Thatcher recognized the ribbon and cried over it. She said it was the

last relic she should ever have of her child; and that no other memorial

of her could ever be so precious, because this one parted latest from

the living body before the awful death came. Some said that now and

then, in the cave, a far-away speck of light would glimmer, and then a

glorious shout would burst forth and a score of men go trooping down the

echoing aisle--and then a sickening disappointment always followed; the

children were not there; it was only a searcher's light.

Three dreadful days and nights dragged their tedious hours along, and

the village sank into a hopeless stupor. No one had heart for anything.

The accidental discovery, just made, that the proprietor of the

Temperance Tavern kept liquor on his premises, scarcely fluttered the

public pulse, tremendous as the fact was. In a lucid interval, Huck

feebly led up to the subject of taverns, and finally asked--dimly

dreading the worst--if anything had been discovered at the Temperance

Tavern since he had been ill.

"Yes," said the widow.

Huck started up in bed, wild-eyed:

What? What was it?"

Liquor!--and the place has been shut up. Lie down, child--what a turn

you did give me!"

292

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer