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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
The next morning, after Grandfather left early to help Mr. McCrae, the Aldens walked over to the Chuck Wagon1. They shared a table in the corner with Luis.
Over a hearty2 rancher’s breakfast of flapjacks and sausage, they discussed the prowler Jessie had seen around the Garcias’ RV.
“Maybe it was Mr. or Mrs. Garcia,” Henry suggested.
Luis shook his head. “No, we were all in bed.”
“Maybe it was Mr. Clark,” said Violet. “Or Mr. Tobias. He’s always up late.”
“But why would he be checking the windows in the Garcias’ RV?” asked Jessie.
“Maybe,” said Benny, “it was somebody else.”
Henry looked at him. “Like who?”
“Somebody who isn’t staying at this campground.”
Jessie said, “RV Haven3 is several miles from the nearest town, right? There aren’t any houses around. If the prowler isn’t from the campground, then he—or she—would have to be from the mountains.”
“Maybe Janine Crawford knows if anyone else lives around here,” Henry said.
Janine hurried by just then with a pot of coffee.
“Excuse me, Janine.” Henry used his politest tone. “Does anyone live out here? I mean, not on the campground.”
“Nobody with a grain of sense,” she snapped, slapping their check on the table. She left, her mood as sour as ever.
“Well, that was no help,” Violet remarked.
Tom stopped by their table. “Going gold hunting today?”
“We’re going riding,” Henry replied cautiously.
Tom laughed, went over to the counter, and poured himself a cup of coffee.
“How did he know we’re looking for the mine?” Henry asked Luis.
Luis shrugged4. “It’s kind of a joke around here. The mine is no secret. Remember, lots of people have looked.”
Violet was quiet. She noticed that the Clarks, who sat across from them in a booth, kept getting up and passing their table. First Mr. Clark got up for a copy of the daily newspaper. Then Mrs. Clark walked by to get a bottle of catsup. Mr. Clark rose again to refill his coffee cup.
“Is it my imagination, or are the Clarks listening to us?” Violet said in a hushed voice.
“Violet’s right,” said Jessie. “They keep getting up and going right by our table. I think Tom Parker was listening, too, when we were talking about the prowler.”
“Let’s not mention the prowler to anyone,” Henry advised. “Not until we find out more. Right now, everyone is a suspect.”
Benny blissfully scooped5 up his last bite of hotcake. “Another mystery! We didn’t have to find one—it found us!”
As they were making plans to rent trail horses, the door burst open.
Old Jake tottered6 into the restaurant. His battered7 felt hat was covered with dust. His clothes looked more rumpled8 than ever.
Jake glanced around, as if searching for a friendly face. His gray eyes rested on the Aldens. He headed in their direction.
“You loaned me some money,” he said to Henry. “You seem like decent kids.”
“Why don’t you sit down?” Henry offered. Jake acted as though he had something important on his mind.
“Thankee.” Jake pulled up an extra chair. He stuck out a calloused9 hand. “Name’s Jake.”
Henry shook his hand. “I’m Henry Alden. This is my sister Jessie, my sister Violet, and that’s my brother, Benny. And our friend Luis Garcia.”
Jake nodded at each in turn. “Nice to make your acquaintance.” Suddenly lowering his voice, Jake asked, “Can you keep a secret?”
“Yeah!” Benny replied immediately. “What is it?” Old Jake must have found the Lost Dutchman’s mine!
Jake pulled a crumpled10 piece of paper from his pocket. “When I got up this morning to start my campfire, I found this.” He smoothed the paper on the table. Crudely cut-out letters spelled a single sentence.
Henry picked up the paper. “Looks like somebody wrote this using letters cut out of a flyer or something. But it’s in Spanish. I can’t read it.”
“I can.” Luis studied the note. “It says, ‘This path is dangerous.’ ”
“What does that mean?” asked Violet.
“It means I’d better watch my back,” Jake said, stuffing the note into his pocket.
“Who would send you that letter?” Luis wanted to know.
