译读原著01-01：Tom Swift And His Motor-Boat
汤姆·史威夫特和他的摩托艇
(Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa)
（或卡洛斯湖的竞争对手）
VICTOR APPLETON
维克多·阿普尔顿
CHAPTER I A MOTOR-BOAT AUCTION
第一章 拍卖摩托艇
"Where are you going, Tom?" asked Mr. Barton Swift of his son as the young man was slowly pushing his motor-cycle out of the yard toward the country road. "You look as though you had some object in view."
“你要去哪里，汤姆？”巴顿·斯威夫特先生问，他看到年轻的儿子正慢腾腾推他的摩托车，从院子推向乡村小路，“你看起来好像有什么事啊。”
"So I have, dad. I'm going over to Lanton."
"To Lanton? What for?"
"I want to have a look at that motor-boat."
"Which boat is that, Tom? I don't recall your speaking about a boat over at Lanton. What do you want to look at it for?"
“是啊，老爸，我要去兰顿。”
“去兰顿？干什么？”
“我想看看那艘摩托艇。”
“哪条船，汤姆？我不记得你说过有一条船在兰顿。您想要做什么？”
"It's the motor-boat those fellows had who tried to get away with your turbine model invention, dad. The one they used at the old General Harkness mansion, in the woods near the lake, and the same boat that fellow used when he got away from me the day I was chasing him here."
"Oh, yes, I remember now. But what is the boat doing over at Lanton?"
“老爸，你该记得那些家伙，他们死也不用你发明的涡轮机。就是那些摩托艇。其中的一艘，他们放在湖边树林中哈克尼斯老宅中。我追他的那天，他就是用了那艘摩托艇逃跑的。”
“哦，是的，我记得了。但是，那艘船在兰顿整什么幺蛾子？”
"That's where it belongs. It's the property of Mr. Bently Hastings.The thieves stole it from him, and when they ran away from the old mansion, the time Mr. Damon and I raided the place, they left the boat on
the lake. I turned it over to the county authorities, and they found out it belonged to Mr. Hastings. He has it back now, but I understand it's somewhat damaged, and he wants to get rid of it. He's going to sell it at auction today, and I thought I'd go over and take a look at it. You see---"
“那艘船回来了。船是本特利·黑斯廷先生的。贼娃子从他那里偷走了。达蒙和我搜查时，他们从老宅逃走，开进湖里，弃船了。我把它交给了县当局，他们查到了船的主人时黑斯廷斯。现在已经物归原主，但我知道摩托艇有点损坏，他想脱手。他打算今天进行拍卖，我想我应该去看看。 你看......”
"Yes, I see, Tom," exclaimed Mr. Swift with a laugh. "I see what you're aiming at. You want a motor-boat, and you're going all around Robin Hood's barn to get at it."
"No, dad, I only---"
“好啊，汤姆。”斯威夫特笑着喊道。“我明白你想干什么。 您想要一艘摩托艇，开着去罗宾汉的谷仓，然后开始攻击它。”
“不，老爸，我只是......”
"Oh, I know you, Tom, my lad!" interrupted the inventor, shaking his finger at his son, who seemed somewhat confused. "You have a nice rowing skiff and a sailboat, yet you are hankering for a motor-boat.Come now, own up. Aren't you?"
“哦，我知道，汤姆，我的孩子！”发明家摇着他的手指，打断了儿子的话，他的儿子似乎有些困惑。“你有一个漂亮的划艇，还有帆船，但你还渴望有一艘摩托艇。现在就想要，不是吗？”
"Well, dad, a motor-boat certainly would go fine on Lake Carlopa.There's plenty of room to speed her, and I wonder there aren't more of them. I was going to see what Mr. Hastings' boat would sell for, but I didn't exactly think of buying it' Still---"
"But you wouldn't buy a damaged boat, would you?"
“好吧，老爸，摩托艇在卡洛斯湖可以一展拳脚。有足够的空间让她加速，湖面也没有太多的摩托艇。我要去看看黑斯廷先生的船能卖什么价格，但我还没有想好要买它还是---”
“但是你不会买条破船，对吧？”
"It isn't much damaged," and in his eagerness the young inventor (for Tom Swift had taken out several patents) stood his motor-cycle up against the fence and came closer to his father. "It's only slightly damaged," he went on. "I can easily fix it. I looked it all over before I gave it in charge of the authorities, and it's certainly a fine boat. It's worth nine hundred dollars-- -or it was when it was new."
“船受损不是太严重，”年轻的发明家（因为汤姆·斯威夫特已获得多项专利）急切地将他的摩托车贴近栅栏，离父亲更近一点。他继续说：“它只有轻微的损伤，我可以很容易地搞定它。在我把它交给政府部门之前，我曾细致的检查过，那肯定是一条好船。它值九百美元，或者说曾经值这个价。”
"That's a good deal of money for a boat," and Mr. Swift looked serious,for though he was well off, he was inclined to be conservative.
"Oh, I shouldn't think of paying that much. In fact, dad, I really had no idea of bidding at the auction. I only thought I'd go over and get an idea of what the boat might sell for. Perhaps some day---"
斯威夫特看上去有点较真，尽管他有点钱，但他倾向于捂紧钱袋，“这对于一条船来说是一笔大数目。”
“哦，我不应该考虑花那么多钱。事实上，老爸，我还没拿定主意是否在拍卖会上出价。我只是想我应该去了解一下这艘船的价格。也许有一天---”
Tom paused. Since his father had begun to question him some new plans had come into the lad's head. He looked at his parent and saw a smile beginning to work around the corners of Mr. Swift's lips. There was also a humorous look in the eyes of the older inventor. He
understood boys fairly well, even if he only had one, and he knew Tom perfectly.
汤姆停顿了一下。从他父亲开始向他提出质疑以来，小伙子脑子里冒出了新的计划。他注视着他父亲，看到隐隐的微笑浮现在斯威夫特嘴唇。老发明家的眼中闪动着幽默。他太了解自己这个独子了，他知道汤姆是怎么想的。
"Would you really like to make a bid on that boat Tom?" he asked.
"Would I, dad? Well---" The youth did not finish, but his father knew what he meant.
"I suppose a motor-boat would be a nice thing to have on Lake Carlopa," went on Mr. Swift musingly. "You and I could take frequent trips in it. It isn't like a motor-cycle, only useful for one. What do you suppose the boat will go for, Tom?"
“你真的想对汤姆那条船出价吗？” 他问。
“我会吗，老爸？好吧……”小伙子没说出口，但是他父亲知道他的意思。
“我想在卡洛斯湖上开摩托艇是一件很拉风的事，”斯威夫特先生嘟囔着。“我们可以经常乘它去转转。它不像摩托车，只能一个人用。汤姆，你觉得这艘船可以做什么？”
"I hardly know. Not a high price, I believe, for motor-boats are so new on our lake that few persons will take a chance on them. But if Mr.Hastings is getting another, he will not be so particular about insisting on a high price for the old one. Then, too, the fact that it is damaged will help to keep the price down, though I know I can easily put it in good shape. I would like to make a bid, if you think it's all right."
“这我没考虑。我相信，拍卖价格不会太高，毕竟摩托艇是湖上的新事物，现在很少有人在意。但是如果黑斯廷正在急于脱手，他不会对一条旧船坚持高价。而且，损坏的事实也会有助于降低价格，我很清楚我能很轻易的修复它。如果您认为可以的话，我想出价。”
Well, I guess you may, Tom, if you really want it. You have money of your own and a motor-boat is not a bad investment. What do you think ought to be the limit?"
"Would you consider a hundred and fifty dollars too high?"
“好吧，汤姆，如果你真的想要的话，我猜你能拍到。你自己有钱，而且摩托艇也是不错的投资。你认为应该拍到什么价格？”
“你觉得150美元会不会太高了？”
Mr. Swift looked at Tom critically. He was plainly going over several matters in his mind, and not the least of them was the pluck his son had shown in getting back some valuable papers and a model from a gang of thieves. The lad certainly was entitled to some reward, and to allow him to get a boat might properly be part of it.
斯威夫特严肃地看着汤姆。他的脑海里闪过几个念头，而其中最重要的一点，就是他的儿子表现不俗，能从一群强盗那里取回有价值的文件和模型。小伙子当然有权获得一些报酬，同意他买一艘船可能作为奖赏的一部分。
"I think you could safely go as high as two hundred dollars, Tom," said Mr. Swift at length. "That would be my limit on a damaged boat for it might be better to pay a little more and get a new one. However, use
your own judgment, but don't go over two hundred. So the thieves who made so much trouble for me stole that boat from Mr. Hastings, eh?"
斯威夫特说：“汤姆，我认为你可以按照最高200刀去拍。那是我对受损船的价格极限，超过这个数，再多付一点钱，就能买新船了。但是，还是你自己判断吧，不管怎样不要超过200刀。 那么，给我造成很大麻烦的小偷，从黑斯廷那里偷了那条船，是吗？”
"Yes, and they didn't take much care of it either. They damaged the engine, but the hull is in good shape. I'm ever so glad you'll let me bid on it. I'll start right off. The auction is at ten o'clock and I haven't more than time to get there."
“是的，他们也不太在意它。他们损坏了发动机，但是船体状况良好。我很高兴你让我竞标。我得走了， 拍卖是十点钟，我到那儿的时间很紧张。”
"Now be careful how you bid. Don't raise your own figures, as I've sometimes seen women, and men too, do in their excitement. Somebody may go over your head; and if he does, let them. If you get the boat I'll
be very glad on your account. But don't bring any of Anson Morse's gang back in it with you. I've seen enough of them.""I'll not dad!" cried Tom as he trundled his motor-cycle out of the gate and into the country road that led to the village of Shopton, where he lived, and to Lanton, where the auction was to be held. The young inventor had not gone far before he turned back, leaving his machine standing on the
side path.
“要掌握出价节奏。不要不断的去加价，我看到过，女人，也包括男人，都会兴奋地鼓动。有人可能会越过你，沉住气，如果他这样做，就让他们。如果如你所愿，得到这艘船，我对你的帐户也会感到高兴。但是，不要把安森·摩尔斯的帮派带回来，我已经烦他们了。”“我不会爸爸！”汤姆大叫着，发动摩托车，从门外驶过，驶过他住的邵普屯，奔向兰顿。年轻的发明家走了不算远，将车子停在了小路旁，转身往回走。
"What's the matter?" asked his father, who had started toward one of several machine shops on the premises---shops where Mr. Swift and his son did inventive work.
"Guess I'd better get a blank check and some money," replied Tom as he entered the house. "I'll need to pay a deposit if I secure the boat."
“怎么了？”他父亲喊道，他正要进入附近的一家机修车间，斯威夫特和他的儿子在那里做他们的发明研究。
“我想最好拿一张空白支票和一些钱，”汤姆进屋时回答。 “如果我拍下船，我需要支付定金。”
"That's so. Well, good luck," and with his mind busy on a plan for a new kind of storage battery, the inventor went on to his workroom. Tom got some cash and his checkbook from a small safe he owned and was
soon speeding over the road to Lanton, his motor- cycle making quite a cloud of dust. While he is thus hurrying along to the auction I will tell you something about him.
“就该这样，好吧，祝你好运，”发明家在忙于思考一种新型蓄电池的计划，说完就进入他的工作室。汤姆从自己的小保险箱里取了一些现金和支票，骑上车飞也似的向兰顿疾驰而去，车后卷起了一路飞尘。趁他如此匆忙赶往拍卖场的时间，我们来聊聊他的那些事。
Tom Swift, son of Barton Swift, lived with his father and a motherly housekeeper, Mrs. Baggert, in a large house on the outskirts of the town of Shopton, in New York State. Mr. Swift had acquired considerable wealth
from his many inventions and patents, but he did not give up working out his ideas simply because he had plenty of money. Tom followed in the footsteps of his parent and had already taken out several patents.
汤姆·斯威夫特是巴顿·斯威夫特的儿子，他与父亲，还有慈母般的女管家巴格特，住在纽约州邵普屯郊区的一栋大房子里。斯威夫特有许多发明和专利，从中获得了可观的财富，但是他并没有因为自己有很多钱，就放弃了自己的想法。汤姆跟随父亲的脚步，也已经获得了多项专利。
Shortly before this story opens the youth had become possessed of a motor-cycle in a peculiar fashion. As told in the first volume of this series, entitled "Tom Swift and His Motor-cycle," Tom was riding to the town of Mansburg on an errand for his father one day when he was nearly run down by a motorcyclist. A little later the same motorcyclist, who was a Mr. Wakefield Damon, of Waterfield, collided with a tree near Tom's
home and was severely cut and bruised, the machine being broken. Tom and his father cared for the injured rider, and Mr. Damon, who was an eccentric individual, was so disheartened by his attempts to ride the motorcycle that he sold it to Tom for fifty dollars, though it had cost much more.
在这个故事开始前不久，小伙子就以一种特殊的方式拥有了摩托车。正如本系列首卷“汤姆·斯威夫特和他的摩托车”中所述，汤姆有一天去曼斯堡镇，为父亲办事，差点被一个骑摩托的撞倒。不久之后，还是这个倒霉的摩托车手，来自沃特菲尔德的韦克菲尔德·达蒙先生，撞到了汤姆家附近的一棵树，被严重刮伤，摩托也坏了。汤姆和父亲照顾受伤的骑手，古怪的达蒙对骑摩托感到沮丧，他再也不想骑了，他以50美元的低价把摩托车卖给了汤姆，摩托实际远远高于这个价。
About the same time that Tom bought the motor-cycle a firm of rascally lawyers, Smeak & Katch by name, had, in conjunction with several men, made an attempt to get control of an invention of a turbine motor perfected by Mr. Swift. The men, who were Ferguson Appleson,Anson Morse, Wilson Featherton, alias Simpson, and Jake Burke, alias Happy Harry, who sometimes disguised himself as a tramp, tried several times to steal the model.Their anxiety to get it was due to the fact that they had invested a large sum in a turbine motor invented by another man, but their motor would not work and they sought to steal Mr. Swift's. Tom was sent to Albany on his motor-cycle to deliver the model and some valuable papers to Mr.Crawford, of the law firm of Reid & Crawford, of Washington, attorneys for Mr. Swift. Mr. Crawford had an errand in Albany and had agreed to meet Tom there with the model.But, on the way, Tom was attacked by the gang of unscrupulous men and the model was stolen. He was assaulted and carried far away in an automobile.
汤姆买摩托车时候，斯迈克＆卡奇，这家臭名昭著的律师事务所，聚集了几名坏蛋，试图窃取斯威夫特先生发明的涡轮发动机。这帮家伙包括弗格森·阿普森、安森·摩斯、威尔逊·费瑟顿（化名辛普森）和杰克·伯克（化名快乐哈利），他们有时伪装成流浪汉，曾多次试图偷走发动机模型。他们急切的想偷窃发动机，是因为他们投入巨资给某人，也想发明涡轮马达，可是做出的马达无法工作，因此他们动了歪心，试图窃取斯威夫特的发明。汤姆骑摩托车到奥尔巴尼，会见华盛顿瑞德-克劳福德律师事务所的克劳福德先生，将发动机模型和一些重要文件送给他，他是斯威夫特的律师。当时克劳福德在奥尔巴尼出差，同意与汤姆在那儿见面。在途中，汤姆遭到这群不法分子的偷袭，模型被偷了。他挨了揍，被汽车带出去很远。
In an attempt to capture the gang in a deserted mansion, in the woods on the shore of Lake Carlopa, Tom was aided by Mr. Damon, of whom he had purchased the motor-cycle. The men escaped, however,and nothing could be done to punish them.
汤姆得到达蒙的帮助，就是那个卖给他摩托车的伙计。他策划在卡洛斯湖岸边的树林中一个废弃的豪宅里，捕获该团伙。但是，这些贼逃脱了，无法惩罚他们。
Tom was thinking of the exciting scenes he had passed through about a month previous as he spun along the road leading to Lanton.
汤姆想到，一个月前沿着通往兰顿的路盘旋时，经历的激动人心的场景。
"I hope I don't meet Happy Harry or any of his gang today," mused the lad as he turned on a little more power to enable his machine to mount a hill. "I don't believe they'll attend the auction, though. It would be too risky for them."
小伙子思考着：“希望今天看不到快乐哈利或他的团伙。”他嘟囔着，轻踩了一下油门，摩托轻松爬上山坡。“不过，我不相信他们会参加拍卖。这对他们来说太冒险了。”
As Tom swung along at a rapid pace he heard, behind him, the puffing of an automobile, with the muffler cut out. He turned and cast a hasty glance behind.
"I hope that ain't Andy Foger or any of his cronies," he said to himself.
汤姆飞快地转身，他听到身后的汽车，消音器关掉了，突突的噪音。他转过身，匆匆瞥了一眼，自言自语：“希望不是安迪·弗格，也不是他的任何亲戚。”
"He might try to run me down just for spite. He generally rushes along with the muffler open so as to attract attention and make folks think he has a racing car."
“他可能会故意给我难堪，他通常会关掉消音器，呼啸而过以引起注意，让人们知道他有赛车。”
It was not Andy, however, as Tom saw a little later, as a man passed him in a big touring car. Andy Foger, as my readers will recollect, was a red-haired, squinty-eyed lad with plenty of money and not much else. He and his cronies, including Sam Snedecker, nearly ran Tom down one day,when the latter was on his bicycle, as told in the first volume of this series.
当后边大型旅行车赶上来，经过汤姆时，汤姆扫了一眼，看到的不是安迪。 正如读者朋友们记得的那样，安迪·佛格是个红发斜眼的小伙子，除了钱以外一无所有。如本系列第一卷所述，他和他的亲信，包括萨姆·斯内德克，有一天差点把骑自行车的汤姆撞倒。
Andy had been off on a tour with his chums during the time when Tom was having such strenuous adventures and had recently returned.
汤姆经历艰难的时候，安迪带着他的密友出游冒险了，最近才返回。
"If I can only get that boat," mused Tom as he swung back into the middle of the road after the auto had passed him, "I certainly will have lots of fun. I'll make a week's tour of Lake Carlopa and take dad and Ned Newton with me." Ned was Tom's most particular chum, but as young Newton was employed in the Shopton bank, the lad did not have much time for pleasure. Lake Carlopa was a large body of water, and it would take a moderately powered boat several days to make a complete circuit of the shore, so cut up into bays and inlets was it.
“如果我能得到那条船，”汤姆沉思着。汽车疾驰而过，汤姆重新回到路中间，“那将会很好玩。我将驾驶摩托艇，巡游卡洛斯湖，带着老爸和内德·牛顿一起去。” 内德是汤姆最特别的朋友，但是大好年华的牛顿去了邵普屯的银行工作，他就把自己献给了银行。卡洛斯湖是一大片水域，一条动力适中的船，要用几天时间，才能走遍完整的海岸，湖岸曲折，有很多的海湾和河口。
In about an hour Tom was at Lanton, and as he neared the home of Mr.Hastings, which was on the shore of the lake, he saw quite a throng going down toward the boathouse.
"There'll be some lively bidding," thought Tom as he got off his machine and pushed it ahead of him through the drive and down toward the river. I hope they don't go above two hundred dollars, though."
大约一个小时，汤姆就到兰顿了，当他到达湖岸，靠近海斯廷斯的家时，他看到很多人正朝船屋走去。
“会有一场激烈的竞标，”汤姆想着，关了发动机，顺手推了一下，借着惯性驶向河道。“真希望不要超过200美元。”
"Get out the way there!" called a sudden voice, and looking back, Tom saw that an automobile had crept up silently behind him. In it were Andy Foger and Sam Snedecker. "Why don't you get out the way?" petulantly
demanded the red-haired lad.
“滚开！”突然传来一声暴呵，汤姆回头一看，发现一辆汽车，悄悄地跟在他的身后。里面坐着安迪·佛格和山姆·斯内德克。 “你为什么不滚开呢？”红发小子又冲他喊。
"Because I don't choose to," replied Tom calmly, knowing that Andy would never dare to speed up his machine on the slope leading down to the lake.
"Go ahead, bump him!" the young inventor heard Sam whisper.
“因为我没有选择，”汤姆平静地说，他知道安迪永远都不敢在通向湖面的斜坡上，加快汽车的速度。
“直接开，撞他！”年轻的发明家听到了萨姆的耳语。
"You'd better try it, if you want to get the best trouncing you ever had!" cried Tom hotly.
"Hu! Is'pose you think you're going to bid on the boat?" sneered Andy.
“如果您想获得从未尝到过的痛击，最好尝试一下！” 汤姆高声怼了过去。
“呸！你异想天开还想去竞拍那条船？”安迪冷笑。
"Is there any law against it?" asked Tom.
"Hu! Well, you'll not get it. I'm going to take that boat," retorted the squint-eyed bully. "Dad gave me the money to get it."
"All right," answered Tom non-committally. "Go ahead. It's a free country."
“有那条法律规定我不能竞拍？” 汤姆问。
“呸！好吧，你不会得到的，我要定了那条船，”斜眼的恶霸很嚣张。“我爸给了我足够的钱去得到它。”
“好的，”汤姆毫不客气地回答。“那就等着吧！这是一个自由的国家。”
He stood his motor-cycle up against a tree and went toward a group of persons who were surrounding the auctioneer. The time had arrived to start the sale. As Tom edged in closer he brushed against a man who looked at him sharply. The lad was just wondering if he had ever seen the individual before, as there seemed to be something strangely familiar about him, when the man turned quickly away, as if afraid of being recognized.
"That's odd," thought Tom, but he had no further time for speculation, as the auctioneer was mounting on a soapbox and had begun to address the gathering.
他将摩托车停靠在树上，朝一群人走去，中间被围着的是拍卖师。是时候开拍了。汤姆走近人群时，他碰到一道冷峻的目光，来自一个男人。汤姆努力地想，自己以前是否见过这个人，陌生人迅速转身离开，似乎害怕被认出，好像有些奇怪的熟悉味道。
“这很奇怪。”汤姆想，但他没有更多时间进行猜测，拍卖师正站在临时讲台上，开始大声讲话。
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