彼得矶鹞，小小风笛手：鸟的故事

One was named Sandy,because Sandy is a Scotch name and there were blue-bells growing on the rocks;so it seemed right that one of them should have a Scotch name,and what could be better,after all,than Sandy for a sandpiper?One was named Pan,because he piped sweetly among the reeds by the river.One,who came out of his eggshell before his brothers,was named Peter,for his father.

矶鹞的几个孩子中，一个取名沙迪，因为沙迪是苏格兰名字，而周围的岩缝里长满了苏格兰蓝铃花，所以得有一个孩子取个苏格兰名字（注：蓝铃花又称“苏格兰的蓝色铃铛”或“妖精的铃铛”），再说了，对矶鹞来说，没有比沙迪这个名字更贴切的了（注：sandpiper是由sand和piper组成的，sand意思是沙地）。另一个孩子取名潘，因为他总在河边芦苇林里吹风笛，好听极了。（注：在古希腊神话中，潘是古希腊神话中半人半兽的牧神，也是一位出色的音乐家，能用芦笛吹奏出美妙的曲子，经常吸引山林中的仙女倾听。）比两个弟弟先出壳的老大则随了他爸爸，取名彼得。

But Mother Piper never called her children Sandy and Pan and Peter.She called them all"Pete".She was so used to calling her mate"Pete",that that name was easier than any other for her to say.

不过风笛手妈妈却从未称呼过孩子们“沙迪”、“潘”和“彼得”，她一股脑儿管他们叫“彼迪”。因为叫惯了老公“彼迪”，所以叫孩子们“彼迪”比叫别的什么都顺口。

The three of them played by the river all day long.Each amused himself in his own way and did not bother his brothers,although they did not stray too far apart to talk to one another.This they did by saying,"Peep",now and then.

三个小家伙整天在河边嬉戏玩耍，各有各的玩法，互不干扰。不过他们不会离得太远，因为三兄弟还要说话呢。他们时不时地会说上一句“彼普”。

About once an hour,and sometimes oftener,Mother Piper came flying over from Faraway Island,crying,"Pete,Pete,Pete,"as if she were worried.It is no wonder that she was anxious about Sandy and Peter and Pan,for,to begin with,she had had four fine children,and the very first night they were out of their nest,the darlings,a terrible prowling animal named Tom or Tabby had killed one of her babies.

隔上大约一小时，或者更短时间，风笛手妈妈就会从“远岛”上飞过来，叫着“彼迪，彼迪，彼迪，”一副担心的样子。也难怪她会担心沙迪、潘和彼得，因为，她原本有四个宝宝，都活蹦乱跳的，可是就在他们离巢外出的第一夜，有个宝宝被一个四处觅食的不知是叫雄猫还是虎斑猫的可怕动物给杀死了。

But Peter and Pan and Sandy were too young toknow much about being afraid.So they played by the river all day long,care-free and happy.Their sweet little voices sounded contented as they said,"Peep,"one to another.Their queer little tails looked frisky as they went bob-bob-bob-bing up and down every time they stepped,and sometimes when they didn't.Their dear little heads went forward and back in a merry sort of jerk.There were so many things to do,and every one of them a pleasure!

One was named Peter，for his father.
一个孩子随了他爸爸，取名“彼得”。

可是沙迪、潘和彼得太小，还不知道什么叫害怕。他们整天在河边戏耍，无忧无虑，开心得要命。他们“彼普”、“彼普”地互相招呼，声音细细的、甜甜的，听上去是那样的心满意足。他们每迈一步，奇怪的小尾巴就乒乒乒乓摇上去，又乒乒乒乓摇下来，有时候又停住不动，看上去活泼极了。可爱的小脑袋一伸一缩，一副兴高采烈的样子。要做的事情太多了，每件都是那么有趣！

Oh!Here was Sandy clambering up the rocky bank,so steep that there was roothold only for the blue-bells,with stems so slender that one name for them is"hair-bell."But Sandy did not fall.He tripped lightly up and about,with sure feet;and where the walking was too hard,he fluttered his wings and flew to an easier place.Once he reached the top of the bank,where the wild roses were blossoming.And wherever he went,and wherever he came,he found good tasty insects to eat;so he had picnic-luncheons all along the way.

哦！瞧！沙迪往石岸上爬呢！太陡了，只有蓝铃花才能扎根落脚；蓝铃花的茎秆非常纤细，所以有人把它们叫作“发丝铃”。可是，沙迪并没有摔下来。他左腾右挪，非常轻巧，脚下一点儿也不犹豫；有些地方太难爬，他就拍着翅膀飞到容易爬的地方。有一次他竟然爬到了盛开着野蔷薇的岸上！无论到何处，也无论来哪里，他都能找到美味的昆虫吃，所以，他总是走一路，野餐一路。

Ho!here was Pan wandering where the river lapped the rocky shore.His long slender legs were just right for wading,and his toes felt comfortable in the cool water.There was a pleasing scent from the sweet gale bushes,which grew almost near enough to the river to go wading,too;and there was a spicy smell when he brushed against the mint,which wore its blossoms in pale purple tufts just above the leaves along the stem.And every now and then,whether he looked at the top of the water or at the rocks on the shoreedge,he found tempting bits of insect game to eat as he waded along.

嗬！瞧，潘正在乱石丛生的岸边溜达呢。河水轻轻地拍着河岸，他那又细又长的双腿正好蹚水；河水凉凉的，脚趾浸在里面舒服极了。美丽的香杨梅丛散发出沁人心脾的芳香，几乎就长在河边，他也可以到那里去蹚水玩。当他从薄荷丛边擦身而过时，一阵辣辣的味道扑鼻而来，原来，薄荷秆上爬满了薄荷叶，上面开满了一簇簇淡紫色的薄荷花。他蹚水的时候，目光会落在水面上，或者岸边的石块上，但无论落在哪里，他都能时不时地找到美味可口的昆虫吃。

Oho!here was Peter on an island as big as an umbrella,with a scooped-out place at one side as deep as the hollow in the palm of a man's hand.This was shaped exactly right for Peter's bathtub,and as luck would have it,it was filled to the brim with water.Such a cool splashing—once,twice,thrice,with a long delightful flutter;and then out into the warm sunshine,where the feathers could be puffed out and dried!These were the very first real feathers he had ever had,and he hadn't had them very long;and my,oh,my!but it was fun running his beak among them,and fixing them all fine,like a grown-up bird.And when he was bathed and dried,there was a snack to eat near by floating toward him on the water.

啊哈！瞧！彼得上“岛”了，那个岛和伞差不多一样大，“岛”的一侧有一块洼地，深浅就像是人的手掌心，形状正好适合给彼得做浴盆，幸好里面还盛满了水。啊，真凉快呀！一下，两下，三下，他兴奋地拍打着翅膀，溅起一身水花。然后，他走出“浴盆”沐浴着温暖的阳光，把身上的羽毛吹开、晒干。这些是他的第一身羽毛，真正的羽毛，刚长出来还没多久呢；哦，天哪！这可真好玩！他像大鸟那样，把嘴巴伸进羽毛里，把它们梳理得漂漂亮亮、干干净净。洗完澡，晾干全身，还有点心可吃，是从附近水面上漂过来的点心。

Oh!Ho!and Oho!It was a day to be gay in,with so many new amusements wherever three brave,fearless little sandpipers might stray.

哦！嗬！啊哈！这日子可真是快活呀！三只勇敢无畏的小矶鹞无论逛到哪里，都有这么多新鲜好玩的事情。

Then came sundown;and in the pleasant twilight Peter and Pan and Sandy somehow found themselves near each other on the bank,still walking forth so brave and bold,and yet each close enough to his brothers to hear a"Peep",were it ever so softly whispered.

太阳下山了。怡人的暮色里，彼得、潘和沙迪不约而同地来到了岸上，他们相依相伴，依然勇往直前，不过，彼此靠得更近了，只要有谁轻轻地低语一声“彼普”，大家都能听得见。

Did it just happen that about that time Mother Piper came flying low over the water from Faraway Island to Nearby Island,calling,"Pete,Pete,Pete,"in a different tone,a sort of sundown voice?

怎么这么巧？就在这个时候，风笛手妈妈沿着水面，从“远岛”一路低飞找到了“近岛”，一边飞还一边呼唤：“彼迪，彼迪，彼迪”，语气都变了，是不是一到黄昏，她就是这种语气呢？

Was that the way to speak to three big,mostgrown-up sandpiper sons,who had wandered about so free of will the livelong day?

是不是就该用这种语气呢？三只矶鹞小子都老大不小了，还整天在外面瞎逛游。

Ah,but where were the most-grown-up sons?Gone with the sun at sundown;and,instead,there were three cosy little birds,with their heads still rumpled over with down that was not yet pushed off the ends of their real feathers,and a tassel of down still dangling from the tip of each funny tail.

哎呀！那三个老大不小的小子怎么不见了？太阳落山的时候，和太阳一起没影儿了；现在，瞧，他们又变成了三只居家小宝宝，脑袋乱糟糟的，新羽毛长出来了，可是羽毛根上的绒毛还没褪尽呢；尾巴尖上还耷拉着一绺绒毛穗儿，可真滑稽。

And three dear,sweet,little voices answered,"Peep,"every time Mother Piper called,"Pete";and three little sons tagged obediently after her as she called them from place to place all round and all about Nearby Island,teaching them,perhaps,to make sure there was no Tabby and no Tommy on their campingground.

只要风笛手妈妈喊一声“彼迪”，就会听到三声稚嫩的回答：“彼普”，那声音别提多可爱，多甜美了！妈妈喊着他们，从一个地方走到另一个地方，把“近岛”和“近岛”四周走了个遍，每到一处，三个小家伙都顺从地跟在她身后。也许，妈妈是在教他们一定要看看宿营地里有没有“雄猫”和“虎斑猫”吧？

So it was that,after twilight,when darkness was at hand and the curfew sounded for human children to be at home,Peter and Pan and Sandy settled down near each other and near Mother Piper for the night.

果然，黄昏一过，天就黑了，叫人类孩子回家的晚钟也敲响了，彼得、潘和沙迪紧紧地靠在一起，依偎着妈妈准备过夜了。

And where was Peter Piper,who had been abroad the day long,paying little attention to his family?He,too,at nightfall,had come flying low from Faraway Island;and now,with his head tucked behind his wing,was asleep not a rod away from Mother Piper and their three sons.

风笛手爸爸去哪儿了呢？就是那个从早到晚整天都待在外面，很少关心自己家人的爸爸彼得。哦，傍晚时分，他也从“远岛”一路低飞来到了这里，现在，他正把脑袋塞在翅膀后面，在离风笛手妈妈和他们的三个宝贝儿子一箭之地的地方睡觉呢。

Somehow it was very pleasant to know that they were near together through the starlight—the five of them who had wandered forth alone by sunlight.

这一家五口，白天自顾自地到处溜达，夜晚却能聚在一起相依相偎，真是值得我们高兴呀！

But not for long was the snug little Nearby Island to serve for a night camp.Mother Piper had other plans.Like the wise person she was,she let her children find out many things for themselves,though she kept in touch with them from time to time during the day,to satisfy herself that they were safe.And at night she found that they were willing enough to mind what they were told to do,never seeming to bother their heads over the fact that every now and then she led them to a strange camp-ground.

可是，小小的“近岛”虽然温暖舒适，但他们不会在这里长时间夜宿。风笛手妈妈另有打算。她像是有智慧的人类，很多事情都让孩子们自己去领悟，虽然白天她也时不时地和孩子们保持联系，但那也只是为了掌握孩子们的安全状况，好让自己放心。她发现晚上让孩子们做什么，他们都很乐意。虽然每隔一段时间她就带他们换一个陌生的宿营地，但是他们似乎从来都懒得费脑筋去想这件事。

So they did not seem surprised or troubled when,one night soon,Mother Piper,instead of calling them to Nearby Island,as had been her wont,rested patiently in plain sight on a stump near the shore and,with never a word,waited for the sunset hour to reach the time of dusk.Then she flew to the log where Peter Piper had been teetering up and down,and what she said to him I do not know.But a minute later,back she flew,this time rather high overhead,and swooped down toward the little ones with a quick"Pete-weet."After her came Peter Piper flying,also rather high overhead,and swooping down toward his young.Then Mother and Peter Piper went in low,slow flight to Faraway Island.

所以，不久后的一天晚上，风笛手妈妈没有像平常一样喊他们去“近岛”，而是耐心地待在岸边的一根树桩上，一言不发，等待着日落时分薄暮的降临，可他们似乎并不惊讶，也不着急。接着，妈妈飞到正在一根木头上跳上跳下的彼得爸爸跟前，不知对他说了点什么。一分钟之后，她又飞了回来，这次她先飞得高高的，然后短促地叫了一声“彼迪——维迪”，朝下面的小家伙们俯冲下来。她身后跟着彼得爸爸，也是先飞得高高的，然后俯身冲向孩子们。接着妈妈和彼得爸爸一路低飞，慢慢地去“远岛”那边了。

Were they saying good-night to their babies?Were their sons to be left on the bank by themselves,now that they had shaken the last fringe of down from their tails and lost the fluff from their heads?Did they need no older company,now that they looked like grown-up sandpipers except that their vests had no big polka dots splashed over them?

他俩是在向孩子们道晚安吗？是不是因为孩子们已经甩掉了尾巴上那最后一穗绒毛，脑袋上那乱糟糟的绒毛也不见了，就要把他们单独留在岸上呢？是不是因为他们除了背心上还没有洒满大圆点花样以外，看上去已经像大矶鹞了，就不需要大人的陪伴了呢？

Ah,no!At Mother Piper's"Pete-weet,"Peter answered,"Peep,"lifted his wings,and flew right past Nearby Island and landed on a rock on Faraway Island.And,"Peep,"called Sandy,fluttering after.And,"Peep,"said Pan,stopping himself in the midst of his teetering,and flying over Nearby Island on his way to the new camp-ground.

啊，当然不是！听到妈妈“彼迪——维迪”的呼唤，彼得答了一声“彼普”，然后张开翅膀，直接飞过“近岛”，落在了“远岛”的一块岩石上。沙迪也叫了一声“彼普”，拍起翅膀跟了过来。正在玩跷跷板的潘也不玩了，说了一声“彼普”，也越过“近岛”，向新宿营地飞去。

That is how it happened that they had their last luncheon on the shore of Faraway Island before snuggling down to sleep that night.

事情就是这样：那天晚上，他们在“远岛”的岸边加了最后一顿餐，然后就相互依偎着入睡了。

One of the haunts of Peter and Pan and Sandy was Cardinal-Flower Path.This lovely place was along the marshy shore not far from Nearby Island.It was almost white with the fine blooms of water-parsnip,an interesting plant from the top of its blossom head to the lowest of its queer under-water leaves.And here and there,among the lacy white,a stalk of a different sort grew,with red blossoms of a shade so rich that it is called the cardinal flower.Every now and then a rubythroated hummingbird darted quickly above the waterparsnips straight to the cardinal throat of the other flower,and found refreshment served in frail blossomware of the glorious color he loved best of all.

三兄弟经常去一个叫“红花半边莲小径”的地方玩，那里很漂亮，就在“近岛”附近不远处的沼泽沿岸。漂亮的白色水防风花密密麻麻的，整条小路都快变白了。这种植物，从最上头的花尖到最下面浸在水中的奇怪叶子都很有趣。它们像白色的花边，将另一种茎秆植物环绕其间，这种植物的花红艳艳的，所以人们叫它红花半边莲。一只脖颈暗红的蜂鸟时不时地从水防风花上方疾速冲过，直接钻入红花半边莲那红艳艳的花蕊里，那些花蕊就像是一个个花杯，颜色富丽堂皇，是他最喜欢的那种，里面盛着他最喜欢吃的茶点。

And it would be well for all children of men to know that,although three bright active children of sandpipers ran teetering about Cardinal-Flower Path many and many a day,the place was as lovely to look upon at sundown as at sunrise,for not one wonderful spray had been broken from its stem.So it happened,because the children who played there were Sandy and Peter and Pan,that the cardinal flowers lived their life as it was given them by Nature,serving refreshments for hummingbirds through the summer day,and setting seeds according to their kind for other cardinal flowers and other hummingbirds another year.

