She had not the heart for the moment to return to the castle to inform Ned of his loss; so she perched herself disconsolately2 on a bush which grew close to the margin3 of the moon-lit water, wondering what was best to do.
Suddenly the speckled trout4 rose to the surface, and, seeing how despondent5 was the pretty bluebird, inquired the cause of her grief.
"Ah, me!" she sighed in answer. "I have lost a magic gold ring, and I know not what to do, nor how to recover it."
At this the speckled trout flapped his silvery tail gleefully, and answered: "Worry no more, pretty bluebird, for I have it safely tucked away inside of me."
"If that be the case, Sir Trout," joyously6 chirped7 the happy bird, "swim at your greatest speed and deliver the ring to her majesty8, the Waterfall Fairy, Queen of the Lake. Tell her that Ned, her little mortal friend, is in dire9 peril10 and that he needs her aid."
"That will I gladly do," answered the speckled trout, and without more delay he darted11 off down the moat toward the dam at the farther side, over which the water ran in a clear stream into the purling brook12, which finally led to the lake, where lived Ned's friend, the Fairy Queen. Down the silvery cascade13 he glided14 and whirled away through the running water, frightening the minnows and miller's thumbs lying among the stones in the shallow places, and startling the crawfishes and little fresh water lobsters15 hidden under the hollow banks.
Faster and faster he swam, like a courier with important dispatches, down the clear stream running over its pebbly16 bed, with the luscious17 meadow sweet and the large blue geranium blooming all about its banks, and the wild rose on its bushes.
Nor did he pause until with a loud splash he dived over the waterfall safely into the lake and rose to the surface close to the palace of the Queen of the Lake.
A big black spider was busily at work mending the suspension bridge which spanned the water at this narrow point, for the heavy drops of dew had broken the slender strands18 in several places.
He stopped his work to look at the speckled trout, who at once addressed him.
"I am the bearer of a most important dispatch for her highness," he began.
"Well, and I am engaged in the most important duty of repairing her highness' bridge," replied the spider.
"So, I see," answered the trout, "but——" At this very moment the Queen herself, hearing voices at so early an hour outside her window, peeped out. Catching19 sight of her the trout called out boldly:
"Listen to me, I beg of you, most gracious Queen. I have brought you the gold ring from Ned, who sorely needs thy aid!"
At this the Queen quickly withdrew her head, and in a short time emerged from the doorway20 of her castle.
Hastily running to the water's edge, she leaned over, grasping hold of a stalk to keep her from falling.
"Here is the ring," said the trout, holding it in his teeth and swimming as close to the bank as he was able.
The Queen reached out and took it safely from him.
"I will make you king of my fishes, noble Sir Trout," she cried, "for what you have this day accomplished21. Remain here in my lake henceforth, and now, to the rescue!"
In an incredibly short time she was mounted on her swiftest robin22 and with her three ladies in waiting flew away toward the castle, where Ned and the beautiful princess, her brave brother and the giant were held prisoners by the magic of the wicked king.
Now, the little bluebird, as she saw her friend, the trout, swim away, suddenly thought of her former master, the King of the Gnomes23, and decided25 to seek aid from him. So, whirling around in a circle to get her bearings, she darted off swiftly through the air toward the cave in the forest.
She made rapid progress until she reached the thick foliage26 of the woods, and here, in her eagerness, she nearly lost her way.
Indeed, in the uncertain light that struggled through the thick boughs27, it was not easy to make out certain familiar landmarks28 which would guide her to her destination.
At length, just at dawn, she found herself at the foot of the hill wherein was the cave of the King of the Gnomes.
Worn out with her arduous30 journey, she fluttered down to the edge of the bubbling fountain and drank of its refreshing31 waters.
Then, picking up a pebble32, she dropped it into the little gravelly basin, hopped33 painfully over to the great flat stone, and tapped upon it three times with her beak34.
No one replied, but the rock opened in the middle, and there stood the King of the Gnomes himself.
On seeing the little bluebird, he stretched out a kindly35 hand for her to rest upon, and carried her into the inner room.
It was his breakfast hour, for gnomes are early risers. Seating himself at the table, he ordered that the little bird be served with breakfast at once, for well he knew that a hungry bird's first wish must be for food.
The King had scarce given this order before several nimble little men of the forest[148] placed seeds and grains of wheat and a goblet36 of golden fruit juice before the bluebird.
Soon she was sufficiently37 revived to address the gnomes, and it took her but a few moments to tell him all.
"Come, let us hasten," he said, as she finished, and, slipping into his pocket his magic pipe and little pieces of soap, he left the cave and walked rapidly toward a small clearing.
Leaning over a little pool in the hollow of the grassy38 earth, he filled his pipe, rubbed the soap about the rim39, and in a moment more blew a large soap bubble.
Taking the little bluebird in his hand, he opened a small door and entered the magic balloon. Up and up it went, until it was well above the tops of the trees.
Then it took a course toward the east, where the rising sun was gilding40 the sky with its golden fingers.
Faster and faster it sailed, overtaking in a short time the Fairy Queen and her three ladies-in-waiting, mounted on their friendly robins41.
In the distance could be seen the turrets42 of the castle, gleaming in the morning sun like bayonets thrust up from the earth in monster guns.
"Now, little bluebird," said the Gnome24, opening the little door and thrusting her out upon his hand, as the big Soap Bubble hovered43 above the castle, "fly down and tell Ned that deliverance is near at hand. So also inform the beautiful Princess, who, I see, is still sitting at her window, but asleep!"
Off flew the bluebird on her happy errand.
"Your Majesty," cried the Gnome, addressing the Fairy Queen, as she drew rein29 at the doorway of the soap bubble, "I would suggest that you touch with the Magic Ring only the cage wherein is confined our friend Ned, instructing him, while still in the form of a cockatoo, to fly up to the topmost branch of the pine tree. Also for the Princess' brother, while he is still a gamecock, to do likewise. After I have brought the bubble close to the window ledge44, so that the beautiful Princess may step easily inside, I will cause it to rise to the treetop, from which advantageous45 position Ned and the Princess' brother can step within. But what to do with the Pine Tree Giant," said the Gnome, scratching his beard reflectively, "gets me! However, one thing at a time, as my old grandfather used to say when I was a boy, 'one thing at a time!'"
As the bluebird whispered in the ear of the beautiful Princess, the Magic Soap Bubble approached the window ledge.
Rubbing her eyes, but making no outcry, although she was very much startled, she obeyed the bluebird's command to "step softly," and entered the Bubble. It then ascended46 till it was on a line with the topmost branch, where it swayed in the gentle morning breeze, like a barnyard weather cock, the game rooster on one side and the cockatoo on the other!
The Fairy Queen touched them with the ring as they hopped into the bubble, and they regained47 immediately their natural shape.
The Princess threw her arms around her dear brother and hugged Ned, so great was her delight.
Ned ran over to his little friend, the Gnome, and thanked him again and again for his aid, and was about to lean out of the doorway to also thank the Fairy Queen when the Gnome restrained him.
"Not so fast, Ned, my boy! All is not yet over."
"No, indeed," answered Ned, "we must rescue the giant."
"Aye, there's the rub," replied the Gnome. "How are we ever to get him in the bubble, either as a tree or as a giant?"
At this point the Fairy Queen joined in the conversation, kissing Ned at the same time as he attempted to thank her.
"Let me first change him into his natural form," she said. "Then he can walk across the courtyard and out upon the drawbridge. From there he can easily step off into the bubble, which your majesty can lower to the right height above the water of the moat."
"Good!" said the Gnome. "Go and do your part and I will attend to the bubble."
Just as the bubble cleared it the pine tree became once more the friendly giant, who immediately strode across the courtyard.
Quickly lowering the drawbridge he hastened out upon it.
The creaking of the chains, however, had aroused the wicked King, who looked out of his window to see what was the cause of the noise. In another moment he was rushing toward the gates at the head of the castle guard.
"Quick!" shouted the Gnome to the giant. "Get in!"
But, alas48! The doorway was too small. In vain the giant wiggled and squirmed. In vain Ned and the princess' brother pulled his arms. His great shoulders could not be forced through the doorway. Finally, with a tremendous shove he managed to go half way in, but no further, for at this point his head was against the opposite side of the bubble.
On came the wicked King and his castle attendants, who, seeing the predicament of the giant, fitted arrows to their strong bows, preparing to shoot the hapless fellow.
"Blow the bubble larger!" shouted Ned. "Put the pipe in his mouth and tell him to blow like thunder."
The Gnome placed the pipestem between the lips of the giant and commanded him to blow for his life, and before an arrow left a bow the bubble widened sufficiently to enable the giant to crawl inside. Slamming the door shut the Gnome cried out exultingly49: "We are safe!"
Away sailed the Magic Soap Bubble, with the Fairy Queen and her little robin perched securely on the top, and her three ladies in waiting standing50 close by on their own little feathered steeds.
Back to the beautiful Waterfall Lake, where the Fairy Queen bade Ned goodby; back to the friendly Gnome's cave in the woods, where he said farewell to Ned; back to Big Man's Land, where lived the Giant with his kind old mother; back to the castle where lived the beautiful Princess and her brother before the wicked King had kidnapped them, and back at last to Ned's own home, where it left him in the old easy chair by the window, from which he had started out to visit Gnomeland.
Well, well, little reader, here we are, you and I, at the end of the book. What shall we do, for we have grown to be such good friends while you have been reading this story of mine.
Listen, I will tell you another story, it's called "The Iceberg51 Express"—it is one of The Little Journeys to Happyland books. So come with me on the Iceberg Express.
Yours for a story,
David Cory.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
regain
|
|
| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
disconsolately
|
|
| adv.悲伤地，愁闷地；哭丧着脸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
margin
|
|
| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
trout
|
|
| n.鳟鱼；鲑鱼(属) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
despondent
|
|
| adj.失望的，沮丧的，泄气的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
joyously
|
|
| ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
chirped
|
|
| 鸟叫，虫鸣( chirp的过去式 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
majesty
|
|
| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
dire
|
|
| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
peril
|
|
| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
darted
|
|
| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
brook
|
|
| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
cascade
|
|
| n.小瀑布，喷流；层叠；vi.成瀑布落下 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
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： |
|
|
|
|
15
lobsters
|
|
| 龙虾( lobster的名词复数 )； 龙虾肉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
pebbly
|
|
| 多卵石的，有卵石花纹的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
luscious
|
|
| adj.美味的；芬芳的；肉感的，引与性欲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
strands
|
|
| n.（线、绳、金属线、毛发等的）股( strand的名词复数 )；缕；海洋、湖或河的)岸；（观点、计划、故事等的）部份v.使滞留，使搁浅( strand的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
catching
|
|
| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
accomplished
|
|
| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
robin
|
|
| n.知更鸟，红襟鸟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
gnomes
|
|
| n.矮子( gnome的名词复数 )；侏儒；（尤指金融市场上搞投机的）银行家；守护神 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
gnome
|
|
| n.土地神；侏儒，地精 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
foliage
|
|
| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
boughs
|
|
| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
landmarks
|
|
| n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 )；目标；（标志重要阶段的）里程碑 ~ (in sth)；有历史意义的建筑物（或遗址） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
rein
|
|
| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
arduous
|
|
| adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
refreshing
|
|
| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
pebble
|
|
| n.卵石，小圆石 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
hopped
|
|
| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
beak
|
|
| n.鸟嘴，茶壶嘴，钩形鼻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
goblet
|
|
| n.高脚酒杯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
sufficiently
|
|
| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
grassy
|
|
| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
rim
|
|
| n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
gilding
|
|
| n.贴金箔，镀金 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
robins
|
|
| n.知更鸟，鸫( robin的名词复数 )；（签名者不分先后，以避免受责的）圆形签名抗议书（或请愿书） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
turrets
|
|
| （六角）转台( turret的名词复数 )； （战舰和坦克等上的）转动炮塔； （摄影机等上的）镜头转台； （旧时攻城用的）塔车 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
hovered
|
|
| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
ledge
|
|
| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
advantageous
|
|
| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
ascended
|
|
| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
regained
|
|
| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
alas
|
|
| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
exultingly
|
|
| 兴高采烈地，得意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
iceberg
|
|
| n.冰山，流冰，冷冰冰的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |