Huck bolted like a jackrabbit! He ran away as fast as his legs could carry him.

The next day Huck knocked at Mr. Jones’s door again.

“Who’s there?”

Huck’s scared voice whispered, “Please let me in. It’s Huck Finn!”

“Now, that’s a name that can open this door night or day!” replied Mr. Jones. “Enter, lad, and welcome!”

“I was awful scared last night,” said Huck. “I took off at the gun blast. And I didn’t stop running for three miles!”

“Poor lad, you do look like you’ve had a hard night,” replied Mr. Jones.

Then he told Huck what had happened.

“The gunshot scared them. They took off! But they dropped something. I went back with a lamp and found it.”

“What was it?” Huck asked nervously. He hoped it wasn’t the treasure.

“Burglars’ tools!” replied Mr. Jones.

Huck gave a sigh of relief.

“I’m telling the Widow you saved her life,” said Mr. Jones.

“Please don’t!” begged Huck. “I don’t want anyone to know.”

Huck was afraid that Joe would find out who gave the warning. Then Huck would really be in trouble!

Huck couldn’t wait to tell Tom about his adventure. Tom had gone on a picnic with Becky and a large party of friends. But Tom and Becky never came back! They were supposed to have spent the night at Mrs. Harper’s.

After church, Aunt Polly and Mrs. Thatcher found Mrs. Harper.

“My young nephew’s missing,” said Aunt Polly. “He mentioned something about spending the night at your house. But he didn’t show up for church.”

“And my Becky must really be tired if she’s still sleeping at your place,” added Mrs. Thatcher.

But Mrs. Harper didn’t know where the children were. Neither Tom nor Becky had slept over at her house.

Joe Harper was standing next to his mother.

“Have you seen my Tom, Joe?” asked Aunt Polly.

“No, ma’am,” replied Joe.

Joe couldn’t remember when he last saw Tom and Becky. A ferryboat had taken the party to a spot a few miles down the Mississippi River. After the picnic, the group had played games and explored McDougal’s cave. Then the ferry took them back home. Joe thought Becky and Tom were on the ferry.

One of the older boys came over.

“I didn’t see them on the ferry coming home,” he said. “And if they weren’t on the ferry, then they must still be in the cave!”

Aunt Polly and Mrs.