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Then Harris tried to open the tin with a little knife，and he cut himself badly．George tried with some scissors．The scissors flew up，and nearly hit him in the eye．I tried to make a hole in the tin with the sharp end of a piece of metal．But I missed．As a result，I fell in the water，and the tin flew away and broke a cup．

Then we all got angry．We took that tin，and we put it on the grass by the river．Harris went into a field and got a big，sharp stone．I got a long，thick piece of wood．George held the tin，and Harris put the sharp end of his stone against the top of it．I took the piece of wood，and held it high in the air．Then I brought it down as hard as I could．

It was George's hat that saved his life that day．He keeps that hat now．On a winter evening，when men are telling sto-ries about the dangers they have known，George brings out his hat．He shows it to his friends．Then he tells the story again-and he adds more details to it each time．

Harris was not hurt too badly．

After that，I took the tin away．I beat it until I was exhaust-ed and miserable．Then Harris took it．

We beat it until it was long and thin．We beat it until it was square．We hit it with the wood until it was every shape there is-but we could not make a hole in it．Then George tried，and he knocked it into a shape which was strange，and terrible，and ugly．It frightened him，and he threw away the piece of wood．Then the three of us sat round that tin on the grass，and we looked at it．

There was one big line across the top of the tin that looked like a mouth．It seemed to be laughing at us，and this made us very angry．So Harris ran at it，and picked it up．He threw it，as hard as he could，into the middle of the river．As it went down into the water，we shouted awful things at it．Then we got into the boat，and we left that place，and did not stop until we reached Maidenhead．

We went through Maidenhead quickly，but，after that，we travelled along more slowly．We stopped for tea just before we got to Cookham．By the time we got through the lock it was evening．

It was a bit windy，and someone had made a mistake because the wind was behind us．That does not usually happen．But that afternoon the wind actually helped us on our way，and the boat moved quite fast．

There were no other people on the river，except for three old men．They were sitting in a boat，and they were fishing．As we got nearer，we could see that they were old．They were also quite serious，because they were watching their fishing-lines very carefully．The sun was going down，and it threw a red light across the water．It was very beautiful，and we felt that we were sailing into some strange land．

We did not sail into some strange land．We went straight in-to that boat with the three old men in it．At first，we did not know what had happened．But then， from the words which rose on the evening air，we understood that we were near peo-ple．We also understood that those people were not happy．We had knocked those three old men from their seats，and they were all lying on the bottom of their boat．They were trying to stand up and they were picking fish off themselves．As they worked，they shouted unkind things about us-not just the usual things，but special things about us，and about our families．

Harris called out，You ought to be pleased that something so exciting has happened to you！'He added that he was very unhappy to hear men of their age use those bad words．

But the three old men did not seem to agree with Harris．

At Marlow we left the boat near the bridge，and we went to spend the night in a hotel．

11 客栈和水果罐头

早饭后我坐在河边，陷入了沉思。乔治说：“喂，要是你休息得差不多了就帮忙洗洗碗碟吧。”我只好用树枝和乱草洗锅子，还用了乔治的湿衬衫。

然后我们又沿着河上路了，经过了古老的温莎镇那一片风景优美的地方。过了那儿风景就单调得很，一无可取，一直到布文奈。我和乔治一起拉着纤。当我们经过达切特时，乔治问我还记不记得第一次在河上旅游的情景。那一次，我们晚上十点钟才到达切特，大家只想吃点东西然后赶快去睡觉。

我说：“记得，当然忘不了。”我的确记得很清楚。说实在的，要让我忘了还真得费点时间呢。

那是八月份的一个星期六，同游的还是我们三个。那会儿又饿又累，到达切特的时候，我们从船里拿出一篮子食物，两个包，外套和其它一些东西。接着大家就想找地方安顿下来。我们经过一家很漂亮的小旅店，只是门口旁边没有玫瑰花。我偏偏想找一家门口有玫瑰的，也不明白怎么会如此心血来潮。我说：“漫着，我们别进去！咱们再找找其它旅店，看看有没有门口长满玫瑰的。”我们一直走，又来到另外一家旅店。那家旅店也不错，而且门口的确有玫瑰花。可哈里斯说，门口站着的那个人让人讨厌，看上去不象个好人，穿的靴子也那么难看。于是，我们只好再往前走，走了一阵子也没有看到其它旅馆。我们在路上碰到一个行人，便决定问问他。

“劳驾，您知道附近有哪些好点的旅馆吗？”我们问道。

“哟，”他说，“你们走过了，往回走会看到黑马旅馆。”

我们说：“喔，那里我们已经去过了，可是不大喜欢那一家，它门口没有玫瑰花。”

“哦，是这样，”他说，“那一家旅馆过来还有一个客来旅馆，你们去那了吗？”

哈里斯说我们不想去那家，不喜欢站在那儿的那个人。哈里斯不喜欢他头发的颜色，也不喜欢他穿的靴子。

“那我真不知道你们该怎么办了，”那个指路人回答说，“因为这里只有那两家旅馆。”

“再没有别的了？”哈里斯叫道。

“再没有了，”那个人回答说。

“那我们现在怎么办？”哈里斯又道。

接着，乔治说：“你们俩不妨找人给你们新盖个旅馆住住，我可要回黑马去了。”

后来我们只好都回黑马。

“晚上好，”一个男人在前台招呼道。

“啊，晚上好，”乔治回答说，“我们要三个床位，谢谢。”

“对不起，先生，”那人回答说，“可是我们没有三个床位。”

“哦，是吗？没关系——那就两个也行。我们可以有两个人睡在一张床上，是吧？”乔治接着说，看了看哈里斯和我。

哈里斯说：“对，可以。”他以为乔治和我可以舒舒服服挤在一张床上。

“非常抱歉，先生，”那个男人说，“我们的床位全没了。我们已经有三个人挤在一张床上睡了。”

就这样，我们拿起行李又去客来旅馆。那地方不大，却很美。我说这家比另一家要好。哈里斯也说没事，我们也不必去管那个长着红头发，穿着难看靴子的家伙了。

可旅馆里的人根本没等我们开口。前台的一位女士说她已经打发走十四个人了，什么样的房间都没有了。我们问她附近还有哪些地方可以留宿一夜。她说沿着路走下去有一幢房子。

我们二话没说，抄起篮子，抓起包，拎着衣服，一溜烟儿沿着路跑了下去。

到了那里，那儿的人直笑话我们，房子里只有三张床，可已经住了七个人了。

有人说：“怎么不去试试黑马旁边的那家小杂货店呢？”

于是我们又原路折回去。可小杂货店里也没有床铺了。有个老太太在杂货店里，她说有个朋友有几间屋子，还补充道愿意带我们去。

老太太走路很慢，我们花了二十分钟才到那里。一路上老太太一直唠叨着说腰上这也疼，那也疼。我们到的时候，她朋友家已经住了几个人了。从那儿我们又去27号，27号也住满了，把我们送到32号，32号也满了。

我们只好回到马路上。忽然哈里斯一屁股坐在篮子上，说他一动也不想动了。还说这地方倒挺安静，他宁可死在这儿算了。

正在这个时候，一个小男孩路过。我们问他：“你知不知道哪里有些老家伙们，我们可以吓唬他们一下，让他们把床计给我们？”

“哦，我不知道，”小男孩回答说，不过他又说他妈妈可以给我们一个房间。那天晚上我们就睡在了那里——在两张特别短的小床上。

从那以后，对于旅馆问题，我们再也不敢挑三拣四了。

目前这一段旅程，我们还没有碰到什么今人激动的事儿。我们把船慢慢悠悠划到猴子岛附近，停下来吃午餐。

我们准备吃冷肉。接着乔治拿出一听水果罐头。我们三个都很喜欢水果罐头。看着罐头盒上美丽的图画，想着里面的水果，想像着它的滋味，大家乐滋滋的，相视而笑。哈里斯拿出了一把调羹。接着大家找起了启罐器。我们把大篮子里的东西都拿出来，又把包里的东西都拿出来，可是找不到。我们把船底下的板子全拉开了，把所有东西都搬到河边草地上，把每件东西摇了又摇，可就是找不到启罐器！

哈里斯想用小刀开罐头，结果把自己狠狠划了一刀；乔治用剪刀试了试，结果剪刀飞了，差点扎到他的眼睛；我想用铁条的尖头在罐头上钻个小孔，可是没有对准，结果我摔进水里，罐头弹起来，砸碎了一只茶杯。

我们大家气得发疯。我们把罐头拿到岸上放在草地上。哈里斯找来一块又大又尖的石头，我拿了一根又长又粗的木头。乔治拿着罐头，哈里斯把石头尖对准了罐头的顶盖，我高高举起木头，使足了力量，狠命砸下去。

那天乔治全靠他的帽子才大难不死，他至今还保存着那顶帽子。每当冬夜来临，大家聊着自己知道的各种各样的历险，乔治就会把这顶帽子拿出来向朋友们展示一番，并把他的故事复述一遍，而且还不免要添油加醋。

哈里斯还好，伤得不太重。

后来我又接过那个罐头，又敲又打，直弄得我精疲力尽，垂头丧气。哈里斯又接着去锤打。

我们把罐头锤得又细又长，又敲得又正又方。我们拿着木头把罐头敲成了各种各样的形状——偏偏就敲不开一个小孔。然后乔治又拿过去敲打，敲得罐头成了个稀奇古怪，狰狞可怕的形状。乔治自己都害怕起来，干脆把木头扔了。我们三个人围着罐头坐在草地上，愣愣地看着它。

罐头顶上有一条粗粗的横线，好象咧着的嘴，冲着我们狞笑。我们越发怒气冲冲。哈里斯狠狠冲过去，一把抓起来，使劲扔出去，扔到河中心。我们看着它沉下去，用很难听的话骂它，然后上了船，离开那个鬼地方，直到梅登黑德才停脚。

我们急急忙忙驶过梅登黑德，等过了它慢慢才把速度减下来。快到库克姆时我们停下船，喝了下午茶。等我们通过水闸时已经是暮色苍茫了。

那天有点风，好象老天爷打错了主意，风从我们背后吹来，这可真是十分难得。不过，那天下午的风的确大大助了我们一臂之力，船飞也似地奔驰起来。

河上除了三个老头儿，再没有其他人影。他们坐在船上钓鱼。我们靠上去的时候，才看清楚他们都上了年纪，而且还特别一本正经的样子，眼睛一眨不眨地盯着钓鱼线。太阳快落山了，向水面射出万道灿烂的金光，美不胜收，我们也仿佛驶进了一片神奇的国土。

可是，实际上我们并没有驶进那神奇的地方，而是径直地朝着三个老头的船冲了过去。起初我们还不知道出了什么事情。但是从夜幕中传来呼喊声，我们揣测附近有人，而且人家还十分愤怒和不满。原来，我们把三个老头儿从椅子上撞落到船底挤成一堆。他们一边吃力地爬起来，把撒落的鱼儿从自己身上拿开，一边冲着我们叫骂——不仅仅是些寻常的话，他们的叫骂还涉及我们本人，以及我们的三亲六眷。

哈里斯喊了一嗓子：“高兴点吧！这么好的事摊到你们头上。”他又说，象他们这么一把年纪的人还破口大骂人，实在让他痛心。

可是三个老头并不买哈里斯的帐。

到了马洛，我们在桥边上了岸，去旅馆过夜。　　On Monday morning， we got up quite early and we went to swim before breakfast． On the way back， Mont－morency behaved very stupidly．

The only thing that Montmorency and I disagree about is cats．I like cats． Montmorency does not．

When I meet a cat， I say hello to it． Then I bend down and I stroke it gently， behind the ears and along the side of its head．The cat likes this．It puts its tail up and it pushes itself against my legs．And there is love and peace．When Montmorency meets a cat， everybody knows about it， and a lot of bad words are used．

I do not really blame Montmorency（usually I just hit him，or throw stones at him），because dogs are like that．They hate cats． But that morning， Montmorency wished that he had not argued with a cat．

As we were coming back from the river， a cat ran out from one of the houses， and it began to walk across the road． Mont-morency saw the cat， gave a shout of real happiness， and ran af－ter it．

It was a big， black cat．I have never seen a bigger cat． It had lost half its tail and one of its ears， but it looked calm and hap-py．

Montmorency ran at that cat as fast as he could，but the cat did not hurry． It did not seem to understand that its life was in danger． It walked on quietly until the enemy was near it．Then it turned and sat down in the middle of the road． It looked at Montmorency in a quiet way， and it seemed to say，'Yes？ You want me？'

Montmorency is quite a brave dog， but there was something in the way the cat looked at him． It frightened him．He stopped suddenly， and he looked at the cat． They did not speak， of course， but it was easy to imagine their conversation．

THE CAT：Can I do anything for you？

MONTMORENCY：No…no，thanks．

THE CAT： Do please tell me if there is something you want，won't you？

MONTMORENCY（ who moves backwards down the road）：Oh， no． Not at all…certainly…I… I'm afraid I've made a mistake．I thought I knew you…I'm sorry．

THE CAT：Notat all．Are you quite sure you don't want any－thing now？

MONTMORENCY（ who continues to move back）：Not at all…thanks…not at all…very kind of you…Good morning．

THE CAT：Good morning．

Then the cat stood up and continued along the road． Mont-morency， with his tail between his legs， walked behind us． He hoped that nobody would notice him．

Now， if you say' Cats！'to Montmorency， he looks up at you， and his eyes beg you，' No， please！'

After this we did our shopping， went back to the boat， and moved off along the river again．However， at Hambledon lock，we found that we had no water．So we went to ask the lock-keeper for some． George spoke for us． He said，' Oh， please，could you give us a little water？''Of course，'the old man replied．'Just take what you want and leave the rest．'

'Thank you very much，'George said，and he looked round．'But where is it？'

'It's where it always is， my boy，'the lock－keeper answered．'It's behind you．'

George looked round again．' I can't see it，'he said．

' Why？ Where are your eyes？'the man said， and he turned George towards the river．

'Oh！'George cried．' But we can't drink the river， you know．'

'No， but you can drink some of it，'the old man replied．' That's what I've drunk for fifteen years．'

We got some water from another house．

After we had got our water， we went on towards Wargrave，but before we got there， we stopped for lunch．

We were sitting in a field near the river，and we were just going to start eating． Harris was preparing the food， and George and I were waiting with our plates．

'Have you got a spoon？'Harris asked．'I need a spoon．'

The basket was behind us， and George and I both turned to get a spoon． It took about five seconds．When we looked back again， Harris and the food had gone．It was an open field， and there were no trees．There was nowhere to hide． He had not fallen in the river， because we were between him and the water．

George and I looked round．Then we looked at each other．Harris had gone—disappeared！ Sadly，we looked again at the place where Harris and the food had been．And then， to our horror， we saw Harris's head-and only his head-in the grass．The face was very red and very angry．

George was the first to speak．

'Say something！'he cried．'Are you alive or dead？ Where is the rest of you？'

' Oh，don't be so stupid！'Harris's head said． 'It's your fault．You made me sit there．You did it to annoy me！ Here，take the food！'

And from the middle of the grass the food appeared， and then Harris came out， dirty and wet．

Harris had not known that he had been sitting on the edge of a hole．The grass had hidden it．Then，suddenly，he had fall－en backwards into it．He said he had not known what was hap－pening to him．He thought， at first， that it was the end of the world．

Harris still believes that George and I planned it．

12 “元帅”和猫

星期一早晨，我们起得很早，早饭前在河里洗了一个澡。就在回来的路上，“元帅”干了一件天大的蠢事。

我和“元帅”只在一个问题上存在分歧，那就是对猫的看法：我喜欢猫，而“元帅”却不。

我每次遇到猫，总会亲切地招呼它，俯下身轻轻抚摸它，摸摸它的耳后和脑袋旁边。猫呢，喜欢的就是这一套，它会竖起尾巴，把身体在我的腿上蹭蹭，充满了温柔和恬静的感觉。可是如果“元帅”遇见猫，那准会搅得四邻不安，直招别人的骂。

我倒并不责怪“元帅”（通常不过敲它一下，或者用石子扔它），因为狗的本性就是这样，它们就是恨猫。但那天早上，它却宁可自己没有去招惹那只猫。

我们从河边回来时，一只猫从某间屋子里蹿出来，横着过马路。“元帅”一看见猫，无比幸福地发出一声欢呼，就追了下去。

那是一只又大又黑的猫。我从来没有见过这么大的猫，虽然掉了半只尾巴和一只耳朵，看上去还是一副泰然自若，满不在乎的样子。

“元帅”使足了劲去追那只猫，可猫却不慌不忙，若无其事的，似乎没有意识到生命已受到威胁。它仍然不动声色地走着，直到敌人走近了才转过身，坐在马路中间，冷静、地看着“元帅”，好象在说：

“怎么，你找我吗？”

“元帅”向来是只勇猛顽强的狗，可那只黑猫凛然看他的眼神却使这条英勇非凡的狗吓得矮了半截。它突然站住，瞪着眼看着黑猫。当然双方一言不发，但很容易想象它们俩的谈话内容。

黑猫：“我能为您效劳吗？”

“元帅”：“没……没什么事，谢谢。”

黑猫：“您有什么要求，就请坦率地说，好吗？”

“元帅”（身子沿着马路退后几步）：“不，一点也没有。我……恐怕……是个误会。我还以为认识您的……对不起。”

黑猫：“没关系。您当真没什么要求吗？”

“元帅”（还往后退着）：“没……没有。什么也没有……谢谢……没有……您真太好了，再见。”

黑猫：“再见。”

于是黑猫站起来，继续沿着马路往前走。“元帅”尾巴夹在两腿之间，躲在我们身后，盼着别人都没有注意到它。

直到今天，只要你对“元帅”一提“猫！”它就会仰头望着你，可怜巴巴的样子好像在说：“请别……”

这番历险之后，我们去买东西，买完东西又上了船，起航。不久到了汉布尔登水闸才发现水喝光了。我们到水闸看守人那里要些水，乔治是我们的发言人。他说：“请您帮个忙，给我们一点水，好吗？”

“当然可以，”老汉答道，“要多少拿多少，剩下的还放在那儿就行了。”

“太谢谢您啦，”乔治向两边看了看，“可您的水在哪儿？”

“总在那个老地方嘛，我的孩子，”看闸人说，“就在你背后。”

乔治又看看四周：“我还是看不见啊！”他说。

“怎么，你的眼睛长哪儿去了？”老汉说着把乔治的身子转向河面。

“哦！”乔治喊了一声，“可您知道，我们总不能把河水都喝了呀！”

“是啊，可是你可以喝一点啊！”老人回答，“我喝这水喝了十五年了。”

最后，还是从另外一家讨来点水。

水有了，我们又驶向沃格雷夫。还没有到那里，我们就停船吃午餐。

坐在水边的草地上，大家准备吃午餐。哈里斯正在做饭，乔治和我拿着盘子等着。

“你们谁有一把勺子？”哈里斯问，“我要个勺子。”

篮子就放在我们身后，乔治和我转身去拿勺子。统共不到五秒钟，我们回身一看，哈里斯和吃的东西都不见了。那是一片空荡荡的草地，周围没有一棵树，没有地方可以躲藏。他也不可能掉进河里，因为我们坐在他和河水之间。

乔治和我四周看了看，又相对瞠目而视。哈里斯不见了！——失踪了！我们伤心地转过头看看刚才哈里斯和午饭还在的地方。不看还罢，这一看吓得我们魂飞天外！——我们看见哈里斯的头——只有一个脑袋在草地上，脸胀得通红，十分生气的样子。

乔治首先恢复神态，说了话：

“快说！”他喊道，“你到底活着，还是死了，你的身体哪儿去了？”

“呸！别装傻了，”哈里斯的脑袋开口说，“还不是你们搞的鬼，逼我坐在这里，不让我有好日子过！快，拿着饭！”

草地中间出来了午饭，随后哈里斯也爬了出来，浑身上下又脏又湿。

哈里斯没有意识到刚才坐在一个洞口上。茂草掩盖了洞口，他突然就向后掉了下去。他说起初也想不明白到底怎么回事，只道是世界末日来临了！

哈里斯至今仍然以为是乔治和我搞的阴谋。　　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．