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儿童英语读物 The Camp-Out Mystery CHAPTER 12 Looking for Clues

时间:2017-07-18 07:43来源:互联网 提供网友:qing   字体: [ ]
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They decided1 not to tell Grandfather about the missing stew2 and the arrow in the tree.

“It’ll only worry him,” they all agreed.

Jessie and Benny made sandwiches instead of stew.

After lunch, Grandfather said, “Why don’t you children run along. I’m sure you have some more exploring to do.”

They wanted to go, but they didn’t like the idea of leaving Grandfather alone.

“I’ll be fine,” he assured them.

Since their return to camp, Watch had stayed by Mr. Alden’s side. That gave Jessie an idea. “Watch can stay with you, Grandfather,” she suggested.

“There’s no need for that,” Mr. Alden said. “I’m sure he’d like to be with you children.”

Watch pricked3 up his ears and cocked his head. He looked at the children and then at Mr. Alden. He seemed to be deciding what to do. Finally, he yawned and put his head back on Grandfather’s chest.

Everyone laughed.

“I guess that settles that,” Grandfather said.

Waving to Grandfather and Watch, the children started off.

Not far from camp, Henry said, “Let’s stop here.”

“Why?” Benny asked.

“We should talk about what’s been happening,” Henry explained. “Maybe we can figure out who’s responsible.”

They made themselves comfortable on a broad stone ledge4.

“First we should go back over what’s happened,” Jessie suggested.

“We’ve heard music and seen strange lights,” Benny piped up.

“The honey wasn’t in the box where I’d put it,” Jessie said.

“Food’s been missing,” Henry added. “And our lantern, too.”

“Now, my note’s been changed and pinned to the tree with an arrow,” Violet concluded.

“That about sums it up,” Henry said.

“Except for the loud music that startled Grandfather and caused him to fall,” Violet said.

“We have to figure out who’s doing these things,” Jessie said.

“I think it’s Hildy,” Benny said.

“She could be the one,” Henry agreed. “She doesn’t like people so she might be trying to scare everyone away.”

“But there are other people who could be doing it,” Jessie said. “The Changs maybe.”

“They do have a radio,” Henry said.

“And they said they liked this campground because it wasn’t crowded,” Violet reminded them. “Maybe they wanted it empty.”

“But they have the children,” Jessie said. “They wouldn’t leave them alone to sneak5 around stealing food.”

“How about Andy Watts6?” Henry suggested.

“Not Mr. Watts!” Benny objected. “He’s too kind.”

“Well, you never know,” Jessie argued forcefully.

“He seemed anxious for us to leave,” Violet said.

“Only because of Grandfather,” Henry said.

“Well, how about the ranger7?” Violet suggested. “He probably knows the forest better than anyone. He could get around without being detected.”

Henry shook his head. “I don’t think he could be the one. If there were no campers, he might lose his job.”

Jessie sighed. “It could be someone we don’t even know.”

“That’s right,” Henry said. “Maybe there are campers we don’t know about.” He got to his feet. “Let’s find out.”

They followed the map to all the campsites. No one was at any of them. Finally, they came to the Changs’ spot. Their equipment was there, but the family was not.

“They’re probably out hiking,” Henry said. “Let’s head over toward Hildy’s and Andy’s. Maybe we’ll find some clues.”

They doubled back, stopping to check on Grandfather. He was asleep, Watch at his side.

A short distance down the stream trail, Benny saw something. He ran ahead to see what it was. Partially8 hidden in a clump9 of bushes was the wheelbarrow.

“Why would Mr. Watts leave that here?” Violet wondered aloud.

“Maybe it’s not his,” Henry said. “It could belong to the park staff.”

“Or maybe he was too tired after helping10 Grandfather to wheel it all the way back to his cabin,” Jessie suggested.

Benny sighed. “Well?” he asked. “Is it a clue or not?”

Everyone laughed.

When they were nearly at Hildy’s cabin, Andy Watts came up the path toward them. He looked worried. “Well, hello,” he said. “I hope there hasn’t been another accident.”

“Oh, no,” Henry said. “We’re just … exploring.”

“We’re looking for clues,” Benny piped up.

“Clues?” Mr. Watts repeated.

Benny nodded. “All kinds of strange things have been happening.”

Mr. Watts listened attentively11 as the children told him everything that had happened. Then, he said, “My, oh, my! How awful!”

“It’s not that awful,” Benny said. “We like mysteries.”

“This is one you may not solve,” Mr. Watts said. “It’s been going on a while. Other campers have complained about the same things.”

“Except for the Changs, we haven’t seen any other campers,” Jessie said.

Mr. Watts nodded. “Yes, that’s what I mean,” he said. “No one stays long. They’re afraid to stay.”

“Oh, we’re not afraid,” Benny said.

Mr. Watts edged away. “I have to be going,” he said. “Remember, if your grandfather decides to leave, I’ll be happy to help. He should be home where he can get his proper rest.”

After he had gone, Violet said. “Maybe Mr. Watts is right.”

“If Grandfather wanted to go home, he’d say so,” Henry reminded her.

“Let’s ask Hildy if she knows what’s been happening,” Jessie suggested.

“She probably won’t even talk to us,” Benny said.

Hildy was outside her cabin, bent12 over something on an old table. The children called out to her. She didn’t look up. They moved closer to her. She was fiddling13 with an old kerosene14 lantern.

“May we speak to you?” Henry asked politely. “Some strange things have been going on—”

“Loud music and lights and missing food,” Benny put in.

“We thought you might have seen or heard something that would help us figure it out,” Jessie said.

Hildy glared at them. “Imagination pure and simple,” she said. “As if it isn’t bad enough that my lantern is broken—”

“At least you have a lantern,” Benny interrupted. “Someone took ours.”

Hildy grabbed the lantern off the table. “Stop pestering15 me with your silliness,” she snapped. She marched to her cabin door. “Go back to the city where you belong! I don’t want you here!” She slammed the door behind her.

“You see?” Benny said. “She doesn’t want us here.”

“Mr. Watts said we should go home, too,” Jessie reminded him.

“That’s different,” Benny argued. “He was thinking about Grandfather.”

“We should be, too,” Violet said. “We’ve been away a long time. He might need us.”

Grandfather was reading when they returned to camp. “Something happened while you were away,” he said.

The children looked at each other. What now? they wondered. They looked all around, but they didn’t see anything different.

Grandfather laughed and pointed16 to the maple17 tree.

Violet caught her breath. “It bloomed!” she exclaimed.

Earlier, the tree was full of buds. Now, it was full of small tight clusters of green flowers. Other trees seemed to be blooming, too.

“Spring has sprung!” Benny commented.

The night was beautiful, too. The sky was clear and the stars were bright.

After supper, Violet got out her violin. She played several pieces. The one everyone liked best was “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”

Finally, everyone went to bed. They were so tired that they fell asleep quickly. No one heard the loud music that sounded through the still night or saw the lights that cut through the surrounding darkness.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
2 stew 0GTz5     
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。
3 pricked 1d0503c50da14dcb6603a2df2c2d4557     
刺,扎,戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 ); 刺伤; 刺痛; 使剧痛
参考例句:
  • The cook pricked a few holes in the pastry. 厨师在馅饼上戳了几个洞。
  • He was pricked by his conscience. 他受到良心的谴责。
4 ledge o1Mxk     
n.壁架,架状突出物;岩架,岩礁
参考例句:
  • They paid out the line to lower him to the ledge.他们放出绳子使他降到那块岩石的突出部分。
  • Suddenly he struck his toe on a rocky ledge and fell.突然他的脚趾绊在一块突出的岩石上,摔倒了。
5 sneak vr2yk     
vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝);偷偷摸摸做;n.潜行;adj.暗中进行
参考例句:
  • He raised his spear and sneak forward.他提起长矛悄悄地前进。
  • I saw him sneak away from us.我看见他悄悄地从我们身边走开。
6 watts c70bc928c4d08ffb18fc491f215d238a     
(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。
7 ranger RTvxb     
n.国家公园管理员,护林员;骑兵巡逻队员
参考例句:
  • He was the head ranger of the national park.他曾是国家公园的首席看守员。
  • He loved working as a ranger.他喜欢做护林人。
8 partially yL7xm     
adv.部分地,从某些方面讲
参考例句:
  • The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
  • The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静,宵禁部分解除。
9 clump xXfzH     
n.树丛,草丛;vi.用沉重的脚步行走
参考例句:
  • A stream meandered gently through a clump of trees.一条小溪从树丛中蜿蜒穿过。
  • It was as if he had hacked with his thick boots at a clump of bluebells.仿佛他用自己的厚靴子无情地践踏了一丛野风信子。
10 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。
11 attentively AyQzjz     
adv.聚精会神地;周到地;谛;凝神
参考例句:
  • She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时,她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着,把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
12 bent QQ8yD     
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的
参考例句:
  • He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
  • We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
13 fiddling XtWzRz     
微小的
参考例句:
  • He was fiddling with his keys while he talked to me. 和我谈话时他不停地摆弄钥匙。
  • All you're going to see is a lot of fiddling around. 你今天要看到的只是大量的胡摆乱弄。 来自英汉文学 - 廊桥遗梦
14 kerosene G3uxW     
n.(kerosine)煤油,火油
参考例句:
  • It is like putting out a fire with kerosene.这就像用煤油灭火。
  • Instead of electricity,there were kerosene lanterns.没有电,有煤油灯。
15 pestering cbb7a3da2b778ce39088930a91d2c85b     
使烦恼,纠缠( pester的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • He's always pestering me to help him with his homework. 他总是泡蘑菇要我帮他做作业。
  • I'm telling you once and for all, if you don't stop pestering me you'll be sorry. 我这是最后一次警告你。如果你不停止纠缠我,你将来会后悔的。
16 pointed Il8zB4     
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。
17 maple BBpxj     
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。
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