 《哈克贝利·费恩历险记》（Adventures of Huckleberry Finn）是马克·吐温一部重要的作品，故事的主人公是在《汤姆·索亚历险记》中就跟大家见面的哈克贝利·费恩。哈克贝利是一个聪明、善良、勇敢的白人少年。他为了追求自由的生活，逃亡到密西西比河上。在逃亡途中，他遇到了黑奴吉姆。吉姆是一个勤劳朴实、热情诚实、忠心耿耿的黑奴，他为了逃脱被主人再次卖掉的命运，从主人家中出逃。两个人历经种种奇遇。这部小说从思想到技巧都有许多创新。小说赞扬了男孩哈克贝利的机智和善良，谴责了宗教的虚伪和信徒的愚昧，同时，塑造了一位富有尊严的黑奴形象。 |
第四十三章 我一有机会能和汤姆单独交谈，便问他当初搞逃亡的时候，究竟是什么用意？——如果 他搞的逃亡能成功，并且设法释放掉的黑奴原本已经自由了，那他的计划究竟是什么？他 说，从一开始，他脑子里的计划是，一旦能把杰姆平安无事地释放掉，就由我们用木排送他 到大河的下游，在大河入海口来一番真价实货的历险，然后告诉他已经自由了，于是叫他风 风光光地坐了轮船，回到上游家里来。至于这段耽误了的功夫，我们照样付给他最后的一笔 钱。并且还准备事前写个信，把四下里所有的黑奴全都招得来，让他们组成一个火炬游行队 伍，再来个军乐队，吹吹打打，在一片狂欢中，送他回到镇上。这样一来，他就会成为一名 英雄，而我们也会成为英雄。不过依我看，目前这个情形，也应该说是差不多可以满意了。 我们赶紧给杰姆卸下了身上的镣铐。葆莉姨妈、西拉斯姨父和萨莉姨妈知道了他怎样忠 心地帮助医生照看汤姆以后，就大大地夸奖了他一番，从优把他安顿好，他爱吃什么就让他 吃什么，还让他玩得开心，不用做任何什么事。我们把他带到楼上的病房里，痛痛快快地聊 了一番。此外，汤姆还给了他四十块大洋，作为他为了我们耐着性子充当囚犯，并且表现得 这么好的酬劳。杰姆开心得要死，不禁高声大叫：“你看，哈克，我当初怎么对你说的，— —在杰克逊岛上，我是怎么对你说的？我对你说，我胸上有毛，明（命）中就会有些什么。 我还对你说，我已经发过一回才（财），以后还会发。如今可不是都应了验，运气已经来 啦！别再跟我说啦——命相就是命相，记住我说的话，我知道得一清二楚，我就是会再发， 这如同我如今这一刻正站在这里一样的敏敏拜拜（明明白白）。” 接下来是汤姆滔滔不绝地说得没完没了。他说，让我们三人挑最近的一个晚上从这儿溜 之大吉，备齐了行装，然后到“领地”①去，在印第安人中间耽上两三个星期，来一番轰轰 烈烈的历险。我说，行啊，这很合我的心意。不过我没有钱买行装。依我看，我也不可能从 家里弄到钱，因为我爸爸很可能如今早已回去了，并且从撒切尔法官那里把钱都要了去，喝 个精光啦。 ①即印第安人领地，见三十九章的注。 “不，他没有，”汤姆说，“钱都还在那里，——六千多块钱。你爸爸从此就没有回去 过。反正我出来以前，他就没有回去过。” 杰姆以庄严的语气说道： “他是再也不会回来了，哈克。” 我说： “为什么呢，杰姆？” “别问为什么啦，哈克——不过他再也不会回来了。” 可是我钉住他不放，他终于说了： “你还记得大河上漂下来的那个屋子么？还记得屋里有个人全身用布该（盖）着的么？ 我进去，揭开来看了看，还不让你进去，你还记得么？所以说，你需要的时候，能拿到那笔 钱的，因为纳（那）就是他。” 如今汤姆身体快完全康复了，还把子弹用链子拴好，系在颈子上，当作表用，还时不时 拿在手里，看看是什么一个时辰。所以现在已经没有什么要写的了。我也为此万分高兴，因 为我要是早知道写书要费多大的劲，我当初就不会写，以后自然也就不会写了。不过嘛，依 我看，我得比其他的人先走一步，先到“领地”去。这是因为萨莉阿姨要认领我做儿子，要 教我学文明规矩，这可是我受不了的。我先前经受过一回啦。 完啦，你们真诚的朋友哈克•芬 １８８４，１８８５ Chapter 43 THE first time I catched Tom private I asked him what was his idea, time of the evasion? -- what it was he'd planned to do if the evasion worked all right and he managed to set a nigger free that was already free before? And he said, what he had planned in his head from the start, if we got Jim out all safe, was for us to run him down the river on the raft, and have adventures plumb to the mouth of the river, and then tell him about his being free, and take him back up home on a steamboat, in style, and pay him for his lost time, and write word ahead and get out all the niggers around, and have them waltz him into town with a torchlight procession and a brass-band, and then he would be a hero, and so would we. But I reckoned it was about as well the way it was. We had Jim out of the chains in no time, and when Aunt Polly and Uncle Silas and Aunt Sally found out how good he helped the doctor nurse Tom, they made a heap of fuss over him, and fixed him up prime, and give him all he wanted to eat, and a good time, and nothing to do. And we had him up to the sick-room, and had a high talk; and Tom give Jim forty dollars for being prisoner for us so patient, and doing it up so good, and Jim was pleased most to death, and busted out, and says: "DAH, now, Huck, what I tell you? -- what I tell you up dah on Jackson islan'? I TOLE you I got a hairy breas', en what's de sign un it; en I TOLE you I ben rich wunst, en gwineter to be rich AGIN; en it's come true; en heah she is! DAH, now! doan' talk to ME -- signs is SIGNS, mine I tell you; en I knowed jis' 's well 'at I 'uz gwineter be rich agin as I's astannin' heah dis minute!" And then Tom he talked along and talked along, and says, le's all three slide out of here one of these nights and get an outfit, and go for howling adventures amongst the Injuns, over in the Territory, for a couple of weeks or two; and I says, all right, that suits me, but I ain't got no money for to buy the outfit, and I reckon I couldn't get none from home, because it's likely pap's been back before now, and got it all away from Judge Thatcher and drunk it up. "No, he hain't," Tom says; "it's all there yet -- six thousand dollars and more; and your pap hain't ever been back since. Hadn't when I come away, anyhow." Jim says, kind of solemn: "He ain't a-comin' back no mo', Huck." I says: "Why, Jim?" "Nemmine why, Huck -- but he ain't comin' back no mo." But I kept at him; so at last he says: "Doan' you 'member de house dat was float'n down de river, en dey wuz a man in dah, kivered up, en I went in en unkivered him and didn' let you come in? Well, den, you kin git yo' money when you wants it, kase dat wuz him." Tom's most well now, and got his bullet around his neck on a watch-guard for a watch, and is always seeing what time it is, and so there ain't nothing more to write about, and I am rotten glad of it, because if I'd a knowed what a trouble it was to make a book I wouldn't a tackled it, and ain't a-going to no more. But I reckon I got to light out for the Territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally she's going to adopt me and sivilize me, and I can't stand it. I been there before. |
第四十二章 老人在早饭前又去了镇上，可就是找不到汤姆的踪影。两人在饭桌上想心事，一句话也 不说，神色凄凉。咖啡冷了，他们什么都没有吃。后来老人说： “我把信给了你么？” “什么信？” “我昨天从邮局取的信啊。” “没有，你没有给我信。” “哦，准定是我忘了。” 于是他掏了掏口袋，随后走到他放信的地方，把信找到了，递给了她，她说： “啊，是圣•彼得堡来的——是姐寄来的嘛。” 我正想再出去遛达一会，对自己有好处，不过我已动弹不得。啊，这时，她还来不及拆 信，便把信一扔奔了出去——因为她看到了什么啦，我也看到了。是汤姆•索亚躺在床垫 上。还有那位老医生。还有杰姆，身上穿着她的那件印花布衣服，双手捆在身后。还有不少 人。我一边把信藏在近旁一样东西的后面，一边往门外冲。她朝汤姆身上扑去，哭着说： “哦，他死啦，他死啦，我知道他死啦。” 汤姆呢，他把头微微地转过来，口中喃喃有词，这些表明了他如今已神志不清。她举起 了双手说： “他活着呢，谢天谢地！这下好啦！”她啧地吻了他一下，往屋里飞奔，去把床铺铺 好。一路上舌头转得飞快，对黑奴和其他的人一个个下了命令，跑一步，下一个命令。 我跑在人群后边，看人家准备怎样对待杰姆。老医生和西拉斯姨父跟在汤姆后面走进了 屋里。人群里怒气冲冲，其中有些人主张要绞死杰姆，好给这儿周围的黑奴做个榜样，叫他 们从此不敢象杰姆那样逃跑，惹出这么天大的乱子来，多少个日日夜夜，吓得全家人半死。 但也有些人说别这么干，这么干不妥，他可不是我们的黑奴嘛。他的主人会出场，肯定会为 了他这个人叫我们赔偿损失。这样一说，大伙儿冷静了一些，因为那些急着要绞死那做了错 事的黑奴的人，往往是最不愿意为了出过气拿出赔偿金的。 尽管如此，他们还是恶狠狠地咒骂杰姆，还时不时地给他一个巴掌。不过杰姆决不吭一 声。他装做不认识我。他们把他押回原来那间小屋，把他自己的衣服套在他身上，再一次用 链子把他铐了起来。这一回可不是拴在床腿上了，而是拴在墙脚那根大木头上钉着的骑马钉 上，把他的双手和两条腿都用铁链拴住了。还对他说，吃的只给面包和水，此外不给别的， 一直要到他的原主人来，或者在过了一定期限原主人还不来，就把他给拍卖掉。他们把我们 当初挖掘的洞填好了。还说每晚上要派几个农民带上熗在小屋附近巡逻守夜。白天要在门口 拴一条恶狗。正在这时，正当他们把事情安排得差不多，最后骂几句作为告别的表示时，老 医生来了，四下里看了一下说： “对待他嘛，别太过分了，因为他可不是一个坏黑奴。我一到那个孩子所在的地方，发 现非有一个助手不可，不然，我就无法把子弹取出来。按当时的情况，我无法离开，到别处 去找个帮手。病人的病情越来越糟。又过了一段时间，他神志不清了，又不允许我靠近他身 边。要是我用粉笔给木筏子上写下记号，他就要杀死我。他这类傻事几乎没有个完，我简直 给弄得束手无策。所以我对自个儿说，我非得有个助手不可，怎么说也非有不可。我这么刚 一说，这个黑奴不知从什么地方爬了出来，说他愿帮忙。他就这么做了个助手，而且做得非 常出色。当然我断定他准是个逃亡黑奴。我实在处境为难！可是我不得不钉住在那儿，整整 一个白天，又整整一个夜晚；我对你们说吧，我当时实在左右为难！我还有几个病人正在发 烧发冷，我自然想回镇上来，给他们诊治，但是我没有回。这是因为这个黑奴可能逃掉，那 我就会推脱不掉那个责任。加上过往的船只离得又远，没有一只能叫得应的。这样一来，我 得钉住在那里，一直顶到今早上大白天。这样善良、这样忠心耿耿的黑奴，我从未见过。而 且他是冒了丧失自由的危险这么干的，并且干得筋疲力竭了。再说，我看得清清楚楚，在最 近一些日子里，他做苦工也做得够苦了。先生们，我对你们说吧，为了这一些，我挺喜欢这 个黑奴。象这样的一个黑奴，值一千块大洋——并且值得好好对待他。我要他做什么，他就 做什么，所以那个孩子在那里养病，就跟在家里养病一个样——也许比在家里养还好一些， 因为地方实在太清静了。只是光我一个人，手头要管好两个人，并且我非得钉在那里不可， 一直到今天清早，有几个人坐着小船在附近走过。也是活该交好运气，这个黑奴正坐在草褥 子旁边，头撑在膝盖上，呼呼睡着了。我就不声不响地对他们打了招呼，他们就偷偷走过 来，抓住了他，在他还莫名其妙的时候，就把他绑了起来。凡是这一切，都没有遇到过什么 麻烦。那个孩子当时正昏昏沉沉睡着了，我们就把桨用东西裹上，好叫声音小一些，又把木 筏子拴在小船上，悄悄地把它拖过河来。这个黑奴始终没有吵闹，也不吭一声。先生们，这 可不是一个坏的黑奴，这就是我对他的看法。” 有人就说： “那好，医生，听起来挺不错，我不能不这么说。” 别的一些人态度也和缓了些。这位老医生对杰姆做了件大好事，我真是非常感激他。这 也表明了，我当初对他没有看错人，这也叫我很高兴。因为我一见他，就认为此人心肠好， 是个好人。后来大伙儿一致认为杰姆的所作所为非常好，人们应该看到这一点，并给以奖 励。于是大伙儿一个个都当场真心实意地表示，此后决不再责骂他了。 随后他们出来了，并且把他锁在里面。我本来希望大伙儿会说，不妨把他身上的镣铐去 掉一两根，因为实在太笨重了。或者有人会主张除了给他面包和水外，还该给他吃点肉和蔬 菜。不过这些人并没有想到这一些。依我看，我最好还是不必插进去。不过据我判断，等我 过了眼前这一关，我不妨设法把医生说的这番话告诉萨莉阿姨。我是说，作一些解释，说明 我怎样忘了说西特中了一熗的事，也就是指那个吓人的夜晚，我们划了小船去追那个逃跑的 黑奴，忘了提西特中熗的那回事。 不过我有的是时间。萨莉阿姨整天整夜呆在病人的房间里。每逢西拉斯姨父没精打采走 过来，我马上就躲到一边去。 第二天早上，我听说汤姆病情大大好转。他们说，萨莉阿姨已经前去打盹去了。我就偷 偷溜进了病房。我心想，如果他醒了，我们就可以编好一个经得起盘问的故事给这家子人 听。不过他正睡着哩。并且睡得非常安稳。他的脸色发白，可已经不象刚回家时那么烧得通 红的了。所以我便坐了下来，等着他醒转来。大约半个钟头光景，萨莉阿姨轻手轻脚走了进 来。这样一来，我又一次不知道怎样办才好啦。她对我摆摆手，叫我别作声。她在我旁边坐 了下来，低声说起话来。说如今大家都可以高高兴兴了，因为一切迹象都是第一等的。他睡 得这么久，看起来病不断往好处发展，病情也平静，十有八九醒来时会神志正常。 所以我们就坐在那里守着。后来他微微欠动，很自然地睁开眼睛看了看。他说： “哈啰，我怎么在家里啊？怎么一回事啊？木筏子在哪里？” “很好，很好。”我说。 “那杰姆呢？” “也很好。”我说。不过没有能说得爽快。他倒没有注意到，只是说： “好！精彩！现在我们一切平安无事啦！你跟姨妈讲过了么？” 我正想讲是，可是她插进来说： “讲什么？西特？” “啊，讲这件事前前后后的经过啊。” “什么前前后后？” “啊，就是这件事的前前后后啊。就只是一件事啊，就是我们怎样把逃亡的黑奴放走， 恢复自由啊——由我和汤姆一起。” “天啊！放——这孩子在讲什么啊，亲爱的，亲爱的，眼看得又神志不清啦！” “不，不是我神志不清。我此时此刻说的话，我都是一清二楚的。我们确实把他放走了 ——我和汤姆。我们是有计划地干的，而且干成了，并且干得非常妙。”他的话匣子一打 开，她也一点儿不想拦住他，只是坐在那里，眼睛越睁越大，让他一股脑儿倒出来。我呢， 也知道不用我插进去。“啊，姨妈，我们可费了大劲儿啦——干了好几个星期呢——一个小 时又一个小时，一个晚上又一个晚上，当你们全熟睡的时候。并且我们还得偷蜡烛，偷床 单，偷衬衫，偷你的衣服，还有调羹啊，盘子啊，小刀啊，暖炉啊，还有磨刀石，还有面 粉，简直说不完的东西。并且你们也想象不到我们干的活多么艰苦：做几把锯子，磨几枝 笔，刻下题词以及这个、那个的。而且那种乐趣，你们连一半也难以想象得到。并且我们还 得画棺材和其它的东西。还要写那封强盗的匿名信，还要抱着避雷针上上下下。还要挖洞直 通到小屋里边。还要做好绳梯，并且装在烤就的馅饼里送进去。还要把需用的调羹之类的东 西放在你围裙的口袋里带进去。” “老天爷啊！” “还在小屋里装满了耗子、蛇等等的，好给杰姆作伴。还有你把汤姆拖住了老半天，害 得他帽子里那块黄油都化掉了，差点儿把整个儿这回事给弄糟了，因为那些人在我们从小屋 里出来以前就来到了，因此我们不得不急着冲出去。他们一听到我们的声响便追赶我们，我 就中了这一熗。我们闪开了小道，让他们过去。那些狗呢，它们追了上来，可对我们没有兴 趣，光知道往最热闹的地方跑。我们找到了独木船，划出去找木筏子，终于一切平安无事， 杰姆也成了自由人。凡此种种，都是我们自个儿干出来的，难道不是棒极了么，姨妈？” “啊，我这一辈子还是头一回听到这样的事。原来是你们啊，是你们这些坏小子掀起了 这场祸害，害得大伙儿颠三倒四的，害得我们差点儿吓死。我恨不得在这时这刻就狠狠地揍 你一顿。你想想看，我怎样一个晚上又一个晚上在这里——等你病好以后，你这个小淘气 鬼，我不用鞭子抽你们两个，抽得你们叫爹叫娘，那才怪呢。” 可是汤姆呢，既得意，又高兴，就是不肯就此收场，他那张舌头啊，就是收不住——她 呢，始终是一边插嘴，一边火冒三丈，两个人一时间谁也不肯罢休，活象一场野猫打架。 她说： “好啊，你从中快活得够了，如今我告诉你一句话，要是我抓住你再管那个人的闲事啊 ——” “管哪一个人的闲事？”汤姆说。他收住了笑容，显得非常吃惊的样子。 “管哪一个？当然是那个逃跑的黑奴喽。你以为指的哪一个？” 汤姆神色庄重地看着我说： “汤姆，你不是刚才对我说，说他平安无事么？难道他还没有逃掉么？” “他哟，”萨莉姨妈说，“那个逃跑的黑奴么？他当然跑不掉。他们把他给活活逮回来 啦，他又回到了那间小屋，只给他面包和水活命，铁链子压得他够受的，这样要一直等到主 人来领，或者给拍卖掉。” 汤姆猛然从床上坐了起来，两眼直冒火，鼻翼一开一闭，仿佛象鱼腮一般，朝我叫了起 来： “他们没有这个权把他给关起来！快去啊——一分钟也别耽误。把他给放了！他不是个 奴隶啊！他跟全世界有腿走路的人一样自由啊！” “这孩子说的是些什么话？” “我说的每一个字都是实话，萨莉阿姨。要是没有人去，我去。我对他的一生清清楚 楚，汤姆也一样。两个月前，华珍老小姐死了。她为了曾想把他卖到下游去感到羞愧，而且 这样明明白白说过了。她在遗嘱里宣布了还他自由。” “天呀，既然你知道他已经自由了，那你为什么还要放他逃走呢？” “是啊，这是一个要害问题，这我必须得承认，而且凡是女人，都会要问的。啊，我要 的是借此过过冒险的瘾，哪怕是须得淌过齐脖子深的血泊——哎呀，葆莉姨妈①！” ①诺顿版注：葆莉姨妈，在小说开头就提到了。是汤姆的亲戚和监护人。在《汤 姆•索亚历险记》中是重要角色之一。 可不是，葆莉姨妈站在那里，站在进门口的地方，一付甜甜的、知足乐天的模样，活象 个无忧无虑的天使。真想不到啊！ 萨莉姨妈朝她扑了过去，紧紧搂着她，几乎掐掉了她的脑袋，我就在床底下找到了一个 地方，往床底下一钻，因为对我来说，房间里的空气把人憋得慌。我偷偷朝外张望，汤姆的 葆莉姨妈一会儿从怀里挣脱了出来，站在那里，透过眼镜，眼睛打量着汤姆——那神情仿佛 要把他蹬到地底下去似的，这你知道。随后她说： “是啊，你最好还是把头别过去——我要是你啊，汤姆，我也会别过去的。” “哦，天啊，”萨莉姨妈说，“难道他变得这么凶？怎么啦，那不是汤姆嘛，是西特— —是汤姆的——啊哟，汤姆哪里去了？刚才还在嘛。” “你准是说的哈克•芬——你准是说的他！我看，我还不致于养了我的汤姆这坏小子这 么些年，却见了面还认不出来。 这就太难了。哈克•芬，给我从床底下爬出来！” 我就爬了出来。可觉得怪不好意思的。 萨莉阿姨那种给搞得颠颠倒倒、莫名其妙的神态，还真少见。无独有偶的是萨莉姨父 了。他进来，人家把所有的情况跟他一讲，他就成了那个样子。你不妨说，他就象个喝醉了 酒的人。后来的一整天里，他简直是什么都弄不懂了。那天晚上，他布了一次道。他这回布 道，使他得到了大出风头的名声，因为他布的道，就连世界上年纪最大的老人也听得不知所 云。后来葆莉姨妈把我究竟是怎样一个人原原本本说了一通。我呢，不得不告诉他们我当时 的难处。当时费尔贝斯太太把我认作了汤姆•索亚了——她就插嘴说，“哦，罢了，罢了， 还叫我萨莉阿姨吧，我已经听惯了，就不用改个称呼了。”——我接着说，当时萨莉阿姨把 我认作汤姆•索亚，我就只得认了——没有别的路子嘛。并且我知道他不会在乎的，因为这 种神秘兮兮的事，正中他的下怀，他会就此演出一场冒险，落个心满意足。结果也真是如 此。所以他就装作是西特，尽量让我的日子变得好过一些。 他的葆莉姨妈呢，她说，汤姆所说华珍老小姐在遗嘱里写明解放杰姆的话，是说的实 情。这样一来，那汤姆•索亚确确实实是吃尽苦头，费尽周折，为的是释放一个已经释放了 的黑奴！凭他的教养，他怎么可能会帮助释放一个黑奴，这是在这以前，我一直弄不懂的， 如今算弄明白了。 葆莉姨妈还说，她接到萨莉姨妈的信，说汤姆和西特都已经平安到达，她就对自个儿说： “这下子可糟啦！我本该料到这一点的嘛，放他这样出门，却没有一个人照看好。看来 我非得搭下水的船走一千一百英里的路，才好弄明白这个小家伙这一回究竟干了些什么，既 然我接不到你这方面消息的回信。” “啊，我可从没有接到过你的来信啊。”萨莉阿姨说。 “啊，这怪啦。我给你写了两封信，问你信上说的西特已来这里是什么意思。” “啊，我一封也没有收到啊，姐。” 葆莉姨妈慢慢地转过身来，厉声说： “你，汤姆！” “嗯——怎么啦。”他有点儿不高兴地说。 “不准你对我‘怎么啦’、‘怎么啦’的，你这淘气鬼—— 把那些信交出来。” “什么信？” “那些信。我已经打定了主意。要是我非得揪住你不可的话，那我就——” “信在箱子里。这下好了吧。我从邮局取的，至今原封未动。我没有看。我动也没有 动。不过我知道，信准会引起麻烦。 我心想，如果你不着急，我就——” “好啊，真该揍你一顿，准没有错。我发了另一封信，说我动身来了，我恐怕他——” “不，那是昨天到的，我还没有看，不过这没事，这封信我拿到了。” 我愿意跟她打两块钱的赌，她肯定没有拿到。不过我想了一下，还是不打这个赌保险一 些。所以我就没有作声。 Chapter 42 THE old man was uptown again before breakfast, but couldn't get no track of Tom; and both of them set at the table thinking, and not saying nothing, and looking mournful, and their coffee getting cold, and not eating anything. And by and by the old man says: "Did I give you the letter?" "What letter?" "The one I got yesterday out of the post-office." "No, you didn't give me no letter." "Well, I must a forgot it." So he rummaged his pockets, and then went off somewheres where he had laid it down, and fetched it, and give it to her. She says: "Why, it's from St. Petersburg -- it's from Sis." I allowed another walk would do me good; but I couldn't stir. But before she could break it open she dropped it and run -- for she see something. And so did I. It was Tom Sawyer on a mattress; and that old doctor; and Jim, in HER calico dress, with his hands tied behind him; and a lot of people. I hid the letter behind the first thing that come handy, and rushed. She flung herself at Tom, crying, and says: "Oh, he's dead, he's dead, I know he's dead!" And Tom he turned his head a little, and muttered something or other, which showed he warn't in his right mind; then she flung up her hands, and says: "He's alive, thank God! And that's enough!" and she snatched a kiss of him, and flew for the house to get the bed ready, and scattering orders right and left at the niggers and everybody else, as fast as her tongue could go, every jump of the way. I followed the men to see what they was going to do with Jim; and the old doctor and Uncle Silas followed after Tom into the house. The men was very huffy, and some of them wanted to hang Jim for an example to all the other niggers around there, so they wouldn't be trying to run away like Jim done, and making such a raft of trouble, and keeping a whole family scared most to death for days and nights. But the others said, don't do it, it wouldn't answer at all; he ain't our nigger, and his owner would turn up and make us pay for him, sure. So that cooled them down a little, because the people that's always the most anxious for to hang a nigger that hain't done just right is always the very ones that ain't the most anxious to pay for him when they've got their satisfaction out of him. They cussed Jim considerble, though, and give him a cuff or two side the head once in a while, but Jim never said nothing, and he never let on to know me, and they took him to the same cabin, and put his own clothes on him, and chained him again, and not to no bed-leg this time, but to a big staple drove into the bottom log, and chained his hands, too, and both legs, and said he warn't to have nothing but bread and water to eat after this till his owner come, or he was sold at auction because he didn't come in a certain length of time, and filled up our hole, and said a couple of farmers with guns must stand watch around about the cabin every night, and a bulldog tied to the door in the daytime; and about this time they was through with the job and was tapering off with a kind of generl good-bye cussing, and then the old doctor comes and takes a look, and says: "Don't be no rougher on him than you're obleeged to, because he ain't a bad nigger. When I got to where I found the boy I see I couldn't cut the bullet out without some help, and he warn't in no condition for me to leave to go and get help; and he got a little worse and a little worse, and after a long time he went out of his head, and wouldn't let me come a-nigh him any more, and said if I chalked his raft he'd kill me, and no end of wild foolishness like that, and I see I couldn't do anything at all with him; so I says, I got to have HELP somehow; and the minute I says it out crawls this nigger from somewheres and says he'll help, and he done it, too, and done it very well. Of course I judged he must be a runaway nigger, and there I WAS! and there I had to stick right straight along all the rest of the day and all night. It was a fix, I tell you! I had a couple of patients with the chills, and of course I'd of liked to run up to town and see them, but I dasn't, because the nigger might get away, and then I'd be to blame; and yet never a skiff come close enough for me to hail. So there I had to stick plumb until daylight this morning; and I never see a nigger that was a better nuss or faithfuller, and yet he was risking his freedom to do it, and was all tired out, too, and I see plain enough he'd been worked main hard lately. I liked the nigger for that; I tell you, gentlemen, a nigger like that is worth a thousand dollars -- and kind treatment, too. I had everything I needed, and the boy was doing as well there as he would a done at home -- better, maybe, because it was so quiet; but there I WAS, with both of 'm on my hands, and there I had to stick till about dawn this morning; then some men in a skiff come by, and as good luck would have it the nigger was setting by the pallet with his head propped on his knees sound asleep; so I motioned them in quiet, and they slipped up on him and grabbed him and tied him before he knowed what he was about, and we never had no trouble. And the boy being in a kind of a flighty sleep, too, we muffled the oars and hitched the raft on, and towed her over very nice and quiet, and the nigger never made the least row nor said a word from the start. He ain't no bad nigger, gentlemen; that's what I think about him." Somebody says: "Well, it sounds very good, doctor, I'm obleeged to say." Then the others softened up a little, too, and I was mighty thankful to that old doctor for doing Jim that good turn; and I was glad it was according to my judgment of him, too; because I thought he had a good heart in him and was a good man the first time I see him. Then they all agreed that Jim had acted very well, and was deserving to have some notice took of it, and reward. So every one of them promised, right out and hearty, that they wouldn't cuss him no more. Then they come out and locked him up. I hoped they was going to say he could have one or two of the chains took off, because they was rotten heavy, or could have meat and greens with his bread and water; but they didn't think of it, and I reckoned it warn't best for me to mix in, but I judged I'd get the doctor's yarn to Aunt Sally somehow or other as soon as I'd got through the breakers that was laying just ahead of me -- explanations, I mean, of how I forgot to mention about Sid being shot when I was telling how him and me put in that dratted night paddling around hunting the runaway nigger. But I had plenty time. Aunt Sally she stuck to the sick-room all day and all night, and every time I see Uncle Silas mooning around I dodged him. Next morning I heard Tom was a good deal better, and they said Aunt Sally was gone to get a nap. So I slips to the sick-room, and if I found him awake I reckoned we could put up a yarn for the family that would wash. But he was sleeping, and sleeping very peaceful, too; and pale, not fire-faced the way he was when he come. So I set down and laid for him to wake. In about half an hour Aunt Sally comes gliding in, and there I was, up a stump again! She motioned me to be still, and set down by me, and begun to whisper, and said we could all be joyful now, because all the symptoms was first-rate, and he'd been sleeping like that for ever so long, and looking better and peacefuller all the time, and ten to one he'd wake up in his right mind. So we set there watching, and by and by he stirs a bit, and opened his eyes very natural, and takes a look, and says: "Hello! -- why, I'm at HOME! How's that? Where's the raft?" "It's all right," I says. "And JIM?" "The same," I says, but couldn't say it pretty brash. But he never noticed, but says: "Good! Splendid! NOW we're all right and safe! Did you tell Aunty?" I was going to say yes; but she chipped in and says: "About what, Sid?" "Why, about the way the whole thing was done." "What whole thing?" "Why, THE whole thing. There ain't but one; how we set the runaway nigger free -- me and Tom." "Good land! Set the run -- What IS the child talking about! Dear, dear, out of his head again!" "NO, I ain't out of my HEAD; I know all what I'm talking about. We DID set him free -- me and Tom. We laid out to do it, and we DONE it. And we done it elegant, too." He'd got a start, and she never checked him up, just set and stared and stared, and let him clip along, and I see it warn't no use for ME to put in. "Why, Aunty, it cost us a power of work -- weeks of it -- hours and hours, every night, whilst you was all asleep. And we had to steal candles, and the sheet, and the shirt, and your dress, and spoons, and tin plates, and case-knives, and the warming-pan, and the grindstone, and flour, and just no end of things, and you can't think what work it was to make the saws, and pens, and inscriptions, and one thing or another, and you can't think HALF the fun it was. And we had to make up the pictures of coffins and things, and nonnamous letters from the robbers, and get up and down the lightning-rod, and dig the hole into the cabin, and made the rope ladder and send it in cooked up in a pie, and send in spoons and things to work with in your apron pocket --" "Mercy sakes!" "-- and load up the cabin with rats and snakes and so on, for company for Jim; and then you kept Tom here so long with the butter in his hat that you come near spiling the whole business, because the men come before we was out of the cabin, and we had to rush, and they heard us and let drive at us, and I got my share, and we dodged out of the path and let them go by, and when the dogs come they warn't interested in us, but went for the most noise, and we got our canoe, and made for the raft, and was all safe, and Jim was a free man, and we done it all by ourselves, and WASN'T it bully, Aunty!" "Well, I never heard the likes of it in all my born days! So it was YOU, you little rapscallions, that's been making all this trouble, and turned everybody's wits clean inside out and scared us all most to death. I've as good a notion as ever I had in my life to take it out o' you this very minute. To think, here I've been, night after night, a -- YOU just get well once, you young scamp, and I lay I'll tan the Old Harry out o' both o' ye!" But Tom, he WAS so proud and joyful, he just COULDN'T hold in, and his tongue just WENT it -- she a-chipping in, and spitting fire all along, and both of them going it at once, like a cat convention; and she says: "WELL, you get all the enjoyment you can out of it NOW, for mind I tell you if I catch you meddling with him again --" "Meddling with WHO?" Tom says, dropping his smile and looking surprised. "With WHO? Why, the runaway nigger, of course. Who'd you reckon?" Tom looks at me very grave, and says: "Tom, didn't you just tell me he was all right? Hasn't he got away?" "HIM?" says Aunt Sally; "the runaway nigger? 'Deed he hasn't. They've got him back, safe and sound, and he's in that cabin again, on bread and water, and loaded down with chains, till he's claimed or sold!" Tom rose square up in bed, with his eye hot, and his nostrils opening and shutting like gills, and sings out to me: "They hain't no RIGHT to shut him up! SHOVE! -- and don't you lose a minute. Turn him loose! he ain't no slave; he's as free as any cretur that walks this earth!" "What DOES the child mean?" "I mean every word I SAY, Aunt Sally, and if somebody don't go, I'LL go. I've knowed him all his life, and so has Tom, there. Old Miss Watson died two months ago, and she was ashamed she ever was going to sell him down the river, and SAID so; and she set him free in her will." "Then what on earth did YOU want to set him free for, seeing he was already free?" "Well, that IS a question, I must say; and just like women! Why, I wanted the ADVENTURE of it; and I'd a waded neck-deep in blood to -- goodness alive, AUNT POLLY!" If she warn't standing right there, just inside the door, looking as sweet and contented as an angel half full of pie, I wish I may never! Aunt Sally jumped for her, and most hugged the head off of her, and cried over her, and I found a good enough place for me under the bed, for it was getting pretty sultry for us, seemed to me. And I peeped out, and in a little while Tom's Aunt Polly shook herself loose and stood there looking across at Tom over her spectacles -- kind of grinding him into the earth, you know. And then she says: "Yes, you BETTER turn y'r head away -- I would if I was you, Tom." "Oh, deary me!" says Aunt Sally; "IS he changed so? Why, that ain't TOM, it's Sid; Tom's -- Tom's -- why, where is Tom? He was here a minute ago." "You mean where's Huck FINN -- that's what you mean! I reckon I hain't raised such a scamp as my Tom all these years not to know him when I SEE him. That WOULD be a pretty howdy-do. Come out from under that bed, Huck Finn." So I done it. But not feeling brash. Aunt Sally she was one of the mixed-upest-looking persons I ever see -- except one, and that was Uncle Silas, when he come in and they told it all to him. It kind of made him drunk, as you may say, and he didn't know nothing at all the rest of the day, and preached a prayer-meeting sermon that night that gave him a rattling ruputation, because the oldest man in the world couldn't a understood it. So Tom's Aunt Polly, she told all about who I was, and what; and I had to up and tell how I was in such a tight place that when Mrs. Phelps took me for Tom Sawyer -- she chipped in and says, "Oh, go on and call me Aunt Sally, I'm used to it now, and 'tain't no need to change" -- that when Aunt Sally took me for Tom Sawyer I had to stand it -- there warn't no other way, and I knowed he wouldn't mind, because it would be nuts for him, being a mystery, and he'd make an adventure out of it, and be perfectly satisfied. And so it turned out, and he let on to be Sid, and made things as soft as he could for me. And his Aunt Polly she said Tom was right about old Miss Watson setting Jim free in her will; and so, sure enough, Tom Sawyer had gone and took all that trouble and bother to set a free nigger free! and I couldn't ever understand before, until that minute and that talk, how he COULD help a body set a nigger free with his bringing-up. Well, Aunt Polly she said that when Aunt Sally wrote to her that Tom and SID had come all right and safe, she says to herself: "Look at that, now! I might have expected it, letting him go off that way without anybody to watch him. So now I got to go and trapse all the way down the river, eleven hundred mile, and find out what that creetur's up to THIS time, as long as I couldn't seem to get any answer out of you about it." "Why, I never heard nothing from you," says Aunt Sally. "Well, I wonder! Why, I wrote you twice to ask you what you could mean by Sid being here." "Well, I never got 'em, Sis." Aunt Polly she turns around slow and severe, and says: "You, Tom!" "Well -- WHAT?" he says, kind of pettish. "Don t you what ME, you impudent thing -- hand out them letters." "What letters?" "THEM letters. I be bound, if I have to take aholt of you I'll --" "They're in the trunk. There, now. And they're just the same as they was when I got them out of the office. I hain't looked into them, I hain't touched them. But I knowed they'd make trouble, and I thought if you warn't in no hurry, I'd --" "Well, you DO need skinning, there ain't no mistake about it. And I wrote another one to tell you I was coming; and I s'pose he --" "No, it come yesterday; I hain't read it yet, but IT'S all right, I've got that one." I wanted to offer to bet two dollars she hadn't, but I reckoned maybe it was just as safe to not to. So I never said nothing. |
第四十一章 我把医生从床上叫了起来。医生是位老年人，为人和气、慈祥。我对他说，我和我的一 个兄弟昨天下午到西班牙岛上去钓鱼，就在我们找到的一个木筏子上露宿。大约半夜里，他 做了一个梦，在梦里一脚踢到了熗，熗走了火，一熗打中了腿。因此我们请他到那边去看一 看，诊治一下，还要他不必声张出去，不让任何一个人知道，因为我们准备当晚回家，好让 家里人惊喜一下。 “你们家的人都是谁啊？” “费尔贝斯家，是住在下边的。” “哦，”他说。隔了一分钟，他说，“你刚才说的他是怎么受的伤啊？” “他做了一个梦，”我说，“就挨了一熗。” “奇怪的梦。”他说。 他就点了灯笼，拿起药箱，我们就出发了。不过他一见到那只独木舟，就不喜欢这条独 木舟那个模样，——说船只能坐一个人，坐两个人恐怕不大安全。我说： “哦，你不用害怕，先生，这条船能坐我们三个呢，还绰绰有余。” “怎么三个？” “啊，我，西特，还有——还有——还有熗，我的意思是指这个。” “哦。”他说。 不过他在船边上踩了踩，晃了一晃，随后摇了摇脑袭，说最好由他在附近找一条大一些 的船，不过，附近的船都是锁上、拴好了的，所以他只得坐我们的那条独木舟，要我在这里 等他回来，我也可以在附近继续找一找，或者最好是到下边家里走一走，好叫他们对惊喜有 个准备。要是我愿意的话。不过我说我没有这个意思。我把怎样能找到我们的木筏子对他说 清楚了，他就划船走了。 我马上想到了一个念头。我对自个儿说，万一他不能象俗话所说，羊尾巴摇三摇，很快 就把腿治好，那怎么办？万一得花三四天呢？那我们怎么办？——难道就只是躺在那儿，由 着他把秘密泄露出去么？不行，先生，我知道我该怎么干。我要等在这里，等他回来。如果 他说他还会再去，我就跟他去，就是我得泅水过去也得去。随后我们就要抓住他，把他绑起 来，不放他走，松了木筏子往下游漂去。等他把汤姆治好了，我们会重重地酬谢他，把我们 的所有一起掏给他都行，然后放他回到岸上。 于是我就钻到一个木材垛里睡了一会觉，一觉醒来，太阳已经移到我的头顶上了！我立 刻朝医生家奔去，人家说他晚上什么一个时辰出诊的，至今未归。我就寻思，这样看来，汤 姆的病情恐怕很不好，我得马上回岛上去。于是我转身便走，刚到转弯的街角，一头差点儿 撞到了西拉斯姨夫的肚子上。他说： “啊，汤姆你这个流氓，这一阵子，你哪里去啦？”“我什么地方也没有去啊，”我 说，“光只是追捕那个逃跑的黑奴啊——我和西特两个。” “你究竟去了哪儿？”他说，“你姨妈担心得不得了啊。”“她不用担心嘛，”我说， “我们不是好好的嘛。我们跟在大伙儿和狗的后面。不过他们冲到前面去了，我们就找不到 他们了。可是我们仿佛听到在河上发出的声音，我们就找着了一只独木船，在后面追上去， 就划过河去，可就是不见他们的踪影，我们就沿了对岸往上游慢慢划，到后来，划得累了， 没有力气了，就把独木舟系好，睡了过去，一觉睡到一个钟头前才醒来，随后划到了这边 来，好听听消息。西特到邮局去了，看看能否听到什么消息，我呢，四处遛遛，给我们买些 吃的，我们正要回家转呢。” 我们便往邮局走去，去“找”西特，不过正如我意料中的，他不在。老人呢，他从邮局 收了一封信。我们等了相当久，可是西特并没有来。老人说，走吧，让西特玩够后步行回家 吧，或是坐独木舟回去，我们可要坐马回去。我要他答应把我留下来，等等西特，可就是说 不通。他说，不必等了。还说我得跟他一起回去，好叫萨莉阿姨看看我们是好好的。 我们一到家，萨莉阿姨高兴得又笑又哭，搂住了我，给我不疼不痒地揍了几下子。还 说，等西特回来，也要这样揍他一顿。 家里可挤满了农民和他们的娘儿们，是来吃饭的。这样唠唠叨叨没个完的场面，可是从 没见过。霍区基斯老太特别饶舌，场上只听见她的声音。她说： “啊，费尔贝斯妹子，我把那间小屋兜底翻身搜了一遍，我确信，那个黑奴准是疯啦。 我对顿勒尔妹子就是这么说的——顿勒尔妹子，我不是这样说的么？——妹子啊，他是疯 啦，——这就是我说过的话。你们全都听到了我说的话：他是疯啦，我说。一切的一切说明 了这一点，我说。你看看那磨刀石吧，我说。有谁能告诉我：一个脑子清醒的人会在磨刀石 上刻下这么多的疯话。这儿刻着什么一个人的心破碎了。那里又说在这儿苦熬了三十七个年 头，诸如此类的。还说路易的私生子什么的，尽是这些胡话。他准是疯啦，我说。我一开头 就是这么说的。在中间是这么说，到最后也还是这么说，始终是这么说——那个黑奴是疯啦 ——疯得跟尼鲍顾尼愁①一个样，我说。” ①指《旧约•但以理书》中的巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒，不听但以理的忠告，上帝使之 丧失理智，这里是说话的乡下老太太胡乱拼的音。 “还看看那个破布条搞成的绳梯吧，霍区基斯大姐，”顿勒尔老太说。“天知道他想用 这个干——” “我刚才跟厄特巴克大姐说的，就是这样的话，这你可以问问她本人嘛。只要看一看那 个破布条绳梯，她，她，我说，是啊，只要看一看这个，我说——他能用来干什么，我说。 她，她，霍区基斯大姐，她，她——” “不过，天知道他们怎么能把这块磨刀石弄进去的？又是谁挖搁了这个洞？是谁——” “我恰恰正是说的这些话，奔洛特大哥！我刚才说的——把那碟子糖浆递给我，好不 好？——我刚才对顿拉普大姐说的正是：他们怎样把磨刀石弄进去的？我说。别忘了，还没 有人帮忙——没有人帮忙！怪就怪在这里！别跟我这么说吧，我说。一定有人帮忙的，我 说。而且有很多很多的人帮忙，我说。有十来个人帮那个黑人的忙。我非把那边每一个黑奴 的皮剥掉不行，不过我先得查清楚究竟是谁干的，我说，而且，我说，——” “你说十来个！——四十个也干不了那一桩桩，一件件啊。看看那些小刀做的锯子什么 的，他们做起来有多费事？再看看用这个锯断的床腿吧，需得六个人干一星期才干得了！再 看看那用稻草装成的在床上的黑奴吧，再看看——”“你说得不错，海托华大哥！我刚才还 对费尔贝斯大哥他本人说的，正就是这个出，知道吧？霍区基斯大姐，你又怎么看？费尔贝 斯大哥，你又想到了什么？我说。想到了这床腿竟然会这样被锯断，是吧？想一想吧，我 说。我断得定，床腿不会自己断的，我说——是有人锯断的，我说。我就是这么个看法，你 信也好，不信也好，这也许不重要，我说。不过，既然情况如此，我就是这么个看法，我 说。如果你能提出一个更好的说法，让他提出来好了，我说。我要说的就是这些。我跟顿拉 贝大姐说了，我说——” “说来真见鬼，要干完所有这些活儿，须得一屋子挤得满满的黑奴，用四个星期，每晚 每晚地干，费尔贝斯大姐。看看那件衬衫吧，——上面密密层层地蘸着血写满了非洲神秘的 字母。准定是有一木筏子的黑奴几乎夜夜在干这个。啊，谁能把这个读给我听，我愿意给他 两块大洋。至于写了这些的那批黑奴呢，我保证要抽他们——” “说到有人帮他们，玛贝尔斯大哥！啊，依我看，要是你在这间屋里耽过一阵，你准会 这么想的。啊，他们凡是能偷到手的都偷了——你别忘啦，可我们还一直在时时刻刻地看着 呐。他们干脆在晾衣绳上把衬衫偷走。说到他们用来做绳梯的床单，他们已经偷了不知多少 回啦。还有面粉啊，蜡烛啊，烛台啊，调羹啊，旧的暖炉啊，还有我如今已经记不起来的上 千种东西，还有新的印花布衣服啊等等的。可我和西拉斯，还有我的西特和汤姆，还日日和 夜夜看守着、提防着呢，这些我都对你说过了。可是我们没有一个能抓住他们的一根毛，或 者见到过他们人，或者听到过他们的声音，而如今到了最后一刻，啊，你看吧，他们竟然能 溜之大吉，就在我们的鼻子底下呢；还竟然敢于作弄我们，并且还不只作弄了我们，还作弄 了印第安领地的强盗，并且终于把那个黑奴太太平平地弄走了，即便立即出动了十六个人、 二十二条狗拼命追踪也无济于事！我告诉你吧，这样破天荒的事，我确实是闻所未闻。啊， 就是妖魔鬼怪吧，也做不到这么巧妙、这么漂亮。依我看，一准是妖魔怪鬼在施展法术—— 因为，我们的狗，这是你知道的，没有比这些狗更机灵的了，可是连他们的踪迹也没有嗅出 来！你有本事的话，不妨把这个解释给我听听。要是你有本事的话！——你们随便哪一位！” “啊，这真是把人难倒了——” “老天！我从未——” “天啊！我可还不——” “毛贼和——” “天啊，我真怕住在这样的一个——” “怕住在——是啊，我吓得简直既不敢上床，又不敢起床，躺下来也不是，坐着也不 是，里奇薇大嫂！啊，他们还会偷——老天爷，昨晚上，到半夜时刻，我吓成了什么样子， 你们连想也想不出来哩。要是我说，我不怕他们把家里的什么人都偷走，那只有天晓了！我 简直到了这么个地步啦。我已经神志不清了。如今，在大白天，我当时那种情形仿佛太傻 了，可是在昨晚上，我对我自个儿说，我还有两个可怜的孩子在楼上那间冷冷清清的房间里 睡着呢。老天在上，现在我可以说了，当时我慌乱到了极点，我偷偷上了楼，把他们锁在了 房间里！我就是这么干了的。换了别人，谁都会这么干啊。因为，你知道，人要吓成这个样 子，而且吓得越来越厉害，越来越糟，你的脑袋给吓懵了，你就什么样的荒唐事都做得出 来。到了后来，你会自个儿寻思，假如我是个男孩，独自在那里，门又没有上锁，那你— —”她说到这里停住了，神情显得有点儿惶惑，慢慢地转过头来，当眼光落到我身上时—— 我站了起来，出去遛达一会儿。 我对我自个儿说，关于那天早上我怎样没有在房间里的事，要是我能走出去，找个地 方，好好想一想，我就能解释得更圆些。于是我就这么办了。不过我并没有走远，不然的 话，她会找我的。到了傍晚，大伙儿都走了，我就转回家，对她说：当时喧闹声，熗声把我 和西特吵醒了，门又是上了锁的，我们想要看一看这场热闹，便顺着避雷针滑了下来。我们 两人都受了点儿伤，不过这样的事，我以后再也不会干了。随后我把先前对西拉斯姨父说过 的那一套话，对她说了一通。她就说，她会饶了我们的，也许一切都不是什么大不了的事。 又谈到了人们对男孩子该怎么看，因为据她说，男孩子嘛，全都是冒失鬼。既然没有受到伤 害，她该为了我们活着，一切平平安安，她仍跟我们在一起等等，好好感谢上帝，不必为了 过去的事烦神了。所以她亲了亲我，拍拍我的脑袋，又自个儿沉思幻想起来了。没多久，她 跳将起来说： “啊哟，天啊，快天黑了，西特还没有回来哟！这孩子出了什么事啊？” 我看到机会来了，便一纵身说： “我马上到镇上去，把他找回来。” “不，你不用去，她说。“你待在原地别动。一回丢一个，就够糟的啦。要是他不能回 来吃晚饭，那你姨父会去的。” 果然，吃晚饭时还没见他来。所以一吃过晚饭，姨父就出去了。 姨父十点钟左右回来的，显得有些神情不安。他没有找到汤姆的踪影。萨莉阿姨就大大 不安起来，西拉斯姨父说，不用担什么心——男孩嘛，就是男孩，明早上，你准定会看到 他，身体壮壮实实，一切平安无事。她于是只得安下心来。不过她说，她要等他一会儿，还 要点起灯来，好叫他能看到。 随后我上楼睡觉时，她跟着我上来，替我掖好被子，象母亲一般亲热，这叫我觉得自己 太卑鄙了，连她的脸我都不敢正视一下。她在床边上坐了下来，和我说了好一阵子的话。还 说西特是一个多么了不起的孩子。她仿佛说到西特时就是爱说得没有个完。她再三再四问 我，要我说说，认为西特会不会死了，或者受了伤，或者落水了，这会儿说不定躺在什么个 地方，或者受了伤，或者死了，可她却不能在边上照看他。说着说着，眼泪暗暗淌了下来。 我就对她说，西特是平安无事的，准定会在早上回家来的。她呢，会紧紧握着我的手，或者 亲亲我，要我把这话再说一遍，还不停地要我把这话再说一遍，因为说了她就好受一些。她 实在是太苦啦。她临走的时候，低头望着我的眼睛，目光沉稳而温柔。她说： “门不锁了，汤姆。还有窗，还有避雷针。不过你准会乖乖的，对吧？你不会走吧？看 在我的份上。” 天知道我心里是多么急于见到汤姆，多么急于出去。不过，在这以后，我就不会出去 了，说什么也不出去了。 不过嘛，她是在我的心上，汤姆呢，他也在我的心上，所以我睡得不安生。在夜晚，我 两次抱住了避雷针滑了下去，轻手轻脚绕到前门，从窗子里看到她在蜡烛火边上眼睛朝着大 路，眼泪在眼眶里转。我但愿我能为她做点儿什么，但是我做不到，只能暗暗发誓从此决不 再做什么叫她伤心的事了。到清晨我第三回醒来，便溜了下来。她还在那里。蜡烛快要熄灭 了，她那飘着白发的头托在手上，她睡着了。 Chapter 41 THE doctor was an old man; a very nice, kind-looking old man when I got him up. I told him me and my brother was over on Spanish Island hunting yesterday afternoon, and camped on a piece of a raft we found, and about midnight he must a kicked his gun in his dreams, for it went off and shot him in the leg, and we wanted him to go over there and fix it and not say nothing about it, nor let anybody know, because we wanted to come home this evening and surprise the folks. "Who is your folks?" he says. "The Phelpses, down yonder." "Oh," he says. And after a minute, he says: "How'd you say he got shot?" "He had a dream," I says, "and it shot him." "Singular dream," he says. So he lit up his lantern, and got his saddle-bags, and we started. But when he sees the canoe he didn't like the look of her -- said she was big enough for one, but didn't look pretty safe for two. I says: "Oh, you needn't be afeard, sir, she carried the three of us easy enough." "What three?" "Why, me and Sid, and -- and -- and THE GUNS; that's what I mean." "Oh," he says. But he put his foot on the gunnel and rocked her, and shook his head, and said he reckoned he'd look around for a bigger one. But they was all locked and chained; so he took my canoe, and said for me to wait till he come back, or I could hunt around further, or maybe I better go down home and get them ready for the surprise if I wanted to. But I said I didn't; so I told him just how to find the raft, and then he started. I struck an idea pretty soon. I says to myself, spos'n he can't fix that leg just in three shakes of a sheep's tail, as the saying is? spos'n it takes him three or four days? What are we going to do? -- lay around there till he lets the cat out of the bag? No, sir; I know what I'LL do. I'll wait, and when he comes back if he says he's got to go any more I'll get down there, too, if I swim; and we'll take and tie him, and keep him, and shove out down the river; and when Tom's done with him we'll give him what it's worth, or all we got, and then let him get ashore. So then I crept into a lumber-pile to get some sleep; and next time I waked up the sun was away up over my head! I shot out and went for the doctor's house, but they told me he'd gone away in the night some time or other, and warn't back yet. Well, thinks I, that looks powerful bad for Tom, and I'll dig out for the island right off. So away I shoved, and turned the corner, and nearly rammed my head into Uncle Silas's stomach! He says: "Why, TOM! Where you been all this time, you rascal?" "I hain't been nowheres," I says, "only just hunting for the runaway nigger -- me and Sid." "Why, where ever did you go?" he says. "Your aunt's been mighty uneasy." "She needn't," I says, "because we was all right. We followed the men and the dogs, but they outrun us, and we lost them; but we thought we heard them on the water, so we got a canoe and took out after them and crossed over, but couldn't find nothing of them; so we cruised along up-shore till we got kind of tired and beat out; and tied up the canoe and went to sleep, and never waked up till about an hour ago; then we paddled over here to hear the news, and Sid's at the post-office to see what he can hear, and I'm a-branching out to get something to eat for us, and then we're going home." So then we went to the post-office to get "Sid"; but just as I suspicioned, he warn't there; so the old man he got a letter out of the office, and we waited awhile longer, but Sid didn't come; so the old man said, come along, let Sid foot it home, or canoe it, when he got done fooling around -- but we would ride. I couldn't get him to let me stay and wait for Sid; and he said there warn't no use in it, and I must come along, and let Aunt Sally see we was all right. When we got home Aunt Sally was that glad to see me she laughed and cried both, and hugged me, and give me one of them lickings of hern that don't amount to shucks, and said she'd serve Sid the same when he come. And the place was plum full of farmers and farmers' wives, to dinner; and such another clack a body never heard. Old Mrs. Hotchkiss was the worst; her tongue was a-going all the time. She says: "Well, Sister Phelps, I've ransacked that-air cabin over, an' I b'lieve the nigger was crazy. I says to Sister Damrell -- didn't I, Sister Damrell? -- s'I, he's crazy, s'I -- them's the very words I said. You all hearn me: he's crazy, s'I; everything shows it, s'I. Look at that-air grindstone, s'I; want to tell ME't any cretur 't's in his right mind 's a goin' to scrabble all them crazy things onto a grindstone, s'I? Here sich 'n' sich a person busted his heart; 'n' here so 'n' so pegged along for thirty-seven year, 'n' all that -- natcherl son o' Louis somebody, 'n' sich everlast'n rubbage. He's plumb crazy, s'I; it's what I says in the fust place, it's what I says in the middle, 'n' it's what I says last 'n' all the time -- the nigger's crazy -- crazy 's Nebokoodneezer, s'I." "An' look at that-air ladder made out'n rags, Sister Hotchkiss," says old Mrs. Damrell; "what in the name o' goodness COULD he ever want of --" "The very words I was a-sayin' no longer ago th'n this minute to Sister Utterback, 'n' she'll tell you so herself. Sh-she, look at that-air rag ladder, sh-she; 'n' s'I, yes, LOOK at it, s'I -- what COULD he a-wanted of it, s'I. Sh-she, Sister Hotchkiss, sh-she --" "But how in the nation'd they ever GIT that grindstone IN there, ANYWAY? 'n' who dug that-air HOLE? 'n' who --" "My very WORDS, Brer Penrod! I was a-sayin' -- pass that-air sasser o' m'lasses, won't ye? -- I was a-sayin' to Sister Dunlap, jist this minute, how DID they git that grindstone in there, s'I. Without HELP, mind you -- 'thout HELP! THAT'S wher 'tis. Don't tell ME, s'I; there WUZ help, s'I; 'n' ther' wuz a PLENTY help, too, s'I; ther's ben a DOZEN a-helpin' that nigger, 'n' I lay I'd skin every last nigger on this place but I'D find out who done it, s'I; 'n' moreover, s'I --" "A DOZEN says you! -- FORTY couldn't a done every thing that's been done. Look at them case-knife saws and things, how tedious they've been made; look at that bed-leg sawed off with 'm, a week's work for six men; look at that nigger made out'n straw on the bed; and look at --" "You may WELL say it, Brer Hightower! It's jist as I was a-sayin' to Brer Phelps, his own self. S'e, what do YOU think of it, Sister Hotchkiss, s'e? Think o' what, Brer Phelps, s'I? Think o' that bed-leg sawed off that a way, s'e? THINK of it, s'I? I lay it never sawed ITSELF off, s'I -- somebody SAWED it, s'I; that's my opinion, take it or leave it, it mayn't be no 'count, s'I, but sich as 't is, it's my opinion, s'I, 'n' if any body k'n start a better one, s'I, let him DO it, s'I, that's all. I says to Sister Dunlap, s'I --" "Why, dog my cats, they must a ben a house-full o' niggers in there every night for four weeks to a done all that work, Sister Phelps. Look at that shirt -- every last inch of it kivered over with secret African writ'n done with blood! Must a ben a raft uv 'm at it right along, all the time, amost. Why, I'd give two dollars to have it read to me; 'n' as for the niggers that wrote it, I 'low I'd take 'n' lash 'm t'll --" "People to HELP him, Brother Marples! Well, I reckon you'd THINK so if you'd a been in this house for a while back. Why, they've stole everything they could lay their hands on -- and we a-watching all the time, mind you. They stole that shirt right off o' the line! and as for that sheet they made the rag ladder out of, ther' ain't no telling how many times they DIDN'T steal that; and flour, and candles, and candlesticks, and spoons, and the old warming-pan, and most a thousand things that I disremember now, and my new calico dress; and me and Silas and my Sid and Tom on the constant watch day AND night, as I was a-telling you, and not a one of us could catch hide nor hair nor sight nor sound of them; and here at the last minute, lo and behold you, they slides right in under our noses and fools us, and not only fools US but the Injun Territory robbers too, and actuly gets AWAY with that nigger safe and sound, and that with sixteen men and twentytwo dogs right on their very heels at that very time! I tell you, it just bangs anything I ever HEARD of. Why, SPERITS couldn't a done better and been no smarter. And I reckon they must a BEEN sperits -- because, YOU know our dogs, and ther' ain't no better; well, them dogs never even got on the TRACK of 'm once! You explain THAT to me if you can! -- ANY of you!" "Well, it does beat --" "Laws alive, I never --" "So help me, I wouldn't a be --" "HOUSE-thieves as well as --" "Goodnessgracioussakes, I'd a ben afeard to live in sich a --" "'Fraid to LIVE! -- why, I was that scared I dasn't hardly go to bed, or get up, or lay down, or SET down, Sister Ridgeway. Why, they'd steal the very -- why, goodness sakes, you can guess what kind of a fluster I was in by the time midnight come last night. I hope to gracious if I warn't afraid they'd steal some o' the family! I was just to that pass I didn't have no reasoning faculties no more. It looks foolish enough NOW, in the daytime; but I says to myself, there's my two poor boys asleep, 'way up stairs in that lonesome room, and I declare to goodness I was that uneasy 't I crep' up there and locked 'em in! I DID. And anybody would. Because, you know, when you get scared that way, and it keeps running on, and getting worse and worse all the time, and your wits gets to addling, and you get to doing all sorts o' wild things, and by and by you think to yourself, spos'n I was a boy, and was away up there, and the door ain't locked, and you --" She stopped, looking kind of wondering, and then she turned her head around slow, and when her eye lit on me -- I got up and took a walk. Says I to myself, I can explain better how we come to not be in that room this morning if I go out to one side and study over it a little. So I done it. But I dasn't go fur, or she'd a sent for me. And when it was late in the day the people all went, and then I come in and told her the noise and shooting waked up me and "Sid," and the door was locked, and we wanted to see the fun, so we went down the lightningrod, and both of us got hurt a little, and we didn't never want to try THAT no more. And then I went on and told her all what I told Uncle Silas before; and then she said she'd forgive us, and maybe it was all right enough anyway, and about what a body might expect of boys, for all boys was a pretty harum-scarum lot as fur as she could see; and so, as long as no harm hadn't come of it, she judged she better put in her time being grateful we was alive and well and she had us still, stead of fretting over what was past and done. So then she kissed me, and patted me on the head, and dropped into a kind of a brown study; and pretty soon jumps up, and says: "Why, lawsamercy, it's most night, and Sid not come yet! What HAS become of that boy?" I see my chance; so I skips up and says: "I'll run right up to town and get him," I says. "No you won't," she says. "You'll stay right wher' you are; ONE'S enough to be lost at a time. If he ain't here to supper, your uncle 'll go." Well, he warn't there to supper; so right after supper uncle went. He come back about ten a little bit uneasy; hadn't run across Tom's track. Aunt Sally was a good DEAL uneasy; but Uncle Silas he said there warn't no occasion to be -- boys will be boys, he said, and you'll see this one turn up in the morning all sound and right. So she had to be satisfied. But she said she'd set up for him a while anyway, and keep a light burning so he could see it. And then when I went up to bed she come up with me and fetched her candle, and tucked me in, and mothered me so good I felt mean, and like I couldn't look her in the face; and she set down on the bed and talked with me a long time, and said what a splendid boy Sid was, and didn't seem to want to ever stop talking about him; and kept asking me every now and then if I reckoned he could a got lost, or hurt, or maybe drownded, and might be laying at this minute somewheres suffering or dead, and she not by him to help him, and so the tears would drip down silent, and I would tell her that Sid was all right, and would be home in the morning, sure; and she would squeeze my hand, or maybe kiss me, and tell me to say it again, and keep on saying it, because it done her good, and she was in so much trouble. And when she was going away she looked down in my eyes so steady and gentle, and says: "The door ain't going to be locked, Tom, and there's the window and the rod; but you'll be good, WON'T you? And you won't go? For MY sake." Laws knows I WANTED to go bad enough to see about Tom, and was all intending to go; but after that I wouldn't a went, not for kingdoms. But she was on my mind and Tom was on my mind, so I slept very restless. And twice I went down the rod away in the night, and slipped around front, and see her setting there by her candle in the window with her eyes towards the road and the tears in them; and I wished I could do something for her, but I couldn't, only to swear that I wouldn't never do nothing to grieve her any more. And the third time I waked up at dawn, and slid down, and she was there yet, and her candle was most out, and her old gray head was resting on her hand, and she was asleep. |
| 第四十章 吃了早饭以后，我们兴致很高，便坐了我的独木船，往河上钓鱼，还带了中饭，玩得很 开心。我们还看了一下木筏子，见到木筏子好好的。我们很迟才回家吃晚饭，发现他们惶惶 不安，不知道前途吉凶。他们叮嘱我们一吃好晚饭便上床去睡觉，却并没有告诉我们会是什 么样的一种灾难。对那封刚收到的信，他们也一字不提。不过那也是不必要的事了，因为我 们跟不论哪一个人一样肚里清楚。我们走到楼梯半中间，萨莉阿姨一转身，我们就溜进了地 窖，打开食柜，把中上的午餐食品装得满满的，带到了我们的房间里，随后就睡了。到晚上 十一点半左右，我们便起身了。汤姆就穿上了他偷来的萨莉阿姨的衣服，正要带着饭食动 身。他说： “黄油在哪儿？” “我弄了一大块，”我说，“搁在一块玉米饼上。” “那就是你忘了拿搁在那儿啦——这里没有啊。” “没有，我们也能对付。”我说。 “有，我们也能对付嘛，”他说，“你就溜到下边地窖里去一趟，弄一些来，随后抱着 避雷针下楼，赶上来。我就去，去把稻草塞进杰姆的衣服里，假扮成他妈的模样。等你一 到，我就学羊叫，呣的一声，然后一块儿逃跑。” 于是他就出去了，我也去了地窖。一大块黄油，象拳头般大，正在我刚才忘了拿的地 方。我就拿起搁了黄油的大块玉米饼子，吹灭了我的烛火，偷偷走上楼去，平安无事地到了 地窖上面那一层。不过萨莉阿姨手持蜡烛正在走过来。我赶快把手里的东西往帽子里一塞， 把帽子往头上一扣。再一瞬间，她看到了我。她说： “你刚才在下面地窖里啊？” “是的，姨妈。” “你在下面干什么？” “没干什么。” “没干什么？” “没，姨妈。” “天这么晚了，是什么叫你这个样子下去，是你见了鬼么？” “我不知道，姨妈。” “你不知道？汤姆，别这样回答我的问话。我要知道你在下边干了些什么？” “我什么事都没有干，萨莉姨妈。要是能干过什么那倒好了。” 我以为，这样她会放我走了。要是在平时，她是会放我走的。不过，如今这么多怪事不 断，只要有一点儿小事出了格，她就急得什么似的。所以她斩钉截铁地说： “你给我到起坐间去，耽在那儿等我回来。你卷进了与你丝毫不相关的事。我决意要把 这个弄清楚，不然的话，我可饶不了你。” 于是她走开了，我把门打开，走进了起坐间。我的天，这么一大群人！有十五个农民， 一个个带了熗。我怕得要死，便轻手轻脚走了过去，在一张椅子里坐下。这些人围坐在一 起，其中有些人偶然谈几句话，声音放得轻轻的。一个个心神不定，坐立不安，可又装得若 无其事。不过我知道他们真正的心理，因为你可以看到，他们一会把帽子摘下来，一会又戴 上，一会儿抓抓脑瓜，一会儿换个座位，一会儿摸摸钮扣，如此等等。我自己呢，也心神不 定，只是我自始至终，并没有把帽子摘下来。 我确实巴不得萨莉阿姨快来，跟我说个清楚，高兴的话，就揍我一顿，随后放开我，让 我好告诉汤姆，我们怎样把事情搞得太过火了，怎样已经一头撞上了一个天大的马蜂窝了， 怎样该在这些家伙失去耐性找到我们头上来以前，就和杰姆溜之大吉，一逃了事。 她终于来了，便开始盘问我，不过我无法直接了当地回答。我已经慌得六神无主，不知 如何是好。因为这伙人如今已是焦躁不安，其中有些人主张立时立刻马上就动手，去埋伏 好，等候那些亡命之徒。还说现在离半夜整只有几分钟了。有些人则力图劝说他们暂时按兵 不动，静候羊呣呣叫的信号。姨妈呢，偏偏盯着我问这问那。我呢，浑身发抖，吓得要晕过 去了。房间里又闷又热，牛油开始在化，流到了我的颈子里和耳朵根的后边。这时，有一个 人在叫：“我主张先到小屋里去，现时立刻就去，他们一来，就逮起来。”我听了差点儿昏 过去，同时一道黄油从额骨头上往下流淌，萨莉阿姨一见，马上脸色白得象一张纸。她说： “天啊，我的孩子怎么啦——肯定是他得了脑炎，准没有错，脑浆正往外流啊！” 于是大伙儿都跑过来看，她呢，一把摘下了我的帽子，只见面包啦、剩下的牛油啦，都 掉了出来。她立刻把我一把抓住，搂在怀里。她说： “哦，你可吓坏了我啦！现在我又多么高兴，原来你没有病啊。我们如今运气不好，碰 上了祸不单行。我一见那浆子，以为这下子你的命可要保不住了。一见那颜色，分明和你的 脑浆一个样啊——亲爱的，亲爱的，为什么不告诉我一声，说一说你到地窖里去为的是什 么，我根本不会在乎嘛。好了，睡觉去吧，天亮以前，别让我再看见你。” 我马上就上了楼，又一眨眼便抱住了避雷针滑下来。我在黑地里如飞一般冲往那个披 间，心里急得连话也差点儿说不成。不过我还是赶快告诉了汤姆说，大事不好，必须马上就 逃，立时立刻就逃，一时一刻也不容耽搁——那边屋里已经挤满了人，都带着熗哩。 他的眼睛亮了一下。他说： “不会吧！——真是这样！多棒啊！啊，哈克，要是能从头再来一次的话，我打赌，准 能抬来两百个人！只要我们能推迟到——” “快！快！”我说，“杰姆在哪里？” “就在你眼皮底下。只要手一伸，你能摸得到他。他衣服穿好了，什么都准备好了。现 在我们就溜出去，发出羊叫的暗号。” 不过我们那时已经听到大伙儿的脚步声，正一步步逼近门口。接着听到摸弄门上那把挂 锁的声音，只听得其中一人在说： “我早就对你们说了，来得太早啦，他们还没有来嘛——门是锁着的。好吧，我现下把 几个人锁在小屋里，你们就在黑洞洞里守候着，他们一进来，就杀死他们。其余的人分散开 来，仔细听着，看能不能听到他们摸过来。” 有些人便进了小屋，只是黑漆漆的看不见我们，差点儿踩着了我们。我们这时急忙往床 底下钻。我们顺顺当当钻到了床底下，从洞中钻了出来，行动迅速，轻手轻脚——杰姆在 前，其次是我，汤姆最后，这都是按照了汤姆的命令的。如今我们已经爬到了那间披间，只 听得外面不远的脚步声。我们便爬到了门口。汤姆要我们就地停下来，他往门缝里张望，可 是什么也望不见，实在天太黑了。他低声说，他会听着，看脚步声有没有走远。要是他用胳 膊后捅我们一下，杰姆就必须先走，由他压阵最后走。随后他把耳朵贴在门缝上，听啊，听 啊，听啊，可是四下里一直有脚步声。到最后，他用胳膊后捅了捅我们，我们便溜了出来， 弓着腰，屏住了呼吸，不发任何一点点儿声音，一跟着一个，轻手轻脚，朝栅栏走去，平平 安安地走到了栅栏边，我和杰姆跨过了栅栏，可是汤姆的裤子给栅栏顶上一根横木裂开的木 片给绊住了，他听到脚步声在走拢来，他使劲扯，啪地一声把木片扯断了。他跟在我们后面 跑。有人叫了起来： “是谁？答话，不然我要开熗了。” 不过我们并没有答话，只是拔腿飞奔。接着有一群人追上来了。砰，砰，砰，熗弹在我 们四周飞过！只听得他们在喊叫： “他们在这里啦。他们在朝河边跑啦！伙计们，追啊！把狗放出来！” 于是他们在后边穷追。我们能听到他们的声音，因为他们脚上穿的是靴子，又一路喊 叫。我们呢，没有穿靴子，也没有喊叫。我们走的是通往锯木厂的小路。等到他们追得逼近 了，我们就往矮树丛里一躲，让他们在身边冲过去，然后在他们后面走。他们为了不致于把 强盗吓跑，把狗都关了起来。到了此时此刻，有些人把狗放了出来，这些狗便一路奔来，汪 汪直叫，仿佛千百只一齐涌来，不过这些毕竟是我们自家的狗，我们一收住脚步，等它们赶 上来，它们一见是我们，并非外人，有什么好大惊小怪的，便跟我们打了个招呼，朝呼喊声 和重重的脚步声那个方向直冲过去。我们便鼓足马力，在它们的后面跑，后来到锯木厂，便 改道穿过矮树丛，到原来拴独木舟的那边，跳了上去，为了保住一命，使劲往河中心划，不 过一路上尽量不发出声音。随后舒舒服服、自自在在地到了藏着我那个木筏子的小岛，这时 还听得见沿河从上边到下边一路之上人吼狗叫，乱作一团。到后来，离得越来越远了，声音 越来越低，最后终于消失了。我们一跨上木筏子，我就说： “杰姆啊，如今你再一次成了个自由的人啦。我敢打赌，你不会再一次沦为奴隶啦。” “这一回也真干得飘良（漂亮），哈克。计划得太巧妙了，干得也巧妙。谁也搞不出一 个这么复杂又这么浜（棒）的计划啦。” 我们都高兴非凡，最高兴的是汤姆，因为他腿肚子上中了一熗。 我和杰姆一听说这事，便没有刚才那样的兴致了。他伤得挺厉害，还在淌血，所以我们 让他在窝棚里躺了下来，把公爵的一件衬衫撕了给他包扎，不过他说： “把布条给我，我自己能包扎。现如今我们不能停留啊，别在这儿磨磨蹭蹭了。这一回 逃亡搞得多么漂亮。划起长桨来，顺水放木排！伙计们，我们干得多棒——确实如此。这一 回啊，要是我们是带着路易十六出奔，那该多有劲。那样的话，在他的传记里便不会写下什 么‘圣•路易之子上升天堂’之类的话啦。不会的，我们会把他哄过国界，——我们肯定会 带他哄过国界——而且干得十分巧妙。划起长桨来，划起长桨来！” 不过这时我和杰姆正在商量——正在考虑呢。我们想了一分钟以后，我就说： “杰姆，你说吧。” 他就说了： “那好。据我看，事情就是如此的。哈克，要是这回逃出来的是他，伙计们中间有一个 吃了一抢（熗），那他命不会说，‘为了纠（救）我，往前走吧，别为了纠（救）其他人惹 麻烦，找什么医生啊。’汤姆少爷是那样的人么？他会这么说么？你可以打多（赌），他才 不会呢！那么杰姆呢，我会这样说么？不，先生，要是不找医生，我一布（步）也不走，即 便要等四十年也行！” 我知道他心里是颗白人的心。我也料到了他会说他刚才说的话——所以现在事情就好办 了。我就对汤姆说，我要去找个医生。他为了这便大闹了起来，可是我和杰姆始终坚持，寸 步不让。后来他要从窝棚里爬出来，自己放木筏子，我们就不许他这么干。随后他对我们发 作了一通，——可是，那也没有用。 他见到独木船准备好了，就说： “那好吧。既然你执意要去，我告诉你到了村子里怎么办。把门一关，把医生的眼睛用 布给绑个严严实实，要他宣誓严守秘密。随后把一袋金币放在他手心里。接着在黑地里带他 在大街小巷里转来转去，然后带他到独木舟上，在各处小岛那里转圈子。还要搜他的身，把 粉笔扣下来，在他回到村子里以前，不要发还给他。不然的话，他准会在这个木筏子上做上 记号，以便往后找到它。这样的方法是人家都这么干的。” 我就说，我一定照着办，就出发了。杰姆呢，只要一看见医生来，就往林子里躲起来， 一直到医生离开为止。 Chapter 40 WE was feeling pretty good after breakfast, and took my canoe and went over the river a-fishing, with a lunch, and had a good time, and took a look at the raft and found her all right, and got home late to supper, and found them in such a sweat and worry they didn't know which end they was standing on, and made us go right off to bed the minute we was done supper, and wouldn't tell us what the trouble was, and never let on a word about the new letter, but didn't need to, because we knowed as much about it as anybody did, and as soon as we was half up stairs and her back was turned we slid for the cellar cubboard and loaded up a good lunch and took it up to our room and went to bed, and got up about half-past eleven, and Tom put on Aunt Sally's dress that he stole and was going to start with the lunch, but says: "Where's the butter?" "I laid out a hunk of it," I says, "on a piece of a corn-pone." "Well, you LEFT it laid out, then -- it ain't here." "We can get along without it," I says. "We can get along WITH it, too," he says; "just you slide down cellar and fetch it. And then mosey right down the lightning-rod and come along. I'll go and stuff the straw into Jim's clothes to represent his mother in disguise, and be ready to BA like a sheep and shove soon as you get there." So out he went, and down cellar went I. The hunk of butter, big as a person's fist, was where I had left it, so I took up the slab of corn-pone with it on, and blowed out my light, and started up stairs very stealthy, and got up to the main floor all right, but here comes Aunt Sally with a candle, and I clapped the truck in my hat, and clapped my hat on my head, and the next second she see me; and she says: "You been down cellar?" "Yes'm." "What you been doing down there?" "Noth'n." "NOTH'N!" "No'm." "Well, then, what possessed you to go down there this time of night?" "I don't know 'm." "You don't KNOW? Don't answer me that way. Tom, I want to know what you been DOING down there." "I hain't been doing a single thing, Aunt Sally, I hope to gracious if I have." I reckoned she'd let me go now, and as a generl thing she would; but I s'pose there was so many strange things going on she was just in a sweat about every little thing that warn't yard-stick straight; so she says, very decided: "You just march into that setting-room and stay there till I come. You been up to something you no business to, and I lay I'll find out what it is before I'M done with you." So she went away as I opened the door and walked into the setting-room. My, but there was a crowd there! Fifteen farmers, and every one of them had a gun. I was most powerful sick, and slunk to a chair and set down. They was setting around, some of them talking a little, in a low voice, and all of them fidgety and uneasy, but trying to look like they warn't; but I knowed they was, because they was always taking off their hats, and putting them on, and scratching their heads, and changing their seats, and fumbling with their buttons. I warn't easy myself, but I didn't take my hat off, all the same. I did wish Aunt Sally would come, and get done with me, and lick me, if she wanted to, and let me get away and tell Tom how we'd overdone this thing, and what a thundering hornet's-nest we'd got ourselves into, so we could stop fooling around straight off, and clear out with Jim before these rips got out of patience and come for us. At last she come and begun to ask me questions, but I COULDN'T answer them straight, I didn't know which end of me was up; because these men was in such a fidget now that some was wanting to start right NOW and lay for them desperadoes, and saying it warn't but a few minutes to midnight; and others was trying to get them to hold on and wait for the sheep-signal; and here was Aunty pegging away at the questions, and me a-shaking all over and ready to sink down in my tracks I was that scared; and the place getting hotter and hotter, and the butter beginning to melt and run down my neck and behind my ears; and pretty soon, when one of them says, "I'M for going and getting in the cabin FIRST and right NOW, and catching them when they come," I most dropped; and a streak of butter come a-trickling down my forehead, and Aunt Sally she see it, and turns white as a sheet, and says: "For the land's sake, what IS the matter with the child? He's got the brain-fever as shore as you're born, and they're oozing out!" And everybody runs to see, and she snatches off my hat, and out comes the bread and what was left of the butter, and she grabbed me, and hugged me, and says: "Oh, what a turn you did give me! and how glad and grateful I am it ain't no worse; for luck's against us, and it never rains but it pours, and when I see that truck I thought we'd lost you, for I knowed by the color and all it was just like your brains would be if -- Dear, dear, whyd'nt you TELL me that was what you'd been down there for, I wouldn't a cared. Now cler out to bed, and don't lemme see no more of you till morning!" I was up stairs in a second, and down the lightningrod in another one, and shinning through the dark for the lean-to. I couldn't hardly get my words out, I was so anxious; but I told Tom as quick as I could we must jump for it now, and not a minute to lose -- the house full of men, yonder, with guns! His eyes just blazed; and he says: "No! -- is that so? AIN'T it bully! Why, Huck, if it was to do over again, I bet I could fetch two hundred! If we could put it off till --" "Hurry! HURRY!" I says. "Where's Jim?" "Right at your elbow; if you reach out your arm you can touch him. He's dressed, and everything's ready. Now we'll slide out and give the sheepsignal." But then we heard the tramp of men coming to the door, and heard them begin to fumble with the padlock, and heard a man say: "I TOLD you we'd be too soon; they haven't come -- the door is locked. Here, I'll lock some of you into the cabin, and you lay for 'em in the dark and kill 'em when they come; and the rest scatter around a piece, and listen if you can hear 'em coming." So in they come, but couldn't see us in the dark, and most trod on us whilst we was hustling to get under the bed. But we got under all right, and out through the hole, swift but soft -- Jim first, me next, and Tom last, which was according to Tom's orders. Now we was in the lean-to, and heard trampings close by outside. So we crept to the door, and Tom stopped us there and put his eye to the crack, but couldn't make out nothing, it was so dark; and whispered and said he would listen for the steps to get further, and when he nudged us Jim must glide out first, and him last. So he set his ear to the crack and listened, and listened, and listened, and the steps a-scraping around out there all the time; and at last he nudged us, and we slid out, and stooped down, not breathing, and not making the least noise, and slipped stealthy towards the fence in Injun file, and got to it all right, and me and Jim over it; but Tom's britches catched fast on a splinter on the top rail, and then he hear the steps coming, so he had to pull loose, which snapped the splinter and made a noise; and as he dropped in our tracks and started somebody sings out: "Who's that? Answer, or I'll shoot!" But we didn't answer; we just unfurled our heels and shoved. Then there was a rush, and a BANG, BANG, BANG! and the bullets fairly whizzed around us! We heard them sing out: "Here they are! They've broke for the river! After 'em, boys, and turn loose the dogs!" So here they come, full tilt. We could hear them because they wore boots and yelled, but we didn't wear no boots and didn't yell. We was in the path to the mill; and when they got pretty close on to us we dodged into the bush and let them go by, and then dropped in behind them. They'd had all the dogs shut up, so they wouldn't scare off the robbers; but by this time somebody had let them loose, and here they come, making powwow enough for a million; but they was our dogs; so we stopped in our tracks till they catched up; and when they see it warn't nobody but us, and no excitement to offer them, they only just said howdy, and tore right ahead towards the shouting and clattering; and then we up-steam again, and whizzed along after them till we was nearly to the mill, and then struck up through the bush to where my canoe was tied, and hopped in and pulled for dear life towards the middle of the river, but didn't make no more noise than we was obleeged to. Then we struck out, easy and comfortable, for the island where my raft was; and we could hear them yelling and barking at each other all up and down the bank, till we was so far away the sounds got dim and died out. And when we stepped on to the raft I says: "NOW, old Jim, you're a free man again, and I bet you won't ever be a slave no more." "En a mighty good job it wuz, too, Huck. It 'uz planned beautiful, en it 'uz done beautiful; en dey ain't NOBODY kin git up a plan dat's mo' mixed-up en splendid den what dat one wuz." We was all glad as we could be, but Tom was the gladdest of all because he had a bullet in the calf of his leg. When me and Jim heard that we didn't feel so brash as what we did before. It was hurting him considerable, and bleeding; so we laid him in the wigwam and tore up one of the duke's shirts for to bandage him, but he says: "Gimme the rags; I can do it myself. Don't stop now; don't fool around here, and the evasion booming along so handsome; man the sweeps, and set her loose! Boys, we done it elegant! -- 'deed we did. I wish WE'D a had the handling of Louis XVI., there wouldn't a been no 'Son of Saint Louis, ascend to heaven!' wrote down in HIS biography; no, sir, we'd a whooped him over the BORDER -- that's what we'd a done with HIM -- and done it just as slick as nothing at all, too. Man the sweeps -- man the sweeps!" But me and Jim was consulting -- and thinking. And after we'd thought a minute, I says: "Say it, Jim." So he says: "Well, den, dis is de way it look to me, Huck. Ef it wuz HIM dat 'uz bein' sot free, en one er de boys wuz to git shot, would he say, 'Go on en save me, nemmine 'bout a doctor f'r to save dis one?' Is dat like Mars Tom Sawyer? Would he say dat? You BET he wouldn't! WELL, den, is JIM gywne to say it? No, sah -- I doan' budge a step out'n dis place 'dout a DOCTOR, not if it's forty year!" I knowed he was white inside, and I reckoned he'd say what he did say -- so it was all right now, and I told Tom I was a-going for a doctor. He raised considerable row about it, but me and Jim stuck to it and wouldn't budge; so he was for crawling out and setting the raft loose himself; but we wouldn't let him. Then he give us a piece of his mind, but it didn't do no good. So when he sees me getting the canoe ready, he says: "Well, then, if you re bound to go, I'll tell you the way to do when you get to the village. Shut the door and blindfold the doctor tight and fast, and make him swear to be silent as the grave, and put a purse full of gold in his hand, and then take and lead him all around the back alleys and everywheres in the dark, and then fetch him here in the canoe, in a roundabout way amongst the islands, and search him and take his chalk away from him, and don't give it back to him till you get him back to the village, or else he will chalk this raft so he can find it again. It's the way they all do." So I said I would, and left, and Jim was to hide in the woods when he see the doctor coming till he was gone again. |
第三十九章 到早上，我们到林里买了一只铁丝编的耗子笼子，拿了回来，又把最好的一个耗子洞重 新挖开了。才只个把钟头，就捉到了十五只顶呱呱的大耗子。我们把笼子放到了萨莉阿姨床 底下一个最安全可靠的地方。可是啊，我们去捉蜘蛛的当儿，给小汤姆斯•佛兰克林•朋杰 明•杰佛逊•费尔贝斯①发现了。他打开了笼子，看看耗子会不会出来，而耗子果然出来 了。萨莉阿姨走了进来。当我们走回家时，只见她正站在床头大叫大喊，而耗子正在表现它 们的拿手好戏给她解解闷。所以她一见我们，便抄起木棍，揍了我们一顿。我们不得不重新 花了两个钟头才另外搞到了十五六只。那个爱淘气的小鬼就是这么跟我们捣乱。而且这回捉 到的又不象样。赶不上第一批那种精英之辈。象第一批那么棒的，我还没见过哩。 ①当时普通人家给儿子取名，经常取历史上大人物的姓作为名字，几乎每家都有叫 华盛顿的，还有从拜伦或司各特作品中人物取名字的。 我们又弄到了挺棒的一大批各式各样的蜘蛛、屎壳郎、毛毛虫、癞蛤蟆，还有许多别的 东西。我们本想弄到一个马蜂窝，后来没有弄成。那一家子正在窝里呢。我们并没有就此罢 休，而是跟它们比一比耐性的劲儿，因为我们知道，在耗时间上不是它们把我们轰跑，就是 我们把它们轰跑，结果是它们胜了。我们找了点草药，在给蜂子蜇过的地方擦了擦，就好得 差不多了，不过坐下来的时候还不怎么灵便。于是我们去捉蛇，捉到了二三十来条花蛇和家 蛇，放进了一只袋子里，随后放到了我们的房间里。这时正是吃晚饭的时间，忙忙碌碌干了 一整天，肚子饿不饿呢？——哦，不，我看是不饿！等到我们回来，一看，一条蛇都不见了 ——我们没有把袋口扎紧，蛇就溜跑了。不过问题还不大，因为它们总还在这房子里嘛。因 此我们认为，总能把一部分捉回来吧。不，有好一阵子，这间屋里可真是闹起了蛇的天下。 时不时的，你能看见房椽子上等处地方突然掉下一条蛇来，往往掉到了你的菜盘子里，或是 掉到了你的背上，你的脖子上，而且多半总是在你不愿见到它的时间里掉下来。说起来，这 些蛇还长得挺漂亮，身上一条条花纹。这些蛇，即便是一百万条吧，也害不了人。可是在萨 莉阿姨眼里，蛇就没有什么好歹之分。她讨厌蛇，不管它是哪一种、哪一类。不管你怎么 说，只要是蛇，她就受不了。每逢有一条蛇跌到她身上，不论她正在干着什么，她就一概丢 下活儿往外跑。这样的女人我真没见过。而且你能听到她大声叫喊。你就是告诉她用火钳就 能把蛇给夹住，她也不干。要是她睡时一翻身，看见了床上盘着一条蛇，那她就马上滚下床 来，拼命嚎叫，仿佛房子着了火。她还把那位老人吵得六神无主，弄得他只好说，他但愿上 帝创造万物时能没有创造蛇才好。啊，即便最后一条蛇在屋里消失了已经有一个星期了，对 萨莉阿姨来说，这事还未了结，还谈不到快了结这样的话。只要她坐着想些什么，你用一根 羽毛在她颈背后轻轻一拂，她会立时立刻跳将起来，吓得魂不附体。这也真怪。不过据汤姆 说，女人一概如此。他说，她们这是生来便是如此，不知道是什么原因。 每次有蛇惊了她，我们就得挨一回揍。还说，要是下次还是搞得满屋是蛇，她会揍得叫 我们觉得这一回的挨揍简直就算不上什么。我并不在乎挨揍，因为那实在算不上什么，我怕 的是再去捉一批蛇，那可是麻烦事。不过我们还是去捉了蛇，还捉了其它别的东西。每逢这 些东西在杰姆的小间里挤在一起听着杰姆的音乐，围着杰姆打转，那个热闹啊，可是从来没 有见过的。杰姆呢，他不喜欢蜘蛛；蜘蛛呢，也不喜欢杰姆。所以它们和杰姆打起交道时， 弄得杰姆真是够受的。他还说，他这样在在耗子、蛇和磨刀石的中间，在他那张床上，他简 直没有容身之地了。他说，即便是可以容身的时候吧，他也睡不成觉，因为在那个时候，这 儿可闹得欢呢。而且这里老是这么闹得欢，因为这些东西从来不是在同一个时候入睡的，而 是轮流着睡的。蛇睡的时候，耗子出来上班。耗子睡了，蛇就出来上班。因此，这么一来， 他身子下面总有一群东西，而这时另一群则在他身上开演其马戏。要是他起身寻觅一处新的 地方，蜘蛛就会在他跨过去的时候，找个机会蜇他一下。他说，要是这一回他能出得去，他 再也不愿当一个囚犯了，即便发给他薪水，他也不干了。 这样，一直到第三个星期的末了，一切进行得非常有条有理。衬衫早就放在馅饼里送了 进来。每一回耗子咬他一口，杰姆便起身，趁血水未干，在日记上写点儿什么。笔也磨好 了，题词等等已经刻在磨刀石上了。床腿已经一锯为二。锯下的木屑，我们已经吃了，结果 肚子痛得要命。我们原以为这下子要送命了，可是倒并没有。这种木屑之难于消化，是我见 所未见的了。汤姆也是这么个说法。不过，正如我说的，这些活儿如今都终于完成了。我们 都吃尽了苦头，最苦的还是杰姆。那位老人写了好几封信到奥尔良下面的那家农场，要他们 来把逃跑的黑奴领回去。不过信去后没有收到回信。因为根本没有那么一个农场。所以他表 示，要在圣路易和新奥尔良两地的报纸上为招领杰姆登广告。这个消息，我听后全身冰凉得 直发抖。我看，我们再也耽误不得啦。汤姆因此说，写匿名信的时机如今到啦。 “匿名信是什么呀？”我说。 “是警告人家，谨防发生什么意外的。警告的方式有时是用这样一种方式，有时是用另 外一种方式。不过总会有人暗中察访，知照城堡的长官。当年路易十六准备逃出都勒里宫 时，一个女仆就去报了信。这个办法很好，写匿名信也是个好办法。我们不妨两种方法并 用。通常是囚徒的母亲换穿他的服饰，改扮成他，她留下，而他改穿上她的衣服溜之大吉。 我们不妨照着做。” “不过你听我说，汤姆，我们为什么要警告什么人，说什么要有意外发生呢？让他们自 己发现不好么，——这原本是他们的事嘛。” “是啊，这我知道。不过光靠他们是靠不住的。事情从一开始起，他们就是这么一回事 ——什么事都得由我们来干。这些人啊，就是喜欢轻信人家的话，死脑筋，根本不注意发生 了什么事。所以嘛，要不是我们给他们提个醒，那就不会有谁来干涉我们。这样一来，尽管 我们吃了千辛万苦，这场越狱，会变得平淡无奇，落得一场空——什么都谈不上。” “那好啊，拿我来说，汤姆，这是我求之不得的嘛。” “去你的。”他说，仿佛不胜厌恶的样子。我就说： “不过我不想埋怨什么。只要你认为合适，我都行。那个女仆的事，你有什么打算呢？” “你就是她，你半夜里溜进去，把那个黄脸丫头的袍子偷出来。” “怎么啦，汤姆，那样一来，第二天早上便麻烦了。因为那可以断得定，她很可能只有 这么一件嘛。” “这我知道。不过嘛，你送那封匿名信，把信塞到大门底下，最多十五分钟嘛。” “那好，我来干。不过我穿自己的上衣，也一样可以送嘛。” “那样的话，你就不象女仆了，不是么？” “是不象。不过反正不会有人看见我是个什么模样嘛。” “问题不在这里。我们该干的是：尽到我们的责任，而不是担心有没有别人看到我们。 难道你丝毫没有原则观念么？” “好吧，我不说了。我是女仆。那么谁是杰姆的妈妈呢？” “我是他的妈妈。我要偷萨莉阿姨的一件袍子穿上。” “那好吧，我和杰姆走了以后，那你就得留在小屋里啰。” “也留不了多久。我要在杰姆的衣服里塞满稻草，搁在床上，算是他那乔装改扮了的母 亲。杰姆要穿上从我身上脱下来的萨莉阿姨的袍子，我们就一起逃亡。一个有身份的囚徒逃 跑，就称做逃亡①。举例说，一个国王逃走的时候，就称作逃亡。国王的儿子也如此，不论 是否是私生子，一概如此。” ①原文为evasion，意为“躲避”。 汤姆就写下了那封匿名信。我呢，按照汤姆的吩咐，在那天晚上，偷了那黄脸皮丫头的 衫子穿上，把那封信塞到了大门下面。信上说： 当心。灾祸快临头。严防为妙。 一位不相识的朋友 第二天晚上，我们把汤姆蘸血画的骷髅底下交叉着白骨的一幅画贴在大门上。再下一个 晚上，把画了一付棺材的画贴在后门口。一家人这么恐慌，我可是第一回见到。他们吓得魂 飞魄散，仿佛他们家到处是鬼，在每一样东西的后面，在床底下，在空气里，隐隐绰绰的， 都是鬼。门砰的一声，萨莉阿姨就跳将起来，喊一声“啊唷！”什么东西掉了下来，她就跳 将起来，喊一声“啊唷！”她没有留意的时候，你偶然碰了她一下，她也会这样子。不论她 的脸朝那个方向，她总是不放心，因为她认为在她身子背后，每一回都有什么妖怪之类—— 所以她不停地突然转身，一边说“啊唷”。还没有转到三分之二，就又转回来，又说一声 “啊唷”。她又怕上床，可又不敢坐着熬夜。汤姆说，可见我们那套办法很灵验。他说，搞 得这么灵验，他过去还没有过。他说，这表明，事情是做得对的。 于是他说，压轴戏如今该上场啦！所以第二天，天蒙蒙亮，我们把另一封信准备好了， 并且正在考虑最好的办法是什么，因为我们在吃晚饭时听到，他们说，他们要通宵在前门后 门都派黑奴看守。汤姆呢，他顺着避雷针滑了下去，在四下里侦察了一番。后门口的黑奴睡 着了，他就把信贴在他颈子背后，随后就回来了。这封信是这样写的： 你们别泄露我的秘密，我是有心做你们的朋友的。现下有一帮杀人犯，是从那边印第安 领地来的①，要在今晚盗走你家的黑奴。他们一直在试图吓唬你们，好叫你们待在屋里，不 敢出来阻拦他们。我是这一帮团伙中的一分子，可是由于受到宗教的感化，有心脱离这个团 伙，重新做人，因此愿意揭露这个罪恶阴谋。他们定在半夜整沿着栅栏，从北边偷偷摸进 来，带着私造的钥匙，打开黑奴的小屋，将他盗走。他们要我在稍远处放风，一有危险，便 吹起白铁皮号筒。不过我现在决定不照他们的办，根本不吹白铁皮号筒，而准备他们一进 来，我便学羊的声音，喝喝地叫唤，望你们趁他们在给他打开脚镣时，溜到小屋外，把他们 反锁在里面。一有工夫，就可把他们杀掉。千万要按我的话办，如果不照办，他们就会起疑 心，惹出一场滔天大祸。我不想获得什么报酬，只愿知道自己是做了一桩好事。 一位不相识的朋友 ①诺顿版注：指当年的俄克拉荷马，当时为印第安人领地，不法之徒不少。 Chapter 39 IN the morning we went up to the village and bought a wire rat-trap and fetched it down, and unstopped the best rat-hole, and in about an hour we had fifteen of the bulliest kind of ones; and then we took it and put it in a safe place under Aunt Sally's bed. But while we was gone for spiders little Thomas Franklin Benjamin Jefferson Elexander Phelps found it there, and opened the door of it to see if the rats would come out, and they did; and Aunt Sally she come in, and when we got back she was a-standing on top of the bed raising Cain, and the rats was doing what they could to keep off the dull times for her. So she took and dusted us both with the hickry, and we was as much as two hours catching another fifteen or sixteen, drat that meddlesome cub, and they warn't the likeliest, nuther, because the first haul was the pick of the flock. I never see a likelier lot of rats than what that first haul was. We got a splendid stock of sorted spiders, and bugs, and frogs, and caterpillars, and one thing or another; and we like to got a hornet's nest, but we didn't. The family was at home. We didn't give it right up, but stayed with them as long as we could; because we allowed we'd tire them out or they'd got to tire us out, and they done it. Then we got allycumpain and rubbed on the places, and was pretty near all right again, but couldn't set down convenient. And so we went for the snakes, and grabbed a couple of dozen garters and house-snakes, and put them in a bag, and put it in our room, and by that time it was suppertime, and a rattling good honest day's work: and hungry? -- oh, no, I reckon not! And there warn't a blessed snake up there when we went back -- we didn't half tie the sack, and they worked out somehow, and left. But it didn't matter much, because they was still on the premises somewheres. So we judged we could get some of them again. No, there warn't no real scarcity of snakes about the house for a considerable spell. You'd see them dripping from the rafters and places every now and then; and they generly landed in your plate, or down the back of your neck, and most of the time where you didn't want them. Well, they was handsome and striped, and there warn't no harm in a million of them; but that never made no difference to Aunt Sally; she despised snakes, be the breed what they might, and she couldn't stand them no way you could fix it; and every time one of them flopped down on her, it didn't make no difference what she was doing, she would just lay that work down and light out. I never see such a woman. And you could hear her whoop to Jericho. You couldn't get her to take a-holt of one of them with the tongs. And if she turned over and found one in bed she would scramble out and lift a howl that you would think the house was afire. She disturbed the old man so that he said he could most wish there hadn't ever been no snakes created. Why, after every last snake had been gone clear out of the house for as much as a week Aunt Sally warn't over it yet; she warn't near over it; when she was setting thinking about something you could touch her on the back of her neck with a feather and she would jump right out of her stockings. It was very curious. But Tom said all women was just so. He said they was made that way for some reason or other. We got a licking every time one of our snakes come in her way, and she allowed these lickings warn't nothing to what she would do if we ever loaded up the place again with them. I didn't mind the lickings, because they didn't amount to nothing; but I minded the trouble we had to lay in another lot. But we got them laid in, and all the other things; and you never see a cabin as blithesome as Jim's was when they'd all swarm out for music and go for him. Jim didn't like the spiders, and the spiders didn't like Jim; and so they'd lay for him, and make it mighty warm for him. And he said that between the rats and the snakes and the grindstone there warn't no room in bed for him, skasely; and when there was, a body couldn't sleep, it was so lively, and it was always lively, he said, because THEY never all slept at one time, but took turn about, so when the snakes was asleep the rats was on deck, and when the rats turned in the snakes come on watch, so he always had one gang under him, in his way, and t'other gang having a circus over him, and if he got up to hunt a new place the spiders would take a chance at him as he crossed over. He said if he ever got out this time he wouldn't ever be a prisoner again, not for a salary. Well, by the end of three weeks everything was in pretty good shape. The shirt was sent in early, in a pie, and every time a rat bit Jim he would get up and write a little in his journal whilst the ink was fresh; the pens was made, the inscriptions and so on was all carved on the grindstone; the bed-leg was sawed in two, and we had et up the sawdust, and it give us a most amazing stomach-ache. We reckoned we was all going to die, but didn't. It was the most undigestible sawdust I ever see; and Tom said the same. But as I was saying, we'd got all the work done now, at last; and we was all pretty much fagged out, too, but mainly Jim. The old man had wrote a couple of times to the plantation below Orleans to come and get their runaway nigger, but hadn't got no answer, because there warn't no such plantation; so he allowed he would advertise Jim in the St. Louis and New Orleans papers; and when he mentioned the St. Louis ones it give me the cold shivers, and I see we hadn't no time to lose. So Tom said, now for the nonnamous letters. "What's them?" I says. "Warnings to the people that something is up. Sometimes it's done one way, sometimes another. But there's always somebody spying around that gives notice to the governor of the castle. When Louis XVI. was going to light out of the Tooleries a servantgirl done it. It's a very good way, and so is the nonnamous letters. We'll use them both. And it's usual for the prisoner's mother to change clothes with him, and she stays in, and he slides out in her clothes. We'll do that, too." "But looky here, Tom, what do we want to WARN anybody for that something's up? Let them find it out for themselves -- it's their lookout." "Yes, I know; but you can't depend on them. It's the way they've acted from the very start -- left us to do EVERYTHING. They're so confiding and mulletheaded they don't take notice of nothing at all. So if we don't GIVE them notice there won't be nobody nor nothing to interfere with us, and so after all our hard work and trouble this escape 'll go off perfectly flat; won't amount to nothing -- won't be nothing TO it." "Well, as for me, Tom, that's the way I'd like." "Shucks!" he says, and looked disgusted. So I says: "But I ain't going to make no complaint. Any way that suits you suits me. What you going to do about the servant-girl?" "You'll be her. You slide in, in the middle of the night, and hook that yaller girl's frock." "Why, Tom, that 'll make trouble next morning; because, of course, she prob'bly hain't got any but that one." "I know; but you don't want it but fifteen minutes, to carry the nonnamous letter and shove it under the front door." "All right, then, I'll do it; but I could carry it just as handy in my own togs." "You wouldn't look like a servant-girl THEN, would you?" "No, but there won't be nobody to see what I look like, ANYWAY." "That ain't got nothing to do with it. The thing for us to do is just to do our DUTY, and not worry about whether anybody SEES us do it or not. Hain't you got no principle at all?" "All right, I ain't saying nothing; I'm the servantgirl. Who's Jim's mother?" "I'm his mother. I'll hook a gown from Aunt Sally." "Well, then, you'll have to stay in the cabin when me and Jim leaves." "Not much. I'll stuff Jim's clothes full of straw and lay it on his bed to represent his mother in disguise, and Jim 'll take the nigger woman's gown off of me and wear it, and we'll all evade together. When a prisoner of style escapes it's called an evasion. It's always called so when a king escapes, f'rinstance. And the same with a king's son; it don't make no difference whether he's a natural one or an unnatural one." So Tom he wrote the nonnamous letter, and I smouched the yaller wench's frock that night, and put it on, and shoved it under the front door, the way Tom told me to. It said: Beware. Trouble is brewing. Keep a sharp lookout. UNKNOWN FRIEND. Next night we stuck a picture, which Tom drawed in blood, of a skull and crossbones on the front door; and next night another one of a coffin on the back door. I never see a family in such a sweat. They couldn't a been worse scared if the place had a been full of ghosts laying for them behind everything and under the beds and shivering through the air. If a door banged, Aunt Sally she jumped and said "ouch!" if anything fell, she jumped and said "ouch!" if you happened to touch her, when she warn't noticing, she done the same; she couldn't face noway and be satisfied, because she allowed there was something behind her every time -- so she was always a-whirling around sudden, and saying "ouch," and before she'd got two-thirds around she'd whirl back again, and say it again; and she was afraid to go to bed, but she dasn't set up. So the thing was working very well, Tom said; he said he never see a thing work more satisfactory. He said it showed it was done right. So he said, now for the grand bulge! So the very next morning at the streak of dawn we got another letter ready, and was wondering what we better do with it, because we heard them say at supper they was going to have a nigger on watch at both doors all night. Tom he went down the lightning-rod to spy around; and the nigger at the back door was asleep, and he stuck it in the back of his neck and come back. This letter said: Don't betray me, I wish to be your friend. There is a desprate gang of cut-throats from over in the Indian Territory going to steal your runaway nigger to-night, and they have been trying to scare you so as you will stay in the house and not bother them. I am one of the gang, but have got religgion and wish to quit it and lead an honest life again, and will betray the helish design. They will sneak down from northards, along the fence, at midnight exact, with a false key, and go in the nigger's cabin to get him. I am to be off a piece and blow a tin horn if I see any danger; but stead of that I will BA like a sheep soon as they get in and not blow at all; then whilst they are getting his chains loose, you slip there and lock them in, and can kill them at your leasure. Don't do anything but just the way I am telling you; if you do they will suspicion something and raise whoop-jamboreehoo. I do not wish any reward but to know I have done the right thing. UNKNOWN FRIEND. |
| 第三十八章 做笔可是苦不堪言的活儿。做锯子也一样。杰姆说，刻字的活儿，那就是苦上加苦了。 这是指囚犯需得刻在墙上的字。不过我们非得有这样的字不可。汤姆说，我们非有不可。一 个国事犯不留下字，不留下他的纹章，那是闻所未闻的。“看看珍妮•格雷夫人吧；”他 说，“看看基尔福特•杜特雷吧；看看老诺森伯兰吧①！啊，哈克，就算这是挺难办的事 吧，——你又有什么办法？——你能绕过它么？杰姆非得留下字和纹章。非留不可。” ①诺顿版注：珍妮•格雷夫人（１５３７—１５５４）自称有权继承英国王位，因 此和她的丈夫基尔福特•杜特雷，及其父诺瑟伯雷公爵同囚伦敦塔中，后均被斩首。 ②纹章这个词组，其中第一个词可作“上衣”解释，杰姆只懂这个词义，故误解了。 杰姆说： “啊，汤姆少爷，我可没有上衣②啊。我什么都没有，只有你的这件旧衬衫。你知道， 我得在上面写下日记。” “哦，杰姆，那是你不懂，一个纹章可大不一样。”“啊，”我说，“反正杰姆说的是 对的。他说他没有纹章，因为他就是没有嘛。” “我看，这一点我还知道吧，”汤姆说，“不过，你不妨打赌，在他从这里出去以前， 他会有一个纹章的——因为他要堂堂正正地出去，决不能在有关他事迹的记录上留下污点。” 这样，我和杰姆各自用碎砖头磨笔，杰姆磨的是一截铜烛台，我磨的是调羹。这时，汤 姆就为了纹章在开动脑筋。后来他说，他已想出了好多图样，不知道挑中哪一个，不过其中 有一个他可能选中，他说： “在这盾形纹章的右侧下方，画一道金黄斜带，在紫色中带之上，刻一个斜形十字，再 加上一条扬着脑袋蹲着的小狗，当做通常的标记。狗的脚下是一条城垛形的链子代表奴役。 在盾的上部成波纹的图案中是一个绿色山形符号。在天蓝底色上有三条瓦棱形的线。纹章中 心稍下的脐点左高右低，下面是一道锯齿形饰纹。顶部是一个浑身漆黑的逃跑的黑奴。在左 横格上，是他肩扛着的行李卷儿。横线下是两根朱红支柱，它们代表你和我①。纹章的箴言 是Maggiorefrettaminoreatto。这是我在一本书上找到的——意思是‘欲速则不达’。” ①诺顿版注：一般盾形纹章分为上部、中横带和底部。汤姆的设计更复杂些，有许 多横线，六种颜色，又有狗和黑奴。 “我的老天爷，”我说，“那么其余的又是什么意思呢？” “我们现在顾不上这个，”他说，“别人越狱，都得拼命地干，我们也得拼命地干。” “那好吧，”我说，“你多少得说一些嘛。中带是什么？” “中带是——中带是——你不必知道中带是什么。等到他画的时候，我会教给他的。” “去你的，汤姆，”我说，“我看你讲一讲也可以嘛。什么是左横①带啊？” ①黑恩详注本注：左横带在贵族纹章中暗指有私生子女。“所有的贵族都有”，是 作者对贵族的讥刺。 “哦，我也不知道。反正他非有不可。凡是贵族都有嘛。” 汤姆就是这么个章法。要是他认为不必向你解释一件事情的原委，那他就怎么也不会解 释。你哪怕钉着他问上一个星期也没有用。 他已经把纹章的事都定下了，所以如今便开始要把其余的事干完。那就是设计好一句伤 感的题词——他说，杰姆非得留下一句，人家全都如此嘛。他定下了不少的留言，都写在一 张纸上。他逐个念道： １．一颗被幽囚的心在这里破碎了。 ２．一个不幸的囚犯，遭到了人世和朋友们的背弃，熬过了他悲苦的一生。 ３．这里是一颗孤单的心破碎了，一颗困乏的心终于得到了安息，在三十七个年头单身 囚禁以后。 ４．在这里，一个无家室、无亲友的高贵的陌生人，经过三十七年辛酸的幽囚终于死去 了。他原本是路易十四的私生子。① ①黑恩详注本注：一说，大仲马笔下的铁面人是路易十四的私丝子。 汤姆在念的时候，声音在颤抖。差点儿要哭起来。他念过以后，? 杰姆刻在墙上。每句都好得很嘛。杰姆说，要他用一根钉子把这么多的玩意儿刻在圆木上， 得用一年的工夫才行。再说他又并不会写字母啊。汤姆说，他可以替他画个底子，杰姆不用 干别的，只消照着描画就是了。随后他接着说： “想起来，这木头可不行。地牢里不会有木头的墙嘛。我们得刻在石头上才行。我们得 弄一块石头来。” 杰姆说石头比木头更糟。他说在石头上刻字要用很长的时间才行，那他就不用想出去 啦。不过汤姆说，他会叫我帮他把这事做好的。随后他看了一下我和杰姆磨笔磨得怎样了。 这实在是又累又苦又慢的活儿，我的两只手，泡一直没有消过，看情况，简直难有什么进 展。所以汤姆说： “好，我有办法了。为了刻纹章和刻伤感的遗言，我们得弄一块石头来，这样，我们可 以利用这块石头来个一举两得。锯木厂那儿有一块又大又棒的磨刀石，我们可以去把它偷 来，在上面刻东西，另一方面又可以在上面磨笔和锯子。” 这个主意不能说是糟主意，只是要搬动磨刀石，那可是够糟的了。但是我们还是决定要 干。天还没有到午夜，我们就出发往锯木厂去，留下杰姆干他那份活儿。我们偷出磨刀石， 开始住家滚，可是这活儿多艰难啊，有的时候，尽管我们使出了全身的劲，还是阻止不住磨 刀石往后滚，差点儿把我们给压扁了。汤姆说，在推到家以前，我们两人中，看来有一个准 定会吃它的亏哩。我们滚了一半的路，就筋疲力竭，出的汗简直能把我们淹死。我们眼看不 行了，便去把杰姆给找来。他就把床一提，从床脚下脱出了脚镣，把脚镣一圈又一圈地套在 脖子上。随后我们从洞口爬了出来，到了下面。杰姆和我把磨刀石一推，毫不费力，就叫它 滚动着往前①。汤姆呢，他在场督导。他督导起来，就我所知，能胜过任何一个孩子。不论 什么事，都能十分来得。 ①诺顿版注：在这些结尾的几章中，一再进行的恶作剧，看来是对杰姆的一种残酷 的行为。另一方面，诚如前面所提到的，这些也是在彼此相知的孩子们中间干的滑稽可笑的 事，有人如果要躲掉，也是不难做到的。作者在这里用的是喜剧性的夸张笔法，这在当时边 疆地区也是习以为常的。不过在这里也表现了作者对人性理解得非常透彻。 我们挖的洞，本来已经够大的了。不过要把磨刀石给滚进去，就不够大了。杰姆举起了 铲子挖起来，一会儿就挖大了，能容磨刀石滚过。随后汤姆用钉子把那些东西画在磨刀石 上，让杰姆照着干起来，用钉子当钻凿，用从披间废料堆里捡到的一只铁螺栓当鎯头刻。还 叮嘱他干到蜡烛熄灭为止，就可以上床睡了，临了得把磨刀石藏在床垫下面，人就睡在上 面。随后我们帮着把杰姆的脚镣放回床腿上。我们自己也准备睡觉去了。不过汤姆又动起了 什么念头。他说： “你这里有蜘蛛么，杰姆？” “没有，汤姆少爷，我这尔（儿）没有，谢天谢地。” “那好，我们给你弄一些来。” “多谢你啦，老弟，我可是一个也不要。我拍（怕）蜘蛛。我还不如要响尾蛇，也不要 蜘蛛。” 汤姆想了一两分钟，随后说： “这是个好主意。依我看，人家也干过的，必须干过，因为这符合理性。是啊，这是个 出色的主意。你养在哪里呢？” “养什么啊，汤姆少爷？” “怎么啦，一条响尾蛇啊。” “天啊，汤姆少爷。要是这里来了一条响尾蛇，我就立刻把脑袋往圆木墙上撞去，我会 这么干的。” “啊，杰姆，隔不多久，你就不会害怕它了。你能驯服它嘛。” “驯服它！” “是啊——容易得很嘛。动物嘛，只要对它和善，对它亲热，它总是感恩的。凡是对它 亲热的，它是不会想到要加害于他的。任何一本书上都会把这层道理告诉你的。你不妨试一 试——我要求你的，不过如此而已。只要试它个两三天就行了。啊，不用多久，你就能养熟 了，它就会爱上你了，就会跟你一起睡了，会一时一刻也离不得你了，会让你把它在你脖上 围成一圈又一圈，还能把它的脑袋伸进你的嘴巴里哩。” “求求你，汤姆少爷——别这么说！我可收（受）不了啊。它会让我把它的头塞进我的 嘴巴里——作为对我的情意，是么？我敢说，它就是等上一辈子，我也不会这么请它。再 说，我根本不愿意它跟我睡啊。” “杰姆，别这么傻嘛。一个囚犯嘛，就得有个不会说话的心爱的宠物。要是说过去还没 有人养过响尾蛇，那你就是破天荒第一个，能在其它的方法以外，用这样的方法搭救自己的 人，那就更加光荣啦。” “啊，汤姆少爷，我可不要这样的光用（荣）啊。蛇一进来，就会把杰姆的下巴给咬 掉，那还说什么光用（荣）？不，我不愿意这么干。” “真该死，你试一试不行么？我只是要你试一试嘛——要是试得不灵，你就不用养下去 嘛。” “不过嘛，我刚一试养它的当儿，蛇就咬我一口，那我不就遭养（殃）了么？汤姆少 爷，不论什么事，只要不是不合情理的，全都愿干。不过，如果你和哈克把一条响尾蛇弄到 这里来，我便利克（离开）这里，这是一定的。” “那好吧，那就算了吧，那就算了吧，要是你这么死心眼儿的话。我们可以给你弄几条 花蛇来，你可以在蛇尾巴上绑上几个扣子，只当是响尾蛇，我看这该行了吧。” “这样的蛇我深受得了，汤姆少爷。不过我跟你说，要是说没有这些玩意儿，我就会活 不下去的话，那才是怪事一桩呢。做一个囚犯，麻烦事、灾祸事可真不少啊。” “嗯，按照规矩，总是如此这般的嘛。你这里有耗子么？” “没有。我没有见到过一只耗子。” “好吧，我们给你弄几只耗子来。” “怎么啦，汤姆少爷，我根本不需要耗子啊。这些东西最讨厌。你想睡觉，它就在你身 边转来转去，咬你的脚，我见到的都是这样。不，要是非有不可的话，我宁要花蛇，也不要 耗子。耗子对我一点儿涌（用）处也没有。” “不过杰姆，你总得有耗子啊——人家都有嘛。凡是囚犯，没有耗子，那是没有的。过 去没有这样的先例。人家就驯养耗子，对耗子亲亲热热的，教耗子各种各样的把戏。耗子变 得象苍蝇那样随和。不过你需得为它们奏起音乐来。你有什么乐器能奏乐么？” “我什么都没有，只有一只粗木梳子，一张纸和一只口拨近（琴）①。不过依我看，这 口拨近（琴）嘛，它们是看不中的啰。” ①一种简单的乐器，奏时用嘴咬住琴身，用手指弹拨铁簧发声。 “不，它们会看中的。它们并不在乎是哪一种的音乐。对一只耗子来? 错了。凡是动物，都是爱好音乐的——在牢房里，它们爱音乐爱得入了迷。尤其爱悲怆的音 乐，而口拨琴呢，除了这个，别的音乐它也奏不出来。耗子对这个兴趣挺大，它们便喜欢出 来看一看你究竟是怎么了。是啊，你是一切好好的啦，你给一切安排得妥妥贴贴的嘛。在夜 晚，你想要上床去了。而在你睡以前，以及一清早，你想玩玩你的口拨琴。奏一曲《最后一 个连环断了》——这曲子挺能打动耗子的心，比什么都奏效更快。你只消奏它个两分钟左 右，你就会见到耗子啦、蛇啦、蜘蛛啦、还有其它等等的，都会开始为你发起愁来，会走拢 来。它们简直全都围拢着你，快快活活地玩上一阵子。” “是的，汤姆少爷，我看它们是会这样的。不过，杰姆怎么样呢？我要是能懂得其中的 笃里（道理）才怪呢。不过如果必要的话，我会干的。依我看，我得设法叫这些动物开开新 新（心心）的免得在屋子里惹事生非。” 汤姆等了一下，想了一下，看有没有什么别的事要解决。 没多久，他便说： “哦——有一件事我可忘了。你能不能在这里种一株花，你看呢？” “我不知道，不过也许能吧，汤姆少爷。不过这尔（儿）挺黑的。再说，我养花也没有 什么用，见了叫人家刺眼，会惹出麻饭（烦）来。” “嗯，反正你不妨试一下嘛。别的囚犯也有种过的嘛。” “有一种象猫尾巴的大毛蕊花，我看在这尔（儿）大概忽（活）得了，汤姆少爷。不过 养起来，得化（花）很大力气，怕花（划）不来。” “别信这一套。我们会给你弄一株小的。你就栽在那边角落里，把它养起来。也别叫它 毛蕊花，就叫它毕巧拉就行了——这是在牢房里叫的名字①。并且你得用眼泪来灌溉它。” ①诺顿版注：博尼法斯的《毕巧拉》（１８３６）中即写一个贵族囚徒在狱中养 花。藉此得以维持生命。 “怎么啦，我有的是丰富的泉水嘛，汤姆少爷？” “你用你的眼泪浇花的时候，泉水就用不上啦。人家都是这样的一个路子嘛。” “啊，汤姆少爷，别的人里眼泪浇毛蕊花，我却能用泉水浇，还能长得比他快一贝 （倍）呢。” “这个路子不对。你得用眼泪浇嘛。” “花就会撕（死）在我手里，汤姆少爷，必撕（死）无疑，因为我从来难得哭上一回。” 这一下子可把汤姆给难倒啦。不过他考虑了一下，随后说，杰姆只好用一只洋葱头来对 付着挤出眼泪来。他答应要到黑奴的房间里去，在早上偷偷把一只洋葱头放到杰姆的咖啡壶 里。杰姆说他宁愿在他咖啡壶里放点儿烟叶子的。随后他牢骚一大串，说又要栽毛蕊花，又 要给耗子奏口拨琴，又要对蛇、蜘蛛之类献殷勤。并且作为囚徒，论麻烦、论烦恼、论责 任，难上加难的，而在这些活儿以外，还得磨笔、题词、写日记、如此等等，没有料想到做 囚徒须得干这么多事。这么一说，汤姆可火了，对他失去了耐性。他说，杰姆空有这么好的 机会，能比世上任何一个囚徒扬名天下，却不知好歹，眼看这些好机会正在他手里给白白错 过了。于是杰姆急忙赔不是，说他要从此改正。我和汤姆便回屋睡觉去了。 Chapter 38 MAKING them pens was a distressid tough job, and so was the saw; and Jim allowed the inscription was going to be the toughest of all. That's the one which the prisoner has to scrabble on the wall. But he had to have it; Tom said he'd GOT to; there warn't no case of a state prisoner not scrabbling his inscription to leave behind, and his coat of arms. "Look at Lady Jane Grey," he says; "look at Gilford Dudley; look at old Northumberland! Why, Huck, s'pose it IS considerble trouble? -- what you going to do? -- how you going to get around it? Jim's GOT to do his inscription and coat of arms. They all do." Jim says: "Why, Mars Tom, I hain't got no coat o' arm; I hain't got nuffn but dish yer ole shirt, en you knows I got to keep de journal on dat." "Oh, you don't understand, Jim; a coat of arms is very different." "Well," I says, "Jim's right, anyway, when he says he ain't got no coat of arms, because he hain't." "I reckon I knowed that," Tom says, "but you bet he'll have one before he goes out of this -- because he's going out RIGHT, and there ain't going to be no flaws in his record." So whilst me and Jim filed away at the pens on a brickbat apiece, Jim a-making his'n out of the brass and I making mine out of the spoon, Tom set to work to think out the coat of arms. By and by he said he'd struck so many good ones he didn't hardly know which to take, but there was one which he reckoned he'd decide on. He says: "On the scutcheon we'll have a bend OR in the dexter base, a saltire MURREY in the fess, with a dog, couchant, for common charge, and under his foot a chain embattled, for slavery, with a chevron VERT in a chief engrailed, and three invected lines on a field AZURE, with the nombril points rampant on a dancette indented; crest, a runaway nigger, SABLE, with his bundle over his shoulder on a bar sinister; and a couple of gules for supporters, which is you and me; motto, MAGGIORE FRETTA, MINORE OTTO. Got it out of a book -- means the more haste the less speed." "Geewhillikins," I says, "but what does the rest of it mean?" "We ain't got no time to bother over that," he says; "we got to dig in like all git-out." "Well, anyway," I says, "what's SOME of it? What's a fess?" "A fess -- a fess is -- YOU don't need to know what a fess is. I'll show him how to make it when he gets to it." "Shucks, Tom," I says, "I think you might tell a person. What's a bar sinister?" "Oh, I don't know. But he's got to have it. All the nobility does." That was just his way. If it didn't suit him to explain a thing to you, he wouldn't do it. You might pump at him a week, it wouldn't make no difference. He'd got all that coat of arms business fixed, so now he started in to finish up the rest of that part of the work, which was to plan out a mournful inscription -- said Jim got to have one, like they all done. He made up a lot, and wrote them out on a paper, and read them off, so: 1. Here a captive heart busted. 2. Here a poor prisoner, forsook by the world and friends, fretted his sorrowful life. 3. Here a lonely heart broke, and a worn spirit went to its rest, after thirty-seven years of solitary captivity. 4. Here, homeless and friendless, after thirty-seven years of bitter captivity, perished a noble stranger, natural son of Louis XIV. Tom's voice trembled whilst he was reading them, and he most broke down. When he got done he couldn't no way make up his mind which one for Jim to scrabble on to the wall, they was all so good; but at last he allowed he would let him scrabble them all on. Jim said it would take him a year to scrabble such a lot of truck on to the logs with a nail, and he didn't know how to make letters, besides; but Tom said he would block them out for him, and then he wouldn't have nothing to do but just follow the lines. Then pretty soon he says: "Come to think, the logs ain't a-going to do; they don't have log walls in a dungeon: we got to dig the inscriptions into a rock. We'll fetch a rock." Jim said the rock was worse than the logs; he said it would take him such a pison long time to dig them into a rock he wouldn't ever get out. But Tom said he would let me help him do it. Then he took a look to see how me and Jim was getting along with the pens. It was most pesky tedious hard work and slow, and didn't give my hands no show to get well of the sores, and we didn't seem to make no headway, hardly; so Tom says: "I know how to fix it. We got to have a rock for the coat of arms and mournful inscriptions, and we can kill two birds with that same rock. There's a gaudy big grindstone down at the mill, and we'll smouch it, and carve the things on it, and file out the pens and the saw on it, too." It warn't no slouch of an idea; and it warn't no slouch of a grindstone nuther; but we allowed we'd tackle it. It warn't quite midnight yet, so we cleared out for the mill, leaving Jim at work. We smouched the grindstone, and set out to roll her home, but it was a most nation tough job. Sometimes, do what we could, we couldn't keep her from falling over, and she come mighty near mashing us every time. Tom said she was going to get one of us, sure, before we got through. We got her half way; and then we was plumb played out, and most drownded with sweat. We see it warn't no use; we got to go and fetch Jim So he raised up his bed and slid the chain off of the bed-leg, and wrapt it round and round his neck, and we crawled out through our hole and down there, and Jim and me laid into that grindstone and walked her along like nothing; and Tom superintended. He could out-superintend any boy I ever see. He knowed how to do everything. Our hole was pretty big, but it warn't big enough to get the grindstone through; but Jim he took the pick and soon made it big enough. Then Tom marked out them things on it with the nail, and set Jim to work on them, with the nail for a chisel and an iron bolt from the rubbage in the lean-to for a hammer, and told him to work till the rest of his candle quit on him, and then he could go to bed, and hide the grindstone under his straw tick and sleep on it. Then we helped him fix his chain back on the bed-leg, and was ready for bed ourselves. But Tom thought of something, and says: "You got any spiders in here, Jim?" "No, sah, thanks to goodness I hain't, Mars Tom." "All right, we'll get you some." "But bless you, honey, I doan' WANT none. I's afeard un um. I jis' 's soon have rattlesnakes aroun'." Tom thought a minute or two, and says: "It's a good idea. And I reckon it's been done. It MUST a been done; it stands to reason. Yes, it's a prime good idea. Where could you keep it?" "Keep what, Mars Tom?" "Why, a rattlesnake." "De goodness gracious alive, Mars Tom! Why, if dey was a rattlesnake to come in heah I'd take en bust right out thoo dat log wall, I would, wid my head." Why, Jim, you wouldn't be afraid of it after a little. You could tame it." "TAME it!" "Yes -- easy enough. Every animal is grateful for kindness and petting, and they wouldn't THINK of hurting a person that pets them. Any book will tell you that. You try -- that's all I ask; just try for two or three days. Why, you can get him so in a little while that he'll love you; and sleep with you; and won't stay away from you a minute; and will let you wrap him round your neck and put his head in your mouth." "PLEASE, Mars Tom -- DOAN' talk so! I can't STAN' it! He'd LET me shove his head in my mouf -- fer a favor, hain't it? I lay he'd wait a pow'ful long time 'fo' I AST him. En mo' en dat, I doan' WANT him to sleep wid me." "Jim, don't act so foolish. A prisoner's GOT to have some kind of a dumb pet, and if a rattlesnake hain't ever been tried, why, there's more glory to be gained in your being the first to ever try it than any other way you could ever think of to save your life." "Why, Mars Tom, I doan' WANT no sich glory. Snake take 'n bite Jim's chin off, den WHAH is de glory? No, sah, I doan' want no sich doin's." "Blame it, can't you TRY? I only WANT you to try -- you needn't keep it up if it don't work." "But de trouble all DONE ef de snake bite me while I's a tryin' him. Mars Tom, I's willin' to tackle mos' anything 'at ain't onreasonable, but ef you en Huck fetches a rattlesnake in heah for me to tame, I's gwyne to LEAVE, dat's SHORE." "Well, then, let it go, let it go, if you're so bullheaded about it. We can get you some garter-snakes, and you can tie some buttons on their tails, and let on they're rattlesnakes, and I reckon that 'll have to do." "I k'n stan' DEM, Mars Tom, but blame' 'f I couldn' get along widout um, I tell you dat. I never knowed b'fo' 't was so much bother and trouble to be a prisoner." "Well, it ALWAYS is when it's done right. You got any rats around here?" "No, sah, I hain't seed none." "Well, we'll get you some rats." "Why, Mars Tom, I doan' WANT no rats. Dey's de dadblamedest creturs to 'sturb a body, en rustle roun' over 'im, en bite his feet, when he's tryin' to sleep, I ever see. No, sah, gimme g'yarter-snakes, 'f I's got to have 'm, but doan' gimme no rats; I hain' got no use f'r um, skasely." "But, Jim, you GOT to have 'em -- they all do. So don't make no more fuss about it. Prisoners ain't ever without rats. There ain't no instance of it. And they train them, and pet them, and learn them tricks, and they get to be as sociable as flies. But you got to play music to them. You got anything to play music on?" "I ain' got nuffn but a coase comb en a piece o' paper, en a juice-harp; but I reck'n dey wouldn' take no stock in a juice-harp." "Yes they would. THEY don't care what kind of music 'tis. A jews-harp's plenty good enough for a rat. All animals like music -- in a prison they dote on it. Specially, painful music; and you can't get no other kind out of a jews-harp. It always interests them; they come out to see what's the matter with you. Yes, you're all right; you're fixed very well. You want to set on your bed nights before you go to sleep, and early in the mornings, and play your jewsharp; play 'The Last Link is Broken' -- that's the thing that 'll scoop a rat quicker 'n anything else; and when you've played about two minutes you'll see all the rats, and the snakes, and spiders, and things begin to feel worried about you, and come. And they'll just fairly swarm over you, and have a noble good time." "Yes, DEY will, I reck'n, Mars Tom, but what kine er time is JIM havin'? Blest if I kin see de pint. But I'll do it ef I got to. I reck'n I better keep de animals satisfied, en not have no trouble in de house." Tom waited to think it over, and see if there wasn't nothing else; and pretty soon he says: "Oh, there's one thing I forgot. Could you raise a flower here, do you reckon?" "I doan know but maybe I could, Mars Tom; but it's tolable dark in heah, en I ain' got no use f'r no flower, nohow, en she'd be a pow'ful sight o' trouble." "Well, you try it, anyway. Some other prisoners has done it." "One er dem big cat-tail-lookin' mullen-stalks would grow in heah, Mars Tom, I reck'n, but she wouldn't be wuth half de trouble she'd coss." "Don't you believe it. We'll fetch you a little one and you plant it in the corner over there, and raise it. And don't call it mullen, call it Pitchiola -- that's its right name when it's in a prison. And you want to water it with your tears." "Why, I got plenty spring water, Mars Tom." "You don't WANT spring water; you want to water it with your tears. It's the way they always do." "Why, Mars Tom, I lay I kin raise one er dem mullen-stalks twyste wid spring water whiles another man's a START'N one wid tears." "That ain't the idea. You GOT to do it with tears." "She'll die on my han's, Mars Tom, she sholy will; kase I doan' skasely ever cry." So Tom was stumped. But he studied it over, and then said Jim would have to worry along the best he could with an onion. He promised he would go to the nigger cabins and drop one, private, in Jim's coffeepot, in the morning. Jim said he would "jis' 's soon have tobacker in his coffee;" and found so much fault with it, and with the work and bother of raising the mullen, and jews-harping the rats, and petting and flattering up the snakes and spiders and things, on top of all the other work he had to do on pens, and inscriptions, and journals, and things, which made it more trouble and worry and responsibility to be a prisoner than anything he ever undertook, that Tom most lost all patience with him; and said he was just loadened down with more gaudier chances than a prisoner ever had in the world to make a name for himself, and yet he didn't know enough to appreciate them, and they was just about wasted on him. So Jim he was sorry, and said he wouldn't behave so no more, and then me and Tom shoved for bed. |
第三十七章 这样就把一切安排好了。我们便走了出来，到了场院里的垃圾堆那里。这家人的旧皮靴 啊、烂布头啊、碎瓶子啊、旧白铁什物啊这类破烂都扔在那儿。我们翻捡了一阵，找到了一 只白铁做的旧洗碗盆，把盆子上的洞洞尽可能堵好，用来烘饼子。我们下到地窖里去，偷偷 装了一盆面粉，随后去吃早点，又找到了几只小钉子。汤姆说，这些钉子，囚徒可以用来在 地牢墙上刻下自己的名字、自己的愁苦。他把一只小钉放到了搭在椅子上的萨莉阿姨围裙口 袋里。另一个塞在柜子上搁着的西拉斯姨父的帽箍里。这是因为我们听到孩子们说，说他们 的爸爸妈妈今早上要去到逃亡黑奴那间屋去。随后我们去吃早饭。汤姆又把一只调羹放到西 拉斯姨夫的上衣口袋里。萨莉姨妈还没有到，我们只得等一会儿。 她一来，便气呼呼的，脸涨得通红，一肚子火，几乎连做感恩祷告都等不及似的。随后 她一只手端起咖啡壶哗哗地给大家倒咖啡，一只手用套在手指上的顶针给身边最近的一个孩 子脑袋上一个爆栗，一边说： “我上天入地找了个遍，也没有找到。你那另一件衬衫怎么一回事啦？” 我的心往下一沉，沉到了五脏六肺的底下去了。一块掰下的玉米饼皮刚进我的喉咙，可 在半路上一声咳嗽，啪地喷了出来，刚巧打中了对面一个孩子的眼睛，疼得他弓起身子象条 鱼虫，疼得他哇地一声大叫。这一声啊，可比得上印地安人打仗时的吼叫声。汤姆的脸色马 上发青，大约有十五秒钟这么久，情势可称非常严重。这时候啊，我恨不得有个地缝好钻。 不过在这以后，一切重归于平静——刚才是事出突然，害得我们吓得慌了神。西拉斯姨父说： “这太过于离奇啦，我委实弄不懂。我记得清清楚楚，明明是我脱了下来，因为——” “因为你身上只穿了一件。听听这个人说的什么话！我知道你脱了下来，知道得比你那 个晕晕沉沉的脑袋还清楚些。因为昨天还在晾衣绳上——我亲眼看到的。可是却不见啦—— 说长道短，一句话，便是这回事。现在你只好换那件法兰绒红衬衫，等我有工夫再给你做一 件新的。等做好的话，那就是两年当中给你做的第三件了。为了你穿的衬衫，就得有人忙个 不停。你这些衬衫是怎么穿的，我实在弄不懂。这么大年纪，你也该学着点管管好了吧。” “这我懂，萨莉，我何尝不注意。不过这不能光怪我嘛。你知道，除了穿在身上的以 外，我既见不到，也管不着嘛。再说，就是从我身上脱下来的，我看我也从没有丢掉过 啊。”“好吧，西拉斯，要是你没有丢过，那就不是你的过错了——依我看，你要是存心丢 的话，你是会丢的。再说，丢的也不光是衬衫啊。还有一把调羹不见了，而且还不只是这 个。原本是十把，如今却只有九把。我看，是牛犊子搞走了衬衫，不过牛犊子可决不会搞走 调羹啊，这是断得定的。” “啊，还丢了什么，萨莉？” “六根蜡烛不见啦——这是怎么回事。耗子能叼走蜡烛，我看是耗子叼走的。我一直奇 怪，它们怎么没有把这儿全家都给叼走，——凭了你那套习性，说什么要把耗子洞全都堵 死，可就是光说不做。耗子也实在蠢，要不，耗子真会在你头发窝里睡觉了。西拉斯——而 你也不会发觉。不过嘛，总不能怪耗子叼走了调羹吧，这我有数。” “啊，萨莉，是我有错，这我承认。我疏忽大意了。不过我明天准会把洞给堵死。” “哦，我看不用急，明年还来得及嘛，玛蒂尔达安吉里娜•阿拉明达•费尔贝斯！” 顶针叭地一敲，那个女孩赶紧把爪子从糖盆子缩了回去。 正在这时，黑女奴走上了回廊说： “太太，一条床单不见了。” “一条床单不见了？啊，老天啊！” “我今天就去把耗子洞给堵死。”西拉斯姨父说，一脸愁苦相。 “哦，给我闭嘴！——难道你以为是耗子叼走床单，丢到哪里了，莉兹？” “天啊，我实在不知道，萨莉太太。昨天还挂在晒衣绳子上，可就是不见了，已经不在 那儿啦。” “我看是到了世界末日啦。我一生当中，从没见过这样的日子。一件衬衫，一条床单， 还有一把调羹，还有六根蜡——” “太太，”来了一个年轻的黑白混血儿丫头，“一只铜烛台不见了。” “你们这些娘儿们，给我滚，要不，我可要骂你们一顿啦。” 她正在火头上。我想找个空子，偷偷出去，到林子里一钻，等风头过去。她却一直在发 作个不停，光她一个人几乎闹翻了天，大伙儿一个个缩头缩脑，不则一声。后来，西拉斯姨 父，那样子傻呼呼的，从自己口袋里东摸摸、西摸摸，摸出了一把调羹。她马上停住了，嘴 巴张得大大的，举起了双手。我呢，恨不得往地缝里钻。不过，没多久就好了，因为她说： “不出我的所料。啊，调羹一直在你的口袋里，这样说来，别的一些东西也在你手里 吧。调羹怎么会到了你的口袋里呢？” “我确实不知道啊，萨莉，”他带着道歉的口气说。“不然的话，我早就会说了。早饭 以前，我正在研读新约第十七章①。我想我是无意之中放了进去，还以为放的是新约呢。肯 定是这样，因为新约不在这里。不过我倒要去看一下，看新约在不在我原来放的地方。我知 道我并没有把调羹放进口袋里。这样会表明，我把新约放在了原处，拿起了调羹，随后— —”“哦，天啊，让人家清静一下吧！出去！你们这些讨厌鬼，连大带小，都给我出去，在 我静下心来以前，别来打搅我。” ①诺顿版注：《新约•使徒行传》写书中的赛拉斯被罗马长官“下在监牢里”，马 克•吐温意在讥刺本书中的赛拉斯把黑奴关了起来。《文库》本注：马克•吐温认为《使徒 行传》谴责奴隶制。 我听到了她说的话。要是她这是自言自语，我也能听得清，更何况这是说出了口的了。 我便站了起来，听从了她的话。即便我是个死人吧，我也会这么干的。我们穿过起居间的时 候，老人他拿起了帽子，小钉子便掉到了地板上。他只是捡了起来，放在了壁炉架上，没有 则声，便走了出去。汤姆亲眼看到了他这些动作，想起了调羹的事，便说：“啊，通过他送 东西是不行了，他靠不住。”随后又说，“不过嘛，他那调羹无意之中帮了我们的忙。所以 我们也要在无意之中帮他一回忙——堵住那些耗子洞。” 在地窖里，耗子洞可真不少啊，我们花了整整一个钟头才堵完。不过我们堵得严严实 实，堵得又好，又整齐。随后我们听到梯子上有声音在下来，便把我们的蜡烛吹熄了，躲了 起来。这时老人下来了，一手举起了一支蜡烛，另一只手里拿着堵耗子洞的东西，那神情有 点儿心不在焉的模样，就跟一年前一个样。他呆呆地查看了一个耗子洞，又呆呆地查看另一 个耗子洞，又查看另一个，后来把一个个都查看遍了。随后他站在那里，有五分钟之久，一 边掰掉了蜡烛滴下的烛油，一边在思索。随后他慢吞吞地、仿佛在睡梦中似地走上梯子，一 边在说： “啊，天啊，我可记不得曾在什么时候堵过了。如今我能跟她表明，那耗子的事可怪不 得我。不过算了——随它去吧。 我看啊，说了也不管什么用。” 这样，他就自言自语上了梯子，我们也就走开了。他可是个老好人啊。他从来如此。 汤姆为了再找一把调羹，可费了不少事。不过他说，我们非得找把调羹，便开动了脑 筋。等他一想出了办法，他就把我们该怎么办的路子对我说了。随后我们在放调羹的篮子边 上等着，等到萨莉阿姨走过来。汤姆走过去数数调羹，随后把调羹放在一边，我呢，乘机偷 偷地拿了一把，放在袖口里。汤姆说： “啊，萨莉阿姨，只有九把啊。” 她说： “玩你的去吧，别打搅我，我有数，我亲自数了的。” “嗯，我数了两遍了，阿姨，我数来数去只有九把。” 她那神气显得很不耐烦。不过，她当然走过来又重数了一遍。谁都会这么做嘛。 “我向老天爷声明，只有九把啦”她说。“啊，天啊，——倒底是怎么回事啊，——是 瘟神拿走啦。让我再点一遍。” 我把我刚拿走的一把偷偷放了回去。她点完以后说道：“这些破烂货，尽捣蛋，滚它 的，如今明明是十把啊。”她显得又气又烦恼。不过汤姆说： “啊，阿姨，我看不是十把。” “你这糊涂虫，你刚才不是看着我数的么？” “我知道，不过——” “好吧，我再数一遍。” 我又偷掉了一把。结果是九把，跟刚才的一回一个样。啊，这一下她可真火了——简直 浑身直抖。她气痛了。不过她还是数了又数，数得头昏眼花，甚至把那只篮子也数作一把调 羹，数来数去，有三回数对了，另外三回却又数得不对了。随后她伸手抓起那只篮子，往屋 子对面一扔，正好扔在那只猫身上，打得它魂飞魄散。她叫我们走开去，让她安静一会儿。 要是从现在这一刻到吃饭这段时间里，我们敢来打搅她，她要剥我们的皮。这样，我们就得 了那把作怪的调羹，趁她给我们发出开路的命令时，把调羹放进了她围裙口袋里。杰姆也就 在中午以前得了调羹，还连同那只小钉。这一次的事叫我们非常满意。汤姆认为再花一倍的 麻烦也值得，因为他说，如今啊，她为了自己保命起见，从此再也不会数调羹啦。即使再数 吧，她也不会相信自己是数对了。往后三天里，她还会再数，数得自己晕头转向，从此便不 会再数了。谁要是叫她再数调羹，那她非要跟这人拼命不可。 所以我们就在那天夜里，把床单放回晒衣绳子上，另外在衣柜里偷了一条，就这样放放 偷偷，有好几天之久。到后来，她也弄不清自己究竟有几条床单，还说反正她也不操这份心 了，也不想为了这个白费劲啦。为了多活几天，也不愿再数啦，不然的话，她宁愿死了拉倒。 这样，我们如今就太平无事啦。衬衫啊，床单啊，调羹啊，还有蜡烛啊什么的，靠了牛 犊子、耗子和点数目的一笔胡涂账，就这样全都混过去了。至于蜡烛台，那无关紧要，慢慢 也会混过去的。 不过馅饼的事倒是个难题。为了馅饼，我们可受累无穷。我们在下边老远的树林子里做 好了，随后在那里烘焙，最后终算做成了，并且叫人非常满意。不过，并非一日之功就能做 成的。我们用了满满三面盆面粉才做成的，并且烤得我们伤痕累累，眼睛几乎给浓烟熏瞎。 因为，你知道，我们要用的只是那张酥皮，可是这酥皮总是撑不起来，老是往下陷。不过， 后来我们终于找到了解决的办法，那就是把绳梯放在馅饼里一块儿烘。于是在第二天晚上， 我们到了杰姆的屋里，把床单全撕成一小条一小条，搓在一起，远在天亮前就搞出了一根美 美的绳索，用来绞死一个人也行。我们“只当是”花了九个月时间才做成了的。 在上午，我们把这个带到了下边的树林子里，不过馅饼包不住这绳索。既然是用整整一 张床单做的，绳索就够四十个馅饼用的，如果我们真要做那么多的话。此外还有大量剩余 的，可以用来做汤、做香肠或者别的你爱吃的东西都成。总之足够一顿筵席用的了。 不过我们并不需要这些。我们所需要的，就光只是放在馅饼里的，所以我们把多余的都 扔掉了。我们并没有在洗衣盆里烘饼，深怕盆的焊锡见火会化。西拉斯姨父有一把珍贵的铜 暖炉，是他珍爱之物，因为这有木头长把子的炉，是他的一个祖先随着征服者威廉坐“五月 花”之类早先的船只从英格兰带来的，他一直把它和其它珍贵的古物藏在顶楼上。珍藏的原 因倒不是因为有什么价值，它们并无什么价值，但却是因为这些是古董。我们把它偷偷弄了 出来，带到下边的树林子里。烘开头几次馅饼时失败了，因为我们开头不得法，不过最后还 是成功了。我们先把炉底和炉边铺了一层生面团，把炉子放在煤火上，再放上一团布索子在 里面，上面加一层面团，把它罩住，盖上炉盖子，上面放一层滚烫的煤炭。我们站在五英尺 之外，握着长长的木把子，既凉快，又舒服。十五分钟以后，馅饼就成了，看起来也叫人挺 舒服。不过嘛，吃这个馅饼的人得带好几桶牙签才行，因为要不是馅饼会把他的牙缝塞得结 结实实，那就是说我是在胡说八道了。再说，一吃以后，准会叫他肚子疼得止不住。 我们把魔法般的馅饼放进杰姆的锅里时，纳特并没有看一眼。我们又把三只白铁盘子放 在锅底上饭食下面。这样，这一切杰姆都拿到了手。当只剩他一个大的时候，他立刻把馅饼 掰开了，把绳梯塞在草垫子里。还在洋铁皮盘子底上划了一些记号，随后从窗洞里扔了出去。 Chapter 37 THAT was all fixed. So then we went away and went to the rubbage-pile in the back yard, where they keep the old boots, and rags, and pieces of bottles, and wore-out tin things, and all such truck, and scratched around and found an old tin washpan, and stopped up the holes as well as we could, to bake the pie in, and took it down cellar and stole it full of flour and started for breakfast, and found a couple of shingle-nails that Tom said would be handy for a prisoner to scrabble his name and sorrows on the dungeon walls with, and dropped one of them in Aunt Sally's apron-pocket which was hanging on a chair, and t'other we stuck in the band of Uncle Silas's hat, which was on the bureau, because we heard the children say their pa and ma was going to the runaway nigger's house this morning, and then went to breakfast, and Tom dropped the pewter spoon in Uncle Silas's coat-pocket, and Aunt Sally wasn't come yet, so we had to wait a little while. And when she come she was hot and red and cross, and couldn't hardly wait for the blessing; and then she went to sluicing out coffee with one hand and cracking the handiest child's head with her thimble with the other, and says: "I've hunted high and I've hunted low, and it does beat all what HAS become of your other shirt." My heart fell down amongst my lungs and livers and things, and a hard piece of corn-crust started down my throat after it and got met on the road with a cough, and was shot across the table, and took one of the children in the eye and curled him up like a fishing-worm, and let a cry out of him the size of a warwhoop, and Tom he turned kinder blue around the gills, and it all amounted to a considerable state of things for about a quarter of a minute or as much as that, and I would a sold out for half price if there was a bidder. But after that we was all right again -- it was the sudden surprise of it that knocked us so kind of cold. Uncle Silas he says: "It's most uncommon curious, I can't understand it. I know perfectly well I took it OFF, because --" "Because you hain't got but one ON. Just LISTEN at the man! I know you took it off, and know it by a better way than your wool-gethering memory, too, because it was on the clo's-line yesterday -- I see it there myself. But it's gone, that's the long and the short of it, and you'll just have to change to a red flann'l one till I can get time to make a new one. And it 'll be the third I've made in two years. It just keeps a body on the jump to keep you in shirts; and whatever you do manage to DO with 'm all is more'n I can make out. A body 'd think you WOULD learn to take some sort of care of 'em at your time of life." "I know it, Sally, and I do try all I can. But it oughtn't to be altogether my fault, because, you know, I don't see them nor have nothing to do with them except when they're on me; and I don't believe I've ever lost one of them OFF of me." "Well, it ain't YOUR fault if you haven't, Silas; you'd a done it if you could, I reckon. And the shirt ain't all that's gone, nuther. Ther's a spoon gone; and THAT ain't all. There was ten, and now ther's only nine. The calf got the shirt, I reckon, but the calf never took the spoon, THAT'S certain." "Why, what else is gone, Sally?" "Ther's six CANDLES gone -- that's what. The rats could a got the candles, and I reckon they did; I wonder they don't walk off with the whole place, the way you're always going to stop their holes and don't do it; and if they warn't fools they'd sleep in your hair, Silas -- YOU'D never find it out; but you can't lay the SPOON on the rats, and that I know." "Well, Sally, I'm in fault, and I acknowledge it; I've been remiss; but I won't let to-morrow go by without stopping up them holes." "Oh, I wouldn't hurry; next year 'll do. Matilda Angelina Araminta PHELPS!" Whack comes the thimble, and the child snatches her claws out of the sugar-bowl without fooling around any. Just then the nigger woman steps on to the passage, and says: "Missus, dey's a sheet gone." "A SHEET gone! Well, for the land's sake!" "I'll stop up them holes to-day," says Uncle Silas, looking sorrowful. "Oh, DO shet up! -- s'pose the rats took the SHEET? WHERE'S it gone, Lize?" "Clah to goodness I hain't no notion, Miss' Sally. She wuz on de clo'sline yistiddy, but she done gone: she ain' dah no mo' now." "I reckon the world IS coming to an end. I NEVER see the beat of it in all my born days. A shirt, and a sheet, and a spoon, and six can --" "Missus," comes a young yaller wench, "dey's a brass cannelstick miss'n." "Cler out from here, you hussy, er I'll take a skillet to ye!" Well, she was just a-biling. I begun to lay for a chance; I reckoned I would sneak out and go for the woods till the weather moderated. She kept a-raging right along, running her insurrection all by herself, and everybody else mighty meek and quiet; and at last Uncle Silas, looking kind of foolish, fishes up that spoon out of his pocket. She stopped, with her mouth open and her hands up; and as for me, I wished I was in Jeruslem or somewheres. But not long, because she says: "It's JUST as I expected. So you had it in your pocket all the time; and like as not you've got the other things there, too. How'd it get there?" "I reely don't know, Sally," he says, kind of apologizing, "or you know I would tell. I was astudying over my text in Acts Seventeen before breakfast, and I reckon I put it in there, not noticing, meaning to put my Testament in, and it must be so, because my Testament ain't in; but I'll go and see; and if the Testament is where I had it, I'll know I didn't put it in, and that will show that I laid the Testament down and took up the spoon, and --" "Oh, for the land's sake! Give a body a rest! Go 'long now, the whole kit and biling of ye; and don't come nigh me again till I've got back my peace of mind." I'D a heard her if she'd a said it to herself, let alone speaking it out; and I'd a got up and obeyed her if I'd a been dead. As we was passing through the setting-room the old man he took up his hat, and the shingle-nail fell out on the floor, and he just merely picked it up and laid it on the mantel-shelf, and never said nothing, and went out. Tom see him do it, and remembered about the spoon, and says: "Well, it ain't no use to send things by HIM no more, he ain't reliable." Then he says: "But he done us a good turn with the spoon, anyway, without knowing it, and so we'll go and do him one without HIM knowing it -- stop up his rat-holes." There was a noble good lot of them down cellar, and it took us a whole hour, but we done the job tight and good and shipshape. Then we heard steps on the stairs, and blowed out our light and hid; and here comes the old man, with a candle in one hand and a bundle of stuff in t'other, looking as absent-minded as year before last. He went a mooning around, first to one rat-hole and then another, till he'd been to them all. Then he stood about five minutes, picking tallowdrip off of his candle and thinking. Then he turns off slow and dreamy towards the stairs, saying: "Well, for the life of me I can't remember when I done it. I could show her now that I warn't to blame on account of the rats. But never mind -- let it go. I reckon it wouldn't do no good." And so he went on a-mumbling up stairs, and then we left. He was a mighty nice old man. And always is. Tom was a good deal bothered about what to do for a spoon, but he said we'd got to have it; so he took a think. When he had ciphered it out he told me how we was to do; then we went and waited around the spoon-basket till we see Aunt Sally coming, and then Tom went to counting the spoons and laying them out to one side, and I slid one of them up my sleeve, and Tom says: "Why, Aunt Sally, there ain't but nine spoons YET." She says: "Go 'long to your play, and don't bother me. I know better, I counted 'm myself." "Well, I've counted them twice, Aunty, and I can't make but nine." She looked out of all patience, but of course she come to count -- anybody would. "I declare to gracious ther' AIN'T but nine!" she says. "Why, what in the world -- plague TAKE the things, I'll count 'm again." So I slipped back the one I had, and when she got done counting, she says: "Hang the troublesome rubbage, ther's TEN now!" and she looked huffy and bothered both. But Tom says: "Why, Aunty, I don't think there's ten." "You numskull, didn't you see me COUNT 'm?" "I know, but --" "Well, I'll count 'm AGAIN." So I smouched one, and they come out nine, same as the other time. Well, she WAS in a tearing way -- just a-trembling all over, she was so mad. But she counted and counted till she got that addled she'd start to count in the basket for a spoon sometimes; and so, three times they come out right, and three times they come out wrong. Then she grabbed up the basket and slammed it across the house and knocked the cat galley-west; and she said cle'r out and let her have some peace, and if we come bothering around her again betwixt that and dinner she'd skin us. So we had the odd spoon, and dropped it in her apron-pocket whilst she was a-giving us our sailing orders, and Jim got it all right, along with her shingle nail, before noon. We was very well satisfied with this business, and Tom allowed it was worth twice the trouble it took, because he said NOW she couldn't ever count them spoons twice alike again to save her life; and wouldn't believe she'd counted them right if she DID; and said that after she'd about counted her head off for the next three days he judged she'd give it up and offer to kill anybody that wanted her to ever count them any more. So we put the sheet back on the line that night, and stole one out of her closet; and kept on putting it back and stealing it again for a couple of days till she didn't know how many sheets she had any more, and she didn't CARE, and warn't a-going to bullyrag the rest of her soul out about it, and wouldn't count them again not to save her life; she druther die first. So we was all right now, as to the shirt and the sheet and the spoon and the candles, by the help of the calf and the rats and the mixed-up counting; and as to the candlestick, it warn't no consequence, it would blow over by and by. But that pie was a job; we had no end of trouble with that pie. We fixed it up away down in the woods, and cooked it there; and we got it done at last, and very satisfactory, too; but not all in one day; and we had to use up three wash-pans full of flour before we got through, and we got burnt pretty much all over, in places, and eyes put out with the smoke; because, you see, we didn't want nothing but a crust, and we couldn't prop it up right, and she would always cave in. But of course we thought of the right way at last -- which was to cook the ladder, too, in the pie. So then we laid in with Jim the second night, and tore up the sheet all in little strings and twisted them together, and long before daylight we had a lovely rope that you could a hung a person with. We let on it took nine months to make it. And in the forenoon we took it down to the woods, but it wouldn't go into the pie. Being made of a whole sheet, that way, there was rope enough for forty pies if we'd a wanted them, and plenty left over for soup, or sausage, or anything you choose. We could a had a whole dinner. But we didn't need it. All we needed was just enough for the pie, and so we throwed the rest away. We didn't cook none of the pies in the wash-pan -- afraid the solder would melt; but Uncle Silas he had a noble brass warming-pan which he thought considerable of, because it belonged to one of his ancesters with a long wooden handle that come over from England with William the Conqueror in the Mayflower or one of them early ships and was hid away up garret with a lot of other old pots and things that was valuable, not on account of being any account, because they warn't, but on account of them being relicts, you know, and we snaked her out, private, and took her down there, but she failed on the first pies, because we didn't know how, but she come up smiling on the last one. We took and lined her with dough, and set her in the coals, and loaded her up with rag rope, and put on a dough roof, and shut down the lid, and put hot embers on top, and stood off five foot, with the long handle, cool and comfortable, and in fifteen minutes she turned out a pie that was a satisfaction to look at. But the person that et it would want to fetch a couple of kags of toothpicks along, for if that rope ladder wouldn't cramp him down to business I don't know nothing what I'm talking about, and lay him in enough stomach-ache to last him till next time, too. Nat didn't look when we put the witch pie in Jim's pan; and we put the three tin plates in the bottom of the pan under the vittles; and so Jim got everything all right, and as soon as he was by himself he busted into the pie and hid the rope ladder inside of his straw tick, and scratched some marks on a tin plate and throwed it out of the window-hole. |
| 第三十六章 那天晚上，估计大家都熟睡了，我们便顺着避雷针滑了下来，躲进那个披间，把那一堆 烂木头狐火取出来，就动手干了起来。我们把墙根底下那根横木的中段前面的东西搬开，清 出了四五英尺宽的一块空地。汤姆说，他现在的位置恰好是在杰姆床铺的背后，我们就该在 下面挖起来，等到我们一挖通，在小屋里的人谁也不会知道下面有个洞，因为杰姆的被单快 要垂到地上了，你得把被单提起来仔细地看，才能看到地洞。因此我们便挖了又挖，用的是 小刀，一直挖到了半夜。到那个时辰，我们累得要死，两手也起了泡，可是还见不到有什么 进步。最后，我说： “这可不是要三十七年完工的活。这是要三十八年完工的活，汤姆。” 他没有说话。不过他叹了一口气，没多久，便停挖了。隔了一会儿，我知道这是他在思 索了，他才说： “这样不行，哈克，这样行不通。要是我们是囚犯，那就行得通。因为我们要干多少年 便有多少年，用不到着急。每天，趁着监狱看守换班的当儿，只能有几分钟的时间挖掘，因 此我们的手也不会起泡，我们就可以一直挖下去，一年又一年地挖得好，挖得又合乎规矩。 不过如今我们可拖不得，得赶紧，我们没有时间好浪费的了。要是我们再这么干一个晚上， 我们就得歇上一个星期，手上的伤才能养好——不然的话，我们的手连这把小刀也都不敢碰 一碰了。” “那我们该怎么办，汤姆？” “我来告诉你吧。这当然是不对的，也不道德，我也不喜欢靠了这个逃出去——不过如 今也只有一条路了。我们只能用镐头挖，把他给弄出去，‘只当是’用小刀挖的。”“你这 才象句话！”我说。“你的脑瓜子水平越来越高啦，汤姆•索亚。”我这么说。“镐头才能 解决问题嘛，合乎道德也罢，不合乎道德也罢。对我来说，我才不管道德不道德呢。我偷一 个黑奴，或者偷一只西瓜，或者主日学校的一本书，我并不操心该怎样偷，反正偷就是了。 我要的是我的黑奴，或者要的是我的西瓜，或者我的主日学校的书。如果镐头是最容易弄到 手的东西，我便用它来挖那个黑奴，或者那只西瓜，或者那本主日学校的书。至于那些赫赫 有名的人物怎么个看法，我才不管呢。” “嗯，”他说，“拿这样一件事情来说，镐头和‘只当是’是情有可原。要不是这样， 我就不会赞成，也不会站在一旁，眼看规矩遭到破坏——因为对就是对，错就是错。一个人 如果有知识，有识别的能力，就不会干错事。拿你来说，你靠了镐头，把杰姆挖掘出去，又 并没有‘只当是’什么的，那行，因为你不知道识别嘛。可是如果是我，那就不行了，因为 我有识别的能力嘛。给我一把小刀。” 他有他自己那一把，可是我还是把我的小刀递给了他。他把小刀往地上一摔，并且说： “给我一把小刀。” 我不知道怎么办才好——不过我在当时便思索起来了。我在那堆破烂的农具里翻了一 下，找到一把尖嘴镐，递给了他。他接过去了，干起来了，一句话也没有说。 他就是这么特特别别。一脑子原则。 我找到了一把铁锹。我们两个就你一镐，他一锹地干了起来。有时把工具倒一下，活儿 干得飞快。我们使劲干了半个钟头左右，这是我们能使劲使到最高限度了，不过挖的地方倒 也挖得有了个洞的模样。我上楼以后，朝窗外一望，只见汤姆拼命抱住避雷针往上爬，可是 怎么也爬不上来。他的双手尽是泡。后来他说： “不行啊，爬不上啊。你看我该怎么办才好？你想不到别的法子么？” “有法子，”我说，“不过依我看，怕不合规矩。走楼梯上来嘛，‘只当是’爬避雷针 上来的。” 他就这么上来了。 第二天，汤姆在屋里偷了一只调羹和一座铜烛台，为了给杰姆做笔用的。还偷了六支蜡 烛。我呢，在黑奴小屋四周转，等待机会，偷了三只洋铁盘子。汤姆说这些还不够用的。不 过我说，杰姆摔出来的盘子不会有谁看见，因为盘子落到窗洞下面野茴香和曼陀罗草丛里， ——我们可以捡回来，他可以再使。这样，汤姆认为满意了。随后他说： “眼下该研究的问题是怎样能把东西送到杰姆手里。” “洞一挖通，”我说，“就把东西往洞里送。” 他表现出不屑一听的架势，还说，可有谁曾听到过这样的馊主意。接下来，他自个儿思 索开来了。后来他说，他想出了两三条路子，不过暂且还不忙决定哪一种好。他说，还得先 通知杰姆一下。 当天晚上，我们在十点钟以后，顺着避雷针滑了下去。还顺手偷了一支蜡烛。我们在窗 洞口一听，只听得杰姆在打呼噜，我们就一抬手把蜡烛扔了进去。可是这并没有弄醒杰姆。 随后我们抡起镐头和铁铣猛干了起来，大约两个半钟点以后，大功便告成了。我们爬到了杰 姆的床底下，这样进了小屋。摸了半天，才摸到了蜡烛，点了起来。我们在杰姆边上站了一 会儿，见到他那样子还挺健旺。随后我们轻轻地、慢慢地把他推醒了。他见到我们，高兴得 快要哭出来，叫我们乖乖、宝贝等等他能叫出来的种种亲热的称呼。他还要我们找一只凿 子，把腿上的镣铐给打开，并且不要耽误时间，马上逃出去。不过汤姆对他说了为什么这样 不合乎规矩。汤姆还坐了下来，详详细细讲了我们的计划的方方面面。还说明，万一情况有 变，我们会怎样立时立刻对计划进行改动，完全不用害怕，因为准会想尽办法，确保他逃出 去。杰姆便说这样很好。我们就坐在那里，谈了一阵过去的事，汤姆也提出了一些问题询问 他。后来杰姆说，西拉斯姨父每隔一两天来一回，跟他一起作祷告，萨莉阿姨也来看他过得 是不是舒服，吃得饱不饱，两人都和善得无以复加。汤姆说： “现今我知道该怎样安排了。我们要通过他们把有些东西送给你。” 我说，“这样可使不得，这种办法可是最笨不过的办法。”不过我的话他只当耳边风， 还是他干他的。一旦主意已定，他就是按他的老路子办。 所以他就对杰姆说了我们准备怎样通过给他送吃食的黑奴纳特，把绳梯馅饼等等东西偷 偷送进来，要他随时注意，千万不要大惊小怪。他打开这些东西时，别叫纳特看见。我们还 打算把一些小玩意儿塞进西拉斯姨夫的口袋里，他务必把这些东西偷到手。我们还打算一有 机会，把一些东西拴在萨莉阿姨的围裙带子上，或者放进围裙口袋里，还会设法告诉他，那 是些什么东西，有什么用途。他还对杰姆说，该怎样在他的衬衫上，蘸着他自己的血写下日 记，如此等等。他对他讲的这么多种种的事，杰姆多半听了莫名其妙，不过他承认，我们是 白种人，懂得的比他多，因此他也就满意了。还说他一定一一按汤姆的话去做。 杰姆有的是玉米轴烟斗和烟叶子，因此我们在那里快快活活地聊了一阵，随后从洞中爬 了出来，回屋里睡觉。两只手呢，磨破了好几处，乍一看，仿佛被什么东西啃过似的。汤姆 兴高采烈，说这是他平生最开心也最用脑筋的一段时光。还说，只要他能想出个法子，我们 便能一辈子干到老死，让儿辈把杰姆搭救出去。因为按照他的想法，杰姆会越来越习惯于这 样的生活，也就越来越喜欢这样的生活。他说，这么一来，便可一拖拖到八十年，从而成为 历史上的最高纪录。他还说，这能叫我们这些有关的人一律都成为赫赫有名的人物。 到早上，我们走出去，到了木材垛那边，把那座黄铜烛台砍成几小截，汤姆把这一些和 一把锡镴调羹放进了自己的口袋。随后我们到了黑奴的小屋，由我把纳特的注意力引开，汤 姆把一小截烛台塞在给杰姆送饭的锅里一块玉米饼中间。我们和纳特一块儿去小屋，看这办 法灵不灵。果然这办法灵得很哩。杰姆一口咬下去，烛台几乎把他的牙给崩飞啦，世上恐怕 没有比这更灵的办法了。汤姆就是这么说的。杰姆呢，他装做若无其事，仿佛只是吃到了一 粒小石子之类的东西。你知道的，吃面包时往往难免会吃到小粒石子。不过，在这以后，杰 姆吃东西时，总是先用叉子戳个三四处再吃。 我们正在不明不暗的披间里站着，忽然有几条狗在杰姆床底下钻了出来，并且越聚越 多，后来一共有十一只之多，挤得连呼吸的余地都快没有了。天呀，我们忘了把披间的门关 上了。黑奴纳特呢，只听得叫了一声“妖魔”，便昏倒在地，倒在狗群里，开始呻吟，仿佛 快死的一般。汤姆砰地推开了门，把给杰姆的肉往门外扔了一块出去，狗纷纷去抢，汤姆紧 跟着出去，一会儿就回来，把门关上。我知道披间的门他也关上啦。随后他又去对付那个黑 奴，好言安慰他，亲热地拍拍他，还问他是不是他自以为又看到了什么。他站起身来，朝四 下里眨了眨眼睛说： “西特少爷，你一定会说我是个傻瓜。不过，如果我不相信自己确实见到了一百万只 狗，或是魔鬼，或是别的什么，那就叫我当场使（死）在这儿。我确实看到了的，千真万缺 （确）。西特少爷，我觉着他们——觉着他们在我眼前，他们扑到了我身上。该死的东西， 我要是有一回能抓住这些妖魔中的一个那才好呢——哪怕只抓住一回——那就好啦。不过， 顶好还是它们别来缠住我，那就好啦。” 汤姆说： “好吧，我来跟你讲讲我是怎么看的吧。是什么原因叫他们在逃亡的黑奴吃早点的时候 到这儿来的呢？这是因为他们饿了，这就是原因所在。只要你能给他们做一个妖魔馅饼就行 了。你该做的就是这个。” “可是天啊，西特少爷，叫我怎样做一个妖魔馅饼呢？我根本不知道该怎么做啊。我过 去连听也没有听说过这样一种东西啊。” “那好吧，我来替你做。” “真的么，我的好少爷——你肯？我要巴（趴）到地上给你磕头！” “好吧，看在你的面上，我来做。你对我们这么好，还带我们来看这个逃跑的黑奴。不 过你得非常小心才好。我们过来时，你就该转过身子去。不管我们把什么东西放到锅子里 去，你看见了也不许跟人家说。杰姆打开锅子的时候，你也不准看——看了怕会出什么事， 这在我也说不准。顶顶要紧的是，你别去碰那些妖魔鬼怪的东西。” “我哪敢逢（碰），西特少爷？看你说的。我连手指也不敢逢（碰）一逢（碰）。就是 给我一百万亿块大洋，我也不会逢（碰）一逢（碰）哩。 Chapter 36 AS soon as we reckoned everybody was asleep that night we went down the lightning-rod, and shut ourselves up in the lean-to, and got out our pile of fox-fire, and went to work. We cleared everything out of the way, about four or five foot along the middle of the bottom log. Tom said we was right behind Jim's bed now, and we'd dig in under it, and when we got through there couldn't nobody in the cabin ever know there was any hole there, because Jim's counterpin hung down most to the ground, and you'd have to raise it up and look under to see the hole. So we dug and dug with the case-knives till most midnight; and then we was dog-tired, and our hands was blistered, and yet you couldn't see we'd done anything hardly. At last I says: "This ain't no thirty-seven year job; this is a thirty-eight year job, Tom Sawyer." He never said nothing. But he sighed, and pretty soon he stopped digging, and then for a good little while I knowed that he was thinking. Then he says: "It ain't no use, Huck, it ain't a-going to work. If we was prisoners it would, because then we'd have as many years as we wanted, and no hurry; and we wouldn't get but a few minutes to dig, every day, while they was changing watches, and so our hands wouldn't get blistered, and we could keep it up right along, year in and year out, and do it right, and the way it ought to be done. But WE can't fool along; we got to rush; we ain't got no time to spare. If we was to put in another night this way we'd have to knock off for a week to let our hands get well -- couldn't touch a case-knife with them sooner." "Well, then, what we going to do, Tom?" "I'll tell you. It ain't right, and it ain't moral, . and I wouldn't like it to get out; but there ain't only just the one way: we got to dig him out with the picks, and LET ON it's case-knives." "NOW you're TALKING!" I says; "your head gets leveler and leveler all the time, Tom Sawyer," I says. "Picks is the thing, moral or no moral; and as for me, I don't care shucks for the morality of it, nohow. When I start in to steal a nigger, or a watermelon, or a Sunday-school book, I ain't no ways particular how it's done so it's done. What I want is my nigger; or what I want is my watermelon; or what I want is my Sunday-school book; and if a pick's the handiest thing, that's the thing I'm a-going to dig that nigger or that watermelon or that Sunday-school book out with; and I don't give a dead rat what the authorities thinks about it nuther." "Well," he says, "there's excuse for picks and letting-on in a case like this; if it warn't so, I wouldn't approve of it, nor I wouldn't stand by and see the rules broke -- because right is right, and wrong is wrong, and a body ain't got no business doing wrong when he ain't ignorant and knows better. It might answer for YOU to dig Jim out with a pick, WITHOUT any letting on, because you don't know no better; but it wouldn't for me, because I do know better. Gimme a case-knife." He had his own by him, but I handed him mine. He flung it down, and says: "Gimme a CASE-KNIFE." I didn't know just what to do -- but then I thought. I scratched around amongst the old tools, and got a pickaxe and give it to him, and he took it and went to work, and never said a word. He was always just that particular. Full of principle. So then I got a shovel, and then we picked and shoveled, turn about, and made the fur fly. We stuck to it about a half an hour, which was as long as we could stand up; but we had a good deal of a hole to show for it. When I got up stairs I looked out at the window and see Tom doing his level best with the lightning-rod, but he couldn't come it, his hands was so sore. At last he says: "It ain't no use, it can't be done. What you reckon I better do? Can't you think of no way?" "Yes," I says, "but I reckon it ain't regular. Come up the stairs, and let on it's a lightning-rod." So he done it. Next day Tom stole a pewter spoon and a brass candlestick in the house, for to make some pens for Jim out of, and six tallow candles; and I hung around the nigger cabins and laid for a chance, and stole three tin plates. Tom says it wasn't enough; but I said nobody wouldn't ever see the plates that Jim throwed out, because they'd fall in the dog-fennel and jimpson weeds under the window-hole -- then we could tote them back and he could use them over again. So Tom was satisfied. Then he says: "Now, the thing to study out is, how to get the things to Jim." "Take them in through the hole," I says, "when we get it done." He only just looked scornful, and said something about nobody ever heard of such an idiotic idea, and then he went to studying. By and by he said he had ciphered out two or three ways, but there warn't no need to decide on any of them yet. Said we'd got to post Jim first. That night we went down the lightning-rod a little after ten, and took one of the candles along, and listened under the window-hole, and heard Jim snoring; so we pitched it in, and it didn't wake him. Then we whirled in with the pick and shovel, and in about two hours and a half the job was done. We crept in under Jim's bed and into the cabin, and pawed around and found the candle and lit it, and stood over Jim awhile, and found him looking hearty and healthy, and then we woke him up gentle and gradual. He was so glad to see us he most cried; and called us honey, and all the pet names he could think of; and was for having us hunt up a cold-chisel to cut the chain off of his leg with right away, and clearing out without losing any time. But Tom he showed him how unregular it would be, and set down and told him all about our plans, and how we could alter them in a minute any time there was an alarm; and not to be the least afraid, because we would see he got away, SURE. So Jim he said it was all right, and we set there and talked over old times awhile, and then Tom asked a lot of questions, and when Jim told him Uncle Silas come in every day or two to pray with him, and Aunt Sally come in to see if he was comfortable and had plenty to eat, and both of them was kind as they could be, Tom says: "NOW I know how to fix it. We'll send you some things by them." I said, "Don't do nothing of the kind; it's one of the most jackass ideas I ever struck;" but he never paid no attention to me; went right on. It was his way when he'd got his plans set. So he told Jim how we'd have to smuggle in the rope-ladder pie and other large things by Nat, the nigger that fed him, and he must be on the lookout, and not be surprised, and not let Nat see him open them; and we would put small things in uncle's coatpockets and he must steal them out; and we would tie things to aunt's apron-strings or put them in her apron-pocket, if we got a chance; and told him what they would be and what they was for. And told him how to keep a journal on the shirt with his blood, and all that. He told him everything. Jim he couldn't see no sense in the most of it, but he allowed we was white folks and knowed better than him; so he was satisfied, and said he would do it all just as Tom said. Jim had plenty corn-cob pipes and tobacco; so we had a right down good sociable time; then we crawled out through the hole, and so home to bed, with hands that looked like they'd been chawed. Tom was in high spirits. He said it was the best fun he ever had in his life, and the most intellectural; and said if he only could see his way to it we would keep it up all the rest of our lives and leave Jim to our children to get out; for he believed Jim would come to like it better and better the more he got used to it. He said that in that way it could be strung out to as much as eighty year, and would be the best time on record. And he said it would make us all celebrated that had a hand in it. In the morning we went out to the woodpile and chopped up the brass candlestick into handy sizes, and Tom put them and the pewter spoon in his pocket. Then we went to the nigger cabins, and while I got Nat's notice off, Tom shoved a piece of candlestick into the middle of a corn-pone that was in Jim's pan, and we went along with Nat to see how it would work, and it just worked noble; when Jim bit into it it most mashed all his teeth out; and there warn't ever anything could a worked better. Tom said so himself. Jim he never let on but what it was only just a piece of rock or something like that that's always getting into bread, you know; but after that he never bit into nothing but what he jabbed his fork into it in three or four places first. And whilst we was a-standing there in the dimmish light, here comes a couple of the hounds bulging in from under Jim's bed; and they kept on piling in till there was eleven of them, and there warn't hardly room in there to get your breath. By jings, we forgot to fasten that lean-to door! The nigger Nat he only just hollered "Witches" once, and keeled over on to the floor amongst the dogs, and begun to groan like he was dying. Tom jerked the door open and flung out a slab of Jim's meat, and the dogs went for it, and in two seconds he was out himself and back again and shut the door, and I knowed he'd fixed the other door too. Then he went to work on the nigger, coaxing him and petting him, and asking him if he'd been imagining he saw something again. He raised up, and blinked his eyes around, and says: "Mars Sid, you'll say I's a fool, but if I didn't b'lieve I see most a million dogs, er devils, er some'n, I wisht I may die right heah in dese tracks. I did, mos' sholy. Mars Sid, I FELT um -- I FELT um, sah; dey was all over me. Dad fetch it, I jis' wisht I could git my han's on one er dem witches jis' wunst -- on'y jis' wunst -- it's all I'd ast. But mos'ly I wisht dey'd lemme 'lone, I does." Tom says: "Well, I tell you what I think. What makes them come here just at this runaway nigger's breakfast-time? It's because they're hungry; that's the reason. You make them a witch pie; that's the thing for YOU to do." "But my lan', Mars Sid, how's I gwyne to make 'm a witch pie? I doan' know how to make it. I hain't ever hearn er sich a thing b'fo'." "Well, then, I'll have to make it myself." "Will you do it, honey? -- will you? I'll wusshup de groun' und' yo' foot, I will!" "All right, I'll do it, seeing it's you, and you've been good to us and showed us the runaway nigger. But you got to be mighty careful. When we come around, you turn your back; and then whatever we've put in the pan, don't you let on you see it at all. And don't you look when Jim unloads the pan -- something might happen, I don't know what. And above all, don't you HANDLE the witch-things." "HANNEL 'm, Mars Sid? What IS you a-talkin' 'bout? I wouldn' lay de weight er my finger on um, not f'r ten hund'd thous'n billion dollars, I wouldn't." |
