Chapter 10 THE FIVE ARE IN A FIX

Chapter 10 THE FIVE ARE IN A FIX
Julian went to the mouth of the cove¹ and looked out over the waves, hoping that he might see theirboat bobbing somewhere. 'I could swim out to it if so,' he thought, 'and bring it in. No -there's not a sign of a boat! I could kick myself for being so careless!'
Dick came up, looking worried. 'I suppose it's too far to swim back to the mainland, isn't it?' he said.
'I could have a shot - and get another boat and come back for everyone.'
'No. Too far,' said Julian. 'The tide's too strong for any swimmer at the moment. We're certainly in afix!'
'We can't signal, I suppose?' said Dick.
'What with?' asked Julian. 'You could wave a shirt for an hour and it wouldn't be seen from themainland!'
'Well - we must think of something!' said Dick, exasperated². 'What about trying to find a boat here?
Surely those men must have one to get to and fro.'
'Of course!' said Julian, clapping Dick on the back. 'Where are my brains? They seem to be going softor something! We could snoop round and about tonight, to see if there's a boat anywhere.
They may have two or three. They'd have to get food from the mainland at times.'
The two girls and Timmy came up then, and Timmy whined³. 'He doesn't seem to like this island,'
said George. 'I think he smells danger!'
'I bet he does!' said Dick, putting his hand on Timmy's firm head. 'I'm jolly glad he's with us. Can yougirls think of any good ideas - we can't!'
'We could signal,' said George.
'No good. A signal from here couldn't be seen,' said Dick. 'We've already thought of that.'
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'Well - if we lighted a fire here on the beach tonight, when the tide's out, surely that would be seen?'
said Anne.
Dick and Julian looked at one another. 'Yes!' said Julian. 'If we lighted it on a hilly bit it would bebetter still - on that cliff up there, for instance.'
'Wouldn't the guards see it?' asked Dick.
'We'd have to chance that,' said Julian. 'Yes - we could do that. Good idea, Anne. I say - we're goingto get jolly hungry, aren't we? Anyone got anything to eat?'
'I've two bars of chocolate - a bit soft now though,' said George, digging into the pocket of her shorts.
'And I've some peppermints,' said Anne. 'What about you boys? You always take barley-sugars aboutwith you, Dick - don't say you haven't any just when we could all do with them!'
'I've a new packet!' said Dick. 'Let's all have one now!' He pulled the packet from his pocket andhanded it round. Soon they were all sucking barley-sugars. Timmy was given one too, but his wasgone in a flash!
'Wasted on you, Tim, absolutely wasted!' said Anne. 'Crick-crack, swallow - that's all a barley-sugarmeans to you! Why can't dogs suck a sweet as we do! They never seem to suck anything.
No, Timmy, don't go sniffing⁴ into Dick's pocket for another!'
Timmy was disappointed. He went snuffling round the cove, and then, scenting⁵ a rabbit smell, hefollowed it with his nose to the ground. The children didn't notice that he had disappeared, but wenton talking, trying to solve their very real difficulty.
No boat. No food. No way of getting help except by signalling in some way. Not very funny, thoughtDick.
And then, very suddenly, a loud sound broke the silence - CRACK!
Everyone jumped up at once. 'That was a gunshot,' said Dick. 'The keepers! But what were theyshooting at?'
'Where's Timmy?' cried George, looking all round. 'Tim, Tim, where are you TIM!'
Everyone's heart went cold. Timmy! No, the shot couldn't have been meant for old Timmy!
Surely the keepers wouldn't shoot a dog!
George was nearly mad with dread⁶. She clutched at Dick, tears streaming down her cheeks.
'Dick! It couldn't be Timmy, could it? Oh Timmy, where are you? TIMMY! Come to me!'
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'Listen! Listen a minute, George!' said Dick, as shouts came from the distance. 'I thought I heard Timwhine then. Isn't that him coming through the bushes?'
There was the noise of rustling⁷ as some creature pressed through the last year's old bracken fronds⁸ -and then Timmy's head appeared, his bright eyes looking for them.
'Oh Timmy, darling Timmy, I thought you'd been shot!' cried George, hugging the big dog. 'Did theyshoot at you? Are you hurt anywhere?'
'I bet I know why he was shot at,' said Dick. 'Look what he's got in his mouth - half a ham! drop it,you robber, you!'
Timmy stood there, the ham in his mouth, wagging his tail joyously⁹. He had felt hungry, and wassure the others did too - so he had gone a hunting!
'Where did you get that, you bad dog?' said Julian. Timmy wished he could tell him. He would havesaid 'Well, I went sniffing after a rabbit - and I came to a shed stored with tins of food - and one wasopen with this piece of ham inside, waiting for me. And here it is!'
He dropped the ham at George's feet. It smelt¹⁰ extremely good. 'Well, thanks, old fellow,' said Julian.
'We could do with some of that - though we'll have to pay for it when we meet the owner, whoever heis!'
'Julian - he has been shot at!' said George, in a trembling voice. 'Look - his tail's bleeding, and somefur is gone.'
'My word, yes!' said Julian, examining Timmy's tail. 'Good gracious - those fellows mean business. Ireally think I'd better find them and tell them we're here, in case they take a pot-shot at us too!'
'Well, let's go now - all of us,' said Dick. 'They probably thought Timmy was a wolf or a fox orsomething, slinking through the trees. Poor old fellow!'
Timmy was not at all disturbed. He was so proud of finding and bringing back the ham that he evenwagged his wounded tail!
'It's quite certain that no animals or birds will be tame and friendly on this island now,' said Anne.
'They'll have been scared stiff by the game-keepers potting at this and that.'
'You're right,' said Julian. 'It rather makes me think that the fellows on the island are no longer merelygamekeepers, put in to preserve the wild life, and to frighten sight-seers away - but real, fierce guardsof some kind. Like those two horrible men we saw in the courtyard!'
'Well, what are they guarding then?' said George.
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'That's what I'd very much like to find out,' said Julian. 'And I think perhaps I'll snoop round a bit andsee what I can discover. When it's getting dark, though, not now.'
'I wish we hadn't come,' said Anne. 'I wish we were safe in our cottage with Wilfrid. I wonder if he'sfound his whistle-pipe. Goodness, it seems ages since we hired that boat!'
'Can't we go quietly through the woods and explore a bit?' asked George. 'Or walk round the shore tosee if there's a boat anywhere? I'm getting bored, sitting here, talking.'
'Well - I suppose old Tim would give us warning at once if he heard anyone near,' said Julian, whowas also longing¹¹ to stretch his legs. 'We'll go in single file, like Indians, and make as little noise as wecan. Timmy can go ahead. He'll give us instant warning if we come near any of the keepers.'
They all stood up, and Timmy looked at them, wagging his nicked tail. 'I'll look after you,' said histwo bright eyes. 'Don't be afraid!'
They made their way carefully and quietly through the whispering trees. 'Sh, sh, sh, shoo, shooey,'
said the leaves above their heads, as if warning everyone to go as quietly as possible.
And then suddenly Timmy stopped and gave a low, warning growl¹². They all stood still at once,listening.
They could hear nothing. They were in a dense¹³ part of the wood, and it was dark and sunless.
What was Timmy growling¹⁴ at? He took a step forward, and growled¹⁵ softly again.
Julian went forward too, as silently as he could. He stopped suddenly and stared. What in the worldwas that strange figure, gleaming out of the shadows? His heart began to beat loudly. The figurestood there, silently, an arm out-stretched as if pointing at him!
He thought it moved and he took a step backwards¹⁶ in fear. Was it a ghost or something? It was sovery very white and shone so queerly. The others, coming up behind, suddenly saw it too and stoppedin fright. Timmy growled again, and all the hackles on his neck rose up. What was THIS?
Everyone stood absolutely still, and Anne gave a gulp¹⁷. She took hold of Dick's arm, and he held ittightly against him. And then George gave a very small laugh. To everyone's horror she wentforward, and touched the hand of the gleaming figure.
'How do you do?' she said. 'It is so nice to meet a well-mannered statue!'
Well! A statue! Only a statue! It had looked so real standing¹⁸ there, and yet so ghostly. Everyoneheaved a sigh of relief, and Timmy ran forward, and sniffed¹⁹ at the statue's flowing robes.
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'Look around you,' said Julian. 'The wood's full of statues just here - and aren't they BEAUTIFUL! Ihope they don't suddenly come alive - they really look as if they might!'

1 cove   

n.小海湾，小峡谷

参考例句：

• The shore line is wooded,olive-green,a pristine cove.岸边一带林木蓊郁，嫩绿一片，好一个山外的小海湾。
• I saw two children were playing in a cove.我看到两个小孩正在一个小海湾里玩耍。

2 exasperated   

adj.恼怒的

参考例句：

• We were exasperated at his ill behaviour. 我们对他的恶劣行为感到非常恼怒。
• Constant interruption of his work exasperated him. 对他工作不断的干扰使他恼怒。

3 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

4 sniffing   

n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说

参考例句：

• We all had colds and couldn't stop sniffing and sneezing. 我们都感冒了，一个劲地抽鼻子，打喷嚏。
• They all had colds and were sniffing and sneezing. 他们都伤风了，呼呼喘气而且打喷嚏。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

5 scenting   

vt.闻到（scent的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• Soames, scenting the approach of a jest, closed up. 索来斯觉察出有点调侃的味儿来了，赶快把话打断。 来自辞典例句
• The pale woodbines and the dog-roses were scenting the hedgerows. 金银花和野蔷薇把道旁的树也薰香了。 来自辞典例句

6 dread   

vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧

参考例句：

• We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。
• Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。

7 rustling   

n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的

参考例句：

• the sound of the trees rustling in the breeze 树木在微风中发出的沙沙声
• the soft rustling of leaves 树叶柔和的沙沙声

8 fronds   

n.蕨类或棕榈类植物的叶子( frond的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You can pleat palm fronds to make huts, umbrellas and baskets. 人们可以把棕榈叶折叠起来盖棚屋，制伞，编篮子。 来自百科语句
• When these breezes reached the platform the palm-fronds would whisper. 微风吹到平台时，棕榈叶片发出簌簌的低吟。 来自辞典例句

9 joyously   

ad.快乐地, 高兴地

参考例句：

• She opened the door for me and threw herself in my arms, screaming joyously and demanding that we decorate the tree immediately. 她打开门，直扑我的怀抱，欣喜地喊叫着要马上装饰圣诞树。
• They came running, crying out joyously in trilling girlish voices. 她们边跑边喊，那少女的颤音好不欢快。 来自名作英译部分

10 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。

11 longing   

n.（for）渴望

参考例句：

• Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
• His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。

12 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。

13 dense   

a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的

参考例句：

• The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。
• The path was completely covered by the dense foliage. 小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。

14 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。

15 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》

16 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。

17 gulp   

vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽

参考例句：

• She took down the tablets in one gulp.她把那些药片一口吞了下去。
• Don't gulp your food,chew it before you swallow it.吃东西不要狼吞虎咽，要嚼碎了再咽下去。

18 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。

19 sniffed   

v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说

参考例句：

• When Jenney had stopped crying she sniffed and dried her eyes. 珍妮停止了哭泣，吸了吸鼻子，擦干了眼泪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The dog sniffed suspiciously at the stranger. 狗疑惑地嗅着那个陌生人。 来自《简明英汉词典》