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"Your time will come, Brother," said the chairman.
"兄弟，不久就会用到你的，"身主说。
"We have marked you down as a willing man, and we believe that you will do good work in these parts.
"我们已经知道你是一个情愿出力的人，我们也深信你在这地方会干得出色。
There is a small matter to-night in which you may take a hand if it so please you."
今夜有一件小事，如果你愿意的话，你可以出一臂之力。"
"I will wait for something that is worth while."
"我愿等待更有价值的机会。"
"You can come to-night, anyhow, and it will help you to know what we stand for in this community. I will make the announcement later.
"不管怎样，今夜你可以去，这可以帮助你了解我们团体主张什么。以后我还要宣布这主张。
Meanwhile," he glanced at his agenda paper, "I have one or two more points to bring before the meeting.
同时，"他看了看议事日程，说道，"我还有一两件事要在会上讲。
First of all, I will ask the treasurer as to our bank balance. There is the pension to Jim Carnaway's widow.
第一点，我要问司库我们银行的结存情况。应该给吉姆·卡纳威的寡启发抚恤金。
He was struck down doing the work of the lodge, and it is for us to see that she is not the loser."
卡纳威是因公殉身的，把她照顾好是我们的责任。"
"Jim was shot last month when they tried to kill Chester Wilcox of Marley Creek," McMurdo's neighbour informed him.
"吉姆是在上个月去谋刺马利克里克的切斯特·威尔科克斯时反遭毒手的，"麦克默多邻座的人告诉他说。
"The funds are good at the moment," said the treasurer, with the bankbook in front of him.
"现在存款很多，"司库面前放着银行存款本，报告说。
"The firms have been generous of late. Max Linder & Co. paid five hundred to be left alone.
"近来这些商行很大方。马克斯·林德公司付给的五百元还没动用。
Walker Brothers sent in a hundred; but I took it on myself to return it and ask for five.
沃尔克兄弟送来一百元，可是我自己作主退还给他们，要他们出五百元。
If I do not hear by Wednesday, their winding gear may get out of order. We had to burn their breaker last year before they became reasonable.
假如星期三我听不到回信，他们的卷扬机传动装置就会发生故障。去年我们烧毁了他们的轧碎机，他们才变得开通一点。
Then the West Section Coaling Company has paid its annual contribution. We have enough on hand to meet any obligations."
西部煤业公司交来了年度捐献。我们手中有足够的资金去应付一切债务。"
"What about Archie Swindon?" asked a brother.
"阿尔奇·斯温登怎么样？"一个弟兄问道。
"He has sold out and left the district.
"他已经卖去产业，离开本区了。
The old devil left a note for us to say that he had rather be a free crossing sweeper in New York than a large mine owner under the power of a ring of blackmailers.
这个老该死的给我们留下一张便条，上面说，他宁肯在纽约做一个自由的清道夫，也不愿处在一个敲诈勒索集团的势力下面做一个大矿主。
By Gar! It was as well that he made a break for it before the note reached us! I guess he won't show his face in this valley again."
天哪！他逃走了以后，我们才接到这张便条。我想他再也不敢在这个山谷中露面了。"
An elderly, clean-shaved man with a kindly face and a good brow rose from the end of the table which faced the chairman.
一个脸刮得干干净净的老年人，面容慈祥，长着一双浓眉，从桌子的另一端站起来。
"Mr. Treasurer," he asked, "may I ask who has bought the property of this man that we have driven out of the district?"
"司库先生，"他问道，"请问，被我们赶跑的那个人的矿产，让谁买下了？"
"Yes, Brother Morris. It has been bought by the State & Merton County Railroad Company."
"莫里斯兄弟，他的矿产被州里和默顿县铁路公司买下了。"
"And who bought the mines of Todman and of Lee that came into the market in the same way last year?"
"去年托德曼和李氏的矿山是被谁买下的？"
"The same company, Brother Morris."
"也是这家公司，莫里斯兄弟。"
"And who bought the ironworks of Manson and of Shuman, and of Van Deher and of Atwood, which have all been given up of late?"
