CHAPTER XIII HANK MERWIN'S CABIN

"Oh, I remember him," said Bob, surveying the hunter with interest. "He's the old fellow we saw at the Resort House."

 

"He of the sour face," added Dave, laughingly. "Seems real mad, eh?"

 

"Hey, you lot of wooden heads," shouted the trapper, "what are ye doin' out here?"

 

"Enjoying ourselves," laughed Havens¹.

 

"Wal, if ye bother my game another time, ye won't," snarled² Joe. "Were you waterbugs crazy 'nuff ter come through the canyon³ on that thing?"

 

"Sure, Mr. Tomlin," grinned Dick.

 

"Don't give me none of yer imperdence, kid. I won't stand fur no sass."

 

"There might have been a dandy mixup if we'd been on shore," remarked the "poet," grimly.

 

When the sun had sunk from view behind the range of mountains the raft entered Lake Cloud, a beautiful sheet of water about two miles long, three-quarters broad, and partly hemmed⁴ in by mountains.

 

The rich, dark evergreens⁵ and lofty peaks were reflected with wonderful clearness in the limpid⁶ surface. Straight ahead, rising against the golden sky, was a snow-capped summit, purple and hazy⁷, while nearer at hand were red-brown cliffs, with the higher walls still touched by a glow of sunlight.

 

"No words are strong enough for this scenery," declared the "poet." "Hank Merwin certainly knows where to hang out."

 

"There isn't a prettier place around," asserted Jim Havens. "And talk about game—it's chuck full—bears and deer. But Hank can tell you all about that."

 

"Beats any place I ever saw," said Bob, enthusiastically. "Now, fellows, we'll have to desert this good old craft."

 

"Right you are," was Havens' rejoinder. "Hank's shack⁸ is over on the north shore."

 

The raft was soon poled through the lily-pads and rushes bordering the lake, and the boys jumped ashore⁹.

 

"Feel kind of stiff, for a fact," said Dick.

 

"Haven't very far to go," put in Havens, cheerfully.

 

With a last look at the rude pile of logs which had served them so well, the boys shouldered their outfits¹¹ and started off.

 

Hank Merwin's cabin was in a clearing behind a spur of a mountain and not far from the lake.

 

They found him sitting before the entrance, calmly smoking his pipe. He looked up as the boys trooped forward, but no change of expression came over his impassive face.

 

"How d'ye do, young uns?" he drawled, without rising. "I've been kinder lookin' fur ye."

 

"And we've had a grand trip," said Havens. "A raft most of the way."

 

"Young uns will be frisky," commented the trapper; "but I reckon, lads, ye're hungry."

 

The venison steak and corn dodgers¹², together with coffee made a very enjoyable supper. When it was over, Hank assisted them in making bough¹³ beds. Then they turned in, and were quickly lulled¹⁴ to sleep by the whispering pines.

 

Next morning, up bright and early, Dick Travers made several photographs of the surrounding scenery.

 

"Crickets, I can hardly wait for that jacklight trip to-night," he said to Brandon.

 

"Time will be here before you know it," drawled Dave. "I'm going to make a sketch¹⁵ of the lake."

 

Dave was only a beginner, but his work impressed Hank greatly, and his delight was unbounded when the picture was finished and the boy, after tacking¹⁶ it on the wall of the cabin, said that there it was going to remain.

 

Before supper, the trapper got his fourteen foot boat ready.

 

"I can't take all of ye lads," he said, regretfully, "but some kin¹⁰ go another time."

 

In drawing lots for the coveted¹⁷ position of assistant to the official photographer, Dave Brandon secured the lucky number.

 

Eager with anticipation¹⁸, Dick Travers scarcely tasted his food, and the sight of Dave calmly munching¹⁹ away annoyed him.

 

"For goodness' sake, Chub, do get excited—or something."

 

"Let it be something," yawned Dave. "Nerve-tingling²⁰ business isn't in my line."

 

Hank Merwin lighted the lamp on the bow of his boat, and a powerful reflector sent a stream of light to pierce the blackness.

 

"Jacklight's a-goin'—git aboard, lads," instructed the trapper.

 

The boys eagerly obeyed. In a moment, comfortably seated, they heard the faint sound of ripples²² lapping against the sides of the boat, then the fire in front of the cabin gradually grew smaller.

 

Hank handled the paddles with great skill, keeping far enough out to clear the aquatic²³ plants which grew in profusion²⁴.

 

"Lads," he said, in a low voice, "no talkin'. Our frien's kin do all that," and Dave smiled, for the voices of the two on shore reached them with astonishing clearness.

 

Occasionally, the cry of some bird or animal in the forest sounded weirdly²⁵, while night-hawks, hovering²⁶ over the lake, made their sharp voices heard at frequent intervals²⁷.

 

"Oh, ho," murmured Dave; he lay back and repeated, in barely audible tones:

 

"'Softly, oh, soft! Let us rest on the oar²¹

And vex²⁹ not a billow that sighs to the shore.'"

Meanwhile Dick Travers directed the rays of the lantern toward the bank. They flitted fantastically from tree to tree, now darting³⁰ between and dragging into view some delicate tracery beyond, then shooting across the inky black water, revealing lilies and rushes.

 

The steady, rhythmic³¹ sound of the paddle, barely heard above the soft lament³² of the pines, the faint gurgle of the water, and the easy, gliding³³ motion, produced a dreamy, unreal effect, which charmed the Ramblers and soon lulled one of them to sleep.

 

But Dick was ever alert. He strained his ears and eyes for the fairest evidence which might indicate the presence of some wild animal, but without avail.

 

Still Hank Merwin paddled on—his muscular arms seemed tireless—and still Dick shot the blinding glare over water and shore. The end of the lake was reached. Looming³⁴ faintly against the sky, they now saw a great snow-capped peak, and Dick Travers caught a low, musical murmur²⁸.

 

"A cascade," he whispered, and Hank, who had heard him, grunted³⁵ affirmatively.

 

Dick began to feel that his chances of getting a photograph were very slim indeed.

 

A half hour passed; then a faint sound set his nerves to tingling.

 

"Hank—Hank!" he whispered.

 

"Sh—sh," came from the trapper.

 

Dick felt a gleam of hope, for instantly the boat shot ahead at redoubled speed. In spite of himself, the hand that directed the jacklight trembled. Gradually the sound grew more distinct; its nature puzzled the youth more and more.

 

"What in the world can it be?" he thought. "Crickets, it sounds funny. Wish I dared ask Hank."

 

But there was something in the boatman's manner which impelled³⁶ silence.

 

They were skimming rapidly past the trees now. The boat shot ahead almost noiselessly toward the mysterious sound, which seemed to be just ahead.

 

Dick touched Dave on the shoulder.

 

"Wake up, wake up!" he whispered, excitedly.

 

"'Softly, oh, soft! Let us rest on the oar,'" murmured the stout³⁷ boy. Then he sat bolt upright, with an exclamation³⁸, and peered ahead. "What's the——" he began.

 

But a low, stern injunction for silence from Hank Merwin cut him short.

 

Evidently something extraordinary was going on out there in the night.

 

Suddenly the beam from the search-light, shooting past a jutting³⁹ point of shore, fell upon a most remarkable⁴⁰ spectacle and one which sent a thrill through both boys.

 

Two great animals, engaged in terrific combat, reared and plunged⁴¹, as they charged each other with lowered heads.

1 havens   

n.港口，安全地方( haven的名词复数 )v.港口，安全地方( haven的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Your twenty havens would back out at the last minute anyhow. 你那二十个避难所到了最后一分钟也要不认帐。 来自辞典例句
• Using offshore havens to avoid taxes and investor protections. 使用海面的港口避免税和投资者保护。 来自互联网

2 snarled   

v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说

参考例句：

• The dog snarled at us. 狗朝我们低声吼叫。
• As I advanced towards the dog, It'snarled and struck at me. 我朝那条狗走去时，它狂吠着向我扑来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 canyon   

n.峡谷，溪谷

参考例句：

• The Grand Canyon in the USA is 1900 metres deep.美国的大峡谷1900米深。
• The canyon is famous for producing echoes.这个峡谷以回声而闻名。

4 hemmed   

缝…的褶边( hem的过去式和过去分词 )； 包围

参考例句：

• He hemmed and hawed but wouldn't say anything definite. 他总是哼儿哈儿的，就是不说句痛快话。
• The soldiers were hemmed in on all sides. 士兵们被四面包围了。

5 evergreens   

n.常青树，常绿植物，万年青( evergreen的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The leaves of evergreens are often shaped like needles. 常绿植物的叶常是针形的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The pine, cedar and spruce are evergreens. 松树、雪松、云杉都是常绿的树。 来自辞典例句

6 limpid   

adj.清澈的，透明的

参考例句：

• He has a pair of limpid blue eyes.他有一双清澈的蓝眼睛。
• The sky was a limpid blue,as if swept clean of everything.碧空如洗。

7 hazy   

adj.有薄雾的，朦胧的；不肯定的，模糊的

参考例句：

• We couldn't see far because it was so hazy.雾气蒙蒙妨碍了我们的视线。
• I have a hazy memory of those early years.对那些早先的岁月我有着朦胧的记忆。

8 shack   

adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚

参考例句：

• He had to sit down five times before he reached his shack.在走到他的茅棚以前，他不得不坐在地上歇了五次。
• The boys made a shack out of the old boards in the backyard.男孩们在后院用旧木板盖起一间小木屋。

9 ashore   

adv.在(向)岸上，上岸

参考例句：

• The children got ashore before the tide came in.涨潮前，孩子们就上岸了。
• He laid hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore.他抓住绳子拉船靠岸。

10 kin   

n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的

参考例句：

• He comes of good kin.他出身好。
• She has gone to live with her husband's kin.她住到丈夫的亲戚家里去了。

11 outfits   

n.全套装备( outfit的名词复数 )；一套服装；集体；组织v.装备，配置设备，供给服装( outfit的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• He jobbed out the contract to a number of small outfits. 他把承包工程分包给许多小单位。 来自辞典例句
• Some cyclists carry repair outfits because they may have a puncture. 有些骑自行车的人带修理工具，因为他们车胎可能小孔。 来自辞典例句

12 dodgers   

n.躲闪者，欺瞒者( dodger的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a crackdown on fare dodgers on trains 对火车逃票者的严厉打击
• But Twain, Howells, and James were jeeringly described by Mencken as "draft-dodgers". 不过吐温、豪威尔斯和詹姆斯都是被门肯讥诮地叫做“逃避兵役的人。” 来自辞典例句

13 bough   

n.大树枝，主枝

参考例句：

• I rested my fishing rod against a pine bough.我把钓鱼竿靠在一棵松树的大树枝上。
• Every bough was swinging in the wind.每条树枝都在风里摇摆。

14 lulled   

vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• They lulled her into a false sense of security. 他们哄骗她，使她产生一种虚假的安全感。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The movement of the train lulled me to sleep. 火车轻微的震动催我进入梦乡。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 sketch   

n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述

参考例句：

• My sister often goes into the country to sketch. 我姐姐常到乡间去写生。
• I will send you a slight sketch of the house.我将给你寄去房屋的草图。

16 tacking   

（帆船）抢风行驶，定位焊[铆]紧钉

参考例句：

• He was tacking about on this daily though perilous voyage. 他在进行这种日常的、惊险的航行。
• He spent the afternoon tacking the pictures. 他花了一个下午的时间用图钉固定那些图片。

17 coveted   

adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图

参考例句：

• He had long coveted the chance to work with a famous musician. 他一直渴望有机会与著名音乐家一起工作。
• Ther other boys coveted his new bat. 其他的男孩都想得到他的新球棒。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

19 munching   

v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was munching an apple. 他在津津有味地嚼着苹果。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Munching the apple as he was, he had an eye for all her movements. 他虽然啃着苹果，但却很留神地监视着她的每一个动作。 来自辞典例句

20 tingling   

v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• My ears are tingling [humming; ringing; singing]. 我耳鸣。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• My tongue is tingling. 舌头发麻。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

21 oar   

n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行

参考例句：

• The sailors oar slowly across the river.水手们慢慢地划过河去。
• The blade of the oar was bitten off by a shark.浆叶被一条鲨鱼咬掉了。

22 ripples   

逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The moon danced on the ripples. 月亮在涟漪上舞动。
• The sea leaves ripples on the sand. 海水在沙滩上留下了波痕。

23 aquatic   

adj.水生的，水栖的

参考例句：

• Aquatic sports include swimming and rowing.水上运动包括游泳和划船。
• We visited an aquatic city in Italy.我们在意大利访问过一个水上城市。

24 profusion   

n.挥霍；丰富

参考例句：

• He is liberal to profusion.他挥霍无度。
• The leaves are falling in profusion.落叶纷纷。

25 weirdly   

古怪地

参考例句：

• Another special characteristic of Kweilin is its weirdly-shaped mountain grottoes. 桂林的另一特点是其形态怪异的岩洞。
• The country was weirdly transformed. 地势古怪地变了样。

26 hovering   

鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫

参考例句：

• The helicopter was hovering about 100 metres above the pad. 直升机在离发射台一百米的上空盘旋。
• I'm hovering between the concert and the play tonight. 我犹豫不决今晚是听音乐会还是看戏。

27 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。

28 murmur   

n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言

参考例句：

• They paid the extra taxes without a murmur.他们毫无怨言地交了附加税。
• There was a low murmur of conversation in the hall.大厅里有窃窃私语声。

29 vex   

vt.使烦恼，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Everything about her vexed him.有关她的一切都令他困惑。
• It vexed me to think of others gossiping behind my back.一想到别人在背后说我闲话，我就很恼火。

30 darting   

v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔

参考例句：

• Swallows were darting through the clouds. 燕子穿云急飞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Swallows were darting through the air. 燕子在空中掠过。 来自辞典例句

31 rhythmic   

adj.有节奏的，有韵律的

参考例句：

• Her breathing became more rhythmic.她的呼吸变得更有规律了。
• Good breathing is slow,rhythmic and deep.健康的呼吸方式缓慢深沉而有节奏。

32 lament   

n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹

参考例句：

• Her face showed lament.她的脸上露出悲伤的样子。
• We lament the dead.我们哀悼死者。

33 gliding   

v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的

参考例句：

• Swans went gliding past. 天鹅滑行而过。
• The weather forecast has put a question mark against the chance of doing any gliding tomorrow. 天气预报对明天是否能举行滑翔表示怀疑。

34 looming   

n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• The foothills were looming ahead through the haze. 丘陵地带透过薄雾朦胧地出现在眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they looked up. Looming above them was Mount Proteome. 接着他们往上看，在其上隐约看到的是蛋白质组山。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 回顾与展望

35 grunted   

（猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说

参考例句：

• She just grunted, not deigning to look up from the page. 她只咕哝了一声，继续看书，不屑抬起头来看一眼。
• She grunted some incomprehensible reply. 她咕噜着回答了些令人费解的话。

36 impelled   

v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He felt impelled to investigate further. 他觉得有必要作进一步调查。
• I feel impelled to express grave doubts about the project. 我觉得不得不对这项计划深表怀疑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

37   

参考例句：

38 exclamation   

n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词

参考例句：

• He could not restrain an exclamation of approval.他禁不住喝一声采。
• The author used three exclamation marks at the end of the last sentence to wake up the readers.作者在文章的最后一句连用了三个惊叹号，以引起读者的注意。

39 jutting   

v.（使）突出( jut的现在分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出

参考例句：

• The climbers rested on a sheltered ledge jutting out from the cliff. 登山者在悬崖的岩棚上休息。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The soldier saw a gun jutting out of some bushes. 那士兵看见丛林中有一枝枪伸出来。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

40 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

41 plunged   

v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
• She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。