Huck started sorrowfully away, and Tom stood looking after him, with a
strong desire tugging at his heart to yield his pride and go along
too. He hoped the boys would stop, but they still waded slowly on. It
suddenly dawned on Tom that it was become very lonely and still. He made
one final struggle with his pride, and then darted after his comrades,
yelling:
Wait! Wait! I want to tell you something!
They presently stopped and turned around. When he got to where they
were, he began unfolding his secret, and they listened moodily till
at last they saw the point he was driving at, and then they set up a
warwhoop of applause and said it was splendid! and said if he had
told them at first, they wouldn t have started away. He made a plausible
excuse; but his real reason had been the fear that not even the secret
would keep them with him any very great length of time, and so he had
meant to hold it in reserve as a last seduction.
The lads came gayly back and went at their sports again with a will,
chattering all the time about Tom s stupendous plan and admiring the
genius of it. After a dainty egg and fish dinner, Tom said he wanted to
learn to smoke, now. Joe caught at the idea and said he would like to
try, too. So Huck made pipes and filled them. These novices had never
smoked anything before but cigars made of grapevine, and they bit the
tongue, and were not considered manly anyway.
Now they stretched themselves out on their elbows and began to puff,
charily, and with slender confidence. The smoke had an unpleasant taste,
and they gagged a little, but Tom said:
Why, it s just as easy! If I d a knowed this was all, I d a learnt long
ago.
So would I, said Joe. It s just nothing.
Why, many a time I ve looked at people smoking, and thought well I wish
I could do that; but I never thought I could, said Tom.
That s just the way with me, hain t it, Huck? You ve heard me talk just
that way haven t you, Huck? I ll leave it to Huck if I haven t.
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