汤姆.索亚历险记-第13节

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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