Reading Help Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain Ch.I-XV
lances of sunlight pierced down through the dense foliage far and near, `
` and a few butterflies came fluttering upon the scene. `
` `
` Tom stirred up the other pirates and they all clattered away with a `
` shout, and in a minute or two were stripped and chasing after and `
` tumbling over each other in the shallow limpid water of the white `
` sandbar. They felt no longing for the little village sleeping in the `
` distance beyond the majestic waste of water. A vagrant current or a `
` slight rise in the river had carried off their raft, but this only `
` gratified them, since its going was something like burning the bridge `
` between them and civilization. `
` `
` They came back to camp wonderfully refreshed, glad-hearted, and `
` ravenous; and they soon had the camp-fire blazing up again. Huck found `
` a spring of clear cold water close by, and the boys made cups of broad `
` oak or hickory leaves, and felt that water, sweetened with such a `
` wildwood charm as that, would be a good enough substitute for coffee. `
` While Joe was slicing bacon for breakfast, Tom and Huck asked him to `
` hold on a minute; they stepped to a promising nook in the river-bank `
` and threw in their lines; almost immediately they had reward. Joe had `
` not had time to get impatient before they were back again with some `
` handsome bass, a couple of sun-perch and a small catfish--provisions `
` enough for quite a family. They fried the fish with the bacon, and were `
` astonished; for no fish had ever seemed so delicious before. They did `
` not know that the quicker a fresh-water fish is on the fire after he is `
` caught the better he is; and they reflected little upon what a sauce `
` open-air sleeping, open-air exercise, bathing, and a large ingredient `
` of hunger make, too. `
` `
` They lay around in the shade, after breakfast, while Huck had a smoke, `
` and then went off through the woods on an exploring expedition. They `
` tramped gayly along, over decaying logs, through tangled underbrush, `
` among solemn monarchs of the forest, hung from their crowns to the `
` ground with a drooping regalia of grape-vines. Now and then they came `
` upon snug nooks carpeted with grass and jeweled with flowers. `
` `
` They found plenty of things to be delighted with, but nothing to be `
` astonished at. They discovered that the island was about three miles `
` long and a quarter of a mile wide, and that the shore it lay closest to `
` was only separated from it by a narrow channel hardly two hundred yards `
` wide. They took a swim about every hour, so it was close upon the `
` middle of the afternoon when they got back to camp. They were too `
` hungry to stop to fish, but they fared sumptuously upon cold ham, and `
` then threw themselves down in the shade to talk. But the talk soon `
` began to drag, and then died. The stillness, the solemnity that brooded `
` in the woods, and the sense of loneliness, began to tell upon the `
` spirits of the boys. They fell to thinking. A sort of undefined longing `
` crept upon them. This took dim shape, presently--it was budding `
` homesickness. Even Finn the Red-Handed was dreaming of his doorsteps `
` and empty hogsheads. But they were all ashamed of their weakness, and `
` none was brave enough to speak his thought. `
` `
` For some time, now, the boys had been dully conscious of a peculiar `
` sound in the distance, just as one sometimes is of the ticking of a `
` clock which he takes no distinct note of. But now this mysterious sound `
` became more pronounced, and forced a recognition. The boys started, `
` glanced at each other, and then each assumed a listening attitude. `
` There was a long silence, profound and unbroken; then a deep, sullen `
` boom came floating down out of the distance. `
` `
` "What is it!" exclaimed Joe, under his breath. `
` `
` "I wonder," said Tom in a whisper. `
` `
` "'Tain't thunder," said Huckleberry, in an awed tone, "becuz thunder--" `
` `
` "Hark!" said Tom. "Listen--don't talk." `
` `
` They waited a time that seemed an age, and then the same muffled boom `
` troubled the solemn hush. `
` `
` "Let's go and see." `
` `
` They sprang to their feet and hurried to the shore toward the town. `
` They parted the bushes on the bank and peered out over the water. The `
` little steam ferryboat was about a mile below the village, drifting `
` with the current. Her broad deck seemed crowded with people. There were `
` a great many skiffs rowing about or floating with the stream in the `
` neighborhood of the ferryboat, but the boys could not determine what `
` the men in them were doing. Presently a great jet of white smoke burst `
` from the ferryboat's side, and as it expanded and rose in a lazy cloud, `
` that same dull throb of sound was borne to the listeners again. `
` `
` "I know now!" exclaimed Tom; "somebody's drownded!" `
` `
` "That's it!" said Huck; "they done that last summer, when Bill Turner `
` got drownded; they shoot a cannon over the water, and that makes him `
` come up to the top. Yes, and they take loaves of bread and put `
` quicksilver in 'em and set 'em afloat, and wherever there's anybody `
` that's drownded, they'll float right there and stop." `
` `
` "Yes, I've heard about that," said Joe. "I wonder what makes the bread `
` do that." `
` `
` "Oh, it ain't the bread, so much," said Tom; "I reckon it's mostly `
` what they SAY over it before they start it out." `
` `
` "But they don't say anything over it," said Huck. "I've seen 'em and `
` they don't." `
` `
` "Well, that's funny," said Tom. "But maybe they say it to themselves. `
` Of COURSE they do. Anybody might know that." `
` `
` The other boys agreed that there was reason in what Tom said, because `
` an ignorant lump of bread, uninstructed by an incantation, could not be `
` expected to act very intelligently when set upon an errand of such `
` gravity. `
` `
` "By jings, I wish I was over there, now," said Joe. `
` `
` "I do too" said Huck "I'd give heaps to know who it is." `
` `
` The boys still listened and watched. Presently a revealing thought `
` flashed through Tom's mind, and he exclaimed: `
` `
` "Boys, I know who's drownded--it's us!" `
` `
` They felt like heroes in an instant. Here was a gorgeous triumph; they `
` were missed; they were mourned; hearts were breaking on their account; `
` tears were being shed; accusing memories of unkindness to these poor `
` lost lads were rising up, and unavailing regrets and remorse were being `
` indulged; and best of all, the departed were the talk of the whole `
` town, and the envy of all the boys, as far as this dazzling notoriety `
` was concerned. This was fine. It was worth while to be a pirate, after `
` all. `
` `
` As twilight drew on, the ferryboat went back to her accustomed `
` business and the skiffs disappeared. The pirates returned to camp. They `
` were jubilant with vanity over their new grandeur and the illustrious `
` trouble they were making. They caught fish, cooked supper and ate it, `
` and then fell to guessing at what the village was thinking and saying `
` about them; and the pictures they drew of the public distress on their `
` account were gratifying to look upon--from their point of view. But `
` when the shadows of night closed them in, they gradually ceased to `
` talk, and sat gazing into the fire, with their minds evidently `
` wandering elsewhere. The excitement was gone, now, and Tom and Joe `
` could not keep back thoughts of certain persons at home who were not `
` enjoying this fine frolic as much as they were. Misgivings came; they `
` grew troubled and unhappy; a sigh or two escaped, unawares. By and by `
` Joe timidly ventured upon a roundabout "feeler" as to how the others `
` might look upon a return to civilization--not right now, but-- `
` `
` Tom withered him with derision! Huck, being uncommitted as yet, joined `
` in with Tom, and the waverer quickly "explained," and was glad to get `
` out of the scrape with as little taint of chicken-hearted homesickness `
` clinging to his garments as he could. Mutiny was effectually laid to `
` rest for the moment. `
` `
` As the night deepened, Huck began to nod, and presently to snore. Joe `
` followed next. Tom lay upon his elbow motionless, for some time, `
` watching the two intently. At last he got up cautiously, on his knees, `
` and went searching among the grass and the flickering reflections flung `
` by the camp-fire. He picked up and inspected several large `
` semi-cylinders of the thin white bark of a sycamore, and finally chose `
` two which seemed to suit him. Then he knelt by the fire and painfully `
` wrote something upon each of these with his "red keel"; one he rolled up `
` and put in his jacket pocket, and the other he put in Joe's hat and `
` removed it to a little distance from the owner. And he also put into the `
` hat certain schoolboy treasures of almost inestimable value--among them `
` a lump of chalk, an India-rubber ball, three fishhooks, and one of that `
` kind of marbles known as a "sure 'nough crystal." Then he tiptoed his `
` way cautiously among the trees till he felt that he was out of hearing, `
` and straightway broke into a keen run in the direction of the sandbar. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER XV `
` `
` A FEW minutes later Tom was in the shoal water of the bar, wading `
` toward the Illinois shore. Before the depth reached his middle he was `
` half-way over; the current would permit no more wading, now, so he `
` struck out confidently to swim the remaining hundred yards. He swam `
` quartering upstream, but still was swept downward rather faster than he `
` had expected. However, he reached the shore finally, and drifted along `
` till he found a low place and drew himself out. He put his hand on his `
` jacket pocket, found his piece of bark safe, and then struck through `
` the woods, following the shore, with streaming garments. Shortly before `
` ten o'clock he came out into an open place opposite the village, and `
` saw the ferryboat lying in the shadow of the trees and the high bank. `
` Everything was quiet under the blinking stars. He crept down the bank, `
` watching with all his eyes, slipped into the water, swam three or four `
` strokes and climbed into the skiff that did "yawl" duty at the boat's `
` stern. He laid himself down under the thwarts and waited, panting. `
` `
` Presently the cracked bell tapped and a voice gave the order to "cast `
` off." A minute or two later the skiff's head was standing high up, `
` against the boat's swell, and the voyage was begun. Tom felt happy in `
` his success, for he knew it was the boat's last trip for the night. At `
` the end of a long twelve or fifteen minutes the wheels stopped, and Tom `
` slipped overboard and swam ashore in the dusk, landing fifty yards `
` downstream, out of danger of possible stragglers. `
` `
` He flew along unfrequented alleys, and shortly found himself at his `
` aunt's back fence. He climbed over, approached the "ell," and looked in `
` at the sitting-room window, for a light was burning there. There sat `
` Aunt Polly, Sid, Mary, and Joe Harper's mother, grouped together, `
` talking. They were by the bed, and the bed was between them and the `
` door. Tom went to the door and began to softly lift the latch; then he `
` pressed gently and the door yielded a crack; he continued pushing `
` cautiously, and quaking every time it creaked, till he judged he might `
` squeeze through on his knees; so he put his head through and began, `
`
` and a few butterflies came fluttering upon the scene. `
` `
` Tom stirred up the other pirates and they all clattered away with a `
` shout, and in a minute or two were stripped and chasing after and `
` tumbling over each other in the shallow limpid water of the white `
` sandbar. They felt no longing for the little village sleeping in the `
` distance beyond the majestic waste of water. A vagrant current or a `
` slight rise in the river had carried off their raft, but this only `
` gratified them, since its going was something like burning the bridge `
` between them and civilization. `
` `
` They came back to camp wonderfully refreshed, glad-hearted, and `
` ravenous; and they soon had the camp-fire blazing up again. Huck found `
` a spring of clear cold water close by, and the boys made cups of broad `
` oak or hickory leaves, and felt that water, sweetened with such a `
` wildwood charm as that, would be a good enough substitute for coffee. `
` While Joe was slicing bacon for breakfast, Tom and Huck asked him to `
` hold on a minute; they stepped to a promising nook in the river-bank `
` and threw in their lines; almost immediately they had reward. Joe had `
` not had time to get impatient before they were back again with some `
` handsome bass, a couple of sun-perch and a small catfish--provisions `
` enough for quite a family. They fried the fish with the bacon, and were `
` astonished; for no fish had ever seemed so delicious before. They did `
` not know that the quicker a fresh-water fish is on the fire after he is `
` caught the better he is; and they reflected little upon what a sauce `
` open-air sleeping, open-air exercise, bathing, and a large ingredient `
` of hunger make, too. `
` `
` They lay around in the shade, after breakfast, while Huck had a smoke, `
` and then went off through the woods on an exploring expedition. They `
` tramped gayly along, over decaying logs, through tangled underbrush, `
` among solemn monarchs of the forest, hung from their crowns to the `
` ground with a drooping regalia of grape-vines. Now and then they came `
` upon snug nooks carpeted with grass and jeweled with flowers. `
` `
` They found plenty of things to be delighted with, but nothing to be `
