Withintenshortminutesafterwehadopenedfire,armedresistancewastotallyannihilated,thecampaignwasended,wefifty-fourweremastersofEngland.Twenty-fivethousandmenlaydeadaroundus.
　　Buthowtreacherousisfortune!Inalittlewhile——sayanhour——
　　happenedathing,bymyownfault,which——butIhavenohearttowritethat.Lettherecordendhere.
　　AConnecticutYankeeinKingArthur'sCourt-Chapter44Chapter44-APostscriptbyClarenceI,CLARENCE,mustwriteitforhim.Heproposedthatwetwogooutandseeifanyhelpcouldbeaccordedthewounded.Iwasstrenuousagainsttheproject.Isaidthatifthereweremany,wecoulddobutlittleforthem;anditwouldnotbewiseforustotrustourselvesamongthem,anyway.
　　Buthecouldseldombeturnedfromapurposeonceformed;soweshutofftheelectriccurrentfromthefences,tookanescortalong,climbedovertheenclosingrampartsofdeadknights,andmovedoutuponthefield.Thefirstwoundedmallwhoappealedforhelpwassittingwithhisbackagainstadeadcomrade.WhenTheBossbentoverhimandspoketohim,themanrecognizedhimandstabbedhim.ThatknightwasSirMeliagraunce,asIfoundoutbytearingoffhishelmet.Hewillnotaskforhelpanymore.
　　WecarriedTheBosstothecaveandgavehiswound,whichwasnotveryserious,thebestcarewecould.InthisservicewehadthehelpofMerlin,thoughwedidnotknowit.Hewasdisguisedasawoman,andappearedtobeasimpleoldpeasantgoodwife.Inthisdisguise,withbrown-stainedfaceandsmoothshaven,hehadappearedafewdaysafterTheBosswashurtandofferedtocookforus,sayingherpeoplehadgoneofftojoincertainnewcampswhichtheenemywereforming,andthatshewasstarving.TheBosshadbeengettingalongverywell,andhadamusedhimselfwithfinishinguphisrecord.
　　Weweregladtohavethiswoman,forwewereshorthanded.Wewereinatrap,yousee——atrapofourownmaking.Ifwestayedwherewewere,ourdeadwouldkillus;ifwemovedoutofourdefenses,weshouldnolongerbeinvincible.Wehadconquered;inturnwewereconquered.TheBossrecognizedthis;weallrecognizedit.Ifwecouldgotooneofthosenewcampsandpatchupsomekindoftermswiththeenemy——yes,butTheBosscouldnotgo,andneithercouldI,forIwasamongthefirstthatweremadesickbythepoisonousairbredbythosedeadthousands.Othersweretakendown,andstillothers.To-morrow——
　　TO-MORROW.Itishere.Andwithittheend.AboutmidnightIawoke,andsawthathagmakingcuriouspassesintheairaboutTheBoss'sheadandface,andwonderedwhatitmeant.Everybodybutthedynamo-watchlaysteepedinsleep;therewasnosound.Thewomanceasedfromhermysteriousfoolery,andstartedtip-toeingtowardthedoor.Icalledout:
　　"Stop!Whathaveyoubeendoing?"
　　Shehalted,andsaidwithanaccentofmalicioussatisfaction:
　　"Yewereconquerors;yeareconquered!Theseothersareperishing——
　　youalso.Yeshallalldieinthisplace——everyone——exceptHIM.Hesleepethnow——andshallsleepthirteencenturies.IamMerlin!"
　　Thensuchadeliriumofsillylaughterovertookhimthathereeledaboutlikeadrunkenman,andpresentlyfetchedupagainstoneofourwires.
　　Hismouthisspreadopenyet;apparentlyheisstilllaughing.Isupposethefacewillretainthatpetrifiedlaughuntilthecorpseturnstodust.
　　TheBosshasneverstirred——sleepslikeastone.Ifhedoesnotwaketo-dayweshallunderstandwhatkindofasleepitis,andhisbodywillthenbebornetoaplaceinoneoftheremoterecessesofthecavewherenonewilleverfindittodesecrateit.Asfortherestofus——well,itisagreedthatifanyoneofuseverescapesalivefromthisplace,hewillwritethefacthere,andloyallyhidethisManuscriptwithTheBoss,ourdeargoodchief,whosepropertyitis,behealiveordead.
　　THEENDOFTHEMANUSCRIPT
　　FINALP.S.BYM.T.
　　THEdawnwascomewhenIlaidtheManuscriptaside.Therainhadalmostceased,theworldwasgrayandsad,theexhaustedstormwassighingandsobbingitselftorest.Iwenttothestranger'sroom,andlistenedathisdoor,whichwasslightlyajar.Icouldhearhisvoice,andsoIknocked.
　　Therewasnoanswer,butIstillheardthevoice.Ipeepedin.Themanlayonhisbackinbed,talkingbrokenlybutwithspirit,andpunctuatingwithhisarms,whichhethrashedabout,restlessly,assickpeopledoindelirium.Islippedinsoftlyandbentoverhim.Hismutteringsandejaculationswenton.Ispoke——merelyaword,tocallhisattention.Hisglassyeyesandhisashyfacewerealightinaninstantwithpleasure,gratitude,gladness,welcome:
　　"Oh,Sandy,youarecomeatlast——howIhavelongedforyou!Sitbyme——donotleaveme——neverleavemeagain,Sandy,neveragain.Whereisyourhand?——giveitme,dear,letmeholdit——there——nowalliswell,allispeace,andIamhappyagain——WEarehappyagain,isn'titso,Sandy?Youaresodim,sovague,youarebutamist,acloud,butyouareHERE,andthatisblessednesssufficient;andIhaveyourhand;don'ttakeitaway——itisforonlyalittlewhile,Ishallnotrequireitlong
　　Wasthatthechild?Hello-Central!shedoesn'tanswer.Asleep,perhaps?Bringherwhenshewakes,andletmetouchherhands,herface,herhair,andtellhergood-byeSandy!Yes,youarethere.Ilostmyselfamoment,andIthoughtyouweregoneHaveIbeensicklong?
　　Itmustbeso;itseemsmonthstome.Andsuchdreams!suchstrangeandawfuldreams,Sandy!Dreamsthatwereasrealasreality——delirium,ofcourse,butSOreal!Why,Ithoughtthekingwasdead,IthoughtyouwereinGaulandcouldn'tgethome,Ithoughttherewasarevolution;inthefantasticfrenzyofthesedreams,IthoughtthatClarenceandIandahandfulofmycadetsfoughtandexterminatedthewholechivalryofEngland!Buteventhatwasnotthestrangest.Iseemedtobeacreatureoutofaremoteunbornage,centurieshence,andevenTHATwasasrealastherest!Yes,Iseemedtohaveflownbackoutofthatageintothisofours,andthenforwardtoitagain,andwassetdown,astrangerandforlorninthatstrangeEngland,withanabyssofthirteencenturiesyawningbetweenmeandyou!
　　betweenmeandmyhomeandmyfriends!betweenmeandallthatisdeartome,allthatcouldmakelifeworththeliving!Itwasawful——awfulerthanyoucaneverimagine,Sandy.Ah,watchbyme,Sandy——staybymeeverymoment——DON'Tletmegooutofmymindagain;deathisnothing,letitcome,butnotwiththosedreams,notwiththetortureofthosehideousdreams——IcannotendureTHATagainSandy?"
　　Helaymutteringincoherentlysomelittletime;thenforatimehelaysilent,andapparentlysinkingawaytowarddeath.Presentlyhisfingersbegantopickbusilyatthecoverlet,andbythatsignIknewthathisendwasathandwiththefirstsuggestionofthedeath-rattleinhisthroathestartedupslightly,andseemedtolisten:thenhesaid:
　　"Abugle?Itistheking!Thedrawbridge,there!Manthebattlements!——
　　turnoutthe——"
　　Hewasgettinguphislast"effect";butheneverfinishedit.
