Chapter 42

14 min

The old man was uptown again before breakfast, but couldn’t get no track of Tom; and both of them set at the table thinking, and not saying nothing, and looking mournful, and their coffee getting cold, and not eating anything. And by-and-by the old man says:

The old man was uptown again before breakfast. But he couldn’t get no track of Tom. And both of them set at the table thinking, not saying nothing, and looking sad. Their coffee was getting cold, and they weren’t eating anything. And after a while the old man says:

“Did I give you the letter?”

“What letter?”

“The one I got yesterday out of the post-office.”

“The one I got yesterday from the post office.”

“No, you didn’t give me no letter.”

“Well, I must a forgot it.”

“Well, I must have forgot it.”

So he rummaged his pockets, and then went off somewheres where he had laid it down, and fetched it, and give it to her. She says:

So he rummaged through his pockets. Then he went off somewhere he had laid it down, fetched it, and give it to her. She says:

“Why, it’s from St. Petersburg—it’s from Sis.”

“Why, it’s from St. Petersburg. It’s from Sis.”

I allowed another walk would do me good; but I couldn’t stir. But before she could break it open she dropped it and run—for she see something. And so did I. It was Tom Sawyer on a mattress; and that old doctor; and Jim, in her calico dress, with his hands tied behind him; and a lot of people. I hid the letter behind the first thing that come handy, and rushed. She flung herself at Tom, crying, and says:

I figured another walk would do me good, but I couldn’t move. But before she could open the letter, she dropped it and run, because she see something. And so did I. It was Tom Sawyer on a mattress, and that old doctor. And there was Jim in her calico dress, with his hands tied behind him, and a lot of people. I hid the letter behind the first thing that come handy, and rushed over. She threw herself at Tom, crying, and says:

“Oh, he’s dead, he’s dead, I know he’s dead!”

“Oh, he’s dead, he’s dead! I know he’s dead!”

And Tom he turned his head a little, and muttered something or other, which showed he warn’t in his right mind; then she flung up her hands, and says:

And Tom he turned his head a little and muttered something or other. His muttering showed he wasn’t in his right mind. Then she flung up her hands and says:

“He’s alive, thank God! And that’s enough!” and she snatched a kiss of him, and flew for the house to get the bed ready, and scattering orders right and left at the and everybody else, as fast as her tongue could go, every jump of the way.

“He’s alive, thank God! And that’s enough!” She gave him a quick kiss and rushed to the house to get the bed ready. And the whole way, she shouted orders at the and everybody else as fast as she could talk.

I followed the men to see what they was going to do with Jim; and the old doctor and Uncle Silas followed after Tom into the house. The men was very huffy, and some of them wanted to hang Jim for an example to all the other around there, so they wouldn’t be trying to run away like Jim done, and making such a raft of trouble, and keeping a whole family scared most to death for days and nights. But the others said, don’t do it, it wouldn’t answer at all; he ain’t our , and his owner would turn up and make us pay for him, sure. So that cooled them down a little, because the people that’s always the most anxious for to hang a that hain’t done just right is always the very ones that ain’t the most anxious to pay for him when they’ve got their satisfaction out of him.

I followed the men to see what they was going to do with Jim. The old doctor and Uncle Silas followed after Tom into the house. The men was very angry. Some of them wanted to hang Jim as an example to all the other around there. That way, they wouldn’t be trying to run away like Jim done and causing so much trouble. They wouldn’t be keeping a whole family scared almost to death for days and nights. But the others said, don’t do it, it wouldn’t work at all. He ain’t our , and his owner would show up and make us pay for him, sure. So that cooled them down a little. Because the people that’s always the most eager to hang a that ain’t behaved just right is always the same ones. They ain’t nearly so eager to pay for him once they’ve got their satisfaction out of him.

