儿童英语读物 The Camp-Out Mystery CHAPTER 11 The Note on the Tree

“There goes a good-hearted man,” Grandfather said as Andy Watts¹ disappeared into the trees.

“We were lucky to find him,” Henry said.

“If it weren’t for Doris’s sister, we wouldn’t have,” Jessie said.

Grandfather chuckled². “So you met Hildy.”

Benny made a face. “She’s so crabby!” he said. “If I were Mr. Watts, I wouldn’t live so close to her.”

“Andy loves this forest,” Grandfather told them. “There aren’t many private cabins in it.”

“How do you know so much about him, Grandfather?” Violet asked.

“Doris told me,” Mr. Alden explained. “Andy works at the sporting goods store in town. It’s a long way, but he likes living close to nature.”

“Did Doris tell you anything more about Hildy?” Henry asked.

Grandfather shook his head. “No, not a thing.” His eyes closed.

“Grandfather?” Violet said. “Are you all right?”

“Just a little tired.”

“I’ll bet you’re hungry, too,” Benny said. “I sure am.”

Mr. Alden smiled. “Why don’t you children run along and make lunch?” He yawned. “I’ll just rest my eyes a bit.”

The children ran off to the kitchen tent.

“Mr. Watts said we might change our minds about leaving,” Henry commented. “I wonder what he meant.”

“Maybe he thinks Grandfather won’t be comfortable here,” Violet offered. “His ankle is painful.”

“But Grandfather wants to stay,” Benny put in. “He said so.”

“Mr. Watts doesn’t know Grandfather,” Jessie said.

“That’s for sure,” Henry added. “He doesn’t know that once Grandfather makes up his mind, he doesn’t change it easily.”

“Henry, you light the fire,” Jessie said. “We’ll warm up the stew³.”

Jessie looked into the cooler. She didn’t see the container with the stew. “Did you take out the stew when you got the ice?” she asked Violet.

Violet shook her head. “No,” she said. “I didn’t take out anything but ice.”

“Where could it be?” Jessie asked.

The two girls looked all around.

At the table, Violet said. “That’s funny. The note we left for Grandfather is gone.”

“But you put a stone on it to keep it in place,” Jessie said.

“Yes,” Violet answered. “Here’s the stone, but the note is gone.”

Just then, Benny came running up to them. “Come quick,” he said.

The girls followed him to the maple⁴ tree. Henry stood under it. He pointed⁵. Midway up the trunk was Violet’s note.

“The hiking and soon are scratched out,”Jessie observed. “Now it reads: Went home. Back never.”

“And look what’s holding the note against the tree!” Benny exclaimed.

It was a long, sharp arrow!

Henry reached up and pulled it out of the tree. “Someone is really anxious for us to leave,” he said.

“But these are campgrounds,” Jessie said. “Why would anyone want to keep campers away?”

“We aren’t bothering anyone,” Violet said.

“Except that nasty Hildy,” Benny put in. “Everybody bothers her.”

“It doesn’t make sense,” Jessie said. “Why would Hildy—or anyone—want us to leave?”

“That’s what we have to find out,” Henry said.

1 watts   

（电力计量单位）瓦，瓦特( watt的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• My lamp uses 60 watts; my toaster uses 600 watts. 我的灯用60瓦，我的烤面包器用600瓦。
• My lamp uses 40 watts. 我的灯40瓦。

2 chuckled   

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。

3 stew   

n.炖汤，焖，烦恼；v.炖汤，焖，忧虑

参考例句：

• The stew must be boiled up before serving.炖肉必须煮熟才能上桌。
• There's no need to get in a stew.没有必要烦恼。

4 maple   

n.槭树，枫树，槭木

参考例句：

• Maple sugar is made from the sap of maple trees.枫糖是由枫树的树液制成的。
• The maple leaves are tinge with autumn red.枫叶染上了秋天的红色。

5 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。