English
THEfirstthingTomheardonFridaymorningwasagladpieceofnews—JudgeThatcher'sfamilyhadcomebacktotownthenightbefore.
BothInjunJoeandthetreasuresunkintosecondaryimportanceforamoment,andBeckytookthechiefplaceintheboy'sinterest.
Hesawherandtheyhadanexhaustinggoodtimeplaying"hi–spy"and"gully–keeper"withacrowdoftheirschool–mates.
Thedaywascompletedandcrownedinapeculiarlysatisfactoryway:Beckyteasedhermothertoappointthenextdayforthelong–promisedandlong–delayedpicnic,andsheconsented.
Thechild'sdelightwasboundless;andTom'snotmoremoderate.
Theinvitationsweresentoutbeforesunset,andstraightwaytheyoungfolksofthevillagewerethrownintoafeverofpreparationandpleasurableanticipation.
Tom'sexcitementenabledhimtokeepawakeuntilaprettylatehour,andhehadgoodhopesofhearingHuck's"maow,"andofhavinghistreasuretoastonishBeckyandthepicnickerswith,nextday;buthewasdisappointed.Nosignalcamethatnight.
Morningcame,eventually,andbytenoreleveno'clockagiddyandrollickingcompanyweregatheredatJudgeThatcher's,andeverythingwasreadyforastart.
Itwasnotthecustomforelderlypeopletomarthepicnicswiththeirpresence.
Thechildrenwereconsideredsafeenoughunderthewingsofafewyoungladiesofeighteenandafewyounggentlemenoftwenty–threeorthereabouts.
Theoldsteamferryboatwascharteredfortheoccasion;presentlythegaythrongfiledupthemainstreetladenwithprovision–baskets.
Sidwassickandhadtomissthefun;Maryremainedathometoentertainhim.
ThelastthingMrs.ThatchersaidtoBecky,was:
"You'llnotgetbacktilllate.Perhapsyou'dbetterstayallnightwithsomeofthegirlsthatliveneartheferry–landing,child."
"ThenI'llstaywithSusyHarper,mamma."
"Verywell.Andmindandbehaveyourselfanddon'tbeanytrouble."
Presently,astheytrippedalong,TomsaidtoBecky:
"Say—I'lltellyouwhatwe'lldo.'SteadofgoingtoJoeHarper'swe'llclimbrightupthehillandstopattheWidowDouglas'.She'llhaveice–cream!
Shehasitmosteveryday—deadloadsofit.Andshe'llbeawfulgladtohaveus."
"Oh,thatwillbefun!"
ThenBeckyreflectedamomentandsaid:
"Butwhatwillmammasay?"
"How'llsheeverknow?"
Thegirlturnedtheideaoverinhermind,andsaidreluctantly:
"Ireckonit'swrong—but—"
"Butshucks!Yourmotherwon'tknow,andsowhat'stheharm?Allshewantsisthatyou'llbesafe;andIbetyoushe'd'a'saidgothereifshe'd'a'thoughtofit.Iknowshewould!"
TheWidowDouglas'splendidhospitalitywasatemptingbait.
ItandTom'spersuasionspresentlycarriedtheday.
Soitwasdecidedtosaynothinganybodyaboutthenight'sprogramme.
PresentlyitoccurredtoTomthatmaybeHuckmightcomethisverynightandgivethesignal.
Thethoughttookadealofthespiritoutofhisanticipations.
StillhecouldnotbeartogiveupthefunatWidowDouglas'.
Andwhyshouldhegiveitup,hereasoned—thesignaldidnotcomethenightbefore,sowhyshoulditbeanymorelikelytocometo–night?
Thesurefunoftheeveningoutweighedtheuncertaintreasure;and,boy–like,hedeterminedtoyieldtothestrongerinclinationandnotallowhimselftothinkoftheboxofmoneyanothertimethatday.
Threemilesbelowtowntheferryboatstoppedatthemouthofawoodyhollowandtiedup.
