At last the sleepy atmosphere was stirred—and vigorously: —
终于，沉睡的氛围被打破了， —

the murder trial came on in the court. —
而且是十分激烈地打破了——谋杀审判在法庭上开始了。 —

It became the absorbing topic of village talk immediately. Tom could not get away from it. —
这立刻成为了村里人热衷的话题。汤姆无法从中脱身。 —

Every reference to the murder sent a shudder to his heart, for his troubled conscience and fears almost persuaded him that these remarks were put forth in his hearing as “feelers”; —
每次提及谋杀都让他心头一颤，因为他困扰的良心和恐惧几乎使他相信这些话是故意对他说的，作为探听。 —

he did not see how he could be suspected of knowing anything about the murder, but still he could not be comfortable in the midst of this gossip. —
他知道自己被怀疑与谋杀案有关，但他仍然无法在这些闲言碎语中感到安心。 —

It kept him in a cold shiver all the time. —
这让他一直感到寒颤。 —

He took Huck to a lonely place to have a talk with him. —
他带着哈克到一个荒僻的地方与他谈话。 —

It would be some relief to unseal his tongue for a little while; —
这会稍微减轻一些他的负担； —

to divide his burden of distress with another sufferer. —
与另一个受难者分享他的苦恼。 —

Moreover, he wanted to assure himself that Huck had remained discreet.
此外，他想肯定一下哈克是否一直保守秘密。

“Huck, have you ever told anybody about—that?”
“哈克，你告诉过别人关于那件事吗？”

“’Bout what?”
“关于什么？”

“You know what.”
“你知道的。”

“Oh—’course I haven’t.”
“哦，我当然没有。”

“Never a word?”
“一句话都没有说过吗？”

“Never a solitary word, so help me. What makes you ask?”
“从来没有一个孤独的字，我发誓。你为什么问这个？”

“Well, I was afeard.”
“嗯，我害怕。”

“Why, Tom Sawyer, we wouldn’t be alive two days if that got found out. You know that.”
“为什么，汤姆·索亚，我们要是被发现了，两天内我们都活不到。你知道。”

Tom felt more comfortable. After a pause:
汤姆感到更放心。停顿了一下:

“Huck, they couldn’t anybody get you to tell, could they?”
“哈克，有没有人能够逼你讲出来？”

“Get me to tell? Why, if I wanted that halfbreed devil to drownd me they could get me to tell. —
“逼我说？咳，如果我希望那个混血儿魔鬼淹死我，他们可以逼我说。 —

They ain’t no different way.”
没有任何其他的办法。”

“Well, that’s all right, then. I reckon we’re safe as long as we keep mum. —
“那就好，只要我们保持沉默，应该是安全的。不过， —

But let’s swear again, anyway. —
再发誓一次吧。 —

It’s more surer.”
这样更保险。”

“I’m agreed.”
“我同意。”

So they swore again with dread solemnities.
于是他们又庄重地重新发誓。

“What is the talk around, Huck? I’ve heard a power of it.”
“哈克，人们都在议论些什么？我听到了好多。”

“Talk? Well, it’s just Muff Potter, Muff Potter, Muff Potter all the time. —
“议论？哦，都是关于麦夫·波特，麦夫·波特，一直都是麦夫·波特。” —

It keeps me in a sweat, constant, so’s I want to hide som’ers.”
“这直接让我感到紧张，我想躲起来。”

“That’s just the same way they go on round me. —
“这跟我周围的情况一样。” —

I reckon he’s a goner. Don’t you feel sorry for him, sometimes?”
“我猜他完蛋了。有时候你不为他感到难过吗？”

“Most always—most always. He ain’t no account; —
“几乎总是—几乎总是。他没什么用处； —

but then he hain’t ever done anything to hurt anybody. —
但他也没做过伤害别人的事情。 —

Just fishes a little, to get money to get drunk on—and loafs around considerable; —
只是钓点鱼，挣点钱去喝酒—闲荡的时候挺多； —

but lord, we all do that—leastways most of us—preachers and such like. —
但天啊，我们大家都这样—至少大部分人—像牧师和那些人。 —

