The convalescence of the young invalid was regularly progressing. —
年轻病人的康复进展顺利。 —

One thing only was now to be desired, that his state would allow him to be brought to Granite House. However well built and supplied the corral house was, it could not be so comfortable as the healthy granite dwelling. —
现在唯一希望的事情是，他的状态能够被带到花岗岩屋。无论矮马房有多么良好建造和供应，它都无法像健康的花岗岩住所一样舒适。 —

Besides, it did not offer the same security, and its tenants, notwithstanding their watchfulness, were here always in fear of some shot from the convicts. —
此外，它也没有提供同样的安全保障，虽然居住其内的人们总是保持警惕，但他们在这里总是担心来自罪犯的某种攻击。 —

There, on the contrary, in the middle of that impregnable and inaccessible cliff, they would have nothing to fear, and any attack on their persons would certainly fail. —
因此，在那里，在那坚不可摧并且难以接近的悬崖中，他们将无所畏惧，对于他们人身的任何攻击肯定会失败。 —

They therefore waited impatiently for the moment when Herbert might be moved without danger from his wound, and they were determined to make this move, although the communication through Jacamar Wood was very difficult.
因此，他们急切地等待赫伯特的伤口恢复得足以使他搬到花岗岩屋中而无需担心危险，尽管途径偏贾卡玛林地的通信非常困难。

They had no news from Neb, but were not uneasy on that account. —
他们没有从奈布那里得到消息，但并不因此感到不安。 —

The courageous Negro, well entrenched in the depths of Granite House, would not allow himself to be surprised. —
勇敢的黑人奈布，隐藏在花岗岩屋的深处，不会让自己被突袭。 —

Top had not been sent again to him, as it appeared useless to expose the faithful dog to some shot which might deprive the settlers of their most useful auxiliary.
狗狗汤普没有再被送去找他，因为将忠实的狗暴露在可能剥夺移民最有用的辅助之一的射击中是毫无意义的。

They waited, therefore, although they were anxious to be reunited at Granite House. It pained the engineer to see his forces divided, for it gave great advantage to the pirates. —
因此，他们等待着，尽管他们渴望在花岗岩屋中团聚。工程师看到他们的力量分散感到痛苦，因为这给海盗带来了极大的优势。 —

Since Ayrton’s disappearance they were only four against five, for Herbert could not yet be counted, and this was not the least care of the brave boy, who well understood the trouble of which he was the cause.
自从艾顿失踪以来，他们只有四个对抗五个，因为赫伯特还不能算在内，这是勇敢男孩最大的忧虑之一，他非常理解自己成为问题根源的痛苦。

The question of knowing how, in their condition, they were to act against the pirates, was thoroughly discussed on the 29th of November by Cyrus Harding, Gideon Spilett, and Pencroft, at a moment when Herbert was asleep and could not hear them.
关于他们如何在目前的状况下对付海盗的问题，是11月29日辛巴哈丁，吉迪恩斯派莱特和彭克罗夫在赫伯特睡着时讨论的。

“My friends,” said the reporter, after they had talked of Neb and of the impossibility of communicating with him, “I think,–like you, that to venture on the road to the corral would be to risk receiving a gunshot without being able to return it. —
“我的朋友们，”记者说，他们已经谈到奈布以及与他沟通的不可能性，”我想，–像你们一样，为了冒着收到子弹而无法还击的风险，我们冒险前往矮马房的道路会是危险的。 —

But do you not think that the best thing to be done now is to openly give chase to these wretches?”
但是你们不认为现在最好要做的事情是公开追捕这些恶棍吗？

“That is just what I was thinking,” answered Pencroft. —
“这正是我所思考的，”彭克罗夫回答说。 —

“I believe we’re not fellows to be afraid of a bullet, and as for me, if Captain Harding approves, I’m ready to dash into the forest! —
“我相信我们不是那种会害怕子弹的家伙，至于我，如果哈丁船长同意的话，我随时准备冲进森林！” —

Why, hang it, one man is equal to another!”
为什么，天哪，一个人和另一个人是平等的！

“But is he equal to five?” asked the engineer.
“但他能和五个人相提并论吗？”工程师问道。

“I will join Pencroft,” said the reporter, “and both of us, well-armed and accompanied by Top–”
记者说：“我会和潘克罗夫一起行动，我们俩武装到牙齿，还有Top陪伴。”

“My dear Spilett, and you, Pencroft,” answered Harding, “let us reason coolly. —
“我亲爱的史匹莱特，还有你，潘克罗夫，”哈丁回答道，”让我们冷静地推理。 —

If the convicts were hid in one spot of the island, if we knew that spot, and had only to dislodge them, I would undertake a direct attack; —
如果罪犯藏在岛上的一个地方，如果我们知道那个地点，并且只需把他们赶走，我会进行直接攻击； —

but is there not occasion to fear, on the contrary, that they are sure to fire the first shot?”
但反而有理由担心，他们会首先开枪吗？”

“Well, captain,” cried Pencroft, “a bullet does not always reach its mark.”
潘克罗夫喊道：”嘛，队长，子弹并不总是能命中目标的。”

“That which struck Herbert did not miss, Pencroft,” replied the engineer. —
“那击中赫伯特的可不是漏网之鱼，潘克罗夫，”工程师回答道。 —

“Besides, observe that if both of you left the corral I should remain here alone to defend it. —
“此外，请注意，如果你们俩离开围栏，我会留在这里独自保卫它。 —

Do you imagine that the convicts will not see you leave it, that they will not allow you to enter the forest, and that they will not attack it during your absence, knowing that there is no one here but a wounded boy and a man?”
你们难道认为罪犯不会看见你们离开，不会允许你们进入森林，而不会在你们不在时袭击它，明知这里只有一个受伤的男孩和一个男人吗？”

“You are right, captain,” replied Pencroft, his chest swelling with sullen anger. “You are right; —
“你说得对，队长，”潘克罗夫气愤地说。”你说得对； —

they will do all they can to retake the corral, which they know to be well stored; —
他们会尽一切办法重新夺回围栏，他们知道里面储备充足； —

and alone you could not hold it against them.”
你独自一人无法抵御他们。”

“Oh, if we were only at Granite House!”
“哦，如果我们只能回到花岗岩屋！”

“If we were at Granite House,” answered the engineer, “the case would be very different. —
“如果我们在花岗岩屋就好了，”工程师回答说，“情况就会大不一样。” —

There I should not be afraid to leave Herbert with one, while the other three went to search the forests of the island. —
我不应该害怕留赫伯特一人，而其他三人去搜索岛上的森林。 —

But we are at the corral, and it is best to stay here until we can leave it together.”
但我们现在在畜栏，最好还是待在这里，等我们可以一起离开。

Cyrus Harding’s reasoning was unanswerable, and his companions understood it well.
锡勒斯·哈丁的理由无可辩驳，他的同伴们理解得很清楚。

“If only Ayrton was still one of us!” said Gideon Spilett. “Poor fellow! —
“要是艾尔顿还是我们其中一员就好了!“盖迪恩斯皮莱特说。”可怜的家伙!他重新融入社会生活的时光如此短暂。” —

his return to social life will have been but of short duration.”
“如果他已经去世了,” 彭克罗夫以一种特殊的语气补充道。

“If he is dead,” added Pencroft, in a peculiar tone.
“那么，你希望，彭克罗夫，那些恶棍们留下他了吗?” 盖迪恩斯皮莱特问道。

“Do you hope, then, Pencroft, that the villains have spared him?” asked Gideon Spilett.
“如果他死了”，彭克罗夫补充道。

“Yes, if they had any interest in doing so.”
“是的，如果他们对此有兴趣的话。”

“What! you suppose that Ayrton finding his old companions, forgetting all that he owes us–”
“什么！你认为艾尔顿找到了他的老伙伴，忘记了他欠我们的一切–”

“Who knows?” answered the sailor, who did not hazard this shameful supposition without hesitating.
“谁知道呢？”水手回答道，他说这种羞耻的假设时并不是毫不犹豫的。

“Pencroft,” said Harding, taking the sailor’s arm, “that is a wicked idea of yours, and you will distress me much if you persist in speaking thus. —
“彭克罗夫，”哈丁抓住水手的胳膊说，“这是你邪恶的想法，如果你继续这样说的话，我会感到非常痛苦。” —

I will answer for Ayrton’s fidelity.”
我保证艾尔顿是忠诚的。”

