最後，昏昏然的氣氛被打破了——而且打破得很徹底：那起謀殺案在法庭上公開審理了。這事立即成了全鎮人談論的熱門話題。湯姆無法擺脫這件事。每逢有人提及這起謀殺案，他就心為之悸，因為他那不安的良心和極度的恐懼几乎使他相信，人家是故意說給他聽，探探他的“口風”；他不明白，別人怎麼會懷疑自己瞭解這個案情，但聽了這些議論，他總是不能夠泰然處之。這些話讓他不停地打寒噤。他把哈克拉到一個僻靜處，同他談了這件事。能暫時地傾吐一下心結，和另一個同樣受折磨的人共同分擔一下憂愁，這對湯姆來說，多少算是點安慰。而且，他想搞清楚，哈克是否始終沒把這個秘密泄露出去。
AT last the sleepy atmosphere was stirred--and vigorously: the murder trial came on in the court. It became the absorbing topic of village talk immediately. Tom could not get away from it. 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"; 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. It kept him in a cold shiver all the time. He took Huck to a lonely place to have a talk with him. It would be some relief to unseal his tongue for a little while; to divide his burden of distress with another sufferer. Moreover, he wanted to assure himself that Huck had remained discreet.
“哈克，你曾經跟什麼人說起過——那件事嗎？”
"Huck, have you ever told anybody about--that?"
“什麼事情？”
"'Bout what?"
“明知故問。”
"You know what."
“哦——當然沒說過。”
"Oh--'course I haven't."
“一句也沒說過嗎？”
"Never a word?"
“一個字也沒說過，我發誓。你問這個幹嗎？”
"Never a solitary word, so help me. What makes you ask?"
“唉，我很害怕。”
"Well, I was afeard."
“嘿，湯姆·索亞，一旦秘密泄露，我們連兩天也活不成。這你知道。”
"Why, Tom Sawyer, we wouldn't be alive two days if that got found out. You know that."
湯姆覺得心裡踏實多了。停了一會，他說：
Tom felt more comfortable. After a pause:
“哈克，要是他們逼你招供，你怎麼辦？”
"Huck, they couldn't anybody get you to tell, could they?"
“逼我招供？嘿，除非我想被那個混帳王八蛋活活淹死，我才會招供。否則，他們絶辦不到。”
"Get me to tell? Why, if I wanted that halfbreed devil to drownd me they could get me to tell. They ain't no different way."
“好吧，這樣就沒事了。我想只要咱們守口如瓶，就可保安然無恙。但是，讓咱們再發一回誓吧。這樣更牢靠些。”
"Well, that's all right, then. I reckon we're safe as long as we keep mum. But let's swear again, anyway. It's more surer."
“我贊成。”
"I'm agreed."
於是他們又非常嚴肅認真地發了一回誓。
So they swore again with dread solemnities.
“大家都在議論些什麼事，哈克？我聽到的多得一塌糊塗呀！”
"What is the talk around, Huck? I've heard a power of it."
“什麼事？嗐，還不是莫夫·波特、莫夫·波特、莫夫·波特，沒完沒了。這些話讓人直冒冷汗，我想找個地方躲一躲。”
"Talk? Well, it's just Muff Potter, Muff Potter, Muff Potter all the time. It keeps me in a sweat, constant, so's I want to hide som'ers."
“我也有同感。我想他算是完了。你是不是有時候也為他感到難過？”
"That's just the same way they go on round me. I reckon he's a goner. Don't you feel sorry for him, sometimes?"
“差不多經常為他難過——經常是這樣。他不算什麼人物；但他從來沒做過什麼傷天害理的事情。不過是釣釣魚，去賣錢來換酒大喝一通——常到處閒逛；可是，老天，咱們也沒少幹這些事啊——起碼咱們多半都是這樣——連佈道的人也不例外。但是他心眼好——有一次，我釣的魚不夠兩個人分，他還給了我半條魚；還有好多次，我運氣不佳的時候，他都沒少幫忙。”
"Most always--most always. He ain't no account; but then he hain't ever done anything to hurt anybody. Just fishes a little, to get money to get drunk on--and loafs around considerable; but lord, we all do that--leastways most of us--preachers and such like. But he's kind of good--he give me half a fish, once, when there warn't enough for two; and lots of times he's kind of stood by me when I was out of luck."
“哎，哈克，他幫我修過風箏，還幫我把魚鈎系在竿子上。我希望我們能把他救出來。”
"Well, he's mended kites for me, Huck, and knitted hooks on to my line. I wish we could get him out of there."
