The next day, the 18th of February, was devoted to the exploration of all that wooded region forming the shore from Reptile End to Falls River. The colonists were able to search this forest thoroughly, for, as it was comprised between the two shores of the Serpentine Peninsula, it was only from three to four miles in breadth. —
第二天，2月18日，被用来探索从爬行者角到瀑布河的沿岸形成的那片树木茂密的地区。殖民者得以彻底搜索这片森林，因为它位于S形半岛的两岸之间，宽度仅为三至四英里。 —

The trees, both by their height and their thick foliage, bore witness to the vegetative power of the soil, more astonishing here than in any other part of the island. —
这里的树木，无论是在高度还是茂密的叶子上，都证明了土壤的植被力量，比岛上其他地方更令人惊讶。 —

One might have said that a corner from the virgin forests of America or Africa had been transported into this temperate zone. —
人们或许会说，一个角落从美洲或非洲的原始森林被运到了这个温带地带。 —

This led them to conclude that the superb vegetation found a heat in this soil, damp in its upper layer, but warmed in the interior by volcanic fires, which could not belong to a temperate climate. —
这使他们得出结论，壮丽的植被在这片土壤中找到了一种热量，这种土壤表面潮湿，但在内部被火山火焰所加热，这种热量不可能存在于温带气候。 —

The most frequently occurring trees were knaries and eucalypti of gigantic dimensions.
最常见的树木是巨大的knaries和桉树。

But the colonists’ object was not simply to admire the magnificent vegetation. —
但殖民者的目的不仅仅是为了欣赏壮美的植被。 —

They knew already that in this respect Lincoln Island would have been worthy to take the first rank in the Canary group, to which the first name given was that of the Happy Isles. Now, alas! —
他们已经知道，在这方面，林肯岛将配得上加那利群岛中排名第一的位置，而第一个得到的名字是幸福岛。现在，唉！ —

their island no longer belonged to them entirely; —
他们的岛屿不再完全属于他们； —

others had taken possession of it, miscreants polluted its shores, and they must be destroyed to the last man.
其他人已经占据了它，恶徒们污染了这片海岸，他们必须被彻底摧毁。

No traces were found on the western coast, although they were carefully sought for. —
在西海岸没有发现任何痕迹，尽管它们已被仔细搜索。 —

No more footprints, no more broken branches, no more deserted camps.
没有足迹，没有折断的树枝，也没有荒废的营地。

“This does not surprise me,” said Cyrus Harding to his companions. —
“这并不让我感到惊讶，”西里斯·哈丁对他的同伴们说。 —

“The convicts first landed on the island in the neighborhood of Flotsam Point, and they immediately plunged into the Far West forests, after crossing Tadorn Marsh. They then followed almost the same route that we took on leaving Granite House. This explains the traces we found in the wood. —
“囚犯们最初在漂流波点附近登岛，他们立即投入了远西森林，穿过歇鹅沼泽。然后，他们几乎沿着我们离开花岗石屋时走过的相同路线前行。这解释了我们在树林中找到的痕迹。 —

But, arriving on the shore, the convicts saw at once that they would discover no suitable retreat there, and it was then that, going northwards again, they came upon the corral.”
“但是，一到岸边，囚犯们立刻看到他们在那里找不到合适的藏身之处，然后，再次向北走，他们就找到了围栏。”

“Where they have perhaps returned,” said Pencroft.
“他们也许又回去了，”潘克罗夫说。

“I do not think so,” answered the engineer, “for they would naturally suppose that our researches would be in that direction. —
“我不这么认为，”工程师回答道，“因为他们自然会认为我们的研究会朝着那个方向进行。” —

The corral is only a storehouse to them, and not a definitive encampment.”
“牛栏对他们只是一个仓库，并不是一个固定的营地。”

“I am of Cyrus’ opinion,” said the reporter, “and I think that it is among the spurs of Mount Franklin that the convicts will have made their lair.”
“我赞同赛勒斯的观点，”记者说道，“我认为罪犯们会藏身在富兰克林山脉的支脉间。”

“Then, captain, straight to the corral!” cried Pencroft. —
“那么，船长，直奔牛栏吧！”潘克罗夫喊道。 —

“We must finish them off, and till now we have only lost time!”
“我们必须彻底解决掉他们，到目前为止我们只是浪费了时间！”

“No, my friend,” replied the engineer; “you forget that we have a reason for wishing to know if the forests of the Far West do not contain some habitation. —
“不，我的朋友，”工程师回答道，“你忘记了我们希望知道远西的森林中是否有住所的原因。 —

Our exploration has a double object, Pencroft. —
我们的勘察有着双重目的，潘克罗夫。 —

If, on the one hand, we have to chastise crime, we have, on the other, an act of gratitude to perform.”
一方面我们必须惩戒罪行，另一方面我们还有一件感恩之事要做。”

“That was well said, captain,” replied the sailor, “but, all the same, it is my opinion that we shall not find the gentleman until he pleases.”
“船长说得好，”水手回答道，“但我仍然认为我们不会找到那位先生，除非他愿意。”

And truly Pencroft only expressed the opinion of all. —
实际上，潘克罗夫只是表达了所有人的看法。 —

It was probable that the stranger’s retreat was not less mysterious than was he himself.
那陌生人的隐匿地方可能和他本人一样神秘。

That evening the cart halted at the mouth of Falls River. The camp was organized as usual, and the customary precautions were taken for the night. —
那天晚上，马车停在瀑布河口。营地像往常一样组织起来，为夜晚采取了惯例的防范措施。 —

Herbert, become again the healthy and vigorous lad he was before his illness, derived great benefit from this life in the open air, between the sea breezes and the vivifying air from the forests. —
赫伯特重新成为了之前疾病前那个健康有活力的小伙子，在海风和森林里那清新的空气中受益匪浅。 —

His place was no longer in the cart, but at the head of the troop.
他不再待在马车里，而是走在队伍的最前面。

The next day, the 19th of February, the colonists, leaving the shore, where, beyond the mouth, basalts of every shape were so picturesquely piled up, ascended the river by its left bank. —
第二天，2月19日，殖民者们离开海岸，那里，在河口以外，各种形状的玄武岩堆叠得像图画一样美丽，沿着左岸沿着河流向上游去。 —

The road had been already partly cleared in their former excursions made from the corral to the west coast. —
道路在他们以前从围栏到西海岸的旅行中已经被清理过一部分了。 —

The settlers were now about six miles from Mount Franklin.
移民现在离富兰克林山大约六英里远。

The engineer’s plan was this:–To minutely survey the valley forming the bed of the river, and to cautiously approach the neighborhood of the corral; —
工程师的计划是: 仔细勘测河流床谷，谨慎接近围栏附近； —

if the corral was occupied, to seize it by force; —
如果围栏被占领，就用武力夺取； —

if it was not, to entrench themselves there and make it the center of the operations which had for their object the exploration of Mount Franklin.
如果没有被占领，就在那里设立栅栏，将其作为探索富兰克林山的行动的中心。

This plan was unanimously approved by the colonists, for they were impatient to regain entire possession of their island.
移民一致批准了这个计划，因为他们迫不及待地想要重新完全占据他们的岛屿。

They made their way then along the narrow valley separating two of the largest spurs of Mount Franklin. —
他们沿着富兰克林山两个最大支脉之间的狭窄山谷前进。 —

The trees, crowded on the river’s bank, became rare on the upper slopes of the mountain. —
河岸上拥挤的树木在山坡上变得稀少。 —

The ground was hilly and rough, very suitable for ambushes, and over which they did not venture without extreme precaution. —
地势崎岖，很适合伏击，他们在上面行走时必须极度小心。 —

Top and Jup skirmished on the flanks, springing right and left through the thick brushwood, and emulating each other in intelligence and activity. —
Top和Jup在侧翼上进行战斗，穿过浓密的灌木丛，彼此相互竞争在智力和活动力上。 —

But nothing showed that the banks of the stream had been recently frequented–nothing announced either the presence or the proximity of the convicts. —
但没有任何迹象表明河岸近期被经常出没过，没有任何迹象表明犯人的存在或接近。 —

Towards five in the evening the cart stopped nearly 600 feet from the palisade. —
下午五点左右，车停在距栅栏近600英尺处。 —