“And I also,” added the reporter quickly.
“我也是，”记者立即补充道。

“Yes, yes, captain, I was wrong,” replied Pencroft; —
“是的，是的，船长，我错了，”彭克罗夫答道； —

“it was a wicked idea indeed that I had, and nothing justifies it. But what can I do? —
“我的确有一个邪恶的想法，没有任何理由可以证明它。但我该怎么办呢？ —

I’m not in my senses. This imprisonment in the corral wearies me horribly, and I have never felt so excited as I do now.
“我没有头脑，这在畜栏里的囚禁使我感到极度疲倦，我从没有像现在这样激动。”

“Be patient, Pencroft,” replied the engineer. —
“耐心点，彭克罗夫，”工程师回答。 —

“How long will it be, my dear Spilett, before you think Herbert may be carried to Granite House?”
“亲爱的斯皮莱特，你认为还要多久赫伯特才能被送到花岗岩屋？”

“That is difficult to say, Cyrus,” answered the reporter, “for any imprudence might involve terrible consequences. —
“这很难说，赛勒斯，”记者回答道，“因为任何鲁莽的举动都可能带来可怕的后果。 —

But his convalescence is progressing, and if he continues to gain strength, in eight days from now– well, we shall see.”
“但他的康复正在进行中，如果他继续恢复体力，从现在起八天后–嗯，我们会看到。”

Eight days! That would put off the return to Granite House until the first days of December. —
八天！那将延迟返回花岗岩屋直到十二月的头几天。 —

At this time two months of spring had already passed. —
在这个时候，春天已经过去了两个月。 —

The weather was fine, and the heat began to be great. —
天气很好，温度开始变得很高。 —

The forests of the island were in full leaf, and the time was approaching when the usual crops ought to be gathered. —
岛上的森林叶子浓密，时间已经接近应该收割常规庄稼的时候。 —

The return to the plateau of Prospect Heights would, therefore, be followed by extensive agricultural labors, interrupted only by the projected expedition through the island.
回到展望高地的高原将会进行广泛的农业劳作，仅仅会被计划中的通过岛屿的远征所打断。

It can, therefore, be well understood how injurious this seclusion in the corral must have been to the colonists.
因此，可以很好地理解这种在畜栏中的隔离对殖民者造成了多么不利的影响。

But if they were compelled to bow before necessity, they did not do so without impatience.
但即便是被迫屈服于必然，他们也不是没有不耐烦。

Once or twice the reporter ventured out into the road and made the tour of the palisade. —
记者一两次冒着危险走到马路上，绕着柵栏转了一圈。 —

Top accompanied him, and Gideon Spilett, his gun cocked, was ready for any emergency.
拉着他的狗Top，吉迪恩·斯皮莱特手持枪，随时准备应对任何突发情况。

He met with no misadventure and found no suspicious traces. —
他没有遇到任何不幸，也没有发现任何可疑的痕迹。 —

His dog would have warned him of any danger, and, as Top did not bark, it might be concluded that there was nothing to fear at the moment at least, and that the convicts were occupied in another part of the island.
他的狗会在危险降临时警告他，因为Top没有吠叫，可以推断出至少目前没有可怕的东西要来了，囚犯应该是在岛的另一部分。

However, on his second sortie, on the 27th of November, Gideon Spilett, who had ventured a quarter of a mile into the woods, towards the south of the mountain, remarked that Top scented something. —
然而，在他的第二次出击中，即11月27日，吉迪恩·斯皮莱特走到树木之中的南部，约四分之一英里处，这时Top闻到了一些东西。 —

The dog had no longer his unconcerned manner; —
这只狗的表现不再像往常那般淡定； —

he went backwards and forwards, ferreting among the grass and bushes as if his smell had revealed some suspicious object to him.
它来回走动，在草丛和灌木丛中搜寻，好像它的嗅觉发现了一些可疑的东西。

Gideon Spilett followed Top, encouraged him, excited him by his voice, while keeping a sharp look-out, his gun ready to fire, and sheltering himself behind the trees. —
吉迪恩·斯皮莱特跟着Top，鼓励它，用声音激励它，同时保持警惕，手持准备射击的枪，藏身在树木后面。 —

It was not probable that Top scented the presence of man, for in that case, he would have announced it by half-uttered, sullen, angry barks. —
Top嗅到了人的气味的可能性很小，否则，它会用半喃半吠的怒吠声来宣告。 —

Now, as he did not growl, it was because danger was neither near nor approaching.
现在，因为它没有咆哮，这是因为危险既不接近也不在附近。

Nearly five minutes passed thus, Top rummaging, the reporter following him prudently when, all at once, the dog rushed towards a thick bush, and drew out a rag.
几乎五分钟过去了，Top辛勤搜寻着，报道员谨慎地跟着他，突然，狗冲向一丛浓密的灌木丛，拖出一条破布。

It was a piece of cloth, stained and torn, which Spilett immediately brought back to the corral. —
那是一块沾满污迹和破损的布料，斯庇莱特立刻拿回牲畜栏。 —

There it was examined by the colonists, who found that it was a fragment of Ayrton’s waistcoat, a piece of that felt, manufactured solely by the Granite House factory.
在那里，这块布料被殖民者们检查过，他们发现这是艾尔顿的马甲碎片，一块由花岗石屋工厂独自制造的毡布。

“You see, Pencroft,” observed Harding, “there has been resistance on the part of the unfortunate Ayrton. —
“你看，彭克罗夫，”哈丁观察到，“不幸的艾尔顿曾经进行过抵抗。 —

The convicts have dragged him away in spite of himself! —
罪犯们不顾他的反抗把他拖走了！ —

Do you still doubt his honesty?”
你还怀疑他的诚实吗？”

“No, captain,” answered the sailor, “and I repented of my suspicion a long time ago! —
“不，船长，”水手回答说，“我很久以前就悔过我对他的怀疑了！ —

But it seems to me that something may be learned from the incident.”
但我觉得这个事件里可能可以学到些东西。”

“What is that?” asked the reporter.
“那是什么？”报道员问道。

“It is that Ayrton was not killed at the corral! —
“那就是艾尔顿没有在牲畜栏被杀害！ —

That they dragged him away living, since he has resisted. —
他是被活着拖走的，因为他曾经抵抗过。 —

Therefore, perhaps, he is still living!”
因此，也许，他还活着！”

“Perhaps, indeed,” replied the engineer, who remained thoughtful.
“也许确实如此，”工程师回答道，陷入了沉思。

This was a hope, to which Ayrton’s companions could still hold. —
这是一个希望，艾尔顿的同伴们仍然可以抱有。 —

Indeed, they had before believed that, surprised in the corral, Ayrton had fallen by a bullet, as Herbert had fallen. —
实际上，在此之前他们以为，艾尔顿在牲畜栏受到袭击时中了子弹，就像赫伯特一样倒下了。 —

But if the convicts had not killed him at first, if they had brought him living to another part of the island, might it not be admitted that he was still their prisoner? —
但如果罪犯们一开始没有杀害他，如果他们把他活着带到岛的另一部分，是否可以承认他仍然是他们的囚犯呢？ —

Perhaps, even, one of them had found in Ayrton his old Australian companion Ben Joyce, the chief of the escaped convicts. —
或许，甚至他们中的一人在阿尔顿身上发现了他在澳大利亚的老伙伴本·乔伊斯，逃犯头目。 —

And who knows but that they had conceived the impossible hope of bringing back Ayrton to themselves? He would have been very useful to them, if they had been able to make him turn traitor!
谁知道他们是否产生了不可能的希望，想要把阿尔顿重新带回自己身边呢？如果他们能让他背叛的话，他对他们来说会非常有用！

This incident was, therefore, favorably interpreted at the corral, and it no longer appeared impossible that they should find Ayrton again. —
因此，这件事在栏内得到了积极的解释，它不再看起来是不可能再找到阿尔顿了。 —

On his side, if he was only a prisoner, Ayrton would no doubt do all he could to escape from the hands of the villains, and this would be a powerful aid to the settlers!
另一方面，如果他只是个囚犯，阿尔顿无疑会尽一切可能脱离这些恶棍的手，这将是帮助他们的强大助力！

“At any rate,” observed Gideon Spilett, “if happily Ayrton did manage to escape, he would go directly to Granite House, for he could not know of the attempted assassination of which Herbert has been a victim, and consequently would never think of our being imprisoned in the corral.”
“无论如何，”吉迪恩·斯皮雷特观察到，“如果阿尔顿幸运地成功逃脱，他会直接到花岗岩屋，因为他不会知道赫伯特遭到刺杀的企图，因此也永远不会想到我们被困在栏内。”

“Oh! I wish that he was there, at Granite House!” cried Pencroft, “and that we were there, too! —
“噢！我希望他在那儿，花岗岩屋！”彭克罗夫大叫，“而且我们也在那里！ —

