I was fourteen. My mother had been ill and was not eating very well, so I went out to find something that she liked — good, fresh fish, caught from clear water.
I went first along the Lynn river that runs through our valley, then I turned into Bagworthy Water. Though I knew that this river led to Doone valley, I did not think about it. I went on catching fish and moving up the river, then suddenly found myself standing at the bottom of the cliffs outside Doone valley.
In front of me was a waterfall, a steep hill of smooth, fast-moving water. It was a wild, lonely place, surrounded by tall trees, and it was already getting late. I knew I should turn for home — but I also wanted very much to see what was at the top of that waterfall. It looked a dangerous climb, but if I did not climb it, I would always remember that I was too frightened to do it.
The water beat against my legs, once knocking me down so that I nearly drowned, but I pulled myself up and went on. When I reached the top at last, my arms and legs were aching and my feet were cut by the rocks. I fell in the grass, exhausted.
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7
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当我睁开双眼时,一时间竟不知自己身在何方。但此时有个小女孩正跪在我身边,用一片树叶拂动着我的脸庞。
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7
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When I opened my eyes, for a few seconds I didn’t know where I was. But, kneeling beside me, touching my face with a leaf, was a very young girl.
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8
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“哦,我真高兴,”我坐起身望着她的时候,她柔声低语道,“现在你会努力让自己好起来的,对吧?”
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8
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Oh, I’m so glad,’ she whispered softly, as I sat up and looked at her. ’Now you’ll try to be better, won’t you?’
I had never heard as sweet a sound as this girl’s voice, nor seen anything as beautiful as the large dark eyes that watched me, full of care and wonder. I stared at her without speaking, noticing her long, shining black hair.
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10
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“你叫什么名字?”她问,“你怎么到这儿来的?你的袋子里装的是什么?”
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10
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What is your name?’ she said, ’and how did you get here, and what have you got in your bag?’
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11
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“那是给我妈妈的鱼,”我说,“是种很特别的鱼。不过如果你喜欢,我可以给你几条。”
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11
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They’re fish for my mother,’ I said. ’Very special fish. But I’ll give you some, if you like.’
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12
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“天哪——不过是些鱼,值得你这么为它们感到骄傲!再看看你的脚——它们在流血!让我给你包扎一下吧。”
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12
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Dear me — you re so proud of them, when they’re only fish! But look at your feet — they’re bleeding. Let me tie something round them for you.’
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13
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“哦,我可不担心我的脚,”我勇敢地说,“我叫约翰·里德。你叫什么名字?”
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13
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Oh, I’m not worried about them,’ I said bravely. ’My name’s John Ridd. What’s your name?’
I stood up and touched her hand, and tried to make her look at me, but she turned away. I felt sorry for her — and even more sorry when she started to cry.
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16
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“别哭,”我说,“我相信你从没干过什么坏事。我把所有的鱼都给你,洛娜,我会替我妈妈另外捉几条的。”
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16
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Don’t cry,’ I said. ’I’m sure you’ve never done any harm. I’ll give you all my fish, Lorna, and catch some more for my mother.’
But she looked so sad, with the tears running down her face, that my heart ached for her and I gave her a kiss. At once my face turned red — here was I, just a simple farmer’s boy, but she, though young, was clearly a lady and far above me.
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18
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她扭过头去。我觉得自己该走了,却欲行又止。她转过身望着我。
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18
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She turned her head away, and I felt I should go. But I couldn’t. She turned back to look at me.
You must go,’ she said. ’They will kill us if they find us together. You have found a way up into the valley, which they could never believe. You must go now, but when your feet are better, you can come and tell me how they are.’ She smiled at me, and I could see that she liked me.
We talked for a while longer, but then a shout came down the valley. Lorna’s face changed from playfulness to fear. We whispered our goodbyes, then Lorna ran away from me and lay in the grass, pretending to be asleep. I hid behind some rocks, and saw twelve cruel-looking men come walking down the valley, looking for Lorna. One of them — the biggest of them all, a man with a long black beard — found her. ’Here she is,’ he said. ’Here’s our little Queen.’ He picked her up and kissed her so hard that I heard him. Then he put her on his shoulders, and carried her away. But as she went up the valley on the back of this frightening man, Lorna turned and secretly held up her hand to me.
Now I had to find a way out of the valley and get home. I almost broke my neck several times, climbing down the mountain, and I did not get home until long after dark. My mother was angry with me, but I would not say where I had been.
After my adventure, I thought a lot about the strange little girl I had met in Doone valley. But I never really imagined I would go back to the valley again. So after a while I thought less about her, and got on with my work on the farm.