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CHAPTER XVI AFTER dinner all the gang turned out to hunt for turtle eggs on the `
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bar. They went about poking sticks into the sand, and when they found a soft `
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place they went down on their knees and dug with their hands. Sometimes they `
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would take fifty or sixty eggs out of one hole. They were perfectly round white `
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things a trifle smaller than an English walnut. They had a famous fried-egg `
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feast that night, and another on Friday morning. After breakfast they went `
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whooping and prancing out on the bar, and chased each other round and round, `
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shedding clothes as they went, until they were naked, and then continued the `
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frolic far away up the shoal water of the bar, against the stiff current, which `
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latter tripped their legs from under them from time to time and greatly `
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increased the fun. And now and then they stooped in a group and splashed water `
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in each other's faces with their palms, gradually approaching each other, with `
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averted faces to avoid the strangling sprays, and finally gripping and `
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struggling till the best man ducked his neighbor, and then they all went under `
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in a tangle of white legs and arms and came up blowing, sputtering, laughing, `
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and gasping for breath at one and the same time. When they were well exhausted, `
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they would run out and sprawl on the dry, hot sand, and lie there and cover `
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themselves up with it, and by and by break for the water again and go through `
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the original performance once more. Finally it occurred to them that their `
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naked skin represented flesh-colored "tights" very fairly; so they drew a ring `
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in the sand and had a circus--with three clowns in it, for none would yield `
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this proudest post to his neighbor. Next they got their marbles and played `
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"knucks" and "ring-taw" and "keeps" till that amusement grew stale. Then Joe `
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and Huck had another swim, but Tom would not venture, because he found that in `
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kicking off his trousers he had kicked his string of rattlesnake rattles off `
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his ankle, and he wondered how he had escaped cramp so long without the `
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protection of this mysterious charm. He did not venture again until he had `
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found it, and by that time the other boys were tired and ready to rest. They `
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gradually wandered apart, dropped into the "dumps," and fell to gazing `
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longingly across the wide river to where the village lay drowsing in the sun. `
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Tom found himself writing "BECKY" in the sand with his big toe; he scratched it `
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out, and was angry with himself for his weakness. But he wrote it again, `
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nevertheless; he could not help it. He erased it once more and then took `
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himself out of temptation by driving the other boys together and joining them. `
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But Joe's spirits had gone down almost beyond resurrection. He was so homesick `
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that he could hardly endure the misery of it. The tears lay very near the `
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surface. Huck was melancholy, too. Tom was downhearted, but tried hard not to `
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show it. He had a secret which he was not ready to tell, yet, but if this `
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mutinous depression was not broken up soon, he would have to bring it out. He `
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said, with a great show of cheerfulness: "I bet there's been pirates on this `
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island before, boys. We'll explore it again. They've hid treasures here `
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somewhere. How'd you feel to light on a rotten chest full of gold and `
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silver--hey?" But it roused only faint enthusiasm, which faded out, with no `
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reply. Tom tried one or two other seductions; but they failed, too. It was `
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discouraging work. Joe sat poking up the sand with a stick and looking very `
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gloomy. Finally he said: "Oh, boys, let's give it up. I want to go home. It's `
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so lonesome." "Oh no, Joe, you'll feel better by and by," said Tom. "Just think `
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of the fishing that's here." "I don't care for fishing. I want to go home." `
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"But, Joe, there ain't such another swimming-place anywhere." "Swimming's no `
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good. I don't seem to care for it, somehow, when there ain't anybody to say I `
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sha'n't go in. I mean to go home." "Oh, shucks! Baby! You want to see your `
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mother, I reckon." "Yes, I DO want to see my mother--and you would, too, if you `
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had one. I ain't any more baby than you are." And Joe snuffled a little. "Well, `
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we'll let the cry-baby go home to his mother, won't we, Huck? Poor thing--does `
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it want to see its mother? And so it shall. You like it here, don't you, Huck? `
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We'll stay, won't we?" Huck said, "Y-e-s"--without any heart in it. "I'll never `
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speak to you again as long as I live," said Joe, rising. "There now!" And he `
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moved moodily away and began to dress himself. "Who cares!" said Tom. "Nobody `
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wants you to. Go 'long home and get laughed at. Oh, you're a nice pirate. Huck `
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and me ain't cry-babies. We'll stay, won't we, Huck? Let him go if he wants to. `
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I reckon we can get along without him, per'aps." But Tom was uneasy, `
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nevertheless, and was alarmed to see Joe go sullenly on with his dressing. And `
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then it was discomforting to see Huck eying Joe's preparations so wistfully, `
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and keeping up such an ominous silence. Presently, without a parting word, Joe `
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began to wade off toward the Illinois shore. Tom's heart began to sink. He `
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glanced at Huck. Huck could not bear the look, and dropped his eyes. Then he `
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said: "I want to go, too, Tom. It was getting so lonesome anyway, and now it'll `
