CHAPTER XVI
AFTER dinner all the gang turned out to hunt for turtle eggs on the bar.They went about poking sticks into the sand, and when they found a softplace they went down on their knees and dug with their hands. Sometimesthey would take fifty or sixty eggs out of one hole. They were perfectlyround white things a trifle smaller than an English walnut. They had afamous fried-egg feast that night, and another on Friday morning.
After breakfast they went whooping and prancing out on the bar, andchased each other round and round, shedding clothes as they went, untilthey were naked, and then continued the frolic far away up the shoalwater of the bar, against the stiff current, which latter tripped theirlegs from under them from time to time and greatly increased the fun.And now and then they stooped in a group and splashed water in eachother's faces with their palms, gradually approaching each other, withaverted faces to avoid the strangling sprays, and finally gripping andstruggling till the best man ducked his neighbor, and then they allwent under in a tangle of white legs and arms and came up blowing,sputtering, laughing, and gasping for breath at one and the same time.
When they were well exhausted, they would run out and sprawl on the dry,hot sand, and lie there and cover themselves up with it, and by and bybreak for the water again and go through the original performance oncemore. Finally it occurred to them that their naked skin representedflesh-colored "tights" very fairly; so they drew a ring in the sand andhad a circus--with three clowns in it, for none would yield this proudestpost to his neighbor.
Next they got their marbles and played "knucks" and "ringtaw" and"keeps" till that amusement grew stale. Then Joe and Huck had anotherswim, but Tom would not venture, because he found that in kicking offhis trousers he had kicked his string of rattlesnake rattles off hisankle, and he wondered how he had escaped cramp so long without theprotection of this mysterious charm. He did not venture again until hehad found it, and by that time the other boys were tired and ready torest. They gradually wandered apart, dropped into the "dumps," andfell to gazing longingly across the wide river to where the village laydrowsing in the sun. Tom found himself writing "BECKY" in the sand withhis big toe; he scratched it out, and was angry with himself for hisweakness. But he wrote it again, nevertheless; he could not help it. Heerased it once more and then took himself out of temptation by drivingthe other boys together and joining them.
But Joe's spirits had gone down almost beyond resurrection. He was sohomesick that he could hardly endure the misery of it. The tears layvery near the surface. Huck was melancholy, too. Tom was downhearted,but tried hard not to show it. He had a secret which he was not readyto tell, yet, but if this mutinous depression was not broken up soon, hewould have to bring it out. He said, with a great show of cheerfulness:
"I bet there's been pirates on this island before, boys. We'll exploreit again. They've hid treasures here somewhere. How'd you feel to lighton a rotten chest full of gold and silver--hey?"
But it roused only faint enthusiasm, which faded out, with no reply.Tom tried one or two other seductions; but they failed, too. It wasdiscouraging work. Joe sat poking up the sand with a stick and lookingvery gloomy. Finally he said:
"Oh, boys, let's give it up. I want to go home. It's so lonesome."
"Oh no, Joe, you'll feel better by and by," said Tom. "Just think of thefishing that's here."
"I don't care for fishing. I want to go home."
"But, Joe, there ain't such another swimming-place anywhere."
"Swimming's no good. I don't seem to care for it, somehow, when thereain't anybody to say I sha'n't go in. I mean to go home."
"Oh, shucks! Baby! You want to see your mother, I reckon."
"Yes, I _do_ want to see my mother--and you would, too, if you had one. Iain't any more baby than you are." And Joe snuffled a little.
"Well, we'll let the crybaby go home to his mother, won't we, Huck? Poorthing--does it want to see its mother? And so it shall. You like it here,don't you, Huck? We'll stay, won't we?"
Huck said, "Y-e-s"--without any heart in it.
"I'll never speak to you again as long as I live," said Joe, rising."There now!" And he moved moodily away and began to dress himself.
"Who cares!" said Tom. "Nobody wants you to. Go 'long home and getlaughed at. Oh, you're a nice pirate. Huck and me ain't crybabies. We'llstay, won't we, Huck? Let him go if he wants to. I reckon we can getalong without him, per'aps."
But Tom was uneasy, nevertheless, and was alarmed to see Joe go sullenlyon with his dressing. And then it was discomforting to see Huck eyingJoe's preparations so wistfully, and keeping up such an ominous silence.Presently, without a parting word, Joe began to wade off toward theIllinois shore. Tom's heart began to sink. He glanced at Huck. Huckcould not bear the look, and dropped his eyes. Then he said:
"I want to go, too, Tom. It was getting so lonesome anyway, and nowit'll be worse. Let's us go, too, Tom."
"I won't! You can all go, if you want to. I mean to stay."
"Tom, I better go."
"Well, go 'long--who's hendering you."
Huck began to pick up his scattered clothes. He said:
"Tom, I wisht you'd come, too. Now you think it over. We'll wait for youwhen we get to shore."
"Well, you'll wait a blame long time, that's all."
Huck started sorrowfully away, and Tom stood looking after him, with astrong desire tugging at his heart to yield his pride and go alongtoo. He hoped the boys would stop, but they still waded slowly on. Itsuddenly dawned on Tom that it was become very lonely and still. He madeone final struggle with his pride, and then darted after his comrades,yelling:
"Wait! Wait! I want to tell you something!"
