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Panic clutched at him as he climbed back into the saddle.
威廉爬上馬鞍時變得驚慌失措。
Unless the pony's sense of direction came to their rescue, they were lost.
除非小馬的方向感來拯救他們，否則他們就會迷路。
He loosened the reins, and the pony whirled around and plodded off in another direction.
他松開韁繩，那匹小馬轉過身，邁著沉重的步子朝另一個方向走去。
Two hours later the patient animal began to show signs of renewed life;
兩個小時后，這只耐心的動物開始顯示出新生的跡象；
his head came up, his ears went forward, and he began to whinny.
他抬起頭來，耳朵向前伸著，開始嗚咽。
From somewhere ahead came an answering whinny, a fence loomed up out of the darkness and, following it around, they came to the cabin of the remount station.
前面不知從什么地方傳來了一聲嗚嗚聲，從黑暗中隱約出現了一道柵欄，他們跟著柵欄來到了換馬站的小木屋。
Fifteen minutes later, warmed by the hot coffee he had found ready and with a fresh horse under him.
十五分鐘后，他發現已經準備好了一杯熱咖啡，腳下是一匹嶄新的馬，熱得渾身暖烘烘的。
William was off for the relay station a dozen miles away.
威廉出發去十多英里外的中繼站。
Before his eyes rose visions of hot food, a roaring fire in a big stove, and a warm bunk when he should have turned over the mail to the rider of the final relay into St. Joseph, fifty-odd miles away.
在他眼前出現了熱乎乎的食物，一個大火爐里熊熊燃燒的火焰，還有一個溫暖的鋪位，他本應該把郵件交給在五十多英里以外的圣約瑟夫接力的騎手的。
“Bless me,”yelled the man at the relay station.
“上帝保佑我，”中繼站的那個人喊道。
“It's William Saunders.
“這是威廉·桑德斯。
Where did you drop from, boy?
你從哪里來的，小子?
Thought you were headed west with the supply train.”
我還以為你是跟著補給隊往西走呢。”
Briefly, William explained, as he took off his coat and gloves, and warmed himself at the fire.
威廉脫下外套和手套，在爐火旁取暖，簡短地解釋道。
“Where's the other rider?” the boy demanded.
“另一個騎手在哪里?”男孩問。
“He ought to be starting now with the pouch.”
“他現在應該拿著郵袋。”
The man's face grew grave.
那人的臉變得嚴肅起來。
“He got in about an hour ago, all worn out from facing the storm,” he said.
“他大約一小時前才進來，因為要面對暴風雨，他已經筋疲力盡了，”他說。
“He's in a bunk in the other room dead to the world.”
“他睡在另一個房間的鋪位上，對世界毫無知覺。”
“Wake him,” ordered William.
“搖醒他，” 威廉命令道。
“The mail must go through.”
“郵件必須送達。”
But the Express rider could not be aroused.
但是騎手卻沒有被喚醒。
He made a brave effort to get up, fell back, and was sound asleep again instantly.
他勇敢地站了起來，向后一倒，立刻又睡得很熟。
Wearily William began to pull on his outer clothing again.
威廉疲倦地又開始穿上外衣。
