绿野仙踪 第44期:惊险的旅程(5)

 "I'm not surprised that you are," returned Dorothy. “你害怕它们也不奇怪，”多萝茜回答说，

"They must be dreadful beasts." “它们一定是非常可怕的野兽。”

The Lion was about to reply when suddenly they came to another gulf¹ across the road. 狮子正想回答时，他们突然走到了另外一条深沟边上。

But this one was so broad and deep that the Lion knew at once he could not leap across it. 这一条更宽更深，狮子立刻意识到它跳不过去。

So they sat down to consider what they should do, and after serious thought the Scarecrow said: 他们就坐下来考虑应该怎么办，经过一番认真思考后，稻草人说：

"Here is a great tree, standing² close to the ditch. “这儿有一棵大树，挺立在壕沟旁。

If the Tin Woodman can chop it down, so that it will fall to the other side, we can walk across it easily." 假如铁皮人能够砍倒它，使它横倒向那一边，这样我们就能够很容易地走过去了。”

"That is a first-rate idea," said the Lion. “这是一个绝妙的想法，”狮子说。

"One would almost suspect you had brains in your head, instead of straw." “我都要怀疑你是有脑子的，而不是一堆稻草。”

The Woodman set to work at once, and so sharp was his axe³ that the tree was soon chopped nearly through. 铁皮人马上开始工作起来，他的斧头很锋利，没要多久树就快要倒下去了。

Then the Lion put his strong front legs against the tree and pushed with all his might,  于是狮子就用它强劲的前腿抵住了树干，用尽力气推着它。

and slowly the big tree tipped and fell with a crash across the ditch, with its top branches on the other side. 这株大树逐渐倾斜着，砰的一声，就横着倒躺在壕沟上面，树顶落到壕沟的另一边。

They had just started to cross this queer bridge when a sharp growl⁴ made them all look up,  他们正准备跨过这座大树搭成的桥时，突然听到一声尖锐的咆哮，他们向后看时，

and to their horror they saw running toward them two great beasts with bodies like bears and heads like tigers. 只见两只头像老虎身体像熊的大兽朝他们奔来，他们害怕到了极点。

"They are the Kalidahs!" said the Cowardly Lion, beginning to tremble. “它们就是开力大！”胆小的狮子说着，浑身哆嗦起来。

"Quick!" cried the Scarecrow. "Let us cross over." “快！”稻草人高声喊着，“我们快点跨过去。”

1 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 axe   

n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减

参考例句：

• Be careful with that sharp axe.那把斧子很锋利，你要当心。
• The edge of this axe has turned.这把斧子卷了刃了。

4 growl   

v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣

参考例句：

• The dog was biting,growling and wagging its tail.那条狗在一边撕咬一边低声吼叫，尾巴也跟着摇摆。
• The car growls along rutted streets.汽车在车辙纵横的街上一路轰鸣。