中英文课外阅读：黑骏马

中英文课外阅读：黑骏马

Chapter1Myfirsthome

ThefirstplaceIcanrememberwellwasapleasant

fieldwithapondofclearwaterinit.Treesmade

shadowsoverthepond,andwaterplantsgrewatthedeep

end.Ononesidewasanotherfield,andontheother

sidewelookedoveragateatourmaster，shouse,which

stoodbytheroadside.Atthetopofourfieldweremore

talltrees,andatthebottomwasafast-runningstream.

WhileIwasyoung,Ilivedonmymother'smilk,

butassoonasIwasoldenoughtoeatgrass,mymother

wentouttoworkduringthedayandcamebackinthe

evening.

Thereweresixotheryounghorsesinmefield,

althoughtheywereolderthanIwas.We

allgallopedtogetherroundthefield,andhadgreat

fun.Butsometimestheotherswouldkickandbite.

'Theyareyoungfarmhorsesand

haven，tlearnedhowtobehave,'mymothertold

me.JYouaredifferent.Yourfatheriswellknown,and

yourgrandfathertwicewonthemostimportantraceat

Newmarket.Yourgrandmotherwasquietandgentle,and

youhaveneverseenmekickorbite,haveyou?Ihope

youwillgrowuptobegentleandawillingworker,

andneverbiteorkick.'

Ihaveneverforgottenmymother,sadvice.Shewas

acleverandsensibleoldhorse.Hernamewas

Duchess,butourmasteroftencalledherPet.Hewas

agood,kindman,andmymotherlovedhimvery

much.Whenevershesawhimatthegate,

shetrottedacross.Heusedtopatherandsay,

‘Well,oldPet,andhowisyourlittleDarkie?'Iwas

adullblackcolour,sohecalledmeDarkie.Hesometimes

broughtapieceofbreadforme,oracarrotformy

mother,andIthinkwewerehisfavourites.

WhenIwastwoyearsold,somethinghappenedwhich

Ihaveneverforgotten.Itwasearlyspring,andthere

wasalightmistoverthetreesandfields.Iandthe

otheryounghorseswerefeedingatthelowerendofthe

fieldwhenweheardthedistantcryofdogs.

Theoldestamongusliftedhisheadto

listen.’Therearethehounds!'hesaid,andimmediately

racedoff.Therestofusfollowedhimtothetopof

thefield,wherewecouldseeseveralfieldsbeyond.

Mymotherandanotheroldhorse

werestandingnear.,They，vefoundahare,5saidmy

mother,5andiftheycomethisway,weshallseethe

hunt.'

Soonthedogswereallracingdownthefieldnext

toours,makingaloud，yo-yo-yo-yo!’soundatthetop

oftheirvoices.Afterthemcamemenonhorses,some

ingreencoats,andallgallopingasfastasthey

could.Suddenly,thedogsbe-camesilentandranaround

withtheirnosestotheground.

'They'velostthesmellofthehare,'saidtheold

horse.’Perhapsitwillescape.’

Butthedogsbegantheir5yo-yo-yo-yo!,againand

cameatfullspeedtowardsourfield.Justthenahare,

wildwithfear,rantowardsthetrees.Thedogsjumped

overthestreamandranacrossthefield,followedby

thehuntsmen.Sixoreightjumpedtheirhorsesover

thestream,closebehindthedogs.Be-foretheharecould

getaway,thedogswereuponherwithwildcries.

Weheardaterriblescream,andthatwastheend

ofthehare.Oneofthemenpickedherupandheldher

bytheleg.Shewascoveredinblood,butallthe

huntsmenseemedpleased.

IwassogreatlysurprisedthatatfirstIdidnot

seewhatwashappeningbythestream,butwhenIdid

look,Isawasadsight.Twofinehorsesweredown,

oneinthestreamandtheotheronthegrass.Onerider,

whoseemedunhurt,wasclimb-ingoutofthewater,

buttheotherlayquitestill.

'Hisneckisbroken,5saidmymother.'Ican't

understandwhymenaresofondofthissport.Theyquite

oftenhurtthem-selvesandruingoodhorses,allfor

oneharethattheycouldgetmoreeasilysomeother

way.Butweareonlyhorses,anddon，tknowwhymen

dothesethings.'

Theycarriedthedeadridertoourmaster，shouse,

andIheardafterwardsthatitwasGeorgeGordon,the

onlysonofalocallandowner,andafineyoungman.

Amanfromthevillagecametolookattheblack

horseonthegrass.Theanimalwasingreatpainand

oneofhislegswasbroken.Themanbegantofeelthe

horseallover,thenheshookhishead.Someoneranto

ourmaster'shouseandcamebackwithagun.Soonafter,

therewasaloudbangandaterriblecry,thenall

wasstill.Theblackhorsedidnotmoveagain.

Mymotherwasveryunhappy.'I'veknownthathorse

foryears,'shesaid.'HisnamewasRobRoy.Hewasa

goodbravehorse.'Sheneverwentnearthatendofthe

fieldagain.

Notmanydaysafter,weheardthechurchbelland

sawalong,strangeblackcarriage,pulledbyblack

horses,theyweretakingthebodyofyoungGeorgeGordon

tothechurchyardtoburyhim.Hewouldneverride

again.IneverknewwhattheydidwithRobRoy,butit

wasallforonelittlehare.

1我的第一个家

我记忆中的第一个地方是一大片美丽的田野和一个清

澈的池塘。树影倒映在塘中，深水中长着水草。田野的一边

连着另一片田野，从另一边越过一道门能看见主人的房子就

在路边。田野高处是片高高的树林，低处是一条湍流不息的

小河。

我小时候吃妈妈的奶，等我长大了，能吃草了，妈妈就

白天出去干活，晚上回来。

在这片田野上还有另外匹年轻的马，他们比我大。我们

起奔跑着穿过田野，非常好玩。不过有时他们会踢打撕咬

起来。

“他们是年轻的农场马，没学过怎么举手投足，”妈妈

告诉我，“你是不同的。你爸爸很有名，你的祖父曾两次在

纽马克特得过最重要的赛马比赛的冠军。你的祖母又安静又

温和，你也没看见过我踢人或咬人，是吧？我希望你长大以

后能够性情温和、工作勤劳，永远不要踢咬。”

我从没忘记过妈妈的忠告。她是一匹聪慧、明理的老马,

叫杜琪丝，不过我们主人常叫她宝贝。他是一个善良的好人,

我妈妈非常爱他。每当看到他出现在门口，妈妈就快步跑过

去。他常拍拍她说：“喂，老宝贝，你的小黑好吗？"我全

身都是深黑色，所以他叫我小黑。有时他带给我一片面包，

或是给我妈妈一根胡萝卜，我觉得我们是他的心头肉。

我两岁的时候，发生了一件我永远无法忘掉的事。那是

一个初春，树林和田野都笼罩着一层薄雾。我和其他年轻的

马们在田野的低地边吃草，这时我们听到远处传来狗的叫

声。

我们中年纪最大的一个抬头听了听，说：“是猎犬！”

然后他立刻跑了过去。我们也跟着他往高处跑，在那儿我们

能看见远处的几片田野。

我妈妈和另一匹老马正站在附近。“他们发现了一只野

免，”妈妈说，“如果他们往这边来，我们就能看到这场狩

猎。”

很快猎犬们向我们旁边的田野冲下来，高声地狂吠着。

随后人们骑着马跑来了，有的穿着绿色外衣，全都尽力飞奔。

突然，狗们静了下来，边跑边用鼻子在周围的地面上嗅。

“他们闻不着兔子的味儿了，”那匹老马说，“也许兔

子能跑掉。”

但是狗们又叫开了，并全速向我们的田野冲来。这时一

只野兔向树林冲来，简直吓疯了。狗们跳过小河跑过田野，

猎人们紧随其后。或个人策马跃过小河，紧跟在狗后面。在

野兔能逃走之前，狗们已经狂野地吠着扑到了她身上。

我们听到了一声可怕的尖叫，那只野兔就这么完了。一

个人抓住她的腿把她拎了起来。兔子全身血淋淋的，但所有

的猎人看上去都很高兴。

我吃惊地看着这一幕，没顾得上看河边的情形。可是当

我望过去的时候，看到的则是一幅悲惨的景象。两匹好马倒

在那里，一匹在河水里，另一匹在草地上。一个骑手正从水

里往外爬，看上去没受伤，但另一个却静静地躺在地上。

“他脖子折断了，"我妈妈说。“我真不明白为什么人

们如此喜爱这种游戏。他们经常伤了自己，也毁了好马，这

一切就是为了一只野兔。而他们本可以很容易地以其他方式

获得的。不过我们只是马，搞不懂人们为什么这样做。”

