"Butshucks! Yourmotherwon't know, andsowhat's theharm? Allshewantsisthatyou'llbesafe; and I betyoushe'd 'a' saidgothereifshe'd 'a' thoughtofit. I knowshewould!"
Threemilesbelowtowntheferryboatstoppedatthemouthof a woodyhollowandtiedup. Thecrowdswarmedashoreandsoontheforestdistancesandcraggyheightsechoedfarandnearwithshoutingsandlaughter. Allthedifferentwaysofgettinghotandtiredweregonethroughwith, andby-and-bytheroversstraggledbacktocampfortifiedwithresponsibleappetites, andthenthedestructionofthegoodthingsbegan. Afterthefeasttherewas a refreshingseasonofrestandchatintheshadeofspreadingoaks. By- and-bysomebodyshouted:
16
"Who's readyforthecave?"
17
Everybodywas. Bundlesofcandleswereprocured, andstraightwaytherewas a generalscamperupthehill. Themouthofthecavewasupthehillside -- anopeningshapedlike a letter A. Itsmassiveoakendoorstoodunbarred. Withinwas a smallchamber, chillyasanice-house, andwalledbyNaturewithsolidlimestonethatwasdewywith a coldsweat. Itwasromanticandmysterioustostandhereinthedeepgloomandlookoutuponthegreenvalleyshininginthesun. Buttheimpressivenessofthesituationquicklyworeoff, andtherompingbeganagain. Themoment a candlewaslightedtherewas a generalrushupontheownerofit; a struggleand a gallantdefencefollowed, butthecandlewassoonknockeddownorblownout, andthentherewas a gladclamoroflaughterand a newchase. Butallthingshaveanend. By-and- bytheprocessionwentfilingdownthesteepdescentofthemainavenue, theflickeringrankoflightsdimlyrevealingtheloftywallsofrockalmosttotheirpointofjunctionsixtyfeetoverhead. Thismainavenuewasnotmorethaneightortenfeetwide. Everyfewstepsotherloftyandstillnarrowercrevicesbranchedfromitoneitherhand -- forMcDougal's cavewasbut a vastlabyrinthofcrookedaislesthatranintoeachotherandoutagainandlednowhere. Itwassaidthatonemightwanderdaysandnightstogetherthroughitsintricatetangleofriftsandchasms, andneverfindtheendofthecave; andthathemightgodown, anddown, andstilldown, intotheearth, anditwasjustthesame -- labyrinthunderlabyrinth, andnoendtoanyofthem. Noman "knew" thecave. Thatwasanimpossiblething. Mostoftheyoungmenknew a portionofit, anditwasnotcustomarytoventuremuchbeyondthisknownportion. TomSawyerknewasmuchofthecaveasanyone.
18
Theprocessionmovedalongthemainavenuesomethree-quartersof a mile, andthengroupsandcouplesbegantoslipasideintobranchavenues, flyalongthedismalcorridors, andtakeeachotherbysurpriseatpointswherethecorridorsjoinedagain. Partieswereabletoeludeeachotherforthespaceofhalfanhourwithoutgoingbeyondthe "known" ground.
"Becausethebushisinyourway. Now -- thisway -- nowyousee, don't you?"
28
"Yes. Well, thereIScompanythere, I reckon. Bettergiveitup."
29
"Giveitup, and I justleavingthiscountryforever! Giveitupandmaybeneverhaveanotherchance. I tellyouagain, as I'vetoldyoubefore, I don't careforherswag -- youmayhaveit. Butherhusbandwasroughonme -- manytimeshewasroughonme -- andmainlyhewasthejusticeofthepeacethatjuggedmefor a vagrant. Andthatain't all. Itain't a millionthpartofit! HehadmeHORSEWHIPPED! -- horsewhippedinfrontofthejail, like a nigger! -- withallthetownlookingon! HORSEWHIPPED! -- doyouunderstand? Hetookadvantageofmeanddied. But I'lltakeitoutofHER."
30
"Oh, don't killher! Don't dothat!"
31
"Kill? Whosaidanythingaboutkilling? I wouldkillHIMifhewashere; butnother. Whenyouwanttogetrevengeon a womanyoudon't killher -- bosh! yougoforherlooks. Youslithernostrils -- younotchherearslike a sow!"
32
"ByGod, that's --"
33
"Keepyouropiniontoyourself! Itwillbesafestforyou. I'lltiehertothebed. Ifshebleedstodeath, isthatmyfault? I'llnotcry, ifshedoes. Myfriend, you'llhelpmeinthisthing -- forMYsake -- that's whyyou'rehere -- I mightn't beablealone. Ifyouflinch, I'llkillyou. Doyouunderstandthat? Andif I havetokillyou, I'llkillher -- andthen I reckonnobody'lleverknowmuchaboutwhodonethisbusiness."
Threeminuteslatertheoldmanandhissons, wellarmed, wereupthehill, andjustenteringthesumachpathontiptoe, theirweaponsintheirhands. Huckaccompaniedthemnofurther. Hehidbehind a greatbowlderandfelltolistening. Therewas a lagging, anxioussilence, andthenallof a suddentherewasanexplosionoffirearmsand a cry.