05 Slim

Chapter 5. Slim. We're not horse thieves, said Annie. Well, then what are you doing with my horse here? He said some bad guys came through town with his mother, said Annie. They left him behind because he was too slow. Yep, must be the rustlers that stole my last five mustangs. The cowboy said, who are you? Said Jack. I'm a Mustang herder, the cowboy said.

第五章 斯利姆 "我们不是偷马的。"安妮说。 "哦？那你们牵着我的马在这儿做什么？" "他说有几个坏人带着他妈妈路过镇子。"安妮说。 "他跑得太慢，就被他们丢下了。" "没错，肯定是那帮偷马贼，之前我丢的五匹野马就是他们偷的。" 牛仔问道："你们是谁？" 杰克开口道。 "我是野马牧人。"牛仔说。

They rode through town, then Sunset showed up all alone," said Annie, "...or taking him to his mother." Sunset, the cowboy said. Yep. Annie smiled. I named him. The cowboy put away a six -shooter. Well, you're pretty brave to try and rescue him, Smiley, he said. Thanks, said Annie. Jack cleared his throat. A Mustang needs his family, he said. The bond between a mare and her young is very strong. The cowboy looked at Jack. Whoa, you're pretty smart to know that, Shorty. Shorty, said Jack. Every cowpoke's gotta have a nickname, said the cowboy. What's yours, said Annie.

"他们骑马穿过镇子，然后日落就一个人出现了。"安妮说， "……不然就是要带他去找他妈妈。" "日落？"牛仔问。 对呀。 安妮笑了。 "我给他起的名字。" 牛仔把六发左轮手枪收了起来。 "哎呀，小笑花，你敢跑来救他可真勇敢。"他说。 "谢谢。"安妮说。 杰克清了清嗓子。 "野马需要和家人待在一起。"他说。 "母马和小马之间的羁绊可深了。" 牛仔看着杰克。 "哇哦，小矮个儿，你懂的可真多呀，真聪明。" "小矮个儿？"杰克说。 "每个牛仔都得有个外号呀。"牛仔说。 "那你的外号叫什么呀？"安妮问。

Slim, said the cowboy, my name is Slim Cooley and this is Dusty. He patted his horse. That fits, said Annie. Jack agreed. Slim was Slim and Dusty was Dusty. So tell me, Slim said, how did you two brave smart young 'uns end up in rattled snake flats? Jack caught his breath. He didn't know how to explain it. Um, the stage coach, said Annie. We begged the driver to let us off, but I think we made a mistake. Slim looked around. I'll say, he said. When the next stage comes through, we're leaving, said Annie. I see, said Slim. Well, I'm going to take a look.

"斯利姆，"牛仔说，"我叫斯利姆·库利，这是达斯蒂。" 他拍了拍自己的马。 "这名字太合适啦。"安妮说。 杰克也点头同意。 斯利姆确实瘦瘦的，达斯蒂也总是灰扑扑的。 "对了，跟我说说，"斯利姆说，"你们两个又勇敢又聪明的小家伙怎么会跑到响尾蛇平原上来呀？" 杰克一下子屏住了呼吸。 他不知道该怎么解释才好。 "嗯，是驿站马车，"安妮说， "我们求司机让我们下车，现在看来好像做错了。" 斯利姆环顾了下四周。 "可不是嘛。"他说。 "等下一班驿站马车过来，我们就走啦。"安妮说。 "我知道了。"斯利姆说。 "行吧，我过去瞧瞧情况。"

Take my colt now and find those rustlers. You didn't hear where they were headed, did you? They said they were going to camp over the rise, said Jack. Hmm, must be over yonder, said Slim. He looked at a low rise in the distance. The sun was a red ball above it. Better get going before dark, he said. Can we go with you? said Annie. No, we have to stay here, Jack said quickly. Now that Slim could help sunset, Jack wanted to look for the answer to the riddle. Plus, he still wanted to take off his boots. Shorty's right to be scared, Slim said to Annie. This is no job for youngins. Scared, said Jack. Oh, please, I want to go, said Annie.

带上我的小马，去找那帮偷马贼。 "你们没听见他们要往哪儿去，对不对？" "他们说要去小山丘那头扎营。"杰克说。 "嗯，肯定在那边。"斯利姆说。 他望向远处那座矮矮的山丘。 太阳像个红皮球挂在山丘顶上。 "最好赶在天黑前出发。"他说。 "我们能跟你一起去吗？"安妮问。 "不行，我们得待在这儿。"杰克连忙说。 既然斯利姆能帮日落找妈妈，杰克就想留下来找谜语的答案。 再说，他还想着要把脚上的靴子脱下来呢。 "小矮个儿害怕是对的，"斯利姆对安妮说， "这可不是小孩子该干的活儿。" "害怕？"杰克说。 "哎呀求求你了，我想去嘛。"安妮说。

Slim looked at Jack and what do you want Shorty? For starters, he wanted Slim to stop calling him Shorty, and he wanted Slim to think he was brave. Sure, I want to go, said Jack. What about your stagecoach? asked Slim. It's not coming until tomorrow, Annie said quickly. Well, Slim scratched his chin. I reckon I could use some brave, smart help. But you have to do everything I say. We will, said Annie. Can I ride Sunset? I wouldn't say yes to many kids, Smiley, but you seem to have a knack with horses, said Slim. Now hang on tight to his mane.

斯利姆看向杰克："那你呢，小矮个儿，你想去吗？" 首先呀，他想让斯利姆别再叫他小矮个儿， 还想让斯利姆觉得他很勇敢。 "当然了，我想去。"杰克说。 "那你们等的驿站马车怎么办？"斯利姆问。 "明天才会来呢。"安妮连忙说道。 "唔，"斯利姆挠了挠下巴。 "我觉得我确实需要几个勇敢又聪明的小帮手。" "但你们必须全听我的指挥。" "我们会的！"安妮说，"我能骑日落吗？" "换做别的小朋友我肯定不同意，小笑花，" "但你好像特别会和马儿打交道。"斯利姆说。 "现在抓紧他的鬃毛哦。"

I'll just pull him along behind me. Slim slipped the rope off the post, then he held his hand out to Jack. Put your foot in the stirrup, Shorty, and grab my hand, said Slim. Jack did as Slim said. Slim pulled him onto the front of his saddle. Jack held onto the saddle horn. Sit tight, said Slim, is not far. Slim snapped his reins. Dusty took off with sunset right behind him. Jack bounced up and down. His boots hurt. The sunlight blinded him. Giddy up, said Slim. Giddy up, said Annie. The horses galloped across the prairie, dust flying from their hooves. Ah, choo! Jack sneezed as he bounced along into the setting sun.

我会牵着他跟在我后面走的。 斯利姆把绳子从柱子上解下来，然后朝杰克伸出手。 "脚踩进马镫里，小矮个儿，抓住我的手。"斯利姆说。 杰克照着斯利姆说的做了。 斯利姆把他拉到马鞍前面坐好。 杰克紧紧抓着马鞍前的鞍桥。 "坐稳咯，"斯利姆说，"不远就到。" 斯利姆抖了抖缰绳。 达斯蒂跑了起来，日落紧紧跟在后面。 杰克在马背上颠来颠去。 他的脚在靴子里疼得厉害。 阳光晃得他睁不开眼。 "驾！"斯利姆喊道。 "驾！"安妮也喊道。 马儿们在草原上飞奔，蹄子扬起阵阵尘土。 "阿嚏！" 杰克迎着落日一路颠簸，忍不住打了个喷嚏。