English
THEYaskedusconsiderablemanyquestions;wantedtoknowwhatwecovereduptheraftthatwayfor,andlaidbyinthedaytimeinsteadofrunning–wasJimarunawaynigger?SaysI:
“Goodnesssakes!wouldarunawayniggerrunSOUTH?”
No,theyallowedhewouldn’t.Ihadtoaccountforthingssomeway,soIsays:
“MyfolkswaslivinginPikeCounty,inMissouri,whereIwasborn,andtheyalldiedoffbutmeandpaandmybrotherIke.
Pa,he‘lowedhe’dbreakupandgodownandlivewithUncleBen,who’sgotalittleone-horseplaceontheriver,forty-fourmilebelowOrleans.
Pawasprettypoor,andhadsomedebts;sowhenhe’dsquareduptherewarn’tnothingleftbutsixteendollarsandournigger,Jim.
Thatwarn’tenoughtotakeusfourteenhundredmile,deckpassagenornootherway.
Well,whentheriverrosepahadastreakofluckoneday;heketchedthispieceofaraft;sowereckonedwe’dgodowntoOrleansonit.
Pa’sluckdidn’tholdout;asteamboatrunovertheforrardcorneroftheraftonenight,andweallwentoverboardanddoveunderthewheel;Jimandmecomeupallright,butpawasdrunk,andIkewasonlyfouryearsold,sotheynevercomeupnomore.
Well,forthenextdayortwowehadconsiderabletrouble,becausepeoplewasalwayscomingoutinskiffsandtryingtotakeJimawayfromme,sayingtheybelievedhewasarunawaynigger.
Wedon’trundaytimesnomorenow;nightstheydon’tbotherus.”
Thedukesays:
“Leavemealonetocipheroutawaysowecanruninthedaytimeifwewantto.
I’llthinkthethingover–I’llinventaplanthat’llfixit.
We’llletitaloneforto-day,becauseofcoursewedon’twanttogobythattownyonderindaylight–itmightn’tbehealthy.”
Towardsnightitbeguntodarkenupandlooklikerain;theheatlightningwassquirtingaroundlowdowninthesky,andtheleaveswasbeginningtoshiver–itwasgoingtobeprettyugly,itwaseasytoseethat.
Sothedukeandthekingwenttooverhaulingourwigwam,toseewhatthebedswaslike.
MybedwasastrawtickÑbetterthanJim’s,whichwasacornshucktick;there’salwayscobsaroundaboutinashucktick,andtheypokeintoyouandhurt;andwhenyourolloverthedryshuckssoundlikeyouwasrollingoverinapileofdeadleaves;itmakessucharustlingthatyouwakeup.
Well,thedukeallowedhewouldtakemybed;butthekingallowedhewouldn’t.Hesays:
“Ishouldareckonedthedifferenceinrankwouldasejestedtoyouthatacorn-shuckbedwarn’tjustfittenformetosleepon.YourGrace‘lltaketheshuckbedyourself.”
Jimandmewasinasweatagainforaminute,beingafraidtherewasgoingtobesomemoretroubleamongstthem;sowewasprettygladwhenthedukesays:
”’Tismyfatetobealwaysgroundintothemireundertheironheelofoppression.
Misfortunehasbrokenmyoncehaughtyspirit;Iyield,Isubmit;‘tismyfate.
Iamaloneintheworld–letmesuffer;canbearit.”
Wegotawayassoonasitwasgoodanddark.
Thekingtoldustostandwellouttowardsthemiddleoftheriver,andnotshowalighttillwegotalongwaysbelowthetown.
Wecomeinsightofthelittlebunchoflightsbyandby–thatwasthetown,youknow–andslidby,aboutahalfamileout,allright.
Whenwewasthree-quartersofamilebelowwehoistedupoursignallantern;andaboutteno’clockitcomeontorainandblowandthunderandlightenlikeeverything;sothekingtoldustobothstayonwatchtilltheweathergotbetter;thenhimandthedukecrawledintothewigwamandturnedinforthenight.
Itwasmywatchbelowtilltwelve,butIwouldn’taturnedinanywayifI’dhadabed,becauseabodydon’tseesuchastormasthateverydayintheweek,notbyalongsight.
Mysouls,howthewinddidscreamalong!
Andeverysecondortwothere’dcomeaglarethatlitupthewhite-capsforahalfamilearound,andyou’dseetheislandslookingdustythroughtherain,andthetreesthrashingaroundinthewind;thencomesaH-WHACK!–bum!bum!
bumble-umble-um-bum-bum-bum-bum–andthethunderwouldgorumblingandgrumblingaway,andquit–andthenRIPcomesanotherflashandanothersockdolager.
Thewavesmostwashedmeofftheraftsometimes,butIhadn’tanyclotheson,anddidn’tmind.
Wedidn’thavenotroubleaboutsnags;thelightningwasglaringandflitteringaroundsoconstantthatwecouldseethemplentysoonenoughtothrowherheadthiswayorthatandmissthem.
Ihadthemiddlewatch,youknow,butIwasprettysleepybythattime,soJimhesaidhewouldstandthefirsthalfofitforme;hewasalwaysmightygoodthatway,Jimwas.
Icrawledintothewigwam,butthekingandthedukehadtheirlegssprawledaroundsotherewarn’tnoshowforme;soIlaidoutside–Ididn’tmindtherain,becauseitwaswarm,andthewaveswarn’trunningsohighnow.
Abouttwotheycomeupagain,though,andJimwasgoingtocallme;buthechangedhismind,becausehereckonedtheywarn’thighenoughyettodoanyharm;buthewasmistakenaboutthat,forprettysoonallofasuddenalongcomesaregularripperandwashedmeoverboard.ItmostkilledJima-laughing.
Hewastheeasiestniggertolaughthateverwas,anyway.
Itookthewatch,andJimhelaiddownandsnoredaway;andbyandbythestormletupforgoodandall;andthefirstcabin-lightthatshowedIroustedhimout,andweslidtheraftintohidingquartersfortheday.
Thekinggotoutanoldrattydeckofcardsafterbreakfast,andhimandthedukeplayedseven-upawhile,fivecentsagame.
Thentheygottiredofit,andallowedtheywould“layoutacampaign,”astheycalledit.
Thedukewentdownintohiscarpetbag,andfetchedupalotoflittleprintedbillsandreadthemoutloud.
Onebillsaid,“ThecelebratedDr.ArmanddeMontalban,ofParis,”would“lectureontheScienceofPhrenology”atsuchandsuchaplace,ontheblankdayofblank,attencentsadmission,and“furnishchartsofcharacterattwenty-fivecentsapiece.”ThedukesaidthatwasHIM.
Inanotherbillhewasthe“world-renownedShakespeariantragedian,GarricktheYounger,ofDruryLane,London.”
Inotherbillshehadalotofothernamesanddoneotherwonderfulthings,likefindingwaterandgoldwitha“divining-rod,”“dissipatingwitchspells,”andsoon.Byandbyhesays:
“Butthehistrionicmuseisthedarling.Haveyouevertrodtheboards,Royalty?”
“No,”saystheking.
“Youshall,then,beforeyou’rethreedaysolder,FallenGrandeur,”saystheduke.
“Thefirstgoodtownwecometowe’llhireahallanddotheswordfightinRichardIII.
andthebalconysceneinRomeoandJuliet.Howdoesthatstrikeyou?”
“I’min,uptothehub,foranythingthatwillpay,Bilgewater;but,yousee,Idon’tknownothingaboutplay-actin’,andhain’teverseenmuchofit.
Iwastoosmallwhenpapusedtohave‘ematthepalace.Doyoureckonyoucanlearnme?”
“Easy!”
“Allright.I’mjista-freezn’forsomethingfresh,anyway.Le’scommencerightaway.”
SothedukehetoldhimallaboutwhoRomeowasandwhoJulietwas,andsaidhewasusedtobeingRomeo,sothekingcouldbeJuliet.
“ButifJuliet’ssuchayounggal,duke,mypeeledheadandmywhitewhiskersisgoin’tolookoncommonoddonher,maybe.”
“No,don’tyouworry;thesecountryjakeswon’teverthinkofthat.
Besides,youknow,you’llbeincostume,andthatmakesallthedifferenceintheworld;Juliet’sinabalcony,enjoyingthemoonlightbeforeshegoestobed,andshe’sgotonhernightgownandherrufflednightcap.Herearethecostumesfortheparts.”
Hegotouttwoorthreecurtain-calicosuits,whichhesaidwasmeedyevilarmorforRichardIII.
andt’otherchap,andalongwhitecottonnightshirtandarufflednightcaptomatch.
Thekingwassatisfied;sothedukegotouthisbookandreadthepartsoverinthemostsplendidspread-eagleway,prancingaroundandactingatthesametime,toshowhowithadgottobedone;thenhegivethebooktothekingandtoldhimtogethispartbyheart.
Therewasalittleone-horsetownaboutthreemiledownthebend,andafterdinnerthedukesaidhehadcipheredouthisideaabouthowtorunindaylightwithoutitbeingdangersomeforJim;soheallowedhewouldgodowntothetownandfixthatthing.
Thekingallowedhewouldgo,too,andseeifhecouldn’tstrikesomething.
Wewasoutofcoffee,soJimsaidIbettergoalongwiththeminthecanoeandgetsome.
Whenwegottheretherewarn’tnobodystirring;streetsempty,andperfectlydeadandstill,likeSunday.
Wefoundasickniggersunninghimselfinabackyard,andhesaideverybodythatwarn’ttooyoungortoosickortoooldwasgonetocampmeeting,abouttwomilebackinthewoods.
Thekinggotthedirections,andallowedhe’dgoandworkthatcamp-meetingforallitwasworth,andImightgo,too.
Thedukesaidwhathewasafterwasaprinting-office.
Wefoundit;alittlebitofaconcern,upoveracarpentershop–carpentersandprintersallgonetothemeeting,andnodoorslocked.
Itwasadirty,littered-upplace,andhadinkmarks,andhandbillswithpicturesofhorsesandrunawayniggersonthem,alloverthewalls.
Thedukeshedhiscoatandsaidhewasallrightnow.
Someandthekinglitoutforthecamp-meeting.
Wegotthereinaboutahalfanhourfairlydripping,foritwasamostawfulhotday.
Therewasasmuchasathousandpeopletherefromtwentymilearound.
Thewoodswasfullofteamsandwagons,hitchedeverywheres,feedingoutofthewagon-troughsandstompingtokeepofftheflies.
Therewasshedsmadeoutofpolesandroofedoverwithbranches,wheretheyhadlemonadeandgingerbreadtosell,andpilesofwatermelonsandgreencornandsuch-liketruck.
Thepreachingwasgoingonunderthesamekindsofsheds,onlytheywasbiggerandheldcrowdsofpeople.
Thebencheswasmadeoutofoutsideslabsoflogs,withholesboredintheroundsidetodrivesticksintoforlegs.Theydidn’thavenobacks.
Thepreachershadhighplatformstostandonatoneendofthesheds.
Thewomenhadonsun-bonnets;andsomehadlinsey-woolseyfrocks,someginghamones,andafewoftheyoungoneshadoncalico.
Someoftheyoungmenwasbarefooted,andsomeofthechildrendidn’thaveonanyclothesbutjustatowlinenshirt.
Someoftheoldwomenwasknitting,andsomeoftheyoungfolkswascourtingonthesly.
Thefirstshedwecometothepreacherwasliningoutahymn.
Helinedouttwolines,everybodysungit,anditwaskindofgrandtohearit,therewassomanyofthemandtheydoneitinsucharousingway;thenhelinedouttwomoreforthemtosing–andsoon.
Thepeoplewokeupmoreandmore,andsunglouderandlouder;andtowardstheendsomebeguntogroan,andsomebeguntoshout.
Thenthepreacherbeguntopreach,andbeguninearnest,too;andwentweavingfirsttoonesideoftheplatformandthentheother,andthena-leaningdownoverthefrontofit,withhisarmsandhisbodygoingallthetime,andshoutinghiswordsoutwithallhismight;andeverynowandthenhewouldholduphisBibleandspreaditopen,andkindofpassitaroundthiswayandthat,shouting,“It’sthebrazenserpentinthewilderness!
Lookuponitandlive!”Andpeoplewouldshoutout,“Glory!–A-a-MEN!”
Andsohewenton,andthepeoplegroaningandcryingandsayingamen:
“Oh,cometothemourners’bench!come,blackwithsin!(AMEN!)come,sickandsore!(AMEN!)come,lameandhaltandblind!(AMEN!)come,poreandneedy,sunkinshame!(A-A-MEN!)
come,allthat’swornandsoiledandsuffering!–comewithabrokenspirit!comewithacontriteheart!comeinyourragsandsinanddirt!
thewatersthatcleanseisfree,thedoorofheavenstandsopen–oh,enterinandbeatrest!”(A-A-MEN!GLORY,GLORYHALLELUJAH!)
Andsoon.Youcouldn’tmakeoutwhatthepreachersaidanymore,onaccountoftheshoutingandcrying.
Folksgotupeverywheresinthecrowd,andworkedtheirwayjustbymainstrengthtothemourners’bench,withthetearsrunningdowntheirfaces;andwhenallthemournershadgotuptheretothefrontbenchesinacrowd,theysungandshoutedandflungthemselvesdownonthestraw,justcrazyandwild.
Well,thefirstIknowedthekinggota-going,andyoucouldhearhimovereverybody;andnexthewenta-chargingupontotheplatform,andthepreacherhebeggedhimtospeaktothepeople,andhedoneit.
Hetoldthemhewasapirate–beenapirateforthirtyyearsoutintheIndianOcean–andhiscrewwasthinnedoutconsiderablelastspringinafight,andhewashomenowtotakeoutsomefreshmen,andthankstogoodnesshe’dbeenrobbedlastnightandputashoreoffofasteamboatwithoutacent,andhewasgladofit;itwastheblessedestthingthateverhappenedtohim,becausehewasachangedmannow,andhappyforthefirsttimeinhislife;and,poorashewas,hewasgoingtostartrightoffandworkhiswaybacktotheIndianOcean,andputintherestofhislifetryingtoturnthepiratesintothetruepath;forhecoulddoitbetterthananybodyelse,beingacquaintedwithallpiratecrewsinthatocean;andthoughitwouldtakehimalongtimetogettherewithoutmoney,hewouldgetthereanyway,andeverytimeheconvincedapiratehewouldsaytohim,“Don’tyouthankme,don’tyougivemenocredit;itallbelongstothemdearpeopleinPokevillecampmeeting,naturalbrothersandbenefactorsoftherace,andthatdearpreacherthere,thetruestfriendapirateeverhad!”
Andthenhebustedintotears,andsodideverybody.
Thensomebodysingsout,“Takeupacollectionforhim,takeupacollection!”
Well,ahalfadozenmadeajumptodoit,butsomebodysingsout,“LetHIMpassthehataround!”
Theneverybodysaidit,thepreachertoo.
Sothekingwentallthroughthecrowdwithhishatswabbinghiseyes,andblessingthepeopleandpraisingthemandthankingthemforbeingsogoodtothepoorpiratesawayoffthere;andeverylittlewhiletheprettiestkindofgirls,withthetearsrunningdowntheircheeks,wouldupandaskhimwouldheletthemkisshimfortorememberhimby;andhealwaysdoneit;andsomeofthemhehuggedandkissedasmanyasfiveorsixtimes–andhewasinvitedtostayaweek;andeverybodywantedhimtoliveintheirhouses,andsaidthey’dthinkitwasanhonor;buthesaidasthiswasthelastdayofthecamp-meetinghecouldn’tdonogood,andbesideshewasinasweattogettotheIndianOceanrightoffandgotoworkonthepirates.
Whenwegotbacktotheraftandhecometocountuphefoundhehadcollectedeighty-sevendollarsandseventy-fivecents.
Andthenhehadfetchedawayathree-gallonjugofwhisky,too,thathefoundunderawagonwhenhewasstartinghomethroughthewoods.
Thekingsaid,takeitallaround,itlaidoveranydayhe’deverputininthemissionaryingline.
Hesaiditwarn’tnousetalking,heathensdon’tamounttoshucksalongsideofpiratestoworkacamp-meetingwith.
ThedukewasthinkingHE’Dbeendoingprettywelltillthekingcometoshowup,butafterthathedidn’tthinksosomuch.
Hehadsetupandprintedofftwolittlejobsforfarmersinthatprinting-office–horsebills–andtookthemoney,fourdollars.
Andhehadgotintendollars’worthofadvertisementsforthepaper,whichhesaidhewouldputinforfourdollarsiftheywouldpayinadvance–sotheydoneit.
Thepriceofthepaperwastwodollarsayear,buthetookinthreesubscriptionsforhalfadollarapieceonconditionofthempayinghiminadvance;theyweregoingtopayincordwoodandonionsasusual,buthesaidhehadjustboughttheconcernandknockeddownthepriceaslowashecouldaffordit,andwasgoingtorunitforcash.
Hesetupalittlepieceofpoetry,whichhemade,himself,outofhisownhead–threeverses–kindofsweetandsaddish–thenameofitwas,“Yes,crush,coldworld,thisbreakingheart”–andheleftthatallsetupandreadytoprintinthepaper,anddidn’tchargenothingforit.
Well,hetookinninedollarsandahalf,andsaidhe’ddoneaprettysquareday’sworkforit.
Thenheshowedusanotherlittlejobhe’dprintedandhadn’tchargedfor,becauseitwasforus.
Ithadapictureofarunawayniggerwithabundleonastickoverhisshoulder,and”$200reward”underit.
ThereadingwasallaboutJim,andjustdescribedhimtoadot.
ItsaidherunawayfromSt.Jacques’plantation,fortymilebelowNewOrleans,lastwinter,andlikelywentnorth,andwhoeverwouldcatchhimandsendhimbackhecouldhavetherewardandexpenses.
“Now,”saystheduke,“afterto-nightwecanruninthedaytimeifwewantto.
WheneverweseeanybodycomingwecantieJimhandandfootwitharope,andlayhiminthewigwamandshowthishandbillandsaywecapturedhimuptheriver,andweretoopoortotravelonasteamboat,sowegotthislittleraftoncreditfromourfriendsandaregoingdowntogetthereward.
HandcuffsandchainswouldlookstillbetteronJim,butitwouldn’tgowellwiththestoryofusbeingsopoor.Toomuchlikejewelry.
Ropesarethecorrectthing–wemustpreservetheunities,aswesayontheboards.”
Weallsaidthedukewasprettysmart,andtherecouldn’tbenotroubleaboutrunningdaytimes.
Wejudgedwecouldmakemilesenoughthatnighttogetoutofthereachofthepowwowwereckonedtheduke’sworkintheprintingofficewasgoingtomakeinthatlittletown;thenwecouldboomrightalongifwewantedto.
Welaidlowandkeptstill,andnevershovedouttillnearlyteno’clock;thenweslidby,prettywideawayfromthetown,anddidn’thoistourlanterntillwewasclearoutofsightofit.
WhenJimcalledmetotakethewatchatfourinthemorning,hesays:
“Huck,doesyoureck’nwegwynetorunacrostanymo’kingsondistrip?”
“No,”Isays,“Ireckonnot.”
“Well,”sayshe,“dat’sallright,den.Idoan’mineoneertwokings,butdat’senough.Disone’spowerfuldrunk,endedukeain’muchbetter.”
IfoundJimhadbeentryingtogethimtotalkFrench,sohecouldhearwhatitwaslike;buthesaidhehadbeeninthiscountrysolong,andhadsomuchtrouble,he’dforgotit.
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