Reading Help Adventures of Tom Sawyer Ch.XVI-XXXV
have seen that speck of daylight and would not have explored that passage any `
` more! He told how he went back for Becky and broke the good news and she told `
` him not to fret her with such stuff, for she was tired, and knew she was going `
` to die, and wanted to. He described how he labored with her and convinced her; `
` and how she almost died for joy when she had groped to where she actually saw `
` the blue speck of daylight; how he pushed his way out at the hole and then `
` helped her out; how they sat there and cried for gladness; how some men came `
` along in a skiff and Tom hailed them and told them their situation and their `
` famished condition; how the men didn't believe the wild tale at first, `
` "because," said they, "you are five miles down the river below the valley the `
` cave is in" --then took them aboard, rowed to a house, gave them supper, made `
` them rest till two or three hours after dark and then brought them home. Before `
` day-dawn, Judge Thatcher and the handful of searchers with him were tracked `
` out, in the cave, by the twine clews they had strung behind them, and informed `
` of the great news. Three days and nights of toil and hunger in the cave were `
` not to be shaken off at once, as Tom and Becky soon discovered. They were `
` bedridden all of Wednesday and Thursday, and seemed to grow more and more tired `
` and worn, all the time. Tom got about, a little, on Thursday, was down-town `
` Friday, and nearly as whole as ever Saturday; but Becky did not leave her room `
` until Sunday, and then she looked as if she had passed through a wasting `
` illness. Tom learned of Huck's sickness and went to see him on Friday, but `
` could not be admitted to the bedroom; neither could he on Saturday or Sunday. `
` He was admitted daily after that, but was warned to keep still about his `
` adventure and introduce no exciting topic. The Widow Douglas stayed by to see `
` that he obeyed. At home Tom learned of the Cardiff Hill event; also that the `
` "ragged man's" body had eventually been found in the river near the `
` ferry-landing; he had been drowned while trying to escape, perhaps. About a `
` fortnight after Tom's rescue from the cave, he started off to visit Huck, who `
` had grown plenty strong enough, now, to hear exciting talk, and Tom had some `
` that would interest him, he thought. Judge Thatcher's house was on Tom's way, `
` and he stopped to see Becky. The Judge and some friends set Tom to talking, and `
` some one asked him ironically if he wouldn't like to go to the cave again. Tom `
` said he thought he wouldn't mind it. The Judge said: "Well, there are others `
` just like you, Tom, I've not the least doubt. But we have taken care of that. `
` Nobody will get lost in that cave any more." "Why?" "Because I had its big door `
` sheathed with boiler iron two weeks ago, and triple-locked--and I've got the `
` keys." Tom turned as white as a sheet. "What's the matter, boy! Here, run, `
` somebody! Fetch a glass of water!" The water was brought and thrown into Tom's `
` face. "Ah, now you're all right. What was the matter with you, Tom?" "Oh, `
` Judge, Injun Joe's in the cave!" CHAPTER XXXIII WITHIN a few minutes the news `
` had spread, and a dozen skiff-loads of men were on their way to McDougal's `
` cave, and the ferryboat, well filled with passengers, soon followed. Tom Sawyer `
` was in the skiff that bore Judge Thatcher. When the cave door was unlocked, a `
` sorrowful sight presented itself in the dim twilight of the place. Injun Joe `
` lay stretched upon the ground, dead, with his face close to the crack of the `
` door, as if his longing eyes had been fixed, to the latest moment, upon the `
` light and the cheer of the free world outside. Tom was touched, for he knew by `
` his own experience how this wretch had suffered. His pity was moved, but `
` nevertheless he felt an abounding sense of relief and security, now, which `
` revealed to him in a degree which he had not fully appreciated before how vast `
` a weight of dread had been lying upon him since the day he lifted his voice `
` against this bloody-minded outcast. Injun Joe's bowie-knife lay close by, its `
` blade broken in two. The great foundation-beam of the door had been chipped and `
` hacked through, with tedious labor; useless labor, too, it was, for the native `
` rock formed a sill outside it, and upon that stubborn material the knife had `
` wrought no effect; the only damage done was to the knife itself. But if there `
` had been no stony obstruction there the labor would have been useless still, `
` for if the beam had been wholly cut away Injun Joe could not have squeezed his `
` body under the door, and he knew it. So he had only hacked that place in order `
` to be doing something--in order to pass the weary time--in order to employ his `
` tortured faculties. Ordinarily one could find half a dozen bits of candle stuck `
` around in the crevices of this vestibule, left there by tourists; but there `
` were none now. The prisoner had searched them out and eaten them. He had also `
` contrived to catch a few bats, and these, also, he had eaten, leaving only `
` their claws. The poor unfortunate had starved to death. In one place, near at `
` hand, a stalagmite had been slowly growing up from the ground for ages, builded `
` by the water-drip from a stalactite overhead. The captive had broken off the `
` stalagmite, and upon the stump had placed a stone, wherein he had scooped a `
` shallow hollow to catch the precious drop that fell once in every three minutes `
` with the dreary regularity of a clock-tick--a dessertspoonful once in four and `
` twenty hours. That drop was falling when the Pyramids were new; when Troy fell; `
` when the foundations of Rome were laid when Christ was crucified; when the `
` Conqueror created the British empire; when Columbus sailed; when the massacre `
` at Lexington was "news." It is falling now; it will still be falling when all `
` these things shall have sunk down the afternoon of history, and the twilight of `
` tradition, and been swallowed up in the thick night of oblivion. Has everything `
` a purpose and a mission? Did this drop fall patiently during five thousand `
` years to be ready for this flitting human insect's need? and has it another `
` important object to accomplish ten thousand years to come? No matter. It is `
` many and many a year since the hapless half-breed scooped out the stone to `
` catch the priceless drops, but to this day the tourist stares longest at that `
` pathetic stone and that slow-dropping water when he comes to see the wonders of `
` McDougal's cave. Injun Joe's cup stands first in the list of the cavern's `
` marvels; even "Aladdin's Palace" cannot rival it. Injun Joe was buried near the `
` mouth of the cave; and people flocked there in boats and wagons from the towns `
` and from all the farms and hamlets for seven miles around; they brought their `
` children, and all sorts of provisions, and confessed that they had had almost `
` as satisfactory a time at the funeral as they could have had at the hanging. `
` This funeral stopped the further growth of one thing--the petition to the `
` governor for Injun Joe's pardon. The petition had been largely signed; many `
` tearful and eloquent meetings had been held, and a committee of sappy women `
` been appointed to go in deep mourning and wail around the governor, and implore `
` him to be a merciful ass and trample his duty under foot. Injun Joe was `
` believed to have killed five citizens of the village, but what of that? If he `
` had been Satan himself there would have been plenty of weaklings ready to `
` scribble their names to a pardon-petition, and drip a tear on it from their `
` permanently impaired and leaky water-works. The morning after the funeral Tom `
` took Huck to a private place to have an important talk. Huck had learned all `
` about Tom's adventure from the Welshman and the Widow Douglas, by this time, `
` but Tom said he reckoned there was one thing they had not told him; that thing `
` was what he wanted to talk about now. Huck's face saddened. He said: "I know `
` what it is. You got into No. 2 and never found anything but whiskey. Nobody `
` told me it was you; but I just knowed it must 'a' ben you, soon as I heard `
` 'bout that whiskey business; and I knowed you hadn't got the money becuz you'd `
` 'a' got at me some way or other and told me even if you was mum to everybody `
` else. Tom, something's always told me we'd never get holt of that swag." "Why, `
` Huck, I never told on that tavern-keeper. YOU know his tavern was all right the `
` Saturday I went to the picnic. Don't you remember you was to watch there that `
` night?" "Oh yes! Why, it seems 'bout a year ago. It was that very night that I `
` follered Injun Joe to the widder's." "YOU followed him?" "Yes--but you keep `
` mum. I reckon Injun Joe's left friends behind him, and I don't want 'em souring `
` on me and doing me mean tricks. If it hadn't ben for me he'd be down in Texas `
` now, all right." Then Huck told his entire adventure in confidence to Tom, who `
` had only heard of the Welshman's part of it before. "Well," said Huck, `
