“Think it over. We’ll wait for you on the other shore.”

“Wait forever if you want to,” replied Tom. “You can all go if you want to. But I’m staying.”

Joe and Huck started to leave. Tom wanted to join them, but his pride wouldn’t let him. He ran after them, shouting, “Wait! Wait! I want to tell you something.”

Tom told his friends about his idea. They would go home, he promised. Just not today. Huck and Joe’s spirits lifted. They hollered and clapped. Then they dived into the river and played all day.

For supper there were fish and turtle eggs. After they finished eating, Tom and Joe said that they wanted to learn how to smoke. They knew Huck smoked a corncob pipe.

Huck took out his pipe and filled it with tobacco. He took a puff and passed it around. Tom and Joe copied Huck. They held the pipe the way he did. They puffed the way he did.

“I think I could smoke a pipe all day,” Joe said feebly. “I don’t feel sick.”

“Nei-th-er do I,” Tom said slowly.

But the boys were sick. The tobacco tasted awful. Their throats burned, and their stomachs started to churn. They turned pale, and their hands shook.

Joe and Tom made excuses to leave the camphre.

“I’ve lost my knife,” said Tom. “I better go and find it.”

“I’ll help you,” said Joe. “You go that way. I’ll go this way.”

The boys ran into the woods and threw up. They each silently vowed never to smoke again.

The funeral for the three dead boys was held on Sunday. The whole town had come to mourn. The church had never been so full! A group of boys and girls sat in one corner of the church. They all knew Tom and Joe. They were sad. But Becky was the saddest of all.

Becky wished she had forgiven Tom.