The wind rose,and we sailed for Alan’s country.
The sun shone in the morning and we passedmany islands. Alan and I sat in the round - house,and smoked a pipe of the captain’s fine tobacco.
風刮大了。我們向艾倫的家鄉駛去。上午,陽光燦爛,我們駛過了許多島嶼。艾倫和我坐在後甲板室,嚐了嚐船長的上等煙葉。
When I told him the story of my troubles,helistened like a good friend. But when I spoke of MrCampbell the minister,Alan was angry.
我對他講述自己的遭遇時,艾倫象一位好朋友一樣,仔細聽著。
當我講到牧師坎貝爾時,他卻生氣了。
“Why,Ala n,”I said,“Why don ’t you like theCampbe lls ?”
我問道:“艾倫,你為什麼不喜歡坎貝爾家族的人呢?”
“We ll,”he replied,“you know I am a S tewa rtfrom App in. The Campbe lls ha ve be e n our e ne mie sfor ma n y ye a rs . The y ha ve a tta cke d us a nd s tole nfrom us . The y ha ve ta ke n our la nds ,but ne ve r by thes word !ne ve r in fa ir fight!”he cried loudly,“only bytric ks a nd fa ls e words !The y cla im the y got them byla w. The y lie !a c urs e on them a ll!”
他回答說:“是這樣,你知道我出身於亞品地方的斯圖爾特家族。
坎貝爾家族是我們的世仇。他們攻打我們,盜竊我們的財產。他們掠奪我們的土地,可是從不用刀劍!
他們從來也不光明正大,用武力和我們較量!而靠要陰謀詭計,集花言巧語。他們聲稱弄走我們的東西是合法的。撒謊!這一夥該死的!”
他嚷著。
I could not believe every word of this,but Idid not tell him. I knew that the Highlanders werealways fighting and quarrelling among themselves.
我不完全相信他的話,不過沒有講出口。我早就知道,高地人總是互相爭吵不休,常常動武。
“Te ll me your own s tory,”I said. “給我講講你自己的身世吧。”
我說。
“My fa the r wa s a s oldie r in the Bla ck Wa tc h,”hesaid.“He wa s famous a t the a rt of the sword . Heta ugh t it to me . He ne ve r s a ve d a ny mone y,a nd a fte rhis de a th,I joine d the re d - coa ts .”
“我父親生前在黑色警衛隊當兵,精通刀法,聞名四方。我的刀法就是他傳授的。他一輩子沒有存下錢,所以他去世後,我就當了紅外套。”
“Wha t!”I said,“we re you in the Englis h a rmy?”
“什麼?你在英格蘭軍隊裏待過?”
“I wa s ,”Alan said,“but I de s e rte d . I cha n ge d tothe Highla nd s ide .”
艾倫回答說:“待過。可是後來我開了小差,投到高他人一邊。”
I knew that deserting was against the law. Ithought it was a very serious fault in a soldier. I didnot say so because I did not want a quarrel with myfriend.
我知道開小差是犯法的,認為那是軍人的一種嚴重過失。可是,為了避免同我的朋友爭論,我沒有這樣說。
“But Ala n ,”I said,“for a de s e rte r,the punishment is de a th .”
“不過,艾倫,逃兵是要被判處死刑的。”
“Ye s ,”he said,“I am a n outlaw,If the y ma keme priso ne r,the y will ha ng me .”
“是啊,我現在是個土匪。他們要是逮住我,會處我絞刑的。”艾倫說。
“Good he a ve ns ,ma n,”I cried,“you a re a de -s e rte r a nd a re be l a nd a n outlaw a nd a s e rva nt of theKing of Fra nc e . Wh y do you come ba ck to this country?”