The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: Chapter 26

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, Chapter twenty six.
Real robbers seize the box of gold. 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, look here, Tom, do you know what day

(00:23):
it is? Tom mentally ran over the days of the week,
and then quickly lifted his eyes with a startled look
in them. My I never once thought of it, Huck Well.
I didn't either, but all at once it popped on
to me that it was Friday. Blame me. A body
can't be too careful, Huck. We might have got into
an awful scrape tackling such a thing on a Friday.

(00:45):
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 it was, did I? And Friday ain't
all neither. I had a rotten bad dream last night,
dreamt about rats, no sure sign of trouble. Did they fight? No?

(01:08):
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? 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, cracky,

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I wished 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 him. He
always divided up with him perfectly square. Well, he must
have been a brick, 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

(01:53):
lick any man in England with one hand tied behind him,
and he could take his U bow and plug a
ten cent piece every time a mile and a half.
What's 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, he would set down and
cry and curse. But we'll play Robin Hood, and it's

(02:15):
knobby fun. I'll learn you. I'm agreed, so they played
robin Hood 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 the sun
began to sink into the west, they took their way
homeward athwart the long shadows of the trees, and soon

(02:35):
were buried from sight in the forests of Cardiff Hill.
On Saturday, shortly afternoon, 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

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then somebody else had come along and turned it up
with a single thrust of a shovel. A 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 belonged to the
business of treasure hunting. When they reached the Haunted House,
there was something so weird and grisly about the dead

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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 weed grown floorless room, unplastered, an ancient fireplace,
vacant windows, a ruinous staircase, and here, there and everywhere

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hung ragged and abandoned cobwebs. They presently entered softly, with
quickened pulses, talking in whispers, ears alert to catch the
slightest sound, and muscles tents and ready for instant retreat.
In a little while, familiarity modified their fears, and they
gave the place a critical and interested examination, and rather
admiring their own boldness and wondering at it too. Next

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they wanted to look upstairs. This was something like cutting
off the 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

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was up now and well in hand. They were about
to go down and begin work when sh said, Tom,
what is it? Whispered Huck, blanching with fright. Sh there
hear it? Yes, Oh my, let's run. Keep still, don't
you budge. They're coming right toward the door. The boys
stretched themselves upon the floor with their eyes to knot
holes and the planking, and lay waiting in a misery

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of fear. They've stopped. No 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.
T'other was a ragged, unkempt creature with nothing very pleasant

(05:10):
in his face. 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, 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

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as he proceeded. No said he 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 the boys
milk sop. This voice made the boy's gasp and quake.
It was injun Joe's. There was silence for some time.
Then Joe said, what's any more dangerous than that job

(05:56):
up yonder? 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. Well, what's more dangerous than coming here in
the daytime? Anybody would suspicion us that saw us? I
know that, But there warn't any other places handy after

(06:17):
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 o here with those infernal boys playing
over there on the hill right 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

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wished in their hearts 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, 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 seen spied around

(07:00):
a little and think things look well for it, then
for Texas, we'll leg it together. This was satisfactory. Both
men presently fell 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 began to snore. His
comrade stirred him once or twice, and he became quiet. Presently,

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the watcher began to nod. His head drooped lower and lower.
Both men began to snore. Now the boys drew a long,
grateful breath. Tom whispered, now's our chance, come, Hucks said,
I can't I die? If they was to wake, Tom urged.
Huck held back at last, Tom rose slowly and softly

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and started alone. But the first step he made rung
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,
an eternity growing gray. And then they were grateful to
note that at last the sun was setting. Now one

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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, here, you're
a watch man, ain't you all right? Though nothing's happened my?
Have I been asleep? Oh? Partly? Partly? Nearly time for

(08:28):
us to be moving. Part? What'll we do with what
little swag 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? Well, all right, it
won't matter to come here once more? No, But I'd
say come in the night as we used to do.
It's better, yes, But look here, it may be a

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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. Good idea,
said the comrade, who walked across the room, knelt down,
raised one of the rearward hearthstones, and took out a
bag that jingled pleasantly. He subtracted from it twenty or

(09:11):
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.
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

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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, Joe's knife struck upon something hullo. He said,

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what is it? Said his comrade, half rotten plank. No,
it's a box, I believe. 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 drew
it out. Man, it's money. The two men examined the
handful of coins. They were gold. The boys above were

(10:17):
as excited as themselves and as delighted. Joe's comrade 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.
He ran and brought the boy's 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.

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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, Pard, there's thousands of dollars here, said
injun Joe. Twas always said that Merle's gang used to
be round here one summer. The strain you're observed, I

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know it, said injun Joe, And this looks like it.
I should say now you won't need to do that job.
The half breed frowned, said he 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,

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go home to your nance and your kids, and stand
by till you hear from me. Well, if you say so,
what'll we do with this? Buried again? Yes, ravishing delight overhead? No,
by the great sacum, 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

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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? 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

(12:08):
number one, no number two under the cross. The other
place is bad too common. All right, it's nearly dark
enough to start injun Joe got up and went about
from window to window, cautiously peeping out. Presently, he said,
who could have brought those tools? Here? Do you reckon?
They can be upstairs? The boy's breath forsook them injun

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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 Joe landed on the ground amid

(12:52):
debris of the ruined stairway. He gathered himself up, cursing,
and his comrade 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 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

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things in here caught a sight of us and took
us for ghosts or devils or something. I'll bet they're
running yet, 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
towards the river with their precious box. Tom and Huck

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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

(13:55):
take the spade and the pick there. But for that
injun Joe never would have susp ef 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. They
resolved to keep a look out for that spaniard when

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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, revenge.
What if he means us? Huck? Oh, don't, said Huck,
nearly fainting. They talked it all over, and as they
entered town they agreed to believe that he might possibly

(14:39):
mean somebody else, at least that he might at least
mean nobody but Tom. Since only Tom had testified very
very small comfort, it was to Tom to be alone
in danger company would be palpable improvement, he thought. End
of Chapter twenty six