Chapter 10 Danger Inside the Haunted House.
By noon the next day the boys were back at the haunted house.
There was something so strange about the dead Silas that ruled there under the bacon sun and something so sad about the loneliness of the place that they were afraid to go in.
Finally, they crept to a window and took a trembling peep.
Inside, they saw a weed-grown and floorless room, an ancient fireplace, and a broken-down staircase.
Ragged cobwebs hung everywhere.
Tom and Huck entered, softly talking in whispers, ears alert for the slightest sound and muscles ready for an instant retreat.
They gave the grounds a thorough search, growing less and less afraid all the while.
Finally, they put their digging tools aside and decided to look upstairs.
It proved just as dark and dirty as the floor below.
In one corner, they found a closet, but it turned out to be empty.
Disappointed, they were about to go down and begin work when— Shh! said Tom.
What is it?
Huck whispered, turning white with fright.
Fair!
Oh my, let's run.
Keep still, Tom said.
They're coming right toward the front door.
The boys stretched themselves upon the floor, peering through some broken boards down on the room below.
They lay there as still as could be, waiting in fear.
The front door swung open and Two men entered.
Tom turned to Huck and softly muttered there's an old Spanish man that's been about the town once or twice lately.
They say he can't talk or hear.
I've never seen the other man before.
The other man was a ragged, dirty-looking fellow with a dark scowl on his face.
As for the mysterious Spaniard, he had wrapped himself in a long blanket called a serape.
He had Bushy white whiskers, long white hair flowed from under his sombrero and he wore green goggles.
Both men sat down on the ground facing the door with their backs to the wall, while Tom and Huck tried to hear every word they were saying.
"'No,' said the scowling man to his companion.
"'I thought it over, and I don't like it.
It's dangerous.'
Dangerous, grunted the Spaniard, shocking the boys by speaking.
Humbug.
As soon as Tom and Huck heard the voice, they both started to shake.
It was Injun Joe in disguise.
There was a long pause.
Then Joe said, what's more dangerous than coming here in the daytime?
I know that.
I want to quit this dumping.
The sooner the better.
The two men unpacked some food and started to prepare lunch.
After a 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.
Then we're off for Texas.
Once the other man agreed, they ate their lunch in silence.
Afterward, they both began yawning.
Injun Joe said, I need some sleep.
It's your turn to watch.
Joe curled down in the weeds and soon began to snore.
A little while later, the lookout began to nod as well.
His head drooped lower and lower.
Soon both men were fast asleep.
The boys drew a long, grateful breath.
Tom whispered, Now's our chance.
Come on.
I can't, Huck said, his voice shaken.
I'd die if they was to wake.
Tom rose slowly, but the first step he took made such a loud creak from the crazy floor that he sank down almost dead with fright.
Both boys lay there frozen, counting the seconds.
Finally, they noticed the sun starting to set.
Suddenly, Engine Joe stopped snoring, sat up, and looked around.
Hey, you're a watchman, ain't you?
Joe said with a smile, poking the other man with his foot.
My, the man gulped.
Have I been asleep?
Joe laughed.
Nearly time for us to be moving, partner.
What'll we do with the stolen money we've got left?
Don't leave it here, as we've always done, I reckon.
Six hundred silver dollars is something to carry.
Okay, Engine Joe agreed.
But this time, we bury it.
Bury it deep.
Good idea, said Joe's comrade, who walked across the room, knelt down, picked up one of the heavy stones by the broken-down fireplace and pulled out a bag of coins.
He took twenty or thirty dollars from it for himself and as much for Engine Joe.
Then he passed the bag to Joe, who was now on his knees in the corner, digging with his bowie knife.
At the sight of the gleaming coins, Tom and Huck suddenly forgot all about their fears.
What luck!
Six hundred dollars was enough money to make half a dozen boys rich.
Here was treasure hunting at its best.
You knew just where to dig.
Joe's knife struck something.
"'What's that?' asked the other man.
"'Half-rotten plank.
No, it's a box, I believe.
Wait!'
Joe reached his hand in and drew it out.
Man, it's money.
The two men examined the handful of gold coins.
The boys above were equally delighted.
We'll make quick work of this, Joe said.
There's a rusty old pick on the other side of the fireplace.
I saw it a minute ago.
He ran and brought back the boy's pick and shovel and in a few moments the two men unearthed a box.
It was small and made of iron, but covered with rust from sitting there all these years.
The men looked at the treasure in silence, hardly believing what they saw.
Partner, there's thousands of dollars here, said Injun Joe.
I always heard it said that old Tom Murrell's gang of bank robbers used to be around here one summer.
His friend added
I know it, said Injun Joe, and this looks like it, I should say.
Now you won't need to do that last job.
Injun Joe frowned.
You don't know me.
Joe's eyes became hard and cold.
The job ain't about robbery.
It's personal.
It's about revenge.
I'll need your help in it.
When it's finished, then Texas.
Now, go home and wait there until you hear from me.
Well, if you say so.
Then the man asked, What should we do with the box?
Shall we bury it again?
When Injun Joe said yes, Tom and Huck could hardly conceal their delight.
But then, after a few seconds, Joe cried out, No!
And the boys couldn't have felt glummer.
But their gloom quickly turned to terror when Injun Joe then said, That pick had fresh earth on it.
What business have a pick and shovel here?
With fresh earth on them, no less.
Who brought them here, and where are they going?
Have you heard anybody?
Seen anybody?
What?
Bury it again and let them come and see the ground disturb.
Not exactly.
Not exactly.
We'll take this back to my den.
Why, of course.
I'm out of thought of that.
You mean number one?
No.
Number two.
Under the cross.
The other place is bad.
Too obvious.
Desperate.
The boys prayed that Injun Joe and his partner would give them some clue about where the hiding place they were talking about was and what Injun Joe meant when he said he would conceal the treasure under the cross.
Under what cross?
Instead, however, the other man said to Joe, All right, it's nearly dark enough to start out.
We'd better get moving.
Joe got up and went to each window, cautiously peeping out to see if anyone was outside.
Then he said, Who could have brought those tools here?
Do you reckon they could be upstairs?
Engine Joe put his hand on his knife, halted a moment, and then headed toward the stairway.
Tom and Huck were so scared now that they could hardly breathe.
They thought of hiding in the closet, but their strength was gone.
All they could do was listen to the sound of steps come creeping up the stairs when there was a sudden crash of rotten timbers, as Injun Joe tumbled to the ground amid the debris of the ruined stairway.
Now, what's the use of all that?
Joe's accomplice asked.
If there's anybody up there, let them stay up there.
Who cares?
It'll be dark in 15 minutes.
And then let them follow us if they want to.
In my view, whoever brought the pick and shovel here caught a side of us and took us for ghosts or devils or something and ran off.
I bet they're still running.
Joe grumbled a while before agreeing with his partner.
The men got their things ready, including the precious iron box, and quietly slipped out of the house and into the darkening twilight.
