血字的研究 48沙漠中的旅客(6)（在线收听）

On reaching the base of the bluff they halted, and held a short council among themselves.

他们来到山脚下，停了下来，简短地商议了一会儿。

"The wells are to the right, my brothers," said one, a hard-lipped, clean- shaven man with grizzly hair.

一个嘴唇绷得紧紧的、胡子刮得光光的、头发斑白的人说："往右边走有井，弟兄。"

"To the right of the Sierra Blanco–so we shall reach the Rio Grande," said another.

另一个说："向布兰卡山的右侧前进，咱们就可以到达瑞奥·葛兰德。"

"Fear not for water," cried a third. "He who could draw it from the rocks will not now abandon His own chosen people."

第三个人大声喊道："不要担心没有水。能够从岩石中引水出来的真神，是不会舍其他的选民的。"

"Amen! amen!" responded the whole party.

"阿门!阿门!几个人同声回答道。

They were about to resume their journey when one of the youngest and keenest-eyed uttered an exclamation and pointed up at the rugged crag above them.

他们正要重新上路的时候，忽然一个年轻的眼光最锐利的小伙子指着他们头上那片嵯峨的峭壁惊叫了起来。

From its summit there fluttered a little wisp of pink, showing up hard and bright against the gray rocks behind.

原来山顶上有件很小的粉红色的东西在飘荡着，在灰色的岩石衬托下，显得非常鲜明突出。

At the sight there was a general reining up of horses and unslinging of guns, while fresh horsemen came galloping up to reinforce the vanguard.

这个东西一被发现，骑手们便一起勒住马缰，取枪在手。同时，更多的骑手从后面疾驰上来增援。

The word "Redskins" was on every lip. "There can't be any number of Injuns here," said the elderly man who appeared to be in command.

只听见异口同声一起喊叫："有了红人了。""这里不可能有红人，"一位年长的看来是领袖的人物说，

"We have passed the Pawnees, and there are no other tribes until we cross the great mountains."

"咱们已经越过波尼红人住区了，越过前面大山以前不会再有其他的部落了。"

"Shall I go forward and see, Brother Stangerson?" asked one of the band.

其中一个说道："我上去察看一下好吗，斯坦节逊兄弟？"

"And I," "And I," cried a dozen voices.

"我也去，我也去。"十多个人同声喊道。

"Leave your horses below and we will await you here," the elder answered.

那位长者回答说："把马留在下边，我们就在这里接应你们。"

In a moment the young fellows had dismounted, fastened their horses, and were ascending the precipitous slope which led up to the object which had excited their curiosity.

立刻，年轻人翻身下马，把马拴好，沿着峻峭的山坡，向着那个引其他们好奇心的目标攀登上去。

They advanced rapidly and noiselessly, with the confidence and dexterity of practised scouts.

他们迅速无声地悄悄前进，显出久经锻炼的斥候的那种沉着和矫捷的动作。

The watchers from the plain below could see them flit from rock to rock until their figures stood out against the sky-line.

山下的人们只见他们在山石间行走如飞，一直来到了山巅。

The young man who had first given the alarm was leading them.

那个最先发现情况的少年走在前面。

Suddenly his followers saw him throw up his hands, as though overcome with astonishment, and on joining him they were affected in the same way by the sight which met their eyes.

跟随在他后面的人忽然看见他两手一举，似乎显出大吃一惊的样子。大家上前一看，眼前这番情景也都使他们愣住了。

On the little plateau which crowned the barren hill there stood a single giant boulder, and against this boulder there lay a tall man, long-bearded and hard-featured, but of an excessive thinness.

在这荒山顶上的一小块平地上，有一块单独的大石头。圆石旁，躺着一个高大的男子，但见他须发长长，相貌严峻，形容枯槁。

His placid face and regular breathing showed that he was fast asleep.

从他那安详的面容和均匀的呼吸可以看出，他睡得很熟。

Beside him lay a child, with her round white arms encircling his brown sinewy neck, and her golden-haired head resting upon the breast of his velveteen tunic.

他的身旁睡着一个小女孩，小女孩的又圆又白的小手臂，搂着大人的又黑又瘦的脖子，她那披着金发的小脑袋，倚在这个穿着棉绒上身的男人的胸上，

Her rosy lips were parted, showing the regular line of snow-white teeth within, and a playful smile played over her infantile features.

红红的小嘴微微张开着，露着两排整齐雪白的牙齿，满含稚气的脸上带着顽皮的微笑；

Her plump little white legs, terminating in white socks and neat shoes with shining buckles, offered a strange contrast to the long shrivelled members of her companion.

又白又胖的小腿上，穿着白色短袜，干净的鞋子，鞋子上的扣子闪闪发光，这些和她伙伴的长大而干瘦的手足形成奇异的对比。