So, then, all was explained by the submarine explosion of this torpedo. —
因此，所有事情都可以通过这枚鱼雷的潜艇爆炸来解释。 —

Cyrus Harding could not be mistaken, as, during the war of the Union, he had had occasion to try these terrible engines of destruction. —
塞勒斯·哈丁不会弄错，因为在联邦内战期间，他曾有机会试用过这些可怕的毁灭性武器。 —

It was under the action of this cylinder, charged with some explosive substance, nitro- glycerine, picrate, or some other material of the same nature, that the water of the channel had been raised like a dome, the bottom of the brig crushed in, and she had sunk instantly, the damage done to her hull being so considerable that it was impossible to refloat her. —
这个气缸行动下，充满某种爆炸物质的，硝化甘油，苦味酸盐，或者类似性质的其他物质，将海峡的水像穹顶一样抬高，使船舷的底部受到碾压，她瞬间沉没，她船壳遭受的破坏如此严重以至于无法重新浮起。 —

The “Speedy” had not been able to withstand a torpedo that would have destroyed an ironclad as easily as a fishing-boat!
“迅捷号”无法抵抗一枚鱼雷，而这枚鱼雷可能轻易摧毁一艘铁甲舰船，就像摧毁一条渔船一样！

Yes! all was explained, everything–except the presence of the torpedo in the waters of the channel!
是的！一切都解释了，所有事情–除了鱼雷出现在海峡水域中的情况！

“My friends, then,” said Cyrus Harding, “we can no longer be in doubt as to the presence of a mysterious being, a castaway like us, perhaps, abandoned on our island, and I say this in order that Ayrton may be acquainted with all the strange events which have occurred during these two years. —
“我的朋友们，”塞勒斯·哈丁说道，”我们不能再对这座岛上一个神秘的存在存在怀疑，一个像我们一样的被遗弃者，我说这番话是为了让艾尔顿了解这两年发生的所有奇怪事件。 —

Who this beneficent stranger is, whose intervention has, so fortunately for us, been manifested on many occasions, I cannot imagine. —
这个慈祥的陌生人是谁，他曾如此幸运地对我们进行过干预，我无法想象。 —

What his object can be in acting thus, in concealing himself after rendering us so many services, I cannot understand: —
他这样行事的目的是什么，在向我们提供如此多帮助后又隐藏自己，我难以理解： —

But his services are not the less real, and are of such a nature that only a man possessed of prodigious power, could render them. —
但他的服务不会减少，而且具有如此性质，只有一个拥有惊人力量的人才能提供。 —

Ayrton is indebted to him as much as we are, for, if it was the stranger who saved me from the waves after the fall from the balloon, evidently it was he who wrote the document, who placed the bottle in the channel, and who has made known to us the situation of our companion. —
艾尔顿对他一样感激，因为如果是这位陌生人在我的气球坠落后把我从海浪中救出来，显然是他写的那份文件，他把瓶子放在了海峡里，他向我们透露了我们同伴的位置。 —

I will add that it was he who guided that chest, provided with everything we wanted, and stranded it on Flotsam Point; —
我还要补充说，正是他引导了那只装有我们所需一切的箱子，并将其搁浅在了浮木角； —

that it was he who lighted that fire on the heights of the island, which permitted you to land; —
是他在岛上的高地上燃起了那堆火，使你们能够登陆； —

that it was he who fired that bullet found in the body of the peccary; —
是他击中了那颗在尖尾兽体内发现的子弹； —

that it was he who plunged that torpedo into the channel, which destroyed the brig; —
是他将那枚鱼雷沉入了海峡里，摧毁了那艘船； —

in a word, that all those inexplicable events, for which we could not assign a reason, are due to this mysterious being. —
总而言之，所有那些无法解释的事件，我们无法找到原因，都是因为这位神秘的存在。 —

Therefore, whoever he may be, whether shipwrecked, or exiled on our island, we shall be ungrateful, if we think ourselves freed from gratitude towards him. —
因此，无论他是谁，无论是遭遇船难，还是流落荒岛，如果我们认为自己不必对他感到感激，那我们将是不知感恩的。 —

We have contracted a debt, and I hope that we shall one day pay it.”
我们欠下了债，我希望有一天我们能偿还。

