The Adventures of Tom Sawyer · Chapter
Real Robbers Seize the Box of Gold explained
Tom and Huck postpone their treasure hunt due to superstitions about Friday and a bad dream.
What happens
Tom and Huck postpone their treasure hunt due to superstitions about Friday and a bad dream. They play Robin Hood instead. The next day, they venture into the haunted house, where they hide upstairs and witness Injun Joe (disguised as a deaf and dumb Spaniard) and his accomplice enter. The men discuss their plans and hide a box of silver and gold. The boys are terrified but escape after the men leave, realizing the tools they left behind may have revealed their presence.
Themes in this chapter
Superstition and Folk Belief
The boys postpone their treasure hunt because it is Friday and Huck dreamt of rats, reflecting deep-seated superstitions.
Fear and Courage
Tom and Huck face their fears in the haunted house, hiding in terror as Injun Joe and his accomplice arrive.
Adventure and Imagination
The boys play Robin Hood, imagining themselves as noble outlaws, before the real danger of the haunted house unfolds.
Characters to notice
- Tom Sawyer
Leads the treasure hunt, suggests playing Robin Hood, and shows courage despite fear.
- Huckleberry Finn
Superstitious about Friday and his dream of rats; hesitant but follows Tom into the haunted house.
- Injun Joe
Disguised as a deaf and dumb Spaniard; reveals his identity and plans a dangerous job with his accomplice.
Key passages
“Blame it, a body can’t be too careful, Huck. We might ’a’ got into an awful scrape, tackling such a thing on a Friday.”
Tom agrees with Huck that starting the treasure hunt on Friday would bring bad luck.
Highlights the boys' superstition and caution.
“He was one of the greatest men that was ever in England—and the best. He was a robber.”
Tom describes Robin Hood as a noble robber who only stole from the rich.
Shows Tom's romantic view of outlaws and adventure.
“Those infernal boys quaked again under the inspiration of this remark, and thought how lucky it was that they had remembered it was Friday and concluded to wait a day.”
Tom and Huck realize their superstition saved them from being discovered by Injun Joe.
Emphasizes the theme of superstition and luck.