書蟲二級《新森林的孩子們》：1、快逃！

1．Escape!
1．快逃！

One day in November 1647, Jacob Armitage hurried through the New Forest to the house of Arnwood.

1647年11月的一天，雅各布·阿米蒂奇匆忙穿過新森林趕到安伍德大宅。

You must leave this house immediately,' he said to Edward Beverley. 'Come with me to pack your things. You must come to my home and stay there.'

“你們必須馬上離開這所房子，”他對愛德華·貝弗利說，“跟我來收拾你們的東西。你們必須到我家去，待在那里。”

But why, Jacob?' Edward asked the old man. 'Why?'

“可為什么啊，雅各布？”愛德華問老人，“為什么？”

The King has escaped from his prison at Hampton Court,' Jacob explained. 'He's riding south through the forest, and Cromwell's soldiers are searching for him. And I've just heard a group of soldiers in the forest — they were talking about Arnwood. They know that your father was the King's friend, and they're planning to burn Arnwood tonight, because they think the King is hiding here.'

“國王從漢普頓宮的監(jiān)獄中逃出來了，”雅各布解釋道，“他正騎馬穿越森林向南逃，克倫威爾的士兵正在搜尋他。而且我剛才聽到森林里一群士兵的談話——他們在談?wù)摪参榈?。他們知道你父親是國王的朋友，他們正打算今晚燒掉安伍德，因?yàn)樗麄冋J(rèn)為國王正藏在這兒。”

Burn Arnwood! They can't do that! It's my house, and I'm staying here!' Edward said angrily. He was fourteen years old, the oldest of the four Beverley children.

“燒掉安伍德！他們不能那樣做！這是我的房子，我要留在這兒！”愛德華憤怒地說。他14歲了，是貝弗利家四個孩子中的老大。

The Beverley children lived alone at Arnwood, with an old woman who did the cooking and all the work of the house. Their father, Colonel Beverley, was killed while fighting for King Charles I at Naseby in 1645. Before he left home, he asked Jacob, a poor forester who lived near Arnwood, to look after his family. Jacob knew the family well and was happy to do this. And when the children's mother died a few months later, Jacob came every day to visit the children and to help them.

貝弗利家的四個孩子自己住在安伍德，有個老婦人給他們做飯并負(fù)責(zé)所有的家務(wù)活兒。他們的父親貝弗利上校1645年在內(nèi)斯比為國王查理一世作戰(zhàn)時犧牲了。他離家之前請求雅各布——一個住在安伍德附近的窮困的護(hù)林人——照顧他的家人。雅各布和這家人很熟，很樂意做這件事。幾個月后孩子們的母親去世了，雅各布便每天都來看孩子們，幫助他們。

My dear boy,' Jacob said, 'remember your sisters and brother. The soldiers will shoot them, or burn them in the house. No, no, you must all come with me.'

“我親愛的孩子，”雅各布說，“想想你的妹妹們和弟弟。士兵們會開槍打他們的，或者把他們燒死在房子里。不，不，你們必須全部跟我來。”

In the end, Edward agreed. He and his brother Humphrey, who was twelve, packed their things. Then they put them on Jacob's horse, White Billy, who was waiting outside.

最后，愛德華同意了。他和12歲的弟弟漢弗萊收拾好東西，然后把它們放到雅各布的馬上。這匹馬叫白比利，正在外面等著。

Jacob told Alice, who was eleven, and Edith, who was eight, that they were going to visit his home in the forest. He did not tell them about the soldiers.

雅各布告訴11歲的艾麗斯和8歲的伊迪絲，說他們要去他在森林里的家里住幾天。他沒告訴她們有關(guān)士兵的事。

Edward, here is my key,' said Jacob quietly. 'Lock the door of the house, and take my gun from the wall. Don't leave your brother and sisters. I'll help the cook to pack her things, and then I'll follow you.'

“愛德華，這是我的鑰匙，”雅各布輕輕地說，“把房門鎖上，把我的槍從墻上拿下來，不要離開你的弟弟妹妹們。我?guī)蛷N娘收拾她的東西，然后就會跟上你們。”

The four children left the big house and went into the forest with White Billy. It was five o'clcok in the afternoon, and already dark. Jacob helped the cook, who hurried away to her family in Lymington, and then he hid in the trees near the house, and waited.

