血字的研究 50沙漠中的旅客(8)

They had reached the base of the hill by this time, and were surrounded by crowds of the pilgrims–pale-faced, meek-looking women; strong, laughing children; and anxious, earnest-eyed men.

这时，他们已经来到山脚下，一大群移民立刻一拥而上，把他们围了起来，其中有面白温顺的妇女，有嬉笑健壮的儿童，还有目光恳挚的男子。

Many were the cries of astonishment¹ and of commiseration² which arose from them when they perceived the youth of one of the strangers and the destitution³ of the other.

大家看到这两个陌生人，孩子是那么幼小，大人是那么虚弱，都不禁怜悯地叹息起来。

Their escort did not halt, however, but pushed on, followed by a great crowd of Mormons, until they reached a wagon⁴, which was conspicuous⁵ for its great size and for the gaudiness⁶ and smartness of its appearance.

但是，护送的人们并没有停住脚步，他们排开众人前进，后边还跟着一大群摩门教徒，一直来到一辆马车前面。这辆马车十分高大，特别华丽讲究，和别的马车大不相同。

Six horses were yoked⁷ to it, whereas the others were furnished with two, or, at most, four apiece.

这辆车套有六七马，而别的都是两匹，最多的也不过四匹。

Beside the driver there sat a man who could not have been more than thirty years of age, but whose massive head and resolute⁸ expression marked him as a leader.

在驭者的旁边，坐着一个人，年纪不过卅岁，但是他那巨大的头颅和坚毅的神情，一看就知道他是一个领袖人物。

He was reading a brown-backed volume, but as the crowd approached he laid it aside, and listened attentively⁹ to an account of the episode.

他正在读一本棕色封面的书。当这群人来到他的面前时，他就把书放在一边，注意地听取了这件奇闻的汇报。

Then he turned to the two castaways. "If we take you with us," he said, in solemn words, "it can only be as believers in our own creed¹⁰. We shall have no wolves in our fold.

听完之后，他瞧着这两个落难人。他正言厉色地说道："只有信奉我们的宗教，我们才能带着你们一块儿走。我们不允许有狼混进我们的羊群。

Better far that your bones should bleach¹¹ in this wilderness¹² than that you should prove to be that little speck¹³ of decay which in time corrupts¹⁴ the whole fruit. Will you come with us on these terms?"

与其让你们这个腐烂的斑点日后毁坏整个的果子，那倒不如就叫你们的骸骨暴露在这旷野之中。你愿意接受这个条件跟我们走吗？"

"Guess I'll come with you on any terms," said Ferrier, with such emphasis that the grave Elders could not restrain a smile.

"我愿意跟着你们走，什么条件都行。"费瑞厄那样加重语气的说法，就连那些稳重的长老都忍不住笑了。

The leader alone retained his stern, impressive expression. "Take him, Brother Stangerson," he said, "give him food and drink, and the child likewise.

只有这位首领依旧保持着庄严、肃穆的神情。他说："斯坦节逊兄弟，你收留他吧，给他吃的喝的，也给这孩子。

Let it be your task also to teach him our holy creed. We have delayed long enough. Forward! On, on to Zion!"

你还要负责给他讲授咱们的教义。咱们耽搁的太久了，起身吧，向郇山前进！"

"On, on to Zion!" cried the crowd of Mormons, and the words rippled¹⁵ down the long caravan¹⁶, passing from mouth to mouth until they died away in a dull murmur¹⁷ in the far distance.

"前进，向郇山前进！"摩门教徒们一起喊了起来。命令象波浪一样，一个接一个地传了下去，人声渐渐地在远处消失了。

With a cracking of whips and a creaking of wheels the great wagons¹⁸ got into motion, and soon the whole caravan was winding¹⁹ along once more.

鞭声噼啪，车声隆隆，大队车马行动起来，整个行列又蜿蜒前进了。

The Elder to whose care the two waifs had been committed led them to his wagon, where a meal was already awaiting them.

斯坦节逊长老把两个落难人带到他的车里，那里早已给他们预备好了吃食。

"You shall remain here," he said. "In a few days you will have recovered from your fatigues²⁰. In the meantime, remember that now and forever you are of our religion.

