1r, the pride of her heart, and were built for "style," not 2service--she could have seen through a pair of stove-lids just as well. 3She looked perplexed for a moment, and then said, not fiercely, but 4still loud enough for the furniture to hear: 5 6"Well, I lay if I get hold of you I'll--" 7 8She did not finish, for by this time she was bending down and punching 9under the bed with the broom, and so she needed breath to punctuate the 10punches with. She resurrected nothing but the cat. 11 12"I never did see the beat of that boy!" 13 14She went to the open door and stood in it and looked out among the 15tomato vines and "jimpson" weeds that constituted the garden. No Tom. 16So she lifted up her voice at an angle calculated for distance and 17shouted: 18 19"Y-o-u-u TOM!" 20 21There was a slight noise behind her and she turned just in time to 22seize a small boy by the slack of his roundabout and arrest his flight. 23 24"There! I might 'a' thought of that closet. What you been doing in 25there?" 26 27"Nothing." 28 29"Nothing! Look at your hands. And look at your mouth. What IS that 30truck?" 31 32"I don't know, aunt." 33 34"Well, I know. It's jam--that's what it is. Forty times I've said if 35you didn't let that jam alone I'd skin you. Hand me that switch." 36 37The switch hovered in the air--the peril was desperate-- 38 39"My! Look behind you, aunt!" 40 41The old lady whirled round, and snatched her skirts out of danger. The 42lad fled on the instant, scrambled up the high board-fence, and 43disappeared over it. 44 45His aunt Polly stood surprised a moment, and then broke into a gentle 46laugh. 47 48"Hang the boy, can't I never learn anything? Ain't he played me tricks 49enough like that for me to be looking out for him by this time? But old 50fools is the biggest fools there is. Can't learn an old dog new tricks, 51as the saying is. But my goodness, he never plays them alike, two days, 52and how is a body to know what's coming? He 'pears to know just how 53long he can torment me before I get my dander up, and he knows if he 54can make out to put me off for a minute or make me laugh, it's all down 55again and I can't hit him a lick. I ain't doing my duty by that boy, 56and that's the Lord's truth, goodness knows. Spare the rod and spile 57the child, as the Good Book says. I'm a laying up sin and suffering for 58us both, I know. He's full of the Old Scratch, but laws-a-me! he's my 59own dead sister's boy, poor thing, and I ain't got the heart to lash 60him, somehow. Every time I let him off, my conscience does hurt me so, 61and every time I hit him my old heart most breaks. Well-a-well, man 62that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble, as the 63Scripture says, and I reckon it's so. He'll play hookey this evening, * 64and [* Southwestern for "afternoon"] I'll just be obleeged to make him 65work, to-morrow, to punish him. It's mighty hard to make him work 66Saturdays, when all the boys is having holiday, but he hates work more 67than he hates anything else, and I've GOT to do some of my duty by him, 68or I'll be the ruination of the child." 69 70Tom did play hookey, and he had a very good time. He got back home 71barely in season to help Jim, the small colored boy, saw next-day's 72wood and split the kindlings before supper--at least he was there in 73time to tell his adventures to Jim while Jim did three-fourths of the 74work. Tom's younger brother (or rather half-brother) Sid was already 75through with his part of the work (picking up chips), for he was a 76quiet boy, and had no adventurous, troublesome ways. 77 78While Tom was eating his supper, and stealing sugar as opportunity 79offered, Aunt Polly asked him questions that were full of guile, and 80very deep--for she wanted to trap him into damaging revealments. Like 81many other simple-hearted souls, it was her pet vanity to believe she 82was endowed with a talent for dark and mysterious diplomacy, and she 83loved to contemplate her most transparent devices as marvels of low 84cunning. Said she: 85 86"Tom, it was middling warm in school, warn't it?" 87 88"Yes'm." 89 90"Powerful warm, warn't it?" 91 92"Yes'm." 93 94"Didn't you want to go in a-swimming, Tom?" 95 96A bit of a scare shot through Tom--a touch of uncomfortable suspicion. 97He searched Aunt Polly's face, but it told him nothing. So he said: 98 99"No'm--well, not very much." 100 101The old lady reached out her hand and felt Tom's shirt, and said: 102 103"But you ain't too warm now, though." And it flattered her to reflect 104that she had discovered that the shirt was dry without anybody knowing 105that that was what she had in her mind. But in spite of her, Tom knew 106where the wind lay, now. So he forestalled what might be the next move: 107 108"Some of us pumped on our heads--mine's damp yet. See?" 109 110Aunt Polly was vexed to think she had overlooked that bit of 111circumstantial evidence, and missed a trick. Then she had a new 112inspiration: 113 114"Tom, you didn't have to undo your shirt collar where I sewed it, to 115pump on your head, did you? Unbutton your jacket!" 116 117The trouble vanished out of Tom's face. He opened his jacket. His 118shirt collar was securely sewed. 119 120"Bother! Well, go 'long with you. I'd made sure you'd played hookey 121and been a-swimming. But I forgive ye, Tom. I reckon you're a kind of a 122singed cat, as the saying is--better'n you look. THIS time." 123 124She was half sorry her sagacity had miscarried, and half glad that Tom 125had stumbled into obedient conduct for once. 126 127But Sidney said: 128 129"Well, now, if I didn't think you sewed his collar with white thread, 130but it's black." 131 132"Why, I did sew it with white! Tom!" 133 134But Tom did not wait for the rest. As he went out at the door he said: 135 136"Siddy, I'll lick you for that." 137 138In a safe place Tom examined two large needles which were thrust into 139the lapels of his jacket, and had thread bound about them--one needle 140carried white thread and the other black. He said: 141 142"She'd never noticed if it hadn't been for Sid. Confound it! sometimes 143she sews it with white, and sometimes she sews it with black. I wish to 144geeminy she'd stick to one or t'other--I can't keep the run of 'em. But 145I bet you I'll lam Sid for that. I'll learn him!" 146 147He was not the Model Boy of the village. He knew the model boy very 148well though--and loathed him. 149 150Within two minutes, or even less, he had forgotten all his troubles. 151Not because his troubles were one whit less heavy and bitter to him 152than a man's are to a man, but because a new and powerful interest bore 153them down and drove them out of his mind for the time--just as men's 154misfortunes are forgotten in the excitement of new enterprises. This 155new interest was a valued novelty in whistling, which he had just 156acquired from a negro, and he was suffering to practise it undisturbed. 157It consisted in a peculiar bird-like turn, a sort of liquid warble, 158produced by touching the tongue to the roof of the mouth at short 159intervals in the midst of the music--the reader probably remembers how 160to do it, if he has ever been a boy. Diligence and attention soon gave 161him the knack of it, and he strode down the street with his mouth full 162of harmony and his soul full of gratitude. He felt much as an 163astronomer feels who has discovered a new planet--no doubt, as far as 164strong, deep, unalloyed pleasure is concerned, the advantage was with 165the boy, not the astronomer. 166 167The summer evenings were long. It was not dark, yet. Presently Tom 168checked his whistle. A stranger was before him--a boy a shade larger 169than himself. A new-comer of any age or either sex was an impressive 170curiosity in the poor little shabby village of St. Petersburg. This boy 171was well dressed, too--well dressed on a week-day. This was simply 172astounding. His cap was a dainty thing, his close-buttoned blue cloth 173roundabout was new and natty, and so were his pantaloons. He had shoes 174on--and it was only Friday. He even wore a necktie, a bright bit of 175ribbon. He had a citified air about him that ate into Tom's vitals. The 176more Tom stared at the splendid marvel, the higher he turned up his 177nose at his finery and the shabbier and shabbier his own outfit seemed 178to him to grow. Neither boy spoke. If one moved, the other moved--but 179only sidewise, in a circle; they kept face to face and eye to eye all 180the time. Finally Tom said: 181 182"I can lick you!" 183 184"I'd like to see you try it." 185 186"Well, I can do it." 187 188"No you can't, either." 189 190"Yes I can." 191 192"No you can't." 193 194"I can." 195 196"You can't." 197 198"Can!" 199 200"Can't!" 201 202An uncomfortable pause. Then Tom said: 203 204"What's your name?" 205 206"'Tisn't any of your business, maybe." 207 208"Well I 'low I'll MAKE it my business." 209 210"Well why don't you?" 211 212"If you say much, I will." 213 214"Much--much--MUCH. There now." 215 216"Oh, you think you're mighty smart, DON'T you? I could lick you with 217one hand tied behind me, if I wanted to." 218 219"Well why don't you DO it? You SAY you can do it." 220 221"Well I WILL, if you fool with me." 222 223"Oh yes--I've seen whole families in the same fix." 224 225"Smarty! You think you're SOME, now, DON'T you? Oh, what a hat!" 226 227"You can lump that hat if you don't like it. I dare you to knock it 228off--and anybody that'll take a dare will suck eggs." 229 230"You're a liar!" 231 232"You're another." 233 234"You're a fighting liar and dasn't take it up." 235 236"Aw--take a walk!" 237 238"Say--if you give me much more of your sass I'll take and bounce a 239rock off'n your head." 240 241"Oh, of COURSE you will." 242 243"Well I WILL." 244 245"Well why don't you DO it then? What do you keep SAYING you will for? 246Why don't you DO it? It's because you're afraid." 247 248"I AIN'T afraid." 249 250"You are." 251 252"I ain't." 253 254"You are." 255 256Another pause, and more eying and sidling around each other. Presently 257they were shoulder to shoulder. Tom said: 258 259"Get away from here!" 260 261"Go away yourself!" 262 263"I won't." 264 265"I won't either." 266 267So they stood, each with a foot placed at an angle as a brace, and 268both shoving with might and main, and glowering at each other with 269hate. But neither could get an advantage. After struggling till both 270were hot and flushed, each relaxed his strain with watchful caution, 271and Tom said: 272 273"You're a coward and a pup. I'll tell my big brother on you, and he 274can thrash you with his little finger, and I'll make him do it, too." 275 276"What do I care for your big brother? I've got a brother that's bigger 277than he is--and what's more, he can throw him over that fence, too." 278[Both brothers were imaginary.] 279 280"That's a lie." 281 282"YOUR saying so don't make it so." 283 284Tom drew a line in the dust with his big toe, and said: 285 286"I dare you to step over that, and I'll lick you till you can't stand 287up. Anybody that'll take a dare will steal sheep." 288 289The new boy stepped over promptly, and said: 290 291"Now you said you'd do it, now let's see you do it." 292 293"Don't you crowd me now; you better look out." 294 295"Well, you SAID you'd do it--why don't you do it?" 296 297"By jingo! for two cents I WILL do it." 298 299The new boy took two broad coppers out of his pocket and held them out 300with derision. Tom struck them to the ground. In an instant both boys 301were rolling and tumbling in the dirt, gripped together like cats; and 302for the space of a minute they tugged and tore at each other's hair and 303clothes, punched and scratched each other's nose, and covered 304themselves with dust and glory. Presently the confusion took form, and 305through the fog of battle Tom appeared, seated astride the new boy, and 306pounding him with his fists. "Holler 'nuff!" said he. 307 308The boy only struggled to free himself. He was crying--mainly from rage. 309 310"Holler 'nuff!"--and the pounding went on. 311 312At last the stranger got out a smothered "'Nuff!" and Tom let him up 313and said: 314 315"Now that'll learn you. Better look out who you're fooling with next 316time." 317 318The new boy went off brushing the dust from his clothes, sobbing, 319snuffling, and occasionally looking back and shaking his head and 320threatening what he would do to Tom the "next time he caught him out." 321To which Tom responded with jeers, and started off in high feather, and 322as soon as his back was turned the new boy snatched up a stone, threw 323it and hit him between the shoulders and then turned tail and ran like 324an antelope. Tom chased the traitor home, and thus found out where he 325lived. He then held a position at the gate for some time, daring the 326enemy to come outside, but the enemy only made faces at him through the 327window and declined. At last the enemy's mother appeared, and called 328Tom a bad, vicious, vulgar child, and ordered him away. So he went 329away; but he said he "'lowed" to "lay" for that boy. 330 331He got home pretty late that night, and when he climbed cautiously in 332at the window, he uncovered an ambuscade, in the person of his aunt; 333and when she saw the state his clothes were in her resolution to turn 334his Saturday holiday into captivity at hard labor became adamantine in 335its firmness. 336 337 338 339CHAPTER II 340 341SATURDAY morning was come, and all the summer world was bright and 342fresh, and brimming with life. There was a song in every heart; and if 343the heart was young the music issued at the lips. There was cheer in 344every face and a spring in every step. The locust-trees were in bloom 345and the fragrance of the blossoms filled the air. Cardiff Hill, beyond 346the village and above it, was green with vegetation and it lay just far 347enough away to seem a Delectable Land, dreamy, reposeful, and inviting. 348 349Tom appeared on the sidewalk with a bucket of whitewash and a 350long-handled brush. He surveyed the fence, and all gladness left him and 351a deep melancholy settled down upon his spirit. Thirty yards of board 352fence nine feet high. Life to him seemed hollow, and existence but a 353burden. Sighing, he dipped his brush and passed it along the topmost 354plank; repeated the operation; did it again; compared the insignificant 355whitewashed streak with the far-reaching continent of unwhitewashed 356fence, and sat down on a tree-box discouraged. Jim came skipping out at 357the gate with a tin pail, and singing Buffalo Gals. Bringing water from 358the town pump had always been hateful work in Tom's eyes, before, but 359now it did not strike him so. He remembered that there was company at 360the pump. White, mulatto, and negro boys and girls were always there 361waiting their turns, resting, trading playthings, quarrelling, 362fighting, skylarking. And he remembered that although the pump was only 363a hundred and fifty yards off, Jim never got back with a bucket of 364water under an hour--and even then somebody generally had to go after 365him. Tom said: 366 367"Say, Jim, I'll fetch the water if you'll whitewash some." 368 369Jim shook his head and said: 370 371"Can't, Mars Tom. Ole missis, she tole me I got to go an' git dis 372water an' not stop foolin' roun' wid anybody. She say she spec' Mars 373Tom gwine to ax me to whitewash, an' so she tole me go 'long an' 'tend 374to my own business--she 'lowed SHE'D 'tend to de whitewashin'." 375 376"Oh, never you mind what she said, Jim. That's the way she always 377talks. Gimme the bucket--I won't be gone only a a minute. SHE won't 378ever know." 379 380"Oh, I dasn't, Mars Tom. Ole missis she'd take an' tar de head off'n 381me. 'Deed she would." 382 383"SHE! She never licks anybody--whacks 'em over the head with her 384thimble--and who cares for that, I'd like to know. She talks awful, but 385talk don't hurt--anyways it don't if she don't cry. Jim, I'll give you 386a marvel. I'll give you a white alley!" 387 388Jim began to waver. 389 390"White alley, Jim! And it's a bully taw." 391 392"My! Dat's a mighty gay marvel, I tell you! But Mars Tom I's powerful 393'fraid ole missis--" 394 395"And besides, if you will I'll show you my sore toe." 396 397Jim was only human--this attraction was too much for him. He put down 398his pail, took the white alley, and bent over the toe with absorbing 399interest while the bandage was being unwound. In another moment he was 400flying down the street with his pail and a tingling rear, Tom was 401whitewashing with vigor, and Aunt Polly was retiring from the field 402with a slipper in her hand and triumph in her eye. 403 404But Tom's energy did not last. He began to think of the fun he had 405planned for this day, and his sorrows multiplied. Soon the free boys 406would come tripping along on all sorts of delicious expeditions, and 407they would make a world of fun of him for having to work--the very 408thought of it burnt him like fire. He got out his worldly wealth and 409examined it--bits of toys, marbles, and trash; enough to buy an 410exchange of WORK, maybe, but not half enough to buy so much as half an 411hour of pure freedom. So he returned his straitened means to his 412pocket, and gave up the idea of trying to buy the boys. At this dark 413and hopeless moment an inspiration burst upon him! Nothing less than a 414great, magnificent inspiration. 415 416He took up his brush and went tranquilly to work. Ben Rogers hove in 417sight presently--the very boy, of all boys, whose ridicule he had been 418dreading. Ben's gait was the hop-skip-and-jump--proof enough that his 419heart was light and his anticipations high. He was eating an apple, and 420giving a long, melodious whoop, at intervals, followed by a deep-toned 421ding-dong-dong, ding-dong-dong, for he was personating a steamboat. As 422he drew near, he slackened speed, took the middle of the street, leaned 423far over to starboard and rounded to ponderously and with laborious 424pomp and circumstance--for he was personating the Big Missouri, and 425considered himself to be drawing nine feet of water. He was boat and 426captain and engine-bells combined, so he had to imagine himself 427standing on his own hurricane-deck giving the orders and executing them: 428 429"Stop her, sir! Ting-a-ling-ling!" The headway ran almost out, and he 430drew up slowly toward the sidewalk. 431 432"Ship up to back! Ting-a-ling-ling!" His arms straightened and 433stiffened down his sides. 434 435"Set her back on the stabboard! Ting-a-ling-ling! Chow! ch-chow-wow! 436Chow!" His right hand, meantime, describing stately circles--for it was 437representing a forty-foot wheel. 438 439"Let her go back on the labboard! Ting-a-lingling! Chow-ch-chow-chow!" 440The left hand began to describe circles. 441 442"Stop the stabboard! Ting-a-ling-ling! Stop the labboard! Come ahead 443on the stabboard! Stop her! Let your outside turn over slow! 444Ting-a-ling-ling! Chow-ow-ow! Get out that head-line! LIVELY now! 445Come--out with your spring-line--what're you about there! Take a turn 446round that stump with the bight of it! Stand by that stage, now--let her 447go! Done with the engines, sir! Ting-a-ling-ling! SH'T! S'H'T! SH'T!" 448(trying the gauge-cocks). 449 450Tom went on whitewashing--paid no attention to the steamboat. Ben 451stared a moment and then said: "Hi-YI! YOU'RE up a stump, ain't you!" 452 453No answer. Tom surveyed his last touch with the eye of an artist, then 454he gave his brush another gentle sweep and surveyed the result, as 455before. Ben ranged up alongside of him. Tom's mouth watered for the 456apple, but he stuck to his work. Ben said: 457 458"Hello, old chap, you got to work, hey?" 459 460Tom wheeled suddenly and said: 461 462"Why, it's you, Ben! I warn't noticing." 463 464"Say--I'm going in a-swimming, I am. Don't you wish you could? But of 465course you'd druther WORK--wouldn't you? Course you would!" 466 467Tom contemplated the boy a bit, and said: 468 469"What do you call work?" 470 471"Why, ain't THAT work?" 472 473Tom resumed his whitewashing, and answered carelessly: 474 475"Well, maybe it is, and maybe it ain't. All I know, is, it suits Tom 476Sawyer." 477 478"Oh come, now, you don't mean to let on that you LIKE it?" 479 480The brush continued to move. 481 482"Like it? Well, I don't see why I oughtn't to like it. Does a boy get 483a chance to whitewash a fence every day?" 484 485That put the thing in a new light. Ben stopped nibbling his apple. Tom 486swept his brush daintily back and forth--stepped back to note the 487effect--added a touch here and there--criticised the effect again--Ben 488watching every move and getting more and more interested, more and more 489absorbed. Presently he said: 490 491"Say, Tom, let ME whitewash a little." 492 493Tom considered, was about to consent; but he altered his mind: 494 495"No--no--I reckon it wouldn't hardly do, Ben. You see, Aunt Polly's 496awful particular about this fence--right here on the street, you know 497--but if it was the back fence I wouldn't mind and SHE wouldn't. Yes, 498she's awful particular about this fence; it's got to be done very 499careful; I reckon there ain't one boy in a thousand, maybe two 500thousand, that can do it the way it's got to be done." 501 502"No--is that so? Oh come, now--lemme just try. Only just a little--I'd 503let YOU, if you was me, Tom." 504 505"Ben, I'd like to, honest injun; but Aunt Polly--well, Jim wanted to 506do it, but she wouldn't let him; Sid wanted to do it, and she wouldn't 507let Sid. Now don't you see how I'm fixed? If you was to tackle this 508fence and anything was to happen to it--" 509 510"Oh, shucks, I'll be just as careful. Now lemme try. Say--I'll give 511you the core of my apple." 512 513"Well, here--No, Ben, now don't. I'm afeard--" 514 515"I'll give you ALL of it!" 516 517Tom gave up the brush with reluctance in his face, but alacrity in his 518heart. And while the late steamer Big Missouri worked and sweated in 519the sun, the retired artist sat on a barrel in the shade close by, 520dangled his legs, munched his apple, and planned the slaughter of more 521innocents. There was no lack of material; boys happened along every 522little while; they came to jeer, but remained to whitewash. By the time 523Ben was fagged out, Tom had traded the next chance to Billy Fisher for 524a kite, in good repair; and when he played out, Johnny Miller bought in 525for a dead rat and a string to swing it with--and so on, and so on, 526hour after hour. And when the middle of the afternoon came, from being 527a poor poverty-stricken boy in the morning, Tom was literally rolling 528in wealth. He had besides the things before mentioned, twelve marbles, 529part of a jews-harp, a piece of blue bottle-glass to look through, a 530spool cannon, a key that wouldn't unlock anything, a fragment of chalk, 531a glass stopper of a decanter, a tin soldier, a couple of tadpoles, six 532fire-crackers, a kitten with only one eye, a brass doorknob, a 533dog-collar--but no dog--the handle of a knife, four pieces of 534orange-peel, and a dilapidated old window sash. 535 536He had had a nice, good, idle time all the while--plenty of company 537--and the fence had three coats of whitewash on it! If he hadn't run out 538of whitewash he would have bankrupted every boy in the village. 539 540Tom said to himself that it was not such a hollow world, after all. He 541had discovered a great law of human action, without knowing it--namely, 542that in order to make a man or a boy covet a thing, it is only 543necessary to make the thing difficult to attain. If he had been a great 544and wise philosopher, like the writer of this book, he would now have 545comprehended that Work consists of whatever a body is OBLIGED to do, 546and that Play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do. And 547this would help him to understand why constructing artificial flowers 548or performing on a tread-mill is work, while rolling ten-pins or 549climbing Mont Blanc is only amusement. There are wealthy gentlemen in 550England who drive four-horse passenger-coaches twenty or thirty miles 551on a daily line, in the summer, because the privilege costs them 552considerable money; but if they were offered wages for the service, 553that would turn it into work and then they would resign. 554 555The boy mused awhile over the substantial change which had taken place 556in his worldly circumstances, and then wended toward headquarters to 557report. 558 559 560 561CHAPTER III 562 563TOM presented himself before Aunt Polly, who was sitting by an open 564window in a pleasant rearward apartment, which was bedroom, 565breakfast-room, dining-room, and library, combined. The balmy summer 566air, the restful quiet, the odor of the flowers, and the drowsing murmur 567of the bees had had their effect, and she was nodding over her knitting 568--for she had no company but the cat, and it was asleep in her lap. Her 569spectacles were propped up on her gray head for safety. She had thought 570that of course Tom had deserted long ago, and she wondered at seeing him 571place himself in her power again in this intrepid way. He said: "Mayn't 572I go and play now, aunt?" 573 574"What, a'ready? How much have you done?" 575 576"It's all done, aunt." 577 578"Tom, don't lie to me--I can't bear it." 579 580"I ain't, aunt; it IS all done." 581 582Aunt Polly placed small trust in such evidence. She went out to see 583for herself; and she would have been content to find twenty per cent. 584of Tom's statement true. When she found the entire fence whitewashed, 585and not only whitewashed but elaborately coated and recoated, and even 586a streak added to the ground, her astonishment was almost unspeakable. 587She said: 588 589"Well, I never! There's no getting round it, you can work when you're 590a mind to, Tom." And then she diluted the compliment by adding, "But 591it's powerful seldom you're a mind to, I'm bound to say. Well, go 'long 592and play; but mind you get back some time in a week, or I'll tan you." 593 594She was so overcome by the splendor of his achievement that she took 595him into the closet and selected a choice apple and delivered it to 596him, along with an improving lecture upon the added value and flavor a 597treat took to itself when it came without sin through virtuous effort. 598And while she closed with a happy Scriptural flourish, he "hooked" a 599doughnut. 600 601Then he skipped out, and saw Sid just starting up the outside stairway 602that led to the back rooms on the second floor. Clods were handy and 603the air was full of them in a twinkling. They raged around Sid like a 604hail-storm; and before Aunt Polly could collect her surprised faculties 605and sally to the rescue, six or seven clods had taken personal effect, 606and Tom was over the fence and gone. There was a gate, but as a general 607thing he was too crowded for time to make use of it. His soul was at 608peace, now that he had settled with Sid for calling attention to his 609black thread and getting him into trouble. 610 611Tom skirted the block, and came round into a muddy alley that led by 612the back of his aunt's cow-stable. He presently got safely beyond the 613reach of capture and punishment, and hastened toward the public square 614of the village, where two "military" companies of boys had met for 615conflict, according to previous appointment. Tom was General of one of 616these armies, Joe Harper (a bosom friend) General of the other. These 617two great commanders did not condescend to fight in person--that being 618better suited to the still smaller fry--but sat together on an eminence 619and conducted the field operations by orders delivered through 620aides-de-camp. Tom's army won a great victory, after a long and 621hard-fought battle. Then the dead were counted, prisoners exchanged, 622the terms of the next disagreement agreed upon, and the day for the 623necessary battle appointed; after which the armies fell into line and 624marched away, and Tom turned homeward alone. 625 626As he was passing by the house where Jeff Thatcher lived, he saw a new 627girl in the garden--a lovely little blue-eyed creature with yellow hair 628plaited into two long-tails, white summer frock and embroidered 629pantalettes. The fresh-crowned hero fell without firing a shot. A 630certain Amy Lawrence vanished out of his heart and left not even a 631memory of herself behind. He had thought he loved her to distraction; 632he had regarded his passion as adoration; and behold it was only a poor 633little evanescent partiality. He had been months winning her; she had 634confessed hardly a week ago; he had been the happiest and the proudest 635boy in the world only seven short days, and here in one instant of time 636she had gone out of his heart like a casual stranger whose visit is 637done. 638 639He worshipped this new angel with furtive eye, till he saw that she 640had discovered him; then he pretended he did not know she was present, 641and began to "show off" in all sorts of absurd boyish ways, in order to 642win her admiration. He kept up this grotesque foolishness for some 643time; but by-and-by, while he was in the midst of some dangerous 644gymnastic performances, he glanced aside and saw that the little girl 645was wending her way toward the house. Tom came up to the fence and 646leaned on it, grieving, and hoping she would tarry yet awhile longer. 647She halted a moment on the steps and then moved toward the door. Tom 648heaved a great sigh as she put her foot on the threshold. But his face 649lit up, right away, for she tossed a pansy over the fence a moment 650before she disappeared. 651 652The boy ran around and stopped within a foot or two of the flower, and 653then shaded his eyes with his hand and began to look down street as if 654he had discovered something of interest going on in that direction. 655Presently he picked up a straw and began trying to balance it on his 656nose, with his head tilted far back; and as he moved from side to side, 657in his efforts, he edged nearer and nearer toward the pansy; finally 658his bare foot rested upon it, his pliant toes closed upon it, and he 659hopped away with the treasure and disappeared round the corner. But 660only for a minute--only while he could button the flower inside his 661jacket, next his heart--or next his stomach, possibly, for he was not 662much posted in anatomy, and not hypercritical, anyway. 663 664He returned, now, and hung about the fence till nightfall, "showing 665off," as before; but the girl never exhibited herself again, though Tom 666comforted himself a little with the hope that she had been near some 667window, meantime, and been aware of his attentions. Finally he strode 668home reluctantly, with his poor head full of visions. 669 670All through supper his spirits were so high that his aunt wondered 671"what had got into the child." He took a good scolding about clodding 672Sid, and did not seem to mind it in the least. He tried to steal sugar 673under his aunt's very nose, and got his knuckles rapped for it. He said: 674 675"Aunt, you don't whack Sid when he takes it." 676 677"Well, Sid don't torment a body the way you do. You'd be always into 678that sugar if I warn't watching you." 679 680Presently she stepped into the kitchen, and Sid, happy in his 681immunity, reached for the sugar-bowl--a sort of glorying over Tom which 682was wellnigh unbearable. But Sid's fingers slipped and the bowl dropped 683and broke. Tom was in ecstasies. In such ecstasies that he even 684controlled his tongue and was silent. He said to himself that he would 685not speak a word, even when his aunt came in, but would sit perfectly 686still till she asked who did the mischief; and then he would tell, and 687there would be nothing so good in the world as to see that pet model 688"catch it." He was so brimful of exultation that he could hardly hold 689himself when the old lady came back and stood above the wreck 690discharging lightnings of wrath from over her spectacles. He said to 691himself, "Now it's coming!" And the next instant he was sprawling on 692the floor! The potent palm was uplifted to strike again when Tom cried 693out: 694 695"Hold on, now, what 'er you belting ME for?--Sid broke it!" 696 697Aunt Polly paused, perplexed, and Tom looked for healing pity. But 698when she got her tongue again, she only said: 699 700"Umf! Well, you didn't get a lick amiss, I reckon. You been into some 701other audacious mischief when I wasn't around, like enough." 702 703Then her conscience reproached her, and she yearned to say something 704kind and loving; but she judged that this would be construed into a 705confession that she had been in the wrong, and discipline forbade that. 706So she kept silence, and went about her affairs with a troubled heart. 707Tom sulked in a corner and exalted his woes. He knew that in her heart 708his aunt was on her knees to him, and he was morosely gratified by the 709consciousness of it. He would hang out no signals, he would take notice 710of none. He knew that a yearning glance fell upon him, now and then, 711through a film of tears, but he refused recognition of it. He pictured 712himself lying sick unto death and his aunt bending over him beseeching 713one little forgiving word, but he would turn his face to the wall, and 714die with that word unsaid. Ah, how would she feel then? And he pictured 715himself brought home from the river, dead, with his curls all wet, and 716his sore heart at rest. How she would throw herself upon him, and how 717her tears would fall like rain, and her lips pray God to give her back 718her boy and she would never, never abuse him any more! But he would lie 719there cold and white and make no sign--a poor little sufferer, whose 720griefs were at an end. He so worked upon his feelings with the pathos 721of these dreams, that he had to keep swallowing, he was so like to 722choke; and his eyes swam in a blur of water, which overflowed when he 723winked, and ran down and trickled from the end of his nose. And such a 724luxury to him was this petting of his sorrows, that he could not bear 725to have any worldly cheeriness or any grating delight intrude upon it; 726it was too sacred for such contact; and so, presently, when his cousin 727Mary danced in, all alive with the joy of seeing home again after an 728age-long visit of one week to the country, he got up and moved in 729clouds and darkness out at one door as she brought song and sunshine in 730at the other. 731 732He wandered far from the accustomed haunts of boys, and sought 733desolate places that were in harmony with his spirit. A log raft in the 734river invited him, and he seated himself on its outer edge and 735contemplated the dreary vastness of the stream, wishing, the while, 736that he could only be drowned, all at once and unconsciously, without 737undergoing the uncomfortable routine devised by nature. Then he thought 738of his flower. He got it out, rumpled and wilted, and it mightily 739increased his dismal felicity. He wondered if she would pity him if she 740knew? Would she cry, and wish that she had a right to put her arms 741around his neck and comfort him? Or would she turn coldly away like all 742the hollow world? This picture brought such an agony of pleasurable 743suffering that he worked it over and over again in his mind and set it 744up in new and varied lights, till he wore it threadbare. At last he 745rose up sighing and departed in the darkness. 746 747About half-past nine or ten o'clock he came along the deserted street 748to where the Adored Unknown lived; he paused a moment; no sound fell 749upon his listening ear; a candle was casting a dull glow upon the 750curtain of a second-story window. Was the sacred presence there? He 751climbed the fence, threaded his stealthy way through the plants, till 752he stood under that window; he looked up at it long, and with emotion; 753then he laid him down on the ground under it, disposing himself upon 754his back, with his hands clasped upon his breast and holding his poor 755wilted flower. And thus he would die--out in the cold world, with no 756shelter over his homeless head, no friendly hand to wipe the 757death-damps from his brow, no loving face to bend pityingly over him 758when the great agony came. And thus SHE would see him when she looked 759out upon the glad morning, and oh! would she drop one little tear upon 760his poor, lifeless form, would she heave one little sigh to see a bright 761young life so rudely blighted, so untimely cut down? 762 763The window went up, a maid-servant's discordant voice profaned the 764holy calm, and a deluge of water drenched the prone martyr's remains! 765 766The strangling hero sprang up with a relieving snort. There was a whiz 767as of a missile in the air, mingled with the murmur of a curse, a sound 768as of shivering glass followed, and a small, vague form went over the 769fence and shot away in the gloom. 770 771Not long after, as Tom, all undressed for bed, was surveying his 772drenched garments by the light of a tallow dip, Sid woke up; but if he 773had any dim idea of making any "references to allusions," he thought 774better of it and held his peace, for there was danger in Tom's eye. 775 776Tom turned in without the added vexation of prayers, and Sid made 777mental note of the omission. 778 779 780 781CHAPTER IV 782 783THE sun rose upon a tranquil world, and beamed down upon the peaceful 784village like a benediction. Breakfast over, Aunt Polly had family 785worship: it began with a prayer built from the ground up of solid 786courses of Scriptural quotations, welded together with a thin mortar of 787originality; and from the summit of this she delivered a grim chapter 788of the Mosaic Law, as from Sinai. 789 790Then Tom girded up his loins, so to speak, and went to work to "get 791his verses." Sid had learned his lesson days before. Tom bent all his 792energies to the memorizing of five verses, and he chose part of the 793Sermon on the Mount, because he could find no verses that were shorter. 794At the end of half an hour Tom had a vague general idea of his lesson, 795but no more, for his mind was traversing the whole field of human 796thought, and his hands were busy with distracting recreations. Mary 797took his book to hear him recite, and he tried to find his way through 798the fog: 799 800"Blessed are the--a--a--" 801 802"Poor"-- 803 804"Yes--poor; blessed are the poor--a--a--" 805 806"In spirit--" 807 808"In spirit; blessed are the poor in spirit, for they--they--" 809 810"THEIRS--" 811 812"For THEIRS. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom 813of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn, for they--they--" 814 815"Sh--" 816 817"For they--a--" 818 819"S, H, A--" 820 821"For they S, H--Oh, I don't know what it is!" 822 823"SHALL!" 824 825"Oh, SHALL! for they shall--for they shall--a--a--shall mourn--a--a-- 826blessed are they that shall--they that--a--they that shall mourn, for 827they shall--a--shall WHAT? Why don't you tell me, Mary?--what do you 828want to be so mean for?" 829 830"Oh, Tom, you poor thick-headed thing, I'm not teasing you. I wouldn't 831do that. You must go and learn it again. Don't you be discouraged, Tom, 832you'll manage it--and if you do, I'll give you something ever so nice. 833There, now, that's a good boy." 834 835"All right! What is it, Mary, tell me what it is." 836 837"Never you mind, Tom. You know if I say it's nice, it is nice." 838 839"You bet you that's so, Mary. All right, I'll tackle it again." 840 841And he did "tackle it again"--and under the double pressure of 842curiosity and prospective gain he did it with such spirit that he 843accomplished a shining success. Mary gave him a brand-new "Barlow" 844knife worth twelve and a half cents; and the convulsion of delight that 845swept his system shook him to his foundations. True, the knife would 846not cut anything, but it was a "sure-enough" Barlow, and there was 847inconceivable grandeur in that--though where the Western boys ever got 848the idea that such a weapon could possibly be counterfeited to its 849injury is an imposing mystery and will always remain so, perhaps. Tom 850contrived to scarify the cupboard with it, and was arranging to begin 851on the bureau, when he was called off to dress for Sunday-school. 852 853Mary gave him a tin basin of water and a piece of soap, and he went 854outside the door and set the basin on a little bench there; then he 855dipped the soap in the water and laid it down; turned up his sleeves; 856poured out the water on the ground, gently, and then entered the 857kitchen and began to wipe his face diligently on the towel behind the 858door. But Mary removed the towel and said: 859 860"Now ain't you ashamed, Tom. You mustn't be so bad. Water won't hurt 861you." 862 863Tom was a trifle disconcerted. The basin was refilled, and this time 864he stood over it a little while, gathering resolution; took in a big 865breath and began. When he entered the kitchen presently, with both eyes 866shut and groping for the towel with his hands, an honorable testimony 867of suds and water was dripping from his face. But when he emerged from 868the towel, he was not yet satisfactory, for the clean territory stopped 869short at his chin and his jaws, like a mask; below and beyond this line 870there was a dark expanse of unirrigated soil that spread downward in 871front and backward around his neck. Mary took him in hand, and when she 872was done with him he was a man and a brother, without distinction of 873color, and his saturated hair was neatly brushed, and its short curls 874wrought into a dainty and symmetrical general effect. [He privately 875smoothed out the curls, with labor and difficulty, and plastered his 876hair close down to his head; for he held curls to be effeminate, and 877his own filled his life with bitterness.] Then Mary got out a suit of 878his clothing that had been used only on Sundays during two years--they 879were simply called his "other clothes"--and so by that we know the 880size of his wardrobe. The girl "put him to rights" after he had dressed 881himself; she buttoned his neat roundabout up to his chin, turned his 882vast shirt collar down over his shoulders, brushed him off and crowned 883him with his speckled straw hat. He now looked exceedingly improved and 884uncomfortable. He was fully as uncomfortable as he looked; for there 885was a restraint about whole clothes and cleanliness that galled him. He 886hoped that Mary would forget his shoes, but the hope was blighted; she 887coated them thoroughly with tallow, as was the custom, and brought them 888out. He lost his temper and said he was always being made to do 889everything he didn't want to do. But Mary said, persuasively: 890 891"Please, Tom--that's a good boy." 892 893So he got into the shoes snarling. Mary was soon ready, and the three 894children set out for Sunday-school--a place that Tom hated with his 895whole heart; but Sid and Mary were fond of it. 896 897Sabbath-school hours were from nine to half-past ten; and then church 898service. Two of the children always remained for the sermon 899voluntarily, and the other always remained too--for stronger reasons. 900The church's high-backed, uncushioned pews would seat about three 901hundred persons; the edifice was but a small, plain affair, with a sort 902of pine board tree-box on top of it for a steeple. At the door Tom 903dropped back a step and accosted a Sunday-dressed comrade: 904 905"Say, Billy, got a yaller ticket?" 906 907"Yes." 908 909"What'll you take for her?" 910 911"What'll you give?" 912 913"Piece of lickrish and a fish-hook." 914 915"Less see 'em." 916 917Tom exhibited. They were satisfactory, and the property changed hands. 918Then Tom traded a couple of white alleys for three red tickets, and 919some small trifle or other for a couple of blue ones. He waylaid other 920boys as they came, and went on buying tickets of various colors ten or 921fifteen minutes longer. He entered the church, now, with a swarm of 922clean and noisy boys and girls, proceeded to his seat and started a 923quarrel with the first boy that came handy. The teacher, a grave, 924elderly man, interfered; then turned his back a moment and Tom pulled a 925boy's hair in the next bench, and was absorbed in his book when the boy 926turned around; stuck a pin in another boy, presently, in order to hear 927him say "Ouch!" and got a new reprimand from his teacher. Tom's whole 928class were of a pattern--restless, noisy, and troublesome. When they 929came to recite their lessons, not one of them knew his verses 930perfectly, but had to be prompted all along. However, they worried 931through, and each got his reward--in small blue tickets, each with a 932passage of Scripture on it; each blue ticket was pay for two verses of 933the recitation. Ten blue tickets equalled a red one, and could be 934exchanged for it; ten red tickets equalled a yellow one; for ten yellow 935tickets the superintendent gave a very plainly bound Bible (worth forty 936cents in those easy times) to the pupil. How many of my readers would 937have the industry and application to memorize two thousand verses, even 938for a Dore Bible? And yet Mary had acquired two Bibles in this way--it 939was the patient work of two years--and a boy of German parentage had 940won four or five. He once recited three thousand verses without 941stopping; but the strain upon his mental faculties was too great, and 942he was little better than an idiot from that day forth--a grievous 943misfortune for the school, for on great occasions, before company, the 944superintendent (as Tom expressed it) had always made this boy come out 945and "spread himself." Only the older pupils managed to keep their 946tickets and stick to their tedious work long enough to get a Bible, and 947so the delivery of one of these prizes was a rare and noteworthy 948circumstance; the successful pupil was so great and conspicuous for 949that day that on the spot every scholar's heart was fired with a fresh 950ambition that often lasted a couple of weeks. It is possible that Tom's 951mental stomach had never really hungered for one of those prizes, but 952unquestionably his entire being had for many a day longed for the glory 953and the eclat that came with it. 954 955In due course the superintendent stood up in front of the pulpit, with 956a closed hymn-book in his hand and his forefinger inserted between its 957leaves, and commanded attention. When a Sunday-school superintendent 958makes his customary little speech, a hymn-book in the hand is as 959necessary as is the inevitable sheet of music in the hand of a singer 960who stands forward on the platform and sings a solo at a concert 961--though why, is a mystery: for neither the hymn-book nor the sheet of 962music is ever referred to by the sufferer. This superintendent was a 963slim creature of thirty-five, with a sandy goatee and short sandy hair; 964he wore a stiff standing-collar whose upper edge almost reached his 965ears and whose sharp points curved forward abreast the corners of his 966mouth--a fence that compelled a straight lookout ahead, and a turning 967of the whole body when a side view was required; his chin was propped 968on a spreading cravat which was as broad and as long as a bank-note, 969and had fringed ends; his boot toes were turned sharply up, in the 970fashion of the day, like sleigh-runners--an effect patiently and 971laboriously produced by the young men by sitting with their toes 972pressed against a wall for hours together. Mr. Walters was very earnest 973of mien, and very sincere and honest at heart; and he held sacred 974things and places in such reverence, and so separated them from worldly 975matters, that unconsciously to himself his Sunday-school voice had 976acquired a peculiar intonation which was wholly absent on week-days. He 977began after this fashion: 978 979"Now, children, I want you all to sit up just as straight and pretty 980as you can and give me all your attention for a minute or two. There 981--that is it. That is the way good little boys and girls should do. I see 982one little girl who is looking out of the window--I am afraid she 983thinks I am out there somewhere--perhaps up in one of the trees making 984a speech to the little birds. [Applausive titter.] I want to tell you 985how good it makes me feel to see so many bright, clean little faces 986assembled in a place like this, learning to do right and be good." And 987so forth and so on. It is not necessary to set down the rest of the 988oration. It was of a pattern which does not vary, and so it is familiar 989to us all. 990 991The latter third of the speech was marred by the resumption of fights 992and other recreations among certain of the bad boys, and by fidgetings 993and whisperings that extended far and wide, washing even to the bases 994of isolated and incorruptible rocks like Sid and Mary. But now every 995sound ceased suddenly, with the subsidence of Mr. Walters' voice, and 996the conclusion of the speech was received with a burst of silent 997gratitude. 998 999A good part of the whispering had been occasioned by an event which 1000was more or less rare--the entrance of visitors: lawyer Thatcher, 1001accompanied by a very feeble and aged man; a fine, portly, middle-aged 1002gentleman with iron-gray hair; and a dignified lady who was doubtless 1003the latter's wife. The lady was leading a child. Tom had been restless 1004and full of chafings and repinings; conscience-smitten, too--he could 1005not meet Amy Lawrence's eye, he could not brook her loving gaze. But 1006when he saw this small new-comer his soul was all ablaze with bliss in 1007a moment. The next moment he was "showing off" with all his might 1008--cuffing boys, pulling hair, making faces--in a word, using every art 1009that seemed likely to fascinate a girl and win her applause. His 1010exaltation had but one alloy--the memory of his humiliation in this 1011angel's garden--and that record in sand was fast washing out, under 1012the waves of happiness that were sweeping over it now. 1013 1014The visitors were given the highest seat of honor, and as soon as Mr. 1015Walters' speech was finished, he introduced them to the school. The 1016middle-aged man turned out to be a prodigious personage--no less a one 1017than the county judge--altogether the most august creation these 1018children had ever looked upon--and they wondered what kind of material 1019he was made of--and they half wanted to hear him roar, and were half 1020afraid he might, too. He was from Constantinople, twelve miles away--so 1021he had travelled, and seen the world--these very eyes had looked upon 1022the county court-house--which was said to have a tin roof. The awe 1023which these reflections inspired was attested by the impressive silence 1024and the ranks of staring eyes. This was the great Judge Thatcher, 1025brother of their own lawyer. Jeff Thatcher immediately went forward, to 1026be familiar with the great man and be envied by the school. It would 1027have been music to his soul to hear the whisperings: 1028 1029"Look at him, Jim! He's a going up there. Say--look! he's a going to 1030shake hands with him--he IS shaking hands with him! By jings, don't you 1031wish you was Jeff?" 1032 1033Mr. Walters fell to "showing off," with all sorts of official 1034bustlings and activities, giving orders, delivering judgments, 1035discharging directions here, there, everywhere that he could find a 1036target. The librarian "showed off"--running hither and thither with his 1037arms full of books and making a deal of the splutter and fuss that 1038insect authority delights in. The young lady teachers "showed off" 1039--bending sweetly over pupils that were lately being boxed, lifting 1040pretty warning fingers at bad little boys and patting good ones 1041lovingly. The young gentlemen teachers "showed off" with small 1042scoldings and other little displays of authority and fine attention to 1043discipline--and most of the teachers, of both sexes, found business up 1044at the library, by the pulpit; and it was business that frequently had 1045to be done over again two or three times (with much seeming vexation). 1046The little girls "showed off" in various ways, and the little boys 1047"showed off" with such diligence that the air was thick with paper wads 1048and the murmur of scufflings. And above it all the great man sat and 1049beamed a majestic judicial smile upon all the house, and warmed himself 1050in the sun of his own grandeur--for he was "showing off," too. 1051 1052There was only one thing wanting to make Mr. Walters' ecstasy 1053complete, and that was a chance to deliver a Bible-prize and exhibit a 1054prodigy. Several pupils had a few yellow tickets, but none had enough 1055--he had been around among the star pupils inquiring. He would have given 1056worlds, now, to have that German lad back again with a sound mind. 1057 1058And now at this moment, when hope was dead, Tom Sawyer came forward 1059with nine yellow tickets, nine red tickets, and ten blue ones, and 1060demanded a Bible. This was a thunderbolt out of a clear sky. Walters 1061was not expecting an application from this source for the next ten 1062years. But there was no getting around it--here were the certified 1063checks, and they were good for their face. Tom was therefore elevated 1064to a place with the Judge and the other elect, and the great news was 1065announced from headquarters. It was the most stunning surprise of the 1066decade, and so profound was the sensation that it lifted the new hero 1067up to the judicial one's altitude, and the school had two marvels to 1068gaze upon in place of one. The boys were all eaten up with envy--but 1069those that suffered the bitterest pangs were those who perceived too 1070late that they themselves had contributed to this hated splendor by 1071trading tickets to Tom for the wealth he had amassed in selling 1072whitewashing privileges. These despised themselves, as being the dupes 1073of a wily fraud, a guileful snake in the grass. 1074 1075The prize was delivered to Tom with as much effusion as the 1076superintendent could pump up under the circumstances; but it lacked 1077somewhat of the true gush, for the poor fellow's instinct taught him 1078that there was a mystery here that could not well bear the light, 1079perhaps; it was simply preposterous that this boy had warehoused two 1080thousand sheaves of Scriptural wisdom on his premises--a dozen would 1081strain his capacity, without a doubt. 1082 1083Amy Lawrence was proud and glad, and she tried to make Tom see it in 1084her face--but he wouldn't look. She wondered; then she was just a grain 1085troubled; next a dim suspicion came and went--came again; she watched; 1086a furtive glance told her worlds--and then her heart broke, and she was 1087jealous, and angry, and the tears came and she hated everybody. Tom 1088most of all (she thought). 1089 1090Tom was introduced to the Judge; but his tongue was tied, his breath 1091would hardly come, his heart quaked--partly because of the awful 1092greatness of the man, but mainly because he was her parent. He would 1093have liked to fall down and worship him, if it were in the dark. The 1094Judge put his hand on Tom's head and called him a fine little man, and 1095asked him what his name was. The boy stammered, gasped, and got it out: 1096 1097"Tom." 1098 1099"Oh, no, not Tom--it is--" 1100 1101"Thomas." 1102 1103"Ah, that's it. I thought there was more to it, maybe. That's very 1104well. But you've another one I daresay, and you'll tell it to me, won't 1105you?" 1106 1107"Tell the gentleman your other name, Thomas," said Walters, "and say 1108sir. You mustn't forget your manners." 1109 1110"Thomas Sawyer--sir." 1111 1112"That's it! That's a good boy. Fine boy. Fine, manly little fellow. 1113Two thousand verses is a great many--very, very great many. And you 1114never can be sorry for the trouble you took to learn them; for 1115knowledge is worth more than anything there is in the world; it's what 1116makes great men and good men; you'll be a great man and a good man 1117yourself, some day, Thomas, and then you'll look back and say, It's all 1118owing to the precious Sunday-school privileges of my boyhood--it's all 1119owing to my dear teachers that taught me to learn--it's all owing to 1120the good superintendent, who encouraged me, and watched over me, and 1121gave me a beautiful Bible--a splendid elegant Bible--to keep and have 1122it all for my own, always--it's all owing to right bringing up! That is 1123what you will say, Thomas--and you wouldn't take any money for those 1124two thousand verses--no indeed you wouldn't. And now you wouldn't mind 1125telling me and this lady some of the things you've learned--no, I know 1126you wouldn't--for we are proud of little boys that learn. Now, no 1127doubt you know the names of all the twelve disciples. Won't you tell us 1128the names of the first two that were appointed?" 1129 1130Tom was tugging at a button-hole and looking sheepish. He blushed, 1131now, and his eyes fell. Mr. Walters' heart sank within him. He said to 1132himself, it is not possible that the boy can answer the simplest 1133question--why DID the Judge ask him? Yet he felt obliged to speak up 1134and say: 1135 1136"Answer the gentleman, Thomas--don't be afraid." 1137 1138Tom still hung fire. 1139 1140"Now I know you'll tell me," said the lady. "The names of the first 1141two disciples were--" 1142 1143"DAVID AND GOLIAH!" 1144 1145Let us draw the curtain of charity over the rest of the scene. 1146 1147 1148 1149CHAPTER V 1150 1151ABOUT half-past ten the cracked bell of the small church began to 1152ring, and presently the people began to gather for the morning sermon. 1153The Sunday-school children distributed themselves about the house and 1154occupied pews with their parents, so as to be under supervision. Aunt 1155Polly came, and Tom and Sid and Mary sat with her--Tom being placed 1156next the aisle, in order that he might be as far away from the open 1157window and the seductive outside summer scenes as possible. The crowd 1158filed up the aisles: the aged and needy postmaster, who had seen better 1159days; the mayor and his wife--for they had a mayor there, among other 1160unnecessaries; the justice of the peace; the widow Douglass, fair, 1161smart, and forty, a generous, good-hearted soul and well-to-do, her 1162hill mansion the only palace in the town, and the most hospitable and 1163much the most lavish in the matter of festivities that St. Petersburg 1164could boast; the bent and venerable Major and Mrs. Ward; lawyer 1165Riverson, the new notable from a distance; next the belle of the 1166village, followed by a troop of lawn-clad and ribbon-decked young 1167heart-breakers; then all the young clerks in town in a body--for they 1168had stood in the vestibule sucking their cane-heads, a circling wall of 1169oiled and simpering admirers, till the last girl had run their gantlet; 1170and last of all came the Model Boy, Willie Mufferson, taking as heedful 1171care of his mother as if she were cut glass. He always brought his 1172mother to church, and was the pride of all the matrons. The boys all 1173hated him, he was so good. And besides, he had been "thrown up to them" 1174so much. His white handkerchief was hanging out of his pocket behind, as 1175usual on Sundays--accidentally. Tom had no handkerchief, and he looked 1176upon boys who had as snobs. 1177 1178The congregation being fully assembled, now, the bell rang once more, 1179to warn laggards and stragglers, and then a solemn hush fell upon the 1180church which was only broken by the tittering and whispering of the 1181choir in the gallery. The choir always tittered and whispered all 1182through service. There was once a church choir that was not ill-bred, 1183but I have forgotten where it was, now. It was a great many years ago, 1184and I can scarcely remember anything about it, but I think it was in 1185some foreign country. 1186 1187The minister gave out the hymn, and read it through with a relish, in 1188a peculiar style which was much admired in that part of the country. 1189His voice began on a medium key and climbed steadily up till it reached 1190a certain point, where it bore with strong emphasis upon the topmost 1191word and then plunged down as if from a spring-board: 1192 1193 Shall I be car-ri-ed toe the skies, on flow'ry BEDS of ease, 1194 1195 Whilst others fight to win the prize, and sail thro' BLOODY seas? 1196 1197He was regarded as a wonderful reader. At church "sociables" he was 1198always called upon to read poetry; and when he was through, the ladies 1199would lift up their hands and let them fall helplessly in their laps, 1200and "wall" their eyes, and shake their heads, as much as to say, "Words 1201cannot express it; it is too beautiful, TOO beautiful for this mortal 1202earth." 1203 1204After the hymn had been sung, the Rev. Mr. Sprague turned himself into 1205a bulletin-board, and read off "notices" of meetings and societies and 1206things till it seemed that the list would stretch out to the crack of 1207doom--a queer custom which is still kept up in America, even in cities, 1208away here in this age of abundant newspapers. Often, the less there is 1209to justify a traditional custom, the harder it is to get rid of it. 1210 1211And now the minister prayed. A good, generous prayer it was, and went 1212into details: it pleaded for the church, and the little children of the 1213church; for the other churches of the village; for the village itself; 1214for the county; for the State; for the State officers; for the United 1215States; for the churches of the United States; for Congress; for the 1216President; for the officers of the Government; for poor sailors, tossed 1217by stormy seas; for the oppressed millions groaning under the heel of 1218European monarchies and Oriental despotisms; for such as have the light 1219and the good tidings, and yet have not eyes to see nor ears to hear 1220withal; for the heathen in the far islands of the sea; and closed with 1221a supplication that the words he was about to speak might find grace 1222and favor, and be as seed sown in fertile ground, yielding in time a 1223grateful harvest of good. Amen. 1224 1225There was a rustling of dresses, and the standing congregation sat 1226down. The boy whose history this book relates did not enjoy the prayer, 1227he only endured it--if he even did that much. He was restive all 1228through it; he kept tally of the details of the prayer, unconsciously 1229--for he was not listening, but he knew the ground of old, and the 1230clergyman's regular route over it--and when a little trifle of new 1231matter was interlarded, his ear detected it and his whole nature 1232resented it; he considered additions unfair, and scoundrelly. In the 1233midst of the prayer a fly had lit on the back of the pew in front of 1234him and tortured his spirit by calmly rubbing its hands together, 1235embracing its head with its arms, and polishing it so vigorously that 1236it seemed to almost part company with the body, and the slender thread 1237of a neck was exposed to view; scraping its wings with its hind legs 1238and smoothing them to its body as if they had been coat-tails; going 1239through its whole toilet as tranquilly as if it knew it was perfectly 1240safe. As indeed it was; for as sorely as Tom's hands itched to grab for 1241it they did not dare--he believed his soul would be instantly destroyed 1242if he did such a thing while the prayer was going on. But with the 1243closing sentence his hand began to curve and steal forward; and the 1244instant the "Amen" was out the fly was a prisoner of war. His aunt 1245detected the act and made him let it go. 1246 1247The minister gave out his text and droned along monotonously through 1248an argument that was so prosy that many a head by and by began to nod 1249--and yet it was an argument that dealt in limitless fire and brimstone 1250and thinned the predestined elect down to a company so small as to be 1251hardly worth the saving. Tom counted the pages of the sermon; after 1252church he always knew how many pages there had been, but he seldom knew 1253anything else about the discourse. However, this time he was really 1254interested for a little while. The minister made a grand and moving 1255picture of the assembling together of the world's hosts at the 1256millennium when the lion and the lamb should lie down together and a 1257little child should lead them. But the pathos, the lesson, the moral of 1258the great spectacle were lost upon the boy; he only thought of the 1259conspicuousness of the principal character before the on-looking 1260nations; his face lit with the thought, and he said to himself that he 1261wished he could be that child, if it was a tame lion. 1262 1263Now he lapsed into suffering again, as the dry argument was resumed. 1264Presently he bethought him of a treasure he had and got it out. It was 1265a large black beetle with formidable jaws--a "pinchbug," he called it. 1266It was in a percussion-cap box. The first thing the beetle did was to 1267take him by the finger. A natural fillip followed, the beetle went 1268floundering into the aisle and lit on its back, and the hurt finger 1269went into the boy's mouth. The beetle lay there working its helpless 1270legs, unable to turn over. Tom eyed it, and longed for it; but it was 1271safe out of his reach. Other people uninterested in the sermon found 1272relief in the beetle, and they eyed it too. Presently a vagrant poodle 1273dog came idling along, sad at heart, lazy with the summer softness and 1274the quiet, weary of captivity, sighing for change. He spied the beetle; 1275the drooping tail lifted and wagged. He surveyed the prize; walked 1276around it; smelt at it from a safe distance; walked around it again; 1277grew bolder, and took a closer smell; then lifted his lip and made a 1278gingerly snatch at it, just missing it; made another, and another; 1279began to enjoy the diversion; subsided to his stomach with the beetle 1280between his paws, and continued his experiments; grew weary at last, 1281and then indifferent and absent-minded. His head nodded, and little by 1282little his chin descended and touched the enemy, who seized it. There 1283was a sharp yelp, a flirt of the poodle's head, and the beetle fell a 1284couple of yards away, and lit on its back once more. The neighboring 1285spectators shook with a gentle inward joy, several faces went behind 1286fans and handkerchiefs, and Tom was entirely happy. The dog looked 1287foolish, and probably felt so; but there was resentment in his heart, 1288too, and a craving for revenge. So he went to the beetle and began a 1289wary attack on it again; jumping at it from every point of a circle, 1290lighting with his fore-paws within an inch of the creature, making even 1291closer snatches at it with his teeth, and jerking his head till his 1292ears flapped again. But he grew tired once more, after a while; tried 1293to amuse himself with a fly but found no relief; followed an ant 1294around, with his nose close to the floor, and quickly wearied of that; 1295yawned, sighed, forgot the beetle entirely, and sat down on it. Then 1296there was a wild yelp of agony and the poodle went sailing up the 1297aisle; the yelps continued, and so did the dog; he crossed the house in 1298front of the altar; he flew down the other aisle; he crossed before the 1299doors; he clamored up the home-stretch; his anguish grew with his 1300progress, till presently he was but a woolly comet moving in its orbit 1301with the gleam and the speed of light. At last the frantic sufferer 1302sheered from its course, and sprang into its master's lap; he flung it 1303out of the window, and the voice of distress quickly thinned away and 1304died in the distance. 1305 1306By this time the whole church was red-faced and suffocating with 1307suppressed laughter, and the sermon had come to a dead standstill. The 1308discourse was resumed presently, but it went lame and halting, all 1309possibility of impressiveness being at an end; for even the gravest 1310sentiments were constantly being received with a smothered burst of 1311unholy mirth, under cover of some remote pew-back, as if the poor 1312parson had said a rarely facetious thing. It was a genuine relief to 1313the whole congregation when the ordeal was over and the benediction 1314pronounced. 1315 1316Tom Sawyer went home quite cheerful, thinking to himself that there 1317was some satisfaction about divine service when there was a bit of 1318variety in it. He had but one marring thought; he was willing that the 1319dog should play with his pinchbug, but he did not think it was upright 1320in him to carry it off. 1321 1322 1323 1324CHAPTER VI 1325 1326MONDAY morning found Tom Sawyer miserable. Monday morning always found 1327him so--because it began another week's slow suffering in school. He 1328generally began that day with wishing he had had no intervening 1329holiday, it made the going into captivity and fetters again so much 1330more odious. 1331 1332Tom lay thinking. Presently it occurred to him that he wished he was 1333sick; then he could stay home from school. Here was a vague 1334possibility. He canvassed his system. No ailment was found, and he 1335investigated again. This time he thought he could detect colicky 1336symptoms, and he began to encourage them with considerable hope. But 1337they soon grew feeble, and presently died wholly away. He reflected 1338further. Suddenly he discovered something. One of his upper front teeth 1339was loose. This was lucky; he was about to begin to groan, as a 1340"starter," as he called it, when it occurred to him that if he came 1341into court with that argument, his aunt would pull it out, and that 1342would hurt. So he thought he would hold the tooth in reserve for the 1343present, and seek further. Nothing offered for some little time, and 1344then he remembered hearing the doctor tell about a certain thing that 1345laid up a patient for two or three weeks and threatened to make him 1346lose a finger. So the boy eagerly drew his sore toe from under the 1347sheet and held it up for inspection. But now he did not know the 1348necessary symptoms. However, it seemed well worth while to chance it, 1349so he fell to groaning with considerable spirit. 1350 1351But Sid slept on unconscious. 1352 1353Tom groaned louder, and fancied that he began to feel pain in the toe. 1354 1355No result from Sid. 1356 1357Tom was panting with his exertions by this time. He took a rest and 1358then swelled himself up and fetched a succession of admirable groans. 1359 1360Sid snored on. 1361 1362Tom was aggravated. He said, "Sid, Sid!" and shook him. This course 1363worked well, and Tom began to groan again. Sid yawned, stretched, then 1364brought himself up on his elbow with a snort, and began to stare at 1365Tom. Tom went on groaning. Sid said: 1366 1367"Tom! Say, Tom!" [No response.] "Here, Tom! TOM! What is the matter, 1368Tom?" And he shook him and looked in his face anxiously. 1369 1370Tom moaned out: 1371 1372"Oh, don't, Sid. Don't joggle me." 1373 1374"Why, what's the matter, Tom? I must call auntie." 1375 1376"No--never mind. It'll be over by and by, maybe. Don't call anybody." 1377 1378"But I must! DON'T groan so, Tom, it's awful. How long you been this 1379way?" 1380 1381"Hours. Ouch! Oh, don't stir so, Sid, you'll kill me." 1382 1383"Tom, why didn't you wake me sooner? Oh, Tom, DON'T! It makes my 1384flesh crawl to hear you. Tom, what is the matter?" 1385 1386"I forgive you everything, Sid. [Groan.] Everything you've ever done 1387to me. When I'm gone--" 1388 1389"Oh, Tom, you ain't dying, are you? Don't, Tom--oh, don't. Maybe--" 1390 1391"I forgive everybody, Sid. [Groan.] Tell 'em so, Sid. And Sid, you 1392give my window-sash and my cat with one eye to that new girl that's 1393come to town, and tell her--" 1394 1395But Sid had snatched his clothes and gone. Tom was suffering in 1396reality, now, so handsomely was his imagination working, and so his 1397groans had gathered quite a genuine tone. 1398 1399Sid flew down-stairs and said: 1400 1401"Oh, Aunt Polly, come! Tom's dying!" 1402 1403"Dying!" 1404 1405"Yes'm. Don't wait--come quick!" 1406 1407"Rubbage! I don't believe it!" 1408 1409But she fled up-stairs, nevertheless, with Sid and Mary at her heels. 1410And her face grew white, too, and her lip trembled. When she reached 1411the bedside she gasped out: 1412 1413"You, Tom! Tom, what's the matter with you?" 1414 1415"Oh, auntie, I'm--" 1416 1417"What's the matter with you--what is the matter with you, child?" 1418 1419"Oh, auntie, my sore toe's mortified!" 1420 1421The old lady sank down into a chair and laughed a little, then cried a 1422little, then did both together. This restored her and she said: 1423 1424"Tom, what a turn you did give me. Now you shut up that nonsense and 1425climb out of this." 1426 1427The groans ceased and the pain vanished from the toe. The boy felt a 1428little foolish, and he said: 1429 1430"Aunt Polly, it SEEMED mortified, and it hurt so I never minded my 1431tooth at all." 1432 1433"Your tooth, indeed! What's the matter with your tooth?" 1434 1435"One of them's loose, and it aches perfectly awful." 1436 1437"There, there, now, don't begin that groaning again. Open your mouth. 1438Well--your tooth IS loose, but you're not going to die about that. 1439Mary, get me a silk thread, and a chunk of fire out of the kitchen." 1440 1441Tom said: 1442 1443"Oh, please, auntie, don't pull it out. It don't hurt any more. I wish 1444I may never stir if it does. Please don't, auntie. I don't want to stay 1445home from school." 1446 1447"Oh, you don't, don't you? So all this row was because you thought 1448you'd get to stay home from school and go a-fishing? Tom, Tom, I love 1449you so, and you seem to try every way you can to break my old heart 1450with your outrageousness." By this time the dental instruments were 1451ready. The old lady made one end of the silk thread fast to Tom's tooth 1452with a loop and tied the other to the bedpost. Then she seized the 1453chunk of fire and suddenly thrust it almost into the boy's face. The 1454tooth hung dangling by the bedpost, now. 1455 1456But all trials bring their compensations. As Tom wended to school 1457after breakfast, he was the envy of every boy he met because the gap in 1458his upper row of teeth enabled him to expectorate in a new and 1459admirable way. He gathered quite a following of lads interested in the 1460exhibition; and one that had cut his finger and had been a centre of 1461fascination and homage up to this time, now found himself suddenly 1462without an adherent, and shorn of his glory. His heart was heavy, and 1463he said with a disdain which he did not feel that it wasn't anything to 1464spit like Tom Sawyer; but another boy said, "Sour grapes!" and he 1465wandered away a dismantled hero. 1466 1467Shortly Tom came upon the juvenile pariah of the village, Huckleberry 1468Finn, son of the town drunkard. Huckleberry was cordially hated and 1469dreaded by all the mothers of the town, because he was idle and lawless 1470and vulgar and bad--and because all their children admired him so, and 1471delighted in his forbidden society, and wished they dared to be like 1472him. Tom was like the rest of the respectable boys, in that he envied 1473Huckleberry his gaudy outcast condition, and was under strict orders 1474not to play with him. So he played with him every time he got a chance. 1475Huckleberry was always dressed in the cast-off clothes of full-grown 1476men, and they were in perennial bloom and fluttering with rags. His hat 1477was a vast ruin with a wide crescent lopped out of its brim; his coat, 1478when he wore one, hung nearly to his heels and had the rearward buttons 1479far down the back; but one suspender supported his trousers; the seat 1480of the trousers bagged low and contained nothing, the fringed legs 1481dragged in the dirt when not rolled up. 1482 1483Huckleberry came and went, at his own free will. He slept on doorsteps 1484in fine weather and in empty hogsheads in wet; he did not have to go to 1485school or to church, or call any being master or obey anybody; he could 1486go fishing or swimming when and where he chose, and stay as long as it 1487suited him; nobody forbade him to fight; he could sit up as late as he 1488pleased; he was always the first boy that went barefoot in the spring 1489and the last to resume leather in the fall; he never had to wash, nor 1490put on clean clothes; he could swear wonderfully. In a word, everything 1491that goes to make life precious that boy had. So thought every 1492harassed, hampered, respectable boy in St. Petersburg. 1493 1494Tom hailed the romantic outcast: 1495 1496"Hello, Huckleberry!" 1497 1498"Hello yourself, and see how you like it." 1499 1500"What's that you got?" 1501 1502"Dead cat." 1503 1504"Lemme see him, Huck. My, he's pretty stiff. Where'd you get him?" 1505 1506"Bought him off'n a boy." 1507 1508"What did you give?" 1509 1510"I give a blue ticket and a bladder that I got at the slaughter-house." 1511 1512"Where'd you get the blue ticket?" 1513 1514"Bought it off'n Ben Rogers two weeks ago for a hoop-stick." 1515 1516"Say--what is dead cats good for, Huck?" 1517 1518"Good for? Cure warts with." 1519 1520"No! Is that so? I know something that's better." 1521 1522"I bet you don't. What is it?" 1523 1524"Why, spunk-water." 1525 1526"Spunk-water! I wouldn't give a dern for spunk-water." 1527 1528"You wouldn't, wouldn't you? D'you ever try it?" 1529 1530"No, I hain't. But Bob Tanner did." 1531 1532"Who told you so!" 1533 1534"Why, he told Jeff Thatcher, and Jeff told Johnny Baker, and Johnny 1535told Jim Hollis, and Jim told Ben Rogers, and Ben told a nigger, and 1536the nigger told me. There now!" 1537 1538"Well, what of it? They'll all lie. Leastways all but the nigger. I 1539don't know HIM. But I never see a nigger that WOULDN'T lie. Shucks! Now 1540you tell me how Bob Tanner done it, Huck." 1541 1542"Why, he took and dipped his hand in a rotten stump where the 1543rain-water was." 1544 1545"In the daytime?" 1546 1547"Certainly." 1548 1549"With his face to the stump?" 1550 1551"Yes. Least I reckon so." 1552 1553"Did he say anything?" 1554 1555"I don't reckon he did. I don't know." 1556 1557"Aha! Talk about trying to cure warts with spunk-water such a blame 1558fool way as that! Why, that ain't a-going to do any good. You got to go 1559all by yourself, to the middle of the woods, where you know there's a 1560spunk-water stump, and just as it's midnight you back up against the 1561stump and jam your hand in and say: 1562 1563 'Barley-corn, barley-corn, injun-meal shorts, 1564 Spunk-water, spunk-water, swaller these warts,' 1565 1566and then walk away quick, eleven steps, with your eyes shut, and then 1567turn around three times and walk home without speaking to anybody. 1568Because if you speak the charm's busted." 1569 1570"Well, that sounds like a good way; but that ain't the way Bob Tanner 1571done." 1572 1573"No, sir, you can bet he didn't, becuz he's the wartiest boy in this 1574town; and he wouldn't have a wart on him if he'd knowed how to work 1575spunk-water. I've took off thousands of warts off of my hands that way, 1576Huck. I play with frogs so much that I've always got considerable many 1577warts. Sometimes I take 'em off with a bean." 1578 1579"Yes, bean's good. I've done that." 1580 1581"Have you? What's your way?" 1582 1583"You take and split the bean, and cut the wart so as to get some 1584blood, and then you put the blood on one piece of the bean and take and 1585dig a hole and bury it 'bout midnight at the crossroads in the dark of 1586the moon, and then you burn up the rest of the bean. You see that piece 1587that's got the blood on it will keep drawing and drawing, trying to 1588fetch the other piece to it, and so that helps the blood to draw the 1589wart, and pretty soon off she comes." 1590 1591"Yes, that's it, Huck--that's it; though when you're burying it if you 1592say 'Down bean; off wart; come no more to bother me!' it's better. 1593That's the way Joe Harper does, and he's been nearly to Coonville and 1594most everywheres. But say--how do you cure 'em with dead cats?" 1595 1596"Why, you take your cat and go and get in the graveyard 'long about 1597midnight when somebody that was wicked has been buried; and when it's 1598midnight a devil will come, or maybe two or three, but you can't see 1599'em, you can only hear something like the wind, or maybe hear 'em talk; 1600and when they're taking that feller away, you heave your cat after 'em 1601and say, 'Devil follow corpse, cat follow devil, warts follow cat, I'm 1602done with ye!' That'll fetch ANY wart." 1603 1604"Sounds right. D'you ever try it, Huck?" 1605 1606"No, but old Mother Hopkins told me." 1607 1608"Well, I reckon it's so, then. Becuz they say she's a witch." 1609 1610"Say! Why, Tom, I KNOW she is. She witched pap. Pap says so his own 1611self. He come along one day, and he see she was a-witching him, so he 1612took up a rock, and if she hadn't dodged, he'd a got her. Well, that 1613very night he rolled off'n a shed wher' he was a layin drunk, and broke 1614his arm." 1615 1616"Why, that's awful. How did he know she was a-witching him?" 1617 1618"Lord, pap can tell, easy. Pap says when they keep looking at you 1619right stiddy, they're a-witching you. Specially if they mumble. Becuz 1620when they mumble they're saying the Lord's Prayer backards." 1621 1622"Say, Hucky, when you going to try the cat?" 1623 1624"To-night. I reckon they'll come after old Hoss Williams to-night." 1625 1626"But they buried him Saturday. Didn't they get him Saturday night?" 1627 1628"Why, how you talk! How could their charms work till midnight?--and 1629THEN it's Sunday. Devils don't slosh around much of a Sunday, I don't 1630reckon." 1631 1632"I never thought of that. That's so. Lemme go with you?" 1633 1634"Of course--if you ain't afeard." 1635 1636"Afeard! 'Tain't likely. Will you meow?" 1637 1638"Yes--and you meow back, if you get a chance. Last time, you kep' me 1639a-meowing around till old Hays went to throwing rocks at me and says 1640'Dern that cat!' and so I hove a brick through his window--but don't 1641you tell." 1642 1643"I won't. I couldn't meow that night, becuz auntie was watching me, 1644but I'll meow this time. Say--what's that?" 1645 1646"Nothing but a tick." 1647 1648"Where'd you get him?" 1649 1650"Out in the woods." 1651 1652"What'll you take for him?" 1653 1654"I don't know. I don't want to sell him." 1655 1656"All right. It's a mighty small tick, anyway." 1657 1658"Oh, anybody can run a tick down that don't belong to them. I'm 1659satisfied with it. It's a good enough tick for me." 1660 1661"Sho, there's ticks a plenty. I could have a thousand of 'em if I 1662wanted to." 1663 1664"Well, why don't you? Becuz you know mighty well you can't. This is a 1665pretty early tick, I reckon. It's the first one I've seen this year." 1666 1667"Say, Huck--I'll give you my tooth for him." 1668 1669"Less see it." 1670 1671Tom got out a bit of paper and carefully unrolled it. Huckleberry 1672viewed it wistfully. The temptation was very strong. At last he said: 1673 1674"Is it genuwyne?" 1675 1676Tom lifted his lip and showed the vacancy. 1677 1678"Well, all right," said Huckleberry, "it's a trade." 1679 1680Tom enclosed the tick in the percussion-cap box that had lately been 1681the pinchbug's prison, and the boys separated, each feeling wealthier 1682than before. 1683 1684When Tom reached the little isolated frame schoolhouse, he strode in 1685briskly, with the manner of one who had come with all honest speed. 1686He hung his hat on a peg and flung himself into his seat with 1687business-like alacrity. The master, throned on high in his great 1688splint-bottom arm-chair, was dozing, lulled by the drowsy hum of study. 1689The interruption roused him. 1690 1691"Thomas Sawyer!" 1692 1693Tom knew that when his name was pronounced in full, it meant trouble. 1694 1695"Sir!" 1696 1697"Come up here. Now, sir, why are you late again, as usual?" 1698 1699Tom was about to take refuge in a lie, when he saw two long tails of 1700yellow hair hanging down a back that he recognized by the electric 1701sympathy of love; and by that form was THE ONLY VACANT PLACE on the 1702girls' side of the schoolhouse. He instantly said: 1703 1704"I STOPPED TO TALK WITH HUCKLEBERRY FINN!" 1705 1706The master's pulse stood still, and he stared helplessly. The buzz of 1707study ceased. The pupils wondered if this foolhardy boy had lost his 1708mind. The master said: 1709 1710"You--you did what?" 1711 1712"Stopped to talk with Huckleberry Finn." 1713 1714There was no mistaking the words. 1715 1716"Thomas Sawyer, this is the most astounding confession I have ever 1717listened to. No mere ferule will answer for this offence. Take off your 1718jacket." 1719 1720The master's arm performed until it was tired and the stock of 1721switches notably diminished. Then the order followed: 1722 1723"Now, sir, go and sit with the girls! And let this be a warning to you." 1724 1725The titter that rippled around the room appeared to abash the boy, but 1726in reality that result was caused rather more by his worshipful awe of 1727his unknown idol and the dread pleasure that lay in his high good 1728fortune. He sat down upon the end of the pine bench and the girl 1729hitched herself away from him with a toss of her head. Nudges and winks 1730and whispers traversed the room, but Tom sat still, with his arms upon 1731the long, low desk before him, and seemed to study his book. 1732 1733By and by attention ceased from him, and the accustomed school murmur 1734rose upon the dull air once more. Presently the boy began to steal 1735furtive glances at the girl. She observed it, "made a mouth" at him and 1736gave him the back of her head for the space of a minute. When she 1737cautiously faced around again, a peach lay before her. She thrust it 1738away. Tom gently put it back. She thrust it away again, but with less 1739animosity. Tom patiently returned it to its place. Then she let it 1740remain. Tom scrawled on his slate, "Please take it--I got more." The 1741girl glanced at the words, but made no sign. Now the boy began to draw 1742something on the slate, hiding his work with his left hand. For a time 1743the girl refused to notice; but her human curiosity presently began to 1744manifest itself by hardly perceptible signs. The boy worked on, 1745apparently unconscious. The girl made a sort of noncommittal attempt to 1746see, but the boy did not betray that he was aware of it. At last she 1747gave in and hesitatingly whispered: 1748 1749"Let me see it." 1750 1751Tom partly uncovered a dismal caricature of a house with two gable 1752ends to it and a corkscrew of smoke issuing from the chimney. Then the 1753girl's interest began to fasten itself upon the work and she forgot 1754everything else. When it was finished, she gazed a moment, then 1755whispered: 1756 1757"It's nice--make a man." 1758 1759The artist erected a man in the front yard, that resembled a derrick. 1760He could have stepped over the house; but the girl was not 1761hypercritical; she was satisfied with the monster, and whispered: 1762 1763"It's a beautiful man--now make me coming along." 1764 1765Tom drew an hour-glass with a full moon and straw limbs to it and 1766armed the spreading fingers with a portentous fan. The girl said: 1767 1768"It's ever so nice--I wish I could draw." 1769 1770"It's easy," whispered Tom, "I'll learn you." 1771 1772"Oh, will you? When?" 1773 1774"At noon. Do you go home to dinner?" 1775 1776"I'll stay if you will." 1777 1778"Good--that's a whack. What's your name?" 1779 1780"Becky Thatcher. What's yours? Oh, I know. It's Thomas Sawyer." 1781 1782"That's the name they lick me by. I'm Tom when I'm good. You call me 1783Tom, will you?" 1784 1785"Yes." 1786 1787Now Tom began to scrawl something on the slate, hiding the words from 1788the girl. But she was not backward this time. She begged to see. Tom 1789said: 1790 1791"Oh, it ain't anything." 1792 1793"Yes it is." 1794 1795"No it ain't. You don't want to see." 1796 1797"Yes I do, indeed I do. Please let me." 1798 1799"You'll tell." 1800 1801"No I won't--deed and deed and double deed won't." 1802 1803"You won't tell anybody at all? Ever, as long as you live?" 1804 1805"No, I won't ever tell ANYbody. Now let me." 1806 1807"Oh, YOU don't want to see!" 1808 1809"Now that you treat me so, I WILL see." And she put her small hand 1810upon his and a little scuffle ensued, Tom pretending to resist in 1811earnest but letting his hand slip by degrees till these words were 1812revealed: "I LOVE YOU." 1813 1814"Oh, you bad thing!" And she hit his hand a smart rap, but reddened 1815and looked pleased, nevertheless. 1816 1817Just at this juncture the boy felt a slow, fateful grip closing on his 1818ear, and a steady lifting impulse. In that wise he was borne across the 1819house and deposited in his own seat, under a peppering fire of giggles 1820from the whole school. Then the master stood over him during a few 1821awful moments, and finally moved away to his throne without saying a 1822word. But although Tom's ear tingled, his heart was jubilant. 1823 1824As the school quieted down Tom made an honest effort to study, but the 1825turmoil within him was too great. In turn he took his place in the 1826reading class and made a botch of it; then in the geography class and 1827turned lakes into mountains, mountains into rivers, and rivers into 1828continents, till chaos was come again; then in the spelling class, and 1829got "turned down," by a succession of mere baby words, till he brought 1830up at the foot and yielded up the pewter medal which he had worn with 1831ostentation for months. 1832 1833 1834 1835CHAPTER VII 1836 1837THE harder Tom tried to fasten his mind on his book, the more his 1838ideas wandered. So at last, with a sigh and a yawn, he gave it up. It 1839seemed to him that the noon recess would never come. The air was 1840utterly dead. There was not a breath stirring. It was the sleepiest of 1841sleepy days. The drowsing murmur of the five and twenty studying 1842scholars soothed the soul like the spell that is in the murmur of bees. 1843Away off in the flaming sunshine, Cardiff Hill lifted its soft green 1844sides through a shimmering veil of heat, tinted with the purple of 1845distance; a few birds floated on lazy wing high in the air; no other 1846living thing was visible but some cows, and they were asleep. Tom's 1847heart ached to be free, or else to have something of interest to do to 1848pass the dreary time. His hand wandered into his pocket and his face 1849lit up with a glow of gratitude that was prayer, though he did not know 1850it. Then furtively the percussion-cap box came out. He released the 1851tick and put him on the long flat desk. The creature probably glowed 1852with a gratitude that amounted to prayer, too, at this moment, but it 1853was premature: for when he started thankfully to travel off, Tom turned 1854him aside with a pin and made him take a new direction. 1855 1856Tom's bosom friend sat next him, suffering just as Tom had been, and 1857now he was deeply and gratefully interested in this entertainment in an 1858instant. This bosom friend was Joe Harper. The two boys were sworn 1859friends all the week, and embattled enemies on Saturdays. Joe took a 1860pin out of his lapel and began to assist in exercising the prisoner. 1861The sport grew in interest momently. Soon Tom said that they were 1862interfering with each other, and neither getting the fullest benefit of 1863the tick. So he put Joe's slate on the desk and drew a line down the 1864middle of it from top to bottom. 1865 1866"Now," said he, "as long as he is on your side you can stir him up and 1867I'll let him alone; but if you let him get away and get on my side, 1868you're to leave him alone as long as I can keep him from crossing over." 1869 1870"All right, go ahead; start him up." 1871 1872The tick escaped from Tom, presently, and crossed the equator. Joe 1873harassed him awhile, and then he got away and crossed back again. This 1874change of base occurred often. While one boy was worrying the tick with 1875absorbing interest, the other would look on with interest as strong, 1876the two heads bowed together over the slate, and the two souls dead to 1877all things else. At last luck seemed to settle and abide with Joe. The 1878tick tried this, that, and the other course, and got as excited and as 1879anxious as the boys themselves, but time and again just as he would 1880have victory in his very grasp, so to speak, and Tom's fingers would be 1881twitching to begin, Joe's pin would deftly head him off, and keep 1882possession. At last Tom could stand it no longer. The temptation was 1883too strong. So he reached out and lent a hand with his pin. Joe was 1884angry in a moment. Said he: 1885 1886"Tom, you let him alone." 1887 1888"I only just want to stir him up a little, Joe." 1889 1890"No, sir, it ain't fair; you just let him alone." 1891 1892"Blame it, I ain't going to stir him much." 1893 1894"Let him alone, I tell you." 1895 1896"I won't!" 1897 1898"You shall--he's on my side of the line." 1899 1900"Look here, Joe Harper, whose is that tick?" 1901 1902"I don't care whose tick he is--he's on my side of the line, and you 1903sha'n't touch him." 1904 1905"Well, I'll just bet I will, though. He's my tick and I'll do what I 1906blame please with him, or die!" 1907 1908A tremendous whack came down on Tom's shoulders, and its duplicate on 1909Joe's; and for the space of two minutes the dust continued to fly from 1910the two jackets and the whole school to enjoy it. The boys had been too 1911absorbed to notice the hush that had stolen upon the school awhile 1912before when the master came tiptoeing down the room and stood over 1913them. He had contemplated a good part of the performance before he 1914contributed his bit of variety to it. 1915 1916When school broke up at noon, Tom flew to Becky Thatcher, and 1917whispered in her ear: 1918 1919"Put on your bonnet and let on you're going home; and when you get to 1920the corner, give the rest of 'em the slip, and turn down through the 1921lane and come back. I'll go the other way and come it over 'em the same 1922way." 1923 1924So the one went off with one group of scholars, and the other with 1925another. In a little while the two met at the bottom of the lane, and 1926when they reached the school they had it all to themselves. Then they 1927sat together, with a slate before them, and Tom gave Becky the pencil 1928and held her hand in his, guiding it, and so created another surprising 1929house. When the interest in art began to wane, the two fell to talking. 1930Tom was swimming in bliss. He said: 1931 1932"Do you love rats?" 1933 1934"No! I hate them!" 1935 1936"Well, I do, too--LIVE ones. But I mean dead ones, to swing round your 1937head with a string." 1938 1939"No, I don't care for rats much, anyway. What I like is chewing-gum." 1940 1941"Oh, I should say so! I wish I had some now." 1942 1943"Do you? I've got some. I'll let you chew it awhile, but you must give 1944it back to me." 1945 1946That was agreeable, so they chewed it turn about, and dangled their 1947legs against the bench in excess of contentment. 1948 1949"Was you ever at a circus?" said Tom. 1950 1951"Yes, and my pa's going to take me again some time, if I'm good." 1952 1953"I been to the circus three or four times--lots of times. Church ain't 1954shucks to a circus. There's things going on at a circus all the time. 1955I'm going to be a clown in a circus when I grow up." 1956 1957"Oh, are you! That will be nice. They're so lovely, all spotted up." 1958 1959"Yes, that's so. And they get slathers of money--most a dollar a day, 1960Ben Rogers says. Say, Becky, was you ever engaged?" 1961 1962"What's that?" 1963 1964"Why, engaged to be married." 1965 1966"No." 1967 1968"Would you like to?" 1969 1970"I reckon so. I don't know. What is it like?" 1971 1972"Like? Why it ain't like anything. You only just tell a boy you won't 1973ever have anybody but him, ever ever ever, and then you kiss and that's 1974all. Anybody can do it." 1975 1976"Kiss? What do you kiss for?" 1977 1978"Why, that, you know, is to--well, they always do that." 1979 1980"Everybody?" 1981 1982"Why, yes, everybody that's in love with each other. Do you remember 1983what I wrote on the slate?" 1984 1985"Ye--yes." 1986 1987"What was it?" 1988 1989"I sha'n't tell you." 1990 1991"Shall I tell YOU?" 1992 1993"Ye--yes--but some other time." 1994 1995"No, now." 1996 1997"No, not now--to-morrow." 1998 1999"Oh, no, NOW. Please, Becky--I'll whisper it, I'll whisper it ever so 2000easy." 2001 2002Becky hesitating, Tom took silence for consent, and passed his arm 2003about her waist and whispered the tale ever so softly, with his mouth 2004close to her ear. And then he added: 2005 2006"Now you whisper it to me--just the same." 2007 2008She resisted, for a while, and then said: 2009 2010"You turn your face away so you can't see, and then I will. But you 2011mustn't ever tell anybody--WILL you, Tom? Now you won't, WILL you?" 2012 2013"No, indeed, indeed I won't. Now, Becky." 2014 2015He turned his face away. She bent timidly around till her breath 2016stirred his curls and whispered, "I--love--you!" 2017 2018Then she sprang away and ran around and around the desks and benches, 2019with Tom after her, and took refuge in a corner at last, with her 2020little white apron to her face. Tom clasped her about her neck and 2021pleaded: 2022 2023"Now, Becky, it's all done--all over but the kiss. Don't you be afraid 2024of that--it ain't anything at all. Please, Becky." And he tugged at her 2025apron and the hands. 2026 2027By and by she gave up, and let her hands drop; her face, all glowing 2028with the struggle, came up and submitted. Tom kissed the red lips and 2029said: 2030 2031"Now it's all done, Becky. And always after this, you know, you ain't 2032ever to love anybody but me, and you ain't ever to marry anybody but 2033me, ever never and forever. Will you?" 2034 2035"No, I'll never love anybody but you, Tom, and I'll never marry 2036anybody but you--and you ain't to ever marry anybody but me, either." 2037 2038"Certainly. Of course. That's PART of it. And always coming to school 2039or when we're going home, you're to walk with me, when there ain't 2040anybody looking--and you choose me and I choose you at parties, because 2041that's the way you do when you're engaged." 2042 2043"It's so nice. I never heard of it before." 2044 2045"Oh, it's ever so gay! Why, me and Amy Lawrence--" 2046 2047The big eyes told Tom his blunder and he stopped, confused. 2048 2049"Oh, Tom! Then I ain't the first you've ever been engaged to!" 2050 2051The child began to cry. Tom said: 2052 2053"Oh, don't cry, Becky, I don't care for her any more." 2054 2055"Yes, you do, Tom--you know you do." 2056 2057Tom tried to put his arm about her neck, but she pushed him away and 2058turned her face to the wall, and went on crying. Tom tried again, with 2059soothing words in his mouth, and was repulsed again. Then his pride was 2060up, and he strode away and went outside. He stood about, restless and 2061uneasy, for a while, glancing at the door, every now and then, hoping 2062she would repent and come to find him. But she did not. Then he began 2063to feel badly and fear that he was in the wrong. It was a hard struggle 2064with him to make new advances, now, but he nerved himself to it and 2065entered. She was still standing back there in the corner, sobbing, with 2066her face to the wall. Tom's heart smote him. He went to her and stood a 2067moment, not knowing exactly how to proceed. Then he said hesitatingly: 2068 2069"Becky, I--I don't care for anybody but you." 2070 2071No reply--but sobs. 2072 2073"Becky"--pleadingly. "Becky, won't you say something?" 2074 2075More sobs. 2076 2077Tom got out his chiefest jewel, a brass knob from the top of an 2078andiron, and passed it around her so that she could see it, and said: 2079 2080"Please, Becky, won't you take it?" 2081 2082She struck it to the floor. Then Tom marched out of the house and over 2083the hills and far away, to return to school no more that day. Presently 2084Becky began to suspect. She ran to the door; he was not in sight; she 2085flew around to the play-yard; he was not there. Then she called: 2086 2087"Tom! Come back, Tom!" 2088 2089She listened intently, but there was no answer. She had no companions 2090but silence and loneliness. So she sat down to cry again and upbraid 2091herself; and by this time the scholars began to gather again, and she 2092had to hide her griefs and still her broken heart and take up the cross 2093of a long, dreary, aching afternoon, with none among the strangers 2094about her to exchange sorrows with. 2095 2096 2097 2098CHAPTER VIII 2099 2100TOM dodged hither and thither through lanes until he was well out of 2101the track of returning scholars, and then fell into a moody jog. He 2102crossed a small "branch" two or three times, because of a prevailing 2103juvenile superstition that to cross water baffled pursuit. Half an hour 2104later he was disappearing behind the Douglas mansion on the summit of 2105Cardiff Hill, and the schoolhouse was hardly distinguishable away off 2106in the valley behind him. He entered a dense wood, picked his pathless 2107way to the centre of it, and sat down on a mossy spot under a spreading 2108oak. There was not even a zephyr stirring; the dead noonday heat had 2109even stilled the songs of the birds; nature lay in a trance that was 2110broken by no sound but the occasional far-off hammering of a 2111woodpecker, and this seemed to render the pervading silence and sense 2112of loneliness the more profound. The boy's soul was steeped in 2113melancholy; his feelings were in happy accord with his surroundings. He 2114sat long with his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands, 2115meditating. It seemed to him that life was but a trouble, at best, and 2116he more than half envied Jimmy Hodges, so lately released; it must be 2117very peaceful, he thought, to lie and slumber and dream forever and 2118ever, with the wind whispering through the trees and caressing the 2119grass and the flowers over the grave, and nothing to bother and grieve 2120about, ever any more. If he only had a clean Sunday-school record he 2121could be willing to go, and be done with it all. Now as to this girl. 2122What had he done? Nothing. He had meant the best in the world, and been 2123treated like a dog--like a very dog. She would be sorry some day--maybe 2124when it was too late. Ah, if he could only die TEMPORARILY! 2125 2126But the elastic heart of youth cannot be compressed into one 2127constrained shape long at a time. Tom presently began to drift 2128insensibly back into the concerns of this life again. What if he turned 2129his back, now, and disappeared mysteriously? What if he went away--ever 2130so far away, into unknown countries beyond the seas--and never came 2131back any more! How would she feel then! The idea of being a clown 2132recurred to him now, only to fill him with disgust. For frivolity and 2133jokes and spotted tights were an offense, when they intruded themselves 2134upon a spirit that was exalted into the vague august realm of the 2135romantic. No, he would be a soldier, and return after long years, all 2136war-worn and illustrious. No--better still, he would join the Indians, 2137and hunt buffaloes and go on the warpath in the mountain ranges and the 2138trackless great plains of the Far West, and away in the future come 2139back a great chief, bristling with feathers, hideous with paint, and 2140prance into Sunday-school, some drowsy summer morning, with a 2141bloodcurdling war-whoop, and sear the eyeballs of all his companions 2142with unappeasable envy. But no, there was something gaudier even than 2143this. He would be a pirate! That was it! NOW his future lay plain 2144before him, and glowing with unimaginable splendor. How his name would 2145fill the world, and make people shudder! How gloriously he would go 2146plowing the dancing seas, in his long, low, black-hulled racer, the 2147Spirit of the Storm, with his grisly flag flying at the fore! And at 2148the zenith of his fame, how he would suddenly appear at the old village 2149and stalk into church, brown and weather-beaten, in his black velvet 2150doublet and trunks, his great jack-boots, his crimson sash, his belt 2151bristling with horse-pistols, his crime-rusted cutlass at his side, his 2152slouch hat with waving plumes, his black flag unfurled, with the skull 2153and crossbones on it, and hear with swelling ecstasy the whisperings, 2154"It's Tom Sawyer the Pirate!--the Black Avenger of the Spanish Main!" 2155 2156Yes, it was settled; his career was determined. He would run away from 2157home and enter upon it. He would start the very next morning. Therefore 2158he must now begin to get ready. He would collect his resources 2159together. He went to a rotten log near at hand and began to dig under 2160one end of it with his Barlow knife. He soon struck wood that sounded 2161hollow. He put his hand there and uttered this incantation impressively: 2162 2163"What hasn't come here, come! What's here, stay here!" 2164 2165Then he scraped away the dirt, and exposed a pine shingle. He took it 2166up and disclosed a shapely little treasure-house whose bottom and sides 2167were of shingles. In it lay a marble. Tom's astonishment was boundless! 2168He scratched his head with a perplexed air, and said: 2169 2170"Well, that beats anything!" 2171 2172Then he tossed the marble away pettishly, and stood cogitating. The 2173truth was, that a superstition of his had failed, here, which he and 2174all his comrades had always looked upon as infallible. If you buried a 2175marble with certain necessary incantations, and left it alone a 2176fortnight, and then opened the place with the incantation he had just 2177used, you would find that all the marbles you had ever lost had 2178gathered themselves together there, meantime, no matter how widely they 2179had been separated. But now, this thing had actually and unquestionably 2180failed. Tom's whole structure of faith was shaken to its foundations. 2181He had many a time heard of this thing succeeding but never of its 2182failing before. It did not occur to him that he had tried it several 2183times before, himself, but could never find the hiding-places 2184afterward. He puzzled over the matter some time, and finally decided 2185that some witch had interfered and broken the charm. He thought he 2186would satisfy himself on that point; so he searched around till he 2187found a small sandy spot with a little funnel-shaped depression in it. 2188He laid himself down and put his mouth close to this depression and 2189called-- 2190 2191"Doodle-bug, doodle-bug, tell me what I want to know! Doodle-bug, 2192doodle-bug, tell me what I want to know!" 2193 2194The sand began to work, and presently a small black bug appeared for a 2195second and then darted under again in a fright. 2196 2197"He dasn't tell! So it WAS a witch that done it. I just knowed it." 2198 2199He well knew the futility of trying to contend against witches, so he 2200gave up discouraged. But it occurred to him that he might as well have 2201the marble he had just thrown away, and therefore he went and made a 2202patient search for it. But he could not find it. Now he went back to 2203his treasure-house and carefully placed himself just as he had been 2204standing when he tossed the marble away; then he took another marble 2205from his pocket and tossed it in the same way, saying: 2206 2207"Brother, go find your brother!" 2208 2209He watched where it stopped, and went there and looked. But it must 2210have fallen short or gone too far; so he tried twice more. The last 2211repetition was successful. The two marbles lay within a foot of each 2212other. 2213 2214Just here the blast of a toy tin trumpet came faintly down the green 2215aisles of the forest. Tom flung off his jacket and trousers, turned a 2216suspender into a belt, raked away some brush behind the rotten log, 2217disclosing a rude bow and arrow, a lath sword and a tin trumpet, and in 2218a moment had seized these things and bounded away, barelegged, with 2219fluttering shirt. He presently halted under a great elm, blew an 2220answering blast, and then began to tiptoe and look warily out, this way 2221and that. He said cautiously--to an imaginary company: 2222 2223"Hold, my merry men! Keep hid till I blow." 2224 2225Now appeared Joe Harper, as airily clad and elaborately armed as Tom. 2226Tom called: 2227 2228"Hold! Who comes here into Sherwood Forest without my pass?" 2229 2230"Guy of Guisborne wants no man's pass. Who art thou that--that--" 2231 2232"Dares to hold such language," said Tom, prompting--for they talked 2233"by the book," from memory. 2234 2235"Who art thou that dares to hold such language?" 2236 2237"I, indeed! I am Robin Hood, as thy caitiff carcase soon shall know." 2238 2239"Then art thou indeed that famous outlaw? Right gladly will I dispute 2240with thee the passes of the merry wood. Have at thee!" 2241 2242They took their lath swords, dumped their other traps on the ground, 2243struck a fencing attitude, foot to foot, and began a grave, careful 2244combat, "two up and two down." Presently Tom said: 2245 2246"Now, if you've got the hang, go it lively!" 2247 2248So they "went it lively," panting and perspiring with the work. By and 2249by Tom shouted: 2250 2251"Fall! fall! Why don't you fall?" 2252 2253"I sha'n't! Why don't you fall yourself? You're getting the worst of 2254it." 2255 2256"Why, that ain't anything. I can't fall; that ain't the way it is in 2257the book. The book says, 'Then with one back-handed stroke he slew poor 2258Guy of Guisborne.' You're to turn around and let me hit you in the 2259back." 2260 2261There was no getting around the authorities, so Joe turned, received 2262the whack and fell. 2263 2264"Now," said Joe, getting up, "you got to let me kill YOU. That's fair." 2265 2266"Why, I can't do that, it ain't in the book." 2267 2268"Well, it's blamed mean--that's all." 2269 2270"Well, say, Joe, you can be Friar Tuck or Much the miller's son, and 2271lam me with a quarter-staff; or I'll be the Sheriff of Nottingham and 2272you be Robin Hood a little while and kill me." 2273 2274This was satisfactory, and so these adventures were carried out. Then 2275Tom became Robin Hood again, and was allowed by the treacherous nun to 2276bleed his strength away through his neglected wound. And at last Joe, 2277representing a whole tribe of weeping outlaws, dragged him sadly forth, 2278gave his bow into his feeble hands, and Tom said, "Where this arrow 2279falls, there bury poor Robin Hood under the greenwood tree." Then he 2280shot the arrow and fell back and would have died, but he lit on a 2281nettle and sprang up too gaily for a corpse. 2282 2283The boys dressed themselves, hid their accoutrements, and went off 2284grieving that there were no outlaws any more, and wondering what modern 2285civilization could claim to have done to compensate for their loss. 2286They said they would rather be outlaws a year in Sherwood Forest than 2287President of the United States forever. 2288 2289 2290 2291CHAPTER IX 2292 2293AT half-past nine, that night, Tom and Sid were sent to bed, as usual. 2294They said their prayers, and Sid was soon asleep. Tom lay awake and 2295waited, in restless impatience. When it seemed to him that it must be 2296nearly daylight, he heard the clock strike ten! This was despair. He 2297would have tossed and fidgeted, as his nerves demanded, but he was 2298afraid he might wake Sid. So he lay still, and stared up into the dark. 2299Everything was dismally still. By and by, out of the stillness, little, 2300scarcely perceptible noises began to emphasize themselves. The ticking 2301of the clock began to bring itself into notice. Old beams began to 2302crack mysteriously. The stairs creaked faintly. Evidently spirits were 2303abroad. A measured, muffled snore issued from Aunt Polly's chamber. And 2304now the tiresome chirping of a cricket that no human ingenuity could 2305locate, began. Next the ghastly ticking of a deathwatch in the wall at 2306the bed's head made Tom shudder--it meant that somebody's days were 2307numbered. Then the howl of a far-off dog rose on the night air, and was 2308answered by a fainter howl from a remoter distance. Tom was in an 2309agony. At last he was satisfied that time had ceased and eternity 2310begun; he began to doze, in spite of himself; the clock chimed eleven, 2311but he did not hear it. And then there came, mingling with his 2312half-formed dreams, a most melancholy caterwauling. The raising of a 2313neighboring window disturbed him. A cry of "Scat! you devil!" and the 2314crash of an empty bottle against the back of his aunt's woodshed 2315brought him wide awake, and a single minute later he was dressed and 2316out of the window and creeping along the roof of the "ell" on all 2317fours. He "meow'd" with caution once or twice, as he went; then jumped 2318to the roof of the woodshed and thence to the ground. Huckleberry Finn 2319was there, with his dead cat. The boys moved off and disappeared in the 2320gloom. At the end of half an hour they were wading through the tall 2321grass of the graveyard. 2322 2323It was a graveyard of the old-fashioned Western kind. It was on a 2324hill, about a mile and a half from the village. It had a crazy board 2325fence around it, which leaned inward in places, and outward the rest of 2326the time, but stood upright nowhere. Grass and weeds grew rank over the 2327whole cemetery. All the old graves were sunken in, there was not a 2328tombstone on the place; round-topped, worm-eaten boards staggered over 2329the graves, leaning for support and finding none. "Sacred to the memory 2330of" So-and-So had been painted on them once, but it could no longer 2331have been read, on the most of them, now, even if there had been light. 2332 2333A faint wind moaned through the trees, and Tom feared it might be the 2334spirits of the dead, complaining at being disturbed. The boys talked 2335little, and only under their breath, for the time and the place and the 2336pervading solemnity and silence oppressed their spirits. They found the 2337sharp new heap they were seeking, and ensconced themselves within the 2338protection of three great elms that grew in a bunch within a few feet 2339of the grave. 2340 2341Then they waited in silence for what seemed a long time. The hooting 2342of a distant owl was all the sound that troubled the dead stillness. 2343Tom's reflections grew oppressive. He must force some talk. So he said 2344in a whisper: 2345 2346"Hucky, do you believe the dead people like it for us to be here?" 2347 2348Huckleberry whispered: 2349 2350"I wisht I knowed. It's awful solemn like, AIN'T it?" 2351 2352"I bet it is." 2353 2354There was a considerable pause, while the boys canvassed this matter 2355inwardly. Then Tom whispered: 2356 2357"Say, Hucky--do you reckon Hoss Williams hears us talking?" 2358 2359"O' course he does. Least his sperrit does." 2360 2361Tom, after a pause: 2362 2363"I wish I'd said Mister Williams. But I never meant any harm. 2364Everybody calls him Hoss." 2365 2366"A body can't be too partic'lar how they talk 'bout these-yer dead 2367people, Tom." 2368 2369This was a damper, and conversation died again. 2370 2371Presently Tom seized his comrade's arm and said: 2372 2373"Sh!" 2374 2375"What is it, Tom?" And the two clung together with beating hearts. 2376 2377"Sh! There 'tis again! Didn't you hear it?" 2378 2379"I--" 2380 2381"There! Now you hear it." 2382 2383"Lord, Tom, they're coming! They're coming, sure. What'll we do?" 2384 2385"I dono. Think they'll see us?" 2386 2387"Oh, Tom, they can see in the dark, same as cats. I wisht I hadn't 2388come." 2389 2390"Oh, don't be afeard. I don't believe they'll bother us. We ain't 2391doing any harm. If we keep perfectly still, maybe they won't notice us 2392at all." 2393 2394"I'll try to, Tom, but, Lord, I'm all of a shiver." 2395 2396"Listen!" 2397 2398The boys bent their heads together and scarcely breathed. A muffled 2399sound of voices floated up from the far end of the graveyard. 2400 2401"Look! See there!" whispered Tom. "What is it?" 2402 2403"It's devil-fire. Oh, Tom, this is awful." 2404 2405Some vague figures approached through the gloom, swinging an 2406old-fashioned tin lantern that freckled the ground with innumerable 2407little spangles of light. Presently Huckleberry whispered with a 2408shudder: 2409 2410"It's the devils sure enough. Three of 'em! Lordy, Tom, we're goners! 2411Can you pray?" 2412 2413"I'll try, but don't you be afeard. They ain't going to hurt us. 'Now 2414I lay me down to sleep, I--'" 2415 2416"Sh!" 2417 2418"What is it, Huck?" 2419 2420"They're HUMANS! One of 'em is, anyway. One of 'em's old Muff Potter's 2421voice." 2422 2423"No--'tain't so, is it?" 2424 2425"I bet I know it. Don't you stir nor budge. He ain't sharp enough to 2426notice us. Drunk, the same as usual, likely--blamed old rip!" 2427 2428"All right, I'll keep still. Now they're stuck. Can't find it. Here 2429they come again. Now they're hot. Cold again. Hot again. Red hot! 2430They're p'inted right, this time. Say, Huck, I know another o' them 2431voices; it's Injun Joe." 2432 2433"That's so--that murderin' half-breed! I'd druther they was devils a 2434dern sight. What kin they be up to?" 2435 2436The whisper died wholly out, now, for the three men had reached the 2437grave and stood within a few feet of the boys' hiding-place. 2438 2439"Here it is," said the third voice; and the owner of it held the 2440lantern up and revealed the face of young Doctor Robinson. 2441 2442Potter and Injun Joe were carrying a handbarrow with a rope and a 2443couple of shovels on it. They cast down their load and began to open 2444the grave. The doctor put the lantern at the head of the grave and came 2445and sat down with his back against one of the elm trees. He was so 2446close the boys could have touched him. 2447 2448"Hurry, men!" he said, in a low voice; "the moon might come out at any 2449moment." 2450 2451They growled a response and went on digging. For some time there was 2452no noise but the grating sound of the spades discharging their freight 2453of mould and gravel. It was very monotonous. Finally a spade struck 2454upon the coffin with a dull woody accent, and within another minute or 2455two the men had hoisted it out on the ground. They pried off the lid 2456with their shovels, got out the body and dumped it rudely on the 2457ground. The moon drifted from behind the clouds and exposed the pallid 2458face. The barrow was got ready and the corpse placed on it, covered 2459with a blanket, and bound to its place with the rope. Potter took out a 2460large spring-knife and cut off the dangling end of the rope and then 2461said: 2462 2463"Now the cussed thing's ready, Sawbones, and you'll just out with 2464another five, or here she stays." 2465 2466"That's the talk!" said Injun Joe. 2467 2468"Look here, what does this mean?" said the doctor. "You required your 2469pay in advance, and I've paid you." 2470 2471"Yes, and you done more than that," said Injun Joe, approaching the 2472doctor, who was now standing. "Five years ago you drove me away from 2473your father's kitchen one night, when I come to ask for something to 2474eat, and you said I warn't there for any good; and when I swore I'd get 2475even with you if it took a hundred years, your father had me jailed for 2476a vagrant. Did you think I'd forget? The Injun blood ain't in me for 2477nothing. And now I've GOT you, and you got to SETTLE, you know!" 2478 2479He was threatening the doctor, with his fist in his face, by this 2480time. The doctor struck out suddenly and stretched the ruffian on the 2481ground. Potter dropped his knife, and exclaimed: 2482 2483"Here, now, don't you hit my pard!" and the next moment he had 2484grappled with the doctor and the two were struggling with might and 2485main, trampling the grass and tearing the ground with their heels. 2486Injun Joe sprang to his feet, his eyes flaming with passion, snatched 2487up Potter's knife, and went creeping, catlike and stooping, round and 2488round about the combatants, seeking an opportunity. All at once the 2489doctor flung himself free, seized the heavy headboard of Williams' 2490grave and felled Potter to the earth with it--and in the same instant 2491the half-breed saw his chance and drove the knife to the hilt in the 2492young man's breast. He reeled and fell partly upon Potter, flooding him 2493with his blood, and in the same moment the clouds blotted out the 2494dreadful spectacle and the two frightened boys went speeding away in 2495the dark. 2496 2497Presently, when the moon emerged again, Injun Joe was standing over 2498the two forms, contemplating them. The doctor murmured inarticulately, 2499gave a long gasp or two and was still. The half-breed muttered: 2500 2501"THAT score is settled--damn you." 2502 2503Then he robbed the body. After which he put the fatal knife in 2504Potter's open right hand, and sat down on the dismantled coffin. Three 2505--four--five minutes passed, and then Potter began to stir and moan. His 2506hand closed upon the knife; he raised it, glanced at it, and let it 2507fall, with a shudder. Then he sat up, pushing the body from him, and 2508gazed at it, and then around him, confusedly. His eyes met Joe's. 2509 2510"Lord, how is this, Joe?" he said. 2511 2512"It's a dirty business," said Joe, without moving. 2513 2514"What did you do it for?" 2515 2516"I! I never done it!" 2517 2518"Look here! That kind of talk won't wash." 2519 2520Potter trembled and grew white. 2521 2522"I thought I'd got sober. I'd no business to drink to-night. But it's 2523in my head yet--worse'n when we started here. I'm all in a muddle; 2524can't recollect anything of it, hardly. Tell me, Joe--HONEST, now, old 2525feller--did I do it? Joe, I never meant to--'pon my soul and honor, I 2526never meant to, Joe. Tell me how it was, Joe. Oh, it's awful--and him 2527so young and promising." 2528 2529"Why, you two was scuffling, and he fetched you one with the headboard 2530and you fell flat; and then up you come, all reeling and staggering 2531like, and snatched the knife and jammed it into him, just as he fetched 2532you another awful clip--and here you've laid, as dead as a wedge til 2533now." 2534 2535"Oh, I didn't know what I was a-doing. I wish I may die this minute if 2536I did. It was all on account of the whiskey and the excitement, I 2537reckon. I never used a weepon in my life before, Joe. I've fought, but 2538never with weepons. They'll all say that. Joe, don't tell! Say you 2539won't tell, Joe--that's a good feller. I always liked you, Joe, and 2540stood up for you, too. Don't you remember? You WON'T tell, WILL you, 2541Joe?" And the poor creature dropped on his knees before the stolid 2542murderer, and clasped his appealing hands. 2543 2544"No, you've always been fair and square with me, Muff Potter, and I 2545won't go back on you. There, now, that's as fair as a man can say." 2546 2547"Oh, Joe, you're an angel. I'll bless you for this the longest day I 2548live." And Potter began to cry. 2549 2550"Come, now, that's enough of that. This ain't any time for blubbering. 2551You be off yonder way and I'll go this. Move, now, and don't leave any 2552tracks behind you." 2553 2554Potter started on a trot that quickly increased to a run. The 2555half-breed stood looking after him. He muttered: 2556 2557"If he's as much stunned with the lick and fuddled with the rum as he 2558had the look of being, he won't think of the knife till he's gone so 2559far he'll be afraid to come back after it to such a place by himself 2560--chicken-heart!" 2561 2562Two or three minutes later the murdered man, the blanketed corpse, the 2563lidless coffin, and the open grave were under no inspection but the 2564moon's. The stillness was complete again, too. 2565 2566 2567 2568CHAPTER X 2569 2570THE two boys flew on and on, toward the village, speechless with 2571horror. They glanced backward over their shoulders from time to time, 2572apprehensively, as if they feared they might be followed. Every stump 2573that started up in their path seemed a man and an enemy, and made them 2574catch their breath; and as they sped by some outlying cottages that lay 2575near the village, the barking of the aroused watch-dogs seemed to give 2576wings to their feet. 2577 2578"If we can only get to the old tannery before we break down!" 2579whispered Tom, in short catches between breaths. "I can't stand it much 2580longer." 2581 2582Huckleberry's hard pantings were his only reply, and the boys fixed 2583their eyes on the goal of their hopes and bent to their work to win it. 2584They gained steadily on it, and at last, breast to breast, they burst 2585through the open door and fell grateful and exhausted in the sheltering 2586shadows beyond. By and by their pulses slowed down, and Tom whispered: 2587 2588"Huckleberry, what do you reckon'll come of this?" 2589 2590"If Doctor Robinson dies, I reckon hanging'll come of it." 2591 2592"Do you though?" 2593 2594"Why, I KNOW it, Tom." 2595 2596Tom thought a while, then he said: 2597 2598"Who'll tell? We?" 2599 2600"What are you talking about? S'pose something happened and Injun Joe 2601DIDN'T hang? Why, he'd kill us some time or other, just as dead sure as 2602we're a laying here." 2603 2604"That's just what I was thinking to myself, Huck." 2605 2606"If anybody tells, let Muff Potter do it, if he's fool enough. He's 2607generally drunk enough." 2608 2609Tom said nothing--went on thinking. Presently he whispered: 2610 2611"Huck, Muff Potter don't know it. How can he tell?" 2612 2613"What's the reason he don't know it?" 2614 2615"Because he'd just got that whack when Injun Joe done it. D'you reckon 2616he could see anything? D'you reckon he knowed anything?" 2617 2618"By hokey, that's so, Tom!" 2619 2620"And besides, look-a-here--maybe that whack done for HIM!" 2621 2622"No, 'taint likely, Tom. He had liquor in him; I could see that; and 2623besides, he always has. Well, when pap's full, you might take and belt 2624him over the head with a church and you couldn't phase him. He says so, 2625his own self. So it's the same with Muff Potter, of course. But if a 2626man was dead sober, I reckon maybe that whack might fetch him; I dono." 2627 2628After another reflective silence, Tom said: 2629 2630"Hucky, you sure you can keep mum?" 2631 2632"Tom, we GOT to keep mum. You know that. That Injun devil wouldn't 2633make any more of drownding us than a couple of cats, if we was to 2634squeak 'bout this and they didn't hang him. Now, look-a-here, Tom, less 2635take and swear to one another--that's what we got to do--swear to keep 2636mum." 2637 2638"I'm agreed. It's the best thing. Would you just hold hands and swear 2639that we--" 2640 2641"Oh no, that wouldn't do for this. That's good enough for little 2642rubbishy common things--specially with gals, cuz THEY go back on you 2643anyway, and blab if they get in a huff--but there orter be writing 2644'bout a big thing like this. And blood." 2645 2646Tom's whole being applauded this idea. It was deep, and dark, and 2647awful; the hour, the circumstances, the surroundings, were in keeping 2648with it. He picked up a clean pine shingle that lay in the moonlight, 2649took a little fragment of "red keel" out of his pocket, got the moon on 2650his work, and painfully scrawled these lines, emphasizing each slow 2651down-stroke by clamping his tongue between his teeth, and letting up 2652the pressure on the up-strokes. [See next page.] 2653 2654 "Huck Finn and 2655 Tom Sawyer swears 2656 they will keep mum 2657 about This and They 2658 wish They may Drop 2659 down dead in Their 2660 Tracks if They ever 2661 Tell and Rot." 2662 2663Huckleberry was filled with admiration of Tom's facility in writing, 2664and the sublimity of his language. He at once took a pin from his lapel 2665and was going to prick his flesh, but Tom said: 2666 2667"Hold on! Don't do that. A pin's brass. It might have verdigrease on 2668it." 2669 2670"What's verdigrease?" 2671 2672"It's p'ison. That's what it is. You just swaller some of it once 2673--you'll see." 2674 2675So Tom unwound the thread from one of his needles, and each boy 2676pricked the ball of his thumb and squeezed out a drop of blood. In 2677time, after many squeezes, Tom managed to sign his initials, using the 2678ball of his little finger for a pen. Then he showed Huckleberry how to 2679make an H and an F, and the oath was complete. They buried the shingle 2680close to the wall, with some dismal ceremonies and incantations, and 2681the fetters that bound their tongues were considered to be locked and 2682the key thrown away. 2683 2684A figure crept stealthily through a break in the other end of the 2685ruined building, now, but they did not notice it. 2686 2687"Tom," whispered Huckleberry, "does this keep us from EVER telling 2688--ALWAYS?" 2689 2690"Of course it does. It don't make any difference WHAT happens, we got 2691to keep mum. We'd drop down dead--don't YOU know that?" 2692 2693"Yes, I reckon that's so." 2694 2695They continued to whisper for some little time. Presently a dog set up 2696a long, lugubrious howl just outside--within ten feet of them. The boys 2697clasped each other suddenly, in an agony of fright. 2698 2699"Which of us does he mean?" gasped Huckleberry. 2700 2701"I dono--peep through the crack. Quick!" 2702 2703"No, YOU, Tom!" 2704 2705"I can't--I can't DO it, Huck!" 2706 2707"Please, Tom. There 'tis again!" 2708 2709"Oh, lordy, I'm thankful!" whispered Tom. "I know his voice. It's Bull 2710Harbison." * 2711 2712[* If Mr. Harbison owned a slave named Bull, Tom would have spoken of 2713him as "Harbison's Bull," but a son or a dog of that name was "Bull 2714Harbison."] 2715 2716"Oh, that's good--I tell you, Tom, I was most scared to death; I'd a 2717bet anything it was a STRAY dog." 2718 2719The dog howled again. The boys' hearts sank once more. 2720 2721"Oh, my! that ain't no Bull Harbison!" whispered Huckleberry. "DO, Tom!" 2722 2723Tom, quaking with fear, yielded, and put his eye to the crack. His 2724whisper was hardly audible when he said: 2725 2726"Oh, Huck, IT S A STRAY DOG!" 2727 2728"Quick, Tom, quick! Who does he mean?" 2729 2730"Huck, he must mean us both--we're right together." 2731 2732"Oh, Tom, I reckon we're goners. I reckon there ain't no mistake 'bout 2733where I'LL go to. I been so wicked." 2734 2735"Dad fetch it! This comes of playing hookey and doing everything a 2736feller's told NOT to do. I might a been good, like Sid, if I'd a tried 2737--but no, I wouldn't, of course. But if ever I get off this time, I lay 2738I'll just WALLER in Sunday-schools!" And Tom began to snuffle a little. 2739 2740"YOU bad!" and Huckleberry began to snuffle too. "Consound it, Tom 2741Sawyer, you're just old pie, 'longside o' what I am. Oh, LORDY, lordy, 2742lordy, I wisht I only had half your chance." 2743 2744Tom choked off and whispered: 2745 2746"Look, Hucky, look! He's got his BACK to us!" 2747 2748Hucky looked, with joy in his heart. 2749 2750"Well, he has, by jingoes! Did he before?" 2751 2752"Yes, he did. But I, like a fool, never thought. Oh, this is bully, 2753you know. NOW who can he mean?" 2754 2755The howling stopped. Tom pricked up his ears. 2756 2757"Sh! What's that?" he whispered. 2758 2759"Sounds like--like hogs grunting. No--it's somebody snoring, Tom." 2760 2761"That IS it! Where 'bouts is it, Huck?" 2762 2763"I bleeve it's down at 'tother end. Sounds so, anyway. Pap used to 2764sleep there, sometimes, 'long with the hogs, but laws bless you, he 2765just lifts things when HE snores. Besides, I reckon he ain't ever 2766coming back to this town any more." 2767 2768The spirit of adventure rose in the boys' souls once more. 2769 2770"Hucky, do you das't to go if I lead?" 2771 2772"I don't like to, much. Tom, s'pose it's Injun Joe!" 2773 2774Tom quailed. But presently the temptation rose up strong again and the 2775boys agreed to try, with the understanding that they would take to 2776their heels if the snoring stopped. So they went tiptoeing stealthily 2777down, the one behind the other. When they had got to within five steps 2778of the snorer, Tom stepped on a stick, and it broke with a sharp snap. 2779The man moaned, writhed a little, and his face came into the moonlight. 2780It was Muff Potter. The boys' hearts had stood still, and their hopes 2781too, when the man moved, but their fears passed away now. They tiptoed 2782out, through the broken weather-boarding, and stopped at a little 2783distance to exchange a parting word. That long, lugubrious howl rose on 2784the night air again! They turned and saw the strange dog standing 2785within a few feet of where Potter was lying, and FACING Potter, with 2786his nose pointing heavenward. 2787 2788"Oh, geeminy, it's HIM!" exclaimed both boys, in a breath. 2789 2790"Say, Tom--they say a stray dog come howling around Johnny Miller's 2791house, 'bout midnight, as much as two weeks ago; and a whippoorwill 2792come in and lit on the banisters and sung, the very same evening; and 2793there ain't anybody dead there yet." 2794 2795"Well, I know that. And suppose there ain't. Didn't Gracie Miller fall 2796in the kitchen fire and burn herself terrible the very next Saturday?" 2797 2798"Yes, but she ain't DEAD. And what's more, she's getting better, too." 2799 2800"All right, you wait and see. She's a goner, just as dead sure as Muff 2801Potter's a goner. That's what the niggers say, and they know all about 2802these kind of things, Huck." 2803 2804Then they separated, cogitating. When Tom crept in at his bedroom 2805window the night was almost spent. He undressed with excessive caution, 2806and fell asleep congratulating himself that nobody knew of his 2807escapade. He was not aware that the gently-snoring Sid was awake, and 2808had been so for an hour. 2809 2810When Tom awoke, Sid was dressed and gone. There was a late look in the 2811light, a late sense in the atmosphere. He was startled. Why had he not 2812been called--persecuted till he was up, as usual? The thought filled 2813him with bodings. Within five minutes he was dressed and down-stairs, 2814feeling sore and drowsy. The family were still at table, but they had 2815finished breakfast. There was no voice of rebuke; but there were 2816averted eyes; there was a silence and an air of solemnity that struck a 2817chill to the culprit's heart. He sat down and tried to seem gay, but it 2818was up-hill work; it roused no smile, no response, and he lapsed into 2819silence and let his heart sink down to the depths. 2820 2821After breakfast his aunt took him aside, and Tom almost brightened in 2822the hope that he was going to be flogged; but it was not so. His aunt 2823wept over him and asked him how he could go and break her old heart so; 2824and finally told him to go on, and ruin himself and bring her gray 2825hairs with sorrow to the grave, for it was no use for her to try any 2826more. This was worse than a thousand whippings, and Tom's heart was 2827sorer now than his body. He cried, he pleaded for forgiveness, promised 2828to reform over and over again, and then received his dismissal, feeling 2829that he had won but an imperfect forgiveness and established but a 2830feeble confidence. 2831 2832He left the presence too miserable to even feel revengeful toward Sid; 2833and so the latter's prompt retreat through the back gate was 2834unnecessary. He moped to school gloomy and sad, and took his flogging, 2835along with Joe Harper, for playing hookey the day before, with the air 2836of one whose heart was busy with heavier woes and wholly dead to 2837trifles. Then he betook himself to his seat, rested his elbows on his 2838desk and his jaws in his hands, and stared at the wall with the stony 2839stare of suffering that has reached the limit and can no further go. 2840His elbow was pressing against some hard substance. After a long time 2841he slowly and sadly changed his position, and took up this object with 2842a sigh. It was in a paper. He unrolled it. A long, lingering, colossal 2843sigh followed, and his heart broke. It was his brass andiron knob! 2844 2845This final feather broke the camel's back. 2846 2847 2848 2849CHAPTER XI 2850 2851CLOSE upon the hour of noon the whole village was suddenly electrified 2852with the ghastly news. No need of the as yet undreamed-of telegraph; 2853the tale flew from man to man, from group to group, from house to 2854house, with little less than telegraphic speed. Of course the 2855schoolmaster gave holiday for that afternoon; the town would have 2856thought strangely of him if he had not. 2857 2858A gory knife had been found close to the murdered man, and it had been 2859recognized by somebody as belonging to Muff Potter--so the story ran. 2860And it was said that a belated citizen had come upon Potter washing 2861himself in the "branch" about one or two o'clock in the morning, and 2862that Potter had at once sneaked off--suspicious circumstances, 2863especially the washing which was not a habit with Potter. It was also 2864said that the town had been ransacked for this "murderer" (the public 2865are not slow in the matter of sifting evidence and arriving at a 2866verdict), but that he could not be found. Horsemen had departed down 2867all the roads in every direction, and the Sheriff "was confident" that 2868he would be captured before night. 2869 2870All the town was drifting toward the graveyard. Tom's heartbreak 2871vanished and he joined the procession, not because he would not a 2872thousand times rather go anywhere else, but because an awful, 2873unaccountable fascination drew him on. Arrived at the dreadful place, 2874he wormed his small body through the crowd and saw the dismal 2875spectacle. It seemed to him an age since he was there before. Somebody 2876pinched his arm. He turned, and his eyes met Huckleberry's. Then both 2877looked elsewhere at once, and wondered if anybody had noticed anything 2878in their mutual glance. But everybody was talking, and intent upon the 2879grisly spectacle before them. 2880 2881"Poor fellow!" "Poor young fellow!" "This ought to be a lesson to 2882grave robbers!" "Muff Potter'll hang for this if they catch him!" This 2883was the drift of remark; and the minister said, "It was a judgment; His 2884hand is here." 2885 2886Now Tom shivered from head to heel; for his eye fell upon the stolid 2887face of Injun Joe. At this moment the crowd began to sway and struggle, 2888and voices shouted, "It's him! it's him! he's coming himself!" 2889 2890"Who? Who?" from twenty voices. 2891 2892"Muff Potter!" 2893 2894"Hallo, he's stopped!--Look out, he's turning! Don't let him get away!" 2895 2896People in the branches of the trees over Tom's head said he wasn't 2897trying to get away--he only looked doubtful and perplexed. 2898 2899"Infernal impudence!" said a bystander; "wanted to come and take a 2900quiet look at his work, I reckon--didn't expect any company." 2901 2902The crowd fell apart, now, and the Sheriff came through, 2903ostentatiously leading Potter by the arm. The poor fellow's face was 2904haggard, and his eyes showed the fear that was upon him. When he stood 2905before the murdered man, he shook as with a palsy, and he put his face 2906in his hands and burst into tears. 2907 2908"I didn't do it, friends," he sobbed; "'pon my word and honor I never 2909done it." 2910 2911"Who's accused you?" shouted a voice. 2912 2913This shot seemed to carry home. Potter lifted his face and looked 2914around him with a pathetic hopelessness in his eyes. He saw Injun Joe, 2915and exclaimed: 2916 2917"Oh, Injun Joe, you promised me you'd never--" 2918 2919"Is that your knife?" and it was thrust before him by the Sheriff. 2920 2921Potter would have fallen if they had not caught him and eased him to 2922the ground. Then he said: 2923 2924"Something told me 't if I didn't come back and get--" He shuddered; 2925then waved his nerveless hand with a vanquished gesture and said, "Tell 2926'em, Joe, tell 'em--it ain't any use any more." 2927 2928Then Huckleberry and Tom stood dumb and staring, and heard the 2929stony-hearted liar reel off his serene statement, they expecting every 2930moment that the clear sky would deliver God's lightnings upon his head, 2931and wondering to see how long the stroke was delayed. And when he had 2932finished and still stood alive and whole, their wavering impulse to 2933break their oath and save the poor betrayed prisoner's life faded and 2934vanished away, for plainly this miscreant had sold himself to Satan and 2935it would be fatal to meddle with the property of such a power as that. 2936 2937"Why didn't you leave? What did you want to come here for?" somebody 2938said. 2939 2940"I couldn't help it--I couldn't help it," Potter moaned. "I wanted to 2941run away, but I couldn't seem to come anywhere but here." And he fell 2942to sobbing again. 2943 2944Injun Joe repeated his statement, just as calmly, a few minutes 2945afterward on the inquest, under oath; and the boys, seeing that the 2946lightnings were still withheld, were confirmed in their belief that Joe 2947had sold himself to the devil. He was now become, to them, the most 2948balefully interesting object they had ever looked upon, and they could 2949not take their fascinated eyes from his face. 2950 2951They inwardly resolved to watch him nights, when opportunity should 2952offer, in the hope of getting a glimpse of his dread master. 2953 2954Injun Joe helped to raise the body of the murdered man and put it in a 2955wagon for removal; and it was whispered through the shuddering crowd 2956that the wound bled a little! The boys thought that this happy 2957circumstance would turn suspicion in the right direction; but they were 2958disappointed, for more than one villager remarked: 2959 2960"It was within three feet of Muff Potter when it done it." 2961 2962Tom's fearful secret and gnawing conscience disturbed his sleep for as 2963much as a week after this; and at breakfast one morning Sid said: 2964 2965"Tom, you pitch around and talk in your sleep so much that you keep me 2966awake half the time." 2967 2968Tom blanched and dropped his eyes. 2969 2970"It's a bad sign," said Aunt Polly, gravely. "What you got on your 2971mind, Tom?" 2972 2973"Nothing. Nothing 't I know of." But the boy's hand shook so that he 2974spilled his coffee. 2975 2976"And you do talk such stuff," Sid said. "Last night you said, 'It's 2977blood, it's blood, that's what it is!' You said that over and over. And 2978you said, 'Don't torment me so--I'll tell!' Tell WHAT? What is it 2979you'll tell?" 2980 2981Everything was swimming before Tom. There is no telling what might 2982have happened, now, but luckily the concern passed out of Aunt Polly's 2983face and she came to Tom's relief without knowing it. She said: 2984 2985"Sho! It's that dreadful murder. I dream about it most every night 2986myself. Sometimes I dream it's me that done it." 2987 2988Mary said she had been affected much the same way. Sid seemed 2989satisfied. Tom got out of the presence as quick as he plausibly could, 2990and after that he complained of toothache for a week, and tied up his 2991jaws every night. He never knew that Sid lay nightly watching, and 2992frequently slipped the bandage free and then leaned on his elbow 2993listening a good while at a time, and afterward slipped the bandage 2994back to its place again. Tom's distress of mind wore off gradually and 2995the toothache grew irksome and was discarded. If Sid really managed to 2996make anything out of Tom's disjointed mutterings, he kept it to himself. 2997 2998It seemed to Tom that his schoolmates never would get done holding 2999inquests on dead cats, and thus keeping his trouble present to his 3000mind. Sid noticed that Tom never was coroner at one of these inquiries, 3001though it had been his habit to take the lead in all new enterprises; 3002he noticed, too, that Tom never acted as a witness--and that was 3003strange; and Sid did not overlook the fact that Tom even showed a 3004marked aversion to these inquests, and always avoided them when he 3005could. Sid marvelled, but said nothing. However, even inquests went out 3006of vogue at last, and ceased to torture Tom's conscience. 3007 3008Every day or two, during this time of sorrow, Tom watched his 3009opportunity and went to the little grated jail-window and smuggled such 3010small comforts through to the "murderer" as he could get hold of. The 3011jail was a trifling little brick den that stood in a marsh at the edge 3012of the village, and no guards were afforded for it; indeed, it was 3013seldom occupied. These offerings greatly helped to ease Tom's 3014conscience. 3015 3016The villagers had a strong desire to tar-and-feather Injun Joe and 3017ride him on a rail, for body-snatching, but so formidable was his 3018character that nobody could be found who was willing to take the lead 3019in the matter, so it was dropped. He had been careful to begin both of 3020his inquest-statements with the fight, without confessing the 3021grave-robbery that preceded it; therefore it was deemed wisest not 3022to try the case in the courts at present. 3023 3024 3025 3026CHAPTER XII 3027 3028ONE of the reasons why Tom's mind had drifted away from its secret 3029troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest 3030itself about. Becky Thatcher had stopped coming to school. Tom had 3031struggled with his pride a few days, and tried to "whistle her down the 3032wind," but failed. He began to find himself hanging around her father's 3033house, nights, and feeling very miserable. She was ill. What if she 3034should die! There was distraction in the thought. He no longer took an 3035interest in war, nor even in piracy. The charm of life was gone; there 3036was nothing but dreariness left. He put his hoop away, and his bat; 3037there was no joy in them any more. His aunt was concerned. She began to 3038try all manner of remedies on him. She was one of those people who are 3039infatuated with patent medicines and all new-fangled methods of 3040producing health or mending it. She was an inveterate experimenter in 3041these things. When something fresh in this line came out she was in a 3042fever, right away, to try it; not on herself, for she was never ailing, 3043but on anybody else that came handy. She was a subscriber for all the 3044"Health" periodicals and phrenological frauds; and the solemn ignorance 3045they were inflated with was breath to her nostrils. All the "rot" they 3046contained about ventilation, and how to go to bed, and how to get up, 3047and what to eat, and what to drink, and how much exercise to take, and 3048what frame of mind to keep one's self in, and what sort of clothing to 3049wear, was all gospel to her, and she never observed that her 3050health-journals of the current month customarily upset everything they 3051had recommended the month before. She was as simple-hearted and honest 3052as the day was long, and so she was an easy victim. She gathered 3053together her quack periodicals and her quack medicines, and thus armed 3054with death, went about on her pale horse, metaphorically speaking, with 3055"hell following after." But she never suspected that she was not an 3056angel of healing and the balm of Gilead in disguise, to the suffering 3057neighbors. 3058 3059The water treatment was new, now, and Tom's low condition was a 3060windfall to her. She had him out at daylight every morning, stood him 3061up in the woodshed and drowned him with a deluge of cold water; then 3062she scrubbed him down with a towel like a file, and so brought him to; 3063then she rolled him up in a wet sheet and put him away under blankets 3064till she sweated his soul clean and "the yellow stains of it came 3065through his pores"--as Tom said. 3066 3067Yet notwithstanding all this, the boy grew more and more melancholy 3068and pale and dejected. She added hot baths, sitz baths, shower baths, 3069and plunges. The boy remained as dismal as a hearse. She began to 3070assist the water with a slim oatmeal diet and blister-plasters. She 3071calculated his capacity as she would a jug's, and filled him up every 3072day with quack cure-alls. 3073 3074Tom had become indifferent to persecution by this time. This phase 3075filled the old lady's heart with consternation. This indifference must 3076be broken up at any cost. Now she heard of Pain-killer for the first 3077time. She ordered a lot at once. She tasted it and was filled with 3078gratitude. It was simply fire in a liquid form. She dropped the water 3079treatment and everything else, and pinned her faith to Pain-killer. She 3080gave Tom a teaspoonful and watched with the deepest anxiety for the 3081result. Her troubles were instantly at rest, her soul at peace again; 3082for the "indifference" was broken up. The boy could not have shown a 3083wilder, heartier interest, if she had built a fire under him. 3084 3085Tom felt that it was time to wake up; this sort of life might be 3086romantic enough, in his blighted condition, but it was getting to have 3087too little sentiment and too much distracting variety about it. So he 3088thought over various plans for relief, and finally hit pon that of 3089professing to be fond of Pain-killer. He asked for it so often that he 3090became a nuisance, and his aunt ended by telling him to help himself 3091and quit bothering her. If it had been Sid, she would have had no 3092misgivings to alloy her delight; but since it was Tom, she watched the 3093bottle clandestinely. She found that the medicine did really diminish, 3094but it did not occur to her that the boy was mending the health of a 3095crack in the sitting-room floor with it. 3096 3097One day Tom was in the act of dosing the crack when his aunt's yellow 3098cat came along, purring, eying the teaspoon avariciously, and begging 3099for a taste. Tom said: 3100 3101"Don't ask for it unless you want it, Peter." 3102 3103But Peter signified that he did want it. 3104 3105"You better make sure." 3106 3107Peter was sure. 3108 3109"Now you've asked for it, and I'll give it to you, because there ain't 3110anything mean about me; but if you find you don't like it, you mustn't 3111blame anybody but your own self." 3112 3113Peter was agreeable. So Tom pried his mouth open and poured down the 3114Pain-killer. Peter sprang a couple of yards in the air, and then 3115delivered a war-whoop and set off round and round the room, banging 3116against furniture, upsetting flower-pots, and making general havoc. 3117Next he rose on his hind feet and pranced around, in a frenzy of 3118enjoyment, with his head over his shoulder and his voice proclaiming 3119his unappeasable happiness. Then he went tearing around the house again 3120spreading chaos and destruction in his path. Aunt Polly entered in time 3121to see him throw a few double summersets, deliver a final mighty 3122hurrah, and sail through the open window, carrying the rest of the 3123flower-pots with him. The old lady stood petrified with astonishment, 3124peering over her glasses; Tom lay on the floor expiring with laughter. 3125 3126"Tom, what on earth ails that cat?" 3127 3128"I don't know, aunt," gasped the boy. 3129 3130"Why, I never see anything like it. What did make him act so?" 3131 3132"Deed I don't know, Aunt Polly; cats always act so when they're having 3133a good time." 3134 3135"They do, do they?" There was something in the tone that made Tom 3136apprehensive. 3137 3138"Yes'm. That is, I believe they do." 3139 3140"You DO?" 3141 3142"Yes'm." 3143 3144The old lady was bending down, Tom watching, with interest emphasized 3145by anxiety. Too late he divined her "drift." The handle of the telltale 3146teaspoon was visible under the bed-valance. Aunt Polly took it, held it 3147up. Tom winced, and dropped his eyes. Aunt Polly raised him by the 3148usual handle--his ear--and cracked his head soundly with her thimble. 3149 3150"Now, sir, what did you want to treat that poor dumb beast so, for?" 3151 3152"I done it out of pity for him--because he hadn't any aunt." 3153 3154"Hadn't any aunt!--you numskull. What has that got to do with it?" 3155 3156"Heaps. Because if he'd had one she'd a burnt him out herself! She'd a 3157roasted his bowels out of him 'thout any more feeling than if he was a 3158human!" 3159 3160Aunt Polly felt a sudden pang of remorse. This was putting the thing 3161in a new light; what was cruelty to a cat MIGHT be cruelty to a boy, 3162too. She began to soften; she felt sorry. Her eyes watered a little, 3163and she put her hand on Tom's head and said gently: 3164 3165"I was meaning for the best, Tom. And, Tom, it DID do you good." 3166 3167Tom looked up in her face with just a perceptible twinkle peeping 3168through his gravity. 3169 3170"I know you was meaning for the best, aunty, and so was I with Peter. 3171It done HIM good, too. I never see him get around so since--" 3172 3173"Oh, go 'long with you, Tom, before you aggravate me again. And you 3174try and see if you can't be a good boy, for once, and you needn't take 3175any more medicine." 3176 3177Tom reached school ahead of time. It was noticed that this strange 3178thing had been occurring every day latterly. And now, as usual of late, 3179he hung about the gate of the schoolyard instead of playing with his 3180comrades. He was sick, he said, and he looked it. He tried to seem to 3181be looking everywhere but whither he really was looking--down the road. 3182Presently Jeff Thatcher hove in sight, and Tom's face lighted; he gazed 3183a moment, and then turned sorrowfully away. When Jeff arrived, Tom 3184accosted him; and "led up" warily to opportunities for remark about 3185Becky, but the giddy lad never could see the bait. Tom watched and 3186watched, hoping whenever a frisking frock came in sight, and hating the 3187owner of it as soon as he saw she was not the right one. At last frocks 3188ceased to appear, and he dropped hopelessly into the dumps; he entered 3189the empty schoolhouse and sat down to suffer. Then one more frock 3190passed in at the gate, and Tom's heart gave a great bound. The next 3191instant he was out, and "going on" like an Indian; yelling, laughing, 3192chasing boys, jumping over the fence at risk of life and limb, throwing 3193handsprings, standing on his head--doing all the heroic things he could 3194conceive of, and keeping a furtive eye out, all the while, to see if 3195Becky Thatcher was noticing. But she seemed to be unconscious of it 3196all; she never looked. Could it be possible that she was not aware that 3197he was there? He carried his exploits to her immediate vicinity; came 3198war-whooping around, snatched a boy's cap, hurled it to the roof of the 3199schoolhouse, broke through a group of boys, tumbling them in every 3200direction, and fell sprawling, himself, under Becky's nose, almost 3201upsetting her--and she turned, with her nose in the air, and he heard 3202her say: "Mf! some people think they're mighty smart--always showing 3203off!" 3204 3205Tom's cheeks burned. He gathered himself up and sneaked off, crushed 3206and crestfallen. 3207 3208 3209 3210CHAPTER XIII 3211 3212TOM'S mind was made up now. He was gloomy and desperate. He was a 3213forsaken, friendless boy, he said; nobody loved him; when they found 3214out what they had driven him to, perhaps they would be sorry; he had 3215tried to do right and get along, but they would not let him; since 3216nothing would do them but to be rid of him, let it be so; and let them 3217blame HIM for the consequences--why shouldn't they? What right had the 3218friendless to complain? Yes, they had forced him to it at last: he 3219would lead a life of crime. There was no choice. 3220 3221By this time he was far down Meadow Lane, and the bell for school to 3222"take up" tinkled faintly upon his ear. He sobbed, now, to think he 3223should never, never hear that old familiar sound any more--it was very 3224hard, but it was forced on him; since he was driven out into the cold 3225world, he must submit--but he forgave them. Then the sobs came thick 3226and fast. 3227 3228Just at this point he met his soul's sworn comrade, Joe Harper 3229--hard-eyed, and with evidently a great and dismal purpose in his heart. 3230Plainly here were "two souls with but a single thought." Tom, wiping 3231his eyes with his sleeve, began to blubber out something about a 3232resolution to escape from hard usage and lack of sympathy at home by 3233roaming abroad into the great world never to return; and ended by 3234hoping that Joe would not forget him. 3235 3236But it transpired that this was a request which Joe had just been 3237going to make of Tom, and had come to hunt him up for that purpose. His 3238mother had whipped him for drinking some cream which he had never 3239tasted and knew nothing about; it was plain that she was tired of him 3240and wished him to go; if she felt that way, there was nothing for him 3241to do but succumb; he hoped she would be happy, and never regret having 3242driven her poor boy out into the unfeeling world to suffer and die. 3243 3244As the two boys walked sorrowing along, they made a new compact to 3245stand by each other and be brothers and never separate till death 3246relieved them of their troubles. Then they began to lay their plans. 3247Joe was for being a hermit, and living on crusts in a remote cave, and 3248dying, some time, of cold and want and grief; but after listening to 3249Tom, he conceded that there were some conspicuous advantages about a 3250life of crime, and so he consented to be a pirate. 3251 3252Three miles below St. Petersburg, at a point where the Mississippi 3253River was a trifle over a mile wide, there was a long, narrow, wooded 3254island, with a shallow bar at the head of it, and this offered well as 3255a rendezvous. It was not inhabited; it lay far over toward the further 3256shore, abreast a dense and almost wholly unpeopled forest. So Jackson's 3257Island was chosen. Who were to be the subjects of their piracies was a 3258matter that did not occur to them. Then they hunted up Huckleberry 3259Finn, and he joined them promptly, for all careers were one to him; he 3260was indifferent. They presently separated to meet at a lonely spot on 3261the river-bank two miles above the village at the favorite hour--which 3262was midnight. There was a small log raft there which they meant to 3263capture. Each would bring hooks and lines, and such provision as he 3264could steal in the most dark and mysterious way--as became outlaws. And 3265before the afternoon was done, they had all managed to enjoy the sweet 3266glory of spreading the fact that pretty soon the town would "hear 3267something." All who got this vague hint were cautioned to "be mum and 3268wait." 3269 3270About midnight Tom arrived with a boiled ham and a few trifles, 3271and stopped in a dense undergrowth on a small bluff overlooking the 3272meeting-place. It was starlight, and very still. The mighty river lay 3273like an ocean at rest. Tom listened a moment, but no sound disturbed the 3274quiet. Then he gave a low, distinct whistle. It was answered from under 3275the bluff. Tom whistled twice more; these signals were answered in the 3276same way. Then a guarded voice said: 3277 3278"Who goes there?" 3279 3280"Tom Sawyer, the Black Avenger of the Spanish Main. Name your names." 3281 3282"Huck Finn the Red-Handed, and Joe Harper the Terror of the Seas." Tom 3283had furnished these titles, from his favorite literature. 3284 3285"'Tis well. Give the countersign." 3286 3287Two hoarse whispers delivered the same awful word simultaneously to 3288the brooding night: 3289 3290"BLOOD!" 3291 3292Then Tom tumbled his ham over the bluff and let himself down after it, 3293tearing both skin and clothes to some extent in the effort. There was 3294an easy, comfortable path along the shore under the bluff, but it 3295lacked the advantages of difficulty and danger so valued by a pirate. 3296 3297The Terror of the Seas had brought a side of bacon, and had about worn 3298himself out with getting it there. Finn the Red-Handed had stolen a 3299skillet and a quantity of half-cured leaf tobacco, and had also brought 3300a few corn-cobs to make pipes with. But none of the pirates smoked or 3301"chewed" but himself. The Black Avenger of the Spanish Main said it 3302would never do to start without some fire. That was a wise thought; 3303matches were hardly known there in that day. They saw a fire 3304smouldering upon a great raft a hundred yards above, and they went 3305stealthily thither and helped themselves to a chunk. They made an 3306imposing adventure of it, saying, "Hist!" every now and then, and 3307suddenly halting with finger on lip; moving with hands on imaginary 3308dagger-hilts; and giving orders in dismal whispers that if "the foe" 3309stirred, to "let him have it to the hilt," because "dead men tell no 3310tales." They knew well enough that the raftsmen were all down at the 3311village laying in stores or having a spree, but still that was no 3312excuse for their conducting this thing in an unpiratical way. 3313 3314They shoved off, presently, Tom in command, Huck at the after oar and 3315Joe at the forward. Tom stood amidships, gloomy-browed, and with folded 3316arms, and gave his orders in a low, stern whisper: 3317 3318"Luff, and bring her to the wind!" 3319 3320"Aye-aye, sir!" 3321 3322"Steady, steady-y-y-y!" 3323 3324"Steady it is, sir!" 3325 3326"Let her go off a point!" 3327 3328"Point it is, sir!" 3329 3330As the boys steadily and monotonously drove the raft toward mid-stream 3331it was no doubt understood that these orders were given only for 3332"style," and were not intended to mean anything in particular. 3333 3334"What sail's she carrying?" 3335 3336"Courses, tops'ls, and flying-jib, sir." 3337 3338"Send the r'yals up! Lay out aloft, there, half a dozen of ye 3339--foretopmaststuns'l! Lively, now!" 3340 3341"Aye-aye, sir!" 3342 3343"Shake out that maintogalans'l! Sheets and braces! NOW my hearties!" 3344 3345"Aye-aye, sir!" 3346 3347"Hellum-a-lee--hard a port! Stand by to meet her when she comes! Port, 3348port! NOW, men! With a will! Stead-y-y-y!" 3349 3350"Steady it is, sir!" 3351 3352The raft drew beyond the middle of the river; the boys pointed her 3353head right, and then lay on their oars. The river was not high, so 3354there was not more than a two or three mile current. Hardly a word was 3355said during the next three-quarters of an hour. Now the raft was 3356passing before the distant town. Two or three glimmering lights showed 3357where it lay, peacefully sleeping, beyond the vague vast sweep of 3358star-gemmed water, unconscious of the tremendous event that was happening. 3359The Black Avenger stood still with folded arms, "looking his last" upon 3360the scene of his former joys and his later sufferings, and wishing 3361"she" could see him now, abroad on the wild sea, facing peril and death 3362with dauntless heart, going to his doom with a grim smile on his lips. 3363It was but a small strain on his imagination to remove Jackson's Island 3364beyond eyeshot of the village, and so he "looked his last" with a 3365broken and satisfied heart. The other pirates were looking their last, 3366too; and they all looked so long that they came near letting the 3367current drift them out of the range of the island. But they discovered 3368the danger in time, and made shift to avert it. About two o'clock in 3369the morning the raft grounded on the bar two hundred yards above the 3370head of the island, and they waded back and forth until they had landed 3371their freight. Part of the little raft's belongings consisted of an old 3372sail, and this they spread over a nook in the bushes for a tent to 3373shelter their provisions; but they themselves would sleep in the open 3374air in good weather, as became outlaws. 3375 3376They built a fire against the side of a great log twenty or thirty 3377steps within the sombre depths of the forest, and then cooked some 3378bacon in the frying-pan for supper, and used up half of the corn "pone" 3379stock they had brought. It seemed glorious sport to be feasting in that 3380wild, free way in the virgin forest of an unexplored and uninhabited 3381island, far from the haunts of men, and they said they never would 3382return to civilization. The climbing fire lit up their faces and threw 3383its ruddy glare upon the pillared tree-trunks of their forest temple, 3384and upon the varnished foliage and festooning vines. 3385 3386When the last crisp slice of bacon was gone, and the last allowance of 3387corn pone devoured, the boys stretched themselves out on the grass, 3388filled with contentment. They could have found a cooler place, but they 3389would not deny themselves such a romantic feature as the roasting 3390camp-fire. 3391 3392"AIN'T it gay?" said Joe. 3393 3394"It's NUTS!" said Tom. "What would the boys say if they could see us?" 3395 3396"Say? Well, they'd just die to be here--hey, Hucky!" 3397 3398"I reckon so," said Huckleberry; "anyways, I'm suited. I don't want 3399nothing better'n this. I don't ever get enough to eat, gen'ally--and 3400here they can't come and pick at a feller and bullyrag him so." 3401 3402"It's just the life for me," said Tom. "You don't have to get up, 3403mornings, and you don't have to go to school, and wash, and all that 3404blame foolishness. You see a pirate don't have to do ANYTHING, Joe, 3405when he's ashore, but a hermit HE has to be praying considerable, and 3406then he don't have any fun, anyway, all by himself that way." 3407 3408"Oh yes, that's so," said Joe, "but I hadn't thought much about it, 3409you know. I'd a good deal rather be a pirate, now that I've tried it." 3410 3411"You see," said Tom, "people don't go much on hermits, nowadays, like 3412they used to in old times, but a pirate's always respected. And a 3413hermit's got to sleep on the hardest place he can find, and put 3414sackcloth and ashes on his head, and stand out in the rain, and--" 3415 3416"What does he put sackcloth and ashes on his head for?" inquired Huck. 3417 3418"I dono. But they've GOT to do it. Hermits always do. You'd have to do 3419that if you was a hermit." 3420 3421"Dern'd if I would," said Huck. 3422 3423"Well, what would you do?" 3424 3425"I dono. But I wouldn't do that." 3426 3427"Why, Huck, you'd HAVE to. How'd you get around it?" 3428 3429"Why, I just wouldn't stand it. I'd run away." 3430 3431"Run away! Well, you WOULD be a nice old slouch of a hermit. You'd be 3432a disgrace." 3433 3434The Red-Handed made no response, being better employed. He had 3435finished gouging out a cob, and now he fitted a weed stem to it, loaded 3436it with tobacco, and was pressing a coal to the charge and blowing a 3437cloud of fragrant smoke--he was in the full bloom of luxurious 3438contentment. The other pirates envied him this majestic vice, and 3439secretly resolved to acquire it shortly. Presently Huck said: 3440 3441"What does pirates have to do?" 3442 3443Tom said: 3444 3445"Oh, they have just a bully time--take ships and burn them, and get 3446the money and bury it in awful places in their island where there's 3447ghosts and things to watch it, and kill everybody in the ships--make 3448'em walk a plank." 3449 3450"And they carry the women to the island," said Joe; "they don't kill 3451the women." 3452 3453"No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women--they're too noble. And 3454the women's always beautiful, too. 3455 3456"And don't they wear the bulliest clothes! Oh no! All gold and silver 3457and di'monds," said Joe, with enthusiasm. 3458 3459"Who?" said Huck. 3460 3461"Why, the pirates." 3462 3463Huck scanned his own clothing forlornly. 3464 3465"I reckon I ain't dressed fitten for a pirate," said he, with a 3466regretful pathos in his voice; "but I ain't got none but these." 3467 3468But the other boys told him the fine clothes would come fast enough, 3469after they should have begun their adventures. They made him understand 3470that his poor rags would do to begin with, though it was customary for 3471wealthy pirates to start with a proper wardrobe. 3472 3473Gradually their talk died out and drowsiness began to steal upon the 3474eyelids of the little waifs. The pipe dropped from the fingers of the 3475Red-Handed, and he slept the sleep of the conscience-free and the 3476weary. The Terror of the Seas and the Black Avenger of the Spanish Main 3477had more difficulty in getting to sleep. They said their prayers 3478inwardly, and lying down, since there was nobody there with authority 3479to make them kneel and recite aloud; in truth, they had a mind not to 3480say them at all, but they were afraid to proceed to such lengths as 3481that, lest they might call down a sudden and special thunderbolt from 3482heaven. Then at once they reached and hovered upon the imminent verge 3483of sleep--but an intruder came, now, that would not "down." It was 3484conscience. They began to feel a vague fear that they had been doing 3485wrong to run away; and next they thought of the stolen meat, and then 3486the real torture came. They tried to argue it away by reminding 3487conscience that they had purloined sweetmeats and apples scores of 3488times; but conscience was not to be appeased by such thin 3489plausibilities; it seemed to them, in the end, that there was no 3490getting around the stubborn fact that taking sweetmeats was only 3491"hooking," while taking bacon and hams and such valuables was plain 3492simple stealing--and there was a command against that in the Bible. So 3493they inwardly resolved that so long as they remained in the business, 3494their piracies should not again be sullied with the crime of stealing. 3495Then conscience granted a truce, and these curiously inconsistent 3496pirates fell peacefully to sleep. 3497 3498 3499 3500CHAPTER XIV 3501 3502WHEN Tom awoke in the morning, he wondered where he was. He sat up and 3503rubbed his eyes and looked around. Then he comprehended. It was the 3504cool gray dawn, and there was a delicious sense of repose and peace in 3505the deep pervading calm and silence of the woods. Not a leaf stirred; 3506not a sound obtruded upon great Nature's meditation. Beaded dewdrops 3507stood upon the leaves and grasses. A white layer of ashes covered the 3508fire, and a thin blue breath of smoke rose straight into the air. Joe 3509and Huck still slept. 3510 3511Now, far away in the woods a bird called; another answered; presently 3512the hammering of a woodpecker was heard. Gradually the cool dim gray of 3513the morning whitened, and as gradually sounds multiplied and life 3514manifested itself. The marvel of Nature shaking off sleep and going to 3515work unfolded itself to the musing boy. A little green worm came 3516crawling over a dewy leaf, lifting two-thirds of his body into the air 3517from time to time and "sniffing around," then proceeding again--for he 3518was measuring, Tom said; and when the worm approached him, of its own 3519accord, he sat as still as a stone, with his hopes rising and falling, 3520by turns, as the creature still came toward him or seemed inclined to 3521go elsewhere; and when at last it considered a painful moment with its 3522curved body in the air and then came decisively down upon Tom's leg and 3523began a journey over him, his whole heart was glad--for that meant that 3524he was going to have a new suit of clothes--without the shadow of a 3525doubt a gaudy piratical uniform. Now a procession of ants appeared, 3526from nowhere in particular, and went about their labors; one struggled 3527manfully by with a dead spider five times as big as itself in its arms, 3528and lugged it straight up a tree-trunk. A brown spotted lady-bug 3529climbed the dizzy height of a grass blade, and Tom bent down close to 3530it and said, "Lady-bug, lady-bug, fly away home, your house is on fire, 3531your children's alone," and she took wing and went off to see about it 3532--which did not surprise the boy, for he knew of old that this insect was 3533credulous about conflagrations, and he had practised upon its 3534simplicity more than once. A tumblebug came next, heaving sturdily at 3535its ball, and Tom touched the creature, to see it shut its legs against 3536its body and pretend to be dead. The birds were fairly rioting by this 3537time. A catbird, the Northern mocker, lit in a tree over Tom's head, 3538and trilled out her imitations of her neighbors in a rapture of 3539enjoyment; then a shrill jay swept down, a flash of blue flame, and 3540stopped on a twig almost within the boy's reach, cocked his head to one 3541side and eyed the strangers with a consuming curiosity; a gray squirrel 3542and a big fellow of the "fox" kind came skurrying along, sitting up at 3543intervals to inspect and chatter at the boys, for the wild things had 3544probably never seen a human being before and scarcely knew whether to 3545be afraid or not. All Nature was wide awake and stirring, now; long 3546lances of sunlight pierced down through the dense foliage far and near, 3547and a few butterflies came fluttering upon the scene. 3548 3549Tom stirred up the other pirates and they all clattered away with a 3550shout, and in a minute or two were stripped and chasing after and 3551tumbling over each other in the shallow limpid water of the white 3552sandbar. They felt no longing for the little village sleeping in the 3553distance beyond the majestic waste of water. A vagrant current or a 3554slight rise in the river had carried off their raft, but this only 3555gratified them, since its going was something like burning the bridge 3556between them and civilization. 3557 3558They came back to camp wonderfully refreshed, glad-hearted, and 3559ravenous; and they soon had the camp-fire blazing up again. Huck found 3560a spring of clear cold water close by, and the boys made cups of broad 3561oak or hickory leaves, and felt that water, sweetened with such a 3562wildwood charm as that, would be a good enough substitute for coffee. 3563While Joe was slicing bacon for breakfast, Tom and Huck asked him to 3564hold on a minute; they stepped to a promising nook in the river-bank 3565and threw in their lines; almost immediately they had reward. Joe had 3566not had time to get impatient before they were back again with some 3567handsome bass, a couple of sun-perch and a small catfish--provisions 3568enough for quite a family. They fried the fish with the bacon, and were 3569astonished; for no fish had ever seemed so delicious before. They did 3570not know that the quicker a fresh-water fish is on the fire after he is 3571caught the better he is; and they reflected little upon what a sauce 3572open-air sleeping, open-air exercise, bathing, and a large ingredient 3573of hunger make, too. 3574 3575They lay around in the shade, after breakfast, while Huck had a smoke, 3576and then went off through the woods on an exploring expedition. They 3577tramped gayly along, over decaying logs, through tangled underbrush, 3578among solemn monarchs of the forest, hung from their crowns to the 3579ground with a drooping regalia of grape-vines. Now and then they came 3580upon snug nooks carpeted with grass and jeweled with flowers. 3581 3582They found plenty of things to be delighted with, but nothing to be 3583astonished at. They discovered that the island was about three miles 3584long and a quarter of a mile wide, and that the shore it lay closest to 3585was only separated from it by a narrow channel hardly two hundred yards 3586wide. They took a swim about every hour, so it was close upon the 3587middle of the afternoon when they got back to camp. They were too 3588hungry to stop to fish, but they fared sumptuously upon cold ham, and 3589then threw themselves down in the shade to talk. But the talk soon 3590began to drag, and then died. The stillness, the solemnity that brooded 3591in the woods, and the sense of loneliness, began to tell upon the 3592spirits of the boys. They fell to thinking. A sort of undefined longing 3593crept upon them. This took dim shape, presently--it was budding 3594homesickness. Even Finn the Red-Handed was dreaming of his doorsteps 3595and empty hogsheads. But they were all ashamed of their weakness, and 3596none was brave enough to speak his thought. 3597 3598For some time, now, the boys had been dully conscious of a peculiar 3599sound in the distance, just as one sometimes is of the ticking of a 3600clock which he takes no distinct note of. But now this mysterious sound 3601became more pronounced, and forced a recognition. The boys started, 3602glanced at each other, and then each assumed a listening attitude. 3603There was a long silence, profound and unbroken; then a deep, sullen 3604boom came floating down out of the distance. 3605 3606"What is it!" exclaimed Joe, under his breath. 3607 3608"I wonder," said Tom in a whisper. 3609 3610"'Tain't thunder," said Huckleberry, in an awed tone, "becuz thunder--" 3611 3612"Hark!" said Tom. "Listen--don't talk." 3613 3614They waited a time that seemed an age, and then the same muffled boom 3615troubled the solemn hush. 3616 3617"Let's go and see." 3618 3619They sprang to their feet and hurried to the shore toward the town. 3620They parted the bushes on the bank and peered out over the water. The 3621little steam ferryboat was about a mile below the village, drifting 3622with the current. Her broad deck seemed crowded with people. There were 3623a great many skiffs rowing about or floating with the stream in the 3624neighborhood of the ferryboat, but the boys could not determine what 3625the men in them were doing. Presently a great jet of white smoke burst 3626from the ferryboat's side, and as it expanded and rose in a lazy cloud, 3627that same dull throb of sound was borne to the listeners again. 3628 3629"I know now!" exclaimed Tom; "somebody's drownded!" 3630 3631"That's it!" said Huck; "they done that last summer, when Bill Turner 3632got drownded; they shoot a cannon over the water, and that makes him 3633come up to the top. Yes, and they take loaves of bread and put 3634quicksilver in 'em and set 'em afloat, and wherever there's anybody 3635that's drownded, they'll float right there and stop." 3636 3637"Yes, I've heard about that," said Joe. "I wonder what makes the bread 3638do that." 3639 3640"Oh, it ain't the bread, so much," said Tom; "I reckon it's mostly 3641what they SAY over it before they start it out." 3642 3643"But they don't say anything over it," said Huck. "I've seen 'em and 3644they don't." 3645 3646"Well, that's funny," said Tom. "But maybe they say it to themselves. 3647Of COURSE they do. Anybody might know that." 3648 3649The other boys agreed that there was reason in what Tom said, because 3650an ignorant lump of bread, uninstructed by an incantation, could not be 3651expected to act very intelligently when set upon an errand of such 3652gravity. 3653 3654"By jings, I wish I was over there, now," said Joe. 3655 3656"I do too" said Huck "I'd give heaps to know who it is." 3657 3658The boys still listened and watched. Presently a revealing thought 3659flashed through Tom's mind, and he exclaimed: 3660 3661"Boys, I know who's drownded--it's us!" 3662 3663They felt like heroes in an instant. Here was a gorgeous triumph; they 3664were missed; they were mourned; hearts were breaking on their account; 3665tears were being shed; accusing memories of unkindness to these poor 3666lost lads were rising up, and unavailing regrets and remorse were being 3667indulged; and best of all, the departed were the talk of the whole 3668town, and the envy of all the boys, as far as this dazzling notoriety 3669was concerned. This was fine. It was worth while to be a pirate, after 3670all. 3671 3672As twilight drew on, the ferryboat went back to her accustomed 3673business and the skiffs disappeared. The pirates returned to camp. They 3674were jubilant with vanity over their new grandeur and the illustrious 3675trouble they were making. They caught fish, cooked supper and ate it, 3676and then fell to guessing at what the village was thinking and saying 3677about them; and the pictures they drew of the public distress on their 3678account were gratifying to look upon--from their point of view. But 3679when the shadows of night closed them in, they gradually ceased to 3680talk, and sat gazing into the fire, with their minds evidently 3681wandering elsewhere. The excitement was gone, now, and Tom and Joe 3682could not keep back thoughts of certain persons at home who were not 3683enjoying this fine frolic as much as they were. Misgivings came; they 3684grew troubled and unhappy; a sigh or two escaped, unawares. By and by 3685Joe timidly ventured upon a roundabout "feeler" as to how the others 3686might look upon a return to civilization--not right now, but-- 3687 3688Tom withered him with derision! Huck, being uncommitted as yet, joined 3689in with Tom, and the waverer quickly "explained," and was glad to get 3690out of the scrape with as little taint of chicken-hearted homesickness 3691clinging to his garments as he could. Mutiny was effectually laid to 3692rest for the moment. 3693 3694As the night deepened, Huck began to nod, and presently to snore. Joe 3695followed next. Tom lay upon his elbow motionless, for some time, 3696watching the two intently. At last he got up cautiously, on his knees, 3697and went searching among the grass and the flickering reflections flung 3698by the camp-fire. He picked up and inspected several large 3699semi-cylinders of the thin white bark of a sycamore, and finally chose 3700two which seemed to suit him. Then he knelt by the fire and painfully 3701wrote something upon each of these with his "red keel"; one he rolled up 3702and put in his jacket pocket, and the other he put in Joe's hat and 3703removed it to a little distance from the owner. And he also put into the 3704hat certain schoolboy treasures of almost inestimable value--among them 3705a lump of chalk, an India-rubber ball, three fishhooks, and one of that 3706kind of marbles known as a "sure 'nough crystal." Then he tiptoed his 3707way cautiously among the trees till he felt that he was out of hearing, 3708and straightway broke into a keen run in the direction of the sandbar. 3709 3710 3711 3712CHAPTER XV 3713 3714A FEW minutes later Tom was in the shoal water of the bar, wading 3715toward the Illinois shore. Before the depth reached his middle he was 3716half-way over; the current would permit no more wading, now, so he 3717struck out confidently to swim the remaining hundred yards. He swam 3718quartering upstream, but still was swept downward rather faster than he 3719had expected. However, he reached the shore finally, and drifted along 3720till he found a low place and drew himself out. He put his hand on his 3721jacket pocket, found his piece of bark safe, and then struck through 3722the woods, following the shore, with streaming garments. Shortly before 3723ten o'clock he came out into an open place opposite the village, and 3724saw the ferryboat lying in the shadow of the trees and the high bank. 3725Everything was quiet under the blinking stars. He crept down the bank, 3726watching with all his eyes, slipped into the water, swam three or four 3727strokes and climbed into the skiff that did "yawl" duty at the boat's 3728stern. He laid himself down under the thwarts and waited, panting. 3729 3730Presently the cracked bell tapped and a voice gave the order to "cast 3731off." A minute or two later the skiff's head was standing high up, 3732against the boat's swell, and the voyage was begun. Tom felt happy in 3733his success, for he knew it was the boat's last trip for the night. At 3734the end of a long twelve or fifteen minutes the wheels stopped, and Tom 3735slipped overboard and swam ashore in the dusk, landing fifty yards 3736downstream, out of danger of possible stragglers. 3737 3738He flew along unfrequented alleys, and shortly found himself at his 3739aunt's back fence. He climbed over, approached the "ell," and looked in 3740at the sitting-room window, for a light was burning there. There sat 3741Aunt Polly, Sid, Mary, and Joe Harper's mother, grouped together, 3742talking. They were by the bed, and the bed was between them and the 3743door. Tom went to the door and began to softly lift the latch; then he 3744pressed gently and the door yielded a crack; he continued pushing 3745cautiously, and quaking every time it creaked, till he judged he might 3746squeeze through on his knees; so he put his head through and began, 3747warily. 3748 3749"What makes the candle blow so?" said Aunt Polly. Tom hurried up. 3750"Why, that door's open, I believe. Why, of course it is. No end of 3751strange things now. Go 'long and shut it, Sid." 3752 3753Tom disappeared under the bed just in time. He lay and "breathed" 3754himself for a time, and then crept to where he could almost touch his 3755aunt's foot. 3756 3757"But as I was saying," said Aunt Polly, "he warn't BAD, so to say 3758--only mischEEvous. Only just giddy, and harum-scarum, you know. He 3759warn't any more responsible than a colt. HE never meant any harm, and 3760he was the best-hearted boy that ever was"--and she began to cry. 3761 3762"It was just so with my Joe--always full of his devilment, and up to 3763every kind of mischief, but he was just as unselfish and kind as he 3764could be--and laws bless me, to think I went and whipped him for taking 3765that cream, never once recollecting that I throwed it out myself 3766because it was sour, and I never to see him again in this world, never, 3767never, never, poor abused boy!" And Mrs. Harper sobbed as if her heart 3768would break. 3769 3770"I hope Tom's better off where he is," said Sid, "but if he'd been 3771better in some ways--" 3772 3773"SID!" Tom felt the glare of the old lady's eye, though he could not 3774see it. "Not a word against my Tom, now that he's gone! God'll take 3775care of HIM--never you trouble YOURself, sir! Oh, Mrs. Harper, I don't 3776know how to give him up! I don't know how to give him up! He was such a 3777comfort to me, although he tormented my old heart out of me, 'most." 3778 3779"The Lord giveth and the Lord hath taken away--Blessed be the name of 3780the Lord! But it's so hard--Oh, it's so hard! Only last Saturday my 3781Joe busted a firecracker right under my nose and I knocked him 3782sprawling. Little did I know then, how soon--Oh, if it was to do over 3783again I'd hug him and bless him for it." 3784 3785"Yes, yes, yes, I know just how you feel, Mrs. Harper, I know just 3786exactly how you feel. No longer ago than yesterday noon, my Tom took 3787and filled the cat full of Pain-killer, and I did think the cretur 3788would tear the house down. And God forgive me, I cracked Tom's head 3789with my thimble, poor boy, poor dead boy. But he's out of all his 3790troubles now. And the last words I ever heard him say was to reproach--" 3791 3792But this memory was too much for the old lady, and she broke entirely 3793down. Tom was snuffling, now, himself--and more in pity of himself than 3794anybody else. He could hear Mary crying, and putting in a kindly word 3795for him from time to time. He began to have a nobler opinion of himself 3796than ever before. Still, he was sufficiently touched by his aunt's 3797grief to long to rush out from under the bed and overwhelm her with 3798joy--and the theatrical gorgeousness of the thing appealed strongly to 3799his nature, too, but he resisted and lay still. 3800 3801He went on listening, and gathered by odds and ends that it was 3802conjectured at first that the boys had got drowned while taking a swim; 3803then the small raft had been missed; next, certain boys said the 3804missing lads had promised that the village should "hear something" 3805soon; the wise-heads had "put this and that together" and decided that 3806the lads had gone off on that raft and would turn up at the next town 3807below, presently; but toward noon the raft had been found, lodged 3808against the Missouri shore some five or six miles below the village 3809--and then hope perished; they must be drowned, else hunger would have 3810driven them home by nightfall if not sooner. It was believed that the 3811search for the bodies had been a fruitless effort merely because the 3812drowning must have occurred in mid-channel, since the boys, being good 3813swimmers, would otherwise have escaped to shore. This was Wednesday 3814night. If the bodies continued missing until Sunday, all hope would be 3815given over, and the funerals would be preached on that morning. Tom 3816shuddered. 3817 3818Mrs. Harper gave a sobbing good-night and turned to go. Then with a 3819mutual impulse the two bereaved women flung themselves into each 3820other's arms and had a good, consoling cry, and then parted. Aunt Polly 3821was tender far beyond her wont, in her good-night to Sid and Mary. Sid 3822snuffled a bit and Mary went off crying with all her heart. 3823 3824Aunt Polly knelt down and prayed for Tom so touchingly, so 3825appealingly, and with such measureless love in her words and her old 3826trembling voice, that he was weltering in tears again, long before she 3827was through. 3828 3829He had to keep still long after she went to bed, for she kept making 3830broken-hearted ejaculations from time to time, tossing unrestfully, and 3831turning over. But at last she was still, only moaning a little in her 3832sleep. Now the boy stole out, rose gradually by the bedside, shaded the 3833candle-light with his hand, and stood regarding her. His heart was full 3834of pity for her. He took out his sycamore scroll and placed it by the 3835candle. But something occurred to him, and he lingered considering. His 3836face lighted with a happy solution of his thought; he put the bark 3837hastily in his pocket. Then he bent over and kissed the faded lips, and 3838straightway made his stealthy exit, latching the door behind him. 3839 3840He threaded his way back to the ferry landing, found nobody at large 3841there, and walked boldly on board the boat, for he knew she was 3842tenantless except that there was a watchman, who always turned in and 3843slept like a graven image. He untied the skiff at the stern, slipped 3844into it, and was soon rowing cautiously upstream. When he had pulled a 3845mile above the village, he started quartering across and bent himself 3846stoutly to his work. He hit the landing on the other side neatly, for 3847this was a familiar bit of work to him. He was moved to capture the 3848skiff, arguing that it might be considered a ship and therefore 3849legitimate prey for a pirate, but he knew a thorough search would be 3850made for it and that might end in revelations. So he stepped ashore and 3851entered the woods. 3852 3853He sat down and took a long rest, torturing himself meanwhile to keep 3854awake, and then started warily down the home-stretch. The night was far 3855spent. It was broad daylight before he found himself fairly abreast the 3856island bar. He rested again until the sun was well up and gilding the 3857great river with its splendor, and then he plunged into the stream. A 3858little later he paused, dripping, upon the threshold of the camp, and 3859heard Joe say: 3860 3861"No, Tom's true-blue, Huck, and he'll come back. He won't desert. He 3862knows that would be a disgrace to a pirate, and Tom's too proud for 3863that sort of thing. He's up to something or other. Now I wonder what?" 3864 3865"Well, the things is ours, anyway, ain't they?" 3866 3867"Pretty near, but not yet, Huck. The writing says they are if he ain't 3868back here to breakfast." 3869 3870"Which he is!" exclaimed Tom, with fine dramatic effect, stepping 3871grandly into camp. 3872 3873A sumptuous breakfast of bacon and fish was shortly provided, and as 3874the boys set to work upon it, Tom recounted (and adorned) his 3875adventures. They were a vain and boastful company of heroes when the 3876tale was done. Then Tom hid himself away in a shady nook to sleep till 3877noon, and the other pirates got ready to fish and explore. 3878 3879 3880 3881CHAPTER XVI 3882 3883AFTER dinner all the gang turned out to hunt for turtle eggs on the 3884bar. They went about poking sticks into the sand, and when they found a 3885soft place they went down on their knees and dug with their hands. 3886Sometimes they would take fifty or sixty eggs out of one hole. They 3887were perfectly round white things a trifle smaller than an English 3888walnut. They had a famous fried-egg feast that night, and another on 3889Friday morning. 3890 3891After breakfast they went whooping and prancing out on the bar, and 3892chased each other round and round, shedding clothes as they went, until 3893they were naked, and then continued the frolic far away up the shoal 3894water of the bar, against the stiff current, which latter tripped their 3895legs from under them from time to time and greatly increased the fun. 3896And now and then they stooped in a group and splashed water in each 3897other's faces with their palms, gradually approaching each other, with 3898averted faces to avoid the strangling sprays, and finally gripping and 3899struggling till the best man ducked his neighbor, and then they all 3900went under in a tangle of white legs and arms and came up blowing, 3901sputtering, laughing, and gasping for breath at one and the same time. 3902 3903When they were well exhausted, they would run out and sprawl on the 3904dry, hot sand, and lie there and cover themselves up with it, and by 3905and by break for the water again and go through the original 3906performance once more. Finally it occurred to them that their naked 3907skin represented flesh-colored "tights" very fairly; so they drew a 3908ring in the sand and had a circus--with three clowns in it, for none 3909would yield this proudest post to his neighbor. 3910 3911Next they got their marbles and played "knucks" and "ring-taw" and 3912"keeps" till that amusement grew stale. Then Joe and Huck had another 3913swim, but Tom would not venture, because he found that in kicking off 3914his trousers he had kicked his string of rattlesnake rattles off his 3915ankle, and he wondered how he had escaped cramp so long without the 3916protection of this mysterious charm. He did not venture again until he 3917had found it, and by that time the other boys were tired and ready to 3918rest. They gradually wandered apart, dropped into the "dumps," and fell 3919to gazing longingly across the wide river to where the village lay 3920drowsing in the sun. Tom found himself writing "BECKY" in the sand with 3921his big toe; he scratched it out, and was angry with himself for his 3922weakness. But he wrote it again, nevertheless; he could not help it. He 3923erased it once more and then took himself out of temptation by driving 3924the other boys together and joining them. 3925 3926But Joe's spirits had gone down almost beyond resurrection. He was so 3927homesick that he could hardly endure the misery of it. The tears lay 3928very near the surface. Huck was melancholy, too. Tom was downhearted, 3929but tried hard not to show it. He had a secret which he was not ready 3930to tell, yet, but if this mutinous depression was not broken up soon, 3931he would have to bring it out. He said, with a great show of 3932cheerfulness: 3933 3934"I bet there's been pirates on this island before, boys. We'll explore 3935it again. They've hid treasures here somewhere. How'd you feel to light 3936on a rotten chest full of gold and silver--hey?" 3937 3938But it roused only faint enthusiasm, which faded out, with no reply. 3939Tom tried one or two other seductions; but they failed, too. It was 3940discouraging work. Joe sat poking up the sand with a stick and looking 3941very gloomy. Finally he said: 3942 3943"Oh, boys, let's give it up. I want to go home. It's so lonesome." 3944 3945"Oh no, Joe, you'll feel better by and by," said Tom. "Just think of 3946the fishing that's here." 3947 3948"I don't care for fishing. I want to go home." 3949 3950"But, Joe, there ain't such another swimming-place anywhere." 3951 3952"Swimming's no good. I don't seem to care for it, somehow, when there 3953ain't anybody to say I sha'n't go in. I mean to go home." 3954 3955"Oh, shucks! Baby! You want to see your mother, I reckon." 3956 3957"Yes, I DO want to see my mother--and you would, too, if you had one. 3958I ain't any more baby than you are." And Joe snuffled a little. 3959 3960"Well, we'll let the cry-baby go home to his mother, won't we, Huck? 3961Poor thing--does it want to see its mother? And so it shall. You like 3962it here, don't you, Huck? We'll stay, won't we?" 3963 3964Huck said, "Y-e-s"--without any heart in it. 3965 3966"I'll never speak to you again as long as I live," said Joe, rising. 3967"There now!" And he moved moodily away and began to dress himself. 3968 3969"Who cares!" said Tom. "Nobody wants you to. Go 'long home and get 3970laughed at. Oh, you're a nice pirate. Huck and me ain't cry-babies. 3971We'll stay, won't we, Huck? Let him go if he wants to. I reckon we can 3972get along without him, per'aps." 3973 3974But Tom was uneasy, nevertheless, and was alarmed to see Joe go 3975sullenly on with his dressing. And then it was discomforting to see 3976Huck eying Joe's preparations so wistfully, and keeping up such an 3977ominous silence. Presently, without a parting word, Joe began to wade 3978off toward the Illinois shore. Tom's heart began to sink. He glanced at 3979Huck. Huck could not bear the look, and dropped his eyes. Then he said: 3980 3981"I want to go, too, Tom. It was getting so lonesome anyway, and now 3982it'll be worse. Let's us go, too, Tom." 3983 3984"I won't! You can all go, if you want to. I mean to stay." 3985 3986"Tom, I better go." 3987 3988"Well, go 'long--who's hendering you." 3989 3990Huck began to pick up his scattered clothes. He said: 3991 3992"Tom, I wisht you'd come, too. Now you think it over. We'll wait for 3993you when we get to shore." 3994 3995"Well, you'll wait a blame long time, that's all." 3996 3997Huck started sorrowfully away, and Tom stood looking after him, with a 3998strong desire tugging at his heart to yield his pride and go along too. 3999He hoped the boys would stop, but they still waded slowly on. It 4000suddenly dawned on Tom that it was become very lonely and still. He 4001made one final struggle with his pride, and then darted after his 4002comrades, yelling: 4003 4004"Wait! Wait! I want to tell you something!" 4005 4006They presently stopped and turned around. When he got to where they 4007were, he began unfolding his secret, and they listened moodily till at 4008last they saw the "point" he was driving at, and then they set up a 4009war-whoop of applause and said it was "splendid!" and said if he had 4010told them at first, they wouldn't have started away. He made a plausible 4011excuse; but his real reason had been the fear that not even the secret 4012would keep them with him any very great length of time, and so he had 4013meant to hold it in reserve as a last seduction. 4014 4015The lads came gayly back and went at their sports again with a will, 4016chattering all the time about Tom's stupendous plan and admiring the 4017genius of it. After a dainty egg and fish dinner, Tom said he wanted to 4018learn to smoke, now. Joe caught at the idea and said he would like to 4019try, too. So Huck made pipes and filled them. These novices had never 4020smoked anything before but cigars made of grape-vine, and they "bit" 4021the tongue, and were not considered manly anyway. 4022 4023Now they stretched themselves out on their elbows and began to puff, 4024charily, and with slender confidence. The smoke had an unpleasant 4025taste, and they gagged a little, but Tom said: 4026 4027"Why, it's just as easy! If I'd a knowed this was all, I'd a learnt 4028long ago." 4029 4030"So would I," said Joe. "It's just nothing." 4031 4032"Why, many a time I've looked at people smoking, and thought well I 4033wish I could do that; but I never thought I could," said Tom. 4034 4035"That's just the way with me, hain't it, Huck? You've heard me talk 4036just that way--haven't you, Huck? I'll leave it to Huck if I haven't." 4037 4038"Yes--heaps of times," said Huck. 4039 4040"Well, I have too," said Tom; "oh, hundreds of times. Once down by the 4041slaughter-house. Don't you remember, Huck? Bob Tanner was there, and 4042Johnny Miller, and Jeff Thatcher, when I said it. Don't you remember, 4043Huck, 'bout me saying that?" 4044 4045"Yes, that's so," said Huck. "That was the day after I lost a white 4046alley. No, 'twas the day before." 4047 4048"There--I told you so," said Tom. "Huck recollects it." 4049 4050"I bleeve I could smoke this pipe all day," said Joe. "I don't feel 4051sick." 4052 4053"Neither do I," said Tom. "I could smoke it all day. But I bet you 4054Jeff Thatcher couldn't." 4055 4056"Jeff Thatcher! Why, he'd keel over just with two draws. Just let him 4057try it once. HE'D see!" 4058 4059"I bet he would. And Johnny Miller--I wish could see Johnny Miller 4060tackle it once." 4061 4062"Oh, don't I!" said Joe. "Why, I bet you Johnny Miller couldn't any 4063more do this than nothing. Just one little snifter would fetch HIM." 4064 4065"'Deed it would, Joe. Say--I wish the boys could see us now." 4066 4067"So do I." 4068 4069"Say--boys, don't say anything about it, and some time when they're 4070around, I'll come up to you and say, 'Joe, got a pipe? I want a smoke.' 4071And you'll say, kind of careless like, as if it warn't anything, you'll 4072say, 'Yes, I got my OLD pipe, and another one, but my tobacker ain't 4073very good.' And I'll say, 'Oh, that's all right, if it's STRONG 4074enough.' And then you'll out with the pipes, and we'll light up just as 4075ca'm, and then just see 'em look!" 4076 4077"By jings, that'll be gay, Tom! I wish it was NOW!" 4078 4079"So do I! And when we tell 'em we learned when we was off pirating, 4080won't they wish they'd been along?" 4081 4082"Oh, I reckon not! I'll just BET they will!" 4083 4084So the talk ran on. But presently it began to flag a trifle, and grow 4085disjointed. The silences widened; the expectoration marvellously 4086increased. Every pore inside the boys' cheeks became a spouting 4087fountain; they could scarcely bail out the cellars under their tongues 4088fast enough to prevent an inundation; little overflowings down their 4089throats occurred in spite of all they could do, and sudden retchings 4090followed every time. Both boys were looking very pale and miserable, 4091now. Joe's pipe dropped from his nerveless fingers. Tom's followed. 4092Both fountains were going furiously and both pumps bailing with might 4093and main. Joe said feebly: 4094 4095"I've lost my knife. I reckon I better go and find it." 4096 4097Tom said, with quivering lips and halting utterance: 4098 4099"I'll help you. You go over that way and I'll hunt around by the 4100spring. No, you needn't come, Huck--we can find it." 4101 4102So Huck sat down again, and waited an hour. Then he found it lonesome, 4103and went to find his comrades. They were wide apart in the woods, both 4104very pale, both fast asleep. But something informed him that if they 4105had had any trouble they had got rid of it. 4106 4107They were not talkative at supper that night. They had a humble look, 4108and when Huck prepared his pipe after the meal and was going to prepare 4109theirs, they said no, they were not feeling very well--something they 4110ate at dinner had disagreed with them. 4111 4112About midnight Joe awoke, and called the boys. There was a brooding 4113oppressiveness in the air that seemed to bode something. The boys 4114huddled themselves together and sought the friendly companionship of 4115the fire, though the dull dead heat of the breathless atmosphere was 4116stifling. They sat still, intent and waiting. The solemn hush 4117continued. Beyond the light of the fire everything was swallowed up in 4118the blackness of darkness. Presently there came a quivering glow that 4119vaguely revealed the foliage for a moment and then vanished. By and by 4120another came, a little stronger. Then another. Then a faint moan came 4121sighing through the branches of the forest and the boys felt a fleeting 4122breath upon their cheeks, and shuddered with the fancy that the Spirit 4123of the Night had gone by. There was a pause. Now a weird flash turned 4124night into day and showed every little grass-blade, separate and 4125distinct, that grew about their feet. And it showed three white, 4126startled faces, too. A deep peal of thunder went rolling and tumbling 4127down the heavens and lost itself in sullen rumblings in the distance. A 4128sweep of chilly air passed by, rustling all the leaves and snowing the 4129flaky ashes broadcast about the fire. Another fierce glare lit up the 4130forest and an instant crash followed that seemed to rend the tree-tops 4131right over the boys' heads. They clung together in terror, in the thick 4132gloom that followed. A few big rain-drops fell pattering upon the 4133leaves. 4134 4135"Quick! boys, go for the tent!" exclaimed Tom. 4136 4137They sprang away, stumbling over roots and among vines in the dark, no 4138two plunging in the same direction. A furious blast roared through the 4139trees, making everything sing as it went. One blinding flash after 4140another came, and peal on peal of deafening thunder. And now a 4141drenching rain poured down and the rising hurricane drove it in sheets 4142along the ground. The boys cried out to each other, but the roaring 4143wind and the booming thunder-blasts drowned their voices utterly. 4144However, one by one they straggled in at last and took shelter under 4145the tent, cold, scared, and streaming with water; but to have company 4146in misery seemed something to be grateful for. They could not talk, the 4147old sail flapped so furiously, even if the other noises would have 4148allowed them. The tempest rose higher and higher, and presently the 4149sail tore loose from its fastenings and went winging away on the blast. 4150The boys seized each others' hands and fled, with many tumblings and 4151bruises, to the shelter of a great oak that stood upon the river-bank. 4152Now the battle was at its highest. Under the ceaseless conflagration of 4153lightning that flamed in the skies, everything below stood out in 4154clean-cut and shadowless distinctness: the bending trees, the billowy 4155river, white with foam, the driving spray of spume-flakes, the dim 4156outlines of the high bluffs on the other side, glimpsed through the 4157drifting cloud-rack and the slanting veil of rain. Every little while 4158some giant tree yielded the fight and fell crashing through the younger 4159growth; and the unflagging thunder-peals came now in ear-splitting 4160explosive bursts, keen and sharp, and unspeakably appalling. The storm 4161culminated in one matchless effort that seemed likely to tear the island 4162to pieces, burn it up, drown it to the tree-tops, blow it away, and 4163deafen every creature in it, all at one and the same moment. It was a 4164wild night for homeless young heads to be out in. 4165 4166But at last the battle was done, and the forces retired with weaker 4167and weaker threatenings and grumblings, and peace resumed her sway. The 4168boys went back to camp, a good deal awed; but they found there was 4169still something to be thankful for, because the great sycamore, the 4170shelter of their beds, was a ruin, now, blasted by the lightnings, and 4171they were not under it when the catastrophe happened. 4172 4173Everything in camp was drenched, the camp-fire as well; for they were 4174but heedless lads, like their generation, and had made no provision 4175against rain. Here was matter for dismay, for they were soaked through 4176and chilled. They were eloquent in their distress; but they presently 4177discovered that the fire had eaten so far up under the great log it had 4178been built against (where it curved upward and separated itself from 4179the ground), that a handbreadth or so of it had escaped wetting; so 4180they patiently wrought until, with shreds and bark gathered from the 4181under sides of sheltered logs, they coaxed the fire to burn again. Then 4182they piled on great dead boughs till they had a roaring furnace, and 4183were glad-hearted once more. They dried their boiled ham and had a 4184feast, and after that they sat by the fire and expanded and glorified 4185their midnight adventure until morning, for there was not a dry spot to 4186sleep on, anywhere around. 4187 4188As the sun began to steal in upon the boys, drowsiness came over them, 4189and they went out on the sandbar and lay down to sleep. They got 4190scorched out by and by, and drearily set about getting breakfast. After 4191the meal they felt rusty, and stiff-jointed, and a little homesick once 4192more. Tom saw the signs, and fell to cheering up the pirates as well as 4193he could. But they cared nothing for marbles, or circus, or swimming, 4194or anything. He reminded them of the imposing secret, and raised a ray 4195of cheer. While it lasted, he got them interested in a new device. This 4196was to knock off being pirates, for a while, and be Indians for a 4197change. They were attracted by this idea; so it was not long before 4198they were stripped, and striped from head to heel with black mud, like 4199so many zebras--all of them chiefs, of course--and then they went 4200tearing through the woods to attack an English settlement. 4201 4202By and by they separated into three hostile tribes, and darted upon 4203each other from ambush with dreadful war-whoops, and killed and scalped 4204each other by thousands. It was a gory day. Consequently it was an 4205extremely satisfactory one. 4206 4207They assembled in camp toward supper-time, hungry and happy; but now a 4208difficulty arose--hostile Indians could not break the bread of 4209hospitality together without first making peace, and this was a simple 4210impossibility without smoking a pipe of peace. There was no other 4211process that ever they had heard of. Two of the savages almost wished 4212they had remained pirates. However, there was no other way; so with 4213such show of cheerfulness as they could muster they called for the pipe 4214and took their whiff as it passed, in due form. 4215 4216And behold, they were glad they had gone into savagery, for they had 4217gained something; they found that they could now smoke a little without 4218having to go and hunt for a lost knife; they did not get sick enough to 4219be seriously uncomfortable. They were not likely to fool away this high 4220promise for lack of effort. No, they practised cautiously, after 4221supper, with right fair success, and so they spent a jubilant evening. 4222They were prouder and happier in their new acquirement than they would 4223have been in the scalping and skinning of the Six Nations. We will 4224leave them to smoke and chatter and brag, since we have no further use 4225for them at present. 4226 4227 4228 4229CHAPTER XVII 4230 4231BUT there was no hilarity in the little town that same tranquil 4232Saturday afternoon. The Harpers, and Aunt Polly's family, were being 4233put into mourning, with great grief and many tears. An unusual quiet 4234possessed the village, although it was ordinarily quiet enough, in all 4235conscience. The villagers conducted their concerns with an absent air, 4236and talked little; but they sighed often. The Saturday holiday seemed a 4237burden to the children. They had no heart in their sports, and 4238gradually gave them up. 4239 4240In the afternoon Becky Thatcher found herself moping about the 4241deserted schoolhouse yard, and feeling very melancholy. But she found 4242nothing there to comfort her. She soliloquized: 4243 4244"Oh, if I only had a brass andiron-knob again! But I haven't got 4245anything now to remember him by." And she choked back a little sob. 4246 4247Presently she stopped, and said to herself: 4248 4249"It was right here. Oh, if it was to do over again, I wouldn't say 4250that--I wouldn't say it for the whole world. But he's gone now; I'll 4251never, never, never see him any more." 4252 4253This thought broke her down, and she wandered away, with tears rolling 4254down her cheeks. Then quite a group of boys and girls--playmates of 4255Tom's and Joe's--came by, and stood looking over the paling fence and 4256talking in reverent tones of how Tom did so-and-so the last time they 4257saw him, and how Joe said this and that small trifle (pregnant with 4258awful prophecy, as they could easily see now!)--and each speaker 4259pointed out the exact spot where the lost lads stood at the time, and 4260then added something like "and I was a-standing just so--just as I am 4261now, and as if you was him--I was as close as that--and he smiled, just 4262this way--and then something seemed to go all over me, like--awful, you 4263know--and I never thought what it meant, of course, but I can see now!" 4264 4265Then there was a dispute about who saw the dead boys last in life, and 4266many claimed that dismal distinction, and offered evidences, more or 4267less tampered with by the witness; and when it was ultimately decided 4268who DID see the departed last, and exchanged the last words with them, 4269the lucky parties took upon themselves a sort of sacred importance, and 4270were gaped at and envied by all the rest. One poor chap, who had no 4271other grandeur to offer, said with tolerably manifest pride in the 4272remembrance: 4273 4274"Well, Tom Sawyer he licked me once." 4275 4276But that bid for glory was a failure. Most of the boys could say that, 4277and so that cheapened the distinction too much. The group loitered 4278away, still recalling memories of the lost heroes, in awed voices. 4279 4280When the Sunday-school hour was finished, the next morning, the bell 4281began to toll, instead of ringing in the usual way. It was a very still 4282Sabbath, and the mournful sound seemed in keeping with the musing hush 4283that lay upon nature. The villagers began to gather, loitering a moment 4284in the vestibule to converse in whispers about the sad event. But there 4285was no whispering in the house; only the funereal rustling of dresses 4286as the women gathered to their seats disturbed the silence there. None 4287could remember when the little church had been so full before. There 4288was finally a waiting pause, an expectant dumbness, and then Aunt Polly 4289entered, followed by Sid and Mary, and they by the Harper family, all 4290in deep black, and the whole congregation, the old minister as well, 4291rose reverently and stood until the mourners were seated in the front 4292pew. There was another communing silence, broken at intervals by 4293muffled sobs, and then the minister spread his hands abroad and prayed. 4294A moving hymn was sung, and the text followed: "I am the Resurrection 4295and the Life." 4296 4297As the service proceeded, the clergyman drew such pictures of the 4298graces, the winning ways, and the rare promise of the lost lads that 4299every soul there, thinking he recognized these pictures, felt a pang in 4300remembering that he had persistently blinded himself to them always 4301before, and had as persistently seen only faults and flaws in the poor 4302boys. The minister related many a touching incident in the lives of the 4303departed, too, which illustrated their sweet, generous natures, and the 4304people could easily see, now, how noble and beautiful those episodes 4305were, and remembered with grief that at the time they occurred they had 4306seemed rank rascalities, well deserving of the cowhide. The 4307congregation became more and more moved, as the pathetic tale went on, 4308till at last the whole company broke down and joined the weeping 4309mourners in a chorus of anguished sobs, the preacher himself giving way 4310to his feelings, and crying in the pulpit. 4311 4312There was a rustle in the gallery, which nobody noticed; a moment 4313later the church door creaked; the minister raised his streaming eyes 4314above his handkerchief, and stood transfixed! First one and then 4315another pair of eyes followed the minister's, and then almost with one 4316impulse the congregation rose and stared while the three dead boys came 4317marching up the aisle, Tom in the lead, Joe next, and Huck, a ruin of 4318drooping rags, sneaking sheepishly in the rear! They had been hid in 4319the unused gallery listening to their own funeral sermon! 4320 4321Aunt Polly, Mary, and the Harpers threw themselves upon their restored 4322ones, smothered them with kisses and poured out thanksgivings, while 4323poor Huck stood abashed and uncomfortable, not knowing exactly what to 4324do or where to hide from so many unwelcoming eyes. He wavered, and 4325started to slink away, but Tom seized him and said: 4326 4327"Aunt Polly, it ain't fair. Somebody's got to be glad to see Huck." 4328 4329"And so they shall. I'm glad to see him, poor motherless thing!" And 4330the loving attentions Aunt Polly lavished upon him were the one thing 4331capable of making him more uncomfortable than he was before. 4332 4333Suddenly the minister shouted at the top of his voice: "Praise God 4334from whom all blessings flow--SING!--and put your hearts in it!" 4335 4336And they did. Old Hundred swelled up with a triumphant burst, and 4337while it shook the rafters Tom Sawyer the Pirate looked around upon the 4338envying juveniles about him and confessed in his heart that this was 4339the proudest moment of his life. 4340 4341As the "sold" congregation trooped out they said they would almost be 4342willing to be made ridiculous again to hear Old Hundred sung like that 4343once more. 4344 4345Tom got more cuffs and kisses that day--according to Aunt Polly's 4346varying moods--than he had earned before in a year; and he hardly knew 4347which expressed the most gratefulness to God and affection for himself. 4348 4349 4350 4351CHAPTER XVIII 4352 4353THAT was Tom's great secret--the scheme to return home with his 4354brother pirates and attend their own funerals. They had paddled over to 4355the Missouri shore on a log, at dusk on Saturday, landing five or six 4356miles below the village; they had slept in the woods at the edge of the 4357town till nearly daylight, and had then crept through back lanes and 4358alleys and finished their sleep in the gallery of the church among a 4359chaos of invalided benches. 4360 4361At breakfast, Monday morning, Aunt Polly and Mary were very loving to 4362Tom, and very attentive to his wants. There was an unusual amount of 4363talk. In the course of it Aunt Polly said: 4364 4365"Well, I don't say it wasn't a fine joke, Tom, to keep everybody 4366suffering 'most a week so you boys had a good time, but it is a pity 4367you could be so hard-hearted as to let me suffer so. If you could come 4368over on a log to go to your funeral, you could have come over and give 4369me a hint some way that you warn't dead, but only run off." 4370 4371"Yes, you could have done that, Tom," said Mary; "and I believe you 4372would if you had thought of it." 4373 4374"Would you, Tom?" said Aunt Polly, her face lighting wistfully. "Say, 4375now, would you, if you'd thought of it?" 4376 4377"I--well, I don't know. 'Twould 'a' spoiled everything." 4378 4379"Tom, I hoped you loved me that much," said Aunt Polly, with a grieved 4380tone that discomforted the boy. "It would have been something if you'd 4381cared enough to THINK of it, even if you didn't DO it." 4382 4383"Now, auntie, that ain't any harm," pleaded Mary; "it's only Tom's 4384giddy way--he is always in such a rush that he never thinks of 4385anything." 4386 4387"More's the pity. Sid would have thought. And Sid would have come and 4388DONE it, too. Tom, you'll look back, some day, when it's too late, and 4389wish you'd cared a little more for me when it would have cost you so 4390little." 4391 4392"Now, auntie, you know I do care for you," said Tom. 4393 4394"I'd know it better if you acted more like it." 4395 4396"I wish now I'd thought," said Tom, with a repentant tone; "but I 4397dreamt about you, anyway. That's something, ain't it?" 4398 4399"It ain't much--a cat does that much--but it's better than nothing. 4400What did you dream?" 4401 4402"Why, Wednesday night I dreamt that you was sitting over there by the 4403bed, and Sid was sitting by the woodbox, and Mary next to him." 4404 4405"Well, so we did. So we always do. I'm glad your dreams could take 4406even that much trouble about us." 4407 4408"And I dreamt that Joe Harper's mother was here." 4409 4410"Why, she was here! Did you dream any more?" 4411 4412"Oh, lots. But it's so dim, now." 4413 4414"Well, try to recollect--can't you?" 4415 4416"Somehow it seems to me that the wind--the wind blowed the--the--" 4417 4418"Try harder, Tom! The wind did blow something. Come!" 4419 4420Tom pressed his fingers on his forehead an anxious minute, and then 4421said: 4422 4423"I've got it now! I've got it now! It blowed the candle!" 4424 4425"Mercy on us! Go on, Tom--go on!" 4426 4427"And it seems to me that you said, 'Why, I believe that that door--'" 4428 4429"Go ON, Tom!" 4430 4431"Just let me study a moment--just a moment. Oh, yes--you said you 4432believed the door was open." 4433 4434"As I'm sitting here, I did! Didn't I, Mary! Go on!" 4435 4436"And then--and then--well I won't be certain, but it seems like as if 4437you made Sid go and--and--" 4438 4439"Well? Well? What did I make him do, Tom? What did I make him do?" 4440 4441"You made him--you--Oh, you made him shut it." 4442 4443"Well, for the land's sake! I never heard the beat of that in all my 4444days! Don't tell ME there ain't anything in dreams, any more. Sereny 4445Harper shall know of this before I'm an hour older. I'd like to see her 4446get around THIS with her rubbage 'bout superstition. Go on, Tom!" 4447 4448"Oh, it's all getting just as bright as day, now. Next you said I 4449warn't BAD, only mischeevous and harum-scarum, and not any more 4450responsible than--than--I think it was a colt, or something." 4451 4452"And so it was! Well, goodness gracious! Go on, Tom!" 4453 4454"And then you began to cry." 4455 4456"So I did. So I did. Not the first time, neither. And then--" 4457 4458"Then Mrs. Harper she began to cry, and said Joe was just the same, 4459and she wished she hadn't whipped him for taking cream when she'd 4460throwed it out her own self--" 4461 4462"Tom! The sperrit was upon you! You was a prophesying--that's what you 4463was doing! Land alive, go on, Tom!" 4464 4465"Then Sid he said--he said--" 4466 4467"I don't think I said anything," said Sid. 4468 4469"Yes you did, Sid," said Mary. 4470 4471"Shut your heads and let Tom go on! What did he say, Tom?" 4472 4473"He said--I THINK he said he hoped I was better off where I was gone 4474to, but if I'd been better sometimes--" 4475 4476"THERE, d'you hear that! It was his very words!" 4477 4478"And you shut him up sharp." 4479 4480"I lay I did! There must 'a' been an angel there. There WAS an angel 4481there, somewheres!" 4482 4483"And Mrs. Harper told about Joe scaring her with a firecracker, and 4484you told about Peter and the Painkiller--" 4485 4486"Just as true as I live!" 4487 4488"And then there was a whole lot of talk 'bout dragging the river for 4489us, and 'bout having the funeral Sunday, and then you and old Miss 4490Harper hugged and cried, and she went." 4491 4492"It happened just so! It happened just so, as sure as I'm a-sitting in 4493these very tracks. Tom, you couldn't told it more like if you'd 'a' 4494seen it! And then what? Go on, Tom!" 4495 4496"Then I thought you prayed for me--and I could see you and hear every 4497word you said. And you went to bed, and I was so sorry that I took and 4498wrote on a piece of sycamore bark, 'We ain't dead--we are only off 4499being pirates,' and put it on the table by the candle; and then you 4500looked so good, laying there asleep, that I thought I went and leaned 4501over and kissed you on the lips." 4502 4503"Did you, Tom, DID you! I just forgive you everything for that!" And 4504she seized the boy in a crushing embrace that made him feel like the 4505guiltiest of villains. 4506 4507"It was very kind, even though it was only a--dream," Sid soliloquized 4508just audibly. 4509 4510"Shut up, Sid! A body does just the same in a dream as he'd do if he 4511was awake. Here's a big Milum apple I've been saving for you, Tom, if 4512you was ever found again--now go 'long to school. I'm thankful to the 4513good God and Father of us all I've got you back, that's long-suffering 4514and merciful to them that believe on Him and keep His word, though 4515goodness knows I'm unworthy of it, but if only the worthy ones got His 4516blessings and had His hand to help them over the rough places, there's 4517few enough would smile here or ever enter into His rest when the long 4518night comes. Go 'long Sid, Mary, Tom--take yourselves off--you've 4519hendered me long enough." 4520 4521The children left for school, and the old lady to call on Mrs. Harper 4522and vanquish her realism with Tom's marvellous dream. Sid had better 4523judgment than to utter the thought that was in his mind as he left the 4524house. It was this: "Pretty thin--as long a dream as that, without any 4525mistakes in it!" 4526 4527What a hero Tom was become, now! He did not go skipping and prancing, 4528but moved with a dignified swagger as became a pirate who felt that the 4529public eye was on him. And indeed it was; he tried not to seem to see 4530the looks or hear the remarks as he passed along, but they were food 4531and drink to him. Smaller boys than himself flocked at his heels, as 4532proud to be seen with him, and tolerated by him, as if he had been the 4533drummer at the head of a procession or the elephant leading a menagerie 4534into town. Boys of his own size pretended not to know he had been away 4535at all; but they were consuming with envy, nevertheless. They would 4536have given anything to have that swarthy suntanned skin of his, and his 4537glittering notoriety; and Tom would not have parted with either for a 4538circus. 4539 4540At school the children made so much of him and of Joe, and delivered 4541such eloquent admiration from their eyes, that the two heroes were not 4542long in becoming insufferably "stuck-up." They began to tell their 4543adventures to hungry listeners--but they only began; it was not a thing 4544likely to have an end, with imaginations like theirs to furnish 4545material. And finally, when they got out their pipes and went serenely 4546puffing around, the very summit of glory was reached. 4547 4548Tom decided that he could be independent of Becky Thatcher now. Glory 4549was sufficient. He would live for glory. Now that he was distinguished, 4550maybe she would be wanting to "make up." Well, let her--she should see 4551that he could be as indifferent as some other people. Presently she 4552arrived. Tom pretended not to see her. He moved away and joined a group 4553of boys and girls and began to talk. Soon he observed that she was 4554tripping gayly back and forth with flushed face and dancing eyes, 4555pretending to be busy chasing schoolmates, and screaming with laughter 4556when she made a capture; but he noticed that she always made her 4557captures in his vicinity, and that she seemed to cast a conscious eye 4558in his direction at such times, too. It gratified all the vicious 4559vanity that was in him; and so, instead of winning him, it only "set 4560him up" the more and made him the more diligent to avoid betraying that 4561he knew she was about. Presently she gave over skylarking, and moved 4562irresolutely about, sighing once or twice and glancing furtively and 4563wistfully toward Tom. Then she observed that now Tom was talking more 4564particularly to Amy Lawrence than to any one else. She felt a sharp 4565pang and grew disturbed and uneasy at once. She tried to go away, but 4566her feet were treacherous, and carried her to the group instead. She 4567said to a girl almost at Tom's elbow--with sham vivacity: 4568 4569"Why, Mary Austin! you bad girl, why didn't you come to Sunday-school?" 4570 4571"I did come--didn't you see me?" 4572 4573"Why, no! Did you? Where did you sit?" 4574 4575"I was in Miss Peters' class, where I always go. I saw YOU." 4576 4577"Did you? Why, it's funny I didn't see you. I wanted to tell you about 4578the picnic." 4579 4580"Oh, that's jolly. Who's going to give it?" 4581 4582"My ma's going to let me have one." 4583 4584"Oh, goody; I hope she'll let ME come." 4585 4586"Well, she will. The picnic's for me. She'll let anybody come that I 4587want, and I want you." 4588 4589"That's ever so nice. When is it going to be?" 4590 4591"By and by. Maybe about vacation." 4592 4593"Oh, won't it be fun! You going to have all the girls and boys?" 4594 4595"Yes, every one that's friends to me--or wants to be"; and she glanced 4596ever so furtively at Tom, but he talked right along to Amy Lawrence 4597about the terrible storm on the island, and how the lightning tore the 4598great sycamore tree "all to flinders" while he was "standing within 4599three feet of it." 4600 4601"Oh, may I come?" said Grace Miller. 4602 4603"Yes." 4604 4605"And me?" said Sally Rogers. 4606 4607"Yes." 4608 4609"And me, too?" said Susy Harper. "And Joe?" 4610 4611"Yes." 4612 4613And so on, with clapping of joyful hands till all the group had begged 4614for invitations but Tom and Amy. Then Tom turned coolly away, still 4615talking, and took Amy with him. Becky's lips trembled and the tears 4616came to her eyes; she hid these signs with a forced gayety and went on 4617chattering, but the life had gone out of the picnic, now, and out of 4618everything else; she got away as soon as she could and hid herself and 4619had what her sex call "a good cry." Then she sat moody, with wounded 4620pride, till the bell rang. She roused up, now, with a vindictive cast 4621in her eye, and gave her plaited tails a shake and said she knew what 4622SHE'D do. 4623 4624At recess Tom continued his flirtation with Amy with jubilant 4625self-satisfaction. And he kept drifting about to find Becky and lacerate 4626her with the performance. At last he spied her, but there was a sudden 4627falling of his mercury. She was sitting cosily on a little bench behind 4628the schoolhouse looking at a picture-book with Alfred Temple--and so 4629absorbed were they, and their heads so close together over the book, 4630that they did not seem to be conscious of anything in the world besides. 4631Jealousy ran red-hot through Tom's veins. He began to hate himself for 4632throwing away the chance Becky had offered for a reconciliation. He 4633called himself a fool, and all the hard names he could think of. He 4634wanted to cry with vexation. Amy chatted happily along, as they walked, 4635for her heart was singing, but Tom's tongue had lost its function. He 4636did not hear what Amy was saying, and whenever she paused expectantly he 4637could only stammer an awkward assent, which was as often misplaced as 4638otherwise. He kept drifting to the rear of the schoolhouse, again and 4639again, to sear his eyeballs with the hateful spectacle there. He could 4640not help it. And it maddened him to see, as he thought he saw, that 4641Becky Thatcher never once suspected that he was even in the land of the 4642living. But she did see, nevertheless; and she knew she was winning her 4643fight, too, and was glad to see him suffer as she had suffered. 4644 4645Amy's happy prattle became intolerable. Tom hinted at things he had to 4646attend to; things that must be done; and time was fleeting. But in 4647vain--the girl chirped on. Tom thought, "Oh, hang her, ain't I ever 4648going to get rid of her?" At last he must be attending to those 4649things--and she said artlessly that she would be "around" when school 4650let out. And he hastened away, hating her for it. 4651 4652"Any other boy!" Tom thought, grating his teeth. "Any boy in the whole 4653town but that Saint Louis smarty that thinks he dresses so fine and is 4654aristocracy! Oh, all right, I licked you the first day you ever saw 4655this town, mister, and I'll lick you again! You just wait till I catch 4656you out! I'll just take and--" 4657 4658And he went through the motions of thrashing an imaginary boy 4659--pummelling the air, and kicking and gouging. "Oh, you do, do you? You 4660holler 'nough, do you? Now, then, let that learn you!" And so the 4661imaginary flogging was finished to his satisfaction. 4662 4663Tom fled home at noon. His conscience could not endure any more of 4664Amy's grateful happiness, and his jealousy could bear no more of the 4665other distress. Becky resumed her picture inspections with Alfred, but 4666as the minutes dragged along and no Tom came to suffer, her triumph 4667began to cloud and she lost interest; gravity and absent-mindedness 4668followed, and then melancholy; two or three times she pricked up her 4669ear at a footstep, but it was a false hope; no Tom came. At last she 4670grew entirely miserable and wished she hadn't carried it so far. When 4671poor Alfred, seeing that he was losing her, he did not know how, kept 4672exclaiming: "Oh, here's a jolly one! look at this!" she lost patience 4673at last, and said, "Oh, don't bother me! I don't care for them!" and 4674burst into tears, and got up and walked away. 4675 4676Alfred dropped alongside and was going to try to comfort her, but she 4677said: 4678 4679"Go away and leave me alone, can't you! I hate you!" 4680 4681So the boy halted, wondering what he could have done--for she had said 4682she would look at pictures all through the nooning--and she walked on, 4683crying. Then Alfred went musing into the deserted schoolhouse. He was 4684humiliated and angry. He easily guessed his way to the truth--the girl 4685had simply made a convenience of him to vent her spite upon Tom Sawyer. 4686He was far from hating Tom the less when this thought occurred to him. 4687He wished there was some way to get that boy into trouble without much 4688risk to himself. Tom's spelling-book fell under his eye. Here was his 4689opportunity. He gratefully opened to the lesson for the afternoon and 4690poured ink upon the page. 4691 4692Becky, glancing in at a window behind him at the moment, saw the act, 4693and moved on, without discovering herself. She started homeward, now, 4694intending to find Tom and tell him; Tom would be thankful and their 4695troubles would be healed. Before she was half way home, however, she 4696had changed her mind. The thought of Tom's treatment of her when she 4697was talking about her picnic came scorching back and filled her with 4698shame. She resolved to let him get whipped on the damaged 4699spelling-book's account, and to hate him forever, into the bargain. 4700 4701 4702 4703CHAPTER XIX 4704 4705TOM arrived at home in a dreary mood, and the first thing his aunt 4706said to him showed him that he had brought his sorrows to an 4707unpromising market: 4708 4709"Tom, I've a notion to skin you alive!" 4710 4711"Auntie, what have I done?" 4712 4713"Well, you've done enough. Here I go over to Sereny Harper, like an 4714old softy, expecting I'm going to make her believe all that rubbage 4715about that dream, when lo and behold you she'd found out from Joe that 4716you was over here and heard all the talk we had that night. Tom, I 4717don't know what is to become of a boy that will act like that. It makes 4718me feel so bad to think you could let me go to Sereny Harper and make 4719such a fool of myself and never say a word." 4720 4721This was a new aspect of the thing. His smartness of the morning had 4722seemed to Tom a good joke before, and very ingenious. It merely looked 4723mean and shabby now. He hung his head and could not think of anything 4724to say for a moment. Then he said: 4725 4726"Auntie, I wish I hadn't done it--but I didn't think." 4727 4728"Oh, child, you never think. You never think of anything but your own 4729selfishness. You could think to come all the way over here from 4730Jackson's Island in the night to laugh at our troubles, and you could 4731think to fool me with a lie about a dream; but you couldn't ever think 4732to pity us and save us from sorrow." 4733 4734"Auntie, I know now it was mean, but I didn't mean to be mean. I 4735didn't, honest. And besides, I didn't come over here to laugh at you 4736that night." 4737 4738"What did you come for, then?" 4739 4740"It was to tell you not to be uneasy about us, because we hadn't got 4741drownded." 4742 4743"Tom, Tom, I would be the thankfullest soul in this world if I could 4744believe you ever had as good a thought as that, but you know you never 4745did--and I know it, Tom." 4746 4747"Indeed and 'deed I did, auntie--I wish I may never stir if I didn't." 4748 4749"Oh, Tom, don't lie--don't do it. It only makes things a hundred times 4750worse." 4751 4752"It ain't a lie, auntie; it's the truth. I wanted to keep you from 4753grieving--that was all that made me come." 4754 4755"I'd give the whole world to believe that--it would cover up a power 4756of sins, Tom. I'd 'most be glad you'd run off and acted so bad. But it 4757ain't reasonable; because, why didn't you tell me, child?" 4758 4759"Why, you see, when you got to talking about the funeral, I just got 4760all full of the idea of our coming and hiding in the church, and I 4761couldn't somehow bear to spoil it. So I just put the bark back in my 4762pocket and kept mum." 4763 4764"What bark?" 4765 4766"The bark I had wrote on to tell you we'd gone pirating. I wish, now, 4767you'd waked up when I kissed you--I do, honest." 4768 4769The hard lines in his aunt's face relaxed and a sudden tenderness 4770dawned in her eyes. 4771 4772"DID you kiss me, Tom?" 4773 4774"Why, yes, I did." 4775 4776"Are you sure you did, Tom?" 4777 4778"Why, yes, I did, auntie--certain sure." 4779 4780"What did you kiss me for, Tom?" 4781 4782"Because I loved you so, and you laid there moaning and I was so sorry." 4783 4784The words sounded like truth. The old lady could not hide a tremor in 4785her voice when she said: 4786 4787"Kiss me again, Tom!--and be off with you to school, now, and don't 4788bother me any more." 4789 4790The moment he was gone, she ran to a closet and got out the ruin of a 4791jacket which Tom had gone pirating in. Then she stopped, with it in her 4792hand, and said to herself: 4793 4794"No, I don't dare. Poor boy, I reckon he's lied about it--but it's a 4795blessed, blessed lie, there's such a comfort come from it. I hope the 4796Lord--I KNOW the Lord will forgive him, because it was such 4797goodheartedness in him to tell it. But I don't want to find out it's a 4798lie. I won't look." 4799 4800She put the jacket away, and stood by musing a minute. Twice she put 4801out her hand to take the garment again, and twice she refrained. Once 4802more she ventured, and this time she fortified herself with the 4803thought: "It's a good lie--it's a good lie--I won't let it grieve me." 4804So she sought the jacket pocket. A moment later she was reading Tom's 4805piece of bark through flowing tears and saying: "I could forgive the 4806boy, now, if he'd committed a million sins!" 4807 4808 4809 4810CHAPTER XX 4811 4812THERE was something about Aunt Polly's manner, when she kissed Tom, 4813that swept away his low spirits and made him lighthearted and happy 4814again. He started to school and had the luck of coming upon Becky 4815Thatcher at the head of Meadow Lane. His mood always determined his 4816manner. Without a moment's hesitation he ran to her and said: 4817 4818"I acted mighty mean to-day, Becky, and I'm so sorry. I won't ever, 4819ever do that way again, as long as ever I live--please make up, won't 4820you?" 4821 4822The girl stopped and looked him scornfully in the face: 4823 4824"I'll thank you to keep yourself TO yourself, Mr. Thomas Sawyer. I'll 4825never speak to you again." 4826 4827She tossed her head and passed on. Tom was so stunned that he had not 4828even presence of mind enough to say "Who cares, Miss Smarty?" until the 4829right time to say it had gone by. So he said nothing. But he was in a 4830fine rage, nevertheless. He moped into the schoolyard wishing she were 4831a boy, and imagining how he would trounce her if she were. He presently 4832encountered her and delivered a stinging remark as he passed. She 4833hurled one in return, and the angry breach was complete. It seemed to 4834Becky, in her hot resentment, that she could hardly wait for school to 4835"take in," she was so impatient to see Tom flogged for the injured 4836spelling-book. If she had had any lingering notion of exposing Alfred 4837Temple, Tom's offensive fling had driven it entirely away. 4838 4839Poor girl, she did not know how fast she was nearing trouble herself. 4840The master, Mr. Dobbins, had reached middle age with an unsatisfied 4841ambition. The darling of his desires was, to be a doctor, but poverty 4842had decreed that he should be nothing higher than a village 4843schoolmaster. Every day he took a mysterious book out of his desk and 4844absorbed himself in it at times when no classes were reciting. He kept 4845that book under lock and key. There was not an urchin in school but was 4846perishing to have a glimpse of it, but the chance never came. Every boy 4847and girl had a theory about the nature of that book; but no two 4848theories were alike, and there was no way of getting at the facts in 4849the case. Now, as Becky was passing by the desk, which stood near the 4850door, she noticed that the key was in the lock! It was a precious 4851moment. She glanced around; found herself alone, and the next instant 4852she had the book in her hands. The title-page--Professor Somebody's 4853ANATOMY--carried no information to her mind; so she began to turn the 4854leaves. She came at once upon a handsomely engraved and colored 4855frontispiece--a human figure, stark naked. At that moment a shadow fell 4856on the page and Tom Sawyer stepped in at the door and caught a glimpse 4857of the picture. Becky snatched at the book to close it, and had the 4858hard luck to tear the pictured page half down the middle. She thrust 4859the volume into the desk, turned the key, and burst out crying with 4860shame and vexation. 4861 4862"Tom Sawyer, you are just as mean as you can be, to sneak up on a 4863person and look at what they're looking at." 4864 4865"How could I know you was looking at anything?" 4866 4867"You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Tom Sawyer; you know you're 4868going to tell on me, and oh, what shall I do, what shall I do! I'll be 4869whipped, and I never was whipped in school." 4870 4871Then she stamped her little foot and said: 4872 4873"BE so mean if you want to! I know something that's going to happen. 4874You just wait and you'll see! Hateful, hateful, hateful!"--and she 4875flung out of the house with a new explosion of crying. 4876 4877Tom stood still, rather flustered by this onslaught. Presently he said 4878to himself: 4879 4880"What a curious kind of a fool a girl is! Never been licked in school! 4881Shucks! What's a licking! That's just like a girl--they're so 4882thin-skinned and chicken-hearted. Well, of course I ain't going to tell 4883old Dobbins on this little fool, because there's other ways of getting 4884even on her, that ain't so mean; but what of it? Old Dobbins will ask 4885who it was tore his book. Nobody'll answer. Then he'll do just the way 4886he always does--ask first one and then t'other, and when he comes to the 4887right girl he'll know it, without any telling. Girls' faces always tell 4888on them. They ain't got any backbone. She'll get licked. Well, it's a 4889kind of a tight place for Becky Thatcher, because there ain't any way 4890out of it." Tom conned the thing a moment longer, and then added: "All 4891right, though; she'd like to see me in just such a fix--let her sweat it 4892out!" 4893 4894Tom joined the mob of skylarking scholars outside. In a few moments 4895the master arrived and school "took in." Tom did not feel a strong 4896interest in his studies. Every time he stole a glance at the girls' 4897side of the room Becky's face troubled him. Considering all things, he 4898did not want to pity her, and yet it was all he could do to help it. He 4899could get up no exultation that was really worthy the name. Presently 4900the spelling-book discovery was made, and Tom's mind was entirely full 4901of his own matters for a while after that. Becky roused up from her 4902lethargy of distress and showed good interest in the proceedings. She 4903did not expect that Tom could get out of his trouble by denying that he 4904spilt the ink on the book himself; and she was right. The denial only 4905seemed to make the thing worse for Tom. Becky supposed she would be 4906glad of that, and she tried to believe she was glad of it, but she 4907found she was not certain. When the worst came to the worst, she had an 4908impulse to get up and tell on Alfred Temple, but she made an effort and 4909forced herself to keep still--because, said she to herself, "he'll tell 4910about me tearing the picture sure. I wouldn't say a word, not to save 4911his life!" 4912 4913Tom took his whipping and went back to his seat not at all 4914broken-hearted, for he thought it was possible that he had unknowingly 4915upset the ink on the spelling-book himself, in some skylarking bout--he 4916had denied it for form's sake and because it was custom, and had stuck 4917to the denial from principle. 4918 4919A whole hour drifted by, the master sat nodding in his throne, the air 4920was drowsy with the hum of study. By and by, Mr. Dobbins straightened 4921himself up, yawned, then unlocked his desk, and reached for his book, 4922but seemed undecided whether to take it out or leave it. Most of the 4923pupils glanced up languidly, but there were two among them that watched 4924his movements with intent eyes. Mr. Dobbins fingered his book absently 4925for a while, then took it out and settled himself in his chair to read! 4926Tom shot a glance at Becky. He had seen a hunted and helpless rabbit 4927look as she did, with a gun levelled at its head. Instantly he forgot 4928his quarrel with her. Quick--something must be done! done in a flash, 4929too! But the very imminence of the emergency paralyzed his invention. 4930Good!--he had an inspiration! He would run and snatch the book, spring 4931through the door and fly. But his resolution shook for one little 4932instant, and the chance was lost--the master opened the volume. If Tom 4933only had the wasted opportunity back again! Too late. There was no help 4934for Becky now, he said. The next moment the master faced the school. 4935Every eye sank under his gaze. There was that in it which smote even 4936the innocent with fear. There was silence while one might count ten 4937--the master was gathering his wrath. Then he spoke: "Who tore this book?" 4938 4939There was not a sound. One could have heard a pin drop. The stillness 4940continued; the master searched face after face for signs of guilt. 4941 4942"Benjamin Rogers, did you tear this book?" 4943 4944A denial. Another pause. 4945 4946"Joseph Harper, did you?" 4947 4948Another denial. Tom's uneasiness grew more and more intense under the 4949slow torture of these proceedings. The master scanned the ranks of 4950boys--considered a while, then turned to the girls: 4951 4952"Amy Lawrence?" 4953 4954A shake of the head. 4955 4956"Gracie Miller?" 4957 4958The same sign. 4959 4960"Susan Harper, did you do this?" 4961 4962Another negative. The next girl was Becky Thatcher. Tom was trembling 4963from head to foot with excitement and a sense of the hopelessness of 4964the situation. 4965 4966"Rebecca Thatcher" [Tom glanced at her face--it was white with terror] 4967--"did you tear--no, look me in the face" [her hands rose in appeal] 4968--"did you tear this book?" 4969 4970A thought shot like lightning through Tom's brain. He sprang to his 4971feet and shouted--"I done it!" 4972 4973The school stared in perplexity at this incredible folly. Tom stood a 4974moment, to gather his dismembered faculties; and when he stepped 4975forward to go to his punishment the surprise, the gratitude, the 4976adoration that shone upon him out of poor Becky's eyes seemed pay 4977enough for a hundred floggings. Inspired by the splendor of his own 4978act, he took without an outcry the most merciless flaying that even Mr. 4979Dobbins had ever administered; and also received with indifference the 4980added cruelty of a command to remain two hours after school should be 4981dismissed--for he knew who would wait for him outside till his 4982captivity was done, and not count the tedious time as loss, either. 4983 4984Tom went to bed that night planning vengeance against Alfred Temple; 4985for with shame and repentance Becky had told him all, not forgetting 4986her own treachery; but even the longing for vengeance had to give way, 4987soon, to pleasanter musings, and he fell asleep at last with Becky's 4988latest words lingering dreamily in his ear-- 4989 4990"Tom, how COULD you be so noble!" 4991 4992 4993 4994CHAPTER XXI 4995 4996VACATION was approaching. The schoolmaster, always severe, grew 4997severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a 4998good showing on "Examination" day. His rod and his ferule were seldom 4999idle now--at least among the smaller pupils. Only the biggest boys, and 5000young ladies of eighteen and twenty, escaped lashing. Mr. Dobbins' 5001lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under 5002his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle 5003age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle. As the great 5004day approached, all the tyranny that was in him came to the surface; he 5005seemed to take a vindictive pleasure in punishing the least 5006shortcomings. The consequence was, that the smaller boys spent their 5007days in terror and suffering and their nights in plotting revenge. They 5008threw away no opportunity to do the master a mischief. But he kept 5009ahead all the time. The retribution that followed every vengeful 5010success was so sweeping and majestic that the boys always retired from 5011the field badly worsted. At last they conspired together and hit upon a 5012plan that promised a dazzling victory. They swore in the sign-painter's 5013boy, told him the scheme, and asked his help. He had his own reasons 5014for being delighted, for the master boarded in his father's family and 5015had given the boy ample cause to hate him. The master's wife would go 5016on a visit to the country in a few days, and there would be nothing to 5017interfere with the plan; the master always prepared himself for great 5018occasions by getting pretty well fuddled, and the sign-painter's boy 5019said that when the dominie had reached the proper condition on 5020Examination Evening he would "manage the thing" while he napped in his 5021chair; then he would have him awakened at the right time and hurried 5022away to school. 5023 5024In the fulness of time the interesting occasion arrived. At eight in 5025the evening the schoolhouse was brilliantly lighted, and adorned with 5026wreaths and festoons of foliage and flowers. The master sat throned in 5027his great chair upon a raised platform, with his blackboard behind him. 5028He was looking tolerably mellow. Three rows of benches on each side and 5029six rows in front of him were occupied by the dignitaries of the town 5030and by the parents of the pupils. To his left, back of the rows of 5031citizens, was a spacious temporary platform upon which were seated the 5032scholars who were to take part in the exercises of the evening; rows of 5033small boys, washed and dressed to an intolerable state of discomfort; 5034rows of gawky big boys; snowbanks of girls and young ladies clad in 5035lawn and muslin and conspicuously conscious of their bare arms, their 5036grandmothers' ancient trinkets, their bits of pink and blue ribbon and 5037the flowers in their hair. All the rest of the house was filled with 5038non-participating scholars. 5039 5040The exercises began. A very little boy stood up and sheepishly 5041recited, "You'd scarce expect one of my age to speak in public on the 5042stage," etc.--accompanying himself with the painfully exact and 5043spasmodic gestures which a machine might have used--supposing the 5044machine to be a trifle out of order. But he got through safely, though 5045cruelly scared, and got a fine round of applause when he made his 5046manufactured bow and retired. 5047 5048A little shamefaced girl lisped, "Mary had a little lamb," etc., 5049performed a compassion-inspiring curtsy, got her meed of applause, and 5050sat down flushed and happy. 5051 5052Tom Sawyer stepped forward with conceited confidence and soared into 5053the unquenchable and indestructible "Give me liberty or give me death" 5054speech, with fine fury and frantic gesticulation, and broke down in the 5055middle of it. A ghastly stage-fright seized him, his legs quaked under 5056him and he was like to choke. True, he had the manifest sympathy of the 5057house but he had the house's silence, too, which was even worse than 5058its sympathy. The master frowned, and this completed the disaster. Tom 5059struggled awhile and then retired, utterly defeated. There was a weak 5060attempt at applause, but it died early. 5061 5062"The Boy Stood on the Burning Deck" followed; also "The Assyrian Came 5063Down," and other declamatory gems. Then there were reading exercises, 5064and a spelling fight. The meagre Latin class recited with honor. The 5065prime feature of the evening was in order, now--original "compositions" 5066by the young ladies. Each in her turn stepped forward to the edge of 5067the platform, cleared her throat, held up her manuscript (tied with 5068dainty ribbon), and proceeded to read, with labored attention to 5069"expression" and punctuation. The themes were the same that had been 5070illuminated upon similar occasions by their mothers before them, their 5071grandmothers, and doubtless all their ancestors in the female line 5072clear back to the Crusades. "Friendship" was one; "Memories of Other 5073Days"; "Religion in History"; "Dream Land"; "The Advantages of 5074Culture"; "Forms of Political Government Compared and Contrasted"; 5075"Melancholy"; "Filial Love"; "Heart Longings," etc., etc. 5076 5077A prevalent feature in these compositions was a nursed and petted 5078melancholy; another was a wasteful and opulent gush of "fine language"; 5079another was a tendency to lug in by the ears particularly prized words 5080and phrases until they were worn entirely out; and a peculiarity that 5081conspicuously marked and marred them was the inveterate and intolerable 5082sermon that wagged its crippled tail at the end of each and every one 5083of them. No matter what the subject might be, a brain-racking effort 5084was made to squirm it into some aspect or other that the moral and 5085religious mind could contemplate with edification. The glaring 5086insincerity of these sermons was not sufficient to compass the 5087banishment of the fashion from the schools, and it is not sufficient 5088to-day; it never will be sufficient while the world stands, perhaps. 5089There is no school in all our land where the young ladies do not feel 5090obliged to close their compositions with a sermon; and you will find 5091that the sermon of the most frivolous and the least religious girl in 5092the school is always the longest and the most relentlessly pious. But 5093enough of this. Homely truth is unpalatable. 5094 5095Let us return to the "Examination." The first composition that was 5096read was one entitled "Is this, then, Life?" Perhaps the reader can 5097endure an extract from it: 5098 5099 "In the common walks of life, with what delightful 5100 emotions does the youthful mind look forward to some 5101 anticipated scene of festivity! Imagination is busy 5102 sketching rose-tinted pictures of joy. In fancy, the 5103 voluptuous votary of fashion sees herself amid the 5104 festive throng, 'the observed of all observers.' Her 5105 graceful form, arrayed in snowy robes, is whirling 5106 through the mazes of the joyous dance; her eye is 5107 brightest, her step is lightest in the gay assembly. 5108 5109 "In such delicious fancies time quickly glides by, 5110 and the welcome hour arrives for her entrance into 5111 the Elysian world, of which she has had such bright 5112 dreams. How fairy-like does everything appear to 5113 her enchanted vision! Each new scene is more charming 5114 than the last. But after a while she finds that 5115 beneath this goodly exterior, all is vanity, the 5116 flattery which once charmed her soul, now grates 5117 harshly upon her ear; the ball-room has lost its 5118 charms; and with wasted health and imbittered heart, 5119 she turns away with the conviction that earthly 5120 pleasures cannot satisfy the longings of the soul!" 5121 5122And so forth and so on. There was a buzz of gratification from time to 5123time during the reading, accompanied by whispered ejaculations of "How 5124sweet!" "How eloquent!" "So true!" etc., and after the thing had closed 5125with a peculiarly afflicting sermon the applause was enthusiastic. 5126 5127Then arose a slim, melancholy girl, whose face had the "interesting" 5128paleness that comes of pills and indigestion, and read a "poem." Two 5129stanzas of it will do: 5130 5131 "A MISSOURI MAIDEN'S FAREWELL TO ALABAMA 5132 5133 "Alabama, good-bye! I love thee well! 5134 But yet for a while do I leave thee now! 5135 Sad, yes, sad thoughts of thee my heart doth swell, 5136 And burning recollections throng my brow! 5137 For I have wandered through thy flowery woods; 5138 Have roamed and read near Tallapoosa's stream; 5139 Have listened to Tallassee's warring floods, 5140 And wooed on Coosa's side Aurora's beam. 5141 5142 "Yet shame I not to bear an o'er-full heart, 5143 Nor blush to turn behind my tearful eyes; 5144 'Tis from no stranger land I now must part, 5145 'Tis to no strangers left I yield these sighs. 5146 Welcome and home were mine within this State, 5147 Whose vales I leave--whose spires fade fast from me 5148 And cold must be mine eyes, and heart, and tete, 5149 When, dear Alabama! they turn cold on thee!" 5150 5151There were very few there who knew what "tete" meant, but the poem was 5152very satisfactory, nevertheless. 5153 5154Next appeared a dark-complexioned, black-eyed, black-haired young 5155lady, who paused an impressive moment, assumed a tragic expression, and 5156began to read in a measured, solemn tone: 5157 5158 "A VISION 5159 5160 "Dark and tempestuous was night. Around the 5161 throne on high not a single star quivered; but 5162 the deep intonations of the heavy thunder 5163 constantly vibrated upon the ear; whilst the 5164 terrific lightning revelled in angry mood 5165 through the cloudy chambers of heaven, seeming 5166 to scorn the power exerted over its terror by 5167 the illustrious Franklin! Even the boisterous 5168 winds unanimously came forth from their mystic 5169 homes, and blustered about as if to enhance by 5170 their aid the wildness of the scene. 5171 5172 "At such a time, so dark, so dreary, for human 5173 sympathy my very spirit sighed; but instead thereof, 5174 5175 "'My dearest friend, my counsellor, my comforter 5176 and guide--My joy in grief, my second bliss 5177 in joy,' came to my side. She moved like one of 5178 those bright beings pictured in the sunny walks 5179 of fancy's Eden by the romantic and young, a 5180 queen of beauty unadorned save by her own 5181 transcendent loveliness. So soft was her step, it 5182 failed to make even a sound, and but for the 5183 magical thrill imparted by her genial touch, as 5184 other unobtrusive beauties, she would have glided 5185 away un-perceived--unsought. A strange sadness 5186 rested upon her features, like icy tears upon 5187 the robe of December, as she pointed to the 5188 contending elements without, and bade me contemplate 5189 the two beings presented." 5190 5191This nightmare occupied some ten pages of manuscript and wound up with 5192a sermon so destructive of all hope to non-Presbyterians that it took 5193the first prize. This composition was considered to be the very finest 5194effort of the evening. The mayor of the village, in delivering the 5195prize to the author of it, made a warm speech in which he said that it 5196was by far the most "eloquent" thing he had ever listened to, and that 5197Daniel Webster himself might well be proud of it. 5198 5199It may be remarked, in passing, that the number of compositions in 5200which the word "beauteous" was over-fondled, and human experience 5201referred to as "life's page," was up to the usual average. 5202 5203Now the master, mellow almost to the verge of geniality, put his chair 5204aside, turned his back to the audience, and began to draw a map of 5205America on the blackboard, to exercise the geography class upon. But he 5206made a sad business of it with his unsteady hand, and a smothered 5207titter rippled over the house. He knew what the matter was, and set 5208himself to right it. He sponged out lines and remade them; but he only 5209distorted them more than ever, and the tittering was more pronounced. 5210He threw his entire attention upon his work, now, as if determined not 5211to be put down by the mirth. He felt that all eyes were fastened upon 5212him; he imagined he was succeeding, and yet the tittering continued; it 5213even manifestly increased. And well it might. There was a garret above, 5214pierced with a scuttle over his head; and down through this scuttle 5215came a cat, suspended around the haunches by a string; she had a rag 5216tied about her head and jaws to keep her from mewing; as she slowly 5217descended she curved upward and clawed at the string, she swung 5218downward and clawed at the intangible air. The tittering rose higher 5219and higher--the cat was within six inches of the absorbed teacher's 5220head--down, down, a little lower, and she grabbed his wig with her 5221desperate claws, clung to it, and was snatched up into the garret in an 5222instant with her trophy still in her possession! And how the light did 5223blaze abroad from the master's bald pate--for the sign-painter's boy 5224had GILDED it! 5225 5226That broke up the meeting. The boys were avenged. Vacation had come. 5227 5228 NOTE:--The pretended "compositions" quoted in 5229 this chapter are taken without alteration from a 5230 volume entitled "Prose and Poetry, by a Western 5231 Lady"--but they are exactly and precisely after 5232 the schoolgirl pattern, and hence are much 5233 happier than any mere imitations could be. 5234 5235 5236 5237CHAPTER XXII 5238 5239TOM joined the new order of Cadets of Temperance, being attracted by 5240the showy character of their "regalia." He promised to abstain from 5241smoking, chewing, and profanity as long as he remained a member. Now he 5242found out a new thing--namely, that to promise not to do a thing is the 5243surest way in the world to make a body want to go and do that very 5244thing. Tom soon found himself tormented with a desire to drink and 5245swear; the desire grew to be so intense that nothing but the hope of a 5246chance to display himself in his red sash kept him from withdrawing 5247from the order. Fourth of July was coming; but he soon gave that up 5248--gave it up before he had worn his shackles over forty-eight hours--and 5249fixed his hopes upon old Judge Frazer, justice of the peace, who was 5250apparently on his deathbed and would have a big public funeral, since 5251he was so high an official. During three days Tom was deeply concerned 5252about the Judge's condition and hungry for news of it. Sometimes his 5253hopes ran high--so high that he would venture to get out his regalia 5254and practise before the looking-glass. But the Judge had a most 5255discouraging way of fluctuating. At last he was pronounced upon the 5256mend--and then convalescent. Tom was disgusted; and felt a sense of 5257injury, too. He handed in his resignation at once--and that night the 5258Judge suffered a relapse and died. Tom resolved that he would never 5259trust a man like that again. 5260 5261The funeral was a fine thing. The Cadets paraded in a style calculated 5262to kill the late member with envy. Tom was a free boy again, however 5263--there was something in that. He could drink and swear, now--but found 5264to his surprise that he did not want to. The simple fact that he could, 5265took the desire away, and the charm of it. 5266 5267Tom presently wondered to find that his coveted vacation was beginning 5268to hang a little heavily on his hands. 5269 5270He attempted a diary--but nothing happened during three days, and so 5271he abandoned it. 5272 5273The first of all the negro minstrel shows came to town, and made a 5274sensation. Tom and Joe Harper got up a band of performers and were 5275happy for two days. 5276 5277Even the Glorious Fourth was in some sense a failure, for it rained 5278hard, there was no procession in consequence, and the greatest man in 5279the world (as Tom supposed), Mr. Benton, an actual United States 5280Senator, proved an overwhelming disappointment--for he was not 5281twenty-five feet high, nor even anywhere in the neighborhood of it. 5282 5283A circus came. The boys played circus for three days afterward in 5284tents made of rag carpeting--admission, three pins for boys, two for 5285girls--and then circusing was abandoned. 5286 5287A phrenologist and a mesmerizer came--and went again and left the 5288village duller and drearier than ever. 5289 5290There were some boys-and-girls' parties, but they were so few and so 5291delightful that they only made the aching voids between ache the harder. 5292 5293Becky Thatcher was gone to her Constantinople home to stay with her 5294parents during vacation--so there was no bright side to life anywhere. 5295 5296The dreadful secret of the murder was a chronic misery. It was a very 5297cancer for permanency and pain. 5298 5299Then came the measles. 5300 5301During two long weeks Tom lay a prisoner, dead to the world and its 5302happenings. He was very ill, he was interested in nothing. When he got 5303upon his feet at last and moved feebly down-town, a melancholy change 5304had come over everything and every creature. There had been a 5305"revival," and everybody had "got religion," not only the adults, but 5306even the boys and girls. Tom went about, hoping against hope for the 5307sight of one blessed sinful face, but disappointment crossed him 5308everywhere. He found Joe Harper studying a Testament, and turned sadly 5309away from the depressing spectacle. He sought Ben Rogers, and found him 5310visiting the poor with a basket of tracts. He hunted up Jim Hollis, who 5311called his attention to the precious blessing of his late measles as a 5312warning. Every boy he encountered added another ton to his depression; 5313and when, in desperation, he flew for refuge at last to the bosom of 5314Huckleberry Finn and was received with a Scriptural quotation, his 5315heart broke and he crept home and to bed realizing that he alone of all 5316the town was lost, forever and forever. 5317 5318And that night there came on a terrific storm, with driving rain, 5319awful claps of thunder and blinding sheets of lightning. He covered his 5320head with the bedclothes and waited in a horror of suspense for his 5321doom; for he had not the shadow of a doubt that all this hubbub was 5322about him. He believed he had taxed the forbearance of the powers above 5323to the extremity of endurance and that this was the result. It might 5324have seemed to him a waste of pomp and ammunition to kill a bug with a 5325battery of artillery, but there seemed nothing incongruous about the 5326getting up such an expensive thunderstorm as this to knock the turf 5327from under an insect like himself. 5328 5329By and by the tempest spent itself and died without accomplishing its 5330object. The boy's first impulse was to be grateful, and reform. His 5331second was to wait--for there might not be any more storms. 5332 5333The next day the doctors were back; Tom had relapsed. The three weeks 5334he spent on his back this time seemed an entire age. When he got abroad 5335at last he was hardly grateful that he had been spared, remembering how 5336lonely was his estate, how companionless and forlorn he was. He drifted 5337listlessly down the street and found Jim Hollis acting as judge in a 5338juvenile court that was trying a cat for murder, in the presence of her 5339victim, a bird. He found Joe Harper and Huck Finn up an alley eating a 5340stolen melon. Poor lads! they--like Tom--had suffered a relapse. 5341 5342 5343 5344CHAPTER XXIII 5345 5346AT last the sleepy atmosphere was stirred--and vigorously: the murder 5347trial came on in the court. It became the absorbing topic of village 5348talk immediately. Tom could not get away from it. Every reference to 5349the murder sent a shudder to his heart, for his troubled conscience and 5350fears almost persuaded him that these remarks were put forth in his 5351hearing as "feelers"; he did not see how he could be suspected of 5352knowing anything about the murder, but still he could not be 5353comfortable in the midst of this gossip. It kept him in a cold shiver 5354all the time. He took Huck to a lonely place to have a talk with him. 5355It would be some relief to unseal his tongue for a little while; to 5356divide his burden of distress with another sufferer. Moreover, he 5357wanted to assure himself that Huck had remained discreet. 5358 5359"Huck, have you ever told anybody about--that?" 5360 5361"'Bout what?" 5362 5363"You know what." 5364 5365"Oh--'course I haven't." 5366 5367"Never a word?" 5368 5369"Never a solitary word, so help me. What makes you ask?" 5370 5371"Well, I was afeard." 5372 5373"Why, Tom Sawyer, we wouldn't be alive two days if that got found out. 5374YOU know that." 5375 5376Tom felt more comfortable. After a pause: 5377 5378"Huck, they couldn't anybody get you to tell, could they?" 5379 5380"Get me to tell? Why, if I wanted that half-breed devil to drownd me 5381they could get me to tell. They ain't no different way." 5382 5383"Well, that's all right, then. I reckon we're safe as long as we keep 5384mum. But let's swear again, anyway. It's more surer." 5385 5386"I'm agreed." 5387 5388So they swore again with dread solemnities. 5389 5390"What is the talk around, Huck? I've heard a power of it." 5391 5392"Talk? Well, it's just Muff Potter, Muff Potter, Muff Potter all the 5393time. It keeps me in a sweat, constant, so's I want to hide som'ers." 5394 5395"That's just the same way they go on round me. I reckon he's a goner. 5396Don't you feel sorry for him, sometimes?" 5397 5398"Most always--most always. He ain't no account; but then he hain't 5399ever done anything to hurt anybody. Just fishes a little, to get money 5400to get drunk on--and loafs around considerable; but lord, we all do 5401that--leastways most of us--preachers and such like. But he's kind of 5402good--he give me half a fish, once, when there warn't enough for two; 5403and lots of times he's kind of stood by me when I was out of luck." 5404 5405"Well, he's mended kites for me, Huck, and knitted hooks on to my 5406line. I wish we could get him out of there." 5407 5408"My! we couldn't get him out, Tom. And besides, 'twouldn't do any 5409good; they'd ketch him again." 5410 5411"Yes--so they would. But I hate to hear 'em abuse him so like the 5412dickens when he never done--that." 5413 5414"I do too, Tom. Lord, I hear 'em say he's the bloodiest looking 5415villain in this country, and they wonder he wasn't ever hung before." 5416 5417"Yes, they talk like that, all the time. I've heard 'em say that if he 5418was to get free they'd lynch him." 5419 5420"And they'd do it, too." 5421 5422The boys had a long talk, but it brought them little comfort. As the 5423twilight drew on, they found themselves hanging about the neighborhood 5424of the little isolated jail, perhaps with an undefined hope that 5425something would happen that might clear away their difficulties. But 5426nothing happened; there seemed to be no angels or fairies interested in 5427this luckless captive. 5428 5429The boys did as they had often done before--went to the cell grating 5430and gave Potter some tobacco and matches. He was on the ground floor 5431and there were no guards. 5432 5433His gratitude for their gifts had always smote their consciences 5434before--it cut deeper than ever, this time. They felt cowardly and 5435treacherous to the last degree when Potter said: 5436 5437"You've been mighty good to me, boys--better'n anybody else in this 5438town. And I don't forget it, I don't. Often I says to myself, says I, 5439'I used to mend all the boys' kites and things, and show 'em where the 5440good fishin' places was, and befriend 'em what I could, and now they've 5441all forgot old Muff when he's in trouble; but Tom don't, and Huck 5442don't--THEY don't forget him, says I, 'and I don't forget them.' Well, 5443boys, I done an awful thing--drunk and crazy at the time--that's the 5444only way I account for it--and now I got to swing for it, and it's 5445right. Right, and BEST, too, I reckon--hope so, anyway. Well, we won't 5446talk about that. I don't want to make YOU feel bad; you've befriended 5447me. But what I want to say, is, don't YOU ever get drunk--then you won't 5448ever get here. Stand a litter furder west--so--that's it; it's a prime 5449comfort to see faces that's friendly when a body's in such a muck of 5450trouble, and there don't none come here but yourn. Good friendly 5451faces--good friendly faces. Git up on one another's backs and let me 5452touch 'em. That's it. Shake hands--yourn'll come through the bars, but 5453mine's too big. Little hands, and weak--but they've helped Muff Potter 5454a power, and they'd help him more if they could." 5455 5456Tom went home miserable, and his dreams that night were full of 5457horrors. The next day and the day after, he hung about the court-room, 5458drawn by an almost irresistible impulse to go in, but forcing himself 5459to stay out. Huck was having the same experience. They studiously 5460avoided each other. Each wandered away, from time to time, but the same 5461dismal fascination always brought them back presently. Tom kept his 5462ears open when idlers sauntered out of the court-room, but invariably 5463heard distressing news--the toils were closing more and more 5464relentlessly around poor Potter. At the end of the second day the 5465village talk was to the effect that Injun Joe's evidence stood firm and 5466unshaken, and that there was not the slightest question as to what the 5467jury's verdict would be. 5468 5469Tom was out late, that night, and came to bed through the window. He 5470was in a tremendous state of excitement. It was hours before he got to 5471sleep. All the village flocked to the court-house the next morning, for 5472this was to be the great day. Both sexes were about equally represented 5473in the packed audience. After a long wait the jury filed in and took 5474their places; shortly afterward, Potter, pale and haggard, timid and 5475hopeless, was brought in, with chains upon him, and seated where all 5476the curious eyes could stare at him; no less conspicuous was Injun Joe, 5477stolid as ever. There was another pause, and then the judge arrived and 5478the sheriff proclaimed the opening of the court. The usual whisperings 5479among the lawyers and gathering together of papers followed. These 5480details and accompanying delays worked up an atmosphere of preparation 5481that was as impressive as it was fascinating. 5482 5483Now a witness was called who testified that he found Muff Potter 5484washing in the brook, at an early hour of the morning that the murder 5485was discovered, and that he immediately sneaked away. After some 5486further questioning, counsel for the prosecution said: 5487 5488"Take the witness." 5489 5490The prisoner raised his eyes for a moment, but dropped them again when 5491his own counsel said: 5492 5493"I have no questions to ask him." 5494 5495The next witness proved the finding of the knife near the corpse. 5496Counsel for the prosecution said: 5497 5498"Take the witness." 5499 5500"I have no questions to ask him," Potter's lawyer replied. 5501 5502A third witness swore he had often seen the knife in Potter's 5503possession. 5504 5505"Take the witness." 5506 5507Counsel for Potter declined to question him. The faces of the audience 5508began to betray annoyance. Did this attorney mean to throw away his 5509client's life without an effort? 5510 5511Several witnesses deposed concerning Potter's guilty behavior when 5512brought to the scene of the murder. They were allowed to leave the 5513stand without being cross-questioned. 5514 5515Every detail of the damaging circumstances that occurred in the 5516graveyard upon that morning which all present remembered so well was 5517brought out by credible witnesses, but none of them were cross-examined 5518by Potter's lawyer. The perplexity and dissatisfaction of the house 5519expressed itself in murmurs and provoked a reproof from the bench. 5520Counsel for the prosecution now said: 5521 5522"By the oaths of citizens whose simple word is above suspicion, we 5523have fastened this awful crime, beyond all possibility of question, 5524upon the unhappy prisoner at the bar. We rest our case here." 5525 5526A groan escaped from poor Potter, and he put his face in his hands and 5527rocked his body softly to and fro, while a painful silence reigned in 5528the court-room. Many men were moved, and many women's compassion 5529testified itself in tears. Counsel for the defence rose and said: 5530 5531"Your honor, in our remarks at the opening of this trial, we 5532foreshadowed our purpose to prove that our client did this fearful deed 5533while under the influence of a blind and irresponsible delirium 5534produced by drink. We have changed our mind. We shall not offer that 5535plea." [Then to the clerk:] "Call Thomas Sawyer!" 5536 5537A puzzled amazement awoke in every face in the house, not even 5538excepting Potter's. Every eye fastened itself with wondering interest 5539upon Tom as he rose and took his place upon the stand. The boy looked 5540wild enough, for he was badly scared. The oath was administered. 5541 5542"Thomas Sawyer, where were you on the seventeenth of June, about the 5543hour of midnight?" 5544 5545Tom glanced at Injun Joe's iron face and his tongue failed him. The 5546audience listened breathless, but the words refused to come. After a 5547few moments, however, the boy got a little of his strength back, and 5548managed to put enough of it into his voice to make part of the house 5549hear: 5550 5551"In the graveyard!" 5552 5553"A little bit louder, please. Don't be afraid. You were--" 5554 5555"In the graveyard." 5556 5557A contemptuous smile flitted across Injun Joe's face. 5558 5559"Were you anywhere near Horse Williams' grave?" 5560 5561"Yes, sir." 5562 5563"Speak up--just a trifle louder. How near were you?" 5564 5565"Near as I am to you." 5566 5567"Were you hidden, or not?" 5568 5569"I was hid." 5570 5571"Where?" 5572 5573"Behind the elms that's on the edge of the grave." 5574 5575Injun Joe gave a barely perceptible start. 5576 5577"Any one with you?" 5578 5579"Yes, sir. I went there with--" 5580 5581"Wait--wait a moment. Never mind mentioning your companion's name. We 5582will produce him at the proper time. Did you carry anything there with 5583you." 5584 5585Tom hesitated and looked confused. 5586 5587"Speak out, my boy--don't be diffident. The truth is always 5588respectable. What did you take there?" 5589 5590"Only a--a--dead cat." 5591 5592There was a ripple of mirth, which the court checked. 5593 5594"We will produce the skeleton of that cat. Now, my boy, tell us 5595everything that occurred--tell it in your own way--don't skip anything, 5596and don't be afraid." 5597 5598Tom began--hesitatingly at first, but as he warmed to his subject his 5599words flowed more and more easily; in a little while every sound ceased 5600but his own voice; every eye fixed itself upon him; with parted lips 5601and bated breath the audience hung upon his words, taking no note of 5602time, rapt in the ghastly fascinations of the tale. The strain upon 5603pent emotion reached its climax when the boy said: 5604 5605"--and as the doctor fetched the board around and Muff Potter fell, 5606Injun Joe jumped with the knife and--" 5607 5608Crash! Quick as lightning the half-breed sprang for a window, tore his 5609way through all opposers, and was gone! 5610 5611 5612 5613CHAPTER XXIV 5614 5615TOM was a glittering hero once more--the pet of the old, the envy of 5616the young. His name even went into immortal print, for the village 5617paper magnified him. There were some that believed he would be 5618President, yet, if he escaped hanging. 5619 5620As usual, the fickle, unreasoning world took Muff Potter to its bosom 5621and fondled him as lavishly as it had abused him before. But that sort 5622of conduct is to the world's credit; therefore it is not well to find 5623fault with it. 5624 5625Tom's days were days of splendor and exultation to him, but his nights 5626were seasons of horror. Injun Joe infested all his dreams, and always 5627with doom in his eye. Hardly any temptation could persuade the boy to 5628stir abroad after nightfall. Poor Huck was in the same state of 5629wretchedness and terror, for Tom had told the whole story to the lawyer 5630the night before the great day of the trial, and Huck was sore afraid 5631that his share in the business might leak out, yet, notwithstanding 5632Injun Joe's flight had saved him the suffering of testifying in court. 5633The poor fellow had got the attorney to promise secrecy, but what of 5634that? Since Tom's harassed conscience had managed to drive him to the 5635lawyer's house by night and wring a dread tale from lips that had been 5636sealed with the dismalest and most formidable of oaths, Huck's 5637confidence in the human race was well-nigh obliterated. 5638 5639Daily Muff Potter's gratitude made Tom glad he had spoken; but nightly 5640he wished he had sealed up his tongue. 5641 5642Half the time Tom was afraid Injun Joe would never be captured; the 5643other half he was afraid he would be. He felt sure he never could draw 5644a safe breath again until that man was dead and he had seen the corpse. 5645 5646Rewards had been offered, the country had been scoured, but no Injun 5647Joe was found. One of those omniscient and awe-inspiring marvels, a 5648detective, came up from St. Louis, moused around, shook his head, 5649looked wise, and made that sort of astounding success which members of 5650that craft usually achieve. That is to say, he "found a clew." But you 5651can't hang a "clew" for murder, and so after that detective had got 5652through and gone home, Tom felt just as insecure as he was before. 5653 5654The slow days drifted on, and each left behind it a slightly lightened 5655weight of apprehension. 5656 5657 5658 5659CHAPTER XXV 5660 5661THERE comes a time in every rightly-constructed boy's life when he has 5662a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure. This 5663desire suddenly came upon Tom one day. He sallied out to find Joe 5664Harper, but failed of success. Next he sought Ben Rogers; he had gone 5665fishing. Presently he stumbled upon Huck Finn the Red-Handed. Huck 5666would answer. Tom took him to a private place and opened the matter to 5667him confidentially. Huck was willing. Huck was always willing to take a 5668hand in any enterprise that offered entertainment and required no 5669capital, for he had a troublesome superabundance of that sort of time 5670which is not money. "Where'll we dig?" said Huck. 5671 5672"Oh, most anywhere." 5673 5674"Why, is it hid all around?" 5675 5676"No, indeed it ain't. It's hid in mighty particular places, Huck 5677--sometimes on islands, sometimes in rotten chests under the end of a 5678limb of an old dead tree, just where the shadow falls at midnight; but 5679mostly under the floor in ha'nted houses." 5680 5681"Who hides it?" 5682 5683"Why, robbers, of course--who'd you reckon? Sunday-school 5684sup'rintendents?" 5685 5686"I don't know. If 'twas mine I wouldn't hide it; I'd spend it and have 5687a good time." 5688 5689"So would I. But robbers don't do that way. They always hide it and 5690leave it there." 5691 5692"Don't they come after it any more?" 5693 5694"No, they think they will, but they generally forget the marks, or 5695else they die. Anyway, it lays there a long time and gets rusty; and by 5696and by somebody finds an old yellow paper that tells how to find the 5697marks--a paper that's got to be ciphered over about a week because it's 5698mostly signs and hy'roglyphics." 5699 5700"Hyro--which?" 5701 5702"Hy'roglyphics--pictures and things, you know, that don't seem to mean 5703anything." 5704 5705"Have you got one of them papers, Tom?" 5706 5707"No." 5708 5709"Well then, how you going to find the marks?" 5710 5711"I don't want any marks. They always bury it under a ha'nted house or 5712on an island, or under a dead tree that's got one limb sticking out. 5713Well, we've tried Jackson's Island a little, and we can try it again 5714some time; and there's the old ha'nted house up the Still-House branch, 5715and there's lots of dead-limb trees--dead loads of 'em." 5716 5717"Is it under all of them?" 5718 5719"How you talk! No!" 5720 5721"Then how you going to know which one to go for?" 5722 5723"Go for all of 'em!" 5724 5725"Why, Tom, it'll take all summer." 5726 5727"Well, what of that? Suppose you find a brass pot with a hundred 5728dollars in it, all rusty and gray, or rotten chest full of di'monds. 5729How's that?" 5730 5731Huck's eyes glowed. 5732 5733"That's bully. Plenty bully enough for me. Just you gimme the hundred 5734dollars and I don't want no di'monds." 5735 5736"All right. But I bet you I ain't going to throw off on di'monds. Some 5737of 'em's worth twenty dollars apiece--there ain't any, hardly, but's 5738worth six bits or a dollar." 5739 5740"No! Is that so?" 5741 5742"Cert'nly--anybody'll tell you so. Hain't you ever seen one, Huck?" 5743 5744"Not as I remember." 5745 5746"Oh, kings have slathers of them." 5747 5748"Well, I don' know no kings, Tom." 5749 5750"I reckon you don't. But if you was to go to Europe you'd see a raft 5751of 'em hopping around." 5752 5753"Do they hop?" 5754 5755"Hop?--your granny! No!" 5756 5757"Well, what did you say they did, for?" 5758 5759"Shucks, I only meant you'd SEE 'em--not hopping, of course--what do 5760they want to hop for?--but I mean you'd just see 'em--scattered around, 5761you know, in a kind of a general way. Like that old humpbacked Richard." 5762 5763"Richard? What's his other name?" 5764 5765"He didn't have any other name. Kings don't have any but a given name." 5766 5767"No?" 5768 5769"But they don't." 5770 5771"Well, if they like it, Tom, all right; but I don't want to be a king 5772and have only just a given name, like a nigger. But say--where you 5773going to dig first?" 5774 5775"Well, I don't know. S'pose we tackle that old dead-limb tree on the 5776hill t'other side of Still-House branch?" 5777 5778"I'm agreed." 5779 5780So they got a crippled pick and a shovel, and set out on their 5781three-mile tramp. They arrived hot and panting, and threw themselves 5782down in the shade of a neighboring elm to rest and have a smoke. 5783 5784"I like this," said Tom. 5785 5786"So do I." 5787 5788"Say, Huck, if we find a treasure here, what you going to do with your 5789share?" 5790 5791"Well, I'll have pie and a glass of soda every day, and I'll go to 5792every circus that comes along. I bet I'll have a gay time." 5793 5794"Well, ain't you going to save any of it?" 5795 5796"Save it? What for?" 5797 5798"Why, so as to have something to live on, by and by." 5799 5800"Oh, that ain't any use. Pap would come back to thish-yer town some 5801day and get his claws on it if I didn't hurry up, and I tell you he'd 5802clean it out pretty quick. What you going to do with yourn, Tom?" 5803 5804"I'm going to buy a new drum, and a sure-'nough sword, and a red 5805necktie and a bull pup, and get married." 5806 5807"Married!" 5808 5809"That's it." 5810 5811"Tom, you--why, you ain't in your right mind." 5812 5813"Wait--you'll see." 5814 5815"Well, that's the foolishest thing you could do. Look at pap and my 5816mother. Fight! Why, they used to fight all the time. I remember, mighty 5817well." 5818 5819"That ain't anything. The girl I'm going to marry won't fight." 5820 5821"Tom, I reckon they're all alike. They'll all comb a body. Now you 5822better think 'bout this awhile. I tell you you better. What's the name 5823of the gal?" 5824 5825"It ain't a gal at all--it's a girl." 5826 5827"It's all the same, I reckon; some says gal, some says girl--both's 5828right, like enough. Anyway, what's her name, Tom?" 5829 5830"I'll tell you some time--not now." 5831 5832"All right--that'll do. Only if you get married I'll be more lonesomer 5833than ever." 5834 5835"No you won't. You'll come and live with me. Now stir out of this and 5836we'll go to digging." 5837 5838They worked and sweated for half an hour. No result. They toiled 5839another half-hour. Still no result. Huck said: 5840 5841"Do they always bury it as deep as this?" 5842 5843"Sometimes--not always. Not generally. I reckon we haven't got the 5844right place." 5845 5846So they chose a new spot and began again. The labor dragged a little, 5847but still they made progress. They pegged away in silence for some 5848time. Finally Huck leaned on his shovel, swabbed the beaded drops from 5849his brow with his sleeve, and said: 5850 5851"Where you going to dig next, after we get this one?" 5852 5853"I reckon maybe we'll tackle the old tree that's over yonder on 5854Cardiff Hill back of the widow's." 5855 5856"I reckon that'll be a good one. But won't the widow take it away from 5857us, Tom? It's on her land." 5858 5859"SHE take it away! Maybe she'd like to try it once. Whoever finds one 5860of these hid treasures, it belongs to him. It don't make any difference 5861whose land it's on." 5862 5863That was satisfactory. The work went on. By and by Huck said: 5864 5865"Blame it, we must be in the wrong place again. What do you think?" 5866 5867"It is mighty curious, Huck. I don't understand it. Sometimes witches 5868interfere. I reckon maybe that's what's the trouble now." 5869 5870"Shucks! Witches ain't got no power in the daytime." 5871 5872"Well, that's so. I didn't think of that. Oh, I know what the matter 5873is! What a blamed lot of fools we are! You got to find out where the 5874shadow of the limb falls at midnight, and that's where you dig!" 5875 5876"Then consound it, we've fooled away all this work for nothing. Now 5877hang it all, we got to come back in the night. It's an awful long way. 5878Can you get out?" 5879 5880"I bet I will. We've got to do it to-night, too, because if somebody 5881sees these holes they'll know in a minute what's here and they'll go 5882for it." 5883 5884"Well, I'll come around and maow to-night." 5885 5886"All right. Let's hide the tools in the bushes." 5887 5888The boys were there that night, about the appointed time. They sat in 5889the shadow waiting. It was a lonely place, and an hour made solemn by 5890old traditions. Spirits whispered in the rustling leaves, ghosts lurked 5891in the murky nooks, the deep baying of a hound floated up out of the 5892distance, an owl answered with his sepulchral note. The boys were 5893subdued by these solemnities, and talked little. By and by they judged 5894that twelve had come; they marked where the shadow fell, and began to 5895dig. Their hopes commenced to rise. Their interest grew stronger, and 5896their industry kept pace with it. The hole deepened and still deepened, 5897but every time their hearts jumped to hear the pick strike upon 5898something, they only suffered a new disappointment. It was only a stone 5899or a chunk. At last Tom said: 5900 5901"It ain't any use, Huck, we're wrong again." 5902 5903"Well, but we CAN'T be wrong. We spotted the shadder to a dot." 5904 5905"I know it, but then there's another thing." 5906 5907"What's that?". 5908 5909"Why, we only guessed at the time. Like enough it was too late or too 5910early." 5911 5912Huck dropped his shovel. 5913 5914"That's it," said he. "That's the very trouble. We got to give this 5915one up. We can't ever tell the right time, and besides this kind of 5916thing's too awful, here this time of night with witches and ghosts 5917a-fluttering around so. I feel as if something's behind me all the time; 5918and I'm afeard to turn around, becuz maybe there's others in front 5919a-waiting for a chance. I been creeping all over, ever since I got here." 5920 5921"Well, I've been pretty much so, too, Huck. They most always put in a 5922dead man when they bury a treasure under a tree, to look out for it." 5923 5924"Lordy!" 5925 5926"Yes, they do. I've always heard that." 5927 5928"Tom, I don't like to fool around much where there's dead people. A 5929body's bound to get into trouble with 'em, sure." 5930 5931"I don't like to stir 'em up, either. S'pose this one here was to 5932stick his skull out and say something!" 5933 5934"Don't Tom! It's awful." 5935 5936"Well, it just is. Huck, I don't feel comfortable a bit." 5937 5938"Say, Tom, let's give this place up, and try somewheres else." 5939 5940"All right, I reckon we better." 5941 5942"What'll it be?" 5943 5944Tom considered awhile; and then said: 5945 5946"The ha'nted house. That's it!" 5947 5948"Blame it, I don't like ha'nted houses, Tom. Why, they're a dern sight 5949worse'n dead people. Dead people might talk, maybe, but they don't come 5950sliding around in a shroud, when you ain't noticing, and peep over your 5951shoulder all of a sudden and grit their teeth, the way a ghost does. I 5952couldn't stand such a thing as that, Tom--nobody could." 5953 5954"Yes, but, Huck, ghosts don't travel around only at night. They won't 5955hender us from digging there in the daytime." 5956 5957"Well, that's so. But you know mighty well people don't go about that 5958ha'nted house in the day nor the night." 5959 5960"Well, that's mostly because they don't like to go where a man's been 5961murdered, anyway--but nothing's ever been seen around that house except 5962in the night--just some blue lights slipping by the windows--no regular 5963ghosts." 5964 5965"Well, where you see one of them blue lights flickering around, Tom, 5966you can bet there's a ghost mighty close behind it. It stands to 5967reason. Becuz you know that they don't anybody but ghosts use 'em." 5968 5969"Yes, that's so. But anyway they don't come around in the daytime, so 5970what's the use of our being afeard?" 5971 5972"Well, all right. We'll tackle the ha'nted house if you say so--but I 5973reckon it's taking chances." 5974 5975They had started down the hill by this time. There in the middle of 5976the moonlit valley below them stood the "ha'nted" house, utterly 5977isolated, its fences gone long ago, rank weeds smothering the very 5978doorsteps, the chimney crumbled to ruin, the window-sashes vacant, a 5979corner of the roof caved in. The boys gazed awhile, half expecting to 5980see a blue light flit past a window; then talking in a low tone, as 5981befitted the time and the circumstances, they struck far off to the 5982right, to give the haunted house a wide berth, and took their way 5983homeward through the woods that adorned the rearward side of Cardiff 5984Hill. 5985 5986 5987 5988CHAPTER XXVI 5989 5990ABOUT noon the next day the boys arrived at the dead tree; they had 5991come for their tools. Tom was impatient to go to the haunted house; 5992Huck was measurably so, also--but suddenly said: 5993 5994"Lookyhere, Tom, do you know what day it is?" 5995 5996Tom mentally ran over the days of the week, and then quickly lifted 5997his eyes with a startled look in them-- 5998 5999"My! I never once thought of it, Huck!" 6000 6001"Well, I didn't neither, but all at once it popped onto me that it was 6002Friday." 6003 6004"Blame it, a body can't be too careful, Huck. We might 'a' got into an 6005awful scrape, tackling such a thing on a Friday." 6006 6007"MIGHT! Better say we WOULD! There's some lucky days, maybe, but 6008Friday ain't." 6009 6010"Any fool knows that. I don't reckon YOU was the first that found it 6011out, Huck." 6012 6013"Well, I never said I was, did I? And Friday ain't all, neither. I had 6014a rotten bad dream last night--dreampt about rats." 6015 6016"No! Sure sign of trouble. Did they fight?" 6017 6018"No." 6019 6020"Well, that's good, Huck. When they don't fight it's only a sign that 6021there's trouble around, you know. All we got to do is to look mighty 6022sharp and keep out of it. We'll drop this thing for to-day, and play. 6023Do you know Robin Hood, Huck?" 6024 6025"No. Who's Robin Hood?" 6026 6027"Why, he was one of the greatest men that was ever in England--and the 6028best. He was a robber." 6029 6030"Cracky, I wisht I was. Who did he rob?" 6031 6032"Only sheriffs and bishops and rich people and kings, and such like. 6033But he never bothered the poor. He loved 'em. He always divided up with 6034'em perfectly square." 6035 6036"Well, he must 'a' been a brick." 6037 6038"I bet you he was, Huck. Oh, he was the noblest man that ever was. 6039They ain't any such men now, I can tell you. He could lick any man in 6040England, with one hand tied behind him; and he could take his yew bow 6041and plug a ten-cent piece every time, a mile and a half." 6042 6043"What's a YEW bow?" 6044 6045"I don't know. It's some kind of a bow, of course. And if he hit that 6046dime only on the edge he would set down and cry--and curse. But we'll 6047play Robin Hood--it's nobby fun. I'll learn you." 6048 6049"I'm agreed." 6050 6051So they played Robin Hood all the afternoon, now and then casting a 6052yearning eye down upon the haunted house and passing a remark about the 6053morrow's prospects and possibilities there. As the sun began to sink 6054into the west they took their way homeward athwart the long shadows of 6055the trees and soon were buried from sight in the forests of Cardiff 6056Hill. 6057 6058On Saturday, shortly after noon, the boys were at the dead tree again. 6059They had a smoke and a chat in the shade, and then dug a little in 6060their last hole, not with great hope, but merely because Tom said there 6061were so many cases where people had given up a treasure after getting 6062down within six inches of it, and then somebody else had come along and 6063turned it up with a single thrust of a shovel. The thing failed this 6064time, however, so the boys shouldered their tools and went away feeling 6065that they had not trifled with fortune, but had fulfilled all the 6066requirements that belong to the business of treasure-hunting. 6067 6068When they reached the haunted house there was something so weird and 6069grisly about the dead silence that reigned there under the baking sun, 6070and something so depressing about the loneliness and desolation of the 6071place, that they were afraid, for a moment, to venture in. Then they 6072crept to the door and took a trembling peep. They saw a weed-grown, 6073floorless room, unplastered, an ancient fireplace, vacant windows, a 6074ruinous staircase; and here, there, and everywhere hung ragged and 6075abandoned cobwebs. They presently entered, softly, with quickened 6076pulses, talking in whispers, ears alert to catch the slightest sound, 6077and muscles tense and ready for instant retreat. 6078 6079In a little while familiarity modified their fears and they gave the 6080place a critical and interested examination, rather admiring their own 6081boldness, and wondering at it, too. Next they wanted to look up-stairs. 6082This was something like cutting off retreat, but they got to daring 6083each other, and of course there could be but one result--they threw 6084their tools into a corner and made the ascent. Up there were the same 6085signs of decay. In one corner they found a closet that promised 6086mystery, but the promise was a fraud--there was nothing in it. Their 6087courage was up now and well in hand. They were about to go down and 6088begin work when-- 6089 6090"Sh!" said Tom. 6091 6092"What is it?" whispered Huck, blanching with fright. 6093 6094"Sh!... There!... Hear it?" 6095 6096"Yes!... Oh, my! Let's run!" 6097 6098"Keep still! Don't you budge! They're coming right toward the door." 6099 6100The boys stretched themselves upon the floor with their eyes to 6101knot-holes in the planking, and lay waiting, in a misery of fear. 6102 6103"They've stopped.... No--coming.... Here they are. Don't whisper 6104another word, Huck. My goodness, I wish I was out of this!" 6105 6106Two men entered. Each boy said to himself: "There's the old deaf and 6107dumb Spaniard that's been about town once or twice lately--never saw 6108t'other man before." 6109 6110"T'other" was a ragged, unkempt creature, with nothing very pleasant 6111in his face. The Spaniard was wrapped in a serape; he had bushy white 6112whiskers; long white hair flowed from under his sombrero, and he wore 6113green goggles. When they came in, "t'other" was talking in a low voice; 6114they sat down on the ground, facing the door, with their backs to the 6115wall, and the speaker continued his remarks. His manner became less 6116guarded and his words more distinct as he proceeded: 6117 6118"No," said he, "I've thought it all over, and I don't like it. It's 6119dangerous." 6120 6121"Dangerous!" grunted the "deaf and dumb" Spaniard--to the vast 6122surprise of the boys. "Milksop!" 6123 6124This voice made the boys gasp and quake. It was Injun Joe's! There was 6125silence for some time. Then Joe said: 6126 6127"What's any more dangerous than that job up yonder--but nothing's come 6128of it." 6129 6130"That's different. Away up the river so, and not another house about. 6131'Twon't ever be known that we tried, anyway, long as we didn't succeed." 6132 6133"Well, what's more dangerous than coming here in the daytime!--anybody 6134would suspicion us that saw us." 6135 6136"I know that. But there warn't any other place as handy after that 6137fool of a job. I want to quit this shanty. I wanted to yesterday, only 6138it warn't any use trying to stir out of here, with those infernal boys 6139playing over there on the hill right in full view." 6140 6141"Those infernal boys" quaked again under the inspiration of this 6142remark, and thought how lucky it was that they had remembered it was 6143Friday and concluded to wait a day. They wished in their hearts they 6144had waited a year. 6145 6146The two men got out some food and made a luncheon. After a long and 6147thoughtful silence, Injun Joe said: 6148 6149"Look here, lad--you go back up the river where you belong. Wait there 6150till you hear from me. I'll take the chances on dropping into this town 6151just once more, for a look. We'll do that 'dangerous' job after I've 6152spied around a little and think things look well for it. Then for 6153Texas! We'll leg it together!" 6154 6155This was satisfactory. Both men presently fell to yawning, and Injun 6156Joe said: 6157 6158"I'm dead for sleep! It's your turn to watch." 6159 6160He curled down in the weeds and soon began to snore. His comrade 6161stirred him once or twice and he became quiet. Presently the watcher 6162began to nod; his head drooped lower and lower, both men began to snore 6163now. 6164 6165The boys drew a long, grateful breath. Tom whispered: 6166 6167"Now's our chance--come!" 6168 6169Huck said: 6170 6171"I can't--I'd die if they was to wake." 6172 6173Tom urged--Huck held back. At last Tom rose slowly and softly, and 6174started alone. But the first step he made wrung such a hideous creak 6175from the crazy floor that he sank down almost dead with fright. He 6176never made a second attempt. The boys lay there counting the dragging 6177moments till it seemed to them that time must be done and eternity 6178growing gray; and then they were grateful to note that at last the sun 6179was setting. 6180 6181Now one snore ceased. Injun Joe sat up, stared around--smiled grimly 6182upon his comrade, whose head was drooping upon his knees--stirred him 6183up with his foot and said: 6184 6185"Here! YOU'RE a watchman, ain't you! All right, though--nothing's 6186happened." 6187 6188"My! have I been asleep?" 6189 6190"Oh, partly, partly. Nearly time for us to be moving, pard. What'll we 6191do with what little swag we've got left?" 6192 6193"I don't know--leave it here as we've always done, I reckon. No use to 6194take it away till we start south. Six hundred and fifty in silver's 6195something to carry." 6196 6197"Well--all right--it won't matter to come here once more." 6198 6199"No--but I'd say come in the night as we used to do--it's better." 6200 6201"Yes: but look here; it may be a good while before I get the right 6202chance at that job; accidents might happen; 'tain't in such a very good 6203place; we'll just regularly bury it--and bury it deep." 6204 6205"Good idea," said the comrade, who walked across the room, knelt down, 6206raised one of the rearward hearth-stones and took out a bag that 6207jingled pleasantly. He subtracted from it twenty or thirty dollars for 6208himself and as much for Injun Joe, and passed the bag to the latter, 6209who was on his knees in the corner, now, digging with his bowie-knife. 6210 6211The boys forgot all their fears, all their miseries in an instant. 6212With gloating eyes they watched every movement. Luck!--the splendor of 6213it was beyond all imagination! Six hundred dollars was money enough to 6214make half a dozen boys rich! Here was treasure-hunting under the 6215happiest auspices--there would not be any bothersome uncertainty as to 6216where to dig. They nudged each other every moment--eloquent nudges and 6217easily understood, for they simply meant--"Oh, but ain't you glad NOW 6218we're here!" 6219 6220Joe's knife struck upon something. 6221 6222"Hello!" said he. 6223 6224"What is it?" said his comrade. 6225 6226"Half-rotten plank--no, it's a box, I believe. Here--bear a hand and 6227we'll see what it's here for. Never mind, I've broke a hole." 6228 6229He reached his hand in and drew it out-- 6230 6231"Man, it's money!" 6232 6233The two men examined the handful of coins. They were gold. The boys 6234above were as excited as themselves, and as delighted. 6235 6236Joe's comrade said: 6237 6238"We'll make quick work of this. There's an old rusty pick over amongst 6239the weeds in the corner the other side of the fireplace--I saw it a 6240minute ago." 6241 6242He ran and brought the boys' pick and shovel. Injun Joe took the pick, 6243looked it over critically, shook his head, muttered something to 6244himself, and then began to use it. The box was soon unearthed. It was 6245not very large; it was iron bound and had been very strong before the 6246slow years had injured it. The men contemplated the treasure awhile in 6247blissful silence. 6248 6249"Pard, there's thousands of dollars here," said Injun Joe. 6250 6251"'Twas always said that Murrel's gang used to be around here one 6252summer," the stranger observed. 6253 6254"I know it," said Injun Joe; "and this looks like it, I should say." 6255 6256"Now you won't need to do that job." 6257 6258The half-breed frowned. Said he: 6259 6260"You don't know me. Least you don't know all about that thing. 'Tain't 6261robbery altogether--it's REVENGE!" and a wicked light flamed in his 6262eyes. "I'll need your help in it. When it's finished--then Texas. Go 6263home to your Nance and your kids, and stand by till you hear from me." 6264 6265"Well--if you say so; what'll we do with this--bury it again?" 6266 6267"Yes. [Ravishing delight overhead.] NO! by the great Sachem, no! 6268[Profound distress overhead.] I'd nearly forgot. That pick had fresh 6269earth on it! [The boys were sick with terror in a moment.] What 6270business has a pick and a shovel here? What business with fresh earth 6271on them? Who brought them here--and where are they gone? Have you heard 6272anybody?--seen anybody? What! bury it again and leave them to come and 6273see the ground disturbed? Not exactly--not exactly. We'll take it to my 6274den." 6275 6276"Why, of course! Might have thought of that before. You mean Number 6277One?" 6278 6279"No--Number Two--under the cross. The other place is bad--too common." 6280 6281"All right. It's nearly dark enough to start." 6282 6283Injun Joe got up and went about from window to window cautiously 6284peeping out. Presently he said: 6285 6286"Who could have brought those tools here? Do you reckon they can be 6287up-stairs?" 6288 6289The boys' breath forsook them. Injun Joe put his hand on his knife, 6290halted a moment, undecided, and then turned toward the stairway. The 6291boys thought of the closet, but their strength was gone. The steps came 6292creaking up the stairs--the intolerable distress of the situation woke 6293the stricken resolution of the lads--they were about to spring for the 6294closet, when there was a crash of rotten timbers and Injun Joe landed 6295on the ground amid the debris of the ruined stairway. He gathered 6296himself up cursing, and his comrade said: 6297 6298"Now what's the use of all that? If it's anybody, and they're up 6299there, let them STAY there--who cares? If they want to jump down, now, 6300and get into trouble, who objects? It will be dark in fifteen minutes 6301--and then let them follow us if they want to. I'm willing. In my 6302opinion, whoever hove those things in here caught a sight of us and 6303took us for ghosts or devils or something. I'll bet they're running 6304yet." 6305 6306Joe grumbled awhile; then he agreed with his friend that what daylight 6307was left ought to be economized in getting things ready for leaving. 6308Shortly afterward they slipped out of the house in the deepening 6309twilight, and moved toward the river with their precious box. 6310 6311Tom and Huck rose up, weak but vastly relieved, and stared after them 6312through the chinks between the logs of the house. Follow? Not they. 6313They were content to reach ground again without broken necks, and take 6314the townward track over the hill. They did not talk much. They were too 6315much absorbed in hating themselves--hating the ill luck that made them 6316take the spade and the pick there. But for that, Injun Joe never would 6317have suspected. He would have hidden the silver with the gold to wait 6318there till his "revenge" was satisfied, and then he would have had the 6319misfortune to find that money turn up missing. Bitter, bitter luck that 6320the tools were ever brought there! 6321 6322They resolved to keep a lookout for that Spaniard when he should come 6323to town spying out for chances to do his revengeful job, and follow him 6324to "Number Two," wherever that might be. Then a ghastly thought 6325occurred to Tom. 6326 6327"Revenge? What if he means US, Huck!" 6328 6329"Oh, don't!" said Huck, nearly fainting. 6330 6331They talked it all over, and as they entered town they agreed to 6332believe that he might possibly mean somebody else--at least that he 6333might at least mean nobody but Tom, since only Tom had testified. 6334 6335Very, very small comfort it was to Tom to be alone in danger! Company 6336would be a palpable improvement, he thought. 6337 6338 6339 6340CHAPTER XXVII 6341 6342THE adventure of the day mightily tormented Tom's dreams that night. 6343Four times he had his hands on that rich treasure and four times it 6344wasted to nothingness in his fingers as sleep forsook him and 6345wakefulness brought back the hard reality of his misfortune. As he lay 6346in the early morning recalling the incidents of his great adventure, he 6347noticed that they seemed curiously subdued and far away--somewhat as if 6348they had happened in another world, or in a time long gone by. Then it 6349occurred to him that the great adventure itself must be a dream! There 6350was one very strong argument in favor of this idea--namely, that the 6351quantity of coin he had seen was too vast to be real. He had never seen 6352as much as fifty dollars in one mass before, and he was like all boys 6353of his age and station in life, in that he imagined that all references 6354to "hundreds" and "thousands" were mere fanciful forms of speech, and 6355that no such sums really existed in the world. He never had supposed 6356for a moment that so large a sum as a hundred dollars was to be found 6357in actual money in any one's possession. If his notions of hidden 6358treasure had been analyzed, they would have been found to consist of a 6359handful of real dimes and a bushel of vague, splendid, ungraspable 6360dollars. 6361 6362But the incidents of his adventure grew sensibly sharper and clearer 6363under the attrition of thinking them over, and so he presently found 6364himself leaning to the impression that the thing might not have been a 6365dream, after all. This uncertainty must be swept away. He would snatch 6366a hurried breakfast and go and find Huck. Huck was sitting on the 6367gunwale of a flatboat, listlessly dangling his feet in the water and 6368looking very melancholy. Tom concluded to let Huck lead up to the 6369subject. If he did not do it, then the adventure would be proved to 6370have been only a dream. 6371 6372"Hello, Huck!" 6373 6374"Hello, yourself." 6375 6376Silence, for a minute. 6377 6378"Tom, if we'd 'a' left the blame tools at the dead tree, we'd 'a' got 6379the money. Oh, ain't it awful!" 6380 6381"'Tain't a dream, then, 'tain't a dream! Somehow I most wish it was. 6382Dog'd if I don't, Huck." 6383 6384"What ain't a dream?" 6385 6386"Oh, that thing yesterday. I been half thinking it was." 6387 6388"Dream! If them stairs hadn't broke down you'd 'a' seen how much dream 6389it was! I've had dreams enough all night--with that patch-eyed Spanish 6390devil going for me all through 'em--rot him!" 6391 6392"No, not rot him. FIND him! Track the money!" 6393 6394"Tom, we'll never find him. A feller don't have only one chance for 6395such a pile--and that one's lost. I'd feel mighty shaky if I was to see 6396him, anyway." 6397 6398"Well, so'd I; but I'd like to see him, anyway--and track him out--to 6399his Number Two." 6400 6401"Number Two--yes, that's it. I been thinking 'bout that. But I can't 6402make nothing out of it. What do you reckon it is?" 6403 6404"I dono. It's too deep. Say, Huck--maybe it's the number of a house!" 6405 6406"Goody!... No, Tom, that ain't it. If it is, it ain't in this 6407one-horse town. They ain't no numbers here." 6408 6409"Well, that's so. Lemme think a minute. Here--it's the number of a 6410room--in a tavern, you know!" 6411 6412"Oh, that's the trick! They ain't only two taverns. We can find out 6413quick." 6414 6415"You stay here, Huck, till I come." 6416 6417Tom was off at once. He did not care to have Huck's company in public 6418places. He was gone half an hour. He found that in the best tavern, No. 64192 had long been occupied by a young lawyer, and was still so occupied. 6420In the less ostentatious house, No. 2 was a mystery. The 6421tavern-keeper's young son said it was kept locked all the time, and he 6422never saw anybody go into it or come out of it except at night; he did 6423not know any particular reason for this state of things; had had some 6424little curiosity, but it was rather feeble; had made the most of the 6425mystery by entertaining himself with the idea that that room was 6426"ha'nted"; had noticed that there was a light in there the night before. 6427 6428"That's what I've found out, Huck. I reckon that's the very No. 2 6429we're after." 6430 6431"I reckon it is, Tom. Now what you going to do?" 6432 6433"Lemme think." 6434 6435Tom thought a long time. Then he said: 6436 6437"I'll tell you. The back door of that No. 2 is the door that comes out 6438into that little close alley between the tavern and the old rattle trap 6439of a brick store. Now you get hold of all the door-keys you can find, 6440and I'll nip all of auntie's, and the first dark night we'll go there 6441and try 'em. And mind you, keep a lookout for Injun Joe, because he 6442said he was going to drop into town and spy around once more for a 6443chance to get his revenge. If you see him, you just follow him; and if 6444he don't go to that No. 2, that ain't the place." 6445 6446"Lordy, I don't want to foller him by myself!" 6447 6448"Why, it'll be night, sure. He mightn't ever see you--and if he did, 6449maybe he'd never think anything." 6450 6451"Well, if it's pretty dark I reckon I'll track him. I dono--I dono. 6452I'll try." 6453 6454"You bet I'll follow him, if it's dark, Huck. Why, he might 'a' found 6455out he couldn't get his revenge, and be going right after that money." 6456 6457"It's so, Tom, it's so. I'll foller him; I will, by jingoes!" 6458 6459"Now you're TALKING! Don't you ever weaken, Huck, and I won't." 6460 6461 6462 6463CHAPTER XXVIII 6464 6465THAT night Tom and Huck were ready for their adventure. They hung 6466about the neighborhood of the tavern until after nine, one watching the 6467alley at a distance and the other the tavern door. Nobody entered the 6468alley or left it; nobody resembling the Spaniard entered or left the 6469tavern door. The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with 6470the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, 6471Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the 6472keys. But the night remained clear, and Huck closed his watch and 6473retired to bed in an empty sugar hogshead about twelve. 6474 6475Tuesday the boys had the same ill luck. Also Wednesday. But Thursday 6476night promised better. Tom slipped out in good season with his aunt's 6477old tin lantern, and a large towel to blindfold it with. He hid the 6478lantern in Huck's sugar hogshead and the watch began. An hour before 6479midnight the tavern closed up and its lights (the only ones 6480thereabouts) were put out. No Spaniard had been seen. Nobody had 6481entered or left the alley. Everything was auspicious. The blackness of 6482darkness reigned, the perfect stillness was interrupted only by 6483occasional mutterings of distant thunder. 6484 6485Tom got his lantern, lit it in the hogshead, wrapped it closely in the 6486towel, and the two adventurers crept in the gloom toward the tavern. 6487Huck stood sentry and Tom felt his way into the alley. Then there was a 6488season of waiting anxiety that weighed upon Huck's spirits like a 6489mountain. He began to wish he could see a flash from the lantern--it 6490would frighten him, but it would at least tell him that Tom was alive 6491yet. It seemed hours since Tom had disappeared. Surely he must have 6492fainted; maybe he was dead; maybe his heart had burst under terror and 6493excitement. In his uneasiness Huck found himself drawing closer and 6494closer to the alley; fearing all sorts of dreadful things, and 6495momentarily expecting some catastrophe to happen that would take away 6496his breath. There was not much to take away, for he seemed only able to 6497inhale it by thimblefuls, and his heart would soon wear itself out, the 6498way it was beating. Suddenly there was a flash of light and Tom came 6499tearing by him: "Run!" said he; "run, for your life!" 6500 6501He needn't have repeated it; once was enough; Huck was making thirty 6502or forty miles an hour before the repetition was uttered. The boys 6503never stopped till they reached the shed of a deserted slaughter-house 6504at the lower end of the village. Just as they got within its shelter 6505the storm burst and the rain poured down. As soon as Tom got his breath 6506he said: 6507 6508"Huck, it was awful! I tried two of the keys, just as soft as I could; 6509but they seemed to make such a power of racket that I couldn't hardly 6510get my breath I was so scared. They wouldn't turn in the lock, either. 6511Well, without noticing what I was doing, I took hold of the knob, and 6512open comes the door! It warn't locked! I hopped in, and shook off the 6513towel, and, GREAT CAESAR'S GHOST!" 6514 6515"What!--what'd you see, Tom?" 6516 6517"Huck, I most stepped onto Injun Joe's hand!" 6518 6519"No!" 6520 6521"Yes! He was lying there, sound asleep on the floor, with his old 6522patch on his eye and his arms spread out." 6523 6524"Lordy, what did you do? Did he wake up?" 6525 6526"No, never budged. Drunk, I reckon. I just grabbed that towel and 6527started!" 6528 6529"I'd never 'a' thought of the towel, I bet!" 6530 6531"Well, I would. My aunt would make me mighty sick if I lost it." 6532 6533"Say, Tom, did you see that box?" 6534 6535"Huck, I didn't wait to look around. I didn't see the box, I didn't 6536see the cross. I didn't see anything but a bottle and a tin cup on the 6537floor by Injun Joe; yes, I saw two barrels and lots more bottles in the 6538room. Don't you see, now, what's the matter with that ha'nted room?" 6539 6540"How?" 6541 6542"Why, it's ha'nted with whiskey! Maybe ALL the Temperance Taverns have 6543got a ha'nted room, hey, Huck?" 6544 6545"Well, I reckon maybe that's so. Who'd 'a' thought such a thing? But 6546say, Tom, now's a mighty good time to get that box, if Injun Joe's 6547drunk." 6548 6549"It is, that! You try it!" 6550 6551Huck shuddered. 6552 6553"Well, no--I reckon not." 6554 6555"And I reckon not, Huck. Only one bottle alongside of Injun Joe ain't 6556enough. If there'd been three, he'd be drunk enough and I'd do it." 6557 6558There was a long pause for reflection, and then Tom said: 6559 6560"Lookyhere, Huck, less not try that thing any more till we know Injun 6561Joe's not in there. It's too scary. Now, if we watch every night, we'll 6562be dead sure to see him go out, some time or other, and then we'll 6563snatch that box quicker'n lightning." 6564 6565"Well, I'm agreed. I'll watch the whole night long, and I'll do it 6566every night, too, if you'll do the other part of the job." 6567 6568"All right, I will. All you got to do is to trot up Hooper Street a 6569block and maow--and if I'm asleep, you throw some gravel at the window 6570and that'll fetch me." 6571 6572"Agreed, and good as wheat!" 6573 6574"Now, Huck, the storm's over, and I'll go home. It'll begin to be 6575daylight in a couple of hours. You go back and watch that long, will 6576you?" 6577 6578"I said I would, Tom, and I will. I'll ha'nt that tavern every night 6579for a year! I'll sleep all day and I'll stand watch all night." 6580 6581"That's all right. Now, where you going to sleep?" 6582 6583"In Ben Rogers' hayloft. He lets me, and so does his pap's nigger man, 6584Uncle Jake. I tote water for Uncle Jake whenever he wants me to, and 6585any time I ask him he gives me a little something to eat if he can 6586spare it. That's a mighty good nigger, Tom. He likes me, becuz I don't 6587ever act as if I was above him. Sometime I've set right down and eat 6588WITH him. But you needn't tell that. A body's got to do things when 6589he's awful hungry he wouldn't want to do as a steady thing." 6590 6591"Well, if I don't want you in the daytime, I'll let you sleep. I won't 6592come bothering around. Any time you see something's up, in the night, 6593just skip right around and maow." 6594 6595 6596 6597CHAPTER XXIX 6598 6599THE first thing Tom heard on Friday morning was a glad piece of news 6600--Judge Thatcher's family had come back to town the night before. Both 6601Injun Joe and the treasure sunk into secondary importance for a moment, 6602and Becky took the chief place in the boy's interest. He saw her and 6603they had an exhausting good time playing "hi-spy" and "gully-keeper" 6604with a crowd of their school-mates. The day was completed and crowned 6605in a peculiarly satisfactory way: Becky teased her mother to appoint 6606the next day for the long-promised and long-delayed picnic, and she 6607consented. The child's delight was boundless; and Tom's not more 6608moderate. The invitations were sent out before sunset, and straightway 6609the young folks of the village were thrown into a fever of preparation 6610and pleasurable anticipation. Tom's excitement enabled him to keep 6611awake until a pretty late hour, and he had good hopes of hearing Huck's 6612"maow," and of having his treasure to astonish Becky and the picnickers 6613with, next day; but he was disappointed. No signal came that night. 6614 6615Morning came, eventually, and by ten or eleven o'clock a giddy and 6616rollicking company were gathered at Judge Thatcher's, and everything 6617was ready for a start. It was not the custom for elderly people to mar 6618the picnics with their presence. The children were considered safe 6619enough under the wings of a few young ladies of eighteen and a few 6620young gentlemen of twenty-three or thereabouts. The old steam ferryboat 6621was chartered for the occasion; presently the gay throng filed up the 6622main street laden with provision-baskets. Sid was sick and had to miss 6623the fun; Mary remained at home to entertain him. The last thing Mrs. 6624Thatcher said to Becky, was: 6625 6626"You'll not get back till late. Perhaps you'd better stay all night 6627with some of the girls that live near the ferry-landing, child." 6628 6629"Then I'll stay with Susy Harper, mamma." 6630 6631"Very well. And mind and behave yourself and don't be any trouble." 6632 6633Presently, as they tripped along, Tom said to Becky: 6634 6635"Say--I'll tell you what we'll do. 'Stead of going to Joe Harper's 6636we'll climb right up the hill and stop at the Widow Douglas'. She'll 6637have ice-cream! She has it most every day--dead loads of it. And she'll 6638be awful glad to have us." 6639 6640"Oh, that will be fun!" 6641 6642Then Becky reflected a moment and said: 6643 6644"But what will mamma say?" 6645 6646"How'll she ever know?" 6647 6648The girl turned the idea over in her mind, and said reluctantly: 6649 6650"I reckon it's wrong--but--" 6651 6652"But shucks! Your mother won't know, and so what's the harm? All she 6653wants is that you'll be safe; and I bet you she'd 'a' said go there if 6654she'd 'a' thought of it. I know she would!" 6655 6656The Widow Douglas' splendid hospitality was a tempting bait. It and 6657Tom's persuasions presently carried the day. So it was decided to say 6658nothing anybody about the night's programme. Presently it occurred to 6659Tom that maybe Huck might come this very night and give the signal. The 6660thought took a deal of the spirit out of his anticipations. Still he 6661could not bear to give up the fun at Widow Douglas'. And why should he 6662give it up, he reasoned--the signal did not come the night before, so 6663why should it be any more likely to come to-night? The sure fun of the 6664evening outweighed the uncertain treasure; and, boy-like, he determined 6665to yield to the stronger inclination and not allow himself to think of 6666the box of money another time that day. 6667 6668Three miles below town the ferryboat stopped at the mouth of a woody 6669hollow and tied up. The crowd swarmed ashore and soon the forest 6670distances and craggy heights echoed far and near with shoutings and 6671laughter. All the different ways of getting hot and tired were gone 6672through with, and by-and-by the rovers straggled back to camp fortified 6673with responsible appetites, and then the destruction of the good things 6674began. After the feast there was a refreshing season of rest and chat 6675in the shade of spreading oaks. By-and-by somebody shouted: 6676 6677"Who's ready for the cave?" 6678 6679Everybody was. Bundles of candles were procured, and straightway there 6680was a general scamper up the hill. The mouth of the cave was up the 6681hillside--an opening shaped like a letter A. Its massive oaken door 6682stood unbarred. Within was a small chamber, chilly as an ice-house, and 6683walled by Nature with solid limestone that was dewy with a cold sweat. 6684It was romantic and mysterious to stand here in the deep gloom and look 6685out upon the green valley shining in the sun. But the impressiveness of 6686the situation quickly wore off, and the romping began again. The moment 6687a candle was lighted there was a general rush upon the owner of it; a 6688struggle and a gallant defence followed, but the candle was soon 6689knocked down or blown out, and then there was a glad clamor of laughter 6690and a new chase. But all things have an end. By-and-by the procession 6691went filing down the steep descent of the main avenue, the flickering 6692rank of lights dimly revealing the lofty walls of rock almost to their 6693point of junction sixty feet overhead. This main avenue was not more 6694than eight or ten feet wide. Every few steps other lofty and still 6695narrower crevices branched from it on either hand--for McDougal's cave 6696was but a vast labyrinth of crooked aisles that ran into each other and 6697out again and led nowhere. It was said that one might wander days and 6698nights together through its intricate tangle of rifts and chasms, and 6699never find the end of the cave; and that he might go down, and down, 6700and still down, into the earth, and it was just the same--labyrinth 6701under labyrinth, and no end to any of them. No man "knew" the cave. 6702That was an impossible thing. Most of the young men knew a portion of 6703it, and it was not customary to venture much beyond this known portion. 6704Tom Sawyer knew as much of the cave as any one. 6705 6706The procession moved along the main avenue some three-quarters of a 6707mile, and then groups and couples began to slip aside into branch 6708avenues, fly along the dismal corridors, and take each other by 6709surprise at points where the corridors joined again. Parties were able 6710to elude each other for the space of half an hour without going beyond 6711the "known" ground. 6712 6713By-and-by, one group after another came straggling back to the mouth 6714of the cave, panting, hilarious, smeared from head to foot with tallow 6715drippings, daubed with clay, and entirely delighted with the success of 6716the day. Then they were astonished to find that they had been taking no 6717note of time and that night was about at hand. The clanging bell had 6718been calling for half an hour. However, this sort of close to the day's 6719adventures was romantic and therefore satisfactory. When the ferryboat 6720with her wild freight pushed into the stream, nobody cared sixpence for 6721the wasted time but the captain of the craft. 6722 6723Huck was already upon his watch when the ferryboat's lights went 6724glinting past the wharf. He heard no noise on board, for the young 6725people were as subdued and still as people usually are who are nearly 6726tired to death. He wondered what boat it was, and why she did not stop 6727at the wharf--and then he dropped her out of his mind and put his 6728attention upon his business. The night was growing cloudy and dark. Ten 6729o'clock came, and the noise of vehicles ceased, scattered lights began 6730to wink out, all straggling foot-passengers disappeared, the village 6731betook itself to its slumbers and left the small watcher alone with the 6732silence and the ghosts. Eleven o'clock came, and the tavern lights were 6733put out; darkness everywhere, now. Huck waited what seemed a weary long 6734time, but nothing happened. His faith was weakening. Was there any use? 6735Was there really any use? Why not give it up and turn in? 6736 6737A noise fell upon his ear. He was all attention in an instant. The 6738alley door closed softly. He sprang to the corner of the brick store. 6739The next moment two men brushed by him, and one seemed to have 6740something under his arm. It must be that box! So they were going to 6741remove the treasure. Why call Tom now? It would be absurd--the men 6742would get away with the box and never be found again. No, he would 6743stick to their wake and follow them; he would trust to the darkness for 6744security from discovery. So communing with himself, Huck stepped out 6745and glided along behind the men, cat-like, with bare feet, allowing 6746them to keep just far enough ahead not to be invisible. 6747 6748They moved up the river street three blocks, then turned to the left 6749up a cross-street. They went straight ahead, then, until they came to 6750the path that led up Cardiff Hill; this they took. They passed by the 6751old Welshman's house, half-way up the hill, without hesitating, and 6752still climbed upward. Good, thought Huck, they will bury it in the old 6753quarry. But they never stopped at the quarry. They passed on, up the 6754summit. They plunged into the narrow path between the tall sumach 6755bushes, and were at once hidden in the gloom. Huck closed up and 6756shortened his distance, now, for they would never be able to see him. 6757He trotted along awhile; then slackened his pace, fearing he was 6758gaining too fast; moved on a piece, then stopped altogether; listened; 6759no sound; none, save that he seemed to hear the beating of his own 6760heart. The hooting of an owl came over the hill--ominous sound! But no 6761footsteps. Heavens, was everything lost! He was about to spring with 6762winged feet, when a man cleared his throat not four feet from him! 6763Huck's heart shot into his throat, but he swallowed it again; and then 6764he stood there shaking as if a dozen agues had taken charge of him at 6765once, and so weak that he thought he must surely fall to the ground. He 6766knew where he was. He knew he was within five steps of the stile 6767leading into Widow Douglas' grounds. Very well, he thought, let them 6768bury it there; it won't be hard to find. 6769 6770Now there was a voice--a very low voice--Injun Joe's: 6771 6772"Damn her, maybe she's got company--there's lights, late as it is." 6773 6774"I can't see any." 6775 6776This was that stranger's voice--the stranger of the haunted house. A 6777deadly chill went to Huck's heart--this, then, was the "revenge" job! 6778His thought was, to fly. Then he remembered that the Widow Douglas had 6779been kind to him more than once, and maybe these men were going to 6780murder her. He wished he dared venture to warn her; but he knew he 6781didn't dare--they might come and catch him. He thought all this and 6782more in the moment that elapsed between the stranger's remark and Injun 6783Joe's next--which was-- 6784 6785"Because the bush is in your way. Now--this way--now you see, don't 6786you?" 6787 6788"Yes. Well, there IS company there, I reckon. Better give it up." 6789 6790"Give it up, and I just leaving this country forever! Give it up and 6791maybe never have another chance. I tell you again, as I've told you 6792before, I don't care for her swag--you may have it. But her husband was 6793rough on me--many times he was rough on me--and mainly he was the 6794justice of the peace that jugged me for a vagrant. And that ain't all. 6795It ain't a millionth part of it! He had me HORSEWHIPPED!--horsewhipped 6796in front of the jail, like a nigger!--with all the town looking on! 6797HORSEWHIPPED!--do you understand? He took advantage of me and died. But 6798I'll take it out of HER." 6799 6800"Oh, don't kill her! Don't do that!" 6801 6802"Kill? Who said anything about killing? I would kill HIM if he was 6803here; but not her. When you want to get revenge on a woman you don't 6804kill her--bosh! you go for her looks. You slit her nostrils--you notch 6805her ears like a sow!" 6806 6807"By God, that's--" 6808 6809"Keep your opinion to yourself! It will be safest for you. I'll tie 6810her to the bed. If she bleeds to death, is that my fault? I'll not cry, 6811if she does. My friend, you'll help me in this thing--for MY sake 6812--that's why you're here--I mightn't be able alone. If you flinch, I'll 6813kill you. Do you understand that? And if I have to kill you, I'll kill 6814her--and then I reckon nobody'll ever know much about who done this 6815business." 6816 6817"Well, if it's got to be done, let's get at it. The quicker the 6818better--I'm all in a shiver." 6819 6820"Do it NOW? And company there? Look here--I'll get suspicious of you, 6821first thing you know. No--we'll wait till the lights are out--there's 6822no hurry." 6823 6824Huck felt that a silence was going to ensue--a thing still more awful 6825than any amount of murderous talk; so he held his breath and stepped 6826gingerly back; planted his foot carefully and firmly, after balancing, 6827one-legged, in a precarious way and almost toppling over, first on one 6828side and then on the other. He took another step back, with the same 6829elaboration and the same risks; then another and another, and--a twig 6830snapped under his foot! His breath stopped and he listened. There was 6831no sound--the stillness was perfect. His gratitude was measureless. Now 6832he turned in his tracks, between the walls of sumach bushes--turned 6833himself as carefully as if he were a ship--and then stepped quickly but 6834cautiously along. When he emerged at the quarry he felt secure, and so 6835he picked up his nimble heels and flew. Down, down he sped, till he 6836reached the Welshman's. He banged at the door, and presently the heads 6837of the old man and his two stalwart sons were thrust from windows. 6838 6839"What's the row there? Who's banging? What do you want?" 6840 6841"Let me in--quick! I'll tell everything." 6842 6843"Why, who are you?" 6844 6845"Huckleberry Finn--quick, let me in!" 6846 6847"Huckleberry Finn, indeed! It ain't a name to open many doors, I 6848judge! But let him in, lads, and let's see what's the trouble." 6849 6850"Please don't ever tell I told you," were Huck's first words when he 6851got in. "Please don't--I'd be killed, sure--but the widow's been good 6852friends to me sometimes, and I want to tell--I WILL tell if you'll 6853promise you won't ever say it was me." 6854 6855"By George, he HAS got something to tell, or he wouldn't act so!" 6856exclaimed the old man; "out with it and nobody here'll ever tell, lad." 6857 6858Three minutes later the old man and his sons, well armed, were up the 6859hill, and just entering the sumach path on tiptoe, their weapons in 6860their hands. Huck accompanied them no further. He hid behind a great 6861bowlder and fell to listening. There was a lagging, anxious silence, 6862and then all of a sudden there was an explosion of firearms and a cry. 6863 6864Huck waited for no particulars. He sprang away and sped down the hill 6865as fast as his legs could carry him. 6866 6867 6868 6869CHAPTER XXX 6870 6871AS the earliest suspicion of dawn appeared on Sunday morning, Huck 6872came groping up the hill and rapped gently at the old Welshman's door. 6873The inmates were asleep, but it was a sleep that was set on a 6874hair-trigger, on account of the exciting episode of the night. A call 6875came from a window: 6876 6877"Who's there!" 6878 6879Huck's scared voice answered in a low tone: 6880 6881"Please let me in! It's only Huck Finn!" 6882 6883"It's a name that can open this door night or day, lad!--and welcome!" 6884 6885These were strange words to the vagabond boy's ears, and the 6886pleasantest he had ever heard. He could not recollect that the closing 6887word had ever been applied in his case before. The door was quickly 6888unlocked, and he entered. Huck was given a seat and the old man and his 6889brace of tall sons speedily dressed themselves. 6890 6891"Now, my boy, I hope you're good and hungry, because breakfast will be 6892ready as soon as the sun's up, and we'll have a piping hot one, too 6893--make yourself easy about that! I and the boys hoped you'd turn up and 6894stop here last night." 6895 6896"I was awful scared," said Huck, "and I run. I took out when the 6897pistols went off, and I didn't stop for three mile. I've come now becuz 6898I wanted to know about it, you know; and I come before daylight becuz I 6899didn't want to run across them devils, even if they was dead." 6900 6901"Well, poor chap, you do look as if you'd had a hard night of it--but 6902there's a bed here for you when you've had your breakfast. No, they 6903ain't dead, lad--we are sorry enough for that. You see we knew right 6904where to put our hands on them, by your description; so we crept along 6905on tiptoe till we got within fifteen feet of them--dark as a cellar 6906that sumach path was--and just then I found I was going to sneeze. It 6907was the meanest kind of luck! I tried to keep it back, but no use 6908--'twas bound to come, and it did come! I was in the lead with my pistol 6909raised, and when the sneeze started those scoundrels a-rustling to get 6910out of the path, I sung out, 'Fire boys!' and blazed away at the place 6911where the rustling was. So did the boys. But they were off in a jiffy, 6912those villains, and we after them, down through the woods. I judge we 6913never touched them. They fired a shot apiece as they started, but their 6914bullets whizzed by and didn't do us any harm. As soon as we lost the 6915sound of their feet we quit chasing, and went down and stirred up the 6916constables. They got a posse together, and went off to guard the river 6917bank, and as soon as it is light the sheriff and a gang are going to 6918beat up the woods. My boys will be with them presently. I wish we had 6919some sort of description of those rascals--'twould help a good deal. 6920But you couldn't see what they were like, in the dark, lad, I suppose?" 