Reading Help Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain Ch.I-XV
teaspoon was visible under the bed-valance. Aunt Polly took it, held it `
` up. Tom winced, and dropped his eyes. Aunt Polly raised him by the `
` usual handle--his ear--and cracked his head soundly with her thimble. `
` `
` "Now, sir, what did you want to treat that poor dumb beast so, for?" `
` `
` "I done it out of pity for him--because he hadn't any aunt." `
` `
` "Hadn't any aunt!--you numskull. What has that got to do with it?" `
` `
` "Heaps. Because if he'd had one she'd a burnt him out herself! She'd a `
` roasted his bowels out of him 'thout any more feeling than if he was a `
` human!" `
` `
` Aunt Polly felt a sudden pang of remorse. This was putting the thing `
` in a new light; what was cruelty to a cat MIGHT be cruelty to a boy, `
` too. She began to soften; she felt sorry. Her eyes watered a little, `
` and she put her hand on Tom's head and said gently: `
` `
` "I was meaning for the best, Tom. And, Tom, it DID do you good." `
` `
` Tom looked up in her face with just a perceptible twinkle peeping `
` through his gravity. `
` `
` "I know you was meaning for the best, aunty, and so was I with Peter. `
` It done HIM good, too. I never see him get around so since--" `
` `
` "Oh, go 'long with you, Tom, before you aggravate me again. And you `
` try and see if you can't be a good boy, for once, and you needn't take `
` any more medicine." `
` `
` Tom reached school ahead of time. It was noticed that this strange `
` thing had been occurring every day latterly. And now, as usual of late, `
` he hung about the gate of the schoolyard instead of playing with his `
` comrades. He was sick, he said, and he looked it. He tried to seem to `
` be looking everywhere but whither he really was looking--down the road. `
` Presently Jeff Thatcher hove in sight, and Tom's face lighted; he gazed `
` a moment, and then turned sorrowfully away. When Jeff arrived, Tom `
` accosted him; and "led up" warily to opportunities for remark about `
` Becky, but the giddy lad never could see the bait. Tom watched and `
` watched, hoping whenever a frisking frock came in sight, and hating the `
` owner of it as soon as he saw she was not the right one. At last frocks `
` ceased to appear, and he dropped hopelessly into the dumps; he entered `
` the empty schoolhouse and sat down to suffer. Then one more frock `
` passed in at the gate, and Tom's heart gave a great bound. The next `
` instant he was out, and "going on" like an Indian; yelling, laughing, `
` chasing boys, jumping over the fence at risk of life and limb, throwing `
` handsprings, standing on his head--doing all the heroic things he could `
` conceive of, and keeping a furtive eye out, all the while, to see if `
` Becky Thatcher was noticing. But she seemed to be unconscious of it `
` all; she never looked. Could it be possible that she was not aware that `
` he was there? He carried his exploits to her immediate vicinity; came `
` war-whooping around, snatched a boy's cap, hurled it to the roof of the `
` schoolhouse, broke through a group of boys, tumbling them in every `
` direction, and fell sprawling, himself, under Becky's nose, almost `
` upsetting her--and she turned, with her nose in the air, and he heard `
` her say: "Mf! some people think they're mighty smart--always showing `
` off!" `
` `
` Tom's cheeks burned. He gathered himself up and sneaked off, crushed `
` and crestfallen. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER XIII `
` `
` TOM'S mind was made up now. He was gloomy and desperate. He was a `
` forsaken, friendless boy, he said; nobody loved him; when they found `
` out what they had driven him to, perhaps they would be sorry; he had `
` tried to do right and get along, but they would not let him; since `
` nothing would do them but to be rid of him, let it be so; and let them `
` blame HIM for the consequences--why shouldn't they? What right had the `
` friendless to complain? Yes, they had forced him to it at last: he `
` would lead a life of crime. There was no choice. `
` `
` By this time he was far down Meadow Lane, and the bell for school to `
` "take up" tinkled faintly upon his ear. He sobbed, now, to think he `
` should never, never hear that old familiar sound any more--it was very `
` hard, but it was forced on him; since he was driven out into the cold `
` world, he must submit--but he forgave them. Then the sobs came thick `
` and fast. `
` `
` Just at this point he met his soul's sworn comrade, Joe Harper `
` --hard-eyed, and with evidently a great and dismal purpose in his heart. `
` Plainly here were "two souls with but a single thought." Tom, wiping `
` his eyes with his sleeve, began to blubber out something about a `
` resolution to escape from hard usage and lack of sympathy at home by `
` roaming abroad into the great world never to return; and ended by `
` hoping that Joe would not forget him. `
` `
` But it transpired that this was a request which Joe had just been `
` going to make of Tom, and had come to hunt him up for that purpose. His `
` mother had whipped him for drinking some cream which he had never `
` tasted and knew nothing about; it was plain that she was tired of him `
` and wished him to go; if she felt that way, there was nothing for him `
` to do but succumb; he hoped she would be happy, and never regret having `
` driven her poor boy out into the unfeeling world to suffer and die. `
` `
` As the two boys walked sorrowing along, they made a new compact to `
` stand by each other and be brothers and never separate till death `
` relieved them of their troubles. Then they began to lay their plans. `
` Joe was for being a hermit, and living on crusts in a remote cave, and `
` dying, some time, of cold and want and grief; but after listening to `
` Tom, he conceded that there were some conspicuous advantages about a `
` life of crime, and so he consented to be a pirate. `
` `
` Three miles below St. Petersburg, at a point where the Mississippi `
` River was a trifle over a mile wide, there was a long, narrow, wooded `
` island, with a shallow bar at the head of it, and this offered well as `
` a rendezvous. It was not inhabited; it lay far over toward the further `
` shore, abreast a dense and almost wholly unpeopled forest. So Jackson's `
` Island was chosen. Who were to be the subjects of their piracies was a `
` matter that did not occur to them. Then they hunted up Huckleberry `
` Finn, and he joined them promptly, for all careers were one to him; he `
` was indifferent. They presently separated to meet at a lonely spot on `
` the river-bank two miles above the village at the favorite hour--which `
` was midnight. There was a small log raft there which they meant to `
` capture. Each would bring hooks and lines, and such provision as he `
` could steal in the most dark and mysterious way--as became outlaws. And `
` before the afternoon was done, they had all managed to enjoy the sweet `
` glory of spreading the fact that pretty soon the town would "hear `
` something." All who got this vague hint were cautioned to "be mum and `
` wait." `
` `
` About midnight Tom arrived with a boiled ham and a few trifles, `
` and stopped in a dense undergrowth on a small bluff overlooking the `
` meeting-place. It was starlight, and very still. The mighty river lay `
` like an ocean at rest. Tom listened a moment, but no sound disturbed the `
` quiet. Then he gave a low, distinct whistle. It was answered from under `
` the bluff. Tom whistled twice more; these signals were answered in the `
` same way. Then a guarded voice said: `
` `
` "Who goes there?" `
` `
` "Tom Sawyer, the Black Avenger of the Spanish Main. Name your names." `
` `
` "Huck Finn the Red-Handed, and Joe Harper the Terror of the Seas." Tom `
` had furnished these titles, from his favorite literature. `
` `
` "'Tis well. Give the countersign." `
` `
` Two hoarse whispers delivered the same awful word simultaneously to `
` the brooding night: `
` `
` "BLOOD!" `
` `
` Then Tom tumbled his ham over the bluff and let himself down after it, `
` tearing both skin and clothes to some extent in the effort. There was `
` an easy, comfortable path along the shore under the bluff, but it `
` lacked the advantages of difficulty and danger so valued by a pirate. `
` `
` The Terror of the Seas had brought a side of bacon, and had about worn `
` himself out with getting it there. Finn the Red-Handed had stolen a `
` skillet and a quantity of half-cured leaf tobacco, and had also brought `
` a few corn-cobs to make pipes with. But none of the pirates smoked or `
` "chewed" but himself. The Black Avenger of the Spanish Main said it `
` would never do to start without some fire. That was a wise thought; `
` matches were hardly known there in that day. They saw a fire `
` smouldering upon a great raft a hundred yards above, and they went `
` stealthily thither and helped themselves to a chunk. They made an `
` imposing adventure of it, saying, "Hist!" every now and then, and `
` suddenly halting with finger on lip; moving with hands on imaginary `
` dagger-hilts; and giving orders in dismal whispers that if "the foe" `
` stirred, to "let him have it to the hilt," because "dead men tell no `
` tales." They knew well enough that the raftsmen were all down at the `
` village laying in stores or having a spree, but still that was no `
` excuse for their conducting this thing in an unpiratical way. `
` `
` They shoved off, presently, Tom in command, Huck at the after oar and `
` Joe at the forward. Tom stood amidships, gloomy-browed, and with folded `
` arms, and gave his orders in a low, stern whisper: `
` `
` "Luff, and bring her to the wind!" `
` `
` "Aye-aye, sir!" `
` `
` "Steady, steady-y-y-y!" `
` `
` "Steady it is, sir!" `
` `
` "Let her go off a point!" `
` `
` "Point it is, sir!" `
` `
` As the boys steadily and monotonously drove the raft toward mid-stream `
` it was no doubt understood that these orders were given only for `
` "style," and were not intended to mean anything in particular. `
` `
` "What sail's she carrying?" `
` `
` "Courses, tops'ls, and flying-jib, sir." `
` `
` "Send the r'yals up! Lay out aloft, there, half a dozen of ye `
` --foretopmaststuns'l! Lively, now!" `
` `
` "Aye-aye, sir!" `
` `
` "Shake out that maintogalans'l! Sheets and braces! NOW my hearties!" `
` `
` "Aye-aye, sir!" `
` `
`
` up. Tom winced, and dropped his eyes. Aunt Polly raised him by the `
` usual handle--his ear--and cracked his head soundly with her thimble. `
` `
` "Now, sir, what did you want to treat that poor dumb beast so, for?" `
` `
` "I done it out of pity for him--because he hadn't any aunt." `
` `
` "Hadn't any aunt!--you numskull. What has that got to do with it?" `
` `
` "Heaps. Because if he'd had one she'd a burnt him out herself! She'd a `
` roasted his bowels out of him 'thout any more feeling than if he was a `
` human!" `
` `
` Aunt Polly felt a sudden pang of remorse. This was putting the thing `
` in a new light; what was cruelty to a cat MIGHT be cruelty to a boy, `
` too. She began to soften; she felt sorry. Her eyes watered a little, `
` and she put her hand on Tom's head and said gently: `
` `
` "I was meaning for the best, Tom. And, Tom, it DID do you good." `
` `
` Tom looked up in her face with just a perceptible twinkle peeping `
` through his gravity. `
` `
` "I know you was meaning for the best, aunty, and so was I with Peter. `
` It done HIM good, too. I never see him get around so since--" `
` `
` "Oh, go 'long with you, Tom, before you aggravate me again. And you `
` try and see if you can't be a good boy, for once, and you needn't take `
` any more medicine." `
` `
` Tom reached school ahead of time. It was noticed that this strange `
` thing had been occurring every day latterly. And now, as usual of late, `
` he hung about the gate of the schoolyard instead of playing with his `
` comrades. He was sick, he said, and he looked it. He tried to seem to `
` be looking everywhere but whither he really was looking--down the road. `
` Presently Jeff Thatcher hove in sight, and Tom's face lighted; he gazed `
` a moment, and then turned sorrowfully away. When Jeff arrived, Tom `
` accosted him; and "led up" warily to opportunities for remark about `
` Becky, but the giddy lad never could see the bait. Tom watched and `
