No one was about except Charlie Greer, cook, and Johnnie Walden, cookee, who were busy in the lean-to. When Harry finally ambled6 over toward them, he was stiff from his long sitting. Out of the fifty or so sheets of paper he had used, there were only six that he saw fit to save. The rest he pulled out from his various pockets.
“I’m a human waste basket, Charlie,” said he. “Here, burn these up, will you?”
Harry creased9 a sheet of paper into an arrowy form and shot it through the trees. “Look at that go, will you, Charlie?” He went and picked it up and brought it to Charlie to burn. Then he wandered off, his hands in his trousers pockets. He passed Morrel, who was on sentinel duty at the edge of the grove10.
“What’s the matter, old man?” said Morrel. “You look lonesome.”
“Come on down to the village,” said Harry. He knew Morrel couldn’t go, but he asked to be sociable11.
In Port Henry, he jumped upon the bench in Marty’s boat-yard. “Got those paregoric ribs ready?” said he.
Marty looked at him suspiciously, as if he were beginning to see through some involved swindling game. “Thought you was comin’ down in yer boat to-morrer.”
“So we are, but I’m in a hurry to see one of them.”
“Well, there they be,” said Marty, with lofty contempt. “You’re daft if you go into this aeroplane business.”
“I know it,” said Harry, “but I can’t help it; I was born that way. Can I take one of these along?”
“Guess that’ll be all right,” drawled Marty.
When the other boys returned from their various occupations they found Harry squatted12 near the unfinished glider, contemplating13 with critical gaze the solitary14 rib1, which he had fastened in place.
The work, so far, consisted of two rectangular frames, each twenty-four by three feet, and joined at the corners by the right-angle braces15, fastened with screws. The fact that these frames were four feet longer than the regulation trial glider would seem to indicate a sneaking16 intention on Harry’s part to install motive17 power sometime or other; but if he ever did, it is not a part of this story.
Besides the end pieces, four other cross-bars, or struts18, had been fastened between the beams at even intervals19, except that in one of the frames the two nearest the center were only two feet apart. This would be the under plane, and the space in the center being left uncovered, the passenger might pass his arms over these center cross-bars, hanging by his armpits. The lateral20 balance of the glider would thus be controlled by the sideways swinging of his legs, and its coasting inclination—that is, the tilting22 upward or downward of its air-cutting surfaces—by his sliding backward or forward on these central struts.
Thus, in this simple form of glider, the weight of the operator’s body takes the place of complicated stability planes and rudders, and all that is needed to maintain a level keel is a level head.
“That rib looks lonesome there, Harry,” said Tom Langford.
“Well, it will have to stick it out alone to-night,” Harry answered.
“Looks like a fence that’s fallen down, doesn’t it?” said Howard.
They spent some time screwing on more of the right-angle braces, for though they lacked many of the fittings usually recommended for such work, they had an abundance of these braces. They served very well to hold all corners firmly and rigidly24 together, although of course absolute rigidity25 of such open framing could only be secured by a thorough system of taut26 wire trussing.
“Guess she won’t fly away to-night,” said Tom Langford. “Come on down and clean up for supper. I say, it makes me sad to see that lonely rib there.”
The next day they went into Port Henry with the Swan, and got the bicycle, the silk shelter, and the rest of the ribs. There were forty-one, all told. They were curved to perfection, and the boys were vociferous27 in their thanks to Marty. On the way back, one of them slipped into the water.
“Floating rib,” said Matthew Reed. “I knew a man once who had a floating rib.”
“Joke,” said Mac.
“Well, people do have such things as floating ribs,” protested Matthew; “ask Dr. Brent.”
“Very clever,” said Tom Langford. “Let’s all laugh.”
The next day the ribs were fastened in place, and these, of course, had a bracing29 effect on the frame. On the upper plane there were twenty-one ribs, placed at even spaces across the frame. On the lower, one rib was omitted in the center, where there would be no cloth covering on account of the open space required to hold the passenger. Thus the ribs were something over a foot apart. Since the frames were only three feet wide and the ribs four feet long, it followed that they had to project a foot over one edge, and this of course must be the back, or after, edge. The front or abruptly30 curved end of each rib was brought flush with the long beam and screwed down to it with a long, flatheaded screw. Then where it crossed the after beam it was also screwed down. They were careful to see that each one was correctly squared with the long bars, so that the ribs, when placed, were parallel with each other.
When their work was finished, the boys squatted about, surveying the result of their labor31 and commenting on the scientific and shipshape appearance it was beginning to assume. The curved ribs had transformed the fencelike frames into two graceful32 pieces of lattice, with a sort of aerial, buoyant aspect that immediately suggested the aeroplane. Up to this point the work might have been intended for any one of a dozen purposes. Not so now.
“She’s going to be all right,” said Mac. “Where’ll we try her out—down the hill?”
“We’d better try her on the level first,” said Harry.
“Certainly, we’ll do everything on the level,” ventured Matthew.
“Matty,” said Tom, “if you don’t stop making these jokes—”
“I can’t seem to satisfy you fellows,” said Matthew. “That wasn’t such a bad one—”
“Wouldn’t it be a good idea,” asked Howard, innocently, “to put the covering on before we try her out?”
“Mightn’t be a bad scheme,” said Harry.
“You know most of them are covered,” Howard said; “they say it helps them to rise.”
Two sonorous33 blasts of Charlie Greer’s tin horn put an end to the conversation. Near the lean-to the trunk of a young tree had been felled and rested horizontally in the forks of two others. From this hung a line of seventeen towels, rough dry, but spotless, each one bearing a scout’s initials. The cookee laundered34 these every sunny day, by Red Deer’s orders. In process of preparation for supper, Harry reached the rack before the others, and came upon Gordon giving his round face a few final rubs.
“Hello, Kid,” he said cheerily.
“Hello,” Gordon answered.
“Thought we’d see you over yonder to-day. She’s beginning to look quite shipshape, Kid. Come on over in the morning and take a look. Guess we’ll get her finished to-morrow, if Mat doesn’t stop to chin too much. Been stalking to-day?” But there was no answer; and when Harry’s face emerged from its towel, Gordon had disappeared.
It developed from camp-fire talk that night that Gordon had been stalking with that indefatigable35 stalker, Brick Parks. Parks, after long and patient effort, had managed to get a first-class snapshot of a hawk36, for it was his public-spirited wish that the Hawk Patrol, of which he was a member, should have some sort of representation of their patron bird, produced by his own hand. And the idea had fired Gordon with enthusiasm, so that for the last two days he had been haunting the stream, armed with his trusty little “Brownie,” in the hope of bringing its deadly focus on a real live beaver38.
Under ordinary circumstances, he would have consulted his patrol leader about this, and if he had he might have directed his search more wisely; but as it was, he was going to triumph over the entire patrol, he was going to do them a magnificent good turn, he was going benevolently39 to donate eight photographs of a beaver, one for each member, and Arnold, when he received his, would feel the sting of a remorseful40 conscience, and that would serve him right.
“No, sir,” said Gordon.
“I should think that land under the precipice42 might have a beaver,” the doctor suggested, “near the pond, I mean. I believe you’ll find them pretty scarce, though, Gordon. A muskrat43 wouldn’t do?”
“Well, a muskrat is a kind of a small beaver,” protested the doctor, cautiously.
“Just the thing,” said Tilford Morrel, Hawk. “He’s a kind of small beaver, aren’t you, Kid?”
The talk turned to the all-important topic of the glider, and Red Deer fell a victim to the ruse45 which was practiced on him nearly every night, that of getting him interested in some absorbing topic just before eleven o’clock. Then, at about twelve, he would rise with great alacrity46, saying that the hour was outrageous47, but that he had only himself to blame.
In the morning came the most difficult part of the work, especially difficult since they were in the woods and had not the proper material for what they had to do. This was to fasten the two planes, one above the other, by means of the upright stanchions. If they had been in the city, their stanchions would have been round, and it would have been a simple matter to procure48 brass49 sockets50 for the ends to rest in. As it was, Mac suggested buying twelve ordinary brooms, which would have cost them about five dollars. Harry improved on this by suggesting hickory rake-handles, which can be purchased separately for twenty cents each in any country store. But since they had no round sockets, square stanchions would, on the whole, be best.
“Besides,” said Tom, “I wouldn’t have the nerve to walk into that store and ask for twelve rake-handles. Every merchant prince in town thinks we’re a pack of lunatics, as it is. Marty Forbes pities us. So does the telegraph operator. When I asked for piano wire, those two fellows in the hardware store looked at each other and winked52. Come on, let’s get busy with the square stanchions.”
“That’s right,” said Matthew, “have the stanchions on the square if we mean to use the machine on the level, then—”
Mac walked grimly up to him and shook a chisel53 in his face. “Matthew, the day has just started; you are forgiven this once, but don’t let it happen again. Now, you remember!”
“Come on, messmates,” said Walden, tightening54 his belt; “are we going to get through to-night?”
“Indeed we are!” said Harry.
They placed one of the four-foot stanchions in the corner of the frame, held it upright, and screwed it on by means of the right-angle, wrought-iron braces. They used two of the braces, one flange55 of each screwed to a side of the upright, the other two flanges56 screwed one along the long beam, the other along the end cross-bar. When they had done this, the stanchion stood plumb57 upright and solid. If you do not care to pay fancy prices for brass stanchion sockets, do not let the books frighten you into doing so. These little wrought-iron braces, with screws to match, will do very well, and square stanchions are not half bad.
They put a stanchion wherever there was a cross-bar end. Now came the job of lifting the other frame and placing it on the stanchion-tops. When this had been secured, the whole frame was not as steady as they wished. But they contemplated58 their handiwork with admiring comments. It looked for all the world like Goodwin’s biplane.
Now it was time to lay violent hands on Mac’s old bicycle, and the boys went at it as if it were a cold turkey the day after Thanksgiving. Their object was to furnish the glider with wheels, placing them to the rear near the ends of the lower plane, so that the legs of the operator might form a third wheel, in a sense, relieving him of much of the strain of a sudden alighting. They remembered the wheels on Goodwin’s machine, and they had not stopped to reflect that in a light-weight glider their room might be better than their company. It fell to Harry to discover a better use for the old wheels.
“Here’s a way to truss her up good and tight,” said he. “We don’t need these wheels—she’s as light as a feather. And here’s a way to pull the wiring taut. That’s very necessary. Why, Goodwin walked around his machine trying all the wires, and they sounded like harp59 strings60, they were so tight.”
If you have a bicycle, you must have noticed that one end of the spoke61 is threaded and screws into a little turnable socket51. They filed off each one, leaving the threaded end and its socket on the spoke. Then they cut the spokes62 a few inches from the sockets, and bent63 the other ends into the shape of a hook eye. Now, they took a strand64 of wire, bound it firmly to one corner of the frame, drew it loosely to an opposite corner, and cut it in the middle. One severed65 end they bound to the threaded socket, the other to the eyelet they had made in the spoke. The spoke was then screwed into its socket, and by this operation the wire was pulled taut. It sang and vibrated when they tried it with their fingers.
“Hurrah! How’s that for trussing!” exclaimed Howard Brent.
“We can screw these wires so tight she won’t give a particle,” shouted Tom. “Good for you, Harry!”
The idea was a good one, for since absolute rigidity of the long planes is imperative66, it follows that the trussing and bracing by wire must be perfectly67 tight—tighter than any pair of hands can draw it. It was a particularly happy notion in this case, as it permitted of the glider’s being easily taken apart.
Several of the boys now got between the two planes, being careful not to step on the ribs, and began trussing. They wired each section separately, stretching a wire from each corner to the diagonally opposite corner,—that is, from the lower end of the back stanchion to the upper end of the next forward stanchion, and so on.
“Reminds you of that game you play with string,—cat in the cradle—doesn’t it?” said Matthew. That was as near as he dared approach to a joke.
“Yes, dearie,” said Mac.
They had to be careful that no wires should span the open space to be occupied by the passenger. As each wire was fixed68 in place, it was tightened69 by turning the little bicycle-spoke socket, and it was a never failing delight to the boys to spring these wires and listen with satisfaction to the long vibration70 which told how tightly they pulled the frame together and held it rigid23.
When the trussing was finished, Mac stepped into the operator’s place, grasped the cross-bars, and lifted the machine. It tilted71 to one side, then to the other, but did not sag72.
“A couple of you hold up the ends,” said Mac, “while I hang in the middle, and see if it holds stiff.”
Two boys did so, but the long frame did not give, nor was there any sound of straining.
“She’s what G. Lord would call a James Dandy,” said Tom.
“She’s a lalapazuza!” Howard shouted, throwing his cap in the air.
“All we have to do now is to fit on her silk dress,” said Harry.
This was quickly done. They cut the silk into strips wide enough to span two rib-spaces. Each strip was turned under the forward bar, which was smeared73 with glue, then tacked74 with copper75 tacks76 and pulled tightly to the after bar, where it was also fastened. The edges of the strips met at every second rib, where glue was also smeared and the overlapping77 edges tacked down.
“There was some kind of a thin moulding running along over the ribs on Goodwin’s machine,” said Harry, thoughtfully.
“Harry, was there anything about Goodwin’s machine that you didn’t see?” asked Mac. “Your beautiful gray eyes are certainly wonders for seeing things.”
Harry, ignoring the compliment, departed, and presently reappeared with a felt duffel bag.
“That’s mine,” said Matthew Reed. “What are you going to do with that?”
“I’m going to attach it,” said Harry.
“Attach it to what?”
“Attach it in the interest of science. Now, Matthew, don’t cut up and be naughty at the last minute. You know you have two of these.”
Matthew subsided78, under a storm of references to his lack of public spirit, and the felt bag was cut into long, narrow strips, slightly wider than the ribs, and tacked along over them.
The lower plane was covered in the same way, except that the two-foot space between the central struts was left free of rib and covering, to accommodate the passenger’s body. Thus a boy could step into this space (always watchful79 not to step on the flanking silk) and, stooping, take the struts in his two hands and lift the complete frame.
“She’s did!” shouted Tom Langford, throwing a tack-hammer into the air.
