福爾摩斯探案集·血字的研究 第76期:復(fù)仇天使(7)

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

這兩個(gè)年輕的摩門教徒不久便發(fā)覺(jué)了企圖謀殺他們的原因。

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

于是他們帶領(lǐng)著人馬，一再進(jìn)入深山中去，打算捉住他們的敵人，或者把他殺死。但是，他們總是沒(méi)有成功。

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

于是，他們便又采取了謹(jǐn)慎的辦法，絕不單獨(dú)外出，每到天黑以后，就足不出戶了。同時(shí)，他們又派人把他們的住宅警衛(wèi)起來(lái)。

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

過(guò)了些時(shí)候，他們認(rèn)為可以放松這些措施了，因?yàn)榧葲](méi)有人聽(tīng)到過(guò)他們仇人的消息，也沒(méi)有人再見(jiàn)到他的蹤跡，

and they hoped that time had cooled his vindictiveness.

于是他們就希望，時(shí)間一久，他的復(fù)仇心也許就會(huì)冷淡下來(lái)了。

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

事情卻遠(yuǎn)非如此，可說(shuō)是，這種復(fù)仇心卻反而更加增強(qiáng)了。

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

侯波本來(lái)就具有堅(jiān)定的、不屈不撓的精神，

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

除了寢食不忘報(bào)仇以外，再也沒(méi)有任何別的情緒占據(jù)著他的心靈了。

He was, however, above all things, practical.

何況首先他是一個(gè)非常實(shí)際的人。

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

不久，他認(rèn)識(shí)到，雖然他的體格十分強(qiáng)壯，也吃不消這種過(guò)度的操勞。

Exposure and want of wholesome food were wearing him out.

風(fēng)吹日曬，無(wú)遮無(wú)蔽，而且又吃不到象樣的食物，使他的體力大大地耗損下去，

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，復(fù)仇大事又怎么辦呢？

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

而且，長(zhǎng)此下去，勢(shì)必要得到這樣的結(jié)果。

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

他覺(jué)得，這樣豈不正合了敵人的心意。

so he reluctantly returned to the old Nevada mines,

于是，他勉強(qiáng)地回到了內(nèi)華達(dá)他過(guò)去呆過(guò)的礦上去，

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

以便在那里恢復(fù)體力，并且積聚足夠的金錢，以備繼續(xù)追蹤仇人，而不致陷于饑?yán)е小?/p>

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

他原來(lái)打算至多離開(kāi)一年后就回來(lái)，

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

可是由于種種意外情況的阻撓，使他無(wú)法脫身，將近五年之久。

At the end of that time, however,

雖然五年過(guò)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.

往日切膚之痛，記憶猶新，復(fù)仇決心恰似當(dāng)年那個(gè)令人沒(méi)齒難忘的晚上，當(dāng)他站在約翰·費(fèi)瑞厄墳?zāi)古赃厱r(shí)一樣的迫切。