10 Inside the stockade
10 在寨子里
We followed the noise of the fighting and came to a hill.There stood a strong wooden house,big enough for forty people,and with holes for guns on every side.All around the house was a wide open piece of land;and around that was a fence,two metres high,with no doors or openings,and too strong to pull down easily.
我們循著槍聲來(lái)到一座小山前。那兒有一座堅(jiān)固的木頭房子,可以容得下40人,每一面墻都有射擊孔。房子四周是一片開(kāi)闊地,還有一圈圍欄,兩米高,沒(méi)有出入口,很堅(jiān)固而且不易拉倒。
As soon as Ben Gunn saw the English flag flying over thehouse,he said,‘There are your friends.’
本·葛恩一看見(jiàn)木屋上飄著的英國(guó)旗就對(duì)我說(shuō):“你的朋友在那里。”
‘More likely to be the pirates,’I answered.
“更有可能是那幫海盜,”我說(shuō)。
‘Silver would put up the pirate's flag,the Jolly Roger,’said Ben.‘No,there's been a fight,and your friends have won.They're inside the stockade that Flint made years ago.’
“西爾弗一定會(huì)掛他們海盜的骷髏旗,”本·葛恩說(shuō)。“剛才他們打了一仗,你的朋友獲勝了。他們正在弗林特幾年前建的寨子里。”
‘Then I must hurry and join them,’I said.
“那我得趕快去和我的朋友們會(huì)合,”我說(shuō)。
He wouldn't come with me.‘I won't come until you've seen your gentleman and got his promise.You know where to find me,Jim.And if the pirates sleep on shore tonight,one of them might have an unpleasant surprise!’
他不愿和我一起去。“除非你見(jiàn)到了你們那位紳士,得到了他的保證,否則我不會(huì)去見(jiàn)他們。吉姆,你知道在哪兒能找到我。要是那幫海盜在岸上過(guò)夜,他們中就會(huì)有人遭厄運(yùn)!”
The ship's gun BOOMED!and the shot fell only a hundredmetres away.Ben Gunn and I each ran our different ways.Thefiring continued for another hour,and I moved quietly through the trees to the shore.There I saw the Hispaniola in the bay—but the Jolly Roger was flying over her!
從船上又傳來(lái)一聲炮響,炮彈就落在一百多米以外的地方。我們倆朝著不同方向拔腿就跑。槍炮聲持續(xù)了一個(gè)小時(shí),我悄悄來(lái)到岸邊的樹(shù)叢中。我看見(jiàn)伊斯帕尼奧拉號(hào)停在海灣里——船上掛著骷髏旗!
On the beach,the pirates were breaking up the captain's little boat with axes.When the ship's gun stopped firing,I went back to the stockade.
在岸上,那幫海盜正用斧子劈船長(zhǎng)的小船。炮聲停止后,我回到寨子里。
‘Doctor!’I shouted.‘Squire!Captain!Hello,Hunter,is that you?’
“大夫!”我喊道,“鄉(xiāng)紳!船長(zhǎng)!你好,亨特!是你嗎?”
Dr Livesey came out of the house in time to see me climbing into the stockade,and my friends welcomed me happily They gave me supper----although they were worried because there was little food left.As I ate,Dr Livesey told me their story.
李甫西大夫立刻從木屋出來(lái),我正翻越圍欄,朋友們都高興地迎接我回來(lái),他們讓我吃了晚飯——盡管飯菜剩下的不多了。我吃飯的時(shí)候,李甫西大夫給我講了他們的歷險(xiǎn)。
We heard you had gone ashore on one of the boats,Jim,’he said.‘We never doubted your honesty,but we were afraid you wouldn't be safe.Hunter and I came ashore to see what was happening,and found the stockade.It seemed a good place to defend ourselves against Silver and his men,because we were sure they would kill us when they returned to the ship Here,all we needed was enough food,and people to watch for enemies.You see,we know that if the Hispaniola does not return to Bristol by the end of August,a rescue ship will be sent to look for us.
“吉姆,我們聽(tīng)說(shuō)你跟著一條船上了岸,”他說(shuō)。“我們從未懷疑你的忠實(shí),但我們?yōu)槟愕陌踩珦?dān)心。我和亨特上岸想看看發(fā)生了什么,卻發(fā)現(xiàn)了這個(gè)寨子。這似乎是我們抵御西爾弗和他那幫人的好地方,我們確信回到船上他們會(huì)殺了我們。在這兒,我們需要的是足夠的食物和足夠的人手對(duì)付敵人。你知道,如果伊斯帕尼奧拉號(hào)8月底前不能返回布里斯托爾,一只救援船就會(huì)來(lái)接我們。”
‘So we made a plan to get ourselves off the ship,’Dr Livesey went on.‘Hunter,Redruth,and Joyce helped us.Hunter brought the captain's little boat round under the cabin window,and Joyce and I put guns and food and my medicine chest in it.Redruth took four guns and went on deck with Trelawney and the captain They were able to surprise Israel Hands and the other men,and they managed to persuade one man,Abraham Gray,to join us again.’
