《远大前程》第18章 马格韦契的故事结束(2)

When he left us alone，we discussed this information in whispers．

当他离开我们时，我们小声地讨论了这个信息。

In the end we decided¹ to go to bed，and then set out the next morning just in time to catch the ship to Hamburg．

最后，我们决定去睡觉，然后第二天早晨出发，正点赶上去汉堡的船只。

I woke early，and when I looked out of the window，I saw two men examining our boat.

我一大早就醒了，当我从窗外望去时，看到两个人检查我们的船。

But I decided not to wake Herbert or Startop，who needed their rest after rowing all the previous day．

但是，我决定不去叫醒赫伯特和史达多蒲，他们划了一整天船需要休息。

Late in the morning we rowed into the centre of the river．We could see the ship to Hamburg coming closer．

早晨晚些时候，我们划进河中心。我们能够看到去汉堡的船正在接近我们，

Magwitch and I picked up our bags，and said goodbye to Herbert and Startop，so that we would be ready to stop the ship and get on board．

我和马格韦契拿起我们的包裹，向赫伯特和史达多蒲告别，以便我们做好准备，那只船一停我们就上去。

Suddenly a boat rowed by four men appeared from nowhere and came out very fast into the centre of the river，close to us．

突然，一只4人划的船不知从什么地方来的，飞快地到了河中心，向我们逼近。

A fifth man was steering，and a sixth，his face hidden in his cloak，whispered instructions to the steerer．They all stared at us．

第4个人掌舵，第6个人用斗蓬捂着他的脸，向那个舵手耳语几句，他们都盯着我们。

You have a convict there who's returned from Australia，shouted the steerer．That's the man，in the cloak．

你们那里有一个从澳大利亚来的罪犯，那个舵手叫喊着，就是穿斗蓬的那个人，

His name is Abel Magwitch．I'm a Customs officer and I arrest him！

他叫阿伯尔·马格韦契，我是海关警官，我要逮捕他！

Suddenly their boat was touching² ours．The Hamburg ship was almost on top of us，and the ship's captain shouted the or-der to stop engines，but it was too late．

突然，他们的船撞上我们的船，那艘汉堡的船离我们近在咫尺，该船船长呼喊命令关掉发动机，可是已经太晚了。

At the same moment the Customs officer put his hand on Magwitch's shoulder，and Magwitch pulled the cloak off the other man in the boat．

同时，那个海关警官揪住马格韦契的肩膀，马格韦契扯掉在那只船上另一个人的斗蓬，

It was Compeyson！And as I watched，he fell backwards³ into the water，his face full of terror．

是康培生。当我观察的时候，他仰面朝天掉进水时，他看上去很恐惧。

The huge ship hit our tiny boat with a great crash，Somehow the Customs officers managed to get me on board their boat，with Herbert and Startop，

巨轮撞击我们的小船，伴随着巨大的轰隆声。海关警官们设法把我和赫伯特、史达多蒲救到他们的船上。

but our boat sank，and the two convicts had disappeared．

可是，我们的船下沉了，那两个逃犯已不知去向。

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

3 backwards   

adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地

参考例句：

• He turned on the light and began to pace backwards and forwards.他打开电灯并开始走来走去。
• All the girls fell over backwards to get the party ready.姑娘们迫不及待地为聚会做准备。