He likes to be free from the restrictions of others and be himself. He also seems to enjoy things quiet, which people do not tend to be. He mentions once when he and Jim anchor and watch the sun rise that there was "not a sound, anywheres -- perfectly still -- just like the whole world was asleep." With just himself and Jim on the raft, things surely would tend to be quiet more often than not because two people eventually run out of things to talk about, as opposed to the many mixed conversations of large company. He likes these quiet moments, which possibly last even days at a time, because at one point Huck says, "Two or three days and nights went by; I reckon I might say they swum by, they slid along so quiet and smooth and lovely." (96) This level of peace and!.
appreciation of the quiet was an acquired taste and strengthens every time they return from an episode on the shore. Huck, however, did not always enjoy being on the raft and did not always appreciate its serenity. .
When they first set out on the raft and leave Jackson's Island behind, Huck says, "It was kind of solemn, drifting down the big still river, laying on our backs looking up at the stars, and we didn't ever feel like talking loud, and it warn't often that we laughed, only a little kind of a low chuckle." (55) However, the more they venture onto shore, the more they appreciate being back on the raft. Huck becomes more attached to the raft and his companion every time he returns to the peacefulness and harmony of the raft, and at one point says that "it did feel so good to be free again and all by ourselves on the big river and nobody to bother us." (162) He enjoys not only the fact that he is in a way cut off from society, but he becomes somewhat detached from it, not realizing that he is in it at times. This is evidenced when Huck mentions that "sometimes they'd have that whole river all to themselves for the longest time.