LESSON23 Stories of tigers

第二十三课 老虎的故事

Some years ago, a number of English officers in India went out to hunt. On their way home after their day's sport, they found in the jungle a little tiger kitten, not more than a fortnight old.

几年前,许多在印度的英国军官出去打猎。有一天在他们打猎后回家的路上,他们发现在丛林中一只不超过两周的小老虎崽。

They took it with them; and when they reached their tent, the little tiger was provided with a tiny dog-collar and chain, and tied to the tent-pole, round which it played and frisked to the delight of all who saw it.

他们带着它,当他们到达他们的帐篷时,提供的小老虎是一个很小的狗项圈和连锁,和与搭帐篷的支柱,它打着转玩,高兴的看着所有看到它的人。

Just as it was growing dark, however, about two hours after the capture, the people in the tent were checked, in the midst of their mirth, by a sound that caused the bravest heart among them to quail.

但是天越来越暗，在捕捉后大约两小时，帐篷里的人进行了检查，在他们的欢乐之中，由声音引起的让最勇敢的心畏缩。

It was the roar of a tiger! In an instant the little kitten became every inch a tiger, and strained at its chain with all its baby strength, while it replied with a loud wail to the terrible voice outside. The company in the tent were panic-struck, there was something so sudden and so wild in the roar.

这是一只老虎的咆哮!瞬间小小猫成为每一寸一只老虎,用幼崽所有的力量反抗者链锁,虽然它一声哀号道外面的可怕的声音。在帐篷里的同伴们被疯狂的咆哮吓得惊慌失措。

Suddenly there leaped into the centre of the tent a huge tigress! Without noticing a single man there, she caught her kitten by the neck. She snapped, by one jerk, the chain which bound it; and, turning to the tent door, dashed off at full speed. One cannot be sorry that not a gun was levelled at the brave mother as she bore her young one off in triumph.

突然帐篷的中心有一个巨大的母老虎跳了近来!没有注意到一个人在那里,她抓住了小虎崽的脖子。她咔嚓一声折断绑着幼崽的锁链,转向帐篷的门,全速跑了。没有一个人会遗憾,没用枪瞄准那勇敢的妈妈,因为她勇敢的救出她年轻的宝宝。