6921 6922"Oh yes; I saw them down-town and follered them." 6923 6924"Splendid! Describe them--describe them, my boy!" 6925 6926"One's the old deaf and dumb Spaniard that's ben around here once or 6927twice, and t'other's a mean-looking, ragged--" 6928 6929"That's enough, lad, we know the men! Happened on them in the woods 6930back of the widow's one day, and they slunk away. Off with you, boys, 6931and tell the sheriff--get your breakfast to-morrow morning!" 6932 6933The Welshman's sons departed at once. As they were leaving the room 6934Huck sprang up and exclaimed: 6935 6936"Oh, please don't tell ANYbody it was me that blowed on them! Oh, 6937please!" 6938 6939"All right if you say it, Huck, but you ought to have the credit of 6940what you did." 6941 6942"Oh no, no! Please don't tell!" 6943 6944When the young men were gone, the old Welshman said: 6945 6946"They won't tell--and I won't. But why don't you want it known?" 6947 6948Huck would not explain, further than to say that he already knew too 6949much about one of those men and would not have the man know that he 6950knew anything against him for the whole world--he would be killed for 6951knowing it, sure. 6952 6953The old man promised secrecy once more, and said: 6954 6955"How did you come to follow these fellows, lad? Were they looking 6956suspicious?" 6957 6958Huck was silent while he framed a duly cautious reply. Then he said: 6959 6960"Well, you see, I'm a kind of a hard lot,--least everybody says so, 6961and I don't see nothing agin it--and sometimes I can't sleep much, on 6962account of thinking about it and sort of trying to strike out a new way 6963of doing. That was the way of it last night. I couldn't sleep, and so I 6964come along up-street 'bout midnight, a-turning it all over, and when I 6965got to that old shackly brick store by the Temperance Tavern, I backed 6966up agin the wall to have another think. Well, just then along comes 6967these two chaps slipping along close by me, with something under their 6968arm, and I reckoned they'd stole it. One was a-smoking, and t'other one 6969wanted a light; so they stopped right before me and the cigars lit up 6970their faces and I see that the big one was the deaf and dumb Spaniard, 6971by his white whiskers and the patch on his eye, and t'other one was a 6972rusty, ragged-looking devil." 6973 6974"Could you see the rags by the light of the cigars?" 6975 6976This staggered Huck for a moment. Then he said: 6977 6978"Well, I don't know--but somehow it seems as if I did." 6979 6980"Then they went on, and you--" 6981 6982"Follered 'em--yes. That was it. I wanted to see what was up--they 6983sneaked along so. I dogged 'em to the widder's stile, and stood in the 6984dark and heard the ragged one beg for the widder, and the Spaniard 6985swear he'd spile her looks just as I told you and your two--" 6986 6987"What! The DEAF AND DUMB man said all that!" 6988 6989Huck had made another terrible mistake! He was trying his best to keep 6990the old man from getting the faintest hint of who the Spaniard might 6991be, and yet his tongue seemed determined to get him into trouble in 6992spite of all he could do. He made several efforts to creep out of his 6993scrape, but the old man's eye was upon him and he made blunder after 6994blunder. Presently the Welshman said: 6995 6996"My boy, don't be afraid of me. I wouldn't hurt a hair of your head 6997for all the world. No--I'd protect you--I'd protect you. This Spaniard 6998is not deaf and dumb; you've let that slip without intending it; you 6999can't cover that up now. You know something about that Spaniard that 7000you want to keep dark. Now trust me--tell me what it is, and trust me 7001--I won't betray you." 7002 7003Huck looked into the old man's honest eyes a moment, then bent over 7004and whispered in his ear: 7005 7006"'Tain't a Spaniard--it's Injun Joe!" 7007 7008The Welshman almost jumped out of his chair. In a moment he said: 7009 7010"It's all plain enough, now. When you talked about notching ears and 7011slitting noses I judged that that was your own embellishment, because 7012white men don't take that sort of revenge. But an Injun! That's a 7013different matter altogether." 7014 7015During breakfast the talk went on, and in the course of it the old man 7016said that the last thing which he and his sons had done, before going 7017to bed, was to get a lantern and examine the stile and its vicinity for 7018marks of blood. They found none, but captured a bulky bundle of-- 7019 7020"Of WHAT?" 7021 7022If the words had been lightning they could not have leaped with a more 7023stunning suddenness from Huck's blanched lips. His eyes were staring 7024wide, now, and his breath suspended--waiting for the answer. The 7025Welshman started--stared in return--three seconds--five seconds--ten 7026--then replied: 7027 7028"Of burglar's tools. Why, what's the MATTER with you?" 7029 7030Huck sank back, panting gently, but deeply, unutterably grateful. The 7031Welshman eyed him gravely, curiously--and presently said: 7032 7033"Yes, burglar's tools. That appears to relieve you a good deal. But 7034what did give you that turn? What were YOU expecting we'd found?" 7035 7036Huck was in a close place--the inquiring eye was upon him--he would 7037have given anything for material for a plausible answer--nothing 7038suggested itself--the inquiring eye was boring deeper and deeper--a 7039senseless reply offered--there was no time to weigh it, so at a venture 7040he uttered it--feebly: 7041 7042"Sunday-school books, maybe." 7043 7044Poor Huck was too distressed to smile, but the old man laughed loud 7045and joyously, shook up the details of his anatomy from head to foot, 7046and ended by saying that such a laugh was money in a-man's pocket, 7047because it cut down the doctor's bill like everything. Then he added: 7048 7049"Poor old chap, you're white and jaded--you ain't well a bit--no 7050wonder you're a little flighty and off your balance. But you'll come 7051out of it. Rest and sleep will fetch you out all right, I hope." 7052 7053Huck was irritated to think he had been such a goose and betrayed such 7054a suspicious excitement, for he had dropped the idea that the parcel 7055brought from the tavern was the treasure, as soon as he had heard the 7056talk at the widow's stile. He had only thought it was not the treasure, 7057however--he had not known that it wasn't--and so the suggestion of a 7058captured bundle was too much for his self-possession. But on the whole 7059he felt glad the little episode had happened, for now he knew beyond 7060all question that that bundle was not THE bundle, and so his mind was 7061at rest and exceedingly comfortable. In fact, everything seemed to be 7062drifting just in the right direction, now; the treasure must be still 7063in No. 2, the men would be captured and jailed that day, and he and Tom 7064could seize the gold that night without any trouble or any fear of 7065interruption. 7066 7067Just as breakfast was completed there was a knock at the door. Huck 7068jumped for a hiding-place, for he had no mind to be connected even 7069remotely with the late event. The Welshman admitted several ladies and 7070gentlemen, among them the Widow Douglas, and noticed that groups of 7071citizens were climbing up the hill--to stare at the stile. So the news 7072had spread. The Welshman had to tell the story of the night to the 7073visitors. The widow's gratitude for her preservation was outspoken. 7074 7075"Don't say a word about it, madam. There's another that you're more 7076beholden to than you are to me and my boys, maybe, but he don't allow 7077me to tell his name. We wouldn't have been there but for him." 7078 7079Of course this excited a curiosity so vast that it almost belittled 7080the main matter--but the Welshman allowed it to eat into the vitals of 7081his visitors, and through them be transmitted to the whole town, for he 7082refused to part with his secret. When all else had been learned, the 7083widow said: 7084 7085"I went to sleep reading in bed and slept straight through all that 7086noise. Why didn't you come and wake me?" 7087 7088"We judged it warn't worth while. Those fellows warn't likely to come 7089again--they hadn't any tools left to work with, and what was the use of 7090waking you up and scaring you to death? My three negro men stood guard 7091at your house all the rest of the night. They've just come back." 7092 7093More visitors came, and the story had to be told and retold for a 7094couple of hours more. 7095 7096There was no Sabbath-school during day-school vacation, but everybody 7097was early at church. The stirring event was well canvassed. News came 7098that not a sign of the two villains had been yet discovered. When the 7099sermon was finished, Judge Thatcher's wife dropped alongside of Mrs. 7100Harper as she moved down the aisle with the crowd and said: 7101 7102"Is my Becky going to sleep all day? I just expected she would be 7103tired to death." 7104 7105"Your Becky?" 7106 7107"Yes," with a startled look--"didn't she stay with you last night?" 7108 7109"Why, no." 7110 7111Mrs. Thatcher turned pale, and sank into a pew, just as Aunt Polly, 7112talking briskly with a friend, passed by. Aunt Polly said: 7113 7114"Good-morning, Mrs. Thatcher. Good-morning, Mrs. Harper. I've got a 7115boy that's turned up missing. I reckon my Tom stayed at your house last 7116night--one of you. And now he's afraid to come to church. I've got to 7117settle with him." 7118 7119Mrs. Thatcher shook her head feebly and turned paler than ever. 7120 7121"He didn't stay with us," said Mrs. Harper, beginning to look uneasy. 7122A marked anxiety came into Aunt Polly's face. 7123 7124"Joe Harper, have you seen my Tom this morning?" 7125 7126"No'm." 7127 7128"When did you see him last?" 7129 7130Joe tried to remember, but was not sure he could say. The people had 7131stopped moving out of church. Whispers passed along, and a boding 7132uneasiness took possession of every countenance. Children were 7133anxiously questioned, and young teachers. They all said they had not 7134noticed whether Tom and Becky were on board the ferryboat on the 7135homeward trip; it was dark; no one thought of inquiring if any one was 7136missing. One young man finally blurted out his fear that they were 7137still in the cave! Mrs. Thatcher swooned away. Aunt Polly fell to 7138crying and wringing her hands. 7139 7140The alarm swept from lip to lip, from group to group, from street to 7141street, and within five minutes the bells were wildly clanging and the 7142whole town was up! The Cardiff Hill episode sank into instant 7143insignificance, the burglars were forgotten, horses were saddled, 7144skiffs were manned, the ferryboat ordered out, and before the horror 7145was half an hour old, two hundred men were pouring down highroad and 7146river toward the cave. 7147 7148All the long afternoon the village seemed empty and dead. Many women 7149visited Aunt Polly and Mrs. Thatcher and tried to comfort them. They 7150cried with them, too, and that was still better than words. All the 7151tedious night the town waited for news; but when the morning dawned at 7152last, all the word that came was, "Send more candles--and send food." 7153Mrs. Thatcher was almost crazed; and Aunt Polly, also. Judge Thatcher 7154sent messages of hope and encouragement from the cave, but they 7155conveyed no real cheer. 7156 7157The old Welshman came home toward daylight, spattered with 7158candle-grease, smeared with clay, and almost worn out. He found Huck 7159still in the bed that had been provided for him, and delirious with 7160fever. The physicians were all at the cave, so the Widow Douglas came 7161and took charge of the patient. She said she would do her best by him, 7162because, whether he was good, bad, or indifferent, he was the Lord's, 7163and nothing that was the Lord's was a thing to be neglected. The 7164Welshman said Huck had good spots in him, and the widow said: 7165 7166"You can depend on it. That's the Lord's mark. He don't leave it off. 7167He never does. Puts it somewhere on every creature that comes from his 7168hands." 7169 7170Early in the forenoon parties of jaded men began to straggle into the 7171village, but the strongest of the citizens continued searching. All the 7172news that could be gained was that remotenesses of the cavern were 7173being ransacked that had never been visited before; that every corner 7174and crevice was going to be thoroughly searched; that wherever one 7175wandered through the maze of passages, lights were to be seen flitting 7176hither and thither in the distance, and shoutings and pistol-shots sent 7177their hollow reverberations to the ear down the sombre aisles. In one 7178place, far from the section usually traversed by tourists, the names 7179"BECKY & TOM" had been found traced upon the rocky wall with 7180candle-smoke, and near at hand a grease-soiled bit of ribbon. Mrs. 7181Thatcher recognized the ribbon and cried over it. She said it was the 7182last relic she should ever have of her child; and that no other memorial 7183of her could ever be so precious, because this one parted latest from 7184the living body before the awful death came. Some said that now and 7185then, in the cave, a far-away speck of light would glimmer, and then a 7186glorious shout would burst forth and a score of men go trooping down the 7187echoing aisle--and then a sickening disappointment always followed; the 7188children were not there; it was only a searcher's light. 7189 7190Three dreadful days and nights dragged their tedious hours along, and 7191the village sank into a hopeless stupor. No one had heart for anything. 7192The accidental discovery, just made, that the proprietor of the 7193Temperance Tavern kept liquor on his premises, scarcely fluttered the 7194public pulse, tremendous as the fact was. In a lucid interval, Huck 7195feebly led up to the subject of taverns, and finally asked--dimly 7196dreading the worst--if anything had been discovered at the Temperance 7197Tavern since he had been ill. 7198 7199"Yes," said the widow. 7200 7201Huck started up in bed, wild-eyed: 7202 7203"What? What was it?" 7204 7205"Liquor!--and the place has been shut up. Lie down, child--what a turn 7206you did give me!" 7207 7208"Only tell me just one thing--only just one--please! Was it Tom Sawyer 7209that found it?" 7210 7211The widow burst into tears. "Hush, hush, child, hush! I've told you 7212before, you must NOT talk. You are very, very sick!" 7213 7214Then nothing but liquor had been found; there would have been a great 7215powwow if it had been the gold. So the treasure was gone forever--gone 7216forever! But what could she be crying about? Curious that she should 7217cry. 7218 7219These thoughts worked their dim way through Huck's mind, and under the 7220weariness they gave him he fell asleep. The widow said to herself: 7221 7222"There--he's asleep, poor wreck. Tom Sawyer find it! Pity but somebody 7223could find Tom Sawyer! Ah, there ain't many left, now, that's got hope 7224enough, or strength enough, either, to go on searching." 7225 7226 7227 7228CHAPTER XXXI 7229 7230NOW to return to Tom and Becky's share in the picnic. They tripped 7231along the murky aisles with the rest of the company, visiting the 7232familiar wonders of the cave--wonders dubbed with rather 7233over-descriptive names, such as "The Drawing-Room," "The Cathedral," 7234"Aladdin's Palace," and so on. Presently the hide-and-seek frolicking 7235began, and Tom and Becky engaged in it with zeal until the exertion 7236began to grow a trifle wearisome; then they wandered down a sinuous 7237avenue holding their candles aloft and reading the tangled web-work of 7238names, dates, post-office addresses, and mottoes with which the rocky 7239walls had been frescoed (in candle-smoke). Still drifting along and 7240talking, they scarcely noticed that they were now in a part of the cave 7241whose walls were not frescoed. They smoked their own names under an 7242overhanging shelf and moved on. Presently they came to a place where a 7243little stream of water, trickling over a ledge and carrying a limestone 7244sediment with it, had, in the slow-dragging ages, formed a laced and 7245ruffled Niagara in gleaming and imperishable stone. Tom squeezed his 7246small body behind it in order to illuminate it for Becky's 7247gratification. He found that it curtained a sort of steep natural 7248stairway which was enclosed between narrow walls, and at once the 7249ambition to be a discoverer seized him. Becky responded to his call, 7250and they made a smoke-mark for future guidance, and started upon their 7251quest. They wound this way and that, far down into the secret depths of 7252the cave, made another mark, and branched off in search of novelties to 7253tell the upper world about. In one place they found a spacious cavern, 7254from whose ceiling depended a multitude of shining stalactites of the 7255length and circumference of a man's leg; they walked all about it, 7256wondering and admiring, and presently left it by one of the numerous 7257passages that opened into it. This shortly brought them to a bewitching 7258spring, whose basin was incrusted with a frostwork of glittering 7259crystals; it was in the midst of a cavern whose walls were supported by 7260many fantastic pillars which had been formed by the joining of great 7261stalactites and stalagmites together, the result of the ceaseless 7262water-drip of centuries. Under the roof vast knots of bats had packed 7263themselves together, thousands in a bunch; the lights disturbed the 7264creatures and they came flocking down by hundreds, squeaking and 7265darting furiously at the candles. Tom knew their ways and the danger of 7266this sort of conduct. He seized Becky's hand and hurried her into the 7267first corridor that offered; and none too soon, for a bat struck 7268Becky's light out with its wing while she was passing out of the 7269cavern. The bats chased the children a good distance; but the fugitives 7270plunged into every new passage that offered, and at last got rid of the 7271perilous things. Tom found a subterranean lake, shortly, which 7272stretched its dim length away until its shape was lost in the shadows. 7273He wanted to explore its borders, but concluded that it would be best 7274to sit down and rest awhile, first. Now, for the first time, the deep 7275stillness of the place laid a clammy hand upon the spirits of the 7276children. Becky said: 7277 7278"Why, I didn't notice, but it seems ever so long since I heard any of 7279the others." 7280 7281"Come to think, Becky, we are away down below them--and I don't know 7282how far away north, or south, or east, or whichever it is. We couldn't 7283hear them here." 7284 7285Becky grew apprehensive. 7286 7287"I wonder how long we've been down here, Tom? We better start back." 7288 7289"Yes, I reckon we better. P'raps we better." 7290 7291"Can you find the way, Tom? It's all a mixed-up crookedness to me." 7292 7293"I reckon I could find it--but then the bats. If they put our candles 7294out it will be an awful fix. Let's try some other way, so as not to go 7295through there." 7296 7297"Well. But I hope we won't get lost. It would be so awful!" and the 7298girl shuddered at the thought of the dreadful possibilities. 7299 7300They started through a corridor, and traversed it in silence a long 7301way, glancing at each new opening, to see if there was anything 7302familiar about the look of it; but they were all strange. Every time 7303Tom made an examination, Becky would watch his face for an encouraging 7304sign, and he would say cheerily: 7305 7306"Oh, it's all right. This ain't the one, but we'll come to it right 7307away!" 7308 7309But he felt less and less hopeful with each failure, and presently 7310began to turn off into diverging avenues at sheer random, in desperate 7311hope of finding the one that was wanted. He still said it was "all 7312right," but there was such a leaden dread at his heart that the words 7313had lost their ring and sounded just as if he had said, "All is lost!" 7314Becky clung to his side in an anguish of fear, and tried hard to keep 7315back the tears, but they would come. At last she said: 7316 7317"Oh, Tom, never mind the bats, let's go back that way! We seem to get 7318worse and worse off all the time." 7319 7320"Listen!" said he. 7321 7322Profound silence; silence so deep that even their breathings were 7323conspicuous in the hush. Tom shouted. The call went echoing down the 7324empty aisles and died out in the distance in a faint sound that 7325resembled a ripple of mocking laughter. 7326 7327"Oh, don't do it again, Tom, it is too horrid," said Becky. 7328 7329"It is horrid, but I better, Becky; they might hear us, you know," and 7330he shouted again. 7331 7332The "might" was even a chillier horror than the ghostly laughter, it 7333so confessed a perishing hope. The children stood still and listened; 7334but there was no result. Tom turned upon the back track at once, and 7335hurried his steps. It was but a little while before a certain 7336indecision in his manner revealed another fearful fact to Becky--he 7337could not find his way back! 7338 7339"Oh, Tom, you didn't make any marks!" 7340 7341"Becky, I was such a fool! Such a fool! I never thought we might want 7342to come back! No--I can't find the way. It's all mixed up." 7343 7344"Tom, Tom, we're lost! we're lost! We never can get out of this awful 7345place! Oh, why DID we ever leave the others!" 7346 7347She sank to the ground and burst into such a frenzy of crying that Tom 7348was appalled with the idea that she might die, or lose her reason. He 7349sat down by her and put his arms around her; she buried her face in his 7350bosom, she clung to him, she poured out her terrors, her unavailing 7351regrets, and the far echoes turned them all to jeering laughter. Tom 7352begged her to pluck up hope again, and she said she could not. He fell 7353to blaming and abusing himself for getting her into this miserable 7354situation; this had a better effect. She said she would try to hope 7355again, she would get up and follow wherever he might lead if only he 7356would not talk like that any more. For he was no more to blame than 7357she, she said. 7358 7359So they moved on again--aimlessly--simply at random--all they could do 7360was to move, keep moving. For a little while, hope made a show of 7361reviving--not with any reason to back it, but only because it is its 7362nature to revive when the spring has not been taken out of it by age 7363and familiarity with failure. 7364 7365By-and-by Tom took Becky's candle and blew it out. This economy meant 7366so much! Words were not needed. Becky understood, and her hope died 7367again. She knew that Tom had a whole candle and three or four pieces in 7368his pockets--yet he must economize. 7369 7370By-and-by, fatigue began to assert its claims; the children tried to 7371pay attention, for it was dreadful to think of sitting down when time 7372was grown to be so precious, moving, in some direction, in any 7373direction, was at least progress and might bear fruit; but to sit down 7374was to invite death and shorten its pursuit. 7375 7376At last Becky's frail limbs refused to carry her farther. She sat 7377down. Tom rested with her, and they talked of home, and the friends 7378there, and the comfortable beds and, above all, the light! Becky cried, 7379and Tom tried to think of some way of comforting her, but all his 7380encouragements were grown threadbare with use, and sounded like 7381sarcasms. Fatigue bore so heavily upon Becky that she drowsed off to 7382sleep. Tom was grateful. He sat looking into her drawn face and saw it 7383grow smooth and natural under the influence of pleasant dreams; and 7384by-and-by a smile dawned and rested there. The peaceful face reflected 7385somewhat of peace and healing into his own spirit, and his thoughts 7386wandered away to bygone times and dreamy memories. While he was deep in 7387his musings, Becky woke up with a breezy little laugh--but it was 7388stricken dead upon her lips, and a groan followed it. 7389 7390"Oh, how COULD I sleep! I wish I never, never had waked! No! No, I 7391don't, Tom! Don't look so! I won't say it again." 7392 7393"I'm glad you've slept, Becky; you'll feel rested, now, and we'll find 7394the way out." 7395 7396"We can try, Tom; but I've seen such a beautiful country in my dream. 7397I reckon we are going there." 7398 7399"Maybe not, maybe not. Cheer up, Becky, and let's go on trying." 7400 7401They rose up and wandered along, hand in hand and hopeless. They tried 7402to estimate how long they had been in the cave, but all they knew was 7403that it seemed days and weeks, and yet it was plain that this could not 7404be, for their candles were not gone yet. A long time after this--they 7405could not tell how long--Tom said they must go softly and listen for 7406dripping water--they must find a spring. They found one presently, and 7407Tom said it was time to rest again. Both were cruelly tired, yet Becky 7408said she thought she could go a little farther. She was surprised to 7409hear Tom dissent. She could not understand it. They sat down, and Tom 7410fastened his candle to the wall in front of them with some clay. 7411Thought was soon busy; nothing was said for some time. Then Becky broke 7412the silence: 7413 7414"Tom, I am so hungry!" 7415 7416Tom took something out of his pocket. 7417 7418"Do you remember this?" said he. 7419 7420Becky almost smiled. 7421 7422"It's our wedding-cake, Tom." 7423 7424"Yes--I wish it was as big as a barrel, for it's all we've got." 7425 7426"I saved it from the picnic for us to dream on, Tom, the way grown-up 7427people do with wedding-cake--but it'll be our--" 7428 7429She dropped the sentence where it was. Tom divided the cake and Becky 7430ate with good appetite, while Tom nibbled at his moiety. There was 7431abundance of cold water to finish the feast with. By-and-by Becky 7432suggested that they move on again. Tom was silent a moment. Then he 7433said: 7434 7435"Becky, can you bear it if I tell you something?" 7436 7437Becky's face paled, but she thought she could. 7438 7439"Well, then, Becky, we must stay here, where there's water to drink. 7440That little piece is our last candle!" 7441 7442Becky gave loose to tears and wailings. Tom did what he could to 7443comfort her, but with little effect. At length Becky said: 7444 7445"Tom!" 7446 7447"Well, Becky?" 7448 7449"They'll miss us and hunt for us!" 7450 7451"Yes, they will! Certainly they will!" 7452 7453"Maybe they're hunting for us now, Tom." 7454 7455"Why, I reckon maybe they are. I hope they are." 7456 7457"When would they miss us, Tom?" 7458 7459"When they get back to the boat, I reckon." 7460 7461"Tom, it might be dark then--would they notice we hadn't come?" 7462 7463"I don't know. But anyway, your mother would miss you as soon as they 7464got home." 7465 7466A frightened look in Becky's face brought Tom to his senses and he saw 7467that he had made a blunder. Becky was not to have gone home that night! 7468The children became silent and thoughtful. In a moment a new burst of 7469grief from Becky showed Tom that the thing in his mind had struck hers 7470also--that the Sabbath morning might be half spent before Mrs. Thatcher 7471discovered that Becky was not at Mrs. Harper's. 7472 7473The children fastened their eyes upon their bit of candle and watched 7474it melt slowly and pitilessly away; saw the half inch of wick stand 7475alone at last; saw the feeble flame rise and fall, climb the thin 7476column of smoke, linger at its top a moment, and then--the horror of 7477utter darkness reigned! 7478 7479How long afterward it was that Becky came to a slow consciousness that 7480she was crying in Tom's arms, neither could tell. All that they knew 7481was, that after what seemed a mighty stretch of time, both awoke out of 7482a dead stupor of sleep and resumed their miseries once more. Tom said 7483it might be Sunday, now--maybe Monday. He tried to get Becky to talk, 7484but her sorrows were too oppressive, all her hopes were gone. Tom said 7485that they must have been missed long ago, and no doubt the search was 7486going on. He would shout and maybe some one would come. He tried it; 7487but in the darkness the distant echoes sounded so hideously that he 7488tried it no more. 7489 7490The hours wasted away, and hunger came to torment the captives again. 7491A portion of Tom's half of the cake was left; they divided and ate it. 7492But they seemed hungrier than before. The poor morsel of food only 7493whetted desire. 7494 7495By-and-by Tom said: 7496 7497"SH! Did you hear that?" 7498 7499Both held their breath and listened. There was a sound like the 7500faintest, far-off shout. Instantly Tom answered it, and leading Becky 7501by the hand, started groping down the corridor in its direction. 7502Presently he listened again; again the sound was heard, and apparently 7503a little nearer. 7504 7505"It's them!" said Tom; "they're coming! Come along, Becky--we're all 7506right now!" 7507 7508The joy of the prisoners was almost overwhelming. Their speed was 7509slow, however, because pitfalls were somewhat common, and had to be 7510guarded against. They shortly came to one and had to stop. It might be 7511three feet deep, it might be a hundred--there was no passing it at any 7512rate. Tom got down on his breast and reached as far down as he could. 7513No bottom. They must stay there and wait until the searchers came. They 7514listened; evidently the distant shoutings were growing more distant! a 7515moment or two more and they had gone altogether. The heart-sinking 7516misery of it! Tom whooped until he was hoarse, but it was of no use. He 7517talked hopefully to Becky; but an age of anxious waiting passed and no 7518sounds came again. 7519 7520The children groped their way back to the spring. The weary time 7521dragged on; they slept again, and awoke famished and woe-stricken. Tom 7522believed it must be Tuesday by this time. 7523 7524Now an idea struck him. There were some side passages near at hand. It 7525would be better to explore some of these than bear the weight of the 7526heavy time in idleness. He took a kite-line from his pocket, tied it to 7527a projection, and he and Becky started, Tom in the lead, unwinding the 7528line as he groped along. At the end of twenty steps the corridor ended 7529in a "jumping-off place." Tom got down on his knees and felt below, and 7530then as far around the corner as he could reach with his hands 7531conveniently; he made an effort to stretch yet a little farther to the 7532right, and at that moment, not twenty yards away, a human hand, holding 7533a candle, appeared from behind a rock! Tom lifted up a glorious shout, 7534and instantly that hand was followed by the body it belonged to--Injun 7535Joe's! Tom was paralyzed; he could not move. He was vastly gratified 7536the next moment, to see the "Spaniard" take to his heels and get 7537himself out of sight. Tom wondered that Joe had not recognized his 7538voice and come over and killed him for testifying in court. But the 7539echoes must have disguised the voice. Without doubt, that was it, he 7540reasoned. Tom's fright weakened every muscle in his body. He said to 7541himself that if he had strength enough to get back to the spring he 7542would stay there, and nothing should tempt him to run the risk of 7543meeting Injun Joe again. He was careful to keep from Becky what it was 7544he had seen. He told her he had only shouted "for luck." 7545 7546But hunger and wretchedness rise superior to fears in the long run. 7547Another tedious wait at the spring and another long sleep brought 7548changes. The children awoke tortured with a raging hunger. Tom believed 7549that it must be Wednesday or Thursday or even Friday or Saturday, now, 7550and that the search had been given over. He proposed to explore another 7551passage. He felt willing to risk Injun Joe and all other terrors. But 7552Becky was very weak. She had sunk into a dreary apathy and would not be 7553roused. She said she would wait, now, where she was, and die--it would 7554not be long. She told Tom to go with the kite-line and explore if he 7555chose; but she implored him to come back every little while and speak 7556to her; and she made him promise that when the awful time came, he 7557would stay by her and hold her hand until all was over. 7558 7559Tom kissed her, with a choking sensation in his throat, and made a 7560show of being confident of finding the searchers or an escape from the 7561cave; then he took the kite-line in his hand and went groping down one 7562of the passages on his hands and knees, distressed with hunger and sick 7563with bodings of coming doom. 7564 7565 7566 7567CHAPTER XXXII 7568 7569TUESDAY afternoon came, and waned to the twilight. The village of St. 7570Petersburg still mourned. The lost children had not been found. Public 7571prayers had been offered up for them, and many and many a private 7572prayer that had the petitioner's whole heart in it; but still no good 7573news came from the cave. The majority of the searchers had given up the 7574quest and gone back to their daily avocations, saying that it was plain 7575the children could never be found. Mrs. Thatcher was very ill, and a 7576great part of the time delirious. People said it was heartbreaking to 7577hear her call her child, and raise her head and listen a whole minute 7578at a time, then lay it wearily down again with a moan. Aunt Polly had 7579drooped into a settled melancholy, and her gray hair had grown almost 7580white. The village went to its rest on Tuesday night, sad and forlorn. 7581 7582Away in the middle of the night a wild peal burst from the village 7583bells, and in a moment the streets were swarming with frantic half-clad 7584people, who shouted, "Turn out! turn out! they're found! they're 7585found!" Tin pans and horns were added to the din, the population massed 7586itself and moved toward the river, met the children coming in an open 7587carriage drawn by shouting citizens, thronged around it, joined its 7588homeward march, and swept magnificently up the main street roaring 7589huzzah after huzzah! 7590 7591The village was illuminated; nobody went to bed again; it was the 7592greatest night the little town had ever seen. During the first half-hour 7593a procession of villagers filed through Judge Thatcher's house, seized 7594the saved ones and kissed them, squeezed Mrs. Thatcher's hand, tried to 7595speak but couldn't--and drifted out raining tears all over the place. 7596 7597Aunt Polly's happiness was complete, and Mrs. Thatcher's nearly so. It 7598would be complete, however, as soon as the messenger dispatched with 7599the great news to the cave should get the word to her husband. Tom lay 7600upon a sofa with an eager auditory about him and told the history of 7601the wonderful adventure, putting in many striking additions to adorn it 7602withal; and closed with a description of how he left Becky and went on 7603an exploring expedition; how he followed two avenues as far as his 7604kite-line would reach; how he followed a third to the fullest stretch of 7605the kite-line, and was about to turn back when he glimpsed a far-off 7606speck that looked like daylight; dropped the line and groped toward it, 7607pushed his head and shoulders through a small hole, and saw the broad 7608Mississippi rolling by! And if it had only happened to be night he would 7609not have seen that speck of daylight and would not have explored that 7610passage any more! He told how he went back for Becky and broke the good 7611news and she told him not to fret her with such stuff, for she was 7612tired, and knew she was going to die, and wanted to. He described how he 7613labored with her and convinced her; and how she almost died for joy when 7614she had groped to where she actually saw the blue speck of daylight; how 7615he pushed his way out at the hole and then helped her out; how they sat 7616there and cried for gladness; how some men came along in a skiff and Tom 7617hailed them and told them their situation and their famished condition; 7618how the men didn't believe the wild tale at first, "because," said they, 7619"you are five miles down the river below the valley the cave is in" 7620--then took them aboard, rowed to a house, gave them supper, made them 7621rest till two or three hours after dark and then brought them home. 7622 7623Before day-dawn, Judge Thatcher and the handful of searchers with him 7624were tracked out, in the cave, by the twine clews they had strung 7625behind them, and informed of the great news. 7626 7627Three days and nights of toil and hunger in the cave were not to be 7628shaken off at once, as Tom and Becky soon discovered. They were 7629bedridden all of Wednesday and Thursday, and seemed to grow more and 7630more tired and worn, all the time. Tom got about, a little, on 7631Thursday, was down-town Friday, and nearly as whole as ever Saturday; 7632but Becky did not leave her room until Sunday, and then she looked as 7633if she had passed through a wasting illness. 7634 7635Tom learned of Huck's sickness and went to see him on Friday, but 7636could not be admitted to the bedroom; neither could he on Saturday or 7637Sunday. He was admitted daily after that, but was warned to keep still 7638about his adventure and introduce no exciting topic. The Widow Douglas 7639stayed by to see that he obeyed. At home Tom learned of the Cardiff 7640Hill event; also that the "ragged man's" body had eventually been found 7641in the river near the ferry-landing; he had been drowned while trying 7642to escape, perhaps. 7643 7644About a fortnight after Tom's rescue from the cave, he started off to 7645visit Huck, who had grown plenty strong enough, now, to hear exciting 7646talk, and Tom had some that would interest him, he thought. Judge 7647Thatcher's house was on Tom's way, and he stopped to see Becky. The 7648Judge and some friends set Tom to talking, and some one asked him 7649ironically if he wouldn't like to go to the cave again. Tom said he 7650thought he wouldn't mind it. The Judge said: 7651 7652"Well, there are others just like you, Tom, I've not the least doubt. 7653But we have taken care of that. Nobody will get lost in that cave any 7654more." 7655 7656"Why?" 7657 7658"Because I had its big door sheathed with boiler iron two weeks ago, 7659and triple-locked--and I've got the keys." 7660 7661Tom turned as white as a sheet. 7662 7663"What's the matter, boy! Here, run, somebody! Fetch a glass of water!" 7664 7665The water was brought and thrown into Tom's face. 7666 7667"Ah, now you're all right. What was the matter with you, Tom?" 7668 7669"Oh, Judge, Injun Joe's in the cave!" 7670 7671 7672 7673CHAPTER XXXIII 7674 7675WITHIN a few minutes the news had spread, and a dozen skiff-loads of 7676men were on their way to McDougal's cave, and the ferryboat, well 7677filled with passengers, soon followed. Tom Sawyer was in the skiff that 7678bore Judge Thatcher. 7679 7680When the cave door was unlocked, a sorrowful sight presented itself in 7681the dim twilight of the place. Injun Joe lay stretched upon the ground, 7682dead, with his face close to the crack of the door, as if his longing 7683eyes had been fixed, to the latest moment, upon the light and the cheer 7684of the free world outside. Tom was touched, for he knew by his own 7685experience how this wretch had suffered. His pity was moved, but 7686nevertheless he felt an abounding sense of relief and security, now, 7687which revealed to him in a degree which he had not fully appreciated 7688before how vast a weight of dread had been lying upon him since the day 7689he lifted his voice against this bloody-minded outcast. 7690 7691Injun Joe's bowie-knife lay close by, its blade broken in two. The 7692great foundation-beam of the door had been chipped and hacked through, 7693with tedious labor; useless labor, too, it was, for the native rock 7694formed a sill outside it, and upon that stubborn material the knife had 7695wrought no effect; the only damage done was to the knife itself. But if 7696there had been no stony obstruction there the labor would have been 7697useless still, for if the beam had been wholly cut away Injun Joe could 7698not have squeezed his body under the door, and he knew it. So he had 7699only hacked that place in order to be doing something--in order to pass 7700the weary time--in order to employ his tortured faculties. Ordinarily 7701one could find half a dozen bits of candle stuck around in the crevices 7702of this vestibule, left there by tourists; but there were none now. The 7703prisoner had searched them out and eaten them. He had also contrived to 7704catch a few bats, and these, also, he had eaten, leaving only their 7705claws. The poor unfortunate had starved to death. In one place, near at 7706hand, a stalagmite had been slowly growing up from the ground for ages, 7707builded by the water-drip from a stalactite overhead. The captive had 7708broken off the stalagmite, and upon the stump had placed a stone, 7709wherein he had scooped a shallow hollow to catch the precious drop 7710that fell once in every three minutes with the dreary regularity of a 7711clock-tick--a dessertspoonful once in four and twenty hours. That drop 7712was falling when the Pyramids were new; when Troy fell; when the 7713foundations of Rome were laid; when Christ was crucified; when the 7714Conqueror created the British empire; when Columbus sailed; when the 7715massacre at Lexington was "news." It is falling now; it will still be 7716falling when all these things shall have sunk down the afternoon of 7717history, and the twilight of tradition, and been swallowed up in the 7718thick night of oblivion. Has everything a purpose and a mission? Did 7719this drop fall patiently during five thousand years to be ready for 7720this flitting human insect's need? and has it another important object 7721to accomplish ten thousand years to come? No matter. It is many and 7722many a year since the hapless half-breed scooped out the stone to catch 7723the priceless drops, but to this day the tourist stares longest at that 7724pathetic stone and that slow-dropping water when he comes to see the 7725wonders of McDougal's cave. Injun Joe's cup stands first in the list of 7726the cavern's marvels; even "Aladdin's Palace" cannot rival it. 7727 7728Injun Joe was buried near the mouth of the cave; and people flocked 7729there in boats and wagons from the towns and from all the farms and 7730hamlets for seven miles around; they brought their children, and all 7731sorts of provisions, and confessed that they had had almost as 7732satisfactory a time at the funeral as they could have had at the 7733hanging. 7734 7735This funeral stopped the further growth of one thing--the petition to 7736the governor for Injun Joe's pardon. The petition had been largely 7737signed; many tearful and eloquent meetings had been held, and a 7738committee of sappy women been appointed to go in deep mourning and wail 7739around the governor, and implore him to be a merciful ass and trample 7740his duty under foot. Injun Joe was believed to have killed five 7741citizens of the village, but what of that? If he had been Satan himself 7742there would have been plenty of weaklings ready to scribble their names 7743to a pardon-petition, and drip a tear on it from their permanently 7744impaired and leaky water-works. 7745 7746The morning after the funeral Tom took Huck to a private place to have 7747an important talk. Huck had learned all about Tom's adventure from the 7748Welshman and the Widow Douglas, by this time, but Tom said he reckoned 7749there was one thing they had not told him; that thing was what he 7750wanted to talk about now. Huck's face saddened. He said: 7751 7752"I know what it is. You got into No. 2 and never found anything but 7753whiskey. Nobody told me it was you; but I just knowed it must 'a' ben 7754you, soon as I heard 'bout that whiskey business; and I knowed you 7755hadn't got the money becuz you'd 'a' got at me some way or other and 7756told me even if you was mum to everybody else. Tom, something's always 7757told me we'd never get holt of that swag." 7758 7759"Why, Huck, I never told on that tavern-keeper. YOU know his tavern 7760was all right the Saturday I went to the picnic. Don't you remember you 7761was to watch there that night?" 7762 7763"Oh yes! Why, it seems 'bout a year ago. It was that very night that I 7764follered Injun Joe to the widder's." 7765 7766"YOU followed him?" 7767 7768"Yes--but you keep mum. I reckon Injun Joe's left friends behind him, 7769and I don't want 'em souring on me and doing me mean tricks. If it 7770hadn't ben for me he'd be down in Texas now, all right." 7771 7772Then Huck told his entire adventure in confidence to Tom, who had only 7773heard of the Welshman's part of it before. 7774 7775"Well," said Huck, presently, coming back to the main question, 7776"whoever nipped the whiskey in No. 2, nipped the money, too, I reckon 7777--anyways it's a goner for us, Tom." 7778 7779"Huck, that money wasn't ever in No. 2!" 7780 7781"What!" Huck searched his comrade's face keenly. "Tom, have you got on 7782the track of that money again?" 7783 7784"Huck, it's in the cave!" 7785 7786Huck's eyes blazed. 7787 7788"Say it again, Tom." 7789 7790"The money's in the cave!" 7791 7792"Tom--honest injun, now--is it fun, or earnest?" 7793 7794"Earnest, Huck--just as earnest as ever I was in my life. Will you go 7795in there with me and help get it out?" 7796 7797"I bet I will! I will if it's where we can blaze our way to it and not 7798get lost." 7799 7800"Huck, we can do that without the least little bit of trouble in the 7801world." 7802 7803"Good as wheat! What makes you think the money's--" 7804 7805"Huck, you just wait till we get in there. If we don't find it I'll 7806agree to give you my drum and every thing I've got in the world. I 7807will, by jings." 7808 7809"All right--it's a whiz. When do you say?" 7810 7811"Right now, if you say it. Are you strong enough?" 7812 7813"Is it far in the cave? I ben on my pins a little, three or four days, 7814now, but I can't walk more'n a mile, Tom--least I don't think I could." 7815 7816"It's about five mile into there the way anybody but me would go, 7817Huck, but there's a mighty short cut that they don't anybody but me 7818know about. Huck, I'll take you right to it in a skiff. I'll float the 7819skiff down there, and I'll pull it back again all by myself. You 7820needn't ever turn your hand over." 7821 7822"Less start right off, Tom." 7823 7824"All right. We want some bread and meat, and our pipes, and a little 7825bag or two, and two or three kite-strings, and some of these 7826new-fangled things they call lucifer matches. I tell you, many's 7827the time I wished I had some when I was in there before." 7828 7829A trifle after noon the boys borrowed a small skiff from a citizen who 7830was absent, and got under way at once. When they were several miles 7831below "Cave Hollow," Tom said: 7832 7833"Now you see this bluff here looks all alike all the way down from the 7834cave hollow--no houses, no wood-yards, bushes all alike. But do you see 7835that white place up yonder where there's been a landslide? Well, that's 7836one of my marks. We'll get ashore, now." 7837 7838They landed. 7839 7840"Now, Huck, where we're a-standing you could touch that hole I got out 7841of with a fishing-pole. See if you can find it." 7842 7843Huck searched all the place about, and found nothing. Tom proudly 7844marched into a thick clump of sumach bushes and said: 7845 7846"Here you are! Look at it, Huck; it's the snuggest hole in this 7847country. You just keep mum about it. All along I've been wanting to be 7848a robber, but I knew I'd got to have a thing like this, and where to 7849run across it was the bother. We've got it now, and we'll keep it 7850quiet, only we'll let Joe Harper and Ben Rogers in--because of course 7851there's got to be a Gang, or else there wouldn't be any style about it. 7852Tom Sawyer's Gang--it sounds splendid, don't it, Huck?" 7853 7854"Well, it just does, Tom. And who'll we rob?" 7855 7856"Oh, most anybody. Waylay people--that's mostly the way." 7857 7858"And kill them?" 7859 7860"No, not always. Hive them in the cave till they raise a ransom." 7861 7862"What's a ransom?" 7863 7864"Money. You make them raise all they can, off'n their friends; and 7865after you've kept them a year, if it ain't raised then you kill them. 7866That's the general way. Only you don't kill the women. You shut up the 7867women, but you don't kill them. They're always beautiful and rich, and 7868awfully scared. You take their watches and things, but you always take 7869your hat off and talk polite. They ain't anybody as polite as robbers 7870--you'll see that in any book. Well, the women get to loving you, and 7871after they've been in the cave a week or two weeks they stop crying and 7872after that you couldn't get them to leave. If you drove them out they'd 7873turn right around and come back. It's so in all the books." 7874 7875"Why, it's real bully, Tom. I believe it's better'n to be a pirate." 7876 7877"Yes, it's better in some ways, because it's close to home and 7878circuses and all that." 7879 7880By this time everything was ready and the boys entered the hole, Tom 7881in the lead. They toiled their way to the farther end of the tunnel, 7882then made their spliced kite-strings fast and moved on. A few steps 7883brought them to the spring, and Tom felt a shudder quiver all through 7884him. He showed Huck the fragment of candle-wick perched on a lump of 7885clay against the wall, and described how he and Becky had watched the 7886flame struggle and expire. 7887 7888The boys began to quiet down to whispers, now, for the stillness and 7889gloom of the place oppressed their spirits. They went on, and presently 7890entered and followed Tom's other corridor until they reached the 7891"jumping-off place." The candles revealed the fact that it was not 7892really a precipice, but only a steep clay hill twenty or thirty feet 7893high. Tom whispered: 7894 7895"Now I'll show you something, Huck." 7896 7897He held his candle aloft and said: 7898 7899"Look as far around the corner as you can. Do you see that? There--on 7900the big rock over yonder--done with candle-smoke." 7901 7902"Tom, it's a CROSS!" 7903 7904"NOW where's your Number Two? 'UNDER THE CROSS,' hey? Right yonder's 7905where I saw Injun Joe poke up his candle, Huck!" 7906 7907Huck stared at the mystic sign awhile, and then said with a shaky voice: 7908 7909"Tom, less git out of here!" 7910 7911"What! and leave the treasure?" 7912 7913"Yes--leave it. Injun Joe's ghost is round about there, certain." 7914 7915"No it ain't, Huck, no it ain't. It would ha'nt the place where he 7916died--away out at the mouth of the cave--five mile from here." 7917 7918"No, Tom, it wouldn't. It would hang round the money. I know the ways 7919of ghosts, and so do you." 7920 7921Tom began to fear that Huck was right. Misgivings gathered in his 7922mind. But presently an idea occurred to him-- 7923 7924"Lookyhere, Huck, what fools we're making of ourselves! Injun Joe's 7925ghost ain't a going to come around where there's a cross!" 7926 7927The point was well taken. It had its effect. 7928 7929"Tom, I didn't think of that. But that's so. It's luck for us, that 7930cross is. I reckon we'll climb down there and have a hunt for that box." 7931 7932Tom went first, cutting rude steps in the clay hill as he descended. 7933Huck followed. Four avenues opened out of the small cavern which the 7934great rock stood in. The boys examined three of them with no result. 7935They found a small recess in the one nearest the base of the rock, with 7936a pallet of blankets spread down in it; also an old suspender, some 7937bacon rind, and the well-gnawed bones of two or three fowls. But there 7938was no money-box. The lads searched and researched this place, but in 7939vain. Tom said: 7940 7941"He said UNDER the cross. Well, this comes nearest to being under the 7942cross. It can't be under the rock itself, because that sets solid on 7943the ground." 7944 7945They searched everywhere once more, and then sat down discouraged. 7946Huck could suggest nothing. By-and-by Tom said: 7947 7948"Lookyhere, Huck, there's footprints and some candle-grease on the 7949clay about one side of this rock, but not on the other sides. Now, 7950what's that for? I bet you the money IS under the rock. I'm going to 7951dig in the clay." 7952 7953"That ain't no bad notion, Tom!" said Huck with animation. 7954 7955Tom's "real Barlow" was out at once, and he had not dug four inches 7956before he struck wood. 7957 7958"Hey, Huck!--you hear that?" 7959 7960Huck began to dig and scratch now. Some boards were soon uncovered and 7961removed. They had concealed a natural chasm which led under the rock. 7962Tom got into this and held his candle as far under the rock as he 7963could, but said he could not see to the end of the rift. He proposed to 7964explore. He stooped and passed under; the narrow way descended 7965gradually. He followed its winding course, first to the right, then to 7966the left, Huck at his heels. Tom turned a short curve, by-and-by, and 7967exclaimed: 7968 7969"My goodness, Huck, lookyhere!" 7970 7971It was the treasure-box, sure enough, occupying a snug little cavern, 7972along with an empty powder-keg, a couple of guns in leather cases, two 7973or three pairs of old moccasins, a leather belt, and some other rubbish 7974well soaked with the water-drip. 7975 7976"Got it at last!" said Huck, ploughing among the tarnished coins with 7977his hand. "My, but we're rich, Tom!" 7978 7979"Huck, I always reckoned we'd get it. It's just too good to believe, 7980but we HAVE got it, sure! Say--let's not fool around here. Let's snake 7981it out. Lemme see if I can lift the box." 7982 7983It weighed about fifty pounds. Tom could lift it, after an awkward 7984fashion, but could not carry it conveniently. 7985 7986"I thought so," he said; "THEY carried it like it was heavy, that day 7987at the ha'nted house. I noticed that. I reckon I was right to think of 7988fetching the little bags along." 7989 7990The money was soon in the bags and the boys took it up to the cross 7991rock. 7992 7993"Now less fetch the guns and things," said Huck. 7994 7995"No, Huck--leave them there. They're just the tricks to have when we 7996go to robbing. We'll keep them there all the time, and we'll hold our 7997orgies there, too. It's an awful snug place for orgies." 7998 7999"What orgies?" 8000 8001"I dono. But robbers always have orgies, and of course we've got to 8002have them, too. Come along, Huck, we've been in here a long time. It's 8003getting late, I reckon. I'm hungry, too. We'll eat and smoke when we 8004get to the skiff." 8005 8006They presently emerged into the clump of sumach bushes, looked warily 8007out, found the coast clear, and were soon lunching and smoking in the 8008skiff. As the sun dipped toward the horizon they pushed out and got 8009under way. Tom skimmed up the shore through the long twilight, chatting 8010cheerily with Huck, and landed shortly after dark. 8011 8012"Now, Huck," said Tom, "we'll hide the money in the loft of the 8013widow's woodshed, and I'll come up in the morning and we'll count it 8014and divide, and then we'll hunt up a place out in the woods for it 8015where it will be safe. Just you lay quiet here and watch the stuff till 8016I run and hook Benny Taylor's little wagon; I won't be gone a minute." 8017 8018He disappeared, and presently returned with the wagon, put the two 8019small sacks into it, threw some old rags on top of them, and started 8020off, dragging his cargo behind him. When the boys reached the 8021Welshman's house, they stopped to rest. Just as they were about to move 8022on, the Welshman stepped out and said: 8023 8024"Hallo, who's that?" 8025 8026"Huck and Tom Sawyer." 8027 8028"Good! Come along with me, boys, you are keeping everybody waiting. 8029Here--hurry up, trot ahead--I'll haul the wagon for you. Why, it's not 8030as light as it might be. Got bricks in it?--or old metal?" 8031 8032"Old metal," said Tom. 8033 8034"I judged so; the boys in this town will take more trouble and fool 8035away more time hunting up six bits' worth of old iron to sell to the 8036foundry than they would to make twice the money at regular work. But 8037that's human nature--hurry along, hurry along!" 8038 8039The boys wanted to know what the hurry was about. 8040 8041"Never mind; you'll see, when we get to the Widow Douglas'." 8042 8043Huck said with some apprehension--for he was long used to being 8044falsely accused: 8045 8046"Mr. Jones, we haven't been doing nothing." 8047 8048The Welshman laughed. 8049 8050"Well, I don't know, Huck, my boy. I don't know about that. Ain't you 8051and the widow good friends?" 8052 8053"Yes. Well, she's ben good friends to me, anyway." 8054 8055"All right, then. What do you want to be afraid for?" 8056 8057This question was not entirely answered in Huck's slow mind before he 8058found himself pushed, along with Tom, into Mrs. Douglas' drawing-room. 8059Mr. Jones left the wagon near the door and followed. 8060 8061The place was grandly lighted, and everybody that was of any 8062consequence in the village was there. The Thatchers were there, the 8063Harpers, the Rogerses, Aunt Polly, Sid, Mary, the minister, the editor, 8064and a great many more, and all dressed in their best. The widow 8065received the boys as heartily as any one could well receive two such 8066looking beings. They were covered with clay and candle-grease. Aunt 8067Polly blushed crimson with humiliation, and frowned and shook her head 8068at Tom. Nobody suffered half as much as the two boys did, however. Mr. 8069Jones said: 8070 8071"Tom wasn't at home, yet, so I gave him up; but I stumbled on him and 8072Huck right at my door, and so I just brought them along in a hurry." 8073 8074"And you did just right," said the widow. "Come with me, boys." 8075 8076She took them to a bedchamber and said: 8077 8078"Now wash and dress yourselves. Here are two new suits of clothes 8079--shirts, socks, everything complete. They're Huck's--no, no thanks, 8080Huck--Mr. Jones bought one and I the other. But they'll fit both of you. 8081Get into them. We'll wait--come down when you are slicked up enough." 8082 8083Then she left. 8084 8085 8086 8087CHAPTER XXXIV 8088 8089HUCK said: "Tom, we can slope, if we can find a rope. The window ain't 8090high from the ground." 8091 8092"Shucks! what do you want to slope for?" 8093 8094"Well, I ain't used to that kind of a crowd. I can't stand it. I ain't 8095going down there, Tom." 8096 8097"Oh, bother! It ain't anything. I don't mind it a bit. I'll take care 8098of you." 8099 8100Sid appeared. 8101 8102"Tom," said he, "auntie has been waiting for you all the afternoon. 8103Mary got your Sunday clothes ready, and everybody's been fretting about 8104you. Say--ain't this grease and clay, on your clothes?" 8105 8106"Now, Mr. Siddy, you jist 'tend to your own business. What's all this 8107blow-out about, anyway?" 8108 8109"It's one of the widow's parties that she's always having. This time 8110it's for the Welshman and his sons, on account of that scrape they 8111helped her out of the other night. And say--I can tell you something, 8112if you want to know." 8113 8114"Well, what?" 8115 8116"Why, old Mr. Jones is going to try to spring something on the people 8117here to-night, but I overheard him tell auntie to-day about it, as a 8118secret, but I reckon it's not much of a secret now. Everybody knows 8119--the widow, too, for all she tries to let on she don't. Mr. Jones was 8120bound Huck should be here--couldn't get along with his grand secret 8121without Huck, you know!" 8122 8123"Secret about what, Sid?" 8124 8125"About Huck tracking the robbers to the widow's. I reckon Mr. Jones 8126was going to make a grand time over his surprise, but I bet you it will 8127drop pretty flat." 8128 8129Sid chuckled in a very contented and satisfied way. 8130 8131"Sid, was it you that told?" 8132 8133"Oh, never mind who it was. SOMEBODY told--that's enough." 8134 8135"Sid, there's only one person in this town mean enough to do that, and 8136that's you. If you had been in Huck's place you'd 'a' sneaked down the 8137hill and never told anybody on the robbers. You can't do any but mean 8138things, and you can't bear to see anybody praised for doing good ones. 8139There--no thanks, as the widow says"--and Tom cuffed Sid's ears and 8140helped him to the door with several kicks. "Now go and tell auntie if 8141you dare--and to-morrow you'll catch it!" 8142 8143Some minutes later the widow's guests were at the supper-table, and a 8144dozen children were propped up at little side-tables in the same room, 8145after the fashion of that country and that day. At the proper time Mr. 8146Jones made his little speech, in which he thanked the widow for the 8147honor she was doing himself and his sons, but said that there was 8148another person whose modesty-- 8149 8150And so forth and so on. He sprung his secret about Huck's share in the 8151adventure in the finest dramatic manner he was master of, but the 8152surprise it occasioned was largely counterfeit and not as clamorous and 8153effusive as it might have been under happier circumstances. However, 8154the widow made a pretty fair show of astonishment, and heaped so many 8155compliments and so much gratitude upon Huck that he almost forgot the 8156nearly intolerable discomfort of his new clothes in the entirely 8157intolerable discomfort of being set up as a target for everybody's gaze 8158and everybody's laudations. 8159 8160The widow said she meant to give Huck a home under her roof and have 8161him educated; and that when she could spare the money she would start 8162him in business in a modest way. Tom's chance was come. He said: 8163 8164"Huck don't need it. Huck's rich." 8165 8166Nothing but a heavy strain upon the good manners of the company kept 8167back the due and proper complimentary laugh at this pleasant joke. But 8168the silence was a little awkward. Tom broke it: 8169 8170"Huck's got money. Maybe you don't believe it, but he's got lots of 8171it. Oh, you needn't smile--I reckon I can show you. You just wait a 8172minute." 8173 8174Tom ran out of doors. The company looked at each other with a 8175perplexed interest--and inquiringly at Huck, who was tongue-tied. 8176 8177"Sid, what ails Tom?" said Aunt Polly. "He--well, there ain't ever any 8178making of that boy out. I never--" 8179 8180Tom entered, struggling with the weight of his sacks, and Aunt Polly 8181did not finish her sentence. Tom poured the mass of yellow coin upon 8182the table and said: 8183 8184"There--what did I tell you? Half of it's Huck's and half of it's mine!" 8185 8186The spectacle took the general breath away. All gazed, nobody spoke 8187for a moment. Then there was a unanimous call for an explanation. Tom 8188said he could furnish it, and he did. The tale was long, but brimful of 8189interest. There was scarcely an interruption from any one to break the 8190charm of its flow. When he had finished, Mr. Jones said: 8191 8192"I thought I had fixed up a little surprise for this occasion, but it 8193don't amount to anything now. This one makes it sing mighty small, I'm 8194willing to allow." 8195 8196The money was counted. The sum amounted to a little over twelve 8197thousand dollars. It was more than any one present had ever seen at one 8198time before, though several persons were there who were worth 8199considerably more than that in property. 8200 8201 8202 8203CHAPTER XXXV 8204 8205THE reader may rest satisfied that Tom's and Huck's windfall made a 8206mighty stir in the poor little village of St. Petersburg. So vast a 8207sum, all in actual cash, seemed next to incredible. It was talked 8208about, gloated over, glorified, until the reason of many of the 8209citizens tottered under the strain of the unhealthy excitement. Every 8210"haunted" house in St. Petersburg and the neighboring villages was 8211dissected, plank by plank, and its foundations dug up and ransacked for 8212hidden treasure--and not by boys, but men--pretty grave, unromantic 8213men, too, some of them. Wherever Tom and Huck appeared they were 8214courted, admired, stared at. The boys were not able to remember that 8215their remarks had possessed weight before; but now their sayings were 8216treasured and repeated; everything they did seemed somehow to be 8217regarded as remarkable; they had evidently lost the power of doing and 8218saying commonplace things; moreover, their past history was raked up 8219and discovered to bear marks of conspicuous originality. The village 8220paper published biographical sketches of the boys. 8221 8222The Widow Douglas put Huck's money out at six per cent., and Judge 8223Thatcher did the same with Tom's at Aunt Polly's request. Each lad had 8224an income, now, that was simply prodigious--a dollar for every week-day 8225in the year and half of the Sundays. It was just what the minister got 8226--no, it was what he was promised--he generally couldn't collect it. A 8227dollar and a quarter a week would board, lodge, and school a boy in 8228those old simple days--and clothe him and wash him, too, for that 8229matter. 8230 8231Judge Thatcher had conceived a great opinion of Tom. He said that no 8232commonplace boy would ever have got his daughter out of the cave. When 8233Becky told her father, in strict confidence, how Tom had taken her 8234whipping at school, the Judge was visibly moved; and when she pleaded 8235grace for the mighty lie which Tom had told in order to shift that 8236whipping from her shoulders to his own, the Judge said with a fine 8237outburst that it was a noble, a generous, a magnanimous lie--a lie that 8238was worthy to hold up its head and march down through history breast to 8239breast with George Washington's lauded Truth about the hatchet! Becky 8240thought her father had never looked so tall and so superb as when he 8241walked the floor and stamped his foot and said that. She went straight 8242off and told Tom about it. 8243 8244Judge Thatcher hoped to see Tom a great lawyer or a great soldier some 8245day. He said he meant to look to it that Tom should be admitted to the 8246National Military Academy and afterward trained in the best law school 8247in the country, in order that he might be ready for either career or 8248both. 8249 8250Huck Finn's wealth and the fact that he was now under the Widow 8251Douglas' protection introduced him into society--no, dragged him into 8252it, hurled him into it--and his sufferings were almost more than he 8253could bear. The widow's servants kept him clean and neat, combed and 8254brushed, and they bedded him nightly in unsympathetic sheets that had 8255not one little spot or stain which he could press to his heart and know 8256for a friend. He had to eat with a knife and fork; he had to use 8257napkin, cup, and plate; he had to learn his book, he had to go to 8258church; he had to talk so properly that speech was become insipid in 8259his mouth; whithersoever he turned, the bars and shackles of 8260civilization shut him in and bound him hand and foot. 8261 8262He bravely bore his miseries three weeks, and then one day turned up 8263missing. For forty-eight hours the widow hunted for him everywhere in 8264great distress. The public were profoundly concerned; they searched 8265high and low, they dragged the river for his body. Early the third 8266morning Tom Sawyer wisely went poking among some old empty hogsheads 8267down behind the abandoned slaughter-house, and in one of them he found 8268the refugee. Huck had slept there; he had just breakfasted upon some 8269stolen odds and ends of food, and was lying off, now, in comfort, with 8270his pipe. He was unkempt, uncombed, and clad in the same old ruin of 8271rags that had made him picturesque in the days when he was free and 8272happy. Tom routed him out, told him the trouble he had been causing, 8273and urged him to go home. Huck's face lost its tranquil content, and 8274took a melancholy cast. He said: 8275 8276"Don't talk about it, Tom. I've tried it, and it don't work; it don't 8277work, Tom. It ain't for me; I ain't used to it. The widder's good to 8278me, and friendly; but I can't stand them ways. She makes me get up just 8279at the same time every morning; she makes me wash, they comb me all to 8280thunder; she won't let me sleep in the woodshed; I got to wear them 8281blamed clothes that just smothers me, Tom; they don't seem to any air 8282git through 'em, somehow; and they're so rotten nice that I can't set 8283down, nor lay down, nor roll around anywher's; I hain't slid on a 8284cellar-door for--well, it 'pears to be years; I got to go to church and 8285sweat and sweat--I hate them ornery sermons! I can't ketch a fly in 8286there, I can't chaw. I got to wear shoes all Sunday. The widder eats by 8287a bell; she goes to bed by a bell; she gits up by a bell--everything's 8288so awful reg'lar a body can't stand it." 8289 8290"Well, everybody does that way, Huck." 8291 8292"Tom, it don't make no difference. I ain't everybody, and I can't 8293STAND it. It's awful to be tied up so. And grub comes too easy--I don't 8294take no interest in vittles, that way. I got to ask to go a-fishing; I 8295got to ask to go in a-swimming--dern'd if I hain't got to ask to do 8296everything. Well, I'd got to talk so nice it wasn't no comfort--I'd got 8297to go up in the attic and rip out awhile, every day, to git a taste in 8298my mouth, or I'd a died, Tom. The widder wouldn't let me smoke; she 8299wouldn't let me yell, she wouldn't let me gape, nor stretch, nor 8300scratch, before folks--" [Then with a spasm of special irritation and 8301injury]--"And dad fetch it, she prayed all the time! I never see such a 8302woman! I HAD to shove, Tom--I just had to. And besides, that school's 8303going to open, and I'd a had to go to it--well, I wouldn't stand THAT, 8304Tom. Looky here, Tom, being rich ain't what it's cracked up to be. It's 8305just worry and worry, and sweat and sweat, and a-wishing you was dead 8306all the time. Now these clothes suits me, and this bar'l suits me, and 8307I ain't ever going to shake 'em any more. Tom, I wouldn't ever got into 8308all this trouble if it hadn't 'a' ben for that money; now you just take 8309my sheer of it along with your'n, and gimme a ten-center sometimes--not 8310many times, becuz I don't give a dern for a thing 'thout it's tollable 8311hard to git--and you go and beg off for me with the widder." 8312 8313"Oh, Huck, you know I can't do that. 'Tain't fair; and besides if 8314you'll try this thing just a while longer you'll come to like it." 8315 8316"Like it! Yes--the way I'd like a hot stove if I was to set on it long 8317enough. No, Tom, I won't be rich, and I won't live in them cussed 8318smothery houses. I like the woods, and the river, and hogsheads, and 8319I'll stick to 'em, too. Blame it all! just as we'd got guns, and a 8320cave, and all just fixed to rob, here this dern foolishness has got to 8321come up and spile it all!" 8322 8323Tom saw his opportunity-- 8324 8325"Lookyhere, Huck, being rich ain't going to keep me back from turning 8326robber." 8327 8328"No! Oh, good-licks; are you in real dead-wood earnest, Tom?" 8329 8330"Just as dead earnest as I'm sitting here. But Huck, we can't let you 8331into the gang if you ain't respectable, you know." 8332 8333Huck's joy was quenched. 8334 8335"Can't let me in, Tom? Didn't you let me go for a pirate?" 8336 8337"Yes, but that's different. A robber is more high-toned than what a 8338pirate is--as a general thing. In most countries they're awful high up 8339in the nobility--dukes and such." 8340 8341"Now, Tom, hain't you always ben friendly to me? You wouldn't shet me 8342out, would you, Tom? You wouldn't do that, now, WOULD you, Tom?" 8343 8344"Huck, I wouldn't want to, and I DON'T want to--but what would people 8345say? Why, they'd say, 'Mph! Tom Sawyer's Gang! pretty low characters in 8346it!' They'd mean you, Huck. You wouldn't like that, and I wouldn't." 8347 8348Huck was silent for some time, engaged in a mental struggle. Finally 8349he said: 8350 8351"Well, I'll go back to the widder for a month and tackle it and see if 8352I can come to stand it, if you'll let me b'long to the gang, Tom." 8353 8354"All right, Huck, it's a whiz! Come along, old chap, and I'll ask the 8355widow to let up on you a little, Huck." 8356 8357"Will you, Tom--now will you? That's good. If she'll let up on some of 8358the roughest things, I'll smoke private and cuss private, and crowd 8359through or bust. When you going to start the gang and turn robbers?" 8360 8361"Oh, right off. We'll get the boys together and have the initiation 8362to-night, maybe." 8363 8364"Have the which?" 8365 8366"Have the initiation." 8367 8368"What's that?" 8369 8370"It's to swear to stand by one another, and never tell the gang's 8371secrets, even if you're chopped all to flinders, and kill anybody and 8372all his family that hurts one of the gang." 8373 8374"That's gay--that's mighty gay, Tom, I tell you." 8375 8376"Well, I bet it is. And all that swearing's got to be done at 8377midnight, in the lonesomest, awfulest place you can find--a ha'nted 8378house is the best, but they're all ripped up now." 8379 8380"Well, midnight's good, anyway, Tom." 8381 8382"Yes, so it is. And you've got to swear on a coffin, and sign it with 8383blood." 8384 8385"Now, that's something LIKE! Why, it's a million times bullier than 8386pirating. I'll stick to the widder till I rot, Tom; and if I git to be 8387a reg'lar ripper of a robber, and everybody talking 'bout it, I reckon 8388she'll be proud she snaked me in out of the wet." 8389 8390 8391 8392CONCLUSION 8393 8394SO endeth this chronicle. It being strictly a history of a BOY, it 8395must stop here; the story could not go much further without becoming 8396the history of a MAN. When one writes a novel about grown people, he 8397knows exactly where to stop--that is, with a marriage; but when he 8398writes of juveniles, he must stop where he best can. 8399 8400Most of the characters that perform in this book still live, and are 8401prosperous and happy. Some day it may seem worth while to take up the 8402story of the younger ones again and see what sort of men and women they 8403turned out to be; therefore it will be wisest not to reveal any of that 8404part of their lives at present. 8405Produced by David Widger. The previous edition was updated by Jose 8406Menendez. 8407 8408 8409 8410 8411 8412 THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER 8413 BY 8414 MARK TWAIN 8415 (Samuel Langhorne Clemens) 8416 8417 8418 8419 8420 P R E F A C E 8421 8422MOST of the adventures recorded in this book really occurred; one or 8423two were experiences of my own, the rest those of boys who were 8424schoolmates of mine. Huck Finn is drawn from life; Tom Sawyer also, but 8425not from an individual--he is a combination of the characteristics of 8426three boys whom I knew, and therefore belongs to the composite order of 8427architecture. 8428 8429The odd superstitions touched upon were all prevalent among children 8430and slaves in the West at the period of this story--that is to say, 8431thirty or forty years ago. 8432 8433Although my book is intended mainly for the entertainment of boys and 8434girls, I hope it will not be shunned by men and women on that account, 8435for part of my plan has been to try to pleasantly remind adults of what 8436they once were themselves, and of how they felt and thought and talked, 8437and what queer enterprises they sometimes engaged in. 8438 8439 THE AUTHOR. 8440 8441HARTFORD, 1876. 8442 8443 8444 8445 T O M S A W Y E R 8446 8447 8448 8449CHAPTER I 8450 8451"TOM!" 8452 8453No answer. 8454 8455"TOM!" 8456 8457No answer. 8458 8459"What's gone with that boy, I wonder? You TOM!" 8460 8461No answer. 8462 8463The old lady pulled her spectacles down and looked over them about the 8464room; then she put them up and looked out under them. She seldom or 8465never looked THROUGH them for so small a thing as a boy; they were her 8466state pair, the pride of her heart, and were built for "style," not 8467service--she could have seen through a pair of stove-lids just as well. 8468She looked perplexed for a moment, and then said, not fiercely, but 8469still loud enough for the furniture to hear: 8470 8471"Well, I lay if I get hold of you I'll--" 8472 8473She did not finish, for by this time she was bending down and punching 8474under the bed with the broom, and so she needed breath to punctuate the 8475punches with. She resurrected nothing but the cat. 8476 8477"I never did see the beat of that boy!" 8478 8479She went to the open door and stood in it and looked out among the 8480tomato vines and "jimpson" weeds that constituted the garden. No Tom. 8481So she lifted up her voice at an angle calculated for distance and 8482shouted: 8483 8484"Y-o-u-u TOM!" 8485 8486There was a slight noise behind her and she turned just in time to 8487seize a small boy by the slack of his roundabout and arrest his flight. 8488 8489"There! I might 'a' thought of that closet. What you been doing in 8490there?" 8491 8492"Nothing." 8493 8494"Nothing! Look at your hands. And look at your mouth. What IS that 8495truck?" 8496 8497"I don't know, aunt." 8498 8499"Well, I know. It's jam--that's what it is. Forty times I've said if 8500you didn't let that jam alone I'd skin you. Hand me that switch." 8501 8502The switch hovered in the air--the peril was desperate-- 8503 8504"My! Look behind you, aunt!" 8505 8506The old lady whirled round, and snatched her skirts out of danger. The 8507lad fled on the instant, scrambled up the high board-fence, and 8508disappeared over it. 8509 8510His aunt Polly stood surprised a moment, and then broke into a gentle 8511laugh. 8512 8513"Hang the boy, can't I never learn anything? Ain't he played me tricks 8514enough like that for me to be looking out for him by this time? But old 8515fools is the biggest fools there is. Can't learn an old dog new tricks, 8516as the saying is. But my goodness, he never plays them alike, two days, 8517and how is a body to know what's coming? He 'pears to know just how 8518long he can torment me before I get my dander up, and he knows if he 8519can make out to put me off for a minute or make me laugh, it's all down 8520again and I can't hit him a lick. I ain't doing my duty by that boy, 8521and that's the Lord's truth, goodness knows. Spare the rod and spile 8522the child, as the Good Book says. I'm a laying up sin and suffering for 8523us both, I know. He's full of the Old Scratch, but laws-a-me! he's my 8524own dead sister's boy, poor thing, and I ain't got the heart to lash 8525him, somehow. Every time I let him off, my conscience does hurt me so, 8526and every time I hit him my old heart most breaks. Well-a-well, man 8527that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble, as the 8528Scripture says, and I reckon it's so. He'll play hookey this evening, * 8529and [* Southwestern for "afternoon"] I'll just be obleeged to make him 8530work, to-morrow, to punish him. It's mighty hard to make him work 8531Saturdays, when all the boys is having holiday, but he hates work more 8532than he hates anything else, and I've GOT to do some of my duty by him, 8533or I'll be the ruination of the child." 8534 8535Tom did play hookey, and he had a very good time. He got back home 8536barely in season to help Jim, the small colored boy, saw next-day's 8537wood and split the kindlings before supper--at least he was there in 8538time to tell his adventures to Jim while Jim did three-fourths of the 8539work. Tom's younger brother (or rather half-brother) Sid was already 8540through with his part of the work (picking up chips), for he was a 8541quiet boy, and had no adventurous, troublesome ways. 8542 8543While Tom was eating his supper, and stealing sugar as opportunity 8544offered, Aunt Polly asked him questions that were full of guile, and 8545very deep--for she wanted to trap him into damaging revealments. Like 8546many other simple-hearted souls, it was her pet vanity to believe she 8547was endowed with a talent for dark and mysterious diplomacy, and she 8548loved to contemplate her most transparent devices as marvels of low 8549cunning. Said she: 8550 8551"Tom, it was middling warm in school, warn't it?" 8552 8553"Yes'm." 8554 8555"Powerful warm, warn't it?" 8556 8557"Yes'm." 8558 8559"Didn't you want to go in a-swimming, Tom?" 8560 8561A bit of a scare shot through Tom--a touch of uncomfortable suspicion. 8562He searched Aunt Polly's face, but it told him nothing. So he said: 8563 8564"No'm--well, not very much." 8565 8566The old lady reached out her hand and felt Tom's shirt, and said: 8567 8568"But you ain't too warm now, though." And it flattered her to reflect 8569that she had discovered that the shirt was dry without anybody knowing 8570that that was what she had in her mind. But in spite of her, Tom knew 8571where the wind lay, now. So he forestalled what might be the next move: 8572 8573"Some of us pumped on our heads--mine's damp yet. See?" 8574 8575Aunt Polly was vexed to think she had overlooked that bit of 8576circumstantial evidence, and missed a trick. Then she had a new 8577inspiration: 8578 8579"Tom, you didn't have to undo your shirt collar where I sewed it, to 8580pump on your head, did you? Unbutton your jacket!" 8581 8582The trouble vanished out of Tom's face. He opened his jacket. His 8583shirt collar was securely sewed. 8584 8585"Bother! Well, go 'long with you. I'd made sure you'd played hookey 8586and been a-swimming. But I forgive ye, Tom. I reckon you're a kind of a 8587singed cat, as the saying is--better'n you look. THIS time." 8588 8589She was half sorry her sagacity had miscarried, and half glad that Tom 8590had stumbled into obedient conduct for once. 8591 8592But Sidney said: 8593 8594"Well, now, if I didn't think you sewed his collar with white thread, 8595but it's black." 8596 8597"Why, I did sew it with white! Tom!" 8598 8599But Tom did not wait for the rest. As he went out at the door he said: 8600 8601"Siddy, I'll lick you for that." 8602 8603In a safe place Tom examined two large needles which were thrust into 8604the lapels of his jacket, and had thread bound about them--one needle 8605carried white thread and the other black. He said: 8606 8607"She'd never noticed if it hadn't been for Sid. Confound it! sometimes 8608she sews it with white, and sometimes she sews it with black. I wish to 8609geeminy she'd stick to one or t'other--I can't keep the run of 'em. But 8610I bet you I'll lam Sid for that. I'll learn him!" 8611 8612He was not the Model Boy of the village. He knew the model boy very 8613well though--and loathed him. 8614 8615Within two minutes, or even less, he had forgotten all his troubles. 8616Not because his troubles were one whit less heavy and bitter to him 8617than a man's are to a man, but because a new and powerful interest bore 8618them down and drove them out of his mind for the time--just as men's 8619misfortunes are forgotten in the excitement of new enterprises. This 8620new interest was a valued novelty in whistling, which he had just 8621acquired from a negro, and he was suffering to practise it undisturbed. 8622It consisted in a peculiar bird-like turn, a sort of liquid warble, 8623produced by touching the tongue to the roof of the mouth at short 8624intervals in the midst of the music--the reader probably remembers how 8625to do it, if he has ever been a boy. Diligence and attention soon gave 8626him the knack of it, and he strode down the street with his mouth full 8627of harmony and his soul full of gratitude. He felt much as an 8628astronomer feels who has discovered a new planet--no doubt, as far as 8629strong, deep, unalloyed pleasure is concerned, the advantage was with 8630the boy, not the astronomer. 8631 8632The summer evenings were long. It was not dark, yet. Presently Tom 8633checked his whistle. A stranger was before him--a boy a shade larger 8634than himself. A new-comer of any age or either sex was an impressive 8635curiosity in the poor little shabby village of St. Petersburg. This boy 8636was well dressed, too--well dressed on a week-day. This was simply 8637astounding. His cap was a dainty thing, his close-buttoned blue cloth 8638roundabout was new and natty, and so were his pantaloons. He had shoes 8639on--and it was only Friday. He even wore a necktie, a bright bit of 8640ribbon. He had a citified air about him that ate into Tom's vitals. The 8641more Tom stared at the splendid marvel, the higher he turned up his 8642nose at his finery and the shabbier and shabbier his own outfit seemed 8643to him to grow. Neither boy spoke. If one moved, the other moved--but 8644only sidewise, in a circle; they kept face to face and eye to eye all 8645the time. Finally Tom said: 8646 8647"I can lick you!" 8648 8649"I'd like to see you try it." 8650 8651"Well, I can do it." 8652 8653"No you can't, either." 8654 8655"Yes I can." 8656 8657"No you can't." 8658 8659"I can." 8660 8661"You can't." 8662 8663"Can!" 8664 8665"Can't!" 8666 8667An uncomfortable pause. Then Tom said: 8668 8669"What's your name?" 8670 8671"'Tisn't any of your business, maybe." 8672 8673"Well I 'low I'll MAKE it my business." 8674 8675"Well why don't you?" 8676 8677"If you say much, I will." 8678 8679"Much--much--MUCH. There now." 8680 8681"Oh, you think you're mighty smart, DON'T you? I could lick you with 8682one hand tied behind me, if I wanted to." 8683 8684"Well why don't you DO it? You SAY you can do it." 8685 8686"Well I WILL, if you fool with me." 8687 8688"Oh yes--I've seen whole families in the same fix." 8689 8690"Smarty! You think you're SOME, now, DON'T you? Oh, what a hat!" 8691 8692"You can lump that hat if you don't like it. I dare you to knock it 8693off--and anybody that'll take a dare will suck eggs." 8694 8695"You're a liar!" 8696 8697"You're another." 8698 8699"You're a fighting liar and dasn't take it up." 8700 8701"Aw--take a walk!" 8702 8703"Say--if you give me much more of your sass I'll take and bounce a 8704rock off'n your head." 8705 8706"Oh, of COURSE you will." 8707 8708"Well I WILL." 8709 8710"Well why don't you DO it then? What do you keep SAYING you will for? 8711Why don't you DO it? It's because you're afraid." 8712 8713"I AIN'T afraid." 8714 8715"You are." 8716 8717"I ain't." 8718 8719"You are." 8720 8721Another pause, and more eying and sidling around each other. Presently 8722they were shoulder to shoulder. Tom said: 8723 8724"Get away from here!" 8725 8726"Go away yourself!" 8727 8728"I won't." 8729 8730"I won't either." 8731 8732So they stood, each with a foot placed at an angle as a brace, and 8733both shoving with might and main, and glowering at each other with 8734hate. But neither could get an advantage. After struggling till both 8735were hot and flushed, each relaxed his strain with watchful caution, 8736and Tom said: 8737 8738"You're a coward and a pup. I'll tell my big brother on you, and he 8739can thrash you with his little finger, and I'll make him do it, too." 8740 8741"What do I care for your big brother? I've got a brother that's bigger 8742than he is--and what's more, he can throw him over that fence, too." 8743[Both brothers were imaginary.] 8744 8745"That's a lie." 8746 8747"YOUR saying so don't make it so." 8748 8749Tom drew a line in the dust with his big toe, and said: 8750 8751"I dare you to step over that, and I'll lick you till you can't stand 8752up. Anybody that'll take a dare will steal sheep." 8753 8754The new boy stepped over promptly, and said: 8755 8756"Now you said you'd do it, now let's see you do it." 8757 8758"Don't you crowd me now; you better look out." 8759 8760"Well, you SAID you'd do it--why don't you do it?" 8761 8762"By jingo! for two cents I WILL do it." 8763 8764The new boy took two broad coppers out of his pocket and held them out 8765with derision. Tom struck them to the ground. In an instant both boys 8766were rolling and tumbling in the dirt, gripped together like cats; and 8767for the space of a minute they tugged and tore at each other's hair and 8768clothes, punched and scratched each other's nose, and covered 8769themselves with dust and glory. Presently the confusion took form, and 8770through the fog of battle Tom appeared, seated astride the new boy, and 8771pounding him with his fists. "Holler 'nuff!" said he. 8772 8773The boy only struggled to free himself. He was crying--mainly from rage. 8774 8775"Holler 'nuff!"--and the pounding went on. 8776 8777At last the stranger got out a smothered "'Nuff!" and Tom let him up 8778and said: 8779 8780"Now that'll learn you. Better look out who you're fooling with next 8781time." 8782 8783The new boy went off brushing the dust from his clothes, sobbing, 8784snuffling, and occasionally looking back and shaking his head and 8785threatening what he would do to Tom the "next time he caught him out." 8786To which Tom responded with jeers, and started off in high feather, and 8787as soon as his back was turned the new boy snatched up a stone, threw 8788it and hit him between the shoulders and then turned tail and ran like 8789an antelope. Tom chased the traitor home, and thus found out where he 8790lived. He then held a position at the gate for some time, daring the 8791enemy to come outside, but the enemy only made faces at him through the 8792window and declined. At last the enemy's mother appeared, and called 8793Tom a bad, vicious, vulgar child, and ordered him away. So he went 8794away; but he said he "'lowed" to "lay" for that boy. 8795 8796He got home pretty late that night, and when he climbed cautiously in 8797at the window, he uncovered an ambuscade, in the person of his aunt; 8798and when she saw the state his clothes were in her resolution to turn 8799his Saturday holiday into captivity at hard labor became adamantine in 8800its firmness. 8801 8802 8803 8804CHAPTER II 8805 8806SATURDAY morning was come, and all the summer world was bright and 8807fresh, and brimming with life. There was a song in every heart; and if 8808the heart was young the music issued at the lips. There was cheer in 8809every face and a spring in every step. The locust-trees were in bloom 8810and the fragrance of the blossoms filled the air. Cardiff Hill, beyond 8811the village and above it, was green with vegetation and it lay just far 8812enough away to seem a Delectable Land, dreamy, reposeful, and inviting. 8813 8814Tom appeared on the sidewalk with a bucket of whitewash and a 8815long-handled brush. He surveyed the fence, and all gladness left him and 8816a deep melancholy settled down upon his spirit. Thirty yards of board 8817fence nine feet high. Life to him seemed hollow, and existence but a 8818burden. Sighing, he dipped his brush and passed it along the topmost 8819plank; repeated the operation; did it again; compared the insignificant 8820whitewashed streak with the far-reaching continent of unwhitewashed 8821fence, and sat down on a tree-box discouraged. Jim came skipping out at 8822the gate with a tin pail, and singing Buffalo Gals. Bringing water from 8823the town pump had always been hateful work in Tom's eyes, before, but 8824now it did not strike him so. He remembered that there was company at 8825the pump. White, mulatto, and negro boys and girls were always there 8826waiting their turns, resting, trading playthings, quarrelling, 8827fighting, skylarking. And he remembered that although the pump was only 8828a hundred and fifty yards off, Jim never got back with a bucket of 8829water under an hour--and even then somebody generally had to go after 8830him. Tom said: 8831 8832"Say, Jim, I'll fetch the water if you'll whitewash some." 8833 8834Jim shook his head and said: 8835 8836"Can't, Mars Tom. Ole missis, she tole me I got to go an' git dis 8837water an' not stop foolin' roun' wid anybody. She say she spec' Mars 8838Tom gwine to ax me to whitewash, an' so she tole me go 'long an' 'tend 8839to my own business--she 'lowed SHE'D 'tend to de whitewashin'." 8840 8841"Oh, never you mind what she said, Jim. That's the way she always 8842talks. Gimme the bucket--I won't be gone only a a minute. SHE won't 8843ever know." 8844 8845"Oh, I dasn't, Mars Tom. Ole missis she'd take an' tar de head off'n 8846me. 'Deed she would." 8847 8848"SHE! She never licks anybody--whacks 'em over the head with her 8849thimble--and who cares for that, I'd like to know. She talks awful, but 8850talk don't hurt--anyways it don't if she don't cry. Jim, I'll give you 8851a marvel. I'll give you a white alley!" 8852 8853Jim began to waver. 8854 8855"White alley, Jim! And it's a bully taw." 8856 8857"My! Dat's a mighty gay marvel, I tell you! But Mars Tom I's powerful 8858'fraid ole missis--" 8859 8860"And besides, if you will I'll show you my sore toe." 8861 8862Jim was only human--this attraction was too much for him. He put down 8863his pail, took the white alley, and bent over the toe with absorbing 8864interest while the bandage was being unwound. In another moment he was 8865flying down the street with his pail and a tingling rear, Tom was 8866whitewashing with vigor, and Aunt Polly was retiring from the field 8867with a slipper in her hand and triumph in her eye. 8868 8869But Tom's energy did not last. He began to think of the fun he had 8870planned for this day, and his sorrows multiplied. Soon the free boys 8871would come tripping along on all sorts of delicious expeditions, and 8872they would make a world of fun of him for having to work--the very 8873thought of it burnt him like fire. He got out his worldly wealth and 8874examined it--bits of toys, marbles, and trash; enough to buy an 8875exchange of WORK, maybe, but not half enough to buy so much as half an 8876hour of pure freedom. So he returned his straitened means to his 8877pocket, and gave up the idea of trying to buy the boys. At this dark 8878and hopeless moment an inspiration burst upon him! Nothing less than a 8879great, magnificent inspiration. 8880 8881He took up his brush and went tranquilly to work. Ben Rogers hove in 8882sight presently--the very boy, of all boys, whose ridicule he had been 8883dreading. Ben's gait was the hop-skip-and-jump--proof enough that his 8884heart was light and his anticipations high. He was eating an apple, and 8885giving a long, melodious whoop, at intervals, followed by a deep-toned 8886ding-dong-dong, ding-dong-dong, for he was personating a steamboat. As 8887he drew near, he slackened speed, took the middle of the street, leaned 8888far over to starboard and rounded to ponderously and with laborious 8889pomp and circumstance--for he was personating the Big Missouri, and 8890considered himself to be drawing nine feet of water. He was boat and 8891captain and engine-bells combined, so he had to imagine himself 8892standing on his own hurricane-deck giving the orders and executing them: 8893 8894"Stop her, sir! Ting-a-ling-ling!" The headway ran almost out, and he 8895drew up slowly toward the sidewalk. 8896 8897"Ship up to back! Ting-a-ling-ling!" His arms straightened and 8898stiffened down his sides. 8899 8900"Set her back on the stabboard! Ting-a-ling-ling! Chow! ch-chow-wow! 8901Chow!" His right hand, meantime, describing stately circles--for it was 8902representing a forty-foot wheel. 8903 8904"Let her go back on the labboard! Ting-a-lingling! Chow-ch-chow-chow!" 8905The left hand began to describe circles. 8906 8907"Stop the stabboard! Ting-a-ling-ling! Stop the labboard! Come ahead 8908on the stabboard! Stop her! Let your outside turn over slow! 8909Ting-a-ling-ling! Chow-ow-ow! Get out that head-line! LIVELY now! 8910Come--out with your spring-line--what're you about there! Take a turn 8911round that stump with the bight of it! Stand by that stage, now--let her 8912go! Done with the engines, sir! Ting-a-ling-ling! SH'T! S'H'T! SH'T!" 8913(trying the gauge-cocks). 8914 8915Tom went on whitewashing--paid no attention to the steamboat. Ben 8916stared a moment and then said: "Hi-YI! YOU'RE up a stump, ain't you!" 8917 8918No answer. Tom surveyed his last touch with the eye of an artist, then 8919he gave his brush another gentle sweep and surveyed the result, as 8920before. Ben ranged up alongside of him. Tom's mouth watered for the 8921apple, but he stuck to his work. Ben said: 8922 8923"Hello, old chap, you got to work, hey?" 8924 8925Tom wheeled suddenly and said: 8926 8927"Why, it's you, Ben! I warn't noticing." 8928 8929"Say--I'm going in a-swimming, I am. Don't you wish you could? But of 8930course you'd druther WORK--wouldn't you? Course you would!" 8931 8932Tom contemplated the boy a bit, and said: 8933 8934"What do you call work?" 8935 8936"Why, ain't THAT work?" 8937 8938Tom resumed his whitewashing, and answered carelessly: 8939 8940"Well, maybe it is, and maybe it ain't. All I know, is, it suits Tom 8941Sawyer." 8942 8943"Oh come, now, you don't mean to let on that you LIKE it?" 8944 8945The brush continued to move. 8946 8947"Like it? Well, I don't see why I oughtn't to like it. Does a boy get 8948a chance to whitewash a fence every day?" 8949 8950That put the thing in a new light. Ben stopped nibbling his apple. Tom 8951swept his brush daintily back and forth--stepped back to note the 8952effect--added a touch here and there--criticised the effect again--Ben 8953watching every move and getting more and more interested, more and more 8954absorbed. Presently he said: 8955 8956"Say, Tom, let ME whitewash a little." 8957 8958Tom considered, was about to consent; but he altered his mind: 8959 8960"No--no--I reckon it wouldn't hardly do, Ben. You see, Aunt Polly's 8961awful particular about this fence--right here on the street, you know 8962--but if it was the back fence I wouldn't mind and SHE wouldn't. Yes, 8963she's awful particular about this fence; it's got to be done very 8964careful; I reckon there ain't one boy in a thousand, maybe two 8965thousand, that can do it the way it's got to be done." 8966 8967"No--is that so? Oh come, now--lemme just try. Only just a little--I'd 8968let YOU, if you was me, Tom." 8969 8970"Ben, I'd like to, honest injun; but Aunt Polly--well, Jim wanted to 8971do it, but she wouldn't let him; Sid wanted to do it, and she wouldn't 8972let Sid. Now don't you see how I'm fixed? If you was to tackle this 8973fence and anything was to happen to it--" 8974 8975"Oh, shucks, I'll be just as careful. Now lemme try. Say--I'll give 8976you the core of my apple." 8977 8978"Well, here--No, Ben, now don't. I'm afeard--" 8979 8980"I'll give you ALL of it!" 8981 8982Tom gave up the brush with reluctance in his face, but alacrity in his 8983heart. And while the late steamer Big Missouri worked and sweated in 8984the sun, the retired artist sat on a barrel in the shade close by, 8985dangled his legs, munched his apple, and planned the slaughter of more 8986innocents. There was no lack of material; boys happened along every 8987little while; they came to jeer, but remained to whitewash. By the time 8988Ben was fagged out, Tom had traded the next chance to Billy Fisher for 8989a kite, in good repair; and when he played out, Johnny Miller bought in 8990for a dead rat and a string to swing it with--and so on, and so on, 8991hour after hour. And when the middle of the afternoon came, from being 8992a poor poverty-stricken boy in the morning, Tom was literally rolling 8993in wealth. He had besides the things before mentioned, twelve marbles, 8994part of a jews-harp, a piece of blue bottle-glass to look through, a 8995spool cannon, a key that wouldn't unlock anything, a fragment of chalk, 8996a glass stopper of a decanter, a tin soldier, a couple of tadpoles, six 8997fire-crackers, a kitten with only one eye, a brass doorknob, a 8998dog-collar--but no dog--the handle of a knife, four pieces of 8999orange-peel, and a dilapidated old window sash. 9000 9001He had had a nice, good, idle time all the while--plenty of company 9002--and the fence had three coats of whitewash on it! If he hadn't run out 9003of whitewash he would have bankrupted every boy in the village. 9004 9005Tom said to himself that it was not such a hollow world, after all. He 9006had discovered a great law of human action, without knowing it--namely, 9007that in order to make a man or a boy covet a thing, it is only 9008necessary to make the thing difficult to attain. If he had been a great 9009and wise philosopher, like the writer of this book, he would now have 9010comprehended that Work consists of whatever a body is OBLIGED to do, 9011and that Play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do. And 9012this would help him to understand why constructing artificial flowers 9013or performing on a tread-mill is work, while rolling ten-pins or 9014climbing Mont Blanc is only amusement. There are wealthy gentlemen in 9015England who drive four-horse passenger-coaches twenty or thirty miles 9016on a daily line, in the summer, because the privilege costs them 9017considerable money; but if they were offered wages for the service, 9018that would turn it into work and then they would resign. 9019 9020The boy mused awhile over the substantial change which had taken place 9021in his worldly circumstances, and then wended toward headquarters to 9022report. 9023 9024 9025 9026CHAPTER III 9027 9028TOM presented himself before Aunt Polly, who was sitting by an open 9029window in a pleasant rearward apartment, which was bedroom, 9030breakfast-room, dining-room, and library, combined. The balmy summer 9031air, the restful quiet, the odor of the flowers, and the drowsing murmur 9032of the bees had had their effect, and she was nodding over her knitting 9033--for she had no company but the cat, and it was asleep in her lap. Her 9034spectacles were propped up on her gray head for safety. She had thought 9035that of course Tom had deserted long ago, and she wondered at seeing him 9036place himself in her power again in this intrepid way. He said: "Mayn't 9037I go and play now, aunt?" 9038 9039"What, a'ready? How much have you done?" 9040 9041"It's all done, aunt." 9042 9043"Tom, don't lie to me--I can't bear it." 9044 9045"I ain't, aunt; it IS all done." 9046 9047Aunt Polly placed small trust in such evidence. She went out to see 9048for herself; and she would have been content to find twenty per cent. 9049of Tom's statement true. When she found the entire fence whitewashed, 9050and not only whitewashed but elaborately coated and recoated, and even 9051a streak added to the ground, her astonishment was almost unspeakable. 9052She said: 9053 9054"Well, I never! There's no getting round it, you can work when you're 9055a mind to, Tom." And then she diluted the compliment by adding, "But 9056it's powerful seldom you're a mind to, I'm bound to say. Well, go 'long 9057and play; but mind you get back some time in a week, or I'll tan you." 9058 9059She was so overcome by the splendor of his achievement that she took 9060him into the closet and selected a choice apple and delivered it to 9061him, along with an improving lecture upon the added value and flavor a 9062treat took to itself when it came without sin through virtuous effort. 9063And while she closed with a happy Scriptural flourish, he "hooked" a 9064doughnut. 9065 9066Then he skipped out, and saw Sid just starting up the outside stairway 9067that led to the back rooms on the second floor. Clods were handy and 9068the air was full of them in a twinkling. They raged around Sid like a 9069hail-storm; and before Aunt Polly could collect her surprised faculties 9070and sally to the rescue, six or seven clods had taken personal effect, 9071and Tom was over the fence and gone. There was a gate, but as a general 9072thing he was too crowded for time to make use of it. His soul was at 9073peace, now that he had settled with Sid for calling attention to his 9074black thread and getting him into trouble. 9075 9076Tom skirted the block, and came round into a muddy alley that led by 9077the back of his aunt's cow-stable. He presently got safely beyond the 9078reach of capture and punishment, and hastened toward the public square 9079of the village, where two "military" companies of boys had met for 9080conflict, according to previous appointment. Tom was General of one of 9081these armies, Joe Harper (a bosom friend) General of the other. These 9082two great commanders did not condescend to fight in person--that being 9083better suited to the still smaller fry--but sat together on an eminence 9084and conducted the field operations by orders delivered through 9085aides-de-camp. Tom's army won a great victory, after a long and 9086hard-fought battle. Then the dead were counted, prisoners exchanged, 9087the terms of the next disagreement agreed upon, and the day for the 9088necessary battle appointed; after which the armies fell into line and 9089marched away, and Tom turned homeward alone. 9090 9091As he was passing by the house where Jeff Thatcher lived, he saw a new 9092girl in the garden--a lovely little blue-eyed creature with yellow hair 9093plaited into two long-tails, white summer frock and embroidered 9094pantalettes. The fresh-crowned hero fell without firing a shot. A 9095certain Amy Lawrence vanished out of his heart and left not even a 9096memory of herself behind. He had thought he loved her to distraction; 9097he had regarded his passion as adoration; and behold it was only a poor 9098little evanescent partiality. He had been months winning her; she had 9099confessed hardly a week ago; he had been the happiest and the proudest 9100boy in the world only seven short days, and here in one instant of time 9101she had gone out of his heart like a casual stranger whose visit is 9102done. 9103 9104He worshipped this new angel with furtive eye, till he saw that she 9105had discovered him; then he pretended he did not know she was present, 9106and began to "show off" in all sorts of absurd boyish ways, in order to 9107win her admiration. He kept up this grotesque foolishness for some 9108time; but by-and-by, while he was in the midst of some dangerous 9109gymnastic performances, he glanced aside and saw that the little girl 9110was wending her way toward the house. Tom came up to the fence and 9111leaned on it, grieving, and hoping she would tarry yet awhile longer. 9112She halted a moment on the steps and then moved toward the door. Tom 9113heaved a great sigh as she put her foot on the threshold. But his face 9114lit up, right away, for she tossed a pansy over the fence a moment 9115before she disappeared. 9116 9117The boy ran around and stopped within a foot or two of the flower, and 9118then shaded his eyes with his hand and began to look down street as if 9119he had discovered something of interest going on in that direction. 9120Presently he picked up a straw and began trying to balance it on his 9121nose, with his head tilted far back; and as he moved from side to side, 9122in his efforts, he edged nearer and nearer toward the pansy; finally 9123his bare foot rested upon it, his pliant toes closed upon it, and he 9124hopped away with the treasure and disappeared round the corner. But 9125only for a minute--only while he could button the flower inside his 9126jacket, next his heart--or next his stomach, possibly, for he was not 9127much posted in anatomy, and not hypercritical, anyway. 9128 9129He returned, now, and hung about the fence till nightfall, "showing 9130off," as before; but the girl never exhibited herself again, though Tom 9131comforted himself a little with the hope that she had been near some 9132window, meantime, and been aware of his attentions. Finally he strode 9133home reluctantly, with his poor head full of visions. 9134 9135All through supper his spirits were so high that his aunt wondered 9136"what had got into the child." He took a good scolding about clodding 9137Sid, and did not seem to mind it in the least. He tried to steal sugar 9138under his aunt's very nose, and got his knuckles rapped for it. He said: 9139 9140"Aunt, you don't whack Sid when he takes it." 9141 9142"Well, Sid don't torment a body the way you do. You'd be always into 9143that sugar if I warn't watching you." 9144 9145Presently she stepped into the kitchen, and Sid, happy in his 9146immunity, reached for the sugar-bowl--a sort of glorying over Tom which 9147was wellnigh unbearable. But Sid's fingers slipped and the bowl dropped 9148and broke. Tom was in ecstasies. In such ecstasies that he even 9149controlled his tongue and was silent. He said to himself that he would 9150not speak a word, even when his aunt came in, but would sit perfectly 9151still till she asked who did the mischief; and then he would tell, and 9152there would be nothing so good in the world as to see that pet model 9153"catch it." He was so brimful of exultation that he could hardly hold 9154himself when the old lady came back and stood above the wreck 9155discharging lightnings of wrath from over her spectacles. He said to 9156himself, "Now it's coming!" And the next instant he was sprawling on 9157the floor! The potent palm was uplifted to strike again when Tom cried 9158out: 9159 9160"Hold on, now, what 'er you belting ME for?--Sid broke it!" 9161 9162Aunt Polly paused, perplexed, and Tom looked for healing pity. But 9163when she got her tongue again, she only said: 9164 9165"Umf! Well, you didn't get a lick amiss, I reckon. You been into some 9166other audacious mischief when I wasn't around, like enough." 9167 9168Then her conscience reproached her, and she yearned to say something 9169kind and loving; but she judged that this would be construed into a 9170confession that she had been in the wrong, and discipline forbade that. 9171So she kept silence, and went about her affairs with a troubled heart. 9172Tom sulked in a corner and exalted his woes. He knew that in her heart 9173his aunt was on her knees to him, and he was morosely gratified by the 9174consciousness of it. He would hang out no signals, he would take notice 9175of none. He knew that a yearning glance fell upon him, now and then, 9176through a film of tears, but he refused recognition of it. He pictured 9177himself lying sick unto death and his aunt bending over him beseeching 9178one little forgiving word, but he would turn his face to the wall, and 9179die with that word unsaid. Ah, how would she feel then? And he pictured 9180himself brought home from the river, dead, with his curls all wet, and 9181his sore heart at rest. How she would throw herself upon him, and how 9182her tears would fall like rain, and her lips pray God to give her back 9183her boy and she would never, never abuse him any more! But he would lie 9184there cold and white and make no sign--a poor little sufferer, whose 9185griefs were at an end. He so worked upon his feelings with the pathos 9186of these dreams, that he had to keep swallowing, he was so like to 9187choke; and his eyes swam in a blur of water, which overflowed when he 9188winked, and ran down and trickled from the end of his nose. And such a 9189luxury to him was this petting of his sorrows, that he could not bear 9190to have any worldly cheeriness or any grating delight intrude upon it; 9191it was too sacred for such contact; and so, presently, when his cousin 9192Mary danced in, all alive with the joy of seeing home again after an 9193age-long visit of one week to the country, he got up and moved in 9194clouds and darkness out at one door as she brought song and sunshine in 9195at the other. 9196 9197He wandered far from the accustomed haunts of boys, and sought 9198desolate places that were in harmony with his spirit. A log raft in the 9199river invited him, and he seated himself on its outer edge and 9200contemplated the dreary vastness of the stream, wishing, the while, 9201that he could only be drowned, all at once and unconsciously, without 9202undergoing the uncomfortable routine devised by nature. Then he thought 9203of his flower. He got it out, rumpled and wilted, and it mightily 9204increased his dismal felicity. He wondered if she would pity him if she 9205knew? Would she cry, and wish that she had a right to put her arms 9206around his neck and comfort him? Or would she turn coldly away like all 9207the hollow world? This picture brought such an agony of pleasurable 9208suffering that he worked it over and over again in his mind and set it 9209up in new and varied lights, till he wore it threadbare. At last he 9210rose up sighing and departed in the darkness. 9211 9212About half-past nine or ten o'clock he came along the deserted street 9213to where the Adored Unknown lived; he paused a moment; no sound fell 9214upon his listening ear; a candle was casting a dull glow upon the 9215curtain of a second-story window. Was the sacred presence there? He 9216climbed the fence, threaded his stealthy way through the plants, till 9217he stood under that window; he looked up at it long, and with emotion; 9218then he laid him down on the ground under it, disposing himself upon 9219his back, with his hands clasped upon his breast and holding his poor 9220wilted flower. And thus he would die--out in the cold world, with no 9221shelter over his homeless head, no friendly hand to wipe the 9222death-damps from his brow, no loving face to bend pityingly over him 9223when the great agony came. And thus SHE would see him when she looked 9224out upon the glad morning, and oh! would she drop one little tear upon 9225his poor, lifeless form, would she heave one little sigh to see a bright 9226young life so rudely blighted, so untimely cut down? 9227 9228The window went up, a maid-servant's discordant voice profaned the 9229holy calm, and a deluge of water drenched the prone martyr's remains! 9230 9231The strangling hero sprang up with a relieving snort. There was a whiz 9232as of a missile in the air, mingled with the murmur of a curse, a sound 9233as of shivering glass followed, and a small, vague form went over the 9234fence and shot away in the gloom. 9235 9236Not long after, as Tom, all undressed for bed, was surveying his 9237drenched garments by the light of a tallow dip, Sid woke up; but if he 9238had any dim idea of making any "references to allusions," he thought 9239better of it and held his peace, for there was danger in Tom's eye. 9240 9241Tom turned in without the added vexation of prayers, and Sid made 9242mental note of the omission. 9243 9244 9245 9246CHAPTER IV 9247 9248THE sun rose upon a tranquil world, and beamed down upon the peaceful 9249village like a benediction. Breakfast over, Aunt Polly had family 9250worship: it began with a prayer built from the ground up of solid 9251courses of Scriptural quotations, welded together with a thin mortar of 9252originality; and from the summit of this she delivered a grim chapter 9253of the Mosaic Law, as from Sinai. 9254 9255Then Tom girded up his loins, so to speak, and went to work to "get 9256his verses." Sid had learned his lesson days before. Tom bent all his 9257energies to the memorizing of five verses, and he chose part of the 9258Sermon on the Mount, because he could find no verses that were shorter. 9259At the end of half an hour Tom had a vague general idea of his lesson, 9260but no more, for his mind was traversing the whole field of human 9261thought, and his hands were busy with distracting recreations. Mary 9262took his book to hear him recite, and he tried to find his way through 9263the fog: 9264 9265"Blessed are the--a--a--" 9266 9267"Poor"-- 9268 9269"Yes--poor; blessed are the poor--a--a--" 9270 9271"In spirit--" 9272 9273"In spirit; blessed are the poor in spirit, for they--they--" 9274 9275"THEIRS--" 9276 9277"For THEIRS. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom 9278of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn, for they--they--" 9279 9280"Sh--" 9281 9282"For they--a--" 9283 9284"S, H, A--" 9285 9286"For they S, H--Oh, I don't know what it is!" 9287 9288"SHALL!" 9289 9290"Oh, SHALL! for they shall--for they shall--a--a--shall mourn--a--a-- 9291blessed are they that shall--they that--a--they that shall mourn, for 9292they shall--a--shall WHAT? Why don't you tell me, Mary?--what do you 9293want to be so mean for?" 9294 9295"Oh, Tom, you poor thick-headed thing, I'm not teasing you. I wouldn't 9296do that. You must go and learn it again. Don't you be discouraged, Tom, 9297you'll manage it--and if you do, I'll give you something ever so nice. 9298There, now, that's a good boy." 9299 9300"All right! What is it, Mary, tell me what it is." 9301 9302"Never you mind, Tom. You know if I say it's nice, it is nice." 9303 9304"You bet you that's so, Mary. All right, I'll tackle it again." 9305 9306And he did "tackle it again"--and under the double pressure of 9307curiosity and prospective gain he did it with such spirit that he 9308accomplished a shining success. Mary gave him a brand-new "Barlow" 9309knife worth twelve and a half cents; and the convulsion of delight that 9310swept his system shook him to his foundations. True, the knife would 9311not cut anything, but it was a "sure-enough" Barlow, and there was 9312inconceivable grandeur in that--though where the Western boys ever got 9313the idea that such a weapon could possibly be counterfeited to its 9314injury is an imposing mystery and will always remain so, perhaps. Tom 9315contrived to scarify the cupboard with it, and was arranging to begin 9316on the bureau, when he was called off to dress for Sunday-school. 9317 9318Mary gave him a tin basin of water and a piece of soap, and he went 9319outside the door and set the basin on a little bench there; then he 9320dipped the soap in the water and laid it down; turned up his sleeves; 9321poured out the water on the ground, gently, and then entered the 9322kitchen and began to wipe his face diligently on the towel behind the 9323door. But Mary removed the towel and said: 9324 9325"Now ain't you ashamed, Tom. You mustn't be so bad. Water won't hurt 9326you." 9327 9328Tom was a trifle disconcerted. The basin was refilled, and this time 9329he stood over it a little while, gathering resolution; took in a big 9330breath and began. When he entered the kitchen presently, with both eyes 9331shut and groping for the towel with his hands, an honorable testimony 9332of suds and water was dripping from his face. But when he emerged from 9333the towel, he was not yet satisfactory, for the clean territory stopped 9334short at his chin and his jaws, like a mask; below and beyond this line 9335there was a dark expanse of unirrigated soil that spread downward in 9336front and backward around his neck. Mary took him in hand, and when she 9337was done with him he was a man and a brother, without distinction of 9338color, and his saturated hair was neatly brushed, and its short curls 9339wrought into a dainty and symmetrical general effect. [He privately 9340smoothed out the curls, with labor and difficulty, and plastered his 9341hair close down to his head; for he held curls to be effeminate, and 9342his own filled his life with bitterness.] Then Mary got out a suit of 9343his clothing that had been used only on Sundays during two years--they 9344were simply called his "other clothes"--and so by that we know the 9345size of his wardrobe. The girl "put him to rights" after he had dressed 9346himself; she buttoned his neat roundabout up to his chin, turned his 9347vast shirt collar down over his shoulders, brushed him off and crowned 9348him with his speckled straw hat. He now looked exceedingly improved and 9349uncomfortable. He was fully as uncomfortable as he looked; for there 9350was a restraint about whole clothes and cleanliness that galled him. He 9351hoped that Mary would forget his shoes, but the hope was blighted; she 9352coated them thoroughly with tallow, as was the custom, and brought them 9353out. He lost his temper and said he was always being made to do 9354everything he didn't want to do. But Mary said, persuasively: 9355 9356"Please, Tom--that's a good boy." 9357 9358So he got into the shoes snarling. Mary was soon ready, and the three 9359children set out for Sunday-school--a place that Tom hated with his 9360whole heart; but Sid and Mary were fond of it. 9361 9362Sabbath-school hours were from nine to half-past ten; and then church 9363service. Two of the children always remained for the sermon 9364voluntarily, and the other always remained too--for stronger reasons. 9365The church's high-backed, uncushioned pews would seat about three 9366hundred persons; the edifice was but a small, plain affair, with a sort 9367of pine board tree-box on top of it for a steeple. At the door Tom 9368dropped back a step and accosted a Sunday-dressed comrade: 9369 9370"Say, Billy, got a yaller ticket?" 9371 9372"Yes." 9373 9374"What'll you take for her?" 9375 9376"What'll you give?" 9377 9378"Piece of lickrish and a fish-hook." 9379 9380"Less see 'em." 9381 9382Tom exhibited. They were satisfactory, and the property changed hands. 9383Then Tom traded a couple of white alleys for three red tickets, and 9384some small trifle or other for a couple of blue ones. He waylaid other 9385boys as they came, and went on buying tickets of various colors ten or 9386fifteen minutes longer. He entered the church, now, with a swarm of 9387clean and noisy boys and girls, proceeded to his seat and started a 9388quarrel with the first boy that came handy. The teacher, a grave, 9389elderly man, interfered; then turned his back a moment and Tom pulled a 9390boy's hair in the next bench, and was absorbed in his book when the boy 9391turned around; stuck a pin in another boy, presently, in order to hear 9392him say "Ouch!" and got a new reprimand from his teacher. Tom's whole 9393class were of a pattern--restless, noisy, and troublesome. When they 9394came to recite their lessons, not one of them knew his verses 9395perfectly, but had to be prompted all along. However, they worried 9396through, and each got his reward--in small blue tickets, each with a 9397passage of Scripture on it; each blue ticket was pay for two verses of 9398the recitation. Ten blue tickets equalled a red one, and could be 9399exchanged for it; ten red tickets equalled a yellow one; for ten yellow 9400tickets the superintendent gave a very plainly bound Bible (worth forty 9401cents in those easy times) to the pupil. How many of my readers would 9402have the industry and application to memorize two thousand verses, even 9403for a Dore Bible? And yet Mary had acquired two Bibles in this way--it 9404was the patient work of two years--and a boy of German parentage had 9405won four or five. He once recited three thousand verses without 9406stopping; but the strain upon his mental faculties was too great, and 9407he was little better than an idiot from that day forth--a grievous 9408misfortune for the school, for on great occasions, before company, the 9409superintendent (as Tom expressed it) had always made this boy come out 9410and "spread himself." Only the older pupils managed to keep their 9411tickets and stick to their tedious work long enough to get a Bible, and 9412so the delivery of one of these prizes was a rare and noteworthy 9413circumstance; the successful pupil was so great and conspicuous for 9414that day that on the spot every scholar's heart was fired with a fresh 9415ambition that often lasted a couple of weeks. It is possible that Tom's 9416mental stomach had never really hungered for one of those prizes, but 9417unquestionably his entire being had for many a day longed for the glory 9418and the eclat that came with it. 9419 9420In due course the superintendent stood up in front of the pulpit, with 9421a closed hymn-book in his hand and his forefinger inserted between its 9422leaves, and commanded attention. When a Sunday-school superintendent 9423makes his customary little speech, a hymn-book in the hand is as 9424necessary as is the inevitable sheet of music in the hand of a singer 9425who stands forward on the platform and sings a solo at a concert 9426--though why, is a mystery: for neither the hymn-book nor the sheet of 9427music is ever referred to by the sufferer. This superintendent was a 9428slim creature of thirty-five, with a sandy goatee and short sandy hair; 9429he wore a stiff standing-collar whose upper edge almost reached his 9430ears and whose sharp points curved forward abreast the corners of his 9431mouth--a fence that compelled a straight lookout ahead, and a turning 9432of the whole body when a side view was required; his chin was propped 9433on a spreading cravat which was as broad and as long as a bank-note, 9434and had fringed ends; his boot toes were turned sharply up, in the 9435fashion of the day, like sleigh-runners--an effect patiently and 9436laboriously produced by the young men by sitting with their toes 9437pressed against a wall for hours together. Mr. Walters was very earnest 9438of mien, and very sincere and honest at heart; and he held sacred 9439things and places in such reverence, and so separated them from worldly 9440matters, that unconsciously to himself his Sunday-school voice had 9441acquired a peculiar intonation which was wholly absent on week-days. He 9442began after this fashion: 9443 9444"Now, children, I want you all to sit up just as straight and pretty 9445as you can and give me all your attention for a minute or two. There 9446--that is it. That is the way good little boys and girls should do. I see 9447one little girl who is looking out of the window--I am afraid she 9448thinks I am out there somewhere--perhaps up in one of the trees making 9449a speech to the little birds. [Applausive titter.] I want to tell you 9450how good it makes me feel to see so many bright, clean little faces 9451assembled in a place like this, learning to do right and be good." And 9452so forth and so on. It is not necessary to set down the rest of the 9453oration. It was of a pattern which does not vary, and so it is familiar 9454to us all. 9455 9456The latter third of the speech was marred by the resumption of fights 9457and other recreations among certain of the bad boys, and by fidgetings 9458and whisperings that extended far and wide, washing even to the bases 9459of isolated and incorruptible rocks like Sid and Mary. But now every 9460sound ceased suddenly, with the subsidence of Mr. Walters' voice, and 9461the conclusion of the speech was received with a burst of silent 9462gratitude. 9463 9464A good part of the whispering had been occasioned by an event which 9465was more or less rare--the entrance of visitors: lawyer Thatcher, 9466accompanied by a very feeble and aged man; a fine, portly, middle-aged 9467gentleman with iron-gray hair; and a dignified lady who was doubtless 9468the latter's wife. The lady was leading a child. Tom had been restless 9469and full of chafings and repinings; conscience-smitten, too--he could 9470not meet Amy Lawrence's eye, he could not brook her loving gaze. But 9471when he saw this small new-comer his soul was all ablaze with bliss in 9472a moment. The next moment he was "showing off" with all his might 9473--cuffing boys, pulling hair, making faces--in a word, using every art 9474that seemed likely to fascinate a girl and win her applause. His 9475exaltation had but one alloy--the memory of his humiliation in this 9476angel's garden--and that record in sand was fast washing out, under 9477the waves of happiness that were sweeping over it now. 9478 9479The visitors were given the highest seat of honor, and as soon as Mr. 9480Walters' speech was finished, he introduced them to the school. The 9481middle-aged man turned out to be a prodigious personage--no less a one 9482than the county judge--altogether the most august creation these 9483children had ever looked upon--and they wondered what kind of material 9484he was made of--and they half wanted to hear him roar, and were half 9485afraid he might, too. He was from Constantinople, twelve miles away--so 9486he had travelled, and seen the world--these very eyes had looked upon 9487the county court-house--which was said to have a tin roof. The awe 9488which these reflections inspired was attested by the impressive silence 9489and the ranks of staring eyes. This was the great Judge Thatcher, 9490brother of their own lawyer. Jeff Thatcher immediately went forward, to 9491be familiar with the great man and be envied by the school. It would 9492have been music to his soul to hear the whisperings: 9493 9494"Look at him, Jim! He's a going up there. Say--look! he's a going to 9495shake hands with him--he IS shaking hands with him! By jings, don't you 9496wish you was Jeff?" 9497 9498Mr. Walters fell to "showing off," with all sorts of official 9499bustlings and activities, giving orders, delivering judgments, 9500discharging directions here, there, everywhere that he could find a 9501target. The librarian "showed off"--running hither and thither with his 9502arms full of books and making a deal of the splutter and fuss that 9503insect authority delights in. The young lady teachers "showed off" 9504--bending sweetly over pupils that were lately being boxed, lifting 9505pretty warning fingers at bad little boys and patting good ones 9506lovingly. The young gentlemen teachers "showed off" with small 9507scoldings and other little displays of authority and fine attention to 9508discipline--and most of the teachers, of both sexes, found business up 9509at the library, by the pulpit; and it was business that frequently had 9510to be done over again two or three times (with much seeming vexation). 9511The little girls "showed off" in various ways, and the little boys 9512"showed off" with such diligence that the air was thick with paper wads 9513and the murmur of scufflings. And above it all the great man sat and 9514beamed a majestic judicial smile upon all the house, and warmed himself 9515in the sun of his own grandeur--for he was "showing off," too. 9516 9517There was only one thing wanting to make Mr. Walters' ecstasy 9518complete, and that was a chance to deliver a Bible-prize and exhibit a 9519prodigy. Several pupils had a few yellow tickets, but none had enough 9520--he had been around among the star pupils inquiring. He would have given 9521worlds, now, to have that German lad back again with a sound mind. 9522 9523And now at this moment, when hope was dead, Tom Sawyer came forward 9524with nine yellow tickets, nine red tickets, and ten blue ones, and 9525demanded a Bible. This was a thunderbolt out of a clear sky. Walters 9526was not expecting an application from this source for the next ten 9527years. But there was no getting around it--here were the certified 9528checks, and they were good for their face. Tom was therefore elevated 9529to a place with the Judge and the other elect, and the great news was 9530announced from headquarters. It was the most stunning surprise of the 9531decade, and so profound was the sensation that it lifted the new hero 9532up to the judicial one's altitude, and the school had two marvels to 9533gaze upon in place of one. The boys were all eaten up with envy--but 9534those that suffered the bitterest pangs were those who perceived too 9535late that they themselves had contributed to this hated splendor by 9536trading tickets to Tom for the wealth he had amassed in selling 9537whitewashing privileges. These despised themselves, as being the dupes 9538of a wily fraud, a guileful snake in the grass. 9539 9540The prize was delivered to Tom with as much effusion as the 9541superintendent could pump up under the circumstances; but it lacked 9542somewhat of the true gush, for the poor fellow's instinct taught him 9543that there was a mystery here that could not well bear the light, 9544perhaps; it was simply preposterous that this boy had warehoused two 9545thousand sheaves of Scriptural wisdom on his premises--a dozen would 9546strain his capacity, without a doubt. 9547 9548Amy Lawrence was proud and glad, and she tried to make Tom see it in 9549her face--but he wouldn't look. She wondered; then she was just a grain 9550troubled; next a dim suspicion came and went--came again; she watched; 9551a furtive glance told her worlds--and then her heart broke, and she was 9552jealous, and angry, and the tears came and she hated everybody. Tom 9553most of all (she thought). 9554 9555Tom was introduced to the Judge; but his tongue was tied, his breath 9556would hardly come, his heart quaked--partly because of the awful 9557greatness of the man, but mainly because he was her parent. He would 9558have liked to fall down and worship him, if it were in the dark. The 9559Judge put his hand on Tom's head and called him a fine little man, and 9560asked him what his name was. The boy stammered, gasped, and got it out: 9561 9562"Tom." 9563 9564"Oh, no, not Tom--it is--" 9565 9566"Thomas." 9567 9568"Ah, that's it. I thought there was more to it, maybe. That's very 9569well. But you've another one I daresay, and you'll tell it to me, won't 9570you?" 9571 9572"Tell the gentleman your other name, Thomas," said Walters, "and say 9573sir. You mustn't forget your manners." 9574 9575"Thomas Sawyer--sir." 9576 9577"That's it! That's a good boy. Fine boy. Fine, manly little fellow. 9578Two thousand verses is a great many--very, very great many. And you 9579never can be sorry for the trouble you took to learn them; for 9580knowledge is worth more than anything there is in the world; it's what 9581makes great men and good men; you'll be a great man and a good man 9582yourself, some day, Thomas, and then you'll look back and say, It's all 9583owing to the precious Sunday-school privileges of my boyhood--it's all 9584owing to my dear teachers that taught me to learn--it's all owing to 9585the good superintendent, who encouraged me, and watched over me, and 9586gave me a beautiful Bible--a splendid elegant Bible--to keep and have 9587it all for my own, always--it's all owing to right bringing up! That is 9588what you will say, Thomas--and you wouldn't take any money for those 9589two thousand verses--no indeed you wouldn't. And now you wouldn't mind 9590telling me and this lady some of the things you've learned--no, I know 9591you wouldn't--for we are proud of little boys that learn. Now, no 9592doubt you know the names of all the twelve disciples. Won't you tell us 9593the names of the first two that were appointed?" 9594 9595Tom was tugging at a button-hole and looking sheepish. He blushed, 9596now, and his eyes fell. Mr. Walters' heart sank within him. He said to 9597himself, it is not possible that the boy can answer the simplest 9598question--why DID the Judge ask him? Yet he felt obliged to speak up 9599and say: 9600 9601"Answer the gentleman, Thomas--don't be afraid." 9602 9603Tom still hung fire. 9604 9605"Now I know you'll tell me," said the lady. "The names of the first 9606two disciples were--" 9607 9608"DAVID AND GOLIAH!" 9609 9610Let us draw the curtain of charity over the rest of the scene. 9611 9612 9613 9614CHAPTER V 9615 9616ABOUT half-past ten the cracked bell of the small church began to 9617ring, and presently the people began to gather for the morning sermon. 9618The Sunday-school children distributed themselves about the house and 9619occupied pews with their parents, so as to be under supervision. Aunt 9620Polly came, and Tom and Sid and Mary sat with her--Tom being placed 9621next the aisle, in order that he might be as far away from the open 9622window and the seductive outside summer scenes as possible. The crowd 9623filed up the aisles: the aged and needy postmaster, who had seen better 9624days; the mayor and his wife--for they had a mayor there, among other 9625unnecessaries; the justice of the peace; the widow Douglass, fair, 9626smart, and forty, a generous, good-hearted soul and well-to-do, her 9627hill mansion the only palace in the town, and the most hospitable and 9628much the most lavish in the matter of festivities that St. Petersburg 9629could boast; the bent and venerable Major and Mrs. Ward; lawyer 9630Riverson, the new notable from a distance; next the belle of the 9631village, followed by a troop of lawn-clad and ribbon-decked young 9632heart-breakers; then all the young clerks in town in a body--for they 9633had stood in the vestibule sucking their cane-heads, a circling wall of 9634oiled and simpering admirers, till the last girl had run their gantlet; 9635and last of all came the Model Boy, Willie Mufferson, taking as heedful 9636care of his mother as if she were cut glass. He always brought his 9637mother to church, and was the pride of all the matrons. The boys all 9638hated him, he was so good. And besides, he had been "thrown up to them" 9639so much. His white handkerchief was hanging out of his pocket behind, as 9640usual on Sundays--accidentally. Tom had no handkerchief, and he looked 9641upon boys who had as snobs. 9642 9643The congregation being fully assembled, now, the bell rang once more, 9644to warn laggards and stragglers, and then a solemn hush fell upon the 9645church which was only broken by the tittering and whispering of the 9646choir in the gallery. The choir always tittered and whispered all 9647through service. There was once a church choir that was not ill-bred, 9648but I have forgotten where it was, now. It was a great many years ago, 9649and I can scarcely remember anything about it, but I think it was in 9650some foreign country. 9651 9652The minister gave out the hymn, and read it through with a relish, in 9653a peculiar style which was much admired in that part of the country. 9654His voice began on a medium key and climbed steadily up till it reached 9655a certain point, where it bore with strong emphasis upon the topmost 9656word and then plunged down as if from a spring-board: 9657 9658 Shall I be car-ri-ed toe the skies, on flow'ry BEDS of ease, 9659 9660 Whilst others fight to win the prize, and sail thro' BLOODY seas? 9661 9662He was regarded as a wonderful reader. At church "sociables" he was 9663always called upon to read poetry; and when he was through, the ladies 9664would lift up their hands and let them fall helplessly in their laps, 9665and "wall" their eyes, and shake their heads, as much as to say, "Words 9666cannot express it; it is too beautiful, TOO beautiful for this mortal 9667earth." 9668 9669After the hymn had been sung, the Rev. Mr. Sprague turned himself into 9670a bulletin-board, and read off "notices" of meetings and societies and 9671things till it seemed that the list would stretch out to the crack of 9672doom--a queer custom which is still kept up in America, even in cities, 9673away here in this age of abundant newspapers. Often, the less there is 9674to justify a traditional custom, the harder it is to get rid of it. 9675 9676And now the minister prayed. A good, generous prayer it was, and went 9677into details: it pleaded for the church, and the little children of the 9678church; for the other churches of the village; for the village itself; 9679for the county; for the State; for the State officers; for the United 9680States; for the churches of the United States; for Congress; for the 9681President; for the officers of the Government; for poor sailors, tossed 9682by stormy seas; for the oppressed millions groaning under the heel of 9683European monarchies and Oriental despotisms; for such as have the light 9684and the good tidings, and yet have not eyes to see nor ears to hear 9685withal; for the heathen in the far islands of the sea; and closed with 9686a supplication that the words he was about to speak might find grace 9687and favor, and be as seed sown in fertile ground, yielding in time a 9688grateful harvest of good. Amen. 9689 9690There was a rustling of dresses, and the standing congregation sat 9691down. The boy whose history this book relates did not enjoy the prayer, 9692he only endured it--if he even did that much. He was restive all 9693through it; he kept tally of the details of the prayer, unconsciously 9694--for he was not listening, but he knew the ground of old, and the 9695clergyman's regular route over it--and when a little trifle of new 9696matter was interlarded, his ear detected it and his whole nature 9697resented it; he considered additions unfair, and scoundrelly. In the 9698midst of the prayer a fly had lit on the back of the pew in front of 9699him and tortured his spirit by calmly rubbing its hands together, 9700embracing its head with its arms, and polishing it so vigorously that 9701it seemed to almost part company with the body, and the slender thread 9702of a neck was exposed to view; scraping its wings with its hind legs 9703and smoothing them to its body as if they had been coat-tails; going 9704through its whole toilet as tranquilly as if it knew it was perfectly 9705safe. As indeed it was; for as sorely as Tom's hands itched to grab for 9706it they did not dare--he believed his soul would be instantly destroyed 9707if he did such a thing while the prayer was going on. But with the 9708closing sentence his hand began to curve and steal forward; and the 9709instant the "Amen" was out the fly was a prisoner of war. His aunt 9710detected the act and made him let it go. 9711 9712The minister gave out his text and droned along monotonously through 9713an argument that was so prosy that many a head by and by began to nod 9714--and yet it was an argument that dealt in limitless fire and brimstone 9715and thinned the predestined elect down to a company so small as to be 9716hardly worth the saving. Tom counted the pages of the sermon; after 9717church he always knew how many pages there had been, but he seldom knew 9718anything else about the discourse. However, this time he was really 9719interested for a little while. The minister made a grand and moving 9720picture of the assembling together of the world's hosts at the 9721millennium when the lion and the lamb should lie down together and a 9722little child should lead them. But the pathos, the lesson, the moral of 9723the great spectacle were lost upon the boy; he only thought of the 9724conspicuousness of the principal character before the on-looking 9725nations; his face lit with the thought, and he said to himself that he 9726wished he could be that child, if it was a tame lion. 9727 9728Now he lapsed into suffering again, as the dry argument was resumed. 9729Presently he bethought him of a treasure he had and got it out. It was 9730a large black beetle with formidable jaws--a "pinchbug," he called it. 9731It was in a percussion-cap box. The first thing the beetle did was to 9732take him by the finger. A natural fillip followed, the beetle went 9733floundering into the aisle and lit on its back, and the hurt finger 9734went into the boy's mouth. The beetle lay there working its helpless 9735legs, unable to turn over. Tom eyed it, and longed for it; but it was 9736safe out of his reach. Other people uninterested in the sermon found 9737relief in the beetle, and they eyed it too. Presently a vagrant poodle 9738dog came idling along, sad at heart, lazy with the summer softness and 9739the quiet, weary of captivity, sighing for change. He spied the beetle; 9740the drooping tail lifted and wagged. He surveyed the prize; walked 9741around it; smelt at it from a safe distance; walked around it again; 9742grew bolder, and took a closer smell; then lifted his lip and made a 9743gingerly snatch at it, just missing it; made another, and another; 9744began to enjoy the diversion; subsided to his stomach with the beetle 9745between his paws, and continued his experiments; grew weary at last, 9746and then indifferent and absent-minded. His head nodded, and little by 9747little his chin descended and touched the enemy, who seized it. There 9748was a sharp yelp, a flirt of the poodle's head, and the beetle fell a 9749couple of yards away, and lit on its back once more. The neighboring 9750spectators shook with a gentle inward joy, several faces went behind 9751fans and handkerchiefs, and Tom was entirely happy. The dog looked 9752foolish, and probably felt so; but there was resentment in his heart, 9753too, and a craving for revenge. So he went to the beetle and began a 9754wary attack on it again; jumping at it from every point of a circle, 9755lighting with his fore-paws within an inch of the creature, making even 9756closer snatches at it with his teeth, and jerking his head till his 9757ears flapped again. But he grew tired once more, after a while; tried 9758to amuse himself with a fly but found no relief; followed an ant 9759around, with his nose close to the floor, and quickly wearied of that; 9760yawned, sighed, forgot the beetle entirely, and sat down on it. Then 9761there was a wild yelp of agony and the poodle went sailing up the 9762aisle; the yelps continued, and so did the dog; he crossed the house in 9763front of the altar; he flew down the other aisle; he crossed before the 9764doors; he clamored up the home-stretch; his anguish grew with his 9765progress, till presently he was but a woolly comet moving in its orbit 9766with the gleam and the speed of light. At last the frantic sufferer 9767sheered from its course, and sprang into its master's lap; he flung it 9768out of the window, and the voice of distress quickly thinned away and 9769died in the distance. 9770 9771By this time the whole church was red-faced and suffocating with 9772suppressed laughter, and the sermon had come to a dead standstill. The 9773discourse was resumed presently, but it went lame and halting, all 9774possibility of impressiveness being at an end; for even the gravest 9775sentiments were constantly being received with a smothered burst of 9776unholy mirth, under cover of some remote pew-back, as if the poor 9777parson had said a rarely facetious thing. It was a genuine relief to 9778the whole congregation when the ordeal was over and the benediction 9779pronounced. 9780 9781Tom Sawyer went home quite cheerful, thinking to himself that there 9782was some satisfaction about divine service when there was a bit of 9783variety in it. He had but one marring thought; he was willing that the 9784dog should play with his pinchbug, but he did not think it was upright 9785in him to carry it off. 9786 9787 9788 9789CHAPTER VI 9790 9791MONDAY morning found Tom Sawyer miserable. Monday morning always found 9792him so--because it began another week's slow suffering in school. He 9793generally began that day with wishing he had had no intervening 9794holiday, it made the going into captivity and fetters again so much 9795more odious. 9796 9797Tom lay thinking. Presently it occurred to him that he wished he was 9798sick; then he could stay home from school. Here was a vague 9799possibility. He canvassed his system. No ailment was found, and he 9800investigated again. This time he thought he could detect colicky 9801symptoms, and he began to encourage them with considerable hope. But 9802they soon grew feeble, and presently died wholly away. He reflected 9803further. Suddenly he discovered something. One of his upper front teeth 9804was loose. This was lucky; he was about to begin to groan, as a 9805"starter," as he called it, when it occurred to him that if he came 9806into court with that argument, his aunt would pull it out, and that 9807would hurt. So he thought he would hold the tooth in reserve for the 9808present, and seek further. Nothing offered for some little time, and 9809then he remembered hearing the doctor tell about a certain thing that 9810laid up a patient for two or three weeks and threatened to make him 9811lose a finger. So the boy eagerly drew his sore toe from under the 9812sheet and held it up for inspection. But now he did not know the 9813necessary symptoms. However, it seemed well worth while to chance it, 9814so he fell to groaning with considerable spirit. 9815 9816But Sid slept on unconscious. 9817 9818Tom groaned louder, and fancied that he began to feel pain in the toe. 9819 9820No result from Sid. 9821 9822Tom was panting with his exertions by this time. He took a rest and 9823then swelled himself up and fetched a succession of admirable groans. 9824 9825Sid snored on. 9826 9827Tom was aggravated. He said, "Sid, Sid!" and shook him. This course 9828worked well, and Tom began to groan again. Sid yawned, stretched, then 9829brought himself up on his elbow with a snort, and began to stare at 9830Tom. Tom went on groaning. Sid said: 9831 9832"Tom! Say, Tom!" [No response.] "Here, Tom! TOM! What is the matter, 9833Tom?" And he shook him and looked in his face anxiously. 9834 9835Tom moaned out: 9836 9837"Oh, don't, Sid. Don't joggle me." 9838 9839"Why, what's the matter, Tom? I must call auntie." 9840 9841"No--never mind. It'll be over by and by, maybe. Don't call anybody." 9842 9843"But I must! DON'T groan so, Tom, it's awful. How long you been this 9844way?" 9845 9846"Hours. Ouch! Oh, don't stir so, Sid, you'll kill me." 9847 9848"Tom, why didn't you wake me sooner? Oh, Tom, DON'T! It makes my 9849flesh crawl to hear you. Tom, what is the matter?" 9850 9851"I forgive you everything, Sid. [Groan.] Everything you've ever done 9852to me. When I'm gone--" 9853 9854"Oh, Tom, you ain't dying, are you? Don't, Tom--oh, don't. Maybe--" 9855 9856"I forgive everybody, Sid. [Groan.] Tell 'em so, Sid. And Sid, you 9857give my window-sash and my cat with one eye to that new girl that's 9858come to town, and tell her--" 9859 9860But Sid had snatched his clothes and gone. Tom was suffering in 9861reality, now, so handsomely was his imagination working, and so his 9862groans had gathered quite a genuine tone. 9863 9864Sid flew down-stairs and said: 9865 9866"Oh, Aunt Polly, come! Tom's dying!" 9867 9868"Dying!" 9869 9870"Yes'm. Don't wait--come quick!" 9871 9872"Rubbage! I don't believe it!" 9873 9874But she fled up-stairs, nevertheless, with Sid and Mary at her heels. 9875And her face grew white, too, and her lip trembled. When she reached 9876the bedside she gasped out: 9877 9878"You, Tom! Tom, what's the matter with you?" 9879 9880"Oh, auntie, I'm--" 9881 9882"What's the matter with you--what is the matter with you, child?" 9883 9884"Oh, auntie, my sore toe's mortified!" 9885 9886The old lady sank down into a chair and laughed a little, then cried a 9887little, then did both together. This restored her and she said: 9888 9889"Tom, what a turn you did give me. Now you shut up that nonsense and 9890climb out of this." 9891 9892The groans ceased and the pain vanished from the toe. The boy felt a 9893little foolish, and he said: 9894 9895"Aunt Polly, it SEEMED mortified, and it hurt so I never minded my 9896tooth at all." 9897 9898"Your tooth, indeed! What's the matter with your tooth?" 9899 9900"One of them's loose, and it aches perfectly awful." 9901 9902"There, there, now, don't begin that groaning again. Open your mouth. 9903Well--your tooth IS loose, but you're not going to die about that. 9904Mary, get me a silk thread, and a chunk of fire out of the kitchen." 9905 9906Tom said: 9907 9908"Oh, please, auntie, don't pull it out. It don't hurt any more. I wish 9909I may never stir if it does. Please don't, auntie. I don't want to stay 9910home from school." 9911 9912"Oh, you don't, don't you? So all this row was because you thought 9913you'd get to stay home from school and go a-fishing? Tom, Tom, I love 9914you so, and you seem to try every way you can to break my old heart 9915with your outrageousness." By this time the dental instruments were 9916ready. The old lady made one end of the silk thread fast to Tom's tooth 9917with a loop and tied the other to the bedpost. Then she seized the 9918chunk of fire and suddenly thrust it almost into the boy's face. The 9919tooth hung dangling by the bedpost, now. 9920 9921But all trials bring their compensations. As Tom wended to school 9922after breakfast, he was the envy of every boy he met because the gap in 9923his upper row of teeth enabled him to expectorate in a new and 9924admirable way. He gathered quite a following of lads interested in the 9925exhibition; and one that had cut his finger and had been a centre of 9926fascination and homage up to this time, now found himself suddenly 9927without an adherent, and shorn of his glory. His heart was heavy, and 9928he said with a disdain which he did not feel that it wasn't anything to 9929spit like Tom Sawyer; but another boy said, "Sour grapes!" and he 9930wandered away a dismantled hero. 9931 9932Shortly Tom came upon the juvenile pariah of the village, Huckleberry 9933Finn, son of the town drunkard. Huckleberry was cordially hated and 9934dreaded by all the mothers of the town, because he was idle and lawless 9935and vulgar and bad--and because all their children admired him so, and 9936delighted in his forbidden society, and wished they dared to be like 9937him. Tom was like the rest of the respectable boys, in that he envied 9938Huckleberry his gaudy outcast condition, and was under strict orders 9939not to play with him. So he played with him every time he got a chance. 9940Huckleberry was always dressed in the cast-off clothes of full-grown 9941men, and they were in perennial bloom and fluttering with rags. His hat 9942was a vast ruin with a wide crescent lopped out of its brim; his coat, 9943when he wore one, hung nearly to his heels and had the rearward buttons 9944far down the back; but one suspender supported his trousers; the seat 9945of the trousers bagged low and contained nothing, the fringed legs 9946dragged in the dirt when not rolled up. 9947 9948Huckleberry came and went, at his own free will. He slept on doorsteps 9949in fine weather and in empty hogsheads in wet; he did not have to go to 9950school or to church, or call any being master or obey anybody; he could 9951go fishing or swimming when and where he chose, and stay as long as it 9952suited him; nobody forbade him to fight; he could sit up as late as he 9953pleased; he was always the first boy that went barefoot in the spring 9954and the last to resume leather in the fall; he never had to wash, nor 9955put on clean clothes; he could swear wonderfully. In a word, everything 9956that goes to make life precious that boy had. So thought every 9957harassed, hampered, respectable boy in St. Petersburg. 9958 9959Tom hailed the romantic outcast: 9960 9961"Hello, Huckleberry!" 9962 9963"Hello yourself, and see how you like it." 9964 9965"What's that you got?" 9966 9967"Dead cat." 9968 9969"Lemme see him, Huck. My, he's pretty stiff. Where'd you get him?" 9970 9971"Bought him off'n a boy." 9972 9973"What did you give?" 9974 9975"I give a blue ticket and a bladder that I got at the slaughter-house." 9976 9977"Where'd you get the blue ticket?" 9978 9979"Bought it off'n Ben Rogers two weeks ago for a hoop-stick." 9980 9981"Say--what is dead cats good for, Huck?" 9982 9983"Good for? Cure warts with." 9984 9985"No! Is that so? I know something that's better." 9986 9987"I bet you don't. What is it?" 9988 9989"Why, spunk-water." 9990 9991"Spunk-water! I wouldn't give a dern for spunk-water." 9992 9993"You wouldn't, wouldn't you? D'you ever try it?" 9994 9995"No, I hain't. But Bob Tanner did." 9996 9997"Who told you so!" 9998 9999"Why, he told Jeff Thatcher, and Jeff told Johnny Baker, and Johnny 10000told Jim Hollis, and Jim told Ben Rogers, and Ben told a nigger, and 10001the nigger told me. There now!" 10002 10003"Well, what of it? They'll all lie. Leastways all but the nigger. I 10004don't know HIM. But I never see a nigger that WOULDN'T lie. Shucks! Now 10005you tell me how Bob Tanner done it, Huck." 10006 10007"Why, he took and dipped his hand in a rotten stump where the 10008rain-water was." 10009 10010"In the daytime?" 10011 10012"Certainly." 10013 10014"With his face to the stump?" 10015 10016"Yes. Least I reckon so." 10017 10018"Did he say anything?" 10019 10020"I don't reckon he did. I don't know." 10021 10022"Aha! Talk about trying to cure warts with spunk-water such a blame 10023fool way as that! Why, that ain't a-going to do any good. You got to go 10024all by yourself, to the middle of the woods, where you know there's a 10025spunk-water stump, and just as it's midnight you back up against the 10026stump and jam your hand in and say: 10027 10028 'Barley-corn, barley-corn, injun-meal shorts, 10029 Spunk-water, spunk-water, swaller these warts,' 10030 10031and then walk away quick, eleven steps, with your eyes shut, and then 10032turn around three times and walk home without speaking to anybody. 10033Because if you speak the charm's busted." 10034 10035"Well, that sounds like a good way; but that ain't the way Bob Tanner 10036done." 10037 10038"No, sir, you can bet he didn't, becuz he's the wartiest boy in this 10039town; and he wouldn't have a wart on him if he'd knowed how to work 10040spunk-water. I've took off thousands of warts off of my hands that way, 10041Huck. I play with frogs so much that I've always got considerable many 10042warts. Sometimes I take 'em off with a bean." 10043 10044"Yes, bean's good. I've done that." 10045 10046"Have you? What's your way?" 10047 10048"You take and split the bean, and cut the wart so as to get some 10049blood, and then you put the blood on one piece of the bean and take and 10050dig a hole and bury it 'bout midnight at the crossroads in the dark of 10051the moon, and then you burn up the rest of the bean. You see that piece 10052that's got the blood on it will keep drawing and drawing, trying to 10053fetch the other piece to it, and so that helps the blood to draw the 10054wart, and pretty soon off she comes." 10055 10056"Yes, that's it, Huck--that's it; though when you're burying it if you 10057say 'Down bean; off wart; come no more to bother me!' it's better. 10058That's the way Joe Harper does, and he's been nearly to Coonville and 10059most everywheres. But say--how do you cure 'em with dead cats?" 10060 10061"Why, you take your cat and go and get in the graveyard 'long about 10062midnight when somebody that was wicked has been buried; and when it's 10063midnight a devil will come, or maybe two or three, but you can't see 10064'em, you can only hear something like the wind, or maybe hear 'em talk; 10065and when they're taking that feller away, you heave your cat after 'em 10066and say, 'Devil follow corpse, cat follow devil, warts follow cat, I'm 10067done with ye!' That'll fetch ANY wart." 10068 10069"Sounds right. D'you ever try it, Huck?" 10070 10071"No, but old Mother Hopkins told me." 10072 10073"Well, I reckon it's so, then. Becuz they say she's a witch." 10074 10075"Say! Why, Tom, I KNOW she is. She witched pap. Pap says so his own 10076self. He come along one day, and he see she was a-witching him, so he 10077took up a rock, and if she hadn't dodged, he'd a got her. Well, that 10078very night he rolled off'n a shed wher' he was a layin drunk, and broke 10079his arm." 10080 10081"Why, that's awful. How did he know she was a-witching him?" 10082 10083"Lord, pap can tell, easy. Pap says when they keep looking at you 10084right stiddy, they're a-witching you. Specially if they mumble. Becuz 10085when they mumble they're saying the Lord's Prayer backards." 10086 10087"Say, Hucky, when you going to try the cat?" 10088 10089"To-night. I reckon they'll come after old Hoss Williams to-night." 10090 10091"But they buried him Saturday. Didn't they get him Saturday night?" 10092 10093"Why, how you talk! How could their charms work till midnight?--and 10094THEN it's Sunday. Devils don't slosh around much of a Sunday, I don't 10095reckon." 10096 10097"I never thought of that. That's so. Lemme go with you?" 10098 10099"Of course--if you ain't afeard." 10100 10101"Afeard! 'Tain't likely. Will you meow?" 10102 10103"Yes--and you meow back, if you get a chance. Last time, you kep' me 10104a-meowing around till old Hays went to throwing rocks at me and says 10105'Dern that cat!' and so I hove a brick through his window--but don't 10106you tell." 10107 10108"I won't. I couldn't meow that night, becuz auntie was watching me, 10109but I'll meow this time. Say--what's that?" 10110 10111"Nothing but a tick." 10112 10113"Where'd you get him?" 10114 10115"Out in the woods." 10116 10117"What'll you take for him?" 10118 10119"I don't know. I don't want to sell him." 10120 10121"All right. It's a mighty small tick, anyway." 10122 10123"Oh, anybody can run a tick down that don't belong to them. I'm 10124satisfied with it. It's a good enough tick for me." 10125 10126"Sho, there's ticks a plenty. I could have a thousand of 'em if I 10127wanted to." 10128 10129"Well, why don't you? Becuz you know mighty well you can't. This is a 10130pretty early tick, I reckon. It's the first one I've seen this year." 10131 10132"Say, Huck--I'll give you my tooth for him." 10133 10134"Less see it." 10135 10136Tom got out a bit of paper and carefully unrolled it. Huckleberry 10137viewed it wistfully. The temptation was very strong. At last he said: 10138 10139"Is it genuwyne?" 10140 10141Tom lifted his lip and showed the vacancy. 10142 10143"Well, all right," said Huckleberry, "it's a trade." 10144 10145Tom enclosed the tick in the percussion-cap box that had lately been 10146the pinchbug's prison, and the boys separated, each feeling wealthier 10147than before. 10148 10149When Tom reached the little isolated frame schoolhouse, he strode in 10150briskly, with the manner of one who had come with all honest speed. 10151He hung his hat on a peg and flung himself into his seat with 10152business-like alacrity. The master, throned on high in his great 10153splint-bottom arm-chair, was dozing, lulled by the drowsy hum of study. 10154The interruption roused him. 10155 10156"Thomas Sawyer!" 10157 10158Tom knew that when his name was pronounced in full, it meant trouble. 10159 10160"Sir!" 10161 10162"Come up here. Now, sir, why are you late again, as usual?" 10163 10164Tom was about to take refuge in a lie, when he saw two long tails of 10165yellow hair hanging down a back that he recognized by the electric 10166sympathy of love; and by that form was THE ONLY VACANT PLACE on the 10167girls' side of the schoolhouse. He instantly said: 10168 10169"I STOPPED TO TALK WITH HUCKLEBERRY FINN!" 10170 10171The master's pulse stood still, and he stared helplessly. The buzz of 10172study ceased. The pupils wondered if this foolhardy boy had lost his 10173mind. The master said: 10174 10175"You--you did what?" 10176 10177"Stopped to talk with Huckleberry Finn." 10178 10179There was no mistaking the words. 10180 10181"Thomas Sawyer, this is the most astounding confession I have ever 10182listened to. No mere ferule will answer for this offence. Take off your 10183jacket." 10184 10185The master's arm performed until it was tired and the stock of 10186switches notably diminished. Then the order followed: 10187 10188"Now, sir, go and sit with the girls! And let this be a warning to you." 10189 10190The titter that rippled around the room appeared to abash the boy, but 10191in reality that result was caused rather more by his worshipful awe of 10192his unknown idol and the dread pleasure that lay in his high good 10193fortune. He sat down upon the end of the pine bench and the girl 10194hitched herself away from him with a toss of her head. Nudges and winks 10195and whispers traversed the room, but Tom sat still, with his arms upon 10196the long, low desk before him, and seemed to study his book. 10197 10198By and by attention ceased from him, and the accustomed school murmur 10199rose upon the dull air once more. Presently the boy began to steal 10200furtive glances at the girl. She observed it, "made a mouth" at him and 10201gave him the back of her head for the space of a minute. When she 10202cautiously faced around again, a peach lay before her. She thrust it 10203away. Tom gently put it back. She thrust it away again, but with less 10204animosity. Tom patiently returned it to its place. Then she let it 10205remain. Tom scrawled on his slate, "Please take it--I got more." The 10206girl glanced at the words, but made no sign. Now the boy began to draw 10207something on the slate, hiding his work with his left hand. For a time 10208the girl refused to notice; but her human curiosity presently began to 10209manifest itself by hardly perceptible signs. The boy worked on, 10210apparently unconscious. The girl made a sort of noncommittal attempt to 10211see, but the boy did not betray that he was aware of it. At last she 10212gave in and hesitatingly whispered: 10213 10214"Let me see it." 10215 10216Tom partly uncovered a dismal caricature of a house with two gable 10217ends to it and a corkscrew of smoke issuing from the chimney. Then the 10218girl's interest began to fasten itself upon the work and she forgot 10219everything else. When it was finished, she gazed a moment, then 10220whispered: 10221 10222"It's nice--make a man." 10223 10224The artist erected a man in the front yard, that resembled a derrick. 10225He could have stepped over the house; but the girl was not 10226hypercritical; she was satisfied with the monster, and whispered: 10227 10228"It's a beautiful man--now make me coming along." 10229 10230Tom drew an hour-glass with a full moon and straw limbs to it and 10231armed the spreading fingers with a portentous fan. The girl said: 10232 10233"It's ever so nice--I wish I could draw." 10234 10235"It's easy," whispered Tom, "I'll learn you." 10236 10237"Oh, will you? When?" 10238 10239"At noon. Do you go home to dinner?" 10240 10241"I'll stay if you will." 10242 10243"Good--that's a whack. What's your name?" 10244 10245"Becky Thatcher. What's yours? Oh, I know. It's Thomas Sawyer." 10246 10247"That's the name they lick me by. I'm Tom when I'm good. You call me 10248Tom, will you?" 10249 10250"Yes." 10251 10252Now Tom began to scrawl something on the slate, hiding the words from 10253the girl. But she was not backward this time. She begged to see. Tom 10254said: 10255 10256"Oh, it ain't anything." 10257 10258"Yes it is." 10259 10260"No it ain't. You don't want to see." 10261 10262"Yes I do, indeed I do. Please let me." 10263 10264"You'll tell." 10265 10266"No I won't--deed and deed and double deed won't." 10267 10268"You won't tell anybody at all? Ever, as long as you live?" 10269 10270"No, I won't ever tell ANYbody. Now let me." 10271 10272"Oh, YOU don't want to see!" 10273 10274"Now that you treat me so, I WILL see." And she put her small hand 10275upon his and a little scuffle ensued, Tom pretending to resist in 10276earnest but letting his hand slip by degrees till these words were 10277revealed: "I LOVE YOU." 10278 10279"Oh, you bad thing!" And she hit his hand a smart rap, but reddened 10280and looked pleased, nevertheless. 10281 10282Just at this juncture the boy felt a slow, fateful grip closing on his 10283ear, and a steady lifting impulse. In that wise he was borne across the 10284house and deposited in his own seat, under a peppering fire of giggles 10285from the whole school. Then the master stood over him during a few 10286awful moments, and finally moved away to his throne without saying a 10287word. But although Tom's ear tingled, his heart was jubilant. 10288 10289As the school quieted down Tom made an honest effort to study, but the 10290turmoil within him was too great. In turn he took his place in the 10291reading class and made a botch of it; then in the geography class and 10292turned lakes into mountains, mountains into rivers, and rivers into 10293continents, till chaos was come again; then in the spelling class, and 10294got "turned down," by a succession of mere baby words, till he brought 10295up at the foot and yielded up the pewter medal which he had worn with 10296ostentation for months. 10297 10298 10299 10300CHAPTER VII 10301 10302THE harder Tom tried to fasten his mind on his book, the more his 10303ideas wandered. So at last, with a sigh and a yawn, he gave it up. It 10304seemed to him that the noon recess would never come. The air was 10305utterly dead. There was not a breath stirring. It was the sleepiest of 10306sleepy days. The drowsing murmur of the five and twenty studying 10307scholars soothed the soul like the spell that is in the murmur of bees. 10308Away off in the flaming sunshine, Cardiff Hill lifted its soft green 10309sides through a shimmering veil of heat, tinted with the purple of 10310distance; a few birds floated on lazy wing high in the air; no other 10311living thing was visible but some cows, and they were asleep. Tom's 10312heart ached to be free, or else to have something of interest to do to 10313pass the dreary time. His hand wandered into his pocket and his face 10314lit up with a glow of gratitude that was prayer, though he did not know 10315it. Then furtively the percussion-cap box came out. He released the 10316tick and put him on the long flat desk. The creature probably glowed 10317with a gratitude that amounted to prayer, too, at this moment, but it 10318was premature: for when he started thankfully to travel off, Tom turned 10319him aside with a pin and made him take a new direction. 10320 10321Tom's bosom friend sat next him, suffering just as Tom had been, and 10322now he was deeply and gratefully interested in this entertainment in an 10323instant. This bosom friend was Joe Harper. The two boys were sworn 10324friends all the week, and embattled enemies on Saturdays. Joe took a 10325pin out of his lapel and began to assist in exercising the prisoner. 10326The sport grew in interest momently. Soon Tom said that they were 10327interfering with each other, and neither getting the fullest benefit of 10328the tick. So he put Joe's slate on the desk and drew a line down the 10329middle of it from top to bottom. 10330 10331"Now," said he, "as long as he is on your side you can stir him up and 10332I'll let him alone; but if you let him get away and get on my side, 10333you're to leave him alone as long as I can keep him from crossing over." 10334 10335"All right, go ahead; start him up." 10336 10337The tick escaped from Tom, presently, and crossed the equator. Joe 10338harassed him awhile, and then he got away and crossed back again. This 10339change of base occurred often. While one boy was worrying the tick with 10340absorbing interest, the other would look on with interest as strong, 10341the two heads bowed together over the slate, and the two souls dead to 10342all things else. At last luck seemed to settle and abide with Joe. The 10343tick tried this, that, and the other course, and got as excited and as 10344anxious as the boys themselves, but time and again just as he would 10345have victory in his very grasp, so to speak, and Tom's fingers would be 10346twitching to begin, Joe's pin would deftly head him off, and keep 10347possession. At last Tom could stand it no longer. The temptation was 10348too strong. So he reached out and lent a hand with his pin. Joe was 10349angry in a moment. Said he: 10350 10351"Tom, you let him alone." 10352 10353"I only just want to stir him up a little, Joe." 10354 10355"No, sir, it ain't fair; you just let him alone." 10356 10357"Blame it, I ain't going to stir him much." 10358 10359"Let him alone, I tell you." 10360 10361"I won't!" 10362 10363"You shall--he's on my side of the line." 10364 10365"Look here, Joe Harper, whose is that tick?" 10366 10367"I don't care whose tick he is--he's on my side of the line, and you 10368sha'n't touch him." 10369 10370"Well, I'll just bet I will, though. He's my tick and I'll do what I 10371blame please with him, or die!" 10372 10373A tremendous whack came down on Tom's shoulders, and its duplicate on 10374Joe's; and for the space of two minutes the dust continued to fly from 10375the two jackets and the whole school to enjoy it. The boys had been too 10376absorbed to notice the hush that had stolen upon the school awhile 10377before when the master came tiptoeing down the room and stood over 10378them. He had contemplated a good part of the performance before he 10379contributed his bit of variety to it. 10380 10381When school broke up at noon, Tom flew to Becky Thatcher, and 10382whispered in her ear: 10383 10384"Put on your bonnet and let on you're going home; and when you get to 10385the corner, give the rest of 'em the slip, and turn down through the 10386lane and come back. I'll go the other way and come it over 'em the same 10387way." 10388 10389So the one went off with one group of scholars, and the other with 10390another. In a little while the two met at the bottom of the lane, and 10391when they reached the school they had it all to themselves. Then they 10392sat together, with a slate before them, and Tom gave Becky the pencil 10393and held her hand in his, guiding it, and so created another surprising 10394house. When the interest in art began to wane, the two fell to talking. 10395Tom was swimming in bliss. He said: 10396 10397"Do you love rats?" 10398 10399"No! I hate them!" 10400 10401"Well, I do, too--LIVE ones. But I mean dead ones, to swing round your 10402head with a string." 10403 10404"No, I don't care for rats much, anyway. What I like is chewing-gum." 10405 10406"Oh, I should say so! I wish I had some now." 10407 10408"Do you? I've got some. I'll let you chew it awhile, but you must give 10409it back to me." 10410 10411That was agreeable, so they chewed it turn about, and dangled their 10412legs against the bench in excess of contentment. 10413 10414"Was you ever at a circus?" said Tom. 10415 10416"Yes, and my pa's going to take me again some time, if I'm good." 10417 10418"I been to the circus three or four times--lots of times. Church ain't 10419shucks to a circus. There's things going on at a circus all the time. 10420I'm going to be a clown in a circus when I grow up." 10421 10422"Oh, are you! That will be nice. They're so lovely, all spotted up." 10423 10424"Yes, that's so. And they get slathers of money--most a dollar a day, 10425Ben Rogers says. Say, Becky, was you ever engaged?" 10426 10427"What's that?" 10428 10429"Why, engaged to be married." 10430 10431"No." 10432 10433"Would you like to?" 10434 10435"I reckon so. I don't know. What is it like?" 10436 10437"Like? Why it ain't like anything. You only just tell a boy you won't 10438ever have anybody but him, ever ever ever, and then you kiss and that's 10439all. Anybody can do it." 10440 10441"Kiss? What do you kiss for?" 10442 10443"Why, that, you know, is to--well, they always do that." 10444 10445"Everybody?" 10446 10447"Why, yes, everybody that's in love with each other. Do you remember 10448what I wrote on the slate?" 10449 10450"Ye--yes." 10451 10452"What was it?" 10453 10454"I sha'n't tell you." 10455 10456"Shall I tell YOU?" 10457 10458"Ye--yes--but some other time." 10459 10460"No, now." 10461 10462"No, not now--to-morrow." 10463 10464"Oh, no, NOW. Please, Becky--I'll whisper it, I'll whisper it ever so 10465easy." 10466 10467Becky hesitating, Tom took silence for consent, and passed his arm 10468about her waist and whispered the tale ever so softly, with his mouth 10469close to her ear. And then he added: 10470 10471"Now you whisper it to me--just the same." 10472 10473She resisted, for a while, and then said: 10474 10475"You turn your face away so you can't see, and then I will. But you 10476mustn't ever tell anybody--WILL you, Tom? Now you won't, WILL you?" 10477 10478"No, indeed, indeed I won't. Now, Becky." 10479 10480He turned his face away. She bent timidly around till her breath 10481stirred his curls and whispered, "I--love--you!" 10482 10483Then she sprang away and ran around and around the desks and benches, 10484with Tom after her, and took refuge in a corner at last, with her 10485little white apron to her face. Tom clasped her about her neck and 10486pleaded: 10487 10488"Now, Becky, it's all done--all over but the kiss. Don't you be afraid 10489of that--it ain't anything at all. Please, Becky." And he tugged at her 10490apron and the hands. 10491 10492By and by she gave up, and let her hands drop; her face, all glowing 10493with the struggle, came up and submitted. Tom kissed the red lips and 10494said: 10495 10496"Now it's all done, Becky. And always after this, you know, you ain't 10497ever to love anybody but me, and you ain't ever to marry anybody but 10498me, ever never and forever. Will you?" 10499 10500"No, I'll never love anybody but you, Tom, and I'll never marry 10501anybody but you--and you ain't to ever marry anybody but me, either." 10502 10503"Certainly. Of course. That's PART of it. And always coming to school 10504or when we're going home, you're to walk with me, when there ain't 10505anybody looking--and you choose me and I choose you at parties, because 10506that's the way you do when you're engaged." 10507 10508"It's so nice. I never heard of it before." 10509 10510"Oh, it's ever so gay! Why, me and Amy Lawrence--" 10511 10512The big eyes told Tom his blunder and he stopped, confused. 10513 10514"Oh, Tom! Then I ain't the first you've ever been engaged to!" 10515 10516The child began to cry. Tom said: 10517 10518"Oh, don't cry, Becky, I don't care for her any more." 10519 10520"Yes, you do, Tom--you know you do." 10521 10522Tom tried to put his arm about her neck, but she pushed him away and 10523turned her face to the wall, and went on crying. Tom tried again, with 10524soothing words in his mouth, and was repulsed again. Then his pride was 10525up, and he strode away and went outside. He stood about, restless and 10526uneasy, for a while, glancing at the door, every now and then, hoping 10527she would repent and come to find him. But she did not. Then he began 10528to feel badly and fear that he was in the wrong. It was a hard struggle 10529with him to make new advances, now, but he nerved himself to it and 10530entered. She was still standing back there in the corner, sobbing, with 10531her face to the wall. Tom's heart smote him. He went to her and stood a 10532moment, not knowing exactly how to proceed. Then he said hesitatingly: 10533 10534"Becky, I--I don't care for anybody but you." 10535 10536No reply--but sobs. 10537 10538"Becky"--pleadingly. "Becky, won't you say something?" 10539 10540More sobs. 10541 10542Tom got out his chiefest jewel, a brass knob from the top of an 10543andiron, and passed it around her so that she could see it, and said: 10544 10545"Please, Becky, won't you take it?" 10546 10547She struck it to the floor. Then Tom marched out of the house and over 10548the hills and far away, to return to school no more that day. Presently 10549Becky began to suspect. She ran to the door; he was not in sight; she 10550flew around to the play-yard; he was not there. Then she called: 10551 10552"Tom! Come back, Tom!" 10553 10554She listened intently, but there was no answer. She had no companions 10555but silence and loneliness. So she sat down to cry again and upbraid 10556herself; and by this time the scholars began to gather again, and she 10557had to hide her griefs and still her broken heart and take up the cross 10558of a long, dreary, aching afternoon, with none among the strangers 10559about her to exchange sorrows with. 10560 10561 10562 10563CHAPTER VIII 10564 10565TOM dodged hither and thither through lanes until he was well out of 10566the track of returning scholars, and then fell into a moody jog. He 10567crossed a small "branch" two or three times, because of a prevailing 10568juvenile superstition that to cross water baffled pursuit. Half an hour 10569later he was disappearing behind the Douglas mansion on the summit of 10570Cardiff Hill, and the schoolhouse was hardly distinguishable away off 10571in the valley behind him. He entered a dense wood, picked his pathless 10572way to the centre of it, and sat down on a mossy spot under a spreading 10573oak. There was not even a zephyr stirring; the dead noonday heat had 10574even stilled the songs of the birds; nature lay in a trance that was 10575broken by no sound but the occasional far-off hammering of a 10576woodpecker, and this seemed to render the pervading silence and sense 10577of loneliness the more profound. The boy's soul was steeped in 10578melancholy; his feelings were in happy accord with his surroundings. He 10579sat long with his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands, 10580meditating. It seemed to him that life was but a trouble, at best, and 10581he more than half envied Jimmy Hodges, so lately released; it must be 10582very peaceful, he thought, to lie and slumber and dream forever and 10583ever, with the wind whispering through the trees and caressing the 10584grass and the flowers over the grave, and nothing to bother and grieve 10585about, ever any more. If he only had a clean Sunday-school record he 10586could be willing to go, and be done with it all. Now as to this girl. 10587What had he done? Nothing. He had meant the best in the world, and been 10588treated like a dog--like a very dog. She would be sorry some day--maybe 10589when it was too late. Ah, if he could only die TEMPORARILY! 10590 10591But the elastic heart of youth cannot be compressed into one 10592constrained shape long at a time. Tom presently began to drift 10593insensibly back into the concerns of this life again. What if he turned 10594his back, now, and disappeared mysteriously? What if he went away--ever 10595so far away, into unknown countries beyond the seas--and never came 10596back any more! How would she feel then! The idea of being a clown 10597recurred to him now, only to fill him with disgust. For frivolity and 10598jokes and spotted tights were an offense, when they intruded themselves 10599upon a spirit that was exalted into the vague august realm of the 10600romantic. No, he would be a soldier, and return after long years, all 10601war-worn and illustrious. No--better still, he would join the Indians, 10602and hunt buffaloes and go on the warpath in the mountain ranges and the 10603trackless great plains of the Far West, and away in the future come 10604back a great chief, bristling with feathers, hideous with paint, and 10605prance into Sunday-school, some drowsy summer morning, with a 10606bloodcurdling war-whoop, and sear the eyeballs of all his companions 10607with unappeasable envy. But no, there was something gaudier even than 10608this. He would be a pirate! That was it! NOW his future lay plain 10609before him, and glowing with unimaginable splendor. How his name would 10610fill the world, and make people shudder! How gloriously he would go 10611plowing the dancing seas, in his long, low, black-hulled racer, the 10612Spirit of the Storm, with his grisly flag flying at the fore! And at 10613the zenith of his fame, how he would suddenly appear at the old village 10614and stalk into church, brown and weather-beaten, in his black velvet 10615doublet and trunks, his great jack-boots, his crimson sash, his belt 10616bristling with horse-pistols, his crime-rusted cutlass at his side, his 10617slouch hat with waving plumes, his black flag unfurled, with the skull 10618and crossbones on it, and hear with swelling ecstasy the whisperings, 10619"It's Tom Sawyer the Pirate!--the Black Avenger of the Spanish Main!" 10620 10621Yes, it was settled; his career was determined. He would run away from 10622home and enter upon it. He would start the very next morning. Therefore 10623he must now begin to get ready. He would collect his resources 10624together. He went to a rotten log near at hand and began to dig under 10625one end of it with his Barlow knife. He soon struck wood that sounded 10626hollow. He put his hand there and uttered this incantation impressively: 10627 10628"What hasn't come here, come! What's here, stay here!" 10629 10630Then he scraped away the dirt, and exposed a pine shingle. He took it 10631up and disclosed a shapely little treasure-house whose bottom and sides 10632were of shingles. In it lay a marble. Tom's astonishment was boundless! 10633He scratched his head with a perplexed air, and said: 10634 10635"Well, that beats anything!" 10636 10637Then he tossed the marble away pettishly, and stood cogitating. The 10638truth was, that a superstition of his had failed, here, which he and 10639all his comrades had always looked upon as infallible. If you buried a 10640marble with certain necessary incantations, and left it alone a 10641fortnight, and then opened the place with the incantation he had just 10642used, you would find that all the marbles you had ever lost had 10643gathered themselves together there, meantime, no matter how widely they 10644had been separated. But now, this thing had actually and unquestionably 10645failed. Tom's whole structure of faith was shaken to its foundations. 10646He had many a time heard of this thing succeeding but never of its 10647failing before. It did not occur to him that he had tried it several 10648times before, himself, but could never find the hiding-places 10649afterward. He puzzled over the matter some time, and finally decided 10650that some witch had interfered and broken the charm. He thought he 10651would satisfy himself on that point; so he searched around till he 10652found a small sandy spot with a little funnel-shaped depression in it. 10653He laid himself down and put his mouth close to this depression and 10654called-- 10655 10656"Doodle-bug, doodle-bug, tell me what I want to know! Doodle-bug, 10657doodle-bug, tell me what I want to know!" 10658 10659The sand began to work, and presently a small black bug appeared for a 10660second and then darted under again in a fright. 10661 10662"He dasn't tell! So it WAS a witch that done it. I just knowed it." 10663 10664He well knew the futility of trying to contend against witches, so he 10665gave up discouraged. But it occurred to him that he might as well have 10666the marble he had just thrown away, and therefore he went and made a 10667patient search for it. But he could not find it. Now he went back to 10668his treasure-house and carefully placed himself just as he had been 10669standing when he tossed the marble away; then he took another marble 10670from his pocket and tossed it in the same way, saying: 10671 10672"Brother, go find your brother!" 10673 10674He watched where it stopped, and went there and looked. But it must 10675have fallen short or gone too far; so he tried twice more. The last 10676repetition was successful. The two marbles lay within a foot of each 10677other. 10678 10679Just here the blast of a toy tin trumpet came faintly down the green 10680aisles of the forest. Tom flung off his jacket and trousers, turned a 10681suspender into a belt, raked away some brush behind the rotten log, 10682disclosing a rude bow and arrow, a lath sword and a tin trumpet, and in 10683a moment had seized these things and bounded away, barelegged, with 10684fluttering shirt. He presently halted under a great elm, blew an 10685answering blast, and then began to tiptoe and look warily out, this way 10686and that. He said cautiously--to an imaginary company: 10687 10688"Hold, my merry men! Keep hid till I blow." 10689 10690Now appeared Joe Harper, as airily clad and elaborately armed as Tom. 10691Tom called: 10692 10693"Hold! Who comes here into Sherwood Forest without my pass?" 10694 10695"Guy of Guisborne wants no man's pass. Who art thou that--that--" 10696 10697"Dares to hold such language," said Tom, prompting--for they talked 10698"by the book," from memory. 10699 10700"Who art thou that dares to hold such language?" 10701 10702"I, indeed! I am Robin Hood, as thy caitiff carcase soon shall know." 10703 10704"Then art thou indeed that famous outlaw? Right gladly will I dispute 10705with thee the passes of the merry wood. Have at thee!" 10706 10707They took their lath swords, dumped their other traps on the ground, 10708struck a fencing attitude, foot to foot, and began a grave, careful 10709combat, "two up and two down." Presently Tom said: 10710 10711"Now, if you've got the hang, go it lively!" 10712 10713So they "went it lively," panting and perspiring with the work. By and 10714by Tom shouted: 10715 10716"Fall! fall! Why don't you fall?" 10717 10718"I sha'n't! Why don't you fall yourself? You're getting the worst of 10719it." 10720 10721"Why, that ain't anything. I can't fall; that ain't the way it is in 10722the book. The book says, 'Then with one back-handed stroke he slew poor 10723Guy of Guisborne.' You're to turn around and let me hit you in the 10724back." 10725 10726There was no getting around the authorities, so Joe turned, received 10727the whack and fell. 10728 10729"Now," said Joe, getting up, "you got to let me kill YOU. That's fair." 10730 10731"Why, I can't do that, it ain't in the book." 10732 10733"Well, it's blamed mean--that's all." 10734 10735"Well, say, Joe, you can be Friar Tuck or Much the miller's son, and 10736lam me with a quarter-staff; or I'll be the Sheriff of Nottingham and 10737you be Robin Hood a little while and kill me." 10738 10739This was satisfactory, and so these adventures were carried out. Then 10740Tom became Robin Hood again, and was allowed by the treacherous nun to 10741bleed his strength away through his neglected wound. And at last Joe, 10742representing a whole tribe of weeping outlaws, dragged him sadly forth, 10743gave his bow into his feeble hands, and Tom said, "Where this arrow 10744falls, there bury poor Robin Hood under the greenwood tree." Then he 10745shot the arrow and fell back and would have died, but he lit on a 10746nettle and sprang up too gaily for a corpse. 10747 10748The boys dressed themselves, hid their accoutrements, and went off 10749grieving that there were no outlaws any more, and wondering what modern 10750civilization could claim to have done to compensate for their loss. 10751They said they would rather be outlaws a year in Sherwood Forest than 10752President of the United States forever. 10753 10754 10755 10756CHAPTER IX 10757 10758AT half-past nine, that night, Tom and Sid were sent to bed, as usual. 10759They said their prayers, and Sid was soon asleep. Tom lay awake and 10760waited, in restless impatience. When it seemed to him that it must be 10761nearly daylight, he heard the clock strike ten! This was despair. He 10762would have tossed and fidgeted, as his nerves demanded, but he was 10763afraid he might wake Sid. So he lay still, and stared up into the dark. 10764Everything was dismally still. By and by, out of the stillness, little, 10765scarcely perceptible noises began to emphasize themselves. The ticking 10766of the clock began to bring itself into notice. Old beams began to 10767crack mysteriously. The stairs creaked faintly. Evidently spirits were 10768abroad. A measured, muffled snore issued from Aunt Polly's chamber. And 10769now the tiresome chirping of a cricket that no human ingenuity could 10770locate, began. Next the ghastly ticking of a deathwatch in the wall at 10771the bed's head made Tom shudder--it meant that somebody's days were 10772numbered. Then the howl of a far-off dog rose on the night air, and was 10773answered by a fainter howl from a remoter distance. Tom was in an 10774agony. At last he was satisfied that time had ceased and eternity 10775begun; he began to doze, in spite of himself; the clock chimed eleven, 10776but he did not hear it. And then there came, mingling with his 10777half-formed dreams, a most melancholy caterwauling. The raising of a 10778neighboring window disturbed him. A cry of "Scat! you devil!" and the 10779crash of an empty bottle against the back of his aunt's woodshed 10780brought him wide awake, and a single minute later he was dressed and 10781out of the window and creeping along the roof of the "ell" on all 10782fours. He "meow'd" with caution once or twice, as he went; then jumped 10783to the roof of the woodshed and thence to the ground. Huckleberry Finn 10784was there, with his dead cat. The boys moved off and disappeared in the 10785gloom. At the end of half an hour they were wading through the tall 10786grass of the graveyard. 10787 10788It was a graveyard of the old-fashioned Western kind. It was on a 10789hill, about a mile and a half from the village. It had a crazy board 10790fence around it, which leaned inward in places, and outward the rest of 10791the time, but stood upright nowhere. Grass and weeds grew rank over the 10792whole cemetery. All the old graves were sunken in, there was not a 10793tombstone on the place; round-topped, worm-eaten boards staggered over 10794the graves, leaning for support and finding none. "Sacred to the memory 10795of" So-and-So had been painted on them once, but it could no longer 10796have been read, on the most of them, now, even if there had been light. 10797 10798A faint wind moaned through the trees, and Tom feared it might be the 10799spirits of the dead, complaining at being disturbed. The boys talked 10800little, and only under their breath, for the time and the place and the 10801pervading solemnity and silence oppressed their spirits. They found the 10802sharp new heap they were seeking, and ensconced themselves within the 10803protection of three great elms that grew in a bunch within a few feet 10804of the grave. 10805 10806Then they waited in silence for what seemed a long time. The hooting 10807of a distant owl was all the sound that troubled the dead stillness. 10808Tom's reflections grew oppressive. He must force some talk. So he said 10809in a whisper: 10810 10811"Hucky, do you believe the dead people like it for us to be here?" 10812 10813Huckleberry whispered: 10814 10815"I wisht I knowed. It's awful solemn like, AIN'T it?" 10816 10817"I bet it is." 10818 10819There was a considerable pause, while the boys canvassed this matter 10820inwardly. Then Tom whispered: 10821 10822"Say, Hucky--do you reckon Hoss Williams hears us talking?" 10823 10824"O' course he does. Least his sperrit does." 10825 10826Tom, after a pause: 10827 10828"I wish I'd said Mister Williams. But I never meant any harm. 10829Everybody calls him Hoss." 10830 10831"A body can't be too partic'lar how they talk 'bout these-yer dead 10832people, Tom." 10833 10834This was a damper, and conversation died again. 10835 10836Presently Tom seized his comrade's arm and said: 10837 10838"Sh!" 10839 10840"What is it, Tom?" And the two clung together with beating hearts. 10841 10842"Sh! There 'tis again! Didn't you hear it?" 10843 10844"I--" 10845 10846"There! Now you hear it." 10847 10848"Lord, Tom, they're coming! They're coming, sure. What'll we do?" 10849 10850"I dono. Think they'll see us?" 10851 10852"Oh, Tom, they can see in the dark, same as cats. I wisht I hadn't 10853come." 10854 10855"Oh, don't be afeard. I don't believe they'll bother us. We ain't 10856doing any harm. If we keep perfectly still, maybe they won't notice us 10857at all." 10858 10859"I'll try to, Tom, but, Lord, I'm all of a shiver." 10860 10861"Listen!" 10862 10863The boys bent their heads together and scarcely breathed. A muffled 10864sound of voices floated up from the far end of the graveyard. 10865 10866"Look! See there!" whispered Tom. "What is it?" 10867 10868"It's devil-fire. Oh, Tom, this is awful." 10869 10870Some vague figures approached through the gloom, swinging an 10871old-fashioned tin lantern that freckled the ground with innumerable 10872little spangles of light. Presently Huckleberry whispered with a 10873shudder: 10874 10875"It's the devils sure enough. Three of 'em! Lordy, Tom, we're goners! 10876Can you pray?" 10877 10878"I'll try, but don't you be afeard. They ain't going to hurt us. 'Now 10879I lay me down to sleep, I--'" 10880 10881"Sh!" 10882 10883"What is it, Huck?" 10884 10885"They're HUMANS! One of 'em is, anyway. One of 'em's old Muff Potter's 10886voice." 10887 10888"No--'tain't so, is it?" 10889 10890"I bet I know it. Don't you stir nor budge. He ain't sharp enough to 10891notice us. Drunk, the same as usual, likely--blamed old rip!" 10892 10893"All right, I'll keep still. Now they're stuck. Can't find it. Here 10894they come again. Now they're hot. Cold again. Hot again. Red hot! 10895They're p'inted right, this time. Say, Huck, I know another o' them 10896voices; it's Injun Joe." 10897 10898"That's so--that murderin' half-breed! I'd druther they was devils a 10899dern sight. What kin they be up to?" 10900 10901The whisper died wholly out, now, for the three men had reached the 10902grave and stood within a few feet of the boys' hiding-place. 10903 10904"Here it is," said the third voice; and the owner of it held the 10905lantern up and revealed the face of young Doctor Robinson. 10906 10907Potter and Injun Joe were carrying a handbarrow with a rope and a 10908couple of shovels on it. They cast down their load and began to open 10909the grave. The doctor put the lantern at the head of the grave and came 10910and sat down with his back against one of the elm trees. He was so 10911close the boys could have touched him. 10912 10913"Hurry, men!" he said, in a low voice; "the moon might come out at any 10914moment." 10915 10916They growled a response and went on digging. For some time there was 10917no noise but the grating sound of the spades discharging their freight 10918of mould and gravel. It was very monotonous. Finally a spade struck 10919upon the coffin with a dull woody accent, and within another minute or 10920two the men had hoisted it out on the ground. They pried off the lid 10921with their shovels, got out the body and dumped it rudely on the 10922ground. The moon drifted from behind the clouds and exposed the pallid 10923face. The barrow was got ready and the corpse placed on it, covered 10924with a blanket, and bound to its place with the rope. Potter took out a 10925large spring-knife and cut off the dangling end of the rope and then 10926said: 10927 10928"Now the cussed thing's ready, Sawbones, and you'll just out with 10929another five, or here she stays." 10930 10931"That's the talk!" said Injun Joe. 10932 10933"Look here, what does this mean?" said the doctor. "You required your 10934pay in advance, and I've paid you." 10935 10936"Yes, and you done more than that," said Injun Joe, approaching the 10937doctor, who was now standing. "Five years ago you drove me away from 10938your father's kitchen one night, when I come to ask for something to 10939eat, and you said I warn't there for any good; and when I swore I'd get 10940even with you if it took a hundred years, your father had me jailed for 10941a vagrant. Did you think I'd forget? The Injun blood ain't in me for 10942nothing. And now I've GOT you, and you got to SETTLE, you know!" 10943 10944He was threatening the doctor, with his fist in his face, by this 10945time. The doctor struck out suddenly and stretched the ruffian on the 10946ground. Potter dropped his knife, and exclaimed: 10947 10948"Here, now, don't you hit my pard!" and the next moment he had 10949grappled with the doctor and the two were struggling with might and 10950main, trampling the grass and tearing the ground with their heels. 10951Injun Joe sprang to his feet, his eyes flaming with passion, snatched 10952up Potter's knife, and went creeping, catlike and stooping, round and 10953round about the combatants, seeking an opportunity. All at once the 10954doctor flung himself free, seized the heavy headboard of Williams' 10955grave and felled Potter to the earth with it--and in the same instant 10956the half-breed saw his chance and drove the knife to the hilt in the 10957young man's breast. He reeled and fell partly upon Potter, flooding him 10958with his blood, and in the same moment the clouds blotted out the 10959dreadful spectacle and the two frightened boys went speeding away in 10960the dark. 10961 10962Presently, when the moon emerged again, Injun Joe was standing over 10963the two forms, contemplating them. The doctor murmured inarticulately, 10964gave a long gasp or two and was still. The half-breed muttered: 10965 10966"THAT score is settled--damn you." 10967 10968Then he robbed the body. After which he put the fatal knife in 10969Potter's open right hand, and sat down on the dismantled coffin. Three 10970--four--five minutes passed, and then Potter began to stir and moan. His 10971hand closed upon the knife; he raised it, glanced at it, and let it 10972fall, with a shudder. Then he sat up, pushing the body from him, and 10973gazed at it, and then around him, confusedly. His eyes met Joe's. 10974 10975"Lord, how is this, Joe?" he said. 10976 10977"It's a dirty business," said Joe, without moving. 10978 10979"What did you do it for?" 10980 10981"I! I never done it!" 10982 10983"Look here! That kind of talk won't wash." 10984 10985Potter trembled and grew white. 10986 10987"I thought I'd got sober. I'd no business to drink to-night. But it's 10988in my head yet--worse'n when we started here. I'm all in a muddle; 10989can't recollect anything of it, hardly. Tell me, Joe--HONEST, now, old 10990feller--did I do it? Joe, I never meant to--'pon my soul and honor, I 10991never meant to, Joe. Tell me how it was, Joe. Oh, it's awful--and him 10992so young and promising." 10993 10994"Why, you two was scuffling, and he fetched you one with the headboard 10995and you fell flat; and then up you come, all reeling and staggering 10996like, and snatched the knife and jammed it into him, just as he fetched 10997you another awful clip--and here you've laid, as dead as a wedge til 10998now." 10999 11000"Oh, I didn't know what I was a-doing. I wish I may die this minute if 11001I did. It was all on account of the whiskey and the excitement, I 11002reckon. I never used a weepon in my life before, Joe. I've fought, but 11003never with weepons. They'll all say that. Joe, don't tell! Say you 11004won't tell, Joe--that's a good feller. I always liked you, Joe, and 11005stood up for you, too. Don't you remember? You WON'T tell, WILL you, 11006Joe?" And the poor creature dropped on his knees before the stolid 11007murderer, and clasped his appealing hands. 11008 11009"No, you've always been fair and square with me, Muff Potter, and I 11010won't go back on you. There, now, that's as fair as a man can say." 11011 11012"Oh, Joe, you're an angel. I'll bless you for this the longest day I 11013live." And Potter began to cry. 11014 11015"Come, now, that's enough of that. This ain't any time for blubbering. 11016You be off yonder way and I'll go this. Move, now, and don't leave any 11017tracks behind you." 11018 11019Potter started on a trot that quickly increased to a run. The 11020half-breed stood looking after him. He muttered: 11021 11022"If he's as much stunned with the lick and fuddled with the rum as he 11023had the look of being, he won't think of the knife till he's gone so 11024far he'll be afraid to come back after it to such a place by himself 11025--chicken-heart!" 11026 11027Two or three minutes later the murdered man, the blanketed corpse, the 11028lidless coffin, and the open grave were under no inspection but the 11029moon's. The stillness was complete again, too. 11030 11031 11032 11033CHAPTER X 11034 11035THE two boys flew on and on, toward the village, speechless with 11036horror. They glanced backward over their shoulders from time to time, 11037apprehensively, as if they feared they might be followed. Every stump 11038that started up in their path seemed a man and an enemy, and made them 11039catch their breath; and as they sped by some outlying cottages that lay 11040near the village, the barking of the aroused watch-dogs seemed to give 11041wings to their feet. 11042 11043"If we can only get to the old tannery before we break down!" 11044whispered Tom, in short catches between breaths. "I can't stand it much 11045longer." 11046 11047Huckleberry's hard pantings were his only reply, and the boys fixed 11048their eyes on the goal of their hopes and bent to their work to win it. 11049They gained steadily on it, and at last, breast to breast, they burst 11050through the open door and fell grateful and exhausted in the sheltering 11051shadows beyond. By and by their pulses slowed down, and Tom whispered: 11052 11053"Huckleberry, what do you reckon'll come of this?" 11054 11055"If Doctor Robinson dies, I reckon hanging'll come of it." 11056 11057"Do you though?" 11058 11059"Why, I KNOW it, Tom." 11060 11061Tom thought a while, then he said: 11062 11063"Who'll tell? We?" 11064 11065"What are you talking about? S'pose something happened and Injun Joe 11066DIDN'T hang? Why, he'd kill us some time or other, just as dead sure as 11067we're a laying here." 11068 11069"That's just what I was thinking to myself, Huck." 11070 11071"If anybody tells, let Muff Potter do it, if he's fool enough. He's 11072generally drunk enough." 11073 11074Tom said nothing--went on thinking. Presently he whispered: 11075 11076"Huck, Muff Potter don't know it. How can he tell?" 11077 11078"What's the reason he don't know it?" 11079 11080"Because he'd just got that whack when Injun Joe done it. D'you reckon 11081he could see anything? D'you reckon he knowed anything?" 11082 11083"By hokey, that's so, Tom!" 11084 11085"And besides, look-a-here--maybe that whack done for HIM!" 11086 11087"No, 'taint likely, Tom. He had liquor in him; I could see that; and 11088besides, he always has. Well, when pap's full, you might take and belt 11089him over the head with a church and you couldn't phase him. He says so, 11090his own self. So it's the same with Muff Potter, of course. But if a 11091man was dead sober, I reckon maybe that whack might fetch him; I dono." 11092 11093After another reflective silence, Tom said: 11094 11095"Hucky, you sure you can keep mum?" 11096 11097"Tom, we GOT to keep mum. You know that. That Injun devil wouldn't 11098make any more of drownding us than a couple of cats, if we was to 11099squeak 'bout this and they didn't hang him. Now, look-a-here, Tom, less 11100take and swear to one another--that's what we got to do--swear to keep 11101mum." 11102 11103"I'm agreed. It's the best thing. Would you just hold hands and swear 11104that we--" 11105 11106"Oh no, that wouldn't do for this. That's good enough for little 11107rubbishy common things--specially with gals, cuz THEY go back on you 11108anyway, and blab if they get in a huff--but there orter be writing 11109'bout a big thing like this. And blood." 11110 11111Tom's whole being applauded this idea. It was deep, and dark, and 11112awful; the hour, the circumstances, the surroundings, were in keeping 11113with it. He picked up a clean pine shingle that lay in the moonlight, 11114took a little fragment of "red keel" out of his pocket, got the moon on 11115his work, and painfully scrawled these lines, emphasizing each slow 11116down-stroke by clamping his tongue between his teeth, and letting up 11117the pressure on the up-strokes. [See next page.] 11118 11119 "Huck Finn and 11120 Tom Sawyer swears 11121 they will keep mum 11122 about This and They 11123 wish They may Drop 11124 down dead in Their 11125 Tracks if They ever 11126 Tell and Rot." 11127 11128Huckleberry was filled with admiration of Tom's facility in writing, 11129and the sublimity of his language. He at once took a pin from his lapel 11130and was going to prick his flesh, but Tom said: 11131 11132"Hold on! Don't do that. A pin's brass. It might have verdigrease on 11133it." 11134 11135"What's verdigrease?" 11136 11137"It's p'ison. That's what it is. You just swaller some of it once 11138--you'll see." 11139 11140So Tom unwound the thread from one of his needles, and each boy 11141pricked the ball of his thumb and squeezed out a drop of blood. In 11142time, after many squeezes, Tom managed to sign his initials, using the 11143ball of his little finger for a pen. Then he showed Huckleberry how to 11144make an H and an F, and the oath was complete. They buried the shingle 11145close to the wall, with some dismal ceremonies and incantations, and 11146the fetters that bound their tongues were considered to be locked and 11147the key thrown away. 11148 11149A figure crept stealthily through a break in the other end of the 11150ruined building, now, but they did not notice it. 11151 11152"Tom," whispered Huckleberry, "does this keep us from EVER telling 11153--ALWAYS?" 11154 11155"Of course it does. It don't make any difference WHAT happens, we got 11156to keep mum. We'd drop down dead--don't YOU know that?" 11157 11158"Yes, I reckon that's so." 11159 11160They continued to whisper for some little time. Presently a dog set up 11161a long, lugubrious howl just outside--within ten feet of them. The boys 11162clasped each other suddenly, in an agony of fright. 11163 11164"Which of us does he mean?" gasped Huckleberry. 11165 11166"I dono--peep through the crack. Quick!" 11167 11168"No, YOU, Tom!" 11169 11170"I can't--I can't DO it, Huck!" 11171 11172"Please, Tom. There 'tis again!" 11173 11174"Oh, lordy, I'm thankful!" whispered Tom. "I know his voice. It's Bull 11175Harbison." * 11176 11177[* If Mr. Harbison owned a slave named Bull, Tom would have spoken of 11178him as "Harbison's Bull," but a son or a dog of that name was "Bull 11179Harbison."] 11180 11181"Oh, that's good--I tell you, Tom, I was most scared to death; I'd a 11182bet anything it was a STRAY dog." 11183 11184The dog howled again. The boys' hearts sank once more. 11185 11186"Oh, my! that ain't no Bull Harbison!" whispered Huckleberry. "DO, Tom!" 11187 11188Tom, quaking with fear, yielded, and put his eye to the crack. His 11189whisper was hardly audible when he said: 11190 11191"Oh, Huck, IT S A STRAY DOG!" 11192 11193"Quick, Tom, quick! Who does he mean?" 11194 11195"Huck, he must mean us both--we're right together." 11196 11197"Oh, Tom, I reckon we're goners. I reckon there ain't no mistake 'bout 11198where I'LL go to. I been so wicked." 11199 11200"Dad fetch it! This comes of playing hookey and doing everything a 11201feller's told NOT to do. I might a been good, like Sid, if I'd a tried 11202--but no, I wouldn't, of course. But if ever I get off this time, I lay 11203I'll just WALLER in Sunday-schools!" And Tom began to snuffle a little. 11204 11205"YOU bad!" and Huckleberry began to snuffle too. "Consound it, Tom 11206Sawyer, you're just old pie, 'longside o' what I am. Oh, LORDY, lordy, 11207lordy, I wisht I only had half your chance." 11208 11209Tom choked off and whispered: 11210 11211"Look, Hucky, look! He's got his BACK to us!" 11212 11213Hucky looked, with joy in his heart. 11214 11215"Well, he has, by jingoes! Did he before?" 11216 11217"Yes, he did. But I, like a fool, never thought. Oh, this is bully, 11218you know. NOW who can he mean?" 11219 11220The howling stopped. Tom pricked up his ears. 11221 11222"Sh! What's that?" he whispered. 11223 11224"Sounds like--like hogs grunting. No--it's somebody snoring, Tom." 11225 11226"That IS it! Where 'bouts is it, Huck?" 11227 11228"I bleeve it's down at 'tother end. Sounds so, anyway. Pap used to 11229sleep there, sometimes, 'long with the hogs, but laws bless you, he 11230just lifts things when HE snores. Besides, I reckon he ain't ever 11231coming back to this town any more." 11232 11233The spirit of adventure rose in the boys' souls once more. 11234 11235"Hucky, do you das't to go if I lead?" 11236 11237"I don't like to, much. Tom, s'pose it's Injun Joe!" 11238 11239Tom quailed. But presently the temptation rose up strong again and the 11240boys agreed to try, with the understanding that they would take to 11241their heels if the snoring stopped. So they went tiptoeing stealthily 11242down, the one behind the other. When they had got to within five steps 11243of the snorer, Tom stepped on a stick, and it broke with a sharp snap. 11244The man moaned, writhed a little, and his face came into the moonlight. 11245It was Muff Potter. The boys' hearts had stood still, and their hopes 11246too, when the man moved, but their fears passed away now. They tiptoed 11247out, through the broken weather-boarding, and stopped at a little 11248distance to exchange a parting word. That long, lugubrious howl rose on 11249the night air again! They turned and saw the strange dog standing 11250within a few feet of where Potter was lying, and FACING Potter, with 11251his nose pointing heavenward. 11252 11253"Oh, geeminy, it's HIM!" exclaimed both boys, in a breath. 11254 11255"Say, Tom--they say a stray dog come howling around Johnny Miller's 11256house, 'bout midnight, as much as two weeks ago; and a whippoorwill 11257come in and lit on the banisters and sung, the very same evening; and 11258there ain't anybody dead there yet." 11259 11260"Well, I know that. And suppose there ain't. Didn't Gracie Miller fall 11261in the kitchen fire and burn herself terrible the very next Saturday?" 11262 11263"Yes, but she ain't DEAD. And what's more, she's getting better, too." 11264 11265"All right, you wait and see. She's a goner, just as dead sure as Muff 11266Potter's a goner. That's what the niggers say, and they know all about 11267these kind of things, Huck." 11268 11269Then they separated, cogitating. When Tom crept in at his bedroom 11270window the night was almost spent. He undressed with excessive caution, 11271and fell asleep congratulating himself that nobody knew of his 11272escapade. He was not aware that the gently-snoring Sid was awake, and 11273had been so for an hour. 11274 11275When Tom awoke, Sid was dressed and gone. There was a late look in the 11276light, a late sense in the atmosphere. He was startled. Why had he not 11277been called--persecuted till he was up, as usual? The thought filled 11278him with bodings. Within five minutes he was dressed and down-stairs, 11279feeling sore and drowsy. The family were still at table, but they had 11280finished breakfast. There was no voice of rebuke; but there were 11281averted eyes; there was a silence and an air of solemnity that struck a 11282chill to the culprit's heart. He sat down and tried to seem gay, but it 11283was up-hill work; it roused no smile, no response, and he lapsed into 11284silence and let his heart sink down to the depths. 11285 11286After breakfast his aunt took him aside, and Tom almost brightened in 11287the hope that he was going to be flogged; but it was not so. His aunt 11288wept over him and asked him how he could go and break her old heart so; 11289and finally told him to go on, and ruin himself and bring her gray 11290hairs with sorrow to the grave, for it was no use for her to try any 11291more. This was worse than a thousand whippings, and Tom's heart was 11292sorer now than his body. He cried, he pleaded for forgiveness, promised 11293to reform over and over again, and then received his dismissal, feeling 11294that he had won but an imperfect forgiveness and established but a 11295feeble confidence. 11296 11297He left the presence too miserable to even feel revengeful toward Sid; 11298and so the latter's prompt retreat through the back gate was 11299unnecessary. He moped to school gloomy and sad, and took his flogging, 11300along with Joe Harper, for playing hookey the day before, with the air 11301of one whose heart was busy with heavier woes and wholly dead to 11302trifles. Then he betook himself to his seat, rested his elbows on his 11303desk and his jaws in his hands, and stared at the wall with the stony 11304stare of suffering that has reached the limit and can no further go. 11305His elbow was pressing against some hard substance. After a long time 11306he slowly and sadly changed his position, and took up this object with 11307a sigh. It was in a paper. He unrolled it. A long, lingering, colossal 11308sigh followed, and his heart broke. It was his brass andiron knob! 11309 11310This final feather broke the camel's back. 11311 11312 11313 11314CHAPTER XI 11315 11316CLOSE upon the hour of noon the whole village was suddenly electrified 11317with the ghastly news. No need of the as yet undreamed-of telegraph; 11318the tale flew from man to man, from group to group, from house to 11319house, with little less than telegraphic speed. Of course the 11320schoolmaster gave holiday for that afternoon; the town would have 11321thought strangely of him if he had not. 11322 11323A gory knife had been found close to the murdered man, and it had been 11324recognized by somebody as belonging to Muff Potter--so the story ran. 11325And it was said that a belated citizen had come upon Potter washing 11326himself in the "branch" about one or two o'clock in the morning, and 11327that Potter had at once sneaked off--suspicious circumstances, 11328especially the washing which was not a habit with Potter. It was also 11329said that the town had been ransacked for this "murderer" (the public 11330are not slow in the matter of sifting evidence and arriving at a 11331verdict), but that he could not be found. Horsemen had departed down 11332all the roads in every direction, and the Sheriff "was confident" that 11333he would be captured before night. 11334 11335All the town was drifting toward the graveyard. Tom's heartbreak 11336vanished and he joined the procession, not because he would not a 11337thousand times rather go anywhere else, but because an awful, 11338unaccountable fascination drew him on. Arrived at the dreadful place, 11339he wormed his small body through the crowd and saw the dismal 11340spectacle. It seemed to him an age since he was there before. Somebody 11341pinched his arm. He turned, and his eyes met Huckleberry's. Then both 11342looked elsewhere at once, and wondered if anybody had noticed anything 11343in their mutual glance. But everybody was talking, and intent upon the 11344grisly spectacle before them. 11345 11346"Poor fellow!" "Poor young fellow!" "This ought to be a lesson to 11347grave robbers!" "Muff Potter'll hang for this if they catch him!" This 11348was the drift of remark; and the minister said, "It was a judgment; His 11349hand is here." 11350 11351Now Tom shivered from head to heel; for his eye fell upon the stolid 11352face of Injun Joe. At this moment the crowd began to sway and struggle, 11353and voices shouted, "It's him! it's him! he's coming himself!" 11354 11355"Who? Who?" from twenty voices. 11356 11357"Muff Potter!" 11358 11359"Hallo, he's stopped!--Look out, he's turning! Don't let him get away!" 11360 11361People in the branches of the trees over Tom's head said he wasn't 11362trying to get away--he only looked doubtful and perplexed. 11363 11364"Infernal impudence!" said a bystander; "wanted to come and take a 11365quiet look at his work, I reckon--didn't expect any company." 11366 11367The crowd fell apart, now, and the Sheriff came through, 11368ostentatiously leading Potter by the arm. The poor fellow's face was 11369haggard, and his eyes showed the fear that was upon him. When he stood 11370before the murdered man, he shook as with a palsy, and he put his face 11371in his hands and burst into tears. 11372 11373"I didn't do it, friends," he sobbed; "'pon my word and honor I never 11374done it." 11375 11376"Who's accused you?" shouted a voice. 11377 11378This shot seemed to carry home. Potter lifted his face and looked 11379around him with a pathetic hopelessness in his eyes. He saw Injun Joe, 11380and exclaimed: 11381 11382"Oh, Injun Joe, you promised me you'd never--" 11383 11384"Is that your knife?" and it was thrust before him by the Sheriff. 11385 11386Potter would have fallen if they had not caught him and eased him to 11387the ground. Then he said: 11388 11389"Something told me 't if I didn't come back and get--" He shuddered; 11390then waved his nerveless hand with a vanquished gesture and said, "Tell 11391'em, Joe, tell 'em--it ain't any use any more." 11392 11393Then Huckleberry and Tom stood dumb and staring, and heard the 11394stony-hearted liar reel off his serene statement, they expecting every 11395moment that the clear sky would deliver God's lightnings upon his head, 11396and wondering to see how long the stroke was delayed. And when he had 11397finished and still stood alive and whole, their wavering impulse to 11398break their oath and save the poor betrayed prisoner's life faded and 11399vanished away, for plainly this miscreant had sold himself to Satan and 11400it would be fatal to meddle with the property of such a power as that. 11401 11402"Why didn't you leave? What did you want to come here for?" somebody 11403said. 11404 11405"I couldn't help it--I couldn't help it," Potter moaned. "I wanted to 11406run away, but I couldn't seem to come anywhere but here." And he fell 11407to sobbing again. 11408 11409Injun Joe repeated his statement, just as calmly, a few minutes 11410afterward on the inquest, under oath; and the boys, seeing that the 11411lightnings were still withheld, were confirmed in their belief that Joe 11412had sold himself to the devil. He was now become, to them, the most 11413balefully interesting object they had ever looked upon, and they could 11414not take their fascinated eyes from his face. 11415 11416They inwardly resolved to watch him nights, when opportunity should 11417offer, in the hope of getting a glimpse of his dread master. 11418 11419Injun Joe helped to raise the body of the murdered man and put it in a 11420wagon for removal; and it was whispered through the shuddering crowd 11421that the wound bled a little! The boys thought that this happy 11422circumstance would turn suspicion in the right direction; but they were 11423disappointed, for more than one villager remarked: 11424 11425"It was within three feet of Muff Potter when it done it." 11426 11427Tom's fearful secret and gnawing conscience disturbed his sleep for as 11428much as a week after this; and at breakfast one morning Sid said: 11429 11430"Tom, you pitch around and talk in your sleep so much that you keep me 11431awake half the time." 11432 11433Tom blanched and dropped his eyes. 11434 11435"It's a bad sign," said Aunt Polly, gravely. "What you got on your 11436mind, Tom?" 11437 11438"Nothing. Nothing 't I know of." But the boy's hand shook so that he 11439spilled his coffee. 11440 11441"And you do talk such stuff," Sid said. "Last night you said, 'It's 11442blood, it's blood, that's what it is!' You said that over and over. And 11443you said, 'Don't torment me so--I'll tell!' Tell WHAT? What is it 11444you'll tell?" 11445 11446Everything was swimming before Tom. There is no telling what might 11447have happened, now, but luckily the concern passed out of Aunt Polly's 11448face and she came to Tom's relief without knowing it. She said: 11449 11450"Sho! It's that dreadful murder. I dream about it most every night 11451myself. Sometimes I dream it's me that done it." 11452 11453Mary said she had been affected much the same way. Sid seemed 11454satisfied. Tom got out of the presence as quick as he plausibly could, 11455and after that he complained of toothache for a week, and tied up his 11456jaws every night. He never knew that Sid lay nightly watching, and 11457frequently slipped the bandage free and then leaned on his elbow 11458listening a good while at a time, and afterward slipped the bandage 11459back to its place again. Tom's distress of mind wore off gradually and 11460the toothache grew irksome and was discarded. If Sid really managed to 11461make anything out of Tom's disjointed mutterings, he kept it to himself. 11462 11463It seemed to Tom that his schoolmates never would get done holding 11464inquests on dead cats, and thus keeping his trouble present to his 11465mind. Sid noticed that Tom never was coroner at one of these inquiries, 11466though it had been his habit to take the lead in all new enterprises; 11467he noticed, too, that Tom never acted as a witness--and that was 11468strange; and Sid did not overlook the fact that Tom even showed a 11469marked aversion to these inquests, and always avoided them when he 11470could. Sid marvelled, but said nothing. However, even inquests went out 11471of vogue at last, and ceased to torture Tom's conscience. 11472 11473Every day or two, during this time of sorrow, Tom watched his 11474opportunity and went to the little grated jail-window and smuggled such 11475small comforts through to the "murderer" as he could get hold of. The 11476jail was a trifling little brick den that stood in a marsh at the edge 11477of the village, and no guards were afforded for it; indeed, it was 11478seldom occupied. These offerings greatly helped to ease Tom's 11479conscience. 11480 11481The villagers had a strong desire to tar-and-feather Injun Joe and 11482ride him on a rail, for body-snatching, but so formidable was his 11483character that nobody could be found who was willing to take the lead 11484in the matter, so it was dropped. He had been careful to begin both of 11485his inquest-statements with the fight, without confessing the 11486grave-robbery that preceded it; therefore it was deemed wisest not 11487to try the case in the courts at present. 11488 11489 11490 11491CHAPTER XII 11492 11493ONE of the reasons why Tom's mind had drifted away from its secret 11494troubles was, that it had found a new and weighty matter to interest 11495itself about. Becky Thatcher had stopped coming to school. Tom had 11496struggled with his pride a few days, and tried to "whistle her down the 11497wind," but failed. He began to find himself hanging around her father's 11498house, nights, and feeling very miserable. She was ill. What if she 11499should die! There was distraction in the thought. He no longer took an 11500interest in war, nor even in piracy. The charm of life was gone; there 11501was nothing but dreariness left. He put his hoop away, and his bat; 11502there was no joy in them any more. His aunt was concerned. She began to 11503try all manner of remedies on him. She was one of those people who are 11504infatuated with patent medicines and all new-fangled methods of 11505producing health or mending it. She was an inveterate experimenter in 11506these things. When something fresh in this line came out she was in a 11507fever, right away, to try it; not on herself, for she was never ailing, 11508but on anybody else that came handy. She was a subscriber for all the 11509"Health" periodicals and phrenological frauds; and the solemn ignorance 11510they were inflated with was breath to her nostrils. All the "rot" they 11511contained about ventilation, and how to go to bed, and how to get up, 11512and what to eat, and what to drink, and how much exercise to take, and 11513what frame of mind to keep one's self in, and what sort of clothing to 11514wear, was all gospel to her, and she never observed that her 11515health-journals of the current month customarily upset everything they 11516had recommended the month before. She was as simple-hearted and honest 11517as the day was long, and so she was an easy victim. She gathered 11518together her quack periodicals and her quack medicines, and thus armed 11519with death, went about on her pale horse, metaphorically speaking, with 11520"hell following after." But she never suspected that she was not an 11521angel of healing and the balm of Gilead in disguise, to the suffering 11522neighbors. 11523 11524The water treatment was new, now, and Tom's low condition was a 11525windfall to her. She had him out at daylight every morning, stood him 11526up in the woodshed and drowned him with a deluge of cold water; then 11527she scrubbed him down with a towel like a file, and so brought him to; 11528then she rolled him up in a wet sheet and put him away under blankets 11529till she sweated his soul clean and "the yellow stains of it came 11530through his pores"--as Tom said. 11531 11532Yet notwithstanding all this, the boy grew more and more melancholy 11533and pale and dejected. She added hot baths, sitz baths, shower baths, 11534and plunges. The boy remained as dismal as a hearse. She began to 11535assist the water with a slim oatmeal diet and blister-plasters. She 11536calculated his capacity as she would a jug's, and filled him up every 11537day with quack cure-alls. 11538 11539Tom had become indifferent to persecution by this time. This phase 11540filled the old lady's heart with consternation. This indifference must 11541be broken up at any cost. Now she heard of Pain-killer for the first 11542time. She ordered a lot at once. She tasted it and was filled with 11543gratitude. It was simply fire in a liquid form. She dropped the water 11544treatment and everything else, and pinned her faith to Pain-killer. She 11545gave Tom a teaspoonful and watched with the deepest anxiety for the 11546result. Her troubles were instantly at rest, her soul at peace again; 11547for the "indifference" was broken up. The boy could not have shown a 11548wilder, heartier interest, if she had built a fire under him. 11549 11550Tom felt that it was time to wake up; this sort of life might be 11551romantic enough, in his blighted condition, but it was getting to have 11552too little sentiment and too much distracting variety about it. So he 11553thought over various plans for relief, and finally hit pon that of 11554professing to be fond of Pain-killer. He asked for it so often that he 11555became a nuisance, and his aunt ended by telling him to help himself 11556and quit bothering her. If it had been Sid, she would have had no 11557misgivings to alloy her delight; but since it was Tom, she watched the 11558bottle clandestinely. She found that the medicine did really diminish, 11559but it did not occur to her that the boy was mending the health of a 11560crack in the sitting-room floor with it. 11561 11562One day Tom was in the act of dosing the crack when his aunt's yellow 11563cat came along, purring, eying the teaspoon avariciously, and begging 11564for a taste. Tom said: 11565 11566"Don't ask for it unless you want it, Peter." 11567 11568But Peter signified that he did want it. 11569 11570"You better make sure." 11571 11572Peter was sure. 11573 11574"Now you've asked for it, and I'll give it to you, because there ain't 11575anything mean about me; but if you find you don't like it, you mustn't 11576blame anybody but your own self." 11577 11578Peter was agreeable. So Tom pried his mouth open and poured down the 11579Pain-killer. Peter sprang a couple of yards in the air, and then 11580delivered a war-whoop and set off round and round the room, banging 11581against furniture, upsetting flower-pots, and making general havoc. 11582Next he rose on his hind feet and pranced around, in a frenzy of 11583enjoyment, with his head over his shoulder and his voice proclaiming 11584his unappeasable happiness. Then he went tearing around the house again 11585spreading chaos and destruction in his path. Aunt Polly entered in time 11586to see him throw a few double summersets, deliver a final mighty 11587hurrah, and sail through the open window, carrying the rest of the 11588flower-pots with him. The old lady stood petrified with astonishment, 11589peering over her glasses; Tom lay on the floor expiring with laughter. 11590 11591"Tom, what on earth ails that cat?" 11592 11593"I don't know, aunt," gasped the boy. 11594 11595"Why, I never see anything like it. What did make him act so?" 11596 11597"Deed I don't know, Aunt Polly; cats always act so when they're having 11598a good time." 11599 11600"They do, do they?" There was something in the tone that made Tom 11601apprehensive. 11602 11603"Yes'm. That is, I believe they do." 11604 11605"You DO?" 11606 11607"Yes'm." 11608 11609The old lady was bending down, Tom watching, with interest emphasized 11610by anxiety. Too late he divined her "drift." The handle of the telltale 11611teaspoon was visible under the bed-valance. Aunt Polly took it, held it 11612up. Tom winced, and dropped his eyes. Aunt Polly raised him by the 11613usual handle--his ear--and cracked his head soundly with her thimble. 11614 11615"Now, sir, what did you want to treat that poor dumb beast so, for?" 11616 11617"I done it out of pity for him--because he hadn't any aunt." 11618 11619"Hadn't any aunt!--you numskull. What has that got to do with it?" 11620 11621"Heaps. Because if he'd had one she'd a burnt him out herself! She'd a 11622roasted his bowels out of him 'thout any more feeling than if he was a 11623human!" 11624 11625Aunt Polly felt a sudden pang of remorse. This was putting the thing 11626in a new light; what was cruelty to a cat MIGHT be cruelty to a boy, 11627too. She began to soften; she felt sorry. Her eyes watered a little, 11628and she put her hand on Tom's head and said gently: 11629 11630"I was meaning for the best, Tom. And, Tom, it DID do you good." 11631 11632Tom looked up in her face with just a perceptible twinkle peeping 11633through his gravity. 11634 11635"I know you was meaning for the best, aunty, and so was I with Peter. 11636It done HIM good, too. I never see him get around so since--" 11637 11638"Oh, go 'long with you, Tom, before you aggravate me again. And you 11639try and see if you can't be a good boy, for once, and you needn't take 11640any more medicine." 11641 11642Tom reached school ahead of time. It was noticed that this strange 11643thing had been occurring every day latterly. And now, as usual of late, 11644he hung about the gate of the schoolyard instead of playing with his 11645comrades. He was sick, he said, and he looked it. He tried to seem to 11646be looking everywhere but whither he really was looking--down the road. 11647Presently Jeff Thatcher hove in sight, and Tom's face lighted; he gazed 11648a moment, and then turned sorrowfully away. When Jeff arrived, Tom 11649accosted him; and "led up" warily to opportunities for remark about 11650Becky, but the giddy lad never could see the bait. Tom watched and 11651watched, hoping whenever a frisking frock came in sight, and hating the 11652owner of it as soon as he saw she was not the right one. At last frocks 11653ceased to appear, and he dropped hopelessly into the dumps; he entered 11654the empty schoolhouse and sat down to suffer. Then one more frock 11655passed in at the gate, and Tom's heart gave a great bound. The next 11656instant he was out, and "going on" like an Indian; yelling, laughing, 11657chasing boys, jumping over the fence at risk of life and limb, throwing 11658handsprings, standing on his head--doing all the heroic things he could 11659conceive of, and keeping a furtive eye out, all the while, to see if 11660Becky Thatcher was noticing. But she seemed to be unconscious of it 11661all; she never looked. Could it be possible that she was not aware that 11662he was there? He carried his exploits to her immediate vicinity; came 11663war-whooping around, snatched a boy's cap, hurled it to the roof of the 11664schoolhouse, broke through a group of boys, tumbling them in every 11665direction, and fell sprawling, himself, under Becky's nose, almost 11666upsetting her--and she turned, with her nose in the air, and he heard 11667her say: "Mf! some people think they're mighty smart--always showing 11668off!" 11669 11670Tom's cheeks burned. He gathered himself up and sneaked off, crushed 11671and crestfallen. 11672 11673 11674 11675CHAPTER XIII 11676 11677TOM'S mind was made up now. He was gloomy and desperate. He was a 11678forsaken, friendless boy, he said; nobody loved him; when they found 11679out what they had driven him to, perhaps they would be sorry; he had 11680tried to do right and get along, but they would not let him; since 11681nothing would do them but to be rid of him, let it be so; and let them 11682blame HIM for the consequences--why shouldn't they? What right had the 11683friendless to complain? Yes, they had forced him to it at last: he 11684would lead a life of crime. There was no choice. 11685 11686By this time he was far down Meadow Lane, and the bell for school to 11687"take up" tinkled faintly upon his ear. He sobbed, now, to think he 11688should never, never hear that old familiar sound any more--it was very 11689hard, but it was forced on him; since he was driven out into the cold 11690world, he must submit--but he forgave them. Then the sobs came thick 11691and fast. 11692 11693Just at this point he met his soul's sworn comrade, Joe Harper 11694--hard-eyed, and with evidently a great and dismal purpose in his heart. 11695Plainly here were "two souls with but a single thought." Tom, wiping 11696his eyes with his sleeve, began to blubber out something about a 11697resolution to escape from hard usage and lack of sympathy at home by 11698roaming abroad into the great world never to return; and ended by 11699hoping that Joe would not forget him. 11700 11701But it transpired that this was a request which Joe had just been 11702going to make of Tom, and had come to hunt him up for that purpose. His 11703mother had whipped him for drinking some cream which he had never 11704tasted and knew nothing about; it was plain that she was tired of him 11705and wished him to go; if she felt that way, there was nothing for him 11706to do but succumb; he hoped she would be happy, and never regret having 11707driven her poor boy out into the unfeeling world to suffer and die. 11708 11709As the two boys walked sorrowing along, they made a new compact to 11710stand by each other and be brothers and never separate till death 11711relieved them of their troubles. Then they began to lay their plans. 11712Joe was for being a hermit, and living on crusts in a remote cave, and 11713dying, some time, of cold and want and grief; but after listening to 11714Tom, he conceded that there were some conspicuous advantages about a 11715life of crime, and so he consented to be a pirate. 11716 11717Three miles below St. Petersburg, at a point where the Mississippi 11718River was a trifle over a mile wide, there was a long, narrow, wooded 11719island, with a shallow bar at the head of it, and this offered well as 11720a rendezvous. It was not inhabited; it lay far over toward the further 11721shore, abreast a dense and almost wholly unpeopled forest. So Jackson's 11722Island was chosen. Who were to be the subjects of their piracies was a 11723matter that did not occur to them. Then they hunted up Huckleberry 11724Finn, and he joined them promptly, for all careers were one to him; he 11725was indifferent. They presently separated to meet at a lonely spot on 11726the river-bank two miles above the village at the favorite hour--which 11727was midnight. There was a small log raft there which they meant to 11728capture. Each would bring hooks and lines, and such provision as he 11729could steal in the most dark and mysterious way--as became outlaws. And 11730before the afternoon was done, they had all managed to enjoy the sweet 11731glory of spreading the fact that pretty soon the town would "hear 11732something." All who got this vague hint were cautioned to "be mum and 11733wait." 11734 11735About midnight Tom arrived with a boiled ham and a few trifles, 11736and stopped in a dense undergrowth on a small bluff overlooking the 11737meeting-place. It was starlight, and very still. The mighty river lay 11738like an ocean at rest. Tom listened a moment, but no sound disturbed the 11739quiet. Then he gave a low, distinct whistle. It was answered from under 11740the bluff. Tom whistled twice more; these signals were answered in the 11741same way. Then a guarded voice said: 11742 11743"Who goes there?" 11744 11745"Tom Sawyer, the Black Avenger of the Spanish Main. Name your names." 11746 11747"Huck Finn the Red-Handed, and Joe Harper the Terror of the Seas." Tom 11748had furnished these titles, from his favorite literature. 11749 11750"'Tis well. Give the countersign." 11751 11752Two hoarse whispers delivered the same awful word simultaneously to 11753the brooding night: 11754 11755"BLOOD!" 11756 11757Then Tom tumbled his ham over the bluff and let himself down after it, 11758tearing both skin and clothes to some extent in the effort. There was 11759an easy, comfortable path along the shore under the bluff, but it 11760lacked the advantages of difficulty and danger so valued by a pirate. 11761 11762The Terror of the Seas had brought a side of bacon, and had about worn 11763himself out with getting it there. Finn the Red-Handed had stolen a 11764skillet and a quantity of half-cured leaf tobacco, and had also brought 11765a few corn-cobs to make pipes with. But none of the pirates smoked or 11766"chewed" but himself. The Black Avenger of the Spanish Main said it 11767would never do to start without some fire. That was a wise thought; 11768matches were hardly known there in that day. They saw a fire 11769smouldering upon a great raft a hundred yards above, and they went 11770stealthily thither and helped themselves to a chunk. They made an 11771imposing adventure of it, saying, "Hist!" every now and then, and 11772suddenly halting with finger on lip; moving with hands on imaginary 11773dagger-hilts; and giving orders in dismal whispers that if "the foe" 11774stirred, to "let him have it to the hilt," because "dead men tell no 11775tales." They knew well enough that the raftsmen were all down at the 11776village laying in stores or having a spree, but still that was no 11777excuse for their conducting this thing in an unpiratical way. 11778 11779They shoved off, presently, Tom in command, Huck at the after oar and 11780Joe at the forward. Tom stood amidships, gloomy-browed, and with folded 11781arms, and gave his orders in a low, stern whisper: 11782 11783"Luff, and bring her to the wind!" 11784 11785"Aye-aye, sir!" 11786 11787"Steady, steady-y-y-y!" 11788 11789"Steady it is, sir!" 11790 11791"Let her go off a point!" 11792 11793"Point it is, sir!" 11794 11795As the boys steadily and monotonously drove the raft toward mid-stream 11796it was no doubt understood that these orders were given only for 11797"style," and were not intended to mean anything in particular. 11798 11799"What sail's she carrying?" 11800 11801"Courses, tops'ls, and flying-jib, sir." 11802 11803"Send the r'yals up! Lay out aloft, there, half a dozen of ye 11804--foretopmaststuns'l! Lively, now!" 11805 11806"Aye-aye, sir!" 11807 11808"Shake out that maintogalans'l! Sheets and braces! NOW my hearties!" 11809 11810"Aye-aye, sir!" 11811 11812"Hellum-a-lee--hard a port! Stand by to meet her when she comes! Port, 11813port! NOW, men! With a will! Stead-y-y-y!" 11814 11815"Steady it is, sir!" 11816 11817The raft drew beyond the middle of the river; the boys pointed her 11818head right, and then lay on their oars. The river was not high, so 11819there was not more than a two or three mile current. Hardly a word was 11820said during the next three-quarters of an hour. Now the raft was 11821passing before the distant town. Two or three glimmering lights showed 11822where it lay, peacefully sleeping, beyond the vague vast sweep of 11823star-gemmed water, unconscious of the tremendous event that was happening. 11824The Black Avenger stood still with folded arms, "looking his last" upon 11825the scene of his former joys and his later sufferings, and wishing 11826"she" could see him now, abroad on the wild sea, facing peril and death 11827with dauntless heart, going to his doom with a grim smile on his lips. 11828It was but a small strain on his imagination to remove Jackson's Island 11829beyond eyeshot of the village, and so he "looked his last" with a 11830broken and satisfied heart. The other pirates were looking their last, 11831too; and they all looked so long that they came near letting the 11832current drift them out of the range of the island. But they discovered 11833the danger in time, and made shift to avert it. About two o'clock in 11834the morning the raft grounded on the bar two hundred yards above the 11835head of the island, and they waded back and forth until they had landed 11836their freight. Part of the little raft's belongings consisted of an old 11837sail, and this they spread over a nook in the bushes for a tent to 11838shelter their provisions; but they themselves would sleep in the open 11839air in good weather, as became outlaws. 11840 11841They built a fire against the side of a great log twenty or thirty 11842steps within the sombre depths of the forest, and then cooked some 11843bacon in the frying-pan for supper, and used up half of the corn "pone" 11844stock they had brought. It seemed glorious sport to be feasting in that 11845wild, free way in the virgin forest of an unexplored and uninhabited 11846island, far from the haunts of men, and they said they never would 11847return to civilization. The climbing fire lit up their faces and threw 11848its ruddy glare upon the pillared tree-trunks of their forest temple, 11849and upon the varnished foliage and festooning vines. 11850 11851When the last crisp slice of bacon was gone, and the last allowance of 11852corn pone devoured, the boys stretched themselves out on the grass, 11853filled with contentment. They could have found a cooler place, but they 11854would not deny themselves such a romantic feature as the roasting 11855camp-fire. 11856 11857"AIN'T it gay?" said Joe. 11858 11859"It's NUTS!" said Tom. "What would the boys say if they could see us?" 11860 11861"Say? Well, they'd just die to be here--hey, Hucky!" 11862 11863"I reckon so," said Huckleberry; "anyways, I'm suited. I don't want 11864nothing better'n this. I don't ever get enough to eat, gen'ally--and 11865here they can't come and pick at a feller and bullyrag him so." 11866 11867"It's just the life for me," said Tom. "You don't have to get up, 11868mornings, and you don't have to go to school, and wash, and all that 11869blame foolishness. You see a pirate don't have to do ANYTHING, Joe, 11870when he's ashore, but a hermit HE has to be praying considerable, and 11871then he don't have any fun, anyway, all by himself that way." 11872 11873"Oh yes, that's so," said Joe, "but I hadn't thought much about it, 11874you know. I'd a good deal rather be a pirate, now that I've tried it." 11875 11876"You see," said Tom, "people don't go much on hermits, nowadays, like 11877they used to in old times, but a pirate's always respected. And a 11878hermit's got to sleep on the hardest place he can find, and put 11879sackcloth and ashes on his head, and stand out in the rain, and--" 11880 11881"What does he put sackcloth and ashes on his head for?" inquired Huck. 11882 11883"I dono. But they've GOT to do it. Hermits always do. You'd have to do 11884that if you was a hermit." 11885 11886"Dern'd if I would," said Huck. 11887 11888"Well, what would you do?" 11889 11890"I dono. But I wouldn't do that." 11891 11892"Why, Huck, you'd HAVE to. How'd you get around it?" 11893 11894"Why, I just wouldn't stand it. I'd run away." 11895 11896"Run away! Well, you WOULD be a nice old slouch of a hermit. You'd be 11897a disgrace." 11898 11899The Red-Handed made no response, being better employed. He had 11900finished gouging out a cob, and now he fitted a weed stem to it, loaded 11901it with tobacco, and was pressing a coal to the charge and blowing a 11902cloud of fragrant smoke--he was in the full bloom of luxurious 11903contentment. The other pirates envied him this majestic vice, and 11904secretly resolved to acquire it shortly. Presently Huck said: 11905 11906"What does pirates have to do?" 11907 11908Tom said: 11909 11910"Oh, they have just a bully time--take ships and burn them, and get 11911the money and bury it in awful places in their island where there's 11912ghosts and things to watch it, and kill everybody in the ships--make 11913'em walk a plank." 11914 11915"And they carry the women to the island," said Joe; "they don't kill 11916the women." 11917 11918"No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women--they're too noble. And 11919the women's always beautiful, too. 11920 11921"And don't they wear the bulliest clothes! Oh no! All gold and silver 11922and di'monds," said Joe, with enthusiasm. 11923 11924"Who?" said Huck. 11925 11926"Why, the pirates." 11927 11928Huck scanned his own clothing forlornly. 11929 11930"I reckon I ain't dressed fitten for a pirate," said he, with a 11931regretful pathos in his voice; "but I ain't got none but these." 11932 11933But the other boys told him the fine clothes would come fast enough, 11934after they should have begun their adventures. They made him understand 11935that his poor rags would do to begin with, though it was customary for 11936wealthy pirates to start with a proper wardrobe. 11937 11938Gradually their talk died out and drowsiness began to steal upon the 11939eyelids of the little waifs. The pipe dropped from the fingers of the 11940Red-Handed, and he slept the sleep of the conscience-free and the 11941weary. The Terror of the Seas and the Black Avenger of the Spanish Main 11942had more difficulty in getting to sleep. They said their prayers 11943inwardly, and lying down, since there was nobody there with authority 11944to make them kneel and recite aloud; in truth, they had a mind not to 11945say them at all, but they were afraid to proceed to such lengths as 11946that, lest they might call down a sudden and special thunderbolt from 11947heaven. Then at once they reached and hovered upon the imminent verge 11948of sleep--but an intruder came, now, that would not "down." It was 11949conscience. They began to feel a vague fear that they had been doing 11950wrong to run away; and next they thought of the stolen meat, and then 11951the real torture came. They tried to argue it away by reminding 11952conscience that they had purloined sweetmeats and apples scores of 11953times; but conscience was not to be appeased by such thin 11954plausibilities; it seemed to them, in the end, that there was no 11955getting around the stubborn fact that taking sweetmeats was only 11956"hooking," while taking bacon and hams and such valuables was plain 11957simple stealing--and there was a command against that in the Bible. So 11958they inwardly resolved that so long as they remained in the business, 11959their piracies should not again be sullied with the crime of stealing. 11960Then conscience granted a truce, and these curiously inconsistent 11961pirates fell peacefully to sleep. 11962 11963 11964 11965CHAPTER XIV 11966 11967WHEN Tom awoke in the morning, he wondered where he was. He sat up and 11968rubbed his eyes and looked around. Then he comprehended. It was the 11969cool gray dawn, and there was a delicious sense of repose and peace in 11970the deep pervading calm and silence of the woods. Not a leaf stirred; 11971not a sound obtruded upon great Nature's meditation. Beaded dewdrops 11972stood upon the leaves and grasses. A white layer of ashes covered the 11973fire, and a thin blue breath of smoke rose straight into the air. Joe 11974and Huck still slept. 11975 11976Now, far away in the woods a bird called; another answered; presently 11977the hammering of a woodpecker was heard. Gradually the cool dim gray of 11978the morning whitened, and as gradually sounds multiplied and life 11979manifested itself. The marvel of Nature shaking off sleep and going to 11980work unfolded itself to the musing boy. A little green worm came 11981crawling over a dewy leaf, lifting two-thirds of his body into the air 11982from time to time and "sniffing around," then proceeding again--for he 11983was measuring, Tom said; and when the worm approached him, of its own 11984accord, he sat as still as a stone, with his hopes rising and falling, 11985by turns, as the creature still came toward him or seemed inclined to 11986go elsewhere; and when at last it considered a painful moment with its 11987curved body in the air and then came decisively down upon Tom's leg and 11988began a journey over him, his whole heart was glad--for that meant that 11989he was going to have a new suit of clothes--without the shadow of a 11990doubt a gaudy piratical uniform. Now a procession of ants appeared, 11991from nowhere in particular, and went about their labors; one struggled 11992manfully by with a dead spider five times as big as itself in its arms, 11993and lugged it straight up a tree-trunk. A brown spotted lady-bug 11994climbed the dizzy height of a grass blade, and Tom bent down close to 11995it and said, "Lady-bug, lady-bug, fly away home, your house is on fire, 11996your children's alone," and she took wing and went off to see about it 11997--which did not surprise the boy, for he knew of old that this insect was 11998credulous about conflagrations, and he had practised upon its 11999simplicity more than once. A tumblebug came next, heaving sturdily at 12000its ball, and Tom touched the creature, to see it shut its legs against 12001its body and pretend to be dead. The birds were fairly rioting by this 12002time. A catbird, the Northern mocker, lit in a tree over Tom's head, 12003and trilled out her imitations of her neighbors in a rapture of 12004enjoyment; then a shrill jay swept down, a flash of blue flame, and 12005stopped on a twig almost within the boy's reach, cocked his head to one 12006side and eyed the strangers with a consuming curiosity; a gray squirrel 12007and a big fellow of the "fox" kind came skurrying along, sitting up at 12008intervals to inspect and chatter at the boys, for the wild things had 12009probably never seen a human being before and scarcely knew whether to 12010be afraid or not. All Nature was wide awake and stirring, now; long 12011lances of sunlight pierced down through the dense foliage far and near, 12012and a few butterflies came fluttering upon the scene. 12013 12014Tom stirred up the other pirates and they all clattered away with a 12015shout, and in a minute or two were stripped and chasing after and 12016tumbling over each other in the shallow limpid water of the white 12017sandbar. They felt no longing for the little village sleeping in the 12018distance beyond the majestic waste of water. A vagrant current or a 12019slight rise in the river had carried off their raft, but this only 12020gratified them, since its going was something like burning the bridge 12021between them and civilization. 12022 12023They came back to camp wonderfully refreshed, glad-hearted, and 12024ravenous; and they soon had the camp-fire blazing up again. Huck found 12025a spring of clear cold water close by, and the boys made cups of broad 12026oak or hickory leaves, and felt that water, sweetened with such a 12027wildwood charm as that, would be a good enough substitute for coffee. 12028While Joe was slicing bacon for breakfast, Tom and Huck asked him to 12029hold on a minute; they stepped to a promising nook in the river-bank 12030and threw in their lines; almost immediately they had reward. Joe had 12031not had time to get impatient before they were back again with some 12032handsome bass, a couple of sun-perch and a small catfish--provisions 12033enough for quite a family. They fried the fish with the bacon, and were 12034astonished; for no fish had ever seemed so delicious before. They did 12035not know that the quicker a fresh-water fish is on the fire after he is 12036caught the better he is; and they reflected little upon what a sauce 12037open-air sleeping, open-air exercise, bathing, and a large ingredient 12038of hunger make, too. 12039 12040They lay around in the shade, after breakfast, while Huck had a smoke, 12041and then went off through the woods on an exploring expedition. They 12042tramped gayly along, over decaying logs, through tangled underbrush, 12043among solemn monarchs of the forest, hung from their crowns to the 12044ground with a drooping regalia of grape-vines. Now and then they came 12045upon snug nooks carpeted with grass and jeweled with flowers. 12046 12047They found plenty of things to be delighted with, but nothing to be 12048astonished at. They discovered that the island was about three miles 12049long and a quarter of a mile wide, and that the shore it lay closest to 12050was only separated from it by a narrow channel hardly two hundred yards 12051wide. They took a swim about every hour, so it was close upon the 12052middle of the afternoon when they got back to camp. They were too 12053hungry to stop to fish, but they fared sumptuously upon cold ham, and 12054then threw themselves down in the shade to talk. But the talk soon 12055began to drag, and then died. The stillness, the solemnity that brooded 12056in the woods, and the sense of loneliness, began to tell upon the 12057spirits of the boys. They fell to thinking. A sort of undefined longing 12058crept upon them. This took dim shape, presently--it was budding 12059homesickness. Even Finn the Red-Handed was dreaming of his doorsteps 12060and empty hogsheads. But they were all ashamed of their weakness, and 12061none was brave enough to speak his thought. 12062 12063For some time, now, the boys had been dully conscious of a peculiar 12064sound in the distance, just as one sometimes is of the ticking of a 12065clock which he takes no distinct note of. But now this mysterious sound 12066became more pronounced, and forced a recognition. The boys started, 12067glanced at each other, and then each assumed a listening attitude. 12068There was a long silence, profound and unbroken; then a deep, sullen 12069boom came floating down out of the distance. 12070 12071"What is it!" exclaimed Joe, under his breath. 12072 12073"I wonder," said Tom in a whisper. 12074 12075"'Tain't thunder," said Huckleberry, in an awed tone, "becuz thunder--" 12076 12077"Hark!" said Tom. "Listen--don't talk." 12078 12079They waited a time that seemed an age, and then the same muffled boom 12080troubled the solemn hush. 12081 12082"Let's go and see." 12083 12084They sprang to their feet and hurried to the shore toward the town. 12085They parted the bushes on the bank and peered out over the water. The 12086little steam ferryboat was about a mile below the village, drifting 12087with the current. Her broad deck seemed crowded with people. There were 12088a great many skiffs rowing about or floating with the stream in the 12089neighborhood of the ferryboat, but the boys could not determine what 12090the men in them were doing. Presently a great jet of white smoke burst 12091from the ferryboat's side, and as it expanded and rose in a lazy cloud, 12092that same dull throb of sound was borne to the listeners again. 12093 12094"I know now!" exclaimed Tom; "somebody's drownded!" 12095 12096"That's it!" said Huck; "they done that last summer, when Bill Turner 12097got drownded; they shoot a cannon over the water, and that makes him 12098come up to the top. Yes, and they take loaves of bread and put 12099quicksilver in 'em and set 'em afloat, and wherever there's anybody 12100that's drownded, they'll float right there and stop." 12101 12102"Yes, I've heard about that," said Joe. "I wonder what makes the bread 12103do that." 12104 12105"Oh, it ain't the bread, so much," said Tom; "I reckon it's mostly 12106what they SAY over it before they start it out." 12107 12108"But they don't say anything over it," said Huck. "I've seen 'em and 12109they don't." 12110 12111"Well, that's funny," said Tom. "But maybe they say it to themselves. 12112Of COURSE they do. Anybody might know that." 12113 12114The other boys agreed that there was reason in what Tom said, because 12115an ignorant lump of bread, uninstructed by an incantation, could not be 12116expected to act very intelligently when set upon an errand of such 12117gravity. 12118 12119"By jings, I wish I was over there, now," said Joe. 12120 12121"I do too" said Huck "I'd give heaps to know who it is." 12122 12123The boys still listened and watched. Presently a revealing thought 12124flashed through Tom's mind, and he exclaimed: 12125 12126"Boys, I know who's drownded--it's us!" 12127 12128They felt like heroes in an instant. Here was a gorgeous triumph; they 12129were missed; they were mourned; hearts were breaking on their account; 12130tears were being shed; accusing memories of unkindness to these poor 12131lost lads were rising up, and unavailing regrets and remorse were being 12132indulged; and best of all, the departed were the talk of the whole 12133town, and the envy of all the boys, as far as this dazzling notoriety 12134was concerned. This was fine. It was worth while to be a pirate, after 12135all. 12136 12137As twilight drew on, the ferryboat went back to her accustomed 12138business and the skiffs disappeared. The pirates returned to camp. They 12139were jubilant with vanity over their new grandeur and the illustrious 12140trouble they were making. They caught fish, cooked supper and ate it, 12141and then fell to guessing at what the village was thinking and saying 12142about them; and the pictures they drew of the public distress on their 12143account were gratifying to look upon--from their point of view. But 12144when the shadows of night closed them in, they gradually ceased to 12145talk, and sat gazing into the fire, with their minds evidently 12146wandering elsewhere. The excitement was gone, now, and Tom and Joe 12147could not keep back thoughts of certain persons at home who were not 12148enjoying this fine frolic as much as they were. Misgivings came; they 12149grew troubled and unhappy; a sigh or two escaped, unawares. By and by 12150Joe timidly ventured upon a roundabout "feeler" as to how the others 12151might look upon a return to civilization--not right now, but-- 12152 12153Tom withered him with derision! Huck, being uncommitted as yet, joined 12154in with Tom, and the waverer quickly "explained," and was glad to get 12155out of the scrape with as little taint of chicken-hearted homesickness 12156clinging to his garments as he could. Mutiny was effectually laid to 12157rest for the moment. 12158 12159As the night deepened, Huck began to nod, and presently to snore. Joe 12160followed next. Tom lay upon his elbow motionless, for some time, 12161watching the two intently. At last he got up cautiously, on his knees, 12162and went searching among the grass and the flickering reflections flung 12163by the camp-fire. He picked up and inspected several large 12164semi-cylinders of the thin white bark of a sycamore, and finally chose 12165two which seemed to suit him. Then he knelt by the fire and painfully 12166wrote something upon each of these with his "red keel"; one he rolled up 12167and put in his jacket pocket, and the other he put in Joe's hat and 12168removed it to a little distance from the owner. And he also put into the 12169hat certain schoolboy treasures of almost inestimable value--among them 12170a lump of chalk, an India-rubber ball, three fishhooks, and one of that 12171kind of marbles known as a "sure 'nough crystal." Then he tiptoed his 12172way cautiously among the trees till he felt that he was out of hearing, 12173and straightway broke into a keen run in the direction of the sandbar. 12174 12175 12176 12177CHAPTER XV 12178 12179A FEW minutes later Tom was in the shoal water of the bar, wading 12180toward the Illinois shore. Before the depth reached his middle he was 12181half-way over; the current would permit no more wading, now, so he 12182struck out confidently to swim the remaining hundred yards. He swam 12183quartering upstream, but still was swept downward rather faster than he 12184had expected. However, he reached the shore finally, and drifted along 12185till he found a low place and drew himself out. He put his hand on his 12186jacket pocket, found his piece of bark safe, and then struck through 12187the woods, following the shore, with streaming garments. Shortly before 12188ten o'clock he came out into an open place opposite the village, and 12189saw the ferryboat lying in the shadow of the trees and the high bank. 12190Everything was quiet under the blinking stars. He crept down the bank, 12191watching with all his eyes, slipped into the water, swam three or four 12192strokes and climbed into the skiff that did "yawl" duty at the boat's 12193stern. He laid himself down under the thwarts and waited, panting. 12194 12195Presently the cracked bell tapped and a voice gave the order to "cast 12196off." A minute or two later the skiff's head was standing high up, 12197against the boat's swell, and the voyage was begun. Tom felt happy in 12198his success, for he knew it was the boat's last trip for the night. At 12199the end of a long twelve or fifteen minutes the wheels stopped, and Tom 12200slipped overboard and swam ashore in the dusk, landing fifty yards 12201downstream, out of danger of possible stragglers. 12202 12203He flew along unfrequented alleys, and shortly found himself at his 12204aunt's back fence. He climbed over, approached the "ell," and looked in 12205at the sitting-room window, for a light was burning there. There sat 12206Aunt Polly, Sid, Mary, and Joe Harper's mother, grouped together, 12207talking. They were by the bed, and the bed was between them and the 12208door. Tom went to the door and began to softly lift the latch; then he 12209pressed gently and the door yielded a crack; he continued pushing 12210cautiously, and quaking every time it creaked, till he judged he might 12211squeeze through on his knees; so he put his head through and began, 12212warily. 12213 12214"What makes the candle blow so?" said Aunt Polly. Tom hurried up. 12215"Why, that door's open, I believe. Why, of course it is. No end of 12216strange things now. Go 'long and shut it, Sid." 12217 12218Tom disappeared under the bed just in time. He lay and "breathed" 12219himself for a time, and then crept to where he could almost touch his 12220aunt's foot. 12221 12222"But as I was saying," said Aunt Polly, "he warn't BAD, so to say 12223--only mischEEvous. Only just giddy, and harum-scarum, you know. He 12224warn't any more responsible than a colt. HE never meant any harm, and 12225he was the best-hearted boy that ever was"--and she began to cry. 12226 12227"It was just so with my Joe--always full of his devilment, and up to 12228every kind of mischief, but he was just as unselfish and kind as he 12229could be--and laws bless me, to think I went and whipped him for taking 12230that cream, never once recollecting that I throwed it out myself 12231because it was sour, and I never to see him again in this world, never, 12232never, never, poor abused boy!" And Mrs. Harper sobbed as if her heart 12233would break. 12234 12235"I hope Tom's better off where he is," said Sid, "but if he'd been 12236better in some ways--" 12237 12238"SID!" Tom felt the glare of the old lady's eye, though he could not 12239see it. "Not a word against my Tom, now that he's gone! God'll take 12240care of HIM--never you trouble YOURself, sir! Oh, Mrs. Harper, I don't 12241know how to give him up! I don't know how to give him up! He was such a 12242comfort to me, although he tormented my old heart out of me, 'most." 12243 12244"The Lord giveth and the Lord hath taken away--Blessed be the name of 12245the Lord! But it's so hard--Oh, it's so hard! Only last Saturday my 12246Joe busted a firecracker right under my nose and I knocked him 12247sprawling. Little did I know then, how soon--Oh, if it was to do over 12248again I'd hug him and bless him for it." 12249 12250"Yes, yes, yes, I know just how you feel, Mrs. Harper, I know just 12251exactly how you feel. No longer ago than yesterday noon, my Tom took 12252and filled the cat full of Pain-killer, and I did think the cretur 12253would tear the house down. And God forgive me, I cracked Tom's head 12254with my thimble, poor boy, poor dead boy. But he's out of all his 12255troubles now. And the last words I ever heard him say was to reproach--" 12256 12257But this memory was too much for the old lady, and she broke entirely 12258down. Tom was snuffling, now, himself--and more in pity of himself than 12259anybody else. He could hear Mary crying, and putting in a kindly word 12260for him from time to time. He began to have a nobler opinion of himself 12261than ever before. Still, he was sufficiently touched by his aunt's 12262grief to long to rush out from under the bed and overwhelm her with 12263joy--and the theatrical gorgeousness of the thing appealed strongly to 12264his nature, too, but he resisted and lay still. 12265 12266He went on listening, and gathered by odds and ends that it was 12267conjectured at first that the boys had got drowned while taking a swim; 12268then the small raft had been missed; next, certain boys said the 12269missing lads had promised that the village should "hear something" 12270soon; the wise-heads had "put this and that together" and decided that 12271the lads had gone off on that raft and would turn up at the next town 12272below, presently; but toward noon the raft had been found, lodged 12273against the Missouri shore some five or six miles below the village 12274--and then hope perished; they must be drowned, else hunger would have 12275driven them home by nightfall if not sooner. It was believed that the 12276search for the bodies had been a fruitless effort merely because the 12277drowning must have occurred in mid-channel, since the boys, being good 12278swimmers, would otherwise have escaped to shore. This was Wednesday 12279night. If the bodies continued missing until Sunday, all hope would be 12280given over, and the funerals would be preached on that morning. Tom 12281shuddered. 12282 12283Mrs. Harper gave a sobbing good-night and turned to go. Then with a 12284mutual impulse the two bereaved women flung themselves into each 12285other's arms and had a good, consoling cry, and then parted. Aunt Polly 12286was tender far beyond her wont, in her good-night to Sid and Mary. Sid 12287snuffled a bit and Mary went off crying with all her heart. 12288 12289Aunt Polly knelt down and prayed for Tom so touchingly, so 12290appealingly, and with such measureless love in her words and her old 12291trembling voice, that he was weltering in tears again, long before she 12292was through. 12293 12294He had to keep still long after she went to bed, for she kept making 12295broken-hearted ejaculations from time to time, tossing unrestfully, and 12296turning over. But at last she was still, only moaning a little in her 12297sleep. Now the boy stole out, rose gradually by the bedside, shaded the 12298candle-light with his hand, and stood regarding her. His heart was full 12299of pity for her. He took out his sycamore scroll and placed it by the 12300candle. But something occurred to him, and he lingered considering. His 12301face lighted with a happy solution of his thought; he put the bark 12302hastily in his pocket. Then he bent over and kissed the faded lips, and 12303straightway made his stealthy exit, latching the door behind him. 12304 12305He threaded his way back to the ferry landing, found nobody at large 12306there, and walked boldly on board the boat, for he knew she was 12307tenantless except that there was a watchman, who always turned in and 12308slept like a graven image. He untied the skiff at the stern, slipped 12309into it, and was soon rowing cautiously upstream. When he had pulled a 12310mile above the village, he started quartering across and bent himself 12311stoutly to his work. He hit the landing on the other side neatly, for 12312this was a familiar bit of work to him. He was moved to capture the 12313skiff, arguing that it might be considered a ship and therefore 12314legitimate prey for a pirate, but he knew a thorough search would be 12315made for it and that might end in revelations. So he stepped ashore and 12316entered the woods. 12317 12318He sat down and took a long rest, torturing himself meanwhile to keep 12319awake, and then started warily down the home-stretch. The night was far 12320spent. It was broad daylight before he found himself fairly abreast the 12321island bar. He rested again until the sun was well up and gilding the 12322great river with its splendor, and then he plunged into the stream. A 12323little later he paused, dripping, upon the threshold of the camp, and 12324heard Joe say: 12325 12326"No, Tom's true-blue, Huck, and he'll come back. He won't desert. He 12327knows that would be a disgrace to a pirate, and Tom's too proud for 12328that sort of thing. He's up to something or other. Now I wonder what?" 12329 12330"Well, the things is ours, anyway, ain't they?" 12331 12332"Pretty near, but not yet, Huck. The writing says they are if he ain't 12333back here to breakfast." 12334 12335"Which he is!" exclaimed Tom, with fine dramatic effect, stepping 12336grandly into camp. 12337 12338A sumptuous breakfast of bacon and fish was shortly provided, and as 12339the boys set to work upon it, Tom recounted (and adorned) his 12340adventures. They were a vain and boastful company of heroes when the 12341tale was done. Then Tom hid himself away in a shady nook to sleep till 12342noon, and the other pirates got ready to fish and explore. 12343 12344 12345 12346CHAPTER XVI 12347 12348AFTER dinner all the gang turned out to hunt for turtle eggs on the 12349bar. They went about poking sticks into the sand, and when they found a 12350soft place they went down on their knees and dug with their hands. 12351Sometimes they would take fifty or sixty eggs out of one hole. They 12352were perfectly round white things a trifle smaller than an English 12353walnut. They had a famous fried-egg feast that night, and another on 12354Friday morning. 12355 12356After breakfast they went whooping and prancing out on the bar, and 12357chased each other round and round, shedding clothes as they went, until 12358they were naked, and then continued the frolic far away up the shoal 12359water of the bar, against the stiff current, which latter tripped their 12360legs from under them from time to time and greatly increased the fun. 12361And now and then they stooped in a group and splashed water in each 12362other's faces with their palms, gradually approaching each other, with 12363averted faces to avoid the strangling sprays, and finally gripping and 12364struggling till the best man ducked his neighbor, and then they all 12365went under in a tangle of white legs and arms and came up blowing, 12366sputtering, laughing, and gasping for breath at one and the same time. 12367 12368When they were well exhausted, they would run out and sprawl on the 12369dry, hot sand, and lie there and cover themselves up with it, and by 12370and by break for the water again and go through the original 12371performance once more. Finally it occurred to them that their naked 12372skin represented flesh-colored "tights" very fairly; so they drew a 12373ring in the sand and had a circus--with three clowns in it, for none 12374would yield this proudest post to his neighbor. 12375 12376Next they got their marbles and played "knucks" and "ring-taw" and 12377"keeps" till that amusement grew stale. Then Joe and Huck had another 12378swim, but Tom would not venture, because he found that in kicking off 12379his trousers he had kicked his string of rattlesnake rattles off his 12380ankle, and he wondered how he had escaped cramp so long without the 12381protection of this mysterious charm. He did not venture again until he 12382had found it, and by that time the other boys were tired and ready to 12383rest. They gradually wandered apart, dropped into the "dumps," and fell 12384to gazing longingly across the wide river to where the village lay 12385drowsing in the sun. Tom found himself writing "BECKY" in the sand with 12386his big toe; he scratched it out, and was angry with himself for his 12387weakness. But he wrote it again, nevertheless; he could not help it. He 12388erased it once more and then took himself out of temptation by driving 12389the other boys together and joining them. 12390 12391But Joe's spirits had gone down almost beyond resurrection. He was so 12392homesick that he could hardly endure the misery of it. The tears lay 12393very near the surface. Huck was melancholy, too. Tom was downhearted, 12394but tried hard not to show it. He had a secret which he was not ready 12395to tell, yet, but if this mutinous depression was not broken up soon, 12396he would have to bring it out. He said, with a great show of 12397cheerfulness: 12398 12399"I bet there's been pirates on this island before, boys. We'll explore 12400it again. They've hid treasures here somewhere. How'd you feel to light 12401on a rotten chest full of gold and silver--hey?" 12402 12403But it roused only faint enthusiasm, which faded out, with no reply. 12404Tom tried one or two other seductions; but they failed, too. It was 12405discouraging work. Joe sat poking up the sand with a stick and looking 12406very gloomy. Finally he said: 12407 12408"Oh, boys, let's give it up. I want to go home. It's so lonesome." 12409 12410"Oh no, Joe, you'll feel better by and by," said Tom. "Just think of 12411the fishing that's here." 12412 12413"I don't care for fishing. I want to go home." 12414 12415"But, Joe, there ain't such another swimming-place anywhere." 12416 12417"Swimming's no good. I don't seem to care for it, somehow, when there 12418ain't anybody to say I sha'n't go in. I mean to go home." 12419 12420"Oh, shucks! Baby! You want to see your mother, I reckon." 12421 12422"Yes, I DO want to see my mother--and you would, too, if you had one. 12423I ain't any more baby than you are." And Joe snuffled a little. 12424 12425"Well, we'll let the cry-baby go home to his mother, won't we, Huck? 12426Poor thing--does it want to see its mother? And so it shall. You like 12427it here, don't you, Huck? We'll stay, won't we?" 12428 12429Huck said, "Y-e-s"--without any heart in it. 12430 12431"I'll never speak to you again as long as I live," said Joe, rising. 12432"There now!" And he moved moodily away and began to dress himself. 12433 12434"Who cares!" said Tom. "Nobody wants you to. Go 'long home and get 12435laughed at. Oh, you're a nice pirate. Huck and me ain't cry-babies. 12436We'll stay, won't we, Huck? Let him go if he wants to. I reckon we can 12437get along without him, per'aps." 12438 12439But Tom was uneasy, nevertheless, and was alarmed to see Joe go 12440sullenly on with his dressing. And then it was discomforting to see 12441Huck eying Joe's preparations so wistfully, and keeping up such an 12442ominous silence. Presently, without a parting word, Joe began to wade 12443off toward the Illinois shore. Tom's heart began to sink. He glanced at 12444Huck. Huck could not bear the look, and dropped his eyes. Then he said: 12445 12446"I want to go, too, Tom. It was getting so lonesome anyway, and now 12447it'll be worse. Let's us go, too, Tom." 12448 12449"I won't! You can all go, if you want to. I mean to stay." 12450 12451"Tom, I better go." 12452 12453"Well, go 'long--who's hendering you." 12454 12455Huck began to pick up his scattered clothes. He said: 12456 12457"Tom, I wisht you'd come, too. Now you think it over. We'll wait for 12458you when we get to shore." 12459 12460"Well, you'll wait a blame long time, that's all." 12461 12462Huck started sorrowfully away, and Tom stood looking after him, with a 12463strong desire tugging at his heart to yield his pride and go along too. 12464He hoped the boys would stop, but they still waded slowly on. It 12465suddenly dawned on Tom that it was become very lonely and still. He 12466made one final struggle with his pride, and then darted after his 12467comrades, yelling: 12468 12469"Wait! Wait! I want to tell you something!" 12470 12471They presently stopped and turned around. When he got to where they 12472were, he began unfolding his secret, and they listened moodily till at 12473last they saw the "point" he was driving at, and then they set up a 12474war-whoop of applause and said it was "splendid!" and said if he had 12475told them at first, they wouldn't have started away. He made a plausible 12476excuse; but his real reason had been the fear that not even the secret 12477would keep them with him any very great length of time, and so he had 12478meant to hold it in reserve as a last seduction. 12479 12480The lads came gayly back and went at their sports again with a will, 12481chattering all the time about Tom's stupendous plan and admiring the 12482genius of it. After a dainty egg and fish dinner, Tom said he wanted to 12483learn to smoke, now. Joe caught at the idea and said he would like to 12484try, too. So Huck made pipes and filled them. These novices had never 12485smoked anything before but cigars made of grape-vine, and they "bit" 12486the tongue, and were not considered manly anyway. 12487 12488Now they stretched themselves out on their elbows and began to puff, 12489charily, and with slender confidence. The smoke had an unpleasant 12490taste, and they gagged a little, but Tom said: 12491 12492"Why, it's just as easy! If I'd a knowed this was all, I'd a learnt 12493long ago." 12494 12495"So would I," said Joe. "It's just nothing." 12496 12497"Why, many a time I've looked at people smoking, and thought well I 12498wish I could do that; but I never thought I could," said Tom. 12499 12500"That's just the way with me, hain't it, Huck? You've heard me talk 12501just that way--haven't you, Huck? I'll leave it to Huck if I haven't." 12502 12503"Yes--heaps of times," said Huck. 12504 12505"Well, I have too," said Tom; "oh, hundreds of times. Once down by the 12506slaughter-house. Don't you remember, Huck? Bob Tanner was there, and 12507Johnny Miller, and Jeff Thatcher, when I said it. Don't you remember, 12508Huck, 'bout me saying that?" 12509 12510"Yes, that's so," said Huck. "That was the day after I lost a white 12511alley. No, 'twas the day before." 12512 12513"There--I told you so," said Tom. "Huck recollects it." 12514 12515"I bleeve I could smoke this pipe all day," said Joe. "I don't feel 12516sick." 12517 12518"Neither do I," said Tom. "I could smoke it all day. But I bet you 12519Jeff Thatcher couldn't." 12520 12521"Jeff Thatcher! Why, he'd keel over just with two draws. Just let him 12522try it once. HE'D see!" 12523 12524"I bet he would. And Johnny Miller--I wish could see Johnny Miller 12525tackle it once." 12526 12527"Oh, don't I!" said Joe. "Why, I bet you Johnny Miller couldn't any 12528more do this than nothing. Just one little snifter would fetch HIM." 12529 12530"'Deed it would, Joe. Say--I wish the boys could see us now." 12531 12532"So do I." 12533 12534"Say--boys, don't say anything about it, and some time when they're 12535around, I'll come up to you and say, 'Joe, got a pipe? I want a smoke.' 12536And you'll say, kind of careless like, as if it warn't anything, you'll 12537say, 'Yes, I got my OLD pipe, and another one, but my tobacker ain't 12538very good.' And I'll say, 'Oh, that's all right, if it's STRONG 12539enough.' And then you'll out with the pipes, and we'll light up just as 12540ca'm, and then just see 'em look!" 12541 12542"By jings, that'll be gay, Tom! I wish it was NOW!" 12543 12544"So do I! And when we tell 'em we learned when we was off pirating, 12545won't they wish they'd been along?" 12546 12547"Oh, I reckon not! I'll just BET they will!" 12548 12549So the talk ran on. But presently it began to flag a trifle, and grow 12550disjointed. The silences widened; the expectoration marvellously 12551increased. Every pore inside the boys' cheeks became a spouting 12552fountain; they could scarcely bail out the cellars under their tongues 12553fast enough to prevent an inundation; little overflowings down their 12554throats occurred in spite of all they could do, and sudden retchings 12555followed every time. Both boys were looking very pale and miserable, 12556now. Joe's pipe dropped from his nerveless fingers. Tom's followed. 12557Both fountains were going furiously and both pumps bailing with might 12558and main. Joe said feebly: 12559 12560"I've lost my knife. I reckon I better go and find it." 12561 12562Tom said, with quivering lips and halting utterance: 12563 12564"I'll help you. You go over that way and I'll hunt around by the 12565spring. No, you needn't come, Huck--we can find it." 12566 12567So Huck sat down again, and waited an hour. Then he found it lonesome, 12568and went to find his comrades. They were wide apart in the woods, both 12569very pale, both fast asleep. But something informed him that if they 12570had had any trouble they had got rid of it. 12571 12572They were not talkative at supper that night. They had a humble look, 12573and when Huck prepared his pipe after the meal and was going to prepare 12574theirs, they said no, they were not feeling very well--something they 12575ate at dinner had disagreed with them. 12576 12577About midnight Joe awoke, and called the boys. There was a brooding 12578oppressiveness in the air that seemed to bode something. The boys 12579huddled themselves together and sought the friendly companionship of 12580the fire, though the dull dead heat of the breathless atmosphere was 12581stifling. They sat still, intent and waiting. The solemn hush 12582continued. Beyond the light of the fire everything was swallowed up in 12583the blackness of darkness. Presently there came a quivering glow that 12584vaguely revealed the foliage for a moment and then vanished. By and by 12585another came, a little stronger. Then another. Then a faint moan came 12586sighing through the branches of the forest and the boys felt a fleeting 12587breath upon their cheeks, and shuddered with the fancy that the Spirit 12588of the Night had gone by. There was a pause. Now a weird flash turned 12589night into day and showed every little grass-blade, separate and 12590distinct, that grew about their feet. And it showed three white, 12591startled faces, too. A deep peal of thunder went rolling and tumbling 12592down the heavens and lost itself in sullen rumblings in the distance. A 12593sweep of chilly air passed by, rustling all the leaves and snowing the 12594flaky ashes broadcast about the fire. Another fierce glare lit up the 12595forest and an instant crash followed that seemed to rend the tree-tops 12596right over the boys' heads. They clung together in terror, in the thick 12597gloom that followed. A few big rain-drops fell pattering upon the 12598leaves. 12599 12600"Quick! boys, go for the tent!" exclaimed Tom. 12601 12602They sprang away, stumbling over roots and among vines in the dark, no 12603two plunging in the same direction. A furious blast roared through the 12604trees, making everything sing as it went. One blinding flash after 12605another came, and peal on peal of deafening thunder. And now a 12606drenching rain poured down and the rising hurricane drove it in sheets 12607along the ground. The boys cried out to each other, but the roaring 12608wind and the booming thunder-blasts drowned their voices utterly. 12609However, one by one they straggled in at last and took shelter under 12610the tent, cold, scared, and streaming with water; but to have company 12611in misery seemed something to be grateful for. They could not talk, the 12612old sail flapped so furiously, even if the other noises would have 12613allowed them. The tempest rose higher and higher, and presently the 12614sail tore loose from its fastenings and went winging away on the blast. 12615The boys seized each others' hands and fled, with many tumblings and 12616bruises, to the shelter of a great oak that stood upon the river-bank. 12617Now the battle was at its highest. Under the ceaseless conflagration of 12618lightning that flamed in the skies, everything below stood out in 12619clean-cut and shadowless distinctness: the bending trees, the billowy 12620river, white with foam, the driving spray of spume-flakes, the dim 12621outlines of the high bluffs on the other side, glimpsed through the 12622drifting cloud-rack and the slanting veil of rain. Every little while 12623some giant tree yielded the fight and fell crashing through the younger 12624growth; and the unflagging thunder-peals came now in ear-splitting 12625explosive bursts, keen and sharp, and unspeakably appalling. The storm 12626culminated in one matchless effort that seemed likely to tear the island 12627to pieces, burn it up, drown it to the tree-tops, blow it away, and 12628deafen every creature in it, all at one and the same moment. It was a 12629wild night for homeless young heads to be out in. 12630 12631But at last the battle was done, and the forces retired with weaker 12632and weaker threatenings and grumblings, and peace resumed her sway. The 12633boys went back to camp, a good deal awed; but they found there was 12634still something to be thankful for, because the great sycamore, the 12635shelter of their beds, was a ruin, now, blasted by the lightnings, and 12636they were not under it when the catastrophe happened. 12637 12638Everything in camp was drenched, the camp-fire as well; for they were 12639but heedless lads, like their generation, and had made no provision 12640against rain. Here was matter for dismay, for they were soaked through 12641and chilled. They were eloquent in their distress; but they presently 12642discovered that the fire had eaten so far up under the great log it had 12643been built against (where it curved upward and separated itself from 12644the ground), that a handbreadth or so of it had escaped wetting; so 12645they patiently wrought until, with shreds and bark gathered from the 12646under sides of sheltered logs, they coaxed the fire to burn again. Then 12647they piled on great dead boughs till they had a roaring furnace, and 12648were glad-hearted once more. They dried their boiled ham and had a 12649feast, and after that they sat by the fire and expanded and glorified 12650their midnight adventure until morning, for there was not a dry spot to 12651sleep on, anywhere around. 12652 12653As the sun began to steal in upon the boys, drowsiness came over them, 12654and they went out on the sandbar and lay down to sleep. They got 12655scorched out by and by, and drearily set about getting breakfast. After 12656the meal they felt rusty, and stiff-jointed, and a little homesick once 12657more. Tom saw the signs, and fell to cheering up the pirates as well as 12658he could. But they cared nothing for marbles, or circus, or swimming, 12659or anything. He reminded them of the imposing secret, and raised a ray 12660of cheer. While it lasted, he got them interested in a new device. This 12661was to knock off being pirates, for a while, and be Indians for a 12662change. They were attracted by this idea; so it was not long before 12663they were stripped, and striped from head to heel with black mud, like 12664so many zebras--all of them chiefs, of course--and then they went 12665tearing through the woods to attack an English settlement. 12666 12667By and by they separated into three hostile tribes, and darted upon 12668each other from ambush with dreadful war-whoops, and killed and scalped 12669each other by thousands. It was a gory day. Consequently it was an 12670extremely satisfactory one. 12671 12672They assembled in camp toward supper-time, hungry and happy; but now a 12673difficulty arose--hostile Indians could not break the bread of 12674hospitality together without first making peace, and this was a simple 12675impossibility without smoking a pipe of peace. There was no other 12676process that ever they had heard of. Two of the savages almost wished 12677they had remained pirates. However, there was no other way; so with 12678such show of cheerfulness as they could muster they called for the pipe 12679and took their whiff as it passed, in due form. 12680 12681And behold, they were glad they had gone into savagery, for they had 12682gained something; they found that they could now smoke a little without 12683having to go and hunt for a lost knife; they did not get sick enough to 12684be seriously uncomfortable. They were not likely to fool away this high 12685promise for lack of effort. No, they practised cautiously, after 12686supper, with right fair success, and so they spent a jubilant evening. 12687They were prouder and happier in their new acquirement than they would 12688have been in the scalping and skinning of the Six Nations. We will 12689leave them to smoke and chatter and brag, since we have no further use 12690for them at present. 12691 12692 12693 12694CHAPTER XVII 12695 12696BUT there was no hilarity in the little town that same tranquil 12697Saturday afternoon. The Harpers, and Aunt Polly's family, were being 12698put into mourning, with great grief and many tears. An unusual quiet 12699possessed the village, although it was ordinarily quiet enough, in all 12700conscience. The villagers conducted their concerns with an absent air, 12701and talked little; but they sighed often. The Saturday holiday seemed a 12702burden to the children. They had no heart in their sports, and 12703gradually gave them up. 12704 12705In the afternoon Becky Thatcher found herself moping about the 12706deserted schoolhouse yard, and feeling very melancholy. But she found 12707nothing there to comfort her. She soliloquized: 12708 12709"Oh, if I only had a brass andiron-knob again! But I haven't got 12710anything now to remember him by." And she choked back a little sob. 12711 12712Presently she stopped, and said to herself: 12713 12714"It was right here. Oh, if it was to do over again, I wouldn't say 12715that--I wouldn't say it for the whole world. But he's gone now; I'll 12716never, never, never see him any more." 12717 12718This thought broke her down, and she wandered away, with tears rolling 12719down her cheeks. Then quite a group of boys and girls--playmates of 12720Tom's and Joe's--came by, and stood looking over the paling fence and 12721talking in reverent tones of how Tom did so-and-so the last time they 12722saw him, and how Joe said this and that small trifle (pregnant with 12723awful prophecy, as they could easily see now!)--and each speaker 12724pointed out the exact spot where the lost lads stood at the time, and 12725then added something like "and I was a-standing just so--just as I am 12726now, and as if you was him--I was as close as that--and he smiled, just 12727this way--and then something seemed to go all over me, like--awful, you 12728know--and I never thought what it meant, of course, but I can see now!" 12729 12730Then there was a dispute about who saw the dead boys last in life, and 12731many claimed that dismal distinction, and offered evidences, more or 12732less tampered with by the witness; and when it was ultimately decided 12733who DID see the departed last, and exchanged the last words with them, 12734the lucky parties took upon themselves a sort of sacred importance, and 12735were gaped at and envied by all the rest. One poor chap, who had no 12736other grandeur to offer, said with tolerably manifest pride in the 12737remembrance: 12738 12739"Well, Tom Sawyer he licked me once." 12740 12741But that bid for glory was a failure. Most of the boys could say that, 12742and so that cheapened the distinction too much. The group loitered 12743away, still recalling memories of the lost heroes, in awed voices. 12744 12745When the Sunday-school hour was finished, the next morning, the bell 12746began to toll, instead of ringing in the usual way. It was a very still 12747Sabbath, and the mournful sound seemed in keeping with the musing hush 12748that lay upon nature. The villagers began to gather, loitering a moment 12749in the vestibule to converse in whispers about the sad event. But there 12750was no whispering in the house; only the funereal rustling of dresses 12751as the women gathered to their seats disturbed the silence there. None 12752could remember when the little church had been so full before. There 12753was finally a waiting pause, an expectant dumbness, and then Aunt Polly 12754entered, followed by Sid and Mary, and they by the Harper family, all 12755in deep black, and the whole congregation, the old minister as well, 12756rose reverently and stood until the mourners were seated in the front 12757pew. There was another communing silence, broken at intervals by 12758muffled sobs, and then the minister spread his hands abroad and prayed. 12759A moving hymn was sung, and the text followed: "I am the Resurrection 12760and the Life." 12761 12762As the service proceeded, the clergyman drew such pictures of the 12763graces, the winning ways, and the rare promise of the lost lads that 12764every soul there, thinking he recognized these pictures, felt a pang in 12765remembering that he had persistently blinded himself to them always 12766before, and had as persistently seen only faults and flaws in the poor 12767boys. The minister related many a touching incident in the lives of the 12768departed, too, which illustrated their sweet, generous natures, and the 12769people could easily see, now, how noble and beautiful those episodes 12770were, and remembered with grief that at the time they occurred they had 12771seemed rank rascalities, well deserving of the cowhide. The 12772congregation became more and more moved, as the pathetic tale went on, 12773till at last the whole company broke down and joined the weeping 12774mourners in a chorus of anguished sobs, the preacher himself giving way 12775to his feelings, and crying in the pulpit. 12776 12777There was a rustle in the gallery, which nobody noticed; a moment 12778later the church door creaked; the minister raised his streaming eyes 12779above his handkerchief, and stood transfixed! First one and then 12780another pair of eyes followed the minister's, and then almost with one 12781impulse the congregation rose and stared while the three dead boys came 12782marching up the aisle, Tom in the lead, Joe next, and Huck, a ruin of 12783drooping rags, sneaking sheepishly in the rear! They had been hid in 12784the unused gallery listening to their own funeral sermon! 12785 12786Aunt Polly, Mary, and the Harpers threw themselves upon their restored 12787ones, smothered them with kisses and poured out thanksgivings, while 12788poor Huck stood abashed and uncomfortable, not knowing exactly what to 12789do or where to hide from so many unwelcoming eyes. He wavered, and 12790started to slink away, but Tom seized him and said: 12791 12792"Aunt Polly, it ain't fair. Somebody's got to be glad to see Huck." 12793 12794"And so they shall. I'm glad to see him, poor motherless thing!" And 12795the loving attentions Aunt Polly lavished upon him were the one thing 12796capable of making him more uncomfortable than he was before. 12797 12798Suddenly the minister shouted at the top of his voice: "Praise God 12799from whom all blessings flow--SING!--and put your hearts in it!" 12800 12801And they did. Old Hundred swelled up with a triumphant burst, and 12802while it shook the rafters Tom Sawyer the Pirate looked around upon the 12803envying juveniles about him and confessed in his heart that this was 12804the proudest moment of his life. 12805 12806As the "sold" congregation trooped out they said they would almost be 12807willing to be made ridiculous again to hear Old Hundred sung like that 12808once more. 12809 12810Tom got more cuffs and kisses that day--according to Aunt Polly's 12811varying moods--than he had earned before in a year; and he hardly knew 12812which expressed the most gratefulness to God and affection for himself. 12813 12814 12815 12816CHAPTER XVIII 12817 12818THAT was Tom's great secret--the scheme to return home with his 12819brother pirates and attend their own funerals. They had paddled over to 12820the Missouri shore on a log, at dusk on Saturday, landing five or six 12821miles below the village; they had slept in the woods at the edge of the 12822town till nearly daylight, and had then crept through back lanes and 12823alleys and finished their sleep in the gallery of the church among a 12824chaos of invalided benches. 12825 12826At breakfast, Monday morning, Aunt Polly and Mary were very loving to 12827Tom, and very attentive to his wants. There was an unusual amount of 12828talk. In the course of it Aunt Polly said: 12829 12830"Well, I don't say it wasn't a fine joke, Tom, to keep everybody 12831suffering 'most a week so you boys had a good time, but it is a pity 12832you could be so hard-hearted as to let me suffer so. If you could come 12833over on a log to go to your funeral, you could have come over and give 12834me a hint some way that you warn't dead, but only run off." 12835 12836"Yes, you could have done that, Tom," said Mary; "and I believe you 12837would if you had thought of it." 12838 12839"Would you, Tom?" said Aunt Polly, her face lighting wistfully. "Say, 12840now, would you, if you'd thought of it?" 12841 12842"I--well, I don't know. 'Twould 'a' spoiled everything." 12843 12844"Tom, I hoped you loved me that much," said Aunt Polly, with a grieved 12845tone that discomforted the boy. "It would have been something if you'd 12846cared enough to THINK of it, even if you didn't DO it." 12847 12848"Now, auntie, that ain't any harm," pleaded Mary; "it's only Tom's 12849giddy way--he is always in such a rush that he never thinks of 12850anything." 12851 12852"More's the pity. Sid would have thought. And Sid would have come and 12853DONE it, too. Tom, you'll look back, some day, when it's too late, and 12854wish you'd cared a little more for me when it would have cost you so 12855little." 12856 12857"Now, auntie, you know I do care for you," said Tom. 12858 12859"I'd know it better if you acted more like it." 12860 12861"I wish now I'd thought," said Tom, with a repentant tone; "but I 12862dreamt about you, anyway. That's something, ain't it?" 12863 12864"It ain't much--a cat does that much--but it's better than nothing. 12865What did you dream?" 12866 12867"Why, Wednesday night I dreamt that you was sitting over there by the 12868bed, and Sid was sitting by the woodbox, and Mary next to him." 12869 12870"Well, so we did. So we always do. I'm glad your dreams could take 12871even that much trouble about us." 12872 12873"And I dreamt that Joe Harper's mother was here." 12874 12875"Why, she was here! Did you dream any more?" 12876 12877"Oh, lots. But it's so dim, now." 12878 12879"Well, try to recollect--can't you?" 12880 12881"Somehow it seems to me that the wind--the wind blowed the--the--" 12882 12883"Try harder, Tom! The wind did blow something. Come!" 12884 12885Tom pressed his fingers on his forehead an anxious minute, and then 12886said: 12887 12888"I've got it now! I've got it now! It blowed the candle!" 12889 12890"Mercy on us! Go on, Tom--go on!" 12891 12892"And it seems to me that you said, 'Why, I believe that that door--'" 12893 12894"Go ON, Tom!" 12895 12896"Just let me study a moment--just a moment. Oh, yes--you said you 12897believed the door was open." 12898 12899"As I'm sitting here, I did! Didn't I, Mary! Go on!" 12900 12901"And then--and then--well I won't be certain, but it seems like as if 12902you made Sid go and--and--" 12903 12904"Well? Well? What did I make him do, Tom? What did I make him do?" 12905 12906"You made him--you--Oh, you made him shut it." 12907 12908"Well, for the land's sake! I never heard the beat of that in all my 12909days! Don't tell ME there ain't anything in dreams, any more. Sereny 12910Harper shall know of this before I'm an hour older. I'd like to see her 12911get around THIS with her rubbage 'bout superstition. Go on, Tom!" 12912 12913"Oh, it's all getting just as bright as day, now. Next you said I 12914warn't BAD, only mischeevous and harum-scarum, and not any more 12915responsible than--than--I think it was a colt, or something." 12916 12917"And so it was! Well, goodness gracious! Go on, Tom!" 12918 12919"And then you began to cry." 12920 12921"So I did. So I did. Not the first time, neither. And then--" 12922 12923"Then Mrs. Harper she began to cry, and said Joe was just the same, 12924and she wished she hadn't whipped him for taking cream when she'd 12925throwed it out her own self--" 12926 12927"Tom! The sperrit was upon you! You was a prophesying--that's what you 12928was doing! Land alive, go on, Tom!" 12929 12930"Then Sid he said--he said--" 12931 12932"I don't think I said anything," said Sid. 12933 12934"Yes you did, Sid," said Mary. 12935 12936"Shut your heads and let Tom go on! What did he say, Tom?" 12937 12938"He said--I THINK he said he hoped I was better off where I was gone 12939to, but if I'd been better sometimes--" 12940 12941"THERE, d'you hear that! It was his very words!" 12942 12943"And you shut him up sharp." 12944 12945"I lay I did! There must 'a' been an angel there. There WAS an angel 12946there, somewheres!" 12947 12948"And Mrs. Harper told about Joe scaring her with a firecracker, and 12949you told about Peter and the Painkiller--" 12950 12951"Just as true as I live!" 12952 12953"And then there was a whole lot of talk 'bout dragging the river for 12954us, and 'bout having the funeral Sunday, and then you and old Miss 12955Harper hugged and cried, and she went." 12956 12957"It happened just so! It happened just so, as sure as I'm a-sitting in 12958these very tracks. Tom, you couldn't told it more like if you'd 'a' 12959seen it! And then what? Go on, Tom!" 12960 12961"Then I thought you prayed for me--and I could see you and hear every 12962word you said. And you went to bed, and I was so sorry that I took and 12963wrote on a piece of sycamore bark, 'We ain't dead--we are only off 12964being pirates,' and put it on the table by the candle; and then you 12965looked so good, laying there asleep, that I thought I went and leaned 12966over and kissed you on the lips." 12967 12968"Did you, Tom, DID you! I just forgive you everything for that!" And 12969she seized the boy in a crushing embrace that made him feel like the 12970guiltiest of villains. 12971 12972"It was very kind, even though it was only a--dream," Sid soliloquized 12973just audibly. 12974 12975"Shut up, Sid! A body does just the same in a dream as he'd do if he 12976was awake. Here's a big Milum apple I've been saving for you, Tom, if 12977you was ever found again--now go 'long to school. I'm thankful to the 12978good God and Father of us all I've got you back, that's long-suffering 12979and merciful to them that believe on Him and keep His word, though 12980goodness knows I'm unworthy of it, but if only the worthy ones got His 12981blessings and had His hand to help them over the rough places, there's 12982few enough would smile here or ever enter into His rest when the long 12983night comes. Go 'long Sid, Mary, Tom--take yourselves off--you've 12984hendered me long enough." 12985 12986The children left for school, and the old lady to call on Mrs. Harper 12987and vanquish her realism with Tom's marvellous dream. Sid had better 12988judgment than to utter the thought that was in his mind as he left the 12989house. It was this: "Pretty thin--as long a dream as that, without any 12990mistakes in it!" 12991 12992What a hero Tom was become, now! He did not go skipping and prancing, 12993but moved with a dignified swagger as became a pirate who felt that the 12994public eye was on him. And indeed it was; he tried not to seem to see 12995the looks or hear the remarks as he passed along, but they were food 12996and drink to him. Smaller boys than himself flocked at his heels, as 12997proud to be seen with him, and tolerated by him, as if he had been the 12998drummer at the head of a procession or the elephant leading a menagerie 12999into town. Boys of his own size pretended not to know he had been away 13000at all; but they were consuming with envy, nevertheless. They would 13001have given anything to have that swarthy suntanned skin of his, and his 13002glittering notoriety; and Tom would not have parted with either for a 13003circus. 13004 13005At school the children made so much of him and of Joe, and delivered 13006such eloquent admiration from their eyes, that the two heroes were not 13007long in becoming insufferably "stuck-up." They began to tell their 13008adventures to hungry listeners--but they only began; it was not a thing 13009likely to have an end, with imaginations like theirs to furnish 13010material. And finally, when they got out their pipes and went serenely 13011puffing around, the very summit of glory was reached. 13012 13013Tom decided that he could be independent of Becky Thatcher now. Glory 13014was sufficient. He would live for glory. Now that he was distinguished, 13015maybe she would be wanting to "make up." Well, let her--she should see 13016that he could be as indifferent as some other people. Presently she 13017arrived. Tom pretended not to see her. He moved away and joined a group 13018of boys and girls and began to talk. Soon he observed that she was 13019tripping gayly back and forth with flushed face and dancing eyes, 13020pretending to be busy chasing schoolmates, and screaming with laughter 13021when she made a capture; but he noticed that she always made her 13022captures in his vicinity, and that she seemed to cast a conscious eye 13023in his direction at such times, too. It gratified all the vicious 13024vanity that was in him; and so, instead of winning him, it only "set 13025him up" the more and made him the more diligent to avoid betraying that 13026he knew she was about. Presently she gave over skylarking, and moved 13027irresolutely about, sighing once or twice and glancing furtively and 13028wistfully toward Tom. Then she observed that now Tom was talking more 13029particularly to Amy Lawrence than to any one else. She felt a sharp 13030pang and grew disturbed and uneasy at once. She tried to go away, but 13031her feet were treacherous, and carried her to the group instead. She 13032said to a girl almost at Tom's elbow--with sham vivacity: 13033 13034"Why, Mary Austin! you bad girl, why didn't you come to Sunday-school?" 13035 13036"I did come--didn't you see me?" 13037 13038"Why, no! Did you? Where did you sit?" 13039 13040"I was in Miss Peters' class, where I always go. I saw YOU." 13041 13042"Did you? Why, it's funny I didn't see you. I wanted to tell you about 13043the picnic." 13044 13045"Oh, that's jolly. Who's going to give it?" 13046 13047"My ma's going to let me have one." 13048 13049"Oh, goody; I hope she'll let ME come." 13050 13051"Well, she will. The picnic's for me. She'll let anybody come that I 13052want, and I want you." 13053 13054"That's ever so nice. When is it going to be?" 13055 13056"By and by. Maybe about vacation." 13057 13058"Oh, won't it be fun! You going to have all the girls and boys?" 13059 13060"Yes, every one that's friends to me--or wants to be"; and she glanced 13061ever so furtively at Tom, but he talked right along to Amy Lawrence 13062about the terrible storm on the island, and how the lightning tore the 13063great sycamore tree "all to flinders" while he was "standing within 13064three feet of it." 13065 13066"Oh, may I come?" said Grace Miller. 13067 13068"Yes." 13069 13070"And me?" said Sally Rogers. 13071 13072"Yes." 13073 13074"And me, too?" said Susy Harper. "And Joe?" 13075 13076"Yes." 13077 13078And so on, with clapping of joyful hands till all the group had begged 13079for invitations but Tom and Amy. Then Tom turned coolly away, still 13080talking, and took Amy with him. Becky's lips trembled and the tears 13081came to her eyes; she hid these signs with a forced gayety and went on 13082chattering, but the life had gone out of the picnic, now, and out of 13083everything else; she got away as soon as she could and hid herself and 13084had what her sex call "a good cry." Then she sat moody, with wounded 13085pride, till the bell rang. She roused up, now, with a vindictive cast 13086in her eye, and gave her plaited tails a shake and said she knew what 13087SHE'D do. 13088 13089At recess Tom continued his flirtation with Amy with jubilant 13090self-satisfaction. And he kept drifting about to find Becky and lacerate 13091her with the performance. At last he spied her, but there was a sudden 13092falling of his mercury. She was sitting cosily on a little bench behind 13093the schoolhouse looking at a picture-book with Alfred Temple--and so 13094absorbed were they, and their heads so close together over the book, 13095that they did not seem to be conscious of anything in the world besides. 13096Jealousy ran red-hot through Tom's veins. He began to hate himself for 13097throwing away the chance Becky had offered for a reconciliation. He 13098called himself a fool, and all the hard names he could think of. He 13099wanted to cry with vexation. Amy chatted happily along, as they walked, 13100for her heart was singing, but Tom's tongue had lost its function. He 13101did not hear what Amy was saying, and whenever she paused expectantly he 13102could only stammer an awkward assent, which was as often misplaced as 13103otherwise. He kept drifting to the rear of the schoolhouse, again and 13104again, to sear his eyeballs with the hateful spectacle there. He could 13105not help it. And it maddened him to see, as he thought he saw, that 13106Becky Thatcher never once suspected that he was even in the land of the 13107living. But she did see, nevertheless; and she knew she was winning her 13108fight, too, and was glad to see him suffer as she had suffered. 13109 13110Amy's happy prattle became intolerable. Tom hinted at things he had to 13111attend to; things that must be done; and time was fleeting. But in 13112vain--the girl chirped on. Tom thought, "Oh, hang her, ain't I ever 13113going to get rid of her?" At last he must be attending to those 13114things--and she said artlessly that she would be "around" when school 13115let out. And he hastened away, hating her for it. 13116 13117"Any other boy!" Tom thought, grating his teeth. "Any boy in the whole 13118town but that Saint Louis smarty that thinks he dresses so fine and is 13119aristocracy! Oh, all right, I licked you the first day you ever saw 13120this town, mister, and I'll lick you again! You just wait till I catch 13121you out! I'll just take and--" 13122 13123And he went through the motions of thrashing an imaginary boy 13124--pummelling the air, and kicking and gouging. "Oh, you do, do you? You 13125holler 'nough, do you? Now, then, let that learn you!" And so the 13126imaginary flogging was finished to his satisfaction. 13127 13128Tom fled home at noon. His conscience could not endure any more of 13129Amy's grateful happiness, and his jealousy could bear no more of the 13130other distress. Becky resumed her picture inspections with Alfred, but 13131as the minutes dragged along and no Tom came to suffer, her triumph 13132began to cloud and she lost interest; gravity and absent-mindedness 13133followed, and then melancholy; two or three times she pricked up her 13134ear at a footstep, but it was a false hope; no Tom came. At last she 13135grew entirely miserable and wished she hadn't carried it so far. When 13136poor Alfred, seeing that he was losing her, he did not know how, kept 13137exclaiming: "Oh, here's a jolly one! look at this!" she lost patience 13138at last, and said, "Oh, don't bother me! I don't care for them!" and 13139burst into tears, and got up and walked away. 13140 13141Alfred dropped alongside and was going to try to comfort her, but she 13142said: 13143 13144"Go away and leave me alone, can't you! I hate you!" 13145 13146So the boy halted, wondering what he could have done--for she had said 13147she would look at pictures all through the nooning--and she walked on, 13148crying. Then Alfred went musing into the deserted schoolhouse. He was 13149humiliated and angry. He easily guessed his way to the truth--the girl 13150had simply made a convenience of him to vent her spite upon Tom Sawyer. 13151He was far from hating Tom the less when this thought occurred to him. 13152He wished there was some way to get that boy into trouble without much 13153risk to himself. Tom's spelling-book fell under his eye. Here was his 13154opportunity. He gratefully opened to the lesson for the afternoon and 13155poured ink upon the page. 13156 13157Becky, glancing in at a window behind him at the moment, saw the act, 13158and moved on, without discovering herself. She started homeward, now, 13159intending to find Tom and tell him; Tom would be thankful and their 13160troubles would be healed. Before she was half way home, however, she 13161had changed her mind. The thought of Tom's treatment of her when she 13162was talking about her picnic came scorching back and filled her with 13163shame. She resolved to let him get whipped on the damaged 13164spelling-book's account, and to hate him forever, into the bargain. 13165 13166 13167 13168CHAPTER XIX 13169 13170TOM arrived at home in a dreary mood, and the first thing his aunt 13171said to him showed him that he had brought his sorrows to an 13172unpromising market: 13173 13174"Tom, I've a notion to skin you alive!" 13175 13176"Auntie, what have I done?" 13177 13178"Well, you've done enough. Here I go over to Sereny Harper, like an 13179old softy, expecting I'm going to make her believe all that rubbage 13180about that dream, when lo and behold you she'd found out from Joe that 13181you was over here and heard all the talk we had that night. Tom, I 13182don't know what is to become of a boy that will act like that. It makes 13183me feel so bad to think you could let me go to Sereny Harper and make 13184such a fool of myself and never say a word." 13185 13186This was a new aspect of the thing. His smartness of the morning had 13187seemed to Tom a good joke before, and very ingenious. It merely looked 13188mean and shabby now. He hung his head and could not think of anything 13189to say for a moment. Then he said: 13190 13191"Auntie, I wish I hadn't done it--but I didn't think." 13192 13193"Oh, child, you never think. You never think of anything but your own 13194selfishness. You could think to come all the way over here from 13195Jackson's Island in the night to laugh at our troubles, and you could 13196think to fool me with a lie about a dream; but you couldn't ever think 13197to pity us and save us from sorrow." 13198 13199"Auntie, I know now it was mean, but I didn't mean to be mean. I 13200didn't, honest. And besides, I didn't come over here to laugh at you 13201that night." 13202 13203"What did you come for, then?" 13204 13205"It was to tell you not to be uneasy about us, because we hadn't got 13206drownded." 13207 13208"Tom, Tom, I would be the thankfullest soul in this world if I could 13209believe you ever had as good a thought as that, but you know you never 13210did--and I know it, Tom." 13211 13212"Indeed and 'deed I did, auntie--I wish I may never stir if I didn't." 13213 13214"Oh, Tom, don't lie--don't do it. It only makes things a hundred times 13215worse." 13216 13217"It ain't a lie, auntie; it's the truth. I wanted to keep you from 13218grieving--that was all that made me come." 13219 13220"I'd give the whole world to believe that--it would cover up a power 13221of sins, Tom. I'd 'most be glad you'd run off and acted so bad. But it 13222ain't reasonable; because, why didn't you tell me, child?" 13223 13224"Why, you see, when you got to talking about the funeral, I just got 13225all full of the idea of our coming and hiding in the church, and I 13226couldn't somehow bear to spoil it. So I just put the bark back in my 13227pocket and kept mum." 13228 13229"What bark?" 13230 13231"The bark I had wrote on to tell you we'd gone pirating. I wish, now, 13232you'd waked up when I kissed you--I do, honest." 13233 13234The hard lines in his aunt's face relaxed and a sudden tenderness 13235dawned in her eyes. 13236 13237"DID you kiss me, Tom?" 13238 13239"Why, yes, I did." 13240 13241"Are you sure you did, Tom?" 13242 13243"Why, yes, I did, auntie--certain sure." 13244 13245"What did you kiss me for, Tom?" 13246 13247"Because I loved you so, and you laid there moaning and I was so sorry." 13248 13249The words sounded like truth. The old lady could not hide a tremor in 13250her voice when she said: 13251 13252"Kiss me again, Tom!--and be off with you to school, now, and don't 13253bother me any more." 13254 13255The moment he was gone, she ran to a closet and got out the ruin of a 13256jacket which Tom had gone pirating in. Then she stopped, with it in her 13257hand, and said to herself: 13258 13259"No, I don't dare. Poor boy, I reckon he's lied about it--but it's a 13260blessed, blessed lie, there's such a comfort come from it. I hope the 13261Lord--I KNOW the Lord will forgive him, because it was such 13262goodheartedness in him to tell it. But I don't want to find out it's a 13263lie. I won't look." 13264 13265She put the jacket away, and stood by musing a minute. Twice she put 13266out her hand to take the garment again, and twice she refrained. Once 13267more she ventured, and this time she fortified herself with the 13268thought: "It's a good lie--it's a good lie--I won't let it grieve me." 13269So she sought the jacket pocket. A moment later she was reading Tom's 13270piece of bark through flowing tears and saying: "I could forgive the 13271boy, now, if he'd committed a million sins!" 13272 13273 13274 13275CHAPTER XX 13276 13277THERE was something about Aunt Polly's manner, when she kissed Tom, 13278that swept away his low spirits and made him lighthearted and happy 13279again. He started to school and had the luck of coming upon Becky 13280Thatcher at the head of Meadow Lane. His mood always determined his 13281manner. Without a moment's hesitation he ran to her and said: 13282 13283"I acted mighty mean to-day, Becky, and I'm so sorry. I won't ever, 13284ever do that way again, as long as ever I live--please make up, won't 13285you?" 13286 13287The girl stopped and looked him scornfully in the face: 13288 13289"I'll thank you to keep yourself TO yourself, Mr. Thomas Sawyer. I'll 13290never speak to you again." 13291 13292She tossed her head and passed on. Tom was so stunned that he had not 13293even presence of mind enough to say "Who cares, Miss Smarty?" until the 13294right time to say it had gone by. So he said nothing. But he was in a 13295fine rage, nevertheless. He moped into the schoolyard wishing she were 13296a boy, and imagining how he would trounce her if she were. He presently 13297encountered her and delivered a stinging remark as he passed. She 13298hurled one in return, and the angry breach was complete. It seemed to 13299Becky, in her hot resentment, that she could hardly wait for school to 13300"take in," she was so impatient to see Tom flogged for the injured 13301spelling-book. If she had had any lingering notion of exposing Alfred 13302Temple, Tom's offensive fling had driven it entirely away. 13303 13304Poor girl, she did not know how fast she was nearing trouble herself. 13305The master, Mr. Dobbins, had reached middle age with an unsatisfied 13306ambition. The darling of his desires was, to be a doctor, but poverty 13307had decreed that he should be nothing higher than a village 13308schoolmaster. Every day he took a mysterious book out of his desk and 13309absorbed himself in it at times when no classes were reciting. He kept 13310that book under lock and key. There was not an urchin in school but was 13311perishing to have a glimpse of it, but the chance never came. Every boy 13312and girl had a theory about the nature of that book; but no two 13313theories were alike, and there was no way of getting at the facts in 13314the case. Now, as Becky was passing by the desk, which stood near the 13315door, she noticed that the key was in the lock! It was a precious 13316moment. She glanced around; found herself alone, and the next instant 13317she had the book in her hands. The title-page--Professor Somebody's 13318ANATOMY--carried no information to her mind; so she began to turn the 13319leaves. She came at once upon a handsomely engraved and colored 13320frontispiece--a human figure, stark naked. At that moment a shadow fell 13321on the page and Tom Sawyer stepped in at the door and caught a glimpse 13322of the picture. Becky snatched at the book to close it, and had the 13323hard luck to tear the pictured page half down the middle. She thrust 13324the volume into the desk, turned the key, and burst out crying with 13325shame and vexation. 13326 13327"Tom Sawyer, you are just as mean as you can be, to sneak up on a 13328person and look at what they're looking at." 13329 13330"How could I know you was looking at anything?" 13331 13332"You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Tom Sawyer; you know you're 13333going to tell on me, and oh, what shall I do, what shall I do! I'll be 13334whipped, and I never was whipped in school." 13335 13336Then she stamped her little foot and said: 13337 13338"BE so mean if you want to! I know something that's going to happen. 13339You just wait and you'll see! Hateful, hateful, hateful!"--and she 13340flung out of the house with a new explosion of crying. 13341 13342Tom stood still, rather flustered by this onslaught. Presently he said 13343to himself: 13344 13345"What a curious kind of a fool a girl is! Never been licked in school! 13346Shucks! What's a licking! That's just like a girl--they're so 13347thin-skinned and chicken-hearted. Well, of course I ain't going to tell 13348old Dobbins on this little fool, because there's other ways of getting 13349even on her, that ain't so mean; but what of it? Old Dobbins will ask 13350who it was tore his book. Nobody'll answer. Then he'll do just the way 13351he always does--ask first one and then t'other, and when he comes to the 13352right girl he'll know it, without any telling. Girls' faces always tell 13353on them. They ain't got any backbone. She'll get licked. Well, it's a 13354kind of a tight place for Becky Thatcher, because there ain't any way 13355out of it." Tom conned the thing a moment longer, and then added: "All 13356right, though; she'd like to see me in just such a fix--let her sweat it 13357out!" 13358 13359Tom joined the mob of skylarking scholars outside. In a few moments 13360the master arrived and school "took in." Tom did not feel a strong 13361interest in his studies. Every time he stole a glance at the girls' 13362side of the room Becky's face troubled him. Considering all things, he 13363did not want to pity her, and yet it was all he could do to help it. He 13364could get up no exultation that was really worthy the name. Presently 13365the spelling-book discovery was made, and Tom's mind was entirely full 13366of his own matters for a while after that. Becky roused up from her 13367lethargy of distress and showed good interest in the proceedings. She 13368did not expect that Tom could get out of his trouble by denying that he 13369spilt the ink on the book himself; and she was right. The denial only 13370seemed to make the thing worse for Tom. Becky supposed she would be 13371glad of that, and she tried to believe she was glad of it, but she 13372found she was not certain. When the worst came to the worst, she had an 13373impulse to get up and tell on Alfred Temple, but she made an effort and 13374forced herself to keep still--because, said she to herself, "he'll tell 13375about me tearing the picture sure. I wouldn't say a word, not to save 13376his life!" 13377 13378Tom took his whipping and went back to his seat not at all 13379broken-hearted, for he thought it was possible that he had unknowingly 13380upset the ink on the spelling-book himself, in some skylarking bout--he 13381had denied it for form's sake and because it was custom, and had stuck 13382to the denial from principle. 13383 13384A whole hour drifted by, the master sat nodding in his throne, the air 13385was drowsy with the hum of study. By and by, Mr. Dobbins straightened 13386himself up, yawned, then unlocked his desk, and reached for his book, 13387but seemed undecided whether to take it out or leave it. Most of the 13388pupils glanced up languidly, but there were two among them that watched 13389his movements with intent eyes. Mr. Dobbins fingered his book absently 13390for a while, then took it out and settled himself in his chair to read! 13391Tom shot a glance at Becky. He had seen a hunted and helpless rabbit 13392look as she did, with a gun levelled at its head. Instantly he forgot 13393his quarrel with her. Quick--something must be done! done in a flash, 13394too! But the very imminence of the emergency paralyzed his invention. 13395Good!--he had an inspiration! He would run and snatch the book, spring 13396through the door and fly. But his resolution shook for one little 13397instant, and the chance was lost--the master opened the volume. If Tom 13398only had the wasted opportunity back again! Too late. There was no help 13399for Becky now, he said. The next moment the master faced the school. 13400Every eye sank under his gaze. There was that in it which smote even 13401the innocent with fear. There was silence while one might count ten 13402--the master was gathering his wrath. Then he spoke: "Who tore this book?" 13403 13404There was not a sound. One could have heard a pin drop. The stillness 13405continued; the master searched face after face for signs of guilt. 13406 13407"Benjamin Rogers, did you tear this book?" 13408 13409A denial. Another pause. 13410 13411"Joseph Harper, did you?" 13412 13413Another denial. Tom's uneasiness grew more and more intense under the 13414slow torture of these proceedings. The master scanned the ranks of 13415boys--considered a while, then turned to the girls: 13416 13417"Amy Lawrence?" 13418 13419A shake of the head. 13420 13421"Gracie Miller?" 13422 13423The same sign. 13424 13425"Susan Harper, did you do this?" 13426 13427Another negative. The next girl was Becky Thatcher. Tom was trembling 13428from head to foot with excitement and a sense of the hopelessness of 13429the situation. 13430 13431"Rebecca Thatcher" [Tom glanced at her face--it was white with terror] 13432--"did you tear--no, look me in the face" [her hands rose in appeal] 13433--"did you tear this book?" 13434 13435A thought shot like lightning through Tom's brain. He sprang to his 13436feet and shouted--"I done it!" 13437 13438The school stared in perplexity at this incredible folly. Tom stood a 13439moment, to gather his dismembered faculties; and when he stepped 13440forward to go to his punishment the surprise, the gratitude, the 13441adoration that shone upon him out of poor Becky's eyes seemed pay 13442enough for a hundred floggings. Inspired by the splendor of his own 13443act, he took without an outcry the most merciless flaying that even Mr. 13444Dobbins had ever administered; and also received with indifference the 13445added cruelty of a command to remain two hours after school should be 13446dismissed--for he knew who would wait for him outside till his 13447captivity was done, and not count the tedious time as loss, either. 13448 13449Tom went to bed that night planning vengeance against Alfred Temple; 13450for with shame and repentance Becky had told him all, not forgetting 13451her own treachery; but even the longing for vengeance had to give way, 13452soon, to pleasanter musings, and he fell asleep at last with Becky's 13453latest words lingering dreamily in his ear-- 13454 13455"Tom, how COULD you be so noble!" 13456 13457 13458 13459CHAPTER XXI 13460 13461VACATION was approaching. The schoolmaster, always severe, grew 13462severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a 13463good showing on "Examination" day. His rod and his ferule were seldom 13464idle now--at least among the smaller pupils. Only the biggest boys, and 13465young ladies of eighteen and twenty, escaped lashing. Mr. Dobbins' 13466lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under 13467his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle 13468age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle. As the great 13469day approached, all the tyranny that was in him came to the surface; he 13470seemed to take a vindictive pleasure in punishing the least 13471shortcomings. The consequence was, that the smaller boys spent their 13472days in terror and suffering and their nights in plotting revenge. They 13473threw away no opportunity to do the master a mischief. But he kept 13474ahead all the time. The retribution that followed every vengeful 13475success was so sweeping and majestic that the boys always retired from 13476the field badly worsted. At last they conspired together and hit upon a 13477plan that promised a dazzling victory. They swore in the sign-painter's 13478boy, told him the scheme, and asked his help. He had his own reasons 13479for being delighted, for the master boarded in his father's family and 13480had given the boy ample cause to hate him. The master's wife would go 13481on a visit to the country in a few days, and there would be nothing to 13482interfere with the plan; the master always prepared himself for great 13483occasions by getting pretty well fuddled, and the sign-painter's boy 13484said that when the dominie had reached the proper condition on 13485Examination Evening he would "manage the thing" while he napped in his 13486chair; then he would have him awakened at the right time and hurried 13487away to school. 13488 13489In the fulness of time the interesting occasion arrived. At eight in 13490the evening the schoolhouse was brilliantly lighted, and adorned with 13491wreaths and festoons of foliage and flowers. The master sat throned in 13492his great chair upon a raised platform, with his blackboard behind him. 13493He was looking tolerably mellow. Three rows of benches on each side and 13494six rows in front of him were occupied by the dignitaries of the town 13495and by the parents of the pupils. To his left, back of the rows of 13496citizens, was a spacious temporary platform upon which were seated the 13497scholars who were to take part in the exercises of the evening; rows of 13498small boys, washed and dressed to an intolerable state of discomfort; 13499rows of gawky big boys; snowbanks of girls and young ladies clad in 13500lawn and muslin and conspicuously conscious of their bare arms, their 13501grandmothers' ancient trinkets, their bits of pink and blue ribbon and 13502the flowers in their hair. All the rest of the house was filled with 13503non-participating scholars. 13504 13505The exercises began. A very little boy stood up and sheepishly 13506recited, "You'd scarce expect one of my age to speak in public on the 13507stage," etc.--accompanying himself with the painfully exact and 13508spasmodic gestures which a machine might have used--supposing the 13509machine to be a trifle out of order. But he got through safely, though 13510cruelly scared, and got a fine round of applause when he made his 13511manufactured bow and retired. 13512 13513A little shamefaced girl lisped, "Mary had a little lamb," etc., 13514performed a compassion-inspiring curtsy, got her meed of applause, and 13515sat down flushed and happy. 13516 13517Tom Sawyer stepped forward with conceited confidence and soared into 13518the unquenchable and indestructible "Give me liberty or give me death" 13519speech, with fine fury and frantic gesticulation, and broke down in the 13520middle of it. A ghastly stage-fright seized him, his legs quaked under 13521him and he was like to choke. True, he had the manifest sympathy of the 13522house but he had the house's silence, too, which was even worse than 13523its sympathy. The master frowned, and this completed the disaster. Tom 13524struggled awhile and then retired, utterly defeated. There was a weak 13525attempt at applause, but it died early. 13526 13527"The Boy Stood on the Burning Deck" followed; also "The Assyrian Came 13528Down," and other declamatory gems. Then there were reading exercises, 13529and a spelling fight. The meagre Latin class recited with honor. The 13530prime feature of the evening was in order, now--original "compositions" 13531by the young ladies. Each in her turn stepped forward to the edge of 13532the platform, cleared her throat, held up her manuscript (tied with 13533dainty ribbon), and proceeded to read, with labored attention to 13534"expression" and punctuation. The themes were the same that had been 13535illuminated upon similar occasions by their mothers before them, their 13536grandmothers, and doubtless all their ancestors in the female line 13537clear back to the Crusades. "Friendship" was one; "Memories of Other 13538Days"; "Religion in History"; "Dream Land"; "The Advantages of 13539Culture"; "Forms of Political Government Compared and Contrasted"; 13540"Melancholy"; "Filial Love"; "Heart Longings," etc., etc. 13541 13542A prevalent feature in these compositions was a nursed and petted 13543melancholy; another was a wasteful and opulent gush of "fine language"; 13544another was a tendency to lug in by the ears particularly prized words 13545and phrases until they were worn entirely out; and a peculiarity that 13546conspicuously marked and marred them was the inveterate and intolerable 13547sermon that wagged its crippled tail at the end of each and every one 13548of them. No matter what the subject might be, a brain-racking effort 13549was made to squirm it into some aspect or other that the moral and 13550religious mind could contemplate with edification. The glaring 13551insincerity of these sermons was not sufficient to compass the 13552banishment of the fashion from the schools, and it is not sufficient 13553to-day; it never will be sufficient while the world stands, perhaps. 13554There is no school in all our land where the young ladies do not feel 13555obliged to close their compositions with a sermon; and you will find 13556that the sermon of the most frivolous and the least religious girl in 13557the school is always the longest and the most relentlessly pious. But 13558enough of this. Homely truth is unpalatable. 13559 13560Let us return to the "Examination." The first composition that was 13561read was one entitled "Is this, then, Life?" Perhaps the reader can 13562endure an extract from it: 13563 13564 "In the common walks of life, with what delightful 13565 emotions does the youthful mind look forward to some 13566 anticipated scene of festivity! Imagination is busy 13567 sketching rose-tinted pictures of joy. In fancy, the 13568 voluptuous votary of fashion sees herself amid the 13569 festive throng, 'the observed of all observers.' Her 13570 graceful form, arrayed in snowy robes, is whirling 13571 through the mazes of the joyous dance; her eye is 13572 brightest, her step is lightest in the gay assembly. 13573 13574 "In such delicious fancies time quickly glides by, 13575 and the welcome hour arrives for her entrance into 13576 the Elysian world, of which she has had such bright 13577 dreams. How fairy-like does everything appear to 13578 her enchanted vision! Each new scene is more charming 13579 than the last. But after a while she finds that 13580 beneath this goodly exterior, all is vanity, the 13581 flattery which once charmed her soul, now grates 13582 harshly upon her ear; the ball-room has lost its 13583 charms; and with wasted health and imbittered heart, 13584 she turns away with the conviction that earthly 13585 pleasures cannot satisfy the longings of the soul!" 13586 13587And so forth and so on. There was a buzz of gratification from time to 13588time during the reading, accompanied by whispered ejaculations of "How 13589sweet!" "How eloquent!" "So true!" etc., and after the thing had closed 13590with a peculiarly afflicting sermon the applause was enthusiastic. 13591 13592Then arose a slim, melancholy girl, whose face had the "interesting" 13593paleness that comes of pills and indigestion, and read a "poem." Two 13594stanzas of it will do: 13595 13596 "A MISSOURI MAIDEN'S FAREWELL TO ALABAMA 13597 13598 "Alabama, good-bye! I love thee well! 13599 But yet for a while do I leave thee now! 13600 Sad, yes, sad thoughts of thee my heart doth swell, 13601 And burning recollections throng my brow! 13602 For I have wandered through thy flowery woods; 13603 Have roamed and read near Tallapoosa's stream; 13604 Have listened to Tallassee's warring floods, 13605 And wooed on Coosa's side Aurora's beam. 13606 13607 "Yet shame I not to bear an o'er-full heart, 13608 Nor blush to turn behind my tearful eyes; 13609 'Tis from no stranger land I now must part, 13610 'Tis to no strangers left I yield these sighs. 13611 Welcome and home were mine within this State, 13612 Whose vales I leave--whose spires fade fast from me 13613 And cold must be mine eyes, and heart, and tete, 13614 When, dear Alabama! they turn cold on thee!" 13615 13616There were very few there who knew what "tete" meant, but the poem was 13617very satisfactory, nevertheless. 13618 13619Next appeared a dark-complexioned, black-eyed, black-haired young 13620lady, who paused an impressive moment, assumed a tragic expression, and 13621began to read in a measured, solemn tone: 13622 13623 "A VISION 13624 13625 "Dark and tempestuous was night. Around the 13626 throne on high not a single star quivered; but 13627 the deep intonations of the heavy thunder 13628 constantly vibrated upon the ear; whilst the 13629 terrific lightning revelled in angry mood 13630 through the cloudy chambers of heaven, seeming 13631 to scorn the power exerted over its terror by 13632 the illustrious Franklin! Even the boisterous 13633 winds unanimously came forth from their mystic 13634 homes, and blustered about as if to enhance by 13635 their aid the wildness of the scene. 13636 13637 "At such a time, so dark, so dreary, for human 13638 sympathy my very spirit sighed; but instead thereof, 13639 13640 "'My dearest friend, my counsellor, my comforter 13641 and guide--My joy in grief, my second bliss 13642 in joy,' came to my side. She moved like one of 13643 those bright beings pictured in the sunny walks 13644 of fancy's Eden by the romantic and young, a 13645 queen of beauty unadorned save by her own 13646 transcendent loveliness. So soft was her step, it 13647 failed to make even a sound, and but for the 13648 magical thrill imparted by her genial touch, as 13649 other unobtrusive beauties, she would have glided 13650 away un-perceived--unsought. A strange sadness 13651 rested upon her features, like icy tears upon 13652 the robe of December, as she pointed to the 13653 contending elements without, and bade me contemplate 13654 the two beings presented." 13655 13656This nightmare occupied some ten pages of manuscript and wound up with 13657a sermon so destructive of all hope to non-Presbyterians that it took 13658the first prize. This composition was considered to be the very finest 13659effort of the evening. The mayor of the village, in delivering the 13660prize to the author of it, made a warm speech in which he said that it 13661was by far the most "eloquent" thing he had ever listened to, and that 13662Daniel Webster himself might well be proud of it. 13663 13664It may be remarked, in passing, that the number of compositions in 13665which the word "beauteous" was over-fondled, and human experience 13666referred to as "life's page," was up to the usual average. 13667 13668Now the master, mellow almost to the verge of geniality, put his chair 13669aside, turned his back to the audience, and began to draw a map of 13670America on the blackboard, to exercise the geography class upon. But he 13671made a sad business of it with his unsteady hand, and a smothered 13672titter rippled over the house. He knew what the matter was, and set 13673himself to right it. He sponged out lines and remade them; but he only 13674distorted them more than ever, and the tittering was more pronounced. 13675He threw his entire attention upon his work, now, as if determined not 13676to be put down by the mirth. He felt that all eyes were fastened upon 13677him; he imagined he was succeeding, and yet the tittering continued; it 13678even manifestly increased. And well it might. There was a garret above, 13679pierced with a scuttle over his head; and down through this scuttle 13680came a cat, suspended around the haunches by a string; she had a rag 13681tied about her head and jaws to keep her from mewing; as she slowly 13682descended she curved upward and clawed at the string, she swung 13683downward and clawed at the intangible air. The tittering rose higher 13684and higher--the cat was within six inches of the absorbed teacher's 13685head--down, down, a little lower, and she grabbed his wig with her 13686desperate claws, clung to it, and was snatched up into the garret in an 13687instant with her trophy still in her possession! And how the light did 13688blaze abroad from the master's bald pate--for the sign-painter's boy 13689had GILDED it! 13690 13691That broke up the meeting. The boys were avenged. Vacation had come. 13692 13693 NOTE:--The pretended "compositions" quoted in 13694 this chapter are taken without alteration from a 13695 volume entitled "Prose and Poetry, by a Western 13696 Lady"--but they are exactly and precisely after 13697 the schoolgirl pattern, and hence are much 13698 happier than any mere imitations could be. 13699 13700 13701 13702CHAPTER XXII 13703 13704TOM joined the new order of Cadets of Temperance, being attracted by 13705the showy character of their "regalia." He promised to abstain from 13706smoking, chewing, and profanity as long as he remained a member. Now he 13707found out a new thing--namely, that to promise not to do a thing is the 13708surest way in the world to make a body want to go and do that very 13709thing. Tom soon found himself tormented with a desire to drink and 13710swear; the desire grew to be so intense that nothing but the hope of a 13711chance to display himself in his red sash kept him from withdrawing 13712from the order. Fourth of July was coming; but he soon gave that up 13713--gave it up before he had worn his shackles over forty-eight hours--and 13714fixed his hopes upon old Judge Frazer, justice of the peace, who was 13715apparently on his deathbed and would have a big public funeral, since 13716he was so high an official. During three days Tom was deeply concerned 13717about the Judge's condition and hungry for news of it. Sometimes his 13718hopes ran high--so high that he would venture to get out his regalia 13719and practise before the looking-glass. But the Judge had a most 13720discouraging way of fluctuating. At last he was pronounced upon the 13721mend--and then convalescent. Tom was disgusted; and felt a sense of 13722injury, too. He handed in his resignation at once--and that night the 13723Judge suffered a relapse and died. Tom resolved that he would never 13724trust a man like that again. 13725 13726The funeral was a fine thing. The Cadets paraded in a style calculated 13727to kill the late member with envy. Tom was a free boy again, however 13728--there was something in that. He could drink and swear, now--but found 13729to his surprise that he did not want to. The simple fact that he could, 13730took the desire away, and the charm of it. 13731 13732Tom presently wondered to find that his coveted vacation was beginning 13733to hang a little heavily on his hands. 13734 13735He attempted a diary--but nothing happened during three days, and so 13736he abandoned it. 13737 13738The first of all the negro minstrel shows came to town, and made a 13739sensation. Tom and Joe Harper got up a band of performers and were 13740happy for two days. 13741 13742Even the Glorious Fourth was in some sense a failure, for it rained 13743hard, there was no procession in consequence, and the greatest man in 13744the world (as Tom supposed), Mr. Benton, an actual United States 13745Senator, proved an overwhelming disappointment--for he was not 13746twenty-five feet high, nor even anywhere in the neighborhood of it. 13747 13748A circus came. The boys played circus for three days afterward in 13749tents made of rag carpeting--admission, three pins for boys, two for 13750girls--and then circusing was abandoned. 13751 13752A phrenologist and a mesmerizer came--and went again and left the 13753village duller and drearier than ever. 13754 13755There were some boys-and-girls' parties, but they were so few and so 13756delightful that they only made the aching voids between ache the harder. 13757 13758Becky Thatcher was gone to her Constantinople home to stay with her 13759parents during vacation--so there was no bright side to life anywhere. 13760 13761The dreadful secret of the murder was a chronic misery. It was a very 13762cancer for permanency and pain. 13763 13764Then came the measles. 13765 13766During two long weeks Tom lay a prisoner, dead to the world and its 13767happenings. He was very ill, he was interested in nothing. When he got 13768upon his feet at last and moved feebly down-town, a melancholy change 13769had come over everything and every creature. There had been a 13770"revival," and everybody had "got religion," not only the adults, but 13771even the boys and girls. Tom went about, hoping against hope for the 13772sight of one blessed sinful face, but disappointment crossed him 13773everywhere. He found Joe Harper studying a Testament, and turned sadly 13774away from the depressing spectacle. He sought Ben Rogers, and found him 13775visiting the poor with a basket of tracts. He hunted up Jim Hollis, who 13776called his attention to the precious blessing of his late measles as a 13777warning. Every boy he encountered added another ton to his depression; 13778and when, in desperation, he flew for refuge at last to the bosom of 13779Huckleberry Finn and was received with a Scriptural quotation, his 13780heart broke and he crept home and to bed realizing that he alone of all 13781the town was lost, forever and forever. 13782 13783And that night there came on a terrific storm, with driving rain, 13784awful claps of thunder and blinding sheets of lightning. He covered his 13785head with the bedclothes and waited in a horror of suspense for his 13786doom; for he had not the shadow of a doubt that all this hubbub was 13787about him. He believed he had taxed the forbearance of the powers above 13788to the extremity of endurance and that this was the result. It might 13789have seemed to him a waste of pomp and ammunition to kill a bug with a 13790battery of artillery, but there seemed nothing incongruous about the 13791getting up such an expensive thunderstorm as this to knock the turf 13792from under an insect like himself. 13793 13794By and by the tempest spent itself and died without accomplishing its 13795object. The boy's first impulse was to be grateful, and reform. His 13796second was to wait--for there might not be any more storms. 13797 13798The next day the doctors were back; Tom had relapsed. The three weeks 13799he spent on his back this time seemed an entire age. When he got abroad 13800at last he was hardly grateful that he had been spared, remembering how 13801lonely was his estate, how companionless and forlorn he was. He drifted 13802listlessly down the street and found Jim Hollis acting as judge in a 13803juvenile court that was trying a cat for murder, in the presence of her 13804victim, a bird. He found Joe Harper and Huck Finn up an alley eating a 13805stolen melon. Poor lads! they--like Tom--had suffered a relapse. 13806 13807 13808 13809CHAPTER XXIII 13810 13811AT last the sleepy atmosphere was stirred--and vigorously: the murder 13812trial came on in the court. It became the absorbing topic of village 13813talk immediately. Tom could not get away from it. Every reference to 13814the murder sent a shudder to his heart, for his troubled conscience and 13815fears almost persuaded him that these remarks were put forth in his 13816hearing as "feelers"; he did not see how he could be suspected of 13817knowing anything about the murder, but still he could not be 13818comfortable in the midst of this gossip. It kept him in a cold shiver 13819all the time. He took Huck to a lonely place to have a talk with him. 13820It would be some relief to unseal his tongue for a little while; to 13821divide his burden of distress with another sufferer. Moreover, he 13822wanted to assure himself that Huck had remained discreet. 13823 13824"Huck, have you ever told anybody about--that?" 13825 13826"'Bout what?" 13827 13828"You know what." 13829 13830"Oh--'course I haven't." 13831 13832"Never a word?" 13833 13834"Never a solitary word, so help me. What makes you ask?" 13835 13836"Well, I was afeard." 13837 13838"Why, Tom Sawyer, we wouldn't be alive two days if that got found out. 13839YOU know that." 13840 13841Tom felt more comfortable. After a pause: 13842 13843"Huck, they couldn't anybody get you to tell, could they?" 13844 13845"Get me to tell? Why, if I wanted that half-breed devil to drownd me 13846they could get me to tell. They ain't no different way." 13847 13848"Well, that's all right, then. I reckon we're safe as long as we keep 13849mum. But let's swear again, anyway. It's more surer." 13850 13851"I'm agreed." 13852 13853So they swore again with dread solemnities. 13854 13855"What is the talk around, Huck? I've heard a power of it." 13856 13857"Talk? Well, it's just Muff Potter, Muff Potter, Muff Potter all the 13858time. It keeps me in a sweat, constant, so's I want to hide som'ers." 13859 13860"That's just the same way they go on round me. I reckon he's a goner. 13861Don't you feel sorry for him, sometimes?" 13862 13863"Most always--most always. He ain't no account; but then he hain't 13864ever done anything to hurt anybody. Just fishes a little, to get money 13865to get drunk on--and loafs around considerable; but lord, we all do 13866that--leastways most of us--preachers and such like. But he's kind of 13867good--he give me half a fish, once, when there warn't enough for two; 13868and lots of times he's kind of stood by me when I was out of luck." 13869 13870"Well, he's mended kites for me, Huck, and knitted hooks on to my 13871line. I wish we could get him out of there." 13872 13873"My! we couldn't get him out, Tom. And besides, 'twouldn't do any 13874good; they'd ketch him again." 13875 13876"Yes--so they would. But I hate to hear 'em abuse him so like the 13877dickens when he never done--that." 13878 13879"I do too, Tom. Lord, I hear 'em say he's the bloodiest looking 13880villain in this country, and they wonder he wasn't ever hung before." 13881 13882"Yes, they talk like that, all the time. I've heard 'em say that if he 13883was to get free they'd lynch him." 13884 13885"And they'd do it, too." 13886 13887The boys had a long talk, but it brought them little comfort. As the 13888twilight drew on, they found themselves hanging about the neighborhood 13889of the little isolated jail, perhaps with an undefined hope that 13890something would happen that might clear away their difficulties. But 13891nothing happened; there seemed to be no angels or fairies interested in 13892this luckless captive. 13893 13894The boys did as they had often done before--went to the cell grating 13895and gave Potter some tobacco and matches. He was on the ground floor 13896and there were no guards. 13897 13898His gratitude for their gifts had always smote their consciences 13899before--it cut deeper than ever, this time. They felt cowardly and 13900treacherous to the last degree when Potter said: 13901 13902"You've been mighty good to me, boys--better'n anybody else in this 13903town. And I don't forget it, I don't. Often I says to myself, says I, 13904'I used to mend all the boys' kites and things, and show 'em where the 13905good fishin' places was, and befriend 'em what I could, and now they've 13906all forgot old Muff when he's in trouble; but Tom don't, and Huck 13907don't--THEY don't forget him, says I, 'and I don't forget them.' Well, 13908boys, I done an awful thing--drunk and crazy at the time--that's the 13909only way I account for it--and now I got to swing for it, and it's 13910right. Right, and BEST, too, I reckon--hope so, anyway. Well, we won't 13911talk about that. I don't want to make YOU feel bad; you've befriended 13912me. But what I want to say, is, don't YOU ever get drunk--then you won't 13913ever get here. Stand a litter furder west--so--that's it; it's a prime 13914comfort to see faces that's friendly when a body's in such a muck of 13915trouble, and there don't none come here but yourn. Good friendly 13916faces--good friendly faces. Git up on one another's backs and let me 13917touch 'em. That's it. Shake hands--yourn'll come through the bars, but 13918mine's too big. Little hands, and weak--but they've helped Muff Potter 13919a power, and they'd help him more if they could." 13920 13921Tom went home miserable, and his dreams that night were full of 13922horrors. The next day and the day after, he hung about the court-room, 13923drawn by an almost irresistible impulse to go in, but forcing himself 13924to stay out. Huck was having the same experience. They studiously 13925avoided each other. Each wandered away, from time to time, but the same 13926dismal fascination always brought them back presently. Tom kept his 13927ears open when idlers sauntered out of the court-room, but invariably 13928heard distressing news--the toils were closing more and more 13929relentlessly around poor Potter. At the end of the second day the 13930village talk was to the effect that Injun Joe's evidence stood firm and 13931unshaken, and that there was not the slightest question as to what the 13932jury's verdict would be. 13933 13934Tom was out late, that night, and came to bed through the window. He 13935was in a tremendous state of excitement. It was hours before he got to 13936sleep. All the village flocked to the court-house the next morning, for 13937this was to be the great day. Both sexes were about equally represented 13938in the packed audience. After a long wait the jury filed in and took 13939their places; shortly afterward, Potter, pale and haggard, timid and 13940hopeless, was brought in, with chains upon him, and seated where all 13941the curious eyes could stare at him; no less conspicuous was Injun Joe, 13942stolid as ever. There was another pause, and then the judge arrived and 13943the sheriff proclaimed the opening of the court. The usual whisperings 13944among the lawyers and gathering together of papers followed. These 13945details and accompanying delays worked up an atmosphere of preparation 13946that was as impressive as it was fascinating. 13947 13948Now a witness was called who testified that he found Muff Potter 13949washing in the brook, at an early hour of the morning that the murder 13950was discovered, and that he immediately sneaked away. After some 13951further questioning, counsel for the prosecution said: 13952 13953"Take the witness." 13954 13955The prisoner raised his eyes for a moment, but dropped them again when 13956his own counsel said: 13957 13958"I have no questions to ask him." 13959 13960The next witness proved the finding of the knife near the corpse. 13961Counsel for the prosecution said: 13962 13963"Take the witness." 13964 13965"I have no questions to ask him," Potter's lawyer replied. 13966 13967A third witness swore he had often seen the knife in Potter's 13968possession. 13969 13970"Take the witness." 13971 13972Counsel for Potter declined to question him. The faces of the audience 13973began to betray annoyance. Did this attorney mean to throw away his 13974client's life without an effort? 13975 13976Several witnesses deposed concerning Potter's guilty behavior when 13977brought to the scene of the murder. They were allowed to leave the 13978stand without being cross-questioned. 13979 13980Every detail of the damaging circumstances that occurred in the 13981graveyard upon that morning which all present remembered so well was 13982brought out by credible witnesses, but none of them were cross-examined 13983by Potter's lawyer. The perplexity and dissatisfaction of the house 13984expressed itself in murmurs and provoked a reproof from the bench. 13985Counsel for the prosecution now said: 13986 13987"By the oaths of citizens whose simple word is above suspicion, we 13988have fastened this awful crime, beyond all possibility of question, 13989upon the unhappy prisoner at the bar. We rest our case here." 13990 13991A groan escaped from poor Potter, and he put his face in his hands and 13992rocked his body softly to and fro, while a painful silence reigned in 13993the court-room. Many men were moved, and many women's compassion 13994testified itself in tears. Counsel for the defence rose and said: 13995 13996"Your honor, in our remarks at the opening of this trial, we 13997foreshadowed our purpose to prove that our client did this fearful deed 13998while under the influence of a blind and irresponsible delirium 13999produced by drink. We have changed our mind. We shall not offer that 14000plea." [Then to the clerk:] "Call Thomas Sawyer!" 14001 14002A puzzled amazement awoke in every face in the house, not even 14003excepting Potter's. Every eye fastened itself with wondering interest 14004upon Tom as he rose and took his place upon the stand. The boy looked 14005wild enough, for he was badly scared. The oath was administered. 14006 14007"Thomas Sawyer, where were you on the seventeenth of June, about the 14008hour of midnight?" 14009 14010Tom glanced at Injun Joe's iron face and his tongue failed him. The 14011audience listened breathless, but the words refused to come. After a 14012few moments, however, the boy got a little of his strength back, and 14013managed to put enough of it into his voice to make part of the house 14014hear: 14015 14016"In the graveyard!" 14017 14018"A little bit louder, please. Don't be afraid. You were--" 14019 14020"In the graveyard." 14021 14022A contemptuous smile flitted across Injun Joe's face. 14023 14024"Were you anywhere near Horse Williams' grave?" 14025 14026"Yes, sir." 14027 14028"Speak up--just a trifle louder. How near were you?" 14029 14030"Near as I am to you." 14031 14032"Were you hidden, or not?" 14033 14034"I was hid." 14035 14036"Where?" 14037 14038"Behind the elms that's on the edge of the grave." 14039 14040Injun Joe gave a barely perceptible start. 14041 14042"Any one with you?" 14043 14044"Yes, sir. I went there with--" 14045 14046"Wait--wait a moment. Never mind mentioning your companion's name. We 14047will produce him at the proper time. Did you carry anything there with 14048you." 14049 14050Tom hesitated and looked confused. 14051 14052"Speak out, my boy--don't be diffident. The truth is always 14053respectable. What did you take there?" 14054 14055"Only a--a--dead cat." 14056 14057There was a ripple of mirth, which the court checked. 14058 14059"We will produce the skeleton of that cat. Now, my boy, tell us 14060everything that occurred--tell it in your own way--don't skip anything, 14061and don't be afraid." 14062 14063Tom began--hesitatingly at first, but as he warmed to his subject his 14064words flowed more and more easily; in a little while every sound ceased 14065but his own voice; every eye fixed itself upon him; with parted lips 14066and bated breath the audience hung upon his words, taking no note of 14067time, rapt in the ghastly fascinations of the tale. The strain upon 14068pent emotion reached its climax when the boy said: 14069 14070"--and as the doctor fetched the board around and Muff Potter fell, 14071Injun Joe jumped with the knife and--" 14072 14073Crash! Quick as lightning the half-breed sprang for a window, tore his 14074way through all opposers, and was gone! 14075 14076 14077 14078CHAPTER XXIV 14079 14080TOM was a glittering hero once more--the pet of the old, the envy of 14081the young. His name even went into immortal print, for the village 14082paper magnified him. There were some that believed he would be 14083President, yet, if he escaped hanging. 14084 14085As usual, the fickle, unreasoning world took Muff Potter to its bosom 14086and fondled him as lavishly as it had abused him before. But that sort 14087of conduct is to the world's credit; therefore it is not well to find 14088fault with it. 14089 14090Tom's days were days of splendor and exultation to him, but his nights 14091were seasons of horror. Injun Joe infested all his dreams, and always 14092with doom in his eye. Hardly any temptation could persuade the boy to 14093stir abroad after nightfall. Poor Huck was in the same state of 14094wretchedness and terror, for Tom had told the whole story to the lawyer 14095the night before the great day of the trial, and Huck was sore afraid 14096that his share in the business might leak out, yet, notwithstanding 14097Injun Joe's flight had saved him the suffering of testifying in court. 14098The poor fellow had got the attorney to promise secrecy, but what of 14099that? Since Tom's harassed conscience had managed to drive him to the 14100lawyer's house by night and wring a dread tale from lips that had been 14101sealed with the dismalest and most formidable of oaths, Huck's 14102confidence in the human race was well-nigh obliterated. 14103 14104Daily Muff Potter's gratitude made Tom glad he had spoken; but nightly 14105he wished he had sealed up his tongue. 14106 14107Half the time Tom was afraid Injun Joe would never be captured; the 14108other half he was afraid he would be. He felt sure he never could draw 14109a safe breath again until that man was dead and he had seen the corpse. 14110 14111Rewards had been offered, the country had been scoured, but no Injun 14112Joe was found. One of those omniscient and awe-inspiring marvels, a 14113detective, came up from St. Louis, moused around, shook his head, 14114looked wise, and made that sort of astounding success which members of 14115that craft usually achieve. That is to say, he "found a clew." But you 14116can't hang a "clew" for murder, and so after that detective had got 14117through and gone home, Tom felt just as insecure as he was before. 14118 14119The slow days drifted on, and each left behind it a slightly lightened 14120weight of apprehension. 14121 14122 14123 14124CHAPTER XXV 14125 14126THERE comes a time in every rightly-constructed boy's life when he has 14127a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure. This 14128desire suddenly came upon Tom one day. He sallied out to find Joe 14129Harper, but failed of success. Next he sought Ben Rogers; he had gone 14130fishing. Presently he stumbled upon Huck Finn the Red-Handed. Huck 14131would answer. Tom took him to a private place and opened the matter to 14132him confidentially. Huck was willing. Huck was always willing to take a 14133hand in any enterprise that offered entertainment and required no 14134capital, for he had a troublesome superabundance of that sort of time 14135which is not money. "Where'll we dig?" said Huck. 14136 14137"Oh, most anywhere." 14138 14139"Why, is it hid all around?" 14140 14141"No, indeed it ain't. It's hid in mighty particular places, Huck 14142--sometimes on islands, sometimes in rotten chests under the end of a 14143limb of an old dead tree, just where the shadow falls at midnight; but 14144mostly under the floor in ha'nted houses." 14145 14146"Who hides it?" 14147 14148"Why, robbers, of course--who'd you reckon? Sunday-school 14149sup'rintendents?" 14150 14151"I don't know. If 'twas mine I wouldn't hide it; I'd spend it and have 14152a good time." 14153 14154"So would I. But robbers don't do that way. They always hide it and 14155leave it there." 14156 14157"Don't they come after it any more?" 14158 14159"No, they think they will, but they generally forget the marks, or 14160else they die. Anyway, it lays there a long time and gets rusty; and by 14161and by somebody finds an old yellow paper that tells how to find the 14162marks--a paper that's got to be ciphered over about a week because it's 14163mostly signs and hy'roglyphics." 14164 14165"Hyro--which?" 14166 14167"Hy'roglyphics--pictures and things, you know, that don't seem to mean 14168anything." 14169 14170"Have you got one of them papers, Tom?" 14171 14172"No." 14173 14174"Well then, how you going to find the marks?" 14175 14176"I don't want any marks. They always bury it under a ha'nted house or 14177on an island, or under a dead tree that's got one limb sticking out. 14178Well, we've tried Jackson's Island a little, and we can try it again 14179some time; and there's the old ha'nted house up the Still-House branch, 14180and there's lots of dead-limb trees--dead loads of 'em." 14181 14182"Is it under all of them?" 14183 14184"How you talk! No!" 14185 14186"Then how you going to know which one to go for?" 14187 14188"Go for all of 'em!" 14189 14190"Why, Tom, it'll take all summer." 14191 14192"Well, what of that? Suppose you find a brass pot with a hundred 14193dollars in it, all rusty and gray, or rotten chest full of di'monds. 14194How's that?" 14195 14196Huck's eyes glowed. 14197 14198"That's bully. Plenty bully enough for me. Just you gimme the hundred 14199dollars and I don't want no di'monds." 14200 14201"All right. But I bet you I ain't going to throw off on di'monds. Some 14202of 'em's worth twenty dollars apiece--there ain't any, hardly, but's 14203worth six bits or a dollar." 14204 14205"No! Is that so?" 14206 14207"Cert'nly--anybody'll tell you so. Hain't you ever seen one, Huck?" 14208 14209"Not as I remember." 14210 14211"Oh, kings have slathers of them." 14212 14213"Well, I don' know no kings, Tom." 14214 14215"I reckon you don't. But if you was to go to Europe you'd see a raft 14216of 'em hopping around." 14217 14218"Do they hop?" 14219 14220"Hop?--your granny! No!" 14221 14222"Well, what did you say they did, for?" 14223 14224"Shucks, I only meant you'd SEE 'em--not hopping, of course--what do 14225they want to hop for?--but I mean you'd just see 'em--scattered around, 14226you know, in a kind of a general way. Like that old humpbacked Richard." 14227 14228"Richard? What's his other name?" 14229 14230"He didn't have any other name. Kings don't have any but a given name." 14231 14232"No?" 14233 14234"But they don't." 14235 14236"Well, if they like it, Tom, all right; but I don't want to be a king 14237and have only just a given name, like a nigger. But say--where you 14238going to dig first?" 14239 14240"Well, I don't know. S'pose we tackle that old dead-limb tree on the 14241hill t'other side of Still-House branch?" 14242 14243"I'm agreed." 14244 14245So they got a crippled pick and a shovel, and set out on their 14246three-mile tramp. They arrived hot and panting, and threw themselves 14247down in the shade of a neighboring elm to rest and have a smoke. 14248 14249"I like this," said Tom. 14250 14251"So do I." 14252 14253"Say, Huck, if we find a treasure here, what you going to do with your 14254share?" 14255 14256"Well, I'll have pie and a glass of soda every day, and I'll go to 14257every circus that comes along. I bet I'll have a gay time." 14258 14259"Well, ain't you going to save any of it?" 14260 14261"Save it? What for?" 14262 14263"Why, so as to have something to live on, by and by." 14264 14265"Oh, that ain't any use. Pap would come back to thish-yer town some 14266day and get his claws on it if I didn't hurry up, and I tell you he'd 14267clean it out pretty quick. What you going to do with yourn, Tom?" 14268 14269"I'm going to buy a new drum, and a sure-'nough sword, and a red 14270necktie and a bull pup, and get married." 14271 14272"Married!" 14273 14274"That's it." 14275 14276"Tom, you--why, you ain't in your right mind." 14277 14278"Wait--you'll see." 14279 14280"Well, that's the foolishest thing you could do. Look at pap and my 14281mother. Fight! Why, they used to fight all the time. I remember, mighty 14282well." 14283 14284"That ain't anything. The girl I'm going to marry won't fight." 14285 14286"Tom, I reckon they're all alike. They'll all comb a body. Now you 14287better think 'bout this awhile. I tell you you better. What's the name 14288of the gal?" 14289 14290"It ain't a gal at all--it's a girl." 14291 14292"It's all the same, I reckon; some says gal, some says girl--both's 14293right, like enough. Anyway, what's her name, Tom?" 14294 14295"I'll tell you some time--not now." 14296 14297"All right--that'll do. Only if you get married I'll be more lonesomer 14298than ever." 14299 14300"No you won't. You'll come and live with me. Now stir out of this and 14301we'll go to digging." 14302 14303They worked and sweated for half an hour. No result. They toiled 14304another half-hour. Still no result. Huck said: 14305 14306"Do they always bury it as deep as this?" 14307 14308"Sometimes--not always. Not generally. I reckon we haven't got the 14309right place." 14310 14311So they chose a new spot and began again. The labor dragged a little, 14312but still they made progress. They pegged away in silence for some 14313time. Finally Huck leaned on his shovel, swabbed the beaded drops from 14314his brow with his sleeve, and said: 14315 14316"Where you going to dig next, after we get this one?" 14317 14318"I reckon maybe we'll tackle the old tree that's over yonder on 14319Cardiff Hill back of the widow's." 14320 14321"I reckon that'll be a good one. But won't the widow take it away from 14322us, Tom? It's on her land." 14323 14324"SHE take it away! Maybe she'd like to try it once. Whoever finds one 14325of these hid treasures, it belongs to him. It don't make any difference 14326whose land it's on." 14327 14328That was satisfactory. The work went on. By and by Huck said: 14329 14330"Blame it, we must be in the wrong place again. What do you think?" 14331 14332"It is mighty curious, Huck. I don't understand it. Sometimes witches 14333interfere. I reckon maybe that's what's the trouble now." 14334 14335"Shucks! Witches ain't got no power in the daytime." 14336 14337"Well, that's so. I didn't think of that. Oh, I know what the matter 14338is! What a blamed lot of fools we are! You got to find out where the 14339shadow of the limb falls at midnight, and that's where you dig!" 14340 14341"Then consound it, we've fooled away all this work for nothing. Now 14342hang it all, we got to come back in the night. It's an awful long way. 14343Can you get out?" 14344 14345"I bet I will. We've got to do it to-night, too, because if somebody 14346sees these holes they'll know in a minute what's here and they'll go 14347for it." 14348 14349"Well, I'll come around and maow to-night." 14350 14351"All right. Let's hide the tools in the bushes." 14352 14353The boys were there that night, about the appointed time. They sat in 14354the shadow waiting. It was a lonely place, and an hour made solemn by 14355old traditions. Spirits whispered in the rustling leaves, ghosts lurked 14356in the murky nooks, the deep baying of a hound floated up out of the 14357distance, an owl answered with his sepulchral note. The boys were 14358subdued by these solemnities, and talked little. By and by they judged 14359that twelve had come; they marked where the shadow fell, and began to 14360dig. Their hopes commenced to rise. Their interest grew stronger, and 14361their industry kept pace with it. The hole deepened and still deepened, 14362but every time their hearts jumped to hear the pick strike upon 14363something, they only suffered a new disappointment. It was only a stone 14364or a chunk. At last Tom said: 14365 14366"It ain't any use, Huck, we're wrong again." 14367 14368"Well, but we CAN'T be wrong. We spotted the shadder to a dot." 14369 14370"I know it, but then there's another thing." 14371 14372"What's that?". 14373 14374"Why, we only guessed at the time. Like enough it was too late or too 14375early." 14376 14377Huck dropped his shovel. 14378 14379"That's it," said he. "That's the very trouble. We got to give this 14380one up. We can't ever tell the right time, and besides this kind of 14381thing's too awful, here this time of night with witches and ghosts 14382a-fluttering around so. I feel as if something's behind me all the time; 14383and I'm afeard to turn around, becuz maybe there's others in front 14384a-waiting for a chance. I been creeping all over, ever since I got here." 14385 14386"Well, I've been pretty much so, too, Huck. They most always put in a 14387dead man when they bury a treasure under a tree, to look out for it." 14388 14389"Lordy!" 14390 14391"Yes, they do. I've always heard that." 14392 14393"Tom, I don't like to fool around much where there's dead people. A 14394body's bound to get into trouble with 'em, sure." 14395 14396"I don't like to stir 'em up, either. S'pose this one here was to 14397stick his skull out and say something!" 14398 14399"Don't Tom! It's awful." 14400 14401"Well, it just is. Huck, I don't feel comfortable a bit." 14402 14403"Say, Tom, let's give this place up, and try somewheres else." 14404 14405"All right, I reckon we better." 14406 14407"What'll it be?" 14408 14409Tom considered awhile; and then said: 14410 14411"The ha'nted house. That's it!" 14412 14413"Blame it, I don't like ha'nted houses, Tom. Why, they're a dern sight 14414worse'n dead people. Dead people might talk, maybe, but they don't come 14415sliding around in a shroud, when you ain't noticing, and peep over your 14416shoulder all of a sudden and grit their teeth, the way a ghost does. I 14417couldn't stand such a thing as that, Tom--nobody could." 14418 14419"Yes, but, Huck, ghosts don't travel around only at night. They won't 14420hender us from digging there in the daytime." 14421 14422"Well, that's so. But you know mighty well people don't go about that 14423ha'nted house in the day nor the night." 14424 14425"Well, that's mostly because they don't like to go where a man's been 14426murdered, anyway--but nothing's ever been seen around that house except 14427in the night--just some blue lights slipping by the windows--no regular 14428ghosts." 14429 14430"Well, where you see one of them blue lights flickering around, Tom, 14431you can bet there's a ghost mighty close behind it. It stands to 14432reason. Becuz you know that they don't anybody but ghosts use 'em." 14433 14434"Yes, that's so. But anyway they don't come around in the daytime, so 14435what's the use of our being afeard?" 14436 14437"Well, all right. We'll tackle the ha'nted house if you say so--but I 14438reckon it's taking chances." 14439 14440They had started down the hill by this time. There in the middle of 14441the moonlit valley below them stood the "ha'nted" house, utterly 14442isolated, its fences gone long ago, rank weeds smothering the very 14443doorsteps, the chimney crumbled to ruin, the window-sashes vacant, a 14444corner of the roof caved in. The boys gazed awhile, half expecting to 14445see a blue light flit past a window; then talking in a low tone, as 14446befitted the time and the circumstances, they struck far off to the 14447right, to give the haunted house a wide berth, and took their way 14448homeward through the woods that adorned the rearward side of Cardiff 14449Hill. 14450 14451 14452 14453CHAPTER XXVI 14454 14455ABOUT noon the next day the boys arrived at the dead tree; they had 14456come for their tools. Tom was impatient to go to the haunted house; 14457Huck was measurably so, also--but suddenly said: 14458 14459"Lookyhere, Tom, do you know what day it is?" 14460 14461Tom mentally ran over the days of the week, and then quickly lifted 14462his eyes with a startled look in them-- 14463 14464"My! I never once thought of it, Huck!" 14465 14466"Well, I didn't neither, but all at once it popped onto me that it was 14467Friday." 14468 14469"Blame it, a body can't be too careful, Huck. We might 'a' got into an 14470awful scrape, tackling such a thing on a Friday." 14471 14472"MIGHT! Better say we WOULD! There's some lucky days, maybe, but 14473Friday ain't." 14474 14475"Any fool knows that. I don't reckon YOU was the first that found it 14476out, Huck." 14477 14478"Well, I never said I was, did I? And Friday ain't all, neither. I had 14479a rotten bad dream last night--dreampt about rats." 14480 14481"No! Sure sign of trouble. Did they fight?" 14482 14483"No." 14484 14485"Well, that's good, Huck. When they don't fight it's only a sign that 14486there's trouble around, you know. All we got to do is to look mighty 14487sharp and keep out of it. We'll drop this thing for to-day, and play. 14488Do you know Robin Hood, Huck?" 14489 14490"No. Who's Robin Hood?" 14491 14492"Why, he was one of the greatest men that was ever in England--and the 14493best. He was a robber." 14494 14495"Cracky, I wisht I was. Who did he rob?" 14496 14497"Only sheriffs and bishops and rich people and kings, and such like. 14498But he never bothered the poor. He loved 'em. He always divided up with 14499'em perfectly square." 14500 14501"Well, he must 'a' been a brick." 14502 14503"I bet you he was, Huck. Oh, he was the noblest man that ever was. 14504They ain't any such men now, I can tell you. He could lick any man in 14505England, with one hand tied behind him; and he could take his yew bow 14506and plug a ten-cent piece every time, a mile and a half." 14507 14508"What's a YEW bow?" 14509 14510"I don't know. It's some kind of a bow, of course. And if he hit that 14511dime only on the edge he would set down and cry--and curse. But we'll 14512play Robin Hood--it's nobby fun. I'll learn you." 14513 14514"I'm agreed." 14515 14516So they played Robin Hood all the afternoon, now and then casting a 14517yearning eye down upon the haunted house and passing a remark about the 14518morrow's prospects and possibilities there. As the sun began to sink 14519into the west they took their way homeward athwart the long shadows of 14520the trees and soon were buried from sight in the forests of Cardiff 14521Hill. 14522 14523On Saturday, shortly after noon, the boys were at the dead tree again. 14524They had a smoke and a chat in the shade, and then dug a little in 14525their last hole, not with great hope, but merely because Tom said there 14526were so many cases where people had given up a treasure after getting 14527down within six inches of it, and then somebody else had come along and 14528turned it up with a single thrust of a shovel. The thing failed this 14529time, however, so the boys shouldered their tools and went away feeling 14530that they had not trifled with fortune, but had fulfilled all the 14531requirements that belong to the business of treasure-hunting. 14532 14533When they reached the haunted house there was something so weird and 14534grisly about the dead silence that reigned there under the baking sun, 14535and something so depressing about the loneliness and desolation of the 14536place, that they were afraid, for a moment, to venture in. Then they 14537crept to the door and took a trembling peep. They saw a weed-grown, 14538floorless room, unplastered, an ancient fireplace, vacant windows, a 14539ruinous staircase; and here, there, and everywhere hung ragged and 14540abandoned cobwebs. They presently entered, softly, with quickened 14541pulses, talking in whispers, ears alert to catch the slightest sound, 14542and muscles tense and ready for instant retreat. 14543 14544In a little while familiarity modified their fears and they gave the 14545place a critical and interested examination, rather admiring their own 14546boldness, and wondering at it, too. Next they wanted to look up-stairs. 14547This was something like cutting off retreat, but they got to daring 14548each other, and of course there could be but one result--they threw 14549their tools into a corner and made the ascent. Up there were the same 14550signs of decay. In one corner they found a closet that promised 14551mystery, but the promise was a fraud--there was nothing in it. Their 14552courage was up now and well in hand. They were about to go down and 14553begin work when-- 14554 14555"Sh!" said Tom. 14556 14557"What is it?" whispered Huck, blanching with fright. 14558 14559"Sh!... There!... Hear it?" 14560 14561"Yes!... Oh, my! Let's run!" 14562 14563"Keep still! Don't you budge! They're coming right toward the door." 14564 14565The boys stretched themselves upon the floor with their eyes to 14566knot-holes in the planking, and lay waiting, in a misery of fear. 14567 14568"They've stopped.... No--coming.... Here they are. Don't whisper 14569another word, Huck. My goodness, I wish I was out of this!" 14570 14571Two men entered. Each boy said to himself: "There's the old deaf and 14572dumb Spaniard that's been about town once or twice lately--never saw 14573t'other man before." 14574 14575"T'other" was a ragged, unkempt creature, with nothing very pleasant 14576in his face. The Spaniard was wrapped in a serape; he had bushy white 14577whiskers; long white hair flowed from under his sombrero, and he wore 14578green goggles. When they came in, "t'other" was talking in a low voice; 14579they sat down on the ground, facing the door, with their backs to the 14580wall, and the speaker continued his remarks. His manner became less 14581guarded and his words more distinct as he proceeded: 14582 14583"No," said he, "I've thought it all over, and I don't like it. It's 14584dangerous." 14585 14586"Dangerous!" grunted the "deaf and dumb" Spaniard--to the vast 14587surprise of the boys. "Milksop!" 14588 14589This voice made the boys gasp and quake. It was Injun Joe's! There was 14590silence for some time. Then Joe said: 14591 14592"What's any more dangerous than that job up yonder--but nothing's come 14593of it." 14594 14595"That's different. Away up the river so, and not another house about. 14596'Twon't ever be known that we tried, anyway, long as we didn't succeed." 14597 14598"Well, what's more dangerous than coming here in the daytime!--anybody 14599would suspicion us that saw us." 14600 14601"I know that. But there warn't any other place as handy after that 14602fool of a job. I want to quit this shanty. I wanted to yesterday, only 14603it warn't any use trying to stir out of here, with those infernal boys 14604playing over there on the hill right in full view." 14605 14606"Those infernal boys" quaked again under the inspiration of this 14607remark, and thought how lucky it was that they had remembered it was 14608Friday and concluded to wait a day. They wished in their hearts they 14609had waited a year. 14610 14611The two men got out some food and made a luncheon. After a long and 14612thoughtful silence, Injun Joe said: 14613 14614"Look here, lad--you go back up the river where you belong. Wait there 14615till you hear from me. I'll take the chances on dropping into this town 14616just once more, for a look. We'll do that 'dangerous' job after I've 14617spied around a little and think things look well for it. Then for 14618Texas! We'll leg it together!" 14619 14620This was satisfactory. Both men presently fell to yawning, and Injun 14621Joe said: 14622 14623"I'm dead for sleep! It's your turn to watch." 14624 14625He curled down in the weeds and soon began to snore. His comrade 14626stirred him once or twice and he became quiet. Presently the watcher 14627began to nod; his head drooped lower and lower, both men began to snore 14628now. 14629 14630The boys drew a long, grateful breath. Tom whispered: 14631 14632"Now's our chance--come!" 14633 14634Huck said: 14635 14636"I can't--I'd die if they was to wake." 14637 14638Tom urged--Huck held back. At last Tom rose slowly and softly, and 14639started alone. But the first step he made wrung such a hideous creak 14640from the crazy floor that he sank down almost dead with fright. He 14641never made a second attempt. The boys lay there counting the dragging 14642moments till it seemed to them that time must be done and eternity 14643growing gray; and then they were grateful to note that at last the sun 14644was setting. 14645 14646Now one snore ceased. Injun Joe sat up, stared around--smiled grimly 14647upon his comrade, whose head was drooping upon his knees--stirred him 14648up with his foot and said: 14649 14650"Here! YOU'RE a watchman, ain't you! All right, though--nothing's 14651happened." 14652 14653"My! have I been asleep?" 14654 14655"Oh, partly, partly. Nearly time for us to be moving, pard. What'll we 14656do with what little swag we've got left?" 14657 14658"I don't know--leave it here as we've always done, I reckon. No use to 14659take it away till we start south. Six hundred and fifty in silver's 14660something to carry." 14661 14662"Well--all right--it won't matter to come here once more." 14663 14664"No--but I'd say come in the night as we used to do--it's better." 14665 14666"Yes: but look here; it may be a good while before I get the right 14667chance at that job; accidents might happen; 'tain't in such a very good 14668place; we'll just regularly bury it--and bury it deep." 14669 14670"Good idea," said the comrade, who walked across the room, knelt down, 14671raised one of the rearward hearth-stones and took out a bag that 14672jingled pleasantly. He subtracted from it twenty or thirty dollars for 14673himself and as much for Injun Joe, and passed the bag to the latter, 14674who was on his knees in the corner, now, digging with his bowie-knife. 14675 14676The boys forgot all their fears, all their miseries in an instant. 14677With gloating eyes they watched every movement. Luck!--the splendor of 14678it was beyond all imagination! Six hundred dollars was money enough to 14679make half a dozen boys rich! Here was treasure-hunting under the 14680happiest auspices--there would not be any bothersome uncertainty as to 14681where to dig. They nudged each other every moment--eloquent nudges and 14682easily understood, for they simply meant--"Oh, but ain't you glad NOW 14683we're here!" 14684 14685Joe's knife struck upon something. 14686 14687"Hello!" said he. 14688 14689"What is it?" said his comrade. 14690 14691"Half-rotten plank--no, it's a box, I believe. Here--bear a hand and 14692we'll see what it's here for. Never mind, I've broke a hole." 14693 14694He reached his hand in and drew it out-- 14695 14696"Man, it's money!" 14697 14698The two men examined the handful of coins. They were gold. The boys 14699above were as excited as themselves, and as delighted. 14700 14701Joe's comrade said: 14702 14703"We'll make quick work of this. There's an old rusty pick over amongst 14704the weeds in the corner the other side of the fireplace--I saw it a 14705minute ago." 14706 14707He ran and brought the boys' pick and shovel. Injun Joe took the pick, 14708looked it over critically, shook his head, muttered something to 14709himself, and then began to use it. The box was soon unearthed. It was 14710not very large; it was iron bound and had been very strong before the 14711slow years had injured it. The men contemplated the treasure awhile in 14712blissful silence. 14713 14714"Pard, there's thousands of dollars here," said Injun Joe. 14715 14716"'Twas always said that Murrel's gang used to be around here one 14717summer," the stranger observed. 14718 14719"I know it," said Injun Joe; "and this looks like it, I should say." 14720 14721"Now you won't need to do that job." 14722 14723The half-breed frowned. Said he: 14724 14725"You don't know me. Least you don't know all about that thing. 'Tain't 14726robbery altogether--it's REVENGE!" and a wicked light flamed in his 14727eyes. "I'll need your help in it. When it's finished--then Texas. Go 14728home to your Nance and your kids, and stand by till you hear from me." 14729 14730"Well--if you say so; what'll we do with this--bury it again?" 14731 14732"Yes. [Ravishing delight overhead.] NO! by the great Sachem, no! 14733[Profound distress overhead.] I'd nearly forgot. That pick had fresh 14734earth on it! [The boys were sick with terror in a moment.] What 14735business has a pick and a shovel here? What business with fresh earth 14736on them? Who brought them here--and where are they gone? Have you heard 14737anybody?--seen anybody? What! bury it again and leave them to come and 14738see the ground disturbed? Not exactly--not exactly. We'll take it to my 14739den." 14740 14741"Why, of course! Might have thought of that before. You mean Number 14742One?" 14743 14744"No--Number Two--under the cross. The other place is bad--too common." 14745 14746"All right. It's nearly dark enough to start." 14747 14748Injun Joe got up and went about from window to window cautiously 14749peeping out. Presently he said: 14750 14751"Who could have brought those tools here? Do you reckon they can be 14752up-stairs?" 14753 14754The boys' breath forsook them. Injun Joe put his hand on his knife, 14755halted a moment, undecided, and then turned toward the stairway. The 14756boys thought of the closet, but their strength was gone. The steps came 14757creaking up the stairs--the intolerable distress of the situation woke 14758the stricken resolution of the lads--they were about to spring for the 14759closet, when there was a crash of rotten timbers and Injun Joe landed 14760on the ground amid the debris of the ruined stairway. He gathered 14761himself up cursing, and his comrade said: 14762 14763"Now what's the use of all that? If it's anybody, and they're up 14764there, let them STAY there--who cares? If they want to jump down, now, 14765and get into trouble, who objects? It will be dark in fifteen minutes 14766--and then let them follow us if they want to. I'm willing. In my 14767opinion, whoever hove those things in here caught a sight of us and 14768took us for ghosts or devils or something. I'll bet they're running 14769yet." 14770 14771Joe grumbled awhile; then he agreed with his friend that what daylight 14772was left ought to be economized in getting things ready for leaving. 14773Shortly afterward they slipped out of the house in the deepening 14774twilight, and moved toward the river with their precious box. 14775 14776Tom and Huck rose up, weak but vastly relieved, and stared after them 14777through the chinks between the logs of the house. Follow? Not they. 14778They were content to reach ground again without broken necks, and take 14779the townward track over the hill. They did not talk much. They were too 14780much absorbed in hating themselves--hating the ill luck that made them 14781take the spade and the pick there. But for that, Injun Joe never would 14782have suspected. He would have hidden the silver with the gold to wait 14783there till his "revenge" was satisfied, and then he would have had the 14784misfortune to find that money turn up missing. Bitter, bitter luck that 14785the tools were ever brought there! 14786 14787They resolved to keep a lookout for that Spaniard when he should come 14788to town spying out for chances to do his revengeful job, and follow him 14789to "Number Two," wherever that might be. Then a ghastly thought 14790occurred to Tom. 14791 14792"Revenge? What if he means US, Huck!" 14793 14794"Oh, don't!" said Huck, nearly fainting. 14795 14796They talked it all over, and as they entered town they agreed to 14797believe that he might possibly mean somebody else--at least that he 14798might at least mean nobody but Tom, since only Tom had testified. 14799 14800Very, very small comfort it was to Tom to be alone in danger! Company 14801would be a palpable improvement, he thought. 14802 14803 14804 14805CHAPTER XXVII 14806 14807THE adventure of the day mightily tormented Tom's dreams that night. 14808Four times he had his hands on that rich treasure and four times it 14809wasted to nothingness in his fingers as sleep forsook him and 14810wakefulness brought back the hard reality of his misfortune. As he lay 14811in the early morning recalling the incidents of his great adventure, he 14812noticed that they seemed curiously subdued and far away--somewhat as if 14813they had happened in another world, or in a time long gone by. Then it 14814occurred to him that the great adventure itself must be a dream! There 14815was one very strong argument in favor of this idea--namely, that the 14816quantity of coin he had seen was too vast to be real. He had never seen 14817as much as fifty dollars in one mass before, and he was like all boys 14818of his age and station in life, in that he imagined that all references 14819to "hundreds" and "thousands" were mere fanciful forms of speech, and 14820that no such sums really existed in the world. He never had supposed 14821for a moment that so large a sum as a hundred dollars was to be found 14822in actual money in any one's possession. If his notions of hidden 14823treasure had been analyzed, they would have been found to consist of a 14824handful of real dimes and a bushel of vague, splendid, ungraspable 14825dollars. 14826 14827But the incidents of his adventure grew sensibly sharper and clearer 14828under the attrition of thinking them over, and so he presently found 14829himself leaning to the impression that the thing might not have been a 14830dream, after all. This uncertainty must be swept away. He would snatch 14831a hurried breakfast and go and find Huck. Huck was sitting on the 14832gunwale of a flatboat, listlessly dangling his feet in the water and 14833looking very melancholy. Tom concluded to let Huck lead up to the 14834subject. If he did not do it, then the adventure would be proved to 14835have been only a dream. 14836 14837"Hello, Huck!" 14838 14839"Hello, yourself." 14840 14841Silence, for a minute. 14842 14843"Tom, if we'd 'a' left the blame tools at the dead tree, we'd 'a' got 14844the money. Oh, ain't it awful!" 14845 14846"'Tain't a dream, then, 'tain't a dream! Somehow I most wish it was. 14847Dog'd if I don't, Huck." 14848 14849"What ain't a dream?" 14850 14851"Oh, that thing yesterday. I been half thinking it was." 14852 14853"Dream! If them stairs hadn't broke down you'd 'a' seen how much dream 14854it was! I've had dreams enough all night--with that patch-eyed Spanish 14855devil going for me all through 'em--rot him!" 14856 14857"No, not rot him. FIND him! Track the money!" 14858 14859"Tom, we'll never find him. A feller don't have only one chance for 14860such a pile--and that one's lost. I'd feel mighty shaky if I was to see 14861him, anyway." 14862 14863"Well, so'd I; but I'd like to see him, anyway--and track him out--to 14864his Number Two." 14865 14866"Number Two--yes, that's it. I been thinking 'bout that. But I can't 14867make nothing out of it. What do you reckon it is?" 14868 14869"I dono. It's too deep. Say, Huck--maybe it's the number of a house!" 14870 14871"Goody!... No, Tom, that ain't it. If it is, it ain't in this 14872one-horse town. They ain't no numbers here." 14873 14874"Well, that's so. Lemme think a minute. Here--it's the number of a 14875room--in a tavern, you know!" 14876 14877"Oh, that's the trick! They ain't only two taverns. We can find out 14878quick." 14879 14880"You stay here, Huck, till I come." 14881 14882Tom was off at once. He did not care to have Huck's company in public 14883places. He was gone half an hour. He found that in the best tavern, No. 148842 had long been occupied by a young lawyer, and was still so occupied. 14885In the less ostentatious house, No. 2 was a mystery. The 14886tavern-keeper's young son said it was kept locked all the time, and he 14887never saw anybody go into it or come out of it except at night; he did 14888not know any particular reason for this state of things; had had some 14889little curiosity, but it was rather feeble; had made the most of the 14890mystery by entertaining himself with the idea that that room was 14891"ha'nted"; had noticed that there was a light in there the night before. 14892 14893"That's what I've found out, Huck. I reckon that's the very No. 2 14894we're after." 14895 14896"I reckon it is, Tom. Now what you going to do?" 14897 14898"Lemme think." 14899 14900Tom thought a long time. Then he said: 14901 14902"I'll tell you. The back door of that No. 2 is the door that comes out 14903into that little close alley between the tavern and the old rattle trap 14904of a brick store. Now you get hold of all the door-keys you can find, 14905and I'll nip all of auntie's, and the first dark night we'll go there 14906and try 'em. And mind you, keep a lookout for Injun Joe, because he 14907said he was going to drop into town and spy around once more for a 14908chance to get his revenge. If you see him, you just follow him; and if 14909he don't go to that No. 2, that ain't the place." 14910 14911"Lordy, I don't want to foller him by myself!" 14912 14913"Why, it'll be night, sure. He mightn't ever see you--and if he did, 14914maybe he'd never think anything." 14915 14916"Well, if it's pretty dark I reckon I'll track him. I dono--I dono. 14917I'll try." 14918 14919"You bet I'll follow him, if it's dark, Huck. Why, he might 'a' found 14920out he couldn't get his revenge, and be going right after that money." 14921 14922"It's so, Tom, it's so. I'll foller him; I will, by jingoes!" 14923 14924"Now you're TALKING! Don't you ever weaken, Huck, and I won't." 14925 14926 14927 14928CHAPTER XXVIII 14929 14930THAT night Tom and Huck were ready for their adventure. They hung 14931about the neighborhood of the tavern until after nine, one watching the 14932alley at a distance and the other the tavern door. Nobody entered the 14933alley or left it; nobody resembling the Spaniard entered or left the 14934tavern door. The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with 14935the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, 14936Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the 14937keys. But the night remained clear, and Huck closed his watch and 14938retired to bed in an empty sugar hogshead about twelve. 14939 14940Tuesday the boys had the same ill luck. Also Wednesday. But Thursday 14941night promised better. Tom slipped out in good season with his aunt's 14942old tin lantern, and a large towel to blindfold it with. He hid the 14943lantern in Huck's sugar hogshead and the watch began. An hour before 14944midnight the tavern closed up and its lights (the only ones 14945thereabouts) were put out. No Spaniard had been seen. Nobody had 14946entered or left the alley. Everything was auspicious. The blackness of 14947darkness reigned, the perfect stillness was interrupted only by 14948occasional mutterings of distant thunder. 14949 14950Tom got his lantern, lit it in the hogshead, wrapped it closely in the 14951towel, and the two adventurers crept in the gloom toward the tavern. 14952Huck stood sentry and Tom felt his way into the alley. Then there was a 14953season of waiting anxiety that weighed upon Huck's spirits like a 14954mountain. He began to wish he could see a flash from the lantern--it 14955would frighten him, but it would at least tell him that Tom was alive 14956yet. It seemed hours since Tom had disappeared. Surely he must have 14957fainted; maybe he was dead; maybe his heart had burst under terror and 14958excitement. In his uneasiness Huck found himself drawing closer and 14959closer to the alley; fearing all sorts of dreadful things, and 14960momentarily expecting some catastrophe to happen that would take away 14961his breath. There was not much to take away, for he seemed only able to 14962inhale it by thimblefuls, and his heart would soon wear itself out, the 14963way it was beating. Suddenly there was a flash of light and Tom came 14964tearing by him: "Run!" said he; "run, for your life!" 14965 14966He needn't have repeated it; once was enough; Huck was making thirty 14967or forty miles an hour before the repetition was uttered. The boys 14968never stopped till they reached the shed of a deserted slaughter-house 14969at the lower end of the village. Just as they got within its shelter 14970the storm burst and the rain poured down. As soon as Tom got his breath 14971he said: 14972 14973"Huck, it was awful! I tried two of the keys, just as soft as I could; 14974but they seemed to make such a power of racket that I couldn't hardly 14975get my breath I was so scared. They wouldn't turn in the lock, either. 14976Well, without noticing what I was doing, I took hold of the knob, and 14977open comes the door! It warn't locked! I hopped in, and shook off the 14978towel, and, GREAT CAESAR'S GHOST!" 14979 14980"What!--what'd you see, Tom?" 14981 14982"Huck, I most stepped onto Injun Joe's hand!" 14983 14984"No!" 14985 14986"Yes! He was lying there, sound asleep on the floor, with his old 14987patch on his eye and his arms spread out." 14988 14989"Lordy, what did you do? Did he wake up?" 14990 14991"No, never budged. Drunk, I reckon. I just grabbed that towel and 14992started!" 14993 14994"I'd never 'a' thought of the towel, I bet!" 14995 14996"Well, I would. My aunt would make me mighty sick if I lost it." 14997 14998"Say, Tom, did you see that box?" 14999 15000"Huck, I didn't wait to look around. I didn't see the box, I didn't 15001see the cross. I didn't see anything but a bottle and a tin cup on the 15002floor by Injun Joe; yes, I saw two barrels and lots more bottles in the 15003room. Don't you see, now, what's the matter with that ha'nted room?" 15004 15005"How?" 15006 15007"Why, it's ha'nted with whiskey! Maybe ALL the Temperance Taverns have 15008got a ha'nted room, hey, Huck?" 15009 15010"Well, I reckon maybe that's so. Who'd 'a' thought such a thing? But 15011say, Tom, now's a mighty good time to get that box, if Injun Joe's 15012drunk." 15013 15014"It is, that! You try it!" 15015 15016Huck shuddered. 15017 15018"Well, no--I reckon not." 15019 15020"And I reckon not, Huck. Only one bottle alongside of Injun Joe ain't 15021enough. If there'd been three, he'd be drunk enough and I'd do it." 15022 15023There was a long pause for reflection, and then Tom said: 15024 15025"Lookyhere, Huck, less not try that thing any more till we know Injun 15026Joe's not in there. It's too scary. Now, if we watch every night, we'll 15027be dead sure to see him go out, some time or other, and then we'll 15028snatch that box quicker'n lightning." 15029 15030"Well, I'm agreed. I'll watch the whole night long, and I'll do it 15031every night, too, if you'll do the other part of the job." 15032 15033"All right, I will. All you got to do is to trot up Hooper Street a 15034block and maow--and if I'm asleep, you throw some gravel at the window 15035and that'll fetch me." 15036 15037"Agreed, and good as wheat!" 15038 15039"Now, Huck, the storm's over, and I'll go home. It'll begin to be 15040daylight in a couple of hours. You go back and watch that long, will 15041you?" 15042 15043"I said I would, Tom, and I will. I'll ha'nt that tavern every night 15044for a year! I'll sleep all day and I'll stand watch all night." 15045 15046"That's all right. Now, where you going to sleep?" 15047 15048"In Ben Rogers' hayloft. He lets me, and so does his pap's nigger man, 15049Uncle Jake. I tote water for Uncle Jake whenever he wants me to, and 15050any time I ask him he gives me a little something to eat if he can 15051spare it. That's a mighty good nigger, Tom. He likes me, becuz I don't 15052ever act as if I was above him. Sometime I've set right down and eat 15053WITH him. But you needn't tell that. A body's got to do things when 15054he's awful hungry he wouldn't want to do as a steady thing." 15055 15056"Well, if I don't want you in the daytime, I'll let you sleep. I won't 15057come bothering around. Any time you see something's up, in the night, 15058just skip right around and maow." 15059 15060 15061 15062CHAPTER XXIX 15063 15064THE first thing Tom heard on Friday morning was a glad piece of news 15065--Judge Thatcher's family had come back to town the night before. Both 15066Injun Joe and the treasure sunk into secondary importance for a moment, 15067and Becky took the chief place in the boy's interest. He saw her and 15068they had an exhausting good time playing "hi-spy" and "gully-keeper" 15069with a crowd of their school-mates. The day was completed and crowned 15070in a peculiarly satisfactory way: Becky teased her mother to appoint 15071the next day for the long-promised and long-delayed picnic, and she 15072consented. The child's delight was boundless; and Tom's not more 15073moderate. The invitations were sent out before sunset, and straightway 15074the young folks of the village were thrown into a fever of preparation 15075and pleasurable anticipation. Tom's excitement enabled him to keep 15076awake until a pretty late hour, and he had good hopes of hearing Huck's 15077"maow," and of having his treasure to astonish Becky and the picnickers 15078with, next day; but he was disappointed. No signal came that night. 15079 15080Morning came, eventually, and by ten or eleven o'clock a giddy and 15081rollicking company were gathered at Judge Thatcher's, and everything 15082was ready for a start. It was not the custom for elderly people to mar 15083the picnics with their presence. The children were considered safe 15084enough under the wings of a few young ladies of eighteen and a few 15085young gentlemen of twenty-three or thereabouts. The old steam ferryboat 15086was chartered for the occasion; presently the gay throng filed up the 15087main street laden with provision-baskets. Sid was sick and had to miss 15088the fun; Mary remained at home to entertain him. The last thing Mrs. 15089Thatcher said to Becky, was: 15090 15091"You'll not get back till late. Perhaps you'd better stay all night 15092with some of the girls that live near the ferry-landing, child." 15093 15094"Then I'll stay with Susy Harper, mamma." 15095 15096"Very well. And mind and behave yourself and don't be any trouble." 15097 15098Presently, as they tripped along, Tom said to Becky: 15099 15100"Say--I'll tell you what we'll do. 'Stead of going to Joe Harper's 15101we'll climb right up the hill and stop at the Widow Douglas'. She'll 15102have ice-cream! She has it most every day--dead loads of it. And she'll 15103be awful glad to have us." 15104 15105"Oh, that will be fun!" 15106 15107Then Becky reflected a moment and said: 15108 15109"But what will mamma say?" 15110 15111"How'll she ever know?" 15112 15113The girl turned the idea over in her mind, and said reluctantly: 15114 15115"I reckon it's wrong--but--" 15116 15117"But shucks! Your mother won't know, and so what's the harm? All she 15118wants is that you'll be safe; and I bet you she'd 'a' said go there if 15119she'd 'a' thought of it. I know she would!" 15120 15121The Widow Douglas' splendid hospitality was a tempting bait. It and 15122Tom's persuasions presently carried the day. So it was decided to say 15123nothing anybody about the night's programme. Presently it occurred to 15124Tom that maybe Huck might come this very night and give the signal. The 15125thought took a deal of the spirit out of his anticipations. Still he 15126could not bear to give up the fun at Widow Douglas'. And why should he 15127give it up, he reasoned--the signal did not come the night before, so 15128why should it be any more likely to come to-night? The sure fun of the 15129evening outweighed the uncertain treasure; and, boy-like, he determined 15130to yield to the stronger inclination and not allow himself to think of 15131the box of money another time that day. 15132 15133Three miles below town the ferryboat stopped at the mouth of a woody 15134hollow and tied up. The crowd swarmed ashore and soon the forest 15135distances and craggy heights echoed far and near with shoutings and 15136laughter. All the different ways of getting hot and tired were gone 15137through with, and by-and-by the rovers straggled back to camp fortified 15138with responsible appetites, and then the destruction of the good things 15139began. After the feast there was a refreshing season of rest and chat 15140in the shade of spreading oaks. By-and-by somebody shouted: 15141 15142"Who's ready for the cave?" 15143 15144Everybody was. Bundles of candles were procured, and straightway there 15145was a general scamper up the hill. The mouth of the cave was up the 15146hillside--an opening shaped like a letter A. Its massive oaken door 15147stood unbarred. Within was a small chamber, chilly as an ice-house, and 15148walled by Nature with solid limestone that was dewy with a cold sweat. 15149It was romantic and mysterious to stand here in the deep gloom and look 15150out upon the green valley shining in the sun. But the impressiveness of 15151the situation quickly wore off, and the romping began again. The moment 15152a candle was lighted there was a general rush upon the owner of it; a 15153struggle and a gallant defence followed, but the candle was soon 15154knocked down or blown out, and then there was a glad clamor of laughter 15155and a new chase. But all things have an end. By-and-by the procession 15156went filing down the steep descent of the main avenue, the flickering 15157rank of lights dimly revealing the lofty walls of rock almost to their 15158point of junction sixty feet overhead. This main avenue was not more 15159than eight or ten feet wide. Every few steps other lofty and still 15160narrower crevices branched from it on either hand--for McDougal's cave 15161was but a vast labyrinth of crooked aisles that ran into each other and 15162out again and led nowhere. It was said that one might wander days and 15163nights together through its intricate tangle of rifts and chasms, and 15164never find the end of the cave; and that he might go down, and down, 15165and still down, into the earth, and it was just the same--labyrinth 15166under labyrinth, and no end to any of them. No man "knew" the cave. 15167That was an impossible thing. Most of the young men knew a portion of 15168it, and it was not customary to venture much beyond this known portion. 15169Tom Sawyer knew as much of the cave as any one. 15170 15171The procession moved along the main avenue some three-quarters of a 15172mile, and then groups and couples began to slip aside into branch 15173avenues, fly along the dismal corridors, and take each other by 15174surprise at points where the corridors joined again. Parties were able 15175to elude each other for the space of half an hour without going beyond 15176the "known" ground. 15177 15178By-and-by, one group after another came straggling back to the mouth 15179of the cave, panting, hilarious, smeared from head to foot with tallow 15180drippings, daubed with clay, and entirely delighted with the success of 15181the day. Then they were astonished to find that they had been taking no 15182note of time and that night was about at hand. The clanging bell had 15183been calling for half an hour. However, this sort of close to the day's 15184adventures was romantic and therefore satisfactory. When the ferryboat 15185with her wild freight pushed into the stream, nobody cared sixpence for 15186the wasted time but the captain of the craft. 15187 15188Huck was already upon his watch when the ferryboat's lights went 15189glinting past the wharf. He heard no noise on board, for the young 15190people were as subdued and still as people usually are who are nearly 15191tired to death. He wondered what boat it was, and why she did not stop 15192at the wharf--and then he dropped her out of his mind and put his 15193attention upon his business. The night was growing cloudy and dark. Ten 15194o'clock came, and the noise of vehicles ceased, scattered lights began 15195to wink out, all straggling foot-passengers disappeared, the village 15196betook itself to its slumbers and left the small watcher alone with the 15197silence and the ghosts. Eleven o'clock came, and the tavern lights were 15198put out; darkness everywhere, now. Huck waited what seemed a weary long 15199time, but nothing happened. His faith was weakening. Was there any use? 15200Was there really any use? Why not give it up and turn in? 15201 15202A noise fell upon his ear. He was all attention in an instant. The 15203alley door closed softly. He sprang to the corner of the brick store. 15204The next moment two men brushed by him, and one seemed to have 15205something under his arm. It must be that box! So they were going to 15206remove the treasure. Why call Tom now? It would be absurd--the men 15207would get away with the box and never be found again. No, he would 15208stick to their wake and follow them; he would trust to the darkness for 15209security from discovery. So communing with himself, Huck stepped out 15210and glided along behind the men, cat-like, with bare feet, allowing 15211them to keep just far enough ahead not to be invisible. 15212 15213They moved up the river street three blocks, then turned to the left 15214up a cross-street. They went straight ahead, then, until they came to 15215the path that led up Cardiff Hill; this they took. They passed by the 15216old Welshman's house, half-way up the hill, without hesitating, and 15217still climbed upward. Good, thought Huck, they will bury it in the old 15218quarry. But they never stopped at the quarry. They passed on, up the 15219summit. They plunged into the narrow path between the tall sumach 15220bushes, and were at once hidden in the gloom. Huck closed up and 15221shortened his distance, now, for they would never be able to see him. 15222He trotted along awhile; then slackened his pace, fearing he was 15223gaining too fast; moved on a piece, then stopped altogether; listened; 15224no sound; none, save that he seemed to hear the beating of his own 15225heart. The hooting of an owl came over the hill--ominous sound! But no 15226footsteps. Heavens, was everything lost! He was about to spring with 15227winged feet, when a man cleared his throat not four feet from him! 15228Huck's heart shot into his throat, but he swallowed it again; and then 15229he stood there shaking as if a dozen agues had taken charge of him at 15230once, and so weak that he thought he must surely fall to the ground. He 15231knew where he was. He knew he was within five steps of the stile 15232leading into Widow Douglas' grounds. Very well, he thought, let them 15233bury it there; it won't be hard to find. 15234 15235Now there was a voice--a very low voice--Injun Joe's: 15236 15237"Damn her, maybe she's got company--there's lights, late as it is." 15238 15239"I can't see any." 15240 15241This was that stranger's voice--the stranger of the haunted house. A 15242deadly chill went to Huck's heart--this, then, was the "revenge" job! 15243His thought was, to fly. Then he remembered that the Widow Douglas had 15244been kind to him more than once, and maybe these men were going to 15245murder her. He wished he dared venture to warn her; but he knew he 15246didn't dare--they might come and catch him. He thought all this and 15247more in the moment that elapsed between the stranger's remark and Injun 15248Joe's next--which was-- 15249 15250"Because the bush is in your way. Now--this way--now you see, don't 15251you?" 15252 15253"Yes. Well, there IS company there, I reckon. Better give it up." 15254 15255"Give it up, and I just leaving this country forever! Give it up and 15256maybe never have another chance. I tell you again, as I've told you 15257before, I don't care for her swag--you may have it. But her husband was 15258rough on me--many times he was rough on me--and mainly he was the 15259justice of the peace that jugged me for a vagrant. And that ain't all. 15260It ain't a millionth part of it! He had me HORSEWHIPPED!--horsewhipped 15261in front of the jail, like a nigger!--with all the town looking on! 15262HORSEWHIPPED!--do you understand? He took advantage of me and died. But 15263I'll take it out of HER." 15264 15265"Oh, don't kill her! Don't do that!" 15266 15267"Kill? Who said anything about killing? I would kill HIM if he was 15268here; but not her. When you want to get revenge on a woman you don't 15269kill her--bosh! you go for her looks. You slit her nostrils--you notch 15270her ears like a sow!" 15271 15272"By God, that's--" 15273 15274"Keep your opinion to yourself! It will be safest for you. I'll tie 15275her to the bed. If she bleeds to death, is that my fault? I'll not cry, 15276if she does. My friend, you'll help me in this thing--for MY sake 15277--that's why you're here--I mightn't be able alone. If you flinch, I'll 15278kill you. Do you understand that? And if I have to kill you, I'll kill 15279her--and then I reckon nobody'll ever know much about who done this 15280business." 15281 15282"Well, if it's got to be done, let's get at it. The quicker the 15283better--I'm all in a shiver." 15284 15285"Do it NOW? And company there? Look here--I'll get suspicious of you, 15286first thing you know. No--we'll wait till the lights are out--there's 15287no hurry." 15288 15289Huck felt that a silence was going to ensue--a thing still more awful 15290than any amount of murderous talk; so he held his breath and stepped 15291gingerly back; planted his foot carefully and firmly, after balancing, 15292one-legged, in a precarious way and almost toppling over, first on one 15293side and then on the other. He took another step back, with the same 15294elaboration and the same risks; then another and another, and--a twig 15295snapped under his foot! His breath stopped and he listened. There was 15296no sound--the stillness was perfect. His gratitude was measureless. Now 15297he turned in his tracks, between the walls of sumach bushes--turned 15298himself as carefully as if he were a ship--and then stepped quickly but 15299cautiously along. When he emerged at the quarry he felt secure, and so 15300he picked up his nimble heels and flew. Down, down he sped, till he 15301reached the Welshman's. He banged at the door, and presently the heads 15302of the old man and his two stalwart sons were thrust from windows. 15303 15304"What's the row there? Who's banging? What do you want?" 15305 15306"Let me in--quick! I'll tell everything." 15307 15308"Why, who are you?" 15309 15310"Huckleberry Finn--quick, let me in!" 15311 15312"Huckleberry Finn, indeed! It ain't a name to open many doors, I 15313judge! But let him in, lads, and let's see what's the trouble." 15314 15315"Please don't ever tell I told you," were Huck's first words when he 15316got in. "Please don't--I'd be killed, sure--but the widow's been good 15317friends to me sometimes, and I want to tell--I WILL tell if you'll 15318promise you won't ever say it was me." 15319 15320"By George, he HAS got something to tell, or he wouldn't act so!" 15321exclaimed the old man; "out with it and nobody here'll ever tell, lad." 15322 15323Three minutes later the old man and his sons, well armed, were up the 15324hill, and just entering the sumach path on tiptoe, their weapons in 15325their hands. Huck accompanied them no further. He hid behind a great 15326bowlder and fell to listening. There was a lagging, anxious silence, 15327and then all of a sudden there was an explosion of firearms and a cry. 15328 15329Huck waited for no particulars. He sprang away and sped down the hill 15330as fast as his legs could carry him. 15331 15332 15333 15334CHAPTER XXX 15335 15336AS the earliest suspicion of dawn appeared on Sunday morning, Huck 15337came groping up the hill and rapped gently at the old Welshman's door. 15338The inmates were asleep, but it was a sleep that was set on a 15339hair-trigger, on account of the exciting episode of the night. A call 15340came from a window: 15341 15342"Who's there!" 15343 15344Huck's scared voice answered in a low tone: 15345 15346"Please let me in! It's only Huck Finn!" 15347 15348"It's a name that can open this door night or day, lad!--and welcome!" 15349 15350These were strange words to the vagabond boy's ears, and the 15351pleasantest he had ever heard. He could not recollect that the closing 15352word had ever been applied in his case before. The door was quickly 15353unlocked, and he entered. Huck was given a seat and the old man and his 15354brace of tall sons speedily dressed themselves. 15355 15356"Now, my boy, I hope you're good and hungry, because breakfast will be 15357ready as soon as the sun's up, and we'll have a piping hot one, too 15358--make yourself easy about that! I and the boys hoped you'd turn up and 15359stop here last night." 15360 15361"I was awful scared," said Huck, "and I run. I took out when the 15362pistols went off, and I didn't stop for three mile. I've come now becuz 15363I wanted to know about it, you know; and I come before daylight becuz I 15364didn't want to run across them devils, even if they was dead." 15365 15366"Well, poor chap, you do look as if you'd had a hard night of it--but 15367there's a bed here for you when you've had your breakfast. No, they 15368ain't dead, lad--we are sorry enough for that. You see we knew right 15369where to put our hands on them, by your description; so we crept along 15370on tiptoe till we got within fifteen feet of them--dark as a cellar 15371that sumach path was--and just then I found I was going to sneeze. It 15372was the meanest kind of luck! I tried to keep it back, but no use 15373--'twas bound to come, and it did come! I was in the lead with my pistol 15374raised, and when the sneeze started those scoundrels a-rustling to get 15375out of the path, I sung out, 'Fire boys!' and blazed away at the place 15376where the rustling was. So did the boys. But they were off in a jiffy, 15377those villains, and we after them, down through the woods. I judge we 15378never touched them. They fired a shot apiece as they started, but their 15379bullets whizzed by and didn't do us any harm. As soon as we lost the 15380sound of their feet we quit chasing, and went down and stirred up the 15381constables. They got a posse together, and went off to guard the river 15382bank, and as soon as it is light the sheriff and a gang are going to 15383beat up the woods. My boys will be with them presently. I wish we had 15384some sort of description of those rascals--'twould help a good deal. 15385But you couldn't see what they were like, in the dark, lad, I suppose?" 15386 15387"Oh yes; I saw them down-town and follered them." 15388 15389"Splendid! Describe them--describe them, my boy!" 15390 15391"One's the old deaf and dumb Spaniard that's ben around here once or 15392twice, and t'other's a mean-looking, ragged--" 15393 15394"That's enough, lad, we know the men! Happened on them in the woods 15395back of the widow's one day, and they slunk away. Off with you, boys, 15396and tell the sheriff--get your breakfast to-morrow morning!" 15397 15398The Welshman's sons departed at once. As they were leaving the room 15399Huck sprang up and exclaimed: 15400 15401"Oh, please don't tell ANYbody it was me that blowed on them! Oh, 15402please!" 15403 15404"All right if you say it, Huck, but you ought to have the credit of 15405what you did." 15406 15407"Oh no, no! Please don't tell!" 15408 15409When the young men were gone, the old Welshman said: 15410 15411"They won't tell--and I won't. But why don't you want it known?" 15412 15413Huck would not explain, further than to say that he already knew too 15414much about one of those men and would not have the man know that he 15415knew anything against him for the whole world--he would be killed for 15416knowing it, sure. 15417 15418The old man promised secrecy once more, and said: 15419 15420"How did you come to follow these fellows, lad? Were they looking 15421suspicious?" 15422 15423Huck was silent while he framed a duly cautious reply. Then he said: 15424 15425"Well, you see, I'm a kind of a hard lot,--least everybody says so, 15426and I don't see nothing agin it--and sometimes I can't sleep much, on 15427account of thinking about it and sort of trying to strike out a new way 15428of doing. That was the way of it last night. I couldn't sleep, and so I 15429come along up-street 'bout midnight, a-turning it all over, and when I 15430got to that old shackly brick store by the Temperance Tavern, I backed 15431up agin the wall to have another think. Well, just then along comes 15432these two chaps slipping along close by me, with something under their 15433arm, and I reckoned they'd stole it. One was a-smoking, and t'other one 15434wanted a light; so they stopped right before me and the cigars lit up 15435their faces and I see that the big one was the deaf and dumb Spaniard, 15436by his white whiskers and the patch on his eye, and t'other one was a 15437rusty, ragged-looking devil." 15438 15439"Could you see the rags by the light of the cigars?" 15440 15441This staggered Huck for a moment. Then he said: 15442 15443"Well, I don't know--but somehow it seems as if I did." 15444 15445"Then they went on, and you--" 15446 15447"Follered 'em--yes. That was it. I wanted to see what was up--they 15448sneaked along so. I dogged 'em to the widder's stile, and stood in the 15449dark and heard the ragged one beg for the widder, and the Spaniard 15450swear he'd spile her looks just as I told you and your two--" 15451 15452"What! The DEAF AND DUMB man said all that!" 15453 15454Huck had made another terrible mistake! He was trying his best to keep 15455the old man from getting the faintest hint of who the Spaniard might 15456be, and yet his tongue seemed determined to get him into trouble in 15457spite of all he could do. He made several efforts to creep out of his 15458scrape, but the old man's eye was upon him and he made blunder after 15459blunder. Presently the Welshman said: 15460 15461"My boy, don't be afraid of me. I wouldn't hurt a hair of your head 15462for all the world. No--I'd protect you--I'd protect you. This Spaniard 15463is not deaf and dumb; you've let that slip without intending it; you 15464can't cover that up now. You know something about that Spaniard that 15465you want to keep dark. Now trust me--tell me what it is, and trust me 15466--I won't betray you." 15467 15468Huck looked into the old man's honest eyes a moment, then bent over 15469and whispered in his ear: 15470 15471"'Tain't a Spaniard--it's Injun Joe!" 15472 15473The Welshman almost jumped out of his chair. In a moment he said: 15474 15475"It's all plain enough, now. When you talked about notching ears and 15476slitting noses I judged that that was your own embellishment, because 15477white men don't take that sort of revenge. But an Injun! That's a 15478different matter altogether." 15479 15480During breakfast the talk went on, and in the course of it the old man 15481said that the last thing which he and his sons had done, before going 15482to bed, was to get a lantern and examine the stile and its vicinity for 15483marks of blood. They found none, but captured a bulky bundle of-- 15484 15485"Of WHAT?" 15486 15487If the words had been lightning they could not have leaped with a more 15488stunning suddenness from Huck's blanched lips. His eyes were staring 15489wide, now, and his breath suspended--waiting for the answer. The 15490Welshman started--stared in return--three seconds--five seconds--ten 15491--then replied: 15492 15493"Of burglar's tools. Why, what's the MATTER with you?" 15494 15495Huck sank back, panting gently, but deeply, unutterably grateful. The 15496Welshman eyed him gravely, curiously--and presently said: 15497 15498"Yes, burglar's tools. That appears to relieve you a good deal. But 15499what did give you that turn? What were YOU expecting we'd found?" 15500 15501Huck was in a close place--the inquiring eye was upon him--he would 15502have given anything for material for a plausible answer--nothing 15503suggested itself--the inquiring eye was boring deeper and deeper--a 15504senseless reply offered--there was no time to weigh it, so at a venture 15505he uttered it--feebly: 15506 15507"Sunday-school books, maybe." 15508 15509Poor Huck was too distressed to smile, but the old man laughed loud 15510and joyously, shook up the details of his anatomy from head to foot, 15511and ended by saying that such a laugh was money in a-man's pocket, 15512because it cut down the doctor's bill like everything. Then he added: 15513 15514"Poor old chap, you're white and jaded--you ain't well a bit--no 15515wonder you're a little flighty and off your balance. But you'll come 15516out of it. Rest and sleep will fetch you out all right, I hope." 15517 15518Huck was irritated to think he had been such a goose and betrayed such 15519a suspicious excitement, for he had dropped the idea that the parcel 15520brought from the tavern was the treasure, as soon as he had heard the 15521talk at the widow's stile. He had only thought it was not the treasure, 15522however--he had not known that it wasn't--and so the suggestion of a 15523captured bundle was too much for his self-possession. But on the whole 15524he felt glad the little episode had happened, for now he knew beyond 15525all question that that bundle was not THE bundle, and so his mind was 15526at rest and exceedingly comfortable. In fact, everything seemed to be 15527drifting just in the right direction, now; the treasure must be still 15528in No. 2, the men would be captured and jailed that day, and he and Tom 15529could seize the gold that night without any trouble or any fear of 15530interruption. 15531 15532Just as breakfast was completed there was a knock at the door. Huck 15533jumped for a hiding-place, for he had no mind to be connected even 15534remotely with the late event. The Welshman admitted several ladies and 15535gentlemen, among them the Widow Douglas, and noticed that groups of 15536citizens were climbing up the hill--to stare at the stile. So the news 15537had spread. The Welshman had to tell the story of the night to the 15538visitors. The widow's gratitude for her preservation was outspoken. 15539 15540"Don't say a word about it, madam. There's another that you're more 15541beholden to than you are to me and my boys, maybe, but he don't allow 15542me to tell his name. We wouldn't have been there but for him." 15543 15544Of course this excited a curiosity so vast that it almost belittled 15545the main matter--but the Welshman allowed it to eat into the vitals of 15546his visitors, and through them be transmitted to the whole town, for he 15547refused to part with his secret. When all else had been learned, the 15548widow said: 15549 15550"I went to sleep reading in bed and slept straight through all that 15551noise. Why didn't you come and wake me?" 15552 15553"We judged it warn't worth while. Those fellows warn't likely to come 15554again--they hadn't any tools left to work with, and what was the use of 15555waking you up and scaring you to death? My three negro men stood guard 15556at your house all the rest of the night. They've just come back." 15557 15558More visitors came, and the story had to be told and retold for a 15559couple of hours more. 15560 15561There was no Sabbath-school during day-school vacation, but everybody 15562was early at church. The stirring event was well canvassed. News came 15563that not a sign of the two villains had been yet discovered. When the 15564sermon was finished, Judge Thatcher's wife dropped alongside of Mrs. 15565Harper as she moved down the aisle with the crowd and said: 15566 15567"Is my Becky going to sleep all day? I just expected she would be 15568tired to death." 15569 15570"Your Becky?" 15571 15572"Yes," with a startled look--"didn't she stay with you last night?" 15573 15574"Why, no." 15575 15576Mrs. Thatcher turned pale, and sank into a pew, just as Aunt Polly, 15577talking briskly with a friend, passed by. Aunt Polly said: 15578 15579"Good-morning, Mrs. Thatcher. Good-morning, Mrs. Harper. I've got a 15580boy that's turned up missing. I reckon my Tom stayed at your house last 15581night--one of you. And now he's afraid to come to church. I've got to 15582settle with him." 15583 15584Mrs. Thatcher shook her head feebly and turned paler than ever. 15585 15586"He didn't stay with us," said Mrs. Harper, beginning to look uneasy. 15587A marked anxiety came into Aunt Polly's face. 15588 15589"Joe Harper, have you seen my Tom this morning?" 15590 15591"No'm." 15592 15593"When did you see him last?" 15594 15595Joe tried to remember, but was not sure he could say. The people had 15596stopped moving out of church. Whispers passed along, and a boding 15597uneasiness took possession of every countenance. Children were 15598anxiously questioned, and young teachers. They all said they had not 15599noticed whether Tom and Becky were on board the ferryboat on the 15600homeward trip; it was dark; no one thought of inquiring if any one was 15601missing. One young man finally blurted out his fear that they were 15602still in the cave! Mrs. Thatcher swooned away. Aunt Polly fell to 15603crying and wringing her hands. 15604 15605The alarm swept from lip to lip, from group to group, from street to 15606street, and within five minutes the bells were wildly clanging and the 15607whole town was up! The Cardiff Hill episode sank into instant 15608insignificance, the burglars were forgotten, horses were saddled, 15609skiffs were manned, the ferryboat ordered out, and before the horror 15610was half an hour old, two hundred men were pouring down highroad and 15611river toward the cave. 15612 15613All the long afternoon the village seemed empty and dead. Many women 15614visited Aunt Polly and Mrs. Thatcher and tried to comfort them. They 15615cried with them, too, and that was still better than words. All the 15616tedious night the town waited for news; but when the morning dawned at 15617last, all the word that came was, "Send more candles--and send food." 15618Mrs. Thatcher was almost crazed; and Aunt Polly, also. Judge Thatcher 15619sent messages of hope and encouragement from the cave, but they 15620conveyed no real cheer. 15621 15622The old Welshman came home toward daylight, spattered with 15623candle-grease, smeared with clay, and almost worn out. He found Huck 15624still in the bed that had been provided for him, and delirious with 15625fever. The physicians were all at the cave, so the Widow Douglas came 15626and took charge of the patient. She said she would do her best by him, 15627because, whether he was good, bad, or indifferent, he was the Lord's, 15628and nothing that was the Lord's was a thing to be neglected. The 15629Welshman said Huck had good spots in him, and the widow said: 15630 15631"You can depend on it. That's the Lord's mark. He don't leave it off. 15632He never does. Puts it somewhere on every creature that comes from his 15633hands." 15634 15635Early in the forenoon parties of jaded men began to straggle into the 15636village, but the strongest of the citizens continued searching. All the 15637news that could be gained was that remotenesses of the cavern were 15638being ransacked that had never been visited before; that every corner 15639and crevice was going to be thoroughly searched; that wherever one 15640wandered through the maze of passages, lights were to be seen flitting 15641hither and thither in the distance, and shoutings and pistol-shots sent 15642their hollow reverberations to the ear down the sombre aisles. In one 15643place, far from the section usually traversed by tourists, the names 15644"BECKY & TOM" had been found traced upon the rocky wall with 15645candle-smoke, and near at hand a grease-soiled bit of ribbon. Mrs. 15646Thatcher recognized the ribbon and cried over it. She said it was the 15647last relic she should ever have of her child; and that no other memorial 15648of her could ever be so precious, because this one parted latest from 15649the living body before the awful death came. Some said that now and 15650then, in the cave, a far-away speck of light would glimmer, and then a 15651glorious shout would burst forth and a score of men go trooping down the 15652echoing aisle--and then a sickening disappointment always followed; the 15653children were not there; it was only a searcher's light. 15654 15655Three dreadful days and nights dragged their tedious hours along, and 15656the village sank into a hopeless stupor. No one had heart for anything. 15657The accidental discovery, just made, that the proprietor of the 15658Temperance Tavern kept liquor on his premises, scarcely fluttered the 15659public pulse, tremendous as the fact was. In a lucid interval, Huck 15660feebly led up to the subject of taverns, and finally asked--dimly 15661dreading the worst--if anything had been discovered at the Temperance 15662Tavern since he had been ill. 15663 15664"Yes," said the widow. 15665 15666Huck started up in bed, wild-eyed: 15667 15668"What? What was it?" 15669 15670"Liquor!--and the place has been shut up. Lie down, child--what a turn 15671you did give me!" 15672 15673"Only tell me just one thing--only just one--please! Was it Tom Sawyer 15674that found it?" 15675 15676The widow burst into tears. "Hush, hush, child, hush! I've told you 15677before, you must NOT talk. You are very, very sick!" 15678 15679Then nothing but liquor had been found; there would have been a great 15680powwow if it had been the gold. So the treasure was gone forever--gone 15681forever! But what could she be crying about? Curious that she should 15682cry. 15683 15684These thoughts worked their dim way through Huck's mind, and under the 15685weariness they gave him he fell asleep. The widow said to herself: 15686 15687"There--he's asleep, poor wreck. Tom Sawyer find it! Pity but somebody 15688could find Tom Sawyer! Ah, there ain't many left, now, that's got hope 15689enough, or strength enough, either, to go on searching." 15690 15691 15692 15693CHAPTER XXXI 15694 15695NOW to return to Tom and Becky's share in the picnic. They tripped 15696along the murky aisles with the rest of the company, visiting the 15697familiar wonders of the cave--wonders dubbed with rather 15698over-descriptive names, such as "The Drawing-Room," "The Cathedral," 15699"Aladdin's Palace," and so on. Presently the hide-and-seek frolicking 15700began, and Tom and Becky engaged in it with zeal until the exertion 15701began to grow a trifle wearisome; then they wandered down a sinuous 15702avenue holding their candles aloft and reading the tangled web-work of 15703names, dates, post-office addresses, and mottoes with which the rocky 15704walls had been frescoed (in candle-smoke). Still drifting along and 15705talking, they scarcely noticed that they were now in a part of the cave 15706whose walls were not frescoed. They smoked their own names under an 15707overhanging shelf and moved on. Presently they came to a place where a 15708little stream of water, trickling over a ledge and carrying a limestone 15709sediment with it, had, in the slow-dragging ages, formed a laced and 15710ruffled Niagara in gleaming and imperishable stone. Tom squeezed his 15711small body behind it in order to illuminate it for Becky's 15712gratification. He found that it curtained a sort of steep natural 15713stairway which was enclosed between narrow walls, and at once the 15714ambition to be a discoverer seized him. Becky responded to his call, 15715and they made a smoke-mark for future guidance, and started upon their 15716quest. They wound this way and that, far down into the secret depths of 15717the cave, made another mark, and branched off in search of novelties to 15718tell the upper world about. In one place they found a spacious cavern, 15719from whose ceiling depended a multitude of shining stalactites of the 15720length and circumference of a man's leg; they walked all about it, 15721wondering and admiring, and presently left it by one of the numerous 15722passages that opened into it. This shortly brought them to a bewitching 15723spring, whose basin was incrusted with a frostwork of glittering 15724crystals; it was in the midst of a cavern whose walls were supported by 15725many fantastic pillars which had been formed by the joining of great 15726stalactites and stalagmites together, the result of the ceaseless 15727water-drip of centuries. Under the roof vast knots of bats had packed 15728themselves together, thousands in a bunch; the lights disturbed the 15729creatures and they came flocking down by hundreds, squeaking and 15730darting furiously at the candles. Tom knew their ways and the danger of 15731this sort of conduct. He seized Becky's hand and hurried her into the 15732first corridor that offered; and none too soon, for a bat struck 15733Becky's light out with its wing while she was passing out of the 15734cavern. The bats chased the children a good distance; but the fugitives 15735plunged into every new passage that offered, and at last got rid of the 15736perilous things. Tom found a subterranean lake, shortly, which 15737stretched its dim length away until its shape was lost in the shadows. 15738He wanted to explore its borders, but concluded that it would be best 15739to sit down and rest awhile, first. Now, for the first time, the deep 15740stillness of the place laid a clammy hand upon the spirits of the 15741children. Becky said: 15742 15743"Why, I didn't notice, but it seems ever so long since I heard any of 15744the others." 15745 15746"Come to think, Becky, we are away down below them--and I don't know 15747how far away north, or south, or east, or whichever it is. We couldn't 15748hear them here." 15749 15750Becky grew apprehensive. 15751 15752"I wonder how long we've been down here, Tom? We better start back." 15753 15754"Yes, I reckon we better. P'raps we better." 15755 15756"Can you find the way, Tom? It's all a mixed-up crookedness to me." 15757 15758"I reckon I could find it--but then the bats. If they put our candles 15759out it will be an awful fix. Let's try some other way, so as not to go 15760through there." 15761 15762"Well. But I hope we won't get lost. It would be so awful!" and the 15763girl shuddered at the thought of the dreadful possibilities. 15764 15765They started through a corridor, and traversed it in silence a long 15766way, glancing at each new opening, to see if there was anything 15767familiar about the look of it; but they were all strange. Every time 15768Tom made an examination, Becky would watch his face for an encouraging 15769sign, and he would say cheerily: 15770 15771"Oh, it's all right. This ain't the one, but we'll come to it right 15772away!" 15773 15774But he felt less and less hopeful with each failure, and presently 15775began to turn off into diverging avenues at sheer random, in desperate 15776hope of finding the one that was wanted. He still said it was "all 15777right," but there was such a leaden dread at his heart that the words 15778had lost their ring and sounded just as if he had said, "All is lost!" 15779Becky clung to his side in an anguish of fear, and tried hard to keep 15780back the tears, but they would come. At last she said: 15781 15782"Oh, Tom, never mind the bats, let's go back that way! We seem to get 15783worse and worse off all the time." 15784 15785"Listen!" said he. 15786 15787Profound silence; silence so deep that even their breathings were 15788conspicuous in the hush. Tom shouted. The call went echoing down the 15789empty aisles and died out in the distance in a faint sound that 15790resembled a ripple of mocking laughter. 15791 15792"Oh, don't do it again, Tom, it is too horrid," said Becky. 15793 15794"It is horrid, but I better, Becky; they might hear us, you know," and 15795he shouted again. 15796 15797The "might" was even a chillier horror than the ghostly laughter, it 15798so confessed a perishing hope. The children stood still and listened; 15799but there was no result. Tom turned upon the back track at once, and 15800hurried his steps. It was but a little while before a certain 15801indecision in his manner revealed another fearful fact to Becky--he 15802could not find his way back! 15803 15804"Oh, Tom, you didn't make any marks!" 15805 15806"Becky, I was such a fool! Such a fool! I never thought we might want 15807to come back! No--I can't find the way. It's all mixed up." 15808 15809"Tom, Tom, we're lost! we're lost! We never can get out of this awful 15810place! Oh, why DID we ever leave the others!" 15811 15812She sank to the ground and burst into such a frenzy of crying that Tom 15813was appalled with the idea that she might die, or lose her reason. He 15814sat down by her and put his arms around her; she buried her face in his 15815bosom, she clung to him, she poured out her terrors, her unavailing 15816regrets, and the far echoes turned them all to jeering laughter. Tom 15817begged her to pluck up hope again, and she said she could not. He fell 15818to blaming and abusing himself for getting her into this miserable 15819situation; this had a better effect. She said she would try to hope 15820again, she would get up and follow wherever he might lead if only he 15821would not talk like that any more. For he was no more to blame than 15822she, she said. 15823 15824So they moved on again--aimlessly--simply at random--all they could do 15825was to move, keep moving. For a little while, hope made a show of 15826reviving--not with any reason to back it, but only because it is its 15827nature to revive when the spring has not been taken out of it by age 15828and familiarity with failure. 15829 15830By-and-by Tom took Becky's candle and blew it out. This economy meant 15831so much! Words were not needed. Becky understood, and her hope died 15832again. She knew that Tom had a whole candle and three or four pieces in 15833his pockets--yet he must economize. 15834 15835By-and-by, fatigue began to assert its claims; the children tried to 15836pay attention, for it was dreadful to think of sitting down when time 15837was grown to be so precious, moving, in some direction, in any 15838direction, was at least progress and might bear fruit; but to sit down 15839was to invite death and shorten its pursuit. 15840 15841At last Becky's frail limbs refused to carry her farther. She sat 15842down. Tom rested with her, and they talked of home, and the friends 15843there, and the comfortable beds and, above all, the light! Becky cried, 15844and Tom tried to think of some way of comforting her, but all his 15845encouragements were grown threadbare with use, and sounded like 15846sarcasms. Fatigue bore so heavily upon Becky that she drowsed off to 15847sleep. Tom was grateful. He sat looking into her drawn face and saw it 15848grow smooth and natural under the influence of pleasant dreams; and 15849by-and-by a smile dawned and rested there. The peaceful face reflected 15850somewhat of peace and healing into his own spirit, and his thoughts 15851wandered away to bygone times and dreamy memories. While he was deep in 15852his musings, Becky woke up with a breezy little laugh--but it was 15853stricken dead upon her lips, and a groan followed it. 15854 15855"Oh, how COULD I sleep! I wish I never, never had waked! No! No, I 15856don't, Tom! Don't look so! I won't say it again." 15857 15858"I'm glad you've slept, Becky; you'll feel rested, now, and we'll find 15859the way out." 15860 15861"We can try, Tom; but I've seen such a beautiful country in my dream. 15862I reckon we are going there." 15863 15864"Maybe not, maybe not. Cheer up, Becky, and let's go on trying." 15865 15866They rose up and wandered along, hand in hand and hopeless. They tried 15867to estimate how long they had been in the cave, but all they knew was 15868that it seemed days and weeks, and yet it was plain that this could not 15869be, for their candles were not gone yet. A long time after this--they 15870could not tell how long--Tom said they must go softly and listen for 15871dripping water--they must find a spring. They found one presently, and 15872Tom said it was time to rest again. Both were cruelly tired, yet Becky 15873said she thought she could go a little farther. She was surprised to 15874hear Tom dissent. She could not understand it. They sat down, and Tom 15875fastened his candle to the wall in front of them with some clay. 15876Thought was soon busy; nothing was said for some time. Then Becky broke 15877the silence: 15878 15879"Tom, I am so hungry!" 15880 15881Tom took something out of his pocket. 15882 15883"Do you remember this?" said he. 15884 15885Becky almost smiled. 15886 15887"It's our wedding-cake, Tom." 15888 15889"Yes--I wish it was as big as a barrel, for it's all we've got." 15890 15891"I saved it from the picnic for us to dream on, Tom, the way grown-up 15892people do with wedding-cake--but it'll be our--" 15893 15894She dropped the sentence where it was. Tom divided the cake and Becky 15895ate with good appetite, while Tom nibbled at his moiety. There was 15896abundance of cold water to finish the feast with. By-and-by Becky 15897suggested that they move on again. Tom was silent a moment. Then he 15898said: 15899 15900"Becky, can you bear it if I tell you something?" 15901 15902Becky's face paled, but she thought she could. 15903 15904"Well, then, Becky, we must stay here, where there's water to drink. 15905That little piece is our last candle!" 15906 15907Becky gave loose to tears and wailings. Tom did what he could to 15908comfort her, but with little effect. At length Becky said: 15909 15910"Tom!" 15911 15912"Well, Becky?" 15913 15914"They'll miss us and hunt for us!" 15915 15916"Yes, they will! Certainly they will!" 15917 15918"Maybe they're hunting for us now, Tom." 15919 15920"Why, I reckon maybe they are. I hope they are." 15921 15922"When would they miss us, Tom?" 15923 15924"When they get back to the boat, I reckon." 15925 15926"Tom, it might be dark then--would they notice we hadn't come?" 15927 15928"I don't know. But anyway, your mother would miss you as soon as they 15929got home." 15930 15931A frightened look in Becky's face brought Tom to his senses and he saw 15932that he had made a blunder. Becky was not to have gone home that night! 15933The children became silent and thoughtful. In a moment a new burst of 15934grief from Becky showed Tom that the thing in his mind had struck hers 15935also--that the Sabbath morning might be half spent before Mrs. Thatcher 15936discovered that Becky was not at Mrs. Harper's. 15937 15938The children fastened their eyes upon their bit of candle and watched 15939it melt slowly and pitilessly away; saw the half inch of wick stand 15940alone at last; saw the feeble flame rise and fall, climb the thin 15941column of smoke, linger at its top a moment, and then--the horror of 15942utter darkness reigned! 15943 15944How long afterward it was that Becky came to a slow consciousness that 15945she was crying in Tom's arms, neither could tell. All that they knew 15946was, that after what seemed a mighty stretch of time, both awoke out of 15947a dead stupor of sleep and resumed their miseries once more. Tom said 15948it might be Sunday, now--maybe Monday. He tried to get Becky to talk, 15949but her sorrows were too oppressive, all her hopes were gone. Tom said 15950that they must have been missed long ago, and no doubt the search was 15951going on. He would shout and maybe some one would come. He tried it; 15952but in the darkness the distant echoes sounded so hideously that he 15953tried it no more. 15954 15955The hours wasted away, and hunger came to torment the captives again. 15956A portion of Tom's half of the cake was left; they divided and ate it. 15957But they seemed hungrier than before. The poor morsel of food only 15958whetted desire. 15959 15960By-and-by Tom said: 15961 15962"SH! Did you hear that?" 15963 15964Both held their breath and listened. There was a sound like the 15965faintest, far-off shout. Instantly Tom answered it, and leading Becky 15966by the hand, started groping down the corridor in its direction. 15967Presently he listened again; again the sound was heard, and apparently 15968a little nearer. 15969 15970"It's them!" said Tom; "they're coming! Come along, Becky--we're all 15971right now!" 15972 15973The joy of the prisoners was almost overwhelming. Their speed was 15974slow, however, because pitfalls were somewhat common, and had to be 15975guarded against. They shortly came to one and had to stop. It might be 15976three feet deep, it might be a hundred--there was no passing it at any 15977rate. Tom got down on his breast and reached as far down as he could. 15978No bottom. They must stay there and wait until the searchers came. They 15979listened; evidently the distant shoutings were growing more distant! a 15980moment or two more and they had gone altogether. The heart-sinking 15981misery of it! Tom whooped until he was hoarse, but it was of no use. He 15982talked hopefully to Becky; but an age of anxious waiting passed and no 15983sounds came again. 