The Caves at Eagle Ridge

Part Three

The only way your child will be able to understand and appreciate this story will be for them to be able to recognize all words and their intended meanings. I would suggest that in order for your child to assimilate all word meanings, you use Google pictures or dictionary references to help your child strengthen their vocabulary skills. I had to reference the word deciduous before I used it in my story.

Story Word List

precariously terrific burl anchor swirling
spiraling sight weight burble ignore
deciduous seize chance device gentle
innocently mooring vital manage assets
tight-roped recent close escape exactly
gyrations raging where diligence probe
repercussions cache due precise delve
trigonometry gauge wrap traverse salvage
flabbergasted inverted knot crotch descent
consequences stomach fall catapult cautious



I took a deep breath as I inched precariously along the anchor branch of the only tree close enough to where my friends were waiting to help me get off the outcrop. My immediate problem was to get to the burl that was keeping the rope from slipping from its mooring. I was only four feet to where I could reach the looped end of the rope. Since my tree was deciduous, it allowed me both sight and footing in my attempt to seize this vital piece of rope. I realized, as I crawled closer toward the burl, that my weight on the branch began lowering itself toward the river’s swirling, spiraling currents of whirlpools. I could feel the splashing of water from the terrific gyrations of whirlpools that watered my eyes and lashed at my grip on the branch. My fingers began slipping as I reached to seize the looped end of the rope. I was only an arms’ width away from retrieving this necessary prerequisite before I realized the repercussions if I moved an inch farther. I must retreat or suffer the consequences. Common sense prevailed and I worked my way back to where it was safe. I would need something like a fishing pole with a hooked end to reach out and snag the rope before it slipped off the burl and was swept over the falls. I began searching from the tree for such a device. I spotted a dead branch with a crooked end stuck in the ground near my tree. I climbed down to examine the branch. It was exactly what I needed to retrieve the rope. I must act quickly before the rope slipped from the burl and became lost in the raging river’s rapids.

When I got to the branch, I found that it was stuck firmly in the ground, I was puzzled as to why I couldn’t pull it from its berth. No amount of effort would free it from its mooring. I began digging using a small, sharp stick and my hands to loosen the earth that was holding the branch. I had dug to almost elbow depth when I felt a sudden pain on the back of my fingers. Something sharp had been left in the ground that I was attempting to unearth. I became more cautious as I continued delving for whatever scratched my fingers. The harder I worked the luckier I became. My fingers probed the ground until I detected something that felt like the bladed end of a saw. With due diligence, I was able to unearth a 36-inch hand saw. I continued digging deeper around the pole and was rewarded with what felt like the edge of a shovel. As I continued digging, little did I know of the reward that lay at the bottom of the cache. But for now, I was able to salvage both the shovel and saw that would become valuable assets toward any chance of my escaping my watery prison.

But first things first. My immediate task was to retrieve the rope. With the saw, I cut the branch at its base and returned to where I could attempt to capture the looped end of the rope. Using higher branches for support, I tight-roped toward the burl. It was then when I heard Hugh yell, “There’s a log up river headed toward the rope.” It was now or never! I must secure the rope! I treaded carefully toward the burl with my fishing branch attached across my back. Using any branch strong enough to support the pull from my left hand, I secured my footing before attempting to snag the rope. Suddenly I felt myself slipping stomach first toward the swirling river’s current. Smaller branches broke my descent and I landed crotch first, with my head in an inverted position only inches away from a river bent on taking me along with the rope that was bobbing innocently at the edge of the falls.

Ignoring the pain, I reached upward for branches strong enough to receive the pull from my arms. Using all my strength, I pulled myself upright and with my right hand, I used the pole to gently snag the end of the rope. I worked my way back to where I could wrap the end of the rope around the tree’s trunk. I had just secured a slip-proof knot, when the log careened over the falls without capturing any prisoners.

