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The back door of that No. 2 is the door that comes out into that little close alley between the tavern and the old rattle trap of a brick store.

Now you get hold of all the doorkeys you can find, and I'll nip all of auntie's, and the first dark night we'll go there and try 'em.

And mind you, keep a lookout for Injun Joe, because he said he was going to drop into town and spy around once more for a chance to get his revenge.

If you see him, you just follow him; and if he don't go to that No. 2, that ain't the place."

"Lordy, I don't want to foller him by myself!"

"Why, it'll be night, sure. He mightn't ever see you-and if he did, maybe he'd never think anything."

"Well, if it's pretty dark I reckon I'll track him. I dono-I dono. I'll try."

"You bet I'll follow him, if it's dark, Huck. Why, he might 'a' found out he couldn't get his revenge, and be going right after that money."

"It's so, Tom, it's so. I'll foller him; I will, by jingoes!"

"Now you're talking! Don't you ever weaken, Huck, and I won't."

THAT night Tom and Huck were ready for their adventure.

They hung about the neighborhood of the tavern until after nine, one watching the alley at a distance and the other the tavern door.

Nobody entered the alley or left it; nobody resembling the Spaniard entered or left the tavern door.

The night promised to be a fair one; so Tom went home with the understanding that if a considerable degree of darkness came on, Huck was to come and "maow," whereupon he would slip out and try the keys.

But the night remained clear, and Huck closed his watch and retired to bed in an empty sugar hogshead about twelve.

Tuesday the boys had the same ill luck.

Also Wednesday.

But Thursday night promised better.

Tom slipped out in good season with his aunt's old tin lantern, and a large towel to blindfold it with.

He hid the lantern in Huck's sugar hogshead and the watch began.

An hour before midnight the tavern closed up and its lights (the only ones thereabouts) were put out.

CHAPTER XXVIII

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