 故事中的主人翁吉姆（Jim Hawkins）10岁时，他们家在黑山海湾旁经营一家「海军上将本保」（Admiral Benbow）的旅馆。有一天碰到一位有一道刀疤的旅客，名叫「比尔」，可是他要吉姆叫他「比尔船长」，这样吉姆每天就会听到关于海盗的冒险故事。比尔船长有个习惯，就是每天到下午日落的时候，他都会带副望远镜到海边观看是否有船只。这样的日子不到几日，比尔船长收到海盗的「黑丸子 (black spot)」，只要收这玩意的人，每个海贼都可以通缉他，并且可以杀他。比尔平日有酗酒习惯，此时因极度害怕中风而死。之后吉姆在他的箱子里找到一张「金银岛」藏宝图，就这样展开了一场寻宝的冒险任务。在寻宝航海的旅途中，吉姆一行人碰上许许多多惊险的冒险故事，如：幽灵船事件，和海盗的斗争，还有来到岛上的霍乱以及凶猛暴风雨等等，最后是以找到宝藏的喜剧收场。 |
| Treasure IslandChapter I SQUIRE TRELAWNEY,* Dr Livesey, and the rest of these gentlemen having asked me to write down the whole particulars about Treasure island, from the beginning to the end, keeping nothing back but the bearings of the island, and that only because there is still treasure not yet lifted, I take up my pen in the year of grace 17 - , and go back to the time when my father kept the `Admiral Benbow' inn, and the brown old seaman, with the sabre cut, first took up his lodging under our roof. I remember him as if it were yesterday, as he came plodding to the inn door, his sea-chest following behind him in a handbarrow; a tall, strong, heavy, nut-brown man; his tarry pigtail falling over the shoulders of his soiled blue coat; his hands ragged and scarred, with black, broken nails; and the sabre cut across one cheek, a dirty, livid white. * I remember him looking round the cove and whistling to himself as he did so, and then breaking out in that old sea-song that he sang so often afterwards:- `Fifteen men on the dead man's chest- Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!'* in the high, old tottering voice that seemed to have been tuned and broken at the capstan bars. Then he rapped on the door with a bit of stick like a handspike that he carried, and when my father appeared, called roughly for a glass of rum. This, when it was brought to him, he drank slowly, like a connoisseur, lingering on the taste, and still looking about him at the cliffs and up at our signboard. `This is a handy cove,' says he, at length; `and a pleasant sittyated grog-shop. Much company, mate?' My father told him no, very little company, the more was the pity.' `Well, then,' said he, `this is the berth for me. Here you matey,' he cried to the man who trundled the barrow; `bring up alongside and help up my chest. I'll stay here a bit,' he continued. `I'm a plain man; rum and bacon and eggs is what I want, and that head up there for to watch ships off. What you mought call me? You mought call me captain. Oh, I see what you're at - there;' and he threw down three or four gold pieces on the threshold. `You can tell me when I've worked through that,' says he, looking as fierce as a commander. And, indeed, bad as his clothes were, and coarsely as he spoke, he had none of the appearance of a man who sailed before the mast; but seemed like a mate or skipper accustomed to be obeyed or to strike. The man who came with the barrow told us the mail had set him down this morning before at the `Royal George;' that he had inquired what inns there were along the coast, and hearing ours well spoken of, I suppose, and described as lonely, had chosen it from the others for his place of residence. And that was all we could learn of our guest. He was a very silent man by custom. All day he hung round the cove, or upon the cliffs, with a brass telescope; all evening he sat in a corner of the parlour next the fire, and drank run and water very strong. Mostly he would not speak when spoken to; only look up sudden and fierce, and blow through his nose like a fog-horn; and we and the people who cam about our house soon learned to let him be. Every day, when he came back from his stroll, he would ask if any seafaring men had gone by along the road. At first we thought it was the want of company of his own kind that made him ask this question; but at last we began to see he was desirous to avoid them. When a seaman put up at the `Admiral Benbow' (as now and then some did, making by the coast road for Bristol) he would look in at him through the curtained door before he entered the parlour; and he was always sure to be as silent as a mouse when any such was present. For me, at least, there was no secret about the matter; for I was, in a way, a sharer in his alarms. He had taken me aside one day, and promised me a silver fourpenny on the first of every month if I would only keep my `weather-eye open for a seafaring man with one leg,' and let him know the moment he appeared. Often enough, when the first of the month came round, and I applied to him for my wage, he would only blow through his nose at me, and stare me down; but before the week was out he was sure to think better of it, bring me my fourpenny piece, and repeat his orders to look out for `the seafaring man with one leg.' How that personage haunted my dreams, I need scarcely tell you. On stormy nights, when the wind shook the four corners of the house, and the surf roared along the cove and up the cliffs, I would see him in a thousand forms, and with a thousand diabolical expressions. Now the leg would be cut off at the knee, now at the hip; now he was a monstrous kind of a creature who had never had but the one leg, and that in the middle of his body. To see him leap and run and pursue me over hedge and ditch was the worst of nightmares. And altogether I paid pretty dear for my monthly fourpenny piece, in the shape of these abominable fancies. But though I was so terrified by the idea of the seafaring man with one leg, I was far less afraid of the captain himself than anybody else who knew him. There were nights when he took a deal more rum and water than his head would carry; and then he would sometimes sit and sing his wicked, old, wild sea-songs, minding nobody; but sometimes he would call for glasses round, and force all the trembling company to listen to his stories or bear a chorus to his singing. Often I have heard the house shaking with `Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum;' all the neighbours joining in for dear life, with the fear of death upon them, and each singing louder than the other, to avoid remark. For in these fits he was the most overriding companion ever known; he would slap his hand on the table for silence all round; he would fly up in a passion of anger at a question, or sometimes because none was put, and so he judged the company was not following his story. Nor would he allow anyone to leave the inn till he had drunk himself sleepy and reeled off to bed. His stories were what frightened people worst of all. Dreadful stories they were; about hanging, and walking the plank, and storms at sea, and the Dry Tortugas, and wild deeds and places on the Spanish Main. By his own account he must have lived his life among some of the wickedest men that God ever allowed upon the sea; and the language in which he told these stories shocked our plain country people almost as much as the crimes that he described. My father was always saying the inn would be ruined, for people would soon cease coming there to be tyrannised over and put down, and sent shivering to their beds; but I really believe his presence did us good. People were frightened at the time, but on looking back they rather liked it; it was a fine excitement in a quiet country life; and there was even a party of the younger me who pretended to admire him, calling him a `true sea-dog,' and a `real old salt,' and suchlike names, and saying there was the sort of man that made England terrible at sea. In one way, indeed, he bade fair to ruin us; for he kept on staying week after week, and at last month after month so that all the money had been long exhausted, and still my father never plucked up the heart to insist on having more If ever he mentioned it, the captain blew through his nos so loudly, that you might say he roared, and stared my poor father out of the room. I have seen him wringing his hand after such a rebuff, and I am sure the annoyance and the terror he lived in must have greatly hastened his early and unhappy death. All the time he lived with us the captain made no change whatever in his dress but to buy some stockings from hawker. One of the cocks of his hat having fallen down, he let it hang from that day forth, though it was a great annoyance when it blew. I remember the appearance of his coat, which he patched himself upstairs in his room, ant which, before the end, was nothing but patches. He never wrote or received a letter, and he never spoke with any but the neighbours, and with these, for the most part, only when drunk on rum. The great sea-chest none of us had ever seen open. He was only once crossed, and that was towards the end, when my poor father was far gone in a decline that took him off. Dr Livesey came late one afternoon to see the patient, took a bit of dinner from my mother, and went into the parlour to smoke a pipe until his horse should come down from the hamlet, for we had no stabling at the old `Benbow.' I followed him in, and I remember observing the contrast the neat, bright doctor, with his powder as white as snow, and his bright, black eyes and pleasant manners, made with the coltish country folk, and above all, with that filthy, heavy, bleared scarecrow of a pirate of ours, sitting, far gone in rum, with his arms on the table. Suddenly he - the captain, that is - began to pipe up his eternal song:-- `Fifteen men on the dead man's chest Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum! Drink and the devil had done for the rest-- Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!' him in a thousand forms, and with a thousand diabolical expressions. Now the leg would be cut off at the knee, now at the hip; now he was a monstrous kind of a creature who had never had but the one leg, and that in the middle of his body. To see him leap and run and pursue me over hedge and ditch was the worst of nightmares. And altogether I paid pretty dear for my monthly fourpenny piece, in the shape of these abominable fancies. But though I was so terrified by the idea of the seafaring man with one leg, I was far less afraid of the captain himself than anybody else who knew him. There were nights when he took a deal more rum and water than his head would carry; and then he would sometimes sit and sing his wicked, old, wild sea-songs, minding nobody; but sometimes he would call for glasses round, and force all the trembling company to listen to his stories or bear a chorus to his singing. Often I have heard the house shaking with `Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum;' all the neighbours joining in for dear life, with the fear of death upon them, and each singing louder than the other, to avoid remark. For in these fits he was the most overriding companion ever known; he would slap his hand on the table for silence all round; he would fly up in a passion of anger at a question, or sometimes because none was put, and so he judged the company was not following his story. Nor would he allow anyone to leave the inn till he had drunk himself sleepy and reeled off to bed. His stories were what frightened people worst of all. Dreadful stories they were; about hanging, and walking the plank, and storms at sea, and the Dry Tortugas, and wild deeds and places on the Spanish Main. By his own account he must have lived his life among some of the wickedest men that God ever allowed upon the sea; and the language in which he told these stories shocked our plain country people almost as much as the crimes that he described. My father was always saying the inn would be ruined, for people would soon cease coming there to be tyrannised over and put down, and sent shivering to their beds; but I really believe his presence did us good. People were frightened at the time, but on looking back they rather liked it; it was a fine excitement in a quiet country life; and there was even a party of the younger me who pretended to admire him, calling him a `true sea-dog,' and a `real old salt,' and suchlike names, and saying there was the sort of man that made England terrible at sea. In one way, indeed, he bade fair to ruin us; for he kept on staying week after week, and at last month after month so that all the money had been long exhausted, and still my father never plucked up the heart to insist on having more If ever he mentioned it, the captain blew through his nos so loudly, that you might say he roared, and stared my poor father out of the room. I have seen him wringing his hand after such a rebuff, and I am sure the annoyance and the terror he lived in must have greatly hastened his early and unhappy death. All the time he lived with us the captain made no change whatever in his dress but to buy some stockings from hawker. One of the cocks of his hat having fallen down, he let it hang from that day forth, though it was a great annoyance when it blew. I remember the appearance of his coat, which he patched himself upstairs in his room, ant which, before the end, was nothing but patches. He never wrote or received a letter, and he never spoke with any but the neighbours, and with these, for the most part, only when drunk on rum. The great sea-chest none of us had ever seen open. He was only once crossed, and that was towards the end, when my poor father was far gone in a decline that took him off. Dr Livesey came late one afternoon to see the patient, took a bit of dinner from my mother, and went into the parlour to smoke a pipe until his horse should come down from the hamlet, for we had no stabling at the old `Benbow.' I followed him in, and I remember observing the contrast the neat, bright doctor, with his powder as white as snow, and his bright, black eyes and pleasant manners, made with the coltish country folk, and above all, with that filthy, heavy, bleared scarecrow of a pirate of ours, sitting, far gone in rum, with his arms on the table. Suddenly he - the captain, that is - began to pipe up his eternal song:-- `Fifteen men on the dead man's chest Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum! Drink and the devil had done for the rest-- Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!' At first I had supposed `the dead man's chest' to be that identical big box of his upstairs in the front room, and the thought had been mingled in my nightmares with that of the one-legged seafaring man. But by this time we had all long ceased to pay any particular notice to the song; it was new, that night, to nobody but Dr Livesey, and on him I observed it did not produce an agreeable effect, for he looked up for a moment quite angrily before he went on with his talk to old Taylor, the gardener, on a new cure for the rheumatics. In the meantime, the captain gradually brightened up at his own music, and at last flapped his hand upon the table before him in a way we all knew to mean - silence. The voices stopped at once, all but Dr Livesey's; he went on as before, speaking clear and kind, and drawing briskly at his pipe between every word or two. The captain glared at him for a while, flapped his hand again, glared still harder, and at last broke out with a villainous, low oath: `Silence, there, between decks!' `Were you addressing me, sir?' says the doctor; and when the ruffian had told him, with another oath, that this was so `I have only one thing to say to you, sir,' replies the doctor that if you keep on drinking rum, the world will soon be quit of a very dirty scoundrel!' The old fellow's fury was awful. He sprang to his feet, drew and opened a sailor's clasp-knife, and, balancing it open on the palm of his hand, threatened to pin the doctor to the wall. The doctor never so much as moved. He spoke to him, as before, over his shoulder, and in the same tone of voice; rather high, so that all the room might hear, but perfectly calm ant steady:-- `If you do not put that knife this instant in your pocket I promise, upon my honour, you shall hang at the next assizes.' Then followed a battle of looks between them; but this captain soon knuckled under, put up his weapon, and resumed his seat, grumbling like a beaten dog. `And now, sir,' continued the doctor, `since I now know there's such a fellow in my district, you may count I'll have an eye upon you day and night. I'm not a doctor only; I'm a magistrate; and if I catch a breath of complaint against you if its only for a piece of incivility like to-night's, I'll take effectual means to have you hunted down and routed out of this. Let that suffice.' Soon after Dr Livesey's horse came to the door, and he rode away; but the captain held his peace that evening, and for many evenings to come. 宝岛一 住在“本葆海军上将”旅店的老船长 乡绅特里罗尼，利弗西医生，还有其余的那些先生们，早就要我从头至尾、毫无保留地写下有关宝岛的全部详情——只除掉它的方位，而那不过是至今那里仍有未被取出的宝藏的缘故。我在公元一七××年提起了笔，思绪回到了当年我父亲开“本葆海军上将”旅店的时候，当时那个棕色皮肤、带刀疤的老海员第一次到我们屋顶下来投宿。 我回想起他恍惚就在昨天，当他步履沉重地来到旅店门口时，他的航海用的大木箱搁在他身后的双轮手推车上。这是个高大。强壮、魁梧、有着栗色皮肤的人，粘乎乎的辫子耷拉在脏兮兮的蓝外套的肩部，粗糙的手上疤痕累累，指甲乌青而残缺不全，一道肮脏的铅灰色刀疤横贯一侧面颊。我记得他一面环顾着小海湾，一面径自吹着口哨，接着嘴里突然冒出了那支水手老调，日后他也经常地唱： 十五个汉子扒上了死人胸①——哟——嗬——嗬，再来郎姆酒一大瓶！ ①礁石的名称。但英语中“胸膛”与“箱子”是一个字。——译者注 那高亢、苍老、颤动的嗓音仿佛汇入了绞盘机起锚时众人合唱出的破调门。接着，他用一根自带的像铁头手杖似的木棍子重重地敲门。当我父亲出来后，他又粗声大气地要来杯郎姆酒。酒送到后，他慢慢地啜饮，像个鉴定家似的，一面细细地品味，一面还继续打量着四周的峭壁，抬头审视我们的招牌。 “这是个挺便利的小海湾，”最后他说，“而且酒店的位置也很讨人喜欢。客人多吗，伙计？” 我父亲告诉他不多，客人非常少，实在遗憾。 “那么好吧，”他说，“这是给我预备的好住处。过来，伙计，”他冲着推手推车的人喊道，“把车子靠边儿，帮我卸下箱子，我要在这儿住上一小段儿。”接着他又说，“我是个简朴的人，有郎姆酒、咸肉和鸡蛋就成，这就可以对着海湾看船下海了。你们该怎么称呼我？你们可以叫我船长。噢，我懂你的意思——瞧这儿！”说着他把三四枚金币抛在了门槛上，“用光的时候告诉我。”他说，神情严厉得像个司令官。 说真的，虽然他破衣烂衫，言语粗鲁，风度却一点儿也不像个在桅杆前干活的水手，倒像个惯于发号施令的大副或船长。那个推手推车的人告诉我们，他是那天早晨被邮车送到“乔治王”旅店门前的，在那儿，他打听了沿岸的小旅店。我猜想他是听说了我们这里不错，被描绘得挺僻静，于是由于它所处的位置而挑中了它。关于我们这位房客，我们就知道这么多了。 照常说他是个挺沉默的人。他整天带着架黄铜望远镜在小海湾一带转悠，要不就在峭壁上游荡；整晚坐在客房火炉旁的角落里，拼命地灌郎姆酒和水。大多数时候，别人和他说话他都不予理睬，只是猛然抬头瞪人一眼，像吹雾角①似的哼一下鼻子。我们和到我们这里来的人们很快便学会让他自取其便了。每天，当他巡游回来的时候，他都会问是否有什么船员路过。起初我们以为他问这个问题是寻找伙伴，后来我们才开始明白他是想避开他们。每当一个船员到“本葆海军上将”旅店来投宿（时不时地有一些人来，要沿海边大道去布里斯托尔），他在进餐厅之前总会透过门帘窥探一番，一旦有一个这样的人在里面，他必定会像只耗子似的不声不响。这事对我来说至少已不是什么秘密了，因为，从某种意义上说，我得算他这种戒备心理的分担者。有一天他曾把我拉到一边，并且答应我，只要我帮他“留神一个独腿水手”，并且一旦那个人出现就向他通风报信，这样每月月初他就付给我一枚四便士银币。有好多回，当月初到来，我向他申请报酬的时候，他便会对我嗤之以鼻，还瞪得我低下了头；但是不等一周过完，他肯定好好考虑考虑，给我那四便士，同时重申他那个要我监视“独腿水手”的命令。 ①用以警告雾中船只的号角。——译者注 那个人物怎样搅得我不得安眠，那是不必多说了。在暴风雨的夜晚，当大风撼动着房子的四角，碎浪咆哮着冲过海岸、跃上悬崖，我就会在一千种形象、一千种邪恶的表情中看到他。一会儿是腿被齐膝砍断，一会儿是齐臀部；一会儿他又是个什么都没有，只有一条长在身体中央的腿的奇形怪状的家伙。看他单腿跑跳着追赶我，越过篱笆和水沟，是最坏的恶梦了。总之，为了我那每月的四便士，这些想象出来的形状令我付出了相当昂贵的代价。 不过，尽管我一想到那个独腿的海员就那么恐惧，但还远远比不上其它认识船长的人对他本人怕得厉害。有些晚上，在他喝了他的脑袋支撑不住的过量的郎姆酒和水后，有时他就会坐下来唱他那些个邪恶、古老、粗野的水手歌曲，旁若无人；但有时他会嚷着轮流干杯，还逼着所有战战兢兢的房客们听他讲故事，或者和他一起合唱。我常常听见房子和“哟—嗬—嗬，再来郎姆酒一大瓶”的歌声一起颤动；邻居们全都为了宝贵的性命、怀着对死亡的恐惧加入到这歌声里来，而且一个比一个唱得响亮，生怕引起他的注意。因为在这些他发作起来的场合下，他就成了个最肆无忌惮的人。他会用手拍着桌子要全体肃静；他会勃然大怒，暴跳如雷，有时是因为一个问题，有时则是因为没人提问题，于是他断定大家没好好听他的故事。在他喝得醉醺醺的、摇摇晃晃地上床之前，他不准任何一个人离开这个旅店。 他的故事吓坏了所有的人。那些可怕的故事净是关于绞刑。走木板①、海上风暴和干托吐加群岛以及拉丁美洲大陆的蛮荒地区和野蛮风俗的。照他的说法，他一定是活在被上帝放逐到海上的一些最邪恶的人们中间的。他讲这些故事所用的语言，就像他所描述的那些罪恶一样，大大震动了我们淳朴的村民。我的父亲总说这小旅店会被毁掉的，因为人们不堪忍受暴虐、压制以及战战兢兢上床的滋味，他们很快将不复光顾这里。但是我倒确信他的存在对我们有好处。人们当时是受了惊吓，可回过头来看，他们相当喜欢这样。在安静的乡村生活中，这是很好的兴奋剂。这里甚至有一群年轻人声称崇拜他，称他是“货真价实的船员”、“真正的老水手”，以及诸如此类的称呼，还说正是因为有他这样的人，英格兰才称雄海上。 ①昔时被海盗虏获的人，蒙着眼睛被迫走上突出于舷外的木板而终于落入海中。——译者注 从某方面讲，说真的，他很有可能毁掉我们；因为他一周复一周，最后一月接一月地住下来，以致于他付的那些钱已经全部用光了，而我的父亲从不敢壮起胆子坚持要他加钱。如果一旦对他提及钱的事，船长就会用可以说是咆哮的那么大的声音哼他的鼻子，并且直瞪得我可怜的父亲倒着退出房门。我曾看到父亲在经历了这样的一次奚落后绞着双手，我相信一定是这种烦恼和恐惧大大加速了他不幸的早逝。 在船长和我们住在一起的全部时间里，除了从一个货郎那里买些袜子外，他的穿着丝毫未变。他的三角帽的一角耷拉下来了，自那时起，他就让它那么耷拉着，尽管这给他带来了极大的不便。我记得他外套的样子，就是他躲在楼上屋子里自己打补丁的那件，到后来，那件衣服上就满是补丁了。他从未写、也从未接到过一封信，他也从不和邻居以外的任何人说话，即使和他们交谈，也大多是在喝酒的时候。那个航海用的大木箱，我们谁也没见他打开过。 他只碰了一次钉子，那是事情接近尾声的时候，那时我可怜的父亲的病情正每况愈下。利弗西医生在一个傍晚来看望病人，用了点我母亲准备的晚餐后走进了客厅，想袖口烟，等人把他的马从小村子里牵过来，因为我们的老“本葆海军上将”旅店没有马厩。我跟着他走进了客厅，我记得我看到这位干净利整的医生，发套上搽着雪白的发粉，他的明亮的黑眼睛和翩翩的风度，同那些轻佻的乡下人，特别是同那个猥亵、笨拙、醉眼惺忪的我们心目中的海盗，形成了鲜明的对照。他正喝得烂醉，胳膊搁在桌子上。突然，他——也就是船长——开始唱起了他常唱的那个歌儿： 十五个汉子扒上了死人胸——哟——嗬——嗬，再来郎姆酒一大瓶！酗酒和恶魔使其余的人都丧了命——哟——嗬——嗬，再来他郎姆酒一大瓶！ 起初，我把“死人胸”想成了同一概念的他楼上前屋里的那只大箱子，而这想法又和我恶梦中的独腿水手搅和到了一块儿。但是，到了这会儿，我们对这支歌都不怎么特别在意了，这个晚上，它只对医生来说是新鲜的，而我察觉到，就是医生，对它也毫无赞赏的表示，因为在他同花匠老泰勒谈话的过程中，他很愤怒地抬头望了一下，接着就又谈论起关于治疗风湿病的新药方来。同时，船长逐渐被自己的歌鼓动起情绪来，最后他玩起了我们都知道的那一套，用手拍面前的桌子——安静。声音立刻平息下去，只有利弗西医生一如既往地讲着，声音清晰悦耳，在每一句话间还轻松地抽一口烟斗。船长盯着他瞅了一会儿，又拍了一遍桌子，更为严厉地瞪着他，最后用恶狠狠、低沉的声音咒骂起来：“安静，上下甲板都给我安静！” “你是在关照我吗，先生？”医生说道，而当那个恶汉用另外一声诅咒告诉他是这样时，“我只对你说一件事，先生，”医生回答说，“这就是，如果你继续酗酒的话，这世上很快将减少一个肮脏无比的恶棍！” 这个老家伙的暴怒是可怕的。他跳了起来，拔出并打开了一把水手用的折叠式小刀，摊开在他的手掌上，好像是恐吓医生，要把他扎到墙上去。 医生岿然不动。他转过头来，用和刚才一样的声调侃侃而谈，声音略微高些，以使全屋的人都能听见，口气却相当平静而严肃：“如果你不立刻将刀子送回你的口袋，我以我的名誉发誓，你将在下一次的巡回审判中被绞死。” 接着，在他们之间展开了一场目光的对峙战。但是船长很快便屈服了，放下了他的武器，退回到座位上，像只挨了打的狗似地咕哝着。 “现在，你听着，先生，”医生继续说道，“既然现在我知道在我的辖区内有这么个人物，你将考虑我会时时刻刻都用一只眼睛盯着你。我不仅仅是个医生，我还是一名地方法官，如果我听到一句对你的控告，哪怕只是像今晚这样的一次无礼，我都将为此而采取有效措施，追捕并找出你。我想话说到这儿已经足够了。” 不久，利弗西医生的马便被牵到了门前，他就上马离开了。但是那天整个晚上船长都保持沉默，并且后来许多晚上也是这样。 |
Treasure IslandChapter II IT was not very long after this that there occurred the first of the mysterious events that rid us at last of the captain, though not, as you will see, of his affairs. It was a bitter cold winter, with long, hard frosts and heavy gales; and it was plain from the first that my poor father was little likely to see the spring. He sank daily, and my mother and I had all the inn upon our hands; and were kept busy enough, without paying much regard to our unpleasant guest. It was one January morning, very early - a pinching, frosty morning - the cove all grey with boar-frost, the ripple lapping softly on the stones, the sun still low and only touching the hilltops and shining far to seaward. The captain had risen earlier than usual, and set out down the beach, his cutlass swinging under the broad skirts of the old blue coat, his brass telescope under his arm, his hat tilted back upon his head. I remember his breath hanging like smoke in his wake as he strode off, and the last sound I heard of him, as he turned the big rock, was a loud snort of indignation, as though his mind was still running upon Dr Livesey. Well, mother was upstairs with father; and I was laying the breakfast table against the captain's return, when the parlour door opened, and a man stepped in on whom I had never set my eyes before. He was a pale, tallowy creature, wanting two fingers of the left hand; and, though he wore a cutlass, he did not look much like a fighter. I had always my eye open for seafaring men, with one leg or two, and I remember this one puzzled me. He was not sailorly, and yet he had a smack of the sea about him too. I asked him what was for his service, and he said he would take rum; but as I was going out of the room to fetch it he sat down upon a table, and motioned me to draw near. I paused where I was with my napkin in my hand. `Come here, sonny,' says he. `Come nearer here.' I took a step nearer. `Is this here table for my mate, Bill?' he asked, with a kit of leer. I told him I did not know his mate Bill; and this was for a person who stayed in our house, whom we called the captain. `Well,' said he, `my mate Bill would be called the captain as like as not. He has a cut on one cheek, and a mighty pleasant way with him, particularly in drink, has my mate, Bill. We'll put it, for argument like, that your captain has a cut on one cheek - and we'll put it, if you like, that the cheek's the right one. Ah, well! I told you. Now, is my mate Bill in this here house?' I told him he was out walking. `Which way, sonny? Which way is he gone?' And when I had pointed out the rock and told him how the captain was likely to return, and how soon, and answer a few other questions, `Ah,' said he, `this'll be as good as drink to my mate Bill.' The expression of his face as he said these words was not at all pleasant, and I had my own reasons for thinking the the stranger was mistaken, even supposing he meant who he said. But it was no affair of mine, I thought; and, besides, it was difficult to know what to do. The stranger kept hanging about just inside the inn door, peering round the corner like a cat waiting for a mouse. Once I stepped out myself into the road, but he immediately called me back, and, as I did no obey quick enough for his fancy, a most horrible change came over his tallowy face, and he ordered me in, with an oath that made me jump. As soon as I was back again he returned to his former manner, half fawning, half sneering, patted me on the shoulder, told me I was a good boy, and he had taken quite a fancy to me. `I have a son of my own,' said he, `as like you as two blocks, and he's all the pride of my 'art. But the great thing for boys is discipline, sonny - discipline. Now if you had sailed along of Bill, you wouldn't have stood there to be spoke to twice - not you. That was never Bill's way nor the way of such as sailed with him. And here, sure enough is my mate Bill, with a spy-glass under his arm, bless his old 'art to be sure. You and me'll just go back into the parlour, sonny, and get behind the door, and we'll give Bill a little surprise - bless his 'art, I say again.' So saying, the stranger backed along with me into the parlour, and put me behind him in the corner, so that we were both hidden by the open door. I was very uneasy and alarmed, as you may fancy, and it rather added to my fears to observe that the stranger was certainly frightened himself. He cleared the hilt of his cutlass and loosened the blade in the sheath; and all the time we were waiting there he kept swallowing as if he felt what we used to call a lump in the throat. At last in strode the captain, slammed the door behind him, without looking to the right or left, and marched straight across the room to where his breakfast awaited him. `Bill,' said the stranger, in a voice that I thought he had tried to make bold and big. The captain spun round on his heel and fronted us; all the brown had gone out of his face, and even his nose was blue; he had the look of a man who sees a ghost, or the evil one, or something worse, if anything can be; and, upon my word, I felt sorry to see him, all in a moment, turn so old and sick. `Come, Bill, you know me; you know an old shipmate, Bill, surely,' said the stranger. The captain made a sort of gasp. `Black Dog.' said he. `And who else?' returned the other, getting more at his ease. `Black Dog as ever was, come for to see his old shipmate Billy, at the ``Admiral Benbow'' inn. Ah, Bill, Bill, we have seen a sight of times, us two, since I lost them two talons,' holding up his mutilated hand. `Now, look here,' said the captain; `you've run me down; here I am; well, then, speak up: what is it?' `That's you, Bill,' returned Black Dog, `you're in the right of it, Billy. I'll have a glass of rum from this dear child here, as I've took such a liking to; and we'll sit down, if you please, and talk square, like old shipmates.' When I returned with the rum, they were already seated on either side of the captain's breakfast table - Black Dog next to the door, and sitting sideways, so as to have one eye on his old shipmate, and one, as I thought, on his retreat. He bade me go, and leave the door wide open. `None of your keyholes for me, sonny,' he said; and I left them together and retired into the bar. For a long time, though I certainly did my best to listen I could hear nothing but a low gabbling; but at last the voice: began to grow higher, and I could pick up a word or two mostly oaths, from the captain. `No, no, no, no; and an end of it!' he cried once. And again `If it comes to swinging, swing all, say I.' Then all of a sudden there was a tremendous explosion of oaths and other noises - the chair and table went over in a lump, a clash of steel followed, and then a cry of pain, and the next instant I saw Black Dog in full flight, and the captain hotly pursuing, both with drawn cutlasses, and the forme' streaming blood from the left shoulder. Just at the door, that captain aimed at the fugitive one last tremendous cut, which would certainly have split him to the chine had it not been intercepted by our big signboard of Admiral Benbow. You may see the notch on the lower side of the frame to this day. That blow was the last of the battle. Once out upon that road, Black Dog, in spite of his wound, showed a wonderful clean pair of heels, and disappeared over the edge of the hill in half a minute. The captain,for his part, stood staring at the signboard like a bewildered man. Then he passed his hand over his eyes several times, and at last turned back into the house. `Jim,' says he, `rum;' and as he spoke, he reeled a little and caught himself with one hand against the wall. `Are you hurt?' cried I. `Rum,' he repeated. `I must get away from here. Rum! rum!' I ran to fetch it; but I was quite unsteadied by all that had fallen out, and I broke one glass and fouled the tap, and while I was still getting in my own way, I heard a loud fall in that parlour, and, running in, beheld the captain lying full length upon the floor. At the same instant my mother, alarmed by the cries and fighting, came running downstairs to help me. Between us we raised his head. He was breathing very loud and hard; but his eyes were closed, and his face a horrible colour. `Dear, deary me,' cried my mother, `what a disgrace upon the house! And your poor father sick!' In the meantime, we had no idea what to do to help the captain, nor any other thought but that he had got his death-hurt in the scuffle with the stranger. I got the rum, to be sure, and tried to put it down his throat; but his teeth were tightly shut, and his jaws as strong as iron. It was a happy relief for us when the door opened and Doctor Livesey came in, on his visit to my father. `Oh, doctor,' we cried, `what shall we do? Where is he wounded?' `Wounded? A fiddle-stick's end!' said the doctor. `No more wounded than you or I. The man has had a stroke, as I warned him. Now, Mrs Hawkins, just you run upstairs to your husband, and tell him, if possible, nothing about it. For my part, I must do my best to save this fellow's trebly worthless life; and Jim, you get me a basin.' When I got back with the basin, the doctor had already ripped up the captain's sleeve, and exposed his great sinewy arm. It was tattooed in several places. `Here's luck,' `A fair wind,' and `Billy Bones his fancy,' were very neatly and clearly executed on the forearm; and up near the shoulder there was a sketch of a gallows and a man hanging from it - done, as I thought, with great spirit. `Prophetic,' said the doctor, touching this picture with his finger. `And now, Master Billy Bones, if that be your name, we'll have a look at the colour of your blood. Jim,' he said, are you afraid of blood?' `No, sir,' said I. `Well, then,' said he, `you hold the basin;' and with that he took his lancet and opened a vein. A great deal of blood was taken before the captain opened his eyes and looked mistily about him. First he recognised the doctor with an unmistakable frown; then his glance fell upon me, and he looked relieved. But suddenly his colour changed, and he tried to raise himself, crying:-- `Where's Black Dog?' `There is no Black Dog here,' said the doctor, `except what you have on your own back. You have been drinking rum; you have had a stroke, precisely as I told you; and I have just, very much against my own will, dragged you head-foremost out of the grave. Now, Mr Bones--' `That's not my name,' he interrupted. `Much I care,' returned the doctor. `It's the name of a buccaneer of my acquaintance; and I call you by it for the sake of shortness, and what I have to say to you is this: one glass of rum won't kill you, but if you take one you'll take another and another, and I stake my wig if you don't break off short, you'll die - do you understand that? - die, and go to your own place, like the man in the Bible. Come, now, make an effort. I'll help you to your bed for once.' Between us, with much trouble, we managed to hoist him upstairs, and laid him on his bed, where his head fell back on the pillow, as if he were almost fainting. `Now, mind you,' said the doctor, `I clear my conscience - the name of rum for you is death.' And with that he went off to see my father, taking me with him by the arm. `This is nothing,' he said, as soon as he had closed the door. `I have drawn blood enough to keep him quiet a while; he should lie for a week where he is - that is the best thing for him and you; but another stroke would settle him.' 宝岛二 “黑狗”出现了又消失了 这件事过去不久，就发生了第一桩神秘的事件，那使我们最终摆脱掉了船长，尽管就像你们将会看到的那样，这还并未使我们摆脱掉和他有关的事情。那是个颇为寒冷的冬天，长久地下着严霜，刮着暴风。一看而知，我的可怜的父亲没有多少希望再看到春天了。他一天天衰弱下去，我和母亲挑起了经营旅店的全副担子，忙个不停，再也无心留意那个令人不快的客人了。 那是一月里的一个早晨，很早——一个折磨人的下霜的早晨——海湾覆着白霜，灰蒙蒙的，波浪轻轻拍打着岩石，太阳低低地悬在山尖上，照亮了一大片海面。船长比往常起得早，出发到海边去了，他那把水手用的短刀在旧蓝外套的宽宽的下摆上晃悠着，黄铜望远镜夹在胳膊底下，帽子在头上向右斜歪着。我记得当他大步走开时，他呼出的哈气好像烟雾一般地缭绕在身后，而我听到他发出的最后的声音，是在他转过大石头时，气愤愤地哼了一下鼻子，好像仍对利弗西医生耿耿于怀似的。 那会儿，母亲正同父亲一起呆在楼上，我正往餐桌上摆放早餐，等船长回来。这时客厅的门打开了，一个我从未见过的人走了进来。他是个面色苍白、脂肪过多的家伙，左手少了两个手指。虽然他也带着把水手用的短刀，看上去却不像个好斗的人。我一直留意着水手们是一条腿还是两条腿，可这个人却使我纳闷。他不像个水手，然而身上还带有海上的气味。 我问他要点什么，他说他要郎姆酒。但当我要走出房间去取酒时，他在餐桌旁坐下来，打手势要我过去。我手里拿着餐巾停在那里。 “到这儿来，孩子，”他说，“走近些。” 我走近了一步。 “这张餐桌是我同伴比尔的吗？”他问道，不怀好意地眨了眨眼睛。 我告诉他我不认识他的同伴比尔，而这张桌子是给住在我们这里的一个我们叫做“船长”的人的。 “好啦，”他说，“我的同伴比尔也可能被叫做‘船长’，这很有可能。他的脸上有一道疤，嗜酒如命，我的同伴比尔就是这样。为信服起见，我可以指出，你们的‘船长’脸上有一道刀疤——我们还可以指出，如果你想知道的话，那道刀疤是在右半边脸上。噢，好啦！我都告诉你了。现在，我的同伴比尔是住在这所房子里吧？” 我告诉他，船长到外面散步去了。 “哪条路，孩子？他走的是哪条路？” 我指出了那块岩石，还告诉他船长就快要回来了，并且还回答了几个其它的问题。“噢，”他说，“这对于我的同伴比尔来说将和喝酒一样适合。” 当他说这些话的时候，他脸上的表情却一点也不愉快，于是我就掂量着这陌生人是弄错了人，即使他有意说那样的话。但这不关我的事，我想，而且，此外我也想不出该怎么办。这个陌生人一直守候在旅店的门边，盯着那个角落，就像猫在等耗子出现似的。一旦我向外面走出一步，他就立刻召唤我回来。要是我的动作比他要求的慢了一拍的话，他的脂肪过多的脸就变得特别可怕起来，他用足以让我跳起来的咒骂命令我进来。只要我一回来，他就又恢复了常态，半是巴结、半是讽消地拍拍我的肩膀，说我是个好孩子，而他特别喜欢我。“我有个儿子，”他说，“和你就像一个模子里出来的，他是我最大的骄傲。但是对孩子们来说，最要紧的是听话，孩子——听话。嗯，如果你跟着比尔航行过，你就不需要站在那儿让比尔对你说两遍——你肯定不会。那不是比尔的作风，也不是和他一起航海的人的作风。啊，这肯定是我的同伴比尔，胳膊底下夹个望远镜，哎呀，真的，你和我得回到客厅里去，孩子，到门后边去，我们要让比尔惊奇一下，啊，我再说一遍。” 说着，陌生人和我一起退回到客厅里，把我藏在他后面的角落里，以便我们两个都能藏到开着的门后面。我非常的不安和惊慌，你可以想象得出来，而当我注意到陌生人自己也相当地恐惧时，我的恐惧就又重了一层。他擦了擦短刀的柄，又活动了一下鞘里的刀身，在我们等待的时间里，他不断地咽口水，就好像我们通常说的有什么东西卡在喉咙里似的。 终于，船长大步走进来，砰地一声关掉他身后的门，既不向右看，也不向左看，径直穿过房间，向给他预备好的早餐走过去。 “比尔。”陌生人叫道，用那种在我看来是竭力为自己壮胆的声调。 船长旋转脚跟，面向我们。他棕色的脸孔一下子变了色，连鼻子都青了，他看那个人的样子就像见了鬼或者邪恶的东西，或者这世上能有的什么更坏的东西。而我，说实话，看到他在刹那间变得既苍老又衰弱，感到有些歉疚。 “来，比尔，你是认得我的，你认得老船友的，比尔，这是肯定的。”陌生人说道。 船长发出一声喘息。 “‘黑狗’！”他说。 “还能是谁呢？”另一个回答说，变得轻松了一些。“‘黑狗’和从前一样，看他的老船友比尔来了，在‘本葆海军上将’旅店。噢，比尔，比尔，我们经历了很多事情，我们两个，自从我失去了两根指头。”他举起了他残废的手。 “喂，听着，”船长说，“既然你找到了我，我就在此地，那么好吧，说，有何贵干？” “有你的，比尔，”“黑狗”答道，“你说得对，比尔。我得让这个可爱的孩子上杯郎姆酒，因为我已有了这么个嗜好。你乐意的话，我们坐下来，像老船友似地好好谈谈。” 当我端来郎姆酒的时候，他们已经分坐在船长早餐桌的两边——“黑狗”靠近门斜坐着，以便盯着老船长，另一方面，我想，也是为了给自己留个退路。 他命令我出去，同时让房门开着。“甭想从你的钥匙孔里探听我些什么，小家伙。”他说。于是我撇下他们俩，退回到酒吧间里去。 很长一段时间，尽管我竭力地听，却除了低低的叽哩咕噜声之外什么也听不清，但是声音终于开始大了起来，我能听到一句两句了，多半是船长的咒骂。 “不，不，不，不，到此为止吧！”他叫道，并且又重复了一遍，“如果要上绞架，就统统都上，我就是这么说的。” 接着就是突如其来的咒骂和其它什么声音的大爆发——椅子和桌子倒在了一块儿，跟着是金属的撞击声，然后是一声痛苦的嘶喊，接下来我看到“黑狗”拼命逃窜，而船长穷追不舍，两人都拔出了水手用的短刀，前者左肩淌着血。就在门口，船长给了那个亡命徒有力的一刀，要不是我们“本葆海军上将”的大招牌挡着，准能将他一劈到底，至今你还可以看到下边的那个缺口哩。 这是那场战斗的最后一击。“黑狗”尽管受了伤，一旦他跑到了路上，却显示出令人叫绝的脚力来，不到半分钟就消失在小丘边上。船长这边却怔怔地直盯着招牌，像个木头人似的。然后他揉了几把眼睛，最后返身回屋了。 “吉姆，”他说，“酒！”当他说话的时候，他有点儿摇晃，于是用一只手扶住墙支撑着身体。 “你受伤了吗？”我叫道。 “酒，”他重复着，“我必须离开这里。酒！酒！” 我飞奔着去取酒，但发生的这一切使我心烦意乱，我打碎了一个杯子，碰坏了一个活嘴儿，而当我返回来的时候，我听到客厅里有重物倒地的声音，跑进去时，只见船长仰面躺在地板上。这时，母亲已被叫声和打斗声惊动了，跑下楼来帮助我。我们合力搬起了他的脑袋，他的呼吸非常重浊和吃力，眼睛闭着，脸色十分难看。 “哎呀，乖乖，”母亲叫道，“这屋子怎么这么倒霉呀！你可怜的爸爸还在病着！” 这会儿，至于究竟怎样才能帮助船长，我们都没了主意，除了想到他是在同陌生人的混战中得了这个致命伤外，简直想不到别的。我甚至拿来了酒，试着往他的喉咙里灌；但是他牙关紧闭，下颚像铁一样僵硬。当门打开、利弗西医生走进来时，我们大喜过望。他是来看望我父亲的。 “噢，大夫，”我们叫道，“该怎么办哪？他伤在哪儿啦？” “伤了？乱弹琴！”医生说，“和你我一样完好。这个人是中风了，就像我警告过他的那样。现在，霍金斯太太，可能的话，你赶紧跑到楼上你丈夫那儿，告诉他没什么事。至于我这方面，一定会尽力挽救这个家伙毫无价值的生命。吉姆，给我拿个盆来。” 当我取来盆时，医生已招起了船长的衣袖，露出了他粗壮的胳膊，上面有几处刺花。前臂上精巧、清晰地刺着“好运在此”、“顺风”以及“比尔•彭斯的爱物”，而上头挨近肩膀的地方则刺着个一个人吊在绞刑架上的草图。刺这些画，照我看，是费了好大的功夫。 “是个预言，”医生边用手指触摸着这幅画边说。“现在，比尔•彭斯船长——如果这是你的名字的话，我们来看看你血液的颜色。吉姆，”他说，“你怕血吗？” “不，先生。”我说。 “那么好吧，”他说，“你端着盆。”说着他拿起刺血针刺穿了一条静脉。 在放了大量的血之后，船长睁开了眼睛，迷迷糊糊地望着四周。他先是认出了医生，明显地皱了皱眉，然后他的目光又扫向我，看上去就放松了些。但是猛然间他的脸色就变了，挣扎着要起来，叫道：“‘黑狗’在哪儿？”“这儿没什么‘黑狗’，”医生说，“只有你躺在这里。你一直酗酒，已经中风，就像我曾明白地告诉过你的那样。而巳刚刚，我违反了我的意愿，抢先把你从坟墓里拖了出来。现在，彭斯先生——” “那不是我的名字。”他打断道。 “我当然明白。”医生回答说。 “这是我知道的一个海盗的名字。我这样称呼你是方便起见，而我不得不对你说的是：一杯酒不会要你的命，但是如果你喝了一杯，你就会接二连三地喝下去，我以我法官的假发来打赌，要是你恶习不改，你会送命——你明白这个意思吗？——送命，并且去你该去的地方，像《圣经》里的那个人。现在，来，努把力，我来帮你回到床上去。” 我们俩费了九牛二虎之力，设法把他抬到了楼上，放倒在床上，使他的脑袋靠在了枕头上，好像他快要昏迷过去了。 “现在，我提醒你，”医生说，“好让我问心无愧——‘酒’这个字眼对你而言即是死亡。” 说完，他就拉着我的胳膊去看我的父亲。 “不碍事，”当他关上门的时候说道，“我给他放掉的血足以使他安静一会。他会在那儿躺上一个星期——对他对你来说最好不过，但是再来一次中风的话，他就没救了。” |
