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Book 3 Chapter 8
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So the convicts were still there, watching the corral, and determined1 to kill the settlers one after the other. There was nothing to be done but to treat them as wild beasts. But great precautions must be taken, for just now the wretches2 had the advantage on their side, seeing, and not being seen, being able to surprise by the suddenness of their attack, yet not to be surprised themselves. Harding made arrangements, therefore, for living in the corral, of which the provisions would last for a tolerable length of time. Ayrton's house had been provided with all that was necessary for existence, and the convicts, scared by the arrival of the settlers, had not had time to pillage3 it. It was probable, as Gideon Spilett observed, that things had occurred as follows:

The six convicts, disembarking on the island, had followed the southern shore, and after having traversed the double shore of the Serpentine4 Peninsula, not being inclined to venture into the Far West woods, they had reached the mouth of Falls River. From this point, by following the right bank of the watercourse, they would arrive at the spurs of Mount Franklin, among which they would naturally seek a retreat, and they could not have been long in discovering the corral, then uninhabited. There they had regularly installed themselves, awaiting the moment to put their abominable5 schemes into execution. Ayrton's arrival had surprised them, but they had managed to overpower the unfortunate man, and--the rest may be easily imagined!

Now, the convicts,--reduced to five, it is true, but well armed,--were roaming the woods, and to venture there was to expose themselves to their attacks, which could be neither guarded against nor prevented.

"Wait! There is nothing else to be done!" repeated Cyrus Harding. "When Herbert is cured, we can organize a general battle of the island, and have satisfaction of these convicts. That will be the object of our grand expedition at the same time--"

"As the search for our mysterious protector," added Gideon Spilett, finishing the engineer's sentence. "An, it must be acknowledged, my dear Cyrus, that this time his protection was wanting at the very moment when it was most necessary to us!"

"Who knows?" replied the engineer.

"What do you mean?" asked the reporter.

"That we are not at the end of our trouble yet, my dear Spilett, and that his powerful intervention6 may have another opportunity of exercising itself. But that is not the question now. Herbert's life before everything."

This was the colonists7' saddest thought. Several days passed, and the poor boy's state was happily no worse. Cold water, always kept at a suitable temperature, had completely prevented the inflammation of the wounds. It even seemed to the reporter that this water, being slightly sulphurous,--which was explained by the neighborhood of the volcano, had a more direct action on the healing. The suppuration was much less abundant, and thanks to the incessant8 care by which he was surrounded!--Herbert returned to life, and his fever abated9. He was besides subjected to a severe diet, and consequently his weakness was and would be extreme; but there was no want of refreshing10 drinks, and absolute rest was of the greatest benefit to him. Cyrus Harding, Gideon Spilett, and Pencroft had become very skilful11 in dressing12 the lad's wounds. All the linen13 in the house had been sacrificed. Herbert's wounds, covered with compresses and lint14, were pressed neither too much nor too little, so as to cause their cicatrization without effecting any inflammatory reaction. The reporter used extreme care in the dressing, knowing well the importance of it, and repeating to his companions that which most surgeons willingly admit, that it is perhaps rarer to see a dressing well done than an operation well performed.

In ten days, on the 22nd of November, Herbert was considerably15 better. He had begun to take some nourishment16.

The color was returning to his cheeks, and his bright eyes smiled at his nurses. He talked a little, notwithstanding Pencroft's efforts, who talked incessantly17 to prevent him from beginning to speak, and told him the most improbable stories. Herbert had questioned him on the subject of Ayrton, whom he was astonished not to see near him, thinking that he was at the corral. But the sailor, not wishing to distress18 Herbert, contented19 himself by replying that Ayrton had rejoined Neb, so as to defend Granite20 House.

"Humph!" said Pencroft, "these pirates! they are gentlemen who have no right to any consideration! And the captain wanted to win them by kindness! I'll send them some kindness, but in the shape of a good bullet!"

"And have they not been seen again?" asked Herbert.

"No, my boy," answered the sailor, "but we shall find them, and when you are cured we shall see if the cowards who strike us from behind will dare to meet us face to face!"

"I am still very weak, my poor Pencroft!"

"Well! your strength will return gradually! What's a ball through the chest? Nothing but a joke! I've seen many, and I don't think much of them!"

At last things appeared to be going on well, and if no complication occurred, Herbert's recovery might be regarded as certain. But what would have been the condition of the colonists if his state had been aggravated21, --if, for example, the ball had remained in his body, if his arm or his leg had had to be amputated?

"No," said Spilett more than once, "I have never thought of such a contingency22 without shuddering23!"

"And yet, if it had been necessary to operate," said Harding one day to him, "you would not have hesitated?"

"No, Cyrus!" said Gideon Spilett, "but thank God that we have been spared this complication!"

As in so many other conjectures24, the colonists had appealed to the logic25 of that simple good sense of which they had made use so often, and once more, thanks to their general knowledge, it had succeeded! But might not a time come when all their science would be at fault? They were alone on the island. Now, men in all states of society are necessary to each other. Cyrus Harding knew this well, and sometimes he asked if some circumstance might not occur which they would be powerless to surmount26. It appeared to him besides, that he and his companions, till then so fortunate, had entered into an unlucky period. During the two years and a half which had elapsed since their escape from Richmond, it might be said that they had had everything their own way. The island had abundantly supplied them with minerals, vegetables, animals, and as Nature had constantly loaded them, their science had known how to take advantage of what she offered them.

The wellbeing of the colony was therefore complete. Moreover, in certain occurrences an inexplicable27 influence had come to their aid!... But all that could only be for a time.

In short, Cyrus Harding believed that fortune had turned against them.

In fact, the convicts' ship had appeared in the waters of the island, and if the pirates had been, so to speak, miraculously28 destroyed, six of them, at least, had escaped the catastrophe29. They had disembarked on the island, and it was almost impossible to get at the five who survived. Ayrton had no doubt been murdered by these wretches, who possessed30 firearms, and at the first use that they had made of them, Herbert had fallen, wounded almost mortally. Were these the first blows aimed by adverse31 fortune at the colonists? This was often asked by Harding. This was often repeated by the reporter; and it appeared to him also that the intervention, so strange, yet so efficacious, which till then had served them so well, had now failed them. Had this mysterious being, whatever he was, whose existence could not be denied, abandoned the island? Had he in his turn succumbed32?

No reply was possible to these questions. But it must not be imagined that because Harding and his companions spoke33 of these things, they were men to despair. Far from that. They looked their situation in the face, they analyzed34 the chances, they prepared themselves for any event, they stood firm and straight before the future, and if adversity was at last to strike them, it would find in them men prepared to struggle against it.

事实说明,罪犯们还在附近监视着畜栏,企图把居民们一个一个地杀死。对待这些强盗没有别的办法,只能把他们当作野兽。现在居民们必须加倍小心,因为目前的形势对这帮匪徒有利,他们看得见居民,居民却看不见他们,他们可以采取冷不提防的突击,而本身却不会受到意外的进攻。于是史密斯作了一些安排,打算住在畜栏里。这里的食品还可以维持一个相当长的时期。艾尔通的房子里备有各种生活必需品,由于居民们来得突然,罪犯们来不及把东西抢走就吓跑了。根据吉丁·史佩莱的估计,事情的经过可能是这样的:这六个罪犯在岛上登陆以后,沿着南部海滨前进,他们从盘蛇半岛的海岸这边一直穿到海岸那边,没有冒险进入远西森林,却到了瀑布河口。从河口沿着右岸可以一直走到富兰克林山的支脉下,在那里不难找到一个安身的地方,这样,很快就发现当时没有人住的畜栏了。他们在这里正式地住了下来,随时准备着实现他们可怕的阴谋。艾尔通回到畜栏里来使他们吃了一惊,可是他们到底想法子打败了这个不幸的人——其余的情况就不难想象了!

不错,现在只剩下了五个罪犯,可是他们却都是全副武装,而且在森林里出没。要冒险到森林里去,就等于送上门去让他们打;对于他们的攻击,既不能预防,又不能阻止。

“等着吧!现在想不出别的办法!”赛勒斯·史密斯一再地说。“等赫伯特好了以后,我们要在岛上进行一次全面的搜捕,那时候就可以拿这帮罪犯出一口气了。这就是我们大规模出征的目的,同时……”

“我们还要寻找那位神秘的保卫者,”吉丁·史佩莱接着说出了工程师要说的话。“啊,应该承认,亲爱的赛勒斯,在这次最紧要的关头,他却没有保护我们!”

“谁知道呢?”工程师说。

“这话是什么意思?”通讯记者问道。

“我们还没有到山穷水尽的地步呢,亲爱的史佩莱,他也许会在另外的一个场合,运用他的创造性的力量的。可是这不是当前的重要问题,现在重要的是赫伯特的性命问题。”

这是居民们最担心的事。又过了几天,幸而可怜的少年,情况并没有恶化。冷水始终保持着适当的温度,因此到现在为止,创口一点儿没有发炎。由于靠近火山,水里含有少量的硫,通讯记者甚至觉得它能直接起医疗作用。多亏周围的人不断看护,赫伯特保住了性命,化脓比以前少得多了,热度也下降了。由于他们严格地限制他的饮食,因此他的身体变得非常虚弱,而且以后还要继续一个时期;然而清凉的饮料却可以尽量喝,同时,对他说来,只要保持绝对的休息就有莫大的好处。赛勒斯·史密斯、吉丁·史佩莱和潘克洛夫敷裹少年的创口的技术已经十分高明。屋子里的布料全都给他用光了。赫伯特的创口上盖着敷布和棉花,包扎得不松不紧,以便使创口合拢而不致最后出现发炎的反映。通讯记者在敷裹的过程中十分仔细,他知道这道手续的重要性,他一再向伙伴们谈到绝大部分的外科医生都承认的一件事实,那就是:良好的敷裹比良好的手术更加少见。

十天以后,11月22日,赫伯特的身体好得多了。他已经开始吃一些营养品。他的脸上重新出现了原有的光彩,他睁着亮晶晶的眼睛对看护们微笑着。尽管潘克洛夫费尽气力,不住嘴地和他说话,把最稀奇古怪的故事讲给他听,好不让他有机会开口;可是他还是说了几句。赫伯特问到艾尔通,他以为艾尔通还在畜栏里,因为没有看见他,感到有些奇怪。水手为了不让赫伯特难受,只好回说艾尔通和纳布一起保卫“花岗石宫”去了。

“哼!”潘克洛夫说,“这些强盗!这些家伙丝毫也不值得怜借!史密斯先生还想用仁义道德去说服他们呢:我也要给他们一些仁义道德,不过我的仁义道德就是大粒的子弹!”

“以后没有再发现他们吗?”赫伯特问道。

“没有,孩子,”水手回答说,“可是我们会找到他们的,等你好了以后,我们就可以瞧瞧,看这些暗箭伤人的胆小鬼敢不敢露面!”

“我的身体还很弱呢,我的潘克洛夫!”

“不要紧!你的体力慢慢就会恢复的!一颗子弹打穿胸口算得了什么?简直是开玩笑:这种事情我见得多了,没有什么了不起的!”

情况终于好转了,要是不再有什么共发症,赫伯特的痊愈就可以肯定了。可是,如果他的伤势比现在严重得多——譬如枪弹在身体内部没出来,或是必须锯断手足——那时候移民们该怎么办呢?

“真的,”史佩莱不止一次地说,“一想到这种意外的时候,我就止不住要打寒噤!”

“可是,如果到了不动手术就不行的时候,”史密斯有一天对他说,“你会犹豫吗?”

“不会,赛勒斯!”吉丁·史佩莱说,“可是谢天谢地,幸亏没有发生这样的共发症!”

居民们过去曾经屡次运用他们的简单而良好的理智进行分析讨论,这次和往常一样,多亏他们的一般常识丰富,结果又成功了!但是会不会遇到用尽他们的全部科学知识,仍旧解决不了困难的时候呢?社会上是必须有各种人在一起互相依赖的,岛上却只有他们这一群人。赛勒斯·史密斯非常明白这一点,有时候他问自己,如果遇到他们无能为力的情况时,那应该怎么办呢?他还有一种看法,他和他的伙伴们一向是幸运的,现在似乎进入一个不幸的阶段了。可以这样说,自从他们逃出里士满,两年半以来,他们向来是想什么就能够有什么。岛上供给了他们大量的矿物、植物和动物。自然界不断地供应各种物资,他们也就不断地依靠自己所掌握的科学知识,充分地加以利用。

因此,小队是十分幸福的。并且,在某些情况下,还有一种不可思议的力量在帮助他们!……可是,这一切都仅仅是过去的情况。

一句话,赛勒斯·史密斯感到他们开始走下坡路了。

的确,由于罪犯们的船来到荒岛的沿海一带,虽然海盗们可说是神秘地毁灭了,但是至少其中有六个人逃脱了这场灾难。他们在岛上登了陆;要想捉住这五个残匪几乎是不可能的。艾尔通一定已经被他们杀害了,他们携带着武器,第一次使用武器,就险些要了赫伯特的命。史密斯常常想:这仅仅是厄运给移民们的第一次打击吗?通讯记者也常常这样反复地思索;他还感到,一向给他们很大帮助的神奇而有效的援救,现在对他们也不灵了。不管这个神秘的人是谁,反正肯定是有这么一个人的,他是不是已经离开荒岛了呢?是不是也轮到他没有办法的时候了呢?

这些问题是无法解答的。但是我们却不能认为,由于史密斯和他的伙伴们说出这样的话来,他们就灰心绝望了。决不是那样。他们面对着自己的处境,分析了一切可能,随时准备应付任何一种局面;他们坚忍不拔,不屈不挠地迎接未来。即使最后要遭到灾难的打击,他们也会勇往直前地进行斗争的。


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
2 wretches 279ac1104342e09faf6a011b43f12d57     
n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 );可怜的人;恶棍;坏蛋
参考例句:
  • The little wretches were all bedraggledfrom some roguery. 小淘气们由于恶作剧而弄得脏乎乎的。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • The best courage for us poor wretches is to fly from danger. 对我们这些可怜虫说来,最好的出路还是躲避危险。 来自辞典例句
3 pillage j2jze     
v.抢劫;掠夺;n.抢劫,掠夺;掠夺物
参考例句:
  • The invading troops were guilty of rape and pillage.侵略军犯了抢劫和强奸的罪。
  • It was almost pillage.这简直是一场洗劫。
4 serpentine MEgzx     
adj.蜿蜒的,弯曲的
参考例句:
  • One part of the Serpentine is kept for swimmers.蜿蜒河的一段划为游泳区。
  • Tremolite laths and serpentine minerals are present in places.有的地方出现透闪石板条及蛇纹石。
5 abominable PN5zs     
adj.可厌的,令人憎恶的
参考例句:
  • Their cruel treatment of prisoners was abominable.他们虐待犯人的做法令人厌恶。
  • The sanitary conditions in this restaurant are abominable.这家饭馆的卫生状况糟透了。
6 intervention e5sxZ     
n.介入,干涉,干预
参考例句:
  • The government's intervention in this dispute will not help.政府对这场争论的干预不会起作用。
  • Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.许多人觉得他会反对外来干预。
7 colonists 4afd0fece453e55f3721623f335e6c6f     
n.殖民地开拓者,移民,殖民地居民( colonist的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Colonists from Europe populated many parts of the Americas. 欧洲的殖民者移居到了美洲的许多地方。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Some of the early colonists were cruel to the native population. 有些早期移居殖民地的人对当地居民很残忍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
8 incessant WcizU     
adj.不停的,连续的
参考例句:
  • We have had incessant snowfall since yesterday afternoon.从昨天下午开始就持续不断地下雪。
  • She is tired of his incessant demands for affection.她厌倦了他对感情的不断索取。
9 abated ba788157839fe5f816c707e7a7ca9c44     
减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 ); 减去; 降价; 撤消(诉讼)
参考例句:
  • The worker's concern about cuts in the welfare funding has not abated. 工人们对削减福利基金的关心并没有减少。
  • The heat has abated. 温度降低了。
10 refreshing HkozPQ     
adj.使精神振作的,使人清爽的,使人喜欢的
参考例句:
  • I find it'so refreshing to work with young people in this department.我发现和这一部门的青年一起工作令人精神振奋。
  • The water was cold and wonderfully refreshing.水很涼,特别解乏提神。
11 skilful 8i2zDY     
(=skillful)adj.灵巧的,熟练的
参考例句:
  • The more you practise,the more skilful you'll become.练习的次数越多,熟练的程度越高。
  • He's not very skilful with his chopsticks.他用筷子不大熟练。
12 dressing 1uOzJG     
n.(食物)调料;包扎伤口的用品,敷料
参考例句:
  • Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。
  • The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。
13 linen W3LyK     
n.亚麻布,亚麻线,亚麻制品;adj.亚麻布制的,亚麻的
参考例句:
  • The worker is starching the linen.这名工人正在给亚麻布上浆。
  • Fine linen and cotton fabrics were known as well as wool.精细的亚麻织品和棉织品像羊毛一样闻名遐迩。
14 lint 58azy     
n.线头;绷带用麻布,皮棉
参考例句:
  • Flicked the lint off the coat.把大衣上的棉绒弹掉。
  • There are a few problems of air pollution by chemicals,lint,etc.,but these are minor.化学品、棉花等也造成一些空气污染问题,但这是次要的。
15 considerably 0YWyQ     
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上
参考例句:
  • The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
  • The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。
16 nourishment Ovvyi     
n.食物,营养品;营养情况
参考例句:
  • Lack of proper nourishment reduces their power to resist disease.营养不良降低了他们抵抗疾病的能力。
  • He ventured that plants draw part of their nourishment from the air.他大胆提出植物从空气中吸收部分养分的观点。
17 incessantly AqLzav     
ad.不停地
参考例句:
  • The machines roar incessantly during the hours of daylight. 机器在白天隆隆地响个不停。
  • It rained incessantly for the whole two weeks. 雨不间断地下了整整两个星期。
18 distress 3llzX     
n.苦恼,痛苦,不舒适;不幸;vt.使悲痛
参考例句:
  • Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
  • Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。
19 contented Gvxzof     
adj.满意的,安心的,知足的
参考例句:
  • He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
  • The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。
20 granite Kyqyu     
adj.花岗岩,花岗石
参考例句:
  • They squared a block of granite.他们把一块花岗岩加工成四方形。
  • The granite overlies the older rocks.花岗岩躺在磨损的岩石上面。
21 aggravated d0aec1b8bb810b0e260cb2aa0ff9c2ed     
使恶化( aggravate的过去式和过去分词 ); 使更严重; 激怒; 使恼火
参考例句:
  • If he aggravated me any more I shall hit him. 假如他再激怒我,我就要揍他。
  • Far from relieving my cough, the medicine aggravated it. 这药非但不镇咳,反而使我咳嗽得更厉害。
22 contingency vaGyi     
n.意外事件,可能性
参考例句:
  • We should be prepared for any contingency.我们应该对任何应急情况有所准备。
  • A fire in our warehouse was a contingency that we had not expected.库房的一场大火是我们始料未及的。
23 shuddering 7cc81262357e0332a505af2c19a03b06     
v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 );发抖;(机器、车辆等)突然震动;颤动
参考例句:
  • 'I am afraid of it,'she answered, shuddering. “我害怕,”她发着抖,说。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
  • She drew a deep shuddering breath. 她不由得打了个寒噤,深深吸了口气。 来自飘(部分)
24 conjectures 8334e6a27f5847550b061d064fa92c00     
推测,猜想( conjecture的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • That's weighing remote military conjectures against the certain deaths of innocent people. 那不过是牵强附会的军事假设,而现在的事实却是无辜者正在惨遭杀害,这怎能同日而语!
  • I was right in my conjectures. 我所猜测的都应验了。
25 logic j0HxI     
n.逻辑(学);逻辑性
参考例句:
  • What sort of logic is that?这是什么逻辑?
  • I don't follow the logic of your argument.我不明白你的论点逻辑性何在。
26 surmount Lrqwh     
vt.克服;置于…顶上
参考例句:
  • We have many problems to surmount before we can start the project.我们得克服许多困难才能著手做这项工作。
  • We are fully confident that we can surmount these difficulties.我们完全相信我们能够克服这些困难。
27 inexplicable tbCzf     
adj.无法解释的,难理解的
参考例句:
  • It is now inexplicable how that development was misinterpreted.当时对这一事态发展的错误理解究竟是怎么产生的,现在已经无法说清楚了。
  • There are many things which are inexplicable by science.有很多事科学还无法解释。
28 miraculously unQzzE     
ad.奇迹般地
参考例句:
  • He had been miraculously saved from almost certain death. 他奇迹般地从死亡线上获救。
  • A schoolboy miraculously survived a 25 000-volt electric shock. 一名男学生在遭受2.5 万伏的电击后奇迹般地活了下来。
29 catastrophe WXHzr     
n.大灾难,大祸
参考例句:
  • I owe it to you that I survived the catastrophe.亏得你我才大难不死。
  • This is a catastrophe beyond human control.这是一场人类无法控制的灾难。
30 possessed xuyyQ     
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的
参考例句:
  • He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
  • He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。
31 adverse 5xBzs     
adj.不利的;有害的;敌对的,不友好的
参考例句:
  • He is adverse to going abroad.他反对出国。
  • The improper use of medicine could lead to severe adverse reactions.用药不当会产生严重的不良反应。
32 succumbed 625a9b57aef7b895b965fdca2019ba63     
不再抵抗(诱惑、疾病、攻击等)( succumb的过去式和过去分词 ); 屈从; 被压垮; 死
参考例句:
  • The town succumbed after a short siege. 该城被围困不久即告失守。
  • After an artillery bombardment lasting several days the town finally succumbed. 在持续炮轰数日后,该城终于屈服了。
33 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
34 analyzed 483f1acae53789fbee273a644fdcda80     
v.分析( analyze的过去式和过去分词 );分解;解释;对…进行心理分析
参考例句:
  • The doctors analyzed the blood sample for anemia. 医生们分析了贫血的血样。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The young man did not analyze the process of his captivation and enrapturement, for love to him was a mystery and could not be analyzed. 这年轻人没有分析自己蛊惑著迷的过程,因为对他来说,爱是个不可分析的迷。 来自《简明英汉词典》


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