汤姆.索亚历险记-第17部分

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esh…water　fish　is　on　the　fire　after　he　is　caught　the　better　he　is；　and　they　reflected　little　upon　what　a　sauce　open…air　sleeping；　open…air　exercise；　bathing；　and　a　large　ingredient　of　hunger　make；　too。
They　lay　around　in　the　shade；　after　breakfast；　while　Huck　had　a　smoke；　and　then　went　off　through　the　woods　on　an　exploring　expedition。　They　tramped　gayly　along；　over　decaying　logs；　through　tangled　underbrush；　among　solemn　monarchs　of　the　forest；　hung　from　their　crowns　to　the　ground　with　a　drooping　regalia　of　grape…vines。　Now　and　then　they　came　upon　snug　nooks　carpeted　with　grass　and　jeweled　with　flowers。
They　found　plenty　of　things　to　be　delighted　with；　but　nothing　to　be　astonished　at。　They　discovered　that　the　island　was　about　three　miles　long　and　a　quarter　of　a　mile　wide；　and　that　the　shore　it　lay　closest　to　was　only　separated　from　it　by　a　narrow　channel　hardly　two　hundred　yards　wide。　They　took　a　swim　about　every　hour；　so　it　was　close　upon　the　middle　of　the　afternoon　when　they　got　back　to　camp。　They　were　too　hungry　to　stop　to　fish；　but　they　fared　sumptuously　upon　cold　ham；　and　then　threw　themselves　down　in　the　shade　to　talk。　But　the　talk　soon　began　to　drag；　and　then　died。　The　stillness；　the　solemnity　that　brooded　in　the　woods；　and　the　sense　of　loneliness；　began　to　tell　upon　the　spirits　of　the　boys。　They　fell　to　thinking。　A　sort　of　undefined　longing　crept　upon　them。　This　took　dim　shape；　presently　　it　was　budding　homesickness。　Even　Finn　the　Red…Handed　was　dreaming　of　his　doorsteps　and　empty　hogsheads。　But　they　were　all　ashamed　of　their　weakness；　and　none　was　brave　enough　to　speak　his　thought。
For　some　time；　now；　the　boys　had　been　dully　conscious　of　a　peculiar　sound　in　the　distance；　just　as　one　sometimes　is　of　the　ticking　of　a　clock　which　he　takes　no　distinct　note　of。　But　now　this　mysterious　sound　became　more　pronounced；　and　forced　a　recognition。　The　boys　started；　glanced　at　each　other；　and　then　each　assumed　a　listening　attitude。　There　was　a　long　silence；　profound　and　unbroken；　then　a　deep；　sullen　boom　came　floating　down　out　of　the　distance。
〃What　is　it！〃　exclaimed　Joe；　under　his　breath。
〃I　wonder；〃　said　Tom　in　a　whisper。
〃'Tain't　thunder；〃　said　Huckleberry；　in　an　awed　tone；　〃becuz　thunder　〃
〃Hark！〃　said　Tom。　〃Listen　　don't　talk。〃
They　waited　a　time　that　seemed　an　age；　and　then　the　same　muffled　boom　troubled　the　solemn　hush。
〃Let's　go　and　see。〃
They　sprang　to　their　feet　and　hurried　to　the　shore　toward　the　town。　They　parted　the　bushes　on　the　bank　and　peered　out　over　the　water。　The　little　steam　ferryboat　was　about　a　mile　below　the　village；　drifting　with　the　current。　Her　broad　deck　seemed　crowded　with　people。　There　were　a　great　many　skiffs　rowing　about　or　floating　with　the　stream　in　the　neighborhood　of　the　ferryboat；　but　the　boys　could　not　determine　what　the　men　in　them　were　doing。　Presently　a　great　jet　of　white　smoke　burst　from　the　ferryboat's　side；　and　as　it　expanded　and　rose　in　a　lazy　cloud；　that　same　dull　throb　of　sound　was　borne　to　the　listeners　again。
〃I　know　now！〃　exclaimed　Tom；　〃somebody's　drownded！〃
〃That's　it！〃　said　Huck；　〃they　done　that　last　summer；　when　Bill　Turner　got　drownded；　they　shoot　a　cannon　over　the　water；　and　that　makes　him　come　up　to　the　top。　Yes；　and　they　take　loaves　of　bread　and　put　quicksilver　in　'em　and　set　'em　afloat；　and　wherever　there's　anybody　that's　drownded；　they'll　float　right　there　and　stop。〃
〃Yes；　I've　heard　about　that；〃　said　Joe。　〃I　wonder　what　makes　the　bread　do　that。〃
〃Oh；　it　ain't　the　bread；　so　much；〃　said　Tom；　〃I　reckon　it's　mostly　what　they　SAY　over　it　before　they　start　it　out。〃
〃But　they　don't　say　anything　over　it；〃　said　Huck。　〃I've　seen　'em　and　they　don't。〃
〃Well；　that's　funny；〃　said　Tom。　〃But　maybe　they　say　it　to　themselves。　Of　course　they　do。　Anybody　might　know　that。〃
The　other　boys　agreed　that　there　was　reason　in　what　Tom　said；　because　an　ignorant　lump　of　bread；　uninstructed　by　an　incantation；　could　not　be　expected　to　act　very　intelligently　when　set　upon　an　errand　of　such　gravity。
〃By　jings；　I　wish　I　was　over　there；　now；〃　said　Joe。
〃I　do　too〃　said　Huck　〃I'd　give　heaps　to　know　who　it　is。〃
The　boys　still　listened　and　watched。　Presently　a　revealing　thought　flashed　through　Tom's　mind；　and　he　exclaimed：
〃Boys；　I　know　who's　drownded　　it's　us！〃
They　felt　like　heroes　in　an　instant。　Here　was　a　gorgeous　triumph；　they　were　missed；　they　were　mourned；　hearts　were　breaking　on　their　account；　tears　were　being　shed；　accusing　memories　of　unkindness　to　these　poor　lost　lads　were　rising　up；　and　unavailing　regrets　and　remorse　were　being　indulged；　and　best　of　all；　the　departed　were　the　talk　of　the　whole　town；　and　the　envy　of　all　the　boys；　as　far　as　this　dazzling　notoriety　was　concerned。　This　was　fine。　It　was　worth　while　to　be　a　pirate；　after　all。
As　twilight　drew　on；　the　ferryboat　went　back　to　her　accustomed　business　and　the　skiffs　disappeared。　The　pirates　returned　to　camp。　They　were　jubilant　with　vanity　over　their　new　grandeur　and　the　illustrious　trouble　they　were　making。　They　caught　fish；　cooked　supper　and　ate　it；　and　then　fell　to　guessing　at　what　the　village　was　thinking　and　saying　about　them；　and　the　pictures　they　drew　of　the　public　distress　on　their　account　were　gratifying　to　look　upon　　from　their　point　of　view。　But　when　the　shadows　of　night　closed　them　in；　they　gradually　ceased　to　talk；　and　sat　gazing　into　the　fire；　with　their　minds　evidently　wandering　elsewhere。　The　excitement　was　gone；　now；　and　Tom　and　Joe　could　not　keep　back　thoughts　of　certain　persons　at　home　who　were　not　enjoying　this　fine　frolic　as　much　as　they　were。　Misgivings　came；　they　grew　troubled　and　unhappy；　a　sigh　or　two　escaped；　unawares。　By　and　by　Joe　timidly　ventured　upon　a　roundabout　〃feeler〃　as　to　how　the　others　might　look　upon　a　return　to　civilization　　not　right　now；　but　
Tom　withered　him　with　derision！　Huck；　being　uncommitted　as　yet；　joined　in　with　Tom；　and　the　waverer　quickly　〃explained；〃　and　was　glad　to　get　out　of　the　scrape　with　as　little　taint　of　chicken…hearted　homesickness　clinging　to　his　garments　as　he　could。　Mutiny　was　effectually　laid　to　rest　for　the　moment。
As　the　night　deepened；　Huck　began　to　nod；　and　presently　to　snore。　Joe　followed　next。　Tom　lay　upon　his　elbow　motionless；　for　some　time；　watching　the　two　intently。　At　last　he　got　up　cautiously；　on　his　knees；　and　went　searching　among　the　grass　and　the　flickering　reflections　flung　by　the　camp…fire。　He　picked　up　and　inspected　several　large　semi…cylinders　of　the　thin　white　bark　of　a　sycamore；　and　finally　chose　two　which　seemed　to　suit　him。　Then　he　knelt　by　the　fire　and　painfully　wrote　something　upon　each　of　these　with　his　〃red　keel〃；　one　he　rolled　up　and　put　in　his　jacket　pocket；　and　the　other　he　put　in　Joe's　hat　and　removed　it　to　a　little　distance　from　the　owner。　And　he　also　put　into　the　hat　certain　schoolboy　treasures　of　almost　inestimable　value　　among　them　a　lump　of　chalk；　an　India…rubber　ball；　three　fishhooks；　and　one　of　that　kind　of　marbles　known　as　a　〃sure　'nough　crystal。〃　Then　he　tiptoed　his　way　cautiously　among　the　trees　till　he　felt　that　he　was　out　of　hearing；　and　straightway　broke　into　a　keen　run　in　the　direction　of　the　sandbar。　
