THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER 黎明踏浪号

C. S. 刘易斯（1898—1963），英国著名作家，所著儿童故事集《纳尼亚传奇》七部曲，情节动人，妙趣横生。本文选自《纳尼亚传奇》第三部《黎明踏浪号》。

Chapter Three  The Lone Islands

第三章 孤岛群岛

“LAND in sight，” shouted the man in the bows.

Lucy， who had been talking to Rhince on the poop， came pattering down the ladder and raced forward. As she went she was joined by Edmund， and they found Caspian， Drinian and Reepicheep already on the forecastle. It was a coldish morning， the sky very pale and the sea very dark blue with little white caps of foam， and there， a little way off on the starboard bow， was the nearest of the Lone Islands， Felimath， like a low green hill in the sea， and behind it， further off， the grey slopes of its sister Doorn.

“Same old Felimath！ Same old Doorn，” said Lucy， clapping her hands. “Oh—Edmund， how long it is since you and I saw them last！”

“Ive never understood why they belong to Narnia，” said Caspian. “Did Peter the High King conquer them？”

“Oh no，” said Edmund. “They were Narnian before our time—in the days of the White Witch.”

“Are we to put in here， Sire？” asked Drinian.

“I shouldnt think it would be much good landing on Felimath，” said Edmund. “It was almost uninhabited in our days and it looks as if it was the same still. The people lived mostly on Doorn and a little on Avra—thats the third one; you cant see it yet. They only kept sheep on Felimath.”

“Then well have to double that cape， I suppose，” said Drinian， “and land on Doorn. Thatll mean rowing.”

“Im sorry were not landing on Felimath，” said Lucy. “Id like to walk there again. It was so lonely—a nice kind of loneliness， and all grass and clover and soft sea air.”

“Id love to stretch my legs now too，” said Caspian. “I tell you what. Why shouldnt we go ashore in the boat and send it back， and then we could walk across Felimath and let the Dawn Treader pick us up on the other side？”

“發现陆地！”船首的瞭望哨传来兴奋的喊声。

露茜正在船尾同大副莱斯聊天，听到这个消息，她赶紧啪嗒啪嗒走下梯子，奔上前来。她看到爱德蒙也从船上某个地方跑出来， 他俩便一起来到船头。凯斯宾、船长德瑞尼亚还有雷佩契普，已经聚集在船首的瞭望台上了。这是一个寒冷的早晨，天空一片苍白，深蓝色的海面上漂浮着一团团的白色泡沫。在黎明踏浪号右舷前面不远处，可以看到一座小岛，这就是孤岛群岛中离他们最近的一个——菲丽茅斯岛。这座岛被郁郁葱葱的植物覆盖，看上去就像是海面上隆起的一座小山。在菲丽茅斯岛后面，稍微再远一点的地方，能看到孤岛群岛中的第二座——多伦岛，岛上裸露的山脊呈现出灰扑扑的颜色。

露茜情不自禁地感叹道：“和从前一样的菲丽茅斯！和从前一样的多伦！”她拍了拍手，对爱德蒙说，“噢，爱德蒙，从我们上一次看到这两座岛，到现在已经过了多长时间了？”

凯斯宾接过话头，他说：“其实我一直想不通一个问题，孤岛群岛是怎么被纳入纳尼亚版图的。是彼得老国王当政的时候征服的孤岛群岛吗？”

“哦，不，不是的。”爱德蒙答道，“孤岛群岛在那之前就已经属于纳尼亚了——那是白女巫时代的事情。”

“我们要在这儿登陆吗？陛下？”德瑞尼亚船长问。

愛德蒙说：“我觉得似乎没有太大的必要在菲丽茅斯上岸。我记得上次我们来到这儿的时候，这个岛就没有什么人烟。从眼前的情形看，这个岛似乎依然如此。孤岛群岛的人大多住在多伦岛，还有一小部分住在艾弗拉岛。艾弗拉是孤岛群岛的第三个岛，不过我们现在还看不到它。这儿的人只在菲丽茅斯岛上放羊。”

“要是这样的话，那我们就在多伦岛上登陆。不过这样一来我们就得划船绕过菲丽茅斯岛。”德瑞尼亚船长说。

露茜说：“不在菲丽茅斯岛上岸的话，我觉得非常遗憾。我真的很希望可以再到这个岛上去走走。这个岛太荒凉了，可是这种荒凉的景致让我着迷。我也很喜欢这个岛上的草地、苜蓿还有和煦的海风。”

“我也很希望现在能够上岸去活动活动腿脚。”凯斯宾接过话头说，“要不这样，我们划小船上岸，再让小船划回大船，那我们就可以穿过菲丽茅斯岛，让黎明踏浪号在岛的另一边接我们。”

If Caspian had been as experienced then as he became later on in this voyage he would not have made this suggestion; but at the moment it seemed an excellent one. “Oh do lets，” said Lucy.

“Youll come， will you？” said Caspian to Eustace， who had come on deck with his hand bandaged.

“Anything to get off this blasted boat，” said Eustace.

“Blasted？” said Drinian. “How do you mean？”

“In a civilized country like where I come from，” said Eustace， “the ships are so big that when youre inside you wouldnt know you were at sea at all.”

“In that case you might just as well stay ashore，” said Caspian. “Will you tell them to lower the boat， Drinian.”

The King， the Mouse， the two Pevensies， and Eustace all got into the boat and were pulled to the beach of Felimath. When the boat had left them and was being rowed back they all turned and looked round. They were surprised at how small the Dawn Treader looked.

Lucy was of course barefoot， having kicked off her shoes while swimming， but that is no hardship if one is going to walk on downy turf. It was delightful to be ashore again and to smell the earth and grass， even if at first the ground seemed to be pitching up and down like a ship， as it usually does for a while if one has been at sea. It was much warmer here than it had been on board and Lucy found the sand pleasant to her feet as they crossed it. There was a lark singing.

They struck inland and up a fairly steep， though low， hill. At the top of course they looked back， and there was the Dawn Treader shining like a great bright insect and crawling slowly north-westward with her oars. Then they went over the ridge and could see her no longer.

Doom now lay before them， divided from Felimath by a channel about a mile wide; behind it and to the left lay Avra. The little white town of Narrowhaven on Doorn was easily seen.

“Hullo！ Whats this？” said Edmund suddenly.

In the green valley to which they were descending six or seven rough-looking men， all armed， were sitting by a tree.

“Dont tell them who we are，” said Caspian.

要是凱斯宾当时具有他在后来的航程中积累起来的经验的话，他这会儿一定不会提出这样一个建议。可是在当时，这看起来是个非常不错的建议。露茜头一个叫起来：“哦，太好了，就这么办。”

尤斯塔斯也出现在了甲板上，他的手臂上还缠着绷带。凯斯宾问尤斯塔斯：“你也来吧？”

尤斯塔斯回答说：“当然！只要能够让我离开这艘破船，我就干。”

德瑞尼亚船长说：“破船？你这话是什么意思？”

尤斯塔斯说：“在一个文明的国度，比如说我来的那个，船都是很大很大的。你如果坐在船舱里面，你一点也感觉不到自己是在海上。”

“如果是这样的话，我倒觉得你就待在陆地上更好。”凯斯宾回应道，然后他吩咐德瑞尼亚，“请你叫水手们把小艇放下船吧。”

凯斯宾、雷佩契普、露茜和爱德蒙，再加上尤斯塔斯都上了小艇。一个水手把他们送上了菲丽茅斯岛。上了岸，大家迫不及待地举目四望。他们都很惊讶黎明踏浪号远远地看上去就像一个小黑点。

露茜在从画框里落水的时候就把鞋子蹬掉了，所以现在她是打着赤脚的。不过岛上绿草如茵，光脚走在上面一点问题都没有。能够再次站在坚实的土地上，呼吸着泥土和绿草散发的芳香，人人都觉得心情舒畅。不过，每一个在船上待久了的人，在刚踏上陆地的时候，都会有一阵子感觉地面还像船甲板一样，在上下晃动。置身于岛上，感觉身体比在船上要暖和不少。大家在沙滩上走着，露茜觉得细软的沙子踩在脚下非常舒服。一只云雀在不远的地方唱着歌。

大家开始向岛的腹地进发。面前是一座小山，山不高，但是有一点陡峭。在山顶上，全体人员转过身往回看。远远的海面上，黎明踏浪号像一只金甲虫，在阳光下闪闪发光。桨手们划着船，向西北方向慢慢地驶去。逐渐地，船消失在山脊的后面，在凯斯宾他们这个位置就看不到了。

现在在他们的前方就是多伦岛。多伦岛和菲丽茅斯岛之间隔了一条约一英里宽的海峡。而在多伦岛的东北方向，就是孤岛群岛的最后一座——艾弗拉岛。就在他们所在的地方，已经可以很清楚地看到多伦岛上的港口。这个港口是一个小镇，名叫“窄港”。镇上的房子大多都是白色的，所以整个小镇看起来也是白色的。

爱德蒙突然开口道：“看，那是什么？”

就在他们下山的路上，在绿树成荫的山道旁，六七个神色不善的男人聚拢坐在一棵树下。他们全都带着武器。

凯斯宾小声对所有人说：“千万别说出我们的真实身份来。”

Word Study

conquer /'k??k?（r）/ v. 征服

The Normans conquered England in 1066.

double /'d?bl/ v. 环绕;绕着……航行

stretch /stret?/ v. 伸展;舒展

He stretched and yawned lazily.

pitch /p?t?/ v. 颠簸;上下漂荡

The sea was rough and the ship pitched and rolled all night.

ridge /r?d?/ n. 山脊;山脉

descend /d?'send/ v. 下来;下降

I heard his footsteps descending the stairs.

“And pray， your Majesty， why not？” said Reepicheep who had consented to ride on Lucys shoulder.

“It just occurred to me，” replied Caspian， “that no one here can have heard from Narnia for a long time. Its just possible they may not still acknowledge our over-lordship. In which case it might not be quite safe to be known as the King.”

“We have our swords， Sire，” said Reepicheep.

“Yes， Reep， I know we have，” said Caspian. “But if it is a question of re-conquering the three islands， Id prefer to come back with a rather larger army.”

By this time they were quite close to the strangers， one of whom—a big black-haired fellow—shouted out， “A good morning to you.”

“And a good morning to you，” said Caspian. “Is there still a Governor of the Lone Islands？”

“To be sure there is，” said the man， “Governor Gumpas. His Sufficiency is at Narrowhaven. But youll stay and drink with us.”

Caspian thanked him， though neither he nor the others much liked the look of their new acquaintance， and all of them sat down. But hardly had they raised their cups to their lips when the black-haired man nodded to his companions and， as quick as lightning， all the five visitors found themselves wrapped in strong arms. There was a moments struggle but all the advantages were on one side， and soon everyone was disarmed and had their hands tied behind their backs except Reepicheep， writhing in his captors grip and biting furiously.

“Careful with that beast， Tacks，” said the Leader. “Dont damage him. Hell fetch the best price of the lot， I shouldnt wonder.”

“Coward！ Poltroon！” squeaked Reepicheep. “Give me my sword and free my paws if you dare.”

“Whew！” whistled the slave merchant （for that is what he was）. “It can talk！ Well I never did. Blowed if I take less than two hundred crescents for him.” The Calormen crescent， which is the chief coin in those parts， is worth about a third of a pound.

“So thats what you are，” said Caspian. “A kidnapper and slaver. I hope youre proud of it.”

“Now， now， now， now，” said the slaver. “Dont you start any jaw. The easier you take it， the pleasanter all round， see？ I dont do this for fun. Ive got my living to make same as anyone else.”

“還得小心祈祷，我的陛下。”雷佩契普不无揶揄地说，“为什么要这么谨慎？”它答应了露茜的请求，下山的时候坐在露茜的肩膀上。

“我是有这样的担心，”凯斯宾回答说，“我估计这里的人有很长很长时间都没有听到任何有关纳尼亚的消息了，所以这儿的人有可能不再承认纳尼亚的统治。我们不能排除这种可能性，因此要是我们泄露了身份，我担心他们会对我们不利。”

“陛下，我们手上也有剑。”雷佩契普说。

“是，雷佩契普，我清楚我们手上有剑。”凯斯宾说，“但问题是，如果我们需要整个儿地重新征服孤岛群岛的三座岛，恐怕我得带一支更庞大的军队来才行。”

说话间，凯斯宾一行离前面的那伙人越来越近了。其中一个黑头发的大块头男人冲他们吼道：“你们早上好。”

“你们也早上好。”凯斯宾回答道，他接着问，“现在这群岛上是否还有总督？”

那男人说：“总督确实有啊，岗帕斯总督。总督大人住在窄港。不过这会儿你们可以留下来跟我们喝两盅。”

凯斯宾道了谢。不管是他自己，还是露茜等人，都不喜欢这几个家伙的样子。可是他们都团团坐着，凯斯宾一行人只得也跟着坐下，端起了酒杯。可就在杯子还没有碰到嘴唇的时候，只见黑头发的大块头男人冲着他那伙人点了点头，说时迟那时快，凯斯宾一行还没回过神来，就已经被大块头这伙人给拧住了胳膊，动弹不得。一开始凯斯宾他们还试图挣扎，可是显然局势呈现一边倒的状况，没过多久凯斯宾一行人就都被解除了武装，每个人的双手也被绑到了背后——除了雷佩契普。只有它还在对方手里挣扎，张嘴乱咬。

