Calliope Catesby was in his humours again. —
卡利奥普·凯茨比又开始闹情绪了。 —

Ennui was upon him. —
倦怠感降临在他身上。 —

This goodly promontory, the earth–particularly that portion of it known as Quicksand–was to him no more than a pestilent congregation of vapours. —
这块美丽的海角，地球尤其是其中的Quicksand地区，对他来说只不过是一群可恶的气体团。 —

Overtaken by the megrims, the philosopher may seek relief in soliloquy; —
受到忧郁症的困扰，哲学家可能会通过自言自语来寻求解脱； —

my lady find solace in tears; —
女士们也许会在眼泪中找到安慰； —

the flaccid Easterner scold at the millinery bills of his women folk. —
软弱的东方人责骂他女性家人的女帽账单。 —

Such recourse was insufficient to the denizens of Quicksand. —
这种借助手段对Quicksand的居民来说是不够的。 —

Calliope, especially, was wont to express his ennui according to his lights.
尤其是卡利奥普，他倾向于用自己的方式表达倦怠感。

Over night Calliope had hung out signals of approaching low spirits. —
前一晚，卡利奥普放出了低情绪的信号。 —

He had kicked his own dog on the porch of the Occidental Hotel, and refused to apologise. —
他在Occidental酒店的门廊上踢了自己的狗，并且拒绝道歉。 —

He had become capricious and fault-finding in conversation. —
他在交谈中变得反复无常和挑剔。 —

While strolling about he reached often for twigs of mesquite and chewed the leaves fiercely. —
散步时，他经常伸手去摘刺槐的枝叶，并狠狠地咀嚼。 —

That was always an ominous act. —
那总是一个不祥的举动。 —

Another symptom alarming to those who were familiar with the different stages of his doldrums was his increasing politeness and a tendency to use formal phrases. —
对那些熟悉他低潮期不同阶段的人来说，另一个让人担忧的症状是他越来越有礼貌，倾向于使用正式的词语。 —

A husky softness succeeded the usual penetrating drawl in his tones. —
他的语气中，通常具有穿透力的浊音被一种粗糙的柔和所取代。 —

A dangerous courtesy marked his manners. —
他的礼貌中带有一种危险的殷勤。 —

Later, his smile became crooked, the left side of his mouth slanting upward, and Quicksand got ready to stand from under.
后来，他的笑容变得扭曲了，嘴角向上倾斜，Quicksand准备躲避。

At this stage Calliope generally began to drink. Finally, about midnight, he was seen going homeward, saluting those whom he met with exaggerated but inoffensive courtesy. —
在这个阶段，Calliope通常开始喝酒。最后，大约在午夜时分，人们看到他正朝着家的方向走去，对遇到的人以夸张而无害的礼貌行礼。 —

Not yet was Calliope’s melancholy at the danger point. —
Calliope的忧郁还没有到达危险的程度。 —

He would seat himself at the window of the room he occupied over Silvester’s tonsorial parlours and there chant lugubrious and tuneless ballads until morning, accompanying the noises by appropriate maltreatment of a jangling guitar. —
他会坐在他在Silvester理发店楼上的房间的窗前，唱着悲伤且毫无旋律的民谣，伴以用一把刺耳的吉他合适地拨弄。 —

More magnanimous than Nero, he would thus give musical warning of the forthcoming municipal upheaval that Quicksand was scheduled to endure.
他比尼禄更宽宏大量，因此，他将以音乐的方式预示即将到来的市政动荡，这是 Quicksand 将要经历的。

A quiet, amiable man was Calliope Catesby at other times–quiet to indolence, and amiable to worthlessness. —
卡里奥普·凯茨比是一个安静、友好的人，其他时候他沉默寡言， —

At best he was a loafer and a nuisance; —
与无用。 —

at worst he was the Terror of Quicksand. —
在最好的时候， —

His ostensible occupation was something subordinate in the real estate line; —
他是一个游手好闲的人和一个麻烦； —

he drove the beguiled Easterner in buckboards out to look over lots and ranch property. —
在最坏的时候，他是 Quicksand 的恐怖。 —

Originally he came from one of the Gulf States, his lank six feet, slurring rhythm of speech, and sectional idioms giving evidence of his birthplace.
他的表面职业是房地产行业的一个下属职位；

And yet, after taking on Western adjustments, this languid pine-box whittler, cracker barrel hugger, shady corner lounger of the cotton fields and sumac hills of the South became famed as a bad man among men who had made a life-long study of the art of truculence.
他来自墨西哥湾州之一，他瘦长的六英尺身材、口齿不清的语调和地方性词汇证明了他的出生地。

At nine the next morning Calliope was fit. —
第二天早上九点，凯莉奥佩精力充沛。 —

Inspired by his own barbarous melodies and the contents of his jug, he was ready primed to gather fresh laurels from the diffident brow of Quicksand. —
在他自己野蛮的旋律和酒罐内容的激励下，他准备好了从快沙那羞怯的额头上收获新的桂冠。 —

Encircled and criss-crossed with cartridge belts, abundantly garnished with revolvers, and copiously drunk, he poured forth into Quicksand’s main street. —
他身穿子弹带，周身是左轮手枪，还有大量的酒，他醉醺醺地涌入快沙的主街道。 —

Too chivalrous to surprise and capture a town by silent sortie, he paused at the nearest corner and emitted his slogan–that fearful, brassy yell, so reminiscent of the steam piano, that had gained for him the classic appellation that had superseded his own baptismal name. —
他太英勇了，不可能用悄无声息的突袭来攻占一个城镇，他在最近的拐角处停了下来，发出了他的口号——那令人恐惧的、铜锣般的吼叫声，如此让人想起蒸汽钢琴，这使他获得了经典的称号，这个称号已经代替了他自己的洗礼名字。 —

Following close upon his vociferation came three shots from his forty-five by way of limbering up the guns and testing his aim. —
在他的喊声之后紧跟着三声来自他的四十五口径手枪的响声，以调整枪的状况并测试他的瞄准。 —

A yellow dog, the personal property of Colonel Swazey, the proprietor of the Occidental, fell feet upward in the dust with one farewell yelp. —
一只黄色的狗，属于奥西迪尔酒店的老板斯瓦齐上校，尾巴朝天地倒在尘土中，发出最后一声哀嚎。 —

A Mexican who was crossing the street from the Blue Front grocery carrying in his hand a bottle of kerosene, was stimulated to a sudden and admirable burst of speed, still grasping the neck of the shattered bottle. —
一个墨西哥人正从Blue Front杂货店穿过马路，手中握着一瓶煤油，突然展现出令人赞叹的爆发力，仍然紧握着破碎瓶颈。 —

The new gilt weather-cock on Judge Riley’s lemon and ultramarine two-story residence shivered, flapped, and hung by a splinter, the sport of the wanton breezes.
法官莱利的柠檬色和蓝紫色两层住宅上的新金色风向标颤动着，拍打着并被一根碎片悬挂住，成了任性的微风的玩物。

The artillery was in trim. Calliope’s hand was steady. —
炮兵队整装待发。卡利奥佩的手稳如磐石。 —

The high, calm ecstasy of habitual battle was upon him, though slightly embittered by the sadness of Alexander in that his conquests were limited to the small world of Quicksand.
习惯性战斗的高尚、镇静的快感笼罩着他，尽管亚历山大的哀愁略关联在快沙这个小世界的征服上。

Down the street went Calliope, shooting right and left. —
卡利奥佩朝着街道两侧射击。玻璃如雹般掉落； —

Glass fell like hail; dogs vamosed; —
狗纷纷跑掉； —

chickens flew, squawking; —
鸡飞起来齐声尖叫； —

feminine voices shrieked concernedly to youngsters at large. —
女性的声音担心地对着孩子们尖叫。 —

The din was perforated at intervals by the staccato of the Terror’s guns, and was drowned periodically by the brazen screech that Quicksand knew so well. —
噪音不时被厄运号炮声的刺耳声洞穿，而Quicksand熟悉得只有铜板般的尖叫声定期淹没。 —

The occasions of Calliope’s low spirits were legal holidays in Quicksand. —
卡丽奥佩情绪低落的时候是在快沙的法定假日。 —

All along the main street in advance of his coming clerks were putting up shutters and closing doors. —
在主街上，事先一直有职员们放下百叶窗和关闭门户。 —

Business would languish for a space. —
生意会进入低潮期。 —

The right of way was Calliope’s, and as he advanced, observing the dearth of opposition and the few opportunities for distraction, his ennui perceptibly increased.
卡丽奥佩在自己的通行权下，随着前进，观察到对手数量的减少和分散注意力的机会的减少，他的厌倦感明显增加。

But some four squares farther down lively preparations were being made to minister to Mr. Catesby’s love for interchange of compliments and repartee. —
但在四个街区之外，人们正在忙着为满足Catesby先生对互相赞扬和妙语的热爱做准备。 —

On the previous night numerous messengers had hastened to advise Buck Patterson, the city marshal, of Calliope’s impending eruption. —
前一晚，许多信使匆忙通知了城市警长Buck Patterson，提醒他关于卡丽奥佩即将发作的情况。 —

The patience of that official, often strained in extending leniency toward the disturber’s misdeeds, had been overtaxed. —
这位官员的忍耐力经常因为向这位麻烦制造者的不法行为宽容而受到挑战，已经接近极限。 —

In Quicksand some indulgence was accorded the natural ebullition of human nature. —
在快沙，人们对于人性的自然喷发有所宽容。 —

Providing that the lives of the more useful citizens were not recklessly squandered, or too much property needlessly laid waste, the community sentiment was against a too strict enforcement of the law. —
只要不轻易浪费那些更有用的人的生命，或者毫无必要地破坏太多财产，整个社区的心态就是反对过于严格执行法律的。 —

But Calliope had raised the limit. —
但Calliope已经达到了极限。 —

His outbursts had been too frequent and too violent to come within the classification of a normal and sanitary relaxation of spirit.
他的爆发太频繁而且太激烈，无法归类为正常和卫生的放松心情。

Buck Patterson had been expecting and awaiting in his little ten-by- twelve frame office that preliminary yell announcing that Calliope was feeling blue. —
巴克·帕特森一直在他那个10x12英尺的小办公室里等待着预先的叫喊，宣布Calliope情绪低落。 —

When the signal came the city marshal rose to his feet and buckled on his guns. —
当信号传来时，城市元帅站起来系上他的手枪。 —

Two deputy sheriffs and three citizens who had proven the edible qualities of fire also stood up, ready to bandy with Calliope’s leaden jocularities.
两名副警长和三名曾经尝过火的市民也站起来，准备与Calliope的铅质戏谑对抗。

“Gather that fellow in,” said Buck Patterson, setting forth the lines of the campaign. —
“把那个家伙抓起来，” 巴克·帕特森设置了战役的线路。” —

“Don’t have no talk, but shoot as soon as you can get a show. —
不要多说话，只要有机会就射击。 —

Keep behind cover and bring him down. He’s a nogood ‘un. —
保持在掩体后面，将他击倒。他是个坏蛋。 —

It’s up to Calliope to turn up his toes this time, I reckon. —
我想这次该轮到卡丽奥佩离开人世了。 —

Go to him all spraddled out, boys. —
伙计们，一起冲上去， —

And don’t git too reckless, for what Calliope shoots at he hits.”
不要太鲁莽，卡丽奥佩瞄准的东西她都能射中。

Buck Patterson, tall, muscular, and solemn-faced, with his bright “City Marshal” badge shining on the breast of his blue flannel shirt, gave his posse directions for the onslaught upon Calliope. —
巴克·帕特森身材高大，肌肉结实，面色庄重。他胸前蓝色法兰绒衬衫上鲜明的“城镇执法官”徽章闪闪发光，给予了追捕卡丽奥佩的队伍指示。 —

The plan was to accomplish the downfall of the Quicksand Terror without loss to the attacking party, if possible.
计划是如果可能的话，让袭击队没有人员伤亡就解决掉快沙恐怖分子。

The splenetic Calliope, unconscious of retributive plots, was steaming down the channel, cannonading on either side, when he suddenly became aware of breakers ahead. —
愤怒的卡丽奥佩毫不知情报复计划，正在河道中疾驰，两侧不停开炮，当他突然发现前方有礁石。 —

The city marshal and one of the deputies rose up behind some dry-goods boxes half a square to the front and opened fire. —
市政治安官和其中一位代理躲在前面半个街区的干货箱后，开始开火。 —

At the same time the rest of the posse, divided, shelled him from two side streets up which they were cautiously manoeuvring from a well-executed detour.
同时，剩下的追捕队拆分开来，从两条侧街上炮轰他，他们小心翼翼地绕道行动。

The first volley broke the lock of one of Calliope’s guns, cut a neat underbit in his right ear, and exploded a cartridge in his crossbelt, scorching his ribs as it burst. —
首波炮火打碎了卡利奥佩的一只枪的扳机，划伤了他的右耳下方整齐的一条口子，并爆炸了他胸带上的一颗弹药，当弹药爆炸时灼伤了他的肋骨。 —

Feeling braced up by this unexpected tonic to his spiritual depression, Calliope executed a fortissimo note from his upper register, and returned the fire like an echo. —
这令卡利奥佩感到振奋，这出乎意料的强心剂让他从精神上振奋起来，他发出高音区的强烈音符，像回声一样还击。 —

The upholders of the law dodged at his flash, but a trifle too late to save one of the deputies a bullet just above the elbow, and the marshal a bleeding cheek from a splinter that a ball tore from the box he had ducked behind.
执法者在他闪光的瞬间躲避开来，但为时已晚，未能拯救一个副警长，子弹击中了他的肘部上方，还有一个嵌在他躲在后面的箱子上的弹片所造成的血淋淋的脸颊。

And now Calliope met the enemy’s tactics in kind. —
现在卡利奥佩以同样的战术应对敌人。 —

Choosing with a rapid eye the street from which the weakest and least accurate fire had come, he invaded it at a double-quick, abandoning the unprotected middle of the street. —
他迅速地选择了从其中一条街道上来的、火力最弱、最不准确的地方，以双倍的速度进攻，放弃了没有保护的中间地带。 —

With rare cunning the opposing force in that direction–one of the deputies and two of the valorous volunteers– waited, concealed by beer barrels, until Calliope had passed their retreat, and then peppered him from the rear. —
以罕见的狡诈，来自那个方向的对立势力 - 一名副警长和两名勇敢的志愿者 - 躲藏在啤酒桶后面，等待着卡利奥佩从他们的藏身之处经过，然后从后方射击他。 —

In another moment they were reinforced by the marshal and his other men, and then Calliope felt that in order to successfully prolong the delights of the controversy he must find some means of reducing the great odds against him. —
在另一个瞬间，他们得到了元帅和他其他的人的增援，然后卡利奥佩感到，为了成功地延长争论的乐趣，他必须找到一些方法来减少与他相比的巨大优势。 —

His eye fell upon a structure that seemed to hold out this promise, providing he could reach it.
他的目光落在了一个似乎能够实现这一承诺的结构上，只要他能够到达那里。

Not far away was the little railroad station, its building a strong box house, ten by twenty feet, resting upon a platform four feet above ground. —
不远处是一个小铁路站，它的建筑是一个强固的普通房子，十乘二十英尺，平台高出地面四英尺。 —

Windows were in each of its walls. —
每个墙壁上都有窗户。 —

Something like a fort it might become to a man thus sorely pressed by superior numbers.
对于一个被超过他的人数围攻的人来说，它可能成为一个堡垒。

Calliope made a bold and rapid spurt for it, the marshal’s crowd “smoking” him as he ran. —
卡利奥佩朝着它大胆而迅速地冲过去，元帅的人群射击着他。 —

He reached the haven in safety, the station agent leaving the building by a window, like a flying squirrel, as the garrison entered the door.
他安全地到达了避风港，车站工作人员经由一扇窗户离开建筑物，犹如一只飞鼠，当战士们走进门口时。

Patterson and his supporters halted under protection of a pile of lumber and held consultations. —
Patterson和他的支持者在一堆木材的保护下停下来进行咨询。 —

In the station was an unterrified desperado who was an excellent shot and carried an abundance of ammunition. —
车站里有一个无畏的恶棍，他的枪法很准并且携带了大量弹药。 —

For thirty yards on either side of the besieged was a stretch of bare, open ground. —
在包围者的双方各有30码的地方是一片裸露的开阔地。 —

It was a sure thing that the man who attempted to enter that unprotected area would be stopped by one of Calliope’s bullets.
可以肯定的是，那些试图进入那片没有保护的区域的人会被卡里奥佩的子弹击停。

The city marshal was resolved. —
城市警长决心已下。 —

He had decided that Calliope Catesby should no more wake the echoes of Quicksand with his strident whoop. —
他已经决定卡里奥佩·凯茨比不会再用他刺耳的嘶吼唤醒快沙的回声。 —

He had so announced. Officially and personally he felt imperatively bound to put the soft pedal on that instrument of discord. —
他已经公开宣布了这一点。无论从官方还是个人角度来看，他有紧迫的义务去减弱这种不和谐的声音。 —

It played bad tunes.
它演奏着糟糕的曲调。

Standing near was a hand truck used in the manipulation of small freight. —
附近放着一个用于搬运小货物的手推车。 —

It stood by a shed full of sacked wool, a consignment from one of the sheep ranches. —
它站在一个装满袋装羊毛的棚屋旁边，这些是从一个养羊场运过来的货物。 —

On this truck the marshal and his men piled three heavy sacks of wool. —
法警和他的人把三袋沉重的羊毛堆在卡车上。 —

Stooping low, Buck Patterson started for Calliope’s fort, slowly pushing this loaded truck before him for protection. —
巴克·帕特森弯下腰，开始朝凯里奥普的堡垒走去，慢慢地推着这辆装满货物的卡车，以保护自己。 —

The posse, scattering broadly, stood ready to nip the besieged in case he should show himself in an effort to repel the juggernaut of justice that was creeping upon him. —
追捕队四散开来，准备在被围困者露面时尽快夺取胜利，以防止正悄然接近他的正义铁蹄将他碾压。 —

Only once did Calliope make demonstration. —
只有一次，凯里奥普做出了示威。 —

He fired from a window, and some tufts of wool spurted from the marshal’s trustworthy bulwark. —
他从窗户里开枪，一些羊毛从法警可靠的壁垒中喷出。 —

The return shots from the posse pattered against the window frame of the fort. —
追捕队的回击声像雨点一样打在堡垒的窗户框上。 —

No loss resulted on either side.
双方都没有造成损失。

The marshal was too deeply engrossed in steering his protected battleship to be aware of the approach of the morning train until he was within a few feet of the platform. —
法警太专注于操纵他的护航战舰，以至于没有察觉到早班火车的接近，直到距离火车站台只有几英尺时才意识到。 —

The train was coming up on the other side of it. —
火车从另一边开来， —

It stopped only one minute at Quicksand. —
快速在Quicksand停留了一分钟。 —

What an opportunity it would offer to Calliope! —
这对卡利奥佩来说是多么好的机会啊！ —

He had only to step out the other door, mount the train, and away.
他只需要走出另一扇门，上车，然后就离开了。

Abandoning his breastwork, Buck, with his gun ready, dashed up the steps and into the room, driving upon the closed door with one heave of his weighty shoulder. —
巴克放下防护墙，拿着枪，迅速冲上楼梯，冲向那扇紧闭的门，用力用重重的肩膀猛撞上去。 —

The members of the posse heard one shot fired inside, and then there was silence.
追捕队的成员们听到屋内响起一声枪响，然后便是寂静。

*****

At length the wounded man opened his eyes. —
伤者终于睁开了眼睛。在一段黑暗的时间之后， —

After a blank space he again could see and hear and feel and think. —
他再次能够看到、听到、感受到和思考。 —

Turning his eyes about, he found himself lying on a wooden bench. —
他扭头四下看到自己躺在一张木质长椅上。 —

A tall man with a perplexed countenance, wearing a big badge with “City Marshal” engraved upon it, stood over him. —
一个脸上带着困惑表情的高个子男子，胸前别着一枚镌刻着“城市警长”的大徽章，站在他身上。 —

A little old woman in black, with a wrinkled face and sparkling black eyes, was holding a wet handkerchief against one of his temples. —
一个穿着黑色衣服，面部皱纹多多且闪烁着黑色眼睛的老太太，正用一块湿手帕按住他太阳穴的一边。 —

He was trying to get these facts fixed in his mind and connected with past events, when the old woman began to talk.
他试图将这些事实固定在脑海中，并与过去的事件联系起来，就在这时，那位老太太开始讲话。

“There now, great, big, strong man! —
“好了，大个子， —

That bullet never tetched ye! —
坚强的男人！ —

Jest skeeted along the side of your head and sort of paralysed ye for a spell. —
子弹从你脑袋旁边擦过，只是让你短暂麻痹了一下。 —

I’ve heerd of sech things afore; —
我以前听说过这种事情； —

cun-cussion is what they names it. —
就叫脑震荡。 —

Abel Wadkins used to kill squirrels that way–barkin’ ‘em, Abe called it. —
阿贝尔·瓦金斯就用这种方法打死松鼠，他称之为“咛咛”。 —

You jest been barked, sir, and you’ll be all right in a little bit. —
先生，你刚刚经历了“咛咛”，等一会儿就会好的。 —

Feel lots better already, don’t ye! —
你感觉好多了，不是吗！ —

You just lay still a while longer and let me bathe your head. You don’t know me, I reckon, and ‘tain’t surprisin’ that you shouldn’t. —
你再躺一会儿，让我给你洗洗头。我想你应该不认识我，也不奇怪。 —

I come in on that train from Alabama to see my son. —
我从阿拉巴马坐火车来看我儿子。他是个大个子， —

Big son, ain’t he? Lands! —
是不是？天呐！ —

you wouldn’t hardly think he’d ever been a baby, would ye? —
你可能不会想到他曾经是个婴儿，是吧？ —

This is my son, sir.”
这是我的儿子，先生。

Half turning, the old woman looked up at the standing man, her worn face lighting with a proud and wonderful smile. —
老妇人稍微转过身，仰起头，憔悴的脸上露出自豪而奇妙的微笑。 —

She reached out one veined and calloused hand and took one of her son’s. —
她伸出一只布满青筋和老茧的手，握住了儿子的手。” —

Then smiling cheerily down at the prostrate man, she continued to dip the handkerchief, in the waiting-room tin washbasin and gently apply it to his temple. —
她面带笑容地俯视着躺在地上的男人，继续将手绢蘸湿，然后轻轻地贴在他的太阳穴上。 —

She had the benevolent garrulity of old age.
她有着慈祥的老年人的喋喋不休。

“I ain’t seen my son before,” she continued, “in eight years. —
“我八年没见过我儿子了，”她继续说道，” 我的一个侄子埃尔卡纳·普赖斯在那些铁路上当列车员，他给我弄到了一张来这里的通行证。 —

One of my nephews, Elkanah Price, he’s a conductor on one of them railroads and he got me a pass to come out here. —
我可以用它待一个星期，然后它会带我回去。 —

I can stay a whole week on it, and then it’ll take me back again. —
你想想，我的小孩竟然成了个军官——整个城镇的市警，这不是跟警长差不多吗？ —

Jest think, now, that little boy of mine has got to be a officer–a city marshal of a whole town! —
我从来不知道他是个军官， —

That’s somethin’ like a constable, ain’t it? —
他的信里没提过。 —

I never knowed he was a officer; —
我从来不知道他是个警官； —

he didn’t say nothin’ about it in his letters. —
他在信里没有提到过这件事。 —

I reckon he thought his old mother’d be skeered about the danger he was in. —
我估计他认为他年迈的母亲会因他处于危险中而感到害怕。 —

But, laws! I never was much of a hand to git skeered. —
但是，天呐！我从来不容易害怕。 —

‘Tain’t no use. —
没什么用。 —

I heard them guns a-shootin’ while I was gettin’ off them cars, and I see smoke a-comin’ out of the depot, but I jest walked right along. —
我听到那些枪声在我下车的时候，我看到车站冒烟，但我就是一直走着。 —

Then I see son’s face lookin’ out through the window. —
然后我透过窗户看到儿子的脸。 —

I knowed him at oncet. He met me at the door, and squeezes me ‘most to death. —
我一眼就认出他了。他在门口迎接我，几乎要把我榨死。 —

And there you was, sir, a-lyin’ there jest like you was dead, and I ‘lowed we’d see what might be done to help sot you up.”
然后你就在那里，先生，躺在那里就像个死人一样，我想我们应该看看能不能帮你恢复过来。

“I think I’ll sit up now,” said the concussion patient. —
“我想我现在可以坐起来了，” 震荡患者说道。 —

“I’m feeling pretty fair by this time.”
“到现在我感觉还不错。”

He sat, somewhat weakly yet, leaning against the wall. —
他有些虚弱地坐在墙边。他是个强壮的人， —

He was a rugged man, big-boned and straight. —
骨骼结实而笔直。 —

His eyes, steady and keen, seemed to linger upon the face of the man standing so still above him. —
他的目光稳定而敏锐，似乎停留在站在他上方的人的脸上。 —

His look wandered often from the face he studied to the marshal’s badge upon the other’s breast.
他的目光经常从他研究的脸上徘徊到对方胸前的警长徽章上。

“Yes, yes, you’ll be all right,” said the old woman, patting his arm, “if you don’t get to cuttin’ up agin, and havin’ folks shooting at you. —
“是的，是的，你会没事的，”老妇人拍了拍他的胳膊，“只要你不再捣乱，让人家向你开枪。 —

Son told me about you, sir, while you was layin’ senseless on the floor. —
儿子在你昏倒在地板上时告诉我有关你的事情，先生。 —

Don’t you take it as meddlesome fer an old woman with a son as big as you to talk about it. —
您不要把这当作一个年纪与你一样大的老太太唠叨。 —

And you mustn’t hold no grudge ag’in’ my son for havin’ to shoot at ye. —
你不能怪我儿子因为不得不向你开枪而怀恨在心。 —

A officer has got to take up for the law–it’s his duty–and them that acts bad and lives wrong has to suffer. —
作为警官，他必须捍卫法律-这是他的职责-那些表现不良、生活不端的人必须受到惩罚。 —

Don’t blame my son any, sir–‘tain’t his fault. —
先生，请不要责备我儿子-这不是他的错。 —

He’s always been a good boy–good when he was growin’ up, and kind and ‘bedient and well-behaved. —
他一直是个好孩子-从小就好，善良，服从，行为端正。 —

Won’t you let me advise you, sir, not to do so no more? —
你能不能让我劝劝你，先生，不要再这样做了？ —

Be a good man, and leave liquor alone and live peaceably and goodly. —
做一个好人，远离酒精，和平地、正直地生活。 —

Keep away from bad company and work honest and sleep sweet.”
远离坏人，诚实工作，安然入眠。”

The black-mitted hand of the old pleader gently touched the breast of the man she addressed. —
老辩护人的黑色手套轻轻触摸着她所称呼的男子的胸膛。 —

Very earnest and candid her old, worn face looked. —
她的古老、疲倦的脸看起来非常认真和坦诚。 —

In her rusty black dress and antique bonnet she sat, near the close of a long life, and epitomised the experience of the world. —
她身着锈迹斑斑的黑裙和古老的帽子，坐在一条漫长人生的尽头，她体现了世界的经历。 —

Still the man to whom she spoke gazed above her head, contemplating the silent son of the old mother.
她讲话的那个人仍然凝视着她头顶上的地方，思考着那位年迈母亲的沉默的儿子。

“What does the marshal say?” he asked. —
“元帅怎么说？”他问道。 —

“Does he believe the advice is good? —
“他觉得这个建议可行吗？ —

Suppose the marshal speaks up and says if the talk’s all right?”
假设元帅站出来说这个话都对，你觉得呢？”

The tall man moved uneasily. —
高个子男人不安地移动了一下。 —

He fingered the badge on his breast for a moment, and then he put an arm around the old woman and drew her close to him. —
他用手指摸了一下胸口上的徽章，然后搂住那位老妇人，将她拉近自己身边。 —

She smiled the unchanging mother smile of three-score years, and patted his big brown hand with her crooked, mittened fingers while her son spake.
她浅笑着，三十多年来持续不变的母爱微笑，在她鳄鱼皮手套上轻拍着他那又大又棕的手。

“I says this,” he said, looking squarely into the eyes of the other man, “that if I was in your place I’d follow it. —
“我是这样说的”，他直视着对方的眼睛说道，“如果我处在你的位置上，我会采纳这个建议。 —

If I was a drunken, desp’rate character, without shame or hope, I’d follow it. —
如果我是个酒鬼、绝望之徒，没有羞耻感和希望，我会采纳这个建议。 —

If I was in your place and you was in mine I’d say: —
如果我处在你的位置，你处在我的位置，我会说： —

‘Marshal, I’m willin’ to swear if you’ll give me the chance I’ll quit the racket. —
“元帅，只要您给我机会，我愿意发誓，我会放弃这一行业。 —

I’ll drop the tanglefoot and the gun play, and won’t play hoss no more. —
我不再卷入混乱和枪战，也不再扮演古怪的角色。 —

I’ll be a good citizen and go to work and quit my foolishness. —
我将成为一个守法的公民，去工作并且停止我的愚蠢行为。 —

So help me God!’ That’s what I’d say to you if you was marshal and I was in your place.”
上帝作证！’ 如果您是元帅，而我处在您的位置，那就是我会对您说的话。

“Hear my son talkin’,” said the old woman softly. “Hear him, sir. You promise to be good and he won’t do you no harm. —
“听着，这是我儿子说的，”老婆婆轻声说道。”听着，先生。你答应要好，他不会对你做任何伤害。 —

Forty-one year ago his heart first beat ag’in’ mine, and it’s beat true ever since.”
41年前他的心跳第一次与我的心脏同步，从那时起它一直如此真实地跳动着。”

The other man rose to his feet, trying his limbs and stretching his muscles.
另一个男人站了起来，试探着他的四肢并伸展着他的肌肉。

“Then,” said he, “if you was in my place and said that, and I was marshal, I’d say: ‘Go free, and do your best to keep your promise.’”
“那么，”他说道，”如果你处在我的位置并说出那些话，而我是元帅，我会说：’ 自由了，尽力履行你的承诺。’”

“Lawsy!” exclaimed the old woman, in a sudden flutter, “ef I didn’t clear forget that trunk of mine! —
“天哪！”老婆婆突然慌乱地说道，” 我居然忘记了我的行李箱！ —

I see a man settin’ it on the platform jest as I seen son’s face in the window, and it went plum out of my head. —
我看到一个男人把它放在站台上，就像我在窗户看到儿子的脸一样，这完全从我的脑海中消失了。” —

There’s eight jars of home-made quince jam in that trunk that I made myself. —
那个箱子里有八罐我自己做的自家制苹果酱。 —

I wouldn’t have nothin’ happen to them jars for a red apple.”
要是有任何东西发生在那些罐子上，我会怎么都不愿意的。

Away to the door she trotted, spry and anxious, and then Calliope Catesby spoke out to Buck Patterson:
她快速而焦虑地奔向门口，然后卡利奥普·凯茨比对巴克·帕特森说：

“I just couldn’t help it, Buck. I seen her through the window a-comin’ in. —
巴克，我没办法，我透过窗户看见她进来了。 —

She never had heard a word ‘bout my tough ways. —
她从没听过我那些可怕的事情。 —

I didn’t have the nerve to let her know I was a worthless cuss bein’ hunted down by the community. —
我没有勇气让她知道我是个被社会追捕的无用之人。 —

There you was lyin’ where my shot laid you, like you was dead. —
你就躺在那里，就像我开枪打中你，如同你已经死了一样。 —

The idea struck me sudden, and I just took your badge off and fastened it onto myself, and I fastened my reputation onto you. —
那个意念突然袭击了我，于是我就把你的徽章取下来挂在我自己身上，我把我的名声归还给了你。 —

I told her I was the marshal and you was a holy terror. —
我告诉她我是警长，而你是一个可怕的恶霸。巴克， —

You can take your badge back now, Buck.”
现在你可以拿回你的徽章了。

With shaking fingers Calliope began to unfasten the disc of metal from his shirt.
卡利奥普颤抖着开始从衬衫上解下这块金属盘。

“Easy there!” said Buck Patterson. —
小心点！巴克·帕特森说道。 —

“You keep that badge right where it is, Calliope Catesby. —
“你把那块徽章留在原地，卡利奥普·凯茨比。 —

Don’t you dare to take it off till the day your mother leaves this town. —
除非你母亲离开这个城镇，否则你绝对不要把它取下来。 —

You’ll be city marshal of Quicksand as long as she’s here to know it. —
只要她在这里知道这个事实，你将一直担任奎克桑德的城镇警长。 —

After I stir around town a bit and put ‘em on I’ll guarantee that nobody won’t give the thing away to her. —
在我四处走动一下并穿上它之后，我保证没有人会把这个东西送给她。 —

And say, you leather-headed, rip-roarin’, low-down son of a locoed cyclone, you follow that advice she give me! —
嘿，你这个脑袋里装着皮革的、疯狂的人，你按照她给我的建议去做吧！ —

I’m goin’ to take some of it myself, too.”
我也打算自己拿一些。”

“Buck,” said Calliope feelingly, “ef I don’t I hope I may–”
”巴克，”卡里奥佩感情地说，“如果我不这么做，我希望我能够——”

“Shut up,” said Buck. “She’s a-comin’ back.”
“闭嘴，”巴克说。“她来了。”