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“This is creepy,” Violet said. “And I’m freezing.”
“I told you to wear a sweater,” Jessie muttered. “The nights get chilly1 here.”
It was midnight and the two sisters were headed for the dig with Amy. Amy swung her flashlight in a zigzag2 motion to light the way, but the girls still stumbled over stones and fallen tree branches.
The forest looked different at night, Violet thought. Everything was hidden in shadows and strange shapes seemed to hide in the darkness.
Suddenly there was a flutter of wings around her head, and a screeching3 noise pierced the stillness. “Oh no!” Violet cried, and clutched Jessie’s arm. “What was that?”
Amy giggled4. “Just a hoot5 owl6, silly.” She was feeling a little uneasy herself, but didn’t want to show it. She picked her way carefully around a tree stump7, and then froze. She heard a twig8 snap and then another. Someone was walking in the forest with them!
“Shhh.” She put her finger to her lips and turned off the flashlight.
“What is it?” Violet whispered.
“Someone’s nearby.”
Jessie gulped9. “Where?” She peered around her, but everything was pitch-black.
“Ahead of us on the path, I think.” Amy darted10 into the shadows and pulled her friends after her. “If we walk fast, we can circle around and come up beside them. But we’ll have to be very quiet. Can you do that?” She looked at Violet, whose teeth were chattering12.
“I’ll try,” Violet promised.
The three girls moved swiftly through the forest, with Amy in the lead. Suddenly she came to a dead stop and started to laugh.
“What in the world — ” Jessie began. Amy swung the flashlight in a wide arc, catching13 Henry, Joe, and Benny silhouetted14 against the trees. Henry blinked in the light, and then shook his head in disbelief.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, rushing over to the girls.
“What are you doing here?” Jessie retorted.
“We’re trailing Michael Running Deer,” Joe said, moving in closer to them.
“Michael Running Deer!” Jessie was surprised. “You mean, he’s prowling around the forest, too?”
“That’s right, and we want to find out why,” Henry said. “Joe noticed him crossing the field toward the dig, and we jumped out of bed to follow him.”
Violet looked at Benny. He had thrown a flannel15 jacket over his pajamas16, and was wearing slippers17.
“Well, we’re looking for a rock that glows in the dark,” Jessie said.
“I don’t believe that story. But I think we’ve lost Michael Running Deer now,” Henry told her. “We can still check the dig, just in case.” He turned up his collar against the cold night air. “Be as quiet as you can.”
For the next few minutes, the children carefully picked their way through the forest. Violet felt as though she were walking on eggshells, and Benny shuffled18 behind her in his slippers.
“It’s no use,” Joe said when they arrived at the edge of the dig. “He’s gone.”
“Look over there!” Jessie’s voice was strained. “There’s a light under that tree!” She jabbed her finger at a spot several yards away.
Everyone turned to look, and Jessie said softly, “It’s not a light exactly, is it? It looks more like … something glowing.”
“A glowing rock!” Violet was excited. “Just like the one Ted11 Clark told us about! He said it’s a sign that there’s buried treasure underneath19.”
“Let’s go see — ” Benny began, and then froze at an eerie20 sound whistling through the trees. “What’s that?” he asked, clutching Violet’s hand.
“I don’t know,” Violet said in a shaky voice.
“Ooooooh … oooh.” The low moan seemed to echo through the trees.
“Could it be an animal?” Jessie asked, drawing close to Amy.
“I don’t think so,” Amy answered. “I know the sounds of all the animals that live in this forest, and I’ve never heard anything like it.” The sound seemed to circle them, sometimes loud, sometimes soft, just out of reach.
“We have to get out of here,” Henry said firmly. “Right now.”
“But what about the rock?” Joe protested.
“It will still be there tomorrow. Let’s go.” Amy was already making her way back through the forest, swinging her flashlight for the others. The noise stopped once they had reached the edge of the forest, and then the children broke into a dead run.
Once they reached the Lightfeather house, everyone headed for bed. “That was a close call,” Violet said, tucking the Navajo blanket around her. “What do you think was making that noise?” she asked Amy.
Amy shook her head. “A person,” she said, her voice serious. She was sitting up in bed, with her knees drawn21 up to her chest. “It was definitely a warning. Someone doesn’t want us around the dig.”
The next afternoon, Jessie went to the general store to mail a letter to Grandfather. She decided22 to stop by the stables on her way back to the Lightfeathers’, and was surprised to see Rita Neville leading a sleek23 pinto horse out of the stable door.
“Be sure to keep a tight rein24 on Skywalker,” Ed, the stable boy, was saying to her. “He loves to gallop25, and if you’re not careful, you’ll find yourself flying.”
“I’ll remember that,” Rita said, swinging herself up into the saddle. “I’ll only be gone a couple of hours. I want to take a look at the mountains.”
She spotted26 Jessie and gave a curt27 nod. Then she made a clucking noise, and the horse broke into a slow trot28.
Jessie was heading for Thunder’s stall, when she noticed a leather drawstring purse lying on the floor. Ed spotted it at the same time. “Darn! She forgot her purse.”
“I’ll take it to her,” Jessie said quickly. She grabbed the purse and dashed out the door. Rita Neville was ambling29 down the trail behind the stables, and Jessie broke into a run, calling her name.
Ms. Neville reined30 in Skywalker, and headed back toward Jessie. “What is it?” she asked irritably31, and then saw what Jessie was carrying. “Give me that!” She dug her heels into Skywalker’s flanks, and he galloped32 to Jessie’s side.
Why is she so angry? Jessie wondered. She started to lift the purse to Ms. Neville and then suddenly realized that the drawstring had come undone33. A lipstick34 was lying on the ground, along with some loose change.
“Gosh, I’m sorry,” Jessie said. When she bent35 down to retrieve36 the lipstick, Rita Neville dismounted in a cold fury.
“I said give it to me!” she repeated. She snatched the bag out of Jessie’s hand and swung herself back into the saddle.
“Here’s the lipstick and the coins,” Jessie said.
Ms. Neville put out her hand, dropped the items into her purse, and angrily swung the reins37. Skywalker obediently turned and headed away from Jessie, toward the mountains.
“She didn’t even say thanks,” Jessie muttered to herself. She started to walk toward the stable when she noticed a small glass bottle lying on the ground. Jessie picked it up and saw that it was nail polish. It had obviously fallen out of Ms. Neville’s purse. After taking a quick look at Thunder, who was happily munching38 hay in his stall, Jessie decided to walk by the motel. She could return the nail polish and still be back at the Lightfeathers’ by dinnertime.
At Morton’s Motel, Jessie was disappointed that no one was on duty in the office. She was trying to decide what to do next, when a maid appeared with a pile of fresh towels.
“Just leave it outside her door,” the maid suggested, when Jessie explained the problem. “She’s staying in number twelve, the third door on the right.”
“Thanks.” When Jessie found room number twelve, she bent down to leave the nail polish on the door mat. Suddenly she realized that Ms. Neville’s door was ajar. Inside, she could see Ted Clark looking in the closet. She drew back, shocked. He must have broken in! What was he looking for? Jessie quickly ducked out of sight and crept away.
After dinner that night, Jessie joined the rest of the children at the dining-room table and told them about her adventure. Benny was putting the finishing touches on his beadwork, and Henry was polishing silver belt buckles40.
“I was so startled, I forgot to leave the nail polish,” Jessie said at the end of the story. She reached into her pocket, and pulled out the small glass bottle. “That’s funny,” she said, turning it over in her hand. “I just realized it’s empty.”
“Why would someone carry around an empty bottle of nail polish?” Amy asked.
“It doesn’t make sense,” Violet said.
“Something else is funny,” Jessie said. “Remember that key ring we found in the forest? Maybe the ‘M’ was for Morton’s Motel!”
Henry looked up from his polishing. “So Rita Neville is definitely a suspect. She might be the one who’s causing us so much trouble at the dig.”
“But why?” Violet asked. “Why would a television producer want to interfere41 with what we’re doing?”
“Maybe she’s not a television producer,” Jessie offered. “We only have her word for it. And she really acted strangely today.”
