THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER - online book

Original Illustrated Version By Mark Twain

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116
TOM SAWYER.
belongings consisted of an old sail, and this' they spread over a nook in the bushes for a tent to shelter their provisions; but they themselves would sleep in the open air in good weather, as became outlaws.
They built a fire against the side of a great log twenty or thirty steps within the sombre depths of the forest, and then cooked some bacon in the frying-pan
for supper, and used up half of the corn "pone" stock they had brought. It seemed glorious sport to be feasting in that wild free way in the virgin for­est of an unexplored and uninhabited island, far from the haunts of men, and they said they never would return to civilization. The climbing fire lit up their faces and threw its ruddy glare upon the pillared tree trunks of their forest temple, and upon the varnished foliage and festooning vines.
When the last crisp slice of bacon was gone, and the last allowance of corn pone devoured, the boys stretched them­selves out on the grass, filled with con-the pirates ashore.                     tentment. They could have found a
cooler place, but they would not deny themselves such a romantic feature as the roasting camp-fire.
" Ain't it gay ? " said Joe.
" It's nuts ! " said Tom. " What would the boys say if they could see us ? " " Say? Well they'd just^die to be here—hey Hucky ! "
"I reckon so," said Huckleberry; " anyways I'm suited. I dont want noth­ing better'n this. I don't ever get enough to eat, gen'ally—and here they can't come and pick at a feller and bullyrag him so."
" It's just the life for me," said Tom. ".You don't have to get up, mornings, and you don't have to go to school, and wash, and all that blame foolishness. You see a pirate don't have to do anything, Joe, when he's ashore, but a hermit