“‘绿林弟兄们，’比尔·巴西特说，‘到目前为止，我从没有在患难中抛弃过朋友。我见到那个树林子里好像有一些简陋的住房。我们不妨先去那里，等到天黑再说。’
“There was an old， deserted cabin in the grove， and we three took possession of it. After dark Bill Bassett tells us to wait， and goes out for half an hour. He comes back with a armful of bread and spareribssparerib n.小排骨， 带肉肋骨 and pies.
“小树林子里果然有一所没人住的，破旧的小房子，我们三人便占用了它。天黑之后，比尔·巴西特吩咐我们等着，他自己出去了半小时光景。他回来时，捧着一大堆面包、排骨和馅饼。
“‘Panhandledem at a farmhousefarmhouse n.农场里的住房， 农舍， 农家 on Washita Avenue.’ says he.‘Eat， drink and be leary.’
“‘在瓦西塔路的一个农家那里搞来的。’他说。‘让我们吃、喝、乐一下吧。’
“The full moon was coming up bright， so we sat on the floor of the cabin and ate in the light of it. And this Bill Bassett begins to brag.
“皎洁的满月升了上来，我们在小屋里席地而坐，借着月光吃起来。这位比尔·巴西特使开始大吹牛皮了。
“‘Sometimes，’ says he， with his mouth full of country produce， ‘I lose all patience with you people that think you are higher up in the profession than I am. Now， what could either of you have done in the present emergency to set us on our feet again？ Could you do it， Ricksy？’
“‘有时候，’他嘴里满塞着土产品说，‘你们这些自以为行业高我一等的人真叫我不耐烦。遇到目前这种紧急情况，你们两位有什么办法能使我们免于饿死？你办得到吗，里克斯？’
“‘I must confess， Mr. Bassett，’ says Ricks， speaking nearly inaudibleinaudible adj.听不见的， 不可闻的 out of a slice of pie， ‘that at this immediate juncture I could not， perhaps， promote an enterprise to relieve the situation. Large operations， such as I direct， naturally require careful preparation in advance. I—’
“‘老实说，巴西特先生，’里克斯咬着一块馅饼，讲话的声音几乎听不见，‘在目前这个时候，我也许不可能创办一个企业来改变困难的局面。我所经营的大事业自然需要事先作一些妥善的安排。我——’
“‘I know， Ricksy，’ breaks in Bill Bassett. ‘You neednt finish. You need 500 to make the first payment on a blond typewritertypewriter n.打字机， and four roomsful of quartered oak furniture. And you need 500 more for advertising contracts. And you need two weeks’ time for the fish to begin to bite. Your line of relief would be about as useful in an emergency as advocating municipal ownershipmunicipal ownership 市政所有权 to cure a man suffocated by eightycent gas. And your graft aint much swifter， Brother Peters.’ he winds up.
“‘我知道，里克斯，’比尔·巴西特插嘴说，‘你不必讲下去啦。你先需要五百元雇用一个金发的女打字员，添置四件讲究的橡木家具。你再需要五百元来刊登广告。你还需要两星期的时间等鱼儿上钩。你的办法是远水救不了近火，好比遇到有人被低劣的煤气熏死的时候，就主张把煤气事业收归公有一样。他的把戏也救不了急，彼得斯老哥。’他结束说。
“‘Oh，’ says I， ‘I havent seen you turn anything into gold with your wand yet， Mr. Good Fairy. Most anybody could rub the magic ring for a little leftover victuals.’
“‘哦，’我说，‘仙子先生，我还没有看见你用魔杖把什么东西变成金子呢。转转魔戒指，搞一点剩羹残饭来，几乎人人都能做到。’
“‘That was only getting the pumpkin ready.’ says Bassett， braggy and cheerful. ‘The coach and sixll drive up to the door before you know it， Miss Cinderella. Maybe youve got some scheme under your sleeveholders that will give us a start.’
“‘那只不过是先准备好南瓜罢了。’巴西特洋洋自得地说。‘六匹马的马车待会儿就会出乎意外地来到你门口，灰姑娘。你也许有什么锦囊妙计，可以帮我们开个头吧。’
“‘Son，’ says I， ‘Im fifteen years older than you are， and young enough yet to take out an endowment policyendowment policy n. 人寿保险单. Ive been broke before. We can see the lights of that town not half a mile away. I learned under Montague Silver， the greatest street man that ever spoke from a wagon. There are hundreds of men walking those streets this moment with grease spots on their clothes. Give me a gasolinegasoline n.汽油 lamp， a drygoods box， and a twodollar bar of white castile soapcastile soap n.橄榄香皂(用橄榄油和碱制成的)， cut into little—’
“‘老弟，’我说，‘我比你大十五岁，可是还没有到要保人寿险的年纪。以前我也有过不名一文的时候。我们现在可以望到那个相去不到半英里的小镇上的灯火。我的师父是蒙塔古·西尔弗，当代最伟大的街头推销员。此时，街上有几百个衣服上沾有油迹的行人。给我一盏汽油灯，一只木箱和两块钱的白橄榄香皂，把它切成小——’
“‘Wheres your two dollars？’ snickered Bill Bassett into my discoursediscourse n.演讲， 论述， 论文， 讲道， 谈话， 谈论 vi.谈论， 演说. There was no use arguing with that burglar.
“‘你那两块钱打哪儿来呀？’比尔·巴西特吃吃笑着打断了我的话。跟这个窃贼一起，真是话不投机半句多。
“‘No，’ he goes on， ‘youre both babesinthewood. Finance has closed the mahoganymahogany n.［植］桃花心木， 其木材， 红褐色 desk， and trade has put the shutters up. Both of you look to labor to start the wheels going. All right. You admit it. Tonight Ill show you what Bill Bassett can do.’
“‘不，’他往下说，‘你们两个都束手无策啦。金融已经关门大吉，贸易也宣告歇业。你们两个只能指望劳动力来活动活动了。好吧。你们该认输了吧。今晚我给你看看比尔·巴西特的能耐。’
“Bassett tells me and Ricks not to leave the cabin till he comes back， even if its daylight， and then he starts off toward town， whistling gay.
“巴西特吩咐我和里克斯待在小屋子里等他回来，即使天色亮了也不要离开。他自己快活地吹着口哨，动身朝小镇走去。
“This Alfred E. Ricks pulls off his shoes and his coat， lays a silk handkerchief over his hat， and lays down on the floor.
“艾尔弗吉德·伊·里克斯脱掉鞋子和衣服，在帽子上铺了一方绸手帕当枕头，便躺在地板上。
“‘I think I will endeavorendeavor n.努力， 尽力 vi.尽力， 努力 to secure a little slumber.’ he squeaks. ‘The day has been fatiguing. Goodnight， my dear Mr. Peters.’
“‘我想我不妨睡一会儿。’他尖声尖气地说。‘今天好累啊。明天见，亲爱的彼得斯先生。’
“‘My regards to Morpheus.’ says I. ‘I think Ill sit up a while.’
“‘代我向睡神问好。’我说。‘我想坐一会儿。’
“About two oclock， as near as I could guess by my watch in Peavine， home comes our laboring man and kicks up Ricks， and calls us to the streak of bright moonlight shining in the cabin door. Then he spreads out five packages of one thousand dollars each on the floor， and begins to cacklecackle n.咯咯声， 高声笑， 饶舌， 闲谈 vi.咯咯叫，咯咯笑，喋喋不休 over the nestegg like a hen.
“根据我那只被扣留在波纹镇的表来猜测，在约摸两点钟的时候，我们那位辛苦的人回来了。他踢醒了里克斯，把我们叫到小屋门口有一道月光的地方。接着，他把五个各装一千元的袋子摆在地板上，像刚下了蛋的母鸡似的咯咯叫起来。
“‘Ill tell you a few things about that town.’ says he. ‘Its named Rocky Springs， and theyre building a Masonic temple， and it looks like the Democratic candidate for mayor is going to get soaked by a Pop， and Judge Tuckers wife， who has been down with pleurisypleurisy n.［医］ 肋膜炎， 胸膜炎， is getting some better. I had a talk on these liliputian thesises before I could get a siphonsiphon n.虹吸管 in the fountain of knowledge that I was after. And theres a bank there called the Lumbermans Fidelity and Plowmans Savings Institution. It closed for business yesterday with 23，000 cash on hand. It will open this morning with 18，000—all silver—thats the reason I didnt bring more. There you are， trade and capital. Now， will you be bad？’
“‘我告诉你们一些有关小镇的情况。’他说，‘那个小镇叫石泉，镇上的人正在盖一座共济会堂，看形势民主党的镇长候选人恐怕要被平民党打垮了，塔克法官的太太本来害着胸膜炎，最近好了些。我在获得所需的情报之前，不得不同居民们谈谈这些无聊的小事情。镇上有家银行，叫做樵农储蓄信托公司。昨天银行停止营业的时候有两万三千元存款。今天开门时还剩一万八千元——全是银币——这就是我为什么不多带一些来的原因。怎么样，贸易和资本，你们还有什么话说？’
“‘My young friend，’ says Alfred E. Ricks， holding up his hands， ‘have you robbed this bank？ Dear me， dear me！’
“‘年轻的朋友，’艾尔弗雷德·伊·里克斯抱着手说道，‘你抢了那家银行吗？哎呀，哎呀呀！’