Up to that time the mails between the east and west coasts of our country were months on the way. 到那时为止，美国东西海岸之间的邮件已经在路上数月了。

　　It had become important that the time should be made shorter. 缩短时间变得很重要。

　　Russell, Majors and Waddell had agreed to carry the mails west from St. Joseph. 拉塞尔、梅杰斯和瓦德尔已经同意把这些邮件从圣约瑟夫送到西部。

　　Hundreds of fleet horses were purchased and distributed in strong corrals placed every ten or fifteen miles along the trail to California, each corral in charge of two or three men. 他们购买了数百匹快马，并将其分装在结实的畜栏里，这些畜栏每隔10或15英里分布在通往加利福尼亚的小径，每两到三个人负责一个畜栏。

　　From among the most skillful plainsmen, scouts, and Indian fighters riders had been chosen for these animals. 为这些马儿从最熟练的便衣、侦察兵和印第安战士中选出了骑手。

　　Each man was given a stretch of the road about sixty miles long. 每位起手都有一段大约六十英里长的路。

　　Receiving the mail pouch, containing no more than ten pounds of letters, each rider was expected to gallop away to the next relay station and then turn it over to the next rider. 每位骑手收到邮袋（包括不超过10磅的信件）后，都应跑到下一个中继站，然后把邮袋交给下一个骑手。

　　At each corral he passed, the rider leaped from his horse, pouch in hand, sprang upon the back of another horse already saddled and in waiting, and was off as bard as he could go. 每经过一个畜栏，骑士就从马上跳下来，手里拿着兜袋，跳到另一匹已经备好了鞍的马背上，用力快跑。

　　There was no time for more than "Hello" and "Good-by," or perhaps a brief warning that the Indians were coming; 没有时间说“你好”或“再见”，也许只来得及说一下印第安人的简短警告；

　　the regular schedule of nine days between St. Joseph and the western coast had to be kept. 圣约瑟夫和西海岸之间九天的正常行程必须遵守。

　　Night and day, rain or shine, the mails must go through as nearly on time as possible. 无论白天还是黑夜，无论晴雨，邮件都必须尽可能准时送达。

　　The half-dozen men who had gathered with Majors in his office on this day were there to find out which of them should have the honor of carrying the first pouch of mail on the first relay to the West. 那天和梅杰斯一起聚集在他的办公室里的那六个人，是来看看他们中谁有资格给西方运送第一批邮件。

　　Majors set his hat upon the table upside down. 梅杰斯把帽子倒放在桌子上。