Chapter 26

12 min

About noon the next day the boys arrived at the dead tree; they had come for their tools. Tom was impatient to go to the haunted house; Huck was measurably so, also—but suddenly said:

Around noon the next day, the boys arrived at the dead tree. They had come to get their tools. Tom was eager to go to the haunted house. Huck was somewhat eager too, but suddenly said:

“Lookyhere, Tom, do you know what day it is?”

“Look here, Tom, do you know what day it is?”

Tom mentally ran over the days of the week, and then quickly lifted his eyes with a startled look in them—

Tom went through the days of the week in his head. Then he quickly looked up, his eyes startled.

“My! I never once thought of it, Huck!”

“Wow! I never even thought of it, Huck!”

“Well, I didn’t neither, but all at once it popped onto me that it was Friday.”

“Well, I didn’t neither. But all at once I realized it was Friday.”

“Blame it, a body can’t be too careful, Huck. We might ’a’ got into an awful scrape, tackling such a thing on a Friday.”

“Blame it, a body can’t be too careful, Huck. We might have got into an awful scrape, taking on something like that on a Friday.”

“Might! Better say we would! There’s some lucky days, maybe, but Friday ain’t.”

“Any fool knows that. I don’t reckon you was the first that found it out, Huck.”

“Well, I never said I was, did I? And Friday ain’t all, neither. I had a rotten bad dream last night—dreampt about rats.”

“Well, I never said I was, did I? And Friday ain’t all, neither. I had a rotten bad dream last night. Dreamed about rats.”

“No! Sure sign of trouble. Did they fight?”

“No! A sure sign of trouble. Did they fight?”

“No.”

“Well, that’s good, Huck. When they don’t fight it’s only a sign that there’s trouble around, you know. All we got to do is to look mighty sharp and keep out of it. We’ll drop this thing for today, and play. Do you know Robin Hood, Huck?”

“Well, that’s good, Huck. When they don’t fight, it’s only a sign that there’s trouble around, you know. All we got to do is to watch real closely and stay out of trouble. We’ll leave this thing alone for today and play. Do you know Robin Hood, Huck?”

“No. Who’s Robin Hood?”

“Why, he was one of the greatest men that was ever in England—and the best. He was a robber.”

“Why, he was one of the greatest men that was ever in England, and the best. He was a robber.”

“Cracky, I wisht I was. Who did he rob?”

“Gee, I wish I was. Who did he rob?”

“Only sheriffs and bishops and rich people and kings, and such like. But he never bothered the poor. He loved ’em. He always divided up with ’em perfectly square.”

“Only sheriffs and bishops and rich people and kings, and people like that. But he never bothered the poor. He loved them. He always shared with them completely fairly.”

“Well, he must ’a’ been a brick.”

“Well, he must have been a great guy.”

“I bet you he was, Huck. Oh, he was the noblest man that ever was. They ain’t any such men now, I can tell you. He could lick any man in England, with one hand tied behind him; and he could take his yew bow and plug a ten-cent piece every time, a mile and a half.”

“I bet you he was, Huck. Oh, he was the noblest man that ever lived. They ain’t any such men now, I can tell you. He could lick any man in England with one hand tied behind his back. And he could take his yew bow and hit a dime every time from a mile and a half away.”

“What’s a yew bow?”

“I don’t know. It’s some kind of a bow, of course. And if he hit that dime only on the edge he would set down and cry—and curse. But we’ll play Robin Hood—it’s nobby fun. I’ll learn you.”

“I don’t know. It’s some kind of bow, of course. And if he hit only the edge of that dime, he would set down and cry and curse. But we’ll play Robin Hood. It’s great fun. I’ll learn you.”

“I’m agreed.”

“I agree.”

So they played Robin Hood all the afternoon, now and then casting a yearning eye down upon the haunted house and passing a remark about the morrow’s prospects and possibilities there. As the sun began to sink into the west they took their way homeward athwart the long shadows of the trees and soon were buried from sight in the forests of Cardiff Hill.

So they played Robin Hood all afternoon, now and then looking longingly down at the haunted house. They talked about what tomorrow might bring there and what they might find. As the sun began to set in the west, they headed home across the long shadows of the trees. Soon they disappeared into the woods of Cardiff Hill.

On Saturday, shortly after noon, the boys were at the dead tree again. They had a smoke and a chat in the shade, and then dug a little in their last hole, not with great hope, but merely because Tom said there were so many cases where people had given up a treasure after getting down within six inches of it, and then somebody else had come along and turned it up with a single thrust of a shovel. The thing failed this time, however, so the boys shouldered their tools and went away feeling that they had not trifled with fortune, but had fulfilled all the requirements that belong to the business of treasure-hunting.

On Saturday, shortly after noon, the boys were back at the dead tree. They smoked and chatted in the shade, then dug a little more in their last hole. They had little hope, but Tom said people had often given up digging just six inches from treasure. Then somebody else had come along and uncovered it with a single thrust of a shovel. This time, though, they found nothing. So the boys put their tools over their shoulders and left, feeling they had given luck every chance. They had done everything the business of treasure hunting required.

When they reached the haunted house there was something so weird and grisly about the dead silence that reigned there under the baking sun, and something so depressing about the loneliness and desolation of the place, that they were afraid, for a moment, to venture in. Then they crept to the door and took a trembling peep. They saw a weedgrown, floorless room, unplastered, an ancient fireplace, vacant windows, a ruinous staircase; and here, there, and everywhere hung ragged and abandoned cobwebs. They presently entered, softly, with quickened pulses, talking in whispers, ears alert to catch the slightest sound, and muscles tense and ready for instant retreat.

When they reached the haunted house, the deathly silence under the blazing sun felt eerie and frightening. The place was so lonely and deserted that it filled them with gloom. For a moment, all this made them afraid to go inside. Then they crept to the door and peeked in, trembling. They saw a room overgrown with weeds, with no floor or plaster on the walls. There was an old fireplace, empty windows, and a crumbling staircase. Tattered, abandoned cobwebs hung here, there, and everywhere. Soon they stepped quietly inside, their hearts beating faster. They spoke in whispers, listening for the slightest sound, their muscles tense and ready to flee at any moment.

In a little while familiarity modified their fears and they gave the place a critical and interested examination, rather admiring their own boldness, and wondering at it, too. Next they wanted to look upstairs. This was something like cutting off retreat, but they got to daring each other, and of course there could be but one result—they threw their tools into a corner and made the ascent. Up there were the same signs of decay. In one corner they found a closet that promised mystery, but the promise was a fraud—there was nothing in it. Their courage was up now and well in hand. They were about to go down and begin work when—

Before long, the place grew familiar and their fears eased. They examined it closely and with interest, admiring their own boldness and feeling surprised by it, too. Next they wanted to look upstairs. Going upstairs was a little like cutting off their escape, but they began daring each other. Of course, there could be only one result. They tossed their tools into a corner and climbed the stairs. Upstairs, they found the same signs of decay. In one corner, they found a closet that promised mystery, but the promise was a trick. There was nothing inside. Their courage was strong now, and they had it well under control. They were about to go downstairs and start work when...

“Sh!” said Tom.

“Shh!” said Tom.

“What is it?” whispered Huck, blanching with fright.

“What is it?” Huck whispered, turning pale with fear.

“Sh!... There!... Hear it?”

“Shh!... There!... Hear it?”

“Yes!... Oh, my! Let’s run!”

“Keep still! Don’t you budge! They’re coming right toward the door.”

“Stay still! Don’t move! They’re coming right toward the door.”

The boys stretched themselves upon the floor with their eyes to knotholes in the planking, and lay waiting, in a misery of fear.

The boys stretched out on the floor with their eyes to knotholes in the floorboards. They lay waiting, miserable with fear.

“They’ve stopped.... No—coming.... Here they are. Don’t whisper another word, Huck. My goodness, I wish I was out of this!”

“They’ve stopped... No, they’re coming... Here they are. Don’t whisper another word, Huck. My goodness, I wish I was out of this!”

Two men entered. Each boy said to himself: “There’s the old deaf and dumb Spaniard that’s been about town once or twice lately—never saw t’other man before.”

Two men entered. Each boy thought to himself: “There’s the old Spaniard who’s deaf and can’t speak. He’s been around town once or twice lately. Never saw the other man before.”

“T’other” was a ragged, unkempt creature, with nothing very pleasant in his face. The Spaniard was wrapped in a serape; he had bushy white whiskers; long white hair flowed from under his sombrero, and he wore green goggles. When they came in, “t’other” was talking in a low voice; they sat down on the ground, facing the door, with their backs to the wall, and the speaker continued his remarks. His manner became less guarded and his words more distinct as he proceeded:

“The other” was a ragged, unkempt man with little that was pleasant about his face. The Spaniard was wrapped in a serape and had bushy white whiskers. Long white hair flowed from under his sombrero, and he wore green goggles. When they came in, “the other” was speaking in a low voice. They sat down on the ground, facing the door, with their backs to the wall. The speaker went on talking. As he continued, he became less guarded, and his words grew clearer:

“No,” said he, “I’ve thought it all over, and I don’t like it. It’s dangerous.”

“No,” he said, “I’ve thought it all over, and I don’t like it. It’s dangerous.”

“Dangerous!” grunted the “deaf and dumb” Spaniard—to the vast surprise of the boys. “Milksop!”

“Dangerous!” grunted the “deaf and mute” Spaniard. The boys were astonished. “Milksop!”

This voice made the boys gasp and quake. It was Injun Joe’s! There was silence for some time. Then Joe said:

The voice made the boys gasp and tremble. It was Injun Joe’s! There was silence for a while. Then Joe said:

“What’s any more dangerous than that job up yonder—but nothing’s come of it.”

“What’s more dangerous than that job up there? But nothing’s come of it.”

“That’s different. Away up the river so, and not another house about. ’Twon’t ever be known that we tried, anyway, long as we didn’t succeed.”

“That’s different. Way up the river like that, and not another house around. Nobody will ever know we tried, anyway, as long as we didn’t succeed.”

“Well, what’s more dangerous than coming here in the daytime!—anybody would suspicion us that saw us.”

“Well, what’s more dangerous than coming here in the daytime! Anybody that saw us would suspicion us.”

“I know that. But there warn’t any other place as handy after that fool of a job. I want to quit this shanty. I wanted to yesterday, only it warn’t any use trying to stir out of here, with those infernal boys playing over there on the hill right in full view.”

“I know that. But there weren't any other place as handy after that fool of a job. I want to leave this shack. I wanted to yesterday. Only it weren't any use trying to leave, with those infernal boys playing over there on the hill in full view.”

“Those infernal boys” quaked again under the inspiration of this remark, and thought how lucky it was that they had remembered it was Friday and concluded to wait a day. They wished in their hearts they had waited a year.

“Those infernal boys” trembled again at this remark. They thought how lucky they were to have remembered it was Friday and decided to wait a day. Deep down, they wished they had waited a year.

The two men got out some food and made a luncheon. After a long and thoughtful silence, Injun Joe said:

The two men took out some food and had lunch. After a long, thoughtful silence, Injun Joe said:

“Look here, lad—you go back up the river where you belong. Wait there till you hear from me. I’ll take the chances on dropping into this town just once more, for a look. We’ll do that ‘dangerous’ job after I’ve spied around a little and think things look well for it. Then for Texas! We’ll leg it together!”

“Look here, lad. You go back upriver where you belong. Wait there until you hear from me. I’ll risk coming into this town just once more to look around. We’ll do that ‘dangerous’ job after I’ve checked things out a little and think it looks safe. Then we’re off to Texas! We’ll make a run for it together!”

This was satisfactory. Both men presently fell to yawning, and Injun Joe said:

This was good enough. Soon both men began yawning, and Injun Joe said:

“I’m dead for sleep! It’s your turn to watch.”

“I’m desperate for sleep! It’s your turn to keep watch.”

He curled down in the weeds and soon began to snore. His comrade stirred him once or twice and he became quiet. Presently the watcher began to nod; his head drooped lower and lower, both men began to snore now.

He curled up in the weeds and soon began to snore. His companion nudged him once or twice, and he grew quiet. Soon the man keeping watch began to nod off. His head drooped lower and lower. Now both men were snoring.