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be worse. Let's us go, too, Tom." "I won't! You can all go, if you want to. I `
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mean to stay." "Tom, I better go." "Well, go 'long--who's hendering you." Huck `
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began to pick up his scattered clothes. He said: "Tom, I wisht you'd come, too. `
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Now you think it over. We'll wait for you when we get to shore." "Well, you'll `
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wait a blame long time, that's all." Huck started sorrowfully away, and Tom `
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stood looking after him, with a strong desire tugging at his heart to yield his `
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pride and go along too. He hoped the boys would stop, but they still waded `
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slowly on. It suddenly dawned on Tom that it was become very lonely and still. `
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He made one final struggle with his pride, and then darted after his comrades, `
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yelling: "Wait! Wait! I want to tell you something!" They presently stopped and `
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turned around. When he got to where they were, he began unfolding his secret, `
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and they listened moodily till at last they saw the "point" he was driving at, `
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and then they set up a war-whoop of applause and said it was "splendid!" and `
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said if he had told them at first, they wouldn't have started away. He made a `
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plausible excuse; but his real reason had been the fear that not even the `
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secret would keep them with him any very great length of time, and so he had `
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meant to hold it in reserve as a last seduction. The lads came gayly back and `
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went at their sports again with a will, chattering all the time about Tom's `
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stupendous plan and admiring the genius of it. After a dainty egg and fish `
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dinner, Tom said he wanted to learn to smoke, now. Joe caught at the idea and `
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said he would like to try, too. So Huck made pipes and filled them. These `
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novices had never smoked anything before but cigars made of grape-vine, and `
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they "bit" the tongue, and were not considered manly anyway. Now they stretched `
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themselves out on their elbows and began to puff, charily, and with slender `
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confidence. The smoke had an unpleasant taste, and they gagged a little, but `
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Tom said: "Why, it's just as easy! If I'd a knowed this was all, I'd a learnt `
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long ago." "So would I," said Joe. "It's just nothing." "Why, many a time I've `
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looked at people smoking, and thought well I wish I could do that; but I never `
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thought I could," said Tom. "That's just the way with me, hain't it, Huck? `
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You've heard me talk just that way--haven't you, Huck? I'll leave it to Huck if `
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I haven't." "Yes--heaps of times," said Huck. "Well, I have too," said Tom; `
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"oh, hundreds of times. Once down by the slaughter-house. Don't you remember, `
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Huck? Bob Tanner was there, and Johnny Miller, and Jeff Thatcher, when I said `
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it. Don't you remember, Huck, 'bout me saying that?" "Yes, that's so," said `
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Huck. "That was the day after I lost a white alley. No, 'twas the day before." `
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"There--I told you so," said Tom. "Huck recollects it." "I bleeve I could smoke `
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this pipe all day," said Joe. "I don't feel sick." "Neither do I," said Tom. "I `
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could smoke it all day. But I bet you Jeff Thatcher couldn't." "Jeff Thatcher! `
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Why, he'd keel over just with two draws. Just let him try it once. HE'D see!" `
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"I bet he would. And Johnny Miller--I wish could see Johnny Miller tackle it `
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once." "Oh, don't I!" said Joe. "Why, I bet you Johnny Miller couldn't any more `
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do this than nothing. Just one little snifter would fetch HIM." "'Deed it `
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would, Joe. Say--I wish the boys could see us now." "So do I." "Say--boys, `
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don't say anything about it, and some time when they're around, I'll come up to `
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you and say, 'Joe, got a pipe? I want a smoke.' And you'll say, kind of `
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careless like, as if it warn't anything, you'll say, 'Yes, I got my OLD pipe, `
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and another one, but my tobacker ain't very good.' And I'll say, 'Oh, that's `
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all right, if it's STRONG enough.' And then you'll out with the pipes, and `
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we'll light up just as ca'm, and then just see 'em look!" "By jings, that'll be `
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gay, Tom! I wish it was NOW!" "So do I! And when we tell 'em we learned when we `
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was off pirating, won't they wish they'd been along?" "Oh, I reckon not! I'll `
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just BET they will!" So the talk ran on. But presently it began to flag a `
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trifle, and grow disjointed. The silences widened; the expectoration `
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marvellously increased. Every pore inside the boys' cheeks became a spouting `
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fountain; they could scarcely bail out the cellars under their tongues fast `
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enough to prevent an inundation; little overflowings down their throats `
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occurred in spite of all they could do, and sudden retchings followed every `
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time. Both boys were looking very pale and miserable, now. Joe's pipe dropped `
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from his nerveless fingers. Tom's followed. Both fountains were going furiously `
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and both pumps bailing with might and main. Joe said feebly: "I've lost my `
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knife. I reckon I better go and find it." Tom said, with quivering lips and `
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halting utterance: "I'll help you. You go over that way and I'll hunt around by `
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the spring. No, you needn't come, Huck--we can find it." So Huck sat down `
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again, and waited an hour. Then he found it lonesome, and went to find his `
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comrades. They were wide apart in the woods, both very pale, both fast asleep. `
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But something informed him that if they had had any trouble they had got rid of `
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it. They were not talkative at supper that night. They had a humble look, and `
