巴斯克维尔的猎犬 岩岗上的人（17）

 

　　As I approached the hut, walking as warily as Stapleton would do when with poised net hedrew near the settled butterfly, I satisfied myself that the place had indeed been used as ahabitation. A vague pathway among the boulders led to the dilapidated opening which served as adoor. All was silent within. The unknown might be lurking there, or he might be prowling on themoor. My nerves tingled with the sense of adventure. Throwing aside my cigarette, I closed myhand upon the butt of my revolver and, walking swiftly up to the door, I looked in. The place wasempty.

　　当我慢慢接近小屋的时候， 我走得小心而又谨慎， 就象是斯台普吞高举着捕蝶网慢慢走近落稳了的蝴蝶似的。 我深为满意的是这地方确曾被用作居住之所。 乱石之间有一条隐约可见的小路， 通向破烂得要塌的当作门用的开口。 那个不知来由的人可能正藏在那里， 或者正在沼地里荡来荡去。 冒险的感觉使我的神经大为兴奋， 我把烟头抛在一旁， 手摸着我那支左轮的枪柄， 迅速地走到门口， 我向屋里望了一望， 里面空空的。

　　But there were ample signs that I had not come upon a false scent. This was certainly wherethe man lived. Some blankets rolled in a waterproof lay upon that very stone slab upon whichneolithic man had once slumbered. The ashes of a fire were heaped in a rude grate. Beside it laysome cooking utensils and a bucket half-full of water. A litter of empty tins showed that the placehad been occupied for some time, and I saw, as my eyes became accustomed to the checkeredlight, a pannikin and a half-full bottle of spirits standing in the corner. In the middle of the hut aflat stone served the purpose of a table, and upon this stood a small cloth bundle -- the same, nodoubt, which I had seen through the telescope upon the shoulder of the boy. It contained a loaf ofbread, a tinned tongue, and two tins of preserved peaches. As I set it down again, after havingexamined it, my heart leaped to see that beneath it there lay a sheet of paper with writing upon it. Iraised it, and this was what I read, roughly scrawled in pencil: "Dr. Watson has gone to CoombeTracey."

　　可是有很多迹象可以说明， 我并没有找错地方。 这里一定是那个人住的地方。 一块防雨布包着几条毛毯， 放在新石器时代的人曾经睡过觉的那块石板上， 在一个粗陋的石框里还有一堆烧过的灰烬， 旁边放着一些厨房用具还有半桶水。 一堆乱七八糟的空罐头盒说明， 那人在这屋里已经住了 些时候了 。 当我的眼睛习惯了这种透过树叶照下来的纷乱的点点阳光之后， 我又在屋角里看到了一只金属小杯和半瓶酒。 在小屋的中央有一块平平的石头被当桌子用了， 上面有个小布包——无疑的就是我从望远镜里看到的小孩肩上的那卷。 里面有一块面包、 一听牛舌和两听桃罐头。 当我察看完毕重新放下的时候， 心里一跳， 因为我看到下面还有一张写着字的纸。 我拿了 起来， 上面有用铅笔潦潦草草写成的： “华生医生曾到库姆· 特雷西去过。”