They cussed Jim considerble, though, and give him a cuff or two side the head once in a while, but Jim never said nothing, and he never let on to know me, and they took him to the same cabin, and put his own clothes on him, and chained him again, and not to no bed-leg this time, but to a big staple drove into the bottom log, and chained his hands, too, and both legs, and said he warn’t to have nothing but bread and water to eat after this till his owner come, or he was sold at auction because he didn’t come in a certain length of time, and filled up our hole, and said a couple of farmers with guns must stand watch around about the cabin every night, and a bulldog tied to the door in the daytime; and about this time they was through with the job and was tapering off with a kind of generl good-bye cussing, and then the old doctor comes and takes a look, and says:

They cussed Jim considerable, though, and give him a cuff or two side the head once in a while, but Jim never said nothing, and he never let on to know me. They took him to the same cabin, and put his own clothes on him, and chained him again. And not to no bed-leg this time, but to a big staple drove into the bottom log. And they chained his hands, too, and both legs. They said he wasn’t to have nothing but bread and water to eat after this till his owner come, or till he was sold at auction because his owner didn’t come in a certain length of time. They filled up our hole, and said a couple of farmers with guns must stand watch around about the cabin every night, and a bulldog be tied to the door in the daytime. And about this time they was through with the job and was tapering off with a kind of general good-bye cussing, and then the old doctor comes and takes a look, and says:

“Don’t be no rougher on him than you’re obleeged to, because he ain’t a bad . When I got to where I found the boy I see I couldn’t cut the bullet out without some help, and he warn’t in no condition for me to leave to go and get help; and he got a little worse and a little worse, and after a long time he went out of his head, and wouldn’t let me come a-nigh him any more, and said if I chalked his raft he’d kill me, and no end of wild foolishness like that, and I see I couldn’t do anything at all with him; so I says, I got to have help somehow; and the minute I says it out crawls this from somewheres and says he’ll help, and he done it, too, and done it very well. Of course I judged he must be a runaway , and there I was! and there I had to stick right straight along all the rest of the day and all night. It was a fix, I tell you! I had a couple of patients with the chills, and of course I’d of liked to run up to town and see them, but I dasn’t, because the might get away, and then I’d be to blame; and yet never a skiff come close enough for me to hail. So there I had to stick plumb until daylight this morning; and I never see a that was a better nuss or faithfuller, and yet he was risking his freedom to do it, and was all tired out, too, and I see plain enough he’d been worked main hard lately. I liked the for that; I tell you, gentlemen, a like that is worth a thousand dollars—and kind treatment, too. I had everything I needed, and the boy was doing as well there as he would a done at home—better, maybe, because it was so quiet; but there I was, with both of ’m on my hands, and there I had to stick till about dawn this morning; then some men in a skiff come by, and as good luck would have it the was setting by the pallet with his head propped on his knees sound asleep; so I motioned them in quiet, and they slipped up on him and grabbed him and tied him before he knowed what he was about, and we never had no trouble. And the boy being in a kind of a flighty sleep, too, we muffled the oars and hitched the raft on, and towed her over very nice and quiet, and the never made the least row nor said a word from the start. He ain’t no bad , gentlemen; that’s what I think about him.”

