MWRP讀物推介|少年尋寶記The Young Treasure Hunter

《少年尋寶記》（The Young Treasure Hunter）是「百萬英語閱讀計劃」MWRP叢書——英漢對照中級英語系列讀物第ＩＩ輯之11，適合已掌握1500基本英語辭彙量（相當於初中畢業）的英語學習者閱讀。

百萬英語閱讀計劃是為專門為中國學生設計的英語閱讀提高計劃，讀者對象為已具有初中英語水平的讀者，通過２年、每天約15分鐘的閱讀能達到中級英語水平，掌握3000多單詞和大量的短語，熟練掌握英語的各種句子結構，並能閱讀一般英語原著。詳見：《百萬英語閱讀計劃讀者手冊》。

內容簡介

17歲弗萊德?斯坦利，因為父親發生採礦事故，造成殘疾，不得不輟學到金礦尋找工作。找工作時，他聽到父親的一個熟人說，在阿拉斯加的一個山洞中，一位已故的探險者埋藏了大量的黃金，許多人都試圖去尋找，但都以失敗而告終。於是，弗萊德決定去試試運氣。經過探險者遺孀的同意，弗萊德拿到了藏寶圖的複製件，跟父親的朋友巴克斯特先生及他的兒子傑利踏上了去阿拉斯加艱難而危險的尋寶之路。他們會找到藏寶嗎？如果能找到，能成功地帶回家嗎？

原書作者是弗蘭克·V·韋伯斯特（Frank V. Webster）是美國20世紀初著名兒童文學作家，先後出版兒童讀物20多本。原書出版於1909年。

文本信息

本書文本統計信息詳見下表，供選擇時參考：

說明:

1. 關於可讀性：這是根據美國Rudolf Flesch博士的統計方法計算出的Flesch Reading Ease（弗萊士易讀度），計算根據是句子的字數和100個字內音節個數等，數值在0和100之間，數目越大，文章越容易讀。

2. 1500基本辭彙外的單詞不包括由這些詞構成的合成詞 （如：schoolboy<=school +boy）和派生詞 （如：proudly <= proud + ly）。

3. 專有名詞（人名地名）或由專有名詞派生的辭彙以及感嘆詞不計入生詞。

4. 1500詞外詞數（生詞數）包含重複詞數。比如一個單詞以不同形式出現3次，則按3次統計。

5. 在1500詞外詞條數中，重複的單詞或者一個單詞的不同形式統計為1次。

6. 正文每一千字處都有字數標誌，便於讀者掌握閱讀進度。

7. 1500基本辭彙外的詞在原文部分用粗體顯示，譯文部分用深色粗體，由於翻譯的緣故，兩部分的詞性和意義並不完全對應，僅供參考。

8. 本系列讀物的前三本生詞全部標註，以後只標註兩次，出現兩次以後生詞就不再標註。

第一章試讀

The Young Treasure Hunter

少年尋寶記

Chapter 1. Seeking a Job

第一章　找工作

「How are you feeling this morning, father?」 asked Fred Stanley as his father came slowly into the dining-room, leaning heavily on a crutch.

「爸爸，今天早上您感覺怎麼樣了？」爸爸吃力地拄著一個拐杖緩慢地來到餐廳時，弗萊德?斯坦利問道。

「Not so well, Fred. My leg hurt badly last night, and I did not sleep much. You are up early, aren』t you?」

「不算好，弗萊德。昨天晚上我的腿疼得厲害，沒睡多少覺。你起得很早，是吧？」

「Yes. I am going over to the new diggings and see if I can』t get a job.」

「說道。我打算到新礦區去，看看能不能找到一份工作。」

「Where are the new diggings, Fred? I hadn』t heard of any.」

「新礦區在哪裡，弗萊德？我沒聽說過啊。」

「Near Cartersville. They』ve formed a settlement and called it New Strike. I heard they wanted boys to drive the ore carts, and I thought I』d go over and try for a place.」

「在卡特斯維爾附近。他們已經成立了一個拓居地，取名為新斯特賴克。我聽說他們需要些男孩子趕礦石車，我考慮過去試著找個工位。」

「It』s too bad you have had to stop school, Fred, and go to work. If I wasn』t crippled I could make lots of money at mining.」

「你不得不輟學去幹活兒，這事太糟了，弗萊德。要不是我腿殘廢了，我會開礦掙許多錢的。」

「Never mind, father. When you get well again, you』ll make more than ever. And I don』t mind giving up school--very much.」

「不要緊，爸爸。等你好了之後，你掙的錢會比過去任何時候都多。我不在意輟學——不太在意。」

Fred added the last words in a lower voice, for he greatly liked his studies. But when he was needed at home he did not complain.

弗萊德說後面的話時聲音更低了，因為他非常喜歡學習，但是家裡需要他的時候，他沒有抱怨。

Norman Stanley, Fred』s father, had been injured in a mining accident about six months before. Though he was better now, he could not walk without a crutch. The doctor said he would get entirely well, but it seemed very slow, and sometimes Mr. Stanley was almost discouraged.

弗萊德的爸爸諾曼?斯坦利６個月前在一次礦難中受傷。儘管現在他好些了，不拄拐杖不能走路。醫生說他會痊癒的，但是好像非常慢，有時候斯坦利先生幾乎泄氣了。

The Stanley family, of which Fred was the only child, lived in the town of Piddock, California. It was not far from a mining area, and within a short distance of the coast. Mr. Stanley had been well off when he was able to work. But because of his accident, his savings had been used up. Fred made small sums by doing odd jobs here and there. Mrs. Stanley took in sewing, and they just managed to get along.

弗萊德是斯坦利家唯一的孩子，他們住在加利福尼亞的皮多克鎮。那裡離一個礦區不遠，而且離海岸距離也很近。斯坦利先生還能幹活的時候，他們還很富裕，但是由於那次事故，他的積蓄都花光了。弗萊德到處干零活掙點錢，斯坦利夫人接針線活來做，他們勉強可以生活下去。

「Well, Fred,」 went on Mr. Stanley, 「I hope some day I can send you back to school, and perhaps to college. If only my leg would get better,」 and he let out a sigh.

「哦，弗萊德，」斯坦利先生接著說。「我希望有一天我能把你送回學校，也許會送你上大學。要是我的腿能好就好了，」他嘆了一口氣。

「Don』t worry, father. We』ll get along somehow,」 said the boy.

「別擔心，爸爸。我們會設法對付過去的，」這個孩子說。

「Your mother is not up yet, Fred,」 said Mr. Stanley. 「She was sewing quite late last night, and I told her to take a rest this morning. I thought maybe you and I could get our own breakfast.」

「你媽媽還沒起床，弗萊德，」斯坦利先生說。「昨天晚上她做針線活到了很晚，我讓她今天早上休息一下。我想我和你自己能做早飯的。」

「Of course we can, dad.」

「當然我們能了，爸爸。」

While father and son were getting their breakfast, Mrs. Stanley came downstairs. She was a little woman with slightly gray hair, but a sweet face and kindly, laughing blue eyes.

父子倆在做早飯的時候，斯坦利夫人從樓上下來。她是個身材小巧的女人，頭髮有些灰白，但是長著秀麗的臉，藍眼睛和善而帶著笑意的。

「Well!」 she cried. 「You』re ahead of me this morning, aren』t you?」

「哎呀！」她叫道。「今天早上你們比我起得早，是吧？」

「I thought you would like to rest a bit,」 said her husband. 「That is why I did not call you.」

「我還以為你會休息一下呢，」丈夫說。「所以我沒有叫你。」

「Oh, I』m not so tired. I slept well, and I wanted to be up early and get Fred』s breakfast. Do you feel any better this morning, Norman?」 asked Mrs. Stanley.

「哦，我沒有那麼累。我睡得不錯，本來想早起給弗萊德做早飯呢。諾曼，今天早上你感覺好些了嗎？」斯坦利夫人問。

「Not much. Perhaps a little. It is very slow.」

「好不多少。也許稍微好些。恢復很慢。」

Tears came into the eyes of Mrs. Stanley, but she turned her head away so he would not see them.

斯坦利夫人眼淚流出淚水，但是她把頭轉到一邊，以便他看不見淚水。

The little family gathered around the table, and Mr. Stanley told Fred something of how to drive an ore cart.

這個小家庭圍坐在桌子旁，然後斯坦利先生給弗萊德講了一下如何趕礦石車的事情。

「Perhaps I』ll not get a chance at one, dad.」

「也許我沒有機會找到一份工作，爸爸。」

「Oh, yes, you will. If you see any old miners there, at the new diggings, just mention my name, and they』ll help you. They all know me, and I have helped lots of them. Yes, and some of them have helped me.」

「哦，不，你會的。如果你在新礦區看見有老礦工，就提起我的名字，他們會幫你的。他們都認識我，我幫過他們中的許多人。對，他們中有人也幫過我。」

The meal was soon over. And, with a small package of bread and bacon, and a piece of pie, saved from the day before, Fred Stanley started off to look for work.

不久就吃完了飯。然後，弗萊德?斯坦利帶著一小包頭一天省下的麵包和鹹肉，還有一塊餡餅，動身去找工作了。

It was about eight miles from Piddock, where Fred lived, to New Strike, over the mountains. It was a hard journey, but the boy set off on it with a light heart. He was hopeful of getting a job, and he knew that if he did, there would be more happiness at home.

從弗萊德住的皮多克到山上的新斯特賴克大約８英里遠。路途很艱難，但是這個孩子還是心情輕鬆地出發了。他滿懷希望能找到工作，他知道，如果能找到的話，家裡會有更快活些。

As Fred made a turn in the road, he saw, just ahead of him, an old man, riding on a small donkey. The man』s legs were so long, and the donkey so little, that the rider』s shoes nearly touched the ground.

弗萊德在路上一轉彎，就看見在他的前面有一個老人騎著一頭小驢子。那個人的腿太長了，而驢子那麼小，他的鞋子幾乎碰到地面。

The man had a big bundle before him, and the donkey went very slowly. So Fred soon caught up to the rider.

那個人身前有一個大包袱，驢走得非常慢，於是弗萊德不久就追上了那個騎驢人。

「Good morning,」 the boy said.

「早上好，」孩子說。

「Ah, stranger, good morning,」 was the man』s reply. 「I see you are going to the same place I am.」

「啊，陌生人，早上好，」那個人回答道。「我看你是跟我去同一個地方。」

「I don』t know whether it』s the same place or not, but I』m going to New Strike,」 said Fred.

「我不知道是不是同一個地方，但我要到新斯特賴克去，」弗萊德說。

「So am I, stranger. What is your name?」

「我也是，陌生人。你叫什麼名字？」

「Fred Stanley.」

「弗萊德?斯坦利。」

「Where are you from?」

「你是哪裡人？」

「Piddock.」

「皮多克人。」

「Well, I』m Bill Gardner. Old Bill Gardner, they mostly call me.」

「哦，我是比爾?加德納。老比爾?加德納，他們多數都這麼喊我。」

「And where are you from?」 asked Fred.

「您是哪裡人啊？」弗萊德問。

「Me? Oh, I am from nowhere in particular. I make my home wherever I happen to drop my pick and shovel. I』m a prospector.」 And Fred noticed that, besides his bundle, the old man had a set of mining tools.

「我？哦，我也並不是專門某個地方的人。我無論在哪裡，把鎬頭和鐵杴一扔就安家。我是個勘探員。」弗萊德注意到，除了他的包袱，老人還有一套採礦工具。

「Are you going to settle at New Strike?」 asked Fred.

「你要在新斯特賴克定居嗎？」弗萊德問。

「Yes. I heard there were some rich mines there, and I want to get my share. Go along there!」 and the man pulled the donkey』s reins.

「是的。我聽說那裡有些豐富的礦藏，我想去弄一份。一起去吧！」然後這個人拉了一下驢的韁繩。

「He』s the slowest donkey I ever saw,」 the man went on, 「and I』ve seen some pretty lazy ones. But do you expect to do any prospecting in New Strike? Where』re your tools?」

「這是我見過走得最慢的驢了，」這個人接著說，「我還見過一些特別懶的。但是你想在新斯特賴克探礦嗎？你的工具在哪裡呢？」

「I haven』t any.」

「我沒有。」

「Then you』ll find it pretty hard to pick up one in the camps. Every man will want his own.」

「那你在營地會發現很難找到工具的。每個人都想用自己的工具。」

「Oh, I don』t expect to look for gold.」

「哦，我不想找金子。」

「What are you going to look for then?」

「那你打算找什麼？」

「A job. I heard they wanted drivers for the ore carts at the stamp mills, and I thought I might become one.」

「找個工作。我聽說他們在碎礦機需要人趕礦石車，我想也許我可以干。」

「But, why don』t you try mining?」

「可是，你為什麼們不採礦試試呢？」

「I don』t believe I』m old enough.」

「我覺得自己年齡不夠。」

「Oh, yes, you are. I came to California when I was only a boy, and I』ve been mining ever since.」

「哦，不，你夠了。我還是個孩子的時候就來到加利福尼亞，從那以後就一直採礦。」

「My father was a miner,」 said Fred.

「我爸爸過去是個礦工，」弗萊德說。

「Was he? What』s his name?」

「是嗎？他叫什麼名字？」

「Norman Stanley.」

「諾曼?斯坦利。」

「What! Norman Stanley, who used to work in the Eagle』s Claw mine?」

「什麼！諾曼?斯坦利，過去在鷹爪礦乾的那個嗎？」

「Yes,」 replied the boy, who had often heard his father speak of the mine.

「是的，」孩子回答。他經常聽到爸爸說起那個礦。

「Well, well! I know him like a brother. Just tell him you met old Bill Gardner, and he』ll remember me all right.」

「哦，哦！我跟他很熟，就跟兄弟一樣。你就告訴他說遇到比爾?加德納了，他會很容易想起我的。」

「I will.」

「我會的。」

「And I』ll speak a good word for you when we get to the new diggings,」 went on the old man. 「I know every miner in these parts worth knowing.」

「我們到新礦區的時候，我會給你說好話的，」老人繼續說。「這些地方那些值得認識的礦工哪個我都認識。」

Fred found he could easily keep up with the small animal, and the miner talked pleasantly until they came to New Strike. Then, the boy went to the manager of the stamp mills, to apply for a job.

弗萊德發現自己能很容易地跟上那頭小牲口，而且那位礦工一路愉快地說話，一直來到新斯特賴克。然後，這個孩子去找碎礦機的經理申請工作。

「Let me know how you get along,」 said the miner, as he was about to part from the boy.

「以後把你的情況告訴我，」那位礦工即將跟孩子分手的時候，說道。

「Where will I find you?」

「我到哪裡去找你啊？」

「Oh, I』m going to put up at the hotel. There』s only one, so you won』t have much trouble finding me. Just ask for Old Bill Gardner, and anybody will point me out. Well, good luck.」

「哦，我要到旅館去住下。只有一家，所以你找我不會費勁的。你就問老比爾?加德納，誰都會指出我的。好吧，祝你好運。」

「Thank you,」 answered Fred, as he started toward the stamping mills.

「謝謝你，」弗萊德回答，一邊朝碎礦機走去。

「Well, what can I do for you?」 asked the manager, as Fred entered the office.

「哦，你要幹什麼？」弗萊德走進辦公室的時候，經理問。

「Do you want any boys to drive ore carts? I heard you did.」

「你們想要男孩來趕礦石車嗎？我聽說你們想要的。」

「We did, but we filled the last place about an hour ago.」

「是的，但是大約一個小時前我們最後一個位子就滿了。」

Fred』s heart sank. If he had been a little earlier, or if he had started sooner, he might now have had a good job.

弗萊德的心涼了。要是再早一點，或者早動身的話，現在也許能找個好工作。

「Is there anything else to do around here?」 he asked. 「I would be glad to get work of any kind.」

「這裡還有別的事情我能幹媽？」他問。「任何工作我都願意干。」

「I』m afraid I haven』t anything for any one as young as you.」

「恐怕我們沒有工作讓你這麼小的孩子幹了。」

「I am quite strong, though I am only seventeen years old.」

「雖然我才１７歲，可是我很有勁兒啊。」

「Yes, I must admit you seem a strong boy, but, I am sorry to say, I can』t give you any work. If you leave your name and address I』ll send for you, when there is anything.」

「對，我得承認你好像很有勁兒，但是，對不起，我沒有工作給你。如果你把姓名和地址留下來，等有工作的時候，我會派人去找你的。」

「Thank you,」 replied Fred, and he wrote them on a piece of paper the manager gave him.

「謝謝你，」弗萊德回答，然後在經理給他的一張紙上寫了下來。

「If you were a man now, I could give you work in the mine. But I can』t put boys in there. Have you had any experience in mining?」

「如果你現在是個大人的話，我就會在礦上給你個工作了。但是我不能讓孩子去裡面。你有採礦經驗嗎？」

「No, but I know something about it from hearing my father tell about it. He is a miner.」

「沒有，但是我聽爸爸給我講過，了解一些。他就是個礦工。」

「What is his name?」

「他叫什麼名字？」

Fred told him, and found that, while the manager did not know Mr. Stanley, he had heard of him.

弗萊德告訴了他，結果發現經理雖然不認識斯坦利先生，但是聽說過他。

「I wish, for your father』s sake, I could give you work,」 he said. 「I』ll keep you in mind, and you shall have the first job that is open.」

「看在你爸爸的份上，我希望能給你點活兒，」他說。「我要記住你，只要一有空缺我就讓你來。」

「That is very kind of you.」

「太感謝您了。」

Fred said good-by to the manager, and started off to see if there was any work elsewhere for him. But he found that either all the places were filled, or that, when there was work, he could not do it.

弗萊德跟經理道了別，然後出去到處看看別的地方是不是有他能幹的活兒。但是他發現，要麼所有的位子都滿了，要麼有活兒他幹不了。

Somewhat discouraged, he sat down to eat his simple lunch, and, after a drink from a spring, he felt refreshed.

他多少有些泄氣，就坐下來簡單地吃了午飯，然後，從泉眼中喝了口水後，他感覺精力有恢復了。

Early that afternoon he had tried all the possible work in New Strike, but he could not find a job.

那天下午很早，他把新斯特賴克所有可能的地方都試遍了，但是卻找不到工作。

「I think I』ll start back home,」 he said. 「There』s no use looking up Mr. Gardner.」

「我想我該回家了，」他說。「去拜訪加德納先生也沒有用。」

The truth was he did not like to tell the old miner he had not succeeded in getting work. So Fred started off on his long trip back to Piddock.

實情是，他不願意告訴那位老礦工說自己找工作沒成功。於是弗萊德開始了回到皮多克的長途旅行。

But, as he was passing along the only street of the town, a voice called him. He turned to see the old miner in front of the hotel. 「Wait a minute. I want to speak to you!」

但是，在他經過這個鎮上唯一的街道時，一個聲音喊了他。他一轉身，看見那位老礦工站在旅館前面。「等一會兒，我想跟你說句話！」

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