血字的研究 69逃命(8)（在线收听）

With unerring instinct Jefferson Hope picked his way among the great boulders and along the bed of a dried-up watercourse,

侯波凭着他毫无差错的本领，在一堆乱石之中拾路前进，

until he came to the retired corner screened with rocks, where the faithful animals had been picketed.

他沿着一条干涸了的小溪来到一个山石屏障着的平静所在。三匹忠心的骡、马都拴在那里。

The girl was placed upon the mule, and old Ferrier upon one of the horses, with his money-bag,

露茜骑上一匹骡子。老费瑞厄带着他的钱袋，骑上了一骑马。

while Jefferson Hope led the other along the precipitous and dangerous path.

杰弗逊·侯波骑着另外一匹，沿着险峻的山道,引导着他们前进。

It was a bewildering route for anyone who was not accustomed to face Nature in her wildest moods.

对于任何不熟悉大自然赤裸裸的面目的人来说，这种崎岖山路定会使他们惊骇却步的。

On the one side a great crag towered up a thousand feet or more, black, stern, and menacing, with long basaltic columns upon its rugged surface like the ribs of some petrified monster.

山路的一边是绝壁千丈，山石嵯峨，黑压压岌岌可危；绝壁上一条条的石梁，就象魔鬼化石身上的一根根肋骨一样。

On the other hand a wild chaos of boulders and debris made all advance impossible.

另一边则是乱石纵横，无路可走。

Between the two ran the irregular tracks, so narrow in places that they had to travel in Indian file, and so rough that only practised riders could have traversed it at all.

在这中间，只有这条曲曲弯弯的小道。有些地方十分狭窄，只容单人通过。山路崎岖难行，只有长于骑马的人才能通过。

Yet, in spite of all dangers and difficulties, the hearts of the fugitives were light within them,

尽管有这许多困难，但是，这几个逃亡者的心情却是愉快的，

for every step increased the distance between them and the terrible despotism from which they were flying.

因为他们前进一步，也就和他们刚刚逃出来的那个暴政横行之所在远离了一步。

They soon had a proof, however, that they were still within the jurisdiction of the Saints.

但是，他们不久便发现了，他们仍然还没有逃出摩门教徒的势力范围。

They had reached the very wildest and most desolate portion of the pass when the girl gave a startled cry, and pointed upwards.

当他们来到山路中最为荒凉的地段时，露茜突然惊叫了起来，用手向上指着。

On a rock which overlooked the track, showing out dark and plain against the sky, there stood a solitary sentinel.

原来有一块俯临山路的岩石，在天光衬托之下显得非常黯黑而单调，岩石上孤零零地站着一个防哨。

He saw them as soon as they perceived him, and his military challenge of "Who goes there?" rang through the silent ravine.

他们发觉他的时候，他也看见了他们。于是，静静的山谷里响起了一声部队上的吆喝声："谁在那里走动？"

"Travellers for Nevada," said Jefferson Hope, with his hand upon the rifle which hung by his saddle.

"是往内华达去的旅客。"杰弗逊·侯波应声答道，一面握住鞍旁的来复枪。

They could see the lonely watcher fingering his gun, and peering down at them as if dissatisfied at their reply.

他们可以看见，这个孤单的防哨手指扣着扳机，向下瞧着他们，似乎对他们的回答感到不满意。

"By whose permission?" he asked.

哨兵又叫道，"是谁准许的？"

"The Holy Four," answered Ferrier.

费瑞厄回答说："四圣准许的。"

His Mormon experiences had taught him that that was the highest authority to which he could refer.

根据他在摩门教中的经验，就他所知，教中最高的权威就是四圣。

"Nine to seven," cried the sentinel.

哨兵叫道："九到七。"

"Seven to five," returned Jefferson Hope promptly, remembering the countersign which he had heard in the garden.

"七到五。"杰弗逊·侯波马上回答说，他想起了他在花园中听到的这句口令。

"Pass, and the Lord go with you," said the voice from above.

上面的人说："过去吧，上帝保佑你们。"

Beyond his post the path broadened out, and the horses were able to break into a trot.

过了这一关后，前面的道路就宽阔起来了，马匹可以放开脚步，小跑前进了。

Looking back, they could see the solitary watcher leaning upon his gun, and knew that they had passed the outlying post of the chosen people, and that freedom lay before them.

回过头来，他们还能看见那个防哨，倚着他的枪支，孤零零地站在那里。这时，他们知道，他们已经闯过了摩门教区的边防要隘，自由就在前面了。