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儿童英语读物 Mystery in the Sand CHAPTER 6 Benny to the Rescue

时间:2017-06-29 02:25来源:互联网 提供网友:qing   字体: [ ]
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    (单词翻译:双击或拖选)

After Mr. Lee had gone, Benny said, “I’ll tell you what let’s do. Let’s drive around behind the Tower House. If we go very slowly maybe we can see a back window. We wouldn’t seem to be looking.”

“Fine,” said Henry. “I can’t believe those stories about a hundred cats are true.”

“Maybe they are, Henry,” said Jessie. “Remember that strong smell.”

“Let’s go,” said Benny. He took his tray1 into the kitchen, and the others followed.

Soon the Aldens were driving up a beach road they had not taken before. It suddenly turned to the right.

“I guess nobody uses this road,” said Henry. “We’ve met no cars or people.”

“Slower!” said Benny. “Just crawl2 along, and then we can see.”

But there was not much to see, even though Henry drove3 as slowly as he could. Large trees stood at the back and sides of the Tower House. Everything looked wild and as if no one cared.

All at once the Aldens saw two small boys. They had towels around their shoulders. They were going to the beach. The boys noticed the Aldens looking toward4 the Tower House.

“Hey!” called one of the boys. “Going to see the old witch5?”

Henry stopped the car. “Old witch?” he asked.

“Yeah,” replied the boy, pointing to the Tower House. The upper floors of all the towers were boarded up. “Don’t you know an old witch lives there with one hundred cats?”

Violet6 said in a quiet voice, “How do you know?”

“Everybody knows. Ask anybody.”

The other boy said, “I know I’d never go there. Not on a bet7.”

Jessie said, “We saw the woman who lives there. Her name is Miss Mary Smith.”

“Aw, you saw her by daylight, going grocery8 shopping. You never saw her running on the beach at night, I bet. She goes to howl9 at the moon.”

“Nonsense!” said Jessie. “Nobody howls10 at the moon, except maybe dogs.”

“You’re sure of yourself, aren’t you? Well, we’re warning11 you. Don’t hang around this house. She can put a hex on you as easy as looking at you. And she’s got those hundred cats. Cats can be crazy, too. She feeds them raw meat.”

“Doesn’t she buy cat food?” asked Violet.

“Naw, never. She buys raw meat, pounds of it, and that makes them wild. Didn’t you ever hear of an old witch and her cats?”

“Yes, on Halloween,” answered Henry. “But Miss Smith is a real person, not a witch.”

“Have it your way,” said the other boy. “You’ll get out of here if you know what’s good for you. Just don’t have anything to do with the Tower House. It’s haunted12.”

“We don’t believe in haunted houses,” said Benny. “There is always some reason if you can just find it.”

“That’s what you think. For one thing, her name can’t be Mary Smith. That’s just a made-up name. And why does she shut herself up and never speak to anybody?”

The first boy said, “One day I threw a stone at that window, the big one. And you know what? Mary Smith got a big piece of glass and lugged13 it home and put it in herself. Never said a word about it to anybody.”

“You think that was crazy?” asked Benny.

“Yes, I do. Anybody else would have told the police. But she didn’t. You know why? She doesn’t want the police to know too much about her. She’d rather pay for that big window pane14 and fix it herself.”

Henry asked, “Why did you break her window, anyway?”

“Well, I just felt like throwing a stone, and the kid with me said to go ahead. He’d like to see what she would do about it.”

“And you found out,” Benny nodded. “I’m sorry for Miss Smith or whoever15 she is. That glass must have cost plenty. It must have been heavy, too.”

“The old witch has money, that’s for sure,” said the boy. “She buys lots of food for herself. I’m not sorry for her. You can be sorry if you like, not me.”

And the two boys went off, swinging their towels.

The Aldens sat perfectly16 still in the car. At last Jessie spoke17 slowly. “Of course Miss Smith isn’t a witch. But there is something very wrong about her. I wish I knew what it was.”

“Yes,” agreed Benny. “I don’t know why she didn’t take the locket. She could have looked at it anyway. But she just shut her door.”

The Aldens looked toward the big window behind the bushes18. There was no curtain. Nothing moved inside. There was no sound.

“Everything looks so hot and dry,” Jessie said. “Even the weeds look brown.”

“I suppose we’re just wasting our time,” Violet said at last. “Let’s go and do our grocery shopping, Henry.”

Henry began to back the car to turn it around on the narrow back road. Suddenly Benny heard something.

“Hey, Henry, did you hear that? Me-ow! That was a cat. Stop again.”

“I didn’t hear anything,” replied Henry. “The car makes such a racket backing on these stones.”

“Well, I did,” said Benny. “I heard meow just as plain as anything.”

The family waited. Nobody else heard anything. And even Benny heard nothing more. They turned around and watched the window again.

“Was that a shadow?” whispered19 Jessie.

“It looked like a shadow,” whispered Benny.

Then a pure white cat jumped up on the windowsill behind the glass. “Mee-ow,” it cried.

“There!” exclaimed20 Benny. “There is one of the hundred cats for you!”

“What a beauty,” whispered Violet. “Pure white. I wish I could see his eyes. He looks so soft and furry21. And look at his big tail.”

The cat sat down on the windowsill and began to wash its paws22. The Aldens could see him plainly.

Violet said, “I think that is a Persian cat.”

Benny said, “Now we know there is at least one cat in the Tower House. Maybe there are ninety-nine more hidden away.”

Henry said, “We’ve been here quite a long time. If anyone besides the cat in the Tower House has seen us, it might not be good. After all, we don’t want Miss Smith to think we are spying23 on her.”

“I didn’t think of that,” said Jessie. “Yes, let’s go.”

Jessie and Violet did the shopping. The boys walked along Main Street, looking in the windows. There were all sorts of things for the summer people to buy. An art store had oil paintings of the ocean. Then the boys crossed the street.

Most of the buildings on that side were made of wood, and some were quite close together.

Henry and Benny came to the fire station. Benny waved at one of the firemen. “Hot, isn’t it?” he called.

The fireman nodded. “Bad weather for firemen,” he said. “Everything is so dry. This is when a fire can spread fast.”

“Come on, Benny,” Henry said. “Let’s go back to the car. The girls should have their shopping done now.”

Jessie and Violet were waiting. “I’m going for a swim as soon as we get back,” Violet said, getting into the car.

“Let’s just take one more look at the Tower House on our way back,” Benny said.

As the car came near the old house, Henry slowed down. All at once Benny exclaimed, “Stop, Henry! Stop right here.”

Before anyone could say a word Benny had the car door open and had jumped out. He was running back along Main Street as fast as he could.

“What—” Henry started to say. Then he stopped. At that moment Violet said, “Henry, I smell something burning!”

“Me, too,” Jessie said.

Henry and the girls jumped out of the car and looked around. The car was safe. But why had Benny run off? Now he had disappeared.

Suddenly Violet said, “Look, Henry! The grass in the yard is on fire!”

As she spoke, a flame reached the bushes. The dry leaves blazed24 up high.

“Get back!” Henry said. “I’ll go for help.”

But help was already there. The fire engine pulled in just as Henry started. Benny came racing25 after it.

Jessie exclaimed, “Oh, that’s where Benny was. He smelled smoke and ran back for the firemen.”

Even before Benny reached the girls, a fireman was turning a chemical fire extinguisher on the bushes. Another fireman was beating out the grass fire.

Everyone was so busy that they did not see the side door of the Tower House open just a crack26. No one saw that there were now three cats on the windowsill of the big back window.

Nobody thought that Miss Smith, inside the house, could hear every word.

The fire blazed high for a moment, and then it began to die down. Before anyone walking past could call, “Fire! Fire!” the danger was over.

The fire chief came over to the Aldens. He said, “This was only a small brush fire. Only the bushes and the grass burned. But in fifteen minutes it would have been a big house fire. This house could have burned to the ground. Then the fire could have spread to the next row of houses on the hill. The wind is blowing the right way for that. You saved Miss Smith’s house, and maybe her life, young man.” He looked at Benny.

Benny said slowly, “People don’t seem to like Miss Smith. Do you think somebody started the fire?”

“No, I don’t think so,” the fireman answered. “Maybe someone threw a cigaret27 in the bushes.”

“Here you are,” said another fireman. “Here’s the end of a cigaret right at the edge28 of the grass.”

“People are so careless,” the first fireman said. “If this had happened at night, the whole town of Beachwood could have burned.”

There was still a smoky smell in the air, but the fire was out. The firemen went back to their truck.

“Good work,” the fire chief said to Benny. “You ran for help. You didn’t waste any time trying to put the fire out by yourself.”

Violet looked toward the Tower House, then she said, “Quick, look over there!”

The door was open just wide enough so that Miss Smith could look out. When she saw Violet, she called, “Who saved our house?”

“That boy, Benny. My brother,” Violet said. “He ran to get the fire department to come.”

“Which boy is Benny?” asked Miss Smith.

“Right here. Me,” said Benny.

Miss Smith looked at him and said, “Good!” Then she went in and shut the door. The Aldens looked at each other.

Henry said, “Miss Smith isn’t very friendly.”

Jessie said, “I told you it would be slow. It will take more than a fire to make friends with Miss Smith. She has been shut up alone too long.”

“Well, Ben, you didn’t do it to be thanked,” Henry said.

“No,” answered Benny. He was very quiet. He was thinking.

As the Aldens drove back to the beach trailer, Jessie said, “I’m glad nobody set that fire. After that boy told us about breaking that window for nothing, I could believe almost anything.”

“Right,” agreed Henry. “I can’t blame Miss Smith for not being very friendly.”

Then Benny burst29 out, “You know what? I think there are two people living in Tower House! I don’t think Miss Smith lives there all by herself.”

“We know she has cats,” Jessie said slowly.

“I don’t mean the cats,” Benny said firmly. “I think another person lives there, too.”

“Everybody says she lives alone, Ben,” argued Henry.

Violet asked, “What makes you think that, Benny?”

Benny answered quickly, “Don’t you remember she said, ‘Who saved our house?’ Not my house. When she said that, she didn’t mean the cats. I’m sure of it.”

“Well, you may be right,” said Jessie.

“Maybe I am,” Benny agreed. “And maybe that locket belongs to this mysterious person, and that is why Miss Smith wouldn’t take it.”

“I begin to see!” Henry said, nodding. “If she took the locket, that would give her secret away!”


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 tray qmDwn     
n.盘,托盘,碟
参考例句:
  • There were two glasses of champagne on the tray.托盘里有两杯香槟酒。
  • A waitress came in,carrying tea on a tray.一名女侍者走进来,手端放着茶的托盘。
2 crawl cnGyV     
vi./n.爬行,匍匐行进;缓慢(费力)地行进
参考例句:
  • We learn to crawl before we learn to walk.我们学会走路之前先要学会爬。
  • She slowed the car to a crawl.她把车开得很慢。
3 drove brAxi     
vbl.驾驶,drive的过去式;n.畜群
参考例句:
  • He drove at a speed of sixty miles per hour.他以每小时60英里的速度开车。
  • They drove foreign goods out of the market.他们把外国货驱逐出市场。
4 toward on6we     
prep.对于,关于,接近,将近,向,朝
参考例句:
  • Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
  • Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了,并跑了过去。
5 witch nMvz2     
n.巫婆,女巫;vt.施巫术,迷惑
参考例句:
  • The witch changed the prince into a frog.巫婆把王子变成了青蛙。
  • The heartless witch cast a spell on the poor little girl.狠心的女巫对孤苦无助的小女孩施了妖术。
6 violet 8h3wm     
adj.紫色的;n.紫罗兰
参考例句:
  • She likes to wear violet dresses.他喜欢穿紫色的衣服。
  • Violet is the color of wisdom,peace and strength.紫色是智慧的,和平的和力量的颜色。
7 bet ddZy8     
v.打赌,以(与)...打赌;n.赌注,赌金;打赌
参考例句:
  • I bet you can't do this puzzle.我敢说,你解决不了这个难题。
  • I offered to bet with him.我提出与他打赌。
8 grocery FfPxV     
n.食品,杂货;食品杂货店
参考例句:
  • There used to be a grocery store on the corner.以前在这个街角有家杂货店。
  • Her mother began operation of a small grocery.她母亲开始经营一家小杂货店。
9 howl fdgzR     
vi./n.嚎叫;怒吼;嚎哭
参考例句:
  • He gave a howl of pain.他发出一声痛苦的吼叫。
  • The child set up a howl.这个孩子大哭起来。
10 howls b17504c5288cd2f429f04f3e0dccf9e5     
n.嗥叫( howl的名词复数 );吼叫,高声叫喊v.嗥叫( howl的第三人称单数 );咆哮;吼叫;哀号
参考例句:
  • Her speech was greeted with howls of derision. 她的演讲受到阵阵嘲笑。
  • Our dog often howls at night. 我们的狗夜里常嗥叫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
11 warning Yekzkw     
n.警告,告诫,训诫,警戒,警报
参考例句:
  • The other side paid no attention to our warning.对方不重视我方的警告。
  • He realized that his doctor was warning him off drink.他意识到医生在告诫他戒酒。
12 haunted 5rEz4M     
adj.闹鬼的;受到折磨的;令人烦恼的v.“haunt”的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • There was a haunted look in his eyes. 他眼中透露出忧虑的神色。
  • The country is haunted by the spectre of civil war. 内战仿佛一触即发,举国上下一片恐慌。
13 lugged 7fb1dd67f4967af8775a26954a9353c5     
vt.用力拖拉(lug的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • She lugged the heavy case up the stairs. 她把那只沉甸甸的箱子拖上了楼梯。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • They used to yell that at football when you lugged the ball. 踢足球的时候,逢着你抢到球,人们总是对你这样嚷嚷。 来自辞典例句
14 pane OKKxJ     
n.窗格玻璃,长方块
参考例句:
  • He broke this pane of glass.他打破了这块窗玻璃。
  • Their breath bloomed the frosty pane.他们呼出的水气,在冰冷的窗玻璃上形成一层雾。
15 whoever 9gQwK     
pron.无论谁,不管谁;任何人
参考例句:
  • I'll find the person who did this,whoever he is.我要找出干这件事的人,不管他是谁。
  • Whoever does best will get the prize.谁做得最出色谁就得奖。
16 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
17 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
18 bushes 34aa67dd9b2ec411c4fcb7109a0f5922     
n.灌木(丛)( bush的名词复数 );[机械学](金属)衬套;[电学](绝缘)套管;类似灌木的东西(尤指浓密的毛发或皮毛)
参考例句:
  • There was someone skulking behind the bushes. 有人藏在灌木后面。
  • The boy chased his sister in and out among the bushes. 那个男孩在灌木丛里跟着他姐姐追过来追过去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
19 whispered ac3eda029cd72fefda0d32abc42aa001     
adj.耳语的,低语的v.低声说( whisper的过去式和过去分词 );私语;小声说;私下说
参考例句:
  • She sidled up to me and whispered something in my ear. 她悄悄走上前来,对我耳语了几句。
  • His ill luck has been whispered about the neighborhood. 他的不幸遭遇已在邻居中传开。 来自《简明英汉词典》
20 exclaimed 68e477dcdab3965d2189fb7276ee5041     
vt.exclaim的过去式v.呼喊,惊叫,大声说( exclaim的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • "We have a good chance of winning," he exclaimed optimistically. “我们很可能获胜。”他乐观地喊道。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She exclaimed in delight when she saw the presents. 她见到礼品高兴得叫了起来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
21 furry Rssz2D     
adj.毛皮的;似毛皮的;毛皮制的
参考例句:
  • This furry material will make a warm coat for the winter.这件毛皮料在冬天会是一件保暖的大衣。
  • Mugsy is a big furry brown dog,who wiggles when she is happy.马格斯是一只棕色大长毛狗,当她高兴得时候她会摇尾巴。
22 paws b78b84c2e20f17cb70ffcff9430ca0ea     
n.爪子( paw的名词复数 );手
参考例句:
  • Take your filthy paws off me! 把你的脏手从我身上拿开!
  • Take your dirty little paws off me! 别用你的小黑手抓着我。 来自《简明英汉词典》
23 spying adb761d95f8595fee16df84850eb20bd     
v.看见,发现( spy的现在分词 );当间谍;从事间谍活动;搜集情报
参考例句:
  • He used his job as a screen for his spying activities. 他利用他的工作作掩护进行间谍活动。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He was accused of spying and was declared non grata. 他被指控从事间谍活动而被宣布为不受欢迎。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
24 blazed 75b016f50038768c260e719318095aa5     
猛烈地燃烧( blaze的过去式和过去分词 ); 发光,照耀
参考例句:
  • Her eyes blazed with fury. 她的双眼迸发出暴怒之火。
  • The fire blazed away and destroyed the whole hotel. 大火不停燃烧,烧毁了整个饭店。
25 racing 1ksz3w     
n.竞赛,赛马;adj.竞赛用的,赛马用的
参考例句:
  • I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
  • The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。
26 crack Cz7x0     
vi.发破裂声;噼啪地响;vt./vi.(使)开裂;破裂;n.裂缝,缝隙;爆裂声,破裂声,劈啪声
参考例句:
  • There's a crack in this cup.这个杯子上有个裂缝。
  • There's a crack on the underneath of the bowl.碗底有一道裂缝。
27 cigaret WV3yd     
n.(cigarette)香烟,纸烟,卷烟
参考例句:
  • I like having cigaret with my drink.我喝酒时喜欢抽烟。
  • He lit a cigaret in order to calm his mind.他点燃一支香烟,镇定一下情绪。
28 edge xqoxx     
n.边(缘);刃;优势;v.侧着移动,徐徐移动
参考例句:
  • Sight along the edge to see if it's straight.顺着边目测,看看直不直。
  • She lived on the extreme edge of the forest.她住在森林的最边缘。
29 burst HSryI     
vi.(burst,burst)爆炸;爆破;爆裂;爆发;vt.使…破裂;使…炸破;n.突然破裂;爆发
参考例句:
  • We all held our breath till the bomb burst.我们屏住呼吸直到炸弹爆炸。
  • She suddenly burst into song.她突然唱起歌来。
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