汤姆.索亚历险记-第34节

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ook　a　deal　of　the　spirit　out　of　his　anticipations。　Still　he　could　not　bear　to　give　up　the　fun　at　Widow　Douglas'。　And　why　should　he　give　it　up；　he　reasoned　　the　signal　did　not　come　the　night　before；　so　why　should　it　be　any　more　likely　to　come　to…night？　The　sure　fun　of　the　evening　outweighed　the　uncertain　treasure；　and；　boy…like；　he　determined　to　yield　to　the　stronger　inclination　and　not　allow　himself　to　think　of　the　box　of　money　another　time　that　day。
Three　miles　below　town　the　ferryboat　stopped　at　the　mouth　of　a　woody　hollow　and　tied　up。　The　crowd　swarmed　ashore　and　soon　the　forest　distances　and　craggy　heights　echoed　far　and　near　with　shoutings　and　laughter。　All　the　different　ways　of　getting　hot　and　tired　were　gone　through　with；　and　by…and…by　the　rovers　straggled　back　to　camp　fortified　with　responsible　appetites；　and　then　the　destruction　of　the　good　things　began。　After　the　feast　there　was　a　refreshing　season　of　rest　and　chat　in　the　shade　of　spreading　oaks。　By…and…by　somebody　shouted：
〃Who's　ready　for　the　cave？〃
Everybody　was。　Bundles　of　candles　were　procured；　and　straightway　there　was　a　general　scamper　up　the　hill。　The　mouth　of　the　cave　was　up　the　hillside　　an　opening　shaped　like　a　letter　A。　Its　massive　oaken　door　stood　unbarred。　Within　was　a　small　chamber；　chilly　as　an　ice…house；　and　walled　by　Nature　with　solid　limestone　that　was　dewy　with　a　cold　sweat。　It　was　romantic　and　mysterious　to　stand　here　in　the　deep　gloom　and　look　out　upon　the　green　valley　shining　in　the　sun。　But　the　impressiveness　of　the　situation　quickly　wore　off；　and　the　romping　began　again。　The　moment　a　candle　was　lighted　there　was　a　general　rush　upon　the　owner　of　it；　a　struggle　and　a　gallant　defence　followed；　but　the　candle　was　soon　knocked　down　or　blown　out；　and　then　there　was　a　glad　clamor　of　laughter　and　a　new　chase。　But　all　things　have　an　end。　By…and…by　the　procession　went　filing　down　the　steep　descent　of　the　main　avenue；　the　flickering　rank　of　lights　dimly　revealing　the　lofty　walls　of　rock　almost　to　their　point　of　junction　sixty　feet　overhead。　This　main　avenue　was　not　more　than　eight　or　ten　feet　wide。　Every　few　steps　other　lofty　and　still　narrower　crevices　branched　from　it　on　either　hand　　for　McDougal's　cave　was　but　a　vast　labyrinth　of　crooked　aisles　that　ran　into　each　other　and　out　again　and　led　nowhere。　It　was　said　that　one　might　wander　days　and　nights　together　through　its　intricate　tangle　of　rifts　and　chasms；　and　never　find　the　end　of　the　cave；　and　that　he　might　go　down；　and　down；　and　still　down；　into　the　earth；　and　it　was　just　the　same　　labyrinth　under　labyrinth；　and　no　end　to　any　of　them。　No　man　〃knew〃　the　cave。　That　was　an　impossible　thing。　Most　of　the　young　men　knew　a　portion　of　it；　and　it　was　not　customary　to　venture　much　beyond　this　known　portion。　Tom　Sawyer　knew　as　much　of　the　cave　as　any　one。
The　procession　moved　along　the　main　avenue　some　three…quarters　of　a　mile；　and　then　groups　and　couples　began　to　slip　aside　into　branch　avenues；　fly　along　the　dismal　corridors；　and　take　each　other　by　surprise　at　points　where　the　corridors　joined　again。　Parties　were　able　to　elude　each　other　for　the　space　of　half　an　hour　without　going　beyond　the　〃known〃　ground。
