04 Mud Bath

Chapter 4 Mud Bath Jack looked over the edge of the riverbank. Annie had fallen into a pool of mud near the water. The thick black mud was up to her chest. I slipped, she said. It feels like quicksand. Jack threw down his pack and got on his knees. Be careful, said Annie. Don't slip too. Jack pointed to a tangle of old tree roots.

第四章 泥巴浴 杰克朝河岸边缘往下看，安妮掉进了水边的一个泥坑里。 黏糊糊的黑泥巴没到了她的胸口。 “我滑了一脚，”她说，“感觉就像流沙。” 杰克扔下背包，跪了下来。 “小心点，”安妮说，“你也别滑倒了。” 杰克指了指一团缠在一起的老树根。

sticking out of the bank. Grab those, he said. Annie reached for the roots. Too far, she said, breathing hard. I'm sinking. She was sinking. The mud was up to her neck. Hold on, Jack looked around wildly. He saw a fallen tree branch near the bank. He raced to it, picked it up, and carried it back to Annie. Only her head and arms stuck out of the mud now. Jack held out the branch. Annie grabbed it. Hold tight, said Jack. I'll drag you over to the roots. He started pulling on the branch. I'm still sinking, Annie wailed. The mud was up to her chin.

从岸边凸出来的。 “抓那些树根，”他说。 安妮伸手去够树根。 “太远了，”她喘着粗气说。 我要沉下去了。 她真的在往下沉。 泥巴没到了她的脖子。 “坚持住！”杰克急得四下张望。 他看见岸边有一根掉落的树枝。 他冲过去捡起树枝，又跑回到安妮身边。 现在她只有头和胳膊露在泥巴外面了。 杰克把树枝递了过去。 安妮一把抓住了树枝。 “抓紧了，”杰克说。 我把你拖到树根那边去。 他开始用力拉树枝。 “我还在往下沉啊！”安妮哭喊道。 泥巴已经没到她的下巴了。

Swimming toward them, many more wild beasts were jumping into the water. It's now or never, said Jack. He took a deep breath. He pulled really hard. Just then, a shadow passed over them. Jack looked up. Uh -oh, he said. A huge vulture circled overhead. It thinks you're near the end, said Jack. Oh, get out of here! Annie shouted at the vulture. I'm fine. In a burst of fury, she let go of the branch. She lunged for the roots. She grabbed them. Yes, cried Jack. Pull, pull! Slowly, Annie pulled herself out. She was covered with the black mud from head to toe. Jack helped her onto the bank, getting mud all over himself.

更多的野兽正跳进水里，朝他们游过来。 “现在不行动就没机会了，”杰克说。 他深吸了一口气。 他用尽全身力气拉扯树枝。 就在这时，一片阴影掠过他们头顶。 杰克抬头一看。 “哎哟不妙，”他说。 一只巨大的秃鹫在他们头顶盘旋。 “它以为你快不行了，”杰克说。 “哼，快走开！” 安妮对着秃鹫大喊。 我好得很！ 她气得猛地松开了树枝。 她猛地朝树根扑了过去。 她一把抓住了树根！ “太棒啦！”杰克欢呼道。 “拉！用力拉！” 安妮慢慢地把自己从泥里拉了出来。 她从头到脚沾满了黑泥巴。 杰克把她拉上岸，自己也沾了一身泥。

See?" Annie shook her fist at the vulture. I'm fine, now beat it. But the giant ugly bird still circled. Come on, let's get away from him, said Jack. He pushed his glasses into place. Rats, he said. Now his glasses were muddy. He tried to clean his hands in the grass. Oh no! shouted Annie. Jack turned to her. The wildebeest will get stuck in the mud hole, she cried. She waved her arms at the wildebeests, struggling to swim across the river. Not here, she shouted. Not here! But the frantic swimmers kept coming.

“看见了吧？”安妮对着秃鹫挥了挥拳头。 我好得很，现在赶紧走。可那只又大又丑的鸟 还在盘旋。“走吧，我们离它远点，” 杰克说。他推了推滑到鼻梁的眼镜。 “真倒霉，”他说，他的眼镜现在沾上泥了。 他想在草地上擦干净手。“哦不！” 安妮大叫起来。杰克转头看向她。“角马会陷进泥坑里的，” 她喊道。她对着那些正费劲游过河的角马挥起胳膊， “别往这儿来！” 她大喊道，“别来这儿！”可那些慌慌张张的游泳者 还是一个劲地往这边游来。