过了一会，两名大汉抬着担架，抬了茅十八出来。
After a while the same two big fellows came out carrying Whiskers between them in his hammock.
李力世道：“茅兄，你是客人，不用这么客气。”
'Mao, old fellow,' said Brother Li, 'you don't need to wait out here with us.
You're our guest.'
茅十八道：“久仰陈总舵主大名，当真如雷贯耳，今日得能拜见，就算…… 就算即刻便死，那…… 那也是不枉了。”
'Just hearing about the Helmsman has always been an inspiration to me,' said Whiskers. 'Now that there's a chance to actually see him, I wouldn't miss it for the world.'
他说话仍是有气没力，但脸泛红光，极是高兴。
Because of his extreme weakness his voice was still faint, but there was a flush of excitement on his pallid cheeks.
耳听得马蹄声渐近，尘头起处，十骑马奔了过来。
Presently the sound of galloping grew nearer and a party of some ten or so horsemen could be seen approaching in a little cloud of dust.
当先三骑马上乘客，没等奔近便翻身下马。
The three foremost of them jumped lightly from their horses while they were still at some distance from the gate.
李力世等迎将上去，与那三人拉手说话，十分亲热。
Brother Li and the other leaders went forward to meet them and there was much exchange of handclasps and friendly greetings.
韦小宝听得其中一人说道：“总舵主在前面相候，请李大哥、关夫子几位过去……”
Trinket overheard one of the horsemen saying that the Helmsman was waiting somewhere 'ahead' and wanted Brother Li, Big Beaver, and one or two other seniors to come and see him.
几个人站着商量了几句，李力世、关安基、祁彪清、玄贞道人等六人便即上马，和来人飞驰而去。
After standing there some minutes in discussion, six leading members of the Lodge—Brother Li, Big Beaver, Tertius, Father Obscurus, and two others whom Trinket didn't know by name—got on to waiting horses and galloped off with the other riders.
茅十八好生失望，问道：“陈总舵主不来了吗？”
'Isn't the Helmsman coming here then?' asked Whiskers, dreadfully disappointed.
对他这句问话，没一人回答得出，各人见不到总舵主，个个垂头丧气。
None of those waiting had the heart to answer him, since they were all feeling equally disappointed.
韦小宝心道：“人家欠了你们一万两银子不还吗？
'What's the matter with you all?' thought Trinket. 'Anyone would think someone had borrowed ten thousand taels off you and wouldn't pay it back, or you'd lost your wife's trousers gambling or something.
还是赌钱输掉了老婆裤子？
'What's the matter with you all?' thought Trinket. 'Anyone would think someone had borrowed ten thousand taels off you and wouldn't pay it back, or you'd lost your wife's trousers gambling or something.
你奶奶的，脸色这等难看！”
What a miserable-looking lot!'
过了良久，有一人骑马驰来传令，点了十三个人的名字，要他们前去会见总舵主。
After a good while longer, another horseman arrived and read out the names of thirteen Lodge-members who were to go for interviews with the Helmsman.
那十三人大喜，飞身上马，向前疾奔。
The thirteen men, with rapturous expressions on their faces, dashed to the ready-waiting horses, jumped into the saddle, and galloped away.
韦小宝问茅十八道：“茅大哥，陈总舵主年纪很老了罢？”
'Whiskers,' Trinket asked his stricken friend, 'is this Helmsman a very old man?'
茅十八道：“我…… 我便是没…… 没见过。
'I...
I've never met him,' said Whiskers.
江湖之上，人人都仰慕陈总舵主，但要见上他…… 他老人家一面，可当真艰难得很。”
'On River and Lake there's no one who doesn't look up to him, but I do know that to actually get to meet him is very, very difficult.'
韦小宝嘿了一声，心中却道：“哼，他妈的，好大架子，有什么希罕？
'Tamardy!' thought Trinket. 'What a big-head!
Well, you don't impress me, Mr Big Shot Helmsman.
老子才不想见呢。”
It's all the same to me whether I see you or not.'
群豪见这情势，总舵主多半是不会来了，但还是抱着万一希望，站在大门外相候，有的站得久了，便坐了下来。
By this time it was beginning to look as if most members of the Lodge were definitely not going to get a glimpse of their beloved leader; nevertheless they continued to stand there outside the gate, nursing a faint hope that he might after all appear.
Some of them, tired of standing, sat on the ground.
有人劝茅十八道：“茅爷，你还是到屋里歇歇。
One of them urged Whiskers to go indoors and rest.
我们总舵主倘若到了，尽快来请茅爷相见。”
'If the Helmsman does come,' he told Whiskers, 'I promise to let you know straight away.'