Chapter 13 Harris and the swans 
　  
　　After lunch， we moved on to Wargrave and Shiplake，and then to Sonning．We got out of the boat there， and we walked about for an hour or more． It was too late then to go on past Reading， so we decided to go back to one of the Shiplake islands．We would spend the night there． 
　　When we had tied the boat up by one of the islands，it was still early．George said it would be a good idea to have a really excellent supper．He said we could use all kinds of things，and all the bits of food we had left．We could make it really inter－esting， and we could put everything into one big pan together．George said he would show us how to do it． 
　　We liked this idea，so George collected wood to make a fire．Harris and I started to prepare the potatoes． This became a very big job．We began quite happily． However， by the time we had finished our first potato，we were feeling very miserable．There was almost no potato left．George came and looked at it． 
　　' Oh， that's no good． You've done it wrong！Do it like this！'he said． 
　　We worked very hard for twenty－five minutes．At the end of that time we had done four potatoes．We refused to continue． 
　　George said it was stupid to have only four potatoes， so we washed about six more．Then we put them in the pan without doing anything else to them．We also put in some carrots and other vegetables． But George looked at it， and he said there was not enough．So then we got out both the food baskets．We took out all the bits of things that were left， and we put them in，too． In fact， we put in everything we could find． I remember that Montmorency watched all this，and he looked very thoughtful．Then he walked away．He came back a few minutes later with a dead rat in his mouth． He wanted to give it to us for the meal．We did not know if he really wanted to put it in the pan，or if he wanted to tell us what he thought about the meal．Harris said he thought it would be all right to put the rat in．However， George did not want to try anything new． 
　　It was a very good meal． It was different from other meals．The potatoes were a bit hard， but we had good teeth， so it did not really matter． 
　　After supper Harris was rather disagreeable—I think it was the meal which caused this．He is not used to such rich food．George and I decided to go for a walk in Henley， but we left Harris in the boat．He said he was going to have a glass of whisky，smoke his pipe， and then get the boat ready for the night．We were on an island，so when we came back we would shout from the river bank．Then Harris would come in the boat and get us．When we left， we said to him，'Don't go to sleep！' 
　　Henley was very busy， and we met quite a lot of people we knew in town．The time passed very quickly．When we started off on our long walk back， it was eleven o'clock． 
　　It was a dark and miserable night．It was quite cold， and it was raining a bit． We walked through the dark， silent fields，and we talked quietly to each other．We wondered if we were going the right way．We thought of our nice， warm， comfort－able boat． We thought of Harris， and Montmorency， and the whisky—and we wished that we were there． 
　　We imagined that we were inside our warm little boat， tired and a little hungry， with the dark， miserable river outside．We could see ourselves-we were sitting down to supper there； we were passing cold meat and thick pieces of bread to each other．We could hear the happy sounds of our knives and our laughing voices．We hurried to make it real． 
　　After some time，we found the river，and that made us happy． We knew that we were going the right way． We passed Shiplake at a quarter to twelve， and then George said， quite slowly．' You don't remember which island it was， do you？' 
　　' No，I don't，'I replied， and I began to think carefully．'How many are there？' 
　　'Only four，'George answered．'It'll be all right，if Harris is awake．' 
　　'And if he isn't awake？'I asked． 
　　But we decided not to think about that． 
　　When we arrived opposite the first island， we shouted， but there was no answer．So we went to the second island， and we tried there．The result was the same． 
　　'Oh， I remember now，'George said．'It was the third one．' 
　　And， full of hope， we ran to the third one， and we called out．There was no answer． 
　　It was now becoming serious． It was after midnight．The ho－tels were all full，and we could not go round all the houses and knock on doors at midnight！George said that perhaps we could go back to Henley，find a policeman and hit him．He would arrest us and take us to a police station， and then we would have somewhere to sleep． But then we thought， 'Per－haps he won't arrest us．Perhaps he'll just hit us，too！'We could not fight policemen all night． 
　　We tried the fourth island，but there was still no reply． It was raining hard now， and it was not going to stop． We were very cold， and wet， and miserable． We began to wonder if there were only four islands， or if we were on the wrong bit of the river．Everything looked strange and different in the darkness． 
　　Just when we had lost all hope， I suddenly saw a strange light． It was over by the trees， on the opposite side of the river．I shouted as loudly as I could． 
　　We waited in silence for a moment， and then（Oh， how happy we were！）we heard Montmorency bark． 
　　We continued to shout for about five minutes， and then we saw the lights of the boat． It was coming towards us slowly．We heard Harris's sleepy voice． He was asking where we were． 
　　Harris seemed very strange． It was more than tiredness． He brought the boat to our side of the river． He stopped， at a place where we could not get into the boat， and then immediately he fell asleep． 
　　We had to scream and yell to wake him up again．At last we did wake him up， and we got into the boat． 
　　Harris looked very sad．In fact，he looked like a man who had had a lot of trouble．We asked him if anything had hap－pened， and he said，' Swans！' 
　　We had left the boat near a swan's nest， and， soon after George and I had left， Mrs Swan came back． She started to shout at Harris． However， Harris managed to chase her away，and she went to fetch her husband．Harris said he had had quite a hard battle with these two swans． But he had fought bravely and，in the end，he defeated them． 
　　Half an hour later they returned-with eighteen more swans．There was another terrible battle．Harris said the swans had tried to pull him and Montmorency from the boat and drown them．But，once again，Harris fought bravely，for four hours，and he had killed them all．Then they had all swum away to die． 
　　'How many swans did you say there were？'George asked． 
　　'Thirty－two，'Harris replied，sleepily． 
　　'You said eighteen before，'George said． 
　　'No， I didn't，'Harris answered．'I said twelve．Do you think I can't count？' 
　　We never discovered what had really happened．We asked Harris about it the next morning， but he said， 'What swans？'And he seemed to think that George and I had been dreaming． 
　　Oh， how wonderful it was to be in the boat again！ We ate a very good supper， and then we thought we would have some whisky．But we could not find it．We asked Harris what he had done with it， but he did not seem to understand． The expres－sion on Montmorency's face told us that he knew something，but he said nothing． 
　　I slept well that night，although Harris did wake me up ten times or more． He was looking for his clothes． He seemed to be worrying about his clothes all night． 
　　Twice he made George and me get up，because he wanted to see if we were lying on his trousers．George got quite angry the second time． 
　　'Whatever do you want your trousers for？ It's the middle of the night！'he cried．'Why don't you lie down and go to sleep？' 
　　The next time I woke up Harris said he could not find his shoes．And I can remember that once he pushed me over onto my side．'Wherever can that umbrella be？'he was saying． 
　  
13 哈里斯与天鹅 
　  
　　午饭之后，我们继续驶向沃格雷夫和希普雷克，然后再去松宁。在那里下了船，游览了一个小时左右。来不及赶到雷丁了，所以我们决定回到希普雷克，在那里找一个小岛过夜。 
　　我们在一个小岛上拴好了船，天色尚早。乔治说要是能真正做上一顿可口的晚餐那该多好啊！还说可以把所有的东西，剩的饭都做到一起，那才有味道呢！我们可以把这些东西都放在一只大锅里。乔治要给我们露一手，表演一下怎么做。 
　　这个主意太妙了。乔治便去找木头生火，哈里斯和我准备弄土豆。真没想到工程如此浩大。刚开始的时候我们还挺高兴，可是刚削完第一个土豆，我们就已经痛苦不堪了。一个土豆几乎削得没剩多少了。乔治走过来一看，说： 
　　“哦，这样削可不行。你们把东西全糟塌了。看，象我这样削。” 
　　我们辛辛苦苦地干了二十五分钟，才削好了四个，我们坚决不干了。 
　　乔治说只有四个土豆也太不象话了，因此我们又洗了六个，没削没刮，就那么放在锅里，又放了一些胡萝卜和其它蔬菜。可是乔治看看，说还是不够。我们只好把两个装食物的篮子都拿出来了，把剩下的所有的东西都放进锅里。说实在的，我们把能找到的都放进去了。我还记得在整个烹饪过程中，“元帅”一直心事重重地看着，又走开了。过了一会儿，他叼着一只死耗子回来了，想给我们的晚餐做点贡献。到底它是真的想把死耗子放进锅里呢，还是想告诉我们这是它对晚餐的看法呢，我们不得而知。哈里斯说放进去很好，可是乔治不想搞什么新的试验。 
　　这顿饭确实很好，与以往吃的都不同。土豆有些硬，但因为我们的牙好，所以也没什么大问题。 
　　哈里斯吃罢晚饭变得有些不太友好——我想这一定是那顿饭在作怪，他还不适应那么丰盛的食物。乔治和我打算到亨利城里面转一转，把哈里斯留在船上。他说他要喝一杯威士忌，抽斗烟，再把船弄好，准备过夜。我们停在一个岛上，所以回来的时候只要在岸上喊上一声，哈里斯就把船摇过来接我们。临行的时候，我们叮嘱他：“可别睡着了！” 
　　亨利城里面十分热闹，我们在那里碰见不少伦敦城里的熟人。时间过得真快，我们动身回来时，已经十一点了，还有长长的一段路要走。 
　　那是个阴沉可怕的夜晚，冷气逼人，又下着小雨。我们穿过黑暗寂静的旷野，低声谈着话，心里直犯嘀咕，也不知道走的路对不对。一想到我们那个温暖，舒适的小船，想到哈里斯和“元帅”，还有威士忌——真不如就呆在船上呢。 
　　我们想像自己拖着饥饿、疲惫的身子回到船上，周围是阴森可怕的河水。我们仿佛看见自己坐下来吃着晚餐，互相递着冷肉和一片片厚厚的面包；我们仿佛听见刀叉叮当作响，听到自己阵阵的笑语。我们归心似箭，要尽快实现这个梦想。 
　　又过了一段时间，我们终于到了河边，心中才高兴起来，知道自己走的路没有错。我们经过希普雷克的时候是十一点三刻，乔治慢吞吞地问道：“你还记得咱们住的那个小岛，是吗？” 
　　“不，记不得了，”我回答说，然后我也开始使劲想。“一共有几个岛啊？” 
　　“只有四个，”乔治回答。“只要哈里斯醒着，准能找到。” 
　　“要是他没醒着怎么办？”我问。 
　　我们打定主意不去那么想。 
　　我们走到第一个岛对面大喊大叫，可是毫无回音。我们又跑到第二个岛对面又喊，还是没有回音。 
　　“哦，我想起来了，”乔治说。“我们住的是第三个岛。” 
　　我们满怀希望地跑到第三个岛又喊了一通，还是没有回音。 
　　这样，问题就严重了。时间已过半夜，旅馆也早已客满，我们总不能走遍全城，半夜里一家一家挨着敲门吧！乔治说也许我们应该回亨利城，找个警察，把他打一顿，他就会把我们抓起来带到派出所。那样我们就有地方睡觉了。可是转念一想：“说不定警察不抓我们，倒是也把我们揍一顿呢！”我们不能整个晚上都和警察打架。 
　　我们又摸索到第四个岛，同样毫无结果。雨下得越来越大，没有停的样子。我们又冷又湿，狼狈不堪。我们开始怀疑起来：到底是不是只有四个小岛呢？还是我们走到了另一个河岸？漆黑一片，一切都变幻莫测。 
　　正在我们绝望的当间儿，我忽然看见一道奇异的光线，从河对岸的树林里透了出来，于是我扯起嗓子喊起来。 
　　我们静静等了一会儿。啊！我们听见“元帅”吠叫（哦！我们太高兴了！） 
　　我们又声嘶力竭地喊了五分钟，才看见小船上的灯光慢慢地向我们移过来，又听见哈里斯迷迷糊糊的声音，问我们在哪里。 
　　哈里斯显得有点奇怪，困得不象是一般的疲倦。他把船靠到岸边，停下来，可那个地方我们根本无法上船，而他自己却又马上睡着了。 
　　我们只能喊着，尖叫着才能把他弄醒。他好不容易醒过来，我们这才得以上船。 
　　哈里斯看上去十分难过，就好像经历了一场大劫难。我们问他到底发生了什么事儿，他说了两个字：“天鹅！” 
　　原来，我们把船停在了天鹅巢的旁边。就在我和乔治起身刚走，天鹅太太回来了。她冲着哈里斯直嚷嚷，而哈里斯呢，使出浑身解数把天鹅太太赶走。于是她把她丈夫拉来了。哈里斯说他和两只天鹅战斗得异常激烈，哈里斯愈战愈勇，最后大获全胜。 
　　过了半个小时，它们卷土重来——又带来了十八只天鹅！又是一场昏天黑地的战斗。那些天鹅要把哈里斯和“元帅”拖到水里去，淹死他们。哈里斯再次以大无畏的精神又战斗了四个小时，把它们全部歼灭。它们只能游到别的地方，等死去吧！ 
　　“你说一共有多少只天鹅？”乔治问道。 
　　“三十二只，”哈里斯半睡半醒地回答说。 
　　“可你刚才不是说十八只吗？”乔治说。 
　　“我可没说，”哈里斯咕哝道。“我说的是十二只。你当我不会数数啊？” 
　　到底那场天鹅战争是怎么一回事，我们始终没搞清楚。第二天早上我们问起哈里斯这件事，他却说：“什么天鹅？”他以为乔治和我一直还做着梦呢！ 
　　哦，重新回到船上可真好！我们美美地吃了一顿晚餐。本来还想好好地喝上点威士忌，却怎么也找不着。我们审问哈里斯，把威士忌搞到哪里去了，他一派茫然无知的样子，根本不懂我们在谈什么。可“元帅”脸上的表情却好像告诉我们，他知道些内幕，但它什么也不说。 
　　我那天晚上睡得很好，尽管哈里斯把我吵醒了十好几回。他一直在找衣服，似乎一晚上尽担心他的衣服了。 
　　他把乔治和我推醒了两次，就是为了看看我们有没有压在他的裤子上。第二次的时候，乔治气坏了。 
　　“你半夜三更起来找裤子，到底要干嘛？”乔治喊道。“干嘛不躺下来好好去睡觉。” 
　　我第二次醒来时，哈里斯说找不着鞋了。后来我还记得他把我推了一个个儿，还在说：“我的伞能去哪儿呢？” 
　　　    


 