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第13节

汤姆.索亚历险记-第13节

小说: 汤姆.索亚历险记 字数: 每页4000字

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〃All right; I'll keep still。 Now they're stuck。 Can't find it。 Here they come again。 Now they're hot。 Cold again。 Hot again。 Red hot! They're p'inted right; this time。 Say; Huck; I know another o' them voices; it's Injun Joe。〃
〃That's so  that murderin' half…breed! I'd druther they was devils a dern sight。 What kin they be up to?〃
The whisper died wholly out; now; for the three men had reached the grave and stood within a few feet of the boys' hiding…place。
〃Here it is;〃 said the third voice; and the owner of it held the lantern up and revealed the face of young Doctor Robinson。
Potter and Injun Joe were carrying a handbarrow with a rope and a couple of shovels on it。 They cast down their load and began to open the grave。 The doctor put the lantern at the head of the grave and came and sat down with his back against one of the elm trees。 He was so close the boys could have touched him。
〃Hurry; men!〃 he said; in a low voice; 〃the moon might come out at any moment。〃
They growled a response and went on digging。 For some time there was no noise but the grating sound of the spades discharging their freight of mould and gravel。 It was very monotonous。 Finally a spade struck upon the coffin with a dull woody accent; and within another minute or two the men had hoisted it out on the ground。 They pried off the lid with their shovels; got out the body and dumped it rudely on the ground。 The moon drifted from behind the clouds and exposed the pallid face。 The barrow was got ready and the corpse placed on it; covered with a blanket; and bound to its place with the rope。 Potter took out a large spring…knife and cut off the dangling end of the rope and then said:
〃Now the cussed thing's ready; Sawbones; and you'll just out with another five; or here she stays。〃
〃That's the talk!〃 said Injun Joe。
〃Look here; what does this mean?〃 said the doctor。 〃You required your pay in advance; and I've paid you。〃
〃Yes; and you done more than that;〃 said Injun Joe; approaching the doctor; who was now standing。 〃Five years ago you drove me away from your father's kitchen one night; when I come to ask for something to eat; and you said I warn't there for any good; and when I swore I'd get even with you if it took a hundred years; your father had me jailed for a vagrant。 Did you think I'd forget? The Injun blood ain't in me for nothing。 And now I've GOT you; and you got to settle; you know!〃
He was threatening the doctor; with his fist in his face; by this time。 The doctor struck out suddenly and stretched the ruffian on the ground。 Potter dropped his knife; and exclaimed:
〃Here; now; don't you hit my pard!〃 and the next moment he had grappled with the doctor and the two were struggling with might and main; trampling the grass and tearing the ground with their heels。 Injun Joe sprang to his feet; his eyes flaming with passion; snatched up Potter's knife; and went creeping; catlike and stooping; round and round about the combatants; seeking an opportunity。 All at once the doctor flung himself free; seized the heavy headboard of Williams' grave and felled Potter to the earth with it  and in the same instant the half…breed saw his chance and drove the knife to the hilt in the young man's breast。 He reeled and fell partly upon Potter; flooding him with his blood; and in the same moment the clouds blotted out the dreadful spectacle and the two frightened boys went speeding away in the dark。
Presently; when the moon emerged again; Injun Joe was standing over the two forms; contemplating them。 The doctor murmured inarticulately; gave a long gasp or two and was still。 The half…breed muttered:
〃That score is settled  damn you。〃
Then he robbed the body。 After which he put the fatal knife in Potter's open right hand; and sat down on the dismantled coffin。 Three  four  five minutes passed; and then Potter began to stir and moan。 His hand closed upon the knife; he raised it; glanced at it; and let it fall; with a shudder。 Then he sat up; pushing the body from him; and gazed at it; and then around him; confusedly。 His eyes met Joe's。
〃Lord; how is this; Joe?〃 he said。
〃It's a dirty business;〃 said Joe; without moving。
〃What did you do it for?〃
〃I! I never done it!〃
〃Look here! That kind of talk won't wash。〃
Potter trembled and grew white。
〃I thought I'd got sober。 I'd no business to drink to…night。 But it's in my head yet  worse'n when we started here。 I'm all in a muddle; can't recollect anything of it; hardly。 Tell me; Joe  honest; now; old feller  did I do it? Joe; I never meant to  'pon my soul and honor; I never meant to; Joe。 Tell me how it was; Joe。 Oh; it's awful  and him so young and promising。〃
〃Why; you two was scuffling; and he fetched you one with the headboard and you fell flat; and then up you come; all reeling and staggering like; and snatched the knife and jammed it into him; just as he fetched you another awful clip  and here you've laid; as dead as a wedge til now。〃
〃Oh; I didn't know what I was a…doing。 I wish I may die this minute if I did。 It was all on account of the whiskey and the excitement; I reckon。 I never used a weepon in my life before; Joe。 I've fought; but never with weepons。 They'll all say that。 Joe; don't tell! Say you won't tell; Joe  that's a good feller。 I always liked you; Joe; and stood up for you; too。 Don't you remember? You won't tell; will you; Joe?〃 And the poor creature dropped on his knees before the stolid murderer; and clasped his appealing hands。
〃No; you've always been fair and square with me; Muff Potter; and I won't go back on you。 There; now; that's as fair as a man can say。〃
〃Oh; Joe; you're an angel。 I'll bless you for this the longest day I live。〃 And Potter began to cry。
〃Come; now; that's enough of that。 This ain't any time for blubbering。 You be off yonder way and I'll go this。 Move; now; and don't leave any tracks behind you。〃
Potter started on a trot that quickly increased to a run。 The half…breed stood looking after him。 He muttered:
〃If he's as much stunned with the lick and fuddled with the rum as he had the look of being; he won't think of the knife till he's gone so far he'll be afraid to come back after it to such a place by himself  chicken…heart!〃
Two or three minutes later the murdered man; the blanketed corpse; the lidless coffin; and the open grave were under no inspection but the moon's。 The stillness was complete again; too。 
CHAPTER X
THE two boys flew on and on; toward the village; speechless with horror。 They glanced backward over their shoulders from time to time; apprehensively; as if they feared they might be followed。 Every stump that started up in their path seemed a man and an enemy; and made them catch their breath; and as they sped by some outlying cottages that lay near the village; the barking of the aroused watch…dogs seemed to give wings to their feet。
〃If we can only get to the old tannery before we break down!〃 whispered Tom; in short catches between breaths。 〃I can't stand it much longer。〃
Huckleberry's hard pantings were his only reply; and the boys fixed their eyes on the goal of their hopes and bent to their work to win it。 They gained steadily on it; and at last; breast to breast; they burst through the open door and fell grateful and exhausted in the sheltering shadows beyond。 By and by their pulses slowed down; and Tom whispered:
〃Huckleberry; what do you reckon'll come of this?〃
〃If Doctor Robinson dies; I reckon hanging'll come of it。〃
〃Do you though?〃
〃Why; I know it; Tom。〃
Tom thought a while; then he said:
〃Who'll tell? We?〃
〃What are you talking about? S'pose something happened and Injun Joe didn't hang? Why; he'd kill us some time or other; just as dead sure as we're a laying here。〃
〃That's just what I was thinking to myself; Huck。〃
〃If anybody tells; let Muff Potter do it; if he's fool enough。 He's generally drunk enough。〃
Tom said nothing  went on thinking。 Presently he whispered:
〃Huck; Muff Potter don't know it。 How can he tell?〃
〃What's the reason he don't know it?〃
〃Because he'd just got that whack when Injun Joe done it。 D'you reckon he could see anything? D'you reckon he knowed anything?〃
〃By hokey; that's so; Tom!〃
〃And besides; look…a…here  maybe that whack done for him!〃
〃No; 'taint likely; Tom。 He had liquor in him; I could see that; and besides; he always has。 Well; when pap's full; you might take and belt him over the head with a church and you couldn't phase him。 He says so; his own self。 So it's the same with Muff Potter; of course。 But if a man was dead sober; I reckon maybe that whack might fetch him; I dono。〃
After another reflective silence; Tom said:
〃Hucky; you sure you can keep mum?〃
〃Tom; we got to keep mum。 You know that。 That Injun devil wouldn't make any more of drownding us than a couple of cats; if we was to squeak 'bout this and they didn't hang him。 Now; look…a…here; Tom; less take and swear to one another  that's what we got to do  swear to keep mum。〃
〃I'm agreed。 It's the best thing。 Would you just hold hands and swear that we 〃
〃Oh no; that wouldn't do for this。 That's good enough for little rubbishy common things  specially with gals; cuz they go back on you anyway; and blab if they get in a huff  but there orter be writing 'bout a big thing like this。 And blood。〃
Tom's whole being applaud

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