美国语文第五册 第193期:癫狂的火车司机(3)

 　　And am now on my way to make arrangements for a great improvement I have invented for the application of steam to a locomotive.  我正在从事自己研发的如何将蒸气应用到机车项目的重大改进，

　　My name is Martin Kroller.  我叫马丁·克罗尔。

　　If you wish, I will run as far as Bromberg; and I will show you running that is running. 如果你愿意，我可以将火车开到布朗伯格，我要让你看看什么叫跑起来的火车。

　　Was I not fortunate?  天呀，我难道不够走运？

　　I determined¹ to accept the man's offer at once, and so I told him.  我决定接受那位陌生人的请求，因此便一口应允下来，

　　He received my answer with a nod and a smile.  他笑着点了下头，表示赞同我的认可。

　　I went with him to the house, where we found the engine in charge of the fireman, and all ready for a start.  接着，我带他去了站台机车处，在那里见到了当班的锅炉工，他已为火车启程做好了所有准备。

　　Kroller got upon the platform, and I followed him.  随后，克罗尔先生登上了机车驾驶厢，我紧紧跟随着他，

　　I had never seen a man betray such a peculiar² aptness amid machinery³ as he did.  迄今为止，我还从未见过其他人能像他那样具有非凡的掌控机器才能，

　　He let on the steam in an instant, but yet with care and judgment⁴, and he backed up to the baggage carriage with the most exact nicety.  他一边迅捷地查看蒸汽阀，一边小心翼翼地观察；然后，他来到极为整洁有序的行李车厢查看。

　　I had seen enough to assure me that he was thoroughly⁵ acquainted with the business, and I felt composed once more.  我转了一圈，目睹了他的实际操作能力，心中顿时如释重负，感到踏实多了。

　　I gave my engine up to the new man, and then hastened away to the office.  我将火车运行大权交与这位新人，然后准备匆忙离开赶去处理公事。

　　Word was passed for all the passengers to take their seats, and soon afterward⁶ I waved my hand to the engineer. 当时车上广播正播放通知，嘱咐所有旅客尽快回到座位坐好，很快，我便与那位新司机挥手作别。

　　There was a puff⁷, a groaning⁸ of the heavy axletrees, a trembling of the building, and the train was in motion.  机车噗噗声愈发大声响起，笨重的火车轴轮发出刺耳的吱嘎吱嘎声，周围空气随之颤动起来，火车终于启动了。

　　I leaped upon the platform of the guard carriage, and in a few minutes more the station house was far behind us. 我跨上警卫队车厢，不过片刻，机车房便远远消失身后。

1 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

2 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

3 machinery   

n.(总称)机械，机器；机构

参考例句：

• Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗？
• Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。

4 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

5 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

6 afterward   

adv.后来；以后

参考例句：

• Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
• Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。

7 puff   

n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气

参考例句：

• He took a puff at his cigarette.他吸了一口香烟。
• They tried their best to puff the book they published.他们尽力吹捧他们出版的书。

8 groaning   

adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• She's always groaning on about how much she has to do. 她总抱怨自己干很多活儿。
• The wounded man lay there groaning, with no one to help him. 受伤者躺在那里呻吟着，无人救助。