在这篇无望的土地上，人烟绝迹。
In this hopeless land, there is no human habitation.
只有波尼人和黑足①人偶尔结队走过这里，前往其他猎区；即使是最勇敢最坚强②的人，也巴不得早日走完这篇可怕的荒原，重新投身到大草原中去。
Only Boni people and Blackfoot ① people occasionally team up here and head to other hunting areas; even the bravest and strongest people can't wait to walk through this terrifying wasteland as soon as possible and plunge back into the grasslands.
只有山狗躲躲藏藏地在矮丛林中穿行，巨雕缓慢地在空中翱翔，还有那蠢笨的灰熊，出没在阴沉的峡谷里，寻找食物。
Only mountain dogs hide and hide in the low jungle, giant eagles slowly soar in the air, and the foolish grizzly bear haunts the gloomy canyon, searching for food.
它们是荒原里绝无仅有的居客。
They are unique residents in the wilderness.

　　世界上再也没有什么地方会比布兰卡山脉北麓的景象③更为凄凉的了。
There is no place in the world that is more desolate than the scene at the northern foothills of the Blanca Mountains.
极目四望，荒原上只见被矮小的槲树林隔断的一起起盐硷地。
Looking around, I could only see a saline alkali land separated by small mistletoe trees on the wasteland.


地平线的尽头，山峦起伏，积雪皑皑，闪烁着点点银光。
At the end of the horizon, the mountains rose and fell, covered in snow, shimmering with silver.


在这篇土地上既没有生命，也没有和生命有关的东西。
There is neither life nor anything related to life on this land.


铁青色的天空中飞鸟绝迹，灰暗的大地上不见动静。
The birds disappeared in the iron blue sky, and there was no movement on the gray earth.


总之，一起死寂。
In short, there is a dead silence together.


倾耳静听，在这篇广阔荒芜的大地上，毫无声息，只是一起彻底的、令人灰心绝望的死寂。
Listening attentively, in this vast and desolate land, there is no sound, just a complete and despairing silence.

有人说，在这广袤的原野上没有一点和生命有关的东西存在，这种说法也不真实。从布兰卡山脉往下观看，可以看见一条小路，曲曲弯弯地穿过沙漠，消逝在遥远的地平线上。
Some people say that there is nothing related to life in this vast wilderness, and this statement is also untrue.
这条小路是经过多少车辆辗轧，经过无数冒险家的践踏而形成的。
Looking down from the Blanca Mountains, one can see a small path winding through the desert, disappearing on the distant horizon.
这儿一堆，那儿一堆，到处散布着白森森的东西在日光下闪闪发光，在这篇单调的硷地上显得非常刺眼。
Here and there are piles of white things scattered everywhere, shining brightly in the sunlight, appearing very dazzling on this monotonous alkaline land.
走近仔细一看，原来是一堆堆白骨：又大又粗的是牛骨；较小较细的是人骨。
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be piles of white bones: the large and thick ones were cow bones; The smaller and thinner ones are human bones.
在这一千五百英里可怕的商旅道路上，人们是沿着前人倒毙路旁的累累遗骨前进的。
On these 1500 miles of terrifying commercial roads, people move forward along the numerous remains of their predecessors who have fallen on the roadside.
　　--------
　　①②波尼人、黑足人均为美国西北部地区原有印第安人的部落名称。——译者注
① ② The Boni and Blackfoot are both tribal names of the Native Americans in the northwest of the United States—— translator's note
　　③布兰卡山脉是美国洛矶山脉的一支，在科罗拉多州境内。——译者注
③ The Blanca Mountains are a branch of the Rocky Mountains in the United States, located in Colorado—— translator's note

　　一八四起年五月四日，一个孤单的旅客从山上俯望着这幅凄惨的情景。
On May 4th, 184, a lonely traveler looked down at this tragic scene from the mountain.
从他的外表看来，简直就是这个绝境里的鬼怪精灵。
From his appearance, he looks like a ghost and elf in this desperate situation.
即便是具有观察力的人，也难猜出他究竟是四十岁还是年近六十。
Even an observant person cannot guess whether he is forty years old or nearly sixty years old.
他的脸憔悴瘦削，干羊皮似的棕色皮肤紧紧地包着一把突出的骨头。
His face was haggard and thin, with a dry sheepskin like brown skin tightly wrapped around a protruding bone.
长长的棕色须发已然斑白，深陷的双眼，射出呆滞的目光。
The long brown beard and hair were already gray, and the deep set eyes emitted a dull gaze.
握着来复枪的那只手，上面的肌肉比骨架也多不了许多。
The hand holding the rifle has no more muscles than the skeleton.
他站着的时候，要用枪支撑着身体。
When he stands, he needs to support his body with a gun.
可是，他那高高的身材、魁伟的体格，可以看出他当初是一个十分健壮的人。
However, his tall figure and massive physique indicate that he was a very robust person at the beginning.
但是，他那削瘦的面庞和罩在骨瘦如柴的四肢上的大口袋似的衣服，使他看起来老朽不堪。
However, his thin face and the large pockets of clothes draped over his bony limbs made him look worn-out.
这个人由于饥渴交起，已临死境了。
This person is on the brink of death due to hunger and thirst.

　　他曾经忍受了痛苦，沿着山谷跋涉前进，现在又挣扎着来到这岂不大的高地，他抱着渺茫的希望，但愿能够发现点滴的水源。
He once endured pain and trudged along the valley, but now he struggles to reach this vast highland. He holds a vague hope that he can discover a small source of water.
现在，在他面前展开的只是无边无际的硷地和那远在天边的连绵不断的荒山，看不到一棵树木的踪影，因为有树木生长的地方就可能会有水气。
Now, what unfolds in front of him is the endless alkaline land and the endless barren mountains far away, without any trace of a tree, because where there are trees growing, there may be water vapor.
在这篇广阔的土地上，一点希望也没有。
In this vast land, there is no hope at all.
他张大疯狂而困惑的眼睛向北方、西方和东方了望了以后，他明白了，漂泊的日子已经到了尽头，自己就要葬身这片荒凉的岩崖之上了。
After he opened his wild and confused eyes and looked north, west, and east, he understood that the days of drifting had come to an end, and he was about to bury himself on this desolate cliff.
”死在这里，和二十年后死在鹅绒锦被的床上又有什么区别呢？”他喃喃地说着，一面就在一块突出的大石的阴影里坐了下来。
”What is the difference between dying here and dying on a bed of goose down brocade twenty years later he murmured as he sat down in the shadow of a prominent boulder.

　　他在坐下之前，先把他那无用的来复枪放在地上，然后又把背在右肩上的用一大块灰色披肩裹着的大包袱放了下来。
Before he sat down, he first laid down his useless rifle on the ground, and then lowered the large bundle wrapped in a large gray shawl on his right shoulder.
看来他已经精疲力竭，拿不动了。
It seems that he is already exhausted and unable to move.
当他放下包袱的时候，着地很重。
When he put down his burden, he landed heavily.
因此从这灰色的包袱里发出了哭声，钻出来受惊的、长着明亮的棕色眼睛的脸，并且还伸出了两个胖胖的长着浅涡和雀斑的小拳头。
Therefore, crying came out of this gray bundle, and a frightened face with bright brown eyes emerged, along with two chubby little fists with shallow eddies and freckles.

　　“你把我摔痛啦。”这个孩子用埋怨的口气稚平地说。
You hurt me by falling, "the child said in a childish tone of complaint.

　　“是吗？”这个男人很抱歉地回答说，“我不是故意的。”
Really? " the man replied apologetically," I didn't mean to. "
说着他就打开了灰色包袱，从里边抱出了一个美丽的小女孩。
As he spoke, he opened the gray bundle and picked up a beautiful little girl from inside.
这个小女孩大约五岁左右，穿着一双精致的小鞋，漂亮的粉红色上衣，麻布围嘴。
This little girl is about five years old, wearing a pair of exquisite shoes, a beautiful pink top, and a linen bib.
从这些打扮可以看出，妈妈对她是爱护得无微不至的。
From these appearances, it can be seen that my mother takes great care of her.
这个孩子脸色虽也有些苍白，但是她那结实的胳膊和小腿都说明她所经受的苦难并没有她的同伴多。
Although the child's face was also somewhat pale, her sturdy arms and calves showed that she had not suffered as much as her companions.

　　“现在怎么样了？”他焦急地问道，因为她还在揉着脑后的蓬乱的金黄色头发。
How is it now? " he asked anxiously, as she was still rubbing her disheveled golden hair at the back of her head.

　　“你吻吻这里就好了，”她认真地说，并且就把头上碰着的地方指给他看，“妈妈总是这样做的。
Just kiss here, "she said seriously and pointed out the spot where her head touched him," Mom always does this.
妈妈哪里去了？”
Where's Mom

　　“妈妈走了。
Mom's gone.
我想不久你就会见到她的。”
I think you'll see her soon

　　小女孩说：“什么，走了吗？
The little girl said, " what, have you left?
真破怪，她还没有和我说再见呢。
It's really strange, she hasn't said goodbye to me yet.
她以前每次到姑母家吃茶去的时候总要说一声的。
She used to say it every time she went to her aunt's house for tea.
可是这回她都走了三天了。
But this time she has been away for three days.
喂，嘴干得要命，是不是？
Hey, her mouth is really dry, isn't it?
难道这里吃的喝的都没有吗？”
Isn't there not even food or drink here

　　“没有，什么也没有，亲爱的。
No, nothing, dear.
只要你暂时忍一忍，过一会儿就会好的。
As long as you hold back for a while, it will be okay in a while.
你把头靠在我身上，啊，就这样你就会舒服些了。
You lean your head against me, ah, that'll make you feel better.
我的嘴唇也干得象妻子一样了，说话都有些费劲儿，但是我想我还是把真实情况告诉你吧。
My lips are dry like a wife, and speaking is a bit difficult, but I think I'll tell you the truth.
你手里拿的什么？”
What are you holding in your hand

　　小女孩拿起两块云母石片给他看，高兴地说：“多漂亮啊！
The little girl picked up two mica stones and showed them to him, saying happily, "How beautiful!
真好！
How beautiful!
回家我就把它送给小弟弟鲍伯。”
That's great! I'll give them to my little brother Bob when I get home