動(dòng)物農(nóng)場(chǎng)Animal Farm 第8章(7)

Napoleon called the animals together immediately and in a terrible voice pronounced the death sentence upon Frederick.

拿破侖立即把所有動(dòng)物召集在一起，咬牙切齒地宣布，判處弗雷德里克死刑。

When captured, he said, Frederick should be boiled alive.

他說(shuō)，要是抓住這家伙，就要把他活活煮死。

At the same time he warned them that after this treacherous deed the worst was to be expected.

同時(shí)他告誡他們，繼這個(gè)陰險(xiǎn)的背信棄義的行動(dòng)之后，最糟糕的事情也就會(huì)一觸即發(fā)了。

Frederick and his men might make their long-expected attack at any moment.

弗雷德里克和他的同伙隨時(shí)都可能發(fā)動(dòng)他們蓄謀已久的襲擊。

Sentinels were placed at all the approaches to the farm.

因此，已在所有通向莊園的路口安裝了崗哨。

In addition, four pigeons were sent to Foxwood with a conciliatory message, which it was hoped might re-establish good relations with Pilkington.

另外，四只鴿子給?？怂刮榈虑f園送去和好的信件，希望與皮爾金頓重修舊好。

The very next morning the attack came.

就在第二天早晨，敵人開(kāi)始襲擊了。

The animals were at breakfast when the look-outs came racing in with the news that Frederick and his followers had already come through the five-barred gate.

當(dāng)時(shí)動(dòng)物們正在吃早飯，哨兵飛奔來(lái)報(bào)，說(shuō)弗雷德里克及其隨從已經(jīng)走進(jìn)了五柵門(mén)。

Boldly enough the animals sallied forth to meet them, but this time they did not have the easy victory that they had had in the Battle of the Cowshed.

動(dòng)物們勇氣十足，立刻就向敵人迎頭出擊，但這一回他們可沒(méi)有像牛棚大戰(zhàn)那樣輕易取勝。

There were fifteen men, with half a dozen guns between them, and they opened fire as soon as they got within fifty yards.

敵方這一次共有十五個(gè)人，六條槍，他們一走到距離五十碼處就立刻開(kāi)火。

The animals could not face the terrible explosions and the stinging pellets, and in spite of the efforts of Napoleon and Boxer to rally them, they were soon driven back.

可怕的槍聲和惡毒的子彈使動(dòng)物們無(wú)法抵擋，雖然拿破侖和鮑克瑟好不容易才把他們集結(jié)起來(lái)，可不一會(huì)兒他們就又被打退了回來(lái)。

A number of them were already wounded.

很多動(dòng)物已經(jīng)負(fù)傷。

They took refuge in the farm buildings and peeped cautiously out from chinks and knot-holes.

于是他們紛紛逃進(jìn)莊園的窩棚里躲了起來(lái)，小心翼翼地透過(guò)墻縫，透過(guò)木板上的節(jié)疤孔往外窺探。

The whole of the big pasture, including the windmill, was in the hands of the enemy.

只見(jiàn)整個(gè)大牧場(chǎng)，還有風(fēng)車(chē)，都已落到敵人手中。

For the moment even Napoleon seemed at a loss.

此時(shí)就連拿破侖似乎也已不知所措了。

He paced up and down without a word, his tail rigid and twitching.

他一言不發(fā)，走來(lái)走去，尾巴變得僵硬，而且還不停抽搐著。

Wistful glances were sent in the direction of Foxwood.

他不時(shí)朝著?？怂刮榈虑f園方向瞥去渴望的眼光。

If Pilkington and his men would help them, the day might yet be won.

如果皮爾金頓和他手下的人幫他們一把的話，這場(chǎng)拼斗還可以打勝。

But at this moment the four pigeons, who had been sent out on the day before, returned, one of them bearing a scrap of paper from Pilkington.

但正在此刻，前一天派出的四只鴿子返回來(lái)了，其中有一只帶著皮爾金頓的一張小紙片。

On it was penciled the words: "Serves you right."

紙上用鉛筆寫(xiě)著："你們活該。"

Meanwhile Frederick and his men had halted about the windmill.

這時(shí)，弗雷德里克一伙人已停在風(fēng)車(chē)周?chē)?/p>

The animals watched them, and a murmur of dismay went round.

動(dòng)物們一邊窺視著他們，一邊惶恐不安地嘀咕起來(lái)。

Two of the men had produced a crowbar and a sledge hammer.

有兩個(gè)人拿出一根鋼釬和一把大鐵錘。

They were going to knock the windmill down.

他們準(zhǔn)備拆除風(fēng)車(chē)。

"Impossible!" cried Napoleon.

"不可能!"拿破侖喊道。

"We have built the walls far too thick for that. They could not knock it down in a week. Courage, comrades!"

"我們已把墻筑得那么厚。他們休想在一星期內(nèi)拆除。不要怕，同志們!"