They stood about, eying the completed glider admiringly. There it stood, its ends resting on two logs, graceful, aerial, but strong, its taut copper wiring crossing and recrossing between the curved surfaces and glittering in the declining sunlight. They surveyed it from every angle, with enthusiastic comments. From the rear, the slight uniform curve of the silk to the rib summits, with the outline of the ribs showing at even intervals beneath the tight-drawn cloth, was beautiful. They looked from end to end, through a long vista80 of slanting81 wires. Howard Brent stepped on the middle of one of the lower bars and jumped ever so slightly. There was no spring. The bar, one inch in diameter, held rigid like a bar of steel.
“You wouldn’t think you could balance that sideways by holding it in the center, would you?” said Mac.
“Balancing sideways is what they call ‘lateral stability,’ Mr. McConnell,” said Tom. “If we’re going to do this, we want to do it right, as Master G. Lord says about our proposed assault on Fort Ticonderoga.”
“I agree with G. Lord,” said Tom. “If we’re going to be Green Mountain boys, we ought to roll our r’s and talk like them and carry rusty37 swords and worn-out guns. G. Lord has the right idea.”
“That’s what Red Deer calls entering into the spirit of a thing,” said Matthew; “and that’s G. Lord’s specialty82, all right. He wouldn’t stand for ‘balancing sideways.’ It would have to be ‘lateral stability’ for him.”
“I’ve missed him over here,” said Mac. “Wonder why he hasn’t been around?”
“Oh, he won’t bother us much till he uses up those three films he bought.”
Harry said nothing, but he realized keenly that his pleasure in building the glider and in the anticipation83 of using it had been sadly marred84.
They rounded the struts which the passenger was to hold, and bound them with felt so that the hands and armpits might not chafe85. Then they gave the whole thing, covering and all, a coat of varnish86. This would not only fill up the weave of the silk, making it air tight, but stiffen87 it as well; and the varnishing88 of the stanchions in particular would cause them more easily to deflect89 the air. As a precaution against a sudden rise of wind, the four corners were anchored to the earth by ropes and stakes and the apparatus90 was left to dry over night. In case of rain it might be brought into one of the tents.
That night at camp-fire some one rashly tried to introduce the subject of Myer signaling, only to be put down by a veritable storm of aeronautic91 talk.
“Now,” said Red Deer, “I’ve waited till this glider was finished to make a remark. Is the coast clear for about five minutes? All right, then. Now, you understand that I’m on a vacation. It wouldn’t be fair to ask me to set broken joints92 and bind93 up wounds, would it?”
“Certainly not,” laughed several, seeing the diplomatic trend of his talk.
“Well, now, I want you to begin on level ground. Be satisfied with gliding94 a few feet or so close to the ground. You’ll find old terra firma a pretty good friend. Then, when you’ve got the hang of it, try it on the hillside if you wish. There isn’t so very much slope, especially down toward the foot. But get the hang of it first. That’s the way the Wrights did. Understand, Harry?”
The next morning they tried it out in a near-by field, and came in to dinner enthusiastic over their success. Mac took his place in the center, holding the felted struts in his hands and letting his arms hang straight down. Thus the lower plane was about two feet from the ground. Harry and Tom steadied the ends. The glider was faced directly into the breeze and Mac started to run. The first thing he knew, his feet had left the ground. Then one of the ends sank, scraped the field, and he was down again.
“If you hadn’t looked around to see if I was still holding on, that wouldn’t have happened,” said Tom. “Try it again.”
“As soon as your feet leave the ground,” said Harry, “stick them forward a little. That will tilt21 the forward edge up—not too much, though.”
The next start was better. As soon as Mac’s legs were clear of the ground, he projected them slightly, which kept the glider from coming down. And now instinct—the same instinct which enables a bicyclist to right his tilting wheel by just the exact degree of motion—came to his aid. The slightest movement had a controlling effect on these far-spreading wings. He slid his hands four or five inches backward, throwing the cutting edge of the long planes up. Thus the glider, scooping95 the air under its curved surfaces, rose. Also instinct seemed to tell him when it was about to cant96, and he inclined his body sideways, accordingly. The sensation of feeling the long planes obey this slight move was delightful97. But it was too soon for instinct to be attuned98 to all the subtle little calls upon it, and presently, leaning too far forward, that delicate and stubborn thing known as the center of gravity shifted, and the glider came coasting to the ground. He had risen about twelve feet and glided99 about forty.
Next Harry tried it and did still better, starting with more power after a longer initial run. It was a very easy thing to learn how to do. One after another the boys tried it, with a trifling100 mishap101 now and then. Bert Waring glided fifty-one feet from the rising point, which was the record until Red Deer took off his gold specs and handed them to Roy Carpenter.
“Get from under!” said Matthew Reed.
“Move those trees out of the way,” said Langford.
“Will you be back to-night, Doctor?” asked Mac.
Red Deer made a very scientific flight, doing a sort of scenic-railway curve, almost alighting, then up again. His lateral balancing was admirable. He got up as high as thirteen or fourteen feet, and tacked three feet on to Waring’s record.
“By Jove, that’s splendid sport, isn’t it?” said he, as he alighted.
“Let’s try it down the slope now,” said Roy Carpenter.
They took it up to within about twenty-five feet of the precipice. That was as far as Red Deer would allow it to be carried.
“That’s far enough,” he called, as he came up after them. “I want you to be careful never to go nearer the top than this. If any wind should catch you and take you over the brink102, it would be all up.”
“It would be all down,” said Matthew.
“I hate to think what it would mean, boys,” said the scoutmaster, earnestly. “Try it down the slope all you want to, but don’t go nearer than this to the precipice. If one of you should by any chance go over, you’d crash down a hundred feet.”
“I know you wouldn’t,” said the doctor. “You’re not fools enough for that. But what I mean is, don’t back up that far to take a runner. You see, while you’re facing down into the wind, if a sudden gust103 should come, you can never tell, you know, it might catch the machine a certain way and topple you right down. You’ve got a good long slope here. Don’t go nearer than this now, will you?”
“Don’t worry, Doctor,” said Mac.
“Well, I want you all to promise me. I’ve got to go down now and make up a report for the local council, and I want to be able to banish104 this from my mind. Do you all promise? Do you promise, Harry?”
“Why me, in particular?” Harry laughed.
Harry stood among the others, his hands in his pockets. “Of course, I promise,” said he.
Red Deer watched the first flight. It carried Carpenter, the Hawks’ patrol leader, over one hundred feet down the slope, skimming the ground. Then the scoutmaster, apparently106 satisfied, went down to his tent. Presently, Nelson Pierce literally107 leaped into fame. He had been watching the manipulations of the others shrewdly, and now, with the benefit of what he had seen and a theory or two of his own, he took a good run and, balancing carefully, brought the forward edges up to a sharp angle. The downward slope of the hill and the upward coasting of the glider soon left at least thirty feet of space below him.
“Oh me, oh my!” shouted Howard Brent, as they ran down to be in at the finish.
Nelson, maintaining his lateral balance by careful inclinations108 of his body to right and left, cut his way upward at a slight angle, with never a tremor109 of the planes, extending his momentum110 by holding a stiff, steady angle, until, about one hundred and fifty feet from the start and fifty feet from the ground, the attraction of gravitation began to assert itself and drew the glider and its passenger earthward. But the attraction of gravitation cannot have its own way with a glider going against the wind, and Nelson coasted easily down not so very far from the foot of the hill.
“That was fine!” said Bert.
“How was the weather up there, Nel?” asked Morrel.
Harry tried it after that and made a good flight; but he tried a spectacular rise, throwing his edges up to forty-five degrees, and consequently didn’t go so far.
Instead of blowing his horn, Charlie Greer, wearing his apron111, came up to see the show and summon them to supper. They made him get in and, amid loud cheering, he made a magnificent flight of eight feet.
“Great, Charlie!” shouted Vinton.
“Charles, you’re a winner!” said Mac.
“Guess everybody’s tried it now,” said Walden.
“Where’s Kid Lord?” piped up Tom.
“Here comes Brick Parks. Hey, Brick, where’s the Kid, anyway?”
“Stalking,” said Parks. “Let’s try that thing, will you?”
“Too late to-night, Bricky, old boy, but you can take a picture of it.”
“Sun’s too low,” said Parks.
They anchored the machine with ropes and stakes about twenty-five feet from the cliff, meaning to resume their operations after supper.
The excitement of the trials over, Harry was miserable112. He knew that Gordon, in his heart, would have liked to try the glider, and that it was just boyish pique113 that kept him away. He drew a mental picture of Gordon trudging114 alone in the woods, his trusty little camera under his arm, in hopeless quest of a beaver. He was sorry he hadn’t made other overtures115 and told him that there was next to no chance of finding a beaver short of many miles to the west. He told himself that he should have been more in earnest when he spoke to Gordon, less independent, though it is hard to see how he could have said or done more. The more he thought, the more he blamed himself. He thought of something he would say to Gordon when he saw him. He would go up to him and say, “Can’t we find a way, Kid?” and that would surely catch him.
But he did not see Gordon, for Gordon did not appear at supper. Such things often happened, and Red Deer was not anxious, only annoyed. Brick Parks said that he and Gordon had separated down the stream, Gordon wishing to follow the water.
He thought his quest of the elusive116 beaver might have taken him through that dank place below the hill.
“I bet he gets one,” said Vinton. Harry shook his head.
But Gordon’s absence did not interrupt the air talk, though Harry had little to say.
“You see, boys,” said Red Deer, as they ate, “the great thing is to glide into the wind. If you do the other thing, you take your life into your hands.”
Of course, the question of installing motive power was discussed, and Morrel caused a great laugh by his suggestion to purchase the Swan and use its engine for the glider. “We could make the propeller117 with a couple of canoe paddles,” suggested Vinton.
After the colors were down and the anthem118 had been sung, it was too late for gliding, for the dusk was lowering rapidly. It was decided119 to leave the glider where it was, at least till after camp-fire, to see if the night bade fair to be clear. Harry said he would go up and see if the stakes were secure, for the breeze was freshening up. He went up the hill in the dusk, feeling wretchedly unhappy and kicking stones to right and left, as he walked. They saw his slender figure silhouetted120 against the gray sky.
“Anything the matter with him?” some one asked.
“No, surely not—why?”
“Seems kind of quiet, that’s all.”
Harry looked at the stakes, pressed one a little farther down with his foot, and then went up and sat on the rock, looking admiringly at the graceful framework. There, beside him on the rock, were crudely graven the initials “G. L.” Gordon’s failure to show up at supper had amused him a little, it was so characteristic of him. He thought of the night he had waited under Dibble Mountain and how Gordon had communicated with him through the darkness. He looked down upon the dank stretch of land below him, under the cliff. The wind was blowing, as it had blown all day, up the hill. It was quite brisk, and he had to pull his hat down tight to keep it from blowing off. It was just right for gliding down the slope. Its direction could be plainly seen even in the land below (despite the windbreak of hill), where the reeds all leaned away from the cliff.
As he watched the bending reeds, he noticed something which aroused his interest. It looked like some one standing in the midst of them. Then he realized that the figure must be kneeling, for it did not rise as high as the surrounding growths. What with the dusk, the distance, and the swaying of the reeds about it, he could only see it intermittently121 and indistinctly. But surely there was some one there, kneeling or stooping. He looked closer, concentrated his gaze, and shuddered122, as a dreadful thought came to him.
The figure was neither kneeling nor stooping. Nor was it standing. While he gazed, leveling all the strength of his vision upon it, a gust of wind blew his hat off, over the precipice, and the same gust blew the distant reeds far down, showing the figure clearly. He saw a spasmodic motion of an arm, grasping the reeds. It seemed to have no legs. It was nothing but the upper part of a person’s body, with two arms swinging frantically123. Now the swampy124 growths stood upright and the figure was concealed125. Presently they swayed again, far over, seeming to change color as they bent. And there was the figure—lower than before, its arms clutching the reeds. As Harry watched, he was sure that he could see it sinking, slowly. Then the stump126 of head and chest and spreading arms was hidden in the reeds and swampy grass.
He knew now what it meant. There must be quicksand there, and the wretched person was being slowly drawn down to his death. A terrible fear gripped him. Parks had said that Gordon was going down there after a beaver!
He lost not one second’s time. Always cool, always level-headed, he was so now. And since he was not in a panic, neither work nor time was wasted. He ran down the slope to the glider, cut the ropes which held it, brought it around facing the cliff, got into it, and came up to the edge. He knew that what he was about to do had never been done but once, and that once was when the famous Lilienthal went crashing to his death. He was not going into the wind, he was going with it. But he gave not a thought to his own peril127, he had to get out there at all costs.
He waited for a gust of wind to part the reeds and swamp grass and show him the spot for which he should aim. Presently it came, and almost simultaneously128 a frightful129 shriek130 from below reached his ears. Shuddering131, he fixed his eyes on the spot, grasped the handle struts, lifted the machine, and plunged132 from the cliff.
The instant he was off, he lowered himself until his armpits caught the struts, thus giving his body a longer and freer play. And that happened which always happens in such cases. A gust of wind caught the glider behind and threw it around. By luck, or instinct, or both, Harry had the plane on an even keel and was ready to counteract133 the lurch134. If it had been at either angle, it would have crashed to the ground. As it was, he kept his equilibrium135 by keeping his head. And he had now the full pendulum136 length of his body to control his balance.
His object was to coast down. But his position in the air was most precarious137, for he had not the sustaining power of the wind blowing against him. On the contrary, coming from behind, it continually upset his steering138 and balancing calculations, tilting his planes this way and that, and once almost turning the machine over. Once he found himself facing the cliff and sailing straight toward it, till by a series of sudden jerks of his body he managed to haul the glider about. The wind died for a few moments, and free from its diverting and dangerous influence, he brought his forward edges slightly downward and the machine coasted obediently. If the calm would hold for just a few minutes, he thought desperately139, he might make a safe landing. And it did hold, just as the moon had come out once before to help this boy who knew how to help himself.
Down from the turmoil140 of choppy, rebounding141 air, out from lurching and spinning like a top, came the glider, the long pendulum of Harry’s body hanging loosely in it, now bending this way, now that, now forward, now back, in assured and masterful control; and, obedient to the indomitable will and skill and courage that held it as with a tight rein142, it coasted easily downward, straight for the spot he was aiming for. It had reared, it had lurched, it had turned. And now, like the horse that recognizes that it has met its master, it meekly143 obeyed. If the back wind held off for just a moment more, he might be in time. And the back wind, being a true sport, did hold off, just to see how this lithe144, slender boy would manage it.
The glider came to earth, pulling the tall swamp grass like a great comb, and settled its broad area upon the treacherous145 quicksand. Harry had drawn himself up and stood, stooping, between the long planes, looking this way and that, and calling. The thought that he might be too late almost unnerved him. In his descent, he had seen nothing of the figure, but had headed for a tree which stood near by. And his alighting had been accurate, for not two feet from the plane he now saw the head, with two arms above it. Evidently the lateral resistance of the arms had been lost through weakness, for they were almost perpendicular146.
Grasping one of the stanchions with one hand, he leaned over and seized the sinking figure by the collar. Then, grasping as much of its clothing as he could in his hand, he pulled with all his might and main. He succeeded in lifting the boy the least bit. Then he separated one of the guy wires and with it lashed147 himself to the stanchion. Leaning over, and exerting all the strength of both arms, he succeeded in slowly raising the buried body. It was a terrific tussle148, but he had made up his mind to do it, and he did it.
A few minutes later, panting, exhausted149, almost on the verge150 of collapse151 himself, he was kneeling over the prostrate152 form which lay on the lower plane, and wiping the mud from its face. The eyes looked up, staring, terrified, into his.
“Who—what is it?” said the voice, weakly, half consciously.
“It’s just Harry, Kid—I found a way, that’s all.”
“HE LEANED OVER AND SEIZED THE SINKING FIGURE BY THE COLLAR.”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
rib
|
|
| n.肋骨，肋状物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
ribs
|
|
| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
harry
|
|
| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
crunch
|
|
| n.关键时刻；艰难局面；v.发出碎裂声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
ambled
|
|
| v.（马）缓行( amble的过去式和过去分词 )；从容地走，漫步 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
glide
|
|
| n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
glider
|
|
| n.滑翔机；滑翔导弹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
creased
|
|
| （使…）起折痕，弄皱( crease的过去式和过去分词 )； （皮肤）皱起，使起皱纹； 皱皱巴巴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
grove
|
|
| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
sociable
|
|
| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
squatted
|
|
| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
contemplating
|
|
| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
solitary
|
|
| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
braces
|
|
| n.吊带，背带；托架( brace的名词复数 )；箍子；括弧；（儿童）牙箍v.支住( brace的第三人称单数 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
sneaking
|
|
| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
motive
|
|
| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
struts
|
|
| （框架的）支杆( strut的名词复数 )； 支柱； 趾高气扬的步态； （尤指跳舞或表演时）卖弄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
intervals
|
|
| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
lateral
|
|
| adj.侧面的，旁边的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
tilt
|
|
| v.(使)倾侧；(使)倾斜；n.倾侧；倾斜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
tilting
|
|
| 倾斜，倾卸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
rigid
|
|
| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
rigidly
|
|
| adv.刻板地，僵化地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
rigidity
|
|
| adj.钢性，坚硬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
taut
|
|
| adj.拉紧的，绷紧的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
vociferous
|
|
| adj.喧哗的，大叫大嚷的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
grunted
|
|
| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
bracing
|
|
| adj.令人振奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
labor
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
graceful
|
|
| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
sonorous
|
|
| adj.响亮的，回响的；adv.圆润低沉地；感人地；n.感人，堂皇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
laundered
|
|
| v.洗（衣服等），洗烫（衣服等）( launder的过去式和过去分词 )；洗（黑钱）（把非法收入改头换面，变为貌似合法的收入） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
indefatigable
|
|
| adj.不知疲倦的，不屈不挠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
hawk
|
|
| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
rusty
|
|
| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
beaver
|
|
| n.海狸，河狸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
benevolently
|
|
| adv.仁慈地，行善地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
remorseful
|
|
| adj.悔恨的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
beavers
|
|
| 海狸( beaver的名词复数 )； 海狸皮毛； 棕灰色； 拼命工作的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
precipice
|
|
| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
muskrat
|
|
| n.麝香鼠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
muskrats
|
|
| n.麝鼠（产于北美，毛皮珍贵）( muskrat的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
45
ruse
|
|
| n.诡计，计策；诡计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
alacrity
|
|
| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
outrageous
|
|
| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
procure
|
|
| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
brass
|
|
| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
sockets
|
|
| n.套接字，使应用程序能够读写与收发通讯协定(protocol)与资料的程序( Socket的名词复数 )；孔( socket的名词复数 )；（电器上的）插口；托座；凹穴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
socket
|
|
| n.窝，穴，孔，插座，插口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
winked
|
|
| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
chisel
|
|
| n.凿子；v.用凿子刻，雕，凿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
tightening
|
|
| 上紧，固定，紧密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
flange
|
|
| n.边缘，轮缘，凸缘，法兰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
flanges
|
|
| n.（机械等的）凸缘，（火车的）轮缘( flange的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
plumb
|
|
| adv.精确地，完全地；v.了解意义，测水深 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
contemplated
|
|
| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
harp
|
|
| n.竖琴；天琴座 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
strings
|
|
| n.弦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
spokes
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条( spoke的名词复数 )；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
strand
|
|
| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
severed
|
|
| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
imperative
|
|
| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
tightened
|
|
| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
vibration
|
|
| n.颤动，振动；摆动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
tilted
|
|
| v. 倾斜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
sag
|
|
| v.下垂，下跌，消沉；n.下垂，下跌，凹陷，[航海]随风漂流 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
smeared
|
|
| 弄脏； 玷污； 涂抹； 擦上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
tacked
|
|
| 用平头钉钉( tack的过去式和过去分词 )； 附加，增补； 帆船抢风行驶，用粗线脚缝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
copper
|
|
| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
tacks
|
|
| 大头钉( tack的名词复数 )； 平头钉； 航向； 方法 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
overlapping
|
|
| adj./n.交迭（的） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
subsided
|
|
| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
watchful
|
|
| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
vista
|
|
| n.远景，深景，展望，回想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
slanting
|
|
| 倾斜的，歪斜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
specialty
|
|
| n.(speciality)特性，特质；专业，专长 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
anticipation
|
|
| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
marred
|
|
| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
chafe
|
|
| v.擦伤；冲洗；惹怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
varnish
|
|
| n.清漆；v.上清漆；粉饰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
stiffen
|
|
| v.(使)硬，(使)变挺，(使)变僵硬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
varnishing
|
|
| 在（某物）上涂清漆( varnish的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
deflect
|
|
| v.(使)偏斜，(使)偏离，(使)转向 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
apparatus
|
|
| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
aeronautic
|
|
| adj.航空（学）的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
joints
|
|
| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
bind
|
|
| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
gliding
|
|
| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
scooping
|
|
| n.捞球v.抢先报道( scoop的现在分词 )；（敏捷地）抱起；抢先获得；用铲[勺]等挖（洞等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
cant
|
|
| n.斜穿，黑话，猛扔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
delightful
|
|
| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
attuned
|
|
| v.使协调( attune的过去式和过去分词 )；调音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
glided
|
|
| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
trifling
|
|
| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
mishap
|
|
| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
brink
|
|
| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
gust
|
|
| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
104
banish
|
|
| vt.放逐，驱逐；消除，排除 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
105
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
106
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
107
literally
|
|
| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
108
inclinations
|
|
| 倾向( inclination的名词复数 )； 倾斜； 爱好； 斜坡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
109
tremor
|
|
| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
110
momentum
|
|
| n.动力，冲力，势头；动量 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
111
apron
|
|
| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
112
miserable
|
|
| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
113
pique
|
|
| v.伤害…的自尊心，使生气 n.不满，生气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
114
trudging
|
|
| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的现在分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
115
overtures
|
|
| n.主动的表示，提议；（向某人做出的）友好表示、姿态或提议( overture的名词复数 )；（歌剧、芭蕾舞、音乐剧等的）序曲，前奏曲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
116
elusive
|
|
| adj.难以表达(捉摸)的；令人困惑的；逃避的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
117
propeller
|
|
| n.螺旋桨，推进器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
118
anthem
|
|
| n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
119
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
120
silhouetted
|
|
| 显出轮廓的，显示影像的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
121
intermittently
|
|
| adv.间歇地；断断续续 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
122
shuddered
|
|
| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
123
frantically
|
|
| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
124
swampy
|
|
| adj.沼泽的，湿地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
125
concealed
|
|
| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
126
stump
|
|
| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
127
peril
|
|
| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
128
simultaneously
|
|
| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
129
frightful
|
|
| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
130
shriek
|
|
| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
131
shuddering
|
|
| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
132
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
133
counteract
|
|
| vt.对…起反作用，对抗，抵消 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
134
lurch
|
|
| n.突然向前或旁边倒；v.蹒跚而行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
135
equilibrium
|
|
| n.平衡，均衡，相称，均势，平静 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
136
pendulum
|
|
| n.摆，钟摆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
137
precarious
|
|
| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
138
steering
|
|
| n.操舵装置 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
139
desperately
|
|
| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
140
turmoil
|
|
| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
141
rebounding
|
|
| 蹦跳运动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
142
rein
|
|
| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
143
meekly
|
|
| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
144
lithe
|
|
| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
145
treacherous
|
|
| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
146
perpendicular
|
|
| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
147
lashed
|
|
| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
148
tussle
|
|
| n.&v.扭打，搏斗，争辩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
149
exhausted
|
|
| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
150
verge
|
|
| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
151
collapse
|
|
| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
152
prostrate
|
|
| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |