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我自从有了这些想法之后，平时就经常会想到这件事，可是因为没有机会付诸实施，因此一直都毫无结果。这样大约又过了一年半光景。一天清晨，我忽然发现有五只独木舟在岛这头靠了岸，船上的人都已上了岛，但却不知道他们去哪儿了。他们来的人这么多，把我的计划彻底打破了。因为我知道，一只独木舟一般载五、六个人，有时甚至更多。现在一下子来了这么多船，少说他有二三十人，我一个人单枪匹马，如何能对付他们呢！因此，我只好悄悄躲到城堡里去，坐立不安，一筹莫展。可是，我还是根据过去的计划，进行作战准备，以便一有机会，立即行动。我等了好久，留神听他们的动静，最后，实在耐不住了，就把枪放在梯子脚下，像平时那样，分作两步爬上小山顶。我站在那里，尽量不把头露出来，唯恐被他们看见。我拿起望远镜进行观察，发现他们不下三十人，并且已经生起了火，正在煮肉。至于他们怎样煮的，煮的又究竟是什么肉，我就不得而知了。这时，只见他们正手舞足蹈，围着火堆跳舞。他们做出种种野蛮难看的姿势，按自己的步法，正跳得不亦乐乎。正当我观望的时候，从望远镜里又看到他们从小船上拖出两个倒霉的野人来。这两个野人大概是他们事先放在船上的，现在拖上岸来准备屠杀了。我看到其中一个被木棍或木刀乱打一片，立即倒了下去。接着便有两三个野人一涌而上，动手把他开膛破腹，准备煮了来吃。另一个俘虏被撂在一边，到时他们再动手拿他开刀。这时，这个可怜的家伙看见自己手脚松了绑，无人管他，不由起了逃命的希望。他突然跳起身奔逃起来；他沿着海岸向我这边跑来，其速度简直惊人。我是说，他正飞速向我的住所方向跑来。 I was dreadfully frighted, (that I must acknowledge) when I perceived him to run my Way; and especially, when as I thought I saw him pursued by the whole Body, and now I expected that part of my Dream was coming to pass, and that he would certainly take shelter in my Grove; but I could not depend by any means upon my Dream for the rest Of it, (viz.) that the other Savages would not pursue him thither, and find him there. However I kept my Station, and my Spirits began to recover, when I found that there was not above three Men that follow'd him, and still more was I encourag'd, when I found that he outstrip'd them exceedingly in running, and gain'd Ground of them, so that if he could but hold it for half an Hour, I saw easily he would fairly get away from them all. 我得承认，当我见他朝我这边跑来时，着实吃惊不小；因为我认为，那些野人必然全部出动来追赶他。这时，我看到，我梦境中的一部分开始实现了：那个野人必然会在我城堡外的树丛中躲起来。可是，梦境中的其余部分我可不敢相信--也就是那些野人不会来追他，也不会发现他躲在树丛里。我仍旧站在原地，一动也不动。后来，我发现追他的只有三个人，胆子就大一点了。尤其是我发现那个野人跑得比追他的三个人快得多，而且把他们愈甩愈远了。只要他能再跑上半小时，就可完全摆脱他们了。这不由使我勇气倍增。 There was between them and my Castle, the Creek which I mention'd often at the first part of my Story, when I landed my Cargoes out of the Ship; and this I saw plainly, he must necessarily swim over, or the poor Wretch would be taken there: But when the Savage escaping came thither, he made nothing of it, tho' the Tide was then up, but plunging in, swam thro' in about Thirty Strokes or thereabouts, landed and ran on with exceeding Strength and Swiftness; when the Three Persons came to the Creek, I found that Two of them could Swim, but the Third cou'd not, and that standing on the other Side, he look'd at the other, but went no further; and soon after went softly back again, which as it happen'd, was very well for him in the main. 在他们和我的城堡之间，有一条小河。这条小河，我在本书的开头部分曾多次提到过；我把破船上的东西运下来的时候，就是进入小河后搬上岸的。我看得很清楚，那逃跑的野人必须游过小河，否则就一定会被他们在河边抓祝这时正值涨潮，那逃跑的野人一到河边，就毫不犹豫纵身跳下河去，只划了三十来下便游过了河。他一爬上岸，又迅速向前狂奔。后面追他的那三个野人到了河边。其中只有两个会游水，另一个却不会，只好站在河边，看其他两个游过河去。又过了一会，他一个人就悄悄回去了。这实在救了他一命。 I observ'd, that the two who swam, were yet more than twice as long swimming over the Creek, as the Fellow was, that fled from them: It came now very warmly upon my Thoughts, and indeed irresistibly, that now was my Time to get me a Servant, and perhaps a Companion, or Assistant; and that I was call'd plainly by Providence to save this poor Creature's Life; I immediately run down the Ladders with all possible Expedition, fetches my two Guns, for they were both but at the Foot of the Ladders, as I observ'd