15984 15985The children groped their way back to the spring. The weary time 15986dragged on; they slept again, and awoke famished and woe-stricken. Tom 15987believed it must be Tuesday by this time. 15988 15989Now an idea struck him. There were some side passages near at hand. It 15990would be better to explore some of these than bear the weight of the 15991heavy time in idleness. He took a kite-line from his pocket, tied it to 15992a projection, and he and Becky started, Tom in the lead, unwinding the 15993line as he groped along. At the end of twenty steps the corridor ended 15994in a "jumping-off place." Tom got down on his knees and felt below, and 15995then as far around the corner as he could reach with his hands 15996conveniently; he made an effort to stretch yet a little farther to the 15997right, and at that moment, not twenty yards away, a human hand, holding 15998a candle, appeared from behind a rock! Tom lifted up a glorious shout, 15999and instantly that hand was followed by the body it belonged to--Injun 16000Joe's! Tom was paralyzed; he could not move. He was vastly gratified 16001the next moment, to see the "Spaniard" take to his heels and get 16002himself out of sight. Tom wondered that Joe had not recognized his 16003voice and come over and killed him for testifying in court. But the 16004echoes must have disguised the voice. Without doubt, that was it, he 16005reasoned. Tom's fright weakened every muscle in his body. He said to 16006himself that if he had strength enough to get back to the spring he 16007would stay there, and nothing should tempt him to run the risk of 16008meeting Injun Joe again. He was careful to keep from Becky what it was 16009he had seen. He told her he had only shouted "for luck." 16010 16011But hunger and wretchedness rise superior to fears in the long run. 16012Another tedious wait at the spring and another long sleep brought 16013changes. The children awoke tortured with a raging hunger. Tom believed 16014that it must be Wednesday or Thursday or even Friday or Saturday, now, 16015and that the search had been given over. He proposed to explore another 16016passage. He felt willing to risk Injun Joe and all other terrors. But 16017Becky was very weak. She had sunk into a dreary apathy and would not be 16018roused. She said she would wait, now, where she was, and die--it would 16019not be long. She told Tom to go with the kite-line and explore if he 16020chose; but she implored him to come back every little while and speak 16021to her; and she made him promise that when the awful time came, he 16022would stay by her and hold her hand until all was over. 16023 16024Tom kissed her, with a choking sensation in his throat, and made a 16025show of being confident of finding the searchers or an escape from the 16026cave; then he took the kite-line in his hand and went groping down one 16027of the passages on his hands and knees, distressed with hunger and sick 16028with bodings of coming doom. 16029 16030 16031 16032CHAPTER XXXII 16033 16034TUESDAY afternoon came, and waned to the twilight. The village of St. 16035Petersburg still mourned. The lost children had not been found. Public 16036prayers had been offered up for them, and many and many a private 16037prayer that had the petitioner's whole heart in it; but still no good 16038news came from the cave. The majority of the searchers had given up the 16039quest and gone back to their daily avocations, saying that it was plain 16040the children could never be found. Mrs. Thatcher was very ill, and a 16041great part of the time delirious. People said it was heartbreaking to 16042hear her call her child, and raise her head and listen a whole minute 16043at a time, then lay it wearily down again with a moan. Aunt Polly had 16044drooped into a settled melancholy, and her gray hair had grown almost 16045white. The village went to its rest on Tuesday night, sad and forlorn. 16046 16047Away in the middle of the night a wild peal burst from the village 16048bells, and in a moment the streets were swarming with frantic half-clad 16049people, who shouted, "Turn out! turn out! they're found! they're 16050found!" Tin pans and horns were added to the din, the population massed 16051itself and moved toward the river, met the children coming in an open 16052carriage drawn by shouting citizens, thronged around it, joined its 16053homeward march, and swept magnificently up the main street roaring 16054huzzah after huzzah! 16055 16056The village was illuminated; nobody went to bed again; it was the 16057greatest night the little town had ever seen. During the first half-hour 16058a procession of villagers filed through Judge Thatcher's house, seized 16059the saved ones and kissed them, squeezed Mrs. Thatcher's hand, tried to 16060speak but couldn't--and drifted out raining tears all over the place. 16061 16062Aunt Polly's happiness was complete, and Mrs. Thatcher's nearly so. It 16063would be complete, however, as soon as the messenger dispatched with 16064the great news to the cave should get the word to her husband. Tom lay 16065upon a sofa with an eager auditory about him and told the history of 16066the wonderful adventure, putting in many striking additions to adorn it 16067withal; and closed with a description of how he left Becky and went on 16068an exploring expedition; how he followed two avenues as far as his 16069kite-line would reach; how he followed a third to the fullest stretch of 16070the kite-line, and was about to turn back when he glimpsed a far-off 16071speck that looked like daylight; dropped the line and groped toward it, 16072pushed his head and shoulders through a small hole, and saw the broad 16073Mississippi rolling by! And if it had only happened to be night he would 16074not have seen that speck of daylight and would not have explored that 16075passage any more! He told how he went back for Becky and broke the good 16076news and she told him not to fret her with such stuff, for she was 16077tired, and knew she was going to die, and wanted to. He described how he 16078labored with her and convinced her; and how she almost died for joy when 16079she had groped to where she actually saw the blue speck of daylight; how 16080he pushed his way out at the hole and then helped her out; how they sat 16081there and cried for gladness; how some men came along in a skiff and Tom 16082hailed them and told them their situation and their famished condition; 16083how the men didn't believe the wild tale at first, "because," said they, 16084"you are five miles down the river below the valley the cave is in" 16085--then took them aboard, rowed to a house, gave them supper, made them 16086rest till two or three hours after dark and then brought them home. 16087 16088Before day-dawn, Judge Thatcher and the handful of searchers with him 16089were tracked out, in the cave, by the twine clews they had strung 16090behind them, and informed of the great news. 16091 16092Three days and nights of toil and hunger in the cave were not to be 16093shaken off at once, as Tom and Becky soon discovered. They were 16094bedridden all of Wednesday and Thursday, and seemed to grow more and 16095more tired and worn, all the time. Tom got about, a little, on 16096Thursday, was down-town Friday, and nearly as whole as ever Saturday; 16097but Becky did not leave her room until Sunday, and then she looked as 16098if she had passed through a wasting illness. 16099 16100Tom learned of Huck's sickness and went to see him on Friday, but 16101could not be admitted to the bedroom; neither could he on Saturday or 16102Sunday. He was admitted daily after that, but was warned to keep still 16103about his adventure and introduce no exciting topic. The Widow Douglas 16104stayed by to see that he obeyed. At home Tom learned of the Cardiff 16105Hill event; also that the "ragged man's" body had eventually been found 16106in the river near the ferry-landing; he had been drowned while trying 16107to escape, perhaps. 16108 16109About a fortnight after Tom's rescue from the cave, he started off to 16110visit Huck, who had grown plenty strong enough, now, to hear exciting 16111talk, and Tom had some that would interest him, he thought. Judge 16112Thatcher's house was on Tom's way, and he stopped to see Becky. The 16113Judge and some friends set Tom to talking, and some one asked him 16114ironically if he wouldn't like to go to the cave again. Tom said he 16115thought he wouldn't mind it. The Judge said: 16116 16117"Well, there are others just like you, Tom, I've not the least doubt. 16118But we have taken care of that. Nobody will get lost in that cave any 16119more." 16120 16121"Why?" 16122 16123"Because I had its big door sheathed with boiler iron two weeks ago, 16124and triple-locked--and I've got the keys." 16125 16126Tom turned as white as a sheet. 16127 16128"What's the matter, boy! Here, run, somebody! Fetch a glass of water!" 16129 16130The water was brought and thrown into Tom's face. 16131 16132"Ah, now you're all right. What was the matter with you, Tom?" 16133 16134"Oh, Judge, Injun Joe's in the cave!" 16135 16136 16137 16138CHAPTER XXXIII 16139 16140WITHIN a few minutes the news had spread, and a dozen skiff-loads of 16141men were on their way to McDougal's cave, and the ferryboat, well 16142filled with passengers, soon followed. Tom Sawyer was in the skiff that 16143bore Judge Thatcher. 16144 16145When the cave door was unlocked, a sorrowful sight presented itself in 16146the dim twilight of the place. Injun Joe lay stretched upon the ground, 16147dead, with his face close to the crack of the door, as if his longing 16148eyes had been fixed, to the latest moment, upon the light and the cheer 16149of the free world outside. Tom was touched, for he knew by his own 16150experience how this wretch had suffered. His pity was moved, but 16151nevertheless he felt an abounding sense of relief and security, now, 16152which revealed to him in a degree which he had not fully appreciated 16153before how vast a weight of dread had been lying upon him since the day 16154he lifted his voice against this bloody-minded outcast. 16155 16156Injun Joe's bowie-knife lay close by, its blade broken in two. The 16157great foundation-beam of the door had been chipped and hacked through, 16158with tedious labor; useless labor, too, it was, for the native rock 16159formed a sill outside it, and upon that stubborn material the knife had 16160wrought no effect; the only damage done was to the knife itself. But if 16161there had been no stony obstruction there the labor would have been 16162useless still, for if the beam had been wholly cut away Injun Joe could 16163not have squeezed his body under the door, and he knew it. So he had 16164only hacked that place in order to be doing something--in order to pass 16165the weary time--in order to employ his tortured faculties. Ordinarily 16166one could find half a dozen bits of candle stuck around in the crevices 16167of this vestibule, left there by tourists; but there were none now. The 16168prisoner had searched them out and eaten them. He had also contrived to 16169catch a few bats, and these, also, he had eaten, leaving only their 16170claws. The poor unfortunate had starved to death. In one place, near at 16171hand, a stalagmite had been slowly growing up from the ground for ages, 16172builded by the water-drip from a stalactite overhead. The captive had 16173broken off the stalagmite, and upon the stump had placed a stone, 16174wherein he had scooped a shallow hollow to catch the precious drop 16175that fell once in every three minutes with the dreary regularity of a 16176clock-tick--a dessertspoonful once in four and twenty hours. That drop 16177was falling when the Pyramids were new; when Troy fell; when the 16178foundations of Rome were laid; when Christ was crucified; when the 16179Conqueror created the British empire; when Columbus sailed; when the 16180massacre at Lexington was "news." It is falling now; it will still be 16181falling when all these things shall have sunk down the afternoon of 16182history, and the twilight of tradition, and been swallowed up in the 16183thick night of oblivion. Has everything a purpose and a mission? Did 16184this drop fall patiently during five thousand years to be ready for 16185this flitting human insect's need? and has it another important object 16186to accomplish ten thousand years to come? No matter. It is many and 16187many a year since the hapless half-breed scooped out the stone to catch 16188the priceless drops, but to this day the tourist stares longest at that 16189pathetic stone and that slow-dropping water when he comes to see the 16190wonders of McDougal's cave. Injun Joe's cup stands first in the list of 16191the cavern's marvels; even "Aladdin's Palace" cannot rival it. 16192 16193Injun Joe was buried near the mouth of the cave; and people flocked 16194there in boats and wagons from the towns and from all the farms and 16195hamlets for seven miles around; they brought their children, and all 16196sorts of provisions, and confessed that they had had almost as 16197satisfactory a time at the funeral as they could have had at the 16198hanging. 16199 16200This funeral stopped the further growth of one thing--the petition to 16201the governor for Injun Joe's pardon. The petition had been largely 16202signed; many tearful and eloquent meetings had been held, and a 16203committee of sappy women been appointed to go in deep mourning and wail 16204around the governor, and implore him to be a merciful ass and trample 16205his duty under foot. Injun Joe was believed to have killed five 16206citizens of the village, but what of that? If he had been Satan himself 16207there would have been plenty of weaklings ready to scribble their names 16208to a pardon-petition, and drip a tear on it from their permanently 16209impaired and leaky water-works. 16210 16211The morning after the funeral Tom took Huck to a private place to have 16212an important talk. Huck had learned all about Tom's adventure from the 16213Welshman and the Widow Douglas, by this time, but Tom said he reckoned 16214there was one thing they had not told him; that thing was what he 16215wanted to talk about now. Huck's face saddened. He said: 16216 16217"I know what it is. You got into No. 2 and never found anything but 16218whiskey. Nobody told me it was you; but I just knowed it must 'a' ben 16219you, soon as I heard 'bout that whiskey business; and I knowed you 16220hadn't got the money becuz you'd 'a' got at me some way or other and 16221told me even if you was mum to everybody else. Tom, something's always 16222told me we'd never get holt of that swag." 16223 16224"Why, Huck, I never told on that tavern-keeper. YOU know his tavern 16225was all right the Saturday I went to the picnic. Don't you remember you 16226was to watch there that night?" 16227 16228"Oh yes! Why, it seems 'bout a year ago. It was that very night that I 16229follered Injun Joe to the widder's." 16230 16231"YOU followed him?" 16232 16233"Yes--but you keep mum. I reckon Injun Joe's left friends behind him, 16234and I don't want 'em souring on me and doing me mean tricks. If it 16235hadn't ben for me he'd be down in Texas now, all right." 16236 16237Then Huck told his entire adventure in confidence to Tom, who had only 16238heard of the Welshman's part of it before. 16239 16240"Well," said Huck, presently, coming back to the main question, 16241"whoever nipped the whiskey in No. 2, nipped the money, too, I reckon 16242--anyways it's a goner for us, Tom." 16243 16244"Huck, that money wasn't ever in No. 2!" 16245 16246"What!" Huck searched his comrade's face keenly. "Tom, have you got on 16247the track of that money again?" 16248 16249"Huck, it's in the cave!" 16250 16251Huck's eyes blazed. 16252 16253"Say it again, Tom." 16254 16255"The money's in the cave!" 16256 16257"Tom--honest injun, now--is it fun, or earnest?" 16258 16259"Earnest, Huck--just as earnest as ever I was in my life. Will you go 16260in there with me and help get it out?" 16261 16262"I bet I will! I will if it's where we can blaze our way to it and not 16263get lost." 16264 16265"Huck, we can do that without the least little bit of trouble in the 16266world." 16267 16268"Good as wheat! What makes you think the money's--" 16269 16270"Huck, you just wait till we get in there. If we don't find it I'll 16271agree to give you my drum and every thing I've got in the world. I 16272will, by jings." 16273 16274"All right--it's a whiz. When do you say?" 16275 16276"Right now, if you say it. Are you strong enough?" 16277 16278"Is it far in the cave? I ben on my pins a little, three or four days, 16279now, but I can't walk more'n a mile, Tom--least I don't think I could." 16280 16281"It's about five mile into there the way anybody but me would go, 16282Huck, but there's a mighty short cut that they don't anybody but me 16283know about. Huck, I'll take you right to it in a skiff. I'll float the 16284skiff down there, and I'll pull it back again all by myself. You 16285needn't ever turn your hand over." 16286 16287"Less start right off, Tom." 16288 16289"All right. We want some bread and meat, and our pipes, and a little 16290bag or two, and two or three kite-strings, and some of these 16291new-fangled things they call lucifer matches. I tell you, many's 16292the time I wished I had some when I was in there before." 16293 16294A trifle after noon the boys borrowed a small skiff from a citizen who 16295was absent, and got under way at once. When they were several miles 16296below "Cave Hollow," Tom said: 16297 16298"Now you see this bluff here looks all alike all the way down from the 16299cave hollow--no houses, no wood-yards, bushes all alike. But do you see 16300that white place up yonder where there's been a landslide? Well, that's 16301one of my marks. We'll get ashore, now." 16302 16303They landed. 16304 16305"Now, Huck, where we're a-standing you could touch that hole I got out 16306of with a fishing-pole. See if you can find it." 16307 16308Huck searched all the place about, and found nothing. Tom proudly 16309marched into a thick clump of sumach bushes and said: 16310 16311"Here you are! Look at it, Huck; it's the snuggest hole in this 16312country. You just keep mum about it. All along I've been wanting to be 16313a robber, but I knew I'd got to have a thing like this, and where to 16314run across it was the bother. We've got it now, and we'll keep it 16315quiet, only we'll let Joe Harper and Ben Rogers in--because of course 16316there's got to be a Gang, or else there wouldn't be any style about it. 16317Tom Sawyer's Gang--it sounds splendid, don't it, Huck?" 16318 16319"Well, it just does, Tom. And who'll we rob?" 16320 16321"Oh, most anybody. Waylay people--that's mostly the way." 16322 16323"And kill them?" 16324 16325"No, not always. Hive them in the cave till they raise a ransom." 16326 16327"What's a ransom?" 16328 16329"Money. You make them raise all they can, off'n their friends; and 16330after you've kept them a year, if it ain't raised then you kill them. 16331That's the general way. Only you don't kill the women. You shut up the 16332women, but you don't kill them. They're always beautiful and rich, and 16333awfully scared. You take their watches and things, but you always take 16334your hat off and talk polite. They ain't anybody as polite as robbers 16335--you'll see that in any book. Well, the women get to loving you, and 16336after they've been in the cave a week or two weeks they stop crying and 16337after that you couldn't get them to leave. If you drove them out they'd 16338turn right around and come back. It's so in all the books." 16339 16340"Why, it's real bully, Tom. I believe it's better'n to be a pirate." 16341 16342"Yes, it's better in some ways, because it's close to home and 16343circuses and all that." 16344 16345By this time everything was ready and the boys entered the hole, Tom 16346in the lead. They toiled their way to the farther end of the tunnel, 16347then made their spliced kite-strings fast and moved on. A few steps 16348brought them to the spring, and Tom felt a shudder quiver all through 16349him. He showed Huck the fragment of candle-wick perched on a lump of 16350clay against the wall, and described how he and Becky had watched the 16351flame struggle and expire. 16352 16353The boys began to quiet down to whispers, now, for the stillness and 16354gloom of the place oppressed their spirits. They went on, and presently 16355entered and followed Tom's other corridor until they reached the 16356"jumping-off place." The candles revealed the fact that it was not 16357really a precipice, but only a steep clay hill twenty or thirty feet 16358high. Tom whispered: 16359 16360"Now I'll show you something, Huck." 16361 16362He held his candle aloft and said: 16363 16364"Look as far around the corner as you can. Do you see that? There--on 16365the big rock over yonder--done with candle-smoke." 16366 16367"Tom, it's a CROSS!" 16368 16369"NOW where's your Number Two? 'UNDER THE CROSS,' hey? Right yonder's 16370where I saw Injun Joe poke up his candle, Huck!" 16371 16372Huck stared at the mystic sign awhile, and then said with a shaky voice: 16373 16374"Tom, less git out of here!" 16375 16376"What! and leave the treasure?" 16377 16378"Yes--leave it. Injun Joe's ghost is round about there, certain." 16379 16380"No it ain't, Huck, no it ain't. It would ha'nt the place where he 16381died--away out at the mouth of the cave--five mile from here." 16382 16383"No, Tom, it wouldn't. It would hang round the money. I know the ways 16384of ghosts, and so do you." 16385 16386Tom began to fear that Huck was right. Misgivings gathered in his 16387mind. But presently an idea occurred to him-- 16388 16389"Lookyhere, Huck, what fools we're making of ourselves! Injun Joe's 16390ghost ain't a going to come around where there's a cross!" 16391 16392The point was well taken. It had its effect. 16393 16394"Tom, I didn't think of that. But that's so. It's luck for us, that 16395cross is. I reckon we'll climb down there and have a hunt for that box." 16396 16397Tom went first, cutting rude steps in the clay hill as he descended. 16398Huck followed. Four avenues opened out of the small cavern which the 16399great rock stood in. The boys examined three of them with no result. 16400They found a small recess in the one nearest the base of the rock, with 16401a pallet of blankets spread down in it; also an old suspender, some 16402bacon rind, and the well-gnawed bones of two or three fowls. But there 16403was no money-box. The lads searched and researched this place, but in 16404vain. Tom said: 16405 16406"He said UNDER the cross. Well, this comes nearest to being under the 16407cross. It can't be under the rock itself, because that sets solid on 16408the ground." 16409 16410They searched everywhere once more, and then sat down discouraged. 16411Huck could suggest nothing. By-and-by Tom said: 16412 16413"Lookyhere, Huck, there's footprints and some candle-grease on the 16414clay about one side of this rock, but not on the other sides. Now, 16415what's that for? I bet you the money IS under the rock. I'm going to 16416dig in the clay." 16417 16418"That ain't no bad notion, Tom!" said Huck with animation. 16419 16420Tom's "real Barlow" was out at once, and he had not dug four inches 16421before he struck wood. 16422 16423"Hey, Huck!--you hear that?" 16424 16425Huck began to dig and scratch now. Some boards were soon uncovered and 16426removed. They had concealed a natural chasm which led under the rock. 16427Tom got into this and held his candle as far under the rock as he 16428could, but said he could not see to the end of the rift. He proposed to 16429explore. He stooped and passed under; the narrow way descended 16430gradually. He followed its winding course, first to the right, then to 16431the left, Huck at his heels. Tom turned a short curve, by-and-by, and 16432exclaimed: 16433 16434"My goodness, Huck, lookyhere!" 16435 16436It was the treasure-box, sure enough, occupying a snug little cavern, 16437along with an empty powder-keg, a couple of guns in leather cases, two 16438or three pairs of old moccasins, a leather belt, and some other rubbish 16439well soaked with the water-drip. 16440 16441"Got it at last!" said Huck, ploughing among the tarnished coins with 16442his hand. "My, but we're rich, Tom!" 16443 16444"Huck, I always reckoned we'd get it. It's just too good to believe, 16445but we HAVE got it, sure! Say--let's not fool around here. Let's snake 16446it out. Lemme see if I can lift the box." 16447 16448It weighed about fifty pounds. Tom could lift it, after an awkward 16449fashion, but could not carry it conveniently. 16450 16451"I thought so," he said; "THEY carried it like it was heavy, that day 16452at the ha'nted house. I noticed that. I reckon I was right to think of 16453fetching the little bags along." 16454 16455The money was soon in the bags and the boys took it up to the cross 16456rock. 16457 16458"Now less fetch the guns and things," said Huck. 16459 16460"No, Huck--leave them there. They're just the tricks to have when we 16461go to robbing. We'll keep them there all the time, and we'll hold our 16462orgies there, too. It's an awful snug place for orgies." 16463 16464"What orgies?" 16465 16466"I dono. But robbers always have orgies, and of course we've got to 16467have them, too. Come along, Huck, we've been in here a long time. It's 16468getting late, I reckon. I'm hungry, too. We'll eat and smoke when we 16469get to the skiff." 16470 16471They presently emerged into the clump of sumach bushes, looked warily 16472out, found the coast clear, and were soon lunching and smoking in the 16473skiff. As the sun dipped toward the horizon they pushed out and got 16474under way. Tom skimmed up the shore through the long twilight, chatting 16475cheerily with Huck, and landed shortly after dark. 16476 16477"Now, Huck," said Tom, "we'll hide the money in the loft of the 16478widow's woodshed, and I'll come up in the morning and we'll count it 16479and divide, and then we'll hunt up a place out in the woods for it 16480where it will be safe. Just you lay quiet here and watch the stuff till 16481I run and hook Benny Taylor's little wagon; I won't be gone a minute." 16482 16483He disappeared, and presently returned with the wagon, put the two 16484small sacks into it, threw some old rags on top of them, and started 16485off, dragging his cargo behind him. When the boys reached the 16486Welshman's house, they stopped to rest. Just as they were about to move 16487on, the Welshman stepped out and said: 16488 16489"Hallo, who's that?" 16490 16491"Huck and Tom Sawyer." 16492 16493"Good! Come along with me, boys, you are keeping everybody waiting. 16494Here--hurry up, trot ahead--I'll haul the wagon for you. Why, it's not 16495as light as it might be. Got bricks in it?--or old metal?" 16496 16497"Old metal," said Tom. 16498 16499"I judged so; the boys in this town will take more trouble and fool 16500away more time hunting up six bits' worth of old iron to sell to the 16501foundry than they would to make twice the money at regular work. But 16502that's human nature--hurry along, hurry along!" 16503 16504The boys wanted to know what the hurry was about. 16505 16506"Never mind; you'll see, when we get to the Widow Douglas'." 16507 16508Huck said with some apprehension--for he was long used to being 16509falsely accused: 16510 16511"Mr. Jones, we haven't been doing nothing." 16512 16513The Welshman laughed. 16514 16515"Well, I don't know, Huck, my boy. I don't know about that. Ain't you 16516and the widow good friends?" 16517 16518"Yes. Well, she's ben good friends to me, anyway." 16519 16520"All right, then. What do you want to be afraid for?" 16521 16522This question was not entirely answered in Huck's slow mind before he 16523found himself pushed, along with Tom, into Mrs. Douglas' drawing-room. 16524Mr. Jones left the wagon near the door and followed. 16525 16526The place was grandly lighted, and everybody that was of any 16527consequence in the village was there. The Thatchers were there, the 16528Harpers, the Rogerses, Aunt Polly, Sid, Mary, the minister, the editor, 16529and a great many more, and all dressed in their best. The widow 16530received the boys as heartily as any one could well receive two such 16531looking beings. They were covered with clay and candle-grease. Aunt 16532Polly blushed crimson with humiliation, and frowned and shook her head 16533at Tom. Nobody suffered half as much as the two boys did, however. Mr. 16534Jones said: 16535 16536"Tom wasn't at home, yet, so I gave him up; but I stumbled on him and 16537Huck right at my door, and so I just brought them along in a hurry." 16538 16539"And you did just right," said the widow. "Come with me, boys." 16540 16541She took them to a bedchamber and said: 16542 16543"Now wash and dress yourselves. Here are two new suits of clothes 16544--shirts, socks, everything complete. They're Huck's--no, no thanks, 16545Huck--Mr. Jones bought one and I the other. But they'll fit both of you. 16546Get into them. We'll wait--come down when you are slicked up enough." 16547 16548Then she left. 16549 16550 16551 16552CHAPTER XXXIV 16553 16554HUCK said: "Tom, we can slope, if we can find a rope. The window ain't 16555high from the ground." 16556 16557"Shucks! what do you want to slope for?" 16558 16559"Well, I ain't used to that kind of a crowd. I can't stand it. I ain't 16560going down there, Tom." 16561 16562"Oh, bother! It ain't anything. I don't mind it a bit. I'll take care 16563of you." 16564 16565Sid appeared. 16566 16567"Tom," said he, "auntie has been waiting for you all the afternoon. 16568Mary got your Sunday clothes ready, and everybody's been fretting about 16569you. Say--ain't this grease and clay, on your clothes?" 16570 16571"Now, Mr. Siddy, you jist 'tend to your own business. What's all this 16572blow-out about, anyway?" 16573 16574"It's one of the widow's parties that she's always having. This time 16575it's for the Welshman and his sons, on account of that scrape they 16576helped her out of the other night. And say--I can tell you something, 16577if you want to know." 16578 16579"Well, what?" 16580 16581"Why, old Mr. Jones is going to try to spring something on the people 16582here to-night, but I overheard him tell auntie to-day about it, as a 16583secret, but I reckon it's not much of a secret now. Everybody knows 16584--the widow, too, for all she tries to let on she don't. Mr. Jones was 16585bound Huck should be here--couldn't get along with his grand secret 16586without Huck, you know!" 16587 16588"Secret about what, Sid?" 16589 16590"About Huck tracking the robbers to the widow's. I reckon Mr. Jones 16591was going to make a grand time over his surprise, but I bet you it will 16592drop pretty flat." 16593 16594Sid chuckled in a very contented and satisfied way. 16595 16596"Sid, was it you that told?" 16597 16598"Oh, never mind who it was. SOMEBODY told--that's enough." 16599 16600"Sid, there's only one person in this town mean enough to do that, and 16601that's you. If you had been in Huck's place you'd 'a' sneaked down the 16602hill and never told anybody on the robbers. You can't do any but mean 16603things, and you can't bear to see anybody praised for doing good ones. 16604There--no thanks, as the widow says"--and Tom cuffed Sid's ears and 16605helped him to the door with several kicks. "Now go and tell auntie if 16606you dare--and to-morrow you'll catch it!" 16607 16608Some minutes later the widow's guests were at the supper-table, and a 16609dozen children were propped up at little side-tables in the same room, 16610after the fashion of that country and that day. At the proper time Mr. 16611Jones made his little speech, in which he thanked the widow for the 16612honor she was doing himself and his sons, but said that there was 16613another person whose modesty-- 16614 16615And so forth and so on. He sprung his secret about Huck's share in the 16616adventure in the finest dramatic manner he was master of, but the 16617surprise it occasioned was largely counterfeit and not as clamorous and 16618effusive as it might have been under happier circumstances. However, 16619the widow made a pretty fair show of astonishment, and heaped so many 16620compliments and so much gratitude upon Huck that he almost forgot the 16621nearly intolerable discomfort of his new clothes in the entirely 16622intolerable discomfort of being set up as a target for everybody's gaze 16623and everybody's laudations. 16624 16625The widow said she meant to give Huck a home under her roof and have 16626him educated; and that when she could spare the money she would start 16627him in business in a modest way. Tom's chance was come. He said: 16628 16629"Huck don't need it. Huck's rich." 16630 16631Nothing but a heavy strain upon the good manners of the company kept 16632back the due and proper complimentary laugh at this pleasant joke. But 16633the silence was a little awkward. Tom broke it: 16634 16635"Huck's got money. Maybe you don't believe it, but he's got lots of 16636it. Oh, you needn't smile--I reckon I can show you. You just wait a 16637minute." 16638 16639Tom ran out of doors. The company looked at each other with a 16640perplexed interest--and inquiringly at Huck, who was tongue-tied. 16641 16642"Sid, what ails Tom?" said Aunt Polly. "He--well, there ain't ever any 16643making of that boy out. I never--" 16644 16645Tom entered, struggling with the weight of his sacks, and Aunt Polly 16646did not finish her sentence. Tom poured the mass of yellow coin upon 16647the table and said: 16648 16649"There--what did I tell you? Half of it's Huck's and half of it's mine!" 16650 16651The spectacle took the general breath away. All gazed, nobody spoke 16652for a moment. Then there was a unanimous call for an explanation. Tom 16653said he could furnish it, and he did. The tale was long, but brimful of 16654interest. There was scarcely an interruption from any one to break the 16655charm of its flow. When he had finished, Mr. Jones said: 16656 16657"I thought I had fixed up a little surprise for this occasion, but it 16658don't amount to anything now. This one makes it sing mighty small, I'm 16659willing to allow." 16660 16661The money was counted. The sum amounted to a little over twelve 16662thousand dollars. It was more than any one present had ever seen at one 16663time before, though several persons were there who were worth 16664considerably more than that in property. 16665 16666 16667 16668CHAPTER XXXV 16669 16670THE reader may rest satisfied that Tom's and Huck's windfall made a 16671mighty stir in the poor little village of St. Petersburg. So vast a 16672sum, all in actual cash, seemed next to incredible. It was talked 16673about, gloated over, glorified, until the reason of many of the 16674citizens tottered under the strain of the unhealthy excitement. Every 16675"haunted" house in St. Petersburg and the neighboring villages was 16676dissected, plank by plank, and its foundations dug up and ransacked for 16677hidden treasure--and not by boys, but men--pretty grave, unromantic 16678men, too, some of them. Wherever Tom and Huck appeared they were 16679courted, admired, stared at. The boys were not able to remember that 16680their remarks had possessed weight before; but now their sayings were 16681treasured and repeated; everything they did seemed somehow to be 16682regarded as remarkable; they had evidently lost the power of doing and 16683saying commonplace things; moreover, their past history was raked up 16684and discovered to bear marks of conspicuous originality. The village 16685paper published biographical sketches of the boys. 16686 16687The Widow Douglas put Huck's money out at six per cent., and Judge 16688Thatcher did the same with Tom's at Aunt Polly's request. Each lad had 16689an income, now, that was simply prodigious--a dollar for every week-day 16690in the year and half of the Sundays. It was just what the minister got 16691--no, it was what he was promised--he generally couldn't collect it. A 16692dollar and a quarter a week would board, lodge, and school a boy in 16693those old simple days--and clothe him and wash him, too, for that 16694matter. 16695 16696Judge Thatcher had conceived a great opinion of Tom. He said that no 16697commonplace boy would ever have got his daughter out of the cave. When 16698Becky told her father, in strict confidence, how Tom had taken her 16699whipping at school, the Judge was visibly moved; and when she pleaded 16700grace for the mighty lie which Tom had told in order to shift that 16701whipping from her shoulders to his own, the Judge said with a fine 16702outburst that it was a noble, a generous, a magnanimous lie--a lie that 16703was worthy to hold up its head and march down through history breast to 16704breast with George Washington's lauded Truth about the hatchet! Becky 16705thought her father had never looked so tall and so superb as when he 16706walked the floor and stamped his foot and said that. She went straight 16707off and told Tom about it. 16708 16709Judge Thatcher hoped to see Tom a great lawyer or a great soldier some 16710day. He said he meant to look to it that Tom should be admitted to the 16711National Military Academy and afterward trained in the best law school 16712in the country, in order that he might be ready for either career or 16713both. 16714 16715Huck Finn's wealth and the fact that he was now under the Widow 16716Douglas' protection introduced him into society--no, dragged him into 16717it, hurled him into it--and his sufferings were almost more than he 16718could bear. The widow's servants kept him clean and neat, combed and 16719brushed, and they bedded him nightly in unsympathetic sheets that had 16720not one little spot or stain which he could press to his heart and know 16721for a friend. He had to eat with a knife and fork; he had to use 16722napkin, cup, and plate; he had to learn his book, he had to go to 16723church; he had to talk so properly that speech was become insipid in 16724his mouth; whithersoever he turned, the bars and shackles of 16725civilization shut him in and bound him hand and foot. 16726 16727He bravely bore his miseries three weeks, and then one day turned up 16728missing. For forty-eight hours the widow hunted for him everywhere in 16729great distress. The public were profoundly concerned; they searched 16730high and low, they dragged the river for his body. Early the third 16731morning Tom Sawyer wisely went poking among some old empty hogsheads 16732down behind the abandoned slaughter-house, and in one of them he found 16733the refugee. Huck had slept there; he had just breakfasted upon some 16734stolen odds and ends of food, and was lying off, now, in comfort, with 16735his pipe. He was unkempt, uncombed, and clad in the same old ruin of 16736rags that had made him picturesque in the days when he was free and 16737happy. Tom routed him out, told him the trouble he had been causing, 16738and urged him to go home. Huck's face lost its tranquil content, and 16739took a melancholy cast. He said: 16740 16741"Don't talk about it, Tom. I've tried it, and it don't work; it don't 16742work, Tom. It ain't for me; I ain't used to it. The widder's good to 16743me, and friendly; but I can't stand them ways. She makes me get up just 16744at the same time every morning; she makes me wash, they comb me all to 16745thunder; she won't let me sleep in the woodshed; I got to wear them 16746blamed clothes that just smothers me, Tom; they don't seem to any air 16747git through 'em, somehow; and they're so rotten nice that I can't set 16748down, nor lay down, nor roll around anywher's; I hain't slid on a 16749cellar-door for--well, it 'pears to be years; I got to go to church and 16750sweat and sweat--I hate them ornery sermons! I can't ketch a fly in 16751there, I can't chaw. I got to wear shoes all Sunday. The widder eats by 16752a bell; she goes to bed by a bell; she gits up by a bell--everything's 16753so awful reg'lar a body can't stand it." 16754 16755"Well, everybody does that way, Huck." 16756 16757"Tom, it don't make no difference. I ain't everybody, and I can't 16758STAND it. It's awful to be tied up so. And grub comes too easy--I don't 16759take no interest in vittles, that way. I got to ask to go a-fishing; I 16760got to ask to go in a-swimming--dern'd if I hain't got to ask to do 16761everything. Well, I'd got to talk so nice it wasn't no comfort--I'd got 16762to go up in the attic and rip out awhile, every day, to git a taste in 16763my mouth, or I'd a died, Tom. The widder wouldn't let me smoke; she 16764wouldn't let me yell, she wouldn't let me gape, nor stretch, nor 16765scratch, before folks--" [Then with a spasm of special irritation and 16766injury]--"And dad fetch it, she prayed all the time! I never see such a 16767woman! I HAD to shove, Tom--I just had to. And besides, that school's 16768going to open, and I'd a had to go to it--well, I wouldn't stand THAT, 16769Tom. Looky here, Tom, being rich ain't what it's cracked up to be. It's 16770just worry and worry, and sweat and sweat, and a-wishing you was dead 16771all the time. Now these clothes suits me, and this bar'l suits me, and 16772I ain't ever going to shake 'em any more. Tom, I wouldn't ever got into 16773all this trouble if it hadn't 'a' ben for that money; now you just take 16774my sheer of it along with your'n, and gimme a ten-center sometimes--not 16775many times, becuz I don't give a dern for a thing 'thout it's tollable 16776hard to git--and you go and beg off for me with the widder." 16777 16778"Oh, Huck, you know I can't do that. 'Tain't fair; and besides if 16779you'll try this thing just a while longer you'll come to like it." 16780 16781"Like it! Yes--the way I'd like a hot stove if I was to set on it long 16782enough. No, Tom, I won't be rich, and I won't live in them cussed 16783smothery houses. I like the woods, and the river, and hogsheads, and 16784I'll stick to 'em, too. Blame it all! just as we'd got guns, and a 16785cave, and all just fixed to rob, here this dern foolishness has got to 16786come up and spile it all!" 16787 16788Tom saw his opportunity-- 16789 16790"Lookyhere, Huck, being rich ain't going to keep me back from turning 16791robber." 16792 16793"No! Oh, good-licks; are you in real dead-wood earnest, Tom?" 16794 16795"Just as dead earnest as I'm sitting here. But Huck, we can't let you 16796into the gang if you ain't respectable, you know." 16797 16798Huck's joy was quenched. 16799 16800"Can't let me in, Tom? Didn't you let me go for a pirate?" 16801 16802"Yes, but that's different. A robber is more high-toned than what a 16803pirate is--as a general thing. In most countries they're awful high up 16804in the nobility--dukes and such." 16805 16806"Now, Tom, hain't you always ben friendly to me? You wouldn't shet me 16807out, would you, Tom? You wouldn't do that, now, WOULD you, Tom?" 16808 16809"Huck, I wouldn't want to, and I DON'T want to--but what would people 16810say? Why, they'd say, 'Mph! Tom Sawyer's Gang! pretty low characters in 16811it!' They'd mean you, Huck. You wouldn't like that, and I wouldn't." 16812 16813Huck was silent for some time, engaged in a mental struggle. Finally 16814he said: 16815 16816"Well, I'll go back to the widder for a month and tackle it and see if 16817I can come to stand it, if you'll let me b'long to the gang, Tom." 16818 16819"All right, Huck, it's a whiz! Come along, old chap, and I'll ask the 16820widow to let up on you a little, Huck." 16821 16822"Will you, Tom--now will you? That's good. If she'll let up on some of 16823the roughest things, I'll smoke private and cuss private, and crowd 16824through or bust. When you going to start the gang and turn robbers?" 16825 16826"Oh, right off. We'll get the boys together and have the initiation 16827to-night, maybe." 16828 16829"Have the which?" 16830 16831"Have the initiation." 16832 16833"What's that?" 16834 16835"It's to swear to stand by one another, and never tell the gang's 16836secrets, even if you're chopped all to flinders, and kill anybody and 16837all his family that hurts one of the gang." 16838 16839"That's gay--that's mighty gay, Tom, I tell you." 16840 16841"Well, I bet it is. And all that swearing's got to be done at 16842midnight, in the lonesomest, awfulest place you can find--a ha'nted 16843house is the best, but they're all ripped up now." 16844 16845"Well, midnight's good, anyway, Tom." 16846 16847"Yes, so it is. And you've got to swear on a coffin, and sign it with 16848blood." 16849 16850"Now, that's something LIKE! Why, it's a million times bullier than 16851pirating. I'll stick to the widder till I rot, Tom; and if I git to be 16852a reg'lar ripper of a robber, and everybody talking 'bout it, I reckon 16853she'll be proud she snaked me in out of the wet." 16854 16855 16856 16857CONCLUSION 16858 16859SO endeth this chronicle. It being strictly a history of a BOY, it 16860must stop here; the story could not go much further without becoming 16861the history of a MAN. When one writes a novel about grown people, he 16862knows exactly where to stop--that is, with a marriage; but when he 16863writes of juveniles, he must stop where he best can. 16864 16865Most of the characters that perform in this book still live, and are 16866prosperous and happy. Some day it may seem worth while to take up the 16867story of the younger ones again and see what sort of men and women they 16868turned out to be; therefore it will be wisest not to reveal any of that 16869part of their lives at present. 16870Produced by David Widger. The previous edition was updated by Jose 16871Menendez. 16872 16873 16874 16875 16876 16877 THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER 16878 BY 16879 MARK TWAIN 16880 (Samuel Langhorne Clemens) 16881 16882 16883 16884 16885 P R E F A C E 16886 16887MOST of the adventures recorded in this book really occurred; one or 16888two were experiences of my own, the rest those of boys who were 16889schoolmates of mine. Huck Finn is drawn from life; Tom Sawyer also, but 16890not from an individual--he is a combination of the characteristics of 16891three boys whom I knew, and therefore belongs to the composite order of 16892architecture. 16893 16894The odd superstitions touched upon were all prevalent among children 16895and slaves in the West at the period of this story--that is to say, 16896thirty or forty years ago. 16897 16898Although my book is intended mainly for the entertainment of boys and 16899girls, I hope it will not be shunned by men and women on that account, 16900for part of my plan has been to try to pleasantly remind adults of what 16901they once were themselves, and of how they felt and thought and talked, 16902and what queer enterprises they sometimes engaged in. 16903 16904 THE AUTHOR. 16905 16906HARTFORD, 1876. 16907 16908 16909 16910 T O M S A W Y E R 16911 16912 16913 16914CHAPTER I 16915 16916"TOM!" 16917 16918No answer. 16919 16920"TOM!" 16921 16922No answer. 16923 16924"What's gone with that boy, I wonder? You TOM!" 16925 16926No answer. 16927 16928The old lady pulled her spectacles down and looked over them about the 16929room; then she put them up and looked out under them. She seldom or 16930never looked THROUGH them for so small a thing as a boy; they were her 16931state pair, the pride of her heart, and were built for "style," not 16932service--she could have seen through a pair of stove-lids just as well. 16933She looked perplexed for a moment, and then said, not fiercely, but 16934still loud enough for the furniture to hear: 16935 16936"Well, I lay if I get hold of you I'll--" 16937 16938She did not finish, for by this time she was bending down and punching 16939under the bed with the broom, and so she needed breath to punctuate the 16940punches with. She resurrected nothing but the cat. 16941 16942"I never did see the beat of that boy!" 16943 16944She went to the open door and stood in it and looked out among the 16945tomato vines and "jimpson" weeds that constituted the garden. No Tom. 16946So she lifted up her voice at an angle calculated for distance and 16947shouted: 16948 16949"Y-o-u-u TOM!" 16950 16951There was a slight noise behind her and she turned just in time to 16952seize a small boy by the slack of his roundabout and arrest his flight. 16953 16954"There! I might 'a' thought of that closet. What you been doing in 16955there?" 16956 16957"Nothing." 16958 16959"Nothing! Look at your hands. And look at your mouth. What IS that 16960truck?" 16961 16962"I don't know, aunt." 16963 16964"Well, I know. It's jam--that's what it is. Forty times I've said if 16965you didn't let that jam alone I'd skin you. Hand me that switch." 16966 16967The switch hovered in the air--the peril was desperate-- 16968 16969"My! Look behind you, aunt!" 16970 16971The old lady whirled round, and snatched her skirts out of danger. The 16972lad fled on the instant, scrambled up the high board-fence, and 16973disappeared over it. 16974 16975His aunt Polly stood surprised a moment, and then broke into a gentle 16976laugh. 16977 16978"Hang the boy, can't I never learn anything? Ain't he played me tricks 16979enough like that for me to be looking out for him by this time? But old 16980fools is the biggest fools there is. Can't learn an old dog new tricks, 16981as the saying is. But my goodness, he never plays them alike, two days, 16982and how is a body to know what's coming? He 'pears to know just how 16983long he can torment me before I get my dander up, and he knows if he 16984can make out to put me off for a minute or make me laugh, it's all down 16985again and I can't hit him a lick. I ain't doing my duty by that boy, 16986and that's the Lord's truth, goodness knows. Spare the rod and spile 16987the child, as the Good Book says. I'm a laying up sin and suffering for 16988us both, I know. He's full of the Old Scratch, but laws-a-me! he's my 16989own dead sister's boy, poor thing, and I ain't got the heart to lash 16990him, somehow. Every time I let him off, my conscience does hurt me so, 16991and every time I hit him my old heart most breaks. Well-a-well, man 16992that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble, as the 16993Scripture says, and I reckon it's so. He'll play hookey this evening, * 16994and [* Southwestern for "afternoon"] I'll just be obleeged to make him 16995work, to-morrow, to punish him. It's mighty hard to make him work 16996Saturdays, when all the boys is having holiday, but he hates work more 16997than he hates anything else, and I've GOT to do some of my duty by him, 16998or I'll be the ruination of the child." 16999 17000Tom did play hookey, and he had a very good time. He got back home 17001barely in season to help Jim, the small colored boy, saw next-day's 17002wood and split the kindlings before supper--at least he was there in 17003time to tell his adventures to Jim while Jim did three-fourths of the 17004work. Tom's younger brother (or rather half-brother) Sid was already 17005through with his part of the work (picking up chips), for he was a 17006quiet boy, and had no adventurous, troublesome ways. 17007 17008While Tom was eating his supper, and stealing sugar as opportunity 17009offered, Aunt Polly asked him questions that were full of guile, and 17010very deep--for she wanted to trap him into damaging revealments. Like 17011many other simple-hearted souls, it was her pet vanity to believe she 17012was endowed with a talent for dark and mysterious diplomacy, and she 17013loved to contemplate her most transparent devices as marvels of low 17014cunning. Said she: 17015 17016"Tom, it was middling warm in school, warn't it?" 17017 17018"Yes'm." 17019 17020"Powerful warm, warn't it?" 17021 17022"Yes'm." 17023 17024"Didn't you want to go in a-swimming, Tom?" 17025 17026A bit of a scare shot through Tom--a touch of uncomfortable suspicion. 17027He searched Aunt Polly's face, but it told him nothing. So he said: 17028 17029"No'm--well, not very much." 17030 17031The old lady reached out her hand and felt Tom's shirt, and said: 17032 17033"But you ain't too warm now, though." And it flattered her to reflect 17034that she had discovered that the shirt was dry without anybody knowing 17035that that was what she had in her mind. But in spite of her, Tom knew 17036where the wind lay, now. So he forestalled what might be the next move: 17037 17038"Some of us pumped on our heads--mine's damp yet. See?" 17039 17040Aunt Polly was vexed to think she had overlooked that bit of 17041circumstantial evidence, and missed a trick. Then she had a new 17042inspiration: 17043 17044"Tom, you didn't have to undo your shirt collar where I sewed it, to 17045pump on your head, did you? Unbutton your jacket!" 17046 17047The trouble vanished out of Tom's face. He opened his jacket. His 17048shirt collar was securely sewed. 17049 17050"Bother! Well, go 'long with you. I'd made sure you'd played hookey 17051and been a-swimming. But I forgive ye, Tom. I reckon you're a kind of a 17052singed cat, as the saying is--better'n you look. THIS time." 17053 17054She was half sorry her sagacity had miscarried, and half glad that Tom 17055had stumbled into obedient conduct for once. 17056 17057But Sidney said: 17058 17059"Well, now, if I didn't think you sewed his collar with white thread, 17060but it's black." 17061 17062"Why, I did sew it with white! Tom!" 17063 17064But Tom did not wait for the rest. As he went out at the door he said: 17065 17066"Siddy, I'll lick you for that." 17067 17068In a safe place Tom examined two large needles which were thrust into 17069the lapels of his jacket, and had thread bound about them--one needle 17070carried white thread and the other black. He said: 17071 17072"She'd never noticed if it hadn't been for Sid. Confound it! sometimes 17073she sews it with white, and sometimes she sews it with black. I wish to 17074geeminy she'd stick to one or t'other--I can't keep the run of 'em. But 17075I bet you I'll lam Sid for that. I'll learn him!" 17076 17077He was not the Model Boy of the village. He knew the model boy very 17078well though--and loathed him. 17079 17080Within two minutes, or even less, he had forgotten all his troubles. 17081Not because his troubles were one whit less heavy and bitter to him 17082than a man's are to a man, but because a new and powerful interest bore 17083them down and drove them out of his mind for the time--just as men's 17084misfortunes are forgotten in the excitement of new enterprises. This 17085new interest was a valued novelty in whistling, which he had just 17086acquired from a negro, and he was suffering to practise it undisturbed. 17087It consisted in a peculiar bird-like turn, a sort of liquid warble, 17088produced by touching the tongue to the roof of the mouth at short 17089intervals in the midst of the music--the reader probably remembers how 17090to do it, if he has ever been a boy. Diligence and attention soon gave 17091him the knack of it, and he strode down the street with his mouth full 17092of harmony and his soul full of gratitude. He felt much as an 17093astronomer feels who has discovered a new planet--no doubt, as far as 17094strong, deep, unalloyed pleasure is concerned, the advantage was with 17095the boy, not the astronomer. 17096 17097The summer evenings were long. It was not dark, yet. Presently Tom 17098checked his whistle. A stranger was before him--a boy a shade larger 17099than himself. A new-comer of any age or either sex was an impressive 17100curiosity in the poor little shabby village of St. Petersburg. This boy 17101was well dressed, too--well dressed on a week-day. This was simply 17102astounding. His cap was a dainty thing, his close-buttoned blue cloth 17103roundabout was new and natty, and so were his pantaloons. He had shoes 17104on--and it was only Friday. He even wore a necktie, a bright bit of 17105ribbon. He had a citified air about him that ate into Tom's vitals. The 17106more Tom stared at the splendid marvel, the higher he turned up his 17107nose at his finery and the shabbier and shabbier his own outfit seemed 17108to him to grow. Neither boy spoke. If one moved, the other moved--but 17109only sidewise, in a circle; they kept face to face and eye to eye all 17110the time. Finally Tom said: 17111 17112"I can lick you!" 17113 17114"I'd like to see you try it." 17115 17116"Well, I can do it." 17117 17118"No you can't, either." 17119 17120"Yes I can." 17121 17122"No you can't." 17123 17124"I can." 17125 17126"You can't." 17127 17128"Can!" 17129 17130"Can't!" 17131 17132An uncomfortable pause. Then Tom said: 17133 17134"What's your name?" 17135 17136"'Tisn't any of your business, maybe." 17137 17138"Well I 'low I'll MAKE it my business." 17139 17140"Well why don't you?" 17141 17142"If you say much, I will." 17143 17144"Much--much--MUCH. There now." 17145 17146"Oh, you think you're mighty smart, DON'T you? I could lick you with 17147one hand tied behind me, if I wanted to." 17148 17149"Well why don't you DO it? You SAY you can do it." 17150 17151"Well I WILL, if you fool with me." 17152 17153"Oh yes--I've seen whole families in the same fix." 17154 17155"Smarty! You think you're SOME, now, DON'T you? Oh, what a hat!" 17156 17157"You can lump that hat if you don't like it. I dare you to knock it 17158off--and anybody that'll take a dare will suck eggs." 17159 17160"You're a liar!" 17161 17162"You're another." 17163 17164"You're a fighting liar and dasn't take it up." 17165 17166"Aw--take a walk!" 17167 17168"Say--if you give me much more of your sass I'll take and bounce a 17169rock off'n your head." 17170 17171"Oh, of COURSE you will." 17172 17173"Well I WILL." 17174 17175"Well why don't you DO it then? What do you keep SAYING you will for? 17176Why don't you DO it? It's because you're afraid." 17177 17178"I AIN'T afraid." 17179 17180"You are." 17181 17182"I ain't." 17183 17184"You are." 17185 17186Another pause, and more eying and sidling around each other. Presently 17187they were shoulder to shoulder. Tom said: 17188 17189"Get away from here!" 17190 17191"Go away yourself!" 17192 17193"I won't." 17194 17195"I won't either." 17196 17197So they stood, each with a foot placed at an angle as a brace, and 17198both shoving with might and main, and glowering at each other with 17199hate. But neither could get an advantage. After struggling till both 17200were hot and flushed, each relaxed his strain with watchful caution, 17201and Tom said: 17202 17203"You're a coward and a pup. I'll tell my big brother on you, and he 17204can thrash you with his little finger, and I'll make him do it, too." 17205 17206"What do I care for your big brother? I've got a brother that's bigger 17207than he is--and what's more, he can throw him over that fence, too." 17208[Both brothers were imaginary.] 17209 17210"That's a lie." 17211 17212"YOUR saying so don't make it so." 17213 17214Tom drew a line in the dust with his big toe, and said: 17215 17216"I dare you to step over that, and I'll lick you till you can't stand 17217up. Anybody that'll take a dare will steal sheep." 17218 17219The new boy stepped over promptly, and said: 17220 17221"Now you said you'd do it, now let's see you do it." 17222 17223"Don't you crowd me now; you better look out." 17224 17225"Well, you SAID you'd do it--why don't you do it?" 17226 17227"By jingo! for two cents I WILL do it." 17228 17229The new boy took two broad coppers out of his pocket and held them out 17230with derision. Tom struck them to the ground. In an instant both boys 17231were rolling and tumbling in the dirt, gripped together like cats; and 17232for the space of a minute they tugged and tore at each other's hair and 17233clothes, punched and scratched each other's nose, and covered 17234themselves with dust and glory. Presently the confusion took form, and 17235through the fog of battle Tom appeared, seated astride the new boy, and 17236pounding him with his fists. "Holler 'nuff!" said he. 17237 17238The boy only struggled to free himself. He was crying--mainly from rage. 17239 17240"Holler 'nuff!"--and the pounding went on. 17241 17242At last the stranger got out a smothered "'Nuff!" and Tom let him up 17243and said: 17244 17245"Now that'll learn you. Better look out who you're fooling with next 17246time." 17247 17248The new boy went off brushing the dust from his clothes, sobbing, 17249snuffling, and occasionally looking back and shaking his head and 17250threatening what he would do to Tom the "next time he caught him out." 17251To which Tom responded with jeers, and started off in high feather, and 17252as soon as his back was turned the new boy snatched up a stone, threw 17253it and hit him between the shoulders and then turned tail and ran like 17254an antelope. Tom chased the traitor home, and thus found out where he 17255lived. He then held a position at the gate for some time, daring the 17256enemy to come outside, but the enemy only made faces at him through the 17257window and declined. At last the enemy's mother appeared, and called 17258Tom a bad, vicious, vulgar child, and ordered him away. So he went 17259away; but he said he "'lowed" to "lay" for that boy. 17260 17261He got home pretty late that night, and when he climbed cautiously in 17262at the window, he uncovered an ambuscade, in the person of his aunt; 17263and when she saw the state his clothes were in her resolution to turn 17264his Saturday holiday into captivity at hard labor became adamantine in 17265its firmness. 17266 17267 17268 17269CHAPTER II 17270 17271SATURDAY morning was come, and all the summer world was bright and 17272fresh, and brimming with life. There was a song in every heart; and if 17273the heart was young the music issued at the lips. There was cheer in 17274every face and a spring in every step. The locust-trees were in bloom 17275and the fragrance of the blossoms filled the air. Cardiff Hill, beyond 17276the village and above it, was green with vegetation and it lay just far 17277enough away to seem a Delectable Land, dreamy, reposeful, and inviting. 17278 17279Tom appeared on the sidewalk with a bucket of whitewash and a 17280long-handled brush. He surveyed the fence, and all gladness left him and 17281a deep melancholy settled down upon his spirit. Thirty yards of board 17282fence nine feet high. Life to him seemed hollow, and existence but a 17283burden. Sighing, he dipped his brush and passed it along the topmost 17284plank; repeated the operation; did it again; compared the insignificant 17285whitewashed streak with the far-reaching continent of unwhitewashed 17286fence, and sat down on a tree-box discouraged. Jim came skipping out at 17287the gate with a tin pail, and singing Buffalo Gals. Bringing water from 17288the town pump had always been hateful work in Tom's eyes, before, but 17289now it did not strike him so. He remembered that there was company at 17290the pump. White, mulatto, and negro boys and girls were always there 17291waiting their turns, resting, trading playthings, quarrelling, 17292fighting, skylarking. And he remembered that although the pump was only 17293a hundred and fifty yards off, Jim never got back with a bucket of 17294water under an hour--and even then somebody generally had to go after 17295him. Tom said: 17296 17297"Say, Jim, I'll fetch the water if you'll whitewash some." 17298 17299Jim shook his head and said: 17300 17301"Can't, Mars Tom. Ole missis, she tole me I got to go an' git dis 17302water an' not stop foolin' roun' wid anybody. She say she spec' Mars 17303Tom gwine to ax me to whitewash, an' so she tole me go 'long an' 'tend 17304to my own business--she 'lowed SHE'D 'tend to de whitewashin'." 17305 17306"Oh, never you mind what she said, Jim. That's the way she always 17307talks. Gimme the bucket--I won't be gone only a a minute. SHE won't 17308ever know." 17309 17310"Oh, I dasn't, Mars Tom. Ole missis she'd take an' tar de head off'n 17311me. 'Deed she would." 17312 17313"SHE! She never licks anybody--whacks 'em over the head with her 17314thimble--and who cares for that, I'd like to know. She talks awful, but 17315talk don't hurt--anyways it don't if she don't cry. Jim, I'll give you 17316a marvel. I'll give you a white alley!" 17317 17318Jim began to waver. 17319 17320"White alley, Jim! And it's a bully taw." 17321 17322"My! Dat's a mighty gay marvel, I tell you! But Mars Tom I's powerful 17323'fraid ole missis--" 17324 17325"And besides, if you will I'll show you my sore toe." 17326 17327Jim was only human--this attraction was too much for him. He put down 17328his pail, took the white alley, and bent over the toe with absorbing 17329interest while the bandage was being unwound. In another moment he was 17330flying down the street with his pail and a tingling rear, Tom was 17331whitewashing with vigor, and Aunt Polly was retiring from the field 17332with a slipper in her hand and triumph in her eye. 17333 17334But Tom's energy did not last. He began to think of the fun he had 17335planned for this day, and his sorrows multiplied. Soon the free boys 17336would come tripping along on all sorts of delicious expeditions, and 17337they would make a world of fun of him for having to work--the very 17338thought of it burnt him like fire. He got out his worldly wealth and 17339examined it--bits of toys, marbles, and trash; enough to buy an 17340exchange of WORK, maybe, but not half enough to buy so much as half an 17341hour of pure freedom. So he returned his straitened means to his 17342pocket, and gave up the idea of trying to buy the boys. At this dark 17343and hopeless moment an inspiration burst upon him! Nothing less than a 17344great, magnificent inspiration. 17345 17346He took up his brush and went tranquilly to work. Ben Rogers hove in 17347sight presently--the very boy, of all boys, whose ridicule he had been 17348dreading. Ben's gait was the hop-skip-and-jump--proof enough that his 17349heart was light and his anticipations high. He was eating an apple, and 17350giving a long, melodious whoop, at intervals, followed by a deep-toned 17351ding-dong-dong, ding-dong-dong, for he was personating a steamboat. As 17352he drew near, he slackened speed, took the middle of the street, leaned 17353far over to starboard and rounded to ponderously and with laborious 17354pomp and circumstance--for he was personating the Big Missouri, and 17355considered himself to be drawing nine feet of water. He was boat and 17356captain and engine-bells combined, so he had to imagine himself 17357standing on his own hurricane-deck giving the orders and executing them: 17358 17359"Stop her, sir! Ting-a-ling-ling!" The headway ran almost out, and he 17360drew up slowly toward the sidewalk. 17361 17362"Ship up to back! Ting-a-ling-ling!" His arms straightened and 17363stiffened down his sides. 17364 17365"Set her back on the stabboard! Ting-a-ling-ling! Chow! ch-chow-wow! 17366Chow!" His right hand, meantime, describing stately circles--for it was 17367representing a forty-foot wheel. 17368 17369"Let her go back on the labboard! Ting-a-lingling! Chow-ch-chow-chow!" 17370The left hand began to describe circles. 17371 17372"Stop the stabboard! Ting-a-ling-ling! Stop the labboard! Come ahead 17373on the stabboard! Stop her! Let your outside turn over slow! 17374Ting-a-ling-ling! Chow-ow-ow! Get out that head-line! LIVELY now! 17375Come--out with your spring-line--what're you about there! Take a turn 17376round that stump with the bight of it! Stand by that stage, now--let her 17377go! Done with the engines, sir! Ting-a-ling-ling! SH'T! S'H'T! SH'T!" 17378(trying the gauge-cocks). 17379 17380Tom went on whitewashing--paid no attention to the steamboat. Ben 17381stared a moment and then said: "Hi-YI! YOU'RE up a stump, ain't you!" 17382 17383No answer. Tom surveyed his last touch with the eye of an artist, then 17384he gave his brush another gentle sweep and surveyed the result, as 17385before. Ben ranged up alongside of him. Tom's mouth watered for the 17386apple, but he stuck to his work. Ben said: 17387 17388"Hello, old chap, you got to work, hey?" 17389 17390Tom wheeled suddenly and said: 17391 17392"Why, it's you, Ben! I warn't noticing." 17393 17394"Say--I'm going in a-swimming, I am. Don't you wish you could? But of 17395course you'd druther WORK--wouldn't you? Course you would!" 17396 17397Tom contemplated the boy a bit, and said: 17398 17399"What do you call work?" 17400 17401"Why, ain't THAT work?" 17402 17403Tom resumed his whitewashing, and answered carelessly: 17404 17405"Well, maybe it is, and maybe it ain't. All I know, is, it suits Tom 17406Sawyer." 17407 17408"Oh come, now, you don't mean to let on that you LIKE it?" 17409 17410The brush continued to move. 17411 17412"Like it? Well, I don't see why I oughtn't to like it. Does a boy get 17413a chance to whitewash a fence every day?" 17414 17415That put the thing in a new light. Ben stopped nibbling his apple. Tom 17416swept his brush daintily back and forth--stepped back to note the 17417effect--added a touch here and there--criticised the effect again--Ben 17418watching every move and getting more and more interested, more and more 17419absorbed. Presently he said: 17420 17421"Say, Tom, let ME whitewash a little." 17422 17423Tom considered, was about to consent; but he altered his mind: 17424 17425"No--no--I reckon it wouldn't hardly do, Ben. You see, Aunt Polly's 17426awful particular about this fence--right here on the street, you know 17427--but if it was the back fence I wouldn't mind and SHE wouldn't. Yes, 17428she's awful particular about this fence; it's got to be done very 17429careful; I reckon there ain't one boy in a thousand, maybe two 17430thousand, that can do it the way it's got to be done." 17431 17432"No--is that so? Oh come, now--lemme just try. Only just a little--I'd 17433let YOU, if you was me, Tom." 17434 17435"Ben, I'd like to, honest injun; but Aunt Polly--well, Jim wanted to 17436do it, but she wouldn't let him; Sid wanted to do it, and she wouldn't 17437let Sid. Now don't you see how I'm fixed? If you was to tackle this 17438fence and anything was to happen to it--" 17439 17440"Oh, shucks, I'll be just as careful. Now lemme try. Say--I'll give 17441you the core of my apple." 17442 17443"Well, here--No, Ben, now don't. I'm afeard--" 17444 17445"I'll give you ALL of it!" 17446 17447Tom gave up the brush with reluctance in his face, but alacrity in his 17448heart. And while the late steamer Big Missouri worked and sweated in 17449the sun, the retired artist sat on a barrel in the shade close by, 17450dangled his legs, munched his apple, and planned the slaughter of more 17451innocents. There was no lack of material; boys happened along every 17452little while; they came to jeer, but remained to whitewash. By the time 17453Ben was fagged out, Tom had traded the next chance to Billy Fisher for 17454a kite, in good repair; and when he played out, Johnny Miller bought in 17455for a dead rat and a string to swing it with--and so on, and so on, 17456hour after hour. And when the middle of the afternoon came, from being 17457a poor poverty-stricken boy in the morning, Tom was literally rolling 17458in wealth. He had besides the things before mentioned, twelve marbles, 17459part of a jews-harp, a piece of blue bottle-glass to look through, a 17460spool cannon, a key that wouldn't unlock anything, a fragment of chalk, 17461a glass stopper of a decanter, a tin soldier, a couple of tadpoles, six 17462fire-crackers, a kitten with only one eye, a brass doorknob, a 17463dog-collar--but no dog--the handle of a knife, four pieces of 17464orange-peel, and a dilapidated old window sash. 17465 17466He had had a nice, good, idle time all the while--plenty of company 17467--and the fence had three coats of whitewash on it! If he hadn't run out 17468of whitewash he would have bankrupted every boy in the village. 17469 17470Tom said to himself that it was not such a hollow world, after all. He 17471had discovered a great law of human action, without knowing it--namely, 17472that in order to make a man or a boy covet a thing, it is only 17473necessary to make the thing difficult to attain. If he had been a great 17474and wise philosopher, like the writer of this book, he would now have 17475comprehended that Work consists of whatever a body is OBLIGED to do, 17476and that Play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do. And 17477this would help him to understand why constructing artificial flowers 17478or performing on a tread-mill is work, while rolling ten-pins or 17479climbing Mont Blanc is only amusement. There are wealthy gentlemen in 17480England who drive four-horse passenger-coaches twenty or thirty miles 17481on a daily line, in the summer, because the privilege costs them 17482considerable money; but if they were offered wages for the service, 17483that would turn it into work and then they would resign. 17484 17485The boy mused awhile over the substantial change which had taken place 17486in his worldly circumstances, and then wended toward headquarters to 17487report. 17488 17489 17490 17491CHAPTER III 17492 17493TOM presented himself before Aunt Polly, who was sitting by an open 17494window in a pleasant rearward apartment, which was bedroom, 17495breakfast-room, dining-room, and library, combined. The balmy summer 17496air, the restful quiet, the odor of the flowers, and the drowsing murmur 17497of the bees had had their effect, and she was nodding over her knitting 17498--for she had no company but the cat, and it was asleep in her lap. Her 17499spectacles were propped up on her gray head for safety. She had thought 17500that of course Tom had deserted long ago, and she wondered at seeing him 17501place himself in her power again in this intrepid way. He said: "Mayn't 17502I go and play now, aunt?" 17503 17504"What, a'ready? How much have you done?" 17505 17506"It's all done, aunt." 17507 17508"Tom, don't lie to me--I can't bear it." 17509 17510"I ain't, aunt; it IS all done." 17511 17512Aunt Polly placed small trust in such evidence. She went out to see 17513for herself; and she would have been content to find twenty per cent. 17514of Tom's statement true. When she found the entire fence whitewashed, 17515and not only whitewashed but elaborately coated and recoated, and even 17516a streak added to the ground, her astonishment was almost unspeakable. 17517She said: 17518 17519"Well, I never! There's no getting round it, you can work when you're 17520a mind to, Tom." And then she diluted the compliment by adding, "But 17521it's powerful seldom you're a mind to, I'm bound to say. Well, go 'long 17522and play; but mind you get back some time in a week, or I'll tan you." 17523 17524She was so overcome by the splendor of his achievement that she took 17525him into the closet and selected a choice apple and delivered it to 17526him, along with an improving lecture upon the added value and flavor a 17527treat took to itself when it came without sin through virtuous effort. 17528And while she closed with a happy Scriptural flourish, he "hooked" a 17529doughnut. 17530 17531Then he skipped out, and saw Sid just starting up the outside stairway 17532that led to the back rooms on the second floor. Clods were handy and 17533the air was full of them in a twinkling. They raged around Sid like a 17534hail-storm; and before Aunt Polly could collect her surprised faculties 17535and sally to the rescue, six or seven clods had taken personal effect, 17536and Tom was over the fence and gone. There was a gate, but as a general 17537thing he was too crowded for time to make use of it. His soul was at 17538peace, now that he had settled with Sid for calling attention to his 17539black thread and getting him into trouble. 17540 17541Tom skirted the block, and came round into a muddy alley that led by 17542the back of his aunt's cow-stable. He presently got safely beyond the 17543reach of capture and punishment, and hastened toward the public square 17544of the village, where two "military" companies of boys had met for 17545conflict, according to previous appointment. Tom was General of one of 17546these armies, Joe Harper (a bosom friend) General of the other. These 17547two great commanders did not condescend to fight in person--that being 17548better suited to the still smaller fry--but sat together on an eminence 17549and conducted the field operations by orders delivered through 17550aides-de-camp. Tom's army won a great victory, after a long and 17551hard-fought battle. Then the dead were counted, prisoners exchanged, 17552the terms of the next disagreement agreed upon, and the day for the 17553necessary battle appointed; after which the armies fell into line and 17554marched away, and Tom turned homeward alone. 17555 17556As he was passing by the house where Jeff Thatcher lived, he saw a new 17557girl in the garden--a lovely little blue-eyed creature with yellow hair 17558plaited into two long-tails, white summer frock and embroidered 17559pantalettes. The fresh-crowned hero fell without firing a shot. A 17560certain Amy Lawrence vanished out of his heart and left not even a 17561memory of herself behind. He had thought he loved her to distraction; 17562he had regarded his passion as adoration; and behold it was only a poor 17563little evanescent partiality. He had been months winning her; she had 17564confessed hardly a week ago; he had been the happiest and the proudest 17565boy in the world only seven short days, and here in one instant of time 17566she had gone out of his heart like a casual stranger whose visit is 17567done. 17568 17569He worshipped this new angel with furtive eye, till he saw that she 17570had discovered him; then he pretended he did not know she was present, 17571and began to "show off" in all sorts of absurd boyish ways, in order to 17572win her admiration. He kept up this grotesque foolishness for some 17573time; but by-and-by, while he was in the midst of some dangerous 17574gymnastic performances, he glanced aside and saw that the little girl 17575was wending her way toward the house. Tom came up to the fence and 17576leaned on it, grieving, and hoping she would tarry yet awhile longer. 17577She halted a moment on the steps and then moved toward the door. Tom 17578heaved a great sigh as she put her foot on the threshold. But his face 17579lit up, right away, for she tossed a pansy over the fence a moment 17580before she disappeared. 17581 17582The boy ran around and stopped within a foot or two of the flower, and 17583then shaded his eyes with his hand and began to look down street as if 17584he had discovered something of interest going on in that direction. 17585Presently he picked up a straw and began trying to balance it on his 17586nose, with his head tilted far back; and as he moved from side to side, 17587in his efforts, he edged nearer and nearer toward the pansy; finally 17588his bare foot rested upon it, his pliant toes closed upon it, and he 17589hopped away with the treasure and disappeared round the corner. But 17590only for a minute--only while he could button the flower inside his 17591jacket, next his heart--or next his stomach, possibly, for he was not 17592much posted in anatomy, and not hypercritical, anyway. 17593 17594He returned, now, and hung about the fence till nightfall, "showing 17595off," as before; but the girl never exhibited herself again, though Tom 17596comforted himself a little with the hope that she had been near some 17597window, meantime, and been aware of his attentions. Finally he strode 17598home reluctantly, with his poor head full of visions. 17599 17600All through supper his spirits were so high that his aunt wondered 17601"what had got into the child." He took a good scolding about clodding 17602Sid, and did not seem to mind it in the least. He tried to steal sugar 17603under his aunt's very nose, and got his knuckles rapped for it. He said: 17604 17605"Aunt, you don't whack Sid when he takes it." 17606 17607"Well, Sid don't torment a body the way you do. You'd be always into 17608that sugar if I warn't watching you." 17609 17610Presently she stepped into the kitchen, and Sid, happy in his 17611immunity, reached for the sugar-bowl--a sort of glorying over Tom which 17612was wellnigh unbearable. But Sid's fingers slipped and the bowl dropped 17613and broke. Tom was in ecstasies. In such ecstasies that he even 17614controlled his tongue and was silent. He said to himself that he would 17615not speak a word, even when his aunt came in, but would sit perfectly 17616still till she asked who did the mischief; and then he would tell, and 17617there would be nothing so good in the world as to see that pet model 17618"catch it." He was so brimful of exultation that he could hardly hold 17619himself when the old lady came back and stood above the wreck 17620discharging lightnings of wrath from over her spectacles. He said to 17621himself, "Now it's coming!" And the next instant he was sprawling on 17622the floor! The potent palm was uplifted to strike again when Tom cried 17623out: 17624 17625"Hold on, now, what 'er you belting ME for?--Sid broke it!" 17626 17627Aunt Polly paused, perplexed, and Tom looked for healing pity. But 17628when she got her tongue again, she only said: 17629 17630"Umf! Well, you didn't get a lick amiss, I reckon. You been into some 17631other audacious mischief when I wasn't around, like enough." 17632 17633Then her conscience reproached her, and she yearned to say something 17634kind and loving; but she judged that this would be construed into a 17635confession that she had been in the wrong, and discipline forbade that. 17636So she kept silence, and went about her affairs with a troubled heart. 17637Tom sulked in a corner and exalted his woes. He knew that in her heart 17638his aunt was on her knees to him, and he was morosely gratified by the 17639consciousness of it. He would hang out no signals, he would take notice 17640of none. He knew that a yearning glance fell upon him, now and then, 17641through a film of tears, but he refused recognition of it. He pictured 17642himself lying sick unto death and his aunt bending over him beseeching 17643one little forgiving word, but he would turn his face to the wall, and 17644die with that word unsaid. Ah, how would she feel then? And he pictured 17645himself brought home from the river, dead, with his curls all wet, and 17646his sore heart at rest. How she would throw herself upon him, and how 17647her tears would fall like rain, and her lips pray God to give her back 17648her boy and she would never, never abuse him any more! But he would lie 17649there cold and white and make no sign--a poor little sufferer, whose 17650griefs were at an end. He so worked upon his feelings with the pathos 17651of these dreams, that he had to keep swallowing, he was so like to 17652choke; and his eyes swam in a blur of water, which overflowed when he 17653winked, and ran down and trickled from the end of his nose. And such a 17654luxury to him was this petting of his sorrows, that he could not bear 17655to have any worldly cheeriness or any grating delight intrude upon it; 17656it was too sacred for such contact; and so, presently, when his cousin 17657Mary danced in, all alive with the joy of seeing home again after an 17658age-long visit of one week to the country, he got up and moved in 17659clouds and darkness out at one door as she brought song and sunshine in 17660at the other. 17661 17662He wandered far from the accustomed haunts of boys, and sought 17663desolate places that were in harmony with his spirit. A log raft in the 17664river invited him, and he seated himself on its outer edge and 17665contemplated the dreary vastness of the stream, wishing, the while, 17666that he could only be drowned, all at once and unconsciously, without 17667undergoing the uncomfortable routine devised by nature. Then he thought 17668of his flower. He got it out, rumpled and wilted, and it mightily 17669increased his dismal felicity. He wondered if she would pity him if she 17670knew? Would she cry, and wish that she had a right to put her arms 17671around his neck and comfort him? Or would she turn coldly away like all 17672the hollow world? This picture brought such an agony of pleasurable 17673suffering that he worked it over and over again in his mind and set it 17674up in new and varied lights, till he wore it threadbare. At last he 17675rose up sighing and departed in the darkness. 17676 17677About half-past nine or ten o'clock he came along the deserted street 17678to where the Adored Unknown lived; he paused a moment; no sound fell 17679upon his listening ear; a candle was casting a dull glow upon the 17680curtain of a second-story window. Was the sacred presence there? He 17681climbed the fence, threaded his stealthy way through the plants, till 17682he stood under that window; he looked up at it long, and with emotion; 17683then he laid him down on the ground under it, disposing himself upon 17684his back, with his hands clasped upon his breast and holding his poor 17685wilted flower. And thus he would die--out in the cold world, with no 17686shelter over his homeless head, no friendly hand to wipe the 17687death-damps from his brow, no loving face to bend pityingly over him 17688when the great agony came. And thus SHE would see him when she looked 17689out upon the glad morning, and oh! would she drop one little tear upon 17690his poor, lifeless form, would she heave one little sigh to see a bright 17691young life so rudely blighted, so untimely cut down? 17692 17693The window went up, a maid-servant's discordant voice profaned the 17694holy calm, and a deluge of water drenched the prone martyr's remains! 17695 17696The strangling hero sprang up with a relieving snort. There was a whiz 17697as of a missile in the air, mingled with the murmur of a curse, a sound 17698as of shivering glass followed, and a small, vague form went over the 17699fence and shot away in the gloom. 17700 17701Not long after, as Tom, all undressed for bed, was surveying his 17702drenched garments by the light of a tallow dip, Sid woke up; but if he 17703had any dim idea of making any "references to allusions," he thought 17704better of it and held his peace, for there was danger in Tom's eye. 17705 17706Tom turned in without the added vexation of prayers, and Sid made 17707mental note of the omission. 17708 17709 17710 17711CHAPTER IV 17712 17713THE sun rose upon a tranquil world, and beamed down upon the peaceful 17714village like a benediction. Breakfast over, Aunt Polly had family 17715worship: it began with a prayer built from the ground up of solid 17716courses of Scriptural quotations, welded together with a thin mortar of 17717originality; and from the summit of this she delivered a grim chapter 17718of the Mosaic Law, as from Sinai. 17719 17720Then Tom girded up his loins, so to speak, and went to work to "get 17721his verses." Sid had learned his lesson days before. Tom bent all his 17722energies to the memorizing of five verses, and he chose part of the 17723Sermon on the Mount, because he could find no verses that were shorter. 17724At the end of half an hour Tom had a vague general idea of his lesson, 17725but no more, for his mind was traversing the whole field of human 17726thought, and his hands were busy with distracting recreations. Mary 17727took his book to hear him recite, and he tried to find his way through 17728the fog: 17729 17730"Blessed are the--a--a--" 17731 17732"Poor"-- 17733 17734"Yes--poor; blessed are the poor--a--a--" 17735 17736"In spirit--" 17737 17738"In spirit; blessed are the poor in spirit, for they--they--" 17739 17740"THEIRS--" 17741 17742"For THEIRS. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom 17743of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn, for they--they--" 17744 17745"Sh--" 17746 17747"For they--a--" 17748 17749"S, H, A--" 17750 17751"For they S, H--Oh, I don't know what it is!" 17752 17753"SHALL!" 17754 17755"Oh, SHALL! for they shall--for they shall--a--a--shall mourn--a--a-- 17756blessed are they that shall--they that--a--they that shall mourn, for 17757they shall--a--shall WHAT? Why don't you tell me, Mary?--what do you 17758want to be so mean for?" 17759 17760"Oh, Tom, you poor thick-headed thing, I'm not teasing you. I wouldn't 17761do that. You must go and learn it again. Don't you be discouraged, Tom, 17762you'll manage it--and if you do, I'll give you something ever so nice. 17763There, now, that's a good boy." 17764 17765"All right! What is it, Mary, tell me what it is." 17766 17767"Never you mind, Tom. You know if I say it's nice, it is nice." 17768 17769"You bet you that's so, Mary. All right, I'll tackle it again." 17770 17771And he did "tackle it again"--and under the double pressure of 17772curiosity and prospective gain he did it with such spirit that he 17773accomplished a shining success. Mary gave him a brand-new "Barlow" 17774knife worth twelve and a half cents; and the convulsion of delight that 17775swept his system shook him to his foundations. True, the knife would 17776not cut anything, but it was a "sure-enough" Barlow, and there was 17777inconceivable grandeur in that--though where the Western boys ever got 17778the idea that such a weapon could possibly be counterfeited to its 17779injury is an imposing mystery and will always remain so, perhaps. Tom 17780contrived to scarify the cupboard with it, and was arranging to begin 17781on the bureau, when he was called off to dress for Sunday-school. 17782 17783Mary gave him a tin basin of water and a piece of soap, and he went 17784outside the door and set the basin on a little bench there; then he 17785dipped the soap in the water and laid it down; turned up his sleeves; 17786poured out the water on the ground, gently, and then entered the 17787kitchen and began to wipe his face diligently on the towel behind the 17788door. But Mary removed the towel and said: 17789 17790"Now ain't you ashamed, Tom. You mustn't be so bad. Water won't hurt 17791you." 17792 17793Tom was a trifle disconcerted. The basin was refilled, and this time 17794he stood over it a little while, gathering resolution; took in a big 17795breath and began. When he entered the kitchen presently, with both eyes 17796shut and groping for the towel with his hands, an honorable testimony 17797of suds and water was dripping from his face. But when he emerged from 17798the towel, he was not yet satisfactory, for the clean territory stopped 17799short at his chin and his jaws, like a mask; below and beyond this line 17800there was a dark expanse of unirrigated soil that spread downward in 17801front and backward around his neck. Mary took him in hand, and when she 17802was done with him he was a man and a brother, without distinction of 17803color, and his saturated hair was neatly brushed, and its short curls 17804wrought into a dainty and symmetrical general effect. [He privately 17805smoothed out the curls, with labor and difficulty, and plastered his 17806hair close down to his head; for he held curls to be effeminate, and 17807his own filled his life with bitterness.] Then Mary got out a suit of 17808his clothing that had been used only on Sundays during two years--they 17809were simply called his "other clothes"--and so by that we know the 17810size of his wardrobe. The girl "put him to rights" after he had dressed 17811himself; she buttoned his neat roundabout up to his chin, turned his 17812vast shirt collar down over his shoulders, brushed him off and crowned 17813him with his speckled straw hat. He now looked exceedingly improved and 17814uncomfortable. He was fully as uncomfortable as he looked; for there 17815was a restraint about whole clothes and cleanliness that galled him. He 17816hoped that Mary would forget his shoes, but the hope was blighted; she 17817coated them thoroughly with tallow, as was the custom, and brought them 17818out. He lost his temper and said he was always being made to do 17819everything he didn't want to do. But Mary said, persuasively: 17820 17821"Please, Tom--that's a good boy." 17822 17823So he got into the shoes snarling. Mary was soon ready, and the three 17824children set out for Sunday-school--a place that Tom hated with his 17825whole heart; but Sid and Mary were fond of it. 17826 17827Sabbath-school hours were from nine to half-past ten; and then church 17828service. Two of the children always remained for the sermon 17829voluntarily, and the other always remained too--for stronger reasons. 17830The church's high-backed, uncushioned pews would seat about three 17831hundred persons; the edifice was but a small, plain affair, with a sort 17832of pine board tree-box on top of it for a steeple. At the door Tom 17833dropped back a step and accosted a Sunday-dressed comrade: 17834 17835"Say, Billy, got a yaller ticket?" 17836 17837"Yes." 17838 17839"What'll you take for her?" 17840 17841"What'll you give?" 17842 17843"Piece of lickrish and a fish-hook." 17844 17845"Less see 'em." 17846 17847Tom exhibited. They were satisfactory, and the property changed hands. 17848Then Tom traded a couple of white alleys for three red tickets, and 17849some small trifle or other for a couple of blue ones. He waylaid other 17850boys as they came, and went on buying tickets of various colors ten or 17851fifteen minutes longer. He entered the church, now, with a swarm of 17852clean and noisy boys and girls, proceeded to his seat and started a 17853quarrel with the first boy that came handy. The teacher, a grave, 17854elderly man, interfered; then turned his back a moment and Tom pulled a 17855boy's hair in the next bench, and was absorbed in his book when the boy 17856turned around; stuck a pin in another boy, presently, in order to hear 17857him say "Ouch!" and got a new reprimand from his teacher. Tom's whole 17858class were of a pattern--restless, noisy, and troublesome. When they 17859came to recite their lessons, not one of them knew his verses 17860perfectly, but had to be prompted all along. However, they worried 17861through, and each got his reward--in small blue tickets, each with a 17862passage of Scripture on it; each blue ticket was pay for two verses of 17863the recitation. Ten blue tickets equalled a red one, and could be 17864exchanged for it; ten red tickets equalled a yellow one; for ten yellow 17865tickets the superintendent gave a very plainly bound Bible (worth forty 17866cents in those easy times) to the pupil. How many of my readers would 17867have the industry and application to memorize two thousand verses, even 17868for a Dore Bible? And yet Mary had acquired two Bibles in this way--it 17869was the patient work of two years--and a boy of German parentage had 17870won four or five. He once recited three thousand verses without 17871stopping; but the strain upon his mental faculties was too great, and 17872he was little better than an idiot from that day forth--a grievous 17873misfortune for the school, for on great occasions, before company, the 17874superintendent (as Tom expressed it) had always made this boy come out 17875and "spread himself." Only the older pupils managed to keep their 17876tickets and stick to their tedious work long enough to get a Bible, and 17877so the delivery of one of these prizes was a rare and noteworthy 17878circumstance; the successful pupil was so great and conspicuous for 17879that day that on the spot every scholar's heart was fired with a fresh 17880ambition that often lasted a couple of weeks. It is possible that Tom's 17881mental stomach had never really hungered for one of those prizes, but 17882unquestionably his entire being had for many a day longed for the glory 17883and the eclat that came with it. 17884 17885In due course the superintendent stood up in front of the pulpit, with 17886a closed hymn-book in his hand and his forefinger inserted between its 17887leaves, and commanded attention. When a Sunday-school superintendent 17888makes his customary little speech, a hymn-book in the hand is as 17889necessary as is the inevitable sheet of music in the hand of a singer 17890who stands forward on the platform and sings a solo at a concert 17891--though why, is a mystery: for neither the hymn-book nor the sheet of 17892music is ever referred to by the sufferer. This superintendent was a 17893slim creature of thirty-five, with a sandy goatee and short sandy hair; 17894he wore a stiff standing-collar whose upper edge almost reached his 17895ears and whose sharp points curved forward abreast the corners of his 17896mouth--a fence that compelled a straight lookout ahead, and a turning 17897of the whole body when a side view was required; his chin was propped 17898on a spreading cravat which was as broad and as long as a bank-note, 17899and had fringed ends; his boot toes were turned sharply up, in the 17900fashion of the day, like sleigh-runners--an effect patiently and 17901laboriously produced by the young men by sitting with their toes 17902pressed against a wall for hours together. Mr. Walters was very earnest 17903of mien, and very sincere and honest at heart; and he held sacred 17904things and places in such reverence, and so separated them from worldly 17905matters, that unconsciously to himself his Sunday-school voice had 17906acquired a peculiar intonation which was wholly absent on week-days. He 17907began after this fashion: 17908 17909"Now, children, I want you all to sit up just as straight and pretty 17910as you can and give me all your attention for a minute or two. There 17911--that is it. That is the way good little boys and girls should do. I see 17912one little girl who is looking out of the window--I am afraid she 17913thinks I am out there somewhere--perhaps up in one of the trees making 17914a speech to the little birds. [Applausive titter.] I want to tell you 17915how good it makes me feel to see so many bright, clean little faces 17916assembled in a place like this, learning to do right and be good." And 17917so forth and so on. It is not necessary to set down the rest of the 17918oration. It was of a pattern which does not vary, and so it is familiar 17919to us all. 17920 17921The latter third of the speech was marred by the resumption of fights 17922and other recreations among certain of the bad boys, and by fidgetings 17923and whisperings that extended far and wide, washing even to the bases 17924of isolated and incorruptible rocks like Sid and Mary. But now every 17925sound ceased suddenly, with the subsidence of Mr. Walters' voice, and 17926the conclusion of the speech was received with a burst of silent 17927gratitude. 17928 17929A good part of the whispering had been occasioned by an event which 17930was more or less rare--the entrance of visitors: lawyer Thatcher, 17931accompanied by a very feeble and aged man; a fine, portly, middle-aged 17932gentleman with iron-gray hair; and a dignified lady who was doubtless 17933the latter's wife. The lady was leading a child. Tom had been restless 17934and full of chafings and repinings; conscience-smitten, too--he could 17935not meet Amy Lawrence's eye, he could not brook her loving gaze. But 17936when he saw this small new-comer his soul was all ablaze with bliss in 17937a moment. The next moment he was "showing off" with all his might 17938--cuffing boys, pulling hair, making faces--in a word, using every art 17939that seemed likely to fascinate a girl and win her applause. His 17940exaltation had but one alloy--the memory of his humiliation in this 17941angel's garden--and that record in sand was fast washing out, under 17942the waves of happiness that were sweeping over it now. 17943 17944The visitors were given the highest seat of honor, and as soon as Mr. 17945Walters' speech was finished, he introduced them to the school. The 17946middle-aged man turned out to be a prodigious personage--no less a one 17947than the county judge--altogether the most august creation these 17948children had ever looked upon--and they wondered what kind of material 17949he was made of--and they half wanted to hear him roar, and were half 17950afraid he might, too. He was from Constantinople, twelve miles away--so 17951he had travelled, and seen the world--these very eyes had looked upon 17952the county court-house--which was said to have a tin roof. The awe 17953which these reflections inspired was attested by the impressive silence 17954and the ranks of staring eyes. This was the great Judge Thatcher, 17955brother of their own lawyer. Jeff Thatcher immediately went forward, to 17956be familiar with the great man and be envied by the school. It would 17957have been music to his soul to hear the whisperings: 17958 17959"Look at him, Jim! He's a going up there. Say--look! he's a going to 17960shake hands with him--he IS shaking hands with him! By jings, don't you 17961wish you was Jeff?" 17962 17963Mr. Walters fell to "showing off," with all sorts of official 17964bustlings and activities, giving orders, delivering judgments, 17965discharging directions here, there, everywhere that he could find a 17966target. The librarian "showed off"--running hither and thither with his 17967arms full of books and making a deal of the splutter and fuss that 17968insect authority delights in. The young lady teachers "showed off" 17969--bending sweetly over pupils that were lately being boxed, lifting 17970pretty warning fingers at bad little boys and patting good ones 17971lovingly. The young gentlemen teachers "showed off" with small 17972scoldings and other little displays of authority and fine attention to 17973discipline--and most of the teachers, of both sexes, found business up 17974at the library, by the pulpit; and it was business that frequently had 17975to be done over again two or three times (with much seeming vexation). 17976The little girls "showed off" in various ways, and the little boys 17977"showed off" with such diligence that the air was thick with paper wads 17978and the murmur of scufflings. And above it all the great man sat and 17979beamed a majestic judicial smile upon all the house, and warmed himself 17980in the sun of his own grandeur--for he was "showing off," too. 17981 17982There was only one thing wanting to make Mr. Walters' ecstasy 17983complete, and that was a chance to deliver a Bible-prize and exhibit a 17984prodigy. Several pupils had a few yellow tickets, but none had enough 17985--he had been around among the star pupils inquiring. He would have given 17986worlds, now, to have that German lad back again with a sound mind. 17987 17988And now at this moment, when hope was dead, Tom Sawyer came forward 17989with nine yellow tickets, nine red tickets, and ten blue ones, and 17990demanded a Bible. This was a thunderbolt out of a clear sky. Walters 17991was not expecting an application from this source for the next ten 17992years. But there was no getting around it--here were the certified 17993checks, and they were good for their face. Tom was therefore elevated 17994to a place with the Judge and the other elect, and the great news was 17995announced from headquarters. It was the most stunning surprise of the 17996decade, and so profound was the sensation that it lifted the new hero 17997up to the judicial one's altitude, and the school had two marvels to 17998gaze upon in place of one. The boys were all eaten up with envy--but 17999those that suffered the bitterest pangs were those who perceived too 18000late that they themselves had contributed to this hated splendor by 18001trading tickets to Tom for the wealth he had amassed in selling 18002whitewashing privileges. These despised themselves, as being the dupes 18003of a wily fraud, a guileful snake in the grass. 18004 18005The prize was delivered to Tom with as much effusion as the 18006superintendent could pump up under the circumstances; but it lacked 18007somewhat of the true gush, for the poor fellow's instinct taught him 18008that there was a mystery here that could not well bear the light, 18009perhaps; it was simply preposterous that this boy had warehoused two 18010thousand sheaves of Scriptural wisdom on his premises--a dozen would 18011strain his capacity, without a doubt. 18012 18013Amy Lawrence was proud and glad, and she tried to make Tom see it in 18014her face--but he wouldn't look. She wondered; then she was just a grain 18015troubled; next a dim suspicion came and went--came again; she watched; 18016a furtive glance told her worlds--and then her heart broke, and she was 18017jealous, and angry, and the tears came and she hated everybody. Tom 18018most of all (she thought). 18019 18020Tom was introduced to the Judge; but his tongue was tied, his breath 18021would hardly come, his heart quaked--partly because of the awful 18022greatness of the man, but mainly because he was her parent. He would 18023have liked to fall down and worship him, if it were in the dark. The 18024Judge put his hand on Tom's head and called him a fine little man, and 18025asked him what his name was. The boy stammered, gasped, and got it out: 18026 18027"Tom." 18028 18029"Oh, no, not Tom--it is--" 18030 18031"Thomas." 18032 18033"Ah, that's it. I thought there was more to it, maybe. That's very 18034well. But you've another one I daresay, and you'll tell it to me, won't 18035you?" 18036 18037"Tell the gentleman your other name, Thomas," said Walters, "and say 18038sir. You mustn't forget your manners." 18039 18040"Thomas Sawyer--sir." 18041 18042"That's it! That's a good boy. Fine boy. Fine, manly little fellow. 18043Two thousand verses is a great many--very, very great many. And you 18044never can be sorry for the trouble you took to learn them; for 18045knowledge is worth more than anything there is in the world; it's what 18046makes great men and good men; you'll be a great man and a good man 18047yourself, some day, Thomas, and then you'll look back and say, It's all 18048owing to the precious Sunday-school privileges of my boyhood--it's all 18049owing to my dear teachers that taught me to learn--it's all owing to 18050the good superintendent, who encouraged me, and watched over me, and 18051gave me a beautiful Bible--a splendid elegant Bible--to keep and have 18052it all for my own, always--it's all owing to right bringing up! That is 18053what you will say, Thomas--and you wouldn't take any money for those 18054two thousand verses--no indeed you wouldn't. And now you wouldn't mind 18055telling me and this lady some of the things you've learned--no, I know 18056you wouldn't--for we are proud of little boys that learn. Now, no 18057doubt you know the names of all the twelve disciples. Won't you tell us 18058the names of the first two that were appointed?" 18059 18060Tom was tugging at a button-hole and looking sheepish. He blushed, 18061now, and his eyes fell. Mr. Walters' heart sank within him. He said to 18062himself, it is not possible that the boy can answer the simplest 18063question--why DID the Judge ask him? Yet he felt obliged to speak up 18064and say: 18065 18066"Answer the gentleman, Thomas--don't be afraid." 18067 18068Tom still hung fire. 18069 18070"Now I know you'll tell me," said the lady. "The names of the first 18071two disciples were--" 18072 18073"DAVID AND GOLIAH!" 18074 18075Let us draw the curtain of charity over the rest of the scene. 18076 18077 18078 18079CHAPTER V 18080 18081ABOUT half-past ten the cracked bell of the small church began to 18082ring, and presently the people began to gather for the morning sermon. 18083The Sunday-school children distributed themselves about the house and 18084occupied pews with their parents, so as to be under supervision. Aunt 18085Polly came, and Tom and Sid and Mary sat with her--Tom being placed 18086next the aisle, in order that he might be as far away from the open 18087window and the seductive outside summer scenes as possible. The crowd 18088filed up the aisles: the aged and needy postmaster, who had seen better 18089days; the mayor and his wife--for they had a mayor there, among other 18090unnecessaries; the justice of the peace; the widow Douglass, fair, 18091smart, and forty, a generous, good-hearted soul and well-to-do, her 18092hill mansion the only palace in the town, and the most hospitable and 18093much the most lavish in the matter of festivities that St. Petersburg 18094could boast; the bent and venerable Major and Mrs. Ward; lawyer 18095Riverson, the new notable from a distance; next the belle of the 18096village, followed by a troop of lawn-clad and ribbon-decked young 18097heart-breakers; then all the young clerks in town in a body--for they 18098had stood in the vestibule sucking their cane-heads, a circling wall of 18099oiled and simpering admirers, till the last girl had run their gantlet; 18100and last of all came the Model Boy, Willie Mufferson, taking as heedful 18101care of his mother as if she were cut glass. He always brought his 18102mother to church, and was the pride of all the matrons. The boys all 18103hated him, he was so good. And besides, he had been "thrown up to them" 18104so much. His white handkerchief was hanging out of his pocket behind, as 18105usual on Sundays--accidentally. Tom had no handkerchief, and he looked 18106upon boys who had as snobs. 18107 18108The congregation being fully assembled, now, the bell rang once more, 18109to warn laggards and stragglers, and then a solemn hush fell upon the 18110church which was only broken by the tittering and whispering of the 18111choir in the gallery. The choir always tittered and whispered all 18112through service. There was once a church choir that was not ill-bred, 18113but I have forgotten where it was, now. It was a great many years ago, 18114and I can scarcely remember anything about it, but I think it was in 18115some foreign country. 18116 18117The minister gave out the hymn, and read it through with a relish, in 18118a peculiar style which was much admired in that part of the country. 18119His voice began on a medium key and climbed steadily up till it reached 18120a certain point, where it bore with strong emphasis upon the topmost 18121word and then plunged down as if from a spring-board: 18122 18123 Shall I be car-ri-ed toe the skies, on flow'ry BEDS of ease, 18124 18125 Whilst others fight to win the prize, and sail thro' BLOODY seas? 18126 18127He was regarded as a wonderful reader. At church "sociables" he was 18128always called upon to read poetry; and when he was through, the ladies 18129would lift up their hands and let them fall helplessly in their laps, 18130and "wall" their eyes, and shake their heads, as much as to say, "Words 18131cannot express it; it is too beautiful, TOO beautiful for this mortal 18132earth." 18133 18134After the hymn had been sung, the Rev. Mr. Sprague turned himself into 18135a bulletin-board, and read off "notices" of meetings and societies and 18136things till it seemed that the list would stretch out to the crack of 18137doom--a queer custom which is still kept up in America, even in cities, 18138away here in this age of abundant newspapers. Often, the less there is 18139to justify a traditional custom, the harder it is to get rid of it. 18140 18141And now the minister prayed. A good, generous prayer it was, and went 18142into details: it pleaded for the church, and the little children of the 18143church; for the other churches of the village; for the village itself; 18144for the county; for the State; for the State officers; for the United 18145States; for the churches of the United States; for Congress; for the 18146President; for the officers of the Government; for poor sailors, tossed 18147by stormy seas; for the oppressed millions groaning under the heel of 18148European monarchies and Oriental despotisms; for such as have the light 18149and the good tidings, and yet have not eyes to see nor ears to hear 18150withal; for the heathen in the far islands of the sea; and closed with 18151a supplication that the words he was about to speak might find grace 18152and favor, and be as seed sown in fertile ground, yielding in time a 18153grateful harvest of good. Amen. 18154 18155There was a rustling of dresses, and the standing congregation sat 18156down. The boy whose history this book relates did not enjoy the prayer, 18157he only endured it--if he even did that much. He was restive all 18158through it; he kept tally of the details of the prayer, unconsciously 18159--for he was not listening, but he knew the ground of old, and the 18160clergyman's regular route over it--and when a little trifle of new 18161matter was interlarded, his ear detected it and his whole nature 18162resented it; he considered additions unfair, and scoundrelly. In the 18163midst of the prayer a fly had lit on the back of the pew in front of 18164him and tortured his spirit by calmly rubbing its hands together, 18165embracing its head with its arms, and polishing it so vigorously that 18166it seemed to almost part company with the body, and the slender thread 18167of a neck was exposed to view; scraping its wings with its hind legs 18168and smoothing them to its body as if they had been coat-tails; going 18169through its whole toilet as tranquilly as if it knew it was perfectly 18170safe. As indeed it was; for as sorely as Tom's hands itched to grab for 18171it they did not dare--he believed his soul would be instantly destroyed 18172if he did such a thing while the prayer was going on. But with the 18173closing sentence his hand began to curve and steal forward; and the 18174instant the "Amen" was out the fly was a prisoner of war. His aunt 18175detected the act and made him let it go. 18176 18177The minister gave out his text and droned along monotonously through 18178an argument that was so prosy that many a head by and by began to nod 18179--and yet it was an argument that dealt in limitless fire and brimstone 18180and thinned the predestined elect down to a company so small as to be 18181hardly worth the saving. Tom counted the pages of the sermon; after 18182church he always knew how many pages there had been, but he seldom knew 18183anything else about the discourse. However, this time he was really 18184interested for a little while. The minister made a grand and moving 18185picture of the assembling together of the world's hosts at the 18186millennium when the lion and the lamb should lie down together and a 18187little child should lead them. But the pathos, the lesson, ��{�'J 18188,��! �4��n��|B=j��;�Y���K�I��q�7����'?�&��D!6�a�<�������"�ڧ�� <I���N���B�_Dr@��7�N�ED��+��,;E�ŁS��|O#��%}�r�wqs0�c�nw����~ 3�o���ʬ'6��X�0Ǩ<T+!B��"�X��F�C{2Ws�$�]ҽ��� 18189�k�P�J�@�}�aR������4��-C��\���<�� `���������J��է��y}T����3.?m,b�Nl��8���/}��at3�v|W�'z�H;B�34U���-��T5�;<�����o�]��&��?_��_:G�������]�\4�Rb��ދ�*��9��~��K����ߓš�Y��U�c��R)��^���KLX������:A�,={_���ޥC@��T�ɪ�.�S5��+&Yvu�<��6���?R��Q�k�B��y�Y����y�++�D�S�|�b�3bE��J�2/n�����"`�i�Bѕy:Ŏ�Ů]���î ى�m�R�n�m]g�̐�w��N��C��մ��ŕ�)�)�3�"��[Q�1D�BNSl2��D��������.n� ��3q��<Gʺ���� 18190��9�h=UH_Q���b��9�N�&��� ���0V����%�떽��%��s0M�m*��j%տ ����2�D`�;��X��?���δ�˩$r���Y�z��mm���-(.�a�;}(�\�'�� ��6��bn�f�<����1 �Ā��+˛fY�Pt�{tA{��k��X�f����hÅ�0B���o�EW�`��3̤��p^� 18191�'ќ�@+ J��;"�K�%�kf���4m<�̋�*�PH��'�8ܕ줌־�>5��mv��I�$d������i��O��]���5d�!��C��:��f���IB����w�wdj%{�>�_$Dv��lWZ2P䷥Fo�� r��L!������`�O�7�WI�M��'Ϲ� 18192���\T[Ȅ�'�B�������QcP�I�����p�_�4]~{}1����?7�%x`Q�%� �3F��q��bq(��%�W�Jԛ5�& |'����Z��� 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