“The old rascalrascal n.流氓， 无赖， 坏蛋， 淘气鬼 adj.不诚实的，卑鄙的， 下贱的 ran away from camp yesterday.” answered Givens readily. “Its a wonder the coyotes didnt scare him to death. You see， Jim Webster， our horse wranglerwrangler n.争论者， brought a little terrier pup into camp last week. The pup made life miserable for Bill—he used to chase him around and chew his hind legs for hours at a time. Every night when bedtimebedtime n.就寝时间 came Bill would sneak under one of the boys blankets and sleep to keep the pup from finding him. I reckon he must have been worried pretty desperatedesperate adj.不顾一切的， 拼死的， 令人绝望的 or he wouldnt have run away. He was always afraid to get out of sight of camp.”
“这个老家伙昨天从营地里逃了出来。”吉文斯胸有成竹地说，“丛林狼没把它吓坏可真奇怪。你明白，吉姆·韦伯斯特，我们营地里管坐骑的牧人，上星期弄了一头小猎狗到营地里来。这头小狗真叫比尔受罪——它一连好几个小时盯在比尔背后，咬它的后腿。每晚休息时，比尔总是钻到一个弟兄的毯子底下睡觉，不让小狗找到它。我猜想它一定是愁得走投无路了，否则是不会逃跑的。它一向是离开了营地就害怕。”
Josefa looked at the body of the fierce animal. Givens gently patted one of the formidableformidable adj.强大的， 令人敬畏的， 可怕的， 艰难的 paws that could have killed a yearling calf with one blow. Slowly a red flush widened upon the dark olive face of the girl. Was it the signal of shame of the true sportsman who has brought down ignobleignoble adj.不光彩的 quarryquarry n.采石场， (知识、消息等的)来源 vt.挖出，苦心找出 vi.费力地找？ Her eyes grew softer， and the lowered lids drove away all their bright mockery.
约瑟法看看那只猛兽的尸体。吉文斯轻轻拍了拍狮子的一只可怕的脚爪，这只脚爪几乎一下子就可能送掉一条小牛的命。那姑娘深橄榄色的脸上慢慢泛起一片红晕。这是不是一个真正的猎人打到不应该打的猎物时，感到羞愧的表示呢？她的眼色柔和了些，垂下来的眼睑赶跑了先前取笑的光芒。
“Im very sorry，” she said humbly， “but he looked so big， and jumped so high that—”
“我很抱歉，”她低声下气地说，“不过它看上去是那么大，又跳得那么高，所以——”
“Poor old Bill was hungry.” interrupted Givens， in quick defence of the deceaseddeceased adj.已故的 n.死者. “We always made him jump for his supper in camp. He would lie down and roll over for a piece of meat. When he saw you he thought he was going to get something to eat from you.”
“可怜的老比尔肚子饿啦，”吉文斯立即替死去的狮子辩护说，“我们在营地里总是叫它跳起来，才给它吃的。它为了一块肉还躺在地下打滚呢。它看到你时，以为你会给它一点儿吃的东西。”
Suddenly Josefas eyes opened wide.
约瑟法的眼睛突然睁得大大的。
“I might have shot you！” she exclaimed. “You ran right in between. You risked your life to save your pet！ That was fine， Mr. Givens. I like a man who is kind to animals.”
“刚才我可能会打着你！”她嚷道。“你已经跑到了中间。你为了救你那心爱的狮子，甚至冒了生命危险！你是个好人，吉文斯先生。我喜欢对动物仁慈的人。”
Yes； there was even admirationadmiration n.钦佩， 赞美， 羡慕 in her gaze now. After all， there was a hero rising out of the ruinsruin v.(使)破产， (使)堕落， 毁灭 n.毁灭， 崩溃， 废墟， 遗迹 of the anticlimax. The look on Givenss face would have secured him a high position in the S.P.C.A.
不错，她凝视的眼神里有几分爱慕的成份。总之，在一败涂地的废墟中出现了一个英雄。吉文斯脸上得意的神情很可以替他在“防止虐待动物协会”里谋一个重要的位置。
“I always loved em，” said he， “horses， dogs， Mexican lions， cows， alligatorsalligator n.产于美洲的鳄鱼—”
“我一向喜欢动物，”他说，“马呀、狗呀、墨西哥狮子呀、牛呀、鳄鱼呀——”
“I hate alligators，” instantly demurred Josefa， “crawly， muddymuddy adj.多泥的， 泥泞的 things！”
“我讨厌鳄鱼，”约瑟法马上反对说，“拖泥带水的，叫人看了起鸡皮疙瘩的东西！”
“Did I say alligators？” said Givens， “I meant antelopesantelope n.羚羊， of course.”
“我说过鳄鱼吗？”吉文斯说。“我想说的准是羚羊。”
Josefas conscience drove her to make further amendsamends n.(对毁坏， 损坏的)赔偿， 赔礼. She held out her hand penitently. There was a bright， unshedunshed adj.未流出的，未吐露的 drop in each of her eyes.
约瑟法的良心促使她再想出一些补救的办法。她忏悔似的伸出了手。她的眼睛里噙着两颗晶莹的泪珠。
“Please forgiveforgive vt.原谅， 饶恕， 宽免(某人)之债务 me， Mr. Givens， wont you？ Im only a girl， you know， and I was frightened at first. Im very， very sorry I shot Bill. You dont know how ashamedashamed adj.惭愧的， 羞耻的 I feel. I wouldnt have done it for anything.”
“请原谅我，吉文斯先生，好吗？你明白，我只不过是个小姑娘，一开头我很害怕。我打死了比尔，感到非常难过。你不了解我觉得多么难为情。我早知道的话，绝不会这么做的。”
