Chapter 18 Chapter Sixteen-Twenty

Chapter 16 Beginners to Smoking - "Lost the Knife" After lunch, the whole pirate gang went out to the sandbar to find turtle eggs.They poked into the sand with branches, and when they got to the soft spot, they knelt down and dug with their hands.Sometimes, they can produce fifty or sixty turtle eggs in a nest.These eggs are white and round.They had a delicious omelet that night, and they ate it up again on Friday morning. After breakfast, they happily ran to the sandbar.They chased each other, ran in circles, took off their clothes while running, and continued to play after they were naked, until they ran to the shallow water beach of the sandbar, standing against the current, and the water rushed over their legs. However, it often knocked them over, and the adventure gave them great pleasure.Sometimes they would stand hunched over and splash water in each other's faces with their palms.Everyone hit closer and closer, their heads tilted to one side to avoid the breathless water.Finally, they twisted into a ball, and after a lot of hard work, the weak one was finally pushed into the water, so everyone got into the water together, a few pairs of snow-white arms and legs were entangled in the water, and then suddenly came out of the water and sprayed water. Water, laughing, panting like a cow.

When they were very tired from playing, they ran to the bank, lay on all fours in the air, and lay down on the dry and hot sand, covering themselves with sand.After a while, he rushed into the water again and had another water fight.Later, they suddenly remembered that their bare skin could be regarded as a flesh-colored "tights", so they drew a big circle on the beach and started to perform a circus - because they refused to give in to each other, no one wanted to lose this role. The chance of the most airy character, as a result, three clowns appeared on the stage. Afterwards, they took out their marbles and played "Tinkering," "Knocking," and "Touch-and-Win," until they had their fill of fun.Then Joe and Huck went swimming again, but Tom didn't dare to risk it, because he found that when he kicked off his trousers, he had kicked the string of rattles off his ankles.He wondered that without the blessing of this amulet, there was no accident after playing around for so long just now.Only after he retrieved the amulet did he dare to play, but at this time the other two partners were tired and ready to take a rest.So they "did not agree with each other", all of them lost their interest, and couldn't help looking helplessly at the other side of the wide river, where the small town they yearned for was dozing in the sun.Tom found himself writing "Becky" in the sand with his toes involuntarily.He erased the writing, furious with himself for being weak-willed.However, he couldn't help writing the name again.Once more he erased the name, and in order not to write any more, he got his two companions together and played with them himself.

But Joe's mood plummeted.He was so homesick that he couldn't bear it anymore, and tears welled up in his eyes.Huck was also sullen.Tom, too, was depressed, but tried not to let it show.He had a secret, and he didn't intend to reveal it right away, but now the depressed morale had to be reversed, and he had to show his trump card. He said with great interest: "Guys, I bet there have been pirates on this island before, we've got to explore again. They must have hidden jewels somewhere on this island. If we ever come across a crappy chest full of gold and silver, What do you guys think?"

The two partners didn't answer his words, and the little energy they had just gotten up also disappeared.Tom tried and failed to tempt them with one or two other things.It was such a disappointment.Jo sat poking the sand with a twig, looking sad.Finally he said: "Hey, I say, boys, let it go. I'm going home, and it's so lonely." "Well, Joe, it won't do. You'll feel better by and by," said Tom. "Isn't it nice fishing here?" "I don't like fishing. I want to go home." "But, Joe, is there such a good swimming spot anywhere else!"

"What's so good about swimming. Even if people tell me not to go in the water now, I don't care. I just want to go home." "Hmph, it's unreasonable! Like a little baby looking for its mother." "Yes, I just want to find my mother—if you have a mother, you will also want to find her. You say I am a baby, but how old are you?" As she spoke, Joe felt a little Sniff. "Well, let's just let this crying baby go home and get mama, shall we, Huck? Poor thing—he's going to mama? Let him go. You sure like it here, don't you?" Huck? Let's stay here, shall we?

Huck said calmly: "Also—OK." "I'll never speak to you again until I die," said Jo, rising. "You'll see!" He walked away resentfully, and began to dress. "Who cares!" said Tom. "No one begging you to talk to him. Go back and let people see your jokes. Yo, you're a great pirate. Huck and I ain't crybabies. We're gonna stay here, aren't we, ha K? If he wants to go, let him go. I think we might be just as well off without him." But Tom was not feeling well, and he was a little alarmed when he saw Jo's face sombre and her clothes on.And Huck kept staring at Joe who was about to go home, without saying a word, with an expression of wanting to go with him, which made him even more uneasy.Then, without a word of good-bye, Joe went into the water, wading toward Illinois.Tom's heart began to sink.He glanced at Huck, who couldn't stand the look and dropped his eyes.Later he said:

"I'm going home, too, Tom. We're getting lonelier here. Tom, let's go too." "I will never go! If you want to go, go, all of you. I will stay." "Tom, I'd better go back." "Okay, go! Go! Who stopped you?" Huck began to pick up his clothes here and there.He said: "Tom, I want you to go with me. You think about it. We'll wait for you on the shore." "Hmph, go fuck yourself, there's nothing to say." Huck left sadly, Tom stood there, watching his back, struggling fiercely in his heart, really wanted to put aside his self-esteem and follow them.He wished the two companions would stop, but they were still wading slowly forward.Tom suddenly felt so deserted and lonely around him.After a final struggle with his pride, he at last ran straight up to his two companions, shouting as he ran:

"Wait! Wait! I have something to tell you!" They stopped immediately and turned around.He walked up to them and revealed the secret to them.They listened sullenly at first, and when they understood his "real intentions," they jumped up and down, "That's wonderful!" They said they would never have gone away if he had told them from the start.He prevaricated skillfully. In fact, he was worried about whether this secret would allow them to stay on the island for a while, so he consciously kept his mouth shut, and did not reveal this trump card unless it was absolutely necessary.

The little ones came back full of joy, playing their games happily, talking of Tom's great plans, and admiring his resourcefulness.After they had eaten a delicious meal of turtle eggs and fresh fish, Tom said he would learn to smoke.Joe agreed, saying he wanted to try it too.So Huck made two pipes and filled them with tobacco.The two amateurs had never smoked anything but grapevine cigars, which tingled their tongues and looked rather rustic. They lay on their sides on their elbows and began to smoke, cautiously, not with confidence.The smoke didn't taste very good, and it choked them a little, but Tom said, "Why, what's so hard about smoking! I didn't know it was just that, and if I had, I would have learned."

"Me too," said Joe, "it's not worth mentioning." Tom said, "Well, I've seen people smoke a lot of times, and I thought I wished I could; but it never occurred to me that I could." "I'm like that, too, don't I, Huck?" said Joe. "You hear me say that, don't you, Huck? If it's a lie, I'm at your mercy." "Yes, he said--a lot of times," said Harker. "Well, I said that too," said Tom. "Well, there must have been a hundred times. It was at the slaughterhouse. Don't you forget, Huck? Bob Donner was there, and Johnny Miller, Jeff Thatcher, too. Remember, Huck?" "Remember, it happened," said Huck, "that was the day after I dropped the white marble. No , it was the day before."

"Look—I said I did," said Tom. "Huck thinks about it." "I don't think I'd have a problem smoking all day," Joe said. "I don't feel nauseous." "I don't feel nauseous either," said Tom, "and I could smoke it all day long. But I bet Jeff Thatcher not. " "Jeff Thatcher! Why, give him a puff or two and he'll swoon. If you don't believe me, let him try it.One time is enough for him to choke! " "I bet he sucks. And Johnny Miller—I'd love to give Johnny Miller a couple of sips." "Oh, the devil doesn't think so!" said Jo. "Hey, I bet Johnny Miller would do the worst job. He'd just have to smell it and he'd be dead." "Indeed, Joe. Why—I wish those boys could see us as we are." "I think so." "Hey—folks, don't mention it for now, and some time later, when they're around, I'll come over and say, 'Joe, have you got a pipe? I'd like to have a couple of puffs.' You look like it doesn't matter at all, and you say, 'Here, here's my old pipe, and here's another one, but my leaves aren't very good.' And I'll Said, 'Oh, it's all right, as long as it's strong enough.' Then you take out your pipe, and we light it up and smoke it, slowly, and let them see it." "Well, that's funny, Tom! I'd love to show them now!" "I think so too! I'm going to tell them we learned it when we were pirates out there, wouldn't they wish they had come with us?" "Well, of course I would! I bet they would!" And so the conversation went on.But before long they began to lose heart, and their words didn't match the meaning.Then he fell silent.They spit, and spit more and more.The saliva in the cheeks of these two children was like a fountain; under their tongues it seemed like a water-filled cellar, which had to be drained out hastily in order not to overflow; A stream of water surged up, accompanied by waves of nausea.At this moment, both children looked pale and miserable.Then Joe's pipe dropped.The saliva of the two people gushed out like a fountain, and the two water pumps went all out to pump water out.Joe said weakly: "My pocket knife is missing. I think I'll have to look for it." With trembling lips, Tom stammered: "I'll help you find it. You look over there, and I'll look by the spring. No, Huck, I don't need your help—we can find it." So Huck sat down again and waited.After an hour he felt a little lonely and set off to find his companions.They were one in the east and the other in the west were very different, and they fell asleep in the forest with pale faces.He could see that they were not used to smoking, but that was over now. At dinner that night, everyone didn't talk much.Joe and Tom looked pitiful.After dinner, Huck got his own pipe ready, and was about to get them some too, but they said no, because there was something wrong with their supper, and they felt a little uncomfortable. About midnight Jo woke up and called the other two boys.The air was sultry and hot, and it seemed to be changing.Despite the suffocating heat, the children huddled together, trying to get as close to the fire as possible.They sat there in rapt silence, waiting.The surrounding area was still silent.Everything except the fire was swallowed up by the darkness of night.After a while, a bright light flashed in the distance, shining faintly on the leaves, and disappeared in a flash.Soon, another more intense flash flashed.Then another one.At this time, there was a low growl coming through the branches and leaves of the forest, and the children seemed to feel a breath brushing over their cheeks, thinking it was a ghost passing by, and trembling with fright.After a short interval, there was another frightening flash, which made the night as bright as day, and the grass under their feet was clearly discernible; at the same time, three pale, frightened faces were revealed.A burst of thunder rumbled across the sky, gradually drifting away, and disappeared into the distant horizon.A cool wind came, the leaves rustled, and the ashes from the fire were scattered in all directions like snowflakes.Another bright light shone through the woods, followed by thunder that seemed to split the tops of the trees over the children's heads in two.Afterwards, it was pitch black again, and the children huddled together in fright, and a few heavy raindrops fell on the leaves. "Quick, boys! Get back in the tent!" Tom yelled. They ran as fast as they could, stumbling over roots and vines in the dark, and desperately running in different directions because of extreme fear.A gust of wind whizzed by, rustling wherever it went.Dazzling lightning followed closely one after another, and deafening thunder followed one after another.In a moment, the downpour of rain was pouring down, and the gusts of wind blew them into sheets of rain along the ground.The children shouted to each other, but the roar of the wind and thunder completely covered their shouts.At last, however, one by one, they rushed back to the campsite and hid under their tents, cold and scared and wet.Fortunately, in such a harsh environment, it is finally a blessing in misfortune for everyone to stay together.They could not speak, for the old sail crackled so much that it was impossible to talk with such noise.The wind blew harder and harder, and presently broke the ropes that made the sail up, and sent it flying.Arm in arm, the children fled to shelter from the rain under a big oak tree on the river bank, stumbling and breaking in many places along the way.At this time, the sky was full of wind, rain, lightning, and thunder, and it was extremely violent.The lightning also illuminated the sky, setting off everything under the sky very vividly; the trees bent by the wind, the big river with white waves churning, large pieces of foam flying with the wind, and the blurred outline of the towering cliffs on the other side of the river, all appeared in the sky. The flying chaotic clouds and the slanting rain suddenly appeared and disappeared.Every once in a while, a big tree was defeated by the strong wind and fell down among the bushes with a crash;The last storm was even more powerful. It seemed that in an instant, it would tear the island to pieces, burn it to ashes, drown the tree tops, and blow it away without a trace, killing all the creatures on the island. Stunned and deafened.For these children who ran away from home, this night was enough for them. But at last the storm passed, and the noise of the wind and rain gradually subsided, and all was quiet again.The children returned to the camp; they found themselves terrified, thankfully the plane tree next to their beds had been struck by lightning, and they happened not to be under it when the thunder struck them.Everything at the campsite was soaked by the rain, and the campfire was doused.After all, these children were inexperienced, and just like their peers, they didn't expect to be protected from the rain.What's more unfortunate is that they were all drowned and the cold was unbearable.That embarrassment is self-evident.However, they soon discovered that the original fire had burned the big fallen tree trunk (where it bent some distance from the ground) which they were leaning on to make the fire. The place is not wet from the rain.So they patiently tried their best to find some broken leaves and bark from under the sheltered trees to make fire starters, and finally put the fire back to life.Then they added many more dead branches, and let the flames roar, and they were happy.They dried the cooked ham and made a big meal.After eating, we sat by the fire, and magnified our midnight adventures, and talked till early in the morning, for there was no dry place around to sleep. Gradually the sun came up and shone down on the children, and they were so tired that they came out of the wood and lay down on the sand to sleep.Soon, they were all hot from the sun, and they stood up and made food lazily.After eating, they all felt sore all over and their joints were stiff, so they felt a little homesick again.Tom saw it, and tried to cheer up the two pirates by saying something cheerful.But they were no longer interested in marbles, circuses, swimming, and all other games.He brought the secret up to them again, and that only elicited a slightly pleased response.Taking advantage of this momentum, he got them interested in a new way of playing, that is, everyone temporarily gave up being pirates and dressed up as Indians for a change.They were immediately attracted by the idea.So soon they were stripped naked, covered head to toe with black mud, like zebras--all of them chiefs, of course--and they galloped into the woods to raid a settlement of Brits . They later divided into three hostile tribes, and from their ambush, roaring fearfully, rushed out to attack each other, killing and scalping thousands.It was a bloody war, and therefore a happy day. It was almost time for dinner, and they returned to the camp to gather, hungry, but very happy; however, another problem arose—the Indians who hated each other could not have a friendly meal together without making peace in advance, and The prerequisite for making peace is to smoke a bag of cigarettes.They had never heard of any other way of making peace.Two of the three savages almost unanimously expressed their wish to remain pirates.No other solution could be thought of; so they feigned pleasure, asked for their pipes, and took turns taking a puff in accordance with traditional ceremonies. Strangely enough, they were glad to be savages again, for they had gained a lot: they found that they could smoke instead of looking for lost knives;They will not easily let go of this gratifying progress and hold back, no.After supper they practiced carefully again, with some success, and they passed the evening in good spirits.They are very proud and very satisfied with what they have achieved.Even if they could have scalped all six tribes of Indians, or skinned the whole body, it would not have been more enjoyable.Just let them smoke, gossip, and talk, we have nothing to trouble them for now. Chapter 17 The pirates buried themselves, and the church revealed the truth That same Saturday afternoon, although the town was quiet, people's hearts were heavy.Both Harper's and Aunt Polly's were in mourning and crying.To tell the truth, the town, which was already quiet enough, was even more eerily quiet now.People in the village are absent-minded when they work, and they seldom talk, they just sigh and sigh.Saturday also seems to be a burden for the children.When they were playing games, they couldn't keep their spirits up, and then they stopped playing altogether. That afternoon, Becky Thatcher walked up and down the deserted school playground with a sad face, feeling very sad in her heart, but she couldn't find anything to comfort herself, so she walked and muttered to herself road: "Oh, if only I could get the brass handle on that wood-frame again! I don't even have a thing in memory of him now." She fought back tears.After a while, she stopped and said to herself: "Here it is. Oh, if he gave it to me again, I'd never be as stubborn as I was last time, or talk like last time anyway. But he's gone now, and I'll never, Never see him again." Thinking of this, she couldn't bear it anymore.So she walked away in a daze, tears streaming down her cheeks.Then a great company of boys and girls--they had been Tom and Joe's mates--came up and stood looking over the fence, and told in reverent tones how Tom had done things, and the last time they had done See what happened to Tom.And how Joe said little things like this and that. (It was evident to them now that it was all fraught with dire portents!) Every one present could tell exactly where the missing companion had stood, and would add, "That's where I stood — like now, like you’re him — we’re so close — and he’s laughing, like this — and then I feel like something’s wrong — like — it’s scary, you know — I wasn’t even I don't know what happened, but now I understand it all." Then they got into an argument over who was the last to see the missing children.Many children were really having fun, vying for the top spot, and presented some evidence, which was embellished by witnesses.When the results were finally announced, those lucky ones who were considered to have seen the dead last and talked to them put on a great look, while the rest looked at them with their mouths open, envious.There was a poor fellow, who had nothing to be proud of, and recalling an incident, he said proudly: "Oh, Tom Sawyer beat me up once." However, this did not make him the envy of everyone, because most children can say that, so his words are not worth much.The group of children continued to chat afterwards, recounting in awe the lives of the dead heroes. The next morning, after Sunday school was over, the big church bell, instead of the usual one, sounded the mourning.This Sunday, the town seemed very quiet, and the sound of the funeral bells seemed to be in harmony with the silence that enveloped the land.The people of the village began to gather together, lingering for a while in the corridors, talking in low tones about the tragedy.But there was no whispering in the church except for the miserable rustling of the women's clothes as they went to their pews.Nobody could remember a time when this little church was as full as it is today.Then there was silence in the church, and everyone waited for a while before Aunt Polly came in, followed by Sid and Mary, and after a while the Harpers came in, all dressed in dark black.At this time, everyone stood up, even the elderly pastor was no exception.Everyone stood respectfully and waited until those who had just entered were seated in the front row before sitting down.There was another silence, punctuated by choked sobs.Then the pastor spread his hands and prayed.A stirring hymn was sung, followed by a eulogy: "I am the life, and the resurrection is I." At the funeral, The priest described the virtues of the deceased and their pleasing behavior, as well as their extraordinary promise.Everyone here secretly admitted that he was right, that they had been too blind to see these things before, and were saddened to look at the faults and faults of these poor children.The pastor also told some touching stories of these children. They were innocent, lovely and generous.People now see at a glance how noble and admirable their behavior was at that time.But at that time, these were considered pure hooliganism, and people wanted to beat these children with a whip.Thinking of all this, people are sad.The more the pastor spoke, the more emotional he became, and the more people present were moved, they all sobbed.The pastor himself couldn't control his emotions and wept on the pulpit. There was a rustling in the church gallery, but no one heard it.Soon, the door of the church creaked open. The pastor took away his handkerchief, raised his tearful eyes, and stood there dumbfounded!So one pair after another followed the pastor's line of sight, and then all the attendees stood up at once, watching the three children who had been resurrected from the dead stride forward along the aisle with wide eyes.Tom went first, Joe in the middle, and Huck in the rear.They have been hiding in the empty corridor just now, listening to the eulogy in their memory! Aunt Polly, Mary, and the Harpers all threw themselves upon the resurrected children, kissing them breathlessly, and pouring out many words of gratitude.And poor Huck stood there, embarrassed and uncomfortable, not knowing what to do, not knowing where to run to escape these unwelcome looks.He hesitated, and was about to slip away, but Tom caught him, and said: "Aunt Polly, it's not fair, and Huck ought to be welcome." "Yes, that's right, and I'll welcome him. It's a pity he doesn't have a mother!" Aunt Polly's kind attention only made him more uncomfortable.Suddenly the pastor let go of his voice and sang loudly: "Praise God, bless all beings— Sing! ——Everyone sing to your heart's content! " Everyone really sang enthusiastically.People sang carols loudly with full enthusiasm, and the singing echoed over the church.Pirate Tom Sawyer looked around and found that his companions were envious of him, and secretly admitted that this was the happiest moment in his life. When the "tricked" funeral-goers came out of the church in groups, everyone said that if they could sing carols with such enthusiasm as today, they would be willing to be tricked again. Tom was either boxed or kissed that day, according to Aunt Polly's mood.The sum of what he suffered in the past year is not as much as today.He could hardly tell which expression was gratitude to God and which was love for Him. Chapter Eighteen That's Tom's biggest secret plan -- to go home with his Pirate Brothers and attend his own funeral.At dusk on Saturday they sat on a big log and floated down the river, on the other side of the Missouri, and landed five or six miles downriver from the town.They fell asleep in the woods outside the town, and when they awoke it was almost dawn.Then they slipped quietly through lonely alleys and alleys, and slipped into the aisle of the church.There was a mess of broken stools.They continued to sleep, and slept until dawn. Aunt Polly and Mary were very close to Tom at breakfast on Monday morning.He wants to satisfy him with everything, and everyone talks much more than usual.During the conversation, Aunt Polly said: "Well, Tom, if you tell me you're a good joker, you guys made us all suffer for nearly a week just to have fun. You shouldn't be so hard-hearted as to make me suffer too. Since you can Come to your own funeral sitting on a log, so why can't you give me a hint that you're gone and not dead?" "Yes, Tom, my aunt is right," went on Mary, "I think you would do that if you thought of it." "Would you, Tom?" asked Aunt Polly, with a look of longing on her face. "Tell me, if you thought of it, would you do that?" "I—well, I don't know, it would be a bad thing." "Tom, I thought you took me very seriously," said Aunt Polly, whose sad tone disturbed Tom deeply. . "If you still thought of this before, even if you didn't do it, it would be very good." "Oh, don't think so, aunt, that's all right," said Mary to her aunt, turning to Tom. "Tom is just like that, and he's always in a hurry, and never thinks of the consequences." "Then it shouldn't be. It would have been different if it had been Sid, and he'd come and tell me. Someday, Tom, you'll look back and regret it: sorry you didn't let me go like this." In my heart. It doesn't matter to you." "Oh, Aunt, you know I really love you," said Tom. "If you not only say that, but also do it, I will believe you more." "Now I wish I had thought so," said Tom regretfully, "but I dreamed of you in my dreams, and that's all right, isn't it?" "What's that--even cats dream of me--but then again, it's better than not dreaming of me at all. What did you dream about me?" "Oh, well, on Wednesday night I dreamed you were sitting by that bed, and Sid was sitting against the crate, and Mary wasn't far from him." "Yes, we sat that way. We always sit that way. I'm glad you worried about us in your dreams." "I also dreamed that Joe Harper's mother was here." "Why, she has been here! What else?" "Oh, there are many, but I don't remember very clearly now." "So, try to think back, okay?" "I remember as if the wind—the wind blew out—the wind blew out—" "Think about it, Tom! The wind did blow something out, tell me!" Tom put his fingers on his forehead, looking anxious.He thought for a while and said: "I remember! The wind blew out the candle!" "My God! That's right! Go on, Tom—go on!" "I think you said, well, I think the door..." "Go on, Tom!" "Let me recall for a moment—take it easy. Oh, by the way, you said you thought the door was open." "I was sitting here as I am now, and I did say it! Yes, Mary! Tom on!" "Then...then...what happened later, I'm not sure. But I seem to remember you telling Sid to...go...." "Where? Say? Tom, what am I telling him to do? What is he going to do?" "You make him... you... oh, you make him close the door." "Oh my God! I never heard of such a thing in my life! Now I see that dreams aren't all fake. I'm going to tell Serene Harper (Joe's mother) right now, Let her explain this. She never believed in superstitions, and we'll see what she has to say. Go on, Tom!" "Oh, now that I think of it all. Later, you said I wasn't bad, just naughty. A little hot-headed and rash. And you said I was a kid (I think you said that), not at all. Bad-hearted." "Exactly! Oh, my God! Go on, Tom!" "Then you cry." "I was crying. I was crying, and that's a normal thing. Then what happened?" "Later Mrs. Harper cried too. She said Joe was a child like me, and she regretted whipping him for the cheese. She poured the cheese out herself—" "Tom, you are amazing! Your dreams are prophecies!" "Then Sid said—he said..." "I remember I didn't seem to say anything," Sid said. "No, Sid, you did," said Mary. "Shut up, you two, and let Tom go on! What did he say, Tom?" "He said--I think he said this: He wished I'd been more comfortable in another world, but if I'd been better in certain ways..." "Look, you heard that! That's what he said!" "Also, you tell him to shut up." "I did say so! There must be a master helping you with this matter. There must be a master secretly helping you!" "Mrs. Harper also told the story about Joe setting off firecrackers to scare her, and you talked about Peter and the painkillers..." "It's absolutely true!" "Later you talked about a lot of things, about salvage us from the river, about the funeral on Sunday, and then you and Mrs. Harper hugged and cried, and finally she left and went away." "That's what happened! It's true, as I sit here, and it's not bad at all. Tom, even people who have seen it with their own eyes can say that! And then? Go on, Tom!" "I remember you prayed for me afterward - I could see and hear every word you said. You went to bed and I was so sorry that I took a piece of sycamore bark and wrote on it: 'We didn't die, we just went off to be pirates.' And put it on the table by the candle; and you lay there asleep afterwards, looking all right. I went over, bent down, and kissed you lips." "Yes, Tom, yes! I'll forgive you all your faults for that!" And she threw her arms around the little fellow, which made him feel like a guilty little bastard. "Although it's just a—dream, it's not bad," Sid said to himself, just barely audibly. "Shut up, Sid! There's a man who dreams and does what he does. Here's a big apple I've saved for you, Tom, and I'm going to give it to you if I can find you—go to school now.你终于回来了，我感谢仁慈的圣父。凡是相信他，听他话的人，上帝一定会对他们大发慈悲。不过天知道我是不配的。不过要是只有配受他爱护的人才能得到他的保佑，由他帮助渡过灾难，那就没有几个人能在临死前，能从容微笑，或是到主那里去安息了。走吧，希德、玛丽，还有汤姆——快走吧— —你们耽误了我很长时间。” 孩子们动身上学去了，老太太就去我哈帕太太，想以汤姆那个活生生的梦来说服哈帕太太，梦有时也能成真。希德离开家的时候，对汤姆所讲的心中已有了数。不过，他并没有说出来，那就是：“这不可信——那么长的一个梦，居然没有一点差错！” 瞧，汤姆现在可神气了，他成了英雄。他一改往日的蹦蹦跳跳，走路时，腰板挺直，俨然一副受人注目的海盗相。是的，他从人群中走过时，既不看他们一眼，也不理睬他们说什么，把他们全不当一回事，小家伙们成群结队跟在他身后，并以此为荣。汤姆也不介意，仿佛自己成了游行队伍中的鼓手或是进城表演的马戏团中的领头那样受人注目。与他同龄的伙伴们表面上装着根本不知道他曾走失过那回事，但心里却忌妒得要命。他们要是也能像这个鬼东西那样，皮肤被晒得黝黑，又如此受人仰目，那死也眠目，但就是拿马戏团来换，汤姆一样也不愿让给他们。 在学校里从孩子们羡慕的眼神里可以看出汤姆和乔简直被人给捧上了天。不久，这两位“英雄”就开始翘尾巴，别人只好强忍着。于是他俩就向那些如饥似渴的“听众”讲起了他们冒险的经历。可刚一开头，他们就不往下讲，因为他们富于想象力，不时添油加醋，你想故事能有结束的时候吗？到后来，他们拿出烟斗，不急不忙地抽着烟，四处踱着步。这时，他们的神气劲达得了登峰造极的地步。 汤姆横下一条心，没有贝基·撒切尔他也行。只要有荣耀就有一切，他愿为荣耀而活着。既然现在他出了名，或许她会要求重新和好。不过，那是她的事，她会发现他现在根本不在乎了。不久，她来了。汤姆装着没看见她，跑到另一群男女孩子们中间说起话来。他很快发现她脸通红，来回走个不停，四处张望，好像是在追逐同学们，追上一个就笑着大叫一声，乐乐呵呵的。可是他还注意到她总在他的附近抓人，每抓到一个，都好像有意向他这边瞟上一眼。汤姆那不可告人的虚荣心全得到了满足，这下他更觉得自己是个人物了，因此对她越是不动声色，视而不见。她不再嘻戏了，只是犹犹豫豫地走来走去。她叹了一口气，闷闷不乐地看着汤姆，见他只和艾美·劳伦斯一人讲话，不理睬别的人。她立即感到极度悲伤，变得烦躁不安。她想走开，可两脚不听使唤，身不由己地来到了同学们一边。她装着满不在乎的样子对离汤姆十分近的那个女孩说： “哟，是玛丽·奥斯汀呀！你这个坏家伙，干吗没去主日学校？” “我去了——你没见我去吗？” “不错，没看见。你去了？那你坐在什么地方？” “我一惯在彼得小姐那一班。不过，我当时倒看见你在那儿。” “是吗？真有趣，我居然没看见你。我原想告诉你野餐的事情。” “啊，太捧了。谁来操办呢？” “我妈打算让我来。” “噢，好极了，我希望她会让我参加。” “嗯，她会的。野餐是为我举办的。我爱叫谁，她都愿意。我爱叫你来，她当然愿意喽。”“棒极了。什么时候办呀？” “要不了多久，也许放假就办。” “好，这太有意思了！你打算请所有的男女同学吗？” “对，凡是我的朋友，我都请。还有想和我交朋友的人，我也请。”说完，她偷偷瞥了一眼汤姆，可是他正跟艾美·劳伦斯讲岛上那场可怕的暴风雨的故事：当时一道闪电划破长空，把那棵大梧桐树“劈成碎片”，而他自己站得离那棵大梧桐树还“不到三英尺远”。 “喂，我能参加吗？”格雷赛·米勒说。 "can." “还有我呐？”莎丽·罗杰问。 “你也能。” “我也能吗？”苏赛·哈帕问道，“乔呢？” “都能去。” 就这样，除汤姆和艾美以外，所有的孩子都高兴地拍着手，要求贝基请他们参加野餐。汤姆冷冰冰地转身带着艾美走了，边走边和她谈着。见到这情景，贝基气得嘴唇发抖，泪往上涌。她强装笑脸，不让别人看出有什么异样来，继续聊着。可是野餐的事现在失去了意义，一切都黯然失色。她马上跑开，找了一个无人的地方，照她们的说法“痛哭了一场”。由于自尊心受到了伤害，她闷闷不乐地坐在那里，一直坐到上课铃响，这时，她站起身来，瞪大眼睛，一副复仇的样子，把辫子往后一甩说：有他好看的。 课间休息的时候，汤姆继续和艾美逗乐，一副得意洋洋、心满意足的样子。他走来窜去想让贝基看见，以此来激怒她，伤她的心。最后，他终于在教室后面找到她。可他却像泄了气的皮球似的，情绪一落千丈。原来，贝基正舒舒服服地坐在一条小板凳上和阿尔费雷德·邓波儿一起在看画书。他们看得聚精会神，头也凑得很近，仿佛世上只有他俩存在。嫉妒的火焰在汤姆身上燃烧起来。他开始憎恨自己，骂自己是个傻瓜，白白放弃了贝基给他言归于好的机会。凡是能骂自己的话，他都派上了用场。他又急又气，直想放声大哭一场。而艾美此时却很开心，边走边快快活活地聊着。汤姆一句也听不进去，只是默默无语地往前走。艾美有时停下来，等他答话，他很尴尬，答得总是前言不对后语，不管问他什么，回答都是是的，是的。他忍不住一次又一次地走到教室后面，看见那可恨的一幕，气得他眼球都要掉了出来。更让他发疯的是贝基·撒切尔根本就没有把他放在眼里，不知道世上还有他这个大活宝（他是这么想的）。实际上贝基已发现他来了，她知道这次较量中自己赢了，见现在轮到汤姆受罪，她十分高兴。 艾美兴高采烈地叽叽喳喳说个不停，汤姆感到无法忍受。他暗示自己有事要办，而且时间不等人，必须马上就去做；可那个姑娘根本没明白过来，还是照讲不停。汤姆想：“哎，该死的，怎么老是缠着我不放。”到后来他非走不可了，可她仍是糊里糊涂，还说什么她会来“等他”。于是汤姆只得匆匆地悻悻离去。 汤姆咬牙切齿地想：“要是城里别的孩子那也就算了，可偏碰上圣路易斯来的这个自以为聪明的花花公子。那又怎么样，你刚一踏上这块土地，我不就揍了你一顿吗？只要让我逮住，你还得挨揍，那我可就……” 于是他拳打脚踢，平空乱舞一通，仿佛正在打那个孩子，挖他的眼睛。“我揍你，我揍你，不叫求饶！我要让你记住这个教训。”这场想象的打斗以对方失败而告终，汤姆感到心满意足。 中午时分，汤姆溜回家。有两件事让他很头疼：一是艾美的欢乐，他受不了她的纠缠；二是教室后面的那一幕，嫉妒让他再也不能经受别的打击了。贝基继续和阿尔费雷德看画书，时间一分一秒地过去，她想看汤姆的笑话，可汤姆却没有来，她那得意的心里不免蒙上一层阴影，于是她不再沾沾自喜了，继之而来的是心情沉重。她不能集中思想，到后来又变得心情忧郁。可是希望总是落空，汤姆并没有来。最后她伤心极了，后悔自己把事情做过了头。那个可怜的阿尔弗雷德见她心不在焉就不停地大声说道：“喂，你看这一张真有趣！” 这回，她终于耐不住性子了，说：“哼，别烦我了！我不喜欢这些东西！”说完，她突然大哭起来，站起身扭头就走。 阿尔弗雷德跟在她身边想安慰她，可是她却说： “滚开，别管我！我讨厌你！” 于是这孩子便止住了脚步，纳闷自己是不是做错了什么——因为事先说好了整个中午休息时，她都要和他一块儿看画书的——可是现在她却哭着走了。他苦思冥想来到了空荡荡的教室，感到受了羞辱，非常恼火。很快，他琢磨出了事情的缘由；原来他成了这个女孩子对汤姆·索亚发泄私愤的工具。想到这一点，他越发痛恨汤姆。他希望能找个办法既能让这家伙吃苦头又不连累自己。这时，汤姆的拼音课本跃入他的眼帘。报复的机会来了，他乐滋滋地把书翻到当天下午要学的那一课，然后把墨水泼在了上面。 阿尔弗雷德的这一举动被站在他身后窗户外面的贝基发现了，她马上不露声色地走开。她打算回家把这事告诉汤姆，他一定会感激她，然后尽释前嫌，重归于好。可到了半道上，她又改变了主意。一想起汤姆在她说野餐时的那副神气样，她心里阵阵灼热，感到无地自容。她下定决心，一来让汤姆因此受鞭笞；二来永远恨他。 第十九章汤姆花言巧语，姨妈慈悲心肠 汤姆闷闷不乐地回到家里。姨妈一见他就数落了他一通，他感到就是回家也不一定能减轻他的苦楚。 “汤姆呀，汤姆，我想活剥了你！” “姨妈，我怎么了？” “瞧，你作得够呛。都是因为你，我呆头呆脑地跑去找赛伦尼·哈帕，像个老傻瓜似的，指望能让她相信你编的那个鬼梦。可是你瞧，她早就从乔那里了解到那天晚上你回过家，听见了我们所说的一切。汤姆，我不知道像你这样的孩子将来会怎么样。都是因为你，我才到赛伦尼·哈帕那儿去，出尽了洋相。一想到这，我就很伤心。” 汤姆没想到事情会闹到这种地步。他本以为早上耍的小聪明只是玩笑，很有独创性，可现在看来那既卑鄙又可耻。他先是垂下头，无言以对，然后开口说： “姨妈，我希望那不是我干的，不过我没想到……” “是的，孩子，你从来不动脑筋，只想着自己。你能想到夜里从杰克逊岛那么大老远地跑来幸灾乐祸；你能想到编梦撒谎来糊弄我，可你就想不到来告诉我们你还活着并没有死。 你知道我们当时是多么伤心吗？ " “姨妈，我现在知道了，那样做太卑鄙。可是我不是存心要卑鄙的，真的，我不是存心的。还有，那天夜里我到这里来不是要来看笑话的。” “那么，你到这里来干什么呢？” “是来告诉你们别为我操心，因为我们并没有淹死。” “汤姆啊，汤姆，我要是能相信你真有这么好的心肠，还替别人着想，那我可就谢天谢地啰！不过，你心里明白你是个什么样的人，这我也明白，汤姆。” “姨妈，我可是千真万确这么打算的。我虽然扰了你，但我要不是这么打算的，我甘愿蹲大牢。” “哦，得了吧，汤姆，不要撒谎——不要撒谎，否则事情更加糟糕，越发不可收拾。” “我没撒谎，姨妈，我说的全是真的。我是要来让你别伤心的——我来就是为了这个。” “汤姆，我真愿意信你的话，这样可以一肥遮百丑。你出走，捉弄我们那我反倒很高兴。可是这听起来不对劲，如果真像你所说的那样，孩子，那你为什么不先告诉我呢？” “哎，你瞧，我听你说要给我们举行葬礼，我满心都想着要跑到教堂里躲起来，我舍不得不这么干。所以，我把树皮又放到口袋里，没有出来说。” “什么树皮？” “上面写着我们去当海盗的那块树皮。唉，我当时吻你的时候，你要是醒了就好了。真的，我真是这样希望的。” 姨妈绷紧的脸一下子松开了，她眼里突然闪现出慈祥的目光。 “你吻了我，汤姆？” “是啊，我吻了。” “你敢肯定，汤姆？” “那还用说，我吻了，姨妈，百分之百的肯定。” “那你为什么要吻我，汤姆？” “因为我很爱你，当时你躺在那里哭泣，我十分难过。” 汤姆说的像是真的。老太太再说话的时候已掩饰不住激动的心情，声音颤抖地说： “汤姆，再吻我一下！现在你可以去上学了，不要再来烦我了。” 汤姆刚一走，她就跑到橱子那里拿出汤姆当“海盗”时穿的那件破夹克，站在那儿自言自语道： “不，我不敢看。可怜的孩子，我猜他说的是谎话——不过，这是个十足善意的谎话，令人宽慰。我希望上帝——我知道上帝一准会原谅他，因为他心眼好，才撒这样的谎。我情愿这不是谎言。我不想看。” 她放下夹克站在那里想了一会。她两次伸手想再去拿那衣服，两次又把手缩了回来。最后，她坚定了决心再次伸出手去，心里想着：“这谎撒得好，我喜欢这样的谎话，别让它坏了我的美事。”于是她翻了夹克衫上的口袋，随即她看见了那块树皮上的字，于是她老泪纵横，边流泪边说：“就算这孩子错了，哪怕是大错特错，我现在也能原谅他了。” 第二十章心连心，汤姆代人受过 波莉姨妈吻汤姆的时候，态度有所变化，所以汤姆马上感到振作起来，心情轻松愉快。他上学去了。半路上在草坪巷口，他有幸碰上了贝基·撒切尔，他现在情绪好了，所以态度也来了个一百八十度大拐弯。于是他毫不犹豫地跑上前去说： “贝基，我很抱歉，今天那样做实在对不起人。你放心，就是死了，我也不会再那样了。我们和好吧！” 贝基停下脚步，一副鄙视的样子盯着他。 “托马斯·索亚先生，你自己好自为之吧，我这先谢谢你了。我不会再跟你讲话的。” 说完，她昂起头走了。汤姆一下子被说懵了，等他转过神来要反驳一声“去你的吧，自以为是小姐”时，为时已晚。他虽然没说什么，却窝了一肚子的火。他没精打采地走进校园，心里想贝基要是个男孩子，他非得很很地揍她一顿不可。两人在随后的相遇中，汤姆说了句刺耳的话就走了，贝基也回敬了一句，这一下两人算是彻底地决裂了。盛怒之下，贝基想起了汤姆书上的墨水，她好像急不可耐，盼望着汤姆早一点受到惩罚。她本来还有点犹豫不决，说不定还想要揭发那是阿尔弗雷德·邓波尔干的坏事，可汤姆那句刺耳的话一下子打消了贝基的这个念头。 真是个可怜的姑娘，她就要大祸临头，自身难保了却一无所知。他们的老师，杜宾斯先生，虽然已到而立之年却心愿未了。他最热衷于当医生，可是贫穷却注定了他当不了别的美差，只能做一名乡村教师。他天天从讲台里拿出一本神秘的书，乘没课要讲的时候就潜心研读。平常，他总是小心翼翼地把那本书锁好。学校里那些调皮的家伙没有一个不想看下那本神秘的书，那怕瞟一眼也好，可总没有机会。至于那本书的内容，孩子们七嘴八舌，各抒己见，但都无法得到证实。讲台离门不远，贝基从旁边走过时恰好看到钥匙还在锁孔上晃悠。这可是看一上眼的好机会，千载难逢。她环顾回周，发现没有别的人在场，于是马上拿起那本书，只见扉页上写着“无名式教授解剖学”几个字。她没看出什么名堂来，于是就继续往下翻。刚一打开下一页，一张精制的彩色裸体图立即映入眼帘。与此同时，汤姆·索亚从门口进来，一眼瞥见了那张图。贝基一把抓起书想把它合上，可是不幸拦腰把那张图撕了一半。她马上把书扔进抽屉，锁上锁，又羞又恼地大哭起来。 “汤姆·索亚，你真卑鄙，偷看别人，还偷看人家正在看的东西。” “我怎么知道你在看什么东西呢？” “汤姆·索亚，你应该感到害臊。你会告发我的，这下我该怎么办才好呢？我要挨鞭笞了，我可从没挨过鞭笞呀！” 接着她跺着小脚说： “你想耍卑鄙，那就随你的便！不过，你可要出事了。你等着瞧吧！可恶，可恶，真可恶！”接着，她一顿大哭，冲出了教室。 汤姆被贝基劈头盖脸地说了一通，弄得他丈二和尚摸不着头脑，他站在那里不知所措。随后，他自言自语地说： “女孩子真是傻得出奇。说什么从来没挨过鞭子打！呸！哪有这回事！挨打算不了什么！女孩子就是这样——脸皮薄，胆小如鼠。不过，我当然不会把这事向杜宾斯老头讲。要想和她算帐，方法有的是，用不着干这种告密的勾当。可那又怎么样呢？杜宾斯老头照样会查出来是谁干的。他问下书是谁撕的，没人答应。于是他会接照老习惯挨个地问，等问到这个女孩子，他就全明白了。女孩子总是沉不住气，表情总能说明问题。她们意志薄弱，这一回她要挨揍了。贝基呀，贝基，你这一回在劫难逃。”汤姆又仔细琢磨了一会，然后想：“得，就这样吧，你不是想看我的笑话吗，那你就傻等着瞧吧， 有你好受的。 " 汤姆跑到外面和那群嬉戏的同学们玩了不一会，老师就来上课了。汤姆并不十分想学习。他只要朝女生的那边偷看上一眼，贝基的神情就会令他不安。他左思右想，就是不想同情她，但却愿意起点作用。他一点都激动不起来。汤姆很快发现了拼音课本上的墨迹，于是有一段时间，他一直不能自拔，老是想着自己的事，显得郁郁不欢。贝基这下来了劲头，对事态的发展表现出了强烈的兴趣。她想汤姆不承认是自己弄脏了书，这也不能开脱他，她的预料果然不错。结果汤姆反倒把事情给弄糟了。贝基想她会为此而感到确实高兴，但却吃不准。后来眼看着汤姆情形不妙时，她真想一古脑地站出来揭发那墨水是阿尔弗雷德·邓波尔泼的。可她又竭力控制着，强迫自己保待沉默，因为她心里想：“他会告发我，把我撕老师书的事说出去。我现在最好什么也别说，不管他的死活。” 汤姆挨了鞭笞，回到座位上，但一点也不伤心。他想在和同学们的打闹中，他有可能不知不觉地把墨水瓶碰翻，弄脏自己的书。他否认是自己干的，一来是为了走过场；二来也是惯例；另外死也不承认自己有错，那是为了坚持原则。 一个小时过去了，老师坐在他的座位上打盹，教室里一片嗡嗡的读书声令人困乏。渐渐地，杜宾斯先生挺直身子，打着哈欠，然后打开抽屉的锁，可手伸出半截又停下来，犹豫不决。大多数学生都漫不经心地抬起头看了一眼，但其中有两个人特别关注老师的一举一动。杜宾斯先生把手伸进抽屉随便地摸了一会就拿出书，身体往椅子一靠看起来。汤姆瞥了贝基一眼。她就像一只被猎人追捕的兔子，当猎枪瞄准它的头部时，一副绝望无救的可怜相，他立刻忘掉了他们之间的争吵。得采取行动，马上就干，越快越好。常言说得好，急中生智，可汤姆这回却束手无策，对，就这么办。他突然来了灵感：他要冲上去，一把从老师手里抢过书，夺门而逃。可是他一走神，就这么稍一犹豫的时候，老师翻开了书。汤姆坐失了良机，他十分后悔。这下完了，干什么也来不及了，想帮的忙也帮不上了。老师打开书后马上面朝大家。见老师盯着他们，大家都低下了头，就连没有犯错误的同学也都吓得不得了。大约有十秒钟，教室里一片寂静。老师的气是越来越大，他终于开了腔： “这书是谁撕的？” 教室里鸦雀无声，静的连根针掉到地上都能听见。老师见无人应答，就挨个检查，看到底是谁撕了书。 “本杰明·罗杰斯，书是你撕的吗？” 老师得到的是否定，他停了一会问道： “约瑟夫·哈帕，是你干的？” 约瑟夫否认是他干的。老师不急不忙地问了这个又问那个。汤姆越来越紧张，显得烦躁不安。老师问完男生，稍加思索就转向女生。 “艾美·劳伦斯是你吗？” 她同样也摇了摇头。 “苏珊·哈帕，是你干的吗？” 又是一个否认。下一个就该问到贝基·撒切尔了。汤姆十分紧张，他意识到情况不妙，吓得他从头到脚全身发抖。 “瑞贝卡·撒切尔”（贝基的学名），”（汤姆向她脸上瞟了一眼，见她吓得脸色苍白）——“是你撕……不，看着我的眼睛。 ”（她承认地举起手来）——“是你撕坏了这本书吗？ " 这时，汤姆的脑海里雷电般闪出一个念头，他猛然起身，大声说道：“是我干的！”全班同学迷惑不解地盯着汤姆，觉得他行为愚蠢，令人不可思议。汤姆站了一会好像是在镇定自己，然后走上前去接受惩罚。汤姆发现那个可怜的姑娘贝基眼里先是流露出吃惊，然后是感激，最后是敬慕之情，他觉得为此就是挨上一百鞭也是值得的。汤姆也为自己的义举感到脸上有光，因此在遭受杜宾斯先生有史以来最严酷的鞭笞时，他哼都没哼一声，另外放学后，他还得被罚站两小时。对这一残忍的做法，他也不在乎，因为他心里有数，外面会有个人心甘情愿地一直在等上他两个小时。 当天晚上，汤姆临上床睡觉前合计着如何报复阿尔弗雷德·邓波尔。贝基把自己的背叛以及泼墨水的事情全盘托出了。可是不久，汤姆的思绪转到一些美滋滋的事情上。想着想着，汤姆耳边朦朦胧胧地响起了贝基刚才说过的一句话：“汤姆，你思想怎么会这样高尚的呀！”就这样，他终于进入了梦乡。