorejustasteportwo,andthenletthe

canoe drop along down amongst the shadows. The moon was shining, andoutsideoftheshadowsitmadeitmostaslightasday.Ipokedalongwellontoanhour,everythingstillasrocksandsoundasleep.Well,bythistimeIwasmostdown to the footof the island. A little ripply,coolbreezebegun toblow,andthatwasasgoodassayingthenightwasaboutdone.Igiveheraturnwiththepaddleandbrunghernosetoshore;thenIgotmygunandslippedoutandintotheedgeof thewoods. I satdown thereona log,and lookedout through theleaves.Iseethemoongooffwatch,andthedarknessbegintoblankettheriver.ButinalittlewhileIseeapalestreakoverthetreetops,andknowedthedaywascoming.SoItookmygunandslippedofftowardswhereIhadrunacrossthatcamp fire, stopping every minute or two to listen. But I hadn’t no lucksomehow; I couldn’t seem to find the place. But by and by, sure enough, Icatched a glimpse of fire away through the trees. I went for it, cautious andslow.ByandbyIwascloseenoughtohavealook,andtherelaidamanontheground.Itmostgivemethefan-tods.Hehadablanketaroundhishead,andhisheadwasnearly in thefire. Iset therebehindaclumpofbushes, inaboutsixfootofhim,andkeptmyeyesonhimsteady.Itwasgettinggraydaylightnow.Prettysoonhegappedandstretchedhimselfandhoveofftheblanket,anditwasMissWatson’sJim!IbetIwasgladtoseehim.Isays:“Hello,Jim!”andskippedout.Hebouncedupandstaredatmewild.Thenhedropsdownonhisknees,and

putshishandstogetherandsays:“Doan’hurtme—don’t!Ihain’teverdonenoharmtoaghos’.Ialwuzliked

deadpeople,endoneallIcouldfor’em.Yougoengitinderiveragin,whahyoub’longs,endoan’donuffntoOleJim,’at’uzawluzyo’fren’.”

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Well,Iwarn’tlongmakinghimunderstandIwarn’tdead.IwaseversogladtoseeJim.Iwarn’tlonesomenow.ItoldhimIwarn’tafraidofhimtellingthepeoplewhereIwas.Italkedalong,butheonlysetthereandlookedatme;neversaidnothing.ThenIsays:“It’sgooddaylight.Le’sgetbreakfast.Makeupyourcampfiregood.”“What’sdeuseermakin’updecampfire tocookstrawbriesensich truck?

Butyougotagun,hain’tyou?Denwekingitsumfnbetterdenstrawbries.”“Strawberriesandsuchtruck,”Isays."Isthatwhatyouliveon?”“Icouldn’gitnuffnelse,”hesays.“Why,howlongyoubeenontheisland,Jim?”“Icomeheahdenightarteryou’skilled.”“What,allthattime?”“Yes—indeedy.”“Andain’tyouhadnothingbutthatkindofrubbagetoeat?”“No,sah—nuffnelse.”“Well,youmustbemoststarved,ain’tyou?”“Ireck’nIcouldeatahoss.IthinkIcould.Howlongyoubenondeislan’?”“SincethenightIgotkilled.”“No! W’y,whathasyou livedon? Butyougotagun. Oh,yes,yougota

gun.Dat’sgood.NowyoukillsumfnenI’llmakeupdefire.”Sowewentovertowherethecanoewas,andwhilehebuiltafireinagrassy

openplaceamongstthetrees,Ifetchedmealandbaconandcoffee,andcoffee-pot and frying-pan, and sugar and tin cups, and the nigger was set backconsiderable, becausehe reckoned itwas all donewithwitchcraft. I catched agoodbigcatfish,too,andJimcleanedhimwithhisknife,andfriedhim.Whenbreakfastwasreadywelolledonthegrassandeatitsmokinghot.Jim

laiditinwithallhismight,forhewasmostaboutstarved.Thenwhenwehadgotprettywellstuffed,welaidoffandlazied.ByandbyJimsays:“But lookyhere,Huck,whowuz it dat ’uz killed in dat shanty ef itwarn’t

you?”Then I told him the whole thing, and he said it was smart. He said Tom

Sawyercouldn’tgetupnobetterplanthanwhatIhad.ThenIsays:

“Howdoyoucometobehere,Jim,andhow’dyougethere?”Helookedprettyuneasy,anddidn’tsaynothingforaminute.Thenhesays:“MaybeIbetternottell.”“Why,Jim?”“Well,dey’sreasons. Butyouwouldn’ tellonmeefIuz to tellyou,would

you,Huck?”“BlamedifIwould,Jim.”“Well,Ib’lieveyou,Huck.I—Irunoff.”“Jim!”“Butmind,yousaidyouwouldn’tell—youknowyousaidyouwouldn’tell,

Huck.”“Well,Idid.IsaidIwouldn’t,andI’llsticktoit.Honestinjun,Iwill.People

wouldcallmealow-downAbolitionistanddespisemeforkeepingmum—butthatdon’tmakenodifference. I ain’t a-going to tell, and Iain’t a-goingbackthere,anyways.So,now,le’sknowallaboutit.”“Well,yousee,it’uzdisway.Olemissus—dat’sMissWatson—shepeckson

mealldetime,entreatsmepootyrough,butsheawluzsaidshewouldn’sellmedown to Orleans. But I noticed dey wuz a nigger trader roun’ de placeconsidable lately, en I begin togit oneasy. Well, onenight I creeps todedo’pooty late,endedo’warn’tquiteshet,enIhearoldmissus telldewiddershegwynetosellmedowntoOrleans,butshedidn’wantto,butshecouldgiteighthund’ddollarsforme,enit’uzsichabigstacko’moneyshecouldn’resis’.Dewiddershetrytogithertosayshewouldn’doit,butIneverwaitedtohearderes’.Ilitoutmightyquick,Itellyou.“Ituckoutenshindowndehill,en’spectostealaskift’longdesho’som’ers

’bovedetown,butdeywuzpeoplea-stirringyit,soIhidindeoletumble-downcooper-shopondebank towait foreverybody togo’way.Well, Iwuzdahallnight. Deywuz somebody roun’ all de time. 'Long ’bout six in demawnin’skiftsbegintogoby,en’bouteighternineeveryskiftdatwent’longwuztalkin’’bouthowyo’papcomeover tode townen sayyou’skilled. Dese las’ skiftswuzfullo’ladiesengenlmena-goin’overfortoseedeplace.Sometimesdey’dpullupatdesho’en takea res’b’fo’deystartedacrost, sobyde talk Igot toknowall’boutdekillin’.I’uzpowerfulsorryyou’skilled,Huck,butIain’tnomo’now.“Ilaiddahunderdeshavin’sallday.I’uzhungry,butIwarn’tafeard;bekase

Iknowedolemissusendewidderwuzgoin’ to start todecamp-meet’n’ right

arterbreakfas’enbegoneallday,endeyknowsIgoesoffwiddecattle’boutdaylight,sodeywouldn’’spectoseemeroun’deplace,ensodeywouldn’missmetellarterdarkindeevenin’.Deyutherservantswouldn’missme,kasedey’dshinoutentakeholidaysoonasdeolefolks’uzout’ndeway.“Well,whenitcomedarkItuckoutupderiverroad,enwent’bouttwomile

ermore towhahdeywarn’t no houses. I’dmadeupmymine ’boutwhat I’sagwynetodo.Yousee,efIkep’ontryin’togitawayafoot,dedogs’udtrackme;efIstoleaskifttocrossover,dey’dmissdatskift,yousee,endey’dknow’boutwhahI’dlan’ondeyutherside,enwhahtopickupmytrack.SoIsays,araffiswhatI’sarter;itdoan’makenotrack.“Iseea lighta-comin’ roun’dep’intbymeby,so Iwade’ inenshove’a log

aheado’meenswummore’nhalfwayacrostderiver,engotin’mongstdedrift-wood,enkep’myheaddownlow,enkinderswumagindecurrent tellde raffcomealong.DenIswumtodesternuvitentucka-holt.Itcloudedupen’uzpootydarkforalittlewhile.SoIclumbupenlaiddownondeplanks.Demen’uzall’wayyonderindemiddle,whahdelanternwuz.Deriverwuza-risin’,endeywuzagoodcurrent;soIreck’n’d’atbyfo’indemawnin’I’dbetwenty-fivemiledownderiver,endenI’dslipinjisb’fo’daylightenswimasho’,entaketodewoodsondeIllinoisside.“ButIdidn’havenoluck.Whenwe’uzmos’downtodeheaderdeislan’a

manbegintocomeaftwiddelantern,Iseeitwarn’tnousefertowait,soIslidoverboard en struck out fer de islan’. Well, I had a notion I could lan’mos’anywhers,butIcouldn’t—banktoobluff.I’uzmos’todefooterdeislan’b’fo’Ifound’agoodplace.IwentintodewoodsenjedgedIwouldn’foolwidraffsnomo’,longasdeymovedelanternroun’so.Ihadmypipeenaplugerdog-leg,ensomematchesinmycap,endeywarn’twet,soI’uzallright.”“Andsoyouain’thadnomeatnorbreadtoeatallthistime?Whydidn’tyou

getmud-turkles?”“Howyougwynetogit’m?Youcan’tslipuponumengrabum;enhow’sa

bodygwynetohitumwidarock?Howcouldabodydoit indenight?EnIwarn’tgwynetoshowmysefondebankindedaytime.”“Well,that’sso.You’vehadtokeepinthewoodsallthetime,ofcourse.Did

youhear’emshootingthecannon?”“Oh,yes. Iknoweddeywasarteryou. Iseeumgobyheah—watchedum

thoodebushes.”Someyoungbirdscomealong,flyingayardortwoatatimeandlighting.Jim

said it was a sign it was going to rain. He said it was a sign when young

chickens flew thatway, and sohe reckoned itwas the samewaywhenyoungbirdsdoneit.Iwasgoingtocatchsomeofthem,butJimwouldn’tletme.Hesaid itwasdeath. Hesaidhis father laidmightysickonce,andsomeof themcatchedabird,andhisoldgrannysaidhisfatherwoulddie,andhedid.AndJimsaidyoumustn’tcountthethingsyouaregoingtocookfordinner,

becausethatwouldbringbadluck.Thesameifyoushookthetable-clothaftersundown. Andhesaid ifamanownedabeehiveand thatmandied, thebeesmust be told about it before sun-up nextmorning, or else the bees would allweakendownandquitworkanddie.Jimsaidbeeswouldn’tstingidiots;butIdidn’t believe that, because I had tried them lots of times myself, and theywouldn’tstingme.I had heard about some of these things before, but not all of them. Jim

knowedallkindsofsigns.Hesaidheknowedmosteverything.Isaiditlookedtomelikeall thesignswasaboutbadluck,andsoIaskedhimif therewarn’tanygood-lucksigns.Hesays:“Mightyfew—an’deyain’tnousetoabody.Whatyouwanttoknowwhen

good luck’s a-comin’ for? Want tokeep it off?” Andhe said: "Efyou’sgothairyarmsenahairybreas’,it’sasigndatyou’sagwynetoberich.Well,dey’ssomeuseinasignlikedat,’kaseit’ssofurahead.Yousee,maybeyou’sgottobepo’alongtimefust,ensoyoumightgitdiscourage’enkillyo’sef’fyoudidn’knowbydesigndatyougwynetoberichbymeby.”“Haveyougothairyarmsandahairybreast,Jim?”“What’sdeusetoaxdatquestion?Don’tyouseeIhas?”“Well,areyourich?”“No, but I ben richwunst, and gwyne to be rich agin. Wunst I had foteen

dollars,butItucktospecalat’n’,engotbustedout.”“Whatdidyouspeculatein,Jim?”“Well,fustItackledstock.”“Whatkindofstock?”“Why, live stock—cattle, youknow. I put tendollars in a cow. But I ain’

gwynetoresknomo’moneyinstock.Decowup’n’diedonmyhan’s.”“Soyoulostthetendollars.”“No,Ididn’tloseitall.Ion’ylos’’boutnineofit.Isoledehideentallerfor

adollarentencents.”“Youhadfivedollarsandtencentsleft.Didyouspeculateanymore?”

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“Yes. Youknow that one-laigged nigger dat b’longs to oldMistoBradish?Well,hesotupabank,ensayanybodydatputinadollarwouldgitfo’dollarsmo’atdeen’erdeyear.Well,alldeniggerswentin,butdeydidn’thavemuch.Iwuzdeon’yonedathadmuch.SoIstuckoutformo’danfo’dollars,enIsaid’fIdidn’gititI’dstartabankmysef.Well,o’coursedatniggerwant’tokeepmeouterdebusiness,bekasehesaysdeywarn’tbusiness’noughfortwobanks,sohesayIcouldputinmyfivedollarsenhepaymethirty-fiveatdeen’erdeyear.“SoIdoneit.DenIreck’n’dI’dinves’dethirty-fivedollarsrightoffenkeep

thingsa-movin’.Deywuzaniggername’Bob,dathadketchedawood-flat,enhismarsterdidn’knowit;enIboughtitoff’nhimentoldhimtotakedethirty-fivedollarswhendeen’erdeyearcome;butsomebodystoledewood-flatdatnight,ennexdaydeone-laiggedniggersaydebank’sbusted.Sodeydidn’noneuvusgitnomoney.”“Whatdidyoudowiththetencents,Jim?”“Well,I’uzgwynetospen’it,butIhadadream,endedreamtolemetogive

ittoaniggername’Balum—Balum’sAssdeycallhimforshort;he’soneerdemchuckleheads,youknow. Buthe’s lucky,deysay,enIseeIwarn’t lucky. Dedream say let Balum inves’ de ten cents en he’dmake a raise forme. Well,Balumhetuckdemoney,enwhenhewuzinchurchheheardepreachersaydatwhoevergivetodepo’len’todeLord,enboun’togithismoneybackahund’dtimes.SoBalumhetuckengivedetencentstodepo’,enlaidlowtoseewhatwuzgwynetocomeofit.”“Well,whatdidcomeofit,Jim?”“Nuffnnevercomeof it. Icouldn’managetok’leckdatmoneynoway;en

Balumhecouldn’. Iain’gwyne to len’nomo’money’doutIseedesecurity.Boun’togityo’moneybackahund’dtimes,depreachersays!EfIcouldgitdetencentsback,I’dcallitsquah,enbegladerdechanst.”“Well, it’sall rightanyway,Jim, longasyou’regoingtoberichagainsome

timeorother.”

“Yes; en I’s rich now, come to look at it. I ownsmysef, en I’swuth eighthund’ddollars.IwishtIhaddemoney,Iwouldn’wantnomo’.”

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CHAPTERIX.IwantedtogoandlookataplacerightaboutthemiddleoftheislandthatI’d

foundwhenIwasexploring;sowestartedandsoongottoit,becausetheislandwasonlythreemileslongandaquarterofamilewide.Thisplacewasatolerablelong,steephillorridgeaboutfortyfoothigh.We

had a rough time getting to the top, the sideswas so steep and the bushes sothick.Wetrampedandclumbaroundalloverit,andbyandbyfoundagoodbigcavernintherock,mostuptothetoponthesidetowardsIllinois.Thecavernwas as big as two or three rooms bunched together, and Jim could stand upstraight in it. Itwascool in there. Jimwas forputtingour traps in there rightaway,butIsaidwedidn’twanttobeclimbingupanddownthereallthetime.Jimsaidifwehadthecanoehidinagoodplace,andhadallthetrapsinthe

cavern, we could rush there if anybody was to come to the island, and theywouldnever finduswithoutdogs. And,besides,he said them littlebirdshadsaiditwasgoingtorain,anddidIwantthethingstogetwet?Sowewentbackandgot thecanoe,andpaddledupabreast thecavern,and

luggedall the trapsup there. Thenwehuntedupaplacecloseby tohide thecanoein,amongstthethickwillows.Wetooksomefishoffofthelinesandsetthemagain,andbeguntogetreadyfordinner.Thedoorofthecavernwasbigenoughtorollahogsheadin,andononeside

ofthedoorthefloorstuckoutalittlebit,andwasflatandagoodplacetobuildafireon.Sowebuiltitthereandcookeddinner.

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Wespreadtheblanketsinsideforacarpet,andeatourdinnerinthere.Weputalltheotherthingshandyatthebackofthecavern.Prettysoonitdarkenedup,and begun to thunder and lighten; so the birdswas right about it. Directly itbeguntorain,anditrainedlikeallfury,too,andIneverseethewindblowso.Itwasoneoftheseregularsummerstorms.Itwouldgetsodarkthatitlookedallblue-blackoutside,andlovely;andtherainwouldthrashalongbysothickthatthetreesoffalittlewayslookeddimandspider-webby;andherewouldcomeablastofwindthatwouldbendthetreesdownandturnupthepaleundersideofthe leaves; and then a perfect ripper of a gustwould followalong and set thebranchestotossingtheirarmsasiftheywasjustwild;andnext,whenitwasjustaboutthebluestandblackest—FST!itwasasbrightasglory,andyou’dhavealittle glimpse of tree-tops a-plunging about away off yonder in the storm,hundreds of yards further than you could see before; dark as sin again in asecond,andnowyou’dhearthethunderletgowithanawfulcrash,andthengorumbling, grumbling, tumbling, down the sky towards the under side of theworld, like rolling empty barrels down stairs—where it’s long stairs and theybounceagooddeal,youknow.“Jim,thisisnice,”Isays."Iwouldn’twanttobenowhereelsebuthere.Pass

mealonganotherhunkoffishandsomehotcorn-bread.”“Well,youwouldn’tabenhere’fithadn’tabenforJim.You’dabendown

dahindewoodswidoutanydinner,engittn’mos’drownded,too;datyouwould,honey.Chickensknowswhenit’sgwynetorain,ensododebirds,chile.”Theriverwentonraisingandraisingfortenortwelvedays,tillatlastitwas

overthebanks.ThewaterwasthreeorfourfootdeepontheislandinthelowplacesandontheIllinoisbottom.Onthatsideitwasagoodmanymileswide,buton theMissouri side itwas the sameolddistanceacross—ahalf amile—becausetheMissourishorewasjustawallofhighbluffs.Daytimeswepaddledallovertheislandinthecanoe,Itwasmightycooland

shadyinthedeepwoods,evenifthesunwasblazingoutside.Wewentwindinginandoutamongstthetrees,andsometimesthevineshungsothickwehadto

backawayandgo someotherway. Well,oneveryoldbroken-down treeyoucould see rabbits and snakes and such things; and when the island had beenoverflowedadayortwotheygotsotame,onaccountofbeinghungry,thatyoucouldpaddlerightupandputyourhandonthemifyouwantedto;butnotthesnakesandturtles—theywouldslideoffinthewater.Theridgeourcavernwasinwasfullofthem.Wecouldahadpetsenoughifwe’dwantedthem.Onenightwecatchedalittlesectionofalumberraft—nicepineplanks.Itwas

twelvefootwideandaboutfifteenorsixteenfootlong,andthetopstoodabovewatersixorseveninches—asolid,levelfloor.Wecouldseesaw-logsgobyinthe daylight sometimes, but we let them go; we didn’t show ourselves indaylight.Anothernightwhenwewasupattheheadoftheisland,justbeforedaylight,

here comes a frame-house down, on thewest side. Shewas a two-story, andtilted over considerable. We paddled out and got aboard—clumb in at anupstairswindow.Butitwastoodarktoseeyet,sowemadethecanoefastandsetinhertowaitfordaylight.The light begun to come beforewe got to the foot of the island. Thenwe

looked inat thewindow. Wecouldmakeout abed, anda table, and twooldchairs, and lots of things around about on the floor, and there was clotheshanging against thewall. Therewas something laying on the floor in the farcornerthatlookedlikeaman.SoJimsays:“Hello,you!”Butitdidn’tbudge.SoIholleredagain,andthenJimsays:“Demanain’tasleep—he’sdead.Youholdstill—I’llgoensee.”Hewent,andbentdownandlooked,andsays:“It’sadeadman.Yes,indeedy;naked,too.He’sbenshotindeback.Ireck’n

he’sbendeadtwoerthreedays.Comein,Huck,butdoan’lookathisface—it’stoogashly.”

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I didn’t look at him at all. Jim throwed some old rags over him, but heneedn’tdoneit;Ididn’twanttoseehim.Therewasheapsofoldgreasycardsscatteredaroundover the floor,andoldwhiskybottles,andacoupleofmasksmadeoutofblackcloth;andalloverthewallswastheignorantestkindofwordsandpicturesmadewithcharcoal.Therewastwoolddirtycalicodresses,andasun-bonnet,andsomewomen’sunderclotheshangingagainstthewall,andsomemen’sclothing,too.Weputthelotintothecanoe—itmightcomegood.Therewasaboy’soldspeckledstrawhatonthefloor;Itookthat,too.Andtherewasabottle thathadhadmilk in it,and ithadaragstopperforababytosuck. Wewouldatookthebottle,butitwasbroke.Therewasaseedyoldchest,andanoldhairtrunkwiththehingesbroke.Theystoodopen,buttherewarn’tnothingleft in them that was any account. The way things was scattered about wereckonedthepeopleleft inahurry,andwarn’tfixedsoas tocarryoffmostoftheirstuff.Wegotanoldtinlantern,andabutcher-knifewithoutanyhandle,andabran-

newBarlowknifeworthtwobitsinanystore,andalotoftallowcandles,andatincandlestick,andagourd,andatincup,andarattyoldbedquiltoffthebed,andareticulewithneedlesandpinsandbeeswaxandbuttonsandthreadandallsuchtruckinit,andahatchetandsomenails,andafishlineasthickasmylittlefingerwith somemonstroushookson it, and a roll of buckskin, and a leatherdog-collar,andahorseshoe,andsomevialsofmedicinethatdidn’thavenolabelon them;and justaswewas leavingI founda tolerablegoodcurry-comb,andJimhefoundarattyoldfiddle-bow,andawoodenleg.Thestrapswasbrokeoffofit,but,barringthat,itwasagoodenoughleg,thoughitwastoolongformeand not long enough for Jim, andwe couldn’t find the other one, thoughwehuntedallaround.And so, take it all around, wemade a good haul. Whenwewas ready to

shoveoffwewasaquarterofamilebelowthe island,anditwasprettybroadday;soImadeJimlaydowninthecanoeandcoverupwiththequilt,becauseifhesetuppeoplecouldtellhewasaniggeragoodwaysoff.IpaddledovertotheIllinoisshore,anddrifteddownmostahalfamiledoing it. Icreptup thedeadwaterunderthebank,andhadn’tnoaccidentsanddidn’tseenobody.Wegothomeallsafe.

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CHAPTERX.AFTERbreakfastIwantedtotalkaboutthedeadmanandguessouthowhe

cometobekilled,butJimdidn’twantto.Hesaiditwouldfetchbadluck;andbesides,hesaid,hemightcomeandha’ntus;hesaidamanthatwarn’tburiedwas more likely to go a-ha’nting around than one that was planted andcomfortable. That sounded pretty reasonable, so I didn’t say no more; but Icouldn’t keep from studyingover it andwishing I knowedwho shot theman,andwhattheydoneitfor.Werummagedtheclotheswe’dgot,andfoundeightdollarsinsilversewedup

intheliningofanoldblanketovercoat.Jimsaidhereckonedthepeopleinthathouse stole the coat, because if they’d a knowed the money was there theywouldn’taleftit.IsaidIreckonedtheykilledhim,too;butJimdidn’twanttotalkaboutthat.Isays:“Now you think it’s bad luck; but what did you saywhen I fetched in the

snake-skinthatIfoundonthetopoftheridgedaybeforeyesterday?Yousaiditwastheworstbadluckintheworldtotouchasnake-skinwithmyhands.Well,here’syourbadluck!We’verakedinallthistruckandeightdollarsbesides.Iwishwecouldhavesomebadlucklikethiseveryday,Jim.”“Never youmind, honey, never youmind. Don’t you git too peart. It’s a-

comin’.MindItellyou,it’sa-comin’.”Itdidcome, too. ItwasaTuesdaythatwehadthat talk. Well,afterdinner

Fridaywewaslayingaroundinthegrassattheupperendoftheridge,andgotout of tobacco. I went to the cavern to get some, and found a rattlesnake inthere. I killed him, and curled him up on the foot of Jim’s blanket, ever sonatural,thinkingthere’dbesomefunwhenJimfoundhimthere.Well,bynightI forgot all about the snake, andwhen Jim flunghimself downon theblanket

whileIstruckalightthesnake’smatewasthere,andbithim.He jumpedup yelling, and the first thing the light showedwas the varmint

curledupandreadyforanotherspring.Ilaidhimoutinasecondwithastick,andJimgrabbedpap’swhisky-jugandbeguntopouritdown.

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Hewasbarefooted,andthesnakebithimrightontheheel.Thatallcomesofmybeingsuchafoolastonotrememberthatwhereveryouleaveadeadsnakeitsmate always comes there and curls around it. Jim toldme to chopoff thesnake’sheadandthrowitaway,andthenskinthebodyandroastapieceofit.Idoneit,andheeatitandsaiditwouldhelpcurehim.Hemademetakeofftherattlesandtiethemaroundhiswrist,too.Hesaidthatthatwouldhelp.ThenIslid out quiet and throwed the snakes clear away amongst the bushes; for Iwarn’tgoingtoletJimfindoutitwasallmyfault,notifIcouldhelpit.Jimsuckedandsuckedatthejug,andnowandthenhegotoutofhisheadand

pitchedaroundandyelled;buteverytimehecometohimselfhewenttosuckingatthejugagain.Hisfootswelledupprettybig,andsodidhisleg;butbyandbythedrunkbeguntocome,andsoIjudgedhewasallright;butI’ddrutherbeenbitwithasnakethanpap’swhisky.Jimwaslaidupforfourdaysandnights.Thentheswellingwasallgoneand

hewasaroundagain.ImadeupmymindIwouldn’tevertakea-holtofasnake-skin again with my hands, now that I see what had come of it. Jim said hereckonedIwouldbelievehimnexttime.Andhesaidthathandlingasnake-skinwassuchawfulbadluckthatmaybewehadn’tgottotheendofityet.Hesaidhedrutherseethenewmoonoverhisleftshoulderasmuchasathousandtimesthan take up a snake-skin in his hand. Well, I was getting to feel that waymyself,thoughI’vealwaysreckonedthatlookingatthenewmoonoveryourleftshoulderisoneofthecarelessestandfoolishestthingsabodycando.OldHankBunker done it once, and bragged about it; and in less than two years he gotdrunkandfelloffoftheshot-tower,andspreadhimselfoutsothathewasjustakindofalayer,asyoumaysay;andtheyslidhimedgewaysbetweentwobarn

doorsforacoffin,andburiedhimso,sotheysay,butIdidn’tseeit. Paptoldme.Butanywayitallcomeoflookingatthemoonthatway,likeafool.

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Well,thedayswentalong,andtheriverwentdownbetweenitsbanksagain;andaboutthefirstthingwedonewastobaitoneofthebighookswithaskinnedrabbitandsetitandcatchacatfishthatwasasbigasaman,beingsixfoottwoincheslong,andweighedovertwohundredpounds.Wecouldn’thandlehim,ofcourse;hewouldaflungusintoIllinois.Wejustsetthereandwatchedhimripandteararoundtillhedrownded.Wefoundabrassbuttoninhisstomachandaround ball, and lots of rubbage. We split the ball openwith the hatchet, andtherewasaspoolinit.Jimsaidhe’dhadittherealongtime,tocoatitoversoandmakeaballofit.ItwasasbigafishaswasevercatchedintheMississippi,Ireckon.Jimsaidhehadn’teverseenabiggerone.Hewouldabeenworthagooddealoveratthevillage.Theypeddleoutsuchafishasthatbythepoundinthemarket-house there; everybody buys some of him; his meat’s as white assnowandmakesagoodfry.NextmorningIsaiditwasgettingslowanddull,andIwantedtogetastirring

upsomeway.IsaidIreckonedIwouldslipovertheriverandfindoutwhatwasgoingon.Jimlikedthatnotion;buthesaidImustgointhedarkandlooksharp.Thenhestudieditoverandsaid,couldn’tIputonsomeofthemoldthingsanddressuplikeagirl?Thatwasagoodnotion,too.Soweshorteneduponeofthecalicogowns,andIturnedupmytrouser-legstomykneesandgotintoit.Jimhitcheditbehindwith thehooks,anditwasafair fit. Iputonthesun-bonnetandtieditundermychin,andthenforabodyto lookinandseemyfacewaslikelookingdownajointofstove-pipe.Jimsaidnobodywouldknowme,eveninthedaytime,hardly.Ipracticedaroundalldaytogetthehangofthethings,andbyandbyIcoulddoprettywellinthem,onlyJimsaidIdidn’twalklikeagirl;andhesaidImustquitpullingupmygowntogetatmybritches-pocket.Itooknotice,anddonebetter.

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IstarteduptheIllinoisshoreinthecanoejustafterdark.Istartedacrosstothetownfromalittlebelowtheferry-landing,andthedrift

of the current fetchedme in at the bottom of the town. I tied up and startedalongthebank.Therewasalightburninginalittleshantythathadn’tbeenlivedinforalongtime,andIwonderedwhohadtookupquartersthere.Islippedupandpeepedinatthewindow.Therewasawomanaboutfortyyearoldinthereknittingbyacandlethatwasonapinetable.Ididn’tknowherface;shewasastranger,foryoucouldn’tstartafaceinthattownthatIdidn’tknow.Nowthiswas lucky, because Iwasweakening; Iwas getting afraid I had come; peoplemightknowmyvoiceandfindmeout. But if thiswomanhadbeeninsuchalittletowntwodaysshecouldtellmeallIwantedtoknow;soIknockedatthedoor,andmadeupmymindIwouldn’tforgetIwasagirl.

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CHAPTERXI.“COMEin,”saysthewoman,andIdid.Shesays:"Takeacheer.”Idoneit.Shelookedmealloverwithherlittleshinyeyes,andsays:“Whatmightyournamebe?”“SarahWilliams.”

“Where’boutsdoyoulive?Inthisneighborhood?’“No’m.InHookerville,sevenmilebelow.I’vewalkedallthewayandI’m

alltiredout.”“Hungry,too,Ireckon.I’llfindyousomething.”“No’m,Iain’thungry.IwassohungryIhadtostoptwomilesbelowhereat

a farm; so I ain’t hungry nomore. It’swhatmakesme so late.Mymother’sdownsick,andoutofmoneyandeverything,andIcometotellmyuncleAbnerMoore.Helivesattheupperendofthetown,shesays.Ihain’teverbeenherebefore.Doyouknowhim?”“No;butIdon’tknoweverybodyyet. Ihaven’tlivedherequitetwoweeks.

It’saconsiderablewaystotheupperendofthetown. Youbetterstayhereallnight.Takeoffyourbonnet.”“No,” I says; “I’ll rest awhile, I reckon, and go on. I ain’t afeared of the

dark.”Shesaidshewouldn’t letmegobymyself,butherhusbandwouldbeinby

andby,maybeinahourandahalf,andshe’dsendhimalongwithme.Thenshegot to talkingaboutherhusband, andabouther relationsup the river, andherrelationsdowntheriver,andabouthowmuchbetteroff theyused towas,andhowtheydidn’tknowbutthey’dmadeamistakecomingtoourtown,insteadoflettingwellalone—andsoonandsoon,tillIwasafeardIhadmadeamistakecoming to her to find outwhatwas going on in the town; but by and by shedroppedontopapandthemurder,andthenIwasprettywillingtoletherclatterrightalong.ShetoldaboutmeandTomSawyerfindingthesixthousanddollars(onlyshegot it ten)andallaboutpapandwhatahard lothewas,andwhatahardlotIwas,andatlastshegotdowntowhereIwasmurdered.Isays:“Who done it? We’ve heard considerable about these goings on down in

Hookerville,butwedon’tknowwho’twasthatkilledHuckFinn.”“Well,Ireckonthere’sarightsmartchanceofpeopleherethat’dliketoknow

whokilledhim.SomethinkoldFinndoneithimself.”“No—isthatso?”“Mosteverybodythoughtitatfirst. He’llneverknowhownighhecometo

gettinglynched.ButbeforenighttheychangedaroundandjudgeditwasdonebyarunawayniggernamedJim.”“Whyhe—”Istopped.IreckonedIbetterkeepstill.Sherunon,andnevernoticedIhad

putinatall:

“TheniggerrunofftheverynightHuckFinnwaskilled.Sothere’sarewardoutforhim—threehundreddollars.Andthere’sarewardoutforoldFinn,too—twohundreddollars. Yousee,hecome to town themorningafter themurder,and toldabout it, andwasoutwith ’emon the ferryboathunt, and right awayafterheupandleft. Beforenight theywantedto lynchhim,buthewasgone,yousee.Well,nextdaytheyfoundouttheniggerwasgone;theyfoundouthehadn’tbenseensenceteno’clockthenightthemurderwasdone.Sothentheyputitonhim,yousee;andwhiletheywasfullof it,nextday,backcomesoldFinn,andwentboo-hooingtoJudgeThatchertogetmoneytohuntfortheniggeralloverIllinoiswith.Thejudgegavehimsome,andthateveninghegotdrunk,and was around till after midnight with a couple of mighty hard-lookingstrangers,and thenwentoffwith them. Well,hehain’tcomebacksence,andthey ain’t looking for him back till this thing blows over a little, for peoplethinksnowthathekilledhisboyandfixedthingssofolkswouldthinkrobbersdone it,and thenhe’dgetHuck’smoneywithouthaving tobothera long timewithalawsuit. Peopledosayhewarn’tanytoogoodtodoit. Oh,he’ssly,Ireckon. If he don’t come back for a year he’ll be all right. You can’t proveanything on him, you know; everything will be quieted down then, and he’llwalkinHuck’smoneyaseasyasnothing.”“Yes, I reckonso, ’m. Idon’tseenothing in thewayof it. Haseverybody

quitthinkingtheniggerdoneit?”“Oh,no,noteverybody.Agoodmanythinkshedoneit.Butthey’llgetthe

niggerprettysoonnow,andmaybetheycanscareitoutofhim.”“Why,aretheyafterhimyet?”“Well, you’re innocent, ain’t you! Does three hundred dollars lay around

everydayforpeopletopickup?Somefolksthinktheniggerain’tfarfromhere.I’moneofthem—butIhain’t talkeditaround. AfewdaysagoIwastalkingwithanoldcouplethatlivesnextdoorinthelogshanty,andtheyhappenedtosayhardlyanybodyevergoestothatislandoveryonderthattheycallJackson’sIsland.Don’tanybodylivethere?saysI.No,nobody,saysthey.Ididn’tsayanymore,butIdonesomethinking.IwasprettynearcertainI’dseensmokeoverthere,abouttheheadoftheisland,adayortwobeforethat,soIsaystomyself,likeasnotthatnigger’shidingoverthere;anyway,saysI,it’sworththetroubletogivetheplaceahunt.Ihain’tseenanysmokesence,soIreckonmaybehe’sgone,ifitwashim;buthusband’sgoingovertosee—himandanotherman.Hewasgoneuptheriver;buthegotbackto-day,andItoldhimassoonashegotheretwohoursago.”

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IhadgotsouneasyIcouldn’tsetstill.Ihadtodosomethingwithmyhands;soItookupaneedleoffofthetableandwenttothreadingit.Myhandsshook,andIwasmakingabadjobofit.WhenthewomanstoppedtalkingIlookedup,and shewas lookingatmeprettycuriousand smilinga little. Iputdown theneedleandthread,andletontobeinterested—andIwas,too—andsays:“Threehundreddollarsisapowerofmoney.Iwishmymothercouldgetit.Is

yourhusbandgoingoverthereto-night?”“Oh,yes. Hewentup-townwiththemanIwastellingyouof,togetaboat

andseeiftheycouldborrowanothergun.They’llgooveraftermidnight.”“Couldn’ttheyseebetteriftheywastowaittilldaytime?”“Yes.Andcouldn’ttheniggerseebetter,too?Aftermidnighthe’lllikelybe

asleep,andtheycansliparoundthroughthewoodsandhuntuphiscampfireallthebetterforthedark,ifhe’sgotone.”“Ididn’tthinkofthat.”The woman kept looking at me pretty curious, and I didn’t feel a bit

comfortable.Prettysoonshesays,“Whatdidyousayyournamewas,honey?”“M—MaryWilliams.”Somehowitdidn’tseemtomethatIsaiditwasMarybefore,soIdidn’tlook

up—seemedtomeIsaiditwasSarah;soIfeltsortofcornered,andwasafearedmaybeIwas looking it, too. Iwished thewomanwouldsaysomethingmore;thelongershesetstilltheuneasierIwas.Butnowshesays:“Honey,IthoughtyousaiditwasSarahwhenyoufirstcomein?”“Oh,yes’m,Idid.SarahMaryWilliams.Sarah’smyfirstname.Somecalls

meSarah,somecallsmeMary.”“Oh,that’sthewayofit?”“Yes’m.”Iwasfeelingbetterthen,butIwishedIwasoutofthere,anyway.Icouldn’t

lookupyet.Well,thewomanfelltotalkingabouthowhardtimeswas,andhowpoorthey

hadtolive,andhowtheratswasasfreeasiftheyownedtheplace,andsoforthandsoon,andthenIgoteasyagain.Shewasrightabouttherats.You’dseeonestickhisnoseoutofaholeinthecornereverylittlewhile.Shesaidshehadtohavethingshandytothrowatthemwhenshewasalone,ortheywouldn’tgivehernopeace.Sheshowedmeabarofleadtwistedupintoaknot,andsaidshewasagoodshotwithitgenerly,butshe’dwrenchedherarmadayortwoago,and didn’t know whether she could throw true now. But she watched for achance, anddirectly banged away at a rat; but shemissedhimwide, and said“Ouch!”ithurtherarmso.Thenshetoldmetotryforthenextone.Iwantedtobegettingawaybeforetheoldmangotback,butofcourseIdidn’tleton.Igotthething,andthefirstratthatshowedhisnoseIletdrive,andifhe’dastayedwherehewashe’dabeenatolerablesickrat. Shesaidthatwasfirst-rate,andshereckonedIwouldhivethenextone.Shewentandgotthelumpofleadandfetcheditback,andbroughtalongahankofyarnwhichshewantedmetohelpherwith.Iheldupmytwohandsandsheputthehankoverthem,andwentontalkingaboutherandherhusband’smatters.Butshebrokeofftosay:“Keepyoureyeontherats.Youbetterhavetheleadinyourlap,handy.”Soshedroppedthe lumpintomylapjustat thatmoment,andIclappedmy

legstogetheronitandshewentontalking.Butonlyaboutaminute.Thenshetookoffthehankandlookedmestraightintheface,andverypleasant,andsays:“Come,now,what’syourrealname?”“Wh—what,mum?”“What’syourrealname?IsitBill,orTom,orBob?—orwhatisit?”IreckonIshooklikealeaf,andIdidn’tknowhardlywhattodo.ButIsays:“Pleasetodon’tpokefunatapoorgirllikeme,mum.IfI’minthewayhere,

I’ll—”“No,youwon’t.Setdownandstaywhereyouare.Iain’tgoingtohurtyou,

andIain’tgoingto tellonyou,nuther. Youjust tellmeyoursecret,andtrustme.I’llkeepit;and,what’smore,I’llhelpyou.So’llmyoldmanifyouwanthimto.Yousee,you’rearunaway’prentice,that’sall.Itain’tanything.Thereain’tnoharminit.You’vebeentreatedbad,andyoumadeupyourmindtocut.Blessyou,child,Iwouldn’ttellonyou.Tellmeallaboutitnow,that’sagoodboy.”SoIsaid itwouldn’tbenouse to try toplay itanylonger,andIwould just

make a clean breast and tell her everything, but she musn’t go back on herpromise.ThenItoldhermyfatherandmotherwasdead,andthelawhadboundmeouttoameanoldfarmerinthecountrythirtymilebackfromtheriver,andhe treatedmesobadIcouldn’t stand itno longer;hewentaway tobegoneacoupleofdays, and so I tookmychanceand stole someofhisdaughter’soldclothesandclearedout,andIhadbeenthreenightscomingthethirtymiles. Itraveled nights, and hid daytimes and slept, and the bag of bread andmeat Icarriedfromhomelastedmealltheway,andIhada-plenty.IsaidIbelievedmyuncleAbnerMoorewouldtakecareofme,andsothatwaswhyIstruckoutforthistownofGoshen.“Goshen,child?Thisain’tGoshen.ThisisSt.Petersburg.Goshen’stenmile

furtheruptheriver.WhotoldyouthiswasGoshen?”“Why,amanImetatdaybreakthismorning,justasIwasgoingtoturninto

thewoodsformyregularsleep.HetoldmewhentheroadsforkedImusttaketherighthand,andfivemilewouldfetchmetoGoshen.”“Hewasdrunk,Ireckon.Hetoldyoujustexactlywrong.”“Well,hedidact likehewasdrunk,but it ain’tnomatternow. Igot tobe

movingalong.I’llfetchGoshenbeforedaylight.”“Holdonaminute.I’llputyouupasnacktoeat.Youmightwantit.”

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Sosheputmeupasnack,andsays:“Say,whenacow’slayingdown,whichendofhergetsupfirst?Answerup

promptnow—don’tstoptostudyoverit.Whichendgetsupfirst?”“Thehindend,mum.”“Well,then,ahorse?”“Thefor’rardend,mum.”“Whichsideofatreedoesthemossgrowon?”“Northside.”

“Iffifteencowsisbrowsingonahillside,howmanyof themeatswiththeirheadspointedthesamedirection?”“Thewholefifteen,mum.”“Well,Ireckonyouhavelivedinthecountry.Ithoughtmaybeyouwastrying

tohocusmeagain.What’syourrealname,now?”“GeorgePeters,mum.”“Well, try to remember it,George. Don’t forget and tellme it’s Elexander

beforeyougo, and thengetoutby saying it’sGeorgeElexanderwhen I catchyou.Anddon’tgoaboutwomeninthatoldcalico.Youdoagirltolerablepoor,butyoumightfoolmen,maybe.Blessyou,child,whenyousetouttothreadaneedledon’thold the threadstillandfetch theneedleup to it;hold theneedlestillandpokethethreadatit; that’sthewayawomanmostalwaysdoes,butamanalwaysdoest’otherway. Andwhenyouthrowataratoranything,hitchyourselfupatiptoeandfetchyourhandupoveryourheadasawkwardasyoucan, and miss your rat about six or seven foot. Throw stiff-armed from theshoulder, like therewasapivot therefor it to turnon, likeagirl;notfromthewristandelbow,withyourarmouttooneside,likeaboy.And,mindyou,whenagirltriestocatchanythinginherlapshethrowsherkneesapart;shedon’tclapthem together, theway you didwhen you catched the lump of lead. Why, Ispottedyou for aboywhenyouwas threading theneedle; and I contrived theother things just tomake certain. Now trot along to your uncle, SarahMaryWilliamsGeorgeElexanderPeters,andifyougetintotroubleyousendwordtoMrs.JudithLoftus,whichisme,andI’lldowhatIcantogetyououtofit.Keepthe river roadall theway,andnext timeyou tramp takeshoesandsockswithyou.Theriverroad’sarockyone,andyourfeet’llbe inaconditionwhenyougettoGoshen,Ireckon.”Iwent up the bank about fifty yards, and then I doubled onmy tracks and

slippedbacktowheremycanoewas,agoodpiecebelowthehouse.Ijumpedin,andwasoffinahurry.Iwentup-streamfarenoughtomaketheheadoftheisland,and thenstartedacross. I tookoff thesun-bonnet, for Ididn’twantnoblindersonthen.WhenIwasaboutthemiddleIheardtheclockbegintostrike,so I stops and listens; the sound come faint over thewater but clear—eleven.WhenIstrucktheheadoftheislandIneverwaitedtoblow,thoughIwasmostwinded,butIshovedright into the timberwheremyoldcampusedtobe,andstartedagoodfirethereonahighanddryspot.ThenIjumpedinthecanoeanddugoutforourplace,amileandahalfbelow,

ashardasIcouldgo.Ilanded,andsloppedthroughthetimberanduptheridge

andintothecavern.ThereJimlaid,soundasleepontheground.Irousedhimoutandsays:“Gitupandhumpyourself,Jim!Thereain’taminutetolose.They’reafter

us!”

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Jimneveraskednoquestions,heneversaidaword;but thewayheworkedfor the next half an hour showed about how he was scared. By that timeeverythingwehadintheworldwasonourraft,andshewasreadytobeshovedout fromthewillowcovewhereshewashid. Weputout thecampfireat thecavernthefirstthing,anddidn’tshowacandleoutsideafterthat.Itookthecanoeoutfromtheshorealittlepiece,andtookalook;butifthere

wasaboataroundIcouldn’tseeit,forstarsandshadowsain’tgoodtoseeby.Thenwegotouttheraftandslippedalongdownintheshade,pastthefootoftheislanddeadstill—neversayingaword.

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CHAPTERXII.ITmustabeencloseontooneo’clockwhenwegotbelowtheislandatlast,

andtheraftdidseemtogomightyslow. Ifaboatwastocomealongwewas

goingtotaketothecanoeandbreakfortheIllinoisshore;anditwaswellaboatdidn’tcome,forwehadn’teverthoughttoputtheguninthecanoe,orafishing-line,or anything toeat. Wewas in ruther toomuchofa sweat to thinkof somanythings.Itwarn’tgoodjudgmenttoputeverythingontheraft.IfthemenwenttotheislandIjustexpecttheyfoundthecampfireIbuilt,and

watcheditallnightforJimtocome.Anyways,theystayedawayfromus,andifmybuildingthefireneverfooledthemitwarn’tnofaultofmine.IplayeditaslowdownonthemasIcould.Whenthefirststreakofdaybegantoshowwetieduptoatowheadinabig

bendontheIllinoisside,andhackedoffcottonwoodbrancheswiththehatchet,andcovereduptheraftwiththemsoshelookedliketherehadbeenacave-ininthebankthere. Atow-headisasandbarthathascottonwoodsonitasthickasharrow-teeth.WehadmountainsontheMissourishoreandheavytimberontheIllinoisside,

andthechannelwasdowntheMissourishoreatthatplace,sowewarn’tafraidofanybodyrunningacrossus.Welaidthereallday,andwatchedtheraftsandsteamboatsspindowntheMissourishore,andup-boundsteamboatsfightthebigriver in the middle. I told Jim all about the time I had jabbering with thatwoman;andJimsaidshewasasmartone,andifshewastostartafterusherselfshewouldn’tsetdownandwatchacampfire—no,sir,she’dfetchadog.Well,then,Isaid,whycouldn’tshetellherhusbandtofetchadog?Jimsaidhebetshedidthinkofitbythetimethemenwasreadytostart,andhebelievedtheymust a gone up-town to get a dog and so they lost all that time, or else wewouldn’tbehereonatowheadsixteenorseventeenmilebelowthevillage—no,indeedy,wewouldbeinthatsameoldtownagain.SoIsaidIdidn’tcarewhatwasthereasontheydidn’tgetusaslongastheydidn’t.When it was beginning to come on dark we poked our heads out of the

cottonwoodthicket,andlookedupanddownandacross;nothinginsight;soJimtookupsomeofthetopplanksoftheraftandbuiltasnugwigwamtogetunderinblazingweatherandrainy,andtokeepthethingsdry.Jimmadeafloorforthewigwam, and raised it a foot ormore above the level of the raft, so now theblankets and all the trapswas out of reach of steamboatwaves. Right in themiddleofthewigwamwemadealayerofdirtaboutfiveorsixinchesdeepwithaframearounditfortoholdittoitsplace;thiswastobuildafireoninsloppyweather or chilly; thewigwamwould keep it from being seen. Wemade anextrasteering-oar, too,becauseoneof theothersmightgetbrokeonasnagorsomething.Wefixedupashortforkedsticktohangtheoldlanternon,becausewemust always light the lanternwheneverwe seea steamboat comingdown-

stream, tokeepfromgettingrunover;butwewouldn’thave to light it forup-streamboatsunlessweseewewasinwhattheycalla“crossing”;fortheriverwasprettyhighyet,verylowbanksbeingstillalittleunderwater;soup-boundboatsdidn’talwaysrunthechannel,buthuntedeasywater.Thissecondnightwerunbetweensevenandeighthours,withacurrentthat

wasmakingoverfourmileanhour.Wecatchedfishandtalked,andwetookaswimnowandthentokeepoffsleepiness.Itwaskindofsolemn,driftingdownthebig,stillriver,layingonourbackslookingupatthestars,andwedidn’teverfeelliketalkingloud,anditwarn’toftenthatwelaughed—onlyalittlekindofalowchuckle.Wehadmightygoodweatherasageneralthing,andnothingeverhappenedtousatall—thatnight,northenext,northenext.Every night we passed towns, some of them away up on black hillsides,

nothingbutjustashinybedoflights;notahousecouldyousee.ThefifthnightwepassedSt.Louis,anditwaslikethewholeworldlitup.InSt.PetersburgtheyusedtosaytherewastwentyorthirtythousandpeopleinSt.Louis,butIneverbelievedittillIseethatwonderfulspreadoflightsattwoo’clockthatstillnight.Therewarn’tasoundthere;everybodywasasleep.Every night now I used to slip ashore towards ten o’clock at some little

village,andbuytenorfifteencents’worthofmealorbaconorotherstufftoeat;andsometimesIliftedachickenthatwarn’troostingcomfortable,andtookhimalong.Papalwayssaid,takeachickenwhenyougetachance,becauseifyoudon’twanthimyourselfyoucaneasyfindsomebodythatdoes,andagooddeedain’teverforgot.Ineverseepapwhenhedidn’twantthechickenhimself,butthatiswhatheusedtosay,anyway.

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Mornings before daylight I slipped into cornfields and borrowed awatermelon,oramushmelon,orapunkin,orsomenewcorn,or thingsof thatkind.Papalwayssaiditwarn’tnoharmtoborrowthingsifyouwasmeaningtopaythembacksometime;butthewidowsaiditwarn’tanythingbutasoftnameforstealing,andnodecentbodywoulddoit. Jimsaidhereckonedthewidow

waspartlyrightandpapwaspartlyright;sothebestwaywouldbeforustopickouttwoorthreethingsfromthelistandsaywewouldn’tborrowthemanymore—thenhereckoneditwouldn’tbenoharmtoborrowtheothers.Sowetalkeditoverallonenight,driftingalongdown the river, trying tomakeupourmindswhethertodropthewatermelons,orthecantelopes,orthemushmelons,orwhat.But towards daylightwe got it all settled satisfactory, and concluded to dropcrabapplesandp’simmons. Wewarn’tfeelingjustrightbefore that,but itwasall comfortablenow. Iwasglad theway it comeout, too,becausecrabapplesain’tevergood,andthep’simmonswouldn’tberipefortwoorthreemonthsyet.We shot awater-fowlnowand then thatgotup too early in themorningor

didn’tgotobedearlyenoughintheevening.Takeitallround,welivedprettyhigh.The fifth night below St. Louis we had a big storm after midnight, with a

powerof thunderandlightning,andtherainpoureddowninasolidsheet.Westayed in the wigwam and let the raft take care of itself.When the lightningglaredoutwecouldseeabigstraightriverahead,andhigh,rockybluffsonbothsides. Byandbysays I, “Hel-lo, Jim, lookyyonder!” Itwasa steamboat thathad killed herself on a rock. We was drifting straight down for her. Thelightningshowedherverydistinct.Shewasleaningover,withpartofherupperdeckabovewater, andyoucould see every little chimbly-guyclean and clear,and a chair by the big bell,with an old slouch hat hanging on the back of it,whentheflashescome.Well,itbeingawayinthenightandstormy,andallsomysterious-like,Ifelt

just thewayanyotherboywoulda feltwhen I see thatwreck laying there somournfulandlonesomeinthemiddleoftheriver.Iwantedtogetaboardofherandslinkaroundalittle,andseewhattherewasthere.SoIsays:“Le’slandonher,Jim.”ButJimwasdeadagainstitatfirst.Hesays:“Idoan’wanttogofool’n’longernowrack.We’sdoin’blame’well,enwe

betterletblame’wellalone,asdegoodbooksays.Likeasnotdey’sawatchmanondatwrack.”“Watchmanyourgrandmother,” I says;“thereain’tnothing towatchbut the

texasandthepilot-house;anddoyoureckonanybody’sgoingtoreskhislifefora texasandapilot-housesuchanightas this,when it’s likely tobreakupandwashoffdown the riveranyminute?” Jimcouldn’t saynothing to that, sohedidn’ttry."Andbesides,”Isays,“wemightborrowsomethingworthhavingoutofthecaptain’sstateroom.Seegars,Ibetyou—andcostfivecentsapiece,solid

cash.Steamboatcaptainsisalwaysrich,andgetsixtydollarsamonth,andtheydon’t care a centwhat a thing costs, youknow, long as theywant it. Stick acandleinyourpocket;Ican’trest,Jim,tillwegiveherarummaging.DoyoureckonTomSawyerwouldevergobythisthing?Notforpie,hewouldn’t.He’dcall it anadventure—that’swhathe’dcall it; andhe’d landon thatwreck if itwas his last act. And wouldn’t he throw style into it?—wouldn’t he spreadhimself, nor nothing? Why, you’d think it was Christopher C’lumbusdiscoveringKingdom-Come.IwishTomSawyerwashere.”Jimhegrumbledalittle,butgivein.Hesaidwemustn’ttalkanymorethan

wecouldhelp, and then talkmighty low. The lightning showedus thewreckagainjustintime,andwefetchedthestabboardderrick,andmadefastthere.The deck was high out here. We went sneaking down the slope of it to

labboard,inthedark,towardsthetexas,feelingourwayslowwithourfeet,andspreadingourhandsouttofendofftheguys,foritwassodarkwecouldn’tseeno sign of them. Pretty soonwe struck the forward end of the skylight, andclumbontoit;andthenextstepfetchedusinfrontofthecaptain’sdoor,whichwasopen,andbyJimminy,awaydownthroughthetexas-hallweseealight!andallinthesamesecondweseemtohearlowvoicesinyonder!Jimwhispered and said hewas feeling powerful sick, and toldme to come

along.Isays,allright,andwasgoingtostartfortheraft;butjustthenIheardavoicewailoutandsay:“Oh,pleasedon’t,boys;IswearIwon’tevertell!”Anothervoicesaid,prettyloud:“It’s a lie, Jim Turner. You’ve acted this way before. You always want

more’nyour shareof the truck, andyou’vealwaysgot it, too,becauseyou’veswore’tifyoudidn’tyou’dtell. Butthistimeyou’vesaiditjestonetimetoomany.You’rethemeanest,treacherousesthoundinthiscountry.”BythistimeJimwasgonefortheraft.Iwasjusta-bilingwithcuriosity;andI

saystomyself,TomSawyerwouldn’tbackoutnow,andsoIwon’teither;I’ma-goingtoseewhat’sgoingonhere.SoIdroppedonmyhandsandkneesinthelittlepassage,andcreptaftinthedarktilltherewarn’tbutonestateroombetwixtmeand thecross-hallof the texas. Then in thereIseeamanstretchedon thefloorandtiedhandandfoot,andtwomenstandingoverhim,andoneofthemhad a dim lantern in his hand, and the other one had a pistol. This one keptpointingthepistolattheman’sheadonthefloor,andsaying:“I’dliketo!AndIorter,too—ameanskunk!”

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The man on the floor would shrivel up and say, “Oh, please don’t, Bill; Ihain’tevergoin’totell.”Andeverytimehesaidthatthemanwiththelanternwouldlaughandsay:“’Deedyouain’t! Younever saidno truer thing ’n that,youbetyou.”And

oncehesaid:"Hearhimbeg!andyitifwehadn’tgotthebestofhimandtiedhimhe’dakilledusboth.Andwhatfor?Jistfornoth’n.Jistbecausewestoodonourrights—that’swhatfor.ButIlayyouain’ta-goin’tothreatennobodyanymore,JimTurner.Putupthatpistol,Bill.”Billsays:“I don’twant to, Jake Packard. I’m for killin’ him—and didn’t he kill old

Hatfieldjistthesameway—anddon’thedeserveit?”“ButIdon’twanthimkilled,andI’vegotmyreasonsforit.”“Blessyo’heartforthemwords,JakePackard!I’llneverforgityoulong’sI

live!”saysthemanonthefloor,sortofblubbering.Packarddidn’t takenonoticeof that, but hunguphis lanternon anail and

started towardswhere I was there in the dark, andmotionedBill to come. Icrawfished as fast as I could about two yards, but the boat slanted so that Icouldn’tmakeverygood time;so tokeepfromgetting runoverandcatchedIcrawled intoastateroomon theupperside. Themancamea-pawingalong inthedark,andwhenPackardgottomystateroom,hesays:“Here—comeinhere.”And inhecome,andBillafterhim. Butbefore theygot in Iwasup in the

upperberth,cornered,andsorryIcome.Thentheystoodthere,withtheirhandsontheledgeoftheberth,andtalked.Icouldn’tseethem,butIcouldtellwheretheywasbythewhiskythey’dbeenhaving. IwasgladIdidn’tdrinkwhisky;but itwouldn’tmademuch difference anyway, becausemost of the time theycouldn’tatreedmebecauseIdidn’tbreathe.Iwastooscared.And,besides,abodycouldn’t breathe and hear such talk. They talked low and earnest. BillwantedtokillTurner.Hesays:

“He’ssaidhe’lltell,andhewill.Ifwewastogivebothoursharestohimnowit wouldn’t make no difference after the row and the waywe’ve served him. Shore’s you’re born, he’ll turn State’s evidence; now you hearme. I’m forputtinghimoutofhistroubles.”“So’mI,”saysPackard,veryquiet.“Blame it, I’d sorterbegun to thinkyouwasn’t. Well, then, that’s all right.

Le’sgoanddoit.”“Hold on aminute; I hain’t hadmy say yit. You listen tome. Shooting’s

good,butthere’squieterwaysifthething’sgottobedone.ButwhatIsayisthis: it ain’t good sense to go court’n around after a halter if you can git atwhatyou’reuptoinsomewaythat’sjistasgoodandatthesametimedon’tbringyouintonoresks.Ain’tthatso?”“Youbetitis.Buthowyougoin’tomanageitthistime?”“Well,my idea is this: we’ll rustle around and gather upwhatever pickins

we’ve overlooked in the staterooms, and shove for shore and hide the truck.Thenwe’llwait. NowI say it ain’t a-goin’ tobemore’n twohoursbefo’ thiswrackbreaksupandwashesoffdowntheriver. See?He’llbedrownded,andwon’thavenobodytoblameforitbuthisownself.Ireckonthat’saconsiderblesightbetter’nkillin’ofhim.I’munfavorabletokillin’amanaslongasyoucangitaroun’it;itain’tgoodsense,itain’tgoodmorals.Ain’tIright?”

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“Yes,Ireck’nyouare.Buts’poseshedon’tbreakupandwashoff?”“Well,wecanwaitthetwohoursanywayandsee,can’twe?”“Allright,then;comealong.”Sotheystarted,andIlitout,allinacoldsweat,andscrambledforward.Itwas

dark as pitch there; but I said, in a kind of a coarse whisper, “Jim!” and heansweredup,rightatmyelbow,withasortofamoan,andIsays:“Quick,Jim,itain’tnotimeforfoolingaroundandmoaning;there’sagangof

murderersinyonder,andifwedon’thuntuptheirboatandsetherdriftingdown

theriversothesefellowscan’tgetawayfromthewreckthere’soneof’emgoingtobeinabadfix.Butifwefindtheirboatwecanputallof’eminabadfix—for thesheriff’llget’em.Quick—hurry! I’llhunt the labboardside,youhuntthestabboard.Youstartattheraft,and—”“Oh,mylordy,lordy!raf’’?Deyain’noraf’nomo’;shedonebrokeloose

engoneI—enhereweis!”

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CHAPTERXIII.WELL,Icatchedmybreathandmostfainted.Shutuponawreckwithsucha

gangasthat!Butitwarn’tnotimetobesentimentering.We’dgottofindthatboat now—had to have it for ourselves. So we went a-quaking and shakingdownthestabboardside,andslowworkitwas,too—seemedaweekbeforewegottothestern.Nosignofaboat.Jimsaidhedidn’tbelievehecouldgoanyfurther—soscaredhehadn’thardlyanystrengthleft,hesaid.ButIsaid,comeon,ifwegetleftonthiswreckweareinafix,sure.Soonweprowledagain.We struck for the stern of the texas, and found it, and then scrabbled alongforwardsontheskylight,hangingonfromshuttertoshutter,fortheedgeoftheskylightwasinthewater.Whenwegotprettyclosetothecross-halldoortherewastheskiff,sureenough!Icouldjustbarelyseeher.Ifelteversothankful.In

anothersecondIwouldabeenaboardofher,butjustthenthedooropened.Oneofthemenstuckhisheadoutonlyaboutacoupleoffootfromme,andIthoughtIwasgone;buthejerkeditinagain,andsays:“Heavethatblamelanternouto’sight,Bill!”He flung a bag of something into the boat, and then got in himself and set

down.ItwasPackard.ThenBillhecomeoutandgotin.Packardsays,inalowvoice:“Allready—shoveoff!”Icouldn’thardlyhangontotheshutters,Iwassoweak.ButBillsays:“Holdon—’dyougothroughhim?”“No.Didn’tyou?”“No.Sohe’sgothisshareo’thecashyet.”“Well,then,comealong;nousetotaketruckandleavemoney.”“Say,won’thesuspicionwhatwe’reupto?”“Maybehewon’t.Butwegottohaveitanyway.Comealong.”Sotheygotoutandwentin.Thedoorslammedtobecauseitwasonthecareenedside;andinahalfsecond

Iwasintheboat,andJimcometumblingafterme.Ioutwithmyknifeandcuttherope,andawaywewent!We didn’t touch an oar, and we didn’t speak nor whisper, nor hardly even

breathe.Wewentglidingswiftalong,deadsilent,pastthetipofthepaddle-box,andpastthestern;theninasecondortwomorewewasahundredyardsbelowthewreck,and thedarknesssoakedherup,every last signofher,andwewassafe,andknowedit.Whenwewas three or four hundred yards down-streamwe see the lantern

show likea little sparkat the texasdoor fora second,andweknowedby thatthattherascalshadmissedtheirboat,andwasbeginningtounderstandthattheywasinjustasmuchtroublenowasJimTurnerwas.ThenJimmannedtheoars,andwetookoutafterourraft.Nowwasthefirst

timethatIbeguntoworryaboutthemen—IreckonIhadn’thadtimetobefore.Ibeguntothinkhowdreadfulitwas,evenformurderers,tobeinsuchafix.Isaystomyself, thereain’tnotellingbutImightcometobeamurderermyselfyet,andthenhowwouldIlikeit?SosaysItoJim:“The first lightweseewe’ll landahundredyardsbelow itorabove it, ina

placewhereit’sagoodhiding-placeforyouandtheskiff,andthenI’llgoand

fixupsomekindofayarn,andgetsomebodytogoforthatgangandgetthemoutoftheirscrape,sotheycanbehungwhentheirtimecomes.”But that ideawasa failure; forprettysoon itbegun tostormagain,and this

time worse than ever. The rain poured down, and never a light showed;everybody in bed, I reckon. We boomed along down the river, watching forlightsandwatchingforourraft.Afteralongtimetherainletup,butthecloudsstayed,and the lightningkeptwhimpering,andbyandbya flashshowedusablackthingahead,floating,andwemadeforit.Itwastheraft,andmightygladwaswetogetaboardofitagain.Weseena

lightnowawaydowntotheright,onshore.SoIsaidIwouldgoforit.Theskiffwas half full of plunder which that gang had stole there on the wreck. Wehustleditontotheraftinapile,andItoldJimtofloatalongdown,andshowalight when he judged he had gone about twomile, and keep it burning till Icome;thenImannedmyoarsandshovedforthelight.AsIgotdowntowardsitthreeorfourmoreshowed—uponahillside.Itwasavillage.Iclosedinabovethe shore light, and laidonmyoars and floated. As Iwent by I see itwas alanternhangingon the jackstaffofadouble-hull ferryboat. I skimmedaroundforthewatchman,a-wonderingwhereaboutsheslept;andbyandbyIfoundhimroostingonthebittsforward,withhisheaddownbetweenhisknees.Igavehisshouldertwoorthreelittleshoves,andbeguntocry.Hestirredupinakindofastartlishway;butwhenheseeitwasonlymehe

tookagoodgapandstretch,andthenhesays:“Hello,what’sup?Don’tcry,bub.What’sthetrouble?”

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Isays:“Pap,andmam,andsis,and—”ThenIbrokedown.Hesays:“Oh,dangitnow,don’ttakeonso;weallhastohaveourtroubles,andthis’n

’llcomeoutallright.What’sthematterwith’em?”“They’re—they’re—areyouthewatchmanoftheboat?”“Yes,” he says, kind of pretty-well-satisfied like. "I’m the captain and the

owner and the mate and the pilot and watchman and head deck-hand; andsometimesI’mthefreightandpassengers.Iain’tasrichasoldJimHornback,andIcan’tbesoblame’generousandgoodtoTom,Dick,andHarryaswhatheis,andslamaroundmoneythewayhedoes;butI’vetoldhimamanyatime’tIwouldn’t tradeplaceswithhim;for,saysI,asailor’s life’s thelifeforme,andI’mdernedifI’dlivetwomileouto’town,wherethereain’tnothingevergoin’on,notforallhisspondulicksandasmuchmoreontopofit.SaysI—”Ibrokeinandsays:“They’reinanawfulpeckoftrouble,and—”“Whois?”“Why, pap and mam and sis and Miss Hooker; and if you’d take your

ferryboatandgoupthere—”“Upwhere?Wherearethey?”“Onthewreck.”“Whatwreck?”“Why,thereain’tbutone.”“What,youdon’tmeantheWalterScott?”“Yes.”“Goodland!whataretheydoin’there,forgracioussakes?”“Well,theydidn’tgotherea-purpose.”“Ibettheydidn’t!Why,greatgoodness,thereain’tnochancefor’emifthey

don’tgitoffmightyquick!Why,howinthenationdidtheyevergitintosuchascrape?”

“Easyenough.MissHookerwasa-visitinguptheretothetown—”“Yes,Booth’sLanding—goon.”“She was a-visiting there at Booth’s Landing, and just in the edge of the

evening she started overwith her niggerwoman in the horse-ferry to stay allnight at her friend’s house, Miss What-you-may-call-her I disremember hername—and they lost their steering-oar, and swung around andwent a-floatingdown, stern first, about two mile, and saddle-baggsed on the wreck, and theferrymanandtheniggerwomanandthehorseswasalllost,butMissHookershemadeagrabandgotaboardthewreck.Well,aboutanhourafterdarkwecomealongdowninourtrading-scow,anditwassodarkwedidn’tnoticethewrecktillwewasrightonit;andsowesaddle-baggsed;butallofuswassavedbutBillWhipple—andoh,hewasthebestcretur!—Imostwish’tithadbeenme,Ido.”“MyGeorge!It’sthebeatenestthingIeverstruck.Andthenwhatdidyouall

do?”“Well, we hollered and took on, but it’s so wide there we couldn’t make

nobodyhear.Sopapsaidsomebodygottogetashoreandgethelpsomehow.Iwastheonlyonethatcouldswim,soImadeadashforit,andMissHookershesaidifIdidn’tstrikehelpsooner,comehereandhuntupheruncle,andhe’dfixthething.Imadethelandaboutamilebelow,andbeenfoolingalongeversince,tryingtogetpeopletodosomething,buttheysaid,’What, insuchanightandsuchacurrent?Thereain’tnosenseinit;goforthesteamferry.’Nowifyou’llgoand—”“ByJackson,I’dliketo,and,blameit,Idon’tknowbutIwill;butwhointhe

dingnation’sa-going’topayforit?Doyoureckonyourpap—”“Why that’s all right. Miss Hooker she toleme, particular, that her uncle

Hornback—”“Great guns! is he her uncle? Looky here, you break for that light over

yonder-way,andturnoutwestwhenyougitthere,andaboutaquarterofamileoutyou’ll come to the tavern; tell ’em todartyouout to JimHornback’s, andhe’llfootthebill. Anddon’tyoufoolaroundany,becausehe’llwanttoknowthenews.TellhimI’llhavehisnieceallsafebeforehecangettotown.Humpyourself,now;I’ma-goinguparoundthecornerheretoroustoutmyengineer.”Istruckforthelight,butassoonasheturnedthecornerIwentbackandgot

intomyskiffandbailedherout,andthenpulledupshoreintheeasywateraboutsixhundredyards,andtuckedmyselfinamongsomewoodboats;forIcouldn’tresteasytillIcouldseetheferryboatstart.Buttakeitallaround,Iwasfeelingruther comfortableon accounts of taking all this trouble for that gang, for not

manywouldadoneit.Iwishedthewidowknowedaboutit.Ijudgedshewouldbe proud of me for helping these rapscallions, because rapscallions and deadbeatsisthekindthewidowandgoodpeopletakesthemostinterestin.

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Well,beforelongherecomesthewreck,dimanddusky,slidingalongdown!Akindofcoldshiverwentthroughme,andthenIstruckoutforher.Shewasverydeep, and I see inaminute therewarn’tmuchchance for anybodybeingalive inher. Ipulledall aroundherandhollereda little,but therewasn’t anyanswer; all dead still. I felt a little bit heavy-hearted about the gang, but notmuch,forIreckonediftheycouldstanditIcould.Thenherecomes the ferryboat; so I shoved for themiddleof the riverona

longdown-streamslant;andwhenIjudgedIwasoutofeye-reachIlaidonmyoars, and looked back and see her go and smell around the wreck for MissHooker’s remainders, because the captain would know her uncle Hornbackwouldwantthem;andthenprettysoontheferryboatgiveitupandwentfortheshore,andIlaidintomyworkandwenta-boomingdowntheriver.Itdidseemapowerful long timebeforeJim’s lightshowedup;andwhen it

didshowitlookedlikeitwasathousandmileoff. BythetimeIgottheretheskywasbeginningtogetalittlegrayintheeast;sowestruckforanisland,andhidtheraft,andsunktheskiff,andturnedinandsleptlikedeadpeople.

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CHAPTERXIV.BYandby,whenwegotup,weturnedoverthetrucktheganghadstoleoffof

the wreck, and found boots, and blankets, and clothes, and all sorts of otherthings,andalotofbooks,andaspyglass,andthreeboxesofseegars.Wehadn’teverbeenthisrichbefore inneitherofour lives. Theseegarswasprime. Welaidoff all the afternoon in thewoods talking, andme reading thebooks, andhavingageneralgoodtime.ItoldJimallaboutwhathappenedinsidethewreckandattheferryboat,andIsaidthesekindsofthingswasadventures;buthesaidhedidn’twantnomoreadventures.HesaidthatwhenIwentinthetexasandhecrawledback togeton the raftand foundhergonehenearlydied,becausehejudgeditwasallupwithhimanywayitcouldbefixed;forifhedidn’tgetsavedhewouldgetdrownded;andifhedidgetsaved,whoeversavedhimwouldsendhimbackhomesoas toget the reward,and thenMissWatsonwouldsellhimSouth,sure.Well,hewasright;hewasmostalwaysright;hehadanuncommonlevelheadforanigger.IreadconsiderabletoJimaboutkingsanddukesandearlsandsuch,andhow

gaudytheydressed,andhowmuchstyletheyputon,andcalledeachotheryourmajesty,andyourgrace,andyourlordship,andsoon,’steadofmister;andJim’seyesbuggedout,andhewasinterested.Hesays:“I didn’ know deywas somany un um. I hain’t hearn ’bout none un um,

skasely,butoleKingSollermun,onlessyoucountsdemkingsdat’sinapackerk’yards.Howmuchdoakinggit?”“Get?”Isays;“why,theygetathousanddollarsamonthiftheywantit;they

canhavejustasmuchastheywant;everythingbelongstothem.”“Ain’’datgay?Enwhatdeygottodo,Huck?”“Theydon’tdonothing!Why,howyoutalk!Theyjustsetaround.”“No;isdatso?”“Ofcourse it is. They just set around—except,maybe,when there’sawar;

thentheygotothewar.Butothertimestheyjustlazyaround;orgohawking—

justhawkingandsp—Sh!—d’youhearanoise?”We skipped out and looked; but it warn’t nothing but the flutter of a

steamboat’swheelawaydown,comingaroundthepoint;sowecomeback.“Yes,” says I, “and other times, when things is dull, they fuss with the

parlyment; and if everybody don’t go just so he whacks their heads off. Butmostlytheyhangroundtheharem.”“Roun’dewhich?”“Harem.”“What’sdeharem?”

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“The place where he keeps his wives. Don’t you know about the harem?Solomonhadone;hehadaboutamillionwives.”“Why,yes,dat’sso;I—I’ddoneforgotit.Aharem’sabo’d’n-house,Ireck’n.

Mos’likelydeyhasracketytimesindenussery.EnIreck’ndewivesquarrelsconsidable;endat’creasederacket. YitdeysaySollermundewises’mandateverlive’.Idoan’takenostockindat.Bekasewhy:wouldawisemanwanttoliveindemids’ersichablim-blammin’alldetime?No—’deedhewouldn’t.Awiseman ’ud take enbuil’ abiler-factry; endenhe could shetdown de biler-factrywhenhewanttores’.”“Well,buthewasthewisestman,anyway;becausethewidowshetoldmeso,

herownself.”“I doan k’yerwhat dewidder say, hewarn’t nowiseman nuther. He had

someerdedad-fetchedes’waysIeversee.Doesyouknow’boutdatchiledathe’uzgwynetochopintwo?”“Yes,thewidowtoldmeallaboutit.”“Well,den!Warn’datdebeatenes’notionindeworl’?Youjes’takeenlook

atitaminute.Dah’sdestump,dah—dat’soneerdewomen;heah’syou—dat’sde yuther one; I’s Sollermun; en dish yer dollar bill’s de chile. Bofe un youclaimsit.WhatdoesIdo?DoesIshinaroun’mongs’deneighborsenfineout

whichunyoudebilldo b’long to, en han’ it over to de right one, all safe ensoun’,dewaydatanybodydathadanygumptionwould?No;Itakeenwhackdebillintwo,engivehalfunit toyou,endeyutherhalftodeyutherwoman.Dat’sdewaySollermunwasgwynetodowiddechile.NowIwanttoastyou:what’sdeuseerdathalfabill?—can’tbuynoth’nwidit.Enwhatuseisahalfachile?Iwouldn’giveadernforamillionunum.”“Buthangit,Jim,you’vecleanmissedthepoint—blameit,you’vemissedita

thousandmile.”“Who?Me?Go’long.Doan’talktome’boutyo’pints. Ireck’nIknows

sensewhenIseesit;endeyain’nosenseinsichdoin’sasdat.De’sputewarn’t’boutahalfachile,de’sputewas’boutawholechile;endemandatthinkhekinsettlea’spute’boutawholechilewidahalfachiledoan’knowenoughtocomeinout’nderain. Doan’ talk tome’boutSollermun,Huck, Iknowshimbydeback.”

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“ButItellyouyoudon’tgetthepoint.”“Blamedepoint!Ireck’nIknowswhatIknows.Enmineyou,derealpintis

downfurder—it’sdowndeeper. It lays indewaySollermunwas raised. Youtakeamandat’sgoton’yoneortwochillen;isdatmangwynetobewasefulo’chillen? No,heain’t;hecan’t ’ford it. Heknowhowtovalue’em. Butyoutake aman dat’s got ’bout fivemillion chillen runnin’ roun’ de house, en it’sdiffunt.Heassoonchopachileintwoasacat.Dey’splentymo’.Achileertwo,mo’erless,warn’tnoconsekenstoSollermun,dadfatchhim!”Ineverseesuchanigger.Ifhegotanotioninhisheadonce,therewarn’tno

gettingitoutagain.HewasthemostdownonSolomonofanyniggerIeversee.SoIwenttotalkingaboutotherkings,andletSolomonslide.ItoldaboutLouisSixteenththatgothisheadcutoffinFrancelongtimeago;andabouthislittleboythedolphin,thatwouldabeenaking,buttheytookandshuthimupinjail,andsomesayhediedthere.“Po’littlechap.”

“Butsomesayshegotoutandgotaway,andcometoAmerica.”“Dat’s good! But he’ll be pooty lonesome—dey ain’ nokings here, is dey,

Huck?”“No.”“Denhecain’tgitnosituation.Whathegwynetodo?”“Well, I don’t know. Some of them gets on the police, and some of them

learnspeoplehowtotalkFrench.”“Why,Huck,doan’deFrenchpeopletalkdesamewaywedoes?”“No,Jim;youcouldn’tunderstandawordtheysaid—notasingleword.”“Well,now,Ibeding-busted!Howdodatcome?”“Idon’tknow;butit’sso.Igotsomeoftheirjabberoutofabook.S’posea

manwastocometoyouandsayPolly-voo-franzy—whatwouldyouthink?”“I wouldn’ think nuff’n; I’d take en bust him over de head—dat is, if he

warn’twhite.Iwouldn’t’lownoniggertocallmedat.”“Shucks,itain’tcallingyouanything.It’sonlysaying,doyouknowhowto

talkFrench?”“Well,den,whycouldn’thesayit?”“Why,heisa-sayingit.That’saFrenchman’swayofsayingit.”“Well, it’s a blame ridicklousway, en I doan’want tohear nomo’ ’bout it.

Deyain’nosenseinit.”“Lookyhere,Jim;doesacattalklikewedo?”“No,acatdon’t.”“Well,doesacow?”“No,acowdon’t,nuther.”“Doesacattalklikeacow,oracowtalklikeacat?”“No,deydon’t.”“It’snaturalandrightfor’emtotalkdifferentfromeachother,ain’tit?”“Course.”“Andain’titnaturalandrightforacatandacowtotalkdifferentfromus?”“Why,mos’sholyitis.”“Well, then,why ain’t it natural and right for aFrenchman to talkdifferent

fromus?Youanswermethat.”“Isacataman,Huck?”

“No.”“Well,den,deyain’tnosenseinacattalkin’likeaman.Isacowaman?—er

isacowacat?”“No,sheain’teitherofthem.”“Well, den, she ain’t gotnobusiness to talk like eitherone er theyutherof

’em.IsaFrenchmanaman?”“Yes.”“Well, den! Dad blame it,why doan’ he talk like aman? You answerme

dat!”Iseeitwarn’tnousewastingwords—youcan’tlearnaniggertoargue.SoI

quit.

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CHAPTERXV.WEjudged that threenightsmorewould fetchus toCairo,at thebottomof

Illinois,where theOhioRivercomes in, and thatwaswhatwewasafter. WewouldselltheraftandgetonasteamboatandgowayuptheOhioamongstthefreeStates,andthenbeoutoftrouble.Well,thesecondnightafogbeguntocomeon,andwemadeforatowheadto

tieto,foritwouldn’tdototrytoruninafog;butwhenIpaddledaheadinthecanoe,withthelinetomakefast,therewarn’tanythingbutlittlesaplingstotieto.Ipassedthelinearoundoneofthemrightontheedgeofthecutbank,buttherewasastiffcurrent,and theraftcomeboomingdownso livelyshe tore itoutbytherootsandawayshewent.Iseethefogclosingdown,anditmademesosickandscaredIcouldn’tbudgeformostahalfaminuteitseemedtome—andthentherewarn’tnoraftinsight;youcouldn’tseetwentyyards.Ijumpedintothecanoeandrunbacktothestern,andgrabbedthepaddleandsetherbackastroke.Butshedidn’tcome.IwasinsuchahurryIhadn’tuntiedher.Igot

up and tried to untie her, but I was so excitedmy hands shook so I couldn’thardlydoanythingwiththem.AssoonasIgotstartedItookoutaftertheraft,hotandheavy,rightdownthe

towhead.Thatwasallrightasfarasitwent,butthetowheadwarn’tsixtyyardslong,andtheminuteIflewbythefootofitIshotoutintothesolidwhitefog,andhadn’tnomoreideawhichwayIwasgoingthanadeadman.ThinksI,itwon’tdotopaddle;firstIknowI’llrunintothebankoratowhead

orsomething;Igottosetstillandfloat,andyetit’smightyfidgetybusinesstohave to hold your hands still at such a time. Iwhooped and listened. AwaydowntheresomewheresIhearsasmallwhoop,andupcomesmyspirits.Iwenttearing after it, listening sharp tohear it again. Thenext time it come I see Iwarn’theadingfor it,butheadingawayto therightof it. Andthenext timeIwasheadingawaytotheleftofit—andnotgainingonitmucheither,forIwasflyingaround,thiswayandthatandt’other,butitwasgoingstraightaheadallthetime.Ididwishthefoolwouldthinktobeatatinpan,andbeatitallthetime,buthe

neverdid,and itwas thestillplacesbetween thewhoops thatwasmaking thetroubleforme.Well,Ifoughtalong,anddirectlyIhearsthewhoopbehindme.Iwastangledgoodnow.Thatwassomebodyelse’swhoop,orelseIwasturnedaround.Ithrowedthepaddledown. Iheardthewhoopagain;itwasbehindmeyet,

butinadifferentplace;itkeptcoming,andkeptchangingitsplace,andIkeptanswering,tillbyandbyitwasinfrontofmeagain,andIknowedthecurrenthadswungthecanoe’sheaddown-stream,andIwasallrightifthatwasJimandnotsomeotherraftsmanhollering.Icouldn’ttellnothingaboutvoicesinafog,fornothingdon’tlooknaturalnorsoundnaturalinafog.Thewhoopingwenton,andinaboutaminuteIcomea-boomingdownona

cutbankwithsmokyghostsofbigtreesonit,andthecurrentthrowedmeofftothe leftandshotby,amongsta lotofsnags that fairly roared, thecurrrentwastearingbythemsoswift.Inanothersecondortwoitwassolidwhiteandstillagain.Isetperfectlystill

then, listening tomyheart thump,andI reckonIdidn’tdrawabreathwhile itthumpedahundred.I just give up then. I knowedwhat thematterwas. That cut bankwas an

island,andJimhadgonedownt’othersideofit.Itwarn’tnotowheadthatyoucouldfloatbyintenminutes.Ithadthebigtimberofaregularisland;itmightbefiveorsixmileslongandmorethanhalfamilewide.

I kept quiet, with my ears cocked, about fifteen minutes, I reckon. I wasfloatingalong,ofcourse,fourorfivemilesanhour;butyoudon’teverthinkofthat. No, you feel like you are laying dead still on the water; and if a littleglimpseofasnagslipsbyyoudon’tthinktoyourselfhowfastyou’regoing,butyoucatchyourbreathandthink,my!howthatsnag’stearingalong.Ifyouthinkitain’tdismalandlonesomeoutinafogthatwaybyyourselfinthenight,youtryitonce—you’llsee.

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Next, for about a half an hour, I whoops now and then; at last I hears theansweralongwaysoff,andtriestofollowit,butIcouldn’tdoit,anddirectlyIjudgedI’dgotintoanestoftowheads,forIhadlittledimglimpsesofthemonboth sides ofme—sometimes just a narrow channel between, and some that Icouldn’tseeIknowedwastherebecauseI’dhearthewashofthecurrentagainstthe old dead brush and trash that hung over the banks. Well, I warn’t longloosingthewhoopsdownamongstthetowheads;andIonlytriedtochasethemalittlewhile,anyway,becauseitwasworsethanchasingaJack-o’-lantern. Youneverknowedasounddodgearoundso,andswapplacessoquickandsomuch.Ihadtoclawawayfromthebankprettylivelyfourorfivetimes,tokeepfrom

knockingtheislandsoutoftheriver;andsoIjudgedtheraftmustbebuttingintothebankeverynowandthen,orelseitwouldgetfurtheraheadandclearoutofhearing—itwasfloatingalittlefasterthanwhatIwas.Well,Iseemedtobeintheopenriveragainbyandby,butIcouldn’thearno

signofawhoopnowheres.IreckonedJimhadfetcheduponasnag,maybe,anditwasallupwithhim.Iwasgoodandtired,soIlaiddowninthecanoeandsaidIwouldn’tbothernomore.Ididn’twanttogotosleep,ofcourse;butIwassosleepyIcouldn’thelpit;soIthoughtIwouldtakejestonelittlecat-nap.

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But I reckon itwasmore thanacat-nap, forwhenIwakedup thestarswasshiningbright,thefogwasallgone,andIwasspinningdownabigbendsternfirst. First I didn’t knowwhere I was; I thought I was dreaming; and whenthingsbegantocomebacktometheyseemedtocomeupdimoutoflastweek.It was amonstrous big river here, with the tallest and the thickest kind of

timber on both banks; just a solidwall, aswell as I could see by the stars. Ilookedawaydown-stream,andseenablackspeckonthewater.Itookafterit;butwhenIgottoititwarn’tnothingbutacoupleofsawlogsmadefasttogether. Then I see another speck, and chased that; then another, and this time Iwasright.Itwastheraft.WhenIgottoitJimwassettingtherewithhisheaddownbetweenhisknees,

asleep, with his right arm hanging over the steering-oar. The other oar wassmashedoff,andtheraftwaslitteredupwithleavesandbranchesanddirt.Soshe’dhadaroughtime.ImadefastandlaiddownunderJim’snoseontheraft,andbegantogap,and

stretchmyfistsoutagainstJim,andsays:“Hello,Jim,haveIbeenasleep?Whydidn’tyoustirmeup?”“Goodnessgracious,isdatyou,Huck?Enyouain’dead—youain’drownded

—you’sbackagin?It’stoogoodfortrue,honey,it’stoogoodfortrue.Lemmelookatyouchile,lemmefeelo’you.No,youain’dead!you’sbackagin,’liveensoun’,jisdesameoleHuck—desameoleHuck,thankstogoodness!”“What’sthematterwithyou,Jim?Youbeena-drinking?”“Drinkin’?HasIbena-drinkin’?HasIhadachancetobea-drinkin’?”“Well,then,whatmakesyoutalksowild?”“HowdoesItalkwild?”“How? Why, hain’t you been talking about my coming back, and all that

stuff,asifI’dbeengoneaway?”“Huck—HuckFinn,you lookme indeeye; lookme indeeye. Hain’t you

bengoneaway?”“Gone away? Why, what in the nation do youmean? I hain’t been gone

anywheres.WherewouldIgoto?”

“Well,lookyhere,boss,dey’ssumf’nwrong,deyis.IsIme,orwhoisI?IsIheah,orwhahisI?Nowdat’swhatIwantstoknow.”“Well, I thinkyou’rehere, plain enough,but I thinkyou’re a tangle-headed

oldfool,Jim.”“Iis,isI?Well,youanswermedis:Didn’tyoutoteoutdelineindecanoe

fertomakefas’todetow-head?”“No,Ididn’t.Whattow-head?Ihain’tseenotow-head.”“Youhain’tseennotowhead?Lookyhere,didn’tdelinepulllooseenderaf’

goa-hummin’downderiver,enleaveyouendecanoebehineindefog?”“Whatfog?”“Why,defog!—defogdat’sbeenaroun’allnight.Endidn’tyouwhoop,en

didn’tIwhoop,tellwegotmix’upindeislandsenoneunusgotlos’ent’otheronewasjis’asgoodaslos’,’kasehedidn’knowwhahhewuz?Endidn’tIbustupaginaloterdemislandsenhaveaturribletimeenmos’gitdrownded?Nowain’datso,boss—ain’titso?Youanswermedat.”“Well,thisistoomanyforme,Jim.Ihain’tseennofog,nornoislands,nor

notroubles,nornothing. Ibeensettingheretalkingwithyouallnighttillyouwenttosleepabouttenminutesago,andIreckonIdonethesame.Youcouldn’tagotdrunkinthattime,soofcourseyou’vebeendreaming.”“Dadfetchit,howisIgwynetodreamalldatintenminutes?”“Well,hangitall,youdiddreamit,becausetheredidn’tanyofithappen.”“But,Huck,it’salljis’asplaintomeas—”“Itdon’tmakenodifferencehowplainitis;thereain’tnothinginit.Iknow,

becauseI’vebeenhereallthetime.”Jimdidn’tsaynothingforaboutfiveminutes,butset therestudyingover it.

Thenhesays:“Well, den, I reck’n I did dream it, Huck; but dog my cats ef it ain’t de

powerfullestdreamIeversee.EnIhain’teverhadnodreamb’fo’dat’stiredmelikedisone.”“Oh,well, that’s all right, because adreamdoes tire abody like everything

sometimes.Butthisonewasastavingdream;tellmeallaboutit,Jim.”So Jimwent to work and toldme the whole thing right through, just as it

happened,onlyhepainteditupconsiderable.Thenhesaidhemuststartinand“’terpret”it,becauseitwassentforawarning.Hesaidthefirsttowheadstoodforamanthatwouldtrytodoussomegood,butthecurrentwasanotherman

thatwouldgetusawayfromhim.Thewhoopswaswarningsthatwouldcometouseverynowand then,and ifwedidn’t tryhard tomakeout tounderstandthemthey’djusttakeusintobadluck,’steadofkeepingusoutofit.Thelotoftowheadswastroubleswewasgoingtogetintowithquarrelsomepeopleandallkinds ofmean folks, but if weminded our business and didn’t talk back andaggravate them,wewouldpull throughandgetoutof thefogand into thebigclearriver,whichwasthefreeStates,andwouldn’thavenomoretrouble.IthadcloudedupprettydarkjustafterIgotontotheraft,butitwasclearing

upagainnow.“Oh,well,that’sallinterpretedwellenoughasfarasitgoes,Jim,”Isays;“but

whatdoesthesethingsstandfor?”Itwastheleavesandrubbishontheraftandthesmashedoar.Youcouldsee

themfirst-ratenow.Jimlookedatthetrash,andthenlookedatme,andbackatthetrashagain.He

hadgotthedreamfixedsostronginhisheadthathecouldn’tseemtoshakeitlooseandgetthefactsbackintoitsplaceagainrightaway.Butwhenhedidgetthethingstraightenedaroundhelookedatmesteadywithouteversmiling,andsays:“Whatdodeystan’for?I’segwynetotellyou.WhenIgotallworeoutwid

work, en wid de callin’ for you, en went to sleep, my heart wuzmos’ brokebekaseyouwuzlos’,enIdidn’k’yerno’mo’whatbecomeermeenderaf’.Enwhen Iwake up en fine youback agin, all safe en soun’, de tears come, en Icouldagotdownonmykneesenkissyo’foot,I’ssothankful.Enallyouwuzthinkin’’boutwuzhowyoucouldmakeafooluvoleJimwidalie.Dattruckdahistrash;entrashiswhatpeopleisdatputsdirtondeheaderdeyfren’senmakes’emashamed.”Thenhegotup slowandwalked to thewigwam,andwent in therewithout

sayinganythingbutthat.Butthatwasenough.ItmademefeelsomeanIcouldalmostkissedhisfoottogethimtotakeitback.ItwasfifteenminutesbeforeIcouldworkmyselfuptogoandhumblemyself

to a nigger; but I done it, and Iwarn’t ever sorry for it afterwards, neither. Ididn’tdohimnomoremeantricks,andIwouldn’tdonethatoneifI’daknoweditwouldmakehimfeelthatway.

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CHAPTERXVI.WE slept most all day, and started out at night, a little ways behind a

monstrouslongraftthatwasaslonggoingbyasaprocession.Shehadfourlongsweepsateachend,sowejudgedshecarriedasmanyasthirtymen,likely.Shehadfivebigwigwamsaboard,wideapart,andanopencampfireinthemiddle,and a tall flag-pole at each end. There was a power of style about her. Itamountedtosomethingbeingaraftsmanonsuchacraftasthat.Wewentdriftingdownintoabigbend,andthenightcloudedupandgothot.

Theriverwasverywide,andwaswalledwithsolidtimberonbothsides;youcouldn’t see a break in it hardly ever, or a light. We talked aboutCairo, andwondered whether we would know it when we got to it. I said likely wewouldn’t,becauseIhadheardsaytherewarn’tbutaboutadozenhousesthere,andiftheydidn’thappentohavethemlitup,howwaswegoingtoknowwewaspassingatown?Jimsaidifthetwobigriversjoinedtogetherthere,thatwouldshow.ButIsaidmaybewemightthinkwewaspassingthefootofanislandandcomingintothesameoldriveragain.ThatdisturbedJim—andmetoo.Sothequestionwas,whattodo?Isaid,paddleashorethefirsttimealightshowed,andtell thempapwasbehind, comingalongwitha trading-scow,andwasagreenhandatthebusiness,andwantedtoknowhowfaritwastoCairo.Jimthoughtitwasagoodidea,sowetookasmokeonitandwaited.Therewarn’tnothing todonowbut to lookout sharp for the town,andnot

passitwithoutseeingit.Hesaidhe’dbemightysuretoseeit,becausehe’dbeafreeman theminute he seen it, but if hemissed it he’d be in a slave countryagainandnomoreshowforfreedom.Everylittlewhilehejumpsupandsays:“Dahsheis?”Butitwarn’t.ItwasJack-o’-lanterns,orlightningbugs;sohesetdownagain,

andwenttowatching,sameasbefore.Jimsaiditmadehimallovertremblyandfeverish to be so close to freedom. Well, I can tell you itmademe all overtremblyandfeverish,too,tohearhim,becauseIbeguntogetitthroughmyhead

thathewasmostfree—andwhowastoblameforit?Why,me.Icouldn’tgetthat out of my conscience, no how nor no way. It got to troubling me so Icouldn’trest;Icouldn’tstaystillinoneplace.Ithadn’tevercomehometomebefore,whatthisthingwasthatIwasdoing.Butnowitdid;anditstayedwithme,andscorchedmemoreandmore.ItriedtomakeouttomyselfthatIwarn’ttoblame,becauseIdidn’trunJimofffromhisrightfulowner;butitwarn’tnouse,conscienceupandsays,every time,“Butyouknowedhewasrunningforhisfreedom,andyoucouldapaddledashoreandtoldsomebody.”Thatwasso—I couldn’t get around that noway. Thatwaswhere it pinched. Consciencesays tome, “What had poorMissWatson done to you that you could see herniggergooff rightunderyoureyesandneversayonesingleword? Whatdidthatpooroldwomandotoyouthatyoucouldtreathersomean?Why,shetriedtolearnyouyourbook,shetriedtolearnyouyourmanners,shetriedtobegoodtoyoueverywaysheknowedhow.That’swhatshedone.”IgottofeelingsomeanandsomiserableImostwishedIwasdead.Ifidgeted

upanddowntheraft,abusingmyself tomyself,andJimwasfidgetingupanddownpastme.Weneitherofuscouldkeepstill.Everytimehedancedaroundandsays,“Dah’sCairo!”itwentthroughmelikeashot,andIthoughtifitwasCairoIreckonedIwoulddieofmiserableness.JimtalkedoutloudallthetimewhileIwastalkingtomyself.Hewassaying

how the first thing he would do when he got to a free State he would go tosaving upmoney and never spend a single cent, andwhen he got enough hewouldbuyhiswife,whichwasownedona farmclose towhereMissWatsonlived;andthentheywouldbothworktobuythetwochildren,andiftheirmasterwouldn’tsellthem,they’dgetanAb’litionisttogoandstealthem.Itmostfrozemetohearsuchtalk.Hewouldn’teverdaredtotalksuchtalkin

hislifebefore.Justseewhatadifferenceitmadeinhimtheminutehejudgedhewasaboutfree.Itwasaccordingtotheoldsaying,“Giveaniggeraninchandhe’ll takeanell.” ThinksI, this iswhatcomesofmynot thinking. Herewasthisnigger,which Ihadasgoodashelped to runaway, coming rightout flat-footedandsayinghewouldstealhischildren—childrenthatbelongedtoamanIdidn’tevenknow;amanthathadn’teverdonemenoharm.I was sorry to hear Jim say that, it was such a lowering of him. My

consciencegottostirringmeuphotterthanever,untilatlastIsaystoit,“Letuponme—itain’ttoolateyet—I’llpaddleashoreatthefirstlightandtell.”Ifelteasy andhappy and light as a feather right off. Allmy troubleswasgone. Iwenttolookingoutsharpforalight,andsortofsingingtomyself.Byandbyoneshowed.Jimsingsout:

“We’ssafe,Huck,we’ssafe!Jumpupandcrackyo’heels!Dat’sdegoodoleCairoatlas’,Ijisknowsit!”Isays:“I’lltakethecanoeandgoandsee,Jim.Itmightn’tbe,youknow.”Hejumpedandgotthecanoeready,andputhisoldcoatinthebottomforme

toseton,andgivemethepaddle;andasIshovedoff,hesays:“PootysoonI’llbea-shout’n’forjoy,enI’llsay,it’sallonaccountso’Huck;

I’safreeman,enIcouldn’teverbenfreeefithadn’benforHuck;Huckdoneit.Jimwon’teverforgityou,Huck;you’sdebes’fren’Jim’severhad;enyou’sdeonlyfren’oleJim’sgotnow.”I was paddling off, all in a sweat to tell on him; but when he says this, it

seemed to kindof take the tuck all out ofme. Iwent along slow then, and Iwarn’t right down certain whether I was glad I started or whether I warn’t.WhenIwasfiftyyardsoff,Jimsays:“Dah you goes, de ole trueHuck; de on’ywhite genlman dat ever kep’ his

promisetooleJim.”Well,Ijustfeltsick.ButIsays,Igottodoit—Ican’tgetoutofit.Rightthen

along comes a skiff with two men in it with guns, and they stopped and Istopped.Oneofthemsays:“What’sthatyonder?”“Apieceofaraft,”Isays.“Doyoubelongonit?”“Yes,sir.”“Anymenonit?”“Onlyone,sir.”“Well, there’s fiveniggers runoff to-nightupyonder,above theheadof the

bend.Isyourmanwhiteorblack?”Ididn’tanswerupprompt.Itriedto,butthewordswouldn’tcome.Itriedfor

asecondortwotobraceupandoutwithit,butIwarn’tmanenough—hadn’tthespunkofarabbit. IseeIwasweakening;soI justgiveuptrying,andupandsays:“He’swhite.”“Ireckonwe’llgoandseeforourselves.”“Iwishyouwould,” says I, “because it’spap that’s there, andmaybeyou’d

helpmetowtheraftashorewhere the light is. He’ssick—andso ismamand

MaryAnn.”“Oh, the devil! we’re in a hurry, boy. But I s’pose we’ve got to. Come,

buckletoyourpaddle,andlet’sgetalong.”I buckled tomy paddle and they laid to their oars. Whenwe hadmade a

strokeortwo,Isays:“Pap’ll be mighty much obleeged to you, I can tell you. Everybody goes

awaywhen I want them to helpme tow the raft ashore, and I can’t do it bymyself.”“Well,that’sinfernalmean.Odd,too.Say,boy,what’sthematterwithyour

father?”“It’sthe—a—the—well,itain’tanythingmuch.”Theystoppedpulling.Itwarn’tbutamightylittlewaystotheraftnow.One

says:“Boy,that’salie.Whatisthematterwithyourpap?Answerupsquarenow,

andit’llbethebetterforyou.”

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“I will, sir, I will, honest—but don’t leave us, please. It’s the—the—Gentlemen, if you’ll only pull ahead, and letme heave you the headline, youwon’thavetocomea-neartheraft—pleasedo.”“Set her back, John, set her back!” says one. They backed water. "Keep

away,boy—keeptolooard.Confoundit,Ijustexpectthewindhasblowedittous. Yourpap’sgot thesmall-pox,andyouknowitpreciouswell. Whydidn’tyoucomeoutandsayso?Doyouwanttospreaditallover?”“Well,”saysI,a-blubbering,“I’vetoldeverybodybefore,andtheyjustwent

awayandleftus.”“Poordevil, there’ssomethinginthat. Wearerightdownsorryforyou,but

we—well,hangit,wedon’twantthesmall-pox,yousee.Lookhere,I’lltellyouwhat to do. Don’t you try to land by yourself, or you’ll smash everything topieces.Youfloatalongdownabouttwentymiles,andyou’llcometoatownon

theleft-handsideoftheriver. Itwillbelongaftersun-upthen,andwhenyouaskforhelpyoutellthemyourfolksarealldownwithchillsandfever.Don’tbea foolagain,and letpeopleguesswhat is thematter. Nowwe’re trying todoyouakindness;soyoujustputtwentymilesbetweenus, that’sagoodboy. Itwouldn’tdoanygoodtolandyonderwherethelightis—it’sonlyawood-yard.Say,Ireckonyourfather’spoor,andI’mboundtosayhe’sinprettyhardluck.Here, I’llputa twenty-dollargoldpieceon thisboard,andyouget itwhen itfloatsby.Ifeelmightymeantoleaveyou;butmykingdom!itwon’tdotofoolwithsmall-pox,don’tyousee?”“Holdon,Parker,”saystheotherman,“here’satwentytoputontheboardfor

me.Good-bye,boy;youdoasMr.Parkertoldyou,andyou’llbeallright.”“That’s so,my boy—good-bye, good-bye. If you see any runaway niggers

yougethelpandnabthem,andyoucanmakesomemoneybyit.”“Good-bye, sir,” says I; “Iwon’t let no runawayniggersget byme if I can

helpit.”They went off and I got aboard the raft, feeling bad and low, because I

knowedverywellIhaddonewrong,andIseeitwarn’tnouseformetotrytolearntodoright;abodythatdon’tgetstartedrightwhenhe’slittleain’tgotnoshow—whenthepinchcomesthereain’tnothingtobackhimupandkeephimtohiswork,andsohegetsbeat. ThenIthoughtaminute,andsaystomyself,holdon;s’poseyou’dadonerightandgiveJimup,wouldyoufeltbetterthanwhatyoudonow?No,saysI,I’dfeelbad—I’dfeeljustthesamewayIdonow.Well,then,saysI,what’stheuseyoulearningtodorightwhenit’stroublesometodorightandain’tnotroubletodowrong,andthewagesisjustthesame?Iwas stuck. I couldn’t answer that. So I reckoned Iwouldn’t bother nomoreaboutit,butafterthisalwaysdowhichevercomehandiestatthetime.I went into the wigwam; Jimwarn’t there. I looked all around; he warn’t

anywhere.Isays:“Jim!”“HereIis,Huck.Isdeyouto’sightyit?Don’ttalkloud.”

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Hewasintheriverunderthesternoar,withjusthisnoseout.Itoldhimtheywereoutofsight,sohecomeaboard.Hesays:“Iwasa-listenin’toalldetalk,enIslipsintoderiverenwasgwynetoshove

forsho’ifdeycomeaboard.DenIwasgwynetoswimtoderaf’aginwhendeywasgone.Butlawsy,howyoudidfool’em,Huck!Datwuzdesmartes’dodge!Itellyou,chile,I’specitsave’oleJim—oleJimain’tgoingtoforgityoufordat,honey.”Thenwetalkedaboutthemoney.Itwasaprettygoodraise—twentydollars

apiece.Jimsaidwecouldtakedeckpassageonasteamboatnow,andthemoneywouldlastusasfaraswewantedtogointhefreeStates.Hesaidtwentymilemorewarn’tfarfortherafttogo,buthewishedwewasalreadythere.Towardsdaybreakwetiedup,andJimwasmightyparticularabouthidingthe

raftgood.Thenheworkedalldayfixingthingsinbundles,andgettingallreadytoquitrafting.Thatnightabouttenwehoveinsightofthelightsofatownawaydownina

left-handbend.Iwentoffinthecanoetoaskaboutit.PrettysoonIfoundamanoutinthe

riverwithaskiff,settingatrot-line.Irangedupandsays:“Mister,isthattownCairo?”“Cairo?no.Youmustbeablame’fool.”“Whattownisit,mister?”“Ifyouwanttoknow,goandfindout.Ifyoustayherebotherin’aroundme

foraboutahalfaminutelongeryou’llgetsomethingyouwon’twant.”Ipaddledtotheraft.Jimwasawfuldisappointed,butIsaidnevermind,Cairo

wouldbethenextplace,Ireckoned.Wepassedanothertownbeforedaylight,andIwasgoingoutagain;butitwas

highground,soIdidn’tgo.NohighgroundaboutCairo,Jimsaid.Ihadforgotit.Welaidupforthedayonatowheadtolerableclosetotheleft-handbank.Ibeguntosuspicionsomething.SodidJim.Isays:“MaybewewentbyCairointhefogthatnight.”Hesays:“Doan’ le’s talk about it, Huck. Po’ niggers can’t have no luck. I awluz

’specteddatrattlesnake-skinwarn’tdonewiditswork.”

“IwishI’dneverseenthatsnake-skin,Jim—IdowishI’dneverlaideyesonit.”“Itain’tyo’fault,Huck;youdidn’know.Don’tyoublameyo’self’boutit.”Whenitwasdaylight,herewastheclearOhiowaterinshore,sureenough,and

outsidewastheoldregularMuddy!SoitwasallupwithCairo.Wetalkeditallover.Itwouldn’tdototaketotheshore;wecouldn’ttakethe

raftupthestream,ofcourse.Therewarn’tnowaybuttowaitfordark,andstartback in the canoe and take the chances. So we slept all day amongst thecottonwoodthicket,soastobefreshforthework,andwhenwewentbacktotheraftaboutdarkthecanoewasgone!Wedidn’t sayaword for agoodwhile. Therewarn’t anything to say. We

both knowed well enough it was somemore work of the rattlesnake-skin; sowhatwastheusetotalkaboutit?Itwouldonlylooklikewewasfindingfault,andthatwouldbeboundtofetchmorebadluck—andkeeponfetchingit, too,tillweknowedenoughtokeepstill.Byandbywetalkedaboutwhatwebetterdo,andfoundtherewarn’tnoway

butjusttogoalongdownwiththerafttillwegotachancetobuyacanoetogobackin. Wewarn’tgoingtoborrowitwhentherewarn’tanybodyaround,thewaypapwoulddo,forthatmightsetpeopleafterus.Soweshovedoutafterdarkontheraft.Anybody that don’t believe yet that it’s foolishness to handle a snake-skin,

afterallthatthatsnake-skindoneforus,willbelieveitnowiftheyreadonandseewhatmoreitdoneforus.Theplacetobuycanoesisoffofraftslayingupatshore.Butwedidn’tseeno

raftslayingup;sowewentalongduringthreehoursandmore.Well,thenightgotgrayandrutherthick,whichisthenextmeanestthingtofog.Youcan’ttelltheshapeof theriver,andyoucan’tseenodistance.Itgot tobevery lateandstill, and then along comes a steamboat up the river. We lit the lantern, andjudgedshewouldseeit.Up-streamboatsdidn’tgenerlycomeclosetous;theygoout and follow thebarsandhunt foreasywaterunder the reefs;butnightslikethistheybullrightupthechannelagainstthewholeriver.We could hear her pounding along, butwe didn’t see her good till shewas

close.Sheaimedrightforus.Oftentheydothatandtrytoseehowclosetheycancomewithouttouching;sometimesthewheelbitesoffasweep,andthenthepilotstickshisheadoutandlaughs,andthinkshe’smightysmart.Well,hereshecomes,andwesaidshewasgoingtotryandshaveus;butshedidn’tseemtobesheering off a bit. She was a big one, and she was coming in a hurry, too,

looking like a black cloud with rows of glow-worms around it; but all of asudden she bulged out, big and scary, with a long row of wide-open furnacedoors shining like red-hot teeth, and hermonstrous bows and guards hangingrightoverus.Therewasayellatus,andajinglingofbellstostoptheengines,apowwowofcussing,andwhistlingofsteam—andasJimwentoverboardononesideandIontheother,shecomesmashingstraightthroughtheraft.Idived—andIaimedtofindthebottom,too,forathirty-footwheelhadgotto

gooverme,andIwantedittohaveplentyofroom.Icouldalwaysstayunderwateraminute; this time I reckon I stayedunderaminuteandahalf. Then Ibounced for the top in a hurry, for Iwas nearly busting. I popped out tomyarmpitsandblowedthewateroutofmynose,andpuffedabit.Ofcoursetherewas a booming current; and of course that boat started her engines again tensecondsaftershestoppedthem,fortheynevercaredmuchforraftsmen;sonowshewaschurningalonguptheriver,outofsightinthethickweather,thoughIcouldhearher.I sung out for Jim about a dozen times, but I didn’t get any answer; so I

grabbedaplankthattouchedmewhileIwas“treadingwater,”andstruckoutforshore,shovingitaheadofme.ButImadeouttoseethatthedriftofthecurrentwas towards the left-hand shore, which meant that I was in a crossing; so Ichangedoffandwentthatway.Itwasoneof these long,slanting, two-milecrossings; so Iwasagood long

timeingettingover. Imadeasafelanding,andclumbupthebank.Icouldn’tseebutalittleways,butIwentpokingalongoverroughgroundforaquarterofa mile or more, and then I run across a big old-fashioned double log-housebefore I noticed it. I was going to rush by and get away, but a lot of dogsjumpedoutandwenttohowlingandbarkingatme,andIknowedbetterthantomoveanotherpeg.

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CHAPTERXVII.INaboutaminutesomebodyspokeoutofawindowwithoutputtinghishead

out,andsays:“Bedone,boys!Who’sthere?”Isays:“It’sme.”“Who’sme?”“GeorgeJackson,sir.”“Whatdoyouwant?”“Idon’twantnothing,sir.Ionlywanttogoalongby,butthedogswon’tlet

me.”“Whatareyouprowlingaroundherethistimeofnightfor—hey?”“Iwarn’tprowlingaround,sir,Ifelloverboardoffofthesteamboat.”“Oh,youdid,didyou?Strikealightthere,somebody.Whatdidyousayyour

namewas?”“GeorgeJackson,sir.I’monlyaboy.”“Lookhere, ifyou’re telling the truthyouneedn’tbeafraid—nobody’llhurt

you. But don’t try to budge; stand rightwhere you are. Rouse outBob andTom,someofyou,andfetchtheguns. GeorgeJackson,isthereanybodywithyou?”“No,sir,nobody.”Iheardthepeoplestirringaroundinthehousenow,andseealight.Theman

sungout:“Snatchthatlightaway,Betsy,youoldfool—ain’tyougotanysense?Putit

on the floor behind the front door. Bob, if you andTomare ready, takeyourplaces.”“Allready.”“Now,GeorgeJackson,doyouknowtheShepherdsons?”“No,sir;Ineverheardofthem.”“Well,thatmaybeso,anditmayn’t.Now,allready.Stepforward,George

Jackson. Andmind,don’t youhurry—comemighty slow. If there’s anybodywith you, let him keep back—if he shows himself he’ll be shot. Come alongnow. Comeslow;push thedooropenyourself—justenough tosqueeze in,d’youhear?”Ididn’thurry;Icouldn’tifI’dawantedto.Itookoneslowstepatatimeand

therewarn’tasound,onlyI thought Icouldhearmyheart. Thedogswereasstillasthehumans,buttheyfollowedalittlebehindme.WhenIgottothethreelog doorsteps I heard them unlocking and unbarring and unbolting. I putmyhand on the door and pushed it a little and a little more till somebody said,“There,that’senough—putyourheadin.”Idoneit,butIjudgedtheywouldtakeitoff.Thecandlewasonthefloor,andtheretheyallwas,lookingatme,andmeat

them,foraboutaquarterofaminute:Threebigmenwithgunspointedatme,whichmademewince,Itellyou;theoldest,grayandaboutsixty,theothertwothirty or more—all of them fine and handsome—and the sweetest old gray-headedlady,andbackofhertwoyoungwomenwhichIcouldn’tseerightwell.Theoldgentlemansays:“There;Ireckonit’sallright.Comein.”Assoonas Iwas in theoldgentlemanhe locked thedoorandbarred itand

boltedit,andtoldtheyoungmentocomeinwiththeirguns,andtheyallwentinabigparlorthathadanewragcarpetonthefloor,andgottogetherinacornerthatwasoutoftherangeofthefrontwindows—therewarn’tnoneontheside.Theyheldthecandle,andtookagoodlookatme,andallsaid,“Why,heain’taShepherdson—no, thereain’tanyShepherdsonabouthim.” Then theoldmansaidhehopedIwouldn’tmindbeingsearchedforarms,becausehedidn’tmeannoharmbyit—itwasonlytomakesure.Sohedidn’tpryintomypockets,butonlyfeltoutsidewithhishands,andsaiditwasallright. Hetoldmetomakemyselfeasyandathome,andtellallaboutmyself;buttheoldladysays:

“Why, bless you,Saul, the poor thing’s aswet as he canbe; anddon’t youreckonitmaybehe’shungry?”“Trueforyou,Rachel—Iforgot.”Sotheoldladysays:“Betsy”(thiswasaniggerwoman),“youflyaroundandgethimsomethingto

eatasquickasyoucan,poorthing;andoneofyougirlsgoandwakeupBuckandtellhim—oh,hereheishimself. Buck,takethislittlestrangerandgetthewetclothesofffromhimanddresshimupinsomeofyoursthat’sdry.”Bucklookedaboutasoldasme—thirteenorfourteenoralongthere,though

hewasa littlebigger thanme. Hehadn’tonanythingbuta shirt,andhewasveryfrowzy-headed.Hecameingapinganddiggingonefistintohiseyes,andhewasdraggingagunalongwiththeotherone.Hesays:

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“Ain’ttheynoShepherdsonsaround?”Theysaid,no,’twasafalsealarm.“Well,”hesays,“ifthey’dabensome,IreckonI’dagotone.”Theyalllaughed,andBobsays:“Why,Buck,theymighthavescalpedusall,you’vebeensoslowincoming.”“Well,nobodycomeafterme,anditain’trightI’malwayskeptdown;Idon’t

getnoshow.”“Nevermind,Buck,myboy,”saystheoldman,“you’llhaveshowenough,all

ingoodtime,don’tyoufretaboutthat.Go’longwithyounow,anddoasyourmothertoldyou.”Whenwegotup-stairstohisroomhegotmeacoarseshirtandaroundabout

andpants of his, and I put themon. While Iwas at it he askedmewhatmynamewas,butbeforeIcouldtellhimhestartedtotellmeaboutabluejayandayoungrabbithehadcatchedinthewoodsdaybeforeyesterday,andheaskedmewhereMoseswaswhenthecandlewentout.IsaidIdidn’tknow;Ihadn’theard

aboutitbefore,noway.“Well,guess,”hesays.“How’mIgoingtoguess,”saysI,“whenIneverheardtellofitbefore?”“Butyoucanguess,can’tyou?It’sjustaseasy.”“Whichcandle?”Isays.“Why,anycandle,”hesays.“Idon’tknowwherehewas,”saysI;“wherewashe?”“Why,hewasinthedark!That’swherehewas!”“Well,ifyouknowedwherehewas,whatdidyouaskmefor?”“Why,blameit,it’sariddle,don’tyousee?Say,howlongareyougoingto

stayhere?Yougottostayalways.Wecanjusthaveboomingtimes—theydon’thavenoschoolnow. Doyouownadog? I’vegotadog—andhe’llgoin theriverandbringoutchipsthatyouthrowin. DoyouliketocombupSundays,and all that kind of foolishness? You bet I don’t, but ma she makes me.Confoundtheseolebritches!IreckonI’dbetterput’emon,butI’druthernot,it’ssowarm.Areyouallready?Allright.Comealong,oldhoss.”Coldcorn-pone,coldcorn-beef,butterandbuttermilk—thatiswhattheyhad

formedownthere,andthereain’tnothingbetterthateverI’vecomeacrossyet.Buckandhismaandallofthemsmokedcobpipes,excepttheniggerwoman,whichwasgone,andthetwoyoungwomen.Theyallsmokedandtalked,andIeatandtalked.Theyoungwomenhadquiltsaroundthem,andtheirhairdowntheirbacks.Theyallaskedmequestions,andItoldthemhowpapandmeandall thefamilywaslivingonalittlefarmdownat thebottomofArkansaw,andmysisterMaryAnnrunoffandgotmarriedandneverwasheardofnomore,andBillwenttohuntthemandhewarn’theardofnomore,andTomandMortdied, and then therewarn’t nobody but justme and pap left, and hewas justtrimmeddown to nothing, on account of his troubles; sowhen he died I tookwhat there was left, because the farm didn’t belong to us, and started up theriver,deckpassage,andfelloverboard;andthatwashowIcometobehere.Sotheysaid Icouldhaveahome thereas longas Iwanted it. Then itwasmostdaylightandeverybodywent tobed,andIwent tobedwithBuck,andwhenIwakedupinthemorning,dratitall,Ihadforgotwhatmynamewas.SoIlaidthereaboutanhourtryingtothink,andwhenBuckwakedupIsays:“Canyouspell,Buck?”“Yes,”hesays.“Ibetyoucan’tspellmyname,”saysI.

“IbetyouwhatyoudareIcan,”sayshe.“Allright,”saysI,“goahead.”“G-e-o-r-g-eJ-a-x-o-n—therenow,”hesays.“Well,”saysI,“youdoneit,butIdidn’tthinkyoucould.Itain’tnoslouchof

anametospell—rightoffwithoutstudying.”Isetitdown,private,becausesomebodymightwantmetospellitnext,andso

IwantedtobehandywithitandrattleitofflikeIwasusedtoit.Itwasamightynicefamily,andamightynicehouse, too. Ihadn’tseenno

houseoutinthecountrybeforethatwassoniceandhadsomuchstyle.Itdidn’thaveanironlatchonthefrontdoor,norawoodenonewithabuckskinstring,butabrassknobtoturn,thesameashousesintown.Therewarn’tnobedintheparlor,norasignofabed;butheapsofparlorsintownshasbedsinthem.Therewasabigfireplacethatwasbrickedonthebottom,andthebrickswaskeptcleanand red by pouring water on them and scrubbing them with another brick;sometimes they wash them over with red water-paint that they call Spanish-brown,sameastheydointown.Theyhadbigbrassdog-ironsthatcouldholdupasaw-log.Therewasaclockonthemiddleofthemantelpiece,withapictureofatownpaintedonthebottomhalfoftheglassfront,andaroundplaceinthemiddleofitforthesun,andyoucouldseethependulumswingingbehindit.Itwasbeautifultohearthatclocktick;andsometimeswhenoneofthesepeddlershadbeenalongandscouredherupandgotheringoodshape,shewouldstartinandstrikeahundredandfiftybeforeshegottuckeredout.Theywouldn’ttookanymoneyforher.Well,therewasabigoutlandishparrotoneachsideoftheclock,madeoutof

something like chalk, and painted up gaudy. By one of the parrotswas a catmadeofcrockery,andacrockerydogbytheother;andwhenyoupresseddownon them they squeaked, but didn’t open their mouths nor look different norinterested.Theysqueakedthroughunderneath.Therewasacoupleofbigwild-turkey-wingfansspreadoutbehindthosethings.Onthetableinthemiddleoftheroomwasakindofalovelycrockerybasketthathadapplesandorangesandpeaches and grapes piled up in it, which was much redder and yellower andprettier than real ones is, but they warn’t real because you could see wherepieces had got chipped off and showed the white chalk, or whatever it was,underneath.This table had a cover made out of beautiful oilcloth, with a red and blue

spread-eaglepaintedonit,andapaintedborderallaround.Itcomeallthewayfrom Philadelphia, they said. There was some books, too, piled up perfectly

exact,oneachcornerofthetable.OnewasabigfamilyBiblefullofpictures.OnewasPilgrim’sProgress,aboutamanthatlefthisfamily,itdidn’tsaywhy.Ireadconsiderableinitnowandthen.Thestatementswasinteresting,buttough. Another was Friendship’s Offering, full of beautiful stuff and poetry; but Ididn’treadthepoetry.AnotherwasHenryClay’sSpeeches,andanotherwasDr.Gunn’sFamilyMedicine,whichtoldyouallaboutwhattodoifabodywassickordead.Therewasahymnbook,andalotofotherbooks.Andtherewasnicesplit-bottom chairs, and perfectly sound, too—not bagged down in themiddleandbusted,likeanoldbasket.They had pictures hung on the walls—mainlyWashingtons and Lafayettes,

and battles, and Highland Marys, and one called “Signing the Declaration.”Therewassomethattheycalledcrayons,whichoneofthedaughterswhichwasdeadmadeherownselfwhenshewasonlyfifteenyearsold.TheywasdifferentfromanypicturesIeverseebefore—blacker,mostly,thaniscommon.Onewasawomaninaslimblackdress,beltedsmallunderthearmpits,withbulgeslikeacabbageinthemiddleofthesleeves,andalargeblackscoop-shovelbonnetwithablackveil,andwhiteslimanklescrossedaboutwithblacktape,andveryweeblackslippers,likeachisel,andshewasleaningpensiveonatombstoneonherrightelbow,underaweepingwillow,andherotherhandhangingdownhersideholdingawhitehandkerchiefanda reticule, andunderneath thepicture it said“ShallINeverSeeTheeMoreAlas.” Anotheronewasayoungladywithherhairallcombedupstraighttothetopofherhead,andknottedthereinfrontofacomblikeachair-back,andshewascryingintoahandkerchiefandhadadeadbird layingon itsback inherotherhandwith itsheelsup,andunderneath thepictureitsaid“IShallNeverHearThySweetChirrupMoreAlas.”Therewasonewhere a young ladywas at a window looking up at themoon, and tearsrunning down her cheeks; and she had an open letter in one handwith blacksealingwax showing on one edge of it, and shewasmashing a locketwith achaintoitagainsthermouth,andunderneaththepictureitsaid“AndArtThouGoneYesThouArtGoneAlas.” Thesewas all nice pictures, I reckon, but Ididn’tsomehowseemto take to them,becauseifeverIwasdowna little theyalwaysgiveme the fan-tods. Everybodywas sorry shedied,because shehadlaidoutalotmoreofthesepicturestodo,andabodycouldseebywhatshehaddonewhattheyhadlost.ButIreckonedthatwithherdispositionshewashavinga better time in the graveyard. She was at work on what they said was hergreatest picturewhen she took sick, and everyday and everynight itwasherprayertobeallowedtolivetillshegotitdone,butshenevergotthechance.Itwasapictureofayoungwomaninalongwhitegown,standingontherailofa

bridgeallreadytojumpoff,withherhairalldownherback,andlookinguptothemoon,with the tears runningdownher face, and shehad twoarms foldedacrossherbreast,andtwoarmsstretchedoutinfront,andtwomorereachinguptowardsthemoon—andtheideawastoseewhichpairwouldlookbest,andthenscratchoutalltheotherarms;but,asIwassaying,shediedbeforeshegothermindmadeup,andnow theykept thispictureover theheadof thebed inherroom,andeverytimeherbirthdaycometheyhungflowersonit.Othertimesitwashidwitha littlecurtain. Theyoungwomanin thepicturehadakindofanice sweet face, but there was so many arms it made her look too spidery,seemedtome.

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This young girl kept a scrap-book when she was alive, and used to pasteobituaries and accidents and cases of patient suffering in it out of thePresbyterianObserver,andwritepoetryafterthemoutofherownhead.Itwasverygoodpoetry.This iswhat shewroteaboutaboyby thenameofStephenDowlingBotsthatfelldownawellandwasdrownded:ODETOSTEPHENDOWLINGBOTS,DEC’D

AnddidyoungStephensicken,AnddidyoungStephendie?Anddidthesadheartsthicken,Anddidthemournerscry?

No;suchwasnotthefateofYoungStephenDowlingBots;Thoughsadheartsroundhimthickened,'Twasnotfromsickness’shots.

Nowhooping-coughdidrackhisframe,Normeaslesdrearwithspots;NottheseimpairedthesacrednameOfStephenDowlingBots.

