Tinker and the Five were two minutes late for their dinner. Jenny was just taking it in, looking a littlegrim, as she had not been able to find the children anywhere. 'Ah - here you are at last!' she said. 'Ilooked down the garden but you were nowhere to be seen. It's a good thing you came in when youdid - five minutes more, and I'd have taken the dinner back again.'
'Dear Jenny, you know you wouldn't,' said Tinker, giving her a sudden squeeze that made her squeal1.
'Oh, how good it smells! Mmmmm-Mmmmm!'
'You and your Mmmmms!' said Jenny, pushing Tinker away. 'And I've told you before, that I don'tmind a gentle hug, but those squeezes of yours take all my breath away. No, Tinker, keep away fromme - another squeeze like that and I'll feel like a lemon!'
Everyone laughed at that. Jenny did say the most amusing things. Anne felt sorry that she hadn'toffered to stay and help her with the dinner. Oh dear - the time went so tremendously quickly, oncethey were all out together.
The talk at dinner-time was very lively. So was Mischief2 the monkey! He took bits from everyone'splate and handed some of them down to Timmy, who was lying under the table as usual. Timmyappreciated these titbits very much!
'Well! I didn't see a single ladder in the circus camp that was tall enough to reach up to the towerroom,' said George.
'No. If there was one, it was jolly well hidden,' said Dick. 'Pass the mustard, someone!'
69
'In front of you, ass,' said Julian. 'I must say I'm beginning to wonder if Mr. Wooh had anything to dowith the stealing of your father's papers, Tinker. I can't somehow see him climbing high ladders - he'sso - so...'
'Polite and proper,' said Anne. 'Actually, I can't think of anyone in the circus who would either wantthe papers, or is nasty enough to steal them. They're all so nice.'
'I still think Mr. Wooh is the most likely one,' said Julian. 'He's interested in complicated figures andclever inventions. But all the same, I'm beginning to think I'm wrong. He could NOT have got up tothe tower room, as there is no ladder long enough - and I really doubt if he'd dare to take a ladder intothe courtyard, and risk putting it up to the tower. He might so easily be caught.'
'Right. We'll rule him out,' said Tinker. 'But if nobody went up the spiral stairway, because all thedoors were locked, and nobody used a ladder, I don't see how those papers disappeared.'
'Wind took them out of the window, perhaps?' suggested Anne. 'Would that be possible?'
'No. For two reasons,' said Julian. 'One is that the window wasn't wide enough open for the wind toblow in with enough strength to blow papers out. And secondly3, we'd have been sure to have foundsome of them down in the courtyard if they'd been blown out. But we didn't find a single one there.'
'Well - if nobody got through the three locked doors, and nobody got through the window, how didthose papers get stolen?' demanded George. 'It would have been a miracle for those papers to havehopped away by themselves - and I don't believe in that kind of miracle!'
There was a long silence. What a mystery it was! 'I suppose Tinker's father couldn't possibly havegone walking in his sleep, and taken them, could he?' asked Anne.
'Well - I don't know if a sleep-walker can unlock doors with the right keys, and steal his own papers,leaving some on the floor, and then walk carefully down the spiral stairway still fast asleep, lockingall the doors behind him, and then go to his own bedroom, get into bed, and then wake up in themorning without remembering a single moment of the whole thing!' said Julian.
'No. It can't be possible,' said Dick. 'Have you ever known your father to walk in his sleep, Tinker?'
Tinker considered. 'No, I can't say I have,' he said. 'He's a very light sleeper4, usually. No. I don'tbelieve Dad did all that in his sleep. It was somebody else.'
70
'It must have been some sort of miracle man, then,' said George. 'No ordinary person could do it.
And whoever planned it wanted those papers very, very badly, or he would never have risked gettingthem against so many odds5.'
'And if he wanted them SO VERY badly, he'll certainly make an effort to get the ones he left behindunder the table,' said Julian. 'Good thing we've got those! He will probably try to get up into thetower the same way as he did before - but goodness knows what it was!'
'Well - those papers will be safely out of his way, tonight!' said George. 'On my island!'
'Yes,' said Julian. 'I'll find a most unlikely hiding-place - somewhere about the ruined castle, I think.
By the way - I hope you haven't still got them under your jersey6, Tinker. No - you don't look fat anymore. What have you done with them?'
'George said I'd better give them to her to keep, in case they slipped out of my jersey,' said Tinker.
'You took them, didn't you, George?'
'Yes,' said George. 'Don't let's talk about it any more.'
'Why not? The thief's not here. He can't be listening to us!' said Tinker. 'I believe you're cross,George, because Julian won't let you take the papers yourself!'
'Oh, do shut up, Tinker,' said George. 'I shall be jolly cross with you in a minute, if you let Mischiefupset your glass of lemonade again, all over my bread. Take him off the table! His manners aregetting worse!'
'They aren't - but your temper is!' said Tinker and promptly7 received a kick under the table fromJulian. He was about to kick back but thought better of it. Julian could kick very much harder than hecould! He decided8 to take Mischief off the table in case George smacked9 him. He put the littlemonkey under the table where Timmy was sitting quietly. Mischief immediately cuddled up to him,putting his little furry10 arms round the big dog's neck. Timmy sniffed11 him all over, and then gave himtwo or three licks. He was very fond of the naughty little monkey.
'What shall we do this afternoon?' asked Dick, when they had all helped Jenny to clear away andwash-up. 'What about a bathe in the sea? Is it warm enough?'
'Not really. But that doesn't matter, we always feel jolly warm when we come out of the water andrun about and then rub ourselves down,' said Anne. 'Jenny - do you feel like a bathe?'
'Good gracious, no!' said Jenny, shivering at the thought. 'I'm a cold mortal, I am. The thought ofgoing into that cold sea makes me shudder12. If you want your towels, they are all in the airing 71cupboard. And don't you be late for tea, if you want any, because I've a lot of ironing to doafterwards.'
'Right, Jenny,' said Tinker, about to give her one of his 'squeezes' but thinking better of it when hesaw her warning look. 'Julian, may I come with you to Kirrin Island tonight? I'd like a bit of fun.'
'You may not,' said Julian. 'Anyway, there won't be any fun.'
'There might be if Mr. Wooh did hear George say she was taking those papers over,' said Tinker.
'He'd be waiting on the island - and you might be glad to have me with you!'
'I should not be glad to have you with me,' said Julian. 'You'd just be in the way. It would be mucheasier to look after myself than to see what you were up to all the time. I am going by myself. Pleasedon't scowl13 at me like that, George.'
He got up from the table and went to look out of the window. 'Wind's died down a bit,' he said. 'Ithink I'll have a bathe in an hour's time. If any of you others want to come, we'll go down together.'
They all went down to the beach after a while and bathed, except Mischief, who put one small pawinto the water, gave a howl and scampered14 back up the beach as fast as ever he could, afraid thatTinker might catch him and make him go in! Timmy went in, of course. He swam marvellously, andeven gave Tinker a ride on his back, diving down when the boy felt heavy, so that Tinker suddenlyfound himself sprawling15 in the water! 'You wretch16, Timmy!' yelled the boy,'the water's gone up my nose. Wait till I catch you! I'll put you under!'
But he couldn't possibly catch old Timmy, who really enjoyed the joke. The big dog gave a joyfulbark, and swam after George. How he loved being with them all!
The rest of the day went quickly. Jenny had a fine tea for them, with slices of ham, and salad, andfruit to end with, and said afterwards that she had time to play a game of Scrabble with them if theyliked. Mischief sat on the table to watch.
'I don't mind you watching,' said Anne. 'But you are NOT to scrabble, Mischief. You sent all my littleivory discs on the floor last time we played, and I lost the game.'
Timmy watched gravely, sitting on a chair beside George. He simply could NOT understand whatmade the children play games like this when they could go for a nice long walk with him.
They took pity on him when the game was over and went out for a two-mile walk along by the sea.
How Timmy loved that!
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'I shall cycle to Kirrin Village as soon as it's dark,' announced Julian. 'I suppose your boat is tied up inthe usual place, George? I'm sorry I can't take you with me, but there might be a bit of danger, as wesaid. However I won't run into any if I can help it. I shan't feel comfortable until those secret papersare safely out of the way! You can give them to me just before I go, George.'
Anne suddenly yawned. 'Don't start too late or I shall fall asleep!' she said. 'It's getting dark already.
All that swimming has made me feel tired!'
Dick yawned too. 'I'm jolly sleepy as well,' he said. 'I shall bed down in our tent as soon as you'vegone, Ju. I'll see you off safely first, papers and all! You'd better go to your tent, too, girls- you look tired.'
'Right!' said Anne. 'You coming, George?'
'We'll all go,' said George. 'Come on, Tinker. Bet you I get over the fence and down to our tents first!
Good night, Jenny. We're off!'
She and Anne and Tinker, with Timmy running behind, went off down the darkening garden.
Dick and Julian helped Jenny to tidy up, and to draw all the curtains. 'Well, good night, Jenny,'
said Dick. 'All you have to do is to lock the door behind us and go safely up to bed. We'll go down toour tents now. Sleep well!'
'Oh, I always do,' said Jenny. 'Look after yourselves now and don't get into any mischief! Hide thosepapers well, where nobody can find them!'
Julian and Dick went off down the garden, having heard Jenny carefully locking the door behindthem.
Tinker and the girls were already over the fence, Mischief on Tinker's shoulder. Anne spokeanxiously to George. 'I do hope Julian will be all right going over to Kirrin Island,' she said. 'I wishhe'd take Dick with him.'
'If he took anyone it should be me!' burst out George. 'It's my island!'
'Oh, don't be silly, George. The papers would be much safer with Julian,' said Anne. 'It would be anawful business for you, cycling by yourself to Kirrin, getting your boat into the water, and rowingover in the dark!'
'It would not!' said George. 'If Julian can do it, then so could I. You go into our tent, Anne, and getready for bed. I'll come in a minute, after I've taken Timmy for a run.'
She waited till Anne had disappeared through the tent opening. Then she went quietly off by herselfin the dark, Timmy trotting17 beside her, rather surprised.
73
Soon there came the sound of voices, as Julian and Dick reached the fence and leapt over it.
They went to their tent, and found Tinker there, yawning and getting ready for bed.
Soon the three boys were all rolled up in their rugs, Mischief cuddled up to Tinker. After some timeJulian sat up and looked at his watch, and then peeped out of the tent opening. 'Quite dark!'
he said. 'But the moon's coming up, I see. I think I'll get the papers from George now, and set off onmy bicycle to Kirrin. I can easily get it out of the shed.'
'You know where George keeps her boat,' said Dick. 'You won't have any difficulty in finding it.
Got your torch, Ju?'
'Yes - and a new battery,' said Julian. 'Look!'
He switched on his torch. It gave a good, powerful beam. 'Shan't miss the island if I put this on!'
he said. 'Now - I'll get those papers. Hey, George - I'm coming to your tent for the papers!'
He went over to the girls' tent. Anne was there, only half awake. She blinked as Julian's torch shoneinto her eyes.
'George!' said Julian. 'Give me those papers now, please - hallo - I say, Anne - where is George?'
Anne looked all round the tent. George's rugs were there, piled in an untidy heap; but there was noGeorge - and no Timmy either!
'Oh, Ju! Do you know what George has done - she's slipped out with the precious papers - and takenTimmy too! She must have gone to fetch her bike, and ridden off to Kirrin to get her boat -and row over to Kirrin Island! Julian, whatever will happen if she rows over and finds somebodywaiting to grab those papers from her!' Poor Anne was very near to tears.
'I could shake her!' said Julian, very angry indeed. 'Going off alone like that in the dark - cycling toKirrin - rowing over to the island - and back! She must be mad! Suppose Mr. Wooh and his friendsare waiting there for her! The - silly - little - idiot!'
'Oh, Julian, quick! You and Dick get your cycles and try to catch her,' begged Anne. 'Oh please do!
Anything might happen to her! Dear, silly old George! Thank goodness Timmy's gone with her.'
'Well, that's a blessing18, anyway,' said Julian, still angry. 'He'll look after her as much as he can.
My word, I could shake George till her teeth rattled19! I thought she was rather quiet tonight.
Thinking out this plan, I suppose!'
He went up to the house with Dick and Tinker to tell Jenny about George, and then he and Dick atonce went to get their bicycles. This was serious. George had no right to be out alone at night 74like this - and go rowing over to Kirrin Island - ESPECIALLY if there was any chance of someonelying in wait for her!
Jenny was very worried indeed. She watched the two boys cycling off in the dark. Tinker begged herto let him go too, but she wouldn't. 'You and Mischief would just be nuisances,' she said. 'Oh myword, won't I shake that rascal20 of a George when she gets back. What a girl! Well, well -thank goodness Timmy's with her. That dog's as good as half a dozen policemen!'
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收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
squeal
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| v.发出长而尖的声音；n.长而尖的声音 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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3
secondly
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| adv.第二，其次 | |
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sleeper
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| n.睡眠者，卧车，卧铺 | |
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5
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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6
jersey
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| n.运动衫 | |
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7
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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8
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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9
smacked
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| 拍，打，掴( smack的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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furry
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| adj.毛皮的；似毛皮的；毛皮制的 | |
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sniffed
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| 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 | |
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12
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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13
scowl
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| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
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14
scampered
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| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
sprawling
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| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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16
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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trotting
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| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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18
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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