English
ITmustabeencloseontooneo’clockwhenwegotbelowtheislandatlast,andtheraftdidseemtogomightyslow.
IfaboatwastocomealongwewasgoingtotaketothecanoeandbreakfortheIllinoisshore;anditwaswellaboatdidn’tcome,forwehadn’teverthoughttoputtheguninthecanoe,orafishing-line,oranythingtoeat.
Wewasinruthertoomuchofasweattothinkofsomanythings.
Itwarn’tgoodjudgmenttoputEVERYTHINGontheraft.
IfthemenwenttotheislandIjustexpecttheyfoundthecampfireIbuilt,andwatcheditallnightforJimtocome.
Anyways,theystayedawayfromus,andifmybuildingthefireneverfooledthemitwarn’tnofaultofmine.
IplayeditaslowdownonthemasIcould.
WhenthefirststreakofdaybegantoshowwetieduptoatowheadinabigbendontheIllinoisside,andhackedoffcottonwoodbrancheswiththehatchet,andcovereduptheraftwiththemsoshelookedliketherehadbeenacave-ininthebankthere.
Atowheadisasandbarthathascottonwoodsonitasthickasharrow-teeth.
WehadmountainsontheMissourishoreandheavytimberontheIllinoisside,andthechannelwasdowntheMissourishoreatthatplace,sowewarn’tafraidofanybodyrunningacrossus.
Welaidthereallday,andwatchedtheraftsandsteamboatsspindowntheMissourishore,andup-boundsteamboatsfightthebigriverinthemiddle.
ItoldJimallaboutthetimeIhadjabberingwiththatwoman;andJimsaidshewasasmartone,andifshewastostartafterusherselfshewouldn’tsetdownandwatchacampfire–no,sir,she’dfetchadog.
Well,then,Isaid,whycouldn’tshetellherhusbandtofetchadog?
Jimsaidhebetshedidthinkofitbythetimethemenwasreadytostart,andhebelievedtheymustagoneup-towntogetadogandsotheylostallthattime,orelsewewouldn’tbehereonatowheadsixteenorseventeenmilebelowthevillage–no,indeedy,wewouldbeinthatsameoldtownagain.
SoIsaidIdidn’tcarewhatwasthereasontheydidn’tgetusaslongastheydidn’t.
Whenitwasbeginningtocomeondarkwepokedourheadsoutofthecottonwoodthicket,andlookedupanddownandacross;nothinginsight;soJimtookupsomeofthetopplanksoftheraftandbuiltasnugwigwamtogetunderinblazingweatherandrainy,andtokeepthethingsdry.
Jimmadeafloorforthewigwam,andraiseditafootormoreabovetheleveloftheraft,sonowtheblanketsandallthetrapswasoutofreachofsteamboatwaves.
Rightinthemiddleofthewigwamwemadealayerofdirtaboutfiveorsixinchesdeepwithaframearounditfortoholdittoitsplace;thiswastobuildafireoninsloppyweatherorchilly;thewigwamwouldkeepitfrombeingseen.
Wemadeanextrasteering-oar,too,becauseoneoftheothersmightgetbrokeonasnagorsomething.
Wefixedupashortforkedsticktohangtheoldlanternon,becausewemustalwayslightthelanternwheneverweseeasteamboatcomingdown-stream,tokeepfromgettingrunover;butwewouldn’thavetolightitforup-streamboatsunlessweseewewasinwhattheycalla“crossing”;fortheriverwasprettyhighyet,verylowbanksbeingstillalittleunderwater;soup-boundboatsdidn’talwaysrunthechannel,buthuntedeasywater.
Thissecondnightwerunbetweensevenandeighthours,withacurrentthatwasmakingoverfourmileanhour.
Wecatchedfishandtalked,andwetookaswimnowandthentokeepoffsleepiness.
Itwaskindofsolemn,driftingdownthebig,stillriver,layingonourbackslookingupatthestars,andwedidn’teverfeelliketalkingloud,anditwarn’toftenthatwelaughed–onlyalittlekindofalowchuckle.
Wehadmightygoodweatherasageneralthing,andnothingeverhappenedtousatall–thatnight,northenext,northenext.
Everynightwepassedtowns,someofthemawayuponblackhillsides,nothingbutjustashinybedoflights;notahousecouldyousee.
ThefifthnightwepassedSt.Louis,anditwaslikethewholeworldlitup.
InSt.PetersburgtheyusedtosaytherewastwentyorthirtythousandpeopleinSt.Louis,butIneverbelievedittillIseethatwonderfulspreadoflightsattwoo’clockthatstillnight.
Therewarn’tasoundthere;everybodywasasleep.
EverynightnowIusedtoslipashoretowardsteno’clockatsomelittlevillage,andbuytenorfifteencents’worthofmealorbaconorotherstufftoeat;andsometimesIliftedachickenthatwarn’troostingcomfortable,andtookhimalong.
Papalwayssaid,takeachickenwhenyougetachance,becauseifyoudon’twanthimyourselfyoucaneasyfindsomebodythatdoes,andagooddeedain’teverforgot.
Ineverseepapwhenhedidn’twantthechickenhimself,butthatiswhatheusedtosay,anyway.
MorningsbeforedaylightIslippedintocornfieldsandborrowedawatermelon,oramushmelon,orapunkin,orsomenewcorn,orthingsofthatkind.
Papalwayssaiditwarn’tnoharmtoborrowthingsifyouwasmeaningtopaythembacksometime;butthewidowsaiditwarn’tanythingbutasoftnameforstealing,andnodecentbodywoulddoit.
Jimsaidhereckonedthewidowwaspartlyrightandpapwaspartlyright;sothebestwaywouldbeforustopickouttwoorthreethingsfromthelistandsaywewouldn’tborrowthemanymore–thenhereckoneditwouldn’tbenoharmtoborrowtheothers.
Sowetalkeditoverallonenight,driftingalongdowntheriver,tryingtomakeupourmindswhethertodropthewatermelons,orthecantelopes,orthemushmelons,orwhat.
Buttowardsdaylightwegotitallsettledsatisfactory,andconcludedtodropcrabapplesandp’simmons.
Wewarn’tfeelingjustrightbeforethat,butitwasallcomfortablenow.
Iwasgladthewayitcomeout,too,becausecrabapplesain’tevergood,andthep’simmonswouldn’tberipefortwoorthreemonthsyet.
Weshotawater-fowlnowandthenthatgotuptooearlyinthemorningordidn’tgotobedearlyenoughintheevening.Takeitallround,welivedprettyhigh.
ThefifthnightbelowSt.Louiswehadabigstormaftermidnight,withapowerofthunderandlightning,andtherainpoureddowninasolidsheet.
Westayedinthewigwamandlettherafttakecareofitself.
Whenthelightningglaredoutwecouldseeabigstraightriverahead,andhigh,rockybluffsonbothsides.
ByandbysaysI,“Hel-LO,Jim,lookyyonder!”
Itwasasteamboatthathadkilledherselfonarock.Wewasdriftingstraightdownforher.Thelightningshowedherverydistinct.
Shewasleaningover,withpartofherupperdeckabovewater,andyoucouldseeeverylittlechimbly-guycleanandclear,andachairbythebigbell,withanoldslouchhathangingonthebackofit,whentheflashescome.
Well,itbeingawayinthenightandstormy,andallsomysterious-like,IfeltjustthewayanyotherboywouldafeltwhenIseethatwrecklayingtheresomournfulandlonesomeinthemiddleoftheriver.
Iwantedtogetaboardofherandslinkaroundalittle,andseewhattherewasthere.SoIsays:
“Le’slandonher,Jim.”
ButJimwasdeadagainstitatfirst.Hesays:
“Idoan’wanttogofool’n‘longernowrack.We’sdoin’blame’well,enwebetterletblame’wellalone,asdegoodbooksays.Likeasnotdey’sawatchmanondatwrack.”
“Watchmanyourgrandmother,”Isays;“thereain’tnothingtowatchbutthetexasandthepilothouse;anddoyoureckonanybody’sgoingtoreskhislifeforatexasandapilot-housesuchanightasthis,whenit’slikelytobreakupandwashoffdowntheriveranyminute?”
