HalfthetimeTomwasafraidInjunJoewouldneverbecaptured；
theotherhalfhewasafraidhewouldbe。Hefeltsurehenevercoulddrawasafebreathagainuntilthatmanwasdeadandhehadseenthecorpse。
Rewardshadbeenoffered，thecountryhadbeenscoured，butnoInjunJoewasfound。Oneofthoseomniscientandawe—inspiringmarvels，adetective，cameupfromSt。Louis，mousedaround，shookhishead，lookedwise，andmadethatsortofastoundingsuccesswhichmembersofthatcraftusuallyachieve。Thatistosay，he\"foundaclew。\"Butyoucan’thanga\"clew\"formurder，andsoafterthatdetectivehadgotthroughandgonehome，Tomfeltjustasinsecureashewasbefore。
Theslowdaysdriftedon，andeachleftbehinditaslightlylightenedweightofapprehension。
TheAdventuresofTomSawyer：Chapter25CHAPTERXXVTHEREcomesatimeineveryrightlyconstructedboy’slifewhenhehasaragingdesiretogosomewhereanddigforhiddentreasure。ThisdesiresuddenlycameuponTomoneday。HesalliedouttofindJoeHarper，butfailedofsuccess。NexthesoughtBenRogers；hehadgonefishing。PresentlyhestumbleduponHuckFinntheRed—Handed。Huckwouldanswer。Tomtookhimtoaprivateplaceandopenedthemattertohimconfidentially。Huckwaswilling。Huckwasalwayswillingtotakeahandinanyenterprisethatofferedentertainmentandrequirednocapital，forhehadatroublesomesuperabundanceofthatsortoftimewhichisnotmoney。\"Where’llwedig？\"
saidHuck。
\"Oh，mostanywhere。\"
\"Why，isithidallaround？\"
\"No，indeeditain’t。It’shidinmightyparticularplaces，Huck——sometimesonislands，sometimesinrottenchestsundertheendofalimbofanolddeadtree，justwheretheshadowfallsatmidnight；butmostlyunderthefloorinha’ntedhouses。\"
\"Whohidesit？\"
\"Why，robbers，ofcourse——who’dyoureckon？Sunday—schoolsup’rintendents？\"
\"Idon’tknow。If’twasmineIwouldn’thideit；I’dspenditandhaveagoodtime。\"
\"SowouldI。Butrobbersdon’tdothatway。Theyalwayshideitandleaveitthere。\"
\"Don’ttheycomeafteritanymore？\"
\"No，theythinktheywill，buttheygenerallyforgetthemarks，orelsetheydie。Anyway，itlaystherealongtimeandgetsrusty；andbyandbysomebodyfindsanoldyellowpaperthattellshowtofindthemarks——apaperthat’sgottobecipheredoveraboutaweekbecauseit’smostlysignsandhy’roglyphics。\"
\"HyroQwhich？\"
\"Hy’roglyphics——picturesandthings，youknow，thatdon’tseemtomeananything。\"
\"Haveyougotoneofthempapers，Tom？\"
\"No。\"
\"Wellthen，howyougoingtofindthemarks？\"
\"Idon’twantanymarks。Theyalwaysburyitunderaha’ntedhouseoronanisland，orunderadeadtreethat’sgotonelimbstickingout。
Well，we’vetriedJackson’sIslandalittle，andwecantryitagainsometime；andthere’stheoldha’ntedhouseuptheStill—Housebranch，andthere’slotsofdeadlimbtrees——deadloadsof’em。\"
\"Isitunderallofthem？\"
\"Howyoutalk！No！\"
\"Thenhowyougoingtoknowwhichonetogofor？\"
\"Goforallof’em！\"
\"Why，Tom，it’lltakeallsummer。\"
\"Well，whatofthat？Supposeyoufindabrasspotwithahundreddollarsinit，allrustyandgray，orrottenchestfullofdi’monds。How’sthat？\"
Huck’seyesglowed。
\"That’sbully。Plentybullyenoughforme。JustyougimmethehundreddollarsandIdon’twantnodi’monds。\"
\"Allright。ButIbetyouIain’tgoingtothrowoffondi’monds。
Someof’em’sworthtwentydollarsapiece——thereain’tany，hardly，but’sworthsixbitsoradollar。\"
\"No！Isthatso？\"
\"Cert’nly——anybody’lltellyouso。Hain’tyoueverseenone，Huck？\"
\"NotasIremember。\"
\"Oh，kingshaveslathersofthem。\"
\"Well，Idon’knownokings，Tom。\"
\"Ireckonyoudon’t。ButifyouwastogotoEuropeyou’dseearaftof’emhoppingaround。\"
\"Dotheyhop？\"
\"Hop？——yourgranny！No！\"
\"Well，whatdidyousaytheydid，for？\"
\"Shucks，Ionlymeantyou’dsee’em——nothopping，ofcourse——whatdotheywanttohopfor？——butImeanyou’djustsee’em——scatteredaround，youknow，inakindofageneralway。LikethatoldhumpbackedRichard。\"
\"Richard？What’shisothername？\"
\"Hedidn’thaveanyothername。Kingsdon’thaveanybutagivenname。\"
\"No？\"
\"Buttheydon’t。\"
\"Well，iftheylikeit，Tom，allright；butIdon’twanttobeakingandhaveonlyjustagivenname，likeanigger。Butsay——whereyougoingtodigfirst？\"
\"Well，Idon’tknow。S’posewetacklethatolddead—limbtreeonthehillt’othersideofStill—Housebranch？\"
\"I’magreed。\"
Sotheygotacrippledpickandashovel，andsetoutontheirthree—miletramp。Theyarrivedhotandpanting，andthrewthemselvesdownintheshadeofaneighboringelmtorestandhaveasmoke。
\"Ilikethis，\"saidTom。
\"SodoI。\"
\"Say，Huck，ifwefindatreasurehere，whatyougoingtodowithyourshare？\"
\"Well，I’llhavepieandaglassofsodaeveryday，andI’llgotoeverycircusthatcomesalong。IbetI’llhaveagaytime。\"
\"Well，ain’tyougoingtosaveanyofit？\"
\"Saveit？Whatfor？\"
\"Why，soastohavesomethingtoliveon，byandby。\"
\"Oh，thatain’tanyuse。Papwouldcomebacktothish—yertownsomedayandgethisclawsonitifIdidn’thurryup，andItellyouhe’dcleanitoutprettyquick。Whatyougoingtodowithyourn，Tom？\"
\"I’mgoingtobuyanewdrum，andasure—’noughsword，andarednecktieandabullpup，andgetmarried。\"
\"Married！\"
\"That’sit。\"
\"Tom，you——why，youain’tinyourrightmind。\"
\"Wait——you’llsee。\"
\"Well，that’sthefoolishestthingyoucoulddo。Lookatpapandmymother。Fight！Why，theyusedtofightallthetime。Iremember，mightywell。\"
\"Thatain’tanything。ThegirlI’mgoingtomarrywon’tfight。\"
\"Tom，Ireckonthey’reallalike。They’llallcombabody。Nowyoubetterthink’boutthisawhile。Itellyouyoubetter。What’sthenameofthegal？\"
\"Itain’tagalatall——it’sagirl。\"
\"It’sallthesame，Ireckon；somesaysgal，somesaysgirl——
both’sright，likeenough。Anyway，what’shername，Tom？\"
\"I’lltellyousometime——notnow。\"
\"Allright——that’lldo。OnlyifyougetmarriedI’llbemorelonesomerthanever。\"
\"Noyouwon’t。You’llcomeandlivewithme。Nowstiroutofthisandwe’llgotodigging。\"
