Chapter 14 Joyful News and a Great Surprise Tuesday night came, and the whole village of St.
Petersburg was in mourning.
Most of the searchers had given up, and many people said the children could never be found.
Then, in the middle of the night, a wild peal burst from the village bells, and the streets swarmed with frantic half-clad people who shouted They're found.
They're found!
Aunt Polly began cheering and wildly clapping her hands while Mrs. Thacker could barely speak.
She was still crying, but now she was raining tears of joy.
Tom lay on a sofa with a crowd gathered around him and told the history of how he left Becky and went on alone to find an opening.
How he followed two passages as far as his kite line would reach.
How he followed a third to the fullest stretch of the kite line and was about to turn back when he glimpsed a far-off speck that looked like daylight.
How he then dropped the line and groped toward it, pushed his head and shoulders through a small hole and saw the broad Mississippi River rolling by.
Three days and nights of toil and hunger were not to be shaken off easily.
Tom and Becky were bedridden all of Wednesday and Thursday.
Saturday was nearly spent when he finally got up and about.
Tom immediately went to see Huck, who had been laid up with a serious fever, but the widow Douglas was caring for him and would allow no visitors.
A week later, Huck was still laid up.
Tom stopped by to see Becky.
Judge Thacker and some friends set Tom to talking about his adventures in the cave.
Well? the judge said when Tom was done.
Nobody will get lost in that cave anymore.
Why?
Tom asked.
Because I had its big door covered with sheet iron two weeks ago and had it triple locked and I've got the keys.
Tom turned as white as the sheet.
What's the matter, boy?
Here, run, somebody.
Fetch a glass of water. the water was brought and thrown into Tom's face.
Oh, now, you're all right.
What was the matter with you?
Oh, Judge, Injun Joe's in the cave.
A few hours later, the cave door was unlocked.
Injun Joe lay stretched upon the ground, dead, with his face close to the crack of the door.
The poor unfortunate had starved to death After Huck was finally well, the two boys had a talk.
There was still no news about the treasure.
Injun Joe's room at the inn had been searched, but it had been empty.
I reckon Injun Joe's left friends behind him, Huck said, and they took the money.
Anyways, it's a goner for us, Tom.
Huck, that money wasn't ever in the inn.
What?
Huck, it's in the cave.
Soon after, the boys borrowed a small boat and headed down the river.
When they were several miles below the cave, Tom directed Huck to steer the boat ashore.
Now, Huck, where we're standing, you could touch that hole I got out with the fishing pole.
See if you can find it.
Huck searched all over the place but found nothing.
Tom proudly marched into a clump of sumac bushes and said, "'Here you are.
Look at it, Huck.
It's the snuggest hole in this country.
All along I've been wanting to be a robber, but I knew I'd got to have a thing like this.
We'll keep it quiet.
Only let Joe Harper know.
Because, of course, we need a gang.
Tom Sawyer's gang.
It sounds splendid, don't it, Huck?'
"'Well, it just does, Tom.
And who will re-rob?'
Almost anybody, I guess.
That sounds bully, Tom.
By this time, the boys were ready to enter the hole, Tom in the lead.
They worked their way to the far end of the tunnel.
A few more steps brought them to the spring where Tom and Becky had stayed.
Seeing it again, Tom felt a shudder of fear rush through him.
He showed Huck the fragment of candle wick perched on a lump of clay against the wall and told how he and Becky had watched the flames flicker and die.
They went on some yards farther to the place where Tom had first spotted Injun Joe.
Now, I'll show you something, Huck.
Tom held his candle high and said...
Look as far around that corner as you can.
You see that?
There on the big rock over yonder?
Done with the candle smoke?
Tom, it's a cross.
Now, where's your number two?
Under the cross?
Huh?
The boys got their knives out and started digging.
They hadn't gone four inches before they struck wood.
Huck began to dig and scratch.
Soon enough, they'd unearthed the treasure box.
Got it at last, said Huck, opening the chest and running both his hands through the old coins.
We're rich!
After packing the coins into bags, the two boys decided to hide the money in the loft of the widow's woodshed and then bury it in the next few days.
They loaded up a wagon and were just passing the Welshman's place when they decided to rest.
As they were about to move on, the old man himself stepped out of the cabin.
What the?
You boys are keeping everybody waiting.
Come along with me here.
Hurry up.
I'll haul the wagon for you.
Hurry along, hurry along.
Tom and Huck wanted to know what the rush was about, but there was no time to ask.
Soon enough, they were at the widow Douglas' home.
A huge crowd was there, boasting everybody that was of any importance in the village.
The widow welcomed the boys as heartily as anyone could welcome two such beings, both covered in clay, mud and candle grease.
Aunt Polly blushed crimson, shaking her head at Tom.
Tom wasn't at home, the Welshman said, so I gave up looking for him.
But I stumbled on him and Huck right at my door, and I brought them along in a hurry.
And you did just right, said the widow.
Come with me, boys.
Taking them upstairs, she continued.
Now, boys, wash and dress yourselves.
Here are two suits of clothes, shirts, socks, everything.
They're hucks, but they'll fit both of you.
Get into them.
We'll wait.
Come down when you're slicked up enough.
