月亮和六便士 第四十七章(4)

 Strickland had no papers, but that was not a matter to disconcert Tough Bill when he saw a profit 思特里克兰德没有证件，但是硬汉子彼尔只要有利可图

(he took the first month's wages of the sailor for whom he found a berth¹), （他替哪个水手介绍工作都要把人家第一个月的工资扣去），对这一点是不以为意的。

and he provided Strickland with those of an English stoker who had providentially died on his hands. 凑巧有一个英国籍的司炉住在他这里的时候死掉了，他就把这个人的证明文件给了思特里克兰德。

But both Captain Nichols and Strickland were bound East, and it chanced that the only opportunities for signing on were with ships sailing West. 但是尼柯尔斯船长同思特里克兰德两个人都要往东走，而当时需要雇用水手的船恰好都是西行的。

Twice Strickland refused a berth on tramps sailing for the United States, and once on a collier going to Newcastle. 有两次驶往美国的货轮上需要人干活都被思特里克兰德拒绝了，另外还有一艘到纽卡斯尔的煤船他也不肯去。

Tough Bill had no patience with an obstinacy² which could only result in loss to himself, 思特里克兰德这种拗脾气结果只能叫硬汉子彼尔吃亏，最后他失去了耐性，

and on the last occasion he flung both Strickland and Captain Nichols out of his house without more ado. 一脚把思特里克兰德同尼柯尔斯船长两个人一起踢出了大门。

They found themselves once more adrift. 这两个人又一次流落到街头。

Tough Bill's fare was seldom extravagant³, and you rose from his table almost as hungry as you sat down, but for some days they had good reason to regret it. 硬汉子彼尔寄宿舍的饭菜从来也称不上丰盛，吃过饭从餐桌旁站起来跟刚坐下一样饿得慌，但是尽管如此，有好几天两个人对那里的伙食还是怀念不已。

They learned what hunger was. 他们这次真正尝到挨饿是什么滋味了。

The Cuillere de Soupe and the Asile de Nuit were both closed to them, and their only sustenance⁴ was the wedge of bread which the Bouchee de Pain provided. 施舍菜汤的地方同夜宿舍都已经对他们关了门，现在他们赖以果腹的只剩下面包施舍处给的一小片面包了。

They slept where they could, sometimes in an empty truck on a siding near the station, sometimes in a cart behind a warehouse⁵; 夜里，他们能在哪儿睡觉就在哪儿睡觉，有时候在火车站岔道上一个空车皮里，有时候在货站后面一辆卡车里。

but it was bitterly cold, and after an hour or two of uneasy dozing⁶ they would tramp the streets again. 但是天气冷得要命，常常是迷迷糊糊地打一两个钟头的盹儿就得到街上走一阵暖和暖和身体。

What they felt the lack of most bitterly was tobacco, and Captain Nichols, for his part, could not do without it; 他们最难受的是没有烟抽，尼柯尔斯船长没有烟简直活不下去，

he took to hunting the "Can o' Beer," for cigarette-ends and the butt-end of cigars which the promenaders of the night before had thrown away. 于是他就开始到小啤酒馆去捡那些头天晚上夜游的人扔的烟屁股和雪茄头。

1 berth   

n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊

参考例句：

• She booked a berth on the train from London to Aberdeen.她订了一张由伦敦开往阿伯丁的火车卧铺票。
• They took up a berth near the harbor.他们在港口附近找了个位置下锚。

2 obstinacy   

n.顽固；（病痛等）难治

参考例句：

• It is a very accountable obstinacy.这是一种完全可以理解的固执态度。
• Cindy's anger usually made him stand firm to the point of obstinacy.辛迪一发怒，常常使他坚持自见，并达到执拗的地步。

3 extravagant   

adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的

参考例句：

• They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
• He is extravagant in behaviour.他行为放肆。

4 sustenance   

n.食物，粮食；生活资料；生计

参考例句：

• We derive our sustenance from the land.我们从土地获取食物。
• The urban homeless are often in desperate need of sustenance.城市里无家可归的人极其需要食物来维持生命。

5 warehouse   

n.仓库；vt.存入仓库

参考例句：

• We freighted the goods to the warehouse by truck.我们用卡车把货物运到仓库。
• The manager wants to clear off the old stocks in the warehouse.经理想把仓库里积压的存货处理掉。

6 dozing   

v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡

参考例句：

• The economy shows no signs of faltering. 经济没有衰退的迹象。
• He never falters in his determination. 他的决心从不动摇。