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SACKING A VILLAGE
洗劫村莊
The men were untied, the boys went to bed, and the next morning all breakfasted together in the great hall.
這些人被解開了繩子，男孩們上床睡覺，第二天一起在大廳吃早餐。
When the meal was over, the chief pushed back his chair and addressed the boys.
飯后，首領(lǐng)推開椅子，對孩子們講話。
Now, then, my young friends, said he, what is it that you wish me and my men to do? Then up stood Old Pluck and said,
現(xiàn)在，那么我的年輕朋友們，他說，你希望我和我的人做什么呢？然后老崔克站起來說，
We boys, as I told you before, ran away from school because we are tired of the old humdrum Christmas;
正如我之前告訴過你的那樣，我們這些男孩逃學(xué)是因?yàn)槲覀儏捑肓藛握{(diào)乏味的圣誕節(jié)；
and nothing better could have happened to us than to get you fine fellows into our power.
在我們身上發(fā)生的最好的事情莫過于讓你們這些優(yōu)秀的家伙融入我們。
It will be the jolliest thing in the world for us to see you and your band go through all the wild feats and bold exploits which belong to robber life;
看到你和你的團(tuán)伙經(jīng)歷了強(qiáng)盜生活中所有的壯舉，這將是世界上最快樂的事情；
and we would like you to begin now, and keep it up all day and tomorrow.
我們希望你現(xiàn)在就開始，并堅(jiān)持一整天，還有明天。
But what would you have us do? asked the chief, somewhat surprised. I should like to see you sack a village, said Old Pluck. How would that suit you, boys?
但是你要我們怎么辦？首領(lǐng)有點(diǎn)吃驚地問道。我真希望看到你洗劫一個村莊，老崔克說。你覺得怎么樣，孩子們？
The boys all declared that they thought that would do very well, to begin with. The chief turned to his lieutenant and said,
孩子們都宣稱他們認(rèn)為這樣做很好，首先。首領(lǐng)轉(zhuǎn)向他的副官說，
Is there any village round here that has not been recently sacked? The lieutenant thought a moment. There is Buville, he said.
這附近有沒有最近沒有被洗劫的村莊？副官想了一會兒。他說布維爾那里有。
We haven't been there for six months. Very good, said the captain, rising; we'll sack Buville.
我們已經(jīng)六個月沒去那兒了。很好，首領(lǐng)說，站起身來；我們要洗劫布維爾。
In a short time the robber band, followed by the eleven boys, set out for Buville, a few miles distant.
很快，強(qiáng)盜團(tuán)伙在前面，十一個男孩在后面，向幾英里外的布維爾出發(fā)了。
When they came within sight of the village, the chief ordered his com- pany to get behind a hedge which ran on one side of the road,
當(dāng)他們看到村子的時候，首領(lǐng)命令他的團(tuán)伙躲到路邊的樹籬后面，
and thus stealthily approach the place. As soon as they were near enough, the chief gave a loud whistle,
就這樣悄悄地接近這個地方。他們一靠近，首領(lǐng)就大聲吹了一聲口哨，
and the whole company rushed wildly into the main street. The robbers flashed their swords in the sunlight and brandished their spears,
整個團(tuán)伙都瘋狂地沖向大街。強(qiáng)盜們在陽光下?lián)]舞著劍，揮舞著長矛，
while the boys jumped and howled like so many bandits. Buville is ours! cried the chief. Come forth, ye cowardly villagers, and pay us tribute.
孩子們像許多強(qiáng)盜一樣跳起來嚎叫。布維爾是我們的！首領(lǐng)喊道。膽小的村民們，出來，向我們致敬。
Come forth! yelled little Tomtit. Surrender, and pay tribute. At this the people began to flock into the street;
出來！小托米特叫道。投降，致敬。這時人們開始涌向街上；
and presently the principal man of the village appeared, carrying a sheet of paper and pen and ink. Good-morning, bold sir,
不久，村里的主要人物出現(xiàn)了，手里拿著一張紙，筆和墨水。早上好，大膽的先生，
he said, addressing the chief. And what is it you'll have today? Shall we begin with flour? How will two barrels do?
他對首領(lǐng)說。你今天吃什么？我們從面粉開始好嗎？兩桶怎么樣？
The chief nodded, and the man wrote down on his paper two barrels of flour.
首領(lǐng)點(diǎn)點(diǎn)頭，那人在紙上寫下兩桶面粉。
