McMurdo had been warned that some ordeal lay before him; but no one would tell him in what it consisted. He was led now into an outer room by two solemn brothers. Through the plank partition he could hear the murmur of many voices from the assembly within. Once or twice he caught the sound of his own name, and he knew that they were discussing his candidacy. Then there entered an inner guard with a green and gold sash across his chest.

マクマードは何か試練が待っていると知らされていた / しかし誰もどんな事かを言おうとはしなかった◆彼は今、真面目くさった二人の同僚によって、別の部屋に案内された◆厚板の仕切りの向こうから / 中にいる参列者が口々に低い声で話すのが聞こえた◆一、二度自分の名前が話されるのが聞こえた / そして彼は、彼らが自分の資格について話し合っているのだと分かった◆その後中の見張り役が一人入ってきた / 緑と金の肩帯を肩から斜めに掛けた

“The Bodymaster orders that he shall be trussed, blinded, and entered,” said he.

「支部長が命じられた / 彼を縛って、目隠しして、中に入れろと」 / 彼は言った

The three of them removed his coat, turned up the sleeve of his right arm, and finally passed a rope round above the elbows and made it fast. They next placed a thick black cap right over his head and the upper part of his face, so that he could see nothing. He was then led into the assembly hall.

三人の男は彼のコートを脱がせ / 右腕の袖を捲り上げ / 最後に両腕の肘の上にロープを回して堅く縛った◆彼らは次に分厚い黒い帽子を被せた / 頭と顔の上半分に / それで彼は何も見えなくなった◆彼はその後集会場に連れて来られた

It was pitch dark and very oppressive under his hood. He heard the rustle and murmur of the people round him, and then the voice of McGinty sounded dull and distant through the covering of his ears.

帽子は非常にきつく全く何も見えなかった◆彼は回りの人間がコソコソと何か言うのが聞こえた / それからマギンティの声が鈍く遠くに聞こえた / 耳の覆いの向こうから

“John McMurdo,” said the voice, “are you already a member of the Ancient Order of Freemen?”

「ジョン・マクマード」 / 声がした / 「お前はすでに由緒ある自由民団の一員か？」

He bowed in assent.

彼はうなずいて同意した

“Is your lodge No. 29, Chicago?”

「お前の支部はシカゴ29番か？」

He bowed again.

彼はもう一度うなずいた

“Dark nights are unpleasant,” said the voice.

「暗い夜は不愉快だ」 / 声が聞こえた

“Yes, for strangers to travel,” he answered.

「そうだ、旅をする余所者には」 / 彼は返答した

“The clouds are heavy.”

「雲は厚い」

“Yes, a storm is approaching.”

「そうだ、嵐が近付いている」

“Are the brethren satisfied?” asked the Bodymaster.

「同胞達よ、よろしいか？」 / 支部長が尋ねた

There was a general murmur of assent.

全体として承諾のつぶやきが起きた

“We know, Brother, by your sign and by your countersign that you are indeed one of us,” said McGinty. “We would have you know, however, that in this county and in other counties of these parts we have certain rites, and also certain duties of our own which call for good men. Are you ready to be tested?”

「我々は分かった / 同志よ / 合言葉のやりとりによって / お前が本当に我々の仲間だと」 / マギンティは言った◆「しかし、我々はお前に知らしめるだろう / この地区とこの地方の別の地区では / 我々はある儀式を行っている / そして我々独特の職務がある / それは善人に要求されるものだ◆試験を受ける覚悟はできているか？」

“I am.”

「できている」

“Are you of stout heart?”

「おまえは勇気があるか？」

“I am.”

「ある」

“Take a stride forward to prove it.”

「一歩前に踏み出してそれを証明せよ」

As the words were said he felt two hard points in front of his eyes, pressing upon them so that it appeared as if he could not move forward without a danger of losing them. None the less, he nerved himself to step resolutely out, and as he did so the pressure melted away. There was a low murmur of applause.

その言葉が話されると / 彼は両目に堅く尖ったものを感じた / 目の上に押し付けられているので / それはあたかも前にはうごけないようだった / 両目がつぶれる危険なしには◆それにもかかわらず / 彼は勇気を出してしっかりと歩を進めた / 彼がそうすると / 圧迫は消えてなくなった◆称賛の低いざわめきが起きた

“He is of stout heart,” said the voice. “Can you bear pain?”

「彼は勇気がある」 / 声がした◆「苦痛には耐えられるか？」

“As well as another,” he answered.

「それも同じだ」 / 彼は答えた

“Test him!”

「試せ！」

It was all he could do to keep himself from screaming out, for an agonizing pain shot through his forearm. He nearly fainted at the sudden shock of it; but he bit his lip and clenched his hands to hide his agony.

彼は叫び声を上げるのをこらえるのがやっとだった / 恐ろしい痛みが彼の前腕に走ったので◆彼はその突然の衝撃に意識が遠のいた / しかし彼は唇を噛み締め、手を握り締めてその苦痛を表さなかった

“I can take more than that,” said he.

「まだまだだ」 / 彼は言った

This time there was loud applause. A finer first appearance had never been made in the lodge. Hands clapped him on the back, and the hood was plucked from his head. He stood blinking and smiling amid the congratulations of the brothers.

今回は大喝采が起きた◆この支部ではこれほど見事なデビューはなかった◆彼の背中を叩かれ / 帽子が頭から引き抜かれた◆彼は目をしばたかせ、笑顔で立っていた / 同志達が祝いを言う中で