Then he remembered. He was a pirate living on an island!

It was a cool, gray dawn. Dewdrops hung on the grasses. Thin blue smoke rose from the dead fire. In the woods Tom heard the hammering of a woodpecker.

Tom woke up the other boys. The three pirates immediately went for a swim in the river. They romped and ran in the shallow water. They came back to camp happy and refreshed. Soon the campfire was blazing again.

Joe found a spring and brewed tea from hickory leaves. Huck and Tom went fishing. They caught a bass, two perch, and a small catfish.

After a marvelous fish-fry breakfast, the boys lounged in the shade.

“Let’s explore!” said Tom.

Huck and Joe were eager to follow.

The three pirates tramped into the woods. Maybe there was hidden booty on the island! The boys looked inside hollow logs. They combed the tangled underbrush. But they didn’t find any treasure.

After another swim, the pirates made lunch.

They were still eating when they heard a loud noise up the river.

“What is it?” whispered Joe.

“Can’t be thunder,” said Huck, “because thunder—”

“Shh!” Tom interrupted. “Don’t talk.”

The boys listened and waited. Boom!

“Let’s see what it is,” said Tom.

The boys ran to the side of the island that faced town. A steam-powered ferryboat was drifting about a mile below. White smoke burst from the ferryboat’s side.

“I know!” said Tom. “Somebody’s drowned!”

“That’s it,” said Huck. “They did that last summer when Bill Turner drowned. They shoot a cannon over the water to make the body come up.”

“By jings, I wish I was over there now,” said Joe. “I want to know who drowned.”

The boys watched and listened.

Suddenly a thought flashed through Tom’s mind. “I know who drowned!” he cried. “It’s us! They’re looking for us!”

“You’re right,” agreed Huck.

“We’re heroes,” said Joe.

The boys were missed! Hearts were breaking. People were crying. They were the talk of the town. Being a pirate was wonderful!

By evening the ferryboat gave up the search. The boys ate supper around the campfire. They tried to guess what people were saying about them. Tom thought about Aunt Polly.