But he’s kind of good—he give me half a fish, once, when there warn’t enough for two; —
但他还是蛮好的—有一次，当只有足够我们两个人的鱼不够吃的时候，他给了我一半； —

and lots of times he’s kind of stood by me when I was out of luck.”
而且很多时候，当我倒霉的时候，他都站在我这边。”

“Well, he’s mended kites for me, Huck, and knitted hooks on to my line. —
“嗯，他为我修过风筝，Huck，也给我的钓线上织了挂钩。” —

I wish we could get him out of there.”
“我希望我们能把他救出来。”

“My! we couldn’t get him out, Tom. And besides, ’twouldn’t do any good; —
“唉！我们救不了他出来，Tom。而且，即使能救出来也没有用，他们还是会再抓住他。” —

they’d ketch him again.”
“是的，他们肯定会。可是我讨厌听到他们像魔鬼一样辱骂他，明明他根本就没做过什么。”

“Yes—so they would. But I hate to hear ’em abuse him so like the dickens when he never done—that.”
“我也是，Tom。主啊，他们总说他是这个地方最凶残的恶棍，奇怪为什么他以前没被绞死。”

“I do too, Tom. Lord, I hear ’em say he’s the bloodiest looking villain in this country, and they wonder he wasn’t ever hung before.”
“是啊，他们总这样说。”

“Yes, they talk like that, all the time. —
“我听到他们说，如果他能逃脱，他们会私刑处死他。” —

I’ve heard ’em say that if he was to get free they’d lynch him.”
“他们肯定会这么做。”

“And they’d do it, too.”
“他们绝对会。”

The boys had a long talk, but it brought them little comfort. —
两个男孩进行了漫长的交谈，但是没有给他们带来任何安慰。 —

As the twilight drew on, they found themselves hanging about the neighborhood of the little isolated jail, perhaps with an undefined hope that something would happen that might clear away their difficulties. —
黄昏降临时，他们发现自己逗留在那座孤立的小监狱附近，也许心里希望会发生一些能解决他们困境的事情。 —

But nothing happened; there seemed to be no angels or fairies interested in this luckless captive.
但是什么也没发生；似乎没有任何天使或仙女对这个倒霉的囚犯感兴趣。

The boys did as they had often done before—went to the cell grating and gave Potter some tobacco and matches. —
男孩们像以往一样——去了牢房的格子前给波特一些烟草和火柴。 —

He was on the ground floor and there were no guards.
他在一楼，没有看守。

His gratitude for their gifts had always smote their consciences before—it cut deeper than ever, this time. —
他们以前总是对他们的礼物感到愧疚——这一次刺痛他们更深了。 —

They felt cowardly and treacherous to the last degree when Potter said:
当波特说：“你们对我真是太好了，伙计们——比这个镇上的任何人都要好。

“You’ve been mighty good to me, boys—better’n anybody else in this town. —
我不会忘记的，我不会。我常常对自己说，‘我曾经修理过所有男孩的风筝和其他东西，告诉他们哪里有好的钓鱼地方，尽我所能帮助他们，现在他们都忘记了困境中的老杂兵； —

And I don’t forget it, I don’t. Often I says to myself, says I, ‘I used to mend all the boys’ kites and things, and show ’em where the good fishin’ places was, and befriend ’em what I could, and now they’ve all forgot old Muff when he’s in trouble; —
但是汤姆不忘记，哈克不忘记——他们不会忘记他’，我对自己说，‘而我不会忘记他们。 —

but Tom don’t, and Huck don’t—they don’t forget him, ’ says I, ‘and I don’t forget them. —
’” —

’ Well, boys, I done an awful thing—drunk and crazy at the time—that’s the only way I account for it—and now I got to swing for it, and it’s right. —
“嗯，朋友们，我干了一件可怕的事——当时喝醉了，发疯了，我只能这样解释——现在我要为此付出代价，而且这是正确的。” —

Right, and best, too, I reckon—hope so, anyway. Well, we won’t talk about that. —
“对，而且是最好的决定，我想是这样吧——不管怎样，我们不谈论这个。” —

I don’t want to make you feel bad; you’ve befriended me. —
“我不想让你难过，你曾经对我友善。” —

But what I want to say, is, don’t you ever get drunk—then you won’t ever get here. —
“但是我想说的是，你千万别喝醉——那样你就不会像我一样陷入困境。” —

Stand a litter furder west—so—that’s it; —
“往西边再靠近一点——就是这样；” —

it’s a prime comfort to see faces that’s friendly when a body’s in such a muck of trouble, and there don’t none come here but yourn. —
“当一个人陷入这么大的麻烦时，能看到友善的面孔真是一种巨大的安慰，这里只有你们这些面孔。” —

Good friendly faces—good friendly faces. —
“友善的面孔——友善的面孔。 —

Git up on one another’s backs and let me touch ’em. —
把你们挨得离得更近一些，让我碰碰它们。” —

That’s it. Shake hands—yourn’ll come through the bars, but mine’s too big. —
就这样了。握握手吧——你的手伸进了栅栏，但我的手太大了。 —

Little hands, and weak—but they’ve helped Muff Potter a power, and they’d help him more if they could.”
小手，虽然弱，但它们给了马夫·波特很大帮助，如果可能的话，它们还会更多地帮助他。

Tom went home miserable, and his dreams that night were full of horrors. —
汤姆回到家里感到非常难受，他那天晚上的梦充满了恐怖。 —

The next day and the day after, he hung about the courtroom, drawn by an almost irresistible impulse to go in, but forcing himself to stay out. —
接下来的一天和第二天，他徘徊在法庭周围，被一种几乎无法抗拒的冲动吸引着，但他强迫自己留在外面。 —

Huck was having the same experience. They studiously avoided each other. —
哈克也有同样的经历，他们刻意避开彼此。 —

Each wandered away, from time to time, but the same dismal fascination always brought them back presently. —
他们各自时不时地离开，但同样令人沮丧的吸引力总会马上将他们带回来。 —

Tom kept his ears open when idlers sauntered out of the courtroom, but invariably heard distressing news—the toils were closing more and more relentlessly around poor Potter. —
汤姆在闲人们从法庭走出来时敞开耳朵，但总是听到令人痛心的消息——陷害波特的罪名越来越紧迫。 —

At the end of the second day the village talk was to the effect that Injun Joe’s evidence stood firm and unshaken, and that there was not the slightest question as to what the jury’s verdict would be.
第二天结束时，村里的传闻是印第安乔的证词坚定且无动摇，陪审团的裁决毫无疑问。

Tom was out late, that night, and came to bed through the window. —
那天晚上，汤姆回家很晚，从窗户爬进了床上。 —

He was in a tremendous state of excitement. It was hours before he got to sleep. —
他兴奋异常。几个小时过去了他都没有入睡。 —

All the village flocked to the courthouse the next morning, for this was to be the great day. —
第二天早上，整个村庄涌向法院，因为今天将是重要的日子。 —

Both sexes were about equally represented in the packed audience. —
男女两性在拥挤的观众中基本上占了相等的比例。 —

After a long wait the jury filed in and took their places; —
经过漫长的等待，陪审团进入了法庭并就座； —

shortly afterward, Potter, pale and haggard, timid and hopeless, was brought in, with chains upon him, and seated where all the curious eyes could stare at him; —
此后不久，脸色苍白而憔悴、胆小而绝望的波特被带了进来，身上带着铁链，坐在所有好奇的眼睛都能盯着他的地方； —

no less conspicuous was Injun Joe, stolid as ever. —
同样引人注目的是乔·印真乔，一如既往地木头般冷静。 —

There was another pause, and then the judge arrived and the sheriff proclaimed the opening of the court. —
又是一次暂停，然后法官到了，治安官宣布庭审开始。 —

The usual whisperings among the lawyers and gathering together of papers followed. —
律师们开始低声交谈，整理文件。 —

These details and accompanying delays worked up an atmosphere of preparation that was as impressive as it was fascinating.
这些细节和伴随的等待制造了一种既令人印象深刻又迷人的准备氛围。

Now a witness was called who testified that he found Muff Potter washing in the brook, at an early hour of the morning that the murder was discovered, and that he immediately sneaked away. —
现在出庭作证的一个证人称，在发现谋杀案的那个早晨，他发现莫夫·波特正在小溪边洗澡，并且他立即悄悄离开了。 —

After some further questioning, counsel for the prosecution said:
经过进一步的询问，控方律师说：

“Take the witness.”
“请出庭作证。”

The prisoner raised his eyes for a moment, but dropped them again when his own counsel said:
被告稍微抬起目光，但在自己的辩护律师说：“我没有问题要问他”之后，又放下了眼睛。

“I have no questions to ask him.”
下一个证人证实在尸体附近找到了刀子。控方律师说：

The next witness proved the finding of the knife near the corpse. Counsel for the prosecution said:
“请出庭作证。”

“Take the witness.”
“我没有问题要问他，”波特的律师回答道。

“I have no questions to ask him,” Potter’s lawyer replied.
第三个证人宣誓称曾经经常见到波特手持这把刀子。

A third witness swore he had often seen the knife in Potter’s possession.
“请出庭作证。”

“Take the witness.”
波特的辩护律师拒绝对他提问。听众的脸上开始显露出烦恼之色。

Counsel for Potter declined to question him. —
这个律师是不是打算不费力气地放弃他的客户的性命？ —

The faces of the audience began to betray annoyance. —
—

Did this attorney mean to throw away his client’s life without an effort?
几个证人陈述了波特在被带到谋杀现场时的有罪行为。

Several witnesses deposed concerning Potter’s guilty behavior when brought to the scene of the murder. —
Return to step 1 —

They were allowed to leave the stand without being cross-questioned.
他们被允许离开证人席，而无需接受交互质询。

Every detail of the damaging circumstances that occurred in the graveyard upon that morning which all present remembered so well was brought out by credible witnesses, but none of them were cross-examined by Potter’s lawyer. —
关于发生在那个令在场所有人都牢牢记住的清晨墓地事件的每个细节都由可信的证人透露出来，但没有一个被波特的律师进行交叉询问。 —

The perplexity and dissatisfaction of the house expressed itself in murmurs and provoked a reproof from the bench. —
外庭的困惑和不满通过低声抱怨表达出来，引来法官的训斥。 —

Counsel for the prosecution now said:
检方律师现在说道：

“By the oaths of citizens whose simple word is above suspicion, we have fastened this awful crime, beyond all possibility of question, upon the unhappy prisoner at the bar. —
“凭借公民们的宣誓，他们的简单言辞是无可怀疑的，我们已经确定了这可怕的罪行，不容质疑地指向了那个坐在被告席上的不幸的被告。” —

We rest our case here.”
“我们在此停止辩论。”

A groan escaped from poor Potter, and he put his face in his hands and rocked his body softly to and fro, while a painful silence reigned in the courtroom. —
可怜的波特发出了一声呻吟，他将脸埋在双手之间，轻轻晃动身体，整个法庭笼罩着一片沉默。 —

Many men were moved, and many women’s compassion testified itself in tears. —
很多男人感动了，很多女人的同情则以泪水来表达。 —

Counsel for the defence rose and said:
辩方律师站起身说道：

“Your honor, in our remarks at the opening of this trial, we foreshadowed our purpose to prove that our client did this fearful deed while under the influence of a blind and irresponsible delirium produced by drink. —
“尊敬的法官，在我们在庭审开始时的陈述中，我们预示了我们的目的是要证明我们的当事人在喝酒后产生了盲目和不负责任的疯狂，从而导致了这可怕的行为。 —

We have changed our mind. We shall not offer that plea. —
但是我们改变了主意。我们不会提出这个辩词。 —

” [Then to the clerk:] “Call Thomas Sawyer!”
[然后对书记员说：] “叫出托马斯·索亚！”

A puzzled amazement awoke in every face in the house, not even excepting Potter’s. —
所有人的脸上都露出了困惑的惊讶，包括波特的脸也不例外。 —

Every eye fastened itself with wondering interest upon Tom as he rose and took his place upon the stand. —
每个眼睛都以惊奇的兴趣盯着汤姆，当他站起来站到证人席上时。 —

