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I stepped back, and was indeed struck with such a surprise that it put me into a cold sweat, and if I had had a hat on my head, I will not answer for it that my hair might not have lifted it off.
我马上后退，吓出一身冷汗。要是我当时戴帽子的话，一定会吓得毛发倒竖，把帽子也挤掉。
But still plucking up my spirits as well as I could, and encouraging myself a little with considering that the power and presence of God was everywhere, and was able to protect me, I stepped forward again,
可是，我还是尽量鼓起勇气。而且，我想上帝的神力是无所不在的，他一定会保护我。这样一想，也稍稍受到了鼓舞。于是，我高举火把，向前走了两步。
and by the light of the firebrand, holding it up a little over my head, I saw lying on the ground a monstrous, frightful old he?goat, just making his will, as we say, and gasping for life, and, dying, indeed, of mere old age.
借着火光一看，原来地上躺着一只大得吓人的公山羊，正在竭力喘气，它快死了。这山羊大概是在这个洞穴里找到了一个老死的地方。
I stirred him a little to see if I could get him out, and he essayed to get up, but was not able to raise himself;
我推了推它，看看能不能把它赶出去；它也动了动，想站起来，可是已经爬不起来了。
and I thought with myself he might even lie there ? for if he had frightened me, so he would certainly fright any of the savages, if any of them should be so hardy as to come in there while he had any life in him.
于是我想，就让他躺在那里吧。既然它把我吓了一大跳，只要它一息尚存，也一定会把胆敢闯进来的野人吓跑。
I was now recovered from my surprise, and began to look round me, when I found the cave was but very small ?
这时，我从惊恐中恢复过来，开始观察四周，发现洞不太大，
that is to say, it might be about twelve feet over, but in no manner of shape, neither round nor square, no hands having ever been employed in making it but those of mere Nature.
周围不过十二英尺，但这完全是一个天然的洞穴，既不方，也不圆，不成什么形状，没有任何人工斧凿的痕迹。
I observed also that there was a place at the farther side of it that went in further, but was so low that it required me to creep upon my hands and knees to go into it, and whither it went I knew not;
我又发现，在洞的尽头，还有一个更深的地方，但很低，只能俯下身子爬进去。至于这洞通向何处，我当然不得而知。
so, having no candle, I gave it over for that time, but resolved to go again the next day provided with candles and a tinder?box, which I had made of the lock of one of the muskets, with some wildfire in the pan.
当时手头没有蜡烛，只好暂时不进去，但我决定第二天带上蜡烛和火绒盒进去。那火绒盒我是用一支短枪上的枪机做成的。另外，我还得带一盘火种。
Accordingly, the next day I came provided with six large candles of my own making (for I made very good candles now of goat's tallow, but was hard set for candle?wick, using sometimes rags or rope? yarn, and sometimes the dried rind of a weed like nettles);
我带了六支自己做的大蜡烛去了。我现在已经能用羊脂做出很好的蜡烛。
and going into this low place I was obliged to creep upon all?fours as I have said, almost ten yards ? which, by the way, I thought was a venture bold enough, considering that I knew not how far it might go, nor what was beyond it.
钻进那低矮的小洞时，不得不俯下身子，前面已提过了。我在地上爬了约十来码。说起来这实在是一个大胆的冒险举动，因为我既不知道要爬多远，也不知道里面究竟有什么。
When I had got through the strait, I found the roof rose higher up, I believe near twenty feet;
钻过这段通道后，洞顶豁然开朗，洞高差不多有数十英尺。
but never was such a glorious sight seen in the island, I daresay, as it was to look round the sides and roof of this vault or cave ? the wall reflected a hundred thousand lights to me from my two candles.
我环顾四周，只见这地下室或地窟的四壁和顶上，在我两支蜡烛烛光的照耀下，反射出万道霞光，灿烂耀目；这情景是我上岛以来第一次看到的。
What it was in the rock ? whether diamonds or any other precious stones, or gold which I rather supposed it to be ? I knew not.
至于那岩石中是钻石，是宝石，还是金子，我当然不清楚，但我想很可能是这类珍宝。
The place I was in was a most delightful cavity, or grotto, though perfectly dark;
虽然在洞里没有光线，但这却是一个令人赏心悦目的最美丽的洞穴。
the floor was dry and level, and had a sort of a small loose gravel upon it, so that there was no nauseous or venomous creature to be seen, neither was there any damp or wet on the sides or roof.
地上干燥平坦，表面是一层细碎的沙石，所以不会有令人厌恶的毒蛇爬虫。洞顶和四壁也十分干燥。
The only difficulty in it was the entrance ? which, however, as it was a place of security, and such a retreat as I wanted; I thought was a convenience;
唯一的缺点是入口太小，然而正是因为进出困难，才使它成为一个安全隐蔽的地方，而这也正是我千方百计寻求的庇护所。所以，这个缺点于我来说反而成了一个优点。
so that I was really rejoiced at the discovery, and resolved, without any delay, to bring some of those things which I was most anxious about to this place:
我欣喜万分，决定立刻把最放心不下的一部分东西搬到洞里来，
particularly, I resolved to bring hither my magazine of powder, and all my spare arms ? viz. two fowling?pieces ? for I had three in all ? and three muskets ? for of them I had eight in all;
特别是我的火药库和多余的枪支，包括两支鸟枪和三支短枪。因为我一共有三支鸟枪和八支短枪，
so I kept in my castle only five, which stood ready mounted like pieces of cannon on my outmost fence, and were ready also to take out upon any expedition.
我在城堡里留下五支短枪，它们像大炮一样安装在最外面的栅栏上，作战中如有需要也可随时取下。
Upon this occasion of removing my ammunition I happened to open the barrel of powder which I took up out of the sea, and which had been wet,
转移军火时，我也顺便打开了从海上捞起来的那桶受潮的火药。
and I found that the water had penetrated about three or four inches into the powder on every side, which caking and growing hard, had preserved the inside like a kernel in the shell,
结果发现，火药四周进了三四寸水，结成了一层坚固的硬壳，里面部分却完好无损，仿佛壳里的果仁保存得很好。
so that I had near sixty pounds of very good powder in the centre of the cask.
我从桶里弄到了差不多六十磅好火药，这真是一个可喜的收获。
This was a very agreeable discovery to me at that time; so I carried all away thither, never keeping above two or three pounds of powder with me in my castle, for fear of a surprise of any kind; I also carried thither all the lead I had left for bullets.
我把全部火药都搬了过去。从此以后，我在城堡里最多只放三磅火药，唯恐发生任何意外。另外，我又把做子弹的铅也全部搬了过去。
I fancied myself now like one of the ancient giants who were said to live in caves and holes in the rocks, where none could come at them;
我幻想自己是一个古代的巨人，据说这些巨人住在山岩的洞穴里，没有人能攻击他们。
for I persuaded myself, while I was here, that if five hundred savages were to hunt me, they could never find me out ? or if they did, they would not venture to attack me here.
我安慰自己，只要待在洞里，即使有五百个野人来追踪我，也不会找到我；就是给他们发现了，也不敢向我进攻。
The old goat whom I found expiring died in the mouth of the cave the next day after I made this discovery;
发现洞穴的第二天，那只垂死的老山羊就在洞口边死去了。
and I found it much easier to dig a great hole there, and throw him in and cover him with earth, than to drag him out; so I interred him there, to prevent offence to my nose.
我觉得与其把它拖出去，倒不如就地挖个大坑，用土把它埋起来更省事些。于是我就地把老山羊埋了，免得闻到死羊的臭气。
