These last words justified the colonists’ presentiment. —
这些最后的话正证了殖民者的预感。 —

There had been some mournful past, perhaps expiated in the sight of men, but from which his conscience had not yet absolved him. —
曾经有过一些令人悲伤的过去，也许在人们面前已得赎罪，但他的良心仍未宽恕他。 —

At any rate the guilty man felt remorse, he repented, and his new friends would have cordially pressed the hand which they sought; —
无论如何，有罪的人感到了懊悔，他后悔了，他的新朋友本想热情地握住他们寻求的手； —

but he did not feel himself worthy to extend it to honest men! —
但他觉得自己不配向诚实的人伸出手！ —

However, after the scene with the jaguar, he did not return to the forest, and from that day did not go beyond the enclosure of Granite House.
然而，在与美洲虎的那场事件之后，他没有回到森林，从那天起再也没有走出花岗岩屋的围栏。

What was the mystery of his life? Would the stranger one day speak of it? Time alone could show. —
他的一生中有怎样的秘密呢？陌生人会有一天谈到吗？只有时间才能告诉。 —

At any rate, it was agreed that his secret should never be asked from him, and that they would live with him as if they suspected nothing.
无论如何，他们一致同意，永远不会向他询问他的秘密，并且他们会装作一无所知地与他共同生活。

For some days their life continued as before. —
有几天他们的生活还是像以前一样。 —

Cyrus Harding and Gideon Spilett worked together, sometimes chemists, sometimes experimentalists. —
塞勒斯·哈丁和吉迪恩·斯普莱特一起工作，有时是化学家，有时是实验家。 —

The reporter never left the engineer except to hunt with Herbert, for it would not have been prudent to allow the lad to ramble alone in the forest; —
记者除了和工程师一起外，从不离开他，因为允许少年一个人在森林中漫游是不明智的； —

and it was very necessary to be on their guard. —
必须保持警惕。 —

As to Neb and Pencroft, one day at the stables and poultry-yard, another at the corral, without reckoning work in Granite House, they were never in want of employment.
至于奈布和潘克罗夫特，则有一天在马厩和家禽园，另一天在畜栏里工作，而在花岗岩屋的工作也不断。

The stranger worked alone, and he had resumed his usual life, never appearing at meals, sleeping under the trees in the plateau, never mingling with his companions. —
那个陌生人独自工作，他重新过着平常的生活，从不在饭食时出现，睡在高原的树下，从不与同伴交往。 —

It really seemed as if the society of those who had saved him was insupportable to him!
真的看起来像是他觉得那些拯救他的人的社会对他来说无法忍受！

“But then,” observed Pencroft, “why did he entreat the help of his fellow-creatures? —
“但是，”潘克罗夫特观察到，“那么他为什么要请求他的同类帮助呢？ —

Why did he throw that paper into the sea?”
他为什么把那张纸扔进了海里？

“He will tell us why,” invariably replied Cyrus Harding.
“他会告诉我们为什么,” 塞勒斯·哈丁一贯地回答道。

“When?”
“什么时候？”

“Perhaps sooner than you think, Pencroft.”
“或许比你想象的更早，潘克罗夫。”

And, indeed, the day of confession was near.
而事实上，忏悔的日子已经近在眼前。

On the 10th of December, a week after his return to Granite House, Harding saw the stranger approaching, who, in a calm voice and humble tone, said to him: —
在12月10日，回到花岗岩屋一周后，哈丁看见那位陌生人走过来，他用平静的声音和谦卑的口吻对他说： —

“Sir, I have a request to make of you.”
“先生，我有一个请求要向您提出。”

“Speak,” answered the engineer, “but first let me ask you a question.”
“说吧，” 工程师回答说，”但在那之前我想问你一个问题。

At these words the stranger reddened, and was on the point of withdrawing. —
在听到这些话，陌生人脸红了，几乎要退缩。 —

Cyrus Harding understood what was passing in the mind of the guilty man, who doubtless feared that the engineer would interrogate him on his past life.
塞勒斯·哈丁明白了那个有罪之人心中所想，他无疑是担心工程师会追问他的过去。

Harding held him back.
哈丁拉住了他。

“Comrade,” said he, “we are not only your companions but your friends. —
“同志，” 他说，”我们不仅是你的同伴，也是你的朋友。 —

I wish you to believe that, and now I will listen to you.”
我希望你能相信这一点，现在我会听你说。”

The stranger pressed his hand over his eyes. —
陌生人用手捂住了双眼。 —

He was seized with a sort of trembling, and remained a few moments without being able to articulate a word.
他身体有些颤抖，僵持了几分钟后才能说出一句话。

“Sir,” said he at last, “I have come to beg you to grant me a favor.”
“先生，”他最后说，“我来向您请求一个批准我的恳求。”

“What is it?”
“是什么事？”

“You have, four or five miles from here, a corral for your domesticated animals. —
“您离这儿四五英里有一个圈舍，用来养殖家畜。 —

These animals need to be taken care of. Will you allow me to live there with them?”
这些动物需要照顾。能让我和它们一起住在那里吗？”

Cyrus Harding gazed at the unfortunate man for a few moments with a feeling of deep commiseration; then,–
赛勒斯·哈丁对这个不幸的人凝视了几分钟，深表同情；然后–

“My friend,” said he, “the corral has only stables hardly fit for animals.”
“我的朋友，”他说，“那个圈舍只有对动物勉强够用的马厩。”

“It will be good enough for me, sir.”
“对我来说就很好了，先生。”

“My friend,” answered Harding, “we will not constrain you in anything. —
“我的朋友，”哈丁回答道，“我们不会强迫你做任何事。 —

You wish to live at the corral, so be it. —
你想住在那个圈舍，那就这样吧。 —

You will, however, be always welcome at Granite House. But since you wish to live at the corral we will make the necessary arrangements for your being comfortably established there.”
不过你随时都欢迎来格兰特大厦。但既然你想住在圈舍，我们将会安排让你在那里舒适地安居。”

“Never mind that, I shall do very well.”
“没关系，我会做得很好。”

“My friend,” answered Harding, who always intentionally made use of this cordial appellation, “you must let us judge what it will be best to do in this respect.”
“我的朋友，”哈丁总是有意地用这个亲切称呼，“在这方面，你必须让我们来判断做什么最好。”

“Thank you, sir,” replied the stranger as he withdrew.
“谢谢您，先生，”陌生人回答着离开了。

The engineer then made known to his companions the proposal which had been made to him, and it was agreed that they should build a wooden house at the corral, which they would make as comfortable as possible.
工程师随后告诉了他的伙伴们被提出的建议，并且他们一致同意，在圈舍建造一个木屋，尽可能让它舒适。

That very day the colonists repaired to the corral with the necessary tools, and a week had not passed before the house was ready to receive its tenant. —
当天，殖民者们带着必要的工具前往圈舍，不到一周的时间，那栋房子已经准备好迎接它的住客了。 —

It was built about twenty feet from the sheds, and from there it was easy to overlook the flock of sheep, which then numbered more than eighty. —
它建在离棚屋约二十英尺的地方，从那里很容易俯瞰羊群，当时羊群已超过八十只。 —

Some furniture, a bed, table, bench, cupboard, and chest were manufactured, and a gun, ammunition, and tools were carried to the corral.
有些家具如床、桌子、长凳、橱柜和箱子被制造出来，还携带了一把枪、弹药和工具到了畜栏。

The stranger, however, had seen nothing of his new dwelling, and he had allowed the settlers to work there without him, while he occupied himself on the plateau, wishing, doubtless, to put the finishing stroke to his work. —
然而，这位陌生人并没有看到他的新住所，他让定居者在没有他的情况下在那里工作，而他则在高地上忙碌，无疑是想给他的工作画上完美的句号。 —

Indeed, thanks to him, all the ground was dug up and ready to he sowed when the time came.
事实上，多亏了他，所有的地面都被翻起来，等到播种的时候已经准备就绪。

It was on the 20th of December that all the arrangements at the corral were completed. —
一切在圈舍完成的日子是十二月二十日。 —

The engineer announced to the stranger that his dwelling was ready to receive him, and the latter replied that he would go and sleep there that very evening.
工程师向陌生人宣布他的住所已经准备好迎接他，而他回答说他将在那天晚上去那里睡觉。

On this evening the colonists were gathered in the diningroom of Granite House. It was then eight o’clock, the hour at which their companion was to leave them. —
当天晚上，殖民者聚集在花岗岩屋的餐厅里。那时已经八点钟，这也是他们的伙伴离开他们的时间。 —

Not wishing to trouble him by their presence, and thus imposing on him the necessity of saying farewells which might perhaps be painful to him, they had left him alone and ascended to Granite House.
为了不给他带来麻烦，也不让他为了必须说再见这样可能令他不舒服的事情，他们一个人静悄悄地离开了他，并上了花岗岩屋。

Now, they had been talking in the room for a few minutes, when a light knock was heard at the door. —
他们在屋里谈话了几分钟，突然听到有人轻轻敲门。 —

Almost immediately the stranger entered, and without any preamble,–
几乎立刻就见到陌生人进来了，而且没有废话，–

“Gentlemen,” said he, “before I leave you, it is right that you should know my history. —
“先生们，” 他说，”在我离开之前，你们应该知道我的历史。 —

I will tell it you.”
我会告诉你们的。”

These simple words profoundly impressed Cyrus Harding and his companions. The engineer rose.
这简单的话深深地打动了赛勒斯·哈丁和他的同伴们。工程师站起来。

“We ask you nothing, my friend,” said he; “it is your right to be silent.”
“我们不问你任何事，我的朋友，” 他说；”沉默是你的权利。”

“It is my duty to speak.”
“说话是我的职责。”

“Sit down, then.”
“那么，请坐下吧。”

“No, I will stand.”
“不，我会站着。”

“We are ready to hear you,” replied Harding.
“我们准备好听你讲了,“哈丁回答说。

The stranger remained standing in a corner of the room, a little in the shade. —
陌生人站在房间的一个角落里，稍微在阴影中。 —

He was bareheaded, his arms folded across his chest, and it was in this posture that in a hoarse voice, speaking like some one who obliges himself to speak, he gave the following recital, which his auditors did not once interrupt:–
他光着头，双臂交叉在胸前，就在这个姿势下，他用嘶哑的声音讲述了下面的故事，听众们没有打断过他：–

“On the 20th of December, 1854, a steam-yacht, belonging to a Scotch nobleman, Lord Glenarvan, anchored off Cape Bernouilli, on the western coast of Australia, in the thirty-seventh parallel. —
“1854年12月20日，一艘属于苏格兰贵族格兰诺伏爵士的游艇，在澳大利亚西部海岸的伯努利角下锚，位于南纬37度。 —

On board this yacht were Lord Glenarvan and his wife, a major in the English army, a French geographer, a young girl, and a young boy. —
这艘游艇上有格兰诺伏爵士和他的妻子、一名英国陆军少校、一名法国地理学家、一个小女孩和一个小男孩。 —

These two last were the children of Captain Grant, whose ship, the ‘Britannia,’ had been lost, crew and cargo, a year before. —
最后两个是舰长格兰特的孩子，他的船“不列颠尼亚号”在一年前失踪了，船员和货物都不见了。 —

The ‘Duncan’ was commanded by Captain John Mangles, and manned by a crew of fifteen men.
““邓肯”号由约翰·曼格斯船长指挥，机组人员有15人。

“This is the reason the yacht at this time lay off the coast of Australia. —
“这就是为什么游艇此时停泊在澳大利亚海岸边的原因。 —

Six months before, a bottle, enclosing a document written in English, German, and French, had been found in the Irish Sea, and picked up by the ‘Duncan.’ —
六个月前，在爱尔兰海发现一个瓶子，里面装着一份用英语、德语和法语写的文件，被“邓肯”号捡到。 —

This document stated in substance that there still existed three survivors from the wreck of the ‘Britannia,’ that these survivors were Captain Grant and two of his men, and that they had found refuge on some land, of which the document gave the latitude, but of which the longitude, effaced by the sea, was no longer legible.
文件大意是说“不列颠尼亚号”沉船还有三名幸存者，分别是格兰特船长和他的两个船员，他们在某个陆地找到了避难所，文件中给出了纬度，不过被海水模糊掉的经度不再清晰可辨。

“This latitude was 37deg 11’ south; therefore, the longitude being unknown, if they followed the thirty-seventh parallel over continents and seas, they would be certain to reach the spot inhabited by Captain Grant and his two companions. —
“这个纬度是37度11分南；因此，由于经度不明，如果他们沿着三十七度纬度越过大陆和海洋，他们就能确定抵达格兰特船长和他的两个同伴居住的地方。 —

The English Admiralty having hesitated to undertake this search, Lord Glenarvan resolved to attempt everything to find the captain. —
由于英国海军部迟疑不决进行搜寻，格兰诺伏爵士决定尽一切努力找到船长。 —

He communicated with Mary and Robert Grant, who joined him. —
他与梅丽和罗伯特·格兰特联系，他们加入了他。 —

The ‘Duncan’ yacht was equipped for the distant voyage, in which the nobleman’s family and the captain’s children wished to take part, and the ‘Duncan,’ leaving Glasgow, proceeded towards the Atlantic, passed through the Straits of Magellan, and ascended the Pacific as far as Patagonia, where, according to a previous interpretation of the document, they supposed that Captain Grant was a prisoner among the Indians.
“‘邓肯号’游艇装备齐全，贵族家庭和船长的孩子想参加这次遥远的航行，‘邓肯号’离开格拉斯哥，向大西洋航行，穿过麦哲伦海峡，一直沿着太平洋向南美洲的巴塔哥尼亚前进，根据文件的早前解释，他们认为格兰特船长被印第安人囚禁在那里。”

“The ‘Duncan’ disembarked her passengers on the western coast of Patagonia, and sailed to pick them up again on the eastern coast at Cape Corrientes. —
“‘邓肯号’在巴塔哥尼亚西海岸放下乘客，并航行到东海岸的科里恩特角再接他们。” —

Lord Glenarvan traversed Patagonia, following the thirty- seventh parallel, and having found no trace of the captain, he re-embarked on the 13th of November, so as to pursue his search through the Ocean.
“格伦阿尔文勋爵沿着南美洲的第三十七纬度穿越了巴塔哥尼亚，没有发现船长的任何踪迹，因此他于11月13日重新登船，继续在海洋中搜寻。”

“After having unsuccessfully visited the islands of Tristan d’Acunha and Amsterdam, situated in her course, the ‘Duncan,’ as I have said, arrived at Cape Bernouilli, on the Australian coast, on the 20th of December, 1854.
“‘邓肯号’在航行中访问了特里士坦达库纳岛和阿姆斯特丹岛，未能找到任何线索，正如我所说，于1854年12月20日抵达澳大利亚海岸的伯努力角。”

“It was Lord Glenarvan’s intention to traverse Australia as he had traversed America, and he disembarked. —
“格伦阿尔文勋爵打算像穿越美洲一样穿越澳大利亚，于是下船。” —

A few miles from the coast was established a farm, belonging to an Irishman, who offered hospitality to the travelers. —
“离海岸几英里处有一处农场，属于一个爱尔兰人，他提供了旅行者们的住宿。” —

Lord Glenarvan made known to the Irishman the cause which had brought him to these parts, and asked if he knew whether a three-masted English vessel, the ‘Britannia,’ had been lost less than two years before on the west coast of Australia.
“格伦阿尔文勋爵向这位爱尔兰人说明了他来这里的原因，并问他是否知道不到两年前在澳大利亚西海岸失落的一艘三桅英国船‘不列颠’。”

“The Irishman had never heard of this wreck, but, to the great surprise of the bystanders, one of his servants came forward and said,–
“这位爱尔兰人从未听说过这次失事，但让旁观者大为惊讶的是，他的一个仆人走了出来说，–”

”‘My lord, praise and thank God! If Captain Grant is still living, he is living on the Australian shores.’
“‘我主啊，赞美上帝！如果格兰特船长仍然活着，他就在澳大利亚的海岸上。”

”‘Who are you?’ asked Lord Glenarvan.
“格伦阿尔文勋爵问道：‘你是谁？’”

”‘A Scotchman like yourself, my lord,’ replied the man; —
“‘和您一样是苏格兰人，我主，’那人回答说；” —

‘I am one of Captain Grant’s crew–one of the castaways of the “Britannia.”’
“‘我是格兰特船长船员之一–“不列颠”号的幸存者。”

“This man was called Ayrton. He was, in fact, the boatswain’s mate of the ‘Britannia,’ as his papers showed. —
“这个人叫艾顿。实际上，根据他的文件，他是‘不列颠’号的大副。” —

But, separated from Captain Grant at the moment when the ship struck upon the rocks, he had till then believed that the captain with all his crew had perished, and that he, Ayrton, was the sole survivor of the ‘Britannia.’
“然而，当船触礁时与格兰特船长分开，他直到那时还以为船长和全体船员已经遇难，而他，艾顿，是“不列颠”号的唯一幸存者。”

”‘Only,’ he added, ‘it was not on the west coast, but on the east coast of Australia that the vessel was lost, and if Captain Grant is still living, as his document indicates, he is a prisoner among the natives, and it is on the other coast that he must be looked for.’
“‘只是，’他补充道，‘船只并非在西海岸，而是在澳大利亚的东海岸失事，如果格兰特船长仍然活着，正如他的文件所示，他被原住民囚禁，需要在另一侧海岸寻找。”

“This man spoke in a frank voice and with a confident look; his words could not be doubted. —
这个男人以坦率的声音和自信的神色说话，他的话是毋庸置疑的。 —

The irishman, in whose service he had been for more than a year, answered for his trustworthiness. —
那位爱尔兰人，在他服务的一年多中，对他的可靠性作了保证。 —

Lord Glenarvan, therefore, believed in the fidelity of this man and, by his advice, resolved to cross Australia, following the thirty-seventh parallel. —
格伦阿文勋爵因此相信这个人的忠诚，并根据他的建议，决定横越澳大利亚，沿着南纬37度线前进。 —

Lord Glenarvan, his wife, the two children, the major, the Frenchman, Captain Mangles, and a few sailors composed the little band under the command of Ayrton, while the ‘Duncan,’ under charge of the mate, Tom Austin, proceeded to Melbourne, there to await Lord Glenarvan’s instructions.
格伦阿文勋爵、他的妻子、两个孩子、少栦、法国人、曼格尔斯船长和几个水手组成了小队，由艾顿指挥，而“邓肯”号则由大副汤姆·奥斯汀指挥前往墨尔本，等候格伦阿文勋爵的指示。

“They set out on the 23rd of December, 1854.
“他们于1854年12月23日出发。

“It is time to say that Ayrton was a traitor. —
“现在该说艾顿是个叛徒了。 —

He was, indeed, the boatswain’s mate of the ‘Britannia,’ but, after some dispute with his captain, he endeavored to incite the crew to mutiny and seize the ship, and Captain Grant had landed him, on the 8th of April, 1852, on the west coast of Australia, and then sailed, leaving him there, as was only just.
他确实是“不列颠尼亚号”的大副，但在与船长发生争执后，他试图煽动船员叛乱并夺取船只，因此格兰特船长于1852年4月8日将他丢弃在澳大利亚西海岸，然后驾船离开，这是理所当然的。

“Therefore this wretched man knew nothing of the wreck of the ‘Britannia’; —
“因此这个可怜的人并不知道‘不列颠尼亚号’的失事； —

he had just heard of it from Glenarvan’s account. —
他只是从格伦阿文的口中才得知这一切。 —

Since his abandonment, he had become, under the name of Ben Joyce, the leader of the escaped convicts; —
自从被遗弃以来，他就化名本·乔伊斯，成为了逃犯的领袖； —

and if he boldly maintained that the wreck had taken place on the east coast, and led Lord Glenarvan to proceed in that direction, it was that he hoped to separate him from his ship, seize the ‘Duncan,’ and make the yacht a pirate in the Pacific.”
如果他大胆地坚称失事发生在东海岸，并引导格伦阿文沿着那个方向前进，那是因为他希望将后者与他的船隔离开来，夺取“邓肯”号，使游艇在太平洋成为海盗。”

Here the stranger stopped for a moment. His voice trembled, but he continued,–
在这里，陌生人停顿了一会儿。他的声音颤抖了，但他继续说：

“The expedition set out and proceeded across Australia. —
“远征队出发并穿越澳大利亚。 —

It was inevitably unfortunate, since Ayrton, or Ben Joyce, as he may be called, guided it, sometimes preceded, sometimes followed by his band of convicts, who had been told what they had to do.
这是注定不幸的，因为艾顿，或者可以称之为本·乔伊斯，引导着远征队，有时带头，有时跟随着他的一伙逃犯，他们知道自己该做什么。

“Meanwhile, the ‘Duncan’ had been sent to Melbourne for repairs. —
“与此同时，‘邓肯’号已被派往墨尔本进行维修。 —

It was necessary, then, to get Lord Glenarvan to order her to leave Melbourne and go to the east coast of Australia, where it would be easy to seize her. —
那时有必要让格伦阿凡勋爵命令她离开墨尔本，前往澳大利亚东海岸，那里易于被抓住。 —

After having led the expedition near enough to the coast, in the midst of vast forests with no resources, Ayrton obtained a letter, which he was charged to carry to the mate of the ‘Duncan’–a letter which ordered the yacht to repair immediately to the east coast, to Twofold Bay, that is to say a few days’ journey from the place where the expedition had stopped. —
在将探险队引领至靠近海岸，茂密森林中资源匮乏的地方后，艾尔顿拿到了一封信，他被委托带给“邓肯”号的副船长 —— 一封要求修船船立刻前往东海岸，也就是离探险队停留地点几天行程的图佛尔德湾的信。 —

It was there that Ayrton had agreed to meet his accomplices, and two days after gaining possession of the letter, he arrived at Melbourne.
就是那里，艾尔顿同凶手们约好见面，两天后得到了这封信，他到达了墨尔本。

“So far the villain had succeeded in his wicked design. —
“到目前为止，这个恶棍已经成功了。 —

He would be able to take the ‘Duncan’ into Twofold Bay, where it would be easy for the convicts to seize her, and her crew massacred, Ben Joyce would become master of the seas. —
他能把“邓肯”号带进图佛尔德湾，在那里很容易让犯人们占领她，并屠杀船员，本·乔伊斯就能成为海上的主宰。 —

But it pleased God to prevent the accomplishment of these terrible projects.
但是上帝却幸运地阻止了这些可怕的计划。

“Ayrton, arrived at Melbourne, delivered the letter to the mate, Tom Austin, who read it and immediately set sail, but judge of Ayrton’s rage and disappointment, when the next day he found that the mate was taking the vessel, not to the east coast of Australia, to Twofold Bay, but to the east coast of New Zealand. —
“艾尔顿抵达墨尔本，把信交给了副船长汤姆·奥斯汀，后者读完后立刻启航，但是想象一下艾尔顿的愤怒和失望，第二天他发现副船长不是将船驶往澳大利亚东海岸的图佛尔德湾，而是新西兰东海岸。 —

He wished to stop him, but Austin showed him the letter!. —
他想阻止他，但奥斯汀给他看了信！ —

.. And indeed, by a providential error of the French geographer, who had written the letter, the east coast of New Zealand was mentioned as the place of destination.
.. 实际上，由于法国地理学家的一个错误，信中将新西兰东海岸列为目的地。

“All Ayrton’s plans were frustrated! He became outrageous. They put him in irons. —
“艾尔顿的计划全部破灭！他变得极度愤怒。他被铐上了。 —

He was then taken to the coast of New Zealand, not knowing what would become of his accomplices, or what would become of Lord Glenarvan.
他随后被带到新西兰海岸，不知道他的同伙们会怎么样，或者格伦阿凡勋爵会怎么样。

“The ‘Duncan’ cruised about on this coast until the 3rd of March. On that day Ayrton heard the report of guns. —
“邓肯”号在这个海岸附近巡航直到3月3日。那天，艾尔顿听到了枪声。 —

The guns on the ‘Duncan’ were being fired, and soon Lord Glenarvan and his companions came on board.
“邓肯”号上的枪声响起，很快格伦阿凡勋爵和他的同伴登上了船。

“This is what had happened.
“这就是发生的事情。

“After a thousand hardships, a thousand dangers, Lord Glenarvan had accomplished his journey, and arrived on the east coast of Australia, at Twofold Bay. ‘Not “Duncan!” —
在经历了千辛万苦、危险重重后，格伦阿凡勋爵完成了他的旅程，抵达了澳大利亚东海岸，图佛尔德湾。“不是‘邓肯’！” —

’ He telegraphed to Melbourne. They answered, ‘“Duncan” sailed on the 18th instant. —
他向墨尔本发了电报。他们回答说，“‘邓肯’号于本月18日启航。 —

Destination unknown.’
目的地不明。”

“Lord Glenarvan could only arrive at one conclusion; —
“格伦阿凡勋爵只能得出一个结论； —

that his honest yacht had fallen into the hands of Ben Joyce, and had become a pirate vessel!
他诚实的游艇已经落入本·乔伊斯手中，变成了一艘海盗船！

“However, Lord Glenarvan would not give up. He was a bold and generous man. —
“然而，格伦阿凡勋爵不会放弃。他是一个勇敢而慷慨的人。 —

He embarked in a merchant vessel, sailed to the west coast of New Zealand, traversed it along the thirty-seventh parallel, without finding any trace of Captain Grant; —
他乘坐一艘商船，航行到新西兰西海岸，沿着南纬37度一路前行，但没有找到格兰特船长的任何踪迹； —

but on the other side, to his great surprise, and by the will of Heaven, he found the ‘Duncan,’ under command of the mate, who had been waiting for him for five weeks!
但让他大为惊讶的是，在另一边，由于上天的意愿，他找到了‘邓肯’号，由船副指挥，已经等待他五个星期！

“This was on the 3rd of March, 1855. Lord Glenarvan was now on board the ‘Duncan,’ but Ayrton was there also. —
“这是在1855年3月3日。格伦阿凡勋爵现在在‘邓肯’号上，但艾顿也在那里。 —

He appeared before the nobleman, who wished to extract from him all that the villain knew about Captain Grant. Ayrton refused to speak. —
他出现在贵族面前，希望能从那个恶棍口中得知有关格兰特船长的一切。艾顿拒绝开口。 —

Lord Glenarvan then told him, that at the first port they put into, he would be delivered up to the English authorities. —
格伦阿凡勋爵告诉他，第一个停靠的港口，他将被交给英国当局。 —

Ayrton remained mute.
艾顿保持沉默。

“The ‘Duncan’ continued her voyage along the thirty-seventh parallel. —
“‘邓肯’号沿着南纬37度继续航行。 —

In the meanwhile, Lady Glenarvan undertook to vanquish the resistance of the ruffian.
与此同时，格伦阿凡夫人着手征服这个恶棍的抵抗。

“At last, her influence prevailed, and Ayrton, in exchange for what he could tell, proposed that Lord Glenarvan should leave him on some island in the Pacific, instead of giving him up to the English authorities. —
“最终，她的影响力占了上风，艾顿提出，为了得到他所知道的一切，格伦阿凡勋爵应该将他留在太平洋的某个岛屿，而不是交给英国当局。 —

Lord Glenarvan, resolving to do anything to obtain information about Captain Grant, consented.
格伦阿凡勋爵为了获取有关格兰特船长的信息，同意了。

“Ayrton then related all his life, and it was certain that he knew nothing from the day on which Captain Grant had landed him on the Australian coast.
“艾尔顿随后讲述了他的一生，可以肯定的是，自从格兰特船长将他放在澳大利亚海岸之后，他一无所知。”

“Nevertheless, Lord Glenarvan kept the promise which he had given. —
“然而，格伦阿万勋爵遵守了他所作出的承诺。 —

The ‘Duncan’ continued her voyage and arrived at Tabor Island. —
“‘邓肯号’继续航行，抵达了塔波尔岛。 —

It was there that Ayrton was to be landed, and it was there also that, by a veritable miracle, they found Captain Grant and two men, exactly on the thirty- seventh parallel.
“在那里，埃尔顿将被放下，而且就在那里，凭借一个真正的奇迹，他们发现了格兰特船长和另外两个人，恰好处于南纬三十七度上。

“The convict, then, went to take their place on this desert islet, and at the moment he left the yacht these words were pronounced by Lord Glenarvan:–
“‘囚犯’随即前去占据这座荒岛，当他离开游艇时，格伦阿万勋爵发出了这样的话语:–

”‘Here, Ayrton, you will be far from any land, and without any possible communication with your fellow-creatures. —
”‘在这里，埃尔顿，你将远离任何陆地，也没有任何可能与你的同类交流。 —

You can-not escape from this islet on which the ‘Duncan’ leaves you. —
“你无法在我们离开你的这座小岛。 —

You will be alone, under the eye of a God who reads the depths of the heart, but you will be neither lost nor forgotten, as was Captain Grant. Unworthy as you are to be remembered by men, men will remember you. —
“你将孤独一人，在那位能洞悉人心的上帝眼前，尽管你不值得被人们记住，但人们会记得你，就像格兰特船长一样不会迷失和被遗忘。” —

I know where you are Ayrton, and I know where to find you. —
我知道你在哪里，Ayrton，也知道如何找到你。 —

I will never forget it!
我永远不会忘记！

“And the ‘Duncan,’ making sail, soon disappeared. This was 18th of March, 1855.
“‘邓肯号’扬帆远去，很快就消失了。这是1855年3月18日。”

(The events which have just been briefly related are taken from a
(The events which have just been briefly related are taken from a 1,(刚刚简要叙述的事件取自

work which some of our readers have no doubt read, and which is
工作，我们的一些读者无疑已经阅读过，题为“格兰特船长的孩子们”。他们在这个场合和以后都会注意到一些日期上的不一致。

entitled, “Captain Grant’s children.” They will remark on this
标题，“Captain Grant’s children.”。阅读时也许我们的一些读者认为日期有所出入；

occasion, as well as later, some discrepancy in the dates; but
但随后Reading progress: They will remark on this Some discrepancy in the dates. Individual differences in thinking, memory, appraisal, and discourse during literary experience, but they will notice some discrepancy in the dates both on this occasion and later.

later again, they will understand why the real dates were not at
后来，他们会明白为什么真正的日期不是在最初给定的。

first given.)
首先。

“Ayrton was alone, but he had no want of either ammunition, weapons, tools, or seeds.
“艾尔顿是一个人，但他既不缺弹药、武器、工具，也不缺种子。

“At his, the convict’s disposal, was the house built by honest Captain Grant. He had only to live and expiate in solitude the crimes which he had committed.
“这座房子是诚实的格兰特船长建造的，这位囚犯尽管孤身一人，却有这座房子可以利用。他只需在孤独中生活并补偿自己犯下的罪行。

“Gentlemen, he repented, he was ashamed of his crimes and was very miserable! —
“先生们，他懊悔了，对自己的罪行感到羞愧，非常痛苦！ —

