血字的研究 67逃命(6)

While Ferrier was absent, preparing his daughter for the approaching journey,

费瑞厄进去叫他的女儿准备上路的时候，

Jefferson Hope packed all the eatables that he could find into a small parcel,

杰弗逊·侯波就把他能够找到的所有可以吃的东西，打成一个小包，

and filled a stoneware jar with water, for he knew by experience that the mountain wells were few and far between.

又把一个磁起灌满了水；因为根据他的经验，他知道山中水井很少，而且也相距甚远。

He had hardly completed his arrangements before the farmer returned with his daughter all dressed and ready for a start.

他刚刚收拾完毕，这位农民和他的女儿就一起走了出来，全都穿好了衣服，准备出发了。

The greeting between the lovers was warm, but brief, for minutes were precious, and there was much to be done.

这一对恋人非常亲热地问候了一番，但是非常短暂，因为现在一分一秒的时间都是非常宝贵，而且眼前还有许多事情要做。

"We must make our start at once," said Jefferson Hope, speaking in a low but resolute¹ voice, like one who realizes the greatness of the peril², but has steeled his heart to meet it.

"咱们必须马上就走，"杰弗逊·侯波说，他的声音低沉而又坚决，就象一个人明知前面危险很大，但是已经破釜沉舟、下定决心要闯过去，

"The front and back entrances are watched, but with caution we may get away through the side window and across the fields.

"前面和后面进出的地方，都已有人把守。可是，小心一点的话，咱们还是可以从旁边窗子出去，穿过田野逃走。

Once on the road we are only two miles from the Ravine where the horses are waiting.

只要一上大路，咱们再走两里路，就可以到达鹰谷了，马匹就在那里等着。

By daybreak we should be halfway³ through the mountains."

天明以前，咱们必须赶过半山去。"

"What if we are stopped?" asked Ferrier.

费瑞厄问道："如果有人阻挡，那又怎么办呢？"

Hope slapped the revolver butt⁴ which protruded⁵ from the front of his tunic⁶.

侯波拍了一下衣襟下面露出的左轮手枪的枪柄，

"If they are too many for us, we shall take two or three of them with us," he said with a sinister⁷ smile.

狞笑着说："即使咱们寡不敌众，咱们至少也要干掉它两三个。"

The lights inside the house had all been extinguished, and from the darkened window Ferrier peered over the fields which had been his own, and which he was now about to abandon forever.

屋中的灯火早已全部熄灭。费瑞厄从黑黝黝的窗口望出去，瞧着曾经一度属于他的这篇土地，现在就要永远放弃了。

He had long nerved himself to the sacrifice, however, and the thought of the honour and happiness of his daughter outweighed⁸ any regret at his ruined fortunes.

对于这种牺牲，他一直耿耿于怀。但是，当他想到他女儿的荣誉和幸福时，即使倾家荡产他也在所不惜了。

All looked so peaceful and happy, the rustling⁹ trees and the broad silent stretch of grainland, that it was difficult to realize that the spirit of murder lurked¹⁰ through it all.

沙沙作响的树林和那一望无际的平静的田野，看来都是那样宁静，使人感到幸福。但是谁也料不到，这里却是那些杀人不眨眼的魔王们出没之地。

Yet the white face and set expression of the young hunter showed that in his approach to the house he had seen enough to satisfy him upon that head.

这个年轻猎人的苍白的脸色和那紧张的表情都说明：在他爬近这个屋子的时候，早已把这里的险恶情况，看得一清二楚了。

Ferrier carried the bag of gold and notes, Jefferson Hope had the scanty¹¹ provisions and water, while Lucy had a small bundle containing a few of her more valued possessions.

费瑞厄提着钱袋；杰弗逊·侯波带着不多的口粮和饮水；露茜提着一个小包，里边有她的一些珍贵物品。

Opening the window very slowly and carefully, they waited until a dark cloud had somewhat obscured the night, and then one by one passed through into the little garden.

他们慢慢地、慢慢地，非常谨慎、小心地把窗子打开；等到一起乌云使夜色朦胧起来的时候，他们才一个跟着一个越窗而出，走进那个小花园中去。

With bated breath and crouching¹² figures they stumbled across it, and gained the shelter of the hedge, which they skirted until they came to the gap which opened into the cornfield.

他们起声静起，弯下腰来，深一脚浅一脚地穿过花园，来到花园篱垣的暗处。他们沿着篱垣走到一个通向麦田的缺口。

They had just reached this point when the young man seized his two companions and dragged them down into the shadow, where they lay silent and trembling.

他们刚刚走到这个缺口的地方，侯波突然一把抓住父女二人，把他们拖到阴暗的地方。他们静静地伏在那儿，直吓得浑身颤抖。

1 resolute   

adj.坚决的，果敢的

参考例句：

• He was resolute in carrying out his plan.他坚决地实行他的计划。
• The Egyptians offered resolute resistance to the aggressors.埃及人对侵略者作出坚决的反抗。

2 peril   

n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物

参考例句：

• The refugees were in peril of death from hunger.难民有饿死的危险。
• The embankment is in great peril.河堤岌岌可危。

3 halfway   

adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途

参考例句：

• We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路，天就黑了。
• In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上，最忌讳的是有始无终。

4 butt   

n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶

参考例句：

• The water butt catches the overflow from this pipe.大水桶盛接管子里流出的东西。
• He was the butt of their jokes.他是他们的笑柄。

5 protruded   

v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The child protruded his tongue. 那小孩伸出舌头。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The creature's face seemed to be protruded, because of its bent carriage. 那人的脑袋似乎向前突出，那是因为身子佝偻的缘故。 来自英汉文学

6 tunic   

n.束腰外衣

参考例句：

• The light loose mantle was thrown over his tunic.一件轻质宽大的斗蓬披在上衣外面。
• Your tunic and hose match ill with that jewel,young man.你的外套和裤子跟你那首饰可不相称呢，年轻人。

7 sinister   

adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的

参考例句：

• There is something sinister at the back of that series of crimes.在这一系列罪行背后有险恶的阴谋。
• Their proposals are all worthless and designed out of sinister motives.他们的建议不仅一钱不值，而且包藏祸心。

8 outweighed   

v.在重量上超过( outweigh的过去式和过去分词 )；在重要性或价值方面超过

参考例句：

• This boxer outweighed by his opponent 20 pounds. 这个拳击选手体重比他的对手重20磅。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She outweighed me by ten pounds, and sometimes she knocked me down. 她的体重超过我十磅，有时竟把我撞倒。 来自百科语句

9 rustling   

n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的

参考例句：

• the sound of the trees rustling in the breeze 树木在微风中发出的沙沙声
• the soft rustling of leaves 树叶柔和的沙沙声

10 lurked   

vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The murderers lurked behind the trees. 谋杀者埋伏在树后。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Treachery lurked behind his smooth manners. 他圆滑姿态的后面潜伏着奸计。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

11 scanty   

adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的

参考例句：

• There is scanty evidence to support their accusations.他们的指控证据不足。
• The rainfall was rather scanty this month.这个月的雨量不足。

12 crouching   

v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• a hulking figure crouching in the darkness 黑暗中蹲伏着的一个庞大身影
• A young man was crouching by the table, busily searching for something. 一个年轻人正蹲在桌边翻看什么。 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译