# ■ 2 Kidnapped！

When I woke up in darkness，my head was hurting badly，and I was unable to move my hands or feet．I could hear the sailors’ shouts and the sound of the wind and the waves．The whole world seemed to go up，up，up，and then down again．I felt very ill，and at first could not under stand what was happening．After a while I realized that I must be somewhere inside the ship，which was moving very fast through the water．‘I've been kidnapped！’I thought angrily．It was clear that my uncle and the captain had planned it together．I began to feel frightened and hopeless，as I lay there in the dark．

Some hours later，a light shone in my face．Mr Riach，one of the ship's officers，stood looking down at me．He washed the cut on my head，gave me some water，and told me kindly to go to sleep．The next time he came，I was feeling very hot and ill．He had brought Captain Hoseason with him．

‘Now，sir，see for yourself，’ said Mr Riach．‘The lad's seriously ill．We must take him out of this unhealthy hole at once．

‘That's none of your business，’answered the captain．‘Ye're paid to do your job，not to worry about the by．He's staying down here．’

‘I'm only paid to be an officer on this ship，’ replied Mr Riach sharply．He looked hard at the captain．‘I'm not paid，like you，to kidnap and murder—’

Hoseason turned on him angrily．‘What did ye say？’be cried．‘What do ye mean？’

‘You understand，’ said Mr Riach，looking calmly at him．

‘You should know me by now，Mr Riach．I'm a hard man．But if ye say the lad will die—’

‘Aye，he will！’ said Mr Riach．

‘Well，sir，put him where ye like！’

So I was carried up into the sunlight a few minutes later，and put in a cabin where some of the sailors were sleeping．It was a wonderful feeling to see the daylight and to be able to talk to people again．I lay in the cabin for several days，and after a while began to feel better．The sailors were kind to me in their way．They brought me food and drink， and told me about their families at home．I discovered from them that the ship was sailing to the Carolinas，in North America．There the captain was planning to sell me as a slave，to work in a rich man's house or on a farm．

I also learnt that both the ship's officers，Mr Riach and Mr Shuan，enjoyed drinking far too much．The sailors liked Mr Shuan，but said that he was sometimes violent when he had drunk a lot．One of the sailors was a young boy， called Ransome．His job was to bring meals to the captain and officers in the round-house，a big cabin on the top of the ship，where the officers slept and ate．When Ransome dropped something or did something wrong，Mr Shuan used to hit him，and I often saw the poor boy crying．

One night，about nine o’clock，I heard one of the sailors in the cabin saying quietly to the others，‘Shuan's killed him at last！’We all knew who he meant．Just then the captain came in．I was surprised to see him walk towards me and say kindly，‘My man，We Want ye to help us in the round-house．From now on，ye'll sleep there instead of Ransome．’As he spoke，two sailors carried Ransome into the cabin His face was as white as a sheet，and he did not move．My blood ran cold when I saw him．

I obeyed the captain，and ran to the round-house．It was a large room，with a table，a bench and locked cupboards All the best food and drink was kept there，under the captain's eyes，as well as the guns．When I entered，I saw Mr Shuan sitting at the table，with a bottle of whisky in front of him．He did not seem to notice what was happening around him，and was looking fixedly at the table．

Mr Riach soon joined the captain and me．He looked at Hoseason meaningfully，and I understood from his look that Ransome was dead．We three all stood silently looking down at Mr Shuan．

Suddenly the captain stepped forward．‘Do ye know what ye've done？’he cried．‘Ye've murdered the boy！’

Mr Shuan put a hand to his head．‘Well，’he said，‘he brought me a dirty glass！’

The captain and Mr Riach and I looked at each other，almost frightened．Then Hoseason took Mr Shuan by the arm，and told him to go to bed．The murderer cried a little at first，but he took off his boots and lay down，like a small child．

‘Mr Riach，’ said the captain，when we could see that Mr Shuan was asleep，‘nobody on land must know what happened tonight．We'll say that the boy fell into the sea．Get us a drink，David，we both need one，’and he gave me the key to the cupboards．

In the next few days I was very busy，running here and there with the officers’food and drink．Mr Riach and the cap tain were surprisingly patient with me when I made mistakes．Perhaps they were thinking of the poor boy who had died．But Mr Shuan was very strange after Ransome's death． He did not seem to know what he had done，or to recognize me．On my second day in the round-house，he looked at me with a white face and fear in his eyes．‘You weren't here before？’he asked．

‘No，sir，’I replied．

‘There was another boy？’he asked．‘Ah！Yes，I thought so，’and sitting down，he called for some more whisky．

It wasn't a hard life for me．I was able to eat well，and talk to Mr Riach，who spoke to me like a friend．But I could not forget poor Ransome．As the days passed，I became more and more worried．I knew that，when the ship arrived in the Carolinas，I would no longer be a free man，but a slave．I thought hard，but there did not seem to be any way of escaping．

About a week later，we were sailing round the rocky coast of northern Scotland in very bad weather．It was difficult to see anything because of the thick fog．One evening there was a great crash，and the officers ran out to see what had happened．I thought we had hit a rock，but in fact it was a small boat As we watched，the boat broke in two，and went to the bottom with all its men，except the one passenger．At the moment of the crash，this man managed to jump up and catch the side of the ship and pull himself up．

The captain brought him into the round-house He was smallish but well-built，with an open，sunburnt face，and bright，amused eyes When he took off his long coat，I could see that he had a pair of pistols and was wearing a sword at his side．Although his life had clearly been in great danger，he seemed very calm，and spoke politely to the captain Hoseason was looking with interest at the man's clothes．He Was Wear ing a hat with feathers，a blue coat with silver buttons，and expensive-looking lace round his neck．

‘I'm sorry about the boat，sir，’ said the captain．

‘I've lost some grand friends today，’ replied the stranger，‘and that's worse than losing ten boats．’

‘Well，sir，there are more men in the world than boats，’ replied the captain，still watching him closely．‘I know，be cause I've been in France，like you．’

He said these last words clearly and carefully．They seemed to have a special meaning．The stranger put his hand quickly on his pistol．

‘Don't worry，’ said Hoseason．‘Ye've a French soldier's coat on your back and a Scottish tongue in your head，that's true，but so has many an honest man these days．’

‘Well，sir，’ replied the stranger，‘I must tell you that I'm one of those honest Highlanders who were proud to fight for their homes，their clan and their country in 1745，against the English King．And I must tell you another thing．If King George's soldiers find me，I'll be in trouble．I was on my way to France，where some of my clansmen live now．But in the fog my boat missed the French ship that was meeting me．So if you can take me to France，I'll pay you well．’

He opened his purse and showed that it was full of gold coins．The captain seemed excited as he looked at the money，and then at the man's face．

‘To France？’he replied．‘No，I can't do that．But to the Highlands，aye，we can discuss that．’ They sat down together，and in the end agreed that the captain would take the stranger to Loch Linnhe，on the northwest coast of Scot land，for sixty pounds．There the Highlander would be among friends，and safe from the English army．He and Hoseason shook hands，and the captain left me alone with the stranger．

He had told the captain that the gold was not his own．Some of the Highlanders had escaped to France after the Forty-Five，but their friends and clansmen in Scotland sometimes managed to find a little money to send them．It was this man's job to take the money across to France，and he did this by travelling secretly to Scotland as often as possible．I thought he was very brave．‘If he's caught by the English army，they'll kill him！’ I told myself．I liked the way he seemed to enjoy living dangerously．

When he asked me for whisky，I had to go to ask the cap tain for the key to the cupboard．I found Hoseason and his officers talking quietly in a corner，and heard them planning to kill the stranger and steal his money．They seemed to think that I would help them，and asked me to bring them secretly some guns from the round-house．I went slowly back to the stranger，not sure what I should do．But when I entered the round-house，and saw him eating his supper，I decided at once．

‘They're going to attack you，and murder you！’ I told him．

‘What！’he cried，jumping up．‘Will ye stand with me，against them？’

‘I will！ I'm no thief or murderer！’I replied bravely．

‘Are ye for King George？’

‘More or less，’I answered．

‘Well，Mr More-or-Less，what's your name？’

‘David Balfour，’I said，and then，thinking that a man with so fine a coat must like fine people，I added，‘of Shaws．’

‘My name is Stewart，’he said proudly．‘Alan Breck，they call me．And Stewart is a king's name，so it's good enough for me，although I have no name of a farmhouse to add to it．’He looked around him．‘Now，David，I'll take any man who comes in through this door．You must watch the window， and the door behind me，and shoot anyone who tries to enter．

He gave me a pistol．I was very frightened，but tried hard not to show it．The ship seemed very quiet．Suddenly there was the sound of running feet，and a shout，and then I heard fighting in the doorway．I looked over my shoulder，and saw Mr Shuan， just as Alan drove his sword into the officer's body．Then several men ran at my door．I did not want to hurt them，but it was now or never．I lifted my pistol and shot at them．One man fell，and the others ran away．After a few moments，the sailors attacked again．Alan fought as bravely as before， his sword now red with blood． He was clearly enjoying himself．I had no time to think，but when two more men appeared at the window，I shot them too．Now there were several bodies on the floor，and blood everywhere．

Suddenly I realized that we had won，and that the danger was over．Alan was driving the men out of the round-house like sheep．When he returned，he took me in his arms．

‘David！’he cried．‘I love ye like a brother．And oh，man，am I not a grand fighter？’I had to agree．He took a knife from the table and cut a silver button off his blue coat．‘Take this，David．The buttons come from my father，Duncan Stewart．where ye show that button，the friends of Alan Breck will come to ye．’He spoke as proudly as a king，and I tried not to smile．

We slept in the round-house，one of us keeping watch all night，and the next morning the captain came to speak to us． ‘Ye'veve won the fight，sir，’he said to Alan．‘We're sailing through the Little Minch now，and I'll keep my promise to take ye to Loch Linnhe．But ye've killed my chief officer，Shuan，and without him I can't find my way safely round these rocky coasts．We'll go round the island of Mull，but I warn ye，it'll be dangerous．

Hoseason was right to be worried．All that day Alan and I sat in the round-house and told each other the stories of our lives，but by night the wind was growing stronger and the sailors found it hard to keep the ship away from the dangerous rocks．As we came round Earraid，a small island close to the larger island of Mull，there was a sudden，terrible crash，and we realized that the ship had hit a rock．There was only one thing to do-leave the ship and try to reach land in the ship's boat．But as we were climbing down into the boat，a great wave hit the ship and knocked some of us into the sea．

I went down and came up again several times. Then，luckily，I managed to find a piece of wood，which helped me to stay up in the water．I looked round，but could not see Alan, or any of the sailors，or the boat．My only hope was to try to swim to Earraid，which I could see，not far away，in the moonlight．It was hard，tiring work，but I reached it，and was very grateful to step on to dry land at last．

■ 2 誘拐！

我在黑暗中醒過來時，我的頭疼得很厲害，手腳也動不了。我能聽到水手們的叫聲、風聲和濤聲。整個世界似乎在上升、上升，然後又下降了。我感到病得很厲害，最初稿不清在發生什麼事。過了一會兒我意識到一定是在船裡某處，那船又在水中快速行駛著。“我被誘拐了！”我氣憤地想。顯然我叔叔和船長合夥預謀了這一切。我黑暗中躺在那兒時，開始感到害怕和無望。

幾個小時之後，有一束光照到我臉上。船上的一名叫里亞奇先生的高級船員站在那兒俯視著我。他擦洗了我頭上的傷口，給我一些水，並和藹地讓我睡覺。下一次他來時，我感到很熱，病了。他把霍齊亞森船長也帶來了。

“好，船長，你自己看看，”里亞奇先生說道，“這個小夥子病得很厲害。我們得立刻把他帶出這個不衛生的牢房。”

“那與你無關。”船長回答道，“給你付錢是讓你幹你的工作，不要為這男孩操心。他得待在下面這兒。”

“我只是受僱來當船上的高級船員。”里亞奇先生厲聲答道。他盯著船長。“我不是收了錢，像你一樣來誘拐和謀殺——”

霍齊亞森惱怒地攻擊里亞奇。“你說什麼？”他叫道，“你是什麼意思？”

“你明白，”里亞奇先生說道，平靜地看著他。

“到現在你也應該瞭解我了，里亞奇先生。我可不是一個軟弱的人。但如果你說這個小夥子將要死掉的話——”

“對，他要死了！”里亞奇先生說道。

“好吧，先生，把他放在你想要放的地方！”

於是幾分鐘後，我被人抬到上面陽光能照到之處，並被安置在一個裡面有一些水手正在睡覺的機艙裡。又能看見陽光、又能和人交談是一種很好的感覺。我在機艙裡躺了幾天，不久之後開始感到好些了。水手們以自己的方式善待我。他們給我帶來吃的、喝的，並給我講他們家的事。從他們那兒我發現船正駛往北美洲的卡羅來納。船長打算在那兒把我當奴隸賣掉，賣到一個有錢人家或一家農場。

我也瞭解到船上的高級船員里亞奇先生和舒安先生都酗酒。船員們喜歡舒安先生，但說舒安先生有時喝得太多時很凶。有一個水手是一個年輕的小男孩，名叫蘭塞姆。他的工作是給後甲板室（即船頂上的一個大機艙）裡的船長和高級船員送飯。高級船員吃住都在後甲板室裡。當蘭塞姆掉了東西或做錯了事時，舒安先生時常揍他，我也經常看見這個可憐的小男孩在哭泣。

一天晚上，約莫九點鐘，我聽見機艙裡有位水手悄悄地對別的水手們說：“舒安到底殺了他！”我們大家都明白他指的是誰。正在那時船長進來了。我很吃驚地看見他走向我，和藹地對我說：“小夥子，我們需要你到後甲板室給我們幫忙。從現在起，你就代替蘭塞姆睡在那兒。”當他說話時，兩名水手把蘭塞姆抬進機艙。他的臉和紙一樣白，並且他不動彈。我看見他時，被嚇得不寒而慄。

我遵從船長的話，跑到後甲板室。後甲板室很大，有一張桌子、一個凳子和鎖住的一些小櫥子。最好的食品和飲料都放在那兒，就在船長的眼皮底下，也在槍口保護之下。當我進去時，看見舒安先生正坐在桌旁，面前擺著一瓶威士忌。他似乎沒有注意周圍發生的一切，他的眼睛直直地看著桌子。

里亞奇先生很快加入到我和船長中間。他意味深長地看看霍齊亞森，從他的表情我明白蘭塞姆死了。我們三個都靜靜地站著，俯視著舒安先生。

猛然間船長大步走向前。“你知道你幹了些什麼嗎？”他喊道。“你殺了那個男孩！”

舒安先生把一隻手放到頭上。“唔，”他說道，“他當時給我拿來一個髒杯子！”

我、船長還有里亞奇你看我、我望你，差不多給嚇住了。接著霍齊亞森抓住舒安先生的胳膊，命令他上床睡覺。這個謀殺犯起初叫了一小下，但是他還是像一個小孩似地脫了靴子並且躺了下來。

“里亞奇先生，”當我們確實看到舒安睡著之後船長開口說道，“不能讓岸上的人知道今晚發生的事兒。我們就說那個男孩掉進了海里。戴維，給我們拿點喝的來，我們二人都需要喝一杯。”接著他給了我開小櫥子的鑰匙。

在接下來的幾天裡，我很忙，一會兒跑到這兒、一會兒跑到那兒地拿高級船員們的食品和飲料。里亞奇先生和船長即使在我出了錯時也對我很出奇地耐心。也許是他們還在想那個已死的可憐的小男孩。但蘭塞姆死後舒安先生變得很怪了。他似乎不知道他做了些什麼，也不認識我。在我待在後甲板室的第二天，他臉色蒼白、眼帶恐懼地看著我。“你以前不在這兒嗎？”他問道。

“對，先生，”我回答道。

“有另外一個小男孩嗎？”他問道。“啊！是的，我想有。”他又叫了些威士忌，坐了下來。

這生活對我來說並不艱難。我能吃好，能夠與里亞奇先生交談。他像一個朋友一樣對我說話。但我不能忘記可憐的蘭塞姆。當日子一天天過去時，我變得越來越擔憂了。我明白，當船抵達卡羅來納時，我將不再是個自由人，而是一個奴隸了。我使勁想，但似乎沒有逃跑的方法。

大約一週以後，在非常惡劣的天氣條件下，我們沿蘇格蘭北部的礁岩海岸行駛著。由於大霧瀰漫，很難看見什麼東西。一天晚上，有一聲猛烈的撞擊聲，高級船員們都跑出去看發生了什麼。我以為我們是撞上了一塊岩石，但實際上是一條小船。我們觀看時，小船碎成了兩半，除了這一位乘客外其餘的人連船一起沉入海底了。在撞船的那一刻，這個人用力跳起來，抓住了我們這條船的船舷，掙扎著上了船。

船長把他帶進了後甲板室裡。他個子有點小，但身體強壯，長著一張開朗的、晒黑的臉和一雙明亮的、逗人喜歡的眼睛。當他脫下長大衣時，我能看見他帶著一對手槍，佩著一把劍。雖然他的生命顯然處於極大的危險之中，但他看起來很鎮靜，並且有禮貌地和船長說著話。霍齊亞森饒有興趣地看看那個男人的衣服。他戴著一頂插有羽毛的帽子，穿著一件帶銀釦子的藍外衣，脖子那兒有一圈看似貴重的花邊。

“就船的事我很抱歉，先生，”船長說道。

“今天我失去了一些好朋友，”陌生人回答道，“這比失掉10條船更糟糕。”

“唔，先生，這世界上人比船多，”船長回答道，眼睛仍緊緊地盯著陌生人，“我知道，因為我和你一樣曾經在法國待過。”

船長既清晰又當心地吐出了最後幾個字。它們似乎有一種特殊的含義。陌生人迅速地把手擱到手槍上。

“別擔心。”霍齊亞森說道，“你穿著一件法國士兵的外套，但又操著蘇格蘭口音，那不假，但現今有很多誠實的人都這樣。”

“好吧，先生，”陌生人說道，“我必須告訴你我是那些以自己在1745年反抗英格蘭國王、為家園而戰、為部族而戰、為國家而戰為榮的誠實的高地人之一。我還得告訴你另外一件事。如果喬治國王的士兵發現我，我將會有麻煩。我要去法國，我的一些族人現在住在那兒。但是在霧中我的小船錯過了來接我的法國船。如果你能把我帶到法國的話，我將好好酬謝你。”

他打開錢包，示意那裡面裝滿了金幣。船長看看錢接著又看看那人的臉，顯得激動的樣子。

“去法國？”他答道，“不，我不能那樣做。但如果是去高地，對，我們還可以商量商量那個。”他們坐在一起，最後達成協議：船長將把陌生人帶到蘇格蘭西北海岸的林荷湖，條件是給他60鎊。在那兒這位高地人將置身於朋友之中，並因遠離英格蘭軍隊而很安全。他和霍齊亞森握握手，然後把我和陌生人單獨留在一起。

他已告訴過船長金子不是他自己的。在1745年政變後，有些高地人逃到了法國，但他們在蘇格蘭的一些朋友和族人有時設法找到一點錢送給他們。這個人的使命是把錢帶到法國，他通常是通過祕密地儘量常去蘇格蘭來完成他的使命的。我認為他很勇敢。“如果他被英格蘭軍隊抓住了，他們會殺了他！”我自言自語道。我喜歡他看似喜歡冒險地生活的樣子。

他找我要威士忌時，我不得不去找船長要小櫥子的鑰匙。我發現霍齊亞森船長和高級船員們在一個角落裡悄聲地談論著，而且我聽到他們計劃殺掉這位陌生人並偷走他的錢財。他們似乎認為我能幫他們，讓我從後甲板室給他們偷偷地拿些槍來。我慢慢地回到陌生人那兒，不清楚該怎麼辦。但當我進了後甲板室並看見他在吃晚餐時，我立刻做出了決定。

“他們將襲擊你並殺害你！”我告訴他。

“什麼？！”他驚叫著，跳起身來。“你能站在我這邊，反對他們嗎？”

“我會！我不是賊，也不是殺人犯！”我勇敢地對答道。

“你擁護喬治國王嗎？”

“差不多，”我回答。

“好的，差不多先生，你叫什麼？”

“戴維·鮑爾弗，”我說著，接著我想到穿著這麼好外衣的人一定喜歡傑出的人物，於是補了一句話：“肖家族的。”

“我姓斯圖爾特。”他驕傲地說道，“他們叫我艾倫·布雷克。而且斯圖爾特是一個國王的姓氏，所以雖然我身無農居，但有斯圖爾特這個出身背景對我來說已經夠好的了。”他環顧四周。“聽我說，戴維，我要幹掉從這扇門進來的任何人。你一定要看守著這窗戶和我身後的門，並打死任何想進來的人。”

他給了我一把手槍。我非常害怕，但我盡力掩飾著不顯露出來。船上似乎很安靜。突然有跑步聲，並有一聲喊叫聲，接著我聽到門廊處有打鬥聲。我掉頭看了看，就在艾倫把劍刺進了那個高級船員的身體時我看見了那是舒安先生。接著，又有幾個人跑向我的門這兒來。我並不打算傷害他們，但事不宜遲。我舉起手槍朝他們射擊起來。一個人倒下了，另外的幾個人跑掉了。過了一會兒，又有船員攻上來。艾倫一如既往地英勇戰鬥，他的劍這時都被血浸紅了。很顯然他很開心。我沒有時間思考，但當窗戶邊又有兩個人出現時，我也用槍射死了他們。現在地上有幾具屍體了，血則到處都是。

忽然間我意識到我們已勝了，危險結束了。艾倫像趕綿羊似地趕著那班人出了後甲板室。當他回來時，他把我抱在懷裡。

“戴維！”他叫道，“我愛你像愛我的兄弟一樣。噢，夥計，難道我不是一個了不起的鬥士？”我得同意。他從桌子那兒抽出一把刀，從他的藍外衣上割下一顆銀釦子。“拿著這個，戴維。這些釦子是從我父親鄧肯·斯圖爾特那兒傳來的。無論你在哪兒拿出這顆釦子，艾倫·布雷克的朋友們都會來到你身邊。”他像國王一樣驕傲地說道，我控制著自己不笑出來。

我們睡在後甲板室裡，整夜都有其中一人放著哨；第二天早晨船長過來對我們說話。“你贏得了戰鬥，先生。”他對艾倫說道，“我們現在要穿過小明奇，我將遵守諾言把你帶到林荷湖。但你殺了我的主要的高級船員——舒安，沒有了他在這些多石的海岸邊我不能安全地找到路。我們將圍著馬爾島走，但我警告你，將會是危險的。”

霍齊亞森的擔心是對的。一整天我和艾倫坐在後甲板艙室，互相講述著我們自己生活中的故事；但是到了晚上時風颳得更緊了，水手們發現很難讓船遠離這些危險的岩石。當我們來到伊銳德島（即較大的馬爾島的附近的小島）時，忽然間有一聲可怕的撞擊聲，我們意識到船撞到了一塊岩石上。現在只能做一件事了——棄船並盡力通過小艇到岸上去。但當我們爬進小艇時，有一個大浪打過來，把我們中的一些人打進了海里。

我沉下浮上好幾回。接著，我幸運地發現了一塊木頭，這塊木頭幫助我浮在水面。我看了看四周，但看不見艾倫，也看不見水手或小艇。我唯一的希望就是試著游到伊銳德島，在月色中我能看見它離得不遠。這很難，也很耗人體力，但我還是到了，終於踏上乾地上時我感到特別愉快舒適。