Huckwasalreadyuponhiswatchwhentheferry-boat\'slightswentglintingpastthewharf.Heheardnonoiseonboard,fortheyoungpeoplewereassubduedandstillaspeopleusuallyarewhoarenearlytiredtodeath.Hewonderedwhatboatitwas,andwhyshedidnotstopatthewharf——andthenhedroppedheroutofhismindandputhisattentionuponhisbusiness.Thenightwasgrowingcloudyanddark.Teno\'clockcame,andthenoiseofvehiclesceased,scatteredlightsbegantowinkout,allstragglingfoot-passengersdisappeared,thevillagebetookitselftoitsslumbersandleftthesmallwatcheralonewiththesilenceandtheghosts.Eleveno\'clockcame,andthetavernlightswereputout;darknesseverywhere,now.Huckwaitedwhatseemedawearylongtime,butnothinghappened.Hisfaithwasweakening.Wasthereanyuse?Wastherereallyanyuse?Whynotgiveitupandturnin?
Anoisefelluponhisear.Hewasallattentioninaninstant.Thealleydoorclosedsoftly.Hesprangtothecornerofthebrickstore.Thenextmomenttwomenbrushedbyhim,andoneseemedtohavesomethingunderhisarm.Itmustbethatbox!Sotheyweregoingtoremovethetreasure.WhycallTomnow?Itwouldbeabsurd——themenwouldgetawaywiththeboxandneverbefoundagain.No,hewouldsticktotheirwakeandfollowthem;hewouldtrusttothedarknessforsecurityfromdiscovery.Socommuningwithhimself,Hucksteppedoutandglidedalongbehindthemen,cat-like,withbarefeet,allowingthemtokeepjustfarenoughaheadnottobeinvisible.
Theymoveduptheriverstreetthreeblocks,thenturnedtotheleftupacross-street.Theywentstraightahead,then,untiltheycametothepaththatledupCardiffHill;thistheytook.TheypassedbytheoldWelshman\'shouse,half-wayupthehill,withouthesitating,andstillclimbedupward.Good,thoughtHuck,theywillburyitintheoldquarry.Buttheyneverstoppedatthequarry.Theypassedon,upthesummit.Theyplungedintothenarrowpathbetweenthetallsumachbushes,andwereatoncehiddeninthegloom.Huckclosedupandshortenedhisdistance,now,fortheywouldneverbeabletoseehim.Hetrottedalongawhile;thenslackenedhispace,fearinghewasgainingtoofast;movedonapiece,thenstoppedaltogether;listened;nosound;none,savethatheseemedtohearthebeatingofhisownheart.Thehootingofanowlcameoverthehill——ominoussound!Butnofootsteps.Heavens,waseverythinglost!Hewasabouttospringwithwingedfeet,whenamanclearedhisthroatnotfourfeetfromhim!Huck\'sheartshotintohisthroat,butheswalloweditagain;andthenhestoodthereshakingasifadozenagueshadtakenchargeofhimatonce,andsoweakthathethoughthemustsurelyfalltotheground.Heknewwherehewas.HeknewhewaswithinfivestepsofthestileleadingintoWidowDouglas\'grounds.Verywell,hethought,letthemburyitthere;itwon\'tbehardtofind.
Nowtherewasavoice——averylowvoice——InjunJoe\'s:
\"Damnher,maybeshe\'sgotcompany——there\'slights,lateasitis.\"