He loaded and primed his musket. “The lobster is going to fire,” cried a boy.  那家伙忙着装弹应付局面，“英国红虾兵要开枪了。”一个孩子尖叫，

　　Waving his piece about, the sentinel pulled the trigger.  那位哨兵端枪晃动几下，打开了扳机。

　　"If you fire you must die for it," said Henry Knox, who was passing by.  “只要开枪，你就必死无疑。”地方官亨利·诺克斯说，他当时刚巧路过。

　　"I don't care," replied the sentry, "if they touch me, I'll fire."  “我不在乎，”那哨兵回答，“如果他们胆敢碰我，我就开枪。”

　　"Fire!"shouted the boys, for they were persuaded he could not do it without leave from a civil officer;  “开枪！”那群少年连声高叫，事先有人向他们透风，假若市政官员在场的话，英国哨兵就不敢开枪。

　　and a young fellow spoke out, “We will knock him down for snapping,” while they whistled through their fingers and huzzaed.  突然，一位年轻人叫道，“把他揍倒，折断他的枪，”四下响起一片呼哨和连声哄叫。

　　"Stand off !" said the sentry, and shouted aloud, "Turn out, main guard!"  “往后退！”那英国兵高声叫唤。“快走，士兵们！”

　　"They are killing the sentinel," reported a servant from the customhouse, running to the main guard.  “暴徒们在袭击哨兵。”有人从海关处赶到驻防军总部禀告，

　　"Turn out! why don't you turn cut?" cried Preston, who was captain of the day, to the guard.  “快走！火速赶去那里。”当天执勤的上尉普雷斯顿冲着士兵们吼叫。

　　A party of six, two of whom, Kilroi and Montgomery, had been worsted at the ropewalk, formed, with a corporal in front and Preston following.  六人一行迅速赶到海关处，士兵基诺、蒙哥马利两人也其中，这些士兵与当地制绳厂工人一直交恶，冲突不断。一位下士疾走在前面，普雷斯顿上尉紧随其后。

　　With bayonets fixed, they "rushed through the people" upon the trot, cursing them, and pushing them as they went along.  他们手端刺刀“冲进人群”，边跑边咒骂推搡聚集的人群。

　　They found about ten persons round the sentry, while about fifty or sixty came down with them.  那时，他们看见大约十来人围着那位英国哨兵，还有五六十人随其身后围拢过来。

　　"For God's sake," said Knox! holding Preston by the coat, “看在上帝的份上，”地方官诺克斯抓住普雷斯顿的衣领警告，

　　take your men back again; if they fire, your life must answer for the consequences.  把你的人赶快再带回去，如果开火，你要用性命承担后果。

　　“I know what I am about,” said he hastily, and much agitated. “我知道怎么做。”普雷斯顿忙不迭地辩白，显得极为焦躁不安。