Already a few opportunists were braving the snow and collecting cases.是什么意思？

Already a few opportunists were braving the snow and collecting cases.

已经有那么几个捞外快的人冒雪捡起箱子.

already

adv. 早已，已经，先前；

例句
He has already voted by absentee ballot...
他已进行了缺席投票。

few

adj. 很少的，很少，（与复数名词和复数动词连用）有些，几乎没有的；pron. 很少，有些（人、事物、地方），（与复数动词连用）少数人，不和…一般多；n. 很少数；

例句
I've known clients of mine go to absurd lengths, just to avoid paying me a few pounds...
我知道我的一些客户就为了少付我几英镑，可谓无所不用其极。

opportunists

n. <贬>机会主义者( opportunist的名词复数 )；

例句
...unprincipled opportunists and ambitious political adventurers.
不择手段的机会主义者和野心勃勃的政治投机者

were

be的过去时复数和第二人称单数形式，有时代替 was,用于条件从句、动词 wish 之后等；

例句
Shops, houses, and vehicles were set ablaze.
店铺、房子和车辆全都陷于火海。

braving

v. 勇敢面对，不怕，不顾( brave的现在分词 )；

例句
Already a few opportunists were braving the snow and collecting cases.
已经有那么几个捞外快的人冒雪捡起箱子.

the

art. 指已提到的人（物），指说话人与听者已知的人（物），用于独一无二的事物前，与形容词最高级和序数词连用；

例句
He did have a real knowledge of the country...
他对该国的确知之甚多。

snow

n. 雪，雪花，积雪，雪季；vt. 使纷纷落下，使变白，下雪，被雪覆盖，被雪阻挡；vi. 降雪；

例句
...closed roads and atrocious weather: snow in the mountains, torrential rain elsewhere.
道路封锁，天气恶劣：山区雪花纷飞，其他地方大雨倾盆

and

conj. 和，与，而且，于是，然后，因此；

例句
I spend a lot on expensive jewelry and clothing...
我花很多钱购买昂贵的首饰和衣服。

collecting

v. 收集( collect的现在分词 )，收到，收藏，聚积；

例句
Two young girls were collecting firewood...
两个小女孩正在拾柴火。

cases

n. 案例，病例（ case的名词复数 ），（需特别对待或注意的）人，事例，容器；

例句
In many cases the disease will clear up of its own accord.
这种病很多情况下会自愈。