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儿童英语读物 The Amusement Park Mystery CHAPTER 7 The Unpainted Horse

时间:2017-07-12 06:00来源:互联网 提供网友:qing   字体: [ ]
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Early in the morning Henry said, “You know, I think Joshua needs to know about the scratch on the dapple gray and the horse that doesn’t go up and down.”

“You’re right,” Jessie said.

“If we go now, the park won’t be too busy, will it?” Violet asked.

“We’ll have to find Joshua right away,” Henry said. “He’ll be around.”

“Good!” Benny said. He sneezed twice.

“You’d better wear a sweater and take a handkerchief,” Violet said.

Benny, without an argument, slipped on his sweater and tucked a handkerchief in his pants’ pocket. “I’ve never seen the park with the rides quiet,” he said.

“Today’s the day,” Henry said lightly.

So after a hearty1 breakfast of orange juice, oatmeal, and toast, the children hiked to the park.

When they entered, the rides were motionless. Only a few people were around. As they passed the concession2 stand, Sheila was busy cleaning the cotton candy machine.

“Good morning,” the Aldens called pleasantly.

“Morning,” Sheila muttered, scarcely looking up.

Benny whispered, “I told you she didn’t like us.”

They walked toward the merry-go-round where Ned, the man who ran it, sat perched on the platform, munching3 on a doughnut. He wore a black vest over a shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He looked up, surprised to see anyone in the park. “We’re not open,” he said gruffly, taking another bite.

“We need to see Joshua,” Violet said politely. “Could you tell us where he is?”

Ned jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “He’s back in the trailer.”

“Thank you,” Jessie said.

The man grunted4 and took a gulp5 of coffee.

Benny raced ahead and knocked on the trailer door.

Joshua opened the door and said, “Well, if it isn’t the Aldens. Come in.”

The cozy6 trailer had a bedroom and a stainless7 steel kitchen with a table in the corner and a cushioned bench around it.

“Have a seat,” Joshua urged, smiling at them. “This is an unexpected pleasure.”

“We have bad news for you,” Benny said, his mouth turned downward.

Joshua’s eyebrows8 shot up. “Bad news?”

“Yes,” Jessie said. “Benny has discovered two things about your horses that aren’t right.”

“And what is that?” Joshua said, sitting down and folding his hands.

Benny answered, “One of your horses doesn’t go up and down.”

Joshua frowned. “Is that so? I hadn’t noticed. I’ve been too busy working on the House of Mirrors.”

Benny cleared his throat.

“And what else?” Joshua asked.

“The dapple gray has a big scratch on its side,” Benny said.

“My word!” Joshua said, with a worried tone. “You’re very observant, Benny.”

“Yes, he is,” Violet said. “We thought you should know that something is wrong with your valuable horses.”

“I’m glad you told me,” Joshua said, standing9 up. “Let’s take a look.”

They filed out of the small trailer door and hurried to the merry-go-round.

“Ned,” Joshua said, “start her up, will you?”

With a sigh, Ned crushed his paper sack between two big hands, and tossed it in the trash can. He went to the switch and flipped10 it on. The merry-go-round started.

Joshua observed the pale gray horse. “Ned,” he said worriedly, “that horse isn’t moving.”

Ned shrugged11. “So what’s the big deal?”

Joshua frowned, jumped up on the carousel13, and examined the dapple gray. “Turn it off, Ned,” Joshua said grimly, his eyes darkening. “This is bad. Two of my Dentzel horses have been damaged.”

“What do you mean?” Ned grumbled14. “Just because a horse doesn’t go up and down doesn’t mean it’s damaged. Some kids like a horse that stands still.”

“Not me!” Benny exclaimed.

Ned glared at him.

“And that scratch,” Joshua said after he examined the horse. “I don’t understand how a scratch that long could happen accidentally.”

Benny’s eyes grew big. “You mean someone hurt your horses on purpose?”

“Maybe,” Joshua said, his lips tightening15. “One horse doesn’t go up and down, and suddenly there’s a scratch on another one. It’s strange, I have to admit.”

“Who knows how long that scratch has been there?” Ned snapped. “I think you’re all crazy.”

“No,” Joshua said calmly. “That scratch is brand-new. I know it. I intend to find out how it happened.”

“Yes, the scratch is new,” Benny said firmly. “I know that scratch wasn’t there before, ’cause I’ve been riding the dapple gray all the time.” He looked up at Joshua. “We’ll help you find who did this!”

Joshua managed a smile. “Thanks, Benny. That would be wonderful if you would help me.”