DespisedlovestrucknotwithwoeThatheadofcurlyknots,Norstomachtroubleslaidhimlow,YoungStephenDowlingBots.

Ono.Thenlistwithtearfuleye,WhilstIhisfatedotell.HissouldidfromthiscoldworldflyByfallingdownawell.

Theygothimoutandemptiedhim;Alasitwastoolate;HisspiritwasgonefortosportaloftIntherealmsofthegoodandgreat.IfEmmelineGrangerfordcouldmakepoetrylikethatbeforeshewasfourteen,

thereain’tnotellingwhatshecouldadonebyandby.Bucksaidshecouldrattleoffpoetrylikenothing.Shedidn’teverhavetostoptothink.Hesaidshewouldslapdownaline,andifshecouldn’tfindanythingtorhymewithitwouldjustscratch itoutandslapdownanotherone,andgoahead.Shewarn’tparticular;shecouldwriteaboutanythingyouchoose togiveher towriteabout justso itwassadful.Everytimeamandied,orawomandied,orachilddied,shewouldbeonhandwithher“tribute”beforehewascold.Shecalledthemtributes.Theneighborssaiditwasthedoctorfirst, thenEmmeline,thentheundertaker—the

undertakernevergotinaheadofEmmelinebutonce,andthenshehungfireonarhyme for the dead person’s name,whichwasWhistler. Shewarn’t ever thesameafter that; shenever complained, but shekinderpined awayanddidnotlive long. Poor thing,many’s the time Imademyselfgoup to the little roomthatusedtobehersandgetoutherpooroldscrap-bookandreadinitwhenherpictureshadbeenaggravatingmeandIhadsouredonheralittle.Ilikedallthatfamily, dead ones and all, andwarn’t going to let anything come between us.PoorEmmelinemadepoetryaboutallthedeadpeoplewhenshewasalive,anditdidn’tseemright that therewarn’tnobody tomakesomeabouthernowshewasgone;soItriedtosweatoutaverseortwomyself,butIcouldn’tseemtomake it go somehow. They keptEmmeline’s room trim and nice, and all thethings fixed in it just thewayshe liked tohave themwhenshewasalive,andnobody ever slept there. The old lady took care of the room herself, thoughtherewasplentyofniggers,andshesewedthereagooddealandreadherBibletheremostly.Well, as I was saying about the parlor, there was beautiful curtains on the

windows: white,withpicturespaintedon themofcastleswithvinesalldownthewalls,andcattlecomingdowntodrink.Therewasalittleoldpiano,too,thathadtinpansinit,Ireckon,andnothingwaseversolovelyastoheartheyoungladies sing “TheLastLink isBroken” and play “TheBattle of Prague” on it.Thewallsofall the roomswasplastered,andmosthadcarpetson the floors,andthewholehousewaswhitewashedontheoutside.Itwasadoublehouse,and thebigopenplacebetwixt themwas roofedand

floored,andsometimes the tablewasset there in themiddleof theday,and itwas a cool, comfortable place. Nothing couldn’t be better. And warn’t thecookinggood,andjustbushelsofittoo!

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CHAPTERXVIII.COL.Grangerfordwasagentleman,yousee.Hewasagentlemanallover;

andsowashisfamily. Hewaswellborn,asthesayingis,andthat’sworthasmuchinamanasitisinahorse,sotheWidowDouglassaid,andnobodyeverdeniedthatshewasofthefirstaristocracyinourtown;andpaphealwayssaidit, too, though he warn’t no more quality than a mudcat himself. Col.Grangerfordwasvery tall andvery slim, andhadadarkish-paly complexion,notasignofredinitanywheres;hewascleanshavedeverymorningalloverhisthinface,andhehadthethinnestkindoflips,andthethinnestkindofnostrils,and a high nose, and heavy eyebrows, and the blackest kind of eyes, sunk sodeepbackthattheyseemedliketheywaslookingoutofcavernsatyou,asyoumaysay.Hisforeheadwashigh,andhishairwasblackandstraightandhungtohisshoulders.Hishandswaslongandthin,andeverydayofhislifeheputonacleanshirtanda full suit fromhead to footmadeoutof linensowhite ithurtyour eyes to look at it; and on Sundays he wore a blue tail-coat with brassbuttonsonit.Hecarriedamahoganycanewithasilverheadtoit.Therewarn’tnofrivolishnessabouthim,notabit,andhewarn’teverloud.Hewasaskindashe could be—you could feel that, you know, and so you had confidence.Sometimeshesmiled,anditwasgoodtosee;butwhenhestraightenedhimselfup like a liberty-pole, and the lightning begun to flicker out from under hiseyebrows, youwanted to climb a tree first, and find outwhat thematterwasafterwards. He didn’t ever have to tell anybody to mind their manners—everybodywasalwaysgood-manneredwherehewas.Everybodylovedtohavehimaround, too; hewas sunshinemost always—Imeanhemade it seem likegoodweather. When he turned into a cloudbank itwas awful dark for half aminute,andthatwasenough;therewouldn’tnothinggowrongagainforaweek.Whenhimandtheoldladycomedowninthemorningallthefamilygotup

outof theirchairsandgive themgood-day,anddidn’tsetdownagain till theyhadsetdown.ThenTomandBobwenttothesideboardwherethedecanterwas,andmixedaglassofbittersandhandedittohim,andhehelditinhishandand

waitedtillTom’sandBob’swasmixed,andthentheybowedandsaid,“Ourdutytoyou,sir,andmadam;”andtheybowedtheleastbitintheworldandsaidthankyou,andsotheydrank,allthree,andBobandTompouredaspoonfulofwateron the sugar and the mite of whisky or apple brandy in the bottom of theirtumblers,andgiveittomeandBuck,andwedranktotheoldpeopletoo.Bob was the oldest and Tom next—tall, beautiful men with very broad

shouldersandbrownfaces,andlongblackhairandblackeyes.Theydressedinwhite linenfromhead tofoot, like theoldgentleman,andworebroadPanamahats.Then therewasMissCharlotte; shewas twenty-five,and tallandproudand

grand,butasgoodasshecouldbewhenshewarn’tstirredup;butwhenshewasshehadalookthatwouldmakeyouwiltinyourtracks,likeherfather.Shewasbeautiful.Sowashersister,MissSophia,butitwasadifferentkind.Shewasgentleand

sweetlikeadove,andshewasonlytwenty.Eachpersonhadtheirownniggertowaitonthem—Bucktoo.Myniggerhad

amonstrouseasytime,becauseIwarn’tusedtohavinganybodydoanythingforme,butBuck’swasonthejumpmostofthetime.Thiswasall therewasof the familynow,but thereused tobemore—three

sons;theygotkilled;andEmmelinethatdied.The old gentleman owned a lot of farms and over a hundred niggers.

Sometimesastackofpeoplewouldcomethere,horseback, fromtenor fifteenmilearound,andstayfiveorsixdays,andhavesuchjunketingsroundaboutandon the river, and dances and picnics in the woods daytimes, and balls at thehousenights.Thesepeoplewasmostlykinfolksofthefamily.Themenbroughttheirgunswiththem.Itwasahandsomelotofquality,Itellyou.There was another clan of aristocracy around there—five or six families—

mostlyofthenameofShepherdson.Theywasashigh-tonedandwellbornandrichandgrandasthetribeofGrangerfords.TheShepherdsonsandGrangerfordsusedthesamesteamboatlanding,whichwasabouttwomileaboveourhouse;sosometimeswhenIwentuptherewithalotofourfolksIusedtoseealotoftheShepherdsonsthereontheirfinehorses.OnedayBuckandmewasawayoutinthewoodshunting,andheardahorse

coming.Wewascrossingtheroad.Bucksays:“Quick!Jumpforthewoods!”

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Wedoneit,andthenpeepeddownthewoodsthroughtheleaves.Prettysoonasplendidyoungmancomegallopingdowntheroad,settinghishorseeasyandlooking like a soldier. He had his gun across his pommel. I had seen himbefore.ItwasyoungHarneyShepherdson.IheardBuck’sgungooffatmyear,and Harney’s hat tumbled off from his head. He grabbed his gun and rodestraighttotheplacewherewewashid.Butwedidn’twait.Westartedthroughthewoodsonarun. Thewoodswarn’t thick,soI lookedovermyshouldertododgethebullet,andtwiceIseenHarneycoverBuckwithhisgun;andthenherodeaway thewayhe come—togethishat, I reckon,but I couldn’t see. Wenever stopped running till we got home. The old gentleman’s eyes blazed aminute—’twaspleasure,mainly,Ijudged—thenhisfacesortofsmootheddown,andhesays,kindofgentle:“Idon’tlikethatshootingfrombehindabush.Whydidn’tyoustepintothe

road,myboy?”“TheShepherdsonsdon’t,father.Theyalwaystakeadvantage.”MissCharlottesheheldherheaduplikeaqueenwhileBuckwastellinghis

tale,andhernostrilsspreadandhereyessnapped.Thetwoyoungmenlookeddark,butneversaidnothing. MissSophiasheturnedpale,but thecolorcomebackwhenshefoundthemanwarn’thurt.

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SoonasIcouldgetBuckdownbythecorn-cribsunderthetreesbyourselves,Isays:“Didyouwanttokillhim,Buck?”“Well,IbetIdid.”“Whatdidhedotoyou?”“Him?Heneverdonenothingtome.”“Well,then,whatdidyouwanttokillhimfor?”“Why,nothing—onlyit’sonaccountofthefeud.”“What’safeud?”“Why,wherewasyouraised?Don’tyouknowwhatafeudis?”“Neverheardofitbefore—tellmeaboutit.”“Well,” saysBuck, “a feud is thisway: Aman has a quarrelwith another

man, and kills him; then that other man’s brother kills him; then the otherbrothers,onbothsides,goesforoneanother;thenthecousinschipin—andbyand by everybody’s killed off, and there ain’t nomore feud. But it’s kind ofslow,andtakesalongtime.”“Hasthisonebeengoingonlong,Buck?”“Well, I should reckon! It started thirty year ago, or som’ers along there.

Therewastrouble’boutsomething,andthenalawsuittosettleit;andthesuitwentaginoneof themen,andsoheupandshot theman thatwon the suit—whichhewouldnaturallydo,ofcourse.Anybodywould.”“Whatwasthetroubleabout,Buck?—land?”“Ireckonmaybe—Idon’tknow.”“Well,whodonetheshooting?WasitaGrangerfordoraShepherdson?”“Laws,howdoIknow?Itwassolongago.”“Don’tanybodyknow?”“Oh,yes,paknows,Ireckon,andsomeoftheotheroldpeople;buttheydon’t

knownowwhattherowwasaboutinthefirstplace.”“Hastherebeenmanykilled,Buck?”“Yes;rightsmartchanceoffunerals. But theydon’talwayskill. Pa’sgota

fewbuckshot inhim;buthedon’tmindit ’cuzhedon’tweighmuch,anyway.Bob’sbeencarvedupsomewithabowie,andTom’sbeenhurtonceortwice.”“Hasanybodybeenkilledthisyear,Buck?”

“Yes;wegotoneandtheygotone. 'BoutthreemonthsagomycousinBud,fourteenyearold,wasridingthroughthewoodsont’othersideoftheriver,anddidn’t have no weapon with him, which was blame’ foolishness, and in alonesome place he hears a horse a-coming behind him, and sees old BaldyShepherdsona-linkin’afterhimwithhisgun inhishandandhiswhitehaira-flyinginthewind;and’steadofjumpingoffandtakingtothebrush,Bud’lowedhecouldout-runhim;sotheyhadit,nipandtuck,forfivemileormore,theoldmana-gainingallthetime;soatlastBudseenitwarn’tanyuse,sohestoppedandfacedaroundsoastohavethebulletholesinfront,youknow,andtheoldmanherodeupandshothimdown.Buthedidn’tgitmuchchancetoenjoyhisluck,forinsideofaweekourfolkslaidhimout.”“Ireckonthatoldmanwasacoward,Buck.”“Ireckonhewarn’tacoward. Notbyablame’sight. Thereain’tacoward

amongst themShepherdsons—notaone. And thereain’tnocowardsamongsttheGrangerfordseither.Why,thatoldmankep’uphisendinafightonedayforhalfanhouragainstthreeGrangerfords,andcomeoutwinner.Theywasalla-horseback;helitoffofhishorseandgotbehindalittlewoodpile,andkep’hishorsebeforehimtostopthebullets;buttheGrangerfordsstayedontheirhorsesand capered around the oldman, andpeppered away at him, andhe pepperedawayatthem.Himandhishorsebothwenthomeprettyleakyandcrippled,buttheGrangerfordshadtobefetchedhome—andoneof’emwasdead,andanotherdiedthenextday.No,sir;ifabody’southuntingforcowardshedon’twanttofoolawayanytimeamongstthemShepherdsons,becuztheydon’tbreedanyofthatkind.”NextSundayweallwenttochurch,aboutthreemile,everybodya-horseback.

Thementooktheirgunsalong,sodidBuck,andkeptthembetweentheirkneesorstoodthemhandyagainstthewall.TheShepherdsonsdonethesame.Itwaspretty ornery preaching—all about brotherly love, and such-like tiresomeness;buteverybodysaiditwasagoodsermon,andtheyalltalkeditovergoinghome,andhadsuchapowerfullottosayaboutfaithandgoodworksandfreegraceandpreforeordestination,andIdon’tknowwhatall,thatitdidseemtometobeoneoftheroughestSundaysIhadrunacrossyet.Aboutanhourafterdinnereverybodywasdozingaround,someintheirchairs

and some in their rooms, and it got to be pretty dull. Buck and a dog wasstretchedoutonthegrassinthesunsoundasleep.Iwentuptoourroom,andjudgedIwouldtakeanapmyself. IfoundthatsweetMissSophiastandinginherdoor,whichwasnexttoours,andshetookmeinherroomandshutthedoorvery soft, and askedme if I likedher, and I said I did; and she askedme if I

woulddosomethingforherandnottellanybody,andIsaidIwould.Thenshesaid she’d forgot her Testament, and left it in the seat at church between twootherbooks,andwouldIslipoutquietandgothereandfetchittoher,andnotsaynothingtonobody.IsaidIwould.SoIslidoutandslippedoffuptheroad,and therewarn’t anybodyat thechurch, exceptmaybeahogor two, for therewarn’t any lockon the door, andhogs likes a puncheon floor in summer-timebecauseit’scool.Ifyounotice,mostfolksdon’tgotochurchonlywhenthey’vegotto;butahogisdifferent.

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Says I tomyself, something’s up; it ain’t natural for a girl to be in such asweat about aTestament. So I give it a shake, andout drops a little piece ofpaperwith“HALF-PASTTWO”wroteon itwithapencil. I ransacked it,butcouldn’t findanythingelse. Icouldn’tmakeanythingoutof that, so Iput thepaper in the book again, and when I got home and upstairs there was MissSophiainherdoorwaitingforme.Shepulledmeinandshutthedoor;thenshelookedintheTestamenttillshefoundthepaper,andassoonasshereaditshelooked glad; and before a body could think she grabbed me and give me asqueeze,andsaidIwasthebestboyintheworld,andnottotellanybody.Shewasmightyredinthefaceforaminute,andhereyeslightedup,anditmadeherpowerfulpretty.Iwasagooddealastonished,butwhenIgotmybreathIaskedherwhatthepaperwasabout,andsheaskedmeifIhadreadit,andIsaidno,andsheaskedmeifIcouldreadwriting,andItoldher“no,onlycoarse-hand,”andthenshesaidthepaperwarn’tanythingbutabook-marktokeepherplace,andImightgoandplaynow.Iwentoffdowntotheriver,studyingoverthisthing,andprettysoonInoticed

thatmyniggerwas followingalongbehind. Whenwewasoutofsightof thehousehelookedbackandaroundasecond,andthencomesa-running,andsays:“MarsJawge,ifyou’llcomedownintodeswampI’llshowyouawholestack

o’water-moccasins.”Thinks I, that’smighty curious; he said that yesterday. He oughter know a

bodydon’tlovewater-moccasinsenoughtogoaroundhuntingforthem.Whatisheupto,anyway?SoIsays:“Allright;trotahead.”Ifollowedahalfamile;thenhestruckoutovertheswamp,andwadedankle

deepasmuchasanotherhalf-mile.Wecometoalittleflatpieceoflandwhichwasdryandverythickwithtreesandbushesandvines,andhesays:“Youshoveright indahjistafewsteps,MarsJawge;dah’swhahdeyis.I’s

seed’mbefo’;Idon’tk’yertosee’emnomo’.”Thenhesloppedrightalongandwentaway,andprettysoonthetreeshidhim.

I poked into the place a-ways and come to a little open patch as big as abedroomallhungaroundwithvines,andfoundamanlayingthereasleep—and,byjings,itwasmyoldJim!Iwakedhimup,andIreckoneditwasgoingtobeagrandsurprisetohimto

see me again, but it warn’t. He nearly cried he was so glad, but he warn’tsurprised. Saidheswumalongbehindme thatnight,andheardmeyelleverytime,butdasn’tanswer,becausehedidn’twantnobodytopickhimupandtakehimintoslaveryagain.Sayshe:“Igothurtalittle,encouldn’tswimfas’,soIwuzaconsidablewaysbehine

youtowardsdelas’;whenyoulandedIreck’nedIcouldketchupwidyouondelan’’douthavin’toshoutatyou,butwhenIseedathouseIbegintogoslow.I’uzofftoofurtohearwhatdeysaytoyou—Iwuz’fraido’dedogs;butwhenit’uzallquietagin Iknowedyou’s indehouse, so I struckout fordewoods towaitforday.Earlyindemawnin’someerdeniggerscomealong,gwynetodefields,endeytukmeenshowedmedisplace,whahdedogscan’ttrackmeonaccountso’dewater,endeybringsmetrucktoeateverynight,entellsmehowyou’sa-gitt’nalong.”“Whydidn’tyoutellmyJacktofetchmeheresooner,Jim?”“Well,’twarn’tnouseto’sturbyou,Huck,tellwecoulddosumfn—butwe’s

all right now. I ben a-buyin’ pots en pans en vittles, as I got a chanst, en a-patchin’upderaf’nightswhen—”“Whatraft,Jim?”“Ouroleraf’.”“Youmeantosayouroldraftwarn’tsmashedalltoflinders?”“No,shewarn’t. Shewastoreupagooddeal—oneen’ofherwas;butdey

warn’tnogreatharmdone,on’yourtrapswasmos’alllos’.Efwehadn’dive’sodeepenswumsofurunderwater,endenighthadn’bensodark,enwewarn’tsosk’yerd,enbensichpunkin-heads,asdesayin’is,we’daseedderaf’. Butit’sjis’aswellwedidn’t,’kasenowshe’sallfixedupaginmos’asgoodasnew,enwe’sgotanewloto’stuff,indeplaceo’what’uzlos’.”“Why,howdidyougetholdoftheraftagain,Jim—didyoucatchher?”“How Igwyne toketchher en Iout indewoods? No; someerdeniggers

foun’ her ketched on a snag along heah in de ben’, en dey hid her in a crick’mongstdewillows,endeywuzsomuchjawin’’boutwhichun’umsheb’longtodemos’datIcometoheah’boutitpootysoon,soIupsensettlesdetroublebytellin’’umshedon’tb’longtononeuvum,buttoyouenme;enIast’mifdeygwynetograbayoungwhitegenlman’spropaty,engitahid’nforit?DenIgin ’m ten cents apiece, en dey ’uzmightywell satisfied, enwisht somemo’raf’s ’ud come along en make ’m rich agin. Dey’s mighty good to me, deseniggers is, enwhatever Iwants ’m todo furme Idoan’have to ast ’m twice,honey.DatJack’sagoodnigger,enpootysmart.”“Yes,heis. Heain’tevertoldmeyouwashere; toldmetocome,andhe’d

showmealotofwater-moccasins.Ifanythinghappensheain’tmixedupinit.Hecansayheneverseenustogether,andit’llbethetruth.”Idon’twanttotalkmuchaboutthenextday.IreckonI’llcutitprettyshort.I

wakedupaboutdawn,andwasa-goingtoturnoverandgotosleepagainwhenInoticedhowstillitwas—didn’tseemtobeanybodystirring.Thatwarn’tusual.Next Inoticed thatBuckwasupandgone.Well, Igetsup,a-wondering,andgoesdownstairs—nobodyaround;everythingasstillasamouse.Justthesameoutside.ThinksI,whatdoesitmean?Downbythewood-pileIcomesacrossmyJack,andsays:“What’sitallabout?”Sayshe:“Don’tyouknow,MarsJawge?”“No,”saysI,“Idon’t.”“Well,den,MissSophia’srunoff!’deedshehas.Sherunoffindenightsome

time—nobodydon’tknowjis’when;runofftogetmarriedtodatyoungHarneyShepherdson,youknow—leastways,sodey’spec.Defamblyfoun’itout’bouthalf anhour ago—maybe a littlemo’—en’ I tell you deywarn’t no time los’.Sichanotherhurryin’upgunsenhossesyounever see! Dewomenfolkshasgonefor tostirupderelations,enoleMarsSaulendeboys tuckdeygunsenrodeupderiverroadfortotrytoketchdatyoungmanenkillhim’fo’hekingit

acrost de river wid Miss Sophia. I reck’n dey’s gwyne to be mighty roughtimes.”“Buckwentoff’thoutwakingmeup.”“Well,Ireck’nhedid!Deywarn’tgwynetomixyouupinit.MarsBuckhe

loadeduphisgunen’lowedhe’sgwynetofetchhomeaShepherdsonorbust.Well,dey’llbeplentyun’mdah,Ireck’n,enyoubetyouhe’llfetchoneefhegitsachanst.”ItookuptheriverroadashardasIcouldput.ByandbyIbegintohearguns

agoodwaysoff.WhenIcomeinsightofthelogstoreandthewoodpilewherethesteamboatslandsIworkedalongunderthetreesandbrushtillIgottoagoodplace,andthenIclumbupintotheforksofacottonwoodthatwasoutofreach,andwatched.Therewasawood-rankfourfoothighalittlewaysinfrontofthetree,andfirstIwasgoingtohidebehindthat;butmaybeitwasluckierIdidn’t.Therewasfourorfivemencavortingaroundontheirhorsesintheopenplace

beforethelogstore,cussingandyelling,andtryingtogetatacoupleofyoungchaps thatwas behind thewood-rank alongside of the steamboat landing; buttheycouldn’tcomeit.Everytimeoneofthemshowedhimselfontheriversideofthewoodpilehegotshotat.Thetwoboyswassquattingbacktobackbehindthepile,sotheycouldwatchbothways.

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Byandbythemenstoppedcavortingaroundandyelling.Theystartedridingtowards the store; thenupgets oneof the boys, draws a steadybeadover thewood-rank,anddropsoneofthemoutofhissaddle.Allthemenjumpedoffoftheirhorsesandgrabbedthehurtoneandstartedtocarryhimtothestore;andthatminutethetwoboysstartedontherun.TheygothalfwaytothetreeIwasinbeforethemennoticed.Thenthemenseethem,andjumpedontheirhorsesandtookoutafterthem.Theygainedontheboys,butitdidn’tdonogood,theboyshadtoogoodastart;theygottothewoodpilethatwasinfrontofmytree,

andslippedinbehindit,andsotheyhadthebulgeonthemenagain.OneoftheboyswasBuck,andtheotherwasaslimyoungchapaboutnineteenyearsold.Themenrippedaroundawhile,andthenrodeaway.Assoonastheywasout

ofsightIsungouttoBuckandtoldhim.Hedidn’tknowwhattomakeofmyvoicecomingoutof the tree at first. Hewasawful surprised. He toldme towatchoutsharpandlethimknowwhenthemencomeinsightagain;saidtheywasuptosomedevilmentorother—wouldn’tbegonelong.IwishedIwasoutofthattree,butIdasn’tcomedown.Buckbeguntocryandrip,and’lowedthathimandhiscousinJoe(thatwastheotheryoungchap)wouldmakeupforthisdayyet.Hesaidhisfatherandhistwobrotherswaskilled,andtwoorthreeoftheenemy.SaidtheShepherdsonslaidfortheminambush.Bucksaidhisfatherand brothers ought to waited for their relations—the Shepherdsons was toostrong for them. I asked him what was become of young Harney and MissSophia.Hesaidthey’dgotacrosstheriverandwassafe.Iwasgladofthat;butthewayBuckdidtakeonbecausehedidn’tmanagetokillHarneythatdayheshotathim—Ihain’teverheardanythinglikeit.All of a sudden, bang! bang! bang! goes three or four guns—themen had

slippedaroundthroughthewoodsandcomeinfrombehindwithouttheirhorses!Theboysjumpedfortheriver—bothofthemhurt—andastheyswumdownthecurrentthemenrunalongthebankshootingatthemandsingingout,“Killthem,killthem!”ItmademesosickImostfelloutofthetree.Iain’ta-goingtotellallthathappened—itwouldmakemesickagainifIwastodothat.IwishedIhadn’tevercomeashorethatnighttoseesuchthings.Iain’tevergoingtogetshutofthem—lotsoftimesIdreamaboutthem.Istayedinthetreetillitbeguntogetdark,afraidtocomedown.SometimesI

heardgunsawayoff in thewoods;and twice I seen littlegangsofmengalloppastthelogstorewithguns;soIreckonedthetroublewasstilla-goingon.Iwasmightydownhearted;soImadeupmymindIwouldn’tevergoanearthathouseagain,becauseIreckonedIwastoblame,somehow.IjudgedthatthatpieceofpapermeantthatMissSophiawastomeetHarneysomewheresathalf-pasttwoand run off; and I judged I ought to told her father about that paper and thecuriouswaysheacted,andthenmaybehewouldalockedherup,andthisawfulmesswouldn’teverhappened.WhenIgotdownoutofthetreeIcreptalongdowntheriverbankapiece,and

foundthetwobodieslayingintheedgeofthewater,andtuggedatthemtillIgotthemashore;thenIcovereduptheirfaces,andgotawayasquickasIcould.IcriedalittlewhenIwascoveringupBuck’sface,forhewasmightygoodtome.It was just dark now. I never went near the house, but struck through the

woodsandmadefortheswamp.Jimwarn’tonhisisland,soItrampedoffinahurry for the crick, and crowded through thewillows, red-hot to jump aboardand get out of that awful country. The raft was gone! My souls, but I wasscared!Icouldn’tgetmybreathformostaminute.ThenIraisedayell.Avoicenottwenty-fivefootfrommesays:“Goodlan’!isdatyou,honey?Doan’makenonoise.”Itwas Jim’s voice—nothing ever sounded so good before. I run along the

bankapieceandgotaboard,andJimhegrabbedmeandhuggedme,hewassogladtoseeme.Hesays:“Lawsblessyou, chile, I ’uz right down sho’you’sdead agin. Jack’sbeen

heah;hesayhereck’nyou’sbenshot,kaseyoudidn’comehomenomo’;soI’sjes’disminuteastartin’deraf’downtowardsdemouferdecrick,so’stobeallreadyfortoshoveoutenleavesoonasJackcomesaginentellsmeforcertainyouisdead.Lawsy,I’smightygladtogityoubackagain,honey.”Isays:“All right—that’s mighty good; they won’t find me, and they’ll think I’ve

beenkilled,andfloateddowntheriver—there’ssomethinguptherethat’llhelpthem think so—so don’t you lose no time, Jim, but just shove off for the bigwaterasfastaseveryoucan.”Ineverfelteasytilltheraftwastwomilebelowthereandoutinthemiddleof

theMississippi. Thenwehungupour signal lantern, and judged thatwewasfreeandsafeoncemore.Ihadn’thadabitetoeatsinceyesterday,soJimhegotoutsomecorn-dodgersandbuttermilk,andporkandcabbageandgreens—thereain’tnothingintheworldsogoodwhenit’scookedright—andwhilstIeatmysupperwetalkedandhadagoodtime.Iwaspowerfulgladtogetawayfromthefeuds, and sowas Jim toget away from the swamp. Wesaid therewarn’tnohomelikearaft,afterall. Otherplacesdoseemsocrampedupandsmothery,butaraftdon’t.Youfeelmightyfreeandeasyandcomfortableonaraft.

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CHAPTERXIX.TWOorthreedaysandnightswentby;IreckonImightsaytheyswumby,

theyslidalongsoquietandsmoothandlovely. Hereis thewayweputinthetime. Itwas amonstrous big river down there—sometimes amile and a halfwide;werunnights,andlaidupandhiddaytimes;soonasnightwasmostgonewe stopped navigating and tied up—nearly always in the dead water under atowhead; and then cut young cottonwoods andwillows, and hid the raft withthem.Thenwesetoutthelines.Nextweslidintotheriverandhadaswim,soastofreshenupandcooloff;thenwesetdownonthesandybottomwherethewater was about knee deep, and watched the daylight come. Not a soundanywheres—perfectly still—just like the whole world was asleep, onlysometimes the bullfrogs a-cluttering, maybe. The first thing to see, lookingawayoverthewater,wasakindofdullline—thatwasthewoodsont’otherside;you couldn’t make nothing else out; then a pale place in the sky; then morepalenessspreadingaround;thentheriversoftenedupawayoff,andwarn’tblackanymore, but gray; you could see little dark spots drifting along ever so faraway—tradingscows,andsuchthings;andlongblackstreaks—rafts;sometimesyou could hear a sweep screaking; or jumbled up voices, it was so still, andsoundscomeso far;andbyandbyyoucouldseeastreakon thewaterwhichyouknowby the lookof the streak that there’s a snag there in a swift currentwhichbreaksonitandmakesthatstreaklookthatway;andyouseethemistcurlupoffofthewater,andtheeastreddensup,andtheriver,andyoumakeoutalog-cabinintheedgeofthewoods,awayonthebankont’othersideoftheriver,being a woodyard, likely, and piled by them cheats so you can throw a dogthrough it anywheres; then thenicebreeze springsup, andcomes fanningyoufromoverthere,socoolandfreshandsweettosmellonaccountofthewoodsand the flowers; but sometimes not that way, because they’ve left dead fishlayingaround,garsandsuch,andtheydogetprettyrank;andnextyou’vegotthefullday,andeverythingsmilinginthesun,andthesong-birdsjustgoingit!Alittlesmokecouldn’tbenoticednow,sowewouldtakesomefishoffofthe

lines and cook up a hot breakfast. And afterwards we would watch thelonesomeness of the river, and kind of lazy along, and by and by lazy off tosleep. Wake up by and by, and look to see what done it, and maybe see a

steamboat coughing along up-stream, so far off towards the other side youcouldn’t tell nothing about her only whether she was a stern-wheel or side-wheel; thenforaboutanhourtherewouldn’tbenothingtohearnornothingtosee—justsolidlonesomeness.Nextyou’dseearaftslidingby,awayoffyonder,andmaybeagalooton itchopping,because they’remostalwaysdoing itonaraft;you’dseetheaxeflashandcomedown—youdon’thearnothing;youseethataxegoupagain,andbythetimeit’sabovetheman’sheadthenyouhearthek’chunk!—ithadtookallthattimetocomeoverthewater.Sowewouldputintheday, lazyingaround, listening to the stillness. Once therewasa thick fog,and the rafts and things that went bywas beating tin pans so the steamboatswouldn’trunoverthem.Ascoworaraftwentbysoclosewecouldhearthemtalkingandcussingandlaughing—heardthemplain;butwecouldn’tseenosignofthem;itmadeyoufeelcrawly;itwaslikespiritscarryingonthatwayintheair.Jimsaidhebelieveditwasspirits;butIsays:“No;spiritswouldn’tsay,‘Dernthedernfog.’”Soonasitwasnightoutweshoved;whenwegotherouttoaboutthemiddle

weletheralone,andletherfloatwhereverthecurrentwantedherto;thenwelitthepipes,anddangledourlegsinthewater,andtalkedaboutallkindsofthings—wewasalwaysnaked,dayandnight,wheneverthemosquitoeswouldletus—thenewclothesBuck’sfolksmadeformewastoogoodtobecomfortable,andbesidesIdidn’tgomuchonclothes,nohow.Sometimeswe’dhave thatwhole river all toourselves for the longest time.

Yonderwas thebanks and the islands, across thewater; andmaybe a spark—whichwasacandleinacabinwindow;andsometimesonthewateryoucouldseeasparkortwo—onaraftorascow,youknow;andmaybeyoucouldhearafiddleorasongcomingoverfromoneofthemcrafts.It’slovelytoliveonaraft.We had the sky up there, all speckledwith stars, andwe used to lay on ourbacksandlookupatthem,anddiscussaboutwhethertheywasmadeoronlyjusthappened.Jimheallowedtheywasmade,butIallowedtheyhappened;Ijudgeditwouldhavetooktoolongtomakesomany. Jimsaidthemooncoulda laidthem;well, that looked kind of reasonable, so I didn’t say nothing against it,because I’ve seena frog laymost asmany, soof course it couldbedone.Weused towatch the stars that fell, too, and see them streakdown. Jim allowedthey’dgotspoiledandwashoveoutofthenest.Onceortwiceofanightwewouldseeasteamboatslippingalonginthedark,

and now and then she would belch a whole world of sparks up out of herchimbleys,andtheywouldraindownintheriverandlookawfulpretty;thenshewouldturnacornerandherlightswouldwinkoutandherpowwowshutoffand

leavetheriverstillagain;andbyandbyherwaveswouldgettous,alongtimeafter shewas gone, and joggle the raft a bit, and after that youwouldn’t hearnothingforyoucouldn’ttellhowlong,exceptmaybefrogsorsomething.Aftermidnight the people on shorewent to bed, and then for two or three

hours the shores was black—no more sparks in the cabin windows. Thesesparks was our clock—the first one that showed again meant morning wascoming,sowehuntedaplacetohideandtieuprightaway.OnemorningaboutdaybreakIfoundacanoeandcrossedoverachutetothe

main shore—it was only two hundred yards—and paddled about a mile up acrickamongstthecypresswoods,toseeifIcouldn’tgetsomeberries.JustasIwaspassingaplacewhereakindofacowpathcrossedthecrick,herecomesacoupleofmentearingupthepathastightastheycouldfootit.IthoughtIwasagoner,forwheneveranybodywasafteranybodyIjudgeditwasme—ormaybeJim.Iwasabouttodigoutfromthereinahurry,buttheywasprettyclosetomethen, and sung out and beggedme to save their lives—said they hadn’t beendoing nothing, andwas being chased for it—said therewasmen and dogs a-coming.Theywantedtojumprightin,butIsays:

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“Don’t youdo it. I don’t hear the dogs andhorses yet; you’ve got time tocrowdthroughthebrushandgetupthecrickalittleways;thenyoutaketothewaterandwadedowntomeandgetin—that’llthrowthedogsoffthescent.”Theydone it, andsoonas theywasaboard I litout forour towhead,and in

aboutfiveortenminutesweheardthedogsandthemenawayoff,shouting.Weheardthemcomealongtowardsthecrick,butcouldn’tseethem;theyseemedtostop and fool around awhile; then, aswegot further and further away all thetime, we couldn’t hardly hear them at all; by the time we had left a mile ofwoodsbehindusandstrucktheriver,everythingwasquiet,andwepaddledovertothetowheadandhidinthecottonwoodsandwassafe.

Oneofthesefellowswasaboutseventyorupwards,andhadabaldheadandverygraywhiskers.Hehadanoldbattered-upslouchhaton,andagreasybluewoollenshirt,andraggedoldbluejeansbritchesstuffedintohisboot-tops,andhome-knitgalluses—no,heonlyhadone.Hehadanoldlong-tailedbluejeanscoatwithslickbrassbuttonsflungoverhisarm,andbothofthemhadbig,fat,ratty-lookingcarpet-bags.The other fellow was about thirty, and dressed about as ornery. After

breakfastweall laidoff and talked, and the first thing that comeoutwas thatthesechapsdidn’tknowoneanother.“Whatgotyouintotrouble?”saysthebaldheadtot’otherchap.“Well, I’dbeensellinganarticle to take the tartaroff the teeth—anditdoes

take it off, too, and generly the enamel alongwith it—but I stayed about onenight longer than I ought to, andwas just in the act of slidingoutwhen I ranacrossyouonthetrailthissideoftown,andyoutoldmetheywerecoming,andbeggedmetohelpyoutogetoff.SoItoldyouIwasexpectingtroublemyself,andwouldscatteroutwithyou.That’sthewholeyarn—what’syourn?“Well, I’d ben a-running’ a little temperance revival thar ’bout aweek, and

wasthepetofthewomenfolks,bigandlittle,forIwasmakin’itmightywarmfortherummies,Itellyou,andtakin’asmuchasfiveorsixdollarsanight—tencents a head, children and niggers free—and business a-growin’ all the time,whensomehoworanotheralittlereportgotaroundlastnightthatIhadawayofputtin’ inmy timewithaprivate jugon thesly. Anigger roustedmeout thismornin’,andtoldmethepeoplewasgetherin’onthequietwiththeirdogsandhorses,andthey’dbealongprettysoonandgiveme’bouthalfanhour’sstart,andthenrunmedowniftheycould;andiftheygotmethey’dtarandfeathermeandridemeonarail,sure.Ididn’twaitfornobreakfast—Iwarn’thungry.”“Oldman,”saidtheyoungone,“Ireckonwemightdouble-teamittogether;

whatdoyouthink?”“Iain’tundisposed.What’syourline—mainly?”“Jourprinterbytrade;doalittleinpatentmedicines;theater-actor—tragedy,

you know; take a turn to mesmerism and phrenology when there’s a chance;teachsinging-geographyschool forachange; slinga lecture sometimes—oh, Ido lots of things—most anything that comes handy, so it ain’t work. What’syourlay?”“I’vedoneconsiderbleinthedoctoringwayinmytime.Layin’ono’handsis

mybestholt—forcancerandparalysis,andsichthings;andIk’ntellafortunepretty good when I’ve got somebody along to find out the facts for me.

Preachin’smyline,too,andworkin’camp-meetin’s,andmissionaryin’around.”Nobodyneversaidanythingforawhile;thentheyoungmanhoveasighand

says:“Alas!”“What’reyoualassin’about?”saysthebald-head.“TothinkIshouldhavelivedtobeleadingsuchalife,andbedegradeddown

intosuchcompany.”Andhebeguntowipethecornerofhiseyewitharag.“Dernyourskin,ain’tthecompanygoodenoughforyou?”saysthebaldhead,

prettypertanduppish.“Yes,itisgoodenoughforme;it’sasgoodasIdeserve;forwhofetchedme

solowwhenIwassohigh? Ididmyself. Idon’tblameyou,gentlemen—farfromit;Idon’tblameanybody.Ideserveitall.Letthecoldworlddoitsworst;onethingIknow—there’sagravesomewhereforme.Theworldmaygoonjustas it’s always done, and take everything from me—loved ones, property,everything;but itcan’t take that.SomedayI’ll liedownin itandforget itall,andmypoorbrokenheartwillbeatrest.”Hewentona-wiping.“Drotyourporebrokenheart,”saysthebaldhead;“whatareyouheavingyour

porebrokenheartatusf’r?wehain’tdonenothing.”“No,Iknowyouhaven’t.Iain’tblamingyou,gentlemen.Ibroughtmyself

down—yes, Idid itmyself. It’s right Ishouldsuffer—perfectly right—Idon’tmakeanymoan.”“Broughtyoudownfromwhar?Wharwasyoubroughtdownfrom?”“Ah,youwouldnotbelieveme;theworldneverbelieves—letitpass—’tisno

matter.Thesecretofmybirth—”“Thesecretofyourbirth!Doyoumeantosay—”“Gentlemen,”saystheyoungman,verysolemn,“Iwillrevealittoyou,forI

feelImayhaveconfidenceinyou.ByrightsIamaduke!”

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Jim’seyesbuggedoutwhenheheardthat;andIreckonminedid,too.Thenthebaldheadsays:"No!youcan’tmeanit?”“Yes. Mygreat-grandfather, eldest son of theDuke ofBridgewater, fled to

thiscountryabouttheendofthelastcentury,tobreathethepureairoffreedom;marriedhere,anddied,leavingason,hisownfatherdyingaboutthesametime. The second son of the late duke seized the titles and estates—the infant realdukewasignored. Iamthe linealdescendantof that infant—IamtherightfulDukeofBridgewater;andhereamI,forlorn,tornfrommyhighestate,huntedofmen,despisedby thecoldworld, ragged,worn,heart-broken, anddegraded tothecompanionshipoffelonsonaraft!”Jimpitiedhimever somuch,and sodid I.We tried tocomforthim,buthe

saiditwarn’tmuchuse,hecouldn’tbemuchcomforted;saidifwewasamindtoacknowledgehim,thatwoulddohimmoregoodthanmostanythingelse;sowesaidwewould,ifhewouldtellushow.Hesaidweoughttobowwhenwespoketohim,andsay“YourGrace,”or“MyLord,”or“YourLordship”—andhewouldn’tmind it ifwe called him plain “Bridgewater,”which, he said,was atitleanyway,andnotaname;andoneofusoughttowaitonhimatdinner,anddoanylittlethingforhimhewanteddone.Well, thatwasalleasy,sowedone it. All throughdinnerJimstoodaround

andwaitedonhim,andsays,“Willyo’Gracehavesomeo’disorsomeo’dat?”andsoon,andabodycouldseeitwasmightypleasingtohim.But the oldman got pretty silent by and by—didn’t havemuch to say, and

didn’tlookprettycomfortableoverallthatpettingthatwasgoingonaroundthatduke.Heseemedtohavesomethingonhismind.So,alongintheafternoon,hesays:“Lookyhere,Bilgewater,”hesays,“I’mnationsorryforyou,butyouain’tthe

onlypersonthat’shadtroubleslikethat.”“No?”“Noyouain’t.Youain’ttheonlypersonthat’sbensnakeddownwrongfully

out’nahighplace.”“Alas!”“No,youain’ttheonlypersonthat’shadasecretofhisbirth.”And,byjings,

hebeginstocry.“Hold!Whatdoyoumean?”

“Bilgewater,kinItrustyou?”saystheoldman,stillsortofsobbing.“Tothebitterdeath!”Hetooktheoldmanbythehandandsqueezedit,and

says,“Thatsecretofyourbeing:speak!”“Bilgewater,IamthelateDauphin!”

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Youbetyou,Jimandmestaredthistime.Thenthedukesays:“Youarewhat?”“Yes,myfriend,itistootrue—youreyesislookin’atthisverymomentonthe

pore disappeared Dauphin, Looy the Seventeen, son of Looy the Sixteen andMarryAntonette.”“You!Atyourage!No!Youmeanyou’rethelateCharlemagne;youmust

besixorsevenhundredyearsold,attheveryleast.”“Troublehasdoneit,Bilgewater,troublehasdoneit;troublehasbrungthese

grayhairsandthisprematurebalditude.Yes,gentlemen,youseebeforeyou,inbluejeansandmisery,thewanderin’,exiled,trampled-on,andsufferin’rightfulKingofFrance.”Well,hecriedandtookonsothatmeandJimdidn’tknowhardlywhattodo,

wewassosorry—andsogladandproudwe’dgothimwithus,too.Sowesetin, likewedonebeforewith theduke,and tried tocomforthim.Buthesaid itwarn’t no use, nothing but to be dead and donewith it all could do him anygood; though he said it often made him feel easier and better for a while ifpeopletreatedhimaccordingtohisrights,andgotdownononekneetospeaktohim,andalwayscalledhim“YourMajesty,”andwaitedonhim first atmeals,and didn’t set down in his presence till he asked them. So Jim andme set tomajestyinghim,anddoingthisandthatandt’otherforhim,andstandinguptillhe told uswemight set down. This done him heaps of good, and so he gotcheerfulandcomfortable.Butthedukekindofsouredonhim,anddidn’tlooka

bit satisfied with the way things was going; still, the king acted real friendlytowards him, and said the duke’s great-grandfather and all the otherDukes ofBilgewaterwasagooddealthoughtofbyhisfather,andwasallowedtocometothepalaceconsiderable;but thedukestayedhuffyagoodwhile, tillbyandbythekingsays:“Like as not we got to be together a blamed long time on this h-yer raft,

Bilgewater, and sowhat’s the use o’ your bein’ sour? It ’ll onlymake thingsoncomfortable. It ain’tmy fault Iwarn’t born a duke, it ain’t your fault youwarn’t born a king—sowhat’s the use toworry? Make the best o’ things thewayyoufind’em,saysI—that’smymotto.Thisain’tnobadthingthatwe’vestruckhere—plentygrubandaneasylife—come,giveusyourhand,duke,andle’sallbefriends.”Thedukedoneit,andJimandmewasprettygladtoseeit.Ittookawayall

theuncomfortablenessandwefeltmightygoodoverit,becauseitwouldabeenamiserablebusinesstohaveanyunfriendlinessontheraft;forwhatyouwant,above all things, on a raft, is for everybody to be satisfied, and feel right andkindtowardstheothers.Itdidn’ttakemelongtomakeupmymindthattheseliarswarn’tnokingsnor

dukesatall,butjustlow-downhumbugsandfrauds. ButIneversaidnothing,neverleton;keptittomyself;it’sthebestway;thenyoudon’thavenoquarrels,anddon’tgetintonotrouble.Iftheywantedustocallthemkingsanddukes,Ihadn’tnoobjections,’longasitwouldkeeppeaceinthefamily;anditwarn’tnouseto tellJim,soIdidn’t tellhim. IfInever learntnothingelseoutofpap,Ilearntthatthebestwaytogetalongwithhiskindofpeopleistoletthemhavetheirownway.

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CHAPTERXX.THEY asked us considerable many questions; wanted to know what we

covereduptheraftthatwayfor,andlaidbyinthedaytimeinsteadofrunning—wasJimarunawaynigger?SaysI:“Goodnesssakes!wouldarunawayniggerrunsouth?”No, they allowed hewouldn’t. I had to account for things someway, so I

says:“MyfolkswaslivinginPikeCounty,inMissouri,whereIwasborn,andthey

alldiedoffbutmeandpaandmybrotherIke.Pa,he’lowedhe’dbreakupandgodownandlivewithUncleBen,who’sgotalittleone-horseplaceontheriver,forty-fourmilebelowOrleans.Pawasprettypoor,andhadsomedebts;sowhenhe’dsquareduptherewarn’tnothingleftbutsixteendollarsandournigger,Jim.Thatwarn’tenoughtotakeusfourteenhundredmile,deckpassagenornootherway.Well,whentheriverrosepahadastreakofluckoneday;heketchedthispieceofaraft;sowereckonedwe’dgodowntoOrleansonit.Pa’sluckdidn’tholdout;asteamboatrunovertheforrardcorneroftheraftonenight,andweallwentoverboardanddoveunderthewheel;Jimandmecomeupallright,butpawas drunk, and Ikewas only four years old, so they never comeup nomore.Well,forthenextdayortwowehadconsiderabletrouble,becausepeoplewasalwayscomingout inskiffsand trying to takeJimawayfromme,saying theybelievedhewasarunawaynigger.Wedon’trundaytimesnomorenow;nightstheydon’tbotherus.”Thedukesays:“Leavemealonetocipheroutawaysowecanruninthedaytimeifwewant

to.I’llthinkthethingover—I’llinventaplanthat’llfixit.We’llletitaloneforto-day,becauseofcoursewedon’twanttogobythattownyonderindaylight—itmightn’tbehealthy.”Towardsnightitbeguntodarkenupandlooklikerain;theheatlightningwas

squirtingaroundlowdowninthesky,andtheleaveswasbeginningtoshiver—it

wasgoing tobeprettyugly, itwaseasy tosee that. So thedukeand thekingwenttooverhaulingourwigwam,toseewhatthebedswaslike.Mybedwasastraw tickbetter than Jim’s,whichwas a corn-shuck tick; there’s always cobsaroundaboutinashucktick,andtheypokeintoyouandhurt;andwhenyourolloverthedryshuckssoundlikeyouwasrollingoverinapileofdeadleaves;itmakessucharustlingthatyouwakeup.Well,thedukeallowedhewouldtakemybed;butthekingallowedhewouldn’t.Hesays:“I should a reckoned the difference in rank would a sejested to you that a

corn-shuck bedwarn’t just fitten forme to sleep on. YourGrace ’ll take theshuckbedyourself.”Jimandmewasinasweatagainforaminute,beingafraidtherewasgoingto

besomemoretroubleamongstthem;sowewasprettygladwhenthedukesays:“’Tis my fate to be always ground into the mire under the iron heel of

oppression.Misfortunehasbrokenmyoncehaughtyspirit;Iyield,Isubmit;’tismyfate.Iamaloneintheworld—letmesuffer;canbearit.”Wegotawayassoonasitwasgoodanddark.Thekingtoldustostandwell

outtowardsthemiddleoftheriver,andnotshowalighttillwegotalongwaysbelowthetown.Wecomeinsightofthelittlebunchoflightsbyandby—thatwasthetown,youknow—andslidby,aboutahalfamileout,allright.Whenwe was three-quarters of a mile belowwe hoisted up our signal lantern; andabout ten o’clock it come on to rain and blow and thunder and lighten likeeverything;sothekingtoldustobothstayonwatchtilltheweathergotbetter;thenhimandthedukecrawledintothewigwamandturnedinforthenight.Itwasmywatchbelowtilltwelve,butIwouldn’taturnedinanywayifI’dhadabed,becauseabodydon’tseesuchastormasthateverydayintheweek,notbyalongsight.Mysouls,howthewinddidscreamalong!Andeverysecondortwothere’dcomeaglarethatlitupthewhite-capsforahalfamilearound,andyou’d see the islands looking dusty through the rain, and the trees thrashingaroundinthewind;thencomesaH-WHACK!—bum!bum!bumble-umble-um-bum-bum-bum-bum—andthethunderwouldgorumblingandgrumblingaway,and quit—and then RIP comes another flash and another sockdolager. Thewavesmostwashedmeofftheraftsometimes,butIhadn’tanyclotheson,anddidn’tmind. Wedidn’thavenotroubleaboutsnags; the lightningwasglaringandflitteringaroundsoconstantthatwecouldseethemplentysoonenoughtothrowherheadthiswayorthatandmissthem.Ihadthemiddlewatch,youknow,butIwasprettysleepybythattime,soJim

hesaidhewouldstandthefirsthalfofitforme;hewasalwaysmightygoodthatway,Jimwas.Icrawledintothewigwam,butthekingandthedukehadtheir

legssprawledaroundsotherewarn’tnoshowforme;soIlaidoutside—Ididn’tmindtherain,becauseitwaswarm,andthewaveswarn’trunningsohighnow.About twotheycomeupagain, though,andJimwasgoingtocallme;buthechangedhismind,becausehereckonedtheywarn’thighenoughyet todoanyharm; but he was mistaken about that, for pretty soon all of a sudden alongcomesaregularripperandwashedmeoverboard.ItmostkilledJima-laughing.Hewastheeasiestniggertolaughthateverwas,anyway.Itookthewatch,andJimhelaiddownandsnoredaway;andbyandbythe

stormletupforgoodandall;andthefirstcabin-lightthatshowedIroustedhimout,andweslidtheraftintohidingquartersfortheday.Thekinggotoutanold rattydeckofcardsafterbreakfast,andhimand the

dukeplayedseven-upawhile,fivecentsagame.Thentheygottiredofit,andallowedtheywould“layoutacampaign,”astheycalledit.Thedukewentdownintohiscarpet-bag,andfetchedupalotoflittleprintedbillsandreadthemoutloud.Onebillsaid,“ThecelebratedDr.ArmanddeMontalban,ofParis,”would“lectureon theScienceofPhrenology”at suchandsuchaplace,on theblankdayofblank,attencentsadmission,and“furnishchartsofcharacterattwenty-five cents apiece.” The duke said that was him. In another bill he was the“world-renownedShakespeariantragedian,GarricktheYounger,ofDruryLane,London.” Inotherbillshehada lotofothernamesanddoneotherwonderfulthings, like finding water and gold with a “divining-rod,” “dissipating witchspells,”andsoon.Byandbyhesays:“But the histrionic muse is the darling. Have you ever trod the boards,

Royalty?”“No,”saystheking.“You shall, then, before you’re three days older, FallenGrandeur,” says the

duke."Thefirstgoodtownwecometowe’llhireahallanddotheswordfightinRichardIII.andthebalconysceneinRomeoandJuliet.Howdoesthatstrikeyou?”“I’min,uptothehub,foranythingthatwillpay,Bilgewater;but,yousee,I

don’tknownothingaboutplay-actin’,andhain’teverseenmuchofit.Iwastoosmallwhenpapused tohave’emat thepalace. Doyoureckonyoucan learnme?”“Easy!”“All right. I’m jist a-freezn’ for something fresh, anyway. Le’s commence

rightaway.”So thedukehe toldhimallaboutwhoRomeowasandwhoJulietwas,and

saidhewasusedtobeingRomeo,sothekingcouldbeJuliet.“But if Juliet’s such a young gal, duke, my peeled head and my white

whiskersisgoin’tolookoncommonoddonher,maybe.”“No,don’tyouworry; thesecountryjakeswon’tever thinkof that.Besides,

youknow,you’llbeincostume,andthatmakesallthedifferenceintheworld;Juliet’s inabalcony,enjoying themoonlightbeforeshegoes tobed,andshe’sgotonhernight-gownandherrufflednightcap. Herearethecostumesfortheparts.”

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He got out two or three curtain-calico suits, which he said was meedyevilarmorforRichardIII.andt’otherchap,andalongwhitecottonnightshirtandarufflednightcaptomatch.Thekingwassatisfied;sothedukegotouthisbookandreadthepartsoverinthemostsplendidspread-eagleway,prancingaroundandactingatthesametime,toshowhowithadgottobedone;thenhegivethebooktothekingandtoldhimtogethispartbyheart.Therewasa littleone-horse townabout threemiledownthebend,andafter

dinnerthedukesaidhehadcipheredouthis ideaabouthowtorunindaylightwithout it beingdangersome for Jim; sohe allowedhewouldgodown to thetown and fix that thing. The king allowed he would go, too, and see if hecouldn’tstrikesomething. Wewasoutofcoffee,soJimsaidIbettergoalongwiththeminthecanoeandgetsome.Whenwegottheretherewarn’tnobodystirring;streetsempty,andperfectly

deadandstill, likeSunday. Wefoundasickniggersunninghimself inabackyard, and he said everybody thatwarn’t too youngor too sick or too oldwasgone to camp-meeting, about twomile back in thewoods. The king got thedirections,andallowedhe’dgoandworkthatcamp-meetingforallitwasworth,andImightgo,too.Thedukesaidwhathewasafterwasaprinting-office.Wefoundit;alittlebit

ofaconcern,upoveracarpentershop—carpentersandprintersallgonetothemeeting, and no doors locked. It was a dirty, littered-up place, and had inkmarks,andhandbillswithpicturesofhorsesandrunawayniggerson them,alloverthewalls.Thedukeshedhiscoatandsaidhewasallrightnow.Someandthekinglitoutforthecamp-meeting.Wegotthereinaboutahalfanhourfairlydripping,foritwasamostawful

hot day. There was as much as a thousand people there from twenty milearound.Thewoodswasfullofteamsandwagons,hitchedeverywheres,feedingoutof thewagon-troughsandstompingtokeepoff theflies. Therewasshedsmadeoutofpolesandroofedoverwithbranches,wheretheyhadlemonadeandgingerbreadtosell,andpilesofwatermelonsandgreencornandsuch-liketruck.The preachingwas going on under the same kinds of sheds, only theywas

biggerandheldcrowdsofpeople.Thebencheswasmadeoutofoutsideslabsoflogs,withholesboredintheroundsidetodrivesticksintoforlegs.Theydidn’thavenobacks.Thepreachershadhighplatformstostandonatoneendofthesheds. Thewomenhadon sun-bonnets; and somehad linsey-woolsey frocks,someginghamones,anda fewof theyoungoneshadoncalico. Someof theyoungmenwasbarefooted,andsomeofthechildrendidn’thaveonanyclothesbutjustatow-linenshirt.Someoftheoldwomenwasknitting,andsomeoftheyoungfolkswascourtingonthesly.

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Thefirstshedwecometothepreacherwasliningoutahymn.Helinedouttwo lines,everybodysung it, and itwaskindofgrand tohear it, therewassomanyofthemandtheydoneitinsucharousingway;thenhelinedouttwomorefor them to sing—and so on. The peoplewoke upmore andmore, and sunglouderandlouder;andtowardstheendsomebeguntogroan,andsomebeguntoshout.Thenthepreacherbeguntopreach,andbeguninearnest,too;andwentweavingfirsttoonesideoftheplatformandthentheother,andthena-leaning

down over the front of it,with his arms and his body going all the time, andshoutinghiswordsoutwithallhismight;andeverynowandthenhewouldholduphisBible and spread it open, andkindofpass it around thiswayand that,shouting, “It’s the brazen serpent in thewilderness! Look upon it and live!”Andpeoplewouldshoutout,“Glory!—A-a-men!”Andsohewenton,andthepeoplegroaningandcryingandsayingamen:“Oh,cometothemourners’bench!come,blackwithsin!(Amen!)come,sick

and sore! (Amen!) come, lame and halt and blind! (Amen!) come, pore andneedy, sunk in shame! (A-A-Men!) come, all that’s worn and soiled andsuffering!—comewithabrokenspirit!comewithacontriteheart!comeinyourragsandsinanddirt! thewaters thatcleanseisfree, thedoorofheavenstandsopen—oh,enterinandbeatrest!”(A-A-Men!Glory,GloryHallelujah!)And so on. You couldn’t make out what the preacher said any more, on

accountoftheshoutingandcrying.Folksgotupeverywheresinthecrowd,andworked theirway justbymain strength to themourners’bench,with the tearsrunning down their faces; andwhen all themourners had got up there to thefrontbenchesinacrowd,theysungandshoutedandflungthemselvesdownonthestraw,justcrazyandwild.Well, the first I knowed thekinggot a-going, andyou couldhear himover

everybody;andnexthewenta-chargingupontotheplatform,andthepreacherhebeggedhimtospeak to thepeople,andhedone it. He told themhewasapirate—beenapirateforthirtyyearsoutintheIndianOcean—andhiscrewwasthinnedoutconsiderablelastspringinafight,andhewashomenowtotakeoutsome freshmen, and thanks to goodness he’d been robbed last night and putashore off of a steamboat without a cent, and he was glad of it; it was theblessedestthingthateverhappenedtohim,becausehewasachangedmannow,andhappyforthefirsttimeinhislife;and,poorashewas,hewasgoingtostartrightoffandworkhiswaybacktotheIndianOcean,andputintherestofhislife trying to turn the pirates into the true path; for he could do it better thananybodyelse,beingacquaintedwithallpiratecrewsinthatocean;andthoughitwould take him a long time to get there without money, he would get thereanyway,andeverytimeheconvincedapiratehewouldsaytohim,“Don’tyouthankme, don’t you giveme no credit; it all belongs to them dear people inPokeville camp-meeting, naturalbrothers andbenefactorsof the race, and thatdearpreacherthere,thetruestfriendapirateeverhad!”

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And thenhebusted into tears,andsodideverybody. Thensomebodysingsout,“Takeupacollectionforhim,takeupacollection!” Well,ahalfadozenmadea jumptodo it,butsomebodysingsout,“Lethimpass thehataround!”Theneverybodysaidit,thepreachertoo.So thekingwentall through thecrowdwithhishat swabbinghiseyes,and

blessing thepeopleandpraising themand thanking themforbeingsogood tothepoorpiratesawayoffthere;andeverylittlewhiletheprettiestkindofgirls,with the tears runningdown their cheeks,wouldup and askhimwouldhe letthemkisshimfortorememberhimby;andhealwaysdoneit;andsomeofthemhehuggedandkissedasmanyasfiveorsixtimes—andhewasinvitedtostayaweek;andeverybodywantedhimtoliveintheirhouses,andsaidthey’dthinkitwas an honor; but he said as this was the last day of the camp-meeting hecouldn’tdonogood,andbesideshewasinasweat toget to theIndianOceanrightoffandgotoworkonthepirates.When we got back to the raft and he come to count up he found he had

collectedeighty-sevendollarsandseventy-fivecents.Andthenhehadfetchedawaya three-gallon jugofwhisky, too, thathe foundunderawagonwhenhewasstartinghomethroughthewoods. Thekingsaid,takeitallaround,it laidoveranydayhe’deverputininthemissionaryingline.Hesaiditwarn’tnousetalking,heathensdon’tamount toshucksalongsideofpirates toworkacamp-meetingwith.Thedukewasthinkinghe’dbeendoingprettywelltillthekingcometoshow

up,butafterthathedidn’tthinksosomuch.Hehadsetupandprintedofftwolittle jobsforfarmers in thatprinting-office—horsebills—andtookthemoney,four dollars. And he had got in ten dollars’ worth of advertisements for thepaper, which he said he would put in for four dollars if they would pay inadvance—sotheydoneit.Thepriceofthepaperwastwodollarsayear,buthetookinthreesubscriptionsforhalfadollarapieceonconditionofthempayinghiminadvance;theyweregoingtopayincordwoodandonionsasusual,buthesaidhehad justbought theconcernandknockeddown theprice as lowashe

could afford it, andwas going to run it for cash. He set up a little piece ofpoetry, which he made, himself, out of his own head—three verses—kind ofsweetand saddish—thenameof itwas, “Yes, crush, coldworld, thisbreakingheart”—and he left that all set up and ready to print in the paper, and didn’tchargenothingforit.Well,hetookinninedollarsandahalf,andsaidhe’ddoneaprettysquareday’sworkforit.Then he showed us another little job he’d printed and hadn’t charged for,

becauseitwasforus.Ithadapictureofarunawayniggerwithabundleonastickoverhisshoulder,and“$200reward”underit.ThereadingwasallaboutJim, and just described him to a dot. It said he run away from St. Jacques’plantation,fortymilebelowNewOrleans,lastwinter,andlikelywentnorth,andwhoever would catch him and send him back he could have the reward andexpenses.

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“Now,”saystheduke,“afterto-nightwecanruninthedaytimeifwewantto.Wheneverweseeanybodycomingwecan tieJimhandandfootwitha rope,andlayhiminthewigwamandshowthishandbillandsaywecapturedhimuptheriver,andweretoopoortotravelonasteamboat,sowegotthislittleraftoncredit fromour friends andaregoingdown toget the reward. Handcuffs andchainswouldlookstillbetteronJim,butitwouldn’tgowellwiththestoryofusbeingsopoor. Toomuch like jewelry. Ropesare thecorrect thing—wemustpreservetheunities,aswesayontheboards.”Weallsaidthedukewasprettysmart,andtherecouldn’tbenotroubleabout

runningdaytimes.Wejudgedwecouldmakemilesenoughthatnighttogetoutofthereachofthepowwowwereckonedtheduke’sworkintheprintingofficewas going tomake in that little town; thenwe could boom right along if wewantedto.Welaidlowandkeptstill,andnevershovedouttillnearlyteno’clock;then

weslidby,prettywideawayfromthetown,anddidn’thoistourlanterntillwewasclearoutofsightofit.WhenJimcalledmetotakethewatchatfourinthemorning,hesays:“Huck,doesyoureck’nwegwynetorunacrostanymo’kingsondistrip?”“No,”Isays,“Ireckonnot.”“Well,”sayshe,“dat’sallright,den.Idoan’mineoneertwokings,butdat’s

enough.Disone’spowerfuldrunk,endedukeain’muchbetter.”IfoundJimhadbeentryingtogethimtotalkFrench,sohecouldhearwhatit

was like; but he said he had been in this country so long, and had so muchtrouble,he’dforgotit.

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CHAPTERXXI.ITwasaftersun-upnow,butwewentrightonanddidn’ttieup.Thekingand

the duke turned out by and by looking pretty rusty; but after they’d jumpedoverboardandtookaswimitchipperedthemupagooddeal.Afterbreakfastthekinghetookaseatonthecorneroftheraft,andpulledoffhisbootsandrolleduphisbritches,andlethislegsdangleinthewater,soastobecomfortable,andlithispipe,andwenttogettinghisRomeoandJulietbyheart.Whenhehadgotitprettygoodhimandthedukebeguntopracticeittogether. Thedukehadtolearnhimoverandoveragainhowtosayeveryspeech;andhemadehimsigh,andputhishandonhisheart,andafterawhilehesaidhedone itprettywell;“only,”hesays,“youmustn’tbellowoutRomeo!thatway,likeabull—youmustsayitsoftandsickandlanguishy,so—R-o-o-meo!thatistheidea;forJuliet’sadearsweetmerechildofagirl,youknow,andshedoesn’tbraylikeajackass.”

Well,nexttheygotoutacoupleoflongswordsthatthedukemadeoutofoaklaths, and begun to practice the sword fight—the duke called himselfRichardIII.;andthewaytheylaidonandprancedaroundtheraftwasgrandtosee.Butbyandbythekingtrippedandfelloverboard,andafterthattheytookarest,andhadatalkaboutallkindsofadventuresthey’dhadinothertimesalongtheriver.Afterdinnerthedukesays:“Well,Capet,we’llwanttomakethisafirst-classshow,youknow,soIguess

we’lladdalittlemoretoit.Wewantalittlesomethingtoanswerencoreswith,anyway.”“What’sonkores,Bilgewater?”Theduketoldhim,andthensays:“I’llanswerbydoingtheHighlandflingor thesailor’shornpipe;andyou—

well,letmesee—oh,I’vegotit—youcandoHamlet’ssoliloquy.”“Hamlet’swhich?”“Hamlet’ssoliloquy,youknow;themostcelebratedthinginShakespeare.Ah,

it’ssublime,sublime!Alwaysfetchesthehouse.Ihaven’tgotitinthebook—I’veonlygotonevolume—butIreckonIcanpieceitoutfrommemory.I’lljustwalk up and down aminute, and see if I can call it back from recollection’svaults.”

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Sohewenttomarchingupanddown,thinking,andfrowninghorribleeverynowandthen;thenhewouldhoistuphiseyebrows;nexthewouldsqueezehishandonhis foreheadandstaggerbackandkindofmoan;nexthewouldsigh,andnexthe’dletontodropatear.Itwasbeautifultoseehim.Byandbyhegotit.Hetoldustogiveattention.Thenhestrikesamostnobleattitude,withonelegshovedforwards,andhisarmsstretchedawayup,andhisheadtiltedback,lookingupatthesky;andthenhebeginstoripandraveandgrithisteeth;and

afterthat,allthroughhisspeech,hehowled,andspreadaround,andswelleduphischest,andjustknockedthespotsoutofanyactingeverIseebefore.Thisisthespeech—Ilearnedit,easyenough,whilehewaslearningittotheking:

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c21-181.jpg (157K)Tobe,ornot tobe; that is thebarebodkinThatmakescalamityofsolonglife;Forwhowouldfardelsbear,tillBirnamWooddocometoDunsinane,But that the fearof somethingafterdeathMurders the innocentsleep, Great nature’s second course, Andmakes us rather sling the arrows ofoutrageousfortuneThanfly toothers thatweknownotof.There’s therespectmustgiveuspause:WakeDuncanwiththyknocking!Iwouldthoucouldst;Forwhowouldbearthewhipsandscornsoftime,Theoppressor’swrong,theproudman’scontumely,Thelaw’sdelay,andthequietuswhichhispangsmighttake.Inthedeadwasteandmiddleofthenight,whenchurchyardsyawnIncustomarysuitsofsolemnblack,Butthattheundiscoveredcountryfromwhosebournenotravelerreturns,Breathesforthcontagionontheworld,Andthusthenativehueofresolution,likethepoorcati’theadage,Issickliedo’erwithcare.Andallthecloudsthatloweredo’erourhousetops,Withthisregardtheircurrentsturnawry,And lose thenameofaction. ’Tisaconsummationdevoutly tobewished.Butsoftyou,thefairOphelia:Openotthyponderousandmarblejaws.Butgettheetoanunnery—go!Well,theoldmanhelikedthatspeech,andhemightysoongotitsohecould

doitfirstrate.Itseemedlikehewasjustbornforit;andwhenhehadhishandinandwasexcited,itwasperfectlylovelythewayhewouldripandtearandrairupbehindwhenhewasgettingitoff.Thefirstchancewegot, thedukehehadsomeshowbillsprinted;andafter

that,for twoor threedaysaswefloatedalong, theraftwasamostuncommonlivelyplace,fortherewarn’tnothingbutsword-fightingandrehearsing—astheduke called it—goingon all the time.Onemorning,whenwewasprettywelldowntheStateofArkansaw,wecomeinsightofalittleone-horsetowninabigbend; sowe tiedupabout three-quartersof amile above it, in themouthof acrickwhichwasshutinlikeatunnelbythecypresstrees,andallofusbutJim

tookthecanoeandwentdowntheretoseeiftherewasanychanceinthatplaceforourshow.Westruckitmightylucky;therewasgoingtobeacircustherethatafternoon,

and the country peoplewas already beginning to come in, in all kinds of oldshackly wagons, and on horses. The circus would leave before night, so ourshowwouldhaveaprettygoodchance.Thedukehehiredthecourthouse,andwewentaroundandstuckupourbills.Theyreadlikethis:

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Thenwewent loafingaround the town.Thestoresandhouseswasmostalloldshacklydried-upframeconcernsthathadn’teverbeenpainted;theywassetupthreeorfourfootabovegroundonstilts,soastobeoutofreachofthewaterwhentheriverwasoverflowed.Thehouseshadlittlegardensaroundthem,butthey didn’t seem to raise hardly anything in them but jimpson weeds, andsunflowers, and ash-piles, and old curled-up boots and shoes, and pieces ofbottles, and rags, and played-out tin-ware. The fences was made of differentkindsofboards,nailedonatdifferenttimes;andtheyleanedeverywhich-way,andhadgatesthatdidn’tgenerlyhavebutonehinge—aleatherone.Someofthe

fenceshadbeenwhitewashed,sometimeoranother,butthedukesaiditwasinClumbus’stime,likeenough.Therewasgenerlyhogsinthegarden,andpeopledrivingthemout.All the stores was along one street. They had white domestic awnings in

front,andthecountrypeoplehitchedtheirhorsestotheawning-posts.Therewasemptydrygoodsboxesundertheawnings,andloafersroostingonthemalldaylong,whittlingthemwiththeirBarlowknives;andchawingtobacco,andgapingandyawningandstretching—amightyornery lot.Theygenerlyhadonyellowstrawhatsmostaswideasanumbrella,butdidn’twearnocoatsnorwaistcoats,theycalledoneanotherBill,andBuck,andHank,andJoe,andAndy,andtalkedlazyanddrawly,andusedconsiderablemanycusswords.Therewasasmanyasone loafer leaning up against every awning-post, and hemost always had hishandsinhisbritches-pockets,exceptwhenhefetchedthemouttolendachawoftobaccoorscratch.Whatabodywashearingamongstthemallthetimewas:“Gimmeachaw’vtobacker,Hank.”“Cain’t;Ihain’tgotbutonechawleft.AskBill.”

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MaybeBillhegiveshimachaw;maybehe liesandsaysheain’tgotnone.Some of them kinds of loafers never has a cent in the world, nor a chaw oftobaccoof theirown. Theyget all their chawingbyborrowing; they say to afellow, “I wisht you’d len’ me a chaw, Jack, I jist this minute give BenThompsonthelastchawIhad”—whichisalieprettymucheverytime;itdon’tfoolnobodybutastranger;butJackain’tnostranger,sohesays:“Yougivehimachaw,didyou?Sodidyoursister’scat’sgrandmother.You

paymeback thechawsyou’veawreadyborry’doff’nme,LafeBuckner, thenI’llloanyouoneortwotonofit,andwon’tchargeyounobackintrust,nuther.”“Well,Ididpayyoubacksomeofitwunst.”

“Yes, youdid—’bout six chaws. Youborry’d store tobacker andpaidbacknigger-head.”Store tobacco is flat black plug, but these fellowsmostly chaws the natural

leaftwisted.Whentheyborrowachawtheydon’tgenerlycutitoffwithaknife,butsetthepluginbetweentheirteeth,andgnawwiththeirteethandtugattheplugwiththeirhandstilltheygetitintwo;thensometimestheonethatownsthetobaccolooksmournfulatitwhenit’shandedback,andsays,sarcastic:“Here,gimmethechaw,andyoutaketheplug.”All the streets and laneswas justmud; theywarn’t nothing elsebutmud—

mudasblackastarandnighaboutafootdeepinsomeplaces,andtwoorthreeinchesdeepinalltheplaces.Thehogsloafedandgruntedaroundeverywheres.You’dseeamuddysowanda litterofpigscomelazyingalongthestreetandwhollopherselfrightdownintheway,wherefolkshadtowalkaroundher,andshe’dstretchoutandshuthereyesandwaveherearswhilstthepigswasmilkingher, and look as happy as if shewas on salary.And pretty soon you’d hear aloafer sing out, “Hi! so boy! sick him, Tige!” and away the sow would go,squealingmost horrible,with a dogor two swinging to each ear, and threeorfour dozenmore a-coming; and thenyouwould see all the loafers get up andwatchthethingoutofsight,andlaughatthefunandlookgratefulforthenoise.Thenthey’dsettlebackagaintilltherewasadogfight.Therecouldn’tanythingwakethemupallover,andmakethemhappyallover,likeadogfight—unlessitmightbeputtingturpentineonastraydogandsettingfiretohim,ortyingatinpantohistailandseehimrunhimselftodeath.Ontheriverfrontsomeofthehouseswasstickingoutoverthebank,andthey

wasbowedandbent,andaboutreadytotumblein.Thepeoplehadmovedoutofthem. The bank was caved away under one corner of some others, and thatcorner was hanging over. People lived in them yet, but it was dangersome,because sometimes a strip of land as wide as a house caves in at a time.Sometimesabeltof landaquarterofamiledeepwillstart inandcavealongandcavealongtillitallcavesintotheriverinonesummer.Suchatownasthathas tobealwaysmovingback,andback,andback,because theriver’salwaysgnawingatit.Theneareritgottonoonthatdaythethickerandthickerwasthewagonsand

horses in the streets, and more coming all the time. Families fetched theirdinnerswith them from the country, and eat them in thewagons. Therewasconsiderable whisky drinking going on, and I seen three fights. By and bysomebodysingsout:

“HerecomesoldBoggs!—infromthecountryforhislittleoldmonthlydrunk;herehecomes,boys!”All the loafers looked glad; I reckoned theywas used to having fun out of

Boggs.Oneofthemsays:“Wonderwhohe’sa-gwynetochawupthistime.Ifhe’da-chawedupallthe

menhe’sbena-gwynetochawupinthelasttwentyyearhe’dhaveconsiderableruputationnow.”Another one says, “Iwisht oldBoggs ’d threatenme, ’cuz then I’d know I

warn’tgwynetodieforathousan’year.”Boggscomesa-tearingalongonhishorse,whoopingandyellinglikeanInjun,

andsingingout:“Cler the track, thar. I’m on the waw-path, and the price uv coffins is a-

gwynetoraise.”

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Hewasdrunk, andweavingabout inhis saddle;hewasover fiftyyearold,andhadaveryredface.Everybodyyelledathimandlaughedathimandsassedhim,andhesassedback,andsaidhe’dattendtothemandlaythemoutintheirregular turns,buthe couldn’twaitnowbecausehe’dcome to town tokill oldColonelSherburn, andhismottowas, “Meat first, and spoonvittles to topoffon.”Heseeme,androdeupandsays:“Whar’dyoucomef’m,boy?Youpreparedtodie?”Thenherodeon.Iwasscared,butamansays:“Hedon’tmeannothing;he’salwaysa-carryin’onlikethatwhenhe’sdrunk.

He’s thebestnaturedestold fool inArkansaw—neverhurtnobody,drunknorsober.”Boggsrodeupbeforethebiggeststoreintown,andbenthisheaddownsohe

couldseeunderthecurtainoftheawningandyells:“Come out here, Sherburn! Come out and meet the man you’ve swindled.

You’rethehoun’I’mafter,andI’ma-gwynetohaveyou,too!”Andsohewenton, callingSherburneverythinghecould layhis tongue to,

and thewhole street packedwith people listening and laughing and going on.Byandbyaproud-lookingmanabout fifty-five—andhewasaheap thebestdressedmaninthattown,too—stepsoutofthestore,andthecrowddropsbackon each side to let him come. He says toBoggs,mighty ca’m and slow—hesays:“I’mtiredofthis,butI’llendureittilloneo’clock.Tilloneo’clock,mind—

no longer. If you open yourmouth againstme only once after that time youcan’ttravelsofarbutIwillfindyou.”Thenheturnsandgoesin. Thecrowdlookedmightysober;nobodystirred,

andtherewarn’tnomorelaughing.BoggsrodeoffblackguardingSherburnasloud ashe couldyell, all down the street; andpretty soonbackhe comes andstopsbeforethestore,stillkeepingitup. Somemencrowdedaroundhimandtried to get him to shut up, but he wouldn’t; they told him it would be oneo’clock in about fifteenminutes, and so hemust go home—hemust go rightaway.Butitdidn’tdonogood.Hecussedawaywithallhismight,andthrowedhishatdowninthemudandrodeoverit,andprettysoonawayhewenta-ragingdown the street again,with his gray hair a-flying.Everybody that could get achanceathimtriedtheirbesttocoaxhimoffofhishorsesotheycouldlockhimupandgethimsober;but itwarn’tnouse—up thestreethewould tearagain,andgiveSherburnanothercussing.Byandbysomebodysays:“Go forhisdaughter!—quick,go forhisdaughter; sometimeshe’ll listen to

her.Ifanybodycanpersuadehim,shecan.”Sosomebodystartedonarun.Iwalkeddownstreetawaysandstopped.In

aboutfiveortenminutesherecomesBoggsagain,butnotonhishorse.Hewasa-reelingacrossthestreettowardsme,bare-headed,withafriendonbothsidesof him a-holt of his arms and hurrying him along. Hewas quiet, and lookeduneasy; and hewarn’t hanging back any, butwas doing some of the hurryinghimself.Somebodysingsout:“Boggs!”I lookedover there toseewhosaid it,anditwas thatColonelSherburn.He

wasstandingperfectlystillinthestreet,andhadapistolraisedinhisrighthand—notaimingit,butholdingitoutwiththebarreltilteduptowardsthesky.ThesamesecondIseeayounggirlcomingontherun,andtwomenwithher.Boggs

andthementurnedroundtoseewhocalledhim,andwhentheysee thepistolthemenjumpedtooneside,andthepistol-barrelcomedownslowandsteadytoa level—bothbarrelscocked.Boggs throwsupbothofhishandsandsays,“OLord,don’tshoot!”Bang!goesthefirstshot,andhestaggersback,clawingattheair—bang!goesthesecondone,andhetumblesbackwardsontotheground,heavyand solid,withhis arms spreadout. That younggirl screamedout andcomes rushing,anddownshe throwsherselfonher father,crying,andsaying,“Oh,he’skilledhim,he’skilledhim!”Thecrowdcloseduparoundthem,andshouldered and jammed one another,with their necks stretched, trying to see,andpeopleontheinsidetryingtoshovethembackandshouting,“Back,back!givehimair,givehimair!”

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ColonelSherburnhetossedhispistolontotheground,andturnedaroundonhisheelsandwalkedoff.They took Boggs to a little drug store, the crowd pressing around just the

same,and thewhole townfollowing,andI rushedandgotagoodplaceat thewindow,whereIwasclosetohimandcouldseein.TheylaidhimonthefloorandputonelargeBibleunderhishead,andopenedanotheroneandspreaditonhisbreast;buttheytoreopenhisshirtfirst,andIseenwhereoneofthebulletswentin.Hemadeaboutadozenlonggasps,hisbreastliftingtheBibleupwhenhedrawedinhisbreath,andlettingitdownagainwhenhebreatheditout—andafter thathe laidstill;hewasdead. Then theypulledhisdaughterawayfromhim,screamingandcrying,and tookheroff. Shewasaboutsixteen,andverysweetandgentlelooking,butawfulpaleandscared.Well, pretty soon the whole town was there, squirming and scrouging and

pushingandshovingtogetatthewindowandhavealook,butpeoplethathadtheplaceswouldn’tgivethemup,andfolksbehindthemwassayingallthetime,“Say,now,you’ve lookedenough,you fellows; ’tain’t rightand ’tain’t fair for

you to stay thar all the time, andnevergivenobodya chance;other folkshastheirrightsaswellasyou.”Therewasconsiderablejawingback,soIslidout,thinkingmaybetherewas

goingtobetrouble.Thestreetswasfull,andeverybodywasexcited.Everybodythatseen theshootingwas tellinghowithappened,and therewasabigcrowdpacked around each one of these fellows, stretching their necks and listening.One long, lankyman,with longhairandabigwhite furstovepipehaton theback of his head, and a crooked-handled cane, marked out the places on thegroundwhereBoggsstoodandwhereSherburnstood,andthepeoplefollowinghim around from one place to t’other and watching everything he done, andbobbing their heads to show theyunderstood, and stoopinga little and restingtheirhandsontheirthighstowatchhimmarktheplacesonthegroundwithhiscane;andthenhestoodupstraightandstiffwhereSherburnhadstood,frowningandhavinghishat-brimdownoverhiseyes, andsungout, “Boggs!”and thenfetchedhiscanedownslowtoa level,andsays“Bang!”staggeredbackwards,says“Bang!”again,andfelldownflatonhisback.Thepeoplethathadseenthething said he done it perfect; said itwas just exactly theway it all happened.Thenasmuchasadozenpeoplegotouttheirbottlesandtreatedhim.Well, by and by somebody said Sherburn ought to be lynched. In about a

minute everybody was saying it; so away they went, mad and yelling, andsnatchingdowneveryclothes-linetheycometotodothehangingwith.

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CHAPTERXXII.THEY swarmed up towards Sherburn’s house, a-whooping and raging like

Injuns,andeverythinghadtoclearthewayorgetrunoverandtrompedtomush,and itwasawful tosee. Childrenwasheeling itaheadof themob,screamingandtryingtogetoutof theway;andeverywindowalongtheroadwasfullofwomen’sheads,andtherewasniggerboysineverytree,andbucksandwencheslookingovereveryfence;andassoonasthemobwouldgetnearlytothemtheywouldbreakandskaddlebackoutof reach. Lotsof thewomenandgirlswascryingandtakingon,scaredmosttodeath.They swarmedup in front of Sherburn’s palings as thick as they could jam

together, and you couldn’t hear yourself think for the noise. It was a littletwenty-footyard.Somesungout“Teardownthefence!teardownthefence!” Then therewas a racket of ripping and tearing and smashing, and down shegoes,andthefrontwallofthecrowdbeginstorollinlikeawave.Just then Sherburn steps out on to the roof of his little front porch,with a

double-barrelguninhishand,andtakeshisstand,perfectlyca’manddeliberate,notsayingaword.Theracketstopped,andthewavesuckedback.Sherburn never said aword—just stood there, looking down. The stillness

was awful creepy and uncomfortable. Sherburn run his eye slow along thecrowd;andwhereveritstruckthepeopletriedalittletoout-gazehim,buttheycouldn’t;theydroppedtheireyesandlookedsneaky.ThenprettysoonSherburnsortoflaughed;notthepleasantkind,butthekindthatmakesyoufeellikewhenyouareeatingbreadthat’sgotsandinit.Thenhesays,slowandscornful:“Theideaofyoulynchinganybody!It’samusing.Theideaofyouthinking

youhadpluckenoughtolynchaman!Becauseyou’rebraveenoughtotarandfeatherpoorfriendlesscast-outwomenthatcomealonghere,didthatmakeyouthinkyouhadgritenoughtolayyourhandsonaman?Why,aman’ssafeinthehands of ten thousand of your kind—as long as it’s daytime and you’re notbehindhim.“Do I know you? I know you clear through. Iwas born and raised in the

South,andI’velivedintheNorth;soIknowtheaverageallaround.Theaverageman’sacoward.IntheNorthheletsanybodywalkoverhimthatwantsto,andgoeshomeandpraysforahumblespirittobearit.IntheSouthonemanallbyhimself,hasstoppedastagefullofmeninthedaytime,androbbedthelot.Yournewspaperscallyouabravepeoplesomuchthatyouthinkyouarebraverthananyotherpeople—whereasyou’rejustasbrave,andnobraver.Whydon’tyourjurieshangmurderers?Becausethey’reafraidtheman’sfriendswillshootthemintheback,inthedark—andit’sjustwhattheywoulddo.

“So they always acquit; and then aman goes in the night, with a hundredmaskedcowardsathisbackand lynches the rascal. Yourmistake is, thatyoudidn’tbringamanwithyou;that’sonemistake,andtheotheristhatyoudidn’tcome in the dark and fetch your masks. You brought part of a man—BuckHarkness,there—andifyouhadn’thadhimtostartyou,you’datakenitoutinblowing.“Youdidn’twant tocome. Theaveragemandon’t like troubleanddanger.

Youdon’tliketroubleanddanger.Butifonlyhalfaman—likeBuckHarkness,there—shouts ’Lynch him! lynch him!’ you’re afraid to back down—afraidyou’llbefoundouttobewhatyouare—cowards—andsoyouraiseayell,andhang yourselves on to that half-a-man’s coat-tail, and come raging up here,swearingwhatbigthingsyou’regoingtodo.Thepitifulest thingoutisamob;that’swhatanarmyis—amob;theydon’tfightwithcouragethat’sborninthem,butwithcouragethat’sborrowedfromtheirmass,andfromtheirofficers.Butamobwithoutanymanattheheadofitisbeneathpitifulness.Nowthethingforyou todo is todroopyour tailsandgohomeandcrawl inahole. If any reallynching’sgoing tobedone itwillbedone in thedark,Southern fashion;andwhentheycomethey’llbringtheirmasks,andfetchamanalong.Nowleave—andtakeyourhalf-a-manwithyou”—tossinghisgunupacrosshisleftarmandcockingitwhenhesaysthis.Thecrowdwashedbacksudden,andthenbrokeallapart,andwenttearingoff

everywhichway,andBuckHarknessheheeleditafterthem,lookingtolerablecheap.IcouldastayedifIwantedto,butIdidn’twantto.Iwenttothecircusandloafedaroundthebacksidetillthewatchmanwentby,

and thendived inunder the tent. Ihadmytwenty-dollargoldpieceandsomeothermoney,butI reckonedIbettersaveit,becausethereain’tnotellinghowsoonyouaregoingtoneedit,awayfromhomeandamongststrangersthatway.Youcan’tbetoocareful.Iain’topposedtospendingmoneyoncircuseswhenthereain’tnootherway,butthereain’tnouseinwastingitonthem.

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Itwasarealbullycircus.Itwasthesplendidestsightthateverwaswhentheyallcomeridingin,twoandtwo,agentlemanandlady,sidebyside,themenjustin their drawers and undershirts, and no shoes nor stirrups, and resting theirhandsontheirthighseasyandcomfortable—theremustabeentwentyofthem—andevery ladywith a lovely complexion, andperfectlybeautiful, and lookingjust like a gang of real sure-enough queens, and dressed in clothes that costmillionsofdollars,andjustlitteredwithdiamonds.Itwasapowerfulfinesight;Ineverseeanythingsolovely.Andthenonebyonetheygotupandstood,andwent a-weaving around the ring so gentle and wavy and graceful, the menlookingeversotallandairyandstraight,withtheirheadsbobbingandskimmingalong, away up there under the tent-roof, and every lady’s rose-leafy dressflappingsoftandsilkyaroundherhips,andshelookinglikethemost loveliestparasol.Andthenfasterandfastertheywent,allofthemdancing,firstonefootoutin

theairandthentheother,thehorsesleaningmoreandmore,andtheringmastergoingroundandround thecenter-pole,crackinghiswhipandshouting“Hi!—hi!”andtheclowncrackingjokesbehindhim;andbyandbyallhandsdroppedthe reins, and every lady put her knuckles on her hips and every gentlemanfoldedhisarms,and thenhow thehorsesdid leanoverandhump themselves! And so one after the other they all skipped off into the ring, and made thesweetestbowIeversee,and thenscamperedout,andeverybodyclapped theirhandsandwentjustaboutwild.Well,allthroughthecircustheydonethemostastonishingthings;andallthe

timethatclowncarriedonsoitmostkilledthepeople.Theringmastercouldn’teversayawordtohimbuthewasbackathimquickasawinkwiththefunniestthingsabodyeversaid;andhowheevercouldthinkofsomanyofthem,andsosudden and so pat,waswhat I couldn’t noway understand.Why, I couldn’t athoughtoftheminayear.Andbyandbyadrunkmantriedtogetintothering—said he wanted to ride; said he could ride as well as anybody that ever was.Theyarguedand tried tokeephimout,buthewouldn’t listen,and thewholeshowcometoastandstill.Thenthepeoplebeguntohollerathimandmakefunofhim,andthatmadehimmad,andhebeguntoripandtear;sothatstirredupthepeople,andalotofmenbeguntopiledownoffofthebenchesandswarmtowards the ring, saying, “Knock himdown! throwhimout!” and one or twowomenbeguntoscream.So,then,theringmasterhemadealittlespeech,andsaidhehopedtherewouldn’tbenodisturbance,andif themanwouldpromise

hewouldn’tmakenomoretroublehewouldlethimrideifhethoughthecouldstayonthehorse.Soeverybodylaughedandsaidallright,andthemangoton.Theminute he was on, the horse begun to rip and tear and jump and cavortaround,withtwocircusmenhangingontohisbridletryingtoholdhim,andthedrunkmanhangingontohisneck,andhisheelsflyingintheaireveryjump,andthewhole crowd of people standing up shouting and laughing till tears rolleddown. And at last, sure enough, all the circusmen coulddo, thehorsebrokeloose,andawayhewentliketheverynation,roundandroundthering,withthatsotlayingdownonhimandhangingtohisneck,withfirstoneleghangingmostto thegroundononeside,and then t’otheroneon t’otherside,and thepeoplejustcrazy.Itwarn’tfunnytome,though;Iwasallofatrembletoseehisdanger.Butprettysoonhestruggledupastraddleandgrabbedthebridle,a-reelingthisway and that; and the next minute he sprung up and dropped the bridle andstood!and thehorsea-going likeahouseafire too. He just stoodup there,a-sailingaroundaseasyandcomfortableas ifhewarn’teverdrunk inhis life—andthenhebeguntopulloffhisclothesandslingthem.Heshedthemsothickthey kind of clogged up the air, and altogether he shed seventeen suits. And,then, there hewas, slim and handsome, and dressed the gaudiest and prettiestyoueversaw,andhelitintothathorsewithhiswhipandmadehimfairlyhum—andfinallyskippedoff,andmadehisbowanddancedofftothedressing-room,andeverybodyjusta-howlingwithpleasureandastonishment.

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Then the ringmasterheseehowhehadbeen fooled,andhewas thesickestringmasteryoueversee,Ireckon.Why,itwasoneofhisownmen!Hehadgotup that joke all out of his own head, and never let on to nobody.Well, I feltsheepish enough to be took in so, but I wouldn’t a been in that ringmaster’splace, not for a thousanddollars. I don’t know; theremaybebullier circusesthanwhat that onewas, but I never struck them yet. Anyways, it was plentygoodenoughforme;andwhereverIrunacrossit,itcanhaveallofmycustom

everytime.Well,thatnightwehadourshow;buttherewarn’tonlyabouttwelvepeople

there—just enough to pay expenses. And they laughed all the time, and thatmadethedukemad;andeverybodyleft,anyway,beforetheshowwasover,butoneboywhichwasasleep.SothedukesaidtheseArkansawlunkheadscouldn’tcome up to Shakespeare; what they wanted was low comedy—and maybesomethingrutherworse than lowcomedy,he reckoned. Hesaidhecouldsizetheirstyle.Sonextmorninghegotsomebigsheetsofwrappingpaperandsomeblack paint, and drawed off some handbills, and stuck them up all over thevillage.Thebillssaid:

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CHAPTERXXIII.WELL, all day him and the king was hard at it, rigging up a stage and a

curtainandarowofcandlesforfootlights;andthatnightthehousewasjamfullofmen in no time. When the place couldn’t hold nomore, the duke he quittendingdoorandwentaroundthebackwayandcomeontothestageandstoodupbeforethecurtainandmadealittlespeech,andpraisedupthistragedy,andsaiditwasthemostthrillingestonethateverwas;andsohewentona-braggingabout the tragedy, and about EdmundKean the Elder, which was to play themainprincipalpartinit;andatlastwhenhe’dgoteverybody’sexpectationsuphigh enough, he rolled up the curtain, and the next minute the king come a-prancingoutonallfours,naked;andhewaspaintedallover,ring-streaked-and-

striped,allsortsofcolors,assplendidasarainbow.And—butnevermindtherestofhisoutfit;itwasjustwild,butitwasawfulfunny.Thepeoplemostkilledthemselves laughing; and when the king got done capering and capered offbehindthescenes, theyroaredandclappedandstormedandhaw-hawedtillhecomebackanddone it over again, andafter that theymadehimdo it anothertime.Well,itwouldmakeacowlaughtoseetheshinesthatoldidiotcut.Thenthedukeheletsthecurtaindown,andbowstothepeople,andsaysthe

great tragedywillbeperformedonly twonightsmore,onaccountsofpressingLondonengagements,where the seats is all sold already for it inDruryLane;andthenhemakesthemanotherbow,andsaysifhehassucceededinpleasingthemandinstructingthem,hewillbedeeplyobleegediftheywillmentionittotheirfriendsandgetthemtocomeandseeit.Twentypeoplesingsout:“What,isitover?Isthatall?”Thedukesaysyes.Thentherewasafinetime.Everybodysingsout,“Sold!”

androseupmad,andwasa-goingforthatstageandthemtragedians.Butabig,finelookingmanjumpsuponabenchandshouts:“Holdon!Justaword,gentlemen.”Theystoppedtolisten."Wearesold—

mightybadly sold. Butwedon’twant tobe the laughing stockof thiswholetown, I reckon, and never hear the last of this thing as long aswe live. No.Whatwewantistogooutofherequiet,andtalkthisshowup,andselltherestofthetown!Thenwe’llallbeinthesameboat.Ain’tthatsensible?”(“Youbetit is!—the jedge is right!” everybody sings out.) “All right, then—not awordabout any sell. Go along home, and advise everybody to come and see thetragedy.”Nextdayyoucouldn’thearnothingaround that townbuthowsplendid that

showwas.Housewasjammedagainthatnight,andwesoldthiscrowdthesameway. Whenme and the king and the duke got home to the raftwe all had asupper;andbyandby,aboutmidnight,theymadeJimandmebackheroutandfloatherdownthemiddleoftheriver,andfetchherinandhideherabouttwomilebelowtown.Thethirdnightthehousewascrammedagain—andtheywarn’tnew-comers

thistime,butpeoplethatwasat theshowtheothertwonights. Istoodbythedukeatthedoor,andIseethateverymanthatwentinhadhispocketsbulging,or something muffled up under his coat—and I see it warn’t no perfumery,neither, not by a long sight. I smelt sickly eggs by the barrel, and rottencabbages,andsuchthings;andifIknowthesignsofadeadcatbeingaround,

and I bet I do, therewas sixty-four of themwent in. I shoved in there for aminute,butitwastoovariousforme;Icouldn’tstandit.Well,whentheplacecouldn’tholdnomorepeoplethedukehegiveafellowaquarterandtoldhimtotenddoorforhimaminute,andthenhestartedaroundforthestagedoor,Iafterhim;buttheminuteweturnedthecornerandwasinthedarkhesays:“Walkfastnowtillyougetawayfromthehouses,andthenshinfor theraft

likethedickenswasafteryou!”Idoneit,andhedonethesame.Westrucktheraftatthesametime,andin

lessthantwosecondswewasglidingdownstream,alldarkandstill,andedgingtowardsthemiddleoftheriver,nobodysayingaword.Ireckonedthepoorkingwas in foragaudy timeof itwith theaudience,butnothingof thesort;prettysoonhecrawlsoutfromunderthewigwam,andsays:“Well,how’dtheoldthingpanoutthistime,duke?”Hehadn’tbeenup-town

atall.Wenevershoweda light tillwewasabout tenmilebelowthevillage.Then

welitupandhadasupper,andthekingandthedukefairlylaughedtheirboneslooseoverthewaythey’dservedthempeople.Thedukesays:“Greenhorns,flatheads! Iknewthefirsthousewouldkeepmumandlet the

restof thetowngetropedin;andIknewthey’dlayforus thethirdnight,andconsideritwastheir turnnow.Well, it is their turn,andI’dgivesomethingtoknowhowmuchthey’dtakeforit.Iwouldjustliketoknowhowthey’reputtingintheiropportunity.Theycanturnitintoapicniciftheywantto—theybroughtplentyprovisions.”Them rapscallions took in four hundred and sixty-five dollars in that three

nights.Ineverseemoneyhauledinbythewagon-loadlikethatbefore.Byandby,whentheywasasleepandsnoring,Jimsays:

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“Don’tits’priseyoudewaydemkingscarrieson,Huck?”“No,”Isays,“itdon’t.”“Whydon’tit,Huck?”“Well,itdon’t,becauseit’sinthebreed.Ireckonthey’reallalike.”“But,Huck, dese kings o’ ourn is reglar rapscallions; dat’s jistwhat dey is;

dey’sreglarrapscallions.”“Well,that’swhatI’ma-saying;allkingsismostlyrapscallions,asfurasIcan

makeout.”“Isdatso?”“Youreadaboutthemonce—you’llsee.LookatHenrytheEight;this’n’sa

Sunday-schoolSuperintendenttohim. AndlookatCharlesSecond,andLouisFourteen, and Louis Fifteen, and James Second, and Edward Second, andRichardThird,andfortymore;besidesallthemSaxonheptarchiesthatusedtoriparoundsoinoldtimesandraiseCain.My,yououghttoseenoldHenrytheEightwhenhewasinbloom.Hewasablossom.Heusedtomarryanewwifeevery day, and chop off her head nextmorning. And hewould do it just asindifferentasifhewasorderingupeggs.'FetchupNellGwynn,’hesays.Theyfetchherup.Nextmorning,‘Chopoffherhead!’Andtheychopitoff.'FetchupJaneShore,’hesays;andupshecomes,Nextmorning, ‘Chopoffherhead’—andtheychopitoff. 'RingupFairRosamun.’FairRosamunanswersthebell.Nextmorning,‘Chopoffherhead.’Andhemadeeveryoneofthemtellhimataleeverynight;andhekeptthatuptillhehadhoggedathousandandonetalesthatway, and thenheput themall inabook, andcalled itDomesdayBook—whichwasagoodnameandstatedthecase.Youdon’tknowkings,Jim,butIknowthem;andthisoldripofournisoneofthecleanestI’vestruckinhistory.Well,Henryhetakesanotionhewantstogetupsometroublewiththiscountry.Howdoeshegoat it—givenotice?—give thecountrya show? No. Allof asudden he heaves all the tea in Boston Harbor overboard, and whacks out adeclarationofindependence,anddaresthemtocomeon.Thatwashisstyle—henever give anybody a chance. He had suspicions of his father, the Duke ofWellington.Well,whatdidhedo?Askhimtoshowup?No—drowndedhiminabuttofmamsey,likeacat.S’posepeopleleftmoneylayingaroundwherehewas—whatdidhedo?Hecollaredit. S’posehecontractedtodoathing,andyoupaidhim,anddidn’tsetdownthereandseethathedoneit—whatdidhedo?Healwaysdonetheotherthing.S’poseheopenedhismouth—whatthen?Ifhedidn’tshutituppowerfulquickhe’dlosealieeverytime.That’sthekindofabugHenrywas;andifwe’dahadhimalong’steadofourkingshe’dafooled

thattownaheapworsethanourndone.Idon’tsaythatournislambs,becausetheyain’t,whenyoucomerightdowntothecoldfacts;buttheyain’tnothingtothat old ram, anyway. All I say is, kings is kings, and you got to makeallowances. Take them all around, they’re a mighty ornery lot. It’s the waythey’reraised.”

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“Butdisonedosmellsolikedenation,Huck.”“Well,theyalldo,Jim.Wecan’thelpthewayakingsmells;historydon’ttell

noway.”“Nowdeduke,he’satolerblelikelymaninsomeways.”“Yes,aduke’sdifferent. Butnotverydifferent. Thisone’samiddlinghard

lotforaduke.Whenhe’sdrunkthereain’tnonear-sightedmancouldtellhimfromaking.”“Well, anyways, I doan’ hanker for nomo’unum,Huck. Dese is all I kin

stan’.”“It’sthewayIfeel,too,Jim.Butwe’vegotthemonourhands,andwegotto

remember what they are, andmake allowances. Sometimes I wish we couldhearofacountrythat’soutofkings.”WhatwastheusetotellJimthesewarn’trealkingsanddukes?Itwouldn’ta

donenogood;and,besides,itwasjustasIsaid:youcouldn’ttellthemfromtherealkind.Iwenttosleep,andJimdidn’tcallmewhenitwasmyturn.Heoftendone

that.WhenIwakedupjustatdaybreakhewassittingtherewithhisheaddownbetwixthisknees,moaningandmourningtohimself.Ididn’ttakenoticenorleton. I knowed what it was about. He was thinking about his wife and hischildren,awayupyonder,andhewaslowandhomesick;becausehehadn’teverbeenawayfromhomebeforeinhislife;andIdobelievehecaredjustasmuch

forhispeopleaswhitefolksdoesfortheir’n.Itdon’tseemnatural,butIreckonit’sso.Hewasoftenmoaningandmourningthatwaynights,whenhejudgedIwasasleep,andsaying,“Po’little’Lizabeth!po’littleJohnny!it’smightyhard;Ispec’ Iain’tevergwyne to seeyounomo’,nomo’!” Hewasamightygoodnigger,Jimwas.ButthistimeIsomehowgottotalkingtohimabouthiswifeandyoungones;

andbyandbyhesays:“Whatmakesmefeelsobaddistime’uzbekaseIhearsumpnoveryonderon

debanklikeawhack,eraslam,whileago,enitminemeerdetimeItreatmylittle ’Lizabeth so ornery. Shewarn’t on’y ’bout fo’ year ole, en she tuck desk’yarletfever,enhadapowfulroughspell;butshegotwell,enonedayshewasa-stannin’aroun’,enIsaystoher,Isays:“‘Shetdedo’.’“Sheneverdoneit;jis’stooddah,kinersmilin’upatme.Itmakememad;en

Isaysagin,mightyloud,Isays:“‘Doan’youhearme?Shetdedo’!’“Shejisstooddesameway,kinersmilin’up.Iwasa-bilin’!Isays:“‘IlayImakeyoumine!’“Enwiddat I fetch’her a slap sidedeheaddat sonther a-sprawlin’.Den I

wentintodeyutherroom,en’uzgone’bouttenminutes;enwhenIcomebackdah was dat do’ a-stannin’ open yit, en dat chile stannin’ mos’ right in it, a-lookin’downandmournin’,endetearsrunnin’down.My,butIwuzmad!Iwasa-gwynefordechile,butjis’den—itwasado’datopeninnerds—jis’den,’longcomedewindenslamitto,behinedechile,ker-BLAM!—enmylan’,dechilenevermove’! My breffmos’ hop outerme; en I feel so—so—I doan’ knowHOWIfeel.Icropeout,alla-tremblin’,encropearoun’enopendedo’easyenslow,enpokemyheadinbehinedechile,sof’enstill,enalluvasuddenIsaysPOW! jis’ as loudas I couldyell. Sheneverbudge! Oh,Huck, I bust out a-cryin’engrabherupinmyarms,ensay,‘Oh,depo’littlething!DeLordGodAmightyfogivepo’oleJim,kazehenevergwynetofogivehisselfaslong’shelive!’Oh,shewasplumbdeefendumb,Huck,plumbdeefendumb—enI’dbena-treat’nherso!”

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CHAPTERXXIV.NEXTday,towardsnight,welaidupunderalittlewillowtowheadoutinthe

middle,wheretherewasavillageoneachsideoftheriver,andthedukeandthekingbeguntolayoutaplanforworkingthemtowns.Jimhespoketotheduke,andsaidhehopeditwouldn’ttakebutafewhours,becauseitgotmightyheavyandtiresometohimwhenhehadtolayalldayinthewigwamtiedwiththerope. You see, whenwe left him all alonewe had to tie him, because if anybodyhappenedon tohimallbyhimself andnot tied itwouldn’t lookmuch likehewasarunawaynigger,youknow.Sothedukesaiditwaskindofhardtohavetolayropedallday,andhe’dcipheroutsomewaytogetaroundit.Hewasuncommonbright, thedukewas,andhesoonstruck it. Hedressed

Jim up inKing Lear’s outfit—itwas a long curtain-calico gown, and awhitehorse-hairwigandwhiskers;andthenhetookhistheaterpaintandpaintedJim’sface andhands andears andneckall over adead,dull, solidblue, like amanthat’s been drownded nine days. Blamed if he warn’t the horriblest lookingoutrageIeversee.Thentheduketookandwroteoutasignonashingleso:SickArab—butharmlesswhennotoutofhishead.Andhenailedthatshingletoalath,andstoodthelathupfourorfivefootin

frontofthewigwam.Jimwassatisfied.Hesaiditwasasightbetterthanlyingtiedacoupleofyearseveryday,andtremblingallovereverytimetherewasasound. Theduketoldhimtomakehimselffreeandeasy,andifanybodyevercomemeddlingaround,hemusthopoutof thewigwam,andcarryona little,andfetchahowlortwolikeawildbeast,andhereckonedtheywouldlightoutand leave him alone. Which was sound enough judgment; but you take theaverageman,andhewouldn’twaitforhimtohowl.Why,hedidn’tonlylooklikehewasdead,helookedconsiderablemorethanthat.These rapscallionswanted to try theNonesuch again, because therewas so

muchmoneyinit,buttheyjudgeditwouldn’tbesafe,becausemaybethenews

might a worked along down by this time. They couldn’t hit no project thatsuited exactly; so at last the duke said he reckoned he’d lay off andwork hisbrainsanhourortwoandseeifhecouldn’tputupsomethingontheArkansawvillage;and thekingheallowedhewoulddropover to t’othervillagewithoutanyplan,but just trust inProvidenceto leadhimtheprofitableway—meaningthedevil,Ireckon.Wehadallboughtstoreclotheswherewestoppedlast;andnowthekingputhis’non,andhetoldmetoputmineon.Idoneit,ofcourse.Theking’sdudswasallblack,andhedidlookrealswellandstarchy.Ineverknowedhowclothescouldchangeabodybefore. Why,before,helookedliketheorneriestold rip thateverwas;butnow,whenhe’d takeoffhisnewwhitebeaverandmakeabowanddoasmile,helookedthatgrandandgoodandpiousthatyou’dsayhehadwalkedrightoutoftheark,andmaybewasoldLeviticushimself.Jimcleanedupthecanoe,andIgotmypaddleready.Therewasabigsteamboat layingat theshoreawayupunder thepoint,about threemileabovethetown—beenthereacoupleofhours,takingonfreight.Saystheking:“Seein’howI’mdressed,IreckonmaybeIbetterarrivedownfromSt.Louis

orCincinnati,orsomeotherbigplace.Goforthesteamboat,Huckleberry;we’llcomedowntothevillageonher.”Ididn’thavetobeorderedtwicetogoandtakeasteamboatride.Ifetchedthe

shore a half amile above the village, and thenwent scooting along the bluffbankintheeasywater.Prettysoonwecometoaniceinnocent-lookingyoungcountry jake setting on a log swabbing the sweat off of his face, for it waspowerfulwarmweather;andhehadacoupleofbigcarpet-bagsbyhim.“Run her nose in shore,” says the king. I done it. "Wher’ you bound for,

youngman?”“Forthesteamboat;goingtoOrleans.”“Gitaboard,”saystheking."Holdonaminute,myservant’llhe’pyouwith

thembags.Jumpoutandhe’pthegentleman,Adolphus”—meaningme,Isee.

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Idoneso,andthenweallthreestartedonagain.Theyoungchapwasmightythankful;saiditwastoughworktotinghisbaggagesuchweather.Heaskedthekingwherehewasgoing,andthekingtoldhimhe’dcomedowntheriverandlandedattheothervillagethismorning,andnowhewasgoingupafewmiletoseeanoldfriendonafarmupthere.Theyoungfellowsays:“When I first see you I says tomyself, ‘It’sMr.Wilks, sure, and he come

mightyneargettinghere in time.’ But thenIsaysagain,‘No,I reckonitain’thim,orelsehewouldn’tbepaddlinguptheriver.’Youain’thim,areyou?”“No, my name’s Blodgett—Elexander Blodgett—Reverend Elexander

Blodgett, Is’poseImustsay,asI’moneo’ theLord’spoorservants. ButstillI’mjistasabletobesorryforMr.Wilksfornotarrivingintime,allthesame,ifhe’smissedanythingbyit—whichIhopehehasn’t.”“Well, he don’tmiss anypropertyby it, becausehe’ll get that all right; but

he’smissedseeinghisbrotherPeterdie—whichhemayn’tmind,nobodycantellastothat—buthisbrotherwouldagiveanythinginthisworldtoseehimbeforehedied;nevertalkedaboutnothingelseall thesethreeweeks;hadn’tseenhimsincetheywasboystogether—andhadn’teverseenhisbrotherWilliamatall—that’s the deef and dumb one—William ain’t more than thirty or thirty-five. Peter and George were the only ones that come out here; George was themarriedbrother;himandhiswifebothdiedlastyear.HarveyandWilliam’stheonlyonesthat’sleftnow;and,asIwassaying,theyhaven’tgothereintime.”“Didanybodysend’emword?”“Oh,yes;amonthortwoago,whenPeterwasfirsttook;becausePetersaid

thenthathesorterfeltlikehewarn’tgoingtogetwellthistime.Yousee,hewaspretty old, andGeorge’s g’yirlswas too young to bemuch company for him,except Mary Jane, the red-headed one; and so he was kinder lonesome afterGeorge and his wife died, and didn’t seem to care much to live. He mostdesperatelywanted toseeHarvey—andWilliam, too, for thatmatter—becausehewasoneofthemkindthatcan’tbeartomakeawill.HeleftaletterbehindforHarvey,andsaidhe’dtoldinitwherehismoneywashid,andhowhewantedthe rest of thepropertydividedup soGeorge’sg’yirlswouldbe all right—forGeorgedidn’tleavenothing.Andthatletterwasalltheycouldgethimtoputapento.”“WhydoyoureckonHarveydon’tcome?Wher’doeshelive?”“Oh,helivesinEngland—Sheffield—preachesthere—hasn’teverbeeninthis

country. Hehasn’thadanytoomuchtime—andbesideshemightn’tagot the

letteratall,youknow.”“Toobad,toobadhecouldn’talivedtoseehisbrothers,poorsoul.Yougoing

toOrleans,yousay?”“Yes,butthatain’tonlyapartofit.I’mgoinginaship,nextWednesday,for

RyoJaneero,wheremyunclelives.”“It’saprettylongjourney. But it’llbelovely;wishtIwasa-going.IsMary

Janetheoldest?Howoldistheothers?”“Mary Jane’s nineteen, Susan’s fifteen, and Joanna’s about fourteen—that’s

theonethatgivesherselftogoodworksandhasahare-lip.”“Poorthings!tobeleftaloneinthecoldworldso.”“Well,theycouldbeworseoff.OldPeterhadfriends,andtheyain’tgoingto

let themcome tonoharm. There’sHobson, theBabtis’preacher;andDeaconLotHovey,andBenRucker,andAbnerShackleford,andLeviBell,thelawyer;andDr.Robinson,andtheirwives,andthewidowBartley,and—well,there’salotofthem;butthesearetheonesthatPeterwasthickestwith,andusedtowriteabout sometimes,whenhewrotehome; soHarvey ’llknowwhere to look forfriendswhenhegetshere.”

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Well, the old man went on asking questions till he just fairly emptied thatyoung fellow. Blamed if hedidn’t inquire about everybodyandeverything inthatblessedtown,andallabouttheWilkses;andaboutPeter’sbusiness—whichwasatanner;andaboutGeorge’s—whichwasacarpenter;andaboutHarvey’s—whichwasadissenteringminister;andsoon,andsoon.Thenhesays:“Whatdidyouwanttowalkallthewayuptothesteamboatfor?”“Becauseshe’sabigOrleansboat,andIwasafeardshemightn’tstopthere.

Whenthey’redeeptheywon’tstopforahail.ACincinnatiboatwill,butthisisaSt.Louisone.”“WasPeterWilkswelloff?”“Oh,yes,prettywelloff. Hehadhousesand land,and it’s reckonedhe left

threeorfourthousandincashhidupsom’ers.”“Whendidyousayhedied?”“Ididn’tsay,butitwaslastnight.”“Funeralto-morrow,likely?”“Yes,’boutthemiddleoftheday.”“Well, it’s all terrible sad; butwe’ve all got to go, one time or another. So

whatwewanttodoistobeprepared;thenwe’reallright.”“Yes,sir,it’sthebestway.Mausedtoalwayssaythat.”Whenwestrucktheboatshewasaboutdoneloading,andprettysoonshegot

off.Thekingneversaidnothingaboutgoingaboard,soIlostmyride,afterall. When the boat was gone the king made me paddle up another mile to alonesomeplace,andthenhegotashoreandsays:“Nowhustleback,rightoff,andfetchthedukeuphere,andthenewcarpet-

bags.Andifhe’sgoneovertot’otherside,gooverthereandgithim.Andtellhimtogithimselfupregardless.Shovealong,now.”Iseewhathewasupto;butIneversaidnothing,ofcourse.WhenIgotback

withthedukewehidthecanoe,andthentheysetdownonalog,andthekingtoldhimeverything,justliketheyoungfellowhadsaidit—everylastwordofit.Andall thetimehewasa-doingithetriedtotalklikeanEnglishman;andhedoneitprettywell,too,foraslouch.Ican’timitatehim,andsoIain’ta-goingto

tryto;buthereallydoneitprettygood.Thenhesays:“Howareyouonthedeefanddumb,Bilgewater?”Thedukesaid,leavehimaloneforthat;saidhehadplayedadeefanddumb

persononthehistronicboards.Sothentheywaitedforasteamboat.Aboutthemiddleoftheafternoonacoupleoflittleboatscomealong,butthey

didn’tcomefromhighenoughuptheriver;butatlasttherewasabigone,andtheyhailedher.Shesentoutheryawl,andwewentaboard,andshewasfromCincinnati; andwhen they foundweonlywanted togo fouror fivemile theywasboomingmad,andgaveusacussing,andsaidtheywouldn’tlandus.Butthekingwasca’m.Hesays:“Ifgentlemenkinaffordtopayadollaramileapiecetobetookonandputoff

inayawl,asteamboatkinaffordtocarry’em,can’tit?”Sotheysofteneddownandsaiditwasallright;andwhenwegottothevillage

theyyawledusashore.Abouttwodozenmenflockeddownwhentheyseetheyawla-coming,andwhenthekingsays:“Kinanyofyougentlementellmewher’Mr.PeterWilkslives?”theygivea

glanceatoneanother,andnoddedtheirheads,asmuchastosay,“Whatd’Itellyou?”Thenoneofthemsays,kindofsoftandgentle:“I’msorrysir,butthebestwecandoistotellyouwherehedidliveyesterday

evening.”Suddenaswinkingtheorneryoldcreturwentantosmash,andfellupagainst

theman,andputhischinonhisshoulder,andcrieddownhisback,andsays:“Alas,alas,ourpoorbrother—gone,andwenevergottoseehim;oh,it’stoo,

toohard!”

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Thenheturnsaround,blubbering,andmakesalotofidioticsignstothedukeonhishands,andblamedifhedidn’tdropacarpet-bagandbustouta-crying.If

theywarn’tthebeatenestlot,themtwofrauds,thateverIstruck.Well,themengatheredaroundandsympathizedwiththem,andsaidallsorts

ofkindthingstothem,andcarriedtheircarpet-bagsupthehillforthem,andletthem lean on them and cry, and told the king all about his brother’s lastmoments, and thekinghe told it all over againonhis hands to theduke, andbothofthemtookonaboutthatdeadtannerlikethey’dlostthetwelvedisciples.Well, if ever I struck anything like it, I’manigger. Itwas enough tomake abodyashamedofthehumanrace.

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CHAPTERXXV.THEnewswasall over town in twominutes, andyoucould see thepeople

tearingdownon therunfromeverywhichway,someof themputtingon theircoatsastheycome.Prettysoonwewasinthemiddleofacrowd,andthenoiseofthetrampingwaslikeasoldiermarch.Thewindowsanddooryardswasfull;andeveryminutesomebodywouldsay,overafence:“Isitthem?”Andsomebodytrottingalongwiththegangwouldanswerbackandsay:“Youbetitis.”Whenwegot to thehouse thestreet infrontof itwaspacked,andthe three

girlswasstandinginthedoor.MaryJanewasred-headed,butthatdon’tmakenodifference,shewasmostawfulbeautiful,andherfaceandhereyeswasalllituplikeglory,shewassogladheruncleswascome.Thekinghespreadhisarms,andMaryJaneshejumpedforthem,andthehare-lipjumpedfortheduke,andtheretheyhadit!Everybodymost,leastwayswomen,criedforjoytoseethem

meetagainatlastandhavesuchgoodtimes.Then the king he hunched the duke private—I see him do it—and then he

lookedaroundandseethecoffin,overinthecornerontwochairs;sothenhimandtheduke,withahandacrosseachother’sshoulder,andt’otherhandtotheireyes,walkedslowandsolemnoverthere,everybodydroppingbacktogivethemroom,andall thetalkandnoisestopping,peoplesaying“Sh!”andall thementaking theirhatsoffanddrooping theirheads, soyoucouldaheardapin fall.Andwhentheygottheretheybentoverandlookedinthecoffin,andtookonesight, and then they bust out a-crying so you could a heard them toOrleans,most; and then they put their arms around each other’s necks, and hung theirchinsovereachother’sshoulders;andthenfor threeminutes,ormaybefour,Inever see twomen leak the way they done. And,mind you, everybodywasdoingthesame;andtheplacewasthatdampIneverseeanythinglikeit.Thenoneofthemgotononesideofthecoffin,andt’otheront’otherside,andtheykneeleddownandrestedtheirforeheadsonthecoffin,andletontoprayall tothemselves.Well,whenitcometothatitworkedthecrowdlikeyouneverseeanythinglikeit,andeverybodybrokedownandwenttosobbingrightoutloud—thepoorgirls,too;andeverywoman,nearly,wentuptothegirls,withoutsayingaword, andkissed them, solemn,on the forehead, and thenput their handontheirhead,andlookeduptowardsthesky,withthetearsrunningdown,andthenbustedoutandwentoffsobbingandswabbing,andgivethenextwomanashow.Ineverseeanythingsodisgusting.

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Well, by and by the king he gets up and comes forward a little, andworkshimselfupandslobbersouta speech,all fullof tearsand flapdoodleabout itsbeingasoretrialforhimandhispoorbrothertolosethediseased,andtomissseeingdiseasedaliveafterthelongjourneyoffourthousandmile,butit’satrialthat’ssweetenedandsanctifiedtousbythisdearsympathyandtheseholytears,andsohethanksthemoutofhisheartandoutofhisbrother’sheart,becauseout

oftheirmouthstheycan’t,wordsbeingtooweakandcold,andallthatkindofrotandslush,tillitwasjustsickening;andthenheblubbersoutapiousgoody-goodyAmen,andturnshimselflooseandgoestocryingfittobust.Andtheminutethewordswereoutofhismouthsomebodyoverinthecrowd

struckupthedoxolojer,andeverybodyjoinedinwithalltheirmight,anditjustwarmedyouupandmadeyoufeelasgoodaschurchlettingout.Musicisagoodthing;andafterallthatsoul-butterandhogwashIneverseeitfreshenupthingsso,andsoundsohonestandbully.Thenthekingbeginstoworkhisjawagain,andsayshowhimandhisnieces

wouldbeglad if a fewof themainprincipal friendsof the familywould takesupper here with them this evening, and help set up with the ashes of thediseased;andsaysifhispoorbrotherlayingyondercouldspeakheknowswhohewouldname,for theywasnames thatwasverydear tohim,andmentionedofteninhisletters;andsohewillnamethesame,towit,asfollows,vizz.:—Rev.Mr. Hobson, and Deacon Lot Hovey, and Mr. Ben Rucker, and AbnerShackleford,andLeviBell,andDr.Robinson,and theirwives,and thewidowBartley.Rev.Hobson andDr.Robinsonwas down to the end of the town a-hunting

together—that is, Imean thedoctorwas shippinga sickman to t’otherworld,andthepreacherwaspintinghimright.LawyerBellwasawayuptoLouisvilleonbusiness. But therestwasonhand,andso theyallcomeandshookhandswith the king and thanked him and talked to him; and then they shook handswiththedukeanddidn’tsaynothing,butjustkepta-smilingandbobbingtheirheadslikeapasselofsapheadswhilsthemadeallsortsofsignswithhishandsandsaid“Goo-goo—goo-goo-goo”allthetime,likeababythatcan’ttalk.So the king he blattered along, and managed to inquire about pretty much

everybodyanddogintown,byhisname,andmentionedallsortsoflittlethingsthathappenedonetimeoranotherinthetown,ortoGeorge’sfamily,ortoPeter.AndhealwaysletonthatPeterwrotehimthethings;butthatwasalie:hegoteveryblessedoneof themoutof thatyoungflathead thatwecanoedup to thesteamboat.ThenMaryJaneshefetchedtheletterherfatherleftbehind,andthekinghe

readitoutloudandcriedoverit.Itgivethedwelling-houseandthreethousanddollars, gold, to the girls; and it give the tanyard (which was doing a goodbusiness),alongwithsomeotherhousesandland(worthaboutseventhousand),andthreethousanddollarsingoldtoHarveyandWilliam,andtoldwherethesixthousandcashwashiddowncellar.Sothesetwofraudssaidthey’dgoandfetchitup,andhaveeverythingsquareandabove-board;andtoldmetocomewitha

candle. Weshut thecellardoorbehindus, andwhen they found thebag theyspiltitoutonthefloor,anditwasalovelysight,allthemyaller-boys.My,thewaytheking’seyesdidshine!Heslapsthedukeontheshoulderandsays:“Oh,thisain’tbullynornoth’n!Oh,no,Ireckonnot!Why,bully,itbeatsthe

Nonesuch,don’tit?”Thedukealloweditdid.Theypawedtheyaller-boys,andsiftedthemthrough

theirfingersandletthemjingledownonthefloor;andthekingsays:“Itain’tnousetalkin’;bein’brotherstoarichdeadmanandrepresentativesof

furrinheirsthat’sgotleftisthelineforyouandme,Bilge.Thishyercomesoftrust’ntoProvidence.It’sthebestway,inthelongrun.I’vetried’emall,andther’ain’tnobetterway.”Mosteverybodywouldabeensatisfiedwiththepile,andtookitontrust;but

no, theymust count it. So they counts it, and it comes out four hundred andfifteendollarsshort.Saystheking:“Dern him, I wonder what he done with that four hundred and fifteen

dollars?”Theyworriedoverthatawhile,andransackedallaroundforit.Thentheduke

says:“Well, he was a pretty sick man, and likely he made a mistake—I reckon

that’sthewayofit.Thebestway’stoletitgo,andkeepstillaboutit.Wecanspareit.”“Oh, shucks, yes,wecan spare it. I don’t k’yer noth’n ’bout that—it’s the

countI’mthinkin’about.Wewanttobeawfulsquareandopenandabove-boardhere,youknow.Wewanttolugthish-yermoneyupstairsandcountitbeforeeverybody—then ther’ ain’t noth’n suspicious. But when the dead man saysther’ssixthous’ndollars,youknow,wedon’twantto—”“Holdon,”saystheduke."Le’smakeupthedeffisit,”andhebeguntohaul

outyaller-boysoutofhispocket.

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“It’samostamaz’n’goodidea,duke—youhavegotarattlin’cleverheadonyou,”saystheking."BlestiftheoldNonesuchain’taheppin’usoutagin,”andhebeguntohauloutyaller-jacketsandstackthemup.Itmostbustedthem,buttheymadeupthesixthousandcleanandclear.“Say,” says the duke, “I got another idea. Le’s go up stairs and count this

money,andthentakeandgiveittothegirls.”“Goodland,duke,lemmehugyou!It’sthemostdazzlingidea’ateveraman

struck.Youhavecert’nlygotthemostastonishin’headIeversee.Oh,thisisthebossdodge,ther’ain’tnomistake’boutit.Let’emfetchalongtheirsuspicionsnowiftheywantto—this’lllay’emout.”Whenwegotup-stairseverybodygetheredaroundthetable,andthekinghe

counteditandstackeditup,threehundreddollarsinapile—twentyelegantlittlepiles.Everybodylookedhungryatit,andlickedtheirchops.Thentheyrakeditinto the bag again, and I see the king begin to swell himself up for anotherspeech.Hesays:“Friends all, my poor brother that lays yonder has done generous by them

that’sleftbehindinthevaleofsorrers.Hehasdonegenerousbytheseyerpoorlittlelambsthathelovedandsheltered,andthat’sleftfatherlessandmotherless.Yes,andwe thatknowedhimknows thathewouldadonemore generousby’emifhehadn’tbenafeardo’woundin’hisdearWilliamandme.Now,wouldn’the? Ther’ ain’t no question ’bout it inmy mind. Well, then, what kind o’brotherswoulditbethat’dstandinhiswayatsechatime?Andwhatkindo’uncleswoulditbethat’drob—yes,rob—sechpoorsweetlambsasthese’athelovedsoatsechatime?IfIknowWilliam—andIthinkIdo—he—well,I’lljestaskhim.”Heturnsaroundandbeginstomakealotofsignstothedukewithhishands,andthedukehelooksathimstupidandleather-headedawhile;thenallofasuddenheseemstocatchhismeaning,andjumpsfortheking,goo-gooingwith all hismight for joy, andhugshimabout fifteen timesbeforehe letsup.Thenthekingsays,“Iknowedit;Ireckonthat’llconvinceanybodythewayhefeelsaboutit.Here,MaryJane,Susan,Joanner,takethemoney—takeitall.It’sthegiftofhimthatlaysyonder,coldbutjoyful.”

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Mary Jane shewent forhim,Susanand thehare-lipwent for theduke, andthensuchanotherhuggingandkissingIneverseeyet.Andeverybodycrowdedupwith the tears in their eyes, andmost shook the hands off of them frauds,sayingallthetime:“Youdeargoodsouls!—howlovely!—howcouldyou!”Well,then,prettysoonallhandsgottotalkingaboutthediseasedagain,and

howgoodhewas, andwhata losshewas, andall that; andbefore longabigiron-jawedmanworkedhimselfintherefromoutside,andstooda-listeningandlooking, and not saying anything; and nobody saying anything to him either,because the king was talking and they was all busy listening. The king wassaying—inthemiddleofsomethinghe’dstartedinon—“—they bein’ partickler friends o’ the diseased. That’swhy they’re invited

here this evenin’; but tomorrow we want all to come—everybody; for herespectedeverybody,helikedeverybody,andsoit’sfittenthathisfuneralorgiessh’dbepublic.”Andsohewenta-mooningonandon,likingtohearhimselftalk,andevery

littlewhilehefetchedinhisfuneralorgiesagain,tillthedukehecouldn’tstanditnomore;sohewritesonalittlescrapofpaper,“Obsequies,youoldfool,”andfoldsitup,andgoestogoo-gooingandreachingitoverpeople’sheadstohim.Thekinghereadsitandputsitinhispocket,andsays:“PoorWilliam, afflicted as he is, his heart’s aluz right. Asksme to invite

everybodytocometothefuneral—wantsmetomake’emallwelcome.Butheneedn’taworried—itwasjestwhatIwasat.”Then he weaves along again, perfectly ca’m, and goes to dropping in his

funeralorgiesagaineverynowandthen,justlikehedonebefore.Andwhenhedoneitthethirdtimehesays:“Isayorgies,notbecauseit’s thecommonterm,becauseitain’t—obsequies

bein’ the common term—but because orgies is the right term.Obsequies ain’tused inEnglandnomorenow—it’sgoneout. WesayorgiesnowinEngland.Orgiesisbetter,becauseitmeansthethingyou’reaftermoreexact.It’saword

that’s made up out’n the Greek orgo, outside, open, abroad; and the Hebrewjeesum,toplant,coverup;henceinter.So,yousee,funeralorgiesisanopenerpublicfuneral.”HewastheworstIeverstruck.Well,theiron-jawedmanhelaughedrightin

hisface.Everybodywasshocked.Everybodysays,“Why,doctor!”andAbnerShacklefordsays:“Why,Robinson,hain’tyouheardthenews?ThisisHarveyWilks.”Thekinghesmiledeager,andshovedouthisflapper,andsays:“Isitmypoorbrother’sdeargoodfriendandphysician?I—”“Keepyourhandsoffofme!”saysthedoctor.“YoutalklikeanEnglishman,

don’t you? It’s the worst imitation I ever heard. You PeterWilks’s brother!You’reafraud,that’swhatyouare!”

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Well, how they all took on! They crowded around the doctor and tried toquiethimdown,andtriedtoexplaintohimandtellhimhowHarvey’dshowedin forty ways that hewas Harvey, and knowed everybody by name, and thenames of the very dogs, and begged and begged him not to hurt Harvey’sfeelings and the poor girl’s feelings, and all that. But it warn’t no use; hestormedrightalong,andsaidanymanthatpretendedtobeanEnglishmanandcouldn’timitatethelingonobetterthanwhathedidwasafraudandaliar.Thepoorgirlswashangingtothekingandcrying;andallofasuddenthedoctorupsandturnsonthem.Hesays:“Iwasyourfather’sfriend,andI’myourfriend;andIwarnyouasafriend,

and an honest one that wants to protect you and keep you out of harm andtrouble, toturnyourbacksonthatscoundrelandhavenothingtodowithhim,theignoranttramp,withhisidioticGreekandHebrew,ashecallsit.Heisthethinnestkindofanimpostor—hascomeherewithalotofemptynamesandfacts

whichhepickedupsomewheres,andyoutakethemforproofs,andarehelpedtofoolyourselvesbythesefoolishfriendshere,whooughttoknowbetter. MaryJaneWilks, you knowme for your friend, and for your unselfish friend, too.Nowlistentome;turnthispitifulrascalout—Ibegyoutodoit.Willyou?”MaryJanestraightenedherselfup,andmy,butshewashandsome!Shesays:“Hereismyanswer.”Shehoveupthebagofmoneyandputitintheking’s

hands,andsays,“Takethissixthousanddollars,andinvestformeandmysistersanywayyouwantto,anddon’tgiveusnoreceiptforit.”Thensheputherarmaroundthekingononeside,andSusanandthehare-lip

donethesameontheother.Everybodyclappedtheirhandsandstompedonthefloor like a perfect storm,whilst the king held up his head and smiled proud.Thedoctorsays:“Allright;Iwashmyhandsof thematter. But Iwarnyouall thata time’s

comingwhen you’re going to feel sickwhenever you think of this day.”Andawayhewent.“Allright,doctor,”saystheking,kindermockinghim;“we’lltryandget’em

tosendforyou;”whichmadethemalllaugh,andtheysaiditwasaprimegoodhit.

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CHAPTERXXVI.WELL,whentheywasallgonethekingheasksMaryJanehowtheywasoff

forsparerooms,andshesaidshehadonespareroom,whichwoulddoforUncleWilliam, and she’d give her own room to Uncle Harvey, which was a littlebigger,andshewouldturnintotheroomwithhersistersandsleeponacot;andupgarretwasalittlecubby,withapalletinit.Thekingsaidthecubbywoulddoforhisvalley—meaningme.SoMaryJanetookusup,andsheshowedthemtheirrooms,whichwasplain

butnice.Shesaidshe’dhaveherfrocksandalotofothertrapstookoutofherroom if theywas inUncleHarvey’sway,buthe said theywarn’t. The frockswashungalongthewall,andbeforethemwasacurtainmadeoutofcalicothathungdowntothefloor.Therewasanoldhairtrunkinonecorner,andaguitar-boxinanother,andallsortsoflittleknickknacksandjimcracksaround,likegirlsbrisken up a roomwith. The king said itwas all themore homely andmorepleasanter for these fixings, and so don’t disturb them. Theduke’s roomwasprettysmall,butplentygoodenough,andsowasmycubby.Thatnighttheyhadabigsupper,andallthemmenandwomenwasthere,and

I stood behind the king and the duke’s chairs and waited on them, and theniggerswaitedontherest.MaryJaneshesetattheheadofthetable,withSusanalongsideofher,andsaidhowbadthebiscuitswas,andhowmeanthepreserveswas,andhoworneryandtoughthefriedchickenswas—andallthatkindofrot,the way women always do for to force out compliments; and the people allknowedeverythingwas tiptop, and said so—said “Howdo yougetbiscuits tobrown so nice?” and “Where, for the land’s sake, did you get these amaz’npickles?”andallthatkindofhumbugtalky-talk,justthewaypeoplealwaysdoesatasupper,youknow.

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Andwhenitwasalldonemeandthehare-liphadsupperinthekitchenoffoftheleavings,whilsttheotherswashelpingtheniggerscleanupthethings.Thehare-lipshegottopumpingmeaboutEngland,andblestifIdidn’tthinktheicewasgettingmightythinsometimes.Shesays:“Didyoueverseetheking?”“Who? William Fourth? Well, I bet I have—he goes to our church.” I

knowedhewasdeadyearsago,butIneverleton.SowhenIsayshegoestoourchurch,shesays:“What—regular?”“Yes—regular. His pew’s right over opposite ourn—on t’other side the

pulpit.”“IthoughthelivedinLondon?”“Well,hedoes.Wherewouldhelive?”“ButIthoughtyoulivedinSheffield?”IseeIwasupastump.Ihadtoletontogetchokedwithachickenbone,so

astogettimetothinkhowtogetdownagain.ThenIsays:“Imeanhegoestoourchurchregularwhenhe’sinSheffield.That’sonlyin

thesummertime,whenhecomestheretotaketheseabaths.”“Why,howyoutalk—Sheffieldain’tonthesea.”“Well,whosaiditwas?”“Why,youdid.”“Ididn’tnuther.”“Youdid!”“Ididn’t.”“Youdid.”“Ineversaidnothingofthekind.”“Well,whatdidyousay,then?”“Saidhecometotaketheseabaths—that’swhatIsaid.”“Well,then,how’shegoingtotaketheseabathsifitain’tonthesea?”“Lookyhere,”Isays;“didyoueverseeanyCongress-water?”“Yes.”“Well,didyouhavetogotoCongresstogetit?”

“Why,no.”“Well,neitherdoesWilliamFourthhavetogototheseatogetaseabath.”“Howdoeshegetit,then?”“GetsitthewaypeopledownheregetsCongress-water—inbarrels.Therein

thepalaceatSheffieldthey’vegotfurnaces,andhewantshiswaterhot. Theycan’tbile thatamountofwaterawayoff thereat the sea.Theyhaven’tgotnoconveniencesforit.”“Oh,Isee,now.Youmightasaidthatinthefirstplaceandsavedtime.”When she said that I see I was out of the woods again, and so I was

comfortableandglad.Next,shesays:“Doyougotochurch,too?”“Yes—regular.”“Wheredoyouset?”“Why,inourpew.”“Whosepew?”“Why,ourn—yourUncleHarvey’s.”“His’n?Whatdoeshewantwithapew?”“Wantsittosetin.Whatdidyoureckonhewantedwithit?”“Why,Ithoughthe’dbeinthepulpit.”Rothim,Iforgothewasapreacher.IseeIwasupastumpagain,soIplayed

anotherchickenboneandgotanotherthink.ThenIsays:“Blameit,doyousupposethereain’tbutonepreachertoachurch?”“Why,whatdotheywantwithmore?”“What!—topreachbeforeaking? Ineverdid see suchagirl asyou.They

don’thavenolessthanseventeen.”“Seventeen!Myland!Why,Iwouldn’tsetoutsuchastringasthat,notifI

nevergottoglory.Itmusttake’emaweek.”“Shucks,theydon’tallof’empreachthesameday—onlyoneof’em.”“Well,then,whatdoestherestof’emdo?”“Oh, nothingmuch. Loll around, pass theplate—andone thingor another.

Butmainlytheydon’tdonothing.”“Well,then,whataretheyfor?”“Why,they’reforstyle.Don’tyouknownothing?”

“Well, I don’twant to know no such foolishness as that. How is servantstreatedinEngland?Dotheytreat’embetter’nwetreatourniggers?”“No!Aservantain’tnobodythere.Theytreatthemworsethandogs.”“Don’t they give ’em holidays, thewaywe do, Christmas andNewYear’s

week,andFourthofJuly?”“Oh, just listen! Abodycould tellyouhain’teverbeen toEnglandby that.

Why,Hare-l—why,Joanna,theyneverseeaholidayfromyear’sendtoyear’send;nevergotothecircus,northeater,norniggershows,nornowheres.”“Norchurch?”“Norchurch.”“Butyoualwayswenttochurch.”Well, Iwasgoneup again. I forgot Iwas theoldman’s servant. Butnext

minuteIwhirledinonakindofanexplanationhowavalleywasdifferentfromacommonservantandhadtogotochurchwhetherhewantedtoornot,andsetwiththefamily,onaccountofitsbeingthelaw.ButIdidn’tdoitprettygood,andwhenIgotdoneIseeshewarn’tsatisfied.Shesays:“Honestinjun,now,hain’tyoubeentellingmealotoflies?”

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“Honestinjun,”saysI.“Noneofitatall?”“Noneofitatall.Notalieinit,”saysI.“Layyourhandonthisbookandsayit.”Iseeitwarn’tnothingbutadictionary,soIlaidmyhandonitandsaidit.So

thenshelookedalittlebettersatisfied,andsays:“Well, then, I’llbelievesomeof it;but Ihope togracious if I’llbelieve the

rest.”

“Whatisityouwon’tbelieve,Joe?”saysMaryJane,steppinginwithSusanbehindher."Itain’trightnorkindforyoutotalksotohim,andhimastrangerandsofarfromhispeople.Howwouldyouliketobetreatedso?”“That’salwaysyourway,Maim—alwayssailingintohelpsomebodybefore

they’rehurt.Ihain’tdonenothingtohim.He’stoldsomestretchers,Ireckon,andIsaidIwouldn’tswallowitall;andthat’severybitandgrainIdidsay. Ireckonhecanstandalittlethinglikethat,can’the?”“Idon’tcarewhether’twaslittleorwhether’twasbig;he’shereinourhouse

anda stranger, and itwasn’tgoodofyou to say it. Ifyouwas inhisplace itwouldmake you feel ashamed; and so you oughtn’t to say a thing to anotherpersonthatwillmakethemfeelashamed.”“Why,Mam,hesaid—”“Itdon’tmakenodifferencewhathesaid—thatain’tthething.Thethingis

foryou to treathimkind, andnotbe saying things tomakehim rememberheain’tinhisowncountryandamongsthisownfolks.”I says tomyself, this is agirl that I’m letting thatold reptile robherofher

money!ThenSusan shewaltzed in; and if you’ll believeme, she did giveHare-lip

harkfromthetomb!SaysI tomyself,and this isanotherone that I’m lettinghimrobherofher

money!ThenMaryJaneshetookanotherinning,andwentinsweetandlovelyagain

—whichwasherway;butwhenshegotdonetherewarn’thardlyanythinglefto’poorHare-lip.Soshehollered.“Allright,then,”saystheothergirls;“youjustaskhispardon.”Shedone it, too; and she done it beautiful. She done it so beautiful itwas

good tohear; and Iwished I could tell her a thousand lies, so she coulddo itagain.Isaystomyself,thisisanotheronethatI’mlettinghimrobherofhermoney.

Andwhenshegotthroughtheyall jestlaidtheirselvesouttomakemefeelathomeandknowIwasamongstfriends.IfeltsoorneryandlowdownandmeanthatIsaystomyself,mymind’smadeup;I’llhivethatmoneyforthemorbust.SothenIlitout—forbed,Isaid,meaningsometimeoranother.WhenIgot

bymyselfIwenttothinkingthethingover.Isaystomyself,shallIgotothatdoctor, private, and blow on these frauds? No—thatwon’t do.Hemight tellwhotoldhim;thenthekingandthedukewouldmakeitwarmforme.ShallI

go,private,andtellMaryJane?No—Idasn’tdoit.Herfacewouldgivethemahint,sure;they’vegotthemoney,andthey’dsliderightoutandgetawaywithit.IfshewastofetchinhelpI’dgetmixedupinthebusinessbeforeitwasdonewith,I judge. No;thereain’tnogoodwaybutone. Igottostealthatmoney,somehow;andIgottostealitsomewaythattheywon’tsuspicionthatIdoneit.They’vegotagoodthinghere,andtheyain’ta-goingtoleavetillthey’veplayedthisfamilyandthistownforallthey’reworth,soI’llfindachancetimeenough.I’llstealitandhideit;andbyandby,whenI’mawaydowntheriver,I’llwritealetter and tellMary Janewhere it’s hid. But I better hive it tonight if I can,becausethedoctormaybehasn’t letupasmuchasheletsonhehas;hemightscarethemoutofhereyet.So,thinksI,I’llgoandsearchthemrooms.Upstairsthehallwasdark,butI

found the duke’s room, and started to paw around it with my hands; but Irecollecteditwouldn’tbemuchlikethekingtoletanybodyelsetakecareofthatmoneybuthisownself; so then Iwent tohis roomandbegun topawaroundthere.ButIseeIcouldn’tdonothingwithoutacandle,andIdasn’tlightone,ofcourse.SoIjudgedI’dgottodotheotherthing—layforthemandeavesdrop.AboutthattimeIhearstheirfootstepscoming,andwasgoingtoskipunderthebed;Ireachedforit,butitwasn’twhereIthoughtitwouldbe;butItouchedthecurtainthathidMaryJane’sfrocks,soIjumpedinbehindthatandsnuggledinamongstthegowns,andstoodthereperfectlystill.

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Theycomeinandshutthedoor;andthefirstthingthedukedonewastogetdownandlookunder thebed. ThenIwasgladIhadn’tfoundthebedwhenIwantedit. Andyet,youknow,it’skindofnatural tohideunder thebedwhenyouareuptoanythingprivate.Theysetsdownthen,andthekingsays:“Well,what is it? Andcut itmiddlin’ short,because it’sbetter forus tobe

downtherea-whoopin’upthemournin’thanupheregivin’’emachancetotalk

usover.”“Well,thisisit,Capet.Iain’teasy;Iain’tcomfortable.Thatdoctorlayson

mymind. Iwanted to knowyour plans. I’ve got a notion, and I think it’s asoundone.”“Whatisit,duke?”“Thatwebetterglideoutofthisbeforethreeinthemorning,andclipitdown

theriverwithwhatwe’vegot.Specially,seeingwegotitsoeasy—givenbacktous, flungatourheads,asyoumaysay,whenofcourseweallowed tohave tostealitback.I’mforknockingoffandlightingout.”Thatmademefeelprettybad. Aboutanhouror twoagoitwouldabeena

littledifferent,butnowitmademefeelbadanddisappointed,Thekingripsoutandsays:“What!Andnotsellouttheresto’theproperty?Marchofflikeapasselof

foolsandleaveeightorninethous’n’dollars’wortho’propertylayin’aroundjestsufferin’tobescoopedin?—andallgood,salablestuff,too.”Thedukehegrumbled;saidthebagofgoldwasenough,andhedidn’twantto

gonodeeper—didn’twanttorobalotoforphansofeverythingtheyhad.“Why,howyoutalk!”saystheking."Wesha’n’trob’emofnothingatallbut

jest thismoney. Thepeople thatbuys theproperty is thesuff’rers;becauseassoon’sit’sfoundout’atwedidn’townit—whichwon’tbelongafterwe’veslid—thesalewon’tbevalid,andit’llallgobacktotheestate.Theseyerorphans’llgittheirhousebackagin,andthat’senoughforthem;they’reyoungandspry,andk’neasyearnalivin’.theyain’ta-gointosuffer.Why,jestthink—there’sthous’n’s and thous’n’s that ain’t nigh so well off. Bless you, they ain’t gotnoth’n’tocomplainof.”Well,thekinghetalkedhimblind;soatlasthegivein,andsaidallright,but

saidhebelieveditwasblamedfoolishnesstostay,andthatdoctorhangingoverthem.Butthekingsays:“Cussthedoctor!Whatdowek’yerforhim?Hain’twegotallthefoolsin

townonourside?Andain’tthatabigenoughmajorityinanytown?”Sotheygotreadytogodownstairsagain.Thedukesays:“Idon’tthinkweputthatmoneyinagoodplace.”Thatcheeredmeup.I’dbeguntothinkIwarn’tgoingtogetahintofnokind

tohelpme.Thekingsays:“Why?”“BecauseMaryJane’llbeinmourningfromthisout;andfirstyouknowthe

niggerthatdoesuptheroomswillgetanordertoboxthesedudsupandput’emaway;anddoyoureckonaniggercanrunacrossmoneyandnotborrowsomeofit?”“Yourhead’slevelagin,duke,”saystheking;andhecomesa-fumblingunder

thecurtaintwoorthreefootfromwhereIwas.Istucktighttothewallandkeptmightystill,thoughquivery;andIwonderedwhatthemfellowswouldsaytomeiftheycatchedme;andItriedtothinkwhatI’dbetterdoiftheydidcatchme. But the king he got the bag before I could think more than about a half athought,andheneversuspicionedIwasaround.Theytookandshovedthebagthrougharipinthestrawtickthatwasunderthefeather-bed,andcrammeditinafootortwoamongstthestrawandsaiditwasallrightnow,becauseaniggeronlymakes up the feather-bed, and don’t turn over the straw tick only abouttwiceayear,andsoitwarn’tinnodangerofgettingstolenow.

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But I knowed better. I had it out of there before theywas half-way downstairs.Igropedalonguptomycubby,andhidittheretillIcouldgetachancetodobetter.IjudgedIbetterhideitoutsideofthehousesomewheres,becauseiftheymissedittheywouldgivethehouseagoodransacking:Iknowedthatverywell.ThenIturnedin,withmyclothesallon;butIcouldn’tagonetosleepifI’dawantedto,Iwasinsuchasweattogetthroughwiththebusiness.ByandbyIheardthekingandthedukecomeup;soIrolledoffmypalletandlaidwithmy chin at the top ofmy ladder, andwaited to see if anythingwas going tohappen.Butnothingdid.SoIheldontillall thelatesoundshadquitandtheearlyoneshadn’tbegun

yet;andthenIslippeddowntheladder.

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CHAPTERXXVII.Icrepttotheirdoorsandlistened;theywassnoring.SoItiptoedalong,and

gotdownstairsallright.Therewarn’tasoundanywheres.Ipeepedthroughacrackofthedining-roomdoor,andseethementhatwaswatchingthecorpseallsound asleep on their chairs. The door was open into the parlor, where thecorpsewaslaying,andtherewasacandleinbothrooms.Ipassedalong,andtheparlordoorwasopen;butIseetherewarn’tnobodyintherebuttheremaindersofPeter;soIshovedonby;but thefrontdoorwas locked,andthekeywasn’tthere. Just thenIheardsomebodycomingdownthestairs,backbehindme. Irunintheparlorandtookaswiftlookaround,andtheonlyplaceIseetohidethebagwasinthecoffin. Thelidwasshovedalongaboutafoot,showingthedeadman’s facedown in there,withawetclothover it, andhis shroudon. Ituckedthemoney-baginunderthelid, justdownbeyondwherehishandswascrossed,whichmademecreep,theywassocold,andthenIrunbackacrosstheroomandinbehindthedoor.The person comingwasMary Jane. Shewent to the coffin, very soft, and

kneeled down and looked in; then she put up her handkerchief, and I see shebeguntocry,thoughIcouldn’thearher,andherbackwastome.Islidout,andasIpassedthedining-roomIthoughtI’dmakesurethemwatchershadn’tseenme; so I looked through the crack, and everythingwas all right. Theyhadn’tstirred.Islippeduptobed,feelingrutherblue,onaccountsof thethingplayingout

thatwayafterIhadtooksomuchtroubleandrunsomuchreskaboutit.SaysI,if it could stay where it is, all right; because when we get down the river ahundredmileortwoIcouldwritebacktoMaryJane,andshecoulddighimupagainandget it;but thatain’t thethingthat’sgoingtohappen; thethingthat’sgoingtohappenis,themoney’llbefoundwhentheycometoscrewonthelid.

Thentheking’llgetitagain,andit’llbealongdaybeforehegivesanybodyanotherchancetosmouchitfromhim.OfcourseIwantedtoslidedownandgetitoutofthere,butIdasn’ttryit. Everyminuteitwasgettingearliernow,andprettysoonsomeofthemwatcherswouldbegintostir,andImightgetcatched—catchedwithsixthousanddollarsinmyhandsthatnobodyhadn’thiredmetotakecareof.Idon’twishtobemixedupinnosuchbusinessasthat,Isaystomyself.When I got down stairs in the morning the parlor was shut up, and the

watcherswasgone.Therewarn’tnobodyaroundbutthefamilyandthewidowBartley and our tribe. I watched their faces to see if anything had beenhappening,butIcouldn’ttell.Towardsthemiddleofthedaytheundertakercomewithhisman,andtheyset

thecoffininthemiddleoftheroomonacoupleofchairs,andthensetallourchairsinrows,andborrowedmorefromtheneighborstillthehallandtheparlorandthedining-roomwasfull.Iseethecoffinlidwasthewayitwasbefore,butIdasn’tgotolookinunderit,withfolksaround.Thenthepeoplebeguntoflockin,andthebeatsandthegirlstookseatsinthe

frontrowattheheadofthecoffin,andforahalfanhourthepeoplefiledaroundslow,insinglerank,andlookeddownatthedeadman’sfaceaminute,andsomedroppedinatear,anditwasallverystillandsolemn,onlythegirlsandthebeatsholdinghandkerchiefstotheireyesandkeepingtheirheadsbent,andsobbingalittle.Therewarn’tnoothersoundbutthescrapingofthefeetonthefloorandblowingnoses—becausepeoplealwaysblowsthemmoreatafuneralthantheydoatotherplacesexceptchurch.When the placewas packed full the undertaker he slid around in his black

gloveswithhis softy sootheringways, puttingon the last touches, andgettingpeople and things all ship-shape and comfortable, andmaking nomore soundthanacat.Heneverspoke;hemovedpeoplearound,hesqueezedinlateones,he opened up passageways, and done it with nods, and signs with his hands. Then he took his place over against thewall. Hewas the softest, glidingest,stealthiestmanIeversee;andtherewarn’tnomoresmiletohimthanthereistoaham.

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Theyhadborrowedamelodeum—asickone;andwheneverythingwasreadyayoungwomansetdownandworkedit,anditwasprettyskreekyandcolicky,andeverybodyjoinedinandsung,andPeterwastheonlyonethathadagoodthing,accordingtomynotion.ThentheReverendHobsonopenedup,slowandsolemn,andbeguntotalk;andstraightoffthemostoutrageousrowbustedoutinthecellarabodyeverheard;itwasonlyonedog,buthemadeamostpowerfulracket,andhekeptituprightalong;theparsonhehadtostandthere,overthecoffin,andwait—youcouldn’thearyourselfthink.Itwasrightdownawkward,andnobodydidn’tseemtoknowwhattodo.Butprettysoontheyseethatlong-legged undertakermake a sign to the preacher asmuch as to say, “Don’t youworry—justdependonme.” Thenhestoopeddownandbegun toglidealongthewall,justhisshouldersshowingoverthepeople’sheads.Soheglidedalong,andthepowwowandracketgettingmoreandmoreoutrageousallthetime;andat last,when he had gone around two sides of the room, he disappears downcellar.Theninabouttwosecondsweheardawhack,andthedoghefinishedupwithamostamazinghowlor two,and theneverythingwasdeadstill, and theparsonbegunhissolemntalkwhereheleftoff.Inaminuteortwoherecomesthis undertaker’s back and shoulders gliding along the wall again; and so heglidedandglidedaroundthreesidesoftheroom,andthenroseup,andshadedhismouthwithhishands,andstretchedhisneckouttowardsthepreacher,overthe people’s heads, and says, in a kind of a coarse whisper, “He had a rat!”Thenhedroopeddownandglidedalongthewallagaintohisplace.Youcouldsee itwas a great satisfaction to the people, because naturally theywanted toknow.Alittlethinglikethatdon’tcostnothing,andit’sjustthelittlethingsthatmakesamantobelookeduptoandliked.Therewarn’tnomorepopularmanintownthanwhatthatundertakerwas.

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Well,thefuneralsermonwasverygood,butpisonlongandtiresome;andthenthekingheshovedinandgotoffsomeofhisusualrubbage,andatlastthejobwasthrough,andtheundertakerbeguntosneakuponthecoffinwithhisscrew-driver. I was in a sweat then, and watched him pretty keen. But he nevermeddledatall;justslidthelidalongassoftasmush,andscreweditdowntightandfast.SothereIwas!Ididn’tknowwhetherthemoneywasinthereornot.So, says I, s’posesomebodyhashogged thatbagon thesly?—nowhowdo IknowwhethertowritetoMaryJaneornot?S’poseshedughimupanddidn’tfindnothing,whatwouldshethinkofme?Blameit,Isays,Imightgethuntedupandjailed;I’dbetterlaylowandkeepdark,andnotwriteatall;thething’sawfulmixed now; trying to better it, I’veworsened it a hundred times, and IwishtogoodnessI’djustletitalone,dadfetchthewholebusiness!Theyburiedhim,andwecomebackhome,andIwenttowatchingfacesagain

—Icouldn’thelpit,andIcouldn’tresteasy.Butnothingcomeofit;thefacesdidn’ttellmenothing.Thekinghevisitedaroundintheevening,andsweetenedeverybodyup,and

made himself ever so friendly; and he give out the idea that his congregationoverinEnglandwouldbeinasweatabouthim,sohemusthurryandsettleuptheestaterightawayandleaveforhome.Hewasverysorryhewassopushed,and so was everybody; they wished he could stay longer, but they said theycould see it couldn’tbedone. Andhe saidof coursehimandWilliamwouldtakethegirlshomewiththem;andthatpleasedeverybodytoo,becausethenthegirlswould bewell fixed and amongst their own relations; and it pleased thegirls,too—tickledthemsotheycleanforgottheyeverhadatroubleintheworld;andtoldhimtoselloutasquickashewantedto, theywouldbeready. Thempoorthingswasthatgladandhappyitmademyheartachetoseethemgettingfooledandliedtoso,butIdidn’tseenosafewayformetochipinandchangethegeneraltune.Well, blamed if the king didn’t bill the house and the niggers and all the

property for auction straightoff—sale twodays after the funeral; but anybodycouldbuyprivatebeforehandiftheywantedto.Sothenextdayafterthefuneral,alongaboutnoon-time,thegirls’joygotthe

first jolt. A couple of nigger traders come along, and the king sold them theniggersreasonable,forthree-daydraftsastheycalledit,andawaytheywent,thetwosonsuptherivertoMemphis,andtheirmotherdowntherivertoOrleans.Ithoughtthempoorgirlsandthemniggerswouldbreaktheirheartsforgrief;they

cried aroundeachother, and tookon so itmostmademedown sick to see it.Thegirlssaidtheyhadn’teverdreamedofseeingthefamilyseparatedorsoldaway from the town. I can’t everget it outofmymemory, the sightof thempoormiserablegirlsandniggershangingaroundeachother’snecksandcrying;andIreckonIcouldn’tastooditall,butwouldahadtobustoutandtellonourgang if I hadn’t knowed the salewarn’t no account and the niggerswould bebackhomeinaweekortwo.The thing made a big stir in the town, too, and a good many come out

flatfootedandsaiditwasscandaloustoseparatethemotherandthechildrenthatway.Itinjuredthefraudssome;buttheoldfoolhebulledrightalong,spiteofallthedukecouldsayordo,andItellyouthedukewaspowerfuluneasy.Nextdaywasauctionday.Aboutbroaddayinthemorningthekingandthe

dukecomeupinthegarretandwokemeup,andIseebytheir lookthat therewastrouble.Thekingsays:“Wasyouinmyroomnightbeforelast?”“No,yourmajesty”—whichwas theway I always calledhimwhennobody

butourgangwarn’taround.

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“Wasyouinthereyisterdayerlastnight?”“No,yourmajesty.”“Honorbright,now—nolies.”“Honorbright, yourmajesty, I’m tellingyou the truth. I hain’t been a-near

yourroomsinceMissMaryJanetookyouandthedukeandshowedittoyou.”Thedukesays:“Haveyouseenanybodyelsegointhere?”“No,yourgrace,notasIremember,Ibelieve.”

“Stopandthink.”Istudiedawhileandseemychance;thenIsays:“Well,Iseetheniggersgointhereseveraltimes.”Bothofthemgavealittlejump,andlookedliketheyhadn’teverexpectedit,

andthenliketheyhad.Thenthedukesays:“What,allofthem?”“No—leastways, not all at once—that is, I don’t think I ever see them all

comeoutatoncebutjustonetime.”“Hello!Whenwasthat?”“Itwasthedaywehadthefuneral.Inthemorning.Itwarn’tearly,becauseI

overslept.Iwasjuststartingdowntheladder,andIseethem.”“Well,goon,goon!Whatdidtheydo?How’dtheyact?”“Theydidn’tdonothing. Andtheydidn’tactanywaymuch,asfurasIsee.

Theytiptoedaway;soIseen,easyenough,thatthey’dshovedintheretodoupyourmajesty’sroom,orsomething,s’posingyouwasup;andfoundyouwarn’tup,andsotheywashopingtoslideoutofthewayoftroublewithoutwakingyouup,iftheyhadn’talreadywakedyouup.”“Greatguns,thisisago!”saystheking;andbothofthemlookedprettysick

and tolerable silly. They stood there a-thinking and scratching their heads aminute,andthedukehebustintoakindofalittleraspychuckle,andsays:“It doesbeat all howneat theniggersplayed theirhand. They let on tobe

sorrytheywasgoingoutofthisregion!AndIbelievedtheywassorry,andsodidyou,andsodideverybody.Don’tevertellmeanymorethataniggerain’tgot any histrionic talent. Why, the way they played that thing it would foolanybody.Inmyopinion,there’safortunein’em.IfIhadcapitalandatheater,Iwouldn’twantabetterlay-outthanthat—andherewe’vegoneandsold’emforasong.Yes,andain’tprivilegedtosingthesongyet.Say,whereisthatsong—thatdraft?”“Inthebankfortobecollected.Wherewoulditbe?”“Well,that’sallrightthen,thankgoodness.”SaysI,kindoftimid-like:“Issomethinggonewrong?”Thekingwhirlsonmeandripsout:“Noneo’yourbusiness!Youkeepyourheadshet,andmindy’rownaffairs—

ifyougotany. Longasyou’re in this towndon’tyouforgit that—youhear?”

Thenhesaystotheduke,“Wegottojestswalleritandsaynoth’n’:mum’sthewordforus.”Astheywasstartingdowntheladderthedukehechucklesagain,andsays:“Quicksalesandsmallprofits!It’sagoodbusiness—yes.”

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Thekingsnarlsaroundonhimandsays:“Iwastryingtodoforthebestinsellin’’emoutsoquick.Iftheprofitshas

turnedout tobenone, lackin’considable,andnone tocarry, is itmy faultanymore’nit’syourn?”“Well,they’dbeinthishouseyetandwewouldn’tifIcouldagotmyadvice

listenedto.”Thekingsassedbackasmuchaswassafeforhim,andthenswappedaround

and lit intome again. Hegivemedown thebanks fornotcomingand tellinghimIseetheniggerscomeoutofhisroomactingthatway—saidanyfoolwouldaknowed somethingwasup. And thenwaltzed in andcussedhimselfawhile,and said it all come of him not laying late and taking his natural rest thatmorning,andhe’dbeblamedifhe’deverdoitagain.Sotheywentoffa-jawing;and I felt dreadful glad I’dworked it all off on to the niggers, andyet hadn’tdonetheniggersnoharmbyit.

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CHAPTERXXVIII.BYandbyitwasgetting-uptime.SoIcomedowntheladderandstartedfor

down-stairs;butasIcometothegirls’roomthedoorwasopen,andIseeMaryJanesettingbyheroldhairtrunk,whichwasopenandshe’dbeenpackingthingsin it—gettingready togo toEngland. Butshehadstoppednowwithafoldedgowninherlap,andhadherfaceinherhands,crying.Ifeltawfulbadtoseeit;ofcourseanybodywould.Iwentinthereandsays:“MissMaryJane,youcan’ta-beartoseepeopleintrouble,andIcan’t—most

always.Tellmeaboutit.”So she done it. And it was the niggers—I just expected it. She said the

beautiful trip toEnglandwasmostaboutspoiledforher;shedidn’tknowhowshe was ever going to be happy there, knowing the mother and the childrenwarn’tevergoingtoseeeachothernomore—andthenbustedoutbittererthanever,andflungupherhands,andsays:“Oh,dear,dear,tothinktheyain’tevergoingtoseeeachotheranymore!”“Buttheywill—andinsideoftwoweeks—andIknowit!”saysI.Laws,itwasoutbeforeIcouldthink!AndbeforeIcouldbudgeshethrows

herarmsaroundmyneckandtoldmetosayitagain,sayitagain,sayitagain!IseeIhadspoke toosuddenandsaid toomuch,andwas inacloseplace. I

askedhertoletmethinkaminute;andshesetthere,veryimpatientandexcitedandhandsome,butlookingkindofhappyandeased-up,likeapersonthat’shadatoothpulledout.SoIwenttostudyingitout.Isaystomyself,Ireckonabodythatupsandtellsthetruthwhenheisinatightplaceistakingconsiderablemanyresks,thoughIain’thadnoexperience,andcan’tsayforcertain;butitlookssotome,anyway;andyethere’sacasewhereI’mblestifitdon’tlooktomelikethetruthisbetterandactulysafer thanalie. Imustlayitbyinmymind,andthinkitoversometimeorother,it’ssokindofstrangeandunregular.Ineverseenothinglikeit.Well,Isaystomyselfatlast,I’ma-goingtochanceit;I’llupandtell thetruththistime,thoughitdoesseemmostlikesettingdownonakagofpowderandtouchingitoffjusttoseewhereyou’llgoto.ThenIsays:

“MissMaryJane,isthereanyplaceoutoftownalittlewayswhereyoucouldgoandstaythreeorfourdays?”“Yes;Mr.Lothrop’s.Why?”“Nevermindwhyyet. If I’ll tellyouhowIknowtheniggerswillseeeach

otheragaininsideoftwoweeks—hereinthishouse—andprovehowIknowit—willyougotoMr.Lothrop’sandstayfourdays?”“Fourdays!”shesays;“I’llstayayear!”“Allright,”Isays,“Idon’twantnothingmoreoutofyouthanjustyourword

—Idrutherhaveitthananotherman’skiss-the-Bible.”Shesmiledandreddenedupverysweet,andIsays,“Ifyoudon’tmindit,I’llshutthedoor—andboltit.”ThenIcomebackandsetdownagain,andsays:“Don’tyouholler.Justsetstillandtakeitlikeaman.Igottotellthetruth,

andyouwanttobraceup,MissMary,becauseit’sabadkind,andgoingtobehardtotake,butthereain’tnohelpforit.Theseunclesofyournain’tnounclesatall;they’reacoupleoffrauds—regulardead-beats.There,nowwe’reovertheworstofit,youcanstandtherestmiddlingeasy.”Itjoltedheruplikeeverything,ofcourse;butIwasovertheshoalwaternow,

soIwentrightalong,hereyesa-blazinghigherandhigherallthetime,andtoldhereveryblamething,fromwherewefirststruckthatyoungfoolgoinguptothesteamboat,clearthroughtowheresheflungherselfontotheking’sbreastatthefrontdoorandhekissedhersixteenorseventeentimes—andthenupshejumps,withherfaceafirelikesunset,andsays:“The brute! Come, don’twaste aminute—not a second—we’ll have them

tarredandfeathered,andflungintheriver!”

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SaysI:“Cert’nly.ButdoyoumeanbeforeyougotoMr.Lothrop’s,or—”

“Oh,” she says, “what am I thinking about!” she says, and set right downagain. "Don’t mind what I said—please don’t—you won’t, now,will you?”LayinghersilkyhandonmineinthatkindofawaythatIsaidIwoulddiefirst."Ineverthought,Iwassostirredup,”shesays;“nowgoon,andIwon’tdosoanymore.Youtellmewhattodo,andwhateveryousayI’lldoit.”“Well,”Isays,“it’saroughgang,themtwofrauds,andI’mfixedsoIgotto

travelwiththemawhilelonger,whetherIwanttoornot—Idruthernottellyouwhy;andifyouwastoblowonthemthistownwouldgetmeoutoftheirclaws,and I’d be all right; but there’d be another person that you don’t know aboutwho’dbeinbigtrouble.Well,wegottosavehim,hain’twe?Ofcourse.Well,then,wewon’tblowonthem.”Sayingthemwordsputagoodideainmyhead.IseehowmaybeIcouldget

meandJimridofthefrauds;getthemjailedhere,andthenleave.ButIdidn’twanttoruntheraftinthedaytimewithoutanybodyaboardtoanswerquestionsbutme;soIdidn’twanttheplantobeginworkingtillprettylateto-night.Isays:“MissMaryJane,I’lltellyouwhatwe’lldo,andyouwon’thavetostayatMr.

Lothrop’ssolong,nuther.Howfurisit?”“Alittleshortoffourmiles—rightoutinthecountry,backhere.”“Well, that’llanswer. Nowyougoalongout there,andlay lowtillnineor

half-pastto-night,andthengetthemtofetchyouhomeagain—tellthemyou’vethoughtofsomething.Ifyougetherebeforeelevenputacandleinthiswindow,and if Idon’t turnupwait tilleleven,and then if Idon’t turnup itmeans I’mgone, and out of theway, and safe. Then you come out and spread the newsaround,andgetthesebeatsjailed.”“Good,”shesays,“I’lldoit.”“And if it justhappens so that Idon’tget away,butget tookupalongwith

them,youmustupandsayItoldyouthewholethingbeforehand,andyoumuststandbymeallyoucan.”“Standbyyou! indeed Iwill. They sha’n’t touchahairofyourhead!” she

says,andIseehernostrilsspreadandhereyessnapwhenshesaidit,too.“IfIgetawayIsha’n’tbehere,”Isays,“toprovetheserapscallionsain’tyour

uncles, and I couldn’t do it if Iwas here. I could swear theywas beats andbummers, that’sall, thoughthat’sworthsomething.Well, there’sotherscandothatbetterthanwhatIcan,andthey’repeoplethatain’tgoingtobedoubtedasquickasI’dbe.I’lltellyouhowtofindthem.Gimmeapencilandapieceofpaper. There—‘RoyalNonesuch,Bricksville.’ Put it away, and don’t lose it.Whenthecourtwantstofindoutsomethingaboutthesetwo,letthemsendupto

Bricksvilleandsaythey’vegotthementhatplayedtheRoyalNonesuch,andaskforsomewitnesses—why,you’llhavethatentiretowndownherebeforeyoucanhardlywink,MissMary.Andthey’llcomea-biling,too.”

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Ijudgedwehadgoteverythingfixedaboutrightnow.SoIsays:“Just let theauctiongorightalong,anddon’tworry. Nobodydon’thave to

payforthethingstheybuytillawholedayaftertheauctiononaccountsoftheshortnotice,andtheyain’tgoingoutofthistilltheygetthatmoney;andthewaywe’vefixeditthesaleain’tgoingtocount,andtheyain’tgoingtogetnomoney.It’sjustlikethewayitwaswiththeniggers—itwarn’tnosale,andtheniggerswillbebackbeforelong.Why,theycan’tcollectthemoneyfortheniggersyet—they’reintheworstkindofafix,MissMary.”“Well,”shesays,“I’ll rundowntobreakfastnow,and thenI’llstartstraight

forMr.Lothrop’s.”“’Deed, that ain’t the ticket, Miss Mary Jane,” I says, “by no manner of

means;gobeforebreakfast.”“Why?”“WhatdidyoureckonIwantedyoutogoatallfor,MissMary?”“Well,Ineverthought—andcometothink,Idon’tknow.Whatwasit?”“Why,it’sbecauseyouain’toneoftheseleather-facepeople.Idon’twantno

better book thanwhat your face is. Abody can set downand read it off likecoarseprint.Doyoureckonyoucangoandfaceyouruncleswhentheycometokissyougood-morning,andnever—”“There,there,don’t!Yes,I’llgobeforebreakfast—I’llbegladto.Andleave

mysisterswiththem?”“Yes;nevermindaboutthem.They’vegottostandityetawhile.Theymight

suspicionsomethingifallofyouwastogo.Idon’twantyoutoseethem,nor

yoursisters,nornobodyinthistown;ifaneighborwastoaskhowisyourunclesthismorningyourfacewouldtellsomething.No,yougorightalong,MissMaryJane,andI’llfixitwithallofthem.I’lltellMissSusantogiveyourlovetoyouruncles and say you’ve went away for a few hours for to get a little rest andchange,ortoseeafriend,andyou’llbebackto-nightorearlyinthemorning.”“Gonetoseeafriendisallright,butIwon’thavemylovegiventothem.”“Well,then,itsha’n’tbe.”Itwaswellenoughtotellherso—noharminit.It

wasonlyalittlethingtodo,andnotrouble;andit’sthelittlethingsthatsmoothspeople’s roads the most, down here below; it would make Mary Janecomfortable,anditwouldn’tcostnothing.ThenIsays:"There’sonemorething—thatbagofmoney.”“Well,they’vegotthat;anditmakesmefeelprettysillytothinkhowtheygot

it.”“No,you’reout,there.Theyhain’tgotit.”“Why,who’sgotit?”“Iwish Iknowed,but Idon’t. Ihad it, because I stole it from them;and I

stoleittogivetoyou;andIknowwhereIhidit,butI’mafraiditain’ttherenomore.I’mawfulsorry,MissMaryJane,I’mjustassorryasIcanbe;butIdonethebestIcould;Ididhonest.Icomenighgettingcaught,andIhadtoshoveitintothefirstplaceIcometo,andrun—anditwarn’tagoodplace.”“Oh,stopblamingyourself—it’s toobadtodoit,andIwon’tallowit—you

couldn’thelpit;itwasn’tyourfault.Wheredidyouhideit?”I didn’twant to set her to thinking about her troubles again; and I couldn’t

seemtogetmymouthtotellherwhatwouldmakeherseethatcorpselayinginthecoffinwiththatbagofmoneyonhisstomach.SoforaminuteIdidn’tsaynothing;thenIsays:“I’d ruther not tell you where I put it,MissMary Jane, if you don’t mind

lettingmeoff;butI’llwrite itforyouonapieceofpaper,andyoucanreaditalongtheroadtoMr.Lothrop’s,ifyouwantto.Doyoureckonthat’lldo?”“Oh,yes.”SoIwrote:"Iputitinthecoffin.Itwasintherewhenyouwascryingthere,

awayinthenight.Iwasbehindthedoor,andIwasmightysorryforyou,MissMaryJane.”

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Itmademyeyeswateralittletorememberhercryingthereallbyherselfinthe night, and themdevils laying there right under her own roof, shamingherandrobbingher;andwhenIfoldeditupandgiveittoherIseethewatercomeintohereyes,too;andsheshookmebythehand,hard,andsays:“Good-bye.I’mgoingtodoeverythingjustasyou’vetoldme;andifIdon’t

everseeyouagain,Isha’n’teverforgetyouandI’llthinkofyouamanyandamanyatime,andI’llprayforyou,too!”—andshewasgone.Pray forme! I reckoned if sheknowedme she’d take a job thatwasmore

nearerhersize.ButIbetshedoneit,justthesame—shewasjustthatkind.ShehadthegrittoprayforJudusifshetookthenotion—therewarn’tnoback-downtoher,Ijudge.Youmaysaywhatyouwantto,butinmyopinionshehadmoresandinherthananygirlIeversee;inmyopinionshewasjustfullofsand.Itsoundslikeflattery,butitain’tnoflattery.Andwhenitcomestobeauty—andgoodness,too—shelaysoverthemall.Ihain’teverseenhersincethattimethatIseehergooutofthatdoor;no,Ihain’teverseenhersince,butIreckonI’vethoughtofheramanyandamanyamilliontimes,andofhersayingshewouldprayforme;andifeverI’dathoughtitwoulddoanygoodformetoprayforher,blamedifIwouldn’tadoneitorbust.Well,MaryJaneshe litout thebackway, I reckon;becausenobodyseeher

go.WhenIstruckSusanandthehare-lip,Isays:“What’sthenameofthempeopleoveront’othersideoftheriverthatyouall

goestoseesometimes?”Theysays:“There’sseveral;butit’stheProctors,mainly.”“That’sthename,”Isays;“Imostforgotit.Well,MissMaryJaneshetoldme

totellyoushe’sgoneoverthereinadreadfulhurry—oneofthem’ssick.”“Whichone?”“Idon’tknow;leastways,Ikinderforget;butIthinksit’s—”“Sakesalive,Ihopeitain’tHanner?”

“I’msorrytosayit,”Isays,“butHanner’stheveryone.”“Mygoodness,andshesowellonlylastweek!Isshetookbad?”“Itain’tnonameforit.Theysetupwithherallnight,MissMaryJanesaid,

andtheydon’tthinkshe’lllastmanyhours.”“Onlythinkofthat,now!What’sthematterwithher?”Icouldn’tthinkofanythingreasonable,rightoffthatway,soIsays:“Mumps.”“Mumpsyourgranny!Theydon’tsetupwithpeoplethat’sgotthemumps.”“Theydon’t,don’t they? Youbetterbet theydowith thesemumps. These

mumpsisdifferent.It’sanewkind,MissMaryJanesaid.”

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“How’sitanewkind?”“Becauseit’smixedupwithotherthings.”“Whatotherthings?”“Well, measles, and whooping-cough, and erysiplas, and consumption, and

yallerjanders,andbrain-fever,andIdon’tknowwhatall.”“Myland!Andtheycallitthemumps?”“That’swhatMissMaryJanesaid.”“Well,whatinthenationdotheycallitthemumpsfor?”“Why,becauseitisthemumps.That’swhatitstartswith.”“Well,ther’ain’tnosenseinit.Abodymightstumphistoe,andtakepison,

and fall down the well, and break his neck, and bust his brains out, andsomebodycomealongandaskwhatkilledhim,andsomenumskullupandsay,‘Why,he stumpedhis toe.’ Would ther’ be any sense in that?No. And ther’ain’tnosenseinthis,nuther.Isitketching?”

“Isitketching?Why,howyoutalk.Isaharrowcatching—inthedark?Ifyoudon’thitchontoonetooth,you’reboundtoonanother,ain’tyou?Andyoucan’tget away with that tooth without fetching the whole harrow along, can you?Well,thesekindofmumpsisakindofaharrow,asyoumaysay—anditain’tnoslouchofaharrow,nuther,youcometogetithitchedongood.”“Well,it’sawful,Ithink,”saysthehare-lip."I’llgotoUncleHarveyand—”“Oh,yes,”Isays,“Iwould.OfcourseIwould.Iwouldn’tlosenotime.”“Well,whywouldn’tyou?”“Justlookatitaminute,andmaybeyoucansee.Hain’tyourunclesobleegd

togetalonghometoEnglandasfastastheycan?Anddoyoureckonthey’dbemeanenoughtogooffandleaveyoutogoallthatjourneybyyourselves?youknowthey’llwaitforyou.Sofur,sogood.YouruncleHarvey’sapreacher,ain’the? Verywell, then; is apreacher going to deceive a steamboat clerk? is hegoing to deceive a ship clerk?—so as to get them to let MissMary Jane goaboard?Nowyouknowheain’t.Whatwillhedo,then?Why,he’llsay,‘It’sagreatpity,butmychurchmattershasgottogetalongthebestwaytheycan;formyniecehasbeenexposedtothedreadfulpluribus-unummumps,andsoit’smyboundendutytosetdownhereandwaitthethreemonthsittakestoshowonherifshe’sgotit.’Butnevermind,ifyouthinkit’sbesttotellyouruncleHarvey—”“Shucks, and stay fooling around here when we could all be having good

timesinEnglandwhilstwewaswaitingtofindoutwhetherMaryJane’sgotitornot?Why,youtalklikeamuggins.”“Well,anyway,maybeyou’dbettertellsomeoftheneighbors.”“Listenatthat,now.Youdobeatallfornaturalstupidness.Can’tyouseethat

they’dgoandtell?Ther’ain’tnowaybutjusttonottellanybodyatall.”“Well,maybeyou’reright—yes,Ijudgeyouareright.”“ButIreckonweoughttotellUncleHarveyshe’sgoneoutawhile,anyway,

sohewon’tbeuneasyabouther?”“Yes,MissMaryJaneshewantedyoutodothat.Shesays,‘Tellthemtogive

UncleHarveyandWilliammyloveandakiss,andsayI’verunovertherivertoseeMr.’—Mr.—what is the nameof that rich family your unclePeter used tothinksomuchof?—Imeantheonethat—”“Why,youmustmeantheApthorps,ain’tit?”“Ofcourse;botherthemkindofnames,abodycan’teverseemtoremember

them,halfthetime,somehow.Yes,shesaid,sayshehasrunoverfortoaskthe

Apthorps to be sure and come to the auction and buy this house, because sheallowedherunclePeterwould ruther theyhad it thananybodyelse; and she’sgoingtosticktothemtilltheysaythey’llcome,andthen,ifsheain’ttootired,she’scominghome;andifsheis,she’llbehomeinthemorninganyway. Shesaid,don’tsaynothingabouttheProctors,butonlyabouttheApthorps—which’llbeperfectlytrue,becausesheisgoingtheretospeakabouttheirbuyingthehouse;Iknowit,becauseshetoldmesoherself.”“Allright,”theysaid,andclearedouttolayfortheiruncles,andgivethemthe

loveandthekisses,andtellthemthemessage.Everythingwas all right now. Thegirlswouldn’t saynothingbecause they

wantedtogotoEngland;andthekingandthedukewouldrutherMaryJanewasoffworkingfortheauctionthanaroundinreachofDoctorRobinson.Ifeltverygood; I judged I had done it pretty neat—I reckoned Tom Sawyer couldn’t adoneitnoneaterhimself.Ofcoursehewouldathrowedmorestyleintoit,butIcan’tdothatveryhandy,notbeingbrunguptoit.Well,theyheldtheauctioninthepublicsquare,alongtowardstheendofthe

afternoon,anditstrungalong,andstrungalong,andtheoldmanhewasonhandandlookinghislevelpisonest,uptherelongsideoftheauctioneer,andchippinginalittleScripturenowandthen,oralittlegoody-goodysayingofsomekind,andthedukehewasaroundgoo-gooingforsympathyallheknowedhow,andjustspreadinghimselfgenerly.

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But by and by the thing dragged through, and everything was sold—everythingbutalittleoldtriflinglotinthegraveyard.Sothey’dgottoworkthatoff—I never see such a girafft as the king was for wanting to swalloweverything. Well,whilst theywas at it a steamboat landed, and in about twominutesup comes a crowda-whooping andyelling and laughing and carryingon,andsingingout:

“Here’syouroppositionline!here’syourtwosetso’heirstooldPeterWilks—andyoupaysyourmoneyandyoutakesyourchoice!”

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CHAPTERXXIX.THEY was fetching a very nice-looking old gentleman along, and a nice-

looking younger one, with his right arm in a sling. And,my souls, how thepeopleyelledandlaughed,andkeptitup.ButIdidn’tseenojokeaboutit,andIjudgeditwouldstrainthedukeandthekingsometoseeany.Ireckonedthey’dturn pale. But no, nary a pale did they turn. The duke he never let on hesuspicioned what was up, but just went a goo-gooing around, happy andsatisfied, like a jug that’sgooglingoutbuttermilk; andas for theking,he justgazed and gazed down sorrowful on them new-comers like it give him thestomach-acheinhisveryhearttothinktherecouldbesuchfraudsandrascalsinthe world. Oh, he done it admirable. Lots of the principal people getheredaroundtheking,tolethimseetheywasonhisside.Thatoldgentlemanthathadjustcomelookedallpuzzledtodeath.Prettysoonhebeguntospeak,andIseestraightoffhepronounced likeanEnglishman—nottheking’sway,thoughtheking’swasprettygoodforanimitation.Ican’tgivetheoldgent’swords,norIcan’timitatehim;butheturnedaroundtothecrowd,andsays,aboutlikethis:“This is a surprise tomewhich Iwasn’t looking for; and I’ll acknowledge,

candidandfrank,Iain’tverywellfixedtomeetitandanswerit;formybrotherandmehashadmisfortunes;he’sbrokehisarm,andourbaggagegotputoffatatownaboveherelastnightinthenightbyamistake.IamPeterWilks’brotherHarvey,andthis ishisbrotherWilliam,whichcan’thearnorspeak—andcan’tevenmakesignstoamounttomuch,now’the’sonlygotonehandtoworkthem

with.Wearewhowesayweare;andinadayortwo,whenIgetthebaggage,Icanproveit.Butuptill thenIwon’tsaynothingmore,butgotothehotelandwait.”Sohimandthenewdummystartedoff;andthekinghelaughs,andblethers

out:“Brokehisarm—very likely,ain’t it?—andveryconvenient, too, fora fraud

that’sgottomakesigns,andain’tlearnthow.Losttheirbaggage!That’smightygood!—andmightyingenious—underthecircumstances!”So he laughed again; and so did everybody else, except three or four, or

maybe half a dozen. One of thesewas that doctor; another onewas a sharp-looking gentleman, with a carpet-bag of the old-fashioned kind made out ofcarpet-stuff,thathadjustcomeoffofthesteamboatandwastalkingtohiminalowvoice,andglancingtowardsthekingnowandthenandnoddingtheirheads—itwasLeviBell, thelawyerthatwasgoneuptoLouisville;andanotheronewasabigroughhuskythatcomealongandlistenedtoalltheoldgentlemansaid,andwas listening to thekingnow.Andwhen thekinggotdone thishuskyupandsays:“Say,lookyhere;ifyouareHarveyWilks,when’dyoucometothistown?”“Thedaybeforethefuneral,friend,”saystheking.“Butwhattimeo’day?”“Intheevenin’—’boutanhourertwobeforesundown.”“How’dyoucome?”“IcomedownontheSusanPowellfromCincinnati.”“Well,then,how’dyoucometobeupatthePintinthemornin’—inacanoe?”“Iwarn’tupatthePintinthemornin’.”“It’salie.”Severalofthemjumpedforhimandbeggedhimnottotalkthatwaytoanold

manandapreacher.“Preacher be hanged, he’s a fraud and a liar. He was up at the Pint that

mornin’.Iliveupthere,don’tI?Well,Iwasupthere,andhewasupthere.Iseehimthere.Hecomeinacanoe,alongwithTimCollinsandaboy.”Thedoctorheupandsays:“Wouldyouknowtheboyagainifyouwastoseehim,Hines?”“I reckonIwould,but Idon’tknow. Why,yonderhe is,now. Iknowhim

perfectlyeasy.”

Itwasmehepointedat.Thedoctorsays:“Neighbors,Idon’tknowwhetherthenewcoupleisfraudsornot;butifthese

twoain’t frauds, Iaman idiot, that’sall. I think it’sourduty to see that theydon’tgetawayfromheretillwe’velookedintothisthing.Comealong,Hines;comealong, therestofyou. We’ll takethesefellowstothetavernandaffrontthemwith t’othercouple,and I reckonwe’ll findoutsomething beforewegetthrough.”Itwasnutsforthecrowd,thoughmaybenotfortheking’sfriends;soweall

started. Itwasabout sundown. Thedoctorhe ledmealongby thehand,andwasplentykindenough,butheneverletgomyhand.

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Weallgotinabigroominthehotel,andlitupsomecandles,andfetchedinthenewcouple.First,thedoctorsays:“Idon’twishtobetoohardonthesetwomen,butIthinkthey’refrauds,and

theymayhavecomplicesthatwedon’tknownothingabout.Iftheyhave,won’tthecomplicesgetawaywiththatbagofgoldPeterWilksleft?Itain’tunlikely.Ifthesemenain’tfrauds,theywon’tobjecttosendingforthatmoneyandlettinguskeepittilltheyprovethey’reallright—ain’tthatso?”Everybody agreed to that. So I judged they had our gang in a pretty tight

placerightattheoutstart.Butthekingheonlylookedsorrowful,andsays:“Gentlemen, I wish the money was there, for I ain’t got no disposition to

throw anything in the way of a fair, open, out-and-out investigation o’ thismisablebusiness;but,alas,themoneyain’tthere;youk’nsendandsee,ifyouwantto.”“Whereisit,then?”“Well,whenmyniecegiveittometokeepforherItookandhiditinsideo’

thestrawticko’mybed,notwishin’tobankitfor thefewdayswe’dbehere,

andconsiderin’thebedasafeplace,wenotbein’usedtoniggers,andsuppos’n’’emhonest,likeservantsinEngland.Theniggersstoleittheverynextmornin’afterIhadwentdownstairs;andwhenIsold’emIhadn’tmissedthemoneyyit,so they got clean away with it. My servant here k’n tell you ’bout it,gentlemen.”The doctor and several said “Shucks!” and I see nobody didn’t altogether

believehim.OnemanaskedmeifIseetheniggersstealit.Isaidno,butIseethemsneakingoutoftheroomandhustlingaway,andIneverthoughtnothing,onlyIreckonedtheywasafraidtheyhadwakedupmymasterandwastryingtogetawaybeforehemadetroublewiththem.Thatwasalltheyaskedme.Thenthedoctorwhirlsonmeandsays:“AreyouEnglish,too?”Isaysyes;andhimandsomeotherslaughed,andsaid,“Stuff!”Well,thentheysailedinonthegeneralinvestigation,andtherewehadit,up

anddown,hour in,hourout, andnobodynever said awordabout supper,noreverseemedtothinkaboutit—andsotheykeptitup,andkeptitup;anditwastheworstmixed-up thingyoueversee. Theymade theking tellhisyarn,andthey made the old gentleman tell his’n; and anybody but a lot of prejudicedchuckleheadswouldaseenthattheoldgentlemanwasspinningtruthandt’otheronelies.AndbyandbytheyhadmeuptotellwhatIknowed.Thekinghegivemealeft-handedlookoutofthecornerofhiseye,andsoIknowedenoughtotalkontherightside. Ibegunto tellaboutSheffield,andhowwelivedthere,andallabout theEnglishWilkses,andsoon;butIdidn’tgetprettyfur till thedoctorbeguntolaugh;andLeviBell,thelawyer,says:“Setdown,myboy;Iwouldn’tstrainmyselfifIwasyou.Ireckonyouain’t

usedtolying,itdon’tseemtocomehandy;whatyouwantispractice.Youdoitprettyawkward.”Ididn’tcarenothingforthecompliment,butIwasgladtobeletoff,anyway.Thedoctorhestartedtosaysomething,andturnsandsays:“Ifyou’dbeen in townat first,LeviBell—”Thekingbroke inandreached

outhishand,andsays:“Why, is this my poor dead brother’s old friend that he’s wrote so often

about?”Thelawyerandhimshookhands,andthelawyersmiledandlookedpleased,

andtheytalkedrightalongawhile,andthengottoonesideandtalkedlow;andatlastthelawyerspeaksupandsays:

“That’llfixit.I’lltaketheorderandsendit,alongwithyourbrother’s,andthenthey’llknowit’sallright.”Sotheygotsomepaperandapen,andthekinghesetdownandtwistedhis

headtooneside,andchawedhistongue,andscrawledoffsomething;andthentheygivethepentotheduke—andthenforthefirsttimethedukelookedsick. But he took the pen and wrote. So then the lawyer turns to the new oldgentlemanandsays:“Youandyourbrotherpleasewritealineortwoandsignyournames.”

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The old gentlemanwrote, but nobody couldn’t read it. The lawyer lookedpowerfulastonished,andsays:“Well, it beatsme”—and snaked a lot of old letters out of his pocket, and

examinedthem,andthenexaminedtheoldman’swriting,andthenthemagain;and then says: "Theseold letters is fromHarveyWilks; andhere’s these twohandwritings, and anybody can see they didn’t write them” (the king and thedukelookedsoldandfoolish,Itellyou,toseehowthelawyerhadtookthemin),“and here’s this old gentleman’s hand writing, and anybody can tell, easyenough, he didn’t write them—fact is, the scratches he makes ain’t properlywritingatall.Now,here’ssomelettersfrom—”Thenewoldgentlemansays:“If you please, letme explain. Nobody can readmy hand butmy brother

there—sohecopiesforme.It’shishandyou’vegotthere,notmine.”“Well!”saysthelawyer,“thisisastateofthings.I’vegotsomeofWilliam’s

letters,too;soifyou’llgethimtowritealineorsowecancom—”“Hecan’twritewithhislefthand,”saystheoldgentleman."Ifhecoulduse

hisrighthand,youwouldseethathewrotehisownlettersandminetoo.Lookatboth,please—they’rebythesamehand.”

Thelawyerdoneit,andsays:“Ibelieveit’sso—andifitain’tso,there’saheapstrongerresemblancethan

I’d noticed before, anyway. Well,well,well! I thoughtwewas right on thetrackofasolution,butit’sgonetograss,partly.Butanyway,onethingisproved—thesetwoain’teitherof’emWilkses”—andhewaggedhisheadtowardsthekingandtheduke.Well,whatdoyou think? Thatmuleheadedold foolwouldn’tgive in then!

Indeedhewouldn’t.Saiditwarn’tnofairtest.SaidhisbrotherWilliamwasthecussedest joker in the world, and hadn’t tried to write—he see William wasgoing toplayoneofhis jokes theminuteheput thepen topaper. Andsohewarmed up and went warbling and warbling right along till he was actulybeginning to believe what he was saying himself; but pretty soon the newgentlemanbrokein,andsays:“I’vethoughtofsomething.Isthereanybodyherethathelpedtolayoutmy

br—helpedtolayoutthelatePeterWilksforburying?”“Yes,”sayssomebody,“meandAbTurnerdoneit.We’rebothhere.”Thentheoldmanturnstowardstheking,andsays:“Perhapsthisgentlemancantellmewhatwastattooedonhisbreast?”Blamed if thekingdidn’thave tobraceupmightyquick,orhe’da squshed

downlikeabluffbankthattheriverhascutunder,ittookhimsosudden;and,mindyou,itwasathingthatwascalculatedtomakemostanybodysqushtogetfetchedsuchasolidoneasthatwithoutanynotice,becausehowwashegoingtoknowwhatwastattooedontheman?Hewhitenedalittle;hecouldn’thelpit;and it wasmighty still in there, and everybody bending a little forwards andgazingathim.SaysItomyself,nowhe’llthrowupthesponge—thereain’tnomoreuse.Well,didhe?Abodycan’thardlybelieveit,buthedidn’t.Ireckonhe thoughthe’dkeep the thingup tillhe tired thempeopleout, so they’d thinout, and him and the duke could break loose and get away. Anyway, he setthere,andprettysoonhebeguntosmile,andsays:“Mf!It’saverytoughquestion,ain’tit!yes,sir,Ik’ntellyouwhat’stattooed

on his breast. It’s jest a small, thin, blue arrow—that’swhat it is; and if youdon’tlookclost,youcan’tseeit.nowwhatdoyousay—hey?”Well,Ineverseeanythinglikethatoldblisterforcleanout-and-outcheek.Thenewoldgentlemanturnsbrisk towardsAbTurnerandhispard,andhis

eyelightsuplikehejudgedhe’dgotthekingthistime,andsays:“There—you’ve heard what he said! Was there any such mark on Peter

Wilks’breast?”Bothofthemspokeupandsays:“Wedidn’tseenosuchmark.”“Good!”saystheoldgentleman."Now,whatyoudidseeonhisbreastwasa

smalldimP,andaB(whichisaninitialhedroppedwhenhewasyoung),andaW,withdashesbetweenthem,so: P—B—W”—andhemarkedthemthatwayonapieceofpaper."Come,ain’tthatwhatyousaw?”Bothofthemspokeupagain,andsays:“No,wedidn’t.Weneverseenanymarksatall.”Well,everybodywasinastateofmindnow,andtheysingsout:“Thewholebilin’of ’m’s frauds! Le’sduck’em! le’sdrown’em! le’s ride

’emona rail!”andeverybodywaswhoopingatonce,and therewasa rattlingpowwow.Butthelawyerhejumpsonthetableandyells,andsays:“Gentlemen—gentlemen! Hearme just aword—just asingleword—ifyou

please!There’sonewayyet—let’sgoanddigupthecorpseandlook.”

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Thattookthem.“Hooray!”theyallshouted,andwasstartingrightoff;butthelawyerandthe

doctorsungout:“Hold on, hold on! Collar all these fourmen and the boy, and fetch them

along,too!”“We’lldoit!”theyallshouted;“andifwedon’tfindthemmarkswe’lllynch

thewholegang!”Iwas scared,now, I tell you. But therewarn’tnogettingaway,youknow.

They gripped us all, and marched us right along, straight for the graveyard,whichwasamileandahalfdowntheriver,andthewholetownatourheels,forwemadenoiseenough,anditwasonlynineintheevening.As we went by our house I wished I hadn’t sent Mary Jane out of town;

becausenowifIcouldtipherthewinkshe’dlightoutandsaveme,andblowonourdead-beats.Well,weswarmedalongdowntheriverroad, justcarryingon likewildcats;

andtomakeitmorescarytheskywasdarkingup,andthelightningbeginningtowinkandflitter,and thewindtoshiveramongst the leaves.Thiswas themostawful trouble andmost dangersome I everwas in; and Iwas kinder stunned;everythingwasgoingsodifferent fromwhat Ihadallowed for; steadofbeingfixedsoIcouldtakemyowntimeifIwantedto,andseeallthefun,andhaveMaryJaneatmybacktosavemeandsetmefreewhentheclose-fitcome,herewas nothing in the world betwixt me and sudden death but just them tattoo-marks.Iftheydidn’tfindthem—I couldn’t bear to think about it; and yet, somehow, I couldn’t think about

nothingelse. It gotdarker anddarker, and itwas abeautiful time togive thecrowd the slip; but that big husky had me by the wrist—Hines—and a bodymightaswelltrytogiveGoliartheslip.Hedraggedmerightalong,hewassoexcited,andIhadtoruntokeepup.Whentheygottheretheyswarmedintothegraveyardandwashedoveritlike

an overflow. And when they got to the grave they found they had about ahundred times asmany shovels as theywanted, but nobody hadn’t thought tofetch a lantern. But they sailed into digging anyway by the flicker of the

lightning,andsentamantothenearesthouse,ahalfamileoff,toborrowone.So they dug and dug like everything; and it got awful dark, and the rain

started,andthewindswishedandswushedalong,andthelightningcomebriskerandbrisker,andthethunderboomed;butthempeoplenevertooknonoticeofit,theywassofullofthisbusiness;andoneminuteyoucouldseeeverythingandevery face in that big crowd, and the shovelfuls of dirt sailing up out of thegrave,andthenextsecondthedarkwipeditallout,andyoucouldn’tseenothingatall.At last they got out the coffin and begun to unscrew the lid, and then such

anothercrowdingandshoulderingandshovingas therewas, toscrouge inandgetasight,youneversee;andinthedark,thatway,itwasawful.Hineshehurtmywristdreadfulpullingandtuggingso,andIreckonhecleanforgotIwasintheworld,hewassoexcitedandpanting.All of a sudden the lightning let go a perfect sluice of white glare, and

somebodysingsout:“Bythelivingjingo,here’sthebagofgoldonhisbreast!”Hinesletoutawhoop,likeeverybodyelse,anddroppedmywristandgivea

bigsurgetobusthiswayinandgetalook,andthewayIlitoutandshinnedfortheroadinthedarkthereain’tnobodycantell.Ihadtheroadalltomyself,andIfairlyflew—leastways,Ihaditalltomyself

exceptthesoliddark,andthenow-and-thenglares,andthebuzzingoftherain,andthethrashingofthewind,andthesplittingofthethunder;andsureasyouarebornIdidclipitalong!WhenIstruckthetownIseetherewarn’tnobodyoutinthestorm,soInever

hunted for no back streets, but humped it straight through themain one; andwhenIbeguntogettowardsourhouseIaimedmyeyeandsetit.Nolightthere;thehousealldark—whichmademefeelsorryanddisappointed,Ididn’tknowwhy. Butat last, justasIwassailingby, flashcomesthelight inMaryJane’swindow!andmyheartswelledupsudden,liketobust;andthesamesecondthehouseandallwasbehindmeinthedark,andwasn’tevergoingtobebeforemenomoreinthisworld.ShewasthebestgirlIeversee,andhadthemostsand.TheminuteIwasfarenoughabovethetowntoseeIcouldmakethetowhead,

I begun to look sharp for a boat to borrow, and the first time the lightningshowedmeonethatwasn’tchainedIsnatcheditandshoved.Itwasacanoe,andwarn’tfastenedwithnothingbutarope.Thetowheadwasarattlingbigdistanceoff,awayoutthereinthemiddleoftheriver,butIdidn’tlosenotime;andwhenIstrucktheraftatlastIwassofaggedIwouldajustlaiddowntoblowandgasp

ifIcouldaffordedit.ButIdidn’t.AsIsprungaboardIsungout:“Outwithyou,Jim,andsether loose! Glorybe togoodness,we’reshutof

them!”

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Jimlitout,andwasa-comingformewithbotharmsspread,hewassofullofjoy;butwhenIglimpsedhiminthelightningmyheartshotupinmymouthandIwentoverboardbackwards;forIforgothewasoldKingLearandadrowndedA-rab all in one, and itmost scared the livers and lights out ofme. But Jimfishedmeout,andwasgoingtohugmeandblessme,andsoon,hewassogladIwasbackandwewasshutofthekingandtheduke,butIsays:“Notnow;haveit forbreakfast,haveit forbreakfast! Cut looseandlether

slide!”Sointwosecondsawaywewenta-slidingdowntheriver,anditdidseemso

goodtobefreeagainandallbyourselvesonthebigriver,andnobodytobotherus.Ihadtoskiparoundabit,andjumpupandcrackmyheelsafewtimes—Icouldn’thelpit;butaboutthethirdcrackInoticedasoundthatIknowedmightywell, and heldmybreath and listened andwaited; and sure enough,when thenextflashbustedoutoverthewater,heretheycome!—andjusta-layingtotheiroarsandmakingtheirskiffhum!Itwasthekingandtheduke.So Iwilted right down on to the planks then, and give up; and itwas all I

coulddotokeepfromcrying.

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CHAPTERXXX.WHENtheygotaboardthekingwentforme,andshookmebythecollar,and

says:“Tryin’togiveustheslip,wasye,youpup!Tiredofourcompany,hey?”Isays:“No,yourmajesty,wewarn’t—pleasedon’t,yourmajesty!”“Quick,then,andtelluswhatwasyour idea,orI’llshake the insidesouto’

you!”“Honest,I’ll tellyoueverythingjustasithappened,yourmajesty. Theman

thathada-holtofmewasverygoodtome,andkeptsayinghehadaboyaboutas big as me that died last year, and he was sorry to see a boy in such adangerousfix;andwhentheywasalltookbysurprisebyfindingthegold,andmadearushforthecoffin,heletsgoofmeandwhispers,‘Heelitnow,orthey’llhangye,sure!’andIlitout.Itdidn’tseemnogoodformetostay—Icouldn’tdonothing,andIdidn’twant tobehung if Icouldgetaway. SoIneverstoppedrunningtillIfoundthecanoe;andwhenIgothereItoldJimtohurry,orthey’dcatchmeandhangmeyet,andsaidIwasafeardyouandthedukewasn’talivenow,andIwasawfulsorry,andsowasJim,andwasawfulgladwhenweseeyoucoming;youmayaskJimifIdidn’t.”Jimsaid itwasso;and theking toldhimtoshutup,andsaid,“Oh,yes, it’s

mightylikely!”andshookmeupagain,andsaidhereckonedhe’ddrowndme.Butthedukesays:“Leggo the boy, you old idiot! Would you a done any different? Did you

inquirearoundforhimwhenyougotloose?Idon’trememberit.”Sothekingletgoofme,andbeguntocussthattownandeverybodyinit.But

thedukesays:“You better a blame’ sight give yourself a good cussing, for you’re the one

that’s entitled to itmost. You hain’t done a thing from the start that had anysenseinit,exceptcomingoutsocoolandcheekywiththatimaginaryblue-arrow

mark.Thatwasbright—itwasrightdownbully;anditwasthethingthatsavedus. For if it hadn’t been for that they’d a jailed us till them Englishmen’sbaggagecome—andthen—thepenitentiary,youbet!Butthat tricktook’emtothe graveyard, and the gold done us a still bigger kindness; for if the excitedfoolshadn’tletgoallholtsandmadethatrushtogetalookwe’dasleptinourcravatsto-night—cravatswarrantedtowear,too—longerthanwe’dneed’em.”Theywasstillaminute—thinking;thenthekingsays,kindofabsent-minded

like:“Mf!Andwereckonedtheniggersstoleit!”Thatmademesquirm!“Yes,”saystheduke,kinderslowanddeliberateandsarcastic,“wedid.”Afteraboutahalfaminutethekingdrawlsout:“Leastways,Idid.”Thedukesays,thesameway:“Onthecontrary,Idid.”Thekingkindofrufflesup,andsays:“Lookyhere,Bilgewater,what’ryoureferrin’to?”Thedukesays,prettybrisk:“Whenitcomestothat,maybeyou’llletmeask,whatwasyoureferringto?”“Shucks!”says theking,verysarcastic;“butIdon’tknow—maybeyouwas

asleep,anddidn’tknowwhatyouwasabout.”Thedukebristlesupnow,andsays:“Oh,letuponthiscussednonsense;doyoutakemeforablame’fool?Don’t

youreckonIknowwhohidthatmoneyinthatcoffin?”“Yes,sir!Iknowyoudoknow,becauseyoudoneityourself!”“It’salie!”—andthedukewentforhim.Thekingsingsout:“Takey’rhandsoff!—leggomythroat!—Itakeitallback!”

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Thedukesays:“Well,youjustownup,first,thatyoudidhidethatmoneythere,intendingto

givemethesliponeofthesedays,andcomebackanddigitup,andhaveitalltoyourself.”“Wait jest aminute, duke—answerme thisonequestion, honest and fair; if

you didn’t put the money there, say it, and I’ll b’lieve you, and take backeverythingIsaid.”“Youoldscoundrel,Ididn’t,andyouknowIdidn’t.There,now!”“Well,then,Ib’lieveyou.Butanswermeonlyjestthisonemore—nowdon’t

gitmad;didn’tyouhaveitinyourmindtohookthemoneyandhideit?”Thedukeneversaidnothingforalittlebit;thenhesays:“Well,Idon’tcareifIdid,Ididn’tdoit,anyway.Butyounotonlyhaditin

mindtodoit,butyoudoneit.”“IwishtIneverdieifIdoneit,duke,andthat’shonest.Iwon’tsayIwarn’t

goin’todoit,becauseIwas;butyou—Imeansomebody—gotinaheado’me.”“It’salie!Youdoneit,andyougottosayyoudoneit,or—”Thekingbegantogurgle,andthenhegaspsout:“’Nough!—Iownup!”Iwasverygladtohearhimsaythat;itmademefeelmuchmoreeasierthan

whatIwasfeelingbefore.Sotheduketookhishandsoffandsays:“Ifyoueverdeny itagain I’lldrownyou. It’swell foryou toset thereand

blubberlikeababy—it’sfittenforyou,afterthewayyou’veacted.Ineverseesuchanoldostrich forwanting togobble everything—and I a-trustingyouallthetime,likeyouwasmyownfather.Yououghttobeenashamedofyourselftostand by and hear it saddled on to a lot of poor niggers, and you never say awordfor’em.ItmakesmefeelridiculoustothinkIwassoftenoughtobelievethatrubbage.Cussyou,Icanseenowwhyyouwassoanxioustomakeupthedeffisit—youwanted to getwhatmoney I’d got out of theNonesuch and onethingoranother,andscoopitall!”Thekingsays,timid,andstilla-snuffling:“Why,duke,itwasyouthatsaidmakeupthedeffisit;itwarn’tme.”“Dryup!Idon’twanttohearnomoreoutofyou!”saystheduke."Andnow

youseewhatyouGOTbyit.They’vegotalltheirownmoneyback,andallofournbutashekelortwobesides.G’longtobed,anddon’tyoudeffersitmenomoredeffersits,long’syoulive!”Sothekingsneakedintothewigwamandtooktohisbottleforcomfort,and

beforelongtheduketackledHISbottle;andsoinaboutahalfanhourtheywasasthickasthievesagain,andthetightertheygotthelovingertheygot,andwentoffa-snoringineachother’sarms.Theybothgotpowerfulmellow,butInoticedthe king didn’t get mellow enough to forget to remember to not deny abouthidingthemoney-bagagain.Thatmademefeeleasyandsatisfied.Ofcoursewhentheygottosnoringwehadalonggabble,andItoldJimeverything.

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CHAPTERXXXI.WEdasn’tstopagainatany townfordaysanddays;kept rightalongdown

theriver.Wewasdownsouthinthewarmweathernow,andamightylongwaysfromhome. Webegun to come to treeswithSpanishmosson them,hangingdownfromthelimbslikelong,graybeards.ItwasthefirstIeverseeitgrowing,and itmade thewoods look solemn anddismal. So now the frauds reckonedtheywasoutofdanger,andtheybeguntoworkthevillagesagain.Firsttheydonealectureontemperance;buttheydidn’tmakeenoughforthem

bothtogetdrunkon.Theninanothervillagetheystartedadancing-school;buttheydidn’tknownomorehowtodancethanakangaroodoes;sothefirstprancetheymadethegeneralpublicjumpedinandprancedthemoutoftown.Anothertime they tried to go at yellocution; but they didn’t yellocute long till theaudiencegotupandgive thema solidgoodcussing,andmade themskipout.

They tackled missionarying, and mesmerizing, and doctoring, and tellingfortunes,andalittleofeverything;buttheycouldn’tseemtohavenoluck.Soatlasttheygotjustaboutdeadbroke,andlaidaroundtheraftasshefloatedalong,thinkingandthinking,andneversayingnothing,bythehalfadayatatime,anddreadfulblueanddesperate.Andat last they took a change andbegun to lay their heads together in the

wigwamandtalklowandconfidentialtwoorthreehoursatatime.Jimandmegotuneasy.Wedidn’tlikethelookofit.Wejudgedtheywasstudyingupsomekindofworsedeviltrythanever.Weturneditoverandover,andatlastwemadeupourminds theywasgoing tobreak into somebody’shouseor store,orwasgoingintothecounterfeit-moneybusiness,orsomething.Sothenwewasprettyscared,andmadeupanagreementthatwewouldn’thavenothingintheworldtodowithsuchactions,andifweevergottheleastshowwewouldgivethemthecoldshakeandclearoutandleavethembehind.Well,earlyonemorningwehidtheraftinagood,safeplaceabouttwomilebelowalittlebitofashabbyvillagenamedPikesville,andthekinghewentashoreandtoldusalltostayhidwhilsthewentuptotownandsmeltaroundtoseeifanybodyhadgotanywindoftheRoyalNonesuch there yet. (“House to rob, youmean,” says I tomyself; “andwhenyou get through robbing it you’ll comeback here andwonderwhat hasbecome of me and Jim and the raft—and you’ll have to take it out inwondering.”)Andhesaidifhewarn’tbackbymiddaythedukeandmewouldknowitwasallright,andwewastocomealong.Sowestayedwherewewas. Thedukehe frettedand sweatedaround, and

wasinamightysourway.Hescoldedusforeverything,andwecouldn’tseemto do nothing right; he found fault with every little thing. Something was a-brewing,sure.Iwasgoodandgladwhenmiddaycomeandnoking;wecouldhaveachange,anyway—andmaybeachanceforthechangeontopofit.Someandthedukewentuptothevillage,andhuntedaroundtherefortheking,andbyandbywefoundhiminthebackroomofalittlelowdoggery,verytight,andalotofloafersbullyragginghimforsport,andhea-cussinganda-threateningwithall hismight, and so tight he couldn’twalk, and couldn’t do nothing to them.The duke he begun to abuse him for an old fool, and the king begun to sassback,andtheminutetheywasfairlyatitIlitoutandshookthereefsoutofmyhindlegs,andspundowntheriverroadlikeadeer,forIseeourchance;andImadeupmymindthatitwouldbealongdaybeforetheyeverseemeandJimagain.Igotdowntherealloutofbreathbutloadedupwithjoy,andsungout:“Setherloose,Jim!we’reallrightnow!”Buttherewarn’tnoanswer,andnobodycomeoutof thewigwam.Jimwas

gone! Isetupashout—and thenanother—and thenanotherone;andrun thiswayandthatinthewoods,whoopingandscreeching;butitwarn’tnouse—oldJimwasgone.ThenIsetdownandcried;Icouldn’thelpit.ButIcouldn’tsetstill long. PrettysoonIwentouton theroad, tryingto thinkwhatIbetterdo,and I run across a boywalking, and asked him if he’d seen a strange niggerdressedsoandso,andhesays:“Yes.”“Whereabouts?”saysI.“DowntoSilasPhelps’place, twomilebelowhere. He’sarunawaynigger,

andthey’vegothim.Wasyoulookingforhim?”“YoubetIain’t!Irunacrosshiminthewoodsaboutanhourortwoago,and

hesaidifIholleredhe’dcutmyliversout—andtoldmetolaydownandstaywhereIwas;andIdoneit.Beenthereeversince;afeardtocomeout.”“Well,”hesays,“youneedn’tbeafeardnomore,becuzthey’vegothim.He

runofff’mdownSouth,som’ers.”“It’sagoodjobtheygothim.”“Well,Ireckon!There’stwohunderddollarsrewardonhim.It’slikepicking

upmoneyout’ntheroad.”“Yes,itis—andIcouldahaditifI’dbeenbigenough;Iseehimfirst.Who

nailedhim?”

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“Itwasanoldfellow—astranger—andhesoldouthischanceinhimforfortydollars, becuz he’s got to go up the river and can’twait. Thinko’ that, now!YoubetI’dwait,ifitwassevenyear.”“That’sme,everytime,”saysI."Butmaybehischanceain’tworthnomore

thanthat,ifhe’llsellitsocheap.Maybethere’ssomethingain’tstraightaboutit.”

“Butitis,though—straightasastring.Iseethehandbillmyself.Ittellsallabouthim,toadot—paintshimlikeapicture,andtellstheplantationhe’sfrum,belowNewrleans. No-sirree-bob, they ain’t no trouble ’bout that speculation,youbetyou.Say,gimmeachawtobacker,won’tye?”Ididn’thavenone,soheleft.Iwenttotheraft,andsetdowninthewigwam

tothink.ButIcouldn’tcometonothing.IthoughttillIworemyheadsore,butIcouldn’tseenowayoutofthetrouble.Afterallthislongjourney,andafterallwe’ddonefor themscoundrels,here itwasallcometonothing,everythingallbustedupandruined,becausetheycouldhavethehearttoserveJimsuchatrickasthat,andmakehimaslaveagainallhislife,andamongststrangers,too,forfortydirtydollars.OnceIsaidtomyselfitwouldbeathousandtimesbetterforJimtobeaslave

athomewherehisfamilywas,aslongashe’dgottobeaslave,andsoI’dbetterwritealettertoTomSawyerandtellhimtotellMissWatsonwherehewas.ButI soon give up that notion for two things: she’d bemad and disgusted at hisrascalityandungratefulnessforleavingher,andsoshe’dsellhimstraightdownthe river again; and if she didn’t, everybody naturally despises an ungratefulnigger, and they’dmake Jim feel it all the time, and so he’d feel ornery anddisgraced.Andthenthinkofme!ItwouldgetallaroundthatHuckFinnhelpeda nigger to get his freedom; and if Iwas ever to see anybody from that townagainI’dbereadytogetdownandlickhisbootsforshame.That’sjusttheway: a person does a low-down thing, and then he don’t want to take noconsequencesof it.Thinksas longashecanhide it, itain’tnodisgrace. Thatwasmyfixexactly.ThemoreIstudiedaboutthisthemoremyconsciencewenttogrindingme,andthemorewickedandlow-downandorneryIgottofeeling.And at last, when it hit me all of a sudden that here was the plain hand ofProvidence slappingme in the face and lettingme knowmywickednesswasbeingwatchedallthetimefromupthereinheaven,whilstIwasstealingapooroldwoman’sniggerthathadn’teverdonemenoharm,andnowwasshowingmethere’s One that’s always on the lookout, and ain’t a-going to allow no suchmiserable doings to go only just so fur and no further, Imost dropped inmytracks I was so scared. Well, I tried the best I could to kinder soften it upsomehowformyselfbysayingIwasbrungupwicked,andsoIwarn’tsomuchto blame; but something inside of me kept saying, “There was the Sunday-school,youcouldagoneto it;andifyou’dadoneit they’da learntyoutherethatpeoplethatactsasI’dbeenactingaboutthatniggergoestoeverlastingfire.”It made me shiver. And I about made up my mind to pray, and see if I

couldn’t try toquitbeing thekindofaboy Iwasandbebetter. So Ikneeled

down.Butthewordswouldn’tcome.Whywouldn’tthey?Itwarn’tnousetotryandhideitfromHim.Norfromme,neither.Iknowedverywellwhytheywouldn’tcome. Itwasbecausemyheartwarn’t right; itwasbecauseIwarn’tsquare;itwasbecauseIwasplayingdouble.Iwaslettingontogiveupsin,butaway insideofme Iwasholdingon to thebiggestoneofall. Iwas trying tomakemymouthsayIwoulddotherightthingandthecleanthing,andgoandwrite to that nigger’s owner and tell where he was; but deep down in me Iknoweditwasalie,andHeknowedit.Youcan’tprayalie—Ifoundthatout.SoIwasfulloftrouble,fullasIcouldbe;anddidn’tknowwhattodo.Atlast

Ihadanidea;andIsays,I’llgoandwritetheletter—andthenseeifIcanpray.Why,itwasastonishing,thewayIfeltaslightasafeatherrightstraightoff,andmytroublesallgone.SoIgotapieceofpaperandapencil,allgladandexcited,andsetdownandwrote:Miss Watson, your runaway nigger Jim is down here two mile below

Pikesville,andMr.Phelpshasgothimandhewillgivehimupfortherewardifyousend.HuckFinn.

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IfeltgoodandallwashedcleanofsinforthefirsttimeIhadeverfeltsoinmylife,andIknowedIcouldpraynow.ButIdidn’tdoitstraightoff,butlaidthe paper down and set there thinking—thinking how good it was all thishappenedso,andhownearIcometobeinglostandgoingtohell.Andwentonthinking.Andgottothinkingoverourtripdowntheriver;andIseeJimbeforeme all the time: in the day and in the night-time, sometimes moonlight,sometimes storms, andwe a-floating along, talking and singing and laughing.ButsomehowIcouldn’tseemtostrikenoplacestohardenmeagainsthim,butonly theotherkind. I’d seehimstandingmywatchon topofhis’n, ’steadofcallingme,soIcouldgoonsleeping;andseehimhowgladhewaswhenIcome

backoutofthefog;andwhenIcometohimagainintheswamp,uptherewherethefeudwas;andsuch-liketimes;andwouldalwayscallmehoney,andpetmeanddoeverythinghecouldthinkofforme,andhowgoodhealwayswas;andatlastIstruckthetimeIsavedhimbytellingthemenwehadsmall-poxaboard,andhewas sograteful, and said Iwas thebest friendold Jimeverhad in theworld,andtheonlyonehe’sgotnow;andthenIhappenedtolookaroundandseethatpaper.Itwasacloseplace.Itookitup,andhelditinmyhand.Iwasa-trembling,

becauseI’dgottodecide,forever,betwixttwothings,andIknowedit.Istudiedaminute,sortofholdingmybreath,andthensaystomyself:“Allright,then,I’llgotohell”—andtoreitup.Itwasawfulthoughtsandawfulwords,buttheywassaid.AndIletthemstay

said;andneverthoughtnomoreaboutreforming.Ishovedthewholethingoutofmyhead,andsaidIwouldtakeupwickednessagain,whichwasinmyline,beingbrunguptoit,andtheotherwarn’t.AndforastarterIwouldgotoworkand steal Jim out of slavery again; and if I could think up anything worse, Iwoulddothat,too;becauseaslongasIwasin,andinforgood,Imightaswellgothewholehog.ThenIsettothinkingoverhowtogetatit,andturnedoversomeconsiderable

manywaysinmymind;andatlastfixedupaplanthatsuitedme.SothenItookthebearingsofawoodyislandthatwasdowntheriverapiece,andassoonasitwasfairlydarkIcreptoutwithmyraftandwentforit,andhiditthere,andthenturnedin.Isleptthenightthrough,andgotupbeforeitwaslight,andhadmybreakfast,andputonmystoreclothes,andtiedupsomeothersandonethingoranother inabundle,andtookthecanoeandclearedforshore. I landedbelowwhere I judgedwasPhelps’splace,andhidmybundle in thewoods,and thenfilledupthecanoewithwater,andloadedrocksintoherandsunkherwhereIcouldfindheragainwhenIwantedher,aboutaquarterofamilebelowalittlesteamsawmillthatwasonthebank.Then I struck up the road, and when I passed the mill I see a sign on it,

“Phelps’sSawmill,”andwhenIcometothefarm-houses,twoorthreehundredyardsfurtheralong,Ikeptmyeyespeeled,butdidn’tseenobodyaround,thoughit was good daylight now. But I didn’t mind, because I didn’t want to seenobodyjustyet—Ionlywantedtogetthelayoftheland.Accordingtomyplan,Iwasgoingtoturnuptherefromthevillage,notfrombelow.SoIjusttookalook,andshovedalong,straightfortown.Well,theveryfirstmanIseewhenIgot therewas the duke. Hewas sticking up a bill for theRoyalNonesuch—three-nightperformance—likethatothertime.Theyhadthecheek,themfrauds!

IwasrightonhimbeforeIcouldshirk.Helookedastonished,andsays:“Hel-lo! Where’dyou come from?” Thenhe says,kindofgladandeager,

“Where’stheraft?—gotherinagoodplace?”Isays:“Why,that’sjustwhatIwasgoingtoaskyourgrace.”Thenhedidn’tlooksojoyful,andsays:“Whatwasyourideaforaskingme?”hesays.“Well,”Isays,“whenIseethekinginthatdoggeryyesterdayIsaystomyself,

wecan’t get himhome forhours, till he’s soberer; so Iwent a-loafing aroundtowntoputinthetimeandwait.Amanupandofferedmetencentstohelphimpull a skiff over the river andback to fetch a sheep, and so Iwent along;butwhenwewasdragginghimtotheboat,andthemanleftmea-holtoftheropeandwentbehindhimtoshovehimalong,hewastoostrongformeandjerkedlooseandrun,andweafterhim.Wedidn’thavenodog,andsowehadtochasehimalloverthecountrytillwetiredhimout.Wenevergothimtilldark;thenwefetchedhimover,andIstarteddownfortheraft.WhenIgotthereandseeitwas gone, I says to myself, ’They’ve got into trouble and had to leave; andthey’vetookmynigger,whichistheonlyniggerI’vegotintheworld,andnowI’minastrangecountry,andain’tgotnopropertynomore,nornothing,andnowaytomakemyliving;’soIsetdownandcried.Isleptinthewoodsallnight.Butwhatdidbecomeoftheraft,then?—andJim—poorJim!”“Blamed if I know—that is, what’s become of the raft. That old fool had

madeatradeandgotfortydollars,andwhenwefoundhiminthedoggerytheloafershadmatchedhalf-dollarswithhimandgoteverycentbutwhathe’dspentforwhisky;andwhenIgothimhomelatelastnightandfoundtheraftgone,wesaid, ‘That little rascal has stole our raft and shook us, and run off down theriver.’”“Iwouldn’tshakemynigger,wouldI?—theonlynigger Ihad in theworld,

andtheonlyproperty.”“Weneverthoughtofthat.Factis,Ireckonwe’dcometoconsiderhimour

nigger;yes,wedid considerhimso—goodnessknowswehad trouble enoughfor him. So when we see the raft was gone and we flat broke, there warn’tanything for it but to try theRoyalNonesuchanother shake.And I’vepeggedalongeversince,dryasapowder-horn.Where’sthattencents?Giveithere.”

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Ihadconsiderablemoney,soIgivehimtencents,butbeggedhimtospenditforsomethingtoeat,andgivemesome,becauseitwasallthemoneyIhad,andIhadn’thadnothing to eat sinceyesterday. Henever saidnothing. Thenextminutehewhirlsonmeandsays:“Do you reckon that niggerwould blow on us? We’d skin him if he done

that!”“Howcanheblow?Hain’therunoff?”“No! That old fool sold him, andnever dividedwithme, and themoney’s

gone.”“Soldhim?”Isays,andbeguntocry;“why,hewasmynigger,andthatwas

mymoney.Whereishe?—Iwantmynigger.”“Well,youcan’tgetyournigger,that’sall—sodryupyourblubbering.Looky

here—doyouthinkyou’dventuretoblowonus?BlamedifIthinkI’dtrustyou.Why,ifyouwastoblowonus—”He stopped, but I never see the duke look so ugly out of his eyes before. I

wentona-whimpering,andsays:“Idon’twanttoblowonnobody;andIain’tgotnotimetoblow,nohow.Igot

toturnoutandfindmynigger.”Helookedkinderbothered,andstoodtherewithhisbillsflutteringonhisarm,

thinking,andwrinklinguphisforehead.Atlasthesays:“I’lltellyousomething.Wegottobeherethreedays.Ifyou’llpromiseyou

won’tblow,andwon’tlettheniggerblow,I’lltellyouwheretofindhim.”SoIpromised,andhesays:“A farmer by the name of Silas Ph—” and then he stopped. You see, he

startedtotellmethetruth;butwhenhestoppedthatway,andbeguntostudyandthinkagain,Ireckonedhewaschanginghismind.Andsohewas.Hewouldn’ttrustme;hewantedtomakesureofhavingmeoutofthewaythewholethreedays.Soprettysoonhesays:

“Theman thatboughthim isnamedAbramFoster—AbramG.Foster—andhelivesfortymilebackhereinthecountry,ontheroadtoLafayette.”“All right,” I says, “I can walk it in three days. And I’ll start this very

afternoon.”“Noyouwont,you’llstartnow;anddon’tyouloseanytimeaboutit,neither,

nordoanygabblingbytheway.Justkeepatighttongueinyourheadandmoverightalong,andthenyouwon’tgetintotroublewithus,d’yehear?”ThatwastheorderIwanted,andthatwastheoneIplayedfor.Iwantedtobe

leftfreetoworkmyplans.“Soclearout,”hesays;“andyoucan tellMr.Fosterwhateveryouwant to.

Maybeyou canget him to believe that Jim is your nigger—some idiots don’trequire documents—leastways I’ve heard there’s such downSouth here. Andwhenyoutellhimthehandbillandthereward’sbogus,maybehe’llbelieveyouwhenyouexplaintohimwhattheideawasforgetting’emout.Go’longnow,and tell him anything you want to; but mind you don’t work your jaw anybetweenhereandthere.”

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SoI left,andstruckfor thebackcountry. Ididn’t lookaround,butIkinderfeltlikehewaswatchingme.ButIknowedIcouldtirehimoutatthat.Iwentstraightout in thecountryasmuchas amilebefore I stopped; then IdoubledbackthroughthewoodstowardsPhelps’.IreckonedIbetterstartinonmyplanstraight offwithout fooling around, because Iwanted to stop Jim’smouth tillthesefellowscouldgetaway.Ididn’twantnotroublewiththeirkind.I’dseenallIwantedtoofthem,andwantedtogetentirelyshutofthem.

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CHAPTERXXXII.WHENIgotthereitwasallstillandSunday-like,andhotandsunshiny;the

handswasgonetothefields;andtherewasthemkindoffaintdroningsofbugsand flies in the air thatmakes it seemso lonesomeand like everybody’sdeadandgone; and if a breeze fans along andquivers the leaves itmakesyou feelmournful,becauseyoufeellikeit’sspiritswhispering—spiritsthat’sbeendeadever so many years—and you always think they’re talking about you. As ageneralthingitmakesabodywishhewasdead,too,anddonewithitall.Phelps’wasoneoftheselittleone-horsecottonplantations,andtheyalllook

alike.Arailfenceroundatwo-acreyard;astilemadeoutoflogssawedoffandup-endedinsteps,likebarrelsofadifferentlength,toclimboverthefencewith,andforthewomentostandonwhentheyaregoingtojumpontoahorse;somesicklygrass-patchesinthebigyard,butmostlyitwasbareandsmooth,likeanold hat with the nap rubbed off; big double log-house for the white folks—hewed logs, with the chinks stopped upwithmud ormortar, and thesemud-stripes beenwhitewashed some timeor another; round-logkitchen,with a bigbroad,openbutroofedpassagejoiningittothehouse;logsmoke-housebackofthekitchen;threelittlelognigger-cabinsinarowt’othersidethesmoke-house;one little hut all by itself away down against the back fence, and someoutbuildingsdownapiecetheotherside;ash-hopperandbigkettletobilesoapinbythelittlehut;benchbythekitchendoor,withbucketofwaterandagourd;hound asleep there in the sun; more hounds asleep round about; about threeshadetreesawayoffinacorner;somecurrantbushesandgooseberrybushesinoneplaceby the fence;outsideof the fenceagardenandawatermelonpatch;thenthecottonfieldsbegins,andafterthefieldsthewoods.Iwentaroundandclumboverthebackstilebytheash-hopper,andstartedfor

thekitchen.WhenIgotalittlewaysIheardthedimhumofaspinning-wheelwailingalongupandsinkingalongdownagain;andthenIknowedforcertainI

wishedIwasdead—forthatisthelonesomestsoundinthewholeworld.I went right along, not fixing up any particular plan, but just trusting to

Providence to put the right words in mymouth when the time come; for I’dnoticed thatProvidencealwaysdidput therightwords inmymouth if I left italone.When I got half-way, first onehoundand then anothergotup andwent for

me,andofcourse I stoppedand faced them,andkept still. Andsuchanotherpowwow as theymade! In a quarter of aminute Iwas a kind of a hub of awheel, as you may say—spokes made out of dogs—circle of fifteen of thempackedtogetheraroundme,withtheirnecksandnosesstretcheduptowardsme,a-barking and howling; and more a-coming; you could see them sailing overfencesandaroundcornersfromeverywheres.A nigger woman come tearing out of the kitchen with a rolling-pin in her

hand, singingout, “BegoneyouTige!youSpot!begone sah!”andshe fetchedfirstoneandthenanotherofthemaclipandsentthemhowling,andthentherestfollowed; and the next second half of them come back, wagging their tailsaround me, and making friends with me. There ain’t no harm in a hound,nohow.Andbehind thewoman comes a little nigger girl and two little nigger boys

without anything on but tow-linen shirts, and they hung on to their mother’sgown,andpeepedoutfrombehindheratme,bashful,thewaytheyalwaysdo.Andherecomesthewhitewomanrunningfromthehouse,aboutforty-fiveorfifty year old, bareheaded, and her spinning-stick in her hand; and behind hercomesherlittlewhitechildren,actingthesamewaythelittleniggerswasdoing.Shewassmilingalloversoshecouldhardlystand—andsays:“It’syou,atlast!—ain’tit?”Ioutwitha“Yes’m”beforeIthought.

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Shegrabbedmeandhuggedmetight;andthengrippedmebybothhandsandshookandshook;and the tearscome inhereyes,and rundownover;andshecouldn’t seem to hug and shake enough, and kept saying, “You don’t look asmuchlikeyourmotherasIreckonedyouwould;butlawsakes,Idon’tcareforthat, I’msoglad toseeyou! Dear,dear, itdoesseemlikeIcouldeatyouup!Children,it’syourcousinTom!—tellhimhowdy.”But they ducked their heads, and put their fingers in theirmouths, and hid

behindher.Sosherunon:“Lize,hurryupandgethimahotbreakfastrightaway—ordidyougetyour

breakfastontheboat?”IsaidIhadgotitontheboat.Sothenshestartedforthehouse,leadingmeby

thehand,andthechildrentaggingafter.Whenwegotthereshesetmedowninasplit-bottomedchair,andsetherselfdownonalittlelowstoolinfrontofme,holdingbothofmyhands,andsays:“NowIcanhaveagoodlookatyou;and,laws-a-me,I’vebeenhungryforita

many and amany a time, all these longyears, and it’s come at last!Webeenexpectingyouacoupleofdaysandmore.Whatkep’you?—boatgetaground?”“Yes’m—she—”“Don’tsayyes’m—sayAuntSally.Where’dshegetaground?”I didn’t rightly knowwhat to say, because I didn’t knowwhether the boat

wouldbecominguptheriverordown.ButIgoagooddealoninstinct;andmyinstinctsaidshewouldbecomingup—fromdowntowardsOrleans.Thatdidn’thelpmemuch,though;forIdidn’tknowthenamesofbarsdownthatway.IseeI’dgottoinventabar,orforgetthenameoftheonewegotagroundon—or—NowIstruckanidea,andfetcheditout:“Itwarn’tthegrounding—thatdidn’tkeepusbackbutalittle.Weblowedout

acylinder-head.”“Goodgracious!anybodyhurt?”“No’m.Killedanigger.”“Well,it’slucky;becausesometimespeopledogethurt. Twoyearsagolast

Christmas your uncle Silas was coming up from Newrleans on the old LallyRook,andsheblowedoutacylinder-headandcrippledaman.AndIthinkhediedafterwards.HewasaBaptist.YouruncleSilasknowedafamilyinBatonRouge that knowed his people very well. Yes, I remember now, he did die.Mortificationsetin,andtheyhadtoamputatehim.Butitdidn’tsavehim.Yes,itwasmortification—thatwasit.Heturnedblueallover,anddiedinthehope

ofagloriousresurrection.Theysayhewasasighttolookat.Youruncle’sbeenuptothetowneverydaytofetchyou.Andhe’sgoneagain,notmore’nanhourago;he’llbebackanyminutenow.Youmustamethimontheroad,didn’tyou?—oldishman,witha—”“No,Ididn’tseenobody,AuntSally.Theboatlandedjustatdaylight,andI

leftmybaggageonthewharf-boatandwentlookingaroundthetownandoutapieceinthecountry,toputinthetimeandnotgetheretoosoon;andsoIcomedownthebackway.”“Who’dyougivethebaggageto?”“Nobody.”“Why,child,it’llbestole!”“NotwhereIhiditIreckonitwon’t,”Isays.“How’dyougetyourbreakfastsoearlyontheboat?”Itwaskinderthinice,butIsays:“Thecaptainseemestandingaround,andtoldmeIbetterhavesomethingto

eatbeforeIwentashore;sohe tookmein the texas to theofficers’ lunch,andgivemeallIwanted.”IwasgettingsouneasyIcouldn’tlistengood.Ihadmymindonthechildren

allthetime;Iwantedtogetthemouttoonesideandpumpthemalittle,andfindoutwhoIwas.ButIcouldn’tgetnoshow,Mrs.Phelpskeptitupandrunonso.Prettysoonshemadethecoldchillsstreakalldownmyback,becauseshesays:“Butherewe’rea-runningonthisway,andyouhain’ttoldmeawordabout

Sis,noranyofthem.NowI’llrestmyworksalittle,andyoustartupyourn;justtellmeeverything—tellmeallabout’malleveryoneof’m;andhowtheyare,andwhatthey’redoing,andwhattheytoldyoutotellme;andeverylastthingyoucanthinkof.”Well,IseeIwasupastump—andupitgood. Providencehadstoodbyme

thisfurallright,butIwashardandtightagroundnow.Iseeitwarn’tabitofusetotrytogoahead—I’dgottothrowupmyhand.SoIsaystomyself,here’sanotherplacewhereIgottoreskthetruth.Iopenedmymouthtobegin;butshegrabbedmeandhustledmeinbehindthebed,andsays:“Herehecomes!Stickyourheaddownlower—there,that’lldo;youcan’tbe

seennow.Don’tyouletonyou’rehere.I’llplayajokeonhim.Children,don’tyousayaword.”IseeIwasinafixnow.Butitwarn’tnousetoworry;therewarn’tnothingto

do but just hold still, and try and be ready to stand from under when the

lightningstruck.Ihadjustonelittleglimpseoftheoldgentlemanwhenhecomein; thenthe

bedhidhim.Mrs.Phelpsshejumpsforhim,andsays:“Hashecome?”“No,”saysherhusband.“Good-ness gracious!” she says, “what in the warld can have become of

him?”“I can’t imagine,” says the old gentleman; “and I must say it makes me

dreadfuluneasy.”“Uneasy!”shesays;“I’mreadytogodistracted!Hemustacome;andyou’ve

missedhimalongtheroad.Iknowit’sso—somethingtellsmeso.”“Why,Sally,Icouldn’tmisshimalongtheroad—youknowthat.”“Butoh,dear,dear,whatwillSissay!Hemustacome!Youmustamissed

him.He—”“Oh,don’tdistressmeanymore’nI’malreadydistressed.Idon’tknowwhat

intheworldtomakeofit.I’matmywit’send,andIdon’tmindacknowledging’t I’m right down scared. But there’s nohope that he’s come; for hecouldn’tcomeandmemisshim.Sally,it’sterrible—justterrible—something’shappenedtotheboat,sure!”“Why,Silas!Lookyonder!—uptheroad!—ain’tthatsomebodycoming?”Hesprungtothewindowattheheadofthebed,andthatgiveMrs.Phelpsthe

chanceshewanted.Shestoopeddownquickatthefootofthebedandgivemeapull,andoutIcome;andwhenheturnedbackfromthewindowthereshestood,a-beaming and a-smiling like a house afire, and I standing pretty meek andsweatyalongside.Theoldgentlemanstared,andsays:“Why,who’sthat?”“Whodoyoureckon’tis?”

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“Ihain’tnoidea.Whoisit?”“It’sTomSawyer!”Byjings,Imostslumpedthroughthefloor!Buttherewarn’tnotimetoswap

knives; theoldmangrabbedmeby thehandand shook, andkepton shaking;andallthetimehowthewomandiddancearoundandlaughandcry;andthenhow they both did fire off questions about Sid, andMary, and the rest of thetribe.But if theywasjoyful, itwarn’tnothingtowhatIwas;for itwaslikebeing

bornagain,IwassogladtofindoutwhoIwas.Well,theyfrozetomefortwohours;andatlast,whenmychinwassotireditcouldn’thardlygoanymore,Ihad told themmore aboutmy family—Imean the Sawyer family—than everhappenedtoanysixSawyerfamilies.AndIexplainedallabouthowweblowedoutacylinder-headatthemouthofWhiteRiver,andittookusthreedaystofixit.Whichwasallright,andworkedfirst-rate;becausetheydidn’tknowbutwhatitwouldtakethreedaystofixit.IfI’dacalleditaboltheaditwouldadonejustaswell.Now I was feeling pretty comfortable all down one side, and pretty

uncomfortablealluptheother. BeingTomSawyerwaseasyandcomfortable,and it stayedeasyandcomfortable tillbyandby Iheara steamboatcoughingalongdowntheriver.ThenIsaystomyself,s’poseTomSawyercomesdownonthat boat? And s’pose he steps in here any minute, and sings out my namebeforeIcanthrowhimawinktokeepquiet?Well,Icouldn’thaveitthatway;itwouldn’tdoatall.Imustgouptheroad

andwaylayhim.SoItoldthefolksIreckonedIwouldgouptothetownandfetchdownmybaggage.Theoldgentlemanwasforgoingalongwithme,butIsaidno,Icoulddrivethehorsemyself,andIdrutherhewouldn’ttakenotroubleaboutme.

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CHAPTERXXXIII.SOIstartedfortowninthewagon,andwhenIwashalf-wayIseeawagon

coming,andsureenough itwasTomSawyer,and I stoppedandwaited tillhecomealong.Isays“Holdon!”anditstoppedalongside,andhismouthopeneduplikeatrunk,andstayedso;andheswallowedtwoorthreetimeslikeapersonthat’sgotadrythroat,andthensays:“Ihain’teverdoneyounoharm.Youknowthat.So,then,whatyouwantto

comebackandha’ntmefor?”Isays:“Ihain’tcomeback—Ihain’tbeengone.”Whenheheardmyvoiceitrightedhimupsome,buthewarn’tquitesatisfied

yet.Hesays:“Don’t you play nothing onme, because I wouldn’t on you. Honest injun

now,youain’taghost?”“Honestinjun,Iain’t,”Isays.“Well—I—I—well, that ought to settle it, of course; but I can’t somehow

seemtounderstanditnoway.Lookyhere,warn’tyouevermurderedatall?”“No.Iwarn’tevermurderedatall—Iplayeditonthem.Youcomeinhere

andfeelofmeifyoudon’tbelieveme.”Sohedone it;and it satisfiedhim;andhewas thatglad toseemeagainhe

didn’tknowwhattodo.Andhewantedtoknowallaboutitrightoff,becauseitwasagrandadventure,andmysterious,andsoithithimwherehelived.ButIsaid,leaveitalonetillbyandby;andtoldhisdrivertowait,andwedroveoffalittlepiece,andItoldhimthekindofafixIwasin,andwhatdidhereckonwebetterdo?Hesaid,lethimaloneaminute,anddon’tdisturbhim.Sohethoughtandthought,andprettysoonhesays:“It’sallright;I’vegotit.Takemytrunkinyourwagon,andletonit’syour’n;

andyouturnbackandfoolalongslow,soastogettothehouseaboutthetime

youought to; and I’llgo towards townapiece, and takea fresh start, andgetthereaquarterorahalfanhourafteryou;andyouneedn’tletontoknowmeatfirst.”Isays:“All right;butwaitaminute. There’sonemore thing—a thing thatnobody

don’tknowbutme.Andthatis,there’saniggerherethatI’ma-tryingtostealoutofslavery,andhisnameisJim—oldMissWatson’sJim.”Hesays:“What!Why,Jimis—”Hestoppedandwenttostudying.Isays:“Iknowwhatyou’llsay.You’llsayit’sdirty,low-downbusiness;butwhatif

it is? I’mlowdown;andI’ma-goingtostealhim,andIwantyoukeepmumandnotleton.Willyou?”Hiseyelitup,andhesays:“I’llhelpyoustealhim!”Well, I let go all holts then, like I was shot. It was the most astonishing

speechIeverheard—andI’mboundtosayTomSawyerfellconsiderableinmyestimation.OnlyIcouldn’tbelieveit.TomSawyeranigger-stealer!“Oh,shucks!”Isays;“you’rejoking.”“Iain’tjoking,either.”“Well, then,” I says,“jokingorno joking, ifyouhearanythingsaidabouta

runaway nigger, don’t forget to remember that you don’t know nothing abouthim,andIdon’tknownothingabouthim.”Thenwetookthetrunkandputitinmywagon,andhedroveoffhiswayandI

drovemine.ButofcourseIforgotallaboutdrivingslowonaccountsofbeinggladandfullofthinking;soIgothomeaheaptooquickforthatlengthofatrip.Theoldgentlemanwasatthedoor,andhesays:“Why,thisiswonderful!Whoeverwouldathoughtitwasinthatmaretodo

it? Iwishwe’d a timed her. And she hain’t sweated a hair—not a hair. It’swonderful. Why, I wouldn’t take a hundred dollars for that horse now—Iwouldn’t,honest;andyetI’dasoldherforfifteenbefore,andthought’twasallshewasworth.”That’s all he said. Hewas the innocentest, best old soul I ever see.But it

warn’tsurprising;becausehewarn’tonlyjustafarmer,hewasapreacher,too,andhadalittleone-horselogchurchdownbackoftheplantation,whichhebuilt

ithimselfathisownexpense,forachurchandschoolhouse,andneverchargednothing for his preaching, and it was worth it, too. There was plenty otherfarmer-preacherslikethat,anddonethesameway,downSouth.InabouthalfanhourTom’swagondroveuptothefrontstile,andAuntSally

sheseeitthroughthewindow,becauseitwasonlyaboutfiftyyards,andsays:“Why,there’ssomebodycome!Iwonderwho’tis?Why,Idobelieveit’sa

stranger.Jimmy”(that’soneofthechildren)“runandtellLizetoputonanotherplatefordinner.”Everybodymadearushforthefrontdoor,because,ofcourse,astrangerdon’t

comeeveryyear,andsohelaysovertheyaller-fever,forinterest,whenhedoescome. Tom was over the stile and starting for the house; the wagon wasspinninguptheroadfor thevillage,andwewasallbunchedin thefrontdoor.Tomhadhis storeclotheson,andanaudience—and thatwasalwaysnuts forTomSawyer.Inthemcircumstancesitwarn’tnotroubletohimtothrowinanamountofstylethatwassuitable.Hewarn’taboytomeekyalongupthatyardlikeasheep;no,hecomeca’mandimportant,liketheram.Whenhegota-frontofusheliftshishateversograciousanddainty,likeitwasthelidofaboxthathadbutterfliesasleepinitandhedidn’twanttodisturbthem,andsays:“Mr.ArchibaldNichols,Ipresume?”

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“No,myboy,” says the old gentleman, “I’m sorry to say ’t your driver hasdeceived you;Nichols’s place is down amatter of threemilemore.Come in,comein.”Tomhetookalookbackoverhisshoulder,andsays,“Toolate—he’soutof

sight.”“Yes,he’sgone,myson,andyoumustcomeinandeatyourdinnerwithus;

andthenwe’llhitchupandtakeyoudowntoNichols’s.”

“Oh, Ican’tmakeyou somuch trouble; I couldn’t thinkof it. I’llwalk—Idon’tmindthedistance.”“But we won’t let you walk—it wouldn’t be Southern hospitality to do it.

Comerightin.”“Oh,do,”saysAuntSally;“itain’tabitoftroubletous,notabitintheworld.

Youmuststay.It’salong,dustythreemile,andwecan’tletyouwalk.And,besides,I’vealreadytold’emtoputonanotherplatewhenIseeyoucoming;soyoumustn’tdisappointus.Comerightinandmakeyourselfathome.”So Tom he thanked them very hearty and handsome, and let himself be

persuaded, and come in; andwhen hewas in he said hewas a stranger fromHicksville,Ohio,andhisnamewasWilliamThompson—andhemadeanotherbow.Well, he run on, and on, and on, making up stuff about Hicksville and

everybody in it hecould invent, and Igettinga littlenervious, andwonderinghowthiswasgoingtohelpmeoutofmyscrape;andatlast,stilltalkingalong,hereachedoverandkissedAuntSallyrightonthemouth,andthensettledbackagaininhischaircomfortable,andwasgoingontalking;butshejumpedupandwipeditoffwiththebackofherhand,andsays:“Youowdaciouspuppy!”Helookedkindofhurt,andsays:“I’msurprisedatyou,m’am.”“You’res’rp—Why,whatdoyoureckonIam?I’veagoodnotiontotakeand

—Say,whatdoyoumeanbykissingme?”Helookedkindofhumble,andsays:“Ididn’tmeannothing,m’am.Ididn’tmeannoharm.I—I—thoughtyou’d

likeit.”“Why,youborn fool!” She tookup thespinningstick,and it looked like it

wasallshecoulddotokeepfromgivinghimacrackwithit."WhatmadeyouthinkI’dlikeit?”“Well,Idon’tknow.Only,they—they—toldmeyouwould.”“They toldyouIwould. Whoevertoldyou’sanother lunatic. Ineverheard

thebeatofit.Who’sthey?”“Why,everybody.Theyallsaidso,m’am.”It was all she could do to hold in; and her eyes snapped, and her fingers

workedlikeshewantedtoscratchhim;andshesays:

“Who’s‘everybody’?Outwiththeirnames,orther’llbeanidiotshort.”Hegotupandlookeddistressed,andfumbledhishat,andsays:“I’msorry,andIwarn’texpectingit. Theytoldmeto.Theyalltoldmeto.

Theyall said,kissher; and said she’d like it. Theyall said it—everyoneofthem.ButI’msorry,m’am,andIwon’tdoitnomore—Iwon’t,honest.”“Youwon’t,won’tyou?Well,Ish’dreckonyouwon’t!”“No’m,I’mhonestaboutit;Iwon’teverdoitagain—tillyouaskme.”“TillIaskyou!Well,Ineverseethebeatofitinmyborndays!Ilayyou’ll

betheMethusalem-numskullofcreationbeforeeverIaskyou—orthelikesofyou.”“Well,”hesays,“itdoessurprisemeso.Ican’tmakeitout,somehow.They

said you would, and I thought you would. But—” He stopped and lookedaroundslow,likehewishedhecouldrunacrossafriendlyeyesomewheres,andfetchedupontheoldgentleman’s,andsays,“Didn’tyouthinkshe’dlikemetokissher,sir?”“Why,no;I—I—well,no,Ib’lieveIdidn’t.”Thenhelooksonaroundthesamewaytome,andsays:“Tom,didn’tyouthinkAuntSally’dopenoutherarmsandsay,‘SidSawyer

—‘”“Myland!”shesays,breakinginandjumpingforhim,“youimpudentyoung

rascal,tofoolabodyso—”andwasgoingtohughim,buthefendedheroff,andsays:“No,nottillyou’veaskedmefirst.”So shedidn’t loseno time, but askedhim; andhuggedhimandkissedhim

overandoveragain,andthenturnedhimovertotheoldman,andhetookwhatwasleft.Andaftertheygotalittlequietagainshesays:“Why,dearme,Ineverseesuchasurprise.Wewarn’tlookingforyouatall,

butonlyTom.Sisneverwrotetomeaboutanybodycomingbuthim.”“It’sbecauseitwarn’tintendedforanyofustocomebutTom,”hesays;“but

Ibeggedandbegged, andat the lastminute she letmecome, too; so, comingdowntheriver,meandTomthoughtitwouldbeafirst-ratesurpriseforhimtocomeheretothehousefirst,andformetobyandbytagalonganddropin,andletontobeastranger.Butitwasamistake,AuntSally.Thisain’tnohealthyplaceforastrangertocome.”“No—notimpudentwhelps,Sid.Yououghttohadyourjawsboxed;Ihain’t

been so put out since I don’t knowwhen. But I don’t care, I don’tmind theterms—I’dbewillingtostandathousandsuchjokestohaveyouhere.Well,tothink of that performance! I don’t deny it, I was most putrified withastonishmentwhenyougivemethatsmack.”

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We had dinner out in that broad open passage betwixt the house and thekitchen;and therewas thingsenoughon that table for seven families—andallhot, too; none of your flabby, toughmeat that’s laid in a cupboard in a dampcellarallnightandtasteslikeahunkofoldcoldcannibalinthemorning.UncleSilasheaskedaprettylongblessingoverit,butitwasworthit;anditdidn’tcoolit abit, neither, theway I’ve seen themkindof interruptionsdo lotsof times.Therewasaconsiderablegooddealoftalkalltheafternoon,andmeandTomwasonthelookoutallthetime;butitwarn’tnouse,theydidn’thappentosaynothingaboutanyrunawaynigger,andwewasafraidtotrytoworkuptoit.Butatsupper,atnight,oneofthelittleboyssays:“Pa,mayn’tTomandSidandmegototheshow?”“No,” says the old man, “I reckon there ain’t going to be any; and you

couldn’t go if there was; because the runaway nigger told Burton andme allabout that scandalous show, and Burton said he would tell the people; so Ireckonthey’vedrovetheowdaciousloafersoutoftownbeforethistime.”Sothereitwas!—butIcouldn’thelpit.Tomandmewastosleepinthesame

roomandbed;so,beingtired,webidgood-nightandwentuptobedrightaftersupper,andclumboutofthewindowanddownthelightning-rod,andshovedforthetown;forIdidn’tbelieveanybodywasgoingtogivethekingandthedukeahint,andsoifIdidn’thurryupandgivethemonethey’dgetintotroublesure.OntheroadTomhetoldmeallabouthowitwasreckonedIwasmurdered,

andhowpapdisappearedprettysoon,anddidn’tcomebacknomore,andwhatastirtherewaswhenJimrunaway;andItoldTomallaboutourRoyalNonesuch

rapscallions,andasmuchoftheraftvoyageasIhadtimeto;andaswestruckinto the townandupthroughthe themiddleof it--itwasasmuchashalf-aftereight, then—here comes a raging rush of people with torches, and an awfulwhoopingandyelling,andbangingtinpansandblowinghorns;andwejumpedtoonesidetoletthemgoby;andastheywentbyIseetheyhadthekingandthedukeastraddleofarail—thatis,Iknoweditwasthekingandtheduke,thoughtheywasallovertarandfeathers,anddidn’tlooklikenothingintheworldthatwashuman—justlookedlikeacoupleofmonstrousbigsoldier-plumes.Well,itmademesicktoseeit;andIwassorryforthempoorpitifulrascals,itseemedlikeIcouldn’teverfeelanyhardnessagainstthemanymoreintheworld.Itwasadreadfulthingtosee.Humanbeingscanbeawfulcrueltooneanother.

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We seewewas too late—couldn’t do no good. We asked some stragglersaboutit,andtheysaideverybodywenttotheshowlookingveryinnocent;andlaidlowandkeptdarktillthepooroldkingwasinthemiddleofhiscavortingsonthestage;thensomebodygiveasignal,andthehouseroseupandwentforthem.Sowepokedalongbackhome,andIwarn’tfeelingsobrashasIwasbefore,

butkindofornery,andhumble,andtoblame,somehow—thoughIhadn’tdonenothing.Butthat’salwaystheway;itdon’tmakenodifferencewhetheryoudorightorwrong,aperson’sconscienceain’tgotnosense,and justgoesforhimanyway. If I had a yaller dog that didn’t know no more than a person’sconsciencedoesIwouldpisonhim.Ittakesupmoreroomthanalltherestofaperson’sinsides,andyetain’tnogood,nohow.TomSawyerhesaysthesame.

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CHAPTERXXXIV.WEstoppedtalking,andgottothinking.ByandbyTomsays:“Lookyhere,Huck,whatfoolswearetonotthinkofitbefore!IbetIknow

whereJimis.”“No!Where?”“In that hut down by the ash-hopper. Why, looky here. Whenwewas at

dinner,didn’tyouseeaniggermangointherewithsomevittles?”“Yes.”“Whatdidyouthinkthevittleswasfor?”“Foradog.”“So’dI.Well,itwasn’tforadog.”“Why?”“Becausepartofitwaswatermelon.”“Soitwas—Inoticedit.Well,itdoesbeatallthatIneverthoughtaboutadog

noteatingwatermelon.Itshowshowabodycanseeanddon’tseeatthesametime.”“Well, the nigger unlocked the padlock when he went in, and he locked it

againwhenhecameout.Hefetcheduncleakeyaboutthetimewegotupfromtable—same key, I bet. Watermelon showsman, lock shows prisoner; and itain’t likely there’s two prisoners on such a little plantation, and where thepeople’sallsokindandgood.Jim’stheprisoner.Allright—I’mgladwefoundit out detective fashion; Iwouldn’t give shucks for any otherway. Now youworkyourmind,andstudyoutaplantostealJim,andIwillstudyoutone,too;andwe’lltaketheonewelikethebest.”Whataheadforjustaboytohave!IfIhadTomSawyer’sheadIwouldn’t

trade it off to be a duke, normate of a steamboat, nor clown in a circus, nornothingIcanthinkof. Iwenttothinkingoutaplan,butonlyjusttobedoingsomething; I knowedverywellwhere the rightplanwasgoing to come from.PrettysoonTomsays:“Ready?”“Yes,”Isays.“Allright—bringitout.”“Myplanisthis,”Isays."Wecaneasyfindoutifit’sJiminthere.Thenget

upmycanoeto-morrownight,andfetchmyraftoverfromtheisland.Thenthefirst darknight that comes steal thekeyoutof theoldman’sbritches afterhegoestobed,andshoveoffdowntheriverontheraftwithJim,hidingdaytimesandrunningnights,thewaymeandJimusedtodobefore.Wouldn’tthatplanwork?”“Work?Why,cert’nlyitwouldwork,likeratsa-fighting.Butit’stooblame’

simple; thereain’tnothing to it. What’s thegoodofaplan thatain’tnomoretroublethanthat?It’sasmildasgoose-milk.Why,Huck,itwouldn’tmakenomoretalkthanbreakingintoasoapfactory.”I never said nothing, because I warn’t expecting nothing different; but I

knowedmightywellthatwheneverhegothisplanreadyitwouldn’thavenoneofthemobjectionstoit.And it didn’t. He toldmewhat itwas, and I see in aminute itwasworth

fifteenofmineforstyle,andwouldmakeJimjustasfreeamanasminewould,andmaybegetusallkilledbesides.SoIwassatisfied,andsaidwewouldwaltzinonit. Ineedn’ttellwhatitwashere,becauseIknoweditwouldn’tstaytheway,itwas.Iknowedhewouldbechangingitaroundeverywhichwayaswewentalong,andheavinginnewbullinesseswhereverhegotachance.Andthatiswhathedone.Well,onethingwasdeadsure,andthatwasthatTomSawyerwasinearnest,

andwasactulygoingtohelpstealthatniggeroutofslavery.Thatwasthethingthatwastoomanyforme.Herewasaboythatwasrespectableandwellbrungup; andhada character to lose; and folks athome thathadcharacters; andhewasbrightandnotleather-headed;andknowingandnotignorant;andnotmean,butkind;andyetherehewas,withoutanymorepride,orrightness,orfeeling,than to stoop to this business, and make himself a shame, and his family ashame, before everybody. I couldn’t understand it no way at all. It wasoutrageous,andIknowedIoughttojustupandtellhimso;andsobehistruefriend,andlethimquitthethingrightwherehewasandsavehimself.AndIdid

starttotellhim;butheshutmeup,andsays:“Don’tyoureckonIknowwhatI’mabout?Don’tIgenerlyknowwhatI’m

about?”“Yes.”“Didn’tIsayIwasgoingtohelpstealthenigger?”“Yes.”“Well,then.”That’s all he said, and that’s all I said. It warn’t no use to say anymore;

becausewhenhesaidhe’ddoathing,healwaysdoneit. ButIcouldn’tmakeout how he was willing to go into this thing; so I just let it go, and neverbotherednomoreaboutit.Ifhewasboundtohaveitso,Icouldn’thelpit.Whenwegothomethehousewasalldarkandstill;sowewentondownto

thehutbytheash-hopperfortoexamineit.Wewentthroughtheyardsoastoseewhatthehoundswoulddo.Theyknowedus,anddidn’tmakenomorenoisethancountrydogsisalwaysdoingwhenanythingcomesbyinthenight.Whenwegottothecabinwetookalookatthefrontandthetwosides;andonthesideI warn’t acquainted with—which was the north side—we found a squarewindow-hole, up tolerable high, with just one stout board nailed across it. Isays:“Here’stheticket.Thishole’sbigenoughforJimtogetthroughifwewrench

offtheboard.”Tomsays:“It’sassimpleas tit-tat-toe, three-in-a-row,andaseasyasplayinghooky. I

shouldhopewecanfindawaythat’salittlemorecomplicatedthanthat,HuckFinn.”

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“Well,then,”Isays,“how’llitdotosawhimout,thewayIdonebeforeIwas

murderedthattime?”“That’s more like,” he says. "It’s real mysterious, and troublesome, and

good,”hesays;“butIbetwecanfindawaythat’stwiceaslong.Thereain’tnohurry;le’skeeponlookingaround.”Betwixtthehutandthefence,onthebackside,wasalean-tothatjoinedthe

hut at the eaves, andwasmade out of plank. It was as long as the hut, butnarrow—onlyaboutsixfootwide.Thedoortoitwasatthesouthend,andwaspadlocked. Tom hewent to the soap-kettle and searched around, and fetchedbacktheironthingtheyliftthelidwith;sohetookitandprizedoutoneofthestaples.Thechainfelldown,andweopenedthedoorandwentin,andshutit,andstruckamatch,andseetheshedwasonlybuiltagainstacabinandhadn’tnoconnectionwith it; and therewarn’tno floor to the shed,nornothing in itbutsomeoldrustyplayed-outhoesandspadesandpicksandacrippledplow.Thematchwentout,andsodidwe,andshovedinthestapleagain,andthedoorwaslockedasgoodasever.Tomwasjoyful.Hesays;“Nowwe’reallright.We’lldighimout.It’lltakeaboutaweek!”Thenwestartedforthehouse,andIwentinthebackdoor—youonlyhaveto

pull a buckskin latch-string, they don’t fasten the doors—but that warn’tromanticalenoughforTomSawyer;nowaywoulddohimbuthemustclimbupthelightning-rod.Butafterhegotuphalfwayaboutthreetimes,andmissedfireandfelleverytime,andthelasttimemostbustedhisbrainsout,hethoughthe’dgottogiveitup;butafterhewasrestedheallowedhewouldgiveheronemoreturnforluck,andthistimehemadethetrip.Inthemorningwewasupatbreakofday,anddowntotheniggercabinsto

pet thedogsandmakefriendswith thenigger that fedJim—if itwas Jim thatwasbeingfed. Theniggerswas justgetting throughbreakfastandstartingforthe fields; and Jim’s niggerwas piling up a tin panwith bread andmeat andthings;andwhilsttheotherswasleaving,thekeycomefromthehouse.This nigger had a good-natured, chuckle-headed face, and hiswoolwas all

tiedupinlittlebuncheswiththread.Thatwastokeepwitchesoff.Hesaidthewitcheswaspesteringhimawfulthesenights,andmakinghimseeallkindsofstrange things, and hear all kinds of strange words and noises, and he didn’tbelievehewaseverwitchedsolongbeforeinhislife.Hegotsoworkedup,andgot to runningon so about his troubles, he forgot all aboutwhat he’dbeen a-goingtodo.SoTomsays:“What’sthevittlesfor?Goingtofeedthedogs?”The nigger kind of smiled around gradually over his face, like when you

heaveabrickbatinamud-puddle,andhesays:“Yes,MarsSid,A dog. Cur’us dog, too. Does youwant to go en look at

’im?”“Yes.”IhunchedTom,andwhispers:“Yougoing,righthereinthedaybreak?thatwarn’ttheplan.”“No,itwarn’t;butit’stheplannow.”So,drathim,wewentalong,but Ididn’t like itmuch. Whenwegot inwe

couldn’thardlyseeanything,itwassodark;butJimwasthere,sureenough,andcouldseeus;andhesingsout:“Why,Huck!Engoodlan’!ain’datMistoTom?”Ijustknowedhowitwouldbe;Ijustexpectedit.Ididn’tknownothingtodo;

andifIhadIcouldn’tadoneit,becausethatniggerbustedinandsays:“Why,degracioussakes!doheknowyougenlmen?”Wecouldseeprettywellnow.Tomhelookedatthenigger,steadyandkind

ofwondering,andsays:“Doeswhoknowus?”“Why,dis-yerrunawaynigger.”“Idon’treckonhedoes;butwhatputthatintoyourhead?”“Whatputitdar?Didn’hejis’disminutesingoutlikeheknowedyou?”Tomsays,inapuzzled-upkindofway:“Well,that’smightycurious.Whosungout?whendidhesingout?whatdid

hesingout?”Andturnstome,perfectlyca’m,andsays,“Didyouhearanybodysingout?”Ofcoursetherewarn’tnothingtobesaidbuttheonething;soIsays:“No;Iain’theardnobodysaynothing.”Thenhe turns toJim,and lookshimover likehenever seehimbefore,and

says:“Didyousingout?”“No,sah,”saysJim;“Ihain’tsaidnothing,sah.”“Notaword?”“No,sah,Ihain’tsaidaword.”“Didyoueverseeusbefore?”

“No,sah;notasIknowson.”SoTomturnstothenigger,whichwaslookingwildanddistressed,andsays,

kindofsevere:“Whatdoyoureckon’sthematterwithyou,anyway?Whatmadeyouthink

somebodysungout?”“Oh,it’sdedad-blame’witches,sah,enIwishtIwasdead,Ido.Dey’sawluz

atit,sah,endeydomos’killme,deysk’yersmeso.Pleasetodon’ttellnobody’boutitsah,eroleMarsSilashe’llscoleme;’kasehesaydeyain’tnowitches.Ijis’wish togoodnesshewasheahnow—denwhatwouldhesay! I jis’bethecouldn’finenowaytogitaroun’itdistime.Butit’sawluzjis’so;peopledat’ssot, stayssot;deywon’t look intonoth’n’en fine itout f’rdeyselves,enwhenyoufineitoutentellum’boutit,deydoan’b’lieveyou.”

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Tomgivehimadime,andsaidwewouldn’ttellnobody;andtoldhimtobuysomemorethreadtotieuphiswoolwith;andthenlooksatJim,andsays:“I wonder if Uncle Silas is going to hang this nigger. If I was to catch a

niggerthatwasungratefulenoughtorunaway,Iwouldn’tgivehimup,I’dhanghim.”Andwhilsttheniggersteppedtothedoortolookatthedimeandbiteittoseeifitwasgood,hewhisperstoJimandsays:“Don’teverletontoknowus.Andifyouhearanydigginggoingonnights,

it’sus;we’regoingtosetyoufree.”Jimonlyhadtimetograbusbythehandandsqueezeit;thentheniggercome

back,andwesaidwe’dcomeagainsometimeiftheniggerwantedusto;andhesaidhewould,moreparticularifitwasdark,becausethewitcheswentforhimmostlyinthedark,anditwasgoodtohavefolksaroundthen.

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CHAPTERXXXV.ITwouldbemostanhouryet tillbreakfast,soweleftandstruckdowninto

thewoods;becauseTomsaidwegottohavesomelighttoseehowtodigby,andalanternmakestoomuch,andmightgetusintotrouble;whatwemusthavewasalotofthemrottenchunksthat’scalledfox-fire,andjustmakesasoftkindofaglowwhenyoulaytheminadarkplace.Wefetchedanarmfulandhiditintheweeds,andsetdowntorest,andTomsays,kindofdissatisfied:“Blameit,thiswholethingisjustaseasyandawkwardasitcanbe.Andsoit

makesitsorottendifficulttogetupadifficultplan.Thereain’tnowatchmantobedrugged—nowthereoughttobeawatchman.Thereain’tevenadogtogiveasleeping-mixtureto.Andthere’sJimchainedbyoneleg,withaten-footchain,tothelegofhisbed:why,allyougottodoistoliftupthebedsteadandslipoffthe chain. AndUncleSilashe trusts everybody; sends thekey to thepunkin-headednigger,anddon’tsendnobodytowatchthenigger.Jimcouldagotoutof thatwindow-holebefore this,only therewouldn’tbenouse trying to travelwith a ten-foot chain on his leg. Why, drat it, Huck, it’s the stupidestarrangementIeversee.Yougottoinventallthedifficulties.Well,wecan’thelpit;wegot todothebestwecanwiththematerialswe’vegot.Anyhow,there’sonething—there’smorehonoringettinghimoutthroughalotofdifficultiesanddangers,wheretherewarn’toneofthemfurnishedtoyoubythepeoplewhoitwastheirdutytofurnishthem,andyouhadtocontrivethemalloutofyourownhead.Nowlookatjustthatonethingofthelantern.Whenyoucomedowntothe cold facts,we simply got to leton that a lantern’s resky. Why,we couldworkwithatorchlightprocessionifwewantedto,Ibelieve.Now,whilstIthinkofit,wegottohuntupsomethingtomakeasawoutofthefirstchanceweget.”“Whatdowewantofasaw?”

“Whatdowewantofit?Hain’twegottosawthelegofJim’sbedoff,soastogetthechainloose?”“Why,youjustsaidabodycouldliftupthebedsteadandslipthechainoff.”“Well, if that ain’t just like you, Huck Finn. You can get up the infant-

schooliestwaysofgoingatathing.Why,hain’tyoueverreadanybooksatall?—Baron Trenck, nor Casanova, nor Benvenuto Chelleeny, nor Henri IV., nornoneofthemheroes?Whoeverheardofgettingaprisonerlooseinsuchanold-maidywayasthat?No;thewayallthebestauthoritiesdoesistosawthebed-leg in two,and leave it justso,andswallowthesawdust,so itcan’tbefound,and put some dirt and grease around the sawed place so the very keenestseneskalcan’tseenosignofit’sbeingsawed,andthinksthebed-legisperfectlysound.Then,thenightyou’reready,fetchthelegakick,downshegoes;slipoffyourchain,andthereyouare. Nothingtodobuthitchyourropeladdertothebattlements,shindownit,breakyourleginthemoat—becausearopeladderisnineteen foot too short, you know—and there’s your horses and your trustyvassles,andtheyscoopyouupandflingyouacrossasaddle,andawayyougotoyournativeLangudoc,orNavarre,orwherever it is. It’sgaudy,Huck. Iwishtherewasamoattothiscabin.Ifwegettime,thenightoftheescape,we’lldigone.”Isays:“Whatdowewantofamoatwhenwe’regoingtosnakehimoutfromunder

thecabin?”Butheneverheardme. Hehadforgotmeandeverythingelse. Hehadhis

chininhishand,thinking.Prettysoonhesighsandshakeshishead;thensighsagain,andsays:“No,itwouldn’tdo—thereain’tnecessityenoughforit.”“Forwhat?”Isays.“Why,tosawJim’slegoff,”hesays.“Goodland!”Isays;“why,thereain’tnonecessityforit. Andwhatwould

youwanttosawhislegofffor,anyway?”

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“Well,someof thebestauthoritieshasdone it. Theycouldn’tget thechainoff,sotheyjustcuttheirhandoffandshoved.Andalegwouldbebetterstill. But we got to let that go. There ain’t necessity enough in this case; and,besides,Jim’sanigger,andwouldn’tunderstandthereasonsforit,andhowit’sthecustominEurope;sowe’ll let itgo. Butthere’sonething—hecanhavearopeladder;wecantearupoursheetsandmakehimaropeladdereasyenough.Andwecansendittohiminapie;it’smostlydonethatway.AndI’veetworsepies.”“Why,TomSawyer,howyou talk,” I says; “Jimain’tgotnouse fora rope

ladder.”“Hehasgotuseforit.Howyoutalk,youbettersay;youdon’tknownothing

aboutit.He’sgottohavearopeladder;theyalldo.”“Whatinthenationcanhedowithit?”“Dowithit?Hecanhideitinhisbed,can’the?”That’swhattheyalldo;and

he’sgotto,too.Huck,youdon’teverseemtowanttodoanythingthat’sregular;youwanttobestartingsomethingfreshallthetime.S’posehedon’tdonothingwithit?ain’titthereinhisbed,foraclew,afterhe’sgone?anddon’tyoureckonthey’llwant clews? Of course theywill. Andyouwouldn’t leave themany?Thatwouldbeaprettyhowdy-do,wouldn’tit!Ineverheardofsuchathing.”“Well,”Isays,“ifit’sintheregulations,andhe’sgottohaveit,allright,let

himhaveit;becauseIdon’twishtogobackonnoregulations;butthere’sonething,TomSawyer—ifwegototearingupoursheetstomakeJimaropeladder,we’re going to get into trouble with Aunt Sally, just as sure as you’re born.Now, theway I look at it, a hickry-bark ladder don’t cost nothing, and don’twastenothing,andisjustasgoodtoloadupapiewith,andhideinastrawtick,asanyragladderyoucanstart;andasforJim,heain’thadnoexperience,andsohedon’tcarewhatkindofa—”“Oh,shucks,HuckFinn,ifIwasasignorantasyouI’dkeepstill—that’swhat

I’Ddo. Whoeverheardofa stateprisonerescapingbyahickry-bark ladder?Why,it’sperfectlyridiculous.”“Well,allright,Tom,fixityourownway;butifyou’lltakemyadvice,you’ll

letmeborrowasheetoffoftheclothesline.”

Hesaidthatwoulddo.Andthatgavehimanotheridea,andhesays:“Borrowashirt,too.”“Whatdowewantofashirt,Tom?”“WantitforJimtokeepajournalon.”“Journalyourgranny—Jimcan’twrite.”“S’posehecan’twrite—hecanmakemarksontheshirt,can’the,ifwemake

himapenoutofanoldpewterspoonorapieceofanoldironbarrel-hoop?”“Why,Tom,wecanpullafeatheroutofagooseandmakehimabetterone;

andquicker,too.”“Prisonersdon’thavegeeserunningaroundthedonjon-keeptopullpensout

of, youmuggins. They always make their pens out of the hardest, toughest,troublesomestpieceofoldbrasscandlestickorsomethinglikethattheycangettheirhandson;and it takes themweeksandweeksandmonthsandmonths tofile it out, too, because they’ve got to do it by rubbing it on thewall. Theywouldn’tuseagoose-quilliftheyhadit.Itain’tregular.”“Well,then,what’llwemakehimtheinkoutof?”“Manymakes it out of iron-rust and tears; but that’s the common sort and

women;thebestauthoritiesusestheirownblood.Jimcandothat;andwhenhewants tosendany littlecommonordinarymysteriousmessage to let theworldknowwherehe’scaptivated,hecanwriteitonthebottomofatinplatewithaforkandthrowitoutofthewindow.TheIronMaskalwaysdonethat,andit’sablame’goodway,too.”“Jimain’tgotnotinplates.Theyfeedhiminapan.”“Thatain’tnothing;wecangethimsome.”“Can’tnobodyreadhisplates.”“Thatain’tgotanythingtodowithit,HuckFinn.Allhe’sgottodoistowrite

ontheplateandthrowitout.Youdon’thavetobeabletoreadit.Why,halfthetimeyoucan’treadanythingaprisonerwritesonatinplate,oranywhereelse.”“Well,then,what’sthesenseinwastingtheplates?”“Why,blameitall,itain’ttheprisoner’splates.”“Butit’ssomebody’splates,ain’tit?”“Well,spos’nitis?Whatdoestheprisonercarewhose—”He broke off there, because we heard the breakfast-horn blowing. So we

clearedoutforthehouse.

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Along during the morning I borrowed a sheet and a white shirt off of theclothes-line;andIfoundanoldsackandputtheminit,andwewentdownandgotthefox-fire,andputthatintoo.Icalleditborrowing,becausethatwaswhatpapalwayscalledit;butTomsaiditwarn’tborrowing,itwasstealing.Hesaidwewasrepresentingprisoners;andprisonersdon’tcarehowtheygetathingsotheyget it, andnobodydon’t blame them for it, either. It ain’t no crime in aprisonertostealthethingheneedstogetawaywith,Tomsaid;it’shisright;andso, as long aswewas representing a prisoner,we had a perfect right to stealanything on this placewe had the least use for to get ourselves out of prisonwith. He said if we warn’t prisoners it would be a very different thing, andnobodybutamean,ornerypersonwouldstealwhenhewarn’taprisoner.Soweallowedwewouldstealeverythingtherewasthatcomehandy.Andyethemadeamightyfuss,oneday,afterthat,whenIstoleawatermelonoutofthenigger-patchandeatit;andhemademegoandgivetheniggersadimewithouttellingthemwhatitwasfor.Tomsaidthatwhathemeantwas,wecouldstealanythingweneeded.Well,Isays,Ineededthewatermelon.ButhesaidIdidn’tneedittogetoutofprisonwith;there’swherethedifferencewas.HesaidifI’dawantedit tohideaknifein,andsmuggleit toJimtokill theseneskalwith, itwouldabeenall right. SoI let itgoat that, thoughIcouldn’tseenoadvantage inmyrepresenting a prisoner if I got to set down and chaw over a lot of gold-leafdistinctionslikethateverytimeIseeachancetohogawatermelon.Well,asIwassaying,wewaitedthatmorningtilleverybodywassettleddown

tobusiness,andnobodyinsightaroundtheyard;thenTomhecarriedthesackintothelean-towhilstIstoodoffapiecetokeepwatch.Byandbyhecomeout,andwewentandsetdownonthewoodpiletotalk.Hesays:“Everything’sallrightnowexcepttools;andthat’seasyfixed.”“Tools?”Isays.“Yes.”

“Toolsforwhat?”“Why,todigwith.Weain’ta-goingtognawhimout,arewe?”“Ain’tthemoldcrippledpicksandthingsintheregoodenoughtodiganigger

outwith?”Isays.Heturnsonme,lookingpityingenoughtomakeabodycry,andsays:“HuckFinn,didyoueverhearofaprisonerhavingpicksandshovels,andall

themodernconveniencesinhiswardrobetodighimselfoutwith?NowIwanttoaskyou—ifyougotanyreasonableness inyouatall—whatkindofashowwouldthatgivehimtobeahero?Why,theymightaswelllendhimthekeyanddonewithit.Picksandshovels—why,theywouldn’tfurnish’emtoaking.”“Well, then,” I says, “if we don’t want the picks and shovels, what do we

want?”“Acoupleofcase-knives.”“Todigthefoundationsoutfromunderthatcabinwith?”“Yes.”“Confoundit,it’sfoolish,Tom.”“Itdon’tmakenodifferencehowfoolishitis,it’stherightway—andit’sthe

regularway.Andthereain’tnootherway,thateverIheardof,andI’vereadallthe books that gives any information about these things. They always dig outwith a case-knife—and not through dirt, mind you; generly it’s through solidrock. And it takes themweeks andweeks andweeks, and for ever and ever.Why,lookatoneofthemprisonersinthebottomdungeonoftheCastleDeef,intheharborofMarseilles, thatdughimselfout thatway;howlongwasheat it,youreckon?”“Idon’tknow.”“Well,guess.”“Idon’tknow.Amonthandahalf.”“Thirty-sevenyear—andhecomeout inChina. That’s thekind. Iwish the

bottomofthisfortresswassolidrock.”“Jimdon’tknownobodyinChina.”“What’s that got to do with it? Neither did that other fellow. But you’re

alwaysa-wanderingoffonasideissue.Whycan’tyousticktothemainpoint?”“Allright—Idon’tcarewherehecomesout,sohecomesout;andJimdon’t,

either,Ireckon.Butthere’sonething,anyway—Jim’stoooldtobedugoutwithacase-knife.Hewon’tlast.”

“Yeshewilllast,too.Youdon’treckonit’sgoingtotakethirty-sevenyearstodigoutthroughadirtfoundation,doyou?”“Howlongwillittake,Tom?”“Well,wecan’treskbeingaslongasweoughtto,becauseitmayn’ttakevery

longforUncleSilas tohearfromdowntherebyNewOrleans. He’llhearJimain’tfromthere.ThenhisnextmovewillbetoadvertiseJim,orsomethinglikethat.Sowecan’treskbeingaslongdigginghimoutasweoughtto.ByrightsIreckon we ought to be a couple of years; but we can’t. Things being souncertain,whatIrecommendisthis:thatwereallydigrightin,asquickaswecan; and after that,we can leton, to ourselves, thatwewas at it thirty-sevenyears.Thenwecansnatchhimoutandrushhimawaythefirsttimethere’sanalarm.Yes,Ireckonthat’llbethebestway.”“Now,there’ssenseinthat,”Isays."Lettingondon’tcostnothing;lettingon

ain’t no trouble; and if it’s any object, I don’tmind letting onwewas at it ahundredandfiftyyear.Itwouldn’tstrainmenone,afterIgotmyhandin.SoI’llmoseyalongnow,andsmouchacoupleofcase-knives.”

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“Smouchthree,”hesays;“wewantonetomakeasawoutof.”“Tom,if itain’tunregularandirreligioustosejest it,”Isays,“there’sanold

rusty saw-bladearoundyonder stickingunder theweather-boardingbehind thesmoke-house.”Helookedkindofwearyanddiscouraged-like,andsays:“Itain’tnousetotrytolearnyounothing,Huck.Runalongandsmouchthe

knives—threeofthem.”SoIdoneit.

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CHAPTERXXXVI.ASsoonaswereckonedeverybodywasasleepthatnightwewentdownthe

lightning-rod,andshutourselvesupinthelean-to,andgotoutourpileoffox-fire,andwenttowork.Weclearedeverythingoutoftheway,aboutfourorfivefootalongthemiddleofthebottomlog.TomsaidhewasrightbehindJim’sbednow,andwe’ddiginunderit,andwhenwegotthroughtherecouldn’tnobodyinthecabineverknow therewasanyhole there,becauseJim’scounter-pinhungdownmosttotheground,andyou’dhavetoraiseitupandlookundertoseethehole.Soweduganddugwiththecase-knivestillmostmidnight;andthenwewasdog-tired,andourhandswasblistered,andyetyoucouldn’tseewe’ddone

anythinghardly.AtlastIsays:“This ain’t no thirty-seven year job; this is a thirty-eight year job, Tom

Sawyer.”Henever said nothing. But he sighed, andpretty soonhe stoppeddigging,

andthenforagoodlittlewhileIknowedthathewasthinking.Thenhesays:“Itain’tnouse,Huck,itain’ta-goingtowork.Ifwewasprisonersitwould,

because then we’d have as many years as we wanted, and no hurry; and wewouldn’t get but a few minutes to dig, every day, while they was changingwatches,andsoourhandswouldn’tgetblistered,andwecouldkeepituprightalong,yearinandyearout,anddoitright,andthewayitoughttobedone.Butwecan’tfoolalong;wegottorush;weain’tgotnotimetospare.Ifwewastoputinanothernightthiswaywe’dhavetoknockoffforaweektoletourhandsgetwell—couldn’ttouchacase-knifewiththemsooner.”“Well,then,whatwegoingtodo,Tom?”“I’lltellyou.Itain’tright,anditain’tmoral,andIwouldn’tlikeittogetout;

butthereain’tonlyjusttheoneway:wegottodighimoutwiththepicks,andletonit’scase-knives.”“Nowyou’retalking!”Isays;“yourheadgetslevelerandlevelerallthetime,

TomSawyer,”Isays. "Picks is the thing,moralornomoral;andasforme, Idon’tcareshucksforthemoralityofit,nohow.WhenIstartintostealanigger,or awatermelon,or aSunday-schoolbook, I ain’t nowaysparticularhow it’sdonesoit’sdone.WhatIwantismynigger;orwhatIwantismywatermelon;orwhat Iwant ismy Sunday-school book; and if a pick’s the handiest thing,that’sthethingI’ma-goingtodigthatniggerorthatwatermelonorthatSunday-school book out with; and I don’t give a dead rat what the authorities thinksaboutitnuther.”“Well,”hesays,“there’sexcuseforpicksandletting-oninacaselikethis;ifit

warn’t so, Iwouldn’t approve of it, nor Iwouldn’t stand by and see the rulesbroke—because right is right, and wrong is wrong, and a body ain’t got nobusinessdoingwrongwhenheain’tignorantandknowsbetter.Itmightanswerforyou to dig Jim outwith a pick,without any letting on, because you don’tknow no better; but it wouldn’t forme, because I do know better. Gimme acase-knife.”Hehadhisownbyhim,butIhandedhimmine.Heflungitdown,andsays:“Gimmeacase-knife.”Ididn’tknowjustwhattodo—butthenIthought.Iscratchedaroundamongst

theold tools,andgotapickaxeandgive it tohim,andhe took itandwent towork,andneversaidaword.Hewasalwaysjustthatparticular.Fullofprinciple.SothenIgotashovel,andthenwepickedandshoveled,turnabout,andmade

thefurfly.Westucktoitaboutahalfanhour,whichwasaslongaswecouldstandup;butwehadagooddealofaholetoshowforit.WhenIgotupstairsIlookedoutat thewindowandseeTomdoinghis levelbestwith the lightning-rod,buthecouldn’tcomeit,hishandswassosore.Atlasthesays:“It ain’tnouse, it can’tbedone. Whatyou reckon Ibetterdo? Can’tyou

thinkofnoway?”“Yes,”Isays,“butIreckonitain’tregular.Comeupthestairs,andletonit’s

alightning-rod.”Sohedoneit.

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NextdayTomstoleapewterspoonandabrasscandlestickinthehouse,fortomakesomepensforJimoutof,andsix tallowcandles;andIhungaround theniggercabinsandlaidforachance,andstolethreetinplates.Tomsaysitwasn’tenough; but I said nobodywouldn’t ever see the plates that Jim throwed out,becausethey’dfallinthedog-fennelandjimpsonweedsunderthewindow-hole—thenwecouldtotethembackandhecouldusethemoveragain.SoTomwassatisfied.Thenhesays:“Now,thethingtostudyoutis,howtogetthethingstoJim.”“Taketheminthroughthehole,”Isays,“whenwegetitdone.”Heonlyjustlookedscornful,andsaidsomethingaboutnobodyeverheardof

suchan idiotic idea, and thenhewent to studying. Byandbyhe saidhehadciphered out twoor threeways, but therewarn’t no need to decide on any ofthemyet.Saidwe’dgottopostJimfirst.

Thatnightwewentdownthelightning-rodalittleafterten,andtookoneofthecandlesalong,and listenedunder thewindow-hole,andheardJimsnoring;sowepitchedit in,anditdidn’twakehim. Thenwewhirled inwith thepickand shovel, and in about twohours andahalf the jobwasdone. Wecrept inunderJim’sbedandintothecabin,andpawedaroundandfoundthecandleandlitit,andstoodoverJimawhile,andfoundhimlookingheartyandhealthy,andthenwewoke himup gentle and gradual. Hewas so glad to see us hemostcried;andcalledushoney,andallthepetnameshecouldthinkof;andwasforhavingushuntupacold-chisel tocut thechainoffofhis legwithrightaway,and clearing out without losing any time. But Tom he showed him howunregularitwouldbe,andsetdownandtoldhimallaboutourplans,andhowwecouldaltertheminaminuteanytimetherewasanalarm;andnottobetheleastafraid,becausewewouldseehegotaway,sure.SoJimhesaiditwasallright,andwesetthereandtalkedoveroldtimesawhile,andthenTomaskedalotofquestions,andwhenJimtoldhimUncleSilascomeineverydayortwotopraywith him, andAunt Sally come in to see if hewas comfortable and hadplentytoeat,andbothofthemwaskindastheycouldbe,Tomsays:“NowIknowhowtofixit.We’llsendyousomethingsbythem.”Isaid,“Don’tdonothingofthekind;it’soneofthemostjackassideasIever

struck;” but he never paid no attention tome;went right on. Itwas hiswaywhenhe’dgothisplansset.So he told Jim howwe’d have to smuggle in the rope-ladder pie and other

largethingsbyNat,theniggerthatfedhim,andhemustbeonthelookout,andnot be surprised, andnot letNat seehimopen them; andwewouldput smallthings in uncle’s coat-pockets and he must steal them out; and we would tiethings to aunt’s apron-strings or put them in her apron-pocket, if we got achance;andtoldhimwhattheywouldbeandwhattheywasfor.Andtoldhimhow to keep a journal on the shirt with his blood, and all that. He told himeverything. Jimhecouldn’t seenosense in themostof it,butheallowedwewaswhite folks andknowedbetter than him; so hewas satisfied, and said hewoulddoitalljustasTomsaid.Jim had plenty corn-cob pipes and tobacco; so we had a right down good

sociabletime;thenwecrawledoutthroughthehole,andsohometobed,withhandsthatlookedlikethey’dbeenchawed.Tomwasinhighspirits.Hesaiditwasthebestfunheeverhadinhislife,andthemostintellectural;andsaidifheonly could seehisway to itwewouldkeep it up all the rest of our lives andleaveJimtoourchildren togetout; forhebelievedJimwouldcometo like itbetterandbetterthemorehegotusedtoit.Hesaidthatinthatwayitcouldbe

strungouttoasmuchaseightyyear,andwouldbethebesttimeonrecord.Andhesaiditwouldmakeusallcelebratedthathadahandinit.In the morning we went out to the woodpile and chopped up the brass

candlestick into handy sizes, and Tom put them and the pewter spoon in hispocket.Thenwewenttotheniggercabins,andwhileIgotNat’snoticeoff,Tomshovedapieceofcandlestick into themiddleofacorn-pone thatwas inJim’span,andwewentalongwithNattoseehowitwouldwork,anditjustworkednoble;whenJimbitintoititmostmashedallhisteethout;andtherewarn’teveranything could aworked better. Tom said so himself. Jim he never let on butwhatitwasonlyjustapieceofrockorsomethinglikethatthat’salwaysgettingintobread,youknow;butafterthatheneverbitintonothingbutwhathejabbedhisforkintoitinthreeorfourplacesfirst.Andwhilstwewasa-standingthereinthedimmishlight,herecomesacouple

of thehoundsbulging in fromunder Jim’sbed; and theykeptonpiling in tillthere was eleven of them, and there warn’t hardly room in there to get yourbreath.Byjings,weforgottofastenthatlean-todoor!TheniggerNatheonlyjusthollered“Witches”once,andkeeledoverontotheflooramongstthedogs,andbeguntogroanlikehewasdying.Tomjerkedthedooropenandflungoutaslab of Jim’smeat, and the dogs went for it, and in two seconds he was outhimselfandbackagainandshutthedoor,andIknowedhe’dfixedtheotherdoortoo. Then he went to work on the nigger, coaxing him and petting him, andaskinghimifhe’dbeenimagininghesawsomethingagain. Heraisedup,andblinkedhiseyesaround,andsays:“MarsSid, you’ll say I’s a fool, but if I didn’t b’lieve I seemost amillion

dogs, er devils, er some’n, Iwisht Imaydie right heah indese tracks. I did,mos’sholy.MarsSid,Ifeltum—Ifeltum,sah;deywasalloverme.Dadfetchit,Ijis’wishtIcouldgitmyhan’sononeerdemwitchesjis’wunst—on’yjis’wunst—it’sallI’dast.Butmos’lyIwishtdey’dlemme’lone,Idoes.”Tomsays:“Well, I tell you what I think. What makes them come here just at this

runawaynigger’sbreakfast-time?It’sbecausethey’rehungry;that’sthereason.Youmakethemawitchpie;that’sthethingforyoutodo.”

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“Butmylan’,MarsSid,how’sIgwynetomake’mawitchpie?Idoan’knowhowtomakeit.Ihain’teverhearnersichathingb’fo’.”“Well,then,I’llhavetomakeitmyself.”“Willyoudo it, honey?—willyou? I’llwusshupdegroun’und’yo’ foot, I

will!”“Allright,I’lldoit,seeingit’syou,andyou’vebeengoodtousandshowed

us the runaway nigger. But you got to be mighty careful. When we comearound,youturnyourback;andthenwhateverwe’veputinthepan,don’tyoulet on you see it at all. And don’t you look when Jim unloads the pan—somethingmighthappen,Idon’tknowwhat. Andaboveall,don’tyouhandlethewitch-things.”“Hannel‘M,MarsSid?Whatisyoua-talkin’’bout?Iwouldn’laydeweight

ermyfingeronum,notf’rtenhund’dthous’nbilliondollars,Iwouldn’t.”

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CHAPTERXXXVII.THATwasallfixed.Sothenwewentawayandwenttotherubbage-pilein

thebackyard,wheretheykeeptheoldboots,andrags,andpiecesofbottles,andwore-outtinthings,andallsuchtruck,andscratchedaroundandfoundanoldtin

washpan,andstoppeduptheholesaswellaswecould,tobakethepiein,andtookitdowncellarandstoleitfullofflourandstartedforbreakfast,andfoundacoupleofshingle-nailsthatTomsaidwouldbehandyforaprisonertoscrabblehisnameandsorrowson thedungeonwallswith,anddroppedoneof theminAuntSally’sapron-pocketwhichwashangingonachair,andt’otherwestuckinthebandofUncleSilas’shat,whichwason thebureau,becauseweheard thechildren say their pa and ma was going to the runaway nigger’s house thismorning, and then went to breakfast, and Tom dropped the pewter spoon inUncleSilas’scoat-pocket,andAuntSallywasn’tcomeyet,sowehadtowaitalittlewhile.Andwhenshecomeshewashotandredandcross,andcouldn’thardlywait

for the blessing; and then she went to sluicing out coffee with one hand andcrackingthehandiestchild’sheadwithherthimblewiththeother,andsays:“I’vehuntedhighandI’vehuntedlow,anditdoesbeatallwhathasbecome

ofyourothershirt.”Myheartfelldownamongstmylungsandliversandthings,andahardpiece

of corn-crust started downmy throat after it and got met on the road with acough,andwasshotacrossthetable,andtookoneofthechildrenintheeyeandcurled him up like a fishing-worm, and let a cry out of him the size of awarwhoop,andTomheturnedkinderbluearoundthegills,anditallamountedtoaconsiderablestateof things foraboutaquarterofaminuteorasmuchasthat,andIwouldasoldoutforhalfpriceiftherewasabidder.Butafterthatwewasallrightagain—itwasthesuddensurpriseofitthatknockedussokindofcold.UncleSilashesays:“It’smostuncommoncurious,Ican’tunderstandit. IknowperfectlywellI

tookitoff,because—”“Becauseyouhain’tgotbutoneon.Justlistenattheman!Iknowyoutookit

off,andknowitbyabetterwaythanyourwool-getheringmemory,too,becauseitwasontheclo’s-lineyesterday—Iseeittheremyself.Butit’sgone,that’sthelongandtheshortofit,andyou’lljusthavetochangetoaredflann’lonetillIcangettimetomakeanewone.Andit’llbethethirdI’vemadeintwoyears.Itjust keeps a body on the jump to keep you in shirts; and whatever you domanagetodowith’mallismore’nIcanmakeout.Abody’dthinkyouwouldlearntotakesomesortofcareof’ematyourtimeoflife.”“Iknowit,Sally,andIdo tryall Ican. But itoughtn’t tobealtogethermy

fault, because, you know, I don’t see them nor have nothing to dowith themexceptwhenthey’reonme;andIdon’tbelieveI’veeverlostoneofthemoffof

me.”“Well,itain’tyourfaultifyouhaven’t,Silas;you’dadoneitifyoucould,I

reckon.Andtheshirtain’tallthat’sgone,nuther.Ther’saspoongone;andthatain’t all. There was ten, and now ther’s only nine. The calf got the shirt, Ireckon,butthecalfnevertookthespoon,that’scertain.”“Why,whatelseisgone,Sally?”“Ther’ssixcandlesgone—that’swhat.Theratscouldagotthecandles,andI

reckon they did; Iwonder they don’twalk offwith thewhole place, thewayyou’realwaysgoingtostoptheirholesanddon’tdoit;andiftheywarn’tfoolsthey’dsleep inyourhair,Silas—you’d never find it out; but you can’t lay thespoonontherats,andthatIknow.”“Well,Sally,I’minfault,andIacknowledgeit;I’vebeenremiss;butIwon’t

letto-morrowgobywithoutstoppingupthemholes.”“Oh,Iwouldn’thurry;nextyear’lldo.MatildaAngelinaAramintaPhelps!”Whackcomesthethimble,andthechildsnatchesherclawsoutofthesugar-

bowlwithout foolingaroundany. Just then theniggerwoman stepson to thepassage,andsays:“Missus,dey’sasheetgone.”

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“Asheetgone!Well,fortheland’ssake!”“I’llstopupthemholesto-day,”saysUncleSilas,lookingsorrowful.“Oh,doshetup!—s’posetheratstookthesheet?where’sitgone,Lize?”“Clah to goodness I hain’t nonotion,Miss’Sally. Shewuzonde clo’sline

yistiddy,butshedonegone:sheain’dahnomo’now.”“Ireckontheworldiscomingtoanend.Ineverseethebeatofitinallmy

borndays.Ashirt,andasheet,andaspoon,andsixcan—”

“Missus,”comesayoungyallerwench,“dey’sabrasscannelstickmiss’n.”“Cleroutfromhere,youhussy,erI’lltakeaskillettoye!”Well,shewasjusta-biling. Ibeguntolayforachance;IreckonedIwould

sneakoutandgo for thewoods till theweathermoderated. Shekepta-ragingrightalong, runningher insurrectionallbyherself, andeverybodyelsemightymeekandquiet;andat lastUncleSilas, lookingkindof foolish, fishesup thatspoonoutofhispocket. Shestopped,withhermouthopenandherhandsup;andasforme,IwishedIwasinJeruslemorsomewheres.Butnotlong,becauseshesays:“It’sjustasIexpected.Soyouhaditinyourpocketallthetime;andlikeas

notyou’vegottheotherthingsthere,too.How’ditgetthere?”“I reely don’t know, Sally,” he says, kind of apologizing, “or you know I

would tell. Iwasa-studyingovermy text inActsSeventeenbeforebreakfast,andIreckonIputitinthere,notnoticing,meaningtoputmyTestamentin,andit must be so, because my Testament ain’t in; but I’ll go and see; and if theTestamentiswhereIhadit,I’llknowIdidn’tputitin,andthatwillshowthatIlaidtheTestamentdownandtookupthespoon,and—”“Oh,fortheland’ssake!Giveabodyarest!Go’longnow,thewholekitand

bilingofye;anddon’tcomenighmeagaintillI’vegotbackmypeaceofmind.”I’Daheardherifshe’dasaidittoherself,letalonespeakingitout;andI’da

got up and obeyed her if I’d a been dead. As we was passing through thesetting-roomtheoldmanhetookuphishat,andtheshingle-nailfelloutonthefloor,andhejustmerelypickeditupandlaiditonthemantel-shelf,andneversaid nothing, and went out. Tom see him do it, and remembered about thespoon,andsays:“Well,itain’tnousetosendthingsbyhimnomore,heain’treliable.”Then

hesays:"Buthedoneusagoodturnwiththespoon,anyway,withoutknowingit, and sowe’ll go and do him onewithouthim knowing it—stop up his rat-holes.”Therewasanoblegoodlotofthemdowncellar,andittookusawholehour,

butwedonethejobtightandgoodandshipshape.Thenweheardstepsonthestairs, and blowed out our light and hid; and here comes the oldman,with acandleinonehandandabundleofstuffint’other,lookingasabsent-mindedasyear before last. He went a mooning around, first to one rat-hole and thenanother, tillhe’dbeen to themall. Thenhe stoodabout fiveminutes,pickingtallow-dripoffofhiscandleandthinking. Thenheturnsoffslowanddreamytowardsthestairs,saying:

“Well,forthelifeofmeIcan’trememberwhenIdoneit. IcouldshowhernowthatIwarn’ttoblameonaccountoftherats.Butnevermind—letitgo.Ireckonitwouldn’tdonogood.”Andsohewentona-mumblingupstairs,andthenweleft.Hewasamighty

niceoldman.Andalwaysis.Tomwasagooddealbotheredaboutwhattodoforaspoon,buthesaidwe’d

gottohaveit;sohetookathink.Whenhehadciphereditouthetoldmehowwewastodo;thenwewentandwaitedaroundthespoon-baskettillweseeAuntSallycoming,andthenTomwenttocountingthespoonsandlayingthemouttooneside,andIslidoneofthemupmysleeve,andTomsays:“Why,AuntSally,thereain’tbutninespoonsyet.”Shesays:“Go ’long to your play, and don’t botherme. I know better, I counted ’m

myself.”“Well,I’vecountedthemtwice,Aunty,andIcan’tmakebutnine.”She looked out of all patience, but of course she come to count—anybody

would.“Ideclaretograciousther’ain’tbutnine!”shesays."Why,whatintheworld

—plaguetakethethings,I’llcount’magain.”SoIslippedbacktheoneIhad,andwhenshegotdonecounting,shesays:“Hang the troublesome rubbage, ther’s ten now!” and she lookedhuffy and

botheredboth.ButTomsays:“Why,Aunty,Idon’tthinkthere’sten.”“Younumskull,didn’tyouseemecount’m?”“Iknow,but—”“Well,I’llcount’magain.”

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SoIsmouchedone,andtheycomeoutnine,sameastheothertime.Well,shewas in a tearing way—just a-trembling all over, she was so mad. But shecountedandcountedtillshegotthataddledshe’dstarttocountinthebasketforaspoonsometimes;andso,threetimestheycomeoutright,andthreetimestheycome outwrong. Then she grabbed up the basket and slammed it across thehouseandknocked thecatgalley-west;andshesaidcle’routand letherhavesomepeace,andifwecomebotheringaroundheragainbetwixtthatanddinnershe’d skin us. Sowe had the odd spoon, and dropped it in her apron-pocketwhilstshewasa-givingusoursailingorders,andJimgotitallright,alongwithhershinglenail,beforenoon.Wewasverywellsatisfiedwiththisbusiness,andTom allowed itwasworth twice the trouble it took, because he saidnow shecouldn’tevercountthemspoonstwicealikeagaintosaveherlife;andwouldn’tbelieve she’d counted them right if she did; and said that after she’d aboutcountedherheadoffforthenextthreedayshejudgedshe’dgiveitupandoffertokillanybodythatwantedhertoevercountthemanymore.Soweputthesheetbackonthelinethatnight,andstoleoneoutofhercloset;

and kept on putting it back and stealing it again for a couple of days till shedidn’tknowhowmanysheetsshehadanymore,andshedidn’tcare,andwarn’ta-going to bullyrag the rest of her soul out about it, andwouldn’t count themagainnottosaveherlife;shedrutherdiefirst.Sowewasall rightnow,as to theshirtandthesheetandthespoonandthe

candles,bythehelpofthecalfandtheratsandthemixed-upcounting;andastothecandlestick,itwarn’tnoconsequence,itwouldblowoverbyandby.Butthatpiewasajob;wehadnoendoftroublewiththatpie.Wefixeditup

awaydown in thewoods, and cooked it there; andwegot it done at last, andverysatisfactory,too;butnotallinoneday;andwehadtouseupthreewash-pansfullofflourbeforewegotthrough,andwegotburntprettymuchallover,in places, and eyes put outwith the smoke; because, you see,we didn’twantnothingbutacrust,andwecouldn’tpropitupright,andshewouldalwayscavein. Butofcoursewe thoughtof the rightwayat last—whichwas tocook theladder,too,inthepie.SothenwelaidinwithJimthesecondnight,andtoreupthesheetallinlittlestringsandtwistedthemtogether,andlongbeforedaylightwehadalovelyropethatyoucouldahungapersonwith.Weletonittookninemonthstomakeit.Andintheforenoonwetookitdowntothewoods,butitwouldn’tgointothe

pie.Beingmadeofawholesheet,thatway,therewasropeenoughforfortypiesifwe’dawantedthem,andplentyleftoverforsoup,orsausage,oranythingyou

choose.Wecouldahadawholedinner.

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Butwedidn’tneedit.Allweneededwasjustenoughforthepie,andsowethrowedtherestaway.Wedidn’tcooknoneofthepiesinthewash-pan—afraidthesolderwouldmelt;butUncleSilashehadanoblebrasswarming-panwhichhe thought considerableof, because it belonged tooneof his ancesterswith alongwoodenhandlethatcomeoverfromEnglandwithWilliamtheConquerorintheMayfloweroroneofthemearlyshipsandwashidawayupgarretwithalotofotheroldpotsandthings thatwasvaluable,notonaccountofbeinganyaccount,because theywarn’t,butonaccountof thembeing relicts,youknow,andwesnakedherout,private,and tookherdownthere,butshefailedon thefirstpies,becausewedidn’tknowhow,butshecomeupsmilingonthelastone.Wetookandlinedherwithdough,andsetherinthecoals,andloadedherupwith rag rope, and put on a dough roof, and shut down the lid, and put hotembers on top, and stood off five foot, with the long handle, cool andcomfortable,andinfifteenminutessheturnedoutapiethatwasasatisfactiontolook at. But the person that et it would want to fetch a couple of kags oftoothpicksalong,forifthatropeladderwouldn’tcramphimdowntobusinessIdon’tknownothingwhatI’mtalkingabout,andlayhiminenoughstomach-achetolasthimtillnexttime,too.Natdidn’tlookwhenweputthewitchpieinJim’span;andweputthethree

tinplatesinthebottomofthepanunderthevittles;andsoJimgoteverythingallright,andassoonashewasbyhimselfhebustedintothepieandhidtheropeladder inside of his straw tick, and scratched some marks on a tin plate andthroweditoutofthewindow-hole.

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CHAPTERXXXVIII.MAKINGthempenswasadistressidtoughjob,andsowasthesaw;andJim

allowedtheinscriptionwasgoingtobethetoughestofall.That’stheonewhichtheprisonerhastoscrabbleonthewall.Buthehadtohaveit;Tomsaidhe’dgotto;therewarn’tnocaseofastateprisonernotscrabblinghisinscriptiontoleavebehind,andhiscoatofarms.“Look at Lady Jane Grey,” he says; “look at Gilford Dudley; look at old

Northumberland!Why,Huck,s’poseitisconsiderbletrouble?—whatyougoingtodo?—howyougoingtogetaroundit?Jim’sgottodohisinscriptionandcoatofarms.Theyalldo.”Jimsays:“Why,MarsTom,Ihain’tgotnocoato’arm;Ihain’tgotnuffnbutdishyer

oleshirt,enyouknowsIgottokeepdejournalondat.”“Oh,youdon’tunderstand,Jim;acoatofarmsisverydifferent.”“Well,” I says, “Jim’s right, anyway, when he says he ain’t got no coat of

arms,becausehehain’t.”“I reckon I knowed that,”Tom says, “but you bet he’ll have one before he

goes out of this—because he’s going out right, and there ain’t going to be noflawsinhisrecord.”So whilst me and Jim filed away at the pens on a brickbat apiece, Jim a-

makinghis’noutof thebrassandImakingmineoutof thespoon,Tomset toworktothinkoutthecoatofarms.Byandbyhesaidhe’dstrucksomanygoodoneshedidn’thardlyknowwhichtotake,buttherewasonewhichhereckonedhe’ddecideon.Hesays:“Onthescutcheonwe’llhaveabendorinthedexterbase,asaltiremurreyin

the fess,withadog,couchant, forcommoncharge,andunderhis footachain

embattled, for slavery, with a chevron vert in a chief engrailed, and threeinvected linesona fieldazure,with thenombril points rampant on a dancetteindented;crest,arunawaynigger,sable,withhisbundleoverhisshoulderonabarsinister;andacoupleofgulesforsupporters,which isyouandme;motto,MaggioreFretta,MinoreOtto.Gotitoutofabook—meansthemorehastethelessspeed.”“Geewhillikins,”Isays,“butwhatdoestherestofitmean?”“Weain’tgotnotimetobotheroverthat,”hesays;“wegottodiginlikeall

git-out.”“Well,anyway,”Isays,“what’ssomeofit?What’safess?”“Afess—afessis—youdon’tneedtoknowwhatafessis.I’llshowhimhow

tomakeitwhenhegetstoit.”“Shucks, Tom,” I says, “I think you might tell a person. What’s a bar

sinister?”“Oh,Idon’tknow.Buthe’sgottohaveit.Allthenobilitydoes.”That was just his way. If it didn’t suit him to explain a thing to you, he

wouldn’tdoit.Youmightpumpathimaweek,itwouldn’tmakenodifference.He’dgotallthatcoatofarmsbusinessfixed,sonowhestartedintofinishup

therestofthatpartofthework,whichwastoplanoutamournfulinscription—saidJimgottohaveone,liketheyalldone.Hemadeupalot,andwrotethemoutonapaper,andreadthemoff,so:1.Hereacaptiveheartbusted.2.Hereapoorprisoner,forsookbytheworld

andfriends,frettedhissorrowfullife.3.Herealonelyheartbroke,andawornspirit went to its rest, after thirty-seven years of solitary captivity. 4. Here,homeless and friendless, after thirty-seven years of bitter captivity, perished anoblestranger,naturalsonofLouisXIV.Tom’svoicetrembledwhilsthewasreadingthem,andhemostbrokedown.

Whenhegotdonehecouldn’tnowaymakeuphismindwhichoneforJimtoscrabbleontothewall,theywasallsogood;butatlastheallowedhewouldlethimscrabblethemallon.Jimsaiditwouldtakehimayeartoscrabblesuchalotoftruckontothelogswithanail,andhedidn’tknowhowtomakeletters,besides;butTomsaidhewouldblock themout forhim,and thenhewouldn’thavenothingtodobutjustfollowthelines.Thenprettysoonhesays:“Come to think, the logsain’t a-going todo; theydon’thave logwalls ina

dungeon:wegottodigtheinscriptionsintoarock.We’llfetcharock.”Jimsaid therockwasworse thanthe logs;hesaid itwouldtakehimsucha

pisonlongtimetodigthemintoarockhewouldn’tevergetout.ButTomsaidhewouldletmehelphimdoit.ThenhetookalooktoseehowmeandJimwasgettingalongwiththepens.Itwasmostpeskytedioushardworkandslow,anddidn’tgivemyhandsno show togetwellof the sores, andwedidn’t seem tomakenoheadway,hardly;soTomsays:“I know how to fix it. We got to have a rock for the coat of arms and

mournfulinscriptions,andwecankilltwobirdswiththatsamerock.There’sagaudybiggrindstonedownatthemill,andwe’llsmouchit,andcarvethethingsonit,andfileoutthepensandthesawonit,too.”

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Itwarn’tnoslouchofanidea;anditwarn’tnoslouchofagrindstonenuther;butweallowedwe’dtackleit.Itwarn’tquitemidnightyet,soweclearedoutforthemill,leavingJimatwork.Wesmouchedthegrindstone,andsetouttorollherhome,butitwasamostnationtoughjob.Sometimes,dowhatwecould,wecouldn’tkeepherfromfallingover,andshecomemightynearmashinguseverytime.Tomsaidshewasgoingtogetoneofus,sure,beforewegotthrough.Wegotherhalfway;andthenwewasplumbplayedout,andmostdrowndedwithsweat.Weseeitwarn’tnouse;wegottogoandfetchJim.Soheraiseduphisbedandslidthechainoffofthebed-leg,andwraptitroundandroundhisneck,andwecrawledoutthroughourholeanddownthere,andJimandmelaidintothatgrindstoneandwalkedheralonglikenothing;andTomsuperintended.Hecouldout-superintendanyboyIeversee.Heknowedhowtodoeverything.Our hole was pretty big, but it warn’t big enough to get the grindstone

through; but Jim he took the pick and soonmade it big enough. Then Tommarkedoutthemthingsonitwiththenail,andsetJimtoworkonthem,withthenailforachiselandanironboltfromtherubbageinthelean-toforahammer,andtoldhimtoworktilltherestofhiscandlequitonhim,andthenhecouldgotobed,andhide thegrindstoneunderhis straw tickandsleepon it. Thenwe

helpedhimfixhischainbackonthebed-leg,andwasreadyforbedourselves.ButTomthoughtofsomething,andsays:“Yougotanyspidersinhere,Jim?”“No,sah,thankstogoodnessIhain’t,MarsTom.”“Allright,we’llgetyousome.”“Butblessyou,honey,Idoan’wantnone.I’safeardunum.Ijis’’ssoonhave

rattlesnakesaroun’.”Tomthoughtaminuteortwo,andsays:“It’sagoodidea.AndIreckonit’sbeendone.Itmustabeendone;itstands

toreason.Yes,it’saprimegoodidea.Wherecouldyoukeepit?”“Keepwhat,MarsTom?”“Why,arattlesnake.”“De goodness gracious alive,MarsTom! Why, if deywas a rattlesnake to

comeinheahI’dtakeenbustrightoutthoodatlogwall,Iwould,widmyhead.”“Why,Jim,youwouldn’tbeafraidofitafteralittle.Youcouldtameit.”“Tameit!”“Yes—easy enough. Every animal is grateful for kindness andpetting, and

theywouldn’tthinkofhurtingapersonthatpetsthem.Anybookwilltellyouthat.Youtry—that’sallIask;justtryfortwoorthreedays.Why,youcangethimso,inalittlewhile,thathe’llloveyou;andsleepwithyou;andwon’tstayawayfromyouaminute;andwillletyouwraphimroundyourneckandputhisheadinyourmouth.”“Please,MarsTom—doan’ talk so! I can’tstan’ it! He’d letme shovehis

headinmymouf—ferafavor,hain’tit?Ilayhe’dwaitapow’fullongtime’fo’Iasthim.Enmo’endat,Idoan’wanthimtosleepwidme.”“Jim,don’tactsofoolish.Aprisoner’sgottohavesomekindofadumbpet,

andifarattlesnakehain’teverbeentried,why,there’smoreglorytobegainedinyourbeingthefirsttoevertryitthananyotherwayyoucouldeverthinkoftosaveyourlife.”“Why,MarsTom,Idoan’wantnosichglory. Snaketake’nbiteJim’schin

off,denwhahisdeglory?No,sah,Idoan’wantnosichdoin’s.”“Blameit,can’tyoutry?Ionlywantyoutotry—youneedn’tkeepitupifit

don’twork.”“ButdetroublealldoneefdesnakebitemewhileI’satryin’him.MarsTom,

I’swillin’ to tacklemos’ anything ’at ain’t onreasonable, but ef you enHuck

fetchesarattlesnakeinheahformetotame,I’sgwynetoleave,dat’sshore.”“Well,then,letitgo,letitgo,ifyou’resobull-headedaboutit. Wecanget

yousomegarter-snakes,andyoucantiesomebuttonsontheir tails,andletonthey’rerattlesnakes,andIreckonthat’llhavetodo.”

