汤姆.索亚历险记-第17节

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thing　for　him　to　do　but　succumb；　he　hoped　she　would　be　happy；　and　never　regret　having　driven　her　poor　boy　out　into　the　unfeeling　world　to　suffer　and　die。
As　the　two　boys　walked　sorrowing　along；　they　made　a　new　compact　to　stand　by　each　other　and　be　brothers　and　never　separate　till　death　relieved　them　of　their　troubles。　Then　they　began　to　lay　their　plans。　Joe　was　for　being　a　hermit；　and　living　on　crusts　in　a　remote　cave；　and　dying；　some　time；　of　cold　and　want　and　grief；　but　after　listening　to　Tom；　he　conceded　that　there　were　some　conspicuous　advantages　about　a　life　of　crime；　and　so　he　consented　to　be　a　pirate。
Three　miles　below　St。　Petersburg；　at　a　point　where　the　Mississippi　River　was　a　trifle　over　a　mile　wide；　there　was　a　long；　narrow；　wooded　island；　with　a　shallow　bar　at　the　head　of　it；　and　this　offered　well　as　a　rendezvous。　It　was　not　inhabited；　it　lay　far　over　toward　the　further　shore；　abreast　a　dense　and　almost　wholly　unpeopled　forest。　So　Jackson's　Island　was　chosen。　Who　were　to　be　the　subjects　of　their　piracies　was　a　matter　that　did　not　occur　to　them。　Then　they　hunted　up　Huckleberry　Finn；　and　he　joined　them　promptly；　for　all　careers　were　one　to　him；　he　was　indifferent。　They　presently　separated　to　meet　at　a　lonely　spot　on　the　river…bank　two　miles　above　the　village　at　the　favorite　hour　　which　was　midnight。　There　was　a　small　log　raft　there　which　they　meant　to　capture。　Each　would　bring　hooks　and　lines；　and　such　provision　as　he　could　steal　in　the　most　dark　and　mysterious　way　　as　became　outlaws。　And　before　the　afternoon　was　done；　they　had　all　managed　to　enjoy　the　sweet　glory　of　spreading　the　fact　that　pretty　soon　the　town　would　〃hear　something。〃　All　who　got　this　vague　hint　were　cautioned　to　〃be　mum　and　wait。〃
About　midnight　Tom　arrived　with　a　boiled　ham　and　a　few　trifles；　and　stopped　in　a　dense　undergrowth　on　a　small　bluff　overlooking　the　meeting…place。　It　was　starlight；　and　very　still。　The　mighty　river　lay　like　an　ocean　at　rest。　Tom　listened　a　moment；　but　no　sound　disturbed　the　quiet。　Then　he　gave　a　low；　distinct　whistle。　It　was　answered　from　under　the　bluff。　Tom　whistled　twice　more；　these　signals　were　answered　in　the　same　way。　Then　a　guarded　voice　said：
〃Who　goes　there？〃
〃Tom　Sawyer；　the　Black　Avenger　of　the　Spanish　Main。　Name　your　names。〃
〃Huck　Finn　the　Red…Handed；　and　Joe　Harper　the　Terror　of　the　Seas。〃　Tom　had　furnished　these　titles；　from　his　favorite　literature。
〃'Tis　well。　Give　the　countersign。〃
Two　hoarse　whispers　delivered　the　same　awful　word　simultaneously　to　the　brooding　night：
〃BLOOD！〃
Then　Tom　tumbled　his　ham　over　the　bluff　and　let　himself　down　after　it；　tearing　both　skin　and　clothes　to　some　extent　in　the　effort。　There　was　an　easy；　comfortable　path　along　the　shore　under　the　bluff；　but　it　lacked　the　advantages　of　difficulty　and　danger　so　valued　by　a　pirate。
