CHAPTER 4 WHAT CASPIAN DID THERE 卡斯宾大显身手

Next morning the Lord Bern called his guests early,and after breakfast he asked Caspian to order every man he had into full armour."And above all," he added,"let everything be as trim and scoured as if it were the morning of the　first battle in a great war between noble kings with all the world looking on."This was done;and then in three boatloads Caspian and his people,and Bern with a few of his,put out for Narrowhaven.The king's flag flew in the stern of his boat and his trumpeter was with him.

When they reached the jetty at Narrowhaven,Caspian found a considerable crowd assembled to meet them."This is what I sent word about last night," said Bern."They are all friends of mine and honest people."And as soon as Caspian stepped ashore the crowd broke out into hurrays and shouts of,"Narnia!Narnia!Long live the King."At the same momen—and this was also due to Bern's messengers—bells began ringing from many parts of the town.Then Caspian caused his banner to be advanced and his trumpet to be blown,and every man drew his sword and set his face into a joyful sternness,and they marched up the street so that the street shook,and their armour shone (for it was a sunny morning) so that one could hardly look at it steadily.

At first the only people who cheered were those who had been warned by Bern's messenger and knew what was happening and wanted it to happen.But then all the children joined in because they liked a procession and had seen very few.And then all the schoolboys joined in because they also liked processions and felt that the more noise and disturbance there was,the less likely they would be to have any school that morning.And then all the old women put their heads out of doors and windows and began chattering and cheering because it was a king,and what is a governor compared with that?And all the young women joined in for the same reason and also because Caspian and Drinian and the rest were so handsome.And then all the young men came to see what the young women were looking at,so that by the time Caspian reached the castle gates,nearly the whole town was shouting;and where Gumpas sat in the castle,muddling and messing about with accounts and forms and rules and regulations,he heard the noise.

At the castle gate Caspian's trumpeter blew a blast and cried,"Open for the King of Narnia,come to visit his trusty and well-beloved servant the governor of the Lone Islands." In those days everything in the islands was done in a slovenly,slouching manner.Only the little postern opened,and out came a tousled fellow with a dirty old hat on his head instead of a helmet,and a rusty old pike in his hand.He blinked at the flashing figures before him."Carn—seez—fishansy," he mumbled (which was his way of saying,"You can't see his Sufficiency")."No interviews without'pointments'cept'tween nine'n'ten p.m.second Saturday every month."

"Uncover before Narnia,you dog," thundered the Lord Bern,and dealt him a rap with his gauntleted hand which sent his hat　flying from his head.

"'Ere?Wot's it all about?" began the door-keeper,but no one took any notice of him.Two of Caspian's men stepped through the postern and after some struggling with bars and bolts (for everything was rusty),flung both wings of the gate wide open.Then the King and his followers strode into the courtyard.Here a number of the governor's guards were lounging about and several more (they were mostly wiping their mouths) came tumbling out of various doorways.Though their armour was in a disgraceful condition,these were fellows who might have fought if they had been led or had known what was happening;so this was the dangerous moment.Caspian gave them no time to think.

"Where is the captain?"he asked.

"I am,more or less,if you know what I mean," said a languid and rather dandified young person without any armour at all.

"It is our wish,"said Caspian,"that our royal visitation to our realm of the Lone Islands should,if possible,be an occasion of joy and not of terror to our loyal subjects.If it were not for that,I should have something to say about the state of your men's armour and weapons.As it is,you are pardoned.Command a cask of wine to be opened that your men may drink our health.But at noon tomorrow I wish to see them here in this courtyard looking like men-at-arms and not like vagabonds.See to it on pain of our extreme displeasure."

The captain gaped but Bern immediately cried,"Three cheers for the king," and the soldiers,who had understood about the cask of wine even if they understood nothing else,joined in.Caspian then ordered most of his own men to remain in the courtyard.He,with Bern and Drinian and four others,went into the hall.

Behind a table at the far end with various secretaries about him sat his Sufficiency,the governor of the Lone Islands.Gumpas was a bilious-looking man with hair that had once been red and was now mostly grey.He glanced up as the strangers entered and then looked down at his papers saying automatically,"No interviews without appointments except between nine and ten p.m.on second Saturdays."

Caspian nodded to Bern and then stood aside.Bern and Drinian took a step forward and each seized one end of the table.They lifted it,andflung it on one side of the hall where it rolled over,scattering a cascade of letters,dossiers,ink-pots,pens,sealing-wax and documents.Then,not roughly but as　firmly as if their hands were pincers of steel,they plucked Gumpas out of his chair and deposited him,facing it,about four feet away.Caspian at once sat down in the chair and laid his naked sword across his knees.

"My Lord,"said he,fixing his eyes on Gumpas,"you have not given us quite the welcome we expected.I am the King of Narnia."

"Nothing about it in the correspondence," said the governor."Nothing in the minutes.We have not been notified of any such thing.All irregular.Happy to consider any applications—"

"And we are come to enquire into your Sufficiency's conduct of your office,"continued Caspian."There are two points especially on which I require an explanation.Firstly I 　find no record that the tribute due from these Islands to the crown of Narnia has been received for about a hundred and　fifty years."

"That would be a question to raise at the Council next month,"said Gumpas."If anyone moves that a commission of enquiry be set up to report on the financial history of the islands at the 　first meeting next year,why then..."

"I also　find it very clearly written in our laws,"Caspian went on,"that if the tribute is not delivered the whole debt has to be paid by the governor of the Lone Islands out of his private purse."

At this Gumpas began to pay real attention."Oh,that's quite out of the question," he said."It is an economic impossibility—er—your Majesty must be joking."

Inside,he was wondering if there were any way of getting rid of these unwelcome visitors.Had he known that Caspian had only one ship and one ship's company with him,he would have spoken soft words for the moment,and hoped to have them all surrounded and killed during the night.But he had seen a ship of war sail down the straits yesterday and seen it signalling,as he supposed,to its consorts.He had not then known it was the King's ship for there was not wind enough to spread the flag out and make the golden lion visible,so he had waited further developments.Now he imagined that Caspian had a whole fleet at Bernstead.It would never have occurred to Gumpas that anyone would walk into Narrowhaven to take the islands with fewer than fifty men;it was certainly not at all the kind of thing he could imagine doing himself.

"Secondly," said Caspian,"I want to know why you have permitted this abominable and unnatural traffic in slaves to grow up here,contrary to the ancient custom and usage of our dominions."

"Necessary,unavoidable," said his Sufficiency."An essential part of the economic development of the islands,I assure you.Our present burst of prosperity depends on it."

"What need have you of slaves?"

"For export,your Majesty.Sell'em to Calormen mostly;and we have other markets.We are a great centre of the trade."

"In other words,"said Caspian,"you don't need them.Tell me what purpose they serve except to put money into the pockets of such as Pug?"

"Your Majesty's tender years," said Gumpas,with what was meant to be a fatherly smile,"hardly make it possible that you should understand the economic problem involved.I have statistics,I have graphs,I have—"

"Tender as my years may be,"said Caspian,"I believe I understand the slave trade from within quite as well as your Sufficiency.And I do not see that it brings into the islands meat or bread or beer or wine or timber or cabbages or books or instruments of music or horses or armour or anything else worth having.But whether it does or not,it must be stopped."

"But that would be putting the clock back," gasped the governor."Have you no idea of progress,of development?"

"I have seen them both in an egg,"said Caspian."We call it'Going Bad'in Narnia.This trade must stop."

"I can take no responsibility for any such measure,"said Gumpas.

"Very well,then,"answered Caspian,"we relieve you of your office.My Lord Bern,come here."And before Gumpas quite realized what was happening,Bern was kneeling with his hands between the King's hands and taking the oath to govern the Lone Islands in accordance with the old customs,rights,usages and laws of Narnia.And Caspian said,"I think we have had enough of governors," and made Bern a Duke,the Duke of the Lone Islands.

"As for you,my Lord,"he said to Gumpas,"I forgive you your debt for the tribute.But before noon tomorrow you and yours must be out of the castle,which is now the Duke's residence."

"Look here,this is all very well," said one of Gumpas's secretaries,"but suppose all you gentlemen stop playacting and we do a little business.The question before us really is—"

"The question is," said the Duke,"whether you and the rest of the rabble will leave without a flogging or with one.You may choose which you prefer."

When all this had been pleasantly settled,Caspian ordered horses,of which there were a few in the castle,though very ill-groomed and he,with Bern and Drinian and a few others,rode out into the town and made for the slave market.It was a long low building near the harbour and the scene which they found going on inside was very much like any other auction;that is to say,there was a great crowd and Pug,on a platform,was roaring out in a raucous voice:

"Now,gentlemen,lot twenty-three.Fine Terebinthian agricultural labourer,suitable for the mines or the galleys.Under twenty-　five years of age.Not a bad tooth in his head.Good,brawny fellow.Take offhis shirt,Tacks,and let the gentlemen see.There's muscle for you!Look at the chest on him.Ten crescents from the gentleman in the corner.You must be joking,Sir.Fifteen!Eighteen!Eighteen is bid for lot twenty-three.Any advance on eighteen?Twenty-one.Thank you,Sir.Twenty-one is bid—"

But Pug stopped and gaped when he saw the mail-clad figures who had clanked up to the platform.

"On your knees,every man of you,to the King of Narnia,"said the Duke.Everyone heard the horses jingling and stamping outside and many had heard some rumour of the landing and the events at the castle.Most obeyed.Those who did not were pulled down by their neighbours.Some cheered.

"Your life is forfeit,Pug,for laying hands on our royal person yesterday," said Caspian."But your ignorance is pardoned.The slave trade was forbidden in all our dominions quarter of an hour ago.I declare every slave in this market free."

He held up his hand to check the cheering of the slaves and went on,"Where are my friends?"

"That dear little gel and the nice young gentleman?" said Pug with an ingratiating smile."Why,they were snapped up at once—"

"We're here,we're here,Caspian,"cried Lucy and Edmund together and,"At your service,Sire," piped Reepicheep from another corner.They had all been sold but the men who had bought them were staying to bid for other slaves and so they had not yet been taken away.The crowd parted to let the three of them out and there was great handclasping and greeting between them and Caspian.Two merchants of Calormen at once approached.The Calormen have dark faces and long beards.They wear flowing robes and orange-coloured turbans,and they are a wise,wealthy,courteous,cruel and ancient people.They bowed most politely to Caspian and paid him long compliments,all about the fountains of prosperity irrigating the gardens of prudence and virtue—and things like that—but of course what they wanted was the money they had paid.

"That is only fair,Sirs,"said Caspian."Every man who has bought a slave today must have his money back.Pug,bring out your takings to the last minim."(A minim is the fortieth part of a crescent.)

"Does your good Majesty mean to beggar me?"whined Pug.

"You have lived on broken hearts all your life,"said Caspian,"and if you are beggared,it is better to be a beggar than a slave.But where is my other friend?"

"Oh him?"said Pug."Oh take him and welcome.Glad to have him offmy hands.I've never seen such a drug in the market in all my born days.Priced him at five crescents in the end and even so nobody'd have him.Threw him in free with other lots and still no one would have him.Wouldn't touch him.Wouldn't look at him.Tacks,bring out Sulky."

Thus Eustace was produced,and sulky he certainly looked;for though no one would want to be sold as a slave,it is perhaps even more galling to be a sort of utility slave whom no one will buy.He walked up to Caspian and said,"I see.As usual.Been enjoying yourself somewhere while the rest of us were prisoners.I suppose you haven't even found out about the British Consul.Of course not."

That night they had a great feast in the castle of Narrowhaven and then,"Tomorrow for the beginning of our real adventures!" said Reepicheep when he had made his bows to everyone and went to bed.But it could not really be tomorrow or anything like it.For now they were preparing to leave all known lands and seas behind them,and the fullest preparations had to be made.The Dawn Treader was emptied and drawn on land by eight horses over rollers and every bit of her was gone over by the most skilled shipwrights.Then she was launched again and victualled and watered as full as she could hold—that is to say,for twenty-eight days.Even this,as Edmund noticed with disappointment,only gave them a fortnight's eastward sailing before they had to abandon their quest.

While all this was being done Caspian missed no chance of questioning all the oldest sea captains whom he could find in Narrowhaven to learn if they had any knowledge or even any rumours of land further to the east.He poured out many a　flagon of the castle ale to weather-beaten men with short grey beards and clear blue eyes,and many a tall yarn he heard in return.But those who seemed the most truthful could tell of no lands beyond the Lone Islands,and many thought that if you sailed too far east you would come into the surges of a sea without lands that swirled perpetually round the rim of the world—"And that,I reckon,is where your Majesty's friends went to the bottom." The rest had only wild stories of islands inhabited by headless men,floating islands,waterspouts,and a 　fire that burned along the water.Only one,to Reepicheep's delight,said,"And beyond that,Aslan country.But that's beyond the end of the world and you can't get there."But when they questioned him he could only say that he'd heard it from his father.

Bern could only tell them that he had seen his six companions sail away eastward and that nothing had ever been heard of them again.He said this when he and Caspian were standing on the highest point of Avra looking down on the Eastern Ocean."I've often been up here of a morning," said the Duke,"and seen the sun come up out of the sea,and sometimes it looked as if it were only a couple of miles away.And I've wondered about (my friends and wondered what there really is behind that horizon.) Nothing,most likely,yet I am always half ashamed that I stayed behind.But I wish your Majesty wouldn't go.We may need your help here.This closing the slave market might make a new world;war with Calormen is what I foresee.My liege,think again."

"I have an oath,my lord Duke," said Caspian."And anyway,what could I say to Reepicheep?"

中文阅读

次日清晨，伯恩爵爷一大早就来拜访他的客人。早餐后，他请求卡斯宾下令，手下所有的人都全副武装。“尤其是，”他补充道，“一切都要井井有条，一尘不染，就像两国在全世界面前开战，首次战斗打响的那个拂晓的样子。”大家都照此办理。接着，卡斯宾及其部下，伯恩带着他的几个随从，乘坐三只小船，朝着窄港湾出发了。皇家的旗帜在船尾飘扬，号手随军同行。

抵达窄港湾的栈桥码头时，卡斯宾发现一大群人聚集在那里迎接他们。“这是我昨夜捎信通知的，”伯恩说，“他们都是我的朋友，是一些诚实的人。”卡斯宾刚一上岸，人群就欢呼起来：“纳尼亚！纳尼亚！国王万岁！”与此同时——也是由于伯恩派出信使的缘故——城镇许多地方的钟声齐鸣。卡斯宾命令旗手走在前边，号手吹响号角，众人手握宝剑，面带微笑，但又不失威严。他们迈着整齐的步伐，使得街道都为之震颤。他们的铠甲闪闪发光（那是个阳光灿烂的早晨），使人几乎无法定睛观看。

起初，欢呼的人群都是伯恩的信使事先通知过的，他们知道眼前所发生的事情，也盼望这样的事情发生。随后，所有的孩童都加入到他们的队伍中来，因为孩子们喜欢*行游**，而平时又很少有这样的机会。接着，所有的小学生也跟在了他们的后面，他们同样喜欢*行游**，而且认为，他们闹出的动静越大，那天上午就越有可能会停课。再往后，老太太们从门窗中探出头来，她们议论纷纷，也跟着欢呼起来。因为这是一位国王，相比之下，总督又算得了什么呢？由于同样的原因，加上卡斯宾、德利尼安及其手下都很英俊，年轻的女子们也加入了欢呼的人群。最后，所有的年轻人也都来了，他们想知道女孩子们在看什么热闹。当卡斯宾到达城堡大门时，几乎全城的人都在欢呼。冈帕斯坐在城堡里，面对着一大堆账目、表格和规章制度，正感到昏头涨脑、一筹莫展时，忽然听到了外面的喧嚣。

在城堡大门口，号手吹响了号角，喊道：“开门，纳尼亚王前来探访他忠实的、心爱的臣仆，孤独群岛的总督。”在那些日子里，岛上的事务全都是马马虎虎，敷衍塞责。一扇小边门打开了，走出来一个邋遢的家伙，头上没戴头盔，只戴着一顶肮脏的破帽子，手里拿着一支生锈的旧长矛。面对着明晃晃的铠甲，他眨巴着眼睛。“大人——不——见，”他嘴里咕哝着（他的意思是，“你们不能见总督大人”），“必须提前预约，每月第二个周六，晚九点到十点接待。除此之外，概不会客。”

“在纳尼亚王面前要脱帽，你个狗东西。”伯恩大人怒喝道，用戴着铁手套的手揍了他一下，把他的帽子从头上打飞了。

“嗯？怎么回事？”门卫问道，但是没有人理睬他。卡斯宾的两名士兵从边门走了进去，费了好大的劲儿才拉开门闩（所有的东西都锈蚀了），打开两扇大门。国王和他的部下大步走进院子。总督的一些卫兵正在院子里蹓达，还有几个（大多数抹着嘴巴）从不同的门道里慌乱地走了出来。虽然这些家伙的铠甲不成体统，但如果有人带领，或者他们知道发生了什么事情，也许会抵挡上一阵。这一刻形势十分危急，卡斯宾没有给他们留下思考的时间。

“队长在哪儿？”他问道。

“我就是，多少算一个吧，倘若你明白我的意思，”一个萎靡不振的年轻人答道。他一身纨绔打扮，根本没有穿铠甲。

“我们希望，”卡斯宾说，“朕御驾亲临孤独群岛巡视，对于忠心的臣下来说，是一件值得高兴的事儿，而不是为了让你们恐惧。若不是由于这个原因，我一定要对你们的铠甲和*器武**提出批评。既然是个喜庆的节日，朕就赦免了你们。传令打开一桶酒，让卫队为我们的健康干杯。我希望，明天中午在这个院子里，能够看到一队士兵，而不是一群流浪汉。要诚惶诚恐，否则以冒犯圣驾论处。”

队长张口结舌，伯恩立即喊道：“为国王三呼万岁！”那些门卫，即便没听懂别的，至少听明白了有酒喝，于是跟着欢呼起来。卡斯宾命令大部分人都留在院子里，他带着伯恩和德利尼安以及四名卫士，走进了大厅。

在大厅那一头的一张桌子后面，坐着孤独群岛的总督，一群幕僚围绕在他的身边。冈帕斯是个脾气暴躁的人，他的头发原先是红色的，现在多半已经变成花白。他抬起头来，扫了一眼走进来的陌生人，便又低下头去看他的文件，嘴里机械地说道：“必须提前预约，每月第二个周六，晚九点至十点会客。”

卡斯宾朝伯恩点点头，退在了一边。伯恩和德利尼安上前一步，一人抓住桌子的一头，抬了起来，朝大厅的一端扔去。桌子翻倒在地，上面的信件、卷宗、墨水瓶、钢笔、封蜡与文件等如雪片般四散开来。接着，他们伸手把冈帕斯从椅子上揪了出来，他们的动作虽然不粗暴，但双手却像钢钳一样，把他拖到椅子前面四英尺开外的地方。卡斯宾在椅子上坐了下来，将出鞘的剑横放在膝盖上。

“爱卿，”他紧紧盯着冈帕斯说，“你没有给与我们应有的欢迎。我是纳尼亚的国王。”

“没有公函提及此事，”总督说，“备忘录中也没有。我们没有接到任何通知。一切都不合规矩。请问有何公干，我很乐意效劳——”

“我们前来考察阁下的职责，”卡斯宾说，“尤其是以下两点，需要你做出解释。第一点，我找不到这些群岛近一百五十年来向纳尼亚王室进贡的任何记录。”

“这可以作为一个问题，在下月的市政会议上提出，”冈帕斯说，“在明年的第一次会议上，如果有人提议组建一个调查委员会，就群岛财务史作出报告，那时……”

“我还发现，在我们的律法中清楚地写着，”卡斯宾说道，“如果贡税没有缴纳，孤独群岛的总督必须自己掏腰包偿付拖欠的全部债务。”

听到这里，冈帕斯才真正开始关注起来。“哦，那是完全做不到的，”他说，“从经济上根本没有可能——嗯——陛下一定是在开玩笑。”

他在心里盘算着，是否有什么办法可以摆脱这些不速之客。假如他知道，卡斯宾只有一艘船，只有船上那点儿兵力，他当下也许会讲一些软话，而试图在夜间包围并杀害他们。可是他昨天看到一艘战船驶过海峡，还看到船上发信号，据他猜测，是发给护航的船只。他并不知道，那就是国王的船，因为那会儿的风没能把旗帜吹起来，他没有看到上面的金狮徽章。因此他在等待事态的进一步发展。这会儿，他想象卡斯宾在伯恩的领地有整整一个船队。冈帕斯绝对想象不到，有人率领着四十多个人，就胆敢登上窄港湾来夺取这些岛屿。当然，这种事情是他自己连想都不敢想的。

“第二点，”卡斯宾说，“我想知道，你为什么允许令人作呕的、违反人性的贩奴贸易在这里泛滥，违背了古老的习俗和我们统治的惯例。”

“出于需要，无法避免，”总督说，“我向您保证，那是岛上经济发展的重要一环。我们目前的繁荣端赖于此。”

“你们需要奴隶做什么？”

“用于出口，陛下。他们大部分都被卖到了卡罗门。我们还有其他的市场。我们是奴隶贸易的伟大中心。”

“换言之，”卡斯宾说，“你并不需要奴隶。告诉我，除了给帕格等人的腰包里装满金钱之外，他们还有什么别的用途？”

“陛下还年轻，”冈帕斯说着，脸上露出一个倚老卖老的笑容，“还很难理解这里面涉及到的经济问题。我有统计数字，还有图表，以及——”

“虽然我还年轻，”卡斯宾说，“我相信自己对奴隶贸易本质的理解和你一样清楚。我并没有看到贩奴给岛上带来肉类、面包、啤酒、木材、包菜、书籍、乐器、马匹、铠甲，或是别的值得拥有的东西。不管是否有利可图，都必须加以禁止。”

“那是开倒车，”总督几乎喘不过气来，“难道你不懂得要进步，要发展吗？”

“我从一枚鸡蛋上面看到了这两者，”卡斯宾说，“在纳尼亚我们说鸡蛋‘变臭了’。这种交易必须停止。”

“对于这样一些举措，我不承担任何责任。”冈帕斯说。

“很好，那么，”卡斯宾答道，“我们解除你的职务。伯恩爱卿，请上前来。”冈帕斯还没有弄明白到底是怎么一回事儿，伯恩已经跪在地上，把双手放在国王的手中，发誓要按照纳尼亚的古老习俗、权利、法则来治理孤独群岛。卡斯宾说：“我认为，我们不再需要总督这个头衔了。”于是，他封伯恩为公爵，孤独群岛公爵。

“至于你，大人，”他对冈帕斯说，“我赦免你所欠的贡税债务。但是在明天正午之前，你和你的属下必须从城堡中搬出去，这里已经成为公爵的府邸。”

“听我说，这一切都很好，”冈帕斯的一个幕僚说道，“如果你们这些绅士能够不再指手画脚，让我们干一些公务的话。我们面前真正的问题是——”

“问题是，”公爵打断了他，“你和其余的家伙是不是想挨顿鞭子才滚蛋？你们可以选择。”

等一切都得到了妥善解决，卡斯宾命令人备马。城堡中有几匹马，因为疏于喂养，状态不是太好。他带着伯恩和德利尼安，还有几名随从，骑马朝城镇的奴隶市场驰去。那是靠近港口的一长溜低矮建筑物，他们发现，里面的场景同其他的拍卖市场没有什么两样。也就是说，有一大帮人，帕格站在一个台子上，正用沙哑的声音吼叫道：

“注意，先生们，二十三号。精壮的提勒宾西亚农夫，适合开矿和划苦力船。还不到二十五岁。没有一颗虫牙。一个很棒的壮小伙。把他的衬衫脱掉，塔克斯，让先生们看看。多么发达的肌肉！看看他的胸脯。那个角落里有先生出十个新月币。你一定是在开玩笑，阁下。十五！十八！二十三号的竞价是十八。还有更高的出价吗？二十一。谢谢，先生。二十一新月币——”

帕格看见几个人走近台子，他们身上的铠甲叮当作响，他突然打住，目瞪口呆地愣在那里。

“全体跪下，朝见纳尼亚王。”公爵喊道。听到马儿在外面踢踏的声音，铃儿叮铃的响声。很多人都听说了皇上登陆的传闻，以及城堡中所发生的事情。大多数人都遵命跪了下来，少数没有跪的，也被旁边的人拉着俯伏在地上。有些人欢呼起来。

“帕格，昨天你竟敢劫持君王，罪不容诛，”卡斯宾说，“鉴于你的无知，朕赦免了你。一个小时前，奴隶贸易已经在我国所有的领土上加以取缔。我宣布，这个市场上所有的奴隶全都自由了。”

他举起一只手，制止奴隶们的欢呼，继续说道：“我的朋友们在哪里？”

“那个亲爱的小丫头和那位优秀的年轻绅士吗？”帕格带着谄媚的笑容问道，“啊，他们一下子就被人抢去了——”

“我们在这儿，我们在这儿，卡斯宾，”露西和埃德蒙一起嚷道，“愿为您效劳，陛下，”雷匹奇普在另一个角落尖声叫道。他们都已经被人买去，但买主还想购买其他的奴隶，所以他们还没有被带走。人群分开一条路，让他们三个走过来。他们与卡斯宾又是握手，又是打招呼。卡罗门的两个商人立即走上前来，他们的脸色黧黑，留着长胡须，身穿长袍，头上扎着橘色的头巾。卡罗门人是一个精明富有、谦恭而又残忍的古老民族。他们俩彬彬有礼地向卡斯宾鞠躬，对他发出滔滔不绝的赞美，关于兴旺的喷泉浇灌谨慎与美德的花园——诸如此类的话语——当然他们是想把自己付出的钱收回去。

“这是公平合理的，先生们，”卡斯宾说，“帕格，把钱退还给今天所有买了奴隶的人。把你的赃款一文不留，全部交出来。”（一文钱为四十分之一个新月币。）

“慈仁的陛下想要我沦为乞丐吗？”帕格哀求道。

“你这一生都是靠着伤害别人过活，”卡斯宾说，“如果你真的成为乞丐，那也比做奴隶强。我还有个朋友在哪里？”

“哦，他吗？”帕格说，“哦，把他带走，我求之不得。很高兴能够摆脱他。我这一辈子，在市场上从来没有见过这样的滞销货，最后降到五个新月币，还是没有人买。把他与其他奴隶搭配，买一送一，依然没有人愿意要他。谁都不愿沾他的边儿，甚至看都不想看他一眼。塔克斯，把那个苦瓜脸带出来。”

于是，尤斯塔斯被带了出来，果然他的脸拉得长长的。没有人愿意被卖为奴，可是作为一个干粗活的奴隶，居然还受到人们的冷落，或许这更加令人气恼。他走到卡斯宾跟前，说道：“我知道，像以往一样。我们这些人沦为囚徒，你却在某个地方逍遥自在。我猜，你压根儿都没有去打听英国领事馆的消息。当然不会的。”

那天夜晚，他们在窄港湾城堡举行了盛大的宴会。宴会结束时，雷匹奇普说：“明天即将开始我们真正的历险！”它朝众人鞠躬行礼，然后就上床睡觉去了。其实，第二天不可能真正启程。因为他们即将把已知的陆地和海洋留在身后，进入未知的海域，因此必须进行充分的准备。他们清空了“黎明”号上的东西，把它放在滚筒上，由八匹马拉上岸来。修船工人对船身的各个部分都进行了仔细的检修。这时，船又重新下水。他们在船上储存了尽可能多的食物与水——也就是说，足够二十八天的用量。即使这样，埃德蒙还是感到失望，因为他们向东航行十四天后，就要被迫放弃这次探索。

在此期间，卡斯宾不失时机地询问了在窄港湾所能找到的全部老船长，向他们打听是否知道或是听说过东边的陆地情况。他从城堡里拿出一壶壶酒，给这些饱经风霜、留着灰白短胡须、长着清澈蓝眼睛的人们斟满啤酒。他们给他讲了很多传说故事。那些外表最诚实的人也说不清孤独岛前方是否还有陆地。很多船长认为，如果你向东航行得太远，就会进入世界边缘涌流不息的惊涛骇浪之中——“我要说，陛下的朋友们就是在那里葬身海底的。”其余的人只是讲了一些无头人居住的岛屿、漂浮的岛屿、龙卷风卷起的水柱、水上燃烧的火等无稽之谈。使雷匹奇普感到高兴的是，有一个人说：“在那之外是阿斯兰的国度。但那是在世界的边缘之外，你无法到达那里。”当他们进一步追问的时候，他只是说，这是从他父亲那里听来的。

伯恩所能告诉他们的不过是，自从自己目送六位伙伴向东扬帆远航之后，就再也没有听到过他们的消息。他述说此事的时候，正同卡斯宾站在亚弗拉岛的最高处，眺望着东海。“清晨，我时常站在这里，”公爵说，“看着太阳从海上冉冉升起，有时看上去好像只有两三英里远。我曾经猜想过朋友们的下落，猜想过地平线后面到底有些什么。很有可能，什么都没有。我始终为自己留在这里感到几分羞愧。可是我希望陛下不要前去。我们这里还需要你的帮助。关闭奴隶市场也许会带来一个崭新的世界。我预料将会跟卡罗门打仗。我的主人，再考虑一下吧。”

“我曾经发过誓，公爵大人，”卡斯宾说，“无论如何都要前去，否则我怎么跟雷匹奇普解释呢？”