English
THEsunwasupsohighwhenIwakedthatIjudgeditwasaftereighto’clock.
Ilaidthereinthegrassandthecoolshadethinkingaboutthings,andfeelingrestedandruthercomfortableandsatisfied.
Icouldseethesunoutatoneortwoholes,butmostlyitwasbigtreesallabout,andgloomyinthereamongstthem.
Therewasfreckledplacesonthegroundwherethelightsifteddownthroughtheleaves,andthefreckledplacesswappedaboutalittle,showingtherewasalittlebreezeupthere.
Acoupleofsquirrelssetonalimbandjabberedatmeveryfriendly.
Iwaspowerfullazyandcomfortabledidn’twanttogetupandcookbreakfast.
Well,IwasdozingoffagainwhenIthinksIhearsadeepsoundofboom!awayuptheriver.
Irousesup,andrestsonmyelbowandlistens;prettysoonIhearsitagain.
Ihoppedup,andwentandlookedoutataholeintheleaves,andIseeabunchofsmokelayingonthewateralongwaysupaboutabreasttheferry.
Andtherewastheferryboatfullofpeoplefloatingalongdown.Iknowedwhatwasthematternow.Boom!
Iseethewhitesmokesquirtoutoftheferryboat’sside.
Yousee,theywasfiringcannonoverthewater,tryingtomakemycarcasscometothetop.
Iwasprettyhungry,butitwarn’tgoingtodoformetostartafire,becausetheymightseethesmoke.
SoIsetthereandwatchedthecannon-smokeandlistenedtotheboom.
Theriverwasamilewidethere,anditalwayslooksprettyonasummermorningsoIwashavingagoodenoughtimeseeingthemhuntformyremaindersifIonlyhadabitetoeat.
Well,thenIhappenedtothinkhowtheyalwaysputquicksilverinloavesofbreadandfloatthemoff,becausetheyalwaysgorighttothedrowndedcarcassandstopthere.
So,saysI,I’llkeepalookout,andifanyofthem’sfloatingaroundaftermeI’llgivethemashow.
IchangedtotheIllinoisedgeoftheislandtoseewhatluckIcouldhave,andIwarn’tdisappointed.
Abigdoubleloafcomealong,andImostgotitwithalongstick,butmyfootslippedandshefloatedoutfurther.
OfcourseIwaswherethecurrentsetintheclosesttotheshoreIknowedenoughforthat.
Butbyandbyalongcomesanotherone,andthistimeIwon.
Itookouttheplugandshookoutthelittledabofquicksilver,andsetmyteethin.
Itwasbaker’sbreadwhatthequalityeat;noneofyourlow-downcorn-pone.
Igotagoodplaceamongsttheleaves,andsetthereonalog,munchingthebreadandwatchingtheferryboat,andverywellsatisfied.Andthensomethingstruckme.
Isays,nowIreckonthewidowortheparsonorsomebodyprayedthatthisbreadwouldfindme,andhereithasgoneanddoneit.
Sothereain’tnodoubtbutthereissomethinginthatthingthatis,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.Nodifferencejustthesamething.
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’thearnothingIonlyTHOUGHTIheardandseenasmuchasathousandthings.
Well,Icouldn’tstayupthereforever;soatlastIgotdown,butIkeptinthethickwoodsandonthelookoutallthetime.
AllIcouldgettoeatwasberriesandwhatwasleftoverfrombreakfast.
BythetimeitwasnightIwasprettyhungry.
SowhenitwasgoodanddarkIslidoutfromshorebeforemoonriseandpaddledovertotheIllinoisbankaboutaquarterofamile.
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’hurtmedon’t!Ihain’teverdonenoharmtoaghos’.
Ialwuzlikeddeadpeople,endoneallIcouldforem.
Yougoengitinderiveragin,whahyoub’longs,endoan’donuffntoOleJim,atuzawluzyo’fren’.
Well,Iwarn’tlongmakinghimunderstandIwarn’tdead.IwaseversogladtoseeJim.Iwarn’tlonesomenow.
ItoldhimIwarn’tafraidofHIMtellingthepeoplewhereIwas.
Italkedalong,butheonlysetthereandlookedatme;neversaidnothing.ThenIsays:
It’sgooddaylight.Le’sgetbreakfast.Makeupyourcampfiregood.
What’sdeuseermakin’updecampfiretocookstrawbriesensichtruck?Butyougotagun,hain’tyou?Denwekingitsumfnbetterdenstrawbries.
Strawberriesandsuchtruck,Isays.Isthatwhatyouliveon?
Icouldn’gitnuffnelse,hesays.
Why,howlongyoubeenontheisland,Jim?
Icomeheahdenightarteryou’skilled.
What,allthattime?
Yesindeedy.
Andain’tyouhadnothingbutthatkindofrubbagetoeat?
No,sahnuffnelse.
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,whowuzitdatuzkilledindatshantyefitwarn’tyou?
ThenItoldhimthewholething,andhesaiditwassmart.HesaidTomSawyercouldn’tgetupnobetterplanthanwhatIhad.ThenIsays:
Howdoyoucometobehere,Jim,andhow’dyougethere?
Helookedprettyuneasy,anddidn’tsaynothingforaminute.Thenhesays:
MaybeIbetternottell.
Why,Jim?
Well,dey’sreasons.Butyouwouldn’tellonmeefIuztotellyou,wouldyou,Huck?
BlamedifIwould,Jim.
Well,Ib’lieveyou,Huck.IIRUNOFF.
Jim!
Butmind,yousaidyouwouldn’tellyouknowyousaidyouwouldn’tell,Huck.
Well,Idid.IsaidIwouldn’t,andI’llsticktoit.HonestINJUN,Iwill.
PeoplewouldcallmealowdownAbolitionistanddespisemeforkeepingmumbutthatdon’tmakenodifference.
Iain’ta-goingtotell,andIain’ta-goingbackthere,anyways.So,now,le’sknowallaboutit.
Well,yousee,ituzdisway.Olemissusdat’sMissWatsonshepecksonmealldetime,entreatsmepootyrough,butsheawluzsaidshewouldn’sellmedowntoOrleans.
ButInoticeddeywuzaniggertraderroun’deplaceconsidablelately,enIbegintogitoneasy.
Well,onenightIcreepstodedo’pootylate,endedo’warn’tquiteshet,enIhearoldmissustelldewiddershegwynetosellmedowntoOrleans,butshedidn’wantto,butshecouldgiteighthund’ddollarsforme,enituzsichabigstacko’moneyshecouldn’resis’.
Dewiddershetrytogithertosayshewouldn’doit,butIneverwaitedtohearderes’.Ilitoutmightyquick,Itellyou.
Ituckoutenshindowndehill,enspectostealaskiftlongdesho’som’ersbovedetown,butdeywuzpeoplea-stirringyit,soIhidindeoletumble-downcooper-shopondebanktowaitforeverybodytogoway.Well,Iwuzdahallnight.Deywuzsomebodyroun’alldetime.
Longboutsixindemawnin’skiftsbegintogoby,enbouteighternineeveryskiftdatwentlongwuztalkin’bouthowyo’papcomeovertodetownensayyou’skilled.
Deselas’skiftswuzfullo’ladiesengenlmena-goin’overfortoseedeplace.
Sometimesdey’dpullupatdesho’entakeares’b’fo’deystartedacrost,sobydetalkIgottoknowallboutdekillin’.
Iuzpowerfulsorryyou’skilled,Huck,butIain’tnomo’now.
Ilaiddahunderdeshavin’sallday.Iuzhungry,butIwarn’tafeard;bekaseIknowedolemissusendewidderwuzgoin’tostarttodecampmeet’n’rightarterbreakfas’enbegoneallday,endeyknowsIgoesoffwiddecattleboutdaylight,sodeywouldn’spectoseemeroun’deplace,ensodeywouldn’missmetellarterdarkindeevenin’.
Deyutherservantswouldn’missme,kasedey’dshinoutentakeholidaysoonasdeolefolksuzout’ndeway.
Well,whenitcomedarkItuckoutupderiverroad,enwentbouttwomileermoretowhahdeywarn’tnohouses.
I’dmadeupmymineboutwhatI’sagwynetodo.
Yousee,efIkep’ontryin’togitawayafoot,dedogsudtrackme;efIstoleaskifttocrossover,dey’dmissdatskift,yousee,endey’dknowboutwhahI’dlan’ondeyutherside,enwhahtopickupmytrack.
SoIsays,araffiswhatI’sarter;itdoan’MAKEnotrack.
Iseealighta-comin’roun’dep’intbymeby,soIwade’inenshove’alogaheado’meenswummore’nhalfwayacrostderiver,engotinmongstdedriftwood,enkep’myheaddownlow,enkinderswumagindecurrenttellderaffcomealong.
DenIswumtodesternuvitentucka-holt.
Itcloudedupenuzpootydarkforalittlewhile.
SoIclumbupenlaiddownondeplanks.
Demenuzallwayyonderindemiddle,whahdelanternwuz.
Deriverwuzarisin’,endeywuzagoodcurrent;soIreck’n’datbyfo’indemawnin’I’dbetwenty-fivemiledownderiver,endenI’dslipinjisb’fo’daylightenswimasho’,entaketodewoodsondeIllinoisside.
ButIdidn’havenoluck.Whenweuzmos’downtodeheaderdeislan’amanbegintocomeaftwiddelantern,Iseeitwarn’tnousefertowait,soIslidoverboardenstruckoutferdeislan’.
Well,IhadanotionIcouldlan’mos’anywhers,butIcouldn’tbanktoobluff.
Iuzmos’todefooterdeislan’b’fo’Ifound’agoodplace.
IwentintodewoodsenjedgedIwouldn’foolwidraffsnomo’,longasdeymovedelanternroun’so.
Ihadmypipeenaplugerdog-leg,ensomematchesinmycap,endeywarn’twet,soIuzallright.
Andsoyouain’thadnomeatnorbreadtoeatallthistime?Whydidn’tyougetmud-turkles?
Howyougwynetogitm?Youcan’tslipuponumengrabum;enhow’sabodygwynetohitumwidarock?Howcouldabodydoitindenight?EnIwarn’tgwynetoshowmysefondebankindedaytime.
Well,that’sso.You’vehadtokeepinthewoodsallthetime,ofcourse.Didyouhearemshootingthecannon?
Oh,yes.Iknoweddeywasarteryou.Iseeumgobyheahwatchedumthoodebushes.
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:
Mightyfewan’DEYain’tnousetoabody.
Whatyouwanttoknowwhengoodluck’sa-comin’for?Wanttokeepitoff?
Andhesaid:Efyou’sgothairyarmsenahairybreas’,it’sasigndatyou’sagwynetoberich.
Well,dey’ssomeuseinasignlikedat,kaseit’ssofurahead.
Yousee,maybeyou’sgottobepo’alongtimefust,ensoyoumightgitdiscourage’enkillyo’seffyoudidn’knowbydesigndatyougwynetoberichbymeby.
Haveyougothairyarmsandahairybreast,Jim?
What’sdeusetoaxdatquestion?Don’tyouseeIhas?
Well,areyourich?
No,butIbenrichwunst,andgwynetoberichagin.WunstIhadfoteendollars,butItucktospecalat’n’,engotbustedout.
Whatdidyouspeculatein,Jim?
Well,fustItackledstock.
Whatkindofstock?
Why,livestockcattle,youknow.Iputtendollarsinacow.ButIain’gwynetoresknomo’moneyinstock.Decowupn’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,enIsaidfIdidn’gititI’dstartabankmysef.
Well,o’coursedatniggerwant’tokeepmeouterdebusiness,bekasehesaysdeywarn’tbusinessnoughfortwobanks,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,Iuzgwynetospen’it,butIhadadream,endedreamtolemetogiveittoaniggername’BalumBalum’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’moneydoutIseedesecurity.
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’.
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