LESSON 34 Bison-hunting
第三十四課 捕殺北美野牛
The bison was hunted on horseback both by whites and by Indians,
白人和印第安人獵殺野牛時都是騎著馬,
though the sport was one in which a considerable amount of danger must be braved.
不過這很危險,需要足夠的膽量。
Let us picture to ourselves a bisonhunt in the far west of North America.
我們來看一看北美西部獵殺野牛的情景吧。
Mounting our horses by break of day, after an early breakfast, we ride on with the wind in our faces,
破曉時分,吃過早餐,我們就整裝上馬,飛奔而行,
and at length discover across the plain a number of dark objects moving slowly. They are buffaloes, feeding as they go.
最后到達大平原,發(fā)現很多移動緩慢的黑色物體。這就是野牛,它們邊走邊吃草。
It is proposed that some of our party should ride round, so as to stampede the herd back towards us;
有人提議我們應該派人在周圍騎行,
and by dividing them, enable us to reach the centre.
將驚恐的野牛群趕向我們;
We wait for some time, when we see a vast mass of hairy monsters come tearing over a hill towards us.
然后沖散它們,我們就能進入牛群中間。我們靜候時機,等到山上大群野牛兇猛地沖向我們。
As the herd approaches us, it swings round its front, at right angles, and makes off westward.
牛群接近時,會在突然跑開,找到合適得角度就向西奔逃。
We dash forward and divide it into two parties.
我們沖上前去將牛群一分為二。
We also separate, some of our hunters following one part of the herd; the others, the remainder.
我們也分頭去獵殺被分散的牛群。