"But the launch? They could not have taken that to their lodgings."

"可是他不能够把这只船也带到巢穴里去呀。"

"Quite so. I argued that the launch must be no great way off, in spite of its invisibility.

"当然不能够。我认为，这只船虽然没有被我们发现，可也不会离开太远。

I then put myself in the place of Small and looked at it as a man of his capacity would.

处在斯茂的地位，根据他这个人的能力来设想，

He would probably consider that to send back the launch or to keep it at a wharf would make pursuit easy if the police did happen to get on his track.

他会想到：如果确有警察跟踪的话，那么，如果把船遣回或是把它停在码头旁边，都会使追踪更容易得多了。

How, then, could he conceal the launch and yet have her at hand when wanted?

那么怎样才能够把船隐蔽起来，同时要用它的时候还不致于误事呢？

I wondered what I should do myself if I were in his shoes. I could only think of one way of doing it.

如果我站在他的立场上应当怎么办呢？我想，只有一个办法，

I might hand the launch over to some boat-builder or repairer, with directions to make a trifling change in her.

我会把船交给一些造船人或者修理工，指示他们做一些微小的改变，

She would then be removed to his shed or yard, and so be effectually concealed,

之后会开进一个船坞或者院子里，如此既可达到隐蔽的目的，

while at the same time I could have her at a few hours' notice."

还可在提前几个小时通知的情况下使用。"

"That seems simple enough."

"这似乎是很简单的。"