Kidnapped
Chapter 2 Kidnapped!
When Iwoke up in darkness, my head was hurting badly, and I was unable to move myhands or feet. I could hear the sailor’s shouts and the sound of the wind andthe waves. The whole world seemed to go up, up, up, and then down again. I feltvery ill, and at first could not under stand what was happening. After a whileI realized that I must be somewhere inside the ship, which was moving very fastthrough the water. “I've been kidnapped!” I thought angrily. It was clear thatmy uncle and the captain had planned it together. I began to feel frightenedand hopeless, as I lay there in the dark.
Somehours later, a light shone in my face. Mr. Riach, one of the ship's officers, stoodlooking down at me. He washed the cut on my head, gave me some water, and toldme kindly to go to sleep. The next time he came, I was feeling very hot and ill.He had brought Captain Hoseason with him.
“Now, sir,see for yourself,” said Mr. Riach. “The lad's seriously ill. We must take himout of this unhealthy hole at once.
“That'snone of your business,” answered the captain. “Ye're paid to do your job, notto worry about the by. He's staying down here.”
“I'monly paid to be an officer on this ship, ” replied Mr. Riach sharply. He lookedhard at the captain. “I'm not paid, like you, to kidnap and murder—”
Hoseasonturned on him angrily. “What did ye say?” be cried. “What do ye mean?”
“Youunderstand” said Mr. Riach, looking calmly at him.
“Youshould know me by now, Mr. Riach. I'm a hard man. But if ye say the lad willdie—”
“Aye, hewill!” said Mr. Riach.
“Well,sir, put him where ye like!”
So Iwas carried up into the sunlight a few minutes later, and put in a cabin wheresome of the sailors were sleeping. It was a wonderful feeling to see thedaylight and to be able to talk to people again. I lay in the cabin for severaldays, and after a while began to feel better. The sailors were kind to me intheir way. They brought me food and drink, and told me about their families athome. I discovered from them that the ship was sailing to the Carolinas, in North America. There the captain was planning to sell meas a slave, to work in a rich man's house or on a farm.
I alsolearnt that both the ship's officers, Mr. Riach and Mr. Shuan, enjoyed drinking far too much. The sailors liked Mr. Shuan, but said that he was sometimesviolent when he had drunk a lot. One of the sailors was a young boy, called Ransome. His job was to bring meals tothe captain and officers in the round-house, a big cabin on the top of theship, wherethe officers slept and ate. When Ransome dropped something or didsomething wrong, Mr Shuan used to hit him, and I often saw the poor boy crying.
Onenight, about nine o’clock, I heard one of the sailors in the cabinsaying quietly to the others, “Shuan's killed him at last!” We all knew who he meant. Just then the captain came in. I was surprised to see him walktowards me and say kindly, “My man. We Want ye to help us in theround-house. From now on, ye'll sleep there instead of Ransome.” As he spoke, two sailors carried Ransomeinto the cabin His face was as white as a sheet, and he did not move. My blood ran cold when I sawhim.
Iobeyed the captain, and ran to the round-house. It was a large room, with a table, a bench and locked cupboards. Allthe best food and drink was kept there, under the captain's eyes, as well as the guns. When I entered, I saw Mr. Shuan sitting at thetable, with a bottle of whisky in front of him. He did not seem to notice whatwas happening around him, and was looking fixedly at the table.
Mr.Riach soon joined the captain and me. He looked at Hoseason meaningfully, and I understood from his lookthat Ransome was dead. We three all stood silently looking downat Mr Shuan.
Suddenlythe captain stepped forward. “Do ye know what ye've done?” he cried. “Ye've murdered the boy!”
Mr.Shuan put a hand to his head. “Well,” he said, “he brought me a dirty glass!”
Thecaptain and Mr. Riach and I looked at each other, almost frightened. Then Hoseason took Mr. Shuan bythe arm, and told him to go to bed. The murderer cried a little at first, but he took off his boots andlay down, like a small child.
“Mr.Riach,” saidthe captain, when we could see that Mr. Shuan was asleep, “nobody on land must know whathappened tonight. We'll say that the boy fell into the sea. Get us a drink, David, we both need one,” and he gave me the key to thecupboards.
In thenext few days I was very busy, running here and there with theofficers’food and drink. Mr. Riach and the captain weresurprisingly patient with me when I made mistakes. Perhaps they were thinking ofthe poor boy who had died. But Mr. Shuan was very strange afterRansome's death. He did not seem to know what he had done, or to recognize me. On my second day in theround-house, he looked at me with a white face and fear in his eyes. “You weren't here before?” he asked.
“No, sir,” I replied.
“Therewas another boy?” heasked. “Ah! Yes, I thought so,” and sitting down, he called for some more whisky.
Itwasn't a hard life for me. I was able to eat well, and talk to Mr. Riach, who spoke to me like a friend. But I could not forget poorRansome. As the days passed, I became more and more worried. I knew that, when the ship arrived in the Carolinas, I would no longer be a free man, but a slave. I thought hard, but there did not seem to beany way of escaping.
Abouta week later, we were sailing round the rocky coast of northern Scotland invery bad weather. It was difficult to see anything because of the thick fog. One evening there was a greatcrash, and the officers ran out to see what had happened. I thought we had hit a rock, but in fact it was a small boat.As we watched, the boat broke in two, and went to the bottom with all its men, except the one passenger. At the moment of the crash, this man managed to jump up andcatch the side of the ship and pull himself up.
Thecaptain brought him into the round-house. He was smallish but well-built, with an open, sunburnt face, and bright, amused eyes. When he took offhis long coat, I could see that he had a pair of pistols and was wearing a swordat his side. Although his life had clearly been in great danger, he seemed verycalm, and spoke politely to the captain Hoseason was looking with interest atthe man's clothes. He Was Wearing a hat with feathers, a blue coat with silverbuttons, and expensive-looking lace round his neck.
“I'msorry about the boat, sir,” said the captain.
“I'velost some grand friends today,” replied the stranger, “and that's worse thanlosing ten boats.”
“Well,sir, there are more men in the world than boats,” replied the captain, stillwatching him closely. “I know, be cause I've been in France, like you.”
Hesaid these last words clearly and carefully. They seemed to have a specialmeaning. The stranger put his hand quickly on his pistol.
“Don'tworry,” said Hoseason. “Ye've a French soldier's coat on your back and aScottish tongue in your head, that's true, but so has many an honest man thesedays.”
“Well,sir,” replied the stranger, “I must tell you that I'm one of those honest Highlanderswho were proud to fight for their homes, their clan and their country in 1745, againstthe English King. And I must tell you another thing. If King George's soldiersfind me, I'll be in trouble. I was on my way to France, where some of my clansmenlive now. But in the fog my boat missed the French ship that was meeting me. Soif you can take me to France,I'll pay you well.”
Heopened his purse and showed that it was full of gold coins. The captain seemedexcited as he looked at the money, and then at the man's face.
“To France?” hereplied. “No, I can't do that. But to the Highlands,aye, we can discuss that.” They sat down together, and in the end agreed thatthe captain would take the stranger to Loch Linnhe, on the northwest coast of Scot land, for sixty pounds. There the Highlander wouldbe among friends, and safe from the English army. He and Hoseason shook hands, andthe captain left me alone with the stranger.
He hadtold the captain that the gold was not his own. Some of the Highlanders hadescaped to France after theForty-Five, but their friends and clansmen in Scotland sometimes managed to finda little money to send them. It was this man's job to take the money across to France, and he did this by travelling secretlyto Scotlandas often as possible. I thought he was very brave. “If he's caught by theEnglish army, they'll kill him!” I told myself. I liked the way he seemed toenjoy living dangerously.
Whenhe asked me for whisky, I had to go to ask the captain for the key to thecupboard. I found Hoseason and his officers talking quietly in a corner, andheard them planning to kill the stranger and steal his money. They seemed tothink that I would help them, and asked me to bring them secretly some gunsfrom the round-house. I went slowly back to the stranger, not sure what Ishould do. But when I entered the round-house, and saw him eating his supper, Idecided at once.
“They'regoing to attack you, and murder you!” I told him.
“What!”he cried, jumping up. “Will ye stand with me, against them?”
“Iwill! I'm no thief or murderer!” I replied bravely.
“Areye for King George?”
“Moreor less,” I answered.
“Well,Mr. More-or-Less, what's your name?”
“DavidBalfour,” I said, and then, thinking that a man with so fine a coat must likefine people, I added, “of Shaws.”
“Myname is Stewart,”he said proudly. “Alan Breck, they call me. And Stewart is aking's name, so it's good enough for me, although I have no name of a farmhouseto add to it.” He looked around him. “Now, David, I'll take any man who comesin through this door. You must watch the window, and the door behind me, andshoot anyone who tries to enter.
Hegave me a pistol. I was very frightened, but tried hard not to show it. Theship seemed very quiet. Suddenly there was the sound of running feet, and ashout, and then I heard fighting in the doorway. I looked over my shoulder, andsaw Mr. Shuan, just as Alan drove his sword into the officer's body. Thenseveral men ran at my door. I did not want to hurt them, but it was now ornever. I lifted my pistol and shot at them. One man fell, and the others ranaway. After a few moments, the sailors attacked again. Alan fought as bravelyas before, his sword now red with blood. He was clearly enjoying himself. I hadno time to think, but when two more men appeared at the window, I shot them too.Now there were several bodies on the floor, and blood everywhere.
SuddenlyI realized that we had won, and that the danger was over. Alan was driving themen out of the round-house like sheep. When he returned, he took me in his arms.
“David!”he cried. “I love ye like a brother. And oh, man, am I not a grand fighter?” Ihad to agree. He took a knife from the table and cut a silver button off hisblue coat. “Take this, David. The buttons come from my father, Duncan Stewart.Where ye show that button, the friends of Alan Breck will come to ye.” He spokeas proudly as a king, and I tried not to smile.
Weslept in the round-house, one of us keeping watch all night, and the nextmorning the captain came to speak to us. “Ye've won the fight, sir,” he said toAlan. “We're sailing through the Little Minch now, and I'll keep my promise totake ye to Loch Linnhe. But ye've killed mychief officer, Shuan, and without him I can't find my way safely round theserocky coasts. We'll go round the island of Mull, but I warn ye, it'llbe dangerous.
Hoseasonwas right to be worried. All that day Alan and I sat in the round-house andtold each other the stories of our lives, but by night the wind was growingstronger and the sailors found it hard to keep the ship away from the dangerousrocks. As we came round Earraid, a small island close to the larger island of Mull, there was a sudden, terrible crash,and we realized that the ship had hit a rock. There was only one thing to do-leavethe ship and try to reach land in the ship's boat. But as we were climbing downinto the boat, a great wave hit the ship and knocked some of us into the sea.
I wentdown and came up again several times. Then, luckily, I managed to find a pieceof wood, which helped me to stay up in the water. I looked round, but could notsee Alan, or any of the sailors, or the boat. My only hope was to try to swimto Earraid, which I could see, not far away, in the moonlight. It was hard, tiringwork, but I reached it, and was very grateful to step on to dry land at last.
第二章綁架！
當我在黑暗中醒來的時候，我的頭很痛，而我無法挪動我的手和腳。我能聽見水手的叫喊聲還有風聲和海浪的拍打聲。整個世界彷彿升起，升起，升起，然後再次下降。我感到非常不適，起初無法想起到底發生了什麼事情。過了一會兒，我發現我應該在船上的某個地方，而且船在水裡快速地行駛。「我被綁架了！」我氣憤地想。很明顯地，這所有的一切都是叔叔和船長合伙預謀的。當我在黑暗中躺著的時候，我開始感到害怕和絕望。
幾個小時之後，有一道光線照射在我的臉上。船上的高級船員里亞奇先生，站在那兒俯視著我。他清洗了我頭上的傷口，給了我一些水，還親切地讓我睡覺。而他再次出現時，我感到非常熱，我生病了。他把霍齊亞森船長也帶來了。
「現在，船長先生，自己看看吧，」里亞奇先生說。「這個小夥子病得很重。我們必須馬上讓他離開這個不健康的地方。」
「這與你無關，」船長回答道。「我花錢雇用你是讓你來做應該做的工作，不用擔心他。他得留在下面。」
「我是受雇來當這艘船上的高級船員，」里亞奇先生厲聲回答說。他直直地看著船長。「我並不是收了錢，像你一樣綁架和謀殺－」
霍齊亞森轉向里亞奇氣憤地說。「你說什麼？」他喊道。「你說什麼，你是什麼意思？」
里亞奇先生平靜地看著他說：「你明白」。
「你現在應該瞭解我，里亞奇先生。我不是軟弱的人。但是，如果你說這個小夥子會死的話—」
「是呀，他會死的！」里亞奇先生說。
「哦，先生，那就把他放在你想要的地方！」
幾分鐘後，我被帶到能照到陽光的地方，並將我安置在水手們睡覺的一間小屋。這是一種奇妙的感覺，可以看見陽光而且能夠和別人交談了。我在機艙裡躺了幾天，不久之後開始覺得好多了。水手們用他們的方式善待我。他們給我帶來食物和水，並且告訴我關於他們在家鄉的家人。我從他們那裡發現船正駛向北美地區的卡羅來納州。船長打算在那裡把我當作奴隸賣掉，賣給一個有錢人家，或是在農場裡工作。
我也知道里亞奇先生和舒安先生兩位高級船員都有酗酒的習慣。水手們都喜歡舒安先生，但他們說，他有時喝多了會變得很兇。其中一名水手是一個年輕的男孩，叫蘭塞姆。他的工作是給後甲板艙室（船頂上的大機艙）裡的船長和高級船員送飯，後甲板室是高級船員吃住的地方。當蘭塞姆掉了東西或是做了錯事，舒安先生會打他，而我經常看到那個可憐的孩子在哭泣。
有一天晚上，大約九點鐘，我聽到有一個水手在跟船艙內的其他水手說悄悄話：「舒安先生到底還是殺了他了！」我們都知道他指的是誰。就在這時，船長走進船艙。我很驚訝地看到他走向我，說親切地說：「小夥子。我們希望你能到甲板室來幫助我們。從現在開始，你就代替蘭塞姆在那裡睡覺。」就在他說話的時候，兩名水手將蘭塞姆抬進船艙裡，而他的臉色蒼白如紙，一動也不動。當我看見他時，我渾身的血液瞬間變冷。
我順從船長的話，跑到後甲板室。那是一個大房間，有一張桌子，一個凳子和上鎖的櫥櫃。所有最好的食物和飲料都放在那裡，在船長的眼皮下，也在槍口的保護之下。當我走進去時，只見舒安先生坐在桌邊，一瓶威士忌放在他的面前。他似乎沒有注意到他的周圍發生了什麼事，卻死死地盯著桌面。
里亞奇先生很快地加入了船長和我的中間。他意味深長地看了霍齊亞森一眼，並從他的眼神中我知道蘭塞姆已經死了。我們三個全都靜靜地站著俯視著舒安先生。
突然，船長往前向他走去。「你知道你做了什麼事嗎？」他大喊。「你殺了那個男孩！」
舒安先生把一隻手放在他的頭上。「嗯，」他說，「他給我一個骯髒的玻璃杯！」
船長和里亞奇先生和我互相看了對方一眼，幾乎嚇壞了。然後霍齊亞森抓住舒安先生的手臂，並且命令他去睡覺。
這個殺人犯剛開始的時候哭了一會兒，後來他脫下靴子，像一個小孩子一樣躺下。
「里亞奇先生，」在我們確定舒安先生睡著了之後，船長開口說，「不能讓岸上的人知道今晚發生了什麼事。我們會說那個男孩掉進海裡。讓我們喝一杯，大衛，我們二個都需要喝一杯。」然後他給了我櫥櫃的鑰匙。
在接下來的幾天裡，我總是非常忙碌，東奔西跑地幫高級船員準備食物和飲料。在我做錯事時里亞奇先生和船長對我也是出奇地耐心。也許他們還在想那個死去的可憐男孩。但舒安先生在蘭塞姆死後變得非常奇怪。他似乎不知道他做了什麼事，也認不出我來。在我進後甲板室的第二天，他臉色蒼白用充滿恐懼的眼神看著我。「你以前不在這裡嗎？」他問。
「是的，先生，」我回答。
「有另一個男孩嗎？」他問。「啊！是的，我想有的，」他坐了下來又叫了更多的威士忌。
這個生活對我來說並不困難。我能吃得好，可以和里亞奇先生像朋友一樣交談。但我無法忘記可憐的蘭塞姆。隨著日子一天天過去，我也越來越擔心。我知道，當船抵達卡羅來納州的時候，我將不再是一個自由的人，而是一個奴隸。我使勁地想，但似乎沒有逃跑的方法。
大約一星期後，我們在天氣非常惡劣的蘇格蘭北部沿著礁岩海岸航行。因為大霧彌漫什麼東西都很難看得見。某天晚上，有一個巨大的碰撞聲，高級船員們趕緊跑出船艙看看發生了什麼事。我以為我們撞到一塊岩石，但實際上是一條小船。當我們看到時，小船已經斷成兩截，而且除了一名乘客之外，其他人都已經沒入海底了。就在撞船的時候，這個人已設法跳起來抓住我們的船舷，掙扎著爬上船。
船長把他帶到後甲板室。他個頭不大，但體格很好，有一張開朗、黝黑的臉，還有一雙明亮、逗人開心的眼睛。當他脫下長外套時，我看到他有一對手槍，身上配帶一把利劍。雖然他生活在巨大的危險之中，但他看起來似乎很鎮靜，而且有禮貌地跟船長交談。但霍齊亞森則饒有興趣的看看他的衣服。他戴著一頂插著羽毛的帽子，一件搭配銀色鈕釦的藍色大衣，脖子那邊圍著一圈看似昂貴的花邊。
「我很抱歉撞壞了你的船，先生，」船長說。
「我今天失去了一些摯友，」陌生人回答，「而這比失去十條船還要糟糕。」
「哦，先生，這世界上人比船還多，」船長回答，眼睛仍然密切地注視著他。「我知道，因為我也和你一樣曾經在法國待過。」
船長明確又認真地說出最後這句話。它們似乎有一種特殊的含義。陌生人迅速地把他的手擱在手槍上。
「別擔心，」霍齊亞森說。「你穿著法國士兵的外套，又操著蘇格蘭的口音，這不假，但現今有很多誠實的人都是這樣的。」
「好吧，先生，」陌生人回答，「我必須告訴你我是那些以自己在一七四五年反抗英格蘭國王、為家園而戰、為部族而戰、為國家而戰為榮的誠實的高地人之一。我還得告訴你另外一件事。如果喬治國王的士兵找到我，我就有麻煩了。我要去法國，我的一些族人在那裡生活。但在大霧中我的小船錯過了來接應我的法國船。所以如果你能把我帶到法國，我將好好酬謝你。」
他打開錢包，示意它裡面裝滿金幣。船長似乎很興奮，他看了看錢，然後又看了看那男人的臉。
「到法國？」他回答說。「不，我不能這樣做。不過到高地，是呀，大家可以討論。」他們坐在一起，最後達成共識，船長將陌生人帶到蘇格蘭西北海岸的林納湖，酬金是六十磅。在那裡這位高地人置身於朋友之間，因為遠離英格蘭軍隊所以很安全。他和霍齊亞森握手，然後船長讓我留下單獨和陌生人在一起。
他已經告訴船長，這些黃金不是他的。在一七四五年政變後，有一些高地人逃到法國，但他們在蘇格蘭的朋友和族人有時會設法找到一點錢送給他們。而這個男人的任務就是把錢送到法國，而他通常盡可能地透過秘密旅行到蘇格蘭完成這個任務。我覺得他很勇敢。「但如果他被英格蘭軍隊抓住了，他們會殺了他！」我對自己說。我喜歡他似乎享受冒險的生活方式。
當他向我要威士忌，我只好去找船長要櫥櫃的鑰匙。我找到霍齊亞森時他正和高級船員在一個角落悄聲談論著，聽見他們計畫殺死陌生人並偷走他的錢。他們似乎認為我會幫助他們，讓我從後甲板室裡暗中帶出一些槍支給他們。我又慢慢地回到陌生人身邊，不知道我應該做什麼。但是，當我進入後甲板室並看見他在吃晚飯的時候，我馬上做出了決定。
「他們要襲擊你，並殺害你！」我告訴他。
「什麼！」他喊道，跳了起來。「那你是打算和我站在同一陣線，反抗他們嗎？」
「我會的！我不是小偷或殺人犯！」我勇敢地回答。
「那你擁護喬治國王嗎？」
「差不多，」我回答。
「好吧，差不多先生，你叫什麼名字？」
「大衛．貝爾福，」我說，接著我想到穿著這麼好外衣的人一定喜歡傑出的人物，然後我補充說：「肖家大院的。」
「我的姓氏是斯圖爾特，」他自豪地說。「艾倫．布雷克，他們這麼稱呼我。而斯圖爾特是一個國王的姓氏，雖然我身處一間無名的農舍，但有斯圖爾特這個出身背景這對我來說已經夠好了。」他環顧四周。「現在，大衛，我要幹掉從這扇門進來的任何人。你必須看緊窗戶和我身後的門，並打死試圖進來的人。」
他給了我一把手槍。我害怕極了，但盡量隱藏不表現出來。這艘船看起來似乎很安靜。突然傳來一陣腳步聲和呼喊聲，然後我聽到有打鬥聲從門口傳來。我掉頭看了看，就在艾倫把劍刺進了那個高級船員的身體時我看見了那是舒安先生。然後有幾個男人跑到我這裡的門前。我不想傷害他們，但機不可失。我舉起了手槍射擊他們。有一個人倒下了，其他人跑開了。幾分鐘後，水手們再次攻擊。艾倫一如往常勇敢的戰鬥著，他的劍被鮮血染紅。而他顯然自得其樂。我沒有時間思考，但是當兩名男子出現在窗口時，我也舉槍射死他們。現在有幾具屍體倒在地板上，而且到處都是血跡。
突然我意識到我們贏了，危機已經過去了。艾倫像趕羊似的把那群人趕了出去。當他回來後，他把我抱在懷裡。
「大衛！」他喊道。「我愛你像愛我的兄弟一樣。噢，伙計，我難道還不是一個偉大的戰士嗎？」我只好同意。他從桌上拿起一把刀並從藍色大衣上割下一顆銀色鈕釦。「拿著這個，大衛。這些鈕釦都是傳承自我的父親鄧肯．斯圖爾特。無論你們在哪裡拿出這顆鈕釦，艾倫．布雷克的朋友們都會來到你們身邊。」他像國王般驕傲地說著，我努力忍住不笑出來。
我們睡在後甲板室，我們其中一個守了一整夜，第二天早上，船長來和我們說話。「你們贏了這場戰鬥，先生，」他對艾倫說。「我們正要穿過小門奇了，我會遵守我的諾言把你帶到林納湖。但你殺了我的高級船員－舒安，沒有他，我無法在這佈滿礁石的海岸邊找到安全的航線。我們會繞去馬爾島，但我警告你們，這將會是危險的。」
霍齊亞森的擔心不無道理。那一整天艾倫和我坐在後甲板室裡，互相講述著我們自己生活中的每一個故事，但晚上的風越來越強烈而且水手們發現把船遠離危險的礁石。當我們來到伊銳德島（馬爾島附近的小島中較大的一個島）時，突然傳來一陣可怕的碰撞聲，而我們意識到船已經撞上一塊礁石了。現在只有一件事要做－棄船並嘗試用船上的小艇靠岸。但是正當我們爬上小艇時，一個大浪打來，把我們一些人打入了海中。
我沉下去又浮上來了好幾次。接著，幸運的是，我設法找到了一塊木板，這塊木板可以幫助我浮在海面上。我環顧四周，卻不見艾倫，也不見任何水手和小艇。我唯一的希望是設法游到伊銳德島，在月光下我能看見，距離不遠。這是個很困難、累人的工作，但我達到了，終於踏上岸之後我感到特別愉快舒適。
Chapter 2 Kidnapped!
When Iwoke up in darkness, my head was hurting badly, and I was unable to move myhands or feet. I could hear the sailor’s shouts and the sound of the wind andthe waves. The whole world seemed to go up, up, up, and then down again. I feltvery ill, and at first could not under stand what was happening. After a whileI realized that I must be somewhere inside the ship, which was moving very fastthrough the water. “I've been kidnapped!” I thought angrily. It was clear thatmy uncle and the captain had planned it together. I began to feel frightenedand hopeless, as I lay there in the dark.
Somehours later, a light shone in my face. Mr. Riach, one of the ship's officers, stoodlooking down at me. He washed the cut on my head, gave me some water, and toldme kindly to go to sleep. The next time he came, I was feeling very hot and ill.He had brought Captain Hoseason with him.
“Now, sir,see for yourself,” said Mr. Riach. “The lad's seriously ill. We must take himout of this unhealthy hole at once.
“That'snone of your business,” answered the captain. “Ye're paid to do your job, notto worry about the by. He's staying down here.”
“I'monly paid to be an officer on this ship, ” replied Mr. Riach sharply. He lookedhard at the captain. “I'm not paid, like you, to kidnap and murder—”
Hoseasonturned on him angrily. “What did ye say?” be cried. “What do ye mean?”
“Youunderstand” said Mr. Riach, looking calmly at him.
“Youshould know me by now, Mr. Riach. I'm a hard man. But if ye say the lad willdie—”
“Aye, hewill!” said Mr. Riach.
“Well,sir, put him where ye like!”
So Iwas carried up into the sunlight a few minutes later, and put in a cabin wheresome of the sailors were sleeping. It was a wonderful feeling to see thedaylight and to be able to talk to people again. I lay in the cabin for severaldays, and after a while began to feel better. The sailors were kind to me intheir way. They brought me food and drink, and told me about their families athome. I discovered from them that the ship was sailing to the Carolinas, in North America. There the captain was planning to sell meas a slave, to work in a rich man's house or on a farm.
I alsolearnt that both the ship's officers, Mr. Riach and Mr. Shuan, enjoyed drinking far too much. The sailors liked Mr. Shuan, but said that he was sometimesviolent when he had drunk a lot. One of the sailors was a young boy, called Ransome. His job was to bring meals tothe captain and officers in the round-house, a big cabin on the top of theship, wherethe officers slept and ate. When Ransome dropped something or didsomething wrong, Mr Shuan used to hit him, and I often saw the poor boy crying.
Onenight, about nine o’clock, I heard one of the sailors in the cabinsaying quietly to the others, “Shuan's killed him at last!” We all knew who he meant. Just then the captain came in. I was surprised to see him walktowards me and say kindly, “My man. We Want ye to help us in theround-house. From now on, ye'll sleep there instead of Ransome.” As he spoke, two sailors carried Ransomeinto the cabin His face was as white as a sheet, and he did not move. My blood ran cold when I sawhim.
Iobeyed the captain, and ran to the round-house. It was a large room, with a table, a bench and locked cupboards. Allthe best food and drink was kept there, under the captain's eyes, as well as the guns. When I entered, I saw Mr. Shuan sitting at thetable, with a bottle of whisky in front of him. He did not seem to notice whatwas happening around him, and was looking fixedly at the table.
Mr.Riach soon joined the captain and me. He looked at Hoseason meaningfully, and I understood from his lookthat Ransome was dead. We three all stood silently looking downat Mr Shuan.
Suddenlythe captain stepped forward. “Do ye know what ye've done?” he cried. “Ye've murdered the boy!”
Mr.Shuan put a hand to his head. “Well,” he said, “he brought me a dirty glass!”
Thecaptain and Mr. Riach and I looked at each other, almost frightened. Then Hoseason took Mr. Shuan bythe arm, and told him to go to bed. The murderer cried a little at first, but he took off his boots andlay down, like a small child.
“Mr.Riach,” saidthe captain, when we could see that Mr. Shuan was asleep, “nobody on land must know whathappened tonight. We'll say that the boy fell into the sea. Get us a drink, David, we both need one,” and he gave me the key to thecupboards.
In thenext few days I was very busy, running here and there with theofficers’food and drink. Mr. Riach and the captain weresurprisingly patient with me when I made mistakes. Perhaps they were thinking ofthe poor boy who had died. But Mr. Shuan was very strange afterRansome's death. He did not seem to know what he had done, or to recognize me. On my second day in theround-house, he looked at me with a white face and fear in his eyes. “You weren't here before?” he asked.
“No, sir,” I replied.
“Therewas another boy?” heasked. “Ah! Yes, I thought so,” and sitting down, he called for some more whisky.
Itwasn't a hard life for me. I was able to eat well, and talk to Mr. Riach, who spoke to me like a friend. But I could not forget poorRansome. As the days passed, I became more and more worried. I knew that, when the ship arrived in the Carolinas, I would no longer be a free man, but a slave. I thought hard, but there did not seem to beany way of escaping.
Abouta week later, we were sailing round the rocky coast of northern Scotland invery bad weather. It was difficult to see anything because of the thick fog. One evening there was a greatcrash, and the officers ran out to see what had happened. I thought we had hit a rock, but in fact it was a small boat.As we watched, the boat broke in two, and went to the bottom with all its men, except the one passenger. At the moment of the crash, this man managed to jump up andcatch the side of the ship and pull himself up.
Thecaptain brought him into the round-house. He was smallish but well-built, with an open, sunburnt face, and bright, amused eyes. When he took offhis long coat, I could see that he had a pair of pistols and was wearing a swordat his side. Although his life had clearly been in great danger, he seemed verycalm, and spoke politely to the captain Hoseason was looking with interest atthe man's clothes. He Was Wearing a hat with feathers, a blue coat with silverbuttons, and expensive-looking lace round his neck.
“I'msorry about the boat, sir,” said the captain.
“I'velost some grand friends today,” replied the stranger, “and that's worse thanlosing ten boats.”
“Well,sir, there are more men in the world than boats,” replied the captain, stillwatching him closely. “I know, be cause I've been in France, like you.”
Hesaid these last words clearly and carefully. They seemed to have a specialmeaning. The stranger put his hand quickly on his pistol.
“Don'tworry,” said Hoseason. “Ye've a French soldier's coat on your back and aScottish tongue in your head, that's true, but so has many an honest man thesedays.”
“Well,sir,” replied the stranger, “I must tell you that I'm one of those honest Highlanderswho were proud to fight for their homes, their clan and their country in 1745, againstthe English King. And I must tell you another thing. If King George's soldiersfind me, I'll be in trouble. I was on my way to France, where some of my clansmenlive now. But in the fog my boat missed the French ship that was meeting me. Soif you can take me to France,I'll pay you well.”
Heopened his purse and showed that it was full of gold coins. The captain seemedexcited as he looked at the money, and then at the man's face.
“To France?” hereplied. “No, I can't do that. But to the Highlands,aye, we can discuss that.” They sat down together, and in the end agreed thatthe captain would take the stranger to Loch Linnhe, on the northwest coast of Scot land, for sixty pounds. There the Highlander wouldbe among friends, and safe from the English army. He and Hoseason shook hands, andthe captain left me alone with the stranger.
He hadtold the captain that the gold was not his own. Some of the Highlanders hadescaped to France after theForty-Five, but their friends and clansmen in Scotland sometimes managed to finda little money to send them. It was this man's job to take the money across to France, and he did this by travelling secretlyto Scotlandas often as possible. I thought he was very brave. “If he's caught by theEnglish army, they'll kill him!” I told myself. I liked the way he seemed toenjoy living dangerously.
Whenhe asked me for whisky, I had to go to ask the captain for the key to thecupboard. I found Hoseason and his officers talking quietly in a corner, andheard them planning to kill the stranger and steal his money. They seemed tothink that I would help them, and asked me to bring them secretly some gunsfrom the round-house. I went slowly back to the stranger, not sure what Ishould do. But when I entered the round-house, and saw him eating his supper, Idecided at once.
“They'regoing to attack you, and murder you!” I told him.
“What!”he cried, jumping up. “Will ye stand with me, against them?”
“Iwill! I'm no thief or murderer!” I replied bravely.
“Areye for King George?”
“Moreor less,” I answered.
“Well,Mr. More-or-Less, what's your name?”
“DavidBalfour,” I said, and then, thinking that a man with so fine a coat must likefine people, I added, “of Shaws.”
“Myname is Stewart,”he said proudly. “Alan Breck, they call me. And Stewart is aking's name, so it's good enough for me, although I have no name of a farmhouseto add to it.” He looked around him. “Now, David, I'll take any man who comesin through this door. You must watch the window, and the door behind me, andshoot anyone who tries to enter.
Hegave me a pistol. I was very frightened, but tried hard not to show it. Theship seemed very quiet. Suddenly there was the sound of running feet, and ashout, and then I heard fighting in the doorway. I looked over my shoulder, andsaw Mr. Shuan, just as Alan drove his sword into the officer's body. Thenseveral men ran at my door. I did not want to hurt them, but it was now ornever. I lifted my pistol and shot at them. One man fell, and the others ranaway. After a few moments, the sailors attacked again. Alan fought as bravelyas before, his sword now red with blood. He was clearly enjoying himself. I hadno time to think, but when two more men appeared at the window, I shot them too.Now there were several bodies on the floor, and blood everywhere.
SuddenlyI realized that we had won, and that the danger was over. Alan was driving themen out of the round-house like sheep. When he returned, he took me in his arms.
“David!”he cried. “I love ye like a brother. And oh, man, am I not a grand fighter?” Ihad to agree. He took a knife from the table and cut a silver button off hisblue coat. “Take this, David. The buttons come from my father, Duncan Stewart.Where ye show that button, the friends of Alan Breck will come to ye.” He spokeas proudly as a king, and I tried not to smile.
Weslept in the round-house, one of us keeping watch all night, and the nextmorning the captain came to speak to us. “Ye've won the fight, sir,” he said toAlan. “We're sailing through the Little Minch now, and I'll keep my promise totake ye to Loch Linnhe. But ye've killed mychief officer, Shuan, and without him I can't find my way safely round theserocky coasts. We'll go round the island of Mull, but I warn ye, it'llbe dangerous.
Hoseasonwas right to be worried. All that day Alan and I sat in the round-house andtold each other the stories of our lives, but by night the wind was growingstronger and the sailors found it hard to keep the ship away from the dangerousrocks. As we came round Earraid, a small island close to the larger island of Mull, there was a sudden, terrible crash,and we realized that the ship had hit a rock. There was only one thing to do-leavethe ship and try to reach land in the ship's boat. But as we were climbing downinto the boat, a great wave hit the ship and knocked some of us into the sea.
I wentdown and came up again several times. Then, luckily, I managed to find a pieceof wood, which helped me to stay up in the water. I looked round, but could notsee Alan, or any of the sailors, or the boat. My only hope was to try to swimto Earraid, which I could see, not far away, in the moonlight. It was hard, tiringwork, but I reached it, and was very grateful to step on to dry land at last.
