吹小號(hào)的天鵝 第25期:到蒙大拿去(4)

In a few minutes, the cob glided down out of thesky and skidded to a stop on the pond.

幾分鐘后，雄天鵝從空中滑翔下來(lái)，泊到了池塘里。

They all cheered. "Ko-hoh, ko-hoh, beep beep, beepbeep!" All but Louis.

他們都?xì)g呼起來(lái)。“吭— 嗬，吭—嗬，嗶嗶，嗶嗶!”只除了路易斯。

He had to express his approval simply by beatinghis wings and splashing water in his father's face.

他只好用拍起翅膀把水濺到父親臉上的方式來(lái)表示他的稱贊。

"All right," said the cob. "You've seen how it's done.Follow me, and we'll give it a try.

“好了，”雄天鵝說(shuō)，“你們已經(jīng)看到這一切是怎么做的了。跟我來(lái)，我們一起試一次。

Extend yourselves to the utmost, do everything in the proper order, never forget for a minute

你們要盡可能地伸展開，每個(gè)動(dòng)作都按正確的規(guī)則去做，每分鐘都要牢記你們是天鵝，

that you are swans and therefore excellent fliers, and I'm sure all will be well."

是理所當(dāng)然的杰出飛行家，我肯定一切都會(huì)順利的。”

They all swam downwind to the end of the pond. They pumped their necks up and down.

他們都逆風(fēng)游到池塘的盡頭去了。他們上下擺動(dòng)著他們的脖子。

Louis pumped his harder than any of the others.

路易斯擺動(dòng)得比別的天鵝們更有力。

They tested the wind by turning their heads this way and that.

他們把腦袋轉(zhuǎn)來(lái)轉(zhuǎn)去地測(cè)試著風(fēng)向。

Suddenly the cob signaled for the start.

雄天鵝猛然間發(fā)出了起飛的信號(hào)。

There was a tremendous commotion--wings beating, feet racing, water churned to a froth.

真是好大一陣騷動(dòng)呀——那么多雙翅膀都在拍打，那么多雙腳都在劃動(dòng)，攪得池塘的水都泛起了泡沫。

And presently, wonder of wonders, there were seven swans in the air

不久，奇跡中的奇跡出現(xiàn)了，空中飛起了七只天鵝

--two pure white ones and five dirty gray ones.

--兩只純白的，五只暗灰色的。

The takeoff was accomplished, and they started gaining altitude.

起飛完成了，他們開始繼續(xù)升高。

Louis was the first of the young cygnets to become airborne, ahead of all his brothers andsisters.

路易斯是第一只升到空中的小天鵝，他飛到了他的哥哥姐姐們的前面。

The minute his feet lifted clear of the water, he knew he could fly.

在他的腳離開水面的剎那，他知道他可以飛翔了。

It was a tremendous relief--as well as a splendid sensation.

這讓他大大松了口氣——也讓他有了一種絕妙的感覺(jué)。

"Boy!" he said to himself. "I never knew flying could be such fun. This is great. This issensational. This is superb. I feel exalted, and I'm not dizzy.

“好家伙!”他心里說(shuō)，“我從不知道飛翔會(huì)這么有趣。真妙。真刺激。真好。我感到志得意滿了，我并不覺(jué)得頭暈。

I'll be able to get to Montana with the rest of the family. I may be defective, but at least I canfly."

我能和其他的家庭成員一起到蒙大拿去了。雖然我可能有缺陷，但我至少還能飛。”