When Snythergen woke up, Sancho Wing was sorry to have to tell him that the bear had resumed his midnight prowlings and might call upon them at any time.
“We must prepare to defend ourselves,” said Sancho wisely, as he perched on Snythergen’s ear.
“How can a pig defend himself from a bear?”[88] asked Squeaky, absent-mindedly biting one of Snythergen’s toes.
“Simple,” said Sancho. “Give him what he wants. You flatter yourself if you think he wants you. He is after food, that is all.”
“Well, let us give it to him,” said Snythergen, “as long as he doesn’t share Squeaky’s weakness for toes.”
“Just what I was thinking,” said Sancho. “Let us set a bear lunch every night, and to make sure he will find it we must spread it in a circle around the house. Then, no matter from what direction the bear approaches, he will find something to eat across his path.”
“I’ve heard that round foods make people fat,” said Snythergen. “Maybe food served on a round table will make the bear fat.”
“That wouldn’t help us any,” said Sancho Wing, “for fat bears are as dangerous as lean ones.”
“Won’t it be pretty expensive boarding a bear?” asked Squeaky.
“Of course,” said Sancho Wing, “but if we find we can’t afford to feed him we can build an airplane and journey to a land where there are no bears. We may have to travel to the end of the sky to find such a place, but who cares?”
[89]
At Sancho Wing’s suggestion Snythergen set to work at once to build a supper table. When completed it encircled the house and resembled a well planed sidewalk. That night Squeaky set the table, being careful to spread the food so thin that it went all the way around.
There were so many hungry beings in the forest besides the bear that Sancho Wing had to keep a keen look-out for thieves, and his duties kept him very busy. One minute he would be scanning the woods from the top of his tower, the next he would dive down to the round table to scream at the small animals that were forever nibbling2. Often he was obliged to call Squeaky and even Snythergen, to chase away the larger birds, the rabbits, and the squirrels. Each night they set the table as late as they dared to prevent so much of the food being stolen.
On the evening of the fourth day the bear paid them a call, but he did not attempt to enter the house. The lunch on the round table stopped him. Walking all the way around he ate everything, then went around again to see if he had overlooked any crumbs3. Squeaky happened to be very fussy4 about table manners, and he had scattered5 salad forks, finger bowls and napkins here and there hoping the bear would take the hint; but the big beast paid no attention[90] to them, and ate only with his knife and his paws in the most vulgar manner.
The bear was a hearty6 eater and what made matters even more serious, his appetite was growing. Soon it was evident that the food supply would not last much longer. The three friends realized that the “outer works” as they called the lunch table, was all that stood between them and disaster. And now in spite of their efforts they were unable to keep abreast7 of the beast’s increasing desire for food. There was nothing to do but to adopt Snythergen’s plan of building an airplane and fleeing to a land where there were no bears. They began work immediately and hurried all they could, but even so they ran out of food when there was still another day’s work to be done on the plane.
“If we can only keep him away to-night we are saved,” said Squeaky.
[91]
Then went around again to see if he had overlooked any crumbs
[92]
Snythergen dressed in his tree suit to be ready in case of trouble. Carefully Squeaky set the round table with what few morsels8 he could scrape up, arranging them to appear like a bountiful meal. The bear came a little earlier than usual that night, and made short work of the slim repast. Indeed Snythergen had just time to tiptoe out and take his place as a tree when the beast devoured9 the last bite of food[93] and looked hungrily about for more. In a stage whisper Snythergen called to Squeaky who was still in the house, to warn him of his danger. Fortunately the pig was awake and whispered back that he was coming. A moment later Snythergen heard the most awful squealing11 and Squeaky came running out, the bear after him. Sancho Wing was flying above the pig to encourage him.
“Don’t squeal10 so! Save your breath for running!” he cried. The bear was gaining. Bending over Snythergen touched his roots with his top limbs, to be ready. But Squeaky was slow on his feet, even when running for his life, and already the bear was upon him. Sure of his prey12 the great beast slowed up to brace13 himself for a lunge. Quick as lightning Snythergen shot out his branches and grabbed the pig, lifting him to safety.
The bear did not suspect that a tree could come to the rescue of a pig, and so sure was he that his victim could not escape, he closed his eyes as he struck at him. But he opened them quickly enough when his paw struck nothing solider than air. The pig had vanished! But where, and how? His disappearance14 had been as sudden as it was complete, and the bear had not an idea where to look for him. Too surprised[94] for growls15, the big brute16 rushed distractedly about looking here and there. Naturally it did not occur to him to look up into the tree tops, for whoever heard of a pig climbing a tree!
“Did I really see a pig at all?” thought the bear, “or am I losing my mind! It wouldn’t be surprising with that neuralgia from the ice!”
He paused as the thought struck him: “I wonder if by any possibility it could have been the Grasshopper Pig?”
The day before the bear had been reading the story of the Grasshopper Pig to a neighbor’s cubs17 out of a book of nursery rhymes called “Mother Moose.” This pig seemed to disappear in much the same way as the one in the story. For the Grasshopper Pig is said to make long leaps so suddenly that he cannot be seen making them. One moment he is standing18 beside you and the next, bingo! he is a hundred feet away!
“Well, if it’s the Grasshopper Pig, I might as well save myself the bother of looking,” thought the bear; “no one has ever been able to catch him!”
As he came to the place where Snythergen was standing he sniffed19 curiously20, and although[95] Snythergen did his best to stand still, it is not surprising that he failed. For it takes something stronger than flesh and blood to stand still while a bear walks around you and stops to paw your bark, to rub his hungry head against your trunk, or to try his vicious teeth on your roots.
No wonder the trunk of the tree trembled and its branches twitched21 nervously22. The big animal was puzzled by the shaking as he nosed about Snythergen’s extremities23 and clawed at them. It was more than wood and sap could stand and the badly frightened boy was weakening rapidly. Again Snythergen felt the sinking feeling that had come over him the day the small boy had crawled out on an upper branch. Tottering24 from side to side, he caught himself with an effort.
For a while Squeaky managed somehow to hold on with his teeth and legs, but his teeth were chattering25 and he was shivering all over with terror. And a sudden twist of the tree shook him so violently that he lost his footing. Desperately26 he reached for a limb. He missed it, and fell crashing through the branches!
With remarkable27 quickness of thought Snythergen brought his lower limbs together to form a basket in which to catch the falling pig.[96] Plunging28 through the branches Squeaky landed upon Snythergen’s leafy chest, safe for the time being, but stunned29 and out of breath.
“It is the Grasshopper Pig,” cried the bear, seeing him, “and I’ve got him up a tree!”
Eager to get at Squeaky, he pawed Snythergen’s tender bark and pushed against him roughly.
All this time Sancho Wing’s little brain had been puzzling to find some way to save his pals30. Flying a little distance and hiding among the leaves he hallooed at the top of his piping voice, hoping the woodchoppers might be in the forest, and hear him. Anxiously the bear glanced around. The hallooing reminded him of the sound the hunters made, and thinking best not to take any chances he strolled away cautiously.
The three friends breathed a sigh of relief and Squeaky began to dance for joy.
“We haven’t escaped yet,” Sancho Wing reminded him. “The bear will return when he discovers the hunters are not after him. We must finish the airplane immediately.”
At once they resumed work and kept at it until the plane was completed. And now it needed only to be tested. It was new and stiff and repeatedly the engine refused to start, though Snythergen cranked it again and again.[97] It was nearing the bear’s lunch time and Sancho Wing flew away to the cave to see what the big brute was up to. Soon he came back out of breath, panting so hard he could scarcely speak, for he had raced all the way.
Snythergen and Squeaky understood and Snythergen cranked so furiously he was wet through with perspiration32.
“Let me try it,” urged Squeaky impatiently when Snythergen had to rest a moment to get breath, and the pig grasped the crank and pulled with all his strength. But he had turned it only half way round when it flew back, and sent him sprawling33. Sancho, who had flown back to keep track of the bear, now darted34 up to report him only a few hundred yards away.
“Crank as if your life depended on it!” he cried.
Frantically35 the little bird flew back and forth36 to tell them each time how much nearer the bear had come. Snythergen was cranking mightily37 while Squeaky piled in what scanty38 luggage could be collected in a jiffy.
Snythergen heard the crackling of sticks under the brute’s feet. “It’s now or never,” thought he, putting all his strength into one last[98] pull. The engine gave a sickly “pop.” Snythergen’s heart sank. But there was another little “pop.” Others followed slowly, then more rapidly. Now the explosions were in quick succession. The engine was running! The three scrambled40 aboard. The airplane coasted down hill and rose gently from the ground. They were saved.
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收听单词发音
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1
grasshopper
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| n.蚱蜢，蝗虫，蚂蚱 | |
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2
nibbling
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| v.啃，一点一点地咬（吃）( nibble的现在分词 )；啃出（洞），一点一点咬出（洞）；慢慢减少；小口咬 | |
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3
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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4
fussy
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| adj.为琐事担忧的，过分装饰的，爱挑剔的 | |
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5
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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6
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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7
abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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morsels
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| n.一口( morsel的名词复数 )；（尤指食物）小块，碎屑 | |
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9
devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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10
squeal
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| v.发出长而尖的声音；n.长而尖的声音 | |
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11
squealing
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| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的现在分词 ) | |
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12
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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13
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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14
disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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15
growls
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的第三人称单数 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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cubs
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| n.幼小的兽，不懂规矩的年轻人( cub的名词复数 ) | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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19
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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21
twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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22
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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23
extremities
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| n.端点( extremity的名词复数 )；尽头；手和足；极窘迫的境地 | |
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24
tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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25
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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26
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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28
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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29
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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30
pals
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| n.朋友( pal的名词复数 )；老兄；小子；（对男子的不友好的称呼）家伙 | |
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31
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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32
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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33
sprawling
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| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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34
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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35
frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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36
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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37
mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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38
scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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39
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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40
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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