Julian's torch shone steadily2 into the vast room, which seemed to have no end! The others shone theirtorches too, and Timmy pressed between their legs to see what the excitement was.
What a sight! They were actually in the enormous chamber that the boys had seen through theopening, in the well-wall! What a place it was - absolutely vast, thought Anne, awed3 at the size, theheight and the great silence.
'There are the golden statues!' said Dick, going over to a group of them. 'Wonderful! Queer faces theyhave, though - not like ours. And look how their slanting4 eyes gleam when we shine our torches onthem. Makes them look as if they're almost alive, and looking at us.'
Anne suddenly gave a cry and rushed over to something. 'The golden bed!' she said. 'I wished I couldlie on one - and now I shall!' And with that she climbed on to a vast four-poster bed, with a greatcanopy, now rotting to pieces.
The bed gave a mournful creak, and the part that Anne was lying on, suddenly subsided5. The canopycollapsed and Anne disappeared in a cloud of dust. The bed had, quite literally7, fallen to pieces! PoorAnne.
The others helped her up and Timmy looked at the clouds of dust in surprise. What was Anne doing,making such a dust! He sneezed loudly, and then sneezed again. Anne sneezed too. She scrambledquickly out of the collapsed6 bed and dusted herself down.
'It has a gold, carved head-piece, and gold legs and end-piece,' said Dick, shining his torch on it.
'What a monster of a bed, though - I should think six people could sleep in it at once! What a pity ithas been lost here so long - all the hangings fell to pieces as soon as Anne climbed on the bed-part!
What a dust!'
There was no doubt about it, there were priceless treasures in this vast, underground cellar. Thechildren could not find the sword with the jewelled handle, nor the necklace of rubies8, which Julianthought were probably locked away in one of the chests. But they found many other wonderfulthings.
'Look in this chest - this beautiful carved chest!' called Anne. 'Gold cups and plates and dishes.
Still bright and clean!'
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'And look what's in here!' shouted George. 'Wrapped up in stuff that falls to pieces when I touch it!'
They crowded round a great enamelled box. In it was a set of animals carved out of some lovelygreen stone. They were absolutely perfect, and, when Anne tried to stand them up, each of themstood as proudly as once they did many many years ago when little princes and princesses playedwith them.
'They're made of green jade,' said Julian. 'Beautiful! Goodness knows how much they're worth!
They should be in some museum, not mouldering9 away in this cellar.'
'Why didn't those collectors take these - and the golden statues - and all the other things?'
wondered Anne.
'Well, that's obvious,' said Julian. 'For one thing this is a secret cellar, I should think, and nobodywould be able to get into it unless they knew the secret way to it. There's probably a sliding panel, orhidden door that leads to it, somewhere in the castle above. It's very old, and ruined in many parts -and some of the walls have fallen in - so I suppose it was pretty impossible to get to the cellars, evenif the secret way was known!'
'Yes - but what about the way we came up,' said Dick. 'From the sea - up the cliff passage!'
'Well - I don't know exactly why that hasn't been used before,' said Julian, 'though I could make aguess! Did you notice that great heap of fallen rocks near the entrance to the cliff passage? I shouldthink that that part of the cliff fell at one time, and hid the passage completely - blocked it up. Thenmaybe a storm came, and the sea shifted some of the rocks - and lo and behold10, there was the secretpassage - open again!'
'And somebody found it - somebody perhaps who had heard the old legends about the castle ofWhispering Island!' said Anne.
'A collector of old things, do you think?' asked George. 'What about those two men on the island- the ones we saw in the courtyard - do you suppose they know of this entrance?'
'Yes, probably,' said Julian. 'And it's likely they were put on guard, in case anyone else found it, andcame to rob the secret chamber. The things here are priceless! Those men are not there to guard theanimals on the island, as they were in the old lady's day. She had genuine keepers, like that nice oldman Lucas, who told us about this island the other day.'
'You think these men are in somebody's pay then - somebody who knows about this great chamberunder the castle, and wants to get the centuries-old treasures?' said Dick.
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'Yes,' said Julian. 'And what's more I don't believe that the real owner of the island - the great-nephewof the old lady who owned it, even knows they're here, or that anyone is taking things from his island.
For all we know he may live in America or Australia, and not care tuppence about his island!'
'How extraordinary!' said Anne. 'If I owned an island like this, I'd live here and never leave it.
And all the animals and birds would be protected as they once were, and...'
'Dear Anne - what a pity it isn't yours!' said Julian, ruffling11 her hair. 'But now, the thing is - what arewe going to do about all this? We'll talk about it when we're back at the cottage. My word, it's gettinglate! It will be pitch dark outside, unless the moon is up and the sky is clear of clouds!'
'Well, come on then, let's go,' said Dick, making for the great nail-studded door. Then, as Timmysuddenly gave a blood-curdling growl12, he stopped in fright. They had shut the door - but now it wasopening. Somebody was coming into the great underground chamber! Who could it be?
'Quick - hide!' said Julian, and he pushed the two girls behind a great chest. The others were near thegolden bed and they crouched13 behind it at once, Dick's hand on Timmy's collar. He had managed tostop the dog from growling14, but was afraid that Timmy would begin again at any moment!
A man came into the room - one of the two big fellows that the children had seen in the courtyard. Hedidn't seem to have heard Timmy growling, for he sauntered in, whistling lightly.
He shone his torch all round, and then called loudly.
'Emilio! Emilio!'
There was no answer at all. The man yelled again, and then an answer came from beyond the door,and hurrying footsteps could be heard. Then in came the other big rough fellow, and looked round,shining his torch. He lighted an oil lamp on a box, and switched off his torch.
'Always you sleep, Emilio!' growled15 the first man. 'Always you are late! You know the boat comestonight to take the next batch16 of goods - have you the list? We must wrap them up quickly and takethem to the shore. That little statue has to go, I know!'
He went over to the statue of a boy, whose eyes gleamed with emeralds. 'Well, boy?' said the man,'you're going out into the world! How'll you like that after being in the dark so long? Don't glare atme like that, or I'll box your ears!'
Apparently17 the golden boy went on glaring, for the man gave his head a sharp smack18. The otherfellow came over and shifted a long, deep box over from the wall to the little golden statue. Then 75he began to wrap it up carefully, rolling material round and round it from head to foot while thegolden boy stood patiently.
'What time is Lanyon coming for it?' asked Emilio. 'Have I time to wrap another?'
'Yes - that one over there,' said the first fellow, pointing. Emilio went whistling over to it, passing thechest behind which the girls were hiding. They crouched right to the floor, afraid of being seen. ButEmilio was sharp-eyed, and thought he saw something move as he passed by the chest. He stopped.
What was that poking19 out by the side of the chest - a foot? A FOOT!
Emilio rushed round the chest, his torch switched on again. He gave a loud shout. 'Carlo! There'ssomeone here! Come quickly!'
Carlo, the second man, dropped what he was holding and raced round to Emilio, who had now pulledthe girls roughly to their feet.
'What are you doing here? How did you get in?' shouted Emilio.
Julian shot out from his hiding-place at once, followed by Dick and Wilfrid. George was doing allshe could to hold back Timmy, who was now deafening20 everyone with his angry barks. He did hisbest to get away from George, but she was afraid he might fly at Emilio's throat. The two men werefull of amazement21 to see the five children and Timmy!
'Keep that dog back or I'll shoot him,' said Carlo, producing a gun. 'Who are you? What do you meanby coming into this place?'
'We came by boat - but the boat got washed out to sea,' said Julian. 'We've been camping on theisland. We just - er - wandered into this place by mistake.'
'By mistake! Well, I can tell you that you've certainly made the biggest mistake in your life!' saidCarlo. 'You'll have to stay here for quite a long time - till our job's done, at any rate!'
'What's your job?' asked Julian, bluntly.
'Wouldn't you like to know?' said Carlo. 'Well - one part of it is to guard the island, and keep offstrangers! Now, we've jobs to do tonight and tomorrow, and I'm afraid you're going to have amiserable time! You'll stay down here in this old cellar till we come back again - and what willhappen to you after that, I don't know, because I'll have to tell my employer you've been spying downhere. I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't hand you over to the police - or lock you up down here fora month, on bread and water!'
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Timmy growled very fiercely indeed, and tugged22 hard to get away from George and fly at this hatefulman. She hung on to him for all she was worth, though how she longed to let him leap at the man andget him on the ground!
'Better go, Carlo, or we'll miss that boat out there,' said Emilio, grumpily. 'We'll deal with these kidswhen we get back!' He shouldered the box into which he had put the wrapped statue, and started forthe door. Carlo followed him, backing all the time to make sure that George did not set Timmy on tohim. He shut the great door with a loud bang, and shot the bolt.
'Don't say anything for a minute in case they are listening outside the door,' said Julian. So they allstood in silence, Anne's knees trembling a little. Oh dear - how unlucky to be caught like this!
'Relax!' said Julian, at last. 'You all look so stiff and tense!'
'Well, I should think so!' said Dick. 'I don't particularly want to stay shut up here till those men deignto come back and do a bit more stealing. Suppose they never came back! We'd be here for keeps!'
'No, Dick!' said Anne, and to everyone's surprise, she began to laugh. 'We can easily escape!'
'What - through that locked and bolted door?' said Dick. 'Not a hope!'
'But we can easily escape!' said Anne, and George suddenly brightened up and nodded her head,smiling. 'Oh yes - of course! Don't look so solemn, Dick! Look up there!'
Dick looked up to where Anne was pointing. 'What am I supposed to look at?' he said. 'The old stonewall?'
'No - just there - over the top of that tall chest,' said Anne.
Dick looked - and then a large smile came over his face. 'WHAT an idiot I am! That's the old irondoor in the side of the old well-wall, isn't it - the opening I looked through! It looks just like anordinary ventilation hole from down here - and I don't really believe anyone would ever notice itexcept us, who know what it is. I see what you're getting at, Anne!'
'Good old Anne!' said George, realizing what Anne had in mind. 'Of course - we've only got to climbup to that hole in the wall, open the door there, and then go up the well - and we're safe!'
'Yes. But it's easier said than done,' said Julian, soberly. 'We've got to get hold of the rope, and climbright up it to the top - not very easy!'
'Suppose the rope's at the top, with the bucket hanging on the hook?' said Anne. 'We'd never reach itthen!'
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'We'll think of something!' said Julian. 'Anyway, it's our only hope of escape. Now - we'll push thathuge, high chest or wardrobe or whatever it is, right over against the wall, under that opening into thewell - and then we'll haul a table on top of that - there's a sturdy little one over there. Come on! We'llbe through that opening in no time, and up the well. What a shock for dear Emilio and Carlo whenthey come back, and find that the birds have flown!'
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收听单词发音
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1
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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2
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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3
awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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4
slanting
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| 倾斜的，歪斜的 | |
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5
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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6
collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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8
rubies
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| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
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9
mouldering
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| v.腐朽( moulder的现在分词 )；腐烂，崩塌 | |
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10
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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11
ruffling
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| 弄皱( ruffle的现在分词 )； 弄乱； 激怒； 扰乱 | |
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12
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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13
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14
growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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15
growled
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| 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 | |
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16
batch
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| n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量 | |
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17
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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18
smack
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| vt.拍，打，掴；咂嘴；vi.含有…意味；n.拍 | |
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19
poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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20
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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21
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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22
tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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