'The Law of Life,' by Jack London, Part Two
时间:2019-02-06 作者:英语课 分类:2019年VOA慢速英语(一)月
Koskoosh placed another stick on the fire and let his thoughts travel deeper into the past. There was the time of the great famine 1. He had lost his mother in that famine. In the summer the usual plentiful 2 catch of fish had failed, and the tribe 3 looked forward to the winter and the coming of the caribou 4. Then the winter came, but with it there were no caribou. Never had the like been known, not even in the lives of the old men. The rabbits had not produced any young and the dogs were skin and bone. And through the long darkness the children wept and died. So did the women and the old men. Not one in ten lived to meet the sun when it returned in the spring. That was a famine!
But he had seen times of plenty, too, when the meat spoiled before it could be eaten. Even the dogs grew fat and were worth nothing from eating too much. In these times they let the animals and birds go unkilled and the tents were filled with newly 5 born children. Then it was that the men remembered old quarrels and crossed to the south and to the west to kill ancient enemies. He remembered, when a boy, during a time of plenty, when he saw a moose pulled down by the wolves. Zing-ha lay with him in the snow and watched. Zing-ha was his friend who later became the best of hunters. One day he fell through an air hole on the frozen 6 Yukon River. They found him a month later, frozen to the ice where he had attempted to climb out.
Zing-ha and he had gone out that day to play at hunting, in the manner of their fathers. Near a creek 7 they discovered the fresh track of a moose and with it the tracks of many wolves. “An old one,” Zing-ha said. “It is an old one who cannot travel as fast as the others. The wolves have separated him from his brothers, and they will never leave him.” And it was so. It was their way. By day and by night, never resting, biting at his heels, they would stay with him to the end. How Zing-ha and he had felt the desire to see blood! The finish would be a sight to remember!
Eagerly, they started up the trail. Even he, Koskoosh, who was not a good tracker, could have followed it blind, it was so wide. They were not far behind the hunt, reading its awful story at every step. Now they saw where the moose had stopped to face his attackers. On every side the snow had been stamped heavily. In the middle there were the deep footprints of the moose. All about, everywhere, were the lighter 8 footmarks of the wolves. Some had moved to one side and rested while their brothers tried to seize the moose. The full-stretched impressions of their bodies in the snow were as perfect as though they’d been made the moment before. One wolf had been caught in a wild dash at the moose and had died under its heavy stamping. A few bones remained as witness.
The two boys stopped again at a second stand. Here the great animal had fought with despair 9. As the snow indicated, he had been dragged down twice. And twice he shook off his enemies and gained his footing once more. He had finished his task long before, but nevertheless, life was dear to him. Zing-ha said it was a strange thing for a moose once down to struggle free again. But this one certainly had done so. The medicine man would see signs and wonders in this when they told him.
Then they came to the place where the moose had tried to climb the riverbank and go into the woods. But his enemies had attacked from behind, until he leaped high and then fell back upon them, crushing 10 two deep into the snow. It was clear that the kill was near, because the two dead wolves had been left untouched by their brothers. The trail was red with blood now, and the distance between tracks of the great beast had become shorter and shorter. Then they heard the first sounds of the battle—the quick bark of the wolves which spoke 11 of teeth tearing flesh. On hands and knees Zing-ha and Koskoosh made their way through the snow. Together they pushed aside the low branches of a young pine tree and looked forth 12. It was the end that they saw.
The picture, like all of youth’s memories, was still strong with him. His eyes now watched the end acted again as clearly as in that earlier time. Koskoosh was surprised at this, because in the days which followed, he had done many great deeds. He had been a leader of men and his name had become a curse 13 in the mouths of his enemies.
For a long time he recalled 14 the days of his youth, until the fire grew cold and the frost bit deeper. He placed two sticks on the fire this time. Then he figured how much life was left by the amount of wood that remained in the pile. If Sit-cum-ha had remembered her grandfather, and gathered a larger armful, his hours would have been longer. It would have been easy. But she was always a selfish child. She had not honored 15 her ancestors from the time the Beaver 16, son of the son of Zing-ha, first looked at her. Well, what did it matter? Had he not done the same in his own quick youth? For a while he listened to the silent forest. Perhaps the heart of his son might soften 17. Then he would return with the dogs to take his old father with the tribe to where the caribou ran thick and the fat hung heavy upon them.
He strained 18 his ears. There was not a sound to be heard. Nothing. He alone took breath in the middle of the great stillness. It was very lonely. Wait! What was that? His body suddenly felt cold. A familiar cry broke the silent air, and it was close to him. Then his darkened eyes again saw the old moose—the bloody 19 sides, the torn legs, the great branching horns, fighting to the last. He saw the flashing forms of gray, the bright eyes, the dripping 20 tongues and the sharp teeth. And he saw the circle move closer until it became a dark point in the middle of the stamped snow.
