登陆注册
5200800000031

第31章

TOM'S mind was made up now.He was gloomy and desperate.He was a forsaken, friendless boy, he said; nobody loved him; when they found out what they had driven him to, perhaps they would be sorry; he had tried to do right and get along, but they would not let him; since nothing would do them but to be rid of him, let it be so; and let them blame HIM for the consequences -- why shouldn't they? What right had the friendless to complain? Yes, they had forced him to it at last: he would lead a life of crime.There was no choice.

By this time he was far down Meadow Lane, and the bell for school to "take up" tinkled faintly upon his ear.He sobbed, now, to think he should never, never hear that old familiar sound any more -- it was very hard, but it was forced on him; since he was driven out into the cold world, he must submit -- but he forgave them.Then the sobs came thick and fast.

Just at this point he met his soul's sworn comrade, Joe Harper -- hard-eyed, and with evidently a great and dismal purpose in his heart.Plainly here were "two souls with but a single thought." Tom, wiping his eyes with his sleeve, began to blubber out something about a resolution to escape from hard usage and lack of sympathy at home by roaming abroad into the great world never to return; and ended by hoping that Joe would not forget him.

But it transpired that this was a request which Joe had just been going to make of Tom, and had come to hunt him up for that purpose.His mother had whipped him for drinking some cream which he had never tasted and knew nothing about; it was plain that she was tired of him and wished him to go; if she felt that way, there was nothing for him to do but succumb; he hoped she would be happy, and never regret having driven her poor boy out into the unfeeling world to suffer and die.

As the two boys walked sorrowing along, they made a new compact to stand by each other and be brothers and never separate till death relieved them of their troubles.Then they began to lay their plans.Joe was for being a hermit, and living on crusts in a remote cave, and dying, some time, of cold and want and grief; but after listening to Tom, he conceded that there were some conspicuous advantages about a life of crime, and so he consented to be a pirate.

Three miles below St.Petersburg, at a point where the Mississippi River was a trifle over a mile wide, there was a long, narrow, wooded island, with a shallow bar at the head of it, and this offered well as a rendezvous.It was not inhabited; it lay far over toward the further shore, abreast a dense and almost wholly unpeopled forest.So Jackson's Island was chosen.Who were to be the subjects of their piracies was a matter that did not occur to them.Then they hunted up Huckleberry Finn, and he joined them promptly, for all careers were one to him; he was indifferent.They presently separated to meet at a lonely spot on the river-bank two miles above the village at the favorite hour -- which was midnight.There was a small log raft there which they meant to capture.Each would bring hooks and lines, and such provision as he could steal in the most dark and mysterious way -- as became outlaws.And before the afternoon was done, they had all managed to enjoy the sweet glory of spreading the fact that pretty soon the town would "hear something." All who got this vague hint were cautioned to "be mum and wait."About midnight Tom arrived with a boiled ham and a few trifles, and stopped in a dense undergrowth on a small bluff overlooking the meeting-place.It was starlight, and very still.The mighty river lay like an ocean at rest.Tom listened a moment, but no sound disturbed the quiet.Then he gave a low, distinct whistle.It was answered from under the bluff.Tom whistled twice more; these signals were answered in the same way.Then a guarded voice said:

"Who goes there?"

"Tom Sawyer, the Black Avenger of the Spanish Main.Name your names.""Huck Finn the Red-Handed, and Joe Harper the Terror of the Seas." Tom had furnished these titles, from his favorite literature.

"'Tis well.Give the countersign."

Two hoarse whispers delivered the same awful word simultaneously to the brooding night:

"BLOOD!"

Then Tom tumbled his ham over the bluff and let himself down after it, tearing both skin and clothes to some extent in the effort.There was an easy, comfortable path along the shore under the bluff, but it lacked the advantages of difficulty and danger so valued by a pirate.

The Terror of the Seas had brought a side of bacon, and had about worn himself out with getting it there.Finn the Red-Handed had stolen a skillet and a quantity of half-cured leaf tobacco, and had also brought a few corn-cobs to make pipes with.But none of the pirates smoked or "chewed" but himself.The Black Avenger of the Spanish Main said it would never do to start without some fire.That was a wise thought; matches were hardly known there in that day.They saw a fire smouldering upon a great raft a hundred yards above, and they went stealthily thither and helped themselves to a chunk.They made an imposing adventure of it, saying, "Hist!" every now and then, and suddenly halting with finger on lip; moving with hands on imaginary dagger-hilts; and giving orders in dismal whispers that if "the foe" stirred, to "let him have it to the hilt," because "dead men tell no tales." They knew well enough that the raftsmen were all down at the village laying in stores or having a spree, but still that was no excuse for their conducting this thing in an unpiratical way.

They shoved off, presently, Tom in command, Huck at the after oar and Joe at the forward.Tom stood amidships, gloomy-browed, and with folded arms, and gave his orders in a low, stern whisper:

"Luff, and bring her to the wind!"

"Aye-aye, sir!"

"Steady, steady-y-y-y!"

"Steady it is, sir!"

"Let her go off a point!"

"Point it is, sir!"

As the boys steadily and monotonously drove the raft toward mid-stream it was no doubt understood that these orders were given only for "style," and were not intended to mean anything in particular.

同类推荐
  • 廉吏传

    廉吏传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 月涧禅师语录

    月涧禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • A Group of Noble Dames

    A Group of Noble Dames

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说文殊菩萨最胜真实名义经

    佛说文殊菩萨最胜真实名义经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 玉清元始玄黄九光真经

    玉清元始玄黄九光真经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 心理刘备

    心理刘备

    桃园结义、三让徐州,他与吕布恩怨难解、与曹操煮酒论英雄;三顾茅庐、联孙抗曹,卧龙、凤雏双璧合一、五虎上将皆为所用,却落个火烧连营、白帝托孤——刘备是汉末三国时代最坎坷也最坚韧的英雄,这位爱哭又永远打不死的传奇人物,他的心里到底在想什么?
  • 吞噬大帝

    吞噬大帝

    一个卑微的生灵,打破命运的枷锁,用自己的双手逆天改命,从此便是吞噬天下的大帝之路!
  • 宁负天下不负倾

    宁负天下不负倾

    一句殿下,将拥有千万粉丝的她,拉到了这个陌生的世界,成为了太子,万人唾弃,让她深度怀疑自己的剧本拿错了,只得背上太子这个锅,女扮男装,“战战兢兢”过着日子。某男嘴角一勾“找到你了”
  • 绝品天王

    绝品天王

    一次意外,让普通大学生林晖融合了一个来自异世的灵魂。 随着灵魂记忆碎片逐步融合,各种本领技能相继展现出来,身手、易容、暗器、赌术……这只是那些记忆中的一部分而已。 而且林晖发现,原本那些看似困难的事情突然变的简单了起来。 从此,他的人生注定将不再平凡,金钱?美女?权势? 妖孽般的学习能力,逆天的神器,林晖的美好生活就此展开。
  • 双头蛇

    双头蛇

    调来这个小镇警局已经两年,却终日无所事事。这也难怪,小镇居民大多安居乐业,犯罪率自然低得可怜。只是最近的几起毒蛇咬人事件引起了小镇居民的恐慌,在遇袭者名单中,著名小提名家马洛夫先生也赫然在列。传说袭击这位头号名人的,是一条长达两米、长着两个头的毒蛇。袭击发生在马洛夫饭后散步的花园里,若非发现及时,这位国宝级的演奏家恐怕就一命呜呼了。可谁也没料到,在遇袭后的第三天,马洛夫先生就真的死了,而且死得异常离奇。
  • 妖魅夫妻

    妖魅夫妻

    【起点女生网一组B班签约作品】佟烨与舒欣结婚三年,但甜蜜的生活因为外界的因素而慢慢发生改变。当佟烨初恋女友乔若羽的阴谋一步步得逞时,舒欣终于走到崩溃的边缘,不得已她接受了神秘女子紫儿给她的一枚紫水晶戒指,于是一场妙不可言的灵魂换体游戏开始了。就在这时,乔若羽却怀了佟烨的孩子。而他们想要变回原来的身体时,紫儿却给了他们一个更大的惊喜,所以二人能否再变回去,还是一个未知数……——————【封面由北城倾雪出品】
  • Rosamund,Queen of the Lombards

    Rosamund,Queen of the Lombards

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 蓝白社

    蓝白社

    墨穷从未想过他会突然拥有超自然能力,直到他朝着太阳射了一箭。绝对的命中意味着他可以是绿茵场上的神,篮球界的上帝,游戏里的大罗金仙……他以此可以轻易地成为人生赢家,华丽地度过一生,财富与权力都不会是难事。正当他以此改变命运,享受人生时,他却见到了自称来自蓝白社的收容人员……当他理解这个在世界暗处执行必要之恶,维护人类安全的组织时,他找到了自己真正的目标:我要成为蓝白社长。本书收容物、D级人员名词及灵感来源于wikidot上的作品。并根据CCBY-SA3.0发布。
  • 创界之我的弼戒党

    创界之我的弼戒党

    黑暗无处不在,你们真不应该希望发生在我的身上!他们以为我会有恐惧,但事实上他们充满了对我的恐惧!还有,爱情什么的不应该只是性和力吗!的确应该就是这样的吧!
  • 王爷,我要辞职

    王爷,我要辞职

    推荐南飞雁新坑,《王的桃花女幻师》主写艾伦,重楼,天帝下一世的轮回,故事更精彩欢迎跳坑!http://m.wkkk.net/nanfeiyanxx我的新浪微博欢迎大家收听,昵称南飞雁xx《王爷我要辞职》简介她是他绑来的王妃所谓的婚礼,所谓的恩爱,也不过是演给别人看的一场戏对她来说,王妃只是一项工作还是被逼上岗。可是他后花园的女人实在是太多这项工作不好做。“王爷,我要辞职”“不准!”“我干不了!”“干不了也得干”他如此霸道,每次提到辞职,他就一口否定。她撇撇嘴,辞职怎样,总比跳槽好。“那我就找份兼职!”他狠狠的瞪着她"敢给我戴绿帽子,你试试看?”风华是一指流砂,苍老是一段年华再见伊人,他饱受相思之苦,她却一脸风轻云淡,仿佛当年只是一场梦,了无痕迹。她说,“王爷自重,我们有关系吗?”“你可是我的王妃!”“王爷,我已辞职!”只是一句话,几乎令他万箭穿心。她当年没爱过他,那只是一份工作,现在更不可能爱着他,因为她已辞职。换而言之,他们从未有过关系,如今他为情而伤,也不过是一个人自作多情而已!当腹黑遇上腹黑当扭曲遇上扭曲看妖孽王爷pk个性王妃——————————————————岐山之上,她一袭男装,白衣胜雪,丰神俊朗,一脸冷寒。望着倾月连城,吩咐身边的人,“雪莲,我必须得到,挡我者死,倾月连城若想染指,就让他葬身在此!”莺歌城,她拥着他爱上的女人,一脚揣在倾月连城身上,冷笑:“草包!你想要的女人,你永远都得不到!这就是对你的惩罚!”传闻倾月连城王妃逝世之后,倾月连城心性大变,再次沦为三年之前的草包,过着醉生梦死的生活,不理政事,好色成性。人人都知,倾月山庄真正做主的,不是那个让天下失色的第一美男,而是他身边高深莫测的瘸子,就连江湖上闻风丧胆的连云宫,都被其掌握在手,昔日叱咤风云的连城公子,彻底沦落为别人手中的木偶。然而一切是为何?又将会如何改变?风云突变,天下大乱,谁能问鼎王座,得到美人江山?————————————————————————领养公告区艾伦由wlp51636亲领养!御斩风由上官落亲领养!倾月连城由花若熏衣亲领养!——————————————推荐好友文文宫——凤斗(花前月下)妖孽个个太难缠(永安当主)难逃夫君追追追(蓝钻星雨)相公,我要扑倒你(冥溪)