CHAPTER XXVII UP THE CLIFFS

After lunch, the Ramblers accompanied Fenton to "Mystery Falls," as they termed the cataract¹. To reach it, they had to pass around a ledge² of rock into a third valley.

 

"My!" observed Sam, striving to make his voice heard above the roar and his face paling a little, "isn't it awful to think of what——"

 

"Don't think of it, Sam," interrupted Dave, with a laugh, "but enjoy the scene."

 

And all agreed that it was a spectacle well worth seeing. The water of Canyon³ River, in the shadow of the great walls, roared and thundered, as it dashed with mighty⁴ force over the brink⁵, to madly froth and seethe⁶ and bubble and swirl⁷ away two hundred feet below.

 

All felt a tremor⁸ when they thought of the fate of the "Dauntless" and "Speedy" and the awful plunge⁹ which each boat must have taken.

 

It was a long time before the boys could tear themselves away from the fascinating spectacle. Naturally, they were anxious to return to the village. Now that their own dangers were past, they felt so terribly worried about Dick Travers and Tommy Clifton that any real enjoyment¹⁰ was out of the question.

 

Howard Fenton agreed to accompany them to Mountain Village on the following day.

 

That night, he again exchanged signals with Neil Prescott, the boys being deeply interested spectators of the proceeding¹¹.

 

The eventful morning arrived, and the four set out early, leaving Stuart Wells at the camp.

 

Fenton led the way toward a gully and began scrambling¹² up the side.

 

"Jiminy crickets!" exclaimed Bob. "Work ahead, Chubby¹³."

 

And Dave's only reply was a long drawn-out groan¹⁴.

 

A bit further up, a patch of scrubby firs and bushes stood out sharply against their gray surroundings, and above that there was nothing but barren rock.

 

From ledge to ledge, the four made their way. Fortunately, footholds on the steep, sloping sides were numerous, otherwise their task would have been almost impossible.

 

"Whew—hot work," panted Dave.

 

"But we're getting up, Chubby," said Bob. "The river begins to look like a creek¹⁵."

 

They stood on a shelving rock, with somewhat the feeling that an explorer experiences when gazing upon a newly-discovered land for the first time.

 

"Mighty few people have seen this," quoth Dave. "Pretty little valley, Fenton."

 

"Yes it is, Dave."

 

"And there's Wells—looks just like an ant. Can't you hear his voice plainly? Wonderful how sounds carry in a place like this."

 

Stuart had seen them, and was giving a parting salutation.

 

Up, up, slipping, sliding and scrambling; now on hands and knees, then drawing themselves almost by main force over rugged¹⁶ rocks, they progressed slowly toward the top.

 

Each was, of course, provided with a heavy stick, or "alpen-stock," as Dave called it, and these proved very useful.

 

At length, the toilsome climb was nearly over. They had reached the rounded projection¹⁷ of which Howard had spoken. It rose from a wide ledge, and looked so dangerous that the Ramblers' respect for the city boy's prowess was greatly increased.

 

"Nice job ahead of us," grumbled¹⁸ Sam. "My stars!"

 

"You fellows get up and throw me a rope," said Dave. "I shall recommend this for an air-ship station. My! A fellow needs wings to get around anything like that."

 

"Guess you understand why I felt stumped," laughed Fenton. "But wait till you see it from the top."

 

"Don't wonder Silver Valley hasn't many visitors," sighed Bob. "I feel like calling for help."

 

After a long rest, Howard Fenton started ahead, while the others watched. It was hard, toilsome work, but, at length, they saw him drag himself laboriously¹⁹ over the top, and disappear from view. Then a shout of approval went up.

 

"Here comes a rope, fellows," announced Fenton, a few minutes later.

 

It dangled²⁰ downward over the smooth rock.

 

"I've fastened it up here, all right."

 

Howard poked²¹ his face over the barrier, and peered down. "Come ahead, Chubby," he called. "Don't depend too much on the rope."

 

The stout²² boy, with an alarming series of sighs and groans²³, obeyed.

 

At last all stood safely on the top, and agreed with Howard that no one who did not know the lay of the land would care to venture down.

 

"Howard, you have a pile of courage," said Bob, and Fenton smiled at the compliment.

 

After another short stop, he piloted them into the forest, following his blazed trail without difficulty.

 

The logger's hut was soon reached. Jake Lawson proved to be a rough, raw-boned mountaineer with an original manner of speech. He was profoundly astonished at the arrival of the boys, and still more astonished when he learned of their adventure in the canyon.

 

"Wal, wal," he exclaimed, elevating his shaggy eyebrows²⁴; "if this hyar keeps up, they'll be a-sendin' pleasure parties through the gorge²⁵, an' takin' up tickets at t'other end."

 

The four partook of a good, square meal of bacon and beans at the cabin, and then resumed their march.

 

Late in the afternoon, weary, dusty and footsore, they arrived at the Resort House.

1 cataract   

n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障

参考例句：

• He is an elderly gentleman who had had a cataract operation.他是一位曾经动过白内障手术的老人。
• The way is blocked by the tall cataract.高悬的大瀑布挡住了去路。

2 ledge   

n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁

参考例句：

• They paid out the line to lower him to the ledge.他们放出绳子使他降到那块岩石的突出部分。
• Suddenly he struck his toe on a rocky ledge and fell.突然他的脚趾绊在一块突出的岩石上，摔倒了。

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 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

5 brink   

n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿

参考例句：

• The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
• The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。

6 seethe   

vi.拥挤，云集；发怒，激动，骚动

参考例句：

• Many Indians continue to seethe and some are calling for military action against their riotous neighbour.很多印度人都处于热血沸腾的状态，很多都呼吁针对印度这个恶邻采取军事行动。
• She seethed with indignation.她由于愤怒而不能平静。

7 swirl   

v.(使)打漩，(使)涡卷；n.漩涡，螺旋形

参考例句：

• The car raced roughly along in a swirl of pink dust.汽车在一股粉红色尘土的漩涡中颠簸着快速前进。
• You could lie up there,watching the flakes swirl past.你可以躺在那儿，看着雪花飘飘。

8 tremor   

n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震

参考例句：

• There was a slight tremor in his voice.他的声音有点颤抖。
• A slight earth tremor was felt in California.加利福尼亚发生了轻微的地震。

9 plunge   

v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲

参考例句：

• Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。
• That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。

10 enjoyment   

n.乐趣；享有；享用

参考例句：

• Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同，我们这次访问更加愉快了。
• After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话，这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。

11 proceeding   

n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报

参考例句：

• This train is now proceeding from Paris to London.这次列车从巴黎开往伦敦。
• The work is proceeding briskly.工作很有生气地进展着。

12 scrambling   

v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞

参考例句：

• Scrambling up her hair, she darted out of the house. 她匆忙扎起头发，冲出房去。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• She is scrambling eggs. 她正在炒蛋。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 chubby   

adj.丰满的，圆胖的

参考例句：

• He is stocky though not chubby.他长得敦实，可并不发胖。
• The short and chubby gentleman over there is our new director.那个既矮又胖的绅士是我们的新主任。

14 groan   

vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音

参考例句：

• The wounded man uttered a groan.那个受伤的人发出呻吟。
• The people groan under the burden of taxes.人民在重税下痛苦呻吟。

15 creek   

n.小溪，小河，小湾

参考例句：

• He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
• People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。

16 rugged   

adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的

参考例句：

• Football players must be rugged.足球运动员必须健壮。
• The Rocky Mountains have rugged mountains and roads.落基山脉有崇山峻岭和崎岖不平的道路。

17 projection   

n.发射，计划，突出部分

参考例句：

• Projection takes place with a minimum of awareness or conscious control.投射在最少的知觉或意识控制下发生。
• The projection of increases in number of house-holds is correct.对户数增加的推算是正确的。

18 grumbled   

抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声

参考例句：

• He grumbled at the low pay offered to him. 他抱怨给他的工资低。
• The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. 天热得让人发昏，水手们边干活边发着牢骚。

19 laboriously   

adv.艰苦地；费力地；辛勤地；（文体等）佶屈聱牙地

参考例句：

• She is tracing laboriously now. 她正在费力地写。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She is laboriously copying out an old manuscript. 她正在费劲地抄出一份旧的手稿。 来自辞典例句

20 dangled   

悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口

参考例句：

• Gold charms dangled from her bracelet. 她的手镯上挂着许多金饰物。
• It's the biggest financial incentive ever dangled before British footballers. 这是历来对英国足球运动员的最大经济诱惑。

21 poked   

v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交

参考例句：

• She poked him in the ribs with her elbow. 她用胳膊肘顶他的肋部。
• His elbow poked out through his torn shirt sleeve. 他的胳膊从衬衫的破袖子中露了出来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

22   

参考例句：

23 groans   

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

参考例句：

• There were loud groans when he started to sing. 他刚开始歌唱时有人发出了很大的嘘声。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It was a weird old house, full of creaks and groans. 这是所神秘而可怕的旧宅，到处嘎吱嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》

24 eyebrows   

眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
• His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。

25 gorge   

n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃

参考例句：

• East of the gorge leveled out.峡谷东面地势变得平坦起来。
• It made my gorge rise to hear the news.这消息令我作呕。