Tom Sawyer walked along many small paths. He wanted to get away from the other students. He crossed a small stream of water three times. He believed a superstition. He thought water could stop people from following him.
Tom sat under a large oak tree in the woods. The air was very hot and quiet. He heard a bird far away, but everything else was silent. Tom was very sad. He thought that life was very difficult.
He thought about Jimmy Hodges, a boy who had died recently. Tom thought it was peaceful to be dead. He thought about the grass and the wind over a grave. He felt very lonely because Becky Thatcher was mean to him.
Soon, Tom felt better. He started to think about his future. Maybe he could go away to a far country. He did not want to be a clown anymore. He wanted to be a soldier or a great leader.
Finally, he decided to be a pirate. He imagined his name in the news. He saw himself on a fast black ship. He wore a red belt and carried a sword. People would say, "Look! It is Tom the Pirate!"
Tom went to an old log. He started to dig with his knife. He dug up a small wooden box that he had buried there before. He said an incantation. He opened the box, but there was only one marble inside.
Tom was very surprised. He usually believed in magic. He thought that if he buried one marble, all his lost marbles would come to him. But the magic failed. Tom thought a witch broke the spell.
He saw a small hole in the sand. He called to a doodle-bug. He asked the insect where his lost marbles were. The insect came out and then ran back. Tom was sure a witch was nearby.
Tom heard a small toy trumpet in the forest. He took off his jacket. He took his toy bow and wooden sword from behind the log. He ran through the trees. He saw Joe Harper under a large tree.
Joe Harper was also dressed for a game. Tom called out, "Who is in Sherwood Forest without my permission?" Joe Harper answered with words from a book. They were playing a game about Robin Hood.
They fought with their wooden swords. They were very hot and tired. Finally, Tom told Joe Harper to fall down. Joe Harper fell, and then it was Joe Harper’s turn to be the hero. They played for a long time.
They were sad because there were no more real outlaws in the world. They thought being an outlaw was better than being the President. Then the two boys went home.