But when they reached the yard, to their surprise they found every window lighted! 但当他们抵达院子时，让他们惊讶的是所有窗户都被点亮了。

A great fire, also, had been built in the fireplace, and sparks were flying from the big chimney, sprinkling the yard with ashes. 壁炉也燃起了大火，高耸的烟囱中飞扬起了火星，整个院子撒满了烟灰。

Somebody has started too big a fire, said Joseph anxiously, as he caught sight of the house. 约瑟夫一边看着房子一边焦虑地说，一定有人放了这把大火。

Oh, dear, maybe Mother has come home from her visit and will be worried because we are so late, cried Priscilla, 普丽西拉叫嚷到老天，或许妈妈已经回来了，现在一定很担心我们，因为我们回来晚了，

a little frightened. Not much chance of that, answered Joseph, who was a little ahead. 普丽西拉有些恐惧，约瑟夫说可能性不大，他向前了几步。

Look, the yard is full of horses that means soldiers. But, friends or enemies, I can't tell which. Let's creep up to the house and find out. 看，院子里都是马匹，这意味着有士兵，但是敌是友不清楚，让我们慢慢靠近房子看看清楚。

Hold your bundles of leaves in front of your face, and if anybody comes near, just stand still where you are. 把一捆捆的叶子放到脸前，如果有任何人靠近，就站在那里别动。

I'm sure we'll be safe. They'll think we're bushes or Christmas trees, perhaps. 我肯定我们会安全的，他们会认为我们是灌木或是圣诞树。

Priscilla giggled a little at that and forgot to be afraid as she crept along behind Joseph 普丽西拉冲它咯咯笑了笑，她跟在约瑟夫后面悄悄前进，她似乎忘记了害怕，

until they were near enough to see the men inside the house. 直到他们看到了房子里面的人。

THE ENEMY's PLANS ARE DISCOVERED 敌人的计划被发现了

They are British! cried Joseph as he caught sight of their red coats. What do you suppose they're doing here? 他们是英国人，约瑟夫叫嚷到，他看到了他们的红外衣，你认为他们在干嘛？

I wish I could find out. The men outdoors are of course only common soldiers, 我希望我知道，外面的人显然只是普通士兵，

and they would not know. But the leaders are probably talking over their plans in the room there by the fire. 他们肯定不知道，或许领导人在炉火旁商谈着计划。

Perhaps we can find out what they are saying if we creep around to the back of the house, suggested Priscilla. 或许我们能知道他们在说什么，如果悄悄移动到后面，普丽西拉建议到。

You know father built an extra door to the Dutch oven there to make it easier to rake out the ashes. 父亲建了一个去往荷兰烤炉的另外一扇门，这样可以方便清扫灰烬。

If you climb into the oven, you can hear everything that is said in the room. 如果你爬进烤炉里，你可以听到屋里的谈话。

Hooray! cried Joseph softly. You're a bright girl to think of a plan like that. 约瑟夫轻声细语地说很好，你真是个聪明女孩，可以想出这样的办法。

I'd forgotten all about the outside door to the oven. And he began to move quietly toward the house with Priscilla close behind him. 我完全忘记了外面还有门可以通往烤炉，他轻轻地朝小屋走去，普丽西拉紧随其后。