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Every now and then a group of them would get too big or come too near. Then the Prince would brandish his sword and make a show of charging them.
当一群地精的人数太多或离他们非常近时，王子就只好挥动宝剑驱赶他们。
And the creatures, with all manner of hootings, squeakings, and cluckings, would dive away into the darkness.
这帮家伙便会咯咯地大声叫嚣，声音既短促又尖锐，然后一窝蜂地逃回黑暗中。
But when they had climbed many steep streets and were far away from the flood, and almost out of the town on the inland side, it began to be more serious.
走过许多陡峭的山路，他们已远离洪水，出了小镇来到陆地边上，但这里的情况却更加复杂。
They were now close to the red glow and nearly on a level with it, though they still could not see what it really was.
他们已经离红光很近了，甚至和它在一个水平线上，但他们仍不知那究竟是什么。
But by its light they could see their enemies more clearly. Hundreds—perhaps a few thousands—of gnomes were all moving towards it.
然而透过光亮，他们能清楚地看到几百甚至几千个地精正在朝红光移动。
But they were doing so in short rushes, and whenever they stopped, they turned and faced the travellers.
这些地精急速向前奔跑一小段便停下来回头瞪着他们。
"If your Highness asked me," said Puddleglum, "I'd say those fellows were meaning to cut us off in front."
“如果殿下您问我的话，”帕德格莱姆说，“我认为这些家伙想切断我们道路。”
"That was my thought too, Puddleglum," said the Prince. "And we can never fight our way through so many. Hark you! Let us ride forth close by the edge of yonder house.
“我也这么想，帕德格莱姆。”王子说，“我们可无法一下战胜那么多地精。你听好！我们先骑到那边的房子边上。
And even as we reach it, do you slip off into its shadow. The Lady and I will go forward a few paces. Some of these devils will follow us, I doubt not; they are thick behind us.
然后你溜到房子背后的阴影里埋伏着。我和吉尔女士会往前再走几步。到时肯定有人跟踪我们，后面有一帮人盯着我们呢。
Do you, who have long arms, take one alive if you may, as it passes your ambush. We may get a true tale of it or learn what is their quarrel against us."
你用你的长手活捉一个，如果可能的话。这样，大家就知道这帮家伙有什么阴谋。”
"But won't the others all come rushing at us to rescue the one we catch," said Jill in a voice not so steady as she tried to make it.
“但其他人会不会一拥而上把人质救走呢？”吉尔用颤抖的声音说，虽然她极力想让自己平静下来。
"Then, Madam," said the Prince, "you shall see us die fighting around you, and you must commend yourself to the Lion. Now, good Puddleglum."
“如果是那样，女士，”王子说，“我们会在你周围拼死力战，你也必须为狮王的荣誉而奋斗。现在行动吧，好帕德格莱姆。”
The Marsh-wiggle slipped off into the shadow as quickly as a cat. The others, for a sickening minute or so, went forward at a walk.
沼泽人迅速溜下马背躲进黑暗中，步履如猫般迅速。其他人就地等了一分钟左右，然后继续前行。
Then suddenly from behind them there broke out a series of blood-curdling screams, mixed with the familiar voice of Puddleglum, saying, "Now then! Don't cry out before you're hurt, or you will be hurt, see? Anyone would think it was a pig being killed."
突然，背后传来一阵令人毛骨悚然的鬼叫声，其中还混杂着帕德格莱姆那熟悉的声音：“喂！不想受伤的话就别喊，明白吗？别人还以为我在杀猪呢！”
"That was good hunting," exclaimed the Prince, immediately turning Coalblack and coming back to the corner of the house. "Eustace," he said, "of your courtesy, take Coalblack's head."
“干得好！”王子欢呼道。他立刻调转马头回到房子的角落里。“斯库波，”王子说，“麻烦你牵住煤黑。”
Then he dismounted, and all three gazed in silence while Puddleglum pulled his catch out into the light. It was a most miserable little gnome, only about three feet long.
他下马站定，两个孩子安静地瞪着被俘虏的地精。帕德格莱姆把地精从黑暗中拽到有亮光的地方。这家伙一脸痛苦相，身材矮小，大约三英尺高。
It had a sort of ridge, like a cock's comb (only hard), on the top of its head, little pink eyes, and a mouth and chin so large and round that its face looked like that of a pigmy hippopotamus.
他头顶上长着脊，和鸡冠子差不多（比鸡冠子硬）。粉色的眼睛，又大又圆的嘴和下巴，脸怎么看怎么像小河马。
If they had not been in such a tight place, they would have burst into laughter at the sight of it.
倘若不是如今情况紧急，他们看见长这种样子的人一定会捧腹大笑的。
"Now, Earthman," said the Prince, standing over it and holding his sword point very near the prisoner's neck, "speak, up, like an honest gnome, and you shall go free.
“洞穴人，”王子说，他居高临下地站在地精面前，用剑锋指着地精的脖子，“站起来说话，就像一个正直的地精那样，这样我们才会放了你；
Play the knave with us, and you are but a dead Earthman. Good Puddleglum, how can it speak while you hold its mouth tight shut?"
如若和我们耍花样，立杀不赦。好帕德格莱姆，你一直按着人家的嘴叫他怎么说话？”
"No, and it can't bite either," said Puddleglum. "If I had the silly soft hands that you humans have (saving your Highness's reverence) I'd have been all over blood by now. Yet even a Marsh-wiggle gets tired of being chewed."
“这样他就咬不到我了。”帕德格莱姆说，“如果我的手和你们人类的手一样软——不包括您，殿下——非被弄得血肉模糊不可。沼泽人也讨厌被咬。”
"Sirrah," said the Prince to the gnome, "one bite and you die. Let its mouth open, Puddleglum."
“小子，”王子对地精说，“再咬就让你血溅。让他把嘴张开，帕德格莱姆。”
"Oo-ee-ee," squealed the Earthman, "let me go, let me go. It isn't me. I didn't do it." "Didn't do what?" asked Puddleglum.
“哦，哦。”洞穴人尖叫着，“让我走，让我走。不是我，不是我干的。”“什么不是你干的？”帕德格莱姆问。
"Whatever your Honours say I did do," answered the creature. "Tell me your name," said the Prince, "and what you Earthmen are all about today."
“就是你们说我干的事。”地精回答。“告诉我你的名字。”王子说，“以及你们今天到底要干什么。”
"Oh please, your Honours, please, kind gentlemen," whimpered the gnome. "Promise you will not tell the Queen's grace anything I say."
“哦，求求你，殿下，求求你，好先生。”地精呜咽着，“你们要保证不告诉女王陛下我说的话。”
"The Queen's grace, as you call her," said the Prince sternly, "is dead. I killed her myself."
“你说的女王陛下已经死了。”王子严肃地说，“我把她杀了。”
"What!" cried the gnome, opening its ridiculous mouth wider and wider in astonishment. "Dead? The Witch dead? And by your Honour's hand?" It gave a huge sigh of relief and added, "Why then your Honour is a friend!"
“什么？”地精大喊道，他使劲张大嘴巴，一副难以置信的表情，“死了？女巫死了？是您杀死的？”他大大地松了口气，继续说道，“那你们就是朋友了！”
The Prince withdrew his sword an inch or so. Puddleglum let the creature sit up. It looked round on the four travellers with its twinkling, red eyes, chuckled once or twice, and began.
王子把剑往后缩了一英寸左右。帕德格莱姆让地精坐起来。他眨眨那双血红的眼睛，看看周围的这四个人，又微笑了一下，便开始娓娓道来。
