The Adventures of Tom Sawyer : Chapter 26

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Episode Transcript

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Chapter twenty six, real robbers seizedthe box of gold. About noon.
The next day, the boys arrivedat the dead Tree. They had come
for their tools. Tom was impatientto go to the haunted house. Huck
was measurably so also, but suddenlysaid, look here, Tom, do
you know what day it is?Tom mentally ran over the days of the

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week, and then quickly lifted hiseyes with a startled look in them.
My. I never once thought ofit, huck Well. I didn't either,
but all at once it popped onto me that it was Friday.
Blame me. A body can't betoo careful, Huck. We might a
got into an awful scrape tackling sucha thing on a Friday. Might better,

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say, we would. There's somelucky days maybe, But Friday ain't
any fool knows that I don't reckonYou was the first that found it out,
huck Well. I never said itwas, did I? And Friday
ain't all neither. I had arotten bad dream last night, dreamt about
rats. No sure sign of trouble. Did they fight? No? Well

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that's good, Huck. When theydon'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, No, who's Robin Hood?
Why? He was one of thegreatest men that was ever in England
and the best. He was arobber, cracky, I wished I was.

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Who did he rob? Only sheriffsand bishops and rich people and kings
and such like. But he neverbothered the poor. He loved him.
He always divided up with him perfectlysquare. Well, he must have been
a brick, I bet you hewas, huck. Oh, he was
the noblest man that ever was.There ain't any such men now, I

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can tell you. He could lickany man in England with one hand tied
behind him. And he could takehis U bow and plug a ten cent
piece every time a mile and ahalf a U bow I don't know.
It's some kind of a bow,of course, And if he hit that
dime only on the edge, hewould sit down and cry and curse.

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But we'll play Robin Hood and it'snot be fun. I'll learn you.
I'm agreed. So they played RobinHood all 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 thesun began to sink into the west,
they took their way homeward athwart thelong shadows of the trees, and soon

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were buried from sight in the forestsof Cardiff Hill. On Saturday, shortly
afternoon, the boys were at thedead 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 upa treasure after getting down within six inches

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of it, and then somebody elsehad come along and turned it up with
a single thrust of a shovel.The thing failed this time, however,
so the boys shoulder their tools andwent away, feeling that they had not
trifled with fortune, but had fulfilledall the requirements that belonged to the business
of treasure hunting. When they reachedthe Haunted House, there was something so
weird and grisly about the dead silencethat reigned there under the baking sun,

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and something so depressing about the lonelinessand 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 sawa weed grown floorless room, unplastered,
an ancient fireplace, vacant windows,a ruinous staircase, and here, there

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and everywhere hung ragged and abandoned cobwebs. They presently entered softly, with quickened
pulses, talking in whispers, earsalert to catch the slightest sound, and
muscles tents and ready for instant retreat. In a little while, familiarity modified
their fears, and they gave theplace a critical and interested examination, rather

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admiring their own boldness and wondering atit too. Next, they wanted to
look upstairs. This was something likecutting off the retreat, but they got
to daring each other, and ofcourse there could be but one result.
They threw their tools into a cornerand made the ascent up. There were
the same signs of decay. Inone corner they found a closet that promised

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mystery, but the promise was afraud. There was nothing in it.
Their courage was up now and wellin hand. They were about to go
down and begin work. When saidTom, what is it? Whispered Huck,
blanching with fright there here it?Yes, Oh my, let's run
keep still, don't you budge?They're coming right toward the door. The

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boys stretched themselves upon the floor withtheir eyes to knotholes and the planking,
and lay waiting in a misery offear. They've stopped. No coming here
they are. Don't whisper another word, Huck, My goodness, I wish
I was out of this. Twomen entered. Each boy said to himself,
there's the old, deaf and dumbspaniard that's been about town once or

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twice lately. Never saw t'other manbefore. Tuther was a ragged, unkempt
creature with nothing very pleasant in hisface. The spaniard was wrapped in a
sarape, He had bushy white whiskers, long white hair flowed from under his
sombrero, and he wore green goggles. When they came in, Tuther was
talking in a low voice. Theysat down on the ground facing the door

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with their backs to the wall,and the speaker continued his remarks. His
manner became less guarded and his wordsmore distinct as he proceeded, No,
said he. I've thought it allover, and I don't like it.
It's dangerous, dangerous, grunted thedeaf and dumb Spaniard. To the vast
surprise the boys milksop. This voicemade the boys gasp and quake. It

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was injun Joe's. There was silencefor some time. Then Joe said,
what's any more dangerous than that jobup yonder? But nothing's come of it.
That's different away up the river,so and not another house about to
be known that we tried anyway,long as we didn't succeed. Well,
what's more dangerous than coming here inthe daytime? Anybody would suspicion us that

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saw us? I know that,But there warn't any other places handy even
after that fool of a job.I want to quit this shanty. I
want it too yesterday. Only itwarn't any use trying to stir out of
here with those infernal boys playing overthere on the hill right in full view.
Those infernal boys quaked again under theinspiration of this remark, and thought

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how lucky it was that they hadremembered it was Friday, and concluded to
wait a day. They wished intheir hearts. They had waited a year.
The two men got out some foodand made a luncheon. After a
long and thoughtful silence, injun Joesaid, look here, lad, you
go back up the river where youbelong. Wait there till you hear from
me. I'll take the chances ondropping into this town just once more for

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a look. We'll do that dangerousjob after I've spied around a little and
think things look well for it.Then for Texas. We'll leg it together.
This was satisfactory. Both men presentlyfell to yawning, and injun Joe
said, I'm dead for sleep.It's your turn to watch. He curled
down into the weeds and soon beganto snore. His comrades stirred him once

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or twice, and he became quiet. Presently, the watcher began to nod.
His head drooped lower and lower.Both men began to snore. Now
the boys drew a long, gratefulbreath. Tom whispered, now's our chance.
Come, Huck said, I can'tI die if they wish to wake?
Tom urged. Huck held back.At last, Tom rose slowly and

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softly and started alone. But thefirst step he made wrung such a hideous
creak from the crazy floor that hesank down, almost dead with fright.
He never made a second attempt.The boys lay there, counting the dragging
moments till it seemed to them thattime must be done, an eternity growing
gray. And then they were gratefulto note that at last the sun was
setting. Now one snore ceased,Jean Joe sat up, stared around,

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smiled grimly upon his comrade, whosehead was drooping upon his knees, stirred
him up with his foot, andsaid, here, you're a watchman,
ain't you all right? Though nothing'shappened? My? Have I been asleep?
Oh? Partly? Partly? Nearlytime for us to be moving part?
What'll we do with what little swagwe've got left? I don't know.

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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? Well, all right, it won't matter to come here once
more. No, But I'd saycome in the night as we used to
do. It's better, yes,But look here. It may be a
good while before I get the rightchance at that job. Accidents might happen

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taint in such a very good place, we'll just regularly bury it and bury
it deep. Good idea, saidthe comrade. Walked across the room,
knelt down, raised one of therearward hearthstones, and took out a bag
that jingled pleasantly. He subtracted fromit twenty or thirty dollars for himself and
as much for injun Joe, andpassed the bag to the ladder, who

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was on his knees in the corner, now digging with his bowie knife.
The boys forgot all their fears,all their miseries in an instant. With
gloating eyes, they watched every movementluck. The splendor of it was beyond
all imagination. Six hundred dollars wasmoney enough to make half a dozen boys
rich. Here was treasure hunting underthe happiest auspices. There would not be

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any bothersome uncertainty as to where todig. They nudged each other every moment,
eloquent nudges and easily understood, forthey simply meant, oh, but
ain't you glad now we're here?Joe's knife struck upon something. Hello,
he said, what is it?Said his comrade, half rotten plank.

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No, it's a box, Ibelieve. Here. Bear a hand and
we'll see what it's here for.And never mind I've broke a hole.
He reached his hand in and drewit out. Man, it's money.
The two men examined a handful ofcoins. They were gold. The boys
above were as excited as themselves,and as delighted. Joe's comrades said,

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we'll make quick work of this.There's an old, rusty pick over amongst
the weeds in the corner or theother side of the fireplace. I saw
it a minute ago. He ranand brought the boy's pick and shovel Injun
Joe took the pick, looked itover, critically, shook his head,
muttered something to himself, and thenbegan to use it. The box was
soon unearthed. It was not verylarge. It was iron bound, and

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had been very strong before the slowyears had injured it. The men contemplated
the treasure a while in blissful silence. Pard, there's thousands of dollars here,
said injun Joe. Twas always saidthat Merle's gang used to be around
here. One summer. The strangerobserved, I know it, said injun
Joe. And this look like it. I should say, now you won't

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need to do that job. Thehalf breed frowned, said he you don't
know me least, you don't knowall about that thing. Tain't robbery altogether.
It's revenge, and a wicked lightflamed in his eyes. I'll need
your help in it when it's finished. Then, Texas, go home to
your nance and your kids, andstand by till you hear from me.

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Well, if you say so,what do we do with this? Buried
again? Yes, ravishing delight overhead? No, by the great Suckem,
No, profound distress overhead. I'dnearly forgot that pick had fresh earth on
it. The boys were sick withterror in a moment. What business has
a pick and a shovel here?What business with fresh earth on them?

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Who brought them here? And whereare they gone? Have you heard anybody
seen anybody? What? Buried 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? No? Numbertwo under the cross The other place is

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bad too common? All right,it's nearly dark enough to start injun.
Joe got up and went about fromwindow to window, cautiously peeping out.
Presently, he said, who couldhave brought those tools here? Do you
reckon? They can be upstairs?The boy's breath forsook them injun. Joe
put his hand on his knife,halted a moment, undecided, and then

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turned toward the stairway. The boysthought of the closet, but their strength
was gone. The steps came creakingup the stairs. The intolerable distress of
the situation woke the stricken resolution ofthe lads. They were about to spring
for the closet when there was acrash of rotten timbers, and Joe landed
on the ground amid debris of theruined stairway. He gathered himself up,

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cursing, and his comrades said,now, what's the use of all that?
If it's anybody and they're up there, let him stay there. Who
cares if they want to jump downnow 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 ofus and took us for ghosts or devils

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or something. I'll bet they're runningyet, Joe grumbled, awhile then he
agreed with his friend that what daylightwas 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 towards theriver with their precious box. Tom and
Huck rose up, weak but vastlyrelieved, and stared after them through the

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chinks between the logs of the house, follow not they They were content to
reach ground again without broken necks andtake the townward track over the hill.
They did not talk much. Theywere too much absorbed in hating themselves,
hating the ill luck that made themtake the spade and the pick there.
But for that Inju and Joe neverwould have suspected he would have hidden the

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silver with a gold to wait theretill his revenge was satisfied, and then
he would have had the misfortune tofind that money turn up missing. Bitter
bitter luck that the tools were everbrought there. They resolved to keep a
look out for that spaniard when heshould come to town, spying out for
chances to do his revengeful job andfollow him to number two, wherever that

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might be. Then a ghastly thoughtoccurred to Tom, revenge What if he
means us? Huck? Oh,don't, said Huck, nearly fainting.
They talked it all over, andas 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. Sinceonly Tom had testified very very small comfort,

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it was to Tom to be alonein danger company would be palpable improvement,
he thought. End of Chapter twentysix