第三十五章 这时离吃早饭还有个把钟头，我们就离开了那里，到了林子里去。因为汤姆说，挖地道 时最好能有点儿光亮，能看得见，而灯呢，又太亮，怕给我们惹出乱子。我们最好能找到一 些烂木头，人们称做“狐火”①的，放在黑洞洞的地方，能发出幽幽的光。我们在林子里找 到了一些，堆放在草丛里，然后坐下来休息。汤姆以一种不大满意的口气说道： ①诺顿版注：腐烂的木料发出的磷光。 “真该死，这件事嘛，整个儿说来，有多容易就多容易，有多别扭就多别扭。要搞出个 曲曲折折的方案，可真是太难啦。又没有一个看守理该毒死的——本来就应该有这么一个看 守嘛。甚至连应该下蒙汗药的狗也一只都没有。杰姆呢，也只是铐上了一付一丈长的脚镣， 一头拴住了一条腿，一头拴在床腿上，你只须把床往上那么一提，脚镣就往下掉了。再说， 西拉斯姨父这人啊，他对谁都一概信任，把钥匙给那个傻呼呼的黑奴，也不派一个人从旁监 视他。在这样的情况下，其实杰姆早就能从窗洞里爬出来，只不过腿上拴了一丈长的铁镣， 走不了路。真是糟透了，哈克，这样一类顶顶愚索的安排我从未见过。所有的艰险曲折，一 桩桩、一件件都得凭空制造出来。啊，实在无法可想，我们只能凭眼前的材料能做到怎么样 就做到怎么样。不过有一件事是确定无疑的。必须经过千难万险方能把他搭救出来，这才称 得上光荣。可这样的千难万险，原本应该有人有这个责任提供的，如今却一无着落，必须由 你从自己的脑袋里编造出来。眼下就拿灯这一件事来看一看吧。面对眼前无情的现实，我们 就非得装做那是一件多么危险的事。其实呢，据我看，只要我们高兴，我们原本不妨来个火 炬大游行也碍不了事啊。哦，我眼下又想起了一件事，那就是，一有机会，我们就得找些材 料做一把锯子哩。” “要一把锯子干什么用？” “要一把锯子干什么用？不是我们得把杰姆那张床的腿给锯断，好叫脚镣脱下来？” “哈，你不是说，只要有人把床往上一提，脚镣就能往下掉么？” “啊，哈克•芬，你这话真是活象你这样的人说的。你遇到一件事，就会象一个上幼儿 园的小孩子那样对待它。难道你从没有念过那些书？——难道没有念过有关屈伦克伯爵，或 者卡萨诺伐，或者贝佛努托•契里尼，或者亨利第四这类英雄好汉的书①？有谁听说过曾有 人用老娘们的那套办法去救出一个囚犯的？那可不行。凡是赫赫有名的人，他们一个个都是 这么干的，把床腿给锯成两截子，让床照原样放在那里，把锯下的木屑吞下肚去，好叫人家 无从找到。在锯过的地方呢，涂上泥和油，好叫眼睛最尖的人也看不出一点儿锯过的痕迹， 还以为床腿还是好好的。随后，到了夜晚，你把一切都准备好了，就对准床腿那么一踢，床 腿的一截子给踢到了一边，那脚镣就脱落了，就大功告成了。此外不用忙别的什么事，只消 把你的绳梯拴在城垛上，顺着它爬下去，然后在城墙里摔坏了腿——因为，你知道吧，那绳 梯短了十九英尺——好，你的马，你忠实可靠的亲随正守在那里，他们连忙把你给打捞起 来，扶你跨上马鞍，你就飞奔而去，去到你的老家朗格多克或者纳伐尔，或者别的什么地 方。这才叫有声有色哩，哈克，我多么希望小屋下面有个城墙啊。到了逃亡的那个晚上，要 是有时间，让我们挖出一个城壕来。” ①诺顿版注：以上四人都曾试图冒险越狱，或越狱成功，或失败。屈伦克伯爵是菲 特烈大帝的重臣；卡萨诺伐为意大利有名的情人；契里尼为著名雕刻家；亨利第四为法国国 王。 我说： “我们要个城壕干什么？我们不是要从小屋下面让他象蛇一般偷偷爬出来么？” 可是他根本没有听到我说的话。他把我啊以及其它的一切全都忘得一干二净。他手托住 了下巴颏，陷进了沉思。没多久，他叹了一口气，摇摇脑袋，随后又叹起气来。他说： “不，这个行不通——这样干还没有必要。” “干什么？”我说。 “啊，把杰姆的腿给锯断。”他说。 “我的老天！”我说，“怎么啦？根本没有必要这么干嘛。 你要锯断他的腿，究竟又为的什么呢？” “嗯，有些顶出名的人物便是这么干的。他们无法挣脱锁链，便干脆把手砍断了逃走。 砍断腿相比起来要更好一些。不过我们得把这个放弃掉。拿这回的事来说，还没有这样干的 必要。再说，杰姆是个黑奴，对必须这样干的原因也无法懂得。这是在欧洲流行的风俗嘛， 所以我们只得放弃。不过有一件事非办不可——他必须有一根绳梯才行。我们不妨把我们的 衬衫撕下来，便能不费事地给他搞一根绳梯。我们可以把绳梯藏在馅饼里给他送去。人家多 半是这么干的。比这还难吃的馅饼我也吃过。” “啊，汤姆•索亚，你说到哪里去了啊，”我说，“杰姆根本用不着绳梯啊。” “他非得用绳梯不可。看你说的。你倒不如说，对这个你还一窍不通。他非得有一根绳 梯不可，人家都是这么干的嘛。” “你得说一说，他用这个能干些什么啊？” “干些什么？他不妨把这个藏在褥子底下，不是么？他们都是这么干的。他就得也是这 么干。哈克，你啊，仿佛总不肯按照规矩办事。你总喜欢搞些新花样。就算这个他派不上用 处吧，在他逃走以后，这个不还是留在床上，也就成了一个线索么？你以为他们不是都需要 线索么？当然，他们都需要。你怎么可以不留下点线索呢？不然的话，岂不是叫人急得不知 道该怎么办才好么，你说是不是啊？这样的事，我可从没有听说过。” “好吧，”我说，“如果这是规矩，那他就准得有一根绳梯。那就让他有一根吧。因为 我并不退回到不按规矩办事的地步，不过嘛，还有一件事呢，汤姆•索亚——要是得把我们 的衬衫给撕下来，给杰姆搞一根绳梯，那萨莉姨妈肯定会找我们算帐，这是可以断得定的。 依我看，用胡桃树皮做成一挂绳梯，既不用花什么钱，又不用糟塌东西，也一样可以包在馅 饼里，藏在草垫子底下，跟布条编的绳梯一个样。至于杰姆，他并没有什么经验，因此他不 会在乎究竟是什么一种——” “哦，别胡说了，哈克•芬，我要是像你那样缺乏知识的话，我宁愿不则声的——我就 会这么做。可有谁听说过，一个政治犯竟然从一根胡桃树皮做的绳梯逃跑的？啊，这简直荒 唐透顶。” “那好吧，汤姆，就照你自己的路子办吧。不过嘛，要是你听从我劝告的话，你会赞成 由我从晒衣绳上借条把床单。” 他说这也行。并且这引发了他另一个想法，他说： “顺便还借一件衬衫吧。” “要一件衬衫干什么，汤姆？” “为了让杰姆在上面写日记。” “记你奶奶的日记——杰姆连字也不会写啊。” “就算他不会写吧——他可以在衬衫上做些符号，不是么？只要我们用一只旧白铁皮调 羹，或者用一片箍桶的旧铁条为他做一枝笔就行了。” “怎么啦，汤姆，我们不是可以从鹅身上拔一根毛，就能做成一枝更好的笔，并且更快 便能把笔做成么？” “囚犯可没有鹅在地牢周围容他拔毛做笔啊，你这个笨蛋。他们总是用最坚硬、最结 实、最费劲的东西，象旧烛台啊，或是能弄到手的别的什么东西，用来做成笔。这就得花好 多个星期、好多个月才能锉成笔，因为他们非得在墙上锉。就算是有一枝鹅毛笔吧，他们也 不会用，因为这不合乎规矩嘛。” “好吧，那么，我们用什么来给他做成墨水呢？” “很多人是用铁锈和眼泪做的。不过那是庸庸碌碌之辈和娘儿们的办法，那些赫赫有名 的人物用的是他们自己身上的鲜血。这是杰姆可以干的。在他要送出具有一般神秘性质的小 小的通常的信息，将叫全世界都知道他如今被囚在何地何处，他就可以用叉子刻在一只白铁 盘子背后，并且把这个从窗子里扔将出来。铁面人①就是这么干的，这也是个顶呱呱的办法 哩。” ①诺顿版注：这是汤姆喜爱的又一个传奇人物。大仲马在《勃拉格龙伯爵》中写他 是个神秘人物，戴铁的面罩，１７０３年死于巴黎的巴士底监狱。 “可杰姆并没有白铁盘子啊，他们是用平底锅给他送吃食的。” “这不费事，我们可以给他几只。” “没有人看得懂盘子底上的东西嘛。” “这无关紧要，哈克•芬。要紧的是他必须在盘子底上写好了，然后扔将出来。你根本 不必非得读懂不可。囚犯在白铁盘子上或者在别的东西上写的，你看不懂的，要占半数呢。” “那样说来，白白扔掉些盘子有什么用处呢？” “啊，谁管这些闲事，又不是囚犯自己的盘子。” “可盘子总是有主的，不是么？” “好吧，有主又怎么样？囚犯哪管那是哪个人的——” 他说到这儿就收住了，因为我们听到了吃早饭的号角声吹响了。我们就跑回家来。 那天一个上午，我借了晒衣服绳子上一条床单和一件白衬衫。我又找到了一只旧口袋， 就把这些东西装了进去。我们又下去找到了狐火，也放到了里面。我管这个叫借，因为我爸 爸一向这么个叫法。不过汤姆说，这不是借，是偷。他说他是代表了囚犯的，而囚犯并不在 乎自己究竟是怎样把一件东西弄到手的，反正弄到了手就是了，也没有谁会为这个怪罪他。 一个囚犯，为了逃跑而偷了什么，这不叫犯罪。因此，只要我们是代表了一个囚犯的，那 么，为了叫我们逃出牢笼，凡是有用处的，都可以偷，并不算什么犯罪。汤姆这么说。说这 是他的正当权利。因此，当我们是代表了一个囚犯的，那我们就完全有这个权利偷这里任何 有一点点儿有用处的东西，为了好逃出牢狱。他说，要是并非囚犯的话，那就大不一样了。 一个人不是囚犯却偷东西，那他便是一个卑鄙下流的人。因此我们认为，这里手边任何一样 东西，我们都可以偷。可是在这么讲了以后，有一天，他跟我庸人自扰地吵了一架。那是我 从黑奴的西瓜地里偷了一个西瓜吃了，他逼着我前去，还给了黑奴一角钱，也没有对他们说 明是付的什么钱。汤姆说，他的本意是说，我们能偷的，是指我们需要的东西。我说，那好 啊，我需要西瓜嘛。不过他说，我并非为了逃出牢狱而需要这个，而不同之处，恰恰正是在 这里。他说要是我需要一个西瓜，以便把小刀子藏在里面，偷偷送给杰姆，用来杀死看守监 狱的，那就是完全正当的了。因此，我也就没有多说什么，尽管要是每次有机会能饱餐一顿 西瓜，却非得要我这么坐下来，仔细分辨其中像一根头发丝那样的差别，那我就看不出代表 囚犯有什么好处了。 好，我刚才说了，我们在那个早上在等着大伙儿一个个开始干正事了，在场院四周也看 不到人影了，汤姆就把那个口袋带进了披间。我呢，站在不远的地方，替他放风。随后他出 来了，我们便跑到木材垛上，坐下来说起话来。 “眼下一切都搞得顺顺当当的，除了工具一项。那是容易解决的。” “工具？”我说道。 “是的。” “工具，干什么用？” “怎么啦？挖地道啊。我们总不能用嘴巴去啃出一条道儿来叫他出来，不是么？” “那儿不是有一些旧的铁镐等等东西，能挖成一个地道么？”我说。 他转过身来看着我，那神情仿佛是在可怜一个哭着的娃娃似的。他说： “哈克•芬，你难道听说过有一个囚犯用铁铣和镐头，以及衣柜里的所有现代工具，用 来挖地道逃出来的么？我现在倒要问问你——如果你头脑还有点儿清醒的话——这样一来， 他还能怎么轰轰烈烈表演一番，显出他的英雄本色？哈哈，那还不如叫人家借给他一把钥 匙，靠这个逃出来算了。什么铁铣、镐头——人家才不会拿这些给一个国王呢。”“那么好 吧，”我说，“既然我们不要铁铣和镐头，那我们究竟要些什么呢？” “要几把小刀。” “用来在小屋地基下面挖地道？” “是的。” “啊哟！这有多蠢！汤姆。” “蠢不蠢有什么关系，反正该这么办——这是规矩。此外并没有什么别的办法，反正我 从没听说过。关于这些事，能提供信息的书，我全都看过了。人家都是用小刀挖地道逃出来 的——你可要注意挖的可不是土，而总是坚硬的石头。得用好几个星期又好几个星期的时间 哩，硬是没完没了。就拿其中一个囚犯为例吧，那是在马赛港第夫城堡最深一层地牢里的囚 犯。他就是这样挖了地道逃出来的。你猜猜，他花了多少时间①？” ①诺顿版注：这是汤姆受到大仲马影响的又一个例子。这一次是指其名著《基度山 伯爵》中的主人公。 “不知道。” “那就猜一猜吧。” “我不知道。一个半月？” “三十七年——他逃出来时发现自己到了中国。这才是好样的。我但愿如今这座地牢底 下是硬邦邦的石头。” “杰姆在中国可不认识什么人啊。” “那有什么关系？哪一个在中国也没有熟人嘛。不过，你总是说着说着就偏到枝节问题 上去。为什么不能紧紧抓住主要的问题不放？” “好吧——我并不在乎他从哪里出来，反正他是出来了，可杰姆还没有。不过有一点可 不能忘了——要杰姆用小刀子挖了逃出来，年纪太大了。他活不了这么久。” “不，他会活这么久的。挖土质的地基，要不了三十七年，对吧？” “那要多久呢，汤姆？” “嗯，我们不能冒时间太长的风险，因为西拉斯姨父也许不用多久便能从新奥尔良得到 下游的消息。他会得知杰姆不是从那里出来的。那他第二次便会登广告，招领杰姆，或者采 取其它类似的行动。因此我们不能冒那种风险，也就是按常理，该挖多久便挖多久。按理 说，我看啊，我们该挖好多年，可是我们办不到啊。既然前途难卜，我建议这么办：我们事 实上是马上挖，或者尽快挖。在这以后，我们不妨只当是我们已经挖了三十七年才挖成的。 随后，一旦有紧急情况，我们就把他给拖出来，赶紧把他送走。是啊，依我看，这是最妥当 的办法。” “好，这话有点道理，”我说，“‘只当是’不费什么劲，‘只当是’不会惹出什么麻 烦来。如果这是必要的话，我并不在乎‘只当是’已经挖了一百五十年。而且一旦动手以 后，我也不会觉得太累人。我这就去，去把两把刀子偷得来。” “偷三把，”他说。“得用一把做成锯子。” “汤姆，也许我这么说有点儿不合规矩，犯忌讳，”我说。“在那个熏肉房后边防雨板 下面，有一根长了锈的锯条哩。” 他的脸色有点儿疲倦，鼓不起精神。他说： “哈克啊，要想教你多学一点东西，可就是白费劲啊。快去吧，去把小刀偷来——偷三 把。”我便按照吩咐办了。 Chapter 35 IT would be most an hour yet till breakfast, so we left and struck down into the woods; because Tom said we got to have SOME light to see how to dig by, and a lantern makes too much, and might get us into trouble; what we must have was a lot of them rotten chunks that's called fox-fire, and just makes a soft kind of a glow when you lay them in a dark place. We fetched an armful and hid it in the weeds, and set down to rest, and Tom says, kind of dissatisfied: "Blame it, this whole thing is just as easy and awkward as it can be. And so it makes it so rotten difficult to get up a difficult plan. There ain't no watchman to be drugged -- now there OUGHT to be a watchman. There ain't even a dog to give a sleeping-mixture to. And there's Jim chained by one leg, with a ten-foot chain, to the leg of his bed: why, all you got to do is to lift up the bedstead and slip off the chain. And Uncle Silas he trusts everybody; sends the key to the punkin-headed nigger, and don't send nobody to watch the nigger. Jim could a got out of that windowhole before this, only there wouldn't be no use trying to travel with a ten-foot chain on his leg. Why, drat it, Huck, it's the stupidest arrangement I ever see. You got to invent ALL the difficulties. Well, we can't help it; we got to do the best we can with the materials we've got. Anyhow, there's one thing -- there's more honor in getting him out through a lot of difficulties and dangers, where there warn't one of them furnished to you by the people who it was their duty to furnish them, and you had to contrive them all out of your own head. Now look at just that one thing of the lantern. When you come down to the cold facts, we simply got to LET ON that a lantern's resky. Why, we could work with a torchlight procession if we wanted to, I believe. Now, whilst I think of it, we got to hunt up something to make a saw out of the first chance we get." "What do we want of a saw?" "What do we WANT of a saw? Hain't we got to saw the leg of Jim's bed off, so as to get the chain loose?" "Why, you just said a body could lift up the bedstead and slip the chain off." "Well, if that ain't just like you, Huck Finn. You CAN get up the infant-schooliest ways of going at a thing. Why, hain't you ever read any books at all? -- Baron Trenck, nor Casanova, nor Benvenuto Chelleeny, nor Henri IV., nor none of them heroes? Who ever heard of getting a prisoner loose in such an oldmaidy way as that? No; the way all the best authorities does is to saw the bed-leg in two, and leave it just so, and swallow the sawdust, so it can't be found, and put some dirt and grease around the sawed place so the very keenest seneskal can't see no sign of it's being sawed, and thinks the bed-leg is perfectly sound. Then, the night you're ready, fetch the leg a kick, down she goes; slip off your chain, and there you are. Nothing to do but hitch your rope ladder to the battlements, shin down it, break your leg in the moat -- because a rope ladder is nineteen foot too short, you know -- and there's your horses and your trusty vassles, and they scoop you up and fling you across a saddle, and away you go to your native Langudoc, or Navarre, or wherever it is. It's gaudy, Huck. I wish there was a moat to this cabin. If we get time, the night of the escape, we'll dig one." I says: "What do we want of a moat when we're going to snake him out from under the cabin?" But he never heard me. He had forgot me and everything else. He had his chin in his hand, thinking. Pretty soon he sighs and shakes his head; then sighs again, and says: "No, it wouldn't do -- there ain't necessity enough for it." "For what?" I says. "Why, to saw Jim's leg off," he says. "Good land!" I says; "why, there ain't NO necessity for it. And what would you want to saw his leg off for, anyway?" "Well, some of the best authorities has done it. They couldn't get the chain off, so they just cut their hand off and shoved. And a leg would be better still. But we got to let that go. There ain't necessity enough in this case; and, besides, Jim's a nigger, and wouldn't understand the reasons for it, and how it's the custom in Europe; so we'll let it go. But there's one thing -- he can have a rope ladder; we can tear up our sheets and make him a rope ladder easy enough. And we can send it to him in a pie; it's mostly done that way. And I've et worse pies." "Why, Tom Sawyer, how you talk," I says; "Jim ain't got no use for a rope ladder." "He HAS got use for it. How YOU talk, you better say; you don't know nothing about it. He's GOT to have a rope ladder; they all do." "What in the nation can he DO with it?" "DO with it? He can hide it in his bed, can't he?" That's what they all do; and HE'S got to, too. Huck, you don't ever seem to want to do anything that's regular; you want to be starting something fresh all the time. S'pose he DON'T do nothing with it? ain't it there in his bed, for a clew, after he's gone? and don't you reckon they'll want clews? Of course they will. And you wouldn't leave them any? That would be a PRETTY howdy-do, WOULDN'T it! I never heard of such a thing." "Well," I says, "if it's in the regulations, and he's got to have it, all right, let him have it; because I don't wish to go back on no regulations; but there's one thing, Tom Sawyer -- if we go to tearing up our sheets to make Jim a rope ladder, we're going to get into trouble with Aunt Sally, just as sure as you're born. Now, the way I look at it, a hickry-bark ladder don't cost nothing, and don't waste nothing, and is just as good to load up a pie with, and hide in a straw tick, as any rag ladder you can start; and as for Jim, he ain't had no experience, and so he don't care what kind of a --" "Oh, shucks, Huck Finn, if I was as ignorant as you I'd keep still -- that's what I'D do. Who ever heard of a state prisoner escaping by a hickry-bark ladder? Why, it's perfectly ridiculous." "Well, all right, Tom, fix it your own way; but if you'll take my advice, you'll let me borrow a sheet off of the clothesline." He said that would do. And that gave him another idea, and he says: "Borrow a shirt, too." "What do we want of a shirt, Tom?" "Want it for Jim to keep a journal on." "Journal your granny -- JIM can't write." "S'pose he CAN'T write -- he can make marks on the shirt, can't he, if we make him a pen out of an old pewter spoon or a piece of an old iron barrelhoop?" "Why, Tom, we can pull a feather out of a goose and make him a better one; and quicker, too." "PRISONERS don't have geese running around the donjon-keep to pull pens out of, you muggins. They ALWAYS make their pens out of the hardest, toughest, troublesomest piece of old brass candlestick or something like that they can get their hands on; and it takes them weeks and weeks and months and months to file it out, too, because they've got to do it by rubbing it on the wall. THEY wouldn't use a goose-quill if they had it. It ain't regular." "Well, then, what'll we make him the ink out of?" "Many makes it out of iron-rust and tears; but that's the common sort and women; the best authorities uses their own blood. Jim can do that; and when he wants to send any little common ordinary mysterious message to let the world know where he's captivated, he can write it on the bottom of a tin plate with a fork and throw it out of the window. The Iron Mask always done that, and it's a blame' good way, too." "Jim ain't got no tin plates. They feed him in a pan." "That ain't nothing; we can get him some." "Can't nobody READ his plates." "That ain't got anything to DO with it, Huck Finn. All HE'S got to do is to write on the plate and throw it out. You don't HAVE to be able to read it. Why, half the time you can't read anything a prisoner writes on a tin plate, or anywhere else." "Well, then, what's the sense in wasting the plates?" "Why, blame it all, it ain't the PRISONER'S plates." "But it's SOMEBODY'S plates, ain't it?" "Well, spos'n it is? What does the PRISONER care whose --" He broke off there, because we heard the breakfasthorn blowing. So we cleared out for the house. Along during the morning I borrowed a sheet and a white shirt off of the clothes-line; and I found an old sack and put them in it, and we went down and got the fox-fire, and put that in too. I called it borrowing, because that was what pap always called it; but Tom said it warn't borrowing, it was stealing. He said we was representing prisoners; and prisoners don't care how they get a thing so they get it, and nobody don't blame them for it, either. It ain't no crime in a prisoner to steal the thing he needs to get away with, Tom said; it's his right; and so, as long as we was representing a prisoner, we had a perfect right to steal anything on this place we had the least use for to get ourselves out of prison with. He said if we warn't prisoners it would be a very different thing, and nobody but a mean, ornery person would steal when he warn't a prisoner. So we allowed we would steal everything there was that come handy. And yet he made a mighty fuss, one day, after that, when I stole a watermelon out of the nigger-patch and eat it; and he made me go and give the niggers a dime without telling them what it was for. Tom said that what he meant was, we could steal anything we NEEDED. Well, I says, I needed the watermelon. But he said I didn't need it to get out of prison with; there's where the difference was. He said if I'd a wanted it to hide a knife in, and smuggle it to Jim to kill the seneskal with, it would a been all right. So I let it go at that, though I couldn't see no advantage in my representing a prisoner if I got to set down and chaw over a lot of gold-leaf distinctions like that every time I see a chance to hog a watermelon. Well, as I was saying, we waited that morning till everybody was settled down to business, and nobody in sight around the yard; then Tom he carried the sack into the lean-to whilst I stood off a piece to keep watch. By and by he come out, and we went and set down on the woodpile to talk. He says: "Everything's all right now except tools; and that's easy fixed." "Tools?" I says. "Yes." "Tools for what?" "Why, to dig with. We ain't a-going to GNAW him out, are we?" "Ain't them old crippled picks and things in there good enough to dig a nigger out with?" I says. He turns on me, looking pitying enough to make a body cry, and says: "Huck Finn, did you EVER hear of a prisoner having picks and shovels, and all the modern conveniences in his wardrobe to dig himself out with? Now I want to ask you -- if you got any reasonableness in you at all -- what kind of a show would THAT give him to be a hero? Why, they might as well lend him the key and done with it. Picks and shovels -- why, they wouldn't furnish 'em to a king." "Well, then," I says, "if we don't want the picks and shovels, what do we want?" "A couple of case-knives." "To dig the foundations out from under that cabin with?" "Yes." "Confound it, it's foolish, Tom." "It don't make no difference how foolish it is, it's the RIGHT way -- and it's the regular way. And there ain't no OTHER way, that ever I heard of, and I've read all the books that gives any information about these things. They always dig out with a case-knife -- and not through dirt, mind you; generly it's through solid rock. And it takes them weeks and weeks and weeks, and for ever and ever. Why, look at one of them prisoners in the bottom dungeon of the Castle Deef, in the harbor of Marseilles, that dug himself out that way; how long was HE at it, you reckon?" "I don't know." "Well, guess." "I don't know. A month and a half." "THIRTY-SEVEN YEAR -- and he come out in China. THAT'S the kind. I wish the bottom of THIS fortress was solid rock." "JIM don't know nobody in China." "What's THAT got to do with it? Neither did that other fellow. But you're always a-wandering off on a side issue. Why can't you stick to the main point?" "All right -- I don't care where he comes out, so he COMES out; and Jim don't, either, I reckon. But there's one thing, anyway -- Jim's too old to be dug out with a case-knife. He won't last." "Yes he will LAST, too. You don't reckon it's going to take thirty-seven years to dig out through a DIRT foundation, do you?" "How long will it take, Tom?" "Well, we can't resk being as long as we ought to, because it mayn't take very long for Uncle Silas to hear from down there by New Orleans. He'll hear Jim ain't from there. Then his next move will be to advertise Jim, or something like that. So we can't resk being as long digging him out as we ought to. By rights I reckon we ought to be a couple of years; but we can't. Things being so uncertain, what I recommend is this: that we really dig right in, as quick as we can; and after that, we can LET ON, to ourselves, that we was at it thirty-seven years. Then we can snatch him out and rush him away the first time there's an alarm. Yes, I reckon that 'll be the best way." "Now, there's SENSE in that," I says. "Letting on don't cost nothing; letting on ain't no trouble; and if it's any object, I don't mind letting on we was at it a hundred and fifty year. It wouldn't strain me none, after I got my hand in. So I'll mosey along now, and smouch a couple of case-knives." "Smouch three," he says; "we want one to make a saw out of." "Tom, if it ain't unregular and irreligious to sejest it," I says, "there's an old rusty saw-blade around yonder sticking under the weather-boarding behind the smoke-house." He looked kind of weary and discouraged-like, and says: "It ain't no use to try to learn you nothing, Huck. Run along and smouch the knives -- three of them." So I done it. |
| 第三十四章 我们停止了谈话，各自思索起来。后来汤姆说： “听我说，哈克，我们多傻啊，先前连想也没有想到这一下子。我敢打赌，我知道杰姆 在哪里了。” “不会吧？在哪里呢？” “在装灰的桶子旁边那间小屋里。你听我说。我们吃中饭的时候，你没有看见一个黑奴 带着食物走进去么？” “看到啦。” “你看食物是给谁吃的？” “给一只狗嘛。” “我原先也这样想。哈，这可不是给一只狗吃的哩。” “怎么啦？” “因为其中有西瓜。” “有这么回事”——我也注意到了这一点。啊，这可真是个怪事。我竟然没有想到狗不 吃西瓜。这表明，一个人是会视而不见的。 “是啊，那个黑奴进去的时候把门上的挂锁打开，出来时再锁上。我们吃完饭，站起身 来的时候，他从我们叔叔那里取了一把钥匙——我敢打赌，那就是同一把钥匙。西瓜表明了 那是一个人，锁表明了那是一个囚犯，而且小小一个农庄对人又和气善良，因而也不会有两 个囚犯。那个囚犯便是杰姆。好啊——我们按侦探的那个路子——查清了这回事，这叫我挺 高兴的。我是不会按别的路子去查了。现在你来开动开动脑筋，设想出把杰姆给偷将出来的 方案来，我呢，也要设想出我的方案来，然后我们从中挑选一个最佳方案。” 小小年纪，竟然有这样一个脑袋，有多了不起。我要是有汤姆•索亚的脑袋啊， 如果要用它作为交换条件，可以换个公爵当当，或者当一个轮船上的大副，马戏班的小丑， 或者其它任何玩意儿，那我也决不干。我想啊想的，想搞出一个办法，不过那也只是装装 样子罢了。我心里很清楚，真正的好办法该从哪儿来。没多久，汤姆说： “想好啦？” “是的，”我说。 “好啊——说说看。” “我的计划是这样，”我说。“杰姆在不在里面，我们不费吹灰之力便能查出来。然后 我们在明晚上便把我的独木舟找出来，再从小岛那边把木筏子弄来。等到哪一天没有月亮， 我们在叔叔睡了以后，从他裤袋里把钥匙偷到手，就同杰姆一起坐木筏子朝大河的下游漂 去，大白天躲起来，晚上走，就和往常我和杰姆干的那个样。这个方案行不行？” “行不行？哈，当然啰，能行。就象耗子打架一般，清清楚楚。不过，毛病是简单了， 搞不出什么名堂来。一个方案，执行起来不用费任何什么周折，这有什么劲？味道淡得象 水。啊，哈克，这样叫人家议论起来，不过象谈到抢劫一家肥皂厂，如此而已。” 我一句话也不说，因为跟我预料的一点也不错。我心里透亮，只要他想出了一个方案， 那是肯定挑不出一点儿毛病的。 事情果然如此。他跟我说了他的方案，我马上看出了他的计幌识。不过，究竟是什么叫 你脑子里竟会有这么个想法呢？” “有这么个想法？他不是刚才喊了声，好象认识你们么？” 汤姆仿佛大惑不解似地说： “啊，这可太稀奇古怪啦。有谁喊啊？什么时候喊的？喊了些什么？”他转身对着我， 态度非常地安详镇静。他说，“你听到有谁喊么？” 当然没有什么好说的，答案只有一个。我就说： “没有啊，我没有听到有谁说话啊。” 随后他就朝杰姆转过身来，看了他一眼，那神情仿佛他从来没有见到过他。他说： “你喊了么？乔个有身份的孩子，受过良好的教养，人品又好，家里人什么， 难道我不是肚子里雪亮么？” “是的。” “难道我不是说过，要把那个黑奴给偷出来么？” “是的。” “那就好了。” 他说的就是这些，我说的也就是这些。这样就用不到再说什么了，因为每当他说要干什 么，他总是干什么。不过我委实不明白为什么他会甘心搅在这件事里面，所以我只好随它 去，不再为此操什么心。要是他非如此干不可，我也无能为力。 我们到家时，屋子里黑漆漆的，一片寂静。我们便走到下边放灰桶那儿的小屋去，察看 了一番。我们在场院里走了一遍，看看狗会有什么反应。这些狗已经认得了我们，因此就象 乡下一般的狗夜间遇见有什么事的时候照例会发出些声响以外，并没有别的什么反应。我们 走到了那间小屋，对小屋的正面和两侧都察看了一番。在没有察看过的一侧——那是朝北的 一侧——我们发现了一个四方形的窗洞，相当高，只有一块厚实的木板钉在窗洞的中间。我 说： “要找的就正是这个。窗洞的大小刚好能叫杰姆钻出来。 只要我们把木板撬开就行。” 汤姆说： “这就跟下五子棋一样，未免太简单了，也跟逃学一样容易。我宁愿我们能找到一种路 子，能比这个更复杂些的，哈克•芬。” “那么好，”我说，“把它锯断，就象我前次被害死那一回那么样，行不行？” “这就多少好一些，”他说，“要来个真正神秘兮兮的，曲曲折折的，并且够味儿 的。”他说，“不过我们准保还能找到需得花一倍以上时间的方案。不用心急，让我们再找 找看。” 在后边的一侧，在小屋和栅栏的中间，有一个披间，它接着小屋的屋檐，是木板做成 的。跟小屋一般长，只是窄窄的——只有六英尺宽。门开在南头，门上了挂锁。汤姆走到煮 肥皂的铁壶那儿，四处搜寻，把人家拿来开壶盖的东西拿了来，用它撬开了一只链环。链子 随着掉下来。我们随手开了门，走了进去，把门关上，点起一根火柴，发现披间只是靠着小 屋搭的，并非连起来的。地上也并没有地板，披间里只放了用坏了的发锈的锄头、铁锹、尖 镐和一张坏了的犁。火柴熄了，我们便走了出来，重新把链环安上。门就象刚才一样锁得好 好的。汤姆兴高采烈。他说： “如今我们有办法啦。我们挖个地道让他钻出来。得个把星期时间！” 随后我们往屋子走去，我从后门进——只消拉一下用鹿皮做的门闩绳子就行了，他们门 是不锁的——不过这样还不够浪漫，不合汤姆•索亚的胃口。他非要爬那根避雷针上楼才算 够味。不过他大致有过三回爬到了半中间，一失手滑了下来。最后一次，还差点儿摔破了脑 袋。他寻思，他非得放弃不可了。可是一休息后，就又要再度试一试运气。这一回啊，他终 于爬了上去。 第二天，天蒙蒙亮，我们就下去到黑奴住的小屋去，拍拍狗，跟那个给杰姆送吃食的黑 奴套个近乎——如果里面关的是杰姆的话。那些黑奴刚吃过早饭，要开始到地里去。给杰姆 送吃食的那个黑奴呢，他正在把面包、肉等等东西放在一只白铁盆里。别的一些人正走开的 时候，屋里送来了钥匙。 这个黑奴的脸看上去是一副脾气好、傻呼呼的样子。他的一头卷发用细绳子扎成一撮一 撮的。那是为了避开妖魔作祟。他说，这些天晚上妖魔作祟，害得他好苦。他见到了种种异 象，听到了种种怪声怪调，他一生中还从没有被作祟得时间这么久。这些搞得他神魂不定， 坐立不安，害得他连平日里该做些什么事也记不得了。汤姆就说： “这些食物送给谁啊？是喂狗么？” 这个黑奴脸上漾开了笑容，好象一块碎砖扔进了一片泥塘。他说： “是的，西特少爷。喂一条敢（狗）。你想去看一看么？” “好的。” 我捅了汤姆一下，轻声对他说： “你就去啦，天一亮就去？这可不在原来的方案之内啊。” “不在，是不在——不过在现今的方案之内。” 唉，管它呢，我们一起去了，可心里却老大不以为然。我们一进去，四下里什么也看不 见，小屋里太黑了，不过杰姆确确实实在里面，他能看清楚我们。他叫了起来： “啊，哈克！我的天啊！这不是汤姆少爷么？” 这一切，都跟我预料的那么样，早在我意料之中。我也不知道该怎么办，即使知道，也 办不到，因为那个黑奴冷不防地插嘴说： “啊，老天！难道他认识你们这两位先生？” 这时我们能对四下里看得相当清楚了。汤姆呢，他定神地看了黑奴一眼，仿佛莫名其妙 地说： “难道有谁认识我们？” “啊，这个逃跑的黑奴啊。” “我看他并不认识。不过，究竟是什么叫你脑子里竟会有这么个想法呢？” “有这么个想法？他不是刚才喊了声，好象认识你们么？” 汤姆仿佛大惑不解似地说： “啊，这可太稀奇古怪啦。有谁喊啊？什么时候喊的？喊了些什么？”他转身对着我， 态度非常地安详镇静。他说，“你听到有谁喊么？” 当然没有什么好说的，答案只有一个。我就说： “没有啊，我没有听到有谁说话啊。” 随后他就朝杰姆转过身来，看了他一眼，那神情仿佛他从来没有见到过他。他说： “你喊了么？” “没有。少爷，”杰姆说。“我没有说什么啊，少爷。” “一个字也没有？” “没有，少爷，一个字也没有。” “你过去见到过我们么？” “没有，少爷，我不记得曾在哪儿见过你。” 汤姆便转过身来对着那个黑奴，这时他已经有点儿神经错乱的模样了。汤姆厉声地说： “你倒底是怎么回事啊？你怎么会想得出来，说有人在叫喊啊？” “唉，少爷，全是妖魔在捣鬼啊，我但愿死了的好，说真格的。他们老是跟我捣淡 （蛋），快把我折幕（磨）死了，吓得我魂不附梯（体）。请你别对任何人说，少爷，要不 然，西拉斯老爷会狠狠刮我一顿。因为他说，根本没有什么妖魔鬼怪。我但愿他现今就在这 里，——看他有什么好说的！我看啊，我能打赌，这一回他可说不圆啦。不过啊，说来也总 是如此，人就是这个样子，人一傻，就傻到底，从来不肯认真看一看，自个儿把事情看个 清，人家即使告诉他真相，他也不肯新（信）。” 汤姆给了他一角钱，还说，我们不会对别人说什么。还说，他不妨多买几根绳线，把头 发给扎起来。随后他对杰姆看了一眼说： “我不知道西拉斯姨父会不会把这个黑奴给吊死。要是我抓住了一个忘恩负义逃亡的黑 奴，我可不会放掉他，我会吊死他。”这时趁那个黑奴走到门口认一认清那个银币，咬一 咬，看是真是假，他就低声对杰姆说： “别流露出认得我们。要是你晚上听到挖地这类声响，那是我们。我们要恢复你的自 由。” 杰姆只能匆匆地抓住了我们的手，紧紧握了握，随后那个黑奴回来了。我们说，只要那 个黑奴要我们再来，我们准来。他就说，他要的，特别是最好在夜晚，因为妖魔多半在黑夜 里作怪，这时如果能有人作伴，那就好得多了。 Chapter 34 WE stopped talking, and got to thinking. By and by Tom says: "Looky here, Huck, what fools we are to not think of it before! I bet I know where Jim is." "No! Where?" "In that hut down by the ash-hopper. Why, looky here. When we was at dinner, didn't you see a nigger man go in there with some vittles?" "Yes." "What did you think the vittles was for?" "For a dog." "So 'd I. Well, it wasn't for a dog." "Why?" "Because part of it was watermelon." "So it was -- I noticed it. Well, it does beat all that I never thought about a dog not eating watermelon. It shows how a body can see and don't see at the same time." "Well, the nigger unlocked the padlock when he went in, and he locked it again when he came out. He fetched uncle a key about the time we got up from table -- same key, I bet. Watermelon shows man, lock shows prisoner; and it ain't likely there's two prisoners on such a little plantation, and where the people's all so kind and good. Jim's the prisoner. All right -- I'm glad we found it out detective fashion; I wouldn't give shucks for any other way. Now you work your mind, and study out a plan to steal Jim, and I will study out one, too; and we'll take the one we like the best." What a head for just a boy to have! If I had Tom Sawyer's head I wouldn't trade it off to be a duke, nor mate of a steamboat, nor clown in a circus, nor nothing I can think of. I went to thinking out a plan, but only just to be doing something; I knowed very well where the right plan was going to come from. Pretty soon Tom says: "Ready?" "Yes," I says. "All right -- bring it out." "My plan is this," I says. "We can easy find out if it's Jim in there. Then get up my canoe to-morrow night, and fetch my raft over from the island. Then the first dark night that comes steal the key out of the old man's britches after he goes to bed, and shove off down the river on the raft with Jim, hiding daytimes and running nights, the way me and Jim used to do before. Wouldn't that plan work?" "WORK? Why, cert'nly it would work, like rats a-fighting. But it's too blame' simple; there ain't nothing TO it. What's the good of a plan that ain't no more trouble than that? It's as mild as goose-milk. Why, Huck, it wouldn't make no more talk than breaking into a soap factory." I never said nothing, because I warn't expecting nothing different; but I knowed mighty well that whenever he got HIS plan ready it wouldn't have none of them objections to it. And it didn't. He told me what it was, and I see in a minute it was worth fifteen of mine for style, and would make Jim just as free a man as mine would, and maybe get us all killed besides. So I was satisfied, and said we would waltz in on it. I needn't tell what it was here, because I knowed it wouldn't stay the way, it was. I knowed he would be changing it around every which way as we went along, and heaving in new bullinesses wherever he got a chance. And that is what he done. Well, one thing was dead sure, and that was that Tom Sawyer was in earnest, and was actuly going to help steal that nigger out of slavery. That was the thing that was too many for me. Here was a boy that was respectable and well brung up; and had a character to lose; and folks at home that had characters; and he was bright and not leather-headed; and knowing and not ignorant; and not mean, but kind; and yet here he was, without any more pride, or rightness, or feeling, than to stoop to this business, and make himself a shame, and his family a shame, before everybody. I COULDN'T understand it no way at all. It was outrageous, and I knowed I ought to just up and tell him so; and so be his true friend, and let him quit the thing right where he was and save himself. And I DID start to tell him; but he shut me up, and says: "Don't you reckon I know what I'm about? Don't I generly know what I'm about?" "Yes." "Didn't I SAY I was going to help steal the nigger?" "Yes." "WELL, then." That's all he said, and that's all I said. It warn't no use to say any more; because when he said he'd do a thing, he always done it. But I couldn't make out how he was willing to go into this thing; so I just let it go, and never bothered no more about it. If he was bound to have it so, I couldn't help it. When we got home the house was all dark and still; so we went on down to the hut by the ash-hopper for to examine it. We went through the yard so as to see what the hounds would do. They knowed us, and didn't make no more noise than country dogs is always doing when anything comes by in the night. When we got to the cabin we took a look at the front and the two sides; and on the side I warn't acquainted with -- which was the north side -- we found a square windowhole, up tolerable high, with just one stout board nailed across it. I says: "Here's the ticket. This hole's big enough for Jim to get through if we wrench off the board." Tom says: "It's as simple as tit-tat-toe, three-in-a-row, and as easy as playing hooky. I should HOPE we can find a way that's a little more complicated than THAT, Huck Finn." "Well, then," I says, "how 'll it do to saw him out, the way I done before I was murdered that time?" "That's more LIKE," he says. "It's real mysterious, and troublesome, and good," he says; "but I bet we can find a way that's twice as long. There ain't no hurry; le's keep on looking around." Betwixt the hut and the fence, on the back side, was a lean-to that joined the hut at the eaves, and was made out of plank. It was as long as the hut, but narrow -- only about six foot wide. The door to it was at the south end, and was padlocked. Tom he went to the soap-kettle and searched around, and fetched back the iron thing they lift the lid with; so he took it and prized out one of the staples. The chain fell down, and we opened the door and went in, and shut it, and struck a match, and see the shed was only built against a cabin and hadn't no connection with it; and there warn't no floor to the shed, nor nothing in it but some old rusty played-out hoes and spades and picks and a crippled plow. The match went out, and so did we, and shoved in the staple again, and the door was locked as good as ever. Tom was joyful. He says; "Now we're all right. We'll DIG him out. It 'll take about a week!" Then we started for the house, and I went in the back door -- you only have to pull a buckskin latchstring, they don't fasten the doors -- but that warn't romantical enough for Tom Sawyer; no way would do him but he must climb up the lightning-rod. But after he got up half way about three times, and missed fire and fell every time, and the last time most busted his brains out, he thought he'd got to give it up; but after he was rested he allowed he would give her one more turn for luck, and this time he made the trip. In the morning we was up at break of day, and down to the nigger cabins to pet the dogs and make friends with the nigger that fed Jim -- if it WAS Jim that was being fed. The niggers was just getting through breakfast and starting for the fields; and Jim's nigger was piling up a tin pan with bread and meat and things; and whilst the others was leaving, the key come from the house. This nigger had a good-natured, chuckle-headed face, and his wool was all tied up in little bunches with thread. That was to keep witches off. He said the witches was pestering him awful these nights, and making him see all kinds of strange things, and hear all kinds of strange words and noises, and he didn't believe he was ever witched so long before in his life. He got so worked up, and got to running on so about his troubles, he forgot all about what he'd been a-going to do. So Tom says: "What's the vittles for? Going to feed the dogs?" The nigger kind of smiled around graduly over his face, like when you heave a brickbat in a mud-puddle, and he says: "Yes, Mars Sid, A dog. Cur'us dog, too. Does you want to go en look at 'im?" "Yes." I hunched Tom, and whispers: "You going, right here in the daybreak? THAT warn't the plan." "No, it warn't; but it's the plan NOW." So, drat him, we went along, but I didn't like it much. When we got in we couldn't hardly see anything, it was so dark; but Jim was there, sure enough, and could see us; and he sings out: "Why, HUCK! En good LAN'! ain' dat Misto Tom?" I just knowed how it would be; I just expected it. I didn't know nothing to do; and if I had I couldn't a done it, because that nigger busted in and says: "Why, de gracious sakes! do he know you genlmen?" We could see pretty well now. Tom he looked at the nigger, steady and kind of wondering, and says: "Does WHO know us?" "Why, dis-yer runaway nigger." "I don't reckon he does; but what put that into your head?" "What PUT it dar? Didn' he jis' dis minute sing out like he knowed you?" Tom says, in a puzzled-up kind of way: "Well, that's mighty curious. WHO sung out? WHEN did he sing out? WHAT did he sing out?" And turns to me, perfectly ca'm, and says, "Did YOU hear anybody sing out?" Of course there warn't nothing to be said but the one thing; so I says: "No; I ain't heard nobody say nothing." Then he turns to Jim, and looks him over like he never see him before, and says: "Did you sing out?" "No, sah," says Jim; " I hain't said nothing, sah." "Not a word?" "No, sah, I hain't said a word." "Did you ever see us before?" "No, sah; not as I knows on." So Tom turns to the nigger, which was looking wild and distressed, and says, kind of severe: "What do you reckon's the matter with you, anyway? What made you think somebody sung out?" "Oh, it's de dad-blame' witches, sah, en I wisht I was dead, I do. Dey's awluz at it, sah, en dey do mos' kill me, dey sk'yers me so. Please to don't tell nobody 'bout it sah, er ole Mars Silas he'll scole me; 'kase he say dey AIN'T no witches. I jis' wish to goodness he was heah now -- DEN what would he say! I jis' bet he couldn' fine no way to git aroun' it DIS time. But it's awluz jis' so; people dat's SOT, stays sot; dey won't look into noth'n'en fine it out f'r deyselves, en when YOU fine it out en tell um 'bout it, dey doan' b'lieve you." Tom give him a dime, and said we wouldn't tell nobody; and told him to buy some more thread to tie up his wool with; and then looks at Jim, and says: "I wonder if Uncle Silas is going to hang this nigger. If I was to catch a nigger that was ungrateful enough to run away, I wouldn't give him up, I'd hang him." And whilst the nigger stepped to the door to look at the dime and bite it to see if it was good, he whispers to Jim and says: "Don't ever let on to know us. And if you hear any digging going on nights, it's us; we're going to set you free." Jim only had time to grab us by the hand and squeeze it; then the nigger come back, and we said we'd come again some time if the nigger wanted us to; and he said he would, more particular if it was dark, because the witches went for him mostly in the dark, and it was good to have folks around then. |
第三十三章 于是我就坐车前往镇上去。半路上我见到有一辆车迎面而来，那肯定是汤姆•索 亚无疑了。我就停下车来，等他过来。我说了声“停车”，车就停了，靠在一边。他的嘴巴 张大了半天合不拢。他咽了两三口口水，活象口渴得不行似的。他说： “我可从没有害过你。这你自己明白。那你为什么要还阳找我算账？” 我说： “我并没有还阳啊——我根本没有到阴间去啊。” 他一听清是我的声音，神志便镇静了些，不过还是不很放心。他说： “别作弄我了，我也不作弄你。你说句实话，你是不是鬼？” “说实话，我不是。”我说。 “那好——我——我——那好，当然，这样就不成为问题了。不过，我实在弄不懂。听 我说，你不是已经给害死了么？” “不，我根本没有被害死——是我作弄了他们。你过来，摸一摸我，要是你不信我的 话。” 他就过来，摸了摸我，这才放了心。又见到了我，他很高兴，只是他不知道下一步该做 些什么。他急于想马上知道一切的真相，因为这可是一次轰轰烈烈的冒险，又神秘兮兮，这 正合他的脾气。不过我说，这不妨暂时放一放，且待以后再说，还招呼他的车夫在边上等一 会儿。我们就把车往前赶了几步，随后我把当前为难的处境对他说了，问他该怎么办才好。 他说，让他想一会儿，别打搅他。他就左思右想起来，没多久，他便说： “不要紧，我有啦。把我的行李搬到你的车上去，装成是你的。你就往回转，慢吞吞地 走，挨到原该到的时候才到家。我呢，往镇上那个方向走一段路，我重新开始，在你到家后 一刻钟或者半个钟点才到。在开头，你不必装作认识我。” 我说： “那行。不过等一下。还有一件事——这件事，除了我，没有一个人知道。那就是，还 有一个黑人，我想力争把他给偷出来，好不再当奴隶——他的名字是杰姆——华珍老小姐的 杰姆。” 他说： “什么！怎么是杰姆——” 他没有说下去，便思量了起来。我说： “我可知道你要说些什么。你会说这是一桩肮脏下流的勾当，不过那又怎么样呢？—— 我是下流的，我准备把他偷出来，我要你守口如瓶，别泄漏出去。行吧？” 他的眼睛一亮。他说： “我会帮你把他偷出来！” 啊，这句话可叫我大吃一惊，仿佛一声晴天霹雳，恰好打在我身上。这可是我平生听到 的最叫人诧异的话了——我不能不说，在我眼里，汤姆•索亚的份量，大大地下降了许多。 我怎么也不相信汤姆•索亚竟然会是一个偷黑奴的人①。 ①诺顿版注：哈克一向把汤姆看作代表了社会上“有身份的人”和守法的人，因而 如今他答应参加搭救、解放杰姆的计划，便认为汤姆这是有失身份了。 （又，杰姆当时还并不了解他的女主人有关他命运的决定，并且他对汤姆的为人也毕竟 缺乏真正的认识。） “哦，去你的吧，”我说，“你这是在开玩笑吧。” “我可不是在开玩笑。” “那好，”我说，“开玩笑也好，不开玩笑也好，要是你听到什么有关一个逃亡黑奴的 任何什么事情，别忘了，你对这个人什么也不知道，我呢，也什么都不知道。” 随后我们把行李放到了我的车子上。他就走他的路，我赶我的车。不过我把应该慢些走 的话压根儿忘得一干二净，因为实在高兴得不得了，有一肚子的事得思量一番。这样一来， 我到家便比这段路该花的时刻快得太多了些。这时老先生正在门口。他说： “哈，真了不起。谁想到母马会跑得这么快。可惜我们没有对准了看一下时间。它连一 根毛都没有汗淋淋的——连一根毛都没有。这多了不起。啊，如今人家出一百元这个价买我 的马我也不肯卖啦。往常我十五块钱就肯卖了，以为它只值这么个价。” 他说的就是这些话。他是我见到过的最天真最善良的老人了。这也并不奇怪，因为他不 光是一个农民，他还是一个传教士。在他农庄后边，他还有一个巴掌大的由圆木搭成的教堂 呢。那是他自己出资并亲自建成的，作为教堂兼学校。他传教从不收钱，讲也讲得好。象他 这样既是农民又兼传教士，并且干这类事的，在南方可有的是。 大约半个小时左右，汤姆的马车赶到大门的梯磴前。萨莉姨妈从窗户里就望见了，因为 相距只有五十码。她说： “啊，有人来啦！不知道是谁哩？啊，我相信肯定是位外地来的，吉姆（这是她一个孩 子的名字），跑去对莉丝说，午餐时添一只菜盘子。” 大伙儿一个个朝大门口涌去，因为有一个外地的客人来到，这可并非每年都有的事。他 一来，比黄热病更加引人注意。汤姆跨过了门口的梯磴，正朝屋里走来。马车沿着大道回村 去了。我们都挤在大门口。汤姆身穿一套新买的现成衣服，眼前又有一伙观众——一有观 众，汤姆•索亚就来劲。在这样的情况下，不用费力，他就会表现出气派来，而且表现得很 得体。他可不是一个卑躬屈膝的孩子，象一只小绵羊那样驯服地从场院走来。不，神情镇 静，态度从容，仿佛一只大公羊那般模样。一走到我们大伙儿的面前，他把帽子往上那么提 了一提，态度高雅，分外潇洒、仿佛是一只盒子上的盖子，里面蒙着蝴蝶，他只是不愿惊动 它们似的。他说： “是阿区鲍尔特•尼科尔斯先生吧？” “不是的，我的孩子，”老先生说，“非常抱歉，你那个车夫把你骗了，尼科尔斯的家 在下面三英里地。请进，请进。”汤姆往身后望了一下，说，“太迟了些——他看不见了。” “是啊，他走啦，我的孩子，你务必进来，跟我们一起吃顿中饭，随后我们会套车把你 送到下边尼科尔斯家的。”“哦，我可不能太打搅你了。这不行。我能走——这点子路我不 在乎。” “不过我们不会让你走了去——这可不合乎我们南方人礼貌待客的规矩。请进吧。” “哦，请进吧，”萨莉阿姨说。“这对我们谈不到什么麻烦，一点儿也谈不到。你务必 请留下来。这三英里路不短，路上灰尘又多。我们决不能让你走得去。我已吩咐添一份菜盘 子啦。见你进来的时候就吩咐下去的，可别叫人失望了。请进来吧，就象在自己家里一样。” 汤姆便热情道谢了一番，接受了邀请，进了屋里。进来时说他自己是一个外乡人，是俄 亥俄州希克斯维尔的人。说他的名字叫威灵•汤普逊——一边说，一边又鞠了一躬。 是啊，他就滔滔不绝地如此这般地讲下去，讲到希克斯维尔以及每一个人的事，只要能 编到哪里就讲到那里，可我倒有些忐忑不安，不知道这些话能否帮我摆脱目前尴尬的处境。 到后来，他一边谈下去，一边把头伸过去，对准萨莉阿姨的嘴巴吻了一下，随后又在椅子上 舒舒服服地坐了下来，准备继续高谈阔论下去。可是萨莉阿姨却猛然跳将起来，用手背抹了 抹嘴巴说： “你这不要脸的狗崽子！” 他满脸委屈说： “真想不到您会这样，夫人。” “你真想不到——嘿，你把我看成什么人了？我真想好好——你说，你吻我，这是什么 意思？” 他仿佛很低声下气地说： “没有什么意思啊，夫人。我并无坏心眼。我——我—— 以为你会乐意我亲一下。” “什么，你这天生的傻瓜！”她拿起了纺纱棒，那模样仿佛她使劲克制自己这才没有给 他一家伙似的。“你怎么会认为我乐意你亲我？” “这我可不知道。不过，他们——他们——告诉我你会乐意的。” “他们告诉你我会乐意。谁告诉你，谁就是又一个疯子。 我从没有听到过这样的神经病。他们是谁？” “怎么啦——大家啊。他们全都这么说，夫人。” 她简直要忍不住了，眼睛里一闪一闪，手指头一动一动，仿佛恨不得要抓他。她说： “谁是‘大家’？你给我说出他们的名字来——要不然，世界上就会少一个白痴。” 他站起身来，仿佛很难受似的，笨手笨脚地摸着帽子，他说： “我非常抱歉。这不是我所料想到的。他们这样告诉我的。他们都是这么说的。他们都 说亲亲她，她会欢喜的。他们都这么说——一个个都这么说。不过我非常抱歉，夫人，下一 次不会了——我不会了，说真的。” “你不会了，你敢么？嘿，料你也不敢！” “不会了，说实话。决不再犯啦，除非你请我。”“除非我请你！我活了一辈子也没有 听说过这样神经病的话。我请你，你等着吧，等到你活成千年怪物——糊涂蛋—— 或者这么一类活宝，我也不会请你啊。” “唉，”他说，“我真没有想到，我实在弄不明白，他们说你会的。我呢，也认为你会 的。不过——”他说到这里，把话收住，朝四下里慢慢地扫了一眼，仿佛他但愿有什么人能 投以友好的眼色。他先是朝老先生看了一眼，并且说，“你是不是认为，她会欢迎我亲她， 先生？” “嗯，不，我——我——，啊，不。我看她不会。” 然后他还是照他那个老法子，朝四周张望，他朝我看了一眼——随后说： “汤姆，你难道认为萨莉姨妈不会张开双臂说‘西特•索亚’——” “我的天啊，”她一边打断了话头，一边朝他跳了过去，“你这个顽皮的小坏蛋，这么 糊弄人啊——”她正要拥抱他，可是他把她挡住了，并且说： “不，除非你先请我。” 她就一秒钟也不耽误地请了他。她搂住了他，亲他，亲了又亲，随后把他推给老人，他 就接着亲他。等大家稍稍定下神以后，她说： “啊，天啊，我可从没有料想到。我们根本没有指望着你会来，只指望着汤姆。姐信上 只说他会来，没有说到会有别的人。” “这是因为原来只打算汤姆一个人来，没有别的人。”他说。 “可是我求了又求，最后她才放我，从大河往下游来。我和汤姆商量了一下，认为由他 先到这个屋里，我呢，慢一步跟上来，装做一个陌生人撞错了门，这样好叫你们喜出望外。 不过，萨莉阿姨，我们可错了。陌生人上这儿来可不大保险哩。” “不，——只是对顽皮的小坏蛋不保险，西特。本该给你下巴颏一个巴掌呢。我已经不 知有多少年没有冒这么大的火啦。不过我才不在乎哩。什么条件我都不在乎——就是开一千 个玩笑我也愿意承受，只要你能来。试想一想刚才的情景真叫人好笑。我不否认，你刚才那 啧的一下，真是把我给惊呆啦。” 我们在屋子和厨房间宽敞的回廊上吃了中饭。桌子上东西可丰富啦，够六家人家吃的— —而且全都是热腾腾的，没有一道菜是那种松塌塌可又嚼不动，在潮湿的地窖的食厨里放了 一夜，明早上吃起来象冰凉的老牛肉似的。西拉斯姨夫在饭桌上做了一个很长的感恩祷告， 不过这倒是值得的，饭菜也并没有因此凉了，要热好多回才行。我曾多次遇到过这样的事。 整整一个下午，谈话谈得没完没了。我和汤姆呢，一直在留着一个心眼，可是无济于 事，没有人有一句讲到逃亡的黑奴的。我们呢，又不敢把话引到这上面去。不过到晚上吃晚 饭的时候，有一个小孩在说： “爸爸，汤姆、西特和我可以去看戏吧？” “不行，”老人说。“依我看，也演不起来了。就是有戏，你们也不能去。因为那个逃 亡黑奴已经把那个骗人的演戏这回事，原原本本给我和伯顿都说了。伯顿说，他要给大伙儿 公开这件事。所以啊，依我看，这时候，他们已经把两个混帐流氓给轰出这个镇子啦。” 原来如此！——而我却无能为力。汤姆和我要在一间房一张床上睡。这样，既然困了， 我们刚吃了晚饭，便道了声晚安，上楼去睡了。后来又爬出窗口，顺着电线杆滑下来，朝镇 上奔去，因为我料想，不会有谁给国王和公爵报信的。因此，要是我不能赶紧前去，给他们 报个信，他们就会出事无疑。 在路上，汤姆告诉了我，当初人家怎样以为我是被谋害了，我爸又是怎样在不久以后失 踪的，从此一去不回；杰姆逃走的时候又是怎样引起了震动的；一桩桩、一件件，原原本本 都讲了。我呢，对汤姆讲了有关两个流氓演出《王室异兽》的事以及在木筏上一路漂流等等 的全部经过。因为时间不多，只能讲到哪里就算哪里。我们到了镇上，直奔镇子的中心—— 那时是八点半钟——只见有一大群人象潮水般涌来，手执火把，一路吼啊，叫啊，使劲地敲 起白铁锅，吹起号角。我们跳到了一旁，让大伙儿过去。队伍走过时，只见国王和公爵给骑 在一根单杠上——其实，那只是我认为是国王和公爵，因为他们遍身给涂了漆，粘满了羽 毛，简直已经不成人形——乍一看，简直象两根军人戴的狰狞可怕的粗翎子。啊，看到这个 模样，真叫我恶心。这两个可怜的流氓，我也真为他们难过，仿佛从今以后，我再也对他们 恨不起来了。 这景象看起来真是怕人啊。人对人真能这么残酷啊。 我们知道我们已经来迟了——已经无能为力了。我们跟在旁边看热闹的人打听了一下。 他们说，大伙儿都去看演戏，仿佛若无其事似的。大家沉住气，不露一点儿风声。后来当那 个倒霉的老头国王在台上起劲地又蹦又跳的当儿，有人发出了一声信号，全场涌上前去，把 他们给逮住了。 我们慢慢吞吞地转回家，心里也不象原来那么乱糟糟的了，只是觉得有点儿心里有愧， 对不起人，——尽管我自己并没有做过什么对不住人的事。世上的事往往如此，不论你做得 对也罢，错也罢，根本无关紧要。一个人的良心反正不知好歹。要是我有一条黄狗，也象一 个人的良心那么个样子，分不清好歹，我便会把它毒死拉倒。一个人的良心占的地方比人的 五脏六肺还多，可就是一无可取之处。汤姆•索亚呢，他也是这么个说法。 