The　Terror　of　the　Seas　had　brought　a　side　of　bacon；　and　had　about　worn　himself　out　with　getting　it　there。　Finn　the　Red…Handed　had　stolen　a　skillet　and　a　quantity　of　half…cured　leaf　tobacco；　and　had　also　brought　a　few　corn…cobs　to　make　pipes　with。　But　none　of　the　pirates　smoked　or　〃chewed〃　but　himself。　The　Black　Avenger　of　the　Spanish　Main　said　it　would　never　do　to　start　without　some　fire。　That　was　a　wise　thought；　matches　were　hardly　known　there　in　that　day。　They　saw　a　fire　smouldering　upon　a　great　raft　a　hundred　yards　above；　and　they　went　stealthily　thither　and　helped　themselves　to　a　chunk。　They　made　an　imposing　adventure　of　it；　saying；　〃Hist！〃　every　now　and　then；　and　suddenly　halting　with　finger　on　lip；　moving　with　hands　on　imaginary　dagger…hilts；　and　giving　orders　in　dismal　whispers　that　if　〃the　foe〃　stirred；　to　〃let　him　have　it　to　the　hilt；〃　because　〃dead　men　tell　no　tales。〃　They　knew　well　enough　that　the　raftsmen　were　all　down　at　the　village　laying　in　stores　or　having　a　spree；　but　still　that　was　no　excuse　for　their　conducting　this　thing　in　an　unpiratical　way。
They　shoved　off；　presently；　Tom　in　command；　Huck　at　the　after　oar　and　Joe　at　the　forward。　Tom　stood　amidships；　gloomy…browed；　and　with　folded　arms；　and　gave　his　orders　in　a　low；　stern　whisper：
〃Luff；　and　bring　her　to　the　wind！〃
〃Aye…aye；　sir！〃
〃Steady；　steady…y…y…y！〃
〃Steady　it　is；　sir！〃
〃Let　her　go　off　a　point！〃
〃Point　it　is；　sir！〃
As　the　boys　steadily　and　monotonously　drove　the　raft　toward　mid…stream　it　was　no　doubt　understood　that　these　orders　were　given　only　for　〃style；〃　and　were　not　intended　to　mean　anything　in　particular。
〃What　sail's　she　carrying？〃
〃Courses；　tops'ls；　and　flying…jib；　sir。〃
〃Send　the　r'yals　up！　Lay　out　aloft；　there；　half　a　dozen　of　ye　　foretopmaststuns'l！　Lively；　now！〃
〃Aye…aye；　sir！〃
〃Shake　out　that　maintogalans'l！　Sheets　and　braces！　NOW　my　hearties！〃
〃Aye…aye；　sir！〃
〃Hellum…a…lee　　hard　a　port！　Stand　by　to　meet　her　when　she　comes！　Port；　port！　Now；　men！　With　a　will！　Stead…y…y…y！〃
〃Steady　it　is；　sir！〃
The　raft　drew　beyond　the　middle　of　the　river；　the　boys　pointed　her　head　right；　and　then　lay　on　their　oars。　The　river　was　not　high；　so　there　was　not　more　than　a　two　or　three　mile　current。　Hardly　a　word　was　said　during　the　next　three…quarters　of　an　hour。　Now　the　raft　was　passing　before　the　distant　town。　Two　or　three　glimmering　lights　showed　where　it　lay；　peacefully　sleeping；　beyond　the　vague　vast　sweep　of　star…gemmed　water；　unconscious　of　the　tremendous　event　that　was　happening。　The　Black　Avenger　stood　still　with　folded　arms；　〃looking　his　last〃　upon　the　scene　of　his　former　joys　and　his　later　sufferings；　and　wishing　〃she〃　could　see　him　now；　abroad　on　the　wild　sea；　facing　peril　and　death　with　dauntless　heart；　going　to　his　doom　with　a　grim　smile　on　his　lips。　It　was　but　a　small　strain　on　his　imagination　to　remove　Jackson's　Island　beyond　eye…shot　of　the　village；　and　so　he　〃looked　his　last〃　with　a　broken　and　satisfied　heart。　The　other　pirates　were　looking　their　last；　too；　and　they　all　looked　so　long　that　they　came　near　letting　the　current　drift　them　out　of　the　range　of　the　island。　But　they　discovered　the　danger　in　time；　and　made　shift　to　avert　it。　About　two　o'clock　in　the　morning　the　raft　grounded　on　the　bar　two　hundred　yards　above　the　head　of　the　island；　and　they　waded　back　and　forth　until　they　had　landed　their　freight。　Part　of　the　little　raft's　belongings　consisted　of　an　old　sail；　and　this　they　spread　over　a　nook　in　the　bushes　for　a　tent　to　shelter　their　provisions；　but　they　themselves　would　sleep　in　the　open　air　in　good　weather；　as　became　outlaws。
