Chapter 13: The Strange Dog
strange (見知らぬ) [形] not known or familiar
dog (犬) [名] a domesticated carnivorous mammal that typically has a long snout, an acute sense of smell, and a barking, howling, or whining voice
第13章: 見知らぬ犬

 Nick Brown had said that New York horse-buyers were in the neighborhood, so every night Father gave the four-year-old colts a special, careful grooming.
horse-buyer (馬買い) [名] a person who buys horses
neighborhood (近所) [名] the area around one's home
four-year-old (4歳) [形] being four years old
special (特別な) [形] better or otherwise different from what is usual or common
grooming (手入れ) [名] the practice of brushing and cleaning a horse's coat
ニック・ブラウンはニューヨークの馬買いが近所にいると言っていたので、パパは毎晩4歳の子馬を特別に丁寧に手入れしていた。
The four-year-olds were already perfectly broken, and Almanzo wanted so much to help groom them that Father let him.
four-year-old (4歳馬) [名] a horse that is four years old
broken (調教された) [形] trained to obey a rider
so much (とても) [副] to a very great extent
groom (手入れする) [動] brush and clean the coat of a horse
let (手伝わせる) [動] allow to do something
4歳馬はすでに完全に調教されていたので、アルマンゾは手入れを手伝いたくてたまらなかったので、パパは彼に手伝わせた。
But he was allowed to go into their stalls only when Father was there.
しかし、彼はパパがいるときだけ馬小屋に入ることを許された。

 Carefully Almanzo currycombed and brushed their shining brown sides, and their smooth round haunches and slender legs.
currycomb (馬ぐし) [名] a comb with rows of teeth used for grooming horses
brush (ブラシ) [名] a tool with bristles used for cleaning or grooming
haunch (腰) [名] the part of the body including the hip and upper thigh
アルマンゾは注意深く、馬の輝く茶色の脇腹や、滑らかで丸い腰や細い脚を、馬ぐしやブラシで手入れした。
Then he rubbed them down with clean cloths.
rub down (拭く) [動] clean or dry by rubbing
それから彼は馬をきれいな布で拭いた。
He combed and braided their black manes and their long black tails.
彼は馬の黒いたてがみと長い黒いしっぽをとかして編んだ。
With a little brush he oiled their curved hoofs, till they shone black as Mother’s polished stove.
with a little brush (小さなブラシで) [名] using a small brush
oil (油を塗る) [動] apply oil to
curved hoof (曲がったひづめ) [名] the curved part of a horse's foot
shine (光る) [動] emit or reflect light
polished stove (磨いたストーブ) [名] a stove that has been polished
彼は小さなブラシで馬の曲がったひづめに油を塗り、ママの磨いたストーブのように黒く光るまで磨いた。

 He was careful never to move suddenly and startle them.
be careful (注意する) [動] take care to avoid danger or mistakes
suddenly (急に) [副] quickly and unexpectedly
彼は決して急に動いて馬を驚かせないように注意した。
He talked to them while he worked, in a gentle, low voice.
work (作業する) [動] be engaged in physical or mental activity in order to achieve a purpose of result
talk to (話しかける) [動] speak to someone
彼は作業中、優しく低い声で馬に話しかけていた。
The colts nibbled his sleeve with their lips, and nuzzled at his pockets for the apples he brought them.
nibble (軽くかむ) [動] bite gently or playfully
子馬は唇で彼の袖を軽くかんだり、彼が持ってきたリンゴを探して彼のポケットを鼻でつついたりした。
They arched their necks when he rubbed their velvety noses, and their soft eyes shone.
rub (撫でる) [動] to move one's hand or an object over a surface with firm pressure
彼がビロードのような鼻を撫でると、子馬は首を反らせ、柔らかい目が輝いた。

 Almanzo knew that in the whole world there was nothing so beautiful, so fascinating, as beautiful horses.
アルマンゾは、全世界で美しい馬ほど美しく、魅力的なものは何もないことを知っていた。
When he thought that it would be years and years before he could have a little colt to teach and take care of, he could hardly bear it.
彼が、小さな子馬を飼って世話をし、しつけることができるようになるまで何年もかかるだろうと考えると、耐え難かった。

 One evening the horse-buyer came riding into the barnyard.
come riding (乗ってやってくる) [動] come on a horse
ある夕方、馬の買い手が馬小屋の庭に乗ってやってきた。
He was a strange horse-buyer; Father had never seen him before.
彼は見知らぬ馬の買い手だった。父は彼を見たことがなかった。
He was dressed in city clothes, of machine-made cloth, and he tapped his shining tall boots with a little red whip.
be dressed in (着ている) [動] be wearing
city clothes (都会の服) [名] clothes that are fashionable in the city
machine-made (機械製の) [形] made by a machine
shining (光沢のある) [形] bright; gleaming
tall boots (長靴) [名] boots that reach up to the knee
彼は機械製の布でできた都会の服を着て、小さな赤い鞭で光沢のある長靴を叩いていた。
His black eyes were close to his thin nose;
彼の黒い目は細い鼻の近くにあった。
his black beard was trimmed into a point, and the ends of his mustache were waxed and twisted.
trim (整える) [動] make neat, tidy, or orderly
point (先端) [名] the sharp or tapered end of something
wax (ワックス) [名] a sticky substance used to polish or protect something
彼の黒い髭は先端が整えられ、口ひげの先はワックスで固められねじれていた。

 He looked very strange, standing in the barnyard and thoughtfully twisting one end of his mustache into a sharper point.
look (見える) [動] to seem or appear
thoughtfully (思慮深く) [副] showing careful consideration
sharper (鋭い) [形] having a very thin edge or point
彼は農場の庭に立って、口ひげの片方の端を鋭くねじり、とても奇妙に見えた。

 Father led out the colts.
父は子馬を連れ出した。
They were perfectly matched Morgans, exactly the same size, the same shape, the same bright brown all over, with the same white stars on their foreheads.
match (マッチする) [動] be equal or equivalent to
Morgan (モーガン) [名] a breed of horse
彼らは完璧にマッチしたモーガンで、全く同じ大きさ、同じ形、同じ明るい茶色で、額に同じ白い星があった。
They arched their necks and picked up their little feet daintily.
pick up (持ち上げる) [動] lift or move something to a higher position
彼らは首をアーチ状にし、小さな足を優雅に持ち上げた。

 “Four years old in May, sound in wind and limb, not a blemish on them,” Father said.
four years old (4歳) [名] a person who is four years old
May (5月) [名] the fifth month of the year
limb (手足) [名] an arm or leg of a person or four-legged animal
blemish (傷) [名] a mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of something
「5月で4歳、風と手足の音、傷はない」と父は言った。
“Broken to drive double or single.
drive (走れる) [動] to move or cause to move in a specified way
double (二頭立て) [形] having two parts, elements, or aspects
single (一頭立て) [形] having or involving one only
「二頭立てでも一頭立てでも走れる。
They’re high-spirited, full of ginger, and gentle as kittens.
high-spirited (元気) [形] having a bold or energetic spirit
ginger (生姜) [名] a hot spicy seasoning made from the rhizome of the ginger plant
彼らは元気で、生姜がいっぱいで、子猫のように優しい。
A lady can drive them.”
lady (女性) [名] a woman of refinement, good breeding, and high social position
女性でも運転できる。」

 Almanzo listened.
listen (耳を傾ける) [動] give one's attention to a sound or action
アルマンゾは耳を傾けた。
He was excited, but he remembered carefully everything that Father and the horse-buyer said.
be excited (興奮している) [動] be very enthusiastic and eager
彼は興奮していたが、父と馬の買い手が言ったことをすべて注意深く覚えていた。
Some day he would be trading horses, himself.
some day (いつか) [副] at some future time
いつか彼は自分で馬を売買するだろう。

 The buyer felt the colts’ legs, he opened their mouths and looked at their teeth.
feel (触る) [動] to touch something
買い手は子馬の足を触り、口を開けて歯を見た。
Father had nothing to fear from that;
have nothing to fear (恐れることはなかった) [動] have no reason to be afraid
from that (それを) [代] that thing
父はそれを恐れることはなかった。
he had told the truth about the colts’ age.
tell the truth (真実を語る) [動] be honest
age (年齢) [名] the number of years that a person has lived
彼は子馬の年齢について真実を語っていた。
Then the buyer stood back and watched, while Father took each colt on a long rope and made it walk, trot, and gallop in a circle around him.
stand back (下がる) [動] move away from something
circle (一周) [名] a round plane figure whose boundary (the circumference) consists of points equidistant from a fixed point (the center)
それから買い手は後ろに下がって見守り、父は長いロープで子馬を連れて歩き、速歩し、彼の周りを一周した。

