Chapter 6

Well, pretty soon the old man was up and around again, and then he went for Judge Thatcher in the courts to make him give up that money, and he went for me, too, for not stopping school. He catched me a couple of times and thrashed me, but I went to school just the same, and dodged him or outrun him most of the time. I didn’t want to go to school much before, but I reckoned I’d go now to spite pap. That law trial was a slow business—appeared like they warn’t ever going to get started on it; so every now and then I’d borrow two or three dollars off of the judge for him, to keep from getting a cowhiding. Every time he got money he got drunk; and every time he got drunk he raised Cain around town; and every time he raised Cain he got jailed. He was just suited—this kind of thing was right in his line.

Well, pretty soon the old man was up and around again. Then he took Judge Thatcher to court to make him give up that money. He went after me, too, for not quitting school. He catched me a couple of times and beat me, but I went to school just the same. Most of the time I dodged him or outrun him. I didn’t want to go to school much before, but I reckoned I’d go now to spite pap. That court case was a slow business. It seemed like they weren’t ever going to get started on it. So every now and then I’d borrow two or three dollars off of the judge for pap. I did that to keep from getting whipped. Every time he got money he got drunk. And every time he got drunk he raised Cain around town. And every time he raised Cain he got jailed. He was perfectly happy. This kind of thing was right in his line.

He got to hanging around the widow’s too much and so she told him at last that if he didn’t quit using around there she would make trouble for him. Well, wasn’t he mad? He said he would show who was Huck Finn’s boss. So he watched out for me one day in the spring, and catched me, and took me up the river about three mile in a skiff, and crossed over to the Illinois shore where it was woody and there warn’t no houses but an old log hut in a place where the timber was so thick you couldn’t find it if you didn’t know where it was.

He got to hanging around the widow’s too much. So she finally told him she would make trouble for him if he didn’t quit coming around there. Well, wasn’t he mad? He said he would show who was Huck Finn’s boss. So he watched for me one day in the spring and catched me. He took me about three mile up the river in a small boat and crossed over to the Illinois shore. There was woods there, and there wasn’t no houses except an old log hut. The trees around the hut was so thick you couldn’t find it if you didn’t know where it was.

He kept me with him all the time, and I never got a chance to run off. We lived in that old cabin, and he always locked the door and put the key under his head nights. He had a gun which he had stole, I reckon, and we fished and hunted, and that was what we lived on. Every little while he locked me in and went down to the store, three miles, to the ferry, and traded fish and game for whisky, and fetched it home and got drunk and had a good time, and licked me. The widow she found out where I was by-and-by, and she sent a man over to try to get hold of me; but pap drove him off with the gun, and it warn’t long after that till I was used to being where I was, and liked it—all but the cowhide part.

He kept me with him all the time, and I never got a chance to run off. We lived in that old cabin. He always locked the door and put the key under his head at night. He had a gun which he had stole, I reckon. We fished and hunted, and that was what we lived on. Every little while he locked me in and went three miles down to the store by the ferry. He traded fish and game for whisky, and brought it home. Then he got drunk and had a good time, and beat me. The widow she found out where I was after a while. She sent a man over to try to get hold of me, but pap drove him off with the gun. It wasn't long after that till I was used to being where I was, and liked it. All except the beatings with the cowhide whip.

It was kind of lazy and jolly, laying off comfortable all day, smoking and fishing, and no books nor study. Two months or more run along, and my clothes got to be all rags and dirt, and I didn’t see how I’d ever got to like it so well at the widow’s, where you had to wash, and eat on a plate, and comb up, and go to bed and get up regular, and be forever bothering over a book, and have old Miss Watson pecking at you all the time. I didn’t want to go back no more. I had stopped cussing, because the widow didn’t like it; but now I took to it again because pap hadn’t no objections. It was pretty good times up in the woods there, take it all around.

It was kind of lazy and jolly, laying around comfortable all day, smoking and fishing, and no books nor study. Two months or more run along, and my clothes got to be all rags and dirt. I didn’t see how I’d ever got to like it so well at the widow’s, where you had to wash, and eat on a plate, and comb your hair, and go to bed and get up regular, and be forever bothering over a book, and have old Miss Watson pecking at you all the time. I didn’t want to go back no more. I had stopped cussing, because the widow didn’t like it, but now I took to it again because pap hadn’t no objections. It was pretty good times up in the woods there, take it all around.

But by-and-by pap got too handy with his hick’ry, and I couldn’t stand it. I was all over welts. He got to going away so much, too, and locking me in. Once he locked me in and was gone three days. It was dreadful lonesome. I judged he had got drownded, and I wasn’t ever going to get out any more. I was scared. I made up my mind I would fix up some way to leave there. I had tried to get out of that cabin many a time, but I couldn’t find no way. There warn’t a window to it big enough for a dog to get through. I couldn’t get up the chimbly; it was too narrow. The door was thick, solid oak slabs. Pap was pretty careful not to leave a knife or anything in the cabin when he was away; I reckon I had hunted the place over as much as a hundred times; well, I was most all the time at it, because it was about the only way to put in the time. But this time I found something at last; I found an old rusty wood-saw without any handle; it was laid in between a rafter and the clapboards of the roof. I greased it up and went to work. There was an old horse-blanket nailed against the logs at the far end of the cabin behind the table, to keep the wind from blowing through the chinks and putting the candle out. I got under the table and raised the blanket, and went to work to saw a section of the big bottom log out—big enough to let me through. Well, it was a good long job, but I was getting towards the end of it when I heard pap’s gun in the woods. I got rid of the signs of my work, and dropped the blanket and hid my saw, and pretty soon pap come in.

But after a while pap got too free with his hickory stick, and I couldn’t stand it. I was covered in welts. He got to going away so much, too, and locking me in. Once he locked me in and was gone three days. It was terribly lonely. I figured he had drowned, and I wasn’t ever going to get out any more. I was scared. I made up my mind I would find some way to leave there. I had tried to get out of that cabin many a time, but I couldn’t find no way. There wasn’t a window big enough for a dog to get through. I couldn’t get up the chimney because it was too narrow. The door was made of thick, solid oak planks. Pap was pretty careful not to leave a knife or anything in the cabin when he was away. I reckon I had searched the place as much as a hundred times. Well, I was at it almost all the time, because searching was about the only way to pass the time. But this time I found something at last. I found an old rusty wood saw without any handle, tucked between a rafter and the roof boards. I greased it up and went to work. An old horse blanket was nailed against the logs at the far end of the cabin, behind the table. The blanket kept the wind from blowing through the cracks and putting the candle out. I got under the table and lifted the blanket. Then I started sawing out a section of the big bottom log, big enough to let me through. Well, it was a good long job. But I was getting towards the end of it when I heard pap’s gun in the woods. I cleared away the signs of my work, dropped the blanket, and hid my saw. Pretty soon pap come in.

Pap warn’t in a good humor—so he was his natural self. He said he was down town, and everything was going wrong. His lawyer said he reckoned he would win his lawsuit and get the money if they ever got started on the trial; but then there was ways to put it off a long time, and Judge Thatcher knowed how to do it. And he said people allowed there’d be another trial to get me away from him and give me to the widow for my guardian, and they guessed it would win this time. This shook me up considerable, because I didn’t want to go back to the widow’s any more and be so cramped up and sivilized, as they called it. Then the old man got to cussing, and cussed everything and everybody he could think of, and then cussed them all over again to make sure he hadn’t skipped any, and after that he polished off with a kind of a general cuss all round, including a considerable parcel of people which he didn’t know the names of, and so called them what’s-his-name when he got to them, and went right along with his cussing.

Pap wasn’t in a good mood, so he was his usual self. He said he’d been downtown, and everything was going wrong. His lawyer said he reckoned he would win his lawsuit and get the money if the trial ever got started. But there was ways to put the trial off a long time, and Judge Thatcher knowed how to do it. And Pap said people figured there’d be another trial to take me away from him. The widow would be my guardian, and they guessed the case would succeed this time. This shook me up considerable, because I didn’t want to go back to the widow’s anymore. I didn’t want to be so hemmed in and civilized, as they called it. Then the old man got to cussing, and cussed everything and everybody he could think of. Then he cussed them all over again to make sure he hadn’t skipped any. After that, he finished off with a kind of general cuss aimed at everybody. He included a good many people whose names he didn’t know. So he called them what’s-his-name when he got to them, and went right along with his cussing.

He said he would like to see the widow get me. He said he would watch out, and if they tried to come any such game on him he knowed of a place six or seven mile off to stow me in, where they might hunt till they dropped and they couldn’t find me. That made me pretty uneasy again, but only for a minute; I reckoned I wouldn’t stay on hand till he got that chance.

He said he would like to see the widow get me. He said he would watch out, and if they tried to pull any such game on him, he knowed of a place six or seven mile off to stow me in, where they might hunt till they dropped and they couldn’t find me. That made me pretty uneasy again, but only for a minute. I reckoned I wouldn’t stay on hand till he got that chance.

The old man made me go to the skiff and fetch the things he had got. There was a fifty-pound sack of corn meal, and a side of bacon, ammunition, and a four-gallon jug of whisky, and an old book and two newspapers for wadding, besides some tow. I toted up a load, and went back and set down on the bow of the skiff to rest. I thought it all over, and I reckoned I would walk off with the gun and some lines, and take to the woods when I run away. I guessed I wouldn’t stay in one place, but just tramp right across the country, mostly night times, and hunt and fish to keep alive, and so get so far away that the old man nor the widow couldn’t ever find me any more. I judged I would saw out and leave that night if pap got drunk enough, and I reckoned he would. I got so full of it I didn’t notice how long I was staying till the old man hollered and asked me whether I was asleep or drownded.

The old man made me go to the small boat and fetch the things he had got. There was a fifty-pound sack of cornmeal, a side of bacon, ammunition, and a four-gallon jug of whisky. There was also an old book and two newspapers for packing the gun, besides some loose flax fibers. I carried up a load, then went back and set down on the front of the boat to rest. I thought it all over. I reckoned I would walk off with the gun and some fishing lines when I run away. Then I would take to the woods. I guessed I wouldn’t stay in one place, but just tramp right across the country, mostly at night. I would hunt and fish to keep alive. That way, I would get so far away that the old man nor the widow couldn’t ever find me anymore. I figured I would saw my way out and leave that night if pap got drunk enough. I reckoned he would. I got so caught up in my plans I didn’t notice how long I was staying. Then the old man hollered and asked me whether I was asleep or drowned.

I got the things all up to the cabin, and then it was about dark. While I was cooking supper the old man took a swig or two and got sort of warmed up, and went to ripping again. He had been drunk over in town, and laid in the gutter all night, and he was a sight to look at. A body would a thought he was Adam—he was just all mud. Whenever his liquor begun to work he most always went for the govment, this time he says:

I got all the things up to the cabin, and then it was about dark. While I was cooking supper, the old man took a swig or two and got sort of warmed up. Then he started ranting again. He had been drunk over in town and laid in the gutter all night. He was a sight to look at. You would have thought he was Adam, he was just all mud. Whenever his liquor begun to work, he most always went after the government. This time he says:

“Call this a govment! why, just look at it and see what it’s like. Here’s the law a-standing ready to take a man’s son away from him—a man’s own son, which he has had all the trouble and all the anxiety and all the expense of raising. Yes, just as that man has got that son raised at last, and ready to go to work and begin to do suthin’ for him and give him a rest, the law up and goes for him. And they call that govment! That ain’t all, nuther. The law backs that old Judge Thatcher up and helps him to keep me out o’ my property. Here’s what the law does: The law takes a man worth six thousand dollars and up’ards, and jams him into an old trap of a cabin like this, and lets him go round in clothes that ain’t fitten for a hog. They call that govment! A man can’t get his rights in a govment like this. Sometimes I’ve a mighty notion to just leave the country for good and all. Yes, and I told ’em so; I told old Thatcher so to his face. Lots of ’em heard me, and can tell what I said. Says I, for two cents I’d leave the blamed country and never come a-near it agin. Them’s the very words. I says look at my hat—if you call it a hat—but the lid raises up and the rest of it goes down till it’s below my chin, and then it ain’t rightly a hat at all, but more like my head was shoved up through a jint o’ stove-pipe. Look at it, says I—such a hat for me to wear—one of the wealthiest men in this town if I could git my rights.

“Call this a government! Why, just look at it and see what it’s like. Here’s the law standing ready to take a man’s son away from him. A man’s own son, which he has had all the trouble and all the anxiety and all the expense of raising. Yes, just as that man has finally got that son raised, the law up and goes for him. Just when the son’s ready to work and do something for him and give him a rest. And they call that government! That ain’t all, neither. The law backs that old Judge Thatcher up and helps him keep me out of my property. Here’s what the law does: It takes a man worth six thousand dollars and upwards and jams him into an old wreck of a cabin like this. And it lets him go around in clothes that ain’t fit for a hog. They call that government! A man can’t get his rights in a government like this. Sometimes I’ve a mighty notion to just leave the country for good and all. Yes, and I told them so. I told old Thatcher so to his face. Lots of them heard me and can tell what I said. Says I, for two cents I’d leave the blamed country and never come near it again. Them’s the very words. I says look at my hat, if you call it a hat. But the top lifts up and the rest of it drops down below my chin. Then it ain’t rightly a hat at all. It’s more like my head was shoved up through a section of stovepipe. Look at it, says I. Such a hat for me to wear, one of the wealthiest men in this town if I could get my rights.

“Oh, yes, this is a wonderful govment, wonderful. Why, looky here. There was a free nigger there from Ohio—a mulatter, most as white as a white man. He had the whitest shirt on you ever see, too, and the shiniest hat; and there ain’t a man in that town that’s got as fine clothes as what he had; and he had a gold watch and chain, and a silver-headed cane—the awfulest old gray-headed nabob in the State. And what do you think? They said he was a p’fessor in a college, and could talk all kinds of languages, and knowed everything. And that ain’t the wust. They said he could vote when he was at home. Well, that let me out. Thinks I, what is the country a-coming to? It was ’lection day, and I was just about to go and vote myself if I warn’t too drunk to get there; but when they told me there was a State in this country where they’d let that nigger vote, I drawed out. I says I’ll never vote agin. Them’s the very words I said; they all heard me; and the country may rot for all me—I’ll never vote agin as long as I live. And to see the cool way of that nigger—why, he wouldn’t a give me the road if I hadn’t shoved him out o’ the way. I says to the people, why ain’t this nigger put up at auction and sold?—that’s what I want to know. And what do you reckon they said? Why, they said he couldn’t be sold till he’d been in the State six months, and he hadn’t been there that long yet. There, now—that’s a specimen. They call that a govment that can’t sell a free nigger till he’s been in the State six months. Here’s a govment that calls itself a govment, and lets on to be a govment, and thinks it is a govment, and yet’s got to set stock-still for six whole months before it can take a hold of a prowling, thieving, infernal, white-shirted free nigger, and—”

“Oh, yes, this is a wonderful government, wonderful. Why, look here. There was a free nigger there from Ohio, a mulatter, most as white as a white man. He had the whitest shirt on you ever see, too, and the shiniest hat. And there ain’t a man in that town that’s got as fine clothes as what he had. And he had a gold watch and chain, and a silver-headed cane. He was the grandest old gray-headed rich man in the State. And what do you think? They said he was a professor in a college, and could talk all kinds of languages, and knowed everything. And that ain’t the worst. They said he could vote when he was at home. Well, that was enough for me. Thinks I, what is the country coming to? It was election day. I was just about to go and vote myself if I wasn’t too drunk to get there. But they told me there was a State in this country where they’d let that nigger vote. So I backed out. I says I’ll never vote again. Them’s the very words I said. They all heard me. And the country may rot for all I care. I’ll never vote again as long as I live. And to see the cool way of that nigger! Why, he wouldn’t have give me the road if I hadn’t shoved him out of the way. I says to the people, why ain’t this nigger put up at auction and sold? That’s what I want to know. And what do you reckon they said? Why, they said he couldn’t be sold till he’d been in the State six months. And he hadn’t been there that long yet. There, now, that’s an example of this government. They call that a government that can’t sell a free nigger till he’s been in the State six months. Here’s a government that calls itself a government, and pretends to be a government, and thinks it is a government. And yet it’s got to sit doing nothing for six whole months. Only then can it grab a prowling, thieving, infernal, white-shirted free nigger, and...”