　　TheEndAConnecticutYankeeinKingArthur'sCourtbyMarkTwainAConnecticutYankeeinKingArthur'sCourtbyMarkTwainPrefaceChapter1-CamelotChapter2-KingArthur'sCourtChapter3-KnightsoftheTableRoundChapter4-SirDinadantheHumoristChapter5-AnInspirationChapter6-AnInspirationChapter7-Merlin'sTowerChapter8-TheBossChapter9-TheTournamentChapter10-BeginningsofCivilizationChapter11-TheYankeeinSearchofAdventuresChapter12-SlowTortureChapter13-FreemenChapter14-"DefendThee,Lord"
　　Chapter15-Sandy'sTaleChapter16-MorganLeFayChapter17-ARoyalBanquetChapter18-InTheQueen'sDungeonsChapter19-Knight-ErrantryasaTradeChapter20-TheOgre'sCastleChapter21-ThePilgrimsChapter22-TheHolyFountainChapter23-RestorationoftheFountainChapter24-ARivalMagicianChapter25-ACompetitiveExaminationChapter26-TheFirstNewspaperChapter27-TheYankeeandtheKingTravelIncognitoChapter28-DrillingtheKingChapter29-TheSmallpoxHutChapter30-TheTragedyoftheManor-HouseChapter31-MarcoChapter32-Dowley'sHumiliationChapter33-SixthCenturyPoliticalEconomyChapter34-TheYankeeandtheKingSoldasSlavesChapter35-APitifulIncidentChapter36-AnEncounterintheDarkChapter37-AnAwfulPredicamentChapter38-SirLauncelotandKnightstotheRescueChapter39-TheYankee'sFightWiththeKnightsChapter40-ThreeYearsLaterChapter41-TheInterdictChapter42-War!
　　Chapter43-TheBattleoftheSandBeltChapter44-APostscriptbyClarenceAConnecticutYankeeinKingArthur'sCourt-PrefacePrefaceTHEungentlelawsandcustomstoucheduponinthistalearehistorical,andtheepisodeswhichareusedtoillustratethemarealsohistorical.
　　ItisnotpretendedthattheselawsandcustomsexistedinEnglandinthesixthcentury;no,itisonlypretendedthatinasmuchastheyexistedintheEnglishandothercivilizationsoffarlatertimes,itissafetoconsiderthatitisnolibeluponthesixthcenturytosupposethemtohavebeeninpracticeinthatdayalso.Oneisquitejustifiedininferringthatwhateveroneoftheselawsorcustomswaslackinginthatremotetime,itsplacewascompetentlyfilledbyaworseone.
　　Thequestionastowhetherthereissuchathingasdivinerightofkingsisnotsettledinthisbook.Itwasfoundtoodifficult.Thattheexecutiveheadofanationshouldbeapersonofloftycharacterandextraordinaryability,wasmanifestandindisputable;thatnonebuttheDeitycouldselectthatheadunerringly,wasalsomanifestandindisputable;thattheDeityoughttomakethatselection,then,waslikewisemanifestandindisputable;
　　consequently,thatHedoesmakeit,asclaimed,wasanunavoidablededuction.
　　Imean,untiltheauthorofthisbookencounteredthePompadour,andLadyCastlemaine,andsomeotherexecutiveheadsofthatkind;thesewerefoundsodifficulttoworkintothescheme,thatitwasjudgedbettertotaketheothertackinthisbookwhichmustbeissuedthisfall,andthengointotrainingandsettlethequestioninanotherbook.Itis,ofcourse,athingwhichoughttobesettled,andIamnotgoingtohaveanythingparticulartodonextwinteranyway.
　　MARKTWAIN.
　　ACONNECTICUTYANKEEINKINGARTHUR'SCOURT
　　AWORDOFEXPLANATION
　　ITwasinWarwickCastlethatIcameacrossthecuriousstrangerwhomIamgoingtotalkabout.Heattractedmebythreethings:hiscandidsimplicity,hismarvelousfamiliaritywithancientarmor,andtherestfulnessofhiscompany——forhedidallthetalking.Wefelltogether,asmodestpeoplewill,inthetailoftheherdthatwasbeingshownthrough,andheatoncebegantosaythingswhichinterestedme.Ashetalkedalong,softly,pleasantly,flowingly,heseemedtodriftawayimperceptiblyoutofthisworldandtime,andintosomeremoteeraandoldforgottencountry;andsohegraduallywovesuchaspellaboutmethatIseemedtomoveamongthespectersandshadowsanddustandmoldofagrayantiquity,holdingspeechwitharelicofit!ExactlyasIwouldspeakofmynearestpersonalfriendsorenemies,ormymostfamiliarneighbors,hespokeofSirBedivere,SirBorsdeGanis,SirLauncelotoftheLake,SirGalahad,andalltheothergreatnamesoftheTableRound——andhowold,old,unspeakablyoldandfadedanddryandmustyandancienthecametolookashewenton!Presentlyheturnedtomeandsaid,justasonemightspeakoftheweather,oranyothercommonmatter——
　　"Youknowabouttransmigrationofsouls;doyouknowabouttranspositionofepochs——andbodies?"
　　IsaidIhadnotheardofit.Hewassolittleinterested——justaswhenpeoplespeakoftheweather——thathedidnotnoticewhetherImadehimanyanswerornot.Therewashalfamomentofsilence,immediatelyinterruptedbythedroningvoiceofthesalariedcicerone:
　　"Ancienthauberk,dateofthesixthcentury,timeofKingArthurandtheRoundTable;saidtohavebelongedtotheknightSirSagramorleDesirous;
　　observetheroundholethroughthechain-mailintheleftbreast;can'tbeaccountedfor;supposedtohavebeendonewithabulletsinceinventionoffirearms——perhapsmaliciouslybyCromwell'ssoldiers."
　　Myacquaintancesmiled——notamodernsmile,butonethatmusthavegoneoutofgeneralusemany,manycenturiesago——andmutteredapparentlytohimself:
　　"Wityewell,ISAWITDONE."Then,afterapause,added:"Ididitmyself."
　　BythetimeIhadrecoveredfromtheelectricsurpriseofthisremark,hewasgone.
　　AllthateveningIsatbymyfireattheWarwickArms,steepedinadreamoftheoldentime,whiletherainbeatuponthewindows,andthewindroaredabouttheeavesandcorners.FromtimetotimeIdippedintooldSirThomasMalory'senchantingbook,andfedatitsrichfeastofprodigiesandadventures,breathedinthefragranceofitsobsoletenames,anddreamedagain.Midnightbeingcomeatlength,Ireadanothertale,foranightcap——thiswhichherefollows,towit:
　　HOWSIRLAUNCELOTSLEWTWOGIANTS,ANDMADEACASTLEFREE
　　Anonwithalcamethereuponhimtwogreatgiants,wellarmed,allsavetheheads,withtwohorribleclubsintheirhands.SirLauncelotputhisshieldaforehim,andputthestrokeawayoftheonegiant,andwithhisswordheclavehisheadasunder.Whenhisfellowsawthat,heranawayashewerewood[*demented],forfearofthehorriblestrokes,andSirLauncelotafterhimwithallhismight,andsmotehimontheshoulder,andclavehimtothemiddle.ThenSirLauncelotwentintothehall,andtherecameaforehimthreescoreladiesanddamsels,andallkneeleduntohim,andthankedGodandhimoftheirdeliverance.For,sir,saidthey,themostpartofushavebeenherethissevenyeartheirprisoners,andwehaveworkedallmannerofsilkworksforourmeat,andweareallgreatgentle-womenborn,andblessedbethetime,knight,thateverthouwertborn;forthouhastdonethemostworshipthateverdidknightintheworld,thatwillwebearrecord,andweallprayyoutotellusyourname,thatwemaytellourfriendswhodeliveredusoutofprison.Fairdamsels,hesaid,mynameisSirLauncelotduLake.AndsohedepartedfromthemandbetaughtthemuntoGod.Andthenhemounteduponhishorse,androdeintomanystrangeandwildcountries,andthroughmanywatersandvalleys,andevilwashelodged.Andatthelastbyfortunehimhappenedagainstanighttocometoafaircourtilage,andthereinhefoundanoldgentle-womanthatlodgedhimwithagood-will,andtherehehadgoodcheerforhimandhishorse.Andwhentimewas,hishostbroughthimintoafairgarretoverthegatetohisbed.ThereSirLauncelotunarmedhim,andsethisharnessbyhim,andwenttobed,andanonhefellonsleep.So,soonaftertherecameoneonhorseback,andknockedatthegateingreathaste.AndwhenSirLauncelotheardthisheroseup,andlookedoutatthewindow,andsawbythemoonlightthreeknightscomeridingafterthatoneman,andallthreelashedonhimatoncewithswords,andthatoneknightturnedonthemknightlyagainanddefendedhim.Truly,saidSirLauncelot,yonderoneknightshallIhelp,foritwereshameformetoseethreeknightsonone,andifhebeslainIampartnerofhisdeath.Andtherewithhetookhisharnessandwentoutatawindowbyasheetdowntothefourknights,andthenSirLauncelotsaidonhigh,Turnyouknightsuntome,andleaveyourfightingwiththatknight.AndthentheyallthreeleftSirKay,andturneduntoSirLauncelot,andtherebegangreatbattle,fortheyalightallthree,andstrakemanystrokesatSirLauncelot,andassailedhimoneveryside.ThenSirKaydressedhimfortohaveholpenSirLauncelot.
