血字的研究 72复仇天使（3）（在线收听）

He had now come to the mouth of the very defile in which he had left them.

现在，他已经来到刚才把他们留下的那个山谷入口。

Even in the darkness he could recognize the outline of the cliffs which bounded it.

虽然是在黑暗之中，他也能辨认出遮断入口处的那些巨石的轮廓。

They must, he reflected, be awaiting him anxiously,for he had been absent nearly five hours.

他想，他们一定正在焦急地等待着他呢，因为他已经离开差不多有五个钟头了。

In the gladness of his heart he put his hands to his mouth and made the glen reecho to a loud halloo as a signal that he was coming.

一时高兴之下，他把两只手放在嘴边，借着峡谷的回音，大声召唤着，表示他回来了，

He paused and listened for an answer.

他停了一下，倾听着回音。

None came save his own cry, which clattered up the dreary, silent ravines, and was borne back to his ears in countless repetitions.

可是，除了他自己的呼声碰在这篇沉寂、荒凉的峡谷石壁上，折回来形成无数的回音以外，什么也没有。

Again he shouted, even louder than before, and again no whisper came back from the friends whom he had left such a short time ago.

他又叫了一声，比先前的一声更加响亮。可是，还是没有听见和他离开不久的朋友们的回音。

A vague, nameless dread came over him, and he hurried onward frantically, dropping the precious food in his agitation.

他隐隐约约地感到一种莫名的恐惧，于是便急忙奔了过去，慌忙中，他把宝贝似的兽肉也扔掉了。

When he turned the corner, he came full in sight of the spot where the fire had been lit.

他转过弯去，一眼便把刚才生火地方的情况看清楚了。

There was still a glowing pile of wood ashes there, but it had evidently not been tended since his departure.

那里仍然有着一堆炭火在闪烁发光；但是很明显，在他离开以后，再也没有人照料过。

The same dead silence still reigned all round.

周围同样是一片死寂。

With his fears all changed to convictions, he hurried on.

原有的恐惧现在变成了现实。他急忙奔向前去。

There was no living creature near the remains of the fire: animals, man, maiden, all were gone.

火堆旁没有一点活着的东西；马匹、老人和少女都不见了。

It was only too clear that some sudden and terrible disaster had occurred during his absence

这分明是在他离开以后发生了什么突如其来的可怕灾难，

a disaster which had embraced them all, and yet had left no traces behind it.

他们无一幸免，而且没有留下一点痕迹。

Bewildered and stunned by this blow, Jefferson Hope felt his head spin round, and had to lean upon his rifle to save himself from falling.

这个意外打击，使得侯波惊慌失措、目瞪口呆。他只觉得一阵天旋地转，于是赶紧抓住了他的来复枪支持着自己，以免跌倒下去。

He was essentially a man of action, however, and speedily recovered from his temporary impotence.

但是，他到底是一个意志坚强的人，很快地便从这种迷惘中清醒过来。

Seizing a half-consumed piece of wood from the smouldering fire, he blew it into a flame, and proceeded with its help to examine the little camp.

他从火堆里捡起一段半焦的木材，把它吹燃。他借着这个光亮，把这个休息的地方察看了一番。

The ground was all stamped down by the feet of horses, showing that a large party of mounted men had overtaken the fugitives,

地面上到处都是马蹄践踏的印子，这就说明：一大队骑马的人，已经追上了逃亡者。

and the direction of their tracks proved that they had afterwards turned back to Salt Lake City.

从他们去路的方向看来，证明他们后来又转回盐湖城去了。

Had they carried back both of his companions with them?

他们是否把他的两个伙伴全都带走了呢？

Jefferson Hope had almost persuaded himself that they must have done so,

侯波几乎确信他们一定是那样做了，

when his eye fell upon an object which made every nerve of his body tingle within him.

可是，当他的眼光落在一件东西上的时候，不禁使他毛发都竖了起来。

A little way on one side of the camp was a low-lying heap of reddish soil, which had assuredly not been there before.

离他们原来休息处没有几步远的地方，有一堆不高的红土，这肯定是原来所没有的。

There was no mistaking it for anything but a newly dug grave.

一点也不错，这是一个新掘成的坟墓。

As the young hunter approached it, he perceived that a stick had been planted on it, with a sheet of paper stuck in the cleft fork of it.

当这个年轻猎人走近的时候，他发觉土堆上面还插着一支木棒，木棒裂缝处夹着一张纸，

The inscription upon the paper was brief, but to the point: JOHN FERRIER,FORMERLY OF SALT LAKE CITY. Died August 4th, 1860.

纸上草草写了几个字，但却写得分明：约翰·费瑞厄生前住在盐湖城死于1860年8月4日