湯姆歷險(xiǎn)記Chapter 11 波特有口難辯，湯姆良心受譴

Chapter 11
      
      
        
            
      
   
    CLOSE upon the hour of noon the whole village was suddenly electrified with the
    ghastly news. No need of the as yet undreamed-of telegraph; the tale flew from man to man,
    from group to group, from house to house, with little less than telegraphic speed. Of
    course the schoolmaster gave holiday for that afternoon; the town would have thought
    strangely of him if he had not.

    A gory knife had been found close to the murdered man, and it had been recognized by
    somebody as belonging to Muff Potter -- so the story ran. And it was said that a belated
    citizen had come upon Potter washing himself in the "branch" about one or two
    o'clock in the morning, and that Potter had at once sneaked off -- suspicious
    circumstances, especially the washing which was not a habit with Potter. It was also said
    that the town had been ransacked for this "murderer" (the public are not slow in
    the matter of sifting evidence and arriving at a verdict), but that he could not be found.
    Horsemen had departed down all the roads in every direction, and the Sheriff "was
    confident" that he would be captured before night.

    All the town was drifting toward the graveyard. Tom's heartbreak vanished and he joined
    the procession, not because he would not a thousand times rather go anywhere else, but
    because an awful, unaccountable fascination drew him on. Arrived at the dreadful place, he
    wormed his small body through the crowd and saw the dismal spectacle. It seemed to him an
    age since he was there before. Somebody pinched his arm. He turned, and his eyes met
    Huckleberry's. Then both looked elsewhere at once, and wondered if anybody had noticed
    anything in their mutual glance. But everybody was talking, and intent upon the grisly
    spectacle before them.

    "Poor fellow!" "Poor young fellow!" "This ought to be a lesson
    to grave robbers!" "Muff Potter'll hang for this if they catch him!" This
    was the drift of remark; and the minister said, "It was a judgment; His hand is
    here."

    Now Tom shivered from head to heel; for his eye fell upon the stolid face of Injun Joe.
    At this moment the crowd began to sway and struggle, and voices shouted, "It's him!
    it's him! he's coming himself!"

    "Who? Who?" from twenty voices.

    "Muff Potter!"

    "Hallo, he's stopped! -- Look out, he's turning! Don't let him get away!"

    People in the branches of the trees over Tom's head said he wasn't trying to get away
    -- he only looked doubtful and perplexed.

    "Infernal impudence!" said a bystander; "wanted to come and take a quiet
    look at his work, I reckon -- didn't expect any company."

    The crowd fell apart, now, and the Sheriff came through, ostentatiously leading Potter
    by the arm. The poor fellow's face was haggard, and his eyes showed the fear that was upon
    him. When he stood before the murdered man, he shook as with a palsy, and he put his face
    in his hands and burst into tears.

    "I didn't do it, friends," he sobbed; "'pon my word and honor I never
    done it."

    "Who's accused you?" shouted a voice.

    This shot seemed to carry home. Potter lifted his face and looked around him with a
    pathetic hopelessness in his eyes. He saw Injun Joe, and exclaimed:

    "Oh, Injun Joe, you promised me you'd never --"

    "Is that your knife?" and it was thrust before him by the Sheriff.

    Potter would have fallen if they had not caught him and eased him to the ground. Then
    he said:

    "Something told me 't if I didn't come back and get --" He shuddered; then
    waved his nerveless hand with a vanquished gesture and said, "Tell 'em, Joe, tell 'em
    -- it ain't any use any more."

    Then Huckleberry and Tom stood dumb and staring, and heard the stony-hearted liar reel
    off his serene statement, they expecting every moment that the clear sky would deliver
    God's lightnings upon his head, and wondering to see how long the stroke was delayed. And
    when he had finished and still stood alive and whole, their wavering impulse to break
    their oath and save the poor betrayed prisoner's life faded and vanished away, for plainly
    this miscreant had sold himself to Satan and it would be fatal to meddle with the property
    of such a power as that.

    "Why didn't you leave? What did you want to come here for?" somebody said.

    "I couldn't help it -- I couldn't help it," Potter moaned. "I wanted to
    run away, but I couldn't seem to come anywhere but here." And he fell to sobbing
    again.

    Injun Joe repeated his statement, just as calmly, a few minutes afterward on the
    inquest, under oath; and the boys, seeing that the lightnings were still withheld, were
    confirmed in their belief that Joe had sold himself to the devil. He was now become, to
    them, the most balefully interesting object they had ever looked upon, and they could not
    take their fascinated eyes from his face.

    They inwardly resolved to watch him nights, when opportunity should offer, in the hope
    of getting a glimpse of his dread master.

    Injun Joe helped to raise the body of the murdered man and put it in a wagon for
    removal; and it was whispered through the shuddering crowd that the wound bled a little!
    The boys thought that this happy circumstance would turn suspicion in the right direction;
    but they were disappointed, for more than one villager remarked:

    "It was within three feet of Muff Potter when it done it."

    Tom's fearful secret and gnawing conscience disturbed his sleep for as much as a week
    after this; and at breakfast one morning Sid said:

    "Tom, you pitch around and talk in your sleep so much that you keep me awake half
    the time."

    Tom blanched and dropped his eyes.

    "It's a bad sign," said Aunt Polly, gravely. "What you got on your mind,
    Tom?"

    "Nothing. Nothing 't I know of." But the boy's hand shook so that he spilled
    his coffee.

    "And you do talk such stuff," Sid said. "Last night you said, 'It's
    blood, it's blood, that's what it is!' You said that over and over. And you said, 'Don't
    torment me so -- I'll tell!' Tell what? What is it you'll tell?"

    Everything was swimming before Tom. There is no telling what might have happened, now,
    but luckily the concern passed out of Aunt Polly's face and she came to Tom's relief
    without knowing it. She said:

    "Sho! It's that dreadful murder. I dream about it most every night myself.
    Sometimes I dream it's me that done it."

    Mary said she had been affected much the same way. Sid seemed satisfied. Tom got out of
    the presence as quick as he plausibly could, and after that he complained of toothache for
    a week, and tied up his jaws every night. He never knew that Sid lay nightly watching, and
    frequently slipped the bandage free and then leaned on his elbow listening a good while at
    a time, and afterward slipped the bandage back to its place again. Tom's distress of mind
    wore off gradually and the toothache grew irksome and was discarded. If Sid really managed
    to make anything out of Tom's disjointed mutterings, he kept it to himself.

    It seemed to Tom that his schoolmates never would get done holding inquests on dead
    cats, and thus keeping his trouble present to his mind. Sid noticed that Tom never was
    coroner at one of these inquiries, though it had been his habit to take the lead in all
    new enterprises; he noticed, too, that Tom never acted as a witness -- and that was
    strange; and Sid did not overlook the fact that Tom even showed a marked aversion to these
    inquests, and always avoided them when he could. Sid marvelled, but said nothing. However,
    even inquests went out of vogue at last, and ceased to torture Tom's conscience.

    Every day or two, during this time of sorrow, Tom watched his opportunity and went to
    the little grated jail-window and smuggled such small comforts through to the
    "murderer" as he could get hold of. The jail was a trifling little brick den
    that stood in a marsh at the edge of the village, and no guards were afforded for it;
    indeed, it was seldom occupied. These offerings greatly helped to ease Tom's conscience.

    The villagers had a strong desire to tar-and-feather Injun Joe and ride him on a rail,
    for body-snatching, but so formidable was his character that nobody could be found who was
    willing to take the lead in the matter, so it was dropped. He had been careful to begin
    both of his inquest-statements with the fight, without confessing the grave-robbery that
    preceded it; therefore it was deemed wisest not to try the case in the courts at present. 
   
 

第十一章　波特有口難辯，湯姆良心受譴
 

 

    臨近中午時(shí)分，那個(gè)可怕的消息使全村人一下子驚呆了。根本用不著什么電報(bào)（當(dāng)時(shí)人
們連做夢(mèng)都想不到這玩意），這消息一傳十，十傳百，以電報(bào)的速度就傳開(kāi)了，弄得家喻戶
曉，人人皆知。因此校長(zhǎng)決定當(dāng)天下午放半天假，否則非遭鎮(zhèn)上人白眼不可。
    據(jù)傳聞，人們?cè)谒廊说母浇l(fā)現(xiàn)了一把帶血的刀，經(jīng)人辨認(rèn)說(shuō)它是莫夫·波特的。另
外，一個(gè)晚上趕路的人，在凌晨一兩點(diǎn)鐘左右碰巧看見(jiàn)波特在小河里沖洗自己，見(jiàn)有人來(lái)，
他馬上溜掉。這確實(shí)令人懷疑，尤其是沖洗這件事根本不符合波特的習(xí)慣。還有，他們說(shuō)鎮(zhèn)
上的人已經(jīng)開(kāi)始搜尋這個(gè)“殺人犯”了（在細(xì)查證據(jù)并以此定罪方面，人們從不怠慢），可
是卻沒(méi)有找到。騎馬的人沿著四面八方的路去追捕他，鎮(zhèn)上的司法官“深信”：天黑之前就
會(huì)逮到他。
    全鎮(zhèn)的人潮水般涌向墳地，湯姆突然不傷心了，也跟在后面。實(shí)際上，他很想到別的地
方去，但是卻被一種可怕的、不可言狀的魔力吸引到這里。到了這個(gè)可怕的地方后，他矮小
的身體在人群中拱來(lái)拱去擠到了前場(chǎng)，看見(jiàn)了悲涼的場(chǎng)面。他覺(jué)得頭一天晚上到這里來(lái)過(guò)
后，好像過(guò)了許多年似的。這時(shí)有人在他胳膊上擰了一下，他轉(zhuǎn)過(guò)身來(lái)發(fā)現(xiàn)是哈克貝利。他
倆目光剛一對(duì)視就立即轉(zhuǎn)向別的地方，生怕旁人從中看出什么破綻來(lái)。可是大家都在談話，
一心關(guān)注的是眼前的這個(gè)慘狀。
    “可憐的人呀！”“不幸的年青人呀！”“這對(duì)盜墓者來(lái)說(shuō)該是個(gè)教訓(xùn)！”“莫夫·波
特要是給逮住了，一定會(huì)被絞死！”人群中時(shí)不時(shí)地傳出這樣的話語(yǔ)。牧師卻說(shuō)：“這是他
應(yīng)得的懲罰。”
    這時(shí)，湯姆的目光落到了印第安·喬的臉上，發(fā)現(xiàn)他無(wú)動(dòng)于衷。湯姆從頭到尾，嚇得直
打冷顫。人群開(kāi)始騷動(dòng)起來(lái)，有人大呼：“就是他！就是他！他自己竟來(lái)了！”
    “是誰(shuí)？是誰(shuí)？”有一二十人問(wèn)道。
    “是莫夫·波特！”
    “啊呀，他停下了！注意，他轉(zhuǎn)身了！別讓他給跑了！”
    “他不是要跑，只是有點(diǎn)遲疑和慌張。”湯姆抬起頭，看見(jiàn)這是爬在樹(shù)上的人在說(shuō)話。
    “該死的！”一個(gè)旁觀者說(shuō)，“干了壞事，還想偷偷來(lái)看熱鬧，真不要臉。沒(méi)想到會(huì)來(lái)
這么多人吧。”
    人群閃開(kāi)，讓出了一條路。司法官揪著波特的胳膊，炫耀似地走過(guò)來(lái)。這個(gè)可憐的家伙
