Chapter 3 ACROSS THE COUNTRYSIDE

Chapter 3 ACROSS THE COUNTRYSIDE
　　They set off at last, Timmy running in front. School already seemed far behind them. The Octobersun shone down warmly, and the trees in the village glowed yellow and red and golden, dressed intheir autumn colourings. A few leaves floated down in the breeze, but not until there was a real frostwould many come whirling down.
　　'It's a heavenly day,' said George. 'I wish I hadn't got my blazer on. I'm cooked already.'
　　'Well, take it off and carry it over your shoulder,' said Julian. 'I'm going to do the same. Our jerseysare quite warm enough today!'
　　They took off their thick blazers and carried them. Each of them had a rucksack, a mac rolled uptightly and tied to it, and now a blazer to carry. But none of them noticed the weight at the outset oftheir day.
　　'I'm glad you girls took my advice and wore your thickest shoes,' said Julian, looking with approval attheir brogues. 'Some of our walking may be wet. Have you got changes of socks?'
　　'Yes. We brought everything you told us to,' said Anne. 'Your rucksack looks a bit fuller than ours,Ju!'
　　'Well, I've got maps and things in it,' said Julian. 'It's a queer place, this moor² - miles and miles andmiles of it! Queer names on it too - Blind Valley - Rabbit Hill - Lost Lake - Coney Copse!'
　　'Rabbit Hill! Timmy would love that,' said George, and Timmy pricked³ up his ears. Rabbits? Ah, thatwas the kind of place he liked!
　　'Well, actually we're going towards Rabbit Hill now,' said Julian, 'And after that there's Coney Copse,and as coney is a country word for rabbit, Timmy ought to enjoy himself!'
　　'Woof,' said Timmy joyfully⁴ and bounded ahead. He felt very happy. His four friends were with him,their rucksacks were full of delicious-smelling sandwiches, and a long, long walk lay ahead, teeming,he hoped with rabbits!
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　　It was lovely walking along in the sun. They soon left the little village behind and took a windinglane. The hedges on either side became so high that the four couldn't see over the tops at all.
　　'What a sunken lane!' said Dick. 'I feel as if I'm walking in a tunnel! And how narrow! I wouldn't liketo drive a car along this lane. If I met another car I might have to back for miles!'
　　'We shan't meet anyone much,' said Julian, 'It's only in the summer that cars come along these lanes -people on holiday, touring round the countryside. Look - we take that path now - it leads to RabbitHill, according to the map!'
　　They climbed over a stile in the high hedge and walked over a field towards a curious little hill.
　　Timmy suddenly went mad with excitement. He could smell rabbits - and he could see them too!
　　'You don't often see so many rabbits out in the daytime,' said George, surprised. 'Big ones and littleones too - what a scampering⁵.'
　　They came to the hill and sat down quietly to watch the rabbits. But it was quite impossible to makeTimmy do the same. The sight and smell of so many made him quite wild. He pulled away fromGeorge’s hand and went bounding madly up the hill, scattering⁶ rabbits by the dozen.
　　'Timmy!' yelled George, but for once Timmy paid no attention. He rushed here and rushed there,getting very angry as first one rabbit and then another neatly⁷ popped down a hole.
　　'It's no use calling him,' said Dick. 'He won't catch one, anyway - see how nippy they are, It's mybelief they're having a game with our Timmy!'
　　It did look rather like it. As soon as Timmy had chased two or three rabbits down one hole, a fewmore would pop up from another behind him. The children laughed. It was as good as a pantomime.
　　'Where do you mean to have lunch?' asked Anne, 'If we stay here much longer I shall really have tohave something to eat - and it's not nearly time yet. I wish I didn't always feel so hungry in the openair.'
　　'Well, come on then,' said Julian. 'We've got some way to go before we get to our lunch- place.
　　I've made a pretty good time-table of our tour - we're going to go all round the moors⁸ and finish at theplace we started at! I've really marked it all out pretty well.'
　　'Do we sleep at farm-houses or something at night?' asked George. 'I should like that. Will they mindhaving us, do you think? Or do we go to inns?'
　　'Farm-houses for two nights and inns for the other nights,' said Julian. 'I've marked them all.'
　　They went up Rabbit Hill and down the other side. There were just as many rabbits there. Timmy 11chased them till he panted like an engine going uphill! His tongue hung out, dripping wet.
　　'You've had enough, Tim,' said George. 'Be sensible now.'
　　But Timmy couldn't be sensible with so many rabbits about. So they left him to chase and dart⁹ andrace at top speed and went on down the hill. Timmy came rushing after them when they got to thebottom.
　　'Now perhaps you'll stop tearing about like a mad thing and walk with us,' scolded George. But shespoke too soon, for soon they were in a small wood which Julian informed them was Coney Copse.
　　'And as I told you, coney means rabbit, so you can't expect Timmy to stop being mad just yet,'
　　said Julian.
　　They very nearly lost Timmy in Coney Copse. A rabbit disappeared down a very big hole, andTimmy was actually able to get down a little way. Then he got stuck. He scrabbled violently with hisfeet but it was no good. He was well and truly stuck.
　　The others soon discovered he wasn't with them and went back, calling. Quite by chance they cameon the hole he was in and heard the sound of panting and scraping. A shower of sand flew out of thehole.
　　'There he is! The idiot, he's down a hole,' said George in alarm, 'Timmy! TIMMY! Come on out!'
　　There was nothing that Timmy would have liked better, but he couldn't come out, however much hetried. A root of a tree had got wedged into his back, and he couldn't seem to push himself out again,past the annoying root.
　　It took the four children twenty minutes to get Timmy out. Anne had to lie down and wriggle¹⁰ in alittle way to reach him. She was the only one small enough to get into the hole.
　　She caught hold of Timmy's back legs and pulled hard. Somehow the root slid off his back and hecame backwards¹¹. He whined¹² loudly.
　　'Oh Anne, you're hurting him, you're hurting him!' shouted George. 'Let him go!'
　　'I can't!' yelled back Anne. 'He'll only go down deeper, if I leave go his legs. Can you pull me out? Ifso Timmy will come too - he'll have to because I've got his legs!'
　　Poor Anne was pulled out by her legs, and poor Timmy came too, pulled by his. He whined and wentto George.
　　'He's hurt himself somewhere,' said George anxiously. 'I know he has. He wouldn't whine¹³ like that ifhe wasn't hurt.'
　　12
　　She ran her fingers over him, pressing here and there. She examined each leg and each paw. Shelooked at his head. Still he whined. Where could he have hurt himself?
　　'Leave him,' said Julian, at last. 'I can't see that he's hurt anywhere - except in his feelings! Heprobably didn't like Anne hauling him out by his hind¹ legs. Most undignified!'
　　George wasn't satisfied. Although she could find nothing wrong, she couldn't help being sure thatTimmy had hurt himself somewhere. Ought he to see a vet¹⁴?
　　'Don't be silly, George,' said Julian. 'Vets¹⁵ don't grow on trees in a moorland country like this!
　　Let's go on walking, You'll see Timmy will follow quite all right, and soon forget to whine. I tell you,he's hurt his doggy feelings, that's all. His vanity is wounded!'
　　They left Coney Copse and went on, George rather silent. Timmy trotted¹⁶ beside her, also rather quiet.
　　Still, there really didn't seem anything the matter with him, except that he gave sudden little whinesnow and again.
　　'Now here's where I thought we might have our lunch,' said Julian, at last, 'Fallaway Hill! It's a goodname for it too - it falls away steeply, and we've got a marvellous view.'
　　So they had. They had come to the top of a steep hill, not guessing that it fell away on the other side.
　　They could sit on the tip and see the sun shining on miles and miles of lonely heather-grown moor.
　　They might see shy deer in the distance - or little wild ponies¹⁷.
　　'This is heavenly,' said Anne, sitting down on a great tuft of heather. 'It's as warm as summer too!
　　I do hope it's like this all over the week-end. We shall all be burnt brown!'
　　'It will also be heavenly having some of those sandwiches,' said Dick, choosing a lump of heathertoo. 'What comfortable seats are provided for us! I've a good mind to take a tuft of this heather backto school with me to put on the very hard chair that goes with my desk!'
　　Julian put the four packets of sandwiches down in the heather. Anne undid¹⁸ them. They lookedwonderful!
　　'Super!' said Anne. 'What do you want first?'
　　'Well, speaking for myself I'm going to have one of each, put them all on top of one another, andhave a huge bite of cheese, ham, pork and egg at once,' said Dick. Anne laughed.
　　'Even your mouth isn't big enough for that,' she said. But somehow Dick managed, though it wasdifficult.
　　'Disgusting behaviour,' he said, when he had managed the first mouthful. 'I think on the whole thatone at a time is more economical. Hie, Timmy - have a bit?'
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　　Timmy obliged. He was very quiet, and George was still anxious about him. Still, his appetite seemedremarkably good, so nobody but George wondered any more if he had hurt himself. He lay besideGeorge, occasionally putting a great paw on her knee if he wanted another bit of sandwich.
　　'Timmy does jolly well,' said Dick, with his mouth full. 'He gets bits from us all. I bet he eats morethan any of us. I say - did anyone ever taste such smashing sandwiches? Have you tried the pork? Itmust have come from a super pig!'
　　It was lovely sitting there in the sun, looking over miles of countryside, eating hungrily. They all feltvery happy. Except George. Was there anything wrong with Timmy? It would spoil the whole week-end if so!

1 hind   

adj.后面的，后部的

参考例句：

• The animal is able to stand up on its hind limbs.这种动物能够用后肢站立。
• Don't hind her in her studies.不要在学业上扯她后腿。

2 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。

3 pricked   

刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛

参考例句：

• The cook pricked a few holes in the pastry. 厨师在馅饼上戳了几个洞。
• He was pricked by his conscience. 他受到良心的谴责。

4 joyfully   

adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地

参考例句：

• She tripped along joyfully as if treading on air. 她高兴地走着，脚底下轻飘飘的。
• During these first weeks she slaved joyfully. 在最初的几周里，她干得很高兴。

5 scampering   

v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• A cat miaowed, then was heard scampering away. 马上起了猫叫，接着又听见猫逃走的声音。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）
• A grey squirrel is scampering from limb to limb. 一只灰色的松鼠在树枝间跳来跳去。 来自辞典例句

6 scattering   

n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散

参考例句：

• The child felle into a rage and began scattering its toys about. 这孩子突发狂怒，把玩具扔得满地都是。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The farmers are scattering seed. 农夫们在播种。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 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。

8 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》

9 dart   

v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲

参考例句：

• The child made a sudden dart across the road.那小孩突然冲过马路。
• Markov died after being struck by a poison dart.马尔科夫身中毒镖而亡。

10 wriggle   

v./n.蠕动，扭动；蜿蜒

参考例句：

• I've got an appointment I can't wriggle out of.我有个推脱不掉的约会。
• Children wriggle themselves when they are bored.小孩子感到厌烦时就会扭动他们的身体。

11 backwards   

adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地

参考例句：

• He turned on the light and began to pace backwards and forwards.他打开电灯并开始走来走去。
• All the girls fell over backwards to get the party ready.姑娘们迫不及待地为聚会做准备。

12 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

13 whine   

v.哀号，号哭；n.哀鸣

参考例句：

• You are getting paid to think,not to whine.支付给你工资是让你思考而不是哀怨的。
• The bullet hit a rock and rocketed with a sharp whine.子弹打在一块岩石上，一声尖厉的呼啸，跳飞开去。

14 vet   

n.兽医，退役军人；vt.检查

参考例句：

• I took my dog to the vet.我把狗带到兽医诊所看病。
• Someone should vet this report before it goes out.这篇报道发表之前应该有人对它进行详查。

15 vets   

abbr.veterans （复数）老手，退伍军人；veterinaries （复数）兽医n.兽医( vet的名词复数 )；老兵；退伍军人；兽医诊所v.审查（某人过去的记录、资格等）( vet的第三人称单数 )；调查；检查；诊疗

参考例句：

• I helped train many young vets and veterinary nurses too. 我还帮助培训了许多年青的兽医和护士。 来自互联网
• In fact, we've expanded mental health counseling and services for our vets. 实际上，我们已经扩大了退伍军人的心理健康咨询和服务。 来自互联网

16 trotted   

小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走

参考例句：

• She trotted her pony around the field. 她骑着小马绕场慢跑。
• Anne trotted obediently beside her mother. 安妮听话地跟在妈妈身边走。

17 ponies   

矮种马，小型马( pony的名词复数 )； ￡25 25 英镑

参考例句：

• They drove the ponies into a corral. 他们把矮种马赶进了畜栏。
• She has a mania for ponies. 她特别喜欢小马。

18 Undid   

v. 解开, 复原

参考例句：

• The officer undid the flap of his holster and drew his gun. 军官打开枪套盖拔出了手枪。
• He did wrong, and in the end his wrongs undid him. 行恶者终以其恶毁其身。