Thecrowdswarmedashoreandsoontheforestdistancesandcraggyheightsechoedfarandnearwithshoutingsandlaughter.
Allthedifferentwaysofgettinghotandtiredweregonethroughwith,andby–and–bytheroversstraggledbacktocampfortifiedwithresponsibleappetites,andthenthedestructionofthegoodthingsbegan.
Afterthefeasttherewasarefreshingseasonofrestandchatintheshadeofspreadingoaks.By–and–bysomebodyshouted:
"Who'sreadyforthecave?"
Everybodywas.Bundlesofcandleswereprocured,andstraightwaytherewasageneralscamperupthehill.
Themouthofthecavewasupthehillside—anopeningshapedlikealetterA.Itsmassiveoakendoorstoodunbarred.
Withinwasasmallchamber,chillyasanice–house,andwalledbyNaturewithsolidlimestonethatwasdewywithacoldsweat.
Itwasromanticandmysterioustostandhereinthedeepgloomandlookoutuponthegreenvalleyshininginthesun.
Buttheimpressivenessofthesituationquicklyworeoff,andtherompingbeganagain.
Themomentacandlewaslightedtherewasageneralrushupontheownerofit;astruggleandagallantdefencefollowed,butthecandlewassoonknockeddownorblownout,andthentherewasagladclamoroflaughterandanewchase.Butallthingshaveanend.
By–and–bytheprocessionwentfilingdownthesteepdescentofthemainavenue,theflickeringrankoflightsdimlyrevealingtheloftywallsofrockalmosttotheirpointofjunctionsixtyfeetoverhead.
Thismainavenuewasnotmorethaneightortenfeetwide.
Everyfewstepsotherloftyandstillnarrowercrevicesbranchedfromitoneitherhand—forMcDougal'scavewasbutavastlabyrinthofcrookedaislesthatranintoeachotherandoutagainandlednowhere.
Itwassaidthatonemightwanderdaysandnightstogetherthroughitsintricatetangleofriftsandchasms,andneverfindtheendofthecave;andthathemightgodown,anddown,andstilldown,intotheearth,anditwasjustthesame—labyrinthunderlabyrinth,andnoendtoanyofthem.Noman"knew"thecave.Thatwasanimpossiblething.
Mostoftheyoungmenknewaportionofit,anditwasnotcustomarytoventuremuchbeyondthisknownportion.
TomSawyerknewasmuchofthecaveasanyone.
Theprocessionmovedalongthemainavenuesomethree–quartersofamile,andthengroupsandcouplesbegantoslipasideintobranchavenues,flyalongthedismalcorridors,andtakeeachotherbysurpriseatpointswherethecorridorsjoinedagain.
Partieswereabletoeludeeachotherforthespaceofhalfanhourwithoutgoingbeyondthe"known"ground.
By–and–by,onegroupafteranothercamestragglingbacktothemouthofthecave,panting,hilarious,smearedfromheadtofootwithtallowdrippings,daubedwithclay,andentirelydelightedwiththesuccessoftheday.
Thentheywereastonishedtofindthattheyhadbeentakingnonoteoftimeandthatnightwasaboutathand.
Theclangingbellhadbeencallingforhalfanhour.
However,thissortofclosetotheday'sadventureswasromanticandthereforesatisfactory.
Whentheferryboatwithherwildfreightpushedintothestream,nobodycaredsixpenceforthewastedtimebutthecaptainofthecraft.
Huckwasalreadyuponhiswatchwhentheferryboat'slightswentglintingpastthewharf.
Heheardnonoiseonboard,fortheyoungpeoplewereassubduedandstillaspeopleusuallyarewhoarenearlytiredtodeath.
Hewonderedwhatboatitwas,andwhyshedidnotstopatthewharf—andthenhedroppedheroutofhismindandputhisattentionuponhisbusiness.Thenightwasgrowingcloudyanddark.
Teno'clockcame,andthenoiseofvehiclesceased,scatteredlightsbegantowinkout,allstragglingfoot–passengersdisappeared,thevillagebetookitselftoitsslumbersandleftthesmallwatcheralonewiththesilenceandtheghosts.
Eleveno'clockcame,andthetavernlightswereputout;darknesseverywhere,now.
Huckwaitedwhatseemedawearylongtime,butnothinghappened.Hisfaithwasweakening.Wasthereanyuse?Wastherereallyanyuse?Whynotgiveitupandturnin?
Anoisefelluponhisear.Hewasallattentioninaninstant.Thealleydoorclosedsoftly.
Hesprangtothecornerofthebrickstore.
Thenextmomenttwomenbrushedbyhim,andoneseemedtohavesomethingunderhisarm.Itmustbethatbox!
Sotheyweregoingtoremovethetreasure.WhycallTomnow?
Itwouldbeabsurd—themenwouldgetawaywiththeboxandneverbefoundagain.
No,hewouldsticktotheirwakeandfollowthem;hewouldtrusttothedarknessforsecurityfromdiscovery.
Socommuningwithhimself,Hucksteppedoutandglidedalongbehindthemen,cat–like,withbarefeet,allowingthemtokeepjustfarenoughaheadnottobeinvisible.
Theymoveduptheriverstreetthreeblocks,thenturnedtotheleftupacross–street.
Theywentstraightahead,then,untiltheycametothepaththatledupCardiffHill;thistheytook.
TheypassedbytheoldWelshman'shouse,half–wayupthehill,withouthesitating,andstillclimbedupward.
Good,thoughtHuck,theywillburyitintheoldquarry.Buttheyneverstoppedatthequarry.Theypassedon,upthesummit.
Theyplungedintothenarrowpathbetweenthetallsumachbushes,andwereatoncehiddeninthegloom.
Huckclosedupandshortenedhisdistance,now,fortheywouldneverbeabletoseehim.
Hetrottedalongawhile;thenslackenedhispace,fearinghewasgainingtoofast;movedonapiece,thenstoppedaltogether;listened;nosound;none,savethatheseemedtohearthebeatingofhisownheart.
Thehootingofanowlcameoverthehill—ominoussound!Butnofootsteps.Heavens,waseverythinglost!
Hewasabouttospringwithwingedfeet,whenamanclearedhisthroatnotfourfeetfromhim!
Huck'sheartshotintohisthroat,butheswalloweditagain;andthenhestoodthereshakingasifadozenagueshadtakenchargeofhimatonce,andsoweakthathethoughthemustsurelyfalltotheground.Heknewwherehewas.
HeknewhewaswithinfivestepsofthestileleadingintoWidowDouglas'grounds.
Verywell,hethought,letthemburyitthere;itwon'tbehardtofind.
Nowtherewasavoice—averylowvoice—InjunJoe's:
"Damnher,maybeshe'sgotcompany—there'slights,lateasitis."
"Ican'tseeany."
Thiswasthatstranger'svoice—thestrangerofthehauntedhouse.
AdeadlychillwenttoHuck'sheart—this,then,wasthe"revenge"job!Histhoughtwas,tofly.
ThenherememberedthattheWidowDouglashadbeenkindtohimmorethanonce,andmaybethesemenweregoingtomurderher.
Hewishedhedaredventuretowarnher;butheknewhedidn'tdare—theymightcomeandcatchhim.
Hethoughtallthisandmoreinthemomentthatelapsedbetweenthestranger'sremarkandInjunJoe'snext—whichwas—
"Becausethebushisinyourway.Now—thisway—nowyousee,don'tyou?"
"Yes.Well,thereIScompanythere,Ireckon.Bettergiveitup."
"Giveitup,andIjustleavingthiscountryforever!
Giveitupandmaybeneverhaveanotherchance.
Itellyouagain,asI'vetoldyoubefore,Idon'tcareforherswag—youmayhaveit.
Butherhusbandwasroughonme—manytimeshewasroughonme—andmainlyhewasthejusticeofthepeacethatjuggedmeforavagrant.Andthatain'tall.Itain'tamillionthpartofit!HehadmeHORSEWHIPPED!
—horsewhippedinfrontofthejail,likeanigger!—withallthetownlookingon!HORSEWHIPPED!—doyouunderstand?Hetookadvantageofmeanddied.ButI'lltakeitoutofHER."
"Oh,don'tkillher!Don'tdothat!"
"Kill?Whosaidanythingaboutkilling?
IwouldkillHIMifhewashere;butnother.
Whenyouwanttogetrevengeonawomanyoudon'tkillher—bosh!yougoforherlooks.
Youslithernostrils—younotchherearslikeasow!"
"ByGod,that's—"
"Keepyouropiniontoyourself!Itwillbesafestforyou.I'lltiehertothebed.
Ifshebleedstodeath,isthatmyfault?I'llnotcry,ifshedoes.
Myfriend,you'llhelpmeinthisthing—forMYsake—that'swhyyou'rehere—Imightn'tbeablealone.Ifyouflinch,I'llkillyou.Doyouunderstandthat?
AndifIhavetokillyou,I'llkillher—andthenIreckonnobody'lleverknowmuchaboutwhodonethisbusiness."
"Well,ifit'sgottobedone,let'sgetatit.Thequickerthebetter—I'mallinashiver."
"DoitNOW?Andcompanythere?Lookhere—I'llgetsuspiciousofyou,firstthingyouknow.No—we'llwaittillthelightsareout—there'snohurry."
Huckfeltthatasilencewasgoingtoensue—athingstillmoreawfulthananyamountofmurderoustalk;soheheldhisbreathandsteppedgingerlyback;plantedhisfootcarefullyandfirmly,afterbalancing,one–legged,inaprecariouswayandalmosttopplingover,firstononesideandthenontheother.
Hetookanotherstepback,withthesameelaborationandthesamerisks;thenanotherandanother,and—atwigsnappedunderhisfoot!Hisbreathstoppedandhelistened.
Therewasnosound—thestillnesswasperfect.Hisgratitudewasmeasureless.
Nowheturnedinhistracks,betweenthewallsofsumachbushes—turnedhimselfascarefullyasifhewereaship—andthensteppedquicklybutcautiouslyalong.
Whenheemergedatthequarryhefeltsecure,andsohepickeduphisnimbleheelsandflew.
Down,downhesped,tillhereachedtheWelshman's.
Hebangedatthedoor,andpresentlytheheadsoftheoldmanandhistwostalwartsonswerethrustfromwindows.
"What'stherowthere?Who'sbanging?Whatdoyouwant?"
"Letmein—quick!I'lltelleverything."
"Why,whoareyou?"
"HuckleberryFinn—quick,letmein!"
"HuckleberryFinn,indeed!Itain'tanametoopenmanydoors,Ijudge!Butlethimin,lads,andlet'sseewhat'sthetrouble."
"Pleasedon'tevertellItoldyou,"wereHuck'sfirstwordswhenhegotin.
"Pleasedon't—I'dbekilled,sure—butthewidow'sbeengoodfriendstomesometimes,andIwanttotell—IWILLtellifyou'llpromiseyouwon'teversayitwasme."
"ByGeorge,heHASgotsomethingtotell,orhewouldn'tactso!"exclaimedtheoldman;"outwithitandnobodyhere'llevertell,lad."
Threeminuteslatertheoldmanandhissons,wellarmed,wereupthehill,andjustenteringthesumachpathontiptoe,theirweaponsintheirhands.Huckaccompaniedthemnofurther.
Hehidbehindagreatbowlderandfelltolistening.
Therewasalagging,anxioussilence,andthenallofasuddentherewasanexplosionoffirearmsandacry.
Huckwaitedfornoparticulars.Hesprangawayandspeddownthehillasfastashislegscouldcarryhim.
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