CHAPTER　XV
A　FEW　minutes　later　Tom　was　in　the　shoal　water　of　the　bar；　wading　toward　the　Illinois　shore。　Before　the　depth　reached　his　middle　he　was　half…way　over；　the　current　would　permit　no　more　wading；　now；　so　he　struck　out　confidently　to　swim　the　remaining　hundred　yards。　He　swam　quartering　upstream；　but　still　was　swept　downward　rather　faster　than　he　had　expected。　However；　he　reached　the　shore　finally；　and　drifted　along　till　he　found　a　low　place　and　drew　himself　out。　He　put　his　hand　on　his　jacket　pocket；　found　his　piece　of　bark　safe；　and　then　struck　through　the　woods；　following　the　shore；　with　streaming　garments。　Shortly　before　ten　o'clock　he　came　out　into　an　open　place　opposite　the　village；　and　saw　the　ferryboat　lying　in　the　shadow　of　the　trees　and　the　high　bank。　Everything　was　quiet　under　the　blinking　stars。　He　crept　down　the　bank；　watching　with　all　his　eyes；　slipped　into　the　water；　swam　three　or　four　strokes　and　climbed　into　the　skiff　that　did　〃yawl〃　duty　at　the　boat's　stern。　He　laid　himself　down　under　the　thwarts　and　waited；　panting。
Presently　the　cracked　bell　tapped　and　a　voice　gave　the　order　to　〃cast　off。〃　A　minute　or　two　later　the　skiff's　head　was　standing　high　up；　against　the　boat's　swell；　and　the　voyage　was　begun。　Tom　felt　happy　in　his　success；　for　he　knew　it　was　the　boat's　last　trip　for　the　night。　At　the　end　of　a　long　twelve　or　fifteen　minutes　the　wheels　stopped；　and　Tom　slipped　overboard　and　swam　ashore　in　the　dusk；　landing　fifty　yards　downstream；　out　of　danger　of　possible　stragglers。
He　flew　along　unfrequented　alleys；　and　shortly　found　himself　at　his　aunt's　back　fence。　He　climbed　over；　approached　the　〃ell；〃　and　looked　in　at　the　sitting…room　window；　for　a　light　was　burning　there。　There　sat　Aunt　Polly；　Sid；　Mary；　and　Joe　Harper's　mother；　grouped　together；　talking。　They　were　by　the　bed；　and　the　bed　was　between　them　and　the　door。　Tom　went　to　the　door　and　began　to　softly　lift　the　latch；　then　he　pressed　gently　and　the　door　yielded　a　crack；　he　continued　pushing　cautiously；　and　quaking　every　time　it　creaked；　till　he　judged　he　might　squeeze　through　on　his　knees；　so　he　put　his　head　through　and　began；　warily。
〃What　makes　the　candle　blow　so？〃　said　Aunt　Polly。　Tom　hurried　up。　〃Why；　that　door's　open；　I　believe。　Why；　of　course　it　is。　No　end　of　strange　things　now。　Go　'long　and　shut　it；　Sid。〃
Tom　disappeared　under　the　bed　just　in　time。　He　lay　and　〃breathed〃　himself　for　a　time；　and　then　crept　to　where　he　could　almost　touch　his　aunt's　foot。
〃But　as　I　was　saying；〃　said　Aunt　Polly；　〃he　warn't　bad；　so　to　say　　only　mischeevous。　Only　just　giddy；　and　harum…scarum；　you　know。　He　warn't　any　more　responsible　than　a　colt。　HE　never　meant　any　harm；　and　he　was　the　best…hearted　boy　that　ever　was〃　　and　she　began　to　cry。
〃It　was　just　so　with　my　Joe　　always　full　of　his　devilment；　and　up　to　every　kind　of　mischief；　but　he　was　just　as　unselfish　and　kind　as　he　could　be　　and　laws　bless　me；　to　think　I　went　and　whipped　him　for　taking　that　cream；　never　once　recollecting　that　I　throwed　it　out　myself　because　it　was　sour；　and　I　never　to　see　him　again　in　this　world；　never；　never；　never；　poor　abused　boy！〃　And　Mrs。　Harper　sobbed　as　if　her　heart　would　break。
〃I　h