             ,,*APT] ,,XXIX

  ,! F/ ?+ ,TOM HE>D ON ,FRI"D MORN+ 0 A
GLAD PIECE ( NEWS--
  ,JUDGE ,?AT*]'S FAMILY _H -E BACK 6T[N
! NI<T 2F4 ,BO? ,9JUN ,JOE &! TR1SURE
SUNK 96SECOND>Y IMPORT.E =A MO;T1 &
,BECKY TOOK ! *IEF PLACE 9 ! BOY'S
9T]E/4 ,HE SAW H] & !Y _H AN EXHAU/+ GD
"T PLAY+ 8HI- SPY0 & 8GULLY-KEEP]0 )A
CR[D ( _! S*OOLMATES4 ,! "D 0 -PLET$ &
CR[N$ 9 A PECULI>LY SATISFACTORY WAY3
,BECKY T1S$ H] "M 6APPO9T ! NEXT "D =!
L;G-PROMIS$ & L;G- DELAY$ PICNIC1 & %E
3S5T$4 ,! *'S DELI<T 0 B.D.S2 & ,TOM'S N
M MOD]ATE4 ,! 9VIT,NS 7 S5T \ 2F SUNSET1
& /RAI<TWAY ! "Y FOLKS (! VILLAGE 7 ?R[N
96A FEV] ( PREP>,N & PL1SURA# ANTICIP,N4
,TOM'S EXCITE;T 5A#D HM 6KEEP AWAKE
UNTIL A PRETTY LATE H\R1 & HE _H GD
HOPES ( HE>+ ,HUCK'S 8MA[10 &( HAV+ 8
TR1SURE 6A/ONI% ,BECKY &! PICNICK]S )1
NEXT "D2 B HE 0 4APPO9T$4 ,NO SIGNAL
CAME T NI<T4
  ,MORN+ CAME1 EV5TU,Y1 & 0T5 OR ELEV5
O'C A GI4Y & ROLLICK+ -PANY 7 GA!R$ AT
,JUDGE ,?AT*]'S1 & "EY?+ 0 R1DY =A />T4
,X 0 N ! CU/OM = ELD]LY P 6M> ! PICNICS
) _! PRES;E4 ,! *N 7 3SID]$ SAFE 5 "U !
W+S (A FEW "Y LADIES ( EI<TE5 &A FEW "Y
G5TLEM5 ( TW5TY-?REE OR "!ABS4 ,! OLD
/1M F]RYBOAT 0 *>T]$ =! O3A.N2 PRES5TLY
! GAY ?R;G FIL$ UP ! MA9 /REET LAD5 )
PROVI.N- BASKETS4 ,SID 0 SICK & _H 6MISS
! FUN2 ,M>Y REMA9$ AT HOME 65T]TA9 HM4
,! LA/ ?+ ,MRS4 ,?AT*] SD 6,BECKY1 WAS3
  8,Y'LL N GET BACK TILL LATE4 ,P]H Y'D
BETT] /AY ALL NI<T ) "S (! GIRLS T LIVE
NE> ! F]RY-L&+1 *40
  8,!N ,I'LL /AY ) ,SUSY ,H>P]1 MAMMA40
  8,V WELL4 ,& M9D & 2HAVE YRF & DON'T 2
ANY TR\#40
  ,PRES5TLY1 Z !Y TRIPP$ AL;G1 ,TOM SD
6,BECKY3
  8,SAY--,I'LL TELL Y :AT WE'LL D4 ',/1D
( GO+ 6,JOE ,H>P]'S WE'LL CLIMB "R UP !
HILL & /OP AT ! ,WID[ ,D\GLAS0'4 ,%E'LL
H ICE-CR1M6 ,%E HAS X MO/ E "D--D1D
LOADS ( X4 ,& %E'LL 2 AW;L GLAD 6H U40
  8,OH1 T W 2 FUN60
  ,!N ,BECKY REFLECT$ A MO;T & SD3
  8,B :AT W MAMMA SAY80
  8,H['LL %E "E "K80
  ,! GIRL TURN$ ! IDEA OV] 9 H] M9D1 &
SD RELUCTANTLY3
  8,I RECKON X'S WR;G--B--0
  8,B %UCKS6 ,YR "M WON'T "K1 & S :AT'S
! H>M8 ,ALL %E WANTS IS T Y'LL 2 SAFE2 &
,I BET Y %E'D 'A SD G "! IF %E'D 'A ?"\
( X4 ,I "K %E WD60
  ,! ,WID[ ,D\GLAS' SPL5DID HOSPITAL;Y 0
A TEMPT+ BAIT4 ,X & ,TOM'S P]SUA.NS
PRES5TLY C>RI$ ! "D4 ,S X 0 DECID$ 6SAY
NO?+ ANYBODY AB ! NI<T'S PROGRAMME4
,PRES5TLY X O3URR$ 6,TOM T MAYBE ,HUCK
MI<T -E ? V NI<T & GIVE ! SIGNAL4 ,! ?"\
TOOK A D1L (! _S \ ( 8 ANTICIP,NS4 ,/ HE
CD N BE> 6GIVE UP ! FUN AT ,WID[
,D\GLAS0'4 ,& :Y %D HE GIVE X UP1 HE
R1SON$--! SIGNAL DID N -E ! NI<T 2F1 S
:Y %D X 2 ANY M LIKELY 6-E TO-NI<T8 ,!
SURE FUN (! EV5+ \TWEI<$ ! UNC]TA9
TR1SURE2 &1 BOY- L1 HE DET]M9$ 6YIELD 6!
/R;G] 9CL9,N & N ALL[ HMF 6?9K (! BOX (
M"OY ANO!R "T T "D4
  ,?REE MILES 2L T[N ! F]RYBOAT /OPP$ AT
! M\? (A WOODY HOLL[ & TI$ UP4 ,! CR[D
SW>M$ A%ORE & SOON ! =E/ 4T.ES & CRA7Y
HEI<TS E*O$ F> & NE> ) %\T+S & LAU<T]4
,ALL ! DI6]5T WAYS ( GETT+ HOT & TIR$ 7
G"O "? )1 & BY-&-BY ! ROV]S /RA7L$ BACK
6CAMP =TIFI$ ) RESPONSI# APPETITES1 & !N
! DE/RUC;N (! GD ?+S 2GAN4 ,AF ! F1/ "!
0 A REFRE%+ S1SON ( RE/ & *AT 9 ! %ADE (
SPR1D+ OAKS4 ,BY- &-BY "SBODY %\T$3
  8,:O'S R1DY =! CAVE80
  ,"EYBODY WAS4 ,BUNDLES ( C&LES 7
PROCUR$1 & /RAI<TWAY "! 0 A G5]AL SCAMP]
UP ! HILL4 ,! M\? (! CAVE 0 UP !
HILLSIDE--AN OP5+ %AP$ L A LR ,A4 ,XS
MASSIVE OAK5 DOOR /OOD UNB>R$4 ,)9 0 A
SMALL *AMB]1 *ILLY Z AN ICE-H\SE1 &
WALL$ 0,NATURE ) SOLID LIME/"O T 0 DEWY
)A COLD SW1T4 ,X 0 ROMANTIC & MY/]I\S
6/& "H 9 ! DEEP GLOOM & LOOK \ ^U ! GRE5
VALLEY %9+ 9 ! SUN4 ,B ! IMPRESSIVE;S (!
SITU,N QKLY WORE (F1 &! ROMP+ 2GAN AG4
,! MO;T A C&LE 0 LI<T$ "! 0 A G5]AL RU%
^U ! [N] ( X2 A /RU7LE &A GALLANT DEF;E
FOLL[$1 B ! C&LE 0 SOON KNOCK$ D[N OR
BL[N \1 & !N "! 0 A GLAD CLAMOR ( LAU<T]
&A NEW *ASE4 ,B ALL ?+S H AN 5D4 ,BY-&-
0! PROCES.N W5T FIL+ D[N ! /EEP DESC5T (
! MA9 AV5UE1 ! FLICK]+ RANK ( LI<TS
DIMLY REV1L+ ! L(TY WALLS ( ROCK ALM 6_!
