One of the most popular gemstones1 used in American IndianJewelry is turquoise2. This bluish green mineral 3 found in the southwestof the United States is considered by many tribes 4 to be sacred 5.

綠松石是美國(guó)印第安人的珠寶中最受歡迎的寶石之一遙這種發(fā)現(xiàn)于美國(guó)西南部的藍(lán)綠色礦石被許多部落視為圣物。

The Apaches are a member of the Native American people living in thesouthwest of the United States and northern Mexico. Here is a legend6 of how theApaches found good luck.

阿帕奇人是一支居住在美國(guó)西南部和墨西哥北部的美洲原住民。下面是關(guān)于阿帕奇人如何找到好運(yùn)的一則傳說。

Once upon a time， four monsters lived on the earth. They were horriblemonsters. They loved to catch the people and eat them.

從前，地球上生活著四個(gè)怪物。他們是可怕的怪物。他們喜歡抓住人類并吃掉他們。

One night， a monster stomped7 up to the wickiup8 of Child of Water and hismother. Before his mother could stop him， Child of Water challenged the monster toa contest.

一天晚上，一個(gè)怪物踩壞了水之子和他的母親的小屋。母親還沒來得及阻止，水之子就向怪物發(fā)出了挑戰(zhàn)。

“Here are the rules，”said Child of Water. He carefully explained that he wouldbe on one side and the monster would be on the other. Both sides would have achance to shoot four arrows9 at each other， at the same time. Whichever killed theother first would get all the food. “Do you accept these rules and promise to followthem？”chanted Child of Water. Child of Water was only a very small boy. But heknew the chant was binding10. It was a promise that must be kept.

這是規(guī)則，”水之子說。他仔細(xì)地解釋說，他會(huì)站在一邊，怪物會(huì)站在另一邊。雙方都有機(jī)會(huì)同時(shí)向?qū)Ψ缴涑鏊闹Ъ?。誰先殺死對(duì)方，誰就會(huì)得到所有的食物。“你接受并承諾遵守這些規(guī)則嗎？”水之子反復(fù)喊道。水之子只是一個(gè)很小的男孩。但他知道這種反復(fù)呼喊是有約束力的。這是一個(gè)必須遵守的諾言。

“I’ll play your silly game，”laughed the monster. “First I’ll shoot you full ofarrows. Then I’ll eat you， your mother， and all your food！ ”Just thinking aboutthis satisfying treat made the monster smack11 his lips hungrily.

“我會(huì)玩你那愚蠢的游戲?！惫治镄χf，“首先，我會(huì)把所有的箭射向你。然后，我會(huì)吃掉你、你母親和你所有的食物！”一想到這令人滿意的款待，怪物就餓得咂著嘴。

As both fighters took their positions， Child of Water leaned12 down andpicked up a turquoise blue rock. The rock was a gift from the gods， a thing ofprotection. But Child of Water did not know that. While he was looking at hisrock， the monster quickly shot four arrows at Child of Water. This was against therules， but the monster did not care. Much to his surprise， all the monster’s arrowsmissed Child of Water. Quickly， before the monster could do anything else againstthe rules， Child of Water shot an arrow at the monster. The arrow pierced themonster’s heart and killed him dead.

當(dāng)兩名戰(zhàn)士各就各位時(shí)，水之子俯身撿起一塊藍(lán)綠色的石頭。這塊石頭是神的禮物，是一件護(hù)身符。但水之子并不知道這一點(diǎn)。就在他看著自己的石頭時(shí)，怪物迅速向水之子射出了四支箭。這是違反規(guī)則的，但怪物并不在乎。令怪物驚訝的是，他所有的箭都沒有射中水之子。很快，在怪物還沒來得及做出任何其他違反規(guī)則的事情時(shí)，水之子向怪物射出了一支箭。這一箭射中了怪物的心臟，使他一命嗚呼。

By then， everyone had gathered around. What a noise they made that nightrejoicing13！

那一刻，所有人都圍了過來。那天晚上他們吵吵嚷嚷，好不熱鬧！

The next day， Child of Water’s mother bore a hole in that lucky blue rock.She strung14 it into a necklace. Ever after， Child of Water wore the blue rockaround his neck for luck.

第二天，水之子的母親在那塊幸運(yùn)的藍(lán)色石頭上鉆了一個(gè)洞。她把它串成了項(xiàng)鏈。從那以后，“水之子”就把藍(lán)色的巖石掛在脖子上，以求好運(yùn)。

As time went on， and as Child of Water grew taller， each monster came tochallenge him. Each time， wearing his lucky blue rock， each monster’s arrowsmissed Child of Water. But Child of Water’s arrows killed each monster， everytime， until all the monsters were gone.

隨著時(shí)間的推移，隨著水之子越長(zhǎng)越高，每個(gè)怪物都來挑戰(zhàn)他。每次，水之子戴著幸運(yùn)的藍(lán)色石頭，每個(gè)怪物的箭都射不中他。但水之子的箭每次都能殺死一個(gè)怪物，直到所有的怪物都死了。

As all Apache children know， it is a wise thing to hunt for turquoise bluerocks. If you find one， you too might find yourself some luck.

所有阿帕奇的孩子都知道，尋找藍(lán)綠色的石頭是一件明智的事情。如果你找到了一塊，你可能也會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)自己運(yùn)氣不錯(cuò)。

（英語原文選自：nativeamericans.mrdonn.org）