“Don’t be no rougher on him than you’re obliged to, because he ain’t a bad . When I got to where I found the boy, I see I couldn’t cut the bullet out without some help. And he wasn’t in no condition for me to leave him to go and get help. He got a little worse and a little worse. After a long time he went out of his head and wouldn’t let me come near him anymore. He said if I marked his raft with chalk he’d kill me, and no end of wild foolishness like that. I see I couldn’t do anything at all with him. So I says, I got to have help somehow. The minute I says it, out crawls this from somewhere and says he’ll help. And he done it, too, and done it very well. Of course I judged he must be a runaway , and there I was! And there I had to stay all the rest of the day and all night. It was a fix, I tell you! I had a couple of patients with the chills. Of course I’d have liked to run up to town and see them, but I didn’t dare. The might get away, and then I’d be to blame. And yet never a small boat come close enough for me to call out to. So there I had to stay right until daylight this morning. And I never see a that was a better nurse or more faithful. And yet he was risking his freedom to do it, and was all tired out, too. I see plain enough he’d been worked very hard lately. I liked the for that. I tell you, gentlemen, a like that is worth a thousand dollars, and kind treatment, too. I had everything I needed. The boy was doing as well there as he would have done at home. Better, maybe, because it was so quiet. But there I was, with both of them on my hands. And there I had to stay till about dawn this morning. Then some men in a small boat come by. As luck would have it, the was sitting by the makeshift bed, sound asleep, his head resting on his knees. So I motioned them in quietly. They slipped up on him and grabbed him and tied him before he knowed what was happening. And we never had no trouble. The boy was in a kind of restless sleep, too. So we wrapped the oars to quiet them, hitched the raft to the boat, and towed her over very quietly. And the never made the least fuss nor said a word from the start. He ain’t no bad , gentlemen. That’s what I think about him.”

Somebody says:

“Well, it sounds very good, doctor, I’m obleeged to say.”

“Well, it sounds very good, doctor, I’m obliged to say.”

Then the others softened up a little, too, and I was mighty thankful to that old doctor for doing Jim that good turn; and I was glad it was according to my judgment of him, too; because I thought he had a good heart in him and was a good man the first time I see him. Then they all agreed that Jim had acted very well, and was deserving to have some notice took of it, and reward. So every one of them promised, right out and hearty, that they wouldn’t cuss him no more.

Then the others softened up a little, too. I was mighty thankful to that old doctor for doing Jim that good turn. And I was glad the doctor had lived up to my judgment of him, too. Because I thought he had a good heart and was a good man the first time I see him. Then they all agreed that Jim had acted very well and was deserving of some recognition and a reward. So every one of them promised, right out and hearty, that they wouldn’t cuss him no more.

Then they come out and locked him up. I hoped they was going to say he could have one or two of the chains took off, because they was rotten heavy, or could have meat and greens with his bread and water; but they didn’t think of it, and I reckoned it warn’t best for me to mix in, but I judged I’d get the doctor’s yarn to Aunt Sally somehow or other as soon as I’d got through the breakers that was laying just ahead of me—explanations, I mean, of how I forgot to mention about Sid being shot when I was telling how him and me put in that dratted night paddling around hunting the runaway .

Then they come out and locked him up. I hoped they was going to say he could have one or two of the chains took off. Those chains was terribly heavy. Or I hoped he could have meat and greens with his bread and water. But they didn’t think of it, and I reckoned it wasn’t best for me to mix in. But I figured I’d get the doctor’s story to Aunt Sally somehow or other. First I had to get through the trouble waiting just ahead of me. I mean explaining how I forgot to mention Sid being shot. I’d left that out when I told how him and me spent that dratted night paddling around hunting the runaway .

But I had plenty time. Aunt Sally she stuck to the sick-room all day and all night, and every time I see Uncle Silas mooning around I dodged him.

But I had plenty time. Aunt Sally she stayed in the sickroom all day and all night. And every time I see Uncle Silas wandering aimlessly around, I dodged him.

Next morning I heard Tom was a good deal better, and they said Aunt Sally was gone to get a nap. So I slips to the sick-room, and if I found him awake I reckoned we could put up a yarn for the family that would wash. But he was sleeping, and sleeping very peaceful, too; and pale, not fire-faced the way he was when he come. So I set down and laid for him to wake. In about half an hour Aunt Sally comes gliding in, and there I was, up a stump again! She motioned me to be still, and set down by me, and begun to whisper, and said we could all be joyful now, because all the symptoms was first-rate, and he’d been sleeping like that for ever so long, and looking better and peacefuller all the time, and ten to one he’d wake up in his right mind.

