mark twain, a biography, 1835-1866-µÚ11²¿·Ö
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
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with¡¡every¡¡bound£»¡¡and¡¡whenever¡¡it¡¡struck¡¡the¡¡fragments¡¡the¡¡dust¡¡would
fly¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡certain¡¡it¡¡would¡¡demolish¡¡the¡¡negro¡¡and¡¡destroy¡¡the
cooper¡shop¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡shop¡¡was¡¡empty£»¡¡it¡¡being¡¡Sunday£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the
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to¡¡fly£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡could¡¡not¡¡move¡¡until¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡rock¡¡land¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was
making¡¡mighty¡¡leaps¡¡now£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡terrified¡¡negro¡¡had¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡get
directly¡¡in¡¡its¡¡path¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡stood¡¡holding¡¡their¡¡breath£»¡¡their¡¡mouths
open¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡suddenly¡¡they¡¡could¡¡hardly¡¡believe¡¡their¡¡eyes£»¡¡the¡¡boulder
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beyond¡only¡¡a¡¡fragment¡¡striking¡¡the¡¡shop£»¡¡damaging¡¡but¡¡not¡¡wrecking¡¡it¡£
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then¡¡it¡¡was¡¡blasted¡¡up¡¡for¡¡milling¡¡purposes¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡last¡¡rock¡¡the
boys¡¡ever¡¡rolled¡¡down¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡began¡¡to¡¡suspect¡¡that¡¡the¡¡sport¡¡was¡¡not
altogether¡¡safe¡£
Sometimes¡¡the¡¡boys¡¡needed¡¡money£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡not¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡get¡¡in¡¡those¡¡days¡£
On¡¡one¡¡occasion¡¡of¡¡this¡¡sort£»¡¡Tom¡¡Blankenship¡¡had¡¡the¡¡skin¡¡of¡¡a¡¡coon¡¡he
had¡¡captured£»¡¡which¡¡represented¡¡the¡¡only¡¡capital¡¡in¡¡the¡¡crowd¡£¡¡¡¡At
Selms's¡¡store¡¡on¡¡Wild¡¡Cat¡¡corner¡¡the¡¡coonskin¡¡would¡¡bring¡¡ten¡¡cents£»¡¡but
that¡¡was¡¡not¡¡enough¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡arranged¡¡a¡¡plan¡¡which¡¡would¡¡make¡¡it¡¡pay¡¡a¡¡good
deal¡¡more¡¡than¡¡that¡£¡¡¡¡Selins's¡¡window¡¡was¡¡open£»¡¡it¡¡being¡¡summer¡time£»¡¡and
his¡¡pile¡¡of¡¡pelts¡¡was¡¡pretty¡¡handy¡£¡¡¡¡Huckthat¡¡is¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡Tomwent¡¡in
the¡¡front¡¡door¡¡and¡¡sold¡¡the¡¡skin¡¡for¡¡ten¡¡cents¡¡to¡¡Selms£»¡¡who¡¡tossed¡¡it
back¡¡on¡¡the¡¡pile¡£¡¡¡¡Tom¡¡came¡¡back¡¡with¡¡the¡¡money¡¡and¡¡after¡¡a¡¡reasonable
period¡¡went¡¡around¡¡to¡¡the¡¡open¡¡window£»¡¡crawled¡¡in£»¡¡got¡¡the¡¡coonskin£»¡¡and
sold¡¡it¡¡to¡¡Selms¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡did¡¡this¡¡several¡¡times¡¡that¡¡afternoon£»¡¡then
John¡¡Pierce£»¡¡Selins's¡¡clerk£»¡¡said£º
¡¨Look¡¡here£»¡¡Selms£»¡¡there¡¡is¡¡something¡¡wrong¡¡about¡¡this¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡boy¡¡has
been¡¡selling¡¡us¡¡coonskins¡¡all¡¡the¡¡afternoon¡£¡¨
Selms¡¡went¡¡to¡¡his¡¡pile¡¡of¡¡pelts¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡were¡¡several¡¡sheepskins¡¡and¡¡some
cowhides£»¡¡but¡¡only¡¡one¡¡coonskinthe¡¡one¡¡he¡¡had¡¡that¡¡moment¡¡bought¡£
