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WELL,prettysoontheoldmanwasupandaroundagain,andthenhewentforJudgeThatcherinthecourtstomakehimgiveupthatmoney,andhewentforme,too,fornotstoppingschool.
Hecatchedmeacoupleoftimesandthrashedme,butIwenttoschooljustthesame,anddodgedhimoroutrunhimmostofthetime.
Ididn’twanttogotoschoolmuchbefore,butIreckonedI’dgonowtospitepap.
Thatlawtrialwasaslowbusiness–appearedliketheywarn’tevergoingtogetstartedonit;soeverynowandthenI’dborrowtwoorthreedollarsoffofthejudgeforhim,tokeepfromgettingacowhiding.
Everytimehegotmoneyhegotdrunk;andeverytimehegotdrunkheraisedCainaroundtown;andeverytimeheraisedCainhegotjailed.
Hewasjustsuited–thiskindofthingwasrightinhisline.
Hegottohangingaroundthewidow’stoomuchandsoshetoldhimatlastthatifhedidn’tquitusingaroundthereshewouldmaketroubleforhim.Well,WASN’Themad?
HesaidhewouldshowwhowasHuckFinn’sboss.
Sohewatchedoutformeonedayinthespring,andcatchedme,andtookmeuptheriveraboutthreemileinaskiff,andcrossedovertotheIllinoisshorewhereitwaswoodyandtherewarn’tnohousesbutanoldloghutinaplacewherethetimberwassothickyoucouldn’tfinditifyoudidn’tknowwhereitwas.
Hekeptmewithhimallthetime,andInevergotachancetorunoff.
Welivedinthatoldcabin,andhealwayslockedthedoorandputthekeyunderhisheadnights.
Hehadagunwhichhehadstole,Ireckon,andwefishedandhunted,andthatwaswhatwelivedon.
Everylittlewhilehelockedmeinandwentdowntothestore,threemiles,totheferry,andtradedfishandgameforwhisky,andfetchedithomeandgotdrunkandhadagoodtime,andlickedme.
ThewidowshefoundoutwhereIwasbyandby,andshesentamanovertotrytogetholdofme;butpapdrovehimoffwiththegun,anditwarn’tlongafterthattillIwasusedtobeingwhereIwas,andlikedit–allbutthecowhidepart.
Itwaskindoflazyandjolly,layingoffcomfortableallday,smokingandfishing,andnobooksnorstudy.
Twomonthsormorerunalong,andmyclothesgottobeallragsanddirt,andIdidn’tseehowI’devergottolikeitsowellatthewidow’s,whereyouhadtowash,andeatonaplate,andcombup,andgotobedandgetupregular,andbeforeverbotheringoverabook,andhaveoldMissWatsonpeckingatyouallthetime.Ididn’twanttogobacknomore.
Ihadstoppedcussing,becausethewidowdidn’tlikeit;butnowItooktoitagainbecausepaphadn’tnoobjections.
Itwasprettygoodtimesupinthewoodsthere,takeitallaround.
Butbyandbypapgottoohandywithhishick’ry,andIcouldn’tstandit.Iwasalloverwelts.
Hegottogoingawaysomuch,too,andlockingmein.
Oncehelockedmeinandwasgonethreedays.Itwasdreadfullonesome.
Ijudgedhehadgotdrowned,andIwasn’tevergoingtogetoutanymore.Iwasscared.
ImadeupmymindIwouldfixupsomewaytoleavethere.
Ihadtriedtogetoutofthatcabinmanyatime,butIcouldn’tfindnoway.
Therewarn’tawindowtoitbigenoughforadogtogetthrough.
Icouldn’tgetupthechimbly;itwastoonarrow.Thedoorwasthick,solidoakslabs.
Papwasprettycarefulnottoleaveaknifeoranythinginthecabinwhenhewasaway;IreckonIhadhuntedtheplaceoverasmuchasahundredtimes;well,Iwasmostallthetimeatit,becauseitwasabouttheonlywaytoputinthetime.
ButthistimeIfoundsomethingatlast;Ifoundanoldrustywood-sawwithoutanyhandle;itwaslaidinbetweenarafterandtheclapboardsoftheroof.Igreaseditupandwenttowork.
Therewasanoldhorse-blanketnailedagainstthelogsatthefarendofthecabinbehindthetable,tokeepthewindfromblowingthroughthechinksandputtingthecandleout.
Igotunderthetableandraisedtheblanket,andwenttoworktosawasectionofthebigbottomlogout–bigenoughtoletmethrough.
Well,itwasagoodlongjob,butIwasgettingtowardstheendofitwhenIheardpap’sguninthewoods.
Igotridofthesignsofmywork,anddroppedtheblanketandhidmysaw,andprettysoonpapcomein.
Papwarn’tinagoodhumor–sohewashisnaturalself.
Hesaidhewasdowntown,andeverythingwasgoingwrong.
Hislawyersaidhereckonedhewouldwinhislawsuitandgetthemoneyiftheyevergotstartedonthetrial;butthentherewaswaystoputitoffalongtime,andJudgeThatcherknowedhowtodoitAndhesaidpeopleallowedthere’dbeanothertrialtogetmeawayfromhimandgivemetothewidowformyguardian,andtheyguesseditwouldwinthistime.
Thisshookmeupconsiderable,becauseIdidn’twanttogobacktothewidow’sanymoreandbesocrampedupandsivilized,astheycalledit.
Thentheoldmangottocussing,andcussedeverythingandeverybodyhecouldthinkof,andthencussedthemalloveragaintomakesurehehadn’tskippedany,andafterthathepolishedoffwithakindofageneralcussallround,includingaconsiderableparcelofpeoplewhichhedidn’tknowthenamesof,andsocalledthemwhat’s-his-namewhenhegottothem,andwentrightalongwithhiscussing.
Hesaidhewouldliketoseethewidowgetme.
Hesaidhewouldwatchout,andiftheytriedtocomeanysuchgameonhimheknowedofaplacesixorsevenmileofftostowmein,wheretheymighthunttilltheydroppedandtheycouldn’tfindme.
Thatmademeprettyuneasyagain,butonlyforaminute;IreckonedIwouldn’tstayonhandtillhegotthatchance.
Theoldmanmademegototheskiffandfetchthethingshehadgot.
Therewasafifty-poundsackofcornmeal,andasideofbacon,ammunition,andafour-gallonjugofwhisky,andanoldbookandtwonewspapersforwadding,besidessometow.
Itotedupaload,andwentbackandsetdownonthebowoftheskifftorest.
Ithoughtitallover,andIreckonedIwouldwalkoffwiththegunandsomelines,andtaketothewoodswhenIrunaway.
IguessedIwouldn’tstayinoneplace,butjusttramprightacrossthecountry,mostlynighttimes,andhuntandfishtokeepalive,andsogetsofarawaythattheoldmannorthewidowcouldn’teverfindmeanymore.
IjudgedIwouldsawoutandleavethatnightifpapgotdrunkenough,andIreckonedhewould.
IgotsofullofitIdidn’tnoticehowlongIwasstayingtilltheoldmanholleredandaskedmewhetherIwasasleepordrownded.
Igotthethingsalluptothecabin,andthenitwasaboutdark.
WhileIwascookingsuppertheoldmantookaswigortwoandgotsortofwarmedup,andwenttorippingagain.
Hehadbeendrunkoverintown,andlaidinthegutterallnight,andhewasasighttolookat.
AbodywouldathoughthewasAdam–hewasjustallmud.
Wheneverhisliquorbeguntoworkhemostalwayswentforthegovment.histimehesays:
“Callthisagovment!why,justlookatitandseewhatit’slike.
Here’sthelawa-standingreadytotakeaman’ssonawayfromhim–aman’sownson,whichhehashadallthetroubleandalltheanxietyandalltheexpenseofraising.
Yes,justasthatmanhasgotthatsonraisedatlast,andreadytogotoworkandbegintodosuthin’forHIMandgivehimarest,thelawupandgoesforhim.AndtheycallTHATgovment!Thatain’tall,nuther.
ThelawbacksthatoldJudgeThatcherupandhelpshimtokeepmeouto’myproperty.
Here’swhatthelawdoes:Thelawtakesamanworthsixthousanddollarsandup’ards,andjamshimintoanoldtrapofacabinlikethis,andletshimgoroundinclothesthatain’tfittenforahog.Theycallthatgovment!
Amancan’tgethisrightsinagovmentlikethis.
SometimesI’veamightynotiontojustleavethecountryforgoodandall.
Yes,andITOLD‘emso;ItoldoldThatchersotohisface.
Lotsof‘emheardme,andcantellwhatIsaid.
SaysI,fortwocentsI’dleavetheblamedcountryandnevercomea-nearitagin.Them’stheverywords.
Isayslookatmyhat–ifyoucallitahat–butthelidraisesupandtherestofitgoesdowntillit’sbelowmychin,andthenitain’trightlyahatatall,butmorelikemyheadwasshovedupthroughajinto’stovepipe.
Lookatit,saysI–suchahatformetowear–oneofthewealthiestmeninthistownifIcouldgitmyrights.
“Oh,yes,thisisawonderfulgovment,wonderful.Why,lookyhere.
TherewasafreeniggertherefromOhio–amulatter,mostaswhiteasawhiteman.
Hehadthewhitestshirtonyoueversee,too,andtheshiniesthat;andthereain’tamaninthattownthat’sgotasfineclothesaswhathehad;andhehadagoldwatchandchain,andasilver-headedcane–theawfulestoldgray-headednabobintheState.Andwhatdoyouthink?
Theysaidhewasap’fessorinacollege,andcouldtalkallkindsoflanguages,andknowedeverything.Andthatain’tthewust.
TheysaidhecouldVOTEwhenhewasathome.Well,thatletmeout.
ThinksI,whatisthecountrya-comingto?
Itwas‘lectionday,andIwasjustabouttogoandvotemyselfifIwarn’ttoodrunktogetthere;butwhentheytoldmetherewasaStateinthiscountrywherethey’dletthatniggervote,Idrawedout.IsaysI’llnevervoteagin.
Them’stheverywordsIsaid;theyallheardme;andthecountrymayrotforallme–I’llnevervoteaginaslongasIlive.
Andtoseethecoolwayofthatnigger–why,hewouldn’tagivemetheroadifIhadn’tshovedhimouto’theway.
Isaystothepeople,whyain’tthisniggerputupatauctionandsold?–that’swhatIwanttoknow.Andwhatdoyoureckontheysaid?
Why,theysaidhecouldn’tbesoldtillhe’dbeenintheStatesixmonths,andhehadn’tbeentherethatlongyet.There,now–that’saspecimen.
Theycallthatagovmentthatcan’tsellafreeniggertillhe’sbeenintheStatesixmonths.
Here’sagovmentthatcallsitselfagovment,andletsontobeagovment,andthinksitisagovment,andyet’sgottosetstock-stillforsixwholemonthsbeforeitcantakeaholdofaprowling,thieving,infernal,white-shirtedfreenigger,and–”
Papwasagoingonsohenevernoticedwherehisoldlimberlegswastakinghimto,sohewentheadoverheelsoverthetubofsaltporkandbarkedbothshins,andtherestofhisspeechwasallthehottestkindoflanguage–mostlyhoveattheniggerandthegovment,thoughhegivethetubsome,too,allalong,hereandthere.
Hehoppedaroundthecabinconsiderable,firstononelegandthenontheother,holdingfirstoneshinandthentheotherone,andatlastheletoutwithhisleftfootallofasuddenandfetchedthetubarattlingkick.
Butitwarn’tgoodjudgment,becausethatwasthebootthathadacoupleofhistoesleakingoutofthefrontendofit;sonowheraisedahowlthatfairlymadeabody’shairraise,anddownhewentinthedirt,androlledthere,andheldhistoes;andthecussinghedonethenlaidoveranythinghehadeverdoneprevious.Hesaidsohisownselfafterwards.
HehadheardoldSowberryHaganinhisbestdays,andhesaiditlaidoverhim,too;butIreckonthatwassortofpilingiton,maybe.
Aftersupperpaptookthejug,andsaidhehadenoughwhiskytherefortwodrunksandonedeliriumtremens.Thatwasalwayshisword.
Ijudgedhewouldbeblinddrunkinaboutanhour,andthenIwouldstealthekey,orsawmyselfout,oneort’other.
Hedrankanddrank,andtumbleddownonhisblanketsbyandby;butluckdidn’trunmyway.
Hedidn’tgosoundasleep,butwasuneasy.
Hegroanedandmoanedandthrashedaroundthiswayandthatforalongtime.
AtlastIgotsosleepyIcouldn’tkeepmyeyesopenallIcoulddo,andsobeforeIknowedwhatIwasaboutIwassoundasleep,andthecandleburning.
Idon’tknowhowlongIwasasleep,butallofasuddentherewasanawfulscreamandIwasup.
Therewaspaplookingwild,andskippingaroundeverywhichwayandyellingaboutsnakes.
Hesaidtheywascrawlinguphislegs;andthenhewouldgiveajumpandscream,andsayonehadbithimonthecheek–butIcouldn’tseenosnakes.
Hestartedandrunroundandroundthecabin,hollering“Takehimoff!takehimoff!he’sbitingmeontheneck!”
Ineverseeamanlooksowildintheeyes.
Prettysoonhewasallfaggedout,andfelldownpanting;thenherolledoverandoverwonderfulfast,kickingthingseverywhichway,andstrikingandgrabbingattheairwithhishands,andscreamingandsayingtherewasdevilsa-holdofhim.
Heworeoutbyandby,andlaidstillawhile,moaning.
Thenhelaidstiller,anddidn’tmakeasound.
Icouldheartheowlsandthewolvesawayoffinthewoods,anditseemedterriblestill.Hewaslayingoverbythecorner.
Byandbyheraiseduppartwayandlistened,withhisheadtooneside.Hesays,verylow:
“Tramp–tramp–tramp;that’sthedead;tramp–tramp–tramp;they’recomingafterme;butIwon’tgo.Oh,they’rehere!don’ttouchme–don’t!handsoff–they’recold;letgo.Oh,letapoordevilalone!”
Thenhewentdownonallfoursandcrawledoff,beggingthemtolethimalone,andherolledhimselfupinhisblanketandwallowedinundertheoldpinetable,stilla-begging;andthenhewenttocrying.Icouldhearhimthroughtheblanket.
Byandbyherolledoutandjumpeduponhisfeetlookingwild,andheseemeandwentforme.
Hechasedmeroundandroundtheplacewithaclaspknife,callingmetheAngelofDeath,andsayinghewouldkillme,andthenIcouldn’tcomeforhimnomore.
Ibegged,andtoldhimIwasonlyHuck;buthelaughedSUCHascreechylaugh,androaredandcussed,andkeptonchasingmeup.
OncewhenIturnedshortanddodgedunderhisarmhemadeagrabandgotmebythejacketbetweenmyshoulders,andIthoughtIwasgone;butIslidoutofthejacketquickaslightning,andsavedmyself.
Prettysoonhewasalltiredout,anddroppeddownwithhisbackagainstthedoor,andsaidhewouldrestaminuteandthenkillme.
Heputhisknifeunderhim,andsaidhewouldsleepandgetstrong,andthenhewouldseewhowaswho.
Sohedozedoffprettysoon.ByandbyIgottheoldsplit-bottomchairandclumbupaseasyasIcould,nottomakeanynoise,andgotdownthegun.
Islippedtheramroddownittomakesureitwasloaded,thenIlaiditacrosstheturnipbarrel,pointingtowardspap,andsetdownbehindittowaitforhimtostir.
Andhowslowandstillthetimediddragalong.
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