Next morning I heard Tom was a good deal better, and they said Aunt Sally was gone to take a nap. So I slips to the sickroom. If I found him awake, I reckoned we could make up a story the family would believe. But he was sleeping, and sleeping very peaceful, too. He was pale, not red-faced the way he was when he come. So I set down and waited for him to wake. In about half an hour Aunt Sally comes slipping in, and there I was, stuck again! She motioned me to be quiet, and set down by me, and begun to whisper. She said we could all be happy now, because all the signs was very good. He’d been sleeping like that for ever so long, and looking better and more peaceful all the time. And ten to one he’d wake up in his right mind.

So we set there watching, and by-and-by he stirs a bit, and opened his eyes very natural, and takes a look, and says:

So we set there watching. After a while he stirs a bit, and opened his eyes very natural. He takes a look and says:

“Hello!—why, I’m at home! How’s that? Where’s the raft?”

“Hey! Why, I’m at home! How did that happen? Where’s the raft?”

“It’s all right,” I says.

“And Jim?”

“The same,” I says, but couldn’t say it pretty brash. But he never noticed, but says:

“The same,” I says, but couldn’t say it very confidently. But he never noticed and says:

“Good! Splendid! Now we’re all right and safe! Did you tell Aunty?”

“Good! Great! Now we’re all right and safe! Did you tell Aunty?”

I was going to say yes; but she chipped in and says: “About what, Sid?”

I was going to say yes, but she cut in and says: “About what, Sid?”

“Why, about the way the whole thing was done.”

“Well, about how the whole thing was done.”

“What whole thing?”

“Why, the whole thing. There ain’t but one; how we set the runaway free—me and Tom.”

“Why, the whole thing. There ain’t but one: how we set the runaway free, me and Tom.”

“Good land! Set the run— What is the child talking about! Dear, dear, out of his head again!”

“Good heavens! Set the run... What is the child talking about! Oh dear, oh dear, he's delirious again!”

“No, I ain’t out of my HEAD; I know all what I’m talking about. We did set him free—me and Tom. We laid out to do it, and we done it. And we done it elegant, too.” He’d got a start, and she never checked him up, just set and stared and stared, and let him clip along, and I see it warn’t no use for me to put in. “Why, Aunty, it cost us a power of work—weeks of it—hours and hours, every night, whilst you was all asleep. And we had to steal candles, and the sheet, and the shirt, and your dress, and spoons, and tin plates, and case-knives, and the warming-pan, and the grindstone, and flour, and just no end of things, and you can’t think what work it was to make the saws, and pens, and inscriptions, and one thing or another, and you can’t think half the fun it was. And we had to make up the pictures of coffins and things, and nonnamous letters from the robbers, and get up and down the lightning-rod, and dig the hole into the cabin, and made the rope ladder and send it in cooked up in a pie, and send in spoons and things to work with in your apron pocket—”

“No, I ain’t out of my HEAD. I know all what I’m talking about. We did set him free, me and Tom. We planned to do it, and we done it. And we done it in style, too.” He’d got going, and she never stopped him. She just set and stared and stared, and let him keep talking. And I see it wasn’t no use for me to speak up. “Why, Aunty, it cost us a whole lot of work. Weeks of it, hours and hours, every night, while you was all asleep. And we had to steal candles, and the sheet, and the shirt, and your dress. And spoons, and tin plates, and table knives, and the warming-pan, and the grindstone, and flour. And just no end of things. And you can’t think what work it was to make the saws, and pens, and inscriptions, and everything else. And you can’t think half the fun it was. And we had to draw the pictures of coffins and things, and write anonymous letters from the robbers. And climb up and down the lightning rod, and dig the hole into the cabin. And we made the rope ladder and sent it in baked inside a pie. And sent in spoons and things to work with in your apron pocket...”

“Mercy sakes!”

“Oh my goodness!”