Pap was agoing on so he never noticed where his old limber legs was taking him to, so he went head over heels over the tub of salt pork and barked both shins, and the rest of his speech was all the hottest kind of language—mostly hove at the nigger and the govment, though he give the tub some, too, all along, here and there. He hopped around the cabin considerable, first on one leg and then on the other, holding first one shin and then the other one, and at last he let out with his left foot all of a sudden and fetched the tub a rattling kick. But it warn’t good judgment, because that was the boot that had a couple of his toes leaking out of the front end of it; so now he raised a howl that fairly made a body’s hair raise, and down he went in the dirt, and rolled there, and held his toes; and the cussing he done then laid over anything he had ever done previous. He said so his own self afterwards. He had heard old Sowberry Hagan in his best days, and he said it laid over him, too; but I reckon that was sort of piling it on, maybe.

Pap was going on so he never noticed where his old wobbly legs was taking him. So he went head over heels over the tub of salt pork and scraped both shins. The rest of his speech was all the hottest kind of language, mostly aimed at the nigger and the government. Though he give the tub some, too, here and there. He hopped around the cabin a good deal, first on one leg and then on the other. He held first one shin and then the other one. At last he suddenly swung his left foot and gave the tub a rattling kick. But it wasn't good judgment, because that boot had a couple of his toes sticking out the front. So now he let out a howl that fairly made a body's hair stand on end. Down he went in the dirt, and rolled there, and held his toes. And the cussing he done then beat anything he had ever done before. He said so his own self afterwards. He had heard old Sowberry Hagan in his best days, and he said his cussing beat Hagan's, too. But I reckon that was sort of piling it on, maybe.

After supper pap took the jug, and said he had enough whisky there for two drunks and one delirium tremens. That was always his word. I judged he would be blind drunk in about an hour, and then I would steal the key, or saw myself out, one or t’other. He drank and drank, and tumbled down on his blankets by-and-by; but luck didn’t run my way. He didn’t go sound asleep, but was uneasy. He groaned and moaned and thrashed around this way and that for a long time. At last I got so sleepy I couldn’t keep my eyes open all I could do, and so before I knowed what I was about I was sound asleep, and the candle burning.

After supper pap took the jug. He said he had enough whisky there for two drunks and one case of delirium tremens. That was always what he called it. I figured he would be blind drunk in about an hour. Then I would steal the key or saw myself out, one or the other. He drank and drank, and after a while he fell down on his blankets. But luck didn’t go my way. He didn’t fall sound asleep, but was restless. He groaned and moaned and thrashed around this way and that for a long time. At last I got so sleepy I couldn’t keep my eyes open, no matter how hard I tried. So before I knowed what I was doing, I was sound asleep, and the candle was still burning.

I don’t know how long I was asleep, but all of a sudden there was an awful scream and I was up. There was pap looking wild, and skipping around every which way and yelling about snakes. He said they was crawling up his legs; and then he would give a jump and scream, and say one had bit him on the cheek—but I couldn’t see no snakes. He started and run round and round the cabin, hollering “Take him off! take him off! he’s biting me on the neck!” I never see a man look so wild in the eyes. Pretty soon he was all fagged out, and fell down panting; then he rolled over and over wonderful fast, kicking things every which way, and striking and grabbing at the air with his hands, and screaming and saying there was devils a-hold of him. He wore out by-and-by, and laid still a while, moaning. Then he laid stiller, and didn’t make a sound. I could hear the owls and the wolves away off in the woods, and it seemed terrible still. He was laying over by the corner. By-and-by he raised up part way and listened, with his head to one side. He says, very low:

I don’t know how long I was asleep, but all of a sudden there was an awful scream. I was up. There was pap looking wild, jumping around every which way and yelling about snakes. He said they was crawling up his legs. Then he would jump and scream and say one had bit him on the cheek. But I couldn’t see no snakes. He started running round and round the cabin, hollering “Take him off! take him off! he’s biting me on the neck!” I never see a man look so wild in the eyes. Pretty soon he was all worn out and fell down panting. Then he rolled over and over terribly fast, kicking things every which way. He was hitting and grabbing at the air with his hands, screaming and saying there was devils holding him. He wore out after a while and laid still, moaning. Then he laid even stiller and didn’t make a sound. I could hear the owls and the wolves far off in the woods, and it seemed terribly quiet. He was laying over by the corner. After a while he raised up partway and listened, with his head to one side. He says, very low:

“Tramp—tramp—tramp; that’s the dead; tramp—tramp—tramp; they’re coming after me; but I won’t go. Oh, they’re here! don’t touch me—don’t! hands off—they’re cold; let go. Oh, let a poor devil alone!”

“Tramp, tramp, tramp. That’s the dead. Tramp, tramp, tramp. They’re coming after me, but I won’t go. Oh, they’re here! Don’t touch me! Don’t! Hands off! Your hands are cold. Let go. Oh, leave a poor devil alone!”

Then he went down on all fours and crawled off, begging them to let him alone, and he rolled himself up in his blanket and wallowed in under the old pine table, still a-begging; and then he went to crying. I could hear him through the blanket.

Then he got down on all fours and crawled away, begging them to leave him alone. And he rolled himself up in his blanket and wriggled under the old pine table, still begging. And then he started crying. I could hear him through the blanket.

By-and-by he rolled out and jumped up on his feet looking wild, and he see me and went for me. He chased me round and round the place with a clasp-knife, calling me the Angel of Death, and saying he would kill me, and then I couldn’t come for him no more. I begged, and told him I was only Huck; but he laughed such a screechy laugh, and roared and cussed, and kept on chasing me up. Once when I turned short and dodged under his arm he made a grab and got me by the jacket between my shoulders, and I thought I was gone; but I slid out of the jacket quick as lightning, and saved myself. Pretty soon he was all tired out, and dropped down with his back against the door, and said he would rest a minute and then kill me. He put his knife under him, and said he would sleep and get strong, and then he would see who was who.

After a while he rolled out and jumped to his feet, looking wild. Then he see me and came at me. He chased me round and round the place with a pocketknife, calling me the Angel of Death. He said he would kill me, and then I couldn’t come for him no more. I begged and told him I was only Huck. But he laughed such a screechy laugh, and roared and cussed, and kept on chasing me. Once I made a sharp turn and ducked under his arm. He grabbed my jacket between my shoulders, and I thought I was done for. But I slipped out of the jacket quick as lightning and saved myself. Pretty soon he was all worn out and dropped down with his back against the door. He said he would rest a minute and then kill me. He put his knife under him and said he would sleep and get his strength back. Then he would see who was who.

So he dozed off pretty soon. By-and-by I got the old split-bottom chair and clumb up as easy as I could, not to make any noise, and got down the gun. I slipped the ramrod down it to make sure it was loaded, then I laid it across the turnip barrel, pointing towards pap, and set down behind it to wait for him to stir. And how slow and still the time did drag along.

So he dozed off pretty soon. By-and-by I got the old split-bottom chair and clumb up as easy as I could, not to make any noise, and got down the gun. I slipped the ramrod down it to make sure it was loaded. Then I laid it across the turnip barrel, pointing towards pap, and set down behind it to wait for him to stir. And how slow and still the time did drag along.