By…and…by；　one　group　after　another　came　straggling　back　to　the　mouth　of　the　cave；　panting；　hilarious；　smeared　from　head　to　foot　with　tallow　drippings；　daubed　with　clay；　and　entirely　delighted　with　the　success　of　the　day。　Then　they　were　astonished　to　find　that　they　had　been　taking　no　note　of　time　and　that　night　was　about　at　hand。　The　clanging　bell　had　been　calling　for　half　an　hour。　However；　this　sort　of　close　to　the　day's　adventures　was　romantic　and　therefore　satisfactory。　When　the　ferryboat　with　her　wild　freight　pushed　into　the　stream；　nobody　cared　sixpence　for　the　wasted　time　but　the　captain　of　the　craft。
Huck　was　already　upon　his　watch　when　the　ferry…boat's　lights　went　glinting　past　the　wharf。　He　heard　no　noise　on　board；　for　the　young　people　were　as　subdued　and　still　as　people　usually　are　who　are　nearly　tired　to　death。　He　wondered　what　boat　it　was；　and　why　she　did　not　stop　at　the　wharf　　and　then　he　dropped　her　out　of　his　mind　and　put　his　attention　upon　his　business。　The　night　was　growing　cloudy　and　dark。　Ten　o'clock　came；　and　the　noise　of　vehicles　ceased；　scattered　lights　began　to　wink　out；　all　straggling　foot…passengers　disappeared；　the　village　betook　itself　to　its　slumbers　and　left　the　small　watcher　alone　with　the　silence　and　the　ghosts。　Eleven　o'clock　came；　and　the　tavern　lights　were　put　out；　darkness　everywhere；　now。　Huck　waited　what　seemed　a　weary　long　time；　but　nothing　happened。　His　faith　was　weakening。　Was　there　any　use？　Was　there　really　any　use？　Why　not　give　it　up　and　turn　in？
A　noise　fell　upon　his　ear。　He　was　all　attention　in　an　instant。　The　alley　door　closed　softly。　He　sprang　to　the　corner　of　the　brick　store。　The　next　moment　two　men　brushed　by　him；　and　one　seemed　to　have　something　under　his　arm。　It　must　be　that　box！　So　they　were　going　to　remove　the　treasure。　Why　call　Tom　now？　It　would　be　absurd　　the　men　would　get　away　with　the　box　and　never　be　found　again。　No；　he　would　stick　to　their　wake　and　follow　them；　he　would　trust　to　the　darkness　for　security　from　discovery。　So　communing　with　himself；　Huck　stepped　out　and　glided　along　behind　the　men；　cat…like；　with　bare　feet；　allowing　them　to　keep　just　far　enough　ahead　not　to　be　invisible。
They　moved　up　the　river　street　three　blocks；　then　turned　to　the　left　up　a　cross…street。　They　went　straight　ahead；　then；　until　they　came　to　the　path　that　led　up　Cardiff　Hill；　this　they　took。　They　passed　by　the　old　Welshman's　house；　half…way　up　the　hill；　without　hesitating；　and　still　climbed　upward。　Good；　thought　Huck；　they　will　bury　it　in　the　old　quarry。　But　they　never　stopped　at　the　quarry。　They　passed　on；　up　the　summit。　They　plunged　into　the　narrow　path　between　the　tall　sumach　bushes；　and　were　at　once　hidden　in　the　gloom。　Huck　closed　up　and　shortened　his　distance；　now；　for　they　would　never　be　able　to　see　him。　He　trotted　along　awhile；　then　slackened　his　pace；　fearing　he　was　gaining　too　fast；　moved　on　a　piece；　then　stopped　altogether；　listened；　no　sound；　none；　save　that　he　seemed　to　hear　the　beating　of　his　own　heart。　The　hooting　of　an　owl　came　over　the　hill　　ominous　sound！　But　no　footsteps。　Heavens；　was　everything　lost！　He　was　about　to　spring　with　winged　feet；　when　a　man　cleared　his　throat　not　four　feet　from　him！　Huck's　heart　shot　into　his　throat；　but　he　swallowed　it　again；　and　then　he　stood　there　shaking　as　if　a　dozen　agues　had　taken　charge　of　him　at　once；　and　so　weak　that　he　thought　he　must　surely　fall　to　the　ground。　He　knew　where　he　was。　He　knew　he　was　within　five　steps　of　the　stile　leading　into　Widow　Douglas'　grounds。　Very　well；　he　thought；　let　them　bury　it　there；　it　won't　be　hard　to　find。
Now　there　was　a　voice　　a　very　low　voice　　Injun　Joe's：
〃Damn　her；　maybe　she's　got　company　　there's　lights；　late　as　it　is。〃
〃I　can't　see　any。〃
This　was　that　stranger's　voice　　the　stranger　of　the　haunted　house。　A　deadly　chill　went　to　Huck's　heart　　this；　then；　was　the　〃revenge〃　job！　His　thought　was；　to　fly。　Then　he　remembered　that　the　Widow　Douglas　had　been　kind　to　him　more　than　once；　and　maybe　these　men　were　going　to　murder　her。　He　wished　he　dared　venture　to　warn　her；　but　he　knew　he　didn't　dare　　they　might　come　and　catch　him。　He　thought　all　this　and　more　in　the　moment　that　elapsed　between　the　stranger's　remark　and　Injun　Joe's　next　　which　was　
〃Because　the　bush　is　in　your　way。　Now　　this　way　　now　you　see；　don't　you？〃
〃Yes。　Well；　there　IS　company　there；　I　reckon。　Better　give　it　up。〃
〃Give　it　up；　and　I　just　leaving　this　country　forever！　Give　it　up　and　maybe　never　have　another　chance。　I　tell　you　again；　as　I've　told　you　before；　I　don't　care　for　her　swag　　you　may　have　it。　But　her　husband　was　rough　on　me　　many　times　he　was　rough　on　me　　and　mainly　he　was　the　justice　of　the　peace　that　jugged　me　for　a　vagrant。　And　that　ain't　all。　It　ain't　a　millionth　part　of　it！　He　had　me　horsewhipped！　　horsewhipped　in　front　of　the　jail；　like　a　nigger！　　with　all　the　town　looking　on！　horsewhipped！　　do　you　understand？　He　took　advantage　of　me　and　died。　But　I'll　take　it　out　of　her。〃
〃Oh；　don't　kill　her！　Don't　do　that！〃
〃Kill？　Who　said　anything　about　killing？　I　would　kill　him　if　he　was　here；　but　not　her。　When　you　want　to　get　revenge　on　a　woman　you　don't　kill　her　　bosh！　you　go　for　her　looks。　You　slit　her　nostrils　　you　notch　her　ears　like　a　sow！〃
〃By　God；　that's　〃
〃Keep　your　opinion　to　yourself！　It　will　be　safest　for　you。　I'll　tie　her　to　the　bed。　If　she　bleeds　to　death；　is　that　my　fault？　I'll　not　cry；　if　she　does。　My　friend；　you'll　help　me　in　this　thing　　for　my　sake　　that's　why　you're　here　　I　mightn't　be　able　alone。　If　you　flinch；　I'll　kill　you。　Do　you　understand　that？　And　if　I　have　to　kill　you；　I'll　kill　her　　and　then　I　reckon　nobody'll　ever　know　much　about　who　done　this　business。〃
〃Well；　if　it's　got　to　be　done；　let's　get　at　it。　The　quicker　the　better　　I'm　all　in　a　shiver。〃
〃Do　it　now？　And　company　there？　Look　here　　I'll　get　suspicious　of　you；　first　thing　you　know。　No　　we'll　wait　till　the　lights　are　out　　there's　no　hurry。〃
Huck　felt　that　a　silence　was　going　to　ensue　　a　thing　still　more　awful　than　any　amount　of　murderous　talk；　so　he　held　his　breath　and　stepped　gingerly　back；　planted　his　foot　carefully　and　fi