“—and load up the cabin with rats and snakes and so on, for company for Jim; and then you kept Tom here so long with the butter in his hat that you come near spiling the whole business, because the men come before we was out of the cabin, and we had to rush, and they heard us and let drive at us, and I got my share, and we dodged out of the path and let them go by, and when the dogs come they warn’t interested in us, but went for the most noise, and we got our canoe, and made for the raft, and was all safe, and Jim was a free man, and we done it all by ourselves, and wasn’t it bully, Aunty!”

“and load up the cabin with rats and snakes and so on, for company for Jim. And then you kept Tom here so long with the butter in his hat that you nearly spoiled everything. Because the men come before we was out of the cabin, we had to rush. And they heard us and opened fire on us, and I got hit. And we dodged off the path and let them go by. And when the dogs come, they weren’t interested in us, but went toward the most noise. And we got our canoe and headed for the raft, and we was all safe. And Jim was a free man, and we done it all by ourselves. And wasn’t it great, Aunty!”

“Well, I never heard the likes of it in all my born days! So it was you, you little rapscallions, that’s been making all this trouble, and turned everybody’s wits clean inside out and scared us all most to death. I’ve as good a notion as ever I had in my life to take it out o’ you this very minute. To think, here I’ve been, night after night, a—you just get well once, you young scamp, and I lay I’ll tan the Old Harry out o’ both o’ ye!”

“Well, I never heard anything like it in all my life! So it was you, you little rascals, that’s been making all this trouble. You’ve confused everybody and scared us all nearly to death. I’ve as good a mind as I ever had to punish you this very minute. To think, here I’ve been, night after night. You just get well, you young scamp, and I bet I’ll beat the Old Harry out of both of you!”

But Tom, he was so proud and joyful, he just couldn’t hold in, and his tongue just went it—she a-chipping in, and spitting fire all along, and both of them going it at once, like a cat convention; and she says:

But Tom, he was so proud and joyful, he just couldn’t hold it in. And his tongue just went on and on, with her chiming in and spitting fire the whole time. And both of them were going at once, like a cat convention. And she says:

“Well, you get all the enjoyment you can out of it now, for mind I tell you if I catch you meddling with him again—”

“Well, get all the enjoyment you can out of it now. Because I'm warning you, if I catch you messing with him again...”

“Meddling with who?” Tom says, dropping his smile and looking surprised.

“Messing with who?” Tom says, his smile fading as he looks surprised.

“With who? Why, the runaway , of course. Who’d you reckon?”

“With who? Why, the runaway , of course. Who did you reckon?”

Tom looks at me very grave, and says:

Tom looks at me very serious, and says:

“Tom, didn’t you just tell me he was all right? Hasn’t he got away?”

“Tom, didn’t you just tell me he was all right? Hasn’t he escaped?”

“Him?” says Aunt Sally; “the runaway ? ’Deed he hasn’t. They’ve got him back, safe and sound, and he’s in that cabin again, on bread and water, and loaded down with chains, till he’s claimed or sold!”

“Him?” says Aunt Sally. “The runaway ? Indeed he hasn’t. They’ve got him back, safe and sound, and he’s in that cabin again. He’s on bread and water, loaded down with chains, until he’s claimed or sold!”

Tom rose square up in bed, with his eye hot, and his nostrils opening and shutting like gills, and sings out to me:

Tom sat straight up in bed, his eye blazing. His nostrils were opening and closing like gills, and he sings out to me:

“They hain’t no right to shut him up! Shove!—and don’t you lose a minute. Turn him loose! he ain’t no slave; he’s as free as any cretur that walks this earth!”

“They ain't no right to shut him up! Shove! And don’t you lose a minute. Turn him loose! He ain’t no slave. He’s as free as any creature that walks this earth!”

“What does the child mean?”

“I mean every word I say, Aunt Sally, and if somebody don’t go, I’ll go. I’ve knowed him all his life, and so has Tom, there. Old Miss Watson died two months ago, and she was ashamed she ever was going to sell him down the river, and said so; and she set him free in her will.”

“I mean every word I say, Aunt Sally. And if somebody don’t go, I’ll go. I’ve knowed him all his life, and so has Tom, there. Old Miss Watson died two months ago. She was ashamed she ever planned to sell him down the river, and she said so. And she set him free in her will.”

“Then what on earth did you want to set him free for, seeing he was already free?”

“Then why on earth did you want to set him free, seeing he was already free?”

“Well, that is a question, I must say; and just like women! Why, I wanted the adventure of it; and I’d a waded neck-deep in blood to—goodness alive, AUNT POLLY!”

“Well, that is a question, I must say. And just like women! Why, I wanted the adventure of it. And I’d have waded neck-deep in blood to... goodness alive, AUNT POLLY!”

If she warn’t standing right there, just inside the door, looking as sweet and contented as an angel half full of pie, I wish I may never!

If she wasn't standing right there, just inside the door, looking as sweet and contented as an angel half full of pie, I wish I may never!

Aunt Sally jumped for her, and most hugged the head off of her, and cried over her, and I found a good enough place for me under the bed, for it was getting pretty sultry for us, seemed to me. And I peeped out, and in a little while Tom’s Aunt Polly shook herself loose and stood there looking across at Tom over her spectacles—kind of grinding him into the earth, you know. And then she says:

Aunt Sally rushed at her and almost hugged her head off, crying over her. And I found a good enough place for me under the bed. Things were getting pretty hot for us, seemed to me. And I peeked out, and in a little while Tom’s Aunt Polly shook herself loose. She stood there looking across at Tom over her glasses, kind of grinding him into the ground, you know. And then she says:

“Yes, you better turn y’r head away—I would if I was you, Tom.”

“Yes, you better turn your head away. I would if I was you, Tom.”

“Oh, deary me!” says Aunt Sally; “is he changed so? Why, that ain’t Tom, it’s Sid; Tom’s—Tom’s—why, where is Tom? He was here a minute ago.”

“Oh, dear me!” says Aunt Sally. “Is he changed that much? Why, that ain’t Tom, it’s Sid. Tom’s... Tom’s... Why, where is Tom? He was here a minute ago.”

“You mean where’s Huck Finn—that’s what you mean! I reckon I hain’t raised such a scamp as my Tom all these years not to know him when I see him. That would be a pretty howdy-do. Come out from under that bed, Huck Finn.”

“You mean where’s Huck Finn. That’s what you mean! I reckon I ain’t raised such a scamp as my Tom all these years not to know him when I see him. That would be a fine mess. Come out from under that bed, Huck Finn.”

So I done it. But not feeling brash.

So I done it. But not feeling bold.

Aunt Sally she was one of the mixed-upest-looking persons I ever see—except one, and that was Uncle Silas, when he come in and they told it all to him. It kind of made him drunk, as you may say, and he didn’t know nothing at all the rest of the day, and preached a prayer-meeting sermon that night that gave him a rattling ruputation, because the oldest man in the world couldn’t a understood it. So Tom’s Aunt Polly, she told all about who I was, and what; and I had to up and tell how I was in such a tight place that when Mrs. Phelps took me for Tom Sawyer—she chipped in and says, “Oh, go on and call me Aunt Sally, I’m used to it now, and ’tain’t no need to change”—that when Aunt Sally took me for Tom Sawyer I had to stand it—there warn’t no other way, and I knowed he wouldn’t mind, because it would be nuts for him, being a mystery, and he’d make an adventure out of it, and be perfectly satisfied. And so it turned out, and he let on to be Sid, and made things as soft as he could for me.

Aunt Sally she was one of the most mixed-up-looking persons I ever see, except one. That was Uncle Silas, when he come in and they told it all to him. The whole story kind of made him drunk, as you may say. And he didn’t know nothing at all the rest of the day. He preached a sermon at prayer meeting that night that gave him quite a reputation. That was because the oldest man in the world couldn’t have understood it. So Tom’s Aunt Polly, she told all about who I was, and what. And I had to up and tell how I was in such a tight spot. I started explaining how Mrs. Phelps took me for Tom Sawyer. She chipped in and says, “Oh, go on and call me Aunt Sally. I’m used to it now, and it ain’t no need to change.” So I explained that when Aunt Sally took me for Tom Sawyer, I had to go along with it. There wasn’t no other way, and I knowed he wouldn’t mind. Because it would be nuts for him, being a mystery. He’d make an adventure out of it and be perfectly satisfied. And so it turned out. He pretended to be Sid and made things as easy as he could for me.

And his Aunt Polly she said Tom was right about old Miss Watson setting Jim free in her will; and so, sure enough, Tom Sawyer had gone and took all that trouble and bother to set a free free! and I couldn’t ever understand before, until that minute and that talk, how he could help a body set a free with his bringing-up.

And his Aunt Polly she said Tom was right about old Miss Watson setting Jim free in her will. So, sure enough, Tom Sawyer had gone and took all that trouble and bother. And all to set a free free! Until that minute and that talk, I couldn’t ever understand how he could help somebody set a free, with the way he’d been brought up.

Well, Aunt Polly she said that when Aunt Sally wrote to her that Tom and Sid had come all right and safe, she says to herself:

Well, Aunt Polly she said Aunt Sally wrote to her that Tom and Sid had arrived safe and sound. When Aunt Polly got that news, she says to herself:

“Look at that, now! I might have expected it, letting him go off that way without anybody to watch him. So now I got to go and trapse all the way down the river, eleven hundred mile, and find out what that creetur’s up to this time; as long as I couldn’t seem to get any answer out of you about it.”

“Look at that, now! I might have expected it, letting him go off that way without anybody to watch him. So now I got to traipse all the way down the river, eleven hundred mile. I got to find out what that creature’s up to this time, as long as I couldn’t seem to get any answer out of you about it.”

“Why, I never heard nothing from you,” says Aunt Sally.

“Well, I wonder! Why, I wrote you twice to ask you what you could mean by Sid being here.”

“Well, imagine that! Why, I wrote you twice to ask what you meant about Sid being here.”

“Well, I never got ’em, Sis.”

“Well, I never got them, Sis.”

Aunt Polly she turns around slow and severe, and says:

Aunt Polly she turns around slow and stern, and says:

“You, Tom!”

“Hey, Tom!”

“Well—what?” he says, kind of pettish.

“Well, what?” he says, kind of annoyed.

“Don’t you what me, you impudent thing—hand out them letters.”

“Don’t you what me, you rude thing. Hand over them letters.”

“What letters?”

“Them letters. I be bound, if I have to take aholt of you I’ll—”

“Them letters. I be bound, if I have to take hold of you, I’ll...”

“They’re in the trunk. There, now. And they’re just the same as they was when I got them out of the office. I hain’t looked into them, I hain’t touched them. But I knowed they’d make trouble, and I thought if you warn’t in no hurry, I’d—”

“They’re in the trunk. There, now. And they’re just the same as they was when I got them out of the office. I ain’t looked into them. I ain’t touched them. But I knowed they’d make trouble, and I thought if you weren’t in no hurry, I’d...”

“Well, you do need skinning, there ain’t no mistake about it. And I wrote another one to tell you I was coming; and I s’pose he—”

“Well, you do need a whipping, there ain’t no mistake about it. And I wrote another one to tell you I was coming. And I suppose he...”

“No, it come yesterday; I hain’t read it yet, but it’s all right, I’ve got that one.”

“No, it come yesterday. I ain't read it yet, but it’s all right. I’ve got that one.”

I wanted to offer to bet two dollars she hadn’t, but I reckoned maybe it was just as safe to not to. So I never said nothing.

I wanted to offer to bet two dollars she hadn’t. But I reckoned maybe it was just as safe not to offer. So I never said nothing.