? ? ? ? About midnight Tom arrived with a boiled ham and a few trifles, and stopped in a dense undergrowth on a small bluff overlooking the meeting-place. It was starlight, and very still. The mighty river lay like an ocean at rest. Tom listened a moment, but no sound disturbed the quiet. Then he gave a low, distinct whistle. It was answered from under the bluff. Tom whistled twice more; these signals were answered in the same way. Then a guarded voice said:
? ? ? ? "Who goes there?"
? ? ? ? "Tom Sawyer, the Black Avenger of the Spanish Main. Name your names."
? ? ? ? "Huck Finn the Red-Handed, and Joe Harper the Terror of the Seas." Tom had furnished these titles, from his favorite literature.
? ? ? ? "'Tis well. Give the countersign."
? ? ? ? Two hoarse whispers delivered the same awful word simultaneously to the brooding night:
? ? ? ? "BLOOD!"
? ? ? ? Then Tom tumbled his ham over the bluff and let himself down after it, tearing both skin and clothes to some extent in the effort.
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