湯姆歷險(xiǎn)記Chapter 16 初學(xué)抽煙——“丟了小刀”

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
   
      
        Chapter 16
      
      
        
            
      
   
    AFTER dinner all the gang turned out to hunt for turtle eggs on the bar. They
    went about poking sticks into the sand, and when they found a soft place they went down on
    their knees and dug with their hands. Sometimes they would take fifty or sixty eggs out of
    one hole. They were perfectly round white things a trifle smaller than an English walnut.
    They had a famous fried-egg feast that night, and another on Friday morning.

    After breakfast they went whooping and prancing out on the bar, and chased each other
    round and round, shedding clothes as they went, until they were naked, and then continued
    the frolic far away up the shoal water of the bar, against the stiff current, which latter
    tripped their legs from under them from time to time and greatly increased the fun. And
    now and then they stooped in a group and splashed water in each other's faces with their
    palms, gradually approaching each other, with averted faces to avoid the strangling
    sprays, and finally gripping and struggling till the best man ducked his neighbor, and
    then they all went under in a tangle of white legs and arms and came up blowing,
    sputtering, laughing, and gasping for breath at one and the same time.

    When they were well exhausted, they would run out and sprawl on the dry, hot sand, and
    lie there and cover themselves up with it, and by and by break for the water again and go
    through the original performance once more. Finally it occurred to them that their naked
    skin represented flesh-colored "tights" very fairly; so they drew a ring in the
    sand and had a circus -- with three clowns in it, for none would yield this proudest post
    to his neighbor.

    Next they got their marbles and played "knucks" and "ring-taw" and
    "keeps" till that amusement grew stale. Then Joe and Huck had another swim, but
    Tom would not venture, because he found that in kicking off his trousers he had kicked his
    string of rattlesnake rattles off his ankle, and he wondered how he had escaped cramp so
    long without the protection of this mysterious charm. He did not venture again until he
    had found it, and by that time the other boys were tired and ready to rest. They gradually
    wandered apart, dropped into the "dumps," and fell to gazing longingly across
    the wide river to where the village lay drowsing in the sun. Tom found himself writing
    "BECKY" in the sand with his big toe; he scratched it out, and was angry with
    himself for his weakness. But he wrote it again, nevertheless; he could not help it. He
    erased it once more and then took himself out of temptation by driving the other boys
    together and joining them.

    But Joe's spirits had gone down almost beyond resurrection. He was so homesick that he
    could hardly endure the misery of it. The tears lay very near the surface. Huck was
    melancholy, too. Tom was downhearted, but tried hard not to show it. He had a secret which
    he was not ready to tell, yet, but if this mutinous depression was not broken up soon, he
    would have to bring it out. He said, with a great show of cheerfulness:

    "I bet there's been pirates on this island before, boys. We'll explore it again.
    They've hid treasures here somewhere. How'd you feel to light on a rotten chest full of
    gold and silver -- hey?"

    But it roused only faint enthusiasm, which faded out, with no reply. Tom tried one or
    two other seductions; but they failed, too. It was discouraging work. Joe sat poking up
    the sand with a stick and looking very gloomy. Finally he said:

    "Oh, boys, let's give it up. I want to go home. It's so lonesome."

    "Oh no, Joe, you'll feel better by and by," said Tom. "Just think of the
    fishing that's here."

    "I don't care for fishing. I want to go home."

    "But, Joe, there ain't such another swimming-place anywhere."

    "Swimming's no good. I don't seem to care for it, somehow, when there ain't
    anybody to say I sha'n't go in. I mean to go home."

    "Oh, shucks! Baby! You want to see your mother, I reckon."

    "Yes, I DO want to see my mother -- and you would, too, if you had one. I ain't
    any more baby than you are." And Joe snuffled a little.

    "Well, we'll let the cry-baby go home to his mother, won't we, Huck? Poor thing --
    does it want to see its mother? And so it shall. you like it here, don't you, Huck? We'll
    stay, won't we?"

    Huck said, "Y-e-s" -- without any heart in it.

    "I'll never speak to you again as long as I live," said Joe, rising.
    "There now!" And he moved moodily away and began to dress himself.

    "Who cares!" said Tom. "Nobody wants you to. Go 'long home and get
    laughed at. Oh, you're a nice pirate. Huck and me ain't cry-babies. We'll stay, won't we,
    Huck? Let him go if he wants to. I reckon we can get along without him, per'aps."

    But Tom was uneasy, nevertheless, and was alarmed to see Joe go sullenly on with his
    dressing. And then it was discomforting to see Huck eying Joe's preparations so wistfully,
    and keeping up such an ominous silence. Presently, without a parting word, Joe began to
    wade off toward the Illinois shore. Tom's heart began to sink. He glanced at Huck. Huck
    could not bear the look, and dropped his eyes. Then he said:

    "I want to go, too, Tom. It was getting so lonesome anyway, and now it'll be
    worse. Let's us go, too, Tom."

    "I won't! You can all go, if you want to. I mean to stay."

    "Tom, I better go."

    "Well, go 'long -- who's hendering you."

    Huck began to pick up his scattered clothes. He said:

    "Tom, I wisht you'd come, too. Now you think it over. We'll wait for you when we
    get to shore."

    "Well, you'll wait a blame long time, that's all."

    Huck started sorrowfully away, and Tom stood looking after him, with a strong desire
    tugging at his heart to yield his pride and go along too. He hoped the boys would stop,
    but they still waded slowly on. It suddenly dawned on Tom that it was become very lonely
    and still. He made one final struggle with his pride, and then darted after his comrades,
    yelling:

    "Wait! Wait! I want to tell you something!"

    They presently stopped and turned around. When he got to where they were, he began
    unfolding his secret, and they listened moodily till at last they saw the
    "point" he was driving at, and then they set up a war-whoop of applause and said
    it was "splendid!" and said if he had told them at first, they wouldn't have
    started away. He made a plausible excuse; but his real reason had been the fear that not
    even the secret would keep them with him any very great length of time, and so he had
    meant to hold it in reserve as a last seduction.

    The lads came gayly back and went at their sports again with a will, chattering all the
    time about Tom's stupendous plan and admiring the genius of it. After a dainty egg and
    fish dinner, Tom said he wanted to learn to smoke, now. Joe caught at the idea and said he
    would like to try, too. So Huck made pipes and filled them. These novices had never smoked
    anything before but cigars made of grape-vine, and they "bit" the tongue, and
    were not considered manly anyway.

    Now they stretched themselves out on their elbows and began to puff, charily, and with
    slender confidence. The smoke had an unpleasant taste, and they gagged a little, but Tom
    said:

    "Why, it's just as easy! If I'd a knowed this was all, I'd a learnt long
    ago."

    "So would I," said Joe. "It's just nothing."

    "Why, many a time I've looked at people smoking, and thought well I wish I could
    do that; but I never thought I could," said Tom.

    "That's just the way with me, hain't it, Huck? You've heard me talk just that way
    -- haven't you, Huck? I'll leave it to Huck if I haven't."

    "Yes -- heaps of times," said Huck.

    "Well, I have too," said Tom; "oh, hundreds of times. Once down by the
    slaughter-house. Don't you remember, Huck? Bob Tanner was there, and Johnny Miller, and
    Jeff Thatcher, when I said it. Don't you remember, Huck, 'bout me saying that?"

    "Yes, that's so," said Huck. "That was the day after I lost a white
    alley. No, 'twas the day before."

    "There -- I told you so," said Tom. "Huck recollects it."

    "I bleeve I could smoke this pipe all day," said Joe. "I don't feel
    sick."

    "Neither do I," said Tom. "I could smoke it all day. But I bet you Jeff
    Thatcher couldn't."

    "Jeff Thatcher! Why, he'd keel over just with two draws. Just let him try it once.
    He'd see!"

    "I bet he would. And Johnny Miller -- I wish could see Johnny Miller tackle it
    once."

    "Oh, don't I!" said Joe. "Why, I bet you Johnny Miller couldn't any more
    do this than nothing. Just one little snifter would fetch him."

    "'Deed it would, Joe. Say -- I wish the boys could see us now."

    "So do I."

    "Say -- boys, don't say anything about it, and some time when they're around, I'll
    come up to you and say, 'Joe, got a pipe? I want a smoke.' And you'll say, kind of
    careless like, as if it warn't anything, you'll say, 'Yes, I got my old pipe, and another
    one, but my tobacker ain't very good.' And I'll say, 'Oh, that's all right, if it's strong
    enough.' And then you'll out with the pipes, and we'll light up just as ca'm, and then
    just see 'em look!"

    "By jings, that'll be gay, Tom! I wish it was now!"

    "So do I! And when we tell 'em we learned when we was off pirating, won't they
    wish they'd been along?"

    "Oh, I reckon not! I'll just bet they will!"

    So the talk ran on. But presently it began to flag a trifle, and grow disjointed. The
    silences widened; the expectoration marvellously increased. Every pore inside the boys'
    cheeks became a spouting fountain; they could scarcely bail out the cellars under their
    tongues fast enough to prevent an inundation; little overflowings down their throats
    occurred in spite of all they could do, and sudden retchings followed every time. Both
    boys were looking very pale and miserable, now. Joe's pipe dropped from his nerveless
    fingers. Tom's followed. Both fountains were going furiously and both pumps bailing with
    might and main. Joe said feebly:

    "I've lost my knife. I reckon I better go and find it."