Selms¡¡himself¡¡used¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡this¡¡story¡¡as¡¡a¡¡great¡¡joke¡£
Perhaps¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡adding¡¡to¡¡Mark¡¡Twain's¡¡reputation¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡the¡¡boy
Sam¡¡Clemensa¡¡pretty¡¡small¡¡boy£»¡¡a¡¡good¡¡deal¡¡less¡¡than¡¡twelve¡¡at¡¡this
timewas¡¡the¡¡leader¡¡of¡¡this¡¡unhallowed¡¡band£»¡¡yet¡¡any¡¡other¡¡record¡¡would
be¡¡less¡¡than¡¡historic¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡the¡¡band¡¡had¡¡a¡¡leader£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡he¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were
always¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡himthey¡¡would¡¡even¡¡stop¡¡fishing¡¡to¡¡do¡¡that
and¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡his¡¡projects¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡looked¡¡to¡¡him¡¡for¡¡ideas¡¡and
organization£»¡¡whether¡¡the¡¡undertaking¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡real¡¡or¡¡make¡believe¡£
When¡¡they¡¡played¡¡¡¨Bandit¡¨¡¡or¡¡¡¨Pirate¡¨¡¡or¡¡¡¨Indian£»¡¨¡¡Sam¡¡Clemens¡¡was¡¡always
chief£»¡¡when¡¡they¡¡became¡¡real¡¡raiders¡¡it¡¡is¡¡recorded¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡no¡¡less
distinguished¡£¡¡¡¡Like¡¡Tom¡¡Sawyer£»¡¡he¡¡loved¡¡the¡¡glare¡¡and¡¡trappings¡¡of
leadership¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡the¡¡Christian¡¡Sons¡¡of¡¡Temperance¡¡came¡¡along¡¡with¡¡a
regalia£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡red¡¡sash¡¡that¡¡carried¡¡with¡¡it¡¡rank¡¡and¡¡the¡¡privilege¡¡of
inventing¡¡pass¡words£»¡¡the¡¡gaud¡¡of¡¡these¡¡things¡¡got¡¡into¡¡his¡¡eyes£»¡¡and¡¡he
gave¡¡up¡¡smoking¡¡£¨which¡¡he¡¡did¡¡rather¡¡gingerly£©¡¡and¡¡swearing¡¡£¨which¡¡he¡¡did
only¡¡under¡¡heavy¡¡excitement£©£»¡¡also¡¡liquor¡¡£¨though¡¡he¡¡had¡¡never¡¡tasted¡¡it
yet£©£»¡¡and¡¡marched¡¡with¡¡the¡¡newly¡¡washed¡¡and¡¡pure¡¡in¡¡heart¡¡for¡¡a¡¡full
montha¡¡month¡¡of¡¡splendid¡¡leadership¡¡and¡¡servitude¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡even¡¡the¡¡red
sash¡¡could¡¡not¡¡hold¡¡him¡¡in¡¡bondage¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡Tom¡¡Blankenship¡¡and
said£º
¡¨Say£»¡¡Tom£»¡¡I'm¡¡blamed¡¡tired¡¡of¡¡this£¡¡¡¡¡Let's¡¡go¡¡somewhere¡¡and¡¡smoke£¡¡¨
Which¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡good¡¡deal¡¡of¡¡a¡¡sacrifice£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡uniform¡¡was¡¡a
precious¡¡thing¡£
Limelight¡¡and¡¡the¡¡center¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stage¡¡was¡¡a¡¡passion¡¡of¡¡Sam¡¡Clemens's
boyhood£»¡¡a¡¡love¡¡of¡¡the¡¡spectacular¡¡that¡¡never¡¡wholly¡¡died¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡seems
almost¡¡a¡¡pity¡¡that¡¡in¡¡those¡¡far¡off¡¡barefoot¡¡old¡¡days¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡have
looked¡¡down¡¡the¡¡years¡¡to¡¡a¡¡time¡¡when£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡world¡¡at¡¡his¡¡feet£»
venerable¡¡Oxford¡¡should¡¡clothe¡¡him¡¡in¡¡a¡¡scarlet¡¡gown¡£
He¡¡could¡¡not¡¡by¡¡any¡¡chance¡¡have¡¡dreamed¡¡of¡¡that¡¡stately¡¡honor¡£¡¡¡¡His
ambitions¡¡did¡¡not¡¡lie¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡mental¡¡achievement¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡true
that¡¡now¡¡and¡¡then£»¡¡on¡¡Friday¡¡at¡¡school£»¡¡he¡¡read¡¡a¡¡composition£»¡¡one¡¡of
whicha¡¡personal¡¡burlesque¡¡on¡¡certain¡¡older¡¡boyscame¡¡near¡¡resulting¡¡in
bodily¡¡damage¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡any¡¡literary¡¡ambition¡¡he¡¡may¡¡have¡¡had¡¡in¡¡those¡¡days
was¡¡a¡¡fleeting¡¡thing¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡permanent¡¡dream¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡pirate£»¡¡or¡¡a
pilot£»¡¡or¡¡a¡¡bandit£»¡¡or¡¡a¡¡trapper¡scout£»¡¡something¡¡gorgeous¡¡and¡¡active£»
where¡¡his¡¡wordhis¡¡nod£»¡¡evenconstituted¡¡sufficient¡¡law¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡river
kept¡¡the¡¡pilot¡¡ambition¡¡always¡¡fresh£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡cave¡¡supplied¡¡a¡¡background
for¡¡those¡¡other¡¡things¡£
The¡¡cave¡¡was¡¡an¡¡enduring¡¡and¡¡substantial¡¡joy¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡real¡¡cave£»¡¡not
merely¡¡a¡¡hole£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡subterranean¡¡marvel¡¡of¡¡deep¡¡passages¡¡and¡¡vaulted
chambers¡¡that¡¡led¡¡away¡¡into¡¡bluffs¡¡and¡¡far¡¡down¡¡into¡¡the¡¡earth's¡¡black
silences£»¡¡even¡¡below¡¡the¡¡river£»¡¡some¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡Sam¡¡Clemens¡¡the¡¡cave¡¡had
a¡¡fascination¡¡that¡¡never¡¡faded¡£¡¡¡¡Other¡¡localities¡¡and¡¡diversions¡¡might
pall£»¡¡but¡¡any¡¡mention¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cave¡¡found¡¡him¡¡always¡¡eager¡¡and¡¡ready¡¡for
the¡¡three¡mile¡¡walk¡¡or¡¡pull¡¡that¡¡brought¡¡them¡¡to¡¡its¡¡mystic¡¡door¡£¡¡¡¡With
its¡¡long¡¡corridors£»¡¡its¡¡royal¡¡chambers¡¡hung¡¡with¡¡stalactites£»¡¡its¡¡remote
hiding¡places£»¡¡its¡¡possibilities¡¡as¡¡the¡¡home¡¡of¡¡a¡¡gallant¡¡outlaw¡¡band£»¡¡it
contained¡¡everything¡¡that¡¡a¡¡romantic¡¡boy¡¡could¡¡love¡¡or¡¡long¡¡for¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡Tom
Sawyer¡¡Indian¡¡Joe¡¡dies¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cave¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡did¡¡not¡¡die¡¡there¡¡in¡¡real¡¡life£»
but¡¡was¡¡lost¡¡there¡¡once£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡living¡¡on¡¡bats¡¡when¡¡they¡¡found¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡He
was¡¡a¡¡dissolute¡¡reprobate£»¡¡and¡¡when£»¡¡one¡¡night£»¡¡he¡¡did¡¡die¡¡there¡¡came¡¡up
a¡¡thunder¡storm¡¡so¡¡terrific¡¡that¡¡Sam¡¡Clemens¡¡at¡¡home¡¡and¡¡in¡¡bed¡¡was
certain¡¡that¡¡Satan¡¡had¡¡come¡¡in¡¡person¡¡for¡¡the¡¡half¡breed's¡¡wicked¡¡soul¡£
He¡¡covered¡¡his¡¡head¡¡and¡¡said¡¡his¡¡prayers¡¡industriously£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fear¡¡that
the¡¡evil¡¡one¡¡might¡¡conclude¡¡to¡¡save¡¡another¡¡trip¡¡by¡¡taking¡¡him¡¡along£»
too¡£
The¡¡treasure¡digging¡¡adventure¡¡in¡¡the¡¡book¡¡had¡¡a¡¡foundation¡¡in¡¡fact¡£
There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡tradition¡¡concerning¡¡some¡¡French¡¡trappers¡¡who¡¡long¡¡before¡¡had
established¡¡a¡¡trading¡post¡¡two¡¡miles¡¡above¡¡Hannibal£»¡¡on¡¡what¡¡is¡¡called
the¡¡¡¨bay¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡said¡¡that£»¡¡while¡¡one¡¡of¡¡these¡¡trappers¡¡was¡¡out¡¡hunting£»
Indians¡¡made¡¡a¡¡raid¡¡on¡¡the¡¡post¡¡and¡¡massacred¡¡the¡¡others¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡hunter¡¡on
returning¡¡found¡¡his¡¡comrades¡¡killed¡¡and¡¡scalped£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡Indians¡¡had
failed¡¡to¡¡find¡¡the¡¡treasure¡¡which¡¡was¡¡buried¡¡in¡¡a¡¡chest¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡left¡¡it
there£»¡¡swam¡¡across¡¡to¡¡Illinois£»¡¡and¡¡made¡¡his¡¡way¡¡to¡¡St¡£¡¡Louis£»¡¡where¡¡he
told¡¡of¡¡the¡¡massacre¡¡and¡¡the¡¡burial¡¡of¡¡the£»¡¡chest¡¡of¡¡gold¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡he
started¡¡to¡¡raise¡¡a¡¡party¡¡to¡¡go¡¡back¡¡for¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡was¡¡taken¡¡sick¡¡and¡¡died¡£
Later¡¡some¡¡men¡¡came¡¡up¡¡from¡¡St¡£¡¡Louis¡¡looking¡¡for¡¡the¡¡chest¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡did
not¡¡find¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡told¡¡the¡¡circumstances£»¡¡and¡¡afterward¡¡a¡¡good¡¡many
people¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡find¡¡the¡¡gold¡£
Tom¡¡Blankenship¡¡one¡¡morning¡¡came¡¡to¡¡Sam¡¡Clemens¡¡and¡¡John¡¡Briggs¡¡and¡¡said
he¡¡was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡dig¡¡up¡¡the¡¡treasure¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡said¡¡he¡¡had¡¡dreamed¡¡just¡¡where
it¡¡was£»¡¡and¡¡said¡¡if¡¡they¡¡would¡¡go¡¡with¡¡him¡¡and¡¡dig¡¡he¡¡would¡¡divide¡¡up¡£
The¡¡boys¡¡had¡¡great¡¡faith¡¡in¡¡dreams£»¡¡especially¡¡Tom's¡¡dreams¡£¡¡¡¡Tom's
unlimited¡¡freedom¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡a¡¡large¡¡importance¡¡in¡¡their¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡dreams
of¡¡a¡¡boy¡¡like¡¡that¡¡were¡¡pretty¡¡sure¡¡to¡¡mean¡¡something¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡followed¡¡Tom
to¡¡the¡¡place¡¡with¡¡some¡¡shovels¡¡and¡¡a¡¡pick£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡showed¡¡them¡¡where¡¡to
dig¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡under¡¡the¡¡shade¡¡of¡¡a¡¡papaw¡tree¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡orders¡£
They¡¡dug¡¡nearly¡¡all¡¡day¡£¡¡¡¡Now¡¡and¡¡then¡¡they¡¡stopped¡¡to¡¡rest£»¡¡and¡¡maybe¡¡to
wonder¡¡a¡¡little¡¡why¡¡Tom¡¡didn't¡¡dig¡¡some¡¡himself£»¡¡but£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡he¡¡had
done¡¡the¡¡dreaming£»¡¡which¡¡entitled¡¡him¡¡to¡¡an¡¡equal¡¡share¡£
They¡¡did¡¡not¡¡find¡¡it¡¡that¡¡day£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡they¡¡went¡¡back¡¡next¡¡morning¡¡they
took¡¡two¡¡long¡¡iron¡¡rods£»¡¡these¡¡they¡¡would¡¡push¡¡and¡¡drive¡¡into¡¡the¡¡ground
until¡¡they¡¡struck¡¡something¡¡hard¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡they¡¡would¡¡dig¡¡down¡¡to¡¡see¡¡what
it¡¡was£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡never¡¡turned¡¡out¡¡to¡¡be¡¡money¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡night¡¡the¡¡boys
declared¡¡they¡¡would¡¡not¡¡dig¡¡any¡¡more¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡Tom¡¡had¡¡another¡¡dream¡£¡¡¡¡He
dreamed¡¡the¡¡gold¡¡was¡¡exactly¡¡under¡¡the£»¡¡little¡¡papaw¡tree¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡sounded
so¡¡circumstantial¡¡that¡¡they¡¡went¡¡back¡¡and¡¡dug¡¡another¡¡day¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡hot
weather¡¡too£»¡¡August£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡night¡¡they¡¡were¡¡nearly¡¡dead¡£¡¡¡¡Even¡¡Tom¡¡gave
it¡¡up£»¡¡then¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡said¡¡there¡¡was¡¡something¡¡about¡¡the¡¡way¡¡they¡¡dug£»¡¡but¡¡he
never¡¡offered¡¡to¡¡do¡¡any¡¡digging¡¡himself¡£
This¡¡differs¡¡considerably¡¡from¡¡the¡¡digging¡¡incident¡¡in¡¡the¡¡book£»¡¡but¡¡it
gives¡¡us¡¡an¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡the¡¡respect¡¡the¡¡boys¡¡had¡¡for¡¡the¡¡ragamuffin¡¡original
of¡¡Huckleberry¡¡Finn¡£¡¡£§Much¡¡of¡¡the¡¡detail¡¡in¡¡this¡¡chapter¡¡was¡¡furnished
to¡¡the¡¡writer¡¡by¡¡John¡¡Briggs¡¡shortly¡¡before¡¡his¡¡death¡¡in¡¡1907¡££§¡¡¡¡Tom
Blankenship's¡¡brother£»¡¡Ben£»¡¡was¡¡also¡¡drawn¡¡upon¡¡for¡¡that¡¡creation£»¡¡at
least¡¡so¡¡far¡¡as¡¡one¡¡important¡¡phase¡¡of¡¡Huck's¡¡character¡¡is¡¡concerned¡£¡¡¡¡He
was¡¡considerably¡¡older£»¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡more¡¡disreputable£»¡¡than¡¡Tom¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was
inclined¡¡to¡¡torment¡¡the¡¡boys¡¡by¡¡tying¡¡knots¡¡in¡¡their¡¡clothes¡¡when¡¡they
went¡¡swimming£»¡¡or¡¡by¡¡throwing¡¡mud¡¡at¡¡them¡¡when¡¡they¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡come¡¡out£»
and¡¡they¡¡had¡¡no¡¡deep¡¡love¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡somewhere¡¡in¡¡Ben¡¡Blankenship
there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡fine¡¡generous¡¡strain¡¡of¡¡humanity¡¡that¡¡provided¡¡Mark¡¡Twain
with¡¡that¡¡immortal¡¡episode¡¡in¡¡the¡¡story¡¡of¡¡Huck¡¡Finnin¡¡sheltering¡¡the
Nigger¡¡Jim¡£
This¡¡is¡¡the¡¡real¡¡story£º
A¡¡slave¡¡ran¡¡off¡¡from¡¡Monroe¡¡County£»¡¡Missouri£»¡¡and¡¡got¡¡across¡¡the¡¡river
into¡¡Illinois¡£¡¡¡¡Ben¡¡used¡¡to¡¡fish¡¡and¡¡hunt¡¡over¡¡there¡¡in¡¡the¡¡swamps£»¡¡and
one¡¡day¡¡found¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡considered¡¡a¡¡most¡¡worthy¡¡act¡¡in¡¡those¡¡days¡¡to
return¡¡a¡¡runaway¡¡slave£»¡¡in¡¡fact£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡crime¡¡not¡¡to¡¡do¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡Besides£»
there¡¡was¡¡for¡¡this¡¡one¡¡a¡¡reward¡¡of¡¡fifty¡¡dollars£»¡¡a¡¡fortune¡¡to¡¡ragged
outcast¡¡Ben¡¡Blankenship¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡money¡¡and¡¡the¡¡honor¡¡he¡¡could¡¡acquire¡¡must
have¡¡been¡¡tempting¡¡to¡¡the¡¡waif£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡did¡¡not¡¡outweigh¡¡his¡¡human
sympathy¡£¡¡¡¡Instead¡¡of¡¡giving¡¡him¡¡up¡¡and¡¡claiming¡¡the¡¡reward£»¡¡Ben¡¡kept¡¡the
runaway¡¡over¡¡there¡¡in¡¡the¡¡marshes¡¡all¡¡summer¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡negro¡¡would¡¡fish¡¡and
Ben¡¡would¡¡carry¡¡him¡¡scraps¡¡of¡¡other¡¡food¡£¡¡¡¡Then£»¡¡by¡¡and¡¡by£»¡¡it¡¡leaked
out¡£¡¡¡¡Some¡¡wood¡choppers¡¡went¡¡on¡¡a¡¡hunt¡¡for¡¡the¡¡fugitive£»¡¡and¡¡chased¡¡him
to¡¡what¡¡was¡¡called¡¡¡¨Bird¡¡Slough¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡There¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡cross¡¡a¡¡drift¡¡he¡¡was
drowned¡£
In¡¡the¡¡book£»¡¡the¡¡author¡¡makes¡¡Huck's¡¡struggle¡¡a¡¡psychological¡¡one¡¡between
conscience¡¡and¡¡the¡¡law£»¡¡on¡¡one¡¡side£»¡¡and¡¡sympathy¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡Ben
Blankenship¡¡the¡¡struggleif¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡strugglewas¡¡probably¡¡between
sympathy¡¡and¡¡cupidity¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡would¡¡care¡¡very¡¡little¡¡for¡¡cons