Nothing but a heavy strain upon the good manners of the company kept

back the due and proper complimentary laugh at this pleasant joke. But

the silence was a little awkward. Tom broke it:

Huck's got money. Maybe you don't believe it, but he's got lots of

it. Oh, you needn't smile--I reckon I can show you. You just wait a

minute."

Tom ran out of doors. The company looked at each other with a

perplexed interest--and inquiringly at Huck, who was tongue-tied.

"Sid, what ails Tom?" said Aunt Polly. "He--well, there ain't ever any

making of that boy out. I never--"

Tom entered, struggling with the weight of his sacks, and Aunt Polly

did not finish her sentence. Tom poured the mass of yellow coin upon

the table and said:

There--what did I tell you? Half of it's Huck's and half of it's mine!"

The spectacle took the general breath away. All gazed, nobody spoke

for a moment. Then there was a unanimous call for an explanation. Tom

said he could furnish it, and he did. The tale was long, but brimful of

interest. There was scarcely an interruption from any one to break the

charm of its flow. When he had finished, Mr. Jones said:

330

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer