Приключения Тома Сойера

           Whatifhewentaway—eversofaraway,intounknowncountriesbeyondtheseas—andnevercamebackanymore! Howwouldshefeelthen! Theideaofbeingaclownrecurredtohimnow,onlytofillhimwithdisgust. Forfrivolityandjokesandspottedtightswereanoffense,whentheyintrudedthemselvesuponaspiritthatwasexaltedintothevagueaugustrealmoftheromantic. No,hewouldbeasoldier,andreturnafterlongyears,allwar-wornandillustrious. No—betterstill,hewouldjointheIndians,andhuntbuffaloesandgoonthewarpathinthemountainrangesandthetracklessgreatplainsoftheFarWest, andawayinthefuturecomebackagreatchief,bristlingwithfeathers,hideouswithpaint,andpranceintoSunday-school,somedrowsysummermorning,withabloodcurdlingwar-whoop,andseartheeyeballsofallhiscompanionswithunappeasableenvy. Butno,therewassomethinggaudiereventhanthis. Hewouldbeapirate! Thatwasit! NOWhisfuturelayplainbeforehim,andglowingwithunimaginablesplendor. Howhisnamewouldfilltheworld,andmakepeopleshudder! Howgloriouslyhewouldgoplowingthedancingseas,inhislong,low,black-hulledracer,theSpiritoftheStorm,withhisgrislyflagflyingatthefore! Andatthezenithofhisfame,howhewouldsuddenlyappearattheoldvillageandstalkintochurch,brownandweather-beaten,inhisblackvelvetdoubletandtrunks,hisgreatjack-boots,hiscrimsonsash, hisbeltbristlingwithhorse-pistols,hiscrime-rustedcutlassathisside,hisslouchhatwithwavingplumes,hisblackflagunfurled,withtheskullandcrossbonesonit,andhearwithswellingecstasythewhisperings, "It’sTomSawyerthePirate!—theBlackAvengeroftheSpanishMain!" 

           Yes,itwassettled;hiscareerwasdetermined. Hewouldrunawayfromhomeandenteruponit. Hewouldstarttheverynextmorning. Thereforehemustnowbegintogetready. Hewouldcollecthisresourcestogether.