English
WEdasn’tstopagainatanytownfordaysanddays;keptrightalongdowntheriver.
Wewasdownsouthinthewarmweathernow,andamightylongwaysfromhome.
WebeguntocometotreeswithSpanishmossonthem,hangingdownfromthelimbslikelong,graybeards.
ItwasthefirstIeverseeitgrowing,anditmadethewoodslooksolemnanddismal.
Sonowthefraudsreckonedtheywasoutofdanger,andtheybeguntoworkthevillagesagain.
Firsttheydonealectureontemperance;buttheydidn’tmakeenoughforthembothtogetdrunkon.
Theninanothervillagetheystartedadancing-school;buttheydidn’tknownomorehowtodancethanakangaroodoes;sothefirstprancetheymadethegeneralpublicjumpedinandprancedthemoutoftown.
Anothertimetheytriedtogoatyellocution;buttheydidn’tyellocutelongtilltheaudiencegotupandgivethemasolidgoodcussing,andmadethemskipout.
Theytackledmissionarying,andmesmerizing,anddoctoring,andtellingfortunes,andalittleofeverything;buttheycouldn’tseemtohavenoluck.
Soatlasttheygotjustaboutdeadbroke,andlaidaroundtheraftasshefloatedalong,thinkingandthinking,andneversayingnothing,bythehalfadayatatime,anddreadfulblueanddesperate.
Andatlasttheytookachangeandbeguntolaytheirheadstogetherinthewigwamandtalklowandconfidentialtwoorthreehoursatatime.Jimandmegotuneasy.Wedidn’tlikethelookofit.
Wejudgedtheywasstudyingupsomekindofworsedeviltrythanever.
Weturneditoverandover,andatlastwemadeupourmindstheywasgoingtobreakintosomebody’shouseorstore,orwasgoingintothecounterfeitmoneybusiness,orsomething.
Sothenwewasprettyscared,andmadeupanagreementthatwewouldn’thavenothingintheworldtodowithsuchactions,andifweevergottheleastshowwewouldgivethemthecoldshakeandclearoutandleavethembehind.
Well,earlyonemorningwehidtheraftinagood,safeplaceabouttwomilebelowalittlebitofashabbyvillagenamedPikesville,andthekinghewentashoreandtoldusalltostayhidwhilsthewentuptotownandsmeltaroundtoseeifanybodyhadgotanywindoftheRoyalNonesuchthereyet.
(“Housetorob,youMEAN,”saysItomyself;“andwhenyougetthroughrobbingityou’llcomebackhereandwonderwhathasbecomeofmeandJimandtheraft–andyou’llhavetotakeitoutinwondering.”)
Andhesaidifhewarn’tbackbymiddaythedukeandmewouldknowitwasallright,andwewastocomealong.
Sowestayedwherewewas.Thedukehefrettedandsweatedaround,andwasinamightysourway.
Hescoldedusforeverything,andwecouldn’tseemtodonothingright;hefoundfaultwitheverylittlething.Somethingwasa-brewing,sure.
Iwasgoodandgladwhenmiddaycomeandnoking;wecouldhaveachange,anyway–andmaybeachanceforTHEchanceontopofit.
Someandthedukewentuptothevillage,andhuntedaroundtherefortheking,andbyandbywefoundhiminthebackroomofalittlelowdoggery,verytight,andalotofloafersbullyragginghimforsport,andhea-cussinganda-threateningwithallhismight,andsotighthecouldn’twalk,andcouldn’tdonothingtothem.
Thedukehebeguntoabusehimforanoldfool,andthekingbeguntosassback,andtheminutetheywasfairlyatitIlitoutandshookthereefsoutofmyhindlegs,andspundowntheriverroadlikeadeer,forIseeourchance;andImadeupmymindthatitwouldbealongdaybeforetheyeverseemeandJimagain.
Igotdowntherealloutofbreathbutloadedupwithjoy,andsungout:
“Setherloose,Jim!we’reallrightnow!”
Buttherewarn’tnoanswer,andnobodycomeoutofthewigwam.Jimwasgone!
Isetupashout–andthenanother–andthenanotherone;andrunthiswayandthatinthewoods,whoopingandscreeching;butitwarn’tnouse–oldJimwasgone.
ThenIsetdownandcried;Icouldn’thelpit.ButIcouldn’tsetstilllong.
PrettysoonIwentoutontheroad,tryingtothinkwhatIbetterdo,andIrunacrossaboywalking,andaskedhimifhe’dseenastrangeniggerdressedsoandso,andhesays:
“Yes.”
“Whereabouts?”saysI.
“DowntoSilasPhelps’place,twomilebelowhere.He’sarunawaynigger,andthey’vegothim.Wasyoulookingforhim?”
“YoubetIain’t!Irunacrosshiminthewoodsaboutanhourortwoago,andhesaidifIholleredhe’dcutmyliversout–andtoldmetolaydownandstaywhereIwas;andIdoneit.
Beenthereeversince;afeardtocomeout.”
“Well,”hesays,“youneedn’tbeafeardnomore,becuzthey’vegothim.Herunofff’mdownSouth,som’ers.”
“It’sagoodjobtheygothim.”
“Well,IRECKON!There’stwohunderddollarsrewardonhim.It’slikepickingupmoneyout’ntheroad.”
“Yes,itis–andIcouldahaditifI’dbeenbigenough;IseehimFIRST.Whonailedhim?”
“Itwasanoldfellow–astranger–andhesoldouthischanceinhimforfortydollars,becuzhe’sgottogouptheriverandcan’twait.Thinko’that,now!YoubetI’Dwait,ifitwassevenyear.”
“That’sme,everytime,”saysI.“Butmaybehischanceain’tworthnomorethanthat,ifhe’llsellitsocheap.Maybethere’ssomethingain’tstraightaboutit.”
“ButitIS,though–straightasastring.Iseethehandbillmyself.
Ittellsallabouthim,toadot–paintshimlikeapicture,andtellstheplantationhe’sfrum,belowNewrLEANS.
No-sirree-BOB,theyain’tnotrouble‘boutTHATspeculation,youbetyou.Say,gimmeachawtobacker,won’tye?”
Ididn’thavenone,soheleft.Iwenttotheraft,andsetdowninthewigwamtothink.ButIcouldn’tcometonothing.
IthoughttillIworemyheadsore,butIcouldn’tseenowayoutofthetrouble.
Afterallthislongjourney,andafterallwe’ddoneforthemscoundrels,hereitwasallcometonothing,everythingallbustedupandruined,becausetheycouldhavethehearttoserveJimsuchatrickasthat,andmakehimaslaveagainallhislife,andamongststrangers,too,forfortydirtydollars.
OnceIsaidtomyselfitwouldbeathousandtimesbetterforJimtobeaslaveathomewherehisfamilywas,aslongashe’dGOTtobeaslave,andsoI’dbetterwritealettertoTomSawyerandtellhimtotellMissWatsonwherehewas.
ButIsoongiveupthatnotionfortwothings:she’dbemadanddisgustedathisrascalityandungratefulnessforleavingher,andsoshe’dsellhimstraightdowntheriveragain;andifshedidn’t,everybodynaturallydespisesanungratefulnigger,andthey’dmakeJimfeelitallthetime,andsohe’dfeelorneryanddisgraced.AndthenthinkofME!
ItwouldgetallaroundthatHuckFinnhelpedaniggertogethisfreedom;andifIwasevertoseeanybodyfromthattownagainI’dbereadytogetdownandlickhisbootsforshame.
That’sjusttheway:apersondoesalow-downthing,andthenhedon’twanttotakenoconsequencesofit.
Thinksaslongashecanhide,itain’tnodisgrace.Thatwasmyfixexactly.
ThemoreIstudiedaboutthisthemoremyconsciencewenttogrindingme,andthemorewickedandlow-downandorneryIgottofeeling.
Andatlast,whenithitmeallofasuddenthatherewastheplainhandofProvidenceslappingmeinthefaceandlettingmeknowmywickednesswasbeingwatchedallthetimefromupthereinheaven,whilstIwasstealingapooroldwoman’sniggerthathadn’teverdonemenoharm,andnowwasshowingmethere’sOnethat’salwaysonthelookout,andain’tagoingtoallownosuchmiserabledoingstogoonlyjustsofurandnofurther,ImostdroppedinmytracksIwassoscared.
Well,ItriedthebestIcouldtokindersoftenitupsomehowformyselfbysayingIwasbrungupwicked,andsoIwarn’tsomuchtoblame;butsomethinginsideofmekeptsaying,“TherewastheSunday-school,youcouldagonetoit;andifyou’dadoneitthey’dalearntyoutherethatpeoplethatactsasI’dbeenactingaboutthatniggergoestoeverlastingfire.”
Itmademeshiver.AndIaboutmadeupmymindtopray,andseeifIcouldn’ttrytoquitbeingthekindofaboyIwasandbebetter.SoIkneeleddown.Butthewordswouldn’tcome.Whywouldn’tthey?
Itwarn’tnousetotryandhideitfromHim.NorfromME,neither.
Iknowedverywellwhytheywouldn’tcome.
Itwasbecausemyheartwarn’tright;itwasbecauseIwarn’tsquare;itwasbecauseIwasplayingdouble.
IwaslettingONtogiveupsin,butawayinsideofmeIwasholdingontothebiggestoneofall.
IwastryingtomakemymouthSAYIwoulddotherightthingandthecleanthing,andgoandwritetothatnigger’sownerandtellwherehewas;butdeepdowninmeIknoweditwasalie,andHeknowedit.
Youcan’tprayalie–Ifoundthatout.
SoIwasfulloftrouble,fullasIcouldbe;anddidn’tknowwhattodo.
AtlastIhadanidea;andIsays,I’llgoandwritetheletter–andthenseeifIcanpray.
Why,itwasastonishing,thewayIfeltaslightasafeatherrightstraightoff,andmytroublesallgone.
SoIgotapieceofpaperandapencil,allgladandexcited,andsetdownandwrote:
MissWatson,yourrunawayniggerJimisdownheretwomilebelowPikesville,andMr.Phelpshasgothimandhewillgivehimupfortherewardifyousend.
HUCKFINN.
IfeltgoodandallwashedcleanofsinforthefirsttimeIhadeverfeltsoinmylife,andIknowedIcouldpraynow.
ButIdidn’tdoitstraightoff,butlaidthepaperdownandsettherethinking–thinkinghowgooditwasallthishappenedso,andhownearIcometobeinglostandgoingtohell.Andwentonthinking.
Andgottothinkingoverourtripdowntheriver;andIseeJimbeforemeallthetime:inthedayandinthenight-time,sometimesmoonlight,sometimesstorms,andwea-floatingalong,talkingandsingingandlaughing.
ButsomehowIcouldn’tseemtostrikenoplacestohardenmeagainsthim,butonlytheotherkind.
I’dseehimstandingmywatchontopofhis’n,‘steadofcallingme,soIcouldgoonsleeping;andseehimhowgladhewaswhenIcomebackoutofthefog;andwhenIcometohimagainintheswamp,uptherewherethefeudwas;andsuch-liketimes;andwouldalwayscallmehoney,andpetmeanddoeverythinghecouldthinkofforme,andhowgoodhealwayswas;andatlastIstruckthetimeIsavedhimbytellingthemenwehadsmall-poxaboard,andhewassograteful,andsaidIwasthebestfriendoldJimeverhadintheworld,andtheONLYonehe’sgotnow;andthenIhappenedtolookaroundandseethatpaper.
Itwasacloseplace.Itookitup,andhelditinmyhand.
Iwasa-trembling,becauseI’dgottodecide,forever,betwixttwothings,andIknowedit.
Istudiedaminute,sortofholdingmybreath,andthensaystomyself:
“Allright,then,I’llGOtohell”–andtoreitup.
Itwasawfulthoughtsandawfulwords,buttheywassaid.
AndIletthemstaysaid;andneverthoughtnomoreaboutreforming.
Ishovedthewholethingoutofmyhead,andsaidIwouldtakeupwickednessagain,whichwasinmyline,beingbrunguptoit,andtheotherwarn’t.
AndforastarterIwouldgotoworkandstealJimoutofslaveryagain;andifIcouldthinkupanythingworse,Iwoulddothat,too;becauseaslongasIwasin,andinforgood,Imightaswellgothewholehog.
ThenIsettothinkingoverhowtogetatit,andturnedoversomeconsiderablemanywaysinmymind;andatlastfixedupaplanthatsuitedme.
SothenItookthebearingsofawoodyislandthatwasdowntheriverapiece,andassoonasitwasfairlydarkIcreptoutwithmyraftandwentforit,andhiditthere,andthenturnedin.
Isleptthenightthrough,andgotupbeforeitwaslight,andhadmybreakfast,andputonmystoreclothes,andtiedupsomeothersandonethingoranotherinabundle,andtookthecanoeandclearedforshore.
IlandedbelowwhereIjudgedwasPhelps’splace,andhidmybundleinthewoods,andthenfilledupthecanoewithwater,andloadedrocksintoherandsunkherwhereIcouldfindheragainwhenIwantedher,aboutaquarterofamilebelowalittlesteamsawmillthatwasonthebank.
ThenIstruckuptheroad,andwhenIpassedthemillIseeasignonit,“Phelps’sSawmill,”andwhenIcometothefarm-houses,twoorthreehundredyardsfurtheralong,Ikeptmyeyespeeled,butdidn’tseenobodyaround,thoughitwasgooddaylightnow.
ButIdidn’tmind,becauseIdidn’twanttoseenobodyjustyet–Ionlywantedtogetthelayoftheland.
Accordingtomyplan,Iwasgoingtoturnuptherefromthevillage,notfrombelow.
SoIjusttookalook,andshovedalong,straightfortown.
Well,theveryfirstmanIseewhenIgottherewastheduke.
HewasstickingupabillfortheRoyalNonesuch–three-nightperformance–likethatothertime.Theyhadthecheek,themfrauds!
IwasrightonhimbeforeIcouldshirk.Helookedastonished,andsays:
“Hel-LO!Where’dYOUcomefrom?”Thenhesays,kindofgladandeager,“Where’stheraft?–gotherinagoodplace?”
Isays:
“Why,that’sjustwhatIwasgoingtoaskyourgrace.”
Thenhedidn’tlooksojoyful,andsays:
“WhatwasyourideaforaskingME?”hesays.
“Well,”Isays,“whenIseethekinginthatdoggeryyesterdayIsaystomyself,wecan’tgethimhomeforhours,tillhe’ssoberer;soIwenta-loafingaroundtowntoputinthetimeandwait.
Amanupandofferedmetencentstohelphimpullaskiffovertheriverandbacktofetchasheep,andsoIwentalong;butwhenwewasdragginghimtotheboat,andthemanleftmea-holtoftheropeandwentbehindhimtoshovehimalong,hewastoostrongformeandjerkedlooseandrun,andweafterhim.
Wedidn’thavenodog,andsowehadtochasehimalloverthecountrytillwetiredhimout.
Wenevergothimtilldark;thenwefetchedhimover,andIstarteddownfortheraft.
WhenIgotthereandseeitwasgone,Isaystomyself,‘They’vegotintotroubleandhadtoleave;andthey’vetookmynigger,whichistheonlyniggerI’vegotintheworld,andnowI’minastrangecountry,andain’tgotnopropertynomore,nornothing,andnowaytomakemyliving;’soIsetdownandcried.Isleptinthewoodsallnight.ButwhatDIDbecomeoftheraft,then?–andJim–poorJim!”
“BlamedifIknow–thatis,what’sbecomeoftheraft.
Thatoldfoolhadmadeatradeandgotfortydollars,andwhenwefoundhiminthedoggerytheloafershadmatchedhalf-dollarswithhimandgoteverycentbutwhathe’dspentforwhisky;andwhenIgothimhomelatelastnightandfoundtheraftgone,wesaid,‘Thatlittlerascalhasstoleourraftandshookus,andrunoffdowntheriver.’”
“Iwouldn’tshakemyNIGGER,wouldI?–theonlyniggerIhadintheworld,andtheonlyproperty.”
“Weneverthoughtofthat.Factis,Ireckonwe’dcometoconsiderhimOURnigger;yes,wedidconsiderhimso–goodnessknowswehadtroubleenoughforhim.
Sowhenweseetheraftwasgoneandweflatbroke,therewarn’tanythingforitbuttotrytheRoyalNonesuchanothershake.
AndI’vepeggedalongeversince,dryasapowder-horn.Where’sthattencents?Giveithere.”
Ihadconsiderablemoney,soIgivehimtencents,butbeggedhimtospenditforsomethingtoeat,andgivemesome,becauseitwasallthemoneyIhad,andIhadn’thadnothingtoeatsinceyesterday.Heneversaidnothing.
Thenextminutehewhirlsonmeandsays:
“Doyoureckonthatniggerwouldblowonus?We’dskinhimifhedonethat!”
“Howcanheblow?Hain’therunoff?”
“No!Thatoldfoolsoldhim,andneverdividedwithme,andthemoney’sgone.”
“SOLDhim?”Isays,andbeguntocry;“why,hewasMYnigger,andthatwasmymoney.Whereishe?–Iwantmynigger.”
“Well,youcan’tGETyournigger,that’sall–sodryupyourblubbering.Lookyhere–doyouthinkYOU’Dventuretoblowonus?BlamedifIthinkI’dtrustyou.Why,ifyouWAStoblowonus–”
Hestopped,butIneverseethedukelooksouglyoutofhiseyesbefore.Iwentona-whimpering,andsays:
“Idon’twanttoblowonnobody;andIain’tgotnotimetoblow,nohow.Igottoturnoutandfindmynigger.”
Helookedkinderbothered,andstoodtherewithhisbillsflutteringonhisarm,thinking,andwrinklinguphisforehead.Atlasthesays:
“I’lltellyousomething.Wegottobeherethreedays.Ifyou’llpromiseyouwon’tblow,andwon’tlettheniggerblow,I’lltellyouwheretofindhim.”
SoIpromised,andhesays:
“AfarmerbythenameofSilasPh––”andthenhestopped.
Yousee,hestartedtotellmethetruth;butwhenhestoppedthatway,andbeguntostudyandthinkagain,Ireckonedhewaschanginghismind.Andsohewas.
Hewouldn’ttrustme;hewantedtomakesureofhavingmeoutofthewaythewholethreedays.Soprettysoonhesays:
“ThemanthatboughthimisnamedAbramFoster–AbramG.Foster–andhelivesfortymilebackhereinthecountry,ontheroadtoLafayette.”
“Allright,”Isays,“Icanwalkitinthreedays.AndI’llstartthisveryafternoon.”
“Noyouwont,you’llstartNOW;anddon’tyouloseanytimeaboutit,neither,nordoanygabblingbytheway.
Justkeepatighttongueinyourheadandmoverightalong,andthenyouwon’tgetintotroublewithUS,d’yehear?”
ThatwastheorderIwanted,andthatwastheoneIplayedfor.Iwantedtobeleftfreetoworkmyplans.
“Soclearout,”hesays;“andyoucantellMr.Fosterwhateveryouwantto.
MaybeyoucangethimtobelievethatJimISyournigger–someidiotsdon’trequiredocuments–leastwaysI’veheardthere’ssuchdownSouthhere.
Andwhenyoutellhimthehandbillandthereward’sbogus,maybehe’llbelieveyouwhenyouexplaintohimwhattheideawasforgetting‘emout.
Go‘longnow,andtellhimanythingyouwantto;butmindyoudon’tworkyourjawanyBETWEENhereandthere.”
SoIleft,andstruckforthebackcountry.
Ididn’tlookaround,butIkinderfeltlikehewaswatchingme.
ButIknowedIcouldtirehimoutatthat.
IwentstraightoutinthecountryasmuchasamilebeforeIstopped;thenIdoubledbackthroughthewoodstowardsPhelps’.
IreckonedIbetterstartinonmyplanstraightoffwithoutfoolingaround,becauseIwantedtostopJim’smouthtillthesefellowscouldgetaway.
Ididn’twantnotroublewiththeirkind.
I’dseenallIwantedtoofthem,andwantedtogetentirelyshutofthem.
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