购买
下载掌阅APP,畅读海量书库
立即打开
畅读海量书库
扫码下载掌阅APP

CHAPTER 5 第五章

The apparition of a file of soldiers ringing down the butt—ends of their loaded muskets on our door—step, caused the dinner—party to rise from table in confusion, and caused Mrs. Joe re—entering the kitchen empty—handed, to stop short and stare, in her wondering lament of "Gracious goodness gracious me, what's gone—with the—pie!”

这队士兵幽灵般地出现在我们家门口,哗啦啦地放下他们装满子弹的火枪,枪托搁在地上。这使客人们惊慌地从饭桌旁站了起来。乔太太空手回到了厨房,本来在疑惑地惋惜道: “天哪,馅饼——哪里——去了!” 一看到这种场面,就立刻停了下来,变得目瞪口呆。

The sergeant and I were in the kitchen when Mrs. Joe stood staring; at which crisis I partially recovered the use of my senses. It was the sergeant who had spoken to me, and he was now looking round at the company, with his handcuffs invitingly extended towards them in his right hand, and his left on my shoulder.

当乔太太还呆若木鸡时,我和中士已经在厨房了。在这样一个危急时刻,我反而冷静了一些。刚刚跟我说话的就是这个中士,现在他正巡视客人。他左手搭在我的肩膀上,右手拿着手铐向他们扬了扬。

"Excuse me, ladies and gentleman, " said the sergeant, "but as I have mentioned at the door to this smart young shaver" (which he hadn't), "I am on a chase in the name of the king, and I want the blacksmith. "

“打扰了,女士们,先生们,” 中士说道, “但是就像我刚刚在门口对这个机灵的小伙子说过的一样(其实他根本没说什么),我接受国王的命令进行追捕,我想找铁匠。”

"And pray what might you want with him? " retorted my sister, quick to resent his being wanted at all.

“您找他有什么事啊?” 我姐姐听说要找铁匠,立刻愤愤不平地反问道。

"Missis, " returned the gallant sergeant, "speaking for myself, I should reply, the honor and pleasure of his fine wife's acquaintance; speaking for the king, I answer, a little job done. "

“太太,” 中士殷勤地说道, “对我自己来说,今天能认识铁匠的太太乃是我的荣幸。对国王来说,他需要找铁匠做点事情。”

This was received as rather neat in the sergeant; insomuch that Mr. Pumblechook cried audibly, "Good again! "

中士回答得简洁明了,连彭波契克先生都大声说道: “说得好!”

"You see, blacksmith, " said the sergeant, who had by this time picked out Joe with his eye, "we have had an accident with these, and I find the lock of one of 'em goes wrong, and the coupling don't act pretty. As they are wanted for immediate service, will you throw your eye over them? "

“你看,铁匠师傅,” 中士说道,这时他已经一眼认出了乔, “这些出了点故障。我发现其中一个环的锁坏了,而且两个环之间的连接部也不好使了。因为我们马上要用,你能帮我们看一下吗?”

Joe threw his eye over them, and pronounced that the job would necessitate the lighting of his forge fire, and would take nearer two hours than one.

乔看了一眼,然后说道,要修理必须先生起风炉,要花上一个多小时将近两个小时的时间。

"Will it? Then will you set about it at once, blacksmith? " said the off—hand sergeant, "as it's on his Majesty's service. And if my men can beat a hand anywhere, they'll make themselves useful. " With that, he called to his men, who came trooping into the kitchen one after another, and piled their arms in a corner. And then they stood about, as soldiers do; now, with their hands loosely clasped before them; now, resting a knee or a shoulder; now, easing a belt or a pouch; now, opening the door to spit stiffly over their high stocks, out into the yard.

“真的吗?那你能马上开始修吗,铁匠师傅?” 中士不假思索地说道, “毕竟这是为国王效劳。如果我的部下能帮上任何忙的话,他们可供使唤。” 说完这话,他叫来了他的部下。士兵一个接一个地列队进入厨房,把兵器堆放在一个角落里。然后他们就闲站在那里——士兵都会这样,一会儿把手松散地放在身前,一会儿放松了膝盖或肩膀,一会儿松了松腰带和子弹袋,一会儿打开门朝院子里吐口痰,虽然他们的衣领又高又硬。

All these things I saw without then knowing that I saw them, for I was in an agony of apprehension. But, beginning to perceive that the handcuffs were not for me, and that the military had so far got the better of the pie as to put it in the background, I collected a little more of my scattered wits.

所有这些我都看在眼里,但当时我无心顾及这些,因为那时我极度忧虑。但我开始渐渐意识到,手铐并不是用来逮捕我的,而且军队的出现占了上风,馅饼的事已经被丢到了一边,我也更理智一些了。

"Would you give me the time? " said the sergeant, addressing himself to Mr. Pumblechook, as to a man whose appreciative powers justified the inference that he was equal to the time. "It's just gone half—past two.”

“你能告诉我现在几点吗?” 中士对彭波契克先生说道。中士是个有鉴别力的人,这种能力让他断定,彭波契克先生肯定知道时间。 “刚刚两点半。”

"That's not so bad, " said the sergeant, reflecting; "even if I was forced to halt here nigh two hours, that'll do. How far might you call yourselves from the marshes, hereabouts? Not above a mile, I reckon? "

“不算太晚,” 中士想了想说, “即使我还得在这里耽搁两个小时也没关系。你们知道从沼泽地到这里还有多远?我想不超过一英里吧?”

"Just a mile, " said Mrs. Joe.

“刚好一英里。” 乔太太说。

"That'll do.

“来得及。

We begin to close in upon 'em about dusk. A little before dusk, my orders are. That'll do. "" Convicts, sergeant? "asked Mr. Wopsle, in a matter—of—course way.

我们大约在黄昏时分开始朝那里进发。我接到的命令是在黄昏之前出发。这也来得及。” “是追捕逃犯么,中士?” 沃甫赛先生例行公事般地问道。

"Ay! " returned the sergeant, "two. They're pretty well known to be out on the marshes still, and they won't try to get clear of 'em before dusk. Anybody here saw anything of any such game? "

“嗯!” 中士回答道, “两名逃犯。我们非常确定,他们还在沼泽地那里。而且黄昏之前他们不会从那里逃走。这里有谁见过他们吗?”

Everybody, myself excepted, said no, with confidence. Nobody thought of me.

除了我之外,每个人都肯定地说没有见过。没人想到我会见过逃犯。

"Well! " said the sergeant, "they'll find themselves trapped in a circle, I expect, sooner than they count on. Now, blacksmith! If you're ready, his Majesty the King is. "

“那就好!” 中士说道, “我预料他们不久就会被包围,比他们自己预想的还要早。好了,铁匠师傅!如果你准备好了,国王陛下的军队在此任你调遣。”

Joe had got his coat and waistcoat and cravat off, and his leather apron on, and passed into the forge. One of the soldiers opened its wooden windows, another lighted the fire, another turned to at the bellows, the rest stood round the blaze, which was soon roaring. Then Joe began to hammer and clink, hammer and clink, and we all looked on.

乔已经脱下了外套和背心,解下了围巾,穿上了他的皮围裙,走进了铁匠铺。一名士兵打开木窗,一名士兵生起火,另外一名士兵拉起了风箱,其余的站在火炉四周。不一会儿,炉火就熊熊燃烧起来。然后乔开始叮叮当当地敲打,我们都在一旁看着。

The interest of the impending pursuit not only absorbed the general attention, but even made my sister liberal. She drew a pitcher of beer from the cask, for the soldiers, and invited the sergeant to take a glass of brandy. But Mr. Pumblechook said, sharply, "Give him wine, Mum. I'll engage there's no Tar in that:” so, the sergeant thanked him and said that as he preferred his drink without tar, he would take wine, if it was equally convenient. When it was given him, he drank his Majesty's health and Compliments of the Season, and took it all at a mouthful and smacked his lips.

即将进行的追捕激起了大家的兴趣,这不仅吸引了大家的注意力,甚至让我姐姐也大方起来了。她从酒桶中舀出一罐啤酒给士兵们喝,然后邀请中士喝一杯白兰地。但是彭波契克先生厉声说道: “给他喝葡萄酒吧,太太。我想葡萄酒里不会有柏油水吧。” 于是,中士对他表示了感谢,并说他希望自己的酒里不会有柏油水,要是方便的话,他就喝葡萄酒。拿到葡萄酒后,他祝愿国王身体健康,祝愿大家节日愉快,然后一口喝了下去,使劲咂了咂嘴。

"Good stuff, eh, sergeant? " said Mr. Pumblechook.

“是好酒吧,嗯,中士?” 彭波契克先生说道。

"I'll tell you something, " returned the sergeant; "I suspect that stuff's of your providing. "

“我告诉你,” 中士回答说, “我猜想这是你带来的吧。”

Mr. Pumblechook, with a fat sort of laugh, said, "Ay, ay? Why? "

彭波契克先生大笑了一声,说道: “噢,噢,你怎么知道?”

"Because, " returned the sergeant, clapping him on the shoulder, "you're a man that knows what's what. "

“因为,” 中士拍着他的肩膀说, “你是个识货的人。”

"Dye think so? " said Mr. Pumblechook, with his former laugh. "Have another glass! "

“你这样觉得吗?” 彭波契克先生说道,同时发出之前那样的笑声。 “再喝一杯!”

"With you. Hob and knob, " returned the sergeant. "The top of mine to the foot of yours—the foot of yours to the top of mine—Ring once, ring twice—the best tune on the Musical Glasses! Your health. May you live a thousand years, and never be a worse judge of the right sort than you are at the present moment of your life!”

“和你一起喝。干杯。” 中士回答说, “杯底碰杯头,杯头碰杯底,碰一次,碰两次,碰杯的声音最好听!祝你健康。愿你活到一千岁,愿你永远像现在一样有明智的判断力!”

The sergeant tossed off his glass again and seemed quite ready for another glass. I noticed that Mr. Pumblechook in his hospitality appeared to forget that he had made a present of the wine, but took the bottle from Mrs. Joe and had all the credit of handing it about in a gush of joviality. Even I got some. And he was so very free of the wine that he even called for the other bottle, and handed that about with the same liberality, when the first was gone.

中士一仰头又喝了一杯,而且看上去还想再喝一杯。我注意到,热情好客的彭波契克先生似乎忘了这瓶葡萄酒是他送给别人的礼物,反而从乔太太手里接过酒瓶,愉快地给所有人斟酒,抢走了所有的风头。连我都喝到了一点葡萄酒。他非常慷慨地拿出葡萄酒,第一瓶喝完之后,又要来一瓶,同样很大方地给大家斟酒。

As I watched them while they all stood clustering about the forge, enjoying themselves so much, I thought what terrible good sauce for a dinner my fugitive friend on the marshes was. They had not enjoyed themselves a quarter so much, before the entertainment was brightened with the excitement he furnished. And now, when they were all in lively anticipation of "the two villains" being taken, and when the bellows seemed to roar for the fugitives, the fire to flare for them, the smoke to hurry away in pursuit of them, Joe to hammer and clink for them, and all the murky shadows on the wall to shake at them in menace as the blaze rose and sank and the red—hot sparks dropped and died, the pale afternoon outside, almost seemed in my pitying young fancy to have turned pale on their account, poor wretches.

当我看着他们所有人站在铁匠铺中,兴高采烈地聚集一团时,我就想起沼泽地里那个逃亡的朋友,他成了这次宴会极好的调味料。要是没有他带来的刺激,他们压根不会像现在这样兴致勃勃。此时此刻,他们都热切地期盼捕获这两名逃犯。风箱似乎为追捕逃犯而怒吼,火苗似乎为追捕逃犯而熊熊燃烧,浓烟似乎已匆忙去追赶他们了。乔在为追捕逃犯而叮当敲打,墙面上阴暗的黑影在朝他们舞动,发出恐吓,火光起起伏伏,炽热的火星跌落下来化为灰烬。在我满是同情与幼稚幻想的心看来,因为他们这两个可怜人,外面的下午都变得惨淡起来。

At last, Joe's job was done, and the ringing and roaring stopped. As Joe got on his coat, he mustered courage to propose that some of us should go down with the soldiers and see what came of the hunt. Mr. Pumblechook and Mr. Hubble declined, on the plea of a pipe and ladies 'society; but Mr. Wopsle said he would go, if Joe would. Joe said he was agreeable, and would take me, if Mrs. Joe approved. We never should have got leave to go, I am sure, but for Mrs. Joe's curiosity to know all about it and how it ended. As it was, she merely stipulated, If you bring the boy back with his head blown to bits by a musket, don't look to me to put it together again.

最终,乔的工作完成了,一切叮当声、怒吼声都停止了。乔穿上大衣后,鼓足勇气提议说,我们中的几个人应跟随士兵一起出发,看看追捕的结果。彭波契克先生和哈布尔先生以自己要抽烟并要参加妇女活动为借口拒绝前往。但沃甫赛先生说只要乔去,他就去。乔说他很乐意去,而且如果乔太太允许的话,他可以带我去。要不是乔太太出于好奇想知道详细过程和结果的话,我肯定她一定不会让我们去的。尽管如此,她还是规定: “如果你把这孩子带回来时,他的脑袋已经被火枪打开了花,那时候别指望我再把它补好。”

The sergeant took a polite leave of the ladies, and parted from Mr. Pumblechook as from a comrade; though I doubt if he were quite as fully sensible of that gentleman's merits under arid conditions, as when something moist was going. His men resumed their muskets and fell in. Mr. Wopsle, Joe, and I, received strict charge to keep in the rear, and to speak no word after we reached the marshes. When we were all out in the raw air and were steadily moving towards our business, I treasonably whispered to Joe, "I hope, Joe, we shan't find them. " And Joe whispered to me, "I'd give a shilling if they had cut and run, Pip. "

中士礼貌地与女士们道别,并且就像一位志同道合的同志一样与彭波契克先生道别,尽管我很怀疑如果在不喝酒的情况下,中士是否还会像现在一样看到彭波契克先生的优点。他的部下重新拾起火枪,列队站好。我和乔还有沃甫赛先生都接到了严格的命令,我们只能跟在队尾,而且到了沼泽地之后不能说话。我们在阴冷的空气当中稳步朝目的地行进。这时我有点邪恶地小声对乔说: “乔,我希望我们找不到他们。” 乔小声回答我说: “皮普,要是他们砍断脚镣逃跑了的话,我就输一个先令。”

We were joined by no stragglers from the village, for the weather was cold and threatening, the way dreary, the footing bad, darkness coming on, and the people had good fires in—doors and were keeping the day. A few faces hurried to glowing windows and looked after us, but none came out. We passed the finger—post, and held straight on to the churchyard. There, we were stopped a few minutes by a signal from the sergeant's hand, while two or three of his men dispersed themselves among the graves, and also examined the porch. They came in again without finding anything, and then we struck out on the open marshes, through the gate at the side of the churchyard. A bitter sleet came rattling against us here on the east wind, and Joe took me on his back.

村子里没有流浪汉跑来加入我们,因为天气寒冷、险恶,路途枯燥无味,脚下的路不好走。黑夜马上就来临了,人们都在屋内生着火欢度这个节日。几张面孔匆匆地贴在光亮的窗户上望着我们,但没人走出屋来。我们走过了指路牌,朝教堂墓地一直走去。在那里,中士做了个手势,示意我们停下几分钟。两三个士兵散布到墓穴间巡查,同时也巡查了门廊。他们毫无发现地归队。然后我们穿过教堂墓地旁边的大门,向广阔的沼泽地挺进。这时,乘东风之势,猛烈的雨夹雪向我们打来。乔把我背了起来。

Now that we were out upon the dismal wilderness where they little thought I had been within eight or nine hours and had seen both men hiding, I considered for the first time, with great dread, if we should come upon them, would my particular convict suppose that it was I who had brought the soldiers there? He had asked me if I was a deceiving imp, and he had said I should be a fierce young hound if I joined the hunt against him.

现在我们到了这荒凉的野外。他们绝对想不到,我八九个小时之前来过这里,而且看到了两个藏身在此的人。这时我才第一次无比恐惧地意识到,如果我们看到逃犯,那个我接触过的逃犯会不会认为是我把士兵带来的?他之前问过我是不是个招摇撞骗的小鬼,而且他还说过,要是我参与到对他的追捕当中,我就是一条凶狠的小猎狗。

Would he believe that I was both imp and hound in treacherous earnest, and had betrayed him? It was of no use asking myself this question now. There I was, on Joe's back, and there was Joe beneath me, charging at the ditches like a hunter, and stimulating Mr. Wopsle not to tumble on his Roman nose, and to keep up with us. The soldiers were in front of us, extending into a pretty wide line with an interval between man and man. We were taking the course I had begun with, and from which I had diverged in the mist. Either the mist was not out again yet, or the wind had dispelled it. Under the low red glare of sunset, the beacon, and the gibbet, and the mound of the Battery, and the opposite shore of the river, were plain, though all of a watery lead color.

他会不会认为我既是个骗子又是一条极度奸诈的猎狗,最终背叛了他?现在问自己这个问题已经没用了。眼下我趴在乔的背上,乔背着我像猎人一样跨过路上的沟渠,同时激励沃甫赛先生跟上我们,不要摔坏他的鹰钩鼻。士兵走在我们前面,拉开一条很宽的阵势,人与人之间保持一定的间隔。我们现在走的正是我早上走的那条路,当时我在大雾之中偏离了方向。现在,要么大雾还没有再次弥漫开来,要么风已经把雾吹散了。在落日低低的红色光芒之中,灯塔、绞刑架、炮台的土丘以及河对岸都清晰可见,尽管它们都笼罩在一层淡淡的铅灰色之下。

With my heart thumping like a blacksmith at Joe's broad shoulder, I looked all about for any sign of the convicts. I could see none, I could hear none. Mr. Wopsle had greatly alarmed me more than once, by his blowing and hard breathing; but I knew the sounds by this time, and could dissociate them from the object of pursuit. I got a dreadful start, when I thought I heard the file still going; but it was only a sheep bell. The sheep stopped in their eating and looked timidly at us; and the cattle, their heads turned from the wind and sleet, stared angrily as if they held us responsible for both annoyances; but, except these things, and the shudder of the dying day in every blade of grass, there was no break in the bleak stillness of the marshes.

我的心贴在乔宽大的肩膀上,就像铁匠打铁般咚咚地跳。我四下望去,寻找着逃犯的踪迹。我一点踪迹也没看到,什么声音也没听到。沃甫赛先生的喘息声和重重的呼吸声不止一次地让我非常恐慌。但现在我知道那是他的声音,能够把他们与所追捕的逃犯的声音区分开来。突然,我好像听见锉铁镣的声音,我非常震惊,但仔细一听,发现那只不过是羊身上的铃铛在响。羊群停止吃草,胆怯地看着我们。寒风雨雪之中,牛群扭过头来愤怒地瞪着我们,仿佛认为这令人厌恶的寒风雪雨都是我们带来的。但除了这些以及残阳之中每片草叶的颤动声之外,没有什么打破沼泽地上荒凉的寂静。

The soldiers were moving on in the direction of the old Battery, and we were moving on a little way behind them, when, all of a sudden, we all stopped. For, there had reached us on the wings of the wind and rain, a long shout. It was repeated. It was at a distance towards the east, but it was long and loud. Nay, there seemed to be two or more shouts raised together—if one might judge from a confusion in the sound.

士兵在朝古炮台的方向挺进,我们跟在他们后面不远。突然,我们所有人都停了下来。因为,风雨之中,传来一声长长的喊声。接着又一声喊声。喊声从东边远远地传来,但拖得很长,声音很大。不仅如此,根据声音的混乱判断,似乎是两个甚至更多的人在一起喊。

To this effect the sergeant and the nearest men were speaking under their breath, when Joe and I came up. After another moment's listening, Joe (who was a good judge) agreed, and Mr. Wopsle (who was a bad judge) agreed. The sergeant, a decisive man, ordered that the sound should not be answered, but that the course should be changed, and that his men should make towards it "at the double. " So we slanted to the right (where the East was), and Joe pounded away so wonderfully, that I had to hold on tight to keep my seat.

听到这种喊声,我和乔赶到队伍前面。这时中士正和他身边的士兵低声讨论着。又仔细听了一会儿之后,判断力很好的乔赞同了不止有一个人在喊的说法。判断力很差的沃甫赛先生也赞同了这种说法。中士很果断,他命令不许回应这一喊声,而应改变行进路线,命令士兵以双倍的速度向喊声发出的地方行进。于是我们斜向右跑去(也就是往东跑)。乔跑得飞快,我必须抓紧才不会从他背上摔下来。

It was a run indeed now, and what Joe called, in the only two words he spoke all the time, "a Winder. " Down banks and up banks, and over gates, and splashing into dykes, and breaking among coarse rushes: no man cared where he went. As we came nearer to the shouting, it became more and more apparent that it was made by more than one voice. Sometimes, it seemed to stop altogether, and then the soldiers stopped. When it broke out again, the soldiers made for it at a greater rate than ever, and we after them. After a while, we had so run it down, that we could hear one voice calling "Murder! " and another voice, "Convicts! Runaways! Guard! This way for the runaway convicts! " Then both voices would seem to be stifled in a struggle, and then would break out again. And when it had come to this, the soldiers ran like deer and Joe too.

眼下我们真的是在飞奔。乔一直只念叨着两个字来形容, “快跑” 。我们跑上河岸又跑下河岸,通过闸门,趟过水渠,击起一片水花,越过杂乱的灯芯草丛,没有人在意脚下的路。随着我们离喊声越来越近,我们也越来越清楚地知道,那不只是一个人的声音。有时候,喊声全部消失了,然后士兵们也停下了。当喊声再次响起来时,士兵们就以更快的速度朝那边奔过去,我们紧跟在后面。一会儿过后,我们已经离喊声很近了,我们能听到一个声音喊道: “杀人啦!” 另一个声音喊道: “罪犯在这儿!逃犯!警卫!罪犯往这边跑啦!” 然后两个人的声音似乎在扭打之中戛然而止,一会儿过后又响了起来。此时,士兵和乔都像鹿一样飞奔过去。

The sergeant ran in first, when we had run the noise quite down, and two of his men ran in close upon him. Their pieces were cocked and leveled when we all ran in.

我们离喊声越来越近,中士跑在最前面,他身后紧跟着两名士兵。当我们都跑到的时候,他们已经举起枪,扣上扳机,准备射击了。

"Here are both men! " Panted the sergeant, struggling at the bottom of a ditch. "Surrender, you two! and confound you for two wild beasts! Come asunder! "

“他们两个都在这里!” 中士一边在沟底费力前进,一边气喘吁吁地说道, “投降吧,你们两个!你们这两头野兽!过来受死吧!”

Water was splashing, and mud was flying, and oaths were being sworn, and blows were being struck, when some more men went down into the ditch to help the sergeant, and dragged out, separately, my convict and the other one. Both were bleeding and panting and execrating and struggling; but of course I knew them both directly.

水花四溅,污泥乱飞,同时传来一通叫骂声,还有一片拳打脚踢的声音。更多士兵跳下沟渠给中士帮忙。接着他们相继拽出我接触过的那个逃犯以及另外一个逃犯。两个人身上都血迹斑斑,他们气喘吁吁,破口大骂,奋力挣扎,但我还是一眼就认出了他们。

"Mind! " said my convict, wiping blood from his face with his ragged sleeves, and shaking torn hair from his fingers: "I took him! I give him up to you! Mind that! "

“记住了!” 我认识的逃犯一边说一边用他破旧的衣袖拭去脸上的血迹,抖掉手指上扯下的头发, “我抓住了他!是我把他交给你们的!记住这个!”

"It's not much to be particular about, " said the sergeant; "it'll do you small good, my man, being in the same plight yourself. Handcuffs there! "

“这没什么值得一提的。” 中士说道, “这帮不了你什么忙,伙计,你和他的处境一样。铐上手铐!”

"I don't expect it to do me any good. I don't want it to do me better than it does now, " said my convict, with a greedy laugh. "I took him. He knows it. That's enough for me. "

“我没指望这能帮上我什么忙。我也不想这能改善我目前的状况。” 我认识的逃犯贪婪地笑着说道, “我抓住了他。他知道。这对我来说就足够了。”

The other convict was livid to look at, and, in addition to the old bruised left side of his face, seemed to be bruised and torn all over. He could not so much as get his breath to speak, until they were both separately handcuffed, but leaned upon a soldier to keep himself from falling.

另一个逃犯看上去满身乌青。除了他左脸上的旧瘀伤之外,似乎他全身上下都被打伤,满是青瘀。直到两人分别被铐起来,他还气喘吁吁说不出话来,而只能倚靠着一个士兵才不至于摔倒。

"Take notice, guard—he tried to murder me, " were his first words.

“注意了,警卫,他想杀了我。” 这是他说的第一句话。

"Tried to murder him? " said my convict, disdainfully. "Try, and not do it? I took him, and give him up; that's what I done. I not only prevented him getting off the marshes, but I dragged him here—dragged him this far on his way back.

“想杀了他?” 我认识的逃犯鄙视地说道, “想杀了他,却没有这么做?我抓住了他,把他交给你们,这就是我所做的。我不仅阻止了他逃出沼泽地,而且把他拽到这里来——从很远的地方一直拽到这里。

He's a gentleman, if you please, this villain. Now, the Hulks has got its gentleman again, through me. Murder him? Worth my while, too, to murder him, when I could do worse and drag him back! "The other one still gasped, " He tried—he tried—to—murder me. Bear—bear witness.”

这个恶棍还伪装成绅士,真是岂有此理。现在,多亏了我,监狱船又得到了它的绅士。杀了他?杀他根本不值,我完全可以杀他,可还是把他拽了回来!” 另一个逃犯仍气喘吁吁地说: “他想——他想——杀了我。你们可以——可以作证。”

"Looked here! " said my convict to the sergeant. "Single—handed I got clear of the prison—ship; I made a dash and I done it. I could ha 'got clear of these death—cold flats likewise—look at my leg: you won't find much iron on it—if I hadn't made the discovery that he was here. Let him go free? Let him profit by the means as I found out? Let him make a tool of me afresh and again? Once more? No, no, no. If I had died at the bottom there; " and he made an emphatic swing at the ditch with his manacled hands; I'd have held to him with that grip, that you should have been safe to find him in my hold.

“听着!” 我认识的逃犯对中士说, “我单枪匹马地逃出了监狱船。我一路狂奔,最后成功逃脱。要不是我发现他在这里的话,我同样早就逃出这冻死人的沼泽地了,不信看看我的腿,你已经看不见铁镣了。让他逃走?让他从我想出的办法中得到好处?让他再利用我一次?再利用一次?不,不,绝不。即使我死在沟底这里,” 他朝沟渠用力挥动了一下他被铐住的双手, “我也要紧紧地抓住他,让你们从我手中平平安安地把他带走。”

The other fugitive, who was evidently in extreme horror of his companion, repeated, "He tried to murder me. I should have been a dead man if you had not come up. "

另一个逃犯显然对他这个同伴极度恐惧,不断重复着: “他想杀了我。要是你们没来的话,我早就死了。”

"He lies! " said my convict, with fierce energy. "He's a liar born, and he'll die a liar. Look at his face; aren't it written there? Let him turn those eyes of his on me. I defy him to do it. "

“他撒谎!” 我认识的犯人恶狠狠地说道, “他生来就是个撒谎精,到死还是个撒谎精。看看他的脸,那不是明摆着的吗?让他用眼睛看着我。我不信他敢看着我。”

The other, with an effort at a scornful smile—which could not, however, collect the nervous working of his mouth into any set expression—looked at the soldiers, and looked about at the marshes and at the sky, but certainly did not look at the speaker.

另一个逃犯尽力想挤出一丝轻蔑的笑容,嘴巴却神经质地颤动而没能做出任何表情。他看了看士兵,望了望沼泽地和天空,但可以肯定的是,他没有看正在说话的那个人。

"Do you see him? " pursued my convict. "Do you see what a villain he is? Do you see those groveling and wandering eyes? That's how he looked when we were tried together. He never looked at me. "

“你们看到他了吗?” 我认识的逃犯寸步不让, “你们看到他有多混帐了吗?你们看到他那双低声下气,飘忽不定的眼睛了吗?我们一起受审的时候他就是这样。他从来不敢看我。”

The other, always working and working his dry lips and turning his eyes restlessly about him far and near, did at last turn them for a moment on the speaker, with the words, "You are not much to look at, " and with a half—taunting glance at the bound hands. At that point, my convict became so frantically exasperated, that he would have rushed upon him but for the interposition of the soldiers. "Didn't I tell you, " said the other convict then, "that he would murder me, if he could? " And any one could see that he shook with fear, and that there broke out upon his lips, curious white flakes, like thin snow.

另一个逃犯一直在颤动,颤动着他干裂的嘴唇。他的眼神在他周围或远或近地游移不定,最后终于在对方身上停留了片刻,他说道: “你没有什么可看的。” 同时他用半嘲笑的眼神瞥了一眼对方被铐住的双手。这时,我认识的逃犯变得恼怒至极,要不是士兵的阻拦,他早就冲过去扑倒在他身上了。 “我告诉过你们了,” 另一个逃犯说, “要是可以的话,他会杀了我的。” 任何人都看得出来,他因为害怕而浑身发抖,而且嘴唇上出现了奇怪的、薄雪片似的白色唾沫。

"Enough of this parley, " said the sergeant. "Light those torches. "

“够了,别再说了。” 中士说道, “把火把点亮。”

As one of the soldiers, who carried a basket in lieu of a gun, went down on his knee to open it, my convict looked round him for the first time, and saw me. I had alighted from Joe's back on the brink of the ditch when we came up, and had not moved since. I looked at him eagerly when he looked at me, and slightly moved my hands and shook my head. I had been waiting for him to see me that I might try to assure him of my innocence. It was not at all expressed to me that he even comprehended my intention, for he gave me a look that I did not understand, and it all passed in a moment. But if he had looked at me for an hour or for a day, I could not have remembered his face ever afterwards, as having been more attentive.

一个没有扛枪而是提着篮子的士兵蹲下身来打开篮子。这时我认识的逃犯第一次看了看他四周,并且看到了我。我们紧跟着士兵们来到沟边之后,我就从乔的背上下来了,之后就没有动过。在他看着我的同时,我也急切地看着他,我轻轻地挥了挥手,摇了摇头。我一直在等他看到我,这样我就能够设法向他保证我是无辜的。但我一点也没有弄清楚他是否理解了我的意图,因为他向我做出了一个我根本不明白的表情,而且那个表情转瞬即逝。但是即使他看了我整整一个小时甚至是整整一天,我也只能记住那一瞬间他的表情,因为那一刻我最为留心。

The soldier with the basket soon got a light, and lighted three or four torches, and took one himself and distributed the others. It had been almost dark before, but now it seemed quite dark, and soon afterwards very dark. Before we departed from that spot, four soldiers standing in a ring, fired twice into the air. Presently we saw other torches kindled at some distance behind us, and others on the marshes on the opposite bank of the river. "All right, " said the sergeant. "March. "

那个提篮子的士兵很快就打着了火,点亮了三四个火把。他自己拿着一个,将剩下的分给其他人。之前天就几乎黑了,但现在似乎更黑了,不久就彻底黑了下来。在我们离开事发地之前,四个士兵围成一圈,向空中开了两枪。这时,我们看到在我们身后不远处以及河对面有其他火把也点亮了。 “准备好了,” 中士说道, “出发。”

We had not gone far when three cannon were fired ahead of us with a sound that seemed to burst something inside my ear. "You are expected on board, " said the sergeant to my convict; "they know you are coming. Don't straggle, my man. Close up here. "

我们没有走多远就听见前方传来三声炮响,巨大的响声似乎震破了我的耳膜。 “他们正等着你们上船呢。” 中士对我认识的逃犯说, “他们知道你们回来了。别掉队,伙计。跟上来。”

The two were kept apart, and each walked surrounded by a separate guard. I had hold of Joe's hand now, and Joe carried one of the torches. Mr. Wopsle had been for going back, but Joe was resolved to see it out, so we went on with the party. There was a reasonably good path now, mostly on the edge of the river, with a divergence here and there where a dyke came, with a miniature windmill on it and a muddy sluice—gate. When I looked round, I could see the other lights coming in after us. The torches we carried, dropped great blotches of fire upon the track, and I could see those, too, lying smoking and flaring. I could see nothing else but black darkness. Our lights warmed the air about us with their pitchy blaze, and the two prisoners seemed rather to like that, as they limped along in the midst of the muskets. We could not go fast, because of their lameness; and they were so spent, that two or three times we had to halt while they rested.

两个逃犯被分开了,行进过程中,每人身边都包围着一圈警卫。此时,我抓着乔的一只手,乔的另一只手则举着一个火把。沃甫赛先生很早就想回去了,但乔决心要看个究竟,所以我们继续随队行进。眼下脚下的路已是相当好走了。我们大部分时间都是沿河前进,不时也要绕道而行,因为途中会遇上带小风车的堤坝以及满是污泥的闸门。我朝四下望了望,看见身后有其他火把跟上来了。一路上我们举着的火把掉落下大堆的灰烬,我还能看到地上那些灰烬冒着烟,闪着火光。此外便是一片漆黑,我什么也看不见。我们的火把用它们仅有的火光温暖了我们周围的空气。两个被火枪包围的逃犯一瘸一拐地走着,他们似乎很喜欢这种温暖。他们不仅走路一瘸一拐,而且还相当疲惫。有两三次我们不得不停下来让他们休息,所以我们根本走不快。

After an hour or so of this traveling, we came to a rough wooden hut and a landing—place. There was a guard in the hut, and they challenged, and the sergeant answered. Then, we went into the hut where there was a smell of tobacco and whitewash, and a bright fire, and a lamp, and a stand of muskets, and a drum, and a low wooden bedstead, like an overgrown mangle without the machinery, capable of holding about a dozen soldiers all at once. Three or four soldiers who lay upon it in their great—coats, were not much interested in us, but just lifted their heads and took a sleepy stare, and then lay down again. The sergeant made some kind of report, and some entry in a book, and then the convict whom I call the other convict was drafted off with his guard, to go on board first.

这样走了一个小时左右,我们来到一个简陋的小木屋,这里有一个渡口。木屋里有一队警卫,他们向我们发问,中士回答了他们。然后我们进了小木屋,屋里满是一股烟味和石灰水的味道。屋里有个烧得正旺的火堆、一盏灯、一个火枪架、一面鼓和一张低矮的木板通铺。这张床就像一台没安装零件的、硕大无朋的轧布机,可以同时容纳十来个士兵。床上躺着三四个穿着大衣的士兵,他们对我们不是很感兴趣,只是抬起头,睡眼惺忪地看了我们一眼,然后又躺下了。中士报告了一下,做了些书面记录,然后我不认识的那个逃犯就被警卫先押送上了船。

My convict never looked at me, except that once. While we stood in the hut, he stood before the fire looking thoughtfully at it, or putting up his feet by turns upon the hob, and looking thoughtfully at them as if he pitied them for their recent adventures. Suddenly, he turned to the sergeant, and remarked:

我认识的那个逃犯自从看过我一眼后就再也没有看过我。我们站在小木屋里的时候,他站在火炉前,有时若有所思地看着火堆,有时把脚轮流搁在火炉搁架上,若有所思地看着双脚,仿佛在同情它们刚才参与的冒险。突然,他转向中士说道:

"I wish to say something respecting this escape. It may prevent some persons laying under suspicion a longer me. "

“关于这次逃跑我有话要说。以免有些人因为我而受到牵连。”

"You can say what you like, " returned the sergeant, standing coolly looking at him with his arms folded, "but you have no call to say it here. You'll have opportunity enough to say about it, and hear about it, before it's done with, you know. "

“有话尽管说。” 中士双臂交叉地站在那里,冷冷地看着他回答道, “但你没有必要在这里说。你知道,在结案之前,你有足够的机会说,或者听别人说。”

"I know, but this is another pint, a separate matter. A man can't starve; at least I can't. I took some witless, up at the willage over yonder—where the church stands a 'most out on the marshes. "

“我知道,但这是另外一回事,与此无关的事。人是不能挨饿的,至少我不能。我拿了一些吃的,从那边的村子里拿的,就是沼泽地过去有教堂的那个村子。”

"You mean stole, " said the sergeant.

“你是说偷的吧。” 中士说道。

"And I'll tell you where from. From the blacksmith's. "

“我告诉你是从哪家拿的。是从铁匠家拿的。”

"Halloa! " said the sergeant, staring at Joe.

“啊!” 中士说道,同时盯着乔。

"Halloa, Pip! " said Joe, staring at me.

“啊,皮普!” 乔说道,同时盯着我。

"It was some broken witless—that's what it was—and a dram of liquor, and a pie.”

“是些剩菜剩饭——本来就是——一点酒还有一个馅饼。 “

"Have you happened to miss such an article as a pie, blacksmith? " asked the sergeant, confidentially.

“铁匠,你们有没有丢馅饼这类的东西?” 中士私下问道。

"My wife did, at the very moment when you came in. Don't you know, Pip? "

“我妻子发现馅饼丢了,就在你来我们家的时候。你知道这事吗,皮普?”

"So, " said my convict, turning his eyes on Joe in a moody manner, and without the least glance at me; "so you're the blacksmith, are you? Then I 'm sorry to say, I've eat your pie. "

“那么,” 我认识的逃犯闷闷不乐地看着乔却一眼也没有看我, “那么你就是那个铁匠了,是吗?很抱歉我吃了你的馅饼。”

"God knows you're welcome to it—so far as it was ever mine, " returned Joe, with a saving remembrance of Mrs. Joe. "We don't know what you have done, but we wouldn't have you starved to death for it, poor miserable fellow—creator. — Would us, Pip?”

“上帝知道只要馅饼是我的,你可以随便吃。” 乔回答说,此时他又想起了乔太太, “我们不知道你都干了什么,但我们不会因此而饿死你的,可怜的同胞。是不是,皮普?”

The something that I had noticed before, clicked in the man's throat again, and he turned his back. The boat had returned, and his guard was ready, so we followed him to the landing—place made of rough stakes and stones, and saw him put into the boat, which was rowed by a crew of convicts like himself. No one seemed surprised to see him, or interested in seeing him, or glad to see him, or sorry to see him, or spoke a word, except that somebody in the boat growled as if to dogs, "Give way, you! " which was the signal for the dip of the oars. By the light of the torches, we saw the black Hulk lying out a little way from the mud of the shore, like a wicked Noah's ark. Cribbed and barred and moored by massive rusty chains, the prison—ship seemed in my young eyes to be ironed like the prisoners. We saw the boat go alongside, and we saw him taken up the side and disappear. Then, the ends of the torches were flung hissing into the water, and went out, as if it were all over with him.

我之前注意到的声音又在那个人的喉咙里咔嗒响了一声,他转过身去了。小船回来了,他的警卫准备就绪,于是我们跟随他来到由粗木桩和石头搭建的渡口,看着他被押到船上。划船的是跟他一样的一组罪犯。见到他,似乎没有人感到惊奇,感到有趣,感到高兴或是感到遗憾,也没有人说话,除了船上一个人像使唤狗一样咆哮道: “你们出发!” 这是开桨启程的信号。借着火把的火光,我们看到黑色的监狱船停在离河岸污泥的不远处,就像一艘邪恶的诺亚方舟。船身被大量锈迹斑斑的铁链捆绑着、束缚着。在我幼小的眼睛里,这艘关押罪犯的船就像罪犯一样被铁镣铐着。我们看着渡船驶到监狱船旁边,看着他被押上大船,然后消失了。然后,烧剩下的火把被扔进了水里,咝咝响过之后就熄灭了,仿佛一切都随他而去了。 ZnKU3XbtIHuab2Q/epInubDLZ2y6twH4/mvCMQbCL4NywMGydJrUaQ/Dyh917imj

点击中间区域
呼出菜单
上一章
目录
下一章
×