Rain, fog and wind form a decidedly unpleasant combination on the sloping sides of a mountain.
The three Ramblers and their friend Jim Havens1 were not long in having this fact impressed upon them. With surprising suddenness, the wind increased to a gale2, sweeping3 everything before it, and the boys, crouching4 almost flat, had difficulty in avoiding the stones which rattled5 down from above.
Presently, the ominous6 darkness was momentarily dispelled7 by a dazzling gleam of bluish-white. Then followed a crackling sound, which merged8 into a crash that seemed to jar the mountain.
The obscurity grew denser9. Never in their lives had they been in such a fog. It almost startled them to realize that they could scarcely see each other—that they were, in fact, amidst the very storm-clouds.
Each moment they expected another blinding glare and solemn peal11 of thunder, but it seemed as if nature had spent most of its electrical energy. The next flash, which only came after a considerate interval12, was much less brilliant.
Dick Travers protected his precious camera as well as he could, but several times it almost slipped from his grasp.
Chilled, and soaked to the skin, the boys could do nothing but wait. The clouds kept swirling13 past, while the wind moaned and howled, making conversation almost impossible.
About half an hour later, Dave Brandon eased himself slowly to his feet.
"Weather to-day threatening and showery, fellows," he remarked, cheerily. "To-night, clear and colder."
"That will do, Chub," said Bob, ruefully. "Wow—but I am glad the rain is letting up."
"And the wind going down," chimed in Dick, his teeth chattering14. "I feel worse than an icicle."
"It's colder than all outdoors," added Jim, with a tremendous shiver. "What shall we do?"
"Nothing—just wait for things to get better," answered the philosophical15 Dave.
The wind continued brisk, and the boys felt it so keenly that they were glad to keep their chilled bodies in motion.
"It's so steep I don't see how we can get much higher," observed Dick Travers. "Say—where are you going, Jim Havens?"
Their guide, his eyes bent16 on the rock, was crawling upon hands and knees toward a ledge17 that overhung a steep declivity18.
"Plenty of signs of goats, fellows," he cried. "Look!" And Bob, who had followed, saw that the surface was worn and indented19 by the tread of countless20 hoofs21.
"By jingo, it must have taken years to cut into the solid rock like that," he said, reflectively.
"Hundreds, maybe," returned Havens. "Goats," he explained, "have regular beaten trails. You'll find plenty of them all over the upper parts of the mountains."
The group continued cautiously along, on the lookout22 for a break in the slope which might enable them to ascend23.
The steep declivity they were on led down to a ledge at the brink26 of a precipice27, on one side of which the rocks jutted28 out abruptly29, forming a spur.
"Think you could climb down it?" asked Jim, with a grin.
"I'd leave that for——" began the "poet"; then he paused, gripped Havens' arm, and whispered,
"Softly, oh, soft! Let us rest on the rocks
and having changed the lines to suit the situation, a broad smile played over his face.
"Stoop down, everybody," commanded Jim, sharply. "A herd31 of goats on the ledge, as sure as you're a foot high—the wind in our favor, too. By George! They're running to beat the band."
"Must be something chasing them," murmured Dick.
Havens gripped his rifle, and lay low.
A savage32 growl33 reached their ears; then a lithe34, gray mountain lion appeared in view. With lashing35 tail, he crept steadily36 forward.
"We're going to see something now," whispered Havens, excitedly.
"Brave old codger," murmured Bob, "but he doesn't stand any show."
With a savage snarl40, the panther leaped in the air. Had the buck remained still, the cat would have landed squarely upon his back. But the grizzled old warrior41 sprang quickly to one side; then, with lowered head, dashed furiously at his foe42.
The force was so great that the mountain lion, partly off its balance, fell back. A horrid43 screech44 rang out—then another, as the buck landed its hoofs viciously on the prostrate45 form.
But the tawny46 beast recovered himself quickly, crouched47 with flattened48 ears, and fiercely attacked its prey49.
Bravely the buck met the advance, but the powerful paws of the panther soon brought him to his knees.
"That's the end of him," whispered Bob. "Christopher! No, he's up again. Look at that!"
"Wish he'd send the old monster over the cliff," said Dick, breathlessly. "He's doing wonders."
With a desperate effort, the goat rose on its hind50 legs, and shook off his antagonist51. Backing away, the animal approached the edge of the precipice.
"The brave old buck deserves to live, after putting up such a game fight," declared Dave. "Come on, fellows—to the rescue!"
The four began scrambling53 hastily down over the rocks toward the combatants.
"Hey! Don't fire until I get a chance with my camera," panted Dick, excitedly.
"All right, photographer—quick," said Havens.
The cat sprang again, and landed on the back of its antagonist; the buck partly rose, the weight of the panther pulled him sideways, and both goat and cat, struggling madly, fell in a heap upon the very edge of the precipice.
Breathlessly the boys watched; Dick Travers pointed his camera.
For an instant, the outcome was in doubt; then the buck, with wildly waving legs, plunged55 backward into the abyss, dragging his snarling56 foe with him.
