Chapter 26 - The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - Mark Twain

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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 ontome that it was Friday. Blame
me. A body can't be toocareful, Huck. We might have got
into an awful scrape tackling such athing 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 reckon Youwas the first that found it out,
huck Well. I never said itwas, did I? And Friday ain't
all neither. I had a rottenbad dream last night, dreamt about rats.
No sure sign of trouble. Didthey fight? No? Well that's

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good, Huck. When they don'tfight, it's only a sign that there's
trouble around you. Know, allwe 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 a robber, 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 never botheredthe 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. Thereain'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. What's a U bow? I
don't know. It's some kind ofa bow, of course. And if
he hit that dime only on theedge, he would sit down and cry
and curse. But we'll play RobinHood and it's not be fun. I'll

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learn you. I'm agreed. Sothey played Robin Hood all afternoon now and
then casting a yearning eye down uponthe 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 homewardathwart the long shadows of the trees,
and soon were buried from sight inthe forests of Cardiff Hill. On Saturday,

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shortly afternoon, the boys were atthe dead tree again. They had
a smoke and a chat in theshade, and then dug a little in
their last hole, not with greathope, but merely because Tom said there
were so many cases where people hadgiven up a treasure after getting down within
six inches of it, and thensomebody else had come along and turned it
up with a single thrust of ashovel. The thing failed this time,

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however, so the boys shouldered theirtool and went away, feeling that they
had not trifled with fortune, buthad fulfilled all the requirements that belonged to
the business of treasure hunting. Whenthey reached the Haunted House, there was
something so weird and grisly about thedead silence that reigned there under the baking
sun, and something so depressing aboutthe loneliness and desolation of the place that

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they were afraid for a moment toventure in. Then they crept to the
door and took a trembling peep.They saw a weed grown floorless room,
unplastered, an ancient fireplace, vacantwindows, a ruinous staircase, and here,
there and everywhere hung ragged and abandonedcobwebs. They presently entered softly,

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with quickened pulses, talking in whispers, ears alert to catch the slightest sound,
and muscles tents and ready for instantretreat. In a little while,
familiarity modified their fears, and theygave the place a critical and interested examination,
rather admiring their own boldness and wonderingat it too. Next, they
wanted to look upstairs. This wassomething like cutting off the retreat, but

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they got to daring each other,and of course there could be but one
result. They threw their tools intoa 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 promisewas a fraud. There was nothing in
it. Their courage was up nowand well in hand. They were about

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to go down and begin work.When sh said, Tom, what is
it? Whispered Huck, blanching withfright. Sh there hear it? Yes,
Oh my, let's run. Keepstill, don't you budge. They're
coming right toward the door. Theboys stretched themselves upon the floor with their
eyes to knot holes in the planking, and lay waiting in a misery of

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fear. They've stopped. No cominghere they are. Don't whisper another word,
Huck, My goodness, I wishI was out of this. Two
men entered. Each boy said tohimself, there's the old, deaf and
dumb spaniard that's been about town onceor twice lately. Never saw a t'other
man before. Tuther was a ragged, unkempt creature with nothing very pleasant in

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his face. The spaniard was wrappedin a sarape. He had bushy white
whiskers, long white hair flowed fromunder his sombrero, and he wore green
goggles. When they came in,Tuther was talking in a low voice.
They sat down on the ground facingthe door with their backs to the wall,
and the speaker continued his remarks.His manner became less guarded and his

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words more distinct. As he proceeded, No, said he. I've thought
it all over, and I don'tlike it. It's dangerous, dangerous,
grunted the deaf and dumb Spaniard,to the vast surprise of the boys Milksop.
This voice made the boys gasp andquake. It was injun Joe's.
There was silence for some time.Then Joe said, what's any more dangerous

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than that job up yonder? Butnothing's come of it. That's different away
up the river, so and notanother house about twon't ever be known that
we tried anyway, long as wedidn'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'tany other places handy, even after that

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fool of a job. I wantto quit this shanty. I want it
too yesterday, only it weren't anyuse trying to stir out of here with
those infernal boys playing over there onthe hill right in full view. Those
infernal boys quaked again under the inspirationof this remark, and thought how lucky
it was that they had remembered itwas Friday, and concluded to wait a
day, they wished in their heartsthey had waited a year. The two

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men got out some food and madea luncheon. After a long and thoughtful
silence, injun Joe said, lookhere, lad, you go back up
the river where you belong. Waitthere till you hear from me. I'll
take the chances on dropping into thistown just once more for a look.
We'll do that dangerous job after I'vespied around a little and think things look

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well for it. Then for Texas. We'll leg it together. This was
satisfactory. Both men presently fell toyawning, and injun Joe said, I'm
dead for sleep. It's your turnto watch. He curled down into 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

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drooped lower and lower. Both menbegan to snore. Now the boys drew
a long, grateful breath. Tomwhispered, now's our chance, come,
Huck said, I can't I die? If they wished to wake, Tom
urged. Huck held back. Atlast, Tom rose slowly and softly and

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started alone. But the first stephe 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 boyslay there, counting the dragging moments till
it seemed to them that time mustbe done, an eternity growing gray.
And then they were grateful to notethat at last the sun was setting.

