On the sea at last
The journey was half over before the children awoke again. Bill banged on the walls, and theywoke with a jump. They dressed and walked staggeringly along to the restaurant car, feeling veryhungry. Lucy-Ann didn’t much like walking across the bits that joined two carriages together. Sheclutched Bill’s hand then.
‘I’m always afraid the train might come in two, just when I’m walking through the bit wheretwo carriages are joined,’ she explained. Bill quite understood, though the others were veryscornful of Lucy-Ann’s extraordinary idea.
Kiki behaved very badly at breakfast, throwing the toast about, and squawking because she wasnot allowed any of the rather small helping1 of marmalade. She made rude noises at the sunflowerseeds Jack2 offered her. The other passengers were amused at her and laughed – but that only madeKiki show off all the more.
‘Stop it, Kiki,’ said Bill, exasperated3, and tapped her smartly on the beak4. Kiki screeched5 andmade a pounce6 at his beard. A vicious tug7 and some of it came away. Kiki hadn’t been able tounderstand why Bill had arrived with a strange mass of hair under his chin, and round his cheeks.
Now, having got some of it, she retired8 under the table and began to peck it gently, separating thehairs one by one and murmuring to herself all the time.
‘Let her be,’ said Bill. ‘She’ll be happy pulling that bit of my beard to pieces.’ He rubbed hischin. ‘That hurt. I hope I don’t look too peculiar9 now?’
‘Oh no – it doesn’t really show much,’ Jack assured him. ‘Kiki always gets excited on a journeylike this. She’s awful when I bring her back from school – whistles like the guard, and tells all thepeople in the carriage to blow their noses and wipe their feet, and screeches10 in the tunnels tillwe’re almost deafened11.’
‘But she’s a darling really,’ said Lucy-Ann loyally, and didn’t say a word about Kiki undoingher shoe-laces and pulling them out of her shoes at that very moment!
The journey was a long one. There was a change to be made at a very big and noisy station. Thenext train was not quite so long as the first one and did not go so fast. It took them to a place onthe coast, and the children were delighted to see the blue sea shining like a thin bright line in thedistance. Hurrah12! They all loved the sea.
‘Now I feel that our holiday has really begun,’ said Lucy-Ann. ‘Now that we’ve seen the sea, Imean. It gives me a proper holiday feeling.’
Everyone felt the same, even Kiki, who leapt about like a warrior13 doing a war-dance on theluggage-rack above the children’s heads. She flew down to Jack’s shoulder when they got out ofthe train at a big seaside town.
The strong breeze blew in their faces, and the girls’ hair streamed back. Bill’s beard blew backtoo, and Kiki was careful to stand with her beak to the wind. She hated her feathers being ruffledthe wrong way.
They had a very good meal in a hotel, and then Bill went down to the harbour to see if hismotor-boat was there. It had just come in. The man who brought it knew Bill very well, and hadbeen told in what disguise he was to be seen.
‘Morning, Dr Walker, sir,’ he said in loud tones. ‘Fine weather for your expedition.
Everything’s ready, sir.’
‘Plenty of provisions, Henty?’ asked Dr Walker, blinking though his thick glasses.
‘Enough to stand a siege, sir,’ said Henty. ‘I’m to pilot you out, sir – I’ve got a boat behind.’
Everyone went on board. It was a fine motor-boat, with a little cabin in front. Jack’s eyesgleamed when he saw the stock of food – tins, tins, tins! The little refrigerator was full of stuff too.
Good! There would be plenty to eat anyway, and that, in Jack’s opinion, was one of the mainthings to be planned for, on a holiday. People always got so terribly hungry when they wereholidaying. Henty piloted them out of the harbour, his tiny boat bobbing about. When they werebeyond the harbour Henty saluted14 and got into his boat.
‘Well – good luck, sir,’ he said. ‘The wireless15 is OK, sir – we’ll be expecting a messageregularly, to know you’re all right. There are extra batteries, and a repair set as well. Good luck,sir. I’ll be here in two weeks’ time to pick up the kids.’
He rowed off, his oars16 making a soft plash-plash-plash in the water. He soon looked very smallindeed, as Bill’s motor-boat sped away.
‘Well – we’re off!’ said Bill, with great satisfaction. ‘And my beard can come off too – and myglasses, thank goodness. And my coat. Here, Philip, you know how to steer17 a motor-boat, don’tyou? Take the wheel whilst I make myself presentable again. No one is likely to see me now.
