又分付阮小五、阮小七撑驾小船，如此迎敌。
Second then told Fifth and Seventh how to deal with the enemy.
两个各棹船去了。
They were each to go in a small boat and....
The two brothers departed.
且说何涛并捕盗巡检带领官兵，渐近石碣村。
Ho Tao, the deputy and the soldiers gradually neared the village.
但见河埠有船，尽数夺了，便使会水的官兵且下船里进发。
They seized whatever boats they saw along the bank and manned them with soldiers who knew how to swim.
岸上人马，船骑相迎，水陆并进。
The cavalry kept pace on shore, land and water forces moving forward abreast.
到阮小一家，一齐纳喊，人兵并起，扑将入去，早是一所空屋，里面只有些粗重家火。
They set up a shout when they reached Second's house and charged into the yard.
But except for a few items of heavy furniture the place had long since been cleaned out.
问时，说道：“他的两个兄弟阮小五、阮小七，都在湖泊里住，非船不能去。”
+The men were produced.
They said: “His brothers Fifth and Seventh both live in the marsh.
You can only get there by boat.”
何涛与巡检商议道：“这湖泊里港汊又多，路迳甚杂，抑且水荡坡塘，不知深浅。
Ho Tao discussed this with the deputy and said: “The marsh is full of creeks and inlets and twisting paths, and ponds and pools of unknown depth.
我们把马匹教人看守在这村里，一发都下船里去。”
My idea is to leave the horses in the village with a guard, and all of us proceed in boats.”
那时捉的船非止千只，也有撑的，亦有摇的，一齐都望阮小五打鱼庄上来。
Well over a hundred craft had been seized.
Some were punted, some were sculled.
Now the whole armada advanced in the direction of the fishermen's hamlet where Ruan the Fifth lived.
行不到五六里水面，只听得芦苇中间，有人嘲歌。
After sailing five or six li they heard someone bawling a raucous song from a thicket of reeds.
众人且住了船听时，那歌道：
The pursuers stopped rowing and listened.
The words rang clearly across the water:
“打鱼一世蓼儿洼，不种青苗不种麻。
In the reeds all my life I fish, Rice and hemp I no planting do;
酷吏赃官都杀尽，忠心报答赵官家。
Rapacious officials I kill them all, To the emperor I'm loyal and true.
只见远远地一个人独棹一只小船儿，唱将来。
Then, far off, they saw the singer.
He was sculling a small boat.
有认得的，指道：“这个便是阮小五。”
One of the men recognized him. “That's Ruan the Fifth!”
何涛把手一招，众人并力向前，各执器械，挺着迎将去。
Inspector Ho waved his arm in signal, and the entire flotilla, all armed to the teeth, pressed forward after their quarry.
只见阮小五大笑，骂道：“你这等虐害百姓的贼官！
Fifth laughed scornfully. “How brave you corrupt officials are when it comes to oppressing the common people!
直如此大胆，敢来引老爷做甚么，却不是来捋虎须！”
What do you want with me?
Be careful.
Don't tweak the tiger's whiskers!”
何涛背后有会射弓箭的，搭上箭，拽满弓，一齐放箭。
Archers behind Ho fitted arrows to their strings, pulled the bows to the full, and let fly.
阮小五见放箭来，拿着划揪，翻筋斗钻下水里去。
Fifth picked up his sculling oar and dived into the water.
众人赶到根前，拿个空。
When the soldiers reached his boat, he was nowhere to be seen.
又行不到两条港汊，只听得芦花荡里打唿哨。
Before the armada passed another two inlets, they heard a shrill whistle from the reeds.
众人把船摆开，见前面两个人，槕着一只船来。
The boats quickly spread out.
Ahead they saw a small craft approaching, with two men.