汤姆.索亚历险记-第33节

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〃Lordy；　I　don't　want　to　foller　him　by　myself！〃
〃Why；　it'll　be　night；　sure。　He　mightn't　ever　see　you　　and　if　he　did；　maybe　he'd　never　think　anything。〃
〃Well；　if　it's　pretty　dark　I　reckon　I'll　track　him。　I　dono　　I　dono。　I'll　try。〃
〃You　bet　I'll　follow　him；　if　it's　dark；　Huck。　Why；　he　might　'a'　found　out　he　couldn't　get　his　revenge；　and　be　going　right　after　that　money。〃
〃It's　so；　Tom；　it's　so。　I'll　foller　him；　I　will；　by　jingoes！〃
〃Now　you're　talking！　Don't　you　ever　weaken；　Huck；　and　I　won't。〃　
CHAPTER　XXVIII
THAT　night　Tom　and　Huck　were　ready　for　their　adventure。　They　hung　about　the　neighborhood　of　the　tavern　until　after　nine；　one　watching　the　alley　at　a　distance　and　the　other　the　tavern　door。　Nobody　entered　the　alley　or　left　it；　nobody　resembling　the　Spaniard　entered　or　left　the　tavern　door。　The　night　promised　to　be　a　fair　one；　so　Tom　went　home　with　the　understanding　that　if　a　considerable　degree　of　darkness　came　on；　Huck　was　to　come　and　〃maow；〃　whereupon　he　would　slip　out　and　try　the　keys。　But　the　night　remained　clear；　and　Huck　closed　his　watch　and　retired　to　bed　in　an　empty　sugar　hogshead　about　twelve。
Tuesday　the　boys　had　the　same　ill　luck。　Also　Wednesday。　But　Thursday　night　promised　better。　Tom　slipped　out　in　good　season　with　his　aunt's　old　tin　lantern；　and　a　large　towel　to　blindfold　it　with。　He　hid　the　lantern　in　Huck's　sugar　hogshead　and　the　watch　began。　An　hour　before　midnight　the　tavern　closed　up　and　its　lights　（the　only　ones　thereabouts）　were　put　out。　No　Spaniard　had　been　seen。　Nobody　had　entered　or　left　the　alley。　Everything　was　auspicious。　The　blackness　of　darkness　reigned；　the　perfect　stillness　was　interrupted　only　by　occasional　mutterings　of　distant　thunder。
Tom　got　his　lantern；　lit　it　in　the　hogshead；　wrapped　it　closely　in　the　towel；　and　the　two　adventurers　crept　in　the　gloom　toward　the　tavern。　Huck　stood　sentry　and　Tom　felt　his　way　into　the　alley。　Then　there　was　a　season　of　waiting　anxiety　that　weighed　upon　Huck's　spirits　like　a　mountain。　He　began　to　wish　he　could　see　a　flash　from　the　lantern　　it　would　frighten　him；　but　it　would　at　least　tell　him　that　Tom　was　alive　yet。　It　seemed　hours　since　Tom　had　disappeared。　Surely　he　must　have　fainted；　maybe　he　was　dead；　maybe　his　heart　had　burst　under　terror　and　excitement。　In　his　uneasiness　Huck　found　himself　drawing　closer　and　closer　to　the　alley；　fearing　all　sorts　of　dreadful　things；　and　momentarily　expecting　some　catastrophe　to　happen　that　would　take　away　his　breath。　There　was　not　much　to　take　away；　for　he　seemed　only　able　to　inhale　it　by　thimblefuls；　and　his　heart　would　soon　wear　itself　out；　the　way　it　was　beating。　Suddenly　there　was　a　flash　of　light　and　Tom　came　tearing　by　him：　。　〃Run！〃　said　he；　〃run；　for　your　life！〃
He　needn't　have　repeated　it；　once　was　enough；　Huck　was　making　thirty　or　forty　miles　an　hour　before　the　repetition　was　uttered。　The　boys　never　stopped　till　they　reached　the　shed　of　a　deserted　slaughterhouse　at　the　lower　end　of　the　village。　Just　as　they　got　within　its　shelter　the　storm　burst　and　the　rain　poured　down。　As　soon　as　Tom　got　his　breath　he　said：