第二章綁架！
當我在黑暗中醒來的時候，我的頭很痛，而我無法挪動我的手和腳。我能聽見水手的叫喊聲還有風聲和海浪的拍打聲。整個世界彷彿升起，升起，升起，然後再次下降。我感到非常不適，起初無法想起到底發生了什麼事情。過了一會兒，我發現我應該在船上的某個地方，而且船在水裡快速地行駛。「我被綁架了！」我氣憤地想。很明顯地，這所有的一切都是叔叔和船長合伙預謀的。當我在黑暗中躺著的時候，我開始感到害怕和絕望。
幾個小時之後，有一道光線照射在我的臉上。船上的高級船員里亞奇先生，站在那兒俯視著我。他清洗了我頭上的傷口，給了我一些水，還親切地讓我睡覺。而他再次出現時，我感到非常熱，我生病了。他把霍齊亞森船長也帶來了。
「現在，船長先生，自己看看吧，」里亞奇先生說。「這個小夥子病得很重。我們必須馬上讓他離開這個不健康的地方。」
「這與你無關，」船長回答道。「我花錢雇用你是讓你來做應該做的工作，不用擔心他。他得留在下面。」
「我是受雇來當這艘船上的高級船員，」里亞奇先生厲聲回答說。他直直地看著船長。「我並不是收了錢，像你一樣綁架和謀殺－」
霍齊亞森轉向里亞奇氣憤地說。「你說什麼？」他喊道。「你說什麼，你是什麼意思？」
里亞奇先生平靜地看著他說：「你明白」。
「你現在應該瞭解我，里亞奇先生。我不是軟弱的人。但是，如果你說這個小夥子會死的話—」
「是呀，他會死的！」里亞奇先生說。
「哦，先生，那就把他放在你想要的地方！」
幾分鐘後，我被帶到能照到陽光的地方，並將我安置在水手們睡覺的一間小屋。這是一種奇妙的感覺，可以看見陽光而且能夠和別人交談了。我在機艙裡躺了幾天，不久之後開始覺得好多了。水手們用他們的方式善待我。他們給我帶來食物和水，並且告訴我關於他們在家鄉的家人。我從他們那裡發現船正駛向北美地區的卡羅來納州。船長打算在那裡把我當作奴隸賣掉，賣給一個有錢人家，或是在農場裡工作。
我也知道里亞奇先生和舒安先生兩位高級船員都有酗酒的習慣。水手們都喜歡舒安先生，但他們說，他有時喝多了會變得很兇。其中一名水手是一個年輕的男孩，叫蘭塞姆。他的工作是給後甲板艙室（船頂上的大機艙）裡的船長和高級船員送飯，後甲板室是高級船員吃住的地方。當蘭塞姆掉了東西或是做了錯事，舒安先生會打他，而我經常看到那個可憐的孩子在哭泣。
有一天晚上，大約九點鐘，我聽到有一個水手在跟船艙內的其他水手說悄悄話：「舒安先生到底還是殺了他了！」我們都知道他指的是誰。就在這時，船長走進船艙。我很驚訝地看到他走向我，親切地說：「小夥子。我們希望你能到甲板室來幫助我們。從現在開始，你就代替蘭塞姆在那裡睡覺。」就在他說話的時候，兩名水手將蘭塞姆抬進船艙裡，而他的臉色蒼白如紙，一動也不動。當我看見他時，我渾身的血液瞬間變冷。
我順從船長的話，跑到後甲板室。那是一個大房間，有一張桌子，一個凳子和上鎖的櫥櫃。所有最好的食物和飲料都放在那裡，在船長的眼皮下，也在槍口的保護之下。當我走進去時，只見舒安先生坐在桌邊，一瓶威士忌放在他的面前。他似乎沒有注意到他的周圍發生了什麼事，卻死死地盯著桌面。
里亞奇先生很快地加入了船長和我的中間。他意味深長地看了霍齊亞森一眼，並從他的眼神中我知道蘭塞姆已經死了。我們三個全都靜靜地站著俯視著舒安先生。
突然，船長往前向他走去。「你知道你做了什麼事嗎？」他大喊。「你殺了那個男孩！」
舒安先生把一隻手放在他的頭上。「嗯，」他說，「他給我一個骯髒的玻璃杯！」
船長和里亞奇先生和我互相看了對方一眼，幾乎嚇壞了。然後霍齊亞森抓住舒安先生的手臂，並且命令他去睡覺。
這個殺人犯剛開始的時候哭了一會兒，後來他脫下靴子，像一個小孩子一樣躺下。
「里亞奇先生，」在我們確定舒安先生睡著了之後，船長開口說，「不能讓岸上的人知道今晚發生了什麼事。我們會說那個男孩掉進海裡。讓我們喝一杯，大衛，我們二個都需要喝一杯。」然後他給了我櫥櫃的鑰匙。
在接下來的幾天裡，我總是非常忙碌，東奔西跑地幫高級船員準備食物和飲料。在我做錯事時里亞奇先生和船長對我也是出奇地耐心。也許他們還在想那個死去的可憐男孩。但舒安先生在蘭塞姆死後變得非常奇怪。他似乎不知道他做了什麼事，也認不出我來。在我進後甲板室的第二天，他臉色蒼白用充滿恐懼的眼神看著我。「你以前不在這裡嗎？」他問。
「是的，先生，」我回答。
「有另一個男孩嗎？」他問。「啊！是的，我想有的，」他坐了下來又叫了更多的威士忌。
這個生活對我來說並不困難。我能吃得好，可以和里亞奇先生像朋友一樣交談。但我無法忘記可憐的蘭塞姆。隨著日子一天天過去，我也越來越擔心。我知道，當船抵達卡羅來納州的時候，我將不再是一個自由的人，而是一個奴隸。我使勁地想，但似乎沒有逃跑的方法。
大約一星期後，我們在天氣非常惡劣的蘇格蘭北部沿著礁岩海岸航行。因為大霧彌漫什麼東西都很難看得見。某天晚上，有一個巨大的碰撞聲，高級船員們趕緊跑出船艙看看發生了什麼事。我以為我們撞到一塊岩石，但實際上是一條小船。當我們看到時，小船已經斷成兩截，而且除了一名乘客之外，其他人都已經沒入海底了。就在撞船的時候，這個人已設法跳起來抓住我們的船舷，掙扎著爬上船。
船長把他帶到後甲板室。他個頭不大，但體格很好，有一張開朗、黝黑的臉，還有一雙明亮、逗人開心的眼睛。當他脫下長外套時，我看到他有一對手槍，身上配帶一把利劍。雖然他生活在巨大的危險之中，但他看起來似乎很鎮靜，而且有禮貌地跟船長交談。但霍齊亞森則饒有興趣的看看他的衣服。他戴著一頂插著羽毛的帽子，一件搭配銀色鈕釦的藍色大衣，脖子那邊圍著一圈看似昂貴的花邊。