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when Huck prepared his pipe after the meal and was going to prepare theirs, `
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they said no, they were not feeling very well--something they ate at dinner had `
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disagreed with them. About midnight Joe awoke, and called the boys. There was a `
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brooding oppressiveness in the air that seemed to bode something. The boys `
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huddled themselves together and sought the friendly companionship of the fire, `
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though the dull dead heat of the breathless atmosphere was stifling. They sat `
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still, intent and waiting. The solemn hush continued. Beyond the light of the `
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fire everything was swallowed up in the blackness of darkness. Presently there `
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came a quivering glow that vaguely revealed the foliage for a moment and then `
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vanished. By and by another came, a little stronger. Then another. Then a faint `
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moan came sighing through the branches of the forest and the boys felt a `
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fleeting breath upon their cheeks, and shuddered with the fancy that the Spirit `
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of the Night had gone by. There was a pause. Now a weird flash turned night `
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into day and showed every little grass-blade, separate and distinct, that grew `
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about their feet. And it showed three white, startled faces, too. A deep peal `
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of thunder went rolling and tumbling down the heavens and lost itself in sullen `
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rumblings in the distance. A sweep of chilly air passed by, rustling all the `
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leaves and snowing the flaky ashes broadcast about the fire. Another fierce `
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glare lit up the forest and an instant crash followed that seemed to rend the `
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tree-tops right over the boys' heads. They clung together in terror, in the `
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thick gloom that followed. A few big rain-drops fell pattering upon the leaves. `
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"Quick! boys, go for the tent!" exclaimed Tom. They sprang away, stumbling over `
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roots and among vines in the dark, no two plunging in the same direction. A `
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furious blast roared through the trees, making everything sing as it went. One `
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blinding flash after another came, and peal on peal of deafening thunder. And `
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now a drenching rain poured down and the rising hurricane drove it in sheets `
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along the ground. The boys cried out to each other, but the roaring wind and `
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the booming thunder-blasts drowned their voices utterly. However, one by one `
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they straggled in at last and took shelter under the tent, cold, scared, and `
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streaming with water; but to have company in misery seemed something to be `
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grateful for. They could not talk, the old sail flapped so furiously, even if `
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the other noises would have allowed them. The tempest rose higher and higher, `
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and presently the sail tore loose from its fastenings and went winging away on `
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the blast. The boys seized each others' hands and fled, with many tumblings and `
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bruises, to the shelter of a great oak that stood upon the river-bank. Now the `
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battle was at its highest. Under the ceaseless conflagration of lightning that `
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flamed in the skies, everything below stood out in clean-cut and shadowless `
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distinctness: the bending trees, the billowy river, white with foam, the `
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driving spray of spume-flakes, the dim outlines of the high bluffs on the other `
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side, glimpsed through the drifting cloud-rack and the slanting veil of rain. `
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Every little while some giant tree yielded the fight and fell crashing through `
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the younger growth; and the unflagging thunder-peals came now in ear-splitting `
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explosive bursts, keen and sharp, and unspeakably appalling. The storm `
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culminated in one matchless effort that seemed likely to tear the island to `
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pieces, burn it up, drown it to the tree-tops, blow it away, and deafen every `
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creature in it, all at one and the same moment. It was a wild night for `
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homeless young heads to be out in. But at last the battle was done, and the `
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forces retired with weaker and weaker threatenings and grumblings, and peace `
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resumed her sway. The boys went back to camp, a good deal awed; but they found `
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there was still something to be thankful for, because the great sycamore, the `
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shelter of their beds, was a ruin, now, blasted by the lightnings, and they `
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were not under it when the catastrophe happened. Everything in camp was `
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drenched, the camp-fire as well; for they were but heedless lads, like their `
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generation, and had made no provision against rain. Here was matter for dismay, `
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for they were soaked through and chilled. They were eloquent in their distress; `
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but they presently discovered that the fire had eaten so far up under the great `
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log it had been built against (where it curved upward and separated itself from `
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the ground), that a handbreadth or so of it had escaped wetting; so they `
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patiently wrought until, with shreds and bark gathered from the under sides of `
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sheltered logs, they coaxed the fire to burn again. Then they piled on great `
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dead boughs till they had a roaring furnace, and were glad-hearted once more. `
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They dried their boiled ham and had a feast, and after that they sat by the `
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fire and expanded and glorified their midnight adventure until morning, for `
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there was not a dry spot to sleep on, anywhere around. As the sun began to `
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steal in upon the boys, drowsiness came over them, and they went out on the `
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sandbar and lay down to sleep. They got scorched out by and by, and drearily `
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set about getting breakfast. After the meal they felt rusty, and stiff-jointed, `
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