He said to himself, that if men came some day to take him from that islet, he must be worthy to return among them! —
他告诉自己，如果有一天有人来接他离开那个小岛，他必须配得回到他们中间！ —

How he suffered, that wretched man! How he labored to recover himself by work! —
那个可怜的人是多么地受苦！他为了通过工作来挽回自己而辛苦劳作！ —

How he prayed to be reformed by prayer! For two years, three years, this went on, but Ayrton, humbled by solitude, always looking for some ship to appear on the horizon, asking himself if the time of expiation would soon be complete, suffered as none other suffered! —
他通过祈祷来力求改过！这样的生活持续了两年，三年，但艾尔顿在孤独中受辱，总是盼望着看到地平线上出现一艘船，询问自己赎罪的时间是否快要结束，他遭受的痛苦无以伦比！ —

Oh! how dreadful was this solitude, to a heart tormented by remorse!
哦！这种饱受良心谴责之苦的孤独是何等可怕！

“But doubtless Heaven had not sufficiently punished this unhappy man, for he felt that he was gradually becoming a savage! —
“然而天堂显然还没对这个不幸的人进行足够的惩罚，因为他感到自己逐渐变得像野兽一样！ —

He felt that brutishness was gradually gaining on him!
他感觉野蛮逐渐占据了他！

“He could not say if it was after two or three years of solitude, but at last he became the miserable creature you found!
“他不能说是在两年还是三年的孤独后，但最终他成为了你们找到的这个可怜的人！

“I have no need to tell you, gentlemen, that Ayrton, Ben Joyce, and I, are the same.”
“我不需要告诉你们，先生们，艾尔顿、本·乔伊斯和我是同一个人。

Cyrus Harding and his companions rose at the end of this account. —
辛克莱和他的同伴们在这个叙述结束时站了起来。 —

It is impossible to say how much they were moved! —
不可能说他们被激动了多少！ —

What misery, grief, and despair lay revealed before them!
他们面前展现出了怎样的痛苦、悲伤和绝望啊！

“Ayrton,” said Harding, rising, “you have been a great criminal, but Heaven must certainly think that you have expiated your crimes! —
“艾尔顿，”哈丁站起身来，“你曾经犯下了严重罪行，但天堂肯定认为你已经赎罪！ —

That has been proved by your having been brought again among your fellow-creatures. —
你能再次与人类生活在一起，这已经证明了这一点。 —

Ayrton, you are forgiven! And now you will be our companion?”
艾尔顿，你被宽恕了！现在你将成为我们的伙伴？”

Ayrton drew back.
艾尔顿退后了。

“Here is my hand!” said the engineer.
“这是我的手！”工程师说道。

Ayrton grasped the hand which Harding extended to him, and great tears fell from his eyes.
艾尔顿握住了哈丁伸出的手，热泪如雨而下。

“Will you live with us?” asked Cyrus Harding.
“你愿意和我们一起生活吗？”西勒斯·哈丁问道。

“Captain Harding, leave me some time longer,” replied Ayrton, “leave me alone in the hut in the corral!”
“哈丁船长，请再给我一些时间，”艾尔顿回答说，“请让我独自留在牛栏里的小屋里！”

“As you like, Ayrton,” answered Cyrus Harding. —
“你愿意怎样就怎样，艾尔顿，”西勒斯·哈丁答道。 —

Ayrton was going to withdraw, when the engineer addressed one more question to him:–
当艾尔顿要退出时，工程师又向他提出了一个问题：

“One word more, my friend. Since it was your intention to live alone, why did you throw into the sea the document which put us on your track?”
“再说一句，我的朋友。既然你打算独居，为什么要把放在瓶子里的那份文件扔进海里，让我们找到你的位置？”

“A document?” repeated Ayrton, who did not appear to know what he meant.
“文件？”艾尔顿重复道，似乎不明白他在说什么。

“Yes, the document which we found enclosed in a bottle, giving us the exact position of Tabor Island!”
“是的，我们在一个瓶子里找到的那份文件，准确标明了塔伯尔岛的位置！”

Ayrton passed his hand over his brow, then after having thought, “I never threw any document into the sea!” he answered.
艾尔顿在额头上抚摸了一下，然后思考了一下，“我从来没有把任何文件扔进海里！”他回答说。

“Never?” exclaimed Pencroft.
“从来没有？”彭克罗夫惊叹道。

“Never!”
“从来没有！”

And Ayrton, bowing, reached the door and departed.
艾尔顿鞠躬，走到门口离开了。