PO9T ( JUNC;N SIXTY FEET OV]H1D4 ,? MA9
AV5UE 0 N M ?AN EI<T OR T5 FEET WIDE4 ,E
FEW /EPS O!R L(TY & / N>R[] CREVICES
BRAN*$ F X ON EI H&--= ,MC,D\GAL'S CAVE
0 B A VA/ LABYR9? ( CROOK$ AISLES T RAN
96EA* O!R & \ AG & L$ NO":4 ,X 0 SD T "O
MI<T W&] "DS & NI<TS TGR "? XS 9TRICATE
TANGLE ( RIFTS & *ASMS1 & N"E F9D ! 5D (
! CAVE2 & T HE MI<T G D[N1 & D[N1 & /
D[N1 96! E>?1 & X 0 J ! SAME--LABYR9? "U
LABYR9?1 & NO 5D 6ANY ( !M4 ,NO MAN
8KNEW0 ! CAVE4 ,T 0 AN IMPOSSI# ?+4 ,MO/
(! "Y M5 KNEW A POR;N ( X1 & X 0 N
CU/OM>Y 6V5TURE M* 2Y ? "KN POR;N4 ,TOM
,SAWY] KNEW Z M* (! CAVE Z ANY "O4
  ,! PROCES.N MOV$ AL;G ! MA9 AV5UE "S
?REE-QU>T]S (A MILE1 & !N GR\PS & C\PLES
2GAN 6SLIP ASIDE 96BRAN* AV5UES1 FLY
AL;G ! 4MAL CORRIDORS1 & TAKE EA* O!R
0SURPRISE AT PO9TS ": ! CORRIDORS JO9$
AG4 ,"PIES 7 A# 6ELUDE EA* O!R =! SPACE
( HALF AN H\R )\T GO+ 2Y ! 8"KN0 GR.D4
  ,BY-&-BY1 "O GR\P AF ANO!R CAME /RA7L+
BACK 6! M\? (! CAVE1 PANT+1 HIL>I\S1
SME>$ F H1D 6FOOT ) TALL[ DRIPP+S1 DAUB$
) CLAY1 & 5TIRELY DELI<T$ )! SU3ESS (!
"D4 ,!N !Y 7 A/ONI%$ 6F9D T !Y _H BE5
TAK+ NO NOTE ( "T & T NI<T 0 AB AT H&4
,! CLANG+ BELL _H BE5 CALL+ = HALF AN
H\R4 ,H["E1 ? SORT ( CLOSE 6! "D'S
ADV5TURES 0 ROMANTIC & "!=E
SATISFACTORY4 ,:5 ! F]RYBOAT ) H] WILD
FREI<T PU%$ 96! /R1M1 NOBODY C>$ SIXP;E
=! WA/$ "T B ! CAPTA9 (! CRAFT4
  ,HUCK 0 ALR ^U 8 WAT* :5 ! F]RYBOAT'S
LI<TS W5T GL9T+ PA/ ! :>F4 ,HE HE>D NO
NOISE ON BO>D1 =! "Y P 7 Z SUBDU$ & / Z
P USU,Y >E :O >E NE>LY TIR$ 6D1?4 ,HE
WOND]$ :AT BOAT X WAS1 & :Y %E DID N /OP
AT ! :>F--& !N HE DROPP$ H] \ ( 8 M9D &
PUT 8 ATT5;N ^U 8 BUSI;S4 ,! NI<T 0 GR[+
CL\DY & D>K4 ,T5 O'C CAME1 &! NOISE (
VEHICLES C1S$1 SCATT]$ LI<TS 2GAN 6W9K
\1 ALL /RA7L+ FOOT- PASS5G]S 4APPE>$1 !
VILLAGE 2TOOK XF 6XS SLUMB]S & LEFT !
SMALL WAT*] AL"O )! SIL;E &! <O/S4
,ELEV5 O'C CAME1 &! TAV]N LI<TS 7 PUT \2
D>K;S "EY":1 N[4 ,HUCK WAIT$ :AT SEEM$ A
WE>Y L;G "T1 B NO?+ HAPP5$4 ,8 FAI? 0
W1K5+4 ,0 "! ANY USE8 ,0 "! RE,Y ANY
USE8 ,:Y N GIVE X UP & TURN IN8
  ,A NOISE FELL ^U 8 E>4 ,HE 0 ALL
ATT5;N 9 AN 9/ANT4 ,! ALLEY DOOR CLOS$
S(TLY4 ,HE SPRANG 6! CORN] (! BRICK
/ORE4 ,! NEXT MO;T TWO M5 BRU%$ 0HM1 &
"O SEEM$ 6H "S?+ "U 8 >M4 ,X M/ 2 T BOX6
,S !Y 7 GO+ 6REMOVE ! TR1SURE4 ,:Y CALL
,TOM N[8 ,X WD 2 ABSURD--! M5 WD GET
AWAY )! BOX & N"E 2 F.D AG4 ,NO1 HE WD
/ICK 6_! WAKE & FOLL[ !M2 HE WD TRU/ 6!
D>K;S = SECUR;Y F 4COV]Y4 ,S -MUN+ )
HMF1 ,HUCK /EPP$ \ & GLID$ AL;G 2H ! M51
CAT-L1 ) B>E FEET1 ALL[+ !M 6KEEP J F> 5
AH1D N 6BE 9VISI#4
  ,!Y MOV$ UP ! RIV] /REET ?REE BLOCKS1
!N TURN$ 6! LEFT UP A CROSS-/REET4 ,!Y
W5T /RAI<T AH1D1 !N1 UNTIL !Y CAME 6!
PA? T L$ UP ,C>DIFF ,HILL2 ? !Y TOOK4
,!Y PASS$ 0! OLD ,WEL%MAN'S H\SE1 HALF-
WAY UP ! HILL1 )\T HESITAT+1 & / CLIMB$
UPW>D4 ,GD1 ?"\ ,HUCK1 !Y W BURY X 9 !
OLD QU>RY4 ,B !Y N"E /OPP$ AT ! QU>RY4
,!Y PASS$ ON1 UP ! SUMMIT4 ,!Y PLUNG$
96! N>R[ PA? 2T ! TALL SUMA* BU%ES1 & 7
AT ONCE HI45 9 ! GLOOM4 ,HUCK CLOS$ UP &
%ORT5$ 8 4T.E1 N[1 = !Y WD N"E 2 A# 6SEE
HM4 ,HE TROTT$ AL;G A:ILE2 !N SLACK5$ 8
PACE1 FE>+ HE 0 GA9+ TOO FA/2 MOV$ ON A
PIECE1 !N /OPP$ ALT2 LI/5$2 NO S.D2 N"O1
SAVE T HE SEEM$ 6HE> ! B1T+ ( 8 [N HE>T4
,! HOOT+ ( AN [L CAME OV] ! HILL--OM9\S
S.D6 ,B NO FOOT/EPS4 ,H1V5S1 0 "EY?+
LO/6 ,HE 0 AB 6SPR+ ) W+$ FEET1 :5 A MAN
CLE>$ 8 ?ROAT N F\R FEET F HM6 ,HUCK'S
HE>T %OT 96HIS ?ROAT1 B HE SWALL[$ X AG2
& !N HE /OOD "! %AK+ Z IF A DOZ5 AGUES
_H TAK5 *>GE ( HM AT ONCE1 & S W1K T HE
?"\ HE M/ SURELY FALL 6! GR.D4 ,HE KNEW
": HE WAS4 ,HE KNEW HE 0 )9 FIVE /EPS (!
