书虫三级 铁路少年：8.穿红衬衣的男孩儿

8．The boy in the red shirt
8．穿红衬衣的男孩儿

The boys from the school in Maidbridge' are having a paper-chase today,' said Bobbie, the next morning. 'Perks thinks they'll go along beside the railway line. We could go and watch.'

“今天，梅德布里奇学校的男生要举办循纸追捕比赛。”第二天早晨，博比说，“珀克斯说他们可能会沿铁路线进行。我们去看看吧。”

There were men working on the railway line, and the children began by watching them. They almost forgot the paper-chase, and were surprised when a voice said, 'Let me pass, please.' It was the first boy from the school.

铁路上有人在干活，孩子们就开始看他们工作。他们几乎忘了循纸追捕那回事儿了，所以当听见有人说：“请让我过去。”的时候，他们甚至有些吃惊。说这话的是从学校跑出来的第一名男生。

He's the "hare",' explained Bobbie. 'All the other boys are the "hounds" and they have to chase after him.'

“他就是‘野兔’，”博比解释说，“其他的男生都是‘猎狗’，他们一起来追赶他。”

There was a bag under the hare's arm. It was full of pieces of paper, which he dropped behind him for the other boys to follow. They watched as he ran into the black mouth of the tunnel.

“野兔”的胳膊下面夹着一个包。包里装满了纸，他把这些纸丢在身后，让其他男生循着这些纸来追赶他。孩子们看见他跑进了隧道的大黑洞里。

The workmen watched him, too.

工人也看着他。

He shouldn't go in there,' said one.

“他不应该进去。”一个工人说。

It's only a game,' said another.

“这只是个游戏。”另一个说。

Passengers shouldn't cross the line.'

“乘客不能横穿铁路。”

He's not a passenger.'

“可他不是乘客。”

Then came the "hounds", following the pieces of white paper. They came down the steps at the side of the tunnel and disappeared into the darkness. The last boy was wearing a red shirt.

随后“猎狗”们顺着那些白纸追了过来。他们沿着隧道侧翼的台阶下去，消失在黑暗中。跑在最后的那个男生穿着一件红衬衣。

Will they take long to get through the tunnel?' asked Peter.

“他们需要很长时间才能穿出隧道吗？”彼得问。

An hour or more,' guessed one of the men.

“要一小时或更久。”一个工人推测。

Let's go across the top of the hill and see them come out the other end of the tunnel,' Peter said to his sisters.

“那我们从山顶上翻过去，到隧道那头看他们钻出来。”彼得向他的姐妹建议。

The tunnel was cut through a hill. They climbed over stones and through narrow openings between trees, and at last they reached the very top of the hill.

这是一条穿山隧道。孩子们从乱石堆和茂密的树丛中艰难地爬过，终于到达了山顶。

It's lovely up here,' said Bobbie, as she looked across the fields. 'It was worth the climb.'

“这山上可真美呀，”博比放眼四周的田野，感叹说，“我们爬山也值了。”

The paper-chase is worth the climb,' said Phyllis. 'But hurry, or we'll miss it.'

“是为了看循纸追捕，才觉得爬山很值，”菲利斯说，“不过快点吧，要不然我们就看不见他们了。”

But there was plenty of time, and they had to wait at the other end of the tunnel

其实时间还早，他们只好在隧道另一端的出口处等着。

Look, here he comes!' shouted Peter at last.

“瞧，他出来了！”彼得终于大喊。

The hare came very slowly out of the shadows of the tunnel. Soon after, came the hounds. They were going slowly, too, and looked very tired.

“野兔”从隧道的阴影里慢慢地走了出来。很快，“猎狗”们也出来了。他们也走得很缓慢，看起来好像已经是精疲力尽了。

What shall we do now?' said Bobbie.

“我们现在做什么？”博比说。

That's not the last,' said Peter. 'The hound in the red shirt isn't out yet.' They waited and waited, but the boy did not appear.

“还没完呢，”彼得说，“那个穿红衬衣的“猎狗”还没出来呢。”他们等啊，等啊，可那个男孩儿还是没有出现。

The children began to worry, and they climbed down to the mouth of the tunnel. But they couldn't see a boy in a red shirt.

孩子们开始有些担心了，于是他们从山上爬下来到了隧道口。但是，他们还是瞧不见那个穿红衬衣的男孩儿。

Perhaps he's had an accident,' said Peter. 'Let's go and look.'

“也许他出事儿了。”彼得说，“我们去看看吧。”

The tunnel was dark after the sunshine outside, and they walked beside the line.

因为外面的光线很强，隧道显得格外黑，孩子们沿着铁路线往前走。

If a train comes, stand flat against the wall,' said Peter. His voice sounded very different inside the tunnel walls.

“要是火车来了，就贴着墙站。”彼得吩咐大家。因为是在隧道里，他的声音听起来有些异样。

I don't like it!' said Phyllis.

“我不喜欢这里！”菲利斯说。

There was a low noise on the railway line.

这时，铁轨发出了低沉的颤音。

What's that?' said Peter.

“什么声音？”彼得说。

It's a train,' said Bobbie.

“火车来了。”博比说。

Let me go back!' cried Phyllis.

“我们回去吧！”菲利斯哭着说。

It's quite safe,' said Bobbie. 'Stand back.'

“这儿很安全。”博比说，“往后站。”

The train came towards them, and the noise got louder and louder. Then it was screaming past, and they could feel the hot air and smell the smoke. They pushed themselves flat against the tunnel wall.

火车向他们驶来，声音越来越大。然后刹那间，火车便呼啸而过，他们能感受到热浪、能闻到烟气。孩子们紧贴在隧道的墙上。

Oh!' said the children, after it was gone.

“噢！”火车过后，孩子们松了一口气。

Peter took the end of a candle from his pocket, and his hand was shaking when he lit it with a match. 'C—come on,' he said. And the three of them went deeper into the darkness of the tunnel.

彼得从口袋中掏出一小截蜡烛，在他用火柴点蜡烛的时候，手一直在颤抖。“跟——跟上来。”他说。于是，他们三个一起往黑暗隧道的更深处走去。

The boy in the red shirt was on the ground, beside the line. His eyes were closed and he did not move when they reached him.

那个穿红衬衣的男孩儿躺在铁路旁的地上。他的双眼紧闭，三个孩子到了跟前他也没动一动。

Is... is he dead?' asked Phyllis.

“他……他死了吗？”菲利斯问。

Dead? No!' said Peter.

“死了？没有！”彼得回答。

And slowly, the boy opened his eyes. 'I... I think I've broken my leg,' he said. 'How did you get here?'

渐渐地，男孩儿睁开了眼睛。“我……我想我的腿折了，”他说，“你们怎么到这儿来了？”

We saw you all go into the tunnel, and then we went across the hill to see you all come out,' explained Peter. 'The others came out, but you didn't. So we came to look for you.'

“我们看着你们都进了隧道，然后我们又从山上爬过去，看你们穿出隧道，”彼得解释说，“其他人都出来了，你却没有。所以我们就过来找你了。”

You're very brave,' said the boy.

“你们可真勇敢。”男孩说道。

Can you walk, if we help you?' said Bobbie.

“如果我们帮着你，你能走吗？”博比问。

I can try,' said the boy. He did try, but he could only stand on one foot. 'Oh, I must sit down. The pain is awful.' He sat down again and closed his eyes. The others looked at each other.

“我可以试试，”男孩儿回答。他果真试了试，但是只有一条腿能站起来。“噢，我必须坐下。太疼了。”他又坐了下来，闭上了眼睛。三个孩子面面相觑。

You must go and get help,' said Bobbie quickly. 'I'll stay with him. You take the longest bit of candle, but be quick.'

“你们得出去找人帮忙，”博比果断地说，“我和他留在这里。你们带上最长的那截蜡烛出去，快点儿回来。”

Peter looked worried. 'Let me stay, and you and Phyllis go.'

彼得看上去很犹豫。“让我留下吧，你和菲利斯去找人。”

No,' said Bobbie. 'You two go—and lend me your knife. I'll try and cut his boot off before he wakes up again. Just be quick!'

“不行，”博比说，“你们两个人去——把你的刀子借给我用一下。在他再次醒过来之前，我得想办法把他的靴子割开脱下来。快点儿！”

Bobbie watched their figures disappear, then put her little candle beside the boy's foot. She used Peter's knife to cut off the boot, then she looked at the broken leg. 'It needs something soft under it,' she thought, and then remembered her petticoat. She took it off and carefully put it under the boy's leg.

博比目送他们的身影消失在黑暗中，然后她点着手中的小蜡烛，放在男孩儿的脚边。她用彼得的那把刀子割开男孩儿的靴子，看了看那条摔折的腿。“这条腿需要用软一点儿的东西垫一垫。”她脑子里闪过这样的念头，她又想到了自己的衬裙。她脱掉衬裙，小心地垫到男孩儿的腿下。

He woke up a few minutes later.

几分钟后，他醒了。

What's your name?' asked Bobbie.

“你叫什么名字？”博比问。

Jim,' he said.

“吉姆。”他回答。

Mine is Bobbie,' she said. 'Peter and Phyllis have gone to get some help.'

“我叫博比，”她说，“彼得和菲利斯出去找人帮忙了。”

Why didn't you go with them?' he said.

“那你为什么没和他们一起去呢？”男孩说。

Someone had to stay with you,' said Bobbie. 'I must put out the candle or it will burn itself out.'

“得有人陪着你呀，”博比说，“我得吹灭蜡烛了，不然的话它会烧完的。”

Are you afraid of the dark, Bobbie?' asked Jim, when they were sitting in the darkness.

“博比，你怕黑吗？”吉姆问，他们就坐在黑暗中。

Not—not very afraid,' said Bobbie. 'But—'

“不——不太害怕，”博比回答。“不过——”

Let's hold hands,' said Jim. He put his large hand over her small one. Then they sat and waited.

“让我们握着彼此的手。”吉姆说着，一边用他的大手握住了她的小手。他们坐在那里等着。

Peter and Phyllis went to a farm to get help. When the two children got back to the tunnel with the men from the farm, they found Bobbie and Jim asleep.

彼得和菲利斯到一个农场去寻求帮助。当两个孩子和农场里的人一起返回隧道时，他们发现博比和吉姆都睡着了。

The men carried Jim on a piece of flat wood.

那些人用一块平平的木板抬起吉姆。

Where does he live?' asked one of them.

“他住在哪里？”一个人问。

In Northumberland,' answered Bobbie. 'He told me while we were waiting.'

“在诺森伯兰，”博比回答，“刚才等你们的时候他告诉我的。”

I'm at a school in Maid bridge,' said Jim, 'I suppose I must get back there.'

“我在梅德布里奇的一个学校读书，”吉姆说，“我想我该先回那儿去。”

A doctor ought to see you first,' said the man.

“你应该先看医生。”那个人说。

Bring him to our house,' said Bobbie. 'It's not far along the road. I'm sure Mother will say it's all right.'

“把他抬回我们家吧，”博比说，“沿着这条路走，我家很近。我相信妈妈会同意的。”

Mother did say it was all right, although she was a little surprised at first. Then Bobbie explained.

妈妈的确同意，尽管起初她有些吃惊。随后博比做了解释。

I'm sorry to be so much trouble,' Jim said to Mother as the men carried him in. His face was white with pain.

“对不起，给你们添了这么多麻烦。”被抬进屋的时候，吉姆向妈妈表示歉意。他的脸因为疼痛已经没有了一点血色。

Don't worry, you poor dear,' said Mother. 'You must go to bed, and I'll send for Doctor Forrest.'

“别担心，可怜的孩子，”妈妈说，“你需要上床休息，我让人去请福里斯特医生。”

Mother also sent a message to Jim's school, to tell them what had happened.

与此同时，妈妈还给吉姆的学校捎去了口信，告诉他们所发生的一切。

My grandfather lives near here,' said Jim.

“我爷爷住得离这儿不远。”吉姆说。

Then I'll write and tell him, too,' said Mother. 'I'm sure he'll want to know. What's his name?'

“那好，我也给他写封信，把情况告诉他，”妈妈说，“我相信他也一定想知道。他叫什么名字呢？”

*　　*　　*

*　　*　　*

After breakfast the next day, someone knocked at the front door.

第二天早饭过后，有人敲前门。

That will be the doctor again,' said Mother. She went out of the kitchen and closed the door.

“肯定又是医生。”妈妈说。她走出厨房，关上了门。

But it wasn't the doctor. The children listened as Mother and the visitor went upstairs. They heard them talking, and were sure that they knew the voice of the visitor. But who was it?

但是来者不是医生。孩子们听见妈妈和来人上楼的声音。听见他们谈话，孩子们觉得来人的声音很耳熟。但那人到底是谁呢？

After a while, the bedroom door opened and they heard Mother and the visitor come down and go into the front room of the house. Then they heard Mother calling: 'Bobbie!'

过了一会儿，卧室的门开了，他们听见妈妈和来人下楼到了客厅里。他们听见妈妈在喊：“博比！”

Mother was in the hall. 'Jim's grandfather has come,' she said. 'He wants to see you all.'

妈妈就在厅里。“吉姆的爷爷来了，”她说，“他想见见你们。”

They followed Mother into the other room, and there sat—THEIR OWN OLD GENTLEMAN.

他们跟着妈妈来到了另一间房子里，这里竟然坐着——他们的那位老先生。

Oh, it's you!' cried Bobbie.

“哦，是您呀！”博比大叫。

How wonderful!' said Peter. 'But you're not going to take Jim away, are you? I was hoping he could stay.'

“太棒了！”彼得说，“不过您不会把吉姆带走吧，您会吗？我想让他留下来。”

The old gentleman smiled. 'No,' he said. 'Your mother is very kind. She has agreed to let Jim stay here. I thought of sending a nurse, but your mother was good enough to agree to be his nurse herself.'

老先生微笑着。“不，”他说，“你们的妈妈非常好，她已经同意让吉姆留在这里了。我本来想派一个护士过来，可是你们的妈妈说她自己就能照料好他。”

But what about her writing?' said Peter, before anyone could stop him. 'There won't be anything for him to eat if she doesn't write.'

“那妈妈还怎么写故事呀？”大家还没来得及阻止，彼得就把这句话说出来了，“要是她不写故事了，他就没有东西吃了。”

The old gentleman smiled kindly at Mother. 'She has agreed to stop her writing for a while, and become Head Nurse of my hospital.'

老先生望着妈妈，脸上露出慈祥的微笑。“她已经同意暂时不写故事，到我的医院来做护士长了。”

Oh!' said Phyllis. 'Will we have to go away from the white house, and the railway and everything?'

“哦！”菲利斯说，“我们就要从白色小屋搬出来，离开铁路，离开这里的一切了吗？”

No, no, darling,' Mother said quickly. 'The hospital is here, at this house.'

“不，不，亲爱的孩子们，”妈妈马上说，“医院就在这里，就在我们家。”

And my unlucky Jim is the only one needing a nurse,' said the old gentleman. 'But there will be a maid and someone to cook the meals until Jim is well.'

“我可怜的孙子吉姆是惟一需要护理的人，”老先生说，“不过在吉姆康复之前，我会派一个女佣，再派一个人过来做饭的。”

Then will Mother start writing again?' asked Peter.

“那么等吉姆好了以后，妈妈就又可以写故事了吗？”彼得问。

Perhaps something nice will happen, and she won't have to,' said the old gentleman. 'Take care of your mother, my dears. She's a woman in a million. Now, perhaps Bobbie can take me to the door?'

“也许福星降临，她就不用再写故事了，”老先生说，“好好照顾你们的妈妈，孩子们。她可是个万里挑一的好妈妈。现在，也许博比可以把我送到门口？”

The two of them went outside, and the old gentleman said, 'I got your letter, my child, but it wasn't necessary. When I read about your father in the newspapers at the time, I began trying to find out things. I haven't done much yet, but I have hopes, my dear—I have hopes.'

两个人走出房间之后，老先生说：“孩子，我已经收到了你的来信，其实你没必要给我写信。我刚在报纸上看到你爸爸的事情时，就已经开始着手调查事情的真相了。虽然我还没有什么收获，但是我充满信心，亲爱的孩子——我充满信心。”

Oh!' said Bobbie, crying a little.

“哦！”博比说，抽泣起来。

But keep your secret a little longer,' he said.

“不过你暂时还要保密。”他说。

You don't think Father did it, do you?' said Bobbie. 'Oh, say you don't!'

“你不认为是我爸爸干的，对吗？”博比说，“哦，请告诉我，你不这么认为！”

I'm sure he didn't,' said the old gentleman.

“我坚信他没干。”老先生说。

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