路易斯點(diǎn)點(diǎn)頭。他把脖子上掛著的那些東西整理好,悄悄地下了水,
took up a position a few yards in front of the boat,and waited.
游到游艇前面幾碼遠(yuǎn)的地方,等待著。
He wondered what would make the boat go.
他想知道這船是怎么開的。
He couldn't see any outboard motor, and there wereno oars.
他看不到任何舷外發(fā)動機(jī),也看不到船槳。
In the forward part of the boat were benches for the passengers.
船的前部有許多供游客乘坐的長椅。
In the stern was a structure that was shaped like a swan. It was hollow.
船尾是一個(gè)天鵝形狀的艙房。它是中空的。
Inside of it was a seat, like a bicycle seat.
里面有一個(gè)座位,就像自行車的座位一樣。
And there were two pedals inside, like the pedals of a bicycle.
還有兩個(gè)踏板,也和自行車的腳踏板一樣。
When the passengers were all aboard, a young man appeared.
當(dāng)乘客們上船后,一個(gè)年輕的男人出現(xiàn)了。
He climbed onto the stern of the boat and sat down on the seat inside the hollow swan-shapedstructure
他爬到船的尾部,坐到天鵝形狀的空艙房里的座位上,
and began to push the pedals with his feet, as though he were riding a bike.
開始用腳蹬那兩個(gè)踏板,好像他正在騎自行車一樣。
A paddle wheel began to turn.
一個(gè)腳踏輪開始轉(zhuǎn)動了。
The Boatman cast the lines off, and as the young man pedaled, the Swan Boat slowly movedout into the lake.
游艇老板解開纜繩時(shí),那個(gè)年輕人還在繼續(xù)蹬著踏板,天鵝游艇則慢慢地駛?cè)牒铩?/p>
Louis led the way, swimming with his left foot, holding his trumpet with his right foot.
路易斯領(lǐng)著路,用他的左腳游著水,用他的右腳握著小號。
"Ko-hoh!" said Louis's trumpet. The wild sound rang loud and clear and stirred everyone'sblood.
“吭—嗬!”路易斯的小號說。這狂野的聲音是那么的嘹亮清越,聽得每個(gè)人都熱血沸騰了。
Then, realizing that he should play something appropriate, Louis played a song he had heardthe boys sing at camp.
接著,他覺得該吹奏點(diǎn)合適的曲子,于是便吹起了一首他在夏令營里聽男孩子們唱過的歌:
Row, row, row your boat
劃呀,劃呀,劃你的船
Gently down the stream;
輕輕地在河上蕩漾
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
快樂,快樂,快樂,快樂,
Life is but a dream.
生活不過是美夢一場。
The Swan Boat passengers were beside themselves with joy and excitement.
天鵝游艇上的乘客們都聽得欣喜若狂,渾然忘掉了自我的存在。
A real live swan, playing a trumpet! Life was a dream, all right.
這可是一只活生生的天鵝呀,還在吹小號呢!生活是一場美夢,太對了。
What a lark! What fun! What pleasure!
多有趣呀!多好玩呀!多享受呀!
"This is real groovy!" cried a boy in the front seat.
“這是真正的高水準(zhǔn)表演!”前面座位上的一個(gè)男孩喊。
"That bird is as good as Louis Armstrong, the famous trumpet player. I'm going to call himLouis."
“那只鳥兒和著名的小號吹奏家路易斯·阿姆斯特朗吹得一樣好。我打算稱他為路易斯。”
When Louis heard this, he swam alongside the boat,
路易斯聽到這里,便游向船邊,
took his chalk pencil in his mouth, and wrote: "That's actually my name."
把他的石筆叼在嘴里,寫道:“其實(shí)那正是我的名字。”
"Hey, how about that?" yelled the boy.
“嘿,怎么回事?”這個(gè)男孩驚叫,
"This swan can write, too. Louis can write. Let's give him a cheer!"
“這只天鵝還會寫字。路易斯能寫字。讓我們給他一聲歡呼吧!”
The passengers cheered loudly. Louis swam ahead again, leading the way.
乘客們大聲歡呼起來。路易斯又游到前面,領(lǐng)路去了。
Slowly and gracefully, the boat circled the island, while Louis played "Gentle on My Mind" onhis trumpet.
游艇仍在緩緩地,優(yōu)雅地環(huán)島航行著,這時(shí)路易斯在他的小號上吹起了“溫柔在我心”這首歌。
It was a lovely September morning, hazy and warm.
這是一個(gè)可愛的九月早晨,薄霧未散,空氣溫暖。
Trees were beginning to show their autumn colors. Louis played "Ol' Man River."
樹木正在呈現(xiàn)他們在秋天里的顏色。路易斯此時(shí)在吹“老人河”。