Yes, I ve heard about that, said Joe. I wonder what makes the bread
do that.
Oh, it ain t the bread, so much, said Tom; I reckon it s mostly what
they _say_ over it before they start it out.
But they don t say anything over it, said Huck. I ve seen em and
they don t.
Well, that s funny, said Tom. But maybe they say it to themselves. Of
_course_ they do. Anybody might know that.
The other boys agreed that there was reason in what Tom said, because
an ignorant lump of bread, uninstructed by an incantation, could not
be expected to act very intelligently when set upon an errand of such
gravity.
By jings, I wish I was over there, now, said Joe.
I do too, said Huck. I d give heaps to know who it is.
The boys still listened and watched. Presently a revealing thought
flashed through Tom s mind, and he exclaimed:
Boys, I know who s drownded it s us!
They felt like heroes in an instant. Here was a gorgeous triumph; they
were missed; they were mourned; hearts were breaking on their account;
tears were being shed; accusing memories of unkindness to these poor
lost lads were rising up, and unavailing regrets and remorse were being
indulged; and best of all, the departed were the talk of the whole town,
and the envy of all the boys, as far as this dazzling notoriety was
concerned. This was fine. It was worth while to be a pirate, after all.
As twilight drew on, the ferryboat went back to her accustomed business
and the skiffs disappeared. The pirates returned to camp. They were
jubilant with vanity over their new grandeur and the illustrious trouble
they were making. They caught fish, cooked supper and ate it, and then
fell to guessing at what the village was thinking and saying about them;
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