有一件事情应该让所有人类的孩子都知道，那就是尽管三个活泼可爱的小矶鹞在红花半边莲小径上摇摇晃晃地到处跑了很多很多天，可是，太阳落山的时候，那个地方依然像太阳升起的时候一样美丽怡人，漂亮的花枝都好好地留在茎秆上，三只小矶鹞连一枝都没折。为什么会这样呢？因为在那里玩耍的是矶鹞沙迪、彼得和潘，还因为，红花半边莲的一生都在履行大自然赋予的使命：夏日为鸣蜂端上茶点，并依各自的品种结出各自的种子。这样，来年其他红花半边莲才能发芽开花，其他鸣蜂才有茶点可吃。(www.xing528.com)

But even the charms of Cardinal-Flower Path did not hold Pan and Peter and Sandy many weeks.They seemed to be a sort of gypsy folk,with the love of wandering in their hearts;and it is pleasant to know that,as soon as they were grown enough,there was nothing to prevent their journeying forth with Peter and Mother Piper.

可是“红花半边莲小径”的迷人魅力也无法挽留沙迪、彼得和潘，没过几个星期他们就又要走了。他们就像是吉卜赛人，内心充满了对流浪的渴望；令人高兴的是，他们已经长大，可以和爸爸妈妈一起上路了，没有什么可阻止他们的了。

Of all the strange and wonderful plants and birds and insects they met upon the way I cannot tell you,for,in all my life,I have not traveled so far as these three children went long before they were one year old.They went,in fact,way to the land where the insects live that are so hard and beautiful and gemlike that people sometimes use them for jewels.These are called"Brazilian beetles,"and you can tell by that name where the Pipers spent the winter,though it may seem a very far way for a young bird to go,with neither train nor boat to give him a lift.

他们一路上遇到了哪些陌生而奇妙的植物、鸟儿和昆虫呢？这个我可无法告诉你，因为，我一辈子到过的地方还不及这三个小家伙一岁前到过的地方远呢。实际上，他们去了一个遥远的国度，那里的昆虫特别硬，也特别漂亮，就像宝石一样，所以，有时候人们把它们当成珠宝挂在身上，这些昆虫名叫“巴西甲壳虫”，从这个名字你就知道矶鹞一家是在哪里过的冬了。对于一只幼鸟来说，那个地方似乎太远了，因为这一路，既没有火车，也没有轮船可搭。

Not even tired they were,from all accounts,those little feather-folk;and why,indeed,should they be tired?A jaunt from a northern country to Brazil was not too much for a healthy bird,with its sure breath and pure rich blood.There was food enough along the trail—they chose their route wisely enough for that,you may be sure;and they were in no great haste either going or coming.

人人都说，他们甚至都感觉不到累，这些长着羽毛的小家伙！的确，他们为什么要累呢？对一只呼吸正常、热血沸腾的健康鸟儿来说，从北国飞到巴西没有什么大不了的。况且，他们沿途食物供给充足——毫无疑问，旅行路线都是经过了仔细周密地选择的；还有，无论来去，他们都不忙着赶路。

"Coming,"did I say?Why,surely!You didn't think those sandpipers stayed in Brazil?What did they care for green gem-like beetles,after all?The only decorations they ever wore were big dark polka dots on their vests.Perhaps they were all pleased with them,when their old travel-worn feathers dropped out and new ones came in.Who can tell?They had a way of running their bills through their plumage after a bath,as if they liked to comb their pretty feathers.

“来”？我刚才说“来”了吗？当然啦！你总不会以为矶鹞们就一直“留守”巴西不回来了吧？毕竟，那些像绿宝石一样的甲壳虫关他们什么事呢？他们佩戴过的唯一装饰品就是背心上圆圆的大黑点。一路风餐露宿、饱经风吹雨打，身上的羽毛变得破旧不堪，纷纷脱落，取而代之的是新羽毛，上面还点缀着这些圆圆的大黑点，你说他们能不喜欢吗？谁知道呢？每次洗完澡，他们都自有办法把嘴巴伸到羽衣里，仔细梳理那些漂亮的羽毛，一副乐此不疲的样子。

Be that as it may,there was something beneath their feathers that quickened like the heart of a journeying gypsy when,with nodding heads and teetering tails,they started again for the north.

别看他们那么悠然自得，可是，当他们点着头、摇动尾巴北归的时候，那身羽毛下面的某个东西也像旅途中吉卜赛人的心脏那样加速跳动起来。

Did they dream of a bank where the blue-bells grew,and a shore spiced with the fragrance of wild mint?

他们是不是梦到了开满蓝铃花的河堤？是不是梦到了到处飘散着野薄荷香的湖畔？

No one will ever know just how Nature whispers to the bird,"Northward ho!"But we know they come in the springtime,and right glad are we to hear their voices.

没人知道大自然是怎样悄声低语地叫鸟儿们“向北走”的。可是，我们知道，一到春天他们就回来，我们知道，听到他们的鸣叫我们有多高兴！

So Peter Piper,Junior,came back again to the shore of Nearby Island.And do you think Sandy and Pan walked behind him for company,calling,"Peep,"one to another?And do you think Mother Piper and Father Peter showed him the way to Faraway Island at sun-down,and guarded him o'nights?Not they!They were busy,every one,with their own affairs,and Peter would just have to get along without them.

小彼得又回到了“近岛”，来到了岸边。你以为沙迪和潘还会跟在他后面陪着他，一边走还一边彼此喊着“彼普”？你以为太阳下山的时候，风笛手妈妈和彼得爸爸为他指了去“远岛”的路，晚上还守护在他身边？他们才不呢！大家都各自忙各自的事情呢，彼得只能单独行动了。

Well,Peter could—Peter and Dot.For of course he was a grown-up sandpiper now,with a mate of his own,nodding her wise little head the livelong day,and teetering for joy all over the rocks where the red columbine grew.

不过，彼得能够自己行动了——他有多蒂呢。当然了，彼得现在已经是一只大矶鹞了，有自己的伴侣了。多蒂整天都点着聪明的小脑袋，在长满红色耧斗草的岩石堆上摇摇晃晃地走来走去，过得很开心。

The spot she teetered to most of all was a little cup-shaped hollow high up on the border of the ledge,where the sumachs were big as small trees and where the sweet fern scented the air.The hollow was lined tidily and softly with dried grass,and made a comfortable place to sit,no doubt.At least,Dot liked it;and Peter must have had some fondness for it,too,for he slipped on when Dot was not there herself.It just fitted their little bodies,and there were four eggs in it of which any sandpiper might well have been proud;for they were much,much bigger than most birds the size of Dot could ever lay.In fact,her little body could hardly have covered them snugly enough to keep themwarm if they had not been packed just so,with the pointed ends pushed down into the middle of the rather deep nest.

The spot she teetered to most of all.
她摇摇晃晃经常光顾的地方。

她最常去的地方是一块形状像茶杯的小洼地，在凸岩边上，那里漆树长得像小树一样大，空气中弥漫着香蕨木的芬芳。小洼地里面铺着整整齐齐、软软乎乎的干草，坐进去肯定很舒服，反正多蒂喜欢这里；彼得肯定也挺喜欢的，因为多蒂不在里面时，他就会溜进来坐上去。小洼地刚好能容下他们的小身子，里面还有四枚蛋呢，四枚让任何矶鹞都为之自豪的蛋；这几个蛋很大，比大多数和多蒂个头一样大的鸟产下的蛋大多了。其实，如果不是他们尖头朝下挤进深深的巢心的话，就凭多蒂那小身板，根本就不可能把他们舒舒服服地罩起来，为他们保温。

The eggs were creamy white,with brown spots splashed over them—the proper sort of eggs(if only they had been smaller)to tuck beneath a warm breast decorated with pretty polka dots.But still,they must have been her very own,or Dot could not have taken such good care of them.

这几枚蛋白得像奶油，上面洒着褐色的斑点——裹在多蒂那长满漂亮圆点的前胸下，又温暖又般配（如果蛋再小一点儿的话就更相配了）。不过，无论如何，这些蛋肯定得是她自己的，要不多蒂才不会这么精心地照顾他们呢。

Because of this care,day by day the little body inside each shell grew from the wonderful single cell it started life with,to a many-celled creature,all fitted out with lungs and a heart and rich warm blood,and very slender legs,and very dear heads with very bright eyes,and all the other parts it takes to make a bird.When the birds were all made,they broke the shells and pushed aside the pieces.And four more capable little rascals never were hatched.

在她的精心呵护下，蛋壳里的小生命一天天长大了：最初只是一个神奇的单细胞，后来变成了一只完完整整的多细胞鸟儿，不仅有肺、有心、有涌动的热血，还有细细的腿和可爱的脑袋，脑袋上还有分外明亮的眼睛。等大家都变成了鸟儿，他们就开始敲击蛋壳，把敲下来的碎片拨拉到一边，于是，四只能耐无比的小淘气鬼就孵出来了。

Why,almost before one would think they had had time to dry their down and stretch their legs and get used to being outside of shells instead of inside,those little babies walked way to the edge of the river,and from that time forth never needed their nest.

咦，这四个小宝宝怎么这么快就弄干了身上的绒毛？好像连腿都没伸一下就适应了蛋壳外面的世界？只见他们一路远行来到了河边，从此，就再也没有回过他们的小巢。

And look!The fluffy,cunning little dears are nodding their heads and teetering their tails!Yes,that proves that they must be sandpipers,even if we did have doubts of those eggs.Ah!Dot knew what she was about all along.The size of her eggs might fool a person,but she had not worried.Why,indeed,should she be troubled?Those big shells had held food-material enough,so that her young,when hatched,were so strong and well-developed that they could go wandering forth at once.They did not lie huddled in their nest,helplessly begging Peter Piper and Mother Dot to bring them food.Not they!Out they toddled,teetering along the shore,having picnics from the first—the little gypsy babies!

瞧！这些毛茸茸的小家伙们正在点头、摇尾巴呢，好小巧、好可爱呀！是呀，这足以证明他们就是矶鹞，就算我们对那四枚蛋有疑问也没关系了。哈！多蒂一直都很清楚她在忙什么。她的蛋很大，也许会让人类迷惑，但是，她可从来不会担心弄错。

嗨，的确，她有什么好担心的呢？那些大大的蛋壳里面装着足够可吃的东西，孩子们孵出来的时候，身体结实，发育良好，马上就能出去溜达。他们才不会蜷缩在窝里，可怜兮兮地向爸爸小彼得和妈妈多蒂要吃的呢。这可不是他们的风格！从一开始，他们就迈着蹒跚的脚步离开蛋壳，摇摇晃晃地来到岸边，四处野餐——简直就是一群吉卜赛小宝宝！

Tabby did not catch any of them,though one night she tried,and gave Dot an awful scare.It was while they were still tiny enough to be tucked under their mother's feathers after sundown,and before they could manage to get,stone by stone,to Nearby Island.So they were camped on the shore,and the prowling cat came very near.So near,in fact,that Mother Dot fluttered away from her young,calling back to them,in a language they understood,to scatter a bit,and then lie so still that not even the green eyes of the cat could see a motion.The four little Pipers obeyed.Not one of them questioned,"Why,Mother?"or whined,"I don't want to,"or whimpered,"I'm frightened,"or boasted,"Pooh,there's nothing here."

虎斑猫一直想抓他们，可是从未得逞，尽管一天晚上她差点得手，着实把多蒂妈妈吓坏了。那时他们还很小，太阳下山之后全都能挤在妈妈身下藏起来；那时，他们还没有越过一块块岩石到达“近岛”呢。当时他们正在河边露营，那只大猫悄悄地过来潜伏在附近，实际上，她离得太近了，结果，多蒂妈妈一下子扑棱起翅膀从孩子们身边飞开，一边飞一边回头用孩子们能听懂的语言叫他们散开、趴下别动。他们真的就一动不动地趴在那里，猫的眼睛再贪婪也看不到一丁点儿动静。风笛手家的四个小家伙都很听话，谁也没问“为什么呀，妈妈”，或者小声嘀咕“我不”，谁也没哭哭啼啼地哼哼“我怕”，或者不以为然地犟嘴“切！根本没什么嘛”。

Dot led the crouching enemy away by fluttering as if she had a broken wing,and she called for help with all the agony of her mother-love."Pete,"she cried,"Pete,"and"Pete,Pete,Pete!"

