It seemed to the boys in the canyon1 as if the night would never end. At intervals2, they dozed3, but their slumber4, disturbed by distressing5 thoughts, was not refreshing6.
Bob Somers, in his wakeful moments, felt the strangeness and danger of the situation with full force. How out of the world he felt, hemmed7 in between those great walls; how was it going to end? He cudgeled his brain in vain, and occasionally rose and walked to the edge of the river, where he tried to pierce the gloom that enshrouded them.
At dawn, a chilling air was sweeping8 through the canyon. The narrow slit9 of sky seen between the towering heights was of a palish green. A rosy10 cloud floated slowly across, and a lone11 hawk12 winged its way, high up. They mechanically watched the bird approach, pass overhead, and disappear.
Bob Somers drew a long breath, as he glanced aloft.
"Don't believe I ever saw anything look so high," he said.
"Let's go for our breakfast," suggested Dave.
"Blackberries," said Bob, with a sniff13 of disgust. "I hate blackberries—shape, smell, taste—everything. Don't believe I shall ever eat another."
"And I don't believe we shall ever eat anything else," observed Sam, gloomily.
"Cheer up, fellows! While there's blackberries, there's hope," put in Dave, with a faint smile. "After breakfast, we'll hold a council—something must be done."
With difficulty, the three managed to swallow the berries, and then drink a quantity of water, as Bob said, to "take the taste out of their mouths."
Sam Randall seated himself on a rock, the picture of gloom and dejection.
"Now what's what?" he asked.
"We can't climb the cliff," answered Dave. "Do you think——" He hesitated.
Bob and Sam looked at the current and listened to the roar of the cataract17. The thought of again trusting themselves to the mercy of such waters made them shiver.
"The current is much swifter over there," said Sam, "and if we missed that point of rock——" An expressive18 gesture finished the sentence.
"Guess the searching parties are out for us now," observed Bob Somers.
"Even if they discover where we are, how in the dickens could they help us?" demanded Sam.
"You have me there. But I want to take a day off from that river. I'll chance it with the two of you to-morrow."
"Good," said the "poet." "We won't give up till we have to. I wouldn't mind it half so much if we had anything to eat besides——"
But Bob cut him short. "Don't say it, Chubby," he remarked dolefully. "I'm trying to forget 'em."
"And I can't," added Sam.
The hours dragged wearily by. Sometimes they lolled on the ground, watching the high clouds floating slowly across, then wandered around in search of food.
"Blackberry Valley—nothing else here," sighed Bob.
As long as daylight lasted and the glow of the afternoon sun gilded19 the clouds, they kept up their courage, but the approach of night filled them with dread20. It grew dark very soon within the rocky confines, and the barren gray walls wore a cheerless aspect.
The three hungry and worried boys were again obliged to partake of the much despised fruit, after which they returned, as before, to the river.
Sleep, in spite of their weariness, seemed out of the question. The stars came out against the darkening sky, and shone brilliantly.
"No more than I," said Sam. "Maybe this is all a dream."
"You mean a nightmare."
Moodily22, they sat around; conversation lagged; an hour dragged slowly by. Then Bob Somers, who had been gazing dejectedly through half-closed eyes, started up.
"Look, fellows—look!" he cried, excitedly.
"Where—where? What is it?" asked Dave.
"A light—don't you see? Straight ahead."
"Jiminy crickets! As I live, it's Neil Prescott's bonfire, on Promontory23 Island," gasped24 Sam. "Gee25, but that's good to see."
"Wish we knew what in the world he's up to," said Bob.
"Thought you might find out when Tommy and I went to the mountains," replied Sam, gloomily.
With intense interest they watched the speck26 of light. At intervals, it almost disappeared, then shone forth27 again, and finally burned steadily28 like a beacon29 against the dark sky.
"There's some reason for it," put in Dave. "As sure as you live, it's a signal."
"But to whom?"
"Gee! I don't know. It's a mystery I'd give a lot to solve."
The Ramblers kept their eyes eagerly glued to the one link which still bound them to civilization, and breathed a sigh of regret as it began to slowly fade from view. At length but a tiny glimmer31 remained, and finally night blotted32 this out.
"It's gone," breathed Sam. "Old Neil Prescott is a jolly good fellow, and—great Scott—say! Am I awake or dreaming? Pinch me, somebody—quick!—What's that?"
Sam excitedly raised his voice to a shout, and sprang to his feet, while the others, with wild exclamations33, followed.
"What in the world is it?" cried Bob Somers.
With throbbing36 hearts, the three watched it grow. For a moment, not a word was spoken. It seemed so unreal, so extraordinary, that they almost doubted their eyes.
"By all that's wonderful!" murmured the "poet."
Yes—flames were growing larger, curling and twisting; a ruddy light was spreading around—it meant that they were not alone in the terrible gorge.
The restoration from despair to hope sent such a wave of thankfulness into the minds of each that they felt like dancing with joy. Then their united voices rose in a volume of sound which echoed and reëchoed throughout the narrow confines with startling clearness.
They paused, and waited anxiously.
For an instant, there was no response. Then, "Hello, hello! Who are you?" came a voice, the tones of which seemed to indicate the greatest amazement.
Saved—saved! What a blessed thought!
"Who are you?" repeated the speaker across the river.
His voice had a strangely familiar sound.
"It can't be possible," said Bob, excitedly. "I wonder if—but no——" He stopped, and peered eagerly toward the fire, which, flaring40 up, revealed two figures.
"I'm Bob Somers!" he shouted. "Dave Brandon and Sam Randall are with me. Who are you?"
This announcement was followed by another pause. Then came an amazing response.
"Hello, Bob Somers—I'm Howard Fenton."
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收听单词发音
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1
canyon
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| n.峡谷，溪谷 | |
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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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3
dozed
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| v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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4
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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5
distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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6
refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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7
hemmed
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| 缝…的褶边( hem的过去式和过去分词 )； 包围 | |
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8
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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slit
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| n.狭长的切口；裂缝；vt.切开，撕裂 | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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12
hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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13
sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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14
slanting
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| 倾斜的，歪斜的 | |
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15
chubby
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| adj.丰满的，圆胖的 | |
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16
risky
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| adj.有风险的，冒险的 | |
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17
cataract
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| n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障 | |
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18
expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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21
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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moodily
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| adv.喜怒无常地；情绪多变地；心情不稳地；易生气地 | |
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23
promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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24
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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25
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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26
speck
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| n.微粒，小污点，小斑点 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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29
beacon
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| n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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31
glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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32
blotted
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| 涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 )； （用吸墨纸）吸干 | |
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33
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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34
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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35
jutting
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| v.（使）突出( jut的现在分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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36
throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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37
gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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38
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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39
hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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40
flaring
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| a.火焰摇曳的，过份艳丽的 | |
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