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儿童英语读物 The Deserted Library Mystery CHAPTER 11 The Prowler

时间:2017-07-06 01:39来源:互联网 提供网友:qing   字体: [ ]
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“We’re leaving!” Henry said. “We’re heading back to the house.” He carefully wrapped the point of the sword in a dust rag. “No telling who’s around here.”

“I thought you said it was only the wind that slammed the door,” Benny said, his head tilted1 to one side.

“It probably was,” Jessie soothed2.

Henry gave a last look at the tidy library—so different from when they’d first entered—then locked the door.

With the prowler on their minds, everyone hastily mounted their bicycles. As fast as they could, they biked back to Pete’s house. Benny’s legs had never pushed so hard.

Back in the house, however, they tried to forget the slammed door. Maybe it was the wind, maybe it was the prowler spying on them, but whatever it was, they were safe and sound now.

“One more night!” Benny crowed. “And Grandfather will be here. He’ll be proud we found the rest of the sword!”

“Thanks to you,” Jessie said, giving his hand a squeeze.

“Just think,” Violet said happily. “Tomorrow we’ll be going home.”

“Yes, but we still have tonight to get through,” Miguel said gloomily.

“No problem,” Henry said. He was worried about Miguel, though. The slim boy was so sad. It wouldn’t be long before he knew whether his father was alive or not. “Miguel, why don’t you help me chop wood?” Henry asked. “We’ll leave a nice stack for Pete.”

At supper they lingered over their spaghetti and meatballs, enjoying their last night in Pete’s house.

When they’d finished eating, Henry fit the sword together on a braided rug before the fireplace. Even though the blade was rusty4 and black, it was graceful5 and beautiful.

“I can imagine how the sword will look when it’s polished. The silver and gold will gleam,” Jessie said, admiring it.

“Such a wonderful sword,” Violet said. “Captain Howard must have been very proud to have been honored with such a gift.”

“The Civil War was over one hundred years ago,” Jessie said thoughtfully. “I wonder what happened to Captain Howard.”

Henry, busy polishing the hilt, said, “Oh, he probably retired6 to his farm near Gettysburg and lived to a ripe old age.”

“What makes you think the Captain was from Pennsylvania?” Miguel asked.

Henry shrugged7. “Just a guess. He may not have been.”

“I’ll bet he looked handsome in his uniform,” Jessie said, gazing at the sword.

Henry chuckled8. “You’ve got a vivid imagination, Jessie.”

Jessie laughed. “I’m not the artistic9 one.” She glanced at Violet. “Violet is.”

Violet’s cheeks grew pink. She did love music and her violin, and she did enjoy painting.

“Time for bed, everybody!” Henry said. “The earlier we go to bed, the earlier we’ll get up. Grandfather said he’d visit us tomorrow, and if I know him, he’ll be here for breakfast.”

“We need to leave Pete’s house spick-and-span, too,” Jessie said. “Pete will be glad for the wood you left him, Henry.”

Henry nodded. “And I’m certain he’ll be pleased when he sees how clean the windows and floors are.”

“I hope so,” Jessie said.

“I’m sure he will,” Violet said, smiling at Jessie. They had really worked while on their adventure, but now that it was almost over, they felt good.

Jessie picked up the pitcher10. “I’m going out to fill this with water,” she said. “I know Benny will want a drink before he goes to sleep.”

“You’re not afraid, are you?” Violet asked. “Maybe the hummer will be outside waiting for you.”

Jessie laughed. “I’m not frightened at all.” She moved to the door. “Besides, I’ll only be gone five minutes.”

After Jessie left, Benny and Miguel went to bed while Violet set the table for breakfast. She smiled as she set a place for Grandfather.

Henry carefully rewrapped the sword in the dust rag and waited for Jessie’s return.

Outdoors, Jessie stepped quickly to the pump. She didn’t intend to tarry any longer than necessary.

“Hooo, hooo,” came a strange call from the trees.

Jessie halted, listening intently.

“Hoooo, hooo.”

She stared at the large oak. Then a smile broke over her face. The yellow unblinking eyes of an owl3 stared back at her.

“Go ahead and hoot11, Mr. Owl,” Jessie said as she pumped fresh cold spring water. “I’m not afraid.”

A twig12 snapped, but Jessie kept pumping as if she hadn’t heard a thing.

Footsteps approached. Jessie froze. The stranger was back again! A cold chill ran up her spine13.

All at once she whirled about, flinging the pitcher in the air. She’d almost reached the door when a cloth bag was thrown over her head, blotting14 out sight and air. Her arms were pinned to her side.

“Henry!” she screamed, but her muffled15 voice was lost in the cloth. She struggled for a breath of air.

“The sword is mine!” the stranger growled16 in her ear. “Get out!”

Jessie’s heart thumped17 against her ribs18, but she knew what to do.

“Do you understand me?” The prowler growled menacingly.

Suddenly, Jessie kicked the man’s shins hard, and he let go of her arms to grab his painful legs. She yanked off the bag and gulped19 in air. She yelled, “Help! Help!”

Yellow light streamed from the house as Henry tore open the door.

“The prowler!” she shouted, pointing at a shadowy figure disappearing in the brush.

The bushes violently swayed back and forth20. An instant later a car’s engine started, and the intruder sped away.

Henry dashed to Jessie’s side. “Are you all right?” he asked with concern, throwing his arms around her.

She nodded numbly21, glad for Henry’s warmth. The water pitcher was forgotten as they hurried into the house.

“Jessie!” Violet said, rushing to her side.

Once inside, Henry bolted the door. Jessie sank down before the fire with Violet beside her. Henry brought her a glass of orange juice.

“H-he told us to get out! That the sword was his!” Jessie shuddered22. “That awful, awful man! He almost smothered23 me! If I hadn’t kicked him hard, I wouldn’t have escaped!”

“It’s over,” Henry said softly. “He’s far away by now!” But his heart was beating rapidly when he glanced at Jessie’s white face. He wondered if the locked door could keep out such a determined24 stranger!


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 tilted 3gtzE5     
v. 倾斜的
参考例句:
  • Suddenly the boat tilted to one side. 小船突然倾向一侧。
  • She tilted her chin at him defiantly. 她向他翘起下巴表示挑衅。
2 soothed 509169542d21da19b0b0bd232848b963     
v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 );抚慰;使舒服;减轻痛苦
参考例句:
  • The music soothed her for a while. 音乐让她稍微安静了一会儿。
  • The soft modulation of her voice soothed the infant. 她柔和的声调使婴儿安静了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
3 owl 7KFxk     
n.猫头鹰,枭
参考例句:
  • Her new glasses make her look like an owl.她的新眼镜让她看上去像只猫头鹰。
  • I'm a night owl and seldom go to bed until after midnight.我睡得很晚,经常半夜后才睡觉。
4 rusty hYlxq     
adj.生锈的;锈色的;荒废了的
参考例句:
  • The lock on the door is rusty and won't open.门上的锁锈住了。
  • I haven't practiced my French for months and it's getting rusty.几个月不用,我的法语又荒疏了。
5 graceful deHza     
adj.优美的,优雅的;得体的
参考例句:
  • His movements on the parallel bars were very graceful.他的双杠动作可帅了!
  • The ballet dancer is so graceful.芭蕾舞演员的姿态是如此的优美。
6 retired Njhzyv     
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的
参考例句:
  • The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
  • Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
7 shrugged 497904474a48f991a3d1961b0476ebce     
vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀,什么也没说。
  • She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩,装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
8 chuckled 8ce1383c838073977a08258a1f3e30f8     
轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
  • She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情,她就轻轻地暗自发笑。
9 artistic IeWyG     
adj.艺术(家)的,美术(家)的;善于艺术创作的
参考例句:
  • The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
  • These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。
10 pitcher S2Gz7     
n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐;(棒球)投手
参考例句:
  • He poured the milk out of the pitcher.他从大罐中倒出牛奶。
  • Any pitcher is liable to crack during a tight game.任何投手在紧张的比赛中都可能会失常。
11 hoot HdzzK     
n.鸟叫声,汽车的喇叭声; v.使汽车鸣喇叭
参考例句:
  • The sudden hoot of a whistle broke into my thoughts.突然响起的汽笛声打断了我的思路。
  • In a string of shrill hoot of the horn sound,he quickly ran to her.在一串尖声鸣叫的喇叭声中,他快速地跑向她。
12 twig VK1zg     
n.小树枝,嫩枝;v.理解
参考例句:
  • He heard the sharp crack of a twig.他听到树枝清脆的断裂声。
  • The sharp sound of a twig snapping scared the badger away.细枝突然折断的刺耳声把獾惊跑了。
13 spine lFQzT     
n.脊柱,脊椎;(动植物的)刺;书脊
参考例句:
  • He broke his spine in a fall from a horse.他从马上跌下摔断了脊梁骨。
  • His spine developed a slight curve.他的脊柱有点弯曲。
14 blotting 82f88882eee24a4d34af56be69fee506     
吸墨水纸
参考例句:
  • Water will permeate blotting paper. 水能渗透吸水纸。
  • One dab with blotting-paper and the ink was dry. 用吸墨纸轻轻按了一下,墨水就乾了。
15 muffled fnmzel     
adj.(声音)被隔的;听不太清的;(衣服)裹严的;蒙住的v.压抑,捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 );用厚厚的衣帽包着(自己)
参考例句:
  • muffled voices from the next room 从隔壁房间里传来的沉闷声音
  • There was a muffled explosion somewhere on their right. 在他们的右面什么地方有一声沉闷的爆炸声。 来自《简明英汉词典》
16 growled 65a0c9cac661e85023a63631d6dab8a3     
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》
17 thumped 0a7f1b69ec9ae1663cb5ed15c0a62795     
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。
18 ribs 24fc137444401001077773555802b280     
n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 );(船或屋顶等的)肋拱;肋骨状的东西;(织物的)凸条花纹
参考例句:
  • He suffered cracked ribs and bruising. 他断了肋骨还有挫伤。
  • Make a small incision below the ribs. 在肋骨下方切开一个小口。
19 gulped 4873fe497201edc23bc8dcb50aa6eb2c     
v.狼吞虎咽地吃,吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 );大口地吸(气);哽住
参考例句:
  • He gulped down the rest of his tea and went out. 他把剩下的茶一饮而尽便出去了。
  • She gulped nervously, as if the question bothered her. 她紧张地咽了一下,似乎那问题把她难住了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
20 forth Hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
21 numbly b49ba5a0808446b5a01ffd94608ff753     
adv.失去知觉,麻木
参考例句:
  • Back at the rickshaw yard, he slept numbly for two days. 回到车厂,他懊睡了两天。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
  • He heard it numbly, a little amazed at his audacity. 他自己也听得一呆,对自己的莽撞劲儿有点吃惊。 来自辞典例句
22 shuddered 70137c95ff493fbfede89987ee46ab86     
v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 );发抖;(机器、车辆等)突然震动;颤动
参考例句:
  • He slammed on the brakes and the car shuddered to a halt. 他猛踩刹车,车颤抖着停住了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I shuddered at the sight of the dead body. 我一看见那尸体就战栗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
23 smothered b9bebf478c8f7045d977e80734a8ed1d     
(使)窒息, (使)透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 ); 覆盖; 忍住; 抑制
参考例句:
  • He smothered the baby with a pillow. 他用枕头把婴儿闷死了。
  • The fire is smothered by ashes. 火被灰闷熄了。
24 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
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