福爾摩斯探案集·四簽名 第55期:貝克街的偵探小隊(8)
"A savage!" I exclaimed. "Perhaps one of those Indians who were the associates of Jonathan Small."
我喊道："一個生番！可能是和瓊諾贊·斯茂同伙的一個印度人。"
"Hardly that," said he. "When first I saw signs of strange weapons I was inclined to think so,
他道：“這倒不太象。最初在我看到好象有破怪的武器的時候，我也這樣想過。
but the remarkable character of the footmarks caused me to reconsider my views.
可是由于那特殊的腳印，我就另向其他方面考慮了。
Some of the inhabitants of the Indian Peninsula are small men,
印度半島的居民有的是矮小的，
but none could have left such marks as that.
可是沒有能留這樣的腳印的。
The Hindoo proper has long and thin feet.
印度土著的腳是狹長的，
The sandal-wearing Mohammedan has the great toe well separated from the others because the thong is commonly passed between.
穿涼鞋的回教人因為鞋帶縛在緊靠大拇指的趾縫里，拇指和其他腳趾是分開的。
These little darts, too, could only be shot in one way. They are from a blow-pipe.
這些木刺只有從吹管向外發(fā)放的一個方法。這樣的生番，
Now, then, where are we to find our savage?"
我們應當往哪里去找呢？"
"South America," I hazarded.
我道："從南美洲。"
He stretched his hand up and took down a bulky volume from the shelf.
他伸出胳臂，從書架上取下了一本厚書，說道：
"This is the first volume of a gazetteer which is now being published.
"這是新出版的地理辭典第一卷，
It may be looked upon as the very latest authority. What have we here?
可以認為是最新的權威著作了。這里寫的是什么？
"Andaman Islands, situated 340 miles to the north of Sumatra, in the Bay of Bengal.
'安達曼群島位于孟加拉灣，距蘇門答臘三百四十英里。'
Hum! hum! What's all this?
喝！喝！這又是什么？
Moist climate, coral reefs, sharks, Port Blair, convict barracks, Rutland Island, cottonwoods– – Ah, here we are! "
'氣候潮濕、珊瑚暗礁、鯊魚、布勒爾港、囚犯營、羅特蘭德島、白楊樹--'??！在這里！
The aborigines of the Andaman Islands may perhaps claim the distinction of being the smallest race upon this earth,
'安達曼群島的土人，可以稱為世界上最小的人了，
though some anthropologists prefer the Bushmen of Africa, the Digger Indians of America, and the Terra del Fuegians.
雖然人類學者亦有說非洲的布史人或美洲的迪格印第安人和火地人是最矮小的。
The average height is rather below four feet,
里的人品均高度不到四英尺，
although many full-grown adults may be found who are very much smaller than this.
成年人比這個還矮的也不少。
They are a fierce, morose, and intractable people,
這他們生性兇狠、易怒而又倔強，
though capable of forming most devoted friendships when their confidence has once been gained.
但是只要和他們建立了信任和感情，他們就能至死不渝。'
