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WEsleptmostallday,andstartedoutatnight,alittlewaysbehindamonstrouslongraftthatwasaslonggoingbyasaprocession.
Shehadfourlongsweepsateachend,sowejudgedshecarriedasmanyasthirtymen,likely.
Shehadfivebigwigwamsaboard,wideapart,andanopencampfireinthemiddle,andatallflag-poleateachend.Therewasapowerofstyleabouther.
ItAMOUNTEDtosomethingbeingaraftsmanonsuchacraftasthat.
Wewentdriftingdownintoabigbend,andthenightcloudedupandgothot.
Theriverwasverywide,andwaswalledwithsolidtimberonbothsides;youcouldn’tseeabreakinithardlyever,oralight.
WetalkedaboutCairo,andwonderedwhetherwewouldknowitwhenwegottoit.
Isaidlikelywewouldn’t,becauseIhadheardsaytherewarn’tbutaboutadozenhousesthere,andiftheydidn’thappentohavethemlitup,howwaswegoingtoknowwewaspassingatown?
Jimsaidifthetwobigriversjoinedtogetherthere,thatwouldshow.
ButIsaidmaybewemightthinkwewaspassingthefootofanislandandcomingintothesameoldriveragain.ThatdisturbedJim–andmetoo.Sothequestionwas,whattodo?
Isaid,paddleashorethefirsttimealightshowed,andtellthempapwasbehind,comingalongwithatrading-scow,andwasagreenhandatthebusiness,andwantedtoknowhowfaritwastoCairo.
Jimthoughtitwasagoodidea,sowetookasmokeonitandwaited.
Therewarn’tnothingtodonowbuttolookoutsharpforthetown,andnotpassitwithoutseeingit.
Hesaidhe’dbemightysuretoseeit,becausehe’dbeafreemantheminuteheseenit,butifhemissedithe’dbeinaslavecountryagainandnomoreshowforfreedom.
Everylittlewhilehejumpsupandsays:
“Dahsheis?”
Butitwarn’t.ItwasJack-o’-lanterns,orlightningbugs;sohesetdownagain,andwenttowatching,sameasbefore.
Jimsaiditmadehimallovertremblyandfeverishtobesoclosetofreedom.
Well,Icantellyouitmademeallovertremblyandfeverish,too,tohearhim,becauseIbeguntogetitthroughmyheadthatheWASmostfree–andwhowastoblameforit?Why,ME.
Icouldn’tgetthatoutofmyconscience,nohownornoway.
ItgottotroublingmesoIcouldn’trest;Icouldn’tstaystillinoneplace.
Ithadn’tevercomehometomebefore,whatthisthingwasthatIwasdoing.
Butnowitdid;anditstayedwithme,andscorchedmemoreandmore.
ItriedtomakeouttomyselfthatIwarn’ttoblame,becauseIdidn’trunJimofffromhisrightfulowner;butitwarn’tnouse,conscienceupandsays,everytime,“Butyouknowedhewasrunningforhisfreedom,andyoucouldapaddledashoreandtoldsomebody.”
Thatwasso–Icouldn’tgetaroundthatnoway.Thatwaswhereitpinched.
Consciencesaystome,“WhathadpoorMissWatsondonetoyouthatyoucouldseeherniggergooffrightunderyoureyesandneversayonesingleword?
Whatdidthatpooroldwomandotoyouthatyoucouldtreathersomean?
Why,shetriedtolearnyouyourbook,shetriedtolearnyouyourmanners,shetriedtobegoodtoyoueverywaysheknowedhow.THAT’Swhatshedone.”
IgottofeelingsomeanandsomiserableImostwishedIwasdead.
Ifidgetedupanddowntheraft,abusingmyselftomyself,andJimwasfidgetingupanddownpastme.Weneitherofuscouldkeepstill.
Everytimehedancedaroundandsays,“Dah’sCairo!”
itwentthroughmelikeashot,andIthoughtifitWASCairoIreckonedIwoulddieofmiserableness.
JimtalkedoutloudallthetimewhileIwastalkingtomyself.
HewassayinghowthefirstthinghewoulddowhenhegottoafreeStatehewouldgotosavingupmoneyandneverspendasinglecent,andwhenhegotenoughhewouldbuyhiswife,whichwasownedonafarmclosetowhereMissWatsonlived;andthentheywouldbothworktobuythetwochildren,andiftheirmasterwouldn’tsellthem,they’dgetanAb’litionisttogoandstealthem.
Itmostfrozemetohearsuchtalk.Hewouldn’teverdaredtotalksuchtalkinhislifebefore.
Justseewhatadifferenceitmadeinhimtheminutehejudgedhewasaboutfree.
Itwasaccordingtotheoldsaying,“Giveaniggeraninchandhe’lltakeanell.”
ThinksI,thisiswhatcomesofmynotthinking.
Herewasthisnigger,whichIhadasgoodashelpedtorunaway,comingrightoutflat-footedandsayinghewouldstealhischildren–childrenthatbelongedtoamanIdidn’tevenknow;amanthathadn’teverdonemenoharm.
IwassorrytohearJimsaythat,itwassuchaloweringofhim.
Myconsciencegottostirringmeuphotterthanever,untilatlastIsaystoit,“Letuponme–itain’ttoolateyet–I’llpaddleashoreatthefirstlightandtell.”
Ifelteasyandhappyandlightasafeatherrightoff.Allmytroubleswasgone.
Iwenttolookingoutsharpforalight,andsortofsingingtomyself.Byandbyoneshowed.Jimsingsout:
“We’ssafe,Huck,we’ssafe!Jumpupandcrackyo’heels!Dat’sdegoodoleCairoatlas’,Ijisknowsit!”
Isays:
“I’lltakethecanoeandgoandsee,Jim.Itmightn’tbe,youknow.”
Hejumpedandgotthecanoeready,andputhisoldcoatinthebottomformetoseton,andgivemethepaddle;andasIshovedoff,hesays:
“PootysoonI’llbea-shout’n’forjoy,enI’llsay,it’sallonaccountso’Huck;I’safreeman,enIcouldn’teverbenfreeefithadn’benforHuck;Huckdoneit.
Jimwon’teverforgityou,Huck;you’sdebes’fren’Jim’severhad;enyou’sdeONLYfren’oleJim’sgotnow.”
Iwaspaddlingoff,allinasweattotellonhim;butwhenhesaysthis,itseemedtokindoftakethetuckalloutofme.
Iwentalongslowthen,andIwarn’trightdowncertainwhetherIwasgladIstartedorwhetherIwarn’t.WhenIwasfiftyyardsoff,Jimsays:
“Dahyougoes,deoletrueHuck;deon’ywhitegenlmandateverkep’hispromisetooleJim.”
Well,Ijustfeltsick.ButIsays,IGOTtodoit–Ican’tgetOUTofit.Rightthenalongcomesaskiffwithtwomeninitwithguns,andtheystoppedandIstopped.Oneofthemsays:
“What’sthatyonder?”
“Apieceofaraft,”Isays.
“Doyoubelongonit?”
“Yes,sir.”
“Anymenonit?”
“Onlyone,sir.”
“Well,there’sfiveniggersrunoffto-nightupyonder,abovetheheadofthebend.Isyourmanwhiteorblack?”
Ididn’tanswerupprompt.Itriedto,butthewordswouldn’tcome.
Itriedforasecondortwotobraceupandoutwithit,butIwarn’tmanenough–hadn’tthespunkofarabbit.
IseeIwasweakening;soIjustgiveuptrying,andupandsays:
“He’swhite.”
“Ireckonwe’llgoandseeforourselves.”
“Iwishyouwould,”saysI,“becauseit’spapthat’sthere,andmaybeyou’dhelpmetowtheraftashorewherethelightis.He’ssick–andsoismamandMaryAnn.”
“Oh,thedevil!we’reinahurry,boy.ButIs’posewe’vegotto.Come,buckletoyourpaddle,andlet’sgetalong.”
Ibuckledtomypaddleandtheylaidtotheiroars.Whenwehadmadeastrokeortwo,Isays:
“Pap’llbemightymuchobleegedtoyou,Icantellyou.EverybodygoesawaywhenIwantthemtohelpmetowtheraftashore,andIcan’tdoitbymyself.”
“Well,that’sinfernalmean.Odd,too.Say,boy,what’sthematterwithyourfather?”
“It’sthe–a–the–well,itain’tanythingmuch.”
Theystoppedpulling.Itwarn’tbutamightylittlewaystotheraftnow.Onesays:
“Boy,that’salie.WhatISthematterwithyourpap?Answerupsquarenow,andit’llbethebetterforyou.”
“Iwill,sir,Iwill,honest–butdon’tleaveus,please.
It’sthe–the–Gentlemen,ifyou’llonlypullahead,andletmeheaveyoutheheadline,youwon’thavetocomea-neartheraft–pleasedo.”
“Setherback,John,setherback!”saysone.Theybackedwater.“Keepaway,boy–keeptolooard.
Confoundit,Ijustexpectthewindhasblowedittous.
Yourpap’sgotthesmall-pox,andyouknowitpreciouswell.Whydidn’tyoucomeoutandsayso?Doyouwanttospreaditallover?”
“Well,”saysI,a-blubbering,“I’vetoldeverybodybefore,andtheyjustwentawayandleftus.”
“Poordevil,there’ssomethinginthat.Wearerightdownsorryforyou,butwe–well,hangit,wedon’twantthesmall-pox,yousee.Lookhere,I’lltellyouwhattodo.
Don’tyoutrytolandbyyourself,oryou’llsmasheverythingtopieces.
Youfloatalongdownabouttwentymiles,andyou’llcometoatownontheleft-handsideoftheriver.
Itwillbelongaftersun-upthen,andwhenyouaskforhelpyoutellthemyourfolksarealldownwithchillsandfever.
Don’tbeafoolagain,andletpeopleguesswhatisthematter.
Nowwe’retryingtodoyouakindness;soyoujustputtwentymilesbetweenus,that’sagoodboy.
Itwouldn’tdoanygoodtolandyonderwherethelightis–it’sonlyawood-yard.
Say,Ireckonyourfather’spoor,andI’mboundtosayhe’sinprettyhardluck.
Here,I’llputatwentydollargoldpieceonthisboard,andyougetitwhenitfloatsby.
Ifeelmightymeantoleaveyou;butmykingdom!
itwon’tdotofoolwithsmall-pox,don’tyousee?”
“Holdon,Parker,”saystheotherman,“here’satwentytoputontheboardforme.Good-bye,boy;youdoasMr.Parkertoldyou,andyou’llbeallright.”
“That’sso,myboy–good-bye,good-bye.Ifyouseeanyrunawayniggersyougethelpandnabthem,andyoucanmakesomemoneybyit.”
“Good-bye,sir,”saysI;“Iwon’tletnorunawayniggersgetbymeifIcanhelpit.”
TheywentoffandIgotaboardtheraft,feelingbadandlow,becauseIknowedverywellIhaddonewrong,andIseeitwarn’tnouseformetotrytolearntodoright;abodythatdon’tgetSTARTEDrightwhenhe’slittleain’tgotnoshow–whenthepinchcomesthereain’tnothingtobackhimupandkeephimtohiswork,andsohegetsbeat.
ThenIthoughtaminute,andsaystomyself,holdon;s’poseyou’dadonerightandgiveJimup,wouldyoufeltbetterthanwhatyoudonow?
No,saysI,I’dfeelbad–I’dfeeljustthesamewayIdonow.
Well,then,saysI,what’stheuseyoulearningtodorightwhenit’stroublesometodorightandain’tnotroubletodowrong,andthewagesisjustthesame?Iwasstuck.Icouldn’tanswerthat.
SoIreckonedIwouldn’tbothernomoreaboutit,butafterthisalwaysdowhichevercomehandiestatthetime.
Iwentintothewigwam;Jimwarn’tthere.Ilookedallaround;hewarn’tanywhere.Isays:
“Jim!”
“HereIis,Huck.Isdeyouto’sightyit?Don’ttalkloud.”
Hewasintheriverunderthesternoar,withjusthisnoseout.Itoldhimtheywereoutofsight,sohecomeaboard.Hesays:
“Iwasa-listenin’toalldetalk,enIslipsintoderiverenwasgwynetoshoveforsho’ifdeycomeaboard.
DenIwasgwynetoswimtoderaf’aginwhendeywasgone.Butlawsy,howyoudidfool‘em,Huck!DatWUZdesmartes’dodge!
Itellyou,chile,I’specitsave’oleJim–oleJimain’tgoingtoforgityoufordat,honey.”
Thenwetalkedaboutthemoney.Itwasaprettygoodraise–twentydollarsapiece.
Jimsaidwecouldtakedeckpassageonasteamboatnow,andthemoneywouldlastusasfaraswewantedtogointhefreeStates.
Hesaidtwentymilemorewarn’tfarfortherafttogo,buthewishedwewasalreadythere.
Towardsdaybreakwetiedup,andJimwasmightyparticularabouthidingtheraftgood.Thenheworkedalldayfixingthingsinbundles,andgettingallreadytoquitrafting.
Thatnightabouttenwehoveinsightofthelightsofatownawaydowninaleft-handbend.
Iwentoffinthecanoetoaskaboutit.PrettysoonIfoundamanoutintheriverwithaskiff,settingatrotline.Irangedupandsays:
“Mister,isthattownCairo?”
“Cairo?no.Youmustbeablame’fool.”
“Whattownisit,mister?”
“Ifyouwanttoknow,goandfindout.Ifyoustayherebotherin’aroundmeforaboutahalfaminutelongeryou’llgetsomethingyouwon’twant.”
Ipaddledtotheraft.Jimwasawfuldisappointed,butIsaidnevermind,Cairowouldbethenextplace,Ireckoned.
Wepassedanothertownbeforedaylight,andIwasgoingoutagain;butitwashighground,soIdidn’tgo.NohighgroundaboutCairo,Jimsaid.Ihadforgotit.
Welaidupforthedayonatowheadtolerableclosetotheleft-handbank.Ibeguntosuspicionsomething.SodidJim.Isays:
“MaybewewentbyCairointhefogthatnight.”
Hesays:
“Doan’le’stalkaboutit,Huck.Po’niggerscan’thavenoluck.Iawluz‘specteddatrattlesnake-skinwarn’tdonewiditswork.”
“IwishI’dneverseenthatsnake-skin,Jim–IdowishI’dneverlaideyesonit.”
“Itain’tyo’fault,Huck;youdidn’know.Don’tyoublameyo’self‘boutit.”
Whenitwasdaylight,herewastheclearOhiowaterinshore,sureenough,andoutsidewastheoldregularMuddy!SoitwasallupwithCairo.
Wetalkeditallover.Itwouldn’tdototaketotheshore;wecouldn’ttaketheraftupthestream,ofcourse.
Therewarn’tnowaybuttowaitfordark,andstartbackinthecanoeandtakethechances.
Sowesleptalldayamongstthecottonwoodthicket,soastobefreshforthework,andwhenwewentbacktotheraftaboutdarkthecanoewasgone!
Wedidn’tsayawordforagoodwhile.Therewarn’tanythingtosay.
Webothknowedwellenoughitwassomemoreworkoftherattlesnake-skin;sowhatwastheusetotalkaboutit?
Itwouldonlylooklikewewasfindingfault,andthatwouldbeboundtofetchmorebadluck–andkeeponfetchingit,too,tillweknowedenoughtokeepstill.
Byandbywetalkedaboutwhatwebetterdo,andfoundtherewarn’tnowaybutjusttogoalongdownwiththerafttillwegotachancetobuyacanoetogobackin.
Wewarn’tgoingtoborrowitwhentherewarn’tanybodyaround,thewaypapwoulddo,forthatmightsetpeopleafterus.
Soweshovedoutafterdarkontheraft.
Anybodythatdon’tbelieveyetthatit’sfoolishnesstohandleasnake-skin,afterallthatthatsnake-skindoneforus,willbelieveitnowiftheyreadonandseewhatmoreitdoneforus.
Theplacetobuycanoesisoffofraftslayingupatshore.
Butwedidn’tseenoraftslayingup;sowewentalongduringthreehoursandmore.
Well,thenightgotgrayandrutherthick,whichisthenextmeanestthingtofog.
Youcan’ttelltheshapeoftheriver,andyoucan’tseenodistance.
Itgottobeverylateandstill,andthenalongcomesasteamboatuptheriver.
Welitthelantern,andjudgedshewouldseeit.
Up-streamboatsdidn’tgenerlycomeclosetous;theygooutandfollowthebarsandhuntforeasywaterunderthereefs;butnightslikethistheybullrightupthechannelagainstthewholeriver.
Wecouldhearherpoundingalong,butwedidn’tseehergoodtillshewasclose.Sheaimedrightforus.
Oftentheydothatandtrytoseehowclosetheycancomewithouttouching;sometimesthewheelbitesoffasweep,andthenthepilotstickshisheadoutandlaughs,andthinkshe’smightysmart.
Well,hereshecomes,andwesaidshewasgoingtotryandshaveus;butshedidn’tseemtobesheeringoffabit.
Shewasabigone,andshewascominginahurry,too,lookinglikeablackcloudwithrowsofglow-wormsaroundit;butallofasuddenshebulgedout,bigandscary,withalongrowofwide-openfurnacedoorsshininglikered-hotteeth,andhermonstrousbowsandguardshangingrightoverus.
Therewasayellatus,andajinglingofbellstostoptheengines,apowwowofcussing,andwhistlingofsteam–andasJimwentoverboardononesideandIontheother,shecomesmashingstraightthroughtheraft.
Idived–andIaimedtofindthebottom,too,forathirty-footwheelhadgottogooverme,andIwantedittohaveplentyofroom.
Icouldalwaysstayunderwateraminute;thistimeIreckonIstayedunderaminuteandahalf.
ThenIbouncedforthetopinahurry,forIwasnearlybusting.
Ipoppedouttomyarmpitsandblowedthewateroutofmynose,andpuffedabit.
Ofcoursetherewasaboomingcurrent;andofcoursethatboatstartedherenginesagaintensecondsaftershestoppedthem,fortheynevercaredmuchforraftsmen;sonowshewaschurningalonguptheriver,outofsightinthethickweather,thoughIcouldhearher.
IsungoutforJimaboutadozentimes,butIdidn’tgetanyanswer;soIgrabbedaplankthattouchedmewhileIwas“treadingwater,”andstruckoutforshore,shovingitaheadofme.
ButImadeouttoseethatthedriftofthecurrentwastowardsthelefthandshore,whichmeantthatIwasinacrossing;soIchangedoffandwentthatway.
Itwasoneoftheselong,slanting,two-milecrossings;soIwasagoodlongtimeingettingover.
Imadeasafelanding,andclumbupthebank.
Icouldn’tseebutalittleways,butIwentpokingalongoverroughgroundforaquarterofamileormore,andthenIrunacrossabigold-fashioneddoublelog-housebeforeInoticedit.
Iwasgoingtorushbyandgetaway,butalotofdogsjumpedoutandwenttohowlingandbarkingatme,andIknowedbetterthantomoveanotherpeg.
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