"Good gracious!" exclaimed Dave; "what a finish!"
"Great Cæsar!" cried Bob. "They'll be knocked into a thousand bits."
"By Jingo—both done for," added Havens.
Then something else happened.
Dick Travers, in his eagerness to get a photo, failed to notice a projecting rock; he tripped, and found himself going forward.
It was a very sudden lurch57, and the involuntary motion to recover his balance resumed in the camera slipping from his grasp. Bumping and sliding, it shot swiftly down the incline.
Bob Somers sprang forward to Dick's assistance, while Dave tried to catch the instrument. The former was successful, but the stout58 boy had no chance to intercept59 the camera.
With wild, staring eyes, Dick Travers watched the precious instrument headed straight for the precipice. Nothing could save it.
"It's gone," he said, in a hollow voice.
An instant later, the official photographer's official instrument sailed grandly over the brink, and followed goat and panther to the rocks below.
Dick Travers was inconsolable.
"Never mind, old man," said Bob, soothingly60. "My dad will send you out another—honest, he will. You've got all your negatives safe."
"Fellows, look," remarked Havens, in a few minutes. He pointed to several large birds circling above the chasm61. "Vultures," he said, briefly62.
"After the goat and panther already?" exclaimed Bob, in surprise.
As soon as the great birds were hidden behind the precipice, the Ramblers continued on.
"Here's a place where we can get up," observed Bob, at length.
He began scrambling over a pile of rocks, and the others followed.
After many difficulties, and assisting each other over places which at first glance seemed impassable, the boys reached the snow.
"It's jolly fun to do this in summer, eh?" cried Bob, as he playfully shied a lump at Dave.
"I should say so," laughed the stout boy, returning the compliment.
"I can't forget that camera," sighed Dick, gloomily. "Excuse me, Havens, I didn't mean to soak you so hard."
Jim brushed a large quantity of snowflakes from around his neck.
"Oh, ho," said Dave, "this is a wonderful sight. A bit too cold to suit me, though. Our friends, the goats, have been here, all right—see the tracks?"
"And that's about all we will see of 'em," put in Havens. "They're scary critters. Big horns the same way."
Cautiously, the four climbed on. A magnificent panorama64 was before them—of valley and rugged65 mountains, of dark timber and rocks, all in sunshine save where the shadow of some floating cloud dotted the landscape.
The sun was now hanging just above a high peak, and within a short time the shade would creep through the valley, the rosy66 glow fade from the opposite mountains and the dense10 forests become sombre and gloomy.
Dave Brandon thought of this, and proposed returning, but the others were anxious to reach the highest point.
"Come on, Chubby67," protested Bob. "Don't talk that way until we have balanced ourselves on the peak."
"Wish they would spread all around," said Bob.
"By jingo, it looks as if a fellow could walk on them without falling through, doesn't it, Chub?" remarked Dick.
"Yes—makes it feel safe up here. Sort of holds us in."
"Funny to be looking down upon a pile of clouds," observed Bob, reflectively.
In ten minutes, the slowly-moving clouds had again cleared almost entirely69 away, and the boys, as they slipped and scrambled70 around a huge snow-bank, came across a view which brought them to a sudden halt.
"Jiminy crickets!" cried Bob, with arm outstretched; "look—Mountain Lake!"
"That's just what it is," said Dick, wonderingly. "Isn't it great, though? Can see just the shape and everything. The two islands look like a tiny little speck71."
"Wish we had the Lick telescope," was Dave Brandon's remark. "Might see Sam and Tom on the porch or fishing in the lake. And think," he added, in tones which spoke72 of a troubled soul, "of all the weary tramping we've got to do before we see it again."
Their way, however, was soon barred by a narrow ledge which sloped abruptly downward on either hand.
"Never had any practice on tight ropes, and don't care to negotiate it," announced Dave, firmly.
"If you please, Chubby, we know you are right up in big words, but you'd better save 'em for Professor Hopkins," said Bob, with a smile.
"Very good," returned Dave; "but I am unalterably opposed to a continuance of——"
For a few moments they contemplated76 in silence the dazzling depths below. Then Havens spoke up.
"Better be moving, fellows," he said. "There are some pretty tough places to get down, and we want to spend the night in the cave again."
"That's so," said Bob, "and often it's worse than climbing."
"Makes me tired to think of coming all this way, and then find that you just can't reach the top," exclaimed Dick Travers.
He looked longingly77 toward the summit, whereupon the other boys faced about and began the homeward march.
"Wouldn't do you any good to plead for it," said Dave. "I'm satisfied with being this far out of the world."
The descent, across sloping fields of snow, over slippery hillocks and declivities, proved to be more difficult than they had anticipated. Many anxious moments were spent at places where a slip or misstep might have meant a terrible fall.
When the timber line was reached, Havens' trail was soon found, and the four plunged into the thick pine forest.
"It's going to be blacker than pitch," remarked Dave, cheerily.
"Who cares?" said Bob. "We won't get lost—that's sure."
"And I wouldn't mind if we did," put in Dick, gloomily. "I can't get over that camera."
"Brighten up, old man—the worst is always ahead of us," laughed Dave.
"Don't even whisper, fellows," said Bob, a moment later. "Our supper is over there."
"Where—where?" came a low chorus.
"Don't you see a flock of birds in the open space beyond that old oak?"
"Sure," said Dick, in a stage whisper. "We mustn't miss anything like that."
"And won't, either," asserted Havens. "Be careful now."
Cautiously, the hunters spread out, and began to creep along, avoiding obstructions78 almost as well as Hank Merwin could have done. Not a word was spoken.
Through every opening they eagerly peered, and saw the flock still feeding, unconscious of danger. A little further, and four guns were raised toward the glade79. Then four reports echoed, almost in unison80, and almost instantly afterward81 the guns spoke in a more scattered82 fashion, while a flock of ducks, with loud quacking83, took wing and disappeared amid the thick foliage84.
Quickly they covered the ground which separated them from the glade, to find three plump birds.
"That's bully," cried Havens.
"Um—um," said the "poet." He picked up a bird by the legs and held it aloft. "Isn't that a daisy wood-duck?" he cried, admiringly. "Look at the lovely color—it's the prettiest of all ducks."
"Right you are, Chubby, but it will look even prettier when it gets over the fire. Come ahead—it's growing dark fast."
Already the light was beginning to fade from the sky, and before long it would be difficult to find the trees which Havens had marked.
"It means a torchlight procession pretty soon," remarked Dave, and this prediction was soon verified. When night came, four flaring86 pine-knots flashed a pathway through the forest, and caused many of its inhabitants to dash madly for the nearest thickets87.
Strange sounds met their ears, the plaintive88 note of the whippoorwill, the weird89 hooting90 of owls91, and sometimes the cries of animals in the distance.
Every one of the group kept his eyes and ears open for signs of any dangerous beasts which might be lurking92 in their path.
Owing to Havens' forethought in "blazing" the trees at short intervals93, the trail was easily found, and the cave at last reached.
"Oh, how glad I am to get here," said Dave. "Nice late supper we'll have, though I'm 'most too tired to eat."
"Isn't possible," said Dick. He lighted a fresh pine-knot, and continued, "Let's take a look inside the hotel."
"See if my bearskin's safe," drawled Dave.
He propped94 his flaring torch between two stones and sank wearily down, while Bob and Dick entered the cave.
A moment later, Dick Travers poked95 his head outside the opening, and, in a voice that trembled with excitement, made this startling announcement:
"Hello, Dave Brandon—it's gone!"
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收听单词发音
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1
havens
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| 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 ) | |
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2
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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3
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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4
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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5
rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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6
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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7
dispelled
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| v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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denser
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| adj. 不易看透的, 密集的, 浓厚的, 愚钝的 | |
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10
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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11
peal
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| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
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12
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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13
swirling
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
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14
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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15
philosophical
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| adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的 | |
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16
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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18
declivity
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| n.下坡，倾斜面 | |
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19
indented
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| adj.锯齿状的，高低不平的；缩进排版 | |
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countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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21
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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28
jutted
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| v.（使）突出( jut的过去式和过去分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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actively
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| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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lithe
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| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
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lashing
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| n.鞭打；痛斥；大量；许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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36
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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38
courageously
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| ad.勇敢地，无畏地 | |
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39
scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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40
snarl
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| v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮 | |
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41
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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42
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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43
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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44
screech
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| n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音 | |
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45
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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46
tawny
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| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
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47
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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49
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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50
hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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51
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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52
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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53
scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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54
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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55
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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56
snarling
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的现在分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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57
lurch
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| n.突然向前或旁边倒；v.蹒跚而行 | |
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intercept
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| vt.拦截，截住，截击 | |
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soothingly
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| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
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chasm
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| n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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rascals
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| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
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64
panorama
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| n.全景，全景画，全景摄影，全景照片[装置] | |
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65
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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chubby
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| adj.丰满的，圆胖的 | |
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68
gee
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| n.马；int.向右！前进！，惊讶时所发声音；v.向右转 | |
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69
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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70
scrambled
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| 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 | |
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speck
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| n.微粒，小污点，小斑点 | |
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spoke
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| 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 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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chattered
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| （人）喋喋不休( chatter的过去式 )； 唠叨； （牙齿）打战； （机器）震颤 | |
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groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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longingly
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| adv. 渴望地 热望地 | |
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obstructions
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| n.障碍物( obstruction的名词复数 )；阻碍物；阻碍；阻挠 | |
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glade
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| n.林间空地，一片表面有草的沼泽低地 | |
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unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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quacking
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| v.（鸭子）发出嘎嘎声( quack的现在分词 ) | |
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84
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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flaring
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| a.火焰摇曳的，过份艳丽的 | |
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thickets
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| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
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plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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hooting
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| （使）作汽笛声响，作汽车喇叭声( hoot的现在分词 )； 倒好儿； 倒彩 | |
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owls
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| n.猫头鹰( owl的名词复数 ) | |
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lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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intervals
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| 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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propped
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| 支撑，支持，维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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