四個孩子離開了大房子，和白比利一起走進(jìn)了森林里。那時是下午5點(diǎn)鐘，天已經(jīng)黑了。雅各布幫廚娘收拾好，她便匆忙趕往她在利明頓的家了，然后雅各布藏在房子附近的樹林中等待著。

After a while he heard horses, and the Parliamentary soldiers arrived. Soon they were in the gardens and all round the house. A few minutes later Jacob saw black smoke going up into the sky; then he saw flames at the windows. Arnwood was burning!

過了一會兒，他聽到了馬蹄聲，議會的士兵到了。很快他們就散布到花園里和房子四周。幾分鐘后，雅各布看到黑煙升上天空，然后他看到了窗口冒出來的火苗。安伍德著火了！

It is done,' thought Jacob, and he hurried away into the forest. In half an hour he arrived at his cottage. He looked back and saw the flames of Arnwood shooting higher and higher above the trees.

“完了。”雅各布想。他急忙離開走進(jìn)了森林，半個小時后到了自己的農(nóng)舍。他回頭看了看，看到安伍德的火越燒越旺，火苗在樹頂上越升越高。

When he knocked on his door, Edward opened it and came out with Smoker, Jacob's big dog.

他敲了敲門，愛德華打開門，和雅各布的大狗斯莫克爾一起走出來。

My sisters are asleep in bed,' Edward told Jacob. Then Edward saw the flames of Arnwood and the angry red light between the trees, and he was silent.

“我的妹妹們上床睡覺了。”愛德華告訴雅各布。這時愛德華看見了安伍德的大火和樹林中透出的憤怒的紅色火光，他沉默了。

I told you,' Jacob said. 'The soldiers didn't look for you in the house before they burnt it.'

“我告訴過你的，”雅各布說，“那些士兵燒房子之前都沒有進(jìn)去找你們。”

Arnwood is my house!' said Edward angrily. 'And when I'm a man, I'll fight Cromwell's soldiers for this!'

“安伍德是我的房子！”愛德華憤怒地說，“等我長大了，我會跟克倫威爾的士兵算這筆賬的！”

Perhaps you will,' Jacob said quietly. 'But let's go inside now. It's a cold night.'

“或許你會的，”雅各布平靜地說，“但是現(xiàn)在我們進(jìn)屋去吧。今天夜里很冷。”

Edward slowly followed Jacob into the cottage. He hated Cromwell and the Parliamentary soldiers. First they killed his father, and now they burnt his house. He lay down on the bed, but he did not sleep.

愛德華跟著雅各布慢慢地走進(jìn)農(nóng)舍里。他恨克倫威爾和議會的那些士兵。他們先是殺了他父親，現(xiàn)在又燒了他的房子。他躺在床上，卻無法入睡。

*　*　*

*　*　*

Jacob lived alone because his wife was dead, and he had no children. His cottage had one large room for living and cooking, and three small bedrooms behind. Outside there were a few chickens and pigs in one field and some old fruit trees in another field.

雅各布是一個人生活，因?yàn)樗拮尤ナ懒?，而且他沒有孩子。他的農(nóng)舍里有一個起居和做飯用的大房間，后面有三間小臥室。屋子外面的一塊地里養(yǎng)了幾只雞和幾頭豬，另外一塊地里長著幾棵老果樹。

The next morning Jacob began to teach the children how to cook and to clean the cottage. It was all new work to them, because rich children like the Beverleys never cooked or worked in the house.

第二天早晨，雅各布開始教孩子們做飯和打掃屋子。這些對他們來說都是新鮮的工作，因?yàn)橄褙惛ダ疫@種富人家的孩子們在家從來不做飯，也不用干活。

You must stay inside today,' Jacob told them, 'because the soldiers are still searching the forest. Let's get some dinner ready. We can all help. Edward, will you go and get some water from the river?'

“你們今天必須待在屋里，”雅各布告訴他們，“因?yàn)槭勘鴤冞€在搜查森林。我們來做點(diǎn)兒晚餐吧，大家都可以幫忙。愛德華，你能不能去河里打些水來？”

The children enjoyed cooking their first meal. They washed some potatoes and cut some meat and vegetables into pieces. Then they put them with some water in a pot on the fire. Little Edith put plates and knives on the table.

孩子們第一次做飯都很開心。他們洗了一些土豆，把肉和蔬菜切成塊，然后加水一起放進(jìn)爐火上的鍋里。小伊迪絲把盤子和餐刀擺到桌子上。

While the dinner was cooking, Edward stood outside the cottage, watching out for soldiers, and the other three made the cottage tidy. But just before dinner was ready, Edward ran back inside.

晚飯?jiān)诨鹕现笾鴷r，愛德華站在農(nóng)舍外面放哨，其他三個孩子把農(nóng)舍打掃整潔。但正當(dāng)晚飯要做好的時候，愛德華跑回屋里來。

I can see soldiers, and they're riding this way!'

“我能看到士兵，他們正騎著馬往這邊來！”

Jacob was silent for a minute. 'My dear children, those soldiers will search the cottage, and I don't want them to see your rich clothes. You must go to bed and pretend to be ill. Edward, you can put on one of my old shirts.'

雅各布沉默了片刻。“我親愛的孩子們，那些士兵會搜查農(nóng)舍的，我不想讓他們看到你們?nèi)A麗的衣服。你們必須躺到床上裝病。愛德華，你可以穿上我的一件舊襯衫。”

The younger children got into bed and hid their rich clothes. Edward put on Jacob's old shirt and sat next to the bed with a cup of water for his sisters. Quickly, Jacob put away the plates and knives. Soon there was a knock on the door.

年幼的孩子們爬上床，藏起他們?nèi)A麗的衣服。愛德華穿上雅各布的舊襯衫，給妹妹們端了一杯水坐在床邊。雅各布迅速把盤子和餐刀收起來。很快傳來了敲門聲。

Come in,' said Jacob.

“進(jìn)來。”雅各布說。

Who are you, my firend?' asked one of the soldiers.

“你是誰，我的朋友？”其中一個士兵問道。

A poor forester, sir,' replied Jacob, 'in great trouble. My grandchildren are all in bed, very ill.'

“一個貧窮的護(hù)林人，先生，”雅各布回答，“處境非常困難。我的孫子孫女們都在床上，病得很厲害。”

We must search your cottage for the King.'

“我們必須搜查你的農(nóng)舍尋找國王。”

Very well — but please don't frighten the children.'

“好的——但是請別嚇著孩子們。”

The men began to search the cottage. Edith screamed when she saw them, but Edward told her not to be afraid.

那些人開始搜查農(nóng)舍。伊迪絲看到他們的時候尖叫起來，但是愛德華告訴她不要害怕。

There's nothing here,' one of the soldiers said. 'Let's go. I'm tired and hungry.'

“這里沒有，”其中一個士兵說，“我們走吧，我又累又餓。”

There's something here that smells good,' said another soldier. 'What is it?' he asked, looking into the pot.

“這里有什么東西聞起來很不錯。”另一個士兵說。“這是什么？”他看著鍋里問道。

My dinner for a week,' explained Jacob. 'I can't light a fire every day, so I cook once a week.'

“我一個星期的晚餐，”雅各布解釋說，“我不能每天都生火，所以每星期做一次飯。”

Well, it looks good, so we'll try some,' the soldiers said. And they put the pot on the table, sat down, and ate everything. Then they thanked Jacob and rode away.

“哦，看起來不錯，我們要嘗嘗。”士兵們說。然后他們把鍋端到桌子上，坐下吃光了所有的東西。他們謝過雅各布便騎馬離開了。

Jacob called the children and told them to get up. 'The soldiers have gone,' he said.

雅各布把孩子們叫起來。“士兵們已經(jīng)走了。”他說。

And our dinners have gone too,' said Humphrey, looking at the dirty plates and the empty pot.

“我們的晚餐也沒了。”漢弗萊看著那些臟盤子和空空的鍋說道。

Bad men ate our dinner,' said Edith.

“壞人們吃了我們的晚餐。”伊迪絲說。

We can cook another,' said Jacob. 'We're all hungry, but if everyone helps, the dinner will soon be ready.'

“我們可以再做一頓，”雅各布說，“我們都餓了，但是如果每個人都幫忙，晚餐很快就會做好的。”

After dinner, Jacob told the children that their lives must change. 'The King's enemies think that you are dead, burned in Arnwood. But you are still in danger, and so you must stay here with me and pretend to be my grandchildren. You are children of the New Forest now.'

晚飯之后，雅各布告訴孩子們，他們的生活必須改變了。“國王的敵人以為你們死了，在安伍德被燒死了。但是你們還處在危險中，所以你們必須和我待在這里，裝作是我的孫子孫女。你們現(xiàn)在是新森林的孩子了。”