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好望角大羚羊一身灰褐色，很邋遢，也没有长角。鸵鸟一身华丽，黑白相间的皮毛，长长的脖子，还长着一对漂亮细长的角。 大羚羊非常嫉妒，就向鸵鸟挑战赛跑。"我跑得比你快多了。”大羚羊说， "为公平起见，我替你拿着两只角，我仍然能战胜你。” 鸵鸟经不住大羚羊的挑战，就马上同意了。’‘我会轻松获胜的。”他想。他把沉甸甸的角和黑白外套交给了大羚羊。 大羚羊冲在前面，早早就领先了。他选择到处是石头的地方跑，鸵鸟一瘸一拐地跟在后面。鸵鸟的脚很软，根本不适应在坚硬不平的地面上飞跑。 鸵鸟气得发狂,终于停了下来，再也跑不动了，开始朝着大羚羊扔石头。鸵鸟低头找更多的石头扔的时候,大羚羊一边哈哈大笑，一边拿着角和华丽的黑白毛皮跑掉了。 很长一段时间，他们没有再见面。大羚羊为自己的新角和新毛皮很感自豪。 同时,鸵鸟开始体会到没有了沉甸甸的角的好处。不过，他们又相遇的时候，轮鸟出于自尊心,开始跟大羚羊打斗，想抢回自己失去的东西。结果，鸵鸟发现，大羚羊使用角的技术太高超了。 鸵鸟垂头丧气，只好认输，心里却偷偷松了一口气，自己再也没必要带着那么沉重的负担 了。"也许我们可以做朋友，大羚羊可以用我的角保护我。”他心想。 就因为这个原因，人们会发现大羚羊和鸵鸟常常会呆在一起。 Gemsbok and Ostrich The Gemsbok was a dowdy animal, grey in color and without horns. The Ostrich was a magnificent beast, having a black and white coat, a long neck and a pair of beau- tiful slender horns. The Gemsbok was very jealous and challenged the Ostrich to a race. “ I can run much faster than you," said the Gemsbok, "but I will give you a fair chance by carrying your heavy horns for you. I will still beat you." Unable to resist this challenge from the Gemsbok, the Ostrich readily agreed. “This will be an easy victory," he thought. He gave the Gemsbok his heavy horns and black and white coat. Sprinting ahead, the Gemsbok took an early lead in the race. He chose all the stony places to run over. Behind him the Ostrich was limping badly. His soft feet were not accustomed to running on this hard and uneven surface. Furious, the Ostrich eventually stopped, unable to run any more, and started throwing stones at the Gemsbok. When the Ostrich looked down for more stones to throw, the Gemsbok laughed and ran away with the horns and magnificent cloak of black and white. For a long time they did not meet. The Gemsbok was proud of his new cloak and horns. In the meantime the Ostrich was beginning to feel the benefits of not having to carry those heavy horns. However, when they did meet again, the Ostrich, out of pride, fought to regain his stolen possessions, but found the Gemsbok far too skillful using the horns. Dejected, the Ostrich had to admit defeat, while being secretly relieved that he did not have to carry the heavy burden again. "Maybe we should be friends and the Gems- bok can protect me with those horns of mine," he thought. The Gemsbok and Ostrich are often found together for this very reason. |