他们把死了的骑手抬到我们主人的房子里，后来我听说

那是乔治・高顿，本地农场主的独生子，一个挺不错的小伙

子。

一个人从村里出来看草地上的那匹黑马。那马痛得要

命，一条腿断了。那人摸了摸马的全身，然后摇了摇头。有

人跑回我们主人的房子，拿来了一枝枪。随后是一声巨响和

一声可怕的长嘶，一切便都静了下来。那匹黑马一动不动了。

我妈妈非常不高兴。“我认识那马有好几年了，”她说,

“他叫罗伯•罗伊，是一匹勇敢的好马。”她从此再没靠近

过那片田野。

没过几天，我们听到了教堂的钟声，还看见一辆长长的、

奇怪的黑色马车，被几匹黑马拉着。他们是在把年轻的乔

治•高顿的遗体运到墓地去埋掉。他永远不能再骑马了。我

不知他们对罗伯•罗伊是怎么处置的，但这一切都不过是为

了一只小野兔。

Chapter2BirtwickPark

Iwasbeginningtogrowhandsome.Mycoatwasfine

andsoft,andwasashinyblack.Ihadonewhitefoot,

andaprettywhitestaronmyforehead.WhenIwasfour

yearsold,MrGordoncametolookatme.Helookedclosely

atmyeyes,mymouth,andmylegs,andthenIhadto

walkandtrotandgallopforhim.

'Whenhehasbeentrained,'MrGordonsaidtomy

master,5hewilldoverywell.’

Mymasterlikedtotrainhishorseshimselfbefore

sellingthem,andthenextdaymytrainingbegan.

Totrainahorseistoteachhimtowearasaddle,

andtocarryaman,womanorchildonhisback.Thehorse

mustalsolearntowearacollar,andtostandstill

whenitisputon；thentohaveacarriagefixedbehind

him,andtogofastorslow,whicheverhisdriver

wishes.Hemustneverbiteorkickortalktoother

horses,andmustalwaysdowhathismastertellshim,

howevertiredorhungryhefeels.

Likeallhorsesthathavegrownup,Ihadtowear

abitandbridle.Abitisagreatpieceofcoldhard

metal,asthickasaman'sfinger,whichispushedinto

ahorse，smouthbetweenhisteethandoverhistongue,

withtheendscomingoutatthecorners.Itisheld

therebystrapswhichgooverthehorse，shead,under

hisneck,roundhisnoseandunderhischin.Reins,

whichtheriderholds,arefastenedtoeachendofthe

bit.Slowly,withmymaster'skindwordsandgentle

ways,Ilearnedtowearmybitandbridle.

Nexttherewasthesaddle.Mymasterputitonmy

backverygently,thenfixedthestrapsundermybody,

speakingqui-etlytomeallthetime.Thenonemorning,

hegotonmybackandrodemeroundthefieldonthe

softgrass.HedidthiseverydayuntilIwasusedto

it.Thenhetookmetothevillagewhereamanfixed

metalshoesontoeachhoof.Myfeetfeltheavyand

strange,butIgotusedtothis,too.

Thereweremorenewthingstowear.First,aheavy

collaronmyneck,andabridlewithgreatsidepieces

againstmyeyes,calledblinkers.Withtheseon,Icould

onlyseeinfrontofme.ButintimeIgotusedto

everything,andcoulddomyworkaswellasmymother.

Forafortnight,mymastersentmetoaneighbour's

farmforanotherkindoftraining,whichwasvery

usefultome.Onefieldwasnexttotherailwayandhad

sheepandcowsinit,andIwasputinamongthem.I

shallneverforgetthefirsttrainthatthunderedby,

andhowIgallopedtothefarsideofthefield,

tremblingwithfearatthisterriblenoise.Butafter

afewdaysIcaredaslittleasthesheepandcowswhen

atrainpassedby.

ItwasearlyinMaywhenamancametotakemeaway

toMrGordon，shouse.Mymastersaid,'Goodbye,Darkie.Be

agoodhorse,andalwaysdoyourbest.’Iputmynose

intohishandandhepattedmekindly,andthenIleft

myfirsthome.

***

MrGordon5shouse,whichwascalledtheHall,stood

inBirtwickPark,nearthevillage.Wewentintothe

Parkthroughalargegate,thentrottedalongasmooth

roadbetweensometreestothehouseandgardens.Beyond

thiswerethestables.

Therewasroomformanyhorsesandcarriages.My

stablehadfourgoodstallsandalargewindow.Itwas

verypleasant.Thefirststallwascalledaloosebox,

whereahorseisnottiedupallthetimebutisfree

tomovearoundashelikes.Itisagreatthingtohave

aloosebox.Thegroomputmeintoitandgavemesome

oats.Thenhepattedme,spokekindly,andwentaway.In

thestallnexttominestoodalittlefatgreypony.

5Hello,'Isaid.’Whatisyourname?’

，Merrylegs,，hesaid,turninground.'I'mvery

handsome.Icarrytheyoungladiesonmyback,and

sometimesItakeMrsGordonoutinoneofthe

carriages.Areyougoingtolivenexttomeinthebox?

'Yes,'Isaid.

'ThenIhopeyouarewell-behaved,(hesaid.‘Idon't

likeanyonewhobites.’

Ahorse,sheadlookedoverfromthestallbeyond.It

wasatallbrownmare,andshedidnotlookpleased.’So

it'syouwhohasturnedmeoutofmybx,'shesaid.

'I5msorry,'Isaid,'butthemanputmeinhere,

soitisnotmyfault.Idon，twanttoarguewithanyone；

Ijustwishtoliveinpeace.

Later,Merrylegstoldmeaboutthetallbrownmare.

5Gingerhasabadhabitofbitingpeople,5he

explained.’Oneday,shebitJamesinthearm,andMiss

FloraandMissJessie,thechildren,wereafraidto

comeintothestableafterthat.Ifyoudon，tbite,

Ihopethey'11starttocomeagain.'

ItoldhimIneverbitanythingexceptgrassand

couldnotunderstandwhyGingerbitpeople.

Noonewaseverkindtoherbeforeshecamehere,

5saidMerrylegs.5JohnandJamesdoalltheycanto

pleaseher,andourmasterisneverunkind.I'mtwelve

yearsold,andIknowthatthereisn，tabetterplace

forahorseallroundthecountrythanthis.Johnhas

beenherefourteenyearsandisthebestgroomthere

everwas.Andyouneversawakinderstableboythan

James.TherewasnoreasonforGingertobite

anyone.It'sherownfaultthatshedidnotstayinthe

box.'

ThenameofthegroomwasJohnManly.Thenext

morning,hegotouthisbrushesandgavemeagood

grooming,thenputasaddleonme.Herodemeslowly

atfirst,thenatatrot,thenatagallop.Aswecame

backthroughthePark,wemetMrandMrsGordon.They

stoppedandJohnjumpedoff.

，Well,John,howdoeshego?'saidMrGordon.

‘He'safinehorse,sir,'saidJohn.'He'sfast,

butthelight-esttouchofthereinwillguidehim.They

wereshootingbirdsnearHighwood,andagunwentoff

closeby.Hepulledupalit-tle,butIjustheldthe

reinandhewasn'tfrightenedatall.It'smyopinion

hewasneverfrightenedorbeatenwhenhewasyoung.

Good,'saidMrGordon.'I'11ridehimtomorrow.

1rememberedmymother'sadvice,andthenextday

Itriedtodoexactlywhatmymasterwantedmetodo.He

wasaverygoodrider,andwhenhecamehomehiswife

waswaitingforhimatthedoor.

'Howdoyoulikehim,mydear?'sheasked.

'Ihaveneverriddenamorepleasanthorse,

'answeredMrGordon.’Whatshallwecallhim?’

'WhataboutBlackbird,likeyouruncle'sold

horse?'saidhiswife.

He'sfarhandsomerthanBlackbird,'saidMr

Gordon.

'Yes,'shesaid,'he'squiteabeauty,andhehas

akind,in-telligentface.ShallwecallhimBlack

Beauty?'

，BlackBeauty一why,yes,Ithinkthat，saverygood

name,'saidMrGordon.

JohnwentintothestableandtoldJames.

'I5dcallhimRobRoy,'saidJames,'ifitdidnot

remindev-eryoneofthepast.Ineversawtwohorses

morealike.’

’That5snotsurprising,'saidJohn.’Didn5tyouknow

thatFarmerGrey，soldDuchesswasthemotherofthem

both?

SopoorRobRoywhowaskilledatthehuntwasmy

brother!NowIunderstoodwhymymotherwassounhappy

whenhedied.

Johnwasveryproudofme,andseemedtoknowjust

howahorsefeels.AndJameswaskind,too.

Adayortwolater,Iwentoutinthecarriagewith

Ginger.Iwonderedhowwewouldgetontogether,but

Ifounditeasytotrotalongbesideher.

Merrylegswasahappylittleponyandwas

everyone5sfavourite.Weweresoongreatfriendsand

Ibecamequitehappyinmynewhome.

2伯特威克庄园

我开始长得英俊了。我的毛细腻柔软，油黑油黑的，有

一只脚是白色的，前额上还有一颗漂亮的白星。在我岁时，

高顿先生来看我。他仔细地看了我的眼睛、嘴巴和腿，然后

我为他表演了走步、小跑和奔驰。

“把他训练一下，”高顿先生对我的主人说，“他会做

得很好。”

我的主人喜欢在卖马前亲自驯马，于是第二天我的训练

开始了。

训练一匹马，要教他学会配戴马鞍，驮男人、女人和小

孩。这匹马还得学会戴辄具，在套辄具时，得站稳了不能移

动；然后还得学会在身后套上一辆马车，按赶车人的意思快

走或慢走。他永远不得踢、咬或者和其他马闲聊，而且不管

多累多饿，都必须永远服从主人。

和所有成年的马一样，我得戴上嚼口和笼头。马嚼口是

一大片又冷又硬的金属，像人的手指那么厚，塞进马嘴，卡

在上下两排牙齿之间，舌头之上，末端从嘴角伸出来。勒住

嚼口的绳子绕着马头，经过脖子下面，围着鼻子和下巴须儿。

马夫手里的缰绳紧紧系住嚼口的两端。慢慢地，在我主人的

好言好语和温柔的动作引导下，我学会了戴嚼口和笼头。

下一步是戴马鞍。主人非常轻柔地把它放到我的背上，

把绳子在我的肚皮下系住。他一直轻轻地跟我说着话。然后

一天早上，他骑上我在软软的草上绕着田野走了走。他每天

都这样，直到我习惯了为止。然后他带我到村里的一个人那

儿，给我的每只脚都钉上了掌。我的脚觉得又沉又怪，不过

后来我连这个也习惯了。

还有好多新东西要戴。首先，是脖子上重重的辗具，还

有笼头，带着一大块挡住我的眼睛的叫作马眼罩的东西。戴

上它们，我只能看见我前方的东西。但渐渐地我适应了这一

切，而且能把活干得和妈妈一样好了。

有两周的时间，主人把我送到邻居的农场里进行另一项

训练，这对我非常有用。这是一片靠近铁路的田野，有羊，

有牛，我被放到他们中间。我永远忘不了当第一辆火车轰鸣

而过的时候，我是如何害怕得浑身颤抖，如何飞也似地逃得

远远的。不过几天以后，再有火车过时，我已和那些牛羊一

样若无其事了。

月初，一个男人来带我去高顿先生家。我主人说：“再

见了，小黑，做一匹好马，永远全力而为。”我把鼻子放在

他手里，他亲切地拍了拍我，然后我就离开了我的第一个家。

***

高顿先生的房子叫作大宅，就在村子附近的伯特威克庄

园。我们穿过一个大门走进去，小跑着经过一条平坦的通向

房子和花园的林间路，尽头是一排马厩。

这里很大，能容得下很多马匹和马车。我的马厩分成挺

像样的个栏，还有一扇大窗。真体面。第一栏叫作“放饲马

房”，在这儿马不拴着，想怎么走动都可以。有这么一个自

由的空间真是太好了。马夫牵我进屋，喂了我一些燕麦。然

后他拍拍我，温和地说了几句就走了。在我隔壁是一匹胖乎

乎的小灰马。

“你好，”我说，“你叫什么名字？”

“乐腿儿，”他说着转过身来。“我很漂亮。我驮着小

姐们，有时还拉车带高顿夫人出去。你要住在我隔壁吗？”

“是的，”我说。

“那我希望你举止得体，”他说，“我不喜欢爱咬人的

马。”

一匹马的头从那边的栏里探出来，那是一匹高高的棕色

母马。她看上去不太高兴。”这么说就是你把我从我的栏里

赶出来的了，”她说。

“对不起，”我说，“但是是那个人把我放在这儿的，

这可不是我的错。我不想和谁吵架，只想平平安安地过日

子。”

后来，乐腿儿给我讲了高个儿棕色母马的事情。

“金儿有个坏毛病，就是爱咬人，”他说。“一天，她

咬了詹姆斯的胳膊，后来弗劳拉小姐、洁茜小姐和其他孩子

就不敢到马厩来了。如果你不咬，我希望他们会再来。”

我告诉他我除了青草以外，什么都不咬，也想不透金儿

为什么咬人。

“她来这儿之前没人对她好过。”乐腿儿说。“约翰和

詹姆斯想尽办法逗她乐，我们主人也从没有对她不好。我岁

了，我可知道对一匹马来说，附近再没一个地方比这儿更好

了。约翰在这儿年了，是有史以来最棒的马夫。詹姆斯呢，

你也找不到比他更好的马童了。金儿没有理由咬任何人。她

不能呆在马厩里，这是她的错。”

马夫叫约翰•曼利。第二天早上，他用刷子把我好好刷

洗了一通，然后给我备上了鞍。他起先骑上我慢慢地走，然

后是小跑，再后是飞奔。我们穿过庄园回来时，碰上了高顿

先生和太太。他们停住脚，约翰跳了下来。

“啊，约翰，他怎么样？”高顿先生说。

“先生，他是匹好马。”约翰说。“他速度很快，轻轻

地一碰缰绳就知道往哪儿走。有人在树林附近打鸟，有一枪

就响在旁边，他吓了一小跳，可是我只管抓着缰绳，他就一

点儿也不怕了。我觉得他小时候可能从没受过惊吓，也没挨

过打。”

“好啊，”高顿先生说，“我明天骑骑他。”

我还记着妈妈的话，第二天我努力按主人的意思做。他

是个非常好的骑手。他回家时，他的太太在门口等着他。

“亲爱的，你觉得他怎么样？”她问。

“我还从没骑过这么让人喜欢的马呢，"高顿先生说。

“我们叫他什么名字呢？”

“就跟你叔叔以前的那匹一样，叫黑鸟怎么样？”他太

太问。

“他可比黑鸟漂亮多了，”高顿先生说。

“是啊，”她说，“他真美，他有一张善良、聪明的脸。

我们叫他黑骏马怎么样？”

“黑骏马一一咦，对呀，我觉得这是个非常好的名字。”

高顿先生说。

约翰走进马厩把这一切告诉了詹姆斯。

“我愿意叫他罗伯・罗伊，”詹姆斯说，“要是这不会

让人想起过去那段事的话。我从没见过两匹马这么相像过。”

“那不奇怪，”约翰说，“你不知道这两匹马的妈妈都

是农夫格雷的老杜琪丝吗？”

原来，在那场狩猎中死去的可怜的罗伯•罗伊是我哥哥！

现在我明白了为什么他死时我妈妈那么不高兴了。

约翰十分以我为荣，而且好像知道马的心思。詹姆斯也

很好。

一两天后，我和金儿一起拉车出去。我开始还担心我们

能不能相处得好，后来发现和她一起小跑还是挺自在的。

乐腿儿是一匹乐呵呵的小马驹，也是大家的宝贝。我们

很快成了好朋友，我在新家里逐渐开心起来。

Chapter3Ginger'sstory

WhatmorecouldIwant?Freedom!Forthefirstfour

yearsofmylifeIhadalargefieldwhereI

couldgalloparoundatfullspeed一withnostraps,

nobit,andnoblinkers.NowIstoodinastable,night

andday,exceptwhenIwaswantedforwork,and

sometimeswhenJohntookmeout,Ifeltsostrong,

sofulloflife,thatIwantedtojumpordance.

5Calmdown,boy!!hewouldsay.

Then,assoonaswewereoutofthevillage,hewould

letmetrotfastforafew

miles.Somegroomspunishedahorseforgettingtoo

excited,butnotJohn.Heknewhowtocontrolmewith

onlythesoundofhisvoice,andIwasveryfondof

him.

Sometimeswedidhaveourfreedominthefieldfor

anhourortwo.ThiswasonfineSundaysinthesummer,

becausethecarriageneverwentoutonSundays.Itwas

wonderful.Thegrasswascoolandsofttoourfeet,

andtheairwassosweet.Andwecouldgalloporlie

downorrolloveronourbacks,ordowhatweliked.

OnedayGingeraskedmeaboutmyoldhomeandmy

train-ing.WhenIfinishedtellingher,shesaid,'Life

hasbeendiffer-entforme.Iwastakenfrommymother

whenIwasyoung,andtherewasnokindmasterlikeyours

tolookafterme.IhadabadtimewhenIwas

trained.Severalmencaughtmeinacornerofthefield

andoneheldmynosesohardthatIcouldonlyjust

breathe.Thenanotherpulledmymouthopentoputthe

bitin,andIwaspulledalongandbeatenfrom

behind.Theydidn'tgivemeachancetounderstandwhat

theywan-ted.

'Theoldmaster,MrRyder,knewabouthorses,

buthegaveupmostofthebusinesstohisson,who

wastallandstrong,butnotgentle.Theycalledhim

Samson,andhesaidthatnohorsecouldthrowhimout

ofthesaddle.Oneday,hemademerunroundthefield

onalongreinuntilIwasverytiredand

miser-able.Thenextmorninghedidthesameagain,

thenheputasaddleandbridleonme,andanewkind

ofbitintomymouth.

'ThenewbitwasverypainfulandIpulledawayand

stooduponmybacklegs,whichmadehimveryangry.He

stayedinthesaddleandbeatmewithawhip,butafter

alongandterri-blebattleIthrewhimoff

andgallopedtotheotherendofthefield.

'Iwatchedhimgointothestable,butnoonecame

tofetchme.Timewentonandthesunwasveryhot.I

washungryandverythirsty.Atlast,justasthesun

wasgoingdown,theoldmastercameoutwithsome

oats.Hespokekindlyandheldouttheoatsforme

toeat,thenpattedmegentlyandlookedattheblood

onmysideswhereSamsonhadwhippedme.

'uPoorgirl!”hesaid,thenledmetothe

stable.Samsonwasthere."Keepoutoftheway,“

saidthemaster."You'vedoneabadday'sworkforthis

horsewithyourbadtemper.Abad-temperedmanwill

nevermakeagood-temperedhorse."Heledmeintomy

boxandtookoffmysaddleandbridle.Thenhecalled

forsomewarmwaterandgentlycleanedthebloodfrom

mysides.

5Afterthat,heoftencametoseeme,butaman

calledJoewentontrainingme.Hewasquietand

thoughtfulandIsoonlearnedwhathewanted.

'Aftermytraining,'Gingerwenton,'Iwasbought

byadealertomatchanotherhorseofmycolour.But

thenweweresoldtoamaninLondonwhodroveuswith

abearingrein一areintoholdourheads

upunnaturallyhighandtokeepthemthere,forhours

andhours,untilthepainwasterrible.Wehadtowear

twobitsinsteadofone,andminewassosharpthatit

mademymouthbleed.Sometimeswewaitedforhourswhile

ourmasterormistresswasatpartiesorthetheatre,

andifweweren'tpatient,thedriverwouldwhipus.’

'Didn，tyourmastercareaboutyouatall?'Isaid.

'Onlyabouthowwelooked,'repliedGinger.’Heknew

verylittleabouthorses.ThedrivertoldhimIhada

badtemperbutwouldsoongetusedtothebearingrein.I

waswillingtoworkandlearn,buttheyweresocruel

thatitmademeangry.ThenIbrokeawayfromthe

carriageoneday,andthatwastheendofthatplace.

'Iwassoldtoanotherman,buthehadagroomas

bad-tem-peredasSamson.Hehitmeacrossthelegswith

hisstablebrushifIdidn，tmovequickly.Ihatedhim,

andonedaywhenhemademeangry,Ibithim!Henever

cameintomystallaf-terthat,andIwassoonsold

again.

'Adealerheardofmeandsaidhethoughtheknew

oneplacewhereIshoulddowell."It'swrongfora

finehorsetogobadlikethat,“hesaid.AndIwas

broughthere,notlongbeforeyoucame.Ofcourse,

it'sverydifferenthere.Butwhoknowshowlongitwill

last?rvedecidedthatallmenaremynatural

enemies.'

IwassorryforGinger,butastheweekswenton,

shebe-camehappierandmoregentle.

IdobelieveGingerisgettingquitefondofme,

'Jamessaidoneday.

'She'11beasgoodasBlackEeautyoneday,'replied

John.(Kindnessisallsheneeds,poorthing!’

3金儿的故事

我还想要什么呢？自由！在我生命的头年，我曾拥有那

么广阔的田野，我可以在那儿全速奔驰一一没有缰绳，没有

嚼口，也没有眼罩。现在，除了有活干的时候，我得日夜呆

在马厩里，有时约翰带我出去的时候，我觉得自己是那么强

壮有力，充满生机，我按捺不住地想跳跃，想舞蹈。

“静一点儿，伙计！”他会说。

我们一出村，他就会让我撒开了跑上几里。有的马夫会

惩罚过度兴奋的马，约翰不。他知道怎么能只用声音来控制

我，我真喜欢他。

有时在田野里，我们可以尽情享受一两小时自由。这时

往往是在夏天的周日，因为马车在周日不外出。那真叫妙不

可言。青草踏上去凉爽而柔软，连空气都是甜的。我们可以

或飞跑或卧倒或是滚来滚去，随心所欲。

一天金儿问起我的老家和我受的训练。我讲完后，她说:

“过去我的生活可不是这样。我小时候就被人从我妈妈身边

带走，可没有像你的主人那么好的人照顾我。训练时我可受

了罪了。几个人在草场的一角捉住我，一个人紧紧地抓住我

的鼻子，我都快透不过气来了。另一个掰开我的嘴，塞进嚼

子，我一路被拖着，屁股被抽打着。他们不给我时间弄明白

他们到底想要我干什么。

Chapter4Kindnessandcruelty

AneighbouroftheGordons5,MrBlomefield,hada

largefamilyofboysandgirlswhooftencametoplay

withMissJessieandMissFlora.Oneofthegirlswas

thesameageasMissJessie,twooftheboyswereolder,

andthereweresev-erallittleones.Whenevertheycame,

thechiIdrenlovedtorideMerrylegs.

Oneafternoonwhentheywerevisiting,James

broughtMerrylegsinandsaid,'Now,behaveyourself.’

'Whatdidyoudo,Merrylegs?'Iaskedhim.

'Thoseyoungpeopledidn'tseemtoknowwhellIwas

tired,'hesaid,5soIjustthrewthemoffbackwards.It

wastheonlythingtheycouldunderstand.'

'Youthrewthechildrenoff!'Isaid.’Oh,no!

DidyouthrowMissFloraorMissJessie?

'No,ofcoursenot!I'mquietandcarefulwiththem,

andwiththelittleones.I'mthebestfriendandriding

teacherthosechildrenhave.It'snotthem,it'sthe

boys,'hesaid.’Theotherchildrenrodemefornearly

twohours,thentheboysrodeme,oneaftertheother,

foranhour,hittingmewithastick.Ididn，tgetannoyed

butIdidgettired,soIstoppedonceortwicetolet

themknow.Butboysthinkah