汤姆.索亚历险记-第31节

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〃~might！　Better　say　we　would！　There's　some　lucky　days；　maybe；　but　Friday　ain't。〃
〃Any　fool　knows　that。　I　don't　reckon　YOU　was　the　first　that　found　it　out；　Huck。〃
〃Well；　I　never　said　I　was；　did　I？　And　Friday　ain't　all；　neither。　I　had　a　rotten　bad　dream　last　night　　dreampt　about　rats。〃
〃No！　Sure　sign　of　trouble。　Did　they　fight？〃
〃No。〃
〃Well；　that's　good；　Huck。　When　they　don't　fight　it's　only　a　sign　that　there's　trouble　around；　you　know。　All　we　got　to　do　is　to　look　mighty　sharp　and　keep　out　of　it。　We'll　drop　this　thing　for　to…day；　and　play。　Do　you　know　Robin　Hood；　Huck？〃
〃No。　Who's　Robin　Hood？〃
〃Why；　he　was　one　of　the　greatest　men　that　was　ever　in　England　　and　the　best。　He　was　a　robber。〃
〃Cracky；　I　wisht　I　was。　Who　did　he　rob？〃
〃Only　sheriffs　and　bishops　and　rich　people　and　kings；　and　such　like。　But　he　never　bothered　the　poor。　He　loved　'em。　He　always　divided　up　with　'em　perfectly　square。〃
〃Well；　he　must　'a'　been　a　brick。〃
〃I　bet　you　he　was；　Huck。　Oh；　he　was　the　noblest　man　that　ever　was。　They　ain't　any　such　men　now；　I　can　tell　you。　He　could　lick　any　man　in　England；　with　one　hand　tied　behind　him；　and　he　could　take　his　yew　bow　and　plug　a　ten…cent　piece　every　time；　a　mile　and　a　half。〃
〃What's　a　yew　bow？〃
〃I　don't　know。　It's　some　kind　of　a　bow；　of　course。　And　if　he　hit　that　dime　only　on　the　edge　he　would　set　down　and　cry　　and　curse。　But　we'll　play　Robin　Hood　　it's　nobby　fun。　I'll　learn　you。〃
〃I'm　agreed。〃
So　they　played　Robin　Hood　all　the　afternoon；　now　and　then　casting　a　yearning　eye　down　upon　the　haunted　house　and　passing　a　remark　about　the　morrow's　prospects　and　possibilities　there。　As　the　sun　began　to　sink　into　the　west　they　took　their　way　homeward　athwart　the　long　shadows　of　the　trees　and　soon　were　buried　from　sight　in　the　forests　of　Cardiff　Hill。
On　Saturday；　shortly　after　noon；　the　boys　were　at　the　dead　tree　again。　They　had　a　smoke　and　a　chat　in　the　shade；　and　then　dug　a　little　in　their　last　hole；　not　with　great　hope；　but　merely　because　Tom　said　there　were　so　many　cases　where　people　had　given　up　a　treasure　after　getting　down　within　six　inches　of　it；　and　then　somebody　else　had　come　along　and　turned　it　up　with　a　single　thrust　of　a　shovel。　The　thing　failed　this　time；　however；　so　the　boys　shouldered　their　tools　and　went　away　feeling　that　they　had　not　trifled　with　fortune；　but　had　fulfilled　all　the　requirements　that　belong　to　the　business　of　treasure…hunting。
When　they　reached　the　haunted　house　there　was　something　so　weird　and　grisly　about　the　dead　silence　that　reigned　there　under　the　baking　sun；　and　something　so　depressing　about　the　loneliness　and　desolation　of　the　place；　that　they　were　afraid；　for　a　moment；　to　venture　in。　Then　they　crept　to　the　door　and　took　a　trembling　peep。　They　saw　a　weed…grown；　floorless　room；　unplastered；　an　ancient　fireplace；　vacant　windows；　a　ruinous　staircase；　and　here；　there；　and　everywhere　hung　ragged　and　abandoned　cobwebs。　They　presently　entered；　softly；　with　quickened　pulses；　talking　in　whispers；　ears　alert　to　catch　the　slightest　sound；　and　muscles　tense　and　ready　for　instant　retreat。
