福爾摩斯探案集·血字的研究 第69期:逃命(8)

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With unerring instinct Jefferson Hope picked his way among the great boulders and along the bed of a dried-up watercourse,

侯波憑著他毫無差錯(cuò)的本領(lǐng)，在一堆亂石之中拾路前進(jìn)，

until he came to the retired corner screened with rocks, where the faithful animals had been picketed.

他沿著一條干涸了的小溪來到一個(gè)山石屏障著的平靜所在。三匹忠心的騾、馬都拴在那里。

The girl was placed upon the mule, and old Ferrier upon one of the horses, with his money-bag,

露茜騎上一匹騾子。老費(fèi)瑞厄帶著他的錢袋，騎上了一騎馬。

while Jefferson Hope led the other along the precipitous and dangerous path.

杰弗遜·侯波騎著另外一匹，沿著險(xiǎn)峻的山道,引導(dǎo)著他們前進(jìn)。

It was a bewildering route for anyone who was not accustomed to face Nature in her wildest moods.

對于任何不熟悉大自然赤裸裸的面目的人來說，這種崎嶇山路定會使他們驚駭卻步的。

On the one side a great crag towered up a thousand feet or more, black, stern, and menacing, with long basaltic columns upon its rugged surface like the ribs of some petrified monster.

山路的一邊是絕壁千丈，山石嵯峨，黑壓壓岌岌可危；絕壁上一條條的石梁，就象魔鬼化石身上的一根根肋骨一樣。

On the other hand a wild chaos of boulders and debris made all advance impossible.

另一邊則是亂石縱橫，無路可走。

Between the two ran the irregular tracks, so narrow in places that they had to travel in Indian file, and so rough that only practised riders could have traversed it at all.

在這中間，只有這條曲曲彎彎的小道。有些地方十分狹窄，只容單人通過。山路崎嶇難行，只有長于騎馬的人才能通過。

Yet, in spite of all dangers and difficulties, the hearts of the fugitives were light within them,

盡管有這許多困難，但是，這幾個(gè)逃亡者的心情卻是愉快的，

for every step increased the distance between them and the terrible despotism from which they were flying.

因?yàn)樗麄兦斑M(jìn)一步，也就和他們剛剛逃出來的那個(gè)暴政橫行之所在遠(yuǎn)離了一步。

They soon had a proof, however, that they were still within the jurisdiction of the Saints.

但是，他們不久便發(fā)現(xiàn)了，他們?nèi)匀贿€沒有逃出摩門教徒的勢力范圍。

They had reached the very wildest and most desolate portion of the pass when the girl gave a startled cry, and pointed upwards.

當(dāng)他們來到山路中最為荒涼的地段時(shí)，露茜突然驚叫了起來，用手向上指著。

On a rock which overlooked the track, showing out dark and plain against the sky, there stood a solitary sentinel.

原來有一塊俯臨山路的巖石，在天光襯托之下顯得非常黯黑而單調(diào)，巖石上孤零零地站著一個(gè)防哨。

He saw them as soon as they perceived him, and his military challenge of "Who goes there?" rang through the silent ravine.

他們發(fā)覺他的時(shí)候，他也看見了他們。于是，靜靜的山谷里響起了一聲部隊(duì)上的吆喝聲："誰在那里走動？"

"Travellers for Nevada," said Jefferson Hope, with his hand upon the rifle which hung by his saddle.

"是往內(nèi)華達(dá)去的旅客。"杰弗遜·侯波應(yīng)聲答道，一面握住鞍旁的來復(fù)槍。

They could see the lonely watcher fingering his gun, and peering down at them as if dissatisfied at their reply.

他們可以看見，這個(gè)孤單的防哨手指扣著扳機(jī)，向下瞧著他們，似乎對他們的回答感到不滿意。

"By whose permission?" he asked.

哨兵又叫道，"是誰準(zhǔn)許的？"

"The Holy Four," answered Ferrier.

費(fèi)瑞厄回答說："四圣準(zhǔn)許的。"

His Mormon experiences had taught him that that was the highest authority to which he could refer.

根據(jù)他在摩門教中的經(jīng)驗(yàn)，就他所知，教中最高的權(quán)威就是四圣。

"Nine to seven," cried the sentinel.

哨兵叫道："九到七。"

"Seven to five," returned Jefferson Hope promptly, remembering the countersign which he had heard in the garden.

"七到五。"杰弗遜·侯波馬上回答說，他想起了他在花園中聽到的這句口令。

"Pass, and the Lord go with you," said the voice from above.

上面的人說："過去吧，上帝保佑你們。"

Beyond his post the path broadened out, and the horses were able to break into a trot.

過了這一關(guān)后，前面的道路就寬闊起來了，馬匹可以放開腳步，小跑前進(jìn)了。

Looking back, they could see the solitary watcher leaning upon his gun, and knew that they had passed the outlying post of the chosen people, and that freedom lay before them.

回過頭來，他們還能看見那個(gè)防哨，倚著他的槍支，孤零零地站在那里。這時(shí)，他們知道，他們已經(jīng)闖過了摩門教區(qū)的邊防要隘，自由就在前面了。