“Nice lively sort of a dump,” he observed.
Joe Kenton smiled. “How far is it to the camp,[117] Bert?” he asked. The sudden jangling of sleigh bells broke the silence and both boys turned toward the stable. A man in an old bearskin coat was leading a horse through the doorway6 and Hal was holding up the shafts7 of a double sleigh.
“Eight miles, I think he said,” answered Bert. “Gee, we’ll never get all this truck in that sleigh!”
But they did, and themselves and the driver as well, and ten minutes later they were jingle-jangling along the narrow road, the runners creaking on the firm snow, leaving North Pemberton behind. The old blankets and fur robes under which the boys nestled were warm enough for a much colder day, and the bags and bundles, piled about them, added to the warmth. The sun was setting beyond Little Rat and Big Rat Mountains, and the western sky was aglow8. Presently, climbing the slight grade between Little Rat and Marble Mountains, they crossed a rude bridge, under which a stream gurgled beneath a canopy9 of ice.
“Glover’s,” answered the driver. He pointed11 his whip to the left. “Rat’s over there about a mile or so. Glover’s comes out of it further along.”
“Oh, yes,” assented12 Hal, his voice muffled13 by the flap of his collar, “I remember now. Rat Brook crossed the other road, the one toward Burton.” The driver nodded, spoke14 to the horse and flicked15[118] his whip harmlessly. “I should think,” pursued Hal, “that the other road would be the shortest.”
“Yep, about a mile, but this road’s easier. Too many hills that way. Only one on this road, and that’s just behind us. Get ap, Judy!”
Coming around the northern shoulder of Little Rat, they found the sunset gone and the long purple shadows of evening stalking across the floor of the little valley. Big Rat loomed16 beyond, wooded and dark. Hal pointed westward17. “Old Forge Pond’s over there,” he said. The boys in the back seat looked, but there was nothing to see save a rather flat forest of new growth maples18 and oaks and birches. Then, suddenly, as they turned on the winding19 road, a streak20 of tarnished21 silver met their gaze for an instant and was swiftly swallowed up by the trees.
“That was Rat Brook,” Hal informed them. “If we followed it we’d come out at the lower end of the pond. It wouldn’t be more than three miles, I guess.”
“Thanks,” said Bert, “I’m quite comfy as I am. There’s only one thing troubling me, Hal. When do we eat?”
“Just as soon as we can,” laughed Hal. “We’ll get there in about three quarters of an hour, I guess.” He looked to the driver for confirmation22, but the furwrapped figure failed to commit himself.[119] “Then we’ll fix up a bit and Joe can start supper.”
“Me!” exclaimed Joe startledly. “Gee, Hal, I can’t cook!”
Hal chuckled23. “Well,” came from the front seat, “you’ll be able to do all the cooking we’ll need to-night, Joe. I guess some cold grub, with a cup of hot tea, will answer.”
There was a faint groan24 of protest from Bert, but Joe relaxed again, relieved. They came to a corner and turned left on a broader and more traveled road. “Turnpike,” announced the driver. “Lineville about nine miles.” He flicked his whip northward25. Then, after awhile, the woods on their left gave way to meadow and Hal shouted: “There she is!” And there she was, indeed, “she” being a curving, mile-long expanse of frozen lake, nestling under the upreaching slope of Little Rat. Here and there along the further shore small camps nestled under snow-powdered pines or leafless hardwood, four or five in all, deserted26, every one. There had been several snow-falls up here in the hills already—to-day was the twenty-seventh of December—but they had been light, and the surface of the lake had been swept clean by the wind after each flurry. The driver said he guessed there was a good four inches of ice there, and the boys rejoiced.
“Great,” said Bert. “That’s more than enough to skate on and we won’t have to cut through much to fish.”
[120]
“You aimin’ to fish?” inquired the driver. There was a tolerant note in his voice that caused Hal to assume that he thought they’d be wasting their time. But no, he guessed they’d catch some pickerel if they were lucky. “I couldn’t ever see any fun in freezin’ my feet that way, though,” he added.
“Well, it is rather cold weather,” laughed Hal, “but if we build a good fire on shore it’s not so bad.”
The driver grunted27 doubtfully and the sleigh swung from the turnpike into a narrow lane that wound between pine and spruce. The branches sometimes flicked their faces and spattered dry snow about them. The lake came into sight again close beside them, its darkening surface seeming now like a great sheet of shimmering28 metal. Then the jingling29 bells ceased and there, in a small clearing, stood the camp, its modest bulk silhouetted30 against the ice. A rustic31 sign overhung a little path that led down to the cabin, and on it the word RESTHERE was printed.