` presently, coming back to the main question, "whoever nipped the whiskey in No. `
` 2, nipped the money, too, I reckon --anyways it's a goner for us, Tom." "Huck, `
` that money wasn't ever in No. 2!" "What!" Huck searched his comrade's face `
` keenly. "Tom, have you got on the track of that money again?" "Huck, it's in `
` the cave!" Huck's eyes blazed. "Say it again, Tom." "The money's in the cave!" `
` "Tom--honest injun, now--is it fun, or earnest?" "Earnest, Huck--just as `
` earnest as ever I was in my life. Will you go in there with me and help get it `
` out?" "I bet I will! I will if it's where we can blaze our way to it and not `
` get lost." "Huck, we can do that without the least little bit of trouble in the `
` world." "Good as wheat! What makes you think the money's--" "Huck, you just `
` wait till we get in there. If we don't find it I'll agree to give you my drum `
` and every thing I've got in the world. I will, by jings." "All right--it's a `
` whiz. When do you say?" "Right now, if you say it. Are you strong enough?" "Is `
` it far in the cave? I ben on my pins a little, three or four days, now, but I `
` can't walk more'n a mile, Tom--least I don't think I could." "It's about five `
` mile into there the way anybody but me would go, Huck, but there's a mighty `
` short cut that they don't anybody but me know about. Huck, I'll take you right `
` to it in a skiff. I'll float the skiff down there, and I'll pull it back again `
` all by myself. You needn't ever turn your hand over." "Less start right off, `
` Tom." "All right. We want some bread and meat, and our pipes, and a little bag `
` or two, and two or three kite-strings, and some of these new-fangled things `
` they call lucifer matches. I tell you, many's the time I wished I had some when `
` I was in there before." A trifle after noon the boys borrowed a small skiff `
` from a citizen who was absent, and got under way at once. When they were `
` several miles below "Cave Hollow," Tom said: "Now you see this bluff here looks `
` all alike all the way down from the cave hollow--no houses, no wood-yards, `
` bushes all alike. But do you see that white place up yonder where there's been `
` a landslide? Well, that's one of my marks. We'll get ashore, now." They landed. `
` "Now, Huck, where we're a-standing you could touch that hole I got out of with `
` a fishing-pole. See if you can find it." Huck searched all the place about, and `
` found nothing. Tom proudly marched into a thick clump of sumach bushes and `
` said: "Here you are! Look at it, Huck; it's the snuggest hole in this country. `
` You just keep mum about it. All along I've been wanting to be a robber, but I `
` knew I'd got to have a thing like this, and where to run across it was the `
` bother. We've got it now, and we'll keep it quiet, only we'll let Joe Harper `
` and Ben Rogers in--because of course there's got to be a Gang, or else there `
` wouldn't be any style about it. Tom Sawyer's Gang--it sounds splendid, don't `
` it, Huck?" "Well, it just does, Tom. And who'll we rob?" "Oh, most anybody. `
` Waylay people--that's mostly the way." "And kill them?" "No, not always. Hive `
` them in the cave till they raise a ransom." "What's a ransom?" "Money. You make `
` them raise all they can, off'n their friends; and after you've kept them a `
` year, if it ain't raised then you kill them. That's the general way. Only you `
` don't kill the women. You shut up the women, but you don't kill them. They're `
` always beautiful and rich, and awfully scared. You take their watches and `
` things, but you always take your hat off and talk polite. They ain't anybody as `
` polite as robbers --you'll see that in any book. Well, the women get to loving `
` you, and after they've been in the cave a week or two weeks they stop crying `
` and after that you couldn't get them to leave. If you drove them out they'd `
` turn right around and come back. It's so in all the books." "Why, it's real `
` bully, Tom. I believe it's better'n to be a pirate." "Yes, it's better in some `
` ways, because it's close to home and circuses and all that." By this time `
` everything was ready and the boys entered the hole, Tom in the lead. They `
` toiled their way to the farther end of the tunnel, then made their spliced `
` kite-strings fast and moved on. A few steps brought them to the spring, and Tom `
` felt a shudder quiver all through him. He showed Huck the fragment of `
` candle-wick perched on a lump of clay against the wall, and described how he `
` and Becky had watched the flame struggle and expire. The boys began to quiet `
` down to whispers, now, for the stillness and gloom of the place oppressed their `
` spirits. They went on, and presently entered and followed Tom's other corridor `
` until they reached the "jumping-off place." The candles revealed the fact that `
` it was not really a precipice, but only a steep clay hill twenty or thirty feet `
` high. Tom whispered: "Now I'll show you something, Huck." He held his candle `
` aloft and said: "Look as far around the corner as you can. Do you see that? `
` There--on the big rock over yonder--done with candle-smoke." "Tom, it's a `
` CROSS!" "NOW where's your Number Two? 'UNDER THE CROSS,' hey? Right yonder's `
` where I saw Injun Joe poke up his candle, Huck!" Huck stared at the mystic sign `
` awhile, and then said with a shaky voice: "Tom, less git out of here!" "What! `
` and leave the treasure?" "Yes--leave it. Injun Joe's ghost is round about `
` there, certain." "No it ain't, Huck, no it ain't. It would ha'nt the place `
` where he died--away out at the mouth of the cave--five mile from here." "No, `
` Tom, it wouldn't. It would hang round the money. I know the ways of ghosts, and `
` so do you." Tom began to fear that Huck was right. Misgivings gathered in his `
` mind. But presently an idea occurred to him-- "Lookyhere, Huck, what fools `
` we're making of ourselves! Injun Joe's ghost ain't a going to come around where `
` there's a cross!" The point was well taken. It had its effect. "Tom, I didn't `
` think of that. But that's so. It's luck for us, that cross is. I reckon we'll `
` climb down there and have a hunt for that box." Tom went first, cutting rude `
` steps in the clay hill as he descended. Huck followed. Four avenues opened out `
` of the small cavern which the great rock stood in. The boys examined three of `
` them with no result. They found a small recess in the one nearest the base of `
` the rock, with a pallet of blankets spread down in it; also an old suspender, `
` some bacon rind, and the well-gnawed bones of two or three fowls. But there was `
` no money-box. The lads searched and researched this place, but in vain. Tom `
` said: "He said UNDER the cross. Well, this comes nearest to being under the `
` cross. It can't be under the rock itself, because that sets solid on the `
` ground." They searched everywhere once more, and then sat down discouraged. `
` Huck could suggest nothing. By-and-by Tom said: "Lookyhere, Huck, there's `
`
` more! He told how he went back for Becky and broke the good news and she told `
` him not to fret her with such stuff, for she was tired, and knew she was going `
` to die, and wanted to. He described how he labored with her and convinced her; `
` and how she almost died for joy when she had groped to where she actually saw `
` the blue speck of daylight; how he pushed his way out at the hole and then `
` helped her out; how they sat there and cried for gladness; how some men came `
` along in a skiff and Tom hailed them and told them their situation and their `
` famished condition; how the men didn't believe the wild tale at first, `
` "because," said they, "you are five miles down the river below the valley the `
` cave is in" --then took them aboard, rowed to a house, gave them supper, made `
` them rest till two or three hours after dark and then brought them home. Before `
` day-dawn, Judge Thatcher and the handful of searchers with him were tracked `
` out, in the cave, by the twine clews they had strung behind them, and informed `
` of the great news. Three days and nights of toil and hunger in the cave were `
` not to be shaken off at once, as Tom and Becky soon discovered. They were `
` bedridden all of Wednesday and Thursday, and seemed to grow more and more tired `
` and worn, all the time. Tom got about, a little, on Thursday, was down-town `
` Friday, and nearly as whole as ever Saturday; but Becky did not leave her room `
` until Sunday, and then she looked as if she had passed through a wasting `
` illness. Tom learned of Huck's sickness and went to see him on Friday, but `
` could not be admitted to the bedroom; neither could he on Saturday or Sunday. `
` He was admitted daily after that, but was warned to keep still about his `
` adventure and introduce no exciting topic. The Widow Douglas stayed by to see `
` that he obeyed. At home Tom learned of the Cardiff Hill event; also that the `
` "ragged man's" body had eventually been found in the river near the `
` ferry-landing; he had been drowned while trying to escape, perhaps. About a `
` fortnight after Tom's rescue from the cave, he started off to visit Huck, who `
` had grown plenty strong enough, now, to hear exciting talk, and Tom had some `