“Good question.” Jake sighed. “When you’re a prospector11, there’s always somebody trying to jump your claim.”
“Then you have found the mine!” Benny exclaimed. “Where is it? We won’t tell anyone, promise!”
But Jake clammed12 up. With a gruff “Thanks for your help,” he pushed back his chair and hurried into the store section.
Janine followed Jake, grumbling13, “Where is Tom? He’s never around when I have to deal with difficult customers.”
Suddenly Jessie thought of something. “Jake!” she cried. “He lives in the hills. Could he be the prowler I saw last night?”
“It’s something to think about,” Henry said. “Jake is certainly a strange character.”
The Garcias came in then.
“You early birds!” Mrs. Garcia teased as Violet gave up her seat. “Please don’t get up.”
“We were leaving anyway,” Violet said.
“We’re going horseback riding.”
“Mr. Garcia, if someone did find the
Dutchman’s mine, how would they say it was theirs?” Henry asked.
“Well, you’re supposed to file a claim with the local government,” Mr. Garcia replied.
“But no one is permitted to stake a claim on federally protected land,” added Luis’s mother. “The Superstition14 Mountains are part of the Tonto National Forest. If anyone is digging in those hills, they are breaking the law.”
Jessie and Henry looked at each other. Jake talked as if he had been digging in the hills. Was he in trouble with the law?
They discussed this as they hiked to the stables.
“Jake might not know he’s breaking the law,” Violet said. “Someone should tell him.”
“He’s been living in this area a long time,” Henry said. “Seems like he would know.”
“But what if he found the mine?” Benny asked. “Suppose he’s already found the gold? Would he have to put it back?”
No one could answer that question. They were silent the rest of the way to the Mountain Shadows Stables.
A young man came out of the small office. “I’m Rex. Looks like you youngsters aim to go riding.”
“Yes, sir,” replied Luis. “Do you have five saddle horses available?”
“Right this way.” The man took them into the dim stables.
Violet loved the smell of hay and horses. She thought her horse was beautiful.
“What’s his name?” she asked.
“Dusty,” Rex replied. He brought out three horses for Luis, Jessie, and Henry. Then he led out a pony15 for Benny.
“This is Ginger16,” Rex told Benny. “If you give her a lump of sugar, she’ll love you forever.” He handed Benny a sugar cube.
Benny fed the sugar to Ginger. Her lips were soft and damp. “She tickles17!” He giggled18.
Then Rex saddled the horses and helped the children mount them.
Riding his cream-colored horse over the rocky ground, Henry felt like a cowboy from the Old West. “Which way is Weaver’s Needle?” he asked Luis.
Luis studied the compass he had brought. “That way,” he said, pointing. “I don’t know how far it is, though. Let’s give it a try.”
He led his horse to the beginning of the trail. The horses formed a single file with Luis at the head. Benny was next, followed by Jessie and Violet. Henry brought up the rear.
The trail wound upward between boulders19 and large cacti20. The horses moved at a steady pace.
After they had been riding some time, Jessie turned around on her horse, Diamond, and grinned at Violet.
“Isn’t this great?” she said.
At that moment, Luis cried out, “Benny!”
收听单词发音 |
1
wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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2
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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3
haven
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| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
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4
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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5
scooped
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| v.抢先报道( scoop的过去式和过去分词 )；（敏捷地）抱起；抢先获得；用铲[勺]等挖（洞等） | |
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6
tottered
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| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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7
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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8
rumpled
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| v.弄皱，使凌乱( rumple的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9
calloused
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| adj.粗糙的，粗硬的，起老茧的v.（使）硬结，（使）起茧( callous的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）冷酷无情 | |
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10
crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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11
prospector
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| n.探矿者 | |
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12
clammed
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| v.（在沙滩上）挖蛤( clam的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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14
superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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15
pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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16
ginger
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| n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气 | |
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17
tickles
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| （使）发痒( tickle的第三人称单数 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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18
giggled
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19
boulders
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| n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 )；巨砾；（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾 | |
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20
cacti
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| n.（复）仙人掌 | |
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