　　Nay,sir,saidhe,Iwillnoneofyourhelp,thereforeasyewillhavemyhelpletmealonewiththem.SirKayforthepleasureoftheknightsufferedhimfortodohiswill,andsostoodaside.AndthenanonwithinsixstrokesSirLauncelothadstrickenthemtotheearth.
　　Andthentheyallthreecried,SirKnight,weyieldusuntoyouasmanofmightmatchless.Astothat,saidSirLauncelot,Iwillnottakeyouryieldinguntome,butsothatyeyieldyouuntoSirKaytheseneschal,onthatcovenantIwillsaveyourlivesandelsenot.Fairknight,saidthey,thatwereweloathtodo;forasforSirKaywechasedhimhither,andhadovercomehimhadyenotbeen;therefore,toyieldusuntohimitwerenoreason.Well,astothat,saidSirLauncelot,adviseyouwell,foryemaychoosewhetheryewilldieorlive,foranyebeyielden,itshallbeuntoSirKay.Fairknight,thentheysaid,insavingourliveswewilldoasthoucommandestus.Thenshallye,saidSirLauncelot,onWhitsundaynextcominggountothecourtofKingArthur,andthereshallyeyieldyouuntoQueenGuenever,andputyouallthreeinhergraceandmercy,andsaythatSirKaysentyouthithertobeherprisoners.OnthemornSirLauncelotaroseearly,andleftSirKaysleeping;andSirLauncelottookSirKay'sarmorandhisshieldandarmedhim,andsohewenttothestableandtookhishorse,andtookhisleaveofhishost,andsohedeparted.
　　ThensoonafteraroseSirKayandmissedSirLauncelot;andthenheespiedthathehadhisarmorandhishorse.NowbymyfaithIknowwellthathewillgrievesomeofthecourtofKingArthur;foronhimknightswillbebold,anddeemthatitisI,andthatwillbeguilethem;andbecauseofhisarmorandshieldIamsureIshallrideinpeace.AndthensoonafterdepartedSirKay,andthankedhishost.
　　AsIlaidthebookdowntherewasaknockatthedoor,andmystrangercamein.Igavehimapipeandachair,andmadehimwelcome.IalsocomfortedhimwithahotScotchwhisky;gavehimanotherone;thenstillanother——hopingalwaysforhisstory.Afterafourthpersuader,hedriftedintoithimself,inaquitesimpleandnaturalway:
　　THESTRANGER'SHISTORY
　　IamanAmerican.IwasbornandrearedinHartford,intheStateofConnecticut——anyway,justovertheriver,inthecountry.SoIamaYankeeoftheYankees——andpractical;yes,andnearlybarrenofsentiment,I
　　suppose——orpoetry,inotherwords.Myfatherwasablacksmith,myunclewasahorsedoctor,andIwasboth,alongatfirst.ThenIwentovertothegreatarmsfactoryandlearnedmyrealtrade;learnedalltherewastoit;learnedtomakeeverything:guns,revolvers,cannon,boilers,engines,allsortsoflabor-savingmachinery.Why,Icouldmakeanythingabodywanted——anythingintheworld,itdidn'tmakeanydifferencewhat;andiftherewasn'tanyquicknew-fangledwaytomakeathing,Icouldinventone——anddoitaseasyasrollingoffalog.Ibecameheadsuperintendent;
　　hadacoupleofthousandmenunderme.
