吹小號(hào)的天鵝 第26期:到蒙大拿去(5)

The seven great birds stayed aloft about half anhour, then returned to the pond, the cob still in thelead.

七只大鳥在天上飛了大約半小時(shí)，然后便回到了池塘，領(lǐng)隊(duì)的還是雄天鵝。

They all had a drink to celebrate the successfulflight.

他們都喝了點(diǎn)水，以此來(lái)慶祝這次成功的飛翔。

Next day they were up early.

第二天他們起得很早。

It was a beautiful fall morning, with mist rising fromthe pond and the trees shining in all colors.

這是一個(gè)美麗的秋天早晨，霧氣籠在池塘的上空，樹木泛著繽紛的輝光。

Toward the end of the afternoon, as the sun sank low in the sky, the swans took off from thepond and began their journey to Montana.

薄暮時(shí)分，當(dāng)太陽(yáng)低垂到天際的時(shí)候，天鵝們從池塘里起飛，開始了他們?nèi)ッ纱竽玫穆贸獭?/p>

"This way!" cried the cob. He swung to his left and straightened out on a southerly course.

“往這邊飛!” 雄天鵝大叫。他轉(zhuǎn)向左邊，筆直地朝南飛去。

The others followed, trumpeting as they went.

大家都吹號(hào)般地叫著，跟在他的后面。

As they passed over the camp where Sam Beaver was, Sam heard them and ran out.

當(dāng)他們飛過(guò)薩姆所在的營(yíng)地時(shí)，薩姆聽到了他們，跑了出來(lái)。

He stood watching as they grew smaller and smaller in the distance and finally disappeared.

他站在那里看著，直到他們變得越來(lái)越小最終消失在遠(yuǎn)方為止。

"What was it?" asked his father, when Sam returned indoors.

“那是什么?”當(dāng)薩姆回到門口時(shí)，他的父親問(wèn)。

"Swans," replied Sam. "They're headed south."

“天鵝，”薩姆回答，“他們往南去了。”

"We'd better do the same," said Mr. Beaver. "I think Shorty will be here tomorrow to take usout."

“我們最好也這么做，”比弗先生說(shuō)，“我想矬子明天要來(lái)接我們走了。”

Mr. Beaver lay down on his bunk.

比弗先生在他的床上躺下來(lái)。

"What kind of swans were they?" he asked.

“他們是什么品種的天鵝?”他問(wèn)。

"Trumpeters," said Sam.

“號(hào)手天鵝。”薩姆說(shuō)。

"That's funny," said Mr. Beaver.

“真希奇，”比弗先生說(shuō)，

"I thought Trumpeter Swans had quit migrating. I thought they spent the whole year on theRed Rock Lakes, where they are protected."

“我以為號(hào)手天鵝早都搬走了呢。我想他們一整年都該呆在紅石湖才對(duì)，在那里他們是受保護(hù)的。”

"Most of 'em do," replied Sam. "But not all of 'em."

“他們多數(shù)都是如此，”薩姆回答，“但不全是這樣。”

It was bedtime. Sam got out his diary. This is what he wrote:

到睡覺的時(shí)候了。薩姆拿出他的日記本。他是這么寫的：

I heard the swans tonight.

今晚我聽到了天鵝叫。

They are headed south.

他們都往南飛去了。

It must be wonderful to fly at night.

在夜里飛翔的感覺一定很奇妙。

I wonder whether I'll ever see one of them again.

我不知道以后是否還能再見到他們中的一個(gè)。

How does a bird know how to get from where he is to where he wants to be?

一只鳥兒怎么知道如何從他所在的地方飛到他想去的地方呢?