Chapter 29

17 min

They was fetching a very nice-looking old gentleman along, and a nice-looking younger one, with his right arm in a sling. And, my souls, how the people yelled and laughed, and kept it up. But I didn’t see no joke about it, and I judged it would strain the duke and the king some to see any. I reckoned they’d turn pale. But no, nary a pale did they turn. The duke he never let on he suspicioned what was up, but just went a goo-gooing around, happy and satisfied, like a jug that’s googling out buttermilk; and as for the king, he just gazed and gazed down sorrowful on them new-comers like it give him the stomach-ache in his very heart to think there could be such frauds and rascals in the world. Oh, he done it admirable. Lots of the principal people gethered around the king, to let him see they was on his side. That old gentleman that had just come looked all puzzled to death. Pretty soon he begun to speak, and I see straight off he pronounced like an Englishman—not the king’s way, though the king’s was pretty good for an imitation. I can’t give the old gent’s words, nor I can’t imitate him; but he turned around to the crowd, and says, about like this:

They was bringing along a very nice-looking old gentleman and a nice-looking younger one with his right arm in a sling. And, my souls, how the people yelled and laughed, and kept it up. But I didn’t see no joke in it. I figured the duke and the king would have a hard time seeing any joke, too. I reckoned they’d turn pale. But no, not a bit pale did they turn. The duke he never let on he suspected what was happening. He just went goo-gooing around, happy and satisfied, like a jug that’s googling out buttermilk. And as for the king, he just gazed and gazed down sorrowfully at them newcomers. He looked like thinking there could be such frauds and rascals in the world gave him a stomachache in his very heart. Oh, he done it beautifully. Lots of the leading people gathered around the king, to let him see they was on his side. That old gentleman that had just come looked completely puzzled. Pretty soon he begun to speak, and I see straight off he pronounced his words like an Englishman. Not the king’s way, though the king’s was pretty good for an imitation. I can’t give the old gent’s words, nor I can’t imitate him. But he turned around to the crowd, and says, about like this:

“This is a surprise to me which I wasn’t looking for; and I’ll acknowledge, candid and frank, I ain’t very well fixed to meet it and answer it; for my brother and me has had misfortunes; he’s broke his arm, and our baggage got put off at a town above here last night in the night by a mistake. I am Peter Wilks’ brother Harvey, and this is his brother William, which can’t hear nor speak—and can’t even make signs to amount to much, now’t he’s only got one hand to work them with. We are who we say we are; and in a day or two, when I get the baggage, I can prove it. But up till then I won’t say nothing more, but go to the hotel and wait.”

“This is a surprise to me that I wasn’t looking for. And I’ll admit, plain and honest, I ain’t very well prepared to face it and answer it. My brother and me has had some bad luck. He’s broke his arm, and our baggage got unloaded by mistake at a town upriver last night. I am Peter Wilks’ brother Harvey, and this is his brother William, which can’t hear nor speak. And he can’t even make signs that amount to much, now that he’s only got one hand to make them with. We are who we say we are. And in a day or two, when I get the baggage, I can prove it. But until then I won’t say nothing more. I’ll just go to the hotel and wait.”

So him and the new dummy started off; and the king he laughs, and blethers out:

So him and the new dummy started off. And the king he laughs and blurts out:

“Broke his arm—very likely, ain’t it?—and very convenient, too, for a fraud that’s got to make signs, and ain’t learnt how. Lost their baggage! That’s mighty good!—and mighty ingenious—under the circumstances!”

“Broke his arm. That’s very likely, ain’t it? And very convenient, too, for a fraud that’s got to make signs and ain’t learnt how. Lost their luggage! That’s mighty good! And mighty clever, under the circumstances!”