“所以我們就設(shè)計(jì)棄船而走,”李甫西大夫繼續(xù)講下去。“亨特、雷德拉斯和喬伊斯幫助了我們。亨特把船長(zhǎng)的小船轉(zhuǎn)移到船艙附近,我和喬伊斯裝上了槍、食物和藥品。雷德拉斯拿了四枝槍和屈利勞尼及船長(zhǎng)一起上了甲板。伊斯萊爾·漢茲一伙顯然嚇了一跳。雷德拉斯和船長(zhǎng)等人想法說(shuō)服了一個(gè)叫亞伯拉罕·格雷的人加入了我們。”
‘So you left five pirates on the ship?’I said.
“你們留下五個(gè)海盜在船上?”我說(shuō)。
‘Yes,’said Dr Livesey.‘And we dropped the rest of the weapons over the side into the sea before leaving the ship.But we forgot the ship's gun.We were half-way to the island when the pirates fired it at us.’
“是的,”李甫西大夫說(shuō)。“我們棄船之前把剩下的武器都扔到了海里,但忘記了船上的炮。我們剛走到一半的時(shí)候,那幫海盜就用它向我們開(kāi)火了。”
‘ I heard it,’I told him.
“我聽(tīng)見(jiàn)槍聲了,”我告訴他。
‘Trelawney tried to shoot Hands but killed another man instead,’said Dr Livesey.‘The pirates on the island heard the gun and ran out of the trees towards their boats.Then our small boat began to go down and we found ourselves in the water.Most of the food was lost and we had only two dry guns out of five.Somehow we got ashore and into the stockade,but we knew there was going to be a fight.’
“屈利勞尼想打漢茲卻結(jié)果了另一個(gè)人,”李甫西大夫說(shuō)。“島上的海盜聽(tīng)見(jiàn)槍聲后從樹(shù)林中竄出來(lái)奔向他們的小船。我們的小船沉沒(méi)了,我們落了水,大部分食品都丟掉了,而且我們的五枝槍只有兩枝沒(méi)有濕。盡管如此我們還是上了岸,占領(lǐng)了寨子,我們知道一場(chǎng)惡仗不可避免了。”
‘But you won,’I said.
“但你們勝了,”我說(shuō)。
‘Yes,’agreed Dr Livesey.‘We killed another of their men.badly wounded another,but lost one of our own poor Tom Redruth.’
“是的,”李甫西說(shuō)。“我們打死了他們一個(gè)人,重傷了另一個(gè),但我們也失去了一位——可憐的湯姆·雷德拉斯。”
After the doctor had finished,I told them my story,andabout Ben Gunn.Then we began to talk about what to donext.Our best plan was to kill the pirates one by one until the rest ran off or sailed away in the ship.
大夫講完以后,我給他們講了我的歷險(xiǎn),以及遇見(jiàn)本·葛恩的事。然后我們開(kāi)始商量下一步如何行事。我們最好的方案是一個(gè)個(gè)殺掉海盜,直到剩下的都逃跑或駕船離開(kāi)。
I was very tired,and fell asleep as the three men talked.It was the sound of voices shouting that woke me the next morning.
我感覺(jué)特別累,他們?nèi)苏務(wù)摃r(shí)我就睡著了。第二天早晨一陣吵鬧聲把我驚醒了。
‘A white flag!’I heard someone say.‘It's Silver!’
“他們舉著白旗呢!”有人說(shuō)。“是西爾弗!”
I ran to a hole in the wall and looked through.Two men were outside the stockade,one waving a white cloth The other man was Silver.It was a very cold morning,the sky bright and without a cloud,but Silver and his man were standing in a low mist.
我跑到一個(gè)射擊孔前向外張望。有兩個(gè)人在寨子外邊,其中一個(gè)揮著白旗,另一個(gè)是西爾弗。那是個(gè)寒冷、明亮的早晨,天上沒(méi)有一絲云,西爾弗和他的同伙在低低的霧靄中站著。
‘What do you want?’shouted Captain Smollett.
“你們要干什么?”船長(zhǎng)斯摩列特喊道。
The man beside Silver replied,‘Cap’n Silver,sir,to talk about peace.’