Chapter 33 SO I started for town in the wagon, and when I was half-way I see a wagon coming, and sure enough it was Tom Sawyer, and I stopped and waited till he come along. I says "Hold on!" and it stopped alongside, and his mouth opened up like a trunk, and stayed so; and he swallowed two or three times like a person that's got a dry throat, and then says: "I hain't ever done you no harm. You know that. So, then, what you want to come back and ha'nt ME for?" I says: "I hain't come back -- I hain't been GONE." When he heard my voice it righted him up some, but he warn't quite satisfied yet. He says: "Don't you play nothing on me, because I wouldn't on you. Honest injun, you ain't a ghost?" "Honest injun, I ain't," I says. "Well -- I -- I -- well, that ought to settle it, of course; but I can't somehow seem to understand it no way. Looky here, warn't you ever murdered AT ALL?" "No. I warn't ever murdered at all -- I played it on them. You come in here and feel of me if you don't believe me." So he done it; and it satisfied him; and he was that glad to see me again he didn't know what to do. And he wanted to know all about it right off, because it was a grand adventure, and mysterious, and so it hit him where he lived. But I said, leave it alone till by and by; and told his driver to wait, and we drove off a little piece, and I told him the kind of a fix I was in, and what did he reckon we better do? He said, let him alone a minute, and don't disturb him. So he thought and thought, and pretty soon he says: "It's all right; I've got it. Take my trunk in your wagon, and let on it's your'n; and you turn back and fool along slow, so as to get to the house about the time you ought to; and I'll go towards town a piece, and take a fresh start, and get there a quarter or a half an hour after you; and you needn't let on to know me at first." I says: "All right; but wait a minute. There's one more thing -- a thing that NOBODY don't know but me. And that is, there's a nigger here that I'm a-trying to steal out of slavery, and his name is JIM -- old Miss Watson's Jim." He says: " What ! Why, Jim is --" He stopped and went to studying. I says: "I know what you'll say. You'll say it's dirty, lowdown business; but what if it is? I'm low down; and I'm a-going to steal him, and I want you keep mum and not let on. Will you?" His eye lit up, and he says: "I'll HELP you steal him!" Well, I let go all holts then, like I was shot. It was the most astonishing speech I ever heard -- and I'm bound to say Tom Sawyer fell considerable in my estimation. Only I couldn't believe it. Tom Sawyer a NIGGER-STEALER! "Oh, shucks!" I says; "you're joking." "I ain't joking, either." "Well, then," I says, "joking or no joking, if you hear anything said about a runaway nigger, don't forget to remember that YOU don't know nothing about him, and I don't know nothing about him." Then we took the trunk and put it in my wagon, and he drove off his way and I drove mine. But of course I forgot all about driving slow on accounts of being glad and full of thinking; so I got home a heap too quick for that length of a trip. The old gentleman was at the door, and he says: "Why, this is wonderful! Whoever would a thought it was in that mare to do it? I wish we'd a timed her. And she hain't sweated a hair -- not a hair. It's wonderful. Why, I wouldn't take a hundred dollars for that horse now -- I wouldn't, honest; and yet I'd a sold her for fifteen before, and thought 'twas all she was worth." That's all he said. He was the innocentest, best old soul I ever see. But it warn't surprising; because he warn't only just a farmer, he was a preacher, too, and had a little one-horse log church down back of the plantation, which he built it himself at his own expense, for a church and schoolhouse, and never charged nothing for his preaching, and it was worth it, too. There was plenty other farmer-preachers like that, and done the same way, down South. In about half an hour Tom's wagon drove up to the front stile, and Aunt Sally she see it through the window, because it was only about fifty yards, and says: "Why, there's somebody come! I wonder who 'tis? Why, I do believe it's a stranger. Jimmy " (that's one of the children)' "run and tell Lize to put on another plate for dinner." Everybody made a rush for the front door, because, of course, a stranger don't come EVERY year, and so he lays over the yaller-fever, for interest, when he does come. Tom was over the stile and starting for the house; the wagon was spinning up the road for the village, and we was all bunched in the front door. Tom had his store clothes on, and an audience -- and that was always nuts for Tom Sawyer. In them circumstances it warn't no trouble to him to throw in an amount of style that was suitable. He warn't a boy to meeky along up that yard like a sheep; no, he come ca'm and important, like the ram. When he got a-front of us he lifts his hat ever so gracious and dainty, like it was the lid of a box that had butterflies asleep in it and he didn't want to disturb them, and says: "Mr. Archibald Nichols, I presume?" "No, my boy," says the old gentleman, "I'm sorry to say 't your driver has deceived you; Nichols's place is down a matter of three mile more. Come in, come in." Tom he took a look back over his shoulder, and says, "Too late -- he's out of end eat your dinner with us; and then we'll hitch up and take you down to Nichols's." "Oh, I CAN'T make you so much trouble; I couldn't think of it. I'll walk -- I don't mind the distance." "But we won't LET you walk -- it wouldn't be Southern hospitality to do it. Come right in." "Oh, DO," says Aunt Sally; "it ain't a bit of trouble to us, not a bit in the world. You must stay. It's a long, dusty three mile, and we can't let you walk. And, besides, I've already told 'em to put on another plate when I see you coming; so you mustn't disappoint us. Come right in and make yourself at home." So Tom he thanked them very hearty and handsome, and let himself be persuaded, and come in; and when he was in he said he was a stranger from Hicksville, Ohio, and his name was William Thompson -- and he made another bow. Well, he run on, and on, and on, making up stuff about Hicksville and everybody in it he could invent, and I getting a little nervious, and wondering how this was going to help me out of my scrape; and at last, still talking along, he reached over and kissed Aunt Sally right on the mouth, and then settled back again in his chair comfortable, and was going on talking; but she jumped up and wiped it off with the back of her hand, and says: "You owdacious puppy!" He looked kind of hurt, and says: "I'm surprised at you, m'am." "You're s'rp -- Why, what do you reckon I am? I've a good notion to take and -- Say, what do you mean by kissing me?" He looked kind of humble, and says: "I didn't mean nothing, m'am. I didn't mean no harm. I -- I -- thought you'd like it." "Why, you born fool!" She took up the spinning stick, and it looked like it was all she could do to keep from giving him a crack with it. "What made you think I'd like it?" "Well, I don't know. Only, they -- they -- told me you would." "THEY told you I would. Whoever told you's ANOTHER lunatic. I never heard the beat of it. Who's THEY?" "Why, everybody. They all said so, m'am." It was all she could do to hold in; and her eyes snapped, and her fingers worked like she wanted to scratch him; and she says: "Who's 'everybody'? Out with their names, or ther'll be an idiot short." He got up and looked distressed, and fumbled his hat, and says: "I'm sorry, and I warn't expecting it. They told me to. They all told me to. They all said, kiss her; and said she'd like it. They all said it -- every one of them. But I'm sorry, m'am, and I won't do it no more -- I won't, honest." "You won't, won't you? Well, I sh'd RECKON you won't!" "No'm, I'm honest about it; I won't ever do it again -- till you ask me." "Till I ASK you! Well, I never see the beat of it in my born days! I lay you'll be the Methusalem-numskull of creation before ever I ask you -- or the likes of you." "Well," he says, "it does surprise me so. I can't make it out, somehow. They said you would, and I thought you would. But --" He stopped and looked around slow, like he wished he could run across a friendly eye somewheres, and fetched up on the old gentleman's, and says, "Didn't YOU think she'd like me to kiss her, sir?" "Why, no; I -- I -- well, no, I b'lieve I didn't." Then he looks on around the same way to me, and says: "Tom, didn't YOU think Aunt Sally 'd open out her arms and say, 'Sid Sawyer --'" "My land!" she says, breaking in and jumping for him, "you impudent young rascal, to fool a body so --" and was going to hug him, but he fended her off, and says: "No, not till you've asked me first." So she didn't lose no time, but asked him; and hugged him and kissed him over and over again, and then turned him over to the old man, and he took what was left. And after they got a little quiet again she says: "Why, dear me, I never see such a surprise. We warn't looking for YOU at all, but only Tom. Sis never wrote to me about anybody coming but him." "It's because it warn't INTENDED for any of us to come but Tom," he says; "but I begged and begged, and at the last minute she let me come, too; so, coming down the river, me and Tom thought it would be a first-rate surprise for him to come here to the house first, and for me to by and by tag along and drop in, and let on to be a stranger. But it was a mistake, Aunt Sally. This ain't no healthy place for a stranger to come." "No -- not impudent whelps, Sid. You ought to had your jaws boxed; I hain't been so put out since I don't know when. But I don't care, I don't mind the terms -- I'd be willing to stand a thousand such jokes to have you here. Well, to think of that performance! I don't deny it, I was most putrified with astonishment when you give me that smack." We had dinner out in that broad open passage betwixt the house and the kitchen; and there was things enough on that table for seven families -- and all hot, too; none of your flabby, tough meat that's laid in a cupboard in a damp cellar all night and tastes like a hunk of old cold cannibal in the morning. Uncle Silas he asked a pretty long blessing over it, but it was worth it; and it didn't cool it a bit, neither, the way I've seen them kind of interruptions do lots of times. There was a considerable good deal of talk all the afternoon, and me and Tom was on the lookout all the time; but it warn't no use, they didn't happen to say nothing about any runaway nigger, and we was afraid to try to work up to it. But at supper, at night, one of the little boys says: "Pa, mayn't Tom and Sid and me go to the show?" "No," says the old man, "I reckon there ain't going to be any; and you couldn't go if there was; because the runaway nigger told Burton and me all about that scandalous show, and Burton said he would tell the people; so I reckon they've drove the owdacious loafers out of town before this time." So there it was! -- but I couldn't help it. Tom and me was to sleep in the same room and bed; so, being tired, we bid good-night and went up to bed right after supper, and clumb out of the window and down the lightning-rod, and shoved for the town; for I didn't believe anybody was going to give the king and the duke a hint, and so if I didn't hurry up and give them one they'd get into trouble sure. On the road Tom he told me all about how it was reckoned I was murdered, and how pap disappeared pretty soon, and didn't come back no more, and what a stir there was when Jim run away; and I told Tom all about our Royal Nonesuch rapscallions, and as much of the raft voyage as I had time to; and as we struck into the town and up through the -- here comes a raging rush of people with torches, and an awful whooping and yelling, and banging tin pans and blowing horns; and we jumped to one side to let them go by; and as they went by I see they had the king and the duke astraddle of a rail -- that is, I knowed it WAS the king and the duke, though they was all over tar and feathers, and didn't look like nothing in the world that was human -- just looked like a couple of monstrous big soldier-plumes. Well, it made me sick to see it; and I was sorry for them poor pitiful rascals, it seemed like I couldn't ever feel any hardness against them any more in the world. It was a dreadful thing to see. Human beings CAN be awful cruel to one another. We see we was too late -- couldn't do no good. We asked some stragglers about it, and they said everybody went to the show looking very innocent; and laid low and kept dark till the poor old king was in the middle of his cavortings on the stage; then somebody give a signal, and the house rose up and went for them. So we poked along back home, and I warn't feeling so brash as I was before, but kind of ornery, and humble, and to blame, somehow -- though I hadn't done nothing. But that's always the way; it don't make no difference whether you do right or wrong, a person's conscience ain't got no sense, and just goes for him anyway. If I had a yaller dog that didn't know no more than a person's conscience does I would pison him. It takes up more room than all the rest of a person's insides, and yet ain't no good, nohow. Tom Sawyer he says the same. |
第三十二章 我到了那里，但见四下里静悄悄的，象在过星期天的样子。天气又热，阳光热辣辣的— —干活的人都到田里去了。空中隐隐约约响起了虫子或者飞蝇的嗡嗡声，格外叫人感到沉 闷，仿佛这儿的人都已离去或者死光了。偶尔一阵微风吹过，树叶簌簌作响，使人分外伤 感，因为你仿佛感到是精灵在低诉——那些死了多年的精灵——你并且觉得他们正在谈论着 你。总之，这一切叫人滋生着一种愿望，觉得自己生不如死，可以一了百了①。 ①诺顿版注：作品中这样的情绪也见于十一年以后出版的《侦探汤姆•索亚》的全 书开头一段，用词也类似。 费尔贝斯家是那类巴掌大的产棉小农庄，这类小农庄到处都差不多一个样子①。两亩地 一个场院，围着一个栅栏。有一排梯磴，是用锯断的圆木搭成的，好象高矮不等的木桶似 的，从这儿可以跨过栅栏，妇女们可以站在上面，再跳上马去。在大些的场院里，还有些枯 黄的草皮，不过大多数场院里地面光光滑滑的，活象一顶磨光的绒毛旧帽子。给白种人住的 是一座二合一的大房子——全是用砍好了的圆木搭成的。圆木缝隙里，都用泥或者灰浆堵上 了，这些一条条形状的泥浆，后来或先或后给刷白了。用圆圆的原木搭成的厨房，边上有一 条宽敞、上有顶、下无墙的回廊，和那座房子连接起来。在厨房后边有一座圆木搭成的熏肉 房。熏肉房的另一侧，有一排三间圆木搭成的小间，是给黑奴住的。离这里稍远，靠后边的 栅栏，有一间小小的木屋。在另一侧，有九间小屋。小屋旁边，放着一个滤灰桶，还有一把 大壶，是熬肥皂的。厨房门口有一条长凳，上面放着一桶水和一只瓢。一只狗在那里躺着晒 太阳。有更多的狗分散在各处睡大觉。在一个角落，有三棵遮阴大树。栅栏旁边，有一处是 醋栗树丛。栅栏外面是一座花园和西瓜地，再过去就是棉花田了。从棉花田再往前去，便是 树林子了。 ①这里的农庄很象马克•吐温的叔叔约翰•奎尔斯在汉尼拔附近的农庄。马克•吐 温童年时常去那里。 我绕到了后面，踩着碱桶旁边的后梯磴，朝厨房走去。我走近了一点儿，就隐约听到纺 纱车转动的声音，象在呜呜地哭泣，一忽儿高，一忽儿低。听了这种声音啊，我当时心里但 愿我死了的好——因为这是普天之下最凄婉不过的声音了。 我只管往前走，心里也并没有什么确切的打算。一旦那个时刻来到，就听凭上帝安排 吧。要我这张嘴巴说些什么，我就说些什么。因为我已经体会到，只要我能听其自然，上帝 总会叫我的嘴巴说出合适的话。 我走到半路，先有一只狗，然后另一只狗站起身，朝我扑来。自然，我就停了下来，对 着它们，一动也不动。于是狗又汪汪汪乱叫一通。一时间，我仿佛成了一个车轮子的轴心， ——一群狗——一共十五只之多，把我团团围在当中，对着我伸着脖子、鼻子，乱叫乱嗥。 又另有些狗往这边窜过来，只见它们纷纷跳过栅栏，从四面八方绕过拐角窜出来。 一个女黑奴从厨房飞快地奔出来，手里拿着一根擀面棍，使劲喊道，“小虎，你给我滚 开！小花，你给我滚开！”她给了这个一棍，又给另一个一下子，把它们赶得一边汪汪汪直 叫，一边逃跑，其它的也就跟着逃跑。一会儿以后，有一半的狗又窜了回来，围着我摇尾 巴，又友好起来。狗毕竟对人是无害的。 在女黑奴后边有一个黑女孩和另外两个黑男孩，身上只穿了粗夏布衬衫，此外什么都没 有穿。他们拽住了妈妈的衣衫，害羞地躲在她身后，偷偷地朝我张望。黑孩子一般总是这个 样子的。这时只见屋子里走出来一位白种妇女，年纪在四十五到五十左右，头上没有戴女 帽，手里拿着纺纱棒，在她身后是她的几个孩子，那动作、神情跟黑孩子一个样。她正笑逐 颜开，高兴得几乎连站也站不稳了似的——她说： “啊，你终于到啦！——不是么？” 我连想都来不及想，便应了声“是的，太太。” 她一把抓住了我，紧紧地抱住了我，随后紧紧地握住我两只手，摇了又摇，眼泪夺眶而 出，泪流满面，抱着我，握住我，没有个够，不停地说“你长得可不象你妈，跟我料想的不 一样。不过嘛，我的天啊，这没有什么。能见到你，我是多么高兴啊。亲爱的，亲爱的，我 真想把你一口吞下去！孩子们，这是你姨表兄汤姆——跟他说一声‘你好’。 可是他们急忙低下头，把手指头含在嘴里，躲在她身子后面。她又接着说下去： “莉莎，快，马上给他做一顿热腾腾的早饭吃，——也许你在船上吃过了吧？” 我说在船上吃过了。她就往屋子走去，握住了我的手，领着我进去，孩子们跟在后面。 一进屋，她把我按在一张藤条编成的椅子上，自己坐在我对面的一张矮凳子上，握住了我的 两只手说： “现在让我好好看看你，我的天啊，这么久的年月里，我多么盼着你啊，如今总算盼来 啦！我们等着你来到，已经有好多天啦。再说，是什么事把你绊住——是轮船搁了浅？” “是，太太——船——” “别说，是的，太太——就叫我萨莉阿姨。船在哪里搁的浅？” 我不知道怎么说的好，因为我根本不知道船是上水到的还是下水到的。不过我全凭直觉 说话。我的直觉在告诉我，船是上水开到的，——是从下游奥尔良一带开来的。不过，这也 帮不了我多大的忙，因为我不知道那一带的浅滩叫什么名字。我看我得发明一个浅滩的名字 才行，再不然就说把搁浅的地方的名字给忘了——再不然——这时我想到了一个念头，于是 脱口说了出来： “倒不是因为搁浅——这不过耽误了我们不一会儿的时间。我们船上一只汽缸盖炸了。” “天啊，伤了什么人么？” “没有，死了一个黑奴。”① ①评论家认为，这一句话真切地表明了，在蓄奴州里，在白人眼里，轮船出事，死 了一个黑奴，还是可说“没有伤人”。 “啊，这真是好运气。有的时候会伤人的。两年前，圣诞节，你姨父西拉斯搭乘拉 里•罗克号轮船从新奥尔良上来，一只汽缸盖爆炸，炸伤了一个男子。我看啊，他后来就死 了。他是个浸礼会教徒。你的姨父西拉斯认识在巴顿•罗格的一家人，他们对他那一家人很 熟悉。是啊，我记起来了，他如今确实死了。伤口烂了，长大疮，医生不得不给他截肢。不 过这没能救他的命。是的，是因为伤口烂了——是这么个原因。他全身发青，临死还盼望光 荣复活。人家说，他那个样子惨不忍睹。你的姨夫啊，他每天到镇上去接你的。他这会儿又 去了，去了不过个把钟点，现在就快回来了。你一定在路上遇见过他的，不是么？——一个 上了岁数的人，带着——” “没有啊，我没有遇见什么人啊，萨莉阿姨。船到的时候天刚亮。我把行李放在码头的 小船上，到镇上四周和乡下溜达了一番，好打发时间，免得到这里来时间太早，所以我是打 后街绕过来的。” “你把行李交给哪一个啦？” “没有交给哪一个啊。” “怎么啦，孩子，不是会被偷么？” “不，我藏在了一处地方，我看不会被偷走的。” “你怎么这样早就在船上吃了早饭？” 这下子可要露馅啦。不过我说： “船长见我站着，对我说，上岸以前最好吃些东西。这样，他就把我带到船顶上职员饭 厅上去，把我要吃的都弄了来。” 我心神不定，连听人家说话也听不大清楚。我心里老是在孩子们身上打主意。我打算把 他们带到一边去，套些话出来，好弄清楚我究竟是谁。可是我总是不得手。费尔贝斯太太不 停地说话，滔滔不绝。没有多久，她叫我顺着脊梁骨直冒凉气。 “不过我们在这儿说了半天，你可还没有跟我说起有关我姐姐，或是他们中任何哪一个 人的一个字啊。现在我要把我的话头收住，由你来说。要把所有的事，一桩桩、一件件都告 诉我——所有的事全对我说一说。他们的情况怎样啦，如今在干些什么啦，他们又要你对我 说些什么啦，凡是你能想到的，都说给我听。” 啊，我心里明白，这下子可把我难住了——毫无退路。到目前为止，老天爷帮忙，一切 顺顺当当，不过如今可搁了浅，动弹不得啦。我看得清楚，企图往前闯，那是办不到了，— —我只能举起双手投降了。我因此对自个儿说，这是又一次走上了非说实话不可的绝路啦。 我刚想张嘴说话，可是她一把抓住了我，推到了床的背后。她说： “他来啦！把你的脑袋低下去——好，这样行了，人家看不见你了。别露出一点儿风声 说你已经来了。让我开他一个玩笑。孩子们，可不许你们说一个字啊。” 我知道我如今是进退两难啦。不过也不用瞎操什么心嘛。除了一声不响，你也无事可做 嘛。等待雷电轰顶以后，再从下面钻将出来嘛。 老先生进来时，我只能瞥了一眼，随后床把他挡住了。费尔贝斯太太呢，她跳过去问他： “他来了么？” “没有啊。”她丈夫说。 “天啊，”她说，“他会出了什么事么？” “我也想不出来，”老先生说，“我得承认，这叫我心里非常不安。” “不安！”她说，“我都快发疯了。他一定是已经到了。你一定是路上把他给错过了。 我知道一定是这样的——我推算得出来。” “怎么啦？萨莉。我不可能在路上错过他的——这你也明白。” “不过，啊，天啊，天啊，我姐会怎么说啊！他准定已经到啦！你准是把他错过了。他 ——” “哦，别再叫我难受啦。我已经难受得够啦。我真不知道该怎么办才好。我实在不知所 措啦。我不能不承认，我已经吓得不知道怎样才好。他不可能已经到了，因为他到了，我却 错过了他，这是根本不可能的事嘛。萨莉，这可怕——简直可怕——轮船出了什么事，肯定 是的。” “啊，西拉斯！往那边看一眼——往大路上看！——看是不是有人正在走来？” 他一跳，跳到床头窗口，这就给了费尔贝斯太太一个再好不过的机会。她赶紧弯下身 子，一把拉住了我，我就出来了。当他从窗口转过身来，她就站在那里，红光满面，满脸笑 容，仿佛房子着了火似的。而我呢，温温顺顺的，急汗直冒，站在她的身旁。老先生呆住 了，说： “啊，这是哪一个啊？” “你看是哪一个？” “我可猜不出。是哪一个啊？” “这是汤姆•索亚啊！” 天啊，我差点儿没栽到地板底下去。不过这时已不由人分说，老人一把抓住了我的手握 个不停，在这同时，他的老伴呢，正手舞足蹈，又哭又笑。随后他们两人连珠炮似地问到茜 特和玛丽以及那家子其余的人来。 不过要说高兴的话，恐怕没有人能比我更高兴的了，因为我几乎象重投了一次娘胎，终 于弄清楚了我原来是谁。啊，他们对我问这问那，一连问了两个钟头，最后我的下巴颏也说 累了，连话也说不下去了。我讲给他们听有关我家——我是说汤姆•索亚家——的种种情 况，比起实际的情况多出六倍还不止。我还讲了，我们的船怎样到了白河口，汽缸盖炸了， 又怎样花了三天时间才修好。这样的解释不会有什么问题，而且效果也是头等的，因为为什 么要三天才修好，他们一窍不通。要是你说是一只螺丝帽炸飞了，他们也照样会相信。 现今我一方面觉得挺舒坦，另一方面又觉得挺不舒坦。作为汤姆•索亚，我是挺自在、 挺舒坦的，而且始终这样自在、舒坦，直到后来我听到了一只轮船沿着河上开来时发出的气 喘声——这时我对自个儿说，万一汤姆•索亚搭了这条轮船来了呢？——万一他突然走进 来，在我给他递去一个眼色，示意他别声张以前，就喊出了我的名字呢？啊，决不能让这样 的情况发生——这样就糟啦。我必须到路上去截住他。我便告诉他们，我得到镇上去，把行 李取来。老先生本想跟我一起去，不过我说不，我自己可以骑马去，不用给他添麻烦了。 Chapter 32 WHEN I got there it was all still and Sunday-like, and hot and sunshiny; the hands was gone to the fields; and there was them kind of faint dronings of bugs and flies in the air that makes it seem so lonesome and like everybody's dead and gone; and if a breeze fans along and quivers the leaves it makes you feel mournful, because you feel like it's spirits whispering -- spirits that's been dead ever so many years -- and you always think they're talking about YOU. As a general thing it makes a body wish HE was dead, too, and done with it all. Phelps' was one of these little one-horse cotton plantations, and they all look alike. A rail fence round a two-acre yard; a stile made out of logs sawed off and up-ended in steps, like barrels of a different length, to climb over the fence with, and for the women to stand on when they are going to jump on to a horse; some sickly grass-patches in the big yard, but mostly it was bare and smooth, like an old hat with the nap rubbed off; big double log-house for the white folks -- hewed logs, with the chinks stopped up with mud or mortar, and these mud-stripes been whitewashed some time or another; round-log kitchen, with a big broad, open but roofed passage joining it to the house; log smokehouse back of the kitchen; three little log nigger-cabins in a row t'other side the smoke-house; one little hut all by itself away down against the back fence, and some outbuildings down a piece the other side; ashhopper and big kettle to bile soap in by the little hut; bench by the kitchen door, with bucket of water and a gourd; hound asleep there in the sun; more hounds asleep round about; about three shade trees away off in a corner; some currant bushes and gooseberry bushes in one place by the fence; outside of the fence a garden and a watermelon patch; then the cotton fields begins, and after the fields the woods. I went around and clumb over the back stile by the ash-hopper, and started for the kitchen. When I got a little ways I heard the dim hum of a spinning-wheel wailing along up and sinking along down again; and then I knowed for certain I wished I was dead -- for that IS the lonesomest sound in the whole world. I went right along, not fixing up any particular plan, but just trusting to Providence to put the right words in my mouth when the time come; for I'd noticed that Providence always did put the right words in my mouth if I left it alone. When I got half-way, first one hound and then another got up and went for me, and of course I stopped and faced them, and kept still. And such another powwow as they made! In a quarter of a minute I was a kind of a hub of a wheel, as you may say -- spokes made out of dogs -- circle of fifteen of them packed together around me, with their necks and noses stretched up towards me, a-barking and howling; and more a-coming; you could see them sailing over fences and around corners from everywheres. A nigger woman come tearing out of the kitchen with a rolling-pin in her hand, singing out, "Begone YOU Tige! you Spot! begone sah!" and she fetched first one and then another of them a clip and sent them howling, and then the rest followed; and the next second half of them come back, wagging their tails around me, and making friends with me. There ain't no harm in a hound, nohow. And behind the woman comes a little nigger girl and two little nigger boys without anything on but tow-linen shirts, and they hung on to their mother's gown, and peeped out from behind her at me, bashful, the way they always do. And here comes the white woman running from the house, about forty-five or fifty year old, bareheaded, and her spinning-stick in her hand; and behind her comes her little white children, acting the same way the little niggers was going. She was smiling all over so she could hardly stand -- and says: "It's YOU, at last! -- AIN'T it?" I out with a "Yes'm" before I thought. She grabbed me and hugged me tight; and then gripped me by both hands and shook and shook; and the tears come in her eyes, and run down over; and she couldn't seem to hug and shake enough, and kept saying, "You don't look as much like your mother as I reckoned you would; but law sakes, I don't care for that, I'm so glad to see you! Dear, dear, it does seem like I could eat you up! Children, it's your cousin Tom! -- tell him howdy." But they ducked their heads, and put their fingers in their mouths, and hid behind her. So she run on: "Lize, hurry up and get him a hot breakfast right away -- or did you get your breakfast on the boat?" I said I had got it on the boat. So then she started for the house, leading me by the hand, and the children tagging after. When we got there she set me down in a split-bottomed chair, and set herself down on a little low stool in front of me, holding both of my hands, and says: "Now I can have a GOOD look at you; and, laws-ame, I've been hungry for it a many and a many a time, all these long years, and it's come at last! We been expecting you a couple of days and more. What kep' you? -- boat get aground?" "Yes'm -- she --" "Don't say yes'm -- say Aunt Sally. Where'd she get aground?" I didn't rightly know what to say, because I didn't know whether the boat would be coming up the river or down. But I go a good deal on instinct; and my instinct said she would be coming up -- from down towards Orleans. That didn't help me much, though; for I didn't know the names of bars down that way. I see I'd got to invent a bar, or forget the name of the one we got aground on -- or -- Now I struck an idea, and fetched it out: "It warn't the grounding -- that didn't keep us back but a little. We blowed out a cylinder-head." "Good gracious! anybody hurt?" "No'm. Killed a nigger." "Well, it's lucky; because sometimes people do get hurt. Two years ago last Christmas your uncle Silas was coming up from Newrleans on the old Lally Rook, and she blowed out a cylinder-head and crippled a man. And I think he died afterwards. He was a Baptist. Your uncle Silas knowed a family in Baton Rouge that knowed his people very well. Yes, I remember now, he DID die. Mortification set in, and they had to amputate him. But it didn't save him. Yes, it was mortification -- that was it. He turned blue all over, and died in the hope of a glorious resurrection. They say he was a sight to look at. Your uncle's been up to the town every day to fetch you. And he's gone again, not more'n an hour ago; he'll be back any minute now. You must a met him on the road, didn't you? -- oldish man, with a --" "No, I didn't see nobody, Aunt Sally. The boat landed just at daylight, and I left my baggage on the wharf-boat and went looking around the town and out a piece in the country, to put in the time and not get here too soon; and so I come down the back way." "Who'd you give the baggage to?" "Nobody." "Why, child, it 'll be stole!" "Not where I hid it I reckon it won't," I says. "How'd you get your breakfast so early on the boat?" It was kinder thin ice, but I says: "The captain see me standing around, and told me I better have something to eat before I went ashore; so he took me in the texas to the officers' lunch, and give me all I wanted." I was getting so uneasy I couldn't listen good. I had my mind on the children all the time; I wanted to get them out to one side and pump them a little, and find out who I was. But I couldn't get no show, Mrs. Phelps kept it up and run on so. Pretty soon she made the cold chills streak all down my back, because she says: "But here we're a-running on this way, and you hain't told me a word about Sis, nor any of them. Now I'll rest my works a little, and you start up yourn; just tell me EVERYTHING -- tell me all about 'm all every one of 'm; and how they are, and what they're doing, and what they told you to tell me; and every last thing you can think of." Well, I see I was up a stump -- and up it good. Providence had stood by me this fur all right, but I was hard and tight aground now. I see it warn't a bit of use to try to go ahead -- I'd got to throw up my hand. So I says to myself, here's another place where I got to resk the truth. I opened my mouth to begin; but she grabbed me and hustled me in behind the bed, and says: "Here he comes! Stick your head down lower -- there, that'll do; you can't be seen now. Don't you let on you're here. I'll play a joke on him. Children, don't you say a word." I see I was in a fix now. But it warn't no use to worry; there warn't nothing to do but just hold still, and try and be ready to stand from under when the lightning struck. I had just one little glimpse of the old gentleman when he come in; then the bed hid him. Mrs. Phelps she jumps for him, and says: "Has he come?" "No," says her husband. "Good-NESS gracious!" she says, "what in the warld can have become of him?" "I can't imagine," says the old gentleman; "and I must say it makes me dreadful uneasy." "Uneasy!" she says; "I'm ready to go distracted! He MUST a come; and you've missed him along the road. I KNOW it's so -- something tells me so." "Why, Sally, I COULDN'T miss him along the road -- YOU know that." "But oh, dear, dear, what WILL Sis say! He must a come! You must a missed him. He --" "Oh, don't distress me any more'n I'm already distressed. I don't know what in the world to make of it. I'm at my wit's end, and I don't mind acknowledging 't I'm right down scared. But there's no hope that he's come; for he COULDN'T come and me miss him. Sally, it's terrible -- just terrible -- something's happened to the boat, sure!" "Why, Silas! Look yonder! -- up the road! -- ain't that somebody coming?" He sprung to the window at the head of the bed, and that give Mrs. Phelps the chance she wanted. She stooped down quick at the foot of the bed and give me a pull, and out I come; and when he turned back from the window there she stood, a-beaming and a-smiling like a house afire, and I standing pretty meek and sweaty alongside. The old gentleman stared, and says: "Why, who's that?" "Who do you reckon 't is?" "I hain't no idea. Who IS it?" "It's TOM SAWYER!" By jings, I most slumped through the floor! But there warn't no time to swap knives; the old man grabbed me by the hand and shook, and kept on shaking; and all the time how the woman did dance around and laugh and cry; and then how they both did fire off questions about Sid, and Mary, and the rest of the tribe. But if they was joyful, it warn't nothing to what I was; for it was like being born again, I was so glad to find out who I was. Well, they froze to me for two hours; and at last, when my chin was so tired it couldn't hardly go any more, I had told them more about my family -- I mean the Sawyer family -- than ever happened to any six Sawyer families. And I explained all about how we blowed out a cylinder-head at the mouth of White River, and it took us three days to fix it. Which was all right, and worked first-rate; because THEY didn't know but what it would take three days to fix it. If I'd a called it a bolthead it would a done just as well. Now I was feeling pretty comfortable all down one side, and pretty uncomfortable all up the other. Being Tom Sawyer was easy and comfortable, and it stayed easy and comfortable till by and by I hear a steamboat coughing along down the river. Then I says to myself, s'pose Tom Sawyer comes down on that boat? And s'pose he steps in here any minute, and sings out my name before I can throw him a wink to keep quiet? Well, I couldn't HAVE it that way; it wouldn't do at all. I must go up the road and waylay him. So I told the folks I reckoned I would go up to the town and fetch down my baggage. The old gentleman was for going along with me, but I said no, I could drive the horse myself, and I druther he wouldn't take no trouble about me. |
第三十一章 从这以后，我们没有在任何哪一个镇上停留过。一天又一天，一直往大河的下游漂去。 如今我们到了气候暖和的南方了，离家已经很远很远了。我们逐渐见到了生着长长藓苔的树 木，藓苔从树桠上垂下来，仿佛象长长的白胡子似的。我平生第一回见到这样生长的树木， 这样，树林子就带上了庄严、惨淡的色彩。这两个骗子以为他们如今已经摆脱了危险，又想 到了要到村子里去表现一番了。 他们的第一下子就是搞了一次戒酒演讲。不过他们从中捞到的钱还不够他们醉一回的。 随后在另一个村落，他们办了一所跳舞学校，不过他们对舞蹈的知识并不比一只袋鼠更高 明。他们刚开始练舞步，公众便跳将进来，把他们轰出了镇子。还有一回，他们想教朗诵， 不过他们教了没有多久，听众便起来把他们痛骂了一顿，他们只好逃之夭夭。他们也曾干过 传教、讲道、治病、催眠、算命，样样都干了一下，可就是命运不济。所以最后不得不快要 穷死了，整天躺在木筏子上。木筏子一路往下漂去，他们一路想啊，想啊，有时候整整半 天，不则一声，神情暗淡而绝望。 临了他们起了某种变化，两个家伙把脑袋凑在一起，在窝棚里交头接耳、谈机密的话， 有时一谈就是两三个钟头。杰姆和我开始不安起来。这样的一种光景，可不是我们所喜欢 的。我们断定，他们这是正在策划什么比往常更加恶毒的主意。我们猜来猜去，最后我们断 定他们是想闯进什么一个人家的家里，或者哪一家店铺里，或是想搞伪钞的生意经，或是别 的什么玩意儿。所以我们吓得不轻，我们商定了，走遍天下，也决不跟这样的胡作非为沾上 一点点儿的边。并且讲定，只要一有机会，我们就会给他们一个冷不防，马上溜开，把他们 甩掉。一天清早，我们在离一个又小又破，叫做比克斯维尔的村落两英里路的地方，找到了 隐藏木筏的安全去处。国王上了岸。临走时说，他到镇上去，去到处嗅嗅情况，看有没有人 得到过《王室异兽》的风声。还招呼我们在他走后躲起来，（我这时对自个儿说，“你是 说，去看有哪家人家好下手去抢吧。等到一抢完，你们转回来的那个时刻，可就不知道我和 杰姆、还有那木筏子哪里去啦——到那时候，你就只好干瞪眼，无计可施啦。”）他还说， 要是中午时分他还没有回来，那我和公爵就该知道，那就是一切平安无事，我们就可以前去 会合了。 于是我们便在木筏上等着。公爵焦躁不安，脾气不好。他动不动就责怪我们，仿佛我们 一无是处，连一点点儿小事都要找岔儿。事情很明显，他们正在酝酿着什么玩意儿。到了中 午，还不见国王的影子，这叫我挺高兴的。我们的生活好歹能有点儿变化嘛。——也许是有 个机会搞点儿盼望着的变化吧。于是我和公爵往村子里去，四处寻觅国王的踪迹。后来在一 家下等酒馆的后边房间里找到了他。他已经喝得醉醺醺，一些游手好闲之徒正在拿他开玩 笑。他呢，正使劲一边骂人，一边唬人，醉得路也走不成，对人家更无还手之力。公爵呢， 就骂他是个老傻瓜，国王也马上还嘴，乘他们闹得不可开交的时刻，我便溜出了酒馆，撒开 腿就跑，活象一只小鹿沿着河边大路往前飞奔——因为我看到机会来啦，我下定了决心，从 此以后，他们要是想再见到我和杰姆，那就不知道是何年何月啦。我奔到了那里，几乎连气 都喘不应，可是心里是满心高兴的。我大声地叫： “放开木筏，杰姆，我们这回可好啦！” 可是没有人应声。窝棚里也并没有人钻出来。杰姆已经不在啦！我再一次大叫一声—— 又叫——再叫，又奔到林子里，一边使劲吆喝，一边尖声叫唤，可是一无用处，——老杰姆 已经不在啦。于是我坐了下来，一边哭喊。这是我由不得自己的。不过我不能老是坐等啊。 我立刻走到了大路上，一边思量该怎么办才好。我遇见一个男孩正在路上走，我问他有没有 见到一个外地来的黑奴，穿着得是如何如何的。他说： “见到的。” “在哪里？”我问。 “在下面西拉斯•费尔贝斯那边，离这里两英里地。他是个逃亡的黑奴，人家把他给逮 住啦。你是要找他么？” “我才不是要寻找他呢！我是在一两个钟头以前在林子里遇见他的。他说，要是我叫喊 起来，他就开我的膛——还叫我躺着别动，耽在原地，我就照着他的话做。就这样，一直耽 在那一边，不敢出来。” “啊，”他说，“你不用再害怕啦，因为人家已经把他逮住了。他是从下边南方什么地 方逃出来的。” “人家把他逮住，这可是一笔好买卖啊。” “是啊，我看是这样！人家出两百元大洋的悬赏呢。这正是如同在大路上捡到的一笔钱 啊。” “是啊，真是这么一回事——我要是大人的话，这笔钱就归我的了，我是第一个看到他 的呢。到底是谁把他抓住的？” “是一个老家伙——一个外乡人——他才只要了四十块钱，就把得悬赏的机会卖给了人 家，说是因为他有事非得往上游去不可，不能多等了。你想想看吧！要是我的话，等七年我 也干啊。” “我也是这样，一点儿也不差，”我说。“不过，既然他以这么便宜的价钱便卖掉了， 可见他的这个机会也许不过值这个价罢了。也许其中有点儿什么曲折吧。” “可是这是实情——事情一清二楚。我亲眼看到了那张传单。传单上把他的所有情况都 说得详详细细——把他描绘得简直象给他画了一幅画，还讲了他是从哪一家庄园逃出来的， 是在新良斯①下游那边的。不，错不了，这笔投机买卖不会出差错，不用担心。喂，给我一 口烟叶子嚼嚼，行不行？” ①密西西比河入海处的大城市，也是拍卖黑奴的中心。 我没有，他也就走开了。我走到了木筏上，在窝棚里坐着前思后想起来。可是? 出个道道来。想得头也发疼了，可就是找不到摆脱困境的路子。经过了这么一段长途跋涉中 的种种辛苦，在这一段时间里，我们又如此这般地为这两个流氓尽心尽力，却落得个白白辛 苦了一场，什么样的打算都砸了锅，全都给毁了。这全只是因为这些人心肠这么狠，竟然使 出了这样的狡计，叫他又一次成为了终身的黑奴，并且是在他乡异地。而一切就只是为了四 十块大洋。 我曾经心里想，杰姆要是注定做奴隶的话，在家乡做要比在外地强一千倍。在家乡，他 有家啊。为此，我曾经想，不妨由我写封信给汤姆•索亚，要他把杰姆目前的情况告诉华珍 小姐。不过我很快就放弃了这个念头。原因有两个。她准定会发火，又气又恨，认为他不该 如此忘恩负义，竟然从她那儿逃跑。这样，她会干脆把他卖掉，再一次把他卖到下游去。如 果她不是这么干，大伙儿自然会一个个都瞧不起忘恩负义的黑奴，他们势必会叫杰姆时时刻 刻意识到这一点，搞得他狼狈不堪、无地自容。并且再想想我自己吧！很快便会传开这么一 个说法，说哈克•芬出力帮助一个黑奴重获自由。这样，要是我再见到这个镇子上的随便哪 一个人，我肯定会羞愧得无地自容，愿意趴在地下求饶。一般的情况往往是这样的嘛。一个 人一旦做了什么下流的勾当，可是又并不想承担什么责任，自以为只要把事情遮盖起来，这 多么丢人现眼啊。这恰恰正是我的情况。我越是想到这件事，我的良心越是受到折磨，我也 就越是觉得自己邪恶、下流、不出息。到后来，我突然之间猛然醒悟了，认识到这明明是上 帝的手在打我的耳光，让我明白，我的种种邪恶，始终逃不开在上天的眼睛。一个可怜的老 妇人平生从没有损害过我一根毫毛，我却把她的黑奴拐跑，为了这个，上帝正指引着我，让 我明白什么都逃不过“他”那高悬的明镜，“他”决不允许这类不幸的事再发展下去，只能 到此为止。一想到这一些，我差一点儿就立刻跌倒在地，我委实吓得不得了啦。于是我就想 方设法，试图为自己开脱。我对自个儿说：我从小就是在邪恶的环境中长大的，因此不能过 于怪罪我啊。不过，在我的心里，还有另一个声音在不停地说，“还有主日学校哩。你本该 到那儿去啊。要是你早去的话，他们会在那儿教导你的嘛，教导你说，谁要象我那样为了黑 奴所干的这一切，是要下地狱受到永恒的烈火的熬煎的。” 我全身簌簌发抖。我正要立意跪下祈祷，但愿能与过去那个孩子的所作所为一刀两断， 重做一个新人。于是我双膝跪下。可是啊，偏偏话到了口边却说不出来。为了什么，话出不 了口啊？企图瞒过“他”，那是做不到的嘛。要瞒过我，那也是做不到的嘛。我深深地明 白，为什么那些话说不出口来。这是因为我的这颗心还不正啊；因为这颗心还有私心啊。这 全因为我在玩两面倒的把戏啊。我一面装做要改邪归正，可是在私下里，在心底里，我却黏 住了其中最最大的邪恶不放。我试图叫我的嘴巴说什么我要干正正当当的事，干干净净的 事，还打算给这个黑奴的主人去信，告诉她他如今在那里。可是在我心底深处，我知道那是 在撒谎——而上帝也知道。你可不能对上帝撒谎啊——这个道理，我如今算是弄明白啦。 我因此就心里乱糟糟，可说乱到了极点，不知道该怎么办才好。到后来，我产生了一个 念头，我对自个儿说，我要把信写出来——然后再看我到时候能不能祈祷。啊，这有多怪 啊，我这么一想，就仿佛立时立刻自己身轻得如一片羽毛，我的种种烦恼都一扫而光。于是 我找来了纸和笔，既高兴，又激动，坐下写了起来： 华珍小姐，你在逃黑奴杰姆现正在比克斯维尔下游英两里地被费尔贝斯先生逮住了，你 如把悬赏金额给他，他会把他交还给你。 哈克•芬 我觉得挺痛快，觉得已经把罪恶洗涤得一干二净，这是我平生第一回有这样的感觉。我 知道，如今我能祈祷啦。不过我并没有马上就祈祷，而是把纸放好，坐在那里思前想后—— 想到了这种种的一切终于能成如今这个样子，这有多么值得高兴啊，而我又怎样差点儿迷失 路途，掉进地狱。我又继续地想。想到了我们往大河下游漂去的情景。我见到杰姆正在我的 面前，片刻不离，在白天，在深夜，有时在月夜，有时在暴风雨中。我们漂啊漂，说话啊， 唱啊，笑啊。不过呢，不管你怎么说，我总是找不到任何一件事，能叫我对他心肠硬起来。 并且情况恰恰相反。我看到他才值完了班便替我值班，不愿意前来叫我，好让我继续睡大 觉。我看到，当我从一片浓雾中回来，当我在世仇械斗那儿，在泥塘里又见到了他，在所有 这类的时刻里，他是多么兴高采烈，总要叫我乖乖，总要宠我，总要想尽一切方法为我设身 处地设想，他对我始终如一这么好啊。最后我又想起了那一回的事：我对划拢来的人们说， 我们木筏子上有害天花的，从而搭救了他，这时他是多么地感激，说我是老杰姆在这个世上 最好的朋友，也是他如今唯一的朋友。正是这个时刻，我碰巧朝四下里张望，一眼看到了那 一张纸。 这可是个叫人左右为难的事啊。我把纸拣了起来，拿在手里。我在发抖。因为我得在两 条路中选择一条，而且永远也不能反悔。这是我深深知道的。我认真考虑了一分钟，并且几 乎屏住了气考虑的，随后我对自个儿说： “那好吧，就让我去下地狱吧。”——随手把纸给撕了①。 ①这几段是马克•吐温的名篇。百年多来，从来是研究与评论的焦点之一。从全书 的构思谋篇论，也可说是高潮所在，其峰回路转，奔向高潮的高超技巧，也使后人得益良 多。作品中有关哈克的内心矛盾、天人交战的心理描写，既生动地描写了哈克的高尚情操的 胜利，也折射出了反黑奴制度的斗争在普普通通老百姓心中艰难曲折的胜利历程。 这可是可怕的念头，可怕的话语啊，不过我就是这么说了。并且我既然说出了口，我就 从没有想过要改邪归正。我把整个儿这件事从脑袋里统统赶了出去。我说，我要重新走邪恶 这一条路，这是我的本行，从小就这样长大的嘛。走别的路就不内行了。作为开头第一件 事，我要去活动起来，把杰姆从奴隶的境地给偷出来。要是我还能想出比这更为邪恶的主 意，我也会照干不误。因为既然我是干的这一行，那么，只要有利，我便要干到底。 随后我就琢磨着该怎样下手。我在心里盘算过好多条路子，最后定下了一个最适合于我 的计划。接下来，我认准了大河下游一处林木森森的小岛，等到天一黑，我便把木筏子偷偷 划到那一边去，把木筏子就藏在那里，然后钻进窝棚去。我睡了整整一个晚上，天蒙蒙亮前 爬了起来，吃过了早饭，穿上了我那套现成的新衣服，把一些零星东西打成一捆，坐上独木 小舟，就划到对岸去了。我在据我判断是费尔贝斯家的下边上了岸，把我的一捆东西藏在林 子里，接着把独木舟灌满了水，装满了石块沉到了水里去。沉下去的地方是我需要时能找到 的去处，离岸上那家小小的机器锯木厂，有四分之一英里地。 随后我就上了路。我走过锯木厂的时候，看到了一块牌子“费尔贝斯锯木厂”。又走了 两三百码，就走到了农庄了。附近没有见到什么人，尽管天已经大亮了。不过我对这些并不 在意，因为我暂时还不想见到什么人——我只想看看这一带的地形。按照我原来的计划，我 本应该是从下游不远的一个村子来的。因此我只是随便看了一眼，就径直往镇子走去。啊， 一到那里，我第一个遇见的人却是公爵。他正在张贴一张《王室异兽》的海报——只演三个 晚上——跟早先一个样。他们还是这么死不要脸——这些骗子！我刚好跟他面对面，躲也躲 不及了。我仿佛大吃一惊。他说： “哈——啰！你从哪儿来啊？”随后他仿佛很高兴、很关心的样子说，“木筏在哪里 啊？——把它藏在一个好地方了么？” 我说： “哈，这正是我要问你大人的呢。” 他就显得不那么高兴了，他说： “你问起了我，这是什么个意思？” “啊，”我说，“昨晚上，我在小酒馆里见到国王的时候，我对自个儿说，在他醒过来 以前，在几个钟点内，我们是无法把他弄回家的了。因此我就在镇上到处闲逛，一边消磨时 间，一边等。有一个人找到我，愿出一角钱，要我把一条小船划到对河去，把一只羊给赶回 来，我就去了。我们把羊拖到船边，那个人让我一个人抓住绳子，他在羊的后面把羊往船上 推，可是羊力气太大，我顶不住，一松手，它就挣脱掉了，我们就在后面追。我们身边没有 带狗，于是不能不在四野里到处追赶，一直到羊累得跑不动为止。要到天黑了，我们这才把 它捉住，然后把它带过河来。我呢，就去下游找我们的木筏子。可是到了那个地方一看，木 筏不见了。我对自个儿说，“准是他们遇到了麻烦，不能不溜之大吉吧。可是他们把我的黑 奴也带走了，那是我在世上唯一的一个黑奴啊。如今我流落他乡，身无分文，连生计也没有 着落，因此我就趴在地上哭了起来。我在林子里睡了整整一个晚上。不过，木筏子究竟怎么 样啦？——还有杰姆呢，那可怜的杰姆？”“该死的，我怎么知道？——我是说，我不知道 木筏子哪里去了。那个老傻瓜做了一笔买卖，得了四十块大洋。我们在小酒馆里找到他的时 候，那些二流子正跟他赌钱，赌半块钱的赌。除了他付威士忌酒账的钱以外，他们把他所有 的钱骗了个精光。到下半夜，我把他弄回家，一看，木筏子不见了。我们说，‘那个小流氓 把我们的木筏子偷走啦，他撇下我们不闻不问，往大河下游去啦。’” “我总不会撇下我自己的黑奴吧，不是么？那是我在世上唯一的一个黑奴，唯一的财产 啊。” “这一点我们倒是没有想到。事实是，依我看，我们已经把他看成我们的黑奴啦，是 啊，我们就是这么看待他的——他给我们惹的麻烦也够多啦。这样，见到木筏子不见了，我 们已经穷得精光了，没有别的生路，只好把《王室异兽》再演上一回。为了这个，我一直忙 得不亦乐乎。我已经好久没有润润喉咙，干得象火药筒似的。你那个一角钱哪里去了？马上 给我。” 我身边还有不少钱，便给了他一角钱。不过我央求他要把钱用在吃食上，还得捎带分给 我一些，说我就只这点儿钱了，从昨天起，还没有吃过东西呢。他没有吭一声。再一会儿以 后，冲着我怒气冲冲地问： “依你看，那个黑奴会告发我们么？他要是这么干啊，我们非剥他的皮不可。” “他怎么能告发？他不是逃跑了么？” “不！那个老傻瓜把他给卖啦。连钱也没有分给我，如今钱也光啦。” “卖了他？”我一边说，一边哭了起来。“啊，他可是我的黑奴啊，这可是我的钱啊。 他在哪里——我要我的黑奴。”“嘿，你要不回你的黑奴啦，就是这么一回事——所以你哭 哭啼啼也没有什么用。听我说——你也曾想要告发我们么？ 我要是相信你，那才该死呢。嘿，你要是想告发我们的话——” 说到这里，他没有说下去，可是他眼色里露出的凶相，是我从没有见到过的。我继续抽 抽嗒嗒地哭着说： “我谁也不想告发，我也没有时间去告发哪一个。我得跑去把杰姆给找回来。” 他那个神情仿佛有点儿为难似的，就站在那里，一边胳膊上搭着的海报随风飘动，一边 在左思右想，眉头紧皱。最后才说： “我来点拨你一下吧。我们得在这里耽三天。只要你保证不告发我们，也不让那个黑奴 告发我们，我就会告诉你，哪里能找到他。” 我作了保证，他就说： “有一个农民，叫做西拉斯•费——”说到这里打住了。你可以看得出来，他一开头是 要对我说实话的，可是如此这般一打住，他又仔细一想，我估计他就变卦了。事实正是这 样。他不愿信任我，他想的是要想方设法，在这三天中，不让我碍他的事。因此很快便接着 说，“把他买下来的那个人，名字叫阿伯拉姆•福斯特——阿伯拉姆•格•福斯特——住在 去拉法耶特的路上一个乡下，离这里四十英里地。”“好啊”，我说，“我走三天就可以走 到。我今下午就走。”“不，你不用等，你现在就得动身。你千万别耽误时间，一路上也不 准你随便乱说。只许你把嘴巴紧紧封起来，赶你的路，那你就不致于给我们惹麻烦了，你听 到了没有？” 这正是我盼望的一道命令，是我求之不得的。我就是盼望能自由自在地实现自己的计划。 “那就赶快走吧，”他说。“不管你心里想要些什么，你不妨对福斯特先生直说。说不 定你能说服他杰姆•是你的黑奴——世界上是有些傻瓜并不要求人家提出什么文件——至少 我听说，在这一带下游南方地区就有这样的人。只要你告诉他那张传单和悬赏等等都是假 的，以及为什么要要这套把戏，也许人家会相信你的话。好，现在就动身吧，你爱怎样对他 说就怎样对他说，不过要记住，从这儿到那儿的一路之上，可不许你多嘴多舌。” 这样我就走了，朝内地乡间走去。我并没有回头望，不过我感觉到他正密切监视着我。 但是我知道我有办法叫他盯得不耐烦。我在乡间一直走不一英里左右才停下来，随后一转 身，加快穿过林子，往费尔贝斯家而去。我思量，最好还是别再迟疑，马上按照我原来的计 划就干起来。因为我要设法在这两个家伙溜走之前封住杰姆的嘴。我不愿意跟这帮人再打什 么交道。他们玩的那套把戏我已经看得够了，我要的是跟他们一刀两断。 Chapter 31 WE dasn't stop again at any town for days and days; kept right along down the river. We was down south in the warm weather now, and a mighty long ways from home. We begun to come to trees with Spanish moss on them, hanging down from the limbs like long, gray beards. It was the first I ever see it growing, and it made the woods look solemn and dismal. So now the frauds reckoned they was out of danger, and they begun to work the villages again. First they done a lecture on temperance; but they didn't make enough for them both to get drunk on. Then in another village they started a dancing-school; but they didn't know no more how to dance than a kangaroo does; so the first prance they made the general public jumped in and pranced them out of town. Another time they tried to go at yellocution; but they didn't yellocute long till the audience got up and give them a solid good cussing, and made them skip out. They tackled missionarying, and mesmerizing, and doctoring, and telling fortunes, and a little of everything; but they couldn't seem to have no luck. So at last they got just about dead broke, and laid around the raft as she floated along, thinking and thinking, and never saying nothing, by the half a day at a time, and dreadful blue and desperate. And at last they took a change and begun to lay their heads together in the wigwam and talk low and confidential two or three hours at a time. Jim and me got uneasy. We didn't like the look of it. We judged they was studying up some kind of worse deviltry than ever. We turned it over and over, and at last we made up our minds they was going to break into somebody's house or store, or was going into the counterfeitmoney business, or something. So then we was pretty scared, and made up an agreement that we wouldn't have nothing in the world to do with such actions, and if we ever got the least show we would give them the cold shake and clear out and leave them behind. Well, early one morning we hid the raft in a good, safe place about two mile below a little bit of a shabby village named Pikesville, and the king he went ashore and told us all to stay hid whilst he went up to town and smelt around to see if anybody had got any wind of the Royal Nonesuch there yet. ("House to rob, you MEAN," says I to myself; "and when you get through robbing it you'll come back here and wonder what has become of me and Jim and the raft -- and you'll have to take it out in wondering.") And he said if he warn't back by midday the duke and me would know it was all right, and we was to come along. So we stayed where we was. The duke he fretted and sweated around, and was in a mighty sour way. He scolded us for everything, and we couldn't seem to do nothing right; he found fault with every little thing. Something was a-brewing, sure. I was good and glad when midday come and no king; we could have a change, anyway -- and maybe a chance for THE chance on top of it. So me and the duke went up to the village, and hunted around there for the king, and by and by we found him in the back room of a little low doggery, very tight, and a lot of loafers bullyragging him for sport, and he a-cussing and a-threatening with all his might, and so tight he couldn't walk, and couldn't do nothing to them. The duke he begun to abuse him for an old fool, and the king begun to sass back, and the minute they was fairly at it I lit out and shook the reefs out of my hind legs, and spun down the river road like a deer, for I see our chance; and I made up my mind that it would be a long day before they ever see me and Jim again. I got down there all out of breath but loaded up with joy, and sung out: "Set her loose, Jim! we're all right now!" But there warn't no answer, and nobody come out of the wigwam. Jim was gone! I set up a shout -- and then another -- and then another one; and run this way and that in the woods, whooping and screeching; but it warn't no use -- old Jim was gone. Then I set down and cried; I couldn't help it. But I couldn't set still long. Pretty soon I went out on the road, trying to think what I better do, and I run across a boy walking, and asked him if he'd seen a strange nigger dressed so and so, and he says: "Yes." "Whereabouts?" says I. "Down to Silas Phelps' place, two mile below here. He's a runaway nigger, and they've got him. Was you looking for him?" "You bet I ain't! I run across him in the woods about an hour or two ago, and he said if I hollered he'd cut my livers out -- and told me to lay down and stay where I was; and I done it. Been there ever since; afeard to come out." "Well," he says, "you needn't be afeard no more, becuz they've got him. He run off f'm down South, som'ers." "It's a good job they got him." "Well, I RECKON! There's two hunderd dollars reward on him. It's like picking up money out'n the road." "Yes, it is -- and I could a had it if I'd been big enough; I see him FIRST. Who nailed him?" "It was an old fellow -- a stranger -- and he sold out his chance in him for forty dollars, becuz he's got to go up the river and can't wait. Think o' that, now! You bet I'D wait, if it was seven year." "That's me, every time," says I. "But maybe his chance ain't worth no more than that, if he'll sell it so cheap. Maybe there's something ain't straight about it." "But it IS, though -- straight as a string. I see the handbill myself. It tells all about him, to a dot -- paints him like a picture, and tells the plantation he's frum, below NewrLEANS. No-sirree-BOB, they ain't no trouble 'bout THAT speculation, you bet you. Say, gimme a chaw tobacker, won't ye?" I didn't have none, so he left. I went to the raft, and set down in the wigwam to think. But I couldn't come to nothing. I thought till I wore my head sore, but I couldn't see no way out of the trouble. After all this long journey, and after all we'd done for them scoundrels, here it was all come to nothing, everything all busted up and ruined, because they could have the heart to serve Jim such a trick as that, and make him a slave again all his life, and amongst strangers, too, for forty dirty dollars. Once I said to myself it would be a thousand times better for Jim to be a slave at home where his family was, as long as he'd GOT to be a slave, and so I'd better write a letter to Tom Sawyer and tell him to tell Miss Watson where he was. But I soon give up that notion for two things: she'd be mad and disgusted at his rascality and ungratefulness for leaving her, and so she'd sell him straight down the river again; and if she didn't, everybody naturally despises an ungrateful nigger, and they'd make Jim feel it all the time, and so he'd feel ornery and disgraced. And then think of ME! It would get all around that Huck Finn helped a nigger to get his freedom; and if I was ever to see anybody from that town again I'd be ready to get down and lick his boots for shame. That's just the way: a person does a low-down thing, and then he don't want to take no consequences of it. Thinks as long as he can hide, it ain't no disgrace. That was my fix exactly. The more I studied about this the more my conscience went to grinding me, and the more wicked and low-down and ornery I got to feeling. And at last, when it hit me all of a sudden that here was the plain hand of Providence slapping me in the face and letting me know my wickedness was being watched all the time from up there in heaven,whilst I was stealing a poor old woman's nigger that hadn't ever done me no harm, and now was showing me there's One that's always on the lookout, and ain't agoing to allow no such miserable doings to go only just so fur and no further, I most dropped in my tracks I was so scared. Well, I tried the best I could to kinder soften it up somehow for myself by saying I was brung up wicked, and so I warn't so much to blame; but something inside of me kept saying, "There was the Sunday-school, you could a gone to it; and if you'd a done it they'd a learnt you there that people that acts as I'd been acting about that nigger goes to everlasting fire." It made me shiver. And I about made up my mind to pray, and see if I couldn't try to quit being the kind of a boy I was and be better. So I kneeled down. But the words wouldn't come. Why wouldn't they? It warn't no use to try and hide it from Him. Nor from ME, neither. I knowed very well why they wouldn't come. It was because my heart warn't right; it was because I warn't square; it was because I was playing double. I was letting ON to give up sin, but away inside of me I was holding on to the biggest one of all. I was trying to make my mouth SAY I would do the right thing and the clean thing, and go and write to that nigger's owner and tell where he was; but deep down in me I knowed it was a lie, and He knowed it. You can't pray a lie -- I found that out. So I was full of trouble, full as I could be; and didn't know what to do. At last I had an idea; and I says, I'll go and write the letter -- and then see if I can pray. Why, it was astonishing, the way I felt as light as a feather right straight off, and my troubles all gone. So I got a piece of paper and a pencil, all glad and excited, and set down and wrote: Miss Watson, your runaway nigger Jim is down here two mile below Pikesville, and Mr. Phelps has got him and he will give him up for the reward if you send. HUCK FINN. I felt good and all washed clean of sin for the first time I had ever felt so in my life, and I knowed I could pray now. But I didn't do it straight off, but laid the paper down and set there thinking -- thinking how good it was all this happened so, and how near I come to being lost and going to hell. And went on thinking. And got to thinking over our trip down the river; and I see Jim before me all the time: in the day and in the night-time, sometimes moonlight, sometimes storms, and we a-floating along, talking and singing and laughing. But somehow I couldn't seem to strike no places to harden me against him, but only the other kind. I'd see him standing my watch on top of his'n, 'stead of calling me, so I could go on sleeping; and see him how glad he was when I come back out of the fog; and when I come to him again in the swamp, up there where the feud was; and such-like times; and would always call me honey, and pet me and do everything he could think of for me, and how good he always was; and at last I struck the time I saved him by telling the men we had small-pox aboard, and he was so grateful, and said I was the best friend old Jim ever had in the world, and the ONLY one he's got now; and then I happened to look around and see that paper. It was a close place. I took it up, and held it in my hand. I was a-trembling, because I'd got to decide, forever, betwixt two things, and I knowed it. I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself: "All right, then, I'll GO to hell" -- and tore it up. It was awful thoughts and awful words, but they was said. And I let them stay said; and never thought no more about reforming. I shoved the whole thing out of my head, and said I would take up wickedness again, which was in my line, being brung up to it, and the other warn't. And for a starter I would go to work and steal Jim out of slavery again; and if I could think up anything worse, I would do that, too; because as long as I was in, and in for good, I might as well go the whole hog. Then I set to thinking over how to get at it, and turned over some considerable many ways in my mind; and at last fixed up a plan that suited me. So then I took the bearings of a woody island that was down the river a piece, and as soon as it was fairly dark I crept out with my raft and went for it, and hid it there, and then turned in. I slept the night through, and got up before it was light, and had my breakfast, and put on my store clothes, and tied up some others and one thing or another in a bundle, and took the canoe and cleared for shore. I landed below where I judged was Phelps's place, and hid my bundle in the woods, and then filled up the canoe with water, and loaded rocks into her and sunk her where I could find her again when I wanted her, about a quarter of a mile below a little steam sawmill that was on the bank. Then I struck up the road, and when I passed the mill I see a sign on it, "Phelps's Sawmill," and when I come to the farm-houses, two or three hundred yards further along, I kept my eyes peeled, but didn't see nobody around, though it was good daylight now. But I didn't mind, because I didn't want to see nobody just yet -- I only wanted to get the lay of the land. According to my plan, I was going to turn up there from the village, not from below. So I just took a look, and shoved along, straight for town. Well, the very first man I see when I got there was the duke. He was sticking up a bill for the Royal Nonesuch -- three-night performance -- like that other time. They had the cheek, them frauds! I was right on him before I could shirk. He looked astonished, and says: "Hel-LO! Where'd YOU come from?" Then he says, kind of glad and eager, "Where's the raft? -- got her in a good place?" I says: "Why, that's just what I was going to ask your grace." Then he didn't look so joyful, and says: "What was your idea for asking ME?" he says. "Well," I says, "when I see the king in that doggery yesterday I says to myself, we can't get him home for hours, till he's soberer; so I went a-loafing around town to put in the time and wait. A man up and offered me ten cents to help him pull a skiff over the river and back to fetch a sheep, and so I went along; but when we was dragging him to the boat, and the man left me a-holt of the rope and went behind him to shove him along, he was too strong for me and jerked loose and run, and we after him. We didn't have no dog, and so we had to chase him all over the country till we tired him out. We never got him till dark; then we fetched him over, and I started down for the raft. When I got there and see it was gone, I says to myself, 'They've got into trouble and had to leave; and they've took my nigger, which is the only nigger I've got in the world, and now I'm in a strange country, and ain't got no property no more, nor nothing, and no way to make my living;' so I set down and cried. I slept in the woods all night. But what DID become of the raft, then? -- and Jim -- poor Jim!" "Blamed if I know -- that is, what's become of the raft. That old fool had made a trade and got forty dollars, and when we found him in the doggery the loafers had matched half-dollars with him and got every cent but what he'd spent for whisky; and when I got him home late last night and found the raft gone, we said, 'That little rascal has stole our raft and shook us, and run off down the river.'" "I wouldn't shake my NIGGER, would I? -- the only nigger I had in the world, and the only property." "We never thought of that. Fact is, I reckon we'd come to consider him OUR nigger; yes, we did consider him so -- goodness knows we had trouble enough for him. So when we see the raft was gone and we flat broke, there warn't anything for it but to try the Royal Nonesuch another shake. And I've pegged along ever since, dry as a powder-horn. Where's that ten cents? Give it here." I had considerable money, so I give him ten cents, but begged him to spend it for something to eat, and give me some, because it was all the money I had, and I hadn't had nothing to eat since yesterday. He never said nothing. The next minute he whirls on me and says: "Do you reckon that nigger would blow on us? We'd skin him if he done that!" "How can he blow? Hain't he run off?" "No! That old fool sold him, and never divided with me, and the money's gone." "SOLD him?" I says, and begun to cry; "why, he was MY nigger, and that was my money. Where is he? -- I want my nigger." "Well, you can't GET your nigger, that's all -- so dry up your blubbering. Looky here -- do you think YOU'D venture to blow on us? Blamed if I think I'd trust you. Why, if you WAS to blow on us --" He stopped, but I never see the duke look so ugly out of his eyes before. I went on a-whimpering, and says: "I don't want to blow on nobody; and I ain't got no time to blow, nohow. I got to turn out and find my nigger." He looked kinder bothered, and stood there with his bills fluttering on his arm, thinking, and wrinkling up his forehead. At last he says: "I'll tell you something. We got to be here three days. If you'll promise you won't blow, and won't let the nigger blow, I'll tell you where to find him." So I promised, and he says: "A farmer by the name of Silas Ph----" and then he stopped. You see, he started to tell me the truth; but when he stopped that way, and begun to study and think again, I reckoned he was changing his mind. And so he was. He wouldn't trust me; he wanted to make sure of having me out of the way the whole three days. So pretty soon he says: "The man that bought him is named Abram Foster -- Abram G. Foster -- and he lives forty mile back here in the country, on the road to Lafayette." "All right," I says, "I can walk it in three days. And I'll start this very afternoon." "No you wont, you'll start NOW; and don't you lose any time about it, neither, nor do any gabbling by the way. Just keep a tight tongue in your head and move right along, and then you won't get into trouble with US, d'ye hear?" That was the order I wanted, and that was the one I played for. I wanted to be left free to work my plans. "So clear out," he says; "and you can tell Mr. Foster whatever you want to. Maybe you can get him to believe that Jim IS your nigger -- some idiots don't require documents -- leastways I've heard there's such down South here. And when you tell him the handbill and the reward's bogus, maybe he'll believe you when you explain to him what the idea was for getting 'em out. Go 'long now, and tell him anything you want to; but mind you don't work your jaw any BETWEEN here and there." So I left, and struck for the back country. I didn't look around, but I kinder felt like he was watching me. But I knowed I could tire him out at that. I went straight out in the country as much as a mile before I stopped; then I doubled back through the woods towards Phelps'. I reckoned I better start in on my plan straight off without fooling around, because I wanted to stop Jim's mouth till these fellows could get away. I didn't want no trouble with their kind. I'd seen all I wanted to of them, and wanted to get entirely shut of them. |
| 第三十章 他们一上了木筏，国王便朝我走过来，揪住了衣领，使劲摇我。还说： “好啊，想把我们给甩了，你这狗崽子！跟我们在一起嫌腻味啦，——是不是？” 我说： “不，陛下，我们不敢——请别这样，陛下。”“那好，马上说出来，你安的是什么 心？不然的话，我把你的五脏六肺全给掏出来！” “说实话，我把一切经过从实说出来，实话实讲，陛下。那个揪住我的人对我可非常 好，还老是说，他有一个孩子，跟我一般大，不幸去年去了。还说，看到一个孩子身处险 境，他也十分难过。后来他们发现了金币，为之大吃一惊，朝棺材冲过去的时候，他放开了 我的手，还轻声地说，‘开路吧，要不然的话，他们会绞死你，肯定会的！’所以我就赶紧 溜了。我看我耽下去，可不会有什么好果子吃——我干不了什么事，并且如果能逃掉，我也 不想被绞死嘛。因此我就不停地奔起来，直到后来找到了一只划子。我一到这里，就叫杰姆 赶紧划，要不然他们会逮住我，把我给绞死。我还说，你和公爵，恐怕都已经保不住了，活 不了了，我也为此万分难过，杰姆也万分难过。如今看到你们回来了，我们又万分高兴，你 不妨问问杰姆，事情是不是这样？” 杰姆说是这样的。国王对他说，要他闭嘴。还说，“哦，是啊，也很可能是这样的！” 一边说，一边又把我使劲地摇。 又说，要把我扔到河里淹死。不过公爵说道： “放了孩子，你这个老傻瓜！要是换了你的话，你还不是一样这么干，有什么不一样？ 你逃的时候，有没有问一下他怎么样了？我可记不得你曾问过。” 于是国王放开了我，并且开始咒骂那个镇子以及镇上每一个人。不过公爵说： “你最好还是骂你自己吧，因为你是最为罪有应得的人。从一开始起，你就从没有干过 一件在理的事，除了那一件事算是例外，那就是既态度沉着、又老脸皮厚地凭空编了个蓝颜 色箭头标记这码事。这下子高明——确实顶呱呱，只是这下子啊，才救了我们一命。要不是 这下子啊，他们早就把我们关在看守所里了，要等到英国人的行李运到作最后的处理——那 就是坐班房，这我可以跟你打赌！正是这个妙计把他们引到了坟地去，那袋金币更是帮了我 们的大忙。因为要不是那些激动的傻瓜松开了他们的手，涌上前去看一眼，那我们今晚上怕 就要带上大领结①睡觉啦——这个大领结还保证经久耐用，可我们只要带上一次就完啦。” ①指绞索。 他们停了一会儿没有说话——是在想心事——随后国王开了腔，仿佛有点儿心不在焉的 模样。 “哼，可我们还以为是那些黑奴偷走的呢！” 这一下可叫我提心吊胆啦！ “是啊，”公爵说，声音低沉，用意深长，带着挖苦的味道。“我们是这么想的。” 大概半分钟以后，国王慢声慢气地说： “至少——我是这么想的。” 公爵说了，用了同一种腔调： “不见得吧，——我才这么想。” 国王气呼呼地说： “听我说，毕奇华特，你这是什么意思？” 公爵回答得挺干脆利索： “讲到这个嘛，也许该由我问你一下，你是什么意思？”“嘘！”国王说得十分挖苦。 “可是我并不知道——也许你是睡着了吧，连你自己干的什么事，你也搞不清楚了吧？” 公爵这下子可发火了，他说： “嘿，别讲这一套废话——你把我当一个大傻瓜？你有没有想到，我知道是谁把钱藏在 棺材里的？” “是啊，先生，我知道你是知道的——因为是你自己干的嘛！” “撒谎！”公爵朝他扑了过去。国王高声叫道： “把手放开！——别卡住我的喉咙！——我把这些话都收回！” 公爵说： “好吧，那你就得承认，第一，你确实把钱藏在那里，打算有朝一日把我甩掉，然后你 回转去，把它挖掘出来，归你一个人所有。” “等一下，公爵——回答我这个问题，老老实实、公公道道地说。要是你并没有把钱放 在那儿呢，你也就照实这么说，我就相信你，把我说过了的话一律收回。” “你这个老流氓，我没有，你也明明知道我没有。就是这话。” “那就好吧，我相信你。不过只要你回答另外一个问题——不过别发火，你心里有没有 想过要把钱给拐走、给藏起来呢？” 公爵沉默了一会儿，没有作声，随后说： “哼——要是说我曾想过吧，我也并不在乎，反正我没有这么干过。可你呢，不光是心 里想过，而且还干过。” “公爵，要是我干过的话，我就不得好死，这是大实话。我不是说我并非正要这么干， 因为我是正要干，不过你—— 我是说有人——赶在了我的前面。” “这是撒谎！你干了的，你得承认你是干了的，不然——” 国王喉咙口咯咯地直响，随后喘着粗气说： “行啦——我招认！” 听到他这么一说，我可高兴啦，我觉得比先前舒坦得多啦。公爵这才放开了手，说道： “要是你再否认的话，我就淹死你。你活该光只坐在那儿抹你的眼泪，活象一个婴孩— —在你干了这些事以后，你只配这样——可我过去却一直相信你，把你看做象我的父亲一般 呢。你那么样站在一旁，听任人家给可怜的黑奴栽赃，自己却一言不发，你不该害臊么？想 想看，我竟然那么软心肠，相信了你的那些胡话，这有多可笑。你这个混蛋，我现在才明 白，为什么你那么急于把那笔缺的数目给补足——是你存心要把我从《王室异兽》以及别处 搞到的一笔笔钱财都拿出来，好全都归你一个人吞掉。” 国王仍然有点胆怯怯、可怜兮兮地说： “怎么啦，公爵，那是你说的该把缺数补上，可不是我说的嘛。” “给我闭嘴！我再也不愿意听到你的话了！”公爵说。“如今你看到了，你落得个什么 样的下场。他们把他们自己的钱全都讨了回去啦，还把我们自己的钱，除了零零星星的以 外，也都裹走了。滚到床上去吧——从今以后，只要你活一天，不论你缺什么钱，不准你缺 到我的头上来！” 这样，国王偷偷钻进了窝棚，拿起了酒瓶，自我慰劳一番。没多久，公爵也抓起了他的 酒瓶。这样，半个钟头以后，两人又亲热得什么似的。并且越是醉得厉害，也就越是亲热， 最后抱在一起大打起呼噜来。两人都非常高兴，不过我注意到，公爵还没有高兴到忘掉那件 事，就是不许他否认是他把钱藏起来的。这叫我非常宽心，非常满意。他们大打呼噜的时 候，我和杰姆自然就有机会聊了好长时间，我把整个儿的经过一桩桩、一件件都告诉了杰姆。 Chapter 30 WHEN they got aboard the king went for me, and shook me by the collar, and says: "Tryin' to give us the slip, was ye, you pup! Tired of our company, hey?" I says: "No, your majesty, we warn't -- PLEASE don't, your majesty!" "Quick, then, and tell us what WAS your idea, or I'll shake the insides out o' you!" "Honest, I'll tell you everything just as it happened, your majesty. The man that had a-holt of me was very good to me, and kept saying he had a boy about as big as me that died last year, and he was sorry to see a boy in such a dangerous fix; and when they was all took by surprise by finding the gold, and made a rush for the coffin, he lets go of me and whispers, 'Heel it now, or they'll hang ye, sure!' and I lit out. It didn't seem no good for ME to stay -- I couldn't do nothing, and I didn't want to be hung if I could get away. So I never stopped running till I found the canoe; and when I got here I told Jim to hurry, or they'd catch me and hang me yet, and said I was afeard you and the duke wasn't alive now, and I was awful sorry, and so was Jim, and was awful glad when we see you coming; you may ask Jim if I didn't." Jim said it was so; and the king told him to shut up, and said, "Oh, yes, it's MIGHTY likely!" and shook me up again, and said he reckoned he'd drownd me. But the duke says: "Leggo the boy, you old idiot! Would YOU a done any different? Did you inquire around for HIM when you got loose? I don't remember it." So the king let go of me, and begun to cuss that town and everybody in it. But the duke says: "You better a blame' sight give YOURSELF a good cussing, for you're the one that's entitled to it most. You hain't done a thing from the start that had any sense in it, except coming out so cool and cheeky with that imaginary blue-arrow mark. That WAS bright -- it was right down bully; and it was the thing that saved us. For if it hadn't been for that they'd a jailed us till them Englishmen's baggage come -- and then -- the penitentiary, you bet! But that trick took 'em to the graveyard, and the gold done us a still bigger kindness; for if the excited fools hadn't let go all holts and made that rush to get a look we'd a slept in our cravats to-night -- cravats warranted to WEAR, too -- longer than WE'D need 'em." They was still a minute -- thinking; then the king says, kind of absent-minded like: "Mf! And we reckoned the NIGGERS stole it!" That made me squirm! "Yes," says the duke, kinder slow and deliberate and sarcastic, "WE did." After about a half a minute the king drawls out: "Leastways, I did." The duke says, the same way: "On the contrary, I did." The king kind of ruffles up, and says: "Looky here, Bilgewater, what'r you referrin' to?" The duke says, pretty brisk: "When it comes to that, maybe you'll let me ask, what was YOU referring to?" "Shucks!" says the king, very sarcastic; "but I don't know -- maybe you was asleep, and didn't know what you was about." The duke bristles up now, and says: "Oh, let UP on this cussed nonsense; do you take me for a blame' fool? Don't you reckon I know who hid that money in that coffin?" "YES, sir! I know you DO know, because you done it yourself!" "It's a lie!" -- and the duke went for him. The king sings out: "Take y'r hands off! -- leggo my throat! -- I take it all back!" The duke says: "Well, you just own up, first, that you DID hide that money there, intending to give me the slip one of these days, and come back and dig it up, and have it all to yourself." "Wait jest a minute, duke -- answer me this one question, honest and fair; if you didn't put the money there, say it, and I'll b'lieve you, and take back everything I said." "You old scoundrel, I didn't, and you know I didn't. There, now!" "Well, then, I b'lieve you. But answer me only jest this one more -- now DON'T git mad; didn't you have it in your mind to hook the money and hide it?" The duke never said nothing for a little bit; then he says: "Well, I don't care if I DID, I didn't DO it, anyway. But you not only had it in mind to do it, but you DONE it." "I wisht I never die if I done it, duke, and that's honest. I won't say I warn't goin' to do it, because I WAS; but you -- I mean somebody -- got in ahead o' me." "It's a lie! You done it, and you got to SAY you done it, or --" The king began to gurgle, and then he gasps out: "'Nough! -- I OWN UP!" I was very glad to hear him say that; it made me feel much more easier than what I was feeling before. So the duke took his hands off and says: "If you ever deny it again I'll drown you. It's WELL for you to set there and blubber like a baby -- it's fitten for you, after the way you've acted. I never see such an old ostrich for wanting to gobble everything -- and I a-trusting you all the time, like you was my own father. You ought to been ashamed of yourself to stand by and hear it saddled on to a lot of poor niggers, and you never say a word for 'em. It makes me feel ridiculous to think I was soft enough to BELIEVE that rubbage. Cuss you, I can see now why you was so anxious to make up the deffisit -- you wanted to get what money I'd got out of the Nonesuch and one thing or another, and scoop it ALL!" The king says, timid, and still a-snuffling: "Why, duke, it was you that said make up the deffisit; it warn't me." "Dry up! I don't want to hear no more out of you!" says the duke. "And NOW you see what you GOT by it. They've got all their own money back, and all of OURN but a shekel or two BESIDES. G'long to bed, and don't you deffersit ME no more deffersits, long 's YOU live!" So the king sneaked into the wigwam and took to his bottle for comfort, and before long the duke tackled HIS bottle; and so in about a half an hour they was as thick as thieves again, and the tighter they got the lovinger they got, and went off a-snoring in each other's arms. They both got powerful mellow, but I noticed the king didn't get mellow enough to forget to remember to not deny about hiding the money-bag again. That made me feel easy and satisfied. Of course when they got to snoring we had a long gabble, and I told Jim everything. |
| 第二十九章 那伙人带来了一位挺体面的老先生。还有另一位挺体面的年轻一些的人，只是右胳膊用 绷带吊着。天啊，大伙儿吼啊，笑啊，没完没了。不过我看这可不是笑笑的事。我还料想， 公爵和国王如果看出了什么，势必会神情紧张起来。我以为他们的脸一定会吓白了。可是错 了，他们的脸才没有吓白呢。公爵丝毫没有流露出他担心出了什么意外，而是继续在谷—— 谷——谷地到处叫唤，显得又高兴，又得意，仿佛象一把咕嘟嘟倒出牛奶来的奶壶。至于国 王呢，他只是悲天悯人地两眼朝下望，望着那两个刚来的人，仿佛在心里哀叹世上竟然会有 这样的骗子和流氓，把他肚子都气痛了。哦，他这种表演，可算精彩到万分。不少有身分的 人围在国王的身边，为了让他知道他们是站在他这一边的。那位刚来的老先生仿佛给搞得丈 二和尚摸不着头脑。没多久，他就开了口。我马上觉得，他发音就象一个英国人那么样，跟 国王可大不一样，尽管国王能模仿成那样，也算挺不错的了。我就不会说老先生说的那些 话，并且要学也学不来。他转过身来，对着大伙儿，说了下面这些话： “目前的情况叫我大吃一惊，是我做梦也没有想到的。坦白地说，我承认我还没有作好 准备该怎样对待这样的事。因为我的兄弟和我本人刚遭到了无妄之灾。他摔坏了胳膊，我们 的行李因为昨晚上天黑给错卸在这儿上游一个镇上。我是彼得•威尔克斯的兄弟哈维，这位 是他的兄弟威廉，他又聋又哑，连做手势也做不了多少，如今又只有一只手好使了。至于我 们是否是象我们自己所说的那样的人，等一两天内，行李一到，我就能够拿出证据的。不 过，在这以前，我不准备说什么了，只准备上旅馆里去等着。” 这样，他和新来的聋哑人就走了。国王呢，他大笑了一声，便胡话连篇了： “摔坏了胳膊——很可能，不是么——说起来方便得很嘛。一个骗子就非得打手势不 可，可是又恰恰还没有学好嘛。丢了行李！这有多巧啊——这个主意妙极啦——特别在目前 的情况之下！” 说着，他又大笑了起来，旁人也一个个笑了起来，只除了三四个人，也许五六个人。其 中的一个就是医生，另一个是一位目光锐利的先生，手里提着一只用毛毡做的老式手提包。 他刚从轮船上下来，正跟医生在低声说话，时不时用眼睛瞟一眼国王，还点点他们的脑袋— —此人就是勒维•贝尔，去了上游的路易斯维尔刚回来。另外还有一个人是一位又高又大的 粗壮汉子。他走过来，听完了老先生的话，如今正听着国王在说话。国王的话刚说完，这位 粗壮大汉就挺直了身子说道： “喂，听我说，如果你是哈维•威尔克斯，那你是什么时候到这个镇上来的？” “在殡葬的前一天，朋友。”国王说。 “在那一天的什么时间？” “黄昏时分——太阳落山以前一两个钟点。” “那你怎么来的呢？” “我搭了萨珊•鲍威尔号轮来的，从辛辛那提开来的。” “那好啊，那么你怎么会在那天早上——坐了一条划子——在滩嘴子的呢？” “我早上没有去滩嘴子。” “这是撒谎。” 有几个人朝他跳将过来，求他别以这样的态度对一位老人和传教师说话。 “去他妈的传教师，他是个骗子，是个撒谎的家伙，那天早上，他就到了滩嘴子了。我 就住在那里，不是么？啊，我正在那里，他也在那里。我看到他在那里。他坐着一只小划子 来的，还有丁•柯灵斯，还有一个孩子。” 医生就站出来说话了。 “那个孩子，你如果看到了，能认出来么，哈纳斯？” “我看我能，不过我说不准。啊，那边那个不正是他么？ 我认得他一清二楚的。” 他指着的正就是我。医生说： “众乡亲，我不知道新来的一对是骗子还是不是，不过，如果这两个不是骗子，那我就 是个白痴了，就是这么一句话。我认为，我有这个责任不让他们从这儿溜走，一直到我们把 事情弄清楚为止。来吧。哈纳斯，还有大伙儿都来吧。我们把这些人带到酒店里去①，去和 另外那一对人对质。据我估计，不用我们盘问到底，就能发现些什么了。” ①当时村镇酒馆兼营客栈业。 大伙儿这下子可来了劲啦，尽管国王的朋友们未必这样想。于是我们都去了。这是在日 落前后。医生呢，他手牵着我，态度还是挺和气的，不过就是从没有放开我的手。 我们全都集中在旅馆一间大房间里。点起了蜡烛，还把新来的一对人也带了来。由医生 首先说话： “我不想太难为这两个人，不过我认为他们是骗子，他们还可能有我们全不知情的同伙 的。要是有的话，那些同伙会不会把彼得•威尔克斯留下的那袋现金携款潜逃呢？这不是不 可能。要是这些人并不是骗子，那他们就不会反对去把钱取来，交我们保管，等到他们能证 明自己没有什么问题为止——是不是这样？” 大伙儿一个个都表示赞成。所以我料想，大伙儿一开头就叫我们这帮子人无处逃生了。 不过国王呢，只是显得伤感而已。他说： “先生们，我也但愿钱还在那里，因为我一点也不想妨碍大伙儿对这件不幸的事进行一 次公正、公开、彻底的调查。可不幸的起，钱不在那儿了。你们愿意的话，不妨去查看。” “那么，钱在哪里？” “啊，侄女儿把钱给我，叫我替她保管好以后，我就收下了，藏在我床上的草垫子里。 我想可以不必往银行里去存放了，因为我们在这里耽不了几天；还认为放在床下是放到了一 个靠得住的地方。我们对黑奴又不熟悉，以为她们是老老实实的，就如同在英国的佣人一个 样。可是在第二天早上，我们下楼以后，黑奴就把钱偷走了。我把她们卖掉的时候，我还没 有发现钱已经不见了，所以她们就把钱全数带走啦。这里有我的仆人可以把情况奉告诸位先 生。” 医生和别的几个人“嘘”了一声。我看啊，没有一个人相信他的话。有一个人问我有没 有看见黑奴偷那袋钱。我说，没有。不过我看见她们轻手轻脚从卧室走出来，当时我并未在 意，只以为是她们怕吵醒了我的主人，在他跟她们生气以前就溜掉。他们问我的就只是这一 些。随后，医生猛然一转身，朝着我说： “你也是英国人么？” 我说是的。他和其他几个人便笑了起来说，“狗屁！” 好，接下来他们开始详细的调查。我们就被他们翻来覆去问个不停，一个钟点又一个钟 点，谁也没有提过吃晚饭的话，连想也没有谁想到这一点——他们就这样追问来，追问去， 追问的是从未有过的一笔糊涂账。他们要国王讲自己的经历。他们又要老先生讲他的经历。 除了一些怀有成见的傻瓜以外，谁都看得清清楚楚，那老先生讲的是实话，而另外两个是在 撒谎。随后他们要我把我所知道的讲出来。国王从眼梢给我递过来一个眼色，所以我便懂得 了该怎样说才是对路的。我开始讲到谢菲尔德，讲到我们在那儿是怎样生活的，还讲到在英 国的威尔克斯一家种种的一切，如此等等。不过我还没有说多少，医生就大笑了起来，勒 维•贝尔律师就说： “坐下来吧，我的孩子。我要是你的话，才不费这么些力气呢。依我看，你也不是惯于 撒谎的人，说起谎来还不怎么顺口。你需要的是多练。你如今还搞得别别扭扭的嘛。” 对这样的恭维话我倒并不在意。不过我高兴的是他们毕竟放过了我。 医生开始在说些什么了。他转过身来说： “勒维•贝尔，要是你起先在镇上的话——” 这时候国王插了进来，伸过手去，说： “啊，是我可怜的亡兄信上常常提起的老朋友吧？” 律师和他握了手。律师微微一笑，样子仿佛挺高兴，他们两人便谈了一会儿，随后转到 一旁去，低声说起话来。最后，律师开腔说： “就这样定夺吧。我接受委托，把你和你兄弟的状子递上去，这样，他们就知道一切没 有什么问题。” 于是他们搞来了一张纸，一支笔，国王坐了下来，脑袋歪到一边，咬了咬舌头，潦潦草 草涂了几行字。他们随后把笔递给了公爵——公爵第一次露出了不舒服的神气。不过他还是 接过了笔，写了字。于是律师转过身来对新来的老先生说： “请你和你的兄弟也写一两行字，并且签一下你们的名字。” 老绅士就写了，只是写的字没有人能认得清。律师显得大吃一惊的样子，并且说： “啊，这下子可把我难倒了”——一边从他口袋里掏出一叠子旧的信件来，并且细细地 看，随后仔细地看了老头的笔迹，然后又细细看了旧信，接着开了腔：“这些旧信是哈 维•威尔克斯寄来的。这里还有那两个人的笔迹，谁都能看得一清二楚，这些信可不是他们 写的。（我对你们说，国王和公爵露出了这样的神色：上当了，被作弄了，知道是律师对他 们设下了圈套。）还有，这儿是这位老先生的笔迹，谁都能一下子便看出来，他并不是写这 些信的人——事实上，他涂的这些玩意儿根本不是在写字。请看这儿的一些信，是从——” 那位刚来的老先生说： “请你让我解释一下。我写的东西，谁也认不出来，只除了正在那儿的我的兄弟——是 他给我抄写的。所以你们收到的那一些，是他的笔迹，可不是我的。” “啊，”律师说，“原来如此。我接到过威廉的一些信。所以如果你能让他写一两行， 那我们就能比——” “他可不能用左手写啊，”老先生说。“如果他能用右手写，你就能认出他写的信和我 的信。请把这两种信都对一对—— 这两种信都出自同一个笔迹。” 律师照着对了一下，然后说： “我相信是这么一回事——即使不是这样，反正比我早先注意到的，有一大堆相似的地 方。啊，啊，啊，我原以为我们正朝着解决疑案的方向前进，不过我们是部分地失败了。但 是至少有一件事已经得到了证实——这两个人，谁也不是威尔克斯家的人。”——他一边 说，一边朝国王和公爵摇了摇头。 啊，你猜怎么着——那个死不认账的老傻瓜竟然还不肯认输呢！是啊！他还不肯认输。 说什么这样一个测试不公平。说他的兄弟威廉是天底下最爱开玩笑的人，他压根就没想写— —他看威廉拿起笔在纸上写，就知道他存心要开个玩笑了。就这样，他越说越来劲，滔滔不 绝地胡诌一通，到后来，说得连他自己也信以为真了——不过，没有多久，那位刚来的老先 生插话说： “我刚想到了一件事。在场的有没有谁帮忙装殓我哥—— 已故的彼得•威尔克斯？” “有啊，”有人在说，“有我和阿勃•特纳帮过。我们两人如今都在这儿。” 随后老人朝国王转过身去，说道： “也许这位先生能告诉我们在他的胸膛上刺了些什么吧？” 啊，这下子如果国王不能在一刹那间便鼓足勇气来立刻作答，那他就会像给河水淘空了 的河岸一样，一下子突然塌下去——请注意，象这样猝不及防而又硬碰硬的问题，准能叫十 个人有九个招架不住——因为他怎么会知道死者身上刺了些什么啊？他脸色有点儿发白啦， 这可是由不得他自己的。这时在场的一片肃静，大伙儿一个个都往前倾，凝视着他一个人。 我对自个儿说，这下子他会认输了吧——挣扎也挣扎不起来了嘛。啊，他真认输了么？可是 谁也不会相信，他硬是没有认输。依我着，他的思路是要把事情顶下去，把人家搞得精疲力 尽，只好软下来，他和公爵就能钻个空子，溜之大吉。反正他还是稳坐在那儿，不多久，只 见他开始笑了起来，并且说： “啊，这可是个十分棘手的问题，不是么？是的，先生，我能告诉你他胸膛上刺了些什 么。刺的就是一支小小的、细细的、蓝色的箭——就是这样。并且你要不是贴近地细看，就 会看不见。这下子啊，你有什么说的——呢？” 啊，象这样一个死皮赖脸的老东西，我可从没有见过。 那位刚来的老先生立刻转过身来，面对阿勃•特纳和他的伙伴，他的眼睛里闪着亮光， 仿佛他已经断定他这下子可把国王逮住啦。他说： “好——他刚才说了些什么，你们都听到啦！在彼得•威尔克斯的胸口可有这样的标记 么？” 这两人都开了腔，说： “我们并没有看见这样的标记。” “好！”老先生说。“啊，你们在他胸膛上真正看到的是一个小小的看不太清的P，还 有一个B（这是他姓名中的第一个字母，可他年轻时就不用了），还有一个W，字母的中间 有破折号，所以是P—B—W”——他一边说，一边在一张纸上照这样记了下来。“你们看— —你们看到的不是这样的么？” 两个人又开了腔，说： “不，我们没有看到。我们根本从未见到过什么标记。” 啊，这会儿大家伙一个个都非常气愤了，他们喊道：“这一群东西全都是骗子！来，让 我们把他们按到水里去！让我们来淹死他们！让他们骑着杠子去游街！”大伙儿一个个都在 齐声狂叫，乱成一片。不过，那位律师呢，他跳上桌子，高声吼道： “先生们，——先生们！只听我的一句话——只是一句话——请了！还有一个办法—— 让我们去，去把尸体挖出来，看一看。” 大伙儿接受了这个办法。 大家高呼“好啊”，立刻就出发了。不过律师和医生高声说： “等一等，等一等！要揪住这四个人，还有那个孩子，把他们一路带着走！” “照这些话干！”他们这样大叫，“要是找不着那些标记，我们把这帮子家伙全都上私 刑！” 我告诉你吧，这下子可把我吓坏啦。可是又无路可逃，你知道吧。他们把我们全都揪住 了，一路上押着我们一起走，直冲墓地，那是在大河下游一英里半路。全镇的人都跟在我们 的后面，一路之上我们大声嚷嚷，那时还只是当晚九点钟。 我走过我们那间屋子时，我心里想的是，当初我不该叫玛丽•珍妮离开镇子的。因为不 然的话，只要如今我对她使个眼色，她就会挺身而出，把我搭救出来，并且会把那两个死皮 赖脸的无赖的丑行，一桩桩、一件件都揭发出来。 啊，我们沿着河边的路涌去，吵吵嚷嚷，活象一大群动物似的。这会儿，天空更暗起来 了，电光到处一闪一闪，风吹得树叶簌簌发抖，使得情景更加变得可怕。这可是我一生中最 吓人的大灾大难，也是最最危险的一回啦。我简直给吓呆了。情况跟我当初想象的完全不一 样。我原以为，只要我高兴，我能一旁看笑话玩玩，爱看多久就看多久，背后会有玛丽•珍 妮做我的靠山，一旦情况紧急，她会出来搭救我，恢复我的自由，而不是象如今这样一切听 任人家摆布。在这个世界上，在生命和突然死亡之间，只隔着那刺着的标记了。要是他们没 有找到这些刺的标记呢…… 我简直连想也不敢再想了。不过，除了这个呢，我又什么也没有想。天越来越黑了，要 从人群里溜走，这本该是最好不过的机会了，可是那个彪形大汉——哈恩斯——紧紧抓住了 我的手腕，要从他手里逃掉，就仿佛想从巨人歌利亚①手里逃掉一样难。他一路上拖着我往 前走。他又是那么激动，我非得一路小跑才追得上他。 ①《圣经•旧约》中所写的巨人，后为大卫王所杀。 大伙儿一到，就涌进墓地，象洪水漫过了堤坝。大伙儿到了坟场，就发现他们带? 子，比需要的多出了一百倍，可偏偏谁也没有想到该带一盏灯来。不过不管怎么说，他们凭 了电光一闪一闪，还是挖掘了起来。同时派了一个人到半英里路外最近的一家去借一盏灯。 他们就挖啊挖啊，一个劲地挖。天黑漆漆一片，雨开始在下，风在呼啸，电闪得更急 了，雷声在隆隆作响，可是大伙儿对这些理也不理，全都把心扑在挖掘上。这一大群人群中 间每一样样东西，每一张张脸，一刹那间都看得清清楚楚。只见铲子把一铲铲泥巴从坟上挖 出来。可是再一刹那间，一片黑暗又把这一切全给吞掉了，你面前一片漆黑，什么也看不见。 最后，他们终于把棺材挖掘了出来，并且开始拧开棺材盖上的螺丝钉，随后一群群人挤 着人，肩擦着肩，推推搡搡，都想钻进去看一眼，这景象是你见所未见的。而且天又是这么 黑漆漆的。也就是说，这样子真叫人害怕。哈恩斯呢，他把我的手腕子搞得疼痛万分，又拉 又拖的。依我看，在这个世界上还有我这么一个人，他恐怕已经忘得一干二净了。他是那么 样的激动，直喘着粗气。 突然之间，一道闪电仿佛打开了一道闸门，只见一片白光奔泻下来，有一个人这时高叫： “老天爷啊，那袋金币原来正在他的胸膛上啊。” 和在场每一个人一样，哈恩斯不禁欢呼起来，他放开了我的手腕子，使出全身的劲，想 挤进去看上一眼。我乘机一溜烟乘着黑直奔到大路上，我当时那个情景，谁也无法加以形容。 大路上只有我一个人，我简直如飞一般奔去——这大路之上，只有我这么一个人，此外 便是黑漆漆伸手不见五指，电光偶尔一闪一闪，雨哗哗地下，风刮得人发疼，雷一声声炸裂 开来，而我呢，就飞也似地往前冲去。 我到了镇上，发现在暴风雨中镇上一个人也没有，我就没有走后街小巷，而是弓着身子 径直穿过那条大街。走近我们的房子时，我刻意看了一眼。没有灯光，房子里一片漆黑—— 这叫我很难过，很失望，为什么有这样的感受，连我自己也说不上来。可是到后来，正当我 快在那间房子前面跑开去的时刻，玛丽•珍妮那间房间的窗口，突然闪出一道亮光，我的心 啊，猛然胀鼓鼓的，象要爆裂开似的。再一刹那间，那座房子，连同其它的一切，都被抛到 了一片黑暗之中，今生今世，再也不会在我面前浮现啦。她是我遇到过的最好的姑娘，也最 有胆量。 我走到了离镇子相当远的地方，能看清到沙洲的路了，我就仔细寻找，看能不能借到一 只小船。电光一闪，我就见到有一只没有栓住的小船。我一跳上去，就划将起来。这是只独 木小舟，除了有一根绳子系着，此外并没有被拴住。那个沙洲还在河中央，离得还远呢。不 过我并没有白白耽误时间，而是使劲地划去。等我最后终于靠到木筏边的时候，累得只想就 地一躺，并且喘得不行。不过我没有躺下来。我一跳上木筏，就高声大叫： “杰姆，快快出来，把木排放开！谢天谢地，我们摆脱了他们啦！” 杰姆马上跑了出来，对我张开了双臂，高兴得什么似的。不过，电光一闪，我瞥见了他 一眼，我的心啊，可一下子涌到喉咙口。我倒退了几步，一交跌到了水里。因为我一时间忘 了他是李尔老王又身兼一位淹死了的阿拉伯人这样两位一体的角色，可把我吓得灵魂出窍。 不过杰姆把我打捞了上来，搂着我，替我祝福，如此等等。我能平安回来，我们又摆脱了国 王和公爵，委实万分高兴。不过我说： “现在还不是时候——到吃早饭时再说，到吃早饭时再说！解开绳子，让它漂吧！” 二话不说，我们就朝下游漂将起来了。能再一次自由自在，在大河之上由我们自个儿主 宰一切，没有旁人捣乱，这是多么美好啊。我不由自主地乱蹦带跳了一阵子，纵身跳将起 来，把脚后跟跳得嘣嘣直响。可是才只跳了几下子，就听到了我非常熟悉的声音——我屏住 了气，静静地听，等着下一个响声——又一道闪电，照亮了河面，果然，是他们来啦——并 且正在使劲摇桨，把他们那只小船弄得吱吱吱直响！正是国王和公爵。 于是我一下子瘫倒在木板子上。只能听天由命啊。为了避免哭出声来，除这以外，别无 它法啊。 Chapter 29 THEY was fetching a very nice-looking old gentleman along, and a nice-looking younger one, with his right arm in a sling. And, my souls, how the people yelled and laughed, and kept it up. But I didn't see no joke about it, and I judged it would strain the duke and the king some to see any. I reckoned they'd turn pale. But no, nary a pale did THEY turn. The duke he never let on he suspicioned what was up, but just went a goo-gooing around, happy and satisfied, like a jug that's googling out buttermilk; and as for the king, he just gazed and gazed down sorrowful on them new-comers like it give him the stomach-ache in his very heart to think there could be such frauds and rascals in the world. Oh, he done it admirable. Lots of the principal people gethered around the king, to let him see they was on his side. That old gentleman that had just come looked all puzzled to death. Pretty soon he begun to speak, and I see straight off he pronounced LIKE an Englishman -- not the king's way, though the king's WAS pretty good for an imitation. I can't give the old gent's words, nor I can't imitate him; but he turned around to the crowd, and says, about like this: "This is a surprise to me which I wasn't looking for; and I'll acknowledge, candid and frank, I ain't very well fixed to meet it and answer it; for my brother and me has had misfortunes; he's broke his arm, and our baggage got put off at a town above here last night in the night by a mistake. I am Peter Wilks' brother Harvey, and this is his brother William, which can't hear nor speak -- and can't even make signs to amount to much, now't he's only got one hand to work them with. We are who we say we are; and in a day or two, when I get the baggage, I can prove it. But up till then I won't say nothing more, but go to the hotel and wait." So him and the new dummy started off; and the king he laughs, and blethers out: "Broke his arm -- VERY likely, AIN'T it? -- and very convenient, too, for a fraud that's got to make signs, and ain't learnt how. Lost their baggage! That's MIGHTY good! -- and mighty ingenious -- under the CIRCUMSTANCES! So he laughed again; and so did everybody else, except three or four, or maybe half a dozen. One of these was that doctor; another one was a sharplooking gentleman, with a carpet-bag of the oldfashioned kind made out of carpet-stuff, that had just come off of the steamboat and was talking to him in a low voice, and glancing towards the king now and then and nodding their heads -- it was Levi Bell, the lawyer that was gone up to Louisville; and another one was a big rough husky that come along and listened to all the old gentleman said, and was listening to the king now. And when the king got done this husky up and says: "Say, looky here; if you are Harvey Wilks, when'd you come to this town?" "The day before the funeral, friend," says the king. "But what time o' day?" "In the evenin' -- 'bout an hour er two before sundown." "HOW'D you come?" "I come down on the Susan Powell from Cincinnati." "Well, then, how'd you come to be up at the Pint in the MORNIN' -- in a canoe?" "I warn't up at the Pint in the mornin'." "It's a lie." Several of them jumped for him and begged him not to talk that way to an old man and a preacher. "Preacher be hanged, he's a fraud and a liar. He was up at the Pint that mornin'. I live up there, don't I? Well, I was up there, and he was up there. I see him there. He come in a canoe, along with Tim Collins and a boy." The doctor he up and says: "Would you know the boy again if you was to see him, Hines?" "I reckon I would, but I don't know. Why, yonder he is, now. I know him perfectly easy." It was me he pointed at. The doctor says: "Neighbors, I don't know whether the new couple is frauds or not; but if THESE two ain't frauds, I am an idiot, that's all. I think it's our duty to see that they don't get away from here till we've looked into this thing. Come along, Hines; come along, the rest of you. We'll take these fellows to the tavern and affront them with t'other couple, and I reckon we'll find out SOMETHING before we get through." It was nuts for the crowd, though maybe not for the king's friends; so we all started. It was about sundown. The doctor he led me along by the hand, and was plenty kind enough, but he never let go my hand. We all got in a big room in the hotel, and lit up some candles, and fetched in the new couple. First, the doctor says: "I don't wish to be too hard on these two men, but I think they're frauds, and they may have complices that we don't know nothing about. If they have, won't the complices get away with that bag of gold Peter Wilks left? It ain't unlikely. If these men ain't frauds, they won't object to sending for that money and letting us keep it till they prove they're all right -- ain't that so?" Everybody agreed to that. So I judged they had our gang in a pretty tight place right at the outstart. But the king he only looked sorrowful, and says: "Gentlemen, I wish the money was there, for I ain't got no disposition to throw anything in the way of a fair, open, out-and-out investigation o' this misable business; but, alas, the money ain't there; you k'n send and see, if you want to." "Where is it, then?" "Well, when my niece give it to me to keep for her I took and hid it inside o' the straw tick o' my bed, not wishin' to bank it for the few days we'd be here, and considerin' the bed a safe place, we not bein' used to niggers, and suppos'n' 'em honest, like servants in England. The niggers stole it the very next mornin' after I had went down stairs; and when I sold 'em I hadn't missed the money yit, so they got clean away with it. My servant here k'n tell you 'bout it, gentlemen." The doctor and several said "Shucks!" and I see nobody didn't altogether believe him. One man asked me if I see the niggers steal it. I said no, but I see them sneaking out of the room and hustling away, and I never thought nothing, only I reckoned they was afraid they had waked up my master and was trying to get away before he made trouble with them. That was all they asked me. Then the doctor whirls on me and says: "Are YOU English, too?" I says yes; and him and some others laughed, and said, "Stuff!" Well, then they sailed in on the general investigation, and there we had it, up and down, hour in, hour out, and nobody never said a word about supper, nor ever seemed to think about it -- and so they kept it up, and kept it up; and it WAS the worst mixed-up thing you ever see. They made the king tell his yarn, and they made the old gentleman tell his'n; and anybody but a lot of prejudiced chuckleheads would a SEEN that the old gentleman was spinning truth and t'other one lies. And by and by they had me up to tell what I knowed. The king he give me a left-handed look out of the corner of his eye, and so I knowed enough to talk on the right side. I begun to tell about Sheffield, and how we lived there, and all about the English Wilkses, and so on; but I didn't get pretty fur till the doctor begun to laugh; and Levi Bell, the lawyer, says: "Set down, my boy; I wouldn't strain myself if I was you. I reckon you ain't used to lying, it don't seem to come handy; what you want is practice. You do it pretty awkward." I didn't care nothing for the compliment, but I was glad to be let off, anyway. The doctor he started to say something, and turns and says: "If you'd been in town at first, Levi Bell -- " The king broke in and reached out his hand, and says: "Why, is this my poor dead brother's old friend that he's wrote so often about?" The lawyer and him shook hands, and the lawyer smiled and looked pleased, and they talked right along awhile, and then got to one side and talked low; and at last the lawyer speaks up and says: "That 'll fix it. I'll take the order and send it, along with your brother's, and then they'll know it's all right." So they got some paper and a pen, and the king he set down and twisted his head to one side, and chawed his tongue, and scrawled off something; and then they give the pen to the duke -- and then for the first time the duke looked sick. But he took the pen and wrote. So then the lawyer turns to the new old gentleman and says: "You and your brother please write a line or two and sign your names." The old gentleman wrote, but nobody couldn't read it. The lawyer looked powerful astonished, and says: "Well, it beats ME -- and snaked a lot of old letters out of his pocket, and examined them, and then examined the old man's writing, and then THEM again; and then says: "These old letters is from Harvey Wilks; and here's THESE two handwritings, and anybody can see they didn't write them" (the king and the duke looked sold and foolish, I tell you, to see how the lawyer had took them in), "and here's THIS old gentleman's hand writing, and anybody can tell, easy enough, HE didn't write them -- fact is, the scratches he makes ain't properly WRITING at all. Now, here's some letters from --" The new old gentleman says: "If you please, let me explain. Nobody can read my hand but my brother there -- so he copies for me. It's HIS hand you've got there, not mine." "WELL!" says the lawyer, "this IS a state of things. I've got some of William's letters, too; so if you'll get him to write a line or so we can com --" "He CAN'T write with his left hand," says the old gentleman. "If he could use his right hand, you would see that he wrote his own letters and mine too. Look at both, please -- they're by the same hand." The lawyer done it, and says: "I believe it's so -- and if it ain't so, there's a heap stronger resemblance than I'd noticed before, anyway. Well, well, well! I thought we was right on the track of a slution, but it's gone to grass, partly. But anyway, one thing is proved -- THESE two ain't either of 'em Wilkses" -- and he wagged his head towards the king and the duke. Well, what do you think? That muleheaded old fool wouldn't give in THEN! Indeed he wouldn't. Said it warn't no fair test. Said his brother William was the cussedest joker in the world, and hadn't tried to write -- HE see William was going to play one of his jokes the minute he put the pen to paper. And so he warmed up and went warbling right along till he was actuly beginning to believe what he was saying HIM- SELF; but pretty soon the new gentleman broke in, and says: "I've thought of something. Is there anybody here that helped to lay out my br -- helped to lay out the late Peter Wilks for burying?" "Yes," says somebody, "me and Ab Turner done it. We're both here." Then the old man turns towards the king, and says: "Peraps this gentleman can tell me what was tattooed on his breast?" Blamed if the king didn't have to brace up mighty quick, or he'd a squshed down like a bluff bank that the river has cut under, it took him so sudden; and, mind you, it was a thing that was calculated to make most ANYBODY sqush to get fetched such a solid one as that without any notice, because how was HE going to know what was tattooed on the man? He whitened a little; he couldn't help it; and it was mighty still in there, and everybody bending a little forwards and gazing at him. Says I to myself, NOW he'll throw up the sponge -- there ain't no more use. Well, did he? A body can't hardly believe it, but he didn't. I reckon he thought he'd keep the thing up till he tired them people out, so they'd thin out, and him and the duke could break loose and get away. Anyway, he set there, and pretty soon he begun to smile, and says: "Mf! It's a VERY tough question, AIN'T it! YES, sir, I k'n tell you what's tattooed on his breast. It's jest a small, thin, blue arrow -- that's what it is; and if you don't look clost, you can't see it. NOW what do you say -- hey?" Well, I never see anything like that old blister for clean out-and-out cheek. The new old gentleman turns brisk towards Ab Turner and his pard, and his eye lights up like he judged he'd got the king THIS time, and says: "There -- you've heard what he said! Was there any such mark on Peter Wilks' breast?" Both of them spoke up and says: "We didn't see no such mark." "Good!" says the old gentleman. "Now, what you DID see on his breast was a small dim P, and a B (which is an initial he dropped when he was young), and a W, with dashes between them, so: P -- B -- W" -- and he marked them that way on a piece of paper. "Come, ain't that what you saw?" Both of them spoke up again, and says: "No, we DIDN'T. We never seen any marks at all." Well, everybody WAS in a state of mind now, and they sings out: "The whole BILIN' of 'm 's frauds! Le's duck 'em! le's drown 'em! le's ride 'em on a rail!" and everybody was whooping at once, and there was a rattling powwow. But the lawyer he jumps on the table and yells, and says: "Gentlemen -- gentleMEN! Hear me just a word -- just a SINGLE word -- if you PLEASE! There's one way yet -- let's go and dig up the corpse and look." That took them. "Hooray!" they all shouted, and was starting right off; but the lawyer and the doctor sung out: "Hold on, hold on! Collar all these four men and the boy, and fetch THEM along, too!" "We'll do it!" they all shouted; "and if we don't find them marks we'll lynch the whole gang!" I WAS scared, now, I tell you. But there warn't no getting away, you know. They gripped us all, and marched us right along, straight for the graveyard, which was a mile and a half down the river, and the whole town at our heels, for we made noise enough, and it was only nine in the evening. As we went by our house I wished I hadn't sent Mary Jane out of town; because now if I could tip her the wink she'd light out and save me, and blow on our dead-beats. Well, we swarmed along down the river road, just carrying on like wildcats; and to make it more scary the sky was darking up, and the lightning beginning to wink and flitter, and the wind to shiver amongst the leaves. This was the most awful trouble and most dangersome I ever was in; and I was kinder stunned; everything was going so different from what I had allowed for; stead of being fixed so I could take my own time if I wanted to, and see all the fun, and have Mary Jane at my back to save me and set me free when the close-fit come, here was nothing in the world betwixt me and sudden death but just them tattoo-marks. If they didn't find them -- I couldn't bear to think about it; and yet, somehow, I couldn't think about nothing else. It got darker and darker, and it was a beautiful time to give the crowd the slip; but that big husky had me by the wrist -- Hines -- and a body might as well try to give Goliar the slip. He dragged me right along, he was so excited, and I had to run to keep up. When they got there they swarmed into the graveyard and washed over it like an overflow. And when they got to the grave they found they had about a hundred times as many shovels as they wanted, but nobody hadn't thought to fetch a lantern. But they sailed into digging anyway by the flicker of the lightning, and sent a man to the nearest house, a half a mile off, to borrow one. So they dug and dug like everything; and it got awful dark, and the rain started, and the wind swished and swushed along, and the lightning come brisker and brisker, and the thunder boomed; but them people never took no notice of it, they was so full of this business; and one minute you could see everything and every face in that big crowd, and the shovelfuls of dirt sailing up out of the grave, and the next second the dark wiped it all out, and you couldn't see nothing at all. At last they got out the coffin and begun to unscrew the lid, and then such another crowding and shouldering and shoving as there was, to scrouge in and get a sight, you never see; and in the dark, that way, it was awful. Hines he hurt my wrist dreadful pulling and tugging so, and I reckon he clean forgot I was in the world, he was so excited and panting. All of a sudden the lightning let go a perfect sluice of white glare, and somebody sings out: "By the living jingo, here's the bag of gold on his breast!" Hines let out a whoop, like everybody else, and dropped my wrist and give a big surge to bust his way in and get a look, and the way I lit out and shinned for the road in the dark there ain't nobody can tell. I had the road all to myself, and I fairly flew -- leastways, I had it all to myself except the solid dark, and the now-and-then glares, and the buzzing of the rain, and the thrashing of the wind, and the splitting of the thunder; and sure as you are born I did clip it along! When I struck the town I see there warn't nobody out in the storm, so I never hunted for no back streets, but humped it straight through the main one; and when I begun to get towards our house I aimed my eye and set it. No light there; the house all dark -- which made me feel sorry and disappointed, I didn't know why. But at last, just as I was sailing by, FLASH comes the light in Mary Jane's window! and my heart swelled up sudden, like to bust; and the same second the house and all was behind me in the dark, and wasn't ever going to be before me no more in this world. She WAS the best girl I ever see, and had the most sand. The minute I was far enough above the town to see I could make the towhead, I begun to look sharp for a boat to borrow, and the first time the lightning showed me one that wasn't chained I snatched it and shoved. It was a canoe, and warn't fastened with nothing but a rope. The towhead was a rattling big distance off, away out there in the middle of the river, but I didn't lose no time; and when I struck the raft at last I was so fagged I would a just laid down to blow and gasp if I could afforded it. But I didn't. As I sprung aboard I sung out: "Out with you, Jim, and set her loose! Glory be to goodness, we're shut of them!" Jim lit out, and was a-coming for me with both arms spread, he was so full of joy; but when I glimpsed him in the lightning my heart shot up in my mouth and I went overboard backwards; for I forgot he was old King Lear and a drownded A-rab all in one, and it most scared the livers and lights out of me. But Jim fished me out, and was going to hug me and bless me, and so on, he was so glad I was back and we was shut of the king and the duke, but I says: "Not now; have it for breakfast, have it for breakfast! Cut loose and let her slide!" So in two seconds away we went a-sliding down the river, and it DID seem so good to be free again and all by ourselves on the big river, and nobody to bother us. I had to skip around a bit, and jump up and crack my heels a few times -- I couldn't help it; but about the third crack I noticed a sound that I knowed mighty well, and held my breath and listened and waited; and sure enough, when the next flash busted out over the water, here they come! -- and just alaying to their oars and making their skiff hum! It was the king and the duke. So I wilted right down on to the planks then, and give up; and it was all I could do to keep from crying. |
第二十八章 过了一会，到了该起身的时间了。我便下了梯子到楼下去。我走过姑娘们的房间，门是 开着的。我见到玛丽•珍妮坐在她那只旧的毛皮箱的旁边。箱子盖是打开着的，她正在整理 行装——准备前往英国去。不过这一刻她住了手，一件叠好的衣衫放在膝盖上，双手掩着 脸，正在哭泣。见到这个景象，我心里十分难过。自然人人都会难过的。我走了进去，说道： “玛丽•珍妮小姐，你生来见不得人家陷于不幸，我也不行——总是不行。请告诉我 吧。” 她就对我说了。是黑奴的事——不出我的所料。她说，她美妙的英国之行差一点儿给毁 了。她说，既然知道了母女从此分离，再也见不到一面，她不知道此后怎么会快活得起来— —说着说着又哭得更加辛酸，双手往上一举说： “哦，天啊，天啊，试想一想吧，永生永世不能再见一面啦！” “不过她们会相见的——不出两个星期——这我可知道！”我说。 天啊，我还没有仔细想一想，就这么脱口而出了——她呢，不容我往后缩，就两条胳膊 紧紧围住了我的脖子，要我再说一遍，再说一遍，再说一遍。！ 我发现自己说得太突然了，也说得太多了，一时间感到左右为难。我要求她让我想一分 钟，她便坐在那里，很不耐烦，又很激动！样子又漂亮，神情有点儿快乐而舒坦，仿佛一个 人刚把病牙拔掉。我于是又思索了起来。我跟我自己说，当一个人处境艰难的时候，要能站 立起来，把真相给说出来，那是要冒风险的。我虽然还没有经验，不能说得十分肯定，不过 依我看，事情是这么样的。可是，眼前这件事，我总以为说实话要比撒谎好得多，也保险得 多。我非得把这件事放在心上，有时间时多多琢磨琢磨。这委实是件怪异的事，非同寻常可 比。我还从没有见过这样的事。我临了对自己说，好吧，我还是好歹试它一试。这一回啊， 我倒要站出来，把真相给说出来，尽管这很象是坐在一桶炸药上，用火把它点燃起来，看看 究竟会把你崩到哪儿去。于是我说： “玛丽•珍妮小姐，有没有什么办法能在离这个镇子不太远的地方，找到一个什么去 处，去耽那么三四天？” “能啊——洛斯罗浦先生家。为了什么啊？” “眼下还不用问为什么。要是我对你说，我知道这些黑奴是会重新团聚的——不出两个 星期——就在这间屋子里团聚——而且我证明我是怎么知道的——那你肯不肯到洛斯罗浦家 去耽四天？” “四天！”她说，“我愿耽一年哩！” “那好，”我说，“我要你说的正就是这句话，不用说更多的话了，——我要你这句 话，比人家吻了《圣经》说的话还要强呢。”她微微一笑，脸红了起来，那么甜甜的。我 说，“要是你不在乎的话，我要把门关上——把门闩好。” 随后我走了回来，坐下来说： “别嚷啊，就这样静静地坐好，要象个男子汉一般对待这一切。我得把真相告诉你，你 呢，得鼓点儿勇气，玛丽小姐，因为这是一件不幸的事，叫人难以忍受的事，但是事已如 此，是无可奈何的了。你们的这些叔叔啊，他们根本不是什么叔叔——他们是一伙骗子—— 地地道道的大流氓。啊，如今已经把顶可怕的事端了出来了，——其余的话你便能受得住 了。” 不消说，这些话对她的震撼是无以复加的。不过我呢，仿佛鱼游过了浅滩，我便继续说 下去。我一边说，她眼睛里发出的光越来越亮。我继续把这些为非作歹的事，一五一十告诉 了她，从我们第一次遇到那个搭轮的年轻傻瓜讲起，一直讲到她怎样在大门口投进国王的怀 抱，他吻了她不下十六七回——这时她跳将起来，满脸通红，仿佛烧得象落山的太阳。 她说： “那个禽兽！来——别再耽误一分钟——一秒钟——我们要给他抹柏油、撒羽毛，把他 扔到河里去。” 我说： “那当然。不过，你难道是说，在你到洛斯罗浦家去以前便动手么？——” “哦，”她说，“你看我在想些什么啊！”一边说，一边又坐了下来。“别见怪我说了 些什么——请别见怪——如今你不会见怪，不会了，是吧。”她把那柔滑得象绸子一般的手 搁在我的手上，这份情意就是叫我去死我也是愿意的。“我从未想到我会这么激动，”她 说，“好吧，说下去，我不会再这样激动了。我该怎么办，你尽管说。不论你怎么说，我一 定照着办。” “啊，”我说，“那可是一帮穷凶极恶的家伙啊，这两个骗子。我事已至此，非得跟他 们一起走一程，不管我愿意还是不愿意——至于是什么原因，我暂时还不能对你说——你如 果告发他们，那这个镇子上的人，倒是会把我从他们的爪子下搭救出来，可是这里还牵涉到 一个你不知道的人。他可要遭殃啦①。唉，我们得搭救他啊，不是么？当然是这样。这么说 来，那我们还不必告发他们。” ①诺顿版注：指黑人杰姆，参看２４章末了的记叙。 说这些话的时候，我心生一计。我想到了我和杰姆怎样摆脱掉那两个骗子，并且? 在这里便给关进牢狱。不过我不想在大白天就划木筏子，因为这样的话，除了我，就没有别 的人在木筏子上回答盘问的人，因此我不愿意把那个计划在今晚深夜以前就开动起来。我说： “玛丽•珍妮小姐，我会告诉你我们该怎么办——你也不用在洛斯罗浦家耽那么久。那 里离这里有多少路？” “四英里路不到些——就在后边那个乡下。” “好啊，这就行了。现今你可以到那边去，耽到今晚九点，或者九点半，不要声张，随 后请他们送你回家——对他们说是你想起了什么一件事这才要回去的。要是你在十一点以前 到，在窗子上放一支蜡烛，到时候我如果没有露面，等我等到十一点，随后如果我还没有露 面，那就是说我已经远走高飞啦，已经脱身啦，已经平安无事啦。随后你就可出场了，可以 把信息在各个方面传开来，并且把这些败类关进牢狱。” “好，”她说，“我会照着办的。” “万一我没有能走掉，跟他们一起被抓住，你务必挺身出来，说我是怎样把事情的全盘 经过在事前就告诉了你的，你务必竭尽你的全力站在我的一边。” “站在你的一边，当然我会的。他们决不会动你的一根毫毛。”她说。我见她说的时候 鼻翼微张，眼睛闪着光亮。“要是我走成功了，我就不会在这里了，”我说。“不会在这里 为这些流氓并非你的叔叔这件事作证。如果我到时候还在这里，我也无法这样干。我能宣誓 证明说这是些败类，是痞子，我能做的，仅此而已。尽管这还是有点儿价值的。可别的人也 能这么干，并且干得比我更强——他们这些人一出场就不会遭到怀疑，和我有所不同。我来 告诉你怎么找到这些人。你给我一支笔和一张纸。就这样——《王室异兽》，勃里斯克维 尔。把这个藏好，别丢了。一旦法院要弄清这两个家伙的事，让他们派人上勃里斯克维尔 去，去对镇上人说，你们已经抓住了演出《王室异兽》的家伙，要他们前来出场作证—— 哈，不用你一眨眼的工夫，全镇的人会涌来作证，玛丽小姐。而且他们准会怒气冲冲地赶 来。” 依我看，我们已经把事情一桩桩一件件都安排好了。我因此说： “不妨让拍卖就这样进行下去，不用担什么心。拍卖以后，人家在整整一天之内，不用 为了买下的东西付现款，因为通告的时间太局促了，他们在取到钱以前无法付款——依照我 们设下的方案，拍卖不会作数，他们也就拿不到钱。黑奴的事和这没有什么两样——这不是 买卖，黑奴不久也就会回来。哈，黑奴的钱，他们是到不了手的——他们可陷进了最糟的困 境啦，玛丽小姐。” “好啊，”她说，“我如今先下去吃早饭去，随后径直往洛斯罗浦家去。” “啊哟，那不成啊，玛丽•珍妮小姐，”我说，“这绝对不行啊。吃早饭以前就走。” “为什么？” “依你看，我要你去的根本原因是什么，玛丽小姐？” “嗯，我从未想过啊——让我想一想。我不明白啊。是什么原因呢？” “为什么？因为你可不是那种脸皮厚厚一层的人啊。要是我念的书能象你的脸一样，那 该多好啊。人家一坐下来，就读到粗黑的铅字体，看得清清楚楚的。依你看，你难道能够见 到你叔叔，你叔叔来亲你，说声早安的时候不露——么？” “对，对，别说啦！好，我在吃早饭以前就走——我乐意的。难道让妹妹跟他们在一 起？” “是的——根本不用为她们担什么心。她们还得忍耐一会儿。要是你们都走了的话，他 们说不定会起疑心。我不要你见到他们这些家伙，也不要见到你的妹妹，或是这个镇上的任 何别的人——要是今天早上一个邻居问起你叔叔，你的脸啊，会说出点儿什么来。不行，你 还是径直去吧，玛丽•珍妮小姐。至于其余的人，我会一个个安排好的。我会让苏珊小姐替 你向叔叔们问候的，还让她们说，你要走开几个钟头，好小小休息一下，换一换环境，或者 是去看一个朋友，今晚或者明晨就会回来的。” “去看一个朋友，这样说是可以的，不过我可不要向他们问候。” “好，那就不问候。”对她这样说一下，那就够了——这样说不会有什么坏处。这是小 事一桩，不会惹什么麻烦。可往往只靠一些小事，便能清除人们深层里的障碍。这样一件小 事能叫玛丽•珍妮小姐感到舒服，却又不用花费什么代价。随后我说：“还有另外一件事— —就是那袋钱的事。” “啊，他们拿到了手啦。一想到他们是怎么样搞到手的，我觉得我是多么傻啊。” “不对。你可不知情哩。他们并没有搞到手。” “怎么啦，那么在谁手里？” “我但愿我知道就好了，不过我并不知道。钱曾经在我的手里。因为我从他们那儿偷了 过来。我偷来是为了给你们的。我也清楚我把钱藏在什么一个地方，不过我怕如今不在那里 了。我非常难过，玛丽•珍妮小姐。我实在难过得无以复加，不过能做到的我都做过了，我 都做过了，这是说的实在话。我差一点儿给逮住了。我不得不随手一塞塞好，拔腿就跑—— 可塞的不是个理想的地方。” “哦，别埋怨自己罢——光埋怨自己，那太不好了，我不准许这样——你也是无可奈何 嘛，这不是你的错嘛。你给藏在哪里啦？” 我并不愿意让她又想到自己的烦恼。我仿佛张不开嘴来对她说些什么，以致叫她仿佛见 到棺材里躺着的尸体，肚子上放着那个钱袋。因此，我一时间什么也没有说——随后我说： “我宁可不告诉你我把钱放在哪里的，玛丽•珍妮小姐，如果你能不追问我的话。不过 我可以为了你起见，把这写在一张纸片上。只要你愿意，你可以在去洛斯罗浦家的路上拿出 来看。你看这样行么？” “哦，行的。” 我就写了下来：“我把钱袋放到棺材里了。那天你在那儿哭的时候，也就是在当晚，钱 还在棺材里。当时我躲在门背后，我也替你非常难过啊，玛丽•珍妮小姐。” 写着写着，我眼里也流了泪，我想到她怎样深夜只身一人哭哭啼啼，可就在她自己家的 屋檐下，这些魔鬼正住在那里，叫她丢丑，掠夺她。我把纸片折好递给她时，看见她眼睛里 也热泪盈眶。她用力握住我的手说： “再见了，——你刚才对我说的话，一桩桩、一件件，我都会照着做。要是我再也见不 着你了，我也永远不会把你忘掉，我会一次又一次，无数次地想你，我会为你祈祷。”—— 说过，她飘然而去了。 为我祈祷！我看啊，要是她知道我是怎样一个人的话，她就会挑另一件和她更般配的事 去干。不过我敢打赌，话虽这样说，她还是为我祈祷的——她就是这么一类人。只要她打定 了主意，她就有胆子甚至敢为犹大祈祷哩——我看啊，她身上没有软骨头。尽管你爱怎么 说，就可以怎么说，不过据我的看法，她是我见到的姑娘中最有胆量的人了，她浑身是胆。 这话听起来仿佛是过于奉承的话，其实并非如此。要是说到美——以及善——她就比人家高 出一头。自从我亲眼看到她走出这道门以后，我就从没有再见到过她了，不过我想念到她的 次数啊，我看恐怕有千百万次了吧。还不时想到了她所说的要为我祈祷的话。要是我认为， 为了她祈祷会对我有点儿用处的话，我死活也要为她祈祷啊。 是啊，依我看，玛丽•珍妮是从后门溜走的，因为并没有人见到她走开。我见到苏珊和 豁嘴时，我说： “你们有时候全家去拜访的河对面那家人家叫什么名字来着？” 她们说： “有几家哩。主要是普洛克托斯家。” “正是这个名字，”我说。“我差点儿把这忘了。玛丽•珍妮小姐要我告诉你们，她急 急忙忙到那里去了——有人病了。” “哪一个？” “我不知道。至少是我忘啦，不过我想是——” “天啊，但愿不是汉娜？” “真对不起，”我说，“恰恰正是汉娜。” “天啊，——她上个星期还身体好好的嘛！她病得厉害么？” “是叫不出名字的病。玛丽•珍妮小姐说，人家陪了她整整一个晚上，还深怕她拖不过 多少时间了。” “到了这么个地步啊！她究竟得的什么病呢？” 我一时间想不出什么一种合理的病，就说： “流行性腮腺炎。” “流行性腮腺炎，别瞎扯啦！得了流行性腮腺炎，也不致于要人整夜守着啊。” “不用守着，是么？你不妨打个赌，对这样的流行性腮腺炎，人家是要整夜守着的。玛 丽•珍妮小姐说，这是新的一种。” “怎么新的一种？” “因为跟别的病并发的。” “什么些别的病？” “嗯，麻疹、百日咳，还有一种非常厉害的皮肤病，还有痨病、黄疸病、脑膜炎，还有 别的什么，连我也说不清。” “天啊！还把这个叫做什么流行性腮腺炎！” “玛丽•珍妮小姐就是这么个叫法。” “啊，他们为什么要把这个叫做流行性腮腺炎呢？” “为什么？因为这是流行性腮腺炎，这病开头从这个开始的。” “哈，这就没有道理了。一个人也可能最早先碰痛了大拇脚趾，随后吃了毒药，又掉到 了井里，扭坏了脖子，摔坏了脑子，有人出来问起此人怎么死的，可是一个蠢家伙却出来说 ‘啊，他碰伤了大拇脚趾。’这样的说法难道有什么道理么？ 不，毫无道理。这病传染么？” “扎人①？看你说的。假如有一张耙——在黑地里——会扎人么？你不给这个耙齿扎 住，就会给别的耙齿扎住，你说对不对？你要想挣脱掉这张耙齿，就非得把整张的耙拉开， 不是么？这流行性腮腺炎就不妨说如同一张耙一样，——可不是平平常常的一张耙，让它扎 上了就下不来啦。” ①原文catching可作抓住、挂住解，也可作传染解，这里哈克可能有意逗笑，也可 能不知道有后面一种意思（传染）。 “我看啊，这太可怕了，”豁嘴说。“我要到哈维叔叔那里去——” “哦，是啊，”我说，“我要是你的话，当然我得去。我要一时一刻也不耽误。” “嗯，为什么一时一刻也不耽误呢？” “你只要稍稍想一想，你就会明白的。你的叔叔们不是非得尽快回英国老家去么？你难 道以为他们会那么卑鄙，以致自己说走就走，而让你们单独走这样远的路程么？你们知道他 们肯定会等你们一起走的。到此为止，一切还顺当。你叔叔哈维是位传教师，不是么？既然 这样，一个传教师会欺骗一只轮船上的伙计么？他会欺骗一只船上的伙计么？——就为了让 他们同意玛丽•珍妮小姐上船？现在你明白了，他是不会这样干的。那么，他会怎么干呢？ 啊，他会说，这实在没有办法。教堂的事只好由它去了，因为我的侄女接触了那可怕的综合 ①流行性腮腺炎，我有义不容辞的责任在这儿留下来，等三个月，看看她有没有得这个病。 不过不用担什么心，要是你认为最好是告诉哈维叔叔的话——” ①原文为拉丁文，美国国徽上以此作为箴言，意为“合众为一”，这里用作多种病 症形成的综合症。 “别胡说了。放着我们能在英国过快活日子，却要耽在这儿鬼混，光为了看看玛丽•珍 妮是不是沾上了这个病？你这不是在说傻话么？” “不管怎么说，也许最好还是跟你们邻居中哪一位先说一说。” “你听我说吧。你可说是生来就比任何什么人都要笨。你难道不明白，他们就会去告诉 别的人？如今只有一条路可走，那就是根本谁也不告诉。” “啊，也许你是对的——是啊，我认为你是对的。” “不过依我看，我们应该至少告诉一下哈维叔叔，说她要离开一会儿，好叫他不必为她 担心。” “是啊，玛丽•珍妮小姐要你这么办。她说，‘对她们说一下，要她们向哈维叔叔和威 廉叔叔问候，说我到对河去看——你们的彼得大伯经常念叨着的那一富有人家叫什么来着— —我是说那一家——叫什么来着。” “哦，你一定是指阿贝索贝斯，不是么？” “当然是的，他们这种姓名啊，真是烦死人，叫人家怎么也记不住，多半记不住。是 的，她说她要过去求阿贝索贝斯家务必到拍卖的现场来，并且买下这座房子，因为她认定， 彼得大伯宁愿由他们家而不是别的人家把这座房子买下来。她准备缠着他们不放，直到他们 答应会来。如果能说通，并且她还没有累倒，她就会回家来。如果那样的话，她会回家来 的。如果这样，至少她在早上会回家来的，她还说，关于普洛克托斯家，什么也别说，只提 阿贝索贝斯家便行了——这是完全实实在在的话，因为她去那里是为了讲她们买下房子的 事。这我清楚，因为是她亲口对我这么说的。” “好吧。”她们说。随后就去找她们的叔叔，向他们问候，给他们传口信。 如今一切顺利。姑娘们不会说什么，因为她们想去英国。国王和公爵呢，他们宁愿玛 丽•珍妮出门为拍卖出一把力，而不愿意她们就在身边，叫罗宾逊医生一找就能找到。我 呢，也感觉良好。据我自个儿判断，我干得挺漂亮——依我看，就是汤姆•索亚吧，也未必 能干得更漂亮些。当然啰，他会搞得更有气派些。我因为从小缺少这方面的锻炼，便不能那 么得心应手。 啊，他们在公共广场上进行着拍卖，一直搞到傍晚。拍卖拖啊，拖啊，一直在拖下去。 那个老头儿亲自到场，站在台上主持拍卖的人身边，神情十分虔诚，不时插进去引一小段 《圣经》上的话，或是几句假仁假义的话。公爵呢，也在旁边咕咕咕地叫，想方设法引起人 家对他表示同情，并且借这个机会，好叫自己出出风头。 事情终于拖到了尽头，一切都拍卖光了。什么都拍卖掉了，除了墓地上的一些小玩意 儿。他们还要不遗余力把这些都拍卖掉——国王那种决心把一切的一切都吞下去的那个贪财 劲头，我可从来没有见过。啊，这一切正在进行着的当口儿，一只轮船靠岸啦。在这以后不 过两分钟，就有一群人来了，他们一边大声喊叫，一边哈哈大笑，闹着玩地叫道： “如今来了你们的对头啦！老彼得•威尔克斯家，如今有了两套继承的人马啦——你们 只要掏出钱来，押哪一家，尽你们挑！” Chapter 28 BY and by it was getting-up time. So I come down the ladder and started for down-stairs; but as I come to the girls' room the door was open, and I see Mary Jane setting by her old hair trunk, which was open and she'd been packing things in it -- getting ready to go to England. But she had stopped now with a folded gown in her lap, and had her face in her hands, crying. I felt awful bad to see it; of course anybody would. I went in there and says: "Miss Mary Jane, you can't a-bear to see people in trouble, and I can't -- most always. Tell me about it." So she done it. And it was the niggers -- I just expected it. She said the beautiful trip to England was most about spoiled for her; she didn't know HOW she was ever going to be happy there, knowing the mother and the children warn't ever going to see each other no more -- and then busted out bitterer than ever, and flung up her hands, and says: "Oh, dear, dear, to think they ain't EVER going to see each other any more!" "But they WILL -- and inside of two weeks -- and I KNOW it!" says I. Laws, it was out before I could think! And before I could budge she throws her arms around my neck and told me to say it AGAIN, say it AGAIN, say it AGAIN! I see I had spoke too sudden and said too much, and was in a close place. I asked her to let me think a minute; and she set there, very impatient and excited and handsome, but looking kind of happy and eased-up, like a person that's had a tooth pulled out. So I went to studying it out. I says to myself, I reckon a body that ups and tells the truth when he is in a tight place is taking considerable many resks, though I ain't had no experience, and can't say for certain; but it looks so to me, anyway; and yet here's a case where I'm blest if it don't look to me like the truth is better and actuly SAFER than a lie. I must lay it by in my mind, and think it over some time or other, it's so kind of strange and unregular. I never see nothing like it. Well, I says to myself at last, I'm a-going to chance it; I'll up and tell the truth this time, though it does seem most like setting down on a kag of powder and touching it off just to see where you'll go to. Then I says: "Miss Mary Jane, is there any place out of town a little ways where you could go and stay three or four days?" "Yes; Mr. Lothrop's. Why?" "Never mind why yet. If I'll tell you how I know the niggers will see each other again inside of two weeks -- here in this house -- and PROVE how I know it -- will you go to Mr. Lothrop's and stay four days?" "Four days!" she says; "I'll stay a year!" "All right," I says, "I don't want nothing more out of YOU than just your word -- I druther have it than another man's kiss-the-Bible." She smiled and reddened up very sweet, and I says, "If you don't mind it, I'll shut the door -- and bolt it." Then I come back and set down again, and says: "Don't you holler. Just set still and take it like a man. I got to tell the truth, and you want to brace up, Miss Mary, because it's a bad kind, and going to be hard to take, but there ain't no help for it. These uncles of yourn ain't no uncles at all; they're a couple of frauds -- regular dead-beats. There, now we're over the worst of it, you can stand the rest middling easy." It jolted her up like everything, of course; but I was over the shoal water now, so I went right along, her eyes a-blazing higher and higher all the time, and told her every blame thing, from where we first struck that young fool going up to the steamboat, clear through to where she flung herself on to the king's breast at the front door and he kissed her sixteen or seventeen times -- and then up she jumps, with her face afire like sunset, and says: "The brute! Come, don't waste a minute -- not a SECOND -- we'll have them tarred and feathered, and flung in the river!" Says I: "Cert'nly. But do you mean BEFORE you go to Mr. Lothrop's, or --" "Oh," she says, "what am I THINKING about!" she says, and set right down again. "Don't mind what I said -- please don't -- you WON'T, now, WILL you?" Laying her silky hand on mine in that kind of a way that I said I would die first. "I never thought, I was so stirred up," she says; "now go on, and I won't do so any more. You tell me what to do, and whatever you say I'll do it." "Well," I says, "it's a rough gang, them two frauds, and I'm fixed so I got to travel with them a while longer, whether I want to or not -- I druther not tell you why; and if you was to blow on them this town would get me out of their claws, and I'd be all right; but there'd be another person that you don't know about who'd be in big trouble. Well, we got to save HIM, hain't we? Of course. Well, then, we won't blow on them." Saying them words put a good idea in my head. I see how maybe I could get me and Jim rid of the frauds; get them jailed here, and then leave. But I didn't want to run the raft in the daytime without anybody aboard to answer questions but me; so I didn't want the plan to begin working till pretty late to-night. I says: "Miss Mary Jane, I'll tell you what we'll do, and you won't have to stay at Mr. Lothrop's so long, nuther. How fur is it?" "A little short of four miles -- right out in the country, back here." "Well, that 'll answer. Now you go along out there, and lay low till nine or half-past to-night, and then get them to fetch you home again -- tell them you've thought of something. If you get here before eleven put a candle in this window, and if I don't turn up wait TILL eleven, and THEN if I don't turn up it means I'm gone, and out of the way, and safe. Then you come out and spread the news around, and get these beats jailed." "Good," she says, "I'll do it." "And if it just happens so that I don't get away, but get took up along with them, you must up and say I told you the whole thing beforehand, and you must stand by me all you can." "Stand by you! indeed I will. They sha'n't touch a hair of your head!" she says, and I see her nostrils spread and her eyes snap when she said it, too. "If I get away I sha'n't be here," I says, "to prove these rapscallions ain't your uncles, and I couldn't do it if I WAS here. I could swear they was beats and bummers, that's all, though that's worth something. Well, there's others can do that better than what I can, and they're people that ain't going to be doubted as quick as I'd be. I'll tell you how to find them. Gimme a pencil and a piece of paper. There -- 'Royal Nonesuch, Bricksville.' Put it away, and don't lose it. When the court wants to find out something about these two, let them send up to Bricksville and say they've got the men that played the Royal Nonesuch, and ask for some witnesses -- why, you'll have that entire town down here before you can hardly wink, Miss Mary. And they'll come a-biling, too." I judged we had got everything fixed about right now. So I says: "Just let the auction go right along, and don't worry. Nobody don't have to pay for the things they buy till a whole day after the auction on accounts of the short notice, and they ain't going out of this till they get that money; and the way we've fixed it the sale ain't going to count, and they ain't going to get no money. It's just like the way it was with the niggers -- it warn't no sale, and the niggers will be back before long. Why, they can't collect the money for the NIGGERS yet -- they're in the worst kind of a fix, Miss Mary." "Well," she says, "I'll run down to breakfast now, and then I'll start straight for Mr. Lothrop's." "'Deed, THAT ain't the ticket, Miss Mary Jane," I says, "by no manner of means; go BEFORE breakfast." "Why?" "What did you reckon I wanted you to go at all for, Miss Mary?" "Well, I never thought -- and come to think, I don't know. What was it?" "Why, it's because you ain't one of these leatherface people. I don't want no better book than what your face is. A body can set down and read it off like coarse print. Do you reckon you can go and face your uncles when they come to kiss you goodmorning, and never --" "There, there, don't! Yes, I'll go before breakfast -- I'll be glad to. And leave my sisters with them?" "Yes; never mind about them. They've got to stand it yet a while. They might suspicion something if all of you was to go. I don't want you to see them, nor your sisters, nor nobody in this town; if a neighbor was to ask how is your uncles this morning your face would tell something. No, you go right along, Miss Mary Jane, and I'll fix it with all of them. I'll tell Miss Susan to give your love to your uncles and say you've went away for a few hours for to get a little rest and change, or to see a friend, and you'll be back to-night or early in the morning." "Gone to see a friend is all right, but I won't have my love given to them." "Well, then, it sha'n't be." It was well enough to tell HER so -- no harm in it. It was only a little thing to do, and no trouble; and it's the little things that smooths people's roads the most, down here below; it would make Mary Jane comfortable, and it wouldn't cost nothing. Then I says: "There's one more thing -- that bag of money." "Well, they've got that; and it makes me feel pretty silly to think HOW they got it." "No, you're out, there. They hain't got it." "Why, who's got it?" "I wish I knowed, but I don't. I HAD it, because I stole it from them; and I stole it to give to you; and I know where I hid it, but I'm afraid it ain't there no more. I'm awful sorry, Miss Mary Jane, I'm just as sorry as I can be; but I done the best I could; I did honest. I come nigh getting caught, and I had to shove it into the first place I come to, and run -- and it warn't a good place." "Oh, stop blaming yourself -- it's too bad to do it, and I won't allow it -- you couldn't help it; it wasn't your fault. Where did you hide it?" I didn't want to set her to thinking about her troubles again; and I couldn't seem to get my mouth to tell her what would make her see that corpse laying in the coffin with that bag of money on his stomach. So for a minute I didn't say nothing; then I says: "I'd ruther not TELL you where I put it, Miss Mary Jane, if you don't mind letting me off; but I'll write it for you on a piece of paper, and you can read it along the road to Mr. Lothrop's, if you want to. Do you reckon that 'll do?" "Oh, yes." So I wrote: "I put it in the coffin. It was in there when you was crying there, away in the night. I was behind the door, and I was mighty sorry for you, Miss Mary Jane." It made my eyes water a little to remember her crying there all by herself in the night, and them devils laying there right under her own roof, shaming her and robbing her; and when I folded it up and give it to her I see the water come into her eyes, too; and she shook me by the hand, hard, and says: "GOOD-bye. I'm going to do everything just as you've told me; and if I don't ever see you again, I sha'n't ever forget you. and I'll think of you a many and a many a time, and I'll PRAY for you, too!" -- and she was gone. Pray for me! I reckoned if she knowed me she'd take a job that was more nearer her size. But I bet she done it, just the same -- she was just that kind. She had the grit to pray for Judus if she took the notion -- there warn't no back-down to her, I judge. You may say what you want to, but in my opinion she had more sand in her than any girl I ever see; in my opinion she was just full of sand. It sounds like flattery, but it ain't no flattery. And when it comes to beauty -- and goodness, too -- she lays over them all. I hain't ever seen her since that time that I see her go out of that door; no, I hain't ever seen her since, but I reckon I've thought of her a many and a many a million times, and of her saying she would pray for me; and if ever I'd a thought it would do any good for me to pray for HER, blamed if I wouldn't a done it or bust. Well, Mary Jane she lit out the back way, I reckon; because nobody see her go. When I struck Susan and the hare-lip, I says: "What's the name of them people over on t'other side of the river that you all goes to see sometimes?" They says: "There's several; but it's the Proctors, mainly." "That's the name," I says; "I most forgot it. Well, Miss Mary Jane she told me to tell you she's gone over there in a dreadful hurry -- one of them's sick." "Which one?" "I don't know; leastways, I kinder forget; but I thinks it's --" "Sakes alive, I hope it ain't HANNER?" "I'm sorry to say it," I says, "but Hanner's the very one." "My goodness, and she so well only last week! Is she took bad?" "It ain't no name for it. They set up with her all night, Miss Mary Jane said, and they don't think she'll last many hours." "Only think of that, now! What's the matter with her?" I couldn't think of anything reasonable, right off that way, so I says: "Mumps." "Mumps your granny! They don't set up with people that's got the mumps." "They don't, don't they? You better bet they do with THESE mumps. These mumps is different. It's a new kind, Miss Mary Jane said." "How's it a new kind?" "Because it's mixed up with other things." "What other things?" "Well, measles, and whooping-cough, and erysiplas, and consumption, and yaller janders, and brain-fever, and I don't know what all." "My land! And they call it the MUMPS?" "That's what Miss Mary Jane said." "Well, what in the nation do they call it the MUMPS for?" "Why, because it IS the mumps. That's what it starts with." "Well, ther' ain't no sense in it. A body might stump his toe, and take pison, and fall down the well, and break his neck, and bust his brains out, and somebody come along and ask what killed him, and some numskull up and say, 'Why, he stumped his TOE.' Would ther' be any sense in that? NO. And ther' ain't no sense in THIS, nuther. Is it ketching?" "Is it KETCHING? Why, how you talk. Is a HARROW catching -- in the dark? If you don't hitch on to one tooth, you're bound to on another, ain't you? And you can't get away with that tooth without fetching the whole harrow along, can you? Well, these kind of mumps is a kind of a harrow, as you may say -- and it ain't no slouch of a harrow, nuther, you come to get it hitched on good." "Well, it's awful, I think," says the hare-lip. "I'll go to Uncle Harvey and --" "Oh, yes," I says, "I WOULD. Of COURSE I would. I wouldn't lose no time." "Well, why wouldn't you?" "Just look at it a minute, and maybe you can see. Hain't your uncles obleegd to get along home to England as fast as they can? And do you reckon they'd be mean enough to go off and leave you to go all that journey by yourselves? YOU know they'll wait for you. So fur, so good. Your uncle Harvey's a preacher, ain't he? Very well, then; is a PREACHER going to deceive a steamboat clerk? is he going to deceive a SHIP CLERK? -- so as to get them to let Miss Mary Jane go aboard? Now YOU know he ain't. What WILL he do, then? Why, he'll say, 'It's a great pity, but my church matters has got to get along the best way they can; for my niece has been exposed to the dreadful pluribus-unum mumps, and so it's my bounden duty to set down here and wait the three months it takes to show on her if she's got it.' But never mind, if you think it's best to tell your uncle Harvey --" "Shucks, and stay fooling around here when we could all be having good times in England whilst we was waiting to find out whether Mary Jane's got it or not? Why, you talk like a muggins." "Well, anyway, maybe you'd better tell some of the neighbors." "Listen at that, now. You do beat all for natural stupidness. Can't you SEE that THEY'D go and tell? Ther' ain't no way but just to not tell anybody at ALL." "Well, maybe you're right -- yes, I judge you ARE right." "But I reckon we ought to tell Uncle Harvey she's gone out a while, anyway, so he won't be uneasy about her?" "Yes, Miss Mary Jane she wanted you to do that. She says, 'Tell them to give Uncle Harvey and William my love and a kiss, and say I've run over the river to see Mr.' -- Mr. -- what IS the name of that rich family your uncle Peter used to think so much of? -- I mean the one that --" "Why, you must mean the Apthorps, ain't it?" "Of course; bother them kind of names, a body can't ever seem to remember them, half the time, somehow. Yes, she said, say she has run over for to ask the Apthorps to be sure and come to the auction and buy this house, because she allowed her uncle Peter would ruther they had it than anybody else; and she's going to stick to them till they say they'll come, and then, if she ain't too tired, she's coming home; and if she is, she'll be home in the morning anyway. She said, don't say nothing about the Proctors, but only about the Apthorps -- which 'll be perfectly true, because she is going there to speak about their buying the house; I know it, because she told me so herself." "All right," they said, and cleared out to lay for their uncles, and give them the love and the kisses, and tell them the message. Everything was all right now. The girls wouldn't say nothing because they wanted to go to England; and the king and the duke would ruther Mary Jane was off working for the auction than around in reach of Doctor Robinson. I felt very good; I judged I had done it pretty neat -- I reckoned Tom Sawyer couldn't a done it no neater himself. Of course he would a throwed more style into it, but I can't do that very handy, not being brung up to it. Well, they held the auction in the public square, along towards the end of the afternoon, and it strung along, and strung along, and the old man he was on hand and looking his level pisonest, up there longside of the auctioneer, and chipping in a little Scripture now and then, or a little goody-goody saying of some kind, and the duke he was around goo-gooing for sympathy all he knowed how, and just spreading himself generly. But by and by the thing dragged through, and everything was sold -- everything but a little old trifling lot in the graveyard. So they'd got to work that off -- I never see such a girafft as the king was for wanting to swallow EVERYTHING. Well, whilst they was at it a steamboat landed, and in about two minutes up comes a crowd a-whooping and yelling and laughing and carrying on, and singing out: "HERE'S your opposition line! here's your two sets o' heirs to old Peter Wilks -- and you pays your money and you takes your choice!" |
| 第二十七章 我爬到了他们房间的门前去听，只听见他们在打呼噜，我就一路踮着脚尖，顺顺当当下 了楼梯。四下里一点声响也没有。我从饭厅一道门缝里往里望，见到守灵的人都在椅子上睡 着了。门朝客厅开着，遗体放在客厅里。两间屋里都各点了一支蜡烛。我走了过去。客厅的 门是开着的。不过除了彼得的遗体外，我没有见到那里还有什么别的人。于是我继续往前 走，可是前门是上了锁的，钥匙不在那儿。正是在这个时刻，我听到有人从我背后的楼梯上 下来。我便奔进客厅，急忙往四下里张望一下，发现眼下唯一可以藏钱袋的地方只有在棺材 里了。棺材盖移开了大约有一英尺宽，这样就可以看到棺材下面死者的脸，脸上盖着一块潮 湿的布。死者身上穿着尸衣。我把钱袋放在棺材盖下面，恰好在死者双手交叉着的下边。害 得我全身直发抖。死者双手是冰凉凉的。接着我从房间的这一头跑回到另一头，躲在门背后。 下来的是玛丽•珍妮。她轻手轻脚地走到棺材边跪了下来，朝里边看了一下，然后掏出 手帕掩着脸。我看到她是在哭泣，虽说我并没有能听到声音。她的背朝着我。我偷偷溜出 来。走过餐厅的时候，我想确定一下，看我有没有被守灵的发现。所以我从门缝里张望了一 下，见到一切正常，那些人根本没有动弹。 我一溜烟上了床，心里有些不称心，因为我费尽了心思，又冒了这么大的风险，却只能 搞成这个样子。我在心里思忖，如果钱袋能在那里安然无恙，我到大河下游一两百英里地以 后，便可以写个信给玛丽•珍妮，她就能把棺材掘起来，把钱拿到手。不过嘛，事情不会是 这个样子的。可能发生的情况是人家来钉棺材盖的时候，钱袋给发现了。这样，国王又会得 到这笔钱。在这以后，要找个机会，从他手里弄出来，就不是一朝一夕的事了。当然啰，我 一心想溜下去，把钱从棺材里取出来，不过我没有这样做。天色每一分钟都渐渐亮起来了， 守灵的人，有一些会很快醒来的，我说不定会给逮住啊——逮住时手里还明明有六千块大 洋，而且谁也没有雇我来照管这笔钱啊。这样的事，我可不愿意牵扯进去。我心里就是这么 想的。 早上我下楼梯的时候，客厅的门是关了的，守灵的人都走了。四周没有别的什么人，只 有家里的人，还有巴特雷寡妇，还有我们这帮家伙。我仔细察看他们的脸，看有没有发生什 么情况，可是看不出来。 快正午的时候，承办殡葬的那一些人到了，他们把棺材搁在屋子中央几张椅子上，又放 好了一排椅子，包括原来自家的和跟邻居借的，把大厅、客厅、餐室都塞得满满的。我看到 棺材盖还是原来见到的那个样子，不过当着四周这么多人，我没有往盖子下面望一望究竟。 随后人们开始往里挤，那两个败类和几位闺女在棺材前面的前排就坐。人们排成单行， 一个个绕着棺材慢慢走过去，还低下头去看看死者的遗容，这样每人有一分钟的光景，一共 半个钟点，有些人还掉了几滴眼泪。一切都又安静，又肃穆，只有闺女们和两个败类手帕掩 着眼睛，垂着脑袋，发出一两声呜咽。除了脚擦着地板的声音和擤鼻涕的声音以外，没有任 何别的声音——因为人们总是在丧仪上比在别的场合更多地擤鼻涕。教堂里除外。 屋里挤满了人，承办殡葬的人带着黑手套、轻手轻脚地四处张罗，作一些最后的安排， 把人和事安排得有条有理，同时又不出多大的声音，仿佛一只猫一般。他从来不出声，却能 把人们站的位置安排好，能让后来到的人挤进队伍，能在人堆里划出行走的通道，而一切只 是通过点点头、挥挥手。随后他贴着墙在自己的位置上站好。我委实从未见到过能这么轻手 轻脚、动作灵活、毫不声张就把事情安排得如此熨熨帖帖的。至于笑容呢，他的脸就象一条 火腿一般，与笑容并没有多大的因缘。 他们借来了一架风琴——一架有毛病的风琴。等到一切安排停当，一位年轻的妇女坐下 弹了起来。风琴象害了疝气痛那样吱吱吱地呻吟，大伙儿一个个随声唱起来。依我看，只有 彼得一个人落得个清闲。随后霍勃逊牧师开了个场，语气缓慢而庄重。也正是在这个时刻， 地窖里有一只狗高声嗥叫，这可大杀风景。光只有一条狗，却已吵得大伙儿六神无主，而且 狗还叫个不停。闹得牧师不得不站在棺材前边不动，在原地等着——闹得连你自己在心里想 些什么你自己也听不见。这情景着实叫人难堪，可谁也不知道该怎么办才好。可是没有多 久，只见那个腿长长的承办殡葬的人朝牧师打了个手势，仿佛在说，“不用担心——一切有 我呢。”随后他弯下腰来，沿着墙滑过去，人们只见他的肩膀在大伙儿的脑袋上面移动。他 就这么滑过去。与此同时，吠叫声越来越刺耳。后来，他滑过了屋里两边的墙，消失在地窖 里。接下来，一刹那间，只听得“啪”的一声，那条狗最后发出了一两声十分凄厉的叫声， 就一切死一般地寂静了。牧师在中断的地方重新接下，去说他庄重的话语。一两分钟以后， 又见到承办殡葬的人，他的背、他的肩膀又在大伙儿的脑袋后面移动。他就这么滑动，划过 了屋子里面三堵墙，随后站直了身子，手掩住了嘴巴，伸出脖子，朝着牧师和大伙儿的脑 袋，操着沙嘎的低声说，“它逮住了一只耗子！”随后又弯下身子，沿着墙滑过去，回到了 自己的位子上。我看得很清楚，大伙儿都很满意，因为究竟是什么个原因，他们自然都想知 道。这么一点点儿小事，本来说不上什么，可正是在这么一点点儿小事上，关系到一个人是 否受到尊重，招人喜欢。在整个儿这个镇子上，再也没有别的人比这个承办殡葬的人更受欢 迎的了。 啊，这回葬仪上的布道说得挺好，只是说得太长，叫人不耐烦。接下来国王挤了进来， 又搬出一些陈腔滥调。到最后，这一套总算完成了，承办殡葬的人拿起了拧紧螺丝的钻子， 轻手轻脚地朝棺材走去，我浑身是汗，着急地仔细看着他怎样动作。可是他一点儿没有多 事，只是轻轻把棺材盖子一推，拧一拧紧，最后拧好了。这下子可把我难住了！我根本不知 道钱在里边，还是不在里边。我自个儿心里在想，万一有人暗中偷走了这个钱，那怎么办！ ——如今我怎么能决定究竟该不该给玛丽•珍妮写信呢？假定她把棺材挖掘了起来，却什么 也没有找到——那她又该怎样看我呢？天啊，说不定我会遭到追捕，关进监牢哩。我最好还 是不做声，瞒着她，根本不给她写信。事情如今搞得越来越复杂啦。本想把事情弄好，却弄 得搞糟了一百倍。我存心想做好事，可是原不该瞎管这闲事啊！ 人家把他下了葬，我们回到了家，我又再一次仔细察看每一个人的脸——这是我自个儿 也由不得自己的，我还是心里不安生啊。可是，结果仍然一无所获，从人家的脸上什么也没 有看出来。 傍晚时分，国王到处走访人家，叫每个人都感到甜甜的，也叫他自己到处受人欢迎。他 是要叫人家有个印象，就是他在英国的那个教堂急需要他，因此他非得加紧行事，马上把财 产的事解决掉，及早回去。他这样的急促，他自己也十分抱歉。大伙儿呢，也是一样。他们 原希望他能多耽一些日子。不过他们说，他们也明白，这是做不到的。国王又说，当然啰， 他和威廉会把闺女们带回家去，这叫大伙儿听了一个个都欢喜，因为这样一来，闺女们可以 安排得好好的，又跟亲人们生活在一起。姑娘们听了也很高兴——逗得她们高兴得了不得， 以致根本忘掉了她们在人世间还会有什么烦恼。她们还对他说，希望他能赶紧把东西拍卖 掉，她们随时准备动身。这些可怜的孩子感到这么高兴，这么幸福，我眼看她们如此被愚 弄，被欺骗，实在万分心痛啊。可是我又看不到有什么可靠的办法能插上一手，把局面给整 个儿扭转过来。 啊，天啊，国王果真贴出了招贴，说要把屋子、把黑奴、把全部的家产统统立即拍卖— —在殡葬以后两天实行拍卖。不过，如果有人愿意在这以前个别来买，那也是可以的云云。 因此在下葬以后的第二天，在中午前后，姑娘们的欢乐心情首次遭到了打击。有几个黑 奴贩子前来，国王以合理的价格把黑奴卖给了他们，用他们的话说，是收下了三天到期付现 的期票，把黑奴卖了。两个儿子给卖到了上游的孟菲斯，他们的母亲卖到了下游的奥尔良。 我想啊，这些可怜的姑娘啊，这些黑奴啊，会多么悲伤，连心都要破碎啊。她们一路上哭哭 啼啼，景象如此凄惨，我实在不忍看下去。那些姑娘说，她们连做梦也没有想到，她们会全 家活活拆散，从这个镇上给贩卖到别处去啊。这些可怜的姑娘和黑奴，彼此抱住了颈子哭哭 啼啼的情景，我将永世难忘。要不是我心里明白，这笔买卖最终不会作数，因而黑奴们一两 个星期内就会返回，要不是这样的话，我早就会忍不下去，会跳将出来，告发这帮骗子。 这件事在全镇也引起了很大的震动，好多人直接了当说这样拆散母女是造孽。这些话叫 骗子们有些招架不住了，不过那个老傻瓜不管公爵怎么个说法，或者怎么做法，还是一个劲 地坚决要干下去。我不妨告诉你一句话，那个公爵如今已经慌得很哩。 第二天是拍卖的日子。早晨天大亮以后，国王和公爵上阁楼来，叫醒了我。我从他们的 脸色就知道已经出了事。国王说： “前天晚上你到我的房间里来过？ “没有啊，陛下，”——这是在边上没有旁人只有我们这一帮子人的时候我平常对他的 称呼。 “昨天或者昨晚上，你有没有去过啊？” “没有，陛下。” “事到如今，要说老实话——不用撒谎。” “说老实话，陛下。我对你说的是真话。从玛丽小姐领你和公爵看了房间以后，我就没 有走近过你的房间。” 公爵说： “你有没有看到有人进去呢？” “没有，大人，我想不起有什么人进去过。” “好好想一想嘛。” 我考虑了一下，想到我的机会来了，便说： “啊，我见到黑奴们有几回进去了的。” 这两个家伙听了都跳了一下，那神气仿佛说，这可是他们没有料想到的；一会儿以后， 那神气又仿佛早就料到了这个似的。随后公爵说： “怎么啦，他们全都进去过啦？” “不是的——至少不是全体一起进去的。我是说，我从没有见他们同时间里一起走出 来，只除了一回。” “啊——那是在什么时候？” “就是殡葬那一天，是在早上。不是很早了，因为我醒得迟了，我正要从楼梯上下来， 我见到了他们。” “好，说下去，说下去——他们干了些什么？他们有什么动作？” “他们什么也没有干。反正，拿我看到的来说，他们并没有做什么事，并没有多大动 作。他们踮着脚尖走了。我自然认为他们是进去整理陛下的房间的。他们原以为你已经起身 了，结果看到你还没有起身，他们就想轻手轻脚出去，免得吵醒你，惹出麻烦来，如果他们 并非已经把你吵醒的话。”“老天爷，真有他们的。”国王说。两人的神色都很难看，有点 儿傻了眼的样子。他们站在那里想些什么，直抓脑袋。随后公爵怪模怪样地笑了几声说道： “可算本领高强，黑奴们这一手多么漂亮。他们还装作因为要离开这方土地伤心得什么 似的！我相信他们是伤心的。你也这么相信。大伙儿一个个都这么相信。别再告诉我说黑奴 没有演戏的天才啦。哈，他们表演起来的那一手啊，尽可以糊弄任何一个人。依我看，在他 们身上，有一笔财可发。我要是有资本、有一座戏院的话，那别的班子我都不要，就要这个 班子——可如今我们把他们卖了，简直是白送。我们没福消受，只会白送啊。喂，那张白送 的票子在哪儿——那张期票？” “正在银行里等着收款呢。还能在哪里呢？” “好，谢天谢地，那这期票就保险了。” 我这时插了话，仿佛胆小怕事地这么说： “是出了什么事么？” 国王猛然一转身，恶狠狠地对我说： “不关你的什么事！不许你管闲事。你要是有什么事的话——就管好你自己的事吧。只 要你还在这个镇子上，你可别把这句话给忘了，你听到了吧？”随后他对公爵说，“我们只 能把这件事硬是往肚子里咽，决不声张。我们只能不声不响。” 他们下楼梯的时候，公爵又咯咯地笑起来，说： “卖得快来赚得少！这笔生意真不赖——真不赖。” 国王回过头来，恶狠狠对他说： “我正尽力而为嘛，正尽快拍卖掉嘛。就算结局捞不到赚头，或是倒赔了不少，什么都 没有能带走，那我的过失也未必比你大多少，不是么？” “当初要是能听从我的劝告，那他们就会还在这屋子里，而我们就会早走了。” 国王强词夺理地回敬了他几句，随后转过身来拿我出气。他责怪我见到黑奴从房间里那 样走出来的时候没有过来告诉他——说再傻也会知道是出了事啦。随后又转过去对自己骂了 几句，说全怪自己没有迟一点儿睡，早上便自然可以多歇一会儿。他以后再这么干才怪呢。 他们就这样唠唠叨叨走了，我呢，快高兴死了，我把事情推在黑奴身上的路子生了效，黑奴 呢，并没有受到什么伤害。 Chapter 27 I CREPT to their doors and listened; they was snoring. So I tiptoed along, and got down stairs all right. There warn't a sound anywheres. I peeped through a crack of the dining-room door, and see the men that was watching the corpse all sound asleep on their chairs. The door was open into the parlor, where the corpse was laying, and there was a candle in both rooms. I passed along, and the parlor door was open; but I see there warn't nobody in there but the remainders of Peter; so I shoved on by; but the front door was locked, and the key wasn't there. Just then I heard somebody coming down the stairs, back behind me. I run in the parlor and took a swift look around, and the only place I see to hide the bag was in the coffin. The lid was shoved along about a foot, showing the dead man's face down in there, with a wet cloth over it, and his shroud on. I tucked the moneybag in under the lid, just down beyond where his hands was crossed, which made me creep, they was so cold, and then I run back across the room and in behind the door. The person coming was Mary Jane. She went to the coffin, very soft, and kneeled down and looked in; then she put up her handkerchief, and I see she begun to cry, though I couldn't hear her, and her back was to me. I slid out, and as I passed the dining-room I thought I'd make sure them watchers hadn't seen me; so I looked through the crack, and everything was all right. They hadn't stirred. I slipped up to bed, feeling ruther blue, on accounts of the thing playing out that way after I had took so much trouble and run so much resk about it. Says I, if it could stay where it is, all right; because when we get down the river a hundred mile or two I could write back to Mary Jane, and she could dig him up again and get it; but that ain't the thing that's going to happen; the thing that's going to happen is, the money 'll be found when they come to screw on the lid. Then the king 'll get it again, and it 'll be a long day before he gives anybody another chance to smouch it from him. Of course I WANTED to slide down and get it out of there, but I dasn't try it. Every minute it was getting earlier now, and pretty soon some of them watchers would begin to stir, and I might get catched -- catched with six thousand dollars in my hands that nobody hadn't hired me to take care of. I don't wish to be mixed up in no such business as that, I says to myself. When I got down stairs in the morning the parlor was shut up, and the watchers was gone. There warn't nobody around but the family and the widow Bartley and our tribe. I watched their faces to see if anything had been happening, but I couldn't tell. Towards the middle of the day the undertaker come with his man, and they set the coffin in the middle of the room on a couple of chairs, and then set all our chairs in rows, and borrowed more from the neighbors till the hall and the parlor and the dining-room was full. I see the coffin lid was the way it was before, but I dasn't go to look in under it, with folks around. Then the people begun to flock in, and the beats and the girls took seats in the front row at the head of the coffin, and for a half an hour the people filed around slow, in single rank, and looked down at the dead man's face a minute, and some dropped in a tear, and it was all very still and solemn, only the girls and the beats holding handkerchiefs to their eyes and keeping their heads bent, and sobbing a little. There warn't no other sound but the scraping of the feet on the floor and blowing noses -- because people always blows them more at a funeral than they do at other places except church. When the place was packed full the undertaker he slid around in his black gloves with his softy soothering ways, putting on the last touches, and getting people and things all ship-shape and comfortable, and making no more sound than a cat. He never spoke; he moved people around, he squeezed in late ones, he opened up passageways, and done it with nods, and signs with his hands. Then he took his place over against the wall. He was the softest, glidingest, stealthiest man I ever see; and there warn't no more smile to him than there is to a ham. They had borrowed a melodeum -- a sick one; and when everything was ready a young woman set down and worked it, and it was pretty skreeky and colicky, and everybody joined in and sung, and Peter was the only one that had a good thing, according to my notion. Then the Reverend Hobson opened up, slow and solemn, and begun to talk; and straight off the most outrageous row busted out in the cellar a body ever heard; it was only one dog, but he made a most powerful racket, and he kept it up right along; the parson he had to stand there, over the coffin, and wait -- you couldn't hear yourself think. It was right down awkward, and nobody didn't seem to know what to do. But pretty soon they see that long-legged undertaker make a sign to the preacher as much as to say, "Don't you worry -- just depend on me." Then he stooped down and begun to glide along the wall, just his shoulders showing over the people's heads. So he glided along, and the powwow and racket getting more and more outrageous all the time; and at last, when he had gone around two sides of the room, he disappears down cellar. Then in about two seconds we heard a whack, and the dog he finished up with a most amazing howl or two, and then everything was dead still, and the parson begun his solemn talk where he left off. In a minute or two here comes this undertaker's back and shoulders gliding along the wall again; and so he glided and glided around three sides of the room, and then rose up, and shaded his mouth with his hands, and stretched his neck out towards the preacher, over the people's heads, and says, in a kind of a coarse whisper, "HE HAD A RAT!" Then he drooped down and glided along the wall again to his place. You could see it was a great satisfaction to the people, because naturally they wanted to know. A little thing like that don't cost nothing, and it's just the little things that makes a man to be looked up to and liked. There warn't no more popular man in town than what that undertaker was. Well, the funeral sermon was very good, but pison long and tiresome; and then the king he shoved in and got off some of his usual rubbage, and at last the job was through, and the undertaker begun to sneak up on the coffin with his screw-driver. I was in a sweat then, and watched him pretty keen. But he never meddled at all; just slid the lid along as soft as mush, and screwed it down tight and fast. So there I was! I didn't know whether the money was in there or not. So, says I, s'pose somebody has hogged that bag on the sly? -- now how do I know whether to write to Mary Jane or not? S'pose she dug him up and didn't find nothing, what would she think of me? Blame it, I says, I might get hunted up and jailed; I'd better lay low and keep dark, and not write at all; the thing's awful mixed now; trying to better it, I've worsened it a hundred times, and I wish to goodness I'd just let it alone, dad fetch the whole business! They buried him, and we come back home, and I went to watching faces again -- I couldn't help it, and I couldn't rest easy. But nothing come of it; the faces didn't tell me nothing. The king he visited around in the evening, and sweetened everybody up, and made himself ever so friendly; and he give out the idea that his congregation over in England would be in a sweat about him, so he must hurry and settle up the estate right away and leave for home. He was very sorry he was so pushed, and so was everybody; they wished he could stay longer, but they said they could see it couldn't be done. And he said of course him and William would take the girls home with them; and that pleased everybody too, because then the girls would be well fixed and amongst their own relations; and it pleased the girls, too -- tickled them so they clean forgot they ever had a trouble in the world; and told him to sell out as quick as he wanted to, they would be ready. Them poor things was that glad and happy it made my heart ache to see them getting fooled and lied to so, but I didn't see no safe way for me to chip in and change the general tune. Well, blamed if the king didn't bill the house and the niggers and all the property for auction straight off -- sale two days after the funeral; but anybody could buy private beforehand if they wanted to. So the next day after the funeral, along about noontime, the girls' joy got the first jolt. A couple of nigger traders come along, and the king sold them the niggers reasonable, for three-day drafts as they called it, and away they went, the two sons up the river to Memphis, and their mother down the river to Orleans. I thought them poor girls and them niggers would break their hearts for grief; they cried around each other, and took on so it most made me down sick to see it. The girls said they hadn't ever dreamed of seeing the family separated or sold away from the town. I can't ever get it out of my memory, the sight of them poor miserable girls and niggers hanging around each other's necks and crying; and I reckon I couldn't a stood it all, but would a had to bust out and tell on our gang if I hadn't knowed the sale warn't no account and the niggers would be back home in a week or two. The thing made a big stir in the town, too, and a good many come out flatfooted and said it was scandalous to separate the mother and the children that way. It injured the frauds some; but the old fool he bulled right along, spite of all the duke could say or do, and I tell you the duke was powerful uneasy. Next day was auction day. About broad day in the morning the king and the duke come up in the garret and woke me up, and I see by their look that there was trouble. The king says: "Was you in my room night before last?" "No, your majesty" -- which was the way I always called him when nobody but our gang warn't around. "Was you in there yisterday er last night?" "No, your majesty." "Honor bright, now -- no lies." "Honor bright, your majesty, I'm telling you the truth. I hain't been a-near your room since Miss Mary Jane took you and the duke and showed it to you." The duke says: "Have you seen anybody else go in there?" "No, your grace, not as I remember, I believe." "Stop and think." I studied awhile and see my chance; then I says: "Well, I see the niggers go in there several times." Both of them gave a little jump, and looked like they hadn't ever expected it, and then like they HAD. Then the duke says: "What, all of them?" "No -- leastways, not all at once -- that is, I don't think I ever see them all come OUT at once but just one time." "Hello! When was that?" "It was the day we had the funeral. In the morning. It warn't early, because I overslept. I was just starting down the ladder, and I see them." "Well, go on, GO on! What did they do? How'd they act?" "They didn't do nothing. And they didn't act anyway much, as fur as I see. They tiptoed away; so I seen, easy enough, that they'd shoved in there to do up your majesty's room, or something, s'posing you was up; and found you WARN'T up, and so they was hoping to slide out of the way of trouble without waking you up, if they hadn't already waked you up." "Great guns, THIS is a go!" says the king; and both of them looked pretty sick and tolerable silly. They stood there a-thinking and scratching their heads a minute, and the duke he bust into a kind of a little raspy chuckle, and says: "It does beat all how neat the niggers played their hand. They let on to be SORRY they was going out of this region! And I believed they WAS sorry, and so did you, and so did everybody. Don't ever tell ME any more that a nigger ain't got any histrionic talent. Why, the way they played that thing it would fool ANYBODY. In my opinion, there's a fortune in 'em. If I had capital and a theater, I wouldn't want a better lay-out than that -- and here we've gone and sold 'em for a song. Yes, and ain't privileged to sing the song yet. Say, where IS that song -- that draft?" "In the bank for to be collected. Where WOULD it be?" "Well, THAT'S all right then, thank goodness." Says I, kind of timid-like: "Is something gone wrong?" The king whirls on me and rips out: "None o' your business! You keep your head shet, and mind y'r own affairs -- if you got any. Long as you're in this town don't you forgit THAT -- you hear?" Then he says to the duke, "We got to jest swaller it and say noth'n': mum's the word for US." As they was starting down the ladder the duke he chuckles again, and says: "Quick sales AND small profits! It's a good business -- yes." The king snarls around on him and says: "I was trying to do for the best in sellin' 'em out so quick. If the profits has turned out to be none, lackin' considable, and none to carry, is it my fault any more'n it's yourn?" "Well, THEY'D be in this house yet and we WOULDN'T if I could a got my advice listened to." The king sassed back as much as was safe for him, and then swapped around and lit into ME again. He give me down the banks for not coming and TELLING him I see the niggers come out of his room acting that way -- said any fool would a KNOWED something was up. And then waltzed in and cussed HIMSELF awhile, and said it all come of him not laying late and taking his natural rest that morning, and he'd be blamed if he'd ever do it again. So they went off a-jawing; and I felt dreadful glad I'd worked it all off on to the niggers, and yet hadn't done the niggers no harm by it. td] |
第二十六章 等到大伙儿都走了，国王问玛丽•珍妮，有没有空闲的屋子。她说有一间是空的，威廉 叔叔可以住这一间。她呢，要把她自己那一间更大些的留给哈维叔叔住。她会搬到妹妹的房 间去，睡一张帆布床。上面顶楼有个小间，摆着一张小床铺。国王说，这可以叫他的跟随住 ——也就是说我。 玛丽•珍妮领我们上楼，让他们看了自己的房间。房间陈设简单，不过倒也挺舒适。她 说，如果哈维叔叔嫌碍事的话，她可以把她的一些衣衫和零星什物从她房间里搬出去。不过 国王说，不用搬了。那些衣衫是沿墙挂着的，一排衣衫前面有一张印花布的幔子从上面垂到 地板上。一个角落里，有一只旧的毛皮箱子，另一个角落放着一只吉它盒子，各式各样的零 星小家什、小玩意儿，散在各处，都是些姑娘家爱用来点缀房间的东西。国王说，这些家具 使得房间里增添了家常气氛，也更舒适，因此不必挪动了。公爵的房间小巧而舒适。我那个 小间也是这样。 那天晚餐很丰盛，男男女女，济济一堂，我站在国王和公爵坐的椅子后边侍候他们，其 余的人由黑奴们侍候。玛丽•珍妮坐在桌子一头的主人席上，苏珊坐在她的旁边。她们的话 题是说油饼的味道怎么糟，果酱怎么不行，炸鸡怎么炸老了，口味差——如此等等的废话， 尽是妇女们搬出来的一套客气话，用来逼客人说些恭维的话。客人都明白今天的饭菜全是上 品，并且也这么说了：“这油饼你是怎么烤的，烤得这么鲜美？”“天啊，你哪里弄来这么 好吃的泡菜啊？”诸如此类的废话，不一而足。你知道，人们在饭桌上就爱搬弄这一些。 把大伙儿都侍候过了，我和豁嘴在厨房里吃剩下的饭菜，别的一些人帮着黑奴收拾整 理。豁嘴一个劲儿地要我多讲讲英国。有的时候，我真怕快要露出破绽来了。她说： “你见过国王么？” “谁？威廉第四？啊，我当然见过——他上我们的教堂去的。”我知道他几年前死了， 不过我没有露出一点口风。我说他去过我们的教堂以后，她就说： “什么——每星期都去么？” “是的——每星期都去。他的座位正好在我的座位的对面——在布道台的那一边。” “我原以为他住在伦敦啊，不是么？” “哦，是的。他不住在伦敦住哪里啊？” “不过我原以为你是住在谢菲尔德哩！” 我这下子知道自己快招架不住了。我不得不装做给一根鸡骨头卡住了喉咙，好抓住时间 想一个脱身之计。我说： “我的意思是说，他在谢菲尔德的时间里每星期上我们的教堂。这只是说夏季，他夏季 来洗海水浴。” “啊，看你说的——谢菲尔德并非靠海啊。” “嗯，谁说靠海啦？” “怎么啦，你说的嘛。” “我可没有说。” “你说了的！” “我没有说。” “你说了的！” “我从没有说过这类的话。” “好，那你说了些什么呢？” “我说的是他来洗海水浴——我说的是这个。” “好吧，如果不靠海，他怎么洗海水浴？” “听我说，”我说，“你看见过国会水①么？” ①诺顿版注：纽约萨拉托迦的国会泉有矿泉水。 “看见过。” “好，你是不是非到国会去才弄得到这个水？” “怎么啦，不是啊。” “好啊，威廉也并非必须得到海上去才能洗海水浴啊。” “那么他怎么搞到的呢？” “这里的人怎样搞到国会水，他也就怎样搞到海水——一桶桶运吧。在谢菲尔德的宫 里，有锅炉，他洗的时候就是要水烫些才好。在海边人家没有法子烧开这么多的水。他们没 有这样方便的条件嘛。” “哦，我如今明白了。你可以一开头便说清楚嘛，也好节省些时间。” 听到她这么说，我知道我总算得救啦。我就舒坦、快活了起来。下面她说： “你也上教堂么？” “是的——每星期去。” “你坐哪里呢？” “怎么啦，坐在我们的长椅上啊。” “谁的长椅？” “怎么啦？我们的啊——你叔叔哈维的啊。” “他的？他要长椅有什么用？” “坐嘛。依你看，他要了有什么用？” “啊，我原以为他是站在布道台后边的。” 糟了，我忘了他是个传教师。我知道我又快招架不住了。因此，我就再一次玩起了鸡骨 头的法宝，好再想一想。随后我说： “真该死，你以为一个教会只有一个传教师么？” “啊，多了有什么用呢？” “嘿！——在国王面前布道么？象你这样傻的姑娘，我还从没有见过。他们一共有十七 位之多呢。” “十七位！我的天！要我听这么一长串，即便进不了天堂，我也坐不住啊。听他们布完 道，得一个星期吧。” “别胡说了，他们并非同一天都布道——只有其中一个布道。” “那么其余的人干些什么呢？” “哦，没有多少事。到处走走，递递盘子，收收布施，—— 如此等等。不过一般他们不干什么。” “那么，要他们有什么用？” “哈，是为了有气派嘛。你怎么什么都不知道。”“我才不要懂得这样的蠢事呢。英国 人对待佣人怎么样？ 他们对待佣人比我们对待黑奴强些么？” “不！一个佣人在那里是不算人的。他们所受的待遇连狗还不如。” “象我们这样给他们假期么？象圣诞节啊，新年啊，七月四日等等的。” “哦，听我说！从这一些，人们就知道你没有去过英国。啊，豁①——嗳，琼娜，他们 从年初一到年底，从没有假期，从没有去过马戏团，从没有上过戏院，也没有看过黑奴表 演，哪儿也不去。” ①哈克在这里几乎说出了“豁嘴”这样不礼貌的话，幸亏说了“豁”急忙收住。 “教堂也不去么？” “教堂也不去。” “不过你怎么经常上教堂？” 啊，我又给问住了。我忘了自个儿是老头儿的仆人啦。不过一转眼间，我马上胡乱抓住 了一种解释，说一个侍从怎样跟一个仆人是不同的，不论他本人高兴或者不高兴，他非得上 教堂去，去跟一家人坐在一起，因为这是法律上有了规定的。不过我这个解释搞得不怎么 样，我解释完以后，她仿佛还不满意。她说： “说老实话，你是不是一直在跟我撒谎？” “我说的是老实话。”我说。 “连一句假话也没有？” “连一句假话也没有，没有撒一句谎。”我说。 “把你的手放在这一本册子上，然后这么说一遍。” 我一看，不是什么别的书，只是一本字典，所以我就把手按在上面，然后又说了一遍。 这样，她显得比较满意些，说道： “那好吧，其中有一些，我信。不过其余的话，要我的命也不能信。” “琼，你不信的是什么啊？”玛丽•珍妮跨进门来，苏珊跟在她的后面。“你这样对他 说话，他一个生人，离自己的人那么遥远，这样说话既不应该，又不客气。换个位置，你愿 意人家这样对待你么？” “你总是这样个脾气，玛丽——怕人家受委屈，爱半道上便插进来帮人家。我并没有得 罪他啊。依我看，他有些事说得加油加醋的，我在说，我不能句句都照吞不误。我就说了这 么几句话。这么小事一桩，我想他还受得住，不是么？” “我才不管是小事还是大事哩。他是在我们家作客，你说这一些是不对的。你要是在他 的位置上，这些话会叫你害臊的，因为这个缘故，凡是能叫人家害臊的话，你都不该对别人 说。” “只是，玛丽，他在说——” “他说些什么，这不相干——问题不在这里。问题是应该对他和和气气，凡是足以让人 家感觉到自己不在本乡本土、不是和自家人在一起的话，一概不说。” 我对自个儿说，“恰恰正是这样一位姑娘，我却听任那个老流氓去抢劫她的钱财！” 随后苏珊她也插了进来。你信不信，她把豁嘴狠狠地剋了一顿！ 我便对自个儿说，这是又一位姑娘，我却听任那个老流氓抢劫她的钱财！ 随后玛丽•珍妮又责怪了一通，随后又甜甜蜜蜜、亲亲热热地说起话来——这是她的章 法——不过等到她把话说完，可怜的豁嘴就无话可说了，只是一迭声地央告起来。 “那么好吧，”另外两位姑娘说，“你就请他原谅吧。” 她也照着办了。而且她说得多么动人啊。她是说得如此动人，听起来叫人多么快乐。我 真是但愿能给她讲一千回的谎话，好叫她再这么说一回。 我对自个儿说，这是又一位姑娘，我正听任那位老流氓抢劫她的钱财。她赔了不是以 后，她们便对我百般殷勤，让我觉得是在自己家里，是和朋友在一起。我呢，只觉得自己何 等缺德、何等卑鄙、何等丧失人格。我对自个儿说，我已经下定了决心，我死活也要把那笔 钱给藏起来。 于是我就跑开了，——我嘴里说是去睡觉的，我的意思却是说等一会儿再说吧。我一个 人在的时候，独自把当前的事从头至尾在心里过了一遍。我对自个儿说，要不要由我私下里 去找那位医生，把这两个骗子都加以告发呢？不——这不妥。他说不定会说出来是谁告诉了 他的。那么，国王和公爵准会狠狠地收拾我。我该不该私下里去告诉玛丽•珍妮呢？不—— 这个办法不行。她脸上的表情准定会表现出一种暗示来。如今既然他们把钱弄到了手，他们 便会立刻溜之大吉，把钱带走，不见踪影。要是她找人帮忙，我看啊，在事情真相大白以 前，我会被卷了进去。不，除了一个办法，其它的路子都行不通。无论如何，非得由我把钱 偷到手。我非得找出一个办法来，把钱偷到手，而又不致叫他们起疑心，以为是我偷的。他 们在这里正得手哩。他们是不会马上就离开的。在把这家人家和这个镇子油水挤干以前，是 不会走的。所以我还有的是机会。我要把钱偷到手，藏起来。等我到了大河下游，我可以写 封信，告诉玛丽•珍妮钱藏在哪里。不过嘛，只要做得到的话，最好今晚上便能偷到手。因 为医生不见得象他所说的真的撒手不管这事了，他未必真会善罢甘休。他反倒兴许会把他们 吓得从这里逃走哩。 于是我思量，还是由我去房间里搜一搜。在楼上，厅堂里是黑的。我先找到了公爵的那 一间卧室，便用手到处摸着。不过我一想，按照国王的脾气，未必会肯叫别人照管好这笔 钱，而是非得由他自己管不可的，于是我去了他那间房间，到处掏摸。然而我发现，没有一 支蜡烛，我什么也干不成。当然啰，我并没有点燃蜡烛。依我看，还是得走另一条路——躲 起来，偷听。正在这个时刻，我听到有脚步声。我想钻到床底下面为好，便伸手去摸床。不 过我原以为放床的地方，却并没有床。我摸到的是遮住珍妮小姐衣衫的布幔，我便纵身一 跃，跳到了布幔后边，躲在衣衫中间，一动不动站着。 他们进来了，随后把门一关。公爵干的第一件事便是弯下身子，朝床底下张望。我真是 高兴极了，刚才我本想摸到床，可并没有摸到。不过嘛，你要知道，人如果干什么偷偷摸摸 的勾当，便很自然的会想到要藏到床底下去。他们坐了下来。国王说： “你有什么话要说？有话就快说。因为咱们要是在楼下大着嗓子谈论丧事，总要比在楼 上让人家议论我们来得安全些。” “喂，我要说的是：卡贝，我心里不安着哪。我感到不舒坦啊。那个医生老压在我的心 上。我要知道你的打算。我如今想到了一个念头，我看是稳妥的。” “什么念头，公爵？” “今晨三点钟以前，我们最好溜之大吉，带了已经到手的，飞快地赶到大河下游去。特 别是这样，既然得来这么轻易——又还给了我们，简直可以说是当面扔给我们的。我们原本 以为非得重新偷回来才行哩。我主张就此罢手，来个溜之大吉。” 这话叫我感到情况不妙。在一两个钟头以前，也许感觉会不一样，可如今听了，感到情 况不妙，很是灰心失望。国王发急了，嚷道： “什么？其余的财产还没有拍卖掉就走？像两个傻瓜蛋那样就此开路。值八九千块钱的 财产就在我们手边，尽我们捡，反倒丢着不管，——而且全都是能轻易便脱手的。” 公爵嘟嘟囔囔地说，那袋金洋就够了嘛，他可不愿进一步冒什么险啦——不愿意把几个 孤女抢个精光。 “嘿，听你说的！”国王说，“我们并没有抢劫她们，不过就只是这钱嘛。那些买家产 的才是受害者嘛。因为只要一发现我们并非财产的主人——我们溜掉以后，不用多久便会查 明的——那么这回买卖便并无法律效力，财产就会物归原主。这些孤女就会重新取得这些财 产，这对她们来说，就心满意足啦。她们还年轻，手脚轻快，挣钱吃饭并非难事。她们并不 会受什么苦。啊，你只要好生想一想，世上赶不上她们的，还有成千上万个人呢。天啊，她 们还有什么好抱怨的呢。 国王把公爵说得晕头晕脑，他最后便屈服了，说那就这样吧。不过他还说，这样耽下 去，还有医生威胁着他们，他确信那是傻瓜才会这么干。不过国王说： “滚他妈的医生！我们还在乎他么？镇上所有的傻瓜不都是站到了我们这一边么？这难 道不是占任何一个镇子上的大多数了么？” 于是他们准备重新到楼底下去。公爵说： “我看这笔钱藏的地方不合适。” 这话我听了为之精神一振。我原本以为我得不到什么线索找到这笔钱啦。国王说： “为什么？” “因为玛丽•珍妮从现在起要守孝。她会吩咐那个收拾这间屋子的黑奴，把衣物装进盒 子里收起来。难道你以为黑奴发现了这笔钱，不会顺手借一些么？” “公爵，你的脑袋又精明起来啦。”国王说。他在离我两三英尺的地方的布幔下边摸了 一会儿。我紧贴住墙，纹丝不动，尽管身子在颤抖。要是这些家伙抓住了我的话，真不知道 他们会对我说些什么。我就思忖着，要是他们真的把我给逮住了，我该怎么办？不过，我还 来不及在念头一闪以后进一步进行思考，国王已经把钱袋拿到了手。他根本没有怀疑到我竟 然就在旁边。他们拿过袋子，往羽绒褥子底下一张草垫子的裂缝里使劲塞，塞了足足有一两 英尺深。还说，这么一放，不会有什么问题了，因为一个黑奴只会整理整理羽绒褥子，不会 动草垫子，草垫子一年只翻两回，把钱塞在里面，就不会有被偷的危险啦。 不过我比他们知道得更多一些吧。他们才只下了三步楼梯，我就把东西取到了手。我摸 着上去，走进了我的小间，先行找个地方藏了起来，以便以后再找个更好的地方。据我判 断，放在屋子外面什么一个地方为好。因为一旦这些家伙发现丢了，肯定会在整个屋子里搜 个不亦乐乎，这我很明白。于是我转身睡了，身上的衣服一件未脱。但是要睡也睡不着，心 里火烧火燎似的，只想把事情办了。随后听到国王和公爵走上楼来。我便从毛毡上滚下来， 下巴颏搁在梯子口上，等着看会不会发生什么危险。不过什么事也没有。 我就这样等着。后来夜深了，一切的声音全都静了下来，而清早的声息呢，也还没有开 始，我这才溜下了梯子。 Chapter 26 WELL, when they was all gone the king he asks Mary Jane how they was off for spare rooms, and she said she had one spare room, which would do for Uncle William, and she'd give her own room to Uncle Harvey, which was a little bigger, and she would turn into the room with her sisters and sleep on a cot; and up garret was a little cubby, with a pallet in it. The king said the cubby would do for his valley -- meaning me. So Mary Jane took us up, and she showed them their rooms, which was plain but nice. She said she'd have her frocks and a lot of other traps took out of her room if they was in Uncle Harvey's way, but he said they warn't. The frocks was hung along the wall, and before them was a curtain made out of calico that hung down to the floor. There was an old hair trunk in one corner, and a guitar-box in another, and all sorts of little knickknacks and jimcracks around, like girls brisken up a room with. The king said it was all the more homely and more pleasanter for these fixings, and so don't disturb them. The duke's room was pretty small, but plenty good enough, and so was my cubby. That night they had a big supper, and all them men and women was there, and I stood behind the king and the duke's chairs and waited on them, and the niggers waited on the rest. Mary Jane she set at the head of the table, with Susan alongside of her, and said how bad the biscuits was, and how mean the preserves was, and how ornery and tough the fried chickens was -- and all that kind of rot, the way women always do for to force out compliments; and the people all knowed everything was tiptop, and said so -- said "How DO you get biscuits to brown so nice?" and "Where, for the land's sake, DID you get these amaz'n pickles?" and all that kind of humbug talky-talk, just the way people always does at a supper, you know. And when it was all done me and the hare-lip had supper in the kitchen off of the leavings, whilst the others was helping the niggers clean up the things. The hare-lip she got to pumping me about England, and blest if I didn't think the ice was getting mighty thin sometimes. She says: "Did you ever see the king?" "Who? William Fourth? Well, I bet I have -- he goes to our church." I knowed he was dead years ago, but I never let on. So when I says he goes to our church, she says: "What -- regular?" "Yes -- regular. His pew's right over opposite ourn -- on t'other side the pulpit." "I thought he lived in London?" "Well, he does. Where WOULD he live?" "But I thought YOU lived in Sheffield?" I see I was up a stump. I had to let on to get choked with a chicken bone, so as to get time to think how to get down again. Then I says: "I mean he goes to our church regular when he's in Sheffield. That's only in the summer time, when he comes there to take the sea baths." "Why, how you talk -- Sheffield ain't on the sea." "Well, who said it was?" "Why, you did." "I DIDN'T nuther." "You did!" "I didn't." "You did." "I never said nothing of the kind." "Well, what DID you say, then?" "Said he come to take the sea BATHS -- that's what I said." "Well, then, how's he going to take the sea baths if it ain't on the sea?" "Looky here," I says; "did you ever see any Congress-water?" "Yes." "Well, did you have to go to Congress to get it?" "Why, no." "Well, neither does William Fourth have to go to the sea to get a sea bath." "How does he get it, then?" "Gets it the way people down here gets Congresswater -- in barrels. There in the palace at Sheffield they've got furnaces, and he wants his water hot. They can't bile that amount of water away off there at the sea. They haven't got no conveniences for it." "Oh, I see, now. You might a said that in the first place and saved time." When she said that I see I was out of the woods again, and so I was comfortable and glad. Next, she says: "Do you go to church, too?" "Yes -- regular." "Where do you set?" "Why, in our pew." "WHOSE pew?" "Why, OURN -- your Uncle Harvey's." "His'n? What does HE want with a pew?" "Wants it to set in. What did you RECKON he wanted with it?" "Why, I thought he'd be in the pulpit." Rot him, I forgot he was a preacher. I see I was up a stump again, so I played another chicken bone and got another think. Then I says: "Blame it, do you suppose there ain't but one preacher to a church?" "Why, what do they want with more?" "What! -- to preach before a king? I never did see such a girl as you. They don't have no less than seventeen." "Seventeen! My land! Why, I wouldn't set out such a string as that, not if I NEVER got to glory. It must take 'em a week." "Shucks, they don't ALL of 'em preach the same day -- only ONE of 'em." "Well, then, what does the rest of 'em do?" "Oh, nothing much. Loll around, pass the plate -- and one thing or another. But mainly they don't do nothing." "Well, then, what are they FOR?" "Why, they're for STYLE. Don't you know nothing?" "Well, I don't WANT to know no such foolishness as that. How is servants treated in England? Do they treat 'em better 'n we treat our niggers?" "NO! A servant ain't nobody there. They treat them worse than dogs." "Don't they give 'em holidays, the way we do, Christmas and New Year's week, and Fourth of July?" "Oh, just listen! A body could tell YOU hain't ever been to England by that. Why, Hare-l -- why, Joanna, they never see a holiday from year's end to year's end; never go to the circus, nor theater, nor nigger shows, nor nowheres." "Nor church?" "Nor church." "But YOU always went to church." Well, I was gone up again. I forgot I was the old man's servant. But next minute I whirled in on a kind of an explanation how a valley was different from a common servant and HAD to go to church whether he wanted to or not, and set with the family, on account of its being the law. But I didn't do it pretty good, and when I got done I see she warn't satisfied. She says: "Honest injun, now, hain't you been telling me a lot of lies?" "Honest injun," says I. "None of it at all?" "None of it at all. Not a lie in it," says I. "Lay your hand on this book and say it." I see it warn't nothing but a dictionary, so I laid my hand on it and said it. So then she looked a little better satisfied, and says: "Well, then, I'll believe some of it; but I hope to gracious if I'll believe the rest." "What is it you won't believe, Joe?" says Mary Jane, stepping in with Susan behind her. "It ain't right nor kind for you to talk so to him, and him a stranger and so far from his people. How would you like to be treated so?" "That's always your way, Maim -- always sailing in to help somebody before they're hurt. I hain't done nothing to him. He's told some stretchers, I reckon, and I said I wouldn't swallow it all; and that's every bit and grain I DID say. I reckon he can stand a little thing like that, can't he?" "I don't care whether 'twas little or whether 'twas big; he's here in our house and a stranger, and it wasn't good of you to say it. If you was in his place it would make you feel ashamed; and so you oughtn't to say a thing to another person that will make THEM feel ashamed." "Why, Maim, he said --" "It don't make no difference what he SAID -- that ain't the thing. The thing is for you to treat him KIND, and not be saying things to make him remember he ain't in his own country and amongst his own folks." I says to myself, THIS is a girl that I'm letting that old reptle rob her of her money! Then Susan SHE waltzed in; and if you'll believe me, she did give Hare-lip hark from the tomb! Says I to myself, and this is ANOTHER one that I'm letting him rob her of her money! Then Mary Jane she took another inning, and went in sweet and lovely again -- which was her way; but when she got done there warn't hardly anything left o' poor Hare-lip. So she hollered. "All right, then," says the other girls; "you just ask his pardon." She done it, too; and she done it beautiful. She done it so beautiful it was good to hear; and I wished I could tell her a thousand lies, so she could do it again. I says to myself, this is ANOTHER one that I'm letting him rob her of her money. And when she got through they all jest laid theirselves out to make me feel at home and know I was amongst friends. I felt so ornery and low down and mean that I says to myself, my mind's made up; I'll hive that money for them or bust. So then I lit out -- for bed, I said, meaning some time or another. When I got by myself I went to thinking the thing over. I says to myself, shall I go to that doctor, private, and blow on these frauds? No -- that won't do. He might tell who told him; then the king and the duke would make it warm for me. Shall I go, private, and tell Mary Jane? No -- I dasn't do it. Her face would give them a hint, sure; they've got the money, and they'd slide right out and get away with it. If she was to fetch in help I'd get mixed up in the business before it was done with, I judge. No; there ain't no good way but one. I got to steal that money, somehow; and I got to steal it some way that they won't suspicion that I done it. They've got a good thing here, and they ain't a-going to leave till they've played this family and this town for all they're worth, so I'll find a chance time enough. I'll steal it and hide it; and by and by, when I'm away down the river, I'll write a letter and tell Mary Jane where it's hid. But I better hive it tonight if I can, because the doctor maybe hasn't let up as much as he lets on he has; he might scare them out of here yet. So, thinks I, I'll go and search them rooms. Upstairs the hall was dark, but I found the duke's room, and started to paw around it with my hands; but I recollected it wouldn't be much like the king to let anybody else take care of that money but his own self; so then I went to his room and begun to paw around there. But I see I couldn't do nothing without a candle, and I dasn't light one, of course. So I judged I'd got to do the other thing -- lay for them and eavesdrop. About that time I hears their footsteps coming, and was going to skip under the bed; I reached for it, but it wasn't where I thought it would be; but I touched the curtain that hid Mary Jane's frocks, so I jumped in behind that and snuggled in amongst the gowns, and stood there perfectly still. They come in and shut the door; and the first thing the duke done was to get down and look under the bed. Then I was glad I hadn't found the bed when I wanted it. And yet, you know, it's kind of natural to hide under the bed when you are up to anything private. They sets down then, and the king says: "Well, what is it? And cut it middlin' short, because it's better for us to be down there a-whoopin' up the mournin' than up here givin' 'em a chance to talk us over." "Well, this is it, Capet. I ain't easy; I ain't comfortable. That doctor lays on my mind. I wanted to know your plans. I've got a notion, and I think it's a sound one." "What is it, duke?" "That we better glide out of this before three in the morning, and clip it down the river with what we've got. Specially, seeing we got it so easy -- GIVEN back to us, flung at our heads, as you may say, when of course we allowed to have to steal it back. I'm for knocking off and lighting out." That made me feel pretty bad. About an hour or two ago it would a been a little different, but now it made me feel bad and disappointed, The king rips out and says: "What! And not sell out the rest o' the property? March off like a passel of fools and leave eight or nine thous'n' dollars' worth o' property layin' around jest sufferin' to be scooped in? -- and all good, salable stuff, too." The duke he grumbled; said the bag of gold was enough, and he didn't want to go no deeper -- didn't want to rob a lot of orphans of EVERYTHING they had. "Why, how you talk!" says the king. "We sha'n't rob 'em of nothing at all but jest this money. The people that BUYS the property is the suff'rers; because as soon 's it's found out 'at we didn't own it -- which won't be long after we've slid -- the sale won't be valid, and it 'll all go back to the estate. These yer orphans 'll git their house back agin, and that's enough for THEM; they're young and spry, and k'n easy earn a livin'. THEY ain't a-goin to suffer. Why, jest think -- there's thous'n's and thous'n's that ain't nigh so well off. Bless you, THEY ain't got noth'n' to complain of." Well, the king he talked him blind; so at last he give in, and said all right, but said he believed it was blamed foolishness to stay, and that doctor hanging over them. But the king says: "Cuss the doctor! What do we k'yer for HIM? Hain't we got all the fools in town on our side? And ain't that a big enough majority in any town?" So they got ready to go down stairs again. The duke says: "I don't think we put that money in a good place." That cheered me up. I'd begun to think I warn't going to get a hint of no kind to help me. The king says: "Why?" "Because Mary Jane 'll be in mourning from this out; and first you know the nigger that does up the rooms will get an order to box these duds up and put 'em away; and do you reckon a nigger can run across money and not borrow some of it?" "Your head's level agin, duke," says the king; and he comes a-fumbling under the curtain two or three foot from where I was. I stuck tight to the wall and kept mighty still, though quivery; and I wondered what them fellows would say to me if they catched me; and I tried to think what I'd better do if they did catch me. But the king he got the bag before I could think more than about a half a thought, and he never suspicioned I was around. They took and shoved the bag through a rip in the straw tick that was under the feather-bed, and crammed it in a foot or two amongst the straw and said it was all right now, because a nigger only makes up the feather-bed, and don't turn over the straw tick only about twice a year, and so it warn't in no danger of getting stole now. But I knowed better. I had it out of there before they was half-way down stairs. I groped along up to my cubby, and hid it there till I could get a chance to do better. I judged I better hide it outside of the house somewheres, because if they missed it they would give the house a good ransacking: I knowed that very well. Then I turned in, with my clothes all on; but I couldn't a gone to sleep if I'd a wanted to, I was in such a sweat to get through with the business. By and by I heard the king and the duke come up; so I rolled off my pallet and laid with my chin at the top of my ladder, and waited to see if anything was going to happen. But nothing did. So I held on till all the late sounds had quit and the early ones hadn't begun yet; and then I slipped down the ladder. |
第二十五章 才只两分钟时间，消息便传遍了整个儿村落。但见人们从四面八方飞也似地跑来，有些 人还一边跑一边披着上衣。才一会儿，我们就被大伙儿围在中间，大伙儿的脚步声如同军队 行军时发出的声音一般。窗口、门口都挤满了人。每分钟都能听到有人在隔着栅栏说： “是他们么？” 在这帮一溜小跑的人中间，就会有人说： “可不是么。” 等我们走到这所房子时，门前大街上人头济济，三位闺女正站在大门口。玛丽•珍妮确 是红头发，不过这没有什么，她美丽非凡，她那脸上，她那对眼睛，都闪着光彩。她见到 “叔叔”来了，十分高兴。国王呢，他张开双臂，玛丽•珍妮便投进他的怀抱。豁嘴呢，她 朝公爵跳过去。他们着实亲热了一番。大伙儿看到他们终于团聚，彼此这般欢悦，几乎一个 个都高兴得为之落泪，至少妇女们都是这样。 随后国王偷偷推了一下公爵——这我是看到了的——接着四周张望，看到了那口棺材， 是在角落里，搁在两张椅子上。国王和公爵一只手搁在对方的肩膀上，一只手抹着眼泪，神 色庄严地缓步走过去，大伙儿纷纷为他们让路。说话声、嘈杂声，都一下子停息了。人们在 说“嘘”，并且纷纷脱下帽子，垂下脑袋，简直连一颗针落地，都能听到声音。他们一走 近，就低下头来，朝棺材里望，只望了一眼，便呼天抢地大哭起来，那哭声哪怕你在奥尔良 也能听到。接下来，他们把手臂勾着彼此的脖子，把下巴靠在彼此的肩膀上，有三分钟之 久，也许还是四分钟呢。眼泪象撒尿一般地流淌，这样的洋洋大观，我过去可从没有见识 过。请你注意，人们一个个都这样，把地都给弄潮了，这也是我见所未见的。接下来，这两 人一个到棺材的一侧，另一个到另一侧，他们跪了下来，把额骨搁在棺材的边上，装做全心 全意祷告的模样。啊，到了这么一步。四周人群那种大为感动的情景，委实是从未见过的。 人们一个个哭出了声，大声呜咽——那几位可怜的闺女也是一样。还有几乎每一个妇女，都 朝几位闺女走过去，吻她们的前额，手抚着她们的脑袋，眼睛望着天，眼泪哗哗直淌，随后 忍不住哭出声来，一路呜呜咽咽、抹着眼泪走开，让下一位妇女表演一番。这样叫人恶心的 事，我可是见所未见。 随后国王站了起来，朝前走了几步，酝酿好了情绪，哭哭啼啼作了一番演说，一边眼泪 直流，一边胡话连篇，说他和他那可怜的兄弟，从四千英里外，仆仆风尘赶到这里，却失掉 了亲人，连最后一面也未见到，心里有多难过，只是由于大伙儿的亲切慰问和神圣的眼泪， 这样的伤心事也就加上了一种甜蜜的滋味，变成了一件庄严的事，他和他兄弟从心底里感谢 他们。因为嘴里说出的话无法表达心意，语言委实太无力、太冷淡了。如此等等的一类废 话，听了叫人要吐。最后胡诌了几声“阿门”，又放开嗓子大哭一场，哭得死去活来。 他一说完，大伙儿中间就有人唱起“赞美诗”来，大家一个个加入了进来，并且使出全 身的劲直喊，听了叫人来了兴致，仿佛做完礼拜、走出教堂时的那种感受。音乐嘛，实在是 个好东西，听了一遍奉承的话和这些空话以后，再听听音乐，就使人精神一振。并且那音乐 听起来朴朴实实、那么悦耳。 接下来国王又张开大嘴，胡诌起来，说如果这家人的好友中，有几位能留下和他们一起 晚餐，并且帮助他们料理死者的遗骸，他和侄女们会十分高兴。还说如果躺在那一边的哥哥 会说话的话，他知道该说哪些人的名字。因为这些名字对他是十分可贵的，也是他在信上时 常提到的。为此，他愿提下列的名字——霍勃逊牧师、洛特•霍凡执事、朋•勒克先生和阿 勃纳•夏克尔福特先生，还有勒维•贝尔律师、罗宾逊医生，还有他们的夫人。还有巴特雷 寡妇。 霍勃逊牧师和罗宾逊医生正在镇子的另一头合演他们的拿手好戏去了，我的意思是说， 医生正为一个病人发送到另一个世界，牧师就做指路人。贝尔律师为了业务去路易斯维尔 了。不过其余的人都在场，他们就一个个走上前来，和国王握手，谢谢他，并和他说起话 来。随后他们和公爵握手，并没有说什么话，只是脸上始终透着笑容，频频点点头，活象一 群傻瓜蛋。而他呢，做出种种手势，从头到尾只说“谷—— 谷——谷—谷—谷”仿佛象一个婴孩还说不成话似的。 这样国王便信口开河起来，对镇上一个个的人，一只只的狗，几乎都问了个遍。还提到 了人家的姓名。镇上以及乔治家、彼得家，过去曾发生过的芝麻绿豆小事，也一桩桩一件件 给提到了。而且装作是彼得信上提起过的。不过这些都是谎话，这些全是他从那个年轻的笨 蛋、也就是从搭我们的划子上大轮的人嘴巴里掏来的。 随后玛丽•珍妮拿出了她爸爸的那封遗书，国王大声读了一遍，一边读一边哭。遗书规 定把住宅和三千块钱金洋给闺女们，把鞣皮工场（这行业正当生意兴隆的时候），连同房屋 和土地（值七千元）和三千元金洋给哈维和威廉。遗书上还说，这六千块现钱藏在地窖里。 这两个骗子便说由他们去取上来，一切办得光明正大、当众公开。他还嘱咐我带一支蜡烛一 起去。我们随手把地窖的门关上。他们一发现装钱的袋子，便往地板上一倒，只见金灿灿的 一堆堆，煞是好看。天啊，你看国王的眼睛里怎样闪闪发光啊！他往公爵的肩膀上一拍，说 道： “这太棒啦！这还不棒，天底下还有什么棒的呢？哦，不。我看没有了！毕奇，这比 《王室异兽》还强，不是么？” 公爵也承认是这么回事。他们把那堆金洋东摸摸、西摸摸，让金钱从手指缝里往下溜， 让金洋叮叮噹噹掉到地板上。 国王说： “说空话无济于事。作为富裕的死者的兄弟，留在国外的继承人的代理人，我们该扮的 就是这么个角色，毕奇。一切听从上天的安排，我们这才有这样一个遭遇。从长远来看，这 才是最靠得住的一条路。一切我都试过了，除此以外，别无更好的路。” 有了这么一大堆钱，换了别的人，都会心满意足了，都会以信任对待一切了。可是不， 他们非得把钱数过才行。于是他们就数了起来。一数，还缺四百十五块钱。国王说： “妈的，真不知道他把四百十五块钱搞到哪里去了？” 他们为这件事烦恼了一会儿，把各处也都搜了个遍。后来公爵说： “啊，他是个重病在身的人，很可能是搞错了——依我看，就是这样。最好的办法是随 它去吧，不必声张。这点亏我们还吃得起。” “哦，他妈的，是啊，我们还吃得起。我对这个根本不在乎——我如今想到的是我们数 过了。我们要把事情就在这儿搞得公平交易、坦坦白白、光明正大你知道吧。我们要把这儿 的钱拿到上边，在众人面前公开点数——好叫人起不了疑心。既然死者说是六千块大洋，你 知道吧，我们就不愿——” “等一等，”公爵说，“由我们来补足”——一边从口袋里掏出了金灿灿的钱。 “这可是个了不起的好主意，公爵——你那个脑袋瓜可真是聪明绝顶了，”国王说， “还是《王室异兽》这出老戏帮了我们的忙。”——一边他也顺手掏出了金币，摞成一叠。 两人的口袋几乎掏空了，不过他们还是凑足了六千块钱，一文不少。 “听我说，”公爵说，“我又有一个想法。让我们走上楼去，在那儿把钱数一数，随后 把钱递给闺女们。” “我的天，公爵，让我拥抱你！这可是一个人能想到的最光辉灿烂的主意啦。你的脑袋 肯定是聪明到了最惊人的地步。哦，这说得上是锦囊妙计，一点儿漏洞也没有。要是他们还 心存疑虑的话，凭这下子管叫它一扫而空——这一下啊，管叫他们无话可说。” 我们一上了楼，大伙儿一个个围着桌子。国王把金币点过数了，随手摞成一叠叠，每三 百元一叠——整整齐齐的二十小堆。大伙儿一个个眼馋得不知道怎样才好，并且使劲舔嘴 唇。随后他们把钱重新扒进了袋子里。我注意到了国王正在蹩着劲，准备又一次发表演说 了。他说： “朋友们，耽在那一边的我那可怜的哥哥，对我们这些留在阳间这伤心之谷的人是慷慨 大方的。他对他深爱的、他保护的、失去父母的这些可怜的羔羊是慷慨的。是啊，凡是了解 他的人，我们都知道，要不是他怕亏了他亲爱的威廉和我本人，他准会对她们更加慷慨的。 他到底会不会呢？依我的心里思量，这绝对不会错的。既然如此，——如果在这样一个时 刻，竟然出来挡道，那还算什么叔叔？如果在这样一个时刻，竟然想对他深爱的这些可怜的 甜蜜的小羔羊存心掠夺，——是的，掠夺，——那还算什么叔叔？对威廉，如果我还了解他 ——我想我是了解他的——好，我来直接问他。”他一转身，对公爵做出种种的手势借以达 意。公爵呢，有一阵子只是傻乎乎地瞪着眼睛望着，随后仿佛突然懂得了是什么个意思，一 跳跳到国王面前，咕咕咕地不停，快活得不知怎样才好，并且拥抱了他足足有十五下左右， 才放开手。接着，国王说，“我早知道了。我料想，他对这件事是什么个态度，从这一些看 来，能叫大伙儿一个个都信得过。来，玛丽、苏珊、琼娜，把钱拿去——全部拿去。这是躺 在那边的，身子凉了，心里却是高兴的人赠送给你们的。” 玛丽•珍妮就朝他走过去，苏珊和豁嘴朝公爵走过去，一个个拥抱、亲吻，那么热烈， 是我见所未见的。大伙儿也一个个含着热泪，大多数人还和骗子们一个个握手，一路上还说： “你们这些亲爱的好人啊——多么可爱——真没想到啊！” 接下来一个个很快又讲到了死者，说他是多么好的一个人；他的死对大家是多大的一个 损失；如此等等。这时候，有一个大个子、说话冲的人，从外边往里挤，站在那里一边听， 一边张望，默不作声，也没有人对他说话，因为国王正说着话，大伙儿正在忙着听。国王在 说——说到了半中间： “……他们都是死者至好的朋友。这是为什么今晚他们被邀请到这里。不过，到明天， 我们希望所有的人都来——我说所有的人，因为他素来对每一个人都尊重，对每一个人都和 好。因此他的殡葬的酒宴理当对大家都敞开的。” 此人就是爱听自己说话，所以唠唠叨叨没有个完。每隔一会儿，他又要提到殡葬酒宴这 句话。后来，公爵实在受不了了，便在一张小纸片上写了几个字“是葬礼，你这个老傻 瓜”，折好了，便一边嘴里谷——谷——谷，一边从众人头上扔给他。国王看了一遍，把纸 片往口袋里一塞，说道：“可怜的威廉，虽然他害了病，他的心可始终是健康的。他要我请 大家每个人都来参加葬礼——要我请大伙儿务必参加。不过他不用担心——我说的正就是这 件事嘛。” 随后，他不慌不忙，滔滔不绝地胡谄下去，时不时地提到殡葬酒宴这个词，跟刚才一个 样。他第三次这么提时，他说： “我说酒宴，倒并非因为这是通常的说法，恰恰不是的——通常的说法是叫葬仪——我 这样说，因为酒宴是正确的词。葬仪这个词，在英国是不再沿用了。酒宴这个词更好些，因 为这意思是更正确地指明了你的意向。这个词源自希腊文DγgD，指外面，露天，国外；希 伯来文是Jeesum，指种植，盖起来，因而就是埋的意思。你们知道吧，所以殡葬酒宴就是 当着大众的公开的下葬。” 这是我见到的最拙劣的表演了。啊，那位说话冲的人当了他的面大笑了起来。大伙儿一 个个都惊呆了。一个个在说，“怎么啦，医生？”阿勃纳•夏克尔福特说： “怎么啦，罗宾逊？你没有听到这个信息么？这位是哈维•威尔克斯。” 国王更巴结地满面堆笑，伸过手来说： “这位是我那可怜的哥哥的好朋友、医生吧？我——” “你这双手别碰我！”医生说。“你说话象一个英国人么——可真是么？学得这么糟 的，我可还从没见过。你这个彼得•威尔克斯的兄弟啊。你是个骗子，这才是你的真面目！” 哈，这下子可把大伙儿惊呆了！他们一个个围住了医生，要叫他的气平下来，想给他作 种种解释，告诉他哈维已经在四十件事上表明他确实是哈维，他怎样知道每个人的姓名，知 道每一只狗的名字。还一个个求他，求他千万别伤害哈维的感情、可怜的闺女们的感情和大 伙儿的感情。可是不论你怎么劝说，都没有用，他还是一个劲儿地大发雷霆。还说不论什么 人，装做英国人却又英国话说得那么糟，准是个骗子，是个撒谎的家伙。那几位可怜的闺女 偎着国王哭泣，医生突然一转身，对着她们说： “我是你们父亲的朋友，我至今是你们的朋友，我作为一个朋友，一个忠诚的朋友，一 个要保护你们免遭伤害的朋友，现在我警告你们，马上别再理会那个流氓，别再理睬他，这 个无知识的流浪汉。他满口胡言乱语，乱扯所谓的希腊文和希伯来文。他是一眼便能被识破 的诈骗犯——不知从什么地方拣来一些空洞的名字和没影子的事，就当作什么依据，还由这 儿的一些本该明白事理的糊涂朋友帮着糊弄你们。玛丽•珍妮•威尔克斯，你知道我是你的 朋友，也是你无私的朋友。现在听我一句话，把这个可怜不足惜的流氓给轰出去—— 我求你干这件事，行吧？” 玛丽•珍妮身子一挺，我的天啊，她多么漂亮啊。她说： “这就是我的回答。”她抱起那一袋钱，放在国王的手心里，还说，“收下这六千块大 洋吧，为我和我的两个妹妹投放出去吧，你爱怎么办就怎么办，也不用给我收据。” 随后她一边用一条胳膊搂着国王，苏珊和豁嘴搂着另一个。大伙儿一个个鼓掌，脚蹬着 地板，仿佛掀起了一场风暴。 国王呢，昂起了脑袋傲然一笑。医生说： “好吧，我洗手不管这号事了。不过我警告你们全体，总会有一个时刻来到，到时候你 们会为了今天的看法害羞的。”——说罢，他就走了。 “好吧，医生，”国王嘲笑他说，“我们会劝她们来奉告你的。”——这话逗得大家笑 了起来。他们说，这下子挖苦得恰中要害。 Chapter 25 THE news was all over town in two minutes, and you could see the people tearing down on the run from every which way, some of them putting on their coats as they come. Pretty soon we was in the middle of a crowd, and the noise of the tramping was like a soldier march. The windows and dooryards was full; and every minute somebody would say, over a fence: "Is it THEM?" And somebody trotting along with the gang would answer back and say: "You bet it is." When we got to the house the street in front of it was packed, and the three girls was standing in the door. Mary Jane WAS red-headed, but that don't make no difference, she was most awful beautiful, and her face and her eyes was all lit up like glory, she was so glad her uncles was come. The king he spread his arms, and Marsy Jane she jumped for them, and the hare-lip jumped for the duke, and there they HAD it! Everybody most, leastways women, cried for joy to see them meet again at last and have such good times. Then the king he hunched the duke private -- I see him do it -- and then he looked around and see the coffin, over in the corner on two chairs; so then him and the duke, with a hand across each other's shoulder, and t'other hand to their eyes, walked slow and solemn over there, everybody dropping back to give them room, and all the talk and noise stopping, people saying "Sh!" and all the men taking their hats off and drooping their heads, so you could a heard a pin fall. And when they got there they bent over and looked in the coffin, and took one sight, and then they bust out a-crying so you could a heard them to Orleans, most; and then they put their arms around each other's necks, and hung their chins over each other's shoulders; and then for three minutes, or maybe four, I never see two men leak the way they done. And, mind you, everybody was doing the same; and the place was that damp I never see anything like it. Then one of them got on one side of the coffin, and t'other on t'other side, and they kneeled down and rested their foreheads on the coffin, and let on to pray all to themselves. Well, when it come to that it worked the crowd like you never see anything like it, and everybody broke down and went to sobbing right out loud -- the poor girls, too; and every woman, nearly, went up to the girls, without saying a word, and kissed them, solemn, on the forehead, and then put their hand on their head, and looked up towards the sky, with the tears running down, and then busted out and went off sobbing and swabbing, and give the next woman a show. I never see anything so disgusting. Well, by and by the king he gets up and comes forward a little, and works himself up and slobbers out a speech, all full of tears and flapdoodle about its being a sore trial for him and his poor brother to lose the diseased, and to miss seeing diseased alive after the long journey of four thousand mile, but it's a trial that's sweetened and sanctified to us by this dear sympathy and these holy tears, and so he thanks them out of his heart and out of his brother's heart, because out of their mouths they can't, words being too weak and cold, and all that kind of rot and slush, till it was just sickening; and then he blubbers out a pious goody-goody Amen, and turns himself loose and goes to crying fit to bust. And the minute the words were out of his mouth somebody over in the crowd struck up the doxolojer, and everybody joined in with all their might, and it just warmed you up and made you feel as good as church letting out. Music is a good thing; and after all that soul-butter and hogwash I never see it freshen up things so, and sound so honest and bully. Then the king begins to work his jaw again, and says how him and his nieces would be glad if a few of the main principal friends of the family would take supper here with them this evening, and help set up with the ashes of the diseased; and says if his poor brother laying yonder could speak he knows who he would name, for they was names that was very dear to him, and mentioned often in his letters; and so he will name the same, to wit, as follows, vizz.: -- Rev. Mr. Hobson, and Deacon Lot Hovey, and Mr. Ben Rucker, and Abner Shackleford, and Levi Bell, and Dr. Robinson, and their wives, and the widow Bartley. Rev. Hobson and Dr. Robinson was down to the end of the town a-hunting together -- that is, I mean the doctor was shipping a sick man to t'other world, and the preacher was pinting him right. Lawyer Bell was away up to Louisville on business. But the rest was on hand, and so they all come and shook hands with the king and thanked him and talked to him; and then they shook hands with the duke and didn't say nothing, but just kept a-smiling and bobbing their heads like a passel of sapheads whilst he made all sorts of signs with his hands and said "Goo-goo -- goo-goo-goo" all the time, like a baby that can't talk. So the king he blattered along, and managed to inquire about pretty much everybody and dog in town, by his name, and mentioned all sorts of little things that happened one time or another in the town, or to George's family, or to Peter. And he always let on that Peter wrote him the things; but that was a lie: he got every blessed one of them out of that young flathead that we canoed up to the steamboat. Then Mary Jane she fetched the letter her father left behind, and the king he read it out loud and cried over it. It give the dwelling-house and three thousand dollars, gold, to the girls; and it give the tanyard (which was doing a good business), along with some other houses and land (worth about seven thousand), and three thousand dollars in gold to Harvey and William, and told where the six thousand cash was hid down cellar. So these two frauds said they'd go and fetch it up, and have everything square and aboveboard; and told me to come with a candle. We shut the cellar door behind us, and when they found the bag they spilt it out on the floor, and it was a lovely sight, all them yaller-boys. My, the way the king's eyes did shine! He slaps the duke on the shoulder and says: "Oh, THIS ain't bully nor noth'n! Oh, no, I reckon not! Why, Biljy, it beats the Nonesuch, DON'T it?" The duke allowed it did. They pawed the yallerboys, and sifted them through their fingers and let them jingle down on the floor; and the king says: "It ain't no use talkin'; bein' brothers to a rich dead man and representatives of furrin heirs that's got left is the line for you and me, Bilge. Thish yer comes of trust'n to Providence. It's the best way, in the long run. I've tried 'em all, and ther' ain't no better way." Most everybody would a been satisfied with the pile, and took it on trust; but no, they must count it. So they counts it, and it comes out four hundred and fifteen dollars short. Says the king: "Dern him, I wonder what he done with that four hundred and fifteen dollars?" They worried over that awhile, and ransacked all around for it. Then the duke says: "Well, he was a pretty sick man, and likely he made a mistake -- I reckon that's the way of it. The best way's to let it go, and keep still about it. We can spare it." "Oh, shucks, yes, we can SPARE it. I don't k'yer noth'n 'bout that -- it's the COUNT I'm thinkin' about. We want to be awful square and open and above-board here, you know. We want to lug this h-yer money up stairs and count it before everybody -- then ther' ain't noth'n suspicious. But when the dead man says ther's six thous'n dollars, you know, we don't want to --" "Hold on," says the duke. "Le's make up the deffisit," and he begun to haul out yaller-boys out of his pocket. "It's a most amaz'n' good idea, duke -- you HAVE got a rattlin' clever head on you," says the king. "Blest if the old Nonesuch ain't a heppin' us out agin," and HE begun to haul out yaller-jackets and stack them up. It most busted them, but they made up the six thousand clean and clear. "Say," says the duke, "I got another idea. Le's go up stairs and count this money, and then take and GIVE IT TO THE GIRLS." "Good land, duke, lemme hug you! It's the most dazzling idea 'at ever a man struck. You have cert'nly got the most astonishin' head I ever see. Oh, this is the boss dodge, ther' ain't no mistake 'bout it. Let 'em fetch along their suspicions now if they want to -- this 'll lay 'em out." When we got up-stairs everybody gethered around the table, and the king he counted it and stacked it up, three hundred dollars in a pile -- twenty elegant little piles. Everybody looked hungry at it, and licked their chops. Then they raked it into the bag again, and I see the king begin to swell himself up for another speech. He says: "Friends all, my poor brother that lays yonder has done generous by them that's left behind in the vale of sorrers. He has done generous by these yer poor little lambs that he loved and sheltered, and that's left fatherless and motherless. Yes, and we that knowed him knows that he would a done MORE generous by 'em if he hadn't ben afeard o' woundin' his dear William and me. Now, WOULDN'T he? Ther' ain't no question 'bout it in MY mind. Well, then, what kind o' brothers would it be that 'd stand in his way at sech a time? And what kind o' uncles would it be that 'd rob -- yes, ROB -- sech poor sweet lambs as these 'at he loved so at sech a time? If I know William -- and I THINK I do -- he -- well, I'll jest ask him." He turns around and begins to make a lot of signs to the duke with his hands, and the duke he looks at him stupid and leatherheaded a while; then all of a sudden he seems to catch his meaning, and jumps for the king, goo-gooing with all his might for joy, and hugs him about fifteen times before he lets up. Then the king says, "I knowed it; I reckon THAT 'll convince anybody the way HE feels about it. Here, Mary Jane, Susan, Joanner, take the money -- take it ALL. It's the gift of him that lays yonder, cold but joyful." Mary Jane she went for him, Susan and the hare-lip went for the duke, and then such another hugging and kissing I never see yet. And everybody crowded up with the tears in their eyes, and most shook the hands off of them frauds, saying all the time: "You DEAR good souls! -- how LOVELY! -- how COULD you!" Well, then, pretty soon all hands got to talking about the diseased again, and how good he was, and what a loss he was, and all that; and before long a big iron-jawed man worked himself in there from outside, and stood a-listening and looking, and not saying anything; and nobody saying anything to him either, because the king was talking and they was all busy listening. The king was saying -- in the middle of something he'd started in on -- "-- they bein' partickler friends o' the diseased. That's why they're invited here this evenin'; but tomorrow we want ALL to come -- everybody; for he respected everybody, he liked everybody, and so it's fitten that his funeral orgies sh'd be public." And so he went a-mooning on and on, liking to hear himself talk, and every little while he fetched in his funeral orgies again, till the duke he couldn't stand it no more; so he writes on a little scrap of paper, "OBSEQUIES, you old fool," and folds it up, and goes to goo-gooing and reaching it over people's heads to him. The king he reads it and puts it in his pocket, and says: "Poor William, afflicted as he is, his HEART'S aluz right. Asks me to invite everybody to come to the funeral -- wants me to make 'em all welcome. But he needn't a worried -- it was jest what I was at." Then he weaves along again, perfectly ca'm, and goes to dropping in his funeral orgies again every now and then, just like he done before. And when he done it the third time he says: "I say orgies, not because it's the common term, because it ain't -- obsequies bein' the common term -- but because orgies is the right term. Obsequies ain't used in England no more now -- it's gone out. We say orgies now in England. Orgies is better, because it means the thing you're after more exact. It's a word that's made up out'n the Greek ORGO, outside, open, abroad; and the Hebrew JEESUM, to plant, cover up; hence inTER. So, you see, funeral orgies is an open er public funeral." He was the WORST I ever struck. Well, the ironjawed man he laughed right in his face. Everybody was shocked. Everybody says, "Why, DOCTOR!" and Abner Shackleford says: "Why, Robinson, hain't you heard the news? This is Harvey Wilks." The king he smiled eager, and shoved out his flapper, and says: "Is it my poor brother's dear good friend and physician? I --" "Keep your hands off of me!" says the doctor. "YOU talk like an Englishman, DON'T you? It's the worst imitation I ever heard. YOU Peter Wilks's brother! You're a fraud, that's what you are!" Well, how they all took on! They crowded around the doctor and tried to quiet him down, and tried to explain to him and tell him how Harvey 'd showed in forty ways that he WAS Harvey, and knowed everybody by name, and the names of the very dogs, and begged and BEGGED him not to hurt Harvey's feelings and the poor girl's feelings, and all that. But it warn't no use; he stormed right along, and said any man that pretended to be an Englishman and couldn't imitate the lingo no better than what he did was a fraud and a liar. The poor girls was hanging to the king and crying; and all of a sudden the doctor ups and turns on THEM. He says: "I was your father's friend, and I'm your friend; and I warn you as a friend, and an honest one that wants to protect you and keep you out of harm and trouble, to turn your backs on that scoundrel and have nothing to do with him, the ignorant tramp, with his idiotic Greek and Hebrew, as he calls it. He is the thinnest kind of an impostor -- has come here with a lot of empty names and facts which he picked up somewheres, and you take them for PROOFS, and are helped to fool yourselves by these foolish friends here, who ought to know better. Mary Jane Wilks, you know me for your friend, and for your unselfish friend, too. Now listen to me; turn this pitiful rascal out -- I BEG you to do it. Will you?" Mary Jane straightened herself up, and my, but she was handsome! She says: "HERE is my answer." She hove up the bag of money and put it in the king's hands, and says, "Take this six thousand dollars, and invest for me and my sisters any way you want to, and don't give us no receipt for it." Then she put her arm around the king on one side, and Susan and the hare-lip done the same on the other. Everybody clapped their hands and stomped on the floor like a perfect storm, whilst the king held up his head and smiled proud. The doctor says: "All right; I wash MY hands of the matter. But I warn you all that a time 's coming when you're going to feel sick whenever you think of this day." And away he went. "All right, doctor," says the king, kinder mocking him; "we'll try and get 'em to send for you;" which made them all laugh, and they said it was a prime good hit. |
