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热爱生命：杰克·伦敦短篇小说选

北方的奥德赛 1|An Odyssey of the North I

属类： 双语小说 【分类】双语小说 阅读：[26077]
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1
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雪橇行走在路上，挽具咯吱作响，领头狗身上的铃铛发出叮当叮当的声音，这一切汇成了一首永恒的悲歌。然而，无论人还是狗，全都精疲力竭，默然无声。车道上满是新雪，使行路变得缓慢。他们远道而来，雪橇上满载猎杀的麋鹿，一只只冻得跟石头一样硬；雪橇陷在松软的雪地上，就是不肯前行，简直跟人一样倔强。天色渐晚，但今夜他们不准备半路宿营。白雪从静谧的空中落下——那不是雪花，而是晶莹剔透、小巧玲珑的水晶粒。天气很暖和——差不多也就是零下十度吧——大家并不把这种天气放在眼里。迈耶斯和贝特尔斯将帽子上的护耳翻上去，露出耳朵，马拉摩特·基德甚至摘下了手套。

1
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The sleds were singing their eternal lament to the creaking of the harnesses and the tinkling bells of the leaders；but the men and dogs were tired and made no sound．The trail was heavy with new-fallen snow，and they had come far，and the runners，burdened with flint-like quarters of frozen moose，clung tenaciously to the unpacked surface and held back with a stubbornness almost human．Darkness was coming on，but there was no camp to pitch that night．The snow fell gently through the pulseless air，not in flakes，but in tiny frost crystals of delicate design．It was very warm，—barely ten below zero，—and the men did not mind．Meyers and Bettles had raised their ear-flaps，while Malemute Kid had even taken off his mittens．

2
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狗儿早在下午就已疲惫不堪，此刻它们却又开始展现出新的活力。它们之中比较精明的狗已经开始躁动不安了——似乎难耐挽绳的束缚，渴望快速奔跑，却又犹豫不决，支棱起耳朵，呼哧呼哧用鼻子嗅探着。后来，它们迁怒于自己比较拖沓的伙伴们，动不动就咬伙伴们的后腿，催促它们加快步子。受到责备的狗像是得了传染病，接着又把这种病传染给其他的狗。最后，走在顶前边的那辆雪橇的领队狗发出一声兴奋的长吠，在雪地里俯下身子向前猛冲，将领圈拉得紧紧的，其余的狗也就紧跟着向前冲。只见雪橇皮带收紧、挽绳绷直，一辆辆像离弦的箭似的向前冲去。赶雪橇的人紧紧抓住辕杆，加速前进，免得被后边的雪橇撞倒。一天的疲倦霎时烟消云散，驭手们放开嗓门一声喊，给狗儿们加油，狗儿也发出快乐的汪汪声作为回应。人和狗一起发力，在越来越浓的暮色里奔走如飞。

2
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The dogs had been fagged out early in the afternoon，but they now began to show new vigor．Among the more astute there was a certain restlessness，—an impatience at the restraint of the traces，an indecisive quickness of movement，a sniffing of snouts and pricking of ears．These became incensed at their more phlegmatic brothers，urging them on with numerous sly nips on their hinder-quarters．Those，thus chidden，also contracted and helped spread the contagion．At last，the leader of the foremost sled uttered a sharp whine of satisfaction，crouching lower in the snow and throwing himself against the collar．The rest followed suit．There was an ingathering of back-hands，a tightening of traces；the sleds leaped forward，and the men clung to the gee-poles，violently accelerating the uplift of their feet that they might escape going under the runners．The weariness of the day fell from them，and they whooped encouragement to the dogs．The animals responded with joyous yelps．They were swinging through the gathering darkness at a rattling gallop．

3
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“加油！加油！”驭手们你一声我一声地叫喊着，只见雪橇队突然离开大道，翘起一边的滑板，犹如一只只乘风破浪的帆船。

3
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“Gee！Gee！”the men cried，each in turn，as their sleds abruptly left the main-trail，heeling over on single runners like luggers on the wind．

4
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雪橇队向前冲了有一百码，在一扇羊皮纸糊的窗户跟前骤然停了下来，窗户内的灯光让木屋的情况显而易见——熊熊燃烧的育空(2)炉子和热气腾腾的茶壶。这座木屋来了不速之客。六十几条爱斯基摩狗气势汹汹地狂吠不已，这些毛茸茸的家伙一边叫一边张牙舞爪地朝第一辆雪橇的狗儿们扑了过来。屋门被猛地推开，一个穿着红色西北警察制服的人走了出来，踩着没膝深的雪走进发狂的爱斯基摩狗群里，用狗鞭的鞭柄抽打它们，态度冷静、公正，让它们一个个安静了下来。随后，他跟驭手们一一握手——马拉摩特·基德就是以这种形式被一个陌生人迎进了他自己的木屋。

4
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Then came a hundred yards’ dash to the lighted parchment window，which told its own story of the home cabin，the roaring Yukon stove，and the steaming pots of tea．But the home cabin had been invaded．Three-score huskies chorused defiance，and as many furry forms precipitated themselves upon the dogs which drew the first sled．The door was flung open，and a man，clad in the scarlet tunic of the Northwest Police，waded knee-deep among the furious brutes，calmly and impartially dispensing soothing justice with the butt end of a dogwhip．After that，the men shook hands；and in this wise was Malemute Kid welcomed to his own cabin by a stranger．

5
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按说，出来迎接的应该是斯坦利·普林斯——如前所言，普林斯留在木屋里负责照看火炉和烹茶。岂不知，此刻普林斯正在屋里忙着招待客人呢。总共有十来个客人，说不清身份，反正都是为女王效力的，有执法的，也有投递邮件的。他们血统各异，但相同的生活将他们铸造成了同一类型的人——身材瘦而结实，成块的肌肉线条分明；一张张脸被晒成了紫铜色；心灵纯净，目光清朗、坦荡。这些人驾着雪橇为女王而奔忙，令女王的敌人胆战心惊；他们吃的都是粗茶淡饭，心里却充满了欢乐。他们见过世面，创造过辉煌的业绩，成就过一段段传奇，然而他们自己却浑然不知。

5
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Stanley Prince，who should have welcomed him，and who was responsible for the Yukon stove and hot tea aforementioned，was busy with his guests．There were a dozen or so of them，as nondescript a crowd as ever served the Queen in the enforcement of her laws or the delivery of her mails．They were of many breeds，but their common life had formed of them a certain type，—a lean and wiry type，with trail-hardened muscles，and sun-browned faces，and untroubled souls which gazed frankly forth，clear-eyed and steady．They drove the dogs of the Queen，wrought fear in the hearts of her enemies，ate of her meager fare，and were happy．They had seen life，and done deeds，and lived romances；but they did not know it．

6
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他们显得悠闲自在，就像在自己家中一样。他们当中有两个人四肢伸展地躺在马拉摩特·基德的床上，嘴里哼唱着法国情歌——当初他们的法国先祖来到西北地区，和印第安女子成双配对时唱的就是这种歌。贝特尔斯的床铺也遭到了同样的侵占——但见三四个身强力壮的邮差身上捂着毯子，一边搓着脚丫子，一边在听一个人讲故事。讲述者曾经在沃尔斯利将军(3)的舰队里服过役，随沃尔斯利进攻过喀土穆(4)。等到他说累了，一个牛仔就讲起了当年自己跟随野牛比尔(5)游历欧洲各国首都的经历，说他们经常出入于宫廷，见到了许多王侯和贵妇人。木屋的一个角落里有两个混血儿，他们曾是战友，一道参加过一次最终失败了的战役。此时，他们修补着挽具，回忆着逝去的岁月，回忆着西北地区风起云涌的起义以及路易斯·里尔(6)称王的经历。

6
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And they were very much at home．Two of them were sprawled upon Malemute Kid’s bunk，singing chansons which their French forbears sang in the days when first they entered the Northwest land and mated with its Indian women．Bettles’ bunk had suffered a similar invasion，and three or four lusty voyageurs worked their toes among its blankets as they listened to the tale of one who had served on the boat brigade with Wolseley when he fought his way to Khartoum．And when he tired，a cowboy told of courts and kings and lords and ladies he had seen when Buffalo Bill toured the capitals of Europe．In a corner，two half-breeds，ancient comrades in a lost campaign，mended harnesses and talked of the days when the Northwest flamed with insurrection and Louis Reil was king．

7
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这些客人粗话不断，相互插科打诨，彼此开玩笑。他们用轻松的语气谈论自己在风雪路上以及大江大河上遭遇的艰险，就好像在说着家长里短——他们回忆这些往事，只是因为其中包含着滑稽或好玩的片段。这些无冕英雄见证了历史创造的过程，但在他们的眼里，那些伟大、传奇的事件只不过是日常生活里的平凡琐事，普林斯听他们讲述，不由心迷神往。他把自己珍贵的烟草毫不在乎地分给他们；为了报答他的热情招待，生了锈的回忆的锁链松开了，遗忘已久的奥德赛式的故事也复活了。

7
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Rough jests and rougher jokes went up and down，and great hazards by trail and river were spoken of in the light of com-monplaces，only to be recalled by virtue of some grain of humor or ludicrous happening．Prince was led away by these uncrowned heroes who had seen history made，who regarded the great and the romantic as but the ordinary and the incidental in the routine of life．He passed his precious tobacco among them with lavish disregard，and rusty chains of reminiscence were loosened，and forgotten odysseys resurrected for his especial benefit．

8
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当谈话终止，客人们最后一次加满烟斗，解开捆得紧紧的毛皮铺盖卷准备睡觉时，普林斯掉过头来找老朋友基德，向他了解更多有关这些客人的情况。

8
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When conversation dropped and the travelers filled the last pipes and unlashed their tight-rolled sleeping-furs，Prince fell back upon his comrade for further information．

9
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“哦，那个牛仔的情况你已经知道了，”马拉摩特·基德一面回答，一面动手解开他的鹿皮鞋的带子，“和他一块儿躺在床上的那个伙计有点英国血统，这不难看得出。至于其他人，全都是森林里的好汉，血缘关系复杂得只有老天才知道。靠近门口睡的那两个，却是地地道道的‘法种’，或称‘森林小子’(7)；那个围着绒线围巾的小伙子——你只要看看他的眉眼和下巴——一定是哪个苏格兰男人到过他妈妈那烟雾腾腾的帐篷后才有的他；那个把斗篷枕在头下的帅气小伙子有一半法国血统——他刚才说的话你也听到了，他不喜欢那两个睡在他旁边的印第安人。要知道，当初这些‘法种’在里尔的领导下起义的时候，纯种的印第安人并没有响应，自那以后，他们之间的感情就大不如以前了。”

9
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“Well，you know what the cowboy is，”Malemute Kid answered，beginning to unlace his moccasins；“and it’s not hard to guess the British blood in his bed-partner．As for the rest，they’re all children of the coureurs du bois，mingled with God knows how many other bloods．The two turning in by the door are the regulation ‘breeds’ or bois brules．That lad with the worsted breech scarf—notice his eyebrows and the turn of his jaw—shows a Scotchman wept in his mother’s smoky tepee．And that handsome-looking fellow putting the capote under his head is a French half-breed，—you heard him talking；he doesn’t like the two Indians turning in next to him．You see，when the ‘breeds’ rose under Reil the full-bloods kept the peace，and they’ve not lost much love for one another since．”

10
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“我说，炉子旁边那个阴沉着脸的伙计是什么情况？他肯定不会说英语，一晚上连口都没有开过。”

10
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“But I say，what’s that glum-looking fellow by the stove？I’ll swear he can’t talk English．He hasn’t opened his mouth all night．”

11
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“错了。他的英语很棒。他听别人讲话，你注意到他的眼神了没有？我注意到了，他显然跟其他人并非乡亲同胞，那些人一说家乡话你就可以看得出他听不懂了。我也搞不清他究竟是什么情况，现在咱们就弄他个水落石出吧。”

11
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“You’re wrong．He knows English well enough．Did you follow his eyes when he listened？I did．But he’s neither kith nor kin to the others．When they talked their own patois you could see he didn’t understand．I’ve been wondering myself what he is．Let’s find out．”

12
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“请你给炉子里添几根柴！”马拉摩特·基德提高嗓门，眼睛盯着那个不明身份的人喊了一声。

12
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“Fire a couple of sticks into the stove！”Malemute Kid com-manded，raising his voice and looking squarely at the man in question．

13
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那人照着做了。

13
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He obeyed at once．

14
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“他显然受过训练，习惯于遵守命令。”普林斯小声嘀咕道。

14
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“Had discipline knocked into him somewhere，”Prince com-mented in a low tone．

15
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马拉摩特·基德点了点头，脱下袜子，然后小心地从躺下来休息的人们中间穿过，走到炉子跟前，把他的湿袜子和另外二十多双同样的袜子挂在了一起。

15
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Malemute Kid nodded，took off his socks，and picked his way among the recumbent men to the stove．There he hung his damp footgear among a score or so of mates．

16
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“你估计什么时候能赶到道森？”他搭讪着问。

16
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“When do you expect to get to Dawson？”he asked tentatively．

17
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那人先看了他几眼，然后才回答道：“他们说还有七十五英里。是这样吧？我估计还要两天。”

17
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The man studied him a moment before replying．“They say seventy-five mile．So？Maybe two days．”

18
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可以听出他的口音带有一丁点儿地方腔，但说话脱口而出，没有为斟词酌句打绊。

18
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The very slightest accent was perceptible，while there was no awkward hesitancy or groping for words．

19
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“以前来过这一带吗？”

19
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“Been in the country before？”

20
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“没来过。”

20
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“No．”

21
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“去过西北地区吗？”

21
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“Northwest Territory？”

22
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“去过。”

22
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“Yes．”

23
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“是那里出生的？”

23
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“Born there？”

24
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“不是。”

24
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“No．”

25
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“哦，那你究竟是哪里人？你跟他们不是同一类人。”马拉摩特·基德说着，用手泛泛指了指那些驭狗人，连睡在普林斯床铺上的那两个警察也包括了进去，“你到底是何方神圣？你这样的脸我是见过的，只是记不清在什么地方了。”

25
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“Well，where the devil were you born？You’re none of these．”Malemute Kid swept his hand over the dog-drivers，even including the two policemen who had turned into Prince’s bunk．“Where did you come from？I’ve seen faces like yours before，though I can’t remember just where．”

26
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“我知道你。”那人答非所问地说，一下子就把马拉摩特·基德的问题岔开了。

26
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“I know you，”he irrelevantly replied，at once turning the drift of Malemute Kid’s questions．

27
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“在哪儿？你见过我？”

27
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“Where？Ever see me？”

28
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“不是你，是你的牧师朋友。那是很久以前的事了，在帕斯蒂里克。他曾问过我，问我认不认识你，马拉摩特·基德。他给了我一点干粮。我在那地方没有久留。你听他提起过我吗？”

28
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“No；your partner，him priest，Pastilik，long time ago．Him ask me if I see you，Malemute Kid．Him give me grub．I no stop long．You hear him speak ’bout me？”

29
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“噢，想起来了！你就是那个用海獭皮换狗的人？”

29
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“Oh！you’re the fellow that traded the otter skins for the dogs？”

30
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那个人点点头，磕了磕烟斗，把里面的灰磕出来，然后把皮毛毯子在身上裹紧，表示谈话到此结束。马拉摩特·基德将那盏昏暗的油灯吹灭，钻到毯子下和普林斯躺在了一起。

30
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The man nodded，knocked out his pipe，and signified his disinclination for conversation by rolling up in his furs．Malemute Kid blew out the slush-lamp and crawled under the blankets with Prince．

31
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“怎么样？他是干什么的？”

31
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“Well，what is he？”

32
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“还不清楚——他把我的问题岔开了，真是守口如瓶啊。他这种人会叫你顿起好奇之心。对于他，我是有所耳闻的。八年前他去海边，那里的人不了解他的身份，觉得他是个神秘人物。他在寒冬腊月打北方来，千里迢迢，沿着白令海峡南下，风风火火的，好像有鬼在追他似的。他到底来自何处，无人知晓，只知道他来自很远的地方。他抵达戈洛文湾时已经累坏了，从瑞典传教士那儿搞到一点食物，问了问南下的路便又走了。这些都是我们事后听说的。后来，他横渡诺顿湾，离开了海岸线。当时雪骤风急，天公不作美，可他坚持到底，一路前行。他未能在圣迈克尔斯上岸，于是最后到了帕斯蒂里克。要是换上别人，早就去见阎王爷了。那一路，他失去了一切，只剩下两条狗，自己也差一点饿死。

32
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“Don’t know—turned me off，somehow，and then shut up like a clam．But he’s a fellow to whet your curiosity．I’ve heard of him．All the coast wondered about him eight years ago．Sort of mysterious，you know．He came down out of the North，in the dead of winter，many a thousand miles from here，skirting Bering Sea and traveling as though the devil were after him．No one ever learned where he came from，but he must have come far．He was badly travel-worn when he got food from the Swedish missionary on Golovin Bay and asked the way south．We heard of this afterward．Then he abandoned the shore-line，heading right across Norton Sound．Terrible weather，snow-storms and high winds，but he pulled through where a thousand other men would have died，missing St．Michael’s and making the land at Pastilik．He’d lost all but two dogs，and was nearly gone with starvation．

33
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“鲁博神父见他急着赶路，就给了他一点干粮，可是说什么也不愿把狗给他，因为等我一到，神父自己也要出行呢。那位尤利西斯(8)先生心里非常清楚，没有狗他是无法上路的。于是，他盘桓数日，四处想办法。他的雪橇上有一捆硝得很好的海獭皮——要知道，海獭皮的价值等同于黄金。当时，帕斯蒂里克有个俄国商人，简直就是个老年夏洛克(9)，他正好有几条狗预备宰杀。结果，他们没用多长时间就把这笔生意谈妥了。当那位神秘人物再次登程南下时，有了一队奔跑如飞的狗，而那位夏洛克先生得到了一批海獭皮。海獭皮我可是亲眼看了，真是上等货色。据估算，每条狗至少让那位夏洛克先生赚了五百块。这倒不是说那位神秘人物不懂得海獭的价值——他好歹也是个懂行的印第安人，虽说话不多，却也听得出他是跟白人打过交道的。

33
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“He was so anxious to go on that Father Roubeau fitted him out with grub；but he couldn’t let him have any dogs，for he was only waiting my arrival to go on a trip himself．Mr．Ulysses knew too much to start on without animals，and fretted around for several days．He had on his sled a bunch of beautifully cured otter skins，sea-otters，you know，worth their weight in gold．There was also at Pastilik an old Shylock of a Russian trader，who had dogs to kill．Well，they didn’t dicker very long，but when the Strange One headed south again，it was in the rear of a spanking dog-team．Mr．Shylock，by the way，had the otter skins．I saw them，and they were magnificent．We figured it up and found the dogs brought him at least five hundred apiece．And it wasn’t as if the Strange One didn’t know the value of sea-otter；he was an Indian of some sort，and what little he talked showed he’d been among white men．

34
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“海上的冰融化以后，努尼瓦克岛(10)有人过来说他曾到岛上找过干粮，后来就不见了踪影。此后八年他如同石沉大海，音讯全无，现在却突然出现在这里。他是从哪里冒出来的呢？来此处干什么？有什么目的？他是个印第安人，神出鬼没的，而且受过训练，这在印第安人中是很少见的。普林斯，这又是北方的一个谜团，等着你去破解呢。”

34
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“After the ice passed out of the sea，word came up from Nunivak Island that he’d gone in there for grub．Then he dropped from sight，and this is the first heard of him in eight years．Now where did he come from？and what was he doing there？and why did he come from there？He’s Indian，he’s been nobody knows where，and he’s had discipline，which is unusual for an Indian．Another mystery of the North for you to solve，Prince．”

35
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“多谢器重。不过我手头的事情太多，恐怕忙不过来。”普林斯回答说。

35
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“Thanks，awfully；but I’ve got too many on hand as it is，”he replied．

36
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没等他把话说完，马拉摩特·基德已经鼾声如雷了。而这位年轻的采矿工程师则心潮起伏，睁大眼睛望着那茫茫的夜色，在等待着激荡的思绪平复下来。后来，他总算睡着了，可是大脑仍很活跃，梦见自己游荡于一片不知名的白雪皑皑的荒原上，和雪橇狗一起跋涉在永无尽头的道路上，沿途目睹人们如何在活着时备受苦难，又如何勇敢地走向死亡。

36
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Malemute Kid was already breathing heavily；but the young mining engineer gazed straight up through the thick darkness，waiting for the strange orgasm which stirred his blood to die away．And when he did sleep，his brain worked on，and for the nonce he，too，wandered through the white unknown，struggled with the dogs on endless trails，and saw men live，and toil，and die like men．

37
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第二天一早，离天亮还有几个小时，几个驭狗人便和警察动身往道森去了。尽管如此，当局只关心女王陛下的利益，他们掌控着她之下的那些小人物的命运，途中也没让邮差们好好休息。一个星期后，他们赶到了斯图尔特河，雪橇上满载着送往盐湖的邮件。拉雪橇的狗换了班，邮差却仍是原班人马。

37
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The next morning，hours before daylight，the dog-drivers and policemen pulled out for Dawson．But the powers that saw to her Majesty’s interests，and ruled the destinies of her lesser creatures，gave the mailmen little rest；for a week later they appeared at Stuart River，heavily burdened with letters for Salt Water．However，their dogs had been replaced by fresh ones；but then，they were dogs．

38
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他们原指望能休息几天，放松放松。此外，克朗代克是北方地区新建起来的城市，大家都渴望领略一下这座黄金城的风采——此处的金砂似泉水一般源源不断，歌舞笙箫彻夜不息。然而，他们却只能烤一烤湿袜子，在暮色里用烟斗抽几口烟，跟上一趟来时一样情绪低落。有一两个胆大的动起了逃跑的念头，盘算着翻越人迹罕至的落基山到东边去，再经过麦肯齐山谷前往齐普砚地区，那儿是他们的常来常往之地。另外有两三个人也在打着自己的小算盘，决定合同期满后回家去，也走同一条路线；他们对这趟充满艰辛的返乡之旅满怀期待，激动得就像城里人期待着到林间度假一样。

38
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The men had expected some sort of a lay-over in which to rest up；besides，this Klondike was a new section of the Northland，and they had wished to see a little something of the Golden City where dust flowed like water，and dance halls rang with never ending revelry．But they dried their socks and smoked their evening pipes with much the same gusto as on their former visit，though one or two bold spirits speculated on desertion and the possibility of crossing the unexplored Rockies to the east，and thence，by the Mackenzie Valley，of gaining their old stamping-grounds in the Chippewyan Country．Two or three even decided to return to their homes by that route when their terms of service had expired，and they began to lay plans forthwith，looking forward to the hazardous undertaking in much the same way a city-bred man would to a day’s holiday in the woods．

39
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那个曾拿海獭皮换狗的人显得心神不定，对周围人的谈话一点不感兴趣。后来，他把马拉摩特·基德拉到一边，叽叽咕咕小声说了一会儿话。普林斯瞅着他们，心里充满了好奇，见他们戴上帽子和手套出了门，就更觉得他俩的行踪神秘兮兮的了。俩人回来后，马拉摩特·基德将一杆金秤放在桌上，称出六十盎司的碎金放进那个神秘人物的口袋里。驭狗人的头头随即也加入了他们的密谈，几个人进行了一场交易。第二天，雪橇队朝着大河的上游进发，而那个曾拿海獭皮换狗的人却带上几磅重的干粮，独自返回道森去了。

