Chapter 30

           AstheearliestsuspicionofdawnappearedonSundaymorning,HuckcamegropingupthehillandrappedgentlyattheoldWelshman’sdoor. Theinmateswereasleep,butitwasasleepthatwassetonahair-trigger,onaccountoftheexcitingepisodeofthenight. Acallcamefromawindow: 

           "Who’sthere!" 

           Huck’sscaredvoiceansweredinalowtone: 

           "Pleaseletmein! It’sonlyHuckFinn!" 

           "It’sanamethatcanopenthisdoornightorday,lad!—andwelcome!" 

           Thesewerestrangewordstothevagabondboy’sears,andthepleasantesthehadeverheard. Hecouldnotrecollectthattheclosingwordhadeverbeenappliedinhiscasebefore. Thedoorwasquicklyunlocked,andheentered. Huckwasgivenaseatandtheoldmanandhisbraceoftallsonsspeedilydressedthemselves. 

           "Now,myboy,Ihopeyou’regoodandhungry,becausebreakfastwillbereadyassoonasthesun’sup,andwe’llhaveapipinghotone,too—makeyourselfeasyaboutthat! Iandtheboyshopedyou’dturnupandstopherelastnight." 

           "Iwasawfulscared,"saidHuck,"andIrun. Itookoutwhenthepistolswentoff,andIdidn’tstopforthreemile. I’vecomenowbecuzIwantedtoknowaboutit,youknow; andIcomebeforedaylightbecuzIdidn’twanttorunacrossthemdevils,eveniftheywasdead." 

           "Well,poorchap,youdolookasifyou’dhadahardnightofit—butthere’sabedhereforyouwhenyou’vehadyourbreakfast. No,theyain’tdead,lad—wearesorryenoughforthat.