福爾摩斯探案集·四簽名 第47期:木桶的插曲(9)

We had during this time been following the guidance of Toby down the half-rural villa-lined roads which lead to the metropolis.

我們跟隨著透比到達(dá)了通往倫敦市區(qū)的路上，兩旁是半村舍式的別墅，

Now, however, we were beginning to come among continuous streets,

已經(jīng)臨近了人煙稠密的大街。

where labourers and dockmen were already astir,

勞動(dòng)的人和碼頭工人正在起床，

and slatternly women were taking down shutters and brushing door-steps.

家庭婦女們正在開門打掃門階。

At the square-topped corner public-houses business was just beginning,

街角上四方房頂?shù)木起^剛剛開始營業(yè)，

and rough-looking men were emerging, rubbing their sleeves across their beards after their morning wet.

粗壯的漢子們從酒館里出來，用他們的袖子擦去胡子上沾的酒。

Strange dogs sauntered up and stared wonderingly at us as we passed,

野犬在街頭張大了眼睛望著我們，

but our inimitable Toby looked neither to the right nor to the left

可是我們忠心無比的透比，毫不左瞻右顧，

but trotted onward with his nose to the ground and an occasional eager whine which spoke of a hot scent.

鼻子沖著地，一直往前，偶爾從鼻子里發(fā)出一陣急切的叫聲，說明所循的氣味仍很濃厚。

We had traversed Streatham, Brixton, Camberwell,

我們經(jīng)過了斯特萊塞姆區(qū)，布瑞克斯吞區(qū)，坎伯韋爾區(qū)，

and now found ourselves in Kennington Lane,

繞過了許多條小衖，

having borne away through the side streets to the east of the Oval.

一直走到奧弗爾區(qū)的東面才到達(dá)了肯寧頓路。

The men whom we pursued seemed to have taken a curiously zigzag road,

我們所追尋的人仿佛是專走彎曲的路，

with the idea probably of escaping observation.

也許是故意避免被人跟蹤，

They had never kept to the main road if a parallel side street would serve their turn.

只要有曲折前行的小路，他們就避開正路。

At the foot of Kennington Lane they had edged away to the left through Bond Street and Miles Street.

從肯寧頓路的盡頭，他們轉(zhuǎn)向左行，經(jīng)過證券街，麥爾斯路

Where the latter street turns into Knight's Place,

到達(dá)了騎士街。

Toby ceased to advance but began to run backward and forward with one ear cocked and the other drooping,

透比忽然不再往前走了，只是來回亂跑，一只耳朵下垂，一只耳朵豎立，

the very picture of canine indecision.

似乎在遲疑不決。

Then he waddled round in circles, looking up to us from time to time, as if to ask for sympathy in his embarrassment.

后來又打了幾個(gè)轉(zhuǎn)，抬起頭來，似乎向我們請(qǐng)示。

"What the deuce is the matter with the dog?" growled Holmes.

福爾摩斯呵叱道："這只狗是怎么回事？

"They surely would not take a cab or go off in a balloon."

罪犯們不會(huì)上車的，也不會(huì)乘上氣球逃跑。"

"Perhaps they stood here for some time," I suggested.

我建議道："他們可能在這里停過一回兒。"

"Ah! it's all right. He's off again," said my companion in a tone of relief.

我的伙伴心安了，他道："??！好了，它又走啦。"

He was indeed off, for after sniffing round again

狗確是重新前進(jìn)了。

he suddenly made up his mind and darted away with an energy and determination such as he had not yet shown.

它往四下里又聞了一陣之后，似乎是突然間下了決心，以前所未有的力量和決心飛跑起來。

The scent appeared to be much hotter than before,

這氣味似乎較前更重了，

for he had not even to put his nose on the ground but tugged at his leash and tried to break into a run.

因?yàn)樗巡恍枰亲又?，而使勁牽直了繩子往前奔跑。

I could see by the gleam in Holmes's eyes that he thought we were nearing the end of our journey.

福爾摩斯兩眼發(fā)亮，似乎覺得已經(jīng)快到匪穴了。

Our course now ran down Nine Elms until we came to Broderick and Nelson's large timber-yard just past the White Eagle tavern.

我們經(jīng)過九榆樹到了白鷹酒店附近的布羅德里克和納爾遜大木場。

Here the dog, frantic with excitement,

這只狗興奮而緊張，

turned down through the side gate into the enclosure, where the sawyers were already at work.

從旁門跑進(jìn)了鋸木工人已經(jīng)上工的木場，

On the dog raced through sawdust and shavings,

它繼續(xù)穿過成堆的鋸末和刨花，

down an alley, round a passage, between two wood-piles,

在兩旁堆積木材的小路上跑著，

and finally, with a triumphant yelp, sprang upon a large barrel which still stood upon the hand-trolley on which it had been brought.

最后很得意地叫著跳上了還在手車上沒有卸下來的一只木桶上面。

With lolling tongue and blinking eyes Toby stood upon the cask,

透比伸著舌頭，眼睛眨巴著站在木桶上，

looking from one to the other of us for some sign of appreciation.

望著我們兩人表示得意。

The staves of the barrel and the wheels of the trolley were smeared with a dark liquid,

桶邊和手車的輪上都沾滿了黑色的油漬，

and the whole air was heavy with the smell of creosote.

空氣中有濃重的木餾油氣味。

Sherlock Holmes and I looked blankly at each other

歇洛克·福爾摩斯和我面面相覷，

and then burst simultaneously into an uncontrollable fit of laughter.

不覺同時(shí)仰天大笑起來