書蟲二級《新森林的孩子們》：2、森林里的生活

2．Life in the Forest
2．森林里的生活

The next morning Jacob rode to the town of Lymington. There he heard that the King was in prison again and that Cromwell's soldiers were going back to London. Jacob bought cottage clothes for the children and a few things for the house. Then he put everything on his horse and walked back home through the forest.

第二天早上雅各布騎馬去了利明頓鎮(zhèn)。他在那里聽說國王又入獄了，克倫威爾的士兵們要返回倫敦了。雅各布給孩子們買了農(nóng)家衣物，還買了一些家用品。然后他把所有的東西放到他的馬上，穿過森林走回家。

While he walked, he thought about the children. They were so young, and alone in a dangerous world — he was their only friend. But he was an old man, and perhaps would not live long. He knew he must teach them how to find food and do everything for themselves.

他一邊走一邊想著孩子們。他們年紀這么小，又獨自處在這個危險的世界上——他是他們唯一的朋友。但是他已經(jīng)是個老人了，可能活不了多久了。他知道自己必須教會他們?nèi)绾螌ふ沂澄?，如何自己處理一切事情?/p>

After dinner, he called the children round him. 'Now, remember, you are my grandchildren and your name is Armitage, not Beverley. I've bought you some cottage clothes to wear, and you must all learn to work and live like a forester's children. Edward is the oldest and he must come out with me into the forest and learn how to hunt. Then we'll have meat to eat every day. Humphrey, you must look after the horse and the pigs, and bring water from the river every day. Alice dear, you must light the fire, clean the house and wash the clothes, and you and Humphrey will both learn how to cook. And little Edith will look after the chickens and look for the eggs every morning — will you, Edith?'

晚飯之后，他把孩子們叫到身邊。“現(xiàn)在要記住，你們是我的孫子和孫女，你們姓阿米蒂奇，不姓貝弗利。我給你們買了些農(nóng)家衣服穿，你們?nèi)急仨殞W會像個護林人的孩子一樣干活和過日子。愛德華是老大，他必須和我一起去森林里學習打獵，這樣我們就每天都有肉吃了。漢弗萊，你必須照看好馬和豬，并且每天從河里打水回來。親愛的艾麗斯，你必須生爐火、打掃屋子和洗衣服，你和漢弗萊都要學做飯。小伊迪絲要喂雞，每天早上找雞蛋——你愿意做嗎，伊迪絲？”

Yes,' said Edith. 'I liked the chickens at Arnwood.'

“愿意，”伊迪絲說，“我在安伍德的時候就喜歡小雞。”

There was no more meat in the cottage and so the next morning Jacob and Edward, with the dog Smoker, went out into the forest. They walked quietly and did not speak. The red deer of the forest could see, hear and smell very well, and it was hard to get near them.

農(nóng)舍里沒有肉了，所以第二天早上雅各布和愛德華就帶著大狗斯莫克爾去了森林里。他們悄悄地走著，沒有說話。森林里的紅鹿的視覺、聽覺和嗅覺都非常靈敏，很難接近它們。

After more than a mile, Jacob dropped down to the ground, and through the trees Edward saw three deer. Jacob moved silently forward on his hands and knees, and Edward and Smoker followed him. Slowly they got nearer, but then suddenly the deer, who were quietly eating grass, put up their heads and walked away.

走出一英里開外之后，雅各布突然趴到地上，愛德華透過樹叢看到了三只鹿。雅各布手和膝蓋著地，悄無聲息地向前挪動，愛德華和斯莫克爾跟在他后面。他們慢慢靠近了，但是突然間，剛才還在安靜地吃草的鹿抬起頭來走開了。

Jacob turned. 'You see, Edward, hunting is slow work. Now we must go through the woods around the other side of the deer and try again.'

雅各布轉(zhuǎn)過身。“你看，愛德華，打獵是個慢活。現(xiàn)在我們必須穿過樹林，從鹿群的另一側(cè)再試試看。”

What frightened them, do you think?' asked Edward.

“你覺得是什么嚇著它們了？”愛德華問。

When you were following me, I think you put your knee on a piece of stick and it broke.'

“你剛才跟著我的時候，我想你的膝蓋壓到了一根樹枝，把它弄斷了。”

Yes, but that made only a little noise.'

“沒錯，但那只是很小的聲音。”

Only a little noise will frighten a red deer,' said Jacob kindly. 'But these mistakes can happen to anyone, and you will learn. Now — not a word, and not a sound!'

“很小的聲音也會把一只紅鹿嚇跑，”雅各布溫和地說，“但是任何人都可能犯這種錯誤，你會學會的，現(xiàn)在——一句話也別說了，一點兒聲音也別出！”

In half an hour they found the deer again, and again Jacob dropped down to the ground and moved forward without a sound. At last, he lifted his gun and shot one of the deer behind the shoulder. The deer dropped to its knees and fell dead, and the other deer ran away.

半個小時之后他們又發(fā)現(xiàn)了鹿，雅各布又趴到地上，靜悄悄地向前挪動。最后，他舉起槍朝其中一只鹿的后背開了一槍。那只鹿跪倒在地上死了，其他的鹿紛紛逃散。

This is a fine deer and the meat will be good,' said Jacob. 'We're about five miles from the cottage, Edward, but Smoker will take you home, and you can come back with White Billy. He must carry the meat home for us.'

“這是只很好的鹿，它的肉應(yīng)該不錯，”雅各布說，“愛德華，我們現(xiàn)在離農(nóng)舍大概有5英里，但是斯莫克爾會帶你回家的，然后你可以和白比利一起回來。他必須幫我們把肉運回家去。”

It was a good beginning to their new life, and the next day Jacob rode to Lymington to sell some of the meat. With the money he bought things for the vegetable garden, a big bag of oatmeal for the winter, and a gun for Edward.

這是他們新生活的一個好的開始。第二天，雅各布騎馬去利明頓賣了一些肉，他用那些錢買了菜園里需要的東西，一大袋冬天吃的燕麥片和一支給愛德華的槍。

*　*　*

*　*　*

That winter was long and cold, and they stayed in the cottage most of the time. Alice learned how to cook and to mend clothes. Edith learned to read and write, and to make oatmeal bread and cook it on the stones by the fire. Humphrey was clever with his hands, and learned how to make things out of wood. Edward learned how to shoot and to look after his gun. They were all busy and happy, but Edward sometimes felt angry. He kept his father's sword by his bed and often cleaned it. He hated Cromwell and his soldiers, and he wanted to fight for the King.

那個冬天又長又冷，他們大部分時間都待在農(nóng)舍里。艾麗斯學會了做飯和補衣服。伊迪絲學會了看書和寫字，還學會了做燕麥面包和在爐火旁的石頭上烤面包。漢弗萊的手很巧，他學會了用木頭制作東西。愛德華學會了射擊和照看他的槍。他們都很忙碌，也很快樂，但是愛德華有時候會感到憤怒。他把父親的劍放在床邊，經(jīng)常擦拭。他恨克倫威爾和他的士兵，他想為國王作戰(zhàn)。

In the month of May, the leaves came out and the forest began to look green again. 'And now, Edward,' said Jacob one day, 'we need more meat, both to eat and to sell. So let's get our guns and go out. You can shoot first.'

到了5月，樹葉長出來了，森林又重新披上綠色。“現(xiàn)在，愛德華，”有一天雅各布說，“我們需要更多的肉，用來吃和賣錢。所以我們帶上槍出去打獵吧。你可以先開槍。”

They walked four or five miles before they saw a deer. 'Stay here, while I go through the trees with Smoker,' said Jacob quietly. 'Then I'll stand up, and the deer will run towards you. Remember, shoot it behind the shoulder.'

他們走了四五英里后看到了一只鹿。“你待在這里，我和斯莫克爾從樹叢中穿過去，”雅各布輕輕地說，“然后我會站起來，鹿就會朝你跑過來。記住，要打它的后背。”

Edward waited quietly, and after a time the deer ran out of the trees in front of him. He lifted his gun, shot the deer behind the shoulder, and it fell to the ground.

愛德華靜靜地等著，過了一會兒，那只鹿從他前面的樹叢跑了出來。他舉起槍，朝鹿的后背開了槍，那只鹿就倒在了地上。

Well done!' said Jacob, when he came back. 'You killed your first deer! And it's a fine one, too. Soon I shall leave the hunting to you, and put my gun up on the wall!'

“干得好！”雅各布回來說，“這是你打的第一只鹿！而且這也是一只很好的鹿。很快我就可以把打獵的事交給你，把我的槍掛到墻上了！”

The spring was a busy time for everyone at the cottage. In the field they planted potatoes and lots of different vegetables. Little Edith was busy with her chickens, and Humphrey built a chicken-house, and a house for the pigs. Jacob sold some of the deer meat and bought a little cart. White Billy was not very happy about this at first, but he soon learned to pull the cart behind him, and it was a great help with all the farm work.

春天對于農(nóng)舍里的每個人來說都是個繁忙的季節(jié)。他們在地里種了土豆和許多各種各樣的蔬菜。小伊迪絲忙著照看她的雞，漢弗萊造了一個雞舍和一個豬圈。雅各布賣了一些鹿肉，買了一輛小馬車。白比利一開始對此不太高興，但是他很快就學會了把這輛車拉在身后，這給所有的農(nóng)活都幫了大忙。

Humphrey loved the work on the farm. He was always making plans to do new things, and he was now very clever at building things out of wood. It was hard work. First he had to cut down a tree, and then cut the wood into pieces for building. One day he began to build a cow-house.

漢弗萊喜歡干農(nóng)場上的活兒。他總是在計劃著做新的東西，現(xiàn)在他非常精通用木頭做東西了。這是件苦差事。首先他必須砍倒一棵樹，然后把木頭砍成幾塊用來建造。有一天，他開始動工造一個牛棚。

We need a cow to give us milk,' he said to the others. 'I'm going to catch one of the forest cows.'

“我們需要一頭牛擠奶喝，”他對其他人說，“我打算去逮一頭森林里的牛。”

Edward laughed, but Jacob said, 'The forest cows are very wild, and can be dangerous. You must be careful.'

愛德華大笑，雅各布卻說：“森林里的牛非常野蠻，可能會有危險。你一定要小心。”

June arrived, and they began to cut the long grass, to keep for food for the animals in winter. The girls helped too, and White Billy was busy every day, pulling home the new cart full of summer grass.

6月到了，他們開始割長草，用作牲畜們冬天的食物，女孩子們也幫忙，白比利則每天都忙著把裝滿夏草的新馬車拉回家。

Humphrey did not forget about his cow. He finished building the cow-house and began to spend an hour or more every day out in the forest. He was watching the wild cows. Early one morning he came running home.

漢弗萊沒有忘記他的牛。他蓋完了牛棚，就開始每天花一個小時或更多的時間待在森林里。他在觀察野牛。一天清晨，他跑回家來。

Jacob, Edward, come with me! Bring Smoker, too.'

“雅各布，愛德華，跟我來！把斯莫克爾也帶上。”

Why, what's the matter?'

“為什么，出什么事了？”

I've found a cow! She's left the other cows because of her new-born calf. So she's alone, and we can catch her.'

“我找到了一頭牛！她為了剛出生的小牛離開了其他的牛，所以落單了，我們可以逮住她。”

But how?' asked Edward.

“可是怎么逮呢？”愛德華問。

I'll tell you later. I must get White Billy and the cart.' Jacob and Edward followed him, and soon they were driving the cart through the forest.

“過一會兒我會告訴你的。我必須準備好白比利和馬車。”雅各布和愛德華跟著他，很快他們就駕著馬車穿行在森林里了。

Smoker will jump up at the cow,' explained Humphrey, 'and keep her away from us while we put the calf in the cart. When we drive away, the cow will follow her baby.'

“斯莫克爾會跳起來撲向母牛，”漢弗萊解釋道，“在我們把小牛放到車上的時候把母牛與我們隔開來。我們駕車離開的時候，母牛就會跟著她的孩子。”

The cow was lying near her calf, but when she saw them, she got up and shook her head angrily from side to side.

母牛正躺在她的小牛旁邊，但一看到他們，她就站了起來，憤怒地左右搖擺著腦袋。

Go, Smoker, go!' Jacob called to his dog, and Smoker jumped at the cow, driving her back into the trees away from her calf. Edward and Humphrey quickly lifted the calf into the cart, and got in themselves.

“上，斯莫克爾，上！”雅各布沖著他的狗喊道，斯莫克爾撲向母牛，把她趕回到樹叢里，離開了她的小牛。愛德華和漢弗萊飛快地抬起小牛放進車里，他們自己也上了車。

Then Jacob hurried back and got in too. 'Drive off, Humphrey,' he said. 'I'll call Smoker now, and the cow will follow us. Here, Smoker, here!'

然后雅各布快速回來也上了車。“趕車，漢弗萊，”他說，“我現(xiàn)在要叫回斯莫克爾，母牛會跟著我們的。這里，斯莫克爾，這里！”

Smoker came running out of the trees at once. The cow followed and ran wildly after the cart, calling loudly to her calf. Before long they were back at the cottage.

斯莫克爾立刻跑出樹叢。母牛在后面瘋狂地跟著馬車跑，向她的小牛大聲叫著。沒多久他們就回到了農(nóng)舍。

There's Alice and Edith running out!' cried Jacob. 'Go back inside, Alice! The cow is dangerous!'

“艾麗斯和伊迪絲正往外跑呢！”雅各布喊道，“回屋里去，艾麗斯！母牛很危險！”

Humphrey drove the cart into the field. Smoker kept the cow away while they carried the calf into the cow-house. Then they left, and the cow followed its calf inside.

漢弗萊把馬車趕到空地里。斯莫克爾把母牛攔住，他們便趁機把小牛抱進牛棚。然后他們一走開，母牛就跟著她的小牛進去了。

There!' said Humphrey. 'Let's leave her with the calf. Tomorrow I'll cut some grass for her.'

“進去了！”漢弗萊說，“我們讓她和小牛待在一起吧。明天我會給她割些草來。”

Every day for a fortnight Humphrey brought grass to the cow, and every day she was a little quieter. After a month, Humphrey began to take milk from the cow.

接下來的兩周里，漢弗萊每天都給母牛送草，母牛一天比一天安靜下來。一個月之后，漢弗萊開始從母牛身上擠奶了。

I have learned how to shoot deer,' said Edward. 'But Humphrey has caught a cow and given us milk. You are cleverer than I am, brother!'

“我學會了怎么打鹿，”愛德華說，“但是漢弗萊逮住了一頭奶牛，讓我們有牛奶喝。你比我聰明，弟弟！”