06 Crossing the Delaware

Chapter 6, Crossing the Delaware. The huge boat rocked in the water, giant chunks of ice smashed against its sides. Thanks a lot, Annie, Jack whispered. He shivered in the snowy cold. We're not supposed to go on their secret mission with them. It's okay, she whispered. Maybe we can help George Washington. Are you nuts? Jack whispered. We should be on our way home now.

第六章 横渡特拉华河 巨大的船在水里晃来晃去，大块的浮冰哐哐撞着船舷 真是谢谢你了啊，安妮。杰克小声嘟囔 天寒地冻还飘着雪，他冻得直哆嗦 咱们本来就不该跟着他们执行秘密任务的 没事的。她小声说 说不定我们能帮到乔治·华盛顿呀 你疯了吗？ 杰克小声说 咱们现在本该在回家的路上啊

The boat hit a piece of ice. The boat bounced, then dipped into the river. Jack clung to the wooden side. He hoped they wouldn't turn over. Nobody could survive in this icy water, he thought. It would be like sinking on the Titanic. The crew fought hard to keep the boat moving forward. They rowed past chunks of ice into a smoother part of the river. Light from oil lamps shone in the water, making the ice chunks behind them glow like huge glittering jewels. Jack looked back. Other boats were following them. They were filled with soldiers, horses, and cannons. Where exactly are we going? Annie whispered.

船撞到了一块冰，弹了一下，跟着就往河里沉了沉 杰克紧紧抓着木质船舷，心里盼着船可千万别翻 掉进这么冰的水里没人能活下来，他想，那就跟泰坦尼克号沉了一样惨 船员们拼尽全力让船继续前进，他们划过一块块浮冰，驶进了河面上更平稳的水域 油灯的光映在水面上，把他们身后的浮冰照得像一颗颗闪闪发光的巨大宝石 杰克回头望去，其他船正跟在他们后面，船上装满了士兵、马匹还有大炮 咱们到底要去哪儿呀？安妮小声问

Jack shrugged. He reached into his bag and pulled out their Revolutionary War book. By the dim lantern light in the boat, he searched through the book. He found a painting of General Washington crossing the Delaware River.

杰克耸了耸肩，他把手伸进包里，掏出了他们那本独立战争的书 借着船上昏暗的提灯光，他翻起了那本书 他找到了一幅华盛顿将军横渡特拉华河的画作

He showed the painting to Annie. They each read the caption silently. After George Washington crossed the Delaware, he led his men on a nine -mile march to a British post. The post was filled with Hessians, German soldiers hired by the British to fight for them. The American patriots caught them off guard. The Hessians never thought the patriots would attack on a stormy Christmas night. It was a great victory for the patriots. They captured almost one thousand Hessians. Hardly any of Washington's men were lost. Yay! We won't have to send the captain's letter! Annie exclaimed. Shhh! said Jack.

他把那幅画拿给安妮看，两个人都默默地读着下面的说明文字 乔治·华盛顿渡过特拉华河后，带领手下长途跋涉九英里，朝一处英军驻地进发 那处驻地里全是黑森雇佣兵，他们是英国人雇来帮自己打仗的德国士兵 美国爱国者们打了他们个措手不及。黑森士兵怎么也没想到爱国者们会 在风雪交加的圣诞夜发动进攻。这一仗对爱国者们来说是场大胜利 他们俘虏了近一千名黑森士兵，华盛顿的手下几乎没有伤亡 太棒啦！咱们不用去送上尉的信啦！安妮大喊道 嘘！杰克说

But George Washington turned around and looked back at Jack and Annie. No, Jack thought, caught again. He closed his eyes as if that would make him invisible. He's coming, said Annie. Jack looked up. George Washington was making his way back toward them. In the next moment, the Commander -in -Chief loomed above them like a giant shadow. Children? He asked in a quiet, angry voice. Sorry, Jack squeaked. Merry Christmas, said Annie. But George Washington did not say Merry Christmas back.

可这时乔治·华盛顿转过身，回头看向了杰克和安妮 完了，杰克心想，又被抓包了 他闭上了眼睛，好像这样就能隐身似的 他过来了。安妮说 杰克抬起头 乔治·华盛顿正朝着他们走过来 下一秒，这位总司令就像一道巨大的阴影，赫然出现在他们面前 你们两个小孩？ 他压着声音，语气里带着怒气 对不起。杰克吓得声音都变尖了 圣诞快乐呀。安妮说 可乔治·华盛顿没跟她说圣诞快乐