You do not know how long you are in a river when the current moves swiftly. —
当急流中的水流迅速移动时，你不知道自己在河里待了多久。 —

It seems a long time and it may be very short. —
似乎很长时间，但实际可能很短。 —

The water was cold and in flood and many things passed that had been floated off the banks when the river rose. —
河水很冷，洪水泛滥，许多东西随着河水上涨离开了河岸。 —

I was lucky to have a heavy timber to hold on to, and I lay in the icy water with my chin on the wood, holding as easily as I could with both hands. —
我很幸运有一根沉重的木头可以抓住，我躺在冰冷的水中，双手尽量轻松地抓住木头，下巴靠在上面。 —

I was afraid of cramps and I hoped we would move toward the shore. —
我害怕抽筋，希望我们能朝岸边靠近。 —

We went down the river in a long curve. It was beginning to be light enough so I could see the bushes along the shore-line. —
我们沿着河流做了一个长大弯。天色渐渐亮起，我能看到沿岸的灌木丛了。 —

There was a brush island ahead and the current moved toward the shore. —
前方有一个灌木岛，水流往岸边移动。 —

I wondered if I should take off my boots and clothes and try to swim ashore, but decided not to. —
我在想着是否应该脱掉靴子和衣服，试着游到岸边，但最终决定不这样做。 —

I had never thought of anything but that I would reach the shore some way, and I would be in a bad position if I landed barefoot. —
我从来没有想到自己会以任何方式到达岸边，如果我赤脚着陆会处于一个很糟糕的位置。 —

I had to get to Mestre some way.
我必须以某种方式到达Mestre。

I watched the shore come close, then swing away, then come closer again. —
我看着岸边靠近，然后又摇摆着远离，又再次靠近。 —

We were floating more slowly. The shore was very close now. I could see twigs on the willow bush. —
我们漂流的速度变慢了。现在岸边离得很近。我能看到柳树上的小树枝。 —

The timber swung slowly so that the bank was behind me and I knew we were in an eddy. —
木头缓缓摇摆，以致岸边在我身后，我知道我们在旋涡中。 —

We went slowly around. As I saw the bank again, very close now, I tried holding with one arm and kicking and swimming the timber toward the bank with the other, but I did not bring it any closer. —
我们慢慢地绕着转。当我再次看到岸边，很近了，我尝试着用一只手抓住，另一只手踢腿并用木头朝岸边游去，但是没有让它更靠近。 —

I was afraid we would move out of the eddy and, holding with one hand, I drew up my feet so they were against the side of the timber and shoved hard toward the bank. —
我担心我们会离开旋涡，用一只手抓着，然后抬起双脚，使它们靠在木头侧面，然后用力朝岸边推去。 —

I could see the brush, but even with my momentum and swimming as hard as I could, the current was taking me away. —
我能看到树枝，但即使拼尽全力向前游，水流却将我带走。 —

I thought then I would drown because of my boots, but I thrashed and fought through the water, and when I looked up the bank was coming toward me, and I kept thrashing and swimming in a heavy-footed panic until I reached it. —
我当时以为会因为穿着靴子而淹死，但我挣扎着，拼命游过水面，当我抬头朝岸边看去时，它逐渐靠近了我，我继续挣扎着游动，直到到达岸边。 —

I hung to the willow branch and did not have strength to pull myself up but I knew I would not drown now. —
我抓住了柳树的树枝，却没力气拉自己上来，但我知道现在不会淹死了。 —

It had never occurred to me on the timber that I might drown. —
在木头上的时候，我从未想过自己可能会淹死。 —

I felt hollow and sick in my stomach and chest from the effort, and I held to the branches and waited. —
我感到胃和胸腔中空虚和恶心，我抓着树枝等待。 —

When the sick feeling was gone I pulled into the willow bushes and rested again, my arms around some brush, holding tight with my hands to the branches. —
当恶心感消失后，我爬进柳树丛休息，双臂环绕着一些灌木，用手紧紧抓住树枝。 —

Then I crawled out, pushed on through the willows and onto the bank. —
然后我爬了出来，穿过柳树，走上岸边。 —

It was halfdaylight and I saw no one. I lay flat on the bank and heard the river and the rain.
此时是午间，我看不到任何人。我躺在河岸上，听着河水和雨声。

After a while I got up and started along the bank. —
过了一会儿，我站起身沿着河岸继续前行。 —

I knew there was no bridge across the river until Latisana. —
我知道河上直到拉蒂萨纳才有桥。 —

I thought I might be opposite San Vito. I began to think out what I should do. —
我觉得我可能在圣维托的对岸。我开始思考接下来该怎么办。 —

Ahead there was a ditch running into the river. I went toward it. —
前方有一条沟渠流入河里。我朝它走去。 —

So far I had seen no one and I sat down by some bushes along the bank of the ditch and took off my shoes and emptied them of water. —
到目前为止我还没见到任何人，我坐在沟渠边的一些灌木旁边，脱掉了鞋子，将里面的水倒掉。 —

I took off my coat, took my wallet with my papers and my money all wet in it out of the inside pocket and then wrung the coat out. —
我脱下外套，从内口袋里拿出钱包，里面的文件和湿漉漉的钱，然后把外套拧干。 —

I took off my trousers and wrung them too, then my shirt and under clothing. —
我脱下裤子，也把它们拧干，然后脱下衬衫和内衣。 —

I slapped and rubbed myself and then dressed again. I had lost my cap.
我拍打着身体，然后穿上衣服。我弄丢了我的帽子。

Before I put on my coat I cut the cloth stars off my sleeves and put them in the inside pocket with my money. —
在穿上外套之前，我把衣袖上的绣星星剪下来，和我的钱一起放在内侧口袋里。 —

My money was wet but was all right. I counted it. There were three thousand and some lire. —
我的钱都湿了，但没事。我数了数，有三千多里拉。 —

My clothes felt wet and clammy and I slapped my arms to keep the circulation going. —
我的衣服湿漉漉的，我不停地拍打着胳膊以保持血液循环。 —

I had woven underwear and I did not think I would catch cold if I kept moving. —
我穿着编织内衣，觉得如果一直走动的话应该不会着凉。 —

They had taken my pistol at the road and I put the holster under my coat. —
他们在路上拿走了我的手枪，我把枪套放在外套里面。 —

I had no cape and it was cold in the rain. I started up the bank of the canal. —
我没有披风，雨天很冷。我开始沿着运河的堤岸走。 —

It was daylight and the country was wet, low and dismal looking. The fields were bare and wet; —
天亮了，乡间又湿又低，看起来很凄凉。田地光秃秃的，也很湿； —

a long way away I could see a campanile rising out of the plain. I came up onto a road. —
远处我能看到一个钟楼矗立在平原上。我走上一条路。 —

Ahead I saw some troops coming down the road. —
前面我看到一些部队沿着路走来。 —

I limped along the side of the road and they passed me and paid no attention to me. —
我一瘸一拐地沿着路边走，他们经过我，却没有理我。 —

They were a machine-gun detachment going up toward the river. —
他们是一组拿着机枪的部队，朝着河边走去。 —

I went on down the road.
我继续沿路往前走。

That day I crossed the Venetian plain. It is a low level country and under the rain it is even flatter. —
那天我穿过了威尼斯的平原。这是一个低洼的地区，在雨天更加平坦。 —

Toward the sea there are salt marshes and very few roads. —
靠近海边有些盐田，道路很少。 —

The roads all go along the river mouths to the sea and to cross the country you must go along the paths beside the canals. —
道路全都沿着河口通向海洋，要穿过这个国家必须沿着运河旁的小路走。 —

I was working across the country from the north to the south and had crossed two railway lines and many roads and finally I came out at the end of a path onto a railway line where it ran beside a marsh. —
我正从北到南跨越这个国家，已经穿过两条铁路线和许多道路，最终走到了一条小路的尽头，它在一个沼泽旁边与一条铁路线相交。 —

It was the main line from Venice to Trieste, with a high solid embankment, a solid roadbed and double track. —
这条铁路线是从威尼斯到的特里耶斯特的主线，有一个坚实的高堤，坚实的路基和双轨。 —

Down the tracks a way was a flag-station and I could see soldiers on guard. —
离铁路线远处有一个小站，我可以看到站岗的士兵。 —

Up the line there was a bridge over a stream that flowed into the marsh. —
往上走有一座桥跨过流入沼泽的小溪。 —

I could see a guard too at the bridge. Crossing the fields to the north I had seen a train pass on this railroad, visible a long way across the flat plain, and I thought a train might come from Portogruaro. —
我能看到桥上也有一个卫兵。穿过北部的田野时，我曾看到一列列车经过这条铁路，远远地可以看到它穿过平坦的大草原，我想火车可能会来自波托格鲁阿罗。 —

I watched the guards and lay down on the embankment so that I could see both ways along the track. —
我观察着卫兵，并躺在堤岸上，这样我就能看到沿着轨道的两个方向。 —

The guard at the bridge walked a way up the line toward where flay, then turned and went back toward the bridge. —
桥上的卫兵朝着轨道远端走了一段路，然后转身回到了桥附近。 —

I lay, and was hungry, and waited for the train. —
我躺着，感到饥饿，等待着火车的到来。 —

The one I had seen was so long that the engine moved it very slowly and I was sure I could get aboard it. —
我几乎失去了希望，却看到了一列火车驶来。 —

After I had almost given up hoping for one I saw a train coming. —
蒸汽机车笔直地朝我走来，慢慢变大。我看了桥上的卫兵。 —

The engine, coming straight on, grew larger slowly. I looked at the guard at the bridge. —
它正在努力运转。我能看到有许多节车厢。 —

He was walking on the near side of the bridge but on the other side of the tracks. —
他正在桥的近侧行走，但在轨道的另一侧。 —

That would put him out of sight when the train passed. I watched the engine come nearer. —
这会让他在火车经过时看不到。我看着蒸汽机车靠近。 —

It was working hard. I could see there were many cars. —
它很辛苦地运转着。我能看到有许多节车厢。 —

I knew there would be guards on the train, and I tried to see where they were, but, keeping out of sight, I could not. —
我知道火车上会有警卫，试图看看他们在哪里，但是躲在一旁，我无法看到。 —

The engine was almost to where I was lying. —
火车头几乎到了我躺着的位置。 —

When it came opposite, working and puffing even on the level, and I saw the engineer pass, I stood up and stepped up close to the passing cars. —
当它过来时，即使在平地上也还在运转和喘息，我看到了工程师走过，于是站起来靠近经过的车厢。 —

If the guards were watching I was a less suspicious object standing beside the track. —
如果警卫们在看着我，站在轨道旁边我就是一个比较不可疑的人。 —

Several closed freight-cars passed. Then I saw a low open car of the sort they call gondolas coming, covered with canvas. —
几节封闭的货车通过。然后我看到了一节低矮的敞开式车厢，上面盖着帆布，他们叫它平底货车。 —

I stood until it had almost passed, then jumped and caught the rear hand-rods and pulled up. —
我站着，直到它几乎通过，然后跳起来抓住后面的扶杆往上拉。 —

I crawled down between the gondola and the shelter of the high freight-car behind. —
我躲在平底货车和后面高的货车间的掩蔽处。 —

I did not think any one had seen me. I was holding to the hand-rods and crouching low, my feet on the coupling. —
我觉得没有人看到我。我抓住扶杆，蹲得很低，脚踩在连挂上。 —

We were almost opposite the bridge. I remembered the guard. As we passed him he looked at me. —
我们几乎到了桥对面。我想起了警卫。当我们经过他时，他看着我。 —

He was a boy and his helmet was too big for him. —
他是个男孩，头盔太大了。 —

I stared at him contemptuously and he looked away. —
我轻蔑地盯着他，他移开了目光。 —

He thought I had something to do with the train.
他以为我和火车有关。

We were past. I saw him still looking uncomfortable, watching the other cars pass and I stooped to see how the canvas was fastened. —
我们超过了。我看见他仍然感到不自在，看着其他车厢经过，我弯下身去看帆布是如何固定的。 —

It had grummets and was laced down at the edge with cord. —
帆布上有环形物，边缘用绳子系着。 —

I took out my knife, cut the cord and put my arm under. —
我拿出刀子，剪断绳子，伸手进去。 —

There were hard bulges under the canvas that tightened in the rain. I looked up and ahead. —
在帆布下有坚硬的隆起物，在雨中绷紧。我仰头看向前方。 —

There was a guard on the freight-car ahead but he was looking forward. —
前面货车上有一名守卫，但他在往前看。 —

I let go of the hand-rails and ducked under the canvas. —
我放开扶手，躲进帆布下。 —

My forehead hit something that gave me a violent bump and I felt blood on my face but I crawled on in and lay flat. —
我的前额撞到了什么东西，撞得我剧烈的头痛，并感到脸上有血，但我还是爬了进去，平躺下来。 —

Then I turned around and fastened down the canvas.
然后我转身，把帆布固定好。

I was in under the canvas with guns. They smelled cleanly of oil and grease. —
我躺在帆布下面，周围是枪支。它们闻起来一股机油和润滑油的清香。 —

I lay and listened to the rain on the canvas and the clicking of the car over the rails. —
我躺着听着雨打在帆布上，车子在铁轨上的嘎吱声。 —

There was a little light came through and I lay and looked at the guns. —
透过一点光线，我躺着看着那些枪支。 —

They had their canvas jackets on. I thought they must have been sent ahead from the third army. —
它们包裹着帆布外套。我想它们一定是从第三军团提前发到的。 —

The bump on my forehead was swollen and I stopped the bleeding by lying still and letting it coagulate, then picked away the dried blood except over the cut. —
我额头的肿块很疼，我靠着保持静止让它凝固止血，然后清理了干掉的血迹，除了那个伤口。 —

It was nothing. I had no handkerchief, but feeling with my fingers I washed away where the dried blood had been, with rainwater that dripped from the canvas, and wiped it clean with the sleeve of my coat. —
没什么大不了的。我没有手帕，摸索着我用滴水从帆布上滴落的雨水，擦净了衣袖。 —

I did not want to look conspicuous. I knew I would have to get out before they got to Mestre because they would be taking care of these guns. —
我不想显眼。我知道在他们到达Mestre之前，我必须离开，因为他们会照看这些枪支。 —

They had no guns to lose or forget about. —
他们没有枪支能遗失或遗忘。 —

I was terrifically hungry.
我饿极了。