It happened that he had appointed to go out in this boat, either for pleasure or for fish,[qh]

有一次，他约定要与当地两三位颇有身份的摩尔人坐我们的长舢舨出海游玩或捕鱼。[qh]

with two or three Moors of some distinction in that place, and for whom he had provided extraordinarily,[qh]

为了款待客人，他预备了许多酒菜食品，[qh]

and had, therefore, sent on board the boat overnight a larger store of provisions than ordinary;[qh]

并在头天晚上就送上了船。[qh]

and had ordered me to get ready three fusees with powder and shot,[qh]

他还吩咐我从他大船上取下三支短枪放到舢舨上，把火药和子弹准备好。[qh]

which were on board his ship, for that they designed some sport of fowling as well as fishing.[qh]

看来，他们除了想捕鱼外，还打算打鸟。[qh]

I got all things ready as he had directed, and waited the next morning with the boat washed clean,[qh]

我按照主人的吩咐，把一切都准备妥当。第二天早晨，船也洗干净了，[qh]

her ancient and pendants out, and everything to accommodate his guests;[qh]

旗子也挂上了；一切安排完毕，我就在舢舨上专候贵客的光临。[qh]

when by-and-by my patron came on board alone, and told me his guests had put off going from some business that fell out,[qh]

不料，过了一会儿，我主人一个人上船来。他对我说，客人临时有事，这次不去了，下次再去，但他们将来家里吃晚饭，[qh]

and ordered me, with the man and boy, as usual, to go out with the boat and catch them some fish,[qh]

所以要我和那个摩尔人和小孩像往常一样去打点鱼来，[qh]

for that his friends were to sup at his house, and commanded that as soon as I got some fish I should bring it home to his house;[qh]

以便晚上招待客人。他还特地吩咐，要我们一打到鱼就立即回来送到他家里。[qh]

all which I prepared to do.[qh]

这些事我当然准备一一照办。[qh]

This moment my former notions of deliverance darted into my thoughts,[qh]

这时，我那争取自由的旧念头又突然萌发起来。[qh]

for now I found I was likely to have alittle ship at my command;[qh]

因为，我觉得自己可以支配一条小船了。[qh]

and my master being gone, I prepared to furnish myself, not for fishing business, but for a voyage;[qh]

主人一走，我就着手准备起来，当然不是准备去捕鱼，而是准备远航。[qh]

though I knew not, neither did I so much as consider, whither I should steer - anywhere to get out of that place was my desire.[qh]

至于去哪儿，连我自己都不知道，也没有考虑过，只要离开这儿就行。[qh]

My first contrivance was to make a pretence to speak to this Moor, to get something for our subsistence on board;[qh]

我计划的第一步，先借口对那个摩尔人说，我们不应当自说自话吃主人的面包，[qh]

for I told him we must not presume to eat of our patrons bread.[qh]

得自己动手准备船上吃的东西。[qh]

He said that was true;[qh]

他说我的话非常对，[qh]

so he brought a large basket of rusk or biscuit, and three jars of fresh water, into the boat.[qh]

就拿来了一大筐当地甜饼干，又弄了三罐子淡水，一起搬到舢舨上。[qh]

I knew where my patrons case of bottles stood,[qh]

我知道主人装酒的箱子放的地方；[qh]

which it was evident, by the make, were taken out of some English prize,[qh]

看那箱子的样子，显然也是从英国人手里夺来的战利品。[qh]

and I conveyed them into the boat while the Moor was on shore, as if they had been there before for our master.[qh]

我趁那摩尔人上岸去的时候，就把那箱酒搬上舢舨，放到一个适当的地方，好像主人原来就放在那儿似的。[qh]