西爾弗旁邊那個(gè)人說(shuō):“西爾弗船長(zhǎng)來(lái)講和,先生。”
‘Cap’n Silver?’said the captain.‘Who is he?’
“西爾弗船長(zhǎng)?”船長(zhǎng)問(wèn)。“他是誰(shuí)?”
Long John answered Me,sir.The men chose me to be captain after you deserted the ship We're willing to make peace if we can all agree.All I ask is your promise to allow me safely out of the stockade.’
高個(gè)約翰回答:“是我,先生。您棄船而走以后他們選我當(dāng)船長(zhǎng)。如果大家都同意的話,我們希望講和。我希望你能保證讓我安全地走出寨子。”
‘I don't want to talk to you,’said Captain Smollett,‘but if you want to talk to me,you may come.’
“我不想和你談判,”斯摩列特船長(zhǎng)說(shuō),“但如果你想談判的話,你可以過(guò)來(lái)。”
Silver came towards the stockade,threw his crutch over the fence,then climbed after it.With great difficulty,he walked up the hill of soft sand.
西爾弗向寨子走來(lái),把他的拐杖扔過(guò)圍欄,跟著爬上圍欄,然后艱難地翻過(guò)一座小沙丘。
‘Aren't you going to let me inside?’said Long John.‘It's a cold morning to be outside.’
“你不打算讓我進(jìn)去嗎?”高個(gè)約翰說(shuō)。“這種天在外邊很冷的。”
‘If you were an honest man,Silver,’said the captain,‘you could be in your kitchen.You're either my ship's cook,or Cap’n Silver,a dirty pirate!Now,if you've anything to say,say it!’
“如果你是個(gè)誠(chéng)實(shí)的人,西爾弗,”船長(zhǎng)說(shuō),“你應(yīng)該在你的廚房里。你要么是我船上的廚子,要么就是西爾弗船長(zhǎng),一個(gè)可惡的海盜!現(xiàn)在,你還有什么要說(shuō)的,就快說(shuō)吧!”
‘Well now,Cap’n Smollett,’said Silver,sitting down in the sand,‘you were very clever,last night.One of you is very quick with a knife,isn't he?Some of my men were frightened,and perhaps I was too.Perhaps that's why I'm here now.But you won't do it again,by thunder!We'll drink less rum and watch more carefully.I was asleep,but I almost caught you.The man you knifed wasn't dead when I reached him.’
“那么,斯摩列特船長(zhǎng),”西爾弗說(shuō)著,坐在沙地上,“昨天晚上你們很聰明。你們中的一個(gè)人用刀出手很快。我們有些人都嚇壞了,大概我也一樣。所以我才來(lái)談判。但我發(fā)誓,這樣的事不會(huì)再發(fā)生了。我們要小心布置崗哨,并且叫大家少喝點(diǎn)朗姆酒。我當(dāng)時(shí)睡著了,可我差點(diǎn)兒抓住了你們。我跑到被殺的那個(gè)人跟前的時(shí)候,他還沒(méi)死呢。”
‘Well?’said Captain Smollett,pretending to understand.But I guessed what Silver was talking about.I remembered Ben Gunn's last words to me.Perhaps he had visited the pirates during the night,when they were lying around their fire,full of rum.
“是嗎?”斯摩列特船長(zhǎng)裝作明白地說(shuō)。我猜到了西爾弗說(shuō)的事。我想起本·葛恩和我分手前的最后一句話。他大概在海盜們喝醉了倒在篝火邊的時(shí)候到他們的營(yíng)地去過(guò)。
‘We want that treasure,and we'll have it!’said Silver.‘Now,you have a map.Give it to us,and stop killing poor sea-men when they're asleep,and we'll let you choose what to do.Either come aboard ship with us when we have the treasure,and we'll take you to a safe place;or stay here on the island.’
“我們要島上的寶藏,而且我們一定會(huì)得到!”西爾弗說(shuō)。“你們有一張尋寶圖。只要把它交給我們,并且不要在我們可憐的水手睡著的時(shí)候殺他們,我們就會(huì)讓你們選擇如何行事。或者等寶藏裝上船后你們跟我們一起坐船走,我們擔(dān)保讓你們安全上岸;或者,你們可以留在此地。”
‘Is that all?’asked Captain Smollett.
“你說(shuō)完了?”斯摩列特船長(zhǎng)問(wèn)。
‘It's my last word,by thunder!’said Silver.‘Refuse,and you'll all die.’
“我發(fā)誓這是我說(shuō)的最后一句話!”西爾弗說(shuō)。“你們要是拒絕的話,就都得死!”