“哎呀！湯姆，那可使不得。況且，救出來也不濟於事；他們還會再把他抓回去。”
"My! we couldn't get him out, Tom. And besides, 'twouldn't do any good; they'd ketch him again."
“是呀——他們會再把他抓回去。可是，我討厭聽到他們罵他是魔鬼，其實他根本沒幹——那件事。”
"Yes--so they would. But I hate to hear 'em abuse him so like the dickens when he never done--that."
“我也一樣，湯姆。老天爺，我聽到他們罵他是全國頭一號惡棍，他們還說他為什麼從前沒被絞死呢。”
"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."
“對，他們一直都是這麼罵的。我還聽人說，要是他被放出來，他們就偷偷結果掉他。”
"Yes, they talk like that, all the time. I've heard 'em say that if he was to get free they'd lynch him."
“他們真的會那麼幹。”
"And they'd do it, too."
兩個孩子談了很久，可並沒有得到什麼安慰。天色向晚，他倆來到那偏僻的小牢房附近轉悠，心裡存着不太明確的希望，希望能發生什麼意外之事，來幫他們排憂解難。但是，什麼事也沒發生；似乎沒什麼天使神仙對這倒霉的囚犯感興趣。
The boys had a long talk, but it brought them little comfort. 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. But nothing happened; there seemed to be no angels or fairies interested in this luckless captive.
這兩個孩子還是像從前那樣——走到牢房的窗戶那兒，給波特遞進去一點煙葉和火柴。他被關在第一層，沒有看守。
The boys did as they had often done before--went to the cell grating and gave Potter some tobacco and matches. He was on the ground floor and there were no guards.
他非常感激他倆給他送好東西，這更讓他倆的良心不安起來——這一次，像把刀似的深深刺進他們心裡。當波特打開話匣時，他倆覺得自己極其膽小怕事，是個十足的叛徒。他說：
His gratitude for their gifts had always smote their consciences before--it cut deeper than ever, this time. They felt cowardly and treacherous to the last degree when Potter said:
“孩子們，你們對我太好了——比鎮上任何其他的人都好。我不會忘記的，我忘不了。我常自個兒唸叨着：‘我過去常常給鎮上的孩子們修理風箏之類的玩具，告訴他們什麼地方釣魚最好，儘力和他們交朋友。但現在波特老頭遭難了，他們就把他給忘了；可是啊，湯姆沒有忘，哈克也沒有忘——只有他倆沒有忘記他。’我說：‘我也不會忘記他們。’啊，孩子們，我幹了件可怕的事情——當時我喝醉了，神志不清——我只能這麼解釋——現在，我要因此事而被吊死，這是應該的。我想，是應該的，也是最好的——我反倒希望被吊死。哦，咱們不談這事了吧。我不想讓你們傷心難過；你們對我這麼好，但是，我想對你們說的就是，你們千萬不能酗酒啊——這樣，你們就不會被關到這裡了。你們再往西站一點——對——就這樣；一個人遭此不幸，還能看到對他友好的面孔，真是莫大的安慰啊。現在，除了你們，再也沒有人來看我了。多麼友好的臉蛋——多友好啊。你們倆一個爬到另一個背上，讓我摸摸你們的臉吧。好了。咱們握握手吧——你們的手可以從窗戶縫中伸進來，我的手太大不行。這麼小的手，沒多大力氣——可就是這小手幫了莫夫·波特很大的忙，要是能幫上更大的忙，也會幫的呀。”
"You've been mighty good to me, boys--better'n anybody else in this town. 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; 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. Right, and best, too, I reckon--hope so, anyway. Well, we won't talk about that. I don't want to make you feel bad; you've befriended me. But what I want to say, is, don't you ever get drunk--then you won't ever get here. Stand a litter furder west--so--that's it; 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. Good friendly faces--good friendly faces. Git up on one another's backs and let me touch 'em. That's it. Shake hands--yourn'll come through the bars, but mine's too big. Little hands, and weak--but they've helped Muff Potter a power, and they'd help him more if they could."
湯姆悲痛地回到家裡，當夜做了很多惡夢。第二天和第三天，他在法院外面轉來轉去，心裡有種無法剋制的衝動，想闖進去，可他還是強迫自己留在外面。哈克也有同樣的經歷。他們故意相互迴避着。他們時常從那裡走開，可是又都被這件慘案吸引回來。每當有旁聽的人從法庭出來，湯姆就側着耳朵細聽，但聽到的消息都令人憂心忡忡——法網越來越無情地罩向可憐的莫夫·波特身上。第二天快結束的時候，鎮上傳言，印第安·喬的證據確鑿無疑，陪審團如何裁決此案是明擺着的了。
Tom went home miserable, and his dreams that night were full of horrors. 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. Huck was having the same experience. They studiously avoided each other. Each wandered away, from time to time, but the same dismal fascination always brought them back presently. 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. 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.