"曼森铁矿、舒曼铁矿、范德尔铁矿以及阿特任德铁矿，最近都出让了，又是让谁家买去的？"
"They were all bought by the West Gilmerton General Mining Company."
"这些铁矿都被西吉尔默顿矿业总公司买去了。"
"I don't see, Brother Morris," said the chairman, "that it matters to us who buys them, since they can't carry them out of the district."
"我不明白，莫里斯兄弟，"麦金蒂说道，"既然他们不能把矿产从这个地方带走，谁买走它们，与我们又有什么关系呢？"
"With all respect to you, Eminent Bodymaster, I think it may matter very much to us.
"我十分敬重你，尊敬的身主，但我认为这与我们有很大的关系。
This process has been going on now for ten long years. We are gradually driving all the small men out of trade. What is the result?
这种变化过程到现在已有十年之久了。我们已经逐渐把所有的小资本家赶跑了。结果怎样呢？
We find in their places great companies like the Railroad or the General Iron, who have their directors in New York or Philadelphia, and care nothing for our threats.
我们发现代替他们的是像铁路公司或煤铁总公司这样的大公司，这些公司在纽约或费城有他们的董事，对我们的恫吓置之不理。
We can take it out of their local bosses; but it only means that others will be sent in their stead.
我们虽然能赶走他们在本地的工头，但这只不过意味着另派别人来代替他们而已。
And we are making it dangerous for ourselves. The small men could not harm us. They had not the money nor the power.
而我们自己反而招来危险。那些小资本家对我们不能有任何危害。他们既无钱又无势。
So long as we did not squeeze them too dry, they would stay on under our power.
只要我们不过于苛刻地压榨他们，他们就可以在我们的势力范围内继续留下来。
But if these big companies find that we stand between them and their profits, they will spare no pains and no expense to hunt us down and bring us to court."
可是如果这些大公司发觉我们妨碍他们和他们的利益，他们就会不遗余力，不惜工本地设法摧毁我们并向法院控诉我们。"
There was a hush at these ominous words, and every face darkened as gloomy looks were exchanged.
听到这些不吉祥的话，大家静默下来，神情沮丧，脸色阴沉。
So omnipotent and unchallenged had they been that the very thought that there was possible retribution in the background had been banished from their minds.
他们过去具有无上的权威，从未遭到过挫折，以至他们根本不曾想到自己会得到什么报应。
And yet the idea struck a chill to the most reckless of them.
然而，就连他们里面最不顾一切的人，听到莫里斯的想法，也觉得扫兴。
"It is my advice," the speaker continued, "that we go easier upon the small men.
"我劝各位，"莫里斯继续说道，"以后对小资本家不要太苛刻了。
On the day that they have all been driven out the power of this society will have been broken."
如果有朝一日他们全被逼走了，那么我们这个社团的势力也就被破坏啦。"
Unwelcome truths are not popular. There were angry cries as the speaker resumed his seat.
实话是不受欢迎的。莫里斯说完刚刚落座，就听到一些人在高声怒叱。
McGinty rose with gloom upon his brow. "Brother Morris," said he, "you were always a croaker.
麦金蒂双眉紧皱，阴郁不快地站起身来。"莫里斯兄弟，"麦金蒂说道，"你总是到处报丧。
So long as the members of this lodge stand together there is no power in the United States that can touch them.
只要我们会众齐心协力，在美国就没有一种力量能碰碰我们。
Sure, have we not tried it often enough in the law courts?
不错，我们不是常在法庭上和人较量么？
I expect the big companies will find it easier to pay than to fight, same as the little companies do.
我料想那些大公司会发觉，他们若像那些小公司一样向我们付款，倒比和我们斗争容易得多。
And now, Brethren," McGinty took off his black velvet cap and his stole as he spoke,
现在，弟兄们，"麦金蒂说话时，取下他的平顶绒帽和圣带，
"this lodge has finished its business for the evening, save for one small matter which may be mentioned when we are parting.
"今晚会务进行完了，只有一件小事要在散会前再提一下。
The time has now come for fraternal refreshment and for harmony."
现在是兄弟们举杯痛饮、尽情欢乐的时候了。"
