Here, had the regulations of the chase been observed, they would have been quietly checked and turned back by the advance of a hunter from among the trees; unluckily, however, we had our wild-fire, Jack-o'-lantern, little Frenchman to deal with. Instead of keeping quietly up the right side of the valley, to get above the horses, the moment he saw them move toward the river he broke out of the covert of woods, and dashed furiously across the plain in pursuit of them. This put an end to all system. The half-breeds and half a score of rangers joined in the chase.
在这里，和先前一样，猎人从树林中现身时，它们就会马上回头逃走；但是我们有一个叫野火的法国人会拦住它们的去路。野火看见它们沿着河边走时，不是悄悄地来到山谷的右侧以追赶它们，而是从树林隐蔽处冲出，疯狂地在大平原上追赶它们。这完全破坏了我们的计划。混血儿安托万和五六个骑兵也只好跟着追赶。
Away they all went over the green bank. In a moment or two the wild horses reappeared, and came thundering down the valley, with Frenchman, half-breeds, and rangers galloping and bellowing behind them. It was in vain that the line drawn across the valley attempted to check and turn back the fugitives—they were too hotly pressed by their pursuers; in their panic they dashed through the line, and clattered down the plain.
它们跑出了很远，越过了苍翠的河岸。不一会儿，野马重新出现，冲下山谷，野火，安托万和骑兵们在其后大声喊叫，紧追不舍。穿越山谷埋伏的那队人白费了功夫，他们没有等到野马并将它们往回赶——野马被追得太急；慌乱之中他们越过了防线，直向山谷冲下来。
The whole troop joined in the headlong chase; some of the rangers without hats or caps, their hair flying about their ears; and others with handkerchiefs tied round their heads. The buffaloes, which had been calmly ruminating among the herbage, heaved up their huge forms, gazed for a moment at the tempest that came scouring down the meadow, then turned and took to heavy rolling flight. They were soon overtaken. The promiscuous masses were pressed together by the contracting sides of the valley, and away they went, pell mell, hurry skurry, wild buffalo, wild horse, wild huntsman, with clang and clatter, and whoop and halloo, that made the forests ring.
所有人都加入了这场追逐中；有些骑兵的帽子跑掉了，留下长发在耳旁飘荡；其他的人则用手帕绑在头上。正在安详吃草的水牛们都抬起了头，看着俯冲下来的野马和追兵，然后转过头，慌忙逃走了。很快，水牛就被追上来。两翼的队伍冲出来，夹击混乱奔逃的野马。越追越混乱，野马，野牛和狂野的猎人混在了一起，混杂着叮叮当当和高声大喊怒吼的声音，声音响彻树林。
评论
打印
