Chapter 16 DOWN IN THE CAVES

Chapter 16 DOWN IN THE CAVES
Next morning George awoke with a jump. Timmy was pushing her gently with his nose. 'What is it,Tim?' said George. Timmy gave a bark, and ran to where the spiral stairway led downwards¹.
'Go down and tell the boys what it is you want,' said George, sleepily. So down the stairway wentTimmy, and into the room where the boys were sleeping. He trotted² in and nudged Julian with hisnose, but Julian was so fast asleep that he didn't stir.
Timmy pawed at him, and Julian awoke with a jump. He sat up. 'Oh, it's you, Tim - what on earth doyou want? Is anything wrong with the girls?'
'Woof,' said Timmy, and ran to the spiral stairway. He disappeared down it, barking.
'Blow! He's heard someone!' said Julian, yawning. 'Well, if it's Ebenezer or Jacob - no, it can't beJacob, of course - I'll tell him what I think of people who steal!'
He unjammed the door of the light-house and opened it. On the step stood two milk-bottles!
'Well, really, Timmy, fancy waking me because the milkman came!' said Julian, taking in the bottles.
'Good old milkman - I wonder if he had to come by boat - the sea's pretty high this morning - but Isuppose he could just about have waded³ over the rocks!'
At breakfast the Five remembered that they meant to see the caves that morning. They had a very finemeal of fried bacon, bought the day before, and eggs, with buttered toast and marmalade to follow.
Anne had made some good hot coffee, and they all enjoyed themselves immensely. Mischief⁵ madehimself a real nuisance by putting a paw deep in the marmalade jar and then, when smacked⁶, runningall over the place leaving sticky marmaladey marks everywhere!
'We'd better all take a wet rag with us as we go about the room,' said Anne, in disgust. 'He's run overthe table and desk and everything. BAD Mischief! I do so hate feeling sticky!'
Mischief was sad to feel himself in disgrace, and leapt on to Tinker's shoulder, putting his stickypaws lovingly round the boy's neck. 'That's right!' said Tinker, 'rub all your stickiness off on me, 63you little monkey!'
'We'll wash up in the sink, and you boys can tidy up the rooms,' said Anne. 'Then we'll all go out. It'sa lovely day.'
'Looks a bit stormy to me,' said Dick. 'What do you say, Tim?'
Tim agreed. He thumped⁷ his tail vigorously on the floor, making Mischief pounce⁸ on it in joy.
Anne gathered up the crockery and took it to the sink.
In an hour or so they were ready to go out. 'Let's write a card to Aunt Fanny before we leave,'
said Anne. 'Then that will be done. We won't say a word about the things that were stolen, though.
She might feel upset, and tell us to go back! And then what would Uncle Quentin and ProfessorHayling say?'
'I bet they're having a wonderful time, arguing all day long, working out figures, and studyingpapers!' said Julian. 'And I'm pretty certain that Aunt Fanny will have to call them to a meal at leasttwenty times before they arrive at the table!'
Anne wrote the post-card and put on a stamp. 'Now I'm ready,' she said, standing⁹ up. Timmy ran tothe top of the stairs, glad that everyone seemed to be on the move at last. He did so love a walk.
'Darling Timmy,' said George. 'I'm afraid you'll have to be left behind to guard the light-house!
You see, we haven't a key - and we can't jam the door from outside. So please, Timmy dear, staybehind - on guard. You know what that means, don't you? ON GUARD!'
Timmy's tail went right down. He gave a small whine¹⁰. He did so hate being left out of anything- especially a walk. He pawed gently at George as if to say, 'Do please change your mind.'
'On guard, Timmy, now,' said George. 'The light-house is in your charge. Don't let ANYONEin. You'd better lie on the mat just inside the entrance.'
Timmy ran slowly down behind Julian and the others, looking very mournful indeed. 'Now lie there,'
said George, and gave him a pat on the head. 'We'll take you out again soon, and then one of us willstay to guard the light-house - but this time we all want to go out. ON GUARD!'
Timmy lay down on the mat, and put his head on his paws, his big brown eyes looking up at George.
'Dear old faithful,' she said ruffling¹¹ the hair on his head. 'We won't be very long!'
They slammed the door and went down the light-house steps. The tide was still out far enough forthem to be able to wade⁴ over the rocks to the jetty. 'We must be back before it's well in,' said Julian.
'Or we'll have to stay ashore¹² till it's out again. Our boat is tied to the light-house post, 64remember!'
They went for a stroll along the front and who should be there, sitting on a stone seat, but oldJeremiah Boogle, smoking his long pipe, staring solemnly out to sea.
'Good-morning, Jeremiah,' said Dick, politely. 'I hope we bought the right tobacco for you fromTom.'
'Oh aye,' said Jeremiah, puffing¹³ out very strong-smelling smoke. 'Hallo, little monkey - so you'vecome to my shoulder again, have you? Well, what's the news from Monkey-Land?'
The others laughed as Mischief at once poured out a stream of monkey-chatter into the old man's ear.
'We thought we would go and see the caves today,' said Julian. 'Especially the old Wreckers' Cave.'
'Now don't you let that Ebenezer take you round!' said the old man, at once. 'You won't find Jacobthere - oho - I know what's happened to him. And serve him right. Never could keep his fingers tohimself, that one! Ebenezer's as bad. He could steal the buttons off your coat, and you'd never know!
Now look - what about me showing you the caves? I know them inside out, and I can show youthings that that rat of an Ebenezer doesn't even know of.'
'Well - we'd certainly much rather you took us, and not Ebenezer,' said Julian. 'Ebenezer may befeeling rather angry because we told the police about his brother stealing things. We'll give you somemore tobacco - I mean baccy - if you'll guide us round.'
'Well, let's go now,' said Jeremiah, getting up very spryly. 'This way!'
And off they all went, Mischief too - the little monkey did Jeremiah the honour of sitting on hisshoulder all the way down the village street. The old old man was delighted to see how everyonestared and laughed.
He took them round the foot of some very high cliffs. They came to a rocky beach farther along, andwalked over it. 'There's the entrance,' said the old man, pointing to a large hole in the cliff nearby.
'That's the way to the caves. Got a torch?'
'Yes - we brought one each,' said Julian, patting his pocket. 'Do we have to pay to go in?'
'No. People give Ebenezer a tip - five pence or so - if he shows them round - or Jacob, when he'sthere,' said Jeremiah. 'I'll deal with Ebby, though. Don't you waste your money on that scoundrel!'
The hole in the cliff led to the first cave, which was a big one. Lighted lanterns hung here and there,but gave very little light.
65
'Mind your step, now,' warned Jeremiah. 'It's real slippery in places. This way - through this old arch.'
It was cold and damp in the cave, and the children had to go carefully, and avoid the puddles¹⁴ left bythe sea. Then suddenly Jeremiah turned a corner and went in a completely different direction! Downand down and down they went!
'Hey - we're going towards the sea now surely?' said Julian, in surprise. 'Do the caves go under thesea, then? Not away back into the cliff?'
'That's right,' said Jeremiah. 'This is a real rocky coast - and the way we're taking leads down a tunnelunder the rocks, and then into the caves deep underground. See the rocky roof over our heads - well,if you listen, you can hear the sea now, mumbling¹⁵ and grumbling¹⁶ over it - that roof is the bed of thesea!'
That was a very strange thought indeed, and rather alarming! Anne gazed fearfully up at the rockyroof overhead, and shone her torch on it, half-expecting to see a few cracks leaking salt-water fromthe sea rolling over the rocky roof! But no - there was a little moisture shining on it, and that was all.
'Are we soon coming to the Wreckers' Cave?' asked George. 'Mischief, stop making those noises.
There's nothing to be scared of!'
Mischief didn't like this cold, dark strange walk underground, and had begun to make harshfrightened noises, and then suddenly gave a loud scared screech¹⁷.
'Don't! You made me jump!' said Anne. 'Goodness - listen to the monkey's screech echoing all alongthe tunnel and back! Sounds like a hundred monkeys chattering¹⁸ at once! Our voices echo too!'
Mischief was most alarmed to hear the enormous amount of screeches¹⁹ and chattering noises that nowfilled the tunnel. He began to cry almost like a baby, and clung to Tinker as if he would never let himgo.
'I expect he thinks this place is absolutely full of screeching²⁰ monkeys,' said Anne, sorry for theterrified little creature. 'It's only the echo, Mischief.'
'He'll soon get used to it,' said Tinker, hugging the monkey close to him.
'You want to hear the echo just round the next bend of the tunnel!' said Jeremiah, stroking the littlemonkey, and very foolishly gave an enormous yell just as they got there!
The yell came back ten times as loud, and the tunnel seemed suddenly full of shouts tumbling 66over one another. Everyone jumped violently, and Mischief leapt high in the air in terror. He sprangto the ground, and scampered²¹ away at top speed, wailing²² in his little monkey-voice. He tore down thetunnel, tail in air, and disappeared round the corner. Tinker was very upset.
'Mischief! Come back!' he yelled. 'You'll get lost!'
And along came the echo at once. 'Get lost, get lost, get lost - lost - lost!'
'Don't you worry about your monkey,' said Jeremiah, comfortingly. 'I've had a score of monkeys inmy time - and they always come back!'
'Well, I'll jolly well stay down here till Mischief does come back!' said Tinker in rather a shaky voice.
They came out into a cave. This too was lighted by lanterns, though very poorly. They had all heardthe murmur²³ of voices as they came to it, and wondered who was there.
Three other visitors were in the cave, sight-seeing, like the children. A big burly fellow was withthem, with jet-black hair, deep-set dark eyes, and a surly mouth - so like Jacob that Julian guessed atonce that he was the brother, Ebenezer.
As soon as Ebenezer set eyes on Jeremiah, he roared in fury.
'You get out! This is my job - you get out. I'll show the caves to those youngsters!'
And with that such a battle of words followed that the Five were almost deafened²⁴, especially as theecho repeated everything very loudly indeed! The three visitors fled away up the tunnel, fearing afight. Anne was very frightened, and clung to Julian.
Ebenezer came shouting up to old Jeremiah, his hand raised. 'Haven't I told you more'n a hundredtimes to keep out of these caves? Haven't I told you I'm the one to show folks around -and Jacob too?'
'Don't take no notice of him!' said Jeremiah, turning his back on the angry man. 'He's nought²⁵ but aBig Mouth, same as his brother Jacob!'
'Look out!' yelled Julian, as the angry Ebenezer rushed at Jeremiah, his fist raised to strike him.
'LOOK OUT!'

1 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。

2 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。

3 waded   

（从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She tucked up her skirt and waded into the river. 她撩起裙子蹚水走进河里。
• He waded into the water to push the boat out. 他蹚进水里把船推出来。

4 wade   

v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉

参考例句：

• We had to wade through the river to the opposite bank.我们只好涉水过河到对岸。
• We cannot but wade across the river.我们只好趟水过去。

5 mischief   

n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹

参考例句：

• Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。
• He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。

6 smacked   

拍，打，掴( smack的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He smacked his lips but did not utter a word. 他吧嗒两下嘴，一声也不言语。
• She smacked a child's bottom. 她打孩子的屁股。

7 thumped   

v.重击， （指心脏）急速跳动( thump的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Dave thumped the table in frustration . 戴夫懊恼得捶打桌子。
• He thumped the table angrily. 他愤怒地用拳捶击桌子。

8 pounce   

n.猛扑；v.猛扑，突然袭击，欣然同意

参考例句：

• Why do you pounce on every single thing I say?干吗我说的每句话你都要找麻烦？
• We saw the tiger about to pounce on the goat.我们看见老虎要向那只山羊扑过去。

9 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。

10 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。

11 ruffling   

弄皱( ruffle的现在分词 )； 弄乱； 激怒； 扰乱

参考例句：

• A cool breeze brushed his face, ruffling his hair. 一阵凉风迎面拂来，吹乱了他的头发。
• "Indeed, they do not,'said Pitty, ruffling. "说真的，那倒不一定。" 皮蒂皱皱眉头，表示异议。

12 ashore   

adv.在(向)岸上，上岸

参考例句：

• The children got ashore before the tide came in.涨潮前，孩子们就上岸了。
• He laid hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore.他抓住绳子拉船靠岸。

13 puffing   

v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧

参考例句：

• He was puffing hard when he jumped on to the bus. 他跳上公共汽车时喘息不已。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• My father sat puffing contentedly on his pipe. 父亲坐着心满意足地抽着烟斗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 puddles   

n.水坑， （尤指道路上的）雨水坑( puddle的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The puddles had coalesced into a small stream. 地面上水洼子里的水汇流成了一条小溪。
• The road was filled with puddles from the rain. 雨后路面到处是一坑坑的积水。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 mumbling   

含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I could hear him mumbling to himself. 我听到他在喃喃自语。
• He was still mumbling something about hospitals at the end of the party when he slipped on a piece of ice and broke his left leg. 宴会结束时，他仍在咕哝着医院里的事。说着说着，他在一块冰上滑倒，跌断了左腿。

16 grumbling   

adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的

参考例句：

• She's always grumbling to me about how badly she's treated at work. 她总是向我抱怨她在工作中如何受亏待。
• We didn't hear any grumbling about the food. 我们没听到过对食物的抱怨。

17 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。

18 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。

19 screeches   

n.尖锐的声音( screech的名词复数 )v.发出尖叫声( screech的第三人称单数 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫

参考例句：

• The boy's screeches brought his mother. 男孩的尖叫声招来了他母亲。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The woman's screeches brought the police. 这个妇女的尖叫声招来了警察。 来自辞典例句

20 screeching   

v.发出尖叫声( screech的现在分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫

参考例句：

• Monkeys were screeching in the trees. 猴子在树上吱吱地叫着。
• the unedifying sight of the two party leaders screeching at each other 两党党魁狺狺对吠的讨厌情景

21 scampered   

v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The cat scampered away. 猫刺棱一下跑了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The rabbIt'scampered off. 兔子迅速跑掉了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

22 wailing   

v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱

参考例句：

• A police car raced past with its siren wailing. 一辆警车鸣着警报器飞驰而过。
• The little girl was wailing miserably. 那小女孩难过得号啕大哭。

23 murmur   

n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言

参考例句：

• They paid the extra taxes without a murmur.他们毫无怨言地交了附加税。
• There was a low murmur of conversation in the hall.大厅里有窃窃私语声。

24 deafened   

使聋( deafen的过去式和过去分词 )； 使隔音

参考例句：

• A hard blow on the ear deafened him for life. 耳朵上挨的一记猛击使他耳聋了一辈子。
• The noise deafened us. 嘈杂声把我们吵聋了。

25 nought   

n.／adj.无，零

参考例句：

• We must bring their schemes to nought.我们必须使他们的阴谋彻底破产。
• One minus one leaves nought.一减一等于零。