Well, boys, I am glad to see you again.
啊,孩子們,很高興再次見到大家。
Since I last saw you I have made quite a tour, and at some future time will desCRIbe to you what I have seen.
自從上次見到你們之后,我去旅游了一段時間,將來給你們講講我看到了些什么。
I promised at this meeting, however, to tell you something about animals, and I propose to begin with the horse.
不管怎么說,我答應過這次見面會給你們講關于動物的事,我建議從馬開始講起。
But I know that you like stories better than lecturing,
我知道你們喜歡聽故事,不喜歡聽課,
so I will proceed at once to tell you some which I have gathered for you.
所以我馬上來給你們講講搜集到的故事。
We never feel tired of listening to you, Uncle Thomas.
托馬斯叔叔,聽您講故事我們從來不感到疲倦。
We know you always have something curious to tell us.
我們知道您總會講些奇特的事情。
Well then, Frank, to begin at once with the horse.
好吧,弗蘭克,這就開始講馬的故事了。
In several parts of the world there are to be found large herds of wild horses.
在世界上很多地方都發(fā)現(xiàn)了大群的野馬。
In South America the immense plains are inhabited by them,
它們有些生活在南美洲廣袤的平原上,
and it is said that ten thousand are sometimes found in a single herd.
說有時一個馬群就有1萬匹之多。
These herds are always preceded by a leader, who directs their motions;
馬群都由一個領頭的馬帶隊,它來指揮大家的行動。
and such is the regularity with which they perform their movements,
這就是馬匹們行動的秩序性,
that it seems as if they could hardly be surpassed by the best trained cavalry.
看起來經(jīng)過最優(yōu)秀培訓的騎兵也很難能超越它們。
It is extremely dangerous for travelers to meet a herd of this desCRIption.
對旅行者來說,遇到這樣的一群馬匹是非常危險的。
When they are unaccustomed to the sight of such a mass of creatures,
當他們還不習慣于眼前這么一大群的生物時,
they can not help feeling greatly alarmed at their rapid and apparently irresistible approach.
會不禁被它們快速且顯然不可抗拒的行動方式嚇住。