THEsunwasupsohighwhenIwakedthatIjudgeditwasaftereighto’clock. Ilaidthereinthegrassandthecoolshadethinkingaboutthings,andfeelingrestedandruthercomfortableandsatisfied. Icouldseethesunoutatoneortwoholes,butmostlyitwasbigtreesallabout,andgloomyinthereamongstthem. Therewasfreckledplacesonthegroundwherethelightsifteddownthroughtheleaves,andthefreckledplacesswappedaboutalittle,showingtherewasalittlebreezeupthere. Acoupleofsquirrelssetonalimbandjabberedatmeveryfriendly. Iwaspowerfullazyandcomfortable–didn’twanttogetupandcookbreakfast. Well,IwasdozingoffagainwhenIthinksIhearsadeepsoundof“boom!”awayuptheriver. Irousesup,andrestsonmyelbowandlistens;prettysoonIhearsitagain. Ihoppedup,andwentandlookedoutataholeintheleaves,andIseeabunchofsmokelayingonthewateralongwaysup–aboutabreasttheferry. Andtherewastheferryboatfullofpeoplefloatingalongdown.Iknowedwhatwasthematternow.“Boom!” Iseethewhitesmokesquirtoutoftheferryboat’sside. Yousee,theywasfiringcannonoverthewater,tryingtomakemycarcasscometothetop. Iwasprettyhungry,butitwarn’tgoingtodoformetostartafire,becausetheymightseethesmoke. SoIsetthereandwatchedthecannon-smokeandlistenedtotheboom. Theriverwasamilewidethere,anditalwayslooksprettyonasummermorning–soIwashavingagoodenoughtimeseeingthemhuntformyremaindersifIonlyhadabitetoeat. Well,thenIhappenedtothinkhowtheyalwaysputquicksilverinloavesofbreadandfloatthemoff,becausetheyalwaysgorighttothedrowndedcarcassandstopthere. So,saysI,I’llkeepalookout,andifanyofthem’sfloatingaroundaftermeI’llgivethemashow. IchangedtotheIllinoisedgeoftheislandtoseewhatluckIcouldhave,andIwarn’tdisappointed. Abigdoubleloafcomealong,andImostgotitwithalongstick,butmyfootslippedandshefloatedoutfurther. OfcourseIwaswherethecurrentsetintheclosesttotheshore–Iknowedenoughforthat. Butbyandbyalongcomesanotherone,andthistimeIwon. Itookouttheplugandshookoutthelittledabofquicksilver,andsetmyteethin. Itwas“baker’sbread”–whatthequalityeat;noneofyourlow-downcorn-pone. Igotagoodplaceamongsttheleaves,andsetthereonalog,munchingthebreadandwatchingtheferryboat,andverywellsatisfied.Andthensomethingstruckme. Isays,nowIreckonthewidowortheparsonorsomebodyprayedthatthisbreadwouldfindme,andhereithasgoneanddoneit. Sothereain’tnodoubtbutthereissomethinginthatthing–thatis,there’ssomethinginitwhenabodylikethewidowortheparsonprays,butitdon’tworkforme,andIreckonitdon’tworkforonlyjusttherightkind. Ilitapipeandhadagoodlongsmoke,andwentonwatching. Theferryboatwasfloatingwiththecurrent,andIallowedI’dhaveachancetoseewhowasaboardwhenshecomealong,becauseshewouldcomeinclose,wherethebreaddid. Whenshe’dgotprettywellalongdowntowardsme,IputoutmypipeandwenttowhereIfishedoutthebread,andlaiddownbehindalogonthebankinalittleopenplace. WherethelogforkedIcouldpeepthrough. Byandbyshecomealong,andshedriftedinsoclosethattheycouldarunoutaplankandwalkedashore.Mosteverybodywasontheboat. Pap,andJudgeThatcher,andBessieThatcher,andJoHarper,andTomSawyer,andhisoldAuntPolly,andSidandMary,andplentymore. Everybodywastalkingaboutthemurder,butthecaptainbrokeinandsays: “Looksharp,now;thecurrentsetsintheclosesthere,andmaybehe’swashedashoreandgottangledamongstthebrushatthewater’sedge.Ihopeso,anyway.” “Ididn’thopeso.Theyallcrowdedupandleanedovertherails,nearlyinmyface,andkeptstill,watchingwithalltheirmight. Icouldseethemfirst-rate,buttheycouldn’tseeme.Thenthecaptainsungout: “Standaway!”andthecannonletoffsuchablastrightbeforemethatitmademedeefwiththenoiseandprettynearblindwiththesmoke,andIjudgedIwasgone. Ifthey’dahadsomebulletsin,Ireckonthey’dagotthecorpsetheywasafter. Well,IseeIwarn’thurt,thankstogoodness. Theboatfloatedonandwentoutofsightaroundtheshoulderoftheisland. Icouldheartheboomingnowandthen,furtherandfurtheroff,andbyandby,afteranhour,Ididn’thearitnomore.Theislandwasthreemilelong. Ijudgedtheyhadgottothefoot,andwasgivingitup.Buttheydidn’tyetawhile. TheyturnedaroundthefootoftheislandandstartedupthechannelontheMissouriside,understeam,andboomingonceinawhileastheywent. Icrossedovertothatsideandwatchedthem. WhentheygotabreasttheheadoftheislandtheyquitshootinganddroppedovertotheMissourishoreandwenthometothetown. IknowedIwasallrightnow.Nobodyelsewouldcomea-huntingafterme. Igotmytrapsoutofthecanoeandmademeanicecampinthethickwoods. Imadeakindofatentoutofmyblanketstoputmythingsundersotheraincouldn’tgetatthem. Icatchedacatfishandhaggledhimopenwithmysaw,andtowardssundownIstartedmycampfireandhadsupper. ThenIsetoutalinetocatchsomefishforbreakfast. WhenitwasdarkIsetbymycampfiresmoking,andfeelingprettywellsatisfied;butbyandbyitgotsortoflonesome,andsoIwentandsetonthebankandlistenedtothecurrentswashingalong,andcountedthestarsanddriftlogsandraftsthatcomedown,andthenwenttobed;thereain’tnobetterwaytoputintimewhenyouarelonesome;youcan’tstayso,yousoongetoverit. Andsoforthreedaysandnights.Nodifference–justthesamething. ButthenextdayIwentexploringarounddownthroughtheisland. Iwasbossofit;itallbelongedtome,sotosay,andIwantedtoknowallaboutit;butmainlyIwantedtoputinthetime. Ifoundplentystrawberries,ripeandprime;andgreensummergrapes,andgreenrazberries;andthegreenblackberrieswasjustbeginningtoshow. Theywouldallcomehandybyandby,Ijudged. Well,IwentfoolingalonginthedeepwoodstillIjudgedIwarn’tfarfromthefootoftheisland. Ihadmygunalong,butIhadn’tshotnothing;itwasforprotection;thoughtIwouldkillsomegamenighhome. AboutthistimeImightynearsteppedonagood-sizedsnake,anditwentslidingoffthroughthegrassandflowers,andIafterit,tryingtogetashotatit. Iclippedalong,andallofasuddenIboundedrightontotheashesofacampfirethatwasstillsmoking. Myheartjumpedupamongstmylungs.Ineverwaitedfortolookfurther,butuncockedmygunandwentsneakingbackonmytiptoesasfastaseverIcould. EverynowandthenIstoppedasecondamongstthethickleavesandlistened,butmybreathcomesohardIcouldn’thearnothingelse. Islunkalonganotherpiecefurther,thenlistenedagain;andsoon,andsoon. IfIseeastump,Itookitforaman;ifItrodonastickandbrokeit,itmademefeellikeapersonhadcutoneofmybreathsintwoandIonlygothalf,andtheshorthalf,too. WhenIgottocampIwarn’tfeelingverybrash,therewarn’tmuchsandinmycraw;butIsays,thisain’tnotimetobefoolingaround. SoIgotallmytrapsintomycanoeagainsoastohavethemoutofsight,andIputoutthefireandscatteredtheashesaroundtolooklikeanoldlastyear’scamp,andthenclumbatree. IreckonIwasupinthetreetwohours;butIdidn’tseenothing,Ididn’thearnothing–IonlyTHOUGHTIheardandseenasmuchasathousandthings. Well,Icouldn’tstayupthereforever;soatlastIgotdown,butIkeptinthethickwoodsandonthelookoutallthetime. AllIcouldgettoeatwasberriesandwhatwasleftoverfrombreakfast. BythetimeitwasnightIwasprettyhungry. SowhenitwasgoodanddarkIslidoutfromshorebeforemoonriseandpaddledovertotheIllinoisbank–aboutaquarterofamile. Iwentoutinthewoodsandcookedasupper,andIhadaboutmadeupmymindIwouldstaythereallnightwhenIhearaPLUNKETY-PLUNK,PLUNKETY-PLUNK,andsaystomyself,horsescoming;andnextIhearpeople’svoices. IgoteverythingintothecanoeasquickasIcould,andthenwentcreepingthroughthewoodstoseewhatIcouldfindout.Ihadn’tgotfarwhenIhearamansay: “Webettercamphereifwecanfindagoodplace;thehorsesisaboutbeatout.Let’slookaround.” Ididn’twait,butshovedoutandpaddledawayeasy.Itiedupintheoldplace,andreckonedIwouldsleepinthecanoe. Ididn’tsleepmuch.Icouldn’t,somehow,forthinking. AndeverytimeIwakedupIthoughtsomebodyhadmebytheneck.Sothesleepdidn’tdomenogood. ByandbyIsaystomyself,Ican’tlivethisway;I’ma-goingtofindoutwhoitisthat’shereontheislandwithme;I’llfinditoutorbust.Well,Ifeltbetterrightoff. SoItookmypaddleandslidoutfromshorejustasteportwo,andthenletthecanoedropalongdownamongsttheshadows. Themoonwasshining,andoutsideoftheshadowsitmadeitmostaslightasday. Ipokedalongwellontoanhour,everythingstillasrocksandsoundasleep. Well,bythistimeIwasmostdowntothefootoftheisland. Alittleripply,coolbreezebeguntoblow,andthatwasasgoodassayingthenightwasaboutdone. Igiveheraturnwiththepaddleandbrunghernosetoshore;thenIgotmygunandslippedoutandintotheedgeofthewoods. Isatdownthereonalog,andlookedoutthroughtheleaves. Iseethemoongooffwatch,andthedarknessbegintoblankettheriver. ButinalittlewhileIseeapalestreakoverthetreetops,andknowedthedaywascoming. SoItookmygunandslippedofftowardswhereIhadrunacrossthatcampfire,stoppingeveryminuteortwotolisten. ButIhadn’tnolucksomehow;Icouldn’tseemtofindtheplace. Butbyandby,sureenough,Icatchedaglimpseoffireawaythroughthetrees.Iwentforit,cautiousandslow. ByandbyIwascloseenoughtohavealook,andtherelaidamanontheground.Itmostgivemethefantods. Hehadablanketaroundhishead,andhisheadwasnearlyinthefire. Isettherebehindaclumpofbushesinaboutsixfootofhim,andkeptmyeyesonhimsteady.Itwasgettinggraydaylightnow. Prettysoonhegappedandstretchedhimselfandhoveofftheblanket,anditwasMissWatson’sJim!IbetIwasgladtoseehim.Isays: “Hello,Jim!”andskippedout. Hebouncedupandstaredatmewild.Thenhedropsdownonhisknees,andputshishandstogetherandsays: “Doan’hurtme–don’t!Ihain’teverdonenoharmtoaghos’. Ialwuzlikeddeadpeople,endoneallIcouldfor‘em. Yougoengitinderiveragin,whahyoub’longs,endoan’donuffntoOleJim,‘at‘uzawluzyo’fren’.” Well,Iwarn’tlongmakinghimunderstandIwarn’tdead.IwaseversogladtoseeJim.Iwarn’tlonesomenow. ItoldhimIwarn’tafraidofHIMtellingthepeoplewhereIwas. Italkedalong,butheonlysetthereandlookedatme;neversaidnothing.ThenIsays: “It’sgooddaylight.Le’sgetbreakfast.Makeupyourcampfiregood.” “What’sdeuseermakin’updecampfiretocookstrawbriesensichtruck?Butyougotagun,hain’tyou?Denwekingitsumfnbetterdenstrawbries.” “Strawberriesandsuchtruck,”Isays.“Isthatwhatyouliveon?” “Icouldn’gitnuffnelse,”hesays. “Why,howlongyoubeenontheisland,Jim?” “Icomeheahdenightarteryou’skilled.” “Andain’tyouhadnothingbutthatkindofrubbagetoeat?” “Well,youmustbemoststarved,ain’tyou?” “Ireck’nIcouldeatahoss.IthinkIcould.Howlongyoubenondeislan’?” “SincethenightIgotkilled.” “No!W’y,whathasyoulivedon?Butyougotagun.Oh,yes,yougotagun.Dat’sgood.NowyoukillsumfnenI’llmakeupdefire.” Sowewentovertowherethecanoewas,andwhilehebuiltafireinagrassyopenplaceamongstthetrees,Ifetchedmealandbaconandcoffee,andcoffee-potandfrying-pan,andsugarandtincups,andtheniggerwassetbackconsiderable,becausehereckoneditwasalldonewithwitchcraft. Icatchedagoodbigcatfish,too,andJimcleanedhimwithhisknife,andfriedhim. Whenbreakfastwasreadywelolledonthegrassandeatitsmokinghot. Jimlaiditinwithallhismight,forhewasmostaboutstarved. Thenwhenwehadgotprettywellstuffed,welaidoffandlazied.ByandbyJimsays: “Butlookyhere,Huck,whowuzitdat‘uzkilledindatshantyefitwarn’tyou?” ThenItoldhimthewholething,andhesaiditwassmart.HesaidTomSawyercouldn’tgetupnobetterplanthanwhatIhad.ThenIsays: “Howdoyoucometobehere,Jim,andhow’dyougethere?” Helookedprettyuneasy,anddidn’tsaynothingforaminute.Thenhesays: “Well,dey’sreasons.Butyouwouldn’tellonmeefIuztotellyou,wouldyou,Huck?” “Well,Ib’lieveyou,Huck.I–IRUNOFF.” “Butmind,yousaidyouwouldn’tell–youknowyousaidyouwouldn’tell,Huck.” “Well,Idid.IsaidIwouldn’t,andI’llsticktoit.HonestINJUN,Iwill. PeoplewouldcallmealowdownAbolitionistanddespisemeforkeepingmum–butthatdon’tmakenodifference. Iain’ta-goingtotell,andIain’ta-goingbackthere,anyways.So,now,le’sknowallaboutit.” “Well,yousee,it‘uzdisway.Olemissus–dat’sMissWatson–shepecksonmealldetime,entreatsmepootyrough,butsheawluzsaidshewouldn’sellmedowntoOrleans. ButInoticeddeywuzaniggertraderroun’deplaceconsidablelately,enIbegintogitoneasy. Well,onenightIcreepstodedo’pootylate,endedo’warn’tquiteshet,enIhearoldmissustelldewiddershegwynetosellmedowntoOrleans,butshedidn’wantto,butshecouldgiteighthund’ddollarsforme,enit‘uzsichabigstacko’moneyshecouldn’resis’. Dewiddershetrytogithertosayshewouldn’doit,butIneverwaitedtohearderes’.Ilitoutmightyquick,Itellyou. “Ituckoutenshindowndehill,en‘spectostealaskift‘longdesho’som’ers‘bovedetown,butdeywuzpeoplea-stirringyit,soIhidindeoletumble-downcooper-shopondebanktowaitforeverybodytogo‘way.Well,Iwuzdahallnight.Deywuzsomebodyroun’alldetime. ‘Long‘boutsixindemawnin’skiftsbegintogoby,en‘bouteighternineeveryskiftdatwent‘longwuztalkin’‘bouthowyo’papcomeovertodetownensayyou’skilled. Deselas’skiftswuzfullo’ladiesengenlmena-goin’overfortoseedeplace. Sometimesdey’dpullupatdesho’entakeares’b’fo’deystartedacrost,sobydetalkIgottoknowall‘boutdekillin’. I‘uzpowerfulsorryyou’skilled,Huck,butIain’tnomo’now. “Ilaiddahunderdeshavin’sallday.I‘uzhungry,butIwarn’tafeard;bekaseIknowedolemissusendewidderwuzgoin’tostarttodecampmeet’n’rightarterbreakfas’enbegoneallday,endeyknowsIgoesoffwiddecattle‘boutdaylight,sodeywouldn’‘spectoseemeroun’deplace,ensodeywouldn’missmetellarterdarkindeevenin’. Deyutherservantswouldn’missme,kasedey’dshinoutentakeholidaysoonasdeolefolks‘uzout’ndeway. “Well,whenitcomedarkItuckoutupderiverroad,enwent‘bouttwomileermoretowhahdeywarn’tnohouses. I’dmadeupmymine‘boutwhatI’sagwynetodo. Yousee,efIkep’ontryin’togitawayafoot,dedogs‘udtrackme;efIstoleaskifttocrossover,dey’dmissdatskift,yousee,endey’dknow‘boutwhahI’dlan’ondeyutherside,enwhahtopickupmytrack. SoIsays,araffiswhatI’sarter;itdoan’MAKEnotrack. “Iseealighta-comin’roun’dep’intbymeby,soIwade’inenshove’alogaheado’meenswummore’nhalfwayacrostderiver,engotin‘mongstdedriftwood,enkep’myheaddownlow,enkinderswumagindecurrenttellderaffcomealong. DenIswumtodesternuvitentucka-holt. Itcloudedupen‘uzpootydarkforalittlewhile. SoIclumbupenlaiddownondeplanks. Demen‘uzall‘wayyonderindemiddle,whahdelanternwuz. Deriverwuzarisin’,endeywuzagoodcurrent;soIreck’n’d‘atbyfo’indemawnin’I’dbetwenty-fivemiledownderiver,endenI’dslipinjisb’fo’daylightenswimasho’,entaketodewoodsondeIllinoisside. “ButIdidn’havenoluck.Whenwe‘uzmos’downtodeheaderdeislan’amanbegintocomeaftwiddelantern,Iseeitwarn’tnousefertowait,soIslidoverboardenstruckoutferdeislan’. Well,IhadanotionIcouldlan’mos’anywhers,butIcouldn’t–banktoobluff. I‘uzmos’todefooterdeislan’b’fo’Ifound’agoodplace. IwentintodewoodsenjedgedIwouldn’foolwidraffsnomo’,longasdeymovedelanternroun’so. Ihadmypipeenaplugerdog-leg,ensomematchesinmycap,endeywarn’twet,soI‘uzallright.” “Andsoyouain’thadnomeatnorbreadtoeatallthistime?Whydidn’tyougetmud-turkles?” “Howyougwynetogit‘m?Youcan’tslipuponumengrabum;enhow’sabodygwynetohitumwidarock?Howcouldabodydoitindenight?EnIwarn’tgwynetoshowmysefondebankindedaytime.” “Well,that’sso.You’vehadtokeepinthewoodsallthetime,ofcourse.Didyouhear‘emshootingthecannon?” “Oh,yes.Iknoweddeywasarteryou.Iseeumgobyheah–watchedumthoodebushes.” Someyoungbirdscomealong,flyingayardortwoatatimeandlighting. Jimsaiditwasasignitwasgoingtorain. Hesaiditwasasignwhenyoungchickensflewthatway,andsohereckoneditwasthesamewaywhenyoungbirdsdoneit. Iwasgoingtocatchsomeofthem,butJimwouldn’tletme.Hesaiditwasdeath. Hesaidhisfatherlaidmightysickonce,andsomeofthemcatchedabird,andhisoldgrannysaidhisfatherwoulddie,andhedid. AndJimsaidyoumustn’tcountthethingsyouaregoingtocookfordinner,becausethatwouldbringbadluck. Thesameifyoushookthetable-clothaftersundown. Andhesaidifamanownedabeehiveandthatmandied,thebeesmustbetoldaboutitbeforesun-upnextmorning,orelsethebeeswouldallweakendownandquitworkanddie. Jimsaidbeeswouldn’tstingidiots;butIdidn’tbelievethat,becauseIhadtriedthemlotsoftimesmyself,andtheywouldn’tstingme. Ihadheardaboutsomeofthesethingsbefore,butnotallofthem.Jimknowedallkindsofsigns.Hesaidheknowedmosteverything. Isaiditlookedtomelikeallthesignswasaboutbadluck,andsoIaskedhimiftherewarn’tanygood-lucksigns.Hesays: “Mightyfew–an’DEYain’tnousetoabody. Whatyouwanttoknowwhengoodluck’sa-comin’for?Wanttokeepitoff?” Andhesaid:“Efyou’sgothairyarmsenahairybreas’,it’sasigndatyou’sagwynetoberich. Well,dey’ssomeuseinasignlikedat,‘kaseit’ssofurahead. Yousee,maybeyou’sgottobepo’alongtimefust,ensoyoumightgitdiscourage’enkillyo’sef‘fyoudidn’knowbydesigndatyougwynetoberichbymeby.” “Haveyougothairyarmsandahairybreast,Jim?” “What’sdeusetoaxdatquestion?Don’tyouseeIhas?” “No,butIbenrichwunst,andgwynetoberichagin.WunstIhadfoteendollars,butItucktospecalat’n’,engotbustedout.” “Whatdidyouspeculatein,Jim?” “Well,fustItackledstock.” “Why,livestock–cattle,youknow.Iputtendollarsinacow.ButIain’gwynetoresknomo’moneyinstock.Decowup‘n’diedonmyhan’s.” “Soyoulostthetendollars.” “No,Ididn’tloseitall.Ion’ylos’‘boutnineofit.Isoledehideentallerforadollarentencents.” “Youhadfivedollarsandtencentsleft.Didyouspeculateanymore?” “Yes.Youknowthatone-laiggedniggerdatb’longstooldMistoBradish? Well,hesotupabank,ensayanybodydatputinadollarwouldgitfo’dollarsmo’atdeen’erdeyear. Well,alldeniggerswentin,butdeydidn’thavemuch.Iwuzdeon’yonedathadmuch. SoIstuckoutformo’danfo’dollars,enIsaid‘fIdidn’gititI’dstartabankmysef. Well,o’coursedatniggerwant’tokeepmeouterdebusiness,bekasehesaysdeywarn’tbusiness‘noughfortwobanks,sohesayIcouldputinmyfivedollarsenhepaymethirty-fiveatdeen’erdeyear. “SoIdoneit.DenIreck’n’dI’dinves’dethirty-fivedollarsrightoffenkeepthingsa-movin’. Deywuzaniggername’Bob,dathadketchedawoodflat,enhismarsterdidn’knowit;enIboughtitoff’nhimentoldhimtotakedethirty-fivedollarswhendeen’erdeyearcome;butsomebodystoledewood-flatdatnight,ennexdaydeone-laiggedniggersaydebank’sbusted.Sodeydidn’noneuvusgitnomoney.” “Whatdidyoudowiththetencents,Jim?” “Well,I‘uzgwynetospen’it,butIhadadream,endedreamtolemetogiveittoaniggername’Balum–Balum’sAssdeycallhimforshort;he’soneerdemchuckleheads,youknow. Buthe’slucky,deysay,enIseeIwarn’tlucky. DedreamsayletBaluminves’detencentsenhe’dmakearaiseforme. Well,Balumhetuckdemoney,enwhenhewuzinchurchheheardepreachersaydatwhoevergivetodepo’len’todeLord,enboun’togithismoneybackahund’dtimes. SoBalumhetuckengivedetencentstodepo’,enlaidlowtoseewhatwuzgwynetocomeofit.” “Well,whatdidcomeofit,Jim?” “Nuffnnevercomeofit.Icouldn’managetok’leckdatmoneynoway;enBalumhecouldn’. Iain’gwynetolen’nomo’money‘doutIseedesecurity. Boun’togityo’moneybackahund’dtimes,depreachersays! EfIcouldgitdetenCENTSback,I’dcallitsquah,enbegladerdechanst.” “Well,it’sallrightanyway,Jim,longasyou’regoingtoberichagainsometimeorother.” “Yes;enI’srichnow,cometolookatit.Iownsmysef,enI’swutheighthund’ddollars.IwishtIhaddemoney,Iwouldn’wantnomo’.”