‘Now you'll hear me,’said the captain.‘If you come up one by one,without weapons,I'll take you home to a fair trial in England.You can't find the treasure without the map.None of you knows how to sail the ship home.And you can't fight us—Gray got away from five of you.If you say no,the next time I see you I'll put a bullet in your back.Now,get out of here quickly.’
“現(xiàn)在你聽(tīng)我說(shuō),”船長(zhǎng)說(shuō)。“如果你們一個(gè)一個(gè)放下武器到這里來(lái),我就把你們送回英國(guó)依法審判。沒(méi)有圖你們誰(shuí)也找不到寶藏,你們誰(shuí)也無(wú)法駕船回家。你們也打不過(guò)我們;昨天你們五個(gè)人也沒(méi)斗過(guò)葛雷一個(gè)。你要是敢說(shuō)個(gè)不字,下次我再碰到你,就要用子彈打穿你的脊背?,F(xiàn)在,請(qǐng)快離開(kāi)這兒!”
Silver's eyes were filled with anger.‘Somebody help me up!’he shouted,but none of us moved.Swearing angrily,he pulled himself across the sand to the fence.There,he was able to lift himself on to his crutch again and then climb out of the stockade.
西爾弗的眼里充滿了憤怒。“拉我一把,讓我站起來(lái)!”他大聲說(shuō),但我們一個(gè)都沒(méi)動(dòng)。他一邊罵著,一邊爬過(guò)沙地來(lái)到圍欄邊,依靠他的拐杖站起來(lái),然后翻過(guò)圍欄。
‘Before the hour is over,’shouted Silver,‘I'll break your old house like a rum bottle!And those that die will be the lucky ones!’
“不出一個(gè)小時(shí),”他吼著,“我就把你們的小木屋像朗姆酒瓶一樣砸爛。你們會(huì)覺(jué)得生不如死。”
As soon as Silver disappeared,we got ready for a battle,placing ourselves around the sides of the stockade.The captain went round to check our places and our guns,and to see that everything was ready.
西爾弗一消失,我們就作好戰(zhàn)斗準(zhǔn)備,大家在寨子四周都布置好。船長(zhǎng)巡視一圈,檢查了我們的槍,確實(shí)一切都已準(zhǔn)備好。
A minute later,Joyce fired his pistol and the battle had be-gun.Shots came from every side of the stockade,hitting the wooden house,but the bullets did not get through the thick walls.Then there was silence and the smoke slowly cleared away.
只過(guò)了一分鐘,喬伊斯打響了第一槍,戰(zhàn)斗開(kāi)始了。槍從四面打向木屋,打在墻上,但都沒(méi)有穿過(guò)厚墻。然后槍聲停頓了一會(huì)兒,硝煙漸漸散開(kāi)了。
Suddenly,guns were fired again,and a group of pirates ran from the woods and on to the stockade.They climbed over the fence like monkeys while the squire and Gray fired at them.In a few seconds,two fell dead,one was running back into the trees,and four were inside the stockade.
忽然,槍聲又響起來(lái),一群海盜從樹(shù)林里竄出來(lái)向圍欄跑來(lái),然后像猴子一樣敏捷地爬上圍欄。鄉(xiāng)紳和葛雷向他們射擊,當(dāng)場(chǎng)打死兩個(gè),一個(gè)人逃回樹(shù)林里去了,有四個(gè)進(jìn)了寨子。
‘Fight them in the open!’cried the captain.
“出去迎擊他們!”船長(zhǎng)喊道。
I took a sword and ran out into the sun.More pirates were starting to climb into the stockade.One man,wearing a red cap and with a knife in his mouth,was already on top of the fence.
我拿起一把劍跑到太陽(yáng)底下。越來(lái)越多的海盜開(kāi)始爬進(jìn)寨子。其中一個(gè)戴著紅帽子,嘴里銜著刀的人正在圍欄上。
But in that moment,the fight was over and we had won.Gray cut down one man with his sword.Another was shot as he fired into the house,and now lay wounded with his smoking pistol in his hand.The doctor had cut down a third.The men on the fence had disappeared back into the trees.And of the four who had climbed into the stockade,only one was not wounded,and he was climbing out again with the fear of death in him.
就在這時(shí),戰(zhàn)斗以我們的獲勝而告終。葛雷用劍結(jié)果了一個(gè)海盜。另一個(gè)被擊中受傷倒地,他手里的槍還冒著煙。大夫也砍倒了一個(gè)海盜。在圍欄上的那個(gè)海盜逃回樹(shù)林里去了。那四個(gè)闖進(jìn)寨子的海盜中,只有一個(gè)沒(méi)有受傷,他趕快爬過(guò)圍欄逃命去了。
10 Inside the stockade
We followed the noise of the fighting and came to a hill.There stood a strong wooden house,big enough for forty people,and with holes for guns on every side.All around the house was a wide open piece of land;and around that was a fence,two metres high,with no doors or openings,and too strong to pull down easily.