The boys drew a long, grateful breath. Tom whispered:

The boys took a long breath of relief. Tom whispered:

“Now’s our chance—come!”

“Now’s our chance. Come on!”

Huck said:

“I can’t—I’d die if they was to wake.”

“I can’t. I’d die if they was to wake.”

Tom urged—Huck held back. At last Tom rose slowly and softly, and started alone. But the first step he made wrung such a hideous creak from the crazy floor that he sank down almost dead with fright. He never made a second attempt. The boys lay there counting the dragging moments till it seemed to them that time must be done and eternity growing gray; and then they were grateful to note that at last the sun was setting.

Tom urged him on, but Huck held back. At last Tom got up slowly and quietly and started off alone. But his first step made the rickety floor creak so horribly that he sank back down, nearly dead with fright. He never tried again. The boys lay there counting the slow moments. It seemed to them that time must have ended and eternity itself was growing old. Then, to their relief, they noticed that the sun was finally setting.

Now one snore ceased. Injun Joe sat up, stared around—smiled grimly upon his comrade, whose head was drooping upon his knees—stirred him up with his foot and said:

Now one man's snoring stopped. Injun Joe sat up and looked around. He smiled grimly at his companion, whose head was drooping onto his knees. He nudged his companion with his foot and said:

“Here! You’re a watchman, ain’t you! All right, though—nothing’s happened.”

“Hey! You’re a watchman, ain’t you! All right, though. Nothing’s happened.”

“My! have I been asleep?”

“Wow! Have I been asleep?”

“Oh, partly, partly. Nearly time for us to be moving, pard. What’ll we do with what little swag we’ve got left?”

“Oh, partly, partly. Nearly time for us to get moving, partner. What’ll we do with what little loot we’ve got left?”

“I don’t know—leave it here as we’ve always done, I reckon. No use to take it away till we start south. Six hundred and fifty in silver’s something to carry.”

“I don’t know. Leave it here like we always have, I reckon. No use taking it away until we head south. Six hundred and fifty dollars in silver is a lot to carry.”

“Well—all right—it won’t matter to come here once more.”

“Well, all right. It won’t hurt to come here one more time.”

“No—but I’d say come in the night as we used to do—it’s better.”

“No, but I’d say come at night like we used to. Coming at night is better.”

“Yes: but look here; it may be a good while before I get the right chance at that job; accidents might happen; ’tain’t in such a very good place; we’ll just regularly bury it—and bury it deep.”

“Yes, but look here. It may be a long while before I get the right chance at that job. Accidents might happen. It ain't in such a very good place. We'll just bury it properly, and bury it deep.”

“Good idea,” said the comrade, who walked across the room, knelt down, raised one of the rearward hearth-stones and took out a bag that jingled pleasantly. He subtracted from it twenty or thirty dollars for himself and as much for Injun Joe, and passed the bag to the latter, who was on his knees in the corner, now, digging with his bowie-knife.

“Good idea,” said his companion. He walked across the room, knelt down, and lifted one of the stones at the back of the hearth. He took out a bag that jingled pleasantly. He took twenty or thirty dollars from it for himself and the same amount for Injun Joe. Then he passed the bag to Injun Joe, who was now kneeling in the corner, digging with his bowie knife.

The boys forgot all their fears, all their miseries in an instant. With gloating eyes they watched every movement. Luck!—the splendor of it was beyond all imagination! Six hundred dollars was money enough to make half a dozen boys rich! Here was treasure-hunting under the happiest auspices—there would not be any bothersome uncertainty as to where to dig. They nudged each other every moment—eloquent nudges and easily understood, for they simply meant—“Oh, but ain’t you glad now we’re here!”

The boys forgot all their fears and all their troubles in an instant. Their eyes gleamed with delight as they watched every movement. What luck! It was more wonderful than they could possibly imagine! Six hundred dollars was enough money to make six boys rich! They could not have hoped for better treasure-hunting. There would be no annoying uncertainty about where to dig. They kept nudging each other. Those nudges said it all, and their meaning was clear: “Oh, but ain’t you glad now we’re here!”

Joe’s knife struck upon something.

Joe’s knife hit something.

“Hello!” said he.

“Hello!” he said.

“What is it?” said his comrade.

“What is it?” his friend asked.

“Half-rotten plank—no, it’s a box, I believe. Here—bear a hand and we’ll see what it’s here for. Never mind, I’ve broke a hole.”

“Half-rotten plank. No, I think it’s a box. Here, give me a hand and we’ll see what it’s here for. Never mind, I’ve broke a hole.”

He reached his hand in and drew it out—

He reached in with his hand and pulled it out.

“Man, it’s money!”

The two men examined the handful of coins. They were gold. The boys above were as excited as themselves, and as delighted.

The two men looked closely at the handful of coins. The coins were gold. The boys above were just as excited and delighted as the men.

Joe’s comrade said:

Joe’s friend said:

“We’ll make quick work of this. There’s an old rusty pick over amongst the weeds in the corner the other side of the fireplace—I saw it a minute ago.”

“We’ll make quick work of this. There’s an old rusty pick among the weeds in the corner on the other side of the fireplace. I saw it a minute ago.”

He ran and brought the boys’ pick and shovel. Injun Joe took the pick, looked it over critically, shook his head, muttered something to himself, and then began to use it. The box was soon unearthed. It was not very large; it was iron bound and had been very strong before the slow years had injured it. The men contemplated the treasure awhile in blissful silence.

He ran and fetched the boys’ pick and shovel. Injun Joe took the pick and examined it closely. He shook his head, muttered something to himself, and then began to use it. The box was soon dug out. It was not very large and had iron bands around it. It had once been very strong, but the passing years had weakened it. The men gazed at the treasure for a while in blissful silence.

“Pard, there’s thousands of dollars here,” said Injun Joe.

“Partner, there’s thousands of dollars here,” said Injun Joe.

“’Twas always said that Murrel’s gang used to be around here one summer,” the stranger observed.

“People always said Murrel’s gang used to be around here one summer,” the stranger said.

“I know it,” said Injun Joe; “and this looks like it, I should say.”

“I know it,” said Injun Joe. “And I’d say this looks like it.”

“Now you won’t need to do that job.”

The halfbreed frowned. Said he:

The mixed-race man frowned. He said:

“You don’t know me. Least you don’t know all about that thing. ’Tain’t robbery altogether—it’s revenge!” and a wicked light flamed in his eyes. “I’ll need your help in it. When it’s finished—then Texas. Go home to your Nance and your kids, and stand by till you hear from me.”

“You don’t know me. Least you don’t know all about that thing. It ain’t just robbery. It’s revenge!” A wicked light flared in his eyes. “I’ll need your help with it. When it’s finished, then Texas. Go home to your Nance and your kids, and wait till you hear from me.”

“Well—if you say so; what’ll we do with this—bury it again?”

“Well, if you say so. What do we do with this? Bury it again?”

“Yes. [Ravishing delight overhead.] No! by the great Sachem, no! [Profound distress overhead.] I’d nearly forgot. That pick had fresh earth on it! [The boys were sick with terror in a moment.] What business has a pick and a shovel here? What business with fresh earth on them? Who brought them here—and where are they gone? Have you heard anybody?—seen anybody? What! bury it again and leave them to come and see the ground disturbed? Not exactly—not exactly. We’ll take it to my den.”

“Yes. [Rapturous delight overhead.] No! By the great Sachem, no! [Deep distress overhead.] I’d nearly forgot. That pick had fresh earth on it! [In a moment the boys were sick with terror.] What business has a pick and a shovel here? What business with fresh earth on them? Who brought them here, and where have they gone? Have you heard anybody? Seen anybody? What! Bury it again and leave them to come and see the ground disturbed? Not exactly. Not exactly. We’ll take it to my den.”

“Why, of course! Might have thought of that before. You mean Number One?”

“Oh, of course! Might have thought of that earlier. You mean Number One?”

“No—Number Two—under the cross. The other place is bad—too common.”

“No, Number Two, under the cross. The other place is no good. It’s too common.”

“All right. It’s nearly dark enough to start.”

“All right. It’s almost dark enough to start.”

Injun Joe got up and went about from window to window cautiously peeping out. Presently he said:

Injun Joe got up and moved from window to window, cautiously peeking out. Soon he said:

“Who could have brought those tools here? Do you reckon they can be upstairs?”

