Next day, towards night, we laid up under a little willow towheadⒶhistorical collation outⒶalteration in the MS in the middleⒶalteration in the MS, where there was a village on each side of the river, and the duke and the king begun to lay out a plan for working them towns. Jim he spoke to the duke, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take but a few hours, because it got mighty heavy and tiresome to him when he had to lay all day in the wigwam tied with the rope. You see, when we left him allⒶemendation alone we hadⒶemendation to tie him, because if anybody happened on him allⒶalteration in the MS Ⓐalteration in the MS by himself and not tied, it wouldn’t look much like he was a runawayⒶemendation nigger, you know. So the duke saidⒶalteration in the MS it was kind of hard to have to lay roped all day, and he’d cipher out some way to get aroundⒶalteration in the MS it.
He was uncommon bright, the duke was, and he soon struck it.Ⓐalteration in the MS HeⒶemendation dressed Jim up in King Lear’sⒶemendation outfit—itⒶalteration in the MS was a long curtain-calico gown, and a whiteⒶalteration in the MS horse-hair wig and whiskers; and then he took his theatre-paintⒶalteration in the MS Ⓐhistorical collation and painted Jim’s face and hands and ears and neck all overⒶemendation a dead dull solid blue, like a man that’s been drownded nine days. BlamedⒶemendation if he warn’t the horriblest lookingⒶhistorical collation outrage I ever see. Then the duke took and wroteⒶalteration in the MS Ⓐalteration in the MS out a sign on a shingle,Ⓐhistorical collation Ⓐalteration in the MS so—Ⓐhistorical collation
Sick Arab Ⓐemendation Ⓐtextual note—but harmless when not out of his head. Ⓐemendation
AndⒶemendation he nailed that shingleⒶalteration in the MS to a lath, and stood the lathⒶalteration in the MS up fourⒶalteration in the MS or five footⒶalteration in the MS in front of the wigwam.Ⓐalteration in the MS JimⒶemendation was satisfied. He said it was a [begin page 204] sight better than laying tied a couple of yearsⒶalteration in the MS every day and trembling all over every time there wasⒶemendation a sound. The duke told him to make himself freeⒶemendation and easy, and if anybodyⒶalteration in the MS ever come meddling around, he must hop out of the wigwam, andⒶalteration in the MS carry on a little, and fetch a howl or two like a wild beast, and he reckoned they would light out and leave him alone. Which was sound enough judgment; but you take the average man, and he wouldn’t wait for him to howl. Why, he didn’t only look like he was dead, he looked considerable more than that.Ⓐemendation Ⓐalteration in the MS
These rapscallions wanted to try the NonesuchⒶemendation again, because there was so much money in it, but they judged it wouldn’t be safe, because maybeⒶemendation the news might aⒶemendation worked along down by this time. TheyⒶalteration in the MS couldn’t hit noⒶemendation project that suited, exactly; so at last the duke said he reckoned he’dⒶemendation lay off and work his brainsⒶalteration in the MS an hour or two and see if he couldn’t put up something onⒶemendation the ArkansawⒶemendation village; and the king he allowedⒶemendation he would drop over to t’otherⒶemendation villageⒺexplanatory note, without any plan, but just trust in Providence to leadⒶemendation him the profitable way—meaning the devil, I reckon. We had all bought store clothes where we stopped last; and now the king put his’nⒶalteration in the MS on, and he told me to put mine on. I done it, of course.Ⓐalteration in the MS The king’s duds was all black, and he did look real swell and starchy. I never knowed how clothes could change a body before.Ⓐemendation Why, before, he looked like the orneriest old rip that ever was; but now, when he’d take off his new white beaver and make a bow and do a smile, he looked that grand and good and piousⒶemendation that you’d say he had walked right out of the arkⒶemendation, and maybeⒶhistorical collation was old Leviticus himself. Jim cleaned up the canoe, and I got my paddle ready. There was a big steamboat laying at the shore away up under the point, about three mile above town—been there a couple of hours—Ⓐhistorical collationtaking on freight.Ⓐalteration in the MS Says the king:
“Seein’Ⓐemendation how I’m dressed, I reckon maybeⒶhistorical collation I betterⒶemendation arrive downⒶemendation from St.Ⓐemendation Louis or Cincinnati, or some other big place. Go for the steamboatⒶemendation, Huckleberry; we’ll come down to the village on her.”
I didn’t have to be ordered twice, to go and take a steamboat ride. I fetchedⒶalteration in the MS the shore a half a mileⒶhistorical collation above the village, and then went scootingⒶemendation along the bluff bank in the easy water. Pretty soon we come to a nice innocent lookingⒶhistorical collation young country jakeⒶemendation setting on a log swabbing the sweat off ofⒶalteration in the MS Ⓐhistorical collation his face, for it was powerful warm weather; and he had a couple of big carpet bagsⒶhistorical collation by him.
[begin page 205] “Run her nose in shore,”Ⓐalteration in the MS says theⒶalteration in the MS king. I done it. “Wher’Ⓐemendation you bound forⒶalteration in the MS, young man?”
“For the steamboat; going to Orleans.”
“Git aboard,” says the king. “Hold on a minute, my servant ’llⒶhistorical collation he’p youⒶemendation with them bags. Jump out and he’p theⒶemendation gentleman, Adolphus”—meaning me, I see.
I done so, and then we all three started on again. The young chap was mighty thankful; said it was tough work toting his baggage such weather. He asked the king where he was going, and the king told him he’dⒶemendation come down the river and landed at the other village this morning, and now heⒶemendation was going up a few mile to see an old friend on a farm up there. The young fellow says:
“When I first see you, I says to myself, ‘It’s Mr. Wilks, sureⒶalteration in the MS, and he come mighty near getting here in time.’ But then I says,Ⓐhistorical collation again, ‘No, I reckon it ain’t him, or elseⒶemendation he wouldn’tⒶalteration in the MS be paddling up the river.’ You ain’t him, are you?”
“No, my name’s Blodgett—Elexander Blodgett—Reverend Elexander Blodgett, I sposeⒶhistorical collation I must say, as I’m one o’Ⓐemendation the Lord’s poor servants.Ⓐalteration in the MS But still I’m jestⒶalteration in the MS Ⓐhistorical collation as able to be sorry for Mr. Wilks for not arriving in time, all the same, if he’sⒶalteration in the MS missed anything by it—which I hope heⒶalteration in the MS hasn’t.”
[begin page 206] “Well, he don’t miss any property by it, because he’ll get that,Ⓐhistorical collation all right; but he ’sⒶhistorical collation missed seeing his brother Peter die—which he mayn’t mind, nobody canⒶalteration in the MS tell,Ⓐhistorical collation as to that—but his brother wouldⒶemendation aⒶhistorical collation give anything in this world to see him before he died; never talked about nothing else all these three weeks; hadn’t seen him since they was boys together—and hadn’t ever seenⒶalteration in the MS his brother William,Ⓐhistorical collation at all—Ⓐalteration in the MSthat’s the deef and dumb one—William ain’tⒶalteration in the MS more than thirty or thirty-five. Peter and George was the only ones that come out here; George was the married brother; him and his wife both died last year. Harvey and William’sⒶalteration in the MS the only onesⒶalteration in the MS that’s left,Ⓐhistorical collation now; and as I was saying, theyⒶalteration in the MS haven’tⒶalteration in the MS got here in time.”
“Did anybodyⒶalteration in the MS send ’emⒶemendation Ⓐalteration in the MS word?”
“OⒶhistorical collation, yes;Ⓐhistorical collation a month or twoⒶalteration in the MS ago, when Peter was first took; because Peter said, then,Ⓐhistorical collation that he sorterⒶalteration in the MS felt like he warn’t going to get well this time. You see, he was pretty old, andⒶalteration in the MS George’s g’yirlsⒶemendation was too young to be much company for him, except Mary JaneⒶhistorical collation the red-headed one; and so he was kinder lonesomeⒶemendation Ⓐtextual note after George and his wife died, and didn’t seem to care much to live. He most desperately wanted to see Harvey—and William too,Ⓐemendation for that matter—because he was one of them kind that can’t bear to make a will. He left a letter behind,Ⓐhistorical collation for Harvey, and said he’dⒶemendation told in it where his money was hid,Ⓐalteration in the MS and how heⒶalteration in the MS wanted the rest of the property divided up soⒶalteration in the MS Ⓐemendation George’s g’yirlsⒶemendation would be all right—for George didn’t leave nothingⒶemendation.Ⓐalteration in the MS And that letter was all they could get him to put a pen to.”
“Why do you reckon Harvey don’t come? Wher’Ⓐemendation does he live?”
“OⒶhistorical collation, he lives in England—Sheffield—preaches there—Ⓐalteration in the MShasn’t ever been in this country. He hasn’t had anyⒶalteration in the MS too much time—and besides he mightn’tⒶalteration in the MS a gotⒶhistorical collation the letter at all,Ⓐalteration in the MS you know.”
“Too bad, too bad he couldn’t a livedⒶhistorical collation toⒶemendation see his brothers, poor soul.Ⓐhistorical collation YouⒶemendation going to Orleans, you say?”
“Yes, but that ain’t only a part of it. I’m going in a ship, next Wednesday, for RyoⒶemendation JaneeroⒺexplanatory note, where my uncle lives.”
“It’s a pretty long journey. But it ’llⒶhistorical collation be lovely; I wishtⒶemendation Ⓐalteration in the MS I was agoingⒶhistorical collation.Ⓐalteration in the MS Is Mary Jane the oldest? How old is the others?”
“Mary Jane’s nineteen, Susan’s fifteen, and Joanna’s about fourteenⒶalteration in the MS—that’s theⒶalteration in the MS one that gives herself to good works and has a harelipⒶemendation.”
“Poor things! to be left alone in the cold world,Ⓐhistorical collation so.”
[begin page 207] “Well, they could be worse off. Old Peter had friends, and they ain’t going to let them come to no harm. There’s Hobson, the Babtis’ preacher; and deaconⒶhistorical collation Ⓐalteration in the MS Lot Hovey, and Ben Rucker, and Abner Shackleford;Ⓐhistorical collation and Levi Bell, the lawyer;Ⓐhistorical collation and Dr. Robinson;Ⓐhistorical collation and their wives;Ⓐhistorical collation Ⓐalteration in the MS and the widow Bartley, and—well, there’s a lot of them; butⒶalteration in the MS these are the ones that Peter was thickest with,Ⓐalteration in the MS and used to write about,Ⓐhistorical collation sometimes, when he wrote home; so Harvey’llⒶhistorical collation know where to look for friendsⒶemendation when he getsⒶhistorical collation here.”
Well, the old man he went on asking questions till he just fairly emptied that young fellow. Blamed if he didn’t inquire about everybody and every thingⒶhistorical collation in that blessedⒶalteration in the MS town, and all about all the Wilkses; and about Peter’s business—which was a tanner; and about George’s—which was a carpenter; and about Harvey’s—which was a dissenteringⒶalteration in the MS minister; and so on,Ⓐhistorical collation and so on. Then he says:
“What did you want to walk all the way up to the steamboat,Ⓐhistorical collation for?”
“Because she’s a big Orleans boat, and I was afeardⒶalteration in the MS she mightn’t stop there. When they’re deep they won’t stop for a hail. A Cincinnati boat will, but this is a St. Louis one.”
“Was Peter Wilks well off?”
[begin page 208] “OⒶhistorical collation, yes, pretty well off. He had houses and land, and it’s reckoned he left threeⒶalteration in the MS or four thousand in cash hid up som’ers.Ⓐemendation”
“When did you say he died?”
“I didn’t say;Ⓐhistorical collation but it was last night.”
“Funeral to-morrow, likely?”
“Yes, ’boutⒶalteration in the MS the middle of the day.”
“Well, it’s all terrible sad; but we’ve all got to go, one time or another. So what we want to do is to be prepared; then we’reⒶemendation all right.”
“Yes, sir, it’sⒶemendation the best way. Ma used to always say that.”Ⓐalteration in the MS Ⓐalteration in the MS
When we struck the boat, she was about done loading, and pretty soon she got off. The king never said nothingⒶemendation about going aboard, so I lost my ride, after all. When the boat was gone, the king made me paddle up another mile,Ⓐhistorical collation to a lonesome place, and then he got ashore and saysⒶalteration in the MS:
“Now hustle back, right off, and fetch the duke up here, and the new carpet-bags.Ⓐalteration in the MS And if he’s gone over to t’otherⒶalteration in the MS Ⓐemendation side, go over there and gitⒶalteration in the MS him. And tell him to gitⒶalteration in the MS himself up regardless. Shove along, now.”
I see what he was up to; but I never said nothing,Ⓐalteration in the MS of course. When I got back with the duke, we hid the canoe,Ⓐhistorical collation and thenⒶalteration in the MS they set down on a log, and the king told him everything, just likeⒶemendation the young fellow had said it—every last word of it. And all the time he was a doingⒶemendation it, he tried to talk like an Englishman; and he done it pretty well,Ⓐhistorical collation too, for a slouch.Ⓐalteration in the MS I can’t imitate him,Ⓐalteration in the MS and so I ain’t agoingⒶhistorical collation to try toⒶalteration in the MS; but he really done it pretty good. ThenⒶalteration in the MS he says:
“How are you on the deef and dumb, BilgewaterⒶemendation Ⓐalteration in the MS?”
The duke said, leave him alone for that; said he had played a deef and dumb person on the histrionicⒶemendation boards. So then they waited for a steamboat.Ⓐalteration in the MS
About the middle of the afternoon a couple of little boats come along, but they didn’t come from high enough up the river; but at last there was a big one, and theyⒶalteration in the MS hailed her. She sent out her yawl, and we went aboard, and she was from Cincinnati; and when they found we only wanted to go four or five mile, they was boomingⒶalteration in the MS mad, and give us a cussing, and said they wouldn’t land us. But the king was ca’mⒶemendation. He says:
“ IfⒶemendation gentlemen kinⒶemendation afford to pay a dollar a mile,Ⓐhistorical collation apiece, to be took [begin page 209] on and put off in a yawl, a steamboatⒶhistorical collation kinⒶemendation afford to carry ’emⒺexplanatory note, can’t it?”
So theyⒶemendation softened down and said it was all right; and when we got to the village, they yawled us ashore. About two dozen men flocked down, when they see the yawl a comingⒶhistorical collation; and when the king says—Ⓐhistorical collation
“KinⒶemendation any of you gentlemenⒶemendation tell me wher’Ⓐemendation Mr. Peter Wilks lives?” they give a glance at one another, and nodded their heads, as much as to say, “What d’Ⓐalteration in the MS I tell you?” Then one of them says, kind of soft and gentle:
“I’m sorry, sir, but the best we can do is to tell you where he did live,Ⓐhistorical collation yesterday evening.”
Sudden as winking, theⒶalteration in the MS orneryⒶemendation old cretur went all to smash, andⒶalteration in the MS fell up against the man,Ⓐalteration in the MS and put his chin on his shoulder, and cried down his back, and says:
“Alas, alas, our poor brother—gone, and we never got to see him; oh, it’s too,Ⓐemendation too hard!”Ⓐalteration in the MS
Then he turns around, blubbering, and makes a lot of idiotic signs to the duke on his hands, and blamedⒶemendation if he didn’t drop a carpet-bag [begin page 210] and bust out a-crying. If they warn’t the beatenest lot, them two frauds, that ever I struck.
Well, the men gethered around, and sympathized with them, and said all sorts of kind things to them, and carried their carpet bagsⒶhistorical collation up the hillⒶalteration in the MS for them, and let them lean on them and cry, and told the king allⒶalteration in the MS about his brother’s last moments, and the king he told it all over again on his hands to the duke, and both of them took on about that dead tanner like they’d lost the twelve disciples. Well, if ever I struck anything like it, I’m a niggerⒶhistorical collation. It was enough to make a body ashamed of the human race.
Jim . . . years] originally written on the bottom portion of the MS page that Mark Twain later cut into three parts when he revised and reordered his manuscript (see the entry at 203.29–30). When he cut the page apart he evidently cut out and discarded a word preceding ‘Jim’ (possibly ‘But’ or ‘Then’), thereby making ‘Jim’ appear to begin a new paragraph. At the bottom of the MS fragment, Mark Twain wrote the instruction ‘Run to 213’.