Huck Finn wanted to go to the middle of the island. He found a special place there when he was exploring before. The island was three miles long and very narrow. Huck Finn and Miss Watson’s Jim started to walk.
They found a tall hill. It was about forty feet high. The sides were very steep and the bushes were thick. They climbed to the top. They found a big cavern (a large cave in the rocks). It was near the top of the hill.
The cavern was very large. It had as much space as three rooms. Miss Watson’s Jim could stand up straight inside. It was very cool. Miss Watson’s Jim wanted to move their things there. Huck Finn did not want to climb the hill every day.
Miss Watson’s Jim said the cavern was safe. No person could find them there. Also, the birds said it was going to rain. Miss Watson’s Jim did not want their things to get wet. They went back to the boat. They carried all their things up the hill to the cavern. They hid the boat in the bushes.
The door of the cavern was very big. They built a fire near the door and cooked dinner. They put blankets on the floor. Soon, the sky became dark. There was thunder and lightning. Then the rain started. It was a very big summer storm. The wind was very strong.
The sky was blue and black. The rain was very thick. The wind bent the trees down. Sometimes the lightning was very bright. Then the thunder made a very loud crash. Huck Finn liked the storm. He felt safe and warm inside the cavern. He ate fish and hot corn bread.
The river continued to rise for ten days. Soon, the water was over the banks. The water was deep in the low places of the island. Huck Finn and Miss Watson’s Jim used the boat to travel. It was cool and shady in the woods.
They saw many rabbits and snakes on the broken trees. The animals were hungry and not afraid. They could put their hands on the rabbits. But the snakes always swam away. The hill with the cavern was full of animals.
One night, they found a part of a wood raft (a flat boat made of many logs). It was made of nice pine wood. It was very big and strong. They also saw big logs in the river. But they only moved at night. They did not want people to see them during the day.
Another night, they saw a house in the river. It was a house with two floors. It was tilted to one side. They paddled the boat to the house. They climbed in through a window on the top floor. It was very dark. They waited for the sun to rise.
When the sun came up, they looked inside. They saw a bed, a table, and two chairs. There were clothes on the wall. They saw a man on the floor in a corner. Miss Watson’s Jim went to look at the man.
Miss Watson’s Jim told Huck Finn that the man was dead. Someone shot the man in the back. Miss Watson’s Jim covered the man with a cloth. He told Huck Finn not to look at the face. Miss Watson’s Jim said the face was too scary.
There were many things on the floor. They saw old bottles and cards. There were masks and pictures on the walls. They found women's dresses and men's clothes. They put all the clothes in the boat. They also found a straw hat for a boy.
They found many useful things. They took a lantern and some knives. They found many candles and a tin cup. They took a thick fish line and a hatchet. They also found some medicine bottles. They even found a wooden leg.
They put everything into the boat. They were far from the island now. The sun was up. Miss Watson’s Jim lay down in the boat. Huck Finn covered him with a blanket. He did not want people to see Miss Watson’s Jim. Huck Finn paddled the boat to the shore. They reached the cavern safely.