「我很抱歉撞壞了你的船，先生，」船長說。
「我今天失去了一些摯友，」陌生人回答，「而這比失去十條船還要糟糕。」
「哦，先生，這世界上人比船還多，」船長回答，眼睛仍然密切地注視著他。「我知道，因為我也和你一樣曾經在法國待過。」
船長明確又認真地說出最後這句話。它們似乎有一種特殊的含義。陌生人迅速地把他的手擱在手槍上。
「別擔心，」霍齊亞森說。「你穿著法國士兵的外套，又操著蘇格蘭的口音，這不假，但現今有很多誠實的人都是這樣的。」
「好吧，先生，」陌生人回答，「我必須告訴你我是那些以自己在一七四五年反抗英格蘭國王、為家園而戰、為部族而戰、為國家而戰為榮的誠實的高地人之一。我還得告訴你另外一件事。如果喬治國王的士兵找到我，我就有麻煩了。我要去法國，我的一些族人在那裡生活。但在大霧中我的小船錯過了來接應我的法國船。所以如果你能把我帶到法國，我將好好酬謝你。」
他打開錢包，示意它裡面裝滿金幣。船長似乎很興奮，他看了看錢，然後又看了看那男人的臉。
「到法國？」他回答說。「不，我不能這樣做。不過到高地，是呀，大家可以討論。」他們坐在一起，最後達成共識，船長將陌生人帶到蘇格蘭西北海岸的林納湖，酬金是六十磅。在那裡這位高地人置身於朋友之間，因為遠離英格蘭軍隊所以很安全。他和霍齊亞森握手，然後船長讓我留下單獨和陌生人在一起。
他已經告訴船長，這些黃金不是他的。在一七四五年政變後，有一些高地人逃到法國，但他們在蘇格蘭的朋友和族人有時會設法找到一點錢送給他們。而這個男人的任務就是把錢送到法國，而他通常盡可能地透過秘密旅行到蘇格蘭完成這個任務。我覺得他很勇敢。「但如果他被英格蘭軍隊抓住了，他們會殺了他！」我對自己說。我喜歡他似乎享受冒險的生活方式。
當他向我要威士忌，我只好去找船長要櫥櫃的鑰匙。我找到霍齊亞森時他正和高級船員在一個角落悄聲談論著，聽見他們計畫殺死陌生人並偷走他的錢。他們似乎認為我會幫助他們，讓我從後甲板室裡暗中帶出一些槍支給他們。我又慢慢地回到陌生人身邊，不知道我應該做什麼。但是，當我進入後甲板室並看見他在吃晚飯的時候，我馬上做出了決定。
「他們要襲擊你，並殺害你！」我告訴他。
「什麼！」他喊道，跳了起來。「那你是打算和我站在同一陣線，反抗他們嗎？」
「我會的！我不是小偷或殺人犯！」我勇敢地回答。
「那你擁護喬治國王嗎？」
「差不多，」我回答。
「好吧，差不多先生，你叫什麼名字？」
「大衛．貝爾福，」我說，接著我想到穿著這麼好外衣的人一定喜歡傑出的人物，然後我補充說：「肖家大院的。」
「我的姓氏是斯圖爾特，」他自豪地說。「艾倫．布雷克，他們這麼稱呼我。而斯圖爾特是一個國王的姓氏，雖然我身處一間無名的農舍，但有斯圖爾特這個出身背景這對我來說已經夠好了。」他環顧四周。「現在，大衛，我要幹掉從這扇門進來的任何人。你必須看緊窗戶和我身後的門，並打死試圖進來的人。」
他給了我一把手槍。我害怕極了，但盡量隱藏不表現出來。這艘船看起來似乎很安靜。突然傳來一陣腳步聲和呼喊聲，然後我聽到有打鬥聲從門口傳來。我掉頭看了看，就在艾倫把劍刺進了那個高級船員的身體時我看見了那是舒安先生。然後有幾個男人跑到我這裡的門前。我不想傷害他們，但機不可失。我舉起了手槍射擊他們。有一個人倒下了，其他人跑開了。幾分鐘後，水手們再次攻擊。艾倫一如往常勇敢的戰鬥著，他的劍被鮮血染紅。而他顯然自得其樂。我沒有時間思考，但是當兩名男子出現在窗口時，我也舉槍射死他們。現在有幾具屍體倒在地板上，而且到處都是血跡。
突然我意識到我們贏了，危機已經過去了。艾倫像趕羊似的把那群人趕了出去。當他回來後，他把我抱在懷裡。
「大衛！」他喊道。「我愛你像愛我的兄弟一樣。噢，伙計，我難道還不是一個偉大的戰士嗎？」我只好同意。他從桌上拿起一把刀並從藍色大衣上割下一顆銀色鈕釦。「拿著這個，大衛。這些鈕釦都是傳承自我的父親鄧肯．斯圖爾特。無論你們在哪裡拿出這顆鈕釦，艾倫．布雷克的朋友們都會來到你們身邊。」他像國王般驕傲地說著，我努力忍住不笑出來。
我們睡在後甲板室，我們其中一個守了一整夜，第二天早上，船長來和我們說話。「你們贏了這場戰鬥，先生，」他對艾倫說。「我們正要穿過小門奇了，我會遵守我的諾言把你帶到林納湖。但你殺了我的高級船員－舒安，沒有他，我無法在這佈滿礁石的海岸邊找到安全的航線。我們會繞去馬爾島，但我警告你們，這將會是危險的。」
霍齊亞森的擔心不無道理。那一整天艾倫和我坐在後甲板室裡，互相講述著我們自己生活中的每一個故事，但晚上的風越來越強烈而且水手們發現很難把船駛離危險的礁石。當我們來到伊銳德島（馬爾島附近的小島中較大的一個島）時，突然傳來一陣可怕的碰撞聲，而我們意識到船已經撞上一塊礁石了。現在只有一件事要做－棄船並嘗試用船上的小艇靠岸。但是正當我們爬上小艇時，一個大浪打來，把我們一些人打入了海中。
我沉下去又浮上來了好幾次。接著，幸運的是，我設法找到了一塊木板，這塊木板可以幫助我浮在海面上。我環顧四周，卻不見艾倫，也不見任何水手和小艇。我唯一的希望是設法游到伊銳德島，在月光下我能看見，距離不遠。這是個很困難、累人的工作，但我達到了，終於踏上岸之後我感到特別愉快舒適。
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