Once a crow and his wife built their nest atop a huge banyan tree beside a river. They were very happy there. But when the female crow laid her eggs, they were in for an unpleasant shock. A huge snake who lived in a hole at the bottom of the tree came up and ate all their beautiful eggs.
The crows were helpless with anger and pain. “You can’t let this wicked snake eat our children anymore," cried the female crow bitterly. “You have to find a way to save them from him,’ she said.
“Let us go to our friend the jackal. He is very clever. He will surely be able to help us with a solution," said the male crow.
They both flew to the cave in the forest where their friend the jackal lived.
The jackal saw them coming. “Hello my friends. Why do you look so sad and worried? Can I help you in any way?" he asked.
“Every time my wife lays eggs in our nest, a wicked snake living at the foot of the tree eats them up," explained the crow.
“We want to get rid of him and save our children. Please tell us what we can do."
The jackal thought for some time. “I know what you should do," said the jackal and he told the plan to the crows.
It was a habit of the queen to come with her maids for a bath to the river. When they did so, they removed all their clothes and jewels and placed them on the river bank. On the following day the queen and her maids as usual entered the river.
“You know what to do right?" asked the crow to his wife. “Yes," she answered.
Both of them flew over the pile of clothes and jewels. The female crow swiftly picked up a precious pearl necklace in her beak. At the same time the male crow began to caw loudly to gain the attention of the queen and her maids.
“Oh, those crows have taken my pearl necklace." cried the queen. “Guards!" she cried. “Get that necklace back from those pesky crows." Her guards chased the crows shouting loudly.
The crows flew straight to the banyan tree with the guards close behind. Hearing all the noise, the snake came out of his hole at the foot of the tree. Immediately, the female crow dropped the necklace right where the snake was.
“Look out! There is a huge snake near the necklace," alerted one guard.
Before the snake could realise what was happening, the guards attacked him with sharp spears and killed him. The guards then picked up the necklace and took it back to their queen.
The crows thanked their friend the jackal for helping them get rid of their enemy. They lived happily with their children.
【关键词】
1、 atop （adv.） 在顶上
2、 banyan tree （n.） 榕树
3、 habit （n.） 习惯
4、 maid （n.） 女仆；侍女
5、 pile （n.） 堆
6、 jewel （n.） 珠宝
7、 swiftly （adv.） 迅速地；敏捷地
8、 precious （adj.） 珍贵的
9、 pearl （n.） 珍珠
10、 necklace （n.） 项链
11、 attention （n.） 注意；注意力
12、 guard（n.）卫兵
13、 pesky （adj.） 讨厌的
14、 alert (vt.) 使意识到；警惕
15、 spear (n.) 矛
【译文】乌鸦和项链
从前，有一只乌鸦和他的妻子在河边一棵巨大的榕树顶上筑巢。它们在那里很开心。但是，当母乌鸦产蛋时，它们总是遭受恼人的打击。一条大蛇住在树底的一个洞里，会不失时机的现身，将这些漂亮的蛋统统吃掉。
乌鸦怒火满腔和痛苦不堪，却也无能为力。 “你不能让这条邪恶的蛇再吃掉我们的孩子了，”母乌鸦痛哭道，“你必须想办法从毒蛇嘴里救它们，”她说。
“咱们去找朋友豺狼吧。它非常聪明。它肯定能帮我们找到办法，“公乌鸦说。
它俩一起飞往森林，来到它们的朋友豺狼所居住的洞穴里。
豺狼看到它们走来。 “你好，我的朋友。为什么你们看起来如此悲伤和不安呢？我帮忙做什么吗？“它问道。
“每奉我妻子在巢中生蛋时，住在树脚下的一条邪恶的蛇会把蛋吃掉，”乌鸦解释说。
“我们想除掉它，拯救我们的孩子。请您指点迷津。“
豺狼想了想。 “我知道你们应该怎么做了，”豺狼说道，它计划告诉了这对乌鸦。
女王陛下有一个习惯，就是和侍女们一起去河边洗澡。她们洗澡时，会脱光衣服、摘下珠宝，并将它们放置在岸上。第二天，女王和她的侍女们像往常一样走入河中。
“你知道眼下该怎么做吗？”乌鸦问它的妻子。“是的，”她回答。
它俩那堆衣服和珠宝上空盘旋。母乌鸦迅速用嘴巴叼起一条珍贵的珍珠项链。与此同时，公乌鸦开始呱呱大叫，从而唤起女王和她的女仆们的注意。
“啊，乌鸦叼走了我的珍珠项链。”女王喊道，“卫兵！”她叫道。 “从那些讨厌的乌鸦那里抢回那条项链。”卫兵大声呼喊着追赶乌鸦。
乌鸦径直飞向榕树，身后的卫兵紧追不舍。听到外面的噪杂声，蛇从树脚下的洞里爬出身来。母乌鸦立刻抛下项链，那项链恰好落在蛇所在的地方。
“当心！项链附近有一条大蛇，“一名卫兵警告说。
Before the snake could realise what was happening, the guards attacked him with sharp spears and killed him. 随后，卫兵捡起项链，并把它交还给他们的女王。
乌鸦夫妇非常感谢它们的朋友豺狼，在它的帮助下，它们除掉了敌人。它俩和孩子们一起幸福地生活着。
（完）
问题：Before the snake could realise what was happening, the guards attacked him with sharp spears and killed him. 这句话怎么译？可以展开讨论，也可以通过点击“赞赏”获得答案。
