"Old Ephraim is out to investigate," declared Havens1, excitedly. "Throw down everything but your guns. Take my advice, and shin up a tree—every blessed one of you."
"But," protested Bob, "we——"
Jim waved his hand impatiently.
"The worst animal in the mountains to tackle," he said, earnestly. "Better do what I say. Quick! The old brute2's coming this way."
The crackling of twigs3 and crashing among the underbrush indicated that the bear was steadily4 advancing.
The hunters' nerves began to tingle5 at the prospect6 of meeting such a formidable antagonist7, but a certain pride prevented them from adopting the wisest course.
Old Ephraim evidently felt that everything was not as it should be, and seemed determined8 to be fully9 satisfied before returning to his fishing.
While the four stood irresolute10, the underbrush parted, and a broad head with a rather pointed11 snout came into view. A pair of small eyes gazed inquiringly around, and their owner, taking in the young nimrods, uttered a low growl12. He seemed to be indignant at the invasion of his domain13. Such a proceeding14 must be discouraged.
With a roar, he lumbered15 forward, and the Ramblers, feeling that closer acquaintanceship was not to be desired, scattered16.
All but Jim Havens were startled and disconcerted at the size of the animal, and began to regret that they were not viewing the scene nicely perched on some branch out of reach of his terrible claws.
In the meantime, the grizzly17 singled out Bob Somers for immediate18 vengeance19. The captain felt that it was too late to follow Havens' advice. He steadied his nerves and awaited a favorable moment.
"Shoot straight!" yelled Havens.
Four rifles were ready, though they may have wavered a little.
One of them presently spoke20; a sharp report reverberated21; a wreath of bluish smoke curled lazily upward, and a terrifying roar rang out.
Bob's shot had only checked the animal for an instant. It rose on its hind22 legs, then dropped upon all fours again, and, maddened beyond measure, redoubled its speed.
"Run for your life, Bob," shouted Havens. "We'll get him."
Then a wild chase began.
Afraid of hitting their companion, the others refrained from firing, while the captain tore around the trees with the huge animal in hot pursuit.
The three boys, with shouts and yells of encouragement, which they hoped might also divert the bear's attention, followed. It seemed to the frightened group that the captain was certain to be overtaken.
But, with a desperate effort, Bob suddenly swerved23 to one side, and by the time the clumsy brute could turn he had gained several feet.
"Keep it up, Bob!" shouted Dave Brandon, encouragingly.
The stout24 boy was puffing25 and blowing, but despite his handicap in weight kept well ahead of the others.
"Hi, hi! Christopher!"
"Great Cæsar!"
"My eye!"
Bob had reached the bank, and the grizzly was again almost within reach. A quick glance over his shoulder told him that a turn to either the right or left might be disastrous26. Then, without hesitation27, he threw aside his gun and plunged28 into the stream.
The bear, as if puzzled by this strange proceeding, stood for a moment gazing after the swimmer. But he did not mean to be cheated in such a fashion as that. With another hoarse29 growl, his ponderous30 body sent the water splashing.
Two shots rang out almost simultaneously31.
"You missed him," called out Havens, his eyes shining with excitement. "Come ahead—we've got him!"
At full speed, he led the way toward the fallen tree. But the remnants of the grizzly's feast had made the trunk very slippery. Jim Havens' right foot began to slide—he gave an exclamation32—then the left gave way.
The rifle dropped from his grasp; he flung his arms wildly over his head, and, with a lusty yell of dismay, plunged forward and landed in the water with a tremendous splash.
When, coughing and spluttering, he arose to the surface, it was about ten feet further down-stream.
"Wow—I—I——"
But a sharp report drowned the rest of his sentence.
Dave Brandon had succeeded in crossing the natural bridge just as the dripping bear clambered out on the opposite side. He sank to one knee, and fired.
The grizzly rose on its hind legs, its mouth opened, showing an array of formidable teeth; then, with a last defiant33 snarl34, Old Ephraim fell heavily over, gave several convulsive movements and finally lay limp and lifeless.
He stood on the bank, with his wet clothes clinging tightly to him and his hair matted fantastically to his forehead.
"Oh, no, he can't. Dave is the champion nimrod of the crowd," laughed Dick Travers. "Christopher—some excitement, eh?" Then he burst out laughing. "You're not hurt, are you, Havens?" he asked. "Honest, you were the funniest thing I ever saw when you went in."
"The whole thing was a comedy of errors," smiled Bob.
"It's lucky I didn't fall on a rock," said Havens, with a very faint grin. "That old fish-eating monster caused us a peck of trouble. And my rifle—we'll have to dig that up," he added, ruefully. "Somers, you and I are pretty sights."
The two dry nimrods and the two wet were soon examining the carcass. It was a monster, over eight feet long, and probably weighing about nine hundred pounds.
The task of skinning Old Ephraim was not an easy one, but Havens' experience counted. When the work was finally accomplished39, all realized that it would be impossible to reach the mountain top that night.
Four o'clock found the boys weary, footsore, and looking for a camp. They were a long way up the mountain.
When they came to a stop, it was at a point where a barren, rocky area surrounded them. Evidently at some remote period a fearful convulsion of nature had split and rent the great rocks and piled others together in the utmost confusion.
Dave Brandon and Dick Travers rested by the wayside, while Bob Somers and Jim went off on a skirmishing expedition toward a belt of timber.
In a few moments, shouts were heard.
"Think there's anything up?" asked Dick, in an anxious voice.
"No! Bob doesn't yell as if a bear was after him," laughed Dave. "Here they come. What's that he says?"
"Found a cave, and a whopper, too."
"Hello, boys, we've struck a dandy place for a camp," called Bob; he arrived, panting and gleeful. "Finest cave you ever saw, Chubby," he declared.
"A crackerjack," added Havens. "Let's tote the stuff over, and get our grub."
In a few minutes, the boys reached the entrance, which was partially45 concealed46 by a fringe of bushes.
"Did you fellows have the nerve to go in there?" asked Dick.
"Not until we made sure that it was safe," responded Jim.
Dick eagerly pushed aside the bushes, and entered. For a moment everything was black, and he lingered on the threshold, fearing that some pitfall47 might be close at hand. Then, as he stepped forward, his eyes gradually accustomed themselves to the dim light which filtered in through the entrance.
But this disappeared almost entirely48, as Dave's stout form squeezed through. Dick lighted a match.
When the tiny flame flared49 up, he uttered an exclamation of astonishment50. It seemed as if he had been transported into some fairy chamber51 of wondrous52 beauty.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
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： |
|
|
|
|
2
brute
|
|
| n.野兽，兽性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
twigs
|
|
| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
steadily
|
|
| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
tingle
|
|
| vi.感到刺痛，感到激动；n.刺痛，激动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
prospect
|
|
| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
antagonist
|
|
| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
irresolute
|
|
| adj.无决断的，优柔寡断的，踌躇不定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
growl
|
|
| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
domain
|
|
| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
proceeding
|
|
| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
lumbered
|
|
| 砍伐（lumber的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
grizzly
|
|
| adj.略为灰色的，呈灰色的；n.灰色大熊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
vengeance
|
|
| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
reverberated
|
|
| 回响，回荡( reverberate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使反响，使回荡，使反射 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
hind
|
|
| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
swerved
|
|
| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
puffing
|
|
| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
disastrous
|
|
| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
hesitation
|
|
| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
hoarse
|
|
| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
ponderous
|
|
| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
simultaneously
|
|
| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
defiant
|
|
| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
snarl
|
|
| v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
hurrah
|
|
| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
bully
|
|
| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
scrambled
|
|
| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
ashore
|
|
| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
accomplished
|
|
| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
odds
|
|
| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
brace
|
|
| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
quail
|
|
| n.鹌鹑；vi.畏惧，颤抖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
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： |
|
|
|
|
44
soda
|
|
| n.苏打水；汽水 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
partially
|
|
| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
concealed
|
|
| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
pitfall
|
|
| n.隐患，易犯的错误；陷阱，圈套 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
Flared
|
|
| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
chamber
|
|
| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
wondrous
|
|
| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |