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ITwouldbemostanhouryettillbreakfast,soweleftandstruckdownintothewoods;becauseTomsaidwegottohaveSOMElighttoseehowtodigby,andalanternmakestoomuch,andmightgetusintotrouble;whatwemusthavewasalotofthemrottenchunksthat’scalledfox-fire,andjustmakesasoftkindofaglowwhenyoulaytheminadarkplace.
Wefetchedanarmfulandhiditintheweeds,andsetdowntorest,andTomsays,kindofdissatisfied:
“Blameit,thiswholethingisjustaseasyandawkwardasitcanbe.
Andsoitmakesitsorottendifficulttogetupadifficultplan.
Thereain’tnowatchmantobedrugged–nowthereOUGHTtobeawatchman.
Thereain’tevenadogtogiveasleeping-mixtureto.
Andthere’sJimchainedbyoneleg,withaten-footchain,tothelegofhisbed:why,allyougottodoistoliftupthebedsteadandslipoffthechain.
AndUncleSilashetrustseverybody;sendsthekeytothepunkin-headednigger,anddon’tsendnobodytowatchthenigger.
Jimcouldagotoutofthatwindowholebeforethis,onlytherewouldn’tbenousetryingtotravelwithaten-footchainonhisleg.
Why,dratit,Huck,it’sthestupidestarrangementIeversee.YougottoinventALLthedifficulties.
Well,wecan’thelpit;wegottodothebestwecanwiththematerialswe’vegot.
Anyhow,there’sonething–there’smorehonoringettinghimoutthroughalotofdifficultiesanddangers,wheretherewarn’toneofthemfurnishedtoyoubythepeoplewhoitwastheirdutytofurnishthem,andyouhadtocontrivethemalloutofyourownhead.
Nowlookatjustthatonethingofthelantern.
Whenyoucomedowntothecoldfacts,wesimplygottoLETONthatalantern’sresky.
Why,wecouldworkwithatorchlightprocessionifwewantedto,Ibelieve.
Now,whilstIthinkofit,wegottohuntupsomethingtomakeasawoutofthefirstchanceweget.”
“Whatdowewantofasaw?”
“WhatdoweWANTofasaw?Hain’twegottosawthelegofJim’sbedoff,soastogetthechainloose?”
“Why,youjustsaidabodycouldliftupthebedsteadandslipthechainoff.”
“Well,ifthatain’tjustlikeyou,HuckFinn.
YouCANgetuptheinfant-schooliestwaysofgoingatathing.
Why,hain’tyoueverreadanybooksatall?
–BaronTrenck,norCasanova,norBenvenutoChelleeny,norHenriIV.,nornoneofthemheroes?
Whoeverheardofgettingaprisonerlooseinsuchanoldmaidywayasthat?
No;thewayallthebestauthoritiesdoesistosawthebed-legintwo,andleaveitjustso,andswallowthesawdust,soitcan’tbefound,andputsomedirtandgreasearoundthesawedplacesotheverykeenestseneskalcan’tseenosignofit’sbeingsawed,andthinksthebed-legisperfectlysound.
Then,thenightyou’reready,fetchthelegakick,downshegoes;slipoffyourchain,andthereyouare.
Nothingtodobuthitchyourropeladdertothebattlements,shindownit,breakyourleginthemoat–becausearopeladderisnineteenfoottooshort,youknow–andthere’syourhorsesandyourtrustyvassles,andtheyscoopyouupandflingyouacrossasaddle,andawayyougotoyournativeLangudoc,orNavarre,orwhereveritis.It’sgaudy,Huck.Iwishtherewasamoattothiscabin.
Ifwegettime,thenightoftheescape,we’lldigone.”
Isays:
“Whatdowewantofamoatwhenwe’regoingtosnakehimoutfromunderthecabin?”
Butheneverheardme.Hehadforgotmeandeverythingelse.Hehadhischininhishand,thinking.Prettysoonhesighsandshakeshishead;thensighsagain,andsays:
“No,itwouldn’tdo–thereain’tnecessityenoughforit.”
“Forwhat?”Isays.
“Why,tosawJim’slegoff,”hesays.
“Goodland!”Isays;“why,thereain’tNOnecessityforit.Andwhatwouldyouwanttosawhislegofffor,anyway?”
“Well,someofthebestauthoritieshasdoneit.
Theycouldn’tgetthechainoff,sotheyjustcuttheirhandoffandshoved.Andalegwouldbebetterstill.Butwegottoletthatgo.
Thereain’tnecessityenoughinthiscase;and,besides,Jim’sanigger,andwouldn’tunderstandthereasonsforit,andhowit’sthecustominEurope;sowe’llletitgo.
Butthere’sonething–hecanhavearopeladder;wecantearupoursheetsandmakehimaropeladdereasyenough.
Andwecansendittohiminapie;it’smostlydonethatway.AndI’veetworsepies.”
“Why,TomSawyer,howyoutalk,”Isays;“Jimain’tgotnouseforaropeladder.”
“HeHASgotuseforit.HowYOUtalk,youbettersay;youdon’tknownothingaboutit.He’sGOTtohavearopeladder;theyalldo.”
“WhatinthenationcanheDOwithit?”
“DOwithit?Hecanhideitinhisbed,can’the?”
That’swhattheyalldo;andHE’Sgotto,too.
Huck,youdon’teverseemtowanttodoanythingthat’sregular;youwanttobestartingsomethingfreshallthetime.S’poseheDON’Tdonothingwithit?
ain’titthereinhisbed,foraclew,afterhe’sgone?
anddon’tyoureckonthey’llwantclews?Ofcoursetheywill.Andyouwouldn’tleavethemany?
ThatwouldbeaPRETTYhowdy-do,WOULDN’Tit!Ineverheardofsuchathing.”
“Well,”Isays,“ifit’sintheregulations,andhe’sgottohaveit,allright,lethimhaveit;becauseIdon’twishtogobackonnoregulations;butthere’sonething,TomSawyer–ifwegototearingupoursheetstomakeJimaropeladder,we’regoingtogetintotroublewithAuntSally,justassureasyou’reborn.
Now,thewayIlookatit,ahickry-barkladderdon’tcostnothing,anddon’twastenothing,andisjustasgoodtoloadupapiewith,andhideinastrawtick,asanyragladderyoucanstart;andasforJim,heain’thadnoexperience,andsohedon’tcarewhatkindofa–”
“Oh,shucks,HuckFinn,ifIwasasignorantasyouI’dkeepstill–that’swhatI’Ddo.Whoeverheardofastateprisonerescapingbyahickry-barkladder?Why,it’sperfectlyridiculous.”
“Well,allright,Tom,fixityourownway;butifyou’lltakemyadvice,you’llletmeborrowasheetoffoftheclothesline.”
Hesaidthatwoulddo.Andthatgavehimanotheridea,andhesays:
“Borrowashirt,too.”
“Whatdowewantofashirt,Tom?”
“WantitforJimtokeepajournalon.”
“Journalyourgranny–JIMcan’twrite.”
“S’poseheCAN’Twrite–hecanmakemarksontheshirt,can’the,ifwemakehimapenoutofanoldpewterspoonorapieceofanoldironbarrelhoop?”
“Why,Tom,wecanpullafeatheroutofagooseandmakehimabetterone;andquicker,too.”
“PRISONERSdon’thavegeeserunningaroundthedonjon-keeptopullpensoutof,youmuggins.
TheyALWAYSmaketheirpensoutofthehardest,toughest,troublesomestpieceofoldbrasscandlestickorsomethinglikethattheycangettheirhandson;andittakesthemweeksandweeksandmonthsandmonthstofileitout,too,becausethey’vegottodoitbyrubbingitonthewall.
THEYwouldn’tuseagoose-quilliftheyhadit.Itain’tregular.”
“Well,then,what’llwemakehimtheinkoutof?”
“Manymakesitoutofiron-rustandtears;butthat’sthecommonsortandwomen;thebestauthoritiesusestheirownblood.
Jimcandothat;andwhenhewantstosendanylittlecommonordinarymysteriousmessagetolettheworldknowwherehe’scaptivated,hecanwriteitonthebottomofatinplatewithaforkandthrowitoutofthewindow.
TheIronMaskalwaysdonethat,andit’sablame’goodway,too.”
“Jimain’tgotnotinplates.Theyfeedhiminapan.”
“Thatain’tnothing;wecangethimsome.”
“Can’tnobodyREADhisplates.”
“Thatain’tgotanythingtoDOwithit,HuckFinn.
AllHE’Sgottodoistowriteontheplateandthrowitout.Youdon’tHAVEtobeabletoreadit.
Why,halfthetimeyoucan’treadanythingaprisonerwritesonatinplate,oranywhereelse.”
“Well,then,what’sthesenseinwastingtheplates?”
“Why,blameitall,itain’tthePRISONER’Splates.”
“Butit’sSOMEBODY’Splates,ain’tit?”
“Well,spos’nitis?WhatdoesthePRISONERcarewhose–”
Hebrokeoffthere,becauseweheardthebreakfasthornblowing.Soweclearedoutforthehouse.
AlongduringthemorningIborrowedasheetandawhiteshirtoffoftheclothes-line;andIfoundanoldsackandputtheminit,andwewentdownandgotthefox-fire,andputthatintoo.
Icalleditborrowing,becausethatwaswhatpapalwayscalledit;butTomsaiditwarn’tborrowing,itwasstealing.
Hesaidwewasrepresentingprisoners;andprisonersdon’tcarehowtheygetathingsotheygetit,andnobodydon’tblamethemforit,either.
Itain’tnocrimeinaprisonertostealthethingheneedstogetawaywith,Tomsaid;it’shisright;andso,aslongaswewasrepresentingaprisoner,wehadaperfectrighttostealanythingonthisplacewehadtheleastusefortogetourselvesoutofprisonwith.
Hesaidifwewarn’tprisonersitwouldbeaverydifferentthing,andnobodybutamean,ornerypersonwouldstealwhenhewarn’taprisoner.
Soweallowedwewouldstealeverythingtherewasthatcomehandy.
Andyethemadeamightyfuss,oneday,afterthat,whenIstoleawatermelonoutofthenigger-patchandeatit;andhemademegoandgivetheniggersadimewithouttellingthemwhatitwasfor.
Tomsaidthatwhathemeantwas,wecouldstealanythingweNEEDED.Well,Isays,Ineededthewatermelon.
ButhesaidIdidn’tneedittogetoutofprisonwith;there’swherethedifferencewas.
HesaidifI’dawantedittohideaknifein,andsmuggleittoJimtokilltheseneskalwith,itwouldabeenallright.
SoIletitgoatthat,thoughIcouldn’tseenoadvantageinmyrepresentingaprisonerifIgottosetdownandchawoveralotofgold-leafdistinctionslikethateverytimeIseeachancetohogawatermelon.
Well,asIwassaying,wewaitedthatmorningtilleverybodywassettleddowntobusiness,andnobodyinsightaroundtheyard;thenTomhecarriedthesackintothelean-towhilstIstoodoffapiecetokeepwatch.
Byandbyhecomeout,andwewentandsetdownonthewoodpiletotalk.Hesays:
“Everything’sallrightnowexcepttools;andthat’seasyfixed.”
“Tools?”Isays.
“Yes.”
“Toolsforwhat?”
“Why,todigwith.Weain’ta-goingtoGNAWhimout,arewe?”
“Ain’tthemoldcrippledpicksandthingsintheregoodenoughtodiganiggeroutwith?”Isays.
Heturnsonme,lookingpityingenoughtomakeabodycry,andsays:
“HuckFinn,didyouEVERhearofaprisonerhavingpicksandshovels,andallthemodernconveniencesinhiswardrobetodighimselfoutwith?
NowIwanttoaskyou–ifyougotanyreasonablenessinyouatall–whatkindofashowwouldTHATgivehimtobeahero?
Why,theymightaswelllendhimthekeyanddonewithit.
Picksandshovels–why,theywouldn’tfurnish‘emtoaking.”
“Well,then,”Isays,“ifwedon’twantthepicksandshovels,whatdowewant?”
“Acoupleofcase-knives.”
“Todigthefoundationsoutfromunderthatcabinwith?”
“Yes.”
“Confoundit,it’sfoolish,Tom.”
“Itdon’tmakenodifferencehowfoolishitis,it’stheRIGHTway–andit’stheregularway.
Andthereain’tnoOTHERway,thateverIheardof,andI’vereadallthebooksthatgivesanyinformationaboutthesethings.
Theyalwaysdigoutwithacase-knife–andnotthroughdirt,mindyou;generlyit’sthroughsolidrock.
Andittakesthemweeksandweeksandweeks,andforeverandever.
Why,lookatoneofthemprisonersinthebottomdungeonoftheCastleDeef,intheharborofMarseilles,thatdughimselfoutthatway;howlongwasHEatit,youreckon?”
“Idon’tknow.”
“Well,guess.”
“Idon’tknow.Amonthandahalf.”
“THIRTY-SEVENYEAR–andhecomeoutinChina.THAT’Sthekind.IwishthebottomofTHISfortresswassolidrock.”
“JIMdon’tknownobodyinChina.”
“What’sTHATgottodowithit?Neitherdidthatotherfellow.Butyou’realwaysa-wanderingoffonasideissue.Whycan’tyousticktothemainpoint?”
“Allright–Idon’tcarewherehecomesout,soheCOMESout;andJimdon’t,either,Ireckon.Butthere’sonething,anyway–Jim’stoooldtobedugoutwithacase-knife.Hewon’tlast.”
“YeshewillLAST,too.Youdon’treckonit’sgoingtotakethirty-sevenyearstodigoutthroughaDIRTfoundation,doyou?”
“Howlongwillittake,Tom?”
“Well,wecan’treskbeingaslongasweoughtto,becauseitmayn’ttakeverylongforUncleSilastohearfromdowntherebyNewOrleans.He’llhearJimain’tfromthere.
ThenhisnextmovewillbetoadvertiseJim,orsomethinglikethat.
Sowecan’treskbeingaslongdigginghimoutasweoughtto.
ByrightsIreckonweoughttobeacoupleofyears;butwecan’t.
Thingsbeingsouncertain,whatIrecommendisthis:thatwereallydigrightin,asquickaswecan;andafterthat,wecanLETON,toourselves,thatwewasatitthirty-sevenyears.
Thenwecansnatchhimoutandrushhimawaythefirsttimethere’sanalarm.
Yes,Ireckonthat‘llbethebestway.”
“Now,there’sSENSEinthat,”Isays.“Lettingondon’tcostnothing;lettingonain’tnotrouble;andifit’sanyobject,Idon’tmindlettingonwewasatitahundredandfiftyyear.
Itwouldn’tstrainmenone,afterIgotmyhandin.
SoI’llmoseyalongnow,andsmouchacoupleofcase-knives.”
“Smouchthree,”hesays;“wewantonetomakeasawoutof.”
“Tom,ifitain’tunregularandirreligioustosejestit,”Isays,“there’sanoldrustysaw-bladearoundyonderstickingundertheweather-boardingbehindthesmoke-house.”
Helookedkindofwearyanddiscouraged-like,andsays:
“Itain’tnousetotrytolearnyounothing,Huck.Runalongandsmouchtheknives–threeofthem.”SoIdoneit.
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