Within minutes, the news had spread around town, and dozens of men were on their way to the cave with Tom and Mr. Thatcher.
When the cave door was unlocked, a sorrowful sight presented itself in the dim twilight. Injun Joe lay stretched upon the ground, dead, his face close to the crack of the door. It seemed as if his last moments had been spent searching for light and cheer from the outside world.
Tom was touched, for he knew through his own experience how this man must have
Injun Joe’s bowie knife lay close by. Its blade was broken in two from Injun Joe’s unsuccessful attempts at chipping and hacking at the door which blocked the cave exit.
Ordinarily, one could find dozens of bits of candles left by tourists in the crevices of this path. But now there were none. Injun Joe must have searched them out and eaten them. He had probably also caught a few bats and had eaten them too, leaving only their claws. The man had starved to death.
The men in the search party buried Injun Joe near the mouth of the cave. People flocked there in boats and wagons from the towns,
The morning after the funeral, Tom and Huck went to their secret place on the hill to have an important talk. Huck had learned all about Tom’s adventure from Mr. Welsh and the Widow Douglas, and now Huck wanted to explain to Tom all that had happened to him.
“I was standing watch outside the tavern, Tom, just like we agreed, and I followed Injun Joe and his partner when they left. I overheard their terrible plans for the Widow Douglas, so I ran to Mr. Welsh and begged him to save her.”
“That was great, Huck!” said Tom. “But why didn’t you want anyone to know how brave you were?”
“Because even though the Widow Douglas was saved, Injun Joe had escaped.”
Tom nodded. He understood exactly how Huck had felt. But that was done, and Tom wanted to discuss the subject that had been on his mind for weeks—the treasure.
“Huck,” he said, “that money was never in room number two at the tavern.”
“What!” Huck searched his friend’s face for some sort of clue. “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,” he cried.
“The money’s in the cave.”
“Tom, are you serious? Do you promise you aren’t kidding about this?”
“I’m serious, Huck. Will you go in the cave with me and help get it out?”
“You bet I will!…That is, I will, if we can do it without getting lost.”
“Huck, we can do it without the least little bit of trouble. I promise you that. We’ll need some
The boys gathered their supplies and, a little after noon, they got underway. When they were close to the opposite shore of the river, Tom pointed high up on the hillside and said, “Now you see this bluff? It looks like all the others, but there’s a small white mark up there. See it, Huck? That’s one of my marks. We’ll get ashore now.”
The boys pulled the raft on shore, and Tom showed Huck the tiny cave opening hidden behind a thick clump of bushes. Huck was impressed. The hole would have been impossible to find without Tom.
They climbed through the hole and entered the cave. Tom took the lead, and they made their way to the far end of the tunnel. As they passed the spring, Tom felt a shudder go through him. He showed Huck the fragment of
The boys continued on through another corridor, talking only in whispers, until they reached the ledge. Then Tom raised his candle high in the air and tugged at Huck’s sleeve. “Now I’ll show you something,” said Tom. “Look as far around the corner as you can. Do you see that? There, on the big rock, written with ashes?”
“Tom, it’s a cross!”
“Now, where’s your number two? Under the cross, right?”
Huck stared at the cross a while, then said with a shaky voice, “Tom, let’s get out of here!”
But Tom was the cool voice of reason. He slowly explained to Huck that there were no
At the base of a rock, they saw signs of activity—a blanket, some tools, and a piece of bacon rind—but no metal treasure chest.
“He said under the cross,” whispered Huck. “Well, this comes nearest to being under the cross. It can’t be under the rock itself, because that sets on solid clay ground.”
They searched everywhere around the rock, then sat down discouraged. Huck had no ideas, but Tom was thinking and planning all the while he sat.
“Look there, Huck! There’s footprints and some candle grease on the clay on one side of this rock, but not on the other sides. Now what’s that for? I bet you the money is under the rock.
They both began to scratch and dig, and after two hours they uncovered some boards. Once the boards were removed, they discovered a whole new corridor which led under the rock. They followed the path until it turned a curve.
Tom stopped suddenly and exclaimed, “Huck, I’ve found it! Here’s the treasure.”
It was the treasure box, sure enough. Tom lifted the lid, and Huck scooped up the tarnished coins with his clay-filled hands.
“We’re rich, Tom! We really are!”
For a few moments, the boys just stood and looked at their treasure. Soon, they began putting the money into the bags and carrying it out of the cave.
When they emerged from the cave into the clump of bushes, they looked around to make sure all was clear. After a short rest for lunch, the boys loaded their raft and pushed out into
“Now, Huck,” said Tom, “we’ll hide the money in the loft of the Widow’s woodshed. I’ll come up in the morning, and we’ll count it and divide it. Then we’ll hunt up a place out in the woods for it where it will be safe. But for now, just you lay quiet here and watch the stuff while I run and find a wagon. I’ll only be gone a minute.”
Tom disappeared, but soon returned with the wagon. They put the sacks of money into it and started off, dragging their treasure behind them.
As the boys passed Mr. Welsh’s house, the old man stepped out and called, “Is that you, Huck…and you, Tom? Come along with me. Everyone is waiting.”
Mr. Welsh helped them pull the wagon a short ways down the road, and they parked it
“And you did right,” said the Widow. “Come with me, boys.” She took Tom and Huck to a bedroom and added, “Now wash and dress yourselves. Here are two new suits of clothes with shirts and socks and everything you’ll need. We’ll wait for you downstairs. Come down when you’re ready.”