现代大学英语 12A The Most Dangerous Game

panther ['pænθ ] n. 豹；黑豹；美洲豹

pistol ['p stl] n. 手枪；信号枪 vt. 用手枪射击

inch by inch 一点点地，缓慢地 spring [spr ]

n. 春天；弹簧；泉水；活力；跳跃 adj. 春天的

vi. 生长；涌出；跃出；裂开

vt. 使跳起；使爆炸；突然提出；使弹开

22 The pent-up air burst hotly from Rainsford’s lungs. His first thought made him feel sick and numb. The General could follow an extremely difficult trail through the woods at night; he must have uncanny

23 Rainsford’s second thought was even more terrible. It sent a shudder of cold horror through his whole being. Why had the general smiled? Why had he turned back?

24 The truth was clear: the general was playing with him. He was

saving him for another day’s sport! The Cossack was the cat; he was the mouth. It was then that Rainsford knew the full meaning of horror.

雷恩斯福德憋在胸中的气终于吐了出来。他的第一个想法让他感到恶心和麻木。将军能在夜间追踪丛林中一条极难辨认的踪迹，他肯定有着非凡的能力。这个哥萨克人没有发现他的猎物完全是偶然。

雷恩斯福德的第二个想法更可怕，这让他因恐惧而浑身打着冷战。将军为什么笑？他为什么转身离开？

事实很清楚，将军正在捉弄他！他留下自己就是为了多玩一天！那个哥萨克人是只猫，而他是只老鼠。直到那时，雷恩斯福德才真正懂得了恐惧的意义。 pent-up ['pent' p]

adj.

被抑制的；被关住的；被禁锢的