` astonished at. They discovered that the island was about three miles `
` long and a quarter of a mile wide, and that the shore it lay closest to `
` was only separated from it by a narrow channel hardly two hundred yards `
` wide. They took a swim about every hour, so it was close upon the `
` middle of the afternoon when they got back to camp. They were too `
` hungry to stop to fish, but they fared sumptuously upon cold ham, and `
` then threw themselves down in the shade to talk. But the talk soon `
` began to drag, and then died. The stillness, the solemnity that brooded `
` in the woods, and the sense of loneliness, began to tell upon the `
` spirits of the boys. They fell to thinking. A sort of undefined longing `
` crept upon them. This took dim shape, presently--it was budding `
` homesickness. Even Finn the Red-Handed was dreaming of his doorsteps `
` and empty hogsheads. But they were all ashamed of their weakness, and `
` none was brave enough to speak his thought. `
` `
` For some time, now, the boys had been dully conscious of a peculiar `
` sound in the distance, just as one sometimes is of the ticking of a `
` clock which he takes no distinct note of. But now this mysterious sound `
` became more pronounced, and forced a recognition. The boys started, `
` glanced at each other, and then each assumed a listening attitude. `
` There was a long silence, profound and unbroken; then a deep, sullen `
` boom came floating down out of the distance. `
` `
` "What is it!" exclaimed Joe, under his breath. `
` `
` "I wonder," said Tom in a whisper. `
` `
` "'Tain't thunder," said Huckleberry, in an awed tone, "becuz thunder--" `
` `
` "Hark!" said Tom. "Listen--don't talk." `
` `
` They waited a time that seemed an age, and then the same muffled boom `
` troubled the solemn hush. `
` `
` "Let's go and see." `
` `
` They sprang to their feet and hurried to the shore toward the town. `
` They parted the bushes on the bank and peered out over the water. The `
` little steam ferryboat was about a mile below the village, drifting `
` with the current. Her broad deck seemed crowded with people. There were `
` a great many skiffs rowing about or floating with the stream in the `
` neighborhood of the ferryboat, but the boys could not determine what `
` the men in them were doing. Presently a great jet of white smoke burst `
` from the ferryboat's side, and as it expanded and rose in a lazy cloud, `
` that same dull throb of sound was borne to the listeners again. `
` `
` "I know now!" exclaimed Tom; "somebody's drownded!" `
` `
` "That's it!" said Huck; "they done that last summer, when Bill Turner `
` got drownded; they shoot a cannon over the water, and that makes him `
` come up to the top. Yes, and they take loaves of bread and put `
` quicksilver in 'em and set 'em afloat, and wherever there's anybody `
` that's drownded, they'll float right there and stop." `
` `
` "Yes, I've heard about that," said Joe. "I wonder what makes the bread `
` do that." `
` `
` "Oh, it ain't the bread, so much," said Tom; "I reckon it's mostly `
` what they SAY over it before they start it out." `
` `
` "But they don't say anything over it," said Huck. "I've seen 'em and `
` they don't." `
` `
` "Well, that's funny," said Tom. "But maybe they say it to themselves. `
` Of COURSE they do. Anybody might know that." `
` `
` The other boys agreed that there was reason in what Tom said, because `
` an ignorant lump of bread, uninstructed by an incantation, could not be `
` expected to act very intelligently when set upon an errand of such `
` gravity. `
` `
` "By jings, I wish I was over there, now," said Joe. `
` `
` "I do too" said Huck "I'd give heaps to know who it is." `
` `
` The boys still listened and watched. Presently a revealing thought `
` flashed through Tom's mind, and he exclaimed: `
` `
` "Boys, I know who's drownded--it's us!" `
` `
` They felt like heroes in an instant. Here was a gorgeous triumph; they `
` were missed; they were mourned; hearts were breaking on their account; `
` tears were being shed; accusing memories of unkindness to these poor `
` lost lads were rising up, and unavailing regrets and remorse were being `
` indulged; and best of all, the departed were the talk of the whole `
` town, and the envy of all the boys, as far as this dazzling notoriety `
` was concerned. This was fine. It was worth while to be a pirate, after `
` all. `
` `
` As twilight drew on, the ferryboat went back to her accustomed `
` business and the skiffs disappeared. The pirates returned to camp. They `
` were jubilant with vanity over their new grandeur and the illustrious `
` trouble they were making. They caught fish, cooked supper and ate it, `
` and then fell to guessing at what the village was thinking and saying `
` about them; and the pictures they drew of the public distress on their `
` account were gratifying to look upon--from their point of view. But `
` when the shadows of night closed them in, they gradually ceased to `
` talk, and sat gazing into the fire, with their minds evidently `
` wandering elsewhere. The excitement was gone, now, and Tom and Joe `
` could not keep back thoughts of certain persons at home who were not `
` enjoying this fine frolic as much as they were. Misgivings came; they `
` grew troubled and unhappy; a sigh or two escaped, unawares. By and by `
` Joe timidly ventured upon a roundabout "feeler" as to how the others `
` might look upon a return to civilization--not right now, but-- `
` `
` Tom withered him with derision! Huck, being uncommitted as yet, joined `
` in with Tom, and the waverer quickly "explained," and was glad to get `
` out of the scrape with as little taint of chicken-hearted homesickness `
` clinging to his garments as he could. Mutiny was effectually laid to `
` rest for the moment. `
` `
` As the night deepened, Huck began to nod, and presently to snore. Joe `
` followed next. Tom lay upon his elbow motionless, for some time, `
` watching the two intently. At last he got up cautiously, on his knees, `
` and went searching among the grass and the flickering reflections flung `
` by the camp-fire. He picked up and inspected several large `
` semi-cylinders of the thin white bark of a sycamore, and finally chose `
` two which seemed to suit him. Then he knelt by the fire and painfully `
` wrote something upon each of these with his "red keel"; one he rolled up `
` and put in his jacket pocket, and the other he put in Joe's hat and `
` removed it to a little distance from the owner. And he also put into the `
` hat certain schoolboy treasures of almost inestimable value--among them `
` a lump of chalk, an India-rubber ball, three fishhooks, and one of that `
` kind of marbles known as a "sure 'nough crystal." Then he tiptoed his `
` way cautiously among the trees till he felt that he was out of hearing, `
` and straightway broke into a keen run in the direction of the sandbar. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER XV `
` `
` A FEW minutes later Tom was in the shoal water of the bar, wading `
` toward the Illinois shore. Before the depth reached his middle he was `
` half-way over; the current would permit no more wading, now, so he `
` struck out confidently to swim the remaining hundred yards. He swam `
` quartering upstream, but still was swept downward rather faster than he `
` had expected. However, he reached the shore finally, and drifted along `
` till he found a low place and drew himself out. He put his hand on his `
` jacket pocket, found his piece of bark safe, and then struck through `
` the woods, following the shore, with streaming garments. Shortly before `
` ten o'clock he came out into an open place opposite the village, and `
` saw the ferryboat lying in the shadow of the trees and the high bank. `
` Everything was quiet under the blinking stars. He crept down the bank, `
` watching with all his eyes, slipped into the water, swam three or four `
` strokes and climbed into the skiff that did "yawl" duty at the boat's `
` stern. He laid himself down under the thwarts and waited, panting. `
` `
` Presently the cracked bell tapped and a voice gave the order to "cast `
` off." A minute or two later the skiff's head was standing high up, `
` against the boat's swell, and the voyage was begun. Tom felt happy in `
` his success, for he knew it was the boat's last trip for the night. At `
` the end of a long twelve or fifteen minutes the wheels stopped, and Tom `
` slipped overboard and swam ashore in the dusk, landing fifty yards `
` downstream, out of danger of possible stragglers. `
` `
` He flew along unfrequented alleys, and shortly found himself at his `
` aunt's back fence. He climbed over, approached the "ell," and looked in `
` at the sitting-room window, for a light was burning there. There sat `
` Aunt Polly, Sid, Mary, and Joe Harper's mother, grouped together, `
` talking. They were by the bed, and the bed was between them and the `
` door. Tom went to the door and began to softly lift the latch; then he `
` pressed gently and the door yielded a crack; he continued pushing `
` cautiously, and quaking every time it creaked, till he judged he might `
` squeeze through on his knees; so he put his head through and began, `
`