For, although the rascals can do nothing to our house, they may plunder the plateau, our plantations, our poultry-yard!”
因为，虽然无赖们对我们的房子无能为力，他们可能洗劫高原、我们的种植园、我们的家禽场！”

Pencroft had become a thorough farmer, heartily attached to his crops. —
彭克罗夫已经成为一个彻底的农民，对自己的庄稼非常投入。 —

But it must be said that Herbert was more anxious than any to return to Granite House, for he knew how much the presence of the settlers was needed there. —
但必须说赫伯特比任何人都更渴望回到花岗岩屋，因为他知道那里迫切需要有居民。 —

And it was he who was keeping them at the corral! —
而让他们留在栏内的正是他！ —

Therefore, one idea occupied his mind–to leave the corral, and when! —
因此，一个想法占据了他的脑海——离开栏内，及离开的时间！ —

He believed he could bear removal to Granite House. He was sure his strength would return more quickly in his room, with the air and sight of the sea!
他相信他可以忍受搬到花岗岩屋。他确信他在那里的房间会更快恢复体力，呼吸海风并看到大海！

Several times he pressed Gideon Spilett, but the latter, fearing, with good reason, that Herbert’s wounds, half healed, might reopen on the way, did not give the order to start.
几次他催促吉迪恩·斯皮雷特，但后者有充分的理由担心赫伯特的伤口在路上重新裂开，因此没有下令出发。

However, something occurred which compelled Cyrus Harding and his two friends to yield to the lad’s wish, and God alone knew that this determination might cause them grief and remorse.
然而，发生了一些事情迫使赛勒斯·哈丁和他的两位朋友屈服于小伙子的愿望，只有上帝才知道这个决定可能会给他们带来悲伤和懊悔。

It was the 29th of November, seven o’clock in the evening. —
11月29日，晚上七点整。 —

The three settlers were talking in Herbert’s room, when they heard Top utter quick barks.
当三名拓荒者在赫伯特的房间里交谈时，听到了Top发出急促的吠声。

Harding, Pencroft, and Spilett seized their guns and ran out of the house. —
哈定、彭克罗夫特和斯比莱特拿起枪，跑出了房屋。 —

Top, at the foot of the palisade, was jumping, barking, but it was with pleasure, not anger.
Top在栅栏底下，跳跃着，吠叫着，但这是出于喜悦，而不是愤怒。

“Some one is coming.”
“有人过来了。”

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“It is not an enemy!”
“不是敌人！”

“Neb, perhaps?”
“可能是尼布？”

“Or Ayrton?”
“还是艾顿？”

These words had hardly been exchanged between the engineer and his two companions when a body leaped over the palisade and fell on the ground inside the corral.
工程师和他的两个伙伴之间这几句话还没有交换完，一个身影跃过栅栏，落在栅栏内的地面上。

It was Jup, Master Jup in person, to whom Top immediately gave a most cordial reception.
这是朱普，主人朱普亲自，立刻得到Top的热烈欢迎。

“Jup!” exclaimed Pencroft.
“朱普！” 彭克罗夫特惊呼道。

“Neb has sent him to us,” said the reporter.
“尼布派他来的，” 说记者。

“Then,” replied the engineer, “he must have some note on him.”
“那么，” 工程师回答道，“他身上一定有什么注释。”

Pencroft rushed up to the orang. Certainly if Neb had any important matter to communicate to his master he could not employ a more sure or more rapid messenger, who could pass where neither the colonists could, nor even Top himself.
彭克罗夫特冲向猩猩。毫无疑问，如果尼布有重要事情要告诉他的主人，他绝对找不到比这更可靠、更迅速的信使，能够穿过连殖民者自己都无法，甚至Top本人都无法通过的地方。

Cyrus Harding was not mistaken. At Jup’s neck hung a small bag, and in this bag was found a little note traced by Neb’s hand.
赛勒斯·哈丁没有错。金星项圈上挂着一个小袋子，里面找到了一张由尼布手写的小纸条。

The despair of Harding and his companions may be imagined when they read these words:–
当哈丁和他的伙伴们读到这些文字时，他们的绝望可想而知:–

“Friday, six o’clock in the morning.
“星期五，早上六点。

“Plateau invaded by convicts.
“高地遭囚犯入侵。

“Neb.”
“尼布。”

They gazed at each other without uttering a word, then they re-entered the house. —
他们相互凝视，一言不发，然后重新进入房屋。 —

what were they to do? The convicts on Prospect Heights! —
他们该怎么办呢?囚犯占领了展望高地! —

that was disaster, devastation, ruin.
那是灾难、破坏、毁灭。

Herbert, on seeing the engineer, the reporter, and Pencroft re-enter, guessed that their situation was aggravated, and when he saw Jup, he no longer doubted that some misfortune menaced Granite House.
赫伯特看到工程师、记者和潘克罗夫重新进入时，猜到了他们的困境加剧了，当他看到金丝猩猩时，再也不怀疑石头屋面临一些不幸。

“Captain Harding,” said he, “I must go; I can bear the journey. I must go.”
“哈丁队长，”他说，”我必须去; 我可以承受这段旅程。我必须去。”

Gideon Spilett approached Herbert; then, having looked at him,–
吉迪恩·斯皮莱特走近赫伯特; 然后，看了他一眼，–

“Let us go, then!” said he.
“那么我们走吧! “他说。

The question was quickly decided whether Herbert should be carried on a litter or in the cart which had brought Ayrton to the corral. —
快速决定应该让赫伯特躺在抬架上还是丢在把埃尔顿运送到畜栏的马车里。 —

The motion of the litter would have been more easy for the wounded lad, but it would have necessitated two bearers, that is to say, there would have been two guns less for defense if an attack was made on the road. —
使用担架会更容易搬运受伤的孩子，但这会需要两个抬架者，也就是说，在路上如果遭到袭击将会少两把枪。 —

Would they not, on the contrary, by employing the cart leave every arm free? —
相反，使用马车会让每个人都有自由的手臂吗？ —

Was it impossible to place the mattress on which Herbert was lying in it, and to advance with so much care that any jolt should be avoided? It could be done.
埃伯特躺着的床垫是否不可能放进去，并且要特别小心，避免任何颠簸？是可以的。

The cart was brought. Pencroft harnessed the onager. —
马车被带来了。彭克罗夫给野驴套上了轭具。 —

Cyrus Harding and the reporter raised Herbert’s mattress and placed it on the bottom of the cart. —
赛勒斯•哈丁和记者抬起了埃伯特的床垫，放在了马车底部。 —

The weather was fine. The sun’s bright rays glanced through the trees.
天气晴朗。阳光的明亮光线透过树木。

“Are the guns ready?” asked Cyrus Harding.
“枪准备好了吗？”赛勒斯•哈丁问道。

They were. The engineer and Pencroft, each armed with a double-barreled gun, and Gideon Spilett carrying his rifle, had nothing to do but start.
他们准备好了。工程师和彭克罗夫各持一把双管枪，吉迪恩•斯普莱特带着他的步枪，他们只需出发了。

“Are you comfortable, Herbert?” asked the engineer.
“埃伯特，你感觉舒服吗？”工程师问道。

“Ah, captain,” replied the lad, “don’t be uneasy, I shall not die on the road!”
“啊，队长，”少年回答道，“别担心，我不会在路上死的！”

While speaking thus, it could be seen that the poor boy had called up all his energy, and by the energy of a powerful will had collected his failing strength.
说话时可以看到，可怜的男孩已经调动了所有的力量，通过强大的意志力聚集了疲弱的力量。

The engineer felt his heart sink painfully. —
工程师感到心如刀割。 —

He still hesitated to give the signal for departure; —
他仍在犹豫是否发出出发的信号； —

but that would have driven Herbert to despair–killed him perhaps.
但那样会让埃伯特绝望——甚至可能让他死去。

“Forward!” said Harding.
“前进！”哈丁说。

The gate of the corral was opened. Jup and Top, who knew when to be silent, ran in advance. —
牛栏的大门打开了。朱普和汤普，知道何时保持沉默，率先跑了出去。 —

The cart came out, the gate was reclosed, and the onager, led by Pencroft, advanced at a slow pace.
马车开出去了，门重新关上，彭克罗夫牵着野驴，缓慢前进。

Certainly, it would have been safer to have taken a different road than that which led straight from the corral to Granite House, but the cart would have met with great difficulties in moving under the trees. —
当然，采取一条与直接从畜栏通往花岗岩屋的道路不同的道路会更安全，但是在树木下移动的手推车会遇到很大困难。 —

It was necessary, therefore, to follow this way, although it was well known to the convicts.
因此，必须沿着这条路走，尽管劫匪们对这条路很熟悉。

Cyrus Harding and Gideon Spilett walked one on each side of the cart, ready to answer to any attack. —
赛勒斯·哈丁和吉迪恩·斯皮莱特一边走在手推车的两侧，随时准备应对任何袭击。 —

However, it was not probable that the convicts would have yet left the plateau of Prospect Heights.
然而，劫匪们可能还没有离开展望高地的高原。

Neb’s note had evidently been written and sent as soon as the convicts had shown themselves there. —
尼布的便条显然是劫匪们在那里露面后立即写并发送的。 —

Now, this note was dated six o’clock in the morning, and the active orang, accustomed to come frequently to the corral, had taken scarcely three quarters of an hour to cross the five miles which separated it from Granite House. They would, therefore, be safe at that time, and if there was any occasion for firing, it would probably not be until they were in the neighborhood of Granite House. However, the colonists kept a strict watch. —
现在，这封便条标有早上六点，而那只活跃的猩猩，习惯上经常来到畜栏，用了不到一个半小时穿过将其与花岗岩屋隔开的五英里。因此，他们应当在那个时间是安全的，如果有开火的必要，那可能是在他们靠近花岗岩屋时。然而，殖民者保持严密的警戒。 —

Top and Jup, the latter armed with his club, sometimes in front, sometimes beating the wood at the sides of the road, signalized no danger.
狗狗和猕猴，后者手持他的棍棒，有时在前面，有时在路边敲打木头，没有发现危险。

The cart advanced slowly under Pencroft’s guidance. It had left the corral at half-past seven. —
手推车在彭克罗夫特的引导下缓慢前进。它于七点半离开了畜栏。 —

An hour after, four out of the five miles had been cleared, without any incident having occurred. —
一个小时后，已经穿过了五英里中的四英里，没有发生任何事件。 —

The road was as deserted as all that part of the Jacamar Wood which lay between the Mercy and the lake. —
道路如同迅速河和湖之间的那部分雅卡玛尔森林一样荒凉。 —

There was no occasion for any warning. The wood appeared as deserted as on the day when the colonists first landed on the island.
没有任何需要警告的情况。森林看起来和殖民者第一次登岛的时候一样荒凉。

They approached the plateau. Another mile and they would see the bridge over Creek Glycerine. —
他们接近高原。再走一英里他们就会看到长有溪柳的桥梁。 —

Cyrus Harding expected to find it in its place; —
赛勒斯·哈丁期望它仍然在原处； —

supposing that the convicts would have crossed it, and that, after having passed one of the streams which enclosed the plateau, they would have taken the precaution to lower it again, so as to keep open a retreat.
假设劫匪们会过桥，然后通过高原围绕的小河之一，他们会采取预防措施再次把桥降下来，以便保持撤退通道。

At length an opening in the trees allowed the sea-horizon to be seen. —
最终，树林中的一个缺口让海平面可以被看见。 —

But the cart continued its progress, for not one of its defenders thought of abandoning it.
但是推车继续前进，因为它的任何一位捍卫者都没有考虑放弃它。

At that moment Pencroft stopped the onager, and in a hoarse voice,–
在那一刻，潘克洛夫停下了野驴，用沙哑的声音说道，-

“Oh! the villains!” he exclaimed.
“哦！恶棍们！” 他惊呼道。

And he pointed to a thick smoke rising from the mill, the sheds, and the buildings at the poultry-yard.
他指着烟雾袅袅地从磨坊、棚屋和家禽园的建筑物中升起。

A man was moving about in the midst of the smoke. It was Neb.
有一个人在烟雾中忙碌着。那是尼布。

His companions uttered a shout. He heard, and ran to meet them.
他的同伴们发出了一声喊叫。他听到了，跑过来迎接他们。

The convicts had left the plateau nearly half-an-hour before, having devastated it!
逃犯们已经离开高原将近半个小时，彻底破坏了它！

“And Mr. Herbert?” asked Neb.
“赫伯特先生呢？”尼布问道。

Gideon Spilett returned to the cart.
吉迪恩·斯皮莱特回到了推车旁。

Herbert had lost consciousness!
赫伯特已经失去了知觉！