CHAPTER IV THE CIRCUS

 The Ramblers and Charlie Blake secured quarters at one of Kenosha’s principal hotels. As Captain Bunderley had some business to attend to, Victor decided¹ to remain with them until the hour for turning in.

 

Immediately after supper the crowd gathered in Bob Somers’ room.

 

Dave Brandon, the poet and historian of the club, was soon reclining with his accustomed ease at the window. The dark, gloomy night strangely stirred his imagination. Vague inspirations floated through his brain. He thought of the lonely lake as the subject for a poem; he cudgeled his brain to seize and hold fast the elusive² words which constantly flitted before his mental vision.

 

Presently Dave sat up. A walk in the open air, he decided, might aid him in cornering this near-inspiration.

 

Bob Somers was busy writing a letter; Victor[39] and Charlie were talking, while Tom at a table all by himself kept scribbling³ on sheet after sheet of paper. Tom’s face wore a tremendous frown, as though his work were of a deep and absorbing nature.

 

“Hello! Owing to the increased demand for paper the price must soon advance,” chirped⁴ Victor, suddenly. “What’s up?”

 

“You mean what’s going down,” laughed Blake.

 

Tom seemed to hesitate. He glanced sternly toward Victor, then exclaimed:

 

“This is what I was going to tell you about. I’m getting up a set of by-laws for our new Athletic⁵ Association.”

 

The room was immediately in an uproar⁶. Dave, fearful that all his ideas might vanish, jumped up hastily and walked to the door.

 

“I’ll be back soon, Bob!” he called, with a laugh.

 

Out in the corridor, Tom’s voice, already raised in a hot argument with Victor, still reached him. In another moment he was down-stairs and on the street.

 

A brisk walk in the cool air promised to[40] aid Dave’s faculties⁷, as he had hoped. Already the vague phrases in his mind were beginning to shape themselves into definite words.

 

Here and there a swinging sign-board mingled⁸ a series of dismal⁹ creaking notes with the crisp moaning of a gusty¹⁰ breeze. Autumn leaves, ruthlessly torn from their resting places on the branches, occasionally whirled helter-skelter through the air, to dance merrily along the streets. Trails of dust, banging shutters¹¹, or flickering¹² lights were all tributes to the tyranny of the never-ceasing currents.

 

Ten minutes later, in a sheltered position near an electric light, Dave was writing stanzas¹³ at record speed. It was really delightful¹⁴—the way in which that near-inspiration had been finally conquered.

 

Suddenly a voice broke in upon him.

 

“Say, Brandon, owing to the unprecedented¹⁵ demand for paper in Kenosha the mills will be compelled to work overtime¹⁶.”

 

Dave turned abruptly¹⁷. Victor Collins’ dapper little figure was standing¹⁸ close beside him.

 

[41]“Gracious; you here!” cried the writer, in astonishment¹⁹.

 

“No; I’m back there, still kidding the by-law committee,” chuckled²⁰ Victor. “Seriously, though, I finished him in about half a minute and skipped after you. What have you got there?”

 

“Almost a poem,” confessed Dave.

 

“Read it,” commanded Victor, imperiously.

 

“Never!” laughed Dave.

 

Victor argued and coaxed²¹. He even prepared to land a “good one” in the neighborhood of the ribs²²; his little fists, tightly clenched²³, gyrated fiercely. But Dave’s clever footwork more than balanced Victor’s speed.

 

“All right, smarty,” grumbled²⁴ the boy. “Bet it’s awful piffle, anyway.”

 

“Come along, Vic,” laughed Dave, as he started off.

 

Victor Collins’ wishes were not often so disregarded as they had been during that day. It touched his pride.

 

“If I don’t find a way to make these fine chaps drop down a peg²⁵ or two before to-morrow I’ll be much surprised,” he muttered grimly to himself.

 

[42]Thereupon Victor set his thoughts briskly to work in an effort to find a scheme for getting square.

 

Down one street, or out another, the two wandered, often in silence, for each had many thoughts to engage his attention, though on widely divergent subjects. The busier, brightly-lighted sections began to be slowly left behind. Electric cars no longer whizzed past them.

 

Dave and Victor finally found themselves on a wide, tree-lined avenue.