他说："你们就住在这里。不久你们就能恢复疲劳了。从今以后，要永远记住，你们是我们教的教徒了。

Brigham Young has said it, and he has spoken with the voice of Joseph Smith, which is the voice of God."

卜瑞格姆·扬是这样指示的，他的话是凭借着约瑟·史密斯的声音说的，也就是传达上帝的意旨。"

1 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

2 commiseration   

n.怜悯，同情

参考例句：

• I offered him my commiseration. 我对他表示同情。
• Self- commiseration brewed in her heart. 她在心里开始自叹命苦。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

3 destitution   

n.穷困，缺乏，贫穷

参考例句：

• The people lived in destitution. 民生凋敝。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• His drinking led him to a life of destitution. 酗酒导致他生活贫穷。 来自辞典例句

4 wagon   

n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车

参考例句：

• We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
• The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。

5 conspicuous   

adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的

参考例句：

• It is conspicuous that smoking is harmful to health.很明显，抽烟对健康有害。
• Its colouring makes it highly conspicuous.它的色彩使它非常惹人注目。

6 gaudiness   

n.华美，俗丽的美

参考例句：

• July, yearses~now, at Kun mountain gaudiness plastic hardware product limited company work. 2006年7月~现在，在昆山华美塑胶五金制品有限公司工作。 来自互联网
• The European antique furniture are gaudiness. 欧洲的古典家具一向以华美著称。 来自互联网

7 yoked   

结合（yoke的过去式形式）

参考例句：

• The farmer yoked the oxen. 那个农夫给牛加上轭。
• He was yoked to an disinclined partner. 他不得不与一位不情愿的伙伴合作。

8 resolute   

adj.坚决的，果敢的

参考例句：

• He was resolute in carrying out his plan.他坚决地实行他的计划。
• The Egyptians offered resolute resistance to the aggressors.埃及人对侵略者作出坚决的反抗。

9 attentively   

adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神

参考例句：

• She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时，她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着，把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 creed   

n.信条；信念，纲领

参考例句：

• They offended against every article of his creed.他们触犯了他的每一条戒律。
• Our creed has always been that business is business.我们的信条一直是公私分明。

11 bleach   

vt.使漂白；vi.变白；n.漂白剂

参考例句：

• These products don't bleach the hair.这些产品不会使头发变白。
• Did you bleach this tablecloth?你把这块桌布漂白了吗？

12 wilderness   

n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

13 speck   

n.微粒，小污点，小斑点

参考例句：

• I have not a speck of interest in it.我对它没有任何兴趣。
• The sky is clear and bright without a speck of cloud.天空晴朗，一星星云彩也没有。

14 corrupts   

（使）败坏( corrupt的第三人称单数 )； （使）腐化； 引起（计算机文件等的）错误； 破坏

参考例句：

• The unrighteous penny corrupts the righteous pound. 不正当得来的便士使正当得来的英镑也受到玷污。
• Blue cinema corrupts the souls of people. 黄色电影腐蚀人们的灵魂。

15 rippled   

使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The lake rippled gently. 湖面轻轻地泛起涟漪。
• The wind rippled the surface of the cornfield. 微风吹过麦田，泛起一片麦浪。

16 caravan   

n.大蓬车；活动房屋

参考例句：

• The community adviser gave us a caravan to live in.社区顾问给了我们一间活动住房栖身。
• Geoff connected the caravan to the car.杰弗把旅行用的住屋拖车挂在汽车上。

17 murmur   

n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言

参考例句：

• They paid the extra taxes without a murmur.他们毫无怨言地交了附加税。
• There was a low murmur of conversation in the hall.大厅里有窃窃私语声。

18 wagons   

n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车

参考例句：

• The wagons were hauled by horses. 那些货车是马拉的。
• They drew their wagons into a laager and set up camp. 他们把马车围成一圈扎起营地。

19 winding   

n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈

参考例句：

• A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
• The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。

20 fatigues   

n.疲劳( fatigue的名词复数 )；杂役；厌倦；（士兵穿的）工作服

参考例句：

• The patient fatigues easily. 病人容易疲劳。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Instead of training the men were put on fatigues/fatigue duty. 那些士兵没有接受训练，而是派去做杂务。 来自辞典例句