美国小学英语教材5:第21课 邮件必须送达(3)

 　　"Boys," he said solemnly, "it is a great thing we are undertaking¹ this day. “小伙子们，”他郑重地说，“这是我们今天要做的一件大事。

　　Our government has entrusted² to us the safe carrying and delivery of its mails. 我国政府已委托我们安全运送政府邮件。

　　I have only this to say to you: Come what may, the mail must go through. 我只想和你们说：无论发生什么事，邮件都必须送达。

　　In my hat I am placing a slip of paper for each of you. 在我的帽子里，我为你们每个人放了一张纸条。

　　Upon one of the slips I have marked a cross in pencil. 在其中一张纸条上，我用铅笔画了一个十字。

　　He who draws the cross shall carry the first pouch³. Draw!" 抽到画十字的将会运送这第一批邮件。大家请抽吧！”

　　Eagerly they crowded around him and drew. 他们急切地围着他，开始抽签。

　　"I've got it," yelled Johnny Frye joyfully⁴. “我抽到了，” 约翰尼·弗莱高兴地喊道。

　　One after another, his fellows stepped up to shake his hand and wish him luck, in spite of their own disappointment. 同伴们一个接一个地走上前和他握手，并祝他好运，尽管他们自己也很失望。

　　"Now for the horse that shall bear you," said Majors. “现在去找一匹将要驮你的马儿吧，” 梅杰斯说道。

　　"You shall have your pick from the corral. William!" “你可以从畜栏里挑一匹你中意的。威廉！”

　　Out from the corner where he had been an interested listener, William Saunders, a sturdy boy of sixteen, approached his employer. 16岁的威廉·桑德斯是一个健壮的男孩，之前一直在饶有兴趣地听着，现在他从角落里走出来，走向他的雇主。

　　His blue eyes glowed with excitement. 他的蓝眼睛因兴奋而发亮。

　　Through his veins⁵ the blood was racing⁶ madly with the thrill of knowing that he had a part, small as it was, in this great day. 他的血管里涌动着热血，因为他知道在这个伟大的日子里，他承担着一个小小的角色，这让他激动不已。

　　He held his head high; 他高昂着头；

　　he had been employed by Russell, Majors and Waddell to take charge of the horses kept ready for the riders of the Pony⁷ Express between St.Joseph and the first relay station on the long trail westward⁸. 他曾受雇于拉塞尔、梅杰斯和瓦德尔，负责为圣约瑟夫和西行漫长路线上的第一个中转站之间的“快马邮递”的骑手们准备好马匹。

　　"William," Majors ordered, "take Johnny Frye to the corral and let him look over the ponies⁹. “威廉，”梅杰斯命令道，“带约翰尼·弗莱去畜栏，让他看看小马。

　　You will see that the one he chooses is properly groomed¹⁰, saddled, and bridled¹¹, and is on hand at the railroad station when the train from the East arrives." 你会看到他选择的马儿打扮得很好，上了鞍，上了缰绳，等火车从东方驶来的时候，就在火车站旁边。”

1 undertaking   

n.保证，许诺，事业

参考例句：

• He gave her an undertaking that he would pay the money back with in a year.他向她做了一年内还钱的保证。
• He is too timid to venture upon an undertaking.他太胆小，不敢从事任何事业。

2 entrusted   

v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He entrusted the task to his nephew. 他把这任务托付给了他的侄儿。
• She was entrusted with the direction of the project. 她受委托负责这项计划。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 pouch   

n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件

参考例句：

• He was going to make a tobacco pouch out of them. 他要用它们缝制一个烟草袋。
• The old man is always carrying a tobacco pouch with him.这老汉总是随身带着烟袋。

4 joyfully   

adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地

参考例句：

• She tripped along joyfully as if treading on air. 她高兴地走着，脚底下轻飘飘的。
• During these first weeks she slaved joyfully. 在最初的几周里，她干得很高兴。

5 veins   

n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理

参考例句：

• The blood flows from the capillaries back into the veins. 血从毛细血管流回静脉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I felt a pleasant glow in all my veins from the wine. 喝过酒后我浑身的血都热烘烘的，感到很舒服。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

7 pony   

adj.小型的；n.小马

参考例句：

• His father gave him a pony as a Christmas present.他父亲给了他一匹小马驹作为圣诞礼物。
• They made him pony up the money he owed.他们逼他还债。

8 westward   

n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西

参考例句：

• We live on the westward slope of the hill.我们住在这座山的西山坡。
• Explore westward or wherever.向西或到什么别的地方去勘探。

9 ponies   

矮种马，小型马( pony的名词复数 )； ￡25 25 英镑

参考例句：

• They drove the ponies into a corral. 他们把矮种马赶进了畜栏。
• She has a mania for ponies. 她特别喜欢小马。

10 groomed   

v.照料或梳洗（马等）( groom的过去式和过去分词 )；使做好准备；训练；（给动物）擦洗

参考例句：

• She is always perfectly groomed. 她总是打扮得干净利落。
• Duff is being groomed for the job of manager. 达夫正接受训练，准备当经理。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 bridled   

给…套龙头( bridle的过去式和过去分词 )； 控制； 昂首表示轻蔑（或怨忿等）； 动怒，生气

参考例句：

• She bridled at the suggestion that she was lying. 她对暗示她在说谎的言论嗤之以鼻。
• He bridled his horse. 他给他的马套上笼头。