Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3 Thomas carried Birdie on his back, walking deeper and deeper into the woods. It got dark, and he found the North Star. The night sounds rose up — the hoots of owls and the shimmer of crickets. Animals shrieked and howled. His back ached from carrying Birdie, his muscles twisting into knots of pain. But he didn't stop. They needed to get as far as they could from the farm. Because soon the slave catchers would be after them. Clem had told Thomas about those men, who chased down runaway slaves and collected

托马斯背着小鸟，在树林里越走越深。 天黑了，他找到了北极星。 夜的声音响起了——猫头鹰的鸣叫和蟋蟀的微光。 动物们尖叫和嚎叫。 背着小鸟，他的背很疼，他的肌肉疼痛得绞成一团。 但他没有停下来。他们需要离农场越远越好。 因为捕奴者很快就会追上他们。 克莱姆跟托马斯讲过这些人的故事，他们追捕逃跑的奴隶，并收钱

rewards for returning them to their owners. Their dogs were vicious and as big as mules. Thomas could practically smell the stink of their hot breath, hear their snapping jaws, and feel their teeth ripping into his flesh. The night got darker and darker. Danger seemed to be everywhere — looming in the trees, glowing in the eyes of the night creatures peering from bushes. Twice, Thomas stopped, too terrified to take another step. They should go back! He could lie to Mr. Knox, swear they'd gotten lost chasing rabbits. But he knew what happened to runaways — they'd be whipped, or worse. Thomas kept going. Finally the sun started to rise. The shadows disappeared and the birds started singing. In the distance, Thomas saw fields and farmhouses.

把它们还给主人的奖励。 他们的狗很凶恶，大得像骡子。 托马斯几乎可以闻到它们热气的臭味，听到它们撕咬的声音，感觉到它们的牙齿撕咬着他的肉。 夜越来越黑了。 危险似乎无处不在——隐现在树林里，在灌木丛中窥视的夜行动物的眼中闪闪发光。 托马斯两次停下来，害怕得不敢再走一步。 他们应该回去!他可以对诺克斯先生撒谎，发誓他们是追兔子迷路了。 但他知道离家出走会有什么下场——他们会被鞭打，或者更糟。 托马斯继续说。太阳终于开始升起来了。 影子消失了，鸟儿开始歌唱。 在远处，托马斯看到了田野和农舍。

It was too dangerous to walk through a town during the day. They'd find a place to hide and wait until dark. Birdie was so tired. Thomas brought her down to a stream and helped her wash up. Just up the bank was a fallen tree with some soft ground on one side and a leafy bush on the

白天穿过城镇太危险了。 他们会找个地方躲起来，等到天黑。 小鸟很累。托马斯把她带到一条小溪边，帮她洗漱。 河岸上有一棵倒下的树，一边是柔软的地面，另一边是茂密的灌木

other — a perfect hiding spot. He sat down and Birdie curled up next to him. Within a minute she was fast asleep. And Thomas dozed, too. He didn't sleep long, and he woke up thirsty. He went down to the stream for a drink. He washed the dust from his face and soaked his battered feet. For a few seconds he let himself believe that he and Birdie were on an adventure together, that maybe Clem was even waiting for him just up the hill. But then there were new sounds: Running footsteps, snapping twigs, the pounding of horses' hooves. Thomas hurried back up the bank, diving through the bushes and into the dirt next to Birdie. "We see you there!" a man's voice bellowed. The slave catchers! A rifle clicked. "Come out now," another voice snarled. "Or we'll shoot you."

其他——一个完美的藏身之处。 他坐了下来，小鸟蜷缩在他旁边。 不一会儿她就睡着了。 托马斯也打起了瞌睡。他没睡多久，醒来时很渴。 他到小溪边去喝水。 他洗去脸上的灰尘，把伤透了的脚浸湿。 有那么几秒钟，他让自己相信他和伯迪正在一起冒险，也许克莱姆就在山上等着他。 但接着又传来了新的声音:奔跑的脚步声、折断树枝的声音、马蹄的撞击声。 托马斯急忙回到岸上，穿过灌木丛，跳到小鸟旁边的泥土里。 “我们在那儿看见你了!”一个男人的声音吼道。 捕奴者!步枪咔哒一声响了。 “现在出来。”另一个声音咆哮道。 “不然我们就毙了你。”