The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Part 7.

by Mark Twain

atonce, and so weak that he thought he must surely fall to the ground. Heknew where he was. He knew he was within five steps of the stileleading into Widow Douglas' grounds. Very well, he thought, let thembury it there; it won't be hard to find.

  Now there was a voice--a very low voice--Injun Joe's:

  "Damn her, maybe she's got company--there's lights, late as it is."

  "I can't see any."

  This was that stranger's voice--the stranger of the haunted house. Adeadly chill went to Huck's heart--this, then, was the "revenge" job!His thought was, to fly. Then he remembered that the Widow Douglas hadbeen kind to him more than once, and maybe these men were going tomurder her. He wished he dared venture to warn her; but he knew hedidn't dare--they might come and catch him. He thought all this andmore in the moment that elapsed between the stranger's remark and InjunJoe's next--which was--

  "Because the bush is in your way. Now--this way--now you see, don'tyou?"

  "Yes. Well, there IS company there, I reckon. Better give it up."

  "Give it up, and I just leaving this country forever! Give it up andmaybe never have another chance. I tell you again, as I've told youbefore, I don't care for her swag--you may have it. But her husband wasrough on me--many times he was rough on me--and mainly he was thejustice of the peace that jugged me for a vagrant. And that ain't all.It ain't a millionth part of it! He had me HORSEWHIPPED!--horsewhippedin front of the jail, like a nigger!--with all the town looking on!HORSEWHIPPED!--do you understand? He took advantage of me and died. ButI'll take it out of HER."

  "Oh, don't kill her! Don't do that!"

  "Kill? Who said anything about killing? I would kill HIM if he washere; but not her. When you want to get revenge on a woman you don'tkill her--bosh! you go for her looks. You slit her nostrils--you notchher ears like a sow!"

  "By God, that's--"

  "Keep your opinion to yourself! It will be safest for you. I'll tieher to the bed. If she bleeds to death, is that my fault? I'll not cry,if she does. My friend, you'll help me in this thing--for MY sake--that's why you're here--I mightn't be able alone. If you flinch, I'llkill you. Do you understand that? And if I have to kill you, I'll killher--and then I reckon nobody'll ever know much about who done thisbusiness."

  "Well, if it's got to be done, let's get at it. The quicker thebetter--I'm all in a shiver."

  "Do it NOW? And company there? Look here--I'll get suspicious of you,first thing you know. No--we'll wait till the lights are out--there'sno hurry."

  Huck felt that a silence was going to ensue--a thing still more awfulthan any amount of murderous talk; so he held his breath and steppedgingerly back; planted his foot carefully and firmly, after balancing,one-legged, in a precarious way and almost toppling over, first on oneside and then on the other. He took another step back, with the sameelaboration and the same risks; then another and another, and--a twigsnapped under his foot! His breath stopped and he listened. There wasno sound--the stillness was perfect. His gratitude was measureless. Nowhe turned in his tracks, between the walls of sumach bushes--turnedhimself as carefully as if he were a ship--and then stepped quickly butcautiously along. When he emerged at the quarry he felt secure, and sohe picked up his nimble heels and flew. Down, down he sped, till hereached the Welshman's. He banged at the door, and presently the headsof the old man and his two stalwart sons were thrust from windows.

  "What's the row there? Who's banging? What do you want?"

  "Let me in--quick! I'll tell everything."

  "Why, who are you?"

  "Huckleberry Finn--quick, let me in!"

  "Huckleberry Finn, indeed! It ain't a name to open many doors, Ijudge! But let him in, lads, and let's see what's the trouble."

  "Please don't ever tell I told you," were Huck's first words when hegot in. "Please don't--I'd be killed, sure--but the widow's been goodfriends to me sometimes, and I want to tell--I WILL tell if you'llpromise you won't ever say it was me."

  "By George, he HAS got something to tell, or he wouldn't act so!"exclaimed the old man; "out with it and nobody here'll ever tell, lad."

  Three minutes later the old man and his sons, well armed, were up thehill, and just entering the sumach path on tiptoe, their weapons intheir hands. Huck accompanied them no further. He hid behind a greatbowlder and fell to listening. There was a lagging, anxious silence,and then all of a sudden there was an explosion of firearms and a cry.

  Huck waited for no particulars. He sprang away and sped down the hillas fast as his legs could carry him.