In　a　little　while　familiarity　modified　their　fears　and　they　gave　the　place　a　critical　and　interested　examination；　rather　admiring　their　own　boldness；　and　wondering　at　it；　too。　Next　they　wanted　to　look　up…stairs。　This　was　something　like　cutting　off　retreat；　but　they　got　to　daring　each　other；　and　of　course　there　could　be　but　one　result　　they　threw　their　tools　into　a　corner　and　made　the　ascent。　Up　there　were　the　same　signs　of　decay。　In　one　corner　they　found　a　closet　that　promised　mystery；　but　the　promise　was　a　fraud　　there　was　nothing　in　it。　Their　courage　was　up　now　and　well　in　hand。　They　were　about　to　go　down　and　begin　work　when　
〃Sh！〃　said　Tom。
〃What　is　it？〃　whispered　Huck；　blanching　with　fright。
〃Sh！　。。。　There！　。。。　Hear　it？〃
〃Yes！　。。。　Oh；　my！　Let's　run！〃
〃Keep　still！　Don't　you　budge！　They're　coming　right　toward　the　door。〃
The　boys　stretched　themselves　upon　the　floor　with　their　eyes　to　knot…holes　in　the　planking；　and　lay　waiting；　in　a　misery　of　fear。
〃They've　stopped。。。。　No　　coming。。。。　Here　they　are。　Don't　whisper　another　word；　Huck。　My　goodness；　I　wish　I　was　out　of　this！〃
Two　men　entered。　Each　boy　said　to　himself：　〃There's　the　old　deaf　and　dumb　Spaniard　that's　been　about　town　once　or　twice　lately　　never　saw　t'other　man　before。〃
〃T'other〃　was　a　ragged；　unkempt　creature；　with　nothing　very　pleasant　in　his　face。　The　Spaniard　was　wrapped　in　a　serape；　he　had　bushy　white　whiskers；　long　white　hair　flowed　from　under　his　sombrero；　and　he　wore　green　goggles。　When　they　came　in；　〃t'other〃　was　talking　in　a　low　voice；　they　sat　down　on　the　ground；　facing　the　door；　with　their　backs　to　the　wall；　and　the　speaker　continued　his　remarks。　His　manner　became　less　guarded　and　his　words　more　distinct　as　he　proceeded：
〃No；〃　said　he；　〃I've　thought　it　all　over；　and　I　don't　like　it。　It's　dangerous。〃
〃Dangerous！〃　grunted　the　〃deaf　and　dumb〃　Spaniard　　to　the　vast　surprise　of　the　boys。　〃Milksop！〃
This　voice　made　the　boys　gasp　and　quake。　It　was　Injun　Joe's！　There　was　silence　for　some　time。　Then　Joe　said：
〃What's　any　more　dangerous　than　that　job　up　yonder　　but　nothing's　come　of　it。〃
〃That's　different。　Away　up　the　river　so；　and　not　another　house　about。　'Twon't　ever　be　known　that　we　tried；　anyway；　long　as　we　didn't　succeed。〃
〃Well；　what's　more　dangerous　than　coming　here　in　the　daytime！　　anybody　would　suspicion　us　that　saw　us。〃
〃I　know　that。　But　there　warn't　any　other　place　as　handy　after　that　fool　of　a　job。　I　want　to　quit　this　shanty。　I　wanted　to　yesterday；　only　it　warn't　any　use　trying　to　stir　out　of　here；　with　those　infernal　boys　playing　over　there　on　the　hill　right　in　full　view。〃
〃Those　infernal　boys〃　quaked　again　under　the　inspiration　of　this　remark；　and　thought　how　lucky　it　was　that　they　had　remembered　it　was　Friday　and　concluded　to　wait　a　day。　They　wished　in　their　hearts　they　had　waited　a　year。
The　two　men　got　out　some　food　and　made　a　luncheon。　After　a　long　and　thoughtful　silence；　Injun　Joe　said：
〃Look　here；　lad　　you　go　back　up　the　river　where　you　belong。　Wait　there　till　you　hear　from　me。　I'll　take　the　chances　on　dropping　into　this　town　just　once　more；　for　a　look。　We'll　do　that　'dangerous'　job　after　I've　spied　around　a　little　and　think　things　look　well　for　it。　Then　for　Texas！　We'll　leg　it　together！〃