 

“What a delightful retreat,” murmured Dave. “Sitting on a nice, comfortable porch I could get ideas for a dozen—eh?”

 

Victor had clutched his arm.

 

“Say, look straight ahead, Brandon!” he cried.

 

“I declare, I see lights, and more lights!” exclaimed Dave.

 

The pair began to stare earnestly toward a number of starlike points which were moving about in a most erratic²⁶ fashion.

 

“What in the mischief²⁷ are they?” asked Victor. “Think some of the stars have tumbled poetically²⁸ down through the clouds?”

 

[43]“Give it up,” laughed Dave. “We’ll know before the night is over.”

 

Victor, whose curiosity was highly excited, now easily kept ahead of his taller companion. But the lights had entirely²⁹ disappeared, leaving the street to end apparently³⁰ in a void of blackness.

 

“Looks like a jumping off place,” exclaimed Victor. “Hurry up, Brandon.”

 

They began to walk rapidly, soon covering a number of blocks.

 

Suddenly the cluster of lights flashed into view once more. Five minutes later they heard a series of dull thuds, as of hammering, accompanied at intervals³¹ by a low rumbling³² of wagon³³ wheels. When an open lot which faced the street was reached Dave and his companion saw a number of flaming torches that sent weird³⁴ streaks³⁵ of yellow over the ground, lighting³⁶ up in their course groups of men busily engaged with sledge-hammers.

 

Dave Brandon’s eyes were instantly attracted toward a huge bill-board which rose from amidst a tangle³⁷ of weeds and grasses. The rays from a gas lamp cast a flickering glow over its multi-colored surface.

 

[44]“Look, Vic,” he exclaimed, with a laugh. “The mystery is solved.”

 

And Victor, whose eyes were bright with interest, read in letters that almost took in the entire length of the board:

 

“Ollie Spudger’s Great Combined Peerless Circus and Menagerie.”

 

“By George—a circus! Isn’t this jolly good luck, Brandon?” he cried, enthusiastically.

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 elusive   

adj.难以表达(捉摸)的；令人困惑的；逃避的

参考例句：

• Try to catch the elusive charm of the original in translation.翻译时设法把握住原文中难以捉摸的风韵。
• Interpol have searched all the corners of the earth for the elusive hijackers.国际刑警组织已在世界各地搜查在逃的飞机劫持者。

3 scribbling   

n.乱涂[写]胡[乱]写的文章[作品]v.潦草的书写( scribble的现在分词 )；乱画；草草地写；匆匆记下

参考例句：

• Once the money got into the book, all that remained were some scribbling. 折子上的钱只是几个字！ 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
• McMug loves scribbling. Mama then sent him to the Kindergarten. 麦唛很喜欢写字，妈妈看在眼里，就替他报读了幼稚园。 来自互联网

4 chirped   

鸟叫，虫鸣( chirp的过去式 )

参考例句：

• So chirped fiber gratings have broad reflection bandwidth. 所以chirped光纤光栅具有宽的反射带宽，在反射带宽内具有渐变的群时延等其它类型的光纤光栅所不具备的特点。
• The crickets chirped faster and louder. 蟋蟀叫得更欢了。

5 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。

6 uproar   

n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸

参考例句：

• She could hear the uproar in the room.她能听见房间里的吵闹声。
• His remarks threw the audience into an uproar.他的讲话使听众沸腾起来。

7 faculties   

n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院

参考例句：

• Although he's ninety, his mental faculties remain unimpaired. 他虽年届九旬，但头脑仍然清晰。
• All your faculties have come into play in your work. 在你的工作中，你的全部才能已起到了作用。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 mingled   

混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系]

参考例句：

• The sounds of laughter and singing mingled in the evening air. 笑声和歌声交织在夜空中。
• The man and the woman mingled as everyone started to relax. 当大家开始放松的时候，这一男一女就开始交往了。

9 dismal   

adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的

参考例句：

• That is a rather dismal melody.那是一支相当忧郁的歌曲。
• My prospects of returning to a suitable job are dismal.我重新找到一个合适的工作岗位的希望很渺茫。

10 gusty   

adj.起大风的

参考例句：

• Weather forecasts predict more hot weather,gusty winds and lightning strikes.天气预报预测高温、大风和雷电天气将继续。
• Why was Candlestick Park so windy and gusty? 埃德尔斯蒂克公园里为什么会有那么多的强劲阵风？

11 shutters   

百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门

参考例句：

• The shop-front is fitted with rolling shutters. 那商店的店门装有卷门。
• The shutters thumped the wall in the wind. 在风中百叶窗砰砰地碰在墙上。

12 flickering   

adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的

参考例句：

• The crisp autumn wind is flickering away. 清爽的秋风正在吹拂。
• The lights keep flickering. 灯光忽明忽暗。

13 stanzas   

节，段( stanza的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The poem has six stanzas. 这首诗有六小节。
• Stanzas are different from each other in one poem. 诗中节与节差异颇大。

14 delightful   

adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的

参考例句：

• We had a delightful time by the seashore last Sunday.上星期天我们在海滨玩得真痛快。
• Peter played a delightful melody on his flute.彼得用笛子吹奏了一支欢快的曲子。

15 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

16 overtime   

adj.超时的，加班的；adv.加班地

参考例句：

• They are working overtime to finish the work.为了完成任务他们正在加班加点地工作。
• He was paid for the overtime he worked.他领到了加班费。

17 abruptly   

adv.突然地，出其不意地

参考例句：

• He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
• I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。

18 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

19 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

20 chuckled   

轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
• She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情，她就轻轻地暗自发笑。

21 coaxed   

v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱

参考例句：

• She coaxed the horse into coming a little closer. 她哄着那匹马让它再靠近了一点。
• I coaxed my sister into taking me to the theatre. 我用好话哄姐姐带我去看戏。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

22 ribs   

n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹

参考例句：

• He suffered cracked ribs and bruising. 他断了肋骨还有挫伤。
• Make a small incision below the ribs. 在肋骨下方切开一个小口。

23 clenched   

v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He clenched his fists in anger. 他愤怒地攥紧了拳头。
• She clenched her hands in her lap to hide their trembling. 她攥紧双手放在腿上，以掩饰其颤抖。 来自《简明英汉词典》

24 grumbled   

抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声

参考例句：

• He grumbled at the low pay offered to him. 他抱怨给他的工资低。
• The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. 天热得让人发昏，水手们边干活边发着牢骚。

25 peg   

n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定

参考例句：

• Hang your overcoat on the peg in the hall.把你的大衣挂在门厅的挂衣钩上。
• He hit the peg mightily on the top with a mallet.他用木槌猛敲木栓顶。

26 erratic   

adj.古怪的，反复无常的，不稳定的

参考例句：

• The old man had always been cranky and erratic.那老头儿性情古怪,反复无常。
• The erratic fluctuation of market prices is in consequence of unstable economy.经济波动致使市场物价忽起忽落。

27 mischief   

n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹

参考例句：

• Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。
• He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。

28 poetically   

adv.有诗意地，用韵文

参考例句：

• Life is poetically compared to the morning dew. 在诗歌中，人生被比喻为朝露。 来自辞典例句
• Poetically, Midsummer's Eve begins in flowers and ends in fire. 仲夏节是富有诗意的节日，它以鲜花领航，在篝火旁完美落幕。 来自互联网

29 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

30 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

31 intervals   

n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息

参考例句：

• The forecast said there would be sunny intervals and showers. 预报间晴，有阵雨。
• Meetings take place at fortnightly intervals. 每两周开一次会。

32 rumbling   

n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词

参考例句：

• The earthquake began with a deep [low] rumbling sound. 地震开始时发出低沉的隆隆声。
• The crane made rumbling sound. 吊车发出隆隆的响声。

33 wagon   

n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车

参考例句：

• We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
• The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。

34 weird   

adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的

参考例句：

• From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来，他好像有点怪。
• His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。

35 streaks   

n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹

参考例句：

• streaks of grey in her hair 她头上的绺绺白发
• Bacon has streaks of fat and streaks of lean. 咸肉中有几层肥的和几层瘦的。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

36 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

37 tangle   

n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱

参考例句：

• I shouldn't tangle with Peter.He is bigger than me.我不应该与彼特吵架。他的块头比我大。
• If I were you, I wouldn't tangle with them.我要是你，我就不跟他们争吵。