The Treasure Hunt Begins — The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Tom suddenly wants to dig for buried treasure, the way every boy does sooner or later. He finds Huck Finn, who is always ready for free adventure, and they talk about where pirates hide their gold. Tom says treasure is usually under haunted houses, on islands, or beneath dead trees where the midnight shadow falls on the ground.

They dig all afternoon near Still-House branch and find nothing but rocks and hard dirt. They talk about what they would buy with the money, from pie and circuses to drums and marriage. Tom says they need to dig where the shadow falls at exactly midnight, so they come back at night with pick and shovel.

The lonely hill feels spooky with owls, distant dogs, and talk of dead men guarding the gold. They dig deep and still find nothing but stones.

Scared of ghosts and witchcraft, they give up on the tree and decide to try the haunted house next, but only in daylight. Tom plans to buy drums, a sword, and get married. Huck would spend his share on pie and the circus, because his father would steal any savings. They hide their tools and head home through the moonlit woods.