“Who could have brought those tools here? Do you think they could be upstairs?”

The boys’ breath forsook them. Injun Joe put his hand on his knife, halted a moment, undecided, and then turned toward the stairway. The boys thought of the closet, but their strength was gone. The steps came creaking up the stairs—the intolerable distress of the situation woke the stricken resolution of the lads—they were about to spring for the closet, when there was a crash of rotten timbers and Injun Joe landed on the ground amid the debris of the ruined stairway. He gathered himself up cursing, and his comrade said:

The boys couldn’t breathe. Injun Joe put his hand on his knife and paused, unsure what to do. Then he turned toward the stairs. The boys thought of hiding in the closet, but they had no strength left. His footsteps creaked up the stairs. The unbearable terror finally gave the boys the will to act. They were about to leap toward the closet when the rotten stairway collapsed with a crash. Injun Joe landed on the ground among the broken timbers. He picked himself up, cursing, and his companion said:

“Now what’s the use of all that? If it’s anybody, and they’re up there, let them stay there—who cares? If they want to jump down, now, and get into trouble, who objects? It will be dark in fifteen minutes—and then let them follow us if they want to. I’m willing. In my opinion, whoever hove those things in here caught a sight of us and took us for ghosts or devils or something. I’ll bet they’re running yet.”

“Now what’s the point of all that? If anybody’s up there, let them stay there. Who cares? If they want to jump down and get into trouble, who objects? It will be dark in fifteen minutes. Then let them follow us if they want to. I’m willing. I think whoever threw those things in here saw us and took us for ghosts or devils or something. I’ll bet they’re still running.”

Joe grumbled awhile; then he agreed with his friend that what daylight was left ought to be economized in getting things ready for leaving. Shortly afterward they slipped out of the house in the deepening twilight, and moved toward the river with their precious box.

Joe grumbled for a while. Then he agreed with his friend that they should use the remaining daylight to get ready to leave. Shortly afterward, they slipped out of the house as the twilight deepened and headed toward the river with their precious box.

Tom and Huck rose up, weak but vastly relieved, and stared after them through the chinks between the logs of the house. Follow? Not they. They were content to reach ground again without broken necks, and take the townward track over the hill. They did not talk much. They were too much absorbed in hating themselves—hating the ill luck that made them take the spade and the pick there. But for that, Injun Joe never would have suspected. He would have hidden the silver with the gold to wait there till his “revenge” was satisfied, and then he would have had the misfortune to find that money turn up missing. Bitter, bitter luck that the tools were ever brought there!

Tom and Huck got up, weak but hugely relieved, and watched them leave through the gaps between the house’s logs. Follow them? Not a chance. They were happy just to reach the ground again without breaking their necks and take the path over the hill toward town. They did not talk much. They were too busy hating themselves and the bad luck that had led them to bring the shovel and pick there. If they hadn’t brought the tools, Injun Joe never would have suspected anything. He would have hidden the silver with the gold and left the money there until he had his “revenge”. Then he would have had the bad luck to discover that the money had gone missing. What bitter, bitter luck that they had ever brought the tools there!

They resolved to keep a lookout for that Spaniard when he should come to town spying out for chances to do his revengeful job, and follow him to “Number Two,” wherever that might be. Then a ghastly thought occurred to Tom.

They decided to watch for that Spaniard when he came to town looking for a chance to take his revenge. They would follow him to “Number Two,” wherever that might be. Then a horrifying thought struck Tom.

“Revenge? What if he means us, Huck!”

“Oh, don’t!” said Huck, nearly fainting.

“Oh, don’t!” said Huck, almost fainting.

They talked it all over, and as they entered town they agreed to believe that he might possibly mean somebody else—at least that he might at least mean nobody but Tom, since only Tom had testified.

They talked it all over. As they entered town, they agreed to believe he might possibly mean somebody else. Or at least he might mean only Tom, since Tom was the only one who had testified.

Very, very small comfort it was to Tom to be alone in danger! Company would be a palpable improvement, he thought.

Being alone in danger gave Tom very, very little comfort! Having someone with him would be much better, he thought.