CHAPTER XXX BLACKY THE CROW IS ALL PITY

 People who think that they are fooling others very often discover that they have been fooling themselves.

 

Bowser the Hound¹.

 

To have seen and heard Blacky the Crow as he talked to Reddy Fox, you would have thought that there was nothing under the sun in his heart or mind but pity. "Yes, Sir," said he, "I certainly would be tempted² to show you where those fat hens are if you were not too weak. I just can't bear to see an old friend starve. It is too bad that those fat hens are so far away. I feel sure that one of them would make you quite yourself again."

 

"Don't—don't talk about them," said Reddy feebly³. "If I could have just one fat hen that is all I would ask. Are they so very far from here?"

 

Blacky nodded his head vigorously⁴. "Yes," said he, "they are a long way from here. They are such a long way that I'm afraid you are too weak to make the journey. If you were quite yourself you could do it nicely, but for one in your condition it is, I fear, altogether too long a journey."

 

"It wouldn't do any harm to try it, perhaps," suggested Reddy, in a hesitating⁵ way. "It is no worse to starve to death in one place than another, and I never was one to give up without trying. If you don't mind showing me the way, Brother Blacky, I would at least like to try to reach that place where the fat hens are. Of course I cannot keep up with you. In fact, I couldn't if I were feeling well and strong. Perhaps you can tell me just how to find that place, and then I needn't bother you at all."

 

Blacky pretended⁶ to be lost in thought while Reddy watched him anxiously. Finally Blacky spoke⁷. "It certainly makes my heart ache⁸ to see you in such a condition, Brother Reddy," said he. "I tell you what I'll do. You know Crows are famous for flying in a straight line when we want to get to any place in particular. I will fly straight towards that farm where the fat hens are. You follow along as best you can. In your feeble⁹ condition it will take you a long time to get anywhere near there. This will give me time to go hunt for my own dinner, and then I will come back until I meet you. After that, I will show you the way. Now I will start along and you follow."

 

Reddy got to his feet as if it were hard work. Then Blacky spread his wings and started off, cawing encouragement. All the time inside he was laughing to think that Reddy Fox should think he had fooled him. "He forgot to ask again if there is a dog there," chuckled¹⁰ Blacky to himself.

 

As for Reddy, no sooner was Blacky well on his way than he started off at his swiftest¹¹ pace. There was nothing weak or feeble in the way Reddy ran then. He was in a hurry to get to those fat hens.

1 hound   

n.猎狗，卑鄙的人；vt.用猎狗追，追逐

参考例句：

• The hound found the trail of the rabbit.猎狗发现了兔子的踪迹。
• The police have promised to hound down those responsible for the explosion.警方已保证要追查此次爆炸事件有责任的人员。

2 tempted   

v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）

参考例句：

• I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
• I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

3 feebly   

adv. 贫乏地, 虚弱地

参考例句：

• The bird is beating feebly. 那只鸟的翅膀在无力地扑扇着。
• A wick was sputtering feebly in a dish of oil. 瓦油灯上结了一个大灯花，使微弱的灯光变得更加阴暗。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）

4 vigorously   

ad.用力地；有力地；剧烈地

参考例句：

• He rubbed his limbs vigorously to get the blood circulating. 他用力摩擦四肢让血液循环开来。
• He shook the blankets vigorously to get rid of the dust. 他使劲抖动毯子以抖掉尘土。

5 hesitating   

adj.犹豫的，踌躇的v.犹豫( hesitate的现在分词 )；吞吞吐吐；顾虑；停顿

参考例句：

• She stood hesitating on the threshold. 她站在门口，犹豫不决。
• He's still hesitating about joining the expedition. 他对于参加这次探险队仍犹豫不决。

6 pretended   

adj.假装的；徒有外表的；传说的；号称的v.假装( pretend的过去式和过去分词 )；伪装；（尤指儿童）（在游戏中）装扮；自诩

参考例句：

• He pretended that resigning was part of his long-term career strategy. 他假装辞职是他长远事业规划的一部分。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He politely pretended not to have heard this remark. 他有礼貌地假装没有听到这句话。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

8 ache   

n.疼痛；vi.痛，哀怜，渴望

参考例句：

• He has an ache in the back.他的背痛。
• My muscles is going to ache all over tomorrow.明天我全身肌肉都会痛了。

9 feeble   

adj.虚弱的，衰弱的，无力的，无效的，无益的

参考例句：

• She made a feeble effort to get to school on time.她努力想按时赶到学校，但未成功。
• An old or sick person is often feeble.老人或病人往往很虚弱。

10 chuckled   

轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
• She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情，她就轻轻地暗自发笑。

11 swiftest   

迅速的( swift的最高级 )； 敏捷的； 立即作出的； 突然发生的

参考例句：

• The current is swiftest in the middle of the river. 河当中水流最急。
• Thine is the swiftest steed. 你的马是跑得最快的。