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It is a dreary, fever-stricken place, and all beyond our little clearings was infested with wild cannibal natives,
那島上是可怕的熱病流行的區域，離我們不遠就有吃人的生番部落，
who were ready enough to blow a poisoned dart at us if they saw a chance.
生番們一有機會就向我們施放毒刺。
There was digging and ditching and yam-planting, and a dozen other things to be done, so we were busy enough all day;
在那里整天忙于開墾，挖溝和種薯蕷，還有許多其他雜差，
though in the evening we had a little time to ourselves.
到夜晚我們才能有些閑暇。
Among other things, I learned to dispense drugs for the surgeon, and picked up a smattering of his knowledge.
我還學會了為外科醫師調劑配方，對外科的技術也學得一知半解了。
All the time I was on the lookout for a chance to escape;
我時時刻刻在尋找逃走的機會，
but it is hundreds of miles from any other land,
可是這里離任何大陸都有幾百英里遠，
and there is little or no wind in those seas: so it was a terribly difficult job to get away.
而且在附近一帶海面上風很小，甚至沒有風。因此，要想逃跑真是萬難。
The surgeon, Dr. Somerton, was a fast, sporting young chap,
外科醫師薩莫吞是一個活潑而喜歡玩樂的青年，
and the other young officers would meet in his rooms of an evening and play cards.
每天晚上常有駐軍的青年軍官們到他家去玩牌賭錢。
The surgery, where I used to make up my drugs, was next to his sitting-room, with a small window between us.
我配藥的外科手術室和他的客廳只有一墻之隔，有一個小窗相通。
Often, if I felt lonesome, I used to turn out the lamp in the surgery,
我在手術室里有時覺得苦悶，常常把手術室的燈熄滅了，
and then, standing there, I could hear their talk and watch their play.
站在窗前聽他們談話，看他們賭錢。
I am fond of a hand at cards myself, and it was almost as good as having one to watch the others.
我自己本來也好玩牌，在一旁看看也很過牌癮。
There was Major Sholto, Captain Morstan, and Lieutenant Bromley Brown,
常常在一起的有舒爾托少校、摩斯坦上尉和布羅姆利·布勞恩中尉
who were in command of the native troops, and there was the surgeon himself,
他們負責帶領土人軍隊，還有這位醫師本人，
and two or three prison-officials, crafty old hands who played a nice sly safe game.
此外還有兩三個司獄的官員。這幾個官員是玩牌的老手，賭技很精。
A very snug little party they used to make.
他們幾個人湊成一伙，玩起來倒也痛快。
