Huck was silent for some time, engaged in a mental struggle. Finally he said:

     "Well, I'll go back to the widder for a month and tackle it and see if I can come to stand it, if you'll let me b'long to the gang, Tom."

     "All right, Huck, it's a whiz! Come along, old chap, and I'll ask the widow to let up on you a little, Huck."

     "Will you, Tom--now will you? That's good. If she'll let up on some of the roughest things, I'll smoke private and cuss private, and crowd through or bust. When you going to start the gang and turn robbers?"

     "Oh, right off. We'll get the boys together and have the initiation tonight, maybe."

     "Have the which?"

     "Have the initiation."

     "What's that?"

     "It's to swear to stand by one another, and never tell the gang's secrets, even if you're chopped all to flinders, and kill anybody and all his family that hurts one of the gang."

     "That's gay--that's mighty gay, Tom, I tell you."