“You are right in speaking thus, my dear Cyrus,” replied Gideon Spilett. —
“你说得对，亲爱的赛勒斯”，吉迪恩·斯皮莱特回答道。 —

“Yes, there is an almost all-powerful being, hidden in some part of the island, and whose influence has been singularly useful to our colony. —
“是的，荒岛上隐藏着一个几乎无所不能的存在，他的影响对我们殖民地非常有用。 —

I will add that the unknown appears to possess means of action which border on the supernatural, if in the events of practical life the supernatural were recognizable. —
我要补充说，这个未知的存在似乎拥有几乎超自然的行动方式，如果在实际生活事件中超自然是可识别的话。 —

Is it he who is in secret communication with us by the well in Granite House, and has he thus a knowledge of all our plans? —
他是否就是通过花岗岩屋中的井与我们秘密交流的人，他是否已经了解了我们所有的计划？ —

Was it he who threw us that bottle, when the vessel made her first cruise? —
是他在船只首次启航时向我们扔了那个瓶子吗？ —

Was it he who threw Top out of the lake, and killed the dugong? —
是他将Top扔出湖去，并击败了海牛吗？ —

Was it he, who as everything leads us to believe, saved you from the waves, and that under circumstances in which any one else would not have been able to act? —
是他，如一切都表明的，从海浪中拯救了你，在其他任何人无法行动的情况下？ —

If it was he, he possesses a power which renders him master of the elements.”
如果是他，他拥有一种让他掌控元素的力量。

The reporter’s reasoning was just, and every one felt it to be so.
记者的推理是正确的，每个人都这样认为。

“Yes,” rejoined Cyrus Harding, “if the intervention of a human being is not more questionable for us, I agree that he has at his disposal means of action beyond those possessed by humanity. —
“是的，赛勒斯·哈丁回答说，“如果一个人类的干预对我们不太可疑，我同意他拥有超过人类所拥有的行动手段。 —

There is a mystery still, but if we discover the man, the mystery will be discovered also. —
还有一个谜团，但如果我们找到这个人，谜团也将被解开。 —

The question, then, is, ought we to respect the incognito of this generous being, or ought we to do everything to find him out? —
因此，问题是，我们应该尊重这位慷慨的人的匿名，还是应该尽一切努力找到他？ —

What is your opinion on the matter?”
你对此有何看法？

“My opinion,” said Pencroft, “is that, whoever he may be, he is a brave man, and he has my esteem!”
“我的看法是，”潘克罗夫说，“无论他是谁，他都是一个勇敢的人，我很敬重他！”

“Be it so,” answered Harding, “but that is not an answer, Pencroft.”
“那好吧，”哈丁回答道，“但这并不是一个答案，潘克罗夫。”

“Master,” then said Neb, “my idea is, that we may search as long as we like for this gentleman whom you are talking about, but that we shall not discover him till he pleases.”
“主人，”尼布接着说道，“我认为，我们可以尽情搜索这位您在谈论的绅士，但直到他愿意，我们都找不到他。”

“That’s not bad, what you say, Neb,” observed Pencroft.
“你说得不错，尼布，”潘克罗夫评论道。

“I am of Neb’s opinion,” said Gideon Spilett, “but that is no reason for not attempting the adventure. —
“我赞同尼布的观点，”吉迪恩·斯帕莱特说，“但这并不是不去尝试这次冒险的理由。 —

Whether we find this mysterious being or not, we shall at least have fulfilled our duty towards him.”
无论我们是否能找到这个神秘的存在，至少我们会完成我们对他的责任。”

“And you, my boy, give us your opinion,” said the engineer, turning to Herbert.
“那你，我的孩子，给我们你的意见，”工程师转向赫伯特说。

“Oh,” cried Herbert, his countenance full of animation, “how I should like to thank him, he who saved you first, and who has now saved us!”
“噢，”赫伯特兴奋地说道，“我多么想感谢他，他先是救了你，现在又救了我们！”

“Of course, my boy,” replied Pencroft, “so would I and all of us. —
“当然，孩子，”潘克罗夫回答，“我也是，我们所有人都是。 —

I am not inquisitive, but I would give one of my eyes to see this individual face to face! —
我并不好奇，但我愿意用我的一只眼睛去见这个人！ —

It seems to me that he must be handsome, tall, strong, with a splendid beard, radiant hair, and that he must be seated on clouds, a great ball in his hands!”
我觉得他一定英俊，高大，强壮，有一头光辉的长发和一把杰出的胡须，他一定坐在云端，手里拿着一个大球！”

“But, Pencroft,” answered Spilett, “you are describing a picture of the Creator.”
“但是，潘克罗夫，”斯帕莱特回答道，“你描述的是上帝的形象。”

“Possibly, Mr. Spilett,” replied the sailor, “but that is how I imagine him!”
“可能，斯帕莱特先生，”水手回答，“但那是我对他的想象！”

“And you, Ayrton?” asked the engineer.
“你呢，艾尔顿？”工程师问。

“Captain Harding,” replied Ayrton, “I can give you no better advice in this matter. —
“哈丁船长，”艾尔顿回答，“在这个问题上，我给不了您更好的建议。” —

Whatever you do will be best; when you wish me to join you in your researches, I am ready to follow you.
无论你做什么都是最好的；如果你希望我加入你的研究，我会随时跟随你。

“I thank you, Ayrton,” answered Cyrus Harding, “but I should like a more direct answer to the question I put to you. —
“谢谢你，艾尔顿，”赛勒斯·哈定回答道，“但我希望你对我提出的问题给一个更直接的答复。 —

You are our companion; you have already endangered your life several times for us, and you, as well as the rest, ought to be consulted in the matter of any important decision. Speak, therefore.”
你是我们的伙伴；为了我们，你已经多次冒险，你和其他人一样应该在任何重要决定中都被征询意见。所以，请说吧。”

“Captain Harding,” replied Ayrton, “I think that we ought to do everything to discover this unknown benefactor. —
“哈定船长，”艾尔顿回答道，“我认为我们应尽一切努力找到这位未知的恩人。 —

Perhaps he is alone. Perhaps he is suffering. Perhaps he has a life to be renewed. —
也许他是一个人。也许他在受苦。也许他有一个需要重建的生活。 —

I, too, as you said, have a debt of gratitude to pay him. —
我也有债主，正如你所说，我要感谢他。 —

It was he, it could be only he who must have come to Tabor Island, who found there the wretch you knew, and who made known to you that there was an unfortunate man there to be saved. —
可能是他，只能是他一定曾来到塔伯岛，他在那里找到了你所认识的恶棍，并告诉你那里有一个可救的不幸男子。 —

Therefore it is, thanks to him, that I have become a man again. —
所以，多亏了他，我才恢复成人。 —

No, I will never forget him!”
不，我绝不会忘记他！”

“That is settled, then,” said Cyrus Harding. “We will begin our researches as soon as possible. —
“那就这样决定了，”赛勒斯·哈定说。“我们会尽快开始我们的研究。 —

We will not leave a corner of the island unexplored. —
我们不会放过一个角落，我们将探索这个岛屿上尚未知晓的部分。 —

We will search into its most secret recesses, and will hope that our unknown friend will pardon us in consideration of our intentions!”
我们将搜查它最隐秘的角落，并希望我们的未知朋友能谅解我们的意图！”

For several days the colonists were actively employed in haymaking and the harvest. —
几天来，殖民者们一直忙于制作干草和收割。 —

Before putting their project of exploring the yet unknown parts of the island into execution, they wished to get all possible work finished. —
在执行他们探索岛屿尚未知部分的计划之前，他们希望完成所有可能的工作。 —

It was also the time for collecting the various vegetables from the Tabor Island plants. —
这也是收集塔伯岛植物的各种蔬菜的时候。 —

All was stowed away, and happily there was no want of room in Granite House, in which they might have housed all the treasures of the island. —
一切都被妥善地存放起来了，令人高兴的是在花岗岩屋里，他们有足够的空间可以存放整个岛屿的珍宝。 —

The products of the colony were there, methodically arranged, and in a safe place, as may be believed, sheltered as much from animals as from man.
殖民地的产品都被有条不紊地摆放在一个安全的地方，不仅避免了受到动物的侵害，也避免了受到人的干扰。

There was no fear of damp in the middle of that thick mass of granite. —
在那厚厚的花岗岩层中，没有潮湿的担忧。 —

Many natural excavations situated in the upper passage were enlarged either by pick-axe or mine, and Granite House thus became a general warehouse, containing all the provisions, arms, tools, and spare utensils–in a word, all the stores of the colony.
在上层通道的许多自然洞穴都被用鹤嘴锄或炸药放大，因此花岗岩屋成为一个通用的仓库，储存了殖民地的所有粮食、武器、工具和备用器具–总之就是整个殖民地的储备。

As to the guns obtained from the brig, they were pretty pieces of ordnance, which, at Pencroft’s entreaty, were hoisted by means of tackle and pulleys, right up into Granite House; —
至于从小船上得到的那些炮，它们是很漂亮的火炮，却又有点重，潘克洛夫恳求下，通过滑轮和绞盘拨起来，直接升上花岗岩屋； —

embrasures were made between the windows, and the shining muzzles of the guns could soon be seen through the granite cliff. —
窗户之间被凿成炮口，很快就可以透过花岗岩悬崖看到火炮闪亮的枪口。 —

From this height they commanded all Union Bay. It was like a little Gibraltar, and any vessel anchored off the islet would inevitably be exposed to the fire of this aerial battery.
从这个高度，他们控制着整个联合湾。这就像一个小直布罗陀，停泊在小岛附近的任何船只都不可避免地会遭到这个高空炮台的攻击。

“Captain,” said Pencroft one day, it was the 8th of November, “now that our fortifications are finished, it would be a good thing if we tried the range of our guns.”
“船长，”潘克洛夫有一天说，那是十一月八号，”现在我们的防御工事都完工了，试一下我们火炮的射程，会是一件好事。”

“Do you think that is useful?” asked the engineer.
“你认为这有用吗?“工程师问道。

“It is more than useful, it is necessary! —
“这不仅仅是有用的，还是必要的！ —

Without that how are we to know to what distance we can send one of those pretty shot with which we are provided?”
如果不试一下，我们怎么知道我们可以用这些漂亮的炮弹射多远呢？”

“Try them, Pencroft,” replied the engineer. —
“试试吧，潘克洛夫，”工程师回答道。 —

“However, I think that in making the experiment, we ought to employ, not the ordinary powder, the supply of which, I think, should remain untouched, but the pyroxyle which will never fail us.”
“然而，我认为在进行实验时，我们应该使用的不是普通的火药，我认为保留它的储备是必要的，而是我们永远不会用尽的火棉。

“Can the cannon support the shock of the pyroxyle?” —
“火炮能承受火棉的冲击吗？” —

asked the reporter, who was not less anxious than Pencroft to try the artillery of Granite House.
记者问道，他和潘克洛夫一样急切地想试一试花岗岩屋的火炮。

“I believe so. However,” added the engineer, “we will be prudent.” —
“我是这么认为的。不过，”工程师补充道，“我们会谨慎行事。” —

The engineer was right in thinking that the guns were of excellent make. —
工程师认为这些枪是优质的制造。 —

Made of forged steel, and breech-loaders, they ought consequently to be able to bear a considerable charge, and also have an enormous range. —
由锻钢制成，膛室装填，因此应该能够承受相当的火药，同时还有极远的射程。 —

In fact, as regards practical effect, the transit described by the ball ought to be as extended as possible, and this tension could only be obtained under the condition that the projectile should be impelled with a very great initial velocity.
事实上，就实际效果而言，子弹所描述的弹丸运动应该尽可能延伸，而这种张力只有在弹丸被赋予非常高的初速度的情况下才能获得。

“Now,” said Harding to his companions, “the initial velocity is in proportion to the quantity of powder used. —
“现在，”哈丁对他的同伴们说，“初速度与使用的火药量成正比。 —

In the fabrication of these pieces, everything depends on employing a metal with the highest possible power of resistance, and steel is incontestably that metal of all others which resists the best. —
在这些件的制造中，一切取决于采用具有最高抗力的金属，而钢毫无疑问就是所有金属中抗性最好的金属。 —

