汤姆.索亚历险记-第26部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


le　hands；　and　weak　　but　they've　helped　Muff　Potter　a　power；　and　they'd　help　him　more　if　they　could。〃
Tom　went　home　miserable；　and　his　dreams　that　night　were　full　of　horrors。　The　next　day　and　the　day　after；　he　hung　about　the　court…room；　drawn　by　an　almost　irresistible　impulse　to　go　in；　but　forcing　himself　to　stay　out。　Huck　was　having　the　same　experience。　They　studiously　avoided　each　other。　Each　wandered　away；　from　time　to　time；　but　the　same　dismal　fascination　always　brought　them　back　presently。　Tom　kept　his　ears　open　when　idlers　sauntered　out　of　the　courtroom；　but　invariably　heard　distressing　news　　the　toils　were　closing　more　and　more　relentlessly　around　poor　Potter。　At　the　end　of　the　second　day　the　village　talk　was　to　the　effect　that　Injun　Joe's　evidence　stood　firm　and　unshaken；　and　that　there　was　not　the　slightest　question　as　to　what　the　jury's　verdict　would　be。
Tom　was　out　late；　that　night；　and　came　to　bed　through　the　window。　He　was　in　a　tremendous　state　of　excitement。　It　was　hours　before　he　got　to　sleep。　All　the　village　flocked　to　the　court…house　the　next　morning；　for　this　was　to　be　the　great　day。　Both　sexes　were　about　equally　represented　in　the　packed　audience。　After　a　long　wait　the　jury　filed　in　and　took　their　places；　shortly　afterward；　Potter；　pale　and　haggard；　timid　and　hopeless；　was　brought　in；　with　chains　upon　him；　and　seated　where　all　the　curious　eyes　could　stare　at　him；　no　less　conspicuous　was　Injun　Joe；　stolid　as　ever。　There　was　another　pause；　and　then　the　judge　arrived　and　the　sheriff　proclaimed　the　opening　of　the　court。　The　usual　whisperings　among　the　lawyers　and　gathering　together　of　papers　followed。　These　details　and　accompanying　delays　worked　up　an　atmosphere　of　preparation　that　was　as　impressive　as　it　was　fascinating。
Now　a　witness　was　called　who　testified　that　he　found　Muff　Potter　washing　in　the　brook；　at　an　early　hour　of　the　morning　that　the　murder　was　discovered；　and　that　he　immediately　sneaked　away。　After　some　further　questioning；　counsel　for　the　prosecution　said：
〃Take　the　witness。〃
The　prisoner　raised　his　eyes　for　a　moment；　but　dropped　them　again　when　his　own　counsel　said：
〃I　have　no　questions　to　ask　him。〃
The　next　witness　proved　the　finding　of　the　knife　near　the　corpse。　Counsel　for　the　prosecution　said：
〃Take　the　witness。〃
〃I　have　no　questions　to　ask　him；〃　Potter's　lawyer　replied。
A　third　witness　swore　he　had　often　seen　the　knife　in　Potter's　possession。
〃Take　the　witness。〃
Counsel　for　Potter　declined　to　question　him。　The　faces　of　the　audience　began　to　betray　annoyance。　Did　this　attorney　mean　to　throw　away　his　client's　life　without　an　effort？
Several　witnesses　deposed　concerning　Potter's　guilty　behavior　when　brought　to　the　scene　of　the　murder。　They　were　allowed　to　leave　the　stand　without　being　cross…questioned。
Every　detail　of　the　damaging　circumstances　that　occurred　in　the　graveyard　upon　that　morning　which　all　present　remembered　so　well　was　brought　out　by　credible　witnesses；　but　none　of　them　were　crossexamined　by　Potter's　lawyer。　The　perplexity　and　dissatisfaction　of　the　house　expressed　itself　in　murmurs　and　provoked　a　reproof　from　the　bench。　Counsel　for　the　prosecution　now　said：
〃By　the　oaths　of　citizens　whose　simple　word　is　above　suspicion；　we　have　fastened　this　awful　crime；　beyond　all　possibility　of　question；　upon　the　unhappy　prisoner　at　the　bar。　We　rest　our　case　here。〃
A　groan　escaped　from　poor　Potter；　and　he　put　his　face　in　his　hands　and　rocked　his　body　softly　to　and　fro；　while　a　painful　silence　reigned　in　the　court…room。　Many　men　were　moved；　and　many　women's　compassion　testified　itself　in　tears。　Counsel　for　the　defence　rose　and　said：
〃Your　honor；　in　our　remarks　at　the　opening　of　this　trial；　we　foreshadowed　our　purpose　to　prove　that　our　client　did　this　fearful　deed　while　under　the　influence　of　a　blind　and　irresponsible　delirium　produced　by　drink。　We　have　changed　our　mind。　We　shall　not　offer　that　plea。〃　＇Then　to　the　clerk：＇　〃Call　Thomas　Sawyer！〃
A　puzzled　amazement　awoke　in　every　face　in　the　house；　not　even　excepting　Potter's。　Every　eye　fastened　itself　with　wondering　interest　upon　Tom　as　he　rose　and　took　his　place　upon　the　stand。　The　boy　looked　wild　enough；　for　he　was　badly　scared。　The　oath　was　administered。
〃Thomas　Sawyer；　where　were　you　on　the　seventeenth　of　June；　about　the　hour　of　midnight？〃
Tom　glanced　at　Injun　Joe's　iron　face　and　his　tongue　failed　him。　The　audience　listened　breathless；　but　the　words　refused　to　come。　After　a　few　moments；　however；　the　boy　got　a　little　of　his　strength　back；　and　managed　to　put　enough　of　it　into　his　voice　to　make　part　of　the　house　hear：
〃In　the　graveyard！〃
〃A　little　bit　louder；　please。　Don't　be　afraid。　You　were　〃
〃In　the　graveyard。〃
A　contemptuous　smile　flitted　across　Injun　Joe's　face。
〃Were　you　anywhere　near　Horse　Williams'　grave？〃
〃Yes；　sir。〃
〃Speak　up　　just　a　trifle　louder。　How　near　were　you？〃
〃Near　as　I　am　to　you。〃
〃Were　you　hidden；　or　not？〃
〃I　was　hid。〃
〃Where？〃
〃Behind　the　elms　that's　on　the　edge　of　the　grave。〃
Injun　Joe　gave　a　barely　perceptible　start。
〃Any　one　with　you？〃
〃Yes；　sir。　I　went　there　with　〃
〃Wait　　wait　a　moment。　Never　mind　mentioning　your　companion's　name。　We　will　produce　him　at　the　proper　time。　Did　you　carry　anything　there　with　you。〃
Tom　hesitated　and　looked　confused。
〃Speak　out；　my　boy　　don't　be　diffident。　The　truth　is　always　respectable。　What　did　you　take　there？〃
〃Only　a　　a　　dead　cat。〃
There　was　a　ripple　of　mirth；　which　the　court　checked。
〃We　will　produce　the　skeleton　of　that　cat。　Now；　my　boy；　tell　us　everything　that　occurred　　tell　it　in　your　own　way　　don't　skip　anything；　and　don't　be　afraid。〃
Tom　began　　hesitatingly　at　first；　but　as　he　warmed　to　his　subject　his　words　flowed　more　and　more　easily；　in　a　little　while　every　sound　ceased　but　his　own　voice；　every　eye　fixed　itself　upon　him；　with　parted　lips　and　bated　breath　the　audience　hung　upon　his　words；　taking　no　note　of　time；　rapt　in　the　ghastly　fascinations　of　the　tale。　The　strain　upon　pent　emotion　reached　its　climax　when　the　boy　said：
〃　and　as　the　doctor　fetched　the　board　around　and　Muff　Potter　fell；　Injun　Joe　jumped　with　the　knife　and　〃
Crash！　Quick　as　lightning　the　half…breed　sprang　for　a　window；　tore　his　way　through　all　opposers；　and　was　gone！　
CHAPTER　XXIV　
TOM　was　a　glittering　hero　once　more　　the　pet　of　the　old；　the　envy　of　the　young。　His　name　even　went　into　immortal　print；　for　the　village　paper　magnified　him。　There　were　some　that　believed　he　would　be　President；　yet；　if　he　escaped　hanging。
As　usual；　the　fickle；　unreasoning　world　took　Muff　Potter　to　its　bosom　and　fondled　him　as　lavishly　as　it　had　abused　him　before。　But　that　sort　of　conduct　is　to　the　world's　credit；　therefore　it　is　not　well　to　find　fault　with　it。
Tom's　days　were　days　of　splendor　and　exultation　to　him；　but　his　nights　were　seasons　of　horror。　Injun　Joe　infested　all　his　dreams；　and　always　with　doom　in　his　eye。　Hardly　any　temptation　could　persuade　the　boy　to　stir　abroad　after　nightfall。　Poor　Huck　was　in　the　same　state　of　wretchedness　and　terror；　for　Tom　had　told　the　whole　story　to　the　lawyer　the　night　before　the　great　day　of　the　trial；　and　Huck　was　sore　afraid　that　his　share　in　the　business　might　leak　out；　yet；　notwithstanding　Injun　Joe's　flight　had　saved　him　the　suffering　of　testifying　in　court。　The　poor　fellow　had　got　the　attorney　to　promise　secrecy；　but　what　of　that？　Since　Tom's　harassed　conscience　had　managed　to　drive　him　to　the　lawyer's　house　by　night　and　wring　a　dread　tale　from　lips　that　had　been　sealed　with　the　dismalest　and　most　formidable　of　oaths；　Huck's　confidence　in　the　human　race　was　well…nigh　obliterated。
Daily　Muff　Potter's　gratitude　made　Tom　glad　he　had　spoken；　but　nightly　he　wished　he　had　sealed　up　his　tongue。
Half　the　time　Tom　was　afraid　Injun　Joe　would　never　be　captured；　the　other　half　he　was　afraid　he　would　be。　He　felt　sure　he　never　could　draw　a　safe　breath　again　until　that　man　was　dead　and　he　had　seen　the　corpse。
Rewards　had　been　offered；　the　country　had　been　scoured；　but　no　Injun　Joe　was　found。　One　of　those　omniscient　and　awe…inspiring　marvels；　a　detective；　came　up　from　St。　Louis；　moused　around；　shook　his　head；　looked　wise；　and　made　that　sort　of　astounding　success　which　members　of　that　craft　usually　achieve。　That　is　to　say；　he　〃found　a　clew。〃　But　you　can't　hang　a　〃clew〃　for　murder；　and　so　after　that　detective　had　got　through　and　gone　home；　Tom　felt　just　as　insecure　as　he　was　before。
The　slow　days　drifted　on；　and　each　left　behind　it　a　slightly　lightened　weight　of　apprehension。　
CHAPTER　XXV
THERE　comes　a　time　in　every　rightlyconstructed　boy's　life　when　he　has　a　raging　desire　to　go　somewhere　and　dig　for　hidden　treasure。　This　desire　suddenly　came　upon　Tom　one　day。　He　sallied　out　to　find　Joe　Harper；　but　failed　of　success。　Next　he　sought　Ben　Rogers；　he　had　gone　fishing。　Presently　he　stumbled　upon　Huck　Finn　the　Red…Handed。　Huck　would　answer。　Tom　took　him　to　a　private　place　and　opened　the　matter　to　him　confidentially。　Huck　was　willing。　Huck　was　always　willing　to　take　a　hand　in　any　enterprise　that　offered　entertainment　and　required　no　capital；　for　he　had　a　troublesome　superabundance　of　that　sort　of　time　which　is　not　money。　〃Where'll　we　dig？〃　said　Huck。
〃Oh；　most　anywhere。〃
〃Why；　is　it　hid　all　around？〃
〃No；　indeed　it　ain't。　It's　hid　in　mighty　particular　places；　Huck　　sometimes　on　islands；　sometimes　in　rotten　chests　under　the　end　of　a　limb　of　an　old　dead　tree；　just　where　the　shadow　falls　at　midnight；　but　mostly　under　the　floor　in　ha'nted　houses。〃
〃Who　hides　it？〃
〃Why；　robbers；　of　course　　who'd　you　reckon？　Sunday…school　sup'rintendents？〃
〃I　don't　know。　If　'twas　mine　I　wouldn't　hide　it；　I'd　spend　it　and　have　a　good　time。〃
〃So　would　I。　But　robbers　don't　do　that　way。　They　always　hide　it　and　leave　it　there。〃
〃Don't　they　come　after　it　any　more？〃
〃No；　they　think　they　will；　but　they　generally　forget　the　marks；　or　else　they　die。　Anyway；　it　lays　there　a　long　time　and　gets　rusty；　and　by　and　by　somebody　finds　an　old　yellow　paper　that　tells　how　to　find　the　marks　　a　paper　that's　got　to　be　ciphered　over　about　a　week　because　it's　mostly　signs　and　hy'roglyphics。〃
〃HyroQwhich？〃
〃Hy'roglyphics　　pictures　and　things；　you　know；　that　don't　seem　to　mean　anything。〃
〃Have　you　got　one　of　them　papers；　Tom？〃
〃No。〃
〃Well　then；　how　you　going　to　find　the　marks？〃
〃I　don't　want　any　marks。　They　alway