A cold nose pushed against his face and at its touch his soul leaped back to the present. His hand shot into the fire and dragged out a burning stick. Overcome for the moment by his fear of man, the beast drew back, raising a call to his brothers. Greedily they answered, until a ring of gray was stretched around him. The old man listened to the steady breathing of this circle. He waved his flaming stick wildly, but the beasts refused to scatter 21. Now one moved slowly forward, dragging his legs behind. Now a second, now a third. But now, not one moved back from his flaming stick. Why should he so desire life? He asked, and dropped the burning stick into the snow. It made a slight noise and then there was no more fire. The circle murmured uncertainly but held its place. Again he saw the last stand of the old moose, and Koskoosh dropped his head hopelessly on his knees. What did it matter? Was it not the law of life?
Words in This Story
famine – n. a situation in which many people do not have enough food to eat
caribou – n. a large type of deer that lives in northern parts of the world
rabbit(s) – n. a small animal that usually lives in holes in the ground and has long ears, soft fur, and back legs that are longer than its front legs
wept – v. (past tense of: weep)to cry because you are very sad or are feeling some other strong emotion
spoil(ed) – v. to decay 22 or lose freshness especially because of being kept too long
quarrel - n. an angry argument or disagreement
moose – n. a large animal with very large, flat antlers that lives in forests in the northern part of America, Europe and Asia
wolves - n. (plural form of: wolves) a large wild animal that is similar to a dog and that often hunts in groups
manner – n. the way that something is done or happens
creek – n. a small stream
track – n. a mark left on the ground by a moving animal, person, or vehicle
stamp(ed) – v. the act of bringing your foot down heavily and noisily
impression(s) – n. something (such as a design or a footprint) made by pressing or stamping a surface
despair – n. the feeling of no longer having any hope
indicate(d) – v. to show something
task – n. a piece of work that has been given to someone
dear – adj. loved or valued very much
leap(ed) – v. to jump from a surface
knee(s) – n. the joint 23 that bends at the middle of your leg
branch(es) – n. a part of a tree that grows out from the trunk
youth – n. the time when a young person has not yet become an adult
frost – n. a thin layer of ice that forms on the ground or on grass when the air becomes cold
strain(ed) – v. to try very hard to do or get something
horn(s) – n. one of the hard pointed 24 parts that grows on the head of some animals
flashing – n. (gerund) – appearing quickly or suddenly
dripping – n. (gerund) – (liquid) falling in drops
tongue(s) – n. the soft, movable part in the mouth that is used for tasting and eating food and in human beings for speaking
soul – n. the spiritual part of a person that is believed to give life to the body and in many religions is believed to live forever
flaming – n. (gerund) - having a bright or glowing red or orange color
- We're collecting for the famine victims.我们正在为遭受饥荒的灾民募款。
- Famine stared us in the face.饥荒迫在眉睫。
- Their family has a plentiful harvest this year.他们家今年又丰收了。
- Rainfall is plentiful in the area.这个地区雨量充足。
- This is a subject tribe.这是个受他人统治的部落。
- Many of the tribe's customs and rituals are as old as the hills.这部落的许多风俗、仪式都极其古老。
- Afar off he heard the squawking of caribou calves.他听到远处有一群小驯鹿尖叫的声音。
- The Eskimos played soccer on ice and used balls filled with caribou hair and grass.爱斯基摩人在冰上踢球,他们用的是驯鹿的毛发和草填充成的球。
- Have you reviewed for this newly published novel?你给这本新出版的小说写书评了吗?
- It is a newly planted tree and it has not established yet.这是一颗新栽的树,还没有扎下根来。
- He was frozen to death on a snowing night.在一个风雪的晚上,他被冻死了。
- The weather is cold and the ground is frozen.天寒地冻。
- He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
- People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。
- The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色,色调明朗了一些。
- The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。
- If you are in the depths of despair,you will be extremely unhappy.如果你彻底地失望,你会十分不开心。
- Don't despair;things will get better soon.不必绝望,事情不久就会好起来。
- They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
- The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
- The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
- He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
- His wealth proved a curse to him.他的财富成了祸根。
- The rabbits are a curse in this part of the country.兔子在这一带农村是一种祸害。
- I recalled that he had mentioned the problem once. 我回忆起他曾经有一次提到过这个问题。
- The sight recalled the days of childhood to me. 那情景使我回忆起童年。
- I hope to be honored with further orders. 如蒙惠顾,不胜荣幸。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- This is a time-honored custom. 这是一个古老的习俗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The hat is made of beaver.这顶帽子是海狸毛皮制的。
- A beaver is an animals with big front teeth.海狸是一种长着大门牙的动物。
- Plastics will soften when exposed to heat.塑料适当加热就可以软化。
- This special cream will help to soften up our skin.这种特殊的护肤霜有助于使皮肤变得柔软。
- Her face looked strained and weary. 她的脸色显得憔悴疲惫。
- Relations between the two countries had become severely strained. 两国关系已经变得非常紧张。
- He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
- He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。
- Her face was dripping with sweat. 她脸上汗水淋淋。
- His hand was dripping blood. 他的手在滴血。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- You pile everything up and scatter things around.你把东西乱堆乱放。
- Small villages scatter at the foot of the mountain.村庄零零落落地散布在山脚下。
- The vegetables have begun to decay.那些蔬菜已开始腐烂。
- Our powers decay in old age.我们的体力在老年时就衰退。
- I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤,肩膀脫臼了。
- We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。