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Strange indeed is human nature.
人类的本性确实是很奇怪的。
Here were these men, to whom murder was familiar, who again and again had struck down the father of the family,
这是一些把杀人当作家常便饭的人，一而再、再而三毫无人性地残杀过一些家庭的家长，
some man against whom they had no personal feeling, without one thought of compunction or of compassion for his weeping wife or helpless children,
眼见其妻室悲啼，儿女失声，绝无内疚之心、恻隐之意，
and yet the tender or pathetic in music could move them to tears.
然而一听到优柔迫切的音乐，也会感动得落泪。
McMurdo had a fine tenor voice, and if he had failed to gain the good will of the lodge before,
麦克默多有一副优美的男高音歌喉，如果说他以前还未获得会中弟兄的友情善意，
it could no longer have been withheld after he had thrilled them with "I'm Sitting on the Stile, Mary," and "On the Banks of Allan Water."
那么在他唱"玛丽，我坐在篱垣上"和"在亚兰河两岸"时，却使他们深受感动，再也抑制不住对他的善意了。
In his very first night the new recruit had made himself one of the most popular of the brethren, marked already for advancement and high office.
就在这第一天夜晚，这位新会员使自己成为弟兄中最受欢迎的一员，已经象征着即将晋升和获得高位。
There were other qualities needed, however, besides those of good fellowship, to make a worthy Freeman, and of these he was given an example before the evening was over.
然而，要成为一个受尊敬的自由人会会员，除了这些友情以外，还需要具有另外一些气质，而这个晚上还没过去，麦克默多已经被说成是这些气质的典范了。。
The whisky bottle had passedround many times, and the men were flushed and ripe for mischief when their Bodymaster rose once more to address them.
已经酒过数巡，人们早已醉醺醺，蒙眬眬，这时身主又站起来向他们讲话。
"Boys," said he, "there's one man in this town that wants trimming up, and it's for you to see that he gets it.
"弟兄们，"麦金蒂说道，"在镇上有一个人应当剪除，你们也知道，他是应当受到处罚的。
I'm speaking of James Stanger of the Herald. You've seen how he's been opening his mouth against us again?"
我说的是《先驱报》的詹姆士·斯坦格。你们不是已经看到他又在破口大骂我们了吗？"
There was a murmur of assent, with many a muttered oath.
这时室内迸发出一阵赞同的低语声，有些人诅咒发誓。
McGinty took a slip of paper from his waistcoat pocket.
麦金蒂从背心口袋里拿出一张报纸来读道：
"'Law And Order!' That's how he heads it.
'法律与秩序！'这是斯坦格给加上的标题。
'Reign Of Terror In The Coal And Iron District.
'煤铁矿区的恐怖统治。
Twelve years have now elapsed since the first assassinations which proved the existence of a criminal organization in our midst.
自首次暗杀事件发生，即示明我区存在犯罪组织，现已流逝十二载。
From that day these outrages have never ceased, until now they have reached a pitch which makes us the opprobrium of the civilized world.
唯自斯日始，此类暴行迄未间断，时至今日，彼等已登峰造极，竟使吾人蒙受文明世界之耻。
Is it for such results as this that our great country welcomes to its bosom the alien who flies from the despotisms of Europe?
吾国当日欢纳自欧洲专制政体下逃亡之移民，何曾预想此等结果？
Is it that they shall themselves become tyrants over the very men who have given them shelter,
彼等竟欲欺凌当日赖以栖身之恩主，自作暴戾，
and that a state of terrorism and lawlessness should be established under the very shadow of the sacred folds of the starry Flag of Freedom
而此等恐怖暴虐、目无法纪，竟在自由之星条旗帜圣神掩盖之下确立，
which would raise horror in our minds if we read of it as existing under the most effete monarchy of the East?
顿使吾人心目中引起惊恐，尤如置身于最衰朽之东方君主国中者。
The men are known. The organization is patent and public. How long are we to endure it? Can we forever live...'
彼等之名，人所共知。此组织亦公开。吾人对此容忍何日方休？吾人品能常此生活...'
Sure, I've read enough of the slush!" cried the chairman, tossing the paper down upon the table.
够了，这种废话我念够了！"麦金蒂把报纸扔到桌上，高声喊道。
"That's what he says of us. The question I'm asking you is what shall we say to him?"
"这就是斯坦格关于我们的报道。我现在对你们提出的问题是，我们对他怎样处理？"
"Kill him!" cried a dozen fierce voices.
"杀死他！"十几个人的声音杀气腾腾地喊道。
"I protest against that," said Brother Morris, the man of the good brow and shaved face.
"我反对这样做，"那个长着一双浓眉、脸刮得干干净净的莫里斯兄弟说道。
"I tell you, Brethren, that our hand is too heavy in this valley, and that there will come a point where in self-defense every man will unite to crush us out.
"弟兄们，我告诉你们，我们在这个山谷中所施的手段太狠了，他们出于自卫势必要联合起来消灭我们。
James Stanger is an old man. He is respected in the township and the district.
