5 Tragedy in the Graveyard

CHAPTER 5 Tragedy in the Graveyard Tom's pirate adventures would have to wait for a while since he had to meet up with Huck Finn that very night. After it got dark, Tom did his best to lie still in his bed, so as not to wake his brother Sid and arouse his suspicions. But Tom's eyes stayed wide open, staring at the dark window. The night was quiet, but Tom could hear everything—from the creaking of the wood rafters to the crickets chirping outside. Then, suddenly, a dog barked in the distance. It was soon followed by a loud crash, the sound of glass breaking against Aunt Polly's woodshed, and

a voice crying out: "Scat, you devil!" A minute later, Tom was dressed and headed out the window, down to the garden where Huck Finn was waiting. A half hour later, the boys were creeping through the tall grass of the graveyard. The graveyard sat perched on a hill and was surrounded by an old, crumbling fence that leaned inward in some places, outward in others, and went every direction but straight. All the graves were covered with weeds and dead grass. A faint wind moaned through the branches of the trees. Tom felt sure it was the voices of the dead, upset at being disturbed. The two boys stepped carefully, making their way to the heap of new stones that marked Hoss Williams' grave. There were three great elms bunched together near the grave, and the boys settled

in behind them. For a long time nothing happened. As the silence grew deep, Tom became more and more fearful. "It's awful quiet, Tom," said Huck Finn. "Too quiet." There was a long pause. Finally, Tom whispered again: "Say, Huck, do you think Hoss Williams can hear us talking?" "Of course he can," Huck said. "At least, his spirit can." The conversation died again; Tom didn't dare to speak, wondering whether or not Hoss Williams's ghost was listening and if he thought badly of them. Suddenly, he shot up, grabbing Huck's arm. "Sh!" "What is it, Tom?"

The boys clung together, two hearts beating wildly. "Sh!There it is again!" "Tom, they're coming. The devils're coming for sure. What do we do?" "I dunno. Will they see us?" "Oh, Tom, they can see in the dark, just like cats. Why did we come here?" "Don't be afraid, Huck. If we keep perfectly still, maybe they won't notice us at all." The boys sat silently, scarcely daring to breathe. Three strange figures approached, one of them swinging an old-fashioned tin lantern that freckled the ground with light. "It's devils fer sure," Huck whispered. "We're done for!" Tom started praying: "Now I lay me down to sleep—"

"Sh!" "What is it, Huck?" "That's Muff Potter's voice. They're human!"

"It can't be." "But it is. Keep still. He's too busy to notice us." "Say, Huck, I know another one of those voices. It's Injun Joe!" The boys grew quiet again as the mysterious visitors had reached the grave and now stood just a few feet from the trees that Tom and Huck were hiding behind. "Here it is," said the third voice, holding up his lantern to reveal young Dr.Robinson. Muff Potter and Injun Joe were carrying a wheelbarrow with a couple of shovels and some rope in it. Dropping their load, they began to open Hoss Williams' grave. The doctor placed the lantern at the head of the grave, and then sat back against one of the elm trees, so close that the boys could have touched him.