He took Huck to a lonely place to have a talk with him.
It would be some relief to unseal his tongue for a little while; to divide his burden of distress with another sufferer.

Moreover, he wanted to assure himself that Huck had remained discreet.
"Huck, have you ever told anybody about--that ?" "'Bout what ?" "You know what." "Oh--'course I haven't." "Never a word ?" "Never a solitary word, so help me.

What makes you ask ?" "Well, I was afeard." "Why, Tom Sawyer, we wouldn't be alive two days if that got found out.
YOU know that." Tom felt more comfortable.

After a pause: "Huck, they couldn't anybody get you to tell, could they ?" "Get me to tell?
Why, if I wanted that half-breed devil to drownd me they could get me to tell.

They ain't no different way." "Well, that's all right, then.