Ned and Easy, posted among the poplars in the grove6 north of the barn, saw them ride into the barnyard. In the light of the moon the two men could see them tumbling out of the wagon, sprawling7 over each other, noisy and ill-humoured.
"I see Rob at the heads uv the horses," said Easy. "He niver goes home whin he's rale well pickled."
"We've got the whole crew at home, then," whispered Ned. "We are in luck. Come, let us round up the boys."
Slipping quietly away, they arrived at their own caboose.
Andy and the rest were awaiting them. Briefly8 Ned rehearsed his plans and was gratified to find them primed and ready to the last detail. In a few moments they set out for McClure's caboose. They carried planks9, ropes, hammers and spikes11, while Easy Murphy brought up the rear with his huge span of grays. The team was shrouded12 in great dark blankets with black nets covering their light heads. Each man was masked with his bandanna13 handkerchief, giving the marauders the appearance of a gang of bandits or a lynching posse.
At the edge of the grove they paused and listened intently. Not forty yards away stood the caboose with its crew of quarrelsome men. A confusing dialogue of altercations14 was in progress. After a time the men settled into their bunks15, where the bibulous16 debate was drowsily17 maintained, finally simmering to the thick-tongued harangue18 of one persistent19 individual.
At a signal from Ned the Valley Outfit20 crept noiselessly upon their unsuspecting prey21. Arrived at the caboose they made a swift survey. The farmstead was quiet. Smithers and his men were sound asleep. No interruption from that quarter. The caboose was the usual midget bunkhouse, a rectangular box on truck chassis22 with a bow roof. At the tongue end was a door. In the other end near the roof was a tiny window, too small for the exit of a man's body. Andy and his men stole around to the rear of the caboose. Striking one end of the plank10 solidly into the ground, they placed the other against the middle of the door. Two men held it in place while two swung their weight on it, holding the door shut as with a vise. McClure and his men were trapped. Quickly a stout23 plank was placed across the top of the door and nailed with five-inch spikes to the corner posts. Another plank was nailed similarly across the bottom, perfectly24 sealing the caboose.
By this time a commotion25 had arisen within. Snoopy Bill could be heard shaking the men and dragging them out of their bunks. Above the tumult26 soared McClure's heavy voice, disclosing in the angry vehemence27 of his curses a swift conclusion as to the identity of the assailants. Outside in the moonlight frolicked the masked figures. The excitement was intense. At Ned's desire all audible speech was to be suppressed. Easy Murphy was in his element and wanted to holler.
"Be the ghost uv me grandfahthurr!" he whispered to Jean Benoit. "'Tis the happiest hour since Oi left Owld Oireland."
Amid ill-suppressed laughter the freak proceeded. Backing his horses to the tongue, Easy speedily hitched28 on and pulled out of the barnyard. Long before Smithers and his men could wake and realize what had happened the big grays had spirited away the caged crew, surrounded by the triumphant29 body-guard of Valley threshers.
Urging his horses to a trot30, Easy turned into the west road and bowled along merrily over ruts and stones to the fierce accompaniment of the pandemonium31 from within. Once a head unwisely protruded32 itself through the small opening only to receive a smart rap and to be instantly drawn33 in.
"Head across the Northwest Cut," directed Ned. "We'll run them up on Bald Hill, where they can get a good view of the lake."
When the brow of the Cut was reached Easy reined34 in his horses.
"Shall we cross be the thrail," said he in a loud whisper to Ned, "or shall we bounce sthraight on over the rocky road till Dublin?"
"Give them the rocky road," was Ned's grim response.
"Begobs, yer a darlin'!" cried Easy, with a muffled35 whoopee as he swung the grays off the prairie down the side of the Cut.
Then began a half-mile of rocking and tossing, pitching over hillocks, boulders36, badger37 holes and stumps38, the caboose lurching about like a ship in a heavy sea and thoroughly39 churning up its human contents. The little bunkhouse became hideously40 vocal41 as execrations came forth42, vengeful chorus from its tormented43 interior. Easy's eyes seemed to have uncanny vision for holes and hidden logs and jolting44 rocks, while the big grays, alarmed by the outrageous45 tumult, snorted wildly, plunging46 through everything with irresistible47 force.
The weird48 passage of the gulch49 was at length accomplished50, winding51 up on the windy skull52 of Bald Hill.
"They'll have a very fine stretch of the valley to look into from here," said Andy with a grin, as his eyes took in the sweep of the hill.
"Indade, 'tis rale illigint," said Easy. "Rob wull be chargin' a nickel a pape from the bay window above."
"Unhitch the grays, Easy," said Ned, his eyes darting53 mischief54. "We are not going to leave the caboose here. The fun is about to begin."
Ned's remark was cryptic55. "If we are not going to leave them here, why unhitch?" was the query56 in every mind.
"Ah, Ned! 'Tis a darlin' I said ye wuz!" exclaimed Easy, seized by a sudden inspiration. He had tumbled to Ned's dark design. "Ye wull be afthur shootin' the shoot wid our frinds in the packin'-box?" was his sly guess.
"Hats off to our little boss!" cried Andy softly, shaking with laughter.
"By gar, dat cabooze yump on de lake lak beeg eggspress! Ha!" Jean forthwith "went up" venting57 his ecstasy58 in a series of handsprings.
When he came down he did what the rest were doing. He took a swift, keen glance at the hill. The slope fell rapidly away, dropping evenly hundreds of feet to the sandy shingle59 of the beach over a quarter of a mile away. Through a wide gap in the shore bluffs60 could be seen the silver shimmer61 of the waves. There could be but one end to the proposed flight of the caboose,—the cold, white bosom62 of the lake.
With deliberate thoroughness the Valley men made their preparations. The horses unhitched, the tongue of the caboose was roped high and locked firmly so that it could have no side swing. Then the men took their places about the wheels and rear.
"Just a minute!" whispered Ned. "One of you lads had better pull a watch on this thing. This old bus is in for her record run."
A chorus of subdued63 laughs rose above the noise emanating64 from the interior of the doomed65 vehicle.
"Shoulders to the wheels!" was Ned's low order. "Now, all together! Send her a-kiting."
Every man got down with a will and a smothered66 yo-heave started the caboose down the slope. With a final united shove they sent it away from their hands in mad career toward the lake. Down the hill it sped, swaying in its course like a drunken man, but heading straight for the water. In fearfully accelerated speed it shot over the short sand beach and crashed in the gleaming waves. Carried along by its great momentum67 it charged the lake like a racing68 motor-boat, throwing a huge prow2 wave as it ran into the deep water. Weighted with its heavy truck and human freight it sank almost half-way to the roof before coming to a standstill.
While the caboose sped down the hill the perpetrators of the deed watched its flight in breathless interest. As it plunged69 into the water a cheer roared down the hillside.
Meanwhile in desperate rage and no small alarm McClure with his gigantic strength had torn a hole in the roof and thrusting his shoulders upward broke through and climbed out just as the car came to rest in the bed of the lake. Looking up the moonlit hill he could plainly see the group of men crowning its height and caught the cheer that swept down. No word, however, escaped him. Thoroughly sobered, the full significance of the daring lark70 burst upon him, sealing his lips. There were times when Rob McClure was unexpectedly silent. Reaching down he helped his men one by one out to safety. Soon the roof was black with men.
"Dey some leetle drown rat!" exclaimed Jean Benoit, shaking with laughter at the sight. "What dey goin' to do?"
Through the quiet air came the answer. It was McClure's voice.
"I guess there is nothing else for it," said he.
Instantly came the sound of a splash. Other splashes followed and then could be seen a straggling line of dark figures plunging through the surf.
"Now let them have it," cried Ned.
With all the vigour71 of seventeen pairs of powerful lungs they lifted cheer after cheer.
"Enough!" cried Ned at last. "This beats a fight. We have licked the whole gang without anybody getting mussed up. The cold water will help to sober them."
A moment later Bald Hill was bare.
点击收听单词发音
1 joint | |
adj.联合的,共同的;n.关节,接合处;v.连接,贴合 | |
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2 prow | |
n.(飞机)机头,船头 | |
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3 whoops | |
int.呼喊声 | |
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4 scrambled | |
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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5 wagon | |
n.四轮马车,手推车,面包车;无盖运货列车 | |
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6 grove | |
n.林子,小树林,园林 | |
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7 sprawling | |
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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8 briefly | |
adv.简单地,简短地 | |
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9 planks | |
(厚)木板( plank的名词复数 ); 政纲条目,政策要点 | |
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10 plank | |
n.板条,木板,政策要点,政纲条目 | |
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11 spikes | |
n.穗( spike的名词复数 );跑鞋;(防滑)鞋钉;尖状物v.加烈酒于( spike的第三人称单数 );偷偷地给某人的饮料加入(更多)酒精( 或药物);把尖状物钉入;打乱某人的计划 | |
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12 shrouded | |
v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 );保密 | |
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13 bandanna | |
n.大手帕 | |
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14 altercations | |
n.争辩,争吵( altercation的名词复数 ) | |
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15 bunks | |
n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位( bunk的名词复数 );空话,废话v.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位( bunk的第三人称单数 );空话,废话 | |
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16 bibulous | |
adj.高度吸收的,酗酒的 | |
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17 drowsily | |
adv.睡地,懒洋洋地,昏昏欲睡地 | |
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18 harangue | |
n.慷慨冗长的训话,言辞激烈的讲话 | |
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19 persistent | |
adj.坚持不懈的,执意的;持续的 | |
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20 outfit | |
n.(为特殊用途的)全套装备,全套服装 | |
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21 prey | |
n.被掠食者,牺牲者,掠食;v.捕食,掠夺,折磨 | |
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22 chassis | |
n.汽车等之底盘;(飞机的)起落架;炮底架 | |
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24 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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25 commotion | |
n.骚动,动乱 | |
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26 tumult | |
n.喧哗;激动,混乱;吵闹 | |
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27 vehemence | |
n.热切;激烈;愤怒 | |
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28 hitched | |
(免费)搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 ); 搭便车; 攀上; 跃上 | |
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29 triumphant | |
adj.胜利的,成功的;狂欢的,喜悦的 | |
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30 trot | |
n.疾走,慢跑;n.老太婆;现成译本;(复数)trots:腹泻(与the 连用);v.小跑,快步走,赶紧 | |
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31 pandemonium | |
n.喧嚣,大混乱 | |
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32 protruded | |
v.(使某物)伸出,(使某物)突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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34 reined | |
勒缰绳使(马)停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 ); 驾驭; 严格控制; 加强管理 | |
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35 muffled | |
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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36 boulders | |
n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 );巨砾;(受水或天气侵蚀而成的)巨石;漂砾 | |
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37 badger | |
v.一再烦扰,一再要求,纠缠 | |
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38 stumps | |
(被砍下的树的)树桩( stump的名词复数 ); 残肢; (板球三柱门的)柱; 残余部分 | |
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39 thoroughly | |
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地 | |
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40 hideously | |
adv.可怕地,非常讨厌地 | |
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41 vocal | |
adj.直言不讳的;嗓音的;n.[pl.]声乐节目 | |
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42 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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43 tormented | |
饱受折磨的 | |
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44 jolting | |
adj.令人震惊的 | |
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45 outrageous | |
adj.无理的,令人不能容忍的 | |
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46 plunging | |
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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47 irresistible | |
adj.非常诱人的,无法拒绝的,无法抗拒的 | |
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48 weird | |
adj.古怪的,离奇的;怪诞的,神秘而可怕的 | |
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49 gulch | |
n.深谷,峡谷 | |
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50 accomplished | |
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的 | |
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51 winding | |
n.绕,缠,绕组,线圈 | |
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52 skull | |
n.头骨;颅骨 | |
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53 darting | |
v.投掷,投射( dart的现在分词 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
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54 mischief | |
n.损害,伤害,危害;恶作剧,捣蛋,胡闹 | |
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55 cryptic | |
adj.秘密的,神秘的,含义模糊的 | |
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56 query | |
n.疑问,问号,质问;vt.询问,表示怀疑 | |
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57 venting | |
消除; 泄去; 排去; 通风 | |
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58 ecstasy | |
n.狂喜,心醉神怡,入迷 | |
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59 shingle | |
n.木瓦板;小招牌(尤指医生或律师挂的营业招牌);v.用木瓦板盖(屋顶);把(女子头发)剪短 | |
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60 bluffs | |
恐吓( bluff的名词复数 ); 悬崖; 峭壁 | |
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61 shimmer | |
v./n.发微光,发闪光;微光 | |
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62 bosom | |
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的 | |
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63 subdued | |
adj. 屈服的,柔和的,减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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64 emanating | |
v.从…处传出,传出( emanate的现在分词 );产生,表现,显示 | |
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65 doomed | |
命定的 | |
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66 smothered | |
(使)窒息, (使)透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 ); 覆盖; 忍住; 抑制 | |
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67 momentum | |
n.动力,冲力,势头;动量 | |
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68 racing | |
n.竞赛,赛马;adj.竞赛用的,赛马用的 | |
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69 plunged | |
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降 | |
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70 lark | |
n.云雀,百灵鸟;n.嬉戏,玩笑;vi.嬉戏 | |
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71 vigour | |
(=vigor)n.智力,体力,精力 | |
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