English
“COMEin,”saysthewoman,andIdid.Shesays:“Takeacheer.”
Idoneit.Shelookedmealloverwithherlittleshinyeyes,andsays:
“Whatmightyournamebe?”
“SarahWilliams.”
“Where‘boutsdoyoulive?Inthisneighborhood?’
“No’m.InHookerville,sevenmilebelow.I’vewalkedallthewayandI’malltiredout.”
“Hungry,too,Ireckon.I’llfindyousomething.”
“No’m,Iain’thungry.IwassohungryIhadtostoptwomilesbelowhereatafarm;soIain’thungrynomore.It’swhatmakesmesolate.
Mymother’sdownsick,andoutofmoneyandeverything,andIcometotellmyuncleAbnerMoore.
Helivesattheupperendofthetown,shesays.Ihain’teverbeenherebefore.Doyouknowhim?”
“No;butIdon’tknoweverybodyyet.Ihaven’tlivedherequitetwoweeks.It’saconsiderablewaystotheupperendofthetown.Youbetterstayhereallnight.Takeoffyourbonnet.”
“No,”Isays;“I’llrestawhile,Ireckon,andgoon.Iain’tafearedofthedark.”
Shesaidshewouldn’tletmegobymyself,butherhusbandwouldbeinbyandby,maybeinahourandahalf,andshe’dsendhimalongwithme.
Thenshegottotalkingaboutherhusband,andaboutherrelationsuptheriver,andherrelationsdowntheriver,andabouthowmuchbetterofftheyusedtowas,andhowtheydidn’tknowbutthey’dmadeamistakecomingtoourtown,insteadoflettingwellalone–andsoonandsoon,tillIwasafeardIhadmadeamistakecomingtohertofindoutwhatwasgoingoninthetown;butbyandbyshedroppedontopapandthemurder,andthenIwasprettywillingtoletherclatterrightalong.
ShetoldaboutmeandTomSawyerfindingthesixthousanddollars(onlyshegotitten)andallaboutpapandwhatahardlothewas,andwhatahardlotIwas,andatlastshegotdowntowhereIwasmurdered.Isays:
“Whodoneit?We’veheardconsiderableaboutthesegoingsondowninHookerville,butwedon’tknowwho‘twasthatkilledHuckFinn.”
“Well,Ireckonthere’sarightsmartchanceofpeopleHEREthat’dliketoknowwhokilledhim.SomethinkoldFinndoneithimself.”
“No–isthatso?”
“Mosteverybodythoughtitatfirst.He’llneverknowhownighhecometogettinglynched.ButbeforenighttheychangedaroundandjudgeditwasdonebyarunawayniggernamedJim.”
“WhyHE–”
Istopped.IreckonedIbetterkeepstill.Sherunon,andnevernoticedIhadputinatall:
“TheniggerrunofftheverynightHuckFinnwaskilled.
Sothere’sarewardoutforhim–threehundreddollars.
Andthere’sarewardoutforoldFinn,too–twohundreddollars.
Yousee,hecometotownthemorningafterthemurder,andtoldaboutit,andwasoutwith‘emontheferryboathunt,andrightawayafterheupandleft.
Beforenighttheywantedtolynchhim,buthewasgone,yousee.
Well,nextdaytheyfoundouttheniggerwasgone;theyfoundouthehadn’tbenseensenceteno’clockthenightthemurderwasdone.
Sothentheyputitonhim,yousee;andwhiletheywasfullofit,nextday,backcomesoldFinn,andwentboo-hooingtoJudgeThatchertogetmoneytohuntfortheniggeralloverIllinoiswith.
Thejudgegavehimsome,andthateveninghegotdrunk,andwasaroundtillaftermidnightwithacoupleofmightyhard-lookingstrangers,andthenwentoffwiththem.
Well,hehain’tcomebacksence,andtheyain’tlookingforhimbacktillthisthingblowsoveralittle,forpeoplethinksnowthathekilledhisboyandfixedthingssofolkswouldthinkrobbersdoneit,andthenhe’dgetHuck’smoneywithouthavingtobotheralongtimewithalawsuit.
Peopledosayhewarn’tanytoogoodtodoit.Oh,he’ssly,Ireckon.
Ifhedon’tcomebackforayearhe’llbeallright.
Youcan’tproveanythingonhim,youknow;everythingwillbequieteddownthen,andhe’llwalkinHuck’smoneyaseasyasnothing.”
“Yes,Ireckonso,‘m.Idon’tseenothinginthewayofit.Haseverybodyguitthinkingtheniggerdoneit?”
“Oh,no,noteverybody.Agoodmanythinkshedoneit.Butthey’llgettheniggerprettysoonnow,andmaybetheycanscareitoutofhim.”
“Why,aretheyafterhimyet?”
“Well,you’reinnocent,ain’tyou!Doesthreehundreddollarslayaroundeverydayforpeopletopickup?
Somefolksthinktheniggerain’tfarfromhere.
I’moneofthem–butIhain’ttalkeditaround.
AfewdaysagoIwastalkingwithanoldcouplethatlivesnextdoorinthelogshanty,andtheyhappenedtosayhardlyanybodyevergoestothatislandoveryonderthattheycallJackson’sIsland.Don’tanybodylivethere?saysI.No,nobody,saysthey.
Ididn’tsayanymore,butIdonesomethinking.
IwasprettynearcertainI’dseensmokeoverthere,abouttheheadoftheisland,adayortwobeforethat,soIsaystomyself,likeasnotthatnigger’shidingoverthere;anyway,saysI,it’sworththetroubletogivetheplaceahunt.
Ihain’tseenanysmokesence,soIreckonmaybehe’sgone,ifitwashim;buthusband’sgoingovertosee–himandanotherman.
Hewasgoneuptheriver;buthegotbackto-day,andItoldhimassoonashegotheretwohoursago.”
IhadgotsouneasyIcouldn’tsetstill.
Ihadtodosomethingwithmyhands;soItookupaneedleoffofthetableandwenttothreadingit.
Myhandsshook,andIwasmakingabadjobofit.
WhenthewomanstoppedtalkingIlookedup,andshewaslookingatmeprettycuriousandsmilingalittle.
Iputdowntheneedleandthread,andletontobeinterested–andIwas,too–andsays:
“Threehundreddollarsisapowerofmoney.Iwishmymothercouldgetit.Isyourhusbandgoingoverthereto-night?”
“Oh,yes.Hewentup-townwiththemanIwastellingyouof,togetaboatandseeiftheycouldborrowanothergun.They’llgooveraftermidnight.”
“Couldn’ttheyseebetteriftheywastowaittilldaytime?”
“Yes.Andcouldn’ttheniggerseebetter,too?
Aftermidnighthe’lllikelybeasleep,andtheycansliparoundthroughthewoodsandhuntuphiscampfireallthebetterforthedark,ifhe’sgotone.”
“Ididn’tthinkofthat.”
Thewomankeptlookingatmeprettycurious,andIdidn’tfeelabitcomfortable.Prettysoonshesays”
“Whatdidyousayyournamewas,honey?”
“M–MaryWilliams.”
Somehowitdidn’tseemtomethatIsaiditwasMarybefore,soIdidn’tlookup–seemedtomeIsaiditwasSarah;soIfeltsortofcornered,andwasafearedmaybeIwaslookingit,too.
Iwishedthewomanwouldsaysomethingmore;thelongershesetstilltheuneasierIwas.Butnowshesays:
“Honey,IthoughtyousaiditwasSarahwhenyoufirstcomein?”
“Oh,yes’m,Idid.SarahMaryWilliams.Sarah’smyfirstname.SomecallsmeSarah,somecallsmeMary.”
“Oh,that’sthewayofit?”
“Yes’m.”
Iwasfeelingbetterthen,butIwishedIwasoutofthere,anyway.Icouldn’tlookupyet.
Well,thewomanfelltotalkingabouthowhardtimeswas,andhowpoortheyhadtolive,andhowtheratswasasfreeasiftheyownedtheplace,andsoforthandsoon,andthenIgoteasyagain.Shewasrightabouttherats.
You’dseeonestickhisnoseoutofaholeinthecornereverylittlewhile.
