英國語文第四冊(雙語):勇敢的女人們(2)
These brave women, being in the habit of fetching the water every morning,
這些勇敢的女性習(xí)慣于每天早上去取水，
saw that if armed men were now to take that duty upon them,
如果看到武裝分子對她們進行盤查，
the Indians would perceive that their ambuscade had been discovered, and would instantly commence the assault.
印第安人會認為他們的伏擊被發(fā)現(xiàn)了，就會立即開始反擊。
Morning came, and the random shots of the decoy-party were returned with a quick fire from one side of the fort,
天亮了，誘餌小隊的胡亂射擊從要塞的一邊引回一段快速的火力，
while the women issued from the other, as if they expected no enemy in that quarter.
女人們從另一側(cè)開槍，好像她們知道，這一片沒有敵人。
Could anything be more appalling than the task before them?
有什么比她們眼前的任務(wù)更令人震驚的嗎？
But they shrink not from it; they move carelessly from the gate;
但是，她們并未因此而退縮；她們從門口漫不經(jīng)心地挪動，
they advance with composure in a body to the spring; they are within shot of five hundred warriors!
鎮(zhèn)靜地前行，來到泉邊。她們在五百名戰(zhàn)士的射擊范圍內(nèi)！
The slightest alarm will betray them. If they show that they are aware of their thrilling situation, their doom is inevitable.
最輕微的動靜都將暴露行跡。如果她們表現(xiàn)出自己意識到所處的驚心動魄的處境，那么她們的厄運是不可避免的。
But their nerves do not shrink; they wait calmly for each other, till each fills her bucket in succession.
但是，她們并未退縮；她們平靜地等待，直到每個人都相繼填滿自己的水桶。
The Indians are completely deceived, and not a shot is fired.
印第安人完全上當了，一槍也沒開。
The band of heroines retrace their steps with steady feet;
這幫女英雄用堅定的步伐追隨他們的腳步；
their movements soon become more agitated, and are at last hurried.
她們的動作很快變得更加激動不安，最后匆忙起來。
But tradition says that the only water spilt was as their buckets crowded together in passing the gate.
但一直以來的說法是，只在她們跨過大門時，水桶擠在一起時才濺出來一些水。
A sheet of living fire from the garrison, and the shrieks of the wounded Indians around the spring,
成片的戰(zhàn)火覆蓋著駐軍，受傷的印第安人的尖叫聲，環(huán)繞著這個泉水，
at once proclaimed the safety of the women and the triumph of the white men.
頓時宣告出女性的安全和白人的勝利。
Insane with wrath to be thus outwitted, the foe rushed from his covert,
瘋狂的憤怒無可抑制，敵人沖出藏身處所，
and advanced with fury upon the rifles of the pioneers.
面對先行者的槍支，滿懷憤怒前行。
But who could conquer the fathers and brothers of such women?
但是，誰能戰(zhàn)勝這樣的女性的父親和兄弟呢？
The Indians renewed the attack again and again;
印第安人一次又一次地發(fā)動進攻，
but they were foiled every time, and at last withdrew their forces.
但是他們每次都失敗，最后撤回了他們的兵力。
