August and September came and went, and the quail family grew plump upon grain and weed seed,
八月和九月一晃就过去了,依靠谷物和草子过活,鹌鹑家族长胖了,
but the loss of grain to the farmer was more than paid for by the weed seed they destroyed.
相比于它们损坏的草子,谷物对于农民的损失更严重。
October with its corn in the shock and golden pumpkins and harvested grain and fruit was with us
八月份有捆绑的玉米杆,金黄色的南瓜,还有丰收的谷物和水果,
when another hunter came down from the great woods.
另一只猎手从丛林中前来觅食。
This hunter did not shuffle as the old raccoon had done; his gait was a steady trot.
这名猎手没有像老浣熊一样发出刷刷刷的声音,他是平稳的急速前行。
It was red fox, the wise, and a much more successful hunter than the old raccoon.
它就是赤狐,它比老浣熊更狡猾,成功几率更高。
He, too, got a scent of quail down in the pasture and followed it eagerly. His step was swift and sure, and his nose was keen.
他也闻到了牧场上鹑的味道,并急切地尾随他们而来,他的步伐又快又稳,他的鼻子很灵敏。
Swiftly like a dark shadow he advanced until he located the sleeping quail under an old brush fence.
他像一道黑色影子一样前进,直到他发现了老旧篱笆下熟睡的鹑。
Then he crept forward foot by foot until he was almost upon them, when with a sudden spring he darted into their midst.
他一步一步向前爬行,他几乎要抓住他们,他突然一跃而起钻入他们的巢穴。
Almost at once there could be heard the sudden whir of many wings
翅膀的翻腾声立刻响起,
and cries of fear and pain mingled with the rapid click, click of the fox's jaws.
恐惧的尖叫声和赤狐吱吱的咬合声交织在一起。
When the bevy was gone, and Mr. Fox nosed about under the fence, he found he also had bagged a pair of quail.
当鹑群消失后,狐狸先生在篱笆下寻找,他发现他吃了很多只鹑。
A Family Reunion
家庭团聚
No more misfortunes happened to the quail family until the first day of the hunting season.
对于鹑家族而言,打猎季的第一天是最悲惨的。
This day was indeed one of sorrow to the family of bobwhite.
这天对于山齿鹑家族而言太悲惨了。
Toward night, a biting sleet and rainstorm set in and the hunting ceased, but the quail family had been scattered in every direction.
夜晚临近,雨夹雪和暴雨不期而至,打猎结束,鹑家族被打散到各处。