Their house was in a lonely place, half a mile from the village, and of course they expected to find it dark and deserted.
他們住的房屋很偏遠,距離村莊有0.5英里,
But when they reached the yard, to their surprise they found every window lighted!
但當他們抵達院子時,讓他們驚訝的是所有窗戶都被點亮了。
A great fire, also, had been built in the fireplace, and sparks were flying from the big chimney, sprinkling the yard with ashes.
壁爐也燃起了大火,高聳的煙囪中飛揚起了火星,整個院子撒滿了煙灰。
Somebody has started too big a fire, said Joseph anxiously, as he caught sight of the house.
約瑟夫一邊看著房子一邊焦慮地說,一定有人放了這把大火。
Oh, dear, maybe Mother has come home from her visit and will be worried because we are so late, cried Priscilla,
普麗西拉叫嚷到老天,或許媽媽已經回來了,現在一定很擔心我們,因為我們回來晚了,
a little frightened. Not much chance of that, answered Joseph, who was a little ahead.
普麗西拉有些恐懼,約瑟夫說可能性不大,他向前了幾步。
Look, the yard is full of horses that means soldiers. But, friends or enemies, I can't tell which. Let's creep up to the house and find out.
看,院子里都是馬匹,這意味著有士兵,但是敵是友不清楚,讓我們慢慢靠近房子看看清楚。
Hold your bundles of leaves in front of your face, and if anybody comes near, just stand still where you are.
把一捆捆的葉子放到臉前,如果有任何人靠近,就站在那里別動。
I'm sure we'll be safe. They'll think we're bushes or Christmas trees, perhaps.
我肯定我們會安全的,他們會認為我們是灌木或是圣誕樹。
Priscilla giggled a little at that and forgot to be afraid as she crept along behind Joseph
普麗西拉沖它咯咯笑了笑,她跟在約瑟夫后面悄悄前進,她似乎忘記了害怕,
until they were near enough to see the men inside the house.
直到他們看到了房子里面的人。
THE ENEMY's PLANS ARE DISCOVERED
敵人的計劃被發現了
They are British! cried Joseph as he caught sight of their red coats. What do you suppose they're doing here?
他們是英國人,約瑟夫叫嚷到,他看到了他們的紅外衣,你認為他們在干嘛?
I wish I could find out. The men outdoors are of course only common soldiers,
我希望我知道,外面的人顯然只是普通士兵,
and they would not know. But the leaders are probably talking over their plans in the room there by the fire.
他們肯定不知道,或許領導人在爐火旁商談著計劃。
Perhaps we can find out what they are saying if we creep around to the back of the house, suggested Priscilla.
或許我們能知道他們在說什么,如果悄悄移動到后面,普麗西拉建議到。
You know father built an extra door to the Dutch oven there to make it easier to rake out the ashes.
父親建了一個去往荷蘭烤爐的另外一扇門,這樣可以方便清掃灰燼。
If you climb into the oven, you can hear everything that is said in the room.
如果你爬進烤爐里,你可以聽到屋里的談話。
Hooray! cried Joseph softly. You're a bright girl to think of a plan like that.
約瑟夫輕聲細語地說很好,你真是個聰明女孩,可以想出這樣的辦法。
I'd forgotten all about the outside door to the oven. And he began to move quietly toward the house with Priscilla close behind him.
我完全忘記了外面還有門可以通往烤爐,他輕輕地朝小屋走去,普麗西拉緊隨其后。