They swore aloud together-out of sheer fright, I believe-then pretending not to know anything of my existence, turned back to the station. The sun was low；and leaning forward side by side, they seemed to be tugging painfully uphill their two ridiculous shadows of unequal length, that trailed behind them slowly over the tall grass without bending a single blade.他们不约而同地大骂起来——全然出于恐惧，我相信——然后假装不知道我在那里，转身回贸易站去。在低低的太阳下，他们肩并着肩，身子前倾，仿佛正在吃力地拖着两条可笑的影子爬坡。那两条影子，长短不一，被他们拖在身后，缓缓碾压过深深的草地，却没有压弯一片草叶。
“Try to be civil, Marlow，”growled a voice, and I knew there was at least one listener awake besides myself.“别说得那么难听，马洛！”一个声音咆哮道，这下我知道身边至少有一个听众还醒着。
I had been dimly aware for some time of a worrying noise, and when I lifted my eyes I saw the wood-pile was gone, and the manager, aided by all the pilgrims, was shouting at me from the river-side. I slipped the book into my pocket.I assure you to leave off reading was like tearing myself away from the shelter of an old and solid friendship.有那么一阵子，我一直隐约听到一阵恼人的吵闹声。我抬起头，发现那堆木头不见了，经理和所有朝圣者都正在河边向我大喊大叫。我被迫匆匆把书塞进口袋。我发誓，当时的感觉，就仿佛被他们生生拽出了一个死党的家。
I started the lame engine ahead.‘It must be this miserable trader-this intruder，’exclaimed the manager, looking back malevolently at the place we had left.‘He must be English，’I said.‘It will not save him from getting into trouble if he is not careful，’muttered the manager darkly. I observed with assumed innocence that no man was safe from trouble in this world.我发动破引擎，继续前行。‘肯定是这个倒霉的商人干的——这个小偷。’经理大声说，充满仇恨地回头看着我们刚刚离开的地方。‘他肯定是个英国人。’我说。‘那也不能肆意妄为，否则照样会遇上麻烦。’经理恶狠狠地说。我假装天真地评论说，人生在世，遇到些麻烦也是在所难免的。
There was a pause of profound stillness, then a match flared, and Marlows lean face appeared-worn, hollow, with downward folds and dropped eyelids, with an aspect of concentrated attention；and as he took vigorous draws at his pipe, it seemed to retreat and advance out of the night in the regular ficker of the tiny fame. The match went out.他沉默了，黑夜陷入深不见底的寂静之中。然后他划着一根火柴，火光映出他的脸，瘦削，苍老，凹陷，皱纹向下坠，眼睑也向下坠，带着一副凝神冥思的表情。他贪婪地吮吸着烟斗，那张脸在忽明忽灭的焰光里，在夜色中反复地出现、消失。火柴灭了。
He was silent for a long time.他沉默良久。
The manager stood by the wheel murmuring confidentially about the necessity of getting well away down the river before dark at all events, when I saw in the distance a clearing on the river-side and the outlines of some sort of building.‘What’s this?‘I asked. He clapped his hands in wonder.’The station！he cried.I edged in at once, still going half-speed.经理站在船舵旁，鬼鬼祟祟地在我耳边低声说，天黑前无论如何要远远地离开这里，逃到河流下游去。此时我看见远处河边有一小块空地，上面隐约有几座建筑物的轮廓。‘这是什么？’我问。他惊讶地拍拍手。‘就是那个贸易站！’他喊道。我保持半速，马上把船向岸边驶去。