“A castaway!” exclaimed Pencroft; “left on this Tabor Island not two hundred miles from us! —
“一个遇难者！” Pencroft惊叹道; “就被留在离我们不到两百英里的塔伯岛上！ —

Ah, Captain Harding, you won’t now oppose my going.”
啊，哈定船长，你现在不会反对我去了。”

“No, Pencroft,” replied Cyrus Harding; “and you shall set out as soon as possible.”
“不，Pencroft，”塞勒斯·哈定回答道；“你尽快出发。”

“To-morrow?”
“明天？”

“To-morrow!”
“明天！”

The engineer still held in his hand the paper which he had taken from the bottle. —
工程师仍然手持从瓶子里拿出的纸条。 —

He contemplated it for some instants, then resumed,
他凝视着它片刻，然后继续说，

“From this document, my friends, from the way in which it is worded, we may conclude this: —
“从这份文件，我的朋友们，从它的措辞方式，我们可以得出这个结论： —

first, that the castaway on Tabor Island is a man possessing a considerable knowledge of navigation, since he gives the latitude and longitude of the island exactly as we ourselves found it, and to a second of approximation; —
首先，塔伯岛上的遇难者是一个具有相当深厚航海知识的人，因为他给出了岛屿的纬度和经度，正如我们自己发现的那样，精确到秒； —

secondly, that he is either English or American, as the document is written in the English language.”
其次，他要么是英国人，要么是美国人，因为这份文件是用英语写的。”

“That is perfectly logical,” answered Spilett; —
“非常符合逻辑，”斯皮莱特回答道； —

“and the presence of this castaway explains the arrival of the case on the shores of our island. —
“这个遇难者的存在解释了箱子漂到我们岛屿海岸的原因。 —

There must have been a wreck, since there is a castaway. —
必定发生了船只失事，因为有一个遇难者。 —

As to the latter, whoever he may be, it is lucky for him that Pencroft thought of building this boat and of trying her this very day, for a day later and this bottle might have been broken on the rocks.”
至于他是谁，不管是谁，对他来说是幸运的，因为彭克罗夫想到建造这艘船，而且今天就试船，再推迟一天，这个瓶子可能已经被摔碎在礁石上。”

“Indeed,” said Herbert, “it is a fortunate chance that the ‘Bonadventure’ passed exactly where the bottle was still floating!”
“确实，”赫伯特说，“‘复必得’船正好从瓶子还漂浮在那里的地方经过！”

“Does not this appear strange to you?” asked Harding of Pencroft.
“哈定问彭克罗夫，这对你不是看起来很奇怪吗？”

“It appears fortunate, that’s all,” answered the sailor. —
“这看起来是幸运的，仅此而已，”水手回答道。 —

“Do you see anything extraordinary in it, captain? —
“船长，你觉得有什么奇怪的地方吗？” —

The bottle must go somewhere, and why not here as well as anywhere else?”
“瓶子总得去某个地方，为什么不在这里，跟其他地方一样呢？”

“Perhaps you are right, Pencroft,” replied the engineer; “and yet–”
“或许你说得对，彭克罗夫，”工程师回答道，“不过——”

“But,” observed Herbert, “there’s nothing to prove that this bottle has been floating long in the sea.”
“不过，”赫伯特观察到，“并没有证据表明这个瓶子很久漂浮在海里。”

“Nothing,” replied Gideon Spilett, “and the document appears even to have been recently written. —
“的确没有，”吉迪恩·斯皮莱特回答，“而且这份文件似乎是最近写的。” —

What do you think about it, Cyrus?”
“你觉得怎么样，赛勒斯？”

During this conversation Pencroft had not remained inactive. —
在这段谈话期间，彭克罗夫并没有闲着。 —

He had put the vessel about, and the “Bonadventure,” all sails set, was running rapidly towards Claw Cape.
他调转船头，所有的帆都开着，”波纳德文图尔”号迅速驶向克劳角。

Every one was thinking of the castaway on Tabor Island. Should they be in time to save him? —
每个人都在想着塔波岛上的遇难者。他们是否能及时赶到救援？ —

This was a great event in the life of the colonists! —
这是殖民者生活中的一个重大事件！ —

They themselves were but castaways, but it was to be feared that another might not have been so fortunate, and their duty was to go to his succor.
他们自己也只是遇难者，但担心另一个人可能没有那么幸运，他们的责任是前去援救他。

Claw Cape was doubled, and about four o’clock the “Bonadventure” dropped her anchor at the mouth of the Mercy.
克劳角被绕过，大约在下午四点时，”波纳德文图尔”号在梅西河口抛下了锚。

That same evening the arrangements for the new expedition were made. —
当天晚上，新探险的准备工作就完成了。 —

It appeared best that Pencroft and Herbert, who knew how to work the vessel, should undertake the voyage alone. —
最好是由懂得操作船只的潘克罗夫特和赫伯特两人单独进行这次航行。 —

By setting out the next day, the 10th of October, they would arrive on the 13th, for with the present wind it would not take more than forty-eight hours to make this passage of a hundred and fifty miles. —
通过第二天出发，也就是10月10日，他们将在13日到达目的地，因为按照目前的风向，这段150英里的航程不会超过48小时。 —

One day in the island, three or four to return, they might hope therefore that on the 17th they would again reach Lincoln Island. —
在岛上逗留一天，三四天返回，所以他们希望在17日再次抵达林肯岛。 —

The weather was fine, the barometer was rising, the wind appeared settled, everything then was in favor of these brave men whom an act of humanity was taking far from their island.
天气晴朗，气压在上升，风向看起来稳定，一切都有利于这些背离他们岛屿的善良人。

Thus it had been agreed that Cyrus Harding, Neb, and Gideon Spilett should remain at Granite House, but an objection was raised, and Spilett, who had not forgotten his business as reporter to the New York Herald, having declared that he would go by swimming rather than lose such an opportunity, he was admitted to take a part in the voyage.
因此，大家商定了辛克莱斯·哈丁、奈布和吉迪恩·斯皮莱特应该留在花岗岩屋，但是有人提出异议，斯皮莱特作为纽约先驱报的记者，表示宁愿游泳也不想错过这样的机会，所以他被允许参与此次航程。

The evening was occupied in transporting on board the “Bonadventure,” articles of bedding, utensils, arms, ammunition, a compass, provisions for a week; —
晚上用来将寝具、器皿、武器、弹药、指南针、一周的食物等物品搬上“幸运号”； —

this being rapidly done, the colonists ascended to Granite House.
一切迅速就绪后，殖民者们回到花岗岩屋。

The next day, at five o’clock in the morning, the farewells were said, not without some emotion on both sides, and Pencroft setting sail made towards Claw Cape, which had to be doubled in order to proceed to the southwest.
第二天早上五点，告别之词已说完，不禁令双方都感到一些激动，彭克罗夫启航前往克劳角，这是必须绕过才能向西南航行。

The “Bonadventure” was already a quarter of a mile from the coast when the passengers perceived on the heights of Granite House two men waving their farewells; —
当船行驶离海岸四分之一英里时，乘客们看到花岗岩屋山顶上有两个人挥舞着告别； —

they were Cyrus Harding and Neb.
他们是辛克莱斯·哈丁和奈布。

“Our friends,” exclaimed Spilett, “this is our first separation in fifteen months.”
“我们的朋友，”斯皮莱特叫道，”这是我们15个月来的第一次分别。”

Pencroft, the reporter and Herbert waved in return, and Granite House soon disappeared behind the high rocks of the Cape.
彭克罗夫、记者和赫伯特回应着挥手，花岗岩屋很快就消失在海角陡峭的岩石后面。

During the first part of the day the “Bonadventure” was still in sight of the southern coast of Lincoln Island, which soon appeared just like a green basket, with Mount Franklin rising from the center. —
在一天的第一部分，”幸运号”还能看到林肯岛的南岸，它们就像一个绿色的篮子，中心是弗兰克林峰。 —

The heights, diminished by distance, did not present an appearance likely to tempt vessels to touch there. —
远处的高地由于距离远远看不出有什么诱人的样子，不可能吸引船只靠岸。 —

Reptile End was passed in about an hour, though at a distance of about ten miles.
约过了一个小时，虽然还有大约十英里远，但蛇形角已经过去。

At this distance it was no longer possible to distinguish anything of the Western Coast, which stretched away to the ridges of Mount Franklin, and three hours after the last of Lincoln Island sank below the horizon.
在这个距离下，不再能辨认西海岸的任何东西，它伸展至弗兰克林山脊，最后连林肯岛也在三小时后消失在地平线以下。

The “Bonadventure” behaved capitally. Bounding over the waves she proceeded rapidly on her course. —
“波纳冒险号”表现得非常出色。翻过海浪，她迅速前行。 —

Pencroft had hoisted the foresail, and steering by the compass followed a rectilinear direction. —
彭克罗夫升起了前帆，并根据指南针方向保持直线航行。 —

From time to time Herbert relieved him at the helm, and the lad’s hand was so firm that the sailor had not a point to find fault with.
赫伯特时不时替他掌舵，那小伙子的手稳得让水手无可挑剔。

Gideon Spilett chatted sometimes with one, sometimes with the other, if wanted he lent a hand with the ropes, and Captain Pencroft was perfectly satisfied with his crew.
吉迪恩·斯派雷特有时和一个人聊天，有时和另一个人聊天，如果需要，他会帮忙拉绳索，彭克罗夫船长对他的船员完全满意。

In the evening the crescent moon, which would not be in its first quarter until the 16th, appeared in the twilight and soon set again. —
晚上，月牙在薄暮中出现，很快又消失了，直到16日才进入第一季。 —

The night was dark but starry, and the next day again promised to be fine.
夜晚漆黑但星光璀璨，第二天的天气也预示着会很好。

Pencroft prudently lowered the foresail, not wishing to be caught by a sudden gust while carrying too much canvas; —
彭克罗夫明智地降下前帆，不愿在帆太多的情况下被突然的阵风困住； —

it was perhaps an unnecessary precaution on such a calm night, but Pencroft was a prudent sailor and cannot be blamed for it.
在如此平静的夜晚，这或许是一个不必要的预防措施，但彭克罗夫是一个谨慎的水手，他不能因此受到责备。

The reporter slept part of the night. Pencroft and Herbert took turns for a spell of two hours each at the helm. —
记者在夜晚睡了一部分。彭克罗夫和赫伯特各掌舵两小时。 —

The sailor trusted Herbert as he would himself, and his confidence was justified by the coolness and judgment of the lad. —
水手非常信任赫伯特，他的信任得到了这位小伙子冷静而明智的回应。 —

Pencroft gave him his directions as a commander to his steersman, and Herbert never allowed the “Bonadventure” to swerve even a point. —
彭克罗夫像指挥舵手一样给他指示，而赫伯特从未让“波纳冒险号”偏离过。 —

The night passed quickly, as did the day of the 12th of October. —
夜晚很快过去了，就如同10月12日的白天。 —

A south-easterly direction was strictly maintained. —
严格保持向东南方向。 —

Unless the “Bonadventure” fell in with some unknown current she would come exactly within sight of Tabor Island.
除非“波纳冒险号”碰到某种未知洋流，她将会准确地看到塔博岛。

As to the sea over which the vessel was then sailing, it was absolutely deserted. —
至于船正在航行的海域，完全没有人烟。 —

Now and then a great albatross or frigate bird passed within gunshot, and Gideon Spilett wondered if it was to one of them that he had confided his last letter addressed to the New York Herald. —
如今,偶尔会有一只巨大的信天翁或军舰鸟经过，吉迪恩·斯皮莱特想知道他是否把最后一封信托付给了它们，这封信是写给《纽约先驱报》的。 —

These birds were the only beings that appeared to frequent this part of the ocean between Tabor and Lincoln Islands.
这些鸟是唯一在塔博尔岛和林肯岛之间这个海域出现的生物。

“And yet,” observed Herbert, “this is the time that whalers usually proceed towards the southern part of the Pacific. —
“可是呢”，赫伯特观察到，“这正是捕鲸船通常往太平洋南部前进的时候。” —

Indeed I do not think there could be a more deserted sea than this.”
“事实上，我想这里再也找不到比这更荒凉的海域了。”

“It is not quite so deserted as all that,” replied Pencroft.
“并不像你说的那样荒凉”，潘克罗夫回答道。

“What do you mean?” asked the reporter.
“你是什么意思？”记者问道。

“We are on it. Do you take our vessel for a wreck and us for porpoises?”
“我们就在其上。你认为我们的船残破不堪，我们是海豚吗？”

And Pencroft laughed at his joke.
潘克罗夫笑着开玩笑。

By the evening, according to calculation, it was thought that the “Bonadventure” had accomplished a distance of a hundred and twenty miles since her departure from Lincoln Island, that is to say in thirty-six hours, which would give her a speed of between three and four knots an hour. —
根据推算，到了傍晚，人们认为“幸运号”从离开林肯岛到现在已经航行了120英里，也就是说在三十六小时内，船的速度约为每小时三到四节。 —

The breeze was very slight and might soon drop altogether. —
微风微弱，很快可能会完全停下来。 —

However, it was hoped that the next morning by break of day, if the calculation had been correct and the course true, they would sight Tabor Island.
不过，人们希望第二天的清晨，如果计算没有出错，并且航向正确，他们将望见塔博尔岛。

Neither Gideon Spilett, Herbert, nor Pencroft slept that night. —
吉迪恩·斯皮莱特、赫伯特和潘克罗夫那夜都没有入睡。 —

In the expectation of the next day they could not but feel some emotion. —
在迎接即将到来的一天的期待中，他们不禁感到一些激动。 —

There was so much uncertainty in their enterprise! Were they near Tabor Island? —
这次企业中有太多的不确定性了！他们距离塔博尔岛有多近？ —

Was the island still inhabited by the castaway to whose succor they had come? Who was this man? —
塔博尔岛上是否依然有着那个流落的人？他是谁？ —

Would not his presence disturb the little colony till then so united? —
他的出现会不会打乱原本团结一致的小群体？ —

Besides, would he be content to exchange his prison for another? —
另外，他会愿意将自己的牢笼换成另一个吗？ —

All these questions, which would no doubt be answered the next day, kept them in suspense, and at the dawn of day they all fixed their gaze on the western horizon.
所有这些问题毫无疑问会在第二天得到答案，这让他们感到无比焦虑，在黎明时分，他们纷纷把目光聚焦在西方的地平线上。

“Land!” shouted Pencroft at about six o’clock in the morning.
“岛！”潘克罗夫在早上大约六点喊道。

And it was impossible that Pencroft should be mistaken, it was evident that land was there. —
潘克罗夫别无选择，要么说谎，要么看到了岛屿。 —

Imagine the joy of the little crew of the “Bonadventure.” —
想象一下“邦纳德文”小船上队员们的欢乐。 —

In a few hours they would land on the beach of the island!
几个小时后，他们就要登陆这座岛屿的海滩了！

The low coast of Tabor Island, scarcely emerging from the sea, was not more than fifteen miles distant.
提伯尔岛低矮的海岸线，几乎从海中浮现出来，距离不超过十五英里。

The head of the “Bonadventure,” which was a little to the south of the island, was set directly towards it, and as the sun mounted in the east, its rays fell upon one or two headlands.
高耸在空中的“邦纳德文”船头，稍偏向岛的南部，正朝向那个无比耀眼的岛屿飘去，而东方升腾的太阳光芒洒在了岛上一两个山头上。

“This is a much less important isle than Lincoln Island,” observed Herbert, “and is probably due like ours to some submarine convulsion.”
“这座小岛比林肯岛要不重要得多，很可能像我们的岛一样，是由于某次海底的剧变而形成的。”赫伯特评价道。

At eleven o’clock the “Bonadventure” was not more than two miles off, and Pencroft, while looking for a suitable place at which to land, proceeded very cautiously through the unknown waters. —
十一点钟时，“邦纳德文”船距离不到两英里，潘克罗夫一边寻找适合登陆的地方，一边在未知水域里小心翼翼地前行。 —

The whole of the island could now be surveyed, and on it could be seen groups of gum and other large trees, of the same species as those growing on Lincoln Island. —
整座岛屿现在都可以看清楚，可以看到一组组桉树和其他大树，种类与林肯岛上生长的相同。 —

But the astonishing thing was that no smoke arose to show that the island was inhabited, no signal whatever appeared on the shore!
但令人惊讶的是，看不见任何冒烟的迹象表明这座岛有人居住，海岸上也没有任何信号发出！

And yet the document was clear enough; there was a castaway, and this castaway should have been on the watch.
然而文件非常清楚；这里确实有一个遗漂物，而这个遗漂物应该一直在警戒。

In the meanwhile the “Bonadventure” entered the winding channels among the reefs, and Pencroft observed every turn with extreme care. —
与此同时，“邦纳德文”船驶入了芦苇中的蜿蜒航道，潘克罗夫极度谨慎地观察着每一处转弯。 —

He had put Herbert at the helm, posting himself in the bows, inspecting the water, while he held the halliard in his hand, ready to lower the sail at a moment’s notice. —
他把赫伯特安排在舵上，自己站在船头，审视着水面，手握着拉索，随时准备降下帆。 —

Gideon Spilett with his glass eagerly scanned the shore, though without perceiving anything.
吉迪恩·斯普莱特急切地用望远镜扫视着岸边，但未发现任何东西。

However, at about twelve o’clock the keel of the “Bonadventure” grated on the bottom. —
然而，大约在十二点左右，“幸运号”的龙骨搁浅了。 —

The anchor was let go, the sails furled, and the crew of the little vessel landed.
锚被抛下，帆被卷起，小船的船员登陆了。

And there was no reason to doubt that this was Tabor Island, since according to the most recent charts there was no island in this part of the Pacific between New Zealand and the American Coast.
根据最新的海图显示，在这片太平洋的海域中，新西兰和美洲大陆之间没有岛屿，因此没有理由怀疑这是塔博尔岛。

The vessel was securely moored, so that there should be no danger of her being carried away by the receding tide; —
船只被固定牢固，以免在潮水退去时被冲走； —

then Pencroft and his companions, well armed, ascended the shore, so as to gain an elevation of about two hundred and fifty or three hundred feet which rose at a distance of half a mile.
然后，潘克罗夫和他的同伴们拿着武器上了岸，以便爬上约两百五十或三百英尺高的山丘，距离约半英里远。

“From the summit of that hill,” said Spilett, “we can no doubt obtain a complete view of the island, which will greatly facilitate our search.”
“从那座山的顶上，”斯普莱特说，“我们无疑可以全面地看到整个岛屿，这将极大地方便我们的搜索。”

“So as to do here,” replied Herbert, “that which Captain Harding did the very first thing on Lincoln Island, by climbing Mount Franklin.”
“就像赫丁队长在林肯岛所做的那样，”赫伯特回答说，“他当时第一件事就是爬上富兰克林山。”

“Exactly so,” answered the reporter, “and it is the best plan.”
“完全正确，”记者回答说，“这是最好的计划。”

While thus talking the explorers had advanced along a clearing which terminated at the foot of the hill. —
在这样谈话的时候，探险者们穿过了一片空地，到达了山下。 —

Flocks of rock-pigeons and sea- swallows, similar to those of Lincoln Island, fluttered around them. Under the woods which skirted the glade on the left they could hear the bushes rustling and see the grass waving, which indicated the presence of timid animals, but still nothing to show that the island was inhabited.
群群岩鸽和海燕，在他们周围飞舞，样子和林肯岛上的一样。在左侧林地边上，他们可以听到灌木丛在沙沙作响，看到草地在摇动，这表明羞怯的动物的存在，但仍然没有显示这个岛屿有人居住的迹象。

Arrived at the foot of the hill, Pencroft, Spilett, and Herbert climbed it in a few minutes, and gazed anxiously round the horizon.
到了山脚下，潘克罗夫，斯普莱特和赫伯特几分钟内爬上了山，焦急地环顾四周。

They were on an islet, which did not measure more than six miles in circumference, its shape not much bordered by capes or promontories, bays or creeks, being a lengthened oval. —
他们在一个仅有六英里长的小岛上，其形状不太被岬角或海角，海湾或小溪所包围，呈长椭圆形。 —

All around, the lonely sea extended to the limits of the horizon. —
周围，寂静的大海一直延伸到视野的边缘。 —

No land nor even a sail was in sight.
海上看不到陆地，甚至连一只帆船也不见。

This woody islet did not offer the varied aspects of Lincoln Island, arid and wild in one part, but fertile and rich in the other. —
这个有树木的小岛并不像林肯岛那样，一部分干燥荒野，一部分肥沃丰盛。 —

On the contrary this was a uniform mass of verdure, out of which rose two or three hills of no great height. —
相反，整个岛都是一片翠绿的草木，上面突起着两三座不算很高的小山。 —

Obliquely to the oval of the island ran a stream through a wide meadow falling into the sea on the west by a narrow mouth.
沿着岛屿椭圆形的一侧，有一条小溪流过一片宽阔的草地，最终流入西侧海边的一个狭窄的口。

“The domain is limited,” said Herbert.
“领地有限，”赫伯特说。

“Yes,” rejoined Pencroft: “It would have been too small for us.”
“是的，”潘克罗夫回答道：“这对我们来说太小了。”

“And moreover,” said the reporter, “it appears to be uninhabited.”
“而且，”记者说，“看起来这里似乎没有人居住。”

“Indeed,” answered Herbert, “nothing here betrays the presence of man.”
“确实，”赫伯特回答，“这里没有任何迹象显示有人类存在。”

“Let us go down,” said Pencroft, “and search.”
“让我们下去看看，”潘克罗夫说，“寻找一下。”

The sailor and his two companions returned to the shore, to the place where they had left the “Bonadventure.”
水手和他的两位伙伴回到岸边，返回他们留下”奔宁号”的地方。

They had decided to make the tour of the island on foot, before exploring the interior; —
他们已经决定在探索内陆之前徒步绕岛一周； —

so that not a spot should escape their investigations. —
以便不放过任何一个地方的调查。 —

The beach was easy to follow, and only in some places was their way barred by large rocks, which, however, they easily passed round. —
沿着海滩走很容易，只有在一些地方他们的路被大石头挡住了，不过他们也轻而易举地绕过去了。 —

The explorers proceeded towards the south, disturbing numerous flocks of sea-birds and herds of seals, which threw themselves into the sea as soon as they saw the strangers at a distance.
探险家们朝着南方前进，惊动了许多海鸟群和海豹群，一见到陌生人就扑向海中。

“Those beasts yonder,” observed the reporter, “do not see men for the first time. —
“那些野兽们，”记者观察到，“看起来并不是第一次见到人类。” —

They fear them, therefore they must know them.”
他们害怕它们，因此他们必须了解它们。

An hour after their departure they arrived on the southern point of the islet, terminated by a sharp cape, and proceeded towards the north along the western coast, equally formed by sand and rocks, the background bordered with thick woods.
他们离开后一个小时，他们抵达小岛南端，尖尖的海角终止，然后沿着西海岸向北前行，海岸线由沙滩和岩石组成，背景是长满浓密树林。

There was not a trace of a habitation in any part, not the print of a human foot on the shore of the island, which after four hours’ walking had been gone completely round.
整个小岛一圈走下来了四个小时，任何地方都找不到任何人居住的痕迹，也找不到任何人类的足迹。

It was to say the least very extraordinary, and they were compelled to believe that Tabor Island was not or was no longer inhabited. —
这实在是非常不寻常的，他们被迫相信泰博尔岛可能无人居住。 —

Perhaps, after all the document was already several months or several years old, and it was possible in this case, either that the castaway had been enabled to return to his country, or that he had died of misery.
也许，毕竟这份文件已经几个月甚至几年了，这种情况下，要么是漂流者已经成功返回国家，要么是他因为贫困而死去。

Pencroft, Spilett, and Herbert, forming more or less probable conjectures, dined rapidly on board the “Bonadventure” so as to be able to continue their excursion until nightfall. —
潘克罗夫、斯派莱特和赫伯特快速在“幸运号”上吃了饭，以便能继续他们的出游直到天黑。 —

This was done at five o’clock in the evening, at which hour they entered the wood.
这是在傍晚五点进行的，在那时他们进入了森林。

Numerous animals fled at their approach, being principally, one might say, only goats and pigs, which were obviously European species.
许多动物在他们接近时逃走，主要是山羊和猪，明显是欧洲物种。

Doubtless some whaler had landed them on the island, where they had rapidly increased. —
毫无疑问，曾有捕鲸船员在岛上登陆，并使它们迅速增加。 —

Herbert resolved to catch one or two living, and take them back to Lincoln Island.
赫伯特决定捕捉一两只活的，带回林肯岛。

It was no longer doubtful that men at some period or other had visited this islet, and this became still more evident when paths appeared trodden through the forest, felled trees, and everywhere traces of the hand of man; —
现在不再有疑问，某个时期的人曾拜访过这个小岛，当林间出现被踩踏过的小径、被砍倒的树木，以及人类的痕迹时，这一点变得更加明显； —

but the trees were becoming rotten, and had been felled many years ago; —
但树木已经朽烂，许多年前已经被砍伐； —

the marks of the axe were velveted with moss, and the grass grew long and thick on the paths, so that it was difficult to find them.
斧头的痕迹已被苔藓绒毛覆盖，小径上长满了长而浓密的草，以至于很难找到。

“But,” observed Gideon Spilett, “this not only proves that men have landed on the island, but also that they lived on it for some time. —
“但是，”吉迪恩·斯派莱特观察到，“这不仅证明人曾经登陆过这个岛屿，同时也表明他们在这里生活过一段时间。 —

Now, who were these men? How many of them remain?”
那么，这些人是谁？他们中还有多少人？”

“The document,” said Herbert, “only spoke of one castaway.”
“这份文件，”赫伯特说道，“只提到了一个荒漏海岛上的人。”

“Well, if he is still on the island,” replied Pencroft, “it is impossible but that we shall find him.”
“如果他还在岛上的话，”潘克罗夫回答道，“我们一定会找到他。”

The exploration was continued. The sailor and his companions naturally followed the route which cut diagonally across the island, and they were thus obliged to follow the stream which flowed towards the sea.
探险继续进行。水手和他的同伴自然而然地沿着对角线穿越整个岛，因此他们不得不顺着流向海洋的溪流前行。

If the animals of European origin, if works due to a human hand, showed incontestably that men had already visited the island, several specimens of the vegetable kingdom did not prove it less. —
如果源自欧洲的动物，如果是人为制作的作品, 毫无疑问表明曾有人造访过这座岛屿，但植物王国的几个标本却不能证明这一点。 —

In some places, in the midst of clearings, it was evident that the soil had been planted with culinary plants, at probably the same distant period.
在一些地方，在清除出来的土地中，很明显地, 土壤曾经被种植了烹饪作物，可能是在偏远的同一时期。

What, then, was Herbert’s joy, when he recognized potatoes, chicory, sorrel, carrots, cabbages, and turnips, of which it was sufficient to collect the seed to enrich the soil of Lincoln Island.
于是赫伯特认出土豆，菊苣，酸模，胡萝卜，卷心菜和萝卜, 只需收集种子就能让林肯岛的土壤被丰富起来。

“Capital, jolly!” exclaimed Pencroft. “That will suit Neb as well as us. —
“太好了，太棒了！”潘克罗夫兴奋地说道，“这对尼布和我们来说都很合适。” —

Even if we do not find the castaway, at least our voyage will not have been useless, and God will have rewarded us.”
即使我们找不到荒漏海岛上的人，至少我们的航行也不会是毫无意义的，上帝一定会奖赏我们。”

“Doubtless,” replied Gideon Spilett, “but to see the state in which we find these plantations, it is to be feared that the island has not been inhabited for some time.”
“无疑地，”吉迪恩·斯普利特回答道，“但看到我们发现的这些种植园的状况，可以担心这座岛已经有段时间没有被居住了。”

“Indeed,” answered Herbert, “an inhabitant, whoever he was, could not have neglected such an important culture!”
“的确，”赫伯特回答，“无论那个居民是谁，都不可能忽视这么重要的种植！”

“Yes,” said Pencroft, “the castaway has gone.”
“是的，”潘克罗夫说，“荒漏海岛的人离开了。”

“We must suppose so.”
“我们必须这么假设。”

“It must then be admitted that the document has already a distant date?”
“那么这份文件很可能有一个相当久远的日期？”

“Evidently.”
“显然。”

“And that the bottle only arrived at Lincoln Island after having floated in the sea a long time.”
“而这个瓶子只是在海中漂浮了很长时间后才飘到了林肯岛。”

“Why not?” returned Pencroft. “But night is coming on,” added he, “and I think that it will be best to give up the search for the present.”
“为什么不呢？”潘克罗夫回答道。他补充说，“但夜晚即将降临，我认为最好暂时放弃搜寻。”

“Let us go on board, and to-morrow we will begin again,” said the reporter.
“我们上船吧，明天再继续，”记者说道。

This was the wisest course, and it was about to be followed when Herbert, pointing to a confused mass among the trees, exclaimed,–
正当大家打算照此行事时，赫伯特指着树丛间的一团混乱物喊道，

“A hut!”
“小屋！”

All three immediately ran towards the dwelling. —
三人立即朝着房屋跑去。 —

In the twilight it was just possible to see that it was built of planks and covered with a thick tarpaulin.
在黄昏时分，勉强可以看到这是由木板建成，覆盖着厚实的油布。

The half-closed door was pushed open by Pencroft, who entered with a rapid step.
潘克罗夫用力推开半关着的门，迅速走了进去。

The hut was empty!
小屋空无一人！