Her face was white with fear.

“Did you tear this book?”

Tom jumped to his feet.

“I did it!” he shouted.

Tom walked to the front of the room. On the way his eyes met Becky’s. She looked surprised and grateful. As he passed her desk, she whispered, “Tom, you are so noble!”

That night Tom fell asleep dreaming about Becky.

Finally school was over for the year. It was also time for Muff Potter’s trial. The whole town was talking about it.

When anyone said a word about the murder, chills ran down Tom’s spine. One day he took Huck aside.

“Huck, have you ever told anyone what we saw?”

“Course not,” replied Huck. “Why?”

“I was just afraid you had.”

“Why, Tom Sawyer, we wouldn’t be alive two days if that got out. You know that.”

Tom relaxed. After a pause he said, “I guess we’re safe as long as we keep mum.”

Huck agreed. The boys swore again that they would never tell who really killed Doc Robinson.

“I guess Muff Potter’s a goner,” said Tom. “Don’t you feel sorry for him sometimes?”

“Most always,” replied Huck. “He’s a drunk and a loafer, but he’s not a murderer. He gives me half a fish when he’s only got one. He’s stood by me when I was out of luck.”

“He’s fixed my kites plenty of times,” offered Tom. “I wish we could get him out of trouble.”

On the day of the trial no one stood up for Muff Potter. Even his own lawyer couldn’t say a good word for him! It looked as if Muff Potter was going to be hanged.

Tom knew he had to do something to help Potter.

After the lunch break, Potter’s lawyer announced to the court, “Thomas Sawyer is taking the stand!”

Tom told the court where he was the night of the murder.

“I was hiding behind a tree near Mr. Williams’s grave,” he began.

Injun Joe stirred nervously in his seat.

“What did you take to Mr. Williams’s grave?” asked the lawyer.

“Only a—a dead cat,” stuttered Tom.

Laughter rippled through the courtroom.

Tom went on.

“The doctor hit Muff Potter over the head with a rock. Potter fell. That’s when Injun Joe jumped on the doctor with the knife and—”

Crash! Injun Joe had jumped through the courtroom window. He was gone!

Chapter Nine
Buried Treasure

This time Tom really was a hero. Old people loved him. Young people wanted to be like him. There was even a story about him in the town’s newspaper!

Tom’s days were wonderful. But his nights were horrible. Every night he dreamed that Joe was after him!

Huck was also scared. Tom didn’t tell anyone that Huck saw the murder. But Huck was still afraid his part in the story would leak out.

The sheriff and the townspeople searched for Joe. But no one found him.