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CHAPTER XIV INTO THE CAVERN
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 Wondering what turn events were going to take, Rick and Chot awaited the outcome of the advent1 of the stranger who had been addressed by Uncle Tod as “Zeek.”
 
“Who is he?” whispered Rick to his uncle as the roughly-attired man, seeming rather crestfallen2 over his sneaking3 tactics, approached more openly.
 
“Oh, a no-account chap—Zeek Took his name is. Ought to be Zeek Take, for he’ll walk off with anything that isn’t nailed fast—unless you watch him. Looking for me, Zeek?” he asked as the unprepossessing fellow shambled forward.
 
“Sorter,” was the grinning answer.
 
“Well, here I am,” went on Uncle Tod. “What is it?”
 
“Er—now—did the water come?” asked Zeek, shuffling4 his feet like a bashful schoolboy speaking a Friday afternoon “piece.”
 
“No, we’re still dry, Zeek, except for what water we tote up on Esmerelda’s back. But I guess we have enough to give you a drink.”
 
“Oh, no, thanks, I don’t want no drink!” Zeek hastily protested, and Rick said, afterward5, that he might have asked for some to wash in and not be far out of the way, as he was somewhat dirty.
 
“Well, Zeek, is that all you came up to ask about?” went on Uncle Tod, who seemed to enjoy the fellow’s discomfiture—and bashful and discomfited6 Zeek Took certainly was.
 
“Ya-as—that’s all, I reckon,” and Zeek’s shifty eyes darted7 here and there about the camp, as if spying.
 
“Who sent you?” suddenly asked Uncle Tod.
 
“Eh?”
 
Zeek clearly was taken by surprise.
 
“Who sent you?” repeated Mr. Belmont.
 
“Why—er—now—nobody sent me! I come myself.”
 
“Oh, you did? What for?”
 
“Wa’al,” he slowly drawled as if seeking an excuse, “I—er—now—I thought maybe if th’ river wa’n’t runnin’ you’d hire me t’ cart water so’s you could wash out th’ dirt.”
 
“Oh, you wanted to cart water so we could do our mining, Zeek? Well, that was very kind of you,” went on Uncle Tod, “but what little washing my partner did before the river became lost, didn’t pan out enough metal to make it pay, and I don’t believe we could afford to give you any wages.”
 
“Oh, I’d be willin’ t’ work for my grub, Uncle Tod.” Everyone in that region seemed to have adopted this friendly name.
 
Mr. Belmont shook his head and smiled in a somewhat sarcastic8 manner.
 
“I reckon not, Zeek,” he answered. “We’ve got some new prospectors9 now,” Uncle Tod went on. “There’s one,” and he indicated Ruddy. “It’ll be about all we can feed in a dry camp. But if you’re hungry now, I reckon we can hand you out a snack.”
 
“Wa’al,” drawled Zeek, “it’s been a good while since breakfast!”
 
“Hum!” mused10 Uncle Tod. “Well, sit over there, Zeek,” indicating a bench, “and Sam’ll bring you out some grub.”
 
Then as Rick, Chot and Mr. Campbell entered the cabin, Uncle Tod said, in a low voice:
 
“Zeek isn’t just the kind you want to sit down to the table with—even out in this free and easy place. He goes at his food as if it might come to life and get away from him. He’ll be more at home out there.”
 
Uncle Tod’s camp cabin was a more comfortable place than at first appeared. The food was excellent, though not of the finest sort, but it was well cooked, and whatever else Sam Rockford might be—gloomy and inclined to look on the dark side of everything—he certainly knew how to serve a meal. The boys and Mr. Campbell testified to this, and Ruddy would have said the same had he been able to speak.
 
Zeek was fed out in the open, and soon departed, murmuring his thanks. And then, as the others finished their meal, and pushed back their rough stools that served for chairs, Mr. Campbell asked:
 
“Anything special about Took coming here, Mr. Belmont?”
 
“I don’t know whether there was or not,” was Uncle Tod’s answer. “First I thought he was only one more of the queer characters to be met with out west. Then, when he began coming around more frequently—but always sneaking his way in—I became a bit suspicious.”
 
“Is he altogether right in his mind?” asked Mr. Campbell.
 
“I don’t believe he is, and that’s why I think he’s being used by some one with more brains than he has.”
 
“Some one trying to get your mine away from you, Uncle Tod?” asked Rick.
 
“Well, I don’t know’s any one is trying to do that,” was the answer. “Still you never know when you’re playing safe in this mining game. The best way, I find, is to suspect everybody until you find out they’re square, and then it isn’t always safe. As for Zeek Took, I don’t want him hanging around; that’s all, though I don’t want to be mean to him, especially if he’s hungry. How he lives I don’t know, but I won’t see even a dog go hungry. Will I, Ruddy?” and Rick’s setter looked up into the miner’s face and gratefully wagged the plumed11 tail.
 
“I don’t know much about mining,” said Mr. Campbell, as he and the other two men were smoking their pipes, while Rick and Chot listened to the talk, “but how were things here before you lost the river, or the river lost itself? And I’d like to know a little about the stream, also.”
 
“Well, there isn’t a great deal to tell,” said Uncle Tod reflectively. “Sam, here, bought this claim first and then let me in on it. It looked good to him—in fact it looked good to me—that was when the river was running out of the cave. We call it a river though it isn’t much more than a half-grown brook12 back in your country, Mr. Campbell where you have lots of water. But, such as it was, it served to wash out the dirt we dug.
 
“You know there are many ways to mine for gold, silver and copper13,” he went on, for the especial benefit of the boys. “In some parts of the mountains you dig out the ore dry, and you may get fairly big chunks14 of gold. Or the ore may be filled with little specks15 of metal that can be got at only when the rock is crushed. This crushed rock and dust is treated in different ways. It may be smelted16 or mixed with water and acids or other chemicals. I don’t know much about those methods.
 
“Then there is a simpler form of mining, the water method. You get a lot of dirt, gravel17 or what-not, and in it will be a lot of fine gold dust—maybe silver dust or copper—or whatever you’re after. We get both gold and copper here—or, rather, we did.
 
“The simplest method of getting gold out of the dirt it’s mixed with is to ‘pan’ it. That is, take half a panful of the gold-bearing gravel and put water in the pan. By moving the pan with a circular motion you can wash away, over one edge that you tilt18 down, most of the water and gravel and dirt. The gold, being heavier than the dirt, goes to the bottom of the pan and lodges19 there. You may get a couple of dollar’s worth from each pan of dirt you wash, or you may get a cent’s worth—it depends on the dirt.”
 
“It’s a sort of chance,” suggested Chot.
 
“That’s it—just a chance,” agreed Uncle Tod. “If you want to work the washing-out method on a larger scale, you build a flume box, or a rocker. Both work on the same principle. A flume box is a long, narrow box of boards with cross cleats all along the bottom. You wash the sand and gravel down this flume with water and the gold, being heaviest, goes to the bottom and lodges against the cross cleats where you take it out later on—after a day of washing.
 
“A rocker is a flume box on a small scale, only instead of the water rushing down an incline you shake, or rock a box with cross pieces in it, tilting20 it on a slant21 while you do it, and the gold—if there is any—lodges on cross cleats also. A rocker box is like a pan, only better.”
 
“Is that what you mean when you say ‘pan out’?” asked Rick.
 
“That’s it,” assented22 Uncle Tod. “Some dirt doesn’t pan out worth a cent after all your work. Well, here, we used the flume method,” he resumed, “that is we did while Sam had water. But all of a sudden Lost River proved true to its name and we had to stop work. The gold, what there is—and the copper—is so fine that we can’t get it out without a deal of washing. As a matter of fact I don’t believe it’s over going to pay to go after copper this way—not at the price copper brings now—since the war is over. But we might make gold mining pay if we could get water.”
 
“Where’s the water of Lost River gone?” asked Mr. Campbell.
 
“That’s what we’d like to know,” said Uncle Tod with a smile. “Where is it?”
 
“Have you looked in the cave to find out whether it hasn’t dropped through a hole in the bottom, and is flowing along somewhere beyond you—farther down the valley?” asked Mr. Campbell.
 
“We tried it—yes,” assented Uncle Tod. “But it isn’t altogether healthy—going in that cave,” remarked Sam, with a look over his shoulder. “I won’t go in again. If I did I wouldn’t come out alive!”
 
“What’s there?” cried Rick and Chot eagerly.
 
“That’s what we don’t know,” answered Uncle Tod. “Maybe you can find out—now you’re here—you and Ruddy.”
 
“But you must have some idea of it,” insisted Mr. Campbell. “What is in the cave?”
 
“Ghosts!” came the unexpected answer of Sam Rockford. “Ghosts!”
 
“Nonsense!” declared Uncle Tod with a laugh. “I admit we did hear some spooky noises in there, when Sam and I tried to explore after the water stopped, but it wasn’t them I feared.”
 
“What was it?” asked Rick.
 
“The danger of getting lost and toppling down some hole into unknown blackness, Rick. It’s awful dark in there. I guess it must be a tunnel right under the mountain where the river used to come out. Maybe now it’s dipped into some hole or new channel. Anyhow it’s Lost River in earnest.”
 
“This country was once torn by volcanic23 action,” was the opinion of Mr. Campbell as he looked around on the rugged24 peaks and the low valleys. “There may be all sorts of underground and lost water courses here, and your river was probably one of them.”
 
“Very likely,” agreed Uncle Tod. “Well, I only wish it would find itself again. Without it we can’t do any mining.”
 
“I’d like to stay and help you,” said Mr. Campbell, “but I must get on to San Francisco.”
 
“Oh, yes,” agreed Uncle Tod. “It was very good of you to bring Rick and his chum—not forgetting Ruddy. Perhaps among us all now, we’ll be able to solve the mystery.”
 
Mr. Campbell departed in his auto25 next morning, after an uneventful night, though Rick and Chot rather looked for some excitement—perhaps a return visit of Zeek Took after dark. But nothing like that happened.
 
“Well, boys, what do you say to some explorations to-day?” asked Uncle Tod, when breakfast was a thing of the past.
 
“Explorations in the cave of Lost River?” asked Rick.
 
“That’s where I mean. Are you game for it?”
 
“Sure!” answered both boys, and Rick added: “Aren’t we, Ruddy?”
 
The dog leaped about, barking joyfully26, for he liked action of any sort.
 
“You going in that spooky place again?” asked Sam, as Uncle Tod made preparations for entering the cavern27.
 
“Of course. Don’t you want to come? We’ve got to find water somehow, Sam.”
 
“Not me!” he exclaimed emphatically. “When I want ghosts I like ’em in the open. And as far as getting back Lost River goes—it’ll never happen.”
 
“Hum,” mused Uncle Tod, “gloomy as ever! If I didn’t know you better, Sam, I’d think you meant that.”
 
“I do!”
 
“No you don’t! Come on, boys. Let’s see what we can find.”
 
Equipped with lanterns and a long rope the three—no, four, for Ruddy went along—entered the mouth of the gloomy cavern.
 
What would they find?

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 advent iKKyo     
n.(重要事件等的)到来,来临
参考例句:
  • Swallows come by groups at the advent of spring. 春天来临时燕子成群飞来。
  • The advent of the Euro will redefine Europe.欧元的出现将重新定义欧洲。
2 crestfallen Aagy0     
adj. 挫败的,失望的,沮丧的
参考例句:
  • He gathered himself up and sneaked off,crushed and crestfallen.他爬起来,偷偷地溜了,一副垂头丧气、被斗败的样子。
  • The youth looked exceedingly crestfallen.那青年看上去垂头丧气极了。
3 sneaking iibzMu     
a.秘密的,不公开的
参考例句:
  • She had always had a sneaking affection for him. 以前她一直暗暗倾心于他。
  • She ducked the interviewers by sneaking out the back door. 她从后门偷偷溜走,躲开采访者。
4 shuffling 03b785186d0322e5a1a31c105fc534ee     
adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式
参考例句:
  • Don't go shuffling along as if you were dead. 别像个死人似地拖着脚走。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
  • Some one was shuffling by on the sidewalk. 外面的人行道上有人拖着脚走过。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
5 afterward fK6y3     
adv.后来;以后
参考例句:
  • Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏,然后吃饭。
  • Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来,这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。
6 discomfited 97ac63c8d09667b0c6e9856f9e80fe4d     
v.使为难( discomfit的过去式和过去分词);使狼狈;使挫折;挫败
参考例句:
  • He was discomfited by the unexpected questions. 意料不到的问题使得他十分尴尬。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • He will be particularly discomfited by the minister's dismissal of his plan. 部长对他计划的不理会将使他特别尴尬。 来自辞典例句
7 darted d83f9716cd75da6af48046d29f4dd248     
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔
参考例句:
  • The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了,瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
8 sarcastic jCIzJ     
adj.讥讽的,讽刺的,嘲弄的
参考例句:
  • I squashed him with a sarcastic remark.我说了一句讽刺的话把他给镇住了。
  • She poked fun at people's shortcomings with sarcastic remarks.她冷嘲热讽地拿别人的缺点开玩笑。
9 prospectors 6457f5cd826261bd6fcb6abf5a7a17c1     
n.勘探者,探矿者( prospector的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The prospectors have discovered such minerals as calcite,quartz and asbestos here. 探矿人员在这里发现了方解石、石英、石棉等矿藏。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The prospectors have discovered many minerals here. 探矿人员在这里发现了许多矿藏。 来自辞典例句
10 mused 0affe9d5c3a243690cca6d4248d41a85     
v.沉思,冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 );沉思自语说(某事)
参考例句:
  • \"I wonder if I shall ever see them again, \"he mused. “我不知道是否还可以再见到他们,”他沉思自问。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • \"Where are we going from here?\" mused one of Rutherford's guests. 卢瑟福的一位客人忍不住说道:‘我们这是在干什么?” 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
11 plumed 160f544b3765f7a5765fdd45504f15fb     
饰有羽毛的
参考例句:
  • The knight plumed his helmet with brilliant red feathers. 骑士用鲜红的羽毛装饰他的头盔。
  • The eagle plumed its wing. 这只鹰整理它的翅膀。
12 brook PSIyg     
n.小河,溪;v.忍受,容让
参考例句:
  • In our room we could hear the murmur of a distant brook.在我们房间能听到远处小溪汩汩的流水声。
  • The brook trickled through the valley.小溪涓涓流过峡谷。
13 copper HZXyU     
n.铜;铜币;铜器;adj.铜(制)的;(紫)铜色的
参考例句:
  • The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
  • Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。
14 chunks a0e6aa3f5109dc15b489f628b2f01028     
厚厚的一块( chunk的名词复数 ); (某物)相当大的数量或部分
参考例句:
  • a tin of pineapple chunks 一罐菠萝块
  • Those chunks of meat are rather large—could you chop them up a bIt'smaller? 这些肉块相当大,还能再切小一点吗?
15 specks 6d64faf449275b5ce146fe2c78100fed     
n.眼镜;斑点,微粒,污点( speck的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Minutes later Brown spotted two specks in the ocean. 几分钟后布朗发现海洋中有两个小点。 来自英汉非文学 - 百科语料821
  • Do you ever seem to see specks in front of your eyes? 你眼睛前面曾似乎看见过小点吗? 来自辞典例句
16 smelted 8283b7839396aafcdfe326c23f97b5e2     
v.熔炼,提炼(矿石)( smelt的过去式和过去分词 );合演( costar的过去式和过去分词 );闻到;嗅出
参考例句:
  • The lead paste is smelted in a blast furnace. 铅团在鼓风炉中被溶解。 来自互联网
  • Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore. 铁从地里挖出,铜从石中熔化。 来自互联网
17 gravel s6hyT     
n.砂跞;砂砾层;结石
参考例句:
  • We bought six bags of gravel for the garden path.我们购买了六袋碎石用来铺花园的小路。
  • More gravel is needed to fill the hollow in the drive.需要更多的砾石来填平车道上的坑洼。
18 tilt aG3y0     
v.(使)倾侧;(使)倾斜;n.倾侧;倾斜
参考例句:
  • She wore her hat at a tilt over her left eye.她歪戴着帽子遮住左眼。
  • The table is at a slight tilt.这张桌子没放平,有点儿歪.
19 lodges bd168a2958ee8e59c77a5e7173c84132     
v.存放( lodge的第三人称单数 );暂住;埋入;(权利、权威等)归属
参考例句:
  • But I forget, if I ever heard, where he lodges in Liverpool. 可是我记不得有没有听他说过他在利物浦的住址。 来自辞典例句
  • My friend lodges in my uncle's house. 我朋友寄居在我叔叔家。 来自辞典例句
20 tilting f68c899ac9ba435686dcb0f12e2bbb17     
倾斜,倾卸
参考例句:
  • For some reason he thinks everyone is out to get him, but he's really just tilting at windmills. 不知为什么他觉得每个人都想害他,但其实他不过是在庸人自扰。
  • So let us stop bickering within our ranks.Stop tilting at windmills. 所以,让我们结束内部间的争吵吧!再也不要去做同风车作战的蠢事了。
21 slant TEYzF     
v.倾斜,倾向性地编写或报道;n.斜面,倾向
参考例句:
  • The lines are drawn on a slant.这些线条被画成斜线。
  • The editorial had an antiunion slant.这篇社论有一种反工会的倾向。
22 assented 4cee1313bb256a1f69bcc83867e78727     
同意,赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The judge assented to allow the prisoner to speak. 法官同意允许犯人申辩。
  • "No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women -- they're too noble. “对,”汤姆表示赞同地说,“他们不杀女人——真伟大!
23 volcanic BLgzQ     
adj.火山的;象火山的;由火山引起的
参考例句:
  • There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.今年火山爆发了好几次。
  • Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。
24 rugged yXVxX     
adj.高低不平的,粗糙的,粗壮的,强健的
参考例句:
  • Football players must be rugged.足球运动员必须健壮。
  • The Rocky Mountains have rugged mountains and roads.落基山脉有崇山峻岭和崎岖不平的道路。
25 auto ZOnyW     
n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车
参考例句:
  • Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
  • The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。
26 joyfully joyfully     
adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地
参考例句:
  • She tripped along joyfully as if treading on air. 她高兴地走着,脚底下轻飘飘的。
  • During these first weeks she slaved joyfully. 在最初的几周里,她干得很高兴。
27 cavern Ec2yO     
n.洞穴,大山洞
参考例句:
  • The cavern walls echoed his cries.大山洞的四壁回响着他的喊声。
  • It suddenly began to shower,and we took refuge in the cavern.天突然下起雨来,我们在一个山洞里避雨。


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