午飯以後，海盜幫全體出動到沙洲上去找烏龜蛋。他們用樹枝往沙子裡戳，戳到軟的地方，就跪下來用手挖。有時候，他們一窩就能弄出五六十隻烏龜蛋來。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。
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.
早飯後，他們歡呼雀躍地向沙洲奔去。他們相互追逐，轉着圈圈跑，邊跑邊脫掉身上的衣服，等全身脫個精光後，繼續嬉閙，一直跑到沙洲的淺水灘上，逆着水流站着，水流從他們腿上衝過，時常要把他們衝倒，這種冒險給他們帶來了極大的樂趣。有時候，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。最後，他們扭成一團，經過一番拚搏，弱者終於被按到水裡，於是大家一齊鑽進水裡，幾雙雪白的胳膊和腿在水裡纏在一起，然後猛地鑽出水面就噴水，哈哈大笑，氣喘如牛。
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.
等玩得累極了，他們就跑到岸上，四肢朝天，往又乾又熱的沙灘的一躺，拿沙子蓋住自己。過一會兒，又衝進水裡，再打一次水仗。後來他們忽然想起，自己身上裸露的皮膚完全可以當成是肉色的“緊身衣”，這樣他們就在沙灘上劃了個大圓圈，開始演馬戲——由於互不相讓，誰也不願失去扮演這最神氣角色的機會，結果台上出現了三個小丑。
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.
再後來，他們就拿出石頭彈子，玩“補鍋”、“敲鍋”和“碰着就贏”，一直玩到興盡意闌為止。然後喬和哈克又去游泳，但湯姆卻沒敢去冒這個險，因為他發現剛纔他踢掉褲子時，把拴在腳踝上的一串響尾輪也給踢飛了。他很納悶沒有這個護身符保佑，剛纔玩閙這麼久，居然沒有出事。後來他找回了護身符，這才敢去玩，但這時另外兩個夥伴已經玩累了，準備歇一歇。於是他們就“道不同不相為謀”，個個意興索然，不由得眼巴巴地望着寬闊的大河對岸出神，那裡他們嚮往的小鎮正在陽光下打盹。湯姆發現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名字。他再一次把名字擦掉，為了防止再寫下去，他把兩個夥伴弄到一處，自己也和他們一塊兒玩起來。
Next they got their marbles and played "knucks" and "ringtaw" 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.
但是喬的情緒一落千丈。他非常想家，簡直忍無可忍，淚水在眼眶裡打着轉兒。哈克也悶悶不樂。湯姆雖然也意志消沉，卻儘力不流露出來。他有一個秘密，不打算馬上說出來，但眼下這股消沉的士氣必須扭轉，他不得不亮出這張王牌了。 他露出興味盎然的樣子說：
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:
“夥計們，我敢打賭這個島以前有過海盜，我們得再去探險。他們一定把珠寶藏在這個島的某個地方了。要是讓我們碰到一個爛箱子，裡面全是金銀財寶，諸位會作何感想？”
"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?"
對他的話，兩個夥伴沒有答理，剛起來的一點勁頭也隨之消失了。湯姆又試着用另外一兩件事情來誘惑他們，均告失敗。這真讓人掃興。喬坐在那裡用小樹枝撥弄沙子，一副愁眉苦臉相。最後他說：
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:
“喂，我說，夥計們，就此罷手吧。我要回家，這實在太寂寞了。”
"Oh, boys, let's give it up. I want to go home. It's so lonesome."
“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？”
"Oh no, Joe, you'll feel better by and by," said Tom. "Just think of the fishing that's here."
“我不喜歡釣魚。我要回家。”
"I don't care for fishing. I want to go home."
“但是，喬，別的地方有這麼好的游泳勝地嗎！”
"But, Joe, there ain't such another swimming-place anywhere."
“游泳有什麼好的。即使現在有人說不讓我下水，我也不在乎。我就是要回家。”
"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."
“哼，豈有此理！像個找媽媽的小嬰兒。”
"Oh, shucks! Baby! You want to see your mother, I reckon."
“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，其實你又有多大呢。”說著說著，喬就有點抽鼻子。
"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.
“好吧，咱們就讓這個好哭的小嬰兒回家去找媽媽，好不好，哈克？可憐虫——他要去找媽媽？讓他去好了。你一准喜歡這兒，對不對，哈克？咱倆留在這兒，好嗎？
"Well, we'll let the crybaby 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?"
哈克不輕不重地說了聲：“也——行。”
Huck said, "Y-e-s"--without any heart in it.
“到死我都不會再跟你說話，”喬說著站起身來，“你等着瞧吧！”他悻悻地走開，並且開始穿衣服。
"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.
“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。”
"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 crybabies. We'll stay, won't we, Huck? Let him go if he wants to. I reckon we can get along without him, per'aps."
然而湯姆心裡卻不是滋味，他看見喬臉色陰沉，只顧穿衣服，不免有些驚慌。而哈克老是盯着準備回家的喬，一言不發，一副想與之同往的神情，更令他心神不寧。接着，喬連一個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，哈克受不了他這麼一看垂下眼帘。後來他說：
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:
“湯姆我也要回家。咱們獃在這兒也越來越孤單。湯姆，咱們也走吧。”
"I want to go, too, Tom. It was getting so lonesome anyway, and now it'll be worse. Let's us go, too, Tom."
“我決不走！你們要想走，那全走吧。我是要留下來的。”
"I won't! You can all go, if you want to. I mean to stay."
“湯姆，我還是回去為好。”
"Tom, I better go."
“行，去吧！去吧！誰攔你了？”
"Well, go 'long--who's hendering you."
哈克開始東一件西一件地拾自己的衣服。他說：
Huck began to pick up his scattered clothes. He said:
“湯姆，我希望你也一起走。你好好考慮一下。我們到岸邊等你。”
"Tom, I wisht you'd come, too. Now you think it over. We'll wait for you when we get to shore."
“哼，你們儘管他媽的都去吧，沒什麼好說的了。”
"Well, you'll wait a blame long time, that's all."
哈克傷心地走了，湯姆站在那裡，看著他的背影，心裡激烈地鬥爭着，真想拋開自尊也跟着他們走。他希望那兩個夥伴站住，可他們仍舊在慢慢趟着水向前走。湯姆忽然覺得周圍如此冷清，如此寂寞。在和自尊作了最後一次較量後，他終於直奔向兩個夥伴，一邊跑一邊喊：
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:
“等一等！等一等！我有話要跟你們講！”
"Wait! Wait! I want to tell you something!"
他們立刻站住，轉過身來。他走到他們跟前，就把那個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，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，他們怎麼也不會走的。他巧妙地搪塞了過去，其實他擔心的是：這個秘密不知道是否能讓他們在這島上獃上一陣子，所以他有意識地守口如瓶，不到萬不得已，不亮出這張王牌。
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 warwhoop 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.
小傢伙們又興高采烈地回來了，痛痛快快地做着遊戲，不停談論着湯姆那偉大的計劃，稱讚他足智多謀。他們吃完一頓美味的龜蛋和鮮魚之後，湯姆說他要學抽菸。喬表示贊同，說他也想試一試。於是，哈克就做了兩個煙斗，裝上煙葉。這兩個外行除了葡萄藤做的雪茄而外，從沒抽過別的煙，那種雪茄煙讓舌發麻，而且看起來也特別土氣。
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 grapevine, and they "bit" the tongue, and were not considered manly anyway.
他們用胳膊肘支着，側身躺着開始抽菸，抽得小心翼翼，信心並非十足。煙的味道不怎麼樣，嗆得他們有點喘不過氣來，可是湯姆說：
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:
“嘿，抽菸有什麼難的！我以前不知道抽菸不過如此，要是知道的話，我早就學會了。”
"Why, it's just as easy! If I'd a knowed this was all, I'd a learnt long ago."
“我也是，”喬說，“這根本不值一提。”
"So would I," said Joe. "It's just nothing."
湯姆說：“哎，有好多次我看到別人抽菸，我就想我要會抽就好了；可從沒想到我能抽哩。”
"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.
“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，我任聽你擺佈。”
"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."
“是的，他說過——說過好多次。”哈克說。
"Yes--heaps of times," said Huck.
“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？當時，鮑勃·唐納在場，約翰尼·米勒、傑夫·撒切爾也在。想起來了吧，哈克？”
"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?"
“想起來，是有這麼回事，”哈克說，“那是我丟掉白石頭彈子後的那一天。不對，是前一天。”
"Yes, that's so," said Huck. "That was the day after I lost a white alley. No, 'twas the day before."
“瞧——我說我說了吧，”湯姆說。“哈克回想起來了。”
"There--I told you so," said Tom. "Huck recollects it."
“我覺得我整天抽菸都沒問題，”喬說。“我不覺得噁心。”
"I bleeve I could smoke this pipe all day," said Joe. "I don't feel sick."
“我也不覺得噁心，”湯姆說，“我也能成天地抽這種煙。但我敢打賭傑夫·撒切爾就不行。”
"Neither do I," said Tom. "I could smoke it all day. But I bet you Jeff Thatcher couldn't."
“傑夫·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！”
"Jeff Thatcher! Why, he'd keel over just with two draws. Just let him try it once. He'd see!"
“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。”
"I bet he would. And Johnny Miller--I wish could see Johnny Miller tackle it once."
“啊，鬼才不這麼想吶！”喬說。“嘿，我敢說約翰尼·米勒幹這事最熊。他只要聞一下這味兒就會被置於死地。”
"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."
“的確如此，喬。哎——我真希望那些小子能看到我們現在的樣子。”
"'Deed it would, Joe. Say--I wish the boys could see us now."
“我也這麼想。”
"So do I."
“哎——夥計們，先別提這樁事，以後找個機會，趁他們在場時，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，沒關係，只要夠沖就行。’然後你就掏出煙斗，咱倆點上火來抽，慢條斯理，讓他們瞧個夠。”
"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!"
“呃，那真有趣，湯姆！我恨不得現在就抽給他們看！”
"By jings, that'll be gay, Tom! I wish it was now!"
“我也這麼想！我要告訴他們，我們是在外當海盜時學會的，他們能不希望當初跟我們一塊來嗎？”
"So do I! And when we tell 'em we learned when we was off pirating, won't they wish they'd been along?"
“嗯，當然希望嘍！我敢打賭他們準會的！”
"Oh, I reckon not! I'll just bet they will!"
談話就這樣繼續下去。但不久他們就開始泄氣了，講出的話前言不搭後語。後來便沉默不語了。他們吐痰，越吐越厲害。這兩個孩子的腮幫子裡面的口水如噴泉；舌頭底下好像是個積滿水的地窖，為了不氾濫成災，得趕忙把水往外排；但無論他們怎麼儘力把水往外吐，嗓子裡還是有一股股的水湧上來，連帶著一陣陣噁心。此刻，兩個孩子看起來都臉色煞白，一副慘相。喬的煙斗接着也掉了。兩個人的口水只管噴泉似地朝外湧，兩個抽水機全力以赴往外抽水。喬有氣無力地說：
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:
“我的小刀不見了。我想我得去找找看。”
"I've lost my knife. I reckon I better go and find it."
湯姆嘴唇發抖，吞吞吐吐地說：
Tom said, with quivering lips and halting utterance:
“我幫着你找。你到那邊去找，我到泉水旁邊看看。不，哈克，不用你來幫忙——我倆能找到。”
"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."
於是哈克重新坐下來等着。一個小時後，他覺得有些孤單，便動身去找同伴。他倆東一個，西一個相去甚遠，臉色蒼白地倒在林中睡大覺。他看得出他們倆抽菸不太適應，不過現在這種難受已經過去了。
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.
當晚吃飯時，大家的話都不怎麼多。喬和湯姆看上去可憐巴巴的。飯後，哈克準備好自己煙斗，正打算也給他們準備，他倆說不用了，因為晚飯吃的東西有點不大對勁，他們覺得有些不舒服。
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.
夜半光景，喬醒了，叫另外兩個孩子。空氣悶熱逼人，似乎要變天。儘管天氣又悶又熱令人窒息，幾個孩子還是相互依偎在一起，儘力靠近那堆火。他們全神貫注默默坐在那裡，等待着。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，遠處划過一道亮光，隱約照在樹葉上，只一閃便消失了。不久，又划過一道更強烈的閃光。接着又一道。這時候，穿過森林的枝葉，傳來一陣低吼聲，幾個孩子彷彿覺得有一股氣息拂過臉頰，以為是幽靈過去了，嚇得瑟瑟發抖。一陣短暫的間隙過後，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，三張慘白、驚懼的臉也畢露無遺。一陣沉雷轟轟隆隆當空滾過，漸去漸遠，消失在遙遠的天邊。一陣涼風襲來，樹葉沙沙作響，火堆裡的灰，雪花似地四處飛撒。又一道強光照亮了樹林，響雷緊隨其後，彷彿就要把孩子們頭頂上的樹梢一劈兩半。之後，又是一團漆黑，幾個孩子嚇得抱成一團，幾顆大雨點噼哩啪啦砸在樹葉上。
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 grassblade, 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 treetops right over the boys' heads. They clung together in terror, in the thick gloom that followed. A few big raindrops fell pattering upon the leaves.
“快，夥計們！快撤到帳篷裡去！”湯姆大喊。
"Quick! boys, go for the tent!" exclaimed Tom.
他們撒腿就跑，黑暗中不時絆上樹根和藤蔓，由於極度害怕，他們拚命地朝不同方向跑。一陣狂風呼嘯而過，所到之處，簌簌作響。耀眼的閃電一道緊跟着一道，震耳的雷聲一陣尾隨着一陣。片刻之間，傾盆大雨劈頭潑下，陣陣狂風又沿著地面把它們刮成了一片片雨幕。孩子們相互呼喊着，可是風吼雷嘯，把他們的呼喊聲完全蓋住了。不過，他們終於一個接一個地衝回了露營地，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，因為那塊舊帆篷噼噼啪啪響得太厲害，這麼大的噪音實在沒法交談。狂風越刮越猛，不久便吹斷了系帆篷的繩子，把它一卷而飛。孩子們手輓着手，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。這時候，天空中風、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；被風吹彎的樹木、白浪翻騰的大河、大片隨風飛舞的泡沫以及河對岸高聳的懸崖峭壁的模糊輪廓，都在那飛渡的亂雲和斜飄的雨幕中乍隱乍現。每隔一會，就有一棵大樹不敵狂風，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。最後的這一陣暴風雨更是威力無比，似乎要在片刻之間，把這個小島撕成碎片，燒成灰燼，淹沒樹頂，再把它吹個無影無蹤，要把島上的生靈都震昏震聾。對這幾個離家出走的孩子們來說，這一夜實在夠他們受的了。
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 thunderblasts 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 riverbank. Now the battle was at its highest. Under the ceaseless conflagration of lightning that flamed in the skies, everything below stood out in cleancut and shadowless distinctness: the bending trees, the billowy river, white with foam, the driving spray of spumeflakes, the dim outlines of the high bluffs on the other side, glimpsed through the drifting cloudrack 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 treetops, 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.
但是，最後暴風雨總算過去了，風聲雨聲漸漸平息下來，一切又恢復了寧靜。孩子們回到了宿營地；他們發現被嚇得夠嗆，值得慶幸的是緊挨着他們床鋪的那棵梧桐樹被雷劈倒，而雷殛之時，他們恰巧不在樹下。
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.
露營地的一切都被大雨淋透了，那堆篝火也給澆滅了。這幾個孩子畢竟缺乏經驗，就像他們的同齡人一樣，沒有想到要去防雨。更倒霉的是，他們都成了落湯鷄，冷得受不了。那副狼狽相不言自喻。不過他們很快發現，原先那堆火已經把他們靠着生火的那根倒在地上的大樹幹（在它彎起離地面有些距離的地方）燒得凹進去很深，因此有塊巴掌大的地方沒有被雨淋濕。於是他們極有耐性地想方設法，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。隨後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。他們把熟火腿烘乾，炮餐一頓。吃罷就坐在火堆旁，把夜半的歷險大肆渲染一番，一直聊到清早，因為周圍沒有一處能睡覺的干地方。
Everything in camp was drenched, the campfire 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 gladhearted 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.
太陽漸漸升起來，照在孩子們的身上，他們感到睏倦難耐，就從林子裡走出來，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，他們都覺得周身痠痛，骨節發硬，於是又有點想家了。湯姆看出了苗頭，極力說些開心的事，想打起那兩個海盜的精神。可是，他們對石頭彈子、馬戲、游泳等一切遊戲都不感興趣了。他又向他們提起了那個秘密，這才激起了一點高興的反應。趁着這股勁兒，他又使他們對一種新式玩法產生了興趣，這就是大家暫時放棄當海盜，改扮成印第安人，換換口味。他們一下子被這個主意吸引住了。於是，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——當然個個都是酋長——然後他們飛奔入林，去襲擊一個英國佬的聚居點。
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.
後來他們又分成三個敵對的部落，從埋伏處發出可怕的吼叫，衝出來相互襲擊，殺死和剝掉頭皮的人數以千計。這是一場血淋淋的戰爭，因此也是個痛快淋漓的日子。
By and by they separated into three hostile tribes, and darted upon each other from ambush with dreadful warwhoops, and killed and scalped each other by thousands. It was a gory day. Consequently it was an extremely satisfactory one.
臨近吃晚飯時分，他們才回到宿營地集合，饑腸轆轆，但卻十分快活；不過，又一個難題產生了——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。這三個野蠻人中的兩個几乎一致表示希望繼續當海盜。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，按照傳統的儀式輪流抽了一口。
They assembled in camp toward suppertime, 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.
說也奇怪，他們又很高興自己變成野蠻人了，因為他們收穫不小：他們發現自己已經可以抽抽菸，而不必找丟失的小刀了；現在他們已經不再被煙嗆得難受了。他們可不會輕易放過這可喜的進步而裹足不前，不會。吃過晚飯，他們又小心地練習了一下，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。就隨他們在那兒抽菸、閒扯和天吹海聊吧，目前我們暫沒什麼事情麻煩他們了。
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.