“We will,” Benny said.

“I appreciate how you came all the way over here to tell me,” Joshua said. “I believe you’re more concerned than my daughter.”

“I’ll bet if Karen knew about it, she’d be upset, too!” Benny said.

“I doubt it,” Joshua said miserably16. “She’s more interested in the House of Mirrors.” He shook his head. “And now she’s talking to me about putting in a small roller coaster.”

“A roller coaster!” Violet said with astonishment17. “That would take a lot of space!”

“It would take up half the park,” Henry said in dismay.

“I know,” Joshua said grimly. “But right now, all I can think about is my horses.”

“I’m sure it will work out,” Jessie said reassuringly18.

Joshua gave her a weak smile, but he looked doubtful.

Henry sat on the edge of the merry-go-round platform, ignoring Ned who was tinkering with the machinery19.

I wish I could help Joshua, Benny thought. He looks so sad, and he’s such a nice man. He pulled his handkerchief from his pocket, but just as he was about to sneeze a breeze came up, whisking the white square out of his hand.

The handkerchief flew through the air and landed on the floor of the merry-go-round. Without a second’s wait, Benny yelled, “My handkerchief!” and rushed forward, hopping20 up on the platform. The linen21 square, however, escaped from his fingers and fluttered beneath the chocolate brown horse. Benny crawled on all fours after it.

He reached for the handkerchief, grasping it. “I got it!” he shouted triumphantly22. Then he happened to look up at the horse’s underside. Benny scrambled23 backwards24 and said in an excited voice, “The horse’s stomach doesn’t have any paint on it! It’s all bare wood.”

Henry glanced at Benny in astonishment. Then he quickly dashed forward. Ducking his head, he examined the horse. “Benny’s right,” he called out.

Standing up, Henry said in a puzzled tone, “That beautiful horse isn’t finished. Someone left it only partly painted.”

“Surely Gustav Dentzel would carefully paint every inch of his horses,” Jessie said, a frown crossing her face.

“Oh, no,” Joshua Eaton groaned25, checking out the horse for himself.

Violet’s heart felt heavy. Had another horse of Joshua’s been tampered26 with? Who would do such a thing to this splendid carousel?

Just then Ned joined them. “What’s the matter now?” he asked in an annoyed tone.

“The brown horse isn’t completely painted,” Henry said. He didn’t like talking to Ned. The man was short-tempered and didn’t seem to care at all about the merry-go-round he operated.

“This is terrible,” Joshua said. “Dentzel would never have sold an imperfect horse.”

“What are you so upset about?” Ned growled27 with a shrug12. “It’s only a couple of merry-go-round horses.”

But it was plain that Joshua was upset.

“We’d better go home,” Jessie urged.

Joshua nodded absentmindedly as he walked away with his head down.

Leaving the amusement park, the children glimpsed Karen, carrying a clipboard. She was checking the House of Mirrors entrance. She glanced up but seemed to look right past the Aldens as she hurried on.

Jessie gave a discouraged sigh. If Karen had her way, a roller coaster would be installed. Then the amusement park wouldn’t be the same.
 


