No tracks of either wild beast was to be seen, but that by no means proved that they had not been in the vicinity. Horses can scent6 either a cougar or a bear at a considerable distance when the wind is toward them, and there are few things that more terrify a pony7 than the near presence of one of these denizens8 of the northern wilds.
Jim assigned himself to one trail, Persimmons and Hardware to another and Ralph to a third.[104] The professor and Jimmie were to remain in camp and wash dishes and set things to rights, and then Jimmie was to assist the professor in gathering9 specimens10 of rock from the cliffs in the vicinity.
It was odd to see how, in an emergency, a man like Mountain Jim, who probably had little more scholarship than would suffice to write his own name, took absolute leadership over the party. The professor, whose name was known to a score of scientific bodies all over the country as a savant of unusual attainments11, obeyed the son of the Rockies implicitly12. Such men as Jim are natural leaders, and in situations that call for action automatically assume the supremacy13 over men of theory and book learning.
Jim explained his reason for assigning Ralph to follow a lone14 trail while the other two lads had been ordered to accompany each other. Ralph had plainly shown his skill as a ranger15 and had the experience of his life on the Border behind[105] him. The other two, while self-reliant and plucky16, had not had the same experience, and therefore the guide deemed it best not to send either out alone.
With hearty17 “So-longs” the three searching parties set out, striking off in a different direction up the mountain side. It was rough country, with beetling18 masses of gray rock cropping out now and then amidst the somber19 green of the Douglas firs and great pines. Here and there cliffs of great height and as smooth as the side of a wall, towered sharply above the forest, and beyond lay a “hog-back” ridge20 of considerable height. Beyond this, although they could not see them from the valley, the boys knew that mountain range after mountain range was piled up like the billows of an angry sea, with the higher peaks of the Rockies raising their crests21 like snow-crowned monarchs22 beyond and above all.
Each boy carried a canteen of water, his rifle, and a supply of bread and chocolates. Of course[106] they also carried their small axes, slung23 in canvas cases at their belts, and matches in waterproof24 boxes. These same waterproof match safes were, in fact, among the few “Dingbats” approved by Mountain Jim.
“Dry matches have saved many a man’s life,” he was wont25 to say.
It was lonesome in the deep woods into which Ralph plunged26, after bidding adieu to his comrades. The trail, too, was hard to follow, and kept the lad on the alert, which was as well perhaps, for it kept him from thinking of the solitude27 of the mountain side. No one who has not penetrated28 the vast solitudes29 of the Canadian Rockies can picture just what the boding30 silence, the utter solitude of the untrodden woods is like. And yet the life in the wilds grows upon men till they love it, as witness the solitary31 prospectors32, packers and trappers to be met in all the wilder parts of the American continent.
As he trudged33 along toilsomely, Ralph kept a[107] look out for game as well as for the trail, for the camp larder34 needed replenishing with fresh meat, and he was anxious to bring home his share. In this way he covered some three or four miles, now losing the elusive35 trail, now picking it up again. The mountain side was steep and rocky and strewn with the fallen trunks of forest giants. But Ralph’s muscles were tough, and clean living and athletics36 had given him sinew and staying power, so that he was conscious of but little fatigue37 after a long stretch of such traveling.
Almost as skillfully as Coyote Pete might have done in those days in the southwest, the boy read the trail. Here the ponies had galloped38. There they had paused and nibbled39 grass; in other places, broken boughs41 or abrasions42 on a fallen tree trunk marked their path. There were two of the ponies; but just which pair they were, Ralph had, of course, no means of determining.
One thing was plain, they must have been badly[108] frightened; for as has been said in the mountain solitudes, as a rule, ponies will stick close to camp. They appear to dread43 being separated from human companionship, and few packers or trailers ever find it necessary to tether their animals.
At last the ridge was topped and beyond him, by clambering on a rock, Ralph looked into a deep valley with ridge on ridge of mountains rising beyond it, and beyond them again some snow-capped peaks of considerable height. He scanned the valley as closely as he could, but big timber grew thickly on its sides and bottom and he was not able to see much. There were some open spaces, it is true, but in none of these could he see anything of the missing ponies.
Ralph sat himself down on the flat-topped rock he had climbed, and pulling a bit of chocolate out of his pocket, began to nibble40 it. He was munching44 away on his lunch when he saw an odd-looking gray bird, not unlike a partridge, sitting in[109] a hemlock45 not far from him. The bird did not appear to be scared and regarded the boy with its head cocked inquisitively46 on one side.
“Well, here goes Number One for the pot,” thought Ralph to himself.
He raised his rifle, and taking careful aim fired at the gray bird. But his hand was shaking somewhat from the exertions47 of his climb, during which he had had to haul himself over many rough places by grabbing branches, and his bullet flew wide.
“Bother it all,” exclaimed the boy impatiently. “I am a muff for fair.”
But to his astonishment48, although the bullet had nicked off some leaves and showered them over the bird’s head, it had not moved. It still sat there giving from time to time an odd sort of croaking49 sound, not unlike the clucking of a barnyard “biddy.”
“I know what you are now,” chuckled50 Ralph to himself, for the fact that the bird did not stir[110] helped him to recognize its species from a description given the night before by Mountain Jim, “you’re a ‘fool-hen,’ and you are certainly living up to your name.”
He fired again, and this time the “fool-hen” paid the penalty of its stupidity, for it fell out of the tree dead. Ralph ran forward, picked it up and thrust it into the hunting pocket of his khaki coat.
“It was a shame to shoot you,” he muttered to himself; “too easy. I believe the stories that Jim told about knocking fool-hens out of trees with stones, now that I’ve seen what dumb birds they are. But this isn’t finding those ponies,” he went on to himself. “Guess I’ll strike off down in the valley. There may be some sort of pasture there where they’ll have stopped to feed.”
Suddenly he stopped and sniffed51 the air suspiciously. An odd, rank odor was borne to him on the light wind.
“Sulphur spring!” he exclaimed half aloud.[111] “Reckon I’ll take a look at it. It can’t be far off; it’s strong enough to be right under my feet. At any rate I shan’t need any other guide than my nose to find it.”
Sniffing52 the tainted53 air like a hound on the trail, Ralph set out down the mountain side. As he went the odor grew more pronounced. A few minutes later he came upon a pile of rocks heaped in an untidy mass on the mountain side. From the midst of them a stream of yellowish white fluid was flowing.
“Phew!” exclaimed the boy, “here’s my sulphur spring, sure enough. I guess if it was near to civilization there’d be a big health resort here. Smells bad enough to be good for anything that ails1 you; but—not for me, thank you.—Hullo! What in the world was that?”
Ralph paused and listened intently. Through the forest came a dull booming sound, and the earth appeared to shake as if agitated54 by a small[112] earthquake. The boy looked about him apprehensively55.
“Well, what in the world!” he began. And then, “It can’t be anybody blasting. Mountain Jim said there was no mining hereabouts. What can it be?”
For some odd reason the recollection of the man on the rock recurred56 to him. His heart began to pound rather faster than was comfortable.
“Pshaw!” he exclaimed, to quiet his nerves, “I’ve got nothing to fear. I’ve got my rifle and—Great Scott! It’s raining!”
That was the boy’s first thought as a gentle pattering resounded57 amidst the trees about where he stood.
He looked upward; but the sky was clear; the sun shining brightly. Clearly the pattering was not caused by rain.
“What in the world can it be?” he exclaimed, considerably58 startled. “Sounds as if somebody was throwing stones or gravel59 at me.”
[113]
The next minute a large globule of mud struck him in his upturned face. Apparently60 it had fallen from the sky. It was followed by a perfect storm of the mud dobs. They pattered about him in a shower, spattering his clothes and hands.
“It’s raining mud!” gasped61 the astonished boy, completely at a loss to account for the phenomenon.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
ails
|
|
| v.生病( ail的第三人称单数 )；感到不舒服；处境困难；境况不佳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
ponies
|
|
| 矮种马，小型马( pony的名词复数 )； ￡25 25 英镑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
previously
|
|
| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
cougar
|
|
| n.美洲狮；美洲豹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
scent
|
|
| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
pony
|
|
| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
denizens
|
|
| n.居民，住户( denizen的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
gathering
|
|
| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
specimens
|
|
| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
attainments
|
|
| 成就，造诣； 获得( attainment的名词复数 )； 达到； 造诣； 成就 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
implicitly
|
|
| adv. 含蓄地, 暗中地, 毫不保留地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
supremacy
|
|
| n.至上；至高权力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
lone
|
|
| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
ranger
|
|
| n.国家公园管理员，护林员；骑兵巡逻队员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
plucky
|
|
| adj.勇敢的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
hearty
|
|
| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
beetling
|
|
| adj.突出的，悬垂的v.快速移动( beetle的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
somber
|
|
| adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
ridge
|
|
| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
crests
|
|
| v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的第三人称单数 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
monarchs
|
|
| 君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
slung
|
|
| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
waterproof
|
|
| n.防水材料；adj.防水的；v.使...能防水 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
wont
|
|
| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
solitude
|
|
| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
penetrated
|
|
| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
solitudes
|
|
| n.独居( solitude的名词复数 )；孤独；荒僻的地方；人迹罕至的地方 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
boding
|
|
| adj.凶兆的，先兆的n.凶兆，前兆，预感v.预示，预告，预言( bode的现在分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
solitary
|
|
| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
prospectors
|
|
| n.勘探者，探矿者( prospector的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
trudged
|
|
| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
larder
|
|
| n.食物贮藏室，食品橱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
elusive
|
|
| adj.难以表达(捉摸)的；令人困惑的；逃避的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
athletics
|
|
| n.运动，体育，田径运动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
fatigue
|
|
| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
galloped
|
|
| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
nibbled
|
|
| v.啃，一点一点地咬（吃）( nibble的过去式和过去分词 )；啃出（洞），一点一点咬出（洞）；慢慢减少；小口咬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
nibble
|
|
| n.轻咬，啃；v.一点点地咬，慢慢啃，吹毛求疵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
boughs
|
|
| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
abrasions
|
|
| n.磨损( abrasion的名词复数 )；擦伤处；摩擦；磨蚀（作用） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
dread
|
|
| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
munching
|
|
| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
hemlock
|
|
| n.毒胡萝卜，铁杉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
inquisitively
|
|
| 过分好奇地； 好问地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
exertions
|
|
| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
croaking
|
|
| v.呱呱地叫( croak的现在分词 )；用粗的声音说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
chuckled
|
|
| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
sniffed
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
sniffing
|
|
| n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
tainted
|
|
| adj.腐坏的；污染的；沾污的；感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
agitated
|
|
| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
apprehensively
|
|
| adv.担心地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
recurred
|
|
| 再发生，复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 )； 治愈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
resounded
|
|
| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
considerably
|
|
| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
gravel
|
|
| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |