Part 29 (2/2)
”No Who's Robin Hood?”
”Why, he was one of the greatest land--and the best He was a robber”
”Cracky, I wisht I was Who did he rob?”
”Only sheriffs and bishops and rich people and kings, and such like But he never bothered the poor He loved 'em He always divided up with 'em perfectly square”
”Well, he must 'a' been a brick”
”I bet you he was, Huck Oh, he was the noblest man that ever was
They ain't any such land, with one hand tied behind hi a ten-cent piece every time, a mile and a half”
”What's a _ye?”
”I don't know It's some kind of a bow, of course And if he hit that die he would set down and cry--and curse But we'll play Robin Hood--it's nobby fun I'll learn you”
”I'reed”
So they played Robin Hood all the afternoon, now and then casting a yearning eye down upon the haunted house and passing a remark about the an to sink into the west they took their way ho shadows of the trees and soon were buried froht in the forests of Cardiff Hill
On Saturday, shortly after noon, the boys were at the dead tree again
They had a s a little in their last hole, not with great hope, but merely because Toiven up a treasure after getting doithin six inches of it, and then sole thrust of a shovel The thing failed this time, however, so the boys shouldered their tools and went away feeling that they had not trifled with fortune, but had fulfilled all the require
When they reached the haunted house there was soned there under the baking sun, and so about the loneliness and desolation of the place, that they were afraid, for a moment, to venture in Then they crept to the door and took a trerown, floorless room, unplastered, an ancient fireplace, vacant s, a ruinous staircase; and here, there, and everywhere hung ragged and abandoned cobwebs They presently entered, softly, with quickened pulses, talking in whispers, ears alert to catch the slightest sound, and muscles tense and ready for instant retreat
In a little while faave the place a critical and interested exa at it, too Next they wanted to look upstairs
This was so each other, and of course there could be but one result--they threw their tools into a corner and ns of decay In one corner they found a closet that pro in it Their courage was up now and well in hand They were about to go down and begin hen--
”sh!+” said Toht
”sh!+ There! Hear it?”
”Yes! Oh, e! They're coht toward the door”
The boys stretched themselves upon the floor with their eyes to knotholes in the planking, and lay waiting, in aHere they are Don't whisper another word, Huck My goodness, I wish I was out of this!”
Two men entered Each boy said to himself: ”There's the old deaf and dumb Spaniard that's been about town once or twice lately--never saw t'other ed, unke very pleasant in his face The Spaniard rapped in a serape; he had bushy white whiskers; long white hair flowed froles When they ca in a low voice; they sat down on the ground, facing the door, with their backs to the wall, and the speaker continued his reuarded and his words more distinct as he proceeded: