Yowler the Bobcat, prowling about through the Green Forest, came across the trail of the Otter family. He didn’t have to use his nose to follow that trail. Any one with eyes could follow it. The instant he saw it Yowler knew who had made that trail.
“Huh!” muttered Yowler. “Little Joe Otter has started on his travels again. I wonder where he is going this time.”
Then Yowler, more from habit than anything else, put his nose down in that trail and sniffed3. A surprising change came over him. He suddenly took great interest in that trail. He had smelled young Otters4. Little Joe or Mrs. Otter he wouldn’t think of attacking. They were too big and strong, and he knew too well how they could fight. But a young Otter would be a different matter, even though he might be almost fully5 grown. Certainly this was a matter worth looking into.
So in his usual, sneaking7 fashion Yowler followed that trail. And at length he came to the big upturned tree and the hole in the snow that led down under the roots. Very gently Yowler sniffed. At once his nose was filled with the Otter scent8. He grinned hungrily. Those Otters were down there asleep. It was a great temptation to dig down and try to surprise them. But Yowler knew better than to try this. He looked around. A short distance away was a big hemlock9 tree. Yowler circled around to it and climbed part way up. Then he crouched10 on a big limb and prepared to wait for those Otters to come out.
He didn’t have long to wait. He saw the head of Little Joe Otter pop out of that hole in the snow. Then Little Joe came out. He was followed by Mrs. Otter and then by the two young Otters. Yowler’s yellow eyes glowed hungrily as he noticed that one of these was smaller than the other.
Little Joe started off at once, and the others fell in behind him. Just as soon as he dared to, Yowler dropped down from that tree and began to sneak6 after them. It was surprising how fast those Otters traveled. But Yowler can travel fast, and it wasn’t long before he had them in sight. Then he moved more cautiously. He sneaked11 from tree to tree and took advantage of every stump12 and bush. For awhile the young Otters kept close to their parents. Then from time to time they dropped back, as they stopped to examine things that were new to them. Their curiosity satisfied, they would bound ahead to catch up.
“If that smallest Otter will just drop far enough behind so that I can get her alone, I think I’ll have an Otter dinner,” muttered Yowler. “Those youngsters have got to see everything that is to be seen. They are like all other youngsters, full of curiosity and heedless. They probably think they are quite able to take care of themselves. It certainly will be worth while to follow them for awhile. I haven’t anything better to do. Besides, I will go a long way for an Otter dinner.” He licked his lips and his mouth watered.
该作者的其它作品
《Blacky the Crow》
《The Adventures of Buster Bear》
《Old Granny Fox》
该作者的其它作品
《Blacky the Crow》
《The Adventures of Buster Bear》
《Old Granny Fox》
点击收听单词发音
1 heeds | |
n.留心,注意,听从( heed的名词复数 )v.听某人的劝告,听从( heed的第三人称单数 ) | |
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2 otter | |
n.水獭 | |
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3 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 | |
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4 otters | |
n.(水)獭( otter的名词复数 );獭皮 | |
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5 fully | |
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
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6 sneak | |
vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝);偷偷摸摸做;n.潜行;adj.暗中进行 | |
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7 sneaking | |
a.秘密的,不公开的 | |
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8 scent | |
n.气味,香味,香水,线索,嗅觉;v.嗅,发觉 | |
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9 hemlock | |
n.毒胡萝卜,铁杉 | |
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10 crouched | |
v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11 sneaked | |
v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 );偷偷溜走;(儿童向成人)打小报告;告状 | |
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12 stump | |
n.残株,烟蒂,讲演台;v.砍断,蹒跚而走 | |
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