Reading Help Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain Ch.I-XV
`
` "Oh, Joe, you're an angel. I'll bless you for this the longest day I `
` live." And Potter began to cry. `
` `
` "Come, now, that's enough of that. This ain't any time for blubbering. `
` You be off yonder way and I'll go this. Move, now, and don't leave any `
` tracks behind you." `
` `
` Potter started on a trot that quickly increased to a run. The `
` half-breed stood looking after him. He muttered: `
` `
` "If he's as much stunned with the lick and fuddled with the rum as he `
` had the look of being, he won't think of the knife till he's gone so `
` far he'll be afraid to come back after it to such a place by himself `
` --chicken-heart!" `
` `
` Two or three minutes later the murdered man, the blanketed corpse, the `
` lidless coffin, and the open grave were under no inspection but the `
` moon's. The stillness was complete again, too. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER X `
` `
` THE two boys flew on and on, toward the village, speechless with `
` horror. They glanced backward over their shoulders from time to time, `
` apprehensively, as if they feared they might be followed. Every stump `
` that started up in their path seemed a man and an enemy, and made them `
` catch their breath; and as they sped by some outlying cottages that lay `
` near the village, the barking of the aroused watch-dogs seemed to give `
` wings to their feet. `
` `
` "If we can only get to the old tannery before we break down!" `
` whispered Tom, in short catches between breaths. "I can't stand it much `
` longer." `
` `
` Huckleberry's hard pantings were his only reply, and the boys fixed `
` their eyes on the goal of their hopes and bent to their work to win it. `
` They gained steadily on it, and at last, breast to breast, they burst `
` through the open door and fell grateful and exhausted in the sheltering `
` shadows beyond. By and by their pulses slowed down, and Tom whispered: `
` `
` "Huckleberry, what do you reckon'll come of this?" `
` `
` "If Doctor Robinson dies, I reckon hanging'll come of it." `
` `
` "Do you though?" `
` `
` "Why, I KNOW it, Tom." `
` `
` Tom thought a while, then he said: `
` `
` "Who'll tell? We?" `
` `
` "What are you talking about? S'pose something happened and Injun Joe `
` DIDN'T hang? Why, he'd kill us some time or other, just as dead sure as `
` we're a laying here." `
` `
` "That's just what I was thinking to myself, Huck." `
` `
` "If anybody tells, let Muff Potter do it, if he's fool enough. He's `
` generally drunk enough." `
` `
` Tom said nothing--went on thinking. Presently he whispered: `
` `
` "Huck, Muff Potter don't know it. How can he tell?" `
` `
` "What's the reason he don't know it?" `
` `
` "Because he'd just got that whack when Injun Joe done it. D'you reckon `
` he could see anything? D'you reckon he knowed anything?" `
` `
` "By hokey, that's so, Tom!" `
` `
` "And besides, look-a-here--maybe that whack done for HIM!" `
` `
` "No, 'taint likely, Tom. He had liquor in him; I could see that; and `
` besides, he always has. Well, when pap's full, you might take and belt `
` him over the head with a church and you couldn't phase him. He says so, `
` his own self. So it's the same with Muff Potter, of course. But if a `
` man was dead sober, I reckon maybe that whack might fetch him; I dono." `
` `
` After another reflective silence, Tom said: `
` `
` "Hucky, you sure you can keep mum?" `
` `
` "Tom, we GOT to keep mum. You know that. That Injun devil wouldn't `
` make any more of drownding us than a couple of cats, if we was to `
` squeak 'bout this and they didn't hang him. Now, look-a-here, Tom, less `
` take and swear to one another--that's what we got to do--swear to keep `
` mum." `
` `
` "I'm agreed. It's the best thing. Would you just hold hands and swear `
` that we--" `
` `
` "Oh no, that wouldn't do for this. That's good enough for little `
` rubbishy common things--specially with gals, cuz THEY go back on you `
` anyway, and blab if they get in a huff--but there orter be writing `
` 'bout a big thing like this. And blood." `
` `
` Tom's whole being applauded this idea. It was deep, and dark, and `
` awful; the hour, the circumstances, the surroundings, were in keeping `
` with it. He picked up a clean pine shingle that lay in the moonlight, `
` took a little fragment of "red keel" out of his pocket, got the moon on `
` his work, and painfully scrawled these lines, emphasizing each slow `
` down-stroke by clamping his tongue between his teeth, and letting up `
` the pressure on the up-strokes. [See next page.] `
` `
` "Huck Finn and `
` Tom Sawyer swears `
` they will keep mum `
` about This and They `
` wish They may Drop `
` down dead in Their `
` Tracks if They ever `
` Tell and Rot." `
` `
` Huckleberry was filled with admiration of Tom's facility in writing, `
` and the sublimity of his language. He at once took a pin from his lapel `
` and was going to prick his flesh, but Tom said: `
` `
` "Hold on! Don't do that. A pin's brass. It might have verdigrease on `
` it." `
` `
` "What's verdigrease?" `
` `
` "It's p'ison. That's what it is. You just swaller some of it once `
` --you'll see." `
` `
` So Tom unwound the thread from one of his needles, and each boy `
` pricked the ball of his thumb and squeezed out a drop of blood. In `
` time, after many squeezes, Tom managed to sign his initials, using the `
` ball of his little finger for a pen. Then he showed Huckleberry how to `
` make an H and an F, and the oath was complete. They buried the shingle `
` close to the wall, with some dismal ceremonies and incantations, and `
` the fetters that bound their tongues were considered to be locked and `
` the key thrown away. `
` `
` A figure crept stealthily through a break in the other end of the `
` ruined building, now, but they did not notice it. `
` `
` "Tom," whispered Huckleberry, "does this keep us from EVER telling `
` --ALWAYS?" `
` `
` "Of course it does. It don't make any difference WHAT happens, we got `
` to keep mum. We'd drop down dead--don't YOU know that?" `
` `
` "Yes, I reckon that's so." `
` `
` They continued to whisper for some little time. Presently a dog set up `
` a long, lugubrious howl just outside--within ten feet of them. The boys `
` clasped each other suddenly, in an agony of fright. `
` `
` "Which of us does he mean?" gasped Huckleberry. `
` `
` "I dono--peep through the crack. Quick!" `
` `
` "No, YOU, Tom!" `
` `
` "I can't--I can't DO it, Huck!" `
` `
` "Please, Tom. There 'tis again!" `
` `
` "Oh, lordy, I'm thankful!" whispered Tom. "I know his voice. It's Bull `
` Harbison." * `
` `
` [* If Mr. Harbison owned a slave named Bull, Tom would have spoken of `
` him as "Harbison's Bull," but a son or a dog of that name was "Bull `
` Harbison."] `
` `
` "Oh, that's good--I tell you, Tom, I was most scared to death; I'd a `
` bet anything it was a STRAY dog." `
` `
` The dog howled again. The boys' hearts sank once more. `
` `
` "Oh, my! that ain't no Bull Harbison!" whispered Huckleberry. "DO, Tom!" `
` `
` Tom, quaking with fear, yielded, and put his eye to the crack. His `
` whisper was hardly audible when he said: `
` `
` "Oh, Huck, IT S A STRAY DOG!" `
` `
` "Quick, Tom, quick! Who does he mean?" `
` `
` "Huck, he must mean us both--we're right together." `
` `
` "Oh, Tom, I reckon we're goners. I reckon there ain't no mistake 'bout `
` where I'LL go to. I been so wicked." `
` `
` "Dad fetch it! This comes of playing hookey and doing everything a `
` feller's told NOT to do. I might a been good, like Sid, if I'd a tried `
` --but no, I wouldn't, of course. But if ever I get off this time, I lay `
` I'll just WALLER in Sunday-schools!" And Tom began to snuffle a little. `
` `
` "YOU bad!" and Huckleberry began to snuffle too. "Consound it, Tom `
` Sawyer, you're just old pie, 'longside o' what I am. Oh, LORDY, lordy, `
` lordy, I wisht I only had half your chance." `
` `
` Tom choked off and whispered: `
` `
` "Look, Hucky, look! He's got his BACK to us!" `
`
` "Oh, Joe, you're an angel. I'll bless you for this the longest day I `
` live." And Potter began to cry. `
` `
` "Come, now, that's enough of that. This ain't any time for blubbering. `
` You be off yonder way and I'll go this. Move, now, and don't leave any `
` tracks behind you." `
` `
` Potter started on a trot that quickly increased to a run. The `
` half-breed stood looking after him. He muttered: `
` `
` "If he's as much stunned with the lick and fuddled with the rum as he `
` had the look of being, he won't think of the knife till he's gone so `
` far he'll be afraid to come back after it to such a place by himself `
` --chicken-heart!" `
` `
` Two or three minutes later the murdered man, the blanketed corpse, the `
` lidless coffin, and the open grave were under no inspection but the `
` moon's. The stillness was complete again, too. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER X `
` `
` THE two boys flew on and on, toward the village, speechless with `
` horror. They glanced backward over their shoulders from time to time, `
` apprehensively, as if they feared they might be followed. Every stump `
` that started up in their path seemed a man and an enemy, and made them `
` catch their breath; and as they sped by some outlying cottages that lay `
` near the village, the barking of the aroused watch-dogs seemed to give `
` wings to their feet. `
` `
` "If we can only get to the old tannery before we break down!" `
` whispered Tom, in short catches between breaths. "I can't stand it much `
` longer." `
` `
` Huckleberry's hard pantings were his only reply, and the boys fixed `
` their eyes on the goal of their hopes and bent to their work to win it. `
` They gained steadily on it, and at last, breast to breast, they burst `
` through the open door and fell grateful and exhausted in the sheltering `
` shadows beyond. By and by their pulses slowed down, and Tom whispered: `
` `
` "Huckleberry, what do you reckon'll come of this?" `
` `
` "If Doctor Robinson dies, I reckon hanging'll come of it." `
` `
` "Do you though?" `
` `
` "Why, I KNOW it, Tom." `
` `
` Tom thought a while, then he said: `
` `
` "Who'll tell? We?" `
` `
` "What are you talking about? S'pose something happened and Injun Joe `
` DIDN'T hang? Why, he'd kill us some time or other, just as dead sure as `
` we're a laying here." `
` `
` "That's just what I was thinking to myself, Huck." `
` `
` "If anybody tells, let Muff Potter do it, if he's fool enough. He's `
` generally drunk enough." `
` `
` Tom said nothing--went on thinking. Presently he whispered: `
` `
` "Huck, Muff Potter don't know it. How can he tell?" `
` `
` "What's the reason he don't know it?" `
` `
` "Because he'd just got that whack when Injun Joe done it. D'you reckon `
` he could see anything? D'you reckon he knowed anything?" `
` `
` "By hokey, that's so, Tom!" `
` `
` "And besides, look-a-here--maybe that whack done for HIM!" `
` `
` "No, 'taint likely, Tom. He had liquor in him; I could see that; and `
` besides, he always has. Well, when pap's full, you might take and belt `
` him over the head with a church and you couldn't phase him. He says so, `
` his own self. So it's the same with Muff Potter, of course. But if a `
` man was dead sober, I reckon maybe that whack might fetch him; I dono." `
` `
` After another reflective silence, Tom said: `
` `
` "Hucky, you sure you can keep mum?" `
` `
` "Tom, we GOT to keep mum. You know that. That Injun devil wouldn't `
` make any more of drownding us than a couple of cats, if we was to `
` squeak 'bout this and they didn't hang him. Now, look-a-here, Tom, less `
` take and swear to one another--that's what we got to do--swear to keep `
` mum." `
` `
` "I'm agreed. It's the best thing. Would you just hold hands and swear `
` that we--" `
` `
` "Oh no, that wouldn't do for this. That's good enough for little `
` rubbishy common things--specially with gals, cuz THEY go back on you `
` anyway, and blab if they get in a huff--but there orter be writing `
` 'bout a big thing like this. And blood." `
` `
` Tom's whole being applauded this idea. It was deep, and dark, and `
` awful; the hour, the circumstances, the surroundings, were in keeping `
` with it. He picked up a clean pine shingle that lay in the moonlight, `
` took a little fragment of "red keel" out of his pocket, got the moon on `
` his work, and painfully scrawled these lines, emphasizing each slow `
` down-stroke by clamping his tongue between his teeth, and letting up `
` the pressure on the up-strokes. [See next page.] `
` `
` "Huck Finn and `
` Tom Sawyer swears `
` they will keep mum `
` about This and They `
` wish They may Drop `
` down dead in Their `
` Tracks if They ever `
` Tell and Rot." `
` `
` Huckleberry was filled with admiration of Tom's facility in writing, `
` and the sublimity of his language. He at once took a pin from his lapel `
` and was going to prick his flesh, but Tom said: `
` `
` "Hold on! Don't do that. A pin's brass. It might have verdigrease on `
` it." `
` `
` "What's verdigrease?" `
` `
` "It's p'ison. That's what it is. You just swaller some of it once `
` --you'll see." `
` `
` So Tom unwound the thread from one of his needles, and each boy `
` pricked the ball of his thumb and squeezed out a drop of blood. In `
` time, after many squeezes, Tom managed to sign his initials, using the `
` ball of his little finger for a pen. Then he showed Huckleberry how to `
` make an H and an F, and the oath was complete. They buried the shingle `
` close to the wall, with some dismal ceremonies and incantations, and `
` the fetters that bound their tongues were considered to be locked and `
` the key thrown away. `
` `
` A figure crept stealthily through a break in the other end of the `
` ruined building, now, but they did not notice it. `
` `
` "Tom," whispered Huckleberry, "does this keep us from EVER telling `
` --ALWAYS?" `
` `
` "Of course it does. It don't make any difference WHAT happens, we got `
` to keep mum. We'd drop down dead--don't YOU know that?" `
` `
` "Yes, I reckon that's so." `
` `
` They continued to whisper for some little time. Presently a dog set up `
` a long, lugubrious howl just outside--within ten feet of them. The boys `
` clasped each other suddenly, in an agony of fright. `
` `
` "Which of us does he mean?" gasped Huckleberry. `
` `
` "I dono--peep through the crack. Quick!" `
` `
` "No, YOU, Tom!" `
` `
` "I can't--I can't DO it, Huck!" `
` `
` "Please, Tom. There 'tis again!" `
` `
` "Oh, lordy, I'm thankful!" whispered Tom. "I know his voice. It's Bull `
` Harbison." * `
` `
` [* If Mr. Harbison owned a slave named Bull, Tom would have spoken of `
` him as "Harbison's Bull," but a son or a dog of that name was "Bull `
` Harbison."] `
` `
` "Oh, that's good--I tell you, Tom, I was most scared to death; I'd a `
` bet anything it was a STRAY dog." `
` `
` The dog howled again. The boys' hearts sank once more. `
` `
` "Oh, my! that ain't no Bull Harbison!" whispered Huckleberry. "DO, Tom!" `
` `
` Tom, quaking with fear, yielded, and put his eye to the crack. His `
` whisper was hardly audible when he said: `
` `
` "Oh, Huck, IT S A STRAY DOG!" `
` `
` "Quick, Tom, quick! Who does he mean?" `
` `
` "Huck, he must mean us both--we're right together." `
` `
` "Oh, Tom, I reckon we're goners. I reckon there ain't no mistake 'bout `
` where I'LL go to. I been so wicked." `
` `
` "Dad fetch it! This comes of playing hookey and doing everything a `
` feller's told NOT to do. I might a been good, like Sid, if I'd a tried `
` --but no, I wouldn't, of course. But if ever I get off this time, I lay `
` I'll just WALLER in Sunday-schools!" And Tom began to snuffle a little. `
` `
` "YOU bad!" and Huckleberry began to snuffle too. "Consound it, Tom `
` Sawyer, you're just old pie, 'longside o' what I am. Oh, LORDY, lordy, `
` lordy, I wisht I only had half your chance." `
` `
` Tom choked off and whispered: `
` `
` "Look, Hucky, look! He's got his BACK to us!" `
`