    Tom said, with quivering lips and halting utterance:

    "I'll help you. You go over that way and I'll hunt around by the spring. No, you
    needn't come, Huck -- we can find it."

    So Huck sat down again, and waited an hour. Then he found it lonesome, and went to find
    his comrades. They were wide apart in the woods, both very pale, both fast asleep. But
    something informed him that if they had had any trouble they had got rid of it.

    They were not talkative at supper that night. They had a humble look, and when Huck
    prepared his pipe after the meal and was going to prepare theirs, they said no, they were
    not feeling very well -- something they ate at dinner had disagreed with them.

    About midnight Joe awoke, and called the boys. There was a brooding oppressiveness in
    the air that seemed to bode something. The boys huddled themselves together and sought the
    friendly companionship of the fire, though the dull dead heat of the breathless atmosphere
    was stifling. They sat still, intent and waiting. The solemn hush continued. Beyond the
    light of the fire everything was swallowed up in the blackness of darkness. Presently
    there came a quivering glow that vaguely revealed the foliage for a moment and then
    vanished. By and by another came, a little stronger. Then another. Then a faint moan came
    sighing through the branches of the forest and the boys felt a fleeting breath upon their
    cheeks, and shuddered with the fancy that the Spirit of the Night had gone by. There was a
    pause. Now a weird flash turned night into day and showed every little grass-blade,
    separate and distinct, that grew about their feet. And it showed three white, startled
    faces, too. A deep peal of thunder went rolling and tumbling down the heavens and lost
    itself in sullen rumblings in the distance. A sweep of chilly air passed by, rustling all
    the leaves and snowing the flaky ashes broadcast about the fire. Another fierce glare lit
    up the forest and an instant crash followed that seemed to rend the tree-tops right over
    the boys' heads. They clung together in terror, in the thick gloom that followed. A few
    big rain-drops fell pattering upon the leaves.

    "Quick! boys, go for the tent!" exclaimed Tom.

    They sprang away, stumbling over roots and among vines in the dark, no two plunging in
    the same direction. A furious blast roared through the trees, making everything sing as it
    went. One blinding flash after another came, and peal on peal of deafening thunder. And
    now a drenching rain poured down and the rising hurricane drove it in sheets along the
    ground. The boys cried out to each other, but the roaring wind and the booming
    thunder-blasts drowned their voices utterly. However, one by one they straggled in at last
    and took shelter under the tent, cold, scared, and streaming with water; but to have
    company in misery seemed something to be grateful for. They could not talk, the old sail
    flapped so furiously, even if the other noises would have allowed them. The tempest rose
    higher and higher, and presently the sail tore loose from its fastenings and went winging
    away on the blast. The boys seized each others' hands and fled, with many tumblings and
    bruises, to the shelter of a great oak that stood upon the river-bank. Now the battle was
    at its highest. Under the ceaseless conflagration of lightning that flamed in the skies,
    everything below stood out in clean-cut and shadowless distinctness: the bending trees,
    the billowy river, white with foam, the driving spray of spume-flakes, the dim outlines of
    the high bluffs on the other side, glimpsed through the drifting cloud-rack and the
    slanting veil of rain. Every little while some giant tree yielded the fight and fell
    crashing through the younger growth; and the unflagging thunderpeals came now in
    ear-splitting explosive bursts, keen and sharp, and unspeakably appalling. The storm
    culminated in one matchless effort that seemed likely to tear the island to pieces, burn
    it up, drown it to the tree-tops, blow it away, and deafen every creature in it, all at
    one and the same moment. It was a wild night for homeless young heads to be out in.

    But at last the battle was done, and the forces retired with weaker and weaker
    threatenings and grumblings, and peace resumed her sway. The boys went back to camp, a
    good deal awed; but they found there was still something to be thankful for, because the
    great sycamore, the shelter of their beds, was a ruin, now, blasted by the lightnings, and
    they were not under it when the catastrophe happened.

    Everything in camp was drenched, the camp-fire as well; for they were but heedless
    lads, like their generation, and had made no provision against rain. Here was matter for
    dismay, for they were soaked through and chilled. They were eloquent in their distress;
    but they presently discovered that the fire had eaten so far up under the great log it had
    been built against (where it curved upward and separated itself from the ground), that a
    handbreadth or so of it had escaped wetting; so they patiently wrought until, with shreds
    and bark gathered from the under sides of sheltered logs, they coaxed the fire to burn
    again. Then they piled on great dead boughs till they had a roaring furnace, and were
    glad-hearted once more. They dried their boiled ham and had a feast, and after that they
    sat by the fire and expanded and glorified their midnight adventure until morning, for
    there was not a dry spot to sleep on, anywhere around.

    As the sun began to steal in upon the boys, drowsiness came over them, and they went
    out on the sandbar and lay down to sleep. They got scorched out by and by, and drearily
    set about getting breakfast. After the meal they felt rusty, and stiff-jointed, and a
    little homesick once more. Tom saw the signs, and fell to cheering up the pirates as well
    as he could. But they cared nothing for marbles, or circus, or swimming, or anything. He
    reminded them of the imposing secret, and raised a ray of cheer. While it lasted, he got
    them interested in a new device. This was to knock off being pirates, for a while, and be
    Indians for a change. They were attracted by this idea; so it was not long before they
    were stripped, and striped from head to heel with black mud, like so many zebras -- all of
    them chiefs, of course -- and then they went tearing through the woods to attack an
    English settlement.

    By and by they separated into three hostile tribes, and darted upon each other from
    ambush with dreadful war-whoops, and killed and scalped each other by thousands. It was a
    gory day. Consequently it was an extremely satisfactory one.

    They assembled in camp toward supper-time, hungry and happy; but now a difficulty arose
    -- hostile Indians could not break the bread of hospitality together without first making
    peace, and this was a simple impossibility without smoking a pipe of peace. There was no
    other process that ever they had heard of. Two of the savages almost wished they had
    remained pirates. However, there was no other way; so with such show of cheerfulness as
    they could muster they called for the pipe and took their whiff as it passed, in due form.

    And behold, they were glad they had gone into savagery, for they had gained something;
    they found that they could now smoke a little without having to go and hunt for a lost
    knife; they did not get sick enough to be seriously uncomfortable. They were not likely to
    fool away this high promise for lack of effort. No, they practised cautiously, after
    supper, with right fair success, and so they spent a jubilant evening. They were prouder
    and happier in their new acquirement than they would have been in the scalping and
    skinning of the Six Nations. We will leave them to smoke and chatter and brag, since we
    have no further use for them at present.
 

第十六章　初學(xué)抽煙——“丟了小刀”
 
 

    午飯以后，海盜幫全體出動到沙洲上去找烏龜?shù)?。他們用樹枝往沙子里戳，戳到軟的?br /> 方，就跪下來用手挖。有時(shí)候，他們一窩就能弄出五六十只烏龜?shù)皝?。這些蛋呈白色，圓溜
溜的。那天晚上，他們吃了一頓美味可口的煎蛋，星期五早上又飽啖了一回。
    早飯后，他們歡呼雀躍地向沙洲奔去。他們相互追逐，轉(zhuǎn)著圈圈跑，邊跑邊脫掉身上的
衣服，等全身脫個(gè)精光后，繼續(xù)嬉鬧，一直跑到沙洲的淺水灘上，逆著水流站著，水流從他
們腿上沖過，時(shí)常要把他們沖倒，這種冒險(xiǎn)給他們帶來了極大的樂趣。有時(shí)候，他們彎腰曲
背站在一塊，互相用手掌往對方臉上擊水。大家越擊越近，頭歪向一邊，避開透不過氣來的
水。最后，他們扭成一團(tuán)，經(jīng)過一番拼搏，弱者終于被按到水里，于是大家一齊鉆進(jìn)水里，
幾雙雪白的胳膊和腿在水里纏在一起，然后猛地鉆出水面就噴水，哈哈大笑，氣喘如牛。
    等玩得累極了，他們就跑到岸上，四肢朝天，往又干又熱的沙灘的一躺，拿沙子蓋住自
己。過一會兒，又沖進(jìn)水里，再打一次水仗。后來他們忽然想起，自己身上裸露的皮膚完全
可以當(dāng)成是肉色的“緊身衣”，這樣他們就在沙灘上劃了個(gè)大圓圈，開始演馬戲——由于互
不相讓，誰也不愿失去扮演這最神氣角色的機(jī)會，結(jié)果臺上出現(xiàn)了三個(gè)小丑。
    再后來，他們就拿出石頭彈子，玩“補(bǔ)鍋”、“敲鍋”和“碰著就贏”，一直玩到興盡
意闌為止。然后喬和哈克又去游泳，但湯姆卻沒敢去冒這個(gè)險(xiǎn)，因?yàn)樗l(fā)現(xiàn)剛才他踢掉褲子
時(shí)，把拴在腳踝上的一串響尾輪也給踢飛了。他很納悶沒有這個(gè)護(hù)身符保佑，剛才玩鬧這么
久，居然沒有出事。后來他找回了護(hù)身符，這才敢去玩，但這時(shí)另外兩個(gè)伙伴已經(jīng)玩累了，
準(zhǔn)備歇一歇。于是他們就“道不同不相為謀”，個(gè)個(gè)意興索然，不由得眼巴巴地望著寬闊的
大河對岸出神，那里他們向往的小鎮(zhèn)正在陽光下打盹。湯姆發(fā)現(xiàn)自己不由自主地用腳趾頭在
沙灘上寫“貝基”。他把字跡抹掉，對自己大為惱火，恨自己意志薄弱。然而，他還是情不
自禁地又寫了這個(gè)名字。他再一次把名字擦掉，為了防止再寫下去，他把兩個(gè)伙伴弄到一
處，自己也和他們一塊兒玩起來。
    但是喬的情緒一落千丈。他非常想家，簡直忍無可忍，淚水在眼眶里打著轉(zhuǎn)兒。哈克也
悶悶不樂。湯姆雖然也意志消沉，卻盡力不流露出來。他有一個(gè)秘密，不打算馬上說出來，
但眼下這股消沉的士氣必須扭轉(zhuǎn)，他不得不亮出這張王牌了。
    他露出興味盎然的樣子說：
    “伙計(jì)們，我敢打賭這個(gè)島以前有過海盜，我們得再去探險(xiǎn)。他們一定把珠寶藏在這個(gè)
島的某個(gè)地方了。要是讓我們碰到一個(gè)爛箱子，里面全是金銀財(cái)寶，諸位會作何感想？”
    對他的話，兩個(gè)伙伴沒有答理，剛起來的一點(diǎn)勁頭也隨之消失了。湯姆又試著用另外一
兩件事情來誘惑他們，均告失敗。這真讓人掃興。喬坐在那里用小樹枝撥弄沙子，一副愁眉
苦臉相。最后他說：
    “喂，我說，伙計(jì)們，就此罷手吧。我要回家，這實(shí)在太寂寞了。”
    “哎，喬，這不成。你慢慢會覺得好起來的，”湯姆說，“在這兒釣魚不是很開心嗎？”
    “我不喜歡釣魚。我要回家。”
    “但是，喬，別的地方有這么好的游泳勝地嗎！”
    “游泳有什么好的。即使現(xiàn)在有人說不讓我下水，我也不在乎。我就是要回家。”
    “哼，豈有此理！像個(gè)找媽媽的小嬰兒。”
    “對，我就是要去找我媽媽——要是你也有媽媽，你也會想著去找她的。你說我是小嬰
兒，其實(shí)你又有多大呢。”說著說著，喬就有點(diǎn)抽鼻子。
    “好吧，咱們就讓這個(gè)好哭的小嬰兒回家去找媽媽，好不好，哈克？可憐蟲——他要去
找媽媽？讓他去好了。你一準(zhǔn)喜歡這兒，對不對，哈克？咱倆留在這兒，好嗎？
    哈克不輕不重地說了聲：“也——行。”
    “到死我都不會再跟你說話，”喬說著站起身來，“你等著瞧吧！”他悻悻地走開，并
且開始穿衣服。
    “誰稀罕！”湯姆說。“沒誰求你跟他說話。滾回去吧，讓人家看你的笑話去吧。喲，
你是個(gè)偉大海盜。哈克和我不是好哭的小嬰兒。我們要留在這兒，對不對，哈克？他要走，
就讓他走好了。我想沒有他，咱們說不定也一樣過得好好的。”
    然而湯姆心里卻不是滋味，他看見喬臉色陰沉，只顧穿衣服，不免有些驚慌。而哈克老
是盯著準(zhǔn)備回家的喬，一言不發(fā)，一副想與之同往的神情，更令他心神不寧。接著，喬連一
個(gè)字的道別話都沒說便開始下水，向伊利諾斯州那邊趟過去。湯姆的心開始往下沉。他瞟了
一眼哈克，哈克受不了他這么一看垂下眼簾。后來他說：
    “湯姆我也要回家。咱們呆在這兒也越來越孤單。湯姆，咱們也走吧。”
    “我決不走！你們要想走，那全走吧。我是要留下來的。”
    “湯姆，我還是回去為好。”
    “行，去吧！去吧！誰攔你了？”
    哈克開始東一件西一件地拾自己的衣服。他說：
    “湯姆，我希望你也一起走。你好好考慮一下。我們到岸邊等你。”
    “哼，你們盡管他媽的都去吧，沒什么好說的了。”
    哈克傷心地走了，湯姆站在那里，看著他的背影，心里激烈地斗爭著，真想拋開自尊也
跟著他們走。他希望那兩個(gè)伙伴站住，可他們?nèi)耘f在慢慢趟著水向前走。湯姆忽然覺得周圍
如此冷清，如此寂寞。在和自尊作了最后一次較量后，他終于直奔向兩個(gè)伙伴，一邊跑一邊
喊：
    “等一等！等一等！我有話要跟你們講！”
    他們立刻站住，轉(zhuǎn)過身來。他走到他們跟前，就把那個(gè)秘密向他們亮了出來。他們起初
悶悶不樂地聽著，等到明白了他的“真正意圖”時(shí)，便歡呼雀躍起來，連呼“太妙了！”他
們說要是他一開頭就告訴他們，他們怎么也不會走的。他巧妙地搪塞了過去，其實(shí)他擔(dān)心的
是：這個(gè)秘密不知道是否能讓他們在這島上呆上一陣子，所以他有意識地守口如瓶，不到萬
不得已，不亮出這張王牌。
    小家伙們又興高采烈地回來了，痛痛快快地做著游戲，不停談?wù)撝鴾纺莻ゴ蟮挠?jì)劃，
稱贊他足智多謀。他們吃完一頓美味的龜?shù)昂王r魚之后，湯姆說他要學(xué)抽煙。喬表示贊同，
說他也想試一試。于是，哈克就做了兩個(gè)煙斗，裝上煙葉。這兩個(gè)外行除了葡萄藤做的雪茄
而外，從沒抽過別的煙，那種雪茄煙讓舌發(fā)麻，而且看起來也特別土氣。
    他們用胳膊肘支著，側(cè)身躺著開始抽煙，抽得小心翼翼，信心并非十足。煙的味道不怎
么樣，嗆得他們有點(diǎn)喘不過氣來，可是湯姆說：“嘿，抽煙有什么難的！我以前不知道抽煙
不過如此，要是知道的話，我早就學(xué)會了。”
    “我也是，”喬說，“這根本不值一提。”
    湯姆說：“哎，有好多次我看到別人抽煙，我就想我要會抽就好了；可從沒想到我能抽
哩。”
    “哈克，我也是這樣的，是不是？”喬說，“你聽我這樣說過的，對不對，哈克？要是
假話，我任聽你擺布。”
    “是的，他說過——說過好多次。”哈克說。
    “嘿，我也說過呀，”湯姆說，“唔，總有上百次吧。有回是在屠宰場。你忘了吧，哈
克？當(dāng)時(shí)，鮑勃·唐納在場，約翰尼·米勒、杰夫·撒切爾也在。想起來了吧，哈克？”
“想起來，是有這么回事，”哈克說，“那是我丟掉白石頭彈子后的那一天。不對，是前一
天。”
    “瞧——我說我說了吧，”湯姆說。“哈克回想起來了。”“我覺得我整天抽煙都沒問
題，”喬說。“我不覺得惡心。”“我也不覺得惡心，”湯姆說，“我也能成天地抽這種煙。
    但我敢打賭杰夫·撒切爾就不行。”
    “杰夫·撒切爾！嘿，讓他抽上一兩口他就會一頭昏倒。
    不信讓他試試看。一次就夠他嗆的！”
    “我敢打賭他夠嗆。還有約翰尼·米勒——我倒很想讓約翰尼·米勒嘗兩口。”
    “啊，鬼才不這么想?yún)龋?rdquo;喬說。“嘿，我敢說約翰尼·米勒干這事最熊。他只要聞一
下這味兒就會被置于死地。”
    “的確如此，喬。哎——我真希望那些小子能看到我們現(xiàn)在的樣子。”
    “我也這么想。”
    “哎——伙計(jì)們，先別提這樁事，以后找個(gè)機(jī)會，趁他們在場時(shí)，我就過來問：‘喬，
帶煙斗了嗎？我想抽兩口。’你就擺出一副大剌剌的樣子，就像這根本算不上一碼事，你
說：‘帶了，這是我那根老煙斗，喏，這還多一根，不過我的葉子不太好喔。’我就說：
‘哦，沒關(guān)系，只要夠沖就行。’然后你就掏出煙斗，咱倆點(diǎn)上火來抽，慢條斯理，讓他們
瞧個(gè)夠。”
    “呃，那真有趣，湯姆！我恨不得現(xiàn)在就抽給他們看！”
    “我也這么想！我要告訴他們，我們是在外當(dāng)海盜時(shí)學(xué)會的，他們能不希望當(dāng)初跟我們
一塊來嗎？”
    “嗯，當(dāng)然希望嘍！我敢打賭他們準(zhǔn)會的！”
    談話就這樣繼續(xù)下去。但不久他們就開始泄氣了，講出的話前言不搭后語。后來便沉默
不語了。他們吐痰，越吐越厲害。這兩個(gè)孩子的腮幫子里面的口水如噴泉；舌頭底下好像是
個(gè)積滿水的地窖，為了不泛濫成災(zāi)，得趕忙把水往外排；但無論他們怎么盡力把水往外吐，
嗓子里還是有一股股的水涌上來，連帶著一陣陣惡心。此刻，兩個(gè)孩子看起來都臉色煞白，
一副慘相。喬的煙斗接著也掉了。兩個(gè)人的口水只管噴泉似地朝外涌，兩個(gè)抽水機(jī)全力以赴
往外抽水。喬有氣無力地說：
    “我的小刀不見了。我想我得去找找看。”
    湯姆嘴唇發(fā)抖，吞吞吐吐地說：
    “我?guī)椭阏?。你到那邊去找，我到泉水旁邊看看。不，哈克，不用你來幫?mdash;—我倆
能找到。”
    于是哈克重新坐下來等著。一個(gè)小時(shí)后，他覺得有些孤單，便動身去找同伴。他倆東一
個(gè)，西一個(gè)相去甚遠(yuǎn)，臉色蒼白地倒在林中睡大覺。他看得出他們倆抽煙不太適應(yīng)，不過現(xiàn)
在這種難受已經(jīng)過去了。
    當(dāng)晚吃飯時(shí)，大家的話都不怎么多。喬和湯姆看上去可憐巴巴的。飯后，哈克準(zhǔn)備好自
己煙斗，正打算也給他們準(zhǔn)備，他倆說不用了，因?yàn)橥盹埑缘臇|西有點(diǎn)不大對勁，他們覺得
有些不舒服。
    夜半光景，喬醒了，叫另外兩個(gè)孩子?？諝鈵灍岜迫耍坪跻兲?。盡管天氣又悶又熱
令人窒息，幾個(gè)孩子還是相互依偎在一起，盡力靠近那堆火。他們?nèi)褙炞⒛谀抢铮?br /> 等待著。周圍還是一片肅靜。除了那堆火，一切都被漆黑的夜色吞噬了。不一會兒，遠(yuǎn)處劃
過一道亮光，隱約照在樹葉上，只一閃便消失了。不久，又劃過一道更強(qiáng)烈的閃光。接著又
一道。這時(shí)候，穿過森林的枝葉，傳來一陣低吼聲，幾個(gè)孩子仿佛覺得有一股氣息拂過臉
頰，以為是幽靈過去了，嚇得瑟瑟發(fā)抖。一陣短暫的間隙過后，又是一道悚目驚心的閃光，
把黑夜照得亮如白晝，他們腳下的小草也歷歷可辨；同時(shí)，三張慘白、驚懼的臉也畢露無
遺。一陣沉雷轟轟隆隆當(dāng)空滾過，漸去漸遠(yuǎn)，消失在遙遠(yuǎn)的天邊。一陣涼風(fēng)襲來，樹葉沙沙
作響，火堆里的灰，雪花似地四處飛撒。又一道強(qiáng)光照亮了樹林，響雷緊隨其后，仿佛就要
把孩子們頭頂上的樹梢一劈兩半。之后，又是一團(tuán)漆黑，幾個(gè)孩子嚇得抱成一團(tuán)，幾顆大雨
點(diǎn)噼哩啪啦砸在樹葉上。
    “快，伙計(jì)們！快撤到帳篷里去！”湯姆大喊。
    他們?nèi)鐾染团?，黑暗中不時(shí)絆上樹根和藤蔓，由于極度害怕，他們拼命地朝不同方向
跑。一陣狂風(fēng)呼嘯而過，所到之處，簌簌作響。耀眼的閃電一道緊跟著一道，震耳的雷聲一
陣尾隨著一陣。片刻之間，傾盆大雨劈頭潑下，陣陣狂風(fēng)又沿著地面把它們刮成了一片片雨
幕。孩子們相互呼喊著，可是風(fēng)吼雷嘯，把他們的呼喊聲完全蓋住了。不過，他們終于一個(gè)
接一個(gè)地沖回了露營地，在帳篷底下躲起來，又冷又怕，渾身精濕。好在在這樣惡劣的環(huán)境
下，大家守在一塊，總算是不幸中的萬幸。他們講不出話來，因?yàn)槟菈K舊帆篷噼噼啪啪響得
太厲害，這么大的噪音實(shí)在沒法交談?？耧L(fēng)越刮越猛，不久便吹斷了系帆篷的繩子，把它一
卷而飛。孩子們手挽著手，逃向河岸上一棵大橡樹底下躲雨，一路上磕磕絆絆，碰破了許多
