彼得·潘 作者：[英]詹姆斯·巴里 翻译：杨静远 PETER PAN 英文  中文  双语对照  双语交替 首页  目录  上一章   下一章

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Chapter 8 THE MERMAIDS' LAGOON	第八章 人鱼的礁湖
If you shut your eyes and are a lucky one, you may see at times a shapeless pool of lovely pale colours suspended in the darkness; then if you squeeze your eyes tighter, the pool begins to take shape, and the colours become so vivid that with another squeeze they must go on fire. But just before they go on fire you see the lagoon. This is the nearest you ever get to it on the mainland, just one heavenly moment; if there could be two moments you might see the surf and hear the mermaids singing.	如果你闭上双眼，碰上你运气好，你有时会看见黑暗中悬浮着一汪池水，没有一定的形状，颜色淡白，十分可爱。然后，你把眼睛眯一眯，水池就现出了形状，颜色变得更加鲜明；再眯得紧些，那颜色就变得像着了火似的。但就在它着火燃烧以前，你就瞥见了那礁湖。这便是你在大陆上所能看到的礁湖的最逼近的景象，仅仅是美妙的一瞬间，要是能有两瞬间，你也许还能看见拍岸的浪花，听见人鱼的歌唱。
The children often spent long summer days on this lagoon, swimming or floating most of the time, playing the mermaid games in the water, and so forth. You must not think from this that the mermaids were on friendly terms with them: on the contrary, it was among Wendy's lasting regrets that all the time she was on the island she never had a civil word from one of them. When she stole softly to the edge of the lagoon she might see them by the score, especially on Marooners' Rock, where they loved to bask, combing out their hair in a lazy way that quite irritated her; or she might even swim, on tiptoe as it were, to within a yard of them, but then they saw her and dived, probably splashing her with their tails, not by accident, but intentionally.	孩子们时常在礁湖上消磨长长的夏日，多半在水里游泳，或在水上漂浮，玩着人鱼的游戏，等等。你不要因此以为，人鱼们和他们友好相处；恰恰相反，温迪在岛上的时候，从来没有听到她们对她说过一句客气的话，她感到这永远是她的一个遗憾。当她偷偷地走近湖边时，她就看到成群的人鱼；特别是在流囚岩上、她们喜欢在那儿晒太阳，梳理她们的长发，那神态撩得她心里怪痒痒的。她可以像是踮着脚走路似的，轻轻游到离她们一码远的地方；可这时她们发现了她，就纷纷纵身潜入水中，或许还故意用尾巴撩水溅她一身。
They treated all the boys in the same way, except of course Peter, who chatted with them on Marooners' Rock by the hour, and sat on their tails when they got cheeky. He gave Wendy one of their combs.	人鱼们对待男孩子们也是这样，当然彼得是例外，彼得和她们坐在流囚岩上长时间地谈天，在她们嬉皮笑脸的时候，骑上她们的尾巴。他把她们的一把梳子给了温迪。
The most haunting time at which to see them is at the turn of the moon, when they utter strange wailing cries; but the lagoon is dangerous for mortals then, and until the evening of which we have now to tell, Wendy had never seen the lagoon by moonlight, less from fear, for of course Peter would have accompanied her, than because she had strict rules about every one being in bed by seven. She was often at the lagoon, however, on sunny days after rain, when the mermaids come up in extraordinary numbers to play with their bubbles. The bubbles of many colours made in rainbow water they treat as balls, hitting them gaily from one to another with their tails, and trying to keep them in the rainbow till they burst. The goals are at each end of the rainbow, and the keepers only are allowed to use their hands. Sometimes a dozen of these games will be going on in the lagoon at a time, and it is quite a pretty sight.	看人鱼最魅人的时间，是在月亮初升时；那时，她们会发出奇异的哭号声。不过，那时候礁湖对于人类是危险的，在我们要谈到的那个夜晚之前，温迪从来没见过月光下的礁湖。她倒不是害怕，因为，彼得当然会陪伴她的；而是因为，她有严格的规定，一到七点钟，人人都必须上床睡觉。她时常在雨过天晴的日子来到湖畔，那时，人鱼大批地到水面上来，玩着水泡。彩虹般的水做成的五颜六色的水泡，她们当作球，用尾巴欢快地拍来拍去，试着把他们拍进彩虹，直到破碎为止。球门就在彩虹的两端，只有守门员才许可用手接球。有时，礁湖里有几百个人鱼同时在玩水泡，真是一大奇观。
But the moment the children tried to join in they had to play by themselves, for the mermaids immediately disappeared. Nevertheless we have proof that they secretly watched the interlopers, and were not above taking an idea from them; for John introduced a new way of hitting the bubble, with the head instead of the hand, and the mermaids adopted it. This is the one mark that John has left on the Neverland.	但是，孩子们刚想参加她们的游戏，人鱼们就立刻钻进水里不见了，孩子们只得自己玩了。不过，我们有证据知道她们在暗中窥视着这帮不速之客，并且也很乐意从孩子们那儿学到点什么。因为约翰引进了一种打水泡的新方法，用头而不是用手，于是人鱼守门员就采用了这方法。这是约翰留在永无乡的一个遗迹。
It must also have been rather pretty to see the children resting on a rock for half an hour after their mid-day meal. Wendy insisted on their doing this, and it had to be a real rest even though the meal was make-believe. So they lay there in the sun, and their bodies glistened in it, while she sat beside them and looked important.	孩子们在午饭后，躺在岩石上休息半小时，这景象也是挺好看的。温迪一定要他们这样做，即使午饭是假装的，午休也必须是真的。所以他们全都在阳光下躺着，他们的身体给太阳晒得油光锃亮的，温迪坐在他们旁边，显得很神气。
It was one such day, and they were all on Marooners' Rock. The rock was not much larger than their great bed, but of course they all knew how not to take up much room, and they were dozing, or at least lying with their eyes shut, and pinching occasionally when they thought Wendy was not looking. She was very busy, stitching.	就在这样的一天，他们全都躺在流囚岩上。岩石并不比他们的床大多少，不过，他们当然都懂得，不要多占地方。他们打着盹；或者，至少是闭着眼睛，趁温迪不注意时，不时互相挤捏一下。温迪正忙着做针钱活。
While she stitched a change came to the lagoon. Little shivers ran over it, and the sun went away and shadows stole across the water, turning it cold. Wendy could no longer see to thread her needle, and when she looked up, the lagoon that had always hitherto been such a laughing place seemed formidable and unfriendly.	正缝着缝着，礁湖上起了变化。水面掠过一阵微颤，太阳隐去不见了，阴影笼罩着湖面，湖水变冷了。温迪穿针都看不见了。她抬头一看，一向是喜笑颜开的瞧湖，这时变得狰狞可怕、不怀好意的了。
It was not, she knew, that night had come, but something as dark as night had come. No, worse than that. It had not come, but it had sent that shiver through the sea to say that it was coming. What was it?	她知道，不是黑夜来到了，而是某种像夜一样黑暗的东西来到了。不，比夜还要黑暗。那东西没有到来，可是，它先从海上送来一阵颤抖，预示它就要到来。那是什么呢？
There crowded upon her all the stories she had been told of Marooners' Rock, so called because evil captains put sailors on it and leave them there to drown. They drown when the tide rises, for then it is submerged.	她一下子想起了所有那些她听到过的、关于流囚岩的故事。之所以叫流囚岩，是因为恶船长把水手丢在岩石上，让他们淹死在那儿。当海潮涨起时，岩石被淹没了，水手们就淹死了。
Of course she should have roused the children at once; not merely because of the unknown that was stalking toward them, but because it was no longer good for them to sleep on a rock grown chilly. But she was a young mother and she did not know this; she thought you simply must stick to your rule about half an hour after the mid-day meal. So, though fear was upon her, and she longed to hear male voices, she would not waken them. Even when she heard the sound of muffled oars, though her heart was in her mouth, she did not waken them. She stood over them to let them have their sleep out. Was it not brave of Wendy?	当然，她应该立刻叫醒孩子们；因为，不仅莫名的危险就要临头，而且睡在一块变冷的岩石上，也不利于健康。可是，她是一个年幼的母亲，不懂得这个道理；她以为，必须严格遵守午饭后休息半小时的规矩。所以，虽然她害怕极了，渴望听见男性的声音，可她不想叫醒他们。甚至在她听到了闷声闷气的划桨声，心都跳到嘴里的时候，她还是没叫醒他们。她站在他们身边，让他们睡足。温迪难道还不勇敢吗？
It was well for those boys then that there was one among them who could sniff danger even in his sleep. Peter sprang erect, as wide awake at once as a dog, and with one warning cry he roused the others.	幸好男孩子当中有一个即使睡着了，也能用鼻子嗅出危险。彼得一纵身蹦了起来，像狗一样，立刻清醒了，他发出一声警告的呼喊，唤醒了别的孩子。
He stood motionless, one hand to his ear.	他一动不动地站着，一只手放在耳朵上。
"Pirates!" he cried. The others came closer to him. A strange smile was playing about his face, and Wendy saw it and shuddered. While that smile was on his face no one dared address him; all they could do was to stand ready to obey. The order came sharp and incisive.	“海盗！”他喊道。别的孩子都围拢到他身边。一丝奇特的笑意，浮现在他的脸上，温迪看到，不禁打了个寒颤。他脸上露出这种微笑的时候，没有人敢和他说话，他们只能站着静候他的命令。命令下得又快又锐利。
"Dive!"	“潜到水下！”
There was a gleam of legs, and instantly the lagoon seemed deserted. Marooners' Rock stood alone in the forbidding waters as if it were itself marooned.	只见许多双大腿一闪，礁湖顿时就像荒无人迹了。流囚岩孤零零地兀立在恶浪汹涌的海水中，仿佛它自己是被流放到那儿似的。
The boat drew nearer. It was the pirate dinghy, with three figures in her, Smee and Starkey, and the third a captive, no other than Tiger Lily. Her hands and ankles were tied, and she knew what was to be her fate. She was to be left on the rock to perish, an end to one of her race more terrible than death by fire or torture, for is it not written in the book of the tribe that there is no path through water to the happy hunting-ground? Yet her face was impassive; she was the daughter of a chief, she must die as a chief's daughter, it is enough.	船驶近了，那是海盗的一只小艇，船上有三个人，斯密，斯塔奇，第三个是个俘虏，不是别人，正是虎莲。她的手脚都被捆绑着，她知道等待着她的命运是什么。她将被扔在岩石上等死。这种结局，在她那个部落的人看来，是比用火烧死或酷刑折磨还要可怕的。因为，部落里的经书里，不是明明写着，经过水是没有路可以达到那幸福的猎场的吗？但是她的脸色从容镇静，她是酋长的女儿，死，也得死得像个酋长的女儿，这就够了。
They had caught her boarding the pirate ship with a knife in her mouth. No watch was kept on the ship, it being Hook's boast that the wind of his name guarded the ship for a mile around. Now her fate would help to guard it also. One more wail would go the round in that wind by night.	正当虎莲口里衔着一把刀登上海盗船的时候，海盗们把她捉住了。船上没有设人看守，胡克总是夸口说，凭他的名气就能在一英里方圆之内护卫着他的船。现在，虎莲的命运也能够维持他的船。又一声哀号，在那个狂风怒号的夜里，会传得远远的。
In the gloom that they brought with them the two pirates did not see the rock till they crashed into it.	在他们自己带来的黑暗中，两个海盗没有看见岩石，直到船撞上去才知道。
"Luff, you lubber," cried an Irish voice that was Smee's; "here's the rock. Now, then, what we have to do is to hoist the redskin on to it and leave her here to drown."	“顶风行驶，你这笨蛋。”一个爱尔兰口音喊道，那是斯密的声音，“这就是那块岩石。现在，我们只消把这印第安人拾起来扔到岩石上，让她淹死在那儿，就完事了。”
It was the work of one brutal moment to land the beautiful girl on the rock; she was too proud to offer a vain resistance.	把这样一位美丽的女郎丢在岩石上，确实是件残酷的事。可是，虎莲很高傲，不肯作无谓的挣扎。
Quite near the rock, but out of sight, two heads were bobbing up and down, Peter's and Wendy's. Wendy was crying, for it was the first tragedy she had seen. Peter had seen many tragedies, but he had forgotten them all. He was less sorry than Wendy for Tiger Lily: it was two against one that angered him, and he meant to save her. An easy way would have been to wait until the pirates had gone, but he was never one to choose the easy way.	离岩石不远，但眼睛看不见的地方，有两个脑袋在水里一起一落，那是彼得和温迪的脑袋。温迪在哭，因为这是她第一次看到惨剧。彼得见过许多惨剧，不过他全忘了。他不像温迪那样，为虎莲感到伤心。他气愤的是，两个人对付一个，因此，他决意要救她。最容易的方法是，等海盗离开后再去救她，可是他这样的一个人，做事从来不用容易的办法。
There was almost nothing he could not do, and he now imitated the voice of Hook.	没有他办不到的事，于是，他现在就模仿胡克的声音说话。
"Ahoy there, you lubbers!" he called. It was a marvellous imitation.	“啊嗬咿，你们这些笨蛋。”彼得喊道，模仿得像极了。
"The captain!" said the pirates, staring at each other in surprise.	“是船长。”两个海盗说，惊愕得面面相觑。
"He must be swimming out to us," Starkey said, when they had looked for him in vain.	“他准是游泳过来的。”斯塔奇说，他们想看，又看不见他。
"We are putting the redskin on the rock," Smee called out.	“我们正要把印第安人放在岩石上。”斯密冲着他喊。
"Set her free," came the astonishing answer.	“放了她。”回答是令人吃惊的。
"Free!"	“放了？”
"Yes, cut her bonds and let her go."	“是的，割断绑绳，放她走。”
"But, captain -- "	“可是，船长——”
"At once, d'ye hear," cried Peter, "or I'll plunge my hook in you."	“马上放，听见没有。”彼得喊道。
"This is queer!" Smee gasped.	“这真是怪事。”斯密喘着气说。
"Better do what the captain orders," said Starkey nervously.	“还是照船长的命令做吧。”斯塔奇战战兢兢地说。
"Ay, ay." Smee said, and he cut Tiger Lily's cords. At once like an eel she slid between Starkey's legs into the water.	“是，是。”斯密说，判断了虎莲的绳子。一眨眼，虎莲像泥鳅一样，从斯塔奇的两腿之间，滑进了水里。
Of course Wendy was very elated over Peter's cleverness; but she knew that he would be elated also and very likely crow and thus betray himself, so at once her hand went out to cover his mouth. But it was stayed even in the act, for "Boat ahoy!" rang over the lagoon in Hook's voice, and this time it was not Peter who had spoken.	温迪看到彼得这样机灵，当然很高兴；可是她知道，彼得自己也一定很高兴，很可能要叫喊几声，暴露了他自己。所以，她立刻用手捂住他的嘴。正要这样做时，她的手停住了，“小艇，啊嗬咿！”湖面上传来胡克的声音，这次，发话的却不是彼得。
Peter may have been about to crow, but his face puckered in a whistle of surprise instead.	彼得大概正准备要叫喊，可是他没有叫喊，却撅起嘴，吹出一声惊异的口哨。
"Boat ahoy!" again came the voice.	“小艇，啊嗬咿！”又来了一声。
Now Wendy understood. The real Hook was also in the water.	温迪明白了，真正的胡克也已来到了湖上。
He was swimming to the boat, and as his men showed a light to guide him he had soon reached them. In the light of the lantern Wendy saw his hook grip the boat's side; she saw his evil swarthy face as he rose dripping from the water, and, quaking, she would have liked to swim away, but Peter would not budge. He was tingling with life and also top-heavy with conceit. "Am I not a wonder, oh, I am a wonder!" he whispered to her, and though she thought so also, she was really glad for the sake of his reputation that no one heard him except herself.	胡克朝着小艇游过去，他的部下举起灯笼给他引路，他很快就游到了小艇边。在灯笼的亮光下，温迪看到他的铁钩钩住了船边；正当他水淋淋地爬上小艇时，温迪看见了他那张凶恶的黑脸，她发抖了，恨不得马上游开；可是彼得不肯挪动，他兴奋得跃跃欲试，又自大得忘乎所以。“我不是个奇人吗，啊，我是个奇人！”彼得小声对温迪说；虽然温迪也认为他是个奇人，可是为了他的名誉着想，她还是很庆幸，除了她没有第二个人听到他的话。
He signed to her to listen.	彼得向温迪做了一个手势，要她仔细听。
The two pirates were very curious to know what had brought their captain to them, but he sat with his head on his hook in a position of profound melancholy.	两个海盗很想知道船长为什么到这儿来，可是，胡克坐在那儿，他用铁钩托着头，显得非常忧郁的样子。
"Captain, is all well?" they asked timidly, but he answered with a hollow moan.	“船长，一切都好吧？”他们小心翼翼地问。可是，胡克的回答只是一声低沉的呻吟。
"He sighs," said Smee.	“他叹气了。”斯密说。
"He sighs again," said Starkey.	“他又叹气了。”斯塔奇说。
"And yet a third time he sighs," said Smee.	“他第三次叹气了。”斯密说。
Then at last he spoke passionately.	“怎么回事，船长？” 末了，胡克愤愤地开口说话了。
"The game's up," he cried, "those boys have found a mother."	“计谋失败了，”他喊道，“那些男孩找到了一个母亲。”
Affrighted though she was, Wendy swelled with pride.	温迪虽然害怕，却充满了自豪感。
"O evil day!" cried Starkey.	“啊，他们真坏。”斯塔奇喊道。
"What's a mother?" asked the ignorant Smee.	“母亲是什么？”糊涂的斯密问道。
Wendy was so shocked that she exclaimed. "He doesn't know!" and always after this she felt that if you could have a pet pirate Smee would be her one.	温迪大为诧异，她失声叫了出来：“他居然不知道！”从此以后，她总是觉得，如果要养个小海盗玩，斯密就是一个。
Peter pulled her beneath the water, for Hook had started up, crying, "What was that?"	彼得一把将温迪拉到水下，因为胡克惊叫了一声：“那是什么？”
"I heard nothing," said Starkey, raising the lantern over the waters, and as the pirates looked they saw a strange sight. It was the nest I have told you of, floating on the lagoon, and the Never bird was sitting on it.	“我什么也没听见。”斯塔奇说，他举起灯笼向水上照。海盗们张望时，看到了一个奇怪的景象，那就是我告诉过你们的那只鸟巢，浮在海面上，那只永无鸟正伏在巢上。
"See," said Hook in answer to Smee's question, "that is a mother. What a lesson! The nest must have fallen into the water, but would the mother desert her eggs? No."	“瞧，”胡克回答斯密的问题，“那就是个母亲。这是多好的一课啊！鸟巢一定是落到了水里，可是，母鸟肯舍弃她的卵吗？不会的。”
There was a break in his voice, as if for a moment he recalled innocent days when -- but he brushed away this weakness with his hook.	他的话声忽然断了，仿佛一时想起了他那天真无邪的日子——可是他一挥铁钩，拨开了这个软弱的念头。
Smee, much impressed, gazed at the bird as the nest was borne past, but the more suspicious Starkey said, "If she is a mother, perhaps she is hanging about here to help Peter."	斯密很受感动，他凝望着那只鸟，看着那鸟巢渐渐漂走；可是，更多疑的斯塔奇却说：“如果她是个母亲，她在附近漂来漂去，也许是为了掩护彼得。”
Hook winced. "Ay," he said, "that is the fear that haunts me."	胡克抖缩了一下。“对了，”他说，“我担心的就是这个。”
He was roused from this dejection by Smee's eager voice.	斯密的热切的声音，把胡克从沮丧中唤起。
"Captain," said Smee, "could we not kidnap these boys' mother and make her our mother?"	“船长，”斯密说，“我们不能把孩子们的母亲掳来做我们的母亲吗？”
"It is a princely scheme," cried Hook, and at once it took practical shape in his great brain. "We will seize the children and carry them to the boat: the boys we will make walk the plank, and Wendy shall be our mother.	“这计策太棒了。”胡克喊道，他那大脑瓜里立刻就想出了具体的方案，“我们把那些孩子捉到船上来，让他们走跳板淹死，温迪就成了我们的母亲了。”
Again Wendy forgot herself.	温迪又禁不住失声叫了起来。
"Never!" she cried, and bobbed.	“绝不！”她喊道，头在水面上冒了一下。
"What was that?"	“这是什么？”
But they could see nothing. They thought it must have been a leaf in the wind. "Do you agree, my bullies?" asked Hook.	什么也看不见，海盗们想，那一定是风吹的一片树叶响。“你们同意吗，伙计们？”胡克问。
"There is my hand on it," they both said.	“我举手赞成。”他们两个说。
"And there is my hook. Swear."	“我举钩宣誓。”
They all swore. By this time they were on the rock, and suddenly Hook remembered Tiger Lily.	他们都宣誓了。这时，他们都来到了岩石上，胡克忽然想起了虎莲。
"Where is the redskin?" he demanded abruptly.	“那个印第安婆娘在哪儿？”他突然问。
He had a playful humour at moments, and they thought this was one of the moments.	他有时喜欢开个玩笑逗趣儿，他们以为他是在开玩笑。
"That is all right, captain," Smee answered complacently; "we let her go."	“没问题，船长。”斯密美滋滋地回答，“我们把她放了。”
"Let her go!" cried Hook.	“把她放了！”胡克大叫。
"'Twas your own orders," the bo'sun faltered.	“那是你下的命令呀。”水手头结结巴巴地说。
"You called over the water to us to let her go," said Starkey.	“你在水里下的命令，叫我们把她放了。”斯塔奇说。
"Brimstone and gall," thundered Hook, "what cozening (cheating) is going on here!" His face had gone black with rage, but he saw that they believed their words, and he was startled. "Lads," he said, shaking a little, "I gave no such order."	“该死，”胡克暴跳如雷地喊，“搞什么鬼？”他的脸气得发黑；可是，他看到他们说的是实话，不禁惊讶起来。“伙计们，”他有点颤抖地说，“我没发过这样的命令。”
"It is passing queer," Smee said, and they all fidgeted uncomfortably. Hook raised his voice, but there was a quiver in it.	“这可怪了。”斯密说。他们全都心慌意乱起来。胡克提高了声音，可他的声音带着颤抖。
"Spirit that haunts this dark lagoon to-night," he cried, "dost hear me?"	“今夜在湖上游荡的精灵鬼怪呀，”他喊道，“你们听到了吗？”
Of course Peter should have kept quiet, but of course he did not. He immediately answered in Hook's voice:	彼得当然应该不出声，可是，他当然非出声不可。他马上学着胡克的声音回答。
"Odds, bobs, hammer and tongs, I hear you."	“见你的鬼，我听到了。”
In that supreme moment Hook did not blanch, even at the gills, but Smee and Starkey clung to each other in terror.	在这个节骨眼上，胡克连脸都没有发白，可是斯密和斯塔奇吓得抱作一团。
"Who are you, stranger? Speak!" Hook demanded.	“喂，你是谁？你说。”胡克问。
"I am James Hook," replied the voice, "captain of the JOLLY ROGER."	“我是詹姆斯·胡克，”那个声音回答，“快乐的罗杰号船长。”
"You are not; you are not," Hook cried hoarsely.	“你不是，你不是。”胡克哑着嗓子喊。
"Brimstone and gall," the voice retorted, "say that again, and I'll cast anchor in you."	“该死，”那声音反唇相讥，“你再说一句，我就在你身上抛锚。”
Hook tried a more ingratiating manner. "If you are Hook," he said almost humbly, "come tell me, who am I?"	胡克换了一副讨好的态度。“如果你是胡克，”他几乎是低三下四地说，“那么，告诉我，我又是谁？”
"A codfish," replied the voice, "only a codfish."	“一条鳘鱼，”那个声音回答，“只不过是一条鳘鱼。”
"A codfish!" Hook echoed blankly, and it was then, but not till then, that his proud spirit broke. He saw his men draw back from him.	“一条鳘鱼！”胡克茫然地重复了一句；他那一直鼓得足足的傲气，这时突然泄了气，他看到他的部下从他身边走开了。
"Have we been captained all this time by a codfish!" they muttered. "It is lowering to our pride."	“难道我们一直拥戴一条鳘鱼作船长吗？”他们嚷嚷着说，“这可是降低我们的身份了。”
They were his dogs snapping at him, but, tragic figure though he had become, he scarcely heeded them. Against such fearful evidence it was not their belief in him that he needed, it was his own. He felt his ego slipping from him. "Don't desert me, bully," he whispered hoarsely to it.	他们原是胡克的狗，反倒咬了他一口；胡克虽然落到这一步，可是他并不太注意他们。要反驳这样一个可怕的胡说，他需要的，不是他们对他的信任，而是他的自信。他觉得，他的自我从他身上滑走了。“别丢下我，伙计们。”他哑着嗓子低声说。
In his dark nature there was a touch of the feminine, as in all the great pirates, and it sometimes gave him intuitions. Suddenly he tried the guessing game.	他那凶悍的天性里，带有一点女性的特色，所有大海盗都一样，有时也会因此得到一些直感。忽然他想试一试猜谜游戏。
"Hook," he called, "have you another voice?"	“胡克，”他问，“你还有别的声音吗？”
Now Peter could never resist a game, and he answered blithely in his own voice, "I have."	要知道，遇到游戏，彼得总是禁不住要玩的。于是他用自己的声音快活的回答：“有啊。”
"And another name?"	“你还有一个名字吗？”
"Ay, ay."	“有的，有的。”
"Vegetable?" asked Hook.	“蔬菜？”胡克问。
"No."	“不是。
"Mineral?"	”矿物？
"No."	“不是。
"Animal?"	”动物？
"Yes."	“是的。
"Man?"	”男人！
"No!" This answer rang out scornfully.	“不是！”彼得嘹亮地回答，声音里带着轻蔑。
"Boy?"	“男孩？”
"Yes."	“对了。”
"Ordinary boy?"	“普通的男孩？
"No!"	”不是！“
"Wonderful boy?"	”奇异的男孩？“
To Wendy's pain the answer that rang out this time was "Yes."	温迪苦恼地听着，这次的回答是”是“。
"Are you in England?"	”你住在英国吗？
"No."	“不是。”
"Are you here?"	“你住在此地吗？”
"Yes."	“是。”
Hook was completely puzzled. "You ask him some questions," he said to the others, wiping his damp brow.	胡克完全闹糊涂了。“你们两个给他提出几个问题。”他对另两个人说，擦擦他汗湿的前额。
Smee reflected. "I can't think of a thing," he said regretfully.	斯密想了想。“我想不出什么问题。”他抱歉地说。
"Can't guess, can't guess!" crowed Peter. "Do you give it up?"	“猜不出啦，猜不出啦，”彼得喊，“你们认输了吗？”
Of course in his pride he was carrying the game too far, and the miscreants (villains) saw their chance.	他太骄傲了，把这个游戏玩过了头，强盗们看到机会到了。
"Yes, yes," they answered eagerly.	“是的。是的。”他们急切地回答。
"Well, then," he cried, "I am Peter Pan."	“那好吧，我告诉你们，”他喊道，“我是彼得·潘！”
Pan!	潘！
In a moment Hook was himself again, and Smee and Starkey were his faithful henchmen.	霎时间，胡克又恢复了常态，斯密和斯塔奇又成了他的忠实部下。
"Now we have him," Hook shouted. "Into the water, Smee. Starkey, mind the boat. Take him dead or alive!"	“好啦，现在我们可以把他弄到手啦。”胡克高声喊道，“下水，斯密。斯塔奇，看好船。不管是死是活，把他抓来。”
He leaped as he spoke, and simultaneously came the gay voice of Peter.	说着，他跳下水去；同时，彼得那快活的声音喊了出来。
"Are you ready, boys?"	“准备好了吗？孩子们？”
"Ay, ay," from various parts of the lagoon.	“好啦，好啦。”湖的四面八方都响应。
"Then lam into the pirates."	“那么，向海盗进攻。”
The fight was short and sharp. First to draw blood was John, who gallantly climbed into the boat and held Starkey. There was fierce struggle, in which the cutlass was torn from the pirate's grasp. He wriggled overboard and John leapt after him. The dinghy drifted away.	战争很短，但很激烈。头一个使敌人流血的是约翰，他英勇地爬上小艇，扑向了斯塔奇。经过一场剧烈搏斗，海盗手中的弯刀落掉了。斯塔奇挣扎着跳到水里，约翰也跟着跳下去，小艇漂走了。
Here and there a head bobbed up in the water, and there was a flash of steel followed by a cry or a whoop. In the confusion some struck at their own side. The corkscrew of Smee got Tootles in the fourth rib, but he was himself pinked (nicked) in turn by Curly. Farther from the rock Starkey was pressing Slightly and the twins hard.	水面上不时冒出一个脑袋，钢铁的寒光一闪，跟着是一声吼叫，或一声呐喊。在混战中，有的人打了自家人。斯密的开瓶钻捅着了图图的第四根肋骨，他自己又被卷毛刺伤了。远离岩石的地方，斯塔奇正在紧迫斯莱特利和孪生子。
Where all this time was Peter? He was seeking bigger game.	这一阵子彼得又在哪儿呢？他在寻找更大的猎物。
The others were all brave boys, and they must not be blamed for backing from the pirate captain. His iron claw made a circle of dead water round him, from which they fled like affrighted fishes.	其他的孩子都很勇敢，他们躲开海盗船长是无可责怪的。胡克的铁钩把周围的水变成了死亡地带，孩子们像受惊的鱼一样，逃开这块地方。
But there was one who did not fear him: there was one prepared to enter that circle.	可是有一个人不怕胡克，有一个人打算走进这个地带。
Strangely, it was not in the water that they met. Hook rose to the rock to breathe, and at the same moment Peter scaled it on the opposite side. The rock was slippery as a ball, and they had to crawl rather than climb. Neither knew that the other was coming. Each feeling for a grip met the other's arm: in surprise they raised their heads; their faces were almost touching; so they met.	说也奇怪，他们并没有在水里相遇。胡克爬到岩石上喘息，同时，彼得也从对面爬上来。岩石滑得像一只球，他们没法攀缘，只能匍匐着爬上来。他们两个都不知道对方也正在爬上来。两个人都在摸索着想抓住一块能着力的地方，不料竟碰到了对方的手。他们惊讶得抬起头来，他们的脸几乎挨到了，他们就这样相遇了。
Some of the greatest heroes have confessed that just before they fell to (began combat) they had a sinking (feeling in the stomach). Had it been so with Peter at that moment I would admit it. After all, he was the only man that the Sea-Cook had feared. But Peter had no sinking, he had one feeling only, gladness; and he gnashed his pretty teeth with joy. Quick as thought he snatched a knife from Hook's belt and was about to drive it home, when he saw that he was higher up the rock that his foe. It would not have been fighting fair. He gave the pirate a hand to help him up.	有些大英雄都承认，他们临交手前，心都不免有些往下沉。假如彼得那时也是这样，我也不必替他隐瞒。不管怎么说，胡克是海上库克唯一害伯的人。可是彼得的心没有往下沉，他只有一种感觉：高兴。他喜欢地咬紧了他那口好看的小牙。像转念一样快，他拔出胡克皮带上的刀，正好深深地插进去，这时，他看到自己在岩石上的位置比敌人高，这是不公平的战斗。于是，他伸手去拉那海盗一把。
It was then that Hook bit him.	就在这时，胡克咬了他一口。
Not the pain of this but its unfairness was what dazed Peter. It made him quite helpless. He could only stare, horrified. Every child is affected thus the first time he is treated unfairly. All he thinks he has a right to when he comes to you to be yours is fairness. After you have been unfair to him he will love you again, but will never afterwards be quite the same boy. No one ever gets over the first unfairness; no one except Peter. He often met it, but he always forgot it. I suppose that was the real difference between him and all the rest.	彼得惊呆了，不是因为疼，而是因为不公平。他变得不知所措，只是楞楞地望着，吓傻了。每个孩子第一次遇到不公平的待遇时，都会这样发呆。当他和你真诚相见的时候，他一心想到的是，他有权利受到公平待遇。如果你有一次对他不公平，他还是爱你的，不过他从此就会变样了。谁也不会忘记第一次受到的不公平，除了彼得以外。他经常受到不公平，可他总是忘记。我想这就是他和别人真正不同的地方吧。
So when he met it now it was like the first time; and he could just stare, helpless. Twice the iron hand clawed him.	所以，彼得现在遇到不公平，就像初次遇到一样，他只能楞楞地望着，不知所措。胡克的铁钩抓了他两次。
A few moments afterwards the other boys saw Hook in the water striking wildly for the ship; no elation on the pestilent face now, only white fear, for the crocodile was in dogged pursuit of him. On ordinary occasions the boys would have swum alongside cheering; but now they were uneasy, for they had lost both Peter and Wendy, and were scouring the lagoon for them, calling them by name. They found the dinghy and went home in it, shouting "Peter, Wendy" as they went, but no answer came save mocking laughter from the mermaids. "They must be swimming back or flying," the boys concluded. They were not very anxious, because they had such faith in Peter. They chuckled, boylike, because they would be late for bed; and it was all mother Wendy's fault!	几分钟以后，别的孩子看见胡克在水里发狂似的拼命向小艇游去。这时，他那瘟神般的脸上，已经没有了得意的神色，只有惨白的恐惧，因为那只鳄鱼正在他后面紧追不舍。在平时，孩子们就会一边在旁游泳，一边欢呼；可是，这次他们感到不安，因为他们不见了彼得和温迪，在湖里到处喊着他们的名字，寻找他们。他们找到那只小艇，钻了进去，一边划着，一边高喊：“彼得，温迪。”可是没有回答，只听到人鱼嘲弄的笑声。“他们准是游回去了，要不就是飞回去了。”孩子们断定。他们并不很着急，因为他们很相信彼得。他们像男孩子一样的格格地笑，因为，今晚可以迟睡了，这全是温迪妈妈的错。
When their voices died away there came cold silence over the lagoon, and then a feeble cry.	当他们的笑语声消失以后，湖面上一片冷清的寂静，随后忽听得一声微弱的呼叫。
"Help, help!"	“救命啊，救命啊！”
Two small figures were beating against the rock; the girl had fainted and lay on the boy's arm. With a last effort Peter pulled her up the rock and then lay down beside her. Even as he also fainted he saw that the water was rising. He knew that they would soon be drowned, but he could do no more.	两个小小的人体正朝着岩石游来，女孩已经昏过去，躺在男孩子的臂上。彼得使出了最后一点力气，把温迪拽上岩石；然后，在她身边躺倒了。虽然他自己也昏迷了，他却知道湖水正在上涨。他知道他们很快就要淹死，可是他实在无能为力了。
As they lay side by side a mermaid caught Wendy by the feet, and began pulling her softly into the water. Peter, feeling her slip from him, woke with a start, and was just in time to draw her back. But he had to tell her the truth.	他们并排躺在岩石上时，一条人鱼抓住温迪的脚，轻轻地把她往水里拽。彼得发觉她正在往下滑，突然惊醒了，恰好来得及把她拉回来；不过，他不能不把实恬告诉温迪。
"We are on the rock, Wendy," he said, "but it is growing smaller. Soon the water will be over it."	“我们是在岩石上，温迪，”他说，“可是这岩石越来越小了，不多时，水就要把它淹没。”
She did not understand even now.	可是温迪现在还听不懂。
"We must go," she said, almost brightly.	“我们得走。”她相当开朗地说。
"Yes," he answered faintly.	“是的。”彼得无精打采地回答说。
"Shall we swim or fly, Peter?"	“彼得，我们是游泳还是飞？”
He had to tell her.	彼得不得不告诉她：
"Do you think you could swim for fly as far as the island, Wendy, without my help?"	“温迪，你以为没有我的帮助，你能游泳或是飞那么远，到岛上去吗？”
She had to admit that she was too tired.	温迪不得不承认，她是太累了。
He moaned.	彼得呻吟了一声。
"What is it?" she asked, anxious about him at once.	“你怎么啦？”温迪问，立刻为彼得着急了。
"I can't help you, Wendy. Hook wounded me. I can neither fly nor swim."	“我没法帮助你，温迪。胡克把我打伤了，我既不能飞，也不能游泳。”
"Do you mean we shall both be drowned?"	“你是说，我们两个都要淹死吗？”
"Look how the water is rising."	“你瞧，水涨得多快。”
They put their hands over their eyes to shut out the sight. They thought they would soon be no more. As they sat thus something brushed against Peter as light as a kiss, and stayed there, as if saying timidly, "Can I be of any use?"	他们用手捂住眼睛，不敢去看，他们心想很快就要完了。他们这样坐着的时候，一样东西在彼得身上轻轻触了一下，轻得像一个吻，随后就停在那儿不动了，仿佛在怯生生地说：“我能帮点忙吗？”
It was the tail of a kite, which Michael had made some days before. It had torn itself out of his hand and floated away.	那是一只风筝的尾，这风筝是迈克尔几天前做的。它挣脱了迈克尔的手，漂走了。
"Michael's kite," Peter said without interest, but next moment he had seized the tail, and was pulling the kite toward him.	“迈克尔的风筝。”彼得不感兴趣地说，可是紧接着，他突然抓住风筝的尾，把它拉到身边。
"It lifted Michael off the ground," he cried; "why should it not carry you?"	“这风筝能把迈克尔从地上拉起来，”他喊道，“为什么不能把你带走呢？”
"Both of us!"	“把我们两个都带走！”
"It can't lift two; Michael and Curly tried."	“它带不动两个，迈克尔和卷毛试过。”
"Let us draw lots," Wendy said bravely.	“我们抽签吧。”温迪勇敢地说。
"And you a lady; never." Already he had tied the tail round her. She clung to him; she refused to go without him; but with a "Good-bye, Wendy," he pushed her from the rock; and in a few minutes she was borne out of his sight. Peter was alone on the lagoon.	“你是一位妇女，不行。”彼得已经把风筝尾系在她身上。温迪抱住他不放，没有他一道，她不肯去。可是，彼得说了一声“再见，温迪”，就把她推下了岩石；不多会儿，她就飘走看不见了。彼得独自留在了湖上。
The rock was very small now; soon it would be submerged. Pale rays of light tiptoed across the waters; and by and by there was to be heard a sound at once the most musical and the most melancholy in the world: the mermaids calling to the moon.	岩石变得很小了，很快就会完全掩没。惨白的光偷偷地袭上海面，过一会儿，就能听到世上最美妙动听、最凄凉悲切的声音：人鱼唱月。
Peter was not quite like other boys; but he was afraid at last. A tremour ran through him, like a shudder passing over the sea; but on the sea one shudder follows another till there are hundreds of them, and Peter felt just the one. Next moment he was standing erect on the rock again, with that smile on his face and a drum beating within him. It was saying, "To die will be an awfully big adventure."	彼得和别的孩子不同，可是，他到底也害怕了。他浑身一阵颤栗．就像海面掠过一股波涛；不过，海上的波涛是一浪逐一浪，以致形成了千层波涛；可是，彼得只感觉到一阵颤栗。转眼间，他又挺立在岩石上，脸上带着微笑，心头的小鼓突突地敲。像是在说：“去死是一次最大的冒险。”

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