Chapter Twenty EVERYTHING BOILS UP!

　　Chapter Twenty EVERYTHING BOILS UP!
　　Meanwhile the three boys and Timmy were having a strange journey underground. Timmy ledthe way without faltering¹, stopping every now and again for the others to catch up with him. Thetunnel at first had a very low roof and the boys had to walk along in a stooping position, whichwas very tiring indeed. But after a bit the roof became higher and Julian, flashing his torchround, saw that the walls and floor, instead of being made of soil, were now made of rock. Hetried to reckon out where they were.
　　'We've come practically straight towards the cliff,' he said to Dick. 'That's allowing for a fewturns and twists. The tunnel has sloped down so steeply the last few hundred yards that I thinkwe must be very far underground indeed.'
　　It was not until the boys heard the curious booming noise that George had heard in the caves,that they knew they must be under the rocky bed of the sea. They were walking under the sea toKirrin Island. How strange, how unbelievably astonishing!
　　'It's like a peculiarly vivid dream,' said Julian. 'I'm not sure I like it very much! All right, Tim --we're coming. Hallo - what's this?'
　　They all stopped. Julian flashed his torch ahead and saw a pile of fallen rocks. Timmy hadmanaged to squeeze himself through a hole in them and go through to the other side, but the boyscouldn't.
　　'This is where the spades come in, Martin!' said Dick, cheerfully. 'Take a hand!' By dint² ofpushing and shovelling³, the boys at last managed to move the pile of fallen rocks enough to makea way past.
　　'Thank goodness for the spades!' said Julian.
　　They went on, and were soon very glad of the spades again, to move another heap of rock.
　　Timmy barked impatiently when they kept him waiting. He was very anxious to get back toGeorge.
　　Soon they came to where the tunnel forked into two. But Timmy took the right-hand passagewithout hesitation⁴, and when that one forked into three, he again chose one without stopping tothink for one moment.
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　　'Marvellous, isn't he?' said Julian. 'All done by smell! He's been this way once, so he knows itagain. We should be completely lost under here if we came by ourselves.'
　　Martin was not enjoying this adventure at all. He said very little, but labored⁵ on after the others.
　　Dick guessed he was worrying about what was going to happen when the adventure was over.
　　Poor Martin. All he wanted to do was to draw -- and instead of that he had been dragged into onehorrible job after another, and used as a cat's-paw by his evil guardian⁶.
　　'Do you think we're anywhere near the island?' said Dick, at last. 'I'm getting tired of this!'
　　'Yes, we must be,' said Julian. 'In fact I think we'd better be as quiet as we can, in case we comesuddenly on the enemy!'
　　So, without speaking again, they went as quietly as they could -- and then suddenly they saw afaint light ahead of them. Julian put out his hand to stop the others. They were nearing the cavewhere George's father had his books and papers -- where George had found him the night before.
　　Timmy stood in front of them, listening too. He was not going 'to run headlong into danger!
　　They heard voices, and listened intently to see whose they were.
　　'George's -- and Uncle Quentin's,' said Julian at last. And, as if Timmy had also satisfied himselfthat those were indeed the two voices, the dog ran ahead and went into the lighted cave, barkingjoyfully.
　　'Timmy!' came George's voice, and they heard something overturn as she sprang up. 'Where haveyou been?'
　　'Woof,' said Timmy, trying to explain. 'Woof!'
　　And then Julian and Dick ran into the cave followed by Martin! Uncle Quentin and Georgestared in the very greatest amazement⁷.
　　'Julian! Dick! And Martin! How did you get here?' cried George, whilst Timmy jumped andcapered round her.
　　'I'll explain,' said Julian. 'It was Timmy that fetched us!' And he related the whole story of howTimmy had come into Kirrin Cottage in the early morning and had jumped on his bed, and allthat had happened since. And then, in their turn, Uncle Quentin and George told all that hadhappened to them!
　　'Where are the two men?' asked Julian.
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　　'Somewhere on the island,' said George. 'I went scouting⁸ after them some time ago, and followedthem up to where they get out into the little stone room. I think they're there until half past ten,when they'll go up and signal, so that people will think everything is all right.'
　　'Well, what are our plans?' said Julian. 'Will you come back down the passage under the sea withus? Or what shall we do?'
　　'Better not do that,' said Martin, quickly. 'My guardian may be coming -- and he's in touch withother men. If he wonders where I am, and thinks something is up, he may call in two or threeothers, and we might meet them making their way up the passage.'
　　They did not know, of course, that Mr. Curton was even then lying with a broken leg at thebottom of the quarry⁹. Uncle Quentin considered.
　　'I've been given seven hours to say whether or not I will give the fellows my secret,' he said.
　　'That time will be up just after half past ten. Then the men will come down again to see me. Ithink between us we ought to be able to capture them -- especially as we've got Timmy with us!'
　　'Yes - that's a good idea,' said Julian. 'We could hide somewhere 'till they come -- and then setTimmy on them before they suspect anything!'
　　Almost before he had finished these words the light in the cave went out! Then a voice spoke¹⁰ outof the blackness. 'Keep still! One movement and I'll shoot.'
　　George gasped¹¹. What was happening? Had the men come back unexpectedly? Oh, why hadn'tTimmy given them warning? She had been fondling his ears, so probably he had been unable tohear anything! She held Timmy's collar, afraid that he would fly at the man in the darkness andbe shot. The voice spoke again.
　　'Will you or will you not give us your secret?'
　　'Not,' said Uncle Quentin, in a low voice.
　　'You will have this whole island, and all your work blown up then, and yourself too and theothers?'
　　'Yes! You can do 'what you like!' suddenly yelled George. You'll be blown up yourself too.
　　You'll never be able' to get away in a boat - you'll go on the rocks!'
　　The man in the darkness laughed. 'We shall be safe,' he said. 'Now, keep at the back of the cave. Ihave you covered with my revolver.'
　　They all crouched¹² at the back. Timmy growled¹³, but George made him stop at once. She did notknow if the men knew he was free or not. Quiet footsteps passed across the cave in the darkness.
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　　George listened, straining her ears. Two pairs of foot steps! Both men were passing through thecave. She knew where they were going! They were going to escape by the undersea passage -and leave the island to be blown up behind them! As soon as the footsteps had died away,George switched on her torch.
　　'Father! Those men are escaping now, down the sea-tunnel. We must escape too - but not thatway. My boat is on the shore. Let's get there quickly and get away before there's any explosion.'
　　'Yes, come along,' said her father. 'But if only I could get up into my tower, I could stop anywicked plan of theirs! They mean to use the power there, I know - but if I could get up to theglass room, I could undo¹⁴ all their 'plans!'
　　'Oh do be quick then, Father!' cried George, getting in quite a panic now. 'Save my island if youcan!'
　　They all made their way through the cave, up to the passage that led to the stone flight of stepsfrom the little stone room. And there they had a shock!
　　The stone could not be opened from the inside! The men had altered the mechanism¹⁵ so that itcould now only be opened from the outside. In vain Uncle Quentin swung the lever to and fro.
　　Nothing happened. The stone would not move.
　　'It's only from outside it can be opened,' he said in despair. 'We're trapped!'
　　They sat down on the stone steps in a row, one above the other. They were cold, hungry andmiserable. What could they do now? Make their way back to the cave and then go on 'down the'
　　under-sea tunnel?
　　'I don't want to do that,' said Uncle Quentin. 'I'm so afraid that if there is an explosion, it maycrack the rocky bed of the sea, which is the roof of the tunnel - and then water would pour in. Itwouldn't be pleasant if we happened to be there at that moment.'
　　'Oh no. Don't let's be trapped like that,' said George, with a shudder¹⁶. 'I couldn't bear it.'
　　'Perhaps I could get something to explode this stone away,' said her father, after a while. 'I've gotplenty of stuff if only I've time to put it together.'
　　'Listen!' said Julian, suddenly. 'I can hear something outside this wall. Sh!'
　　They all listened intently. Timmy whined¹⁷ and scratched at the stone that would not move.
　　'It's voices!' cried Dick. 'Lots of them. Who can it be?'
　　'Be quiet,' said Julian, fiercely. 'We must find out!'
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　　'I know, I know!' said George, suddenly. 'It's the fishermen who have come over in their boats!
　　That's why the men didn't wait till half past ten! That's why they've gone in such a hurry! Theysaw the fisher-boats coming!'
　　'Then Anne must have brought them!' cried Dick. She must have run home to Aunt Fanny, toldher everything and given the news to the fishermen - and they've come to rescue us! Anne!
　　ANNE! WE'RE HERE!'
　　Timmy began to bark deafeningly. The others encouraged him, because they felt certain thatTimmy's bark was louder than their shouts! 'WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!'
　　Anne heard the barking and the shouting as soon as she ran into the little stone room. 'Where areyou? Where are you?' she yelled.
　　'HERE! HERE! MOVE THE STONE!' yelled Julian, shouting so loudly that everyone near himjumped violently.
　　'Move aside, Miss - I can see which stone it is,' said a man's deep voice. It was one of thefishermen. He felt round and about the stone in the recess¹⁸, sure it was the right one because itwas cleaner than the others through being used as an entrance.
　　Suddenly he touched the right place, and found a tiny iron spike¹⁹. He pulled it down - and thelever swung back behind it, and pulled the stone aside! Everyone hurried out, one on top of theother! The six fishermen standing²⁰ in the little room stared in astonishment²¹. Aunt Fanny was theretoo, and Anne. Aunt Fanny ran to her husband as soon as he appeared - but to her surprise hepushed her away quite roughly.
　　He ran out of the room, and hurried to the tower. Was he in time to save the island and everyoneon it? Oh hurry, hurry!'

1 faltering   

犹豫的，支吾的，蹒跚的

参考例句：

• The economy shows no signs of faltering. 经济没有衰退的迹象。
• I canfeel my legs faltering. 我感到我的腿在颤抖。

2 dint   

n.由于，靠；凹坑

参考例句：

• He succeeded by dint of hard work.他靠苦干获得成功。
• He reached the top by dint of great effort.他费了很大的劲终于爬到了顶。

3 shovelling   

v.铲子( shovel的现在分词 )；锹；推土机、挖土机等的)铲；铲形部份

参考例句：

• The workers are shovelling the sand. 工人们正在铲沙子。 来自辞典例句
• They were shovelling coal up. 他们在铲煤。 来自辞典例句

4 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

5 labored   

adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转

参考例句：

• I was close enough to the elk to hear its labored breathing. 我离那头麋鹿非常近，能听见它吃力的呼吸声。 来自辞典例句
• They have labored to complete the job. 他们努力完成这一工作。 来自辞典例句

6 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。

7 amazement   

n.惊奇，惊讶

参考例句：

• All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
• He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。

8 scouting   

守候活动，童子军的活动

参考例句：

• I have people scouting the hills already. 我已经让人搜过那些山了。
• Perhaps also from the Gospel it passed into the tradition of scouting. 也许又从《福音书》传入守望的传统。 来自演讲部分

9 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。

10 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。

11 gasped   

v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要

参考例句：

• She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
• People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

12 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。

13 growled   

v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说

参考例句：

• \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道：“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 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。

15 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

16 shudder   

v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动

参考例句：

• The sight of the coffin sent a shudder through him.看到那副棺材，他浑身一阵战栗。
• We all shudder at the thought of the dreadful dirty place.我们一想到那可怕的肮脏地方就浑身战惊。

17 whined   

v.哀号( whine的过去式和过去分词 )；哀诉，诉怨

参考例句：

• The dog whined at the door, asking to be let out. 狗在门前嚎叫着要出去。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He whined and pouted when he did not get what he wanted. 他要是没得到想要的东西就会发牢骚、撅嘴。 来自辞典例句

18 recess   

n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处）

参考例句：

• The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.会议主席宣布休会10分钟。
• Parliament was hastily recalled from recess.休会的议员被匆匆召回开会。

19 spike   

n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效

参考例句：

• The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order.那个钉子穿过那些收据并使之按顺序排列。
• They'll do anything to spike the guns of the opposition.他们会使出各种手段来挫败对手。

20 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。

21 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。