Theyworkedandsweatedforhalfanhour。Noresult。Theytoiledanotherhalf—hour。Stillnoresult。Hucksaid：
\"Dotheyalwaysburyitasdeepasthis？\"
\"Sometimes——notalways。Notgenerally。Ireckonwehaven’tgottherightplace。\"
Sotheychoseanewspotandbeganagain。Thelabordraggedalittle，butstilltheymadeprogress。Theypeggedawayinsilenceforsometime。FinallyHuckleanedonhisshovel，swabbedthebeadeddropsfromhisbrowwithhissleeve，andsaid：
\"Whereyougoingtodignext，afterwegetthisone？\"
\"Ireckonmaybewe’lltackletheoldtreethat’soveryonderonCardiffHillbackofthewidow’s。\"
\"Ireckonthat’llbeagoodone。Butwon’tthewidowtakeitawayfromus，Tom？It’sonherland。\"
\"Shetakeitaway！Maybeshe’dliketotryitonce。Whoeverfindsoneofthesehidtreasures，itbelongstohim。Itdon’tmakeanydifferencewhoselandit’son。\"
Thatwassatisfactory。Theworkwenton。ByandbyHucksaid：
\"Blameit，wemustbeinthewrongplaceagain。Whatdoyouthink？\"
\"Itismightycurious，Huck。Idon’tunderstandit。Sometimeswitchesinterfere。Ireckonmaybethat’swhat’sthetroublenow。\"
\"Shucks！Witchesain’tgotnopowerinthedaytime。\"
\"Well，that’sso。Ididn’tthinkofthat。Oh，Iknowwhatthematteris！Whatablamedlotoffoolsweare！Yougottofindoutwheretheshadowofthelimbfallsatmidnight，andthat’swhereyoudig！\"
\"Thenconsoundit，we’vefooledawayallthisworkfornothing。
Nowhangitall，wegottocomebackinthenight。It’sanawfullongway。
Canyougetout？\"
\"IbetIwill。We’vegottodoitto—night，too，becauseifsomebodyseestheseholesthey’llknowinaminutewhat’shereandthey’llgoforit。\"
\"Well，I’llcomearoundandmaowto—night。\"
\"Allright。Let’shidethetoolsinthebushes。\"
Theboysweretherethatnight，abouttheappointedtime。Theysatintheshadowwaiting。Itwasalonelyplace，andanhourmadesolemnbyoldtraditions。Spiritswhisperedintherustlingleaves，ghostslurkedinthemurkynooks，thedeepbayingofahoundfloatedupoutofthedistance，anowlansweredwithhissepulchralnote。Theboysweresubduedbythesesolemnities，andtalkedlittle。Byandbytheyjudgedthattwelvehadcome；
theymarkedwheretheshadowfell，andbegantodig。Theirhopescommencedtorise。Theirinterestgrewstronger，andtheirindustrykeptpacewithit。Theholedeepenedandstilldeepened，buteverytimetheirheartsjumpedtohearthepickstrikeuponsomething，theyonlysufferedanewdisappointment。
Itwasonlyastoneorachunk。AtlastTomsaid：
\"Itain’tanyuse，Huck，we’rewrongagain。\"
\"Well，butwecan’tbewrong。Wespottedtheshaddertoadot。\"
\"Iknowit，butthenthere’sanotherthing。\"
\"What’sthat？\"。
\"Why，weonlyguessedatthetime。Likeenoughitwastoolateortooearly。\"
Huckdroppedhisshovel。
\"That’sit，\"saidhe。\"That’stheverytrouble。Wegottogivethisoneup。Wecan’tevertelltherighttime，andbesidesthiskindofthing’stooawful，herethistimeofnightwithwitchesandghostsa—flutteringaroundso。Ifeelasifsomething’sbehindmeallthetime；andI’mafeardtoturnaround，becuzmaybethere’sothersinfronta—waitingforachance。
Ibeencreepingallover，eversinceIgothere。\"
\"Well，I’vebeenprettymuchso，too，Huck。Theymostalwaysputinadeadmanwhentheyburyatreasureunderatree，tolookoutforit。\"
\"Lordy！\"
\"Yes，theydo。I’vealwaysheardthat。\"
\"Tom，Idon’tliketofoolaroundmuchwherethere’sdeadpeople。
Abody’sboundtogetintotroublewith’em，sure。\"
\"Idon’tliketostir’emup，either。S’posethisoneherewastostickhisskulloutandsaysomething！\"
\"Don’tTom！It’sawful。\"
\"Well，itjustis。Huck，Idon’tfeelcomfortableabit。\"
\"Say，Tom，let’sgivethisplaceup，andtrysomewhereselse。\"
\"Allright，Ireckonwebetter。\"
\"What’llitbe？\"
Tomconsideredawhile；andthensaid：
\"Theha’ntedhouse。That’sit！\"
\"Blameit，Idon’tlikeha’ntedhouses，Tom。Why，they’readernsightworse’ndeadpeople。Deadpeoplemighttalk，maybe，buttheydon’tcomeslidingaroundinashroud，whenyouain’tnoticing，andpeepoveryourshoulderallofasuddenandgrittheirteeth，thewayaghostdoes。
Icouldn’tstandsuchathingasthat，Tom——nobodycould。\"
\"Yes，but，Huck，ghostsdon’ttravelaroundonlyatnight。Theywon’thenderusfromdiggingthereinthedaytime。\"
\"Well，that’sso。Butyouknowmightywellpeopledon’tgoaboutthatha’ntedhouseinthedaynorthenight。\"
\"Well，that’smostlybecausetheydon’tliketogowhereaman’sbeenmurdered，anyway——butnothing’severbeenseenaroundthathouseexceptinthenight——justsomebluelightsslippingbythewindows——
noregularghosts。\"
\"Well，whereyouseeoneofthembluelightsflickeringaround，Tom，youcanbetthere’saghostmightyclosebehindit。Itstandstoreason。
Becuzyouknowthattheydon’tanybodybutghostsuse’em。\"
\"Yes，that’sso。Butanywaytheydon’tcomearoundinthedaytime，sowhat’stheuseofourbeingafeard？\"
\"Well，allright。We’lltackletheha’ntedhouseifyousayso——butIreckonit’stakingchances。\"
Theyhadstarteddownthehillbythistime。Thereinthemiddleofthemoonlitvalleybelowthemstoodthe\"ha’nted\"house，utterlyisolated，itsfencesgonelongago，rankweedssmotheringtheverydoorsteps，thechimneycrumbledtoruin，thewindow—sashesvacant，acorneroftheroofcavedin。Theboysgazedawhile，halfexpectingtoseeabluelightflitpastawindow；thentalkinginalowtone，asbefittedthetimeandthecircumstances，theystruckfarofftotheright，togivethehauntedhouseawideberth，andtooktheirwayhomewardthroughthewoodsthatadornedtherearwardsideofCardiffHill。
TheAdventuresofTomSawyer：Chapter26CHAPTERXXVIABOUTnoonthenextdaytheboysarrivedatthedeadtree；theyhadcomefortheirtools。Tomwasimpatienttogotothehauntedhouse；Huckwasmeasurablyso，also——butsuddenlysaid：
\"Lookyhere，Tom，doyouknowwhatdayitis？\"
Tommentallyranoverthedaysoftheweek，andthenquicklyliftedhiseyeswithastartledlookinthem——
\"My！Ineveroncethoughtofit，Huck！\"
\"Well，Ididn’tneither，butallatonceitpoppedontomethatitwasFriday。\"
\"Blameit，abodycan’tbetoocareful，Huck。Wemight’a’gotintoanawfulscrape，tacklingsuchathingonaFriday。\"
\"~might！Bettersaywewould！There’ssomeluckydays，maybe，butFridayain’t。\"
\"Anyfoolknowsthat。Idon’treckonYOUwasthefirstthatfounditout，Huck。\"
\"Well，IneversaidIwas，didI？AndFridayain’tall，neither。
Ihadarottenbaddreamlastnight——dreamptaboutrats。\"
\"No！Suresignoftrouble。Didtheyfight？\"
\"No。\"
\"Well，that’sgood，Huck。Whentheydon’tfightit’sonlyasignthatthere’stroublearound，youknow。Allwegottodoistolookmightysharpandkeepoutofit。We’lldropthisthingforto—day，andplay。DoyouknowRobinHood，Huck？\"
\"No。Who’sRobinHood？\"
\"Why，hewasoneofthegreatestmenthatwaseverinEngland——andthebest。Hewasarobber。\"
\"Cracky，IwishtIwas。Whodidherob？\"
\"Onlysheriffsandbishopsandrichpeopleandkings，andsuchlike。Butheneverbotheredthepoor。Heloved’em。Healwaysdividedupwith’emperfectlysquare。\"
\"Well，hemust’a’beenabrick。\"
\"Ibetyouhewas，Huck。Oh，hewasthenoblestmanthateverwas。Theyain’tanysuchmennow，Icantellyou。HecouldlickanymaninEngland，withonehandtiedbehindhim；andhecouldtakehisyewbowandplugaten—centpieceeverytime，amileandahalf。\"
\"What’sayewbow？\"
\"Idon’tknow。It’ssomekindofabow，ofcourse。Andifhehitthatdimeonlyontheedgehewouldsetdownandcry——andcurse。Butwe’llplayRobinHood——it’snobbyfun。I’lllearnyou。\"
\"I’magreed。\"
SotheyplayedRobinHoodalltheafternoon，nowandthencastingayearningeyedownuponthehauntedhouseandpassingaremarkaboutthemorrow’sprospectsandpossibilitiesthere。AsthesunbegantosinkintothewesttheytooktheirwayhomewardathwartthelongshadowsofthetreesandsoonwereburiedfromsightintheforestsofCardiffHill。
OnSaturday，shortlyafternoon，theboyswereatthedeadtreeagain。Theyhadasmokeandachatintheshade，andthendugalittleintheirlasthole，notwithgreathope，butmerelybecauseTomsaidthereweresomanycaseswherepeoplehadgivenupatreasureaftergettingdownwithinsixinchesofit，andthensomebodyelsehadcomealongandturneditupwithasinglethrustofashovel。Thethingfailedthistime，however，sotheboysshoulderedtheirtoolsandwentawayfeelingthattheyhadnottrifledwithfortune，buthadfulfilledalltherequirementsthatbelongtothebusinessoftreasure—hunting。
Whentheyreachedthehauntedhousetherewassomethingsoweirdandgrislyaboutthedeadsilencethatreignedthereunderthebakingsun，andsomethingsodepressingaboutthelonelinessanddesolationoftheplace，thattheywereafraid，foramoment，toventurein。Thentheycrepttothedoorandtookatremblingpeep。Theysawaweed—grown，floorlessroom，unplastered，anancientfireplace，vacantwindows，aruinousstaircase；
andhere，there，andeverywherehungraggedandabandonedcobwebs。Theypresentlyentered，softly，withquickenedpulses，talkinginwhispers，earsalerttocatchtheslightestsound，andmusclestenseandreadyforinstantretreat。
Inalittlewhilefamiliaritymodifiedtheirfearsandtheygavetheplaceacriticalandinterestedexamination，ratheradmiringtheirownboldness，andwonderingatit，too。Nexttheywantedtolookup—stairs。
Thiswassomethinglikecuttingoffretreat，buttheygottodaringeachother，andofcoursetherecouldbebutoneresult——theythrewtheirtoolsintoacornerandmadetheascent。Uptherewerethesamesignsofdecay。Inonecornertheyfoundaclosetthatpromisedmystery，butthepromisewasafraud——therewasnothinginit。Theircouragewasupnowandwellinhand。Theywereabouttogodownandbeginworkwhen——
\"Sh！\"saidTom。
\"Whatisit？\"whisperedHuck，blanchingwithfright。
\"Sh！……There！……Hearit？\"
\"Yes！……Oh，my！Let’srun！\"
\"Keepstill！Don’tyoubudge！They’recomingrighttowardthedoor。\"
Theboysstretchedthemselvesuponthefloorwiththeireyestoknot—holesintheplanking，andlaywaiting，inamiseryoffear。
\"They’vestopped……No——coming……Heretheyare。Don’twhisperanotherword，Huck。Mygoodness，IwishIwasoutofthis！\"
Twomenentered。Eachboysaidtohimself：\"There’stheolddeafanddumbSpaniardthat’sbeenabouttownonceortwicelately——neversawt’othermanbefore。\"
\"T’other\"wasaragged，unkemptcreature，withnothingverypleasantinhisface。TheSpaniardwaswrappedinaserape；hehadbushywhitewhiskers；longwhitehairflowedfromunderhissombrero，andheworegreengoggles。Whentheycamein，\"t’other\"wastalkinginalowvoice；
theysatdownontheground，facingthedoor，withtheirbackstothewall，andthespeakercontinuedhisremarks。Hismannerbecamelessguardedandhiswordsmoredistinctasheproceeded：
\"No，\"saidhe，\"I’vethoughtitallover，andIdon’tlikeit。
It’sdangerous。\"
\"Dangerous！\"gruntedthe\"deafanddumb\"Spaniard——tothevastsurpriseoftheboys。\"Milksop！\"
Thisvoicemadetheboysgaspandquake。ItwasInjunJoe’s！Therewassilenceforsometime。ThenJoesaid：
\"What’sanymoredangerousthanthatjobupyonder——butnothing’scomeofit。\"
\"That’sdifferent。Awayuptheriverso，andnotanotherhouseabout。’Twon’teverbeknownthatwetried，anyway，longaswedidn’tsucceed。\"
\"Well，what’smoredangerousthancominghereinthedaytime！
——anybodywouldsuspicionusthatsawus。\"
\"Iknowthat。Buttherewarn’tanyotherplaceashandyafterthatfoolofajob。Iwanttoquitthisshanty。Iwantedtoyesterday，onlyitwarn’tanyusetryingtostiroutofhere，withthoseinfernalboysplayingoverthereonthehillrightinfullview。\"
\"Thoseinfernalboys\"quakedagainundertheinspirationofthisremark，andthoughthowluckyitwasthattheyhadremembereditwasFridayandconcludedtowaitaday。Theywishedintheirheartstheyhadwaitedayear。
Thetwomengotoutsomefoodandmadealuncheon。Afteralongandthoughtfulsilence，InjunJoesaid：
\"Lookhere，lad——yougobackuptheriverwhereyoubelong。
Waittheretillyouhearfromme。I’lltakethechancesondroppingintothistownjustoncemore，foralook。We’lldothat’dangerous’jobafterI’vespiedaroundalittleandthinkthingslookwellforit。ThenforTexas！We’lllegittogether！\"
Thiswassatisfactory。Bothmenpresentlyfelltoyawning，andInjunJoesaid：
\"I’mdeadforsleep！It’syourturntowatch。\"
Hecurleddownintheweedsandsoonbegantosnore。Hiscomradestirredhimonceortwiceandhebecamequiet。Presentlythewatcherbegantonod；hisheaddroopedlowerandlower，bothmenbegantosnorenow。
Theboysdrewalong，gratefulbreath。Tomwhispered：
\"Now’sourchance——come！\"
Hucksaid：
\"Ican’t——I’ddieiftheywastowake。\"
Tomurged——Huckheldback。AtlastTomroseslowlyandsoftly，andstartedalone。Butthefirststephemadewrungsuchahideouscreakfromthecrazyfloorthathesankdownalmostdeadwithfright。Henevermadeasecondattempt。Theboyslaytherecountingthedraggingmomentstillitseemedtothemthattimemustbedoneandeternitygrowinggray；
andthentheyweregratefultonotethatatlastthesunwassetting。
Nowonesnoreceased。InjunJoesatup，staredaround——smiledgrimlyuponhiscomrade，whoseheadwasdroopinguponhisknees——stirredhimupwithhisfootandsaid：
\"Here！you’reawatchman，ain’tyou！Allright，though——nothing’shappened。\"
\"My！haveIbeenasleep？\"
\"Oh，partly，partly。Nearlytimeforustobemoving，pard。What’llwedowithwhatlittleswagwe’vegotleft？\"
\"Idon’tknow——leaveithereaswe’vealwaysdone，Ireckon。
Nousetotakeitawaytillwestartsouth。Sixhundredandfiftyinsilver’ssomethingtocarry。\"
\"Well——allright——itwon’tmattertocomehereoncemore。\"
\"No——butI’dsaycomeinthenightasweusedtodo——it’sbetter。\"
\"Yes：butlookhere；itmaybeagoodwhilebeforeIgettherightchanceatthatjob；accidentsmighthappen；’tain’tinsuchaverygoodplace；we’lljustregularlyburyit——andburyitdeep。\"
\"Goodidea，\"saidthecomrade，whowalkedacrosstheroom，kneltdown，raisedoneoftherearwardhearthstonesandtookoutabagthatjingledpleasantly。HesubtractedfromittwentyorthirtydollarsforhimselfandasmuchforInjunJoe，andpassedthebagtothelatter，whowasonhiskneesinthecorner，now，diggingwithhisbowie—knife。
Theboysforgotalltheirfears，alltheirmiseriesinaninstant。
Withgloatingeyestheywatchedeverymovement。Luck！——thesplendorofitwasbeyondallimagination！Sixhundreddollarswasmoneyenoughtomakehalfadozenboysrich！Herewastreasure—huntingunderthehappiestauspices——therewouldnotbeanybothersomeuncertaintyastowheretodig。Theynudgedeachothereverymoment——eloquentnudgesandeasilyunderstood，fortheysimplymeant——\"Oh，butain’tyougladNOWwe’rehere！\"
Joe’sknifestruckuponsomething。
\"Hello！\"saidhe。
\"Whatisit？\"saidhiscomrade。
\"Half—rottenplank——no，it’sabox，Ibelieve。Here——bearahandandwe’llseewhatit’sherefor。Nevermind，I’vebrokeahole。\"
Hereachedhishandinanddrewitout——
\"Man，it’smoney！\"
Thetwomenexaminedthehandfulofcoins。Theyweregold。Theboysabovewereasexcitedasthemselves，andasdelighted。
Joe’scomradesaid：
\"We’llmakequickworkofthis。There’sanoldrustypickoveramongsttheweedsinthecornertheothersideofthefireplace——Isawitaminuteago。\"
Heranandbroughttheboys’pickandshovel。InjunJoetookthepick，lookeditovercritically，shookhishead，mutteredsomethingtohimself，andthenbegantouseit。Theboxwassoonunearthed。Itwasnotverylarge；itwasironboundandhadbeenverystrongbeforetheslowyearshadinjuredit。Themencontemplatedthetreasureawhileinblissfulsilence。
\"Pard，there’sthousandsofdollarshere，\"saidInjunJoe。
\"’TwasalwayssaidthatMurrel’sgangusedtobearoundhereonesummer，\"thestrangerobserved。
\"Iknowit，\"saidInjunJoe；\"andthislookslikeit，Ishouldsay。\"
\"Nowyouwon’tneedtodothatjob。\"
Thehalf—breedfrowned。Saidhe：
\"Youdon’tknowme。Leastyoudon’tknowallaboutthatthing。
’Tain’trobberyaltogether——it’srevenge！\"andawickedlightflamedinhiseyes。\"I’llneedyourhelpinit。Whenit’sfinished——thenTexas。GohometoyourNanceandyourkids，andstandbytillyouhearfromme。\"
\"Well——ifyousayso；what’llwedowiththis——buryitagain？\"
\"Yes。[Ravishingdelightoverhead。]No！bythegreatSachem，no！[Profounddistressoverhead。]I’dnearlyforgot。Thatpickhadfreshearthonit！[Theboysweresickwithterrorinamoment。]Whatbusinesshasapickandashovelhere？Whatbusinesswithfreshearthonthem？Whobroughtthemhere——andwherearetheygone？Haveyouheardanybody？——
seenanybody？What！buryitagainandleavethemtocomeandseethegrounddisturbed？Notexactly——notexactly。We’lltakeittomyden。\"
\"Why，ofcourse！Mighthavethoughtofthatbefore。YoumeanNumberOne？\"
\"No——NumberTwo——underthecross。Theotherplaceisbad——
toocommon。\"
\"Allright。It’snearlydarkenoughtostart。\"
InjunJoegotupandwentaboutfromwindowtowindowcautiouslypeepingout。Presentlyhesaid：
\"Whocouldhavebroughtthosetoolshere？Doyoureckontheycanbeup—stairs？\"
Theboys’breathforsookthem。InjunJoeputhishandonhisknife，haltedamoment，undecided，andthenturnedtowardthestairway。Theboysthoughtofthecloset，buttheirstrengthwasgone。Thestepscamecreakingupthestairs——theintolerabledistressofthesituationwokethestrickenresolutionofthelads——theywereabouttospringforthecloset，whentherewasacrashofrottentimbersandInjunJoelandedonthegroundamidthedé；brisoftheruinedstairway。Hegatheredhimselfupcursing，andhiscomradesaid：
\"Nowwhat’stheuseofallthat？Ifit’sanybody，andthey’reupthere，letthemstaythere——whocares？Iftheywanttojumpdown，now，andgetintotrouble，whoobjects？Itwillbedarkinfifteenminutes——andthenletthemfollowusiftheywantto。I’mwilling。Inmyopinion，whoeverhovethosethingsinherecaughtasightofusandtookusforghostsordevilsorsomething。I’llbetthey’rerunningyet。\"
Joegrumbledawhile；thenheagreedwithhisfriendthatwhatdaylightwasleftoughttobeeconomizedingettingthingsreadyforleaving。
Shortlyafterwardtheyslippedoutofthehouseinthedeepeningtwilight，andmovedtowardtheriverwiththeirpreciousbox。
TomandHuckroseup，weakbutvastlyrelieved，andstaredafterthemthroughthechinksbetweenthelogsofthehouse。Follow？Notthey。
Theywerecontenttoreachgroundagainwithoutbrokennecks，andtakethetownwardtrackoverthehill。Theydidnottalkmuch。Theyweretoomuchabsorbedinhatingthemselves——hatingtheillluckthatmadethemtakethespadeandthepickthere。Butforthat，InjunJoeneverwouldhavesuspected。Hewouldhavehiddenthesilverwiththegoldtowaittheretillhis\"revenge\"wassatisfied，andthenhewouldhavehadthemisfortunetofindthatmoneyturnupmissing。Bitter，bitterluckthatthetoolswereeverbroughtthere！
TheyresolvedtokeepalookoutforthatSpaniardwhenheshouldcometotownspyingoutforchancestodohisrevengefuljob，andfollowhimto\"NumberTwo，\"whereverthatmightbe。ThenaghastlythoughtoccurredtoTom。
\"Revenge？Whatifhemeansus，Huck！\"
\"Oh，don’t！\"saidHuck，nearlyfainting。
Theytalkeditallover，andastheyenteredtowntheyagreedtobelievethathemightpossiblymeansomebodyelse——atleastthathemightatleastmeannobodybutTom，sinceonlyTomhadtestified。
Very，verysmallcomfortitwastoTomtobealoneindanger！
Companywouldbeapalpableimprovement，hethought。
TheAdventuresofTomSawyer：Chapter27CHAPTERXXVIITHEadventureofthedaymightilytormentedTom’sdreamsthatnight。Fourtimeshehadhishandsonthatrichtreasureandfourtimesitwastedtonothingnessinhisfingersassleepforsookhimandwakefulnessbroughtbackthehardrealityofhismisfortune。Ashelayintheearlymorningrecallingtheincidentsofhisgreatadventure，henoticedthattheyseemedcuriouslysubduedandfaraway——somewhatasiftheyhadhappenedinanotherworld，orinatimelonggoneby。Thenitoccurredtohimthatthegreatadventureitselfmustbeadream！Therewasoneverystrongargumentinfavorofthisidea——namely，thatthequantityofcoinhehadseenwastoovasttobereal。Hehadneverseenasmuchasfiftydollarsinonemassbefore，andhewaslikeallboysofhisageandstationinlife，inthatheimaginedthatallreferencesto\"hundreds\"and\"thousands\"weremerefancifulformsofspeech，andthatnosuchsumsreallyexistedintheworld。Heneverhadsupposedforamomentthatsolargeasumasahundreddollarswastobefoundinactualmoneyinanyone’spossession。
Ifhisnotionsofhiddentreasurehadbeenanalyzed，theywouldhavebeenfoundtoconsistofahandfulofrealdimesandabushelofvague，splendid，ungraspabledollars。
Buttheincidentsofhisadventuregrewsensiblysharperandclearerundertheattritionofthinkingthemover，andsohepresentlyfoundhimselfleaningtotheimpressionthatthethingmightnothavebeenadream，afterall。Thisuncertaintymustbesweptaway。HewouldsnatchahurriedbreakfastandgoandfindHuck。Huckwassittingonthegunwaleofaflatboat，listlesslydanglinghisfeetinthewaterandlookingverymelancholy。TomconcludedtoletHuckleaduptothesubject。Ifhedidnotdoit，thentheadventurewouldbeprovedtohavebeenonlyadream。
\"Hello，Huck！\"
\"Hello，yourself。\"
Silence，foraminute。
\"Tom，ifwe’d’a’lefttheblametoolsatthedeadtree，we’d’a’gotthemoney。Oh，ain’titawful！\"
\"’Tain’tadream，then，’tain’tadream！SomehowImostwishitwas。Dog’difIdon’t，Huck。\"
\"Whatain’tadream？\"
\"Oh，thatthingyesterday。Ibeenhalfthinkingitwas。\"
\"Dream！Ifthemstairshadn’tbrokedownyou’d’a’seenhowmuchdreamitwas！I’vehaddreamsenoughallnight——withthatpatch—eyedSpanishdevilgoingformeallthrough’em——rothim！\"
\"No，notrothim。FINDhim！Trackthemoney！\"
\"Tom，we’llneverfindhim。Afellerdon’thaveonlyonechanceforsuchapile——andthatone’slost。I’dfeelmightyshakyifIwastoseehim，anyway。\"
\"Well，so’dI；butI’dliketoseehim，anyway——andtrackhimout——tohisNumberTwo。\"
\"NumberTwo——yes，that’sit。Ibeenthinking’boutthat。ButIcan’tmakenothingoutofit。Whatdoyoureckonitis？\"
\"Idono。It’stoodeep。Say，Huck——maybeit’sthenumberofahouse！\"
\"Goody！……No，Tom，thatain’tit。Ifitis，itain’tinthisone—horsetown。Theyain’tnonumbershere。\"
\"Well，that’sso。Lemmethinkaminute。Here——it’sthenumberofaroom——inatavern，youknow！\"
\"Oh，that’sthetrick！Theyain’tonlytwotaverns。Wecanfindoutquick。\"
\"Youstayhere，Huck，tillIcome。\"
Tomwasoffatonce。HedidnotcaretohaveHuck’scompanyinpublicplaces。Hewasgonehalfanhour。Hefoundthatinthebesttavern，No。2hadlongbeenoccupiedbyayounglawyer，andwasstillsooccupied。
Inthelessostentatioushouse，No。2wasamystery。Thetavern—keeper’syoungsonsaiditwaskeptlockedallthetime，andheneversawanybodygointoitorcomeoutofitexceptatnight；hedidnotknowanyparticularreasonforthisstateofthings；hadhadsomelittlecuriosity，butitwasratherfeeble；hadmadethemostofthemysterybyentertaininghimselfwiththeideathatthatroomwas\"ha’nted\"；hadnoticedthattherewasalightintherethenightbefore。
\"That’swhatI’vefoundout，Huck。Ireckonthat’stheveryNo。
2we’reafter。\"
\"Ireckonitis，Tom。Nowwhatyougoingtodo？\"
\"Lemmethink。\"
Tomthoughtalongtime。Thenhesaid：
\"I’lltellyou。ThebackdoorofthatNo。2isthedoorthatcomesoutintothatlittleclosealleybetweenthetavernandtheoldrattletrapofabrickstore。Nowyougetholdofallthedoor—keysyoucanfind，andI’llnipallofauntie’s，andthefirstdarknightwe’llgothereandtry’em。Andmindyou，keepalookoutforInjunJoe，becausehesaidhewasgoingtodropintotownandspyaroundoncemoreforachancetogethisrevenge。Ifyouseehim，youjustfollowhim；andifhedon’tgotothatNo。2，thatain’ttheplace。\"
\"Lordy，Idon’twanttofollerhimbymyself！\"
\"Why，it’llbenight，sure。Hemightn’teverseeyou——andifhedid，maybehe’dneverthinkanything。\"
\"Well，ifit’sprettydarkIreckonI’lltrackhim。Idono——
Idono。I’lltry。\"
\"YoubetI’llfollowhim，ifit’sdark，Huck。Why，hemight’a’
foundouthecouldn’tgethisrevenge，andbegoingrightafterthatmoney。\"
\"It’sso，Tom，it’sso。I’llfollerhim；Iwill，byjingoes！\"
\"Nowyou’retalking！Don’tyoueverweaken，Huck，andI
won’t。\"
TheAdventuresofTomSawyer：Chapter28CHAPTERXXVIIITHATnightTomandHuckwerereadyfortheiradventure。Theyhungabouttheneighborhoodofthetavernuntilafternine，onewatchingthealleyatadistanceandtheotherthetaverndoor。Nobodyenteredthealleyorleftit；nobodyresemblingtheSpaniardenteredorleftthetaverndoor。
Thenightpromisedtobeafairone；soTomwenthomewiththeunderstandingthatifaconsiderabledegreeofdarknesscameon，Huckwastocomeand\"maow，\"whereuponhewouldslipoutandtrythekeys。Butthenightremainedclear，andHuckclosedhiswatchandretiredtobedinanemptysugarhogsheadabouttwelve。
Tuesdaytheboyshadthesameillluck。AlsoWednesday。ButThursdaynightpromisedbetter。Tomslippedoutingoodseasonwithhisaunt’soldtinlantern，andalargetoweltoblindfolditwith。HehidthelanterninHuck’ssugarhogsheadandthewatchbegan。Anhourbeforemidnightthetavernclosedupanditslights（theonlyonesthereabouts）wereputout。
NoSpaniardhadbeenseen。Nobodyhadenteredorleftthealley。Everythingwasauspicious。Theblacknessofdarknessreigned，theperfectstillnesswasinterruptedonlybyoccasionalmutteringsofdistantthunder。
Tomgothislantern，lititinthehogshead，wrappeditcloselyinthetowel，andthetwoadventurerscreptinthegloomtowardthetavern。
HuckstoodsentryandTomfelthiswayintothealley。ThentherewasaseasonofwaitinganxietythatweigheduponHuck’sspiritslikeamountain。
Hebegantowishhecouldseeaflashfromthelantern——itwouldfrightenhim，butitwouldatleasttellhimthatTomwasaliveyet。ItseemedhourssinceTomhaddisappeared。Surelyhemusthavefainted；maybehewasdead；
maybehishearthadburstunderterrorandexcitement。InhisuneasinessHuckfoundhimselfdrawingcloserandclosertothealley；fearingallsortsofdreadfulthings，andmomentarilyexpectingsomecatastrophetohappenthatwouldtakeawayhisbreath。Therewasnotmuchtotakeaway，forheseemedonlyabletoinhaleitbythimblefuls，andhisheartwouldsoonwearitselfout，thewayitwasbeating。SuddenlytherewasaflashoflightandTomcametearingbyhim：。\"Run！\"saidhe；\"run，foryourlife！\"
Heneedn’thaverepeatedit；oncewasenough；Huckwasmakingthirtyorfortymilesanhourbeforetherepetitionwasuttered。Theboysneverstoppedtilltheyreachedtheshedofadesertedslaughterhouseatthelowerendofthevillage。Justastheygotwithinitsshelterthestormburstandtherainpoureddown。AssoonasTomgothisbreathhesaid：
\"Huck，itwasawful！Itriedtwoofthekeys，justassoftasIcould；buttheyseemedtomakesuchapowerofracketthatIcouldn’thardlygetmybreathIwassoscared。Theywouldn’tturninthelock，either。
Well，withoutnoticingwhatIwasdoing，Itookholdoftheknob，andopencomesthedoor！Itwarn’tlocked！Ihoppedin，andshookoffthetowel，and，greatCaesar’sghost！\"
\"What！——what’dyousee，Tom？\"
\"Huck，ImoststeppedontoInjunJoe’shand！\"
\"No！\"
\"Yes！Hewaslyingthere，soundasleeponthefloor，withhisoldpatchonhiseyeandhisarmsspreadout。\"
\"Lordy，whatdidyoudo？Didhewakeup？\"
\"No，neverbudged。Drunk，Ireckon。Ijustgrabbedthattowelandstarted！\"
\"I’dnever’a’thoughtofthetowel，Ibet！\"
\"Well，Iwould。MyauntwouldmakememightysickifIlostit。\"
\"Say，Tom，didyouseethatbox？\"
\"Huck，Ididn’twaittolookaround。Ididn’tseethebox，Ididn’tseethecross。Ididn’tseeanythingbutabottleandatincuponthefloorbyInjunJoe；yes，Isawtwobarrelsandlotsmorebottlesintheroom。Don’tyousee，now，what’sthematterwiththatha’ntedroom？\"
\"How？\"
\"Why，it’sha’ntedwithwhiskey！MaybeALLtheTemperanceTavernshavegotaha’ntedroom，hey，Huck？\"
\"Well，Ireckonmaybethat’sso。Who’d’a’thoughtsuchathing？
Butsay，Tom，now’samightygoodtimetogetthatbox，ifInjunJoe’sdrunk。\"
\"Itis，that！Youtryit！\"
Huckshuddered。
\"Well，no——Ireckonnot。\"
\"AndIreckonnot，Huck。OnlyonebottlealongsideofInjunJoeain’tenough。Ifthere’dbeenthree，he’dbedrunkenoughandI’ddoit。\"
Therewasalongpauseforreflection，andthenTomsaid：
\"Lookyhere，Huck，lessnottrythatthinganymoretillweknowInjunJoe’snotinthere。It’stooscary。Now，ifwewatcheverynight，we’llbedeadsuretoseehimgoout，sometimeorother，andthenwe’llsnatchthatboxquicker’nlightning。\"
\"Well，I’magreed。I’llwatchthewholenightlong，andI’lldoiteverynight，too，ifyou’lldotheotherpartofthejob。\"
\"Allright，Iwill。AllyougottodoistotrotupHooperStreetablockandmaow——andifI’masleep，youthrowsomegravelatthewindowandthat’llfetchme。\"
\"Agreed，andgoodaswheat！\"
\"Now，Huck，thestorm’sover，andI’llgohome。It’llbegintobedaylightinacoupleofhours。Yougobackandwatchthatlong，willyou？\"
\"IsaidIwould，Tom，andIwill。I’llha’ntthattaverneverynightforayear！I’llsleepalldayandI’llstandwatchallnight。\"
\"That’sallright。Now，whereyougoingtosleep？\"
\"InBenRogers’hayloft。Heletsme，andsodoeshispap’sniggerman，UncleJake。ItotewaterforUncleJakewheneverhewantsmeto，andanytimeIaskhimhegivesmealittlesomethingtoeatifhecanspareit。That’samightygoodnigger，Tom。Helikesme，becuzIdon’teveractasifIwasabovehim。SometimeI’vesetrightdownandeatwithhim。Butyouneedn’ttellthat。Abody’sgottodothingswhenhe’sawfulhungryhewouldn’twanttodoasasteadything。\"
\"Well，ifIdon’twantyouinthedaytime，I’llletyousleep。
Iwon’tcomebotheringaround。Anytimeyouseesomething’sup，inthenight，justskiprightaroundandmaow。\"
TheAdventuresofTomSawyer：Chapter29CHAPTERXXIXTHEfirstthingTomheardonFridaymorningwasagladpieceofnews——
JudgeThatcher’sfamilyhadcomebacktotownthenightbefore。BothInjunJoeandthetreasuresunkintosecondaryimportanceforamoment，andBeckytookthechiefplaceintheboy’sinterest。Hesawherandtheyhadanexhaustinggoodtimeplaying\"hi—spy\"and\"gully—keeper\"withacrowdoftheirschoolmates。Thedaywascompletedandcrownedinapeculiarlysatisfactoryway：Beckyteasedhermothertoappointthenextdayforthelong—promisedandlong—delayedpicnic，andsheconsented。Thechild’sdelightwasboundless；
andTom’snotmoremoderate。Theinvitationsweresentoutbeforesunset，andstraightwaytheyoungfolksofthevillagewerethrownintoafeverofpreparationandpleasurableanticipation。Tom’sexcitementenabledhimtokeepawakeuntilaprettylatehour，andhehadgoodhopesofhearingHuck’s\"maow，\"andofhavinghistreasuretoastonishBeckyandthepicnickerswith，nextday；buthewasdisappointed。Nosignalcamethatnight。
Morningcame，eventually，andbytenoreleveno’clockagiddyandrollickingcompanyweregatheredatJudgeThatcher’s，andeverythingwasreadyforastart。Itwasnotthecustomforelderlypeopletomarthepicnicswiththeirpresence。Thechildrenwereconsideredsafeenoughunderthewingsofafewyoungladiesofeighteenandafewyounggentlemenoftwenty—threeorthereabouts。Theoldsteamferry—boatwascharteredfortheoccasion；presentlythegaythrongfiledupthemainstreetladenwithprovision—baskets。Sidwassickandhadtomissthefun；Maryremainedathometoentertainhim。ThelastthingMrs。ThatchersaidtoBecky，was：
\"You’llnotgetbacktilllate。Perhapsyou’dbetterstayallnightwithsomeofthegirlsthatliveneartheferry—landing，child。\"
\"ThenI’llstaywithSusyHarper，mamma。\"
\"Verywell。Andmindandbehaveyourselfanddon’tbeanytrouble。\"
Presently，astheytrippedalong，TomsaidtoBecky：
\"Say——I’lltellyouwhatwe’lldo。’SteadofgoingtoJoeHarper’swe’llclimbrightupthehillandstopattheWidowDouglas’。She’llhaveice—cream！Shehasitmosteveryday——deadloadsofit。Andshe’llbeawfulgladtohaveus。\"
\"Oh，thatwillbefun！\"
ThenBeckyreflectedamomentandsaid：
\"Butwhatwillmammasay？\"
\"How’llsheeverknow？\"
Thegirlturnedtheideaoverinhermind，andsaidreluctantly：
\"Ireckonit’swrong——but——\"
\"Butshucks！Yourmotherwon’tknow，andsowhat’stheharm？Allshewantsisthatyou’llbesafe；andIbetyoushe’d’a’saidgothereifshe’d’a’thoughtofit。Iknowshewould！\"
TheWidowDouglas’splendidhospitalitywasatemptingbait。ItandTom’spersuasionspresentlycarriedtheday。Soitwasdecidedtosaynothinganybodyaboutthenight’sprogramme。PresentlyitoccurredtoTomthatmaybeHuckmightcomethisverynightandgivethesignal。Thethoughttookadealofthespiritoutofhisanticipations。StillhecouldnotbeartogiveupthefunatWidowDouglas’。Andwhyshouldhegiveitup，hereasoned——thesignaldidnotcomethenightbefore，sowhyshoulditbeanymorelikelytocometo—night？Thesurefunoftheeveningoutweighedtheuncertaintreasure；and，boy—like，hedeterminedtoyieldtothestrongerinclinationandnotallowhimselftothinkoftheboxofmoneyanothertimethatday。
Threemilesbelowtowntheferryboatstoppedatthemouthofawoodyhollowandtiedup。Thecrowdswarmedashoreandsoontheforestdistancesandcraggyheightsechoedfarandnearwithshoutingsandlaughter。
Allthedifferentwaysofgettinghotandtiredweregonethroughwith，andby—and—bytheroversstraggledbacktocampfortifiedwithresponsibleappetites，andthenthedestructionofthegoodthingsbegan。Afterthefeasttherewasarefreshingseasonofrestandchatintheshadeofspreadingoaks。By—and—bysomebodyshouted：
\"Who’sreadyforthecave？\"
Everybodywas。Bundlesofcandleswereprocured，andstraightwaytherewasageneralscamperupthehill。Themouthofthecavewasupthehillside——anopeningshapedlikealetterA。Itsmassiveoakendoorstoodunbarred。Withinwasasmallchamber，chillyasanice—house，andwalledbyNaturewithsolidlimestonethatwasdewywithacoldsweat。Itwasromanticandmysterioustostandhereinthedeepgloomandlookoutuponthegreenvalleyshininginthesun。Buttheimpressivenessofthesituationquicklyworeoff，andtherompingbeganagain。Themomentacandlewaslightedtherewasageneralrushupontheownerofit；astruggleandagallantdefencefollowed，butthecandlewassoonknockeddownorblownout，andthentherewasagladclamoroflaughterandanewchase。Butallthingshaveanend。By—and—bytheprocessionwentfilingdownthesteepdescentofthemainavenue，theflickeringrankoflightsdimlyrevealingtheloftywallsofrockalmosttotheirpointofjunctionsixtyfeetoverhead。
Thismainavenuewasnotmorethaneightortenfeetwide。Everyfewstepsotherloftyandstillnarrowercrevicesbranchedfromitoneitherhand——forMcDougal’scavewasbutavastlabyrinthofcrookedaislesthatranintoeachotherandoutagainandlednowhere。Itwassaidthatonemightwanderdaysandnightstogetherthroughitsintricatetangleofriftsandchasms，andneverfindtheendofthecave；andthathemightgodown，anddown，andstilldown，intotheearth，anditwasjustthesame——labyrinthunderlabyrinth，andnoendtoanyofthem。Noman\"knew\"thecave。Thatwasanimpossiblething。Mostoftheyoungmenknewaportionofit，anditwasnotcustomarytoventuremuchbeyondthisknownportion。TomSawyerknewasmuchofthecaveasanyone。
Theprocessionmovedalongthemainavenuesomethree—quartersofamile，andthengroupsandcouplesbegantoslipasideintobranchavenues，flyalongthedismalcorridors，andtakeeachotherbysurpriseatpointswherethecorridorsjoinedagain。Partieswereabletoeludeeachotherforthespaceofhalfanhourwithoutgoingbeyondthe\"known\"
ground。
By—and—by，onegroupafteranothercamestragglingbacktothemouthofthecave，panting，hilarious，smearedfromheadtofootwithtallowdrippings，daubedwithclay，andentirelydelightedwiththesuccessoftheday。Thentheywereastonishedtofindthattheyhadbeentakingnonoteoftimeandthatnightwasaboutathand。Theclangingbellhadbeencallingforhalfanhour。However，thissortofclosetotheday’sadventureswasromanticandthereforesatisfactory。Whentheferryboatwithherwildfreightpushedintothestream，nobodycaredsixpenceforthewastedtimebutthecaptainofthecraft。
Huckwasalreadyuponhiswatchwhentheferry—boat’slightswentglintingpastthewharf。Heheardnonoiseonboard，fortheyoungpeoplewereassubduedandstillaspeopleusuallyarewhoarenearlytiredtodeath。Hewonderedwhatboatitwas，andwhyshedidnotstopatthewharf——andthenhedroppedheroutofhismindandputhisattentionuponhisbusiness。Thenightwasgrowingcloudyanddark。Teno’clockcame，andthenoiseofvehiclesceased，scatteredlightsbegantowinkout，allstragglingfoot—passengersdisappeared，thevillagebetookitselftoitsslumbersandleftthesmallwatcheralonewiththesilenceandtheghosts。Eleveno’clockcame，andthetavernlightswereputout；darknesseverywhere，now。Huckwaitedwhatseemedawearylongtime，butnothinghappened。Hisfaithwasweakening。Wasthereanyuse？Wastherereallyanyuse？Whynotgiveitupandturnin？
Anoisefelluponhisear。Hewasallattentioninaninstant。
Thealleydoorclosedsoftly。Hesprangtothecornerofthebrickstore。
Thenextmomenttwomenbrushedbyhim，andoneseemedtohavesomethingunderhisarm。Itmustbethatbox！Sotheyweregoingtoremovethetreasure。
WhycallTomnow？Itwouldbeabsurd——themenwouldgetawaywiththeboxandneverbefoundagain。No，hewouldsticktotheirwakeandfollowthem；hewouldtrusttothedarknessforsecurityfromdiscovery。Socommuningwithhimself，Hucksteppedoutandglidedalongbehindthemen，cat—like，withbarefeet，allowingthemtokeepjustfarenoughaheadnottobeinvisible。
Theymoveduptheriverstreetthreeblocks，thenturnedtotheleftupacross—street。Theywentstraightahead，then，untiltheycametothepaththatledupCardiffHill；thistheytook。TheypassedbytheoldWelshman’shouse，half—wayupthehill，withouthesitating，andstillclimbedupward。Good，thoughtHuck，theywillburyitintheoldquarry。
Buttheyneverstoppedatthequarry。Theypassedon，upthesummit。Theyplungedintothenarrowpathbetweenthetallsumachbushes，andwereatoncehiddeninthegloom。Huckclosedupandshortenedhisdistance，now，fortheywouldneverbeabletoseehim。Hetrottedalongawhile；thenslackenedhispace，fearinghewasgainingtoofast；movedonapiece，thenstoppedaltogether；listened；nosound；none，savethatheseemedtohearthebeatingofhisownheart。Thehootingofanowlcameoverthehill——ominoussound！Butnofootsteps。Heavens，waseverythinglost！
Hewasabouttospringwithwingedfeet，whenamanclearedhisthroatnotfourfeetfromhim！Huck’sheartshotintohisthroat，butheswalloweditagain；andthenhestoodthereshakingasifadozenagueshadtakenchargeofhimatonce，andsoweakthathethoughthemustsurelyfalltotheground。Heknewwherehewas。HeknewhewaswithinfivestepsofthestileleadingintoWidowDouglas’grounds。Verywell，hethought，letthemburyitthere；itwon’tbehardtofind。
Nowtherewasavoice——averylowvoice——InjunJoe’s：
\"Damnher，maybeshe’sgotcompany——there’slights，lateasitis。\"
\"Ican’tseeany。\"
Thiswasthatstranger’svoice——thestrangerofthehauntedhouse。AdeadlychillwenttoHuck’sheart——this，then，wasthe\"revenge\"
job！Histhoughtwas，tofly。ThenherememberedthattheWidowDouglashadbeenkindtohimmorethanonce，andmaybethesemenweregoingtomurderher。Hewishedhedaredventuretowarnher；butheknewhedidn’tdare——theymightcomeandcatchhim。Hethoughtallthisandmoreinthemomentthatelapsedbetweenthestranger’sremarkandInjunJoe’snext——whichwas——
\"Becausethebushisinyourway。Now——thisway——nowyousee，don’tyou？\"
\"Yes。Well，thereIScompanythere，Ireckon。Bettergiveitup。\"
\"Giveitup，andIjustleavingthiscountryforever！Giveitupandmaybeneverhaveanotherchance。Itellyouagain，asI’vetoldyoubefore，Idon’tcareforherswag——youmayhaveit。Butherhusbandwasroughonme——manytimeshewasroughonme——andmainlyhewasthejusticeofthepeacethatjuggedmeforavagrant。Andthatain’tall。
Itain’tamillionthpartofit！Hehadmehorsewhipped！——horsewhippedinfrontofthejail，likeanigger！——withallthetownlookingon！horsewhipped！——doyouunderstand？Hetookadvantageofmeanddied。ButI’lltakeitoutofher。\"
\"Oh，don’tkillher！Don’tdothat！\"
\"Kill？Whosaidanythingaboutkilling？Iwouldkillhimifhewashere；butnother。Whenyouwanttogetrevengeonawomanyoudon’tkillher——bosh！yougoforherlooks。Youslithernostrils——
younotchherearslikeasow！\"
\"ByGod，that’s——\"
\"Keepyouropiniontoyourself！Itwillbesafestforyou。I’lltiehertothebed。Ifshebleedstodeath，isthatmyfault？I’llnotcry，ifshedoes。Myfriend，you’llhelpmeinthisthing——formysake——that’swhyyou’rehere——Imightn’tbeablealone。Ifyouflinch，I’llkillyou。Doyouunderstandthat？AndifIhavetokillyou，I’llkillher——andthenIreckonnobody’lleverknowmuchaboutwhodonethisbusiness。\"
\"Well，ifit’sgottobedone，let’sgetatit。Thequickerthebetter——I’mallinashiver。\"
\"Doitnow？Andcompanythere？Lookhere——I’llgetsuspiciousofyou，firstthingyouknow。No——we’llwaittillthelightsareout——there’snohurry。\"
Huckfeltthatasilencewasgoingtoensue——athingstillmoreawfulthananyamountofmurderoustalk；soheheldhisbreathandsteppedgingerlyback；plantedhisfootcarefullyandfirmly，afterbalancing，one—legged，inaprecariouswayandalmosttopplingover，firstononesideandthenontheother。Hetookanotherstepback，withthesameelaborationandthesamerisks；thenanotherandanother，and——atwigsnappedunderhisfoot！Hisbreathstoppedandhelistened。Therewasnosound——thestillnesswasperfect。Hisgratitudewasmeasureless。Nowheturnedinhistracks，betweenthewallsofsumachbushes——turnedhimselfascarefullyasifhewereaship——andthensteppedquicklybutcautiouslyalong。
Whenheemergedatthequarryhefeltsecure，andsohepickeduphisnimbleheelsandflew。Down，downhesped，tillhereachedtheWelshman’s。Hebangedatthedoor，andpresentlytheheadsoftheoldmanandhistwostalwartsonswerethrustfromwindows。