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"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 to-day, 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,
I wisht 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 'em. He always divided up with 'em
perfectly square."
"Well,
he must 'a' 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 lick any man in England, with
one hand tied behind him; and he could take his yew bow and plug a
ten-cent piece every time, a mile and a half."
"What's
a YEW 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 -- it's nobby fun. I'll learn you."
"I'm
agreed."
So
they played Robin Hood all the 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 were buried from sight in the forests of Cardiff Hill.
On
Saturday, shortly after noon, 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 then somebody else had come along and turned it up with
a single thrust of a shovel. The 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 belong
to the business of treasure-hunting.
When
they reached the haunted house there was something so weird and grisly
about the dead 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 hung ragged and abandoned cobwebs. They
presently entered, softly, with quickened pulses, talking in whispers,
ears alert to catch the slightest sound, and muscles tense and ready for
instant retreat.
In
a little while familiarity modified their fears and they gave the place a
critical and interested examination, rather admiring their own boldness,
and wondering at it, too. Next they wanted to look up-stairs. This was
something like cutting off 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 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 in
the planking, and lay waiting, in a misery 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 in his face.
The Spaniard was wrapped in a serape; 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 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 of
the boys. "Milksop!"
This
voice made the boys 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 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 place as handy after 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 of 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 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 spied
around 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 in 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 drooped lower and lower, both men began to snore now.
The
boys drew a long, grateful breath. Tom whispered:
"Now's
our chance -- come!"
Huck
said:
"I
can't -- I'd die if they was to wake."
Tom
urged -- Huck held back. At last Tom rose slowly and softly, and started
alone. But the first step he 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 boys lay there counting the dragging moments till it
seemed to them that time must be done and eternity growing gray; and then
they were grateful to note that at last the sun was setting.
Now
one 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 watchman, ain't you! All right, though -- nothing's
happened."
"My!
have I been asleep?"
"Oh,
partly, partly. Nearly time for us to be moving, pard. 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 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 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 dollars was money enough to make half
a dozen boys rich! Here was treasurehunting 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.
"Hello!"
said he.
"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. 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
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 boys' 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. 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 Murrel's gang used to be around here one summer,"
the stranger observed.
"I
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. 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 -- bury it again?"
"Yes.
[Ravishing delight overhead.] NO! by the great Sachem, 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 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! bury it again and leave them to come and see the ground disturbed?
Not exactly -- not exactly. We'll take it to my den."
"Why,
of course! Might have thought of that before. You mean Number One?"
"No
-- 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
up-stairs?"
The
boys' breath forsook them. Injun 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 Injun Joe landed on the ground
amid the 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
them 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 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 toward the river with their precious box.
Tom
and Huck 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 take the spade
and the pick there. But for that, Injun Joe never would have suspected. 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 lookout for that Spaniard when 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 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 a
palpable improvement, he thought.
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