英语 英语 日语 日语 韩语 韩语 法语 法语 德语 德语 西班牙语 西班牙语 意大利语 意大利语 阿拉伯语 阿拉伯语 葡萄牙语 葡萄牙语 越南语 越南语 俄语 俄语 芬兰语 芬兰语 泰语 泰语 泰语 丹麦语 泰语 对外汉语

儿童英语读物 The Mystery of the Lost Mine CHAPTER 2 A New Adventure

时间:2017-08-22 06:45来源:互联网 提供网友:qing   字体: [ ]
特别声明:本栏目内容均从网络收集或者网友提供,供仅参考试用,我们无法保证内容完整和正确。如果资料损害了您的权益,请与站长联系,我们将及时删除并致以歉意。
    (单词翻译:双击或拖选)

“Boy, it sure gets dark out here,” Benny commented as he reached for a handful of popcorn1.

“Quiet, too,” said Jessie. Then she added with a laugh, “Except for Benny’s chewing!”

The Aldens had just finished taking turns showering in the RV’s tiny bathroom. Now they were sitting around, munching2 popcorn. Outside the big picture windows, they could see a few lights from the campground. Beyond, the desert was inky black.

“What do you suppose Tom meant?” Henry asked. “About the desert’s being a dangerous place.”

“It sounded like a warning to me,” Violet said.

“What sounded like a warning?” Grandfather came out of the bathroom wearing his robe.

Jessie answered, “Tom Parker told us never to go out without water, that the desert is dangerous.”

“He’s right,” Grandfather said. “The desert is dangerous if you’re not prepared. Always carry a canteen, and wear a hat and sunscreen lotion3. The sun is very hot.”

“Hotter than Florida?” Violet asked, remembering the trip to Camp Coral.

“Much hotter. The desert is dry, so you must be careful not to become dehydrated.” He yawned. “It’s late. Gerald McCrae is picking me up early tomorrow. And you children have a lot of exploring to do.”

After saying good night, the girls went into their tiny bedroom. Grandfather rolled the stepladder into position and climbed into the double bed built over the cab. Henry and Benny flipped4 the table against the wall and unfolded their bunks5.

“I can see Mr. Tobias’s trailer,” said Benny, after the lights were out. “He’s still up.”

“Mmmm,” Henry mumbled6.

Benny was still wondering if they would have an adventure in Arizona when he fell asleep.

The next morning, a beat-up orange Jeep pulled up to the Aldens’ RV.

Grandfather opened the door to greet a tanned, older man.

“I see my RV is still in one piece,” the man said, his blue eyes teasing.

“Of course it’s in one piece, Gerald,” Grandfather said, laughing. “I had an excellent crew helping7 me.” Then he turned to the children. “I’ll be off now helping Mr. McCrae for the day. You kids have fun. See you later.”

The Jeep pulled away in a swirl8 of gravel9.

“Let’s go eat breakfast!” Benny cried. “I’m starving!”

“So what else is new?” Jessie said, ruffling10 his hair.

They walked over to the Chuck Wagon11. The restaurant was crowded.

Luis was already seated at a large, center table. He waved the Aldens over.

“My parents will be here later,” he said. “They say they can’t face food too early.”

“It’s never too early for me to face food!” Benny declared.

Janine brought them menus and a sloshing pitcher12 of water. The Aldens and Luis ordered bacon, eggs, toast, and juice all around.

“I see the Clarks over there,” Jessie commented. “But not Mr. Tobias.”

“Oh, he never comes in until dinnertime,” Luis said.

“He stays up late,” Benny put in. “I saw his lights on last night.”

Luis nodded. “I sometimes see his lights on at dawn.”

“Maybe he sleeps all day and stays up all night,” Henry suggested.

Tom came in then, tipping his hat in greeting.

“Howdy, pardners!” he called when he saw the children.

“Howdy!” Benny called back. He liked talking cowboy lingo13. “Thanks a heap, ma’am,” he said to Janine, who brought their food, but Janine didn’t even smile.

