Chapter Nineteen A MEETING WITH MARTIN

　　Chapter Nineteen A MEETING WITH MARTIN
　　TIMMY ran round the house and made for the moor¹ behind. It was most extraordinary.
　　Wherever was he going?
　　'This is awfully² queer,' said Julian. 'I'm sure George can't be anywhere in this direction.'
　　Timmy went on swiftly, occasionally turning his head to make sure everyone was following him.
　　He led the way to the quarry³!
　　'The quarry! Did George come here then?' said Dick. 'But why?'
　　The dog disappeared down into the middle of the quarry, slipping and sliding down the steepsides as he went. The others followed as best they could. Luckily it was not as slippery as before,and they reached the bottom without accident.
　　Timmy went straight to the shelf of rock and disappeared underneath⁴ it. They heard him give ashort sharp bark as if to say 'Come on! This is the way! Hurry up!'
　　'He's gone into the tunnel under there,' said Dick. 'Where we thought we might explore anddidn't. There must be a passage or something there, then. But is George there?'
　　'I'll go first,' said Julian, and wriggled⁵ through the hole. He was soon in the wider bit and thencame out into the part where he could almost stand. He walked a little way in the dark, hearingTimmy bark impatiently now and then. But in a moment or two Julian stopped.
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　　'It's no good trying to follow you in the dark, Timmy!' he called. 'We'll have to go back and gettorches. I can't see a foot in front of me!'
　　Dick was just struggling through the first part of the hole. Julian called to him to go back.
　　'It's too dark,' he said. 'We must go and get torches. If George for some reason is up this passage,she must have had an accident, and we'd better get a rope, and some brandy.'
　　Anne began to cry. She didn't like the idea of George lying hurt in that dark passage. Julian puthis arm round her as soon as he was in the open air again. He helped her up the sides of thequarry, followed by Dick.
　　'Now don't worry. We'll get her all right. But it beats me why she went there and I still can'timagine how Tim and she came from the island, if they are here, instead of on the beach!'
　　'Look there's Martin!' suddenly said Dick in surprise. So there was! He was standing⁶ at the top ofthe quarry, and seemed just as surprised to see them as they were to see him! 'You're up early,'
　　called Dick. 'And goodness me -- are you going gardening or something? Why the spades?'
　　Martin looked sheepish and didn't seem to know what to say. Julian suddenly walked up to himand caught hold of his shoulder. 'Look here, Martin! There's some funny business going on here!
　　What are you going to do with those spades? Have you seen George? Do you know where she is,or anything about her? Come on, tell me!'
　　Martin shook his shoulder away from Julian's grip, looking extremely surprised. 'George? No!
　　What's happened to him?'
　　'George isn't a him - she's a her,' said Anne, still crying. 'She's disappeared. We thought she'dgone to the island to find her dog -- and Timmy suddenly appeared at Kirrin Cottage, andbrought us here!'
　　'So it looks as if George might be somewhere near here,' said Julian. 'And I want to know ifyou've seen her or know anything of her whereabouts?'
　　'No, Julian. I swear I don't!' said Martin.
　　'Well, tell me what you're doing here so early in the morning, with spades,' said Julian, roughly.
　　'Who are you waiting for? Your father?'
　　'Yes,' said Martin.
　　'And what are you going to do?' asked Dick. 'Going exploring up the hole there?'
　　'Yes,' said Martin again, sullen⁷ and worried. 'No harm in that, is there?'
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　　'It's all - very - queer,' said Julian, eyeing him and speaking slowly and loudly. 'But - let me tellyou this - we're going exploring -- not you! If there's anything queer up that hole, we'll 'find it!
　　We shall not allow you or your father to get through the hole. So go and find him and tell himthat!'
　　Martin didn't move. He went very white, and stared at Julian miserably⁸. Anne went up to him,tears still on her face and put her hand on his arm.
　　'Martin, what is it? Why do you look like that? What's the mystery?' And then, to the dismay andhorror of everyone, Martin turned away with a noise that sounded very like a sob⁹! He stood withhis back to them, his shoulders shaking.
　　'Good gracious! What is up?' said Julian, in exasperation¹⁰. 'Pull yourself together, Martin! Tell uswhat's worrying you.'
　　'Everything, everything!' said Martin, in a muffled¹¹ voice. Then he swung round to face them.
　　'You don't know what it is to have no mother and no father - nobody who cares about you – andthen...'
　　'But you have got a father!' said Dick at once.
　　'I haven't. He's not my father, that man. He's only my guardian¹², but he makes me call him fatherwhenever we're on a job together.'
　　'A job? What sort of job?' said Julian.
　　'Oh any kind -- all beastly,' said Martin. 'Snooping round and finding things out about people,and then getting money from them if we promise to say nothing - and receiving stolen goods andselling them - and helping¹³ people like the men who are after your uncle's secret...'
