Huck Finn 1: 9-27

Definitions:
1) Ambuscade- an ambush
"... so we would lay in ambuscade, as he called it, and kill the lot and scopp the things" (Twain 21).

2) Stile- a series of steps by means of which a person may pass over a wall or fence that remains a barrier to sheep or cattle
"I went down the front garden and clumb over the stile, where you go through the high board fence" (25).

Quote:
"There is ways to keep off kinds of bad luck, but this wasn't one of them kind; so I never tried to do anything, but just poked along low-spirited and on the watch-out" (25).

Explanation- In this quote Huck is being very vigilant because he did not get a chance to throw salt over his shoulder and stop some bad luck. This shows that huck is very superstitious, because he is so scared that something bad is going to happen to him now. When Huck saw his dad's footprints in the snow he said, "There was a cross in the left-heel made with big nails, to keep off the devil" (25). Maybe Huck gets his superstitious attitude from his father because his dad is trying to fend off the devil by having a cross on his foot. So, Huck might have learned being superstitious from his father. By preventing bad luck, Huck may believe he will end up better than his dad.

Quote:
"I liked the old ways the best, but I was getting so I liked the new ones, too, a little bit. The widow said I was coming along slow but sure, and doing very satisfactory. She said she warn't ashamed of me" (24).

Explanation: Huck still adores and treasures the old way of life he once had. He liked how he was so free before, but he is getting used to his new way of life. It was hard for him at school because he does not seem to be to intelligent and would sometimes play hookey. The longer he went to school the better it got for him. Huck is slowly making the transition from his free-spirited life to his current life now. And he is starting to enjoy it.