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CHAPTER XVIII WRONG NUMBER
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 When the tomato patch had been weeded and the dirt hoed into small hills around the roots of each plant, Teddy and his chums were free to go deer hunting.
 
“First,” decided1 Teddy as he led his friends from the garden, “we ought to wash up and then get something to eat.”
 
“I’m in favor of that last, anyhow,” Dick said. “Lead the way to the pantry, Teddy.”
 
Removing some of the grime and the stains of weeds from their hands, the boys sat on Teddy’s back stoop, disposing of several glasses of milk and some cookies which Teddy got from the kitchen.
 
“Now I feel strong enough to play with any deer!” declared Dick.
 
“Even one with big horns?” asked Joe.
 
164 “Bring on the deer—horns and all!” Dick challenged.
 
But though the boys spent the remainder of the afternoon scouting2 around for traces of the deer, they saw none and when night came they decided to give up the chase for the time being.
 
Tired from the day’s work in the garden and from following a deer trail that led nowhere, Teddy was reading in his room that evening when he heard a rattle3 of gravel4 against the window. At the same time he heard what seemed to be a tree-toad trilling.
 
Casting aside his book, Teddy jumped to the window, the lower sash of which was open since it was a warm night. The gravel had rattled5 against the upper panes6.
 
Teddy whistled back the tree-toad signal and called down:
 
“Is that you, Joe?”
 
“It’s Dick,” was the answer.
 
“What’s the matter?” Teddy wanted to know. “This isn’t secret club night, is it?”
 
165 “No,” answered Dick. “But I thought maybe you couldn’t get out to go with me and Joe, so I gave the secret signal.”
 
“Go where?” demanded Teddy.
 
“After the deer. Joe saw him. He’s keeping him in sight and I came for you. Hurry!”
 
“I’ll be right down,” Teddy answered.
 
Besides the Mystery Club, the boys had a Secret Society. Instead of leaving by the front or back doors to attend sessions, it was one of the rules they should slide down a rope from their bedroom windows. And the boys took turns going quietly after dark, signalling to one another by tossing gravel against a window and giving the tree-toad whistle.
 
There was no reason why Teddy and his chums could not have gone out the front or back doors to the meetings of the Secret Club.
 
Their parents would probably have made no objections, since the existence of the club was known to them.
 
166 But, somehow, it seemed much more fun to go to a meeting of the Secret Club after a summons by thrown gravel, a strange whistle and after sliding down a rope.
 
So Teddy got his rope out of a closet where he kept it hidden, fastened one end firmly to his bed and tossed the other end out of the window. It was no trick at all to go down it hand-over-hand to the ground where Dick was waiting in the shadow of some bushes.
 
“So you sighted the deer, did you?” asked Teddy as he and Dick made their way down through the back yard and across lots.
 
“Joe did,” Dick answered. “We had been downtown and were on our way home by the back way, through the little patch of woods near Fountain Park when Joe saw the deer. I had left him but he came running after me to tell me. Then he said he’d keep the deer in sight and I was to come for you.”
 
“So you did,” agreed Teddy. “But do you think that deer is going to stay in one place167 while Joe watches him, and until you and I get there?”
 
“Joe thought maybe he would,” said Dick. “Joe said the deer was feeding right in that little patch of woods, and acted as if he were going to stay there a while.”
 
“Well, maybe he will,” Teddy said. “Golly! This is swell7! We have a good chance to get that deer now!”
 
“Come on! Hurry!” advised Dick.
 
The two boys hurried on through the darkness. Now and then they stumbled. Once Dick, who was in the lead, tripped and fell. Teddy tumbled over him.
 
“Gosh! What happened, Dick?” asked Teddy.
 
“There was a ditch here. I didn’t see it.”
 
“I should say you didn’t! Well, anyhow, we know it’s here now,” Teddy said rather ruefully as he got to his feet. “We should have brought flashlights.”
 
“I guess you’re right,” Dick replied. “But168 Joe and I didn’t know we were going deer hunting. We didn’t have time to go back and get our flashlights.”
 
“That’s right. But I should have brought mine,” Teddy said. “Never mind. We’ll go a bit slower from now on.”
 
This plan of advance worked well and in a short time Teddy and Dick emerged into a little clearing near a small recreation spot on the edge of town. The place was called Fountain Park.
 
“There’s Joe!” called Dick excitedly.
 
Teddy saw a figure dimly waving its arms in a signal to hurry.
 
“We’d better run!” Teddy advised.
 
In another few seconds he and Dick had joined their chum.
 
“Where is he?” demanded Teddy excitedly.
 
“He’s gone,” Joe replied.
 
“Gone? You mean the deer got away?”
 
“Yes. But he hasn’t gone far I guess. He169 walked off into the patch of woods just before you fellows got here. I thought you weren’t ever coming!”
 
“We came as fast as we could,” Dick said. “I fell down.”
 
“And I fell over him,” added Teddy. “But we’re here now. Do you know which way the deer went?”
 
“Sure I do! Straight ahead. Follow me!”
 
Joe darted8 off in the darkness. Teddy and Dick followed. They were out of the clearing now and into the small patch of woods which was separated from Fountain Park by a highway. It was a seldom-used thoroughfare and there was no traffic on it now.
 
“Did you see anybody near the deer?” asked Teddy as he and Dick trotted9 along beside Joe.
 
“No. He was all alone. He was feeding quietly. Then, just before you fellows got here, he seemed to take fright. He raised his head. I was about fifty feet away and I could170 see him very well. Then, all of a sudden, he turned around and walked off through the woods.”
 
“Maybe you scared him,” suggested Teddy.
 
“No. I didn’t move or make a sound. I was still and quiet. I could see the deer as plain as anything. But I thought you fellows would never—”
 
“Hark!” suddenly interrupted Teddy.
 
They stopped and listened. Ahead of them they could hear the clatter10 and cracking of the branches of trees and bushes.
 
“That’s the deer!” cried Joe. “He’s just ahead of us!”
 
“We’ll get him now!” exclaimed Teddy.
 
“Hurry!” advised Dick.
 
In the excitement of the chase, neither of the boys gave thought to how they might capture the mystery deer even if they got within sight. They had nothing with which to make the animal fast. They broke into a run. It wasn’t quite so dark now. A half171 moon was beginning to lift in the dark sky and it gave a little light.
 
The noise of the boys increased. Plainly some animal was making its way through the little patch of woods ahead of them.
 
Then, suddenly, Teddy who was now in the lead, came to such an abrupt11 stop that Joe bumped into him.
 
“What’s the matter?” Joe demanded.
 
“Wrong number!” cried Teddy, starting to retreat.
 
“Wrong number?” questioned his two chums.
 
“Yes. Can’t you smell it?”
 
A dank, strong and most oppressive odor was wafted12 to the three boys.
 
Skunk13!” they cried together. “Skunk!” And Teddy added: “Come on! Beat it before we get any closer! We might have bumped right into him if we’d kept on!”
 
It was all too evident they were in the neighborhood of a skunk. And they well knew the consequences of coming to close quarters172 with one of these animals. Harmless if left alone, a skunk can loose a barrage14 of what is practically a poison gas—not deadly but terribly offensive.
 
“So that was your deer—just a skunk, Joe!” taunted15 Teddy as the three boys started back to their homes.
 
“I tell you I saw the deer as plain as anything!” Joe declared. “I know a deer when I see one, even in the dark.”
 
“And I know a skunk when I smell one—even in the dark!” laughed Teddy. “But maybe you were right, Joe. Probably you saw the deer but he got away. Maybe the deer scared the skunk or maybe he even might have stepped too close. Anyhow the skunk is on the trail ahead and that means we lay off.”
 
“I guess you’re right,” Joe said. “But we had a swell chance!”
 
“I don’t want to take any chances with a skunk,” Teddy said.
 

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
2 scouting 8b7324e25eaaa6b714e9a16b4d65d5e8     
守候活动,童子军的活动
参考例句:
  • I have people scouting the hills already. 我已经让人搜过那些山了。
  • Perhaps also from the Gospel it passed into the tradition of scouting. 也许又从《福音书》传入守望的传统。 来自演讲部分
3 rattle 5Alzb     
v.飞奔,碰响;激怒;n.碰撞声;拨浪鼓
参考例句:
  • The baby only shook the rattle and laughed and crowed.孩子只是摇着拨浪鼓,笑着叫着。
  • She could hear the rattle of the teacups.她听见茶具叮当响。
4 gravel s6hyT     
n.砂跞;砂砾层;结石
参考例句:
  • We bought six bags of gravel for the garden path.我们购买了六袋碎石用来铺花园的小路。
  • More gravel is needed to fill the hollow in the drive.需要更多的砾石来填平车道上的坑洼。
5 rattled b4606e4247aadf3467575ffedf66305b     
慌乱的,恼火的
参考例句:
  • The truck jolted and rattled over the rough ground. 卡车嘎吱嘎吱地在凹凸不平的地面上颠簸而行。
  • Every time a bus went past, the windows rattled. 每逢公共汽车经过这里,窗户都格格作响。
6 panes c8bd1ed369fcd03fe15520d551ab1d48     
窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The sun caught the panes and flashed back at him. 阳光照到窗玻璃上,又反射到他身上。
  • The window-panes are dim with steam. 玻璃窗上蒙上了一层蒸汽。
7 swell IHnzB     
vi.膨胀,肿胀;增长,增强
参考例句:
  • The waves had taken on a deep swell.海浪汹涌。
  • His injured wrist began to swell.他那受伤的手腕开始肿了。
8 darted d83f9716cd75da6af48046d29f4dd248     
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔
参考例句:
  • The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了,瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
9 trotted 6df8e0ef20c10ef975433b4a0456e6e1     
小跑,急走( trot的过去分词 ); 匆匆忙忙地走
参考例句:
  • She trotted her pony around the field. 她骑着小马绕场慢跑。
  • Anne trotted obediently beside her mother. 安妮听话地跟在妈妈身边走。
10 clatter 3bay7     
v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声
参考例句:
  • The dishes and bowls slid together with a clatter.碟子碗碰得丁丁当当的。
  • Don't clatter your knives and forks.别把刀叉碰得咔哒响。
11 abrupt 2fdyh     
adj.突然的,意外的;唐突的,鲁莽的
参考例句:
  • The river takes an abrupt bend to the west.这河突然向西转弯。
  • His abrupt reply hurt our feelings.他粗鲁的回答伤了我们的感情。
12 wafted 67ba6873c287bf9bad4179385ab4d457     
v.吹送,飘送,(使)浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The sound of their voices wafted across the lake. 他们的声音飘过湖面传到了另一边。
  • A delicious smell of freshly baked bread wafted across the garden. 花园中飘过一股刚出炉面包的香味。 来自《简明英汉词典》
13 skunk xERzE     
n.臭鼬,黄鼠狼;v.使惨败,使得零分;烂醉如泥
参考例句:
  • That was a rotten thing to do, you skunk!那种事做得太缺德了,你这卑鄙的家伙!
  • The skunk gives off an unpleasant smell when attacked.受到攻击时臭鼬会发出一种难闻的气味。
14 barrage JuezH     
n.火力网,弹幕
参考例句:
  • The attack jumped off under cover of a barrage.进攻在炮火的掩护下开始了。
  • The fierce artillery barrage destroyed the most part of the city in a few minutes.猛烈的炮火几分钟内便毁灭了这座城市的大部分地区。
15 taunted df22a7ddc6dcf3131756443dea95d149     
嘲讽( taunt的过去式和过去分词 ); 嘲弄; 辱骂; 奚落
参考例句:
  • The other kids continually taunted him about his size. 其他孩子不断地耻笑他的个头儿。
  • Some of the girls taunted her about her weight. 有些女孩子笑她胖。


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