/ILE L1D+ 96,WID[ ,D\GLAS' GR.DS4 ,V
WELL1 HE ?"\1 LET !M BURY X "!2 X WON'T
2 H>D 6F9D4
  ,N[ "! 0 A VOICE--A V L[ VOICE--,9JUN
,JOE'S3
  8,DAMN H]1 MAYBE %E'S GOT -PANY--"!'S
LI<TS1 LATE Z X IS40
  8,I C'T SEE ANY40
  ,? 0 T /RANG]'S VOICE--! /RANG] (!
HAUNT$ H\SE4 ,A D1DLY *ILL W5T 6,HUCK'S
HE>T--?1 !N1 0 ! 8REV5GE0 JOB6 ,8 ?"\
WAS1 6FLY4 ,!N HE REMEMB]$ T ! ,WID[
,D\GLAS _H BE5 K9D 6HM M ?AN ONCE1 &
MAYBE ^! M5 7 GO+ 6MURD] H]4 ,HE WI%$ HE
D>$ V5TURE 6W>N H]2 B HE KNEW HE DIDN'T
D>E--!Y MI<T -E & CAT* HM4 ,HE ?"\ ALL ?
& M 9 ! MO;T T ELAPS$ 2T ! /RANG]'S
REM>K & ,9JUN ,JOE'S NEXT--: WAS--
  8,2C ! BU% IS 9 YR WAY4 ,N[--? WAY--N[
Y SEE1 DON'T Y80
  8,YES4 ,WELL1 "! ,,IS -PANY "!1 ,I
RECKON4 ,BETT] GIVE X UP40
  8,GIVE X UP1 & ,I J L1V+ ? C.TRY ="E6
,GIVE X UP & MAYBE N"E H ANO!R *.E4 ,I
TELL Y AG1 Z ,I'VE TOLD Y 2F1 ,I DON'T
C>E = H] SWAG--Y MAY H X4 ,B H] HUSB& 0
R\< ON ME--_M "TS HE 0 R\< ON ME--&
MA9LY HE 0 ! JU/ICE (! P1CE T JU7$ ME =A
VAGRANT4 ,& T A9'T ALL4 ,X A9'T A
MILLION? "P ( X6 ,HE _H ME ,,HORSE:IPP$6
--HORSE:IPP$ 9 FRONT (! JAIL1 L A NI7]6
--) ALL ! T[N LOOK+ ON6 ,,HORSE:IPP$6--D
Y "U/&8 ,HE TOOK ADVANTAGE ( ME & DI$4
,B ,I'LL TAKE X \ ( ,,H]40
  8,OH1 DON'T KILL H]6 ,DON'T D T60
  8,KILL8 ,:O SD ANY?+ AB KILL+8 ,I WD
KILL ,,HM IF HE 0 "H2 B N H]4 ,:5 Y WANT
6GET REV5GE ON A WOMAN Y DON'T KILL H]--
BO%6 Y G = H] LOOKS4 ,Y SLIT H] NO/RILS
--Y NOT* H] E>S L A S[60

    8,0,GOD1 T'S--0
  8,KEEP YR OP9ION 6YRF6 ,X W 2 SAFE/ =
Y4 ,I'LL TIE H] 6! B$4 ,IF %E BLE$S
6D1?1 IS T MY FAULT8 ,I'LL N CRY1 IF %E
DOES4 ,MY FR1 Y'LL HELP ME 9 ? ?+--=
,,MY SAKE--T'S :Y Y'RE "H--,I MI<TN'T 2
A# AL"O4 ,IF Y FL9*1 ,I'LL KILL Y4 ,D Y
"U/& T8 ,& IF ,I H 6KILL Y1 ,I'LL KILL
H]--& !N ,I RECKON NOBODY'LL "E "K M* AB
:O D"O ? BUSI;S40
  8,WELL1 IF X'S GOT 6BE D"O1 LET'S GET
AT X4 ,! QK] ! BETT]--,I'M ALL 9 A
%IV]40
  8,D X ,,N[8 ,& -PANY "!8 ,LOOK "H--
,I'LL GET SUSPICI\S ( Y1 F/ ?+ Y "K4 ,NO
--WE'LL WAIT TILL ! LI<TS >E \--"!'S NO
HURRY40
  ,HUCK FELT T A SIL;E 0 GO+ 65SUE--A ?+
/ M AW;L ?AN ANY AM.T ( MURD]\S TALK2 S
HE HELD 8 BR1? & /EPP$ G+]LY BACK2
PLANT$ 8 FOOT C>E;LLY & FIRMLY1 AF
BALANC+1 "O-LE7$1 9 A PREC>I\S WAY & ALM
TOPPL+ OV]1 F/ ON "O SIDE & !N ON ! O!R4
,HE TOOK ANO!R /EP BACK1 )! SAME
ELABOR,N &! SAME RISKS2 !N ANO!R &
ANO!R1 &--A TWIG SNAPP$ "U 8 FOOT6 ,8
BR1? /OPP$ & HE LI/5$4 ,"! 0 NO S.D--!
/ILL;S 0 P]FECT4 ,8 GRATITUDE 0
M1SURE.S4 ,N[ HE TURN$ 9 8 TRACKS1 2T !
WALLS ( SUMA* BU%ES--TURN$ HMF Z C>E;LLY
Z IF HE 7 A %IP--& !N /EPP$ QKLY B
CAUTI\SLY AL;G4 ,:5 HE EM]G$ AT ! QU>RY
HE FELT SECURE1 & S HE PICK$ UP 8 NIM#
HEELS & FLEW4 ,D[N1 D[N HE SP$1 TILL HE
R1*$ ! ,WEL%MAN'S4 ,HE BANG$ AT ! DOOR1
& PRES5TLY ! H1DS (! OLD MAN & 8 TWO
/ALW>T SONS 7 ?RU/ F W9D[S4
  8,:AT'S ! R[ "!8 ,:O'S BANG+8 ,:AT D Y
WANT80
  8,LET ME 9--QK6 ,I'LL TELL "EY?+40
  8,:Y1 :O >E Y80
  8,HUCKLEB]RY ,F9N--QK1 LET ME IN60
  8,HUCKLEB]RY ,F9N1 9DE$6 ,X A9'T A "N
6OP5 _M DOORS1 ,I JUDGE6 ,B LET HM IN1
LADS1 & LET'S SEE :AT'S ! TR\#40
  8,PL1SE DON'T "E TELL ,I TOLD Y10 7
,HUCK'S F/ ^WS :5 HE GOT IN4 8,PL1SE
DON'T--,I'D 2 KILL$1 SURE--B ! WID['S
BE5 GD FRS 6ME "S"TS1 & ,I WANT 6TELL--
,I ,,W TELL IF Y'LL PROMISE Y WON'T "E
SAY X 0 ME40
  8,0,GEORGE1 HE ,,HAS GOT "S?+ 6TELL1
OR HE WDN'T ACT S60 EXCLAIM$ ! OLD MAN2
8\ ) X & NOBODY "H'LL "E TELL1 LAD40
  ,?REE M9UTES LAT] ! OLD MAN & 8 SONS1
WELL >M$1 7 UP ! HILL1 & J 5T]+ ! SUMA*
PA? ON TIPTOE1 _! W1PONS 9 _! H&S4 ,HUCK
A3OMPANI$ !M NO FUR!R4 ,HE HID 2H A GRT
B[LD] & FELL 6LI/5+4 ,"! 0 A LA7+1
ANXI\S SIL;E1 & !N ALL (A SU45 "! 0 AN
EXPLO.N ( FIRE>MS &A CRY4
  ,HUCK WAIT$ = NO "PICUL>S4 ,HE SPRANG
AWAY & SP$ D[N ! HILL Z FA/ Z 8 LEGS CD
C>RY HM4