As soon as Ben Gunn saw the English flag flying over thehouse,he said,‘There are your friends.’
‘More likely to be the pirates,’I answered.
‘Silver would put up the pirate's flag,the Jolly Roger,’said Ben.‘No,there's been a fight,and your friends have won.They're inside the stockade that Flint made years ago.’
‘Then I must hurry and join them,’I said.
He wouldn't come with me.‘I won't come until you've seen your gentleman and got his promise.You know where to find me,Jim.And if the pirates sleep on shore tonight,one of them might have an unpleasant surprise!’
The ship's gun BOOMED!and the shot fell only a hundredmetres away.Ben Gunn and I each ran our different ways.Thefiring continued for another hour,and I moved quietly through the trees to the shore.There I saw the Hispaniola in the bay—but the Jolly Roger was flying over her!
On the beach,the pirates were breaking up the captain's little boat with axes.When the ship's gun stopped firing,I went back to the stockade.
‘Doctor!’I shouted.‘Squire!Captain!Hello,Hunter,is that you?’
Dr Livesey came out of the house in time to see me climbing into the stockade,and my friends welcomed me happily They gave me supper----although they were worried because there was little food left.As I ate,Dr Livesey told me their story.
We heard you had gone ashore on one of the boats,Jim,’he said.‘We never doubted your honesty,but we were afraid you wouldn't be safe.Hunter and I came ashore to see what was happening,and found the stockade.It seemed a good place to defend ourselves against Silver and his men,because we were sure they would kill us when they returned to the ship Here,all we needed was enough food,and people to watch for enemies.You see,we know that if the Hispaniola does not return to Bristol by the end of August,a rescue ship will be sent to look for us.
‘So we made a plan to get ourselves off the ship,’Dr Livesey went on.‘Hunter,Redruth,and Joyce helped us.Hunter brought the captain's little boat round under the cabin window,and Joyce and I put guns and food and my medicine chest in it.Redruth took four guns and went on deck with Trelawney and the captain They were able to surprise Israel Hands and the other men,and they managed to persuade one man,Abraham Gray,to join us again.’
‘So you left five pirates on the ship?’I said.
‘Yes,’said Dr Livesey.‘And we dropped the rest of the weapons over the side into the sea before leaving the ship.But we forgot the ship's gun.We were half-way to the island when the pirates fired it at us.’
‘ I heard it,’I told him.
‘Trelawney tried to shoot Hands but killed another man instead,’said Dr Livesey.‘The pirates on the island heard the gun and ran out of the trees towards their boats.Then our small boat began to go down and we found ourselves in the water.Most of the food was lost and we had only two dry guns out of five.Somehow we got ashore and into the stockade,but we knew there was going to be a fight.’
‘But you won,’I said.
‘Yes,’agreed Dr Livesey.‘We killed another of their men.badly wounded another,but lost one of our own poor Tom Redruth.’
After the doctor had finished,I told them my story,andabout Ben Gunn.Then we began to talk about what to donext.Our best plan was to kill the pirates one by one until the rest ran off or sailed away in the ship.
I was very tired,and fell asleep as the three men talked.It was the sound of voices shouting that woke me the next morning.
‘A white flag!’I heard someone say.‘It's Silver!’
I ran to a hole in the wall and looked through.Two men were outside the stockade,one waving a white cloth The other man was Silver.It was a very cold morning,the sky bright and without a cloud,but Silver and his man were standing in a low mist.
‘What do you want?’shouted Captain Smollett.
The man beside Silver replied,‘Cap’n Silver,sir,to talk about peace.’
‘Cap’n Silver?’said the captain.‘Who is he?’
Long John answered Me,sir.The men chose me to be captain after you deserted the ship We're willing to make peace if we can all agree.All I ask is your promise to allow me safely out of the stockade.’
‘I don't want to talk to you,’said Captain Smollett,‘but if you want to talk to me,you may come.’
Silver came towards the stockade,threw his crutch over the fence,then climbed after it.With great difficulty,he walked up the hill of soft sand.
‘Aren't you going to let me inside?’said Long John.‘It's a cold morning to be outside.’
‘If you were an honest man,Silver,’said the captain,‘you could be in your kitchen.You're either my ship's cook,or Cap’n Silver,a dirty pirate!Now,if you've anything to say,say it!’
‘Well now,Cap’n Smollett,’said Silver,sitting down in the sand,‘you were very clever,last night.One of you is very quick with a knife,isn't he?Some of my men were frightened,and perhaps I was too.Perhaps that's why I'm here now.But you won't do it again,by thunder!We'll drink less rum and watch more carefully.I was asleep,but I almost caught you.The man you knifed wasn't dead when I reached him.’
‘Well?’said Captain Smollett,pretending to understand.But I guessed what Silver was talking about.I remembered Ben Gunn's last words to me.Perhaps he had visited the pirates during the night,when they were lying around their fire,full of rum.
‘We want that treasure,and we'll have it!’said Silver.‘Now,you have a map.Give it to us,and stop killing poor sea-men when they're asleep,and we'll let you choose what to do.Either come aboard ship with us when we have the treasure,and we'll take you to a safe place;or stay here on the island.’
‘Is that all?’asked Captain Smollett.
‘It's my last word,by thunder!’said Silver.‘Refuse,and you'll all die.’
‘Now you'll hear me,’said the captain.‘If you come up one by one,without weapons,I'll take you home to a fair trial in England.You can't find the treasure without the map.None of you knows how to sail the ship home.And you can't fight us—Gray got away from five of you.If you say no,the next time I see you I'll put a bullet in your back.Now,get out of here quickly.’
Silver's eyes were filled with anger.‘Somebody help me up!’he shouted,but none of us moved.Swearing angrily,he pulled himself across the sand to the fence.There,he was able to lift himself on to his crutch again and then climb out of the stockade.
‘Before the hour is over,’shouted Silver,‘I'll break your old house like a rum bottle!And those that die will be the lucky ones!’
As soon as Silver disappeared,we got ready for a battle,placing ourselves around the sides of the stockade.The captain went round to check our places and our guns,and to see that everything was ready.
A minute later,Joyce fired his pistol and the battle had be-gun.Shots came from every side of the stockade,hitting the wooden house,but the bullets did not get through the thick walls.Then there was silence and the smoke slowly cleared away.
Suddenly,guns were fired again,and a group of pirates ran from the woods and on to the stockade.They climbed over the fence like monkeys while the squire and Gray fired at them.In a few seconds,two fell dead,one was running back into the trees,and four were inside the stockade.
‘Fight them in the open!’cried the captain.
I took a sword and ran out into the sun.More pirates were starting to climb into the stockade.One man,wearing a red cap and with a knife in his mouth,was already on top of the fence.
But in that moment,the fight was over and we had won.Gray cut down one man with his sword.Another was shot as he fired into the house,and now lay wounded with his smoking pistol in his hand.The doctor had cut down a third.The men on the fence had disappeared back into the trees.And of the four who had climbed into the stockade,only one was not wounded,and he was climbing out again with the fear of death in him.
10 在寨子里
我們循著槍聲來(lái)到一座小山前。那兒有一座堅(jiān)固的木頭房子,可以容得下40人,每一面墻都有射擊孔。房子四周是一片開(kāi)闊地,還有一圈圍欄,兩米高,沒(méi)有出入口,很堅(jiān)固而且不易拉倒。
本·葛恩一看見(jiàn)木屋上飄著的英國(guó)旗就對(duì)我說(shuō):“你的朋友在那里。”
“更有可能是那幫海盜,”我說(shuō)。
“西爾弗一定會(huì)掛他們海盜的骷髏旗,”本·葛恩說(shuō)。“剛才他們打了一仗,你的朋友獲勝了。他們正在弗林特幾年前建的寨子里。”
“那我得趕快去和我的朋友們會(huì)合,”我說(shuō)。
他不愿和我一起去。“除非你見(jiàn)到了你們那位紳士,得到了他的保證,否則我不會(huì)去見(jiàn)他們。吉姆,你知道在哪兒能找到我。要是那幫海盜在岸上過(guò)夜,他們中就會(huì)有人遭厄運(yùn)!”
從船上又傳來(lái)一聲炮響,炮彈就落在一百多米以外的地方。我們倆朝著不同方向拔腿就跑。槍炮聲持續(xù)了一個(gè)小時(shí),我悄悄來(lái)到岸邊的樹(shù)叢中。我看見(jiàn)伊斯帕尼奧拉號(hào)停在海灣里——船上掛著骷髏旗!
在岸上,那幫海盜正用斧子劈船長(zhǎng)的小船。炮聲停止后,我回到寨子里。
“大夫!”我喊道,“鄉(xiāng)紳!船長(zhǎng)!你好,亨特!是你嗎?”
李甫西大夫立刻從木屋出來(lái),我正翻越圍欄,朋友們都高興地迎接我回來(lái),他們讓我吃了晚飯——盡管飯菜剩下的不多了。我吃飯的時(shí)候,李甫西大夫給我講了他們的歷險(xiǎn)。
“吉姆,我們聽(tīng)說(shuō)你跟著一條船上了岸,”他說(shuō)。“我們從未懷疑你的忠實(shí),但我們?yōu)槟愕陌踩珦?dān)心。我和亨特上岸想看看發(fā)生了什么,卻發(fā)現(xiàn)了這個(gè)寨子。這似乎是我們抵御西爾弗和他那幫人的好地方,我們確信回到船上他們會(huì)殺了我們。在這兒,我們需要的是足夠的食物和足夠的人手對(duì)付敵人。你知道,如果伊斯帕尼奧拉號(hào)8月底前不能返回布里斯托爾,一只救援船就會(huì)來(lái)接我們。”
“所以我們就設(shè)計(jì)棄船而走,”李甫西大夫繼續(xù)講下去。“亨特、雷德拉斯和喬伊斯幫助了我們。亨特把船長(zhǎng)的小船轉(zhuǎn)移到船艙附近,我和喬伊斯裝上了槍、食物和藥品。雷德拉斯拿了四枝槍和屈利勞尼及船長(zhǎng)一起上了甲板。伊斯萊爾·漢茲一伙顯然嚇了一跳。雷德拉斯和船長(zhǎng)等人想法說(shuō)服了一個(gè)叫亞伯拉罕·格雷的人加入了我們。”
“你們留下五個(gè)海盜在船上?”我說(shuō)。
“是的,”李甫西大夫說(shuō)。“我們棄船之前把剩下的武器都扔到了海里,但忘記了船上的炮。我們剛走到一半的時(shí)候,那幫海盜就用它向我們開(kāi)火了。”
“我聽(tīng)見(jiàn)槍聲了,”我告訴他。
“屈利勞尼想打漢茲卻結(jié)果了另一個(gè)人,”李甫西大夫說(shuō)。“島上的海盜聽(tīng)見(jiàn)槍聲后從樹(shù)林中竄出來(lái)奔向他們的小船。我們的小船沉沒(méi)了,我們落了水,大部分食品都丟掉了,而且我們的五枝槍只有兩枝沒(méi)有濕。盡管如此我們還是上了岸,占領(lǐng)了寨子,我們知道一場(chǎng)惡仗不可避免了。”
“但你們勝了,”我說(shuō)。
“是的,”李甫西說(shuō)。“我們打死了他們一個(gè)人,重傷了另一個(gè),但我們也失去了一位——可憐的湯姆·雷德拉斯。”
大夫講完以后,我給他們講了我的歷險(xiǎn),以及遇見(jiàn)本·葛恩的事。然后我們開(kāi)始商量下一步如何行事。我們最好的方案是一個(gè)個(gè)殺掉海盜,直到剩下的都逃跑或駕船離開(kāi)。
我感覺(jué)特別累,他們?nèi)苏務(wù)摃r(shí)我就睡著了。第二天早晨一陣吵鬧聲把我驚醒了。
“他們舉著白旗呢!”有人說(shuō)。“是西爾弗!”
我跑到一個(gè)射擊孔前向外張望。有兩個(gè)人在寨子外邊,其中一個(gè)揮著白旗,另一個(gè)是西爾弗。那是個(gè)寒冷、明亮的早晨,天上沒(méi)有一絲云,西爾弗和他的同伙在低低的霧靄中站著。
“你們要干什么?”船長(zhǎng)斯摩列特喊道。
西爾弗旁邊那個(gè)人說(shuō):“西爾弗船長(zhǎng)來(lái)講和,先生。”
“西爾弗船長(zhǎng)?”船長(zhǎng)問(wèn)。“他是誰(shuí)?”
高個(gè)約翰回答:“是我,先生。您棄船而走以后他們選我當(dāng)船長(zhǎng)。如果大家都同意的話,我們希望講和。我希望你能保證讓我安全地走出寨子。”
“我不想和你談判,”斯摩列特船長(zhǎng)說(shuō),“但如果你想談判的話,你可以過(guò)來(lái)。”
西爾弗向寨子走來(lái),把他的拐杖扔過(guò)圍欄,跟著爬上圍欄,然后艱難地翻過(guò)一座小沙丘。
“你不打算讓我進(jìn)去嗎?”高個(gè)約翰說(shuō)。“這種天在外邊很冷的。”
“如果你是個(gè)誠(chéng)實(shí)的人,西爾弗,”船長(zhǎng)說(shuō),“你應(yīng)該在你的廚房里。你要么是我船上的廚子,要么就是西爾弗船長(zhǎng),一個(gè)可惡的海盜!現(xiàn)在,你還有什么要說(shuō)的,就快說(shuō)吧!”
“那么,斯摩列特船長(zhǎng),”西爾弗說(shuō)著,坐在沙地上,“昨天晚上你們很聰明。你們中的一個(gè)人用刀出手很快。我們有些人都嚇壞了,大概我也一樣。所以我才來(lái)談判。但我發(fā)誓,這樣的事不會(huì)再發(fā)生了。我們要小心布置崗哨,并且叫大家少喝點(diǎn)朗姆酒。我當(dāng)時(shí)睡著了,可我差點(diǎn)兒抓住了你們。我跑到被殺的那個(gè)人跟前的時(shí)候,他還沒(méi)死呢。”
“是嗎?”斯摩列特船長(zhǎng)裝作明白地說(shuō)。我猜到了西爾弗說(shuō)的事。我想起本·葛恩和我分手前的最后一句話。他大概在海盜們喝醉了倒在篝火邊的時(shí)候到他們的營(yíng)地去過(guò)。
“我們要島上的寶藏,而且我們一定會(huì)得到!”西爾弗說(shuō)。“你們有一張尋寶圖。只要把它交給我們,并且不要在我們可憐的水手睡著的時(shí)候殺他們,我們就會(huì)讓你們選擇如何行事?;蛘叩葘毑匮b上船后你們跟我們一起坐船走,我們擔(dān)保讓你們安全上岸;或者,你們可以留在此地。”
“你說(shuō)完了?”斯摩列特船長(zhǎng)問(wèn)。
“我發(fā)誓這是我說(shuō)的最后一句話!”西爾弗說(shuō)。“你們要是拒絕的話,就都得死!”
“現(xiàn)在你聽(tīng)我說(shuō),”船長(zhǎng)說(shuō)。“如果你們一個(gè)一個(gè)放下武器到這里來(lái),我就把你們送回英國(guó)依法審判。沒(méi)有圖你們誰(shuí)也找不到寶藏,你們誰(shuí)也無(wú)法駕船回家。你們也打不過(guò)我們;昨天你們五個(gè)人也沒(méi)斗過(guò)葛雷一個(gè)。你要是敢說(shuō)個(gè)不字,下次我再碰到你,就要用子彈打穿你的脊背?,F(xiàn)在,請(qǐng)快離開(kāi)這兒!”
西爾弗的眼里充滿了憤怒。“拉我一把,讓我站起來(lái)!”他大聲說(shuō),但我們一個(gè)都沒(méi)動(dòng)。他一邊罵著,一邊爬過(guò)沙地來(lái)到圍欄邊,依靠他的拐杖站起來(lái),然后翻過(guò)圍欄。
“不出一個(gè)小時(shí),”他吼著,“我就把你們的小木屋像朗姆酒瓶一樣砸爛。你們會(huì)覺(jué)得生不如死。”
西爾弗一消失,我們就作好戰(zhàn)斗準(zhǔn)備,大家在寨子四周都布置好。船長(zhǎng)巡視一圈,檢查了我們的槍,確實(shí)一切都已準(zhǔn)備好。
只過(guò)了一分鐘,喬伊斯打響了第一槍,戰(zhàn)斗開(kāi)始了。槍從四面打向木屋,打在墻上,但都沒(méi)有穿過(guò)厚墻。然后槍聲停頓了一會(huì)兒,硝煙漸漸散開(kāi)了。
忽然,槍聲又響起來(lái),一群海盜從樹(shù)林里竄出來(lái)向圍欄跑來(lái),然后像猴子一樣敏捷地爬上圍欄。鄉(xiāng)紳和葛雷向他們射擊,當(dāng)場(chǎng)打死兩個(gè),一個(gè)人逃回樹(shù)林里去了,有四個(gè)進(jìn)了寨子。
“出去迎擊他們!”船長(zhǎng)喊道。
我拿起一把劍跑到太陽(yáng)底下。越來(lái)越多的海盜開(kāi)始爬進(jìn)寨子。其中一個(gè)戴著紅帽子,嘴里銜著刀的人正在圍欄上。
就在這時(shí),戰(zhàn)斗以我們的獲勝而告終。葛雷用劍結(jié)果了一個(gè)海盜。另一個(gè)被擊中受傷倒地,他手里的槍還冒著煙。大夫也砍倒了一個(gè)海盜。在圍欄上的那個(gè)海盜逃回樹(shù)林里去了。那四個(gè)闖進(jìn)寨子的海盜中,只有一個(gè)沒(méi)有受傷,他趕快爬過(guò)圍欄逃命去了。