那天夜裡，湯姆很晚才回來，他從窗子裡爬進來上床睡覺。由於極度興奮，過了好幾個小時他才睡着。次晨，鎮上所有的人成群結隊地向法院走去，因為今天是個不平常的日子。聽眾席上擠滿了人，男女各占一半。人們等了很久，陪審團才一個接着一個入場就座；不一會，波特帶著手銬被押了進來，他面色蒼白，一臉憔悴，神情羞怯，一副聽天由命的樣子。他坐的地方很顯眼，全場好奇的人都能看得見。印第安·喬也同樣地引人注目，他還是和先前一樣不露聲色。又過了一會，法官駕到，執法官就宣佈開庭。接着，就聽見律師們慣例式地低頭接耳和收拾檔案的聲音。這些細節和隨後的耽擱給人們一種準備開庭的印象，它既讓人印象深刻同時又令人着迷。
Tom was out late, that night, and came to bed through the window. He was in a tremendous state of excitement. It was hours before he got to sleep. All the village flocked to the courthouse the next morning, for this was to be the great day. Both sexes were about equally represented in the packed audience. After a long wait the jury filed in and took their places; 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; no less conspicuous was Injun Joe, stolid as ever. There was another pause, and then the judge arrived and the sheriff proclaimed the opening of the court. The usual whisperings among the lawyers and gathering together of papers followed. These details and accompanying delays worked up an atmosphere of preparation that was as impressive as it was fascinating.
現在，一個證人被帶上來。他作證說在謀殺案發生的那天清晨，他看見莫夫·波特在河裡洗澡，並且很快就溜掉了。 原告律師問了一會，說：
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. After some further questioning, counsel for the prosecution said:
“問訊證人。”
"Take the witness."
犯人抬眼看了一會，然後又低下了眼睛。這時他的辯護律師說：
The prisoner raised his eyes for a moment, but dropped them again when his own counsel said:
“我沒有問題要問。”
"I have no questions to ask him."
第二個證人證明，他曾在被害人屍體附近發現了那把刀。 原告律師說：
The next witness proved the finding of the knife near the corpse. Counsel for the prosecution said:
“問訊證人。”
"Take the witness."
波特的律師說：“我沒有問題要問。”
"I have no questions to ask him," Potter's lawyer replied.
第三個證人發誓說，他常常看見波特帶著那把刀。
A third witness swore he had often seen the knife in Potter's possession.
“問訊證人。”
"Take the witness."
波特的律師拒絶向這個證人提問。看得出聽眾們開始惱火了。難道這個辯護律師不打算作任何努力，就把他的當事人性命給斷送掉嗎？
Counsel for Potter declined to question him. The faces of the audience began to betray annoyance. Did this attorney mean to throw away his client's life without an effort?
有幾個證人都作證說當波特被帶到兇殺現場時，他表現出了畏罪行為。被告的律師沒有盤問他們一句，就允許他們退出了證人席。
Several witnesses deposed concerning Potter's guilty behavior when brought to the scene of the murder. They were allowed to leave the stand without being cross-questioned.
在場的人對那天早上墳地裡發生的悲劇都記憶猶新。現在宣過誓的證人把一個一個的細節都講了出來，不過他們無一受到波特律師的盤問。全場一片低語聲，表達了人們的困惑和不滿的情緒，結果引起了法官的一陣申斥。於是，原告律師說：
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. The perplexity and dissatisfaction of the house expressed itself in murmurs and provoked a reproof from the bench. Counsel for the prosecution now said:
“諸位公民宣誓作證，言簡意賅不容置疑，據此，我們認定這起可怕的謀殺案，毫無疑問，系被告席上這個不幸的犯人所為。本案取證到此結束。”
"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. We rest our case here."
可憐的莫夫呻吟了一聲，他雙手捂臉，來回輕輕地搖晃着身子，與此同時法庭上一片寂靜，令人痛苦。許多男人都被感動了，女人們也掉下了同情的眼淚。這時，辯護律師站起身來，說：
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. Many men were moved, and many women's compassion testified itself in tears. Counsel for the defence rose and said:
“法官大人，本庭審訊之初，我們的所言就涵蓋了開庭審訊之目的，我們曾力圖證明我言外之意：我的當事人喝了酒，所以在神志不清的情況下幹了這件可怕的事情。現在我改變了主意，我申請撤回那篇辯護詞。”然後他對書記員說：“傳湯姆·索亞！”
"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. We have changed our mind. We shall not offer that plea." [Then to the clerk:] "Call Thomas Sawyer!"
在場的每一個人都莫名其妙，驚詫不已；連波特也不例外。當湯姆站起來，走到證人席上的時候，人們都懷着極大的興趣迷惑不解地盯着他。這孩子因為受到過分驚嚇，看起來有點不能自製。他宣了誓。
A puzzled amazement awoke in every face in the house, not even excepting Potter's. Every eye fastened itself with wondering interest upon Tom as he rose and took his place upon the stand. The boy looked wild enough, for he was badly scared. The oath was administered.
“湯姆·索亞，６月１７日大約半夜時分，你在什麼地方？”
"Thomas Sawyer, where were you on the seventeenth of June, about the hour of midnight?"
看見印第安·喬那張冷酷的臉，湯姆舌頭僵住了，講不出話來。聽眾們屏息斂氣靜聽，可是話還是沒有說出來。然而，過了幾分鐘，這孩子恢復了一點氣力，勉強提高了聲音，但仍然只有部分人能聽清楚他的話：
Tom glanced at Injun Joe's iron face and his tongue failed him. The audience listened breathless, but the words refused to come. 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:
“在墳地！”
"In the graveyard!"
“請你稍微大點聲。別害怕。你是在……”
"A little bit louder, please. Don't be afraid. You were--"
“在墳地。”
"In the graveyard."
印第安·喬的臉上迅速地閃過一絲嘲弄的微笑。
A contemptuous smile flitted across Injun Joe's face.
“你是在霍斯·威廉斯的墳墓附近的什麼地方嗎？”
"Were you anywhere near Horse Williams' grave?"
“是的，先生。”
"Yes, sir."
“大點聲——再稍微大點聲。距離有多遠？”
"Speak up--just a trifle louder. How near were you?"
“就像我離您這麼遠。”
"Near as I am to you."
“你是不是藏起來了？”
"Were you hidden, or not?"
“是藏起來了。”
"I was hid."
“什麼地方？”
"Where?"
“藏在墳邊的幾棵榆樹後面。”
"Behind the elms that's on the edge of the grave."
印第安·喬吃了一驚，別人几乎沒有察覺到。
Injun Joe gave a barely perceptible start.
“還有別人嗎？”
"Any one with you?"
“有，先生。我是和……”
"Yes, sir. I went there with--"
“別忙——等一下。你不要提及你同伴的名字。我們在適當的時候，會傳問他的。你到那裡去，帶著什麼東西嗎？”
"Wait--wait a moment. Never mind mentioning your companion's name. We will produce him at the proper time. Did you carry anything there with you."
湯姆猶豫着，不知所措。
Tom hesitated and looked confused.
“說出來吧，孩子——別害怕。說真話總是讓人敬佩的。帶了什麼去的？”
"Speak out, my boy--don't be diffident. The truth is always respectable. What did you take there?"
“就帶了一隻——呃——一隻死貓。”
"Only a--a--dead cat."
人們一陣哄笑。法官把他們喝止住了。
There was a ripple of mirth, which the court checked.
“我們會把那只死貓的殘骸拿來給大家看的。現在，孩子，你把當時發生的事說出來——照實說——什麼也別說漏掉，別害怕。”
"We will produce the skeleton of that cat. Now, my boy, tell us everything that occurred--tell it in your own way--don't skip anything, and don't be afraid."
湯姆開始說了——起初有些吞吞吐吐，可是漸漸地喜歡這個話題了，於是，就越說越流暢自如；沒過多麼，除了他在說話外別無其它聲音，每雙眼睛都在盯着他；人們張着嘴，屏住呼吸，興緻盎然地聽他講述着這個傳奇般的經歷，一點都沒注意到時間，都被這個恐怖而又魅力十足的歷險吸引住了。說到後來，湯姆心中積壓的情感一下子迸發出來，他說：
Tom began--hesitatingly at first, but as he warmed to his subject his words flowed more and more easily; in a little while every sound ceased but his own voice; every eye fixed itself upon him; 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. The strain upon pent emotion reached its climax when the boy said:
“……醫生一揮那木牌，莫夫·波特就應聲倒在地上，印第安·喬拿着刀，跳過來，狠狠就是一下……”
"--and as the doctor fetched the board around and Muff Potter fell, Injun Joe jumped with the knife and--"
“嘩啦！”那個混帳閃電一般，朝窗口竄去，衝開所有阻擋他的人，跑了！
Crash! Quick as lightning the halfbreed sprang for a window, tore his way through all opposers, and was gone!