Jimcouldn’tsaynothingtothat,sohedidn’ttry.
“Andbesides,”Isays,“wemightborrowsomethingworthhavingoutofthecaptain’sstateroom.
Seegars,Ibetyou–andcostfivecentsapiece,solidcash.
Steamboatcaptainsisalwaysrich,andgetsixtydollarsamonth,andTHEYdon’tcareacentwhatathingcosts,youknow,longastheywantit.
Stickacandleinyourpocket;Ican’trest,Jim,tillwegiveherarummaging.
DoyoureckonTomSawyerwouldevergobythisthing?Notforpie,hewouldn’t.
He’dcallitanadventure–that’swhathe’dcallit;andhe’dlandonthatwreckifitwashislastact.Andwouldn’thethrowstyleintoit?
–wouldn’thespreadhimself,nornothing?
Why,you’dthinkitwasChristopherC’lumbusdiscoveringKingdom-Come.IwishTomSawyerWAShere.”
Jimhegrumbledalittle,butgivein.Hesaidwemustn’ttalkanymorethanwecouldhelp,andthentalkmightylow.
Thelightningshowedusthewreckagainjustintime,andwefetchedthestabboardderrick,andmadefastthere.
Thedeckwashighouthere.Wewentsneakingdowntheslopeofittolabboard,inthedark,towardsthetexas,feelingourwayslowwithourfeet,andspreadingourhandsouttofendofftheguys,foritwassodarkwecouldn’tseenosignofthem.
Prettysoonwestrucktheforwardendoftheskylight,andclumbontoit;andthenextstepfetchedusinfrontofthecaptain’sdoor,whichwasopen,andbyJimminy,awaydownthroughthetexas-hallweseealight!
andallinthesamesecondweseemtohearlowvoicesinyonder!
Jimwhisperedandsaidhewasfeelingpowerfulsick,andtoldmetocomealong.Isays,allright,andwasgoingtostartfortheraft;butjustthenIheardavoicewailoutandsay:
“Oh,pleasedon’t,boys;IswearIwon’tevertell!”
Anothervoicesaid,prettyloud:
“It’salie,JimTurner.You’veactedthiswaybefore.
Youalwayswantmore’nyourshareofthetruck,andyou’vealwaysgotit,too,becauseyou’veswore‘tifyoudidn’tyou’dtell.
Butthistimeyou’vesaiditjestonetimetoomany.
You’rethemeanest,treacherousesthoundinthiscountry.”
BythistimeJimwasgonefortheraft.Iwasjusta-bilingwithcuriosity;andIsaystomyself,TomSawyerwouldn’tbackoutnow,andsoIwon’teither;I’ma-goingtoseewhat’sgoingonhere.
SoIdroppedonmyhandsandkneesinthelittlepassage,andcreptaftinthedarktilltherewarn’tbutonestateroombetwixtmeandthecross-hallofthetexas.
TheninthereIseeamanstretchedonthefloorandtiedhandandfoot,andtwomenstandingoverhim,andoneofthemhadadimlanterninhishand,andtheotheronehadapistol.
Thisonekeptpointingthepistolattheman’sheadonthefloor,andsaying:
“I’dLIKEto!AndIorter,too–ameanskunk!”
Themanonthefloorwouldshrivelupandsay,“Oh,pleasedon’t,Bill;Ihain’tevergoin’totell.”
Andeverytimehesaidthatthemanwiththelanternwouldlaughandsay:
”’DeedyouAIN’T!Youneversaidnotruerthing‘nthat,youbetyou.”Andoncehesaid:“Hearhimbeg!
andyitifwehadn’tgotthebestofhimandtiedhimhe’dakilledusboth.AndwhatFOR?Jistfornoth’n.
JistbecausewestoodonourRIGHTS–that’swhatfor.
ButIlayyouain’ta-goin’tothreatennobodyanymore,JimTurner.PutUPthatpistol,Bill.”
Billsays:
“Idon’twantto,JakePackard.I’mforkillin’him–anddidn’thekilloldHatfieldjistthesameway–anddon’thedeserveit?”
“ButIdon’tWANThimkilled,andI’vegotmyreasonsforit.”
“Blessyo’heartforthemwords,JakePackard!I’llneverforgityoulong’sIlive!”saysthemanonthefloor,sortofblubbering.
Packarddidn’ttakenonoticeofthat,buthunguphislanternonanailandstartedtowardswhereIwasthereinthedark,andmotionedBilltocome.
IcrawfishedasfastasIcouldabouttwoyards,buttheboatslantedsothatIcouldn’tmakeverygoodtime;sotokeepfromgettingrunoverandcatchedIcrawledintoastateroomontheupperside.
Themancameapawingalonginthedark,andwhenPackardgottomystateroom,hesays:
“Here–comeinhere.”
Andinhecome,andBillafterhim.ButbeforetheygotinIwasupintheupperberth,cornered,andsorryIcome.
Thentheystoodthere,withtheirhandsontheledgeoftheberth,andtalked.
Icouldn’tseethem,butIcouldtellwheretheywasbythewhiskythey’dbeenhaving.
IwasgladIdidn’tdrinkwhisky;butitwouldn’tmademuchdifferenceanyway,becausemostofthetimetheycouldn’tatreedmebecauseIdidn’tbreathe.Iwastooscared.
And,besides,abodyCOULDN’Tbreatheandhearsuchtalk.Theytalkedlowandearnest.BillwantedtokillTurner.Hesays:
“He’ssaidhe’lltell,andhewill.IfwewastogivebothoursharestohimNOWitwouldn’tmakenodifferenceaftertherowandthewaywe’veservedhim.
Shore’syou’reborn,he’llturnState’sevidence;nowyouhearME.
I’mforputtinghimoutofhistroubles.”
“So’mI,”saysPackard,veryquiet.
“Blameit,I’dsorterbeguntothinkyouwasn't.Well,then,that’sallright.Le’sgoanddoit.”
“Holdonaminute;Ihain’thadmysayyit.Youlistentome.
Shooting’sgood,butthere’squieterwaysifthething’sGOTtobedone.
ButwhatIsayisthis:itain’tgoodsensetogocourt’naroundafterahalterifyoucangitatwhatyou’reuptoinsomewaythat’sjistasgoodandatthesametimedon’tbringyouintonoresks.Ain’tthatso?”
“Youbetitis.Buthowyougoin’tomanageitthistime?”
“Well,myideaisthis:we’llrustlearoundandgatherupwhateverpickinswe’veoverlookedinthestaterooms,andshoveforshoreandhidethetruck.Thenwe’llwait.
NowIsayitain’ta-goin’tobemore’ntwohoursbefo’thiswrackbreaksupandwashesoffdowntheriver.See?
He’llbedrownded,andwon’thavenobodytoblameforitbuthisownself.
Ireckonthat’saconsiderblesightbetter‘nkillin’ofhim.
I’munfavorabletokillin’amanaslongasyoucangitaroun’it;itain’tgoodsense,itain’tgoodmorals.Ain’tIright?”
“Yes,Ireck’nyouare.Buts’posesheDON’Tbreakupandwashoff?”
“Well,wecanwaitthetwohoursanywayandsee,can’twe?”
“Allright,then;comealong.”
Sotheystarted,andIlitout,allinacoldsweat,andscrambledforward.
Itwasdarkaspitchthere;butIsaid,inakindofacoarsewhisper,“Jim!”
andheansweredup,rightatmyelbow,withasortofamoan,andIsays:
“Quick,Jim,itain’tnotimeforfoolingaroundandmoaning;there’sagangofmurderersinyonder,andifwedon’thuntuptheirboatandsetherdriftingdowntheriversothesefellowscan’tgetawayfromthewreckthere’soneof‘emgoingtobeinabadfix.
ButifwefindtheirboatwecanputALLof‘eminabadfix–forthesheriff‘llget‘em.Quick–hurry!
I’llhuntthelabboardside,youhuntthestabboard.Youstartattheraft,and–”
“Oh,mylordy,lordy!RAF’?Deyain’noraf’nomo’;shedonebrokelooseengoneI–enhereweis!”
Share this article to
FINISH