《神奇树屋》 第二十七册 Thanksgiving on Thursday 07 Arms Exercises

　　Priscilla led Jack¹ and Annie away from the villagetoward a large field. The Pilgrims and Wampanoagmen had already gathered there.

Jack could hear the beat of a drum. But he couldn'tsee what was going on.

"Make haste or we will miss it!" said Priscilla.

"Miss what?" asked Annie.

"Captain Standish is about to lead the men andboys," said Priscilla. "They will exercise their arms."Why do they exercise their arms? Jack WonderedWill they expect me to join in?

As he hurried after Priscilla toward the crowd, Jackpracticed He stretched his arms out wide. He madecircles in the air. Then he flapped his arms up anddown.

Priscilla caught sight of him.

"What art thou doing, Jack?" she asked.

"Exercising my arms," he said.

Priscilla smiled. Then she started to laugh. Shelaughed and laughed.

So did Jack, but he wasn't sure why.

A loud BANG! came from the field.

Jack jumped. He stopped laughing.

A puff² of smoke rose into the air. As the crowdparted, Jack saw the Pilgrim men and boys proudlyholding up their long guns.

"What just happened?" said Annie.

"The men fired their muskets³," said Priscilla. "Onspecial occasions they like to show off their arms."14Oh! thought Jack. Now I get it! The long guns aremuskets, which are also called arms. So "exercisingarms" means firing muskets!

Jack blushed. Priscilla must think I'm an idiot, hethought.

But she just smiled at him fondly.

"I thank thee for making me laugh, Jack," she said.

"I have not laughed hard in a long time."Jack shrugged⁴ as if he had meant to make herlaugh.

"It is time now to serve our feast," said Priscilla "Imust help with the bread.""What can we do?" asked Jack.

"Return to my home," said Priscilla "take the turkeyoff the spit, put it on a platter, and bring it to a table.""Oh, great, we get to help with the turkey!" saidAnnie. "I always help with the turkey at home.""Good," said Priscilla. "May thou feel my home isthy home today."Jack was excited, too. He and Annie were about toserve the first turkey at the first Thanksgiving! Theyran back to the smoky house and rushed inside.

"Where's the platter?" said Jack, looking around. Hesaw a flat wooden block. "That must be it."Annie picked up the wooden platter. "How do weget the turkey on it?" she asked.

They moved close to the fire and stared at theturkey roasting on the iron rod.

"That must be the spit," said Jack. The spit sat oniron legs. It had a handle.

Jack pushed his glasses into place. "I'll lift the spit,"he said. "Then we'll push the turkey onto the platter.""Be careful," said Annie.

Jack reached out and wrapped his fingers aroundthe handle of the iron spit.

"OWW!" he shouted. The handle was super hot! Heyanked his hand away and knocked the spit off itslegs.

The turkey fell into the fire. The grease from theturkey sputtered⁵ and popped. The turkey burst intoflame! The fire roared!

"AHH!" yelped⁶ Jack and Annie together. Theyjumped back from the hearth⁷.

Jack grabbed the water pot on the floor. He threwthe water into the fire. The fire sizzled and smokebillowed up. When the smoke cleared, the fire wasout.

But the turkey was completely black.

1 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

2 puff   

n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气

参考例句：

• He took a puff at his cigarette.他吸了一口香烟。
• They tried their best to puff the book they published.他们尽力吹捧他们出版的书。

3 muskets   

n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The watch below, all hands to load muskets. 另一组人都来帮着给枪装火药。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
• Deep ditch, single drawbridge, massive stone walls, eight at towers, cannon, muskets, fire and smoke. 深深的壕堑，单吊桥，厚重的石壁，八座巨大的塔楼。大炮、毛瑟枪、火焰与烟雾。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

4 shrugged   

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》

5 sputtered   

v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的过去式和过去分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出

参考例句：

• The candle sputtered out. 蜡烛噼啪爆响着熄灭了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The balky engine sputtered and stopped. 不听使唤的发动机劈啪作响地停了下来。 来自辞典例句

6 yelped   

v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He yelped in pain when the horse stepped on his foot. 马踩了他的脚痛得他喊叫起来。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• A hound yelped briefly as a whip cracked. 鞭子一响，猎狗发出一阵嗥叫。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 hearth   

n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面

参考例句：

• She came and sat in a chair before the hearth.她走过来，在炉子前面的椅子上坐下。
• She comes to the hearth,and switches on the electric light there.她走到壁炉那里，打开电灯。