We needed to shout in order to be heard over the burbling roar of the falls. As a group, someone needed to formulate a plan to get me from this tiny jut of land. Putting their heads together, they came up with a plan to bridge me across the fast flowing rapids by felling my tree across to where my companions would fasten the tree-top with the climbing rope in order for me to traverse the hurried, rapidly rushing rapids. First of all, was the tree tall enough to reach across to the bank on the other side? How would they get possession of the rope? There was only one person smart enough in math to figure out the trigonometry required to see if the plan would work. That person was Claude, with the intellect to figure out the distance from the outcrop to where my friends were waiting. The first thing Claude asked was, did I have the skill to fell the tree toward the precise spot on the other side of the river? He then devised a plan to gauge the exact amount of force needed to catapult the rope to the other side of the river.

Fortunately, I had learned to fell trees during a summer holiday at my uncle’s sawmill. I had a chainsaw then but my recently discovered hand saw had the width and sharpness to manage a correct cut. Back then, I wouldn’t pay too much attention to where my tree would land, but the outcome of my next cut might reveal whether my tree would suffer the same fate as the up-river log. It was getting late so the cut would be delayed until morning. I had to admit that I was a little worried that any mistake would end my chance of getting off the outcrop. While Claude calculated the math needed to fell the tree, I began practicing swirling a weighted rope over my head. I had to be precise for when it came time for me to catapult the rope to the other side of the river. In the meantime, I returned to delving for any added treasures that might be found at the cache site. To my utter surprise, I was flabbergasted by what I found buried at the bottom of the cache.



Exercise # 1: Short Vowel Sounds in the First Syllable

Every word to be hand-written


ă ĕ ĭ ŏ ŭ
_________ _________ _________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________
_________ _________
_________ _________
_________ _________
_________ _________
_________ _________



Exercise # 2: Antonyms

Words that mean the opposite.

Place the letter in column one in the bracket with the correct meaning in column two:

  1. fall
  2. consequences
  3. terrific
  4. deciduous
  5. seize
  6. flabbergasted
  7. chance
  8. precise
  9. precarious
  10. recent
  11. due
  12. intellect
  13. vital
  14. ignore
  • - attend or pay attention.
  • - bad or good luck.
  • - happening in the past.
  • - unintelligent or slow thinker.
  • - late or overdue.
  • - safe, little of no danger.
  • - rise or ascend.
  • - inaccurate, not exact.
  • - let go of or release.
  • - evergreen or coniferous.
  • - to plant a new tree.
  • - spring of the year.
  • - unimpressed or uninspired.
  • - no outcome or concern for.



Exercise # 3: Long Vowel Sounds in the First Syllable



ā ē ī ō ū
_________ _________ _________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________ _________
_________ _________
_________
_________



Exercise # 4: Vowels with R in the First Syllable



o͞o (as in boo!) ũr (as in er) âr (as in air)
_________ _________ _________
_________
_________
_________



Exercise # 5: Homonyms

Match the correct homonym with the one from column one to the homonym in column two.

  1. sight
  2. seize
  3. cache
  4. gauge
  5. burl
  6. weight
  7. close
  8. where
  9. due
  10. wrap
  11. knot
  • - wear, I wear clothes.
  • - seas, the 7 seas.
  • - dew, there is dew on the grass.
  • - cite, I cite this from the Bible.
  • - rap, I took a rap at the ball.
  • - wait, please wait for me.
  • - site, this is the site of my new house.
  • - do, Do you remember my name?
  • - cash, please pay in cash.
  • - clothes, I bought new clothes.
  • - gage, you should gage its value.
  • - knot, do not tie a knot on my shoes.



Exercise # 6: Vowel Sounds in the Second Syllable

Every word to be hand-written


ă ĕ ĭ ŏ ŭ
_________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________
_________


ā ī ō ôr (as in 4)
_________ _________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________


âr (as in air) ũr (as in er) o͝o (as in book)
_________ _________ _________
_________ _________
_________
_________
_________



Exercise # 7: Consonant Sounds of C and G



Hard Sound of C Soft Sound of C Hard Sound of G Soft Sound of G
_________ _________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________
_________ _________
_________
_________
_________
_________



Exercise # 8: Synonyms

Place the letter from column one with the exact meaning into the brackets in column two. You may use a dictionary to verify.

  1. precarious
  2. deciduous
  3. gyrations
  4. repercussions
  5. fall
  6. device
  7. terrific
  8. delve
  9. seize
  10. mooring
  11. cache
  12. inverted
  13. burl
  14. vital
  15. burble
  16. diligence
  17. assets
  18. crotch
  19. flabbergasted
  • - to root in the ground to find things.
  • - a tool or instrument needed to do a job.
  • - a growth along the branch of a tree.
  • - to grab hold in order to get grip something.
  • - terrified because of what you experienced.
  • - a person’s strong points or their resources.
  • - dangerous, hazardous, slippery or risky.
  • - the constant sound that a river makes.
  • - trees that lose their leaves during winter.
  • - where you fasten a boat or ship to the dock.
  • - paying careful attention to how you work.
  • - to be be astounded by what you witnessed.
  • - the groin or where two branches make a V shape.
  • - the spinning and twisting of body parts.
  • - to be upside-down.
  • - someone letting you know that what you have done is wrong.
  • - store of treasure or food hidden away from strangers or animals.
  • - to chop down a tree.
  • - it is extremely important to finish a project.



Exercise # 9: Vowel Sounds in the Third Syllable


ă ĕ ĭ ŏ ŭ
_________ _________ _________ _________ _________
_________ _________ _________
_________


ē o͝ o ū
_________ _________ _________
_________



Exercise # 12: Questions and Answers


In your best handwriting, write every answer in complete sentences.

  1. Why did Frank have to inch his way along the anchor branch?




  2. What was Frank’s immediate problem?




  3. In the story, why did Frank choose this particular tree to work from?




  4. How did Frank scratch the back of his fingers?




  5. What was it that Hugh yelled to the group?




  6. Tell me how Frank was able to retrieve the rope.




  7. Why did everyone need to shout to be heard?




  8. Who was the smartest person in the group to do the math required to fell the anchor tree?




  9. What was the first thing Claude asked of Frank?




  10. Describe the plan to get the climbing rope over to the other side of the river.




  11. What do you think Frank found at the bottom of the cache?







ANSWERS: For parents for the above exercises



Exercise # 1: Short Vowel Sounds in the First Syllable

Every word to be hand-written


ă ĕ ĭ ŏ ŭ
flabbergasted escape precarious consequence stomach
cache gentle deciduous knot
chance exactly trigonometry fall
anchor delve inverted crotch
manage device cautious
traverse diligence
catapult precise
assets ignore
salvage descent
wrap innocently



Exercise # 2: Antonyms

Words that mean the opposite.

Place the letter in column one in the bracket with the correct meaning in column two:

  1. fall
  2. consequences
  3. terrific
  4. deciduous
  5. seize
  6. flabbergasted
  7. chance
  8. precise
  9. precarious
  10. recent
  11. due
  12. intellect
  13. vital
  14. ignore
  • n - attend or pay attention.
  • g - bad or good luck.
  • j - happening in the past.
  • l - unintelligent or slow thinker.
  • k - late or overdue.
  • i - safe, little of no danger.
  • a - rise or ascend.
  • h - inaccurate, not exact.
  • e - let go of or release.
  • d - evergreen or coniferous.
  • a - to plant a new tree.
  • a - spring of the year.
  • f - unimpressed or uninspired.
  • b - no outcome or concern for.



Exercise # 3: Long Vowel Sounds in the First Syllable



ā ē ī ō ū
raging recent spiraling close due
weight seize tight-roped probe
gauge gyrations
sight
vital



Exercise # 4: Vowels with R in the First Syllable



o͞o (as in boo!) ũr (as in er) âr (as in air)
mooring burl where
terrific
burble
swirling



Exercise # 5: Homonyms

Match the correct homonym with the one from column one to the homonym in column two.

  1. sight
  2. seize
  3. cache
  4. gauge
  5. burl
  6. weight
  7. close
  8. where
  9. due
  10. wrap
  11. knot
  • h - wear, I wear clothes.
  • b - seas, the 7 seas.
  • i - dew, there is dew on the grass.
  • a - cite, I cite this from the Bible.
  • j - rap, I took a rap at the ball.
  • f - wait, please wait for me.
  • a - site, this is the site of my new house.
  • i - do, Do you remember my name?
  • c - cash, please pay in cash.
  • g - clothes, I bought new clothes.
  • d - gage, you should gage its value.
  • k - not, do not tie a knot on my shoes.



Exercise # 6: Vowel Sounds in the Second Syllable

Every word to be hand-written


ă ĕ ĭ ŏ ŭ
spiraling consequences deciduous stomach trigonometry cautious
catapult recent terrific diligence innocently
exactly assets mooring swirling
descent raging salvage
manage


ā ī ō ôr (as in 4)
gyrations device innocently ignore
escape precise tight-roped


âr (as in air) ũr (as in er) o͝o (as in book)
precariously repercussions gentle
flabbergasted burble
inverted
anchor
traverse



Exercise # 7: Consonant Sounds of C and G



Hard Sound of C Soft Sound of C Hard Sound of G Soft Sound of G
precariously deciduous spiraling gyrations
repercussions innocently trigonometry raging
consequences consequences flabbergasted gauge
terrific recent ignore manage
cache chance raging gentle
anchor device gauge diligence
escape diligence mooring salvage
crotch precise swirling
catapult descent
exactly
close
cautious
stomach



Exercise # 8: Synonyms

Place the letter from column one with the exact meaning into the brackets in column two. You may use a dictionary to verify.

  1. precarious
  2. deciduous
  3. gyrations
  4. repercussions
  5. fall
  6. device
  7. terrific
  8. delve
  9. seize
  10. mooring
  11. cache
  12. inverted
  13. burl
  14. vital
  15. burble
  16. diligence
  17. assets
  18. crotch
  19. flabbergasted
  • h - to root in the ground to find things.
  • f - a tool or instrument needed to do a job.
  • m - a growth along the branch of a tree.
  • i - to grab hold in order to get grip something.
  • g - terrified because of what you experienced.
  • q - a person’s strong points or their resources.
  • a - dangerous, hazardous, slippery or risky.
  • o - the constant sound that a river makes.
  • b - trees that lose their leaves during winter.
  • j - where you fasten a boat or ship to the dock.
  • p - paying careful attention to how you work.
  • s - to be be astounded by what you witnessed.
  • r - the groin or where two branches make a V shape.
  • c - the spinning and twisting of body parts.
  • l - to be upside-down.
  • d - someone letting you know that what you have done is wrong.
  • k - store of treasure or food hidden away from strangers or animals.
  • e - to chop down a tree.
  • n - it is extremely important to finish a project.



Exercise # 9: Vowel Sounds in the Third Syllable


ă ĕ ĭ ŏ ŭ
flabbergasted consequences terrific trigonometry repercussions
inverted spiraling gyrations
innocently


ē o͝ o ū
precariously catapult deciduous
exactly



Exercise # 12: Questions and Answers


In your best handwriting, write every answer in complete sentences.

  1. Why did Frank have to inch his way along the anchor branch?

    Frank had to inch his way along the anchor branch because the branch was slippery and wet.

  2. What was Frank’s immediate problem?

    Frank’s immediate problem was to retrieve the rope before it was swept over the falls.

  3. In the story, why did Frank choose this particular tree to work from?

    The main tree in the story was the closest tree on the outcrop that had a branch that reached almost to the other side of the river. The tree was deciduous with a burl that was holding the Climbing rope.

  4. How did Frank scratch the back of his fingers?

    Frank scratched the back of his fingers when he was delving into the ground around the fishing branch.

  5. What was it that Hugh yelled to the group?

    Hugh yelled to the group when he spotted a log that was headed toward the rope.

  6. Tell me how Frank was able to retrieve the rope.

    Frank climbed precariously along the anchor branch toward the burl. He was able to retrieve the climbing rope by using a long branch with a hooked end to fish the looped end off the burl.

  7. Why did everyone need to shout to be heard?

    Everyone had to shout to be heard because of the burble made by water flowing over rocks in the river

  8. Who was the smartest person in the group to do the math required to fell the anchor tree?

    Claude was the math whiz in the group and the only one smart enough to calculate where to fell the tree.

  9. What was the first thing Claude asked of Frank?

    The first thing Claude asked was, did Frank have the skill to fell the tree toward the precise spot on the other side of the river?

  10. Describe the plan to get the climbing rope over to the other side of the river.

    They would catapult the rope to the other side of the river.

  11. What do you think Frank found at the bottom of the cache?

    What did you think?


Next:


The Caves at Eagle Ridge

Part Four