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“Ik’nstan’dem,MarsTom,butblame’’fIcouldn’getalongwidoutum,Itellyou dat. I never knowed b’fo’ ’t was so much bother and trouble to be aprisoner.”“Well,italwaysiswhenit’sdoneright.Yougotanyratsaroundhere?”“No,sah,Ihain’tseednone.”“Well,we’llgetyousomerats.”“Why,Mars Tom, I doan’want no rats. Dey’s de dadblamedest creturs to

’sturbabody,enrustleroun’over’im,enbitehisfeet,whenhe’stryin’tosleep,I ever see. No, sah, gimme g’yarter-snakes, ’f I’s got to have ’m, but doan’gimmenorats;Ihain’gotnousef’rum,skasely.”“But, Jim,yougot to have ’em—they all do. So don’tmake nomore fuss

about it. Prisonersain’teverwithout rats. Thereain’tno instanceof it. Andthey train them, and pet them, and learn them tricks, and they get to be associableasflies.Butyougottoplaymusictothem.Yougotanythingtoplaymusicon?”“Iain’gotnuffnbutacoasecombenapieceo’paper,enajuice-harp;butI

reck’ndeywouldn’takenostockinajuice-harp.”“Yestheywouldtheydon’tcarewhatkindofmusic’tis.Ajews-harp’splenty

good enough for a rat. All animals like music—in a prison they dote on it.Specially,painfulmusic;andyoucan’tgetnootherkindoutofajews-harp.Italways interests them; they comeout to seewhat’s thematterwithyou. Yes,you’re all right; you’re fixed verywell. Youwant to set on your bed nights

beforeyougotosleep,andearlyinthemornings,andplayyourjews-harp;play‘The Last Link is Broken’—that’s the thing that ’ll scoop a rat quicker ’nanythingelse;andwhenyou’veplayedabouttwominutesyou’llseealltherats,and the snakes, and spiders, and things begin to feel worried about you, andcome.Andthey’lljustfairlyswarmoveryou,andhaveanoblegoodtime.”“Yes,deywill,Ireck’n,MarsTom,butwhatkineertimeisJimhavin’?Blest

ifIkinseedepint.ButI’lldoitefIgotto.Ireck’nIbetterkeepdeanimalssatisfied,ennothavenotroubleindehouse.”Tomwaited to think itover,andsee if therewasn’tnothingelse;andpretty

soonhesays:“Oh, there’s one thing I forgot. Could you raise a flower here, do you

reckon?”“IdoanknowbutmaybeIcould,MarsTom;butit’stolabledarkinheah,enI

ain’gotnousef’rnoflower,nohow,enshe’dbeapow’fulsighto’trouble.”“Well,youtryit,anyway.Someotherprisonershasdoneit.”“One er dem big cat-tail-lookin’ mullen-stalks would grow in heah, Mars

Tom,Ireck’n,butshewouldn’tbewuthhalfdetroubleshe’dcoss.”“Don’t you believe it. We’ll fetch you a little one and you plant it in the

corneroverthere,andraiseit.Anddon’tcallitmullen,callitPitchiola—that’sitsrightnamewhenit’sinaprison.Andyouwanttowateritwithyourtears.”“Why,Igotplentyspringwater,MarsTom.”“Youdon’twant springwater;youwant towater itwithyour tears. It’s the

waytheyalwaysdo.”“Why,MarsTom,IlayIkinraiseoneerdemmullen-stalkstwystewidspring

waterwhilesanotherman’sastart’nonewidtears.”

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“Thatain’ttheidea.Yougottodoitwithtears.”

“She’lldieonmyhan’s,MarsTom,shesholywill;kaseIdoan’skaselyevercry.”SoTomwasstumped.Buthestudieditover,andthensaidJimwouldhaveto

worryalongthebesthecouldwithanonion.Hepromisedhewouldgototheniggercabinsanddropone,private,inJim’scoffee-pot,inthemorning.Jimsaidhewould“jis’’ssoonhavetobackerinhiscoffee;”andfoundsomuchfaultwithit,andwiththeworkandbotherofraisingthemullen,andjews-harpingtherats,andpettingandflatteringupthesnakesandspidersandthings,ontopofalltheother work he had to do on pens, and inscriptions, and journals, and things,whichmade itmore troubleandworryandresponsibility tobeaprisoner thananythingheeverundertook,thatTommostlostallpatiencewithhim;andsaidhewasjustloadeneddownwithmoregaudierchancesthanaprisonereverhadin the world to make a name for himself, and yet he didn’t know enough toappreciatethem,andtheywasjustaboutwastedonhim.SoJimhewassorry,andsaidhewouldn’tbehavesonomore,andthenmeandTomshovedforbed.

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CHAPTERXXXIX.IN the morning we went up to the village and bought a wire rat-trap and

fetched itdown,andunstopped thebest rat-hole,and inaboutanhourwehadfifteenofthebulliestkindofones;andthenwetookitandputitinasafeplaceunder Aunt Sally’s bed. But while we was gone for spiders little ThomasFranklin Benjamin Jefferson Elexander Phelps found it there, and opened thedoorof it to see if the ratswouldcomeout, and theydid; andAuntSally shecome in, andwhenwe got back shewas a-standing on top of the bed raisingCain,andtheratswasdoingwhattheycouldtokeepoffthedulltimesforher.

So she tookanddustedusbothwith thehickry, andwewas asmuchas twohours catching another fifteen or sixteen, drat thatmeddlesome cub, and theywarn’t the likeliest, nuther, because the first haulwas thepickof the flock. Ineverseealikelierlotofratsthanwhatthatfirsthaulwas.We got a splendid stock of sorted spiders, and bugs, and frogs, and

caterpillars,andonethingoranother;andweliketogotahornet’snest,butwedidn’t.Thefamilywasathome.Wedidn’tgiveitrightup,butstayedwiththemaslongaswecould;becauseweallowedwe’dtirethemoutorthey’dgottotireusout,andtheydoneit.Thenwegotallycumpainandrubbedontheplaces,andwaspretty near all right again, but couldn’t set downconvenient. And sowewent for the snakes, andgrabbed a couple of dozengarters andhouse-snakes,andput theminabag,andput it inour room,andby that time itwassupper-time,andarattlinggoodhonestday’swork:andhungry?—oh,no,Ireckonnot!Andtherewarn’tablessedsnakeuptherewhenwewentback—wedidn’thalftiethesack,andtheyworkedoutsomehow,andleft.Butitdidn’tmattermuch,becausetheywasstillonthepremisessomewheres.Sowejudgedwecouldgetsomeofthemagain.No,therewarn’tnorealscarcityofsnakesaboutthehousefor a considerable spell. You’d see themdripping from the rafters andplaceseverynowandthen;andtheygenerlylandedinyourplate,ordownthebackofyourneck,andmostof the timewhereyoudidn’twant them. Well, theywashandsomeandstriped,and therewarn’tnoharminamillionof them;but thatnevermadenodifferencetoAuntSally;shedespisedsnakes,bethebreedwhattheymight,andshecouldn’tstandthemnowayyoucouldfixit;andeverytimeone of them flopped down on her, it didn’tmake no differencewhat shewasdoing, she would just lay that work down and light out. I never see such awoman.AndyoucouldhearherwhooptoJericho.Youcouldn’tgethertotakea-holtofoneofthemwiththetongs. Andifsheturnedoverandfoundoneinbedshewouldscrambleoutandliftahowlthatyouwouldthinkthehousewasafire.Shedisturbedtheoldmansothathesaidhecouldmostwishtherehadn’teverbeennosnakescreated.Why,aftereverylastsnakehadbeengoneclearoutofthehouseforasmuchasaweekAuntSallywarn’toverityet;shewarn’tnearoverit;whenshewassettingthinkingaboutsomethingyoucouldtouchheronthe back of her neck with a feather and she would jump right out of herstockings.Itwasverycurious.ButTomsaidallwomenwasjustso.Hesaidtheywasmadethatwayforsomereasonorother.We got a licking every time one of our snakes come in her way, and she

allowedtheselickingswarn’tnothingtowhatshewoulddoifweeverloadedupthe place again with them. I didn’t mind the lickings, because they didn’t

amounttonothing;butImindedthetroublewehadtolayinanotherlot.Butwegot them laid in, and all the other things; and you never see a cabin asblithesomeasJim’swaswhen they’dall swarmout formusicandgo forhim.Jimdidn’tlikethespiders,andthespidersdidn’tlikeJim;andsothey’dlayforhim,andmakeitmightywarmforhim.Andhesaidthatbetweentheratsandthesnakesandthegrindstonetherewarn’tnoroominbedforhim,skasely;andwhentherewas,abodycouldn’tsleep,itwassolively,anditwasalwayslively,hesaid,becausetheyneverallsleptatonetime,buttookturnabout,sowhenthesnakeswasasleeptheratswasondeck,andwhentheratsturnedinthesnakescomeonwatch,sohealwayshadonegangunderhim, inhisway,and t’otherganghavingacircusoverhim,andifhegotuptohuntanewplacethespiderswould takeachanceathimashecrossedover.Hesaid ifheevergotout thistimehewouldn’teverbeaprisoneragain,notforasalary.Well, by the end of threeweeks everythingwas in pretty good shape. The

shirtwassentinearly,inapie,andeverytimearatbitJimhewouldgetupandwrite a little in his journal whilst the ink was fresh; the pens was made, theinscriptionsandsoonwasallcarvedonthegrindstone;thebed-legwassawedintwo,andwehadetupthesawdust,anditgiveusamostamazingstomach-ache.Wereckonedwewasallgoingtodie,butdidn’t.ItwasthemostundigestiblesawdustIeversee;andTomsaidthesame.

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ButasIwassaying,we’dgotalltheworkdonenow,atlast;andwewasallprettymuchfaggedout,too,butmainlyJim.TheoldmanhadwroteacoupleoftimestotheplantationbelowOrleanstocomeandgettheirrunawaynigger,buthadn’tgotnoanswer,becausetherewarn’tnosuchplantation;soheallowedhewould advertise Jim in the St. Louis and New Orleans papers; and when hementionedtheSt.Louisonesitgivemethecoldshivers,andIseewehadn’tnotimetolose.SoTomsaid,nowforthenonnamousletters.“What’sthem?”Isays.“Warningstothepeoplethatsomethingisup.Sometimesit’sdoneoneway,

sometimes another. But there’s always somebody spying around that givesnoticetothegovernorofthecastle.WhenLouisXVI.wasgoingtolightoutofthe Tooleries, a servant-girl done it. It’s a very good way, and so is thenonnamous letters. We’ll use them both. And it’s usual for the prisoner’smother to change clotheswith him, and she stays in, and he slides out in herclothes.We’lldothat,too.”“Butlookyhere,Tom,whatdowewanttowarnanybodyforthatsomething’s

up?Letthemfinditoutforthemselves—it’stheirlookout.”“Yes,Iknow;butyoucan’tdependonthem.It’sthewaythey’veactedfrom

theverystart—leftustodoeverything.They’resoconfidingandmullet-headedtheydon’t takenoticeofnothingatall. So ifwedon’tgive themnotice therewon’tbenobodynornothingtointerferewithus,andsoafterallourhardworkandtroublethisescape’llgooffperfectlyflat;won’tamounttonothing—won’tbenothingtoit.”“Well,asforme,Tom,that’sthewayI’dlike.”“Shucks!”hesays,andlookeddisgusted.SoIsays:“But I ain’tgoing tomakenocomplaint. Anyway that suitsyou suitsme.

Whatyougoingtodoabouttheservant-girl?”“You’llbeher.Youslidein,inthemiddleofthenight,andhookthatyaller

girl’sfrock.”“Why, Tom, that ’ll make trouble next morning; because, of course, she

prob’blyhain’tgotanybutthatone.”“I know;but youdon’twant it but fifteenminutes, to carry thenonnamous

letterandshoveitunderthefrontdoor.”“Allright,then,I’lldoit;butIcouldcarryitjustashandyinmyowntogs.”“Youwouldn’tlooklikeaservant-girlthen,wouldyou?”“No,buttherewon’tbenobodytoseewhatIlooklike,anyway.”“Thatain’tgotnothingtodowithit.Thethingforustodoisjusttodoour

duty,andnotworryaboutwhetheranybodyseesusdoitornot.Hain’tyougotnoprincipleatall?”“Allright,Iain’tsayingnothing;I’mtheservant-girl.Who’sJim’smother?”“I’mhismother.I’llhookagownfromAuntSally.”“Well,then,you’llhavetostayinthecabinwhenmeandJimleaves.”“Not much. I’ll stuff Jim’s clothes full of straw and lay it on his bed to

representhismotherindisguise,andJim’lltaketheniggerwoman’sgownoffofmeandwearit,andwe’llallevadetogether.Whenaprisonerofstyleescapesit’s called an evasion. It’s always called sowhen a king escapes, f’rinstance. And the samewith a king’s son; it don’tmake no differencewhether he’s anaturaloneoranunnaturalone.”SoTomhewrote the nonnamous letter, and I smouched the yallerwench’s

frockthatnight,andputiton,andshoveditunderthefrontdoor,thewayTomtoldmeto.Itsaid:Beware.Troubleisbrewing.Keepasharplookout.UnknownFriend.

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Next nightwe stuck a picture,which Tom drawed in blood, of a skull andcrossbonesonthefrontdoor;andnextnightanotheroneofacoffinonthebackdoor.Ineverseeafamilyinsuchasweat.Theycouldn’tabeenworsescarediftheplacehadabeenfullofghostslayingforthembehindeverythingandunderthebedsandshiveringthroughtheair.Ifadoorbanged,AuntSallyshejumpedandsaid“ouch!”ifanythingfell,shejumpedandsaid“ouch!”ifyouhappened

to touch her, when shewarn’t noticing, she done the same; she couldn’t facenoway and be satisfied, because she allowed therewas something behind herevery time—so shewas always a-whirling around sudden, and saying “ouch,”andbeforeshe’dgottwo-thirdsaroundshe’dwhirlbackagain,andsayitagain;andshewasafraidtogotobed,butshedasn’tsetup.Sothethingwasworkingverywell,Tomsaid;hesaidheneverseeathingworkmoresatisfactory.Hesaiditshoweditwasdoneright.Sohesaid,nowforthegrandbulge!Sotheverynextmorningatthestreakof

dawnwegotanotherletterready,andwaswonderingwhatwebetterdowithit,becauseweheardthemsayatsuppertheywasgoingtohaveaniggeronwatchatbothdoorsallnight.Tomhewentdownthelightning-rodtospyaround;andtheniggerat thebackdoorwasasleep,andhestuck it in thebackofhisneckandcomeback.Thislettersaid:Don’t betray me, I wish to be your friend. There is a desprate gang of

cutthroatsfromoverintheIndianTerritorygoingtostealyourrunawayniggerto-night,andtheyhavebeentryingtoscareyousoasyouwillstayinthehouseandnotbotherthem.Iamoneofthegang,buthavegotreliggionandwishtoquititandleadanhonestlifeagain,andwillbetraythehelishdesign.Theywillsneakdownfromnorthards,alongthefence,atmidnightexact,withafalsekey,andgointhenigger’scabintogethim.IamtobeoffapieceandblowatinhornifIseeanydanger;butsteadofthatIwillbaalikeasheepsoonastheygetinandnotblowatall;thenwhilsttheyaregettinghischainsloose,youslipthereandlockthemin,andcankillthematyourleasure.Don’tdoanythingbutjustthe way I am telling you, if you do they will suspicion something and raisewhoop-jamboreehoo.IdonotwishanyrewardbuttoknowIhavedonetherightthing.UnknownFriend.

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CHAPTERXL.WEwasfeelingprettygoodafterbreakfast,andtookmycanoeandwentover

therivera-fishing,withalunch,andhadagoodtime,andtookalookattheraftandfoundherallright,andgothomelatetosupper,andfoundtheminsuchasweatandworrytheydidn’tknowwhichendtheywasstandingon,andmadeusgorightofftobedtheminutewewasdonesupper,andwouldn’ttelluswhatthetroublewas, and never let on aword about the new letter, but didn’t need to,becauseweknowedasmuchaboutitasanybodydid,andassoonaswewashalfupstairsandherbackwasturnedweslidforthecellarcupboardandloadedupagoodlunchandtookituptoourroomandwenttobed,andgotupabouthalf-pasteleven,andTomputonAuntSally’sdress thathestoleandwasgoing tostartwiththelunch,butsays:“Where’sthebutter?”“Ilaidoutahunkofit,”Isays,“onapieceofacorn-pone.”“Well,youleftitlaidout,then—itain’there.”“Wecangetalongwithoutit,”Isays.“Wecangetalongwithit,too,”hesays;“justyouslidedowncellarandfetch

it. And thenmosey right down the lightning-rod and comealong. I’ll go andstuff the straw into Jim’s clothes to represent his mother in disguise, and bereadytobaalikeasheepandshovesoonasyougetthere.”Soouthewent,anddowncellarwentI.Thehunkofbutter,bigasaperson’s

fist,waswhereIhad left it, so I tookup theslabofcorn-ponewith iton,andblowedoutmylight,andstartedupstairsverystealthy,andgotuptothemainfloorallright,butherecomesAuntSallywithacandle,andIclappedthetruckinmyhat,andclappedmyhatonmyhead,andthenextsecondsheseeme;andshesays:“Youbeendowncellar?”“Yes’m.”“Whatyoubeendoingdownthere?”“Noth’n.”“Noth’n!”“No’m.”“Well,then,whatpossessedyoutogodowntherethistimeofnight?”

“Idon’tknow’m.”“Youdon’tknow?Don’tanswermethatway.Tom,Iwanttoknowwhatyou

beendoingdownthere.”“Ihain’tbeendoingasinglething,AuntSally,IhopetograciousifIhave.”Ireckonedshe’dletmegonow,andasagenerlthingshewould;butIs’pose

therewassomanystrangethingsgoingonshewasjustinasweatabouteverylittlethingthatwarn’tyard-stickstraight;soshesays,verydecided:“Youjustmarchintothatsetting-roomandstaytheretillIcome.Youbeenup

tosomethingyounobusinessto,andIlayI’llfindoutwhatitisbeforeI’Mdonewithyou.”SoshewentawayasIopenedthedoorandwalkedintothesetting-room.My,

buttherewasacrowdthere!Fifteenfarmers,andeveryoneofthemhadagun.Iwasmostpowerfulsick,andslunktoachairandsetdown.Theywassettingaround,someofthemtalkingalittle,inalowvoice,andallofthemfidgetyanduneasy,buttryingtolookliketheywarn’t;butIknowedtheywas,becausetheywasalwaystakingofftheirhats,andputtingthemon,andscratchingtheirheads,andchangingtheirseats,andfumblingwiththeirbuttons.Iwarn’teasymyself,butIdidn’ttakemyhatoff,allthesame.

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IdidwishAuntSallywouldcome,andgetdonewithme,andlickme,ifshewantedto,andletmegetawayandtellTomhowwe’doverdonethisthing,andwhat a thundering hornet’s-nest we’d got ourselves into, so we could stopfoolingaroundstraightoff, andclearoutwith Jimbefore these ripsgotoutofpatienceandcomeforus.Atlastshecomeandbeguntoaskmequestions,butIcouldn’tanswer them

straight,Ididn’tknowwhichendofmewasup;becausethesemenwasinsuchafidget now that some was wanting to start right NOW and lay for them

desperadoes,andsayingitwarn’tbutafewminutestomidnight;andotherswastryingtogetthemtoholdonandwaitforthesheep-signal;andherewasAuntypeggingawayatthequestions,andmea-shakingalloverandreadytosinkdowninmy tracks Iwas thatscared;and theplacegettinghotterandhotter,and thebutterbeginningtomeltandrundownmyneckandbehindmyears;andprettysoon,whenoneofthemsays,“I’Mforgoingandgettinginthecabin firstandrightnow,andcatchingthemwhentheycome,”Imostdropped;andastreakofbuttercomea-tricklingdownmyforehead,andAuntSallysheseeit,andturnswhiteasasheet,andsays:“For the land’s sake,what is thematterwith thechild? He’sgot thebrain-

feverasshoreasyou’reborn,andthey’reoozingout!”Andeverybodyruns tosee,andshesnatchesoffmyhat,andoutcomes the

breadandwhatwasleftofthebutter,andshegrabbedme,andhuggedme,andsays:“Oh,whataturnyoudidgiveme!andhowgladandgratefulIamitain’tno

worse;forluck’sagainstus,anditneverrainsbutitpours,andwhenIseethattruckIthoughtwe’dlostyou,forIknowedbythecolorandallitwasjustlikeyourbrainswouldbeif—Dear,dear,whyd’ntyou tellmethatwaswhatyou’dbeendowntherefor,Iwouldn’tacared.Nowclerouttobed,anddon’tlemmeseenomoreofyoutillmorning!”Iwasup stairs in a second, anddown the lightning-rod in anotherone, and

shinningthroughthedarkforthelean-to.Icouldn’thardlygetmywordsout,Iwassoanxious;butItoldTomasquickasIcouldwemustjumpforitnow,andnotaminutetolose—thehousefullofmen,yonder,withguns!Hiseyesjustblazed;andhesays:“No!—isthatso?ain’titbully!Why,Huck,ifitwastodooveragain,IbetI

couldfetchtwohundred!Ifwecouldputitofftill—”“Hurry!Hurry!”Isays."Where’sJim?”“Right at your elbow; if you reach out your arm you can touch him. He’s

dressed,andeverything’sready.Nowwe’llslideoutandgivethesheep-signal.”Butthenweheardthetrampofmencomingtothedoor,andheardthembegin

tofumblewiththepad-lock,andheardamansay:“I toldyouwe’dbe toosoon; theyhaven’tcome—thedoor is locked.Here,

I’lllocksomeofyouintothecabin,andyoulayfor’eminthedarkandkill’emwhentheycome;andtherestscatteraroundapiece,andlistenifyoucanhear’emcoming.”

Sointheycome,butcouldn’tseeusinthedark,andmosttrodonuswhilstwewashustlingtogetunderthebed. Butwegotunderallright,andoutthroughthehole,swiftbutsoft—Jimfirst,menext,andTomlast,whichwasaccordingto Tom’s orders. Now we was in the lean-to, and heard trampings close byoutside.Sowecrepttothedoor,andTomstoppedusthereandputhiseyetothecrack,butcouldn’tmakeoutnothing,itwassodark;andwhisperedandsaidhewouldlistenforthestepstogetfurther,andwhenhenudgedusJimmustglideoutfirst,andhimlast.Sohesethiseartothecrackandlistened,andlistened,andlistened,andthestepsa-scrapingaroundoutthereallthetime;andatlasthenudgedus,andweslidout,andstoopeddown,notbreathing,andnotmakingtheleastnoise,andslippedstealthytowardsthefenceinInjunfile,andgottoitallright,andmeandJimoverit;butTom’sbritchescatchedfastonasplinteronthetop rail, and then he hear the steps coming, so he had to pull loose, whichsnapped the splinter and made a noise; and as he dropped in our tracks andstartedsomebodysingsout:

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“Who’sthat?Answer,orI’llshoot!”Butwedidn’tanswer;wejustunfurledourheelsandshoved.Thentherewas

arush,andaBang,Bang,Bang!and thebullets fairlywhizzedaroundus!Weheardthemsingout:“Heretheyare!They’vebrokefortheriver!After’em,boys,andturnloose

thedogs!”Soheretheycome,fulltilt.Wecouldhearthembecausetheyworebootsand

yelled,butwedidn’twearnobootsanddidn’tyell. Wewasinthepathtothemill;andwhen theygotprettycloseon touswedodged into thebushand letthemgoby,andthendroppedinbehindthem.They’dhadallthedogsshutup,sotheywouldn’tscareofftherobbers;butbythistimesomebodyhadletthemloose,andheretheycome,makingpowwowenoughforamillion;buttheywas

ourdogs;sowestoppedinourtrackstilltheycatchedup;andwhentheyseeitwarn’t nobody but us, and no excitement to offer them, they only just saidhowdy,andtorerightaheadtowardstheshoutingandclattering;andthenweup-steamagain, andwhizzed along after them tillwewas nearly to themill, andthenstruckupthroughthebushtowheremycanoewastied,andhoppedinandpulled for dear life towards themiddle of the river, but didn’tmake nomorenoise thanwewasobleeged to.Thenwestruckout,easyandcomfortable, forthe islandwheremy raftwas; andwe could hear themyelling and barking ateachotherallupanddownthebank,tillwewassofarawaythesoundsgotdimanddiedout.AndwhenwesteppedontotheraftIsays:“Now,oldJim,you’reafreemanagain,andIbetyouwon’teverbeaslaveno

more.”“Enamightygoodjobitwuz,too,Huck. It’uzplannedbeautiful,enit’uz

done beautiful; en dey ain’t nobody kin git up a plan dat’s mo’mixed-up ensplendiddenwhatdatonewuz.”Wewasallgladaswecouldbe,butTomwasthegladdestofallbecausehe

hadabulletinthecalfofhisleg.WhenmeandJimheardthatwedidn’tfeelsobrashaswhatwedidbefore.It

washurtinghimconsiderable,andbleeding;sowelaidhiminthewigwamandtoreuponeoftheduke’sshirtsfortobandagehim,buthesays:“Gimmetherags;Icandoitmyself.Don’tstopnow;don’tfoolaroundhere,

andtheevasionboomingalongsohandsome;manthesweeps,andsetherloose!Boys,wedone it elegant!—’deedwedid. Iwishwe’d ahad thehandlingofLouisXVI., therewouldn’t abeenno ‘SonofSaintLouis, ascend toheaven!’wrotedown inhis biography; no, sir,we’d awhoopedhimover theborder—that’swhatwe’dadonewithhim—anddoneitjustasslickasnothingatall,too.Manthesweeps—manthesweeps!”But me and Jim was consulting—and thinking. And after we’d thought a

minute,Isays:“Sayit,Jim.”Sohesays:“Well,den,disisdewayitlooktome,Huck.Efitwuzhimdat’uzbein’sot

free, en one er de boys wuz to git shot, would he say, ‘Go on en save me,nemmine ’bout a doctor f’r to save dis one?’ Is dat likeMars TomSawyer?Wouldhesaydat?Youbethewouldn’t!well,den,isJimgywnetosayit?No,sah—Idoan’budgeastepout’ndisplace’doutadoctor,notifit’sfortyyear!”

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Iknowedhewaswhiteinside,andIreckonedhe’dsaywhathedidsay—soitwas all right now, and I told Tom I was a-going for a doctor. He raisedconsiderablerowaboutit,butmeandJimstucktoitandwouldn’tbudge;sohewasforcrawlingoutandsettingtheraftloosehimself;butwewouldn’tlethim.Thenhegiveusapieceofhismind,butitdidn’tdonogood.Sowhenheseesmegettingthecanoeready,hesays:“Well,then,ifyou’reboundtogo,I’lltellyouthewaytodowhenyougetto

thevillage.Shutthedoorandblindfoldthedoctortightandfast,andmakehimsweartobesilentasthegrave,andputapursefullofgoldinhishand,andthentakeand leadhimallaround thebackalleysandeverywheres in thedark,andthenfetchhimhereinthecanoe,inaroundaboutwayamongsttheislands,andsearchhimandtakehischalkawayfromhim,anddon’tgiveitbacktohimtillyougethimbacktothevillage,orelsehewillchalkthisraftsohecanfinditagain.It’sthewaytheyalldo.”SoIsaidIwould,andleft,andJimwastohideinthewoodswhenheseethe

doctorcomingtillhewasgoneagain.

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CHAPTERXLI.THEdoctorwasanoldman; averynice,kind-lookingoldmanwhen Igot

him up. I told himme and my brother was over on Spanish Island huntingyesterday afternoon, and camped on a piece of a raft we found, and aboutmidnighthemustakickedhisguninhisdreams,foritwentoffandshothimintheleg,andwewantedhimtogooverthereandfixitandnotsaynothingaboutit, nor let anybody know, becausewewanted to come home this evening andsurprisethefolks.“Whoisyourfolks?”hesays.“ThePhelpses,downyonder.”“Oh,”hesays.Andafteraminute,hesays:“How’dyousayhegotshot?”“Hehadadream,”Isays,“anditshothim.”“Singulardream,”hesays.Sohelituphislantern,andgothissaddle-bags,andwestarted.Butwhenhe

seesthecanoehedidn’tlikethelookofher—saidshewasbigenoughforone,butdidn’tlookprettysafefortwo.Isays:“Oh,youneedn’tbeafeard,sir,shecarriedthethreeofuseasyenough.”“Whatthree?”“Why,meandSid,and—and—andtheguns;that’swhatImean.”“Oh,”hesays.Butheputhisfootonthegunnelandrockedher,andshookhishead,andsaid

he reckoned he’d look around for a bigger one. But theywas all locked andchained; sohe tookmycanoe,andsaid forme towait tillhecomeback,or Icouldhuntaroundfurther,ormaybeIbettergodownhomeandgetthemreadyforthesurpriseifIwantedto.ButIsaidIdidn’t;soItoldhimjusthowtofindtheraft,andthenhestarted.Istruckanideaprettysoon.Isaystomyself,spos’nhecan’tfixthatlegjust

inthreeshakesofasheep’stail,asthesayingis?spos’nittakeshimthreeorfourdays?Whatarewegoingtodo?—layaroundtheretillheletsthecatoutofthebag?No,sir;IknowwhatI’lldo.I’llwait,andwhenhecomesbackifhesayshe’sgottogoanymoreI’llgetdownthere,too,ifIswim;andwe’lltakeandtiehim,andkeephim,andshoveoutdown the river; andwhenTom’sdonewith

himwe’llgivehimwhatit’sworth,orallwegot,andthenlethimgetashore.SothenIcreptintoalumber-piletogetsomesleep;andnexttimeIwakedup

thesunwasawayupovermyhead!Ishotoutandwentforthedoctor’shouse,but they toldme he’d gone away in the night some time or other, andwarn’tbackyet.Well,thinksI,thatlookspowerfulbadforTom,andI’lldigoutfortheislandrightoff.SoawayIshoved,andturnedthecorner,andnearlyrammedmyheadintoUncleSilas’sstomach!Hesays:“Why,Tom!Whereyoubeenallthistime,yourascal?”

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“Ihain’tbeennowheres,”Isays,“onlyjusthuntingfortherunawaynigger—meandSid.”“Why,whereeverdidyougo?”hesays."Youraunt’sbeenmightyuneasy.”“Sheneedn’t,”Isays,“becausewewasall right. Wefollowedthemenand

thedogs,buttheyoutrunus,andwelostthem;butwethoughtweheardthemonthe water, so we got a canoe and took out after them and crossed over, butcouldn’tfindnothingofthem;sowecruisedalongup-shoretillwegotkindoftiredandbeatout;andtiedupthecanoeandwenttosleep,andneverwakeduptillaboutanhourago;thenwepaddledoverheretohearthenews,andSid’satthepost-officetoseewhathecanhear,andI’ma-branchingouttogetsomethingtoeatforus,andthenwe’regoinghome.”Sothenwewenttothepost-officetoget“Sid”;butjustasIsuspicioned,he

warn’t there; so the oldman he got a letter out of the office, and wewaitedawhilelonger,butSiddidn’tcome;sotheoldmansaid,comealong,letSidfootithome,orcanoe it,whenhegotdone foolingaround—butwewould ride. Icouldn’tgethimtoletmestayandwaitforSid;andhesaidtherewarn’tnouseinit,andImustcomealong,andletAuntSallyseewewasallright.WhenwegothomeAuntSallywasthatgladtoseemeshelaughedandcried

both, and hugged me, and give me one of them lickings of hern that don’tamounttoshucks,andsaidshe’dserveSidthesamewhenhecome.And the placewas plum full of farmers and farmers’wives, to dinner; and

suchanotherclackabodyneverheard.OldMrs.Hotchkisswastheworst;hertonguewasa-goingallthetime.Shesays:“Well,SisterPhelps,I’veransackedthat-aircabinover,an’Ib’lievethenigger

wascrazy. IsaystoSisterDamrell—didn’tI,SisterDamrell?—s’I,he’scrazy,s’I—them’stheverywordsIsaid.Youallhearnme:he’scrazy,s’I;everythingshowsit,s’I.Lookatthat-airgrindstone,s’I;wanttotellme’tanycretur’t’sinhisrightmind’sagoin’toscrabbleallthemcrazythingsontoagrindstone,s’I?Heresich’n’sichapersonbustedhisheart;’n’hereso’n’sopeggedalongforthirty-seven year, ’n’ all that—natcherl son o’ Louis somebody, ’n’ sicheverlast’nrubbage.He’splumbcrazy,s’I;it’swhatIsaysinthefustplace,it’swhatIsaysinthemiddle,’n’it’swhatIsayslast’n’allthetime—thenigger’scrazy—crazy‘sNebokoodneezer,s’I.”

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“An’lookatthat-airladdermadeout’nrags,SisterHotchkiss,”saysoldMrs.Damrell;“whatinthenameo’goodnesscouldheeverwantof—”“The very words I was a-sayin’ no longer ago th’n this minute to Sister

Utterback,’n’she’ll tellyousoherself. Sh-she, lookat that-airragladder,sh-she;’n’s’I,yes,lookatit,s’I—whatcouldhea-wantedofit,s’I.Sh-she,SisterHotchkiss,sh-she—”“Buthow in thenation’d theyevergit thatgrindstone in there,anyway? ’n’

whodugthat-airhole?’n’who—”“My very words, Brer Penrod! I was a-sayin’—pass that-air sasser o’

m’lasses,won’tye?—Iwasa-sayin’ toSisterDunlap, jist thisminute,howdidthey git that grindstone in there, s’I. Without help, mind you—’thout help! that’swher ’tis. Don’t tellme, s’I; therewuz help, s’I; ’n’ ther’wuz aplenty

help,too,s’I;ther’sbenadozena-helpin’thatnigger,’n’IlayI’dskineverylastniggeronthisplacebutI’dfindoutwhodoneit,s’I;’n’moreover,s’I—”“Adozensaysyou!—fortycouldn’tadoneeverythingthat’sbeendone.Look

atthemcase-knifesawsandthings,howtediousthey’vebeenmade;lookatthatbed-legsawedoffwith’m,aweek’sworkforsixmen;lookatthatniggermadeout’nstrawonthebed;andlookat—”“Youmaywell say it, Brer Hightower! It’s jist as I was a-sayin’ to Brer

Phelps,hisownself.S’e,whatdoyouthinkofit,SisterHotchkiss,s’e?Thinko’what,BrerPhelps,s’I?Thinko’thatbed-legsawedoffthataway,s’e?thinkofit, s’I? I lay it never sawed itself off, s’I—somebody sawed it, s’I; that’smyopinion,takeitorleaveit, itmayn’tbeno’count,s’I,butsichas’t is, it’smyopinion,s’I,’n’ifanybodyk’nstartabetterone,s’I,lethimdoit,s’I,that’sall.IsaystoSisterDunlap,s’I—”“Why, dogmy cats, theymust a ben a house-full o’ niggers in there every

nightforfourweekstoadoneallthatwork,SisterPhelps.Lookatthatshirt—every last inch of it kivered overwith secretAfricanwrit’n donewith blood!Mustabenaraftuv’matitrightalong,allthetime,amost.Why,I’dgivetwodollarstohaveitreadtome;’n’asfortheniggersthatwroteit,I’lowI’dtake’n’lash’mt’ll—”“Peopletohelphim,BrotherMarples!Well,Ireckonyou’dthinksoifyou’d

abeeninthishouseforawhileback.Why,they’vestoleeverythingtheycouldlay theirhandson—andwea-watchingall the time,mindyou.Theystole thatshirtrightoffo’theline!andasforthatsheettheymadetheragladderoutof,ther’ ain’t no telling how many times they didn’t steal that; and flour, andcandles, and candlesticks, and spoons, and the old warming-pan, and most athousandthingsthatIdisremembernow,andmynewcalicodress;andmeandSilasandmySidandTomontheconstantwatchdayandnight,asIwasa-tellingyou,andnotaoneofuscouldcatchhidenorhairnorsightnorsoundofthem;and here at the lastminute, lo and behold you, they slides right in under ournosesandfoolsus,andnotonlyfoolsusbuttheInjunTerritoryrobberstoo,andactulygetsawaywiththatniggersafeandsound,andthatwithsixteenmenandtwenty-twodogs right on their veryheels at that very time! I tell you, it justbangsanythingIeverheardof.Why,speritscouldn’tadonebetterandbeennosmarter.And I reckon theymust abeen sperits—because,you knowourdogs,andther’ain’tnobetter;well,themdogsneverevengotonthetrackof’monce!Youexplainthattomeifyoucan!—anyofyou!”“Well,itdoesbeat—”

“Lawsalive,Inever—”“Sohelpme,Iwouldn’tabe—”“House-thievesaswellas—”“Goodnessgracioussakes,I’dabenafeardtoliveinsicha—”“’Fraidtolive!—why,IwasthatscaredIdasn’thardlygotobed,orgetup,or

lay down, or set down, Sister Ridgeway. Why, they’d steal the very—why,goodness sakes, you can guess what kind of a fluster I was in by the timemidnightcomelastnight.IhopetograciousifIwarn’tafraidthey’dstealsomeo’ the family! Iwas just to that pass I didn’t have no reasoning faculties nomore.Itlooksfoolishenoughnow,inthedaytime;butIsaystomyself,there’smytwopoorboysasleep,’wayupstairsinthatlonesomeroom,andIdeclaretogoodness Iwas thatuneasy ’t Icrep’up thereand locked’emin! Idid. Andanybodywould.Because,youknow,whenyougetscaredthatway,anditkeepsrunning on, and getting worse and worse all the time, and your wits gets toaddling,andyougettodoingallsortso’wildthings,andbyandbyyouthinktoyourself,spos’nIwasaboy,andwasawayupthere,andthedoorain’tlocked,and you—”She stopped, looking kind ofwondering, and then she turned herheadaroundslow,andwhenhereyelitonme—Igotupandtookawalk.SaysItomyself,Icanexplainbetterhowwecometonotbeinthatroomthis

morning if Igoout toone sideand studyover it a little. So Idone it. But Idasn’tgofur,orshe’dasentforme.Andwhenitwaslateinthedaythepeopleallwent,andthenIcomeinandtoldher thenoiseandshootingwakedupmeand“Sid,”andthedoorwaslocked,andwewantedtoseethefun,sowewentdownthelightning-rod,andbothofusgothurtalittle,andwedidn’tneverwanttotrythatnomore.AndthenIwentonandtoldherallwhatItoldUncleSilasbefore; and then she said she’d forgive us, andmaybe itwas all right enoughanyway,andaboutwhatabodymightexpectofboys,forallboyswasaprettyharum-scarum lot as fur as she could see; and so, as long as no harm hadn’tcomeofit,shejudgedshebetterputinhertimebeinggratefulwewasaliveandwellandshehadusstill,steadoffrettingoverwhatwaspastanddone.Sothenshekissedme,andpattedmeonthehead,anddroppedintoakindofabrownstudy;andprettysoonjumpsup,andsays:“Why,lawsamercy,it’smostnight,andSidnotcomeyet!Whathasbecome

ofthatboy?”Iseemychance;soIskipsupandsays:“I’llrunrightuptotownandgethim,”Isays.“Noyouwon’t,”shesays."You’llstayrightwher’youare;one’senoughto

belostatatime.Ifheain’theretosupper,youruncle’llgo.”Well,hewarn’ttheretosupper;sorightaftersupperunclewent.He come back about ten a little bit uneasy; hadn’t run across Tom’s track.

Aunt Sally was a good deal uneasy; but Uncle Silas he said there warn’t nooccasiontobe—boyswillbeboys,hesaid,andyou’llseethisoneturnupinthemorningallsoundandright.Soshehadtobesatisfied.Butshesaidshe’dsetupforhimawhileanyway,andkeepalightburningsohecouldseeit.

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AndthenwhenIwentuptobedshecomeupwithmeandfetchedhercandle,andtuckedmein,andmotheredmesogoodIfeltmean,andlikeIcouldn’tlookherintheface;andshesetdownonthebedandtalkedwithmealongtime,andsaidwhatasplendidboySidwas,anddidn’tseemtowanttoeverstoptalkingabouthim;andkeptaskingmeeverynowandthenifIreckonedhecouldagotlost,orhurt,ormaybedrownded,andmightbelayingatthisminutesomewheressufferingordead,andshenotbyhimtohelphim,andsothetearswoulddripdownsilent,andIwouldtellherthatSidwasallright,andwouldbehomeinthemorning,sure;andshewouldsqueezemyhand,ormaybekissme,andtellmetosayitagain,andkeeponsayingit,becauseitdonehergood,andshewasinsomuchtrouble. Andwhenshewasgoingawayshelookeddowninmyeyessosteadyandgentle,andsays:“Thedoorain’tgoingtobelocked,Tom,andthere’sthewindowandtherod;

butyou’llbegood,won’tyou?Andyouwon’tgo?Formysake.”Laws knows I wanted to go bad enough to see about Tom, and was all

intendingtogo;butafterthatIwouldn’tawent,notforkingdoms.ButshewasonmymindandTomwasonmymind,soIsleptveryrestless.

AndtwiceIwentdowntherodawayinthenight,andslippedaroundfront,andseehersettingtherebyhercandleinthewindowwithhereyestowardstheroadandthetearsinthem;andIwishedIcoulddosomethingforher,butIcouldn’t,

onlytoswearthatIwouldn’tneverdonothingtogrieveheranymore.Andthethird time Iwakedupatdawn, and sliddown, and shewas thereyet, andhercandlewasmostout,andheroldgrayheadwasrestingonherhand,andshewasasleep.

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CHAPTERXLII.THEoldmanwasuptownagainbeforebreakfast,butcouldn’tgetnotrackof

Tom; and both of them set at the table thinking, and not saying nothing, andlookingmournful,andtheircoffeegettingcold,andnoteatinganything.Andbyandbytheoldmansays:“DidIgiveyoutheletter?”“Whatletter?”“TheoneIgotyesterdayoutofthepost-office.”“No,youdidn’tgivemenoletter.”“Well,Imustaforgotit.”So he rummaged his pockets, and thenwent off somewhereswhere he had

laiditdown,andfetchedit,andgiveittoher.Shesays:“Why,it’sfromSt.Petersburg—it’sfromSis.”Iallowedanotherwalkwoulddomegood;butIcouldn’tstir.Butbeforeshe

couldbreakitopenshedroppeditandrun—forsheseesomething.AndsodidI.ItwasTomSawyer on amattress; and that old doctor; and Jim, inher calicodress,withhishandstiedbehindhim;andalotofpeople.Ihidtheletterbehindthe first thing thatcomehandy,and rushed. She flungherselfatTom,crying,

andsays:“Oh,he’sdead,he’sdead,Iknowhe’sdead!”AndTomheturnedhisheadalittle,andmutteredsomethingorother,which

showedhewarn’tinhisrightmind;thensheflungupherhands,andsays:“He’salive,thankGod!Andthat’senough!”andshesnatchedakissofhim,

andflewforthehousetogetthebedready,andscatteringordersrightandleftattheniggersandeverybodyelse,asfastashertonguecouldgo,everyjumpoftheway.I followed themen to seewhat theywasgoing todowith Jim; and theold

doctorandUncleSilas followedafterTominto thehouse. Themenwasveryhuffy, and some of themwanted to hang Jim for an example to all the otherniggersaroundthere,sotheywouldn’tbetryingtorunawaylikeJimdone,andmakingsucharaftoftrouble,andkeepingawholefamilyscaredmosttodeathfordaysandnights.Buttheotherssaid,don’tdoit,itwouldn’tansweratall;heain’tournigger,andhisownerwouldturnupandmakeuspayforhim,sure.Sothatcooledthemdownalittle,becausethepeoplethat’salwaysthemostanxiousfortohanganiggerthathain’tdonejustrightisalwaystheveryonesthatain’tthemostanxioustopayforhimwhenthey’vegottheirsatisfactionoutofhim.TheycussedJimconsiderble,though,andgivehimacuffortwosidethehead

onceinawhile,butJimneversaidnothing,andheneverletontoknowme,andtheytookhimto thesamecabin,andputhisownclothesonhim,andchainedhim again, and not to no bed-leg this time, but to a big staple drove into thebottomlog,andchainedhishands,too,andbothlegs,andsaidhewarn’ttohavenothingbutbreadandwatertoeatafterthistillhisownercome,orhewassoldatauctionbecausehedidn’tcomeinacertainlengthoftime,andfilledupourhole,andsaidacoupleoffarmerswithgunsmuststandwatcharoundaboutthecabineverynight,andabulldogtiedtothedoorinthedaytime;andaboutthistime theywas throughwith the jobandwas taperingoffwithakindofgenerlgood-byecussing,andthentheolddoctorcomesandtakesalook,andsays:“Don’tbenorougheronhimthanyou’reobleegedto,becauseheain’tabad

nigger.WhenIgottowhereIfoundtheboyIseeIcouldn’tcutthebulletoutwithoutsomehelp,andhewarn’tinnoconditionformetoleavetogoandgethelp;andhegotalittleworseandalittleworse,andafteralongtimehewentoutofhishead, andwouldn’t letmecomea-nighhimanymore, and said if Ichalkedhisrafthe’dkillme,andnoendofwildfoolishnesslikethat,andIseeIcouldn’tdoanythingatallwithhim;soIsays,Igottohavehelpsomehow;andtheminuteIsaysitoutcrawlsthisniggerfromsomewheresandsayshe’llhelp,

and he done it, too, and done it verywell. Of course I judged hemust be arunawaynigger,andthereIwas!andthereIhadtostickrightstraightalongalltherestofthedayandallnight.Itwasafix,Itellyou!Ihadacoupleofpatientswiththechills,andofcourseI’doflikedtorunuptotownandseethem,butIdasn’t, because the niggermight get away, and then I’d be to blame; and yetneveraskiffcomecloseenoughformetohail. SothereIhadtostickplumbuntil daylight thismorning; and I never see a nigger thatwas a better nussorfaithfuller,andyethewasriskinghisfreedomtodoit,andwasalltiredout,too,andIseeplainenoughhe’dbeenworkedmainhardlately.Ilikedtheniggerforthat; I tellyou,gentlemen,anigger like that iswortha thousanddollars—andkindtreatment, too. IhadeverythingIneeded,andtheboywasdoingaswellthereashewouldadoneathome—better,maybe,becauseitwassoquiet;butthereIwas,withbothof’monmyhands,andthereIhadtosticktillaboutdawnthismorning;thensomemeninaskiffcomeby,andasgoodluckwouldhaveittheniggerwas settingby thepalletwithhisheadproppedonhisknees soundasleep;soImotionedtheminquiet,andtheyslippeduponhimandgrabbedhimandtiedhimbeforeheknowedwhathewasabout,andweneverhadnotrouble.And the boy being in a kind of a flighty sleep, too,wemuffled the oars andhitchedtherafton,andtowedheroververyniceandquiet,andtheniggernevermade the least row nor said a word from the start. He ain’t no bad nigger,gentlemen;that’swhatIthinkabouthim.”

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Somebodysays:“Well,itsoundsverygood,doctor,I’mobleegedtosay.”Thentheotherssoftenedupalittle,too,andIwasmightythankfultothatold

doctor for doing Jim that good turn; and I was glad it was according to myjudgmentofhim,too;becauseIthoughthehadagoodheartinhimandwasagoodmanthefirsttimeIseehim.ThentheyallagreedthatJimhadactedvery

well,andwasdeserving tohavesomenotice tookof it,andreward. Soeveryoneofthempromised,rightoutandhearty,thattheywouldn’tcusshimnomore.Then they comeout and lockedhimup. I hoped theywasgoing to sayhe

couldhaveoneortwoofthechainstookoff,becausetheywasrottenheavy,orcouldhavemeatandgreenswithhisbreadandwater;buttheydidn’tthinkofit,andIreckoneditwarn’tbestformetomixin,butIjudgedI’dgetthedoctor’syarntoAuntSallysomehoworotherassoonasI’dgotthroughthebreakersthatwaslayingjustaheadofme—explanations,Imean,ofhowIforgottomentionaboutSidbeingshotwhenIwastellinghowhimandmeputinthatdrattednightpaddlingaroundhuntingtherunawaynigger.ButIhadplentytime.AuntSallyshestucktothesick-roomalldayandall

night,andeverytimeIseeUncleSilasmooningaroundIdodgedhim.NextmorningIheardTomwasagooddealbetter,andtheysaidAuntSally

wasgonetogetanap.SoIslipstothesick-room,andifIfoundhimawakeIreckonedwe could put up a yarn for the family thatwouldwash.But hewassleeping,andsleepingverypeaceful,too;andpale,notfire-facedthewayhewaswhenhecome.SoIsetdownandlaidforhimtowake.InabouthalfanhourAuntSallycomesglidingin,andthereIwas,upastumpagain!Shemotionedmetobestill,andsetdownbyme,andbeguntowhisper,andsaidwecouldallbejoyfulnow,becauseall thesymptomswasfirst-rate,andhe’dbeensleepinglikethatforeversolong,andlookingbetterandpeacefullerallthetime,andtentoonehe’dwakeupinhisrightmind.Soweset therewatching,andbyandbyhestirsabit,andopenedhiseyes

verynatural,andtakesalook,andsays:“Hello!—why,I’mathome!How’sthat?Where’stheraft?”“It’sallright,”Isays.“AndJim?”“Thesame,”Isays,butcouldn’tsayitprettybrash.Buthenevernoticed,but

says:“Good!Splendid!Nowwe’reallrightandsafe!DidyoutellAunty?”Iwasgoingtosayyes;butshechippedinandsays:"Aboutwhat,Sid?”“Why,aboutthewaythewholethingwasdone.”“Whatwholething?”“Why,thewholething.Thereain’tbutone;howwesettherunawaynigger

free—meandTom.”“Goodland!Settherun—Whatisthechildtalkingabout!Dear,dear,outof

hisheadagain!”“No, Iain’toutofmyhead; Iknowallwhat I’mtalkingabout. Wedid set

himfree—meandTom.Welaidouttodoit,andwedone it. Andwedoneitelegant,too.”He’dgotastart,andshenevercheckedhimup,justsetandstaredandstared,and lethimclipalong,and I see itwarn’tnouse forme toput in."Why,Aunty,itcostusapowerofwork—weeksofit—hoursandhours,everynight,whilstyouwasallasleep.Andwehadtostealcandles,andthesheet,andthe shirt, and your dress, and spoons, and tin plates, and case-knives, and thewarming-pan,andthegrindstone,andflour,andjustnoendofthings,andyoucan’tthinkwhatworkitwastomakethesaws,andpens,andinscriptions,andone thingor another, andyou can’t thinkhalf the fun itwas. Andwehad tomake up the pictures of coffins and things, and nonnamous letters from therobbers,andgetupanddownthelightning-rod,anddigtheholeintothecabin,andmadetheropeladderandsenditincookedupinapie,andsendinspoonsandthingstoworkwithinyourapronpocket—”“Mercysakes!”“—andloadupthecabinwithratsandsnakesandsoon,forcompanyforJim;

andthenyoukeptTomheresolongwiththebutterinhishatthatyoucomenearspiling the whole business, because the men come before we was out of thecabin,andwehad to rush,and theyheardusand letdriveatus,andIgotmyshare, andwe dodged out of the path and let themgo by, andwhen the dogscometheywarn’t interestedinus,butwentforthemostnoise,andwegotourcanoe,andmadefortheraft,andwasallsafe,andJimwasafreeman,andwedoneitallbyourselves,andwasn’titbully,Aunty!”“Well, Ineverheard the likesof it inallmyborndays! So itwasyou,you

little rapscallions, that’s beenmaking all this trouble, and turned everybody’switscleaninsideoutandscaredusallmost todeath. I’veasgoodanotionaseverIhadinmylifetotakeitouto’youthisveryminute.Tothink,hereI’vebeen,nightafternight,a—you justgetwellonce,youyoungscamp,and I layI’lltantheOldHarryouto’botho’ye!”ButTom,hewassoproudandjoyful,hejustcouldn’tholdin,andhistongue

justwent it—she a-chipping in, and spitting fire all along, and both of themgoingitatonce,likeacatconvention;andshesays:“Well,yougetalltheenjoymentyoucanoutofitnow,formindItellyouifI

catchyoumeddlingwithhimagain—”“Meddlingwithwho?”Tomsays,droppinghissmileandlookingsurprised.“Withwho?Why,therunawaynigger,ofcourse.Who’dyoureckon?”

Tomlooksatmeverygrave,andsays:“Tom,didn’tyoujusttellmehewasallright?Hasn’thegotaway?”“Him?”saysAuntSally;“therunawaynigger?'Deedhehasn’t.They’vegot

himback,safeandsound,andhe’sinthatcabinagain,onbreadandwater,andloadeddownwithchains,tillhe’sclaimedorsold!”

c42-361.jpg(33K)

Tom rose square up in bed, with his eye hot, and his nostrils opening andshuttinglikegills,andsingsouttome:“Theyhain’tnorighttoshuthimup!SHOVE!—anddon’tyouloseaminute.

Turn him loose! he ain’t no slave; he’s as free as any cretur that walks thisearth!”“Whatdoesthechildmean?”“ImeaneverywordIsay,AuntSally,andifsomebodydon’tgo,I’llgo.I’ve

knowed him all his life, and so has Tom, there. OldMissWatson died twomonthsago,andshewasashamedsheeverwasgoingtosellhimdowntheriver,andsaidso;andshesethimfreeinherwill.”“Thenwhatonearthdidyouwanttosethimfreefor,seeinghewasalready

free?”“Well,thatisaquestion,Imustsay;andjustlikewomen!Why,Iwantedthe

adventure of it; and I’d awadedneck-deep inblood to—goodness alive,AuntPolly!”If shewarn’t standing right there, just inside thedoor, lookingas sweetand

contentedasanangelhalffullofpie,IwishImaynever!Aunt Sally jumped for her, andmost hugged the head off of her, and cried

over her, and I found a good enough place for me under the bed, for it wasgettingprettysultryforus,seemedtome.AndIpeepedout,andinalittlewhileTom’s Aunt Polly shook herself loose and stood there looking across at Tomoverherspectacles—kindofgrindinghiminto theearth,youknow. Andthenshesays:“Yes,youbetterturny’rheadaway—IwouldifIwasyou,Tom.”“Oh,dearyme!”saysAuntSally;“Ishechangedso?Why,thatain’tTom,it’s

Sid;Tom’s—Tom’s—why,whereisTom?Hewashereaminuteago.”“You mean where’s Huck Finn—that’s what you mean! I reckon I hain’t

raisedsuchascampasmyTomalltheseyearsnottoknowhimwhenIseehim.Thatwouldbeaprettyhowdy-do.Comeoutfromunderthatbed,HuckFinn.”SoIdoneit.Butnotfeelingbrash.Aunt Sally she was one of the mixed-upest-looking persons I ever see—

except one, and thatwasUncleSilas,whenhe come in and they told it all to

him.Itkindofmadehimdrunk,asyoumaysay,andhedidn’tknownothingatalltherestoftheday,andpreachedaprayer-meetingsermonthatnightthatgavehim a rattling ruputation, because the oldest man in the world couldn’t aunderstoodit.SoTom’sAuntPolly,shetoldallaboutwhoIwas,andwhat;andIhadtoupandtellhowIwasinsuchatightplacethatwhenMrs.Phelpstookme for TomSawyer—she chipped in and says, “Oh, go on and callmeAuntSally,I’musedtoitnow,and’tain’tnoneedtochange”—thatwhenAuntSallytookme for Tom Sawyer I had to stand it—therewarn’t no otherway, and Iknowedhewouldn’tmind,because itwouldbenuts forhim,beingamystery,andhe’dmakeanadventureoutofit,andbeperfectlysatisfied.Andsoitturnedout,andheletontobeSid,andmadethingsassoftashecouldforme.AndhisAuntPollyshesaidTomwasrightaboutoldMissWatsonsettingJim

free in herwill; and so, sure enough,TomSawyer hadgone and took all thattrouble and bother to set a free nigger free! and I couldn’t ever understandbefore,untilthatminuteandthattalk,howhecouldhelpabodysetaniggerfreewithhisbringing-up.Well,AuntPollyshesaidthatwhenAuntSallywrotetoherthatTomandSid

hadcomeallrightandsafe,shesaystoherself:“Look at that, now! Imight have expected it, letting him go off that way

withoutanybodytowatchhim.SonowIgottogoandtrapseallthewaydowntheriver,elevenhundredmile,andfindoutwhatthatcreetur’suptothistime,aslongasIcouldn’tseemtogetanyansweroutofyouaboutit.”“Why,Ineverheardnothingfromyou,”saysAuntSally.“Well,Iwonder!Why,Iwroteyoutwicetoaskyouwhatyoucouldmeanby

Sidbeinghere.”“Well,Inevergot’em,Sis.”AuntPollysheturnsaroundslowandsevere,andsays:“You,Tom!”“Well—what?”hesays,kindofpettish.“Don’tyouwhatme,youimpudentthing—handoutthemletters.”

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“Whatletters?”“Themletters.Ibebound,ifIhavetotakea-holtofyouI’ll—”“They’re in the trunk. There, now. And they’re just the same as theywas

when Igot themoutof theoffice. Ihain’t looked into them, Ihain’t touchedthem. But I knowed they’dmake trouble, and I thought if you warn’t in nohurry,I’d—”“Well, youdo need skinning, there ain’t nomistake about it. And Iwrote

anotheronetotellyouIwascoming;andIs’posehe—”“No,itcomeyesterday;Ihain’treadityet,butit’sallright,I’vegotthatone.”Iwantedtooffer tobet twodollarsshehadn’t,butI reckonedmaybeitwas

justassafetonotto.SoIneversaidnothing.

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CHAPTERTHELASTTHEfirsttimeIcatchedTomprivateIaskedhimwhatwashisidea,timeof

theevasion?—whatitwashe’dplannedtodoiftheevasionworkedallrightandhemanagedtosetaniggerfreethatwasalreadyfreebefore?Andhesaid,whathehadplannedinhisheadfromthestart,ifwegotJimoutallsafe,wasforustorunhimdowntheriverontheraft,andhaveadventuresplumbtothemouthoftheriver,andthentellhimabouthisbeingfree,andtakehimbackuphomeona

steamboat,instyle,andpayhimforhislosttime,andwritewordaheadandgetoutalltheniggersaround,andhavethemwaltzhimintotownwithatorchlightprocessionandabrass-band,andthenhewouldbeahero,andsowouldwe.ButIreckoneditwasaboutaswellthewayitwas.WehadJimoutofthechainsinnotime,andwhenAuntPollyandUncleSilas

andAuntSallyfoundouthowgoodhehelpedthedoctornurseTom,theymadeaheapoffussoverhim,andfixedhimupprime,andgivehimallhewantedtoeat,andagoodtime,andnothingtodo.Andwehadhimuptothesick-room,andhadahightalk;andTomgiveJimfortydollarsforbeingprisonerforussopatient,anddoingitupsogood,andJimwaspleasedmosttodeath,andbustedout,andsays:

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“Dah,now,Huck,whatItellyou?—whatItellyouupdahonJacksonislan’?ItoleyouIgotahairybreas’,enwhat’sdesignunit;enItoleyouIbenrichwunst,engwinetertoberichagin;enit’scometrue;enheahsheis!dah,now!doan’talktome—signsissigns,mineItellyou;enIknowedjis’’swell’atI’uzgwineterberichaginasI’sa-stannin’heahdisminute!”AndthenTomhetalkedalongandtalkedalong,andsays,le’sallthreeslide

outofhereoneofthesenightsandgetanoutfit,andgoforhowlingadventuresamongst the Injuns, over in theTerritory, for a couple ofweeks or two; and Isays,allright,thatsuitsme,butIain’tgotnomoneyfortobuytheoutfit,andIreckonIcouldn’tgetnonefromhome,becauseit’slikelypap’sbeenbackbeforenow,andgotitallawayfromJudgeThatcheranddrunkitup.“No,hehain’t,”Tomsays;“it’sallthereyet—sixthousanddollarsandmore;

andyourpaphain’teverbeenbacksince.Hadn’twhenIcomeaway,anyhow.”Jimsays,kindofsolemn:“Heain’ta-comin’backnomo’,Huck.”

Isays:“Why,Jim?”“Nemminewhy,Huck—butheain’tcomin’backnomo.”ButIkeptathim;soatlasthesays:“Doan’you ’memberdehousedatwas float’ndownde river,endeywuza

manindah,kiveredup,enIwentinenunkiveredhimanddidn’letyoucomein?Well,den,youkingityo’moneywhenyouwantsit,kasedatwuzhim.”Tom’smostwellnow,andgothisbulletaroundhisneckonawatch-guardfor

awatch,andisalwaysseeingwhattimeitis,andsothereain’tnothingmoretowriteabout,andIamrottengladofit,becauseifI’daknowedwhatatroubleitwastomakeabookIwouldn’tatackledit,andain’ta-goingtonomore.ButIreckonIgottolightoutfortheTerritoryaheadoftherest,becauseAuntSallyshe’sgoingtoadoptmeandsivilizeme,andIcan’tstandit.Ibeentherebefore.THEEND.YOURSTRULY,HUCKFINN.

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