血字的研究 70复仇天使（1）（在线收听）

Chapter 5 THE AVENGING ANGELS

第五章 复仇天使

ALL night their course lay through intricate defiles and over irregular and rock-strewn paths.

一夜之中，他们走过的尽是一些错综复杂的小路和崎岖难行、乱石纵横的山道。

More than once they lost their way, but Hope's intimate knowledge of the mountains enabled them to regain the track once more.

他们不止一次地迷失了路径，幸亏侯波熟悉山中情况，才使他们重新走上了正道。

When morning broke, a scene of marvellous though savage beauty lay before them.

天明以后，他们眼前出现了一幅奇景，景色虽然显得十分荒凉，但却是壮丽无比。

In every direction the great snow-capped peaks hemmed them in, peeping over each other's shoulders to the far horizon.

现在，他们置身在一片白雪披顶的群山当中；山恋重叠，一直绵延到遥远的地平线上。

So steep were the rocky banks on either side of them that the larch and the pine seemed to be suspended over their heads,

山路两旁尽是悬崖绝壁，上面生长着的落叶松，好象是悬挂在他们头上一样，

and to need only a gust of wind to come hurtling down upon them.

似乎是一阵风过就会被吹落下来压在他们头上。

Nor was the fear entirely an illusion, for the barren valley was thickly strewn with trees and boulders which had fallen in a similar manner.

但这也并不完全是空想之中的恐惧，因为在这个荒凉的山谷里，草木丛生，乱石杂陈，树石都曾这样滚下来过。

Even as they passed, a great rock came thundering down with a hoarse rattle which woke the echoes in the silent gorges, and startled the weary horses into a gallop.

在他们前进的时候，就有过一块巨石雷鸣般滚落下来，隆隆之声在这静静的峡谷里回荡着，吓得疲乏的马匹都惊奔起来。

As the sun rose slowly above the eastern horizon,

当太阳从东方地平线缓慢上升的时候，

the caps of the great mountains lit up one after the other, like lamps at a festival, until they were all ruddy and glowing.

群峰便象开宴张灯时的情景一样，一个接着一个点亮了，直到所有山头都被抹上了一缕微红，耀眼明亮起来。

The magnificent spectacle cheered the hearts of the three fugitives and gave them fresh energy.

这种奇景使得三个逃亡者精神为之一振，前进的劲头也就大了起来。

At a wild torrent which swept out of a ravine they called a halt and watered their horses, while they partook of a hasty breakfast.

他们在一个涌出激流的谷口停了下来，饮了马；在这当儿，他们也匆匆早餐一顿。

Lucy and her father would fain have rested longer, but Jefferson Hope was inexorable.

露茜和她的父亲倒愿意多休息一会儿，可是杰弗逊·侯波却坚持快走。

"They will be upon our track by this time," he said.

他说："这个时候，他们多半正沿着咱们的踪迹追了上来，

"Everything depends upon our speed. Once safe in Carson, we may rest for the remainder of our lives."

成败完全在于咱们前进的速度了。只要咱们平安地到达了卡森城，就是休息一辈子也不要紧了。"

During the whole of that day they struggled on through the defiles, and by evening they calculated that they were more than thirty miles from their enemies.

这一整天，他们在山道中奔波前进。临近黄昏的时候，计算了一下行程，他们离开敌人已经有三十多英里了。

At night-time they chose the base of a beetling crag, where the rocks offered some protection from the chill wind,

夜间，他们选择了悬岩下面可以躲避寒风的地方安顿下来。为了暖和一些，

and there, huddled together for warmth, they enjoyed a few hours' sleep.

三个人紧紧地挤在一处，睡了几个钟头。

Before daybreak, however, they were up and on their way once more.

但是，天还没亮，便又动身上路了。

They had seen no signs of any pursuers,

他们一直没有发现有人追赶的迹象，

and Jefferson Hope began to think that they were fairly out of the reach of the terrible organization whose enmity they had incurred.

因此，杰弗逊·侯波便认为他们可能已经逃出了虎口，那个迫害他们的可怕组织，现在已是鞭长莫及了。

He little knew how far that iron grasp could reach, or how soon it was to close upon them and crush them.

但是，他一点也不知道这个鹰掌究竟能够伸展多远；同时，他更没有想到，这个鹰掌立刻就要接近他们，把他们打得粉碎了。