THEfirstthingTomheardonFridaymorningwasagladpieceofnews——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.\"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.
CHAPTERXXVI
ABOUTnoonthenextdaytheboysarrivedatthedeadtree;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\'vestoppedNo——comingHeretheyare.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,whentherewasacrashofrottentimbersandInjunJoelandedonthegroundamidthedébrisoftheruinedstairway.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.
CHAPTERXXVII
THEadventureofthedaymightilytormentedTom\'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,andIwon\'t.\"
CHAPTERXXVIII
THATnightTomandHuckwerereadyfortheiradventure.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.\"
CHAPTERXXIX
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.