` that would interest him, he thought. Judge Thatcher's house was on Tom's way, `
` and he stopped to see Becky. The Judge and some friends set Tom to talking, and `
` some one asked him ironically if he wouldn't like to go to the cave again. Tom `
` said he thought he wouldn't mind it. The Judge said: "Well, there are others `
` just like you, Tom, I've not the least doubt. But we have taken care of that. `
` Nobody will get lost in that cave any more." "Why?" "Because I had its big door `
` sheathed with boiler iron two weeks ago, and triple-locked--and I've got the `
` keys." Tom turned as white as a sheet. "What's the matter, boy! Here, run, `
` somebody! Fetch a glass of water!" The water was brought and thrown into Tom's `
` face. "Ah, now you're all right. What was the matter with you, Tom?" "Oh, `
` Judge, Injun Joe's in the cave!" CHAPTER XXXIII WITHIN a few minutes the news `
` had spread, and a dozen skiff-loads of men were on their way to McDougal's `
` cave, and the ferryboat, well filled with passengers, soon followed. Tom Sawyer `
` was in the skiff that bore Judge Thatcher. When the cave door was unlocked, a `
` sorrowful sight presented itself in the dim twilight of the place. Injun Joe `
` lay stretched upon the ground, dead, with his face close to the crack of the `
` door, as if his longing eyes had been fixed, to the latest moment, upon the `
` light and the cheer of the free world outside. Tom was touched, for he knew by `
` his own experience how this wretch had suffered. His pity was moved, but `
` nevertheless he felt an abounding sense of relief and security, now, which `
` revealed to him in a degree which he had not fully appreciated before how vast `
` a weight of dread had been lying upon him since the day he lifted his voice `
` against this bloody-minded outcast. Injun Joe's bowie-knife lay close by, its `
` blade broken in two. The great foundation-beam of the door had been chipped and `
` hacked through, with tedious labor; useless labor, too, it was, for the native `
` rock formed a sill outside it, and upon that stubborn material the knife had `
` wrought no effect; the only damage done was to the knife itself. But if there `
` had been no stony obstruction there the labor would have been useless still, `
` for if the beam had been wholly cut away Injun Joe could not have squeezed his `
` body under the door, and he knew it. So he had only hacked that place in order `
` to be doing something--in order to pass the weary time--in order to employ his `
` tortured faculties. Ordinarily one could find half a dozen bits of candle stuck `
` around in the crevices of this vestibule, left there by tourists; but there `
` were none now. The prisoner had searched them out and eaten them. He had also `
` contrived to catch a few bats, and these, also, he had eaten, leaving only `
` their claws. The poor unfortunate had starved to death. In one place, near at `
` hand, a stalagmite had been slowly growing up from the ground for ages, builded `
` by the water-drip from a stalactite overhead. The captive had broken off the `
` stalagmite, and upon the stump had placed a stone, wherein he had scooped a `
` shallow hollow to catch the precious drop that fell once in every three minutes `
` with the dreary regularity of a clock-tick--a dessertspoonful once in four and `
` twenty hours. That drop was falling when the Pyramids were new; when Troy fell; `
` when the foundations of Rome were laid when Christ was crucified; when the `
` Conqueror created the British empire; when Columbus sailed; when the massacre `
` at Lexington was "news." It is falling now; it will still be falling when all `
` these things shall have sunk down the afternoon of history, and the twilight of `
` tradition, and been swallowed up in the thick night of oblivion. Has everything `
` a purpose and a mission? Did this drop fall patiently during five thousand `
` years to be ready for this flitting human insect's need? and has it another `
` important object to accomplish ten thousand years to come? No matter. It is `
` many and many a year since the hapless half-breed scooped out the stone to `
` catch the priceless drops, but to this day the tourist stares longest at that `
` pathetic stone and that slow-dropping water when he comes to see the wonders of `
` McDougal's cave. Injun Joe's cup stands first in the list of the cavern's `
` marvels; even "Aladdin's Palace" cannot rival it. Injun Joe was buried near the `
` mouth of the cave; and people flocked there in boats and wagons from the towns `
` and from all the farms and hamlets for seven miles around; they brought their `
` children, and all sorts of provisions, and confessed that they had had almost `
` as satisfactory a time at the funeral as they could have had at the hanging. `
` This funeral stopped the further growth of one thing--the petition to the `
` governor for Injun Joe's pardon. The petition had been largely signed; many `
` tearful and eloquent meetings had been held, and a committee of sappy women `
` been appointed to go in deep mourning and wail around the governor, and implore `
` him to be a merciful ass and trample his duty under foot. Injun Joe was `
` believed to have killed five citizens of the village, but what of that? If he `
` had been Satan himself there would have been plenty of weaklings ready to `
` scribble their names to a pardon-petition, and drip a tear on it from their `
` permanently impaired and leaky water-works. The morning after the funeral Tom `
` took Huck to a private place to have an important talk. Huck had learned all `
` about Tom's adventure from the Welshman and the Widow Douglas, by this time, `
` but Tom said he reckoned there was one thing they had not told him; that thing `
` was what he wanted to talk about now. Huck's face saddened. He said: "I know `
` what it is. You got into No. 2 and never found anything but whiskey. Nobody `
` told me it was you; but I just knowed it must 'a' ben you, soon as I heard `
` 'bout that whiskey business; and I knowed you hadn't got the money becuz you'd `
` 'a' got at me some way or other and told me even if you was mum to everybody `
` else. Tom, something's always told me we'd never get holt of that swag." "Why, `
` Huck, I never told on that tavern-keeper. YOU know his tavern was all right the `
` Saturday I went to the picnic. Don't you remember you was to watch there that `
` night?" "Oh yes! Why, it seems 'bout a year ago. It was that very night that I `
` follered Injun Joe to the widder's." "YOU followed him?" "Yes--but you keep `
` mum. I reckon Injun Joe's left friends behind him, and I don't want 'em souring `
` on me and doing me mean tricks. If it hadn't ben for me he'd be down in Texas `
` now, all right." Then Huck told his entire adventure in confidence to Tom, who `
` had only heard of the Welshman's part of it before. "Well," said Huck, `
` presently, coming back to the main question, "whoever nipped the whiskey in No. `
` 2, nipped the money, too, I reckon --anyways it's a goner for us, Tom." "Huck, `
` that money wasn't ever in No. 2!" "What!" Huck searched his comrade's face `
` keenly. "Tom, have you got on the track of that money again?" "Huck, it's in `
` the cave!" Huck's eyes blazed. "Say it again, Tom." "The money's in the cave!" `
` "Tom--honest injun, now--is it fun, or earnest?" "Earnest, Huck--just as `
` earnest as ever I was in my life. Will you go in there with me and help get it `
` out?" "I bet I will! I will if it's where we can blaze our way to it and not `
` get lost." "Huck, we can do that without the least little bit of trouble in the `
` world." "Good as wheat! What makes you think the money's--" "Huck, you just `
` wait till we get in there. If we don't find it I'll agree to give you my drum `
` and every thing I've got in the world. I will, by jings." "All right--it's a `
` whiz. When do you say?" "Right now, if you say it. Are you strong enough?" "Is `
` it far in the cave? I ben on my pins a little, three or four days, now, but I `
` can't walk more'n a mile, Tom--least I don't think I could." "It's about five `
` mile into there the way anybody but me would go, Huck, but there's a mighty `
` short cut that they don't anybody but me know about. Huck, I'll take you right `
` to it in a skiff. I'll float the skiff down there, and I'll pull it back again `
` all by myself. You needn't ever turn your hand over." "Less start right off, `
` Tom." "All right. We want some bread and meat, and our pipes, and a little bag `
` or two, and two or three kite-strings, and some of these new-fangled things `
` they call lucifer matches. I tell you, many's the time I wished I had some when `
` I was in there before." A trifle after noon the boys borrowed a small skiff `
` from a citizen who was absent, and got under way at once. When they were `
` several miles below "Cave Hollow," Tom said: "Now you see this bluff here looks `
` all alike all the way down from the cave hollow--no houses, no wood-yards, `
` bushes all alike. But do you see that white place up yonder where there's been `
` a landslide? Well, that's one of my marks. We'll get ashore, now." They landed. `
` "Now, Huck, where we're a-standing you could touch that hole I got out of with `