〃Huck；　it　was　awful！　I　tried　two　of　the　keys；　just　as　soft　as　I　could；　but　they　seemed　to　make　such　a　power　of　racket　that　I　couldn't　hardly　get　my　breath　I　was　so　scared。　They　wouldn't　turn　in　the　lock；　either。　Well；　without　noticing　what　I　was　doing；　I　took　hold　of　the　knob；　and　open　comes　the　door！　It　warn't　locked！　I　hopped　in；　and　shook　off　the　towel；　and；　great　Caesar's　ghost！〃
〃What！　　what'd　you　see；　Tom？〃
〃Huck；　I　most　stepped　onto　Injun　Joe's　hand！〃
〃No！〃
〃Yes！　He　was　lying　there；　sound　asleep　on　the　floor；　with　his　old　patch　on　his　eye　and　his　arms　spread　out。〃
〃Lordy；　what　did　you　do？　Did　he　wake　up？〃
〃No；　never　budged。　Drunk；　I　reckon。　I　just　grabbed　that　towel　and　started！〃
〃I'd　never　'a'　thought　of　the　towel；　I　bet！〃
〃Well；　I　would。　My　aunt　would　make　me　mighty　sick　if　I　lost　it。〃
〃Say；　Tom；　did　you　see　that　box？〃
〃Huck；　I　didn't　wait　to　look　around。　I　didn't　see　the　box；　I　didn't　see　the　cross。　I　didn't　see　anything　but　a　bottle　and　a　tin　cup　on　the　floor　by　Injun　Joe；　yes；　I　saw　two　barrels　and　lots　more　bottles　in　the　room。　Don't　you　see；　now；　what's　the　matter　with　that　ha'nted　room？〃
〃How？〃
〃Why；　it's　ha'nted　with　whiskey！　Maybe　ALL　the　Temperance　Taverns　have　got　a　ha'nted　room；　hey；　Huck？〃
〃Well；　I　reckon　maybe　that's　so。　Who'd　'a'　thought　such　a　thing？　But　say；　Tom；　now's　a　mighty　good　time　to　get　that　box；　if　Injun　Joe's　drunk。〃
〃It　is；　that！　You　try　it！〃
Huck　shuddered。
〃Well；　no　　I　reckon　not。〃
〃And　I　reckon　not；　Huck。　Only　one　bottle　alongside　of　Injun　Joe　ain't　enough。　If　there'd　been　three；　he'd　be　drunk　enough　and　I'd　do　it。〃
There　was　a　long　pause　for　reflection；　and　then　Tom　said：
〃Lookyhere；　Huck；　less　not　try　that　thing　any　more　till　we　know　Injun　Joe's　not　in　there。　It's　too　scary。　Now；　if　we　watch　every　night；　we'll　be　dead　sure　to　see　him　go　out；　some　time　or　other；　and　then　we'll　snatch　that　box　quicker'n　lightning。〃
〃Well；　I'm　agreed。　I'll　watch　the　whole　night　long；　and　I'll　do　it　every　night；　too；　if　you'll　do　the　other　part　of　the　job。〃
〃All　right；　I　will。　All　you　got　to　do　is　to　trot　up　Hooper　Street　a　block　and　maow　　and　if　I'm　asleep；　you　throw　some　gravel　at　the　window　and　that'll　fetch　me。〃
〃Agreed；　and　good　as　wheat！〃
〃Now；　Huck；　the　storm's　over；　and　I'll　go　home。　It'll　begin　to　be　daylight　in　a　couple　of　hours。　You　go　back　and　watch　that　long；　will　you？〃
〃I　said　I　would；　Tom；　and　I　will。　I'll　ha'nt　that　tavern　every　night　for　a　year！　I'll　sleep　all　day　and　I'll　stand　watch　all　night。〃
〃That's　all　right。　Now；　where　you　going　to　sleep？〃
〃In　Ben　Rogers'　hayloft。　He　lets　me；　and　so　does　his　pap's　nigger　man；　Uncle　Jake。　I　tote　water　for　Uncle　Jake　whenever　he　wants　me　to；　and　any　time　I　ask　him　he　gives　me　a　little　something　to　eat　if　he　can　spare　it。　That's　a　mighty　good　nigger；　Tom。　He　likes　me；　becuz　I　don't　ever　act　as　if　I　was　above　him。　Sometime　I've　set　right　down　and　eat　with　him。　But　you　needn't　tell　that。　A　body's　got　to　do　things　when　he's　awful　hungry　he　wouldn't　want　to　do　as　a　steady　thing。〃
〃Well；　if　I　don't　want　you　in　the　daytime；　I'll　let　you　sleep。　I　won't　come　bothering　around。　Any　time　you　see　something's　up；　in　the　night；　just　skip　right　around　and　maow。〃　
CHAPTER　XXIX
THE　first　thing　Tom　heard　on　Friday　morning　was　a　glad　piece　of　news　　Judge　Thatcher's　family　had　come　back　to　town　the　night　before。　Both　Injun　Joe　and　the　treasure　sunk　into　secondary　importance　for　a　moment；　and　Becky　took　the　chief　place　in　the　boy's　interest。　He　saw　her　and　they　had　an　exhausting　good　time　playing　〃hi…spy〃　and　〃gully…keeper〃　with　a　crowd　of　their　schoolmates。　The　day　was　completed　and　crowned　in　a　peculiarly　satisfactory　way：　Becky　teased　her　mother　to　appoint　the　next　day　for　the　long…promised　and　long…delayed　picnic；　and　she　consented。　The　child's　delight　was　boundless；　and　Tom's　not　more　moderate。　The　invitations　were　sent　out　before　sunset；　and　straightway　the　young　folks　of　the　village　were　thrown　into　a　fever　of　preparation　and　pleasurable　anticipation。　Tom's　excitement　enabled　him　to　keep　awake　until　a　pretty　late　hour；　and　he　had　good　hopes　of　hearing　Huck's　〃maow；〃　and　of　having　his　treasure　to　astonish　Becky　and　the　picnickers　with；　next　day；　but　he　was　disappointed。　No　signal　came　that　night。
Morning　came；　eventually；　and　by　ten　or　eleven　o'clock　a　giddy　and　rollicking　company　were　gathered　at　Judge　Thatcher's；　and　everything　was　ready　for　a　start。　It　was　not　the　custom　for　elderly　people　to　mar　the　picnics　with　their　presence。　The　children　were　considered　safe　enough　under　the　wings　of　a　few　young　ladies　of　eighteen　and　a　few　young　gentlemen　of　twenty…three　or　thereabouts。　The　old　steam　ferry…boat　was　chartered　for　the　occasion；　presently　the　gay　throng　filed　up　the　main　street　laden　with　provision…baskets。　Sid　was　sick　and　had　to　miss　the　fun；　Mary　remained　at　home　to　entertain　him。　The　last　thing　Mrs。　Thatcher　said　to　Becky；　was：
〃You'll　not　get　back　till　late。　Perhaps　you'd　better　stay　all　night　with　some　of　the　girls　that　live　near　the　ferry…landing；　child。〃
〃Then　I'll　stay　with　Susy　Harper；　mamma。〃
〃Very　well。　And　mind　and　behave　yourself　and　don't　be　any　trouble。〃
Presently；　as　they　tripped　along；　Tom　said　to　Becky：
〃Say　　I'll　tell　you　what　we'll　do。　'Stead　of　going　to　Joe　Harper's　we'll　climb　right　up　the　hill　and　stop　at　the　Widow　Douglas'。　She'll　have　ice…cream！　She　has　it　most　every　day　　dead　loads　of　it。　And　she'll　be　awful　glad　to　have　us。〃
〃Oh；　that　will　be　fun！〃
Then　Becky　reflected　a　moment　and　said：
〃But　what　will　mamma　say？〃
〃How'll　she　ever　know？〃
The　girl　turned　the　idea　over　in　her　mind；　and　said　reluctantly：
〃I　reckon　it's　wrong　　but　〃
〃But　shucks！　Your　mother　won't　know；　and　so　what's　the　harm？　All　she　wants　is　that　you'll　be　safe；　and　I　bet　you　she'd　'a'　said　go　there　if　she'd　'a'　thought　of　it。　I　know　she　would！〃
The　Widow　Douglas'　splendid　hospitality　was　a　tempting　bait。　It　and　Tom's　persuasions　presently　carried　the　day。　So　it　was　decided　to　say　nothing　anybody　about　the　night's　programme。　Presently　it　occurred　to　Tom　that　maybe　Huck　might　come　this　very　night　and　give　the　signal。　The　thought　took　a　deal　of　the　spirit　out　of　his　anticipations。　Still　he　could　not　bear　to　give