https://online2.tingclass.net/lesson/shi0529/0001/1313/78.mp3
https://image.tingclass.net/statics/js/2012
The Headless Horseman 02
無頭騎士 02
The Dutchman let out a terrible scream as the horse leapt toward him at a full gallop. He took to his heels, running as fast as he could, making for the bridge since he knew that ghosts and evil spirits did not care to cross running water. He stumbled suddenly and fell, rolling off the road into a melting patch of snow. The headless rider thundered past him, and the man got a second look at the headless ghost. It was wearing a Hessian commander's uniform.
The Dutchman waited a good hour after the ghost disappeared before crawling out of the bushes and making his way home. After fortifying himself with schnapps, the Dutchman told his wife about the ghost. By noon of the next day, the story was all over Tarrytown. The good Dutch folk were divided in their opinions. Some thought that the ghost must be roaming the roads at night in search of its head. Others claimed that the Hessian soldier rose from the grave to lead the Hessian soldiers in a charge up nearby Chatterton Hill, not knowing that the hill had already been taken by the British.
Whatever the reason, the Headless Horseman continues to roam the roads near Tarrytown on dark nights from that day to this.
那馬飛快得向荷蘭人奔過來,他驚恐地尖叫了一聲,拔腿就跑,他全速向河邊跑去,因為他知道鬼魂和邪惡的幽靈都不敢穿過流水。他突然一個趔趄,跌到在地,滾到了一堆還沒化盡的積雪上。無頭騎士從他身邊呼嘯而過,他又看了一眼那個無頭騎士,發(fā)現(xiàn)他穿著黑森指揮官的制服。
無頭騎士消失后,荷蘭人足足等了一個小時才敢從灌木叢里爬出來回家?;氐郊?,荷蘭人喝了點杜松子酒壯壯膽后,告訴了妻子他遇到鬼的故事。到第二天中午,故事便傳遍了整個塔利鎮(zhèn)。好心的荷蘭人意見產(chǎn)生了分歧。有些人認(rèn)為鬼魂一定是在夜里四處游蕩找他的頭。另一些人則認(rèn)為這個黑森士兵還不知道附近的查特頓山已被英國人占領(lǐng),他從墳?zāi)估锍鰜肀闶且I(lǐng)導(dǎo)其他黑森士兵向那兒沖鋒。
不管是什么原因吧,從那天起,這個無頭騎士便總在漆黑的夜晚在塔利鎮(zhèn)附近的路上游蕩。