CHAPTER XVI.
"Commune with him, and fear not. Foul though he be,
Thy destiny is kindred with his own,
And that secures thee."
They had scarcely gone from sight, when Goggle entered the dwelling. The old hag started from her seeming stupor, and all her features underwent a change. She fondled upon her son with all the feeble drivelling of age; called him by various affectionate diminutives, and busied herself, in spite of her infirmities, waddling about from corner to corner of the hut, to administer to his desires, which were by no means few. He, on the other hand, manifested the most brutal indifference to all her regards, shook her off rudely as she hung upon his shoulders, and, with a boisterous manner, and a speech coupled with an oath, demanded his supper, at the same time throwing himself, with an air of extreme indolence, along the bed.
"And, Neddy dear, what has kept you so late? Where have you been, and whence come you last?" were the repeated questions of the old woman.
"A'drat it ! mother—will you never be done asking questions? It's not so late, I'm sure."
"Later than you said; much later, by two hours, boy."
"Well, if it is, what then? It's well you have me at all, for I've had a narrow chance of it. Swow! but the bullets rung over my ears too close for comfort."
"You don't say so, Ned! What! that stark, bullhead, Humphries, has he shot at you, Ned, my son?"
"Him or Singleton, d—n 'em! But I have a hitch on him now that shall swing him. He plays 'possum no longer with Huck, if you have a tongue in your head, mother."
