Chapter 4 SPOOK-TRAINS

　　Chapter 4 SPOOK-TRAINS
　　The boys and George were full of talk about the farm. 'It's a nice little place,' said Julian, sittingdown while Anne began to cook breakfast for Mr. Luffy. 'Pretty farmhouse¹, nice little dairy,well-kept sheds. And even a grand piano in the drawing-room.'
　　'Gracious! You wouldn't think they'd make enough money to buy a thing like that, would you?'
　　said Anne, turning over the bacon in the pan.
　　'The farmer's got a fine car,' went on Julian. 'Brand new. Must have cost him a pretty penny. Hisboy showed it to us. And he showed us some jolly good new farm machinery² too.'
　　'Very interesting,' said Mr. Luffy. 'I wonder how they make their money, farming that bit ofland? The last people were hard-working folk, but they certainly couldn't have afforded a newcar or a grand piano.'
　　'And you should have seen the lorries they've got!' said Dick. 'Beauties! Old army ones, I shouldthink. The boy said his father's going to use them for carting things from the farm to the market.'
　　'What things?' said Mr. Luffy, looking across at the little farmhouse. 'I shouldn't have thoughtthey needed an army of lorries for that! An old farm wagon³ would carry all their produce.'
　　'Well, that's what he told us,' said Dick. 'Everything certainly looked very prosperous, I must say.
　　He must be a jolly good farmer.'
　　'We got eggs and butter and fruit, and even some bacon,' said George. 'The boy's mother didn'tseem worried about how much we had, and she hardly charged us anything. We didn't see thefarmer.'
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　　Mr. Luffy was now eating his breakfast. He was certainly very hungry. He brushed away theflies that hung round his head, and when one settled on his right ear he waggled it violently. Thefly flew off in surprise.
　　'Oh, do that again!' begged Anne. 'How do you do it? Do you think if I practised hard for weeks Icould make my ear move?'
　　'No, I don't think so,' said Mr. Luffy, finishing his breakfast. 'Well, I've got some writing to donow. What are you going to do? Go for a walk?'
　　'We might as well take a picnic lunch and go off somewhere,' said Julian. 'How about it?'
　　'Yes,' said Dick. 'Can you pack us dinner and tea, Anne? We'll help. What about hard-boiledeggs?'
　　It wasn't long before they had a picnic meal packed in greaseproof paper.
　　'You won't get lost, will you?' said Mr. Luffy.
　　'Oh no, sir,' said Julian, with a laugh. 'I've got a compass, anyway, and a jolly good bump oflocality, too. I usually know the way to go. We'll see you this evening, when we get back.'
　　'You won't get lost, Mr. Luffy, will you?' asked Anne, looking worried.
　　'Don't be cheeky, Anne,' said Dick, rather horrified⁴ at Anne's question. But she really meant it.
　　Mr. Luffy was so absent-minded that she could quite well picture him wandering off and notbeing able to find his way back.
　　He smiled at her. 'No,' he said. 'I know my way about here all right - I know every stream andpath and er - volcano!'
　　Anne giggled⁵. The others stared at Mr. Luffy, wondering what in the world he meant, but neitherhe nor Anne told them. They said good-bye and set off.
　　'It's heavenly walking today,' said Anne. 'Shall we follow a path if we find one or not?'
　　'Might as well,' said Julian. 'It'll be a bit tiring scrambling⁶ through heather all the day.'
　　So when they did unexpectedly come across a path they followed it. 'It's just a shepherd's path, Iexpect,' said Dick. 'I bet it's a lonely job, looking after sheep up on these desolate⁷ heathery hills.'
　　They went on for some way, enjoying the stretches of bright heather, the lizards⁸ that dartedquickly away from their feet and the hosts of butterflies of all kinds that hovered⁹ and fluttered.
　　Anne loved the little blue ones best and made up her mind to ask Mr. Luffy what all their nameswere.
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　　They had their lunch on a hill-top overlooking a vast stretch of heather, with grey-white blobs init here and there - the sheep that wandered everywhere.
　　And, in the very middle of the meal, Anne heard the same rumbling¹⁰ she had heard before, andthen, not far off, out spouted¹¹ some white smoke from the ground. George went quite pale.
　　Timmy leapt to his feet, growling¹² and barking, his tail down. The boys roared with laughter.
　　'It's all right, Anne and George. It's only the trains underground here. We knew they ran underthe moors¹³ and we thought we'd see what you did when you first heard them rumbling, and sawthe smoke.'
　　'I'm not a bit frightened,' said Anne, and the boys looked at her, astonished. It was George whowas the scared one! Usually it was quite the other way round.
　　George got back her colour and laughed. She called Timmy. 'It's all right, Tim. Come here. Youknow what trains are, don't you?'
　　The children discussed the trains. It really did seem strange to think of trains in those hollowed-out tunnels down below the moors - the people in them, reading their newspapers and talking -down in tunnels where the sun never shone at all.
　　'Come on,' said Julian, at last. 'Let's go on. We'll walk to the top of the next slope, and then Ithink we ought to turn back.'
　　They found a little path that Julian said must be a rabbit-path, because it was so narrow, and setoff, chattering¹⁴ and laughing. They climbed through the heather to the top of the next slope. Andat the top they got quite a surprise.
　　Down in the valley below was a silent and deserted¹⁵ stretch of railway lines! They appeared outof the black hole of a tunnel-mouth, ran for about half a mile, and then ended in what seemed tobe a kind of railway yard.
　　'Look at that,' said Julian- 'Old derelict lines - not used any more, I should think. I suppose thattunnel's out of date, too.'
　　'Let's go down and have a squint,' said Dick. 'Come on! We've got plenty of time, and we caneasily go back a shorter way.'
　　They set off down the hill to the lines. They arrived some way from the tunnel-mouth, andfollowed the lines to the deserted railway yard. There seemed to be nobody about at all.
　　'Look,' said Dick, 'there are some old wagons¹⁶ on that set of lines over there. They look as if theyhaven't been used for a hundred years. Let's give them a shove and set them going!'
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　　'Oh, no!' said Anne, afraid. But the two boys and George, who had always longed to play aboutwith real railway trucks, ran over to where three or four stood on the lines. Dick and Julianshoved hard at one. It moved. It ran a little way and crashed into the buffers¹⁷ of another. It made aterrific noise in the silent yard.
　　A door flew open in a tiny hut at the side of the yard, and a terrifying figure came out. It was aone-legged man, with a wooden peg¹⁸ for his other leg, two great arms that might quite wellbelong to a gorilla¹⁹, and a face as red as a tomato, except where grey whiskers grew.
　　He opened his mouth and the children expected a loud and angry yell. Instead out came a husky,hoarse whisper:
　　'What you doing? Ain't it bad enough to hear spook-trains a - running at night, without hearingthem in the daytime, too?'
　　The four children stared at him. They thought he must be quite mad. He came nearer to them,and his wooden leg tip-tapped oddly. He swung his great arms loosely. He peered at the childrenas if he could hardly see them.
　　'I've broken me glasses,' he said, and to their astonishment²⁰ and dismay two tears ran down hischeeks. 'Poor old Wooden-Leg Sam, he's broken his glasses. Nobody cares about Wooden-LegSam now, nobody at all.'
　　There didn't seem anything to say to all this. Anne felt sorry for the funny old man, but she keptwell behind Julian.
　　Sam peered at them again. 'Haven't you got tongues in your heads? Am I seeing things again, orare you there?'
　　'We're here and we're real,' said Julian. 'We happened to see this old railway yard and we camedown to have a look at it. Who are you?'
　　'I told you - I'm Wooden-Leg Sam,' said the old man impatiently. 'The watchman, see? Thoughwhat there is to watch here, beats me. Do they think I'm going to watch for these spook-trains?
　　Well, I'm not. Not me, Sam Wooden-Leg. I've seen many strange things in my life, yes, and beenscared by them too, and I'm not watching for any more spook-trains.'
　　The children listened curiously²¹. 'What spook-trains?' asked Julian.
　　Wooden-Leg Sam came closer. He looked all round as if he thought there might be someonelistening, and then spoke²² in a hoarser²³ whisper than usual.
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　　'Spook-trains, I tell you. Trains that come out of that tunnel at night all by themselves, and goback all by themselves. Nobody in them. One night they'll come for old Sam Wooden-Leg - but,see, I'm smart, I am. I lock myself into my hut and get under the bed. And I blow my candle outso those spook-trains don't know I'm there.'
　　Anne shivered. She pulled at Julian's hand. 'Julian! Let's go. I don't like it. It sounds all peculiarand horrid²⁴. What does he mean?'
　　The old man seemed suddenly to change his mood. He picked up a large cinder²⁵ and threw it atDick, hitting him on the head. 'You clear out! I'm watchman here. And what did they tell me?
　　They told me to chase away anyone that came. Clear out, I tell you!'
　　In terror Anne fled away. Timmy growled²⁶ and would have leapt at the strange old watchman, butGeorge had her hand on his collar. Dick rubbed his head where the cinder had hit him.
　　'We're going,' he said, soothingly²⁷ to Sam. It was plain that the old fellow was a bit funny in thehead. 'We didn't mean to trespass²⁸. You look after your spook-trains. We won't interfere²⁹ withyou!'
　　The boys and George turned away, and caught up with Anne. 'What did he mean?' she asked,scared. 'What are spook-trains? Trains that aren't real? Does he really see them at night?'
　　'He just imagines them,' said Julian. 'I expect being there all alone in that deserted old railwayyard has made him think strange things. Don't worry, Anne. There are no such things as spook-trains.'
　　'But he spoke as if there were,' said Anne, 'he really did. I'd hate to see a spook-train. Wouldn'tyou Ju?'
　　'No. I'd love to see one," said Julian, and he turned to Dick. 'Wouldn't you, Dick? Shall we comeone night and watch? Just to see?'

1 farmhouse   

n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房）

参考例句：

• We fell for the farmhouse as soon as we saw it.我们对那所农舍一见倾心。
• We put up for the night at a farmhouse.我们在一间农舍投宿了一夜。

2 machinery   

n.(总称)机械，机器；机构

参考例句：

• Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗？
• Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。

3 wagon   

n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车

参考例句：

• We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
• The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。

4 horrified   

a.(表现出)恐惧的

参考例句：

• The whole country was horrified by the killings. 全国都对这些凶杀案感到大为震惊。
• We were horrified at the conditions prevailing in local prisons. 地方监狱的普遍状况让我们震惊。

5 giggled   

v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The girls giggled at the joke. 女孩子们让这笑话逗得咯咯笑。
• The children giggled hysterically. 孩子们歇斯底里地傻笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 scrambling   

v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞

参考例句：

• Scrambling up her hair, she darted out of the house. 她匆忙扎起头发，冲出房去。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• She is scrambling eggs. 她正在炒蛋。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 desolate   

adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂

参考例句：

• The city was burned into a desolate waste.那座城市被烧成一片废墟。
• We all felt absolutely desolate when she left.她走后，我们都觉得万分孤寂。

8 lizards   

n.蜥蜴( lizard的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Nothing lives in Pompeii except crickets and beetles and lizards. 在庞培城里除了蟋蟀、甲壳虫和蜥蜴外，没有别的生物。 来自辞典例句
• Can lizards reproduce their tails? 蜥蜴的尾巴断了以后能再生吗？ 来自辞典例句

9 hovered   

鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫

参考例句：

• A hawk hovered over the hill. 一只鹰在小山的上空翱翔。
• A hawk hovered in the blue sky. 一只老鹰在蓝色的天空中翱翔。

10 rumbling   

n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词

参考例句：

• The earthquake began with a deep [low] rumbling sound. 地震开始时发出低沉的隆隆声。
• The crane made rumbling sound. 吊车发出隆隆的响声。

11 spouted   

adj.装有嘴的v.（指液体）喷出( spout的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地讲；喋喋不休地说；喷水

参考例句：

• The broken pipe spouted water all over the room. 破裂的水管喷了一屋子的水。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The lecturer spouted for hours. 讲师滔滔不绝地讲了几个小时。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 growling   

n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼

参考例句：

• We heard thunder growling in the distance. 我们听见远处有隆隆雷声。
• The lay about the deck growling together in talk. 他们在甲板上到处游荡，聚集在一起发牢骚。

13 moors   

v.停泊，系泊（船只）( moor的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• the North York moors 北约克郡的漠泽
• They're shooting grouse up on the moors. 他们在荒野射猎松鸡。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 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。

15 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

16 wagons   

n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车

参考例句：

• The wagons were hauled by horses. 那些货车是马拉的。
• They drew their wagons into a laager and set up camp. 他们把马车围成一圈扎起营地。

17 buffers   

起缓冲作用的人（或物）( buffer的名词复数 )； 缓冲器； 减震器； 愚蠢老头

参考例句：

• To allocate and schedule the use of buffers. 分配和计划缓冲器的使用。
• Number of times the stream has paused due to insufficient stream buffers. 由于流缓冲区不足导致流程暂停的次数。

18 peg   

n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定

参考例句：

• Hang your overcoat on the peg in the hall.把你的大衣挂在门厅的挂衣钩上。
• He hit the peg mightily on the top with a mallet.他用木槌猛敲木栓顶。

19 gorilla   

n.大猩猩，暴徒，打手

参考例句：

• I was awed by the huge gorilla.那只大猩猩使我惊惧。
• A gorilla is just a speechless animal.猩猩只不过是一种不会说话的动物。

20 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。

21 curiously   

adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地

参考例句：

• He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
• He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。

22 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。

23 hoarser   

（指声音）粗哑的，嘶哑的( hoarse的比较级 )

参考例句：

24 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。

25 cinder   

n.余烬，矿渣

参考例句：

• The new technology for the preparation of superfine ferric oxide from pyrite cinder is studied.研究了用硫铁矿烧渣为原料，制取超细氧化铁红的新工艺。
• The cinder contains useful iron,down from producing sulphuric acid by contact process.接触法制硫酸的矿渣中含有铁矿。

26 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》

27 soothingly   

adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地

参考例句：

• The mother talked soothingly to her child. 母亲对自己的孩子安慰地说。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He continued to talk quietly and soothingly to the girl until her frightened grip on his arm was relaxed. 他继续柔声安慰那姑娘，她那因恐惧而紧抓住他的手终于放松了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

28 trespass   

n./v.侵犯，闯入私人领地

参考例句：

• The fishing boat was seized for its trespass into restricted waters.渔船因非法侵入受限制水域而被扣押。
• The court sentenced him to a fine for trespass.法庭以侵害罪对他判以罚款。

29 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。