Treasure IslandChapter III ABOUT noon I stopped at the captain's door with some cooling drinks and medicines. He was lying very much as we had left him, only a little higher, and he seemed both weak and excited. `Jim,' he said, `you're the only one here that's worth anything; and you know I've been always good to you. Never a month but I've given you a silver fourpenny for yourself. And now you see, mate, I'm pretty low, and deserted by all; and Jim, you'll bring me one noggin of rum, now, won't you, matey?' `The doctor--' I began. But he broke in cursing the doctor, in a feeble voice, but heartily. `Doctors is all swabs,' he said; `and that doctor there, why, what do he know about seafaring men? I been in places hot as pitch, and mates dropping round with Yellow Jack, and the blessed land a - heaving like the sea with earthquakes - what do the doctor know of lands like that? - and I lived on rum, I tell you. It's been meat and drink, and man and wife, to me; and if I'm not to have my rum now I'm a poor old hulk on a lee shore, my blood'll be on you, Jim, and that Doctor swab;' and he ran on again for a while with curses. `Look, Jim, how my fingers fidges,' he continued, in the pleading tone. `I can't keep 'em still, not I. I haven't had a drop this blessed day. That doctor's a fool, I tell you. If I don't have a drain o' rum, Jim, I'Il have the horrors; I seen some on 'em already. I seen old Flint in the corner there, behind you; as plain as print, I seen him; and if I get the horrors, I'm a man that has lived rough, and I'll raise Cain. Your doctor himself said one glass wouldn't hurt me. I'll give you a golden guinea for a noggin, Jim.' He was growing more and more excited, and this alarmed me for my father, who was very low that day, and needed quiet; besides, I was reassured by the doctor's words, now quoted to me, and rather offended by the offer of a bribe. `I want none of your money,' said I, `but what you owe my father. I'll get you one glass, and no more.' When I brought it to him, he seized it greedily, and drank it out. `Ay, ay,' said he, `that's some better, sure enough. And now, matey, did that doctor say how long I was to lie here in this old berth?' `A week at least,' said I. `Thunder!' he cried. `A week! I can't do that: they'd have the black spot on me by then. The lubbers is going about get the wind of me this blessed moment; lubbers as couldn't keep what they got, and want to nail what is another's. Is that seamanly behaviour, now, I want to know? But I'm saving soul. I never wasted good money of mine, nor lost neither; and I'll trick 'em again. I'm not afraid on 'em. I'll shake out another reef, matey, and daddle 'em again.' As he was thus speaking, he had risen from bed with great difficulty, holding to my shoulder with a grip that almost made me cry out, and moving his legs like so much dead weight. His words, spirited as they were in meaning, contrasted sadly with the weakness of the voice in which they were uttered. He paused when he had got into a sitting position on the edge. `That doctor's done me,' he murmured. `My ears is singing. Lay me back.' Before I could do much to help him he had fallen back again to his former place, where he lay for a while silent. `Jim,' he said, at length, `you saw that seafaring man to-day?' `Black Dog?' I asked. `Ah! Black Dog,' says he. `He's a bad 'un; but there's worse that put him on. Now, if I can't get away nohow, and the tip me the black spot, mind you, it's my old sea-chest they're after; you get on a horse - you can,can't you? Well, there you get on a horse, and go to - well, yes, I will! - to this eternal doctor swab, and tell him to pipe all hands magistrates and such - and he'll lay 'em aboard at the "Admiral Benbow" - all old Flint's crew, man and boy, all on 'em that's left. I was first mate, I was, old Flint's first mate and I'm the on'y one as knows the place. He gave it me at Savannah, when he lay a-dying, like as if I was to now, you see. But you won't peach unless they get the black spot on me, or unless you see that Black Dog again, or a seafaring man with one leg, Jim - him above all.' `But what is the black spot, Captain?' I asked. `That's a summons, mate. I'll tell you if they get that. But you keep your weather-eye open, Jim, and I'll share with you equals, upon my honour.' He wandered a little longer, his voice growing weaker; but soon after I had given him his medicine, which he took like a child, with the remark, `If ever a seaman wanted drugs, it's me,' he fell at last into a heavy, swoon-like sleep, in which I left him. What I should have done had all gone well I do not know. Probably I should have told the whole story to the doctor; for I was in mortal fear lest the captain should repent of his confessions and make an end of me. But as things fell out, my poor father died quite suddenly that evening, which put all other matters on one side. Cur natural distress, the visits of the neighbours, the arranging of the funeral, and all the work of the inn to be carried on in the meanwhile, kept me so busy that I had scarcely time to think of the captain, far less to be afraid of him. He got downstairs next morning, to be sure, and had his meals as usual, though he ate little, and had more, I am afraid, than his usual supply of rum, for he helped himself out of the bar, scowling and blowing through his nose, and no one dared to cross him. On the night before the funeral he was as drunk as ever; and it was shocking, in that house of mourning, to hear him singing away at his ugly old sea-song; but, weak as he was, we were all in the fear of death for him, and the doctor was suddenly taken up with a case many miles away, and was never near the house after my father's death. I have said the captain was weak; and indeed he seemed rather to grow weaker than regain his strength. He clambered up and downstairs, and went from the parlour to the bar and back again, and sometimes put his nose out of doors to smell the sea, holding on to the walls as he went for support, and breathing hard and fast like a man on a steep mountain. He never particularly addressed me, and it is my belief he had as good as forgotten his confidences; but his temper was more flighty, and, allowing for his bodily weakness, more violent than ever. He had an alarming way now when he was drunk of drawing his cutlass and laying it bare before him on the table. But, with all that, he minded people less, and seemed shut up in his own thoughts and rather wandering. Once, for instance, to our extreme wonder, he piped up to a different air, a kind of country love-song, that he must have learned in his youth before he had begun to follow the sea. So things passed until, the day after the funeral, and about three o'clock of a bitter, foggy, frosty afternoon, I was standing at the door for a moment full of sad thoughts about my father, when I saw someone drawing slowly near along the road. H was plainly blind, for he tapped before him with a stick, an wore a great green shade over his eyes and nose; and he was hunched, as if with age or weakness, and wore a huge old tattered sea-cloak with a hood, that made him appeal positively deformed. I never saw in my life a more dreadful looking figure. He stopped a little from the inn, and, raisin his voice in an odd sing-song, addressed the air in front of him:-- `Will any kind friend inform a poor blind man, who has lost the precious sight of his eyes in the gracious defence of his native country, England, and God bless King George! - where or in what part of this country he may now be?' `You are at the "Admiral Benbow," Black Hill Cove, my good man,' said I. `I hear a voice,' said he - `a young voice. Will you give me your hand, my kind, young friend, and lead me in?'I held out my hand, and the horrible, soft-spoken, eyeless creature gripped it in a moment like a vice. I was so much startled that I struggled to withdraw; but the blind man pulled me close up to him with a single action of his arm. `Now, boy,' he said, `take me in to the captain.' `Sir,' said I, `upon my word I dare not.' `Oh,' he sneered, `that's it! Take me in straight, or I'll break your arm.' And he gave it, as he spoke, a wrench that made me cry out. `Sir,' said I, `it is for yourself I mean. The captain is not what he used to be. He sits with a drawn cutlass. Another gentleman--' `Come, now, march,' interrupted he; and I never heard a voice so cruel, and cold, and ugly as that blind man's. It cowed me more than the pain; and I began to obey him at once, walking straight in at the door and towards the parlour, where our sick old buccaneer was sitting, dazed with rum. The blind man clung close to me, holding me in one iron fist, and leaning almost more of his weight on me than I could carry. `Lead me straight up to him, and when I'm in view, cry out, "Here's a friend for you, Bill." If you don't, I'll do this;' and with that he gave me a twitch that I thought would have made me faint. Between this and that, I was so utterly terrified of the blind beggar that I forgot my terror of the captain, and as I opened the parlour door, cried out the words he had ordered in a trembling voice. The poor captain raised his eyes, and at one look the rum went out of him, and left him staring sober. The expression of his face was not so much of terror as of mortal sickness. He made a movement to rise, but I do not believe he had enough force left in his body. `Now, Bill, sit where you are,' said the beggar. `If I can't see, I can hear a finger stirring. Business is business. Hold out your left hand. Boy, take his left hand by the wrist, and bring it near to my right.' We both obeyed him to the letter, and I saw him pass something from the hollow of the hand that held his stick into the palm of the captain's, which closed upon it instantly. `And now that's done,' said the blind man; and at the words he suddenly left hold of me, and, with incredible accuracy and nimbleness, skipped out of the parlour and into the road, where, as I still stood motionless, I could hear his stick go tap-tap-tapping into the distance. It was some time before either I or the captain seemed to gather our senses; but at length, and about at the same moment, I released his wrist, which I was still holding, and he drew in his hand and looked sharply into the palm. `Ten o'clock!' he cried. `Six hours. We'll do them yet;' and he sprang to his feet. Even as he did so, he reeled, put his hand to his throat stood swaying for a moment, and then, with a peculiar sound fell from his whole height face foremost to the floor. ran to him at once, calling to my mother. But haste was all in vain. The captain had been struck dead by thundering apoplexy. It is a curious thing to understand, for I had certainly never liked the man, though of late I had begun to pity him, but as soon as I saw that he was dead, I burst into a flood of tears. It was the second death I had known, an the sorrow of the first was still fresh in my heart. 宝岛三 黑券 傍午时分，我拿着些冷饮和药片来到了船长的门前。他像我们离开时的样子躺着，只是枕得高了一点，他看上去既虚弱又亢奋。 “吉姆，”他说，“你是这里惟一可靠的人，你知道我一向待你不薄。我月月不落地给你个四便士的角子。可是现在你看，伙计，我是多么不走运，所有的人都背弃了我。来，吉姆，现在给我拿一小杯酒好不好，伙计？” “医生——”我开口说。 但是他却破口骂起医生来，气若游丝，却很动火。“医生都是笨蛋，”他说，“那个医生也不例外，喂，他能对海员懂得多少？我曾在像沥青油那么烫的地方呆过，同伴们得了黄热病一个接一个地倒下去了，那鬼地方又发生了地震，地动得像海一样——医生知道那种地方吗？——我告诉你，我是靠酒活过来的，对我来说，它是粮食、是水、是伙伴、是老婆。要是现在我离了酒，我就是下风岸上的一艘可怜的破废船。你得对我负责，吉姆，而那个医生是个笨蛋。”他又骂了一阵。“看，吉姆，我的指头抖得有多厉害，”他用乞求的口气接着说，“我不能叫它们安分下来，这该死的日子我滴酒未沾哩。我告诉你，医生是个笨蛋。要是我一口酒也喝不上，吉姆，我会得恐怖症的。我已经看到了他们中的一些人。我看见老弗林特在那个角落里，就在你身后，我看见他就像印出来似的清楚。要是我得了恐怖症，我这人就会作害人的事，会搅得死人也不得安生。你的医生也说过一杯对我不碍事，我会为这一小杯酒付给你一个金基尼哩，吉姆。” 他变得越来越兴奋，这使我警醒起来，想到了我的父亲，那天他病得非常厉害，需要安静。另外，他对我引述的医生的那句话使我打消了顾虑，而他想贿赂我的表示却令我相当反感。 “我不要你的什么钱，”我说，“但是你欠我父亲的。我可以给你弄一杯，多了不行。” 当我把酒拿给他时，他贪婪地一把抓过去，一饮而尽。 “啊，啊，”他说，“这会儿好多了，千真万确。好吧，伙计，那医生说我要在这破床上躺多久？” “至少一个星期。”我说。 “天呀！”他叫道，“一个星期！我可办不到，到那时他们就会给我下黑券了。那些半吊子水手们在这个该死的时候会找到我的，他们既保不住自己得到的东西，却又想攫取别人的。这种水手的行径，如今我还会不知道吗？但是我是节俭的，我从不浪费掉我的一个子儿，也不会让它们白白跑掉。我得逗他们一下子，我并不怕他们。我要再一次的扬帆启航，伙计，要再捉弄他们一回。” 当他这么说着的时候，他已经吃力地从床上抬起身子来，一把抓住我的肩膀，几乎要使我叫出声来，一边还挪动着他那死沉的腿。他讲这番话时，口气的强硬和声音的微弱形成了可悲的对比。当他终于坐到床边之后，他停顿了一下。“那个医生害苦我了，”他咕哝着，“我的耳朵嗡嗡直响。放我躺下来。” 我还没来得及帮上他多少忙，他就已经倒在原先躺着的地方了，半晌不语。 “吉姆，”最后他说，“你今天看见那个船员了吧？” “‘黑狗’？”我问道。 “啊！‘黑狗’！”他说。“他是个坏蛋，但是派他来的人更坏。现在，要是他们给我下了黑券而我跑不开的话，我跟你讲，他们想要的是我那只航海用的旧箱子，你就骑上一匹马——你行的，不是吗？然后，你骑上马去——噢，对了，我有主意了——去那个永远是笨蛋的医生那儿，让他召集所有的人来——地方官吏之类的——他就会在‘本葆海军上将’这儿将他们一网打尽——所有老弗林特的部下，老的少的，所有这些人，一个不拉。我曾经是大副，我是，老弗林特的大副，知道那地方的人就剩我一个了。在萨凡纳①，在他临死的时候，他把它给了我，你看，就像这会儿。但是，除非他们给我下了黑券，或是你看到‘黑狗’又来了，或者是那个‘独腿水手’——特别是这个人，吉姆，你再去告发。” ①北美洲港口，靠大西洋，在佛罗里达半岛以北。——译者注 “但是，什么是‘黑券’呢，船长？”我问道。 “那是一种通牒，伙计。要是他们送来了，我会告诉你。但你要留神，吉姆。我以我的名誉起誓，好处我们五五开。” 他胡思乱想了一小会儿，声音微弱了下来；但我赶紧给他吃了药，他像个孩子似的嘟囔着：“要是竟然有水手吃药，就是我了。”最后，他昏昏沉沉地睡去，像死了似的，使我得以脱身走开。我不知如何是好，也许我该把这前前后后都告诉医生，因为我怕得厉害，怕船长后悔他的坦白而要了我的命。但是这时出了事，我可怜的父亲这天晚间突然去世了，这使所有其它的事情都靠到了一边。我们发自天性的悲恸，邻居们的探望，葬礼的安排，旅店的一切事务，在这段时间里这一切同时到来，使我忙得腾不出时间来想船长，更别说怕他了。 说真的，第二天早上他就下楼了，像往常一样进餐，尽管吃得极少，酒喝得恐怕比平时给他的还多，因为他一直呆在酒吧间里，满脸怒气并哼着鼻子，这使得谁都不敢从他面前经过。在葬礼的前一天晚上，他又像往常一样喝得烂醉，在这幢悲恸的房子里，听到他难听的水手老调，不禁使人毛骨悚然。由于他很虚弱，我们都担心他一命归西，而医生突然到很多里地以外的地方出诊去了，自我父亲去世后他便再没到我家附近来过。我说过船长很虚弱，他的确看上去越来越糟糕而不是在恢复元气。他上楼又下楼，从客厅走到酒吧又走回客厅，有时他到门外嗅嗅海的气味，用手扶着墙行走，呼吸沉重而急促，就像人在爬陡峭的高山时的样子。他从不找我专门谈话，我但愿他忘掉了所托之事。但是他的脾气更加乖戾了，并且随着身体的日渐衰弱，也比平时更为粗暴。现在，他采取了一项警戒措施，就是当他饮酒时，把那把水手用的短刀抽出来放到他面前的桌子上。但是，这么做的同时，他对别人的注意反倒减少了，似乎沉浸在自己的思想里，到了很远的地方。比方说有一次，他使我们万分惊奇地突然哼出了一个不同的调子，一首乡村的情歌，那肯定是在他出海之前的年轻时候学会的。 事情就这样地过去了，直到葬礼后一个多雾、严寒的下午，大约三点多钟，我在门口站了一会儿，满怀对我父亲的哀思。这时，我看见有个人正慢慢地沿着大路向这边走来。他显然是个瞎子，因为他用棍子敲着路面，一个大绿罩子遮住了他的眼睛和鼻子。他弯曲着身子，似乎是上了岁数，要不就是因为有病的关系。他穿一件很大的、带着个风帽的旧航海斗篷，使他看上去格外怪异。我这一生从未见过比这更吓人的形象了。他在旅店前停了一下，接着用一种古怪的、唱歌似的调子提着嗓子向他前面的空中探问道： “哪个好心人愿意告诉我这个可怜的瞎人——一个为了庄严地保卫他的祖国英格兰和神佑的乔治王而失去了宝贵的视力的人——他现在在这个镇子的什么地方？” “你现在是在‘本葆海军上将’旅店前，在黑岗湾，我的好人儿。”我说。 “我听见了一个声音，”他说，——“一个年轻的声音。你愿意把你的手给我、领我进去吗，我好心的年轻朋友？” 我伸出了我的手，立刻，那个可怕的、软声软气的瞎眼的家伙像一把虎头钳似地抓住了它。我大吃一惊，想挣脱开，但是那个瞎子用胳膊一下子把我拖到他身边来。 “现在，孩子，”他说，“带我去见船长。” “先生，”我说，“说实话，我不敢。” “噢，”他冷笑道，“原来如此呀！马上带我去，不然我拧断你的胳膊。” 说着他就拧了一下子，这一下拧得我叫了起来。 “先生，”我说，“我是为你着想，船长不同从前了，现在他拿着刀坐在那里。另外一位先生——” “喂，过来，往前走，”他打断了我。我从来没听过像这瞎子这样严酷、冰冷和难听的声音，这比疼痛还要令我恐惧，所以我马上便老老实实地服从他了，走进门去，直奔客厅，我们那个生着病的老海盗正坐在那儿，喝得烂醉呢。瞎子牢牢靠紧我，用那只铁手抓着我，差不多全身的重量都压到了我身上，弄得我都快要垮下去。“马上把我领到他跟前，当他能看到我时，喊：‘这是你的朋友，比尔，’要是你不照办，我就会这样。”说完他猛地拽了我一下子，我想我快要昏过去了。两相比较，我对这个瞎乞丐是如此的惧怕，以致于打消了我对船长的畏惧，当我打开客厅的门时，便用颤抖的声音喊出了他命令我喊的那句话。 可怜的船长抬起了他的眼睛，一瞥之下便酒意全无，清醒地瞪着眼。他脸上的表情与其说是恐惧，倒不如说是垂死的病容。他挣扎着要起来，但是我不相信他有足够的力气来挪动他的身体。 “现在，比尔，坐在你原来的地方，”乞丐说，“我不能看，却能听得到一根指头的动静。公事公办，伸出你的右手。孩子，捉住他的右手腕，拿到我右手这边来。” 我们两个都照他的话做了，接着，我看到他从握手杖的手心里拿出个东西放到了船长的手上，船长立刻握住了它。 “现在，完事了。”瞎子说，说完他就突然放开我，以令人难以置信的精确和敏捷窜出了客厅，到了路上。我呆呆地站在那里，能听得到他的棍子笃笃地探路的声音，那声音越来越远了。 我和船长都费了半天工夫才缓过神来。但是最后，几乎是同时，我松开了一直抓着的他的腕子，而他抽回了那只手，迅速地看了看掌心。 “十点！”他叫道，“还有六个钟头，我们还可以捉弄他们。”说着他跳了起来。尽管如此，他还是遇到了麻烦，他用手捏着喉咙，站在那儿摇晃了一会儿，接着便头朝下轰地一声栽倒在地板上。 我赶紧跑过去，一边喊我的母亲。但是再快也无济于事了，船长由于中风，已经一命呜呼了。这是不好理解的一件怪事，因为我肯定从未喜欢过这个人，尽管近来开始可怜他，可一旦看到他死了，我却禁不住泪如泉涌。这是我知道的第二个人的死亡，而对前一个人的哀思在我心里仍清晰如新。 |
| Treasure IslandChapter IV I LOST no time, of course, in telling my mother all that I knew, and perhaps should have told her long before, and we saw ourselves at once in a difficult and dangerous position. Some of the man's money - If he had any - Was certainly due to us; but it was not likely that our captain's shipmates, above all the two specimens seen by me, Black Dog and the blind beggar, would be inclined to give up their booty in payment of the dead man's debts. The captain's order to mount at once and ride for Doctor Livesey would have left my mother alone and unprotected, which was not to be thought of. Indeed, it seemed impossible for either of us to remain much longer in the house: the fall of coals in the kitchen grate, the very ticking of the clock, filled us with alarms. The neighbourhood, to our ears, seemed haunted by approaching footsteps; and what between the dead body of the captain on the parlour floor, and the thought of that detestable blind beggar hovering near at hand, and ready to return, there were moments when, as the saying goes, I jumped in my skin for terror. Something must speedily be resolved upon; and it occurred to us at last to go forth together and seek help in the neighbouring hamlet. No sooner said than done. Bare-headed as we were, we ran out at once in the gathering evening and the frosty fog. The hamlet lay not many hundred yards away though out of view, on the other side of the next cove; and what greatly encouraged me, it was in an opposite direction from that whence the blind man had made his appearance, and whither he had presumably returned. We were not many minutes on the road, though we sometimes stopped to lay hold of each other and hearken. But there was no unusual sound - nothing but the low wash of the ripple and the croaking of the inmates of the wood. It was already candle-light when we reached the hamlet, and I shall never forget how much I was cheered to see the yellow shine in doors and windows; but that, was the best of the help we were likely to get in that quarter For - you would have thought men would have been ashamed of themselves - no soul would consent to return with us to the `Admiral Benbow.' The more we told of our troubles, the more - man, woman, and child - they clung to the shelter of their houses. The name of Captain Flint, though it was strange to me, was well enough known to some there, and carried a great weight of terror. Some of the men who had been to field-work on the far side of the `Admiral Benbow' remembered, besides, to have seen several strangers on the road, and, taking them to be smugglers, to have bolted away and one at least had seen a little lugger in what we called Kitt's Hole. For that matter, anyone who was a comrade of that captain's was enough to frighten them to death. And the short and the long of the matter was, that while we could get several who were willing enough to ride to Dr Livesey's which lay in another direction, not one would help us to defend the inn. They say cowardice is infectious; but then argument is, on the other hand, a great emboldener; and so when each had said his say, my mother made them a speech. She would not, she declared, lose money that belonged to her fatherless boy; `if none of the rest of you dare,' she said, `Jim and I dare. Back we will go, the way we came, and small thanks to you big, hulking, chicken-hearted men. We'll have that chest open, if we die for it. And I'll thank you for that bag, Mrs Crossley, to bring back our lawful money in.' Of course, I said I would go with my mother; and of course they all cried out at our foolhardiness; but even then not a man would go along with us. All they would do was to give me a loaded pistol, lest we were attacked; and to promise to have horses ready saddled, in case we were pursued on our return; while one lad was to ride forward to the doctor's in search of armed assistance. My heart was beating finely when we two set forth in the cold night upon this dangerous venture. A full moon was beginning to rise and peered redly through the upper edges of the fog, and this increased our haste, for it was plain, before we came forth again, that all would be as bright as day, and our departure exposed to the eyes of any watchers. We slipped along the hedges, noiseless and swift, nor did we see or hear anything to increase our terrors, till, to our relief, the door of the `Admiral Benbow' had closed behind us. I slipped the bolt at once, and we stood and panted for a moment in the dark, alone in the house with the dead captain's body. Then my mother got a candle in the bar, and, holding each other's hands, we advanced into the parlour. He lay as we had left him, on his back, with his eyes open, and one arm stretched out. `Draw down the blind, Jim,' whispered my mother; `they might come and watch outside. And now,' said she, when I had done so, `we have to get the key off that; and who's to touch it, I should like to know!' and she gave a kind of sob as she said the words. I went down on my knees at once. On the floor close to his hand there was a little round of paper, blackened on the one side. I could not doubt that this was the black spot; and taking it up, I found written on the other side, in a very good, clear hand, this short message: `You have till ten to-night.' `He had till ten, mother,' said I; and just as I said it, our old clock began striking. This sudden noise startled us shockingly; but the news was good, for it was only six. `Now, Jim,' she said, `that key.' I felt in his pockets, one after another. A few small coins, a thimble, and some thread and big needles, a piece of pigtail tobacco bitten away at the end, his gully with the crooked handle, a pocket compass, and a tinder box, were all that they contained, and I began to despair. `Perhaps it's round his neck,' suggested my mother. Overcoming a strong repugnance, I tore open his shirt at the neck, and there, sure enough, hanging to a bit of tarry string, which I cut with his own gully, we found the key. At this triumph we were filled with hope, and hurried upstairs, without delay, to the little room where he had slept so long, and where his box had stood since the day of his arrival. It was like any other seaman's chest on the outside, the initial `B.' burned on the top of it with a hot iron, and the corners somewhat smashed and broken as by long, rough usage. `Give me the key,' said my mother; and though the lock was very stiff, she had turned it and thrown back the lid in a twinkling. A strong smell of tobacco and tar rose from the interior, but nothing was to be seen on the top except a suit of very good clothes, carefully brushed and folded. They had never been worn, my mother said. Under that, the miscellany began - a quadrant, a tin canikin, several sticks of tobacco, two brace of very handsome pistols, a piece of bar silver, an old Spanish watch and some other trinkets of little value and mostly of foreign make, a pair of compasses mounted with brass, and five or six curious West Indian shells. I have often wondered since why he should have carried about these shells with him in his wandering, guilty, and hunted life. In the meantime, we had found nothing of any value but the silver and the trinkets, and neither of these were in our way. Underneath there was an old boat-cloak, whitened with sea-salt on many a harbour- bar. My mother pulled it up with impatience, and there lay before us, the last things in the chest, a bundle tied up in oilcloth, and looking like papers, and a canvas bag, that gave forth, at a touch, the jingle of gold. `I'll show these rogues that I'm an honest woman,' said my mother. `I'll have my dues, and not a farthing over. Hold Mrs Crossley's bag.' And she began to count over the amount of the captain's score from the sailor's bag into the one that I was holding. It was a long, difficult business, for the coins were of all countries and sizes - doubloons, and louis-d'ors, and guineas, and pieces of eight, and I know not what besides, all shaken together at random. The guineas, too, were about the scarcest, and it was with these only that my mother knew how to make her count. When we were about half-way through, I suddenly put my hand upon her arm; for I had heard in the silent, frosty air, a sound that brought my heart into my mouth - the tap-tapping of the blind man's stick upon the frozen road. It drew nearer and nearer, while we sat holding our breath. Then it struck sharp on the inn door, and then we could hear the handle being turned, and the bolt rattling as the wretched being tried to enter; and then there was a long time of silence both within and without. At last the tapping recommenced, and, to our indescribable joy and gratitude, died slowly away again until it ceased to be heard. `Mother,' said I, `take the whole and let's be going;' for I was sure the bolted door must have seemed suspicious, and would bring the whole hornet's nest about our ears; though how thankful I was that I had bolted it, none could tell who had never met that terrible blind man. But my mother, frightened as she was, would not consent to take a fraction more than was due to her, and was obstinately unwilling to be content with less. It was not yet seven, she said, by a long way; she knew her rights and she would have them; and she was still arguing with me, when a little low whistle sounded a good way off upon the hill. That was enough, and more than enough, for both of us. `I'll take what I have,' she said, jumping to her feet. `And I'll take this to square the count,' said I, picking up the oilskin packet. Next moment we were both groping downstairs, leaving the candle by the empty chest; and the next we had opened the door and were in full retreat. We had not started a moment too soon. The fog was rapidly dispersing; already the moon shone quite clear on the high ground on either side; and it was only in the exact bottom of the dell and round the tavern door that a thin veil still hung unbroken to conceal the first steps of our escape. Far less than half-way to the hamlet, very little beyond the bottom of the hill, we must come forth into the moonlight. Nor was this all; for the sound of several footsteps running came already to our ears, and as we looked back in their direction, a light tossing to and fro and still rapidly advancing, showed that one of the new-comers carried a lantern. `My dear,' said my mother suddenly, `take the money and run on. I am going to faint.' is was certainly the end for both of us, I thought. How I cursed the cowardice of the neighbours; how I blamed my poor mother for her honesty and her greed, for her past foolhardiness and present weakness! We were just at the little bridge, by good fortune; and I helped her, tottering as she was, to the edge of the bank, where, sure enough, she gave a sigh and fell on my shoulder. I do not know how I found the strength to do it at all, and I am afraid it was roughly done; but I managed to drag her down the bank and a little way under the arch. Farther I could not move her, for the bridge was too low to let me do more than crawl below it so there we had to stay - my mother almost entirely exposed and both of us within earshot of the inn. 宝岛四 航海用的大木箱 当然，我没有耽搁时间，我把所知道的一切告诉了母亲，也许本该早就告诉她。我们立刻意识到自己正处在一个既困难又危险的位置上。那个人的一些钱——如果他有些的话——当然属于我们；但是让船长的那些船友们、特别是我见过的那两个怪物——“黑狗”和瞎乞丐——自动放弃他们的战利品，作为船长欠债的抵偿，是不大可能的。至于船长让我立刻骑马去找利弗西医生的嘱咐，将会使母亲被孤单地留下，毫无保障，这是当初不曾设想到的。说实在的，让我们两个中的任何一个在这房子里多呆上一会儿看来都是不可能的：厨房里煤块烧落的声音，钟表走动的嘀嗒声，都使我们胆战心惊。在我们耳中，四周充满了走近的脚步声，并且一看到客厅地板上船长的死尸，就会想到那个可恶的瞎乞丐就在附近徘徊，随时都可能回来。此时此刻，就像谚语说的，我是吓得魂不附体。事情必须尽快做出决断，最后，我们决定一同到附近的小村子里去求援。说到做到，我们头上什么都没戴，便立刻在渐浓的暮色和寒雾里跑了出去。 小村子在下一个海湾的另一头，尽管从这里看不到，却没几百码远。令我勇气大增的是，那与瞎子出现的方向刚好相反，他要来也得从相反的方向来。我们在路上没用多长时间，虽然我们有时停下来紧握着手倾听一阵，但是没什么不寻常的声音——除了轻涛拍岸和寒鸦噪林外，再没什么了。 当我们到达村子时，已是掌灯时分，我永远也不会忘记当我看到窗里橙黄色的灯光时，我是何等的雀跃。但是就这，就像后来被证实的那样，是我们在这个地方所能得到的最大的援助。因为——你会想到，人们该为他们自己感到羞耻——没有人愿意答应同我们一起回“本葆海军上将”旅店。我们越说我们遇到的麻烦，男人、女人和孩子们便越往他们自己的屋子里缩。弗林特船长的名字，尽管对我来说是陌生的，对那儿的一些人来说却如雷贯耳，带来了极大的恐慌。在野外劳作、到过“本葆海军上将”旅店那一带的一些人想了起来，他们曾在路上见到了几个陌生人，还以为是走私客哩，因此大家四处逃散了。此外，至少有一人还看到在我们叫做凯特湾的地方有一艘小帆船。因为上述情况，一说是弗林特船长的同伴，就把他们吓得要死。总而言之，事情的结果是，有几个人自愿和我们一道骑马去找住在另一头的利弗西医生，但是没有一个人愿意帮助我们去保卫旅店。 据说怯懦是会传染的，但另一方面，辩论却可以极大地鼓舞人，于是当每个人都发表了自己的见解后，母亲也向他们发表了演说。她宣布，她不会让属于她没了父亲的孩子的钱白白损失掉，“要是你们没有一个人敢去的话，”她说，“我和吉姆敢。我们会沿着来时的路回去，对你们这些胆小的笨蛋来说，我们多余言谢。我们会把那个箱子打开的，即使为此付出生命也在所不惜。克罗斯莱太太，谢谢你给我们个袋子，好用它去装回我们应得的钱财。” 当然，我说我会和母亲一道走。他们也当即为我们的英勇而惊呼起来；但是即便这样也没有一个人愿意和我们一道走。他们所愿做的只是给了我一支装好子弹的手熗，以防遭到袭击，并且还答应一旦我们在返回的路上被追赶，他们就备好马鞍；同时，派了个年轻人骑马去医生那里寻求武装支援。 当我俩在这个寒夜冒险出发时，我的心跳得很厉害。一轮满月冉冉升起，带着红晕出现在雾气的上方，它催促我们加快步伐，因为显然，当我们再返回时，一切将亮如白昼，而我们一出门便暴露在任何一个监视者的眼皮底下。我们悄无声息地迅速溜过篱笆，不过并没看到或听到任何增加我们恐惧的东西，直到“本葆海军上将”的大门关在了我们身后，我们才大大地松了一口气。 我立刻划好门栓，我们在黑暗中站着喘息了一会儿。房子里只有船长的尸体与我们作伴。接着，母亲在酒吧间里拿了根蜡烛，我们手牵着手走进了客厅。船长像我们离开时的样子躺在那里，仰面朝天，睁着眼睛，一只胳膊向外伸展着。 “拉下百叶窗，吉姆，”母亲小声说道，“他们有可能来，在外面观察我们哩。而眼下，”在我拉下百叶窗后，她说，“我们得从那个人身上拿到钥匙。我真不知道，谁敢碰他哩。”她啜泣着说了那些话。 我立刻跪下身子。在靠近他手的地板上有一个小圆纸片，一面涂了黑色。我立刻断定这就是“黑券”了，就拾起了它。我发现字写在另一面上，书写得非常美观、清晰，上面写道：“你将活到今晚十点。” “允许他活到十点，妈妈。”我说，就在我说的时候，我们的老钟开始打点了。这突如其来的动静把我们吓了一大跳。但是消息不坏，因为这才六点钟。 “眼下，吉姆，”她说，“钥匙。” 我逐个摸了他的口袋，几个小硬币，一个顶针，还有一些线和大针，一支咬了一头的嚼烟，他那把弯柄的招刀，一个袖珍罗盘，还有一个火绒箱①，这就是口袋里面装的全部东西了。我开始失望了。 ①内装火绒、燧石及钢片，用以引火。——译者注 “可能挂在他的脖子上。”母亲提醒道。 我强忍着厌恶扯开了他颈部的衬衫，那里果真挂着一条油腻腻的小绳，我用他的招刀切断了它，我们找到了钥匙。这小小的胜利使我们充满了希望，立刻毫不迟疑地上楼，进到那间他躺了那么久的屋子里，他的箱子自从他搬来时起就立在那里。 它和外面其它任何一个船员的箱子一样，在盖子上用热烙铁烙上了他姓名的起首字母“B”，由于长期不爱惜地使用，箱子角有些磨损、裂纹了。 “把钥匙给我。”母亲说，尽管锁眼很生涩，她转动钥匙，顷刻间便把盖子打开了。 一股浓烈的烟草味和柏油味从里面冒了出来，但是上面除了一套质地优良的好衣裳外，就什么也看不到了。那套衣服是被非常仔细地刷过并叠好了的，母亲说它们从未被穿过。在那套衣服的下面，开始出现了各式各样的东西：一个四分仪，一个锡制的小酒杯，几颗烟，两对非常漂亮的手铣，一根银条，一只西班牙老怀表，还有其它一些不值钱的小装饰品，大多是外国制造的，一副黄铜杆的圆规，还有五六个珍奇的西印度贝壳。从那时起，它常常使我想到，他一定是带着这些贝壳一起度过他流浪、罪恶、被追逐的一生的。 就这样，我们除了些银子和小装饰品外，没有发现任何有价值的东西，就连这两样东西对我们来说也没啥用场。再下面，是一件旧的航海斗篷，在很多个港口沙洲被海盐浸得发白。母亲不耐烦地把它拖了出来，现在展现在我们面前的是箱子里最后的物件了，用油布捆着的一包东西，看上去像是些纸，还有一个帆布包，一碰竟发出了金块的丁当声。 “我要让那些滑头们看看，我是个诚实的妇人，”母亲说，“我要拿回他欠的账，多一个子儿也不要。撑好克罗斯莱太太的袋子。”然后她开始计算船长欠的钱数，从那个水手的袋子里如数取出来，放到我撑着的那个袋子里。 这是个费时费力的活儿，因为这些硬币来自各个国家，模样各异——西班牙金币，还有法国金路易、英国基尼以及八里亚尔的西班牙银元，还有其它我不认识的，都杂乱地混在一起。 基尼大概最少，也是那些硬币里母亲惟一知道如何计数的。我们大概才数到一半，我猛然把手搭到她的胳膊上，因为我在静寂寒冷的空气中听到了一种声音，我的心都快提到嗓子眼了——瞎子的棍子一下下敲在硬梆梆的路面上，声音越来越近，我们坐下来，大气儿也不敢出。接着它急剧地敲击着旅店的门，再接下来我们听到门把手在转动，门栓嘎嘎作响，似乎那个残暴的家伙妄图进来；接着里里外外都是一段长时间的静寂。最后，手杖声重又响起来，令我们无比高兴和宽慰的是，它又渐渐地远去消失了。 “妈妈，”我说，“全都拿上，我们快走吧。”因为我肯定那插着的门势必会引起怀疑，会自找麻烦，虽然我庆幸插上了门，这种庆幸是从没见过那瞎子的人所无法想象的。 但是我的母亲，尽管她也害怕，却不肯多拿走欠账之外的一个子儿，同时也固执地不肯少拿一个子儿。还没到七点，她说，还远着呢。她知道她的权益，她一定要得到它。她还在同我争辩呢，这时从小山上传来一声低低的口哨。那对我们俩来说就足够了，足足够了。 “我要拿走我应得的。”她跳起身来说。 “我要拿这个来抵他的债。”我拾起那个油布包说。 下一刻，我们两人都摸索着下楼，把蜡烛留在了空箱子那儿，接着我们打开了门，开始“总撤退”。我们动身的那一刻，时候已经不早了。雾正很快地消散，月亮在高地上方把两边都照得通明，只有在小山谷的正底部和旅店门的四周尚有薄薄的一层面纱未曾消褪，掩护着我们逃跑的最初几步。离小村子还有一多半路程、刚走出小山谷底部一丁点儿的时候，我们便暴露在月光下了。不仅如此，几个人行进的脚步声已进入到我们的耳中，当我们回头向他们的方向巴望的时候，只见一盏灯前前后后摆荡着，在快速地向前移动，这表明新的来人中有一个拿着提灯。 “哦，宝贝儿，”母亲突然说，“你带上钱往前跑吧，我快要晕过去了。” 这定是我俩的末日了，我想。我是怎样的诅咒那些怯懦的邻居们哪，我又是怎样的责怪我可怜的母亲，由于她的诚实和小气，也由于她过去的蛮勇和现在的软弱。幸运的是，我们刚好来到小桥上。于是我搀着哆哆嗦嗦的母亲来到了岸边，说真的，到了那儿，她叹了口气便歪倒在我的肩上了。我根本不明白是从哪里来的一股劲，恐怕还不小哩，总之我设法把她拖下了岸，在拱桥下还有点路。我再也挪不动她了，因为桥太低，我在下面也只能爬行了。于是我们不得不呆在那里——母亲差不多完全暴露着，而我们俩都在旅店听得到的距离内。 |
| Treasure IslandChapter V My curiosity, in a sense, was stronger than my fear; for I could not remain where I was, but crept back to the bank again, whence, sheltering my head behind a bush of broom, I might command the road before our door. I was scarcely in position ere my enemies began to arrive, seven or eight of them, running hard, their feet beating out of time along the road, and the man with the lantern some paces in front. Three men ran together, hand in hand; and I made out, even through the mist, that the middle man of this trio was the blind beggar. The next moment his voice showed me that I was right. `Down with the door!' he cried. `Ay, ay, sir!' answered two or three; and a rush was made upon the `Admiral Benbow,' the lantern-bearer following; and then I could see them pause, and hear speeches passed in a lower key, as if they were surprised to find the door open. But the pause was brief, for the blind man again issued his commands. His voice sounded louder and higher, as if he were afire with eagerness and rage. `In, in, in!' he shouted, and cursed them for their delay. Four or five of them obeyed at once, two remaining on the road with the formidable beggar. There was a pause, then a cry of surprise, and then a voice shouting from the house:-- `Bill's dead!' But the blind man swore at them again for their delay. `Search him, some of you shirking lubbers, and the rest of you aloft and get the chest,' he cried. I could hear their feet rattling up our old stairs, so that the house must have shook with it. Promptly afterwards, fresh sounds of astonishment arose; the window of the captain's room was thrown open with a slam and a jingle of broken glass; and a man leaned out into the moonlight, head and shoulders, and addressed the blind beggar on the road below him. `Pew,' he cried, `they've been before us. Someone's turned the chest out alow and aloft.' `Is it there?' roared Pew. `The money's there.' The blind man cursed the money. `Flint's fist, I mean,' he cried. `We don't see it here nohow,' returned the man. `Here, you below there, is it on Bill?' cried the blind man again. At that, another fellow, probably him who had remained below to search the captain's body, came to the door of the inn. `Bill's been overhauled a'ready,' said he, `nothin' left.' `It's these people of the inn - it's that boy. I wish I had put his eyes out!' cried the blind man, Pew. `They were here no time ago - they had the door bolted when I tried it. Scatter lads, and find 'em.' `Sure enough, they left their glim here,' said the fellow from the window. `Scatter and find 'em! Rout the house out!' reiterated Pew striking with his stick upon the road. Then there followed a great to-do through all our old inn heavy feet pounding to and fro, furniture thrown over, door: kicked in, until the very rocks re-echoed, and the men came out again, one after another, on the road, and declared that we were nowhere to be found. And just then the same whistle that had alarmed my mother and myself over the dead captain's money was once more clearly audible through the night, but this time twice repeated. I had thought it to be the blind man's trumpet, so to speak, summoning his crew to the assault; but I now found that it was a signal from the hillside towards the hamlet, and, from its effect upon the buccaneers a signal to warn them of approaching danger. `There's Dirk again,' said one. `Twice! We'll have to budge, mates.' `Budge, you skulk!' cried Pew. Dirk was a fool and coward from the first - you wouldn't mind him. They must be close by; they can't be far; you have your hands on it Scatter and look for them, dogs! Oh, shiver my soul,' he cried `if I had eyes!' This appeal seemed to produce some effect, for two of the fellows began to look here and there among the lumber, but halfheartedly, I thought, and with half an eye to their own danger all the time, while the rest stood irresolute on the road. `You have your hands on thousands, you fools, and you hang a leg! You'd be as rich as kings if you could find it, and you know it's here, and you stand there skulking. There wasn't one of you dared face Bill, and I did it - a blind man! And I'm to lose my chance for you! I'm to be a poor, crawling beggar, sponging for rum, when I might be rolling in a coach! If you had the pluck of a weevil in a biscuit you would catch them still.' `Hang it, Pew, we've got the doubloons!' grumbled one. `They might have hid the blessed thing,' said another. `Take the Georges, Pew, and don't stand here squalling.' Squalling was the word for it, Pew's anger rose so high at these objections; till at last, his passion completely taking the upper hand, he struck at them right and left in his blindness, and his stick sounded heavily on more than one. These, in their turn, cursed back at the blind miscreant, threatened him in horrid terms, and tried in vain to catch the stick and wrest it from his grasp. This quarrel was the saving of us; for while it was still raging, another sound came from the top of the hill on the side of the hamlet - the tramp of horses galloping. Almost at the same time a pistol-shot, flash and report, came from the hedge-side. And that was plainly the last signal of danger; for the buccaneers turned at once and ran, separating in every direction, one seaward along the cove, one slant across the hill, and so on, so that in half a minute not a sign of them remained but Pew. Him they had deserted, whether in sheer panic or out of revenge for his ill words and blows, I know not; but there he remained behind, tapping up and down the road in a frenzy, and groping and calling for his comrades. Finally he took the wrong turn, and ran a few steps past me, towards the hamlet, crying:-- `Johnny, Black Dog, Dirk,' and other names, `you won't leave old Pew, mates - not old Pew!' Just then the noise of horses topped the rise, and four or five riders came in sight in the moonlight, and swept at full gallop down the slope. At this Pew saw his error, turned with a scream, and ran straight for the ditch, into which he rolled. But he was on his feet again in a second, and made another dash, now utterly bewildered, right under the nearest of the coming horses. The rider tried to save him, but in vain. Down went Pew with a cry that rang high into the night; and the four hoofs trampled and spurned him and passed by. He fell on his side then gently collapsed upon his face, and moved no more. I leaped to my feet and hailed the riders. They were pulling up, at any rate, horrified at the accident; and I soon saw what they were. One, tailing out behind the rest, was a lad this had gone from the hamlet to Dr Livesey's; the rest were revenue officers, whom he had met by the way, and with whom he had had the intelligence to return at once. Some news of the lugger in Kitt's Hole had found its way to Supervisor Dance, and set him forth that night in our direction, and to that circumstance my mother and I owe our preservation from death. Pew was dead, stone dead. As for my mother, when we had carried her up to the hamlet, a little cold water and salts and that soon brought her back again, and she was none the worse for her terror, though she still continued to deplore the balance of the money. In the meantime the supervisor rode on, as fast as he could, to Kitt's Hole but his men had to dismount and grope down the dingle leading, and sometimes supporting, their horses, and in continual fear of ambushes; so it was no great matter for surprise that when they got down to the Hole the lugger was already under way, though still close in. He hailed her. A voice replied, telling him to keep out of the moonlight or he would get some lead in him, and at the same time bullet whistled close by his arm. Soon after, the lugger doubled the point and disappeared. Mr Dance stood there as he said, `like a fish out of water,' and all he could do was to despatch a man to B - to warn the cutter. `And that,' said he, `is just about as good as nothing. They've got off clean, and there's an end. Only,' he added, `I'm glad I trod on Master Pew's corns;' for by this time he had heard my story. I went back with him to the `Admiral Benbow,' and you cannot imagine a house in such a state of smash; the very clock had been thrown down by these fellows in their furious hunt after my mother and myself; and though nothing had actually been taken away except the captain's money-bag and a little silver from the till, I could see at once that we were ruined. Mr Dance could make nothing of the scene. `They got the money, you say? Well, then, Hawkins, what in fortune were they after? More money, I suppose?' `No, sir; not money, I think,' replied I. `In fact, sir, I believe I have the thing in my breast-pocket; and, to tell you the truth, I should like to get it put in safety.' `To be sure, boy; quite right,' said he. `I'll take it, if you like.' `I thought, perhaps, Dr Livesey--' I began. `Perfectly right,' he interrupted, very cheerily, `perfectly right - a gentleman and a magistrate. And, now I come to think of it, I might as well ride round there myself and report to him or squire. Master Pew's dead, when all's done; not that I regret it, but he's dead, you see, and people will make it out against an officer of his Majesty's revenue, if make it out they can. Now, I'll tell you, Hawkins: if you like, I'll take you along.' I thanked him heartily for the offer, and we walked back to the hamlet where the horses were. By the time I had told mother of my purpose they were all in the saddle. `Dogger,' said Mr Dance, `you have a good horse; take up this lad behind you.' As soon as I was mounted, holding on to Dogger's belt, the supervisor gave the word, and the party struck out at a bouncing trot on the road to Dr Livesey's house. 宝岛五 瞎子的下场 从某种意义上说，我的好奇心远远超过了恐惧，因为我没能呆在原地，而是又匍匐着爬回了岸上，在那儿，我把脑袋隐蔽到一丛金雀花后面，可以俯视到我们门前的那条路。我几乎还没怎么藏好，我的敌人们就开始到来了，他们有七八个人，步伐不合拍子地沿着路拼命跑着，拿着提灯的那个人领先几步。有三个人手拉手地跑在一块儿，即便有雾我也能断定，三人小组中当间的那个就是瞎乞丐。接下去的一刻，他的声音证实了我的判断。 “把门撞开！”他叫嚣着。 “是，是，先生！”有两三个人呼应着。接着便发动了对“本葆海军上将”旅店的进攻，提灯的人跟了上去。然后我看到他们停了下来，还听见低低的谈话声，似乎他们发现门是开着的而感到惊奇。但是只安静了那么一小会儿，瞎子就又发布命令了。他的声音听起来更大更响了，好像他被欲望和狂怒烧着了一样。 “进，进，进！”他叫道，一边咒骂他们拖拖拉拉。 他们中的四五个人立刻遵命，有两个同那可恶的乞丐留在路上。停息了一阵，接着是一声惊呼，再接下来是从屋子里传出的一声喊叫： “比尔死了！” 但是瞎子只是又一次地咒骂他们的拖拉。 “你们这些偷懒的饭桶，留两个人搜他，其余人上楼弄箱子！”他叫道。 我能听见他们跑上我们的旧楼梯时咚咚作响的脚步声，那声音震得屋子都快动起来。没多久，又传出一声惊呼；船长房间里的窗户被砰地一声打开了，碎玻璃哗啦地响了一阵。一个人倾斜着身子将脑袋和肩膀伸出到月光下，向站在下面路上的瞎乞丐报告。 “皮乌，”他喊道，“他们在我们之前来过了。有人把箱子上上下下都翻过了。” “东西在吗？”皮乌吼叫道。 “钱在。” 瞎子诅咒钱。 “我是说弗林特的东西。”他喊道。 “我们在这里什么都找不到。”那人答道。 “喂，下边的，它是不是在比尔身上？”瞎子又叫道。 听了这话，另一个家伙，可能是留在下面搜查船长身体的人，走到旅店门口，“比尔已经被人彻底搜过了，”他说，“什么也没留下。” “一定是旅店里的这些人——一定是那个男孩子。我要抠出他的眼珠子！”瞎子皮乌嚷叫道。“他们刚刚还在这儿——我想弄开门时，他们已经上好了门栓。分头行动，小子们，找到他们。” “真的，他们的灯还在这儿。”在窗口的那家伙说。 “分头去找他们！彻底检查这所房子！”皮乌反复地叫嚣着，用他的棍子敲击着路面。 随之而来的便是我们老旅店的一场巨大的骚乱，沉重的脚步声来来去去，咚咚作响，家具扔得遍地都是，门被踢过来踢过去，直到连岩石都发出回声了，这些人才又出来，一个接一个来到路上，然后声称哪儿都没找到我们。就在这时，曾使我和母亲在数死去船长的钱时警醒起来的那个口哨声又一次刺穿了夜空，但这次它重复了两遍。我原以为这是瞎子的号令，是召唤他的船员进击的暗号，可是现在我才发现信号来自山脚下小村子那边，而且，从海盗们对它的反应来看，这是警告他们危险迫近的信号。 “又是德克，”一个说。“两次！伙计们，我们不得不动动地方了。” “动动地方？你这逃兵！”皮乌叫道。“德克从一开始就是个笨蛋和胆小鬼——你们不必理他。他们一定就在跟前，他们走不远，伸手可及。分头去找他们，狗东西！啊，气死我了，”他叫道，“要是我有眼睛！” 这呼吁看起来似乎有点作用，因为有两个家伙开始在杂物堆里到处查看了，只不过三心二意的，另一只眼睛一直在留心自身的危险呢，我想。而其余的人都犹豫不决地站在路上。 “你们伸手就可拿到成千上万的钱，你们这群笨蛋，却在那儿犹犹豫豫！要是你们能找到那东西的话，就会富比王侯，而你们明知道它就在这儿，却站在那里躲躲闪闪。你们中没有一个敢去见比尔，而我做到了——一个瞎子！而我却将因为你们而痛失良机！我将变成个可怜的、爬行的乞丐，讨酒喝，可我本可能坐上四轮马车的！要是你们能有饼于里蛀虫的那点精神的话，你们就可以抓住他们。” “去你的，皮乌，我们已经拿到了西班牙金币！”一个嘟囔道。 “他们可能已经把那好东西藏起来了，”另一个说，“带上些基尼吧，皮乌，别站在这儿骂街了。” “骂街”是个恰当的字眼，皮乌的愤怒在这反对声中如火上浇油一般，到最后，他的暴怒完全占了上风，盲目地对他们左右开弓，他的棍子重重地打在不止一个人身上。 这些人，轮番地咒骂这个瞎了眼的恶棍，恶言恶语威胁他，还徒劳地试图抓住那个根子，从他的掌握下夺过来。 这场争吵救了我们，因为当它还在激烈地进行的时候，从小村子那边的山顶上传来了另一种声音——疾驰的马蹄声。几乎与此同时，一声熗响，从篱笆那边发出一道闪光，报着信号。显然这是对危险的最后警告，因为海盗们立即转身，向四面八方跑开了，一个沿着海湾向海边跑去，一个斜越过小山，如此等等。总之，在不到半分钟的时间里，除了皮乌外一个都不见了。他们抛弃了他，纯粹是因为惊慌，还是因为报复他的恶语和击打，我无从得知；但是他被甩在后面了，在路上一边疯狂地上下敲着，一边摸索、呼唤着他的同伴。最后他转错了方向，从我身边跑过去几步，朝着小村子喊起来：“约翰尼，‘黑狗’，德克，”以及其它的名字，“你们不要丢下老皮乌，伙计们——别丢下老皮乌！” 就在这时，马蹄声越过了山顶，四五个骑手在月光下进入了我们的视野，全速冲下了斜坡。 听到这个，皮乌方才晓得了他的错误，尖叫着转身直奔水沟，在里面跌了一跤，但他立刻又站了起来，又往前冲，这回可是昏了头，正好撞在奔过来的马头下面。 那骑手想挽救他的性命，但是一切枉然，伴随着一声刺破夜空的尖叫，皮乌倒了下去，四只蹄子从他身上踏过去又抛开了他，飞驰而过。他侧身往下倒去，接着轻轻地面朝下趴下，就一动不动了。我一跃而起，向骑手们欢呼。他们勒住了马，无论如何，这突如其来的事件使他们大为惊骇。我很快看清了来人，跟在其余的人后面的一个是从村子出发去找利弗西医生的小伙子，其余的人是税务官员，是他在路上遇到的，他立即机智地请他们一道返回。关于凯特湾的单桅船的一些消息已经传到了行政长官丹斯的耳朵里，因此那晚他朝我们这个方向前来。由于这种情况，我和母亲才幸免于死。 皮乌死了，像石头似的僵硬。至于母亲，当我们把她带到小村子后，一点冷水和溴盐之类的东西很快使她清醒过来，她除了受了点惊吓外没啥大事，尽管她仍在懊悔未曾不差分文地把钱拿走。这时，行政长官骑上了马，尽快地向凯特湾赶去；但是他手下的人不得不从马上下来，沿着有树木的深谷摸索着前进，牵着他们的马，有时则贴在马身上，他们惟恐遭遇埋伏哩。所以，当他们到达海湾时，单桅船已经航行到不远的海面上，也就不足为怪了。行政长官向那只船喊话，一个声音回话了，告诉他离月光地儿远些，不然他得挂点彩，与此同时，有一颗子弹唿哨着擦过他的胳膊。很快，单桅船便绕过海岬消失了。丹斯先生站在那儿，就像他说的，“像一条离开水的鱼，”而他所能做的全部就是派一个人到B地去——去向水上缉私艇报警。“而那，”他说，“用处不大，他们已经溜得干干净净了，事情就算了结了。只是，”他补充道，“我很高兴踩到了皮乌老倌儿的鸡眼。”因为这时他已听我讲了事情的经过。 我随他一道回到“本葆海军上将”旅店，而你怎么也想象不到一个房子会被毁坏成什么样子；在那些家伙疯狂地搜查我母亲和我本人时，连那座钟都被摔到了地上。尽管除了船长的钱袋和钱柜里的一点银子外，他们再没拿什么东西，我还是一眼看出我们完了。丹斯先生对这个场面感到大惑不解。 “你说他们拿到钱了？好吧，那么霍金斯，他们还想要什么呢？我猜，是更多的钱吗？” “不，先生，不是钱，我想，”我回答道，“事实上，先生，我相信那东西就在我上衣胸前的口袋里，而且跟你讲实话，我希望它能放到个安全的地方。” “是这样，孩子，非常正确，”他说，“要是你愿意的话，我来带上它。” “我想，也许，利弗西医生——”我开了个话头。 “相当正确，”他很高兴地打断了我的话，“相当正确——一个绅士和地方法官。现在我想起来了，我最好骑马亲自走一趟，向他或者乡绅报告。皮乌老棺儿已经死了，事既如此，我没啥可惜的，但是，他是死了，你看，只要可能，不知情的人们就会把这事提出来，来反对陛下税务署的官员。现在，跟你讲，霍金斯：要是你愿意的话，我将带你一起去。” 我衷心感谢他的邀请，接着我们便走回到马匹所在的小村子。当我将我的打算都告诉给了母亲时，他们已经全都在马鞍上了。 “道格尔，”丹斯先生说，“你有匹好马，把这小家伙带在你身后。” 我上马抓住了道格尔的腰带后，行政长官便下了出发的命令，马队在通向利弗西医生家的道上矫健地疾驰起来。 |
| Treasure IslandChapter VI WE rode hard all the way, till we drew up before Dr Livesey's door. The house was all dark to the front. Mr Dance told me to jump down and knock, and Dogger gave me a stirrup to descend by. The door was opened almost at once by the maid. `Is Dr Livesey in?' I asked. No, she said; he had come home in the afternoon, but had gone up to the Hall to dine and pass the evening with the squire. `So there we go, boys,' said Mr Dance. This time, as the distance was short, I did not mount, but ran with Dogger's stirrup-leather to the lodge gates, and the long, leafless, moonlit avenue to where the white line of the Hall buildings looked on either hand on great old gardens Here Mr Dance dismounted, and, taking me along with him was admitted at a word into the house. The servant led us down a matted passage, and showed us at the end into a great library, all lined with bookcases a busts upon the top of them, where the squire and Dr Livesey sat, pipe in hand, on either side of a bright fire. I had never seen the squire so near at hand. He was a t; man, over six feet high, and broad in proportion, and he had a bluff, rough-and-ready face, all roughened and redden' and lined in his long travels. His eyebrows were very black and moved readily, and this gave him a look of some tempt not bad, you would say, but quick and high. `Come in, Mr Dance,' says he, very stately and condescending. `Good-evening, Dance,' says the doctor, with a nod. `And good-evening to you, friend Jim. What good wind brings you here?' The supervisor stood up straight and stiff, and told his story like a lesson; and you should have seen how the two gentlemen leaned forward and looked at each other, and forgot to smoke in their surprise and interest. When they heard how my mother went back to the inn, Dr Livesey fairly slapped his thigh, and the squire cried `Bravo!' and broke his long pipe against the grate. Long before it was done, Mr Trelawney (that, you will remember, was the squire's name) had got up from his seat, and was striding about the room, and the doctor, as if to hear the better, had taken off his powdered wig, and sat there, looking very strange indeed with his own close-cropped, black poll. At last Mr Dance finished the story. `Mr Dance,' said the squire, `you are a very noble fellow. And as for riding down that black, atrocious miscreant, I regard it as an act of virtue, sir, like stamping on a cockroach. This lad Hawkins is a trump, I perceive. Hawkins, will you ring that bell? Mr Dance must have some ale.' `And so, Jim,' said the doctor, `you have the thing that they were after, have you?' `Here it is, sir,' said I, and gave him the oilskin packet. The doctor looked it all over, as if his fingers were itching to open it; but, instead of doing that, he put it quietly in the pocket of his coat. `Squire,' said he, `when Dance has had his ale he must, of course, be off on his Majesty's service; but I mean to keep Jim Hawkins here to sleep at try house, and, with your permission, I propose we should have up the cold pie, and let him sup.' `As you will, Livesey,' said the squire; `Hawkins has earned better than cold pie.' So a big pigeon pie was brought in and put on a side-table, and I made a hearty supper, for I was as hungry as a hawk, while Mr Dance was further complimented, and at last dismissed. `And now, squire,' said the doctor. `And now, Livesey,' said the squire, in the same breath. `One at a time, one at a time,' laughed Dr Livesey. `You have heard of this Flint, I suppose?' `Heard of him!' cried the squire. `Heard of him, you say! He was the bloodthirstiest buccaneer that sailed. Blackbeard was a child to Flint. The Spaniards were so prodigiously afraid of him, that, I tell you, sir, I was sometimes proud he was an Englishman. I've seen his top - sails with these eyes, of Trinidad, and the cowardly son of a rum-puncheon that sailed with put back - put back, sir, into Port of Spain.' `Well, I've heard of him myself, in England,' said the doctor. `But the point is, had he money?' `Money!' cried the squire. `Have you heard the story? What were these villains after but money? What do they care for but money? For what would they risk their rascal carcases but money?' `That we shall soon know,' replied the doctor. `But you are so confoundedly hot-headed and exclamatory that I cannot get a word in. What I want to know is this: Supposing that I have here in my pocket some clue to where Flint buried his treasure, will that treasure amount to much?' `Amount, sir!' cried the squire. `It will amount to this; we have the clue you talk about, I fit out a ship in Bristol dock and take you and Hawkins here along, and I'll have the treasure if I search a year.' `Very well,' said the doctor. `Now, then, if Jim is agreeable we'll open the packet;' and he laid it before him on the table. The bundle was sewn together, and the doctor had to get out his instrument-case, and cut the stitches with his medical scissors. It contained two things - a book and a sealed paper. `First of all we'll try the book,' observed the doctor. The squire and I were both peering over his shoulder he opened it, for Dr Livesey had kindly motioned me to come round from the side-table, where I had been eating, to enjoy the sport of the search. On the first page there were only some scraps of writing, such as a man with a pen in his hand might make for idleness or practice. One was the same as the tattoo mark, `Billy Bones his fancy;' then there was `Mr W. Bone mate.' `No more rum.' `Off Palm Key he got itt;' and some other snatches, mostly single words and unintelligible. I could not help wondering who it was that had `got itt,' and what `itt' was that he got. A knife in his back as like as not. `Not much instruction there,' said Dr Livesey, as he passed on. The next ten or twelve pages were filled with a curious series of entries. There was a date at one end of the line and at the other a sum of money, as in common account-books; but instead of explanatory writing, only a varying number of crosses between the two. On the 12th of June, 1745, for instance, a sum of seventy pounds had plainly become due to someone, and there was nothing but six crosses to explain the cause. In a few cases, to be sure, the name of a place would be added, as `Offe Caraccas;' or a mere entry of latitude and longitude, as `62 degrees 17' 20", 19 degrees 2' 40".' The record lasted over nearly twenty years, the amount of the separate entries growing larger as time went on, and at the end a grand total had been made out after five or six wrong additions, and these words appended, `Bones, his pile.' `I can't make head or tail of this,' said Dr Livesey. `The thing is as clear as noonday,' cried the squire. `This is the black-hearted hound's account-book. These crosses stand for the names of ships or towns that they sank or plundered. The sums are the scoundrel's share, and where he feared an ambiguity, you see he added something clearer. "Offe Caraccas," now; you see, here was some unhappy vessel boarded off that coast. God help the poor souls that manned her - coral long ago.' `Right!' said the doctor. `See what it is to be a traveller. Right! And the amounts increase, you see, as he rose in rank.' There was little else in the volume but a few bearings of places noted in the blank leaves towards the end, and a table for reducing French, English, and Spanish moneys to a common value. `Thrifty man!' cried the doctor. `He wasn't the one to be cheated.' `And now,' said the squire, `for the other.' The paper had been sealed in several places with a thimble by way of seal; the very thimble, perhaps, that I had found in the captain's pocket. The doctor opened the seals with great care, and there fell out the map of an island, with latitude and longitude, soundings, names of hills, and bays and inlets, and every particular that would be needed to bring a ship to a safe anchorage upon its shores. It was about nine miles long and five across, shaped, you might say, like a fat drag' standing up, and had two fine land - locked harbours, and hill in the centre part marked `The Spy-glass.' There we several additions of a later date; but, above all, three cross of red ink - two on the north part of the island, one in the south- west, and, beside this last, in the same red ink, and a small, neat hand, very different from the captain's tottery characters, these words: - `Bulk of treasure here.' Over on the back the same hand had written this further information:-- `Tall tree, Spy-glass shoulder, bearing a point to the N of N.N.E. `Skeleton Island E.S.E. and by E. `Ten feet. `The bar silver is in the north cache; you can find it by the trend of the east hummock, ten fathoms south of the black crag with the face on it. `The arms are easy found, in the sand hill, N. point of nor inlet cape, bearing E. and a quarter N. `J. F.' That was all; but brief as it was, and, to me, incomprehensible, it filled the squire and Dr Livesey with delight. `Livesey,' said the squire, `you will give up this wretched practice at once. To - morrow I start for Bristol. In three weeks' time - three weeks! - two weeks - ten days - we'll have the best ship, sir, and the choicest crew in England. Hawkins shall come as cabin - boy. You'll make a famous cabin-boy Hawkins. You, Livesey, are ship's doctor; I am admiral. We'll take Redruth, Joyce, and Hunter. We'll ha favourable winds, a quick passage, and not the least difficult in finding the spot, and money to eat - to roll in - to play du and drake with ever after.' `Trelawney,' said the doctor, `I'll go with you; and, I go bail for it, so will Jim, and be a credit to the undertaking. There's only one man I'm afraid of.' `And who's that?' cried the squire. `Name the dog, sir!' `You,' replied the doctor; `for you cannot hold your tongue.' We are not the only men who know of this paper. These fellows who attacked the inn to-night - bold, desperate blades, for sure - and the rest who stayed aboard that lugger, and more, I dare say, not far off, are, one and all, through thick and thin, bound that they'll get that money. We must none of us go alone till we get to sea. Jim and I shall stick together in the meanwhile; you'll take Joyce and Hunter when you ride to Bristol, and, from first to last, not one of us must breathe a word of what we've found.' `Livesey,' returned the squire, `you are always in the right of it. I'll be as silent as the grave.' 宝岛六 船长的文件 一路上我们快马加鞭，直到到了利弗西医生的家门口才勒住马。房子前漆黑一片。 丹斯先生叫我跳下马去敲门，于是道格尔给我一只马镫，让我踩着它下来，与此同时，一个女仆立刻把门打开了。 “利弗西医生在吗？”我问。 “不在，”她说，“他下午回来过，但是又去乡绅老爷的府第与他共进晚餐，消磨夜晚了。” “那么我们就上那儿去，小伙子们。”丹斯先生说。 这次，由于路程短，我没有上马，只是拉着道格尔的马镫带子跑向侧面，走上那条长长的、没有树叶荫蔽的、浴着月光的林荫道。那儿通向一排两边都看得见古老的大花园的白色宅第。在大宅子门前，丹斯先生下了马，带着我一道，立刻被请进了屋里。 仆人领着我们走过一条铺着席子的过道，指引我们进入它尽头的一间大图书室，里面摆满了书架，上面摆放着些石膏半身像。乡绅和利弗西医生手里拿着烟斗，分坐在火焰明亮的壁炉两旁。 我从来没在这么近的距离里看过乡绅，他是个高个子，约有六英尺多高，肩宽与身高相称，有一张坦诚的、还算看得过去的面孔，在长期的漫游过程中变得粗糙和发红，同时布满了皱纹。他的眉毛很浓密，并且迅捷地挑上挑下，这显示出他的某种脾性，不能说是坏的，你可以说是急躁、易激动。 “请进，丹斯先生。”他说，很威严，但又很谦和。 “晚上好，丹斯，”医生说时点了下头，“也问你晚上好，吉姆朋友。什么好风把你们吹到这儿来啦？” 行政长官笔直僵硬地站着，好像上课似地讲着他经历的事情经过。你可以看到，这两位绅士由于惊奇和感兴趣，在听时是怎样的向前探着身子，并且互相望着，连吸烟都忘记了。当他们听到我母亲如何地返回到小旅店时，利弗西医生简直拍起腿来，而乡绅则大叫：“好极了！”还在炉栅上敲碎了他的长烟斗。在这之前许久，特里罗尼先生（你该记得，那个，是乡绅的名字），已经从座位上站了起来，在屋子里大步走来走去，而医生，似乎为了听到更好的，摘下了他那搽了粉的假发，坐在那里，露出他自己剪得很短的黑发，看上去实在是陌生。 最后，丹斯先生讲完了这个故事。 “丹斯先生，”乡绅说，“你是个非常高尚的人，至于骑马踩倒了那个黑心的、残暴的恶徒，我认为是个壮举，先生，就像踩死一只蟑螂。霍金斯这孩子是好样的，我看得出。霍金斯，你拉一下那个铃好吗？丹斯先生一定想来点啤酒吧。” “这么说，吉姆，”医生说，“你有他们要找的东西，是不是？” “它在这儿，先生。”我说，把油布包递给了他。 医生翻过来掉过去地看了看它，似乎他的手指急切渴望着要把它打开，但是，他并没有那么做，而是平静地把它放到了他的上衣的口袋里。 “乡绅，”他说，“丹斯喝好后，当然，他还得回去为陛下服务，但我想把吉姆•霍金斯留下来，到我的房间里睡，还有，你允许的话，我建议来点冷馅饼，让他吃点东西。” “随你，利弗西，”乡绅说，“霍金斯该得到比冷馅饼还好的东西呢。” 于是一个大鸽肉馅饼被端上来放到了小桌上，我放开肚子饱餐了一顿，因为我已经饿得像只鹰了。同时，丹斯先生在得到了进一步的赞扬后，终于被打发走了。 “那么，乡绅……”医生说。 “那么，利弗西……”乡绅说，用同样的口气。 “一回一个人来说，一回一个人来说，”利弗西医生笑着说，“我猜你一定听说过这个弗林特吧？” “听说过他！”乡绅叫道，“听说过他，你说的！他是江洋大盗中最为残忍的一个，黑胡子①对弗林特来说不过是黄毛小儿。西班牙人对他是畏惧之极，我跟你讲，先生，以致于我有时都为他是个英国人而骄傲哩。我在特立尼达那边曾经亲眼看到过他的中桅船，可是跟我一起航行的那个胆小的饭桶直要往后退，往后退，先生，他一直退到西班牙港哩。” ①英国著名的海盗。 “噢，我本人在英格兰听说过他，”医生说。“但是要紧的是，他有钱吗？” “钱！”乡绅叫道，“你听到那个故事了吧？除了钱，那些坏蛋们还能寻求什么？除了钱，他们还能关心什么？除了钱，他们还能为了什么去拿自己的狗命冒险？” “这我们很快就会清楚了，”医生答道，“但是你怎么这样性急，还大嚷大叫的，让我连话都插不进来。我想知道的是这个：假定这会儿我的口袋里有关于弗林特藏宝的线索，那珠宝的总数会不会大？” “总数，先生！”乡绅叫道，“它会相当于这个：要是我们有你所说的那个线索，我就会在布里斯托尔船坞装备一艘船，然后把你和霍金斯从这儿带走，要是我找上它一年的话，一定会得到那份宝藏。” “很好，”医生说，“既然如此，要是吉姆同意的话，我们可以把那个包打开。”说着，他把它放到了面前的桌子上。 那一捆东西是被缝住了的，医生只好拿出了他的器械箱，用他的医用剪刀剪断了缝线。它包括两样东西——一个本子和一个密封的文件。 “首先，我们得看看这个本子。”医生评论道。 当他打开它的时候，乡绅和我都从他的肩膀上方望过去，因为利弗西医生已亲切地示意我从我进餐的小桌边绕过来，来享受这种探寻的乐趣。在扉页上，只有一些零散的字迹，就像一个人闲散无聊时随便涂画上去或是为了练字而用钢笔写在手上的那样。一个跟刺花的内容相同，“比尔•彭斯的爱物”，再有就是“W•彭斯先生，大副”，“没有郎姆酒了”，“在棕榈树低岛他得到了它”，以及其它的一些片断，大多为单个的词语，使人费解。我不禁揣摩，“得到了它”的这个人是谁，而他得到的“它”又是什么。他背上挨的刀？像又不像。 “这不大能说明什么。”利弗西医生说，一边往后翻着。 接下去的十或十二页涂满了一系列奇怪的记录。一行末了有个日期，而在另一头有个钱数，就像普通的账本，不过代替说明文字的却是两者之间的一个变化的十字数。举个例子来说，1745年6月12日，70镑的款额显然是付给某人的，但是除了六个十字外，对原因未做任何说明。极少数情况下，实在说，补加了地名，像“在卡拉卡司那边”，或者只列一项纬度和经度，如“62度17分20，19度2分40”。 记录延续了将近二十多年，随着时间的增长，分别记账的总额也变得越来越大，到最后，在五六处错误的加法之后，得出了一个巨大的总数，有附注曰：“彭斯，他的钱财。” “我真找不出头绪来。”利弗西医生说。 “事情明白如昼嘛，”乡绅嚷道，“这是那个黑心的坏蛋的账本。这些十字代表他们击沉的船只或淡掠的村镇的名称，数字是坏蛋们分赃后他所得到的钱数，在他怕含糊的地方，你看，他加上了些东西使它清楚些。‘在卡拉卡司那边’，喏，你看，这儿沿岸的某些不幸的船只被袭击了。愿上帝拯救这些船上人们的灵魂——他们早就变成珊瑚虫了罢。” “对！”医生说，“看你到底是个旅行家。对！你看，数目是随着他职位的升级而增长的。” 这个小册于里除了最后几张空页上记了些地点的方位，以及一张法国、英国和西班牙钱币通用价值的兑换表格外，几乎没别的什么了。 “精打细算的家伙！”医生叫道，“他不是个好骗的。” “现在，”医生说，“该看另一样了。” 文件有几个地方用顶针代替封蜡密封起来。那个顶针，可能就是我在船长的口袋里找到的那个。医生小心翼翼地打开了密封，结果里面是一张岛屿的地图，上面标有纬度和经度、水深、小山、港湾和入口处的名称，以及引导一艘船安全停泊在岸边可能需要的一切细节。它大约是九英里长、五英里宽，你可以说，它的形状像一条立着的肥壮的龙，有两个几乎全为陆地包围的良港，小山位于中央，标名为“望远镜山”。图上有几处日期较近的附注；但是，最要紧的是，有三个红墨水标注的十字——两个在岛的北部，一个在西南，而且，在后者旁边，有与船长东倒西歪的笔体迥然不同的、小巧整齐的字迹，同样用红墨水写成，内容是：大部宝藏在此。 翻到背面，同样的字迹写下了进一步的说明： 望远镜山肩一大树，指向东北偏北。 骷髅岛东南东，再向东十英尺。 银条在北部的藏所，你可以在东边小圆丘的斜坡下找到它，正对着黑屋南十英寻处。 武器很容易找到，在北部入水口小岬北面的沙丘中，方位是东偏北四分之一处。 杰•弗 这就是全部了。但是尽管它很简短，对我而言费解了些，却使乡绅和利弗西医生满心欢喜。 “利弗西，”乡绅说，“快快放下你可怜的行当。明天我就动身去布里斯托尔。三周的时间——三周！——两周！——十天！——我们就会拥有最好的船只，先生，以及英格兰精选出来的拔尖的船员。霍金斯来做船上的传应生。你会是个出色的侍应生，霍金斯。你，利弗西，是随船医生；我是司令。我们将带上雷卓斯、乔埃斯和亨特。我们会一路顺风，快速航行，不费吹灰之力便找到地点，而钱就滚滚而来，可以用来当饭吃，打水漂，随心所欲。” “特里罗尼，”医生说，“我愿与你同行，而且，我可以打保票，吉姆也会去，并且会为这项事业增光。我只担心一个人。” “那是谁？”乡绅叫道，“说出这个狗东西，先生！” “你，”医生答道，“因为你管不住你的舌头。我们不是惟一知道有这个文件的人。今晚袭击旅店的这帮家伙——胆大包天的暴徒，说真的——还有留在单桅船上的其余的那些人，还有更多，我敢说，都没走远，任何一个，所有这些人，在任何情况下都铁定了心要得到那笔钱。在出海之前，我们中的任何一个都不可单独外出。在此期间，我和吉姆要厮守在一处；你骑马去布里斯托尔时，带上乔埃斯和亨特，而且要从始至终，我们中任何一人都不许对所发现的东西泄露一字。” “利弗西，”乡绅答道，“你总是对的。我将守口如瓶。” |
Treasure IslandChapter VII IT was longer than the squire imagined ere we were ready for the sea, and none of our first plans - not even Dr Livesey's of keeping me beside him - could be carried out as we intended. The doctor had to go to London for a physician to take charge of his practice; the squire was hard at work a Bristol; and I lived on at the Hall under the charge of old Redruth, the gamekeeper, almost a prisoner, but full of sea dreams and the most charming anticipations of strange island and adventures. I brooded by the hour together over the map, all the details of which I well remembered. Sitting by the fire in the house- keeper's room, I approached that island my fancy, from every possible direction; I explored every acre of its surface; I climbed a thousand times to that tall hill the call the Spy-glass, and from the top enjoyed the most wonderful and changing prospects. Sometimes the isle was thick with savages, with whom we fought; sometimes full of dangerous animals that hunted us; but in all my fancies nothing occurred to me so strange and tragic as our actual adventures. So the weeks passed on, till one fine day there came a letter addressed to Dr Livesey, with this addition, `To be opened in the case of his absence, by Tom Redruth, or young Hawkins.' Obeying this order, we found, or rather, I found - for the gamekeeper was a poor hand at reading anything but print - the following important news:-- `Old Anchor Inn, Bristol `March 1, 17 - . `DEAR LIVESEY , - As I do not know whether you are at the Hall or still in London, I send this in double to both places. `The ship is bought and fitted. She lies at anchor, ready for sea. You never imagined a sweeter schooner - a child might sail her - two hundred tons; name, Hispaniola. `I got her through my old friend, Blandly, who has proved himself throughout the most surprising trump. The admirable fellow literally slaved in my interest, and so, I may say, did everyone in Bristol, as soon as they got wind of the port we sailed for - treasure, I mean.' `Redruth,' said I, interrupting the letter, `Doctor Livesey will not like that. The squire has been talking, after all.' `Well, who's a better right?' growled the gamekeeper. `A pretty rum go if squire ain't to talk for Doctor Livesey, I should think.' At that I gave up all attempt at commentary, and read straight on:-- `Blandly himself found the Hispaniola, and by the most admirable management got her for the merest trifle. There is a class of men in Bristol monstrously prejudiced against Blandly. They go the length of declaring that this honest creature would do anything for money, that the Hispaniola belonged to him, and that he sold it me absurdly high - the most transparent calumnies. None of them dare, however, to deny the merits of the ship. `So far there was not a hitch. The workpeople, to be sure - riggers and what not - were most annoyingly slow; but time cured that. It was the crew that troubled me. `I wished a round score of men - in case of natives, buccaneers, or the odious French - and I had the worry of the deuce itself to find so much as half a dozen, till the most remarkable stroke of fortune brought me the very man that I required. `I was standing on the dock, when, by the merest accident, I fell in talk with him. I found he was an old sailor, kept a public - house, knew all the seafaring men in Bristol, had lost his health ashore, and wanted a good berth as cook to get to sea again. He had hobbled down there that morning, he said to get a smell of the salt. `I was monstrously touched - so would you have been - and, out of pure pity, I engaged him on the spot to be ship's cook. Long John Silver, he is called, and has lost a leg; but that I regarded as a recommendation, since he lost it in hi country's service, under the immortal Hawke. He has no pension, Livesey. Imagine the abominable age we live in! `Well, sir, I thought I had only found a cook, but it was a crew I had discovered. Between Silver and myself we go together in a few days a company of the toughest old salt imaginable - not pretty to look at, but fellows, by their faces, of the most indomitable spirit. I declare we could fight frigate. `Long John even got rid of two out of the six or seven had already engaged. He showed me in a moment that the were just the sort of fresh-water swabs we had to fear in an adventure of importance. `I am in the most magnificent health and spirits, eating like a bull, sleeping like a tree, yet I shall not enjoy a moment till I hear my old tarpaulins tramping round the capstan Seaward ho! Hang the treasure! It's the glory of the sea that has turned my head. So now, Livesey, come post; do not lose an hour, if you respect me. `Let young Hawkins go at once to see his mother, wit Redruth for a guard; and then both come full speed to Bristol. `JOHN TRELAWNEY. `Postscript. - I did not tell you that Blandly, who, by the was) is to send a consort after us if we don't turn up by the en of August, had found an admirable fellow for sailing master - a stiff man, which I regret, but, in all other respects, treasure. Long John Silver unearthed a very competent man for a mate, a man named Arrow. I have a boatswain who pipes, Livesey; so things shall go man-o'-war fashion on boar the good ship Hispaniola. `I forgot to tell you that Silver is a man of substance; I know of my own knowledge that he has a banker's account, which has never been overdrawn. He leaves his wife to manage the inn; and as she is a woman of colour, a pair of old bachelors like you and I may be excused for guessing that it is the wife, quite as much as the health, that sends him back to roving. `J. T. `P.P.S. - Hawkins may stay one night with his mother. `J. T.' You can fancy the excitement into which that letter put me. I was half beside myself with glee; and if ever I despised a man, it was old Tom Redruth, who could do nothing but grumble and lament. Any of the under-gamekeepers would gladly have changed places with him; but such was not the squire's pleasure, and the squire's pleasure was like law among them all. Nobody but old Redruth would have dared so much as even to grumble. The next morning he and I set out on foot for the `Admiral Benbow,' and there I found my mother in good health and spirits. The captain, who had so long been a cause of so much discomfort, was gone where the wicked cease from troubling. The squire had had everything repaired, and the public rooms and the sign repainted, and had added some furniture - above all a beautiful arm-chair for mother in the bar. He had found her a boy as an apprentice also, so that she should not want help while I was gone. It was on seeing that boy that I understood, for the first time, my situation. I had thought up to that moment of the adventures before me, not at all of the home that I was leaving; and now, at the sight of this clumsy stranger, who was to stay here in my place beside my mother, I had my first attack of tears. I am afraid I led that boy a dog's life; for as he was new to the work, I had a hundred opportunities of setting him right and putting him down, and I was not slow to profit by them. The night passed, and the next day, after dinner, Redruth and I were afoot again, and on the road. I said good-bye to mother and the cove where I had lived since I was born, and the dear old `Admiral Benbow' - since he was repainted, no longer quite so dear. One of my last thoughts was of the captain, who had so often strode along the beach with his cocked hat, his sabre-cut cheek, and his old brass telescope. Next moment we had turned the corner, and my home was out of sight. The mail picked us up about dusk at the `Royal George' on the heath. I was wedged in between Redruth and stout old gentleman, and in spite of the swift motion and the cold night air, I must have dozed a great deal from the very first, and then slept like a log up hill and down dale through stage after stage; for when I was awakened at last, it was by a punch in the ribs, and I opened my eyes to find that we were standing still before a large building in a city street, and that the day had already broken long time. `Where are we?' I asked. `Bristol,' said Tom. `Get down.' Mr Trelawney had taken up his residence at an inn far down the docks, to superintend the work upon the schooner. Thither we had now to walk, and our way, to my great delight lay along the quays and beside the great multitude o ships of all sizes and rigs and nations. In one, sailors. were singing at their work; in another, there were men aloft high over my head, hanging to threads that seemed no thicker than a spider's. Though I had lived by the shore all my life, I seemed never to have been near the sea till then. The smell of tar and salt was something new. I saw the most wonderful figureheads, that had all been far over the ocean. I saw, besides, many old sailors, with rings in their ears, and whiskers curled in ringlets, and tarry pigtails, and their swaggering, clumsy sea-walk; and if I had seen as many kings or archbishops I could not have been more delighted. And I was going to sea myself; to sea in a schooner, with a piping boatswain, and pig-tailed singing seamen; to sea, bound for an unknown island, and to seek for buried treasures! While I was still in this delightful dream, we came suddenly in front of a large inn, and met Squire Trelawney, all dressed out like a sea-officer, in stout blue cloth, coming out of the door with a smile on his face, and a capital imitation of a sailor's walk. `Here you are,' he cried, `and the doctor came last night from London. Bravo! the ship's company complete!' `Oh, sir,' cried I, `when do we sail?' `Sail!' says he. `We sail to-morrow!' 宝岛七 我到布里斯托尔去 我们为出海做准备的时间比乡绅预想的要长些，并且我们最初的计划——甚至利弗西医生把我留在他身边的打算——一件也没照我们构想的实行。医生不得不去伦敦另找个医生来负责他的业务，乡绅在布里斯托尔紧张地忙碌着；我仍住在府第上，在猪场看守人老雷卓斯的照管下，几乎像个犯人，但是脑子里装满了航海的梦想和关于陌生岛屿与探险的最迷人的设想。我边看地图边沉思，记住了上面所有的细节。坐在管家房里的壁炉旁，我在幻想中从每个可能的方向到达了那个岛；我探索了它表层的第一亩土地；我上千次地爬上了那个他们叫做望远镜山的高山，还从山顶饱览最为瑰丽、变幻无穷的风光。有时岛上到处是野人，同我们打仗；有时又到处都是危险的动物，追赶我们；不过在我所有的幻想中，像我们实际冒险时经历的那么奇异和悲惨的事情一件也没有。这么着一周周过去了，直到有那么一天，来了封写给利弗西医生的信，附注说，“他不在的情况下，可以由汤姆•雷卓斯或小霍金斯拆阅。”遵照这个指示，我们发现了，或者毋宁说是我发现了——因为猎场看守人除了能看图画外，对阅读任何东西都无能为力——下面的重要信息： 亲爱的利弗西， 由于我不知道你是在府第还是仍在伦敦，我将这封信一式两份，分寄两处。 船已买到并装备完了。她停泊着准备远航。你再也想象不出会有比这更为漂亮的双桅船了——连个孩子都能驾驶她——两百吨；名字，伊斯班袅拉号。 我是通过我的老朋友布兰德利得到它的，他已被证实是个地地道道的大好人。这位可敬的朋友在我这件事上简直是出了大力了，因此，我可以说，只要布里斯托尔的人风闻了我们要去的港口——我指的是宝藏，每个人都会这么做的。 “雷卓斯，”我停下来说道，“利弗西医生不会喜欢那样的。乡绅毕竟说得太多了。”“好啦，谁更正确些？”猎场看守人忿忿不平地说，“要是乡绅因为利弗西医生的缘故就不讲话了，那才真怪哩，我想。”听了这话，我打消了评论的念头，照直读下去： 布兰德利本人发现了伊斯班袅拉号，并且通过最令人起敬的安排，以最少的价钱得到了它。在布里斯托尔，有一帮人对布兰德利怀着巨大的偏见。他们说得太离谱了，说这个诚实的人为了钱可以做任何事情，说那艘伊斯班袅拉号是属于他的，而他以荒唐的高价卖给了我，这是最明显的诽谤。然而，他们中的任何人都不敢否认这艘船的价值。 到现在为止，还没遇到什么麻烦。工人们，确切地说，装索具的工匠们，慢得烦死人；但是时间会挽救这个。令我头疼的是船员的问题。 我想要整整二十个人——为了防备土人、海盗或是可恨的法国人——让我犯愁的倒霉事是我至多只找到了半打人，直到那最惊人的好运给我带来了我需要的那个人。 当时我正站在船坞里，极其偶然的机会，我和他攀谈起来。我发现他是个老水手，开了问酒馆，熟知布里斯托尔的所有船员，在岸上健康状况不佳，想谋个厨子这样的好差事，再回到海上。他说那天早晨他破着脚到了那儿，是想闻闻海盐的味儿。 我被极大地触动了——你也会这样的——纯粹是出于同情，我安排他做船上的厨子。人们叫他高个子约翰•西尔弗，他少了一条腿；但是我认为那是他可取之处，因为他是在那不朽的豪克上将麾下为祖国服务的时候失去这条腿的。他没得到抚恤金，利弗西，想想我们生活的这个可恶的年代！ 听着，先生，我本以为我只找到了个厨子，但是我发现我找到的是一批船员。西尔弗和我本人，我们一起在几天的时间里就集合到了一伙不可想象的最坚韧的老船员——不是徒有其表，而是从他们的脸上就可看出他们是最不屈不挠的朋友。我断言我们能和一艘快速战舰作战。 高个子约翰甚至从我已安排好的六、七个人中剔除掉了两个。他立刻向我指出，他们是那类毫无经验的嫩手，是我们在一次重要的冒险中最怕的一类人。 我健康极佳，精神矍铄，吃得像头公牛，睡下像棵树，然而只有听见我的老水手们绕着绞盘机迈步，我才能享受一番。出海。罗！管它什么宝藏！令我神魂颠倒的正是壮丽的大海。所以，现在，利弗西，赶快来吧，一小时也不要耽搁，要是你看得起我的话。 让小霍金斯马上去看望他的母亲，雷卓斯一道去，给她找个跟班；然后两人全速赶到布里斯托尔。 约翰•特里罗尼 又及——我还没向你讲那个布兰德利，他顺便提起，要是我们八月底还没返回来的话，他会派一艘船去寻找我们。他已找到了一个可尊敬的朋友来做我们的船长——一个固执的人，这点令我惋惜，不过，从其它各方面看，是个好手。高个子约翰•西尔弗找到了个相当有能力的人来担任大副，这人叫埃罗。我有个吹哨子召集水手的水手长，利弗西；这样一来，在伊斯班袅拉号船上，事情将以军舰上的方式来进行。 我忘了告诉你，西尔弗是个有资产的人；我从得来的信息中了解到，他在银行开了户头，从未透支过。他让妻子留下来经营小酒店；并且由于她是个黑人妇女，若让像你我这样的老光棍来猜测，使他重新去漂泊的原因，除健康因素外，这个老婆也是一方面，我们这样认为是可以得到谅解的。 约•特 再及——霍金斯可以同他的母亲呆上一个晚上。 约•特 于古锚旅店，布里斯托尔 一七××年三月一日 你能想象得出这封信带给我的兴奋。我高兴得忘乎所以了。可要说我曾轻视过人，那就是老汤姆•雷卓斯了，他竟在那儿一个劲儿地发牢骚和叹气。任何一个猎场看守者的下手都乐于和他换换位置。但乡绅是不会愿意这样的，而乡绅的意愿在他们中就像是法律一样，除了老雷卓斯，还没人敢这么抱怨哩。 第二天早上，他和我步行出门，到了“本葆海军上将”旅店，在那儿，我发现我的母亲身体和精神都很好。船长，曾经长时间以来一直是这么多不快事件的根源的那个人，已经进了坟墓，这恶人再也不能叨扰我们了。乡绅已派人把所有的东西都修复好了，酒吧间和招牌都重新油漆过，还添了些新家具——首先，在酒吧里为我母亲添了把漂亮的圈椅。他还给她找来了个男孩当学徒，以便我走后她不缺帮手。 只有当见到了这个男孩的时候，我才头一回懂得了我的处境。我曾经仔细想过将面临的危险，却压根儿没想过我即将离开的这个家；而现在一见到这个笨手笨脚的、就要代替我留在母亲身边的新手，我的泪水忽地涌上来。我恐怕我带给那个男孩的是艰难、屈辱的生活，因为他对这工作很生疏，使我上百次地纠正和贬低他，没有让他慢慢地适应。 夜晚过去了，第二天午饭后，雷卓斯和我又步行上路了。我辞别了母亲和自我出生以来一直居住的小海湾，还有亲爱的老“本葆海军上将”旅店——自从它被重新油漆过，不再那样亲切了。最后想到的是船长，他总是沿着海滩跨着大步往前走，我想起他的三角帽，他面颊上的刀疤，还有他的旧黄铜望远镜。不一会工夫，我们便转弯了，我的家园离开了我们的视线。 黄昏时分，我们在“乔治王”前的荒地上搭乘了邮车。我被夹在雷卓斯和一个相当肥胖的老绅士中间，车走得很快，夜气很凉，尽管如此，我无疑一上车就打起盹来，接着便熟睡得像块木头，上山头又下溪谷，过了一站又一站；最后直到肋下挨了一拳，我才醒来，睁开了眼睛，发现我们正静静地停在城市街道上一座大的建筑物前，而天已大亮了。 “我们在哪儿？”我问道。 “布里斯托尔，”汤姆说，“下车。” 特里罗尼先生已选定远远处于船坞下方的一家旅馆为落脚地，以便监督船上的工作。现在我们得到他那儿去，而令我大为开心的是，一路都是码头和大量的各种型号、帆式和国别的船只。在一艘船上，水手们唱着歌于着活；在另一艘船上，人们高悬在我上方的桅杆顶上，攀在看上去不比蛛丝粗的绳索上。尽管我一直生活在海边，在这之前却似乎从未离海这么近过，柏油和海盐的气味有种新鲜的感觉。我看到了那飘洋过海、远道而来的最奇特的船头雕饰。此外，我看到了许多老水手，耳朵上戴着耳环，蓄着绕腮的一圈大胡子，辫子上涂着柏油，迈着摇摆、笨拙的水手步；即便见到同样多的国王和大主教，我也不会这样开心。 而我本人也即将出海，乘着双桅船，和一个吹哨子的水手长以及留着辫子、唱着歌的水手们一道出海；出海，驶向一个不知名的岛，去寻找埋藏着的宝藏！当我还沉浸在这欢乐的梦想中的时候，我们突然来到了一座大旅馆的门前，正遇到了特里罗尼乡绅，他全身妆扮得像个海军军官，穿着一套结实的蓝衣服，面带微笑地从门里走出来，惟妙惟肖地学了个水手步。 “你们来啦，”他叫道，“医生昨晚从伦敦回来了。好极了！船上的人齐了！” “噢，先生，”我叫道，“我们什么时候启航？” “启航！”他说，“我们明天就启航！” |
Treasure IslandChapter VIII WHEN I had done breakfasting the squire gave me a note addressed to John Silver, at the sign of the `Spy-glass,' and told me I should easily find the place by following the line of the docks, and keeping a bright look-out for a little tavern with a large brass telescope for sign. I set off, overjoyed at this opportunity to see some more of the ships and seamen, and picked my way among a great crowd of people and carts and bales, for the dock was now at its busiest, until I found the tavern in question. It was a bright enough little place of entertainment. The sign was newly painted; the windows had neat red curtains; the floor was cleanly sanded. There was a street on each side, and an open door on both, which made the large, low room pretty clear to see in, in spite of clouds of tobacco smoke. The customers were mostly seafaring men; and they talked so loudly that I hung at the door, almost afraid to enter. As I was waiting, a man came out of a side room, and, at a glance, I was sure he must be Long John. His left leg was cut off close by the hip, and under the left shoulder he carried a crutch, which he managed with wonderful dexterity, hopping about upon it like a bird. He was very tall and strong, with a face as big as a ham - plain and pale, but intelligent and smiling. Indeed, he seemed in the most cheerful spirits, whistling as he moved about among the tables, with a merry word or a slap on the shoulder for the more favoured of his guests. Now, to tell you the truth, from the very first mention of Long John in Squire Trelawney's letter, I had taken a fear in my mind that he might prove to be the very one-legged sailor whom I had watched for so long at the old `Benbow.' But one look at the man before me was enough. I had seen the captain, and Black Dog, and the blind man Pew, and I thought I knew what a buccaneer was like - a very different creature, according to me, from this clean and pleasant-tempered landlord. I plucked up courage at once, crossed the threshold, and walked right up to the man where he stood, propped on his crutch, talking to a customer. `Mr Silver, sir?' I asked, holding out the note. `Yes, my lad,' said he; `such is my name, to be sure. And who may you be?' And then as he saw the squire's letter, he seemed to me to give something almost like a start. `Oh!' said he, quite loud, and offering his hand, `I see. You are our new cabin - boy; pleased I am to see you.' And he took my hand in his large firm grasp. Just then one of the customers at the far side rose suddenly and made for the door. It was close by him, and he was out in the street in a moment. But his hurry had attracted my notice, and I recognised him at a glance. It was the tallow-faced man, wanting two fingers, who had come first to the `Admiral Benbow.' `Oh,' I cried, `stop him! it's Black Dog!' `I don't care two coppers who he is,' cried Silver. `But he hasn't paid his score. Harry, run and catch him.' One of the others who was nearest the door leaped up, and started in pursuit. `If he were Admiral Hawke he shall pay his score,' cried Silver; and then, relinquishing my hand--'Who did you say he was?' he asked. `Black what?' `Dog, sir,' said I. `Has Mr Trelawney not told you of the buccaneers? He was one of them.' `So?' cried Silver. `In my house! Ben, run and help Harry. One of those swabs, was he? Was that you drinking with him, Morgan? Step up here.' The man whom he called Morgan - an old, grey-haired, mahogany-faced sailor - came forward pretty sheepishly, rolling his quid. `Now, Morgan,' said Long John, very sternly; `you never clapped your eyes on that Black - Black Dog before, did you, now?' `Not I, sir,' said Morgan, with a salute. `You didn't know his name, did you?' `No, sir.' `By the powers, Tom Morgan, it's as good for you!' exclaimed the landlord. `If you had been mixed up with the like of that, you would never have put another foot in my house, you may lay to that. And what was he saying to your?' `I don't rightly know, sir,' answered Morgan. `Do you call that a head on your shoulders, or a blessed dead-eye?' cried Long John. `Don't rightly know, don't you! Perhaps you don't happen to rightly know who you were speaking to, perhaps? Come, now, what was he jawing - v'yages, cap'ns, ships? Pipe up! What was it?' `We was a-talkin' of keel-hauling,' answered Morgan `Keel-hauling, was you? and a mighty suitable thing, too and you may lay to that. Get back to your place for a lubber Tom.' And then, as Morgan rolled back to his seat, Silver added to me in a confidential whisper, that was very flattering, as I thought:-- `He's quite an honest man, Tom Morgan, on'y stupid. An now,' he ran on again, aloud, `let's see - Black Dog? No, don't know the name, not I. Yet I kind of think I've - yes, I've seen the swab. He used to come here with a blind beggar he used.' `That he did, you may be sure,' said I. `I knew that blind man, too. His name was Pew.' `It was!' cried Silver, now quite excited. `Pew! That were his name for certain. Ah, he looked a shark, he did! If we run down this Black Dog, now, there'll be news for Captain Trelawney! Ben's a good runner; few seamen run better than Ben. He should run him down, hand over hand, by the powers! He talked o' keel- hauling, did he? I'll keel-haul him!' All the time he was jerking out these phrases he was stumping up and down the tavern on his crutch, slapping tables with his hand, and giving such a show of excitement as would have convinced an Old Bailey judge or a Bow Street runner. My suspicions had been thoroughly re-awakened on finding Black Dog at the `Spy-glass,' and I watched the cook narrowly. But he was too deep, and too ready, and too clever for me, and by the time the two men had come back out of breath, and confessed that they had lost the track in a crowd, and been scolded like thieves, I would have gone bail for the innocence of Long John Silver. `See here, now, Hawkins,' said he, `here's a blessed hard thing on a man like me, now, aint it? There's Cap'n Trelawney - what's he to think? Here I have this confounded son of a Dutchman sitting in my own house, drinking of my own rum! Here you comes and tells me of it plain; and here I let him give us all the slip before my blessed dead-lights! Now, Hawkins, you do me justice with the cap'n. You're a lad, you are, but you're as smart as paint. I see that when you first came in. Now, here it is: What could I do, with this old timber I hobble on? When I was an A B master mariner I'd have come up alongside of him, hand over hand, and broached him to in a brace of old shakes, I would; but now--' And then, all of a sudden, he stopped, and his jaw drooped as though he had remembered something. `The score!' he burst out. `Three goes o' rum! Why, shiver my timbers, if I hadn't forgotten my score!' And, falling on a bench, he laughed until the tears ran down his cheeks. I could not help joining; and we laughed together, peal after peal, until the tavern rang again. `Why, what a precious old sea-calf I am!' he said, at last, wiping his cheeks. `You and me should get on well, Hawkins, for I'll take my davy I should be rated ship's boy. But, come, now, stand by to go about. This won't do. Dooty is dooty, messmates. I'll put on my old cocked hat, and step along of you to Cap'n Trelawney, and report this here affair. For, mind you, it's serious, young Hawkins; and neither you nor me's come out of it with what I should make so bold as to call credit. Nor you neither, says you; not smart - none of the pair of us smart. But dash my buttons! that was a good 'un about my score.' And he began to laugh again, and that so heartily, that though I did not see the joke as he did, I was again obliged to join him in his mirth. On our little walk along the quays, he made himself the most interesting companion, telling me about the differ ships that we passed by, their rig, tonnage, and nationality explaining the work that was going forward - how one was discharging, another taking in cargo, and a third making ready for sea; and every now and then telling me some lit anecdote of ships or seamen, or repeating a nautical phrase till I had learned it perfectly. I began to see that here was one of the best of possible shipmates. When we got to the inn, the squire and Dr Livesey was seated together, finishing a quart of ale with a toast in it, before they should go aboard the schooner on a visit of inspection. Long John told the story from first to last, with a great deal of spirit and the most perfect truth. `That was how it were now, weren't it, Hawkins?' he would say, now and again and I could always bear him entirely out. The two gentlemen regretted that Black Dog had got away but we all agreed there was nothing to be done, and after I had been complimented, Long John took up his crutch and departed. `All hands aboard by four this afternoon,' shouted the squire, after him. `Ay, ay, sir,' cried the cook, in the passage. `Well, squire,' said Dr Livesey, `I don't put much faith in your discoveries, as a general thing; but I will say this, John Silver suits me.' `The man's a perfect trump,' declared the squire. `And now,' added the doctor, `Jim may come on board with us, may he not?' `To be sure he may,' says squire. `Take your hat, Hawkins, and we'll see the ship.' 宝岛八 在挂“望远镜”招牌的酒店里 在我吃过早饭后，乡绅给我一张写给约翰•西尔弗的便条，地址是挂“望远镜”招牌的地方，并且告诉我，顺着到船坞的路线走，会很容易找到那个地方，要特别留心挂着一个巨大的黄铜望远镜作招牌的小酒店。我出发了，为能有机会看到更多的船和船员而感到欣喜若狂。由于船坞现在是最忙的时候，我就在拥挤的人群。双轮马车和成捆的货物中间穿行，直到找到了所说的那个酒店。 那是个非常活跃的小娱乐场所。招牌是刚油漆过的，窗户上挂着整洁的红色窗帘，地面上铺着干净的细沙。酒店两面临街，两边各开了个门，这使得这间大而低的屋子可以一览无遗，尽管里面烟气腾腾的。 顾客差不多都是海员；他们说话的声音那么大，以至于我立在门边，几乎不敢进去。当我正呆站在那里的时候，一个人从旁边一间屋子里出来了，我一眼就看出，他肯定就是高个子约翰。他的左腿齐大腿根锯掉了，左腋下架着个拐杖，行动却灵巧得令人赞叹，像小鸟一样蹦来蹦去。他长得又高又壮，有一张大得像火腿的面孔——扁平而苍白，然而机智，带着微笑。说真的，他看上去有种极为活泼风趣的气质，他吹着口哨在各桌间周旋，不时冒出一句逗趣的话，或者拍一拍他比较亲近的顾客的肩膀。 现在，和你说实话，从乡绅特里罗尼的信里第一次提到高个子约翰的时候起，我心里就暗自生疑，他可能就是那个我在“本葆海军上将”旅店留心好久的“独腿水手”，但是只要看一眼我面前的这个人，就足以让我打消这个念头了。我已经看到过船长、“黑狗”，还有瞎子皮乌，我想我知道海盗该是个什么样子——凭我的感觉，那是和这个整洁、和气的店主大相径庭的人物。 我立刻鼓起了勇气，跨过门槛，径直奔他站着的地方走去，他架着拐杖，正在同一个顾客攀谈。 “阁下是西尔弗先生吗？”我问，手里攥着纸条。 “正是，我的孩子，”他说，“这是我的名字，一点不错。那么你是谁呀？”接着，当他看到乡绅的便条时，他似乎对我有些感到惊奇了。 “噢！”他大声地说，伸出了手，“我知道了。你是我们船上新来的侍应生，见到你真高兴。” 接着他把我的手拿在他那大而结实的手掌里紧紧地握了握。 正在这时，远远地坐在边上的一个顾客突然站起来，夺门而出。门离他很近，他一下子就窜到街上去了。但是他的紧张吸引了我的注意，我一眼便认出了他，他是脸上脂肪多、缺了两个手指的人，是他首先到“本葆海军上将”旅店来的。 “噢，”我叫道，“拦住他！他是‘黑狗’！” “我不在乎他是谁，”西尔弗叫道，“可是他没付账，哈里，跑上去，抓住他！” 其它人中离门最近的那个跳了起来，拔腿去追。 “就算他是豪克上将，他也得付账。”西尔弗叫道，然后他松开了我的手——“你说他是谁来着？”他问道，“黑什么？” “狗，先生，”我说，“难道特里罗尼先生没告诉你海盗的事？他是他们当中的一个。” “是这样的？”西尔弗叫道，“在我的房子里！本恩，跑过去，帮哈里一把。他是那些无赖中的一个？摩根，你一直在同他喝酒吗？过来。” 被他叫做摩根的那个人——一个上了岁数的、灰白头发红脸膛的水手——相当顺从地走过来，一边嚼着烟草块。 “现在，摩根，”高个子约翰非常严厉地说道，“你以前从没见过这个黑——‘黑狗’，是不是，嗯？” “从来没见过，先生。”摩根行了个礼，答道。 “你不知道他的名字，是不是？” “是这样的，先生。” “谢天谢地，汤姆•摩根，这对你太好了！”店主惊叫道，“要是你和那种人混在了一块儿，你就甭想踏进我的房子一步，你要明白这一点。他对你说了些什么？” “我弄不太清楚，先生。”摩根答道。 “你肩膀上长的究竟是脑袋还是该死的三孔滑轮？”高个子约翰叫道，“‘弄不太清楚’，你弄不太清楚！也许你连和谁说话都弄不太清楚，是不是？过来，刚才他胡说了些什么——航行，船长，船？说！他说了些什么？” “我们正在谈论拖龙骨①。”摩根答道。 ①一种把罪犯从水中拖过船底的酷刑。——译者注 “拖龙骨？你们在谈拖龙骨？倒是个挺合适的话题，你要明白这一点。回到你的位子上去，你这个笨蛋，汤姆。” 当摩根退回到他的位子上时，西尔弗很机密地小声向我补充道：“他是个相当诚实的人，汤姆•摩根，只是有点迟钝。”他的口气在我听来很有股谄媚的味道。接着他又放大音量说道：“现在，让我们来看看——‘黑狗’？不，我不晓得这个名字，不晓得。不过我倒多少想起来点，我曾经——是的，我曾经见过这个无赖。他总是同一个瞎乞丐到这儿来，他总是这样。” “那准是他，你可以肯定，”我说，“我也认得那个瞎子。他的名字叫皮乌。” “正是！”西尔弗叫道，这会儿他已经相当激动了，“皮乌！那肯定就是他的名字。啊，他看上去像条鲨鱼，就是这样！如果我们追上了这个‘黑狗’，那么，我们就可以向特里罗尼船主报信了！本恩是个飞毛腿，很少能有哪个水手跑得过本恩。他会追上他的，十拿九稳，犹如神助！他说到拖龙骨，是不是？我要拖他的龙骨哩！” 在他急切地讲这一番话的时候，他一直架着拐杖在小酒馆里跳来跳去，用手拍着桌子，作出一副激动的表情，好像要说服一名伦敦中央刑事法庭的法官或是最高警署的警察一样。在“望远镜”酒店发现“黑狗”这件事，再次唤起了我整个的怀疑。我留心观察着这位厨子，但是他对我来说是太有城府、太有准备、也太聪明了。当那两个人上气不接下气地回来、承认他们在人群中失去了追踪目标时，他们像小偷般地挨了顿训斥，因此，我情愿为高个子约翰•西尔弗的清白作证。 “喂，霍金斯，你看，”他说，“现在有桩该死的头疼事儿落到像我这样的人头上来了，不是吗？特里罗尼船主——他该怎么想？这个讨厌的荷兰崽子坐到我的房子里来了，喝着我的酒！你来到这儿告诉了我事情的真相，而我却让他当着我们所有人的面、从我该死的眼皮底下溜掉了！嗯，霍金斯，你得在船长面前给我说句公道话。你还是个小孩子，是这样的，可是你那么的聪明伶俐，跟幅画儿似的，你刚一走进来，我就瞧出来了。好了，就是这样，我架着这根木头能做啥？当我还是个数一数二的精壮水手时，我肯定会追上去一下子抓住他，手到擒来，肯定会的；但是现在——” 然后他突然打住，他的下巴向下张开，就像他猛然想起了什么。 “结账！”他冲口而出，“三杯郎姆酒！哎呀，要是我忘了结账，我该摔烂我这根木头！” 说着，他跌坐到一条板凳上，直笑得眼泪都淌到腮上来，我也忍不住一起笑起来； 我们一起笑了一阵又一阵，直到小酒店重新又欢腾起来。 “哎呀，我真是只老掉牙的老海豹！”最后，他一面揩着腮上的眼泪儿，一面说道，“你和我会处得很好的，霍金斯，因为我发誓你会被定级为侍应生。但是，现在你过来，准备出发吧，这事暂搁一边。公事公办，伙计。我得戴上我的旧厨师帽子，跟着你上特里罗尼船主那儿，向他报告这事。因为，提个醒儿，这是个严重的事儿，小霍金斯；无论是你还是我，都无法拿出能使我大胆地要求被信赖的证据来。你说说看，你拿不出来吧；不漂亮——我们两个都干得不漂亮。但是，真可恶！说起我的酒账倒是个乐子。”然后他就又开始笑起来，笑得那么尽兴，以至于尽管我不懂他开的那个玩笑，也不得不跟着他一道笑起来。 当我们漫步在往码头去的路上时，他使自己成了个最有趣的同伴，向我讲述我们途经的不同的船只，它们帆具、索具的装备、吨位以及国别，解释正在进行的工作——怎样的一艘在卸货，另一艘正在装舱，而第三艘正准备出海；还不时地给我讲些关于船和水手的小趣闻，或是重复一个海上的俚语，直到我完全学会了它。我开始觉得他是这里最令人满意的一个船友。 当我们到达旅店的时候，乡绅和利弗西医生正坐在一起，刚刚互相劝饮，喝掉一夸脱啤酒，正准备到船上去检阅一番。 高个子约翰神气十足，极其准确地描绘了事情的经过，“事情就是这样，喂，霍金斯，是不是这样？”他不时地这么说道，而我总是证实他的话完全属实。 两位绅士为“黑狗”跑掉了而感到遗憾，但是我们一致认为这是没办法的事。在得到一番称赞之后，高个子约翰架着拐走了。 “所有的人手今天下午四点上船。”乡绅在他后面喊道。 “是，是，先生。”厨子在走廊里回答道。 “喂，乡绅，”利弗西医生说道，“我对你的发现信心不大，像通常一样；但是我想说，约翰•西尔弗很合我的意。” “这是个完全可靠的人。”乡绅宣布道。 “现在，”医生补充说，“吉姆会跟我们一起上船吧，是不是？” “毫无疑问，”乡绅说道，“拿上你的帽子，霍金斯，我们去看船。” |
Treasure IslandChapter IX THE Hispaniola lay some way out, and we went under the figureheads and round the sterns of many other ships, and their cables sometimes grated underneath our keel, and sometimes swung above us. At last, however, we got alongside, and were met and saluted as we stepped aboard by the mate, Mr Arrow, a brown old sailor, with earrings in his ears and a squint. He and the squire were very thick and friendly, but I soon observed that things were not the same between Mr Trelawney and the captain. This last was a sharp-looking man, who seemed angry with everything on board, and was soon to tell us why, for we had hardly got down into the cabin when a sailor followed us. `Captain Smollett, sir, axing to speak with you,' said he. `I am always at the captain's order. Show him in,' said the squire. The captain, who was close behind his messenger, entered at once, and shut the door behind him. `Well, Captain Smollett, what have you to say? All well, I hope; all shipshape and seaworthy?' `Well, sir,' said the captain, `better speak plain, I believe, even at the risk of offence. I don't like this cruise; I don't like the men; and I don't like my officer. That's short and sweet.' `Perhaps, sir, you don't like the ship?' inquired the squire, very angry, as I could see. `I can't speak as to that, sir, not having seen her tried,' said the captain. `She seems a clever craft; more I can't say.' `Possibly, sir, you may not like your employer, either?' says the squire. But here Dr Livesey cut in. `Stay a bit,' said he, `stay a bit. No use of such questions as that but to produce ill-feeling. The captain has said too much or he has said too little, and I'm bound to say that I require an explanation of his words. You don't, you say, like this cruise. Now, why?' `I was engaged, sir, on what we call scaled orders, to sail this ship for that gentleman where he should bid me,' said the captain. `So far so good. But now I find that every man before the mast knows more than I do. I don't call that far now, do you?' `No,' said Dr Livesey, `I don't.' `Next,' said the captain, `I learn we are going after treasure - hear it from my own hands, mind you. Now, treasure ticklish work; I don't like treasure voyages on any account; and I don't like them, above all, when they are secret, and when (begging your pardon, Mr Trelawney) the secret has been told to the parrot.' `Silver's parrot?' asked the squire. `It's a way of speaking,' said the captain. `Blabbed, I mean. It's my belief neither of you gentlemen know what you are about; but I'll tell you my way of it - life or death, and a close run.' `That is all clear, and, I daresay, true enough,' replied Livesey. `We take the risk; but we are not so ignorant as you believe us. Next, you say you don't like the crew. Are they not good seamen?' `I don't like them, sir,' returned Captain Smollett. `And I think I should have had the choosing of my own hands, you go to that.' `Perhaps you should,' replied the doctor. `My friend should, perhaps, have taken you along with him; but the slight, if there be one, was unintentional. And you don't like Mr Arrow?' `I don't, sir. I believe he's a good seaman; but he's too free with the crew to be a good officer. A mate should keep himself to himself - shouldn't drink with the men before the mast!' `Do you mean he drinks?' cried the squire. `No, sir,' replied the captain; `only that he's too familiar.' `Well, now, and the short and long of it, captain?' asked the doctor. `Tell us what you want.' `Well, gentlemen, are you determined to go on this cruise?' `Like iron,' answered the squire. `Very good,' said the captain. `Then, as you've heard me very patiently, saying things that I could not prove, hear me a few words more. They are putting the powder and the arms in the fore hold. Now, you have a good place under the cabin; why not put them there? - first point. Then you are bringing four of your own people with you, and they tell me some of them are to be berthed forward. Why not give them the berths here beside the cabin? - second point.' `Any more?' asked Mr Trelawney. `One more,' said the captain. `There's been too much blabbing already.' `Far too much,' agreed the doctor. `I'll tell you what I've heard myself,' continued Captain Smollett: `that you have a map of an island; that there's crosses on the map to show where treasure is; and that the island lies--' And then he named the latitude and longitude exactly. `I never told that,' cried the squire, `to a soul!' `The hands know it, sir,' returned the captain. `Livesey, that must have been you or Hawkins,' cried the squire. `It doesn't much matter who it was,' replied the doctor. And I could see that neither he nor the captain paid much regard to Mr Trelawney's protestations. Neither did I, to be sure, he was so loose a talker; yet in this case I believe he was really right, and that nobody had told the situation of the island. `Well, gentlemen,' continued the captain, `I don't know who has this map; but I make it a point, it shall be kept secret even from me and Mr Arrow. Otherwise I would ask you to let me resign.' `I see,' said the doctor. `You wish us to keep this matter dark, and to make a garrison of the stern part of the ship, manned with my friend's own people, and provided with all the arms and powder on board. In other words, you fear a mutiny.' `Sir,' said Captain Smollett, `with no intention to take offence, I deny your right to put words into my mouth. No captain, sir, would be justified in going to sea at all if he had ground enough to say that. As for Mr Arrow, I believe hi thoroughly honest; some of the men are the same; all may be for what I know. But I am responsible for the ship's safety and the life of every man Jack aboard of her. I see thins going, as I think, not quite right. And I ask you to take certain precautions, or let me resign my berth. And that's all.' `Captain Smollett,' began the doctor, with a smile, `did ever you hear the fable of the mountain and the mouse? You excuse me, I daresay, but you remind me of that fable. When you came in here I'll stake my wig you meant more than this.' `Doctor,' said the captain, `you are smart. When I can in here I meant to get discharged. I had no thought that Mr Trelawney would hear a word.' `No more I would,' cried the squire. `Had Livesey not been here I should have seen you to the deuce. As it is, I have hear you. I will do as you desire; but I think the worse of you.' `That's as you please, sir,' said the captain. `You'll find I do my duty.' And with that he took his leave. `Trelawney,' said the doctor, `contrary to all my notions, I believe you have managed to get two honest men on board with you - that man and John Silver.' `Silver, if you like,' cried the squire; `but as for the intolerable humbug, I declare I think his conduct unmanly, unsailorly, and downright un - English.' `Well,' says the doctor, `we shall see.' When we came on deck, the men had begun already to take out the arms and powder, you-ho-ing at their work, while the captain and Mr Arrow stood by superintending. The new arrangement was quite to my liking. The whole schooner had been overhauled; six berths had been mad astern, out of what had been the after-part of the main hold and this set of cabins was only joined to the galley and forecastle by a sparred passage on the port side. It had been originally meant that the captain, Mr Arrow, Hunter, Joyce the doctor, and the squire, were to occupy these six berths Now, Redruth and I were to get two of them, and Mr Arrow and the captain were to sleep on deck in the companion, which had been enlarged on each side till you might almost have called it a round-house. Very low it was still, of course; but there was room to swing two hammocks, and even the mate seemed pleased with the arrangement. Even he, perhaps, had been doubtful as to the crew, but that is only guess; for, as you shall hear, we had not long the benefit of his opinion. We were all hard at work, changing the powder and the berths, when the last man or two, and Long John along with them, came off in a shore-boat. The cook came up the side like a monkey for cleverness, and, as soon as he saw what was doing, `So ho, mates!' says he, `what's this?' `We're a-changing of the powder, Jack,' answers one. `Why, by the powers,' cried Long John, `if we do, we'll miss the morning tide!' `My orders!' said the captain shortly. `You may go below, my man. Hands will want supper.' `Ay, ay, sir,' answered the cook; and, touching his forelock, he disappeared at once in the direction of his galley. `That's a good man, captain,' said the doctor. `Very likely sir,' replied Captain Smollett. `Easy with that, men - easy,' he ran on, to the fellows who were shifting the powder; and then suddenly observing me examining the swivel we carried amidships, a long brass nine - `Here, you ship's boy,' he cried, `out o' that! Off with you to the cook and get some work.' And then as I was hurrying off I heard him say, quite loudly, to the doctor:-- `I'll have no favourites on my ship.' I assure you I was quite of the squire's way of thinking, and hated the captain deeply. 宝岛九 火药和武器 伊斯班袅拉号停泊在一段水程以外，因此，我们从许多其它船只船头雕饰的下面过去，或是绕过它们的船尾。她们的缆绳有时在我们的平底船下擦过，有时则在我们的上方摇曳。尽管如此，我们最终还是靠到了大船的旁边。在我们上船之后，我们遇到了大副埃罗先生，并且接受了他的敬礼。他是个棕色皮肤的老水手，耳朵上戴着耳环，一只眼睛斜脱。他和乡绅的交情非常深厚和友好，但是我很快就察觉到，在特里罗尼和船长之间，情况并不是这样。 后者是个目光锐利的人，似乎与船上的每个人都有气，很快他就向我们说明了原因，因为我们刚刚下到舱内，一个水手便跟进来。 “阁下，斯莫列特船长要求同您谈话。”他说道。 “我随时听从船长的命令。让他进来。”乡绅说道。 船长紧随在他的听差的后面，立刻就走进来，把门关在了身后。 “好吧，斯莫列特船长，你想说什么？我希望一切顺利，一切准备得井井有条，能经得起风浪。” “啊，阁下，”船长说道，“我相信开门见山会好一点，即使冒触犯您的危险。我不喜欢这次航行；我不喜欢这些水手；而且我也不喜欢我的同僚。简明扼要，就这些。” “也许，先生，你还不喜欢这艘船？”乡绅追问道，就像我看出的那样，勃然大怒。 “阁下，我不能那样说，因为她还没有试航，”船长说道。“她看上去是艘灵巧的船；更多的我就不能讲了。” “可能，先生，你也不喜欢你的雇主吧？”乡绅说道。 但是这会儿利弗西医生插了进来。 “停一下，”他说，“停一下。这样的问题除了伤害感情外毫无用途。船长是说得太多了，或者他说得还远不够，而我必须要求他解释一下他的话。你说你不喜欢这次航行，那，是为什么呢？” “先生，我是被我们称为密封的命令任命的，要将这艘船开到这位先生命令我开到的地方，”船长说，“到目前为止，一切顺利。但是现在我发现桅杆前的每个人知道的都比我多。我不能说这是好事，你们认为呢？” “是这样，”利弗西医生说，“我也不认为这是好事。” “其次，”船长说道，“我知道我们是要出去寻宝——提醒你们，这是从我的手下人那里听到的。然而，寻宝是项小心翼翼的工作；我决不喜欢寻宝的航行；我不喜欢它们，尤其当它们还是秘密的时候，而（请你原谅，特里罗尼先生）这个秘密却告诉给了鹦鹉。” “西尔弗的鹦鹉？”乡绅问道。 “这是个说法，”船长说道，“我指的是泄密。我相信你们这些先生们自己也不知道在干些什么，但我告诉你们，我是怎么看的——不是活着就是送命，生死差之毫厘。”“那是明摆着的，而且我敢说，千真万确，”利弗西医生答道。“我们是要冒这个险，但是我们没像你认为的那么大意。其次，你说你不喜欢这些水手。难道他们不是好水手吗？” “我不喜欢他们，先生，”斯莫列特船长回答道，“既然你提及此事，我认为我本来有权自己挑选手下人的。” “可能如此，”医生答道，“也许我的朋友本应当带上你的，但是，这如果算是个疏忽的话，决不是故意的。你不喜欢埃罗先生吗？” “我不这样认为，先生。我相信他是个好水手，但是他和船员们太随便了，当不了个好长官。一个大副必须树立大副的形象——不能在桅杆前和手下人一起酗酒！” “你说他酗酒？”乡绅叫道。 “不，阁下，”船长答道，“只是他太不拘礼了。” “好啦，总之就这么回事吧，船长？”医生问道。“告诉我们你想怎样。” “啊，先生们，你们决定进行此次航行？” “铁了心了。”乡绅答道。 “很好，”船长说，“既然你们已经如此耐心地听我说了这么些无法证实的事，那么不妨再听我说几句。他们把火药和武器放到了前舱，而你们在特舱下面有个好地方，为什么不把它们放在那里？——此其一。还有，你们带了四个你们自己的人，而他们告诉我，这四人中有的被安置到了前舱。为什么不把他们的铺位安置到特舱这边来？——此其二。” “还有要说的吗？”特里罗尼问道。 “还有一点，”船长说道，“事情已经泄露得太多了。” “实在是太多了。”医生附和道。 “我告诉你们我本人都听到了些什么，”斯莫列特船长继续说道，“你们有一张小岛的地图，在地图上有十字记号标明宝藏的位置，而那个小岛位于——”接着，他准确地报出了纬度和经度。 “我从未跟人说过那个，”乡绅叫道，“连个鬼也没有！” “手下人知道那个，阁下。”船长答道。 “利弗西，那肯定就是你或是霍金斯的事了。”乡绅叫道。 “是谁关系不大。”医生答道。我看得出，医生和船长都不大在意特里罗尼先生的抗议，我也如此，的确，他的口风太松了；然而在这种情况下，我相信他说的是实话，没有人讲过那个岛的位置。 “好啦，先生们，”船长继续说道，“我不知道谁有这张地图，但是我指出一点，它对我和埃罗先生来说必须保密。不然的话，我请求你们允许我辞职。” “我明白，”医生说，“你希望我们暗中进行，并且在船的尾部用我朋友自己的人建立一支警备力量，占据船上的武器和火药。换言之，你怕发生一场哗变。” “阁下，”斯莫列特船长说道，“我无意冒犯谁，因此拒绝你把这些话安到我身上。阁下，若是有哪个船长在掌握了确凿的证据的情况下，讲了那番话，再去出海，那可太离谱了。至于埃罗先生，我相信他完全是个忠实的人，其它人中的一些也是；也许所有的人都是如此。但是，我要对这艘船的安全和船上每个人的生命负责。我看到事情发展得，在我看来，不很对头。因此，我要求你们采取一定的预防措施，否则准我辞职。就这些。” “斯莫列特船长，”医生开始微笑着说道，“你是否曾经听过大山和小耗子的寓言①？我敢说，你得原谅我，但是你使我想起了那个寓言。当你一走进这里，我敢拿我的假发打赌，你想说的不只这些。” ①伊索寓言中的一则，大山震动，结果跑出来的是一只小耗子。 “医生，”船长说，“你很聪明。当我走进来的时候，我是准备被解雇的。我没指望特里罗尼先生会听进一个字。” “多一个字我也不想听了，”乡绅嚷道。“要不是利弗西医生在这里，我早就让你见鬼去了。既已如此，我就听你的。我会按照你的意思行事，但我并不真的信服你。” “悉听尊便，阁下，”船长说道，“你会发现我是尽职尽责的。” 说完他就离去了。 “特里罗尼，”医生说道，“与我的估计完全相反，我相信你已设法弄到了两个忠实的人同你一道出海——这个人和约翰•西尔弗。” “西尔弗，要是你愿意，”乡绅嚷道，“但是至于那个让人无法忍受的空话家，我敢断言，我认为他的行为是没有大丈夫气概的，没有水手气概的，并且彻头彻尾不像个英国人。” “好啦，”医生说，“我们拭目以待。” 当我们来到甲板上时，人们已经开始往外搬武器和火药了，干活时一边还吆喝着，而船长和埃罗先生则站在一旁指挥。 新的安排很合我意。整个帆船都翻腾起来，有六个原先在主舱房后部的铺位被移到了船尾；而这套舱房只通过舷窗旁的一条木板做的两道与厨房和前甲板相连。起初安排的是船长、埃罗先生、亨特、乔埃斯、医生和乡绅，占用这六个铺位。现在，我和雷卓斯加了起来，埃罗先生和船长就睡在舱梯旁的甲板上。那块地方已经从两侧加宽了，你几乎可以把它叫做一个后甲板舱。当然它还是很低矮，不过足够挂两个吊床了，看来大副对这种安排也十分的满意。即使是他，可能对船员们也有所怀疑，但这只是一种猜测；因为，就像你将要听到的，不久我们对他的看法便得到了反馈。 当高个子约翰和最后的一两个人划着岸上的小划子过来时，我们全都在努力地工作着，搬运火药以及挪动铺位。 厨子像猴子般灵巧地越过了船舷，一看到正在进行的工作便开口了，“怎么，伙计们！这是做什么？” “我们正在搬运火药，杰克。”一个答道。 “噢，老天，”高个子约翰嚷道，“要是我们这么干下去，会错过早潮的！” “我的命令！”船长简短地说道，“你可以到下面去了，船员们要吃晚饭了。” “呃，呃，阁下。”厨子应着，摸了摸额发，立刻就消失在厨房那头了。 “那是个好人，船长。”医生说道。 “很像是那么回事，先生，”斯莫列特船长答道。“别急，伙计们——慢慢来，”他不住地向正在抬火药的弟兄们说着，接着，他猛然注意到我正在察看我们搬到船中部来的那座旋转炮——一支黄铜的长“雪茄”。“过来，你，侍应生，”他叫道，“离那儿远点！到厨子那里找些活干。” 接下来，当我跑开的时候，我听见他很大声地对医生说： “我的船上不允许有受宠的人。” 我向你保证，我和乡绅想法完全一致，恨透了那个船长。 |
Treasure IslandChapter X ALL that night we were in a great bustle getting things stowed in their place, and boatfuls of the squire's friends, Mr Blandly and the like, coming off to wish him a good voyage and a safe return. We never had a night at the `Admiral Benbow' when I had half the work; and I was dog-tired when a little before dawn, the boatswain sounded his pipe, and the crew began to man the capstan-bars. I might have been twice as weary, yet I would not have left the deck; all was so new and interesting to me - the brief commands, the shrill not of the whistle, the men bustling to their places in the glimmer of the ship's lanterns. `Now, Barbecue, tip us a stave,' cried one voice. `The old one,' cried another. `Ay, ay, mates,' said Long John, who was standing by with his crutch under his arm, and at once broke out in the air and words I knew so well-- `Fifteen men on the dead man's chest--' And then the whole crew bore chorus:-- `You - ho - ho, and a bottle of rum!' And at the third `ho!' drove the bars before them with a will Even at that exciting moment it carried me back to the old `Admiral Benbow' in a second; and I seemed to hear the voice of the captain piping in the chorus. But soon the anchor was short up; soon it was hanging dripping at the bows; soon the sails began to draw, and the land and shipping to flit by on either side; and before I could lie down to snatch an hour of slumber the Hispaniola had begun her voyage to the Isle of Treasure. I am not going to relate that voyage in detail. It was fairly prosperous. The ship proved to be a good ship, the crew were capable seamen, and the captain thoroughly understood his business. But before we came the length of Treasure Island, two or three things had happened which require to be known. Mr Arrow, first of all, turned out even worse than the captain had feared. He had no command among the men, and people did what they pleased with him. But that was by no means the worst of it; for after a day or two at sea he began to appear on deck with hazy eye, red cheeks, stuttering tongue, and other marks of drunkenness. Time after time he was ordered below in disgrace. Sometimes he fell and cut himself; sometimes he lay all day long in his little bunk at one side of the companion; sometimes for a day or two he would be almost sober and attend to his work at least passably. In the meantime, we could never make out where he got the drink. That was the ship's mystery. Watch him as we pleased, we could do nothing to solve it; and when we asked him to his face, he would only laugh, if he were drunk, and if he were sober, deny solemnly that he ever tasted anything but water. He was not only useless as an officer, and a bad influence amongst the men, but it was plain that at this rate he must soon kill himself outright; so nobody was much surprised, nor very sorry, when one dark night, with a head sea, he disappeared entirely and was seen no more. `Overboard!' said the captain. `Well, gentlemen, that saves the trouble of putting him in irons.' But there we were, without a mate; and it was necessary, of course, to advance one of the men. The boatswain, Job Anderson, was the likeliest man aboard, and, though he kept his old title, he served in a way as mate. Mr Trelawney had followed the sea, and his knowledge made him very useful, for he often took a watch himself in easy weather. And the coxswain, Israel Hands, was a careful, wily, old, experienced seaman, who could be trusted at a pinch with almost anything. He was a great confidant of Long John Silver, and so the mention of his name leads me on to speak of our ship's cook, Barbecue, as the men called him. Aboard ship he carried his crutch by a lanyard round his neck to have both hands as free as possible. It was something to see him wedge the foot of the crutch against a bulkhead, and propped against it, yielding to every movement of the ship, get on with his cooking like someone safe ashore. Still more strange was it to see him in the heaviest of weather cross the deck. He had a line or two rigged up to help him across the widest spaces - Long John's earrings, they were called; and he would' hand himself from one place to another, now using the crutch now trailing it alongside by the lanyard, as quickly as another man could walk. Yet some of the men who had sailed with him before expressed their pity to see him so reduced. `He's no common man, Barbecue,' said the coxswain to me. `He had good schooling in his young days, and can speak like a book when so minded; and brave - a lion's nothing alongside of Long John! I seen him grapple four, and knock their heads together - him unarmed.' All the crew respected and even obeyed him. He had a way of talking to each, and doing everybody some particular service. To me he was unweariedly kind; and always glad to see me in the galley, which he kept as clean as a new pin the dishes hanging up burnished, and his parrot in a cage in one corner. `Come away, Hawkins,' he would say; `come and have yarn with John. Nobody more welcome than yourself, my son Sit you down and hear the news. Here's Cap'n Flint - I call my parrot Cap'n Flint, after the famous buccaneer - here Cap'n Flint predicting success to our v'yage. Wasn't you cap'n?' And the parrot would say, with great rapidity, `Pieces of eight! pieces of eight! pieces of eight!' till you wondered than it was not out of breath, or till John threw his handkerchief over the cage. `Now, that bird,' he would say, `is, may be, two hundred years old, Hawkins - they lives for ever mostly; and if anybody's seen more wickedness, it must be the devil himself. She's sailed with England, the great Cap'n England, the pirate. She's been at Madagascar, and a Malabar, and Surinam, and Providence, and Portobello. She was at the fishing up of the wrecked plate ships. It's there she learned ``Pieces of eight,'' and little wonder; three hundred and fifty thousand of 'em, Hawkins! She was at the boarding of the Viceroy of the Indies out of Goa, she was; and to look at her you would think she was a babby. But you smelt powder - didn't you, cap'n?' `Stand by to go about,' the parrot would scream. `Ah, she's a handsome craft, she is,' the cook would say, and give her sugar from his pocket, and then the bird would peck at the bars and swear straight on, passing belief for wickedness. `There,' John would add, `you can't touch pitch and not be mucked, lad. Here's this poor old innocent bird o' mine swearing blue fire, and none the wiser, you may lay to that. She would swear the same, in a manner of speaking, before chaplain.' And John would touch his forelock with a solemn way he had, that made me think he was the best of men. In the meantime, the squire and Captain Smollett were still on pretty distant terms with one another. The squire made no bones about the matter; he despised the captain. The captain, on his part, never spoke but when he was spoken to, and then sharp and short and dry, and not a word wasted. He owned, when driven into a corner, that he seemed to have been wrong about the crew, that some of them were as brisk as he wanted to see, and all had behaved fairly well. As for the ship, he had taken a downright fancy to her. `She'll lie a point nearer the wind than a man has a right to expect of his own married wife, sir. But,' he would add, `all I say is we're not home again, and I don't like the cruise.' The squire, at this, would turn away and march up and down the deck, chin in air. `A trifle more of that man,' he would say, `and I shall explode.' We had some heavy weather, which only proved the qualities of the Hispaniola. Every man on board seemed well content, and they must have been hard to please if they had been otherwise; for it is my belief there was never a ship's company so spoiled since Noah put to sea. Double grog was going on the least excuse; there was duff on odd days, as, for instance, if the squire heard it was any man's birthday; and always a barrel of apples standing broached in the waist for anyone to help himself that had a fancy. `Never knew good come of it yet,' the captain said to Dr Livesey. `Spoil foc's'le hands, make devils. That's my belief.' But good did come of the apple barrel, as you shall hear for if it had not been for that, we should have had no note of warning, and might all have perished by the hand of treachery. This was how it came about. We had run up the trades to get the wind of the island we were after - I am not allowed to be more plain - and now we were running down for it with a bright look-out day and night. It was about the last day of our outward voyage, by the largest computation; some time that night, or, at latest, before noon of the morrow, we should sight the Treasure Island. We were heading S.S.W., and had a steady breeze abeam and a quiet sea. The Hispaniola rolled steadily, dipping her bowsprit nod and then with a whiff of spray. All was drawing alow and aloft everyone was in the bravest spirits, because we were now so near an end of the first part of our adventure. Now, just after sundown, when all my work was over, and I was on my way to my berth, it occurred to me that I should like an apple. I ran on deck. The watch was all forward looking out for the island. The man at the helm was watching the luff of the sail, and whistling away gently to himself; and that was the only sound excepting the swish of the sea against the bow.' and around the sides of the ship. In I got bodily into the apple barrel, and found there was scarce an apple left; but, sitting down there in the dark, what with the sound of the waters and the rocking movement of the ship, I had either fallen asleep, or was on the point of doing so, when a heavy man sat down with rather a clash close by The barrel shook as he leaned his shoulders against it, and I was just about to jump up when the man began to speak It was Silver's voice, and, before I had heard a dozen words. I would not have shown myself for all the world, but lay there, trembling and listening, in the extreme of fear and curiosity; for from these dozen words I understood that the lives of all the honest men aboard depended upon me alone. 宝岛十 航行 那晚，我们通宵奔忙着，将物品装舱归位。同时，乡绅的朋友们，像布兰德利他们，一划子一划子地到大船上来祝他一帆风顺，平安返航。我在“本葆海军上将”旅店一个晚上干的活儿，远不及在这个晚上干的一半多。将近黎明时分，当水手长吹响了他的哨子，全体船员都站在绞盘杠前整齐待命时，我已经疲惫不堪了。我原本是双倍的疲惫了，却还总是舍不得离开甲板；对我来说，简短的命令，尖利的哨声，以及人们在船上桅灯微弱的光下熙熙攘攘地上岗的情景——所有这一切都是那么的新鲜有趣。 “喂，‘大叉烧’，给我们起个头儿。”一个声音喊道。 “来个老调。”另一个喊道。 “是，是，伙计们。”高个子约翰应道，他正胳膊底下架着拐，站在一旁。然后他立刻冲天唱出对我来说是那么熟悉的歌来—— 十五个汉子扒上了死人胸—— 接着，全体船员跟着合唱起来： 哟——嗬——嗬，再来郎姆酒一大瓶！ 在第三声“嗬”出口时，他们一齐推动了面前的绞盘杠。 即使在那最激动人心的一刻，我也立刻回想起“本葆海军上将”旅店来；我似乎在那合唱里听到了船长的声音。但很快船就起锚了，挂在船头上滴着水；很快又开始张帆了，接着陆地和船舶从两边掠过；还没等我抓时间舒舒服服地躺下来睡一小时的觉，伊斯班袅拉号已经开始了她驶向宝岛的航程。 我不准备详细叙述这次航行了。那是相当的顺利，船被证明是艘好船，水手都是有能力的水手，而船长则完全精通他的业务。但是在我们到达宝岛之前，发生了两三件事，需要讲清楚。 首先是埃罗先生，他结果比船长早先担心的还要糟糕。他在人们中间没有威信，人们在他面前随心所欲。但那决不是最坏的；因为出海一两天后，他便开始带着迷糊的眼神、发红的面孔、结巴的舌头，以及其它酗酒的迹象出现在甲板上。一次又一次，他丢人地被喝令回到舱里去。有时他跌倒并划伤了自己，有时他整天躺在后甲板室他小小的铺位上；有时他差不多清醒过来时，也勉勉强强地干一两天。 与此同时，我们怎么也搞不懂他从哪儿弄来的酒。那是船上的一个谜。我们尽可能地监视他，还是揭不开这个谜；当我们当面质问他时，要是他喝了酒，就只是笑，要是他还清醒，就否认除了水外还喝过其它任何东西。 他不仅是个在船员们中间起不良影响的无用的官长，而且很显然，若按这个情形发展下去，他一定会很快结果掉自己的。因此，在一个漆黑的夜晚，当他一头栽到海里，完全消失、再也不见踪影时，没有人大惊讶或是格外难过。 “失足落水！”船长说，“好吧，先生们，那省下了给他上镣铐的麻烦。” 但是这样我们就没有了大副；当然，有必要从下边的人中提拔一个。水手长乔布•安德森是船上最有希望的人选，尽管他保持了原有的头衔，他却履行了大副的职责。特里罗尼先生是航过海的，他的知识使他成了个有用的人物，因为在好的天气里，他经常亲自值班。而舵手伊斯莱尔•汉兹，是个细心的、足智多谋的、老练的。经验丰富的水手，在紧要时刻，几乎任何事情都可以放心地交给他做。 他是高个子约翰•西尔弗的至交，因此一提到他的名字，就让我跟着说到我们船的厨子，“大叉烧”，人们那样称呼他。 在船上，他用一根短索将他的拐杖和脖子套到一起，以使双手尽可能地自由。这是很可一看的：他把拐杖的脚嵌人到舱壁的缝中，抵靠着它，以适应船的每一次颠簸，像人在岸上一样稳当地干着他的烹饪工作。更令人称奇的是看他在最恶劣的天气跨过甲板。他装配了一两根绳索来帮助他跨过那最宽的地方——它们被称作“高个子约翰的耳环”；他使自己从一个地方转到另一个地方，一会儿使用那根拐杖，一会儿拉着短索就到了舷侧，就像能行走的人一样迅速。然而，以前和他一起航行过的人看到他这个样子都表露出惋惜之情。 “‘大叉烧’，他是个不同寻常的人，”舵手对我说。“他在年轻的时候受过很好的教育，经心的时候能讲书上的字眼；而且他勇敢——一头狮子在高个子约翰身旁算不得什么！我看到他跟四个人格斗，把他们的头撞到一块儿——他赤手空拳。” 所有的船员都尊敬他，甚至服从他。他有办法和每个人都谈得来，并且能为每个人做特殊服务。他对我一向很好，总是很高兴在厨房里见到我，那个厨房被他收拾得非常的整洁；盘子被他擦得锃亮的悬挂起来，而他的鹦鹉则被关在角落里的一个笼子里。 “下来啦，霍金斯，”他会这样说，“来听约翰讲个故事吧。没人比你更受欢迎了，我的孩子。你坐下来，听听新闻。这是‘弗林特船长’——我管我的鹦鹉叫‘弗林特船长’，照那有名的海盗起的名字——你瞧，‘弗林特船长’正预告我们航行的成功哩。是不是，船长？” 而那只鹦鹉就会快嘴快舌地叫起来：“八个里亚尔！八个里亚尔！八个里亚尔！”让你为它的声嘶力竭而感到惊奇，直到约翰丢过去一方巾帕罩住笼子。 “现在这只鸟，”他会这样说，“可能有两百岁了，霍金斯——它们多半长生不老，要是有谁见到的伤天害理事比它们多，那一定是魔鬼自己了。它曾经跟着殷格兰——伟大的殷格兰船长，那个海盗——一起出过海。它到达过马达加斯加，还有马拉巴，还有苏里南、普罗维登斯、坡托伯罗。打捞失事了的沉船时它也在场。就是在那儿，它学会了‘八个里亚尔’，没啥稀奇的；那儿沉了三十五万英里，霍金斯！当‘印度总督号’在果阿被强攻时，它也在场，它确实在的；而看到它时，你还会以为它是个雏鸟哩。但是你闻过火药味了——是不是，船长？” “准备转向。”鹦鹉会这样尖叫道。 “啊，它是个漂亮的尤物，确实是的，”厨子会这样说，从他的口袋里拿糖给它，接着那鸟就啄着笼栅，一直咒骂下去，说出些让人难以置信的恶毒话。“你看，”约翰会补充说，“你不去碰沥青才不会被弄脏，孩子。我这只可怜的、无辜的老鸟骂人的本领炉火纯青，没有比它更聪明的了，你要明白这一点。在随营牧师面前，可以说，它也会这样骂哩。”说着，约翰会以他特有的庄严的神情掠一掠他的额发，这使我觉得他是船员中最好的一个。 在此期间，乡绅和斯莫列特船长的关系仍然是相当的疏远。这一点，乡绅毫无顾忌地表露了出来，他鄙视船长。而船长这方面呢，除非乡绅跟他说话，否则他决不先张口，而答话也是尖锐、简短、生硬的，不浪费一个字眼。当他被逼问得无路可走时，他也可能承认他错怪了船员们，他们中一些人就像他想要看到的那样有于劲，而阻所有的人都表现得相当好。至于这艘船，他是彻底地爱上了她。“她定会圆满地完成任务的，比一个男人有权期待他的发妻所做的还要好，阁下。不过，”他又补充道，“我说来说去，我们还是再难回家了，我不喜欢此次航行。” 一听到这个，乡绅就会背过脸去，在甲板上走来走去，下巴翘上了天。 “那个人再来那么一点的话，”他会说，“我就要气炸了。” 我们遇到过些坏天气，而那只是证实了伊斯班袅拉号的质量。船上的每个人看来都很满足，否则他们一定就是不知足的人；因为，在我看来，自诺亚方舟下水以来，从未有哪只船的船员像他们那样被放纵。借点儿由子就要饮双倍的酒；不时地有肉馒头吃，比方乡绅听说那天是某人的生日；还有，总有一大桶苹果打开来放在船当腰的地方，谁爱吃就自己去拿。 “从没听说这么做会带来什么好处，”船长对利弗西医生说。“放纵手下，招致灾难。这是我的信条。” 但是那桶苹果确实带来了好处，就像你将要听到的那样：因为要是没有它，我们就不会得到警报，可能我们就会被叛逆之手统统于掉了。 事情是这样发生的。 我们赶到了贸易风①下，以便乘风抵达我们要去的岛——我不能说得更明白了——而我们现在正驶向它，由一个目力好的人日夜担任观望。照最长的估算，那大约是我们航程的最后一天；在那晚，或者说最迟在次日午时之前的某个时刻，我们就会看到宝岛了。我们的航向是西南，微风徐徐地吹着舷侧，海面平静无浪。伊斯班袅拉号翻卷着浪花稳定地推进着，不时升起又降下它的第一斜桅。所有的帆都鼓满了风；每个人都精神饱满，因为我们现在离探险第一阶段的末尾是那样地近了。 ①由东南或东北方向向赤道吹袭的强风，很少改变方向，叫信风，也叫贸易风。——译者注 当时，日头刚刚落下，我干完了所有的工作，正在往我的铺位走的路上，我忽然想吃一个苹果。我跑上了甲板，观望者正全神贯注在向前注视着岛屿的出现，掌舵的人正在看风使舵，一边自个儿轻轻地吹着口哨；除了海水拍打船头和船舷的咻咻声外，那就是惟一的声音了。 我整个身子跳进了苹果桶，这才发现里面一个苹果也不剩了；但是，在黑暗中坐在里面，听着水声，伴着船身的上下起伏，我不觉打起盹来，或者说就快要睡着了，这时一个大个子扑通一声靠着桶坐下来。由于他的肩膀倚在桶上，桶摇晃起来，就在我想要跳起来的时候，这个人开始讲话了，是西尔弗的声音，还没等我听上几句，我就再不想暴露自己了，而只是蜷伏在里面，战战兢兢地听着，怀着极度的恐惧和好奇；就从这十来句话当中，我已明白，船上所有诚实的人的性命都系在我一人身上了。 |
Treasure IslandChapter XI `NO, not I,' said Silver. `Flint was cap'n; I was quartermaster, along of my timber leg. The same broadside I lost my leg, old Pew lost his deadlights. It was a master surgeon, him that ampytated me - out of college and all - Latin by the bucket, and what not; but he was hanged like a dog, and sun - dried like the rest, at Corso Castle. That was Roberts' men, that was, and comed of changing names to their ships - Royal Fortune and so on. Now, what a ship was christened, so let her stay, I says. So it was with the Cassandra as brought us all safe home from Malabar, after England took the Viceroy of the Indies; so it was with the old Walrus, Flint's old ship, as I've seen amuck with the red blood and fit to sink with gold.' `Ah!' cried another voice, that of the youngest hand on board, and evidently full of admiration, `he was the flower of the flock, was Flint!' `Davis was a man, too, by all accounts,' said Silver. `I never sailed along of him; first with England, then with Flint, that's my story; and now here on my own account, in a manner of speaking. I laid by nine hundred safe, from England, and two thousand after Flint. That aint bad for a man before the mast - all safe in bank. 'Tain't earning now, it's saving does it, you may lay to that. Where's all England's men now? I dunno. Where's Flint's? Why, most on 'em aboard here, and glad to get the duff - been begging before that, some on 'em. Old Pew, as had lost his sight, and might have thought shame, spends twelve hundred pound in a year, like a lord in Parliament. Where is he now? Well, he's dead now and under hatches; but for two year before that, shiver my timbers! the man was starving. He begged, and he stole, and he cut throats, and starved at that, by the powers!' `Well, it aint much use, after all,' said the young seaman. `'Tain't much use for fools, you may lay to it - that, nor nothing,' cried Silver. `But now, you look here: you're young, you are, but you're as smart as paint. I see that when I set my eyes on you, and I'll talk to you like a man.' You may imagine how I felt when I heard this abominable old rogue addressing another in the very same words of flattery as he had used to myself. I think, if I had been able, that would have killed him through the barrel. Meantime, he ran on, little supposing he was overheard. `Here it is about gentlemen of fortune. They lives rough and they risk swinging, but they eat and drink like fighting cocks, and when a cruise is done, why, it's hundreds of pounds instead of hundreds of farthings in their pockets. Now, the most goes for rum and a good fling, and to sea again in their shirts. But that's not the course I lay. I puts it all away, some here, some there, and none too much anywheres, by reason of suspicion. I'm fifty, mark you; once back from this cruise I set up gentleman in earnest. Time enough, too, says you Ah, but I've lived easy in the meantime; never denied myself o nothing heart desires, and slep' soft and ate dainty all my days, but when at sea. And how did I begin? Before the mast like you!' `Well,' said the other, `but all the other money's gone now aint it? You daren't show face in Bristol after this.' `Why, where might you suppose it was?' asked Silver derisively. `At Bristol, in banks and places,' answered his companion `It were,' said the cook; `it were when we weighed anchor But my old missis has it all by now. And the ``Spy-glass'' is sold, lease and good-will and rigging; and the old girl's of to meet me. I would tell you where, for I trust you; but it 'ud make jealousy among the mates.' `And can you trust your missis?' asked the other. `Gentlemen of fortune,' returned the cook, `usually trusts little among themselves, and right they are, you may lay to it. But I have a way with me, I have. When a mate brings a slip on his cable - one as knows me, I mean - it won't be in the same world with old John. There was some that was feared of Pew, and some that was feared of Flint; but Flint his own self was feared of me. Feared he was, and proud. They was the roughest crew afloat, was Flint's; the devil himself would have been feared to go to sea with them. Well, now, I tell you, I'm not a boasting man, and you seen yourself how easy I keep company; but when I was quartermaster, lambs wasn't the word for Flint's old buccaneers. Ah, you may be sure of yourself in old John's ship.' `Well, I tell you now,' replied the lad, `I didn't half a quarter like the job till I had this talk with you, John; but there's my hand on it now.' `And a brave lad you were, and smart, too,' answered Silver, shaking hands so heartily that all the barrel shook, `and a finer figure-head for a gentleman of fortune I never clapped my eyes on.' By this time I had begun to understand the meaning of their terms. By a `gentleman of fortune' they plainly meant neither more nor less than a common pirate, and the little scene that I had overheard was the last act in the corruption of one of the honest hands - perhaps of the last one left aboard. But on this point I was soon to be relieved for Silver giving a little whistle, a third man strolled up and sat down by the party. `Dick's square,' said Silver. `Oh, I know'd Dick was square,' returned the voice of the coxswain, Israel Hands. `He's no fool, is Dick.' And he turned his quid and spat. `But, look here,' he went on, here's what I want to know, Barbecue: how long are we a-going to stand off and on like a blessed bumboat? I've had a' most enough o Cap'n Smollett; he's hazed me long enough, by thunder! I want to go into that cabin, I do. I want their pickles and wines, and that.' `Israel,' said Silver, `your head aint much account, nor ever was. But you're able to hear, I reckon; leastways, your ears is big enough. Now, here's what I say: you'll berth forward, and you'll live hard, and you'll speak soft, and you'll keep sober, till I give the word; and you may lay to that, my son.' `Well, I don't say no, do I?' growled the coxswain. `What I say is, when? That's what I say.' `When! by the powers!' cried Silver. `Well, now, if you want to know, I'll tell you when. The last moment I can manage; and that's when. Here's a first-rate seaman, Cap'n Smollett, sails the blessed ship for us. Here's this squire and doctor with a map and such - I don't know where it is, do I? No more do you, says you. Well, then, I mean this squire and doctor shall find the stuff, and help us to get it aboard, by the powers. Then we'll see. If was sure of you all, sons of double Dutchmen, I'd have Cap'n Smollett navigate us half-way back again before struck.' `Why, we're all seamen aboard here, I should think,' said the lad Dick. `We're all foc's'le hands, you mean,' snapped Silver `We can steer a course, but who's to set one? That's what all you gentlemen split on, first and last. If I had my way I'd have Cap'n Smollett work us back into the trades a' least; then we'd have no blessed miscalculations and a spoonful of water a day. But I know the sort you are. I'll finish with 'em at the island, as soon's the blunt's on board and a pity it is. But you're never happy till you're drunk Split my sides, I've a sick heart to sail with the likes of you! `Easy all, Long John,' cried Israel. `Who's a-crossing of you?' `Why, how many tall ships, think ye, now, have I seen laid aboard? and how many brisk lads drying in the sun at Execution Dock?' cried Silver, `and all for this same hurry and hurry and hurry. You hear me? I seen a thing or two at sea, I have. If you would on'y lay your course and a p'int to windward, you would ride in carriages, you would. But not you! I know you. You'll have your mouthful of rum to- morrow, and go hang.' `Everybody know'd you was a kind of a chapling, John; but there's others as could hand and steer as well as you,' said Israel. `They liked a bit o' fun, they did. They wasn't so high. and dry, nohow, but took their fling, like jolly companions every one.' `So?' says Silver. `Well, and where are they now? Pew was that sort, and he died a beggar-man. Flint was, and he died of rum at Savannah. Ah, they was a sweet crew they was! on'y, where are they?' `But,' asked Dick, `when we do lay 'em athwart, what are we to do with 'em, anyhow?' `There's the man for me!' cried the cook, admiringly. `That's what I call business. Well, what would you think? Put 'em ashore like maroons? That would have been England's way. Or cut 'em down like that much pork? That would have been Flint's or Billy Bones's.' `Billy was the man for that,' said Israel. ```Dead men don't bite,'' says he. Well, he's dead now himself; he knows the long and short on it now; and if ever a rough hand come to port, it was Billy.' `Right you are,' said Silver, `rough and ready. But mark you here: I'm an easy man - I'm quite the gentleman, says you; but this time it's serious. Dooty is dooty, mates. I give my vote - death. When I'm in Parlyment, and riding in my coach, I don't want none of these sea - lawyers in the cabin a-coming home, unlooked for, like the devil at prayers. Wait is what I say; but when the time comes, why let her rip!' `John,' cries the coxswain, `you're a man!' `You'll say so, Israel, when you see,' said Silver. `Only one thing I claim - I claim Trelawney. I'll wring his calf's head off his body with these hands. Dick!' he added, breaking off, `you just jump up, like a sweet lad, and get me an apple, to wet my pipe like.' You may fancy the terror I was in! I should have leaped out and run for it, if I had found the strength; but my limbs and heart alike misgave me. I heard Dick begin to rise, and then someone seemingly stopped him, and the voice of Hands exclaimed:-- `Oh, stow that! Don't you get sucking of that bilge, John. Let's have a go of the rum.' `Dick,' said Silver, `I trust you. I've a gauge on the keg, mind. There's the key; you fill a pannikin and bring it up.' Terrified as I was, I could not help thinking to myself that this must have been how Mr Arrow got the strong waters that destroyed him. Dick was gone but a little while, and during his absence Israel spoke straight on in the cook's ear. It was but a word or two that I could catch, and yet I gathered some important news; for, besides other scraps that tended to the sam purpose, this whole clause was audible: `Not another man of them'll jine.' Hence there were still faithful men on board When Dick returned, one after another of the trio took the pannikin and drank - one `To luck'; another with a `Here's to old Flint'; and Silver himself saying, in a kind of song `Here's to ourselves, and hold your luff, plenty of prizes and plenty of duff.' Just then a sort of brightness fell upon me in the barrel and looking up, I found the moon had risen, and was silvering, the mizzen-top and shining white on the luff of the fore-sail and almost at the same time the voice of the look-out shouted `Land ho!' 宝岛十一 我在苹果桶里听到了什么 “不，不是我，”西尔弗说，“弗林特是船长；我因为有这根木腿，只是管掌舵。我失去这条腿，老皮乌失去了他的眼睛，是在同一次测舷受到炮击的时候。是一个技艺精湛的外科医生给我截的腿——那医生是从一个什么大学出来的，一肚子的拉丁词儿，还有别的什么；但是他被像条狗似的吊死在科尔索炮台，晒干了，像其它人一样。那是罗伯特的部下，他们的毛病是出在给船换了名字——‘皇运’等等——带来这个下场。 如今照我说，一条船被命名为什么，就让它一直叫那个名字好了。‘卡散德拉’号就是这样，在殷格兰拿下了‘印度总督号’，她把我们从马拉巴全部送回家；‘老瓦鲁斯’号，弗林特的那艘老帆船，也是这样，当时我见她被鲜血染得斑斑驳驳，被金子压得快 要沉了。” “啊！”另一个声音叫道，那是船上最年轻的水手，声音里充满了赞美之情，“他 是人中俊杰哩，那个弗林特！” “人人都说戴维斯也是个人物哩，”西尔弗说。“我从未跟他一起出过海；我先是跟殷格兰，然后跟弗林特，那就是我的经历；这把，可以说，算是我单干了。我从殷格兰那里稳稳当当地拿了九百存上了，后来又从弗林特那里得了两千。对一个在桅杆前于活的人来说，那已经不坏了——全都稳稳当当地存在银行里。单靠会挣钱还不行，还得靠节俭聚财，你要明白这一点。如今殷格兰的全体部下到哪里去了呢？我不知道。弗林特的手下呢？嗯，他们大部分在这条船上，为有肉馒头吃而感到快活——在这之前，他们中有些还要过饭哩。老皮乌，瞎了眼之后，说起来可能惭愧，曾在一年里就花掉了一千二百镑，像个国会里的王公。他现在在哪儿？哎，他现在已经死了，在地底下了；但是在两年前，见鬼！这个人正在挨饿。他乞讨，他偷，他还杀人，这么着他还挨饿，老天！” “你看，那毕竟没有太大用处。”年轻的水手说。 “对傻瓜们来说是没太大用处，你要明白这一点——对他们来说，什么都没用，” 西尔弗叫道。“但是现在，你瞧：你还年轻，但你却聪明伶俐得跟幅画似的，我一见到你就看出来了，因此我把你当成个男子汉来谈话。” 你可以想象得到，当我听到这个老恶棍把用在我身上的同样的奉承话拿去奉承另一个人时，我是怎样的感觉。我想，要是可能的话，我会穿过这木桶杀了他。同时，他继续讲着，丝毫没想到被人听到。 “幸运的大爷们就是这样。他们艰难地生活着，冒着被绞死的危险，但是他们却像斗鸡般地吃喝着，而一旦一次航行结束了，他们口袋里成百的钢蹦儿就会换成成百上千的金铸。于是，大半花在喝酒和挥霍上，然后就再两手空空地出海。但那不是我的做法。 我把钱都存起来，这儿一些，那儿一些，哪儿都不太多，以免引起怀疑。我五十岁了，这点你要知道；一旦这次返航回去，我就郑重其事地做个绅士。连你也说，时间还富裕着哩。啊，但是那段时间我生活得很愉快，我从不拒绝无忧无虑、整天睡得甜、吃得香的生活，不过到了海上，情形就不同了。而我是怎样开始干起的呢？在桅杆前面，就像你！” “好啦，”另一个说，“不过现在，其它那些个钱全都泡汤了，是不是？这次回去之后你再不敢在布里斯托尔露面了。” “怎的，你猜想这钱在哪儿？”西尔弗嘲弄地问道。 “在布里斯托尔，在银行里和其它一些地方。”他的伙伴答道。 “是的，”厨子说，“当我们起锚时，钱是在那儿；但如今我的老婆已经把它们全取出来了。而‘望远镜’酒店也出兑了，连同租约。商誉和全部设施；我老婆也离开了那儿，等着同我会面。我可以告诉你在哪儿，因为我信得着你；但这在伙计们中间会引起妒嫉的。” “那么你信得过你的老婆吗？”另一个问。 “幸运的大爷们，”厨子答道，“通常他们之间毫无信用可言，他们就是这样，你要明白这一点。不过我自有办法，我是这样的。一巳有哪个家伙算计我——我指和我相熟的人——那他就别想和老约翰活在同一个世界上。有些人怕皮乌，而有些人怕弗林特； 但是弗林特他本人怕我。他怕的，但是他又骄傲。他们是船上最粗野的水手，弗林特的部下都是；就连魔鬼自己也不敢到海上和他们呆在一起。好啦，现在，我跟你讲，我不是个自吹自擂的家伙，而你如今可以自己亲眼见到，我和同伴们相处得多么轻松；但当我还是舵手那会儿，‘绵羊’决不是用来形容弗林特手下的老海盗们的字眼。啊，你在老约翰的船上自己会证实这一点的。” “好吧，现在我告诉你，”小伙子答道，“在和你谈话之前，我一丁点儿都不喜欢这行当，约翰；但是现在，我向你伸出我的手。” “你真是个有胆量的小伙儿，而且还聪明伶俐，”西尔弗答道，一边热烈地握手，以至于这木桶整个身子都摇晃起来。“而且我还没见过像你这么标致的幸运的大爷哩。” 直到这会儿我才开始明白他们所说的一些黑话的意思。所谓的“幸运的大爷”，很明显，不多也不少，就是指一个普通的海盗，而我听到的那小小的一幕，正是腐化一个最老实的人的最后一场演出——可能这是船上剩下的最后一个老实人了。但在这一点上，我很快得到了宽慰，因为西尔弗轻轻地打了个呼哨，第三个人逛荡了过来，坐在这一对的旁边。 “狄克是我们这边的。”西尔弗说。 “哦，我晓得狄克是我们这边的，”舵手伊斯莱尔•汉兹的声音回答说。“他不笨， 狄克不笨。”说着他转动了下嘴里的烟草块，吐了口唾沫。“但是，你看，”他接着说 道，“我想知道的是这个，‘大叉烧’：还要多久我们才会离开这只该死的垃圾船？斯 莫列特船长快要让我受够了，他把我欺侮够了，这个挨雷劈的！我想进到那个特舱里去，我非要进去。我想要他们的泡菜和葡萄酒，什么都要。” “伊斯莱尔，”西尔弗说道，“你的脑子不太好使，从来如此。但是我想你总还能听吧，至少你的耳朵长得还够大。听着，这就是我想说的：你还是要住在前舱，还是要 忍受煎熬过日子，还是要低声下气地说话，但是你要保持清醒，直到我发话；而你要明白这一点，我的孩子。” “好啦，我没有说不，我说了吗？”水手长忿忿不平地说道。“我说的是要等到什么时候？那才是我说的意思。” “什么时候！老天！”西尔弗叫道，“好吧，要是你想知道的话，现在我来告诉你要等到什么时候，要等到我设法拖到的最后一刻，这就是那个时候。这里有个第一流的航海家，斯莫列特船长，为我们驾驶着这艘好运气的船。这里有这个乡绅和医生，把持着这张地图——而我不知道它在哪里，我知道吗？你来说说看，你也不知道呀。那么好啦，我的意思是，乡绅和医生把真货找到，帮助咱们装上船，谢天谢地！然后我们就有好看的啦。要是我信得过你们这些双料的荷兰崽子的话，在我进攻之前，我要让斯莫列特船长先重新为我们把船开回到中途。” “怎么，我想我们这儿可全都是出过海的呀。”那个小伙子狄克叫道。 “你的意思是我们都是水手舱里面的人手，”西尔弗不耐烦地打断了他的话。“我们能按照一条航线来行驶，但是由谁来确定这条航线呢？那就是你们这些大爷们全都傻 眼的地方。要是按我的意思来，我要让斯莫列特船长至少为我们工作到驶人贸易风带的时候，那么我们就不会有该死的计算错误，也不必每天只喝一匙淡水了。但是我知道你们是哪种人。等钱财一搬上船，我就在岛上解决了他们，真是可惜。你们都是些急功近利、短视的家伙。说来真是让我笑破肚皮，和你们这种人一道航行真让我恶心！” “打住吧，高个子约翰，”伊斯莱尔叫道，“谁拦着你啦？” “怎么，现在你想想看，我见到过多少大船被袭击？又有多少活蹦乱跳的小伙子吊死在杜克刑场、在日头下晒成干儿？”西尔弗叫道，“而所有这一切都是因为急躁、急躁、急躁。你听到我说的啦？海上的事我是经过些的，我的确经过。要是你能坚持你的航线，避过风险，你就会坐四轮马车，你会的。但是你不行！我了解你。要是明天能让你灌上一肚子酒，然后让你上绞架，你也乐不得的。” “每个人都知道你是个随营牧师似的家伙，约翰；但是其它人中也有卷帆掌舵和你一样能的，”伊斯莱尔说，“他们喜欢逗个乐于，他们是的。他们可不这么让人觉得高不可攀，一点也不，而是自由自在的，跟每个人都像是个风趣的同伴。” “是这样的吗？”西尔弗说，“好吧，而他们如今在哪里呢？皮乌是那种人，而他这个叫花子死了。弗林特也是那种人，而他在萨凡那酗酒死了。啊，他们都是可爱的船友，他们是的！只是，他们到哪里去了呢？” “但是，”狄克问道，“不管怎样，到那边后我们怎么对付他们呢？” “这才是我的好汉呀！”厨子赞美地叫道。 “那就是我所说的麻烦事。唔，你想怎样呢？把他们放逐到荒岛上？那是殷格兰的方式。或者把他们像剁猪肉似的剁了？那是弗林特或比尔•彭斯的做法。” “比尔就是那种人，”伊斯莱尔说，“‘死人不会咬’，他说。好啦，如今他本人也死了；现在他完全有这个切身体验了；要说有哪个粗暴的家伙活到了头，那就是比尔。” “你说得对，”西尔弗说道，“差不多是这意思。但是现在你听着：我是个宽容的 人——你还可以说，我是个谦谦君子；但是这次事情严峻。公事公办，伙计。我发表我的意见——处死。当我日后进了国会、坐着四轮马车的时候，我可不想那个在特舱里耍嘴皮子的家伙意外地回家来、像魔鬼作祈祷似地令人大吃一惊。要等待时机，这是我说的；但是一旦时机成熟，就来它个斩尽杀绝！” “约翰，”水手长叫道，“你真是个好汉！” “你可以这么说，伊斯莱尔，当你眼见之时，”西尔弗说。“我只要求一件事—— 我要求把特里罗尼交给我。我要用这双手把他的肉脑袋从身子上拧掉。狄克！”他停了一下，加了一句，“你起来，可爱的孩子，给我拿个苹果，润润我的嗓子。” 你可以想象我处在什么样的恐惧中！要是我还有力气的话，我会跳出去逃命了；但是我的四肢和心脏都不听我使唤了。我听到狄克开始起身，接着谁好像拦住了他，汉兹的声音响了起来： “噢，算啦，你甭去吸桶底的脏水了，约翰。让我们来杯酒吧。” “狄克，”西尔弗说，“我信得过你。记着，在那小桶上我有个量杯。这是钥匙；你倒一小杯，端上来。” 我大吃一惊，不禁暗自想到，埃罗先生的烈性酒一定就是这样弄来的，那酒毁了他。 狄克只出去了一小会，而当他不在的时候，伊斯莱尔直接把嘴凑到厨子的耳朵上说话。我只能捕捉到不多的字眼，而即便如此我也收集到了些重要的消息；因为除了其它那些意思大体相同的只言片语外，我还听到了句完整的话：“他们中再没有人想加入了。”因此说来，船上还有忠实可信的人。 当狄克回来之后，三个人一个接一个地端起杯子喝上了——一个说“祝好运”；另一个说“这一口为老弗林特”，而西尔弗他本人则用唱歌似的腔调说，“这一口为我们自己，占住上风，广进财源，大吃肉馒头。” 就在这时，一道光亮射进桶内，照到了我身上，而当我抬头望时，发现月亮已经升起来了，照得后桅的顶部银光闪闪，前桅帆的顶上也白花花的；几乎与此同时，观望的声音喊起来：“陆地——嗬！” |
