English
WEwasfeelingprettygoodafterbreakfast,andtookmycanoeandwentovertherivera-fishing,withalunch,andhadagoodtime,andtookalookattheraftandfoundherallright,andgothomelatetosupper,andfoundtheminsuchasweatandworrytheydidn’tknowwhichendtheywasstandingon,andmadeusgorightofftobedtheminutewewasdonesupper,andwouldn’ttelluswhatthetroublewas,andneverletonawordaboutthenewletter,butdidn’tneedto,becauseweknowedasmuchaboutitasanybodydid,andassoonaswewashalfupstairsandherbackwasturnedweslidforthecellarcubboardandloadedupagoodlunchandtookituptoourroomandwenttobed,andgotupabouthalf-pasteleven,andTomputonAuntSally’sdressthathestoleandwasgoingtostartwiththelunch,butsays:
“Where’sthebutter?”
“Ilaidoutahunkofit,”Isays,“onapieceofacorn-pone.”
“Well,youLEFTitlaidout,then–itain’there.”
“Wecangetalongwithoutit,”Isays.
“WecangetalongWITHit,too,”hesays;“justyouslidedowncellarandfetchit.
Andthenmoseyrightdownthelightning-rodandcomealong.
I’llgoandstuffthestrawintoJim’sclothestorepresenthismotherindisguise,andbereadytoBAlikeasheepandshovesoonasyougetthere.”
Soouthewent,anddowncellarwentI.Thehunkofbutter,bigasaperson’sfist,waswhereIhadleftit,soItookuptheslabofcorn-ponewithiton,andblowedoutmylight,andstartedupstairsverystealthy,andgotuptothemainfloorallright,butherecomesAuntSallywithacandle,andIclappedthetruckinmyhat,andclappedmyhatonmyhead,andthenextsecondsheseeme;andshesays:
“Youbeendowncellar?”
“Yes’m.”
“Whatyoubeendoingdownthere?”
“Noth’n.”
“NOTH’N!”
“No’m.”
“Well,then,whatpossessedyoutogodowntherethistimeofnight?”
“Idon’tknow‘m.”
“Youdon’tKNOW?Don’tanswermethatway.Tom,IwanttoknowwhatyoubeenDOINGdownthere.”
“Ihain’tbeendoingasinglething,AuntSally,IhopetograciousifIhave.”
Ireckonedshe’dletmegonow,andasagenerlthingshewould;butIs’posetherewassomanystrangethingsgoingonshewasjustinasweatabouteverylittlethingthatwarn’tyard-stickstraight;soshesays,verydecided:
“Youjustmarchintothatsetting-roomandstaytheretillIcome.Youbeenuptosomethingyounobusinessto,andIlayI’llfindoutwhatitisbeforeI’Mdonewithyou.”
SoshewentawayasIopenedthedoorandwalkedintothesetting-room.My,buttherewasacrowdthere!
Fifteenfarmers,andeveryoneofthemhadagun.
Iwasmostpowerfulsick,andslunktoachairandsetdown.
Theywassettingaround,someofthemtalkingalittle,inalowvoice,andallofthemfidgetyanduneasy,buttryingtolookliketheywarn’t;butIknowedtheywas,becausetheywasalwaystakingofftheirhats,andputtingthemon,andscratchingtheirheads,andchangingtheirseats,andfumblingwiththeirbuttons.
Iwarn’teasymyself,butIdidn’ttakemyhatoff,allthesame.
IdidwishAuntSallywouldcome,andgetdonewithme,andlickme,ifshewantedto,andletmegetawayandtellTomhowwe’doverdonethisthing,andwhatathunderinghornet’s-nestwe’dgotourselvesinto,sowecouldstopfoolingaroundstraightoff,andclearoutwithJimbeforetheseripsgotoutofpatienceandcomeforus.
Atlastshecomeandbeguntoaskmequestions,butICOULDN’Tanswerthemstraight,Ididn’tknowwhichendofmewasup;becausethesemenwasinsuchafidgetnowthatsomewaswantingtostartrightNOWandlayforthemdesperadoes,andsayingitwarn’tbutafewminutestomidnight;andotherswastryingtogetthemtoholdonandwaitforthesheep-signal;andherewasAuntypeggingawayatthequestions,andmea-shakingalloverandreadytosinkdowninmytracksIwasthatscared;andtheplacegettinghotterandhotter,andthebutterbeginningtomeltandrundownmyneckandbehindmyears;andprettysoon,whenoneofthemsays,“I’MforgoingandgettinginthecabinFIRSTandrightNOW,andcatchingthemwhentheycome,”Imostdropped;andastreakofbuttercomea-tricklingdownmyforehead,andAuntSallysheseeit,andturnswhiteasasheet,andsays:
“Fortheland’ssake,whatISthematterwiththechild?He’sgotthebrain-feverasshoreasyou’reborn,andthey’reoozingout!”
Andeverybodyrunstosee,andshesnatchesoffmyhat,andoutcomesthebreadandwhatwasleftofthebutter,andshegrabbedme,andhuggedme,andsays:
“Oh,whataturnyoudidgiveme!andhowgladandgratefulIamitain’tnoworse;forluck’sagainstus,anditneverrainsbutitpours,andwhenIseethattruckIthoughtwe’dlostyou,forIknowedbythecolorandallitwasjustlikeyourbrainswouldbeif–Dear,dear,whyd’ntyouTELLmethatwaswhatyou’dbeendowntherefor,Iwouldn’tacared.
Nowclerouttobed,anddon’tlemmeseenomoreofyoutillmorning!”
Iwasupstairsinasecond,anddownthelightningrodinanotherone,andshinningthroughthedarkforthelean-to.
Icouldn’thardlygetmywordsout,Iwassoanxious;butItoldTomasquickasIcouldwemustjumpforitnow,andnotaminutetolose–thehousefullofmen,yonder,withguns!
Hiseyesjustblazed;andhesays:
“No!–isthatso?AIN’Titbully!Why,Huck,ifitwastodooveragain,IbetIcouldfetchtwohundred!Ifwecouldputitofftill–”
“Hurry!HURRY!”Isays.“Where’sJim?”
“Rightatyourelbow;ifyoureachoutyourarmyoucantouchhim.He’sdressed,andeverything’sready.Nowwe’llslideoutandgivethesheepsignal.”
Butthenweheardthetrampofmencomingtothedoor,andheardthembegintofumblewiththepadlock,andheardamansay:
“ITOLDyouwe’dbetoosoon;theyhaven’tcome–thedoorislocked.
Here,I’lllocksomeofyouintothecabin,andyoulayfor‘eminthedarkandkill‘emwhentheycome;andtherestscatteraroundapiece,andlistenifyoucanhear‘emcoming.”
Sointheycome,butcouldn’tseeusinthedark,andmosttrodonuswhilstwewashustlingtogetunderthebed.
Butwegotunderallright,andoutthroughthehole,swiftbutsoft–Jimfirst,menext,andTomlast,whichwasaccordingtoTom’sorders.
Nowwewasinthelean-to,andheardtrampingsclosebyoutside.
Sowecrepttothedoor,andTomstoppedusthereandputhiseyetothecrack,butcouldn’tmakeoutnothing,itwassodark;andwhisperedandsaidhewouldlistenforthestepstogetfurther,andwhenhenudgedusJimmustglideoutfirst,andhimlast.
Sohesethiseartothecrackandlistened,andlistened,andlistened,andthestepsa-scrapingaroundoutthereallthetime;andatlasthenudgedus,andweslidout,andstoopeddown,notbreathing,andnotmakingtheleastnoise,andslippedstealthytowardsthefenceinInjunfile,andgottoitallright,andmeandJimoverit;butTom’sbritchescatchedfastonasplinteronthetoprail,andthenhehearthestepscoming,sohehadtopullloose,whichsnappedthesplinterandmadeanoise;andashedroppedinourtracksandstartedsomebodysingsout:
“Who’sthat?Answer,orI’llshoot!”
Butwedidn’tanswer;wejustunfurledourheelsandshoved.Thentherewasarush,andaBANG,BANG,BANG!andthebulletsfairlywhizzedaroundus!Weheardthemsingout:
“Heretheyare!They’vebrokefortheriver!After‘em,boys,andturnloosethedogs!”
Soheretheycome,fulltilt.Wecouldhearthembecausetheyworebootsandyelled,butwedidn’twearnobootsanddidn’tyell.
Wewasinthepathtothemill;andwhentheygotprettycloseontouswedodgedintothebushandletthemgoby,andthendroppedinbehindthem.
They’dhadallthedogsshutup,sotheywouldn’tscareofftherobbers;butbythistimesomebodyhadletthemloose,andheretheycome,makingpowwowenoughforamillion;buttheywasourdogs;sowestoppedinourtrackstilltheycatchedup;andwhentheyseeitwarn’tnobodybutus,andnoexcitementtoofferthem,theyonlyjustsaidhowdy,andtorerightaheadtowardstheshoutingandclattering;andthenweup-steamagain,andwhizzedalongafterthemtillwewasnearlytothemill,andthenstruckupthroughthebushtowheremycanoewastied,andhoppedinandpulledfordearlifetowardsthemiddleoftheriver,butdidn’tmakenomorenoisethanwewasobleegedto.
Thenwestruckout,easyandcomfortable,fortheislandwheremyraftwas;andwecouldhearthemyellingandbarkingateachotherallupanddownthebank,tillwewassofarawaythesoundsgotdimanddiedout.
AndwhenwesteppedontotheraftIsays:
“NOW,oldJim,you’reafreemanagain,andIbetyouwon’teverbeaslavenomore.”
“Enamightygoodjobitwuz,too,Huck.It‘uzplannedbeautiful,enit‘uzdonebeautiful;endeyain’tNOBODYkingitupaplandat’smo’mixed-upensplendiddenwhatdatonewuz.”
Wewasallgladaswecouldbe,butTomwasthegladdestofallbecausehehadabulletinthecalfofhisleg.
WhenmeandJimheardthatwedidn’tfeelsobrashaswhatwedidbefore.
Itwashurtinghimconsiderable,andbleeding;sowelaidhiminthewigwamandtoreuponeoftheduke’sshirtsfortobandagehim,buthesays:
“Gimmetherags;Icandoitmyself.Don’tstopnow;don’tfoolaroundhere,andtheevasionboomingalongsohandsome;manthesweeps,andsetherloose!Boys,wedoneitelegant!–‘deedwedid.
IwishWE’DahadthehandlingofLouisXVI.,therewouldn’tabeenno‘SonofSaintLouis,ascendtoheaven!’
wrotedowninHISbiography;no,sir,we’dawhoopedhimovertheBORDER–that’swhatwe’dadonewithHIM–anddoneitjustasslickasnothingatall,too.Manthesweeps–manthesweeps!”
ButmeandJimwasconsulting–andthinking.Andafterwe’dthoughtaminute,Isays:
“Sayit,Jim.”
Sohesays:
“Well,den,disisdewayitlooktome,Huck.
EfitwuzHIMdat‘uzbein’sotfree,enoneerdeboyswuztogitshot,wouldhesay,‘Goonensaveme,nemmine‘boutadoctorf’rtosavedisone?’IsdatlikeMarsTomSawyer?Wouldhesaydat?YouBEThewouldn’t!WELL,den,isJIMgywnetosayit?
No,sah–Idoan’budgeastepout’ndisplace‘doutaDOCTOR,notifit’sfortyyear!”
Iknowedhewaswhiteinside,andIreckonedhe’dsaywhathedidsay–soitwasallrightnow,andItoldTomIwasa-goingforadoctor.
Heraisedconsiderablerowaboutit,butmeandJimstucktoitandwouldn’tbudge;sohewasforcrawlingoutandsettingtheraftloosehimself;butwewouldn’tlethim.
Thenhegiveusapieceofhismind,butitdidn’tdonogood.
Sowhenheseesmegettingthecanoeready,hesays:
“Well,then,ifyoureboundtogo,I’lltellyouthewaytodowhenyougettothevillage.
Shutthedoorandblindfoldthedoctortightandfast,andmakehimsweartobesilentasthegrave,andputapursefullofgoldinhishand,andthentakeandleadhimallaroundthebackalleysandeverywheresinthedark,andthenfetchhimhereinthecanoe,inaroundaboutwayamongsttheislands,andsearchhimandtakehischalkawayfromhim,anddon’tgiveitbacktohimtillyougethimbacktothevillage,orelsehewillchalkthisraftsohecanfinditagain.
It’sthewaytheyalldo.”
SoIsaidIwould,andleft,andJimwastohideinthewoodswhenheseethedoctorcomingtillhewasgoneagain.
Share this article to
FINISH