I have, therefore, reason to believe that our guns will bear without risk the expansion of the pyroxyle gas, and will give excellent results.”
因此，我有理由相信我们的火炮将能够安全地承受火药气体的膨胀，并且会取得卓越的效果。”

“We shall be a great deal more certain of that when we have tried them!” answered Pencroft.
“等我们试过之后，我们就会更加肯定！”潘克罗夫回答道。

It is unnecessary to say that the four cannons were in perfect order. —
由于已经从水里取出来，这四门大炮是完好无损的。 —

Since they had been taken from the water, the sailor had bestowed great care upon them. —
自从获得这些火炮以来，水手一直非常注意保养它们。 —

How many hours he had spent, in rubbing, greasing, and polishing them, and in cleaning the mechanism! —
他花了多少个小时来擦拭、润滑、抛光，并清洁机制！ —

And now the pieces were as brilliant as if they had been on board a frigate of the United States Navy.
现在这些火炮闪闪发光，就像它们曾经在美国海军的一艘护卫舰上一样。

On this day, therefore, in presence of all the members of the colony, including Master Jup and Top, the four cannon were successively tried. —
因此，在今天这一天，包括朱普大师和托普在内的殖民地所有成员的见证下，四门大炮被成功地试射。 —

They were charged with pyroxyle, taking into consideration its explosive power, which, as has been said, is four times that of ordinary powder: —
它们被装填了火泡，考虑到它的爆炸力，即如前所述，是普通火药的四倍： —

the projectile to be fired was cylindroconic.
要发射的弹丸是圆锥圆柱形的。

Pencroft, holding the end of the quick-match, stood ready to fire.
Pencroft 握住快火药绳的一端，准备开火。

At Harding’s signal, he fired. The shot, passing over the islet, fell into the sea at a distance which could not be calculated with exactitude.
在哈定的信号下，他开火了。子弹越过小岛，掉进了海里，距离无法准确计算。

The second gun was pointed at the rocks at the end of Flotsam Point, and the shot striking a sharp rock nearly three miles from Granite House, made it fly into splinters. —
第二门炮瞄准了飘浮角尽头的岩石，炮弹击中了离花岗岩屋近三英里处的一块锋利岩石，将其打成碎片。 —

It was Herbert who had pointed this gun and fired it, and very proud he was of his first shot. —
是赫伯特瞄准并开火的这门炮，他为自己的第一枪感到非常骄傲。 —

Pencroft only was prouder than he! Such a shot, the honor of which belonged to his dear boy.
唯一比他更骄傲的就是彭克罗夫了！这样一枪，使他心爱的小伙子获得了荣誉。

The third shot, aimed this time at the downs forming the upper side of Union Bay, struck the sand at a distance of four miles, then having ricocheted: —
第三枪，这次瞄准联合湾上方的丘陵，打击到四英里处的沙子，然后打着了弹跳后: —

was lost in the sea in a cloud of spray.
在一片水花中消失在海里。

For the fourth piece Cyrus Harding slightly increased the charge, so as to try its extreme range. —
对于第四发炮弹，赛勒斯·哈丁稍微增加了装药量，以尝试其极限射程。 —

Then, all standing aside for fear of its bursting, the match was lighted by means of a long cord.
然后，所有人都站在一边，因为担心炮弹爆炸，用一根长绳点燃了火绳。

A tremendous report was heard, but the piece had held good, and the colonists rushing to the windows, saw the shot graze the rocks of Mandible Cape, nearly five miles from Granite House, and disappear in Shark Gulf.
一声巨响传来，但炮弹保持良好，殖民者跑到窗户边，看到炮弹擦过曼迪布尔岬的岩石，离花岗岩屋几乎有五英里远，然后消失在鲨鱼海湾。

“Well, captain,” exclaimed Pencroft, whose cheers might have rivaled the reports themselves, “what do you say of our battery? —
“嗯，船长，”彭克洛夫欢呼着，声音几乎能与炮声媲美，”你对我们的炮台有什么看法？ —

All the pirates in the Pacific have only to present themselves before Granite House! —
太平洋上的所有海盗只要出现在花岗岩屋前！ —

Not one can land there now without our permission!”
现在没有一个人可以在没有我们许可的情况下登陆那里了！”

“Believe me, Pencroft,” replied the engineer, “it would be better not to have to make the experiment.”
“相信我，彭克洛夫，”工程师回答说，”最好不要不得不进行这个实验。”

“Well,” said the sailor, “what ought to be done with regard to those six villains who are roaming about the island? —
“好吧，”水手说，”对于岛上那六个流浪者该怎么办呢？ —

Are we to leave them to overrun our forests, our fields, our plantations? —
难道我们要任由他们肆虐我们的森林、田地、种植园吗？ —

These pirates are regular jaguars, and it seems to me we ought not to hesitate to treat them as such! —
这些海盗就像真正的美洲虎一样，我觉得我们不应该犹豫地对待他们！ —

What do you think, Ayrton?” added Pencroft, turning to his companion.
你认为呢，埃尔顿？”彭克洛夫转向他的伙伴问道。

Ayrton hesitated at first to reply, and Cyrus Harding regretted that Pencroft had so thoughtlessly put this question. —
艾尔顿起初犹豫不决地回答了，赛勒斯·哈丁为彭克洛夫如此轻率地提出这个问题感到遗憾。 —

And he was much moved when Ayrton replied in a humble tone,–
艾尔顿用谦卑的语气回答道，”我曾经就是这些美洲虎之一， 彭克洛夫先生。我没有说话的权利。”

“I have been one of those jaguars, Mr. Pencroft. I have no right to speak.”
然后他缓慢地走开了。

And with a slow step he walked away.
And he was much moved when Ayrton replied in a humble tone,–

Pencroft understood.
Pencroft明白了。

“What a brute I am!” he exclaimed. “Poor Ayrton! He has as much right to speak here as any one!”
“我真是个畜生！”他 exclaimed。“可怜的艾尔顿！他和任何人一样有权在这里发言！”

“Yes,” said Gideon Spilett, “but his reserve does him honor, and it is right to respect the feeling which he has about his sad past.”
“是的，”吉迪恩·斯普雷特说，“但他的保留使他获得了尊敬，尊重他对悲伤往事的感受是正确的。”

“Certainly, Mr. Spilett,” answered the sailor, “and there is no fear of my doing so again. —
“当然，斯普雷特先生，”水手回答说，“我不会再犯这种错误了。 —

I would rather bite my tongue off than cause Ayrton any pain! But to return to the question. —
我情愿咬断我的舌头，也不愿让艾尔顿受到任何伤害！但回到这个问题上。 —

It seems to me that these ruffians have no right to any pity, and that we ought to rid the island of them as soon as possible.”
我觉得这些无赖没有任何值得怜悯的权利，我们应尽快赶走他们离开这个岛屿。”

“Is that your opinion, Pencroft?” asked the engineer.
“你就是这个看法，Pencroft？”工程师问道。

“Quite my opinion.”
“完全是我的看法。”

“And before hunting them mercilessly, you would not wait until they had committed some fresh act of hostility against us?”
“在毫不留情地追捕他们之前，你不会等到他们再次对我们犯下什么敌对行为吗？”

“Isn’t what they have done already enough?” asked Pencroft, who did not understand these scruples.
“他们已经做的不够吗？”不理解这些顾虑的Pencroft问道。

“They may adopt other sentiments!” said Harding, “and perhaps repent.”
“他们可能会改变态度！”哈丁说，“也许会悔悟。”

“They repent!” exclaimed the sailor, shrugging his shoulders.
“他们悔悟！”水手耸了耸肩。

“Pencroft, think of Ayrton!” said Herbert, taking the sailor’s hand. —
“Pencroft，想想艾尔顿！”赫伯特说着，拉着水手的手。 —

“He became an honest man again!”
“他重新成为诚实的人了！”

Pencroft looked at his companions one after the other. —
Pencroft依次看着他的同伴们。 —

He had never thought of his proposal being met with any objection. —
他从未想过他的提议会遭到任何反对。 —

His rough nature could not allow that they ought to come to terms with the rascals who had landed on the island with Bob Harvey’s accomplices, the murderers of the crew of the “Speedy,” and he looked upon them as wild beasts which ought to be destroyed without delay and without remorse.
他的粗暴本性无法接受与那些登岛的流氓达成协议，他们是鲍勃·哈维的同伙，是“斯皮迪号”船员的凶手，他把他们看作应该立即毫不留情地消灭的野兽。

“Come!” said be. “Everybody is against me! —
“来吧！”他说。“每个人都反对我！ —

You wish to be generous to those villains! —
你们希望对那些恶棍大发慷慨！ —

Very well; I hope we mayn’t repent it!”
好吧，希望我们不会后悔！”

“What danger shall we run,” said Herbert, “if we take care to be always on our guard?”
“如果我们保持警惕，我们会遇到什么危险？”赫伯特说。

“Hum!” observed the reporter, who had not given any decided opinion. “They are six and well armed. —
“呵！”观察记者说，他没有给出明确的意见。“他们有六个人，而且武装到牙齿。 —

If they each lay hid in a corner, and each fired at one of us, they would soon be masters of the colony!”
如果他们各自躲在一个角落里，各自向我们开火，他们很快就会成为殖民地的主人！”

“Why have they not done so?” said Herbert. —
“他们为什么没有这样做呢？”赫伯特说。 —

“No doubt because it was not their interest to do it. —
“毫无疑问，因为这不符合他们的利益。 —

Besides, we are six also.”
另外，我们也是六人。”

“Well, well!” replied Pencroft, whom no reasoning could have convinced. —
“好吧！”潘克罗夫说，没有任何推理能够说服他。 —

“Let us leave these good people to do what they like, and don’t think anything more about them!”
“让我们让这些好人做他们喜欢做的事情，别再想他们了！”

“Come, Pencroft,” said Neb, “don’t make yourself out so bad as all that! —
“来吧，潘克罗夫，别把自己说得那么坏！ —

Suppose one of these unfortunate men were here before you, within good range of your guns, you would not fire.”
假设这些不幸的人中有一个在你面前，离你的枪火范围不远，你也不会开枪。”

“I would fire on him as I would on a mad dog, Neb,” replied Pencroft coldly.
“我会像对待疯狗一样对付他，尼布，”潘克罗夫冷冷地回答道。

“Pencroft,” said the engineer, “you have always shown much deference to my advice; —
“潘克罗夫，”工程师说道，”你一直对我的建议表现出很大的尊重； —

will you, in this matter, yield to me?”
你在这件事上，会听我的吗？”

“I will do as you please, Captain Harding,” answered the sailor, who was not at all convinced.
“我会照您的意思做，哈丁船长，”水手回答道，尽管并不完全相信。

“Very well, wait, and we will not attack them unless we are attacked first.”
“好的，等待吧，除非我们先遭受攻击，我们不会攻击他们。

Thus their behavior towards the pirates was agreed upon, although Pencroft augured nothing good from it. —
这样他们对海盗的行为得到了协商，尽管潘克罗夫对此并不乐观。 —

They were not to attack them, but were to be on their guard. —
他们不会攻击他们，但会保持警惕。 —

After all, the island was large and fertile. —
而岛屿又大又富饶。 —

If any sentiment of honesty yet remained in the bottom of their hearts, these wretches might perhaps be reclaimed. —
如果他们心底还有一丝诚实的感情，也许这些恶棍们可以得以改过自新。 —

Was it not their interest in the situation in which they found themselves to begin a new life? —
毕竟，在他们身处的境况下，开始新的生活是符合他们的利益的。 —

At any rate, for humanity’s sake alone, it would be right to wait. —
至少出于人道主义的考量，等待是正确的。 —

The colonists would no longer as before, be able to go and come without fear. —
殖民者再也不能像之前那样无所畏惧地来往了。 —

Hitherto they had only wild beasts to guard against, and now six convicts of the worst description, perhaps, were roaming over their island. —
之前他们只需要警惕野兽，现在却有可能有六名极其糟糕的囚犯在他们的岛上徘徊。 —

It was serious, certainly, and to less brave men, it would have been security lost! No matter! —
这确实很严重，对于不那么勇敢的人来说，这将意味着失去保障！但没有关系！ —

At present, the colonists had reason on their side against Pencroft. —
目前，殖民者在潘克罗夫面前有理由。 —

Would they be right in the future? That remained to be seen.
他们在未来是否会做正确的决定？这还有待观察。