The flanking parties were quietly extending themselves out of sight, on each side of the valley,
同時(shí),側(cè)翼人馬也在悄無(wú)聲息地散開,消失在遠(yuǎn)方,他們將在山谷四邊設(shè)好埋伏圈。
and the residue were stretching themselves like the links of a chain across it,
最后剩下的人,將補(bǔ)充填實(shí)整條包圍圈可能出現(xiàn)的缺口。
when the wild horses gave signs that they scented an enemy; snuffing the air, snorting, and looking about.
就在這時(shí),野馬群發(fā)出信號(hào),它們發(fā)現(xiàn)了危險(xiǎn)臨近,馬群不停地嗅嗅四周,打出噴嚏,然后環(huán)顧左右,
At length they pranced off slowly toward the river, and disappeared behind a green bank.
最后三三兩兩地緩慢地朝那條河走去,消失在那條河綠色堤岸后。
Here, had the regulations of the chase been observed,
哎呀,假如嚴(yán)格遵守圍獵規(guī)則,
they would have been quietly checked and turned back by the advance of a hunter from among the trees.
野馬群很可能被樹林里冒出的獵手?jǐn)r阻,然后安靜地后撤,
Unluckily, however, we had our wildfire, Jack-o'-lantern little Frenchman to deal with.
然而,不幸的是,鬼使神差中,那位身材矮小的法國(guó)佬讓整個(gè)打圍過(guò)程變得詭異無(wú)常。
Instead of keeping quietly up the right side of the valley, to get above the horses,
他們一行設(shè)伏在山谷右面,未能保持按兵不動(dòng),從而掌控野馬群走向;
the moment he saw them move toward the river he broke out of the covert of woods and dashed furiously across the plain in pursuit of them.
那家伙一看見馬群朝河流那邊移動(dòng),竟然從樹林里沖出來(lái),發(fā)狂地穿過(guò)草原追攆馬群,從而使整個(gè)計(jì)劃徹底亂套。
This put an end to all system. The half-breeds, and half a score of rangers, joined in the chase.
這時(shí),一些混血兒騎手,加上其他十多位游牧騎手,亦爭(zhēng)先恐后地參與瘋狂追趕。
A way they all went over the green bank.
那些騎手們飛馳越過(guò)綠色堤岸,
In a moment or two the wild horses reappeared, and came thundering down the valley,
不一會(huì)兒,野馬群再度進(jìn)入視線,山谷下一片喊聲震天。
with Frenchman, half-breeds, and rangers galloping and bellowing behind them.
那位矮小的法國(guó)人,那些混血兒打圍者,還有那些游牧騎手們策馬飛奔,吼叫聲、吶喊聲在馬群身后響成一片。
It was in vain that the line drawn across the valley attempted to check and turn back the fugitives;
此刻,那道穿越山谷準(zhǔn)備圍堵攔截野馬群的防線完全失去作用。
they were too hotly pressed by their pursuers: in their panic they dashed through the line, and clattered down the plain.
馬群遭遇追趕者的猛烈追逐,它們?cè)诳只胖锌癖迹瑳_破了那道防線,草原上嘈雜喊叫震地連天。