How it opens
It began with a letter, which is how trouble generally begins, being cheaper than a telegram.
Uncle Silas Phelps had written to Tom, and the letter had been half invitation and half sigh.
Uncle Silas is in trouble, Huck, and a letter like that one is a man whistling in the dark.
You can tell a heap from a man's whistling, if you know the tune.
And I know Uncle Silas's tune. Pack the carpetbag.
Choose
Go at once, on the next boat, school or no school.
Send a telegram first and go on the morning boat.
Wait a day and ask around town quiet, before committing carpetbags.