Treasure IslandChapter XII THERE was a great rush of feet across the deck. I could hear people tumbling up from the cabin and the foc's'le; and, slipping in an instant outside my barrel, I dived behind the fore-sail, made a double towards the stern, and came out upon the open deck in time to join Hunter and Dr Livesey in the rush for the weather bow. There all hands were already congregated. A belt of fog had lifted almost simultaneously with the appearance of the moon. Away to the south-west of us we saw two low hills, about a couple of miles apart, and rising behind one of them a third and higher hill, whose peak was still buried in the fog. All three seemed sharp and conical in figure. So much I saw, almost in a dream, for I had not yet recovered from my horrid fear of a minute or two before. And then I heard the voice of Captain Smollett issuing orders. The Hispaniola was laid a couple of points nearer the wind, and now sailed a course that would just clear the island on the east. `And now, men,' said the captain, when all was sheeted home, `has any one of you ever seen that land ahead?' `I have, sir,' said Silver. `I've watered there with a trader I was cook in.' `The anchorage is on the south, behind an islet, I fancy?' asked the captain. `Yes, sir; Skeleton Island they calls it. It were a main place for pirates once, and a hand we had on board knowed all their names for it. That hill to the nor'ard they calls the Fore-mast Hill; there are three hills in a row running south'ard - fore, main, and mizzen, sir. But the main - that's the big 'un, with the cloud on it - they usually calls the Spy-glass, by reason of a look-out they kept when they was in the anchorage cleaning; for it's there they cleaned their ships, sir, asking your pardon.' `I have a chart here,' says Captain Smollett. `See if that's the place.' Long John's eyes burned in his head as he took the char but, by the fresh look of the paper, I knew he was doom to disappointment. This was not the map we found in Billy Bones's chest, but an accurate copy, complete in all things - names and heights and soundings - with the single except it of the red crosses and the written notes. Sharp as must have been his annoyance, Silver had the strength of mind to hide it. `Yes, sir,' said he, `this is the spot to be sure; and very prettily drawed out. Who might have done that, I wonder The pirates were too ignorant, I reckon. Ay, here it is: ``Capt. Kidd's Anchorage'' - just the name my shipmate called it. There's a strong current runs along the south, and then away nor'ard up the west coast. Right you was, sir,' says he, haul your wind and keep the weather of the island. Leastways, if such was your intention as to enter and careen, and the ain't no better place for that in these waters. `Thank you, my man,' says Captain Smollett. `I'll ask you later on, to give us a help. You may go.' I was surprised at the coolness with which John avowed his knowledge of the island; and I own I was half-frighten' when I saw him drawing nearer to myself. He did not know to be sure, that I had overheard his council from the apple barrel, and yet I had, by this time, taken such a horror his cruelty, duplicity, and power, that I could scarce conceal a shudder when he laid his hand upon my arm. `Ah,' says he, `this here is a sweet spot, this island - a sweet spot for a lad to get ashore on. You'll bathe, and you'll climb trees, and you'll hunt goats, you will; and you'll get aloft them hills like a goat yourself. Why, it makes me young again I was going to forget my timber leg, I was. It's a pleasant thing to be young, and have ten toes, and you may lay that. When you want to go a bit of exploring, you just an old John, and he'll put up a snack for you to take along.' And clapping me in the friendliest way upon the shoulder he hobbled off forward and went below. Captain Smollett, the squire, and Dr Livesey were talking together on the quarterdeck, and, anxious as I was to tell them my story, I durst not interrupt them openly. While I was still casting about in my thoughts to find some probable excuse, Dr Livesey called me to his side. He had left his pipe below, and being a slave to tobacco, had meant that I should fetch it; but as soon as I was near enough ta speak and not to be overheard, I broke out immediately: `Doctor, let me speak. Get the captain and squire down to the cabin, and then make some pretence to send for me. I have terrible news.' The doctor changed countenance a little, but next moment he was master of himself. `Thank you, Jim,' said he, quite loudly, `that was all I wanted to know,' as if he had asked me a question. And with that he turned on his heel and rejoined the other two. They spoke together for a little, and though none of them started, or raised his voice, or so much as whistled, it was plain enough that Dr Livesey had communicated my request; for the next thing that I heard was the captain giving an order to Job Anderson, and all hands were piped on deck. `My lads,' said Captain Smollett, `I've a word to say to you. This land that we have sighted is the place we have been sailing for. Mr Trelawney, being a very open-handed gentleman, as we all know, has just asked me a word or two, and as I was able to tell him that every man on board had done his duty, alow and aloft, as I never ask to see it done better, why, he and I and the doctor are going below to the cabin to drink your health and luck, and you'll have grog served out for you to drink our health and luck. I'll tell you what I think of this: I think it handsome. And if you think as I do, you'll give a good sea cheer for the gentleman that does it.' The cheer followed - that was a matter of course; but it rang out so full and hearty, that I confess I could hardly believe these same men were plotting for our blood. `One more cheer for Cap'n Smollett,' cried Long John, when the first had subsided. And this also was given with a will. On the top of that the three gentlemen went below, and not long after, word was sent forward that Jim Hawkins was wanted in the cabin. I found them all three seated round the table, a bottle c Spanish wine and some raisins before them, and the doctor smoking away, with his wig on his lap, and that, I knew, was a sign that he was agitated. The stern window was open, for it was a warm night, and you could see the moon shining behind on the ship's wake. `Now, Hawkins,' said the squire, `you have something say. Speak up.' I did as I was bid, and as short as I could make it, to] the whole details of Silver's conversation. Nobody interrupted me till I was done, nor did any one of the three of them make so much as a movement, but they kept their eyes upon my face from first to last. `Jim,' said Dr Livesey, `take a seat.' And they made me sit down at table beside them, poured me out a glass of wine, filled my hands with raisins, and three, one after the other, and each with a bow, drank my good health, and their service to me, for my luck and courage. `Now, captain,' said the squire, `you were right, and I was wrong. I own myself an ass, and I await your orders.' `No more an ass than I, sir,' returned the captain. `I never heard of a crew that meant to mutiny but what showed signs before, for any man that had an eye in his head to see the mischief and take steps according. But this crew,' he added `beats me.' `Captain,' said the doctor, `with your permission, that Silver. A very remarkable man.' `He'd look remarkably well from a yard-arm, sir,' returned the captain. `But this is talk; this don't lead to anything. I see three or four points, and with Mr Trelawney's permission I'll name them.' `You, sir, are the captain. It is for you to speak,' says Mr Trelawney, grandly. `First point,' began Mr Smollett. `We must go on, because we can't turn back. If I gave the word to go about, they would rise at once. Second point, we have time before us - at least until this treasure's found. Third point, there are faithful hands. Now, sir, it's got to come to blows sooner or later and what I propose is, to take time by the forelock, as the saying is, and come to blows some fine day when they least expect it. We can count, I take it, on your own home servants, Mr Trelawney?' `As upon myself,' declared the squire. `Three,' reckoned the captain, `ourselves make seven, counting Hawkins, here. Now, about the honest hands?' `Most likely Trelawney's own men,' said the doctor; `those he had picked up for himself, before he lit on Silver.' `Nay,' replied the squire, `Hands was one of mine.' `I did think I could have trusted Hands,' added the captain. `And to think that they're all Englishmen!' broke out the squire. `Sir, I could find it in my heart to blow the ship up.' `Well, gentlemen,' said the captain, `the best that I can say is not much. We must lay to, if you please, and keep a bright look out. It's trying on a man, I know. It would be pleasanter to come to blows. But there's no help for it till we know our men. Lay to, and whistle for a wind, that's my view.' `Jim here,' said the doctor, `can help us more than anyone. The men are not shy with him, and Jim is a noticing lad.' `Hawkins, I put prodigious faith in you,' added the squire. I began to feel pretty desperate at this, for I felt altogether helpless; and yet, by an odd train of circumstances, it was indeed through me that safety came. In the meantime, talk as we pleased, there were only seven out of the twenty-six on whom we knew we could rely; and out of these seven one was a boy, so that the grown men on our side were six to their nineteen. 宝岛十二 军事会议 甲板上响起了一大阵脚步的奔跑声。我能听见人们跌跌撞撞地从特舱和水手舱里跑出来，于是我立即从苹果桶里溜了出来，钻到了前桅帆的下面，又转身到了船尾，及时地跑到了开阔的甲板上，和亨特、利弗西医生一道冲到了露天的船首。 所有的人员都聚集在那里。几乎与月出同时，一条雾带已渐渐散去了。在我们的西南方，我们看到了两座低矮的小山，两山离得大约有两英里远，而在它们中一座的后面又耸立着第三座高一些的山峰，峰顶仍有雾气线绕着。这三座山的外形全都是尖尖的圆锥形。 我看到这些的时候，仿佛人在梦中一般，因为我还没从一两分钟前那可怕的恐惧中缓过神来。然后我听到斯莫列特船长发布命令的声音。伊斯班袅拉号能够抢风行船的方位有两处，而眼下正沿着离岛东部近的航线行驶着。 “喂，伙计们，”船长说，这时所有的帆脚索都已扣紧，“你们中有谁曾经见过前面的这块陆地？” “我见过，阁下，”西尔弗说，“当我在一艘商船上做厨师的时候，我在那儿汲过水。” “下锚处在南边，一个小岛的后面，我猜想？”船长问道。 “是，阁下；他们叫它‘骷髅岛’。那曾是海盗出没的主要地点，我们船上有个人知道他们给它起的所有的名称。北边的那座小山他们叫做‘前桅山’；从那儿向南看， 并列的是三座山——前桅、主桅和后桅，阁下。但是主桅——就是大的、上面有云的那座——他们通常叫它‘望远镜山’，因为当他们在锚地洗船时，总派个人在那里担任观望；因为他们就是在那儿洗船，阁下。不当之处，请您见INO……” “我这里有张图，”斯莫列特船长说，“看看是否与图上的地方吻合。” 当高个子约翰接过这张图时，他的眼睛在眼眶子里燃烧起来；但是，我一看到这担新的纸就知道，他肯定是要失望了。这不是我们在比尔•彭斯的胸膛上找到的那张地图，而是一张精确的复制品，所有的东西上面都有——名称、高度和水深——就只没有红色的十字记号和标注的说明。西尔弗一定恼怒到极点，但是他控制住了自己并将其隐藏了起来。 “是这样，阁下，”他说，“肯定就是这个地点；并且画得相当的精确。我奇怪那是谁画的呢？海盗们太无知，画不出来，我估计，啊，这就是了：‘凯特船长下锚处’ ——正是我的船友叫它的名称。这里有一道很强的水流从南边过来，然后沿西岸向北流去。你是对的，阁下，”他说，“至少，要是你想进港修整一下的话，要在这里收帆， 靠拢下风岸，再也没有比这一带水域更适宜的地方了。” “谢谢你，兄弟，”斯莫列特船长说，“过后我还要问你，给我们帮帮忙。你可以走了。” 我对约翰公开承认他对这个岛的了解时所表现出来的冷静感到吃惊，并且我承认， 当我看到他走近我时，我都吓傻了。可以断定，他不知道我在苹果桶里偷听了他的作战会议，然而，直到这时，我对他的残忍、口蜜腹剑和威力仍是那样的恐惧，以致当他把手搭到我肩上时，我几乎不能遏制地战栗起来。 “啊，”他说，“这儿是个可爱的地方，这个岛——对于一个小伙子来说，上到那上面是真好啊。你可以洗海水浴，你可以爬树，你还可以打山羊，你真的可以；并且你自己还可以像头山羊似地爬到那些小山顶上哩。啊，它使我重又年轻起来啦。我快要忘掉我的木腿哩，我真的快要忘掉啦。年轻、有十个脚趾头，多好啊，你要明白这一点。 什么时候你想去寻幽探胜了，只要跟老约翰打个招呼，他就会为你配制一份快餐，让你随身带上。” 说完他友好地拍了拍我的肩膀，然后一瘸一拐地走开、下去了。 斯莫列特船长，乡绅，还有医生，正聚在后甲板上谈着话，尽管我是那么的急于把我的经历告诉给他们，但却不敢公开地打断他们。当我还在心里焦急地寻找着某种可能的理由时，利弗西医生把我叫到了他的身边。他把他的烟斗拉在下面了，而他又离不了烟，意思是让我给他取来；一旦我走到离他足够近、不致被旁人听到的地方，我就立刻把话说了出来：“医生，我有话要说。叫船长和乡绅到下面特舱里去，然后找个借口让我下去。我有可怕的消息。” 医生脸色略微一变，但他很快控制住了自己。 “谢谢你，吉姆，”他说，声音很大，“我想知道的就这些。”好像他问了我个问题似的。 说完，他就转过身去，重新和另外两个谈起话来。他们在一起商谈了一会儿，尽管他们谁都没流露出惊愕的表情，也没提高嗓音，或是嘘烯一番，但是显然医生已经传达了我的要求，因为接下来我就听到船长给乔布•安德森下了一道命令，之后全体船员都被哨子召集到了甲板上。 “弟兄们，”斯莫列特船长说道，“我有话要对你们说。我们已经看到的这块陆地， 正是我们一直航行所要到达的地方。特里罗尼先生，这位众所周知的、非常慷慨的绅士， 刚刚问了我一两句话，而我告诉他，船上的每一个人，从上到下，都尽到了他的职责， 比我要求的做得还要好，因此，他和我，以及医生，准备到下面的特舱去，为你们的健康和好运干杯，同时也为你们备了些水酒，来为我们的健康和好运干杯。我将告诉你们 我是怎样看待此事的：我认为这是慷慨之举。而如果你们也和我想得一样的话，你们就为办这件事的先生来一个痛快的水手式的欢呼吧！” 跟着就是欢呼——那是理所当然的事；但是这喊出来的声音是那样的饱满和热烈，以致于我承认我很难相信，正是这些人在密谋要放我们的血。 “再给斯莫列特船长来一个！”当第一个欢呼平息下来后，高个子约翰喊道。 于是这个欢呼也热烈地进行了。 三位先生在欢呼的高潮时刻退到下面去了，不一会工夫，有话传来，要吉姆•霍金斯到特舱去。 我发现他们三人围坐在桌旁，面前摆着瓶西班牙葡萄酒和一些葡萄干，而医生正不停地吸着烟，假发套放到了腿上，而我知道，那是他激动的迹象。因为这是个温暖的夜晚，后窗便开着，因而你可以看到月光在船尾留下的那道浪迹上闪耀。 “喂，霍金斯，”乡绅说，“你有话要说，那就快说吧。” 我照办了，并且尽可能简明扼要地讲述了西尔弗谈话的全部详情。直到我讲完，没有人来打断我，他们三人中也没有谁动一动，只是从始至终把眼睛盯在我身上。 “吉姆，”利弗西医生说道，“坐下来。” 接着他们让我挨着他们在桌边坐了下来，给我倒了杯葡萄酒，又往我手里塞满了葡萄干，而且他们三个，一个接一个地轮番向我颔首致谢，还为我的健康、好运和勇敢干杯。 “那么，船长，”乡绅说道，“你是对的，而我错了。我承认我是头蠢驴，现在我等待所从你的命令。” “我也不比驴子聪明，先生，”船长答道，“我从未听说过有哪帮船员图谋叛变而事前不露迹象的哩，这样任何一个头上长眼的人都有可能看穿这鬼把戏，进而采取措施。但是这帮船员，”他又加了一句，“骗过了我。” “船长，”医生说，“请允许我说，这全是那个西尔弗捣的鬼。真是个让人高看一眼的家伙啊！” “把他吊在帆衍的顶端，那他才真让人高看一眼哩，先生，”船长答道。“但这都是说说而已，没有任何意义。我有三四点想法，要是特里罗尼先生允许的话，我可以讲出来。” “你，阁下，是船长。你讲话便是。”特里罗尼先生庄严地说。 “第一点，”斯莫列特先生开口道，“我们必须继续行进，因为我们不能掉头。要是我下令掉头的话，他们会立刻起事的。第二点，我们眼下还有时间——至少，能到找到宝藏的时候。第三点，还有忠实可靠的人。这样，阁下，这就是个是迟些还是早些进行打击的问题。而我的建议是，正如俗语所说，把握时机，然后在某一天，出其不意，攻其不备。我估计，我们可以仰赖你家里的仆人吧，特里罗尼先生？” “就如同我本人一样值得信赖。”乡绅断言。 “三个，”船长计算着，“加上我们是七个，包括霍金斯在内。现在，再来看看还有哪些可靠的船员？” “大多是特里罗尼自己雇来的，”医生说，“那些人是他遇到西尔弗前自己挑选的。” “也不尽然，”乡绅答道，“汉兹就是我自己挑选出来的人手中的一个。” “我确曾认为可以信任汉兹哩。”船长也跟着说了一句。 “想想他们竟然全都是英国人！”乡绅咆哮道，“阁下，我真想把这艘船炸飞了！” “好啦，先生们，”船长说，“我再没什么好说的了。我们一定要做出若无其事的样子来，同时，请保持高度的警惕。这是很折磨人的，我知道。立即打击会痛快些，但那无济于事，直到我们弄清谁是自己人。若无其事，同时伺机而动，这就是我的意见。” “吉姆在这里，”医生说，“比任何人对我们都有用。那些人对他还不起什么怀疑， 而吉姆是个机灵的小家伙。” “霍金斯，我对你寄予莫大的信任。”乡绅接着说道。 听了这话，我开始感到相当的绝望，因为我觉得全无办法可想；然而后来，由于机遇的古怪的安排，确实是通过我，才保住了我们的平安。在此期间，不管我们愿意与否，在二十六个人中，我们只知道有七个人可以信赖；而在这七个人中还有一个孩子，这样，我们这边就是六个成人，要对付他们十九个。 |
Treasure IslandChapter XIII THE appearance of the island when I came on deck next morning was altogether changed. Although the breeze ha now utterly ceased, we had made a great deal of way during the night, and were now lying becalmed about half a mile to the south-east of the low eastern coast. Grey-coloured woods covered a large part of the surface. This even tint was indeed broken up by streaks of yellow sandbreak in the lower lands, and by many tall trees of the pine family, out-topping the others - some singly, some in clumps; but the general colouring was uniform and sad. The hills ran up clear above the vegetation in spires of naked rock. All were strangely shaped, and the Spy-glass, which was by three or four hundred feet the tallest on the island, was likewise the strange in configuration, running up sheer from almost every side then suddenly cut off at the top like a pedestal to put statue on. The Hispaniola was rolling scuppers under in the ocean swell. The booms were tearing at the blocks, the rudder we banging to and fro, and the whole ship creaking, groaning and jumping like a manufactory. I had to cling tight to the backstay, and the world turned giddily before my eyes; for though I was a good enough sailor when there was way or this standing still and being rolled about like a bottle was thing I never learned to stand without a qualm or so, above all in the morning, on an empty stomach. Perhaps it was this - perhaps it was the look of the island with its grey, melancholy woods, and wild stone spires, an the surf that we could both see and hear foaming an thundering on the steep beach - at least, although the sun shone bright and hot, and the shore birds were fishing and crying all around us, and you would have thought anyone would have been glad to get to land after being so long at sea, my heart sank, as the saying is, into my boots; and from that first look onward, I hated the very thought of Treasure Island. We had a dreary morning's work before us, for there was no sign of any wind, and the boats had to be got out and manned, and the ship warped three or four miles round the corner of the island, and up the narrow passage to the haven behind Skeleton Island. I volunteered for one of the boats, where I had, of course, no business. The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. Anderson was in command of my boat, and instead of keeping the crew in order, he grumbled as loud as the worst. `Well,' he said, with an oath, `it's not for ever.' I thought this was a very bad sign; for, up to that day, the men had gone briskly and willingly about their business; but the very sight of the island had relaxed the cords of discipline. All the way in, Long John stood by the steersman and conned the ship. He knew the passage like the palm of his hand; and though the man in the chains got everywhere more water than was down in the chart, John never hesitated once. `There's a strong scour with the ebb,' he said, `and this here passage has been dug out, in a manner of speaking, with a spade.' We brought up just where the anchor was in the chart, about a third of a mile from each shore, the mainland on one side, and Skeleton Island on the other. The bottom was clean sand. The plunge of our anchor sent up clouds of birds wheeling and crying over the woods; but in less than a minute they were down again, and all was once more silent. The place was entirely land-locked, buried in woods, the trees coming right down to high-water mark, the shores mostly flat, and the hill-tops standing round at a distance in a sort of amphitheatre, one here, one there. Two little rivers, or, rather, two swamps, emptied out into this pond, as you might call it; and the foliage round that part of the shore had a kind of poisonous brightness. From the ship, we could see nothing of the house or stockade, for they were quite buried among trees; and if it had not been for the chart on the companion we might have been the first that had ever anchored there sin the island arose out of the seas. There was not a breath of air moving, nor a sound but the of the surf booming half a mile away along the beaches a against the rocks outside. A peculiar stagnant smell hung over the anchorage - a smell of sodden leaves and rotting tree trunks. I observed the doctor sniffing and sniffing, like someone tasting a bad egg. `I don't know about treasure,' he said, `but I'll stake my wig there's fever here.' If the conduct of the men had been alarming in the boat it became truly threatening when they had come aboard. The lay about the deck growling together in talk. The slightest order was received with a black look, and grudgingly and carelessly obeyed. Even the honest hands must have caught the infection, for there was not one man aboard to mend another. Mutiny, it was plain, hung over us like a thunder-cloud. And it was not only we of the cabin party who perceived the danger. Long John was hard at work going from group to group, spending himself in good advice, and as for example no man could have shown a better. He fairly outstripped himself in willingness and civility; he was all smiles everyone. If an order were given, John would be on his crutch in an instant, with the cheeriest `Ay, ay, sir!' in the world and when there was nothing else to do, he kept up one song after another, as if to conceal the discontent of the rest. Of all the gloomy features of that gloomy afternoon, this obvious anxiety on the part of Long John appeared the worst.' We held a council in the cabin. `Sir,' said the captain, `if I risk another order, the whole ship'll come about our ears by the run. You see, sir, here is. I get a rough answer, do I not? Well, if I speak back, pikes will be going in two shakes; if I don't, Silver will see there something under that, and the game's up. How, we've on one man to rely on.' `And who is that?' asked the squire. `Silver, sir,' returned the captain; `he's as anxious as you and I to smother things up. This is a tiff; he'd soon talk 'em out of it if he had the chance, and what I propose to do is to give him the chance. Let's allow the men an afternoon ashore. If they all go, why, we'll fight the ship. If they none of them go, well, then, we hold the cabin, and God defend the right. If some go, you mark my words, sir, Silver'll bring em aboard again as mild as lambs.' It was so decided; loaded pistols were served out to all the sure men; Hunter, Joyce, and Redruth were taken into our confidence, and received the news with less surprise and a better spirit than we had looked for, and then the captain went on deck and addressed the crew. `My lads,' said he, `we've had a hot day, and are all tired and out of sorts. A turn ashore'll hurt nobody - the boats are still in the water; you can take the gigs, and as many as please may go ashore for the afternoon. I'll fire a gun half an hour before sundown.' I believe the silly fellows must have thought they would break their shins over treasure as soon as they were landed; for they all came out of their sulks in a moment, and gave a cheer that started the echo in a far-away hill, and sent the birds once more flying and squalling round the anchorage. The captain was too bright to be in the way. He whipped out of sight in a moment, leaving Silver to arrange the party; and I fancy it was as well he did so. Had he been on deck, he could no longer so much as have pretended not to understand the situation. It was as plain as day. Silver was the captain, and a mighty rebellious crew he had of it. The honest hands - and I was soon to see it proved that there were such on board - must have been stupid fellows. Or, rather, I suppose the truth was this, that all hands were disaffected by the example of the ringleaders - only some more, some less: and a few, being good fellows in the main, could neither be led nor driven any further. It is one thing to be idle and skulk, and quite another to take a ship and murder a number of innocent men. At last, however, the party was made up. Six fellows were to stay on board, and the remaining thirteen, including Silver, began to embark. Then it was that there came into my head the first of the mad notions that contributed so much to save our lives. If six men were left by Silver, it was plain our party could not take and fight the ship; and since only six were left, it was equally plain that the cabin party had no present need of my assistance. It occurred to me at once to go ashore. In a jiffy I had slipped over the side, and curled up in the fore- sheets of the nearest boat, and almost at the same moment she shoved off. No one took notice of me, only the bow oar saying, `Is that you, Jim? Keep your head down.' But Silver, from the other boat, looked sharply over and called out to know if that were me; and from that moment I began to regret what I had done. The crews raced for the beach; but the boat I was in, having some start, and being at once the lighter and the better manned, shot far ahead of her consort, and the bow had struck among the shoreside trees, and I had caught a branch at swung myself out, and plunged into the nearest thicket, while Silver and the rest were still a hundred yards behind. `Jim, Jim!' I heard him shouting. But you may suppose I paid no heed; jumping, ducking and breaking through, I ran straight before my nose, till could run no longer. 宝岛十三 我在岸上的冒险是怎样开始的 次日清晨，我走上甲板一看，那个岛完全变了样。虽然现在风已全息，我们在夜里还是前进了一大段路，眼下正停在距离低矮的东岸东南方约半英里远的地方。灰色调的树林覆盖了岛的表面的很大部分。诚然，一条条带状的黄沙低地和许多松杉科的大树也破坏了这均匀的色调，这些大树或卓然独立，或三五成群，高高地凌驾于其它树木之上；但总的色彩是单调、阴郁的，在树林上面，清晰地矗立着小山顶端那光秃秃的岩石。所有的山都是奇形怪状的，而那座高达三四百英尺的全岛最高峰“望远镜山”的轮廓也最为奇特，它高高耸立，几乎每一面山坡都很陡峭，但是到了顶上却突然削平，好像一座安放雕像的平台。 随着伊斯班袅拉号船身的摆动，排水孔几乎没到了水下。帆的下桁像要把滑车扯下来，舵左碰右撞，砰然作响。整个船身辗轧着、呻吟着、颠簸着，如同一所作坊。我不得不紧紧抓住后牵索，只觉得眼前天旋地转。因为我虽然在航行时适应了海上的颠晃，但像这样站在那里像只瓶子似地转，站稳不发晕的本事我还没学会，特别是在早上空腹的时候。 可能是因为这个——也就是这个岛屿的模样，包括它灰色、忧郁的林子和岩石裸露的峰顶，以及我们可以看到和听见的浪击陡岸的飞沫和轰鸣——总之，尽管日头照着，明媚而和暖，岸上的鸟绕着我们四周鸣叫着捕食鱼类，你会想到，在经过了这么长时间的海上航行后，任何一个人都会兴高采烈地上岸去走走，但是，就像俗语说的，我的心沉到了底；从第一眼见到陆地起，我一想到这个宝岛就厌恶透顶。 我们有一上午的枯燥工作要做，因为一丝风也没有，必须放下小划子，载上人，用绳索拖着大船走上三四英里绕过岛角，通过那狭窄的入口，进入到骷髅岛后面的港湾。我自告奋勇地上了其中的一个划子，当然，我并没有多少事可做。天气热得使人发昏，人们一边干一边发出强烈的抱怨。安德森是我这条划子上的头头，他非但不使船员们保持秩序，反而同那最能骂的人一样大声地发着牢骚。 “瞧着吧，”他说，夹着一声诅咒，“长不了啦。” 我想这是个极坏的征兆，因为，直到这天以前，人们都干得很欢，并且都心甘情愿地，但一看到这个岛，纪律的约束就松弛了。 高个子约翰一路上站在舵手旁边指引大船进港。他对这个入口了如指掌。尽管测水的人用测链测得的水深每一处都比图上标的深些，约翰却一次都没犹豫过。 “退潮时这里水冲得急，”他说，“把这里的入口挖了，可以说就像铲子铲似的。” 我们在图上标的锚地下了错，离主岛和骷髅岛两岸各约三分之一英里。水底是干净的沙砾。我们抛锚的响声惊起了成群的飞鸟，它们在林子上空盘旋着、鸣叫着，但是不到一分钟的工夫又都落了下来，一切又归于沉寂。 这个地方完全被陆地包围着，被树林所掩蔽，树木一直长到满潮时的水位。海滩非常的平坦，小山这儿一座、那儿一座地矗立在一段距离之外，形成了个圆形剧场的形状。两条小河，或者不如说是两个沼泽，汇人了这个池塘，要是你想这么叫这个港湾的话。而环绕这一带的岸上的植物叶子都泛着有毒的光泽。从船上我们什么都看不到，既没有房屋，也没有栅栏，因为它们都被遮蔽在丛林中了。要不是随身带的那张地图，我们几乎以为自己是这个岛露出海面以来头一个在此下错的哩。 空气纹丝不动，除了半英里外惊涛拍岸、撞击峭壁的轰鸣，再没有别的声音了。锚地笼罩着一股特殊的霉味——一股叶子潮湿和树于腐烂的气味。我注意到医生嗅了又嗅，就像一个人在闻一只臭鸡蛋。 “我不知道有没有什么宝藏，”他说，“但我以我的假发打赌，这里肯定有热病。” 要说水手们在划子上的举动已是一种警告的话，那么当他们来到大船上时就变成一种真正的威胁了。他们聚在甲板上纷纷议论着。命令他们做任何一点小事都会招来冷眼，即使一时遵命去做了，也是勉勉强强、漫不经心的。即便最老实的人也受到了感染，因为船上没有一个能去纠正别人行为的人。显然，哗变像块雷雨前的乌云一般笼罩在我们上方。 但并不只是我们这帮特舱里的人察觉到了危机。高个子约翰从一堆人的身边走到另一堆人的身边，卖力地活动着，竭尽全力地劝说着，做出任何人都不可能比他更好的榜样的姿态。他在积极主动和温顺谦恭方面做了超水平的发挥；他对每一个人都微笑。一旦一项命令发布，约翰就会马上架着他的拐，用世界上最欢快的腔调应道：“是，是，先生！”而当没有什么事可做的时候，他就一支接一支地唱歌，似乎想掩盖其余人的不满。 在那个阴郁的下午表露出的所有阴郁的征兆中，高个子约翰表现出的这种明显的焦虑是那最坏的。 我们在特舱中举行了一次军事会议。 “阁下，”船长说，“要是我冒险再下一道命令，全船人就会立刻来造我们的反。你看，阁下，情况就是如此，我受到了无礼的顶撞，不是吗？好，要是我回嘴，一眨眼就会刀熗相见；要是我不，西尔弗就会看出里面有鬼，计划就会泡汤。现在，我们只有一个人可以依靠。” “这又是谁呢？”乡绅问。 “西尔弗，阁下，”船长答道，“他和你我一样急于把事情平息下去。这是他们之间的小小分歧，一旦他有机会，就会说服他们，而我打算做的就是给他这种机会。我们将准许船员们到岸上呆一个下午。要是他们全都上岸的话，我们就可以据守住大船来作战。要是他们谁也不去，好吧，那我们就把住特舱，上帝保卫正义的一方。要是他们中的一些人上岸，你记住我的话，阁下，西尔弗会把他们像带领绵羊似的带回到船上来。” 事情就这么定了。装好弹药的手熗全都发给了忠实可靠的人；亨特、乔埃斯和雷卓斯使我们信心大增，因为当他们听到消息后并没怎么惊讶，而且精神比我们预想的要好。于是船长就走到甲板上向船员们讲话。 “弟兄们，”他说，“我们遇到了个大热天，全都累坏了，精神不佳。到岸上走走对任何人都没有坏处——划子仍在水里，只要你们愿意，可乘划子到岸上去呆一个下午。日落前半小时我将鸣熗召唤你们返船。” 我相信这些愚蠢的家伙们一定以为一到岸上宝藏便垂手可得；因为他们所有的温怒立刻一扫而光，发出的欢呼声在远山激起了回响，再一次地惊起了鸟群，在锚地上空盘旋着惊叫不已。 船长太明智了，决不碍他们的事。他一转眼就走开了，留下了西尔弗他们，由西尔弗来安排；我想他这样做也好。要是他留在甲板上，他就无法再装聋作哑。这一点明白如昼。西尔弗是船长，而且手下有一帮图谋叛乱的船员。老实的人手——很快我就得到证实，船上还确有这样的人在——一定是些很迟钝的家伙。或许，我进一步猜想，事情的真相是，所有的人手都被坏头头带坏了——只是有些程度重些有些程度轻些而已，极少数几个大体上还是好人，他们不愿被利诱或威胁着走得太远。吊儿郎当、睁一只眼闭一只眼是一回事，而夺船、谋害大批无辜的性命则完全是另一码事。 最后，不管怎么说，这帮人总算分派好了。六个人留在大船上，其余的十三个，包括西尔弗，开始上划子。 这时我的脑海中产生出第一个疯狂的念头——多亏它，我们后来才得以逃生。既然西尔弗留下了六个人，显然我们这帮人不能把船夺过来；但既然只留下了六个人，同样也很清楚，特舱这边也不是非用我帮忙不可。我立刻想到了上岸。眨眼间我便溜过了船舷，把身子蜷在最近的一条划子的船头板下，几乎就在同时，它就出发了。 没有人注意到我，只是船首的桨手说了句：“是你吗，吉姆？把头低下。”但是西尔弗从另一条划子上敏锐地扫视过来，喊了一声，以便确定是否是我；从那一刻起，我开始后悔这样做了。 水手们竞先向岸划去，但是我乘的划子，由于起划略早，舟身较轻，配备的桨手好一些，远远地划在它的同伴的前头，船首一头插在岸上的树丛里，于是我一把拽住根枝条，荡了出去，接着便钻进了最近的灌木丛，这时西尔弗和其余的人还在身后一百码的地方哩。“吉姆！吉姆！”我听他在喊。 但是你猜得到，我是不会理会的。我连蹦带跳地躲闪着，向前钻，笔直地飞跑着，直到再也跑不动了为止。 |
Treasure IslandChapter XIV I WAS so pleased at having given the slip to Long John, that I began to enjoy myself and look around me with some interest on the strange land that I was in. I had crossed a marshy tract full of willows, bulrushes, and odd, outlandish, swampy trees; and I had now come out upon the skirts of an open piece of undulating, sandy country, about a mile long, dotted with a few pines, and a great number of contorted trees, not unlike the oak in growth, but pale in the foliage, like willows. On the far side of the open stood one of the hills, with two quaint, craggy peaks, shining vividly in the sun. I now felt for the first time the joy of exploration. The isle was uninhabited; my shipmates I had left behind, and nothing lived in front of me but dumb brutes and fowls. I turned hither and thither among the trees. Here and there were flowering plants, unknown to me; here and there I saw snakes, and one raised his head from a ledge of rock and hissed at me with a noise not unlike the spinning of a top. Little did I suppose that he was a deadly enemy, and that the noise was the famous rattle. Then I came to a long thicket of these oak-like trees - live, or evergreen, oaks, I heard afterwards they should be called - which grew low along the sand like brambles, the boughs curiously twisted, the foliage compact, like thatch. The thicket stretched down from the top of one of the sandy knolls, spreading and growing taller as it went, until it reached the margin of the broad, reedy fen, through which the nearest of the little rivers soaked its way into the anchorage. The marsh was steaming in the strong sun, and the outline of the Spy-glass trembled through the haze. All at once there began to go a sort of bustle among the bulrushes; a wild duck flew up with a quack, another followed, and soon over the whole surface of the marsh a great cloud of birds hung screaming and circling in the air. I judged at once that some of my shipmates must be drawing near along the borders of the fen. Nor was I deceived; for soon I hear the very distant and low tones of a human voice, which, I continued to give ear, grew steadily louder and nearer. This put me in a great fear, and I crawled under cover of the nearest live-oak, and squatted there, hearkening, as silent as a mouse. Another voice answered; and then the first voice, which now recognised to be Silver's, once more took up the store and ran on for a long while in a stream, only now and again interrupted by the other. By the sound they must have bee talking earnestly, and almost fiercely; but no distinct word came to my hearing. At last the speakers seemed to have paused, and perhaps to have sat down; for not only did they cease to draw an nearer, but the birds themselves began to grow more quiet and to settle again to their places in the swamp. And now I began to feel that I was neglecting my business' that since I had been so foolhardy as to come ashore with these desperadoes, the least I could do was to overhear them at their councils; and that my plain and obvious duty was to draw' as close as I could manage, under the favourable ambush c the crouching trees. I could tell the direction of the speakers pretty exactly, not only by the sound of their voices, but by the behaviour of the few birds that still hung in alarm above the heads of the intruders. Crawling on all-fours, I made steadily but slowly toward them; till at last, raising my head to an aperture among the leaves, I could see clear down into a little green dell beside the marsh, and closely set about with trees, where Long John Silver and another of the crew stood face to face in conversation. The sun beat full upon them. Silver had thrown his ha beside him on the ground, and his great, smooth, blond fact all shining with heat, was lifted to the other man's in a kin' of appeal. `Mate,' he was saying, `it's because I thinks gold dust of you - gold dust, and you may lay to that! If I hadn't too to you like pitch, do you think I'd have been here a-warning of you? All's up - you can't make nor mend; it's to save your neck that I'm a-speaking, and if one of the wild 'uns knew it, where 'ud I be, Tom - now, tell me, where 'ud I be?' `Silver,' said the other man - and I observed he was not only red in the face, but spoke as hoarse as a crow, and his voice shook, too, like a taut rope - Silver,' says he, `you're old, and you're honest, or has the name for it; and you've money, too, which lots of poor sailors hasn't; and you're brave, or I'm mistook. And will you tell me you'll let yourself be led away with that kind of a mess of swabs? not you! As sure as God sees me, I'd sooner lose my hand. If I turn agin my dooty--' And then all of a sudden he was interrupted by a noise. I had found one of the honest hands - well, here, at that same moment, came news of another. Far away out in the marsh there arose, all of a sudden, a sound like the cry of anger, then another on the back of it; and then one horrid, long-drawn scream. The rocks of the Spy-glass re-echoed it a score of times; the whole troop of marsh-birds rose again, darkening heaven, with a simultaneous whirr; and long after that death yell was still ringing in my brain, silence had re-established its empire, and only the rustle of the redescending birds and the boom of the distant surges disturbed the languor of the afternoon. Tom had leaped at the sound, like a horse at the spur; but Silver had not winked an eye. He stood where he was, resting lightly on his crutch, watching his companion like a snake about to spring. `John!' said the sailor, stretching out his hand. `Hands off!' cried Silver, leaping back a yard, as it seemed to me, with the speed and security of a trained gymnast. `Hands off, if you like, John Silver,' said the other. `It's a black conscience that can make you feared of me. But, in heaven's name, tell me what was that?' `That?' returned Silver, smiling away, but warier than ever, his eye a mere pin-point in his big face, but gleaming like a crumb of glass. `That? Oh, I reckon that'll be Alan.' And at this poor Tom flashed out like a hero. `Alan!' he cried. `Then rest his soul for a true seaman! And as for you, John Silver, long you've been a mate of mine, but you're mate of mine no more. If I die like a dog, I'll die in my dooty. You've killed Alan, have you? Kill me too, if you can. But I defies you.' And with that, this brave fellow turned his back directly on the cook, and set off walking for the beach. But he was not destined to go far. With a cry, John seized the branch of a tree, whipped the crutch out of his armpit, and sent that uncouth missile hurtling through the air. It struck poor Tom point foremost, and with stunning violence, right between the shoulders in the middle of his back. His hands flew up, he gave a sort of gasp, and fell. Whether he were injured much or little, none could ever tell. Like enough, to judge from the sound, his back was broken on the spot. But he had no time given him to recover Silver, agile as a monkey, even without leg or crutch, was on the top of him next moment, and had twice buried his knife up to the hilt in that defenceless body. From my place of ambush, I could hear him pant aloud as he struck the blows. I do not know what it rightly is to faint, but I do know that for the next little while the whole world swam away from before me in a whirling mist; Silver and the birds, and the tall Spy-glass hill-top, going round and round and topsy-turvy before my eyes, and all manner of bells ringing and distant voices shouting in my ear. When I came again to myself, the monster had pulled himself together, his crutch under his arm, his hat upon his head. Just before him Tom lay motionless upon the sward; but the murderer minded him not a whit, cleansing his bloodstained knife the while upon a wisp of grass. Everything else was unchanged, the sun still shining mercilessly on the steaming marsh and the tall pinnacle of the mountain, and I could scarce persuade myself that murder had been actually done, and a human life cruelly cut short a moment since, before my eyes. But now John put his hand into his pocket, brought out a whistle, and blew upon it several modulated blasts, that rang far across the heated air. I could not tell, of course, the meaning of the signal; but it instantly awoke my fears. More men would be coming. I might be discovered. They had already slain two of the honest people; after Tom and Alan, might not I come next? Instantly I began to extricate myself and crawl back again, with what speed and silence I could manage, to the more open portion of the wood. As I did so, I could hear hails coming and going between the old buccaneer and his comrades, and this sound of danger lent me wings. As soon as I was clear of the thicket, I ran as I never ran before, scarce minding the direction of my flight, so long as it led me from the murderers; and as I ran, fear grew and grew upon me, until it turned into a kind of frenzy. Indeed, could anyone be more entirely lost than I? When the gun fired, how should I dare to go down to the boats among those fiends, still smoking from their crime? Would not the first of them who saw me wring my neck like a snipe's? Would not my absence itself be an evidence to them of my alarm, and therefore of my fatal knowledge? It was all over, I thought. Good-bye to the Hispaniola, good-bye to the squire, the doctor, and the captain! There was nothing left for me but death by starvation, or death by the hands of the mutineers. All this while, as I say, I was still running, and, without taking any notice, I had drawn near to the foot of the little hill with the two peaks, and had got into a part of the island where the live-oaks grew more widely apart, and seemed more like forest trees in their bearing and dimensions. Mingled with these were a few scattered pines, some fifty, some nearer seventy, feet high. The air, too, smelt more freshly than down beside the marsh. And here a fresh alarm brought me to a standstill with a thumping heart. 宝岛十四 第一次打击 从高个子约翰手下溜掉，我得意极了，开始兴致勃勃地欣赏起我登上的这块陌生的陆地的风光来。 我穿过了一大片长满杨柳、芦苇和许多古怪的、我不认得的植物的沼泽地，现在我来到了一片约一英里长的起伏不平的沙地的边缘。这里点缀着少量的松树，还有大量的长得歪歪扭扭的树，样子略似橡树，叶色则淡如杨柳。在这片开阔地带的远处，矗立着一座双峰小山，它的两个嶙峋的峰顶在阳光下闪闪发光。 我现在头一次尝到了探险的乐趣。这个小岛无人居住，我的船友们又被我甩到了后面，前面除了不会说话的鸟兽外，也并无别的活物。我在树木间东走西转。到处都是我叫不出名目的开花植物，还到处有蛇，有一条从凸出来的岩石边上昂起了头，向我发出像陀螺飞转时的嘶嘶声。我丝毫没想到它会是个死敌，而那声音正是大名鼎鼎的响尾蛇的特征。 接着我走进一条长长的灌木林带，那里尽是些状似橡树的树——后来我听说它们叫做长生或长青橡树，它们像黑莓那样矮矮地蔓延在沙地上，枝条奇特地扭曲着，树叶密得像茅草一样。这条灌木林带从一个沙丘顶上延伸下来，愈往下树长得就愈高，铺开得也愈广，一直到了一片开阔的、长满芦苇的沼地边缘，附近的一条小河就是从这里流向锚地的。沼泽在毒日头下泛着气泡，望远镜山的轮廓就在这蒸腾的雾气中微微颤动。 芦苇丛里骤然响起了一阵喧闹声。一只野鸭嘎的一声飞了起来，跟着又飞起来一只，很快，整个沼地上空便黑压压地布满了这尖叫着盘旋的飞鸟。我立刻作出判断，这一定是和我同船的一些船友正沿着沼地的边缘向这边靠来。果然不出所料，因为很快我就远远地听到一个人低低的说话声，当我继续侧耳倾听的时候，这声音便愈来愈大、愈来愈近了。 这可把我吓坏了，于是我爬到最近的一棵长生橡树下面，蜷伏在那里，像只耗子似的屏息静听。 另一个声音答话了；于是前面那个声音——现在我已辨认出是西尔弗的声音——又继续絮叨起来，滔滔不绝地讲了半天，只是偶尔被另一个声音打断一下。从语气上听来，他们谈得很认真，几乎可以说是激烈，但是我听不清他们到底在谈什么。 最后双方似乎都住了口，可能是坐下来了，因为不仅他们没有走得更近，而且鸟儿们也开始安静下来，在沼地里重新栖息下来。 这时我才开始意识到自己的失职，既然我如此莽撞地跟着这些亡命徒上了岸，至少我应当去偷听一下他们的集会；这样，摆在我面前的明显、直接的任务就是，在那些歪歪扭扭的树木的掩蔽下，尽可能地爬得离他们近些。 我能相当准确地辨别出谈话人所在的方向，不仅是通过他们的声音，还根据鸟儿的动静，因为仍有几只鸟在侵入者的头顶上惊恐地盘旋着。我四肢着地、缓慢而坚定地向着他们爬去，直到最后，我抬头向叶隙中望去，能够清晰地看到下面沼地旁一小块绿色的谷地；高个子约翰和另一个水手正面对面地站在那里谈话。 太阳直射在他们身上。西尔弗已经把他的帽子扔到了他旁边的地上，他的光滑、白皙的大脸盘正热切地闪着光，对着另一个人的脸，作出一副恳求的表情。 “伙计，”他正在说，“这正是因为我看你是尘土里的金子——尘土里的金子，你要明白这一点！要不是我特别喜欢你，你想我会在这里向你报警吗？一切都已成定局——你再也改变不了这局面了；我的话是要你保住脑袋，要是被那些野家伙中的一个知道了，他们会怎样拾援我，汤姆——嗯，你说说看，他们会怎样拾援我？” “西尔弗，”另一个人说——我看到他不仅涨红了脸，嗓音也像乌鸦似的沙哑，而巴还像绷紧的绳索般发颤——“西尔弗，”他说，“你老了，又是个正派人，至少有这么个名声；你也有钱，这是许多穷水手所没有的；要是我没看错，你又敢作敢为。难道你是想告诉我，你要被那些乌七八糟的无赖牵着走吗？你犯不着！上天明鉴，我宁可马上失掉我的手，要是我背叛我的职责——” 接下来，他突然被一个吵嚷声打断了。我刚刚发现了一个正直的水手——就在这里，而与此同时，又传来了另一个消息。在沼地老远的那边蓦地响起了一声愤怒的叫喊，接着又是一声，然后便是一声可怕的、拖长的惨叫，在望远镜山的山岩激起了好几声回响，沼地的鸟再次成群地振翅惊飞，把天都遮住了。过后很久，这临死前的呼号还在我的脑海中回响，虽然周围又复归寂静，只有归鸟人塘的扑翼声和远处的涛声打破着午后的沉寂。 汤姆听到这叫喊，像马被靴刺踢了似地跳了起来，但是西尔弗连眼睛都没眨一下。他站在原地，轻松地倚着他的拐，像一条伺机进攻的蛇一样注视着他的同伴。 “约翰！”那个叫汤姆的水手说，伸出了他的手。 “住手！”西尔弗叫道，跳后了一码，在我看来，迅捷、平稳，犹如熟练的体操家。 “听你的，住手可以，约翰•西尔弗，”另一个说道，“是你心里有鬼，才会害怕我。但是，看在上帝分上，告诉我那边怎么了？” “那边？”西尔弗微笑着答道，但比以前更戒备了，他的眼睛在他的大脸盘上不过针尖大小，但却像玻璃屑般地发着光。“那边？哦，我估计是艾伦。” 听了这个，可怜的汤姆像个英雄似地振奋起来。 “艾伦！”他叫道，“愿这个正直的人的灵魂得到安息！至于你，约翰•西尔弗，长久以来你一直是我的弟兄，但从今往后你再也不是了。即使我像条狗似地惨死，我也要死在我的岗位上。你们已经杀死了艾伦，对不对？也杀了我吧，只要你做得到。但是我不把你们放在眼里。” 说完，这个勇敢的人转身背对着厨子向岸边走去。但是他注定走不了多远。随着一声嚎叫，约翰攀住一根树枝，把他的拐杖猛地掷了出去，这支原始的投熗呼地在空中飞过，它的尖端向前，击中了可怜的汤姆，力猛无比，正中两肩中央的背脊。他的双手向上张开，发出一种喘息，倒下了。 他伤得是轻还是重，我无从得知。从声音推断，他的那段背脊很可能被当场击断了。但他连恢复知觉的时间都没给留下。西尔弗虽然缺了一条腿和拐杖，却敏捷得像个猿猴，一眨眼就跳到了他的身上，将一把刀子两次齐柄戳进这个已经丧失抵抗力的躯体里。从我隐蔽的地方，可以听见他在行凶时发出的呼呼的喘息。 我不知道晕厥是怎样一回事，但我确实知道，接下来有片刻工夫，整个世界在我面前天旋地转；西尔弗、乌、高高的望远镜山峰顶，一圈又一圈地转，在我眼前颠来倒去，在我的耳朵里，万钟齐鸣，还有远远传来的人的喊叫。 当我缓过劲儿来的时候，那个魔鬼已恢复了常态，拐夹到了胳膊底下，帽子戴到了头上。就在他面前，汤姆一动不动地躺在草地上，但是这个凶手看都不看他一眼，只顾用一把草擦拭他那把带着血污的刀。其余的一切都没有变化，太阳仍旧无情地炙烤着那冒着气的沼泽和高高的山尖，而我几乎不能相信，就在我的眼皮底下，就在一刻前，的的确确发生了凶杀，一个人的生命就这样残忍地被剥夺了。 但是这会儿约翰把手放到了口袋里，掏出了个哨子，用它吹了几个不同的音调，那声音就在炎热的空气中传播开了。当然，我说不上来这个信号的含义，但它立刻唤醒了我的恐惧。更多的人将会来到这里。我可能被发现。他们已经于掉两个正派人了，在汤姆和艾伦之后，会不会要轮到我？ 我立刻开始逃命，以最快的速度、屏住呼吸、轻手轻脚地向回爬，直向林中比较开阔的地带爬去。当我正爬着的时候，我可以听到那个老海盗正和他的伙伴们互相打着招呼，这危险的声音使我像长了翅膀一样地快起来。一离开丛林，我就以前所未有的速度跑起来，几乎不去辨别跑的方向，只要能离开那些凶手们就好；而当我跑时，恐惧却愈来愈大，最后到了几乎发狂的地步。 事实上，有谁能比我更倒霉？当鸣熗返船的时候，我怎么敢和那些沾满了血腥的魔鬼们一起坐在划子里？他们中谁若是看到我，难道不会把我像只鹭鸶似的拧断脖子？但若是我不在，不就又为他们提供了一个证据，说明我有所察觉、知晓内幕？全完了，我想。再见了，伊斯班袅拉号；再见了，乡绅、医生，还有船长！除了被饿死，或被叛乱之手杀死，我别无出路了。 在我涌出这些念头的时候，就像我说的，我仍然在奔跑，不知不觉来到那座双峰小山的山脚下，进入了岛上这样的一个地带：那里分布着更广大的长生橡树，从姿态和面积上看，更像是林木。中间夹着几株松树，有些高五十尺，有些则将近七十尺。空气也比下面的沼地清新一些。 而就在这里，一种新的危险吓得我不能动弹，心怦怦直跳。 |
Treasure IslandChapter XV FROM the side of the hill, which was here steep and stony a spout of gravel was dislodged, and fell rattling and bounding through the trees. My eyes turned instinctively in the direction, and I saw a figure leap with great rapidity behind the trunk of a pine. What it was, whether bear or man c monkey, I could in no wise tell. It seemed dark and shaggy; more I knew not. But the terror of this new apparition brought me to a stand. I was now, it seemed, cut off upon both sides; behind m the murderers, before me this lurking nondescript. An immediately I began to prefer the dangers that I knew to those I knew not. Silver himself appeared less terrible in contract with this creature of the woods, and I turned on my heel, and looking sharply behind me over my shoulder, began to retract my steps in the direction of the boats. Instantly the figure reappeared, and, making a wide circuit began to head me off. I was tired, at any rate; but had I bee as fresh as when I rose, I could see it was in vain for me to contend in speed with such an adversary. From trunk to trunk the creature flitted like a deer, running manlike on two legs but unlike any man that I had ever seen, stooping almost double as it ran. Yet a man it was, I could no longer be in doubt about that. I began to recall what I had heard of cannibals. I was within an ace of calling for help. But the mere fact that he was man, however wild, had somewhat reassured me, and my fear of Silver began to revive in proportion. I stood still, therefore and cast about for some method of escape; and as I was so thinking, the recollection of my pistol flashed into my mind. As soon as I remembered I was not defenceless, courage glowed again in my heart; and I set my face resolutely for this man of the island, and walked briskly towards him. He was concealed by this time, behind another tree trunk but he must have been watching me closely, for as soon as I began to move in his direction he reappeared and took a step to meet me. Then he hesitated, drew back, came forward again, and at last, to my wonder and confusion, threw himself on his knees and held out his clasped hands in supplication. At that I once more stopped. `Who are you?' I asked. `Ben Gunn,' he answered, and his voice sounded hoarse and awkward, like a rusty lock. `I'm poor Ben Gunn, I am; and I haven't spoke with a Christian these three years.' I could now see that he was a white man like myself, and that his features were even pleasing. His skin, wherever it was exposed, was burnt by the sun; even his lips were black; and his fair eyes looked quite startling in so dark a face. Of all the beggar-men that I had seen or fancied, he was the chief for raggedness. He was clothed with tatters of old ship's canvas and old sea cloth; and this extraordinary patchwork was all held together by a system of the most various and incongruous fastenings, brass buttons, bits of stick, and loops of tarry gaskin. About his waist he wore an old brass-buckled leather belt, which was the one thing solid in his whole accoutrement. `Three years!' I cried. `Were you shipwrecked?' `Nay, mate,' said he - `marooned.' I had heard the word, and I knew it stood for a horrible kind of punishment common enough among the buccaneers, in which the offender is put ashore with a little powder and shot, and left behind on some desolate and distant island. `Marooned three years agone,' he continued, `and lived on goats since then, and berries, and oysters. Wherever a man is, says I, a man can do for himself. But, mate, my heart is sore for Christian diet. You mightn't happen to have a piece of cheese about you, now? No? Well, many's the long night I've dreamed of cheese - toasted, mostly - and woke up again, and here I were.' `If ever I can get aboard again,' said I, `you shall have cheese by the stone.' All this time he had been feeling the stuff of my jacket, smoothing my hands, looking at my boots, and generally, in the intervals of his speech, showing a childish pleasure in the presence of a fellow-creature. But at my last words he perked up into a kind of startled slyness. `If ever you can get aboard again, says you?' he repeated `Why, now, who's to hinder you?' `Not you, I know,' was my reply. `And right you was,' he cried. `Now you - what do you call yourself, mate?' `Jim,' I told him. `Jim, Jim,' says he, quite pleased apparently. `Well, now, Jim, I've lived that rough as you'd be ashamed to hear of. Now, for instance, you wouldn't think I had had a pious mother - to look at me?' he asked. `Why, no, not in particular,' I answered. `Ah, well,' said he, `but I had - remarkable pious. And I was a civil, pious boy, and could rattle off my catechism that fast, as you couldn't tell one word from another. And here's what it come to, Jim, and it begun with chuck-farthen on the blessed grave-stones! That's what it begun with, but went further'n that; and so my mother told me, and predicked the whole, she did, the pious woman! But it were Providence that put me here. I've thought it all out in this here lonely island, and I'm back on piety. You don't catch me tasting rum so much; but just a thimbleful for luck, of course, the first chance I have. I'm bound I'll be good, and I see the way to. And, Jim' - looking all round him, and lowering his voice to a whisper - I'm rich.' I now felt sure that the poor fellow had gone crazy in his solitude, and I suppose I must have shown the feeling in my face, for he repeated the statement hotly:-- `Rich! rich! I says. And I'll tell you what: I'll make a man of you, Jim. Ah, Jim, you'll bless your stars, you will, you was the first that found me!' And at this there came suddenly a lowering shadow over his face; and he tightened his grasp upon my hand, and raised a forefinger threateningly before my eyes. `Now, Jim, you tell me true: that ain't Flint's ship?' he asked. At this I had a happy inspiration. I began to believe that I had found an ally, and I answered him at once. `It's not Flint's ship, and Flint is dead; but I'll tell you true, as you ask me - there are some of Flint's hands aboard; worse luck for the rest of us.' `Not a man - with one - leg?' he gasped. `Silver?' I asked. `Ah, Silver!' says he; `that were his name.' `He's the cook; and the ringleader, too.' He was still holding me by the wrist, and at that he gave it quite a wring. `If you was sent by Long John,' he said, `I'm as good as pork, and I know it. But where was you, do you suppose?' I had made my mind up in a moment, and by way of answer told him the whole story of our voyage, and the predicament in which we found ourselves. He heard me with the keenest interest, and when I had done he patted me on the head. `You're a good lad, Jim,' he said; `and you're all in a clove hitch ain't you? Well, you just put your trust in Ben Gunn - Ben Gunn's the man to do it. Would you think it likely, now, that your squire would prove a liberal-minded one in case of help - him being in a clove hitch, as you remark?' I told him the squire was the most liberal of men. `Ay, but you see,' returned Ben Gunn, `I didn't mean giving me a gate to keep, and a shuit of livery clothes, and such; that's not my mark, Jim. What I mean is, would he be likely to come down to the toon of, say one thousand pounds out of money that's as good as a man's own already?' `I am sure he would,' said I. `As it was, all hands were to share.' `And a passage home?' he added, with a look of great shrewdness. `Why,' I cried, `the squire's a gentleman. And, besides, if we got rid of the others, we should want you to help work the vessel home.' `Ah,' said he, `so you would.' And he seemed very much relieved. `Now, I'll tell you what,' he went on. `So much I'll tell you, and no more. I were in Flint's ship when he buried the treasure; he and six along - six strong seamen. They were ashore nigh on a week, and us standing off and on in the old Walrus. One fine day up went the signal, and here come Flint by himself in a little boat, and his head done up in a blue scarf. The sun was getting up, and mortal whit he looked about the cut-water. But, there he was, you mind, and the six all dead - dead and buried. How he done it, not a man aboard us could make out. It was battle murder, and sudden death, leastways - him against six Billy Bones was the mate; Long John, he was quartermaster and they asked him where the treasure was. ``Ah,'' say he, ``you can go ashore, if you like, and stay,'' he says ``but as for the ship, she'll beat up for more, by thunder!'' That's what he said. `Well, I was in another ship three years back, and we sighted this island. ``Boys,'' said I, ``here's Flint's treasure let's land and find it.'' The cap'n was displeased at that; but my messmates were all of a mind, and landed. Twelve days they looked for it, and every day they had the worse word for me, until one fine morning all hands went aboard. ``As for you, Benjamin Gunn,'' says they, here's a musket,'' they says, ``and a spade, and pick-axe. You can stay here, and find Flint's money for yourself,'' they says. `Well, Jim, three years have I been here, and not a bite of Christian diet from that day to this. But now, you look here; look at me. Do I look like a man before the mast? No, says you. Nor I weren't, neither, I says.' And with that he winked and pinched me hard. `Just you mention them words to your squire, Jim' - he went on: `Nor he weren't, neither - that's the words. Three years he were the man of this island, light and dark, fair and rain; and sometimes he would, maybe, think upon a prayer (says you), and sometimes he would, maybe, think of his old mother, so be as she's alive (you'll say); but the most part of Gunn's time (this is what you'll say) - the most part of his time Was took up with another matter. And then you'll give him a nip, like I do.' And he pinched me again in the most confidential manner. `Then,' he continued - `then you'll up, and you'll say this: - Gunn is a good man (you'll say), and he puts a precious sight more confidence - a precious sight, mind that - in a gen'leman born than in these gen'lemen of fortune, having been one himself.' `Well,' I said, `I don't understand one word that you've been saying. But that's neither here nor there; for how am I to get on board?' `Ah,' said he, `that's the hitch, for sure. Well, there's my boat, that I made with my two hands. I keep her under the white rock. If the worst come to the worst, we might try that after dark. Hi!' he broke out, `what's that?' For just then, although the sun had still an hour or two to run, all the echoes of the island awoke and bellowed to the thunder of a cannon. `They have begun to fight!' I cried. `Follow me.' And I began to run towards the anchorage, my terrors all forgotten; while, close at my side, the marooned man in his goatskins trotted easily and lightly. `Left, left,' says he; `keep to your left hand, mate Jim! Under the trees with you! Theer's where I killed my first goat. They don't come down here now; they're all mast-headed on them mountings for the fear of Benjamin Gunn. Ah! and there's the cemetery' - cemetery, he must have meant. `You see the mounds? I come here and prayed, nows and thens, when I thought maybe a Sunday would be about doo. It weren't quite a chapel, but it seemed more solemn like; and then, says you, Ben Gunn was short-handed - no chapling, nor so much as a Bible and a flag, you says.' So he kept talking as I ran, neither expecting nor receiving any answer. The cannon-shot was followed, after a considerable interval, by a volley of small arms. Another pause, and then, not a quarter of a mile in front of me, I beheld the Union Jack flutter in the air above a wood. 宝岛十五 岛上的人 从陡峭而多石的这一侧的小丘上头，扑籁籁地掉下来一堆沙砾，穿过树木纷纷落下来。我的眼睛本能地向那个方向转去，我看到有一个身影飞快地向松树树干后面跳去。它究竟为何物，是熊。是人、还是猿猴，我怎么也说不上来。它看上去黑乎乎、毛茸茸的；更多的我就不知道了。但是这个新出现的吓人的东西使我停了下来。 现在看来我是腹背受敌；在我身后是杀人凶手，在我前面是这个隐蔽的怪物。立刻我意识到，与其遭遇未知的危险，莫不如去面对已知的危险。同树林里这个活物比起来，西尔弗他本人也不那么可怕了，于是我转过身去，一边敏锐地关注着我的身后，开始向划子停泊的地方折回我的脚步。 那个身影立刻又出现了，并且绕了一个大弯，开始拦住了我的路。不管怎么说，我累了，但是我也看得出，即使我像刚动身时那样精力充沛，对我来说，与这样一个对手比速度也是徒劳的。这个家伙像头鹿似地在树干之间跳跃，像人似地用两条腿跑，但和我见过的任何人都不同，当它跑时，身子弯得头几乎要触着地。然而它确实是个人，对此我已不再怀疑了。 我开始回想起我听说过的食人番来。我差一点就要喊救命了。但他毕竟是个人，虽然是个野人，这一点多少使我安心些。同时我对西尔弗的恐惧重又复活了。因此，我便站住了，一边想着如何逃跑；当我正这么想着的时候，我摹地想起我还有支手铣。一想到我并非毫无抵抗能力，我心中又重新生出了勇气，于是我决心面对这个岛上的人，迈着轻快的步子向他走去。 这回他躲在另一棵树的树干后面，但是他一定一直在密切地关注着我，因为一旦我开始向他那边迈步，他便出现了，向我这边迈出了一步。接着他犹豫了，又向后退回去，然后又上前，最后，令我既吃惊又困惑的是，他跪到了地上，十指交叉着向前伸出，一副哀求的样子。 这使我再次停下了。 “你是谁？”我问。 “本•葛恩，”他答道，他的声音听起来沙哑而生涩，像把生锈的锁。“我是可怜的本•葛恩，是的；我已经有三年没跟人说话啦。” 现在我已看出，他是个和我一样的白人，并且他的长相还蛮好看。他裸露着的皮肤都被太阳晒黑了，甚至他的嘴唇都是黑的；在这样黑的一张脸上，他的明亮的眼睛着实使人吃惊。在所有我见过或想象出来的乞丐中，他是穿得最破烂的。他穿着船上的旧帆布和防水布的碎片缀成的衣服，这件不同寻常的鹑衣全都是用一系列各不相同、极不协调的栓结物连缀到一块儿的，如铜扣、小细棍以及涂了柏油的束帆索环儿。在他的腰间系着一条旧的带钢扣的皮带，那是他全身上下最结实的一样东西了。 “三年！”我叫道。“是船只失事了吗？” “不，朋友，”他说——“是被放逐的。” 我听过这个字眼，我因此知道这是海盗中相当普通但是可怕的一种惩罚手段，只给受罚者一点弹药，然后将他甩在某个遥远的荒岛上。 “是三年前被放逐的，”他继续说道，“从那以后，就以山羊为生，还有浆果和牡蛎。要我说，人到哪儿都能自谋生路。但是，朋友，我一心向往文明人的饮食。你现在身上是否碰巧带着块干酪？没有？哎，多少个长夜我都梦见干酪——多半是烤好的——等梦醒了，我还是在这儿。” “要是我还能回到船上，”我说，“你就会有成堆的干酪吃。” 说话间他一直在抚摸我衣服的料子，抚摸我光滑的手，观赏我的鞋，总之，在他说话的间歇里，对于一个同类的出现，他表现出了一种孩子气的高兴。但是听了我最后的话，他抬起头来，露出一种吃惊和狡黠的神气。 “要是你还能回到船上，你是这么说的吗？”他重复道。“怎么，现在谁在阻拦你吗？” “我知道不是你。”我答道。 “你说得对，”他叫道。“那么你——你叫什么名字，朋友？” “吉姆。”我告诉他。 “吉姆，吉姆，”他说，显然很高兴。“你瞧，吉姆，我过的这种苦日子连你听了都会害臊。嗯，比方说吧，你瞧我这副模样，不会想到我有个信神的母亲吧？” “噢，不，没专门想过。”我答道。 “啊，好吧，”他说，“但是我有的——我的母亲非常的虔诚。我也曾经是个有礼貌的、信神的孩子，我可以把教义背得那么快，以至于你连字句都无法分辨出来。而这会儿我却到了这个地步，吉姆，这都是从我在那该死的墓石上扔铜板赌博开始的！就是玩这个起的头，但是越走越远。我母亲早就告诫过我，她全都预料到了，这个虔诚的女人！把我放到这儿是天意如此。我在这个孤岛上全都仔细想过了，我又皈依上帝了。你可别引诱我喝太多的郎姆酒，不过可以为了祝好运而喝那么一点点，当然，要是有机会的话。我已决定一心向善，我也知道怎么办。而且，吉姆，”他边环顾四周边压低嗓子说——“我发财了。” 现在我觉得这个可怜的人在孤独的生活中有些精神失常了，我猜想我一定把这感觉流露到脸上了，因为他又热切地重复了一遍： “我发财了！发财了！我跟你说。我还可以告诉你：我会把你变成一个真正的男子汉，吉姆。啊，吉姆，你该庆幸吉星高照，你真是幸运，你是第一个找到我的人！” 说着，他的脸上突然掠过一道阴影，接着他紧紧地抓住了我的手，还竖起一根食指在我的眼前比划着。 “听着，吉姆，你得给我讲实话：那是弗林特的船吗？”他问道。 听了这话，我欢欣鼓舞。我开始相信我找到了一个盟友，于是我立刻答复了他。 “那不是弗林特的船，弗林特已经死了。但是我跟你讲实话，就像你要求的那样——船上有些弗林特的部下；我们其余这些人遭殃了。” “有没有一个——一条腿的人？”他倒抽了口气问道。 “西尔弗？”我问。 “啊，西尔弗！”他说，“就是这个名字。” “他是厨子，也是他们的头子。” 他仍握着我的手腕，听了我的话，他又用力地扭了一下。 “要是你是高个子约翰派来的，”他说，“我就完了，这一点我是知道的。但你想你现在处境怎样？” 我立即打定主意，在回答时顺便把我们航行的整个经过以及我们现在的处境都告诉了他。他津津有味地听完了我的叙述，当我说完时，他拍了拍我的脑袋。 “你是个好孩子，吉姆，”他说，“可是你们全都上了圈套了，是不是？好吧，你信任本•葛恩好了——我本•葛恩会给你们帮忙。呢，要是有人能救你们的乡绅摆脱圈套，你认为他在报答援助方面会不会慷慨——就像你对他评论的那样？” 我告诉他乡绅是最慷慨的人。 “啊，但是你要明白，”本•葛恩答道，“我不是指给我份看门的差事或一套号衣什么的，那并不是我想要的，吉姆。我的意思是，他能否愿意从那笔可说已到手的钱财里拿出，比方说一千镑，作为酬报？” “我肯定他会的，”我说。“本来就是如此，全船的人本来都有份的。” “还允许我搭船回家？”他又加上一句，一副鬼精灵的样子。 “当然，”我叫道，“乡绅是个绅士，并且，要是我们除掉了那些人的话，还要劳你把船开回家哩。” “啊，”他说，“你们会这么做的。”他这才放了心。 “听着，我来给你讲是怎么回事，”他继续说道，“我要告诉你的就这些，再没有别的了。当弗林特埋宝的时候，我在他的船上。他和六个人去了——六个强壮的水手。他们在岸上停留了有一个星期光景，我们这些人呆在老‘瓦鲁斯’号上。有一天来了信号，接着弗林特自己划着划子来了，脑袋上裹着块青头巾。太阳刚刚升起，他的脸看上去一片煞白。但是，你听好，只有他还在，那六个人全死了——死了，埋了。他怎么干的，我们船上这些人谁也弄不明白。反正无非是恶斗、残杀和暴死——他一个人对付六个。比尔•彭斯是大副；高个子约翰，他是舵手；他们问他金银财宝藏在哪儿了，‘啊，’他说，‘你们想的话，可以上岸去，还可以呆在那里，’他说，‘但是至于船，要去搜罗更多的财宝哩，你们这些挨雷劈的！’他就是这么回答他们的。” “却说三年前我在另一条船上，我们看见了这个岛。‘弟兄们，’我说，‘这里有弗林特的宝藏，咱们上岸去找找吧，’船长听了很不高兴，但是水手们都是一个心眼，船于是靠岸了。他们找了十二天，每天他们都骂我个狗血喷头，直到有一天早上，所有的水手都上船了。‘至于你，本•葛恩，’他们说，‘给你杆熗，’他们说，‘还有一把铲和一把镐。你可以留在这儿，为你自己去找弗林特的钱财吧，’他们说。” “就这样，吉姆，三年来我就一直在这儿，从那天起到现在，没吃过一口文明人的饭菜。而现在，你看这儿，看看我。我还像是个水手吗？不像，你得说。照我说也不像。” 说时他眨巴着眼睛，并且捏了我一下。 “你只须跟你们的乡绅这么讲，吉姆，”他继续道：“他自己也说不像，的确不像——你得这么说。三年来，无论黑天白天、晴天雨天，岛上始终只有他一个人；有时，他可能会背上段祈祷文（你得说），有时，他也可能想想他的老母亲，就当她还活着（这你也得说）；但是葛恩的大部分时间（这是你必须说的）——他的大部分时间都花在另一件事上。然后你就要捏他一下，就像我这样。” 说着他就又捏了我一下，神情极其诡秘。 “然后，”他接着讲道——“然后你就接着讲下去，照这么说：——葛恩是个好人（你得说），他对真正的绅士绝对信任，记着说——绝对信任，而那些幸运的大爷们则让人信不过，他以前就是他们中的一个。” “好啦，”我说，“你说的话我一句也不明白。但是明白不明白又有什么要紧呢，要是我回不到船上去？” “啊，”他说，“那是个麻烦，真的。这样吧，我有条小船，是我自己造出来的，我把它藏在那块白色的岩石下边了。要是到了万不得已的地步，我们天黑后可以试它一试，嘿！”他嚷道，“怎么回事？” 因为恰在此时，虽然离日落还有一两个钟头，全岛却响起了大炮轰鸣的回声。 “他们开始打上了！”我叫道，“跟我来。” 于是我开始朝着锚地跑去，把恐惧都忘在了脑后；而就在我身边，那个被放逐的破衣烂衫的水手也跟着轻松地小跑着。 “往左，往左，”他说，“一直往你左手的方向跑，吉姆朋友！往树底下跑！这是我打到第一只山羊的地方。现在它们不上这儿来啦；它们怕本杰明•葛恩，都躲到山顶上去啦。啊！那是地墓”——我想他指的是墓地。“你看到那些土堆了吗？我不时地到这里来作祈祷，当我想差不多该是礼拜天的时候。它不是什么礼拜堂，但是它看上去挺庄严；而你会说，本•葛恩缺人手呀——没有牧师，也没有《圣经》和旗呀，你会说。” 在我奔跑的时候，他就一直这么絮叨着，既没指望得到、也确实没有得到任何回答。 炮声过后，在隔了相当长的间歇之后，又是一排熗声。 又是一个间歇，这之后，我看到前面四分之一英里远的地方，英国国旗在一片树林上空迎风飘扬。 |
Treasure IslandChapter XVI IT was about half-past one - three bells in the sea phrase that the two boats went ashore from the Hispaniola. The captain, the squire, and I were talking matters over in the cabin. Had there been a breath of wind we should have fall' on the six mutineers who were left aboard with us, slipped our cable, and away to sea. But the wind was wanting; an to complete our helplessness, down came Hunter with the news that Jim Hawkins had slipped into a boat and go ashore with the rest. It never occurred to us to doubt Jim Hawkins; but we were alarmed for his safety. With the men in the temper they we in, it seemed an even chance if we should see the lad again. We ran on deck. The pitch was bubbling in the seams; the nasty stench of the place turned me sick; if ever a man smelt fever and dysentery, it was in that abominable anchorage. The six scoundrels were sitting grumbling under a sail in the forecastle; ashore we could see the gigs made fast, and a man sitting in each, hard by where the river runs in. One of them was whistling `Lillibullero.' Waiting was a strain; and it was decided that Hunter and I should go ashore with the jolly-boat, in quest of information. The gigs had leaned to their right; but Hunter and I pulled straight in, in the direction of the stockade upon the chart. The two who were left guarding their boats seemed in a bustle at our appearance; `Lillibullero' stopped off, and I could see the pair discussing what they ought to do. Had they gone an told Silver, all might have turned out differently; but they had their orders, I suppose and decided to sit quietly where they were and hark back again to `Lillibullero.' There was a slight bend in the coast, and I steered so as to put it between us; even before we landed we had thus lost sight of the gigs. I jumped out, and came as near running as I durst, with a big silk handkerchief under my hat for coolness' sake, and a brace of pistols ready primed for safety. I had not gone a hundred yards when I reached the stockade. This was how it was: a spring of clear water rose almost at the top of a knoll. Well, on the knoll, and enclosing the spring, they had clapped a stout log-house, fit to hold two score of people on a pinch, and loop-holed for musketry on every side. All round this they had cleared a wide space, and then the thing was completed by a paling six feet high, without door or opening, too strong to pull down without time and labour, and too open to shelter the besiegers. The people in the log-house had them in every way; they stood quiet in shelter and shot the others like partridges. All they wanted was a good watch and food; for, short of a complete surprise, they might have held the place against a regiment. What particularly took my fancy was the spring. For, though we had a good enough place of it in the cabin of the Hispaniola, with plenty of arms and ammunition, and things to eat, and excellent wines, there had been one thing overlooked - we had no water. I was thinking this over, when there came ringing over the island the cry of a man at the point of death. I was not new to violent death - I have served his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, and got a wound myself at Fontenoy - but I know my pulse went dot and carry one. `Jim Hawkins is gone' was my first thought. It is something to have been an old soldier, but more still to have been a doctor. There is no time to dilly-dally in our work. And so now I made up my mind instantly, and with no time lost returned to the shore, and jumped on board the jolly-boat. By good fortune Hunter pulled a good oar. We made the water fly; and the boat was soon alongside, and I aboard the schooner. I found them all shaken, as was natural. The squire was sitting down, as white as a sheet, thinking of the harm he had led us to, the good soul! and one of the six forecastle hands was little better. `There's a man,' says Captain Smollett, nodding towards him, `new to this work. He came nigh-hand fainting, doctor when he heard the cry. Another touch of the rudder and that man would join us.' I told my plan to the captain, and between us we settle on the details of its accomplishment. We put old Redruth in the gallery between the cabin and the forecastle, with three or four loaded muskets and mattress for protection. Hunter brought the boat round under the stern-port, and Joyce and I set to work loading her with powder tins, muskets, bags of biscuits, kegs of pork, a cask of cognac, and my invaluable medicine chest. In the meantime, the squire and the captain stayed on deck and the latter hailed the coxswain, who was the principal man aboard. `Mr Hands,' he said, `here are two of us with a brace of pistols each. If any one of you six make a signal of any description, that man's dead.' They were a good deal taken aback; and, after a little consultation, one and all tumbled down the fore companion thinking, no doubt, to take us on the rear. But when they saw Redruth waiting for them in the sparred gallery, they went about ship at once, and a head popped out again on deck. `Down, dog!' cries the captain. And the head popped back again; and we heard no more, for the time, of these six very faint-hearted seamen. By this time, tumbling things in as they came, we had the jolly-boat loaded as much as we dared. Joyce and I got out through the stern-port, and we made for shore again, as fast as oars could take us. This second trip fairly aroused the watchers along shore. `Lillibullero' was dropped again; and just before we lost sight of them behind the little point, one of them whipped ashore and disappeared. I had half a mind to change my plan and destroy their boats, but I feared that Silver and the others might be close at hand, and all might very well be lost by trying for too much. We had soon touched land in the same place as before, and set to provision the block house. All three made the first journey, heavily laden, and tossed our stores over the palisade. Then, leaving Joyce to guard them - one man, to be sure, but with half a dozen muskets - Hunter and I returned to the jolly- boat, and loaded ourselves once more. So we proceeded without pausing to take breath, till the whole cargo was bestowed, when the two servants took up their position in the block house, and I, with all my power, sculled back to the Hispaniola. That we should have risked a second boat load seems more daring than it really was. They had the advantage of numbers, of course, but we had the advantage of arms. Not one of the men ashore had a musket, and before they could get within range for pistol shooting, we flattered ourselves we should be able to give a good account of a half-dozen at least. The squire was waiting for me at the stern window, all his faintness gone from him. He caught the painter and made it fast, and we fell to loading the boat for our very lives. Pork, powder, and biscuit was the cargo, with only a musket and a cutlass apiece for the squire and me and Redruth and the captain. The rest of the arms and powder we dropped overboard in two fathoms and a half of water, so that we could see the bright steel shining far below us in the sun, on the clean, sandy bottom. By this time the tide was beginning to ebb, and the ship was swinging round to her anchor. Voices were heard faintly halloaing in the direction of the two gigs; and though this reassured us for Joyce and Hunter, who were well to the eastward, it warned our party to be off. Redruth retreated from his place in the gallery, and dropped into the boat, which we then brought round to the ship's counter, to be handier for Captain Smollett. `Now men,' said he, `do you hear me?' There was no answer from the forecastle. `It's to you, Abraham Gray - it's to you, I am speaking.' Still no reply. `Gray,' resumed Mr Smollett, a little louder, `I am leaving this ship, and I order you to follow your captain. I know you are a good man at bottom, and I daresay not one of the lot of you's as bad as he makes out. I have my watch here in my hand; I give you thirty seconds to join me in.' There was a pause. `Come, my fine fellow,' continued the captain, `don't hang so long in stays. I'm risking my life, and the lives of these good gentlemen every second.' There was a sudden scuffle, a sound of blows, and out burst Abraham Gray with a knife-cut on the side of the cheek, and came running to the captain, like a dog to the whistle. `I'm with you, sir,' said he. And the next moment he and the captain had dropped aboard of us, and we had shoved off and given way. We were clear out of the ship; but not yet ashore in our stockade. 宝岛十六 弃船的经过 那两只划于从伊斯班袅拉号出发上岸时大约是一点半钟——用海上的话说是钟敲三下①。船长、乡绅和我在特舱里商议对策，要是稍有一点风的话，我们就可以向留在船上的六个反叛分子突然发动袭击，然后起锚出海。但是没有风，并且更使我们绝望的是，亨特下来报告了一个消息：吉姆•霍金斯溜进了一只划子里和其余的人一起上岸了。 ①船上报时，自十二点半敲一下起，以后每半小时增敲一下。——译者注 我们从未怀疑过吉姆•霍金斯，但是我们为他的安全担忧。跟一伙那种性情的人呆在一起，看来我们再难看到他了。我们跑上了甲板。沥青在船板缝里热得冒着泡；这地方的一股恶臭熏得我直要呕吐；要说有谁闻到过热病或痢疾的气味，那一定是在这个可恶的锚地了。那六个坏蛋正坐在帆下的水手舱里嘀嘀咕咕；我们可以看到两只划子系在岸边，靠近小河入海口，每只划子上都坐着个人。他们中的一个正用口哨吹着《利利布雷洛》的调子。 等待实在让人心烦，于是决定由亨特和我乘着划子上岸去侦察侦察。他们的划子是靠右停的，而我和亨特则朝着地图上标的寨子的方向径直划去。那两个留下来看划子的人一看到我们不由一阵慌乱，《利利布雷洛》停下不吹了，我看到这两个家伙正在交头接耳。要是他们跑去报告西尔弗，一切就大为不同了；但我想他们已有指示，故而决定仍静静地坐在原地，又吹起了那支《利利布雷洛》。 岸线上有一处小小的拐角，我划着划子，使这个拐角正介于我们和对方之间，这样，在登陆前他们便无法看到我们了。我在帽子下面压了块白色的绸巾以降暑，同时，为安全起见，还带了对手铣，然后我一跃而出，以接近奔跑的速度行进起来。 还没有走上一百码，我就来到了寨子前。 它是这个样子的：一股清泉几乎是从一个小丘的顶上涌出来，这样，在小丘上面，他们①围着泉水用圆木搭了座结实的木屋子，危急时刻，里面可以容纳四十人，四面都有射击孔。在木屋的周围，他们清出了一片开阔的空地，然后用六英尺高的栅栏圈起来，完成了这个工事。这圈栅栏未设门或出口，非常的牢固，进攻者若想拆毁它，正经得费些时间和力气，并且还开阔得无处藏身。木屋里的人在里面却可安然无恙，他们可以从各个方向，像打鹧鸪似地向进攻者开熗。他们需要的全部就是：一个好的岗哨和充足的食物。除非是偷袭，否则他们据守这个地点，可以挡住一个团的进攻。 ①指弗林特他们。——译者注 特别令我高兴的是那股泉水。因为，虽然我们在伊斯班袅拉号的特舱里住得相当舒服，还备有充足的武器和弹药，还有吃有喝，但是我们忽略了一件事——我们没有淡水。我正在考虑这事的时候，这时从岛上传来了一个人临死前的惨叫。我对暴力致死并不陌生——我曾在坎布兰公爵麾下服役，而且我本人还在方特诺依负过伤——但是这回我的脉搏突然加快起来。“吉姆•霍金斯完了”，这是我反应出来的第一个念头。 当个老兵得有两下子，更何况我还是个医生，干我们这行可是从来没时间磨磨蹭蹭。因此我当机立断，毫不迟疑地向岸边返回，跳上了划子。 幸亏亨特是个好桨手。我们划得水花四溅，划子很快便靠到了大船旁边，我随即登上了大船。 我发现他们全都很震惊，这很自然。乡绅一屁股坐下来，脸苍白得像张纸，思量着他给我们带来的害处，这个好人！而那六个人中有一个也吓得不轻。 “那个人，”斯莫列特船长冲他点点头说，“是那行里的新手。当他听到那声惨叫时，他都快要晕过去了。医生。再使把劲，他就会加入到我们这边来。” 我向船长讲述了我的计划，于是我俩就研究起实施这个计划的细节来。 我们让老雷卓斯带上三四支实弹的火熗和一块打掩护的垫子，把守在特舱和水手舱之间的过道里。亨特把划子划到大船左侧的后舷窗下，乔埃斯和我则着手把火药桶、火熗、饼干袋、腌肉听和一桶白兰地，以及我那无价之宝的医药箱装到划子上去。 与此同时，乡绅和船长留在甲板上，后者还向舵手——这是船上那帮人的头头——打了招呼。 “汉兹先生，”他说，“我们俩每人带着一对手锍站在这里。要是你们六个中有谁向岸上发出信号的话，就要了他的狗命。” 他们着实吃惊不小，交头接耳了一会后，就一齐窜下前舱梯，无疑是想从后面包抄我们。但是他们一看到雷卓斯正在那过道里等着他们，于是就又立刻退了回去，接着，又有一个脑袋伸出了甲板张望着。 “下去，狗东西！”船长吼道。 那个脑袋便缩了回去。有一段时间，我们再没听到这六个吓昏了头的水手有什么动静。 这时，我们匆忙搬运的东西已经将划子装得满满的了。乔埃斯和我从后舷窗上了划子，我们又尽快地向岸上划去。 小划子的第二趟行程可大大惊动了岸上的守望者。《利利布雷洛》的调子再次中断了。而就在我们要绕过岸线上的小拐角、从他们的视线中消失的时候，他们中的一个拔腿向岸上跑去，一下子就没影了。我本想改变计划、毁掉他们的划子，但我担心西尔弗和其它人可能就在岸边附近，而贪多则可能会坏事。 我们迅速在上次那个地方上了岸，然后开始往木屋里搬运物资。第一趟我们三个都负荷很重，便把这些东西扔到了寨子的栅栏里。然后，把乔埃斯留下来守卫着它们——的确，只有一个人，但是带着半打火熗——亨特和我则又返回到划子上，再次负重前行。我们就这样不歇气地搬运着，直到把全部物资都安置妥当。两个仆人留守在木屋里，我拼尽全力划着双桨又返回了伊斯班袅拉号。 我们必须冒着危险再次把划子装满，事实上并没啥可怕的。当然，他们在人数上是占优势，但是，我们在武器上占了优势。岸上的那些人中没谁有熗，只要他们在手铳的射程之内，不是吹，我们至少能干掉他们半打人。 乡绅正在船尾的舷窗那里等候我，先前的沮丧之色一扫而光。他抓住并拉紧了缆绳，于是我们就开始拼命装船。这回装的是猪肉、火药和面包干，此外，只为乡绅、我、雷卓斯、以及船长每个人各带了一支火熗和一柄弯刀。其余的武器和弹药都被我们扔进了两寸半深的水中，扔下去后，我们可以看到，在下面清澈的沙底，明亮的铁器在阳光的照射下闪闪发光。 这时，潮水开始退了，大船在绕着锚打转儿。从那两只划子停靠的方向上隐约传来了一阵喧嚣，尽管我们对乔埃斯和亨特很是放心，因为他们恰好在东面离得远些的地方，但这也警告了我们这帮人，必须撤离了。 雷卓斯从过道上他把守的地方撤了下来，跳到了划子里，接着我们便把划子绕到了大船的另一侧去接斯莫列特船长。 “喂，你们那帮家伙，”他说，“你们听得到我的话吗？” 水手舱里没有回答。 “我对你说，亚伯拉罕•葛雷——我在同你讲话。” 还是没有回答。 “葛雷，”斯莫列特先生把声音抬高了一点，继续说道，“我就要离开大船了，而我命令你跟随你的船长一起走。我知道你本质上是个好人，而且我还敢说，你们这些人中没谁像他表面上看去的那么坏。我在这里看着我手里的表，我给你三十秒的时间到我们这边来。” 接着是一段沉寂。 “来吧，我的好小伙儿，”船长接着又说道，“不要再耽搁了。每一秒钟，我和这些好心的先生们都在冒着生命危险哩。” 突然传来了一阵扭打声，接着亚伯拉罕•葛雷一侧面颊上带着刀伤冲了出来，像一条狗听到哨声一般跑向了船长。 “我和你一起，先生。”他说。 接下来，他和船长都跳到了我们的划子里，我们当即撑开划子脱离了大船，向岸边划去。 我们是从大船上脱了身，但是我们还没到达岸上的寨子。 |
Treasure IslandChapter XVII THIS fifth trip was quite different from any of the others. In the first place, the little gallipot of a boat that we were in was gravely overloaded. Five grown men, and three of them - Trelawney, Redruth, and the captain - over six feet high, was already more than she was meant to carry. Add to that the powder, pork, and bread-bags. The gunwale was lipping astern. Several times we shipped a little water, and my breeches and the tails of my coat were all soaking wet before we had gone a hundred yards. The captain made us trim the boat, and we got her to lie a little more evenly. All the same, we were afraid to breathe. In the second place, the ebb was now making-a strong rippling current running westward through the basin, and then south'ard and seaward down the straits by which we had entered in the morning. Even the ripples were a danger to our overloaded craft; but the worst of it was that we were swept out of our true course, and away from our proper landing-place behind the point. If we let the current have its way we should come ashore beside the gigs, where the pirates might appear at any moment. `I cannot keep her head for the stockade, sir,' said I to the captain. I was steering, while he and Redruth, two fresh men, were at the oars. `The tide keeps washing her down. Could you pull a little stronger?' `Not without swamping the boat,' said he. `you must bear up, sir, if you please - bear up until you see you're gaining.' I tried, and found by experiment that the tide kept sweeping us westward until I had laid her head due east, or just about right angles to the way we ought to go. `We'll never get ashore at this rate,' said I. `If it's the only course that we can lie, sir, we must even lie it,' returned the captain. `We must keep up- stream. You see, sir,' he went on, `if once we dropped to leeward of the landing-place, it's hard to say where we should get ashore besides the chance of being boarded by the gigs; whereas, the way we go the current must slacken, and then we can dodge back along the shore.' `The current's less a'ready, sir,' said the man Gray, who was sitting in the fore-sheets; `you can ease her off a bit.' `Thank you, my man,' said I, quite as if nothing had happened; for we had all quietly made up our minds to treat him like one of ourselves. Suddenly the captain spoke up again, and I thought his voice was a little changed. `The gun!' said he. `I have thought of that,' said I, for I made sure he was thinking of a bombardment of the fort. `They could never get the gun ashore, and if they did, they could never haul it through the woods.' `Look astern, doctor,' replied the captain. We had entirely forgotten the long nine; and there, to our horror, were the five rogues busy about her, getting off her jacket, as they called the stout tarpaulin cover under which she sailed. Not only that, but it flashed into my mind at the same moment that the round-shot and the powder for the gun had been left behind, and a stroke with an axe would put it all into the possession of the evil ones aboard. `Israel was Flint's gunner,' said Gray, hoarsely. At any risk, we put the boat's head direct for the landing-place. By this time we had got so far out of the run of the current that we kept steerage way even at our necessarily gentle rate of rowing, and I could keep her steady for the goal. But the worst of it was, that with the course I now held, we turned our broadside instead of our stern to the Hispaniola, and offered a target like a barn door. I could hear, as well as see, that brandy-faced rascal, Israel Hands, plumping down a round-shot on the deck. `Who's the best shot?' asked the captain. `Mr Trelawney, out and away,' said I. `Mr Trelawney, will you please pick me off one of these men, sir? Hands, if possible,' said the captain. Trelawney was as cool as steel. He looked to the priming of his gun. `Now,' cried the captain, `easy with that gun, sir, or you'll swamp the boat. All hands stand by to trim her when he aims.' The squire raised his gun, the rowing ceased, and we leaned over to the other side to keep the balance, and all was so nicely contrived that we did not ship a drop. They had the gun, by this time, slewed round upon the swivel, and Hands, who was at the muzzle with the rammer, was, in consequence, the most exposed. However, we had no luck; for just as Trelawney fired, down he stooped, the ball whistled over him, and it was one of the other four who fell. The cry he gave was echoed, not only by his companions on board, but by a great number of voices from the shore, and looking in that direction I saw the other pirates trooping out from among the trees and tumbling into their places in the boats. `Here come the gigs, sir,' said I. `Give way then,' cried the captain. `We mustn't mind if we swamp her now. If we can't get ashore, all's up.' `Only one of the gigs is being manned, sir,' I added, `the crew of the other most likely going round by shore to cut us off.' `They'll have a hot run, sir,' returned the captain. `Jack ashore, you know. It's not them I mind; it's the round-shot. Carpet-bowls! My lady's maid couldn't miss. Tell us, squire, when you see the match, and we'll hold water.' In the meanwhile we had been making headway at a good pace for a boat so overloaded, and we had shipped but little water in the process. We were now close in; thirty or forty strokes and we should beach her; for the ebb had already disclosed a narrow belt of sand below the clustering trees. The gig was no longer to be feared; the little point had already concealed it from our eyes. The ebb-tide, which had so cruelly delayed us, was now making reparation, and delaying our assailants. The one source of danger was the gun. `If I durst,' said the captain, `I'd stop and pick off another man.' But it was plain that they meant nothing should delay their shot. They had never so much as looked at their fallen comrade, though he was not dead, and I could see him trying to crawl away. `Ready!' cried the squire. `Hold!' cried the captain, quick as an echo. And he and Redruth backed with a great heave that sent her stern bodily under water. The report fell in at the same instant of time. This was the first that Jim heard, the sound of the squire's shot not having reached him. Where the ball passed, not one of us precisely knew; but I fancy it must have been over our heads, and that the wind of it may have contributed to our disaster. At any rate, the boat sank by the stern, quite gently, in three feet of water, leaving the captain and myself, facing each other, on our feet. The other three took complete headers, and came up again, drenched and bubbling. So far there was no great harm. No lives were lost, and we could wade ashore in safety. But there were all our stores at the bottom, and, to make things worse, only two guns out of five remained in a state for service. Mine I had snatched from my knees and held over my head, by a sort of instinct. As for the captain, he had carried his over his shoulder by a bandoleer, and, like a wise man, lock uppermost. The other three had gone down with the boat. To add to our concern, we heard voices already drawing near us in the woods along shore; and we had not only the danger of being cut off from the stockade in our half-crippled state, but the fear before us whether, if Hunter and Joyce were attacked by half a dozen, they would have the sense an conduct to stand firm. Hunter was steady, that we knew; Joyce was a doubtful case - a pleasant, polite man for a valet, and to brush one's clothes, but not entirely fitted for a man of war. With all this in our minds, we waded ashore as fast as we could, leaving behind us the poor jolly-boat, and a good half of all our powder and provisions. 宝岛十七 小划子的最后一趟行程 （由医生继续进行追述） 这第五个单程与以往任何一次都截然不同。首先，我们乘坐的划子只有药罐般大小，已经大大地超载了。五个成年人，而且其中的三个——特里罗尼、雷卓斯，以及船长——身高都超过了六英尺，这样就已超出了划子的容量，再加上火药、腌肉和面包袋，这使得划子的尾部几乎与水面平齐。有几次，我们的船里还进了点水，还没等划出一百码远，我的裤子和外套的下摆就全湿透了。 船长让我们将人和物品的位置调整了一番，船就平衡、稳定了一些。即便如此，我们也还是连大气都不敢出。 其次，现在正值退潮——一道泛着细浪的湍流经过海湾向西流去，然后再穿过我们早晨通过的那个海峡，向南汇入大海。即便仅是些细浪而已，也对我们这超载的划子构成了威胁，但是，更为糟糕的是，我们被冲出既定的航向，偏离了小拐角后面那个理想的着陆地点。要是我们顺着湍流来的话，就会在他们那两只划子旁边靠岸，而那里随时都可能有海盗出现。 “我无法使船头对准寨子，先生，”我对船长说。当他和雷卓斯这两个未曾消耗过体力的汉子在摇桨时，我在掌着舵。“潮水一个劲儿地把船往下推，你们能不能再使点儿劲儿？” “再用劲儿就要把船弄翻了，”他说，“你必须顶住，先生，请勿见怪，你要坚持到你认为已大功告成的时候。” 我又作了一番努力，通过试验发现，要是我把船头对准东边，这股湍流就不会把我们带到西边去，也就是使船身与既定的航向成一个直角。 “照这个速度，我们永远也上不了岸。”我说。 “要是这是我们惟一可行的航向，先生，我们就得照这个来，”船长答道。“你看，先生，我们必须逆水行舟，”他接着说道，“要是一旦我们错过了那个着陆地点，很难说我们会在哪儿上岸，除非是在那两只划子边上停船，反之，照我们现在这个航向走，湍流势必是要减弱的，然后我们就可以沿着海岸退回来。” “湍流已经减弱了，先生，”那个葛雷说道，他正坐在船头板上，“你可以稍微使舵偏过来一点。” “谢谢你，兄弟。”我说，显出若无其事的样子，因为我们全都一心想把他当自己人看待。 突然，船长又开口了，而我听出他的声音有点异样。 “大炮！”他说。 “我已经想过这个了，”我说，因为我认定他想的是敌人可能会炮击寨子这码事。“他们决不会把大炮弄上岸，即使他们真的把它弄上岸了，也决不会把它拖过树林。” “向后看，医生。”船长答道。 我们把“大雪茄”忘了个一干二净；这会儿我们大吃一惊，船上那五个歹徒正围着它忙得团团转，除去它的炮衣，他们把那东西称之为“结实的油布罩子”，在航行时大炮是罩在那下面的。不仅如此，与此同时，我摹地想起，大炮用的炮弹和火药也留在船上了，只须拿把斧子劈一下，就会全落入船上那伙坏蛋的手里。“伊斯莱尔是弗林特的炮手。”葛雷哑着嗓子说道。我们奋不顾身地将船头对准了着陆地点。到目前为止，我们已经完全不受湍流左右了，只需用必要的、平稳的速度划桨，即可保持这个航向，而我也将舵掌得既稳又准了。但是最糟糕的是，在调整了航向之后，我们便将船舷而不是船尾对着了伊斯班袅拉号，为他们提供了个谷仓大门似的有发必中的靶子。 我可以听见，甚至还可以看见，那个被酒灌得满脸通红的伊斯莱尔•汉兹正扑通一声把一发炮弹放到了甲板上。 “谁是最好的射手？”船长问。 “特里罗尼先生，熗法超群。”我说。 “特里罗尼先生，劳驾你给我干掉他们中的一个好吗？可能的话，干掉伊斯莱尔•汉兹，先生。”船长说。 特里罗尼像块钢铁一般的冷静。他检查了一下他熗膛里的火药。 “喂，”船长叫道，“拿熗的时候放松些，先生，否则你会把船弄翻的。当他瞄准的时候，所有的人都到这边来，保持船身平衡。” 乡绅端起了熗，桨停了下来，我们都闪到了船的另一侧，以使船身保持平衡，一切都按部就班地如期实现了，我们连一滴水都没让进到船里来。 这时，他们正将大炮旋好位置对准我们，而正在用通条通炮口的汉兹，显然便处在了最为暴露的位置。然而，我们运气不佳，因为就在特里罗尼开熗的一刹那，他弯下了身，子弹从他的头上唿哨而过，另外四个人中的一个便应声倒地。 他的惨叫声不仅在他船上的同党中引起了反响，而且岸上也传来了一大阵吵嚷声，当我向那个方向望去的进候，只见其它的海盗正成群地从树林里出来，跌跌撞撞地登上划子。 “他们的划子过来了，先生。”我说。 “加劲划，”船长叫道，“这会儿就是船翻了我们也在所不惜。要是我们上不了岸，那就全完了。” “只有一只划子上有人，先生，”我补充道，“其它人极可能是要从岸上包抄我们，截断我们的去路。” “那也够他们跑的，先生，”船长答道。“你知道，杰克上了岸就显不出能耐了。让人担心的不是他们，倒是炮弹！我夫人的使女也不会打不中，就像在地毯上 b@ “要是我办得到，”船长说，“我会停下来再于掉他们一个。” 但是，显然什么也阻挡不了他们放炮。尽管倒下去的他们的那个同伙并没有死，我还能看到他在竭力地往旁边爬哩，可是他们对他看都不看一眼。 “准备！”乡绅叫道。 “停桨！”船长应声叫道。 接着他和雷卓斯撤身向后一坐，船的尾部就一下子没到水中了。在这同一时刻，炮声响了。这就是吉姆听到的第一声炮响，乡绅的熗声并没传到他那儿。我们谁也不知道炮弹是从哪儿飞过去的，但我猜想它一定是从我们的头顶上，而它的气浪则给我们带来了灾难。 总之，船尾是沉下去了。一点点地，直沉到水下三英尺的地方，只剩下我和船长两个站在那里面面相觑。另外那三个全都没了顶，当他们又出来时，浑身精湿，水里冒出了一大堆气泡。 至此尚未造成大的损害。人都安然无恙，我们都能平安地涉水上岸。但是，我们的物资全都沉到了水底，使事情更为糟糕的是，五支熗中只有两支尚可使用。出于某种本能，我将熗从膝上抓起举过了头，至于船长，他用一条子弹带将熗背在了肩上，并且，像一个明智的人所做的那样，熗机冲上。另外三支都和船一起沉了下去。 使我们更为担心的是，从岸上树丛中传来的人声在我们耳中是越来越近了。我们不仅面临着在磕磕绊绊地通往寨子的途中被截断去路的危险，而且还担心在我们前面，亨特和乔埃斯能否抵挡得住半打人的袭击，他们能否有这个意志。亨特是坚毅的，这我们知道；乔埃斯就不好说了——他是个讨人喜欢的、有礼貌的仆役，刷刷衣服这类的活干得蛮好，但是当一名战士却不大适合。 我们带着所有这些想法，尽快地向岸上跑去，身后撤下了那只可怜的划子，还有一大半的弹药和给养。 |
Treasure IslandChapter XVIII WE made our best speed across the strip of wood that now divided us from the stockade; and at every step we took the voices of the buccaneers rang nearer. Soon we could hear their footfalls as they ran, and the cracking of the branches as they breasted across a bit of thicket. I began to see we should have a brush for it in earnest, and looked to my priming. `Captain,' said I, `Trelawney is the dead shot. Give him your gun; his own is useless.' They exchanged guns, and Trelawney, silent and cool as he had been since the beginning of the bustle, hung a moment on his heel to see that all was fit for service. At the same time, observing Gray to be unarmed, I handed him my cutlass. It did all our hearts good to see him spit in his hand, knit his brows, and make the blade sing through the air. It was plain from every line of his body that our new hand was worth his salt. Forty paces farther we came to the edge of the wood and saw the stockade in front of us. We struck the enclosure about the middle of the south side, and, almost at the same time, seven mutineers - Job Anderson, the boatswain, at their head - appeared in full cry at the south-western corner. They paused, as if taken aback; and before they recovered, not only the squire and I, but Hunter and Joyce from the block house, had time to fire. The four shots came in rather a scattering volley; but they did the business: one of the enemy actually fell, and the rest, without hesitation, turned and plunged into the trees. After reloading, we walked down the outside of the palisade to see the fallen enemy. He was stone dead - shot through the heart. We began to rejoice over our good success, when just at that moment a pistol cracked in the bush, a ball whistled close past my ear, and poor Tom Redruth stumbled and fell his length on the ground. Both the squire and I returned the shot; but as we had nothing to aim at, it is probable we only wasted powder. Then we reloaded, and turned our attention to poor Tom. The captain and Gray were already examining him; and I saw with half an eye that all was over. I believe the readiness of our return volley had scattered the mutineers once more, for we were suffered without further molestation to get the poor old gamekeeper hoisted over the stockade, and carried, groaning and bleeding, into the log-house. Poor old fellow, he had not uttered one word of surprise, complaint, fear, or even acquiescence, from the very beginning of our troubles till now, when we had laid him down in the log-house to die. He had lain like a Trojan behind his mattress in the gallery; he had followed every order silently doggedly, and well; he was the oldest of our party by a score of years; and now, sullen, old, serviceable servant, it was he that was to die. The squire dropped down beside him on his knees and kissed his hand, crying like a child. `Be I going, doctor?' he asked. `Tom, my man,' said I, `you're going home.' `I wish I had had a lick at them with the gun first,' he replied. `Tom,' said the squire, `say you forgive me, won't you?' `Would that be respectful like, from me to you, squire?' was the answer. `Howsoever, so be it, amen!' After a little while of silence, he said he thought somebody might read a prayer. `It's the custom, sir,' he added apologetically. And not long after, without another word, he passed away. In the meantime the captain, whom I had observed to be wonderfully swollen about the chest and pockets, had turned out a great many various stores - the British colours, a Bible a coil of stoutish rope, pen, ink, the log-book, and pounds of tobacco. He had found a longish fir-tree lying felled an trimmed in the enclosure, and, with the help of Hunter, he had set it up at the corner of the log-house where the trunks crossed and made an angle. Then, climbing on the roof, he had with his own hand bent and run up the colours. This seemed mightily to relieve him. He re-entered the log-house, and set about counting up the stores, as if nothing else existed. But he had an eye on Tom's passage for all that; and as soon as all was over, came forward with another flag, and reverently spread it on the body. `Don't you take on, sir,' he said, shaking the squire's hand. `All's well with him; no fear for a hand that's been shot down in his duty to captain and owner. It mayn't be good divinity, but it's a fact.' Then he pulled me aside. `Dr Livesey,' he said, `in how many weeks do you and squire expect the consort?' I told him it was a question, not of weeks, but of months; that if we were not back by the end of August, Blandly was to send to find us; but neither sooner nor later. `You can calculate for yourself,' I said. `Why, yes,' returned the captain, scratching his head, `and making a large allowance, sir, for all the gifts of Providence, I should say we were pretty close hauled.' `How do you mean?' I asked. `It's a pity, sir, we lost that second load. That's what I mean,' replied the captain. `As for powder and shot, we'll do. But the rations are short, very short - so short, Dr Livesey, that we're, perhaps, as well without that extra mouth.' And he pointed to the dead body under the flag. Just then, with a roar and a whistle, a round-shot passed high above the roof of the log-house and plumped far beyond us in the wood. `Oho!' said the captain. `Blaze away! You've little enough powder already my lads.' At the second trial, the aim was better, and the ball descended inside the stockade, scattering a cloud of sand, but doing no further damage. `Captain,' said the squire, `the house is quite invisible from the ship. It must be the flag they are aiming at. Would it not be wiser to take it in?' `Strike my colours!' cried the captain. `No, sir, not I;' and as soon as he had said the words, I think we all agreed with him. For it was not only a piece of stout, seamanly, good feeling; it was good policy besides, and showed our enemies that we despised their cannonade. All through the evening they kept thundering away. Ball after ball flew over or fell short, or kicked up the sand in the enclosure; but they had to fire so high that the shot fell dead and buried itself in the soft sand. We had no ricochet to fear; and though one popped in through the roof of the log-house and out again through the floor, we soon got used to that sort of horse-play, and minded it no more than cricket. `There is one thing good about all this,' observed the captain; `the wood in front of us is likely clear. The ebb has made a good while; our stores should be uncovered. Volunteers to go and bring in pork.' Gray and Hunter were the first to come forward. Well armed, they stole out of the stockade; but it proved a useless mission. The mutineers were bolder than we fancied, or they put more trust in Israel's gunnery. For four or five of the were busy carrying off our stores, and wading out with the to one of the gigs that lay close by, pulling an oar on so hold her steady against the current. Silver was in the stern-sheets in command; and every man of them was now provided with a musket from some secret magazine of their own.' The captain sat down to his log, and here is the beginning of the entry:-- `Alexander Smollett, master; David Livesey, ship's doctor; Abraham Gray, carpenter's mate; John Trelawney, owner; John Hunter and Richard Joyce, owner's servant, landsmen - being all that is left faithful of the ship's company - with stores for ten days at short rations, came ashore this day, and flew British colours on the log-house in Treasure Island. Thomas Redruth, owner's servant landsman, shot by the mutineers; James Hawkins, cabin-boy--' And at the same time I was wondering over poor Jim Hawkins's fate. A hail on the land side. `Somebody hailing us,' said Hunter, who was on guard. `Doctor! squire! captain! Hullo, Hunter, is that you?' came the cries. And I ran to the door in time to see Jim Hawkins, safe and sound, come climbing over the stockade. 宝岛十八 第一天战斗的结果 （仍由医生进行追述） 我们以最快的速度穿越了隔在我们和寨子之间的那片丛林。我们每前进一步，海盗们的吵嚷声也就更近一步。很快我们就能听到他们奔跑的脚步声，以及他们横冲直撞时林中树枝的断裂声。 我开始意识到我们就要打一场遭遇战了，于是便检查了我的熗膛。 “船长，”我说，“特里罗尼是个神熗手。把你的熗给他，他自己的报废了。” 他们交换了熗支。特里罗尼，自从出乱子时起就一直保持着沉默和冷静，现在仍然如此，他停住片刻，从头到尾检查了一遍他的武器。与此同时，我注意到葛雷没有武器，于是便把我的弯刀递给了他。我们所有的人看到他往手上啐了口唾沫，拧紧眉毛，将弯刀舞得呼呼生风的样子都大为高兴。从他身体各方面看，显而易见，我们这个新伙计决不是个孬种。 又向前跑了四十步，我们来到了林子的边缘，看到寨子就在我们前面。我们从南边栅栏的中央处接近寨子，几乎与此同时，以水手长乔布•安德森为首的七个反叛分子叫嚣着从寨子的西南角出现了。 他们停了一下，似乎要往回退，在他们恢复神智以前，不仅乡绅和我，还有木屋里的亨特和乔埃斯都抓住时机开了熗。四声熗响合成了一阵零乱的扫射，但是弹未虚发，其中的一个敌人倒了下去，而其余那些人则毫不犹豫地转身向林中逃去。 在将子弹重新上膛后，我们沿着寨子边向下走去，查看一下倒地的那个敌人。他已经断了气——子弹穿过了他的心脏。 我们正为战果而欢呼时，就在这一刹那间，一颗子弹随着一声熗响从我的耳畔呼啸而过，接着可怜的汤姆•雷卓斯便踉跄着直挺挺地倒在了地上。乡绅和我两人都进行了回击，但是由于我们没有目标可供瞄准，也就差不多等于是白费了弹药。然后我们又重新装好了火药，这才将注意力转到可怜的汤姆身上。 船长和葛雷已经在查看他的伤势了，我大致看了一眼心中便已明白，他是没救了。 我想是我们有准备的回击再次使反叛分子溃散了，因为在我们将可怜的猎场老总管托过木栅、抬进木屋时，再没受到骚扰；而在这一道上，他一直呻吟着、流着血。 自从我们遇到麻烦到现在，可怜的老伙计连一句表示惊奇、抱怨、恐惧、甚或默认的话也没有，而这会儿我们把他安置到木屋里等死，他也依旧无话。他曾经用一块垫子掩护着，像个特洛伊人似地把守着过道；他曾经默默地、忠实地、而且是出色地执行了每道命令；他是我们这些人中年岁最大的一个，比我们大了二十岁；而今，正是这位沉默的、年长的忠仆要与世长辞了。 乡绅跪在他身边吻着他的手，哭得像个孩子。 “我要去了吗，医生？”他问道。 “汤姆，我的朋友，”我说，“你要回家去了。” “我但愿我是第一个打中他们的。”他答道。 “汤姆，”乡绅说，“你愿意说宽恕我吗，愿意吗？” “要我宽恕你，这合乎礼仪吗，先生？”这是答话，“不管怎样，就这么的吧，阿门！” 沉默了片刻之后，他说他想有人给他读上段祈祷文。“那是规矩，先生。”他补充道，带着歉疚。过不多久，他再没说什么就咽了气。 在此期间，船长从我早就注意到的鼓鼓的胸前和口袋里掏出了一堆各式各样的物件——英国国旗、一本《圣经》、一卷粗绳、钢笔、墨水、航海日志，还有几磅烟草。他在栅栏内找到了一棵砍好并削去枝条的长枞树干，在亨特的帮助下，把它竖在了木屋角上树干互相交叉的地方。然后他又爬上了屋顶，亲手拴系好国旗并将它升了起来。 这似乎使他减轻了痛苦。他又返身回到了木屋里，着手去清点那些物资，好像旁的一切都不存在了似的。其实他一直在留心着临终前的汤姆。而当一切都料理完的时候，他拿着另一面国旗走上前去，虔诚地将它覆盖在尸体上面。 “不要再这样了，先生，”他说，一边握着乡绅的手，“他是为履行船长和船主赋予他的职责而死的，死得其所。这也许不太合乎教义的精神，但这是事实。” 然后他把我拉到了一旁。 “利弗西医生，”他说，“你和乡绅指望的那艘接应的船几时能来？” 我告诉他这还是个问题，不是几周的事，而是几个月后的事。要是我们在八月底之前没有返回的话，布兰德利就派人来找我们。但是既不会太早，也不会太晚，刚刚在那时。“你自己可以计算一下。”我说。 “啊，对的，”船长搔着脑袋答道，“即使把天赐的一切都考虑进去，我看我们的处境还是危险哪。” “你指什么？”我问道。 “我们丢掉了第二船物资实在可惜，先生。我指的就是这个，”船长答道。“至于说弹药，我们还不成问题。但是口粮短缺——非常的短缺——如此的短缺，利弗西医生，我们也许，少掉一张嘴，也好。” 说着，他指了指旗下面的尸体。 正在这时，轰隆一声过后，一颗炮弹呼啸着从我们的木屋上高高飞过，落到我们远处的树林里爆炸了。 “哦嗬！”船长说，“接着打吧！你们的火药没多点儿了，小家伙们。” 第二次炮弹发射得准了点，落到了栅栏里面，扬起了一片沙土，但是没造成更大的破坏。 “船长，”乡绅说，“船上怎么也看不到这屋子，他们一定是瞄准了那面旗。把它降下来是否更明智些？” “降我的旗！”船长叫道。“不，先生，我不会这么做”；他刚说完这句话，我就知道我们都一致赞同他。因为它不仅是一种顽强的。海员式的、美好的感情的体现者，此外它还是一个高明的策略，告诉我们的敌人，我们没把他们的炮击放在眼里。 整个晚上，他们不断地轰着大炮。炮弹一个接一个地落下来，不是太远，就是太近，或者只是在栅栏里卷起一片尘土；他们不得不发射得很高，以致于炮弹落下时埋进松软的沙土里，灭了火。我们对流弹没啥好怕的，尽管有一发炮弹从木屋顶上溜进来又从地板底下钻了出去。我们很快就习惯了这吵人的玩意，对它的注意，不会比板球更多一点。 “这当中倒有件好事，”船长边观察边说，“我们前面林子里的敌人可能已被炮弹清理干净了，潮水也已退去很久了，我们的物资也该露出水面了，有谁自告奋勇去把腌肉弄回来？” 葛雷和亨特一马当先。他们全副武装地偷偷溜出寨子；但事实证明这次行动是徒劳无功的。反叛分子比我们想象的更为大胆，或者是他们过于信任伊斯莱尔的炮术。因为他们中有四、五个人正忙着拖走我们的物资，并且涉水把它们装到其中的一个划子上，这只划子就停在近旁，里面的人不时划两下桨，以使它在湍流中保持稳定。西尔弗正在船尾板上指挥着，而现在，他们中的每一个人都从他们的秘密军火库里弄到了一支火熗。 船长坐下来写航海日志，这里是所记内容的开头部分： “亚历山大•斯莫列特，船长；大卫•利弗西，随船医生；亚伯拉罕•葛雷，木匠助手；约翰•特里罗尼，船主；约翰•亨特和理查德•乔埃斯，船主的仆人，未出过海的新手——以上是船上剩下的全体忠实的船员——今天带着短缺的、仅够维持十天的口粮上岸，并使英国国旗在宝岛的木屋上空飘扬了起来。托马斯•雷卓斯，船主的仆人，未出过海的新手，被反叛分子击毙；詹姆斯•霍金斯，客舱侍应生——” 在这个时候，我正为可怜的吉姆•霍金斯的安危担忧呢，从陆地那边儿便传来了一声呼唤。 “有人在喊我们。”亨特说，他正在放哨。 “医生！乡绅！船长！喂，亨特，那是你吗？”那声音接连喊道。 我跑到了门口，恰好看见吉姆•霍金斯从木栅上面翻过来，平安无恙。 |
Treasure IslandChapter XIX AS soon as Benn Gunn saw the colours he came to a halt stopped me by the arm, and sat down. `Now,' said he, `there's your friends, sure enough.' `Far more likely it's the mutineers,' I answered. `That!' he cried. `Why, in a place like this, where nobody puts in but gen'lemen of fortune, Silver would fly the Jolly Roger, you don't make no doubt of that. No; that's your friends. There's been blows, too, and I reckon your friends has had the best of it; and here they are ashore in the old stockade, as was made years and years ago by Flint. Ah, he was the man to have a headpiece, was Flint! Barring rum, his match were never seen. He were afraid of none, not he; on'y Silver - Silver was that genteel.' `Well,' said I, `that may be so, and so be it; all the more reason that I should hurry on and join my friends.' `Nay, mate,' returned Ben, `not you. you're a good boy or I'm mistook; but you're on'y a boy, all told. Now, Ben Gunn is fly. Rum wouldn't bring me there, where you're going - not rum wouldn't I, till I see your born gen'leman and gets it on his word of honour. And you won't forget my words: ``A precious sight (that's what you'll say), precious sight more confidence'' - and then nips him.' And he pinched me the third time with the same air of cleverness. `And when Ben Gunn is wanted, you know where to find him, Jim. Just wheer you found him to-day. And him that comes is to have a white thing in his hand: and he's to come alone. Oh! and you'll say this: ``Ben Gunn,'' says you, ``has reasons of his own.''' `Well,' said I, `I believe I understand. You have something to propose, and you wish to see the squire or the doctor; ant you're to be found where I found you. Is that all?' `And when? says you,' he added. `Why, from about noon observation to about six bells.' `Good,' said I, `and now may I go?' `You won't forget?' he inquired, anxiously. `Precious sight, and reasons of his own, says you. Reasons of his own; that's the mainstay; as between man and man. Well, then' - still holding me - `I reckon you can go, Jim. And, Jim, if you was to see Silver, you wouldn't go for to sell Ben Gunn? wild horses wouldn't draw it from you? No, says you. And if them pirates camp ashore, Jim, what would you say but there'd be widders in the morning?' Here he was interrupted by a loud report, and a cannon-ball came tearing through the trees and pitched in the sand, not a hundred yards from where we two were talking. The next moment each of us had taken to his heels in a different direction. For a good hour to come frequent reports shook the island, and balls kept crashing through the woods. I moved from hiding-place to hiding-place, always pursued, or so it seemed to me, by these terrifying missiles. But towards the end of the bombardment, though still I durst not venture in the direction of the stockade, where the balls fell oftenest, I had begun, in a manner, to pluck up my heart again; and after a long detour to the east, crept down among the shore-side trees. The sun had just set, the sea breeze was rustling and tumbling in the woods, and ruffling the grey surface of the anchorage; the tide, too, was far out, and great tracts of sand lay uncovered; the air, after the heat of the day, chilled me through my jacket. The Hispaniola still lay where she had anchored; but, sure enough, there was the Jolly Roger - the black flag of piracy - flying from her peak. Even as I looked, there came another red flash and another report, that sent the echoes clattering, and one more round-shot whistled through the air. It was the last of the cannonade. I lay for some time, watching the bustle which succeeded the attack. Men were demolishing something with axes on the beach near the stockade; the poor jolly-boat, I afterwards discovered. Away, near the mouth of the river, a great fire was glowing among the trees, and between that point and the ship one of the gigs kept coming and going, the men, whom I had seen so gloomy, shouting at the oars like children. But there was a sound in their voices which suggested rum. At length I thought I might return towards the stockade. I was pretty far down on the low, sandy spit that encloses the anchorage to the east, and is joined at half-water to Skeleton Island; and now, as I rose to my feet, I saw, some distance further down the spit, and rising from among low bushes, an isolated rock, pretty high, and peculiarly white in colour. It occurred to me that this might be the white rock of which Ben Gunn had spoken, and that some day or other a boat might be wanted, and I should know where to look for one. Then I skirted among the woods until I had regained the rear, or shoreward side, of the stockade, and was soon warmly welcomed by the faithful party. I had soon told my story, and began to look about me. The log-house was made of unsquared trunks of pine-roof, walls, and floor. The latter stood in several places as much as a foot or a foot and a half above the surface of the sand. There was a porch at the door, and under this porch the little spring welled up into an artificial basin of a rather odd kind - no other than a great ship's kettle of iron, with the bottom knocked out, and sunk `to her bearings,' as the captain said, among the sand. Little had been left beside the framework of the house; but in one corner there was a stone slab laid down by way of hearth, and an old rusty iron basket to contain the fire. The slopes of the knoll and all the inside of the stockade had been cleared of timber to build the house, and we could see by the stumps what a fine and lofty grove had been destroyed. Most of the soil had been washed away or buried in drift after the removal of the trees; only where the streamlet ran down from the kettle a thick bed of moss and some ferns and little creeping bushes were still green among the sand. Very close around the stockade - too close for defence, they said - the wood still flourished high and dense, all of fir on the land side, but towards the sea with a large admixture of live-oaks. The cold evening breeze, of which I have spoken, whistled through every chink of the rude building, and sprinkled the floor with a continual rain of fine sand. There was sand in our eyes, sand in our teeth, sand in our suppers, sand dancing in the spring at the bottom of the kettle, for all the world like porridge beginning to boil. Our chimney was a square hole in the roof; it was but a little part of the smoke that found its way out, and the rest eddied about the house, and kept us coughing and piping the eye. Add to this that Gray, the new man, had his face tied up in a bandage for a cut he had got in breaking away from the mutineers; and that poor old Tom Redruth, still unburied, lay along the wall, stiff and stark, under the Union Jack. If we had been allowed to sit idle, we should all have fallen in the blues but Captain Smollett was never the man for that. All hands were called up before him, and he divided us into watches. The doctor, and Gray, and I, for one; the squire, Hunter, and Joyce, upon the other. Tired though we all were, two were sent out for firewood; two more were set to dig a grave for Redruth; the doctor was named cook; I was put sentry at the door; and the captain himself went from one to another, keeping up our spirits and lending a hand wherever it was wanted. From time to time the doctor came to the door for a little air and to rest his eyes, which were almost smoked out of his head; and whenever he did so, he had a word for me. `That man Smollett,' he said once, `is a better man than I am. And when I say that it means a deal, Jim.' Another time he came and was silent for a while. Then he put his head on one side, and looked at me. `Is this Ben Gunn a man?' he asked. `I do not know, sir,' said I. `I am not very sure whether he's sane.' `If there's any doubt about the matter, he is,' returned the doctor. `A man who has been three years biting his nails on a desert island, Jim, can't expect to appear as sane as you or me. It doesn't lie in human nature. Was it cheese you said he had a fancy for?' `Yes, sir, cheese,' I answered. `Well, Jim,' says he, `just see the good that comes of being dainty in your food. You've seen my snuff- box, haven't you? And you never saw me take snuff; the reason being that in my snuff-box I carry a piece of Parmesan cheese - a cheese made in Italy, very nutritious. Well, that's for Ben Gunn!' Before supper was eaten we buried old Tom in the sand and stood round him for a while bareheaded in the breeze. A good deal of firewood had been got in, but not enough for the captain's fancy; and he shook his head over it, and told us we `must get back to this to-morrow rather livelier.' Then when we had eaten our pork, and each had a good stiff glass of brandy grog, the three chiefs got together in a corner to discuss our prospects. It appears they were at their wits' end what to do, the store being so low that we must have been starved into surrender long before help came. But our best hope, it was decided, was to kill off the buccaneers until they either hauled down their flag or ran away with the Hispaniola. From nineteen they were already reduced to fifteen, two others were wounded, and one at least - the man shot beside the gun - severely wounded if he were not dead. Every time we had a crack at them, we were to take it, saving our own lives, with the extremest care. And, besides that, we had two able allies - rum and the climate. As for the first, though we were about half a mile away, we could hear them roaring and singing late into the night; and as for the second, the doctor staked his wig that, camped where they were in the marsh, and unprovided with remedies, the half of them would be on their backs before a week. `So,' he added, `if we are not all shot down first they'll be glad to be packing in the schooner. It's always a ship, and they can get to buccaneering again, I suppose.' `First ship that ever I lost,' said Captain Smollett. I was dead tired, as you may fancy; and when I got to sleep which was not till after a great deal of tossing, I slept like log of wood. The rest had long been up, and had already breakfasted and increased the pile of firewood by about half as much again, when I was wakened by a bustle and the sound of voices. `Flag of truce!' I heard someone say; and then, immediately after, with a cry of surprise, `Silver himself!' And, at that, up I jumped, and, rubbing my eyes, ran to a loophole in the wall. 宝岛十九 驻守寨子的人们 （由吉姆•霍金斯重新开始叙述） 本•葛恩一看到国旗就停下了脚步，还拉着我的胳膊叫我也停下来，并且还坐了下来。 “喂，”他说，“那边肯定是你的朋友们了。” “更像是那些反叛分子。”我说。 “他们！”他叫道，“怎么会？在这么块除了幸运的大爷谁也不会来的地方，西尔弗一定会挂骷髅旗的，这一点毫无疑问。不，那是你的朋友们。刚刚发生过交锋，我敢肯定，你的朋友们占了上风，这会儿他们正在岸上那个老寨子里，那是很多很多年以前弗林特修建的。啊，弗林特他真是个有头脑的人物！除了好酗酒外，没谁能与之匹敌。他真是什么都不怕；只有西尔弗例外——西尔弗这个伪君子。” “好吧，”我说，“可能是这样，而真是这样的话，我更得赶紧去跟我的朋友们会合了。” “不，朋友，”本答道，“你先别忙着走。你是个好孩子，我不会看走眼的，但是你毕竟只是个孩子，听着，本•葛恩可不是个容易上当的人。郎姆酒也休想把我带到你去的那个地方——郎姆酒也休想，除非我亲自见到你们那个真正的绅士，并且得到了他的保证。你可不要忘了我跟你说的那些话！‘对真正的绅士绝对信任（记着说），绝对信任’——然后别忘了再捏他一下。” 说着，他仍带着那种俏皮的神情捏了我一下，这是第三下了。 “而当你用得着本•葛恩的时候，你知道到哪儿找他，就在今天你发现他的地方。来人手里要拿上一件自东西，而且他还得一个人来。噢！你还得说这个：‘本•葛恩’，你得说，‘这样要求自有他的道理。’” “好吧，我说，”我想我明白。“你有些主意要提出来，而且你想面见乡绅或是医生；在我发现你的地方可以找到你。就这些吧？” “什么时候呢？你说，”他又加上一句，“这样吧，就从正午时分到钟敲六下。” “好的，”我说，“现在我可以走了吧？” “你不会忘了吧？”他有些焦虑地询问道，“绝对信任，还有自有他的道理，你得说。自有他的道理，这句是主要的；就像男子汉对男子汉那样。嗯，好吧，”——他仍拉着我——“我肯定你可以走了，吉姆。但是，吉姆，要是你遇见西尔弗的话，该不会把本•葛恩给出卖了吧？就是野马拖着你也不会吧？你说决不呀。要是他们在岸上宿营，第二天早上他们的老婆就会变成寡妇，吉姆你信不信？” 正在这时，一声巨响打断了他的话，接着，一颗炮弹穿过丛林落到了沙地上，离我们谈话的地方还不到一百码远。我们俩立刻朝着不同的方向拔脚就跑。 整整一个钟头的工夫，频繁的炮声震撼着这个岛，炮弹接连不断地穿过丛林，这些炮弹就像长了眼睛似地跟踪着我，逼得我东躲西藏。在炮击临近结束的时候，我虽然还是不敢冒险向炮弹落得最密集的寨子的方向跑，但是我多少又重新鼓起了勇气，向东经过一段很长的迂回，向岸边的树林摸去。 太阳刚刚落下去，海风飒飒地掠过树林，吹动着锚地灰色的水面；潮水也远远地退下去了，露出了一大片沙滩；在白天的炎热消退之后，冷空气透过我的外衣侵袭着我的肌肤。 伊斯班袅拉号仍然泊在锚地，但是它的桅顶上果真飘着面骷髅旗——黑地子的海盗旗。就在我张望的时候，红光一闪，接着又是一声巨响，激起了四面回声，这是又一颗炮弹呼啸着从空中飞过。这是最后的一次炮击。 我在地上趴了一会儿，观望着炮击之后海盗们的忙碌。在离寨子不远的岸上，那些人正用斧子砍着什么东西——稍后我才发现，原来是那只可怜的划子。而在靠近河口的地方，在树林里正燃着一堆篝火，同时，在岸线上的小拐角与大海之间，他们的一只划于在来回往返，上面的那些人，上午我见他们还是脸色阴沉的样子，这会儿却高兴得像个孩子似的大吵大叫。但是从他们的声音可以听得出来，大概是郎姆酒起了作用。 最后，我想可以朝寨子的方向返回了。眼下我所处的地方是向东环抱锚地、伸入海中相当远的一个沙尖嘴，它半没人水中与骷髅岛相连。现在，当我起身的时候，我看到在沙尖嘴下面更远的地方矗立着一堵孤零零的岩壁，它位于低矮的灌木丛中，相当高，颜色特别自。我马上想到这可能就是本•葛恩谈到的那块白岩石，而说不定哪天真用得上那条小船，那我就知道到哪去找了。 后来我就沿着树林的边缘往回走，一直走到寨子的后方，也就是向着陆地的一面，于是很快便受到了那帮忠实的朋友的热烈欢迎。 很快我就讲完了我的经历，然后便开始打量起四周来。木屋是由未锯方的松树树干钉成的，包括屋顶、四壁以及地板。地板有几处高出沙地表面一英尺或一英尺半。门口有个门廊，门廊下，有一股细泉向上涌人一个相当古怪的人工蓄水池里——不是别的，而是只船用大铁锅，底儿被敲掉了，埋到沙地里，正如船长所说，“齐吃水线”。 这屋子除了构架外，里面几乎空空荡荡，但是在一个角落里，有一块石板，摆放成炉床的样子，还有只陈旧生锈的铁篓子，装柴禾生火用。 小丘的斜坡上和寨子里面的树全部被伐掉，用于修建木屋了，从残留下来的树桩我们可以看出，一片多么好、多么繁茂的林子被毁掉了。在树木被搬走以后，大部分土壤不是被雨水冲走就是埋成了堆，只在那细泉从锅中溢出后形成的细流边上，有一块厚密的苗床，上面长着些苔藓、羊齿植物和蔓延在地面上的小灌木丛，仍然在这沙地上摇曳着一片碧绿。紧紧环绕在寨子周围的那片树林——他们说作为防御工事是太近了——仍然长得高大茂盛，靠陆地这边全都是枞树，而朝向海滩的那边则是大片枞树与长生橡树的混生林。 我已经提到过的那凉飕飕的晚风，从这草草钉成的房子的每一个缝隙里钻进来，在地板上持续不断地喷洒着沙雨。我们的眼睛里是沙子，牙齿里是沙子，晚饭里是沙子，沙子还在锅底的泉水中跳着舞，整个就像快要烧开的麦片粥一样。我们的烟囱是屋顶的一个方洞，它只能让一小部分烟出去，而其余大部分烟还憋在屋子里，呛得我们一边咳嗽一边淌眼泪。 此外再说说这个葛雷，我们的新伙计，他的脸上缠着绷带，因为他在同反叛分子决裂时挨了一刀；而那个可怜的老汤姆•雷卓斯，还没有被埋掉，直挺挺地靠墙躺着，身上覆盖着那面国旗。 要是我们被允许闲坐着的话，我们早就会都唉声叹气的了，但是斯莫列特这个人决不会允许出现这种情况。所有的人手都被召集到了他面前，他分派我们轮流值班守卫。医生，葛雷，还有我，是一组；乡绅，亨特，还有乔埃斯，是另一组。我们全都累了，可还是两个被派出去砍柴，两个着手为雷卓斯挖墓，医生被安排做厨子，我在门口放哨，而船长他本人则从一处走到另一处，不停地给我们打气，哪里用得上就帮一把。 医生一次又一次地走到门口来换换空气，休息休息他的眼睛，因为他被烟熏得头昏脑胀的，而每次他过来的时候，总是跟我说句话。 “斯莫列特那个，人，”有一次他说，“比我强，而我这么说是有事实依据的，吉姆。” 又一次，他过来后沉默半晌，然后把头侧向一边看着我。 “本•葛恩算条汉子吧？”他问。 “我不知道，先生，”我说，“我不能肯定他是否精神正常。” “要是你只是有点怀疑的话，那他就是正常的，”医生答道。“一个人在荒岛上呆了三年，除了啃指甲外无事可干，吉姆，我们不能指望他像你我一样清醒的。这不合乎人类的本性。你说他一心想吃干酪？” “是的，先生，是干酪。”我答道。 “好吧，吉姆，”他说，“看看可口的食物给你带来的好处吧。你见过我的鼻烟盒，是不是？可是你从未见过我闻鼻烟，因为在那鼻烟盒里面，我放了块巴马干酪——一种意大利产的干酪，非常的滋补。好啦，它归本•葛恩啦！” 晚饭前，我们在沙地上埋葬了老汤姆，在风中，我们脱帽肃立在他周围片刻。柴禾已经砍了很多了，可是船长还嫌少，他还摇了摇头，然后对我们说“明天得加把劲多弄些回来。”然后，当我们吃了腌肉，又每个人来了杯上好的白兰地后，三个头头便聚在角落里商讨起我们的前景来。 看上去他们似乎一筹莫展了，储存的食品太少了，在接应船到来之前，我们就会饿死。但是我们最大的希望莫过于歼灭海盗，直到他们降下骷髅旗，或是驾着伊斯班袅拉号跑掉，这一点是可以肯定的。他们已从十九人减少到十五人，其中有两个受了伤，还有一个至少是重伤——在火炮旁边被打中的——要是还没死的话。我们每次同他们交锋，都得极其小心，顾及自身的安全。而且此外我们有两个得力的盟友——郎姆酒和气候。 说到前者，虽然离了有半英里远，我们也能听得见他们连叫带唱直到深夜。说到后者，医生敢拿他的假发打赌，他们在沼泽地里宿营，又缺医少药，不出一星期，他们就得有一半人病倒。 “所以，”他补充道，“只要我们不先被干掉，他们会乐于驾驶着帆船逃之夭夭的。它毕竟是条船，我猜想，他们还会回到海上重操旧业，当起海盗来的。” “那是我丢的第一艘船。”斯莫列特船长说。 我死累死累的，你可以想象得到，在经历了这样一番折腾后，我一倒下便睡得像根木头了。 当我被一声熗响和说话声吵醒时，别人早就起来了，已经吃过了早饭，还抱了比昨天多了一半的柴禾回来。 “白旗！”我听见有人说。接着，很快又是一声惊叫，“西尔弗本人！” 听到这个，我一跃而起，使劲揉了揉眼睛，跑到了墙上的一个射击孔前。 |
