The seven great birds stayed aloft about half an hour, then returned to the pond, the cob still in the lead.
They all had a drink to celebrate the successful flight.
Next day they were up early.
It was a beautiful fall morning, with mist rising from the pond and the trees shining in all colors.
Toward the end of the afternoon, as the sun sank low in the sky, the swans took off from the pond and began their journey to Montana.
薄暮時(shí)分,當(dāng)太陽(yáng)低垂到天際的時(shí)候,天鵝們從池塘里起飛,開始了他們?nèi)ッ纱竽玫穆贸獭?/div>
"This way!" cried the cob. He swung to his left and straightened out on a southerly course.
“往這邊飛!” 雄天鵝大叫。他轉(zhuǎn)向左邊,筆直地朝南飛去。
The others followed, trumpeting as they went.
大家都吹號(hào)般地叫著,跟在他的后面。

As they passed over the camp where Sam Beaver was, Sam heard them and ran out.
當(dāng)他們飛過薩姆所在的營(yíng)地時(shí),薩姆聽到了他們,跑了出來。
He stood watching as they grew smaller and smaller in the distance and finally disappeared.
他站在那里看著,直到他們變得越來越小最終消失在遠(yuǎn)方為止。
"What was it?" asked his father, when Sam returned indoors.
“那是什么?”當(dāng)薩姆回到門口時(shí),他的父親問。
"Swans," replied Sam. "They're headed south."
“天鵝,”薩姆回答,“他們往南去了。”
"We'd better do the same," said Mr. Beaver. "I think Shorty will be here tomorrow to take us out."
“我們最好也這么做,”比弗先生說,“我想矬子明天要來接我們走了。”
Mr. Beaver lay down on his bunk.
比弗先生在他的床上躺下來。
"What kind of swans were they?" he asked.
“他們是什么品種的天鵝?”他問。
"Trumpeters," said Sam.
“號(hào)手天鵝。”薩姆說。
"That's funny," said Mr. Beaver.
“真希奇,”比弗先生說,
"I thought Trumpeter Swans had quit migrating. I thought they spent the whole year on the Red Rock Lakes, where they are protected."
“我以為號(hào)手天鵝早都搬走了呢。我想他們一整年都該呆在紅石湖才對(duì),在那里他們是受保護(hù)的。”
"Most of 'em do," replied Sam. "But not all of 'em."
“他們多數(shù)都是如此,”薩姆回答,“但不全是這樣。”
It was bedtime. Sam got out his diary. This is what he wrote:
到睡覺的時(shí)候了。薩姆拿出他的日記本。他是這么寫的:
I heard the swans tonight.
今晚我聽到了天鵝叫。
They are headed south.
他們都往南飛去了。
It must be wonderful to fly at night.
在夜里飛翔的感覺一定很奇妙。
I wonder whether I'll ever see one of them again.
我不知道以后是否還能再見到他們中的一個(gè)。
How does a bird know how to get from where he is to where he wants to be?
一只鳥兒怎么知道如何從他所在的地方飛到他想去的地方呢?