Violet watched the Clarks as she ate. Mrs. Clark was very pretty, with long, brown hair and a sparkling smile. Mr. Clark beckoned14 for Tom to sit with them. They seemed like a talkative couple.

“I bet they’re on their honeymoon,” Jessie said. “They look so happy.”

“The Clarks are newlyweds,” Luis said. “They’re traveling all over the country in that fancy RV.”

“I thought people who were just married didn’t have very much money,” Jessie said.

Just then the door opened, and a grizzled old man with a straggly gray beard stepped inside. He wore dirt-stained khaki pants and a sun-bleached denim15 shirt. A crumpled16 felt hat nearly hid his eyes.

“Boy, he’s a real old cowboy,” Benny said.

Luis lowered his voice. “That’s Jake. He’s a prospector17. He lives up in the hills. He comes in here every morning for a cup of coffee and some supplies.”

Henry noticed Tom Parker slip out the back door. Tom always seemed so friendly. Why didn’t he greet Jake the way he did everyone else?

Janine spoke18 sharply to the prospector. “I’m not giving you any more credit, Jake. Pay up your bill.”

“I’ll pay you back with interest,” said the old man. “I promise.”

She snorted. “Your promises are like dust in the desert! I mean it, Jake. No food or supplies until you pay at least part of your bill.”

“He doesn’t have any money!” Violet said, concerned. “And he’s hungry!”

Henry looked at Jessie. “What do you think?” Since Grandfather was out all day, Henry and Jessie were in charge of the Aldens’ money.

“Let’s give him five dollars,” Jessie said. She couldn’t bear to see that old man go away hungry.

Henry went over to Jake. “I see you’re a little short,” he said, handing him a five-dollar bill.

“Many thanks,” the old man said. “You won’t be sorry. I’ll pay you back soon. With interest!”

“What does he mean, ‘with interest’?” Benny asked.

“It means he’ll pay back our five dollars, plus some extra,” Henry replied.

Janine took the money Jake paid her and stuffed it in her apron19 pocket. He shuffled20 back to the camping goods section.

“Next time, don’t pay any attention to the old coot,” she told the Aldens as she cleared their places. “He’s got gold fever.”

“What is gold fever?” Violet wondered when the woman left, clattering21 plates.

“Have you ever heard of the Lost Dutchman’s mine in the Superstition22 Mountains?” Luis asked.

The Aldens shook their heads.

“Over a hundred years ago,” Luis began, “a prospector claimed he found a fantastic gold mine somewhere in the Superstition Mountains. On his deathbed, he told his nurse how to find the mine. The nurse and two friends tried to locate the mine, but they never did. They told other people about the mine, and the story spread.”

“And Jake is searching for the Lost Dutchman’s mine?” Henry asked.

Just then Mr. and Mrs. Garcia came in. Overhearing Henry’s question, they sat down and picked up the story.

“A lot of people have looked for the Dutchman’s mine,” said Mr. Garcia. “Jake is not alone. Gold fever is highly contagious23. People get excited at the mention of gold.”

Mrs. Garcia added, “People can look all they want, but no one can dig for gold in the Superstition Mountains. It’s the law.”

“Then why is old Jake still looking?” Jessie asked. “If no one has found it in a hundred years, why does he believe he can find it?”

Mr. Garcia answered. “Not too long ago, some tourists found some small stone slabs24 with pictures carved on them. The stones were supposed to be maps, with clues to the location of the gold mine. If a person figured out the clues, they would find the mine. Like a treasure hunt.”

“Where are the stones?” Benny asked. He liked the idea of a treasure hunt!

“They’re in a museum in Mesa,” said Luis. “I’ve seen them and have pictures of the stones in our RV.”

“Can we see the pictures?” Henry asked eagerly.

“Sure.”

“Luis, we’ll be leaving on our hike after we eat,” Mrs. Garcia told her son. “Would you like to come with us or stay with the Aldens?”

“I’d rather stay with my new friends.” He looked eagerly at Henry. “If that’s okay?”

“You bet,” Henry said.

They all left the restaurant. Luis led the way to his trailer and opened the door.

“Wow!” Benny commented when he stepped inside. “You sure have a lot of rocks!” Boxes overflowed25 with rocks in all shapes and sizes.

