投诉 阅读记录

第1章

YOUdon”tknowaboutmewithoutyouhavereadabookbythenameofTheAdventuresofTomSawyer;butthatain”tnomatter。ThatbookwasmadebyMr。MarkTwain,andhetoldthetruth,mainly。Therewasthingswhichhestretched,butmainlyhetoldthetruth。Thatisnothing。Ineverseenanybodybutliedonetimeoranother,withoutitwasAuntPolly,orthewidow,ormaybeMary。AuntPolly——Tom”sAuntPolly,sheis——andMary,andtheWidowDouglasisalltoldaboutinthatbook,whichismostlyatruebook,withsomestretchers,asIsaidbefore。

Nowthewaythatthebookwindsupisthis:Tomandmefoundthemoneythattherobbershidinthecave,anditmadeusrich。Wegotsixthousanddollarsapiece——allgold。Itwasanawfulsightofmoneywhenitwaspiledup。Well,JudgeThatcherhetookitandputitoutatinterest,anditfetchedusadollaradayapiecealltheyearround——morethanabodycouldtellwhattodowith。TheWidowDouglasshetookmeforherson,andallowedshewouldsivilizeme;butitwasroughlivinginthehouseallthetime,consideringhowdismalregularanddecentthewidowwasinallherways;andsowhenIcouldn”tstanditnolongerIlitout。Igotintomyoldragsandmysugar-hogsheadagain,andwasfreeandsatisfied。

ButTomSawyerhehuntedmeupandsaidhewasgoingtostartabandofrobbers,andImightjoinifIwouldgobacktothewidowandberespectable。

SoIwentback。

Thewidowshecriedoverme,andcalledmeapoorlostlamb,andshecalledmealotofothernames,too,butshenevermeantnoharmbyit。

Sheputmeinthemnewclothesagain,andIcouldn”tdonothingbutsweatandsweat,andfeelallcrampedup。Well,then,theoldthingcommencedagain。Thewidowrungabellforsupper,andyouhadtocometotime。Whenyougottothetableyoucouldn”tgorighttoeating,butyouhadtowaitforthewidowtotuckdownherheadandgrumblealittleoverthevictuals,thoughtherewarn”treallyanythingthematterwiththem,——thatis,nothingonlyeverythingwascookedbyitself。Inabarrelofoddsandendsitisdifferent;thingsgetmixedup,andthejuicekindofswapsaround,andthethingsgobetter。

AftersuppershegotoutherbookandlearnedmeaboutMosesandtheBulrushers,andIwasinasweattofindoutallabouthim;butbyandbysheletitoutthatMoseshadbeendeadaconsiderablelongtime;sothenIdidn”tcarenomoreabouthim,becauseIdon”ttakenostockindeadpeople。

PrettysoonIwantedtosmoke,andaskedthewidowtoletme。Butshewouldn”t。Shesaiditwasameanpracticeandwasn”tclean,andImusttrytonotdoitanymore。Thatisjustthewaywithsomepeople。Theygetdownonathingwhentheydon”tknownothingaboutit。Hereshewasa-botheringaboutMoses,whichwasnokintoher,andnousetoanybody,beinggone,yousee,yetfindingapoweroffaultwithmefordoingathingthathadsomegoodinit。Andshetooksnuff,too;ofcoursethatwasallright,becauseshedoneitherself。

Hersister,MissWatson,atolerableslimoldmaid,withgoggleson,hadjustcometolivewithher,andtookasetatmenowwithaspelling-book。

Sheworkedmemiddlinghardforaboutanhour,andthenthewidowmadehereaseup。Icouldn”tstooditmuchlonger。Thenforanhouritwasdeadlydull,andIwasfidgety。MissWatsonwouldsay,“Don”tputyourfeetupthere,Huckleberry;“and“Don”tscrunchuplikethat,Huckleberry——setupstraight;“andprettysoonshewouldsay,“Don”tgapandstretchlikethat,Huckleberry——whydon”tyoutrytobehave?“Thenshetoldmeallaboutthebadplace,andIsaidIwishedIwasthere。Shegotmadthen,butIdidn”tmeannoharm。AllIwantedwastogosomewheres;allIwantedwasachange,Iwarn”tparticular。ShesaiditwaswickedtosaywhatI

said;saidshewouldn”tsayitforthewholeworld;shewasgoingtolivesoastogotothegoodplace。Well,Icouldn”tseenoadvantageingoingwhereshewasgoing,soImadeupmymindIwouldn”ttryforit。ButI

neversaidso,becauseitwouldonlymaketrouble,andwouldn”tdonogood。

Nowshehadgotastart,andshewentonandtoldmeallaboutthegoodplace。Shesaidallabodywouldhavetodotherewastogoaroundalldaylongwithaharpandsing,foreverandever。SoIdidn”tthinkmuchofit。ButIneversaidso。IaskedherifshereckonedTomSawyerwouldgothere,andshesaidnotbyaconsiderablesight。Iwasgladaboutthat,becauseIwantedhimandmetobetogether。

MissWatsonshekeptpeckingatme,anditgottiresomeandlonesome。

Byandbytheyfetchedtheniggersinandhadprayers,andtheneverybodywasofftobed。Iwentuptomyroomwithapieceofcandle,andputitonthetable。ThenIsetdowninachairbythewindowandtriedtothinkofsomethingcheerful,butitwarn”tnouse。IfeltsolonesomeImostwishedIwasdead。Thestarswereshining,andtheleavesrustledinthewoodseversomournful;andIheardanowl,awayoff,who-whooingaboutsomebodythatwasdead,andawhippowillandadogcryingaboutsomebodythatwasgoingtodie;andthewindwastryingtowhispersomethingtome,andIcouldn”tmakeoutwhatitwas,andsoitmadethecoldshiversrunoverme。ThenawayoutinthewoodsIheardthatkindofasoundthataghostmakeswhenitwantstotellaboutsomethingthat”sonitsmindandcan”tmakeitselfunderstood,andsocan”tresteasyinitsgrave,andhastogoaboutthatwayeverynightgrieving。Igotsodown-heartedandscaredIdidwishIhadsomecompany。Prettysoonaspiderwentcrawlingupmyshoulder,andIflippeditoffanditlitinthecandle;andbeforeIcouldbudgeitwasallshriveledup。Ididn”tneedanybodytotellmethatthatwasanawfulbadsignandwouldfetchmesomebadluck,soI

wasscaredandmostshooktheclothesoffofme。Igotupandturnedaroundinmytracksthreetimesandcrossedmybreasteverytime;andthenItiedupalittlelockofmyhairwithathreadtokeepwitchesaway。ButIhadn”tnoconfidence。Youdothatwhenyou”velostahorseshoethatyou”vefound,insteadofnailingitupoverthedoor,butIhadn”teverheardanybodysayitwasanywaytokeepoffbadluckwhenyou”dkilledaspider。

Isetdownagain,a-shakingallover,andgotoutmypipeforasmoke;

forthehousewasallasstillasdeathnow,andsothewidowwouldn”tknow。Well,afteralongtimeIheardtheclockawayoffinthetowngoboom——boom——boom——twelvelicks;andallstillagain——stillerthanever。PrettysoonIheardatwigsnapdowninthedarkamongstthetrees——somethingwasastirring。Isetstillandlistened。DirectlyIcouldjustbarelyheara“me-yow!me-yow!“downthere。Thatwasgood!SaysI,“me-yow!me-yow!“assoftasIcould,andthenIputoutthelightandscrambledoutofthewindowontotheshed。ThenIslippeddowntothegroundandcrawledinamongthetrees,and,sureenough,therewasTomSawyerwaitingforme。

TheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinn-Chapter2Chapter2WEwenttiptoeingalongapathamongstthetreesbacktowardstheendofthewidow”sgarden,stoopingdownsoasthebrancheswouldn”tscrapeourheads。WhenwewaspassingbythekitchenIfelloverarootandmadeanoise。Wescroucheddownandlaidstill。MissWatson”sbignigger,namedJim,wassettinginthekitchendoor;wecouldseehimprettyclear,becausetherewasalightbehindhim。Hegotupandstretchedhisneckoutaboutaminute,listening。Thenhesays:

“Whodah?“

Helistenedsomemore;thenhecometiptoeingdownandstoodrightbetweenus;wecouldatouchedhim,nearly。Well,likelyitwasminutesandminutesthattherewarn”tasound,andwealltheresoclosetogether。Therewasaplaceonmyanklethatgottoitching,butIdasn”tscratchit;andthenmyearbeguntoitch;andnextmyback,rightbetweenmyshoulders。SeemedlikeI”ddieifIcouldn”tscratch。Well,I”venoticedthatthingplentytimessince。Ifyouarewiththequality,oratafuneral,ortryingtogotosleepwhenyouain”tsleepy——ifyouareanywhereswhereitwon”tdoforyoutoscratch,whyyouwillitchalloverinupwardsofathousandplaces。PrettysoonJimsays:

“Say,whoisyou?Wharisyou?DogmycatsefIdidn”hearsumf”n。Well,IknowwhatI”sgwynetodo:I”sgwynetosetdownhereandlistentellIhearsitagin。”

SohesetdownonthegroundbetwixtmeandTom。Heleanedhisbackupagainstatree,andstretchedhislegsouttilloneofthemmosttouchedoneofmine。Mynosebeguntoitch。Ititchedtillthetearscomeintomyeyes。ButIdasn”tscratch。Thenitbeguntoitchontheinside。NextIgottoitchingunderneath。Ididn”tknowhowIwasgoingtosetstill。

Thismiserablenesswentonasmuchassixorsevenminutes;butitseemedasightlongerthanthat。Iwasitchinginelevendifferentplacesnow。

IreckonedIcouldn”tstanditmore”naminutelonger,butIsetmyteethhardandgotreadytotry。JustthenJimbeguntobreatheheavy;nexthebeguntosnore——andthenIwasprettysooncomfortableagain。

Tomhemadeasigntome——kindofalittlenoisewithhismouth——

andwewentcreepingawayonourhandsandknees。WhenwewastenfootoffTomwhisperedtome,andwantedtotieJimtothetreeforfun。ButIsaidno;hemightwakeandmakeadisturbance,andthenthey”dfindoutIwarn”tin。ThenTomsaidhehadn”tgotcandlesenough,andhewouldslipinthekitchenandgetsomemore。Ididn”twanthimtotry。IsaidJimmightwakeupandcome。ButTomwantedtoreskit;soweslidinthereandgotthreecandles,andTomlaidfivecentsonthetableforpay。Thenwegotout,andIwasinasweattogetaway;butnothingwoulddoTombuthemustcrawltowhereJimwas,onhishandsandknees,andplaysomethingonhim。Iwaited,anditseemedagoodwhile,everythingwassostillandlonesome。

AssoonasTomwasbackwecutalongthepath,aroundthegardenfence,andbyandbyfetcheduponthesteeptopofthehilltheothersideofthehouse。TomsaidheslippedJim”shatoffofhisheadandhungitonalimbrightoverhim,andJimstirredalittle,buthedidn”twake。AfterwardsJimsaidthewitchesbewitchedhimandputhiminatrance,androdehimallovertheState,andthensethimunderthetreesagain,andhunghishatonalimbtoshowwhodoneit。AndnexttimeJimtoldithesaidtheyrodehimdowntoNewOrleans;and,afterthat,everytimehetoldithespreaditmoreandmore,tillbyandbyhesaidtheyrodehimallovertheworld,andtiredhimmosttodeath,andhisbackwasalloversaddle-boils。

Jimwasmonstrousproudaboutit,andhegotsohewouldn”thardlynoticetheotherniggers。NiggerswouldcomemilestohearJimtellaboutit,andhewasmorelookeduptothananyniggerinthatcountry。Strangeniggerswouldstandwiththeirmouthsopenandlookhimallover,sameasifhewasawonder。Niggersisalwaystalkingaboutwitchesinthedarkbythekitchenfire;butwheneveronewastalkingandlettingontoknowallaboutsuchthings,Jimwouldhappeninandsay,“Hm!Whatyouknow”boutwitches?“

andthatniggerwascorkedupandhadtotakeabackseat。Jimalwayskeptthatfive-centerpieceroundhisneckwithastring,andsaiditwasacharmthedevilgivetohimwithhisownhands,andtoldhimhecouldcureanybodywithitandfetchwitcheswheneverhewantedtojustbysayingsomethingtoit;buthenevertoldwhatitwashesaidtoit。NiggerswouldcomefromallaroundthereandgiveJimanythingtheyhad,justforasightofthatfivecenterpiece;buttheywouldn”ttouchit,becausethedevilhadhadhishandsonit。Jimwasmostruinedforaservant,becausehegotstuckuponaccountofhavingseenthedevilandbeenrodebywitches。

Well,whenTomandmegottotheedgeofthehilltopwelookedawaydownintothevillageandcouldseethreeorfourlightstwinkling,wheretherewassickfolks,maybe;andthestarsoveruswassparklingeversofine;anddownbythevillagewastheriver,awholemilebroad,andawfulstillandgrand。WewentdownthehillandfoundJoHarperandBenRogers,andtwoorthreemoreoftheboys,hidintheoldtanyard。Soweunhitchedaskiffandpulleddowntherivertwomileandahalf,tothebigscaronthehillside,andwentashore。

Wewenttoaclumpofbushes,andTommadeeverybodysweartokeepthesecret,andthenshowedthemaholeinthehill,rightinthethickestpartofthebushes。Thenwelitthecandles,andcrawledinonourhandsandknees。Wewentabouttwohundredyards,andthenthecaveopenedup。

Tompokedaboutamongstthepassages,andprettysoonduckedunderawallwhereyouwouldn”tanoticedthattherewasahole。Wewentalonganarrowplaceandgotintoakindofroom,alldampandsweatyandcold,andtherewestopped。Tomsays:

“Now,we”llstartthisbandofrobbersandcallitTomSawyer”sGang。

Everybodythatwantstojoinhasgottotakeanoath,andwritehisnameinblood。”

Everybodywaswilling。SoTomgotoutasheetofpaperthathehadwrotetheoathon,andreadit。Itsworeeveryboytosticktotheband,andnevertellanyofthesecrets;andifanybodydoneanythingtoanyboyintheband,whicheverboywasorderedtokillthatpersonandhisfamilymustdoit,andhemustn”teatandhemustn”tsleeptillhehadkilledthemandhackedacrossintheirbreasts,whichwasthesignoftheband。

Andnobodythatdidn”tbelongtothebandcouldusethatmark,andifhedidhemustbesued;andifhedoneitagainhemustbekilled。Andifanybodythatbelongedtothebandtoldthesecrets,hemusthavehisthroatcut,andthenhavehiscarcassburntupandtheashesscatteredallaround,andhisnameblottedoffofthelistwithbloodandnevermentionedagainbythegang,buthaveacurseputonitandbeforgotforever。

Everybodysaiditwasarealbeautifuloath,andaskedTomifhegotitoutofhisownhead。Hesaid,someofit,buttherestwasoutofpirate-booksandrobber-books,andeverygangthatwashigh-tonedhadit。

SomethoughtitwouldbegoodtokilltheFAMILIESofboysthattoldthesecrets。Tomsaiditwasagoodidea,sohetookapencilandwroteitin。ThenBenRogerssays:

“Here”sHuckFinn,hehain”tgotnofamily;whatyougoingtodo”bouthim?“

“Well,hain”thegotafather?“saysTomSawyer。

“Yes,he”sgotafather,butyoucan”tneverfindhimthesedays。Heusedtolaydrunkwiththehogsinthetanyard,buthehain”tbeenseeninthesepartsforayearormore。”

Theytalkeditover,andtheywasgoingtorulemeout,becausetheysaideveryboymusthaveafamilyorsomebodytokill,orelseitwouldn”tbefairandsquarefortheothers。Well,nobodycouldthinkofanythingtodo——everybodywasstumped,andsetstill。Iwasmostreadytocry;

butallatonceIthoughtofaway,andsoIofferedthemMissWatson——

theycouldkillher。Everybodysaid:

“Oh,she”lldo。That”sallright。Huckcancomein。”

Thentheyallstuckapinintheirfingerstogetbloodtosignwith,andImademymarkonthepaper。

“Now,“saysBenRogers,“what”sthelineofbusinessofthisGang?“

“Nothingonlyrobberyandmurder,“Tomsaid。

“Butwhoarewegoingtorob?——houses,orcattle,or”

“Stuff!stealingcattleandsuchthingsain”trobbery;it”sburglary,“

saysTomSawyer。“Weain”tburglars。Thatain”tnosortofstyle。Wearehighwaymen。Westopstagesandcarriagesontheroad,withmaskson,andkillthepeopleandtaketheirwatchesandmoney。”

“Mustwealwayskillthepeople?“

“Oh,certainly。It”sbest。Someauthoritiesthinkdifferent,butmostlyit”sconsideredbesttokillthem——exceptsomethatyoubringtothecavehere,andkeepthemtillthey”reransomed。”

“Ransomed?What”sthat?“

“Idon”tknow。Butthat”swhattheydo。I”veseenitinbooks;andsoofcoursethat”swhatwe”vegottodo。”

“Buthowcanwedoitifwedon”tknowwhatitis?“

“Why,blameitall,we”veGOTtodoit。Don”tItellyouit”sinthebooks?Doyouwanttogotodoingdifferentfromwhat”sinthebooks,andgetthingsallmuddledup?“

“Oh,that”sallveryfinetoSAY,TomSawyer,buthowinthenationarethesefellowsgoingtoberansomedifwedon”tknowhowtodoittothem?——that”sthethingIwanttogetat。Now,whatdoyoureckonitis?“

“Well,Idon”tknow。Butper”apsifwekeepthemtillthey”reransomed,itmeansthatwekeepthemtillthey”redead。“

“Now,that”ssomethingLIKE。That”llanswer。Whycouldn”tyousaidthatbefore?We”llkeepthemtillthey”reransomedtodeath;andabothersomelotthey”llbe,too——eatingupeverything,andalwaystryingtogetloose。”

“Howyoutalk,BenRogers。Howcantheygetloosewhenthere”saguardoverthem,readytoshootthemdowniftheymoveapeg?“

“Aguard!Well,thatISgood。Sosomebody”sgottosetupallnightandnevergetanysleep,justsoastowatchthem。Ithinkthat”sfoolishness。

Whycan”tabodytakeaclubandransomthemassoonastheygethere?“

“Becauseitain”tinthebooksso——that”swhy。Now,BenRogers,doyouwanttodothingsregular,ordon”tyou?——that”stheidea。Don”tyoureckonthatthepeoplethatmadethebooksknowswhat”sthecorrectthingtodo?DoyoureckonYOUcanlearn”emanything?Notbyagooddeal。

No,sir,we”lljustgoonandransomthemintheregularway。”

“Allright。Idon”tmind;butIsayit”safoolway,anyhow。Say,dowekillthewomen,too?“

“Well,BenRogers,ifIwasasignorantasyouIwouldn”tleton。Killthewomen?No;nobodyeversawanythinginthebookslikethat。Youfetchthemtothecave,andyou”realwaysaspoliteaspietothem;andbyandbytheyfallinlovewithyou,andneverwanttogohomeanymore。”

“Well,ifthat”sthewayI”magreed,butIdon”ttakenostockinit。

Mightysoonwe”llhavethecavesoclutteredupwithwomen,andfellowswaitingtoberansomed,thattherewon”tbenoplacefortherobbers。Butgoahead,Iain”tgotnothingtosay。”

LittleTommyBarneswasasleepnow,andwhentheywakedhimuphewasscared,andcried,andsaidhewantedtogohometohisma,anddidn”twanttobearobberanymore。

Sotheyallmadefunofhim,andcalledhimcrybaby,andthatmadehimmad,andhesaidhewouldgostraightandtellallthesecrets。ButTomgivehimfivecentstokeepquiet,andsaidwewouldallgohomeandmeetnextweek,androbsomebodyandkillsomepeople。

BenRogerssaidhecouldn”tgetoutmuch,onlySundays,andsohewantedtobeginnextSunday;butalltheboyssaiditwouldbewickedtodoitonSunday,andthatsettledthething。Theyagreedtogettogetherandfixadayassoonastheycould,andthenweelectedTomSawyerfirstcaptainandJoHarpersecondcaptainoftheGang,andsostartedhome。

Iclumbuptheshedandcreptintomywindowjustbeforedaywasbreaking。

Mynewclotheswasallgreasedupandclayey,andIwasdog-tired。

TheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinn-Chapter3Chapter3WELL,Igotagoodgoing-overinthemorningfromoldMissWatsononaccountofmyclothes;butthewidowshedidn”tscold,butonlycleanedoffthegreaseandclay,andlookedsosorrythatIthoughtIwouldbehaveawhileifIcould。ThenMissWatsonshetookmeintheclosetandprayed,butnothingcomeofit。Shetoldmetoprayeveryday,andwhateverIaskedforIwouldgetit。Butitwarn”tso。Itriedit。OnceIgotafish-line,butnohooks。Itwarn”tanygoodtomewithouthooks。Itriedforthehooksthreeorfourtimes,butsomehowIcouldn”tmakeitwork。Byandby,oneday,IaskedMissWatsontotryforme,butshesaidIwasafool。Shenevertoldmewhy,andIcouldn”tmakeitoutnoway。

Isetdownonetimebackinthewoods,andhadalongthinkaboutit。

Isaystomyself,ifabodycangetanythingtheyprayfor,whydon”tDeaconWinngetbackthemoneyhelostonpork?Whycan”tthewidowgetbackhersilversnuffboxthatwasstole?Whycan”tMissWatsonfatup?No,saysItomyself,thereain”tnothinginit。Iwentandtoldthewidowaboutit,andshesaidthethingabodycouldgetbyprayingforitwas“spiritualgifts。”Thiswastoomanyforme,butshetoldmewhatshemeant——Imusthelpotherpeople,anddoeverythingIcouldforotherpeople,andlookoutforthemallthetime,andneverthinkaboutmyself。ThiswasincludingMissWatson,asItookit。Iwentoutinthewoodsandturneditoverinmymindalongtime,butIcouldn”tseenoadvantageaboutit——exceptfortheotherpeople;soatlastIreckonedIwouldn”tworryaboutitanymore,butjustletitgo。SometimesthewidowwouldtakemeonesideandtalkaboutProvidenceinawaytomakeabody”smouthwater;butmaybenextdayMissWatsonwouldtakeholdandknockitalldownagain。IjudgedIcouldseethattherewastwoProvidences,andapoorchapwouldstandconsiderableshowwiththewidow”sProvidence,butifMissWatson”sgothimtherewarn”tnohelpforhimanymore。Ithoughtitallout,andreckonedIwouldbelongtothewidow”sifhewantedme,thoughIcouldn”tmakeouthowhewasa-goingtobeanybetteroffthenthanwhathewasbefore,seeingIwassoignorant,andsokindoflow-downandornery。

Paphehadn”tbeenseenformorethanayear,andthatwascomfortableforme;Ididn”twanttoseehimnomore。Heusedtoalwayswhalemewhenhewassoberandcouldgethishandsonme;thoughIusedtotaketothewoodsmostofthetimewhenhewasaround。Well,aboutthistimehewasfoundintheriverdrownded,abouttwelvemileabovetown,sopeoplesaid。

Theyjudgeditwashim,anyway;saidthisdrowndedmanwasjusthissize,andwasragged,andhaduncommonlonghair,whichwasalllikepap;buttheycouldn”tmakenothingoutoftheface,becauseithadbeeninthewatersolongitwarn”tmuchlikeafaceatall。Theysaidhewasfloatingonhisbackinthewater。Theytookhimandburiedhimonthebank。ButIwarn”tcomfortablelong,becauseIhappenedtothinkofsomething。I

knowedmightywellthatadrowndedmandon”tfloatonhisback,butonhisface。SoIknowed,then,thatthiswarn”tpap,butawomandressedupinaman”sclothes。SoIwasuncomfortableagain。Ijudgedtheoldmanwouldturnupagainbyandby,thoughIwishedhewouldn”t。

Weplayedrobbernowandthenaboutamonth,andthenIresigned。Alltheboysdid。Wehadn”trobbednobody,hadn”tkilledanypeople,butonlyjustpretended。Weusedtohopoutofthewoodsandgochargingdownonhog-driversandwomenincartstakinggardenstufftomarket,butweneverhivedanyofthem。TomSawyercalledthehogs“ingots,“andhecalledtheturnipsandstuff“julery,“andwewouldgotothecaveandpowwowoverwhatwehaddone,andhowmanypeoplewehadkilledandmarked。ButIcouldn”tseenoprofitinit。OnetimeTomsentaboytorunabouttownwithablazingstick,whichhecalledaslogan(whichwasthesignfortheGangtogettogether),andthenhesaidhehadgotsecretnewsbyhisspiesthatnextdayawholeparcelofSpanishmerchantsandrichA-rabswasgoingtocampinCaveHollowwithtwohundredelephants,andsixhundredcamels,andoverathousand“sumter“mules,allloadeddownwithdi”monds,andtheydidn”thaveonlyaguardoffourhundredsoldiers,andsowewouldlayinambuscade,ashecalledit,andkillthelotandscoopthethings。Hesaidwemustslickupourswordsandguns,andgetready。Henevercouldgoafterevenaturnip-cartbuthemusthavetheswordsandgunsallscouredupforit,thoughtheywasonlylathandbroomsticks,andyoumightscouratthemtillyourotted,andthentheywarn”tworthamouthfulofashesmorethanwhattheywasbefore。Ididn”tbelievewecouldlicksuchacrowdofSpaniardsandA-rabs,butIwantedtoseethecamelsandelephants,soIwasonhandnextday,Saturday,intheambuscade;andwhenwegotthewordwerushedoutofthewoodsanddownthehill。Buttherewarn”tnoSpaniardsandA-rabs,andtherewarn”tnocamelsnornoelephants。Itwarn”tanythingbutaSunday-schoolpicnic,andonlyaprimer-classatthat。Webusteditup,andchasedthechildrenupthehollow;butwenevergotanythingbutsomedoughnutsandjam,thoughBenRogersgotaragdoll,andJoHarpergotahymn-bookandatract;andthentheteacherchargedin,andmadeusdropeverythingandcut。Ididn”tseenodi”monds,andItoldTomSawyerso。Hesaidtherewasloadsofthemthere,anyway;andhesaidtherewasA-rabsthere,too,andelephantsandthings。Isaid,whycouldn”tweseethem,then?HesaidifIwarn”tsoignorant,buthadreadabookcalledDonQuixote,Iwouldknowwithoutasking。Hesaiditwasalldonebyenchantment。Hesaidtherewashundredsofsoldiersthere,andelephantsandtreasure,andsoon,butwehadenemieswhichhecalledmagicians;andtheyhadturnedthewholethingintoaninfantSundayschool,justoutofspite。Isaid,allright;thenthethingforustodowastogoforthemagicians。TomSawyersaidIwasanumskull。

“Why,“saidhe,“amagiciancouldcallupalotofgenies,andtheywouldhashyouuplikenothingbeforeyoucouldsayJackRobinson。Theyareastallasatreeandasbigaroundasachurch。”

“Well,“Isays,“s”posewegotsomegeniestohelpUS——can”twelicktheothercrowdthen?“

“Howyougoingtogetthem?“

“Idon”tknow。HowdoTHEYgetthem?“

“Why,theyrubanoldtinlamporanironring,andthenthegeniescometearingin,withthethunderandlightninga-rippingaroundandthesmokea-rolling,andeverythingthey”retoldtodotheyupanddoit。Theydon”tthinknothingofpullingashot-towerupbytheroots,andbeltingaSunday-schoolsuperintendentovertheheadwithit——oranyotherman。”

“Whomakesthemteararoundso?“

“Why,whoeverrubsthelamporthering。Theybelongtowhoeverrubsthelamporthering,andthey”vegottodowhateverhesays。Ifhetellsthemtobuildapalacefortymileslongoutofdi”monds,andfillitfullofchewing-gum,orwhateveryouwant,andfetchanemperor”sdaughterfromChinaforyoutomarry,they”vegottodoit——andthey”vegottodoitbeforesun-upnextmorning,too。Andmore:they”vegottowaltzthatpalacearoundoverthecountrywhereveryouwantit,youunderstand。”

“Well,“saysI,“Ithinktheyareapackofflatheadsfornotkeepingthepalacethemselves”steadoffoolingthemawaylikethat。Andwhat”smore——ifIwasoneofthemIwouldseeamaninJerichobeforeIwoulddropmybusinessandcometohimfortherubbingofanoldtinlamp。”

“Howyoutalk,HuckFinn。Why,you”dHAVEtocomewhenherubbedit,whetheryouwantedtoornot。”

“What!andIashighasatreeandasbigasachurch?Allright,then;

IWOULDcome;butIlayI”dmakethatmanclimbthehighesttreetherewasinthecountry。”

“Shucks,itain”tnousetotalktoyou,HuckFinn。Youdon”tseemtoknowanything,somehow——perfectsaphead。”

Ithoughtallthisoverfortwoorthreedays,andthenIreckonedI

wouldseeiftherewasanythinginit。Igotanoldtinlampandanironring,andwentoutinthewoodsandrubbedandrubbedtillIsweatlikeanInjun,calculatingtobuildapalaceandsellit;butitwarn”tnouse,noneofthegeniescome。SothenIjudgedthatallthatstuffwasonlyjustoneofTomSawyer”slies。IreckonedhebelievedintheA-rabsandtheelephants,butasformeIthinkdifferent。IthadallthemarksofaSunday-school。

TheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinn-Chapter4Chapter4WELL,threeorfourmonthsrunalong,anditwaswellintothewinternow。

Ihadbeentoschoolmostallthetimeandcouldspellandreadandwritejustalittle,andcouldsaythemultiplicationtableuptosixtimessevenisthirty-five,andIdon”treckonIcouldevergetanyfurtherthanthatifIwastoliveforever。Idon”ttakenostockinmathematics,anyway。

AtfirstIhatedtheschool,butbyandbyIgotsoIcouldstandit。

WheneverIgotuncommontiredIplayedhookey,andthehidingIgotnextdaydonemegoodandcheeredmeup。SothelongerIwenttoschooltheeasieritgottobe。Iwasgettingsortofusedtothewidow”sways,too,andtheywarn”tsoraspyonme。Livinginahouseandsleepinginabedpulledonmeprettytightmostly,butbeforethecoldweatherIusedtoslideoutandsleepinthewoodssometimes,andsothatwasaresttome。

Ilikedtheoldwaysbest,butIwasgettingsoIlikedthenewones,too,alittlebit。ThewidowsaidIwascomingalongslowbutsure,anddoingverysatisfactory。Shesaidshewarn”tashamedofme。

OnemorningIhappenedtoturnoverthesalt-cellaratbreakfast。I

reachedforsomeofitasquickasIcouldtothrowovermyleftshoulderandkeepoffthebadluck,butMissWatsonwasinaheadofme,andcrossedmeoff。Shesays,“Takeyourhandsaway,Huckleberry;whatamessyouarealwaysmaking!“Thewidowputinagoodwordforme,butthatwarn”tgoingtokeepoffthebadluck,Iknowedthatwellenough。Istartedout,afterbreakfast,feelingworriedandshaky,andwonderingwhereitwasgoingtofallonme,andwhatitwasgoingtobe。Thereiswaystokeepoffsomekindsofbadluck,butthiswasn”toneofthemkind;soInevertriedtodoanything,butjustpokedalonglow-spiritedandonthewatch-out。

Iwentdowntothefrontgardenandclumboverthestilewhereyougothroughthehighboardfence。Therewasaninchofnewsnowontheground,andIseensomebody”stracks。Theyhadcomeupfromthequarryandstoodaroundthestileawhile,andthenwentonaroundthegardenfence。Itwasfunnytheyhadn”tcomein,afterstandingaroundso。Icouldn”tmakeitout。Itwasverycurious,somehow。Iwasgoingtofollowaround,butIstoopeddowntolookatthetracksfirst。Ididn”tnoticeanythingatfirst,butnextIdid。Therewasacrossintheleftboot-heelmadewithbignails,tokeepoffthedevil。

Iwasupinasecondandshinningdownthehill。Ilookedovermyshouldereverynowandthen,butIdidn”tseenobody。IwasatJudgeThatcher”sasquickasIcouldgetthere。Hesaid:

“Why,myboy,youarealloutofbreath。Didyoucomeforyourinterest?“

“No,sir,“Isays;“istheresomeforme?“

“Oh,yes,ahalf-yearlyisinlastnight——overahundredandfiftydollars。Quiteafortuneforyou。Youhadbetterletmeinvestitalongwithyoursixthousand,becauseifyoutakeityou”llspendit。”

“No,sir,“Isays,“Idon”twanttospendit。Idon”twantitatall——northesixthousand,nuther。Iwantyoutotakeit;Iwanttogiveittoyou——thesixthousandandall。”

Helookedsurprised。Hecouldn”tseemtomakeitout。Hesays:

“Why,whatcanyoumean,myboy?“

Isays,“Don”tyouaskmenoquestionsaboutit,please。You”lltakeit——won”tyou?“

Hesays:

“Well,I”mpuzzled。Issomethingthematter?“

“Pleasetakeit,“saysI,“anddon”taskmenothing——thenIwon”thavetotellnolies。”

Hestudiedawhile,andthenhesays:

“Oho-o!IthinkIsee。YouwanttoSELLallyourpropertytome——notgiveit。That”sthecorrectidea。”

Thenhewrotesomethingonapaperandreaditover,andsays:

“There;youseeitsays”foraconsideration。”ThatmeansIhaveboughtitofyouandpaidyouforit。Here”sadollarforyou。Nowyousignit。”

SoIsignedit,andleft。

MissWatson”snigger,Jim,hadahair-ballasbigasyourfist,whichhadbeentookoutofthefourthstomachofanox,andheusedtodomagicwithit。Hesaidtherewasaspiritinsideofit,anditknowedeverything。

SoIwenttohimthatnightandtoldhimpapwashereagain,forIfoundhistracksinthesnow。WhatIwantedtoknowwas,whathewasgoingtodo,andwashegoingtostay?Jimgotouthishair-ballandsaidsomethingoverit,andthenhehelditupanddroppeditonthefloor。Itfellprettysolid,andonlyrolledaboutaninch。Jimtrieditagain,andthenanothertime,anditactedjustthesame。Jimgotdownonhisknees,andputhisearagainstitandlistened。Butitwarn”tnouse;hesaiditwouldn”ttalk。Hesaidsometimesitwouldn”ttalkwithoutmoney。ItoldhimIhadanoldslickcounterfeitquarterthatwarn”tnogoodbecausethebrassshowedthroughthesilveralittle,anditwouldn”tpassnohow,evenifthebrassdidn”tshow,becauseitwassoslickitfeltgreasy,andsothatwouldtelloniteverytime。(IreckonedIwouldn”tsaynothingaboutthedollarIgotfromthejudge。)Isaiditwasprettybadmoney,butmaybethehair-ballwouldtakeit,becausemaybeitwouldn”tknowthedifference。

Jimsmeltitandbititandrubbedit,andsaidhewouldmanagesothehair-ballwouldthinkitwasgood。HesaidhewouldsplitopenarawIrishpotatoandstickthequarterinbetweenandkeepitthereallnight,andnextmorningyoucouldn”tseenobrass,anditwouldn”tfeelgreasynomore,andsoanybodyintownwouldtakeitinaminute,letaloneahair-ball。

Well,Iknowedapotatowoulddothatbefore,butIhadforgotit。

Jimputthequarterunderthehair-ball,andgotdownandlistenedagain。

Thistimehesaidthehairballwasallright。HesaiditwouldtellmywholefortuneifIwanteditto。Isays,goon。SothehairballtalkedtoJim,andJimtoldittome。Hesays:

“Yo”olefatherdoan”knowyitwhathe”sa-gwynetodo。Sometimeshespeche”llgo”way,endenaginhespeche”llstay。Debes”wayistores”

easyenletdeolemantakehisownway。Dey”stwoangelshoverin”roun””bouthim。Oneuv”emiswhiteenshiny,ent”otheroneisblack。Dewhiteonegitshimtogorightalittlewhile,dendeblackonesailinenbustitallup。Abodycan”ttellyitwhichonegwynetofetchhimatdelas”。

Butyouisallright。Yougwynetohaveconsidabletroubleinyo”life,enconsidablejoy。Sometimesyougwynetogithurt,ensometimesyougwynetogitsick;buteverytimeyou”sgwynetogitwellagin。Dey”stwogalsflyin””boutyouinyo”life。Oneuv”em”slightent”otheroneisdark。

Oneisrichent”otherispo”。You”sgwynetomarrydepo”onefustenderichonebyenby。Youwantstokeep”wayfumdewaterasmuchasyoukin,endon”trunnoresk,”kaseit”sdownindebillsdatyou”sgwynetogithung。”

WhenIlitmycandleandwentuptomyroomthatnighttheresatpap——hisownself!

TheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinn-Chapter5Chapter5IHADshutthedoorto。ThenIturnedaround。andtherehewas。Iusedtobescaredofhimallthetime,hetannedmesomuch。IreckonedIwasscarednow,too;butinaminuteIseeIwasmistaken——thatis,afterthefirstjolt,asyoumaysay,whenmybreathsortofhitched,hebeingsounexpected;butrightawayafterIseeIwarn”tscaredofhimworthbothringabout。

Hewasmostfifty,andhelookedit。Hishairwaslongandtangledandgreasy,andhungdown,andyoucouldseehiseyesshiningthroughlikehewasbehindvines。Itwasallblack,nogray;sowashislong,mixed-upwhiskers。Therewarn”tnocolorinhisface,wherehisfaceshowed;itwaswhite;notlikeanotherman”swhite,butawhitetomakeabodysick,awhitetomakeabody”sfleshcrawl——atree-toadwhite,afish-bellywhite。Asforhisclothes——justrags,thatwasall。Hehadoneanklerestingont”otherknee;thebootonthatfootwasbusted,andtwoofhistoesstuckthrough,andheworkedthemnowandthen。Hishatwaslayingonthefloor——anoldblackslouchwiththetopcavedin,likealid。

Istooda-lookingathim;hesettherea-lookingatme,withhischairtiltedbackalittle。Isetthecandledown。Inoticedthewindowwasup;

sohehadclumbinbytheshed。Hekepta-lookingmeallover。Byandbyhesays:

“Starchyclothes——very。Youthinkyou”reagooddealofabig-bug,DON”Tyou?“

“MaybeIam,maybeIain”t,“Isays。

“Don”tyougivemenoneo”yourlip,“sayshe。“You”veputonconsiderablemanyfrillssinceIbeenaway。I”lltakeyoudownapegbeforeIgetdonewithyou。You”reeducated,too,theysay——canreadandwrite。Youthinkyou”rebetter”nyourfather,now,don”tyou,becausehecan”t?I”LLtakeitoutofyou。Whotoldyouyoumightmeddlewithsuchhifalut”nfoolishness,hey?——whotoldyouyoucould?“

“Thewidow。Shetoldme。”

“Thewidow,hey?——andwhotoldthewidowshecouldputinhershovelaboutathingthatain”tnoneofherbusiness?“

“Nobodynevertoldher。”

“Well,I”lllearnherhowtomeddle。Andlookyhere——youdropthatschool,youhear?I”lllearnpeopletobringupaboytoputonairsoverhisownfatherandletontobebetter”nwhatHEis。Youlemmecatchyoufoolingaroundthatschoolagain,youhear?Yourmothercouldn”tread,andshecouldn”twrite,nuther,beforeshedied。Noneofthefamilycouldn”tbeforeTHEYdied。Ican”t;andhereyou”rea-swellingyourselfuplikethis。Iain”tthemantostandit——youhear?Say,lemmehearyouread。”

ItookupabookandbegunsomethingaboutGeneralWashingtonandthewars。WhenI”dreadaboutahalfaminute,hefetchedthebookawhackwithhishandandknockeditacrossthehouse。Hesays:

“It”sso。Youcandoit。Ihadmydoubtswhenyoutoldme。Nowlookyhere;youstopthatputtingonfrills。Iwon”thaveit。I”lllayforyou,mysmarty;andifIcatchyouaboutthatschoolI”lltanyougood。Firstyouknowyou”llgetreligion,too。Ineverseesuchason。

Hetookupalittleblueandyallerpictureofsomecowsandaboy,andsays:

“What”sthis?“

“It”ssomethingtheygivemeforlearningmylessonsgood。”

Hetoreitup,andsays:

“I”llgiveyousomethingbetter——I”llgiveyouacowhide。

Hesettherea-mumblinganda-growlingaminute,andthenhesays:

“AIN”Tyouasweet-scenteddandy,though?Abed;andbedclothes;andalook”n”-glass;andapieceofcarpetonthefloor——andyourownfathergottosleepwiththehogsinthetanyard。Ineverseesuchason。IbetI”lltakesomeo”thesefrillsouto”youbeforeI”mdonewithyou。Why,thereain”tnoendtoyourairs——theysayyou”rerich。Hey?——how”sthat?“

“Theylie——that”show。”

“Lookyhere——mindhowyoutalktome;I”mastandingaboutallIcanstandnow——sodon”tgimmenosass。I”vebeenintowntwodays,andI

hain”theardnothingbutaboutyoubein”rich。Iheardaboutitawaydowntheriver,too。That”swhyIcome。Yougitmethatmoneyto-morrow——I

wantit。”

“Ihain”tgotnomoney。”

“It”salie。JudgeThatcher”sgotit。Yougitit。Iwantit。”

“Ihain”tgotnomoney,Itellyou。YouaskJudgeThatcher;he”lltellyouthesame。”

“Allright。I”llaskhim;andI”llmakehimpungle,too,orI”llknowthereasonwhy。Say,howmuchyougotinyourpocket?Iwantit。”

“Ihain”tgotonlyadollar,andIwantthatto”

“Itdon”tmakenodifferencewhatyouwantitfor——youjustshellitout。”

Hetookitandbitittoseeifitwasgood,andthenhesaidhewasgoingdowntowntogetsomewhisky;saidhehadn”thadadrinkallday。

Whenhehadgotoutontheshedheputhisheadinagain,andcussedmeforputtingonfrillsandtryingtobebetterthanhim;andwhenIreckonedhewasgonehecomebackandputhisheadinagain,andtoldmetomindaboutthatschool,becausehewasgoingtolayformeandlickmeifI

didn”tdropthat。

Nextdayhewasdrunk,andhewenttoJudgeThatcher”sandbullyraggedhim,andtriedtomakehimgiveupthemoney;buthecouldn”t,andthenhesworehe”dmakethelawforcehim。

Thejudgeandthewidowwenttolawtogetthecourttotakemeawayfromhimandletoneofthembemyguardian;butitwasanewjudgethathadjustcome,andhedidn”tknowtheoldman;sohesaidcourtsmustn”tinterfereandseparatefamiliesiftheycouldhelpit;saidhe”ddruthernottakeachildawayfromitsfather。SoJudgeThatcherandthewidowhadtoquitonthebusiness。

Thatpleasedtheoldmantillhecouldn”trest。Hesaidhe”dcowhidemetillIwasblackandblueifIdidn”traisesomemoneyforhim。IborrowedthreedollarsfromJudgeThatcher,andpaptookitandgotdrunk,andwenta-blowingaroundandcussingandwhoopingandcarryingon;andhekeptitupallovertown,withatinpan,tillmostmidnight;thentheyjailedhim,andnextdaytheyhadhimbeforecourt,andjailedhimagainforaweek。ButhesaidHEwassatisfied;saidhewasbossofhisson,andhe”dmakeitwarmforHIM。

