第13章 A FAITHFUL DOG 忠诚的狗
A French merchant, having some money due to him, set out on horseback to receive it, accompanied by his dog. Having settled the business, he tied the bag of money before him, and began to return home.
The merchant, after riding some miles, alighted to rest himself under a tree; and taking the bag of money in his hand, laid it down by his side. But on remounting he forgot it. The dog observing this, ran to fetch the bag; but it was too heavy for it to drag along.
It then ran after its master, and, by barking and howling, tried to tell him of his mistake. The merchant did not understand these signs; but the dog went on with its efforts, and after trying in vain to stop the horse, it at last began to bite its heels.
The thought now struck the merchant that the dog had gone mad; and so, in crossing a brook, he looked back to see whether it would drink. The animal was too intent on its object to think of stopping for this purpose; and it continued to bark and bite with greater violence than before.
The merchant, feeling now certain that the dog was mad, drew a pistol from his pocket, and took aim. In a moment the poor dog lay weltering in its blood; and its master, unable to bear the sight, spurred on his horse.
“I am most unfortunate,” said he to himself; “I had almost rather have lost my money than my dog.” Thereupon he stretched out his hand for his treasure; but no bag was to be found! In a moment he discovered his mistake, and upbraided himself for disregarding the signs which his dog had made to him.
He turned his horse, and rode back to the place where he had stopped. He saw the marks of blood as he proceeded; but nowhere was his dog to be seen on the road.
At last he reached the spot where he had rested, and there lay the forgotten bag, with the poor dog, in the agonies of death, watching beside it!
When he saw his master, he showed his joy by feebly wagging his tail. He tried to rise, but his strength was gone; and after stretching out his tongue to lick the hand that was now fondling him in deep sorrow, he closed his eyes in death.
Questions
What was the object of the Frenchman's journey? Why did he alight on his way home? What did he forget when he remounted? Who perceived this? What did it try to do? Why did it fail? How did it try to remind its master of his mistake? What thought now struck the merchant? How did he put it to the test? With what effect? What did he then do? What made him feel for his money? What did he now see? What did he do? What did he notice on the ground as he proceeded? What did he find at the place where he had rested? What did the dog do before it died?
Pronunciation
mer'-chant re-mount'-ing con-tin'-ued treas'-ure
re-ceive' ob-serv'-ing vi'-o-lence dis-re-gard'-ing
ac-com'-pan-ied un-der-stand' cer'-tain for-got'-ten
bus'-iness try'-ing un-for'-tu-nate stretch'-ing
Dictation
A merchant left his treasure under a tree. His dog tried to remind him of his mistake. He thought the animal had gone mad, drew his pistol, and shot it.
一位法国商人，在马背上放了一袋金币，带上狗出发了。谈完生意后，他把这袋金币绑在他的身前，准备回家。
商人骑了几英里后，下马来到一棵树下休息；取下金币袋子，将它放在自己身边。是他上马的时候，都忘记拿走那袋金币了。狗看到了这一幕，跑去叼袋子，但是袋子太沉了，它跩不了多远。
接着它开始追赶主人，吼叫着，想告诉主人忘记东西了。商人不明白这些信号意味着什么；但是狗继续拼命地叫着，最终在阻止马儿无果的情况下，它开始啃咬马蹄子。
这时商人心想这条狗一定是疯了。他穿越一条溪流的时候，回头看狗是否在喝水。那条狗太过专注于阻挡他们的前行；它继续朝主人更为狂暴地吼叫。
商人现在非常确定这条狗一定是疯了，他从口袋里掏出一把枪，瞄准那条狗。转瞬间，这只可怜的狗浑身是血躺在那里；主人实在不忍心看到这一幕，策马离去。
主人自言自语道：“我真是太不幸了，我宁肯丢了金币也不愿意失去我的狗。”接着他伸出手去拿自己的金币袋子；但是他发现袋子不见了！他马上意识到自己犯下的错误，责备自己无视了刚才那条狗发出的信号。
他调转马头，回到刚才歇脚的地方。他看到路上全是血迹；但是并没有在路上看到狗的踪影。
最终，他来到了之前歇脚的地方，金币袋子就躺在这儿，旁边还有那条可怜的狗，带着死亡的痛苦，守在金币袋子的旁边。
当它看到主人时，虚弱地摇摆自己的尾巴表明自己见到主人非常开心。它想站起来，但是已经没有力气了；它伸出舌头舔了舔主人那用深深的懊悔抚摸它的手，闭上眼睛死去了。