新概念英语青少年版第四册第35课:Television Day:

Lesson 35 Television Day:Blondin
第35课 电视日:布朗丁
The great acrobat,Blondin,was very famous in the 19th century.
布朗丁这位大杂技家在19世纪非常有名.
He used to walk on a tight-rope across the Niagara Falls.
他走在一条绷紧的绳子上横穿尼亚加拉大瀑布.
On September 8th,1860,a crowd of about 300,000 people gathered at Niagara
1860年9月8日,约有30万人聚集在尼亚加拉瀑布旁观
to watch Blondin carry a man across!
看布朗丁背人通过瀑布
Three men had offered to go with him,but they failed to appear,
曾有3个人提出与他一起过去,但他们都没露面.
so Blondin asked his manager,Mr Colcord,to climb on his back.
所以,布朗丁要他的经纪人克尔科特趴在他背上.
Colcord agreed to do this so as not to disappoint the crowd,
为了不让观众失望,克尔科特同意了,
but he was terrified.
但他可吓坏了.
The crossing was very difficult
这次横渡很困难,
because Colcord was heavier than Blondin thought.
因为克尔科特比布朗丁预料的要重.
After he has gone a short way,Blondin had to stop in order to rest.
走了一小段路后,布朗丁就不得不停下来休息.
He asked Colcord to get down.
他要克尔科特下来.
At first Colcord refused,
起先克尔科特不答应,
but at last he had to.
不过最后他只好下来.
He clung to Blondin's leg and the rope in order not to fall.
他紧紧地搂着布朗丁的`腿抓着绳子以免掉下去.
Blondin had to stop six times during the crossing so as to rest
横渡时,布朗丁停下来休息6次.
Sometimes the rope swung as much as 40 feet!
有时绳子摆动的距离竟有40英尺.
At last both men crossed safely.
最后两个人平安地横渡过了.
The crowd sighed with relief--and so did poor Mr Colcord!
人们都宽慰地舒了口气--那位可怜的克尔科特也一样.