Introduction：The story was originally published in 1890，and firstanthologized in Bierce’s 1891 collection，Tales of Soldiers and Civilians。The story is famous for its irregular time sequence and twist ending。Set during the American Civil War，“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”is the story of Peyton Farquhar，a Confederate sympathizer condemned to die by hanging upon the Owl Creek Bridge of the title。Themain character finds himself already bound at the bridge’s edge at the beginning of the story。It is later revealed that a disguised Union scout enlisted him to attempt to demolish the bridge，and subsequently he was caught in the act。
Ⅰ
1 Beyond one of the sentinels nobody was in sightthe railroad ran straight away into a forest for a hundred yards，then，curving，was lost to view。Doubtless there was an outpost farther along。The other bank of the stream was open ground—a gentle slope topped with a stockade of vertical tree trunks，loopholed for rifles，with a single embrasure through which protruded the muzzle of a brass cannon commanding the bridge。Midway up the slope between the bridge and fort were the spectators—a single company of infantry in line，at“parade rest，”the butts of their rifles on the ground，the barrels inclining slightly backward against the right shoulder，the hands crossed upon the stock。A lieutenant stood atthe right of the line，the point of his sword upon the ground，his left hand resting upon his right。Excepting the group of four at the center of the bridge，not a man moved。The company faced the bridge，staring stonily，motionless。The sentinels，facing the banks of the stream，might have been statues to adorn the bridge。The captain stood with folded arms，silent，observing the work of hissubordinates，but making no sign。Death is a dignitary who when he comes announced is to be received with formal manifestations of respect，even by those most familiar with him。In the code of military etiquette silence and fixity are forms of deference。
2 The man who was engaged in being hanged was apparently about thirty-five years of age。He was a civilian，if one might judge from his habit，which was that of a planter。His features were good—a straight nose，firm mouth，broad forehead，from which his long，dark hair was combed straight back，falling behind his ears to the collar of his well fitting frock coat。He wore a moustache and pointed beard，but no whiskershis eyes were large and dark gray，and had a kindly expression which one would hardly have expected in one whose neck was in the hemp。Evidently this was no vulgar assassin。The liberal military code makes provision for hanging many kinds of persons，and gentlemen are not excluded。
评注：毕尔斯虽然曾经参加过北方军队，但是他眼里的美国内战却完全不是现实主义文学的套路。他的这个短篇并不关注战争的场面或正义性等宏大叙事，只是聚焦于对某位南方战俘的处死过程。在毕尔斯那里，战争首先是对生命的谋杀。
sentinel：n。哨兵
outpost：n。前哨
stockade：n。围栏，栅栏
loophole：v。留出做枪眼的缝隙
embrasure：n。炮眼，射击孔
protrude：v。突出
muzzle：n。炮口
infantry：n。步兵
barrel：n。枪桶
adorn：v。装饰
subordinate：n。下属
dignitary：n。显贵之人
deference：n。尊重
whisker：n。腮须
hemp：n。绞刑绳
vulgar：adj。粗俗的
make provision for：规定
exclude：v。排除在外
he preparations being complete，the two private soldiers stepped aside and each drew away the plank upon which he had been standing。The sergeant turned to the captain，saluted，and placed himself immediately behind that officer，who in turn moved apart one pace。These movements left the condemned man and the sergeant standing on the two ends of the same plank，which spanned three of the cross-ties of the bridge。The end upon which the civilian stood almost，but not quitereached a fourth。This plank had been held in place by the weight of the captainit was now held by that of the sergeant。At a signal from the former，the latter would step aside，the plank would tilt，and the condemned man go down between two ties。The arrangement commended itself to his judgement as simple and effective。His face had not been covered nor his eyes bandaged。He looked a moment at his“unsteadfast footing”，then let his gaze wander to the swirling water of thestream racing madly beneath his feet。A piece of dancing driftwood caught his attention and his eyes followed it down the current。How slowly it appeared to move！What a sluggish stream！
4 He closed his eyes in order to fix his last thoughts upon his wifeand children。The water，touched to gold by the early sun，the brooding mists under the banks at some distance down the stream，the fort，the soldiers，the piece of drift—all had distracted him。And now he became conscious of a new disturbance。Striking through the thought of his dear ones was sound which he could neither ignore nor understand，a sharp，distinct，metallic percussion likethe stroke of ablacksmith’s hammer upon the anvilit had the same ringing quality。He wondered what it was，and whether immeasurably distant or near by—it seemed both。Its recurrence was regular，but as slow as the tolling of a death knell。He awaited each new stroke with impatience and—he knew not why—apprehension。The intervals of silence grew progressively longer the delays became maddening。With their greater infrequency the sounds increased in strength and sharpness。They hurt his ears like the thrust of a knifehe feared he would shriek。What he heard was the ticking of his watch。
5 He unclosed his eyes and saw again the water below him。“If I could free my hands，”he thought，“I might throw off the noose and spring into the stream。Bydiving I could evade the bullets，and，swimming vigorously，reach the bank，taketo the woods，and get away home。My home，thank God，is as yet outside their linesmy wife and little ones are still beyond the invader’s farthest advance。”
plank：n。厚木板
cross-ties：n。桥的枕木
tilt：v。倾斜
unsteadfast：adj。不稳固的
footing：n。立足处
sluggish：adj。缓慢的
percussion：n。敲击
anvil：n。铁砧
recurrence：n。反复
toll：v。鸣（钟），敲（钟）
knell：n。丧钟
apprehension：n。忧虑
noose：n。套索
evade：v。躲开
sthese thoughts，which have here to be set down in words，were flashed intothe doomed man’s brain rather than evolved from it，the captain nodded to the sergeant。The sergeant stepped aside。
评注：毕尔斯是一个超越他所处时代的作家，有人甚至认为他是后现代文学的先驱。至少在这个小说里，他运用的文学技巧在当时是独一无二的。毕尔斯将个人想象和外部现实糅杂在一起，让心理时间居于小说文本的中心位置。
Ⅱ
7 Peyton Fahrquhar was a well-to-do planter of an old and highly respected Alabama family。Being a slave owner and like other slave owners a politician，he wasnaturally an original secessionist and ardentlydevoted to the Southern cause。Circumstances of an imperious nature，which it is unnecessary torelate here，had prevented him from taking service with that gallant army which had fought the disastrous campaigns ending with the fall of Corinth，and he chafed under the inglorious restraint，longing for the release of his energies，the larger life of the soldier，the opportunity for distinction。
That opportunity，he felt，would come，as it comes to all in war time。Meanwhile he did what he could。No service was too humble for him to perform in the aid of the South，no adventure too perilous for him to undertake if consistent with the character of a civilian who was at heart a soldier，and who in good faith and without too much qualification assented to at least a part of the frankly villainous dictum that all is fair inlove and war。
评注：佩顿在临死前的丰富幻想自然是有悖于常理的，但毕尔斯在交代其身份背景时却有意让读者了解到他性格中祟尚幻想的一面，这对后文揭示真相是一个有效的伏笔。
secessionist：n。脱离论者，指美国内战时支持脱离北部联邦的人
ardently：adv。热情地
imperious：adj。迫切的（文中指迫不得已）
Corinth：n。美国密西西比州的科林斯，1862年四月在北方联邦军的火力下沦陷
chafe under：v。为……愤怒
perilous：adj。危险的
assent to：同意，赞同
dictum：n。格言
ne evening while Fahrquhar and his wife were sitting on a rustic bench near the entrance to his grounds，a gray-clad soldier rode up to the gate and asked for a drink of water。Mrs。Fahrquhar was only too happy to serve him with her own white hands。While she was fetching the water，her husband approached the dusty horseman and inquired eagerly for news from the front。
9 “The Yanks are repairing the railroads，”said the man，“and are getting readyfor another advance。They have reached the Owl Creek bridge，put it in order，and built a stockade on the north bank。The commandant has issued an order，which is posted everywhere，declaring that any civilian caught interfering with the railroad，its bridges，tunnels，or trains will be summarily hanged。I saw the order。”
10 “How far is it to the Owl Creek bridge？”Fahrquhar asked。
11 “About thirty miles。”
12 “Is there no force on this side of the creek？”
13 “Only a picket post half a mile out，on the railroad，anda single sentinel at this end of the bridge。”
14 “Suppose a man—a civilian and student of hanging—should elude the picket post and perhaps get the better of the sentinel，”said Fahrquhar，smiling，“whatcould he accomplish？”
15 The soldier reflected。“I was there a month ago，”he replied。“I observed that the flood of last winter had lodged a great quantity of driftwood against the wooden pier at this end of the bridge。It is now dry and would burn like tinder。”
16 The lady had now brought the water，which the soldier drank。Hethanked her ceremoniously，bowed to her husband，and rode away。An hour later，after nightfall，he repassed the plantation，going northward in the direction from which hehad come。He was a Federal scout。
picket post：n。哨所
elude：v。避开
get the better of：v。智取
tinder：n。易燃物
Federal scout：n。联邦部队的侦察兵
Ⅲ
17 As Peyton Fahrquhar fell straight downward through the bridge he lost consciousness and was as one already dead。From this state he was awakened—ages later，it seemed to him—by the pain of a sharp pressure upon his throat，followed by a sense of suffocation。Keen，poignant agonies seemed to shoot from his neckdownward through every fiber of his body and limbs。These pains appeared to flash along well defined lines of ramification and to beat with aninconceivably rapid periodicity。They seemed like streams of pulsating fire heating him to an intolerable temperature。As to his head，he was conscious of nothing but a feeling of fullness—of congestion。These sensations were unaccompanied by thought。The intellectual part of his nature was already effacedhe hadpower only to feel，and feeling was torment。He was conscious of motion。Encompassed in a luminous cloud，of which he was now merely the fiery heart，without material substance，he swung through unthinkable arcs of oscillation，like a vast pendulum。Then all at once，with terrible suddenness，the light about him shot upward withthe noise of a loud plasha frightful roaring was in his ears，and all was cold and dark。The power of thought was restoredhe knew that the rope had broken and he had fallen into the stream。
There was no additional strangulationthenoose about his neck was already suffocating him and kept the water from his lungs。To die of hanging at the bottom of a river！—The idea seemed to him ludicrous。He opened his eyes in the darkness and saw above him a gleam of light，buthow distant，how inaccessible！He was still sinking，for the light became fainter and fainter until it was a mere glimmer。Then it began to grow and brighten，and he knew that he was rising toward the surface—knew it with reluctance，forhe was now very comfortable。“To be hanged and drowned，”he thought，“that is not so badbut I do not wish to be shot。NoI will not be shotthat is not fair。”
18 He was not conscious of an effort，but a sharp pain in his wrist apprised him that he was trying to free his hands。He gave the struggle his attention，as an idler might observe the feat of a juggler，without interest in the outcome。What splendid effort！—What magnificent，What superhuman strength！Ah，that was a fine endeavor！Bravo！The cord fell awayhis arms parted and floated upward，the hands dimly seen on each side in the growing light。He watched them with a new interest as first one and then the other pounced upon the noose at his neck。They tore it away and thrust it fiercely aside，its undulationsresembling those of a water snake。“Put it back，put it back！”He thought he shouted these words to his hands，for the undoing of the noose had been succeeded by the direst pang that he had yet experienced。His neck ached horriblyhis brain was on fire，his heart，which had been fluttering faintly，gave a great leap，trying to force itself out at his mouth。His whole body was racked and wrenched with an insupportable anguish！But his disobedient hands gave no heed to the command。They beat the water vigorously with quick，downward strokes，forcing him to the surface。He felt his head emergehis eyes were blinded by the sunlighthis chestexpanded convulsively，and with a supreme and crowning agony his lungs engulfeda great draught of air，which instantly he expelled in a shriek！
suffocation：n。窒息
poignant：adj。令人痛苦的，剧烈的
agony：n。极大的痛苦
ramification：n。分支
periodicity：n。周期
congestion：n。充血
efface：v。变得不清晰
torment：n。折磨
encompass：v。包围，环绕
arc of oscillation：摆动幅度
pendulum：n。钟摆
strangulation：n。勒杀
ludicrous：adj。可笑的，滑稽的
apprise：v。通知，使……注意
juggler：n。变戏法
cord：n。绳索
undulation：n。波动
be succeeded by：随之而来，继……之后
dire：adj。可怕的
pang：n。剧痛
downward strokes：n。向下冲行
convulsively：adv。痉挛性地
engulf：v。吞入
expel：v。吐出
e was now in full possession of his physical senses。They were，indeed，preternaturally keen and alert。Something in the awful disturbance of his organicsystem had so exalted and refined them that they made record of things never before perceived。He felt the ripples upon his face and heard their separate sounds as they struck。He looked at the forest on the bank of the stream，saw the individual trees，the leaves and the veining of each leaf—saw the very insects upon them：the locusts，the brilliant-bodied flies，the gray spiders stretching their webs from twig to twig。He noted the prismatic colors in all the dewdrops upon a million blades of grass。The humming of the gnats that danced above the eddies of the stream，the beating of the dragon flies’wings，the strokes of the water spiders’legs，like oars which had lifted their boat—all these made audible music。A fish slid along beneath his eyes and he heard the rush of its body parting the water。
评注：按照现实主义的写作法则，佩顿的逃生不过是短暂的突发事件，但毕尔斯却故意让心理时间的流淌大大地慢于外部时间，一切都仿佛是电影中的慢动作镜头。
20 He had come to the surface facing down the streamin a moment the visible world seemed to wheel slowly round，himself the pivotal point，and he saw the bridge，the fort，the soldiers upon the bridge，the captain，the sergeant，the two privates，his executioners。They were in silhouette against the blue sky。Theyshouted and gesticulated，pointing at him。The captain had drawnhis pistol，but did not firethe others were unarmed。Their movements were grotesque and horrible，their forms gigantic。
preternaturally：adv。超自然地
exalt：v。加强，增强
refine：v。改善，改进
locust：n。蝗虫
prismatic：adj。五光十色的
gnat：n。小昆虫
eddy：n。漩涡
pivotal：adj。中枢的
silhouette：n。轮廓
gesticulate：v。做手势表达
grotesque：adj。怪异的，怪诞的21Suddenly he heard a sharp report and something struck the water smartly within a few inches of his head，spattering his face with spray。He heard a second report，and saw one of the sentinels with his rifle at his shoulder，a light cloud of blue smoke rising from the muzzle。The man in the water saw the eye of theman on the bridge gazing into his own through the sights of the rifle。He observed that it was a gray eye and remembered having read that gray eyes were keenest，and that all famous marksmen had them。Nevertheless，this one had missed。
22 A counter-swirl had caught Fahrquhar and turned him half roundhe was againlooking at the forest on the bank opposite the fort。The sound of a clear，high voice in a monotonous singsong now rang out behind him and came across the water with a distinctness that pierced and subdued all other sounds，even the beating of the ripples in his ears。Although no soldier，he had frequented camps enough to know the dread significance of that deliberate，drawling，aspirated chantthe lieutenant on shore was taking a part in the morning’s work。How coldlyand pitilessly—with what an even，calm intonation，presaging and enforcing tranquility in the men—with what accurately measured intervals fell thosecruel words：“Attention！。。。Company！。。。Shoulder arms！。。。Ready！。。。Aim！。。。Fire！”
23 Fahrquhar dived—dived as deeply as he could。The water roared in his ears like the voice of Niagara，yet he heard the dull thunder of the volley and，rising again toward the surface，met shining bits of metal，singularly flattened，oscillating slowly downward。Some of them touched him on the face and hands，then fell away，continuing their descent。One lodged between his collar and neckit was uncomfortably warm and he snatched it out。
24 As he rose to the surface，gasping for breath，he saw that he hadbeen a long time under waterhe was perceptibly farther downstream—closer to safety。The soldiers had almost finished reloadingthe metal ramrods flashed all at once inthe sunshine as they were drawn from the barrels，turned in the air，and thrustinto their sockets。The two sentinels fired again，independently and ineffectually。
25 The hunted man saw all this over his shoulderhe was now swimming vigorously with the current。His brain was as energetic as his arms and legshe thoughtwith the rapidity of lightning：“The officer，”he reasoned，“will not make that martinet’s error a second time。It is as easy to dodge a volley as a single shot。He has probably already given the command to fire at will。God help me，I cannot dodge them all！”
subdue：v。压倒，征服
drawling：adj。慢吞吞的，慢条斯理的
aspirated：adj。送气音的，文中指中尉在发出口号和命令时故意把词发成送气音。
chant：n。单调地说（或喊）
tranquility：n。安静
martinet：n。训练严格的军人
dodge：v。躲
volley：n。子弹一齐发射
26 An appalling plash within two yards of him was followed by a loud，rushing sound，diminuendo，which seemed to travel back through the air to the fort and died in an explosion which stirred the very river to its deeps！A rising sheet ofwater，which curved over him，fell down upon him，blinded him，strangled him！The cannon had taken a hand in the game。As he shook his head free from the commotion of the smitten water，he heard the deflected shot humming through the air ahead，and in an instant it was cracking and smashing the branches in the forest beyond。
27 “They will not do that again，”he thought，“the next time they will use a charge of grape。I must keep my eyes upon the gunthe smoke will apprise me—the report arrives too lateit lags behind the missile。That is a good gun。”
28 Suddenly he felt himself whirled round and round—spinning likea top。The water，the banks，the forests，the now distant bridge，fort，and men—all were commingled and blurred。Objects were represented by their colors onlycircular horizontal streaks of color—that was all he saw。He had been caught in a vortex and was being whirled on with a velocity of advance and gyration that made himgiddy and sick。In few moments he was flung upon the gravel at the foot of theleft bank of the stream—the southern bank—and behind a projecting point which concealed him from his enemies。The sudden arrest of his motion，the abrasionof one of his hands on the gravel，restored him，and he wept with delight。He dug his fingers into the sand，threw it over himself in handfuls，and audibly blessed it。It looked like diamonds，rubies，emeraldshe could think of nothing beautiful which it did not resemble。The trees upon the bank were giant garden plantshe noted a definite order in their arrangement，inhaled the fragrance of their blooms。A strange，roseate light shone through the spaces among their trunks and the wind made in their branches the music of Aeolian harps。He had no wish to perfect his escape—he was content to remain in that enchanting spot until retaken。
29 A whiz and a rattle of grapeshot among the branches high above his head roused him from his dream。The baffled cannoneer had fired him a random farewell。He sprang to his feet，rushed up the sloping bank，and plunged into the forest。
30 All that day he traveled，laying his course by the rounding sun。The forestseemed interminablenowhere did he discover a break in it，noteven a woodman’s road。He had not known that he lived in so wild a region。There was something uncanny in the revelation。
评注：种种细节在暗示我们，佩顿在这一章节所经历的故事并非真实的，而是一种亦幻亦真的心理活动。
31 By nightfall he was fatigued，footsore，famished。The thought ofhis wife and children urged him on。At last he found a road which led him in what he knewto be the right direction。It was as wide and straight as a city street，yet it seemed untraveled。No fields bordered it，no dwelling anywhere。Not so much as the barking of a dog suggested human habitation。The black bodies of the trees formed a straight wall on both sides，terminating on the horizon in a point，like a diagram in a lesson in perspective。Overhead，as he looked up through this rift in the wood，shone great golden stars looking unfamiliar and grouped in strange constellations。He was sure they were arranged in some order which had a secret and malign significance。The wood on either side was full of singular noises，among which—once，twice，and again—he distinctly heard whispers in an unknown tongue。
diminuendo：n。渐弱的声音
strangle：v。扼死
commotion：n。混乱，骚动
commingle：v。混合
vortex：n。漩涡
velocity：n。速度
gyration：n。旋转
giddy：adj。眼花缭乱的
abrasion：n。磨损
inhale：v。吸入
roseate：adj。红润的
baffled：adj。困惑的
interminable：adj。无尽头的
uncanny：adj。神秘的
habitation：n。居住，住所
constellation：n。星群，星座
malign：adj。恶毒的
singular：adj。异常的
32 His neck was in pain and lifting his hand to it he found it horriblyswollen。He knew that it had a circle of black where the rope had bruised it。His eyes felt congestedhe could no longer close them。His tongue was swollen with thirsthe relieved its fever by thrusting it forward from between his teeth into thecold air。How softly the turf had carpeted the untraveled avenue—he could no longer feel the roadway beneath his feet！
33 Doubtless，despite his suffering，he had fallen asleep while walking，for now he sees another scene—perhaps he has merely recovered from a delirium。He stands at the gate of his own home。All is as he left it，and all bright and beautiful in the morning sunshine。He must have traveled the entire night。As he pushes open the gate and passes up the wide white walk，he sees a flutter of female garmentshis wife，looking fresh and cool and sweet，steps down from the veranda to meet him。At the bottom of the steps she stands waiting，with asmile of ineffable joy，an attitude of matchless grace and dignity。Ah，how beautiful she is！He springs forwards with extended arms。As he is about to clasp her，he feels a stunning blow upon the back of the necka blinding white light blazes all about him with a sound like the shock of a cannon—then all is darkness and silence！
turf：n。草皮
delirium：n。精神混乱
veranda：n。走廊
ineffable：adj。不可言喻的，难以表达的
34 Peyton Fahrquhar was deadhis body，with a broken neck，swung gently from side to side beneath the timbers of the Owl Creek bridge。
评注：作者在用大量的细节叙述佩顿的逃亡幻想后，突然将读者从恍惚中拉回现实中来。原来那需要几十分钟才能读完的以佩顿为视角的冗长叙事，不过是死刑执行前几秒钟这个死囚脑海里的闪现。毕尔斯这种极为先锋的写作技巧后来给博尔赫斯等南美的魔幻现实主义作家留下了深刻的影响。
Comprehension Exercises：
1.Why does the author keep the reader in dark when what we read is no more than Peyton’s fantasy？
2.How does the blending of fantasy and reality help the plot’s development？
3.The story’s ending is rather ironic。What is the implication of such an irony？
安布鲁斯·毕尔斯（1842—1914）：美国记者，社论作家，短篇小说家，以短篇小说《鹰溪桥上》和《魔鬼词典》而闻名。毕尔斯出生于俄亥俄州，家中共有13个小孩。内战初期他即加入北方军队，负责绘制战场地图。内战结束后，他在旧金山定居，开始从事新闻写作，并在那里住了很多年，成为著名的专栏作者。1913年，他和朋友们一起重访当年内战时的战场，结果在美国和墨西哥边境处突然失踪，从此下落不明。