This　was　satisfactory。　Both　men　presently　fell　to　yawning；　and　Injun　Joe　said：
〃I'm　dead　for　sleep！　It's　your　turn　to　watch。〃
He　curled　down　in　the　weeds　and　soon　began　to　snore。　His　comrade　stirred　him　once　or　twice　and　he　became　quiet。　Presently　the　watcher　began　to　nod；　his　head　drooped　lower　and　lower；　both　men　began　to　snore　now。
The　boys　drew　a　long；　grateful　breath。　Tom　whispered：
〃Now's　our　chance　　come！〃
Huck　said：
〃I　can't　　I'd　die　if　they　was　to　wake。〃
Tom　urged　　Huck　held　back。　At　last　Tom　rose　slowly　and　softly；　and　started　alone。　But　the　first　step　he　made　wrung　such　a　hideous　creak　from　the　crazy　floor　that　he　sank　down　almost　dead　with　fright。　He　never　made　a　second　attempt。　The　boys　lay　there　counting　the　dragging　moments　till　it　seemed　to　them　that　time　must　be　done　and　eternity　growing　gray；　and　then　they　were　grateful　to　note　that　at　last　the　sun　was　setting。
Now　one　snore　ceased。　Injun　Joe　sat　up；　stared　around　　smiled　grimly　upon　his　comrade；　whose　head　was　drooping　upon　his　knees　　stirred　him　up　with　his　foot　and　said：
〃Here！　you're　a　watchman；　ain't　you！　All　right；　though　　nothing's　happened。〃
〃My！　have　I　been　asleep？〃
〃Oh；　partly；　partly。　Nearly　time　for　us　to　be　moving；　pard。　What'll　we　do　with　what　little　swag　we've　got　left？〃
〃I　don't　know　　leave　it　here　as　we've　always　done；　I　reckon。　No　use　to　take　it　away　till　we　start　south。　Six　hundred　and　fifty　in　silver's　something　to　carry。〃
〃Well　　all　right　　it　won't　matter　to　come　here　once　more。〃
〃No　　but　I'd　say　come　in　the　night　as　we　used　to　do　　it's　better。〃
〃Yes：　but　look　here；　it　may　be　a　good　while　before　I　get　the　right　chance　at　that　job；　accidents　might　happen；　'tain't　in　such　a　very　good　place；　we'll　just　regularly　bury　it　　and　bury　it　deep。〃
〃Good　idea；〃　said　the　comrade；　who　walked　across　the　room；　knelt　down；　raised　one　of　the　rearward　hearthstones　and　took　out　a　bag　that　jingled　pleasantly。　He　subtracted　from　it　twenty　or　thirty　dollars　for　himself　and　as　much　for　Injun　Joe；　and　passed　the　bag　to　the　latter；　who　was　on　his　knees　in　the　corner；　now；　digging　with　his　bowie…knife。
The　boys　forgot　all　their　fears；　all　their　miseries　in　an　instant。　With　gloating　eyes　they　watched　every　movement。　Luck！　　the　splendor　of　it　was　beyond　all　imagination！　Six　hundred　dollars　was　money　enough　to　make　half　a　dozen　boys　rich！　Here　was　treasure…hunting　under　the　happiest　auspices　　there　would　not　be　any　bothersome　uncertainty　as　to　where　to　dig。　They　nudged　each　other　every　moment　　eloquent　nudges　and　easily　understood；　for　they　simply　meant　　〃Oh；　but　ain't　you　glad　NOW　we're　here！〃
Joe's　knife　struck　upon　something。
〃Hello！〃　said　he。
〃What　is　it？〃　said　his　comrade。
〃Half…rotten　plank　　no；　it's　a　box；　I　believe。　Here　　bear　a　hand　and　we'll　see　what　it's　here　for。　Never　mind；　I've　broke　a　hole。〃
He　reached　his　hand　in　and　drew　it　out　
〃Man；　it's　money！〃
The　two　men　examined　the　handful　of　coins。　They　were　gold。　The　boys　above　were　as　exci