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SACKING A VILLAGE
洗劫村庄
The men were untied, the boys went to bed, and the next morning all breakfasted together in the great hall.
这些人被解开了绳子，男孩们上床睡觉，第二天一起在大厅吃早餐。
When the meal was over, the chief pushed back his chair and addressed the boys.
饭后，首领推开椅子，对孩子们讲话。
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,
现在，那么我的年轻朋友们，他说，你希望我和我的人做什么呢？然后老崔克站起来说，
We boys, as I told you before, ran away from school because we are tired of the old humdrum Christmas;
正如我之前告诉过你的那样，我们这些男孩逃学是因为我们厌倦了单调乏味的圣诞节；
and nothing better could have happened to us than to get you fine fellows into our power.
在我们身上发生的最好的事情莫过于让你们这些优秀的家伙融入我们。
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;
看到你和你的团伙经历了强盗生活中所有的壮举，这将是世界上最快乐的事情；
and we would like you to begin now, and keep it up all day and tomorrow.
我们希望你现在就开始，并坚持一整天，还有明天。
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?
但是你要我们怎么办？首领有点吃惊地问道。我真希望看到你洗劫一个村庄，老崔克说。你觉得怎么样，孩子们？
The boys all declared that they thought that would do very well, to begin with. The chief turned to his lieutenant and said,
孩子们都宣称他们认为这样做很好，首先。首领转向他的副官说，
Is there any village round here that has not been recently sacked? The lieutenant thought a moment. There is Buville, he said.
这附近有没有最近没有被洗劫的村庄？副官想了一会儿。他说布维尔那里有。
We haven't been there for six months. Very good, said the captain, rising; we'll sack Buville.
我们已经六个月没去那儿了。很好，首领说，站起身来；我们要洗劫布维尔。
In a short time the robber band, followed by the eleven boys, set out for Buville, a few miles distant.
很快，强盗团伙在前面，十一个男孩在后面，向几英里外的布维尔出发了。
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,
当他们看到村子的时候，首领命令他的团伙躲到路边的树篱后面，
and thus stealthily approach the place. As soon as they were near enough, the chief gave a loud whistle,
就这样悄悄地接近这个地方。他们一靠近，首领就大声吹了一声口哨，
and the whole company rushed wildly into the main street. The robbers flashed their swords in the sunlight and brandished their spears,
整个团伙都疯狂地冲向大街。强盗们在阳光下挥舞着剑，挥舞着长矛，
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.
孩子们像许多强盗一样跳起来嚎叫。布维尔是我们的！首领喊道。胆小的村民们，出来，向我们致敬。
Come forth! yelled little Tomtit. Surrender, and pay tribute. At this the people began to flock into the street;
出来！小托米特叫道。投降，致敬。这时人们开始涌向街上；
and presently the principal man of the village appeared, carrying a sheet of paper and pen and ink. Good-morning, bold sir,
不久，村里的主要人物出现了，手里拿着一张纸，笔和墨水。早上好，大胆的先生，
he said, addressing the chief. And what is it you'll have today? Shall we begin with flour? How will two barrels do?
他对首领说。你今天吃什么？我们从面粉开始好吗？两桶怎么样？
The chief nodded, and the man wrote down on his paper two barrels of flour.
首领点点头，那人在纸上写下两桶面粉。