地方。這時(shí)候，天空中風(fēng)、雨、閃、雷交加，狂暴至極。閃電把天空也照亮了，把天宇下的
萬物映襯得分外鮮明；被風(fēng)吹彎的樹木、白浪翻騰的大河、大片隨風(fēng)飛舞的泡沫以及河對岸
高聳的懸崖峭壁的模糊輪廓，都在那飛渡的亂云和斜飄的雨幕中乍隱乍現(xiàn)。每隔一會，就有
一棵大樹不敵狂風(fēng)，嘩啦一聲撲倒在小樹叢中；驚雷如潮，震耳欲聾，驚魂奪魄，難以言
狀。最后的這一陣暴風(fēng)雨更是威力無比，似乎要在片刻之間，把這個(gè)小島撕成碎片，燒成灰
燼，淹沒樹頂，再把它吹個(gè)無影無蹤，要把島上的生靈都震昏震聾。對這幾個(gè)離家出走的孩
子們來說，這一夜實(shí)在夠他們受的了。
    但是，最后暴風(fēng)雨總算過去了，風(fēng)聲雨聲漸漸平息下來，一切又恢復(fù)了寧靜。孩子們回
到了宿營地；他們發(fā)現(xiàn)被嚇得夠嗆，值得慶幸的是緊挨著他們床鋪的那棵梧桐樹被雷劈倒，
而雷殛之時(shí)，他們恰巧不在樹下。露營地的一切都被大雨淋透了，那堆篝火也給澆滅了。這
幾個(gè)孩子畢竟缺乏經(jīng)驗(yàn)，就像他們的同齡人一樣，沒有想到要去防雨。更倒霉的是，他們都
成了落湯雞，冷得受不了。那副狼狽相不言自喻。不過他們很快發(fā)現(xiàn)，原先那堆火已經(jīng)把他
們靠著生火的那根倒在地上的大樹干（在它彎起離地面有些距離的地方）燒得凹進(jìn)去很深，
因此有塊巴掌大的地方?jīng)]有被雨淋濕。于是他們極有耐性地想方設(shè)法，從那些有遮掩的樹
下，尋來些碎葉、樹皮做火引子，總算又把那堆火救活了。隨后他們又添了許多枯樹枝，讓
火苗呼呼直竄，這才感到興高采烈。他們把熟火腿烘干，炮餐一頓。吃罷就坐在火堆旁，把
夜半的歷險(xiǎn)大肆渲染一番，一直聊到清早，因?yàn)橹車鷽]有一處能睡覺的干地方。
    太陽漸漸升起來，照在孩子們的身上，他們感到困倦難耐，就從林子里走出來，到沙灘
上躺下來睡覺。不久，他們渾身被太陽曬得燥熱，就站起來懶洋洋地弄飯吃。吃罷，他們都
覺得周身酸痛，骨節(jié)發(fā)硬，于是又有點(diǎn)想家了。湯姆看出了苗頭，極力說些開心的事，想打
起那兩個(gè)海盜的精神。可是，他們對石頭彈子、馬戲、游泳等一切游戲都不感興趣了。他又
向他們提起了那個(gè)秘密，這才激起了一點(diǎn)高興的反應(yīng)。趁著這股勁兒，他又使他們對一種新
式玩法產(chǎn)生了興趣，這就是大家暫時(shí)放棄當(dāng)海盜，改扮成印第安人，換換口味。他們一下子
被這個(gè)主意吸引住了。于是，不久他們便脫得精赤，從頭到腳抹了一道道的黑泥，就像幾匹
斑馬——當(dāng)然個(gè)個(gè)都是酋長——然后他們飛奔入林，去襲擊一個(gè)英國佬的聚居點(diǎn)。
    后來他們又分成三個(gè)敵對的部落，從埋伏處發(fā)出可怕的吼叫，沖出來相互襲擊，殺死和
剝掉頭皮的人數(shù)以千計(jì)。這是一場血淋淋的戰(zhàn)爭，因此也是個(gè)痛快淋漓的日子。
    臨近吃晚飯時(shí)分，他們才回到宿營地集合，饑腸轆轆，但卻十分快活；不過，又一個(gè)難
題產(chǎn)生了——互相仇殺的印第安人如不事先講和，是不能在一塊友好進(jìn)餐的，而講和的前提
必須要抽一袋煙。他們從沒聽說過還有別的講和辦法。這三個(gè)野蠻人中的兩個(gè)幾乎一致表示
希望繼續(xù)當(dāng)海盜。大家終究想不出別的解決辦法；所以他們只好裝出一副愉悅神情，把煙斗
要過來，按照傳統(tǒng)的儀式輪流抽了一口。
    說也奇怪，他們又很高興自己變成野蠻人了，因?yàn)樗麄兪斋@不?。核麄儼l(fā)現(xiàn)自己已經(jīng)可
以抽抽煙，而不必找丟失的小刀了；現(xiàn)在他們已經(jīng)不再被煙嗆得難受了。他們可不會輕易放
過這可喜的進(jìn)步而裹足不前，不會。吃過晚飯，他們又小心地練習(xí)了一下，取得了不小的成
功，因此，這天晚上他們過得喜氣洋洋。他們對自己取得的這一成就非常自豪，非常滿意。
即使他們能把印第安人的六個(gè)部落通通剝掉頭皮，或者把全身的皮都剝掉，也不會比這更暢
快。就隨他們在那兒抽煙、閑扯和天吹海聊吧，目前我們暫沒什么事情麻煩他們了。