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儿童英语读物 The Mystery on Blizzard Mountain CHAPTER 6 A Haunted Cabin?

时间:2017-10-17 02:46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)

Later that afternoon, Violet stopped. “Look!” she said.

Through the trees, they saw an old cabin.

“That’s it,” Maris said. “We’re here.” She turned off the narrow, almost invisible path she’d been following and marking, and pushed her way through the bushes.

“Too bad old Chuck didn’t know about this cabin when he broke his ankle,” she said as she led the way to the cabin. “He was just down the trail. He was in his tent and snug1 enough. But he’d have been much more comfortable in the old cabin.”

The cabin sat on a small patch of level ground, its back almost against the side of the mountain. Wooden shutters2 were closed tightly against the one window, but the door sagged3 a little and piles of leaves, branches, and straw seemed to be about to crash down on them from the roof as they got closer.

“It looks like a haunted cabin,” said Benny.

“Not haunted. Just not used in a while. Bobcat and I did a few repairs a while back, but we haven’t been here in a long time.”

She pushed open the door of the cabin and led the way inside. Clouds of dust rose around her feet.

She sneezed. “Whew!” she said. “I don’t remember it being this dirty when I left. It’s almost like someone dumped a bucket of dirt in here.”

“We can clean it up,” Violet said. “Don’t worry.”

They dropped their packs on the rough bunk4 beds built along one wall. Maris put hers on the floor near the old woodstove.

Benny found a rusty5 basin with a bucket next to it on a shelf beneath one of the two shuttered windows. “Is this for water?” he asked.

“For washing dishes and your face,” said Maris. “It’s the cabin sink.”

A rickety table and some stools stood near the stove. On the wall above the rusty basin was a small white metal cabinet. Beneath it, a row of tin cups hung from hooks.

“Let’s get some wood for the stove,” Henry said.

“Good idea,” agreed Maris. “Then we can have a nice fire going to cook our food when Bobcat gets here in a little while.”

But although they kept the fire hot, the sun went down and no Bobcat showed up.

“Maybe he’s lost,” said Benny, looking worried.

“Not Bobcat,” said Maris. “He’s too good a woodsman for that. He probably didn’t make it down the trail in time to come back up tonight. I bet he’s camped at the lean-to. He’ll be here tomorrow.”

No one said anything. Everyone wanted to believe that Bobcat was on his way but none of the Aldens could be sure of that.

At last Violet said in a small voice, “What do we do about dinner?”

“Well, we’ve got some oatmeal, don’t forget,” said Maris cheerfully “And I’ve got a few things in my tin cabinet over there.”

She walked over to the cabinet. She peered inside. “We have a big metal canister of dried beans,” she reported. “And some rice in this metal box. And I think ... yes. Two packages of macaroni and cheese in this metal box. And a can of tomatoes! I’d forgotten about that!”

“Why is everything in metal boxes?” Benny wanted to know.

“This is my pest-proof food cabinet,” Maris explained. “I lugged6 it all the way up here when I first laid out the trail this summer. It’s metal to keep out mice, raccoons, chipmunks7, and rodents8. Everything inside is in metal, too, to help keep the smells inside the cabinet. That keeps any hungry bears away. If a bear can’t smell anything inside, it’s not going to bother.”

“Wow,” said Benny.

“We can make stew9 for dinner,” Violet said. “Bean and tomato stew. With rice.”

“Good idea,” said Henry. He was hungry.

“Let’s get to work,” said Jessie.

When they had finished dinner, they settled into the bunk beds. The cabin was rough, but they were glad to be indoors. After their long hike, they had no trouble falling asleep.

They had leftover10 stew at lunch the next day. “And we’ll have stew again tonight, too, if Bobcat doesn’t get here soon,” said Maris. She sounded worried.

“If Bobcat doesn’t come, will we have to leave?” asked Violet.

“No,” said Maris slowly. “We’ll do fine on beans for another couple of days, which is how long I’d planned to be here. It’s just that we’re going to get mighty11 tired of beans.”

Benny didn’t say anything. He liked most food, but he was already getting tired of beans for every meal!

After lunch, they walked farther up the mountain, helping12 Maris clear a section of trail. They cut back bushes and cleared away fallen trees. It was hard work.

Late in the afternoon, they returned to the cabin.

They saw no sign of Bobcat.

Maris shook her head. “If he doesn’t come tomorrow, maybe I’ll hike back down the trail to make sure he hasn’t fallen or gotten hurt on his way up here,” she said.

“What if he has?” Violet said, sounding more worried than Maris.

“Bobcat can take care of himself,” Maris said. “Don’t worry. He’s trained in wilderness13 emergency rescue, just like all the park rangers15 are.”

“Oh,” said Violet.

“I’m hot,” Benny announced.

“Me, too,” said Jessie in surprise. “I can’t believe how hot I am. Especially since it snowed the night before last.”

“Hard work and sunshine,” said Maris with a smile. “Why don’t we head down to that stream over there and stick our feet in the water? That should cool us off.”

At once the Aldens jumped up and headed for the stream. They lined their boots behind a log at the top of the little bank above the stream, then slipped and scrambled16 down to the water.

“It’s freezing!” Violet squealed17.

“It’s so cold it makes my teeth hurt,” said Benny dipping one toe in and then the other.

They stood on the rocks in the warm sun and played in the water, being careful not to get anything more than their toes wet. Maris sat nearby laughing. She splashed cold water on her face and lifted it to the sun. “This is one of the reasons I like working in this park,” she said.

“I’m going to be a park ranger14 when I grow up,” Benny said. “And a detective.”

“Oh, Benny,” said Violet.

They skipped stones on the water and made boats out of leaves that they sent swirling18 downstream. Violet gathered a collection of pretty colored rocks from the stream.

“Look!” said Benny suddenly. “Gold!” He held out a sparkling rock. They all came to peer at it.

“I’m afraid not, Benny,” said Maris. “Those sparkling chips are mica19, not gold.”

“It’s pretty anyway,” said Violet.

“Here. You can have it for your rock collection,” said Benny generously.

“That’s nice of you,” Maris said. “And I have something you can add to your collection.”

“What collection?” Benny asked, puzzled.

“Your collection of knowledge,” Maris said teasingly She bent20 over and showed the Aldens a small plant with waxy21 round leaves. It grew close to the earth. Maris broke off a leaf and rubbed it between her fingers. “Smell,” she said.

Violet took a cautious sniff22. “Peppermint?” she asked.

“Nooo,” said Jessie.

“Gum. It smells like chewing gum,” Benny said.

“It does, sort of,” Henry agreed.

“You’re all close. It’s wintergreen,” said Maris. “Just like in wintergreen gum. You can chew on it or use it to make tea out here in the woods.”

“Wow,” said Benny. He stuffed a leaf in his mouth and blinked in surprise at how strong the flavor was.

Maris looked at the sky. “It’s getting dark. Time to get back,” she said.

One by one, the Aldens scrambled up the side of the stream bank to where their hiking boots waited by the log.

And then Henry said, “Oh, no!”

“What is it, Henry?” asked Violet.

“My hiking boots!” said Henry. “They’re gone!”

“Gone?” Jessie looked around. “Are you sure?”

“They were right here with everybody else’s,” Henry said. He pointed23. “Now they’re not.”

“Uh-oh,” said Benny. His eyes widened. “It’s Stagecoach24 George. He’s been here.”

“No ghost did this,” said Maris.

“Maybe it was an animal,” suggested Violet.

“I guess it could be,” Maris said. “But it doesn’t make sense. Why would an animal take a pair of boots? One boot, maybe. Animals might make a meal on the leather. But a pair of boots?”

Henry said, “My feet are cold.”

“Of course they are,” said Maris. “Come on, Henry. Let’s get back up to the cabin. You can put on a pair of wool socks. You do have extra socks, don’t you?”

“I do,” said Henry, looking a little more cheerful.

“We’ll stay here and look around for the boots,” said Jessie.

After Henry and Maris had gone, Benny, Violet, and Jessie scouted25 for Henry’s missing boots. But they didn’t find the boots, or even a clue about what had happened to them.

“I don’t understand,” Violet said as they walked back up to the cabin. “Do you think it’s the same person who took our food?”

“It could be,” Jessie said. She looked around. “Or maybe it is an animal.”

“A raccoon wearing Henry’s boots,” said Benny. He laughed at the idea.

Jessie smiled. But she knew that a raccoon hadn’t stolen Henry’s boots.

Henry stayed in the cabin the rest of the afternoon. “I’ll cook dinner, since I can’t hike,” he said.

“I’ll help,” said Benny loyally.

“We’ll do a little more work outside,” said Maris. “And keep an eye out for Bobcat.”

But once again, by suppertime no Bobcat had appeared.

No boots, either.

And their troubles were just beginning.

In the middle of the night, Violet sat up. “What was that?” she whispered.

No one answered. Everyone else was asleep.

Violet heard it again. A faint tap-tap-tapping.

Her fingers tightened26 on her sleeping bag. “Who’s there?” she said in a louder voice.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

It was coming from outside the cabin.

Someone was tapping on the cabin wall!

Quietly, carefully, Violet leaned over and poked27 Jessie in the next bunk.

“Umpf,” mumbled28 Jessie.

Violet poked her again.

“What?” said Jessie hoarsely29.

“Shhh,” Violet warned. “Listen.”

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Now the sound was coming from across the cabin.

“Do you hear that?” Violet whispered.

“I hear it,” Jessie said in a low voice.

Tap.

Tap.

Whatever it was sounded as if it was walking around the cabin.

Suddenly Benny said, “Violet?”

“Shhh,” warned Violet.

Tap. Taptaptap.

The sound grew louder.

“It’s the ghost!” cried Benny. “It’s the ghost of Stagecoach George!”

He tumbled out of his bed and hurled30 himself toward the cabin door. It was very dark, but Violet could just see Benny’s shape in the dim light from the glowing stove.

“Benny, wait,” hissed31 Jessie.

“W-what?” said Henry, waking from a deep sleep.

“What is it?” Now Maris was awake, too.

Benny didn’t answer. He had his flashlight out. He threw the door open and raced into the night.

“Benny!” shouted Violet. Grabbing her own flashlight, she raced after him. Jessie was close behind.

“What’s going on?” Maris said.

Violet stumbled out into the night. She saw the beam of Benny’s flashlight disappear around the corner of the cabin.

She switched her own flashlight on and followed.

“Violet? Benny?” Jessie called behind her.

“This way!” Violet called back.

She rounded the side of the cabin.

“Benny!” she gasped32.

But Benny had disappeared.
 


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 snug 3TvzG     
adj.温暖舒适的,合身的,安全的;v.使整洁干净,舒适地依靠,紧贴;n.(英)酒吧里的私房
参考例句:
  • He showed us into a snug little sitting room.他领我们走进了一间温暖而舒适的小客厅。
  • She had a small but snug home.她有个小小的但很舒适的家。
2 shutters 74d48a88b636ca064333022eb3458e1f     
百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 ); (照相机的)快门
参考例句:
  • The shop-front is fitted with rolling shutters. 那商店的店门装有卷门。
  • The shutters thumped the wall in the wind. 在风中百叶窗砰砰地碰在墙上。
3 sagged 4efd2c4ac7fe572508b0252e448a38d0     
下垂的
参考例句:
  • The black reticule sagged under the weight of shapeless objects. 黑色的拎包由于装了各种形状的东西而中间下陷。
  • He sagged wearily back in his chair. 他疲倦地瘫坐到椅子上。
4 bunk zWyzS     
n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位;废话
参考例句:
  • He left his bunk and went up on deck again.他离开自己的铺位再次走到甲板上。
  • Most economists think his theories are sheer bunk.大多数经济学家认为他的理论纯属胡说。
5 rusty hYlxq     
adj.生锈的;锈色的;荒废了的
参考例句:
  • The lock on the door is rusty and won't open.门上的锁锈住了。
  • I haven't practiced my French for months and it's getting rusty.几个月不用,我的法语又荒疏了。
6 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
7 chipmunks 489f8c4fac3b4e144efa2b0a3fb81d6a     
n.金花鼠( chipmunk的名词复数 )
参考例句:
8 rodents 1ff5f0f12f2930e77fb620b1471a2124     
n.啮齿目动物( rodent的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Rodents carry diseases and are generally regarded as pests. 啮齿目动物传播疾病,常被当作害虫对待。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Some wild rodents in Africa also harbor the virus. 在非洲,有些野生啮齿动物也是储毒者。 来自辞典例句
9 stew 0GTz5     
n.炖汤,焖,烦恼;v.炖汤,焖,忧虑
参考例句:
  • The stew must be boiled up before serving.炖肉必须煮熟才能上桌。
  • There's no need to get in a stew.没有必要烦恼。
10 leftover V97zC     
n.剩货,残留物,剩饭;adj.残余的
参考例句:
  • These narrow roads are a leftover from the days of horse-drawn carriages.这些小道是从马车时代沿用下来的。
  • Wonder if that bakery lets us take leftover home.不知道那家糕饼店会不会让我们把卖剩的带回家。
11 mighty YDWxl     
adj.强有力的;巨大的
参考例句:
  • A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
  • The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。
12 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
13 wilderness SgrwS     
n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等,荒漠
参考例句:
  • She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
  • Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。
14 ranger RTvxb     
n.国家公园管理员,护林员;骑兵巡逻队员
参考例句:
  • He was the head ranger of the national park.他曾是国家公园的首席看守员。
  • He loved working as a ranger.他喜欢做护林人。
15 rangers f306109e6f069bca5191deb9b03359e2     
护林者( ranger的名词复数 ); 突击队员
参考例句:
  • Do you know where the Rangers Stadium is? 你知道Rangers体育场在哪吗? 来自超越目标英语 第3册
  • Now I'm a Rangers' fan, so I like to be near the stadium. 现在我是Rangers的爱好者,所以我想离体育场近一点。 来自超越目标英语 第3册
16 scrambled 2e4a1c533c25a82f8e80e696225a73f2     
v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 );攀登;争夺;(军事飞机)紧急起飞
参考例句:
  • Each scrambled for the football at the football ground. 足球场上你争我夺。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • He scrambled awkwardly to his feet. 他笨拙地爬起身来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
17 squealed 08be5c82571f6dba9615fa69033e21b0     
v.长声尖叫,用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He squealed the words out. 他吼叫着说出那些话。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The brakes of the car squealed. 汽车的刹车发出吱吱声。 来自《简明英汉词典》
18 swirling Ngazzr     
v.旋转,打旋( swirl的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • Snowflakes were swirling in the air. 天空飘洒着雪花。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • She smiled, swirling the wine in her glass. 她微笑着,旋动着杯子里的葡萄酒。 来自辞典例句
19 mica gjZyj     
n.云母
参考例句:
  • It could not pass through material impervious to water such as mica.它不能通过云母这样的不透水的物质。
  • Because of its layered structure,mica is fissile.因为是层状结构,云母很容易分成片。
20 bent QQ8yD     
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的
参考例句:
  • He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
  • We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
21 waxy pgZwk     
adj.苍白的;光滑的
参考例句:
  • Choose small waxy potatoes for the salad.选些个头小、表皮光滑的土豆做色拉。
  • The waxy oil keeps ears from getting too dry.这些蜡状耳油可以保持耳朵不会太干燥。
22 sniff PF7zs     
vi.嗅…味道;抽鼻涕;对嗤之以鼻,蔑视
参考例句:
  • The police used dogs to sniff out the criminals in their hiding - place.警察使用警犬查出了罪犯的藏身地点。
  • When Munchie meets a dog on the beach, they sniff each other for a while.当麦奇在海滩上碰到另一条狗的时候,他们会彼此嗅一会儿。
23 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
24 stagecoach PuQww     
n.公共马车
参考例句:
  • She's getting off the stagecoach.她正在下马车。
  • The stagecoach driver cracked the whip.驿站马车的车夫抽响了鞭子。
25 scouted c2ccb9e441a3696747e3f1fa2d26d0d7     
寻找,侦察( scout的过去式和过去分词 ); 物色(优秀运动员、演员、音乐家等)
参考例句:
  • They scouted around for a shop that was open late. 他们四处寻找,看看还有没有夜间营业的商店。
  • They scouted around for a beauty parlour. 他们四处寻找美容院。
26 tightened bd3d8363419d9ff838bae0ba51722ee9     
收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 ); (使)变紧; (使)绷紧; 加紧
参考例句:
  • The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke. 系船的绳子突然绷断了。
  • His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again. 他的食指扣住扳机,然后又松开了。
27 poked 87f534f05a838d18eb50660766da4122     
v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 );戳出;拨弄;与(某人)性交
参考例句:
  • She poked him in the ribs with her elbow. 她用胳膊肘顶他的肋部。
  • His elbow poked out through his torn shirt sleeve. 他的胳膊从衬衫的破袖子中露了出来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
28 mumbled 3855fd60b1f055fa928ebec8bcf3f539     
含糊地说某事,叽咕,咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He mumbled something to me which I did not quite catch. 他对我叽咕了几句话,可我没太听清楚。
  • George mumbled incoherently to himself. 乔治语无伦次地喃喃自语。
29 hoarsely hoarsely     
adv.嘶哑地
参考例句:
  • "Excuse me," he said hoarsely. “对不起。”他用嘶哑的嗓子说。
  • Jerry hoarsely professed himself at Miss Pross's service. 杰瑞嘶声嘶气地表示愿为普洛丝小姐效劳。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
30 hurled 16e3a6ba35b6465e1376a4335ae25cd2     
v.猛投,用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 );大声叫骂
参考例句:
  • He hurled a brick through the window. 他往窗户里扔了块砖。
  • The strong wind hurled down bits of the roof. 大风把屋顶的瓦片刮了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
31 hissed 2299e1729bbc7f56fc2559e409d6e8a7     
发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 ); 发嘘声表示反对
参考例句:
  • Have you ever been hissed at in the middle of a speech? 你在演讲中有没有被嘘过?
  • The iron hissed as it pressed the wet cloth. 熨斗压在湿布上时发出了嘶嘶声。
32 gasped e6af294d8a7477229d6749fa9e8f5b80     
v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 );喘息;倒抽气;很想要
参考例句:
  • She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
  • People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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