They　built　a　fire　against　the　side　of　a　great　log　twenty　or　thirty　steps　within　the　sombre　depths　of　the　forest；　and　then　cooked　some　bacon　in　the　frying…pan　for　supper；　and　used　up　half　of　the　corn　〃pone〃　stock　they　had　brought。　It　seemed　glorious　sport　to　be　feasting　in　that　wild；　free　way　in　the　virgin　forest　of　an　unexplored　and　uninhabited　island；　far　from　the　haunts　of　men；　and　they　said　they　never　would　return　to　civilization。　The　climbing　fire　lit　up　their　faces　and　threw　its　ruddy　glare　upon　the　pillared　tree…trunks　of　their　forest　temple；　and　upon　the　varnished　foliage　and　festooning　vines。
When　the　last　crisp　slice　of　bacon　was　gone；　and　the　last　allowance　of　corn　pone　devoured；　the　boys　stretched　themselves　out　on　the　grass；　filled　with　contentment。　They　could　have　found　a　cooler　place；　but　they　would　not　deny　themselves　such　a　romantic　feature　as　the　roasting　camp…fire。
〃Ain't　it　gay？〃　said　Joe。
〃It's　nuts！〃　said　Tom。　〃What　would　the　boys　say　if　they　could　see　us？〃
〃Say？　Well；　they'd　just　die　to　be　here　　hey；　Hucky！〃
〃I　reckon　so；〃　said　Huckleberry；　〃anyways；　I'm　suited。　I　don't　want　nothing　better'n　this。　I　don't　ever　get　enough　to　eat；　gen'ally　　and　here　they　can't　come　and　pick　at　a　feller　and　bullyrag　him　so。〃
〃It's　just　the　life　for　me；〃　said　Tom。　〃You　don't　have　to　get　up；　mornings；　and　you　don't　have　to　go　to　school；　and　wash；　and　all　that　blame　foolishness。　You　see　a　pirate　don't　have　to　do　anything；　Joe；　when　he's　ashore；　but　a　hermit　he　has　to　be　praying　considerable；　and　then　he　don't　have　any　fun；　anyway；　all　by　himself　that　way。〃
〃Oh　yes；　that's　so；〃　said　Joe；　〃but　I　hadn't　thought　much　about　it；　you　know。　I'd　a　good　deal　rather　be　a　pirate；　now　that　I've　tried　it。〃
〃You　see；〃　said　Tom；　〃people　don't　go　much　on　hermits；　nowadays；　like　they　used　to　in　old　times；　but　a　pirate's　always　respected。　And　a　hermit's　got　to　sleep　on　the　hardest　place　he　can　find；　and　put　sackcloth　and　ashes　on　his　head；　and　stand　out　in　the　rain；　and　〃
〃What　does　he　put　sackcloth　and　ashes　on　his　head　for？〃　inquired　Huck。
〃I　dono。　But　they've　GOT　to　do　it。　Hermits　always　do。　You'd　have　to　do　that　if　you　was　a　hermit。〃
〃Dern'd　if　I　would；〃　said　Huck。
〃Well；　what　would　you　do？〃
〃I　dono。　But　I　wouldn't　do　that。〃
〃Why；　Huck；　you'd　have　to。　How'd　you　get　around　it？〃
〃Why；　I　just　wouldn't　stand　it。　I'd　run　away。〃
〃Run　away！　Well；　you　would　be　a　nice　old　slouch　of　a　hermit。　You'd　be　a　disgrace。〃
The　Red…Handed　made　no　response；　being　better　employed。　He　had　finished　gouging　out　a　cob；　and　now　he　fitted　a　weed　stem　to　it；　loaded　it　with　tobacco；　and　was　pressing　a　coal　to　the　charge　and　blowing　a　cloud　of　fragrant　smoke　　he　was　in　the　full　bloom　of　luxurious　contentment。　The　other　pirates　envied　him　this　majestic　vice；　and　secretly　resolved　to　acquire　it　shortly。　Presently　Huck　said：
〃What　does　pirates　have　to　do？〃
Tom　s