A semicircular screen of trees still hid it.
一道半圆形的树屏仍然把它遮掩着。

It was necessary to reconnoiter the corral, in order to ascertain if it was occupied. —
需要侦察畜栏，以确定它是否被占领。 —

To go there openly, in broad daylight, when the convicts were probably in ambush, would be to expose themselves, as poor Herbert had done, to the firearms of the ruffians. —
在白天公然前往，当犯人们可能潜伏时，将会使自己暴露在歹徒的火器之下，就像可怜的赫伯特一样。 —

It was better, then, to wait until night came on.
最好等夜幕降临才动身。

However, Gideon Spilett wished without further delay to reconnoiter the approaches to the corral, and Pencroft, who was quite out of patience, volunteered to accompany him.
但吉迪恩·斯皮莱特希望尽快侦察到畜栏的通道，而正在暴躁不安的彭克洛夫自愿陪同他。

“No, my friends,” said the engineer, “wait till night. —
“不，我的朋友们，”工程师说道：”晚上再去吧。 —

I will not allow one of you to expose himself in open day.”
我不会允许你们中的任何一个在白天暴露自己。

“But, captain–” answered the sailor, little disposed to obey.
“但是船长–“海员回答到，不太愿服从。

“I beg of you, Pencroft,” said the engineer.
“我请求你，彭克洛夫，“工程师说。

“Very well!” replied the sailor, who vented his anger in another way, by bestowing on the convicts the worst names in his maritime vocabulary.
“好吧!“回答海员，他愤怒地用海员词汇宇宙中最糟糕的称呼词对犯人们恶语相向。

The colonists remained, therefore, near the cart, and carefully watched the neighboring parts of the forest.
因此，殖民者们留在车边，仔细观察着森林旁的情况。

Three hours passed thus. The wind had fallen, and absolute silence reigned under the great trees. —
三个小时就这样过去了。风停了，巨树下绝对安静。 —

The snapping of the smallest twig, a footstep on the dry leaves, the gliding of a body among the grass, would have been heard without difficulty. —
即使是最小的树枝折断声，干枯树叶上的脚步声，或者草丛中身体的滑动，都会被轻易听到。 —

All was quiet. Besides, Top, lying on the grass, his head stretched out on his paws, gave no sign of uneasiness. —
一切都很安静。而且，躺在草地上，头枕在前爪上，毫不担心的Top也没有表现出任何不安。 —

At eight o’clock the day appeared far enough advanced for the reconnaissance to be made under favorable conditions. —
八点钟时，白天已经显得足够成熟，可以有利地进行侦察了。 —

Gideon Spilett declared himself ready to set out accompanied by Pencroft. Cyrus Harding consented. —
吉迪恩·斯派莱特宣称自己已经准备好出发，彭克罗夫也同意了。赛勒斯·哈丁同意了。 —

Top and Jup were to remain with the engineer, Herbert, and Neb, for a bark or a cry at a wrong moment would give the alarm.
Top和Jup留在工程师、赫伯特和尼布身边，以免在错误的时刻吠叫或叫喊引起警报。

“Do not be imprudent,” said Harding to the reporter and Pencroft, “you have not to gain possession of the corral, but only to find out whether it is occupied or not.”
“别冒险，”哈丁对记者和彭克罗夫说，“你们不需要占领牲口栏，只需要弄清楚它是否被占领了。”

“All right,” answered Pencroft.
“好的，”彭克罗夫回答。

And the two departed.
然后两人离开了。

Under the trees, thanks to the thickness of their foliage, the obscurity rendered any object invisible beyond a radius of from thirty to forty feet. —
在树木的掩护下，由于叶片的浓密，一切物体在30到40英尺的半径范围内都是看不见的。 —

The reporter and Pencroft, halting at any suspicious sound, advanced with great caution.
记者和彭克罗夫，每听到可疑声音就停下来，极其小心地前进。

They walked a little distance apart from each other so as to offer a less mark for a shot. —
他们之间保持一定距离，这样就不容易成为击中的目标。 —

And, to tell the truth, they expected every moment to hear a report. —
而且，说实话，他们随时都可能听到枪响。 —

Five minutes after leaving the cart, Gideon Spilett and Pencroft arrived at the edge of the wood before the clearing beyond which rose the palisade.
离开车子五分钟后，吉迪恩·斯派莱特和彭克罗夫来到了树林边缘，看到了超过围栏的空地。

They stopped. A few straggling beams still fell on the field clear of trees. —
他们停了下来。几束零星的光线仍然照在树间的空地上。 —

Thirty feet distant was the gate of the corral, which appeared to be closed. —
离这里三十英尺处是围栏的大门，看起来是关闭的。 —

This thirty feet, which it was necessary to cross from the wood to the palisade, constituted the dangerous zone, to borrow a ballistic term: —
从树林到围栏之间这三十英尺构成了危险的区域，用一个弹道学的术语来说： —

in fact, one or more bullets fired from behind the palisade might knock over any one who ventured on to this zone. —
事实上，从围栏后面射出的一颗或多颗子弹可能会击倒任何冒险踏入这个区域的人。 —

Gideon Spilett and the sailor were not men to draw back, but they knew that any imprudence on their part, of which they would be the first victims, would fall afterwards on their companions. —
吉迪恩·斯皮莱特和水手不是会退缩的人，但他们知道，任何他们的鲁莽行为，他们会是第一个受害者，之后会落在他们同伴身上。 —

If they themselves were killed, what would become of Harding, Neb, and Herbert?
如果他们自己被杀了，哈定、尼布和赫伯特会怎么办?

But Pencroft, excited at feeling himself so near the corral where he supposed the convicts had taken refuge, was about to press forward, when the reporter held him back with a grasp of iron.
但是，彼得克罗夫特激动地感受到自己如此靠近围栏，他认为逃犯们躲在那里，正要冲向前去，这时记者用铁之握拦住他。

“In a few minutes it will be quite dark,” whispered Spilett in the sailor’s ear, “then will be the time to act.”
“几分钟后将完全黑了，”斯皮莱特在水手耳边低声说道，”到时候就是行动的时候了。”

Pencroft, convulsively clasping the butt-end of his gun, restrained his energies, and waited, swearing to himself.
彼得克罗夫特死死地握着枪托，克制住了自己的能量，等待着，对自己咒骂。

Soon the last of the twilight faded away. —
很快，最后的黄昏消失了。 —

Darkness, which seemed as if it issued from the dense forest, covered the clearing. —
从浓密的森林中似乎散发出黑暗，覆盖了空地。 —

Mount Franklin rose like an enormous screen before the western horizon, and night spread rapidly over all, as it does in regions of low latitudes. Now was the time.
富兰克林山像一个巨大的屏障，遮住了西方的地平线，夜晚迅速笼罩了一切，就像低纬度地区一样。现在是时候了。

The reporter and Pencroft, since posting themselves on the edge of the wood, had not once lost sight of the palisade. —
自从他们站在树林边缘以来，记者和彼得克罗夫特一直没有失去围栏的视线。 —

The corral appeared to be absolutely deserted. —
围栏似乎完全无人。 —

The top of the palisade formed a line, a little darker than the surrounding shadow, and nothing disturbed its distinctness. —
围栏的顶部形成一条稍微比周围阴影深一点的线，没有任何东西打破了它的清晰度。 —

Nevertheless, if the convicts were there, they must have posted one of their number to guard against any surprise.
然而，如果囚犯在那里，他们必定派出一人负责防范任何突袭。

Spilett grasped his companion’s hand, and both crept towards the corral, their guns ready to fire.
斯派莱特握住了同伴的手，两人蹑手蹑脚地朝圈舍走去，枪已备好待发。

They reached the gate without the darkness being illuminated by a single ray of light.
他们走到门口，黑暗中没有一丝光亮。

Pencroft tried to push open the gate, which, as the reporter and he had supposed, was closed. —
彭克罗夫试图推开门，但门像记者和他所料到的那样是关闭的。 —

However, the sailor was able to ascertain that the outer bars had not been put up. —
然而，海员可以确定外围的栅栏并没有被放上。 —

It might, then, be concluded that the convicts were there in the corral, and that very probably they had fastened the gate in such a way that it could not be forced open.
可以推断，囚犯很可能在圈舍里，他们很可能已经用一种无法强行打开的方式锁紧了大门。

Gideon Spilett and Pencroft listened.
吉迪恩·斯派莱特和彭克罗夫聆听着。

Not a sound could be heard inside the palisade. —
在栅栏内听不到任何声音。 —

The musmons and the goats, sleeping no doubt in their huts, in no way disturbed the calm of night.
羊群和山羊无疑正在自己的小屋里睡觉，夜晚的宁静没有受到任何干扰。

The reporter and the sailor hearing nothing, asked themselves whether they had not better scale the palisades and penetrate into the corral. —
记者和水手听不到任何声音，他们在想是否最好越过栅栏，进入圈舍。 —

This would have been contrary to Cyrus Harding’s instructions.
这将违背赛勒斯·哈定的指示。

It is true that the enterprise might succeed, but it might also fail. —
的确，这次尝试可能成功，但也可能失败。 —

Now, if the convicts were suspecting nothing, if they knew nothing of the expedition against them, if, lastly, there now existed a chance of surprising them, ought this chance to be lost by inconsiderately attempting to cross the palisades?
现在，如果囚犯们没有察觉到任何情况，如果他们对远征队一无所知，最后，如果现在有机会突袭他们，那么这个机会是不是应该被草率地尝试穿过栅栏而失去？

This was not the reporter’s opinion. He thought it better to wait until all the settlers were collected together before attempting to penetrate into the corral. —
记者不同意。他认为最好等到所有定居者都聚集在一起，然后再尝试进入圈舍。 —

One thing was certain, that it was possible to reach the palisade without being seen, and also that it did not appear to be guarded. —
有一件事是肯定的，可以在不被发现的情况下到达栅栏，而且栅栏似乎没有被监视。 —

This point settled, there was nothing to be done but to return to the cart, where they would consult.
这一点决定下来，他们只能返回车边进行商讨。

Pencroft probably agreed with this decision, for he followed the reporter without making any objection when the latter turned back to the wood.
Pencroft可能同意了这个决定，因为在记者转身回到树林时，他没有提出任何反对意见。

In a few minutes the engineer was made acquainted with the state of affairs.
几分钟后，工程师了解了事态的状况。

“Well,” said he, after a little thought, “I now have reason to believe that the convicts are not in the corral.”
“好了，”他想了一会儿后说道，”我现在有理由相信囚犯不在围栏里。”

“We shall soon know,” said Pencroft, “when we have scaled the palisade.”
“我们很快就会知道了，”Pencroft说道，”当我们翻过栅栏时。”

“To the corral, my friends!” said Cyrus Harding.
“朝着围栏去，我的朋友们！”赛勒斯·哈定说道。

“Shall we leave the cart in the wood?” asked Neb.
“我们要把车留在树林吗？”尼布问道。

“No,” replied the engineer, “it is our wagon of ammunition and provisions, and, if necessary, it would serve as an entrenchment.”
“不，”工程师回答道，”那是我们的弹药和粮食车，必要时可以作为掩蔽物。”

“Forward, then!” said Gideon Spilett.
“那就前进吧！”吉迪恩·斯普莱特说道。

The cart emerged from the wood and began to roll noiselessly towards the palisade. —
车子从树林中驶出，无声地向着栅栏滚去。 —

The darkness was now profound, the silence as complete as when Pencroft and the reporter crept over the ground. —
现在黑暗深沉，寂静无声，就像Pencroft和记者爬行时一样。 —

The thick grass completely muffled their footsteps. The colonists held themselves ready to fire. —
厚厚的草完全消除了他们的步伐声。殖民者们准备好开火。 —

Jup, at Pencroft’s orders, kept behind. Neb led Top in a leash, to prevent him from bounding forward.
朱普在Pencroft的命令下留在后面。尼布牵着Top的皮带，防止它冲向前去。

The clearing soon came in sight. It was deserted. —
清场很快映入眼帘。它荒无人烟。 —

Without hesitating, the little band moved towards the palisade. —
毫不犹豫，小队向着栅栏走去。 —

In a short space of time the dangerous zone was passed. —
在短时间内，危险区域已经通过。 —

Neb remained at the onagers’ heads to hold them. —
Neb留在投石机前面，以控制它们。 —

The engineer, the reporter, Herbert, and Pencroft, proceeded to the door, in order to ascertain if it was barricaded inside. It was open!
工程师，记者，赫伯特和潘克罗夫前往门口，以确定里面是否被 barricaded。它是开着的！

“What do you say now?” asked the engineer, turning to the sailor and Spilett.
“你们怎么说？”工程师转向水手和斯普莱特问道。

Both were stupefied.
两人都惊呆了。

“I can swear,” said Pencroft, “that this gate was shut just now!”
“我可以发誓,“潘克罗夫说，”刚才这扇门是关着的！”

The colonists now hesitated. Were the convicts in the corral when Pencroft and the reporter made their reconnaissance? —
现在殖民者犹豫了。当潘克罗夫和记者进行侦查时，囚犯们是否在牛栏里？ —

It could not be doubted, as the gate then closed could only have been opened by them. —
毫无疑问，那时关上的大门只能被他们打开。 —

Were they still there, or had one of their number just gone out?
他们还在那里吗，还是他们中的一员刚刚走出去？

All these questions presented themselves simultaneously to the minds of the colonists, but how could they be answered?
所有这些问题同时出现在殖民者的脑海中，但是如何回答呢？

At that moment, Herbert, who had advanced a few steps into the enclosure, drew back hurriedly, and seized Harding’s hand.
这时，赫伯特向前走了几步，匆忙后退，抓住了哈丁的手。

“What’s the matter?” asked the engineer.
“怎么了？”工程师问道。

“A light!”
“一个灯!”

“In the house?”
“在房子里吗？”

“Yes!”
“是的!”

All five advanced and indeed, through the window fronting them, they saw glimmering a feeble light. —
五人都向前走去，透过面前的窗户，他们看到一点微弱的光芒。 —

Cyrus Harding made up his mind rapidly. “It is our only chance,” said he to his companions, “of finding the convicts collected in this house, suspecting nothing! —
赛勒斯·哈丁迅速做出了决定。“这是我们唯一的机会。”他对同伴们说道，“能够在这所房子里找到集结的囚犯，他们一无所知！ —

They are in our power! Forward!” The colonists crossed through the enclosure, holding their guns ready in their hands. —
他们已经处于我们的控制中！前进吧！”殖民者们穿过围栏，手持枪械。 —

The cart had been left outside under the charge of Jup and Top, who had been prudently tied to it.
马车被留在外面，由朱普和托普看守，它被谨慎地系在那儿。

Cyrus Harding, Pencroft, and Gideon Spilett on one side, Herbert and Neb on the other, going along by the palisade, surveyed the absolutely dark and deserted corral.
赛勒斯·哈丁、潘克罗夫和吉迪恩·斯派列特站在一边，赫伯特和尼布站在另一边，沿着柵栏走去，仔细观察着漆黑一片，空无一人的围场。

In a few moments they were near the closed door of the house.
几分钟后，他们靠近房子的紧闭门。

Harding signed to his companions not to stir, and approached the window, then feebly lighted by the inner light.
哈丁示意同伴们不要动，走到窗前，内里的灯映出微弱的光芒。

He gazed into the apartment.
他凝视着房间。

On the table burned a lantern. Near the table was the bed formerly used by Ayrton.
桌子上放着一盏灯笼。桌子旁边是艾尔顿以前睡过的床。

On the bed lay the body of a man.
床上躺着一名男子的尸体。

Suddenly Cyrus Harding drew back, and in a hoarse voice,–“Ayrton!” he exclaimed.
突然，赛勒斯·哈丁退后一步，用嘶哑的声音说道，“艾尔顿！”他惊呼道。

Immediately the door was forced rather than opened, and the colonists rushed into the room.
门马上被强行打开，殖民者们冲进了房间。

Ayrton appeared to be asleep. His countenance showed that he had long and cruelly suffered. —
艾尔顿看起来像是在睡觉。他的脸上显示出长时间及其残酷的痛苦。 —

On his wrists and ankles could be seen great bruises.
他的手腕和脚踝上可以看到重重的伤痕。

Harding bent over him.
哈丁俯身看着他。

“Ayrton!” cried the engineer, seizing the arm of the man whom he had just found again under such unexpected circumstances.
“艾尔顿！”工程师喊道，抓住了他在如此意外情况下再次找到的那人的胳膊。

