IX The Major Has a Plan

 "What is your business, if I may ask?" Mr. Crow inquired of Major Monkey.

 

"Lately I've been spending my time travelling," the Major replied. "But you know I'm a soldier. And while I'm in Pleasant Valley I intend to form an army."

 

Old Mr. Crow looked somewhat worried when he heard that.

 

"I hope you aren't going to guard the cornfield!" he said hastily.

 

Major Monkey set his fears at rest.

 

"We'll let Farmer Green do that," he said with a wink¹. "This is what we'll do: we'll band ourselves together and we'll fight any strangers that come to Pleasant Valley to live."

 

"That's not a bad plan," Mr. Crow remarked. "But it's lucky for you that you didn't form the army before you got here yourself—else we'd have had to fight you."

 

"Of course!" Major Monkey agreed. "But trust me not to make such a mistake as that."

 

"Who's going to be in the army?" Mr. Crow wanted to know.

 

"Everybody!" the Major answered, with a wave of the hand that took in the whole valley.

 

For as long as a minute old Mr. Crow was very thoughtful.

 

"I shall not care to be in it unless I can be a general," he announced at last.

 

"Why, certainly!" said Major Monkey. "Certainly you shall be a general, Mr. Crow."

 

Mr. Crow swelled² himself up and looked as important as he could.

 

"Get everybody to come to the edge of the woods, near the pasture, early to-morrow morning," Major Monkey commanded.

 

"Aren't you going to do any of the work?" Mr. Crow demanded. "I thought generals didn't have to do anything except look wise."

 

"It's easier for you to get about than it is for me. But as soon as we have our army together I'll take entire charge of it," Major Monkey informed him.

 

Mr. Crow was satisfied. After all, it wouldn't really be work, he told himself, to fly around and tell the people the news. In fact, the more he thought about the plan the better he liked it.

 

So he bade Major Monkey good-by and hurried away.

 

When Mr. Crow had flown out of sight the Major rolled over and over on the ground. And then he climbed a tree and swung by his tail from a limb, while he made an odd, chuckling³ sound.

 

"A general!" he said. "General Crow! Why he never wore a uniform in all his life!"

 

On the following morning the field-and forest-folk began gathering⁴ at the edge of the woods near the pasture almost before it was light. And when Major Monkey left his snug⁵ bed in the haystack and went to the meeting-place he found an eager throng⁶ waiting for him.

 

Old Mr. Crow was flitting about, talking in a loud voice, and ordering people around to his heart's content.

 

"Silence!" Major Monkey commanded, as soon as he arrived. Mr. Crow opened his mouth to speak. But Major Monkey cut him off short.

 

"The first thing a soldier has to learn is to obey," he barked.

 

"But I'm a general!" Mr. Crow protested.

 

"Well, these are general orders; so you'll have to obey 'em," said Major Monkey glibly⁷.

 

And poor old Mr. Crow didn't know what to say to that.

 

But he couldn't help looking rather grumpy.

1 wink   

n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁

参考例句：

• He tipped me the wink not to buy at that price.他眨眼暗示我按那个价格就不要买。
• The satellite disappeared in a wink.瞬息之间，那颗卫星就消失了。

2 swelled   

增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情）

参考例句：

• The infection swelled his hand. 由于感染，他的手肿了起来。
• After the heavy rain the river swelled. 大雨过后，河水猛涨。

3 chuckling   

轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I could hear him chuckling to himself as he read his book. 他看书时，我能听见他的轻声发笑。
• He couldn't help chuckling aloud. 他忍不住的笑了出来。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子

4 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

5 snug   

adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房

参考例句：

• He showed us into a snug little sitting room.他领我们走进了一间温暖而舒适的小客厅。
• She had a small but snug home.她有个小小的但很舒适的家。

6 throng   

n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集

参考例句：

• A patient throng was waiting in silence.一大群耐心的人在静静地等着。
• The crowds thronged into the mall.人群涌进大厅。

7 glibly   

adv.流利地，流畅地；满口

参考例句：

• He glibly professed his ignorance of the affair. 他口口声声表白不知道这件事。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• He put ashes on his head, apologized profusely, but then went glibly about his business. 他表示忏悔，满口道歉，但接着又故态复萌了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》