Keep her going north-north-west.’
Proudly Philip took the wheel. The engine of the boat purred smoothly18, and they sped fast overthe blue water. It was a wonderful day, almost as hot as summer. The May sun shone down out ofa sky flecked with tiny curly clouds, and little points of light danced on the waves.
‘Gorgeous!’ said Jack, sitting down with a grunt19 of joy near Philip. ‘Simply absolutely perfectlygorgeous.’
‘I’ve got such a lovely feeling,’ said Lucy-Ann, looking the picture of happiness. ‘You know –that feeling you get at the very beginning of a lovely holiday – when all the days spread out beforeyou, sunny and lazy and sort of enchanted20.’
‘You’ll end up by being a poet if you don’t look out,’ said Philip, from the wheel.
‘Well, if a poet feels like I feel just exactly at this moment, I wouldn’t mind being one for therest of my life, even if it meant having to write poetry,’ said Lucy-Ann.
‘Three blind mice, see how they run,’ remarked Kiki, and for one moment everyone thoughtthat Kiki was joining in the talk about poetry, and giving what she thought was an example. Butshe was merely referring to the three tame rats that had suddenly appeared on Philip’s shoulders.
They stood there daintily, their pink noses raised, sniffing21 the salt sea air.
‘Oh, blow you, Philip!’ said Dinah, from her seat near Jack. ‘I was hoping against hope youhadn’t brought those detestable little creatures. I only hope the gulls22 eat them.’
But even Dinah couldn’t feel annoyed for long as they glided23 over the green waves, leaving awhite wake behind them, like a long feathery tail. When Bill appeared from the little cabin, theyall hailed him in delight.
‘Bill! Dear old Bill, you look like yourself again!’
‘Oh, Bill – never wear a beard again. It does spoil your beauty.’
‘Hurrah! We’ve lost Dr Walker for ever. Silly fellow, I never liked him.’
‘Bill, you look nice again. I can see your mouth when you smile.’
‘Pay the bill, pay the bill!’
‘Shut up, Kiki, or the gulls will get you!’
‘Ah, this is something like,’ said Bill happily, taking the wheel from Philip. ‘Golly, if we getthis weather we’ll all be quite sun-burnt in a day or two. Better keep your shirts on, boys, or you’llget blistered24.’
Everyone had discarded coats and wraps at once. The breeze was cool, but the sun was reallyhot. The sea, in the distance, was unbelievably blue, the colour of cornflowers, Lucy-Ann thought.
‘Now, my friends,’ said Bill, his white shirt billowing in the breeze, ‘this is a holiday, not ahair-raising adventure. You’ve had enough of adventures. We’ve had three together, and this timeI want a holiday.’
‘Right,’ said Jack. ‘A holiday it shall be. Adventures keep out!’
‘I don’t want any adventures either,’ said Lucy-Ann. ‘I’ve had plenty. This is adventure enoughfor me. I like this kind best – not the kind where we have to hide, and creep through secret tunnelsand live in caves. I just want a sunny, lazy, windy time with the people I like best. It would be niceif Aunt Allie was here too – but perhaps she wouldn’t enjoy it very much.’
‘I hope she’s feeling better,’ said Dinah. ‘I say, where’s the land? I can’t see a bit – not even anisland!’
‘You’ll see plenty tomorrow,’ said Bill. ‘You can choose one for your own.’
That was a wonderful afternoon and evening. They had a fine tea on board, prepared by the twogirls, who found new bread, strawberry jam and a big chocolate cake in the cabin larder25.
‘Make the most of this,’ said Bill. ‘You won’t get new bread often now. I doubt if we shall findany farmhouses26 at all, among the lonely islands we shall visit. But I’ve brought tins and tins ofbiscuits of all kinds. And as for this chocolate cake, eat it up and enjoy it – I don’t think you’ll getany more for two weeks.’
‘I don’t care,’ said Dinah, munching27 away. ‘When I’m hungry I simply don’t mind what I eat –and I can see I’m always going to be hungry on this holiday.’
The sun went down in a great golden blaze, and the tiny curly clouds turned a brilliant pink.
Still the motor-boat went on and on and on, over a sea that blazed pink and gold too.
‘The sun has drowned itself in the sea,’ said Lucy-Ann at last, as it disappeared. ‘I watched thevery very last little bit go down into the water.’
‘Where are we going to sleep tonight?’ asked Jack. ‘Not that I mind – but it would be fun toknow.’
‘There are two tents somewhere in the bow,’ said Bill. ‘I thought, when we came to an islandwe liked the look of, we’d land, put up the tents and sleep there for the night. What do you say?’
‘Oh yes,’ said everyone. ‘Let’s look for an island – a really nice wild one!’
But at the moment there was no land in sight, not even a small rocky island. Bill gave the wheelto Jack, and looked at the chart. He pointed28 with his finger. ‘We’ve been running in this direction.
We should come on these two islands presently. One has a few people on it, and, I believe, a tinyjetty. We’d better go there tonight, and then set off to the unknown tomorrow. It’s getting too lateto go hunting for islands further away. It would be dark before we got there.’
‘It’s still very light,’ said Philip, looking at his watch. ‘At home it would be getting dark.’
‘The further north you go, the longer the evening light is,’ said Bill. ‘Don’t ask me why at themoment. I don’t feel capable of a lecture just now.’
‘You don’t need to tell us,’ said Philip loftily. ‘We learnt all about it last term. You see, owingto the sun being . . .’
‘Spare me, spare me,’ begged Bill, taking the wheel again. ‘Look, one of your inquisitive29 littlerats is sniffing at Kiki’s tail. There will be murder done in a moment if you don’t remove him.’
But Kiki knew better than to hurt any of Philip’s pets. She contented30 herself with cracking herbeak so loudly in Squeaker’s ear that he ran back to Philip in alarm, scampering31 up his bare legsand into his shorts in a trice.
Gradually the sea lost its blue, and became greygreen. The breeze felt cold and everyone put onjerseys. Then far away in the distance a dark hump loomed33 up – land!
‘That’s it, that’s one of the islands we want for tonight,’ said Bill, pleased. ‘I consider I’ve donepretty well to head so straight for it. We’ll soon be there.’
It certainly was not long before they were nosing alongside a simple stone jetty. A fishermanwas there, in a long blue jersey32. He was astonished to see them.
Bill explained in a few words. ‘Och, so it’s bairds ye’re after,’ said the fisherman. ‘Weel, there’splenty for you out yon,’ and he nodded towards the sea. ‘Where will you be sleeping the night?
My bit cottage won’t tak’ sae mony.’
Lucy-Ann couldn’t understand him, but the others gathered what he meant. ‘Bring the tents,’
ordered Bill. ‘We’ll soon have them up. We’ll ask the fisherman’s wife to give us a meal. It willsave our own provisions. Maybe we can get some cream too, and good butter.’
By the time that darkness came at last they had all had a good meal, and were bedded down inthe two tents, comfortable on ground-sheets and rugs. The fresh air had made them so sleepy thatthe girls fell asleep without even saying goodnight.
‘They’re a’ daft,’ said the fisherman to his wife. ‘Wasting a fine boat like yon, looking forbairds. Bairds! When there’s good fish to be got! Well, they’ll soon see bairds in plenty. Och,they’re a’ dafties!’
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收听单词发音
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1
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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beak
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| n.鸟嘴，茶壶嘴，钩形鼻 | |
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screeched
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的过去式和过去分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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pounce
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| n.猛扑；v.猛扑，突然袭击，欣然同意 | |
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tug
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| v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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screeches
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| n.尖锐的声音( screech的名词复数 )v.发出尖叫声( screech的第三人称单数 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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deafened
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| 使聋( deafen的过去式和过去分词 )； 使隔音 | |
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hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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wireless
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| adj.无线的；n.无线电 | |
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oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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sniffing
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| n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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gulls
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| n.鸥( gull的名词复数 )v.欺骗某人( gull的第三人称单数 ) | |
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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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blistered
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| adj.水疮状的，泡状的v.（使）起水泡( blister的过去式和过去分词 )；（使表皮等）涨破，爆裂 | |
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larder
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| n.食物贮藏室，食品橱 | |
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farmhouses
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| n.农舍，农场的主要住房( farmhouse的名词复数 ) | |
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munching
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| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的现在分词 ) | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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scampering
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| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的现在分词 ) | |
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jersey
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| n.运动衫 | |
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loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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