　　'Oho!' said Dick at once. Now we're coming to it. I thought you and Mr. Curton were bothsuspiciously interested in Kirrin Island. What's this present job, then?'
　　'My guardian will half-kill me for telling all this,' said Martin. 'But, you see, they're planning toblow up the island -- and it's about the worst thing I've ever been mixed up in - and I know youruncle is there - and perhaps George too now, you say. I can't go on with it!'
　　A few more tears ran down his cheeks. It was awful to see a boy crying like that, and the threefelt sorry for Martin now. They were also full of horror when they heard him say that the islandwas to be blown up!
　　'How do you know this?' asked Julian.
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　　'Well, Mr. Curton's got a wireless¹⁴ receiver and transmitter as you know,' explained Martin, 'andso have the fellows on the island -- the ones who are after your uncle's secret -- so they can easilykeep in touch with one another. They mean to get the secret if they can - if not they are going toblow the whole place sky-high so that nobody can get the secret. But they can't get away by boat,because they don't know the way through those rocks....'
　　'Well, how will they get away then?' demanded Julian.
　　'We feel sure this hole that Timmy found the other day, leads down to the sea, and under the sea-bed to Kirrin Island,' said Martin. 'Yes, I know it sounds too mad to be true - but Mr. Curton's gotan old map which clearly shows there was once a passage under the sea-bed. If there is - well,the fellows across on the island can escape down it, after making all preparations for the island tobe blown up. See?'
　　'Yes,' said Julian, taking a long breath. 'I do see. I see it all very clearly now. .1 see somethingelse too! Timmy has found his way from the island, using that same passage you have just toldus about - and that's why he's led us back here -- to take us to the island and rescue UncleQuentin and George.'
　　There was a deep silence. Martin stared at the ground. Dick and Julian thought hard. Annesobbed a little. It all seemed quite unbelievable to her. Then Julian put his hand on Martin's arm.
　　'Martin! You did right to tell us. We may be able to prevent something dreadful. But you musthelp. We may need those spades of yours - and I expect you've got torches too. We haven't. Wedon't want to waste time going back and getting them - so will you come with us and help us?
　　Will you lend us those spades and torches?'
　　'Would you trust me?' said Martin, in a low voice. 'Yes, I want to come and help you. And if weget in now, my guardian won't be able to follow, because he won't have a torch. We can get tothe island and bring your uncle and George safely back.'
　　'Good for you!' said Dick. 'Well, come on then. We've been talking far too long. Come on downagain, Ju. Hand him a spade and torch, Martin.'
　　'Anne, you're not to come,' said Julian, to his little sister. 'You're to go back and tell Aunt Fannywhat's happened. Will you do that?'
　　'Yes. I don't want to come,' said Anne. 'I'll go back now. Do be careful, Julian!' She climbeddown with the boys and then stood and watched till all three had disappeared, into the hole.
　　Timmy, who had been waiting impatiently during the talking, barking now and again, was glad85
　　to find that at last they were going to make a move. He ran ahead in the tunnel, his eyes gleaminggreen every time he turned to see if they were following.
　　Anne began to climb up the steep side of the quarry again. Then, thinking she heard a cough, shestopped and crouched¹⁵ under a bush. She peered through the leaves and saw Mr. Curton. Then sheheard his voice.
　　'Martin! Where on earth are you?' So he had come to look for Martin and go up the tunnel withhim! Anne hardly dared to breathe. Mr. Curton called again and again, then made an impatientnoise and began to climb down the side of the quarry.
　　Suddenly he slipped! He clutched at a bush as he passed, but it gave way. He rolled quite nearAnne, and caught sight of her.' He looked astonished, but then his look became one of fear as herolled more and more quickly to the bottom of the deep quarry. Anne heard him give a deepgroan as at last he came to a stop.
　　Anne peered down in fright. Mr. Curton was sitting up, holding one of his legs and groaning¹⁶. Helooked up to see if he could spy Anne.
　　'Anne!' he called. 'I've broken my leg, I think. Can you fetch help? What are you doing here soearly? Have you seen Martin?'
　　Anne did not answer. If he had broken his leg, then he couldn't go after the others! And Annecould get away quickly. She climbed carefully, afraid of rolling down to the bottom and havingto lie beside the horrid¹⁷ Mr. Curton.
　　'Anne! Have you seen Martin? Look for him and get help for me, will you?' shouted Mr.' Curton,and then groaned¹⁸ again.
　　Anne climbed to the top of the quarry and looked down. She cupped her hands round her mouthand shouted loudly: 'You're a very wicked man. I shan't fetch help for you. I simply can't bearyou!'
　　Arid, having got, all that off her chest, the little girl shot off at top speed over the moor.
　　'I must tell Aunt Fanny. She'll know what to do! Oh, I hope the others are safe. What shall we doif the island blows up? I'm glad, glad, glad I told Mr. Curton he was very wicked man.' And onshe ran, panting. Aunt Fanny would know what to do!

1 moor   

n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊

参考例句：

• I decided to moor near some tourist boats.我决定在一些观光船附近停泊。
• There were hundreds of the old huts on the moor.沼地上有成百上千的古老的石屋。

2 awfully   

adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地

参考例句：

• Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
• I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。

3 quarry   

n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找

参考例句：

• Michelangelo obtained his marble from a quarry.米开朗基罗从采石场获得他的大理石。
• This mountain was the site for a quarry.这座山曾经有一个采石场。

4 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

5 wriggled   

v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）

参考例句：

• He wriggled uncomfortably on the chair. 他坐在椅子上不舒服地扭动着身体。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A snake wriggled across the road. 一条蛇蜿蜒爬过道路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

7 sullen   

adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的

参考例句：

• He looked up at the sullen sky.他抬头看了一眼阴沉的天空。
• Susan was sullen in the morning because she hadn't slept well.苏珊今天早上郁闷不乐，因为昨晚没睡好。

8 miserably   

adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地

参考例句：

• The little girl was wailing miserably. 那小女孩难过得号啕大哭。
• It was drizzling, and miserably cold and damp. 外面下着毛毛细雨，天气又冷又湿，令人难受。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 sob   

n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣

参考例句：

• The child started to sob when he couldn't find his mother.孩子因找不到他妈妈哭了起来。
• The girl didn't answer,but continued to sob with her head on the table.那个女孩不回答，也不抬起头来。她只顾低声哭着。

10 exasperation   

n.愤慨

参考例句：

• He snorted with exasperation.他愤怒地哼了一声。
• She rolled her eyes in sheer exasperation.她气急败坏地转动着眼珠。

11 muffled   

adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己）

参考例句：

• muffled voices from the next room 从隔壁房间里传来的沉闷声音
• There was a muffled explosion somewhere on their right. 在他们的右面什么地方有一声沉闷的爆炸声。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

13 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

14 wireless   

adj.无线的；n.无线电

参考例句：

• There are a lot of wireless links in a radio.收音机里有许多无线电线路。
• Wireless messages tell us that the ship was sinking.无线电报告知我们那艘船正在下沉。

15 crouched   

v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He crouched down beside her. 他在她的旁边蹲了下来。
• The lion crouched ready to pounce. 狮子蹲下身，准备猛扑。

16 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。

17 horrid   

adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的

参考例句：

• I'm not going to the horrid dinner party.我不打算去参加这次讨厌的宴会。
• The medicine is horrid and she couldn't get it down.这种药很难吃，她咽不下去。

18 groaned   

v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦

参考例句：

• He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。
• The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》