Followed a busy five minutes during which the bags and rolls and packages were carried to the cabin and the driver accepted his modest fee of three dollars, promised faithfully to return for them four days later and climbed back to his seat. There, having pulled three of the robes about him and gathered his reins32 in hand, he paused to cast a dubious33 look about the twilit surroundings.
[121]
“Mean to stay here all alone?” he asked.
“Sure,” agreed Hal.
“H-m,” said the man. “Well, every fellow to his taste. Too blamed lonesome to suit me, though. Good evenin’. Get ap, Judy!”
The cabin was of boards and battens and weather tight. There was one good-sized room for all purposes save cooking. The kitchen—a kitchenette Bert called it—was tacked34 on behind. It was just big enough for the stove, the wood box, and the cupboard and a wide shelf along one side that served as a table. The cabin held everything they needed for their four-day sojourn35, save food, and that they had brought along in generous quantities. Cot beds, plenty of woolen36 blankets, kitchen utensils37, stoneware dishes, even reading matter in the shape of magazines several months old awaited them. There was a small fire place and, outside, a rampart like pile of cordwood, chestnut38, hickory and birch. Hal viewed its snug4 comfort with a proud proprietory air, while Bert, his hands in the pockets of his capacious knickers, opined that it was “one swell39 joint,” and Joe, who had never so much as seen a camp before, was reduced to an almost awed40 admiration41.
They “made camp,” as Hal phrased it, and then set about getting supper. There was a pump outside the kitchen door, but it failed, of course, to[122] work, and Bert went off with a pail and a hatchet42 to get water from the pond. Hal filled the wood box beside the stove and piled fagots in the fireplace while Joe tore the wrappings from the groceries and set out the tea and bread and strawberry jam and potted tongue and butter. Presently the fire was crackling merrily in the stove, Bert came back with the water, blowing on numbed43 fingers, and Hal unearthed44 the can opener from the knife box in the cupboard. A quarter of an hour later they were seated around the table in the big room with the hickory and birch logs snapping and blazing beside them. Everything tasted better than it had ever tasted before in any one’s recollection, and Joe made two trips to the kitchen for more bread. Dish washing fell to the lot of Bert, and Hal wiped. Joe drew a canvas chair to the fire, stretched out tired limbs and was nearly asleep when the others finished. Bert wanted to put his skates on and try the ice, and Hal after protesting that it was too dark to have any fun, unenthusiastically agreed to accompany him, but nothing came of it. An early rising, a tiresome45 journey, the long drive in the cold air and, now, the lulling46 warmth of the fire were too much for them. Joe went to sleep and snored frankly47. Long before nine they were all in bed and hard at it.
They were up before eight, which, used as they[123] all were to being called, coaxed48 and threatened into wakefulness, was doing pretty well. Breakfast over they donned skates and went out on the lake. It was a gorgeous morning, with a blue sky and golden sunlight. The air was cold but dry, and, while the thermometer which Hal had hung out overnight proclaimed the temperature to be eighteen above, they seemed scarcely to need the heavy clothing they had put on. Bert was an excellent skater, and Hal was almost as good. Hal, indeed, had won several prizes for speed skating. Bert’s inclination49 ran more to fancy “stunts” and tricks, and this morning he fairly outdid himself. Joe, a mere50 beginner and a most unpromising one, moved diffidently about and watched, at once admiring and envious51. Presently they set out together to follow the shore and explore. It wasn’t long before Joe had fallen behind, but he was fairly content with his progress since, at least, he had managed to keep on his feet; and that was something of a triumph for Joe! He caught up with them when they stopped to climb ashore52 and investigate the first of the neighboring camps, and lost them again beyond the turn of the lake. They shouted laughing encouragement to him now and then, but they didn’t wait for him, and he came on them next when they rested on the edge of the little bridge that carried the pond road across the mouth of Rat Brook. Old Forge Pond was fed by[124] springs and by dozens of trickling53 rills that wound down from the encompassing54 hills, but it had only one outlet55, and that was Rat Brook. It, too, was frozen solid on top, although by listening intently they could hear the soft rippling56 and gurgling of the water beneath. It was about twelve feet broad at its widest and flowed off eastward57 between birch and alder58 and witch-hazel to North Pemberton and, eventually, the Chicontomoc River.
“It would be sort of fun to skate down the brook,” suggested Bert. “How far could you go, do you think?”
“Most to North Pemberton, I guess,” said Hal. “There isn’t much fall to it. Maybe you’d have to walk around here and there, though. We’ll try it some time, eh?”
Joe wasn’t nearly rested when they started on, but he dropped from the bridge heroically and went, too, trying his best to copy Hal’s easy motions and to keep his strokes long. He thought he was doing pretty well, too, but pride goeth before a fall, and suddenly the ice rose up and smote59 him heavily and complacency was swiftly jarred out of him. The others, well ahead, waved consoling hands, but didn’t stop. They were used to seeing Joe tumble. When he picked himself up he no longer tried to emulate60 Hal, but continued in his own safer, if less attractive style, reaching the camp some time[125] after the others, rather tired but suffering from no further contusions.
They chopped holes through the ice a little later and rigged their lines, not without difficulty. By that time their thoughts turned toward food and the fishing operations were postponed61 until afternoon. Then, with a good fire burning on the shore, they baited their hooks and sat down to watch the tiny wisps of cloth, which, torn from an old red tablecloth62, shone bravely in the afternoon sunlight. They sat there nearly an hour before any of the three flags showed signs of life. Then Hal’s jerked upward and Hal, scrambling63 to his feet, skated swiftly toward it, so swiftly, in fact, that he over-skated the hole. But he landed a fair-sized pickerel and was proudly displaying the agitated64 fish when Joe gave a shrill65 yell and went plunging66, floundering, arms waving, to where, further up the lake his particular little red flag was threatening to follow the line under the ice. The others, watching, whooped67 with glee at Joe’s antics and roared when, losing his balance at last, he crashed to the ice and arrived at the hole on the seat of his knickers! He, too, captured his trophy68, which, on comparison, was found to be a half inch longer than Hal’s, although Hal did his utmost to stretch his pickerel enough to offset69 the difference. At dusk they had five fish. Hal had caught two, Joe had caught[126] two and Bert one. But Bert’s was so much larger that there couldn’t be any discussion. It measured just seventeen and five-eighths inches by the yard stick. Bert was very insistent70 on the five-eighths! Both he and Joe disclaimed71 any knowledge of the gentle art of cleaning fish, and so that duty fell to Hal. Supper that night was wonderful, for fried pickerel—even if not dipped in crumbs72, and these weren’t—are delicious at any time and doubly so when you have caught them yourself.
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1
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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2
dispersing
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| adj. 分散的 动词disperse的现在分词形式 | |
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3
rambling
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| adj.[建]凌乱的，杂乱的 | |
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4
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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snugly
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| adv.紧贴地；贴身地；暖和舒适地；安适地 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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7
shafts
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| n.轴( shaft的名词复数 )；（箭、高尔夫球棒等的）杆；通风井；一阵（疼痛、害怕等） | |
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aglow
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| adj.发亮的；发红的；adv.发亮地 | |
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9
canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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10
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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14
spoke
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| 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 | |
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15
flicked
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的过去式和过去分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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16
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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maples
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| 槭树，枫树( maple的名词复数 )； 槭木 | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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21
tarnished
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| （通常指金属）（使）失去光泽，（使）变灰暗( tarnish的过去式和过去分词 )； 玷污，败坏 | |
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22
confirmation
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| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
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23
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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grunted
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| （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 | |
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shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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29
jingling
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| 叮当声 | |
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silhouetted
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| 显出轮廓的，显示影像的 | |
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rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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tacked
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| 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 | |
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35
sojourn
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| v./n.旅居，寄居；逗留 | |
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woolen
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| adj.羊毛(制)的；毛纺的 | |
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utensils
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| 器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物 | |
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chestnut
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| n.栗树，栗子 | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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40
awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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42
hatchet
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| n.短柄小斧；v.扼杀 | |
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43
numbed
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| v.使麻木，使麻痹( numb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
unearthed
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| 出土的（考古） | |
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45
tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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46
lulling
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| vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的现在分词形式） | |
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47
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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48
coaxed
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱 | |
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49
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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50
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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51
envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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52
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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53
trickling
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| n.油画底色含油太多而成泡沫状突起v.滴( trickle的现在分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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54
encompassing
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| v.围绕( encompass的现在分词 )；包围；包含；包括 | |
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55
outlet
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| n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄 | |
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56
rippling
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| 起涟漪的，潺潺流水般声音的 | |
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57
eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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58
alder
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| n.赤杨树 | |
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59
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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60
emulate
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| v.努力赶上或超越，与…竞争；效仿 | |
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61
postponed
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| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
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tablecloth
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| n.桌布，台布 | |
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63
scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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64
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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65
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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66
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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67
whooped
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| 叫喊( whoop的过去式和过去分词 )； 高声说； 唤起 | |
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68
trophy
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| n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品 | |
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69
offset
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| n.分支，补偿；v.抵消，补偿 | |
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70
insistent
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| adj.迫切的，坚持的 | |
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71
disclaimed
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| v.否认( disclaim的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72
crumbs
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| int. (表示惊讶)哎呀 n. 碎屑 名词crumb的复数形式 | |
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