四签名 55贝克街的侦探小队（8）（在线收听）

"A savage!" I exclaimed. "Perhaps one of those Indians who were the associates of Jonathan Small."

我喊道："一个生番！可能是和琼诺赞·斯茂同伙的一个印度人。"

"Hardly that," said he. "When first I saw signs of strange weapons I was inclined to think so,

他道：“这倒不太象。最初在我看到好象有破怪的武器的时候，我也这样想过。

but the remarkable character of the footmarks caused me to reconsider my views.

可是由于那特殊的脚印，我就另向其他方面考虑了。

Some of the inhabitants of the Indian Peninsula are small men,

印度半岛的居民有的是矮小的，

but none could have left such marks as that.

可是没有能留这样的脚印的。

The Hindoo proper has long and thin feet.

印度土著的脚是狭长的，

The sandal-wearing Mohammedan has the great toe well separated from the others because the thong is commonly passed between.

穿凉鞋的回教人因为鞋带缚在紧靠大拇指的趾缝里，拇指和其他脚趾是分开的。

These little darts, too, could only be shot in one way. They are from a blow-pipe.

这些木刺只有从吹管向外发放的一个方法。这样的生番，

Now, then, where are we to find our savage?"

我们应当往哪里去找呢？"

"South America," I hazarded.

我道："从南美洲。"

He stretched his hand up and took down a bulky volume from the shelf.

他伸出胳臂，从书架上取下了一本厚书，说道：

"This is the first volume of a gazetteer which is now being published.

"这是新出版的地理辞典第一卷，

It may be looked upon as the very latest authority. What have we here?

可以认为是最新的权威著作了。这里写的是什么？

"Andaman Islands, situated 340 miles to the north of Sumatra, in the Bay of Bengal.

'安达曼群岛位于孟加拉湾，距苏门答腊三百四十英里。'

Hum! hum! What's all this?

喝！喝！这又是什么？

Moist climate, coral reefs, sharks, Port Blair, convict barracks, Rutland Island, cottonwoods– – Ah, here we are! "

'气候潮湿、珊瑚暗礁、鲨鱼、布勒尔港、囚犯营、罗特兰德岛、白杨树--'啊！在这里！

The aborigines of the Andaman Islands may perhaps claim the distinction of being the smallest race upon this earth,

'安达曼群岛的土人，可以称为世界上最小的人了，

though some anthropologists prefer the Bushmen of Africa, the Digger Indians of America, and the Terra del Fuegians.

虽然人类学者亦有说非洲的布史人或美洲的迪格印第安人和火地人是最矮小的。

The average height is rather below four feet,

里的人品均高度不到四英尺，

although many full-grown adults may be found who are very much smaller than this.

成年人比这个还矮的也不少。

They are a fierce, morose, and intractable people,

这他们生性凶狠、易怒而又倔强，

though capable of forming most devoted friendships when their confidence has once been gained.

但是只要和他们建立了信任和感情，他们就能至死不渝。'