名著·鲁宾逊飘流记 - 第63节


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  我的谈话,以及我所做的一切,都使他们感到十分惊讶。船长特别欣赏我的防御工事,欣赏我用一片小树林把住宅完全隐蔽起来。这片小树林现在已经栽了二十年了,由于这里树木比英国长得快,现在已经成了一片小小的森林,而且十分茂密。我在树林里保留了一条弯弯曲曲的小径,其他任何地方都走不进来。我告诉他,这是我的城堡和住宅,但是,像许多王公贵人一样,我在乡间还有一所别墅。如果需要,我可以去那儿休养一段时期。我说,以后有时间,我可以带他们到那儿去看看,但目前我们的首要任务是要考虑收复那只大船的问题。船长同意我的看法,可是,他说,他一时想不出什么办法,因为大船上还有二十六个人。他们既已参加了叛乱,在法律上已犯了死罪,因此已别无出路,只好一不做二不休,硬干到底。因为,他们知道,如果失败了,一回英国或任何英国殖民地,他们就会被送上绞架。但光靠我们这几个人,是无法向他们进攻的。

   I mus'd for some Time upon what he had said; and found it was a very rational Conclusion; and that therefore something was to be resolv'd on very speedily, as well to draw the Men on board into some Snare for their Surprize, as to prevent their Landing upon us, and destroying us; upon this it presently occurr'd to me, that in a little while the Ship's Crew wondring what was become of their Comrades, and of the Boat, would certainly come on Shore in their other Boat, to see for them, and that then perhaps they might come arm'd, and be too strong for us; this he allow'd was rational.

  我对他的话沉思了一会儿,觉得他的结论很有道理,因而觉得必须迅速作出决定。一方面,可以用出其不意的办法,把船上的那伙人引入某种圈套;另一方面,得设法阻止他们上岸攻打我们,消灭我们。这时候,我立刻想到,再过一会儿,大船上的船员不见小船和他们伙伴的动静,一定会感到奇怪;那时,他们就会坐上大船上的另一只长艇上岸来找他们。他们来时,说不定还会带上武器,实力就会大大超过我们。船长听了我的话,认为很有道理。

   Upon this, I told him the first Thing we had to do, was to stave the Boat, which lay upon the Beach, so that they might not carry her off; and taking every Thing out of her, leave her so far useless as not to be fit to swim; accordingly we went on board, took the Arms which were left on board, out of her, and whatever else we found there, which was a Bottle of Brandy, and another of Rum, a few Bisket Cakes, a Horn of Powder, and a great Lump of Sugar, in a Piece of Canvas; the Sugar was five or six Pounds; all which was very welcome to me, especially the Brandy, and Sugar, of which I had had none left for many Years.

  于是,我告诉他,我们首先应该把搁浅在沙滩上的那只小船凿破,把船上所有的东西都拿下来,使它无法下水,他们就无法把它划走。于是我们一起上了小船,把留在上面的那支枪拿了下来,又把上面所能找到的东西通通拿下来。其中有一瓶白兰地,一瓶甘蔗酒,几块饼干,一角火药,以及一大包用帆布包着的糖,大约有五六磅重。这些东西我都非常需要,尤其是糖和白兰地,我已吃光好多年了。

   When we had carry'd all these Things on Shore (the Oars, Mast, Sail, and Rudder of the Boat, were carry'd away before, as above) we knock'd a great Hole in her Bottom, that if they had come strong enough to master us, yet they could not carry off the Boat.

  船上的桨呀,桅杆呀,帆呀,舵呀等东西,早已经拿走了。所以,我们把剩下的这些东西搬上岸之后,又在船底凿了一个大洞。这样一来,即使他们有充分的实力战胜我们,也没法把小船划走。

   Indeed, it was not much in my Thoughts, that we could be able to recover the Ship; but my View was that if they went away without the Boat, I did not much question to make her fit again, to carry us away to the Leeward Islands, and call upon our Friends, the Spaniards, in my Way, for I had them still in my Thoughts.

  说实话,我认为收复大船的把握不大。我的看法是,只要他们不把那只小船弄走,我们就可以把它重新修好。那样,我们就可乘它去利华德群岛,顺便把那些西班牙朋友也可带走。因为我心里还时刻记着他们。

  我们立即按计划行事。首先,我们竭尽全力,把小船推到较高的沙滩上。这样,即使潮水上涨,也不致把船浮起来;何况,我们已在船底凿了个大洞,短时间内无法把洞补好。正当我们坐在地上,寻思着下一步计划时,只听见大船上放了一枪,并且摇动旗帜发出信号,叫小船回去。可是,他们看不见小船上有任何动静。于是,接着又放了几枪,并向小船又发出了一些别的信号。

   At last, when all their Signals and Firings prov'd fruitless, and they found the Boat did not stir, we saw them by the Help of my Glasses, hoist another Boat out, and row towards the Shore; and we found as they approach'd, that there was no less than ten Men in her, and that they had Fire-Arms with them.

  最后,他们见信号和放枪都没有用处,小船还是没有任何动静。我们在望远镜里看见他们把另一只小船放下来,向岸上摇来。当他们逐渐靠近时,我们看出小船上载着不下十来人,而且都带着枪支。

   As the Ship lay almost two Leagues from the Shore, we had a full View of them as they came, and a plain Sight of the Men even of their Faces, because the Tide having set them a little to the East of the other Boat, they row'd up under Shore, to come to the same Place, where the other had landed, and where the Boat lay.

  那条大船停泊在离岸大约六海里的地方。他们坐小船划过来时,我们看得清清楚楚,连他们的脸也认得出来。他们向岸上划来时,潮水把他们冲到第一只小船的东边去了。于是他们又沿着海岸往西划,直奔第一只小船靠岸和停泊的地方。

   By this Means, I say, we had a full View of them, and the Captain knew the Persons and Characters of all the Men in the Boat, of whom he said, that there were three very honest Fellows, who he was sure were led into this Conspiracy by the rest, being over-power'd and frighted.

  这就是说,我们把他们看得一清二楚,船长说得出船上的人谁是谁,以及他们的性格品行。他说,其中有三个人非常老实;他相信,他们之所以参与谋反,是因为受到其他人的威吓,而他们又人少势单,因而是被迫的。

   But that as for the Boatswain, who it seems was the chief Officer among them, and all the rest, they were as outragious as any of the Ship's Crew, and were no doubt made desperate in their new Enterprize, and terribly apprehensive he was, that they would be too powerful for us.

  那水手长似乎是他们的头目。他和其余的几个人都是船员中最凶狠的家伙。现在,他们既然发动了叛乱,就一定要硬干到底了。因此,船长非常担心,他们实力太强,我们难以取胜。

  我向他微微一笑,对他说,处于我们这种境遇的人,早已无所畏惧了。反正任何一种遭遇都比我们当前的遭遇要强些,因此,我们应有思想准备,不管结果是死是活,对我们来说都是一种解脱。我问他对我的处境有何看法,为了获得解脱,是否值得冒险?"先生,"我说,"你刚才还认为,上帝让我活在这里是为了拯救你的生命,并使你稍稍振作了一下精神。现在,你的这种信念到哪里去了呢?对我来说,只有一件事使我感到遗憾。""什么事?"他问。"那就是你说的,他们当中有三个老实人,我们应饶他们的命。如果他们也都是暴徒,我真会认为是上帝有意把他们挑出来送到你手里来的呢。因为,我敢担保,凡是上岸的人,都将成为我们的俘虏。

   As I spoke this with a rais'd Voice and chearful Countenance, I found it greatly encourag'd him; so we set vigorously to our Business: We had upon the first Appearance of the Boat's coming from the Ship, consider'd of separating our Prisoners, and had indeed secur'd them effectually.

  他们是死是活,要看他们对我们的态度而定了。"我说话时,声音很高,脸带笑容。这大大鼓起了船长的勇气。于是,我们立即开始作战斗准备。当我们一看到他们放下小船,就考虑到要把俘虏分散。这件事我们已作了妥善的安置。

   Two of them, of whom the Captain was less assur'd than ordinary, I sent with Friday, and one of the three (deliver'd Men) to my Cave, where they were remote enough, and out of Danger of being heard or discover'd, or of finding their way out of the Woods, if they could have deliver'd themselves: Here they left them bound, but gave them Provisions, They promis'd them if they continu'd there quietly, to give them their Liberty in a Day or two; but that if they attempted their Escape, they should be put to Death without Mercy: They promis'd faithfully to bear their Confinement with Patience, and were very thankful that they had such good Usage, as to have Provisions, and a Light left them; for Friday gave them Candles (such as we made our selves) for their Comfort; and they did not know but that he stood Sentinel over them at the Entrance.

  俘虏中有两个人,船长特别对他们不放心。我派星期五和船长手下的一个人把这两个人送到我的洞室里去。那地方很远,决不会被人发现,或听到他们的呼救声;他们自己即使能逃出洞外,在树林里也找不到出路。他们把这两个人都绑了起来安置在洞里,但照样供给他们吃喝,并答应他们,如果他们安安静静地呆在洞里,一两天之后就恢复他们的自由;但如果他们企图逃跑,就格杀勿论。他们都老老实实地保证,愿意被关起来,耐心等待,并感谢我们对他们的优待,给他们吃喝,还给他们点灯。因为星期五还给了他们几支蜡烛,都是我们自己做的,这样不致让他们在黑暗中受煎熬。当然,他们万万没有想到,星期五一直在洞口站岗,看守着他们。

   The other Prisoners had better Usage; two of them were kept pinion'd indeed, because the Captain was not free to trust them; but the other two were taken into my Service upon their Captain's Recommendation, and upon their solemnly engaging to live and die with us; so with them and the three honest Men, we were seven Men, well arm'd; and I made no doubt we shou'd be able to deal well enough with the Ten that were a coming, considering that the Captain had said, there were three or four honest Men among them also.

  其余的俘虏受到的待遇要好些。有两个一直没有松绑,因为船长对他们仍不放心,但另外两个受到了我的录用,这是由于船长的推荐。同时,他们本人也慎重宣誓,要与我们共存亡。因此,加上他们和船长一伙好人,我们一共是七个人,都是全副武装。我毫不怀疑,我们完全能对付即将上岛的那十来个人,更何况船长说过,其中还有三四个好人呢。

   As soon as they got to the Place where their other Boat lay, they run their Boat in to the Beach, and came all on Shore, haling the Boat up after them, which I was glad to see; for I was afraid they would rather have left the Boat at an Anchor, some Distance from the Shore, with some Hands in her, to guard her; and so we should not be able to seize the Boat.

  那批人来到头一只小船停泊的地方,马上把他们自己的小船推到沙滩上,船上的人也通通下了船,一起把小船拉到岸上。看到这一情况,我心里非常高兴。因为我就怕他们把小船在离岸较远的地方下锚,再留几个人在船上看守。那样我们就没法夺取小船了。

  一上岸,他们首先一起跑去看前一只小船。不难看出,当他们发现船上空空如也,船底上有一个大洞,个个都大吃一惊。

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名著·鲁宾逊飘流记 - 第63节