“小心这只畜生，塔克斯。”带头的大块头男人说，“别把它给弄伤了，在拍卖会上它一定能卖个好价。对这一点我毫不怀疑。”

“懦夫！胆小鬼！”雷佩契普以尖厉的声音叫道，“要是你敢跟我好好较量一下的话，就把我的剑还给我，把我的手松开。”

“嚯！”大块头男人（这人是奴隶贩子）打了个呼哨，“这老鼠居然会说话！我还从来没有见识过这样的事情。要是它卖不出两百个新月币，就算我输。”（卡罗门国的新月币是在孤岛群岛一带人们主要使用的货币，一个新月币大约值三分之一英镑）

凯斯宾说：“好极了，原来你确实就是个绑匪加奴隶贩子。我想你一定对此感到非常骄傲吧。”

“不、不、不、不，”大块头男人说，“别跟我来这套说教。凡事不要想得太多，就会活得轻松些，你懂吗？我干这行可不是为了好玩儿，我和别的人一样，就是为了混口饭吃。”

“Where will you take us？” asked Lucy， getting the words out with some difficulty.

“Over to Narrowhaven，” said the slaver. “For market day tomorrow.”

“Is there a British Consul there？” asked Eustace.

“Is there a which？” said the man.

But long before Eustace was tired of trying to explain， the slaver simply said， “Well， Ive had enough of this jabber. The Mouse is a fair treat but this one would talk the hind leg off a donkey. Off we go， mates.”

Then the four human prisoners were roped together， not cruelly but securely， and made to march down to the shore. Reepicheep was carried. He had stopped biting on a threat of having his mouth tied up， but he had a great deal to say， and Lucy really wondered how any man could bear to have the things said to him which were said to the slave dealer by the Mouse. But the slave dealer， far from objecting， only said “Go on” whenever Reepicheep paused for breath， occasionally adding， “Its as good as a play，” or， “Blimey， you cant help almost thinking it knows what its saying！” or “Was it one of you what trained it？” This so infuriated Reepicheep that in the end the number of things he thought of saying all at once nearly suffocated him and he became silent.

When they got down to the shore that looked towards Doorn they found a little village and a long-boat on the beach and， lying a little further out， a dirty bedraggled looking ship.

“Now， youngsters，” said the slave dealer， “lets have no fuss and then youll have nothing to cry about. All aboard.”

At that moment a fine-looking bearded man came out of one of the houses （an inn， I think） and said：

“Well， Pug. More of your usual wares？”

The slaver， whose name seemed to be Pug， bowed very low， and said in a wheedling kind of voice， “Yes， please your Lordship.”

“How much do you want for that boy？” asked the other， pointing to Caspian.

“Ah，” said Pug， “I knew your Lordship would pick on the best. No deceiving your Lordship with anything second rate. That boy， now， Ive taken a fancy to him myself. Got kind of fond of him， I have. Im that tender-hearted I didnt ever ought to have taken up this job. Still， to a customer like your Lordship—”

“你們想把我们带到哪儿去？”露茜好不容易缓过气来，开口问道。

大块头男人说：“到窄港去，明天那里有集市。”

尤斯塔斯问：“那里有没有英国领事？”

“那里有没有什么？”大块头男人迷惑地反问道。

尤斯塔斯费尽力气也没法向对方解释清楚，而大块头男人一句话就让尤斯塔斯立即闭上了嘴，“好了，无聊的话我已经听得太多了。这只老鼠一定会是笔好买卖，而这个家伙嘴巴唠叨个没完，要把人烦死。好了，伙计们，我们走！”

除了雷佩契普，凯斯宾等四人被一根长绳绑在了一起。尽管绑得不狠，但是结打得很牢。大块头男人命令众人向海岸走去。雷佩契普则被一个奴隶贩子牢牢地抓在手里。奴隶贩子威胁说，要是雷佩契普继续试图咬人的话，就要把它的嘴巴给堵起来封上。面对这个威胁，雷佩契普只好放弃了咬人的念头，可是它的嘴巴却一刻也没有停下。露茜甚至都纳闷儿，有多少人可以忍受从这只伶牙俐齿的老鼠嘴里发出的诅咒。可这些奴隶贩子似乎根本不屑于同雷佩契普斗嘴，他们只是在雷佩契普停下来缓口气的时候，添上一句“说得好，继续”，或者偶尔再来几句话，如“你说得简直和演戏的说得一样好”，或者“啊呀，你真差点就以为它说的都是亲身经历呢”，又或者“这只老鼠是不是你们训练它这么说话的啊”？这些话对雷佩契普来说真是火上浇油，它愤怒之极，想到的咒骂词语越来越多，这些话到最后全部堵在嘴里，结果反而让它一时之间什么话也说不出来了。

当大家站在这一边的海岸上，多伦岛就在对岸。在海岸上，有一个小小的村落，临近沙滩的海边停着一只小艇，在不远处的海面上，还有一艘又肮脏又破旧的大船。

“好了，年轻的女士、先生们，大家最好别自找麻烦，这样你们也就不会有什么好哭闹的。现在，全部都给我上船。”奴隶贩子喝令道。

就在那时，从村落中看上去似乎是一家小旅馆之类的一座房子里走出来一个人。这个人长相清秀，留着络腮胡子。

他对奴隶贩子说：“喔，帕格。又得了不少常规货物？”

听起来这个奴隶贩子的名字叫帕格了。他对着来人深深地鞠了一躬，然后用非常谄媚奉承的语气说道：“您说得没错。愿大人您悦纳垂恩。”

络腮胡子指着凯斯宾问：“这个小伙子你开价多少？”

“啊，”帕格说道，“我就知道大人您准会看上最好的，高档货都瞒不过您的眼睛。这个小伙子，嗯，说实话，我自己也已经看上了。我很喜欢这一个。说起来，我其实也是一个心肠很软的人，像我这样的人似乎并不应该做这一行。不过，嗯，如果是对您这样一位主顾……”

Word Study

consent /k?n'sent/ v. 同意;准许

He rarely consents to do interviews.

furiously /'fj??ri?sli/ adv. 激烈地;迅猛地

jabber /'d??b?（r）/ n. 无聊的话

securely /s?'kj??li/ 牢靠地;紧紧地

threat /θret/ n. 威胁;恐吓

He says his family received phone threats from the group.

deceive /d?'si?v/ v. 欺骗;蒙骗

She deceived him into handing over all his savings.

“Tell me your price， carrion，” said the Lord sternly. “Do you think I want to listen to the rigmarole of your filthy trade？”

“Three hundred crescents， my Lord to your honourable Lordship， but to anyone else—”

“Ill give you a hundred and fifty.”

“Oh please， please，” broke in Lucy. “Dont separate us， whatever you do. You dont know—” But then she stopped for she saw that Caspian didnt even now want to be known.

“A hundred and fifty， then，” said the Lord. “As for you， little maiden， I am sorry I cannot buy you all. Unrope my boy， Pug. And look—treat these others well while they are in your hands or itll be the worse for you.”

“Well！” said Pug. “Now who ever heard of a gentleman in my way of business who treated his stock better than what I do？ Well？ Why， I treat ‘em like my own childen.”

“Thats likely enough to be true，” said the other grimly.

The dreadful moment had now come. Caspian was untied and his new master said， “This way， lad，” and Lucy burst into tears and Edmund looked very blank. But Caspian looked over his shoulder and said， “Cheer up. Im sure it will come all right in the end. So long.”

“Now， missie，” said Pug. “Dont you start taking on and spoiling your looks for the market tomorrow. You be a good girl and then you wont have nothing to cry about， see？”

Then they were rowed out to the slave-ship and taken below into a long， rather dark place， none too clean， where they found many other unfortunate prisoners; for Pug was of course a pirate and had just returned from cruising among the islands and capturing what he could. The children didnt meet anyone whom they knew; the prisoners were mostly Galmians and Terebinthians. And there they sat in the straw and wondered what was happening to Caspian and tried to stop Eustace talking as if everyone except himself was to blame.

Meanwhile Caspian was having a much more interesting time. The man who had bought him led him down a little lane between two of the village houses and so out into an open place behind the village. Then he turned and faced him. “You neednt be afraid of me， boy，” he said. “Ill treat you well. I bought you for your face. You reminded me of someone.”

“May I ask of whom， my Lord？” said Caspian.

“You remind me of my master， King Caspian of Narnia.”

Then Caspian decided to risk everything on one stroke.

“My Lord，” he said， “I am your master. I am Caspian， King of Narnia.”

“You make very free，” said the other. “How shall I know this is true？”

“告诉我你开价多少，你这狼心狗肺的家伙。”络腮胡子严厉地说，“你以为我会喜欢听你滔滔不绝地讲你那肮脏的勾当吗？”

“哦，我的大人，看在您尊贵身份的份儿上，那就三百个新月币吧。您知道，如果是别人的话……”

“一百五。”

“哦，求求您，”露茜忍不住了，“不论你要做什么，都请不要把我们分开。你不知道……”说到这儿的时候，露茜打住了。因为她看到凯斯宾在向她使眼色，现在还不是泄露他们身份的时机。

“那就一百五十个新月币吧。”说完，络腮胡子转向露茜，对她说，“至于你，小姑娘，我很遗憾我没法把你们全都给买下来。”然后他又命令大块头男人帕格说，“这个小伙子我要了，把他的绳子解开。还有，你听好了，其他这几个人在你手里的时候，你都要给我好好地对待他们，否则的话，你会吃不了兜着走。”

“喔、喔！”帕格喊道，“我不知道还有哪一位做我这行的绅士对待自己的货物比我做得更好的。难道不是吗？我对待他们简直就像对待自己的孩子一样。”

络腮胡子冷冷地讥讽道：“这倒有可能是千真万确的！”

可怕的时刻终于到来了。凯斯宾被解开了绳子，他的新主人对他说：“小伙子，这边走。”露茜眼里的泪水夺眶而出，爱德蒙也神情黯然。可是凯斯宾边走边回过头来对他们说：“振作起来！最后我肯定一切都会好起来的。再会！”

“现在，我的小姐，”帕格说，“你就认命吧，别再哭了。要是哭坏了眼睛，明天集市上可就卖不出好价钱了。你要是乖乖做个好姑娘，那就没什么好哭闹的。你明白吗？”

于是他们几个人上了小艇，然后被送上了大船。他們被带到大船最下面的船舱。那里又黑又脏，已经挤满了很多先前被抓到的不幸的人。显而易见，帕格干的是海盗的营生，他在各岛屿间游来荡去，碰到合适的机会就把遇到的人给抓上船。在船上的这些人当中，并没有爱德蒙、露茜他们认识的人。帕格的囚犯中，绝大多数是迦尔玛人和特里宾希亚人。露茜他们席地坐在稻草上面，挂念着凯斯宾，不知他会发生什么，同时还得阻止尤斯塔斯说话，因为他觉得除了他自己，每一个人都得对现状负责。

与此同时，凯斯宾所经历的却要有意思得多。那位买下了凯斯宾的络腮胡先生带着凯斯宾走上村子中间的一条小巷。小巷从村里的两排房子中穿过，最后他们来到村子背后的一块空地上。那位先生停下脚步，转过身来面对着凯斯宾说道：“小伙子，你不必怕我，我会好好待你的。我买下你是因为你的相貌，让我想起了某个人。”

凯斯宾问：“尊敬的大人，是否可以请你告诉我那是个什么样的人？”

“你让我想起了我的主人，纳尼亚的国王凯斯宾。”

听到这话，凯斯宾决定冒险一搏。

他说：“尊敬的大人，我就是你的主人，我就是凯斯宾，纳尼亚的国王。”

“你说得倒是轻松，”对方说，“可是我怎么才能相信这是真的呢？”

“Firstly by my face，” said Caspian. “Secondly because I know within six guesses who you are. You are one of those seven lords of Narnia whom my Uncle Miraz sent to sea and whom I have come out to look for—Argoz， Bern， Octesian， Restimar， Mavramorn， or—or—I have forgotten the others. And finally， if your Lordship will give me a sword I will prove on any mans body in clean battle that I am Caspian the son of Caspian， lawful King of Narnia， Lord of Cair Paravel， and Emperor of the Lone Islands.”

“By heaven，” exclaimed the man， “it is his fathers very voice and trick of speech. My liege—your Majesty—” And there in the field he knelt and kissed the Kings hand.

“The moneys your Lordship disbursed for our person will be made good from our own treasury，” said Caspian.

“Theyre not in Pugs purse yet， Sire，” said the Lord Bern， for he it was. “And never will be， I trust. I have moved his Sufficiency the Governor a hundred times to crush this vile traffic in mans flesh.”

“My Lord Bern，” said Caspian， “we must talk of the state of these Islands. But first what is your Lordships own story？”

“Short enough， Sire，” said Bern. “I came thus far with my six fellows， loved a girl of the islands， and felt I had had enough of the sea. And there was no purpose in returning to Narnia while your Majestys uncle held the reins. So I married and have lived here ever since.”

“And what is this governor， this Gumpas， like？ Does he still acknowledge the King of Narnia for his lord？”

“In words， yes. All is done in the Kings name. But he would not be best pleased to find a real， live King of Narnia coming in upon him. And if your Majesty came before him alone and unarmed—well he would not deny his allegiance， but he would pretend to disbelieve you. Your Graces life would be in danger. What following has your Majesty in these waters？”

“There is my ship just rounding the point，” said Caspian. “We are about thirty swords if it came to fighting. Shall we not have my ship in and fall upon Pug and free my friends whom he holds captive？”

“Not by my counsel，” said Bern. “As soon as there was a fight two or three ships would put out from Narrowhaven to rescue Pug. Your Majesty must work by a show of more power than you really have， and by the terror of the Kings name. It must not come to plain battle. Gumpas is a chicken-hearted man and can be over-awed.”

“首先是我的相貌。其次，如果你讓我猜六次，我一定能说出你的名字。”凯斯宾继续道，“你是我的叔叔弥若兹派到海外去的七位爵士之一，我这次出海就是为了要找到这七位爵士。他们的名字是阿戈斯、波恩、奥克特西亚、雷斯蒂玛尔、马福拉摩尔，嗯……嗯，还有……哎，另外两个名字我怎么想不起来了。不过话又说回来，如果大人您可以给我一把剑，我就可以在正大光明的战斗中，在任何人的身体上证明，我就是凯斯宾，纳尼亚的合法国王老凯斯宾的儿子、凯尔帕拉维尔的君主、孤岛群岛的国王。”

“老天爷！”那人惊叫道，“这可真像纳尼亚老凯斯宾国王的声音，还有演说的腔调。我的主人——尊敬的陛下——”他当场就跪倒在地，亲吻国王凯斯宾的手。

凯斯宾说：“您今天为我的人支付的钱都从国库当中付给。”

“陛下，这笔钱还没有落到帕格的口袋里呢，”波恩爵士说，“而且永远也不可能落到帕格的口袋里了，我坚信。我已经告诫总督上百次了，要求取消奴隶贩卖这种肮脏的勾当。”

“我的好波恩爵士，”凯斯宾说，“我们一定要好好商量一下这几座岛屿的状况。不过，你自己的情况现在怎么样？”

“长话短说吧，陛下。”波恩爵士说道，“我和我的几名手下航行了很远，最后来到这里。我在这儿遇到了一个当地的女孩子，我爱上了她，也觉得我已经厌倦了海上的生涯。再说，纳尼亚当时是你叔叔当政，我再回到纳尼亚去也没有任何意义，所以我就结了婚，从那之后一直生活在这里。”

“这里的总督岗帕斯，是个什么样的人？他现在是否还承认纳尼亚国王的统治？”

“一句话说，是的。这里的一切都还是以国王的名义管理的。但要是一位纳尼亚的国王真真切切地出现在他面前，我估计他一定不会高兴的。还有，如果陛下您独自一人去找他，又不带武器的话——哎，我觉得他也许不会背叛纳尼亚，可是他多半会佯装不相信你，而陛下您的生命就可能会受到威胁。您这次出海来到这里，带了多少船和军队？”

“我只有一艘船，现在正绕过菲丽茅斯岛的海岬过来。”凯斯宾说，“如果真打起来的话，我这边大约有三十把剑吧。难道我们就不可以把我的船开过来，跟帕格面对面地打一仗，把我那些被他捉去的朋友给救出来？”

“我不建议这么干，”波恩爵士说，“一旦我们跟他打起来，窄港那边一定会有两三艘船出来营救帕格的。陛下您一定得假装你拥有的军力比你实际上带来的多，再加上国王的名头来吓唬对手，千万不要真的动手。岗帕斯是个胆小鬼，肯定能被吓唬住。”

Word Study

filthy /'f?lθi/ adj. 肮脏的;污秽的

spoil /sp??l/ v. 破坏;糟蹋

Our camping trip was spoilt by bad weather.

disburse /d?s'b??s/ v.（从资金中）支出

deny /d?'na?/ v. 否认

Ive never denied that there is a housing problem.

After a little more conversation Caspian and Bern walked down to the coast a little west of the village and there Caspian winded his horn. （This was not the great magic horn of Narnia， Queen Susans Horn： he had left that at home for his regent Trumpkin to use if any great need fell upon the land in the Kings absence.） Drinian， who was on the lookout for a signal， recognized the royal horn at once and the Dawn Treader began standing in to shore. Then the boat put off again and in a few moments Caspian and the Lord Bern were on deck explaining the situation to Drinian. He， just like Caspian， wanted to lay the Dawn Treader alongside the slave-ship at once and board her， but Bern made the same objection.

“Steer straight down this channel， captain，” said Bern， “and then round to Avra where my own estates are. But first run up the Kings banner， hang out all the shields， and send as many men to the fighting top as you can. And about five bowshots hence， when you get open sea on your port bow， run up a few signals.”

“Signals？ To whom？” said Drinian.

“Why， to all the other ships we havent got but which it might be well that Gumpas thinks we have.”

“Oh， I see，” said Drinian rubbing his hands. “And theyll read our signals. What shall I say？ Whole fleet round the South of Avra and assemble at—？”

“Bernstead，” said the Lord Bern. “Thatll do excellently. Their whole journey—if there were any ships—would be out of sight from Narrowhaven.”

Caspian was sorry for the others languishing in the hold of Pugs slave-ship， but he could not help finding the rest of that day enjoyable. Late in the afternoon （for they had to do all by oar）， having turned to starboard round the northeast end of Doorn and port again round the point of Avra， they entered into a good harbour on Avras southern shore where Berns pleasant lands sloped down to the waters edge. Berns people， many of whom they saw working in the fields， were all freemen and it was a happy and prosperous fief. Here they all went ashore and were royally feasted in a low， pillared house overlooking the bay. Bern and his gracious wife and merry daughters made them good cheer. But after dark Bern sent a messenger over by boat to Doorn to order some preparations （he did not say exactly what） for the following day.

凯斯宾和波恩爵士又商量了一会儿，然后他们走到村子西边的海岸上。凯斯宾拿出他的号角吹了起来。（这支号角不是苏珊女王留给他的那把魔号。凯斯宾把那把魔号留在了国内，留给杜鲁普金用，以备当国王不在国内的时候，有什么重大事情发生的时候用。）德瑞尼亚船长一直就在瞭望哨上，他一下子就听出了凯斯宾的号角声。他下令黎明踏浪号往号声发出方向开，驶向海岸。小艇再一次被放下了海，没过多久，凯斯宾和波恩爵士就站在了黎明踏浪号的甲板上，把刚刚发生的一切都告诉了德瑞尼亚。德瑞尼亚一听之后的反应同凯斯宾一样，也打算把黎明踏浪号靠到帕格的奴隶船边，攻上帕格的船。可是波恩爵士依旧反对这个做法。

波恩爵士說：“船长，直直地驶入菲丽茅斯岛和多伦岛之间的海峡，到艾弗拉岛上去，我自己的领地就在那儿。不过首先请把国王的旗帜高高地挂起来，亮出代表皇家的所有盾徽，能派多少人到战斗平台上去就派多少人。当你走到公海的时候，让左舷朝着公海，右舷离岛大约五箭远，这时候你就发信号。”

“信号？发给谁？”德瑞尼亚不解地问。

“哎，发给其他那些我们并没有的船啊。但是岗帕斯听到信号一定会信以为真的。”

“啊，我明白了！”德瑞尼亚摩拳擦掌地说，“就是要让他们听到我们的信号，这信号的内容他们也一定要明了。说什么好呢？‘全体舰队注意，绕过艾弗拉岛南端，集结在……”

“波恩斯泰德。”波恩爵士说，“这样说简直太棒了。假如真有这样一支舰队的话，它们在那里航行，从窄港是看不到的。”

凯斯宾想着被帕格抓去的其他伙伴正在奴隶船上受苦，心里就非常难受。不过在那天余下的时间，他还是禁不住感到非常愉快。那天下午，黎明踏浪号继续前进（因为他们只能靠划桨），船的右舷转过多伦岛的东北角，左舷绕过艾弗拉岛的海岬，最终来到艾弗拉岛的南岸，泊入一座非常优良的海港。这里，波恩爵士的领地从山坡上一路铺展到海边。波恩爵士领地上的人全部都是自由民。大家看到很多人正在田间劳作，这里是一个无忧无虑、生活繁荣的封地。船入港停稳之后，全体人员都下了船，来到岛上。波恩爵士在一间有柱子的矮房子里，按照皇家礼遇款待了大家。这所房子俯瞰着海湾，风景很好。波恩爵士的妻子贤淑雅致，他的女儿们个个长得甜美可爱，都出来迎接客人，在宴席上大家吃得高高兴兴。等天黑了之后，波恩爵士派了一个信使坐船到多伦岛上去做些预备（他没有透露到底预备了些什么）。一切就等明天。

Word Study

estate /?'ste?t/ n. 大片私有土地，庄园

assemble /?'sembl/ v. 聚集;集合

All the students were asked to assemble in the main hall.

languish /'l??ɡw??/ v. 长期受苦;受煎熬

She continues to languish in a foreign prison.

prosperous /'pr?sp?r?s/ adj. 繁荣的;兴旺的