时间:2018-12-06 作者:英语课 分类:71 The Ghost Town Mystery


英语课

The next morning, over a breakfast of cold cereal, the children discussed the latest mysterious events.



“The two people arguing must have been Marianne and her mother,” Jessie said. “They are the only two women here.”



“Don’t forget Old Gert,” said Benny.



Violet frowned. “But why would Gert argue with one of the Harringtons? She never leaves her mountain.”



“I’ve been thinking,” said Henry. “Besides Grandfather, Victor Lacey and Mr. Williams both have their own rental 1 cars. Maybe they drove into Beaverton and brought someone back with them.”



Jessie looked at him. “Are you saying the ghost might be somebody we haven’t met at Eagles Nest?”



“It’s a possibility,” said Henry. “At least the electricity is back on. Did anyone hear a power truck last night?”



No one had. It was so quiet at Eagles Nest, they would have heard a large truck rumbling 2 up the road.



Grandfather joined them then. “Ahhh. Thank heaven for hot coffee!”



“And hot chocolate!” said Benny.



True to his word, Grandfather had visited a store in Beaverton. He’d brought back chips, cookies, fruit, raisins 3, juices, and packets of cocoa.



The others entered the dining hall.



As always, Victor Lacey was in a cheerful mood. “Great morning for fishing!”



Mr. Williams only nodded curtly 4 and sat away from the group.



When Marianne came in to pour their coffee, Corey jumped up and asked if he could help.



“You’re a guest,” Marianne told him.



Looking downcast, Corey took his seat again.



Benny listened intently to the exchange. Was Marianne the whisperer outside their cabin the night before? Or was she the one with the shrill 5 voice? It was hard to tell.



“I have an idea,” announced Mr. Lacey. “Why don’t you Aldens come fishing with me this morning?”



“I didn’t bring my fishing gear,” said Grandfather.



Mrs. Harrington came in to clear the bowls. “You can borrow my husband’s rod. And the children can use the one a guest left behind. But don’t expect much luck.”



“I haven’t caught a minnow since I’ve been here,” Mr. Williams said. “I thought Tincup Creek 6 was a gold-medal stream.”



“What’s that?” asked Jessie.



“It means it should be teeming 7 with trout 8,” Mr. Williams replied, heaving himself away from his meager 9 breakfast.



Outside the dining hall two rods leaned against the log siding. Fishing tackle boxes — one new, one old — sat below.



Mr. Williams, who had walked out with them, took a bamboo rod and the beat-up tackle box. He stalked down the path alone.



“Don’t you guys fish together?” Benny asked Victor.



The younger man shook his head. “Mr. Williams always fishes by himself.”



Henry noticed Victor’s metal rod and shiny tackle box. “That’s a cool rod.”



“Yeah, it’s a beaut. The metal is titanium.”



Henry also admired the wide belt around Victor’s waist that carried pliers, a towel, and a holder 10 for the rod. By comparison, Mr. Williams’s old vest looked outdated 11.



The path divided at the banks of Tincup Creek. Mr. Williams went upstream. Victor led the Aldens downstream.



“Hope they’re biting today,” he said.



So did Benny. If they caught some fish, they’d have a good dinner that night.



First Victor showed them how to cast the line into the water. “It’s all in the wrist,” he instructed.



Grandfather caught on quickly. So did Henry. Then Benny gave it a try. The children laughed when Benny’s line got caught on a tree branch behind them!



Next they waded 12 out into the creek. Mrs. Harrington had issued them all rubber boots. The water wasn’t very deep, but it was chilly 13.



Victor splashed noisily through the stream, heading for a good sunny spot.



Way downstream, Henry could see Robert Williams wading 14 slowly. The older man put each foot down quietly.



“This looks promising,” Victor said, casting his line.



After everyone had cast a few times, Victor talked about the lures 15 used in trout fishing.



“Trout will eat anything that looks like an insect,” he said. His own vest displayed brightly colored feathered lures with hooks.



After about an hour, Henry caught a fish! Victor helped him reel in the baby brown trout.



“Way to go!” Victor praised, netting the fish.



Henry stared at the small fish struggling in the net. “It’s too small. I want to turn him loose.” He and Grandfather gently eased the hook from the trout’s mouth and watched him swim away.



“There goes dinner!” Benny said mournfully.



“One little fish wouldn’t feed all of us,” Grandfather said. “I’m sure Mrs. Harrington will have a good supper tonight.”



Jessie wasn’t so sure. If the owner fixed 16 a good supper, it would be the first time since they arrived.



Back on the bank, Victor packed up his gear. “Let’s you and I talk business,” he said to Grandfather.



“All right,” Grandfather agreed.



“May we stay?” Jessie asked, pulling off her rubber boots. “We’d like to explore.”



“Yes, but don’t wander too far,” said Grandfather.



The two men walked up the path toward Eagles Nest.



Leaving their boots, the kids strolled upstream.



“There’s Mr. Williams,” Violet said.



The man stood stock-still in the shady shallows near a rocky outcropping. He cast expertly, his lead sinker plopping into the water with scarcely a ripple 17.



Benny waved, but Mr. Williams didn’t look up. “Why is he so grouchy 18?” he asked.



“Fishermen are serious about their sport,” Henry replied.



“He’s grouchy when he’s not fishing,” Jessie pointed 19 out.



“Maybe he’s disappointed with Eagles Nest,” suggested Violet. “The place hardly lives up to its claims.”



As they walked farther upstream, the children were struck by the wild, unspoiled beauty of the land.



“I wish we knew why Mr. Lacey said Grandfather’s property is worthless,” Jessie said. “It’s perfect.”



Just then something hit Benny on the shin.



“Ouch!” he cried, hopping 20 on one foot.



Violet examined his leg. “You’ve got a little scrape. It’ll be okay. What did you bump into?”



They searched through the long grass and found a wooden stake. Tied to the stake was a taut 21 length of white nylon cord. They followed the cord to the edge of the stream, where it disappeared underwater.



Kneeling on the wet stones, Henry tugged 22 at the white cord. “There’s a net on the end of this.”



“A net?” Jessie questioned.



“Yeah, like a badminton net,” Henry said. “It’s tied on the other side, too.”



Violet frowned. “Why would there be a net across the creek?”



“The net acts like a dam,” Henry explained. “I bet it’s holding back most of the trout. That’s why Mr. Williams can’t catch any fish. They’re all trapped up here.”



Jessie glanced downstream, thinking about Mr. Williams. At breakfast he had mentioned Tincup Creek was a gold-medal stream, yet Mrs. Harrington insisted the creek was all fished out. Why were the trout being penned way upstream?



Something was definitely fishy 23 at Eagles Nest.



“What did Mr. Lacey want?” Henry asked Grandfather.



It was late afternoon. The children hadn’t been able to speak to their grandfather until then. They were all sitting in the rockers on the dining hall porch.



James Alden paused before he spoke 24. “He offered double his original offer for my property.”



“Why is he so anxious to buy your land?” asked Jessie.



“That’s what I’d like to know,” said Grandfather. “Why don’t we visit our town again. Maybe the answer is there.”



“We might see Rose’s ghost!” Benny said, jumping up.



“Now, Benny,” Grandfather said gently. “What have we said about ghosts?”



Deep inside, he knew Grandfather was right. But who was the mysterious Lady in Gray?



The Aldens went inside to ask to borrow Mrs. Harrington’s Jeep.



“Going to Tincup again, eh?” she remarked, handing over the keys.



“I think we’ll visit some buildings this time,” said Grandfather. “Show the children a bit of history.”



It was nearly sundown when they parked the Jeep and hiked down the wagon 25 road into town.



Grandfather repeated his earlier warning. “Remember, these buildings may look okay, but be careful where you step.”



They went into the dry goods store.



“Check this out!” said Henry, awestruck.



Barrels stood by the high, dusty counter. Behind the counter, shelves climbed to the ceiling. The shelves were empty, but Henry could imagine them stocked with canned food, bolts of fabric 26, tools, boots, and dozens of other items.



“It’s spooky in here,” Violet whispered. “I feel like I’m in the wrong time or something.”



Jessie nodded. “Like people dressed in old-fashioned outfits 27 will come in any second.”



“That’s the magic of old buildings,” said Grandfather. “They let us experience a true sense of history.”



As they headed back outside, Jessie cried, “Look! There she is!”



A figure glided 28 ahead of them, toward the sinking sun. She wore the same gray dress and gray shawl.



“It’s the ghost of Rose Payne!” Benny gasped 29.



“There aren’t any ghosts!” Grandfather said. “Ma’am!” he called out. “Please stop! Ma’am!”



Everyone chased after the ghost.



But the woman rounded the corner of the last building in town, Anderson’s Hotel. By the time the Aldens reached the corner, the street was empty.



“She’s gone,” said Henry. “Vanished.”



“Nonsense,” stated Grandfather. “People don’t vanish.”



“But ghosts do,” said Benny.



1 rental
n.租赁,出租,出租业
  • The yearly rental of her house is 2400 yuan.她这房子年租金是2400元。
  • We can organise car rental from Chicago O'Hare Airport.我们可以安排提供从芝加哥奥黑尔机场出发的租车服务。
2 rumbling
n.葡萄干( raisin的名词复数 )
  • These raisins come from Xinjiang,they taste delicious. 这些葡萄干产自新疆,味道很甜。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Mother put some raisins in the cake. 母亲在糕饼中放了一些葡萄干。 来自辞典例句
3 curtly
adv.简短地
  • He nodded curtly and walked away. 他匆忙点了一下头就走了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The request was curtly refused. 这个请求被毫不客气地拒绝了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
4 shrill
adj.尖声的;刺耳的;v尖叫
  • Whistles began to shrill outside the barn.哨声开始在谷仓外面尖叫。
  • The shrill ringing of a bell broke up the card game on the cutter.刺耳的铃声打散了小汽艇的牌局。
5 creek
n.小溪,小河,小湾
  • He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
  • People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。
6 teeming
adj.丰富的v.充满( teem的现在分词 );到处都是;(指水、雨等)暴降;倾注
  • The rain was teeming down. 大雨倾盆而下。
  • the teeming streets of the city 熙熙攘攘的城市街道
7 trout
n.鳟鱼;鲑鱼(属)
  • Thousands of young salmon and trout have been killed by the pollution.成千上万的鲑鱼和鳟鱼的鱼苗因污染而死亡。
  • We hooked a trout and had it for breakfast.我们钓了一条鳟鱼,早饭时吃了。
8 meager
adj.缺乏的,不足的,瘦的
  • He could not support his family on his meager salary.他靠微薄的工资无法养家。
  • The two men and the woman grouped about the fire and began their meager meal.两个男人同一个女人围着火,开始吃起少得可怜的午饭。
9 holder
n.持有者,占有者;(台,架等)支持物
  • The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
  • That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。
10 outdated
adj.旧式的,落伍的,过时的;v.使过时
  • That list of addresses is outdated,many have changed.那个通讯录已经没用了,许多地址已经改了。
  • Many of us conform to the outdated customs laid down by our forebears.我们许多人都遵循祖先立下的过时习俗。
11 waded
(从水、泥等)蹚,走过,跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 )
  • She tucked up her skirt and waded into the river. 她撩起裙子蹚水走进河里。
  • He waded into the water to push the boat out. 他蹚进水里把船推出来。
12 chilly
adj.凉快的,寒冷的
  • I feel chilly without a coat.我由于没有穿大衣而感到凉飕飕的。
  • I grew chilly when the fire went out.炉火熄灭后,寒气逼人。
13 wading
(从水、泥等)蹚,走过,跋( wade的现在分词 )
  • The man tucked up his trousers for wading. 那人卷起裤子,准备涉水。
  • The children were wading in the sea. 孩子们在海水中走着。
14 lures
吸引力,魅力(lure的复数形式)
  • He left home because of the lures of life in the city. 他离家是由于都市生活的诱惑。
  • Perhaps it is the desire for solitude or the chance of making an unexpected discovery that lures men down to the depths of the earth. 可能正是寻觅幽静的去处,或者找个猎奇的机会的欲望引诱着人们进入地球的深处。
15 fixed
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
16 ripple
n.涟波,涟漪,波纹,粗钢梳;vt.使...起涟漪,使起波纹; vi.呈波浪状,起伏前进
  • The pebble made a ripple on the surface of the lake.石子在湖面上激起一个涟漪。
  • The small ripple split upon the beach.小小的涟漪卷来,碎在沙滩上。
17 grouchy
adj.好抱怨的;愠怒的
  • Grouchy people are always complaining for no reason.满腹牢骚的人总是毫无理由地抱怨。
  • Sometimes she is grouchy, but all in all she is an excellent teacher.有时候她的脾气很坏,但总的来说她还是一位好老师。
18 pointed
adj.尖的,直截了当的
  • 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。
19 hopping
adj.拉紧的,绷紧的,紧张的
  • The bowstring is stretched taut.弓弦绷得很紧。
  • Scarlett's taut nerves almost cracked as a sudden noise sounded in the underbrush near them. 思嘉紧张的神经几乎一下绷裂了,因为她听见附近灌木丛中突然冒出的一个声音。
20 tugged
v.用力拉,使劲拉,猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 )
  • She tugged at his sleeve to get his attention. 她拽了拽他的袖子引起他的注意。
  • A wry smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. 他的嘴角带一丝苦笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
21 fishy
adj. 值得怀疑的
  • It all sounds very fishy to me.所有这些在我听起来都很可疑。
  • There was definitely something fishy going on.肯定当时有可疑的事情在进行中。
22 spoke
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
  • 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。
23 wagon
n.四轮马车,手推车,面包车;无盖运货列车
  • 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。
24 fabric
n.织物,织品,布;构造,结构,组织
  • The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
  • I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。
25 outfits
n.全套装备( outfit的名词复数 );一套服装;集体;组织v.装备,配置设备,供给服装( outfit的第三人称单数 )
  • He jobbed out the contract to a number of small outfits. 他把承包工程分包给许多小单位。 来自辞典例句
  • Some cyclists carry repair outfits because they may have a puncture. 有些骑自行车的人带修理工具,因为他们车胎可能小孔。 来自辞典例句
26 glided
v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 );掠过;(鸟或飞机 ) 滑翔
  • The President's motorcade glided by. 总统的车队一溜烟开了过去。
  • They glided along the wall until they were out of sight. 他们沿着墙壁溜得无影无踪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
27 gasped
v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 );喘息;倒抽气;很想要
  • She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
  • People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
学英语单词
accelerator system
acute corrosive esophagitis
alloskin
ammonium phosphotungstate
archhydra
armed forces history
aulacaspis actinidiae
authorized surveyor
Barsukovskaya
bloodguiltiness
boot compartment
boratrane
bowl metall
brisk commerce
building-materials
cabin passenger's ticket
cavolina gibbosa
chain floor trolley
common ram
comptes
conditional instability rate
corporate policy
dennebol
dermosol
dial into
dialefes
Directory System Agent
dispense notes
edge ahead
elapsed time value
enclosed lamp sign
explosive-ordnance disposal
family Phaethontidae
feed on animal's blood
fire size class map
fornix conjunctivae superior
freshlings
gilhool
graphical solution
hunt-and-peck
ill-defined
inactive front
infect tube
instrument line break accident
internal reference electrode
Ismotic
isolating cock
logic behaviour
LPG platforming
manabozho
maritime trade
masnulonucleus
membrane compressor
membron
midget socket
mini-dvd
Mogenson screen
momentum screw
monilated
musths
no reporting knowing crimes
non-performings
Open Source Initiative
out of the dark
own court
PEC (printed electronic circuit)
perlita
permanent base
pin rib
pinnatin
polysemant
postcard paper
programming language research
promontoires
public discussion format
quartz spectral photometer
quick disconnection
rice leaf roller
rocard
Rostrospirifer
self-taughts
seminarize
sex-chromatin body
sexually mature
sfw
souray
Spergularia rubra
steel-tape sheath
sublayering
suction hose
tail production
take a wife
tax on price of land
tractus corticobulbaris
trailing spark plug
uninformedness
unit element of ring
vertical digester
vertical edge l head half round scraper
Wampumpeag
warm nersery paper
woolsorter's pneumonia