So he laughed again; and so did everybody else, except three or four, or maybe half a dozen. One of these was that doctor; another one was a sharp-looking gentleman, with a carpet-bag of the old-fashioned kind made out of carpet-stuff, that had just come off of the steamboat and was talking to him in a low voice, and glancing towards the king now and then and nodding their heads—it was Levi Bell, the lawyer that was gone up to Louisville; and another one was a big rough husky that come along and listened to all the old gentleman said, and was listening to the king now. And when the king got done this husky up and says:

So he laughed again, and so did everybody else, except three or four, or maybe half a dozen. One of these was that doctor. Another one was a sharp-looking gentleman with an old-fashioned bag made out of carpet material. He had just come off the steamboat and was talking to the doctor in a low voice. They glanced towards the king now and then and nodded their heads. The gentleman was Levi Bell, the lawyer that was gone up to Louisville. Another one was a big, rough, muscular fellow that come along and listened to all the old gentleman said. He was listening to the king now. And when the king got done, this big fellow up and says:

“Say, looky here; if you are Harvey Wilks, when’d you come to this town?”

“Say, look here. If you are Harvey Wilks, when did you come to this town?”

“The day before the funeral, friend,” says the king.

“But what time o’ day?”

“But what time of day?”

“In the evenin’—’bout an hour er two before sundown.”

“In the evening, about an hour or two before sundown.”

“How’d you come?”

“How did you come?”

“I come down on the Susan Powell from Cincinnati.”

“Well, then, how’d you come to be up at the Pint in the mornin’—in a canoe?”

“Well, then, how did you come to be up at the Pint in the morning, in a canoe?”

“I warn’t up at the Pint in the mornin’.”

“I wasn’t up at the Pint in the morning.”

“It’s a lie.”

Several of them jumped for him and begged him not to talk that way to an old man and a preacher.

Several of them rushed at him and begged him not to talk that way to an old man and a preacher.

“Preacher be hanged, he’s a fraud and a liar. He was up at the Pint that mornin’. I live up there, don’t I? Well, I was up there, and he was up there. I see him there. He come in a canoe, along with Tim Collins and a boy.”

“Preacher be hanged. He’s a fraud and a liar. He was up at the Pint that morning. I live up there, don’t I? Well, I was up there, and he was up there. I see him there. He come in a canoe, along with Tim Collins and a boy.”

The doctor he up and says:

“Would you know the boy again if you was to see him, Hines?”

“Would you recognize the boy again if you was to see him, Hines?”

“I reckon I would, but I don’t know. Why, yonder he is, now. I know him perfectly easy.”

“I reckon I would, but I don’t know. Why, there he is now. I recognize him perfectly easy.”

It was me he pointed at. The doctor says:

“Neighbors, I don’t know whether the new couple is frauds or not; but if these two ain’t frauds, I am an idiot, that’s all. I think it’s our duty to see that they don’t get away from here till we’ve looked into this thing. Come along, Hines; come along, the rest of you. We’ll take these fellows to the tavern and affront them with t’other couple, and I reckon we’ll find out something before we get through.”

“Neighbors, I don’t know whether the new couple is frauds or not. But if these two ain’t frauds, I am an idiot, that’s all. I think it’s our duty to keep these two here till we’ve looked into this thing. Come along, Hines. Come along, the rest of you. We’ll take these fellows to the tavern and confront them with the other couple. And I reckon we’ll find out something before we get through.”

It was nuts for the crowd, though maybe not for the king’s friends; so we all started. It was about sundown. The doctor he led me along by the hand, and was plenty kind enough, but he never let go my hand.

It was great fun for the crowd, though maybe not for the king’s friends. So we all set off. It was about sundown. The doctor he led me along by the hand and was plenty kind enough. But he never let go of my hand.

We all got in a big room in the hotel, and lit up some candles, and fetched in the new couple. First, the doctor says:

We all got in a big room in the hotel and lit some candles. Then we brought in the new couple. First, the doctor says:

“I don’t wish to be too hard on these two men, but I think they’re frauds, and they may have complices that we don’t know nothing about. If they have, won’t the complices get away with that bag of gold Peter Wilks left? It ain’t unlikely. If these men ain’t frauds, they won’t object to sending for that money and letting us keep it till they prove they’re all right—ain’t that so?”

“I don’t want to be too hard on these two men, but I think they’re frauds. And they may have accomplices that we don’t know nothing about. If they have, won’t those accomplices get away with that bag of gold Peter Wilks left? It ain’t unlikely. If these men ain’t frauds, they won’t object to sending for that money and letting us keep it till they prove they’re all right. Ain’t that so?”

Everybody agreed to that. So I judged they had our gang in a pretty tight place right at the outstart. But the king he only looked sorrowful, and says:

Everybody agreed to that. So I figured they had our gang in a pretty tight spot right from the start. But the king he just looked sad, and says:

“Gentlemen, I wish the money was there, for I ain’t got no disposition to throw anything in the way of a fair, open, out-and-out investigation o’ this misable business; but, alas, the money ain’t there; you k’n send and see, if you want to.”

“Gentlemen, I wish the money was there. I ain't got no desire to block a fair, open, thorough investigation of this miserable business. But sadly, the money ain't there. You can send someone to check, if you want to.”

“Where is it, then?”

“Well, when my niece give it to me to keep for her I took and hid it inside o’ the straw tick o’ my bed, not wishin’ to bank it for the few days we’d be here, and considerin’ the bed a safe place, we not bein’ used to , and suppos’n’ ’em honest, like servants in England. The stole it the very next mornin’ after I had went down stairs; and when I sold ’em I hadn’t missed the money yit, so they got clean away with it. My servant here k’n tell you ’bout it, gentlemen.”

“Well, when my niece give me the money to keep for her, I took and hid it inside my straw mattress. I didn't wish to bank it for the few days we'd be here. I figured the bed was safe, us not being used to and supposing them honest, like servants in England. The stole it the very next morning after I had went downstairs. And when I sold them, I hadn't missed the money yet, so they got clean away with it. My servant here can tell you about it, gentlemen.”

The doctor and several said “Shucks!” and I see nobody didn’t altogether believe him. One man asked me if I see the steal it. I said no, but I see them sneaking out of the room and hustling away, and I never thought nothing, only I reckoned they was afraid they had waked up my master and was trying to get away before he made trouble with them. That was all they asked me. Then the doctor whirls on me and says:

The doctor and several others said “Shucks!” and I see nobody didn’t altogether believe him. One man asked me if I see the steal it. I said no, but I see them sneaking out of the room and hurrying away. I never thought nothing, only I reckoned they was afraid they had waked up my master. I reckoned they was trying to get away before he made trouble for them. That was all they asked me. Then the doctor turns on me and says:

“Are you English, too?”

I says yes; and him and some others laughed, and said, “Stuff!”

I says yes. And him and some others laughed and said, “Nonsense!”

Well, then they sailed in on the general investigation, and there we had it, up and down, hour in, hour out, and nobody never said a word about supper, nor ever seemed to think about it—and so they kept it up, and kept it up; and it was the worst mixed-up thing you ever see. They made the king tell his yarn, and they made the old gentleman tell his’n; and anybody but a lot of prejudiced chuckleheads would a seen that the old gentleman was spinning truth and t’other one lies. And by-and-by they had me up to tell what I knowed. The king he give me a left-handed look out of the corner of his eye, and so I knowed enough to talk on the right side. I begun to tell about Sheffield, and how we lived there, and all about the English Wilkses, and so on; but I didn’t get pretty fur till the doctor begun to laugh; and Levi Bell, the lawyer, says:

Well, then they got going on the general investigation. They went over everything, back and forth, hour after hour. And nobody never said a word about supper, nor ever seemed to think about it. And so they kept it up, and kept it up. And it was the worst mixed-up thing you ever see. They made the king tell his story, and they made the old gentleman tell his. Anybody but a lot of prejudiced chuckleheads would have seen that the old gentleman was telling the truth. The other one was telling lies. And after a while they called me up to tell what I knowed. The king he give me a sly warning look out of the corner of his eye. So I knowed enough to talk on his side. I begun to tell about Sheffield, and how we lived there, and all about the English Wilkses, and so on. But I didn’t get very far before the doctor begun to laugh. And Levi Bell, the lawyer, says:

“Set down, my boy; I wouldn’t strain myself if I was you. I reckon you ain’t used to lying, it don’t seem to come handy; what you want is practice. You do it pretty awkward.”

“Set down, my boy. I wouldn’t strain myself if I was you. I reckon you ain’t used to lying. It don’t seem to come handy. What you want is practice. You do it pretty awkward.”

I didn’t care nothing for the compliment, but I was glad to be let off, anyway.

I didn’t care nothing for the compliment. But I was glad to be let off, anyway.

The doctor he started to say something, and turns and says:

“If you’d been in town at first, Levi Bell—” The king broke in and reached out his hand, and says:

“If you’d been in town at the start, Levi Bell...” The king cut in and reached out his hand, and says:

“Why, is this my poor dead brother’s old friend that he’s wrote so often about?”

The lawyer and him shook hands, and the lawyer smiled and looked pleased, and they talked right along awhile, and then got to one side and talked low; and at last the lawyer speaks up and says:

The lawyer and him shook hands, and the lawyer smiled and looked pleased. They kept talking awhile, then moved to one side and talked quietly. At last the lawyer speaks up and says:

“That’ll fix it. I’ll take the order and send it, along with your brother’s, and then they’ll know it’s all right.”

“That’ll fix it. I’ll take the order and send it along with your brother’s. Then they’ll know it’s all right.”

So they got some paper and a pen, and the king he set down and twisted his head to one side, and chawed his tongue, and scrawled off something; and then they give the pen to the duke—and then for the first time the duke looked sick. But he took the pen and wrote. So then the lawyer turns to the new old gentleman and says:

So they got some paper and a pen, and the king he set down and tilted his head to one side. He chewed his tongue and scrawled something down. And then they give the pen to the duke. And then, for the first time, the duke looked sick. But he took the pen and wrote. So then the lawyer turns to the old gentleman who had just arrived and says:

“You and your brother please write a line or two and sign your names.”

“Please write a line or two, both you and your brother, and sign your names.”

The old gentleman wrote, but nobody couldn’t read it. The lawyer looked powerful astonished, and says:

The old gentleman wrote, but nobody couldn’t read his writing. The lawyer looked powerful surprised, and says:

“Well, it beats me”—and snaked a lot of old letters out of his pocket, and examined them, and then examined the old man’s writing, and then them again; and then says: “These old letters is from Harvey Wilks; and here’s these two handwritings, and anybody can see they didn’t write them” (the king and the duke looked sold and foolish, I tell you, to see how the lawyer had took them in), “and here’s this old gentleman’s hand writing, and anybody can tell, easy enough, he didn’t write them—fact is, the scratches he makes ain’t properly writing at all. Now, here’s some letters from—”

“Well, it beats me.” And he pulled a lot of old letters out of his pocket and examined them. Then he examined the old man’s writing, and then them again. And then says: “These old letters is from Harvey Wilks. And here’s these two samples of handwriting, and anybody can see they didn’t write them.” (The king and the duke looked fooled and foolish, I tell you, seeing how the lawyer had took them in.) “And here’s this old gentleman’s handwriting, and anybody can tell, easy enough, he didn’t write them. Fact is, the scratches he makes ain’t properly writing at all. Now, here’s some letters from...”

The new old gentleman says:

The newly arrived old man says:

“If you please, let me explain. Nobody can read my hand but my brother there—so he copies for me. It’s his hand you’ve got there, not mine.”

“Please, let me explain. Nobody can read my handwriting but my brother there, so he copies for me. The handwriting you’ve got there is his, not mine.”

“Well!” says the lawyer, “this is a state of things. I’ve got some of William’s letters, too; so if you’ll get him to write a line or so we can com—”

“Well!” says the lawyer, “this is a mess. I’ve got some of William’s letters, too. So if you’ll get him to write a line or two, we can com...”

“He can’t write with his left hand,” says the old gentleman. “If he could use his right hand, you would see that he wrote his own letters and mine too. Look at both, please—they’re by the same hand.”

“He can’t write with his left hand,” says the old gentleman. “If he could use his right hand, you’d see he wrote his own letters and mine too. Please look at both sets of letters. They’re in the same handwriting.”

The lawyer done it, and says:

“I believe it’s so—and if it ain’t so, there’s a heap stronger resemblance than I’d noticed before, anyway. Well, well, well! I thought we was right on the track of a solution, but it’s gone to grass, partly. But anyway, one thing is proved—these two ain’t either of ’em Wilkses”—and he wagged his head towards the king and the duke.

“I believe it’s so. And if it ain’t so, there’s a much stronger resemblance than I’d noticed before, anyway. Well, well, well! I thought we was close to a solution, but now it’s partly fallen apart. But anyway, one thing is proved. Neither of these two is a Wilks.” And he nodded his head toward the king and the duke.

Well, what do you think? That muleheaded old fool wouldn’t give in then! Indeed he wouldn’t. Said it warn’t no fair test. Said his brother William was the cussedest joker in the world, and hadn’t tried to write—he see William was going to play one of his jokes the minute he put the pen to paper. And so he warmed up and went warbling and warbling right along till he was actuly beginning to believe what he was saying himself; but pretty soon the new gentleman broke in, and says:

Well, what do you think? That stubborn old fool wouldn’t give in then! Indeed he wouldn’t. Said it wasn’t no fair test. Said his brother William was the cussedest joker in the world, and hadn’t tried to write. Said he see William was going to play one of his jokes the minute William put the pen to paper. And so he got worked up and went on and on till he was actually beginning to believe it all himself. But pretty soon the new gentleman broke in, and says:

“I’ve thought of something. Is there anybody here that helped to lay out my br—helped to lay out the late Peter Wilks for burying?”

“I’ve thought of something. Is there anybody here that helped prepare my br... helped prepare the late Peter Wilks for burial?”

“Yes,” says somebody, “me and Ab Turner done it. We’re both here.”

Then the old man turns towards the king, and says:

Then the old man turns toward the king and says:

“Perhaps this gentleman can tell me what was tattooed on his breast?”

“Maybe this gentleman can tell me what was tattooed on his chest?”

Blamed if the king didn’t have to brace up mighty quick, or he’d a squshed down like a bluff bank that the river has cut under, it took him so sudden; and, mind you, it was a thing that was calculated to make most anybody sqush to get fetched such a solid one as that without any notice, because how was he going to know what was tattooed on the man? He whitened a little; he couldn’t help it; and it was mighty still in there, and everybody bending a little forwards and gazing at him. Says I to myself, Now he’ll throw up the sponge—there ain’t no more use. Well, did he? A body can’t hardly believe it, but he didn’t. I reckon he thought he’d keep the thing up till he tired them people out, so they’d thin out, and him and the duke could break loose and get away. Anyway, he set there, and pretty soon he begun to smile, and says:

Blamed if the king didn’t have to brace himself mighty quick, or he’d have collapsed like a riverbank undercut by the river. The shock hit him that sudden. And, mind you, a blow like that, without any warning, would make almost anybody collapse. Because how was he going to know what was tattooed on the man? He went a little pale. He couldn’t help it. It was mighty quiet in there, and everybody was leaning a little forward and staring at him. Says I to myself, Now he’ll give up. There ain’t no more use. Well, did he? A body can hardly believe it, but he didn’t. I reckon he thought he’d keep the thing going till he wore them people out. Then they’d start leaving, and him and the duke could break loose and get away. Anyway, he sat there, and pretty soon he begun to smile, and says:

“Mf! It’s a very tough question, ain’t it! Yes, sir, I k’n tell you what’s tattooed on his breast. It’s jest a small, thin, blue arrow—that’s what it is; and if you don’t look clost, you can’t see it. Now what do you say—hey?”

“Hmph! It’s a very tough question, ain’t it! Yes, sir, I can tell you what’s tattooed on his chest. It’s just a small, thin, blue arrow, that’s what it is. And if you don’t look closely, you can’t see it. Now what do you say, hey?”

Well, I never see anything like that old blister for clean out-and-out cheek.

Well, I never see anything like that old blister for sheer nerve.

The new old gentleman turns brisk towards Ab Turner and his pard, and his eye lights up like he judged he’d got the king this time, and says:

The newly arrived old gentleman turns quickly toward Ab Turner and his partner. And his eye lights up like he figured he’d caught the king this time, and he says:

“There—you’ve heard what he said! Was there any such mark on Peter Wilks’ breast?”

“There, you’ve heard what he said! Was there a mark like that on Peter Wilks’ chest?”

Both of them spoke up and says:

“We didn’t see no such mark.”

“Good!” says the old gentleman. “Now, what you did see on his breast was a small dim P, and a B (which is an initial he dropped when he was young), and a W, with dashes between them, so: P—B—W”—and he marked them that way on a piece of paper. “Come, ain’t that what you saw?”

“Good!” says the old gentleman. “Now, what you did see on his chest was a small, faint P, and a B. He dropped the initial B when he was young. Then there was a W, with dashes between the letters: P, B, W.” And he wrote the letters with dashes between them on a piece of paper. “Come on, ain’t that what you saw?”

Both of them spoke up again, and says:

“No, we didn’t. We never seen any marks at all.”

Well, everybody was in a state of mind now, and they sings out:

Well, everybody was worked up now, and they sings out:

“The whole bilin’ of ’m ’s frauds! Le’s duck ’em! le’s drown ’em! le’s ride ’em on a rail!” and everybody was whooping at once, and there was a rattling powwow. But the lawyer he jumps on the table and yells, and says:

“The whole bunch of them's frauds! Let's duck them! Let's drown them! Let's ride them on a rail!” Everybody was whooping at once, and there was a loud uproar. But the lawyer he jumps on the table and yells, and says:

“Gentlemen—gentlemen! Hear me just a word—just a single word—if you PLEASE! There’s one way yet—let’s go and dig up the corpse and look.”

“Gentlemen, gentlemen! Hear me out for just a word, just a single word, if you PLEASE! There’s still one way. Let’s go dig up the body and look.”

That took them.

That won them over.

“Hooray!” they all shouted, and was starting right off; but the lawyer and the doctor sung out:

“Hooray!” they all shouted, and was starting off right away. But the lawyer and the doctor called out:

“Hold on, hold on! Collar all these four men and the boy, and fetch them along, too!”

“Hold on, hold on! Grab all four of these men and the boy, and bring them along, too!”

“We’ll do it!” they all shouted; “and if we don’t find them marks we’ll lynch the whole gang!”

“We’ll do it!” they all shouted. “And if we don’t find them marks, we’ll lynch the whole gang!”

I was scared, now, I tell you. But there warn’t no getting away, you know. They gripped us all, and marched us right along, straight for the graveyard, which was a mile and a half down the river, and the whole town at our heels, for we made noise enough, and it was only nine in the evening.

I was scared now, I tell you. But there wasn't no getting away, you know. They grabbed us all and marched us straight to the graveyard, a mile and a half down the river. And the whole town followed right behind us, because we made plenty of noise, and it was only nine in the evening.

As we went by our house I wished I hadn’t sent Mary Jane out of town; because now if I could tip her the wink she’d light out and save me, and blow on our dead-beats.

As we passed our house, I wished I hadn’t sent Mary Jane out of town. Because now, if I could give her a wink, she’d rush out and save me. And she’d expose our dead-beats.

Well, we swarmed along down the river road, just carrying on like wildcats; and to make it more scary the sky was darking up, and the lightning beginning to wink and flitter, and the wind to shiver amongst the leaves. This was the most awful trouble and most dangersome I ever was in; and I was kinder stunned; everything was going so different from what I had allowed for; stead of being fixed so I could take my own time if I wanted to, and see all the fun, and have Mary Jane at my back to save me and set me free when the close-fit come, here was nothing in the world betwixt me and sudden death but just them tattoo-marks. If they didn’t find them—

Well, we swarmed down the river road, carrying on like wildcats. And to make it scarier, the sky was getting dark, and lightning was beginning to flash and flicker. The wind was rustling through the leaves. This was the worst trouble and the greatest danger I ever was in, and I was kind of stunned. Everything was going so different from what I’d expected. I’d figured I could take my own time if I wanted to, and see all the fun. I’d have Mary Jane backing me up, ready to save me and set me free when things got tight. But now there was nothing in the world between me and sudden death but just them tattoo marks. If they didn’t find them...

I couldn’t bear to think about it; and yet, somehow, I couldn’t think about nothing else. It got darker and darker, and it was a beautiful time to give the crowd the slip; but that big husky had me by the wrist—Hines—and a body might as well try to give Goliar the slip. He dragged me right along, he was so excited, and I had to run to keep up.

I couldn’t bear to think about it. And yet, somehow, I couldn’t think about nothing else. It got darker and darker, and it was a perfect time to give the crowd the slip. But that big brute Hines had me by the wrist. A person might as well try to give Goliar the slip. He was so excited he dragged me right along, and I had to run to keep up.

When they got there they swarmed into the graveyard and washed over it like an overflow. And when they got to the grave they found they had about a hundred times as many shovels as they wanted, but nobody hadn’t thought to fetch a lantern. But they sailed into digging anyway by the flicker of the lightning, and sent a man to the nearest house, a half a mile off, to borrow one.

When they got there, they swarmed into the graveyard and spread over it like a flood. And when they reached the grave, they found they had about a hundred times as many shovels as they needed. But nobody hadn’t thought to bring a lantern. But they jumped into digging anyway by the flashes of lightning. And they sent a man to the nearest house, half a mile away, to borrow a lantern.

So they dug and dug like everything; and it got awful dark, and the rain started, and the wind swished and swushed along, and the lightning come brisker and brisker, and the thunder boomed; but them people never took no notice of it, they was so full of this business; and one minute you could see everything and every face in that big crowd, and the shovelfuls of dirt sailing up out of the grave, and the next second the dark wiped it all out, and you couldn’t see nothing at all.

So they dug and dug like crazy. It got awful dark, and the rain started. The wind swished and swushed, and the lightning come faster and faster, and the thunder boomed. But them people never took no notice of the storm, they was so caught up in the digging. One minute you could see everything, every face in that big crowd, and shovelfuls of dirt flying out of the grave. The next second, the dark wiped it all out, and you couldn’t see nothing at all.

At last they got out the coffin and begun to unscrew the lid, and then such another crowding and shouldering and shoving as there was, to scrouge in and get a sight, you never see; and in the dark, that way, it was awful. Hines he hurt my wrist dreadful pulling and tugging so, and I reckon he clean forgot I was in the world, he was so excited and panting.

At last they got out the coffin and begun to unscrew the lid. You never see such crowding and shouldering and shoving as people tried to squeeze in and get a look. And in the dark, it was awful. Hines he hurt my wrist dreadful with all his pulling and tugging. And I reckon he clean forgot I was in the world, he was so excited and panting.

All of a sudden the lightning let go a perfect sluice of white glare, and somebody sings out:

All of a sudden, the lightning flooded everything with blinding white light, and somebody calls out:

“By the living jingo, here’s the bag of gold on his breast!”

“By gosh, here’s the bag of gold on his chest!”

Hines let out a whoop, like everybody else, and dropped my wrist and give a big surge to bust his way in and get a look, and the way I lit out and shinned for the road in the dark there ain’t nobody can tell.

Hines let out a shout, like everybody else, and let go of my wrist. He give a big shove to push his way in and get a look. And there ain’t nobody can tell how I took off and raced for the road in the dark.

I had the road all to myself, and I fairly flew—leastways, I had it all to myself except the solid dark, and the now-and-then glares, and the buzzing of the rain, and the thrashing of the wind, and the splitting of the thunder; and sure as you are born I did clip it along!

I had the road all to myself, and I fairly flew. Leastways, I had it all to myself except for the thick darkness, the occasional flashes, the buzzing rain, the thrashing wind, and the cracking thunder. And sure as you are born, I really did race along!

When I struck the town I see there warn’t nobody out in the storm, so I never hunted for no back streets, but humped it straight through the main one; and when I begun to get towards our house I aimed my eye and set it. No light there; the house all dark—which made me feel sorry and disappointed, I didn’t know why. But at last, just as I was sailing by, flash comes the light in Mary Jane’s window! and my heart swelled up sudden, like to bust; and the same second the house and all was behind me in the dark, and wasn’t ever going to be before me no more in this world. She was the best girl I ever see, and had the most sand.

When I reached town, I see there wasn't nobody out in the storm. So I never looked for no back streets, but hurried straight down the main one. And when I begun to get near our house, I fixed my eyes on it. No light there. The house was all dark, which made me feel sad and disappointed. I didn't know why. But at last, just as I was rushing by, flash comes the light in Mary Jane's window! And my heart swelled up sudden, like it was going to burst. And that same second, the house and all was behind me in the dark. And it wasn't ever going to be in front of me again in this world. She was the best girl I ever see, and had the most courage.

The minute I was far enough above the town to see I could make the tow-head, I begun to look sharp for a boat to borrow, and the first time the lightning showed me one that wasn’t chained I snatched it and shoved. It was a canoe, and warn’t fastened with nothing but a rope. The tow-head was a rattling big distance off, away out there in the middle of the river, but I didn’t lose no time; and when I struck the raft at last I was so fagged I would a just laid down to blow and gasp if I could afforded it. But I didn’t. As I sprung aboard I sung out:

The minute I was far enough upriver from town to see I could reach the sandbar, I begun looking sharp for a boat to borrow. The first time the lightning showed me one that wasn’t chained, I grabbed it and shoved off. It was a canoe, and wasn’t fastened with nothing but a rope. The sandbar was a mighty long way off, out in the middle of the river. But I didn’t lose no time. When I struck the raft at last, I was worn out. I would have just laid down to catch my breath if I could afforded it. But I didn’t. As I sprung aboard, I called out:

“Out with you, Jim, and set her loose! Glory be to goodness, we’re shut of them!”

“Get out there, Jim, and set her loose! Thank goodness, we’re rid of them!”

Jim lit out, and was a-coming for me with both arms spread, he was so full of joy; but when I glimpsed him in the lightning my heart shot up in my mouth and I went overboard backwards; for I forgot he was old King Lear and a drownded A-rab all in one, and it most scared the livers and lights out of me. But Jim fished me out, and was going to hug me and bless me, and so on, he was so glad I was back and we was shut of the king and the duke, but I says:

Jim took off running toward me with both arms spread, he was so full of joy. But when I caught sight of him in the lightning, my heart jumped into my mouth. I fell backward overboard, because I forgot he was old King Lear and a drowned A-rab all in one. The sight nearly scared me to death. But Jim fished me out and was going to hug me and bless me and all that. He was so glad I was back and we was rid of the king and the duke. But I says:

“Not now; have it for breakfast, have it for breakfast! Cut loose and let her slide!”

“Not now. Have it for breakfast, have it for breakfast! Cut loose and let her go!”

So in two seconds away we went a-sliding down the river, and it did seem so good to be free again and all by ourselves on the big river, and nobody to bother us. I had to skip around a bit, and jump up and crack my heels a few times—I couldn’t help it; but about the third crack I noticed a sound that I knowed mighty well, and held my breath and listened and waited; and sure enough, when the next flash busted out over the water, here they come!—and just a-laying to their oars and making their skiff hum! It was the king and the duke.

So in two seconds we were sliding down the river. It did feel so good to be free again, all by ourselves on the big river, with nobody bothering us. I had to skip around a bit and jump up and click my heels a few times. I couldn’t help it. But about the third click, I noticed a sound I knowed mighty well. I held my breath and listened and waited. And sure enough, when the next flash lit up the water, here they come! They were pulling hard at their oars and making their little boat fly! It was the king and the duke.

So I wilted right down on to the planks then, and give up; and it was all I could do to keep from crying.

So I slumped right down onto the planks then, and give up. And it was all I could do to keep from crying.