《神奇树屋》 第二十册 Dingoes at Dinnertime 06 Hand to Hand

　　Jack¹ and Annie climbed onto the rock ledge² andstepped into the cave. The air inside was cleaner andcooler than the air outside.

"I can't see anything," said Jack.

He patted the head of the baby kangaroo.

"Me neither," said Annie.

Arf! Arf!

"I guess we'll have to follow Teddy's bark," saidAnnie. "Let's hold hands." She held out her free hand to Jack. Jack took it.

Then he put his other hand out and touched the wall.

The joey moved in his pack.

Jack and Annie walked into the darkness.

Arf!

Teddy kept barking, leading them on.

Arf!

Arf.'

Arf!

Suddenly, Jack felt something thump³ against hisleg. He stopped and gasped⁴.

"What is it?" said Annie.

Arf!

It was Teddy! His tail was wagging and hittingJack's leg.

"What is it, boy?" Jack asked him.

Teddy let out a howl.

As he howled, an amazing thing happened.

A white line began to glow in the air. The glowingline grew until it looked like a giant snake. Thenglowing handprints appeared below the snake.

Jack felt Annie squeeze his hand.

"I think it's painted on the wall," she said.

"But what is it?" whispered Jack.

"I don't know," said Annie.

She let go of Jack and put her hand inside one ofthe painted handprints.

Jack did the same.

Despite the glowing painting, the rock felt smoothand cool. It almost seemed to breathe.

A ghost-like whistling sound came through thedarkness Then a loud boom!

"What's that?" Jack quickly took his hand off thewall.

The boom came again.

"It sounded like thunder," said Annie.

Arf! Arf!

"Teddy's leaving!" said Annie. She grabbed Jack'shand. They turned back the way they had come andfollowed Teddy's barking again.

Arf!

They followed the little dog until they saw a flashof light.

"Lightning," said Annie. "Lightning and thunder!

We're at the front of the cave! Yay!"Annie pulled Jack toward the mouth of the caveand out, into a pouring rain.

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 ledge   

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。

3 thump   

v.重击，砰然地响；n.重击，重击声

参考例句：

• The thief hit him a thump on the head.贼在他的头上重击一下。
• The excitement made her heart thump.她兴奋得心怦怦地跳。

4 gasped   

v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要

参考例句：

• 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》