多蒂装作翅膀受伤的样子拍打着翅膀，引开了潜伏的敌人，与此同时，母爱的力量让她拼尽全力大声呼救：“彼迪！”“彼迪，彼迪！”“彼迪，彼迪，彼迪！”

No one who hears the wail of a frightened sandpiper begging protection for her young can sit unmoved.

无论是谁，只要听到矶鹞惊恐万状的求救声，都不会坐视不管的。

Someone at the Ledge House heard Dot,and gave a low whistle and a quick command.Then there was a dashing rush through the bushes,that sounded as if a dog were chasing a cat.A few minutes later Dot's voice again called in the dark—this time,not in anguish of heart,but very cosily and gently."Pete-weet?"she whispered;and four precious little babies murmured,"Peep,"as they snuggled close to the spotted breast of their mother.

凸岩屋那边有人听到了多蒂的求救声，他一声低鸣，冲上半空俯瞰片刻，然后，就以迅雷不及掩耳之势嗖嗖地冲过灌木丛，那声音就好像是一只狗在猛追一只猫。几分钟后，夜幕中又传来多蒂的声音，不过这次不是惊恐的求救声，而是温柔亲切的低声问候“彼迪——维迪？”四个小宝贝也一边往妈妈那长满斑点的胸脯下面挤，一边喃喃地回答道：“彼普。”

So it happened that two sons and two daughters of Peter Piper,Junior,played and picnicked and bathed by the river.The one who had first pipped his eggshell was named Peter the Third,for his father and his grandfather,and a finer young sandpiper never shook the fluff of down from his head or the fringe from his tail,when his real feathers pushed into their places.

就这样，风笛手小彼得的两个儿子两个女儿在河边嬉戏玩耍，一会儿野餐，一会儿又洗澡。头一个啄破蛋壳的那个孩子名字随他的爷爷和爸爸，叫彼得三世，他比爷爷和爸爸还漂亮，真正的羽毛刚刚长出来的时候，脑袋上的绒毛依然毛茸茸的，尾巴上的绒毛穗也仍旧耷拉着。

What his brother and sisters were named,I never knew;and it didn't matter much,for their mother called them all"Pete".

我一直不知道他的弟弟和两个妹妹叫什么；不过这没多大关系，因为他们的妈妈管他们都叫“彼迪”。

Peter the Third and the others grew up as Pan and Peter and Sandy had grown,dallying happily along the river-edge,and as happily accepting the guidance of their mother,who made her slow flight from Faraway Island every now and then,usually so low that her spotted breast was reflected in the clear water as she came,the white markings in her wings showing above and below.

当年潘、彼得和沙迪是怎么长大的，彼得三世兄妹就是怎么长大的，他们快快乐乐地在河边嬉戏玩耍，高高兴兴地听妈妈的教导。妈妈每隔一段时间就从“远岛”慢慢飞过来，通常，她都飞得很低，所以，她每次来的时候，清澈的河水里都会倒映着她那洒满斑点的胸脯，翅膀上面和翅膀下面的白色标记一览无余。

Dallying happily along the river-edge.
在河边快乐地嬉戏玩耍。

Of course,as soon as the season came for their migration journey,the four of them started cheerfully off with Peter and Dot,for a leisurely little flight to Brazil and back—to fill the days,as it were,with pleasant wanderings,from the time the hummingbird fed at the feast of the cardinal flower in late summer,until he should be hovering over the columbine in the spring.

当然，一旦迁徙季节到来，四个小家伙就会兴高采烈地跟着彼得和多蒂开始短途旅行，他们不慌不忙地飞到巴西，然后又不慌不忙地飞回来。从夏末鸣蜂在红花半边莲上美餐那天开始，一直到春天他在耧斗菜上盘旋期间，每天他们都四处溜达，别提多快活了！