Shesaidshehadtohavethingshandytothrowatthemwhenshewasalone,ortheywouldn’tgivehernopeace.
Sheshowedmeabarofleadtwistedupintoaknot,andsaidshewasagoodshotwithitgenerly,butshe’dwrenchedherarmadayortwoago,anddidn’tknowwhethershecouldthrowtruenow.
Butshewatchedforachance,anddirectlybangedawayatarat;butshemissedhimwide,andsaid“Ouch!”ithurtherarmso.
Thenshetoldmetotryforthenextone.
Iwantedtobegettingawaybeforetheoldmangotback,butofcourseIdidn’tleton.
Igotthething,andthefirstratthatshowedhisnoseIletdrive,andifhe’dastayedwherehewashe’dabeenatolerablesickrat.
Shesaidthatwasfirst-rate,andshereckonedIwouldhivethenextone.
Shewentandgotthelumpofleadandfetcheditback,andbroughtalongahankofyarnwhichshewantedmetohelpherwith.
Iheldupmytwohandsandsheputthehankoverthem,andwentontalkingaboutherandherhusband’smatters.Butshebrokeofftosay:
“Keepyoureyeontherats.Youbetterhavetheleadinyourlap,handy.”
Soshedroppedthelumpintomylapjustatthatmoment,andIclappedmylegstogetheronitandshewentontalking.Butonlyaboutaminute.
Thenshetookoffthehankandlookedmestraightintheface,andverypleasant,andsays:
“Come,now,what’syourrealname?”
“Wh–what,mum?”
“What’syourrealname?IsitBill,orTom,orBob?–orwhatisit?”
IreckonIshooklikealeaf,andIdidn’tknowhardlywhattodo.ButIsays:
“Pleasetodon’tpokefunatapoorgirllikeme,mum.IfI’minthewayhere,I’ll–”
“No,youwon’t.Setdownandstaywhereyouare.
Iain’tgoingtohurtyou,andIain’tgoingtotellonyou,nuther.
Youjusttellmeyoursecret,andtrustme.
I’llkeepit;and,what’smore,I’llhelpyou.So’llmyoldmanifyouwanthimto.
Yousee,you’rearunaway‘prentice,that’sall.Itain’tanything.Thereain’tnoharminit.
You’vebeentreatedbad,andyoumadeupyourmindtocut.
Blessyou,child,Iwouldn’ttellonyou.
Tellmeallaboutitnow,that’sagoodboy.”
SoIsaiditwouldn’tbenousetotrytoplayitanylonger,andIwouldjustmakeacleanbreastandtellhereverything,butshemusn’tgobackonherpromise.
ThenItoldhermyfatherandmotherwasdead,andthelawhadboundmeouttoameanoldfarmerinthecountrythirtymilebackfromtheriver,andhetreatedmesobadIcouldn’tstanditnolonger;hewentawaytobegoneacoupleofdays,andsoItookmychanceandstolesomeofhisdaughter’soldclothesandclearedout,andIhadbeenthreenightscomingthethirtymiles.
Itravelednights,andhiddaytimesandslept,andthebagofbreadandmeatIcarriedfromhomelastedmealltheway,andIhada-plenty.
IsaidIbelievedmyuncleAbnerMoorewouldtakecareofme,andsothatwaswhyIstruckoutforthistownofGoshen.
“Goshen,child?Thisain’tGoshen.ThisisSt.Petersburg.Goshen’stenmilefurtheruptheriver.WhotoldyouthiswasGoshen?”
“Why,amanImetatdaybreakthismorning,justasIwasgoingtoturnintothewoodsformyregularsleep.
HetoldmewhentheroadsforkedImusttaketherighthand,andfivemilewouldfetchmetoGoshen.”
“Hewasdrunk,Ireckon.Hetoldyoujustexactlywrong.”
“Well,,hedidactlikehewasdrunk,butitain’tnomatternow.Igottobemovingalong.I’llfetchGoshenbeforedaylight.”
“Holdonaminute.I’llputyouupasnacktoeat.Youmightwantit.”
Sosheputmeupasnack,andsays:
“Say,whenacow’slayingdown,whichendofhergetsupfirst?Answeruppromptnow–don’tstoptostudyoverit.Whichendgetsupfirst?”
“Thehindend,mum.”
“Well,then,ahorse?”
“Thefor’rardend,mum.”
“Whichsideofatreedoesthemossgrowon?”
“Northside.”
“Iffifteencowsisbrowsingonahillside,howmanyofthemeatswiththeirheadspointedthesamedirection?”
“Thewholefifteen,mum.”
“Well,IreckonyouHAVElivedinthecountry.Ithoughtmaybeyouwastryingtohocusmeagain.What’syourrealname,now?”
“GeorgePeters,mum.”
“Well,trytorememberit,George.Don’tforgetandtellmeit’sElexanderbeforeyougo,andthengetoutbysayingit’sGeorgeElexanderwhenIcatchyou.
Anddon’tgoaboutwomeninthatoldcalico.
Youdoagirltolerablepoor,butyoumightfoolmen,maybe.
Blessyou,child,whenyousetouttothreadaneedledon’tholdthethreadstillandfetchtheneedleuptoit;holdtheneedlestillandpokethethreadatit;that’sthewayawomanmostalwaysdoes,butamanalwaysdoest’otherway.
Andwhenyouthrowataratoranything,hitchyourselfupatiptoeandfetchyourhandupoveryourheadasawkwardasyoucan,andmissyourrataboutsixorsevenfoot.
Throwstiff-armedfromtheshoulder,liketherewasapivotthereforittoturnon,likeagirl;notfromthewristandelbow,withyourarmouttooneside,likeaboy.
And,mindyou,whenagirltriestocatchanythinginherlapshethrowsherkneesapart;shedon’tclapthemtogether,thewayyoudidwhenyoucatchedthelumpoflead.
Why,Ispottedyouforaboywhenyouwasthreadingtheneedle;andIcontrivedtheotherthingsjusttomakecertain.
Nowtrotalongtoyouruncle,SarahMaryWilliamsGeorgeElexanderPeters,andifyougetintotroubleyousendwordtoMrs.JudithLoftus,whichisme,andI’lldowhatIcantogetyououtofit.
Keeptheriverroadalltheway,andnexttimeyoutramptakeshoesandsockswithyou.
Theriverroad’sarockyone,andyourfeet’llbeinaconditionwhenyougettoGoshen,Ireckon.”
Iwentupthebankaboutfiftyyards,andthenIdoubledonmytracksandslippedbacktowheremycanoewas,agoodpiecebelowthehouse.Ijumpedin,andwasoffinahurry.
Iwentup-streamfarenoughtomaketheheadoftheisland,andthenstartedacross.
Itookoffthesun-bonnet,forIdidn’twantnoblindersonthen.
WhenIwasaboutthemiddleIheardtheclockbegintostrike,soIstopsandlistens;thesoundcomefaintoverthewaterbutclear–eleven.
WhenIstrucktheheadoftheislandIneverwaitedtoblow,thoughIwasmostwinded,butIshovedrightintothetimberwheremyoldcampusedtobe,andstartedagoodfirethereonahighanddryspot.
ThenIjumpedinthecanoeanddugoutforourplace,amileandahalfbelow,ashardasIcouldgo.
Ilanded,andsloppedthroughthetimberanduptheridgeandintothecavern.
ThereJimlaid,soundasleepontheground.Irousedhimoutandsays:
“Gitupandhumpyourself,Jim!Thereain’taminutetolose.They’reafterus!”
Jimneveraskednoquestions,heneversaidaword;butthewayheworkedforthenexthalfanhourshowedabouthowhewasscared.
Bythattimeeverythingwehadintheworldwasonourraft,andshewasreadytobeshovedoutfromthewillowcovewhereshewashid.
Weputoutthecampfireatthecavernthefirstthing,anddidn’tshowacandleoutsideafterthat.
Itookthecanoeoutfromtheshorealittlepiece,andtookalook;butiftherewasaboataroundIcouldn’tseeit,forstarsandshadowsain’tgoodtoseeby.
Thenwegotouttheraftandslippedalongdownintheshade,pastthefootoftheislanddeadstill–neversayingaword.
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