A sound made them turn. It was the boy's father coming up. He nodded to the children.
'Making friends?' he said, amiably1. 'That's right. My boy's pretty lonely here. I hope you'll comeup and see us some time. Finished your conversations SON?'
'Yes,' said the boy. 'This boy here says that island is his, and he's going to take me over it whenhis father has finished his work there -- and that won't be long.'
29
'And do you know the way through all those wicked rocks?' said the man. 'I shouldn't care to tryit. I was talking to the fishermen the other day, and not one of them appeared to know the way!'
This was rather astonishing. Some of the fishermen did know it. Then the children rememberedthat the men had all been forbidden to take anyone to the island while Uncle Quentin was atwork there. It was clear that they had pretended not to know the way in loyalty2 to their orders.
'Did you want to go to the island then?' asked Dick, suddenly.
'Oh no! But my boy here would love to go,' said the man. 'I don't want to be seasick3, bobbing upand down in those waves near the island. I'm a poor sailor. I never go on the sea if I can help it!'
'Well, we must go,' said Julian. 'We've got to do some shopping for my aunt. Good-bye!'
'Come and see us as soon as you can,' said the man. 'I've a fine television set that Martin herewould like to show you. Any afternoon you like!'
'Oh thanks!' said George. She seldom saw television. 'We'll come!'
They parted, and the four children and Timmy went on down the cliff-path.
'Whatever made you sound so rude, Dick?' said George. 'The way you said "What's that to dowith you?" sounded quite insulting.'
'Well -- I just felt suspicious, that's all,' said Dick. 'That boy seemed to be so jolly interested inthe island and in your father's work, and when it would be finished.'
'Why shouldn't he be?' demanded George. 'Everyone in the village is interested. They all knowabout the tower and all the boy wanted to know was when he could go to my island - that's whyhe asked when Father's work would be finished. I liked him.'
'You only liked him because he was ass4 enough to think you were a boy,' said Dick. 'Jollygirlish-looking boy you are, that's all I can say.'
George flared5 up at once. 'Don't be mean! I'm not girlish-looking. I've far more freckles6 than youhave, for one thing, and better eyebrows7. And I can make my voice go deep.'
'You're just silly,' said Dick, in disgust. 'As if freckles are boyish! Girls have them just as muchas boys. I don't believe that boy thought you were a boy at all. He was just sucking up to you. Hemust have heard how much you like playing at being what you aren't.'
George walked up to Dick with such a furious look on her face that Julian hastily put himself inbetween them.
'Now, no brawls,' he said. 'You're both too old to begin slapping each other like kids in thenursery. Let me tell you, you're both behaving like babies, not like boys or gins!'
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Anne was looking on with scared eyes. George didn't go off the deep end like this usually. And itwas funny of Dick to have spoken so rudely to the boy on the cliff. Timmy gave a sudden littlewhine. His tail was down, and he looked very miserable8.
'Oh George - Timmy can't bear you to quarrel with Dick!' said Anne. 'Look at him! He's justmiserable!'
'He didn't like that boy a hit,' said Dick. 'That was another thing I thought was funny. If Timmydoesn't like a person, I don't like him either.'
'Timmy doesn't always rush round new people,' said George. 'He didn't growl9 or snarl10, anyway.
All right, all right, Julian, I'm not going to start brawling11. But I do think Dick is being silly.
Making a mountain out of a molehill - just because someone was interested in Kirrin Island andFather's work, and just because Timmy didn't caper12 all round him. He was such a solemn sort ofboy that I'm not surprised Timmy wasn't all over him. He probably knew the boy wouldn't like it.
Timmy's clever like that.'
'Oh, do stop,' said Dick. 'I give in - gracefully13! I may be making a fuss. Probably am. I couldn'thelp my feelings, though.'
Anne gave a sigh of relief. The squabble was over. She hoped it wouldn't crop up again. Georgehad been very touchy14 since she had been home. If only Uncle Quentin would hurry up and finishhis work, and they could all go to the island as much as they liked, things would be all right.
'I'd rather like to see that television Set,' said George. 'We might go up some afternoon.'
'Right,' said Julian. 'But, on the whole, I think it would be best if we steered15 clear of any talkabout your father's work. Not that we know much. Still, we do know that once before there werepeople after one of his theories. The secrets of the scientists are very, very important these days,you know, George. Scientists are V.I.P.!'
'What's V.I.P.?' asked Anne.
'Very Important People, baby!' said Julian, with a laugh. 'What did you think, it meant? Violet,Indigo, Purple? I guess those are the colours. Uncle Quentin would go mad if he knew anyonewas trying to snoop into his secrets!'
Everyone laughed, even George. She looked affectionately at Julian. He was always so sensibleand good-tempered. She really would go by what he said.
31
The day passed swiftly. The weather cleared and the sun came out strongly. The air smelt16 ofgorse and primroses17 and the salt of the sea. Lovely! They went shopping for Aunt Fanny, andstopped to talk with James, the fisher-boy.
'Your father's got the island, I see,' he said to George with a grin. 'Bad luck, Miss. You'll not begoing over there so often. And nobody else will, either, so I've heard.'
'That's right,' said George. 'Nobody is allowed to go over there for some time. Did you help totake some of the stuff over, James?'
'Yes. I know the way, you see, because I've been with you,' 'said James. 'Well, Miss, how did youfind your boat when you went across yesterday? I got her all shipshape for you, didn't I?'
'Yes, you did, James,' said George, warmly. 'You made her look beautiful. You must comeacross to the island with us next time we go.'
'Thanks,' said James, his ready grin showing all his white teeth. 'Like to leave Timmy with mefor a week or two? See how he wants to stay!'
George laughed. She knew James was only joking. He was very fond of Timmy, though, andTimmy adored James. He was now pushing himself hard against the fisher-boy's knees, andtrying to put his nose into his brown hand. Timmy had never forgotten the time when Jameslooked after him so well.
The evening came, and the bay was softly blue. Little white horses flecked it here and there. Thefour gazed across to Kirrin Island. It always looked so lovely at this time of the evening. Theglass top of the tower winked18 and blinked in the sun. It looked almost as if someone wassignaling. But there was no-one in the little glass room. As the children watched they heard afaint rumbling19 sound, and suddenly the top of the tower was ablaze20 with a curious glare.
'Look! That's what happened yesterday!' said Julian, in excitement. 'Your father's at work allright, George. I do wonder what he's doing!'
Then there came a throbbing21 sound, almost like the noise of an aeroplane, and once more theglass top of the tower shone and blazed, as the wires became full of some curious power.
'Weird22,' said Dick. 'A bit frightening too. Where's your father at this very moment, I wonder,George. How I'd like to know!'
'I bet he's forgotten all about meals again,' said George. 'Didn't he wolf our sandwiches - he musthave been starving. I wish he'd let Mother go over there and look after him.'
32
Her mother came in at that moment. 'Did you hear the noise?' she said. 'I suppose that was yourfather at work again. Oh dear, I hope he doesn't blow himself up one of these days!'
'Aunt Fanny, can I stay up till half past ten tonight?' asked Anne, hopefully. 'To see UncleQuentin's signal, you know?'
'Good gracious, no!' said her aunt. 'No one needs to stay up. I am quite capable of watching for itmyself!'
'Oh Aunt Fanny! Surely I and Dick can stay up!' said Julian. 'After all, we're not in bed till ten atschool.'
'Yes - but this is half past ten, and you wouldn't even be in bed then,' said his aunt. 'There's noreason why you shouldn't lie in bed and watch for it though, if you want to - providing youhaven't fallen asleep!'
'Oh yes - I can do that,' said Julian. 'My window looks across to Kirrin Island. Six flashes with alantern I shall count them carefully.'
So the four went to bed at the usual time. Anne was asleep long before half past ten, and Georgewas so drowsy23 that she could not make herself get up and go into the boys' room. But Dick andJulian were both wide awake. They lay in their beds and looked out of the window. There was nomoon, but the sky was clear, and the stars shone down, giving a faint light. The sea looked veryblack. There was no sign of Kirrin Island. It was lost in the darkness of the night.
'Almost half past ten,' said Julian, looking at his watch, which had luminous24 hands. 'Now then,Uncle Quentin, what about it?' Almost as if his uncle was answering him, a light shone out in theglass top of the tower. It was a clear, small light, like the light of a lantern.
Julian began to count. 'One flash.' There was a pause. 'Two flashes.' Another pause. 'Three, four,five six!' The flashes stopped. Julian snuggled down into bed.
'Well, that's that. Uncle Quentin's all right. I say, it's weird to think of him climbing that spiralstairway right to the top of the tower, in the dark of night, isn't it? Just to mess about with thosewires.' 'Mmmmm,' said Dick, sleepily. 'I rather he did it, than I! You can be a scientist if youlike, Ju -- but I don't want -- to climb towers in the dead of night on a lonely island. I'd likeTimmy there, at least.'
Someone knocked on their door and it opened. Julian sat up at once. It was Aunt Fanny. 'OhJulian dear - did you see the flashes? I forgot to count them. Were there six?'
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'Oh yes, Aunt Fanny! I'd have rushed down to tell you if anything was wrong. Uncle's all right.
Don't you worry!'
'I wish I'd told him to do an extra flash to tell me if he's had some of that nice soup,' said his aunt.
'Well, good night, Julian. Sleep well!'
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1
amiably
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adv.和蔼可亲地,亲切地 | |
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loyalty
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n.忠诚,忠心 | |
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seasick
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adj.晕船的 | |
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ass
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n.驴;傻瓜,蠢笨的人 | |
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Flared
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adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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6
freckles
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n.雀斑,斑点( freckle的名词复数 ) | |
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7
eyebrows
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眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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miserable
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adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的 | |
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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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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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11
brawling
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n.争吵,喧嚷 | |
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12
caper
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v.雀跃,欢蹦;n.雀跃,跳跃;续随子,刺山柑花蕾;嬉戏 | |
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13
gracefully
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ad.大大方方地;优美地 | |
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touchy
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adj.易怒的;棘手的 | |
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steered
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v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 );操纵;控制;引导 | |
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smelt
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v.熔解,熔炼;n.银白鱼,胡瓜鱼 | |
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primroses
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n.报春花( primrose的名词复数 );淡黄色;追求享乐(招至恶果) | |
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winked
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v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 );递眼色(表示友好或高兴等);(指光)闪烁;闪亮 | |
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rumbling
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n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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ablaze
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adj.着火的,燃烧的;闪耀的,灯火辉煌的 | |
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throbbing
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a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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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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drowsy
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adj.昏昏欲睡的,令人发困的 | |
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luminous
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adj.发光的,发亮的;光明的;明白易懂的;有启发的 | |
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