Uh, folks, sorry to interrupt, but I too have noticed that Twain's
attitude towards Sherburne seems somewhat schizophrenic.  Well, maybe,
just maybe, he wasn't as worried about consistency as we are.  If you
look at last fall's "Twainian" you'll find a piece about the episode
where I claim Twain took parts of it from a Deadwood Dick dime novel.
Have a look at it, and let me know what you think then.
Gary Henrickson, Providence U, Taiwan