` watched, hoping whenever a frisking frock came in sight, and hating the `
` owner of it as soon as he saw she was not the right one. At last frocks `
` ceased to appear, and he dropped hopelessly into the dumps; he entered `
` the empty schoolhouse and sat down to suffer. Then one more frock `
` passed in at the gate, and Tom's heart gave a great bound. The next `
` instant he was out, and "going on" like an Indian; yelling, laughing, `
` chasing boys, jumping over the fence at risk of life and limb, throwing `
` handsprings, standing on his head--doing all the heroic things he could `
` conceive of, and keeping a furtive eye out, all the while, to see if `
` Becky Thatcher was noticing. But she seemed to be unconscious of it `
` all; she never looked. Could it be possible that she was not aware that `
` he was there? He carried his exploits to her immediate vicinity; came `
` war-whooping around, snatched a boy's cap, hurled it to the roof of the `
` schoolhouse, broke through a group of boys, tumbling them in every `
` direction, and fell sprawling, himself, under Becky's nose, almost `
` upsetting her--and she turned, with her nose in the air, and he heard `
` her say: "Mf! some people think they're mighty smart--always showing `
` off!" `
` `
` Tom's cheeks burned. He gathered himself up and sneaked off, crushed `
` and crestfallen. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER XIII `
` `
` TOM'S mind was made up now. He was gloomy and desperate. He was a `
` forsaken, friendless boy, he said; nobody loved him; when they found `
` out what they had driven him to, perhaps they would be sorry; he had `
` tried to do right and get along, but they would not let him; since `
` nothing would do them but to be rid of him, let it be so; and let them `
` blame HIM for the consequences--why shouldn't they? What right had the `
` friendless to complain? Yes, they had forced him to it at last: he `
` would lead a life of crime. There was no choice. `
` `
` By this time he was far down Meadow Lane, and the bell for school to `
` "take up" tinkled faintly upon his ear. He sobbed, now, to think he `
` should never, never hear that old familiar sound any more--it was very `
` hard, but it was forced on him; since he was driven out into the cold `
` world, he must submit--but he forgave them. Then the sobs came thick `
` and fast. `
` `
` Just at this point he met his soul's sworn comrade, Joe Harper `
` --hard-eyed, and with evidently a great and dismal purpose in his heart. `
` Plainly here were "two souls with but a single thought." Tom, wiping `
` his eyes with his sleeve, began to blubber out something about a `
` resolution to escape from hard usage and lack of sympathy at home by `
` roaming abroad into the great world never to return; and ended by `
` hoping that Joe would not forget him. `
` `
` But it transpired that this was a request which Joe had just been `
` going to make of Tom, and had come to hunt him up for that purpose. His `
` mother had whipped him for drinking some cream which he had never `
` tasted and knew nothing about; it was plain that she was tired of him `
` and wished him to go; if she felt that way, there was nothing for him `
` to do but succumb; he hoped she would be happy, and never regret having `
` driven her poor boy out into the unfeeling world to suffer and die. `
` `
` As the two boys walked sorrowing along, they made a new compact to `
` stand by each other and be brothers and never separate till death `
` relieved them of their troubles. Then they began to lay their plans. `
` Joe was for being a hermit, and living on crusts in a remote cave, and `
` dying, some time, of cold and want and grief; but after listening to `
` Tom, he conceded that there were some conspicuous advantages about a `
` life of crime, and so he consented to be a pirate. `
` `
` Three miles below St. Petersburg, at a point where the Mississippi `
` River was a trifle over a mile wide, there was a long, narrow, wooded `
` island, with a shallow bar at the head of it, and this offered well as `
` a rendezvous. It was not inhabited; it lay far over toward the further `
` shore, abreast a dense and almost wholly unpeopled forest. So Jackson's `
` Island was chosen. Who were to be the subjects of their piracies was a `
` matter that did not occur to them. Then they hunted up Huckleberry `
` Finn, and he joined them promptly, for all careers were one to him; he `
` was indifferent. They presently separated to meet at a lonely spot on `
` the river-bank two miles above the village at the favorite hour--which `
` was midnight. There was a small log raft there which they meant to `
` capture. Each would bring hooks and lines, and such provision as he `
` could steal in the most dark and mysterious way--as became outlaws. And `
` before the afternoon was done, they had all managed to enjoy the sweet `
` glory of spreading the fact that pretty soon the town would "hear `
` something." All who got this vague hint were cautioned to "be mum and `
` wait." `
` `
` About midnight Tom arrived with a boiled ham and a few trifles, `
` and stopped in a dense undergrowth on a small bluff overlooking the `
` meeting-place. It was starlight, and very still. The mighty river lay `
` like an ocean at rest. Tom listened a moment, but no sound disturbed the `
` quiet. Then he gave a low, distinct whistle. It was answered from under `
` the bluff. Tom whistled twice more; these signals were answered in the `
` same way. Then a guarded voice said: `
` `
` "Who goes there?" `
` `
` "Tom Sawyer, the Black Avenger of the Spanish Main. Name your names." `
` `
` "Huck Finn the Red-Handed, and Joe Harper the Terror of the Seas." Tom `
` had furnished these titles, from his favorite literature. `
` `
` "'Tis well. Give the countersign." `
` `
` Two hoarse whispers delivered the same awful word simultaneously to `
` the brooding night: `
` `
` "BLOOD!" `
` `
` Then Tom tumbled his ham over the bluff and let himself down after it, `
` tearing both skin and clothes to some extent in the effort. There was `
` an easy, comfortable path along the shore under the bluff, but it `
` lacked the advantages of difficulty and danger so valued by a pirate. `
` `
` The Terror of the Seas had brought a side of bacon, and had about worn `
` himself out with getting it there. Finn the Red-Handed had stolen a `
` skillet and a quantity of half-cured leaf tobacco, and had also brought `
` a few corn-cobs to make pipes with. But none of the pirates smoked or `
` "chewed" but himself. The Black Avenger of the Spanish Main said it `
` would never do to start without some fire. That was a wise thought; `
` matches were hardly known there in that day. They saw a fire `
` smouldering upon a great raft a hundred yards above, and they went `
` stealthily thither and helped themselves to a chunk. They made an `
` imposing adventure of it, saying, "Hist!" every now and then, and `
` suddenly halting with finger on lip; moving with hands on imaginary `
` dagger-hilts; and giving orders in dismal whispers that if "the foe" `
` stirred, to "let him have it to the hilt," because "dead men tell no `
` tales." They knew well enough that the raftsmen were all down at the `
` village laying in stores or having a spree, but still that was no `
` excuse for their conducting this thing in an unpiratical way. `
` `
` They shoved off, presently, Tom in command, Huck at the after oar and `
` Joe at the forward. Tom stood amidships, gloomy-browed, and with folded `
` arms, and gave his orders in a low, stern whisper: `
` `
` "Luff, and bring her to the wind!" `
` `
` "Aye-aye, sir!" `
` `
` "Steady, steady-y-y-y!" `
` `
` "Steady it is, sir!" `
` `
` "Let her go off a point!" `
` `
` "Point it is, sir!" `
` `
` As the boys steadily and monotonously drove the raft toward mid-stream `
` it was no doubt understood that these orders were given only for `
` "style," and were not intended to mean anything in particular. `
` `
` "What sail's she carrying?" `
` `
` "Courses, tops'ls, and flying-jib, sir." `
` `
` "Send the r'yals up! Lay out aloft, there, half a dozen of ye `
` --foretopmaststuns'l! Lively, now!" `
` `
` "Aye-aye, sir!" `
` `
` "Shake out that maintogalans'l! Sheets and braces! NOW my hearties!" `
` `
` "Aye-aye, sir!" `
` `
`