Animal farm（91）

A number of them were already wounded.  They took refuge【n. 避难；避难所；庇护】 in the farm buildings and peeped【v. 窥视，偷看；隐约出现，微现；发出吱吱声】 cautiously out from chinks【n. 裂缝；叮当声；裂口】 and knot-holes. The whole of the big pasture，including the windmill，was in the hands of the enemy. For the moment even Napoleon seemed at a loss. He paced up and down【走来走去】 without a word，his tail rigid and twitching【n. 颤搐】.  Wistful glances were sent in the direction of Foxwood.  If Pilkington and his men would help them，the day might yet be won.  But at this moment the four pigeons，who have been sent out on the day before，returned，one of them bearing a scap of paper from Pilkington.  On it was pencilled the words：“Serves you right. ”

很多人已经受伤了。他们躲在农场的窝棚里，小心翼翼地从裂缝和结洞里朝外张望。整个大牧场，包括风车，已落入敌人手中。此时，连拿破仑似乎也不知所措了。他一声不吭地踱来踱去，尾巴僵硬地抽动着。人们向福克斯伍德庄园那边投去渴望的目光。如果皮尔金顿和他的人帮助他们，这一天可能会胜利。但是就在这时，前一天派去的四只鸽子回来了，其中一只带着皮尔金顿寄来的一张纸。上面用铅笔写着:“你活该。”

Meanwhile Frederick and his men had halted【v. 停止，停顿】 about the windmill.  Animals watched them，and a murmur of dismay when round.  Two of the men had produced a crowbar and a sledge hammer.  They were going to knock the windmill down.

与此同时，弗雷德里克和他的手下在风车附近停了下来。动物们望着他们，一转过来，便惊慌地嘀咕起来。其中两个人拿出一根撬棍和一把大铁锤。他们打算把风车拆掉。

“Impossible！”cried Napoleon. “We have built the walls far too thick for that. They could not knock it down in a week. Courage，comrades！”

“不可能!”拿破仑叫道。“我们已经把墙筑得太厚了。他们不可能在一周内把它拆掉。勇气,同志们!”

But Benjamin was watching the movements【n. 运动，运转；动作；运动健身】 of the men intently【adv. 专心地；一心一意地；心无旁骛地】.  The two with the hammer and crowbar were drilling a hole near the base of the windmill. Slowly，and with an air almost of amusement，Benjamin nodded his long muzzle【n. 枪口，炮口；口套，口络；动物的鼻口】.

但本杰明却目不转睛地注视着他们的一举一动。两个拿着锤子和撬棍的人正在风车底部附近钻洞。本杰明带着几乎是开玩笑的神情，慢慢地点了点头他的长鼻子。