英國語文第五冊(雙語):圍捕野馬(2)
Whenever they approach the bounds of the ring, however, a huntsman presents himself, and turns them from their course. In this way they are checked and driven back at every point, and kept galloping round and round this magic circle, until, being completely tired down, it is easy for hunters to ride up to them and throw the lariat over their heads. The prime horses, however, of the most speed, courage, and strength, are apt to break through and escape; so that, in general, it is the second-rate horses that are taken.
無論馬從哪里逃走，都會被獵人趕回原處。這樣它們就無路可逃，只能在圈里來回奔走，直到累垮。這時獵人們很容易就能接近它們并往它們頭上扔套索。但是，跑的最快，最勇敢也是最強大的那些馬往往能突出重圍，逃出生天；所以，一般來說，被抓住的都是一些二等馬。
Preparations were now made for a hunt of this kind. The pack horses were taken into the woods, and firmly tied to trees, lest, in a rush of wild horses, they should break away. Twenty-five men were then sent, under the command of a lieutenant, to steal along the edge of the valley, within the strip of wood that skirted the hills. They were to station themselves about fifty yards apart, within the edge of the woods, and not to advance or show themselves until the horses dashed in that direction. Twenty-five men were also sent across the valley, to steal in like manner along the river bank that bordered the opposite side, and to station themselves among the trees.
現(xiàn)在我們做好準備去捕捉逃掉的野馬了。我們將被捕到的野馬帶到林中，緊緊綁在樹上，唯恐它們掙脫逃跑。隨后我們派出了二十五個人，由一個中尉指揮，從山谷的邊緣的樹林中偷偷潛入進去。大家在樹林邊埋伏好，每人間隔大約五十英尺，直到有野馬經(jīng)過他們才出擊。另外還派了二十五個人穿過山谷，用同樣的方式沿著另一邊的河岸走，也在樹叢中埋伏好。
A third party, of about the same number, was to form a line stretching across the lower part of the valley, so as to connect the two wings. Beatte and our other half-breed, Antoine, together with the ever-officious Tonish, were to make a circuit through the woods, so as to get to the upper part of the valley, in the rear of the horses, and drive them forward into the kind of sack that we had formed, while the two wings should join behind them, and make a complete circle.
第三隊人也有二十五個左右，他們沿著山谷低處形成一道防線，以此策應兩邊的隊伍。比爾特，混血兒安托萬以及好事的托尼斯繞著樹林轉(zhuǎn)圈，以便能夠到達山谷的上部，繞到馬的后面，將野馬趕入包圍圈。與此同時，埋伏在兩側(cè)的人跟在這三個人的后面，形成一個完整的包圍圈。
The flanking parties were quietly extending themselves out of sight on each side of the valley, and the residue were stretching themselves like the links of a chain across it, when the wild horses gave signs that they scented an enemy,—snuffing the air, snorting, and looking about. At length they pranced off slowly toward the river, and disappeared behind a green hank.
側(cè)翼部隊悄悄進入山谷兩邊，悄悄排開隊伍，剩下的人也鋪開來，像一條鏈子穿過山谷。野馬很顯然沒有嗅到獵人的氣息，——他們在空氣中嗅，并四周張望。隨后它們昂首闊步慢慢地往河邊走，消失在翠綠的林子后面。