臉色憔悴，眼中流露出恐懼的神色。到了死人面前，他像中了風(fēng)，手捂著臉，突然哭起來(lái)。
    “這不是我干的，鄉(xiāng)親們，”他抽咽著說(shuō)，“我敢賭咒發(fā)誓，我從沒(méi)有殺人。”
    “誰(shuí)控告你殺人了？”有人大聲喊道。
    這一喊讓波特有了轉(zhuǎn)機(jī)。他抬起頭，絕望而可憐地向周圍環(huán)視了一下。他看到印第
安·喬后大聲呼道：
    “哦，印第安·喬，你保證過(guò)決不……”他話還沒(méi)說(shuō)完，司法官就將一把刀扔到他面前
說(shuō)：
    “是你的刀嗎？”
    聽(tīng)到這話，波特要不是被人們扶著慢慢放到地上，他差點(diǎn)一頭栽下去。
    “不知怎么，我身不由己要來(lái)拿走……”他哆哆嗦嗦地說(shuō)著，然后像泄了汽的球一樣，
無(wú)力地?fù)]揮手說(shuō)：
    “告訴大伙，喬。跟他們說(shuō)，反正瞞也沒(méi)有用了。”
    于是哈克貝利和湯姆目瞪口呆地站在那里，聽(tīng)著那個(gè)鐵石心腸的家伙滔滔不絕對(duì)大家編
了一通謊言。他倆希望老天有眼，立即當(dāng)頭一雷劈死這個(gè)騙子?？墒乔∏∠喾矗莻€(gè)騙子卻
神氣活現(xiàn)，安然無(wú)恙。他們?cè)蛩惆咽难話伒揭贿?，去救那個(gè)遭陷害的可憐人，見(jiàn)此情景，
卻更加猶豫不決了。再加上那個(gè)壞蛋一定賣身投靠了魔鬼撒旦，很顯然同他們斗無(wú)異于螳臂
當(dāng)車，不自量力。
    “你怎么不遠(yuǎn)走高飛，還到這來(lái)干什么？”有人問(wèn)道。“要是能那樣就好了。”波特呻
吟著說(shuō)，“我逃過(guò)，可不知怎么搞的，除了來(lái)這里，別無(wú)它處可去。”說(shuō)完他又嗚咽起來(lái)。
    幾分鐘后，在驗(yàn)尸的時(shí)候，印地安·喬先是發(fā)誓，然后又不慌不忙地把那套謊話重復(fù)了
一遍。天空并沒(méi)有雷電大作，兩個(gè)孩子更加深信：?jiǎn)桃汛_實(shí)賣身給魔鬼。這個(gè)家伙雖然是個(gè)
喪門神，可是這兩個(gè)孩子卻覺(jué)得十分有趣好奇，迷得他倆目不轉(zhuǎn)睛地盯著他。
    他們暗自決定，晚上若有機(jī)會(huì)的話就盯梢他，看看能否見(jiàn)識(shí)一下他那魔鬼主人的真面
目。印第安·喬也幫著把尸體抬上馬車運(yùn)走。驚魂未定的人群嘰嘰咕咕說(shuō)那死人的傷口出了
點(diǎn)血。兩個(gè)孩子想這一可喜現(xiàn)象將有助于人們作出正確判斷，查出真正的兇手。但他們馬上
又泄了氣，因?yàn)椴恢灰粋€(gè)村民說(shuō)道：
    “當(dāng)時(shí)，莫夫·波特離死人不到三英尺遠(yuǎn)呢。”湯姆既不敢說(shuō)出可怕的事實(shí)真相，良心
又受到煎熬，因此攪得他事后一周內(nèi)睡臥不安。一天，吃早飯時(shí)，希德說(shuō)：
    “湯姆，你翻來(lái)覆去，還說(shuō)夢(mèng)話，我給你搞得一夜只睡了半夜的覺(jué)。”
    湯姆聽(tīng)后臉色煞白，垂下了眼皮。
    “這可不是好兆頭，”波莉姨媽陰著臉說(shuō)，“湯姆。你有什么心事嗎？”
    “沒(méi)有，我什么都不知道。”可他手在發(fā)抖，把咖啡給抖了出來(lái)。
    “昨晚你的確說(shuō)了，”希德說(shuō)，“你說(shuō)：‘是血，是血，就是血！’你反復(fù)說(shuō)個(gè)不停。
你還說(shuō)：‘不要再這樣折磨我了——我干脆說(shuō)出來(lái)！’說(shuō)出來(lái)什么？是什么事情呀？”
    湯姆只覺(jué)得眼前一陣暈眩，后果很難預(yù)料。幸運(yùn)的是，波莉姨媽注意力轉(zhuǎn)移了，這下她
無(wú)意中給湯姆解了圍。
    “嗨，沒(méi)什么事，不就是那個(gè)恐怖的謀殺案嗎。我經(jīng)常晚上夢(mèng)見(jiàn)那起謀殺案。有時(shí)還夢(mèng)
見(jiàn)是自己干的呢。”
    瑪麗說(shuō)謀殺案這事，她也有同樣的感覺(jué)。這下希德才不再問(wèn)東問(wèn)西了。湯姆的花言巧語(yǔ)
使希德感到滿意，隨后他就溜之大吉。接下來(lái)的一周里，他說(shuō)得了牙疼病，每天晚上睡覺(jué)都
把嘴扎起來(lái)?？墒窍５乱估锟偸嵌⒅?，時(shí)常解開(kāi)他扎嘴的帶子，然后側(cè)著身子聽(tīng)上好一陣
子，再把帶子扎上。這一切，湯姆都被蒙在鼓里，漸漸地湯姆的心情平靜了許多，對(duì)裝牙疼
也感到?jīng)]勁，所以就恢復(fù)了常態(tài)。即使希德從湯姆夜里的支言片語(yǔ)中理出個(gè)頭緒來(lái)，他自己
知道就是了。
    湯姆覺(jué)得，同學(xué)們玩起給貓驗(yàn)尸的游戲來(lái)，總是沒(méi)完沒(méi)了，這時(shí)常讓他想起那天的驗(yàn)尸
場(chǎng)面，感到非常不愉快。希德發(fā)現(xiàn)：湯姆以前干什么新鮮事情都喜歡打頭陣，可現(xiàn)在驗(yàn)尸游
戲時(shí)，他再也不扮驗(yàn)尸官了；還有，湯姆也不愿演證人——這確實(shí)令人不可思議。希德還清
楚地記得在玩驗(yàn)尸游戲時(shí)，湯姆明顯地表現(xiàn)出厭惡的樣子，若有可能的話，總是盡量避免參
加這樣的玩法。希德感到奇怪，但未作任何流露。
    湯姆一直感到很難過(guò)，過(guò)一兩天，他就把能弄到手的小慰問(wèn)品送到那個(gè)“殺人犯”那
里，瞅個(gè)機(jī)會(huì)從小柵欄窗戶給遞進(jìn)去。牢房很小，是個(gè)磚砌的小屋，位于村邊的沼澤地上，
沒(méi)派看守，實(shí)際上，這里經(jīng)?？罩酚X(jué)得這樣做，心靈上得到很大的寬慰。
    全村的人強(qiáng)烈要求把那個(gè)盜墓賊印第安·喬給趕走，讓他身上涂著柏油，插上羽毛騎在
桿上被抬走。但由于這個(gè)家伙不是輕易就能對(duì)付的，所以找不到一個(gè)人愿意領(lǐng)這個(gè)頭，事情
也就這樣告吹了。印第安·喬在驗(yàn)尸時(shí)，兩次作證都只談了打架的事情，沒(méi)有承認(rèn)盜墓，所
以人們覺(jué)得這樁公案目前最好不要對(duì)簿公堂。