Reading Help Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain Ch.I-XV
"Hucky, do you believe the dead people like it for us to be here?" `
` `
` Huckleberry whispered: `
` `
` "I wisht I knowed. It's awful solemn like, AIN'T it?" `
` `
` "I bet it is." `
` `
` There was a considerable pause, while the boys canvassed this matter `
` inwardly. Then Tom whispered: `
` `
` "Say, Hucky--do you reckon Hoss Williams hears us talking?" `
` `
` "O' course he does. Least his sperrit does." `
` `
` Tom, after a pause: `
` `
` "I wish I'd said Mister Williams. But I never meant any harm. `
` Everybody calls him Hoss." `
` `
` "A body can't be too partic'lar how they talk 'bout these-yer dead `
` people, Tom." `
` `
` This was a damper, and conversation died again. `
` `
` Presently Tom seized his comrade's arm and said: `
` `
` "Sh!" `
` `
` "What is it, Tom?" And the two clung together with beating hearts. `
` `
` "Sh! There 'tis again! Didn't you hear it?" `
` `
` "I--" `
` `
` "There! Now you hear it." `
` `
` "Lord, Tom, they're coming! They're coming, sure. What'll we do?" `
` `
` "I dono. Think they'll see us?" `
` `
` "Oh, Tom, they can see in the dark, same as cats. I wisht I hadn't `
` come." `
` `
` "Oh, don't be afeard. I don't believe they'll bother us. We ain't `
` doing any harm. If we keep perfectly still, maybe they won't notice us `
` at all." `
` `
` "I'll try to, Tom, but, Lord, I'm all of a shiver." `
` `
` "Listen!" `
` `
` The boys bent their heads together and scarcely breathed. A muffled `
` sound of voices floated up from the far end of the graveyard. `
` `
` "Look! See there!" whispered Tom. "What is it?" `
` `
` "It's devil-fire. Oh, Tom, this is awful." `
` `
` Some vague figures approached through the gloom, swinging an `
` old-fashioned tin lantern that freckled the ground with innumerable `
` little spangles of light. Presently Huckleberry whispered with a `
` shudder: `
` `
` "It's the devils sure enough. Three of 'em! Lordy, Tom, we're goners! `
` Can you pray?" `
` `
` "I'll try, but don't you be afeard. They ain't going to hurt us. 'Now `
` I lay me down to sleep, I--'" `
` `
` "Sh!" `
` `
` "What is it, Huck?" `
` `
` "They're HUMANS! One of 'em is, anyway. One of 'em's old Muff Potter's `
` voice." `
` `
` "No--'tain't so, is it?" `
` `
` "I bet I know it. Don't you stir nor budge. He ain't sharp enough to `
` notice us. Drunk, the same as usual, likely--blamed old rip!" `
` `
` "All right, I'll keep still. Now they're stuck. Can't find it. Here `
` they come again. Now they're hot. Cold again. Hot again. Red hot! `
` They're p'inted right, this time. Say, Huck, I know another o' them `
` voices; it's Injun Joe." `
` `
` "That's so--that murderin' half-breed! I'd druther they was devils a `
` dern sight. What kin they be up to?" `
` `
` The whisper died wholly out, now, for the three men had reached the `
` grave and stood within a few feet of the boys' hiding-place. `
` `
` "Here it is," said the third voice; and the owner of it held the `
` lantern up and revealed the face of young Doctor Robinson. `
` `
` Potter and Injun Joe were carrying a handbarrow with a rope and a `
` couple of shovels on it. They cast down their load and began to open `
` the grave. The doctor put the lantern at the head of the grave and came `
` and sat down with his back against one of the elm trees. He was so `
` close the boys could have touched him. `
` `
` "Hurry, men!" he said, in a low voice; "the moon might come out at any `
` moment." `
` `
` They growled a response and went on digging. For some time there was `
` no noise but the grating sound of the spades discharging their freight `
` of mould and gravel. It was very monotonous. Finally a spade struck `
` upon the coffin with a dull woody accent, and within another minute or `
` two the men had hoisted it out on the ground. They pried off the lid `
` with their shovels, got out the body and dumped it rudely on the `
` ground. The moon drifted from behind the clouds and exposed the pallid `
` face. The barrow was got ready and the corpse placed on it, covered `
` with a blanket, and bound to its place with the rope. Potter took out a `
` large spring-knife and cut off the dangling end of the rope and then `
` said: `
` `
` "Now the cussed thing's ready, Sawbones, and you'll just out with `
` another five, or here she stays." `
` `
` "That's the talk!" said Injun Joe. `
` `
` "Look here, what does this mean?" said the doctor. "You required your `
` pay in advance, and I've paid you." `
` `
` "Yes, and you done more than that," said Injun Joe, approaching the `
` doctor, who was now standing. "Five years ago you drove me away from `
` your father's kitchen one night, when I come to ask for something to `
` eat, and you said I warn't there for any good; and when I swore I'd get `
` even with you if it took a hundred years, your father had me jailed for `
` a vagrant. Did you think I'd forget? The Injun blood ain't in me for `
` nothing. And now I've GOT you, and you got to SETTLE, you know!" `
` `
` He was threatening the doctor, with his fist in his face, by this `
` time. The doctor struck out suddenly and stretched the ruffian on the `
` ground. Potter dropped his knife, and exclaimed: `
` `
` "Here, now, don't you hit my pard!" and the next moment he had `
` grappled with the doctor and the two were struggling with might and `
` main, trampling the grass and tearing the ground with their heels. `
` Injun Joe sprang to his feet, his eyes flaming with passion, snatched `
` up Potter's knife, and went creeping, catlike and stooping, round and `
` round about the combatants, seeking an opportunity. All at once the `
` doctor flung himself free, seized the heavy headboard of Williams' `
` grave and felled Potter to the earth with it--and in the same instant `
` the half-breed saw his chance and drove the knife to the hilt in the `
` young man's breast. He reeled and fell partly upon Potter, flooding him `
` with his blood, and in the same moment the clouds blotted out the `
` dreadful spectacle and the two frightened boys went speeding away in `
` the dark. `
` `
` Presently, when the moon emerged again, Injun Joe was standing over `
` the two forms, contemplating them. The doctor murmured inarticulately, `
` gave a long gasp or two and was still. The half-breed muttered: `
` `
` "THAT score is settled--damn you." `
` `
` Then he robbed the body. After which he put the fatal knife in `
` Potter's open right hand, and sat down on the dismantled coffin. Three `
` --four--five minutes passed, and then Potter began to stir and moan. His `
` hand closed upon the knife; he raised it, glanced at it, and let it `
` fall, with a shudder. Then he sat up, pushing the body from him, and `
` gazed at it, and then around him, confusedly. His eyes met Joe's. `
` `
` "Lord, how is this, Joe?" he said. `
` `
` "It's a dirty business," said Joe, without moving. `
` `
` "What did you do it for?" `
` `
` "I! I never done it!" `
` `
` "Look here! That kind of talk won't wash." `
` `
` Potter trembled and grew white. `
` `
` "I thought I'd got sober. I'd no business to drink to-night. But it's `
` in my head yet--worse'n when we started here. I'm all in a muddle; `
` can't recollect anything of it, hardly. Tell me, Joe--HONEST, now, old `
` feller--did I do it? Joe, I never meant to--'pon my soul and honor, I `
` never meant to, Joe. Tell me how it was, Joe. Oh, it's awful--and him `
` so young and promising." `
` `
` "Why, you two was scuffling, and he fetched you one with the headboard `
` and you fell flat; and then up you come, all reeling and staggering `
` like, and snatched the knife and jammed it into him, just as he fetched `
` you another awful clip--and here you've laid, as dead as a wedge til `
` now." `
` `
` "Oh, I didn't know what I was a-doing. I wish I may die this minute if `
` I did. It was all on account of the whiskey and the excitement, I `
` reckon. I never used a weepon in my life before, Joe. I've fought, but `
` never with weepons. They'll all say that. Joe, don't tell! Say you `
` won't tell, Joe--that's a good feller. I always liked you, Joe, and `
` stood up for you, too. Don't you remember? You WON'T tell, WILL you, `
` Joe?" And the poor creature dropped on his knees before the stolid `
` murderer, and clasped his appealing hands. `
` `
` "No, you've always been fair and square with me, Muff Potter, and I `
` won't go back on you. There, now, that's as fair as a man can say." `
` `
`
` `
` Huckleberry whispered: `
` `
` "I wisht I knowed. It's awful solemn like, AIN'T it?" `
` `
` "I bet it is." `
` `
` There was a considerable pause, while the boys canvassed this matter `
` inwardly. Then Tom whispered: `
` `
` "Say, Hucky--do you reckon Hoss Williams hears us talking?" `
` `
` "O' course he does. Least his sperrit does." `
` `
` Tom, after a pause: `
` `
` "I wish I'd said Mister Williams. But I never meant any harm. `
` Everybody calls him Hoss." `
` `
` "A body can't be too partic'lar how they talk 'bout these-yer dead `
` people, Tom." `
` `
` This was a damper, and conversation died again. `
` `
` Presently Tom seized his comrade's arm and said: `
` `
` "Sh!" `
` `
` "What is it, Tom?" And the two clung together with beating hearts. `
` `
` "Sh! There 'tis again! Didn't you hear it?" `
` `
` "I--" `
` `
` "There! Now you hear it." `
` `
` "Lord, Tom, they're coming! They're coming, sure. What'll we do?" `
` `
` "I dono. Think they'll see us?" `
` `
` "Oh, Tom, they can see in the dark, same as cats. I wisht I hadn't `
` come." `
` `
` "Oh, don't be afeard. I don't believe they'll bother us. We ain't `
` doing any harm. If we keep perfectly still, maybe they won't notice us `
` at all." `
` `
` "I'll try to, Tom, but, Lord, I'm all of a shiver." `
` `
` "Listen!" `
` `
` The boys bent their heads together and scarcely breathed. A muffled `
` sound of voices floated up from the far end of the graveyard. `
` `
` "Look! See there!" whispered Tom. "What is it?" `
` `
` "It's devil-fire. Oh, Tom, this is awful." `
` `
` Some vague figures approached through the gloom, swinging an `
` old-fashioned tin lantern that freckled the ground with innumerable `
` little spangles of light. Presently Huckleberry whispered with a `
` shudder: `
` `
` "It's the devils sure enough. Three of 'em! Lordy, Tom, we're goners! `
` Can you pray?" `
` `
` "I'll try, but don't you be afeard. They ain't going to hurt us. 'Now `
` I lay me down to sleep, I--'" `
` `
` "Sh!" `
` `
` "What is it, Huck?" `
` `
` "They're HUMANS! One of 'em is, anyway. One of 'em's old Muff Potter's `
` voice." `
` `
` "No--'tain't so, is it?" `
` `
` "I bet I know it. Don't you stir nor budge. He ain't sharp enough to `
` notice us. Drunk, the same as usual, likely--blamed old rip!" `
` `
` "All right, I'll keep still. Now they're stuck. Can't find it. Here `
` they come again. Now they're hot. Cold again. Hot again. Red hot! `
` They're p'inted right, this time. Say, Huck, I know another o' them `
` voices; it's Injun Joe." `
` `
` "That's so--that murderin' half-breed! I'd druther they was devils a `
` dern sight. What kin they be up to?" `
` `
` The whisper died wholly out, now, for the three men had reached the `
` grave and stood within a few feet of the boys' hiding-place. `
` `
` "Here it is," said the third voice; and the owner of it held the `
` lantern up and revealed the face of young Doctor Robinson. `
` `
` Potter and Injun Joe were carrying a handbarrow with a rope and a `
` couple of shovels on it. They cast down their load and began to open `
` the grave. The doctor put the lantern at the head of the grave and came `
` and sat down with his back against one of the elm trees. He was so `
` close the boys could have touched him. `
` `
` "Hurry, men!" he said, in a low voice; "the moon might come out at any `
` moment." `
` `
` They growled a response and went on digging. For some time there was `
` no noise but the grating sound of the spades discharging their freight `
` of mould and gravel. It was very monotonous. Finally a spade struck `
` upon the coffin with a dull woody accent, and within another minute or `
` two the men had hoisted it out on the ground. They pried off the lid `
` with their shovels, got out the body and dumped it rudely on the `
` ground. The moon drifted from behind the clouds and exposed the pallid `
` face. The barrow was got ready and the corpse placed on it, covered `
` with a blanket, and bound to its place with the rope. Potter took out a `
` large spring-knife and cut off the dangling end of the rope and then `
` said: `
` `
` "Now the cussed thing's ready, Sawbones, and you'll just out with `
` another five, or here she stays." `
` `
` "That's the talk!" said Injun Joe. `
` `
` "Look here, what does this mean?" said the doctor. "You required your `
` pay in advance, and I've paid you." `
` `
` "Yes, and you done more than that," said Injun Joe, approaching the `
` doctor, who was now standing. "Five years ago you drove me away from `
` your father's kitchen one night, when I come to ask for something to `
` eat, and you said I warn't there for any good; and when I swore I'd get `
` even with you if it took a hundred years, your father had me jailed for `
` a vagrant. Did you think I'd forget? The Injun blood ain't in me for `
` nothing. And now I've GOT you, and you got to SETTLE, you know!" `
` `
` He was threatening the doctor, with his fist in his face, by this `
` time. The doctor struck out suddenly and stretched the ruffian on the `
` ground. Potter dropped his knife, and exclaimed: `
` `
` "Here, now, don't you hit my pard!" and the next moment he had `
` grappled with the doctor and the two were struggling with might and `
` main, trampling the grass and tearing the ground with their heels. `
` Injun Joe sprang to his feet, his eyes flaming with passion, snatched `
` up Potter's knife, and went creeping, catlike and stooping, round and `
` round about the combatants, seeking an opportunity. All at once the `
` doctor flung himself free, seized the heavy headboard of Williams' `
` grave and felled Potter to the earth with it--and in the same instant `
` the half-breed saw his chance and drove the knife to the hilt in the `
` young man's breast. He reeled and fell partly upon Potter, flooding him `
` with his blood, and in the same moment the clouds blotted out the `
` dreadful spectacle and the two frightened boys went speeding away in `
` the dark. `
` `
` Presently, when the moon emerged again, Injun Joe was standing over `
` the two forms, contemplating them. The doctor murmured inarticulately, `
` gave a long gasp or two and was still. The half-breed muttered: `
` `
` "THAT score is settled--damn you." `
` `
` Then he robbed the body. After which he put the fatal knife in `
` Potter's open right hand, and sat down on the dismantled coffin. Three `
` --four--five minutes passed, and then Potter began to stir and moan. His `
` hand closed upon the knife; he raised it, glanced at it, and let it `
` fall, with a shudder. Then he sat up, pushing the body from him, and `
` gazed at it, and then around him, confusedly. His eyes met Joe's. `
` `
` "Lord, how is this, Joe?" he said. `
` `
` "It's a dirty business," said Joe, without moving. `
` `
` "What did you do it for?" `
` `
` "I! I never done it!" `
` `
` "Look here! That kind of talk won't wash." `
` `
` Potter trembled and grew white. `
` `
` "I thought I'd got sober. I'd no business to drink to-night. But it's `
` in my head yet--worse'n when we started here. I'm all in a muddle; `
` can't recollect anything of it, hardly. Tell me, Joe--HONEST, now, old `
` feller--did I do it? Joe, I never meant to--'pon my soul and honor, I `
` never meant to, Joe. Tell me how it was, Joe. Oh, it's awful--and him `
` so young and promising." `
` `
` "Why, you two was scuffling, and he fetched you one with the headboard `
` and you fell flat; and then up you come, all reeling and staggering `
` like, and snatched the knife and jammed it into him, just as he fetched `
` you another awful clip--and here you've laid, as dead as a wedge til `
` now." `
` `
` "Oh, I didn't know what I was a-doing. I wish I may die this minute if `
` I did. It was all on account of the whiskey and the excitement, I `
` reckon. I never used a weepon in my life before, Joe. I've fought, but `
` never with weepons. They'll all say that. Joe, don't tell! Say you `
` won't tell, Joe--that's a good feller. I always liked you, Joe, and `
` stood up for you, too. Don't you remember? You WON'T tell, WILL you, `
` Joe?" And the poor creature dropped on his knees before the stolid `
` murderer, and clasped his appealing hands. `
` `
` "No, you've always been fair and square with me, Muff Potter, and I `
` won't go back on you. There, now, that's as fair as a man can say." `
` `
`