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One of them answered in the name of the rest, that they had nothing to say but this, that when they were taken the captain promised them their lives, and they humbly implored my mercy.
这时，有一个人出来代表他们说话了。他说，他们没有什么话可说。只是他们被俘时，船长曾答应饶他们不死的。他们现在只有低头恳求我的宽宥。
But I told them I knew not what mercy to show them; for as for myself, I had resolved to quit the island with all my men, and had taken passage with the captain to go to England;
可是，我告诉他们，因为我自己已决定带着手下的人离开本岛，跟船长一起搭船回英国去，所以我不知道该如何宽宥他们。
and as for the captain, he could not carry them to England other than as prisoners in irons, to be tried for mutiny and running away with the ship;
至于船长，他只能把他们当作囚犯关起来带回英国，并以谋反和劫船的罪名送交当局审判。
the consequence of which, they must needs know, would be the gallows; so that I could not tell what was best for them, unless they had a mind to take their fate in the island.
其结果他们应该都知道，那必定是上绞架。所以，我实在也为他们想不出更好的办法，除非他们决定留在岛上，听任命运的安排。
If they desired that, as I had liberty to leave the island, I had some inclination to give them their lives, if they thought they could shift on shore.
如果他们同意这个办法，我本人没有意见，因为我反正要离开本岛了。只要他们愿意留在岛上自谋生计，我可以饶他们不死。
They seemed very thankful for it, and said they would much rather venture to stay there than be carried to England to be hanged. So I left it on that issue.
他们对此表示十分感激。他们说，他们宁可冒险留在这里，也不愿被带回英国吊死。所以，我就决定这么办了。
However, the captain seemed to make some difficulty of it, as if he durst not leave them there.
然而，船长似乎不太同意这个办法，好像他不敢把他们留在岛上。
Upon this I seemed a little angry with the captain, and told him that they were my prisoners, not his; and that seeing I had offered them so much favour, I would be as good as my word;
于是，我对船长作出生气的样子。我对他说，他们是我的俘虏，而不是他的俘虏。我既然对他们已许下了这么多人情，我说的话就应该算数。
and that if he did not think fit to consent to it I would set them at liberty, as I found them: and if he did not like it he might take them again if he could catch them.
如果他不同意，我就把他们放掉，只当我没有把他们抓住过。如果他不愿意给他们自由，他自己可以去把他们抓回来，只要他能抓得住。
Upon this they appeared very thankful, and I accordingly set them at liberty, and bade them retire into the woods, to the place whence they came, and I would leave them some firearms, some ammunition, and some directions how they should live very well if they thought fit.
他们看到这种情况，表示无限感激。于是，我释放了他们，叫他们退回原来被抓住的树林里去，并对他们说，我可以给他们留一些枪支弹药，并指导他们怎样在这儿好好过活，如果他们愿意接受的话。
Upon this I prepared to go on board the ship; but told the captain I would stay that night to prepare my things, and desired him to go on board in the meantime, and keep all right in the ship, and send the boat on shore next day for me;
解决了俘虏的问题，我就开始作上船的准备了。我对船长说，我还得作些准备，所以还得在岛上耽搁一个晚上。我吩咐他先回船上，把一切安排好，第二天再放小船到岸上来接我。
ordering him, at all events, to cause the new captain, who was killed, to be hanged at the yard? arm, that these men might see him.
我特别下令，让他把那打死的新船长吊在桅杆顶上示众。
When the captain was gone I sent for the men up to me to my apartment, and entered seriously into discourse with them on their circumstances.
船长走之后，我派人把那几个人带到我房间里来。我给他们作了一次严肃的谈话，分析了他们当前的处境。
I told them I thought they had made a right choice; that if the captain had carried them away they would certainly be hanged.
我对他们说，我认为他们的选择是正确的。如果让船长把他们带走，其结果必然是上绞架吊死。
I showed them the new captain hanging at the yard arm of the ship, and told them they had nothing less to expect.
我把那吊在大船桅杆顶上的新船长指给他们看，并告诉他们，他们也没有别的指望，只能是这种下场。
When they had all declared their willingness to stay, I then told them I would let them into the story of my living there, and put them into the way of making it easy to them.
他们一致表示愿意留在岛上。于是，我就把我这里生活的情况告诉他们，并教会他们怎样把生活过好。
Accordingly, I gave them the whole history of the place, and of my coming to it; showed them my fortifications, the way I made my bread, planted my corn, cured my grapes; and, in a word, all that was necessary to make them easy.
我谈了小岛的环境，以及我在这儿生活的经历。我领他们看了我的城堡，告诉他们如何做面包，种庄稼，晒制葡萄干。总之，一切能使他们生活得舒适一点的办法，我都告诉他们了。
I told them the story also of the seventeen Spaniards that were to be expected, for whom I left a letter, and made them promise to treat them in common with themselves.
我又把十六位西班牙人的事情告诉了他们，并对他们说，不久他们也要来岛上了。我给那些西班牙人留了一封信，并要他们答应对他们一视同仁。
Here it may be noted that the captain, who had ink on board, was greatly surprised that I never hit upon a way of making ink of charcoal and water, or of something else, as I had done things much more difficult.
这里值得注意的是，船长在船上备有墨水，他对我从来没有想到用木炭和水或其他东西制作墨水的方法感到非常惊讶，因为我所做的事情要困难得多。
I left them my firearms viz. five muskets, three fowling pieces, and three swords. I had above a barrel and a half of powder left; for after the first year or two I used but little, and wasted none.
我把枪支都留给了他们，其中包括五支短枪，三支鸟枪，还加三把刀。我还留下了一桶半火药。我之所以还有这么多火药，是因为我用得很省，除了开始两年用掉一些外，后来我就一点都不敢浪费。
I gave them a description of the way I managed the goats, and directions to milk and fatten them, and to make both butter and cheese.
我还把养山羊的方法教给了他们，告诉他们怎样把羊养肥，怎样挤羊奶，做奶油，制乳酪。
In a word, I gave them every part of my own story; and told them I should prevail with the captain to leave them two barrels of gunpowder more, and some garden seeds,
总之，我把自己的经历详细告诉了他们。我还对他们说，我要劝船长再给他们留下两桶火药与一些菜种。
which I told them I would have been very glad of. Also, I gave them the bag of peas which the captain had brought me to eat, and bade them be sure to sow and increase them.
我对他们说，菜种一直是我所求之不得的东西。我还把船长送给我的一袋豆子也留给了他们，嘱咐他们作种子播下去繁殖起来。
