汤姆.索亚历险记-第31部分

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　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　firmly；　after　balancing；　one…legged；　in　a　precarious　way　and　almost　toppling　over；　first　on　one　side　and　then　on　the　other。　He　took　another　step　back；　with　the　same　elaboration　and　the　same　risks；　then　another　and　another；　and　　a　twig　snapped　under　his　foot！　His　breath　stopped　and　he　listened。　There　was　no　sound　　the　stillness　was　perfect。　His　gratitude　was　measureless。　Now　he　turned　in　his　tracks；　between　the　walls　of　sumach　bushes　　turned　himself　as　carefully　as　if　he　were　a　ship　　and　then　stepped　quickly　but　cautiously　along。　When　he　emerged　at　the　quarry　he　felt　secure；　and　so　he　picked　up　his　nimble　heels　and　flew。　Down；　down　he　sped；　till　he　reached　the　Welshman's。　He　banged　at　the　door；　and　presently　the　heads　of　the　old　man　and　his　two　stalwart　sons　were　thrust　from　windows。
〃What's　the　row　there？　Who's　banging？　What　do　you　want？〃
〃Let　me　in　　quick！　I'll　tell　everything。〃
〃Why；　who　are　you？〃
〃Huckleberry　Finn　　quick；　let　me　in！〃
〃Huckleberry　Finn；　indeed！　It　ain't　a　name　to　open　many　doors；　I　judge！　But　let　him　in；　lads；　and　let's　see　what's　the　trouble。〃
〃Please　don't　ever　tell　I　told　you；〃　were　Huck's　first　words　when　he　got　in。　〃Please　don't　　I'd　be　killed；　sure　　but　the　widow's　been　good　friends　to　me　sometimes；　and　I　want　to　tell　　I　will　tell　if　you'll　promise　you　won't　ever　say　it　was　me。〃
〃By　George；　he　has　got　something　to　tell；　or　he　wouldn't　act　so！〃　exclaimed　the　old　man；　〃out　with　it　and　nobody　here'll　ever　tell；　lad。〃
Three　minutes　later　the　old　man　and　his　sons；　well　armed；　were　up　the　hill；　and　just　entering　the　sumach　path　on　tiptoe；　their　weapons　in　their　hands。　Huck　accompanied　them　no　further。　He　hid　behind　a　great　bowlder　and　fell　to　listening。　There　was　a　lagging；　anxious　silence；　and　then　all　of　a　sudden　there　was　an　explosion　of　firearms　and　a　cry。
Huck　waited　for　no　particulars。　He　sprang　away　and　sped　down　the　hill　as　fast　as　his　legs　could　carry　him。　
CHAPTER　XXX
AS　the　earliest　suspicion　of　dawn　appeared　on　Sunday　morning；　Huck　came　groping　up　the　hill　and　rapped　gently　at　the　old　Welshman's　door。　The　inmates　were　asleep；　but　it　was　a　sleep　that　was　set　on　a　hair…trigger；　on　account　of　the　exciting　episode　of　the　night。　A　call　came　from　a　window：
〃Who's　there！〃
Huck's　scared　voice　answered　in　a　low　tone：
〃Please　let　me　in！　It's　only　Huck　Finn！〃
〃It's　a　name　that　can　open　this　door　night　or　day；　lad！　　and　welcome！〃
These　were　strange　words　to　the　vagabond　boy's　ears；　and　the　pleasantest　he　had　ever　heard。　He　could　not　recollect　that　the　closing　word　had　ever　been　applied　in　his　case　before。　The　door　was　quickly　unlocked；　and　he　entered。　Huck　was　given　a　seat　and　the　old　man　and　his　brace　of　tall　sons　speedily　dressed　themselves。
〃Now；　my　boy；　I　hope　you're　good　and　hungry；　because　breakfast　will　be　ready　as　soon　as　the　sun's　up；　and　we'll　have　a　piping　hot　one；　too　　make　yourself　easy　about　that！　I　and　the　boys　hoped　you'd　turn　up　and　stop　here　last　night。〃
〃I　was　awful　scared；〃　said　Huck；　〃and　I　run。　I　took　out　when　the　pistols　went　off；　and　I　didn't　stop　for　three　mile。　I've　come　now　becuz　I　wanted　to　know　about　it；　you　know；　and　I　come　before　daylight　becuz　I　didn't　want　to　run　across　them　devils；　even　if　they　was　dead。〃
〃Well；　poor　chap；　you　do　look　as　if　you'd　had　a　hard　night　of　it　　but　there's　a　bed　here　for　you　when　you've　had　your　breakfast。　No；　they　ain't　dead；　lad　　we　are　sorry　enough　for　that。　You　see　we　knew　right　where　to　put　our　hands　on　them；　by　your　description；　so　we　crept　along　on　tiptoe　till　we　got　within　fifteen　feet　of　them　　dark　as　a　cellar　that　sumach　path　was　　and　just　then　I　found　I　was　going　to　sneeze。　It　was　the　meanest　kind　of　luck！　I　tried　to　keep　it　back；　but　no　use　　'twas　bound　to　come；　and　it　did　come！　I　was　in　the　lead　with　my　pistol　raised；　and　when　the　sneeze　started　those　scoundrels　a…rustling　to　get　out　of　the　path；　I　sung　out；　'Fire　boys！'　and　blazed　away　at　the　place　where　the　rustling　was。　So　did　the　boys。　But　they　were　off　in　a　jiffy；　those　villains；　and　we　after　them；　down　through　the　woods。　I　judge　we　never　touched　them。　They　f