Audiobook Dictation: “For all its appalling speed, the…”

For all its appalling speed, the sound of his flight was nothing more than a strong pulsating hiss.

尽管速度骇人，它飞行的声音也不过是一阵强劲而有节奏的嘶嘶声。

Close ahead of him now the teal saw refuge--the flashing line of the rapids.

这时，小水鸭看见前方不远处就是避难所——那道闪闪发光的急流。

But the hawk was already close upon him.

可是鹰已经逼近了它。

In despair he hurled himself downward too soon.

绝望之中，它过早地俯冲了下去。

It was enough, however, and the unhappy teal was hurled earthward, flapping through the tips of the branches.

然而这一击已经足够，不幸的小水鸭被打得朝地面坠去，扑腾着穿过枝梢。

The great hawk followed hurriedly, to retrieve his prey from the ground.

大鹰急忙跟着俯冲下去，想从地上叼回它的猎物。

As it chanced, however, the victim came down with a thud almost beneath the whiskered nose of the wildcat.

可是事有凑巧，那猎物扑通一声，几乎正好落在野猫那长着胡须的鼻子底下。

A pounce, and the great cat had her paw upon it, and crouched snarling up at the hawk.

猛地一扑，那只大猫便用爪子按住了猎物，伏低身子，冲着鹰龇牙低吼。

But wisdom came to him just in time, and he did not strike home.

好在鹰及时清醒过来，没有扑下去。