8 The Trial of Muff Potter

CHAPTER 8 The Trial of Muff Potter Summer vacation was fast approaching. The next thing Tom knew, school was over, and his days were free again. The Fourth of July came and went with little fanfare. Tom began to find his precious vacation time hanging heavy on his hands. First, Becky Thatcher had left town with her parents for a summer vacation. Then Tom came down with the measles. During two long weeks, Tom lay in bed a prisoner, dead to the world and its happenings. When he finally got onto his feet, the town of St.Petersburg had started to

come back to life. Muff Potter's murder trial was ready to begin, and it soon became the talk of the town. Every mention of the death of Dr.Robinson sent a shudder straight to Tom's heart. He didn't see how he could be suspected of knowing anything about it, but he still didn't feel comfortable in the midst of all the gossip. Just hearing the name "Muff Potter" kept him in a cold shiver. Tom ached to be rid of his terrible secret and to tell the truth. One day, he took Huck aside for a private talk. "Huck," he started gravely. "Have you ever told anybody about—that?" "About what?" "You know what." "Oh—course I haven't." "Not a word?"

"Not a single word, so help me. What makes you ask?" "Well, I was afraid." "Why, Tom Sawyer, we wouldn't be alive two days if that got found out. You know that." Tom paused for a moment. "I reckon Muff Potter's a goner. Don't you feel sorry for him sometimes?" "Most always," Huck responded. "Muff Potter ain't ever done anything to hurt anybody. Just fishes a little to get money and loafs around. But we all do that. He's kind of good, and he gave me half a fish once, when there wasn't enough for two; and lots of times he stood by me when I was out of luck." "Well, he's helped fix kites for me when they got torn," Tom added. "And he tied hooks onto my fishing line when I couldn't

do it. I wish we could get him out of jail." "My! we couldn't get him out, Tom. And besides, it wouldn't do any good. They'd catch him again." "They probably would," Tom agreed. "I just hate to hear how they abuse him so, 'specially as he hasn't done anything." "I do, too, Tom. I hear 'em say that Muff's the bloodiest-looking villain in the country, and they wonder why he wasn't ever hung before." The boys kept on talking, but it brought them little comfort. Tom went home miserable that night, and his dreams were full of horrors. The two next days, he hung about the courtroom, drawn by an almost irresistible urge to go inside. Huck felt the same way. But both boys were too afraid, and they even avoided looking at each other. Outside the courthouse, all the talk that

Tom heard was about how things were looking bleak for Muff. At the end of the trial's second day, Injun Joe's evidence stood firm. There was not the slightest doubt as to what the verdict would be. Tom was out late that night and came to bed through the window. He was in a terrible state of excitement and couldn't get to sleep for hours. The next morning, the entire village flocked to the courthouse, for this was to be the great day. After a long wait, the jury filed in and took their places. Shortly afterward, Potter, looking pale and sleepless, was brought in with chains upon him and seated where everyone could stare at him. No less visible was Injun Joe, calm as ever. Once the judge arrived, the usual whisperings among the lawyers and shuffling of papers followed. All these details and delays in beginning the

trial worked up an even greater feeling of suspense inside the courtroom. Finally, a witness was called who testified that he had found Muff Potter washing in the creek, at an early hour of the morning that the murder was discovered, and that Muff had sneaked away immediately. After the prosecutor finished with his questions, it was time for Potter's lawyer to examine the witness. "No questions," he said coolly. The next witness said that he had found Muff Potter's knife near the dead body. But again, Potter's lawyer didn't ask the man a single question. A third and a fourth witness testified without Potter's lawyer doing anything. Meanwhile, members of the court audience became angry, and many started to wonder about what was really going on. Did Muff's