They presently stopped and turned around. When he got to where theywere, he began unfolding his secret, and they listened moodily tillat last they saw the "point" he was driving at, and then they set up awarwhoop of applause and said it was "splendid!" and said if he hadtold them at first, they wouldn't have started away. He made a plausibleexcuse; but his real reason had been the fear that not even the secretwould keep them with him any very great length of time, and so he hadmeant to hold it in reserve as a last seduction.
The lads came gayly back and went at their sports again with a will,chattering all the time about Tom's stupendous plan and admiring thegenius of it. After a dainty egg and fish dinner, Tom said he wanted tolearn to smoke, now. Joe caught at the idea and said he would like totry, too. So Huck made pipes and filled them. These novices had neversmoked anything before but cigars made of grapevine, and they "bit" thetongue, and were not considered manly anyway.
Now they stretched themselves out on their elbows and began to puff,charily, and with slender confidence. The smoke had an unpleasant taste,and they gagged a little, but Tom said:
"Why, it's just as easy! If I'd a knowed this was all, I'd a learnt longago."
"So would I," said Joe. "It's just nothing."
"Why, many a time I've looked at people smoking, and thought well I wishI could do that; but I never thought I could," said Tom.
"That's just the way with me, hain't it, Huck? You've heard me talk justthat way--haven't you, Huck? I'll leave it to Huck if I haven't."
"Yes--heaps of times," said Huck.
"Well, I have too," said Tom; "oh, hundreds of times. Once down by theslaughter-house. Don't you remember, Huck? Bob Tanner was there, andJohnny Miller, and Jeff Thatcher, when I said it. Don't you remember,Huck, 'bout me saying that?"
"Yes, that's so," said Huck. "That was the day after I lost a whitealley. No, 'twas the day before."
"There--I told you so," said Tom. "Huck recollects it."
"I bleeve I could smoke this pipe all day," said Joe. "I don't feelsick."
"Neither do I," said Tom. "I could smoke it all day. But I bet you JeffThatcher couldn't."
"Jeff Thatcher! Why, he'd keel over just with two draws. Just let himtry it once. _He'd_ see!"
"I bet he would. And Johnny Miller--I wish could see Johnny Miller tackle
it once."
"Oh, don't I!" said Joe. "Why, I bet you Johnny Miller couldn't any moredo this than nothing. Just one little snifter would fetch _him_."
"'Deed it would, Joe. Say--I wish the boys could see us now."
"So do I."
"Say--boys, don't say anything about it, and some time when they'rearound, I'll come up to you and say, 'Joe, got a pipe? I want a smoke.'And you'll say, kind of careless like, as if it warn't anything, you'llsay, 'Yes, I got my _old_ pipe, and another one, but my tobacker ain'tvery good.' And I'll say, 'Oh, that's all right, if it's _strong_enough.' And then you'll out with the pipes, and we'll light up just asca'm, and then just see 'em look!"
"By jings, that'll be gay, Tom! I wish it was _now_!"
"So do I! And when we tell 'em we learned when we was off pirating,won't they wish they'd been along?"
"Oh, I reckon not! I'll just _bet_ they will!"
So the talk ran on. But presently it began to flag a trifle, andgrow disjointed. The silences widened; the expectoration marvellouslyincreased. Every pore inside the boys' cheeks became a spoutingfountain; they could scarcely bail out the cellars under their tonguesfast enough to prevent an inundation; little overflowings down theirthroats occurred in spite of all they could do, and sudden retchingsfollowed every time. Both boys were looking very pale and miserable,now. Joe's pipe dropped from his nerveless fingers. Tom's followed. Bothfountains were going furiously and both pumps bailing with might andmain. Joe said feebly:
"I've lost my knife. I reckon I better go and find it."
Tom said, with quivering lips and halting utterance:
"I'll help you. You go over that way and I'll hunt around by the spring.No, you needn't come, Huck--we can find it."
So Huck sat down again, and waited an hour. Then he found it lonesome,and went to find his comrades. They were wide apart in the woods, bothvery pale, both fast asleep. But something informed him that if they hadhad any trouble they had got rid of it.
They were not talkative at supper that night. They had a humble look,and when Huck prepared his pipe after the meal and was going to preparetheirs, they said no, they were not feeling very well--something they ateat dinner had disagreed with them.
About midnight Joe awoke, and called the boys. There was a broodingoppressiveness in the air that seemed to bode something. The boyshuddled themselves together and sought the friendly companionship ofthe fire, though the dull dead heat of the breathless atmosphere wasstifling. They sat still, intent and waiting. The solemn hush continued.Beyond the light of the fire everything was swallowed up in theblackness of darkness. Presently there came a quivering glow thatvaguely revealed the foliage for a moment and then vanished. By and byanother came, a little stronger. Then another. Then a faint moan camesighing through the branches of the forest and the boys felt a fleetingbreath upon their cheeks, and shuddered with the fancy that the Spiritof the Night had gone by. There was a pause. Now a weird flash turnednight into day and showed every little grassblade, separate anddistinct, that grew about their feet. And it showed three white,startled faces, too. A deep peal of thunder went rolling and tumblingdown the heavens and lost itself in sullen rumblings in the distance. Asweep of chilly air passed by, rustling all the leaves and snowing theflaky ashes broadcast about the fire. Another fierce glare lit up theforest and an instant crash followed that seemed to rend the treetopsright over the boys' heads. They clung together in terror, in the thickgloom that followed. A few big raindrops fell pattering upon the leaves.
"Quick! boys, go for the tent!" exclaimed Tom.
They sprang away, stumbling over roots and among vines in the dark, notwo plunging in the same direction. A furious blast roared throughthe trees, making everything sing as it went. One blinding flash afteranother came, and peal on peal of deafening thunder. And now a drenchingrain poured down and the rising hurricane drove it in sheets along theground. The boys cried out to each other, but the roaring wind and thebooming thunderblasts drowned their voices utterly. However, one by onethey straggled in at last and took shelter under the tent, cold, scared,and streaming with water; but to have company in misery seemed somethingto be grateful for. They could not talk, the old sail flapped sofuriously, even if the other noises would have allowed them. The tempestrose higher and higher, and presently the sail tore loose from itsfastenings and went winging away on the blast. The boys seized eachothers' hands and fled, with many tumblings and bruises, to the shelterof a great oak that stood upon the riverbank. Now the battle was at itshighest. Under the ceaseless conflagration of lightning that flamedin the skies, everything below stood out in cleancut and shadowlessdistinctness: the bending trees, the billowy river, white with foam, thedriving spray of spumeflakes, the dim outlines of the high bluffs onthe other side, glimpsed through the drifting cloudrack and the slantingveil of rain. Every little while some giant tree yielded the fightand fell crashing through the younger growth; and the unflaggingthunderpeals came now in ear-splitting explosive bursts, keen and sharp,and unspeakably appalling. The storm culminated in one matchless effortthat seemed likely to tear the island to pieces, burn it up, drown it tothe treetops, blow it away, and deafen every creature in it, all at oneand the same moment. It was a wild night for homeless young heads to beout in.
But at last the battle was done, and the forces retired with weaker andweaker threatenings and grumblings, and peace resumed her sway. Theboys went back to camp, a good deal awed; but they found there was stillsomething to be thankful for, because the great sycamore, the shelterof their beds, was a ruin, now, blasted by the lightnings, and they werenot under it when the catastrophe happened.
Everything in camp was drenched, the campfire as well; for they were butheedless lads, like their generation, and had made no provision againstrain. Here was matter for dismay, for they were soaked through andchilled. They were eloquent in their distress; but they presentlydiscovered that the fire had eaten so far up under the great log it hadbeen built against (where it curved upward and separated itself fromthe ground), that a handbreadth or so of it had escaped wetting; so theypatiently wrought until, with shreds and bark gathered from the undersides of sheltered logs, they coaxed the fire to burn again. Then theypiled on great dead boughs till they had a roaring furnace, and weregladhearted once more. They dried their boiled ham and had a feast,and after that they sat by the fire and expanded and glorified theirmidnight adventure until morning, for there was not a dry spot to sleepon, anywhere around.
As the sun began to steal in upon the boys, drowsiness came overthem, and they went out on the sandbar and lay down to sleep. They gotscorched out by and by, and drearily set about getting breakfast. Afterthe meal they felt rusty, and stiff-jointed, and a little homesick oncemore. Tom saw the signs, and fell to cheering up the pirates as well ashe could. But they cared nothing for marbles, or circus, or swimming, oranything. He reminded them of the imposing secret, and raised a ray ofcheer. While it lasted, he got them interested in a new device. This wasto knock off being pirates, for a while, and be Indians for a change.They were attracted by this idea; so it was not long before they werestripped, and striped from head to heel with black mud, like so manyzebras--all of them chiefs, of course--and then they went tearing throughthe woods to attack an English settlement.
By and by they separated into three hostile tribes, and darted upon eachother from ambush with dreadful warwhoops, and killed and scalped eachother by thousands. It was a gory day. Consequently it was an extremelysatisfactory one.
They assembled in camp toward suppertime, hungry and happy; but nowa difficulty arose--hostile Indians could not break the bread ofhospitality together without first making peace, and this was a simpleimpossibility without smoking a pipe of peace. There was no otherprocess that ever they had heard of. Two of the savages almost wishedthey had remained pirates. However, there was no other way; so with suchshow of cheerfulness as they could muster they called for the pipe andtook their whiff as it passed, in due form.
And behold, they were glad they
had gone into savagery, for they hadgained something; they found that they could now smoke a little withouthaving to go and hunt for a lost knife; they did not get sick enough tobe seriously uncomfortable. They were not likely to fool away this highpromise for lack of effort. No, they practised cautiously, after supper,with right fair success, and so they spent a jubilant evening. They wereprouder and happier in their new acquirement than they would have beenin the scalping and skinning of the Six Nations. We will leave them tosmoke and chatter and brag, since we have no further use for them atpresent.