　　Well,amanlikethatisamanthatisfulloffight——thatgoeswithoutsaying.Withacoupleofthousandroughmenunderone,onehasplentyofthatsortofamusement.Ihad,anyway.AtlastImetmymatch,andIgotmydose.ItwasduringamisunderstandingconductedwithcrowbarswithafellowweusedtocallHercules.Helaidmeoutwithacrusheralongsidetheheadthatmadeeverythingcrack,andseemedtospringeveryjointinmyskullandmadeitoverlapitsneighbor.Thentheworldwentoutindarkness,andIdidn'tfeelanythingmore,anddidn'tknowanythingatall——atleastforawhile.
　　WhenIcametoagain,Iwassittingunderanoaktree,onthegrass,withawholebeautifulandbroadcountrylandscapealltomyself——nearly.
　　Notentirely;fortherewasafellowonahorse,lookingdownatme——
　　afellowfreshoutofapicture-book.Hewasinold-timeironarmorfromheadtoheel,withahelmetonhisheadtheshapeofanail-kegwithslitsinit;andhehadashield,andasword,andaprodigiousspear;andhishorsehadarmoron,too,andasteelhornprojectingfromhisforehead,andgorgeousredandgreensilktrappingsthathungdownallaroundhimlikeabedquilt,nearlytotheground.
　　"Fairsir,willyejust?"saidthisfellow.
　　"WillIwhich?"
　　"Willyetryapassageofarmsforlandorladyorfor——"
　　"Whatareyougivingme?"Isaid."Getalongbacktoyourcircus,orI'llreportyou."
　　Nowwhatdoesthismandobutfallbackacoupleofhundredyardsandthencomerushingatmeashardashecouldtear,withhisnail-kegbentdownnearlytohishorse'sneckandhislongspearpointedstraightahead.
　　Isawhemeantbusiness,soIwasupthetreewhenhearrived.
　　HeallowedthatIwashisproperty,thecaptiveofhisspear.Therewasargumentonhisside——andthebulkoftheadvantage——soIjudgeditbesttohumorhim.WefixedupanagreementwherebyIwastogowithhimandhewasnottohurtme.Icamedown,andwestartedaway,Iwalkingbythesideofhishorse.Wemarchedcomfortablyalong,throughgladesandoverbrookswhichIcouldnotremembertohaveseenbefore——whichpuzzledmeandmademewonder——andyetwedidnotcometoanycircusorsignofacircus.SoIgaveuptheideaofacircus,andconcludedhewasfromanasylum.Butwenevercametoanasylum——soIwasupastump,asyoumaysay.IaskedhimhowfarwewerefromHartford.Hesaidhehadneverheardoftheplace;whichItooktobealie,butallowedittogoatthat.Attheendofanhourwesawafar-awaytownsleepinginavalleybyawindingriver;andbeyonditonahill,avastgrayfortress,withtowersandturrets,thefirstIhadeverseenoutofapicture.
　　"Bridgeport?"saidI,pointing.
　　"Camelot,"saidhe.
　　Mystrangerhadbeenshowingsignsofsleepiness.Hecaughthimselfnodding,now,andsmiledoneofthosepathetic,obsoletesmilesofhis,andsaid:
　　"IfindIcan'tgoon;butcomewithme,I'vegotitallwrittenout,andyoucanreaditifyoulike."
　　Inhischamber,hesaid:"First,Ikeptajournal;thenbyandby,afteryears,Itookthejournalandturneditintoabook.Howlongagothatwas!"
　　Hehandedmehismanuscript,andpointedouttheplacewhereIshouldbegin:
　　"Beginhere——I'vealreadytoldyouwhatgoesbefore."Hewassteepedindrowsinessbythistime.AsIwentoutathisdoorIheardhimmurmursleepily:"Giveyougoodden,fairsir."
　　Isatdownbymyfireandexaminedmytreasure.Thefirstpartofit——thegreatbulkofit——wasparchment,andyellowwithage.Iscannedaleafparticularlyandsawthatitwasapalimpsest.UndertheolddimwritingoftheYankeehistorianappearedtracesofapenmanshipwhichwasolderanddimmerstill——Latinwordsandsentences:fragmentsfromoldmonkishlegends,evidently.Iturnedtotheplaceindicatedbymystrangerandbegantoread——asfollows: