A pilot noticed a balloon which seemed to be making for a Royal Air Force Station nearby.

一个飞行员发现了一只气球，它像是正飞往附近的一个皇家空军基地。

He informed the station at once, but no one there was able to explain the mystery.

他马上把情况报告了该基地，但那里的人没有一个能解释这到底是怎么回事。

The officer in the control tower was very angry when he heard the news, because balloons can be a great danger to aircraft.

控制塔上的官员得知这一消息后，非常气愤，因为气球有可能给飞机造成极大的危险。

He said that someone might be spying on the station and the pilot was ordered to keep track of the strange object.

他说可能有人正对基地进行侦察，因此命令那个飞行员跟踪那个奇怪的飞行物。

The pilot managed to circle the balloon for some time.

飞行员设法绕着气球飞了一阵。

He could make out three men in a basket under it and one of them was holding a pair of binoculars.

他看清了气球下面有3个人呆在一只筐里，其中一个举着望远镜。

When the balloon was over the station, the pilot saw one of the men taking photographs.

当气球飞临基地上空时，飞行员看见有一个人在拍照。

Soon afterwards, the balloon began to descend and it landed near an airfield.

不久，气球开始降落，在一个停机坪附近着了陆。

The police were called in, but they could not arrest anyone,

警察被召来了，但他们却不能逮捕任何人，

for the basket contained two Members of Parliament and the Commanding Officer of the station!

因为筐里是两名国会议员和一名基地的指挥官！

As the Commanding Officer explained later, one half of the station did not know what the other half was doing!

正如指挥官后来解释的那样，基地的这半边不知道那半边正在干什么！