CHAPTER VIII WITH THE BEAR PEOPLE

 Tevico turned homeward, leaving the Lake-Dwellers glad that they had news of Lodrix, but sad that they must give their bronze to their enemies.

 

Together they walked through the forest to the shore of the lake and crossed the bridge to their village.

 

The women were crowded together, waiting for tidings of Lodrix.

 

 

The chief’s wife rushed toward him crying: “Lodrix, my son! Where is he? Did you find him?”

 

“He is safe, but in the hands of our enemy,” said the chief. “He will be returned to us at sunrise, but we must give to these people all the bronze in our village.” Turning to his people, he said: “Let us collect our treasure at once, that it may be ready in time.

 

“Some day my son shall repay¹ you for this great sacrifice.

 

“Go, now, to your homes and bring the precious metal to me.”

 

The men started off to obey the command of their chief.

 

Slowly they walked to their huts and quietly collected what bronze they had.

 

It was only a short time before they were again together at the chief’s hut.

 

 

They entered and placed their bronze in a pile on the floor.

 

The chief had collected his bronze too, and motioned to one of the men to put it with the rest.

 

There were many kinds of weapons in this pile: bronze scabbards, knives with bronze handles, bronze hammers, bronze hooks², and bronze bracelets³ and pins which the women had given.

 

The chief had given most of all. He had a great amount, because the people of other lake villages had often sent him presents of bronze.

 

The people looked longingly⁴ at the treasure for a few moments, then, at the order of their chief, put it in a large skin bag ready for the messenger.

 

 

All day long the Lake-Dwellers thought of Lodrix in the hands of the enemy, and they could hardly wait for the morning when he would return.

 

In the village of the Bear tribe⁵, Lodrix was watching and waiting for Tevico.

 

He hoped that the messenger would find his father, and he knew that his people would give their precious bronze for his return.

 

He almost wished that Tevico had stayed and that some other messenger had been sent, for now he was alone among his enemies.

 

 

As Lodrix sat in the hut, he heard a shout, and looking up, he saw a little boy standing⁶ in the doorway⁷.

 

“Come out, Lodrix,” said the boy. “I am the chief’s son, and I will show you our village.”

 

Lodrix jumped up, very glad to get out of the hut, and the two boys walked off together through the village.

 

 

As they went along, Lodrix saw many strange things.

 

He had never seen a land village before, because his people never went far from the lake.

 

These huts were not built on piles as the lake huts were, and it seemed strange to see no water and no boats.

 

 

The sheep and goats that were running about, looked very much like his own, and as they came toward Lodrix, they seemed friendly.

 

“Come to my house,” said the little boy. “My father wishes to see you.”

 

So the boys ran toward the largest hut in the Bear village.

 

They were out of breath when they reached it and were glad to throw themselves on the bearskin which lay outside the door.

 

The chief came out of the hut, and looked kindly⁸ at the two boys.

 

 

He beckoned⁹ Lodrix to him, and said:

 

“How much bronze is there in your father’s village?”

 

Lodrix answered:

 

“There is more bronze in the village of the Dormorants than in any other village on the lake.”

 

“Is there more than one messenger can carry?” said the chief.

 

“You must send a strong messenger,” said Lodrix, “for our bronze is very heavy.”

 

The chief thought a moment, then turned to his son and said, “You may take Lodrix about the village, but do not go far, for Tevico will return at sunset.”

1 repay   

v.偿还，报答，还钱给

参考例句：

• I feel honor bound to repay the money I borrowed.我觉得有责任归还我借的钱。
• I must repay her for her kindness.我必须报答她的恩惠。

2 hooks   

钩拳( hook的名词复数 )； 挂钩； 转弯处； 曲线球

参考例句：

• I want to buy the hams hanging on the hooks. 我想买挂在钩子上的火腿。
• This dress hooks at the back, not at the side. 这件衣服是在背后而不是在旁边扣钩。

3 bracelets   

n.手镯，臂镯( bracelet的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The lamplight struck a gleam from her bracelets. 她的手镯在灯光的照射下闪闪发亮。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• On display are earrings, necklaces and bracelets made from jade, amber and amethyst. 展出的有用玉石、琥珀和紫水晶做的耳环、项链和手镯。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 longingly   

adv. 渴望地 热望地

参考例句：

• He looked longingly at the food on the table. 他眼巴巴地盯着桌上的食物。
• Over drinks,he speaks longingly of his trip to Latin America. 他带着留恋的心情，一边喝酒一边叙述他的拉丁美洲之行。

5 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。

6 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

7 doorway   

n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径

参考例句：

• They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
• Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。

8 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

9 beckoned   

v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He beckoned to the waiter to bring the bill. 他招手示意服务生把账单送过来。
• The seated figure in the corner beckoned me over. 那个坐在角落里的人向我招手让我过去。 来自《简明英汉词典》