“You know, we have quite a list of suspects,” Amy said. “Ted Clark pretends he’s part Navajo, but he knows nothing about our culture. He didn’t even recognize turquoise42.”
“And he’s not much of a genealogist43. He didn’t even know that Navajo tribes live in the Southwest,” Joe added. “And what about Michael Running Deer? He’s always snooping around the forest.”
“But he has an excuse. He’s working for the developer,” Henry said.
“But there’s no reason for him to be there in the middle of the night,” Jessie pointed39 out. “I think Michael isn’t what he seems.”
“Do you think we should tell your parents about any of this?” Henry asked Joe.
“Not yet.” Joe shook his head. “Mom and Dad are really involved with the Pow-Wow, and I’d hate to worry them.”
“You’re right,” Amy agreed. “I think the best thing for us to do is keep our eyes open and work as hard as we can at the dig.”
It was nearly eight o’clock that evening when Kinowok visited the Lightfeathers. “I’ve brought something special,” he said, and handed Jessie a silver-and-turquoise necklace. “This belonged to my mother, and I would like you to wear it at the Pow-Wow.”
“It’s beautiful.” Jessie ran her fingers over the bright bluish-green stones.
“It’s a squash-blossom necklace,” Amy told her. “And look at all the symbols carved in it.”
“Do you know what each one means?” Kinowok asked.
Amy studied the necklace. “The coyote is respected for his wisdom, and the pipe stands for peace …”
“Look at that bird,” Violet said. “It’s just like the one on my bowl, and it even has a snake next to it.”
“You found a dish with a thunderbird and a serpent?” Kinowok asked, his dark eyes alert.
“At the dig,” Violet said. “It’s the best thing we found.”
“May I see it?” the old man asked.
“It was stolen.” Violet’s voice quivered a little.
Kinowok was silent. “This is very serious,” he said softly.
“There’s been a lot of really scary stuff going on!” Benny blurted44 out. “Someone’s been sneaking45 around the forest at night, and we’ve heard funny noises.”
“Do you think it is a man or a woman who is bothering you?” Kinowok sat down slowly and rested his chin on his hand.
“We followed a man through the forest one night,” Henry told him.
“But one day we saw a woman’s heel prints in the dirt,” Amy offered. Everyone was silent for a moment, and Kinowok looked thoughtful.
“I think they want us to stop working on the dig,” Joe said. “Sometimes they fill in the holes we’ve made, and other times they make them deeper. Maybe they’re trying to find something, too.”
“What do you think it means, Kinowok?” Amy asked.
“I think that you and your friends may have found something priceless,” Kinowok told her.
“Like buried treasure?” Benny’s eyes lit up.
“Better than treasure,” Kinowok said. “You may have found the lost village.”
收听单词发音 |
1
chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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zigzag
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| n.曲折，之字形；adj.曲折的，锯齿形的；adv.曲折地，成锯齿形地；vt.使曲折；vi.曲折前行 | |
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screeching
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的现在分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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giggled
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hoot
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| n.鸟叫声，汽车的喇叭声； v.使汽车鸣喇叭 | |
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owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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twig
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| n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解 | |
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gulped
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| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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ted
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| vt.翻晒，撒，撒开 | |
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chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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silhouetted
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| 显出轮廓的，显示影像的 | |
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flannel
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| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
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pajamas
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| n.睡衣裤 | |
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slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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shuffled
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| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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eerie
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| adj.怪诞的；奇异的；可怕的；胆怯的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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sleek
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| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
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rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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curt
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| adj.简短的，草率的 | |
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trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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ambling
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| v.（马）缓行( amble的现在分词 )；从容地走，漫步 | |
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reined
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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undone
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| a.未做完的，未完成的 | |
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lipstick
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| n.口红，唇膏 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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retrieve
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| vt.重新得到，收回；挽回，补救；检索 | |
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reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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munching
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| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的现在分词 ) | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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buckles
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| 搭扣，扣环( buckle的名词复数 ) | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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turquoise
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| n.绿宝石；adj.蓝绿色的 | |
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43
genealogist
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| 系谱学者 | |
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44
blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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