After a late sleep the next day, a visit was paid to the hole down which poor White-eye had terminated[181] his career, thereby4 causing Harry5 Ware6 and young Simmons so much trouble. The carcass of the bear lay there, and although tracks showed that animals—foxes and wolves in all probability—had been sniffing7 around it, the body had not been molested8. When Mountain Jim had skinned it, they had a fine “silver tipped” grizzly’s skin to take back with them.
Harry had remained in camp during this expedition so as to rest his sprained9 ankle as much as possible. Mountain Jim had collected various herbs and pounded them into a paste which, when laid on the injured member, did it more good than all the liniments in the professor’s medicine chest. But it was still painful, for the exertions10 he had made in getting back to camp on the previous evening had not improved it.
After a consultation11 it was decided12 that the party could not well continue to the bow of the Columbia River without getting two more ponies13 to replace the dead and stolen animals. Mountain[182] Jim said that he knew of a ranch14 not more than fifteen miles off across the mountains, at which he could purchase the needed animals cheaply. It was decided, therefore, that he and Ralph should leave early the next day for the ranch and bring back two ponies with them. The others would have liked to go along; but in view of the apparent hostility16 of the mysterious man it was decided best to leave a strong guard in camp.
Bright and early the next morning the camp was astir. But Mountain Jim was hardly out of his blankets before he gave an angry exclamation17 and pointed18 to where the stores had been piled under a canvas.
The cover had been raised during the night, and by the disorder19 that prevailed among the supplies it was plain that several articles had been taken. But who or what could have done the rifling?
Bears were the culprits, according to Mountain[183] Jim’s first declaration, but he revised his opinion when Ralph’s quick eyes detected the print of a foot in the soft ground near by. A slight, misty20 rain had fallen in the night and the ground showed plainly the impression of a human foot, or rather of what was, apparently21, a very old and broken pair of boots.
“Humph!” grunted22 Mountain Jim, “I guess it’s your friend that’s been and done this, Master Ralph. Yes, by hooky! there’s the hoof23 print of the pony he stole. I’d know it among a dozen. See here, that off fore15 shoe is broken.”
“Well, of all the nerve!” gasped24 Ralph. “To visit our camp on a thieving expedition mounted on a stolen pony from our pack train; can you beat it?”
“You can’t,” chorused the boys.
“Can’t even tie it,” commented Percy Simmons, standing25 with his hands in his pockets and legs far apart, surveying the scene of vandalism.
An investigation26 showed that some flour,[184] beans, and a big hunk of bacon had been taken, besides canned goods.
“Say, I’d like to get my hands on that fellow for just about five minutes,” declared Mountain Jim angrily. “The skunk’s broken every law of the woods. If he had been hungry and asked for grub he’d have been welcome, but not to sneak27 it off this way. I’d just like to get hold of him.”
“Couldn’t we notify the Northwest Mounted Police?” asked the professor mildly.
“There ain’t no station closer than MacLean’s,” was the reply, “an’ that’s a good sixty miles off the other way. Besides that, we don’t go much on police in matters of this kind.”
Mountain Jim’s face took on a grim look. It was just as well for that mysterious individual that he was not within reach of those clenched28 and knotted fists right then. However, even with the draught29 that had been made on their stock of provisions, they still had a large enough[185] supply to last them to the Big Bend, where Mountain Jim assured them they could get anything they wanted “from a pin to a threshing machine” at a store kept by a French-Canadian.
However, as they all felt a desire to push onward30, they did not waste much time discussing the visit of the thief in the night. Instead, Mountain Jim and Ralph busied themselves with preparations for their start, and soon after breakfast they jogged off to an accompaniment of a chorus of good-wishes and farewells. Their road lay down the little valley in which they had camped, and before long an elbow of craggy cliff shut out the little canvas settlement from view.
The road was level for a short distance and they made good time, the ponies loping along as if they enjoyed it. Soon Mountain Jim consulted his compass and declared that the time had come for climbing a ridge31 and making “across country” for the ranch where he hoped to get the ponies.
[186]
Accordingly, they spurred up a steep mountain side covered with dark and somber32 pines and tamarack, among which the wind sighed dismally33. The going was much the same as Ralph was already getting accustomed to in that rugged34, little-traveled country. Rocks, fallen trees and deep crevasses35 crossed their paths in every direction, causing frequent detours36.
Hour after hour they traveled through this sort of country, making but slow progress. At noon they stopped for a bite of lunch, and tethering the ponies in some scant37 grass which grew in a rocky clearing, they seated themselves on a log for their meal. Their canteens of water came in refreshingly38, for they had not passed any streams or springs.
So engrossed39 had they been in making their way over the difficult country that they had been traversing, that up to this time they had not paid any attention to the weather. They now saw that great black clouds were rolling up beyond the[187] snow-covered summits to the northwest of them.
As they ate, the clouds spread out as if a sable40 blanket had been drawn41 across the sky by unseen hands. Before long the sun was blotted42 out and the forest grew unspeakably gloomy.
“Reckon we’re in for a change in the weather,” said Mountain Jim dryly, looking up.
“It seems that way,” was Ralph’s reply; “it’s getting as dark as twilight43. Hadn’t we better be getting along?”
Mountain Jim nodded.
“I’d like to get across the bed of the valley yonder before that hits in,” he said. “It looks like it’s going to be a hummer, and in that case the water will rise in the creek44 bed below, uncommon45 sudden.”
They finished their meal hastily and remounted. Before them lay the steep mountain side, at the bottom of which was the creek of which Mountain Jim had spoken. At that time of year it was probably dry, but if the storm[188] proved to be a bad one it might fill with great suddenness, and for a short time be transformed into a roaring torrent46, next to impossible to cross.
As they rode down the shaly47 mountain side, their ponies slipping and sliding and scrambling48 desperately49 to keep a footing, there came a low, distant rumble50 of thunder. The sky to the northwest turned from black to a sort of purplish green. Through this ugly cloud blanket a shaft51 of lightning zipped with a livid glare. The thunder rolled and rumbled52 among the mountains, reminding Ralph of Rip Van Winkle’s experiences in the far-off Catskills.
“She’ll hit in most almighty53 quick,” opined Mountain Jim; “wish we’d brought slickers with us.”
“I don’t mind a wetting,” rejoined Ralph stoutly55.
“It’s worse than a wetting you’ll get, if it’s[189] bad; half a drowning is more like it,” grunted Mountain Jim. “Geddap, Baldy, shake a foot.”
But hasten as they would, before they had gone more than a few hundred yards further the rain began to fall in huge globules; drops they could not be called, they were too large. The thunder roared closer and a sudden chill struck into the air. The dark woods were lit up in uncanny fashion by the blinding blue glare of the lightning.
Suddenly, there was a flash of brilliant intensity56 and simultaneously57 a ripping crash of thunder, followed by a sound like some mighty54 mass crashing earthward.
“Tree hit yonder,” said Mountain Jim laconically58, “reckon we’d better be looking for shelter. We came close enough to getting hit in that brulee.”
Ralph agreed with him. But where were they to go to get from under the lofty trees that invited the lightning to pass through their columnular[190] trunks earthward? Suddenly Mountain Jim gave a shout:
“There we are yonder. The Hotel de Bothwell,” he cried with a grin.
Ralph looked and saw a small opening under some rocks not far distant. It was only a small cave seemingly, but at least, in case anything in their vicinity was struck, it would keep them out of harm’s way.
Amidst incessant59 flashes of lightning and peals60 of thunder they made for the place.
“Have to hitch61 the ponies outside,” said Mountain Jim. “Too bad there ain’t room to take ’em in, too; but it can’t be helped.”
However, the space in front of the cave mouth was fairly open and free from trees, so that it was not as bad as if they had had to tie their mounts in the dense62 forest. In the downpour the mountaineer and the boy made the terrified ponies fast, and then made a dash for the dark mouth of the cave. It appeared to be little more[191] than a recess63 formed by the piling of a mass of huge rocks one on top of another, reminding one of a giant’s game of blocks. Had the professor been there, he would have ascribed the presence of the Titanic64 rock pile to glacial action; but to Mountain Jim and Ralph, the place stood for nothing more than a welcome means of shelter.
They were just about to enter it when a low moaning groan65 came from the back of the place and a huge, tawny66 body flashed past them, almost knocking Ralph over.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
pony
|
|
| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
sufficiently
|
|
| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
thereby
|
|
| adv.因此，从而 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
harry
|
|
| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
ware
|
|
| n.(常用复数)商品，货物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
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： |
|
|
|
|
8
molested
|
|
| v.骚扰( molest的过去式和过去分词 )；干扰；调戏；猥亵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
sprained
|
|
| v.&n. 扭伤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
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： |
|
|
|
|
11
consultation
|
|
| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
ponies
|
|
| 矮种马，小型马( pony的名词复数 )； ￡25 25 英镑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
ranch
|
|
| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
fore
|
|
| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
hostility
|
|
| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
disorder
|
|
| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
misty
|
|
| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
grunted
|
|
| （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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
hoof
|
|
| n.(马，牛等的)蹄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
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： |
|
|
|
|
25
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
investigation
|
|
| n.调查，调查研究 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
sneak
|
|
| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
clenched
|
|
| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
draught
|
|
| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
onward
|
|
| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
ridge
|
|
| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
somber
|
|
| adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
dismally
|
|
| adv.阴暗地，沉闷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
rugged
|
|
| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
crevasses
|
|
| n.破口，崩溃处，裂缝( crevasse的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
detours
|
|
| 绕行的路( detour的名词复数 )； 绕道，兜圈子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
scant
|
|
| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
refreshingly
|
|
| adv.清爽地，有精神地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
engrossed
|
|
| adj.全神贯注的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
sable
|
|
| n.黑貂；adj.黑色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
blotted
|
|
| 涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 )； （用吸墨纸）吸干 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
twilight
|
|
| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
creek
|
|
| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
uncommon
|
|
| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
torrent
|
|
| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
shaly
|
|
| adj.页岩的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
scrambling
|
|
| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
desperately
|
|
| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
rumble
|
|
| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
shaft
|
|
| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
rumbled
|
|
| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
almighty
|
|
| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
stoutly
|
|
| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
intensity
|
|
| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
simultaneously
|
|
| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
laconically
|
|
| adv.简短地，简洁地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
incessant
|
|
| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
peals
|
|
| n.（声音大而持续或重复的）洪亮的响声( peal的名词复数 )；隆隆声；洪亮的钟声；钟乐v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
hitch
|
|
| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
dense
|
|
| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
recess
|
|
| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
titanic
|
|
| adj.巨人的，庞大的，强大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
groan
|
|
| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
tawny
|
|
| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |