AFTER dinner all the gang turned out to hunt for turtle eggs on the bar. They went about poking2 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 perfectly3 round white things a trifle smaller than an English walnut4. They had a famous fried-egg feast that night, and another on Friday morning.
After breakfast they went whooping5 and prancing6 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 averted7 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 tangle8 of white legs and arms and came up blowing, sputtering9, laughing, and gasping10 for breath at one and the same time.
When they were well exhausted11, they would run out and sprawl12 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 rattles13 off his ankle, and he wondered how he had escaped cramp14 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 longingly15 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 erased16 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 misery17 of it. The tears lay very near the surface. Huck was melancholy18, 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 mutinous19 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 moodily20 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 sullenly22 on with his dressing23. And then it was discomforting to see Huck eying Joe's preparations so wistfully, and keeping up such an ominous24 silence. Presently, without a parting word, Joe began to wade25 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 scattered26 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 tugging27 at his heart to yield his pride and go along too. He hoped the boys would stop, but they still waded28 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 darted29 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 plausible30 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, chattering32 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 novices33 had never smoked anything before but cigars made of grape-vine, and they "bit" the tongue, and were not considered manly34 anyway.
Now they stretched themselves out on their elbows and began to puff35, charily36, 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 Miller37, and Jeff Thatcher38, when I said it. Don't you remember, Huck, 'bout1 me saying that?"
"Yes, that's so," said Huck. "That was the day after I lost a white alley39. No, 'twas the day before."
"There -- I told you so," said Tom. "Huck recollects40 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 spouting41 fountain; they could scarcely bail42 out the cellars under their tongues fast enough to prevent an inundation43; 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 miserable44, now. Joe's pipe dropped from his nerveless fingers. Tom's followed. Both fountains were going furiously and both pumps bailing45 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 utterance46:
"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 humble47 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 bode48 something. The boys huddled49 themselves together and sought the friendly companionship of the fire, though the dull dead heat of the breathless atmosphere was stifling50. They sat still, intent and waiting. The solemn hush51 continued. Beyond the light of the fire everything was swallowed up in the blackness of darkness. Presently there came a quivering glow that vaguely52 revealed the foliage53 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 fleeting54 breath upon their cheeks, and shuddered55 with the fancy that the Spirit of the Night had gone by. There was a pause. Now a weird56 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 peal57 of thunder went rolling and tumbling down the heavens and lost itself in sullen21 rumblings in the distance. A sweep of chilly58 air passed by, rustling59 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 rend60 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 plunging61 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 deafening63 thunder. And now a drenching64 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 utterly65. 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 bruises66, to the shelter of a great oak that stood upon the river-bank. Now the battle was at its highest. Under the ceaseless conflagration67 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 foam68, the driving spray of spume-flakes, the dim outlines of the high bluffs69 on the other side, glimpsed through the drifting cloud-rack and the slanting70 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 appalling71. The storm culminated72 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 deafen62 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 retired73 with weaker and weaker threatenings and grumblings, and peace resumed her sway. The boys went back to camp, a good deal awed74; 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 catastrophe75 happened.
Everything in camp was drenched76, 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 eloquent77 in their distress78; 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 wrought79 until, with shreds80 and bark gathered from the under sides of sheltered logs, they coaxed81 the fire to burn again. Then they piled on great dead boughs82 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 glorified83 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, drowsiness84 came over them, and they went out on the sandbar and lay down to sleep. They got scorched85 out by and by, and drearily86 set about getting breakfast. After the meal they felt rusty87, 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 imposing88 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 ambush89 with dreadful war-whoops, and killed and scalped each other by thousands. It was a gory90 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 savages91 almost wished they had remained pirates. However, there was no other way; so with such show of cheerfulness as they could muster92 they called for the pipe and took their whiff as it passed, in due form.
And behold93, they were glad they had gone into savagery94, 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 chatter31 and brag95, since we have no further use for them at present
午饭以后，海盗帮全体出动到沙洲上去找乌龟蛋。他们用树枝往沙子里戳，戳到软的地
方，就跪下来用手挖。有时候，他们一窝就能弄出五六十只乌龟蛋来。这些蛋呈白色，圆溜
溜的。那天晚上，他们吃了一顿美味可口的煎蛋，星期五早上又饱啖了一回。
早饭后，他们欢呼雀跃地向沙洲奔去。他们相互追逐，转着圈圈跑，边跑边脱掉身上的
衣服，等全身脱个精光后，继续嬉闹，一直跑到沙洲的浅水滩上，逆着水流站着，水流从他
们腿上冲过，时常要把他们冲倒，这种冒险给他们带来了极大的乐趣。有时候，他们弯腰曲
背站在一块，互相用手掌往对方脸上击水。大家越击越近，头歪向一边，避开透不过气来的
水。最后，他们扭成一团，经过一番拼搏，弱者终于被按到水里，于是大家一齐钻进水里，
几双雪白的胳膊和腿在水里缠在一起，然后猛地钻出水面就喷水，哈哈大笑，气喘如牛。
等玩得累极了，他们就跑到岸上，四肢朝天，往又干又热的沙滩的一躺，拿沙子盖住自
己。过一会儿，又冲进水里，再打一次水仗。后来他们忽然想起，自己身上裸露的皮肤完全
可以当成是肉色的“紧身衣”，这样他们就在沙滩上划了个大圆圈，开始演马戏——由于互
不相让，谁也不愿失去扮演这最神气角色的机会，结果台上出现了三个小丑。
再后来，他们就拿出石头弹子，玩“补锅”、“敲锅”和“碰着就赢”，一直玩到兴尽
意阑为止。然后乔和哈克又去游泳，但汤姆却没敢去冒这个险，因为他发现刚才他踢掉裤子
时，把拴在脚踝上的一串响尾轮也给踢飞了。他很纳闷没有这个护身符保佑，刚才玩闹这么
久，居然没有出事。后来他找回了护身符，这才敢去玩，但这时另外两个伙伴已经玩累了，
准备歇一歇。于是他们就“道不同不相为谋”，个个意兴索然，不由得眼巴巴地望着宽阔的
大河对岸出神，那里他们向往的小镇正在阳光下打盹。汤姆发现自己不由自主地用脚趾头在
沙滩上写“贝基”。他把字迹抹掉，对自己大为恼火，恨自己意志薄弱。然而，他还是情不
自禁地又写了这个名字。他再一次把名字擦掉，为了防止再写下去，他把两个伙伴弄到一
处，自己也和他们一块儿玩起来。
但是乔的情绪一落千丈。他非常想家，简直忍无可忍，泪水在眼眶里打着转儿。哈克也
闷闷不乐。汤姆虽然也意志消沉，却尽力不流露出来。他有一个秘密，不打算马上说出来，
但眼下这股消沉的士气必须扭转，他不得不亮出这张王牌了。
他露出兴味盎然的样子说：
“伙计们，我敢打赌这个岛以前有过海盗，我们得再去探险。他们一定把珠宝藏在这个
岛的某个地方了。要是让我们碰到一个烂箱子，里面全是金银财宝，诸位会作何感想？”
对他的话，两个伙伴没有答理，刚起来的一点劲头也随之消失了。汤姆又试着用另外一
两件事情来诱惑他们，均告失败。这真让人扫兴。乔坐在那里用小树枝拨弄沙子，一副愁眉
苦脸相。最后他说：
“喂，我说，伙计们，就此罢手吧。我要回家，这实在太寂寞了。”
“哎，乔，这不成。你慢慢会觉得好起来的，”汤姆说，“在这儿钓鱼不是很开心吗？”
“我不喜欢钓鱼。我要回家。”
“但是，乔，别的地方有这么好的游泳胜地吗！”
“游泳有什么好的。即使现在有人说不让我下水，我也不在乎。我就是要回家。”
“哼，岂有此理！像个找妈妈的小婴儿。”
“对，我就是要去找我妈妈——要是你也有妈妈，你也会想着去找她的。你说我是小婴
儿，其实你又有多大呢。”说着说着，乔就有点抽鼻子。
“好吧，咱们就让这个好哭的小婴儿回家去找妈妈，好不好，哈克？可怜虫——他要去
找妈妈？让他去好了。你一准喜欢这儿，对不对，哈克？咱俩留在这儿，好吗？
哈克不轻不重地说了声：“也——行。”
“到死我都不会再跟你说话，”乔说着站起身来，“你等着瞧吧！”他悻悻地走开，并
且开始穿衣服。
“谁稀罕！”汤姆说。“没谁求你跟他说话。滚回去吧，让人家看你的笑话去吧。哟，
你是个伟大海盗。哈克和我不是好哭的小婴儿。我们要留在这儿，对不对，哈克？他要走，
就让他走好了。我想没有他，咱们说不定也一样过得好好的。”
然而汤姆心里却不是滋味，他看见乔脸色阴沉，只顾穿衣服，不免有些惊慌。而哈克老
是盯着准备回家的乔，一言不发，一副想与之同往的神情，更令他心神不宁。接着，乔连一
个字的道别话都没说便开始下水，向伊利诺斯州那边趟过去。汤姆的心开始往下沉。他瞟了
一眼哈克，哈克受不了他这么一看垂下眼帘。后来他说：
“汤姆我也要回家。咱们呆在这儿也越来越孤单。汤姆，咱们也走吧。”
“我决不走！你们要想走，那全走吧。我是要留下来的。”
“汤姆，我还是回去为好。”
“行，去吧！去吧！谁拦你了？”
哈克开始东一件西一件地拾自己的衣服。他说：
“汤姆，我希望你也一起走。你好好考虑一下。我们到岸边等你。”
“哼，你们尽管他妈的都去吧，没什么好说的了。”
哈克伤心地走了，汤姆站在那里，看着他的背影，心里激烈地斗争着，真想抛开自尊也
跟着他们走。他希望那两个伙伴站住，可他们仍旧在慢慢趟着水向前走。汤姆忽然觉得周围
如此冷清，如此寂寞。在和自尊作了最后一次较量后，他终于直奔向两个伙伴，一边跑一边
喊：
“等一等！等一等！我有话要跟你们讲！”
他们立刻站住，转过身来。他走到他们跟前，就把那个秘密向他们亮了出来。他们起初
闷闷不乐地听着，等到明白了他的“真正意图”时，便欢呼雀跃起来，连呼“太妙了！”他
们说要是他一开头就告诉他们，他们怎么也不会走的。他巧妙地搪塞了过去，其实他担心的
是：这个秘密不知道是否能让他们在这岛上呆上一阵子，所以他有意识地守口如瓶，不到万
不得已，不亮出这张王牌。
小家伙们又兴高采烈地回来了，痛痛快快地做着游戏，不停谈论着汤姆那伟大的计划，
称赞他足智多谋。他们吃完一顿美味的龟蛋和鲜鱼之后，汤姆说他要学抽烟。乔表示赞同，
说他也想试一试。于是，哈克就做了两个烟斗，装上烟叶。这两个外行除了葡萄藤做的雪茄
而外，从没抽过别的烟，那种雪茄烟让舌发麻，而且看起来也特别土气。
他们用胳膊肘支着，侧身躺着开始抽烟，抽得小心翼翼，信心并非十足。烟的味道不怎
么样，呛得他们有点喘不过气来，可是汤姆说：“嘿，抽烟有什么难的！我以前不知道抽烟
不过如此，要是知道的话，我早就学会了。”
“我也是，”乔说，“这根本不值一提。”
汤姆说：“哎，有好多次我看到别人抽烟，我就想我要会抽就好了；可从没想到我能抽
哩。”
“哈克，我也是这样的，是不是？”乔说，“你听我这样说过的，对不对，哈克？要是
假话，我任听你摆布。”
“是的，他说过——说过好多次。”哈克说。
“嘿，我也说过呀，”汤姆说，“唔，总有上百次吧。有回是在屠宰场。你忘了吧，哈
克？当时，鲍勃·唐纳在场，约翰尼·米勒、杰夫·撒切尔也在。想起来了吧，哈克？”
“想起来，是有这么回事，”哈克说，“那是我丢掉白石头弹子后的那一天。不对，是前一
天。”
“瞧——我说我说了吧，”汤姆说。“哈克回想起来了。”“我觉得我整天抽烟都没问
题，”乔说。“我不觉得恶心。”“我也不觉得恶心，”汤姆说，“我也能成天地抽这种烟。
但我敢打赌杰夫·撒切尔就不行。”
“杰夫·撒切尔！嘿，让他抽上一两口他就会一头昏倒。
不信让他试试看。一次就够他呛的！”
“我敢打赌他够呛。还有约翰尼·米勒——我倒很想让约翰尼·米勒尝两口。”
“啊，鬼才不这么想呐！”乔说。“嘿，我敢说约翰尼·米勒干这事最熊。他只要闻一
下这味儿就会被置于死地。”
“的确如此，乔。哎——我真希望那些小子能看到我们现在的样子。”
“我也这么想。”
“哎——伙计们，先别提这桩事，以后找个机会，趁他们在场时，我就过来问：‘乔，
带烟斗了吗？我想抽两口。’你就摆出一副大剌剌的样子，就像这根本算不上一码事，你
说：‘带了，这是我那根老烟斗，喏，这还多一根，不过我的叶子不太好喔。’我就说：
‘哦，没关系，只要够冲就行。’然后你就掏出烟斗，咱俩点上火来抽，慢条斯理，让他们
瞧个够。”
“呃，那真有趣，汤姆！我恨不得现在就抽给他们看！”
“我也这么想！我要告诉他们，我们是在外当海盗时学会的，他们能不希望当初跟我们
一块来吗？”
“嗯，当然希望喽！我敢打赌他们准会的！”
谈话就这样继续下去。但不久他们就开始泄气了，讲出的话前言不搭后语。后来便沉默
不语了。他们吐痰，越吐越厉害。这两个孩子的腮帮子里面的口水如喷泉；舌头底下好像是
个积满水的地窖，为了不泛滥成灾，得赶忙把水往外排；但无论他们怎么尽力把水往外吐，
嗓子里还是有一股股的水涌上来，连带着一阵阵恶心。此刻，两个孩子看起来都脸色煞白，
一副惨相。乔的烟斗接着也掉了。两个人的口水只管喷泉似地朝外涌，两个抽水机全力以赴
往外抽水。乔有气无力地说：
“我的小刀不见了。我想我得去找找看。”
汤姆嘴唇发抖，吞吞吐吐地说：
“我帮着你找。你到那边去找，我到泉水旁边看看。不，哈克，不用你来帮忙——我俩
能找到。”
于是哈克重新坐下来等着。一个小时后，他觉得有些孤单，便动身去找同伴。他俩东一
个，西一个相去甚远，脸色苍白地倒在林中睡大觉。他看得出他们俩抽烟不太适应，不过现
在这种难受已经过去了。
当晚吃饭时，大家的话都不怎么多。乔和汤姆看上去可怜巴巴的。饭后，哈克准备好自
己烟斗，正打算也给他们准备，他俩说不用了，因为晚饭吃的东西有点不大对劲，他们觉得
有些不舒服。
夜半光景，乔醒了，叫另外两个孩子。空气闷热逼人，似乎要变天。尽管天气又闷又热
令人窒息，几个孩子还是相互依偎在一起，尽力靠近那堆火。他们全神贯注默默坐在那里，
等待着。周围还是一片肃静。除了那堆火，一切都被漆黑的夜色吞噬了。不一会儿，远处划
过一道亮光，隐约照在树叶上，只一闪便消失了。不久，又划过一道更强烈的闪光。接着又
一道。这时候，穿过森林的枝叶，传来一阵低吼声，几个孩子仿佛觉得有一股气息拂过脸
颊，以为是幽灵过去了，吓得瑟瑟发抖。一阵短暂的间隙过后，又是一道悚目惊心的闪光，
把黑夜照得亮如白昼，他们脚下的小草也历历可辨；同时，三张惨白、惊惧的脸也毕露无
遗。一阵沉雷轰轰隆隆当空滚过，渐去渐远，消失在遥远的天边。一阵凉风袭来，树叶沙沙
作响，火堆里的灰，雪花似地四处飞撒。又一道强光照亮了树林，响雷紧随其后，仿佛就要
把孩子们头顶上的树梢一劈两半。之后，又是一团漆黑，几个孩子吓得抱成一团，几颗大雨
点噼哩啪啦砸在树叶上。
“快，伙计们！快撤到帐篷里去！”汤姆大喊。
他们撒腿就跑，黑暗中不时绊上树根和藤蔓，由于极度害怕，他们拼命地朝不同方向
跑。一阵狂风呼啸而过，所到之处，簌簌作响。耀眼的闪电一道紧跟着一道，震耳的雷声一
阵尾随着一阵。片刻之间，倾盆大雨劈头泼下，阵阵狂风又沿着地面把它们刮成了一片片雨
幕。孩子们相互呼喊着，可是风吼雷啸，把他们的呼喊声完全盖住了。不过，他们终于一个
接一个地冲回了露营地，在帐篷底下躲起来，又冷又怕，浑身精湿。好在在这样恶劣的环境
下，大家守在一块，总算是不幸中的万幸。他们讲不出话来，因为那块旧帆篷噼噼啪啪响得
太厉害，这么大的噪音实在没法交谈。狂风越刮越猛，不久便吹断了系帆篷的绳子，把它一
卷而飞。孩子们手挽着手，逃向河岸上一棵大橡树底下躲雨，一路上磕磕绊绊，碰破了许多
地方。这时候，天空中风、雨、闪、雷交加，狂暴至极。闪电把天空也照亮了，把天宇下的
万物映衬得分外鲜明；被风吹弯的树木、白浪翻腾的大河、大片随风飞舞的泡沫以及河对岸
高耸的悬崖峭壁的模糊轮廓，都在那飞渡的乱云和斜飘的雨幕中乍隐乍现。每隔一会，就有
一棵大树不敌狂风，哗啦一声扑倒在小树丛中；惊雷如潮，震耳欲聋，惊魂夺魄，难以言
状。最后的这一阵暴风雨更是威力无比，似乎要在片刻之间，把这个小岛撕成碎片，烧成灰
烬，淹没树顶，再把它吹个无影无踪，要把岛上的生灵都震昏震聋。对这几个离家出走的孩
子们来说，这一夜实在够他们受的了。
但是，最后暴风雨总算过去了，风声雨声渐渐平息下来，一切又恢复了宁静。孩子们回
到了宿营地；他们发现被吓得够呛，值得庆幸的是紧挨着他们床铺的那棵梧桐树被雷劈倒，
而雷殛之时，他们恰巧不在树下。露营地的一切都被大雨淋透了，那堆篝火也给浇灭了。这
几个孩子毕竟缺乏经验，就像他们的同龄人一样，没有想到要去防雨。更倒霉的是，他们都
成了落汤鸡，冷得受不了。那副狼狈相不言自喻。不过他们很快发现，原先那堆火已经把他
们靠着生火的那根倒在地上的大树干（在它弯起离地面有些距离的地方）烧得凹进去很深，
因此有块巴掌大的地方没有被雨淋湿。于是他们极有耐性地想方设法，从那些有遮掩的树
下，寻来些碎叶、树皮做火引子，总算又把那堆火救活了。随后他们又添了许多枯树枝，让
火苗呼呼直窜，这才感到兴高采烈。他们把熟火腿烘干，炮餐一顿。吃罢就坐在火堆旁，把
夜半的历险大肆渲染一番，一直聊到清早，因为周围没有一处能睡觉的干地方。
太阳渐渐升起来，照在孩子们的身上，他们感到困倦难耐，就从林子里走出来，到沙滩
上躺下来睡觉。不久，他们浑身被太阳晒得燥热，就站起来懒洋洋地弄饭吃。吃罢，他们都
觉得周身酸痛，骨节发硬，于是又有点想家了。汤姆看出了苗头，极力说些开心的事，想打
起那两个海盗的精神。可是，他们对石头弹子、马戏、游泳等一切游戏都不感兴趣了。他又
向他们提起了那个秘密，这才激起了一点高兴的反应。趁着这股劲儿，他又使他们对一种新
式玩法产生了兴趣，这就是大家暂时放弃当海盗，改扮成印第安人，换换口味。他们一下子
被这个主意吸引住了。于是，不久他们便脱得精赤，从头到脚抹了一道道的黑泥，就像几匹
斑马——当然个个都是酋长——然后他们飞奔入林，去袭击一个英国佬的聚居点。
后来他们又分成三个敌对的部落，从埋伏处发出可怕的吼叫，冲出来相互袭击，杀死和
剥掉头皮的人数以千计。这是一场血淋淋的战争，因此也是个痛快淋漓的日子。
临近吃晚饭时分，他们才回到宿营地集合，饥肠辘辘，但却十分快活；不过，又一个难
题产生了——互相仇杀的印第安人如不事先讲和，是不能在一块友好进餐的，而讲和的前提
必须要抽一袋烟。他们从没听说过还有别的讲和办法。这三个野蛮人中的两个几乎一致表示
希望继续当海盗。大家终究想不出别的解决办法；所以他们只好装出一副愉悦神情，把烟斗
要过来，按照传统的仪式轮流抽了一口。
说也奇怪，他们又很高兴自己变成野蛮人了，因为他们收获不小：他们发现自己已经可
以抽抽烟，而不必找丢失的小刀了；现在他们已经不再被烟呛得难受了。他们可不会轻易放
过这可喜的进步而裹足不前，不会。吃过晚饭，他们又小心地练习了一下，取得了不小的成
功，因此，这天晚上他们过得喜气洋洋。他们对自己取得的这一成就非常自豪，非常满意。
即使他们能把印第安人的六个部落通通剥掉头皮，或者把全身的皮都剥掉，也不会比这更畅
快。就随他们在那儿抽烟、闲扯和天吹海聊吧，目前我们暂没什么事情麻烦他们了
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