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The troop of cavalry had been organized three months before, the very day that Georgia seceded from the Union, and since then the recruits had been whistling for war. The outfit was as yet unnamed, though not for want of suggestions. Everyone had his own idea on that subject and was loath to relinquish it, just as everyone had ideas about the color and cut of the uniforms. “Clayton Wild Cats,” “Fire Eaters,” “North Georgia Hussars,” “Zouaves,” “The Inland Rifles” (although the Troop was to be armed with pistols, sabers and bowie knives, and not with rifles), “The Clayton Grays,” “The Blood and Thunderers,” “The Rough and Readys,” all had their adherents. Until matters were settled, everyone referred to the organization as the Troop and, despite the high-sounding name finally adopted, they were known to the end of their usefulness simply as “The Troop.”

骑兵营是三个月前佐治亚州脱离联邦那天成立起来的，从那以后那些入伍的新兵便一直在盼望打仗。至今这个组织还没有命名，尽管已经有了种种方案。对于这个问题，正像对于军服的颜色和式样什么的，每个人都有自己的主张，并且都不愿意放弃。什么"克莱顿野猫"啦，"暴躁人"啦，"北佐治亚轻骑兵"啦，"义勇军"，"内地步枪兵"啦（尽管这个营将是用手枪、军刀和单刃猎刀而不是用步枪来装备"克莱顿灰衣人"啦，"血与怒吼者"啦，"莽汉和应声出击者"啦，所有这些名称都不乏附和者。在问题没有解决之前，大家都称呼这个组织为"营"，而且，不管最终采用的名称多么响亮，他们始终用的是简简单单的一个"营"字。
　
The officers were elected by the members, for no one in the County had had any military experience except a few veterans of the Mexican and Seminole wars and, besides, the Troop would have scorned a veteran as a leader if they had not personally liked him and trusted him. Everyone liked the four Tarleton boys and the three Fontaines, but regretfully refused to elect them, because the Tarletons got lickered up too quickly and liked to skylark, and the Fontaines had such quick, murderous tempers. Ashley Wilkes was elected captain, because he was the best rider in the County and because his cool head was counted on to keep some semblance of order. Raiford Calvert was made first lieutenant, because everybody liked Raif, and Abel Wynder, son of a swamp trapper, himself a small farmer, was elected second lieutenant.

军官由大家选举，因为全县除了参加过墨西哥战争和塞米诺尔战争的少数几个老兵外，谁也没有军事经验；而且，如果大家并不喜欢和不信任他，要让一个老兵当头领也只会引起全营的蔑视。大家全都喜欢塔尔顿家四个小伙子和方丹家三兄弟，不过令人遗憾的是都不愿意选举他们，因为塔尔顿家的人太容易喝醉酒和喜欢玩乐，钽方丹兄弟又非常性急和暴躁。结果艾希礼·威尔克斯被选做队长了，因为是他是县里最出色的骑手，而且头脑冷静，大伙相信他还能维持某种表面的秩序。雷弗德·卡尔弗特是人人都喜爱的，被任命为上尉，而艾布尔·温德，那个沼泽地捕猎手的儿子（他本人是小农），则被选做中尉了。

词汇释义

1.cavalry n. 骑兵

The cavalry is extremely majestic-looking.
这支骑兵部队非常威风凛凛。

2.secede [si'si:d] v. 正式脱离或退出(组织) vi. 退出, 脱离

We won't allow Tibet to secede from China and become an independent nation.
我们决不允许西藏脱离中国独立。

3.outfit ['autfit] n. 用具,配备,机构 vt. 配备,供应 vi. 得到装备

The company will provide the sports outfits for all the players.
这家公司将为所有运动员提供全套运动服装。

4.relinquish vt. 放弃,放手

She relinquished possession of the house to her sister.
她把房子的所有权让给了她妹妹。

5.saber n. 军刀 vt. 用马刀砍=sabre（美）

I use a heavy saber in fencing.
我在击剑时用的是把重剑。

6.adherent n. 信徒, 追随者, 拥护者 adj. 附着的, 粘连的

The movement is gaining more and more adherents.
支持这个运动的人越来越多了.

7.semblance n. 类似，外观

She put on a semblance of anger.
她装出生气的样子。

8.lieutenant n. 中尉, 助理人员, 副官

He was promoted to lieutenant.
他被提升为陆军中尉/海军上尉。