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"We cannot be far from the road of yellow brick, now," remarked the Scarecrow, as he stood beside the girl, "for we have come nearly as far as the river carried us away."
稻草人站在女孩子旁边说：“现在我们离那黄砖路已经很近了，因为我们差不多已经走到了被流水带走时的地方了。”
The Tin Woodman was about to reply when he heard a low growl, and turning his head (which worked beautifully on hinges) he saw a strange beast come bounding over the grass toward them.
铁皮人正要回答，不远处传来的一种低低的吼声使他转过头去（他那些铰链做得很精致的），看见一只奇异的野兽，跳过草地朝他奔来。
It was, indeed, a great yellow Wildcat, and the Woodman thought it must be chasing something,
的确，是一只黄色的大野猫，铁皮人想道，它想必在追捕什么东西；
for its ears were lying close to its head and its mouth was wide open, showing two rows of ugly teeth, while its red eyes glowed like balls of fire.
因为它的一双耳朵靠紧在头旁边，嘴大大地张开，露出两排可怕的牙齿，一双通红的眼睛，像火球样地发出熠熠的光来。
As it came nearer the Tin Woodman saw that running before the beast was a little gray field mouse, and although he had no heart he knew it was wrong for the Wildcat to try to kill such a pretty, harmless creature.
当它跑近来时，铁皮人发现它在追赶一只灰色的小田鼠，虽然他没有心，但是他也知道，野猫想要杀死这样一只无害的小动物，这是不仁慈的。
So the Woodman raised his axe, and as the Wildcat ran by he gave it a quick blow that cut the beast's head clean off from its body, and it rolled over at his feet in two pieces.
铁皮人举起斧头，朝那狂奔的野猫很快地一劈，那只野兽的头迅速地离开了它的身体，四脚乱踢开去，分成了两块。
The field mouse, now that it was freed from its enemy, stopped short; and coming slowly up to the Woodman it said, in a squeaky little voice:
现在，田鼠逃脱了追捕，停止了奔跑；缓缓地走到铁皮人的身边，用一种近乎耳语的声音啼着说：
"Oh, thank you! Thank you ever so much for saving my life."
“啊，谢谢你！多谢你救了我的性命。”
"Don't speak of it, I beg of you," replied the Woodman.
“请不要这么说，”铁皮人回答说。
"I have no heart, you know, so I am careful to help all those who may need a friend, even if it happens to be only a mouse."
“你不知道我是没有心的，因此我竭尽全力帮助那些遇到灾难的朋友，哪怕是帮助一只小老鼠。”
"Only a mouse!" cried the little animal, indignantly. "Why, I am a Queen-the Queen of all the Field Mice!"
“仅仅是一只小老鼠！”小动物愤愤地叫喊着；“你要知道！我是一个皇后—是一切田鼠们的皇后！”
"Oh, indeed." said the Woodman, making a bow.
“失敬了！”铁皮人说着向它鞠了一个躬。
"Therefore you have done a great deed, as well as a brave one, in saving my life." added the Queen.
“你救了我的性命，不但是一件大事情，而且是非常勇敢的事情。”田鼠皇后接着说。
At that moment several mice were seen running up as fast as their little legs could carry them, and when they saw their Queen they exclaimed:
在这时候，好几只田鼠气喘吁吁地跑过来，当它们发现了皇后，喊着：
"Oh, your Majesty, we thought you would be killed! How did you manage to escape the great Wildcat?"
“啊，尊敬的皇后，我们以为你被猫抓去了！你怎样能够从那只大野兽爪子下逃生的！”
They all bowed so low to the little Queen that they almost stood upon their heads.
它们一齐向小皇后低低地鞠躬，看上去差不多用头抵在地面上了。
"This funny Tin man," she answered, "killed the Wildcat and saved my life. So hereafter you must all serve him, and obey his slightest wish."
“这一位好心肠的铁皮人，”它回答说，“杀了野猫，救了我的性命。所以你们要尊敬他，服从他所说的每一句话。”
"We will!" cried all the mice, in a shrill chorus.
“我们一定听从！”小田鼠们异口同声地叫了出来。
And then they scampered in all directions, for Toto had awakened from his sleep,
随后它们猛然四处逃散了，因为托托睡醒了，
and seeing all these mice around him he gave one bark of delight and jumped right into the middle of the group.
看见成群的田鼠还围在它的四周，它发出一阵喜悦的吠声，跳进这一群的里头去。
Toto had always loved to chase mice when he lived in Kansas, and he saw no harm in it.
当托托住在堪萨斯州的时候，就喜欢追逐老鼠们，它感到其乐无穷。
But the Tin Woodman caught the dog in his arms and held him tight, while he called to the mice, "Come back! Come back! Toto shall not hurt you."
但是铁皮人却把狗捉住，紧紧地挟在他的臂弯里，招呼着田鼠们，“回来吧！回来吧！托托不会咬你们的。”
At this the Queen of the Mice stuck her head out from underneath a clump of grass and asked, in a timid voice,
田鼠皇后从下面的草丛中抬起它的头来，用一种胆怯的声音问道：
"Are you sure he will not bite us?"
“你能保证我们的安全吗？”
"I will not let him," said the Woodman; "so do not be afraid."
铁皮人说：“我抓着它，你们就不用担心了。”
