Chapter 13 STRANGE SECRET

　　Chapter 13 STRANGE SECRET
　　A curious groaning¹, whining² noise began, as some kind of strong machinery³ was set working.
　　Julian hurriedly turned the handle back. If it was going to make all that noise, he wasn't going to tryhis hand at opening the gates! It would bring Mr. Perton out of his room in a rush!
　　'Most ingenious, whatever it is,' thought the boy, examining it as well as he could in the moonlightthat streamed through the window. He looked round the room again. A noise came to his ears and hestood still.
　　'It's somebody snoring,' he thought. 'I'd better not mess about here any more! Where are theysleeping? Somewhere not far from here, that's certain.'
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　　He tiptoed cautiously into the next room and looked inside it. It was a lounge, but there was nobodythere at all. He couldn't hear the snoring there either.
　　He was puzzled. There didn't seem to be any other room nearby where people could sleep. He wentback to the workroom or study. Yes - now he could hear that noise again - and it was somebodysnoring! Somebody quite near - and yet not near enough to hear properly, or to see.
　　Most peculiar⁴.
　　Julian walked softly round the room, trying to find a place where the snoring sounded loudest of all.
　　Yes - by this bookcase that reached to the ceiling. That was where the snoring sounded most of all.
　　Was there a room behind this wall, next to the workroom? Julian went out to investigate.
　　But there was no room behind the study at all - only the wall of the corridor, as far as he could see. Itwas more and more mysterious.
　　He went back to the study again, and over to the bookcase. Yes - there it was again. Somebody wasasleep and snoring not far off - but WHERE?
　　Julian began to examine the bookcase. It was full of books jammed tightly together - novels,biographies, reference books - all higgledy-piggledy. He removed some from a shelf and examinedthe bookcase behind. It was of solid wood.
　　He put back the books and examined the big bookcase again. It was a very solid affair. Julian lookedcarefully at the books, shining in the moonlight. One shelf of books looked different from the others -less tidy - the books not so jammed together. Why should just one shelf be different?
　　Julian quietly took the books from that shelf. Behind them was the solid wood again. Julian put hishand at the back and felt about. A knob was hidden in a corner. A knob! Whatever was that there for?
　　Cautiously Julian turned the knob this way and that. Nothing happened. Then he pressed it. Stillnothing happened. He pulled it - and it slid out a good six inches!
　　Then the whole of the back of that particular shelf slid quietly downwards⁵, and left an opening bigenough for somebody to squeeze through! Julian Held his breath. A sliding panel! What was behindit?
　　A dim flickering⁶ light came from the space behind. Julian waited till his eyes were used to it after thebright moonlight. He was trembling with excitement. The snoring now sounded so loud that Julianfelt as if the snorer must be almost within hand's reach!
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　　Then gradually he made out a tiny room, with a small narrow bed, a table and a shelf on which a fewarticles could dimly be made out. A candle was burning in a corner. On the bed was the snorer. Juliancould not see what he was like, except that he looked big and burly as he lay there, snoringpeacefully.
　　'What a find!' thought Julian. 'A secret hiding-place - a place to hide all kinds of people, I suppose,who have enough money to pay for such a safe hole. This fellow ought to have been warned not tosnore! He gave himself away.'
　　The boy did not dare to stay there any longer, looking into that curious secret room. It must be builtin a space between the wall of the study and the wall of the corridor - probably a very old hiding-place made when the house was built.
　　Julian felt for the knob. He pushed it back into place, and the panel slid up again, as noiselessly asbefore. It was evidently kept in good working order!
　　The snoring was muffled⁷ again now. Julian replaced the books, hoping that they were more or less ashe had found them.
　　He felt very thrilled. He had found one of the secrets of Owl⁸'s Dene, at any rate. The police would bevery interested to hear about that secret hole - and perhaps they would be even more interested tohear about the person inside it!
　　It was absolutely essential now that he and the others should escape. Would it be all right if he wentwithout Dick? No - if the men suspected any dirty work on his part - discovered that he knew of thesecret hole, for instance - they might harm Dick. Regretfully Julian decided⁹ that there must be noescape for him unless everyone, including Dick, could come too.
　　He didn't explore any more. He suddenly felt very tired indeed and crept softly upstairs. He felt as ifhe simply must lie down and think. He was too tired to do anything else.
　　He went to the bedroom. The key was still in the lock outside. He went into the room and shut thedoor. Mr. Perton would find the door unlocked the next morning, but probably he would think hehadn't turned the key properly. Julian lay down on the mattress¹⁰ beside Richard. All the others werefast asleep.
　　He meant to think out all his problems - but no sooner had he closed his eyes than he was fast asleep.
　　He didn't hear Timmy howling outside once more. He didn't hear the screech¹¹ owl that made the nighthideous on the hill. He didn't see the moon slide down the sky.
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　　It was not Mr. Perton who awoke the children next morning, but the woman. She came into the roomand called to them.
　　'If you want breakfast you'd better come down and have it!'
　　They all sat up in a hurry, wondering where in the world they were. 'Hallo!' said Julian, blinkingsleepily. 'Breakfast, did you say? It sounds good. Is there anywhere we can wash?'
　　'You can wash down in the kitchen,' said the woman, sullenly¹², 'I'm not cleaning any bathroom upafter you!'
　　'Leave the door unlocked for us to get out!' said Julian, innocently. 'Mr. Perton locked it last night.'
　　'So he said,' answered the woman, 'but he hadn't locked it! It wasn't locked when I tried the door thismorning. Aha! You didn't know that, did you? You'd have been wandering all over the house, Isuppose, if you'd guessed that.'
　　'Probably we should,' agreed Julian, winking¹³ at the others. They knew that he had meant to go andfind Dick in the night, and snoop round a bit - but they didn't know all he had discovered. He hadn'thad the heart to wake them and tell them the night before.
　　'Don't you be too long,' said the woman, and went out of the door, leaving it open.
　　'I hope she's taken some breakfast up to poor old Dick,' said Julian, in a low voice. The others cameclose to him.
　　'Ju - did you find Dick last night?' whispered Anne. He nodded. Then, very quickly and quietly hetold them all he had discovered - where Dick was - and then how he had heard the snoring -and discovered the secret panel - the hidden room - and the man who slept so soundly there, notknowing that Julian had seen him.
　　'Julian! How thrilling!' said George. 'Whoever would have thought of all that?'
　　'Oh yes - and I discovered the machinery that opens the gates too,' said Julian. It's in the same room.
　　But come on - if we don't go down to the kitchen that woman will be after us again. I hope Hunchywon't be there - I don't like him.'
　　Hunchy, however, was there, finishing his breakfast at a small table. He scowled¹⁵ at the children, butthey took absolutely no notice of him.
　　'You've been a long time,' grumbled¹⁶ the woman. 'There's the sink over there, if you want to wash, andI've put a towel out for you. You look pretty dirty, all of you.'
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　　'We are,' said Julian, cheerfully. 'We could have done with a bath last night - but we didn't exactly getmuch of a welcome, you know.'
　　When they had washed they went to a big scrubbed table. There was no cloth on it. The woman hadput out some bread and butter and some boiled eggs and a jug¹⁷ of steaming hot cocoa. They all satdown and began to help themselves. Julian talked cheerfully, winking at the others to make them dothe same. He wasn't going to let the hunchback think they were scared or worried in any way.
　　'Shut up, you,' said Hunchy, suddenly. Julian took no notice. He went on talking, and George backedhim up valiantly¹⁸, though Anne and Richard were too scared, after hearing the hunchback's furiousvoice.
　　'Did you hear what I said?' suddenly yelled Hunchy, and got up from the little table where he hadbeen sitting. 'Hold your tongues, all of you! Coming into my kitchen and making all that row!
　　Hold your tongues!'
　　Julian rose too. 'I don't take orders from you whoever you are,' he said, and he sounded just like agrown-up. 'You hold your tongue - or else be civil.'
　　'Oh, don't talk to him like that, don't,' begged the woman, anxiously. 'He's got such a temper -he'll take a stick to you!'
　　'I'd take a stick to him - except that I don't hit fellows smaller than myself,' said Julian.
　　What would have happened if Mr. Perton hadn't appeared in the kitchen at that moment nobodyknew! He stalked in and glared round, sensing that there was a row going on.
　　'You losing your temper again, Hunchy?' he said. 'Keep it till it's needed. I'll ask you to produce itsometime today possibly - if these kids don't behave themselves!' He looked round at the childrenwith a grim expression. Then he glanced at the woman.
　　'Rooky's coming soon,' he told her. 'And one or two others. Get a meal - a good one. Keep thesechildren in here, Hunchy, and keep an eye on them. I may want them later.'
　　He went out. The woman was trembling. 'Rooky's coming,' she half-whispered to Hunchy.
　　'Get on with your work, woman,' said the dwarf¹⁹. 'Go out and get the vegetables in yourself - I've gotto keep an eye on these kids.'
　　The poor woman scuttled²⁰ about. Anne was sorry for her. She went over to her. 'Shall I clear away andwash up for you?' she asked. 'You're going to be busy - and I've nothing to do.'
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　　'We'll all help,' said Julian. The woman gave him an astonished and grateful glance. It was plain thatshe was not used to good manners or politeness of any sort.
　　'Yah!' said Hunchy, sneeringly²¹. 'You won't get round me with your smarmy²² ways!'
　　Nobody took the slightest notice of him. All the children began to clear away the breakfast things,and Anne and George stacked them in the sink, and began to wash them.
　　'Yah!' said Hunchy again.
　　'And yah to you,' said Julian, pleasantly, which made the others laugh, and Hunchy scowl¹⁴ till his eyesdisappeared under his brows!

1 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。

2 whining   

n. 抱怨，牢骚 v. 哭诉，发牢骚

参考例句：

• That's the way with you whining, puny, pitiful players. 你们这种又爱哭、又软弱、又可怜的赌棍就是这样。
• The dog sat outside the door whining (to be let in). 那条狗坐在门外狺狺叫着（要进来）。

3 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。

4 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

5 downwards   

adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地）

参考例句：

• He lay face downwards on his bed.他脸向下伏在床上。
• As the river flows downwards,it widens.这条河愈到下游愈宽。

6 flickering   

adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的

参考例句：

• The crisp autumn wind is flickering away. 清爽的秋风正在吹拂。
• The lights keep flickering. 灯光忽明忽暗。

7 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》

8 owl   

n.猫头鹰，枭

参考例句：

• Her new glasses make her look like an owl.她的新眼镜让她看上去像只猫头鹰。
• I'm a night owl and seldom go to bed until after midnight.我睡得很晚，经常半夜后才睡觉。

9 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。

10 mattress   

n.床垫，床褥

参考例句：

• The straw mattress needs to be aired.草垫子该晾一晾了。
• The new mattress I bought sags in the middle.我买的新床垫中间陷了下去。

11 screech   

n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音

参考例句：

• He heard a screech of brakes and then fell down. 他听到汽车刹车发出的尖锐的声音,然后就摔倒了。
• The screech of jet planes violated the peace of the afternoon. 喷射机的尖啸声侵犯了下午的平静。

12 sullenly   

不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地

参考例句：

• 'so what?" Tom said sullenly. “那又怎么样呢？”汤姆绷着脸说。
• Emptiness after the paper, I sIt'sullenly in front of the stove. 报看完，想不出能找点什么事做，只好一人坐在火炉旁生气。

13 winking   

n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮

参考例句：

• Anyone can do it; it's as easy as winking. 这谁都办得到，简直易如反掌。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The stars were winking in the clear sky. 星星在明亮的天空中闪烁。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 scowl   

vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容

参考例句：

• I wonder why he is wearing an angry scowl.我不知道他为何面带怒容。
• The boss manifested his disgust with a scowl.老板面带怒色，清楚表示出他的厌恶之感。

15 scowled   

怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He scowled his displeasure. 他满脸嗔色。
• The teacher scowled at his noisy class. 老师对他那喧闹的课堂板着脸。

16 grumbled   

抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声

参考例句：

• He grumbled at the low pay offered to him. 他抱怨给他的工资低。
• The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. 天热得让人发昏，水手们边干活边发着牢骚。

17 jug   

n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂

参考例句：

• He walked along with a jug poised on his head.他头上顶着一个水罐，保持着平衡往前走。
• She filled the jug with fresh water.她将水壶注满了清水。

18 valiantly   

adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳

参考例句：

• He faced the enemy valiantly, shuned no difficulties and dangers and would not hesitate to lay down his life if need be. 他英勇对敌，不避艰险，赴汤蹈火在所不计。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Murcertach strove valiantly to meet the new order of things. 面对这个新事态，默克塔克英勇奋斗。 来自辞典例句

19 dwarf   

n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小

参考例句：

• The dwarf's long arms were not proportional to his height.那侏儒的长臂与他的身高不成比例。
• The dwarf shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. 矮子耸耸肩膀，摇摇头。

20 scuttled   

v.使船沉没( scuttle的过去式和过去分词 )；快跑，急走

参考例句：

• She scuttled off when she heard the sound of his voice. 听到他的说话声，她赶紧跑开了。
• The thief scuttled off when he saw the policeman. 小偷看见警察来了便急忙跑掉。 来自《简明英汉词典》

21 sneeringly   

嘲笑地，轻蔑地

参考例句：

• Guan and Zhang had nothing more to say, But they walked away sneeringly. 关羽、张飞无话，冷笑着走了。

22 smarmy   

adj.爱说奉承话的

参考例句：

• I hate his smarmy compliments.我痛恨他拍马屁的恭维。
• Rick is slightly smarmy and eager to impress.里克有些好奉承，急着要给人留下好印象。