四签名 47木桶的插曲（9）（在线收听）

We had during this time been following the guidance of Toby down the half-rural villa-lined roads which lead to the metropolis.

我们跟随着透比到达了通往伦敦市区的路上，两旁是半村舍式的别墅，

Now, however, we were beginning to come among continuous streets,

已经临近了人烟稠密的大街。

where labourers and dockmen were already astir,

劳动的人和码头工人正在起床，

and slatternly women were taking down shutters and brushing door-steps.

家庭妇女们正在开门打扫门阶。

At the square-topped corner public-houses business was just beginning,

街角上四方房顶的酒馆刚刚开始营业，

and rough-looking men were emerging, rubbing their sleeves across their beards after their morning wet.

粗壮的汉子们从酒馆里出来，用他们的袖子擦去胡子上沾的酒。

Strange dogs sauntered up and stared wonderingly at us as we passed,

野犬在街头张大了眼睛望着我们，

but our inimitable Toby looked neither to the right nor to the left

可是我们忠心无比的透比，毫不左瞻右顾，

but trotted onward with his nose to the ground and an occasional eager whine which spoke of a hot scent.

鼻子冲着地，一直往前，偶尔从鼻子里发出一阵急切的叫声，说明所循的气味仍很浓厚。

We had traversed Streatham, Brixton, Camberwell,

我们经过了斯特莱塞姆区，布瑞克斯吞区，坎伯韦尔区，

and now found ourselves in Kennington Lane,

绕过了许多条小衖，

having borne away through the side streets to the east of the Oval.

一直走到奥弗尔区的东面才到达了肯宁顿路。

The men whom we pursued seemed to have taken a curiously zigzag road,

我们所追寻的人仿佛是专走弯曲的路，

with the idea probably of escaping observation.

也许是故意避免被人跟踪，

They had never kept to the main road if a parallel side street would serve their turn.

只要有曲折前行的小路，他们就避开正路。

At the foot of Kennington Lane they had edged away to the left through Bond Street and Miles Street.

从肯宁顿路的尽头，他们转向左行，经过证券街，麦尔斯路

Where the latter street turns into Knight's Place,

到达了骑士街。

Toby ceased to advance but began to run backward and forward with one ear cocked and the other drooping,

透比忽然不再往前走了，只是来回乱跑，一只耳朵下垂，一只耳朵竖立，

the very picture of canine indecision.

似乎在迟疑不决。

Then he waddled round in circles, looking up to us from time to time, as if to ask for sympathy in his embarrassment.

后来又打了几个转，抬起头来，似乎向我们请示。

"What the deuce is the matter with the dog?" growled Holmes.

福尔摩斯呵叱道："这只狗是怎么回事？

"They surely would not take a cab or go off in a balloon."

罪犯们不会上车的，也不会乘上气球逃跑。"

"Perhaps they stood here for some time," I suggested.

我建议道："他们可能在这里停过一回儿。"

"Ah! it's all right. He's off again," said my companion in a tone of relief.

我的伙伴心安了，他道："啊！好了，它又走啦。"

He was indeed off, for after sniffing round again

狗确是重新前进了。

he suddenly made up his mind and darted away with an energy and determination such as he had not yet shown.

它往四下里又闻了一阵之后，似乎是突然间下了决心，以前所未有的力量和决心飞跑起来。

The scent appeared to be much hotter than before,

这气味似乎较前更重了，

for he had not even to put his nose on the ground but tugged at his leash and tried to break into a run.

因为它已不需要鼻子着地，而使劲牵直了绳子往前奔跑。

I could see by the gleam in Holmes's eyes that he thought we were nearing the end of our journey.

福尔摩斯两眼发亮，似乎觉得已经快到匪穴了。

Our course now ran down Nine Elms until we came to Broderick and Nelson's large timber-yard just past the White Eagle tavern.

我们经过九榆树到了白鹰酒店附近的布罗德里克和纳尔逊大木场。

Here the dog, frantic with excitement,

这只狗兴奋而紧张，

turned down through the side gate into the enclosure, where the sawyers were already at work.

从旁门跑进了锯木工人已经上工的木场，

On the dog raced through sawdust and shavings,

它继续穿过成堆的锯末和刨花，

down an alley, round a passage, between two wood-piles,

在两旁堆积木材的小路上跑着，

and finally, with a triumphant yelp, sprang upon a large barrel which still stood upon the hand-trolley on which it had been brought.

最后很得意地叫着跳上了还在手车上没有卸下来的一只木桶上面。

With lolling tongue and blinking eyes Toby stood upon the cask,

透比伸着舌头，眼睛眨巴着站在木桶上，

looking from one to the other of us for some sign of appreciation.

望着我们两人表示得意。

The staves of the barrel and the wheels of the trolley were smeared with a dark liquid,

桶边和手车的轮上都沾满了黑色的油渍，

and the whole air was heavy with the smell of creosote.

空气中有浓重的木馏油气味。

Sherlock Holmes and I looked blankly at each other

歇洛克·福尔摩斯和我面面相觑，

and then burst simultaneously into an uncontrollable fit of laughter.

不觉同时仰天大笑起来