汤姆.索亚历险记-第37节

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These　thoughts　worked　their　dim　way　through　Huck's　mind；　and　under　the　weariness　they　gave　him　he　fell　asleep。　The　widow　said　to　herself：
〃There　　he's　asleep；　poor　wreck。　Tom　Sawyer　find　it！　Pity　but　somebody　could　find　Tom　Sawyer！　Ah；　there　ain't　many　left；　now；　that's　got　hope　enough；　or　strength　enough；　either；　to　go　on　searching。〃　
CHAPTER　XXXI
NOW　to　return　to　Tom　and　Becky's　share　in　the　picnic。　They　tripped　along　the　murky　aisles　with　the　rest　of　the　company；　visiting　the　familiar　wonders　of　the　cave　　wonders　dubbed　with　rather　over…descriptive　names；　such　as　〃The　Drawing…Room；〃　〃The　Cathedral；〃　〃Aladdin's　Palace；〃　and　so　on。　Presently　the　hide…and…seek　frolicking　began；　and　Tom　and　Becky　engaged　in　it　with　zeal　until　the　exertion　began　to　grow　a　trifle　wearisome；　then　they　wandered　down　a　sinuous　avenue　holding　their　candles　aloft　and　reading　the　tangled　web…work　of　names；　dates；　post…office　addresses；　and　mottoes　with　which　the　rocky　walls　had　been　frescoed　（in　candle…smoke）。　Still　drifting　along　and　talking；　they　scarcely　noticed　that　they　were　now　in　a　part　of　the　cave　whose　walls　were　not　frescoed。　They　smoked　their　own　names　under　an　overhanging　shelf　and　moved　on。　Presently　they　came　to　a　place　where　a　little　stream　of　water；　trickling　over　a　ledge　and　carrying　a　limestone　sediment　with　it；　had；　in　the　slow…dragging　ages；　formed　a　laced　and　ruffled　Niagara　in　gleaming　and　imperishable　stone。　Tom　squeezed　his　small　body　behind　it　in　order　to　illuminate　it　for　Becky's　gratification。　He　found　that　it　curtained　a　sort　of　steep　natural　stairway　which　was　enclosed　between　narrow　walls；　and　at　once　the　ambition　to　be　a　discoverer　seized　him。　Becky　responded　to　his　call；　and　they　made　a　smoke…mark　for　future　guidance；　and　started　upon　their　quest。　They　wound　this　way　and　that；　far　down　into　the　secret　depths　of　the　cave；　made　another　mark；　and　branched　off　in　search　of　novelties　to　tell　the　upper　world　about。　In　one　place　they　found　a　spacious　cavern；　from　whose　ceiling　depended　a　multitude　of　shining　stalactites　of　the　length　and　circumference　of　a　man's　leg；　they　walked　all　about　it；　wondering　and　admiring；　and　presently　left　it　by　one　of　the　numerous　passages　that　opened　into　it。　This　shortly　brought　them　to　a　bewitching　spring；　whose　basin　was　incrusted　with　a　frostwork　of　glittering　crystals；　it　was　in　the　midst　of　a　cavern　whose　walls　were　supported　by　many　fantastic　pillars　which　had　been　formed　by　the　joining　of　great　stalactites　and　stalagmites　together；　the　result　of　the　ceaseless　water…drip　of　centuries。　Under　the　roof　vast　knots　of　bats　had　packed　themselves　together；　thousands　in　a　bunch；　the　lights　disturbed　the　creatures　and　they　came　flocking　down　by　hundreds；　squeaking　and　darting　furiously　at　the　candles。　Tom　knew　their　ways　and　the　danger　of　this　sort　of　conduct。　He　seized　Becky's　hand　and　hurried　her　into　the　first　corridor　that　offered；　and　none　too　soon；　for　a　bat　struck　Becky's　light　out　with　its　wing　while　she　was　passing　out　of　the　cavern。　The　bats　chased　the　children　a　good　distance；　but　the　fugitives　plunged　into　every　new　passage　that　offered；　and　at　last　got　rid　of　the　perilous　things。　Tom　found　a　subterranean　lake；　shortly；　which　stretched　its　dim　length　away　until　its　shape　was　lost　in　the　shadows。　He　wanted　to　explore　its　borders；　but　concluded　that　it　would　be　best　to　sit　down　and　rest　awhile；　first。　Now；　for　the　first　time；　the　deep　stillness　of　the　place　laid　a　clammy　hand　upon　the　spirits　of　the　children。　Becky　said：
〃Why；　I　didn't　notice；　but　it　seems　ever　so　long　since　I　heard　any　of　the　others。〃
〃Come　to　think；　Becky；　we　are　away　down　below　them　　and　I　don't　know　how　far　away　north；　or　south；　or　east；　or　whichever　it　is。　We　couldn't　hear　them　here。〃
Becky　grew　apprehensive。
〃I　wonder　how　long　we've　been　down　here；　Tom？　We　better　start　back。〃
〃Yes；　I　reckon　we　better。　P'raps　we　better。〃
〃Can　you　find　the　way；　Tom？　It's　all　a　mixed…up　crookedness　to　me。〃
〃I　reckon　I　could　find　it　　but　then　the　bats。　If　they　put　our　candles　out　it　will　be　an　awful　fix。　Let's　try　some　other　way；　so　as　not　to　go　through　there。〃
〃Well。　But　I　hope　we　won't　get　lost。　It　would　be　so　awful！〃　and　the　girl　shuddered　at　the　thought　of　the　dreadful　possibilities。
They　started　through　a　corridor；　and　traversed　it　in　silence　a　long　way；　glancing　at　each　new　opening；　to　see　if　there　was　anything　familiar　about　the　look　of　it；　but　they　were　all　strange。　Every　time　Tom　made　an　examination；　Becky　would　watch　his　face　for　an　encouraging　sign；　and　he　would　say　cheerily：
〃Oh；　it's　all　right。　This　ain't　the　one；　but　we'll　come　to　it　right　away！〃
But　he　felt　less　and　less　hopeful　with　each　failure；　and　presently　began　to　turn　off　into　diverging　avenues　at　sheer　random；　in　desperate　hope　of　finding　the　one　that　was　wanted。　He　still　said　it　was　〃all　right；〃　but　there　was　such　a　leaden　dread　at　his　heart　that　the　words　had　lost　their　ring　and　sounded　just　as　if　he　had　said；　〃All　is　lost！〃　Becky　clung　to　his　side　in　an　anguish　of　fear；　and　tried　hard　to　keep　back　the　tears；　but　they　would　come。　At　last　she　said：
〃Oh；　Tom；　never　mind　the　bats；　let's　go　back　that　way！　We　seem　to　get　worse　and　worse　off　all　the　time。〃
〃Listen！〃　said　he。
Profound　silence；　silence　so　deep　that　even　their　breathings　were　conspicuous　in　the　hush。　Tom　shouted。　The　call　went　echoing　down　the　empty　aisles　and　died　out　in　the　distance　in　a　faint　sound　that　resembled　a　ripple　of　mocking　laughter。
〃Oh；　don't　do　it　again；　Tom；　it　is　too　horrid；〃　said　Becky。
〃It　is　horrid；　but　I　better；　Becky；　they　might　hear　us；　you　know；〃　and　he　shouted　again。
The　〃might〃　was　even　a　chillier　horror　than　the　ghostly　laughter；　it　so　confessed　a　perishing　hope。　The　children　stood　still　and　listened；　but　there　was　no　result。　Tom　turned　upon　the　back　track　at　once；　and　hurried　his　steps。　It　was　but　a　little　while　before　a　certain　indecision　in　his　manner　revealed　another　fearful　fact　to　Becky　　he　could　not　find　his　way　back！
〃Oh；　Tom；　you　didn't　make　any　marks！〃
〃Becky；　I　was　such　a　fool！　Such　a　fool！　I　never　thought　we　might　want　to　come　back！　No　　I　can't　find　the　way。　It's　all　mixed　up。〃
〃Tom；　Tom；　we're　lost！　we're　lost！　We　never　can　get　out　of　this　awful　place！　Oh；　why　DID　we　ever　leave　the　others！〃
She　sank　to　the　ground　and　burst　into　such　a　frenzy　of　crying　that　Tom　was　appalled　with　the　idea　that　she　might　die；　or　lose　her　reason。　He　sat　down　by　her　and　put　his　arms　around　her；　she　buried　her　face　in　his　bosom；　she　clung　to　him；　she　poured　out　her　terrors；　her　unavailing　regrets；　and　the　far　echoes　turned　them　all　to　jeering　laughter。　Tom　begged　her　to　pluck　up　hope　again；　and　she　said　she　could　not。　He　fell　to　blaming　and　abusing　himself　for　getting　her　into　this　miserable　situation；　this　had　a　better　effect。　She　said　she　would　try　to　hope　again；　she　would　get　up　and　follow　wherever　he　might　lead　if　only　he　would　not　talk　like　that　any　more。　For　he　was　no　more　to　blame　than　she；　she　said。
So　they　moved　on　again　　aimlessly　　simply　at　random　　all　they　could　do　was　to　move；　keep　moving。　For　a　little　while；　hope　made　a　show　of　reviving　　not　with　any　reason　to　back　it；　but　only　because　it　is　its　nature　to　revive　when　the　spring　has　not　been　taken　out　of　it　by　age　and　familiarity　with　failure。
By…and…by　Tom　took　Becky's　candle　and　blew　it　out。　This　economy　meant　so　much！　Words　were　not　needed。　Becky　understood；　and　her　hope　died　again。　She　knew　that　Tom　had　a　whole　candle　and　three　or　four　pieces　in　his　pockets　　yet　he　must　economize。
By…and…by；　fatigue　began　to　assert　its　claims；　the　children　tried　to　pay　attention；　for　it　was　dreadful　to　think　of　sitting　down　when　time　was　grown　to　be　so　precious；　moving；　in　some　direction；　in　any　direction；　was　at　least　progress　and　might　bear　fruit；　but　to　sit　down　was　to　invite　death　and　shorten　its　pursuit。
At　last　Becky's　frail　limbs　refused　to　carry　her　farther。　She　sat　down。　Tom　rested　with　her；　and　they　talked　of　home；　and　the　friends　there；　and　the　comfortable　beds　and；　above　all；　the　light！　Becky　cried；　and　Tom　tried　to　think　of　some　way　of　comforting　her；　but　all　his　encouragements　were　grown　threadbare　with　use；　and　sounded　like　sarcasms。　Fatigue　bore　so　heavily　upon　Becky　that　she　drowsed　off　to　sleep。　Tom　was　grateful。　He　sat　looking　into　her　drawn　face　and　saw　it　grow　smooth　and　natural　under　the　influence　of　pleasant　dreams；　and　by…and…by　a　smile　dawned　and　rested　there。　The　peaceful　face　reflected　somewhat　of　peace　and　healing　into　his　own　spirit；　and　his　thoughts　wandered　away　to　bygone　times　and　dreamy　memories。　While　he　was　deep　in　his　musings；　Becky　woke　up　with　a　breezy　little　laugh　　but　it　was　stricken　dead　upon　her　lips；　and　a　groan　followed　it。
〃Oh；　how　could！　I　sleep！　I　wish　I　never；　never　had　waked！　No！　No；　I　don't；　Tom！　Don't　look　so！　I　won't　say　it　again。〃
〃I'm　glad　you've　slept；　Becky；　you'll　feel　rested；　now；　and　we'll　find　the　way　out。〃
〃We　can　try；　Tom；　but　I've　seen　such　a　beautiful　country　in　my　dream。　I　reckon　we　are　going　there。〃
〃Maybe　not；　maybe　not。　Cheer　up；　Becky；　and　let's　go　on　trying。〃
They　rose　up　and　wandered　along；　hand　in　hand　and　hopeless。　They　tried　to　estimate　how　long　they　had　been　in　the　cave；　but　all　they　knew　was　that　it　seemed　days　and　weeks；　and　yet　it　was　plain