 “Look at that action,” Father said.
action (動き) [名] the fact or process of doing something
「あの動きを見てみろ」と父は言った。

 The shining black manes and tails rippled in the air.
ripple (波打つ) [動] form or cause to form small waves
輝く黒いたてがみとしっぽが空中で波打った。
Brown lights flowed over their smooth bodies, and their delicate feet seemed hardly to touch the ground.
flow (流れる) [動] move or cause to move easily and freely
delicate (繊細な) [形] very fine in texture or structure; fragile
茶色の光が滑らかな体に流れ、繊細な足はほとんど地面に触れていないようだった。
Round and round they went, like a tune.
round and round (ぐるぐる) [副] in a circular motion
彼らは旋律のようにぐるぐる回った。

 The buyer looked.
買い手は見た。
He tried to find fault, but he couldn’t.
find fault (欠陥を見つける) [動] to find something wrong with something
彼は欠陥を見つけようとしたが、できなかった。
The colts stood still, and Father waited.
stand still (立ち止まる) [動] stop moving
子馬は立ち止まり、父は待った。
Finally the buyer offered $175 apiece.
offer (提示する) [動] present for consideration, discussion, or acceptance
ついに買い手は1頭175ドルを提示した。

 Father said he couldn’t take less than $225.
less than (以下) [副] not as much as
take (引き受ける) [動] accept or agree to something
$225 (225ドル) [名] two hundred and twenty-five dollars
父は225ドル以下では引き受けられないと言った。
Almanzo knew he said that, because he wanted $200.
アルマンゾは父が200ドル欲しかったのでそう言ったのだと知っていた。
Nick Brown had told him that horse-buyers were paying that much.
pay (払う) [動] give money that is owed
ニック・ブラウンは馬の買い手がそれだけ払っていると彼に言った。

 Then Father hitched both colts to the buggy.
それから父は2頭の子馬を馬車につなぎつけた。
He and the buyer climbed in, and away they went down the road.
climb in (乗り込む) [動] get into a vehicle
彼と買い手は馬車に乗り込み、道を下って行った。
The colts’ heads were high, their noses stretched out;
子馬の頭は高く、鼻は前に突き出ていた。
their manes and tails blew in the wind of their speed, and their flashing legs moved all together, as though the colts were one colt.
blow (なびく) [動] be moved by the wind
flash (きらめく) [動] shine brightly or intermittently
たてがみとしっぽは走る風になびき、きらめく脚はまるで子馬が1頭であるかのように一緒に動いた。
The buggy was gone out of sight in a moment.
go out of sight (見えなくなる) [動] become invisible
moment (すぐに) [名] a very short period of time
馬車はすぐに見えなくなった。

 Almanzo knew he must go on with the chores.
アルマンゾは雑用を続けなければならないことを知っていた。
He went into the barn and took the pitchfork;
彼は納屋に入り、熊手を取った。
then he put it down and came out to watch for the colts’ return.
put down (置く) [動] place something in a lower position
watch for (待つ) [動] be careful or vigilant about
return (戻る) [動] go or come back to a place or person that one has already left
それから彼は熊手を置き、子馬が戻ってくるのを待つために出てきた。

 When they came back, Father and the buyer had not agreed on the price.
agree (合意する) [動] have the same opinion about something
彼らが戻ってきた時、父と買い手は価格について合意していなかった。
Father tugged at his beard, and the buyer twisted his mustache.
父は髭を引っ張り、買い手は口ひげをねじった。
The buyer talked about the expense of taking the colts to New York, and about the low prices there.
expense (費用) [名] a cost incurred in making or doing something
low price (安い価格) [名] a price that is below average or expected
買い手は子馬をニューヨークに連れて行く費用と、そこでの安い価格について話した。
He had to think of his profit.
profit (利益) [名] a financial gain, especially the difference between the amount earned and the amount spent in buying, operating, or producing something
彼は利益を考えなければならなかった。
The best he could offer was $175.
the best (最高額) [名] the most excellent or desirable thing or person
$175 (175ドル) [名] one hundred seventy-five dollars
彼が提示できる最高額は175ドルだった。

 Father said: “I’ll split the difference.
split (折半する) [動] divide or break into two or more parts
difference (差額) [名] the amount by which one number or quantity is greater or less than another
父は言った。「差額を折半しましょう。
Two hundred dollars, and that’s my last price.”
last price (最終価格) [名] the lowest price that someone will accept for something
200ドル、これが私の最終価格です。」

 The buyer thought, and answered, “I don’t see my way clear to pay that.”
amount (金額) [名] a quantity of something, especially the total of a thing or things in number, size, value, or extent
買い手は考え、「その金額を支払う方法が見つかりません」と答えた。

 “All right,” Father said.
all right (分かりました) [副] yes; okay
「分かりました」と父は言った。
“No hard feelings, and we’ll be glad to have you stay to supper.”
hard feeling (悪く思う) [名] a feeling of anger or resentment
stay to (残る) [動] remain in a place or condition
「悪く思わないでください、夕食に残ってくだされば嬉しいです。」

 He began to unhitch the colts.
彼は子馬を外し始めた。
The buyer said:
買い手は言った。

 “Over by Saranac they’re selling better horses than these for one hundred and seventy-five dollars.”
these (これ) [代] the ones mentioned
one hundred and seventy-five dollars (百七十五ドル) [名] an amount of money
「サラナックでは、これより良い馬を百七十五ドルで売っている。」

 Father didn’t answer.
父は答えなかった。
He unhitched the colts and led them toward their stalls.
彼は子馬を外して、馬小屋に連れて行った。
Then the buyer said:
すると買い手は言った。

 “All right, two hundred it is.
two hundred (二百) [名] the number 200
it is (それでいい) [動] that is the case
「分かった、二百ドルでいい。
I’ll lose money by it, but here you are.”
lose money (損する) [動] fail to gain or make money
here you are (これでいいだろう) [句] an expression used when giving something to someone
損するけど、これでいいだろう。」
He took a fat wallet out of his pocket and gave Father $200 to bind the bargain.
彼はポケットから分厚い財布を取り出し、父に200ドルを渡して契約を結んだ。
“Bring them to town tomorrow, and get the rest.”
get (渡す) [動] receive or be given
「明日町に連れて来たら、残りを渡すよ。」

 The colts were sold, at Father’s price.
sell (売れる) [動] exchange or dispose of in return for money
子馬は父の言い値で売れた。

 The buyer would not stay to supper.
買い手は夕食には残らなかった。
He rode away, and Father took the money to Mother in the kitchen.
ride away (馬で去る) [動] leave on a horse
彼は馬で去り、父は台所にいる母にお金を持って行った。
Mother exclaimed:
母は叫んだ。

 “You mean to say we must keep all that money in the house overnight!”
mean to say (言うつもり) [動] intend to say
keep (置いておく) [動] have or retain possession of
overnight (一晩) [副] during the night
「そのお金を全部一晩家においておかなければならないって言うつもり?」

 “It’s too late to take it to the bank,” Father said.
too late (遅すぎる) [形] after the usual or expected time
「銀行に預けるには遅すぎる」と父は言った。
“We’re safe enough.
「十分安全だ。
Nobody but us knows the money’s here.”
here (ここ) [副] in this place
お金がここにあることを知っているのは私たちだけだ。」

 “I declare I sha’n’t sleep a wink!”
declare (宣言する) [動] make a formal statement about a fact or situation
sleep a wink (一睡もできない) [動] not sleep at all
「一睡もできないよ!」

 “The Lord will take care of us,” Father said.
Lord (神様) [名] the creator and ruler of the universe and source of all moral authority; the supreme being
「神様が守ってくださる」と父は言った。

 “The Lord helps them that help themselves,” Mother replied.
themselves (自ら) [代] used to refer to the person or thing mentioned as the subject of the sentence
「神様は自らを助ける者を助けるのよ」と母は答えた。
“I wish to goodness that money was safe in the bank.”
goodness (神様) [名] the quality of being good
safe (安全) [形] free from danger or threat
「お金が銀行に安全に預けてあったらよかったのに」

 It was already past chore-time, and Almanzo had to hurry to the barn with the milk-pails.
be past (過ぎている) [動] have gone by
すでに雑用の時間は過ぎていて、アルマンゾは牛乳桶を持って急いで納屋に行かなければならなかった。
If cows are not milked at exactly the same time, night and morning, they will not give so much milk.
give (出す) [動] to cause to be received
so much (あまり) [副] to a great extent or degree
牛は夜と朝、全く同じ時間に搾乳しないと、あまり牛乳を出さない。
Then there were the mangers and stalls to clean and all the stock to feed.
それから、飼い葉桶や牛舎を掃除し、家畜に餌をやる必要があった。
It was almost eight o’clock before everything was done, and Mother was keeping supper warm.
全てが終わる頃には8時近くになっていて、ママは夕食を温めていた。

 Supper-time was not as cheerful as usual.
supper-time (夕食の時間) [名] the time of day when supper is eaten
夕食の時間はいつものように陽気ではなかった。
There was a dark, heavy feeling about that money.
そのお金には暗く重い感じがあった。
Mother had hidden it in the pantry, then she hid it in the linen-closet.
hide (隠す) [動] put or keep out of sight; conceal
linen-closet (リネンクローゼット) [名] a closet where linen is stored
ママはそれを食器棚に隠し、それからリネンクローゼットに隠した。
After supper she began setting the sponge for tomorrow’s baking, and worrying again about the money.
sponge (スポンジ) [名] a porous mass of interlacing fibers
baking (パン焼き) [名] the cooking of food in the oven
worry (心配する) [動] feel or show concern or anxiety
夕食後、彼女は明日のパン焼きのためにスポンジをセットし始め、またお金のことを心配し始めた。
Her hands flew, the bread sponge made little plopping sounds under her spoon, and she was saying:
spoon (スプーン) [名] an implement with a handle and a shallow bowl-shaped container
彼女の手は飛び、パンのスポンジは彼女のスプーンの下で小さな音を立て、彼女は言った。

 “It don’t seem as though anybody’d think to look between sheets in the closet, but I declare I— What’s that!”
look between (探す) [動] search for something
sheet (シーツ) [名] a large piece of cloth used as a covering
closet (クローゼット) [名] a tall cupboard used for storing clothes
what (あれ) [代] the thing that
「誰もクローゼットのシーツの間を探そうとは思わないようだが、私は宣言する、私はーあれは何だ!」

 They all jumped.
jump (飛び上がる) [動] move or cause to move suddenly and quickly
彼らは皆飛び上がった。
They held their breaths and listened.
hold one's breath (息を止める) [動] stop breathing temporarily
彼らは息を止めて耳を傾けた。

 “Something or somebody’s prowling round this house!” Mother breathed.
somebody (誰か) [名] an unspecified person
prowl (うろつく) [動] move about stealthily
round (周り) [前] around
「何か、誰かがこの家の周りをうろついている!」と母は息を吐いた。

 All you could see when you looked at the windows was blackness outside.
blackness (真っ暗) [名] the quality or state of being black
窓を見ると、外は真っ暗だった。

 “Pshaw! ‘Twa’n’t anything,” Father said.
pshaw (チェッ) [間] an exclamation of disgust or annoyance
「チェッ! 何もなかった」と父は言った。

 “I tell you I heard something!”
「何か聞こえたってば!」

 “I didn’t,” Father said.
「私は聞こえなかった」と父は言った。

 “Royal,” said Mother, “you go look.”
「ロイヤル」と母は言った。「見に行って」

 Royal opened the kitchen door and peered into the dark.
peer (覗き込む) [動] look or gaze intently or curiously
dark (暗闇) [名] the absence of light
ロイヤルは台所のドアを開けて暗闇を覗き込んだ。
After a minute he said,
after a minute (しばらくして) [副] a short time later
しばらくして彼は言った。

 “It’s nothing but a stray dog.”
nothing but (にすぎない) [副] only; no more than
stray dog (野良犬) [名] a dog that has no home and that wanders about
「野良犬にすぎない」

 “Drive it away!” said Mother.
drive away (追い払う) [動] cause to go away
「追い払って!」と母は言った。
Royal went out and drove it away.
ロイヤルは外に出て犬を追い払った。

 Almanzo wished he had a dog.
アルマンゾは犬がいたらいいのにと思った。
But a little dog digs up the garden and chases hens and sucks eggs, and a big dog may kill sheep.
dig up (掘り起こす) [動] to remove earth from
garden (庭) [名] a piece of land where plants (such as flowers or vegetables) are grown
suck (吸う) [動] to draw into the mouth by creating a vacuum
しかし、小さな犬は庭を掘り起こし、雌鶏を追いかけ、卵を吸い、大きな犬は羊を殺すかもしれない。
Mother always said there was stock enough on the place, without a dirty dog.
母はいつも、汚い犬がいなくても、この場所には十分な家畜がいると言っていた。

 She set away the bread sponge.
sponge (種) [名] a piece of dough that is used to start a new batch of bread
彼女はパン種を片付けた。
Almanzo washed his feet.
アルマンゾは足を洗った。
He had to wash his feet every night, when he went barefoot.
go barefoot (裸足で歩く) [動] walk without wearing shoes or socks
彼は裸足で歩くので、毎晩足を洗わなければならなかった。
He was washing them when they all heard a stealthy sound on the back porch.
stealthy (こそこそした) [形] done in a secretive manner
彼が洗っている時、みんなが裏ポーチでこそこそした音を聞いた。

 Mother’s eyes were big.
be big (大きく見開かれた) [動] be large in size
母の目は大きく見開かれた。
Royal said:
ロイヤルは言った。

 “It’s only that dog.”
「ただの犬だよ」

 He opened the door.
彼はドアを開けた。
At first they saw nothing, and Mother’s eyes got bigger.
at first (最初は) [副] in the beginning; initially
get bigger (大きくなる) [動] become larger
最初は何も見えず、母の目はさらに大きくなった。
Then they saw a big, thin dog cringing away in the shadows.
cringe (うずくまる) [動] bend one's head and body in fear or in a servile manner
すると、大きくて痩せた犬が影の中にうずくまっているのが見えた。
His ribs showed under his fur.
rib (肋骨) [名] one of the curved bones that are attached to the spine and protect the chest
毛皮の下には肋骨が浮き出ていた。

 “Oh, Mother, the poor dog!” Alice cried.
poor (かわいそうな) [形] deserving of pity
「お母さん、かわいそうな犬!」とアリスは叫んだ。
“Please, Mother, can’t I give him just a little bit to eat?”
「お母さん、お願い、少しだけ食べ物を与えてもいい?」

 “Goodness, child, yes!” Mother said.
child (子供) [名] a young human being below the age of puberty or below the legal age of majority
yes (いいよ) [副] used to give an affirmative response
「いいよ、子供、いいよ!」と母は言った。
“You can drive him away in the morning, Royal.”
「朝になったら追い払ってもいいよ、ロイヤル」

 Alice set out a pan of food for the dog.
set out (用意する) [動] to start a journey
アリスは犬のために食べ物の入った鍋を用意した。
He dared not come near it while the door was open, but when Almanzo shut the door they heard him chewing.
come near (近寄る) [動] approach
ドアが開いている間は近寄ろうとしなかったが、アルマンゾがドアを閉めると、犬が食べ物を噛む音が聞こえた。
Mother tried the door twice to make sure it was locked.
try (確認する) [動] to make an attempt or effort to do something
make sure (確実にする) [動] to be certain about something
lock (施錠する) [動] to fasten or secure (something) with a lock
母はドアが確実に施錠されているか二度確認した。

 The dark came into the kitchen when they left it with the candles, and the dark looked in through the dining-room windows.
come into (入ってくる) [動] enter
look in (覗き込む) [動] look inside
彼らがろうそくを残して台所を出ると、暗闇が台所に入り、暗闇が食堂の窓から覗き込んだ。
Mother locked both dining-room doors, and she even went into the parlor and tried the parlor door, though it was always kept locked.
母は食堂の両方のドアに鍵をかけ、いつも鍵がかかっているにもかかわらず、居間に行って居間のドアも試した。

 Almanzo lay in bed a long time, listening and staring at the dark.
lie in bed (ベッドに横たわる) [動] be in a lying position on a bed
a long time (長い間) [名] a lengthy period of time
listen (耳を澄ます) [動] make an effort to hear something
アルマンゾは長い間ベッドに横たわり、暗闇を見つめながら耳を澄ませていた。
But at last he fell asleep, and he did not know what happened in the night till Mother told it next morning.
しかし、ついに彼は眠りに落ち、翌朝母が話すまで夜に何が起こったのか知らなかった。

 She had put the money under Father’s socks in the bureau drawer.
sock (靴下) [名] a garment for the foot and lower part of the leg
bureau (箪笥) [名] a chest of drawers, typically with a mirror, used as a dressing table
drawer (引き出し) [名] a sliding container under a table or in a cupboard
彼女はそのお金を箪笥の引き出しの父の靴下の下に置いていた。
But after she went to bed, she got up again and put it under her pillow.
get up (起きる) [動] rise from a lying, sitting, or kneeling position
しかし、彼女は寝た後、再び起き上がって枕の下に置いた。
She did not think she would sleep at all, but she must have, because in the night something woke her.
at all (全く) [副] in any way; to any extent
in the night (夜中に) [副] during the night
wake (起こす) [動] cause to stop sleeping
彼女は全く眠れないだろうと思ったが、夜中に何かが彼女を起こしたので、眠ったに違いない。
She sat bolt upright in bed.
sit bolt upright (起き上がる) [動] sit up straight
彼女はベッドに起き上がった。
Father was sound asleep.
be sound asleep (ぐっすり眠っている) [動] be in a deep sleep
父はぐっすり眠っていた。

 The moon was shining and she could see the lilac bush in the yard.
moon (月) [名] the natural satellite of the earth
月が輝いていて、彼女は庭のライラックの茂みを見ることができた。
Everything was still.
全てが静かだった。
The clock struck eleven.
時計が11時を打った。
Then Mother’s blood ran cold;
blood (血) [名] the red liquid that circulates in the arteries and veins of people and vertebrate animals, carrying oxygen to and carbon dioxide from the tissues of the body
run cold (凍りつく) [動] to become very cold or frightened
すると母の血が凍りついた。
she heard a low, savage growl.
savage (野蛮な) [形] fierce, ferocious, or cruel; untamed
growl (唸り声) [名] a deep guttural sound uttered by a dog or other animal
彼女は低く野蛮な唸り声を聞いた。

 She got out of bed and went to the window.
彼女はベッドから出て窓に行った。
The strange dog stood under it, bristling and showing his teeth.
bristle (逆立てる) [動] stand up stiffly
show (むき出す) [動] make visible; cause or allow to be seen
見知らぬ犬がその下にいて、毛を逆立てて歯をむき出していた。
He acted as though somebody was in the woodlot.
act (振る舞う) [動] behave in a particular manner
woodlot (森) [名] a small wood or forest
彼は誰かが森にいるかのように振る舞った。

 Mother stood listening and looking.
母は立って耳を傾け、見ていた。
It was dark under the trees, and she could not see anyone.
be dark (暗い) [動] with little or no light
木々の下は暗く、彼女は誰も見ることができなかった。
But the dog growled savagely at the darkness.
growl (唸る) [動] utter a low guttural sound of anger
savagely (激しく) [副] in a fierce, violent, or uncontrolled manner
しかし、犬は暗闇に向かって激しく唸った。

 Mother watched.
母は見ていた。
She heard the clock strike midnight, and after a long time it struck one o’clock.
midnight (真夜中) [名] twelve o'clock at night
one o'clock (一時) [名] one hour after midnight
彼女は時計が真夜中を打つのを聞き、長い時間が経って一時を打った。
The dog walked up and down by the picket fence, growling.
walk up and down (行ったり来たりする) [動] move back and forth
picket fence (ピケットフェンス) [名] a fence made of pickets
犬はピケットフェンスのそばを行ったり来たりしながら唸っていた。
At last he lay down, but he kept his head up and his ears pricked, listening.
lie down (横になる) [動] get into a lying position
prick (立てる) [動] make a small hole in something with a sharp point
ついに彼は横になったが、頭を上げ、耳を立てて耳を傾けていた。
Mother went softly back to bed.
母はそっとベッドに戻った。

 At dawn the dog was gone.
at dawn (夜明けに) [副] at the time of sunrise
夜明けには犬はいなくなっていた。
They looked for him, but they could not find him anywhere.
could not find (見つからなかった) [動] be unable to find
彼らは犬を探したが、どこにも見つからなかった。
But his tracks were in the yard, and on the other side of the fence, in the woodlot, Father found the tracks of two men’s boots.
しかし、犬の足跡が庭にあり、柵の向こう側の森の中で、父は二人の男のブーツの足跡を見つけた。

 He hitched up at once, before breakfast, and tied the colts behind the buggy and drove to Malone.
drive (向かう) [動] go or travel by car
彼は朝食前にすぐに馬車をつなぎ、子馬を馬車の後ろにつなぎ、マローンに向かった。
He put the $200 in the bank.
彼は200ドルを銀行に預けた。
He delivered the colts to the horse-buyer and got the other $200, and put that in the bank, too.
deliver (引き渡す) [動] to give or send something to someone
get (受け取る) [動] to receive or be given something
彼は子馬を馬の買い手に引き渡し、残りの200ドルを受け取り、それも銀行に預けた。

 When he came back he told Mother.
彼は帰宅すると母に話した。

 “You were right. We came near being robbed last night.”
be right (正しい) [動] be correct or true
come near (危うく) [動] almost do something
be robbed (強盗に遭う) [動] have something stolen from you by force or threat of force
「君は正しかった。昨夜は危うく強盗に遭うところだった。」

 A farmer near Malone had sold a team the week before, and kept the money in his house.
week (週) [名] a period of seven days
マローン近くの農場主がその前の週に馬車を売り、そのお金を家に置いていた。
That night robbers broke into his room while he was asleep.
robber (強盗) [名] a person who commits robbery
break into (押し入る) [動] enter a building by force
asleep (寝ている) [形] in or into a state of sleep
その夜、強盗が彼が寝ている間に部屋に押し入った。
They tied up his wife and children, and they beat him almost to death, to make him tell where the money was hidden.
tie up (縛る) [動] fasten or secure with a rope or cord
wife (妻) [名] a married woman
death (死) [名] the end of all biological functions that sustain a living organism
彼らは彼の妻と子供たちを縛り、彼を半殺しにして、お金を隠した場所を白状させた。
They took the money and got away.
彼らはお金を持って逃げた。
The sheriff was looking for them.
sheriff (保安官) [名] a law enforcement officer
保安官は彼らを探していた。

 “I wouldn’t be surprised if that horse-buyer had a hand in it,” Father said.
have a hand in (手を貸す) [動] be involved in
be surprised (驚く) [動] feel or show surprise
「あの馬の買い手がそれに手を貸していたとしても驚かないよ」と父は言った。
“Who else knew we had money in the house?
else (他に) [副] other than what has been mentioned
「他に誰が家にお金があることを知っていた?
But it couldn’t be proved.
be proved (証明される) [動] be shown to be true or correct
しかし、それは証明できなかった。
I made inquiry, and he was at the hotel in Malone last night.”
make inquiry (調べる) [動] ask questions about something
last night (昨夜) [名] the night before the present day
hotel (ホテル) [名] a place where people stay temporarily
調べてみたら、彼は昨夜マローンのホテルにいた。」

 Mother said she would always believe that Providence had sent the strange dog to watch over them.
Providence (神) [名] God
send (送る) [動] cause to go or be taken to a destination; arrange for the delivery of
watch over (見守る) [動] to look after and protect someone or something
母は、神が彼らを見守るために見知らぬ犬を送ったといつも信じているだろうと言った。
Almanzo thought perhaps he stayed because Alice fed him.
thought (考えた) [動] have a particular opinion, belief, or idea about someone or something
perhaps (おそらく) [副] possibly; maybe
stayed (残った) [動] remain in the same place
fed (餌をくれた) [動] give food to
アルマンゾは、アリスが餌をくれたから残ったのではないかと考えた。

 “Maybe he was sent to try us,” Mother said.
be sent (送られる) [動] be taken or directed to a destination; be transmitted
「もしかしたら、彼は私たちを試すために送られたのかもしれない」と母は言った。
“Maybe the Lord was merciful to us because we were merciful to him.”
Lord (主) [名] God
merciful (慈悲深い) [形] showing mercy; compassionate
to (に) [前] a function word to indicate motion toward a place, person, thing, or state
we (私たち) [代] I and another or others
were (だった) [動] be in the past tense
「私たちが彼に慈悲深かったから、主は私たちに慈悲深かったのかもしれない。」

 They never saw the strange dog again.
never (二度と) [副] not ever; at no time in the past or future; on no occasion; not at all
彼らは二度とその見知らぬ犬を見ることはなかった。
Perhaps he was a poor lost dog and the food that Alice gave him made him strong enough to find his way home again.
lost (迷子になった) [形] unable to find one's way
give (くれる) [動] freely transfer the possession of
strong (元気) [形] having the power to perform; capable of exerting great force or of doing a great deal
way (家路) [名] a method, style, or manner of doing something
おそらく彼は迷子になった哀れな犬で、アリスがくれた食べ物で元気になって、再び家路についたかもしれなかった。