美国小学英语教材5:第29课 邮件必须送达(11)

 　　Panic clutched at him as he climbed back into the saddle. 威廉爬上马鞍时变得惊慌失措。

　　Unless the pony¹'s sense of direction came to their rescue, they were lost. 除非小马的方向感来拯救他们，否则他们就会迷路。

　　He loosened the reins², and the pony whirled around and plodded³ off in another direction. 他松开缰绳，那匹小马转过身，迈着沉重的步子朝另一个方向走去。

　　Two hours later the patient animal began to show signs of renewed life; 两个小时后，这只耐心的动物开始显示出新生的迹象；

　　his head came up, his ears went forward, and he began to whinny. 他抬起头来，耳朵向前伸着，开始呜咽。

　　From somewhere ahead came an answering whinny, a fence loomed⁴ up out of the darkness and, following it around, they came to the cabin of the remount station. 前面不知从什么地方传来了一声呜呜声，从黑暗中隐约出现了一道栅栏，他们跟着栅栏来到了换马站的小木屋。

　　Fifteen minutes later, warmed by the hot coffee he had found ready and with a fresh horse under him. 十五分钟后，他发现已经准备好了一杯热咖啡，脚下是一匹崭新的马，热得浑身暖烘烘的。

　　William was off for the relay station a dozen miles away. 威廉出发去十多英里外的中继站。

　　Before his eyes rose visions of hot food, a roaring fire in a big stove, and a warm bunk⁵ when he should have turned over the mail to the rider of the final relay into St. Joseph, fifty-odd miles away. 在他眼前出现了热乎乎的食物，一个大火炉里熊熊燃烧的火焰，还有一个温暖的铺位，他本应该把邮件交给在五十多英里以外的圣约瑟夫接力的骑手的。

　　“Bless me,”yelled the man at the relay station. “上帝保佑我，”中继站的那个人喊道。

　　“It's William Saunders. “这是威廉·桑德斯。

　　Where did you drop from, boy? 你从哪里来的，小子?

　　Thought you were headed west with the supply train.” 我还以为你是跟着补给队往西走呢。”

　　Briefly⁶, William explained, as he took off his coat and gloves, and warmed himself at the fire. 威廉脱下外套和手套，在炉火旁取暖，简短地解释道。

　　“Where's the other rider?” the boy demanded. “另一个骑手在哪里?”男孩问。

　　“He ought to be starting now with the pouch⁷.” “他现在应该拿着邮袋。”

　　The man's face grew grave. 那人的脸变得严肃起来。

　　“He got in about an hour ago, all worn out from facing the storm,” he said. “他大约一小时前才进来，因为要面对暴风雨，他已经筋疲力尽了，”他说。

　　“He's in a bunk in the other room dead to the world.” “他睡在另一个房间的铺位上，对世界毫无知觉。”

　　“Wake him,” ordered William. “摇醒他，” 威廉命令道。

　　“The mail must go through.” “邮件必须送达。”

　　But the Express rider could not be aroused. 但是骑手却没有被唤醒。

　　He made a brave effort to get up, fell back, and was sound asleep again instantly. 他勇敢地站了起来，向后一倒，立刻又睡得很熟。

　　Wearily William began to pull on his outer clothing again. 威廉疲倦地又开始穿上外衣。

1 pony   

adj.小型的；n.小马

参考例句：

• His father gave him a pony as a Christmas present.他父亲给了他一匹小马驹作为圣诞礼物。
• They made him pony up the money he owed.他们逼他还债。

2 reins   

感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带

参考例句：

• She pulled gently on the reins. 她轻轻地拉着缰绳。
• The government has imposed strict reins on the import of luxury goods. 政府对奢侈品的进口有严格的控制手段。

3 plodded   

v.沉重缓慢地走（路）( plod的过去式和过去分词 )；努力从事；沉闷地苦干；缓慢进行（尤指艰难枯燥的工作）

参考例句：

• Our horses plodded down the muddy track. 我们的马沿着泥泞小路蹒跚而行。
• He plodded away all night at his project to get it finished. 他通宵埋头苦干以便做完专题研究。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 loomed   

v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• A dark shape loomed up ahead of us. 一个黑糊糊的影子隐隐出现在我们的前面。
• The prospect of war loomed large in everyone's mind. 战事将起的庞大阴影占据每个人的心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 bunk   

n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话

参考例句：

• He left his bunk and went up on deck again.他离开自己的铺位再次走到甲板上。
• Most economists think his theories are sheer bunk.大多数经济学家认为他的理论纯属胡说。

6 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

7 pouch   

n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件

参考例句：

• He was going to make a tobacco pouch out of them. 他要用它们缝制一个烟草袋。
• The old man is always carrying a tobacco pouch with him.这老汉总是随身带着烟袋。