above; and getting up again, with the same haste, to the Top of the Hill, I cross'd toward the Sea; and having a very short Cut, and all down Hill, clapp'd my self in the way, between the Pursuers, and the Pursu'd; hallowing aloud to him that fled, who looking back, was at first perhaps as much frighted at me, as at them; but I beckon'd with my Hand to him, to come back; and in the mean time, I slowly advanc'd towards the two that follow'd; then rushing at once upon the foremost, I knock'd him down with the Stock of my Piece I was loath to fire, because 1 would not have the rest hear; though at that distance, it would not have been easily heard, and being out of Sight of the Smoke too, they wou'd not have easily known what to make of it: Having knock'd this Fellow down, the other who pursu'd with him stopp'd, as if he had been frighted; and I advanc'd a-pace towards him; but as I came nearer, I perceiv'd presently, he had a Bow and Arrow, and was fitting it to shoot at me; so I was then necessitated to shoot at him first, which I did, and kill'd him at the first Shoot; the poor Savage who fled, but had stopp'd; though he saw both his Enemies fallen, and kill'd, as he thought; yet was so frighted with the Fire, and Noise of my Piece, that he stood Stock still, and neither came forward or went backward, tho' he seem'd rather enclin'd to fly still, than to come on; I hollow'd again to him, and made Signs to come forward, which he easily understood, and came a little way, then stopp'd again, and then a little further, and stopp'd again, and I cou'd then perceive that he stood trembling, as if he had been taken Prisoner, and had just been to be kill'd, as his two Enemies were; I beckon'd him again to come to me, and gave him all the Signs of Encouragement that I could think of, and he came nearer and nearer, kneeling down every Ten or Twelve steps in token of acknowledgement for my saving his Life: I smil'd at him, and look'd pleasantly, and beckon'd to him to come still nearer; at length he came close to me, and then he kneel'd down again, kiss'd the Ground, and laid his Head upon the Ground, and taking me by the Foot, set my Foot upon his Head; this it seems was in token of swearing to be my Slave for ever; I took him up, and made much of him, and encourag'd him all I could. But there was more work to do yet, for I perceived the Savage who I knock'd down, was not kill'd, but stunn'd with the blow, and began to come to himself; so I pointed to him, and showing him the Savage, that he was not dead; upon this he spoke some Words to me, and though I could not understand them, yet I thought they were pleasant to hear, for they were the first sound of a Man's Voice, that I had heard, my own excepted, for above Twenty Five Years. But there was no time for such Reflections now, the Savage who was knock'd down recover'd himself so far, as to sit up upon the Ground, and I perceived that my Savage began to be afraid; but when I saw that, I presented my other Piece at the Man, as if I would shoot him, upon this my Savage, for so I call him now, made a Motion to me to lend him my Sword, which hung naked in a Belt by my side; so I did: he no sooner had it, but he runs to his Enemy, and at one blow cut off his Head as cleaverly, no Executioner in Germany, could have done it sooner or better; which I thought very strange, for one who 1 had Reason to believe never saw a Sword in his Life before, except their own Wooden Swords; however it seems, as I learn'd afterwards, they make their Wooden Swords so sharp, so heavy, and the Wood is so hard, that they will cut off Heads even with them, ay and Arms, and that at one blow too; when he had done this, he comes laughing to me in Sign of Triumph, and brought me the Sword again, and with abundance of Gestures which I did not understand, laid it down with the Head of the Savage, that he had kill'd just before me. 我注意到，那两个会游水的野人游得比那逃跑的野人慢多了；他们至少花了一倍的时间才游过了河。这时候，我脑子里突然产生一个强烈的、不可抗拒的欲望：我要找个仆人，现在正是时候；说不定我还能找到一个侣伴，一个帮手哩。这明明是上天召唤我救救这个可怜虫的命呢！我立即跑下梯子，拿起我的两支枪--前面我已提到，这两支枪就放在梯子脚下。然后，又迅速爬上梯子，翻过山顶，向海边跑去。我抄了一条近路，跑下山去，插身在追踪者和逃跑者之间。我向那逃跑的野人大声呼唤。他回头望了望，起初仿佛对我也很害怕，其程度不亚于害怕追赶他的野人。但我用手势召唤他过来，同时慢慢向后面追上来的两个野人迎上去。等他俩走近时，我一下子冲到前面的一个野人跟前，用枪杆子把他打倒在地。我不想开枪，怕枪声让其余的野人听见。其实距离这么远，枪声是很难听到的；即使隐隐约约听到了，他们也看不见硝烟，所以肯定会弄不清是怎么回事。第一个野人被我打倒之后，同他一起追来的那个野人就停住了脚步，仿佛吓住了。于是我又急步向他迎上去。当我快走近他时，见他手里拿起弓箭，准备拉弓向我放箭。我不得不先向他开枪，一枪就把他打死了。那逃跑的野人这时也停住了脚步。这可怜的家伙虽然亲眼见到他的两个敌人都已经倒下，并且在他看来已必死无疑，但却给我的枪声和火光吓坏了。他站在那里，呆若木鸡，既不进也不退，看样子他很想逃跑而不敢走近我。我向他大声招呼，做手势叫他过来。他明白了我的意思，向前走几步停停，又走几步又停停。这时，我看到他站在那里，混身发抖。他以为自己成了我的俘虏，也将像他的两个敌人那样被杀死。我又向他招招手，叫他靠近我，并做出种种手势叫他不要害怕。他这才慢慢向前走，每走一二十步便跪一下，好像是感谢我救了他的命。我向他微笑，作出和蔼可亲的样子，并一再用手招呼他，叫他再靠近一点。最后，他走到我跟前，再次跪下，吻着地面，又把头贴在地上，把我的一只脚放到他的头上，好像在宣誓愿终身做我的奴隶。我把他扶起来，对他十分和气，并千方百计叫他不要害怕。但事情还没有完。我发现我用枪杆打倒的那个野人并没有死。他刚才是给我打昏了，现在正苏醒过来。我向他指了指那个野人，表示他还没有死。他看了之后，就叽哩咕噜向我说了几句话。虽然我不明白他的意思，可对我来说听起来特别悦耳，因为这是我二十五年来第一次听到别人和我说话，以前我最多也只能听到自己自言自语的声音。当然，现在不是多愁善感的时候。那被打倒的野人已完全清醒，并从地上坐了起来。我发现被我救出的野人又有点害怕的样子，便举起另一支枪准备射击。这时，我那野人（我现在就这样叫他了）做了个手势，要我把挂在腰间的那把没鞘的刀借给他。于是我把刀给了他。他一拿到刀，就奔向他的敌人，手起刀落，一下子砍下了那个野人的头，其动作干脆利落，胜过德国刽子手。这使我大为惊讶，因为，我完全可以相信，这个人在此之前，除了他们自己的木刀外，一生中从未见过一把真正的刀。但现在看来，他们的木头刀也又快又锋利，砍头杀人照样一刀就能让人头落地。后来我了解到，事实也正是如此。他们的刀是用很硬的木头做成的，做得又沉重又锋利。再说我那野人砍下了敌人的头，带着胜利的笑声回到我跟前。他先把刀还给了我，然后做了许多莫名其妙的手势，把他砍下来的野人头放在我脚下。 But that which astonish'd him most, was to know how I had kill'd the other Indian so far off, so pointing to him, he made Signs to me to let him go to him, so I bad him go, as well as I could, when he came to him, he stood like one amaz'd, looking at him, turn'd him first on one side, then on t'other, look'd at the Wound the Bullet had made, which it seems was just in his Breast, where it had made a Hole, and no great Quantity of Blood had follow'd, but he had bled inwardly, for he was quite dead; He took up his Bow, and Arrows, and came back, so I turn'd to go away, and beckon'd to him to follow me, making Signs to him, that more might come after them. 但是，最使他感到惊讶的，是我怎么能从这么远的距离把另一个野人打死。他用手指了指那个野人的尸体，做着手势要我让他过去看看。我也打着手势，竭力让他懂得我同意他过去。他走到那死人身边，简直惊呆了。他两眼直瞪瞪地看着死人，然后又把尸体翻来翻去，想看个究竟。他看了看枪眼，子弹正好打中那野人的胸部，在那里穿了个洞，但血流得不多，因为中弹后人马上死了，血就流到体内去了。他取下那野人的弓箭回到我跟前，我就叫他跟我离开这地方。我用手势告诉他，后面可能有更多的敌人追上来。 
他懂了我的意思后，就用手势表示要把两个尸体用沙土埋起来，这样追上来的野人就不会发现踪迹。我打手势叫他照办。他马上干起来，不到一会儿功夫，就用双手在沙土上创了一个坑，刚好埋一个野人。他把尸体拖了进去，用沙土盖好。接着又如法泡制，埋了第二个野人的尸体。我估计，他总共只花了一刻钟，就把两具尸体埋好了。然后，我叫他跟我一起离开这儿。我没有把他带到城堡去，而是带到岛那头的洞穴里去。我这样做是有意不让自己的梦境应验，因为在梦里，他是跑到城堡外面的树丛中躲起来的。
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