` a fishing-pole. See if you can find it." Huck searched all the place about, and `
` found nothing. Tom proudly marched into a thick clump of sumach bushes and `
` said: "Here you are! Look at it, Huck; it's the snuggest hole in this country. `
` You just keep mum about it. All along I've been wanting to be a robber, but I `
` knew I'd got to have a thing like this, and where to run across it was the `
` bother. We've got it now, and we'll keep it quiet, only we'll let Joe Harper `
` and Ben Rogers in--because of course there's got to be a Gang, or else there `
` wouldn't be any style about it. Tom Sawyer's Gang--it sounds splendid, don't `
` it, Huck?" "Well, it just does, Tom. And who'll we rob?" "Oh, most anybody. `
` Waylay people--that's mostly the way." "And kill them?" "No, not always. Hive `
` them in the cave till they raise a ransom." "What's a ransom?" "Money. You make `
` them raise all they can, off'n their friends; and after you've kept them a `
` year, if it ain't raised then you kill them. That's the general way. Only you `
` don't kill the women. You shut up the women, but you don't kill them. They're `
` always beautiful and rich, and awfully scared. You take their watches and `
` things, but you always take your hat off and talk polite. They ain't anybody as `
` polite as robbers --you'll see that in any book. Well, the women get to loving `
` you, and after they've been in the cave a week or two weeks they stop crying `
` and after that you couldn't get them to leave. If you drove them out they'd `
` turn right around and come back. It's so in all the books." "Why, it's real `
` bully, Tom. I believe it's better'n to be a pirate." "Yes, it's better in some `
` ways, because it's close to home and circuses and all that." By this time `
` everything was ready and the boys entered the hole, Tom in the lead. They `
` toiled their way to the farther end of the tunnel, then made their spliced `
` kite-strings fast and moved on. A few steps brought them to the spring, and Tom `
` felt a shudder quiver all through him. He showed Huck the fragment of `
` candle-wick perched on a lump of clay against the wall, and described how he `
` and Becky had watched the flame struggle and expire. The boys began to quiet `
` down to whispers, now, for the stillness and gloom of the place oppressed their `
` spirits. They went on, and presently entered and followed Tom's other corridor `
` until they reached the "jumping-off place." The candles revealed the fact that `
` it was not really a precipice, but only a steep clay hill twenty or thirty feet `
` high. Tom whispered: "Now I'll show you something, Huck." He held his candle `
` aloft and said: "Look as far around the corner as you can. Do you see that? `
` There--on the big rock over yonder--done with candle-smoke." "Tom, it's a `
` CROSS!" "NOW where's your Number Two? 'UNDER THE CROSS,' hey? Right yonder's `
` where I saw Injun Joe poke up his candle, Huck!" Huck stared at the mystic sign `
` awhile, and then said with a shaky voice: "Tom, less git out of here!" "What! `
` and leave the treasure?" "Yes--leave it. Injun Joe's ghost is round about `
` there, certain." "No it ain't, Huck, no it ain't. It would ha'nt the place `
` where he died--away out at the mouth of the cave--five mile from here." "No, `
` Tom, it wouldn't. It would hang round the money. I know the ways of ghosts, and `
` so do you." Tom began to fear that Huck was right. Misgivings gathered in his `
` mind. But presently an idea occurred to him-- "Lookyhere, Huck, what fools `
` we're making of ourselves! Injun Joe's ghost ain't a going to come around where `
` there's a cross!" The point was well taken. It had its effect. "Tom, I didn't `
` think of that. But that's so. It's luck for us, that cross is. I reckon we'll `
` climb down there and have a hunt for that box." Tom went first, cutting rude `
` steps in the clay hill as he descended. Huck followed. Four avenues opened out `
` of the small cavern which the great rock stood in. The boys examined three of `
` them with no result. They found a small recess in the one nearest the base of `
` the rock, with a pallet of blankets spread down in it; also an old suspender, `
` some bacon rind, and the well-gnawed bones of two or three fowls. But there was `
` no money-box. The lads searched and researched this place, but in vain. Tom `
` said: "He said UNDER the cross. Well, this comes nearest to being under the `
` cross. It can't be under the rock itself, because that sets solid on the `
` ground." They searched everywhere once more, and then sat down discouraged. `
` Huck could suggest nothing. By-and-by Tom said: "Lookyhere, Huck, there's `
`