"Could you see the rags by the light of the cigars?"

This staggered Huck for a moment. Then he said:

Well, I don't know--but somehow it seems as if I did."

Then they went on, and you--"

Follered 'em--yes. That was it. I wanted to see what was up--they

sneaked along so. I dogged 'em to the widder's stile, and stood in the

dark and heard the ragged one beg for the widder, and the Spaniard

swear he'd spile her looks just as I told you and your two--"

What! The DEAF AND DUMB man said all that!"

Huck had made another terrible mistake! He was trying his best to keep

the old man from getting the faintest hint of who the Spaniard might

be, and yet his tongue seemed determined to get him into trouble in

spite of all he could do. He made several efforts to creep out of his

scrape, but the old man's eye was upon him and he made blunder after

blunder. Presently the Welshman said:

"My boy, don't be afraid of me. I wouldn't hurt a hair of your head

for all the world. No--I'd protect you--I'd protect you. This Spaniard

is not deaf and dumb; you've let that slip without intending it; you

284

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer