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杨柳风 08

时间:2009-11-26 05:30:17

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(单词翻译)

Chapter Eight Toad1’s Great Escape

When Toad realized that he was a prisoner2 in this terrible jail3, he lay down on the floor and cried for a long time. He wouldn’t see the sunlight4 for twenty years. He felt awful.

“How stupid and foolish I was!” he said. “Now the popular and handsome Toad will have to stay in this prison for ever. Everyone will forget about me. I was wrong to steal that car. Oh, if only I had listened to Rat, Mole5 and the wise old Badger6.”

Toad talked to himself in this way for a few weeks. He didn’t sleep and hardly ate anything.

Only one man worked at this jail. He brought the prisoners7 their food and drink. This man had a daughter. She helped her father with his work. This girl was very kind and she loved animals. She kept a bird in a cage and some other small pets.

One day she said to her father, “father, I feel so sorry for that poor Toad. He’s so unhappy and he’s getting so thin. Won’t you let me go and talk to him?”

The jailor didn’t like Toad very much because he was so rich. He told his daughter that she could do what she wanted. So the daughter went to visit Toad that same day.

When she entered his room, Toad was lying on his bed. He was staring at the wall and talking to himself.

“Now, cheer up, Toad.” she said. “Get out of bed and be a reasonable animal. Try to eat some dinner. See, I’ve brought you some of mine. It’s hot from the oven8.”

But Toad only cried and kicked his legs. The wise girl left him for a while, but she left the food there.

Toad lay there and smelled the delicious food. He began to think that maybe things weren’t so bad. Maybe his friends could do something to help him. Perhaps he could find some lawyers. By the time that the girl returned Toad was feeling much better. The food helped of course.

After a couple of hours the girl brought Toad some warm bread and tea. Toad was still very hungry because he hadn’t eaten in many days. He drank his tea and ate the bread. Then he began to talk about himself. He talked about Toad Hall and all the things he did there. He also talked about how popular he was. The wise girl saw that talking was good for Toad.

She said, “Toad, tell me more about Toad Hall. It sounds like a beautiful place.”

Toad Hall was one of Toad’s favorite subjects.

He said, “Toad Hall is a wonderful place. It’s a home for a gentleman. It is hundreds of years old, but it is very modern. It is only five minutes from the church and the post office.”

The girl laughed.

“I don’t want to buy it!” she said. “Tell me something real about it. But first let me get you some more tea and bread.”

When she returned, Toad told her all about Toad Hall. He talked about the kitchen and the gardens. He described the parties that he had. The girl wanted to know all about Toad’s friends, the animals. He told her all about Rat, Mole and Badger. They talked for a long time.

When it was time for the prisoners to go to bed, Toad was feeling almost normal. He went to sleep and had very nice dreams.

As the days passed, Toad and the jailor’s daughter became good friends. They had many long talks together. After some time the girl began to feel very sorry for Toad. She thought that he was just a little animal and his crime9 wasn’t so bad. He hadn’t killed or hurt anyone. She thought it was terrible that Toad had to stay in jail for twenty years. However, Toad was a very vain10 animal. He thought that the girl was so kind to him because she loved him.

One morning the girl was very quiet. She seemed to be thinking hard about something. Toad realized that she wasn’t paying attention to any of his jokes or comments.

“Toad,” she said, “listen to me please. I have an aunt who is a maid11.”

“Don’t feel bad.” said Toad kindly12. “I have aunts who ought to be maids13. They are very stupid and ugly.”

“Toad, be quiet!” said the girl. “Your problem is that you talk too much. I have an idea and you’re hurting my head. As I said, I have an aunt who is a maid. Every Monday and Friday she comes to the jail and washes the prisoners’ clothes. Today is a Thursday. Now, this is my idea. You are very rich and my aunt is very poor. A few gold coins would be a lot of money for her. I think if we talk to her we could make a deal. You could give her a little money and she’ll give you her maid’s clothes to wear. Then you can escape the jail. You and my aunt are alike14 in some ways. For example, you’re both fat.”

“No, we aren’t alike.” said Toad loudly. “I have a very good figure for what I am.”

“So does my aunt for what she is.” said the girl. “But it’s not important. You awful vain animal! I’m sorry for you and I’m trying to help you.”

“Yes, yes. Thank you very much.” said Toad quickly. “But listen, you don’t want the great Toad of Toad Hall walking around the country disguised16 as a maid.”

The girl was even angrier.

“Oh, so you want to leave the jail in a shining carriage? You can just stay here in this jail then!”

Toad was vain, but he was always ready to admit when he was wrong.

“You are right! You are a good kind clever girl.” he said. “And I’m a vain stupid Toad. If you’ll kindly introduce me to your aunt, I will pay her whatever we’ll make her happy.”

So the next evening the girl brought her aunt into Toad’s room. Toad put some gold coins out onto the table. When she saw the money, the aunt agreed to her niece’s plan. However, there was one condition.

“Toad, you have to tie me up, so no one knows that I helped you to escape.” the girl’s aunt said.

Toad agreed to do this. The aunt gave Toad her dress, hat and shoes. Then they tied up the women and put a cloth into her mouth.

“Now it’s your turn, Toad.” said the girl. “Take off your clothes and we’ll dress you in the maid’s clothes.”

She helped Toad get dressed in this disguise15.

When she was finished, she said, “You look just like my aunt. Now, Toad, it’s time for you to go. Goodbye and good luck. If anyone talks to you, make sure to act like an old woman.”

Toad was very excited and a little afraid. He walked through the jail slowly just like an old woman. The girl’s idea had worked. Everyone thought Toad was the maid. Many people spoke17 to him because the girl’s aunt was very popular. Toad was able to act like an old lady, however. It wasn’t long before he was standing18 outside the jail. He had escaped.

Now Toad was very excited. He walked towards the town. He wasn’t sure what he should do next. But he wanted to return to Toad Hall. As he walked along the road, he saw some train tracks19. Then a train passed by.

“There is the answer.” said Toad. “I’ll go to the train station and buy a ticket home. I won’t have to go through the town then. Too many people know this woman, so I can’t wear her clothes for very long.”

Toad went to the train station. There was a large sign that had the arrival20 and departure21 times of the trains.

Toad found the train that stopped near Toad Hall. It was going to leave in thirty minutes.

“What luck!” thought Toad.

He went up to the ticket seller22 and asked to buy a ticket. Then he reached under the maid’s dress to find his wallet. But his wallet was gone. Toad suddenly remembered that he had left his keys and money in the jail. The other passengers watched him as he stood there. He didn’t know what to do. This was terrible.

Finally Toad said to the ticket seller, “Listen, I have forgotten my wallet. Just give me the ticket now. I’ll send you the money tomorrow. I’m very well-known in this area.”

The ticket seller laughed.

“You are well-known here? You are just a maid.” he said. “Forget it, lady. Move aside please. The other passengers want to buy their tickets.”

Toad left the train station. He was very upset. Now what was he going to do? If he stayed there much longer, the police would find him. Then they would take him back to the terrible jail. He stood outside the station. He was trying to think of some answer to the problem. Then he saw a truck driver standing next to his truck and cleaning it.

“Hello, the lady,” said the driver, “what’s wrong? You don’t look very happy.”

“Oh, sir,” cried Toad, “I’m a poor unhappy maid. And I’ve lost all my money. I must get home somehow and I don’t know what to do.”

Tears ran down his face.

“Poor little lady!” said the man kindly. “Do you have children at home?”

“Many children.” cried Toad. “They’ll be so hungry and they are all alone.”

“Well, here is what I’ll do.” said the man. “If you wash some shirts for me, I’ll take you home in my truck. My clothes get very dirty when I’m working.”

“Oh, of course I will.” cried Toad.

Toad had never washed a shirt in his life. But he did not care. He thought when I get home to Toad Hall I’ll send him money to pay for the washing. That would be better.

The driver and Toad got in the truck and began to travel. Toad watched the countryside pass by. Every moment he was closer to Toad Hall. There would be a soft bed to sleep in and good things to eat. His friends would be there and they would listen to the story of his escape.

“They’ll think I am so clever.” Toad thought happily.

He felt so good that he began to sing songs and jump up and down. The driver was very surprised. He had met many old women before, but never one like this.

They had traveled for many miles. Toad was thinking about what he would have for dinner. Suddenly he noticed that the driver looked worried.

“There are some cars following us.” he said. “It looks like they are police cars. I wonder what they want.”

Toad was very afraid. He knew he had only one chance.

“Kind sir,” he said, “please, please save me. I must tell you something. I’m not an old maid with children at home. I’m really a Toad. I’m the wealthy and popular Mr. Toad from Toad Hall. I’ve just escaped from a terrible jail. My enemies put me there. But I’m innocent23. Please help me.”

The driver looked at Toad.

“Now, tell me the truth.” he said. “Why did they really put you in jail? What have you done?”

Toad was embarrassed24.

“It was a very small thing.” he said. “I only borrowed someone’s car while they were having lunch. I didn’t mean to steal it. But the police wouldn’t believe me. I was very thoughtless25 and stupid.”

The driver thought for a moment.

“Well, I’m afraid you have been a very bad Toad.” he said. “But I see that you are sorry for what you have done. You seem very frightened, so I’ll help you. I don’t like to see animals upset. I also don’t like the police very much. So cheer up. Toad, you might still escape them.”

The truck driver drove26 very fast for a while, but soon he said, “Toad, I’m afraid it would work. The police cars are very fast. There is only one thing left for us to do. Listen to me very carefully. Ahead of us, there is a long tunnel27. I’ll drive as fast as I can through the tunnel. The police will slow down because they will be afraid of an accident. When we get out of the tunnel, you’ll see a large forest. I’ll slow down the truck. When it’s safe, you must jump out of the truck. Then run and hide in the forest before the police see you. Now, are you ready? When I say jump, you jump.”

The driver began to drive very fast down the road. They reached the tunnel and drove through it. It was very dark. When they reached the other side, they saw the forest.

The driver slowed down and then said, “Now jump!”

Toad jumped out of the truck and rolled down the hill. Quickly he got up and hid behind a tree. He saw the truck driving away. Then the police cars came out of the tunnel. They had flashing red lights. Toad could hear the policemen shouting “Stop! Stop!”

He began to laugh. He was safe. But then he realized that he was alone in the woods. It was dark and cold. There was nothing to eat. And Toad Hall was still far away.

He wanted to stay away from the road, so he ran into the forest. Toad had never been inside a forest before. He knew that many strange animals live there. He kept thinking he heard people chasing28 after him, but there was no one. It seemed that he had really escaped. Toad suddenly felt very tired. He made himself a bed of leaves and went to sleep until morning.


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1 toad oJezr     
n.蟾蜍,癞蛤蟆
参考例句:
  • Both the toad and frog are amphibian.蟾蜍和青蛙都是两栖动物。
  • Many kinds of toad hibernate in winter.许多种蟾蜍在冬天都会冬眠。
2 prisoner wQ9xC     
n.俘虏,囚犯,被监禁的人
参考例句:
  • The soldier reported that a prisoner was at large.士兵报告说一名囚犯在逃。
  • The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。
3 jail F31xo     
n.监狱,看守所;vt.监禁,拘留
参考例句:
  • The castle had been used as a jail.这城堡曾用作监狱。
  • If she carries on shoplifting,she'll end up in jail.她如果还在店铺里偷东西,最终会被抓进监狱的。
4 sunlight ts3wM     
n.日光,阳光,日照
参考例句:
  • The room was flooded with warm and golden sunlight.房间充满着温暖、金色的阳光。
  • In the bright sunlight she had to narrow her eyes.在强烈阳光下她必须眯着双眼。
5 mole 26Nzn     
n.胎块;痣;克分子
参考例句:
  • She had a tiny mole on her cheek.她的面颊上有一颗小黑痣。
  • The young girl felt very self- conscious about the large mole on her chin.那位年轻姑娘对自己下巴上的一颗大痣感到很不自在。
6 badger PuNz6     
v.一再烦扰,一再要求,纠缠
参考例句:
  • Now that our debts are squared.Don't badger me with them any more.我们的债务两清了。从此以后不要再纠缠我了。
  • If you badger him long enough,I'm sure he'll agree.只要你天天纠缠他,我相信他会同意。
7 prisoners 2ec5eeda1990a2d4deacaf8f947bedbc     
n.囚徒( prisoner的名词复数 );俘虏;被夺去自由的人[动物]等
参考例句:
  • The president granted a general amnesty for all political prisoners. 总统大赦了所有的政治犯。
  • The prisoners were living in appalling conditions. 囚犯的居住条件极为恶劣。
8 oven iJuxQ     
n.烤炉;烤箱
参考例句:
  • You put food inside an oven to cook it.你把食物放进烤箱里热一下。
  • She baked bread in an oven.她用烤炉烤面包。
9 crime SzkxN     
n.犯罪,罪行,罪恶
参考例句:
  • You'll have to pay for your crime.你得为你的罪行付出代价。
  • Crime in our big cities is on the increase.在我们大城市里犯罪率正在增长。
10 vain qixwq     
adj.徒劳的,徒然的,无效的,空虚的,自负的
参考例句:
  • It was in vain that we tried to find his mother.我们百般设法找他的母亲,但毫无结果。
  • He's very vain of his abilities.他对于自己的能力很自负。
11 maid IAZxF     
n.少女,未婚女子,女仆
参考例句:
  • I have sent my maid away.我已把我的女仆解雇了。
  • A maid in white is walking along the boardwalk.一位白衣少女漫步于海边的木板路上。
12 kindly tpUzhQ     
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地
参考例句:
  • Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
  • A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
13 maids 855fcbe6ea76c7d63483e64aa4825881     
n.女仆( maid的名词复数 );女佣;少女;年轻的未婚女子
参考例句:
  • They have two maids who sleep in. 他们有两个住在他们家里的女仆。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I've changed maids several times, but none of them has worked out. 此外一个老妈子,换了好几次,始终不满意。 来自汉英文学 - 围城
14 alike kLUyz     
adj.同样的,相像的;adv.一样地;同程度地 
参考例句:
  • The twins are so alike that I can't tell which is which.这对双胞胎一模一样,我分辨不出谁是谁。
  • All stories seemed dreadfully alike,no matter who told them.看来,不管谁讲,故事都是千篇一律的。
15 disguise 9lbzE     
vt.把...假扮起来;n.伪装物,假装,伪装
参考例句:
  • He went about in the disguise of a sailor.他伪装成海员到处流窜。
  • It is impossible to disguise the fact that business is bad.生意不好这件事无法隐瞒。
16 disguised c6a7d15693cd63659e0649b77cca4491     
v.假扮( disguise的过去式和过去分词 );化装;伪装;掩盖
参考例句:
  • The hijackers were heavily disguised. 劫持者伪装得严严实实。
  • The chieftain of that country is disguised as a benefactor this time. 那个国家的首领这一次伪装出一副施恩者的姿态。 来自《简明英汉词典》
17 spoke XryyC     
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。
18 standing 2hCzgo     
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。
19 tracks f1e904ac93744cc1ce244dfc191fc2a1     
n.小路( track的名词复数 );跑道;路径;轨道v.跟踪( track的第三人称单数 );跟踪摄影;留下(脏)足迹;追随(潮流等)
参考例句:
  • Tracks led up the mountainside. 小径沿着山坡向上延伸。
  • All the tracks have been digitally remastered from the original tapes. 所有的曲子都已经从原始录音带转录到了数码母带上。
20 arrival jNhyC     
n.到达,达到,到达者
参考例句:
  • She's impatient for her father's arrival.她急切地盼望着父亲的到来。
  • The new arrival was none other than the President.刚到的不是别人,正是总统。
21 departure uw6xb     
n.离开,起程;背离,违反
参考例句:
  • Do you know what lies behind her sudden departure for London?你知道她突然去伦敦的原因吗?
  • She took over his work after his departure.他离开以后,她接替了他的工作。
22 seller Rzrwv     
n.售货者,畅销品
参考例句:
  • I hope for this book to become a best seller.我希望这本书会成为一本畅销书。
  • She drove a hard bargain with the seller.她狠杀卖主的价。
23 innocent J68xs     
adj.无罪的,清白的;无害的;天真的,单纯的
参考例句:
  • I'm not quite so innocent as to believe that.我还不至于简单到相信那种事的地步。
  • I was very young,and very innocent.我那时非常年轻,幼稚无知。
24 embarrassed vtrztT     
adj.尴尬的,不好意思的
参考例句:
  • He was very embarrassed to hear people speak so highly of him.他听见别人这样夸他,感到很难为情。
  • He is somewhat embarrassed.他稍微有点窘迫。
25 thoughtless Xoswf     
adj.没有考虑的,无深虑的,轻率的
参考例句:
  • It was thoughtless of you to forget your sister's birthday.你真粗心,把你姐姐的生日都给忘了。
  • I wonder why you are so thoughtless of others.我很奇怪,你为何如此不替别人着想。
26 drove brAxi     
vbl.驾驶,drive的过去式;n.畜群
参考例句:
  • He drove at a speed of sixty miles per hour.他以每小时60英里的速度开车。
  • They drove foreign goods out of the market.他们把外国货驱逐出市场。
27 tunnel qHHyz     
n.隧道,地下道;vi.挖隧道;vt.掘隧道于
参考例句:
  • They will have to block up the entrance to the tunnel.他们将不得不封闭通往隧道的入口。
  • The train passed through a tunnel.火车通过了一条隧道。
28 chasing 8fde1d7175bfd43e3953dc8f79f4dcdf     
n.雕镂术,雕刻工作;车螺丝;抛光;螺旋板
参考例句:
  • My dog likes chasing rabbits. 我的狗喜欢追捕兔子。
  • The children were having fun, chasing each other's shadows. 孩子们追逐着彼此的影子,玩得很开心。

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