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 hearty Od1zn     
adj.热情友好的;衷心的;尽情的,纵情的
参考例句:
  • After work they made a hearty meal in the worker's canteen.工作完了,他们在工人食堂饱餐了一顿。
  • We accorded him a hearty welcome.我们给他热忱的欢迎。
2 concession LXryY     
n.让步,妥协;特许(权)
参考例句:
  • We can not make heavy concession to the matter.我们在这个问题上不能过于让步。
  • That is a great concession.这是很大的让步。
3 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
4 grunted f18a3a8ced1d857427f2252db2abbeaf     
(猪等)作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 ); (指人)发出类似的哼声; 咕哝着说
参考例句:
  • She just grunted, not deigning to look up from the page. 她只咕哝了一声,继续看书,不屑抬起头来看一眼。
  • She grunted some incomprehensible reply. 她咕噜着回答了些令人费解的话。
5 gulp yQ0z6     
vt.吞咽,大口地吸(气);vi.哽住;n.吞咽
参考例句:
  • She took down the tablets in one gulp.她把那些药片一口吞了下去。
  • Don't gulp your food,chew it before you swallow it.吃东西不要狼吞虎咽,要嚼碎了再咽下去。
6 cozy ozdx0     
adj.亲如手足的,密切的,暖和舒服的
参考例句:
  • I like blankets because they are cozy.我喜欢毛毯,因为他们是舒适的。
  • We spent a cozy evening chatting by the fire.我们在炉火旁聊天度过了一个舒适的晚上。
7 stainless kuSwr     
adj.无瑕疵的,不锈的
参考例句:
  • I have a set of stainless knives and forks.我有一套不锈钢刀叉。
  • Before the recent political scandal,her reputation had been stainless.在最近的政治丑闻之前,她的名声是无懈可击的。
8 eyebrows a0e6fb1330e9cfecfd1c7a4d00030ed5     
眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
  • His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。
9 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
10 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。
11 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》
12 shrug Ry3w5     
v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等)
参考例句:
  • With a shrug,he went out of the room.他耸一下肩,走出了房间。
  • I admire the way she is able to shrug off unfair criticism.我很佩服她能对错误的批评意见不予理会。
13 carousel 6wKzzp     
n.旋转式行李输送带
参考例句:
  • Riding on a carousel makes you feel dizzy.乘旋转木马使你头晕。
  • We looked like a bunch of awkward kids riding a slow-moving carousel.我们看起来就像一群骑在旋转木马上的笨拙的孩子。
14 grumbled ed735a7f7af37489d7db1a9ef3b64f91     
抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 ); 发牢骚; 咕哝; 发哼声
参考例句:
  • He grumbled at the low pay offered to him. 他抱怨给他的工资低。
  • The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. 天热得让人发昏,水手们边干活边发着牢骚。
15 tightening 19aa014b47fbdfbc013e5abf18b64642     
上紧,固定,紧密
参考例句:
  • Make sure the washer is firmly seated before tightening the pipe. 旋紧水管之前,检查一下洗衣机是否已牢牢地固定在底座上了。
  • It needs tightening up a little. 它还需要再收紧些。
16 miserably zDtxL     
adv.痛苦地;悲惨地;糟糕地;极度地
参考例句:
  • The little girl was wailing miserably. 那小女孩难过得号啕大哭。
  • It was drizzling, and miserably cold and damp. 外面下着毛毛细雨,天气又冷又湿,令人难受。 来自《简明英汉词典》
17 astonishment VvjzR     
n.惊奇,惊异
参考例句:
  • They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
  • I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。
18 reassuringly YTqxW     
ad.安心,可靠
参考例句:
  • He patted her knee reassuringly. 他轻拍她的膝盖让她放心。
  • The doctor smiled reassuringly. 医生笑了笑,让人心里很踏实。
19 machinery CAdxb     
n.(总称)机械,机器;机构
参考例句:
  • Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗?
  • Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。
20 hopping hopping     
n. 跳跃 动词hop的现在分词形式
参考例句:
  • The clubs in town are really hopping. 城里的俱乐部真够热闹的。
  • I'm hopping over to Paris for the weekend. 我要去巴黎度周末。
21 linen W3LyK     
n.亚麻布,亚麻线,亚麻制品;adj.亚麻布制的,亚麻的
参考例句:
  • The worker is starching the linen.这名工人正在给亚麻布上浆。
  • Fine linen and cotton fabrics were known as well as wool.精细的亚麻织品和棉织品像羊毛一样闻名遐迩。
22 triumphantly 9fhzuv     
ad.得意洋洋地;得胜地;成功地
参考例句:
  • The lion was roaring triumphantly. 狮子正在发出胜利的吼叫。
  • Robert was looking at me triumphantly. 罗伯特正得意扬扬地看着我。
23 scrambled 2e4a1c533c25a82f8e80e696225a73f2     
v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 );攀登;争夺;(军事飞机)紧急起飞
参考例句:
  • Each scrambled for the football at the football ground. 足球场上你争我夺。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • He scrambled awkwardly to his feet. 他笨拙地爬起身来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
24 backwards BP9ya     
adv.往回地,向原处,倒,相反,前后倒置地
参考例句:
  • He turned on the light and began to pace backwards and forwards.他打开电灯并开始走来走去。
  • All the girls fell over backwards to get the party ready.姑娘们迫不及待地为聚会做准备。
25 groaned 1a076da0ddbd778a674301b2b29dff71     
v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 );发牢骚;抱怨;受苦
参考例句:
  • He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。
  • The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》
26 tampered 07b218b924120d49a725c36b06556000     
v.窜改( tamper的过去式 );篡改;(用不正当手段)影响;瞎摆弄
参考例句:
  • The records of the meeting had been tampered with. 会议记录已被人擅自改动。 来自辞典例句
  • The old man's will has been tampered with. 老人的遗嘱已被窜改。 来自辞典例句
27 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》
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