📖 Tom Sawyer – Chapter 8 (Adapted for English Learners)
Title: In the Graveyard at Midnight
That night, Tom Sawyer could not stop thinking about what Huck Finn had told him. Huck believed a dead cat could cure warts. The idea seemed foolish, but Tom loved strange adventures, and he agreed to meet Huck at the graveyard at midnight.
The night was dark and silent. A full moon shone through the clouds, lighting the old gravestones with a pale glow. Tom arrived first, carrying a small lantern hidden under his jacket. A few minutes later, Huck appeared, barefoot and carrying the dead cat tied to a string.
“Got your cat?” Tom whispered.
“Sure,” said Huck. “This is going to work—you’ll see.”
The two boys crouched behind tall gravestones. The graveyard was a frightening place at night, with shadows that looked like ghosts and the hoot of owls in the trees. Huck explained the superstition again: if you took a dead cat to a graveyard at midnight and said the right words, the cat would cure warts by taking them away to the devil.
Tom shivered with excitement and fear. “Let’s try it.”
But before they could begin, the boys heard voices. They froze. The sound of footsteps crunched on the gravel path. Tom blew out the lantern quickly, and the boys hid behind a large gravestone.
Three men entered the graveyard. One was Muff Potter, a kind but foolish man, always half-drunk. The second was Injun Joe, a dark and dangerous figure known in town for his bad temper. The third was Doctor Robinson, a young man from the village.
The men carried shovels and a lantern. They stopped at a new grave and began to dig. Tom and Huck stared in horror as the men lifted out the coffin and opened it. Doctor Robinson ordered Muff and Injun Joe to lift the body.
“Why should we do the hard work?” complained Injun Joe. “You think you’re better than us!”
“Be quiet and do as I say,” the doctor replied sharply.
Muff Potter laughed nervously, but Injun Joe grew angrier. “Five years ago, your father whipped me out of town like a dog. Tonight I’ll have my revenge!”
Before Muff could react, Injun Joe grabbed Muff’s knife. With a quick, terrible movement, he struck Doctor Robinson. The doctor fell to the ground, dead.
Tom and Huck nearly screamed, but fear kept them silent. Their hearts pounded as they watched the horror unfold.
Muff Potter, confused and drunk, stared at the dead man. Injun Joe quickly placed the bloody knife into Muff’s hand. “You did this, Muff. You killed him in anger.”
“I… I don’t remember,” stammered Muff. His head swam with drink.
Tom and Huck knew the truth—but they were too terrified to move. They crept backward, then ran as fast as their legs could carry them out of the graveyard. They did not stop until they reached the safety of Tom’s backyard. Both boys were pale, shaking with fear.
“We saw a murder, Huck!” Tom gasped.
“We can’t ever tell anyone,” Huck replied. “If Injun Joe finds out, he’ll kill us too.”
The boys swore an oath, right then and there, never to speak of what they had seen. They sealed the oath by pricking their fingers and mixing the blood—a solemn promise between them.
But deep inside, both knew they would never forget that terrible night in the graveyard.
📘 Glossary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Gravestone | A stone marking a grave |
| Superstition | A belief not based on science, often about magic or luck |
| Coffin | A box used for burying a dead body |
| Revenge | Punishment or harm against someone who hurt you |
| Stammered | Spoke with pauses or repeating sounds because of fear or nerves |
| Oath | A very serious promise |
| Pale | Light-colored face, often from fear or illness |
| Terrified | Extremely afraid |
❓ Comprehension Questions
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Why did Tom and Huck go to the graveyard at midnight?
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What did Huck say a dead cat could do?
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Who were the three men that entered the graveyard?
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What happened between Injun Joe and Doctor Robinson?
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How did Injun Joe make Muff Potter look guilty?
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What oath did Tom and Huck swear?
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How did the boys feel after the incident?
✅ Answers
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To test the superstition that a dead cat could cure warts.
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He said it could cure warts by taking them away to the devil.
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Muff Potter, Injun Joe, and Doctor Robinson.
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Injun Joe attacked and killed Doctor Robinson.
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He placed the bloody knife into Muff Potter’s hand.
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They swore never to tell anyone what they had seen.
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They were terrified, pale, and shaken, but they knew they would never forget.
