CHAPTER II THE HOME

 While Lodrix summoned¹ the people, the chief rushed out to pull back the drawbridge which connected their homes with the land.

 

The lake people were very much frightened. They knew that the people on land were their enemies; so they were ready to obey every command of their chief.

 

 

First he called for the messenger² who had brought the news.

 

A youth with a deer hanging from his shoulder stepped forward.

 

Laying the deer at the chief’s feet, the boy said, “My chief! As I was hunting, I met the boy Tevico, whom you once saved from the wolves in the forest.

 

“He told me that his tribe³ was getting ready to make war upon us and to burn our dwellings⁴.

 

“So I hurried here to tell you, that we, too, might prepare for war.”

 

Just then Lodrix, running into the house, shouted, “O father! Come quickly!”

 

Out rushed the chief, followed by his people.

 

What they saw made them tremble⁵ with fear.

 

On the shore of the lake stood hundreds of people waving their stone axes⁶ and shouting in great anger.

 

The chief had pulled up the drawbridge just in time.

 

When the Bear people found they could not reach the Lake-Dwellers, they went away.

 

The chief of the Dormorants told his people that they must keep close watch, for their enemies would surely⁷ come back.

 

After choosing men to guard the village, the people went back to their homes, while the chief and his son went into the house.

 

 

They sat down on the blocks of wood which were the only furniture of their home; then Lodrix watched his mother skin the deer with the sharp stone knife, and his father light the fire in the stone fireplace⁸.

 

The chief was so hungry that he ate the deer meat nearly raw.

 

Lodrix did not care for the meat, but ate some cakes which had been made from powdered grain and cooked on the hot stones. He ate some sour cherries too, and plums which had been picked from the trees on the shore of the lake and dried.

1 summoned   

传唤( summon的过去式和过去分词 )； 召唤； 传讯（出庭）； 鼓起（勇气）

参考例句：

• He was summoned to appear before the magistrates. 他被传唤在地方法院出庭。
• The students were summoned in turn to be interviewed. 学生依次被召入进行口试。

2 messenger   

n.报信者，先驱

参考例句：

• By the time the messenger reached him,the damage had been done.送信人赶到他那儿时，损失已经造成了。
• I'll order a special messenger to deliver the document.我会派专人把文件送去。

3 tribe   

n.部落，种族，一伙人

参考例句：

• This is a subject tribe.这是个受他人统治的部落。
• Many of the tribe's customs and rituals are as old as the hills.这部落的许多风俗、仪式都极其古老。

4 dwellings   

n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The development will consist of 66 dwellings and a number of offices. 新建楼区将由66栋住房和一些办公用房组成。
• The hovels which passed for dwellings are being pulled down. 过去用作住室的陋屋正在被拆除。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 tremble   

n.战栗，颤抖；vi.战栗，忧虑，微动

参考例句：

• There was a tremble in her voice.她声音颤抖。
• I tremble for your safety.我担忧你的安全。

6 axes   

n.轴；斧头( ax的名词复数 )；斧子( axe的名词复数 )；（遭）解雇；倒闭；被停业；轴( axis的名词复数 )；轴线；核心；对称中心线（将物体平分为二）v.（用斧）砍( axe的第三人称单数 )；精简（机构等）；大量削减（经费等）

参考例句：

• They used axes to clear a path through the forest. 他们用斧子开辟出一条穿过森林的小道。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• They equipped themselves with a pair of sharp axes and set off for the forest. 他们带上两把利斧便朝森林走去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 surely   

adv.确实地，无疑地；必定地，一定地

参考例句：

• It'should surely be possible for them to reach an agreement.想必他们可以达成协议。
• Surely we'll profit from your work.我们肯定会从你的工作中得到益处。

8 fireplace   

n.壁炉，炉灶

参考例句：

• The fireplace smokes badly.这壁炉冒烟太多。
• I think we should wall up the fireplace.我想应该封住壁炉。