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There was high revel in the lodge room at the Union House that night,
这天夜晚，工会大楼中分会办公室里大肆狂欢，
not only over the killing of the manager and engineer of the Crow Hill mine, which would bring this organization into line with the other blackmailed and terror-stricken companies of the district,
不仅庆祝刺杀克劳山煤矿经理和技师的胜利，这场胜利使该会党对被勒索和吓昏了的公司可以为所欲为；
but also over a distant triumph which had been wrought by the hands of the lodge itself.
而且还庆祝分会本身多年来取得的胜利。
It would appear that when the County Delegate had sent over five good men to strike a blow in Vermissa,
在县代表派五名得力人手到维尔米萨来行刺时，
he had demanded that in return three Vermissa men should be secretly selected and sent across to kill William Hales of Stake Royal,
他要求，维尔米萨秘密选派三个人去杀害斯特克罗亚尔市的威廉·黑尔斯作为酬谢，
one of the best known and most popular mine owners in the Gilmerton district, a man who was believed not to have an enemy in the world; for he was in all ways a model employer.
黑尔斯是吉尔默敦地区的一个人所共知、受人爱戴的矿产主，他深信他在世上没有敌人，因为不管从哪方面看他都是一个模范的雇主。
He had insisted, however, upon efficiency in the work, and had, therefore, paid off certain drunken and idle employees who were members of the allpowerful society.
但是，他在工作中很讲求效率，曾把一些酗酒闹事、游手好闲的雇员辞退了，而他们正是具有无上权势的死酷党的党员。
Coffin notices hung outside his door had not weakened his resolution, and so in a free, civilized country he found himself condemned to death.
即使死亡威胁着他，也不能动摇他的决心，而在一个自由文明的国家里，他却被人杀害了。
The execution had now been duly carried out.
死刑已经如期执行了。
Ted Baldwin, who sprawled now in the seat of honour beside the Bodymaster, had been chief of the party.
特德·鲍德温摊开四肢，半躺在身主旁边的荣誉席上，他是这一组人的头目。
His flushed face and glazed, bloodshot eyes told of sleeplessness and drink.
他那绯红的面孔以及呆滞、充满血丝的双眼说明他没有睡觉和饮酒过量。
He and his two comrades had spent the night before among the mountains. They were unkempt and weather-stained.
头一天他和两个同伙在山中过了一夜。他们不修边幅，疲惫不堪。
But no heroes, returning from a forlorn hope, could have had a warmer welcome from their comrades.
可是没有哪些从敢死队回来的英雄，能像他们那样得到同伙这样热烈的欢迎。
The story was told and retold amid cries of delight and shouts of laughter.
他们兴高采烈地一遍又一遍讲说他们的杰作，伴随而来的是兴奋的叫喊声、狂笑声。
They had waited for their man as he drove home at nightfall, taking their station at the top of a steep hill, where his horse must be at a walk.
他们在陡峭的山顶上隐藏起来，守候他们准备杀害的人黄昏回家，他们知道，这个人一定会让他的马在这里缓辔而行。
He was so furred to keep out the cold that he could not lay his hand on his pistol.
因为天气严寒，被害者穿着毛皮衣服，以至未来得及掏出手枪。
They had pulled him out and shot him again and again. He had screamed for mercy.
他们把他拉下马来，一连打了他好几枪。他曾高声求饶。
The screams were repeated for the amusement of the lodge.
这求饶声被死酷党人翻来覆去说着当作笑料。
"Let's hear again how he squealed," they cried.
"让我们再听听他怎样惨叫，"这些匪徒们叫喊道。
None of them knew the man; but there is eternal drama in a killing, and they had shown the Scowrers of Gilmerton that the Vermissa men were to be relied upon.
他们谁也不认识这个人，可是这是杀人行乐的无穷无尽的戏剧性事件，他们是为了向吉尔默敦地区的死酷党人显示，自己是可以信赖的人。
There had been one contretemps; for a man and his wife had driven up while they were still emptying their revolvers into the silent body.
还有一个意外事件，当他们把手中枪里的子弹都倾泻到这个僵卧的尸体上时，一对夫妻正驱车来到这里。
It had been suggested that they should shoot them both; but they were harmless folk who were not connected with the mines,
有人提议连这两个人一起干掉，可是这两个人与这矿山毫无关系，
so they were sternly bidden to drive on and keep silent, lest a worse thing befall them.
所以他们厉声命令这对夫岂不许声张，赶紧走开，以免遭到不幸。
And so the blood-mottled figure had been left as a warning to all such hard-hearted employers,
因此，那血肉模糊的尸体则被丢在那里，向那些铁硬心肠的矿主示警，
and the three noble avengers had hurried off into the mountains where unbroken nature comes down to the very edge of the furnaces and the slag heaps.
而那三名杰出的复仇者则消逝在亘古未曾开拓的荒山僻壤之中。
Here they were, safe and sound, their work well done, and the plaudits of their companions in their ears.
他们得了手，在这里安全而稳妥，同党们的赞扬喝彩声不绝于耳。
It had been a great day for the Scowrers. The shadow had fallen even darker over the valley.
这是死酷党人得意的日子，阴霾笼罩了全谷。
But as the wise general chooses the moment of victory in which to redouble his efforts, so that his foes may have no time to steady themselves after disaster,
可是正如一个足智多谋的将军选择了胜利的时机，可以加倍扩大战果，使敌军溃败后无暇整顿一样，
so Boss McGinty, looking out upon the scene of his operations with his brooding and malicious eyes, had devised a new attack upon those who opposed him.
首领麦金蒂阴险恶毒的双眼前浮现出一个作战方案，筹划新的诡计去谋害那些反对他的人。
