儿童英语读物《神奇树屋》 第十册 Ghost Town at Sundown 08
A fly buzzed by Jack’s ear.He slapped it away.He opened his eyes.
The sun was high above the canyon walls. He had slept a long time.
Slim and Annie were sitting by a fire， drinking from tin cups.
“Coffee?Biscuit?” Annie asked Jack.
“Where did you get them?” said Jack.
“A cowboy always carries biscuits and a canteen of coffee，” said Slim.
He walked over and gave Jack a biscuit and a cup of coffee.
“It’s hard as a rock，” Slim said. “And bitter as muddy river water. But a cowboy takes what he can get.”
Jack took a bite and a sip.
The biscuit was very hard and the coffee was very bitter. But that was okay with Jack. Since cowboys didn’t mind， he didn’t mind， either.
“I’ll saddle up Dusty，” Slim said， “and take you back to town to catch your stage.”
“Then what will you do?” said Annie.
“Head south with my herd，” said Slim. “Sell’em. Then ride across the plains and round up more mustangs.”
While Slim saddled Dusty， Jack took out his notebook and pencil. He wrote：
Cowboy breakfast
bitter coffee
hard biscuits
“Hey， Shorty，” called Slim. “What are you doing?”
“Taking notes，” said Jack.
“What for?”
“He likes writing things down，” said Annie.
“Oh， yeah?” said Slim. “Me too. In fact， I first came out west to write a book. But one thing led to another.The next thing I know， I’m a mustang herder.”
“Slim， you should write your book，” said Annie. “And let the mustangs go free.”
“Think so?” said Slim.
They looked at the grazing wild horse.
“I know so，” said Annie.
“Yup，” said Jack. “Your book should be about the Wild West， Slim.”
Slim kept staring at his herd. “Maybe you’re right，” he said. “I could settle in Laramie and write there. Wouldn’t have to chase after rustlers anymore.”
Slim turned back to Jack and Annie. “Yup， I think I’ll be a writer.
Let’s go. Before I change my mind，” he said.
“Yay!” said Annie. “I’ll go tell them.” She jumped up and ran to the mustangs.
Jack packed his backpack，while Slim packed his saddlebags.
Then Slim and Jack climbed onto Dusty. They rode over to Annie， who was stroking Sunset’s neck.
“I told him he’s as free as the wind now，” said Annie.
“Sounds good，” said Slim.“Give me your hand， Smiley.”
Slim pulled Annie onto Dusty. She sat in front of Jack.
Slim snapped his reins. Dusty started off.
The sun was hot as Dusty climbed out of the canyon.When they reached the top， they peered down at the canyon floor.
The mustangs pranced playfully， their coats shining in the hazy light.
“They’ll find their way out soon，” Slim said.“Then cut across the prairie.Yell goodbye to your pal， Smiley.”
“Stay with your mother， Sunset!” shouted Annie.“Good-bye!”
Out of the blue， a voice called， “Bye!”
Annie gasped.“Who said that?” she asked.“The ghost?”
“Nope，” said Jack.“It’s just an echo.It’s caused by sound bouncing off the canyon walls.”
Slim cupped his hands around his mouth.“Who am I?” he shouted.
“Am I?” came the distant voice.
“Oh， man，” Jack said softly. “That’s the answer…”
“To Morgan’s riddle!” said Annie.
“Echo!” she and Jack said together.
Jack looked at Slim.“You knew the answer last night，” he said.
Slim just smiled and snapped his reins. “Let’s go， pardners，” he said.
8 我是谁?
一只苍蝇在杰克耳朵边嗡嗡地飞。他赶开它，睁开了眼睛。
太阳已经高悬在空中，照耀着峡谷的岩壁。杰克这一觉睡了很久。
瘦子和安妮正坐在火边，拿锡杯子喝着水。
“要咖啡吗?饼干呢?”安妮问杰克。
“你从哪里弄来的?”杰克问。
“牛仔总是随身带着饼干和罐装咖啡的。”瘦子说。
他走过来递给杰克一块饼干和一杯咖啡。
“这东西和石头一样硬。”瘦子说，“这个呢，就像泥泞的河水一样苦呢。但是牛仔总是有什么就吃什么。”
杰克吃了一口饼干，喝了一口咖啡。
饼干非常硬，咖啡也很苦。但杰克觉得挺好。既然牛仔不介意，他也就不介意。
“我要给灰尘装上鞍。”瘦子说，“然后把你们送回镇上去，好赶马车。”
“然后你做什么呢?”安妮问。
“和我的马群一起往南走。”瘦子说，“把它们卖掉。然后再在大草原上转转多捉一些野马。”
瘦子给灰尘上鞍的时候，杰克拿出他的笔记本和铅笔，这样写道：
牛仔的早餐：
苦咖啡
硬饼干
“嘿，小矮子。”瘦子喊道，“你在干什么?”
“在做笔记呢。”杰克说。
“为什么?”
“他喜欢把事情记下来。”安妮回答说。
“哦，是吗?”瘦子说，“我也是啊。实际上，我第一次来西部就是为了写一本书。但是一桩事总是引向另一桩，而这另一桩就是我成了个卖野马的了。”
“瘦子，你应该去写你的书。”安妮说，“放那些野马自由吧。”
“你这么认为?”瘦子说。
他们看着那群正在吃草的野马。
“我认为应该这样。”安妮说。
“是啊。”杰克说，“你应该写本关于狂野西部的书，瘦子。”
瘦子继续盯着他的马群。“也许你们是对的。”他说，“我可以在勒拉密定居下来，在那里写书。那样我就再不用追赶盗马贼了。”
瘦子转过身来面对杰克和安妮，说：“是，我想我还是应该做个作家。咱们走吧，趁我还没改变主意。”他说。
“耶!”安妮叫道，“我去告诉它们。”他一蹦一跳地跑到野马群中去了。
瘦子和杰克跨上灰尘，来到了安妮身旁，她正抚摩着日落的脖子。
“我跟日落说它现在和风一样自由了。”安妮说。
“听起来不错哦。”瘦子说，“把你的手给我，爱笑的丫头。”
瘦子把安妮拽上了灰尘，让她坐在杰克前面。
瘦子挥动缰绳，灰尘飞跑起来。
在火辣辣的阳光下，灰尘一路跑出了峡谷。当他们到达峡谷顶时，不禁俯视着下面的峡谷：
野马正欢快地跳跃着，它们的毛皮在晃眼的日光下闪着光。
“它们很快就能找到出去的路。”瘦子说，“然后再穿过大草原。和你的伙计说再见吧，爱笑的丫头。”
“日落，和你妈妈待在一起吧。”安妮喊道。“再见!”
从蓝色峡谷中传来一个声音：“再见。”
安妮愣住了。“那是谁在说话?”她问，“是幽灵吗?”
“不。”杰克回答，“只是回声而已。是声音碰到峡谷的岩壁引起的。”
瘦子把手握成杯状，拢在嘴边。“我是谁?”他喊道。
“是谁?”远方传来一个声音。
“哦，天啊。”杰克轻声地说，“这就是答案。”
“摩根谜语的答案!”安妮说。
“回声!”她和杰克异口同声地说。
杰克看着瘦子，说：“你昨天晚上就知道答案了。”
瘦子微笑着挥动着缰绳。“咱们走吧，伙计们。”他说。