“I told you my parents are geologists26. They can’t resist picking up specimens27.” Luis took a folder28 from a drawer. “Here are the photographs of the stones.”

Violet studied the pictures. Most of the stones were rectangular. One was heart-shaped. The heart-shaped stone fit into a heart-shaped hole in a larger stone.

“Why is this stone different from the others?” she asked.

“Some people think this stone points to Weaver’s Needle,” said Luis. “That’s a landmark29 in the Superstition Mountains. It’s one of the clues the prospector told his nurse, so everyone believes the mine is near the needle. If you look at Weaver’s Needle a certain way, it looks like a half-buried heart.”

“How can a needle look like a heart?” asked Benny.

Luis shrugged30. “I don’t think the rock looks like either one. But the name stuck, I guess.”

Henry noticed the stones were etched with squiggles and strange symbols. He squinted31 at some foreign words. “Do you know what that says?”

Luis grinned. “It’s Spanish, which I happen to speak and read. It means, ‘look for the heart’ or ‘follow the heart.’ ”

“Look for the heart,” Jessie repeated thoughtfully.

“I have a question,” Benny said. “Where are the Superstition Mountains?”

Luis spread his hand toward the brown hills behind the campground. “Right out there.”

Henry felt a quiver of excitement. “We have pictures of the maps and Grandfather said we could explore. Why don’t we look for the mine!”

“Yes!” agreed Benny eagerly. “We need a new adventure.”

“Will you come with us, Luis?” Jessie asked. “After all, you have the map pictures.”

“Well—” Luis hesitated. “I think it’s too far for us to go without horses, but we could do some exploring in the area. Who knows what we might find.”

“Yayyy!” Benny jumped up and down. “We’re off again!”

“Let’s get started,” Henry said. “We’ll go back to our trailer and get supplies.”

Luis opened the door for them. As he did, a woman scurried32 away from the door.

It was Mrs. Clark.

She smiled guiltily. “Just hunting for my earring33. I thought I lost one near here.”

Violet stared at her. Mrs. Clark was wearing a lot of jewelry34, including a gold chain and several chain bracelets35. But no earrings36.

Was the woman really looking for an earring? Or was she trying to listen to what they were saying about the lost mine?


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 popcorn 8lUzJI     
n.爆米花
参考例句:
  • I like to eat popcorn when I am watching TV play at home.当我在家观看电视剧时,喜欢吃爆米花。
  • He still stood behind his cash register stuffing his mouth with popcorn.他仍站在收银机后,嘴里塞满了爆米花。
2 munching 3bbbb661207569e6c6cb6a1390d74d06     
v.用力咀嚼(某物),大嚼( munch的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • He was munching an apple. 他在津津有味地嚼着苹果。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Munching the apple as he was, he had an eye for all her movements. 他虽然啃着苹果,但却很留神地监视着她的每一个动作。 来自辞典例句
3 lotion w3zyV     
n.洗剂
参考例句:
  • The lotion should be applied sparingly to the skin.这种洗液应均匀地涂在皮肤上。
  • She lubricates her hands with a lotion.她用一种洗剂来滑润她的手。
4 flipped 5bef9da31993fe26a832c7d4b9630147     
轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 ); 按(开关); 快速翻转; 急挥
参考例句:
  • The plane flipped and crashed. 飞机猛地翻转,撞毁了。
  • The carter flipped at the horse with his whip. 赶大车的人扬鞭朝着马轻轻地抽打。
5 bunks dbe593502613fe679a9ecfd3d5d45f1f     
n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位( bunk的名词复数 );空话,废话v.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位( bunk的第三人称单数 );空话,废话
参考例句:
  • These bunks can tip up and fold back into the wall. 这些铺位可以翻起来并折叠收入墙内。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • At last they turned into their little bunks in the cart. 最后他们都钻进车内的小卧铺里。 来自辞典例句
6 mumbled 3855fd60b1f055fa928ebec8bcf3f539     
含糊地说某事,叽咕,咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He mumbled something to me which I did not quite catch. 他对我叽咕了几句话,可我没太听清楚。
  • George mumbled incoherently to himself. 乔治语无伦次地喃喃自语。
7 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
8 swirl cgcyu     
v.(使)打漩,(使)涡卷;n.漩涡,螺旋形
参考例句:
  • The car raced roughly along in a swirl of pink dust.汽车在一股粉红色尘土的漩涡中颠簸着快速前进。
  • You could lie up there,watching the flakes swirl past.你可以躺在那儿,看着雪花飘飘。
9 gravel s6hyT     
n.砂跞;砂砾层;结石
参考例句:
  • We bought six bags of gravel for the garden path.我们购买了六袋碎石用来铺花园的小路。
  • More gravel is needed to fill the hollow in the drive.需要更多的砾石来填平车道上的坑洼。
10 ruffling f5a3df16ac01b1e31d38c8ab7061c27b     
弄皱( ruffle的现在分词 ); 弄乱; 激怒; 扰乱
参考例句:
  • A cool breeze brushed his face, ruffling his hair. 一阵凉风迎面拂来,吹乱了他的头发。
  • "Indeed, they do not,'said Pitty, ruffling. "说真的,那倒不一定。" 皮蒂皱皱眉头,表示异议。
11 wagon XhUwP     
n.四轮马车,手推车,面包车;无盖运货列车
参考例句:
  • We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
  • The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。
12 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。
13 lingo S0exp     
n.语言不知所云,外国话,隐语
参考例句:
  • If you live abroad it helps to know the local lingo.住在国外,学一点当地的语言自有好处。
  • Don't use all that technical lingo try and explain in plain English.别尽用那种专门术语,用普通的词语解释吧。
14 beckoned b70f83e57673dfe30be1c577dd8520bc     
v.(用头或手的动作)示意,召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He beckoned to the waiter to bring the bill. 他招手示意服务生把账单送过来。
  • The seated figure in the corner beckoned me over. 那个坐在角落里的人向我招手让我过去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
15 denim o9Lya     
n.斜纹棉布;斜纹棉布裤,牛仔裤
参考例句:
  • She wore pale blue denim shorts and a white denim work shirt.她穿着一条淡蓝色的斜纹粗棉布短裤,一件白粗布工作服上衣。
  • Dennis was dressed in denim jeans.丹尼斯穿了一条牛仔裤。
16 crumpled crumpled     
adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式
参考例句:
  • She crumpled the letter up into a ball and threw it on the fire. 她把那封信揉成一团扔进了火里。
  • She flattened out the crumpled letter on the desk. 她在写字台上把皱巴巴的信展平。
17 prospector JRhxB     
n.探矿者
参考例句:
  • Although he failed as a prospector, he succeeded as a journalist.他作为采矿者遭遇失败,但作为记者大获成功。
  • The prospector staked his claim to the mine he discovered.那个勘探者立桩标出他所发现的矿区地以示归己所有。
18 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
19 apron Lvzzo     
n.围裙;工作裙
参考例句:
  • We were waited on by a pretty girl in a pink apron.招待我们的是一位穿粉红色围裙的漂亮姑娘。
  • She stitched a pocket on the new apron.她在新围裙上缝上一只口袋。
20 shuffled cee46c30b0d1f2d0c136c830230fe75a     
v.洗(纸牌)( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 );拖着脚步走;粗心地做;摆脱尘世的烦恼
参考例句:
  • He shuffled across the room to the window. 他拖着脚走到房间那头的窗户跟前。
  • Simon shuffled awkwardly towards them. 西蒙笨拙地拖着脚朝他们走去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
21 clattering f876829075e287eeb8e4dc1cb4972cc5     
发出咔哒声(clatter的现在分词形式)
参考例句:
  • Typewriters keep clattering away. 打字机在不停地嗒嗒作响。
  • The typewriter was clattering away. 打字机啪嗒啪嗒地响着。
22 superstition VHbzg     
n.迷信,迷信行为
参考例句:
  • It's a common superstition that black cats are unlucky.认为黑猫不吉祥是一种很普遍的迷信。
  • Superstition results from ignorance.迷信产生于无知。
23 contagious TZ0yl     
adj.传染性的,有感染力的
参考例句:
  • It's a highly contagious infection.这种病极易传染。
  • He's got a contagious laugh.他的笑富有感染力。
24 slabs df40a4b047507aa67c09fd288db230ac     
n.厚板,平板,厚片( slab的名词复数 );厚胶片
参考例句:
  • The patio was made of stone slabs. 这天井是用石板铺砌而成的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The slabs of standing stone point roughly toward the invisible notch. 这些矗立的石块,大致指向那个看不见的缺口。 来自辞典例句
25 overflowed 4cc5ae8d4154672c8a8539b5a1f1842f     
溢出的
参考例句:
  • Plates overflowed with party food. 聚会上的食物碟满盘盈。
  • A great throng packed out the theater and overflowed into the corridors. 一大群人坐满剧院并且还有人涌到了走廊上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
26 geologists 1261592151f6aa40819f7687883760a2     
地质学家,地质学者( geologist的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Geologists uncovered the hidden riches. 地质学家发现了地下的宝藏。
  • Geologists study the structure of the rocks. 地质学家研究岩石结构。
27 specimens 91fc365099a256001af897127174fcce     
n.样品( specimen的名词复数 );范例;(化验的)抽样;某种类型的人
参考例句:
  • Astronauts have brought back specimens of rock from the moon. 宇航员从月球带回了岩石标本。
  • The traveler brought back some specimens of the rocks from the mountains. 那位旅行者从山上带回了一些岩石标本。 来自《简明英汉词典》
28 folder KjixL     
n.纸夹,文件夹
参考例句:
  • Peter returned the plan and charts to their folder.彼得把这份计划和表格放回文件夹中。
  • He draws the document from its folder.他把文件从硬纸夹里抽出来。
29 landmark j2DxG     
n.陆标,划时代的事,地界标
参考例句:
  • The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
  • The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。
30 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》
31 squinted aaf7c56a51bf19a5f429b7a9ddca2e9b     
斜视( squint的过去式和过去分词 ); 眯着眼睛; 瞟; 从小孔或缝隙里看
参考例句:
  • Pulling his rifle to his shoulder he squinted along the barrel. 他把枪顶肩,眯起眼睛瞄准。
  • I squinted through the keyhole. 我从锁眼窥看。
32 scurried 5ca775f6c27dc6bd8e1b3af90f3dea00     
v.急匆匆地走( scurry的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She said goodbye and scurried back to work. 她说声再见,然后扭头跑回去干活了。
  • It began to rain and we scurried for shelter. 下起雨来,我们急忙找地方躲避。 来自《简明英汉词典》
33 earring xrOxK     
n.耳环,耳饰
参考例句:
  • How long have you worn that earring?你戴那个耳环多久了?
  • I have an earring but can't find its companion.我现在只有一只耳环,找不到另一只了。
34 jewelry 0auz1     
n.(jewllery)(总称)珠宝
参考例句:
  • The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
  • Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。
35 bracelets 58df124ddcdc646ef29c1c5054d8043d     
n.手镯,臂镯( bracelet的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The lamplight struck a gleam from her bracelets. 她的手镯在灯光的照射下闪闪发亮。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • On display are earrings, necklaces and bracelets made from jade, amber and amethyst. 展出的有用玉石、琥珀和紫水晶做的耳环、项链和手镯。 来自《简明英汉词典》
36 earrings 9ukzSs     
n.耳环( earring的名词复数 );耳坠子
参考例句:
  • a pair of earrings 一对耳环
  • These earrings snap on with special fastener. 这付耳环是用特制的按扣扣上去的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
本文本内容来源于互联网抓取和网友提交,仅供参考,部分栏目没有内容,如果您有更合适的内容,欢迎点击提交分享给大家。
------分隔线----------------------------
顶一下
(0)
0%
踩一下
(0)
0%
最新评论 查看所有评论
发表评论 查看所有评论
请自觉遵守互联网相关的政策法规,严禁发布色情、暴力、反动的言论。
评价:
表情:
验证码:
听力搜索
推荐频道
论坛新贴