39
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He of the Otter Skins seemed very restless，though he took little interest in the discussion，and at last he drew Malemute Kid to one side and talked for some time in low tones．Prince cast curious eyes in their direction，and the mystery deepened when they put on caps and mittens and went outside．When they returned，Malemute Kid placed his gold-scales on the table，weighed out the matter of sixty ounces，and transferred them to the Strange One’s sack．Then the chief of the dog-drivers joined the conclave，and certain business was transacted with him．The next day the gang went on up river，but He of the Otter Skins took several pounds of grub and turned his steps back toward Dawson．

40
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事后，当普林斯问起，马拉摩特·基德回答说：“真是叫人摸不着头脑，但那个可怜的家伙出于某种原因，想摆脱现在的工作——至少对他而言那原因极为重要，只是他死活不愿挑明。要知道，干这一行犹如服兵役，随便不得。他签了两年的合同，重获自由的唯一途径就是出钱赎身。他不能逃跑，不然他就不能再留在这儿了，可他偏偏又十分渴望留在这个地区。据他说，他一到道森就打定主意扎根于此了，只可惜他囊中羞涩，又举目无亲，我是唯一一个他还说过几句话的人。他和副总督交涉过，说好只要从我这儿借到钱便可以赎身。他说年内便能将钱还清，还说如果我愿意，可以为我指出一条发财之路。他说他自己虽然并没有亲眼见过，却知道那是一条铺满了黄金的道路。

40
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“Didn’t know what to make of it，”said Malemute Kid in response to Prince’s queries；“but the poor beggar wanted to be quit of the service for some reason or other—at least it seemed a most important one to him，though he wouldn’t let on what．You see，it’s just like the army；he signed for two years，and the only way to get free was to buy himself out．He couldn’t desert and then stay here，and he was just wild to remain in the country．Made up his mind when he got to Dawson，he said；but no one knew him，hadn’t a cent，and I was the only one he’d spoken two words with．So he talked it over with the Lieutenant-Governor，and made arrangements in case he could get the money from me—loan，you know．Said he’d pay back in the year，and if I wanted，would put me onto something rich．Never’d seen it，but knew it was rich．

41
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“实不相瞒，他把我拉到外边时都快要哭了，跪倒在雪地里苦苦哀求我，直到我把他硬拉了起来。他像个疯子一样，唠唠叨叨说个没完。他对天发誓，说他为了实现这一目标已奋斗多年，如希望落空，定会令他生不如死。我问他是什么目标，他却不肯说，只说生怕当局会叫他去另一条道上运送邮件，两年内回不了道森，那时他的目标就实现不了了。我这一辈子从没见过有谁竟如此伤心，便答应借钱给他，并又一次将他从雪地里拽了起来。我跟他说，让他把这笔钱当作我的一份股金。你猜他同意了吗？不！他发誓要把他赚得的财富全部给我，让我享受连做梦也想不到的富有。反正，他的好话说了一大篓子。一个人为了筹得做事的本钱，会绞尽脑汁、不择手段，可是一旦成功，叫他分一半红利给投资人通常也是很难的。这是经验之谈，普林斯，你可要记好了。他要是留在本地区不走，咱们会听到他的下文的。”

41
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“And talk！why，when he got me outside he was ready to weep．Begged and pleaded；got down in the snow to me till I hauled him out of it．Palavered around like a crazy man．Swore he’s worked to this very end for years and years，and couldn’t bear to be disappointed now．Asked him what end，but he wouldn’t say．Said they might keep him on the other half of the trail and he wouldn’t get to Dawson in two years，and then it would be too late．Never saw a man take on so in my life．And when I said I’d let him have it，had to yank him out of the snow again．Told him to consider it in the light of a grub-stake．Think he’d have it？No sir！Swore he’d give me all he found，make me rich beyond the dreams of avarice，and all such stuff．Now a man who puts his life and time against a grub-stake ordinarily finds it hard enough to turn over half of what he finds．Something behind all this，Prince；just you make a note of it．We’ll hear of him if he stays in the country—”

42
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“他要是一拍屁股走了呢？”

42
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“And if he doesn’t？”

43
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“那就是我的好心没有得到好报，那六十盎司的金子全当打水漂了。”

43
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“Then my good nature gets a shock，and I’m sixty some odd ounces out．”

44
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严寒袭来，随之而至的还有漫漫的长夜，太阳在南方雪野的地平线那儿又玩起了亘古不变的躲猫猫游戏。马拉摩特·基德的那笔款子仍没有下落。后来，在一月初的一个阴冷的上午，几辆满载货物的狗拉雪橇停在了他那位于斯图尔特河下游的木屋门前。雪橇上坐着那个用海獭皮换狗的人，同来的还有一个身材高大的人（上帝恐怕也记不清自己怎么会造出了一个这样的人来）。一旦说起运气、胆量和一铲就铲出价值五百美元的金砂的趣闻，人们总会提到阿克塞尔·冈德森的大名；在营火边，每当大家议论起勇气、力量和天不怕地不怕的精神，也必定会讲到他的事迹。一旦谈兴低落，只要一提跟他同甘共苦的那个女人，人们的谈话就一定会变得又热烈起来。

44
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The cold weather had come on with the long nights，and the sun had begun to play his ancient game of peekaboo along the southern snow-line ere aught was heard of Malemute Kid’s grub-stake．And then，one bleak morning in early January，a heavily laden dog-train pulled into his cabin below Stuart River．He of the Otter Skins was there，and with him walked a man such as the gods have almost forgotten how to fashion．Men never talked of luck and pluck and five-hundred-dollar dirt without bringing in the name of Axel Gunderson；nor could tales of nerve or strength or daring pass up and down the camp-fire without the summoning of his presence．And when the conversation flagged，it blazed anew at mention of the woman who shared his fortunes．

45
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显然，上帝在创造阿克塞尔·冈德森时，运用了远古时期的手法，将其塑造成了洪荒时代的那一类人。他身材魁伟，足足有七英尺高，衣着华贵，俨然一副黄金国国王的派头。他的胸脯、脖子和手脚都跟巨人一样。连骨头带肉有三百磅重，脚上的雪鞋比别人的要长出一码多。他方鼻阔嘴，有着一双无所畏惧的淡蓝色眼睛，一看面相就知道是个天不怕地不怕的主儿。他的头发结着冰霜，黄黄的，像熟透了的玉米须扫过黝黑的脸膛，犹如阳光穿过了黑夜，一直披到他的熊皮袄上。只见他一马当先，身后领着一队雪橇狗，沿着狭窄的小道虎虎生风地走了过来，身上隐约有一股海上霸王的劲儿。他用狗鞭的鞭柄猛敲马拉摩特·基德的房门，简直就像是个北欧海盗南下抢劫，正恶狠狠地把城堡的大门擂得山响。

45
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As has been noted，in the making of Axel Gunderson the gods had remembered their old-time cunning，and cast him after the manner of men who were born when the world was young．Full seven feet he towered in his picturesque costume which marked a king of Eldorado．His chest，neck，and limbs were those of a giant．To bear his three hundred pounds of bone and muscle，his snowshoes were greater by a generous yard than those of other men．Rough-hewn，with rugged brow and massive jaw and unflinching eyes of palest blue，his face told the tale of one who knew but the law of might．Of the yellow of ripe corn silk，his frost-incrusted hair swept like day across the night，and fell far down his coat of bear-skin．A vague tradition of the sea seemed to cling about him，as he swung down the narrow trail in advance of the dogs；and he brought the butt of his dog-whip against Malemute Kid’s door as a Norse sea rover，on southern foray，might thunder for admittance at the castle gate．

46
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普林斯挽起袖子，露出他细皮嫩肉的胳膊，一边揉面团一边不住地斜瞟着来客——这三位客人一起光临，此情此景一生一遇。对于那个神秘人物（马拉摩特·基德戏称之为尤利西斯），他仍然兴趣不减，但更叫他感兴趣的则是阿克塞尔·冈德森和他的妻子。赶了一天的路，女人已倦容满面。自从她的丈夫找到了富矿脉，发了大财，她就变得娇气了，过惯了养尊处优的日子，也就容易感到累了。她依偎在丈夫宽阔的胸脯上，就像一朵娇弱的鲜花靠在墙上，一边懒洋洋地回应着马拉摩特·基德善意的玩笑，一边时不时地用她那深深的黑眼睛扫一眼普林斯，惹得普林斯热血沸腾。普林斯毕竟是个男人，身体健康，已经一连好几个月都没见上个女人。这个女人虽说比他大，又是个印第安种，但她不同于他所见过的那些印第安婆娘，她是个见多识广的女性——根据她的谈吐看得出，她不仅去过丈夫的国家，还去过许多其他国家。白种女人懂得的事情，她几乎全懂，此外还懂得许多白种女人不懂的事情。用晒干的鱼她就能做出一顿饭，在雪地里也能搭一张床，然而她喜欢拿男人们开涮，故意津津乐道地说出许多盛宴上的菜名，挑动听者肚子里的馋虫——那些菜名是旧时的回忆，他们几乎已经淡忘。对于鹿、熊和小蓝狐的生活习性，她了如指掌，也非常熟悉北方海洋里野生两栖动物的情况。无论是森林狩猎还是江河行船，她样样精通；无论是人的足迹还是鸟兽的爪印，她都一看便知。普林斯还注意到她在看他们的营地规则时眼里露出了赞赏的目光。这套规则是“激情的贝特尔斯”在情绪激动之时拟定出来的，言简意赅、诙谐幽默，每次有女士前来，他都会把它翻过去，免得叫她们看了尴尬。谁料到这个土著女子竟然……唉，说什么也晚了。

46
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Prince bared his womanly arms and kneaded sour-dough bread，casting，as he did so，many a glance at the three guests，—three guests the like of which might never come under a man’s roof in a lifetime．The Strange One，whom Malemute Kid had surnamed Ulysses，still fascinated him；but his interest chiefly gravitated between Axel Gunderson and Axel Gunderson’s wife．She felt the day’s journey，for she had softened in comfortable cabins during the many days since her husband mastered the wealth of frozen pay-streaks，and she was tired．She rested against his great breast like a slender flower against a wall，replying lazily to Malemute Kid’s good-natured banter，and stirring Prince’s blood strangely with an occasional sweep of her deep，dark eyes．For Prince was a man，and healthy，and had seen few women in many months．And she was older than he，and an Indian besides．But she was different from all native wives he had met：she had traveled，—had been in his country among others，he gathered from the conversation；and she knew most of the things the women of his own race knew，and much more that it was not in the nature of things for them to know．She could make a meal of sun-dried fish or a bed in the snow；yet she teased them with tantalizing details of many-course dinners，and caused strange internal dissensions to arise at the mention of various quondam dishes which they had well-nigh forgotten．She knew the ways of the moose，the bear，and the little blue fox，and of the wild amphibians of the Northern seas；she was skilled in the lore of the woods and the streams，and the tale writ by man and bird and beast upon the delicate snow crust was to her an open book；yet Prince caught the appreciative twinkle in her eye as she read the Rules of the Camp．These rules had been fathered by the Unquenchable Bettles at a time when his blood ran high，and were remarkable for the terse simplicity of their humor．Prince always turned them to the wall before the arrival of ladies；but who could suspect that this native wife—Well，it was too late now．

47
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阿克塞尔·冈德森的贤内助就是这么一个人。她的名字与传说和她的丈夫一起，在整个北方广为流传。进餐时，马拉摩特·基德仗着自己是多年的老朋友，老是取笑她，普林斯一改初见时的腼腆，也跟着插科打诨。她虽以一敌二，但不甘示弱，丈夫不善言辞，无法加入智斗，只能为她喝彩助阵。阿克塞尔·冈德森颇为妻子感到自豪，从他的每一个眼神、每一个动作都可以看得出妻子在他的生活中占有重要的位置。那个用海獭皮换狗的人只顾不声不响地吃饭，在这场热闹的交锋中竟然被大家忘记了。没等其他人吃完，他就早早退了席，到外边去照料雪橇狗了。没过多大一会儿，他的伙伴们戴上帽子，穿上毛皮大衣，也跟了过去。

47
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This，then，was the wife of Axel Gunderson，a woman whose name and fame had traveled with her husband’s，hand in hand，through all the Northland．At table，Malemute Kid baited her with the assurance of an old friend，and Prince shook off the shyness of first acquaintance and joined in．But she held her own in the unequal contest，while her husband，slower in wit，ventured naught but applause．And he was very proud of her；his every look and action revealed the magnitude of the place she occupied in his life．He of the Otter Skins ate in silence，forgotten in the merry battle；and long ere the others were done he pushed back from the table and went out among the dogs．Yet all too soon his fellow travelers drew on their mittens and parkas，and followed him．

48
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多日没有下雪，育空大道的路面被冻得硬邦邦的，雪橇行走在上面毫不费力，犹如滑行在冰面上。尤利西斯驾着第一辆雪橇领头，普林斯和阿克塞尔·冈德森的妻子驾第二辆紧随其后，马拉摩特·基德则和这位黄发巨人驾第三辆押后阵。

48
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There had been no snow for many days，and the sleds slipped along the hard-packed Yukon trail as easily as if it had been glare ice．Ulysses led the first sled；with the second came Prince and Axel Gunderson’s wife；while Malemute Kid and the yellow-haired giant brought up the third．

49
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“虽然这只是一种‘预感’，基德，”他说道，“但我觉得还是靠谱的。那地方他从来都没有去过，可是他说得有鼻子有眼，而且还让我看了地图——那地图多年前我在库特尼地区早已有所耳闻。我倒是很想叫你一块入伙，可是他是个怪人，把话说得很死：如果有任何别的人插手此事，那他会就此作罢。不过等我回来，我会让你第一个尝到甜头的。我将把我旁边的那个矿分给你，而且把城建基金的股份分一半给你。”

49
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“It’s only a ‘hunch，’ Kid，”he said；“but I think it’s straight．He’s never been there，but he tells a good story，and shows a map I heard of when I was in the Kootenay country，years ago．I’d like to have you go along；but he’s a strange one，and swore point-blank to throw it up if any one was brought in．But when I come back you’ll get first tip，and I’ll stake you next to me，and give you a half share in the town site besides．

50
-

“别说啦！别说啦！”他见对方想说客气话，便提高了嗓门说道，“这事由我做主。再说，事成之前，我有问题还要和你商量呢。假如一切顺利，那儿就成了第二个克里普尔克里克(11)了。听清楚了吗，伙计？第二个克里普尔克里克！要知道，那可是石英矿，而非砂矿。如果干得顺手，那儿就成了摇钱树，赚个几百万不在话下。那地方我以前就听人说过，所以你应该也不会陌生。到时候，咱们叫一座城市拔地而起，那儿有成千上万的工人、优良的水道、轮船、繁忙的运输生意，有小火轮往上游一趟趟运货，也许咱们还要修铁路，建锯木厂和发电站，还要有自己的银行、贸易公司，成立辛迪加(12)……想想吧！此事必须保密，等我回来再说！”

50
-

“No！no！”he cried，as the other strove to interrupt．“I’m running this，and before I’m done it’ll need two heads．If it’s all right，why it’ll be a second Cripple Creek，man；do you hear？—a second Cripple Creek！It’s quartz，you know，not placer；and if we work it right we’ll corral the whole thing，—millions upon millions．I’ve heard of the place before，and so have you．We’ll build a town—thousands of workmen—good waterways—steamship lines—big carrying trade—light-draught steamers for head-reaches—survey a railroad，perhaps—sawmills—electric-light plant—do our own banking—commercial company—syndicate—Say！Just you hold your hush till I get back！”

51
-

几辆雪橇停了下来，前面的路要穿过斯图尔特河的河口。眼前是一片茫茫无际的冰雪世界，一直向神秘的东方延伸。他们把捆在雪橇上的雪鞋解了下来。阿克塞尔·冈德森跟大家握了握手，然后走到了前边去。他那巨大的蹼足似的雪鞋踩进柔软如羽毛般的雪里，陷下去足有半码多深，把雪压得实实的，好让雪橇狗行走。他的妻子跟在最后一辆雪橇后面，脚上穿着沉重的雪鞋，却显得轻巧，一看便知是长年锻炼出来的。朋友间几声愉快的告别打破了雪野的沉寂；雪橇狗汪汪地叫着。那个曾用海獭皮换狗的人，正挥鞭教训一只倔强的狗。

51
-

The sleds came to a halt where the trail crossed the mouth of Stuart River．An unbroken sea of frost，its wide expanse stretched away into the unknown east．The snowshoes were withdrawn from the lashings of the sleds．Axel Gunderson shook hands and stepped to the fore，his great webbed shoes sinking a fair half yard into the feathery surface and packing the snow so the dogs should not wallow．His wife fell in behind the last sled，betraying long practice in the art of handling the awkward footgear．The stillness was broken with cheery farewells；the dogs whined；and He of the Otter Skins talked with his whip to a recalcitrant wheeler．

52
-

一个小时之后，他们出发上路了，雪橇犹如黑色的铅笔，在巨大的白纸上画出一条长长的直线。

52
-

An hour later，the train had taken on the likeness of a black pencil crawling in a long，straight line across a mighty sheet of foolscap．

序号 英文/音标 中文解释 更多操作

sled

[sled]

n.雪撬

eternal

[ɪ'tɜːnl]

adj.永久的;永恒的

frost

[frɒst]

n.霜;霜冻;严寒

mitten

['mɪtn]

n.【C】连指手套

fag

[fæɡ]

n. 【U】【C】【只用单】【口语】苦差；苦役;

vigor

['vɪgə]

n.活力;精力

sniff

[snɪf]

vi. 用鼻子吸气;

snout

[snaʊt]

n.鼻口部;猪嘴;鼻状物

prick

[prɪk]

v.刺;扎;竖起;受责备

incense

['ɪnsens]

n.香;阿谀

Nip

[nɪp]

vt. 夹；钳；掐；捏;

foremost

['fɔːməʊst]

adj.最重要的;最初的

crouch

[kraʊtʃ]

v.蹲下;屈膝

ingather

[ɪn'gæðə]

vt.收集(收获)

uplift

['ʌplɪft]

v.鼓舞;提高(道德水准等)

whoop

[wuːp]

v.叫喊;喘息

rattle

['rætl]

vi. 发出格吱声；呱哒响;

gallop

['ɡæləp]

n.疾驰;飞奔

roar

[rɔː(r)]

v.吼叫;咆哮

husky

['hʌski]

adj.声音沙哑的;强壮的

chorus

['kɔːrəs]

n.合唱队;歌舞队;齐声说道;副歌部分

fling

[flɪŋ]

vt. 投，抛，扔，掷;

wade

[weɪd]

v.跋涉;涉水

furious

['fjʊəriəs]

adj.狂怒的;猛烈的

brute

[bruːt]

n.畜生;残忍的人

impartialness

[ɪm'pɑːʃl]

adj.公正的;不偏不倚的

dispense

[dɪ'spens]

vt.分发;分配;免除;配(药)

soothe

[suːð]

v.缓和;使安静;安慰

meager

['miːgə]

adj.贫乏的;不足的;瘦的

sprawl

[sprɔːl]

vi.躺卧;扩张;蔓延

forbear

[fɔː'beə(r)]

v.忍耐;阻止;克制

brigade

[brɪ'ɡeɪd]

n.旅;队;组

Buffalo

['bʌfələʊ]

n.水牛;野牛;水陆坦克

Bill

[bɪl]

①帐单；清单;

comrade

['kɒmreɪd]

n.同志

jest

[dʒest]

n.说笑;玩笑

incidental

[ˌɪnsɪ'dentl]

adj.附带的;非主要的;偶然的;容易发生的

disregard

[ˌdɪsrɪ'ɡɑːd]

vt.不顾;忽视

conversation

[ˌkɒnvə'seɪʃn]

n.谈话;会话

unlash

[ʌn'læʃ]

vt.解开

mingle

['mɪŋɡl]

vt.使混合;使结合

scarf

[skɑːf]

n.围巾

patois

['pætwɑː]

n.方言;土语;行话

malamute

['mɑːləmjuːt]

n.爱斯基摩狗

obey

[ə'beɪ]

v.服从;遵守;顺从;听从

pick

[pɪkt]

采摘，挑选；

tentative

['tentətɪv]

adj.不确定的;暂时的;试验性质的;犹豫不决的

grope

[ɡrəʊp]

v.(暗中)摸索;探索;(调情时)抚摸…身体

bunk

[bʌŋk]

n.铺位;胡言乱语

irrelevant

[ɪ'reləvənt]

adj.不恰当的;无关系的;不相干的

bout

[baʊt]

n.回合;一场;一阵;发作;(摔跤等)比赛

otter

['ɒtə(r)]

n.水獭;水獭皮

signify

['sɪɡnɪfaɪ]

vt.表示;预示;意味着;象征

clam

[klæm]

n.蛤;沉默寡言的人

Swedish

['swiːdɪʃ]

adj.瑞典的;瑞典人的;瑞典语的

fret

[fret]

vi. 烦恼；着急;

trader

['treɪdə(r)]

n.商人;商船

spank

[spæŋk]

vt.掴(屁股)

grub

[ɡrʌb]

n.【动】蛆;苦工;食物

toil

[tɔɪl]

n.辛苦;苦工;罗网;圈套

destiny

['destəni]

n.命运

lesser

['lesə(r)]

adj.较少的;较小的;次要的

mailman

['meɪlmæn]

n.邮差;邮递员.

expire

[ɪk'spaɪə(r)]

vi.终止;期满;失效;呼气;断气

hazardous

['hæzədəs]

adj.危险的;冒险的;碰运气的

transact

[træn'zækt]

v.办理;交易;谈判;进行

query

['kwɪəri]

n.疑问;质问;疑问号

cent

[sent]

n.分

weep

[wiːp]

v.流泪;哭泣;悲叹;渗出

ounce

[aʊns]

n.盎司

lade

[leɪd]

v.装载;装货;汲取

blaze

[bleɪz]

n. 火；火焰;

cunning

['kʌnɪŋ]

adj.狡猾的;有眼光的;精巧的;可爱的

casting

['kɑːstɪŋ]

n.铸造

rugged

['rʌɡɪd]

a. 不平的；崎岖的；有皱纹的;

brow

[braʊ]

n.前额;眉毛;山脊;表情

rover

['rəʊvə(r)]

n.流浪者;漫游者;月球车;远距离箭靶;海盗

surname

['sɜːneɪm]

n.姓;绰号

chiefly

['tʃiːfli]

adv.主要地

gravitate

['ɡrævɪteɪt]

v.受吸引;下沉;重力吸引，受重力作用;移动，移向

felted

['feltɪd]

v. 把 ... 制成毡(使 ... 粘结)

lazily

['leɪzɪlɪ]

adv.懒惰地;慢吞吞地

tease

[tiːz]

n.揶揄者;戏弄

amphibian

[æm'fɪbiən]

adj.两栖类的;水陆两用的

crust

[krʌst]

n.外壳;坚硬的外壳;面包皮

bait

[beɪt]

n.饵;引诱

assurance

[ə'ʃʊərəns]

n.保证，担保;确信;自信;保险

unequal

[ʌn'iːkwəl]

adj.不相等的;不平等的;不胜任的

applause

[ə'plɔːz]

n.鼓掌;喝彩;赞许

merry

['meri]

adj.愉快的;欢乐的;微醉的

parka

['pɑːkə]

n.风雪大衣;派克式外衣

glare

[ɡleə(r)]

n.闪耀光;刺眼

stake

[steɪk]

n.桩;赌注;利害关系

quartz

[kwɔːts]

n.石英

placer

['pleɪsə]

n.冲积矿;砂矿;存放人;(竞赛中)得名次的人

waterway

['wɔːtəweɪ]

n.水路;航道;水道;舷侧排水沟

steamer

['stiːmə(r)]

n.汽船;轮船;蒸笼;【动】沙海螂

sawmill

['sɔːmɪl]

n.锯机;锯木厂

likeness

['laɪknəs]

n.相像;相似物;样子

foolscap

['fuːlskæp]

n.大页纸;滑稽圆锥帽

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