第一夜，小心的刺猬们都从它们的土穴里探出来找寻食物。
On the first night, the timid hedgehogs popped their heads out of the holes in the ground to see if there was any food available.
四面 窥望，瓜、豆和茄子，是丰盛的筵席。
They looked around and found they could enjoy a big dinner with the vegetables growing in the garden.
但是，在茄子畦边，站着一个 守夜的人。
But the trouble was there was a night watchman standing beside the eggplant patch.
被人的威严慑伏了，恍惚耳朵里听见了叱骂声，它们忍耐 着饥饿退缩进它低窄而潮湿的地下室去。
And they seemed to hear him bawling out a string of curses at them.
第二夜，腹中雷鸣着的刺猬们再偷偷地出来。
So all they could do was shrink back to their narrow, damp cellar on an empty stomach.
瓜、豆和茄子，越 发丰肥得可口了，它们都流着口涎。
On the second night, the hedgehogs came out stealthily again, their stomachs rumbling with hunger.
肚子里越响了。
They started drooling at the sight of the ripening melons, beans and eggplants.
但是守夜人还在 着。
The tempting vegetables made their stomachs rumble even more loudly.
它们互相推挽着，想悄悄地走向距离最近的那个瓜棚。
But the watchman was still there.
忽然吹起 了一阵风，那个守夜人，在手里挥动着蒲扇向前走来。
They pushed and shoved one another, trying furtively to get to the melon awning a --- a place nearest to them.
各自身上打了 一个寒噤，它们全都逃避了回去。
Then, at a sudden gust of wind, the watchman stirred waving the fan in his hand.
第三夜，全体的刺猬都瘦了。
Shivering with fear, the hedgehogs all scurried back to their cellar.
饥饿使它们在地下室里开会。
On the third night, all the hedgehogs looked emaciated.
甲说：与其饿，不如死。
Starvation impelled them to hold a meeting in the cellar.
乙说：与其饿，不如死。
Hedgehog A cried out.
丙说：与其饿，不如死。
"Rather die than go hungry." Hedgehog B cried out.
这个会就是这样地决议了。
Rather die than go hungry." Hedgehog C eried out, "Rather die than go hungry." A resolution was adopted.
它们全体出发，怀了必死的心。
They all set out, ready to risk death.
在朦 胧的月光下，守夜人还装着威严臺立着手里挥动着扇子，这依旧使它 们退缩在土穴的门口。
In the dim moonlight, however, the watchman stood waving his fan with feigned impressiveness.
"与其饿，不如死。"一个奇怪的声音在它们每个刚毛的耳朵里突 然响亮着。
So the hedgehogs cowered and stuck closely to their holes.
"去呀！
"Rather die than go hungry," a strange voice suddenly began to ring in their little ears.
在每个刺猬的胃里装满了瓜、豆和茄子的时候，稻草的守夜人 是显得更无用了。
"Let's go!" When each hedgehog had eaten his fill of the melons, beans and eggplants, the watchman seemed all the more helpless.
在地下室里，刺猬们开着庆祝会。
Down in the cellar, the hedgehogs held a meeting a to celebrate their victory.
甲说：不要怕无用的威权。
Hedgehog A exclaimed, "Never fear worthless bigwigs!" Hedgehog Bexclaimed, "Victory to the starvelings!" Hedgehog C exclaimed, "Starvelings will never die.