欧内斯特·西顿·汤普森/Ernest Seton Thompson
Away up in the Cheviots little Wully was born. He and one other of the litter were kept；his brother because he resembled the best dog in the vicinity, and himself because he was a little yellow beauty.
His early life was that of a sheep-dog, in company with an experienced collie who trained him, and an old shepherd who was scarcely inferior to them in intelligence. By the time he was two years old Wully was full grown and had taken a thorough course in sheep. He knew them from ram-horn to lamb-hoof, and old Robin, his master, at length had such confdence in his sagacity that he would frequently stay at the tavern all night while Wully guarded the woolly idiots in the hills. His education had been wisely bestowed and in most ways he was a very bright little dog with a future before him. Yet he never learned to despise that addle-pated Robin. The old shepherd, with all his faults, his continual striving after his ideal state-intoxication-and his mind-shrivelling life in general was rarely brutal to Wully, and Wully repaid him with an exaggerated worship that the greatest and wisest in the land would have aspired to in vain.
Wully could not have imagined any greater being than Robin, and yet for the sum of fve shillings a week all Robin‘s vital energy and mental force were pledged to the service of a not very great cattle and sheep dealer, the real proprietor of Wully’s charge, and when this man, really less great than the neighboring laird, ordered Robin to drive his fock by stages to the Yorkshire moors and markets, of all the 376 mentalities concerned, Wullys was the most interested and interesting.
The journey through Northumberland was uneventful. At the River Tyne the sheep were driven onto the ferry and landed safely in smoky South Shields. The great factory chimneys were just starting up for the day and belching out fogbanks and thunder-rollers of opaque leaden smoke that darkened the air and hung low like a storm-cloud over the streets. The sheep thought that they recognized the fuming dun of an unusually heavy Cheviot storm. They became alarmed, and in spite of their keepers stampeded through the town in 374 different directions.
Robin was vexed to the inmost recesses of his tiny soul. He stared stupidly after the sheep for half a minute, then gave the order，“Wully, fetch them in.”After this mental effort he sat down, lit his pipe, and taking out his knitting began work on a half-fnished sock.
To Wully the voice of Robin was the voice of God. Away he ran in 374 different directions, and headed off and rounded up the 374 different wanderers, and brought them back to the ferry-house before Robin, who was stolidly watching the process, had toed off his sock.
Finally Wully-not Robin-gave the sign that all were in. Theold shepherd proceeded to count them-370，371，372，373.
“Wully，”he said reproachfully，“thar no‘a’here. Thurs anither.”And Wully, stung with shame, bounded off to scour the whole city for the missing one. He was not long gone when a small boy pointed out to Robin that the sheep were all there, the whole 374.Now Robin was in a quandary. His order was to hasten on to Yorkshire, and yet he knew that Wullys pride would prevent his coming back without another sheep, even if he had to steal it. Such things had happened before, and resulted in embarrassing complications. What should he do?There was fve shillings a week at stake. Wully was a good dog, it was a pity to lose him, but then, his orders from the master；and again, if Wully stole an extra sheep to make up the number, then what-in a foreign land too?He decided to abandon Wully, and push on alone with the sheep. And how he fared no one knows or cares.
Meanwhile, Wully careered through miles of streets hunting in vain for his lost sheep. All day he searched, and at night, famished and worn out, he sneaked shamefacedly back to the ferry, only to fnd that master and sheep had gone. His sorrow was pitiful to see. He ran about whimpering, then took the ferryboat across to the other side, and searched everywhere for Robin. He returned to South Shields and searched there, and spent the rest of the night seeking for his wretched idol. The next day he continued his search, he crossed and recrossed the river many times. He watched and smelt everyone that came over, and with signifcant shrewdness he sought unceasingly in the neighboring taverns for his master. The next day he set to work systematically to smell everyone that might cross the ferry.
The ferry makes ffty trips a day, with an average of one hundred persons a trip, yet never once did Wully fail to be on the gang-plank and smell every pair of legs that crossed-5，000 pairs，10，000 legs thatday did Wully examine after his own fashion. And the next day, and the next, and all the week he kept his post, and seemed indifferent to feeding himself. Soon starvation and worry began to tell on him. He grew thin and ill-tempered. No one could touch him, and any attempt to interfere with his daily occupation of leg-smelling roused him to desperation.
Day after day, week after week Wully watched and waited for his master, who never came. The ferry men learned to respect Wullys fdelity. At frst he scorned their proffered food and shelter, and lived no one knew how, but starved to it at last, he accepted the gifts and learned to tolerate the givers. Although embittered against the world, his heart was true to his worthless master.
Fourteen months afterward I made his acquaintance. He was still on rigid duty at his post. He had regained his good looks. His bright, keen face set off by his white ruff and pricked ears made a dog to catch the eye anywhere. But he gave me no second glance, once he found my legs were not those he sought, and in spite of my friendly overtures during the ten months following that he continued his watch, I got no farther into his confdence than any other stranger.
For two whole years did this devoted creature attend that ferry. There was only one thing to prevent him going home to the hills, not the distance nor the chance of getting lost, but the conviction that Robin, the godlike Robin, wished him to stay by the ferry；and he stayed.
But he crossed the water as often as he felt it would serve his purpose. The fare for a dog was one penny, and it was calculated that Wully owed the company hundreds of pounds before he gave up his quest. He never failed to sense every pair of nethers that crossed the gang-plank-6，000，000 legs by computation had been pronouncedupon by this expert. But all to no purpose. His unswerving fidelity never faltered, though his temper was obviously souring under the long strain.
We had never heard what became of Robin, but one day a sturdy drover strode down the ferry-slip and Wully mechanically assaying the new personality, suddenly started, his mane bristled, he trembled, a low growl escaped him, and he fxed his every sense on the drover.
One of the ferry hands not understanding, called to the stranger，“Hey buddy, dont hurt that dog.”
“Its him who hurt me.”But further explanation was not necessary. Wullys manner had wholly changed. He fawned on the drover, and his tail was wagging violently for the frst time in years.
A few words made it all clear. Dorley, the drover, had known Robin very well, and the mittens and comforter he wore were of Robins own make and had once been part of his wardrobe. Wully recognized the traces of his master, and despairing of any nearer approach to his lost idol, he abandoned his post at the ferry and plainly announced his intention of sticking to the owner of the mittens, and Dorley was well pleased to take Wully along to his home among the hills of Derbyshire, where he became once more a sheep-dog in charge of a fock.
小巫利出生于遥远的切维厄特。一窝小狗除了他和另外一只留了下来，其余的都送人了。他们之所以能留下来，是因为那位兄弟长得酷似附近一只非常优秀的狗，而巫利则是一只黄毛靓狗。
巫利从小就过着牧羊犬的生活，跟着一只有丰富经验的牧羊犬学本领，任何一位老牧羊人或许都远不及他俩聪明。两岁的巫利已经完全长大，并接受了看管羊群的系统训练。从羊角到羊蹄，他都了如指掌。他的主人老罗宾对巫利的聪明才智极为信赖，所以他自己就整夜在酒馆里泡着，而让巫利对山坡上那群毛茸茸的傻瓜全权负责。他受过良好的教育，无论从哪方面来看，都称得上是只聪明的小狗，有着远大的前程。可是，他无论如何也学不会鄙视那个老糊涂罗宾。这老羊倌虽然一无是处，却仍坚持不懈地追求他的理想境界——沉醉于酒的世界中，枯燥乏味地生活着，却很少虐待巫利，而巫利则回报他以极端的崇拜，那虔诚劲儿就连世界上最伟大、最精明的人也很难办到。
巫利无法想象还有谁会比罗宾更伟大。其实，罗宾全部的体力和脑力都以每周5先令的价格抵押给一个贩卖牛羊的商人了，这个商人才是巫利所看管的羊群的真正主人，而他又远不及附近的乡绅那样财大气粗。一天，这个商人命令罗宾分段分站地将羊群赶往约克郡的荒野，然后再赶到市场去。这所有的376个脑袋瓜中，巫利最有趣，也是对整个行动最感兴趣的。
路经诺森伯兰时，一切都还顺利。羊群在泰恩河畔被赶进了渡船，不久后在南希尔兹港安全上岸了。工厂高耸的烟囱裹着浓浓的烟雾开始了一天的运转。铅灰色的浓烟伴随着隆隆的巨响，将天空涂黑，低低地悬浮于街道上方，似酝酿着暴风雨的乌云。羊儿们以为遭遇了冒着烟火的讨债鬼——切维厄特一种罕见的暴风雨，他们惊慌失措，完全不顾牧羊犬和老羊倌，纷纷地向城里374个不同方向逃窜开来。
罗宾渺小的灵魂不禁焦虑万分，他目瞪口呆了许久才缓过神来，命令道：“巫利，快去把他们都赶回来！”动了这么一回脑筋后，他便坐了下来，把烟斗点着，然后取出织了一半的毛袜子开始织起来。
对于巫利来说，罗宾的声音就是上帝的声音，他撒腿分别朝374个不同的方向跑去，拦住那374只错乱的羊，把它们赶到一起，带到罗宾面前。罗宾在渡口呆呆地关注着整个过程，这时他刚刚织完袜尖。
最后是巫利——而不是罗宾——示意羊们全都赶回来了。老羊倌开始数了起来——370，371，372，373。
“巫利，”他责骂道，“不够，还少一只。”巫利羞愧难当，立刻蹦了起来，跑开去整座城市搜寻那只走失的羊。他刚跑不久，一个小男孩又数了数羊，对罗宾说，羊都在这里，374只，一只不少。现在罗宾开始犯难了。把羊儿们尽快赶到约克郡是他义不容辞的责任。但是他知道巫利骄傲的个性，如果找不到那只羊，他是不会好意思回来的，哪怕是偷一只充数，他也干得出来。类似的事情以前也有过，而且还导致过尴尬的纠纷。他该如何是好呢？每周5先令的工钱，可不能掉以轻心。巫利是只很棒的狗，失去他怪可惜的。但是我们也该遵从主人的吩咐。可话又说回来了，如果巫利另偷一只羊来充数，恐怕——也是在人生地疏的异地，一时半会儿也回不来。于是他下定决心放弃巫利，独自赶着羊群上路。至于他会如何折腾，无人知晓，也无人在意。
与此同时，巫利正沿着大街小巷奋力地跑着，徒劳地寻找着那只失散的羊，奔波了整整一天。晚上，他饥肠辘辘，精疲力竭，并且满脸愧色，偷偷回到了渡口，结果却不见主人和羊群的踪影。他悲伤的样子还真让人怜惜。他呜咽着四处奔跑，他跳上渡船来到对岸，到处寻找罗宾。他回到了南希尔兹港，用了整个晚上到处找他那个卑鄙的偶像，第二天又继续找。他乘渡船从河上渡过来渡过去，并仔细闻路过的每个人，还极为聪明地去附近的小酒馆查看一番。次日，他便开始有条不紊地细嗅每位渡河的人。
渡船每天往返50次，每船平均乘坐100人，巫利每次都在跳板上，嗅跨过去的每一双腿。那天，巫利用自己的方式检查了5，000双——10，000条腿。这样一天天过去了，整整一个星期巫利都这样尽职尽责，甚至废寝忘食。不久，饥饿和忧虑开始侵蚀他的健康，他日渐消瘦，脾气也暴躁了，没人敢碰他，任何企图干涉他每日“嗅腿”的工作都是妄想，都会令他愤怒。
时间一天天、一周周地过去了，巫利等啊盼啊，主人却始终没有出现。渡船工人渐渐地对巫利的执著与忠诚表示尊重了。最初巫利对他们提供的食物和窝棚不屑一顾，人们不知他是怎么活下来的，甚至差点儿被饿死。后来他接受了馈赠，并且懂得了对施恩者予以容忍。虽然他对这个世界极为痛恨，但对自己那不名一文的主人忠贞不渝。
14个月后，我与他相识了。他仍然执拗地坚守着岗位。恢复了昔日可爱的外表，脖子上雪白的绒毛衬托着他聪明、秀气的脸，那对直直竖立的耳朵格外引人注意。他一旦发觉我的腿并非他所寻找的主人的腿时，就不再抬头看我了。接下来的10个月，无论我表示如何友好，他仍只是专注地守望着。而我，就像一个陌生人一样，丝毫得不到他的信任。
这个忠心耿耿的家伙在渡口守望了整整两年。他之所以没有返回山里的老家，并非因为路途遥远，也不是担心会迷路，而仅仅因为他始终坚信不移——正是那个罗宾，神一样的罗宾希望他留在渡口。于是他就留了下来。
他来来回回地渡河，只要觉得有达到目的的可能，他就一定会去。一只狗渡一次河的费用是一便士，照这样算来，到巫利停止寻找时为止，他已经欠摆渡公司好几百英镑了。他要嗅跨过跳板的每只裤脚，据我估算，总共是600万条腿。即使都是白费周折，他也依然忠贞不渝，从未动摇过。长期的紧张和操劳使他的脾气明显变得乖戾了许多。
罗宾后来的情况怎样我们不得而知。一天，一位强健的赶畜人迈步走下船台，此时，巫利与往常一样检查着这个陌生人，他忽然激动起来，脖子上的毛根根直立，浑身战栗着，发出低沉的吼叫，他全部的注意力都集中到这个赶畜人的身上。
船上的一名工人误会了，冲这个陌生人喊道：“喂，伙计，你可别惹那只狗。”
“谁惹他了，你这傻瓜，恐怕是他在惹我呢。”此时，一切解释都是没用的。巫利的态度有了一个180度的大转弯。他讨好地向赶畜人摇起了尾巴，这是他几年来头一回这样使劲地摇尾巴。
说来简单，那个赶畜人多利，是罗宾的一个老熟人，他的部分装束、手套和那条羊毛围巾都是从罗宾那里拿来的。巫利嗅到了他主人的气味，同时对能重返偶像主人的身边已经不抱任何希望，于是欣然放弃了守望渡口的职责，并明确表示愿意跟随戴着这副手套的主人。多利很高兴地接受了，带他回到了德比郡那个群山环绕的家中。巫利又成了一只看管羊群的牧羊犬。
W词汇笔记
intelligence[intelid??ns]n.智慧；理解力
例The student were given an intelligence test.
学生们接受了智力测验。
sagacity[s?g?siti：]n.精明；精确的判断
例The professor has excellent sagacity.
那个教授有敏锐的洞察力。
opaque[?upeik]adj.不透明的；难理解的；晦涩的
例This is an opaque cup.
这是一个不透明的杯子。
desperation[,desp?rei??n]n.绝望；不顾一切；拼命
例In my desperation to escape, I had slipped and broken a arm.
我在拼命逃跑时滑倒，摔断了一只胳膊。
S小试身手
巫利正沿着大街小巷奋力地跑着，徒劳地寻找着那只失散的羊，奔波了整整一天。
译________________________________________
虽然他对这个世界极为痛恨，但对自己那不名一文的主人忠贞不渝。
译________________________________________
即使都是白费周折，他也依然忠贞不渝，从未动摇过。
译________________________________________
P短语家族
Now Robin was in a quandary.
in a quandary：左右为难
造________________________________________
……he abandoned his post at the ferry and plainly announced his intention of sticking to the owner of the mittens.
stick to：保留；遵守；坚持；紧跟
造________________________________________