Heavy gusts8 of wind, moaning and whistling dismally9 in their hurried flight, almost drowned the soft, even purring of the motor. Splashing rain-drops hurled11 themselves against the wind shield and top; the storm,[204] long delayed, was beginning to let loose its pent-up wrath12.
“Guess we’re going to have a peach of a time,” muttered Blake. “If I hadn’t come, though, Tom would have kidded me about it for the next six months.”
The disconsolate13 “grind” huddled14 back on the rear cushions listening to the wind and rain and the soft swish of flying mud, as the rubber-tired wheels occasionally plunged through pools and puddles15.
“Let ’er out a bit, Bob,” encouraged Tom. “Don’t be afraid.” He pulled the collar of his raincoat about his neck. “No constable16 around now to stop our scorching17. Gee18! Ought to have seen me burning up the road to-day, Bob; good you weren’t along, Charlie. Hey—asleep back there?”
“How in thunder could a fellow be asleep with a din19 like this knocking against his ear-drums?” growled20 Blake. “Where are we, Bob?”
“Somewhere between South Milwaukee and Racine—that’s all I know,” answered the driver, with a laugh.
The wind blew harder; the rain, too, gradually[205] increased in force until sweeping21 torrents22 beat hard against the motor car, splashing its occupants and forming tiny trickling23 pools in the bottom of the tonneau.
Not a vehicle had passed them; the country seemed absolutely deserted24, and only dim points of light shining in the windows of distant farmhouses25 indicated that any life existed in the seeming wilderness26.
The intense loneliness, the continual noises of the storm and the haunting fear that hidden dangers might be lurking27 in their path prevented Blake from entering into the spirit of the occasion.
From his position the forms of Bob Somers and Tom Clifton, bending low to escape the cutting blasts, assumed a curiously29 unreal appearance against the glare of acetylene light streaming ahead. Leaning forward, he sought vainly to pierce the blackness; then, his face becoming the target for splattering rain-drops, he hastily drew back, to straighten up again a moment later as a shrill30 whistle sent a series of wild reverberations across the landscape.
[206]Over the air came faintly the rattle31 and roar of a fast express. The road was taking them near the tracks of the Chicago and Northwestern Railway. Charlie’s glance suddenly rested upon something in the distance—a long row of tiny lights sweeping rapidly toward them.
Now they disappeared; now flashed into view once more; the sound of grinding car wheels rose higher. Then, with almost incredible rapidity, the tiny lights became gleaming windows seeming to radiate cheer as they sped onward32 through the night. In an instant more the train was lost to view, and only a faint screech33 of the locomotive’s whistle, fading quickly into the roar of wind and splash of rain, told of its passing.
“Wish I was on board,” sighed Charlie. “Tom Clifton’s grins’ll never drag me into any more silly adventures. This is ’most as bad as that awful motor yacht trip. I’ve been going some to-day, all right.”
On the front seat, Tom was saying:
“Motoring in such blackness is dandy fun. The idea that you’re going to run into something the next minute makes it kind of spicy,[207] eh? Gee, Bob, the rain’s coming down harder every minute. Wonder where old Dave and Victor are now?”
“Very likely taking it easy in the hotel,” grinned Bob.
“Christopher! What’s that?”
“Thunderation! I thought for a second it was a message from Dave passing right over our heads,” laughed Tom. “Some weather, this, Bob. Hello—a village beyond!—See it?”
Bob nodded.
“We’ll soon twirl that far behind us,” he said.
The faint points of light dotting the gloom gradually loomed37 up stronger; the white glare from their lamps at length flashed over a house by the roadside; then on another, and within a few minutes the touring car was sweeping steadily through the village.
Out from the darkness a small form seemed to literally38 hurl10 itself toward them, and, racing39 alongside, filled the air with vociferous40 barks and yelps41.
[208]Leaning over, Bob saw a shaggy form of nondescript color, and caught a gleam from a pair of greenish eyes.
“Some up-to-the-minute constable may nab us for disturbing sleeping dogs,” said Tom.
“That’s so,” grinned Bob.
He manipulated the lever. The car leaped forward, leaving their four-footed foe46 far in the rear. For a few moments, his senses keenly alert for any signs of danger, he kept up the swinging gait, slowing up as the lights of a store and smithy close to it shot into view.
As they passed the latter a cheerful glow was spreading out over the street from a partly-open door. The boys caught a momentary47 glimpse of figures and horses within, and heard vigorous blows on an anvil48 sending forth49 a series of musical notes.
Then the long street, silent and deserted, slipped slowly by, and, presently, the motor[209] car was threading its way in the zone where human activities seemed to have ceased. Another stretch of dreary50 blackness followed, with the trees, in the grip of the blasting air currents, soughing and snapping their branches mournfully.
Pelting51 rain still assailed52 the travelers. The motor car often rolled through deep pools, scattering53 sheets of muddy spray aside. The boys could hear the oozy54, sucking sound of slimy masses torn from their resting places and spattering against the guards.
“Say, Bob, wouldn’t this be a great place for the machine to break down?” came in a sepulchral55 voice from the rear.
“You’d surely lose the polish on your shoes, Charlie,” laughed Tom.
“Wonder what Vic ’ud say to this?”
“Oh, he’d let out an awful howl.”
“And no one could blame him, either,” growled the disgusted Blake.
On and on went the car, through another village and then another, and, finally, the city of Racine was seen asserting itself strongly against the gloom of nature.
The boys found on entering the town that[210] most of the stores were closed; but the brightly-lighted streets and the sight of electric cars and an occasional pedestrian was a welcome change after their siege of riding in the lonely country.
“Too bad we can’t stay here for a while, fellows!” exclaimed Bob, “but it’s the long road and blackness again for us.”
“Dave and Vic are probably sound asleep by this time,” grumbled56 Charlie, “never dreaming about the lovely time we’re having on their account.” Then he added, softly, to himself: “Guess I’ll be having nightmares about it, though, for weeks to come.”
“Speed her up, Bob,” said Tom, eagerly. “A chap can see where he’s going out here.”
The street stretched straight ahead, with not a vehicle in sight. The glare of electric lights flashed on steadily falling rain; the gutters57 ran with miniature floods, which gurgled and splashed along, carrying on their muddy surfaces a miscellaneous collection of rubbish. Here and there great pools reflected the buildings and telegraph poles with weird58 effect.
Bob put on more speed; the motor car[211] leaped forward, and for several blocks they flew ahead at a breath-taking pace. An electric car coming from the opposite direction presently whizzed past, a confused mass of blurred59 lights and shadows.
“This is simply great, Bob!” cried Tom. “Enjoying yourself, Charlie?” he added, with a laugh.
Occasionally Blake took a long, careful survey of the situation. On looking out, a few moments later, he saw a residential63 section passing before his eyes. This was quickly followed by the open country and desolation.
The storm, which had lulled64 during a short period, broke forth with renewed activity. At intervals65 coppery colored lightning streaked66 across the heavens, or forked its way to earth. In the brief instants of dazzling glare a series of singularly clear impressions, of dark, twisting clouds, of distant farmhouses, of rail fences, of waving trees, and of formless patches of shadow were imprinted[212] upon Charlie’s brain. It filled the boy with a curious sense of awe67 and dread68 which refused to be shaken off.
“A bend in the road just ahead, Bob!” Tom at length sang out.
“I see it,” responded the chauffeur.
The advancing rays of light showed the broad road disappearing around a mass of vegetation.
“You bet.”
As the touring car slackened speed Bob sent forth a long, warning blast of the horn.
Tom laughed.
“Gee, Bob, what was the sense of doing that?” he cried. “We haven’t passed many drays and trucks, or——”
Blake, listening indifferently, would have continued to do so but for the loud, startled exclamation70 which brought Tom’s sentence to an abrupt71 close.
He looked up quickly, then, with a gasp72 of astonishment73, he fell forward, bringing up against the seat in front with a violent bump.
[213]The motor car had scarcely swept around the bend when the acetylene glare picked out from the darkness the forms of three huge elephants advancing directly in their path. Almost stupefied with amazement74, the boys, at the same instant, saw two men walking close beside them. Not far behind, the light shone upon a huge, red wagon75.
Before the warning cries which came from the men ceased Bob Somers had thrown out the clutch and applied76 the brakes, bringing the machine to a halt almost within its own length.
A shrill trumpet77 call sounded. The elephant in advance, showing evidence of the greatest alarm, suddenly broke away from its keeper and attempted to turn back.
Then followed a scene which made the nerves of the chauffeur and his companions tingle78 with excitement. A huge pachyderm, wheeling his body around, effectually blocked the other’s progress. Almost immediately the third elephant got into action, while every movement made by the men, in their efforts to pacify79 the animals, only added to their fear and confusion.
[214]“Great Scott!” breathed Charlie, grasping Bob by the arm.
The three towering forms were swinging wildly toward them, the nearest threatening to plunge4 full tilt80 against the motor car.
点击收听单词发音
1 fully | |
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
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2 skilful | |
(=skillful)adj.灵巧的,熟练的 | |
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3 plunged | |
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降 | |
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4 plunge | |
v.跳入,(使)投入,(使)陷入;猛冲 | |
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5 steadily | |
adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地 | |
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6 mantle | |
n.斗篷,覆罩之物,罩子;v.罩住,覆盖,脸红 | |
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7 supreme | |
adj.极度的,最重要的;至高的,最高的 | |
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8 gusts | |
一阵强风( gust的名词复数 ); (怒、笑等的)爆发; (感情的)迸发; 发作 | |
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9 dismally | |
adv.阴暗地,沉闷地 | |
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10 hurl | |
vt.猛投,力掷,声叫骂 | |
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11 hurled | |
v.猛投,用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 );大声叫骂 | |
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12 wrath | |
n.愤怒,愤慨,暴怒 | |
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13 disconsolate | |
adj.忧郁的,不快的 | |
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14 huddled | |
挤在一起(huddle的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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15 puddles | |
n.水坑, (尤指道路上的)雨水坑( puddle的名词复数 ) | |
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16 constable | |
n.(英国)警察,警官 | |
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17 scorching | |
adj. 灼热的 | |
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18 gee | |
n.马;int.向右!前进!,惊讶时所发声音;v.向右转 | |
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19 din | |
n.喧闹声,嘈杂声 | |
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20 growled | |
v.(动物)发狺狺声, (雷)作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 );低声咆哮着说 | |
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21 sweeping | |
adj.范围广大的,一扫无遗的 | |
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22 torrents | |
n.倾注;奔流( torrent的名词复数 );急流;爆发;连续不断 | |
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23 trickling | |
n.油画底色含油太多而成泡沫状突起v.滴( trickle的现在分词 );淌;使)慢慢走;缓慢移动 | |
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24 deserted | |
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的 | |
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25 farmhouses | |
n.农舍,农场的主要住房( farmhouse的名词复数 ) | |
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26 wilderness | |
n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等,荒漠 | |
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27 lurking | |
潜在 | |
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28 groaned | |
v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 );发牢骚;抱怨;受苦 | |
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29 curiously | |
adv.有求知欲地;好问地;奇特地 | |
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30 shrill | |
adj.尖声的;刺耳的;v尖叫 | |
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31 rattle | |
v.飞奔,碰响;激怒;n.碰撞声;拨浪鼓 | |
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32 onward | |
adj.向前的,前进的;adv.向前,前进,在先 | |
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33 screech | |
n./v.尖叫;(发出)刺耳的声音 | |
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34 rumbling | |
n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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35 chauffeur | |
n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机;v.为…开车 | |
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36 briefly | |
adv.简单地,简短地 | |
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37 loomed | |
v.隐约出现,阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 );隐约出现,阴森地逼近 | |
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38 literally | |
adv.照字面意义,逐字地;确实 | |
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39 racing | |
n.竞赛,赛马;adj.竞赛用的,赛马用的 | |
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40 vociferous | |
adj.喧哗的,大叫大嚷的 | |
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41 yelps | |
n.(因痛苦、气愤、兴奋等的)短而尖的叫声( yelp的名词复数 )v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的第三人称单数 ) | |
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42 chirped | |
鸟叫,虫鸣( chirp的过去式 ) | |
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43 soothingly | |
adv.抚慰地,安慰地;镇痛地 | |
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44 chuckled | |
轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45 canines | |
n.犬齿( canine的名词复数 );犬牙;犬科动物 | |
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46 foe | |
n.敌人,仇敌 | |
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47 momentary | |
adj.片刻的,瞬息的;短暂的 | |
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48 anvil | |
n.铁钻 | |
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49 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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50 dreary | |
adj.令人沮丧的,沉闷的,单调乏味的 | |
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51 pelting | |
微不足道的,无价值的,盛怒的 | |
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52 assailed | |
v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 );困扰;质问;毅然应对 | |
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53 scattering | |
n.[物]散射;散乱,分散;在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的;分散在不同范围的;广泛扩散的;(选票)数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式);散布;驱散 | |
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54 oozy | |
adj.软泥的 | |
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55 sepulchral | |
adj.坟墓的,阴深的 | |
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56 grumbled | |
抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 ); 发牢骚; 咕哝; 发哼声 | |
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57 gutters | |
(路边)排水沟( gutter的名词复数 ); 阴沟; (屋顶的)天沟; 贫贱的境地 | |
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58 weird | |
adj.古怪的,离奇的;怪诞的,神秘而可怕的 | |
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59 blurred | |
v.(使)变模糊( blur的过去式和过去分词 );(使)难以区分;模模糊糊;迷离 | |
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60 query | |
n.疑问,问号,质问;vt.询问,表示怀疑 | |
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61 dissenting | |
adj.不同意的 | |
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62 grunt | |
v.嘟哝;作呼噜声;n.呼噜声,嘟哝 | |
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63 residential | |
adj.提供住宿的;居住的;住宅的 | |
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64 lulled | |
vt.使镇静,使安静(lull的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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65 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 | |
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66 streaked | |
adj.有条斑纹的,不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 );使布满条纹 | |
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67 awe | |
n.敬畏,惊惧;vt.使敬畏,使惊惧 | |
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68 dread | |
vt.担忧,忧虑;惧怕,不敢;n.担忧,畏惧 | |
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69 skidding | |
n.曳出,集材v.(通常指车辆) 侧滑( skid的现在分词 );打滑;滑行;(住在)贫民区 | |
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70 exclamation | |
n.感叹号,惊呼,惊叹词 | |
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71 abrupt | |
adj.突然的,意外的;唐突的,鲁莽的 | |
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72 gasp | |
n.喘息,气喘;v.喘息;气吁吁他说 | |
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73 astonishment | |
n.惊奇,惊异 | |
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74 amazement | |
n.惊奇,惊讶 | |
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75 wagon | |
n.四轮马车,手推车,面包车;无盖运货列车 | |
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76 applied | |
adj.应用的;v.应用,适用 | |
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77 trumpet | |
n.喇叭,喇叭声;v.吹喇叭,吹嘘 | |
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78 tingle | |
vi.感到刺痛,感到激动;n.刺痛,激动 | |
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79 pacify | |
vt.使(某人)平静(或息怒);抚慰 | |
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80 tilt | |
v.(使)倾侧;(使)倾斜;n.倾侧;倾斜 | |
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