詹姆士·斯坦格是一个老人。他在镇上和区里都很受敬重。
His paper stands for all that is solid in the valley.
他发行的报纸在这山谷中也有牢固的基础。
If that man is struck down, there will be a stir through this state that will only end with our destruction."
如果这个人被我们杀害，一定会震动全国，最后结局只能是我们的毁灭。"
"And how would they bring about our destruction, Mr. Standback?" cried McGinty.
"他们怎么样能使我们毁灭呢？懦夫先生，"麦金蒂叫道。
"Is it by the police? Sure, half of them are in our pay and half of them afraid of us.
"用警察吗？肯定说，一半警察是受我们雇用的，另一半害怕我们。
Or is it by the law courts and the judge? Haven't we tried that before now, and what ever came of it?"
也许用法庭和法官来对付我们？我们以前不是见识过吗？结果又怎么样呢？"
"There is a Judge Lynch that might try the case," said Brother Morris.
"法官林奇可能来审讯这件案子的，"莫里斯兄弟说道。
A general shout of anger greeted the suggestion.
大家听了，都怒喊起来。
"I have but to raise my finger," cried McGinty, "and I could put two hundred men into this town that would clear it out from end to end."
"只要我伸出手指，"麦金蒂喊道，"我就可以派二百个人到城里把他们彻底清除出去。"
Then suddenly raising his voice and bending his huge black brows into a terrible frown,
然后，双眉紧皱，突然提高了声音，
"See here, Brother Morris, I have my eye on you, and havehad for some time! You've no heart yourself, and you try to take the heart out of others.
"喂，莫里斯兄弟，我早已注意到你了。你自己不忠心，还要让别人离心离德。
It will be an ill day for you, Brother Morris, when your own name comes on our agenda paper, and I'm thinking that it's just there that I ought to place it."
莫里斯兄弟，当你自己的名字也列入我们的议事日程时，就是你的黑煞日了。我想我正应当把尊名提出来列到日程上去。"
Morris had turned deadly pale, and his knees seemed to give way under him as he fell back into his chair.
莫里斯立刻面色苍白，双膝颤抖，瘫倒在椅子上。
He raised his glass in his trembling hand and drank before he could answer.
他颤巍巍地举啤酒杯，喝了一口，答道：
"I apologize, Eminent Bodymaster, to you and to every brother in this lodge if I have said more than I should.
"尊敬的身主，假如我说了我不应该说的话，我向你和会中诸位弟兄道歉。
I am a faithful member -- you all know that -- and it is my fear lest evil come to the lodge which makes me speak in anxious words.
你们大家都知道，我是一个忠心的会友，刚才也是我唯恐会里招来不幸，所以说出这样忧虑的话来。
But I have greater trust in your judgment than in my own, Eminent Bodymaster, and I promise you that I will not offend again."
可是，尊敬的身主，我绝对相信你的裁决，甚于相信我自己，我保证以后再也不敢冒犯了。"
The Bodymaster's scowl relaxed as he listened to the humble words.
身主听他说得这样谦卑，脸上的怒气消失了。
"Very good, Brother Morris. It's myself that would be sorry if it were needful to give you a lesson.
"很好，莫里斯兄弟。我也不愿对你加以教训。
But so long as I am in this chair we shall be a united lodge in word and in deed.
可是，只要我在领导之位，我们分会在言和行上就要统一。
And now, boys," he continued, looking round at the company, "I'll say this much, that if Stanger got his full deserts there would be more trouble than we need ask for.
现在，弟兄们，"他看了看周围的弟兄，继续说道，"我还要再说一下，如果斯坦格得到他完全应受的惩罚，那我们就会招来更多的麻烦。
These editors hang together, and every journal in the state would be crying out for police and troops.
一旦这些新闻记者串通起来，国内每一家报刊就都会向警察和部队呼吁了。
But I guess you can give him a pretty severe warning. Will you fix it, Brother Baldwin?"
不过我认为你可以给他一次相当严厉的警告。鲍德温兄弟，你来安排一下好吗？"
"Sure!" said the young man eagerly.
"当然了！"这个年轻人热烈地应道。
"How many will you take?"
"你要带多少人去？"
"Half a dozen, and two to guard the door. You'll come, Gower, and you, Mansel, and you, Scanlan, and the two Willabys."
"六个就够了，用两个人守门。高尔，你去；曼塞尔，还有你；斯坎伦，还有你；还有威拉比兄弟二人。"
"I promised the new brother he should go," said the chairman.
"我允许这位新来的弟兄一同去，"麦金蒂说道。
Ted Baldwin looked at McMurdo with eyes which showed that he had not forgotten nor forgiven.
特德·鲍德温望着麦克默多，从他的眼色可以看出，他既没有忘却前隙，也不肯宽恕。
"Well, he can come if he wants," he said in a surly voice.
"行，如果他愿意，他可以去，"鲍德温粗暴无礼地说道，
"That's enough. The sooner we get to work the better."
"够了。我们动手越快越好。"
The company broke up with shouts and yells and snatches of drunken song.
这七个人有的吵嚷着，喊叫着，有的醉醺醺地哼着小调离了席。
