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McMurdo had been warned that some ordeal lay before him; but no one would tell him in what it consisted.
有人警告过麦克默多，说严峻考验就摆在他面前，可是没有一个人告诉他是什么考验。
He was led now into an outer room by two solemn brothers.
现在他被两个面容严肃的弟兄引到外室。
Through the plank partition he could hear the murmur of many voices from the assembly within.
通过隔板墙，他可以模糊地听到里面与会者的七嘴八舌的声音。
Once or twice he caught the sound of his own name, and he knew that they were discussing his candidacy.
有一两次提到他的名字，麦克默多知道大家正在讨论他的入会问题。
Then there entered an inner guard with a green and gold sash across his chest.
后来走进一个斜挎着黄绿二色肩带的内部警卫。
"The Bodymaster orders that he shall be trussed, blinded, and entered," said he.
他说道："身主有令，他应当被缚住双臂，蒙住双眼领进来。"
The three of them removed his coat, turned up the sleeve of his right arm, and finally passed a rope round above the elbows and made it fast.
他们三个人便将麦克默多的外衣脱下，把他右臂的衣袖卷起来，用一条绳子迅速地把他双肘捆住。
They next placed a thick black cap right over his head and the upper part of his face, so that he could see nothing.
然后又把一顶厚厚的黑帽子扣到他的头上，把脸的上半部也盖住了，所以麦克默多什么也看不见了。
He was then led into the assembly hall. It was pitch dark and very oppressive under his hood.
最后他被引入集会厅。罩上帽子以后，麦克默多只觉一片漆黑，十分难耐。
He heard the rustle and murmur of the people round him, and then the voice of McGinty sounded dull and distant through the covering of his ears.
他只听到一片沙沙声和周围人们的低语声，后来透过他双耳上蒙着的东西，他又隐约模糊地听到麦金蒂的声音。
"John McMurdo," said the voice, "are you already a member of the Ancient Order of Freemen?" He bowed in assent.
"约翰·麦克默多，你是自由人会的老会员吗？"麦克默多点头表示同意。
"Is your lodge No. 29, Chicago?" He bowed again.
"你是属于芝加哥第二十九分会吗？"麦克默多又点了点头。
"Dark nights are unpleasant," said the voice.
"黑夜是不愉快的，"对方说道。
"Yes, for strangers to travel," he answered.
"是的，对旅行的异乡人，黑夜是不愉快的，"麦克默多答道。
"The clouds are heavy."
"阴云密布。"
"Yes, a storm is approaching."
"对，暴风雨即将来临。"
"Are the brethren satisfied?" asked the Bodymaster.
"众位弟兄们可满意吗？"身主问道。
There was a general murmur of assent.
传来一阵赞同的低语声。
"We know, Brother, by your sign and by your countersign that you are indeed one of us," said McGinty.
"兄弟，根据你的暗语和对答，我们知道你确实是一个自己人，"麦金蒂说道。
"We would have you know, however, that in this county and in other counties of these parts we have certain rites, and also certain duties of our own which call for good men. Are you ready to be tested?"
"不过我们要让你知道在本县和外县，我们有一定的仪式，一定的责任。你准备试一试吗？"
"I am."
"我准备好了。"
"Are you of stout heart?"
"你是一个坚定勇敢的人吗？"
"I am."
"对。"
"Take a stride forward to prove it."
"请你向前迈一大步来证明它。"
As the words were said he felt two hard points in front of his eyes, pressing upon them so that it appeared as if he could not move forward without a danger of losing them.
这句话说完，麦克默多感到有两个尖锐的东西直抵在双目上，因此，这就形成一种局面，如果他向前迈步，那么就有失去双目的危险。
None the less, he nerved himself to step resolutely out, and as he did so the pressure melted away. There was a low murmur of applause.
但麦克默多依然鼓起勇气坚定地向前大步走去，于是那压在眼上的东西退缩开了，传来了一阵低低的喝彩声。
"He is of stout heart," said the voice. "Can you bear pain?"
"他是一个坚定勇敢的人，"那个声音说道，"你能忍受苦痛吗？"
"As well as another," he answered.
"像其他人一样能够，"麦克默多答道。
"Test him!"
"试试他！"
It was all he could do to keep himself from screaming out, for an agonizing pain shot through his forearm.
麦克默多感觉前臂一阵难以忍受的刺痛，他竭力不使自己叫出声来。
He nearly fainted at the sudden shock of it; but he bit his lip and clenched his hands to hide his agony.
这种突然的冲击几乎使他昏厥过去，但他咬紧嘴唇，握紧双手，掩盖他的极度痛苦。
"I can take more than that," said he.
"比这再厉害些我也能忍受，"麦克默多说道。
This time there was loud applause. A finer first appearance had never been made in the lodge.
这次获得了一起高声的喝彩。一个初来的人获得如此好评，在这个分会中还是从未有过的。
Hands clapped him on the back, and the hood was plucked from his head.
大家过来拍拍他的后背，接着罩在头上的帽子也摘掉了。
He stood blinking and smiling amid the congratulations of the brothers.
他在弟兄们一片祝贺声中，眨眨眼微笑着站在那里。
"One last word, Brother McMurdo," said McGinty.
"还有最后一句话，麦克默多兄弟，"麦金蒂说道。
"You have already sworn the oath of secrecy and fidelity, and you are aware that the punishment for any breach of it is instant and inevitable death?"
"你既已宣誓效忠本会并保守秘密，你当然知道，对誓言的任何违背，其惩罚都是格杀勿论啊。"
"I am," said McMurdo.
"我知道，"麦克默多说道。
"And you accept the rule of the Bodymaster for the time being under all circumstances?"
"那么你在任何情况下，都接受身主的管辖么？"
"I do."
"我接受。"
"Then in the name of Lodge 341, Vermissa, I welcome you to its privileges and debates.
"那么我代表维尔米萨三百四十一分会，欢迎你入会，享有本会特权，参与本会辩论。
You will put the liquor on the table, Brother Scanlan, and we will drink to our worthy brother."
斯坎伦兄弟，你可以把酒摆在桌上，我们要为这位名不虚传的的兄弟痛饮一杯！"
McMurdo's coat had been brought to him; but before putting it on he examined his right arm, which still smarted heavily.
人们已经把外衣拿给麦克默多，但麦克默多在穿上外衣以前，看了看自己的右臂，那时右臂仍然如针扎一样疼痛。
There on the flesh of the forearm was a circle with a triangle within it, deep and red, as the branding iron had left it.
前臂上烙有一个圆圈，里面套个三角形，烙印深而发红，像是烙铁留下的痕迹。
One or two of his neighbours pulled up their sleeves and showed their own lodge marks.
他身旁的一两个人卷起了袖子，让他看他们自己的分会标记。
"We've all had it," said one; "but not all as brave as you over it."
"我们大家都有这种标记，"一个人说道，"不过不是都像你这样勇敢地对待它的。"
"Tut! It was nothing," said he; but it burned and ached all the same.
"唉，没什么，"麦克默多说道，可是臂上依然火烧火燎地疼痛。