At this exclamation Ayrton opened his eyes, and, gazing at Harding, then at the others,–
在这声呼喊声中，艾尔顿睁开了眼睛，凝视着哈丁，然后看着其他人，

“You!” he cried, “you?”
“你！”他喊道，“你？”

“Ayrton! Ayrton!” repeated Harding.
“艾尔顿！艾尔顿！”哈丁重复道。

“Where am I?”
“我在哪里？”

“In the house in the corral!”
“在圈舍里的房子里！”

“Alone?”
“独自一人？”

“Yes!”
“是的！”

“But they will come back!” cried Ayrton. “Defend yourselves! defend yourselves!”
“但他们会回来的！”艾尔顿叫道。“保护自己！保护自己！”

And he fell back exhausted.
然后他因疲惫而倒了下去。

“Spilett,” exclaimed the engineer, “we may be attacked at any moment. —
“斯比莱特，”工程师叫道，“我们随时可能遭到攻击。 —

Bring the cart into the corral. Then, barricade the door, and all come back here.”
把车开进圈舍。然后，把门堵住，所有人都回到这里。”

Pencroft, Neb, and the reporter hastened to execute the engineer’s orders. —
彭克洛夫特，内布和记者匆忙执行工程师的命令。 —

There was not a moment to be lost. Perhaps even now the cart was in the hands of the convicts!
时间紧迫。也许现在车被囚犯拿走了！

In a moment the reporter and his two companions had crossed the corral and reached the gate of the palisade behind which Top was heard growling sullenly.
记者和他的两个同伴转过了圈舍，走到了围栏门口，Top在那里咆哮着。

The engineer, leaving Ayrton for an instant, came out ready to fire. Herbert was at his side. —
工程师离开艾尔顿一会儿，准备开火。赫伯特在他身边。 —

Both surveyed the crest of the spur overlooking the corral. —
两人审视着俯瞰圈地场的山脊。 —

If the convicts were lying in ambush there, they might knock the settlers over one after the other.
如果囚犯们埋伏在那里，他们可能会一个接一个地击倒定居者。

At that moment the moon appeared in the east, above the black curtain of the forest, and a white sheet of light spread over the interior of the enclosure. —
此刻，月亮出现在东方，超过了森林黑色的帷幕，一片白色的光明覆盖了围栏内部。 —

The corral, with its clumps of trees, the little stream which watered it, its wide carpet of grass, was suddenly illuminated. —
圈地场，带着树丛、水流灌溉，宽阔的草坪，突然被照亮。 —

From the side of the mountain, the house and a part of the palisade stood out white in the moonlight. —
山腰处，房屋和部分栅栏在月光下显得洁白。 —

On the opposite side towards the door, the enclosure remained dark. A black mass soon appeared. —
对面朝门的地方，围栏仍然黑暗。很快就出现了一团黑影。 —

This was the cart entering the circle of light, and Cyrus Harding could hear the noise made by the door, as his companions shut it and fastened the interior bars.
这是马车进入光环，赛勒斯·哈丁听到伙伴们关门并把内部杆栓牢固的声音。

But, at that moment, Top, breaking loose, began to bark furiously and rush to the back of the corral, to the right of the house.
但正在那时，汤普扑腾着，开始疯狂地吠叫，并冲向房子右侧围栏的背面。

“Be ready to fire, my friends!” cried Harding.
“朋友们，准备射击！”哈丁大声喊道。

The colonists raised their pieces and waited the moment to fire.
殖民者们举起枪，等待开火的时刻。

Top still barked, and Jup, running towards the dog, uttered shrill cries.
汤普仍在吠叫，朱普跑向狗，发出尖锐的叫声。

The colonists followed him, and reached the borders of the little stream, shaded by large trees. —
殖民者们跟着他，走到被大树遮蔽的小溪边。 —

And there, in the bright moonlight, what did they see? —
在明亮的月光下，他们看到了什么？ —

Five corpses, stretched on the bank!
五具尸体，躺在河岸上！

They were those of the convicts who, four months previously, had landed on Lincoln Island!
这些是四个月前登陆林肯岛的囚犯的尸体！