血字的研究 76复仇天使(7)（在线收听）

The two young Mormons were not long in discovering the reason of these attempts upon their lives,

这两个年轻的摩门教徒不久便发觉了企图谋杀他们的原因。

and led repeated expeditions into the mountains in the hope of capturing or killing their enemy, but always without success.

于是他们带领着人马，一再进入深山中去，打算捉住他们的敌人，或者把他杀死。但是，他们总是没有成功。

Then they adopted the precaution of never going out alone or after nightfall, and of having their houses guarded.

于是，他们便又采取了谨慎的办法，绝不单独外出，每到天黑以后，就足不出户了。同时，他们又派人把他们的住宅警卫起来。

After a time they were able to relax these measures, for nothing was either heard or seen of their opponent,

过了些时候，他们认为可以放松这些措施了，因为既没有人听到过他们仇人的消息，也没有人再见到他的踪迹，

and they hoped that time had cooled his vindictiveness.

于是他们就希望，时间一久，他的复仇心也许就会冷淡下来了。

Far from doing so, it had, if anything, augmented it.

事情却远非如此，可说是，这种复仇心却反而更加增强了。

The hunter's mind was of a hard, unyielding nature,

侯波本来就具有坚定的、不屈不挠的精神，

and the predominant idea of revenge had taken such complete possession of it that there was no room for any other emotion.

除了寝食不忘报仇以外，再也没有任何别的情绪占据着他的心灵了。

He was, however, above all things, practical.

何况首先他是一个非常实际的人。

He soon realized that even his iron constitution could not stand the incessant strain which he was putting upon it.

不久，他认识到，虽然他的体格十分强壮，也吃不消这种过度的操劳。

Exposure and want of wholesome food were wearing him out.

风吹日晒，无遮无蔽，而且又吃不到象样的食物，使他的体力大大地耗损下去，

If he died like a dog among the mountains, what was to become of his revenge then?

倘若他象野狗似地死在大山之中，那么，复仇大事又怎么办呢？

And yet such a death was sure to overtake him if he persisted.

而且，长此下去，势必要得到这样的结果。

He felt that that was to play his enemy's game,

他觉得，这样岂不正合了敌人的心意。

so he reluctantly returned to the old Nevada mines,

于是，他勉强地回到了内华达他过去呆过的矿上去，

there to recruit his health and to amass money enough to allow him to pursue his object without privation.

以便在那里恢复体力，并且积聚足够的金钱，以备继续追踪仇人，而不致陷于饥困之中。

His intention had been to be absent a year at the most,

他原来打算至多离开一年后就回来，

but a combination of unforeseen circumstances prevented his leaving the mines for nearly five.

可是由于种种意外情况的阻挠，使他无法脱身，将近五年之久。

At the end of that time, however,

虽然五年过去了，但是在五年后的今天，

his memory of his wrongs and his craving for revenge were quite as keen as on that memorable night when he had stood by John Ferrier's grave.

往日切肤之痛，记忆犹新，复仇决心恰似当年那个令人没齿难忘的晚上，当他站在约翰·费瑞厄坟墓旁边时一样的迫切。