Whenhegotoutthenewjudgesaidhewasa-goingtomakeamanofhim。

Sohetookhimtohisownhouse,anddressedhimupcleanandnice,andhadhimtobreakfastanddinnerandsupperwiththefamily,andwasjustoldpietohim,sotospeak。Andaftersupperhetalkedtohimabouttemperanceandsuchthingstilltheoldmancried,andsaidhe”dbeenafool,andfooledawayhislife;butnowhewasa-goingtoturnoveranewleafandbeamannobodywouldn”tbeashamedof,andhehopedthejudgewouldhelphimandnotlookdownonhim。Thejudgesaidhecouldhughimforthemwords;sohecried,andhiswifeshecriedagain;papsaidhe”dbeenamanthathadalwaysbeenmisunderstoodbefore,andthejudgesaidhebelievedit。Theoldmansaidthatwhatamanwantedthatwasdownwassympathy,andthejudgesaiditwasso;sotheycriedagain。Andwhenitwasbedtimetheoldmanroseupandheldouthishand,andsays:

“Lookatit,gentlemenandladiesall;takea-holdofit;shakeit。

There”sahandthatwasthehandofahog;butitain”tsonomore;it”sthehandofamanthat”sstartedinonanewlife,and”lldiebeforehe”llgoback。Youmarkthemwords——don”tforgetIsaidthem。It”sacleanhandnow;shakeit——don”tbeafeard。”

Sotheyshookit,oneaftertheother,allaround,andcried。Thejudge”swifeshekissedit。Thentheoldmanhesignedapledge——madehismark。

Thejudgesaiditwastheholiesttimeonrecord,orsomethinglikethat。

Thentheytuckedtheoldmanintoabeautifulroom,whichwasthespareroom,andinthenightsometimehegotpowerfulthirstyandclumboutontotheporch-roofandsliddownastanchionandtradedhisnewcoatforajugofforty-rod,andclumbbackagainandhadagoodoldtime;andtowardsdaylighthecrawledoutagain,drunkasafiddler,androlledofftheporchandbrokehisleftarmintwoplaces,andwasmostfrozetodeathwhensomebodyfoundhimaftersun-up。Andwhentheycometolookatthatspareroomtheyhadtotakesoundingsbeforetheycouldnavigateit。

Thejudgehefeltkindofsore。Hesaidhereckonedabodycouldreformtheoldmanwithashotgun,maybe,buthedidn”tknownootherway。

TheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinn-Chapter6Chapter6WELL,prettysoontheoldmanwasupandaroundagain,andthenhewentforJudgeThatcherinthecourtstomakehimgiveupthatmoney,andhewentforme,too,fornotstoppingschool。Hecatchedmeacoupleoftimesandthrashedme,butIwenttoschooljustthesame,anddodgedhimoroutrunhimmostofthetime。Ididn”twanttogotoschoolmuchbefore,butIreckonedI”dgonowtospitepap。Thatlawtrialwasaslowbusiness——appearedliketheywarn”tevergoingtogetstartedonit;soeverynowandthenI”dborrowtwoorthreedollarsoffofthejudgeforhim,tokeepfromgettingacowhiding。Everytimehegotmoneyhegotdrunk;

andeverytimehegotdrunkheraisedCainaroundtown;andeverytimeheraisedCainhegotjailed。Hewasjustsuited——thiskindofthingwasrightinhisline。

Hegottohangingaroundthewidow”stoomuchandsoshetoldhimatlastthatifhedidn”tquitusingaroundthereshewouldmaketroubleforhim。Well,WASN”Themad?HesaidhewouldshowwhowasHuckFinn”sboss。

Sohewatchedoutformeonedayinthespring,andcatchedme,andtookmeuptheriveraboutthreemileinaskiff,andcrossedovertotheIllinoisshorewhereitwaswoodyandtherewarn”tnohousesbutanoldloghutinaplacewherethetimberwassothickyoucouldn”tfinditifyoudidn”tknowwhereitwas。

Hekeptmewithhimallthetime,andInevergotachancetorunoff。

Welivedinthatoldcabin,andhealwayslockedthedoorandputthekeyunderhisheadnights。Hehadagunwhichhehadstole,Ireckon,andwefishedandhunted,andthatwaswhatwelivedon。Everylittlewhilehelockedmeinandwentdowntothestore,threemiles,totheferry,andtradedfishandgameforwhisky,andfetchedithomeandgotdrunkandhadagoodtime,andlickedme。ThewidowshefoundoutwhereIwasbyandby,andshesentamanovertotrytogetholdofme;butpapdrovehimoffwiththegun,anditwarn”tlongafterthattillIwasusedtobeingwhereIwas,andlikedit——allbutthecowhidepart。

Itwaskindoflazyandjolly,layingoffcomfortableallday,smokingandfishing,andnobooksnorstudy。Twomonthsormorerunalong,andmyclothesgottobeallragsanddirt,andIdidn”tseehowI”devergottolikeitsowellatthewidow”s,whereyouhadtowash,andeatonaplate,andcombup,andgotobedandgetupregular,andbeforeverbotheringoverabook,andhaveoldMissWatsonpeckingatyouallthetime。Ididn”twanttogobacknomore。Ihadstoppedcussing,becausethewidowdidn”tlikeit;butnowItooktoitagainbecausepaphadn”tnoobjections。Itwasprettygoodtimesupinthewoodsthere,takeitallaround。

Butbyandbypapgottoohandywithhishick”ry,andIcouldn”tstandit。Iwasalloverwelts。Hegottogoingawaysomuch,too,andlockingmein。Oncehelockedmeinandwasgonethreedays。Itwasdreadfullonesome。

Ijudgedhehadgotdrowned,andIwasn”tevergoingtogetoutanymore。

Iwasscared。ImadeupmymindIwouldfixupsomewaytoleavethere。

Ihadtriedtogetoutofthatcabinmanyatime,butIcouldn”tfindnoway。Therewarn”tawindowtoitbigenoughforadogtogetthrough。I

couldn”tgetupthechimbly;itwastoonarrow。Thedoorwasthick,solidoakslabs。Papwasprettycarefulnottoleaveaknifeoranythinginthecabinwhenhewasaway;IreckonIhadhuntedtheplaceoverasmuchasahundredtimes;well,Iwasmostallthetimeatit,becauseitwasabouttheonlywaytoputinthetime。ButthistimeIfoundsomethingatlast;

Ifoundanoldrustywood-sawwithoutanyhandle;itwaslaidinbetweenarafterandtheclapboardsoftheroof。Igreaseditupandwenttowork。

Therewasanoldhorse-blanketnailedagainstthelogsatthefarendofthecabinbehindthetable,tokeepthewindfromblowingthroughthechinksandputtingthecandleout。Igotunderthetableandraisedtheblanket,andwenttoworktosawasectionofthebigbottomlogout——bigenoughtoletmethrough。Well,itwasagoodlongjob,butIwasgettingtowardstheendofitwhenIheardpap”sguninthewoods。Igotridofthesignsofmywork,anddroppedtheblanketandhidmysaw,andprettysoonpapcomein。

Papwarn”tinagoodhumor——sohewashisnaturalself。Hesaidhewasdowntown,andeverythingwasgoingwrong。Hislawyersaidhereckonedhewouldwinhislawsuitandgetthemoneyiftheyevergotstartedonthetrial;butthentherewaswaystoputitoffalongtime,andJudgeThatcherknowedhowtodoitAndhesaidpeopleallowedthere”dbeanothertrialtogetmeawayfromhimandgivemetothewidowformyguardian,andtheyguesseditwouldwinthistime。Thisshookmeupconsiderable,becauseIdidn”twanttogobacktothewidow”sanymoreandbesocrampedupandsivilized,astheycalledit。Thentheoldmangottocussing,andcussedeverythingandeverybodyhecouldthinkof,andthencussedthemalloveragaintomakesurehehadn”tskippedany,andafterthathepolishedoffwithakindofageneralcussallround,includingaconsiderableparcelofpeoplewhichhedidn”tknowthenamesof,andsocalledthemwhat”s-his-namewhenhegottothem,andwentrightalongwithhiscussing。

Hesaidhewouldliketoseethewidowgetme。Hesaidhewouldwatchout,andiftheytriedtocomeanysuchgameonhimheknowedofaplacesixorsevenmileofftostowmein,wheretheymighthunttilltheydroppedandtheycouldn”tfindme。Thatmademeprettyuneasyagain,butonlyforaminute;IreckonedIwouldn”tstayonhandtillhegotthatchance。

Theoldmanmademegototheskiffandfetchthethingshehadgot。

Therewasafifty-poundsackofcornmeal,andasideofbacon,ammunition,andafour-gallonjugofwhisky,andanoldbookandtwonewspapersforwadding,besidessometow。Itotedupaload,andwentbackandsetdownonthebowoftheskifftorest。Ithoughtitallover,andIreckonedIwouldwalkoffwiththegunandsomelines,andtaketothewoodswhenIrunaway。IguessedIwouldn”tstayinoneplace,butjusttramprightacrossthecountry,mostlynighttimes,andhuntandfishtokeepalive,andsogetsofarawaythattheoldmannorthewidowcouldn”teverfindmeanymore。IjudgedIwouldsawoutandleavethatnightifpapgotdrunkenough,andIreckonedhewould。IgotsofullofitIdidn”tnoticehowlongIwasstayingtilltheoldmanholleredandaskedmewhetherIwasasleepordrownded。

Igotthethingsalluptothecabin,andthenitwasaboutdark。WhileIwascookingsuppertheoldmantookaswigortwoandgotsortofwarmedup,andwenttorippingagain。Hehadbeendrunkoverintown,andlaidinthegutterallnight,andhewasasighttolookat。AbodywouldathoughthewasAdam——hewasjustallmud。Wheneverhisliquorbeguntoworkhemostalwayswentforthegovment。histimehesays:

“Callthisagovment!why,justlookatitandseewhatit”slike。Here”sthelawa-standingreadytotakeaman”ssonawayfromhim——aman”sownson,whichhehashadallthetroubleandalltheanxietyandalltheexpenseofraising。Yes,justasthatmanhasgotthatsonraisedatlast,andreadytogotoworkandbegintodosuthin”forHIMandgivehimarest,thelawupandgoesforhim。AndtheycallTHATgovment!Thatain”tall,nuther。ThelawbacksthatoldJudgeThatcherupandhelpshimtokeepmeouto”myproperty。Here”swhatthelawdoes:Thelawtakesamanworthsixthousanddollarsandup”ards,andjamshimintoanoldtrapofacabinlikethis,andletshimgoroundinclothesthatain”tfittenforahog。

Theycallthatgovment!Amancan”tgethisrightsinagovmentlikethis。

SometimesI”veamightynotiontojustleavethecountryforgoodandall。

Yes,andITOLD”emso;ItoldoldThatchersotohisface。Lotsof”emheardme,andcantellwhatIsaid。SaysI,fortwocentsI”dleavetheblamedcountryandnevercomea-nearitagin。Them”stheverywords。I

sayslookatmyhat——ifyoucallitahat——butthelidraisesupandtherestofitgoesdowntillit”sbelowmychin,andthenitain”trightlyahatatall,butmorelikemyheadwasshovedupthroughajinto”stovepipe。

Lookatit,saysI——suchahatformetowear——oneofthewealthiestmeninthistownifIcouldgitmyrights。

“Oh,yes,thisisawonderfulgovment,wonderful。Why,lookyhere。TherewasafreeniggertherefromOhio——amulatter,mostaswhiteasawhiteman。Hehadthewhitestshirtonyoueversee,too,andtheshiniesthat;

andthereain”tamaninthattownthat”sgotasfineclothesaswhathehad;andhehadagoldwatchandchain,andasilver-headedcane——theawfulestoldgray-headednabobintheState。Andwhatdoyouthink?Theysaidhewasap”fessorinacollege,andcouldtalkallkindsoflanguages,andknowedeverything。Andthatain”tthewust。TheysaidhecouldVOTE

whenhewasathome。Well,thatletmeout。ThinksI,whatisthecountrya-comingto?Itwas”lectionday,andIwasjustabouttogoandvotemyselfifIwarn”ttoodrunktogetthere;butwhentheytoldmetherewasaStateinthiscountrywherethey”dletthatniggervote,Idrawedout。IsaysI”llnevervoteagin。Them”stheverywordsIsaid;theyallheardme;

andthecountrymayrotforallme——I”llnevervoteaginaslongasI

live。Andtoseethecoolwayofthatnigger——why,hewouldn”tagivemetheroadifIhadn”tshovedhimouto”theway。Isaystothepeople,whyain”tthisniggerputupatauctionandsold?——that”swhatIwanttoknow。Andwhatdoyoureckontheysaid?Why,theysaidhecouldn”tbesoldtillhe”dbeenintheStatesixmonths,andhehadn”tbeentherethatlongyet。There,now——that”saspecimen。Theycallthatagovmentthatcan”tsellafreeniggertillhe”sbeenintheStatesixmonths。Here”sagovmentthatcallsitselfagovment,andletsontobeagovment,andthinksitisagovment,andyet”sgottosetstock-stillforsixwholemonthsbeforeitcantakeaholdofaprowling,thieving,infernal,white-shirtedfreenigger,and”

Papwasagoingonsohenevernoticedwherehisoldlimberlegswastakinghimto,sohewentheadoverheelsoverthetubofsaltporkandbarkedbothshins,andtherestofhisspeechwasallthehottestkindoflanguage——mostlyhoveattheniggerandthegovment,thoughhegivethetubsome,too,allalong,hereandthere。Hehoppedaroundthecabinconsiderable,firstononelegandthenontheother,holdingfirstoneshinandthentheotherone,andatlastheletoutwithhisleftfootallofasuddenandfetchedthetubarattlingkick。Butitwarn”tgoodjudgment,becausethatwasthebootthathadacoupleofhistoesleakingoutofthefrontendofit;sonowheraisedahowlthatfairlymadeabody”shairraise,anddownhewentinthedirt,androlledthere,andheldhistoes;andthecussinghedonethenlaidoveranythinghehadeverdoneprevious。Hesaidsohisownselfafterwards。HehadheardoldSowberryHaganinhisbestdays,andhesaiditlaidoverhim,too;butIreckonthatwassortofpilingiton,maybe。

Aftersupperpaptookthejug,andsaidhehadenoughwhiskytherefortwodrunksandonedeliriumtremens。Thatwasalwayshisword。Ijudgedhewouldbeblinddrunkinaboutanhour,andthenIwouldstealthekey,orsawmyselfout,oneort”other。Hedrankanddrank,andtumbleddownonhisblanketsbyandby;butluckdidn”trunmyway。Hedidn”tgosoundasleep,butwasuneasy。Hegroanedandmoanedandthrashedaroundthiswayandthatforalongtime。AtlastIgotsosleepyIcouldn”tkeepmyeyesopenallIcoulddo,andsobeforeIknowedwhatIwasaboutIwassoundasleep,andthecandleburning。

Idon”tknowhowlongIwasasleep,butallofasuddentherewasanawfulscreamandIwasup。Therewaspaplookingwild,andskippingaroundeverywhichwayandyellingaboutsnakes。Hesaidtheywascrawlinguphislegs;andthenhewouldgiveajumpandscream,andsayonehadbithimonthecheek——butIcouldn”tseenosnakes。Hestartedandrunroundandroundthecabin,hollering“Takehimoff!takehimoff!he”sbitingmeontheneck!“Ineverseeamanlooksowildintheeyes。Prettysoonhewasallfaggedout,andfelldownpanting;thenherolledoverandoverwonderfulfast,kickingthingseverywhichway,andstrikingandgrabbingattheairwithhishands,andscreamingandsayingtherewasdevilsa-holdofhim。Heworeoutbyandby,andlaidstillawhile,moaning。Thenhelaidstiller,anddidn”tmakeasound。Icouldheartheowlsandthewolvesawayoffinthewoods,anditseemedterriblestill。Hewaslayingoverbythecorner。Byandbyheraiseduppartwayandlistened,withhisheadtooneside。Hesays,verylow:

“Tramp——tramp——tramp;that”sthedead;tramp——tramp——tramp;

they”recomingafterme;butIwon”tgo。Oh,they”rehere!don”ttouchme——don”t!handsoff——they”recold;letgo。Oh,letapoordevilalone!“

Thenhewentdownonallfoursandcrawledoff,beggingthemtolethimalone,andherolledhimselfupinhisblanketandwallowedinundertheoldpinetable,stilla-begging;andthenhewenttocrying。Icouldhearhimthroughtheblanket。

Byandbyherolledoutandjumpeduponhisfeetlookingwild,andheseemeandwentforme。Hechasedmeroundandroundtheplacewithaclaspknife,callingmetheAngelofDeath,andsayinghewouldkillme,andthenIcouldn”tcomeforhimnomore。Ibegged,andtoldhimIwasonlyHuck;buthelaughedSUCHascreechylaugh,androaredandcussed,andkeptonchasingmeup。OncewhenIturnedshortanddodgedunderhisarmhemadeagrabandgotmebythejacketbetweenmyshoulders,andI

thoughtIwasgone;butIslidoutofthejacketquickaslightning,andsavedmyself。Prettysoonhewasalltiredout,anddroppeddownwithhisbackagainstthedoor,andsaidhewouldrestaminuteandthenkillme。

Heputhisknifeunderhim,andsaidhewouldsleepandgetstrong,andthenhewouldseewhowaswho。

Sohedozedoffprettysoon。ByandbyIgottheoldsplit-bottomchairandclumbupaseasyasIcould,nottomakeanynoise,andgotdownthegun。Islippedtheramroddownittomakesureitwasloaded,thenIlaiditacrosstheturnipbarrel,pointingtowardspap,andsetdownbehindittowaitforhimtostir。Andhowslowandstillthetimediddragalong。

TheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinn-Chapter7Chapter7GITup!Whatyou”bout?“

Iopenedmyeyesandlookedaround,tryingtomakeoutwhereIwas。

Itwasaftersun-up,andIhadbeensoundasleep。PapwasstandingovermelookingsourÑ;andsick,too。Hesays:

“Whatyoudoin”withthisgun?“

Ijudgedhedidn”tknownothingaboutwhathehadbeendoing,soIsays:

“Somebodytriedtogetin,soIwaslayingforhim。”

“Whydidn”tyouroustmeout?“

“Well,Itriedto,butIcouldn”t;Icouldn”tbudgeyou。”

“Well,allright。Don”tstandtherepalaveringallday,butoutwithyouandseeifthere”safishonthelinesforbreakfast。I”llbealonginaminute。”

Heunlockedthedoor,andIclearedoutuptheriver-bank。Inoticedsomepiecesoflimbsandsuchthingsfloatingdown,andasprinklingofbark;soIknowedtheriverhadbeguntorise。IreckonedIwouldhavegreattimesnowifIwasoveratthetown。TheJuneriseusedtobealwaysluckforme;becauseassoonasthatrisebeginsherecomescordwoodfloatingdown,andpiecesoflografts——sometimesadozenlogstogether;soallyouhavetodoistocatchthemandsellthemtothewood-yardsandthesawmill。

Iwentalongupthebankwithoneeyeoutforpapandt”otheroneoutforwhattherisemightfetchalong。Well,allatonceherecomesacanoe;

justabeauty,too,aboutthirteenorfourteenfootlong,ridinghighlikeaduck。Ishothead-firstoffofthebanklikeafrog,clothesandallon,andstruckoutforthecanoe。Ijustexpectedthere”dbesomebodylayingdowninit,becausepeopleoftendonethattofoolfolks,andwhenachaphadpulledaskiffoutmosttoitthey”draiseupandlaughathim。Butitwarn”tsothistime。Itwasadrift-canoesureenough,andIclumbinandpaddledherashore。ThinksI,theoldmanwillbegladwhenheseesthis——she”sworthtendollars。ButwhenIgottoshorepapwasn”tinsightyet,andasIwasrunningherintoalittlecreeklikeagully,allhungoverwithvinesandwillows,Istruckanotheridea:IjudgedI”dhidehergood,andthen,”steadoftakingtothewoodswhenIrunoff,I”dgodowntheriveraboutfiftymileandcampinoneplaceforgood,andnothavesucharoughtimetrampingonfoot。

Itwasprettyclosetotheshanty,andIthoughtIheardtheoldmancomingallthetime;butIgotherhid;andthenIoutandlookedaroundabunchofwillows,andtherewastheoldmandownthepathapiecejustdrawingabeadonabirdwithhisgun。Sohehadn”tseenanything。

WhenhegotalongIwashardatittakingupa“trot“line。Heabusedmealittleforbeingsoslow;butItoldhimIfellintheriver,andthatwaswhatmademesolong。IknowedhewouldseeIwaswet,andthenhewouldbeaskingquestions。Wegotfivecatfishoffthelinesandwenthome。

Whilewelaidoffafterbreakfasttosleepup,bothofusbeingaboutworeout,IgottothinkingthatifIcouldfixupsomewaytokeeppapandthewidowfromtryingtofollowme,itwouldbeacertainerthingthantrustingtolucktogetfarenoughoffbeforetheymissedme;yousee,allkindsofthingsmighthappen。Well,Ididn”tseenowayforawhile,butbyandbypapraisedupaminutetodrinkanotherbarrelofwater,andhesays:

“Anothertimeamancomesa-prowlingroundhereyouroustmeout,youhear?Thatmanwarn”therefornogood。I”dashothim。Nexttimeyouroustmeout,youhear?“

Thenhedroppeddownandwenttosleepagain;butwhathehadbeensayinggivemetheveryideaIwanted。Isaystomyself,Icanfixitnowsonobodywon”tthinkoffollowingme。

Abouttwelveo”clockweturnedoutandwentalongupthebank。Theriverwascomingupprettyfast,andlotsofdriftwoodgoingbyontherise。

Byandbyalongcomespartofalograft——ninelogsfasttogether。Wewentoutwiththeskiffandtoweditashore。Thenwehaddinner。Anybodybutpapwouldawaitedandseenthedaythrough,soastocatchmorestuff;

butthatwarn”tpap”sstyle。Ninelogswasenoughforonetime;hemustshoverightovertotownandsell。Sohelockedmeinandtooktheskiff,andstartedofftowingtheraftabouthalfpastthree。Ijudgedhewouldn”tcomebackthatnight。IwaitedtillIreckonedhehadgotagoodstart;

thenIoutwithmysaw,andwenttoworkonthatlogagain。Beforehewast”othersideoftheriverIwasoutofthehole;himandhisraftwasjustaspeckonthewaterawayoffyonder。

Itookthesackofcornmealandtookittowherethecanoewashid,andshovedthevinesandbranchesapartandputitin;thenIdonethesamewiththesideofbacon;thenthewhisky-jug。Itookallthecoffeeandsugartherewas,andalltheammunition;Itookthewadding;Itookthebucketandgourd;Itookadipperandatincup,andmyoldsawandtwoblankets,andtheskilletandthecoffee-pot。Itookfish-linesandmatchesandotherthings——everythingthatwasworthacent。Icleanedouttheplace。Iwantedanaxe,buttherewasn”tany,onlytheoneoutatthewoodpile,andIknowedwhyIwasgoingtoleavethat。Ifetchedoutthegun,andnowIwasdone。

Ihadworethegroundagooddealcrawlingoutoftheholeanddraggingoutsomanythings。SoIfixedthatasgoodasIcouldfromtheoutsidebyscatteringdustontheplace,whichcoveredupthesmoothnessandthesawdust。ThenIfixedthepieceoflogbackintoitsplace,andputtworocksunderitandoneagainstittoholditthere,foritwasbentupatthatplaceanddidn”tquitetouchground。Ifyoustoodfourorfivefootawayanddidn”tknowitwassawed,youwouldn”tnevernoticeit;andbesides,thiswasthebackofthecabin,anditwarn”tlikelyanybodywouldgofoolingaroundthere。

Itwasallgrasscleartothecanoe,soIhadn”tleftatrack。Ifollowedaroundtosee。Istoodonthebankandlookedoutovertheriver。Allsafe。

SoItookthegunandwentupapieceintothewoods,andwashuntingaroundforsomebirdswhenIseeawildpig;hogssoonwentwildinthembottomsaftertheyhadgotawayfromtheprairiefarms。Ishotthisfellowandtookhimintocamp。

Itooktheaxeandsmashedinthedoor。Ibeatitandhackeditconsiderablea-doingit。Ifetchedthepigin,andtookhimbacknearlytothetableandhackedintohisthroatwiththeaxe,andlaidhimdownonthegroundtobleed;Isaygroundbecauseitwasground——hardpacked,andnoboards。

Well,nextItookanoldsackandputalotofbigrocksinit——allI

coulddrag——andIstarteditfromthepig,anddraggedittothedoorandthroughthewoodsdowntotheriveranddumpeditin,anddownitsunk,outofsight。Youcouldeasyseethatsomethinghadbeendraggedovertheground。IdidwishTomSawyerwasthere;Iknowedhewouldtakeaninterestinthiskindofbusiness,andthrowinthefancytouches。NobodycouldspreadhimselflikeTomSawyerinsuchathingasthat。

Well,lastIpulledoutsomeofmyhair,andbloodedtheaxegood,andstuckitonthebackside,andslungtheaxeinthecorner。ThenItookupthepigandheldhimtomybreastwithmyjacket(sohecouldn”tdrip)

tillIgotagoodpiecebelowthehouseandthendumpedhimintotheriver。

NowIthoughtofsomethingelse。SoIwentandgotthebagofmealandmyoldsawoutofthecanoe,andfetchedthemtothehouse。Itookthebagtowhereitusedtostand,andrippedaholeinthebottomofitwiththesaw,fortherewarn”tnoknivesandforksontheplace——papdoneeverythingwithhisclasp-knifeaboutthecooking。ThenIcarriedthesackaboutahundredyardsacrossthegrassandthroughthewillowseastofthehouse,toashallowlakethatwasfivemilewideandfullofrushes——andduckstoo,youmightsay,intheseason。Therewasasloughoracreekleadingoutofitontheothersidethatwentmilesaway,Idon”tknowwhere,butitdidn”tgototheriver。Themealsiftedoutandmadealittletrackallthewaytothelake。Idroppedpap”swhetstonetheretoo,soastolooklikeithadbeendonebyaccident。ThenItieduptheripinthemealsackwithastring,soitwouldn”tleaknomore,andtookitandmysawtothecanoeagain。

Itwasaboutdarknow;soIdroppedthecanoedowntheriverundersomewillowsthathungoverthebank,andwaitedforthemoontorise。Imadefasttoawillow;thenItookabitetoeat,andbyandbylaiddowninthecanoetosmokeapipeandlayoutaplan。Isaystomyself,they”llfollowthetrackofthatsackfulofrockstotheshoreandthendragtheriverforme。Andthey”llfollowthatmealtracktothelakeandgobrowsingdownthecreekthatleadsoutofittofindtherobbersthatkilledmeandtookthethings。Theywon”teverhunttheriverforanythingbutmydeadcarcass。They”llsoongettiredofthat,andwon”tbothernomoreaboutme。Allright;IcanstopanywhereIwantto。Jackson”sIslandisgoodenoughforme;Iknowthatislandprettywell,andnobodyevercomesthere。AndthenIcanpaddleovertotownnights,andslinkaroundandpickupthingsIwant。Jackson”sIsland”stheplace。

Iwasprettytired,andthefirstthingIknowedIwasasleep。WhenIwokeupIdidn”tknowwhereIwasforaminute。Isetupandlookedaround,alittlescared。ThenIremembered。Theriverlookedmilesandmilesacross。

ThemoonwassobrightIcouldacountedthedriftlogsthatwenta-slippingalong,blackandstill,hundredsofyardsoutfromshore。Everythingwasdeadquiet,anditlookedlate,andSMELTlate。YouknowwhatImean——

Idon”tknowthewordstoputitin。

Itookagoodgapandastretch,andwasjustgoingtounhitchandstartwhenIheardasoundawayoverthewater。Ilistened。PrettysoonImadeitout。Itwasthatdullkindofaregularsoundthatcomesfromoarsworkinginrowlockswhenit”sastillnight。Ipeepedoutthroughthewillowbranches,andthereitwas——askiff,awayacrossthewater。Icouldn”ttellhowmanywasinit。Itkepta-coming,andwhenitwasabreastofmeIseetherewarn”tbutonemaninit。Think”sI,maybeit”spap,thoughIwarn”texpectinghim。Hedroppedbelowmewiththecurrent,andbyandbyhecamea-swingingupshoreintheeasywater,andhewentbysocloseIcouldareachedoutthegunandtouchedhim。Well,itWASpap,sureenough——andsober,too,bythewayhelaidhisoars。

Ididn”tlosenotime。ThenextminuteIwasaspinningdownstreamsoftbutquickintheshadeofthebank。Imadetwomileandahalf,andthenstruckoutaquarterofamileormoretowardsthemiddleoftheriver,becauseprettysoonIwouldbepassingtheferrylanding,andpeoplemightseemeandhailme。Igotoutamongstthedriftwood,andthenlaiddowninthebottomofthecanoeandletherfloat。Ilaidthere,andhadagoodrestandasmokeoutofmypipe,lookingawayintothesky;notacloudinit。Theskylookseversodeepwhenyoulaydownonyourbackinthemoonshine;Ineverknoweditbefore。Andhowfarabodycanhearonthewatersuchnights!Iheardpeopletalkingattheferrylanding。Iheardwhattheysaid,too——everywordofit。Onemansaiditwasgettingtowardsthelongdaysandtheshortnightsnow。T”otheronesaidTHISwarn”toneoftheshortones,hereckoned——andthentheylaughed,andhesaiditoveragain,andtheylaughedagain;thentheywakedupanotherfellowandtoldhim,andlaughed,buthedidn”tlaugh;herippedoutsomethingbrisk,andsaidlethimalone。Thefirstfellowsaidhe”lowedtotellittohisoldwoman——shewouldthinkitwasprettygood;buthesaidthatwarn”tnothingtosomethingshehadsaidinhistime。Iheardonemansayitwasnearlythreeo”clock,andhehopeddaylightwouldn”twaitmorethanaboutaweeklonger。Afterthatthetalkgotfurtherandfurtheraway,andIcouldn”tmakeoutthewordsanymore;butIcouldhearthemumble,andnowandthenalaugh,too,butitseemedalongwaysoff。

Iwasawaybelowtheferrynow。Iroseup,andtherewasJackson”sIsland,abouttwomileandahalfdownstream,heavytimberedandstandingupoutofthemiddleoftheriver,biganddarkandsolid,likeasteamboatwithoutanylights。Therewarn”tanysignsofthebaratthehead——itwasallunderwaternow。

Itdidn”ttakemelongtogetthere。Ishotpasttheheadatarippingrate,thecurrentwassoswift,andthenIgotintothedeadwaterandlandedonthesidetowardstheIllinoisshore。IrunthecanoeintoadeepdentinthebankthatIknowedabout;Ihadtopartthewillowbranchestogetin;andwhenImadefastnobodycouldaseenthecanoefromtheoutside。

Iwentupandsetdownonalogattheheadoftheisland,andlookedoutonthebigriverandtheblackdriftwoodandawayovertothetown,threemileaway,wheretherewasthreeorfourlightstwinkling。Amonstrousbiglumber-raftwasaboutamileupstream,comingalongdown,withalanterninthemiddleofit。Iwatcheditcomecreepingdown,andwhenitwasmostabreastofwhereIstoodIheardamansay,“Sternoars,there!heaveherheadtostabboard!“Iheardthatjustasplainasifthemanwasbymyside。

Therewasalittlegrayintheskynow;soIsteppedintothewoods,andlaiddownforanapbeforebreakfast。

TheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinn-Chapter8Chapter8THEsunwasupsohighwhenIwakedthatIjudgeditwasaftereighto”clock。

Ilaidthereinthegrassandthecoolshadethinkingaboutthings,andfeelingrestedandruthercomfortableandsatisfied。Icouldseethesunoutatoneortwoholes,butmostlyitwasbigtreesallabout,andgloomyinthereamongstthem。Therewasfreckledplacesonthegroundwherethelightsifteddownthroughtheleaves,andthefreckledplacesswappedaboutalittle,showingtherewasalittlebreezeupthere。Acoupleofsquirrelssetonalimbandjabberedatmeveryfriendly。

Iwaspowerfullazyandcomfortable——didn”twanttogetupandcookbreakfast。Well,IwasdozingoffagainwhenIthinksIhearsadeepsoundof“boom!“awayuptheriver。Irousesup,andrestsonmyelbowandlistens;

prettysoonIhearsitagain。Ihoppedup,andwentandlookedoutataholeintheleaves,andIseeabunchofsmokelayingonthewateralongwaysup——aboutabreasttheferry。Andtherewastheferryboatfullofpeoplefloatingalongdown。Iknowedwhatwasthematternow。“Boom!“I

seethewhitesmokesquirtoutoftheferryboat”sside。Yousee,theywasfiringcannonoverthewater,tryingtomakemycarcasscometothetop。

Iwasprettyhungry,butitwarn”tgoingtodoformetostartafire,becausetheymightseethesmoke。SoIsetthereandwatchedthecannon-smokeandlistenedtotheboom。Theriverwasamilewidethere,anditalwayslooksprettyonasummermorning——soIwashavingagoodenoughtimeseeingthemhuntformyremaindersifIonlyhadabitetoeat。Well,thenIhappenedtothinkhowtheyalwaysputquicksilverinloavesofbreadandfloatthemoff,becausetheyalwaysgorighttothedrowndedcarcassandstopthere。So,saysI,I”llkeepalookout,andifanyofthem”sfloatingaroundaftermeI”llgivethemashow。IchangedtotheIllinoisedgeoftheislandtoseewhatluckIcouldhave,andIwarn”tdisappointed。A

bigdoubleloafcomealong,andImostgotitwithalongstick,butmyfootslippedandshefloatedoutfurther。OfcourseIwaswherethecurrentsetintheclosesttotheshore——Iknowedenoughforthat。Butbyandbyalongcomesanotherone,andthistimeIwon。Itookouttheplugandshookoutthelittledabofquicksilver,andsetmyteethin。Itwas“baker”sbread“——whatthequalityeat;noneofyourlow-downcorn-pone。

Igotagoodplaceamongsttheleaves,andsetthereonalog,munchingthebreadandwatchingtheferryboat,andverywellsatisfied。Andthensomethingstruckme。Isays,nowIreckonthewidowortheparsonorsomebodyprayedthatthisbreadwouldfindme,andhereithasgoneanddoneit。

Sothereain”tnodoubtbutthereissomethinginthatthing——thatis,there”ssomethinginitwhenabodylikethewidowortheparsonprays,butitdon”tworkforme,andIreckonitdon”tworkforonlyjusttherightkind。

Ilitapipeandhadagoodlongsmoke,andwentonwatching。Theferryboatwasfloatingwiththecurrent,andIallowedI”dhaveachancetoseewhowasaboardwhenshecomealong,becauseshewouldcomeinclose,wherethebreaddid。Whenshe”dgotprettywellalongdowntowardsme,IputoutmypipeandwenttowhereIfishedoutthebread,andlaiddownbehindalogonthebankinalittleopenplace。WherethelogforkedIcouldpeepthrough。

Byandbyshecomealong,andshedriftedinsoclosethattheycouldarunoutaplankandwalkedashore。Mosteverybodywasontheboat。Pap,andJudgeThatcher,andBessieThatcher,andJoHarper,andTomSawyer,andhisoldAuntPolly,andSidandMary,andplentymore。Everybodywastalkingaboutthemurder,butthecaptainbrokeinandsays:

“Looksharp,now;thecurrentsetsintheclosesthere,andmaybehe”swashedashoreandgottangledamongstthebrushatthewater”sedge。I

hopeso,anyway。”

“Ididn”thopeso。Theyallcrowdedupandleanedovertherails,nearlyinmyface,andkeptstill,watchingwithalltheirmight。Icouldseethemfirst-rate,buttheycouldn”tseeme。Thenthecaptainsungout:

“Standaway!“andthecannonletoffsuchablastrightbeforemethatitmademedeefwiththenoiseandprettynearblindwiththesmoke,andIjudgedIwasgone。Ifthey”dahadsomebulletsin,Ireckonthey”dagotthecorpsetheywasafter。Well,IseeIwarn”thurt,thankstogoodness。

Theboatfloatedonandwentoutofsightaroundtheshoulderoftheisland。

Icouldheartheboomingnowandthen,furtherandfurtheroff,andbyandby,afteranhour,Ididn”thearitnomore。Theislandwasthreemilelong。Ijudgedtheyhadgottothefoot,andwasgivingitup。Buttheydidn”tyetawhile。TheyturnedaroundthefootoftheislandandstartedupthechannelontheMissouriside,understeam,andboomingonceinawhileastheywent。Icrossedovertothatsideandwatchedthem。WhentheygotabreasttheheadoftheislandtheyquitshootinganddroppedovertotheMissourishoreandwenthometothetown。

IknowedIwasallrightnow。Nobodyelsewouldcomea-huntingafterme。Igotmytrapsoutofthecanoeandmademeanicecampinthethickwoods。Imadeakindofatentoutofmyblanketstoputmythingsundersotheraincouldn”tgetatthem。Icatchedacatfishandhaggledhimopenwithmysaw,andtowardssundownIstartedmycampfireandhadsupper。

ThenIsetoutalinetocatchsomefishforbreakfast。

WhenitwasdarkIsetbymycampfiresmoking,andfeelingprettywellsatisfied;butbyandbyitgotsortoflonesome,andsoIwentandsetonthebankandlistenedtothecurrentswashingalong,andcountedthestarsanddriftlogsandraftsthatcomedown,andthenwenttobed;thereain”tnobetterwaytoputintimewhenyouarelonesome;youcan”tstayso,yousoongetoverit。

Andsoforthreedaysandnights。Nodifference——justthesamething。

ButthenextdayIwentexploringarounddownthroughtheisland。Iwasbossofit;itallbelongedtome,sotosay,andIwantedtoknowallaboutit;butmainlyIwantedtoputinthetime。Ifoundplentystrawberries,ripeandprime;andgreensummergrapes,andgreenrazberries;andthegreenblackberrieswasjustbeginningtoshow。Theywouldallcomehandybyandby,Ijudged。

Well,IwentfoolingalonginthedeepwoodstillIjudgedIwarn”tfarfromthefootoftheisland。Ihadmygunalong,butIhadn”tshotnothing;itwasforprotection;thoughtIwouldkillsomegamenighhome。

AboutthistimeImightynearsteppedonagood-sizedsnake,anditwentslidingoffthroughthegrassandflowers,andIafterit,tryingtogetashotatit。Iclippedalong,andallofasuddenIboundedrightontotheashesofacampfirethatwasstillsmoking。

Myheartjumpedupamongstmylungs。Ineverwaitedfortolookfurther,butuncockedmygunandwentsneakingbackonmytiptoesasfastaseverIcould。EverynowandthenIstoppedasecondamongstthethickleavesandlistened,butmybreathcomesohardIcouldn”thearnothingelse。

Islunkalonganotherpiecefurther,thenlistenedagain;andsoon,andsoon。IfIseeastump,Itookitforaman;ifItrodonastickandbrokeit,itmademefeellikeapersonhadcutoneofmybreathsintwoandIonlygothalf,andtheshorthalf,too。

WhenIgottocampIwarn”tfeelingverybrash,therewarn”tmuchsandinmycraw;butIsays,thisain”tnotimetobefoolingaround。SoIgotallmytrapsintomycanoeagainsoastohavethemoutofsight,andI

putoutthefireandscatteredtheashesaroundtolooklikeanoldlastyear”scamp,andthenclumbatree。

IreckonIwasupinthetreetwohours;butIdidn”tseenothing,I

didn”thearnothing——IonlyTHOUGHTIheardandseenasmuchasathousandthings。Well,Icouldn”tstayupthereforever;soatlastIgotdown,butIkeptinthethickwoodsandonthelookoutallthetime。AllIcouldgettoeatwasberriesandwhatwasleftoverfrombreakfast。

BythetimeitwasnightIwasprettyhungry。SowhenitwasgoodanddarkIslidoutfromshorebeforemoonriseandpaddledovertotheIllinoisbank——aboutaquarterofamile。Iwentoutinthewoodsandcookedasupper,andIhadaboutmadeupmymindIwouldstaythereallnightwhenIhearaPLUNKETY-PLUNK,PLUNKETY-PLUNK,andsaystomyself,horsescoming;

andnextIhearpeople”svoices。IgoteverythingintothecanoeasquickasIcould,andthenwentcreepingthroughthewoodstoseewhatIcouldfindout。Ihadn”tgotfarwhenIhearamansay:

“Webettercamphereifwecanfindagoodplace;thehorsesisaboutbeatout。Let”slookaround。”

Ididn”twait,butshovedoutandpaddledawayeasy。Itiedupintheoldplace,andreckonedIwouldsleepinthecanoe。

Ididn”tsleepmuch。Icouldn”t,somehow,forthinking。AndeverytimeIwakedupIthoughtsomebodyhadmebytheneck。Sothesleepdidn”tdomenogood。ByandbyIsaystomyself,Ican”tlivethisway;I”ma-goingtofindoutwhoitisthat”shereontheislandwithme;I”llfinditoutorbust。Well,Ifeltbetterrightoff。

SoItookmypaddleandslidoutfromshorejustasteportwo,andthenletthecanoedropalongdownamongsttheshadows。Themoonwasshining,andoutsideoftheshadowsitmadeitmostaslightasday。Ipokedalongwellontoanhour,everythingstillasrocksandsoundasleep。Well,bythistimeIwasmostdowntothefootoftheisland。Alittleripply,coolbreezebeguntoblow,andthatwasasgoodassayingthenightwasaboutdone。Igiveheraturnwiththepaddleandbrunghernosetoshore;thenIgotmygunandslippedoutandintotheedgeofthewoods。Isatdownthereonalog,andlookedoutthroughtheleaves。Iseethemoongooffwatch,andthedarknessbegintoblankettheriver。ButinalittlewhileIseeapalestreakoverthetreetops,andknowedthedaywascoming。SoItookmygunandslippedofftowardswhereIhadrunacrossthatcampfire,stoppingeveryminuteortwotolisten。ButIhadn”tnolucksomehow;

Icouldn”tseemtofindtheplace。Butbyandby,sureenough,Icatchedaglimpseoffireawaythroughthetrees。Iwentforit,cautiousandslow。

ByandbyIwascloseenoughtohavealook,andtherelaidamanontheground。Itmostgivemethefantods。Hehadablanketaroundhishead,andhisheadwasnearlyinthefire。Isettherebehindaclumpofbushesinaboutsixfootofhim,andkeptmyeyesonhimsteady。Itwasgettinggraydaylightnow。Prettysoonhegappedandstretchedhimselfandhoveofftheblanket,anditwasMissWatson”sJim!IbetIwasgladtoseehim。Isays:

“Hello,Jim!“andskippedout。

Hebouncedupandstaredatmewild。Thenhedropsdownonhisknees,andputshishandstogetherandsays:

“Doan”hurtme——don”t!Ihain”teverdonenoharmtoaghos”。Ialwuzlikeddeadpeople,endoneallIcouldfor”em。Yougoengitinderiveragin,whahyoub”longs,endoan”donuffntoOleJim,”at”uzawluzyo”

fren”。”

Well,Iwarn”tlongmakinghimunderstandIwarn”tdead。IwaseversogladtoseeJim。Iwarn”tlonesomenow。ItoldhimIwarn”tafraidofHIMtellingthepeoplewhereIwas。Italkedalong,butheonlysetthereandlookedatme;neversaidnothing。ThenIsays:

“It”sgooddaylight。Le”sgetbreakfast。Makeupyourcampfiregood。”

“What”sdeuseermakin”updecampfiretocookstrawbriesensichtruck?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,whathasyoulivedon?Butyougotagun。Oh,yes,yougotagun。Dat”sgood。NowyoukillsumfnenI”llmakeupdefire。”

Sowewentovertowherethecanoewas,andwhilehebuiltafireinagrassyopenplaceamongstthetrees,Ifetchedmealandbaconandcoffee,andcoffee-potandfrying-pan,andsugarandtincups,andtheniggerwassetbackconsiderable,becausehereckoneditwasalldonewithwitchcraft。

Icatchedagoodbigcatfish,too,andJimcleanedhimwithhisknife,andfriedhim。

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