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Now one snore ceased injun Joe satup, stared around, smiled grimly upon
his comrade, whose head was droopingupon his knees, stirred him up with
his foot and said, here,you're a watchman, ain't you all right?
Though nothing's happened my? Have Ibeen asleep? Oh? Partly?
Partly? Nearly time for us tobe moving part? What'll we do with

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what little swag we've got left?I don't know, Leave it here as
we've always done, I reckon nouse to take it away till we start
south. Six hundred and fifty inSilver's something to carry? Well, all
right, it won't matter to comehere once more. No, But i'd
say come in the night as weused to do. It's better, yes,
But look here. It may bea good while before I get the

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right chance at that job. Accidentsmight happen taint in such a very good
place, we'll just regularly bury itand bury it deep. Good idea,
said the comrade, who walked theroom, knelt down, raised one of
the rearward hearthstones, and took outa bag that jingled pleasantly. He subtracted
from it twenty or thirty dollars forhimself and as much for injun Joe,

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and passed the bag to the ladder, who was on his knees in the
corner, now digging with his bowieknife. The boys forgot all their fears,
all their miseries in an instant.With gloating eyes, they watched every
movement luck. The splendor of itwas beyond all imagination. Six hundred dollars
was money enough to make half adozen boys rich. Here was treasure hunting

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under the happiest auspices. There wouldnot be any bothersome uncertainty as to where
to dig. They nudged each otherevery 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. Hello, he said, what is it?
Said his comrade, half rotten plank. No, it's a box,

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I believe. Here. Bear ahand 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'smoney. The two men examined the handful
of coins. They were gold.The boys above were as excited as themselves
and as delighted. Joe's comrades said, we'll make quick work of this.

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There's an old, rusty pick overamongst the weeds in the corner or the
other side of the fireplace. Isaw it a minute ago. He ran
and brought the boy's pick and shovelInjun Joe took the pick, looked it
over, critically, shook his head, muttered something to himself, and then
began to use it. The boxwas soon unearthed. It was not very
large. It was iron bound,and had been very strong before the slow

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years had injured it. The mencontemplated the treasure a while in blissful silence.
Pard, there's thousands of dollars here, said injun Joe. Twas always
said that Merle's gang used to bearound here one summer. The stranger observed,
I know it said injun Joe,and this looks like it should say,
now you won't need to do thatjob. The half breed frowned,

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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 init. When it's finished. Then,
Texas, go home to your nanceand your kids, and stand by till
you hear from me. Well,if you say so, what do we
do with this? Buried again?Yes, ravishing delight overhead? No,

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by the great Suckem, 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 pickand a shovel here? What business with
fresh earth on them? Who broughtthem here? And where are they gone?
Have you heard anybody seen anybody?What? Buried again? And leave

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them to come and see the grounddisturbed? Not exactly, not exactly.
We'll take it to my den.Why, of course, might have thought
of that before? You mean numberone? No? Number two under the
cross The other place is bad toocommon, all right, it's nearly dark
enough to start injun Joe got upand went about from window to window,

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cautiously peeping out. Presently, hesaid, who could have brought those tools
here? Do you reckon? Theycan be upstairs? The boy's breath forsook
them injun Joe put his hand onhis knife, halted a moment, undecided,
and then turned toward the stairway.The boys thought of the closet,
but their strength was gone. Thesteps came creaking up the stairs. The

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intolerable distress of the situation woke thestricken resolution of the lads. They were
about to spring for the closet whenthere was a crash of rotten timbers,
and Joe landed on the ground amiddebris of the ruined stairway. He gathered
himself up, cursing, and hiscomrades said, now, what's the use
of all that? If it's anybodyand they're up there, let him stay
there. Who cares if they wantto jump down now and get into trouble?

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Who objects? It will be darkin fifteen minutes, and then let
them follow us if they want to. I'm willing, in my opinion,
whoever hove those things in here caughta sight of us and took us for
ghosts or devils or something. I'llbet they're running yet, Joe grumbled,
awhile then he agreed with his friendthat what daylight was left ought to be
economized in getting things ready for leaving. Shortly afterward, they slipped out of

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the house in the deepening twilight andmoved towards the river with their precious box.
Tom and Huck rose up, weakbut vastly relieved, and stared after
them through the chinks between the logsof the house, follow not they.
They were content to reach ground againwithout broken necks and take the townward track
over the hill. They did nottalk much. They were too much absorbed

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in hating themselves, hating the illluck that made them take the spade and
the pick there. But for thatinjun Joe never would have suspected he would
have hidden the silver with a goldto wait there till his revenge was satisfied,
and then he would have had themisfortune to find that money turn up
missing. Bitter bitter luck that thetools were ever brought there. They resolved

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to keep a look out for thatspaniard when he should come to town.
Spying out for chances to do hisrevengeful job and follow him to number two,
wherever that might be. Then aghastly thought occurred to Tom, revenge
What if he means us? Huck? Oh, don't, said Huck,
nearly fainting. They talked it allover, and as they entered town they

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agreed to believe that he might possiblymean somebody else, at least, that
he might at least mean nobody butTom. Since only Tom had testified very
very small comfort, it was toTom to be alone in danger company would
be palpable improvement, he thought.End of Chapter twenty six