Chapter 24 PRISONERS!

　　Chapter 24 PRISONERS!
　　EVERYONE waited till the last man had disappeared down the column. Then Bill spoke¹.
　　"Well, I'm blessed if I'll ever look at a treasure map again, or listen to anything you kids have to tellme! It's fatal. We plunge² into trouble immediately. Jack³ — Philip — can you possibly loosen yourropes?"
　　"I've been trying," said Philip, and Jack said the same. "Those beasts know how to tie knots all right.
　　The rope is biting into my ankles like anything, and I can hardly move my hands."All of them had their hands tied behind their backs, and it was really impossible to get free. Billrolled himself over and over to the girls. He was very sorry for poor Lucy-Ann. Dinah was tougher,more like a boy — but Lucy-Ann couldn't help being scared.
　　"Lucy-Ann, don't be upset," said Bill, ending up just by her. "We'll think of some wonderful way toget even with these rogues⁴."
　　"I hope they'll get lost in the labyrinth," said Jack fiercely, still struggling with the rope that tied hiswrists.
　　"They probably will," said Bill. "In any case they'll be a long time gone. We must somehow get freebefore they come back."
　　"The first thing I do when I get free is to hop⁵ inside the column and get some of the food we putdown there," said Jack. "That's if the brutes⁷ have left us any! I bet they've taken most of it withthem."
　　Bill privately⁸ thought they probably would have taken it, but he didn't say so. He gave up trying toloosen the rope round his wrists. It only made it cut into his flesh unbearably⁹.
　　He looked round to see if there was a sharp stone he could perhaps rub his ropes on. He saw one androlled over to it. But as his hands were behind his back he couldn't see what he was doing, and cut hisfingers on the stone till they bled. He gave it up.
　　Kiki was up in the tree, muttering to herself. All the shouting and struggling had frightened her. Shecocked her head down at Jack and decided¹⁰ it was safe to go to him. She flew down and landed on hismiddle.
　　"Send for the doctor," she said, her head on one side. "Send for the doctor, mistersir.""Good idea, Kiki," said Jack, with an attempt at a grin. "Tell him to come quickly! Telephone him atonce!"
　　Kiki at once gave an imitation of a telephone bell ringing. It sounded queer in that old ruinedcourtyard! Even Lucy-Ann gave a little laugh.
　　"Hallo, hallo!" said Kiki, pleased at the attention she was getting. "Hallo!""She's telephoning now!" grinned Jack. "Good old Kiki. Got the doctor yet? Tell him we're allsuffering from a nasty attack of Eppy-itis!"Micky leapt down from the tree to join in the fun. He too had been badly scared, but now thateveryone was talking and laughing, and the noisy men had gone, he felt safer. He landed on Philip,and tried to cuddle on to his shoulder. Philip was sitting up, his hands tied behind him.
　　"Sorry, I can't stroke you, old thing, and make a bit of fuss over you after your scare," said the boy.
　　"But my hands are tied! Yes, that's right — go and look for them. I've still got them — but they'rebehind me!"
　　Micky badly wanted to be nursed, but he couldn't find any arms to cuddle into! He went behind Philipto investigate. What had the boy done with his hands and arms? Ah — there they were behind him!
　　Micky pulled at Philip's hands with his tiny paws. He wanted to be stroked and patted.
　　"Sorry, Micky — nothing doing," said Philip. He grinned round at the others. "Micky can'tunderstand why I don't use my hands to pet him! He's pulling at them!"Micky had discovered the rope that bound Philip's wrists together. He was puzzled. What had Philipdone with this rope? Why was it so tightly round the boy's hands? Micky tugged¹¹ at the rope, andpulled at the knot.
　　Philip sat very still. "That's right, Micky," he said, in a caressing¹² voice. "That's right! You tacklethose knots. Then I can pet you all you like!"Everyone pricked¹³ up their ears at once. They looked eagerly at Philip. "I say, Philip — is Micky —can Micky — do anything?"
　　"Don't know," said Philip. "He's fiddling¹⁴ about like anything. Go it, Micky. Pull those knots undone¹⁷!"But Micky couldn't. His tiny paws were not strong enough to undo¹⁶ the tightly-tied knots of the rope.
　　He gave it up. But he thought of something else!
　　He put his mouth down to the rope, and tried to gnaw¹⁸ it with his teeth!
　　"What are you doing, Micky!" cried Philip, feeling the wet little mouth against his wrist. "Gosh, Bill,the clever little thing is trying to gnaw through the rope now!"Everyone watched Philip intently. His face showed clearly all he was thinking. "That's it, Micky —bite away!" he said. "Good little monkey! No, go away, Kiki — don't interfere¹⁹ with Micky!"Kiki had gone to Philip and was now getting behind him to see what Micky was up to. She watchedhim.
　　"One, two, three, GO!" she said, for all the world as if she was encouraging him.
　　"Come here, Kiki. Leave Micky alone in his good work, ordered Jack, and Kiki came obediently.
　　"How's Micky getting on?" asked Bill.
　　"Fine, I think," answered Philip, trying his hands to see if they felt any looser. "I think the rope doesfeel not quite so tight. Go it, Micky."
　　It was a long job, but Micky was patient and persevering²⁰. Once he knew that he was doing whatPhilip wanted, he went on and on. Bill marvelled²¹ at the way Philip understood animals and animalsunderstood him. Any creature would do anything in the world for Philip!
　　"They're getting loose!" exclaimed Philip. "Go on, Micky — just a bite or two more!"And, sure enough, after another bout¹⁵ of patient gnawing²², the rope snapped when Philip pulled on it.
　　He brought his freed hands round to the front of him, groaning²⁴.
　　"My word — they're painful! Thanks, Micky, old thing — you did a very good job of work. Wait tillmy hands feel a bit better and I'll pat you from head to tail!"The rope was still dangling²⁵ from one of his wrists, the knots in it tied as tightly as ever. Philip pickedit off with the other hand. He opened and shut his numb²⁶ fingers, and then proceeded to pet the littlemonkey, who, delighted to be fussed, snuggled into Philip's arms with contented²⁷ little grunts²⁸.
　　Nobody hurried Philip. Nobody begged him to be quick and undo their bonds. Everyone knew that itwas right for Micky to have his reward.
　　"Now, that's enough, old fellow," said Philip, at last. "I must see to the others. You come and help!"Philip put Micky on to his usual place on his shoulder. He felt in his pocket for a knife. His handsstill felt queer and stiff, but they were rapidly getting more life into them. He brought out his knifeand clicked it open.
　　He cut the rope round his ankles, and then he tried to stand up. His feet felt queer, for his ankles hadbeen tied very tightly. But he was soon able to walk steadily²⁹. He went straight over to the girls.
　　He cut their bonds with his knife and Lucy-Ann gave a groan²³ of thankfulness. "Oh, Philip — thankyou! That's better. Dinah, are your hands all right?""Bit stiff and numb," said Dinah, rubbing them together. "Wouldn't I like to tie up Mr. Eppy! Andwouldn't I make the ropes tight! The brute⁶! He must be mad."Soon everyone was free. Bill found it hardest to stand because his ankles had been tied veryviciously, and so had his hands. It took him some time to get the blood flowing freely in them, and itwas a very painful process at first.
　　Everyone made a fuss over Micky, and the little monkey enjoyed it all thoroughly³⁰, chattering³¹ softly.
　　Jack kept an eye on Kiki. She was jealous, and was looking out for a chance to nip Micky's long tail.
　　"I'll tie you up if you try any tricks, Kiki," warned Jack, and tapped her smartly on the beak³². She puther head under her wing, muttering to herself. "Poor Polly, poor Polly, don't sniff³³, use your hanky!""She's irrepressible!" said Bill, still massaging³⁴ his wrists. "Well, I feel better now. What about somefood, lads? If it's still there, of course!"Jack was half-way to the column already. He had to get Philip to give him a good leg-up, because hisankles still felt weak. Up he went, and dropped down inside. He looked about for the food. It wasdark inside the column now, for the sun had gone. He felt about and to his delight found some breadand what felt like cheese. He called to Philip.
　　"Look out, Philip. I'm throwing the food out."Philip waited. Out came bread, cheese and a packet of some kind of meat. "Wait a bit — here's somemore bread," shouted Jack, and out it came.
　　Jack climbed out again, grinning. "They must have been in such a hurry to get to the treasure thatthey didn't even stop for a snack!" he said. "They must have seen the food there.""Bill, is it safe to sit and have a meal?" asked Lucy-Ann anxiously.
　　"Quite safe," said Bill. "I'm going to sit here by the column — and I shall be very sorry for anyonewho tries to get out, whilst I'm here!"

1 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：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 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。

3 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

4 rogues   

n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽

参考例句：

• 'I'll show these rogues that I'm an honest woman,'said my mother. “我要让那些恶棍知道，我是个诚实的女人。” 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
• The rogues looked at each other, but swallowed the home-thrust in silence. 那些恶棍面面相觑，但只好默默咽下这正中要害的话。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛

5 hop   

n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过

参考例句：

• The children had a competition to see who could hop the fastest.孩子们举行比赛，看谁单足跳跃最快。
• How long can you hop on your right foot?你用右脚能跳多远？

6 brute   

n.野兽，兽性

参考例句：

• The aggressor troops are not many degrees removed from the brute.侵略军简直象一群野兽。
• That dog is a dangerous brute.It bites people.那条狗是危险的畜牲，它咬人。

7 brutes   

兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性

参考例句：

• They're not like dogs; they're hideous brutes. 它们不像狗，是丑陋的畜牲。
• Suddenly the foul musty odour of the brutes struck his nostrils. 突然，他的鼻尖闻到了老鼠的霉臭味。 来自英汉文学

8 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

9 unbearably   

adv.不能忍受地，无法容忍地；慌

参考例句：

• It was unbearably hot in the car. 汽车里热得难以忍受。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She found it unbearably painful to speak. 她发现开口说话痛苦得令人难以承受。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

11 tugged   

v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She tugged at his sleeve to get his attention. 她拽了拽他的袖子引起他的注意。
• A wry smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. 他的嘴角带一丝苦笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 caressing   

爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的

参考例句：

• The spring wind is gentle and caressing. 春风和畅。
• He sat silent still caressing Tartar, who slobbered with exceeding affection. 他不声不响地坐在那里，不断抚摸着鞑靼，它由于获得超常的爱抚而不淌口水。

13 pricked   

刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛

参考例句：

• The cook pricked a few holes in the pastry. 厨师在馅饼上戳了几个洞。
• He was pricked by his conscience. 他受到良心的谴责。

14 fiddling   

微小的

参考例句：

• He was fiddling with his keys while he talked to me. 和我谈话时他不停地摆弄钥匙。
• All you're going to see is a lot of fiddling around. 你今天要看到的只是大量的胡摆乱弄。 来自英汉文学 - 廊桥遗梦

15 bout   

n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛

参考例句：

• I was suffering with a bout of nerves.我感到一阵紧张。
• That bout of pneumonia enfeebled her.那次肺炎的发作使她虚弱了。

16 undo   

vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销

参考例句：

• His pride will undo him some day.他的傲慢总有一天会毁了他。
• I managed secretly to undo a corner of the parcel.我悄悄地设法解开了包裹的一角。

17 undone   

a.未做完的，未完成的

参考例句：

• He left nothing undone that needed attention.所有需要注意的事他都注意到了。

18 gnaw   

v.不断地啃、咬；使苦恼，折磨

参考例句：

• Dogs like to gnaw on a bone.狗爱啃骨头。
• A rat can gnaw a hole through wood.老鼠能啃穿木头。

19 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

20 persevering   

a.坚忍不拔的

参考例句：

• They will only triumph by persevering in their struggle against natural calamities. 他们只有坚持与自然灾害搏斗，才能取得胜利。
• Success belongs to the persevering. 胜利属于不屈不挠的人。

21 marvelled   

v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• I marvelled that he suddenly left college. 我对他突然离开大学感到惊奇。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I marvelled at your boldness. 我对你的大胆感到惊奇。 来自《简明英汉词典》

22 gnawing   

a.痛苦的，折磨人的

参考例句：

• The dog was gnawing a bone. 那狗在啃骨头。
• These doubts had been gnawing at him for some time. 这些疑虑已经折磨他一段时间了。

23 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。

24 groaning   

adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• She's always groaning on about how much she has to do. 她总抱怨自己干很多活儿。
• The wounded man lay there groaning, with no one to help him. 受伤者躺在那里呻吟着，无人救助。

25 dangling   

悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口

参考例句：

• The tooth hung dangling by the bedpost, now. 结果，那颗牙就晃来晃去吊在床柱上了。
• The children sat on the high wall,their legs dangling. 孩子们坐在一堵高墙上，摇晃着他们的双腿。

26 numb   

adj.麻木的，失去感觉的；v.使麻木

参考例句：

• His fingers were numb with cold.他的手冻得发麻。
• Numb with cold,we urged the weary horses forward.我们冻得发僵，催着疲惫的马继续往前走。

27 contented   

adj.满意的，安心的，知足的

参考例句：

• He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
• The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。

28 grunts   

（猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的第三人称单数 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说； 石鲈

参考例句：

• With grunts of anguish Ogilvie eased his bulk to a sitting position. 奥格尔维苦恼地哼着，伸个懒腰坐了起来。
• Linda fired twice A trio of Grunts assembling one mortar fell. 琳达击发两次。三个正在组装迫击炮的咕噜人倒下了。

29 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

30 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

31 chattering   

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

参考例句：

• The teacher told the children to stop chattering in class. 老师叫孩子们在课堂上不要叽叽喳喳讲话。
• I was so cold that my teeth were chattering. 我冷得牙齿直打战。

32 beak   

n.鸟嘴，茶壶嘴，钩形鼻

参考例句：

• The bird had a worm in its beak.鸟儿嘴里叼着一条虫。
• This bird employs its beak as a weapon.这种鸟用嘴作武器。

33 sniff   

vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视

参考例句：

• The police used dogs to sniff out the criminals in their hiding - place.警察使用警犬查出了罪犯的藏身地点。
• When Munchie meets a dog on the beach, they sniff each other for a while.当麦奇在海滩上碰到另一条狗的时候，他们会彼此嗅一会儿。

34 massaging   

按摩，推拿( massage的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He watched the prisoner massaging his freed wrists. 他看着那个犯人不断揉搓着刚松开的两只手腕。
• Massaging your leg will ease the cramp. 推拿大腿可解除抽筋。