Chapter 17 JULIAN HAS A BRIGHT IDEA

　　Chapter 17 JULIAN HAS A BRIGHT IDEA
　　Aggie¹ had managed to pack knives, forks, spoons, plates and mugs into the bottom of the basket.
　　There were two big bottles of milk. There was a large meat-pie with delicious looking pastry² on top,and a collection of buns, biscuits and oranges. There were also some home-made sweets.
　　Aggie had certainly been very generous!
　　All the things were quickly whipped out of the basket. The children carried them behind the bushes,sat down and proceeded to eat a first-rate dinner. Timmy got his share of the meat-pie and biscuits.
　　He also gobbled up a large part of the hard yellow cheese.
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　　'Now we'd better rinse³ everything under that garden tap over there, and then pack them neatly⁴ into thebottom of the basket again,' said Julian. 'We don't want to get Aggie into any sort of trouble for herkindness.'
　　The dishes were soon rinsed⁵ and packed back into the basket. The clothes were drawn⁶ over them- nothing could be seen!
　　Aggie came outside to them in about half an hour. The children went to her and spoke⁷ in low voices.
　　'Thanks, Aggie, that was super!'
　　'You are a brick. We did enjoy it!'
　　'I bet Hunchy didn't enjoy his dinner as much as we did!'
　　'Sh!' said Aggie, half-pleased and half-scared. 'You never know when Hunchy's listening. He's gotears like a hare! Listen - I'll be coming out to get the eggs from the hen-run at tea-time. I'll have abasket with me for the eggs - and I shall have your tea in it. I'll leave your tea in the hen-house whenI get the eggs. You can fetch it when I've gone.'
　　'You're a wonder, Aggie!' said Julian, admiringly. 'You really are.'
　　Aggie looked pleased. It was plain that nobody had said a kind or admiring word to her for years andyears. She was a poor, miserable⁸, scared old woman - but she was quite enjoying this little secret. Shewas pleased at getting the better of Hunchy too. Perhaps she felt it was some slight revenge for all theyears he had ill-treated her.
　　She hung out some of the clothes in the basket, left one in to cover the dinner-things, and then wentback into the house.
　　'Poor old thing,' said Dick. 'What a life!'
　　'Yes - I shouldn't like to be cooped up here for years and years with ruffians like Perton and Rooky,'
　　said Julian.
　　'It looks as if we shall be if we don't hurry up and think of some plan of escape,' said Dick.
　　'Yes. We'd better think hard again,' said Julian. 'Come over to those trees there. We can sit on thegrass under them and talk without being overheard anywhere.'
　　'Look - Hunchy is polishing the black Bentley,' said George. 'I'll just pass near him with Timmy, andlet Timmy growl⁹. He'll see Timmy's all alive and kicking then.'
　　So she took Timmy near the Bentley, and of course he growled¹⁰ horribly when he came upon Hunchy.
　　Hunchy promptly¹¹ got into the car and shut the door. George grinned.
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　　'Hallo!' she said. 'Going off for a ride? Can Timmy and I come with you?'
　　She made as if she was going to open the door, and Hunchy yelled loudly: 'Don't you let that dog inhere! I've seen Rooky's hand - one finger's very bad indeed. I don't want that dog going for me.'
　　'Do take me for a ride with you, Hunchy,' persisted George. 'Timmy loves cars.'
　　'Go away,' said Hunchy, hanging on to the door-handle for dear life. 'I've got to get this car cleanedup for Mr. Perton this evening. You let me get out and finish the job.'
　　George laughed and went off to join the others. 'Well, he can see Timmy's all-alive-o,' said Dick, witha grin. 'Good thing too. We'd find ourselves in a much bigger fix if we hadn't got old Timmy toprotect us.'
　　They went over to the clump¹² of trees and sat down. 'What was it that Hunchy said about the car?'
　　asked Julian. George told him. Julian looked thoughtful. Anne knew that look - it meant that Julianwas thinking of a plan! She prodded¹³ him.
　　'Ju! You've got a plan, haven't you? What is it?'
　　'Well - I'm only just wondering about something,' said Julian, slowly. 'That car - and the fact that Mr.
　　Perton is going out in it tonight - which means he will go out through those gates . . .'
　　'What of it?' said Dick. 'Thinking of going with him?'
　　'Well, yes, I was,' said Julian, surprisingly. 'You see - if he's not going till dark, I think I couldprobably get into the boot - and hide there till the car stops somewhere, and then I could open theboot, get out, and go off for help!'
　　Everyone looked at him in silence. Anne's eyes gleamed. 'Oh Julian! It's a wizard plan.'
　　'It sounds jolly good,' said Dick.
　　'The only thing is - I don't like being left here without Julian,' said Anne, suddenly feeling scared.
　　'Everything's all right if Julian's here.'
　　'I could go,' said Dick.
　　'Or I could,' said George, 'only there wouldn't be room for Timmy too.'
　　'The boot looks pretty big from outside,' said Julian. 'I wish I could take Anne with me. Then I'dknow she was safe. You others would be all right so long as you had Timmy.'
　　They discussed the matter thoroughly¹⁴. They dropped it towards tea- time when they saw Aggiecoming out with a basket to collect the eggs. She made a sign to them not to come over to her.
　　Possibly someone was watching. They stayed where they were, and watched her go into the hen-75house. She remained there a short time, and then came out with a basketful of new-laid eggs. Shewalked to the house without looking at the children again.
　　'I'll go and see if she's left anything in the hen-house,' said Dick, and went over to it. He soonappeared again, grinning. His pockets bulged¹⁵!
　　Aggie had left about two dozen potted-meat sandwiches, a big slab¹⁶ of cherry cake and a bottle ofmilk. The children went under the bushes and Dick unloaded his pockets. 'She even left a bone forold Tim,' he said.
　　'I suppose it's all right,' said George doubtfully. Julian smelt¹⁷ it.
　　'Perfectly fresh,' he said. 'No poison here at all! Anyway, Aggie wouldn't play a dirty trick like that.
　　Come on - let's tuck in.'
　　They were very bored after tea, so Julian arranged some races and some jumping competitions.
　　Timmy, of course, would have won them all if he had been counted as a proper competitor. But hewasn't. He went in for everything, though, and barked so excitedly that Mr. Perton came to a windowand yelled to him to stop.
　　'Sorry!' yelled back George. 'Timmy's so full of beans today, you see!'
　　'Mr. Perton will be wondering why,' said Julian, with a grin. 'He'll be rowing Hunchy for not gettingon with the poison job.'
　　When it began to grow dark the children went cautiously to the car. Hunchy had finished working onit. Quietly Julian opened the boot and looked inside. He gave an exclamation¹⁸ of disappointment.
　　'It's only a small one! I can't get in there, I'm afraid. Nor can you, Dick.'
　　'I'll go then,' said Anne, in a small voice.
　　'Certainly not,' said Julian.
　　'Well - I'll go,' said Richard, surprisingly. 'I could just about squash in there.'
　　'You!' said Dick. 'You'd be scared stiff.'
　　Richard was silent for a moment. 'Yes - I should,' he admitted. 'But I'm still ready to go. I'll do myvery best if you'd like me to try. After all - it's me or nobody. You won't let Anne go - and there's notenough room for George and Timmy - and not enough for either you or Julian, Dick.'
　　Everyone was astonished. It didn't seem a bit like Richard to offer to do an unselfish or courageousaction. Julian felt very doubtful.
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　　'Well - this is a serious thing, you know, Richard,' he said. 'I mean - if you're going to do it, you'vegot to do it properly - go right through with it - not get frightened in the middle and begin howling, sothat the men hear you and examine the boot.'
　　'I know,' said Richard. 'I think I can do it all right. I do wish you'd trust me a bit.'
　　'I can't understand your offering to do a difficult thing like that,' said Julian. 'It doesn't seem a bit likeyou - you've not shown yourself to be at all plucky¹⁹ so far!'
　　'Julian, I think I understand,' said Anne suddenly, and she pulled at her brother's sleeve. 'He's thinkingof our skins this time, not of his own - or at least he's trying to. Let's give him a chance to show he'sgot a bit of courage.'
　　'I only just want a chance,' said Richard in a small voice.
　　'All right,' said Julian. 'You shall have it. It'll be a very pleasant surprise if you take your chance anddo something helpful!'
　　'Tell me exactly what I've got to do,' said Richard, trying to keep his voice from trembling.
　　'Well - once you're in the boot we'll have to shut you in. Goodness knows how long you'll have towait there in the dark,' said Julian. 'I warn you it will be jolly stuffy²⁰ and uncomfortable. When the cargoes²¹ off it will be more uncomfortable still.'
　　'Poor Richard,' said Anne.
　　'As soon as the car stops anywhere and you hear the men get out, wait a minute to give them time toget out of sight and hearing - and then scramble²² out of the boot yourself and go straight to the nearestpolice-station,' said Julian. 'Tell your story quickly, give this address - Owl's Dene, Owl's Hill, somemiles from Middlecombe Woods - and the police will do the rest. Got all that?'
　　'Yes,' said Richard.
　　'Do you still want to go, now you know what you're in for?' asked Dick.
　　'Yes,' said Richard again. He was surprised by a warm hug from Anne.
　　'Richard, you're nice - and I didn't think you were!' said Anne.
　　He then got a thump²³ on the back from Julian, 'Well, Richard - pull this off and you'll wipe out all thesilly things you've done! Now - what about getting into the boot immediately? We don't know whenthe men will be coming out.'
　　'Yes. I'll get in now,' said Richard, feeling remarkably²⁴ brave after Anne's hug and Julian's thump.
　　Julian opened the boot. He examined the inside of the boot-cover. 'I don't believe Richard could openit from the inside,' he said. 'No, he couldn't. We mustn't close it tight, then - I'll have to 77wedge it a bit open with a stick or something. That will give him a little air, and he'll be able to pushthe boot open when he wants to. Where's a stick?'
　　Dick found one. Richard got into the boot and curled himself up. There wasn't very much room evenfor him! He looked extremely cramped²⁵. Julian shut the boot and wedged it with a stick so that therewas a crack of half an inch all round.
　　Dick gave him a sharp nudge. 'Quick - someone's coming!'

1 aggie   

n.农校，农科大学生

参考例句：

• Maybe I will buy a Aggie ring next year when I have money.也许明年等我有了钱，我也会订一枚毕业生戒指吧。
• The Aggie replied,"sir,I believe that would be giddy-up."这个大学生慢条斯理的说，“先生，我相信是昏死过去。”

2 pastry   

n.油酥面团，酥皮糕点

参考例句：

• The cook pricked a few holes in the pastry.厨师在馅饼上戳了几个洞。
• The pastry crust was always underdone.馅饼的壳皮常常烤得不透。

3 rinse   

v.用清水漂洗，用清水冲洗

参考例句：

• Give the cup a rinse.冲洗一下杯子。
• Don't just rinse the bottles. Wash them out carefully.别只涮涮瓶子，要仔细地洗洗里面。

4 neatly   

adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地

参考例句：

• Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
• The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。

5 rinsed   

v.漂洗( rinse的过去式和过去分词 )；冲洗；用清水漂洗掉（肥皂泡等）；（用清水）冲掉

参考例句：

• She rinsed out the sea water from her swimming-costume. 她把游泳衣里的海水冲洗掉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The clothes have been rinsed three times. 衣服已经洗了三和。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

7 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。

8 miserable   

adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的

参考例句：

• It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。
• Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。

9 growl   

v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣

参考例句：

• The dog was biting,growling and wagging its tail.那条狗在一边撕咬一边低声吼叫，尾巴也跟着摇摆。
• The car growls along rutted streets.汽车在车辙纵横的街上一路轰鸣。

10 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》

11 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

12 clump   

n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走

参考例句：

• A stream meandered gently through a clump of trees.一条小溪从树丛中蜿蜒穿过。
• It was as if he had hacked with his thick boots at a clump of bluebells.仿佛他用自己的厚靴子无情地践踏了一丛野风信子。

13 prodded   

v.刺，戳( prod的过去式和过去分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳

参考例句：

• She prodded him in the ribs to wake him up. 她用手指杵他的肋部把他叫醒。
• He prodded at the plate of fish with his fork. 他拿叉子戳弄着那盘鱼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

15 bulged   

凸出( bulge的过去式和过去分词 )； 充满； 塞满（某物）

参考例句：

• His pockets bulged with apples and candy. 他的口袋鼓鼓地装满了苹果和糖。
• The oranges bulged his pocket. 桔子使得他的衣袋胀得鼓鼓的。

16 slab   

n.平板，厚的切片；v.切成厚板，以平板盖上

参考例句：

• This heavy slab of oak now stood between the bomb and Hitler.这时笨重的橡木厚板就横在炸弹和希特勒之间了。
• The monument consists of two vertical pillars supporting a horizontal slab.这座纪念碑由两根垂直的柱体构成，它们共同支撑着一块平板。

17 smelt   

v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼

参考例句：

• Tin is a comparatively easy metal to smelt.锡是比较容易熔化的金属。
• Darby was looking for a way to improve iron when he hit upon the idea of smelting it with coke instead of charcoal.达比一直在寻找改善铁质的方法，他猛然想到可以不用木炭熔炼，而改用焦炭。

18 exclamation   

n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词

参考例句：

• He could not restrain an exclamation of approval.他禁不住喝一声采。
• The author used three exclamation marks at the end of the last sentence to wake up the readers.作者在文章的最后一句连用了三个惊叹号，以引起读者的注意。

19 plucky   

adj.勇敢的

参考例句：

• The plucky schoolgirl amazed doctors by hanging on to life for nearly two months.这名勇敢的女生坚持不放弃生命近两个月的精神令医生感到震惊。
• This story featured a plucky heroine.这个故事描述了一个勇敢的女英雄。

20 stuffy   

adj.不透气的，闷热的

参考例句：

• It's really hot and stuffy in here.这里实在太热太闷了。
• It was so stuffy in the tent that we could sense the air was heavy with moisture.帐篷里很闷热，我们感到空气都是潮的。

21 cargoes   

n.（船或飞机装载的）货物( cargo的名词复数 )；大量，重负

参考例句：

• This ship embarked cargoes. 这艘船装载货物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The crew lashed cargoes of timber down. 全体船员将木材绑牢。 来自《简明英汉词典》

22 scramble   

v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料

参考例句：

• He broke his leg in his scramble down the wall.他爬墙摔断了腿。
• It was a long scramble to the top of the hill.到山顶须要爬登一段长路。

23 thump   

v.重击，砰然地响；n.重击，重击声

参考例句：

• The thief hit him a thump on the head.贼在他的头上重击一下。
• The excitement made her heart thump.她兴奋得心怦怦地跳。

24 remarkably   

ad.不同寻常地，相当地

参考例句：

• I thought she was remarkably restrained in the circumstances. 我认为她在那种情况下非常克制。
• He made a remarkably swift recovery. 他康复得相当快。

25 cramped   

a.狭窄的

参考例句：

• The house was terribly small and cramped, but the agent described it as a bijou residence. 房子十分狭小拥挤，但经纪人却把它说成是小巧别致的住宅。
• working in cramped conditions 在拥挤的环境里工作