Meanwhile, the unsuspecting company of forest worshippers were blithely4 tramping along through the woods, pausing frequently to exclaim over some bit of woodland wonder that, for the moment, claimed their admiring attention. Each was bent5 on identifying some tree, bush, bird or even weed, peculiar6 to the locality, and hitherto known only to them through books devoted7 to Nature study. Correct identifications of these forest denizens8 meant a proud addition to honors already gained. As an authority on the flora9 and fauna10 of that region, Miss Drexal was continually appealed to for confirmation11.
Noon found them perhaps three miles into the wilderness12. They had endeavored to steer13 a direct northerly course, frequently consulting the compass Ruth carried, which still obligingly pointed14 due north. Their progress had been most leisurely15, for they were not concerned as to the amount of ground they covered. With so many interesting sights to see, they preferred to go slowly and thus miss nothing worth while.
The wrist watches, which most of the girls wore, showed half past twelve when they halted for luncheon16 in a tiny natural open space between the trees, within sight of a small but noisy brook17 which chattered18 complainingly as it rushed along over the stones.
The site chosen was an ideal spot for loitering, and the amateur foresters hailed it with shouts of gleeful acclamation.
“It seems good to see the sun again,” commented Sarah, squinting19 gratefully up at the sunlight that poured generously down from between the giant trees, which formed a leafy wall about the little enclosure.
“I love the sun, but oh, you eats!” trilled Frances, casting a loving eye upon the hamper20 that Anne and Betty had just set upon a convenient flat rock. It being their only burden, the Equitable21 Eight had taken turns carrying it, having laughingly barred their hostess-guide from playing porter.
“You think more about eating than about Nature study, Frances Bliss,” accused Jane with a lofty indifference22 to the pangs23 of hunger, which were at that very moment assailing24 her.
“Can you look me squarely in the eyes and say you are not starved, Jane Pellew?” was the severe retort, as Frances marched over to her pet diversion, thrusting her mischievous25 face within a few inches of Jane’s.
“No, I can’t, you ridiculous person,” Jane’s lofty expression vanished in a half-vexed laugh. “Still, I am too polite to mention being starved unless I’m forced to do it.”
“You really mean that you lack simple frankness, Plain Jane,” translated Frances gently. “You may be polite, and occasionally frank. I can readily recall several such occasions, though I prefer not to dwell on them publicly. But I am always frank. It was my extreme frankness as a mere26 infant which induced my fond parents to name me Frances. Frankness and Frances are synonymous. Do you catch the beauty of the synonym27?”
“Take her away,” begged Jane of the laughing listeners. “She gives me the headache.”
“Let’s condemn28 her to hard labor29. Make her unpack30 the hamper,” sentenced Betty, firmly seizing the talkative synonym of frankness by the arm. Jane lost no time in grasping her tormentor’s other arm. Protesting volubly, Frances was conducted to the hamper. Then the avenging31 duo encountered a snag.
“You can drag an Equitable Eighter to a hamper, but you can’t make her unpack it,” jeered32 the victim of force.
“Oh, yes we can,” confidently assured Jane. “You make one arm go, Betty, and I’ll work the other.”
Thereupon followed a bit of by-play that sent the interested onlookers33 into shrieks34 of laughter. Frances was possessed35 of not only a will of her own, but corresponding strength as well. She put forth36 no effort to free herself; her arms simply refused to move in accordance with the will of her propellers37. In fact, they flourished in every direction except hamperward, causing those of her captors to flourish unwillingly38 with them.
“No use, Jane,” gasped39 Betty. Weak with laughter she relaxed her hold. “She’s a second Sandow. I’d rather unpack the hamper twice over than keep this up.”
“The world is mine!” orated the triumphant40 conqueror41, cheerfully waving the arm that Betty gladly dropped. “I feel like the Brave Little Tailor in Grimm’s Fairy Tales, who vanquished42 seven at one blow. Plain Jane, you may spend the next week of your young life embroidering43 me a girdle bearing that lovely legend.”
“You’re a brave little nuisance,” scathingly commented Jane. “You’ll wait a long time for that girdle.”
“How can I win her approbation44?” murmured Frances. “Ah, I have it! I will unpack the eats and feed her a sandwich.”
“You will not.” Jane beat a prompt retreat as Frances made an energetic attack upon the hamper. Snapping up the fateful sandwich, she pursued the fleeing object of her mischievous intentions in and out among the trees, leaving her amused companions to busy themselves with the task she had begun only to abandon.
It was a very merry group that presently gathered about the tablecloth45, laid on the mossy ground, and covered with a variety of eatables, best suited to picnicking. Frances’ nonsense had only served to heighten the atmosphere of good humor which had prevailed from the starting out of the expedition. Luncheon finished, they strolled over to the little brook to watch its hurried progress over the greenish-brown stones, and to dabble46 their hands in its clear waters.
“Why, what has become of the sun?” was Ruth’s cry. After loitering for half an hour by the rock, they had returned to the spot where they had lunched to recover the hamper and go forward again. Along the banks of the little stream the trees grew thickly, seeming almost to arch overhead. In consequence, they had failed to note Old Sol’s gradual disappearance47 behind a bank of bluish-gray clouds until, back in the open space, Ruth now called concerned attention to it.
Miss Drexal raised anxious eyes to the threatening cloud bank. “It doesn’t look promising48, girls,” she declared uneasily. “I am not sure what those clouds mean. We sometimes have dreadful wind storms in this region. We had best about-face and make for the cottage. These clouds may pass; again they may not. It is almost three o’clock now. Should it begin to rain and rain steadily49, it would be anything but pleasant in these woods.”
With no impeding50 luggage save the now light hamper, the return journey through the forest was begun within three minutes after Miss Drexal had sounded her warning call to march. This time there was no stopping by the way. All realized the importance of reaching shelter before a storm of either wind or rain or both should descend51 upon them. Thus far, there was little wind, yet as they proceeded, a faint but ominous52 rustling53 of leaves overhead told them that the wind was rising. The fact that it did not increase as they hurried along served somewhat to still their fears.
Apprehension54 returned full force during the last half mile. The portending55 rustle56 gradually grew into a profound sigh, as though the very leaves on the trees had united in protest against the rough tactics which the wind was rapidly adopting.
“We’re off our course,” called Ruth, consulting the compass. “Not much but a little. We must have strayed through being in such a rush to get home. We were going directly south when last I looked; about twenty minutes ago.”
“Let me see.” Miss Drexal halted and scrutinized57 their surroundings. “It’s all right,” she encouraged. “I know where we are. We shall come out of the woods about a quarter of a mile below the Heights, on the road to the village. Forward march, children. It won’t be long until we are there. We must try to escape the rain.”
“Follow your leader,” ordered Ruth cheerfully, catching58 Emmy’s arm as she rushed her playfully forward. Miss Drexal now ahead as guide, the two girls swung along directly behind her.
“Hurrah!” Emmy sang out joyfully59. Through the trees she had glimpsed the road for which they were making.
“O-h-h!” a howl of anguish60 went up from the rear, causing the registrar61 to whirl and hasten in the direction of the sound. It proceeded from unlucky Jane, whose feet had unwarily wandered into the meshes62 of a fondly-clinging vine. Her wail63 had ascended64 as she descended65, full force, upon her face.
Before Miss Drexal had reached her, she had regained66 her feet and stood sputtering67 angrily at the unfeeling Frances who had laughed so hard as to be unable to assist her fallen comrade.
Emmy turned and took a few steps toward Jane. Ruth was about to follow her when the purr of an automobile68, dashing along the near-by road, attracted her attention. She obtained a good look at the driver, a dark, thin-faced young man, bending far over the wheel. His companions she merely glimpsed, as the machine flashed by, yet that one glimpse brought a soft “Oh” of dismay to her lips. Glancing quickly about, she was relieved to note that her friends had evidently paid no attention to the passing of the automobile. They were still busy with Jane. By the time they turned and came up with her, Jane still sputtering at the grinning Frances, who was endeavoring to lead her along, the automobile had disappeared around a curve in the road.
“Safe!” exclaimed Anne dramatically. “We are out of the woods at last.”
“Safe nothing,” disagreed Sarah. “I just felt a raindrop on my head. There’s another!” she cried as a big drop splashed upon a broad-leafed weed in front of her. “We’d better run for it.”
Her advice promptly69 heeded70, the party set off pell-mell over the narrow strip of weed-grown ground that sloped gently down to the road. Up the road the race for shelter continued, Ruth and Frances well in the lead.
“Look out!” Ruth’s warning rang out just in time to scatter71 the runners as the same automobile she had so recently seen tore down upon them. This time the driver was alone. Like a flash he dashed by them, looking neither to the right nor left.
Only the fact that the rain was now beginning to come down in earnest deterred72 the ruffled73 hikers from holding forth wrathfully then and there. Bottling their caustic74 opinions of reckless motorists until a more convenient season, the homeward flight was continued. Rounding the curve, beyond which stood the cottage, every pair of eyes picked up a blue-clad figure fleeing across the lawn toward the front door.
“There’s Blanche!” called out Anne. “She has her hat on. She must have gone walking and got caught in the rain.”
“Do her good,” muttered Jane.
Bent on gaining cover, no one else took time to comment upon the girl just disappearing into the cottage. Nevertheless one of them had received a most unpleasant shock, and that one was Ruth Garnier.
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1
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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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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3
athletic
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| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
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blithely
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| adv.欢乐地，快活地，无挂虑地 | |
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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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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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denizens
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| n.居民，住户( denizen的名词复数 ) | |
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flora
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| n.(某一地区的)植物群 | |
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fauna
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| n.(一个地区或时代的)所有动物，动物区系 | |
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confirmation
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| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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18
chattered
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| （人）喋喋不休( chatter的过去式 )； 唠叨； （牙齿）打战； （机器）震颤 | |
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19
squinting
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| 斜视( squint的现在分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看 | |
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hamper
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| vt.妨碍，束缚，限制；n.(有盖的)大篮子 | |
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21
equitable
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| adj.公平的；公正的 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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pangs
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| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
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24
assailing
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| v.攻击( assail的现在分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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synonym
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| n.同义词，换喻词 | |
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condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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30
unpack
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| vt.打开包裹（或行李），卸货 | |
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31
avenging
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| adj.报仇的，复仇的v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的现在分词 )；为…报复 | |
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32
jeered
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| v.嘲笑( jeer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
onlookers
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| n.旁观者，观看者( onlooker的名词复数 ) | |
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34
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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35
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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propellers
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| n.螺旋桨，推进器( propeller的名词复数 ) | |
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38
unwillingly
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| adv.不情愿地 | |
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39
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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40
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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41
conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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42
vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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43
embroidering
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| v.（在织物上）绣花( embroider的现在分词 )；刺绣；对…加以渲染（或修饰）；给…添枝加叶 | |
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44
approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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45
tablecloth
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| n.桌布，台布 | |
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46
dabble
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| v.涉足，浅赏 | |
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47
disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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48
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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49
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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50
impeding
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| a.(尤指坏事)即将发生的，临近的 | |
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51
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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52
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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53
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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54
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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55
portending
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| v.预示( portend的现在分词 )；预兆；给…以警告；预告 | |
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56
rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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57
scrutinized
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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59
joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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60
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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61
registrar
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| n.记录员，登记员；(大学的)注册主任 | |
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62
meshes
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| 网孔( mesh的名词复数 )； 网状物； 陷阱； 困境 | |
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63
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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64
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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66
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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67
sputtering
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| n.反应溅射法；飞溅；阴极真空喷镀；喷射v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的现在分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出 | |
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68
automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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69
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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70
heeded
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 )；变平，使（某物）变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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71
scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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72
deterred
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| v.阻止，制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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73
ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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74
caustic
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| adj.刻薄的，腐蚀性的 | |
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