牛津書蟲系列 哈克貝利·費恩歷險記：5 The plan to free Jim

　　5 The plan to free Jim

　　5 使吉姆獲得自由的計劃

　　When I heard that，I nearly fell through the floor，but it was a big piece of luck.It was easy for me to be Tom Sawyer because Tom was my best friend.He and his brother Sid lived with their Aunt Polly up in St Petersburg， and I knew all about them.Now I learnt that Aunt Polly had a sister，who was Mrs Phelps.She and her husband were Tom's Aunt Sally and Uncle Silas.And Tom was coming down south by boat to stay with them for a bit.

　　當我聽到這話時，我差點兒沒掉進地板縫里去，不過，這可是太幸運了。冒充湯姆·索亞對我來說是件容易事，因為，湯姆是我最好的朋友。他和他的弟弟錫德和他們的菠莉姨媽一起住在圣彼得斯堡，他們的事我都知道，現(xiàn)在，我知道了菠莉姨媽有一個妹妹，她是斐爾普斯太太。她和她的丈夫是湯姆的薩莉姨媽和賽拉斯姨夫。湯姆要乘船南下和他們小住一陣。

　　We all sat there talking and I could answer all their questions about the Sawyer family.I was feeling really happy about this when suddenly I heard a boat on the river.'Tom could be on that boat，'I thought，'and he's going to walk in here and call out my name before I can stop him.I've got to go and meet him.'

　　我們都坐在那兒聊著天，我可以回答所有的有關索亞家的問題。對此我感到很高興。突然，我聽到河上的船聲。“湯姆可能在那條船上，”我想著，“他會走進這屋里來，我還來不及阻止他，他就會大聲喊出我的名字。我得去迎他。”

　　So I told the Phelpses that I would go into town to get my bags， which were at the boat station.I hurried up the road and before I was halfway to town，there was Tom Sawyer coming along.

　　于是，我告訴斐爾普斯一家，我要到鎮(zhèn)子上的船站去取我的包。我急忙上路，還沒走出一半路遠，湯姆·索亞沿路走來了。

　　When he saw me， his mouth fell open and he looked a bit white in the lace.'Aren't you dead?'he said.'Everybody said that you were murdered!'

　　他看見我時，嘴張著，臉色略微發(fā)白，“難道你沒死?”他說道，“大家都說，你被殺死了!”

　　'I'm not dead yet，'I said，'but listen…'I told him about my adventures，and Tom loved all that.Then I told him about the Phelpses and that they thought I was Tom Sawyer.'What shall we do?'I asked him.

　　“我還沒死呢，”我說道，“可你聽著……”我對他講了我的冒險，湯姆非常喜愛這一切。然后，我跟他講了斐爾普斯一家的事，并告訴他，他們以為我是湯姆·索亞。“我們該怎么辦呢?”我問他。

　　Tom thought for a bit，and then he said，'I know.You take my bags and say they're yours. I'll come to the house in about half an hour.'

　　湯姆略加思索，然后說道，“我知道怎么辦。你把我的包拿去，就說是你的。我大約半小時后到。”

　　'All right，'I said，'but there's another thing.You know old Miss Watson's slave Jim， who ran away? Well，he's a prisoner here，and I'm going to help him escape.'

　　“好吧，”我說，“可還有一件事。你知道老沃森小姐的奴隸吉姆嗎?他逃走了。唉，他是這兒的一個囚犯，我打算幫助他逃走。”

　　'Jim?'Tom said.'But he's—'Then he stopped and thought.'Right.I'll help，too，I'll make a really good plan.'He looked very excited.

　　“吉姆?”湯姆說道，“可他是——”然后，他停下來思考了一下。“好吧，我也幫忙。我要制定一個很好的計劃。”他看起來很興奮。

　　So I went back to the house with the bags，and Tom came along half an hour later.He knocked on the door and when his Aunt Sally opened it， he said he was Sid， Tom's brother.He wanted his visit to be a surprise for his dear old Aunt Sally，he said.

　　于是，我拿著包回去了，湯姆半小時后來了。他敲了敲門，薩莉姨媽開門時，他說，他是錫德，湯姆的弟弟。他想使他的來訪給他那親愛的薩莉姨媽一個驚喜，他說道。

　　Well，Aunt Sally was very pleased to see Tom and Sid.She thought it was wonderful.She and Uncle Silas were really nice people.

　　嘿，薩莉姨媽看見湯姆和錫德真是高興極了。她覺得這真是好極了。她和賽拉斯姨夫的確是很好的人。

　　When we were alone later，Tom and I talked about Jim's escape.I said I had a plan，and Tom listened to it.

　　我們倆單獨在一起時，我和湯姆談起了吉姆逃跑的事。我說，我有一個計劃，湯姆聽著我的計劃。

　　'It's a good plan，'he said when I finished.'But it's too easy! It's got to be a real escape，like a real adventure in a sto-ry-book.So we want something difficult and dangerous.Now，listen to this…'

　　“這是一個好計劃，”我講完后他說道，“可太容易了!得像個真正的逃跑，像故事書中的真正的冒險。所以，我們要讓這冒險困難點，危險點。聽聽這個……”

　　So he told me his plan.I knew it would be a good one be-cause Tom's plans are always crazy and exciting.

　　于是，他告訴了我他的計劃。我明白，這會是一個出色的計劃，因為，湯姆的計劃41奮總是既瘋狂又興奮。

　　And we sure had a lot of fun with that plan!We knew that Jim was locked up in a hut outside the house.Every night we got out through our bedroom window and dug a hole right under the wall of the hut.It took us a week，and it was hard work.We talked to Jim secretly and told him about the plan，and he was really pleased.

　　執(zhí)行那計劃肯定會給我們帶來許多的樂趣!我們知道，吉姆被鎖在屋外的一個小屋里。每天夜里，我們都從臥室的窗戶鉆出去，就在小屋墻下挖洞。挖洞花費了我們一星期的時間，這是一件苦差事。我們秘密地同吉姆交談，并告訴他我們的計劃，他高興極了。

　　We also wrote secret letters to everybody.Tom said that people always do this in books.We wrote that there was a gang of slave-thieves coming up from the south.They wanted to steal Jim and get the three hundred dollars from his owner.Well，the Phelpses and their friends got very excited， and on the night of the escape I went into the sitting-room，and there was a crowd of men in there—all with guns!

　　我們也給大家寫密信。湯姆說，書中人們總是這樣做。我們寫道，有一群盜奴賊從南方來。他們想偷走吉姆，從他的主人那兒得到300美元。斐爾普斯一家和他們的朋友很興奮，逃跑的那天夜里，我走進起居室，那兒有一大群男人——都拿著槍!

　　I ran and told Tom， and he said that this was really good.'It's a real adventure now， all right，'he said， very excited.'Perhaps they'll come after us，and shoot，and we'll all get killed!'

　　我跑去告訴了湯姆，他說，這真不錯。“好吧，這是一次真正的冒險，”他說道，很興奮，“或許他們會追我們，開槍，我們都會被打死!”

　　Well，there wasn't time to think about it because it all happened so quickly.We got Jim out through the hole under the wall，and began to run down to the river.But the men heard us and came after us.They began to shoot，and so we ran as fast as we could to the canoe.We got in it and went over to Spanish Island.My raft was there，and our plan was to escape on that and go on down river.

　　沒有時間考慮了，因為，這一切發(fā)生得太快了。我們把吉姆從墻下的洞里弄出來，開始往河邊跑去。但是，那些人聽到了我們的聲音，追了過來，他們開始開槍，我們盡快地往獨木舟那兒跑去。我們上了獨木舟，前往西班牙島，我的木筏停在那兒，我們的計劃就是逃到那島上，然后繼續(xù)順流而下。

　　'Now，Jim，'I cried，'you're a free man!'We were all very happy，but Tom was the happiest of all，because he had a bullet in his leg.

　　“嗨，吉姆，”我喊道，“你是一個自由之人了!”我們都很高興，可湯姆是最高興的一個，因為，他腿上中了一槍。

　　When Jim and I heard that，we weren't so happy.Tom wanted the adventure to go on， but Jim and I said that a doctor must look at Tom's leg.Tom was getting angry about this，but Jim said：

　　我和吉姆聽到這話時，可不那么高興了。湯姆想讓這冒險繼續(xù)下去，可我和吉姆說，一定要找個醫(yī)生看看湯姆的腿。湯姆對此生氣了，可吉姆說道：

　　'You listen to me，Tom Sawyer.You say I'm a free man now，and perhaps I am.But old Jim is not going to run away and leave one of his friends with a bullet in his leg! So I'm staying right here until a doctor comes.'

　　“你聽我說，湯姆·索亞。你說，我現(xiàn)在是一個自由人了，或許我是?？衫霞凡粫优?，而丟下一個腿里有顆子彈的朋友!所以，我就呆在這兒，一直到醫(yī)生來。”

　　I knew Jim would say that. He was a good， true friend， and you can't say that about many people.

　　我知道，吉姆會這樣說的。他是一個真正的好朋友，對許多其他的人，你不會這樣說的。

　　Well，that was the end of the adventure，really.I went and found a doctor in the town.He was a kind old man，and he said he would go over to the island. But Tom's leg got very bad，and the next day the doctor and some other men carried Tom home to the Phelpses' house.They brought Jim too， and they locked him up in the hut again.But the doctor said，'Be kind to him， because he didn't run away and he stayed to help me with the boy.'

　　說真的，這就是冒險的結束。我去到鎮(zhèn)上找了個醫(yī)生。他是個和藹的老人，他說，他會到島上去?？蓽吠鹊膫麆莺苤?，第二天，醫(yī)生和其他的一些人把湯姆抬到斐爾普斯家。他們也帶回了吉姆，他們又把他鎖在木屋里?？舍t(yī)生說，“對他好點兒，因為他沒逃跑，他留在那兒幫我照顧這個男孩。”

　　They took Tom up to bed because his leg was really bad，and Aunt Sally sat with him while he slept.I didn't want to answer any questions so I kept out of everybody's way.

　　他們把湯姆放在床上，因為，他腿的傷勢很重。他睡覺時，薩莉姨媽坐在他的身邊。我不想回答任何問題，所以，我遠遠地躲開大家。

　　When Tom woke up the next day，he felt better.I was in the room and he said to me，'Jim's all right，isn't he?'

　　第二天，湯姆醒來時，他感覺好多了。我在他房間里，他對我說，“吉姆沒事兒，是吧?”

　　I didn't know what to say because Aunt Sally was listening， and before I could stop him，Tom went on：

　　我不知道說什么好，因為薩莉姨媽在聽著，我還來不及阻止他，湯姆繼續(xù)說道：

　　'We did it，Aunt Sally.Me and Tom here.We helped Jim escape.'He told her all about the digging and everything，and Aunt Sally's mouth was opening and closing like a fish.Then she got really angry with Tom.

　　“這件事是我們干的，薩莉姨媽。是我和湯姆。我們幫助吉姆逃跑的。”他把挖洞和所有的一切都告訴了她，薩莉姨媽的嘴像條魚一樣一張一閉。然后，她真的生湯姆的氣了。

　　'That slave is locked up again and he's going to stay there.And if I catch you again—'

　　“那個奴隸又被鎖了起來，他要呆在那兒。如果我再抓到你——”

　　Tom suddenly sat up in bed.'You can't do that!'he cried.'Jim was old Miss Watson's slave， but she died two months ago.Before she died，she wrote that she wanted Jim to be free，and not a slave any more.Jim's a free man，not a slave!

　　湯姆突然在床上坐起來。“你不能那樣做!”他喊道，“吉姆是老沃森小姐的奴隸，可她兩個月前去世了。死前她寫道，她要讓吉姆自由，不再是一個奴隸了。吉姆是一個自由人，不再是一個奴隸!”

　　Well，that was a surprise to me and Aunt Sally!She thought Tom was crazy.'But Sid，why did you help him to escape，if he was free already?'she said.

　　我和薩莉姨媽都感到很驚訝!她覺得湯姆瘋了。“可是，錫德，如果他已經自由了，那你為什么還幫他逃跑呢?”她說道。

　　'I wanted the adventure，of course!'said Tom.'We made a really exciting plan and… Oh my!…AUNT POLLY!'

　　“當然，我想冒險!”湯姆說。“我們制定了一個很令人興奮的計劃，并且……呀，天哪!……菠莉姨媽!”

　　We turned round，and there was Tom's Aunt Polly in the doorway!That was the second big surprise.Aunt Sally was really pleased to see her sister，and jumped up to put her arms round her. I got under the bed as fast as I could.There was trouble coming for me and Tom， that was for sure.

　　我們轉過身來，湯姆的菠莉姨媽站在門那兒!這是第二個令人大吃一驚的事。薩莉姨媽見到她的姐姐的確很高興，跳起來摟住了她。我趕快爬到床底下。我和湯姆要有麻煩了，這是肯定無疑的。

　　Then Aunt Polly said to Tom，'You always were a terrible boy，Tom Sawyer，and I want to know—'

　　然后，菠莉姨媽對湯姆說道，“你總是搗亂，湯姆·索亞，我想知道——”

　　'But Polly dear，'said Aunt Sally，'this isn't Tom.It's Sid.Tom was here a minute ago.Where is he?'

　　“可是，親愛的菠莉，”薩莉姨媽說道，“這不是湯姆，是錫德。湯姆剛才還在這哪。他哪兒去了?”

　　'Where's Huck Finn，you mean，' replied Aunt Polly.'Come out from under that bed， Huck Finn.'

　　“你是指哈克·費恩哪兒去了?”菠莉姨媽回答道，“從床底下出來，哈克·費恩。”

　　So Tom and I had to explain everything.Aunt Polly said that Aunt Sally wrote and told her that Tom and Sid were there.She knew that it wasn't true， so she decided to come and find out what was happening.But she said that it was true about Miss Watson and that Jim was a free man now.

　　所以，我和湯姆不得不解釋所有這一切。菠莉姨媽說，薩莉姨媽寫信告訴她，湯姆和錫德在那兒。她知道這不是真的，于是，她決定來弄清楚到底是怎么回事?？伤f，沃森小姐的事倒是真的，吉姆現(xiàn)在是一個自由人了。

　　We got Jim out of the hut and Aunt Sally and Uncle Silas were really nice to him.Later，Tom， Jim and I had a long talk by ourselves.Tom talked and talked，and then he said，'Let's all three of us run away one night，and go and have ad-ventures in the wild country down south.'

　　我們把吉姆從小屋里放出來，薩莉姨媽和賽拉斯姨夫待他很友好。后來，湯姆、吉姆和我，就我們三個人，聊了很長時間。湯姆不停地說著，然后，他說道，“有那么一天夜里，我們三個人逃走，到南方荒野的地方去冒險。”

　　It sounded like a good plan to me.'The only thing is，'I said，'I haven't got any money to buy the right clothes and things.All my money back in St Petersburg will be in Pop's pockets by now.'

　　聽起來倒是一個不錯的計劃。“唯一的事情是，”我說道，“我沒有錢買合適的衣服和物品。我所有的在圣彼得斯堡的錢這時應該在爸爸的兜里了。”

　　'No，'said Tom.'Your money's all there.Your Pop never came back.'

　　“不會的，”湯姆說道，“你的錢都在那兒。你爸爸從來沒回來。”

　　'No，and he won't come back，Huck，'Jim said.'You remember that dead man on the river，when I said“Don't look at his face”?Well，that was your Pop.You can get your money when you want.'

　　“對了，他不會回來了，哈克，”吉姆說道，“你記得河上那個死人嗎?我說別看他的臉，那就是你爸爸。你想拿到錢時，你就能拿到。”

　　Tom's leg is almost better now， and I haven't got any more to write about.I'm really pleased about that because it was very difficult to write a book and I won't do it again.But I think I'm going to have to run away before the others，because Aunt Sally wants me to live with her. I'll have to sleep in a bed and wear clean clothes and learn to be good，and I can't do that again.I've done it once already.

　　湯姆的腿現(xiàn)在差不多好了，我沒有什么要寫的了。對此我很高興，因為，寫一本書很難，我不會再寫了。可我想，在其他人逃跑之前，我得準備先逃走，因為薩莉姨媽想讓我和她住在一起。我將不得不睡在床上，穿干凈衣服，學著有教養(yǎng)，我不能再那樣了。我已經嘗試過一次了。

　　The End

　　──完──

　　Yours Truly

　　你的忠實的

　　Huck Finn

　　哈克·費恩