第28章

　　During that wild chase, Pinocchio lived through a terrible moment when he almost gave himself up as lost.

　　这场疯狂的追逐中，皮诺乔经历了一个可怕的时刻，让他几乎要放弃认输了。

　　This was when Alidoro (that was the Mastiff's name) , in a frenzy of running, came so near that he was on the very point of reaching him.

　　阿利多罗（就是那条猛犬的名字），在一阵狂奔后几乎就要追上他了。

　　The Marionette heard, close behind him, the labored breathing of the beast who was fast on his trail, and now and again even felt his hot breath blow over him.

　　木偶已经听到紧随其后，野兽急促的喘气声紧跟着他的踪迹，甚至时不时感觉到了它呼吸的热气吹到了身上。

　　Luckily, by this time, he was very near the shore, and the sea was in sight; in fact, only a few short steps away.

　　幸亏这时他已经到了海边，大海就在眼前，事实上只有那么几步远了。

　　As soon as he set foot on the beach, Pinocchio gave a leap and fell into the water.

　　木偶一到海边就纵身跳进了水里。

　　Alidoro tried to stop, but as he was running very fast, he couldn't, and he, too, landed far out in the sea.

　　阿利多罗想停住脚步，可它跑得太快了停不住，也落到了很远的海里。

　　Strange though it may seem, the Dog could not swim.

　　也许这看起来很奇怪，但这只狗不会游泳。

　　He beat the water with his paws to hold himself up, but the harder he tried, the deeper he sank.

　　它用爪子拍打水面来支撑自己的身体，可它越努力沉的越深。

　　As he stuck his head out once more, the poor fellow's eyes were bulging and he barked out wildly, "I drown! I drown!"

　　等到它再次把头伸出来，这可怜的家伙两眼突出，疯狂的叫着：“我要淹死了！我要淹死了！”

　　"Drown!" answered Pinocchio from afar, happy at his escape.

　　“那就淹死吧！”皮诺乔在远处回答到，对自己的逃脱感到高兴不已。

　　"Help, Pinocchio, dear little Pinocchio! Save me from death!"

　　“救救我，皮诺乔，亲爱的的小皮诺乔！快救救我的命吧！”

　　At those cries of suffering, the Marionette, who after all had a very kind heart, was moved to compassion.

　　听见这几声惨叫，本性善良的木偶禁不住心软下来。

　　He turned toward the poor animal and said to him: "But if I help you, will you promise not to bother me again by running after me?"

　　他转脸对这可怜的动物说：“可我救了你，你保证不再找我麻烦，不再追逐我吗？”

　　"I promise! I promise! Only hurry, for if you wait another second, I'll be dead and gone!"

　　“我保证，我保证！快点吧，再等一秒钟，我就死定了。”