四签名 47木桶的插曲（9）

We had during this time been following the guidance of Toby down the half-rural villa-lined roads which lead to the metropolis¹.

我们跟随着透比到达了通往伦敦市区的路上，两旁是半村舍式的别墅，

Now, however, we were beginning to come among continuous streets,

已经临近了人烟稠密的大街。

where labourers and dockmen were already astir,

劳动的人和码头工人正在起床，

and slatternly women were taking down shutters² and brushing door-steps.

家庭妇女们正在开门打扫门阶。

At the square-topped corner public-houses business was just beginning,

街角上四方房顶的酒馆刚刚开始营业，

and rough-looking men were emerging, rubbing their sleeves across their beards after their morning wet.

粗壮的汉子们从酒馆里出来，用他们的袖子擦去胡子上沾的酒。

Strange dogs sauntered up and stared wonderingly at us as we passed,

野犬在街头张大了眼睛望着我们，

but our inimitable Toby looked neither to the right nor to the left

可是我们忠心无比的透比，毫不左瞻右顾，

but trotted³ onward⁴ with his nose to the ground and an occasional eager whine⁵ which spoke⁶ of a hot scent⁷.

鼻子冲着地，一直往前，偶尔从鼻子里发出一阵急切的叫声，说明所循的气味仍很浓厚。

We had traversed Streatham, Brixton, Camberwell,

我们经过了斯特莱塞姆区，布瑞克斯吞区，坎伯韦尔区，

and now found ourselves in Kennington Lane,

绕过了许多条小衖，

having borne away through the side streets to the east of the Oval.

一直走到奥弗尔区的东面才到达了肯宁顿路。

The men whom we pursued seemed to have taken a curiously⁸ zigzag⁹ road,

我们所追寻的人仿佛是专走弯曲的路，

with the idea probably of escaping observation.

也许是故意避免被人跟踪，

They had never kept to the main road if a parallel side street would serve their turn.

只要有曲折前行的小路，他们就避开正路。

At the foot of Kennington Lane they had edged away to the left through Bond Street and Miles Street.

从肯宁顿路的尽头，他们转向左行，经过证券街，麦尔斯路

Where the latter street turns into Knight's Place,

到达了骑士街。

Toby ceased to advance but began to run backward and forward with one ear cocked and the other drooping¹⁰,

透比忽然不再往前走了，只是来回乱跑，一只耳朵下垂，一只耳朵竖立，

the very picture of canine¹¹ indecision.

似乎在迟疑不决。

Then he waddled¹² round in circles, looking up to us from time to time, as if to ask for sympathy in his embarrassment¹³.

后来又打了几个转，抬起头来，似乎向我们请示。

"What the deuce is the matter with the dog?" growled¹⁴ Holmes.

福尔摩斯呵叱道："这只狗是怎么回事？

"They surely would not take a cab or go off in a balloon."

罪犯们不会上车的，也不会乘上气球逃跑。"

"Perhaps they stood here for some time," I suggested.

我建议道："他们可能在这里停过一回儿。"

"Ah! it's all right. He's off again," said my companion in a tone of relief.

我的伙伴心安了，他道："啊！好了，它又走啦。"

He was indeed off, for after sniffing¹⁵ round again

狗确是重新前进了。

he suddenly made up his mind and darted¹⁶ away with an energy and determination such as he had not yet shown.

它往四下里又闻了一阵之后，似乎是突然间下了决心，以前所未有的力量和决心飞跑起来。

The scent appeared to be much hotter than before,

这气味似乎较前更重了，

for he had not even to put his nose on the ground but tugged¹⁷ at his leash¹⁸ and tried to break into a run.

因为它已不需要鼻子着地，而使劲牵直了绳子往前奔跑。

I could see by the gleam in Holmes's eyes that he thought we were nearing the end of our journey.

福尔摩斯两眼发亮，似乎觉得已经快到匪穴了。

Our course now ran down Nine Elms until we came to Broderick and Nelson's large timber-yard just past the White Eagle tavern¹⁹.

我们经过九榆树到了白鹰酒店附近的布罗德里克和纳尔逊大木场。

Here the dog, frantic²⁰ with excitement,

这只狗兴奋而紧张，

turned down through the side gate into the enclosure, where the sawyers were already at work.

从旁门跑进了锯木工人已经上工的木场，

On the dog raced through sawdust and shavings,

它继续穿过成堆的锯末和刨花，

down an alley²¹, round a passage, between two wood-piles,

在两旁堆积木材的小路上跑着，

and finally, with a triumphant²² yelp²³, sprang upon a large barrel which still stood upon the hand-trolley²⁴ on which it had been brought.

最后很得意地叫着跳上了还在手车上没有卸下来的一只木桶上面。

With lolling tongue and blinking eyes Toby stood upon the cask,

透比伸着舌头，眼睛眨巴着站在木桶上，

looking from one to the other of us for some sign of appreciation²⁵.

望着我们两人表示得意。

The staves of the barrel and the wheels of the trolley were smeared²⁶ with a dark liquid,

桶边和手车的轮上都沾满了黑色的油渍，

and the whole air was heavy with the smell of creosote.

空气中有浓重的木馏油气味。

Sherlock Holmes and I looked blankly at each other

歇洛克·福尔摩斯和我面面相觑，

and then burst simultaneously²⁷ into an uncontrollable fit of laughter.

不觉同时仰天大笑起来

1 metropolis   

n.首府；大城市

参考例句：

• Shanghai is a metropolis in China.上海是中国的大都市。
• He was dazzled by the gaiety and splendour of the metropolis.大都市的花花世界使他感到眼花缭乱。

2 shutters   

百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门

参考例句：

• The shop-front is fitted with rolling shutters. 那商店的店门装有卷门。
• The shutters thumped the wall in the wind. 在风中百叶窗砰砰地碰在墙上。

3 trotted   

小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走

参考例句：

• She trotted her pony around the field. 她骑着小马绕场慢跑。
• Anne trotted obediently beside her mother. 安妮听话地跟在妈妈身边走。

4 onward   

adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先

参考例句：

• The Yellow River surges onward like ten thousand horses galloping.黄河以万马奔腾之势滚滚向前。
• He followed in the steps of forerunners and marched onward.他跟随着先辈的足迹前进。

5 whine   

v.哀号，号哭；n.哀鸣

参考例句：

• You are getting paid to think,not to whine.支付给你工资是让你思考而不是哀怨的。
• The bullet hit a rock and rocketed with a sharp whine.子弹打在一块岩石上，一声尖厉的呼啸，跳飞开去。

6 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

7 scent   

n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉

参考例句：

• The air was filled with the scent of lilac.空气中弥漫着丁香花的芬芳。
• The flowers give off a heady scent at night.这些花晚上散发出醉人的芳香。

8 curiously   

adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地

参考例句：

• He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
• He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。

9 zigzag   

n.曲折，之字形；adj.曲折的，锯齿形的；adv.曲折地，成锯齿形地；vt.使曲折；vi.曲折前行

参考例句：

• The lightning made a zigzag in the sky.闪电在天空划出一道Z字形。
• The path runs zigzag up the hill.小径向山顶蜿蜒盘旋。

10 drooping   

adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词

参考例句：

• The drooping willows are waving gently in the morning breeze. 晨风中垂柳袅袅。
• The branches of the drooping willows were swaying lightly. 垂柳轻飘飘地摆动。

11 canine   

adj.犬的，犬科的

参考例句：

• The fox is a canine animal.狐狸是犬科动物。
• Herbivorous animals have very small canine teeth,or none.食草动物的犬牙很小或者没有。

12 waddled   

v.（像鸭子一样）摇摇摆摆地走( waddle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• A family of ducks waddled along the river bank. 一群鸭子沿河岸摇摇摆摆地走。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The stout old man waddled across the road. 那肥胖的老人一跩一跩地穿过马路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

13 embarrassment   

n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫

参考例句：

• She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。
• Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。

14 growled   

v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说

参考例句：

• \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道：“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 sniffing   

n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说

参考例句：

• We all had colds and couldn't stop sniffing and sneezing. 我们都感冒了，一个劲地抽鼻子，打喷嚏。
• They all had colds and were sniffing and sneezing. 他们都伤风了，呼呼喘气而且打喷嚏。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

16 darted   

v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔

参考例句：

• The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了，瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 tugged   

v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She tugged at his sleeve to get his attention. 她拽了拽他的袖子引起他的注意。
• A wry smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. 他的嘴角带一丝苦笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 leash   

n.牵狗的皮带，束缚；v.用皮带系住

参考例句：

• I reached for the leash,but the dog got in between.我伸手去拿系狗绳，但被狗挡住了路。
• The dog strains at the leash,eager to be off.狗拼命地扯拉皮带，想挣脱开去。

19 tavern   

n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店

参考例句：

• There is a tavern at the corner of the street.街道的拐角处有一家酒馆。
• Philip always went to the tavern,with a sense of pleasure.菲利浦总是心情愉快地来到这家酒菜馆。

20 frantic   

adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的

参考例句：

• I've had a frantic rush to get my work done.我急急忙忙地赶完工作。
• He made frantic dash for the departing train.他发疯似地冲向正开出的火车。

21 alley   

n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路

参考例句：

• We live in the same alley.我们住在同一条小巷里。
• The blind alley ended in a brick wall.这条死胡同的尽头是砖墙。

22 triumphant   

adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的

参考例句：

• The army made a triumphant entry into the enemy's capital.部队胜利地进入了敌方首都。
• There was a positively triumphant note in her voice.她的声音里带有一种极为得意的语气。

23 yelp   

vi.狗吠

参考例句：

• The dog gave a yelp of pain.狗疼得叫了一声。
• The puppy a yelp when John stepped on her tail.当约翰踩到小狗的尾巴，小狗发出尖叫。

24 trolley   

n.手推车，台车；无轨电车；有轨电车

参考例句：

• The waiter had brought the sweet trolley.侍者已经推来了甜食推车。
• In a library,books are moved on a trolley.在图书馆，书籍是放在台车上搬动的。

25 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

26 smeared   

弄脏； 玷污； 涂抹； 擦上

参考例句：

• The children had smeared mud on the walls. 那几个孩子往墙上抹了泥巴。
• A few words were smeared. 有写字被涂模糊了。

27 simultaneously   

adv.同时发生地，同时进行地

参考例句：

• The radar beam can track a number of targets almost simultaneously.雷达波几乎可以同时追着多个目标。
• The Windows allow a computer user to execute multiple programs simultaneously.Windows允许计算机用户同时运行多个程序。