his thought.
For some time, now, the boys had been dully conscious of a peculiar
sound in the distance, just as one sometimes is of the ticking of a
clock which he takes no distinct note of. But now this mysterious sound
became more pronounced, and forced a recognition. The boys started,
glanced at each other, and then each assumed a listening attitude. There
was a long silence, profound and unbroken; then a deep, sullen boom came
floating down out of the distance.
What is it! exclaimed Joe, under his breath.
I wonder, said Tom in a whisper.
Tain t thunder, said Huckleberry, in an awed tone, becuz thunder
Hark! said Tom. Listen don t talk.
They waited a time that seemed an age, and then the same muffled boom
troubled the solemn hush.
Let s go and see.
They sprang to their feet and hurried to the shore toward the town. They
parted the bushes on the bank and peered out over the water. The little
steam ferry-boat was about a mile below the village, drifting with the
current. Her broad deck seemed crowded with people. There were a great
many skiffs rowing about or floating with the stream in the neighborhood
of the ferryboat, but the boys could not determine what the men in
them were doing. Presently a great jet of white smoke burst from the
ferryboat s side, and as it expanded and rose in a lazy cloud, that same
dull throb of sound was borne to the listeners again.
I know now! exclaimed Tom; somebody s drownded!
That s it! said Huck; they done that last summer, when Bill Turner
got drownded; they shoot a cannon over the water, and that makes
him come up to the top. Yes, and they take loaves of bread and put
quicksilver in em and set em afloat, and wherever there s anybody
that s drownded, they ll float right there and stop.
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