汤姆.索亚历险记-第26章

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〃That's　different。　Away　up　the　river　so；　and　not　another　house　about。　'Twon't　ever　be　known　that　we　tried；　anyway；　long　as　we　didn't　succeed。〃
〃Well；　what's　more　dangerous　than　coming　here　in　the　daytime！　　anybody　would　suspicion　us　that　saw　us。〃
〃I　know　that。　But　there　warn't　any　other　place　as　handy　after　that　fool　of　a　job。　I　want　to　quit　this　shanty。　I　wanted　to　yesterday；　only　it　warn't　any　use　trying　to　stir　out　of　here；　with　those　infernal　boys　playing　over　there　on　the　hill　right　in　full　view。〃
〃Those　infernal　boys〃　quaked　again　under　the　inspiration　of　this　remark；　and　thought　how　lucky　it　was　that　they　had　remembered　it　was　Friday　and　concluded　to　wait　a　day。　They　wished　in　their　hearts　they　had　waited　a　year。
The　two　men　got　out　some　food　and　made　a　luncheon。　After　a　long　and　thoughtful　silence；　Injun　Joe　said：
〃Look　here；　lad　　you　go　back　up　the　river　where　you　belong。　Wait　there　till　you　hear　from　me。　I'll　take　the　chances　on　dropping　into　this　town　just　once　more；　for　a　look。　We'll　do　that　'dangerous'　job　after　I've　spied　around　a　little　and　think　things　look　well　for　it。　Then　for　Texas！　We'll　leg　it　together！〃
This　was　satisfactory。　Both　men　presently　fell　to　yawning；　and　Injun　Joe　said：
〃I'm　dead　for　sleep！　It's　your　turn　to　watch。〃
He　curled　down　in　the　weeds　and　soon　began　to　snore。　His　comrade　stirred　him　once　or　twice　and　he　became　quiet。　Presently　the　watcher　began　to　nod；　his　head　drooped　lower　and　lower；　both　men　began　to　snore　now。
The　boys　drew　a　long；　grateful　breath。　Tom　whispered：
〃Now's　our　chance　　come！〃
Huck　said：
〃I　can't　　I'd　die　if　they　was　to　wake。〃
Tom　urged　　Huck　held　back。　At　last　Tom　rose　slowly　and　softly；　and　started　alone。　But　the　first　step　he　made　wrung　such　a　hideous　creak　from　the　crazy　floor　that　he　sank　down　almost　dead　with　fright。　He　never　made　a　second　attempt。　The　boys　lay　there　counting　the　dragging　moments　till　it　seemed　to　them　that　time　must　be　done　and　eternity　growing　gray；　and　then　they　were　grateful　to　note　that　at　last　the　sun　was　setting。
Now　one　snore　ceased。　Injun　Joe　sat　up；　stared　around　　smiled　grimly　upon　his　comrade；　whose　head　was　drooping　upon　his　knees　　stirred　him　up　with　his　foot　and　said：
〃Here！　you're　a　watchman；　ain't　you！　All　right；　though　　nothing's　happened。〃
〃My！　have　I　been　asleep？〃
〃Oh；　partly；　partly。　Nearly　time　for　us　to　be　moving；　pard。　What'll　we　do　with　what　little　swag　we've　got　left？〃
〃I　don't　know　　leave　it　here　as　we've　always　done；　I　reckon。　No　use　to　take　it　away　till　we　start　south。　Six　hundred　and　fifty　in　silver's　something　to　carry。〃
〃Well　　all　right　　it　won't　matter　to　come　here　once　more。〃
〃No　　but　I'd　say　come　in　the　night　as　we　used　to　do　　it's　better。〃
〃Yes：　but　look　here；　it　may　be　a　good　while　before　I　get　the　right　chance　at　that　job；　accidents　might　happen；　'tain't　in　such　a　very　good　place；　we'll　just　regularly　bury　it　　and　bury　it　deep。〃
〃Good　idea；〃　said　the　comrade；　who　walked　across　the　room；　knelt　down；　raised　one　of　the　rearward　hearthstones　and　took　out　a　bag　that　jingled　pleasantly。　He　subtracted　from　it　twenty　or　thirty　dollars　for　himself　and　as　much　for　Injun　Joe；　and　passed　the　bag　to　the　latter；　who　was　on　his　knees　in　the　corner；　now；　digging　with　his　bowie…knife。
The　boys　forgot　all　their　fears；　all　their　miseries　in　an　instant。　With　gloating　eyes　they　watched　every　movement。　Luck！　　the　splendor　of　it　was　beyond　all　imagination！　Six　hundred　dollars　was　money　enough　to　make　half　a　dozen　boys　rich！　Here　was　treasure…hunting　under　the　happiest　auspices　　there　would　not　be　any　bothersome　uncertainty　as　to　where　to　dig。　They　nudged　each　other　every　moment　　eloquent　nudges　and　easily　understood；　for　they　simply　meant　　〃Oh；　but　ain't　you　glad　NOW　we're　here！〃
Joe's　knife　struck　upon　something。
〃Hello！〃　said　he。
〃What　is　it？〃　said　his　comrade。
〃Half…rotten　plank　　no；　it's　a　box；　I　believe。　Here　　bear　a　hand　and　we'll　see　what　it's　here　for。　Never　mind；　I've　broke　a　hole。〃
He　reached　his　hand　in　and　drew　it　out　
〃Man；　it's　money！〃
The　two　men　examined　the　handful　of　coins。　They　were　gold。　The　boys　above　were　as　excited　as　themselves；　and　as　delighted。
Joe's　comrade　said：
〃We'll　make　quick　work　of　this。　There's　an　old　rusty　pick　over　amongst　the　weeds　in　the　corner　the　other　side　of　the　fireplace　　I　saw　it　a　minute　ago。〃
He　ran　and　brought　the　boys'　pick　and　shovel。　Injun　Joe　took　the　pick；　looked　it　over　critically；　shook　his　head；　muttered　something　to　himself；　and　then　began　to　use　it。　The　box　was　soon　unearthed。　It　was　not　very　large；　it　was　iron　bound　and　had　been　very　strong　before　the　slow　years　had　injured　it。　The　men　contemplated　the　treasure　awhile　in　blissful　silence。
〃Pard；　there's　thousands　of　dollars　here；〃　said　Injun　Joe。
〃'Twas　always　said　that　Murrel's　gang　used　to　be　around　here　one　summer；〃　the　stranger　observed。
〃I　know　it；〃　said　Injun　Joe；　〃and　this　looks　like　it；　I　should　say。〃
〃Now　you　won't　need　to　do　that　job。〃
The　half…breed　frowned。　Said　he：
〃You　don't　know　me。　Least　you　don't　know　all　about　that　thing。　'Tain't　robbery　altogether　　it's　revenge！〃　and　a　wicked　light　flamed　in　his　eyes。　〃I'll　need　your　help　in　it。　When　it's　finished　　then　Texas。　Go　home　to　your　Nance　and　your　kids；　and　stand　by　till　you　hear　from　me。〃
〃Well　　if　you　say　so；　what'll　we　do　with　this　　bury　it　again？〃
〃Yes。　＇Ravishing　delight　overhead。＇　No！　by　the　great　Sachem；　no！　＇Profound　distress　overhead。＇　I'd　nearly　forgot。　That　pick　had　fresh　earth　on　it！　＇The　boys　were　sick　with　terror　in　a　moment。＇　What　business　has　a　pick　and　a　shovel　here？　What　business　with　fresh　earth　on　them？　Who　brought　them　here　　and　where　are　they　gone？　Have　you　heard　anybody？　　seen　anybody？　What！　bury　it　again　and　leave　them　to　come　and　see　the　ground　disturbed？　Not　exactly　　not　exactly。　We'll　take　it　to　my　den。〃
〃Why；　of　course！　Might　have　thought　of　that　before。　You　mean　Number　One？〃
〃No　　Number　Two　　under　the　cross。　The　other　place　is　bad　　too　common。〃
〃All　right。　It's　nearly　dark　enough　to　start。〃
Injun　Joe　got　up　and　went　about　from　window　to　window　cautiously　peeping　out。　Presently　he　said：
〃Who　could　have　brought　those　tools　here？　Do　you　reckon　they　can　be　up…stairs？〃
The　boys'　breath　forsook　them。　Injun　Joe　put　his　hand　on　his　knife；　halted　a　moment；　undecided；　and　then　turned　toward　the　stairway。　The　boys　thought　of　the　closet；　but　their　strength　was　gone。　The　steps　came　creaking　up　the　stairs　　the　intolerable　distress　of　the　situation　woke　the　stricken　resolution　of　the　lads　　they　were　about　to　spring　for　the　closet；　when　there　was　a　crash　of　rotten　timbers　and　Injun　Joe　landed　on　the　ground　amid　the　débris　of　the　ruined　stairway。　He　gathered　himself　up　cursing；　and　his　comrade　said：
〃Now　what's　the　use　of　all　that？　If　it's　anybody；　and　they're　up　there；　let　them　stay　there　　who　cares？　If　they　want　to　jump　down；　now；　and　get　into　trouble；　who　objects？　It　will　be　dark　in　fifteen　minutes　　and　then　let　them　follow　us　if　they　want　to。　I'm　willing。　In　my　opinion；　whoever　hove　those　things　in　here　caught　a　sight　of　us　and　took　us　for　ghosts　or　devils　or　something。　I'll　bet　they're　running　yet。〃
Joe　grumbled　awhile；　then　he　agreed　with　his　friend　that　what　daylight　was　left　ought　to　be　economized　in　getting　things　ready　for　leaving。　Shortly　afterward　they　slipped　out　of　the　house　in　the　deepening　twilight；　and　moved　toward　the　river　with　their　precious　box。
Tom　and　Huck　rose　up；　weak　but　vastly　relieved；　and　stared　after　them　through　the　chinks　between　the　logs　of　the　house。　Follow？　Not　they。　They　were　content　to　reach　ground　again　without　broken　necks；　and　take　the　townward　track　over　the　hill。　They　did　not　talk　much。　They　were　too　much　absorbed　in　hating　themselves　　hating　the　ill　luck　that　made　them　take　the　spade　and　the　pick　there。　But　for　that；　Injun　Joe　never　would　have　suspected。　He　would　have　hidden　the　silver　with　the　gold　to　wait　there　till　his　〃revenge〃　was　satisfied；　and　then　he　would　have　had　the　misfortune　to　find　that　money　turn　up　missing。　Bitter；　bitter　luck　that　the　tools　were　ever　brought　there！
They　resolved　to　keep　a　lookout　for　that　Spaniard　when　he　should　come　to　town　spying　out　for　chances　to　do　his　revengeful　job；　and　follow　him　to　〃Number　Two；〃　wherever　that　might　be。　Then　a　ghastly　thought　occurred　to　Tom。
〃Revenge？　What　if　he　means　us；　Huck！〃
〃Oh；　don't！〃　said　Huck；　nearly　fainting。
They　talked　it　all　over；　and　as　they　entered　town　they　agreed　to　believe　that　he　might　possibly　mean　somebody　else　　at　least　that　he　might　at　least　mean　nobody　but　Tom；　since　only　Tom　had　testified。
Very；　very　small　comfort　it　was　to　Tom　to　be　alone　in　danger！　Company　would　be　a　palpable　improvement；　he　thought。　
CHAPTER　XXVII
THE　adventure　of　the　day　mightily　tormented　Tom's　dreams　that　night。　Four　times　he　had　his　hands　on　that　rich　treasure　and　four　times　it　wasted　to　nothingness　in　his　fingers　as　sleep　forsook　him　and　wakefulness　brought　back　the　hard　reality　of　his　misfortune。　As　he　lay　in　the　early　morning　recalling　the　incidents　of　his　great　adventure；　he　noticed　that　they　seemed　curiously　subdued　and　far　away　　somewhat　as　if　they　had　happened　in　another　world；　or　in　a　time　long　gone　by。　Then　it　occurred　to　him　that　the　great　adventure　itself　must　be　a　dream！　There　was　one　very　strong　argument　in　favor　of　this　idea　　namely；　that　the　quantity　of　coin　he　had　seen　was　too　vast　to　be　real。　He　had　never　seen　as　much　as　fifty　dollars　in　one　mass　before；　and　he　was　like　all　boys　of　his　age　and　station　in　life；　in　that　he　imagined　that　all　references　to　〃hundreds〃　and　〃thousands〃　were　mere　fanciful　forms　of　speech；　and　that　no　such　sums　really　existed　in　the　world。　He　never　had　supposed　for　a　moment　that　so　large　a　sum　as　a　hundred　dollars　was　to　be　found　in　actual　money　in　any　one's　possession。　If　his　notions　of　hidden　treasure　had　been　analyzed；　they　would　have　been　found　to　consist　of　a　handful　of　real　dimes　and　a　bushel　of　vague；　splendid；　ungraspable　dollars。
But　the　incidents　of　his　adventure　grew　sensibly　sharper　and　clearer　under　the　attrition　of　thinking　them　over；　and　so　he　presently　found　himself　leaning　to　the　impression　that　the　thing　might　not　have　been　a　dream；　after　all。　This　uncertainty　must　be　swept　away。　He　would　snatch　a　hurried　breakfast　and　go　and　find　Huck。　Huck　was　sitting　on　the　gunwale　of　a　flatboat；　listlessly　dangling　his　feet　in　the　water　and　looking　very　melancholy。　Tom　concluded　to　let　Huck　lead　up　to　the　subject。　If　he　did　not　do　it；　then　the　adventure　would　be　proved　to　have　been　only　a　dream。
〃Hello；　Huck！〃
〃Hello；　yourself。〃
Silence；　for　a　minute。
〃Tom；　if　we'd　'a'　left　the　blame　tools　at　the　dead　tree；　we'd　'a'　got　the　money。　Oh；　ain't　it　awful！〃
〃'Tain't　a　dream；　then；　'tain't　a　dream！　Somehow　I　most　wish　it　was。　Dog'd　if　I　don't；　Huck。〃
〃What　ain't　a　dream？〃
〃Oh；　that　thing　yesterday。　I　been　half　thinking　it　was。〃
〃Dream！　If　them　stairs　hadn't　broke　down　you'd　'a'　seen　how　much　dream　it　was！　I've　had　dreams　enough　all　night　　with　that　patch…eyed　Spanish　devil　going　for　me　all　through　'em　　rot　him！〃
〃No；　not　rot　him。　FIND　him！　Track　the　money！〃
〃Tom；　we'll　never　find　him。　A　feller　don't　have　only　one　chance　for　such　a　pile　　and　that　one's　lost。　I'd　feel　mighty　shaky　if　I　was　to　see　him；　anyway。〃
〃Well；　so'd　I；　but　I'd　like　to　see　him；　anyway　　and　trac