When I waded ashore，the worst part of my adventuresbegan.
我趟水上岸后，遇到了敢为艰险的事。
It was the middle of the night. I walked up anddown the sands to warm myself. There was no soundof man or cattle. Only the waves broke in the distance.
They reminded me of my danger，and of Alan’s.
当 时正是午夜。为了暖和身子，我只好在沙滩上来回走动。四周没有人声，也没有牛群的哞哞声，只能听到远处的海浪哗哗作响，使我意识到我和艾伦的危险处境。
When day came，I climbed up a hill. I lookedaround me. There was no sign of the brig or theskiff. Where were my companions from the ship？
There was no sail on the ocean，and no house orman on land. My clothes were wet，my stomach wasempty. I started off along the coast to examine theland.
天亮后，我爬上一座小山，朝四周一眺，根本看不到我们那只双桅船和小艇的踪影。同船的伙伴都到哪里去了呢？海上空空荡荡，看不到一只船，岛上也不见一座房子、一个人影。我的衣服湿淋淋的，肚子饿得咕咕直叫。我沿着海岸向前走去，想察看一下岛上的情况。
Soon I was stopped by a creek. It ran far intothe land. I turned and followed it inwards. Insteadof ending，it was wider and wider. Suddenly I understood.
It was not a real creek. I was’on a littleempty island. The salt sea was all around me！
不一会儿，有一条小溪挡住了我的去路。小溪一直向内陆流去，我便沿溪向内陆走去。它不但没有流尽，反而越来越宽。这下我明白了，实际上，这不是一条小溪。我所在的地方是个被海水环绕着的小岛。
I could not wade across the creek。The waterwas too deep for me. Then I thought of the spar. Ihad used it once to come to land. It could help meagain.
溪 水太深，我趟水过不去。后来，我想起了那根帆柱。我用它登上了陆地。现在它还可以助我一臂之力。
I walked back across the top of the little island.
I came again to the bay. The spar was notthere！It had floated out to sea and I could notreach it. I felt quite hopeless.
我从岛上的最高处斜穿过去，又回到海湾。帆柱却不在那儿了！
它已经源进海里，够不着了。我感到非常绝望。
It was a terrible time，which I do not like remembering.
I had nothing in my pockets exceptmoney and Alan’s button. I had always lived in thecountry. I had no experience of islands or the sea.
What could I do？
那是一段不堪回首的时光。我的口袋里除了一点钱和艾伦给找的那颗钮扣，别的什么东西也没有了。
我是在内陆农村长大的，对海岛和大海很陌生，这可怎么办呢？
I found some shell - fish. I was so hungry thatI ate them. The raw food made me sick at once，butI ate more of it. There was nothing else.
我找到了一些贝壳类动物，因为饥肠辘辘，就把它们生吃了。一吃下去，马上感到恶心。可是，出为再没有其它东西可吃，又吃了许多。
It rained all day but there was no shelter. Atnight I lay between two rocks. My feet were in abog.
整整下了一天雨，可是，岛上没有可以避雨的地方。到了夜里，我躺在两块岩石中间，两只脚就放在泥汤里。
The second day，I crossed the island again. Itwas all rock. There were birds，but I could notcatch any. I had no gun. I searched for shelter，butI found only a ruin，a little building without a roof.
第二大，我又在岛上走了一圈。
岛上到处都是石山。飞鸟倒是有的，可我没有带枪，一只也捉不着。
我想找个遮风避雨的地方，可是只
I looked across at the coast of Scotland. I saw houses，and a great，ancient church. Must I die alone，near my own country？It was still raining，and Ihad a very sore throat. I slept again in a wet place.
找到一个连屋顶也没有的破破烂烂的小房子。我隔海遥望苏格兰一带的海岸，看到一座座房子和一个高大、古老的教堂。难道我得在自己的家乡附近孤零零地死去吗？雨还在下着，我的喉咙疼得很厉害，又在一个湿漉漉的地方睡了一夜。
On the third morning I saw a red deer standingon the hill. When I moved. it went away. It hadswum across from the main coast. High in the skyan eagle was flying. But I - I could not pass throughthe air or the water.
第三天早晨，我看到小山上站着一只红鹿。我刚一走动，它就跑开了。这只鹿是从苏格兰那边游泳过来的。一只雄鹰在高空翱翔，可是，我，我既飞不过去，也游不过去。
I was looking for more shell - fish，when agold coin fell on a rock. It rolled off into the sea.
我又去拣蟹虾，这时，一枚金币掉到一块石头上，滚进海里。
I saw that I had a hole in my pocket. Therewas no money in it now except two guineas and asilver shilling. I picked up one more guinea fromthe ground. I had left Queensferry with almost fiftypounds. Now，I had tbree pounds and four shillings.
Yet I was the heir to a great house！
我 这才发现我的衣袋上有个洞，钱都快掉光了，只剩下两个金几尼和一个银先令。后来我还从地上拣回了一枚金几尼。我离开皇后渡口时，身上有将近五十镑钱，而现在只剩下三镑四先令了。可我还是一个高贵门第的继承人呢！
I had no spirit in me. The sea and the rain hadspoilt my clothes. My throat was still sore，mystrength was very low.
我情绪低落。我的衣服被海水和雨水损坏了。我的嗓子仍然肿疼，身上也没有一点劲。
The sight of the shell - fish made me sick. YetI had to eat them. I was thirsty. The sea - water wassalty，so I drank from a bog.
我一看见贝壳类动物就感到恶心，可又不得不吃这些东西。我口干舌燥，可海水是咸的，所以只好喝沼泽地里的水。
And this was not the end of my troubles on theisland.
我在岛上吃的苦头还多着呢。
The rain stopped at last，and the sun cameout. I lay on a flat rock by the sea. The heat driedmy clothes. The sun comforted me，and a littlestrength and hope returned.
雨 终于停了，出了太阳。我躺在海边一块平坦的石头上。连晒带烤我的衣服总算干了。阳光使我感到舒适温暖。我不再怎么困乏了，也有了一线希望。
Suddenly a small boat in which there were twomen appeared. They were fishing. I shouted“He lp！
He lp ！”and fell on my knees. They heard me，andsaw me. They called out in Gaelic. and laughed，butthe boat did not stop.
我忽然看到一只小船，上面有两个人在钓鱼。我便大喊：“救命！
救命！”然后跪在岩石上。他们听见了我的喊声，山看见了我，用盖尔语喊了几句什么，便大笑起来，可是并没有停船。
I could not believe they had left me. I ran alongthe shore and called to them. I cried like anangry child.
我简直不能相信他们就这样扔下我不管。我沿将海滩跑，朝他们大喊，象一个发了脾气的孩子一样哭叫着。
I ate more shell - fish，and I was sick oncemore. My strength had almost gone. I thought I wasgoing to die。
我又吃了些贝壳类动物，再一次感到恶心，浑身软绵绵的，以为自己都要死了。
On the fourth day，I saw the same boat sailingtowards me. I ran to the sea. I jumped from onerock to another. My legs shook under me. My throatwas dry，and for some time I could not call out.
第四天，我又看见那只小船朝我驶来。我跨过一块块的岩石，向大海跑去，两腿发软，喉咙发于，好一会儿功夫喊都喊不出声来。
The boat came nearer. There were three menin it this time. When I shouted，the third manlaughed. Then he stood up in the boat and waved
小船靠近了一点。这一次上而坐着三个人。我喊叫时，第三个人大笑了起来。然后，他站起来，摆了
his hands. He spoke in English. I listened，and understandthe word“tide ”.
摆手。他讲的是英语，我听了一下，只听懂“海潮”两个字。
I had a flash of hope. He was pointing towardsthe main coast.
我有了一线希望。他在朝苏格兰岸边指点着。
“Do you me a n wh e n the tide is out - ？”I cried. 我大声问道：“你是说等退潮以后--？”
“Ye s ，ye s ，”he said，“tide ’.”他说，“就是，就是，海潮。”
I turned away and ran back over the sand. Themen were still laughing. I ran across the island andin half an hour I reached the creek. The water wasnow very low. I waded through it to the main islandof Mull.
我 转过身，从沙滩上往回跑。
船上的几个人大笑不上。我跑到小岛的边缘，只用了半小时。那条小溪水很浅，我水上了马尔岛。
The little island was an island only at hightide. I was a country boy，and had not guessed thesecret of the water. The Highlanders in the boat hadnot understood my trouble. They thought I wasmad. But it had been a bad time for me.
原来那座小小岛在不涨潮时是与马尔岛相连的。我是在旱地农村长大的，不懂海水的奥秘。船上的高地人却不了解我这个困难，还以为我发了疯。对我来说，那一段时间可真难熬。
