几分钟后，雄天鹅从空中滑翔下来，泊到了池塘里。

　　They all cheered. "Ko-hoh, ko-hoh, beep beep, beep beep!" All but Louis.

　　他们都欢呼起来。“吭— 嗬，吭—嗬，哔哔，哔哔！”只除了路易斯。

　　He had to express his approval simply by beating his wings and splashing water in his father's face.

　　他只好用拍起翅膀把水溅到父亲脸上的方式来表示他的称赞。

　　"All right," said the cob. "You've seen how it's done. Follow me, and we'll give it a try.

　　“好了，”雄天鹅说，“你们已经看到这一切是怎么做的了。跟我来，我们一起试一次。

　　Extend yourselves to the utmost, do everything in the proper order, never forget for a minute

　　你们要尽可能地伸展开，每个动作都按正确的规则去做，每分钟都要牢记你们是天鹅，

　　that you are swans and therefore excellent fliers, and I'm sure all will be well."

　　是理所当然的杰出飞行家，我肯定一切都会顺利的。”

　　They all swam downwind to the end of the pond. They pumped their necks up and down.

　　他们都逆风游到池塘的尽头去了。他们上下摆动着他们的脖子。

　　Louis pumped his harder than any of the others.

　　路易斯摆动得比别的天鹅们更有力。

　　吹小号的天鹅

　　They tested the wind by turning their heads this way and that.

　　他们把脑袋转来转去地测试着风向。

　　Suddenly the cob signaled for the start.

　　雄天鹅猛然间发出了起飞的信号。

　　There was a tremendous commotion--wings beating, feet racing, water churned to a froth.

　　真是好大一阵骚动呀——那么多双翅膀都在拍打，那么多双脚都在划动，搅得池塘的水都泛起了泡沫。

　　And presently, wonder of wonders, there were seven swans in the air

　　不久，奇迹中的奇迹出现了，空中飞起了七只天鹅

　　--two pure white ones and five dirty gray ones.

　　--两只纯白的，五只暗灰色的。

　　The takeoff was accomplished, and they started gaining altitude.

　　起飞完成了，他们开始继续升高。

　　Louis was the first of the young cygnets to become airborne, ahead of all his brothers and sisters.

　　路易斯是第一只升到空中的小天鹅，他飞到了他的哥哥姐姐们的前面。

　　The minute his feet lifted clear of the water, he knew he could fly.

　　在他的脚离开水面的刹那，他知道他可以飞翔了。

　　It was a tremendous relief--as well as a splendid sensation.

　　这让他大大松了口气——也让他有了一种绝妙的感觉。

　　"Boy!" he said to himself. "I never knew flying could be such fun. This is great. This is sensational. This is superb. I feel exalted, and I'm not dizzy.

　　“好家伙！”他心里说，“我从不知道飞翔会这么有趣。真妙。真刺激。真好。我感到志得意满了，我并不觉得头晕。

　　I'll be able to get to Montana with the rest of the family. I may be defective, but at least I can fly."

　　我能和其他的家庭成员一起到蒙大拿去了。虽然我可能有缺陷，但我至少还能飞。”