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Dracula - Bram Stoker, CHAPTER 27 - Mina Harker's Journal, part 11

CHAPTER 27 - Mina Harker's Journal, part 11

Every instant seemed an age whilst we waited. The wind came now in fierce bursts, and the snow was driven with fury as it swept upon us in circling eddies. At times we could not see an arm's length before us. But at others, as the hollow sounding wind swept by us, it seemed to clear the air space around us so that we could see afar off. We had of late been so accustomed to watch for sunrise and sunset, that we knew with fair accuracy when it would be. And we knew that before long the sun would set. It was hard to believe that by our watches it was less than an hour that we waited in that rocky shelter before the various bodies began to converge close upon us. The wind came now with fiercer and more bitter sweeps, and more steadily from the north. It seemingly had driven the snow clouds from us, for with only occasional bursts, the snow fell. We could distinguish clearly the individuals of each party, the pursued and the pursuers. Strangely enough those pursued did not seem to realize, or at least to care, that they were pursued. They seemed, however, to hasten with redoubled speed as the sun dropped lower and lower on the mountain tops.

Closer and closer they drew. The Professor and I crouched down behind our rock, and held our weapons ready. I could see that he was determined that they should not pass. One and all were quite unaware of our presence.

All at once two voices shouted out to "Halt! " One was my Jonathan's, raised in a high key of passion. The other Mr. Morris' strong resolute tone of quiet command. The gypsies may not have known the language, but there was no mistaking the tone, in whatever tongue the words were spoken. Instinctively they reined in, and at the instant Lord Godalming and Jonathan dashed up at one side and Dr. Seward and Mr. Morris on the other. The leader of the gypsies, a splendid looking fellow who sat his horse like a centaur, waved them back, and in a fierce voice gave to his companions some word to proceed. They lashed the horses which sprang forward. But the four men raised their Winchester rifles, and in an unmistakable way commanded them to stop. At the same moment Dr. Van Helsing and I rose behind the rock and pointed our weapons at them. Seeing that they were surrounded the men tightened their reins and drew up. The leader turned to them and gave a word at which every man of the gypsy party drew what weapon he carried, knife or pistol, and held himself in readiness to attack. Issue was joined in an instant.

The leader, with a quick movement of his rein, threw his horse out in front, and pointed first to the sun, now close down on the hill tops, and then to the castle, said something which I did not understand. For answer, all four men of our party threw themselves from their horses and dashed towards the cart. I should have felt terrible fear at seeing Jonathan in such danger, but that the ardor of battle must have been upon me as well as the rest of them. I felt no fear, but only a wild, surging desire to do something. Seeing the quick movement of our parties, the leader of the gypsies gave a command. His men instantly formed round the cart in a sort of undisciplined endeavour, each one shouldering and pushing the other in his eagerness to carry out the order.

CHAPTER 27 - Mina Harker's Journal, part 11 CAPÍTULO 27 - Diario de Mina Harker, parte 11 CAPITOLO 27 - Diario di Mina Harker, parte 11 ГЛАВА 27 - Дневник Мины Харкер, часть 11 KAPITEL 27 - Mina Harkers dagbok, del 11

Every instant seemed an age whilst we waited. The wind came now in fierce bursts, and the snow was driven with fury as it swept upon us in circling eddies. O vento soprava agora em rajadas ferozes e a neve era expelida com fúria à medida que se abatia sobre nós em redemoinhos. At times we could not see an arm's length before us. Por vezes, não conseguíamos ver a distância de um braço à nossa frente. But at others, as the hollow sounding wind swept by us, it seemed to clear the air space around us so that we could see afar off. Mas noutros momentos, quando o vento oco e sonoro passava por nós, parecia limpar o espaço aéreo à nossa volta para que pudéssemos ver ao longe. We had of late been so accustomed to watch for sunrise and sunset, that we knew with fair accuracy when it would be. Ultimamente, estávamos tão habituados a ver o nascer e o pôr do sol, que sabíamos com bastante exatidão quando seria. And we knew that before long the sun would set. E sabíamos que em breve o sol se iria pôr. It was hard to believe that by our watches it was less than an hour that we waited in that rocky shelter before the various bodies began to converge close upon us. Custava a crer que, segundo os nossos relógios, tinha passado menos de uma hora de espera naquele abrigo rochoso antes de os vários corpos começarem a convergir para junto de nós. The wind came now  with fiercer and more bitter sweeps, and more steadily from the north. O vento soprava agora com mais força e mais amargo, e de forma mais constante do norte. It seemingly had driven the snow clouds from us, for with only occasional bursts, the snow fell. Aparentemente, tinha afastado de nós as nuvens de neve, pois a neve caía apenas com rajadas ocasionais. We could distinguish clearly the  individuals of each party, the pursued and the pursuers. Podíamos distinguir claramente os indivíduos de cada parte, os perseguidos e os perseguidores. Strangely enough those pursued did not seem to realize, or at least to care, that they were pursued. Estranhamente, os perseguidos não pareciam aperceber-se, ou pelo menos não se importavam, de que eram perseguidos. They seemed, however, to hasten with  redoubled speed as the sun dropped lower and lower on the mountain tops. Pareciam, no entanto, apressar-se com velocidade redobrada à medida que o sol descia cada vez mais nos cumes das montanhas.

Closer and closer they drew. Aproximavam-se cada vez mais. The Professor and I crouched down behind our rock, and held our weapons ready. O Professor e eu agachámo-nos atrás da nossa rocha e preparámos as nossas armas. I could see that he was determined that they should not pass. Eu via que ele estava determinado a que não passassem. One and all were quite unaware of our presence. Todos se aperceberam da nossa presença.

All at once two voices shouted out to "Halt! De repente, duas vozes gritaram: "Alto! "  One was my Jonathan's, raised in a high key of passion. " Um deles era o do meu Jonathan, criado num tom elevado de paixão. The other Mr. Morris' strong resolute tone of quiet command. O outro, o tom forte e resoluto de comando silencioso do Sr. Morris. The gypsies may not have known the language, but there was no mistaking the tone, in whatever tongue the words were spoken. Os ciganos podiam não conhecer a língua, mas não havia dúvida quanto ao tom, fosse qual fosse a língua em que as palavras eram ditas. Instinctively they reined in, and at the instant Lord Godalming and Jonathan dashed up at one side and Dr. Seward and Mr. Morris on the other. Instintivamente, eles recuaram e, no mesmo instante, Lord Godalming e Jonathan surgiram de um lado e o Dr. Seward e o Sr. Morris do outro. The leader of the gypsies, a splendid looking fellow who sat his horse like a centaur, waved them back, and in a fierce voice gave to his companions some word to proceed. O chefe dos ciganos, um tipo de aspeto esplêndido que montava o seu cavalo como um centauro, acenou-lhes para trás e, com uma voz feroz, disse aos seus companheiros para prosseguirem. They lashed the horses which sprang forward. Amarraram os cavalos, que se lançaram para a frente. But the four men raised their  Winchester rifles, and in an unmistakable way commanded them to stop. Mas os quatro homens levantaram as suas espingardas Winchester e, de uma forma inconfundível, ordenaram-lhes que parassem. At the same moment Dr. Van Helsing and I rose behind the rock and pointed our weapons at them. No mesmo instante, o Dr. Van Helsing e eu levantámo-nos atrás da rocha e apontámos-lhes as nossas armas. Seeing that they were surrounded the men tightened their reins and drew up. Ao verem que estavam cercados, os homens apertaram as rédeas e puxaram para cima. The leader turned to them and gave a word at which every man of the gypsy party drew what weapon he carried, knife or pistol, and held himself in readiness to attack. O chefe virou-se para eles e deu uma palavra, ao que cada homem do grupo de ciganos sacou da arma que trazia, faca ou pistola, e preparou-se para atacar. Issue was joined in an instant. A questão juntou-se num instante.

The leader, with a quick movement of his rein, threw his horse out in front, and pointed first to the sun, now close down on the hill tops, and then to the castle, said something which I did not understand. O chefe, com um movimento rápido da rédea, atirou o seu cavalo para a frente e, apontando primeiro para o sol, agora próximo do cimo das colinas, e depois para o castelo, disse algo que não compreendi. For answer, all four men of our party threw themselves from their horses and dashed towards the cart. Como resposta, os quatro homens do nosso grupo atiraram-se dos cavalos e correram em direção à carroça. I should have felt terrible fear at seeing Jonathan in such danger, but that the ardor of battle must have been upon me as well as the rest of them. Eu teria sentido um medo terrível ao ver Jonathan em tal perigo, mas o ardor da batalha devia estar sobre mim, tal como sobre os outros. I felt no fear, but only a wild, surging desire to do something. Não senti medo, mas apenas um desejo selvagem de fazer alguma coisa. Seeing the quick movement of our parties, the leader of the gypsies gave a command. Ao ver o movimento rápido dos nossos grupos, o chefe dos ciganos deu uma ordem. His men instantly formed round the cart in a sort of undisciplined endeavour, each one shouldering and pushing the other in his eagerness to carry out the order. Os seus homens formaram imediatamente uma espécie de esforço indisciplinado à volta da carroça, cada um empurrando o outro na ânsia de cumprir a ordem.