The boy looked wild enough, for he was badly scared. The oath was administered.
这个男孩看起来很狼狈，因为他非常害怕。宣誓开始。

“Thomas Sawyer, where were you on the seventeenth of June, about the hour of midnight?”
“托马斯·索亚，在六月十七日午夜左右，你在哪里？”

Tom glanced at Injun Joe’s iron face and his tongue failed him. —
汤姆看了看印第安乔铁青的脸，舌头打结了。 —

The audience listened breathless, but the words refused to come. —
听众屏住呼吸，但他无法开口。 —

After a few moments, however, the boy got a little of his strength back, and managed to put enough of it into his voice to make part of the house hear:
然而，过了一会儿，男孩恢复了一点力量，勉强能够发出足够的声音，让大部分人听到:

“In the graveyard!”
“在墓地！”

“A little bit louder, please. Don’t be afraid. You were—”
“大声一点，请。不要害怕。你是——”

“In the graveyard.”
“在墓地。”

A contemptuous smile flitted across Injun Joe’s face.
因强乔脸上掠过一丝蔑视的笑容。

“Were you anywhere near Horse Williams’ grave?”
“你离霍斯·威廉姆斯的坟墓近吗？”

“Yes, sir.”
“是的，先生。”

“Speak up—just a trifle louder. How near were you?”
“大声点——稍微大声一点。你有多近？”

“Near as I am to you.”
“就像我离你这么近。”

“Were you hidden, or not?”
“你躲起来了还是没有？”

“I was hid.”
“我躲起来了。”

“Where?”
“躲在哪里？”

“Behind the elms that’s on the edge of the grave.”
“在坟墓边上的榆树后面。”

Injun Joe gave a barely perceptible start.
因强乔几乎察觉得略微动了一下。

“Any one with you?”
“有人和你在一起吗？”

“Yes, sir. I went there with—”
“是的，先生。我和……”

“Wait—wait a moment. Never mind mentioning your companion’s name. —
“等等，等一下。别提你的同伴的名字。 —

We will produce him at the proper time. Did you carry anything there with you.”
我们会在适当的时候出示他。你带了什么东西去那里吗？”

Tom hesitated and looked confused.
汤姆犹豫了一下，看起来很困惑。

“Speak out, my boy—don’t be diffident. —
“说出来，小子，不要羞怯。 —

The truth is always respectable. What did you take there?”
事实总是值得尊重的。你拿了什么去那里？”

“Only a—a—dead cat.”
“只是一只——一只——死猫。”

There was a ripple of mirth, which the court checked.
法庭上一阵嬉笑声，但被法官制止了。

“We will produce the skeleton of that cat. —
“我们会出示那只猫的骨架。 —

Now, my boy, tell us everything that occurred—tell it in your own way—don’t skip anything, and don’t be afraid.”
现在，我的孩子，告诉我们发生的一切——用你自己的方式来讲述——不要漏掉任何事情，也不要害怕。”

Tom began—hesitatingly at first, but as he warmed to his subject his words flowed more and more easily; —
汤姆开始了——起初有些犹豫，但随着他对话题的热衷，他的话渐渐流畅起来； —

in a little while every sound ceased but his own voice; every eye fixed itself upon him; —
不久后，除了他自己的声音外，一切声音都停止了；所有的目光都注视着他； —

with parted lips and bated breath the audience hung upon his words, taking no note of time, rapt in the ghastly fascinations of the tale. —
在这个恐怖的故事的引诱下，观众们紧闭双唇，屏住呼吸，不知时间流逝； —

The strain upon pent emotion reached its climax when the boy said:
压抑的情感达到高潮时，那个男孩说道：

“—and as the doctor fetched the board around and Muff Potter fell, Injun Joe jumped with the knife and—”
“—当医生转身拿起棒子，麦夫波特摔倒时，因强乔拿着刀跳了起来—”

Crash! Quick as lightning the halfbreed sprang for a window, tore his way through all opposers, and was gone!
咔嚓！半血脉的人像闪电一样扑向一个窗户，撕开了所有的阻碍者，然后消失了！