At the suggestion of several hundred thousand ladies desiring to revel1 and possibly riot in the saturnalia of equal franchise2, the unnamed lakes in that vast and little known region in Alaska bounded by the Ylanqui River and the Thunder Mountains were now being inexorably named after women.
It was a beautiful thought. Already several exquisite3, lonely bits of water, gem4-set among the eternal peaks, mirrors for cloud and soaring eagle, a glass for the moon as keystone to the towering arch of stars, had been irrevocably labelled.
Already there was Lake Amelia Jones, Lake Sadie Dingleheimer, Lake Maggie McFadden, and Lake Mrs. Gladys Doolittle Batt.
I longed to see these lakes under the glamour5 of their newly added beauty.
Imagine, therefore, my surprise and happiness when I received the following communication from my revered6 and beloved chief, Professor Farrago, dated from the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, whither he had been summoned in haste to examine and pronounce upon the identity of a very small bird supposed to be a specimen7 of that rare and almost extinct creature, the two-toed titmouse, Mustitta duototus, to be scientifically exact, as I invariably strive to be.
The important letter in question was as follows:
To Percy Smith, B.S., D.F., etc., etc., Curator, Department of Anthropology8, Administration Building, Bronx Park, N.Y.
My Dear Mr. Smith:
Several very important and determined9 ladies, recently honoured by the Government in having a number of lakes in Alaska named after them, have decided10 to make a pilgrimage to that region, inspired by a characteristic desire to gaze upon the lakes named after them individually.
They request information upon the following points:
1st. Are the waters of the lakes in that locality sufficiently11 clear for a lady to do her hair by? In that event, the expedition will not burden itself with looking-glasses.
2nd. Are there any hotels? (You need merely say, no. I have tried to explain to them that it is, for the most part, an unexplored wilderness13, but they insist upon further information from you.)
3rd. If there are hotels, is there also running water to be had? (You may tell them that there is plenty of running water.)
4th. What are the summer outdoor amusements? (You may inform them that there is plenty of bathing, boating, fishing, and an abundance of shade trees. Also, excellent mountain-climbing to be had in the vicinity. You need not mention the pastimes of “Hunt the Flea” or “Dodge the Skeeter.”)
I am not by nature cruel, Mr. Smith, but when these ladies informed me that they had decided to penetrate14 that howling and unexplored wilderness without being burdened or interfered15 with by any member of my sex, for one horrid16 and criminal moment I hoped they would. Because in that event none of them would ever come back.
However, in my heart milder and more humane17 sentiments prevailed. I pointed18 out to them the peril19 of their undertaking20, the dangers of an unexplored region, the necessity of masculine guidance and support.
My earnestness and solicitude22 were, I admit, prompted partly by a desire to utilize23 this expensively projected expedition as a vehicle for the accumulation of scientific data.
As soon as I heard of it I conceived the plan of attaching two members of our Bronx Park scientific staff to the expedition — you, and Mr. Brown.
But no sooner did these determined ladies hear of it than they repelled24 the suggestion with indignation.
Now, the matter stands as follows: These ladies don’t want any man in the expedition; but they have at last realized that they’ve got to take a guide or two. And there are no feminine guides in Alaska.
Therefore, considering the immense and vital importance of such an opportunity to explore and report upon this unknown region at somebody else’s expense, I suggest that you and Brown meet these ladies at Lake Mrs. Susan W. Pillsbury, which lies on the edge of the region to be explored; that you, without actually perjuring25 yourselves too horribly, convey to them the misleading impression that you are the promised guides provided for them by a cowed and avuncular26 Government; and that you take these fearsome ladies about and let them gaze at their reflections in the various lakes named after them; and that, while the expedition lasts, you secretly make such observations, notes, reports, and collections of the flora27 and fauna28 of the region as your opportunities may permit.
No time is to be lost. If, at Lake Susan W. Pillsbury, you find regular guides awaiting these ladies, you will bribe29 these guides to go away and you yourselves will then impersonate the guides. I know of no other way for you to explore this region, as all our available resources at Bronx Park have already been spent in painting appropriate scenery to line the cages of the mammalia, and also in the present exceedingly expensive expedition in search of the polka-dotted boom-bock, which is supposed to inhabit the jungle beyond Lake Niggerplug.
My most solemn and sincere wishes accompany you. Bless you!
Farrago.
2
This, then, is how it came about that “Kitten” Brown and I were seated, one midgeful morning in July, by the pellucid30 waters of Lake Susan W. Pillsbury, gnawing31 sections from a greasily32 fried trout33, upon which I had attempted culinary operations.
Brown’s baptismal name was William; but the unfortunate young man was once discovered indiscreetly embracing a pretty assistant in the Administration Building at Bronx, and, furthermore, was overheard to address her as “Kitten.”
So Kitten Brown it was for him in future. After he had fought all the younger members of the scientific staff in turn, he gradually became resigned to this annoying nom d’amour.
Lightly but thoroughly34 equipped for scientific field research, we had arrived at the rendezvous35 in time to bribe the two guides engaged by the Government to go back to their own firesides.
A week later the formidable expedition of representative ladies arrived; and now they were sitting on the shore of Lake Susan W. Pillsbury, at a little distance from us, trying to keep the midges from their features and attempting to eat the fare provided for them by me.
I myself couldn’t eat it. No wonder they murmured. But hunger goaded36 them to attack the greasy37 mess of trout and fried cornmeal.
Kitten was saying to me:
“Our medicine chest isn’t very extensive. I hope they brought their own. If they didn’t, some among us will never again see New York.”
I stole a furtive38 glance at the unfortunate women. There was one among them — but let me first enumerate39 their heavy artillery40:
There was the Reverend Dr. Amelia Jones, blond, adipose41, and close to the four-score mark. She stepped high in the Equal Franchise ranks. Nobody had ever had the temerity42 to answer her back.
There was Miss Sadie Dingleheimer, fifty, emaciated43, anemic, and gauntly glittering with thick-lensed eye-glasses. She was the President of the National Prophylactic44 Club, whatever that may be.
There was Miss Margaret McFadden, a Titian, profusely45 toothed, muscular, and President of the Hair Dressers’ union of the United States.
There was Mrs. Gladys Doolittle Batt, a grass one — Batt being represented as a vanishing point — President of the National Eugenic46 and Purity League; tall, gnarled, sinuously47 powerful, and prone48 to emotional attacks. The attacks were directed toward others.
These, then, composed the heavy artillery. The artillery of the light brigade consisted only of a single piece. Her name was Angelica White, a delegate from the Trained Nurses’ Association of America. The nurses had been too busy with their business to attend such picnics, so one had been selected by lot to represent the busy Association on this expedition.
Angelica White was a tall, fair, yellow-haired girl of twenty-two or three, with violet-blue eyes and red lips, and a way of smiling a little when spoken to — but let that pass. I mean only to be scientifically minute. A passion for fact has ever obsessed50 me. I have little literary ability and less desire to sully my pen with that degraded form of letters known as fiction. Once in my life my mania51 for accuracy involved me lyrically. It was a short poem, but an earnest one:
Truth is mighty52 and must prevail,
Otherwise it were inadvisable to tell the tale.
I bestowed53 it upon the New York Evening Post, but declined remuneration. My message belonged to the world. I don’t mean the newspaper.
Her eyes, then, were tinted54 with that indefinable and agreeable nuance55 which modifies blue to a lilac or violet hue56.
Watching her askance, I was deeply sorry that my cooking seemed to pain her.
“Guide!” said Mrs. Doolittle Batt, in that remarkable57, booming voice of hers.
“Ma’am!” said Kitten Brown and I with spontaneous alacrity58, leaping from the ground as though shot at.
“This cooking,” she said, with an ominous59 stare at us, “is atrocious. Don’t you know how to cook?”
I said with a smiling attempt at ease:
“There are various ways of cooking food for the several species of mammalia which an all-wise Providence60 —”
“Do you think you’re cooking for wild-cats?” she demanded.
Our smiles faded.
“It’s my opinion that you’re incompetent,” remarked the Reverend Dr. Jones, slapping at midges with a hand that might have rocked all the cradles of the nation, but had not rocked any.
“We’re not getting our money’s worth,” said Miss Dingleheimer, “even if the Government does pay your salaries.”
I looked appealingly from one stony61 face to another. In Miss McFadden’s eye there was the somber62 glint of battle. She said:
“If you can guide us no better than you cook, God save us all this day week!” And she hurled63 the contents of her tin plate into Lake Susan W. Pillsbury.
Mrs. Doolittle Batt arose:
“Come,” she said; “it is time we started. What is the name of the first lake we may hope to encounter?”
We knew no more than did they, but we said that Lake Gladys Doolittle Batt was the first, hoping to placate64 that fearsome woman.
“Come on, then!” she cried, picking up her carved and varnished65 mountain staff.
Miss Dingleheimer had brought one, too, from the Catskills.
So Kitten Brown and I loaded our mule66, set him in motion, and drove him forward into the unknown.
Where we were going we had not the slightest idea; the margin67 of the lake was easy travelling, so easy that we never noticed that we had already gone around the lake three times, until Mrs. Batt recognized the fact and turned on us furiously.
I didn’t know how to explain it, except to say feebly that I was doing it as a sort of preliminary canter to harden and inure68 the ladies.
“We don’t need hardening!” she snarled69. “Do you understand that!”
I comprehended that at once. But I forced a sickly smile and skipped forward in the wake of my mule, with something of the same abandon which characterizes the flight of an unwelcome dog.
In the terrified ear of Kitten I voiced my doubts concerning the prospects70 of a pleasant journey.
We marched in the following order: Arthur, the heavily laden71 mule, led; then came Kitten Brown and myself, all hung over with stew-pans, shotguns, rifles, cartridge-belts, ponchos72, and the toilet reticules of the ladies; then marched the Reverend Dr. Jones, and, in order, filing behind her, Miss Dingleheimer, Mrs. Batt, Miss McFadden, and Miss White — the latter in her trained nurse’s costume and wearing a red cross on her sleeve — an idea of Mrs. Batt, who believed in emergency methods.
Mrs. Batt also bore a banner, much interfered with by the foliage73, bearing the inscription74:
EQUAL RIGHTS!
EUGENICS OR EXTERMINATION75!
After a while she shouted:
“Guide! Here, you may carry this banner for a while! I’m tired.”
Kitten and I took turns with it after that. It was hard work, particularly as one by one in turn they came up and hung their parasols and shopping reticules all over us. We plodded76 forward like a pair of moving department stores, not daring to shift our burdens to Arthur, because we had already stuffed into the panniers of that simple and dignified77 animal all our collecting boxes, cyanide jars, butterfly nets, note-books, reels of piano wire, thermometers, barometers78, hydrometers, stereometers, aeronoids, adnoids — everything, in fact, that guides are not supposed to pack into the woods, but which we had smuggled79 unbeknown to those misguided ones we guided.
And, to make room for our scientific paraphernalia80, we had been obliged to do a thing so mean, so inexpressibly low, that I blush to relate it. But facts are facts; we discarded nearly a ton of feminine impedimenta. There was fancy work of all sorts in the making or in the raw — materials for knitting, embroidering81, tatting, sewing, hemming82, stitching, drawn-work, lace-making, crocheting83.
Also we disposed of almost half a ton of toilet necessities — powder, perfumery, cosmetics84, hot-water bags, slippers85, negligees, novels, magazines, bon-bons, chewing-gum, hat-boxes, gloves, stockings, underwear.
We left enough apparel for each lady to change once. They’d have to do some scrubbing now. Science can not be halted by hatpins; cosmos86 can not be side-tracked by cosmetics.
Toward sunset we came upon a small, crystal clear pond, set between the bases of several lofty mountains. I was ready to drop with fatigue87, but I nerved myself, drew a deep, exultant88 breath, and with one of those fine, sweeping89 gestures, I cried:
“Lake Mrs. Gladys Doolittle Batt! Eureka! At last! Excelsior!”
There was a profound silence behind me. I turned, striving to mask my apprehension90 with a smile. The ladies were regarding the pond in surprise. I admit that it was a pond, not a lake.
Injecting into my voice the last remnants of glee which I could summon, I shouted, “Eureka!” and began to caper91 about as though the size and beauty of the pond had affected92 me with irrepressible enthusiasm, hoping by my emotion to stampede the convention.
The cold voice of Mrs. Doolittle Batt checked my transports:
“Is that puddle93 named after me?” she demanded.
“M-ma’am?” I stammered94.
“If that wretched frog-pond has been christened with my name, somebody is going to get into trouble,” she said ominously95.
A profound silence ensued. Arthur patiently switched at flies. As for me, I looked up at the majestic96 pines, gazed upon the lofty and eternal hills, then ventured a sneaking97 glance all around me. But I could discover no avenue of escape in case Mrs. Batt should charge me.
“I had been informed,” she began dangerously, “that the majestic body of water, which I understood had been honoured with my name, was twelve miles long and three miles wide. This appears to be a puddle!”
“B-b-but it’s very p-pretty,” I protested feebly. “It’s quite round and clear, and it’s nearly a quarter of a mile in d-diameter —”
“Mind your business!” retorted Mrs. Doolittle Batt. “I’ve been swindled!”
Kitten Brown knew more about women than did I. He said in a fairly steady voice:
“Madame, it is an outrage98! The women of this mighty nation should make the Government answerable for its duplicity! Your lake should have been at least twenty miles long!”
Everybody turned and looked at Kitten. He was a handsome dog.
“This young man appears to have some trace of common-sense,” said Mrs. Batt. “I shall see to it that the Government is held responsible for this odious99 act of insulting duplicity. I— I won’t have my name given to this — this wallow! —” She advanced toward me, her small eyes blazing: I retreated to leeward100 of Arthur.
“Guide!” she said in a voice still trembling with passion. “Are you certain that you have made no mistake? You appear to be unusually ignorant.”
“I am afraid there can be no room for doubt,” I said, almost scared out of my senses.
“And on top of this outrage, am I to eat your cooking?” she demanded passionately101. “Did I come here to look at this frog-pond and choke on your cooking? Did I?”
“I can cook,” said a clear, pleasant voice at my elbow. And Miss White came forward, cool, clean, fresh as a posy in her uniform and cap. I immediately got behind her.
“I can cook very nicely,” she said smilingly. “It is part of my profession, you know. So if you two guides will be kind enough to build the fire and help me —” She let her violet eyes linger on me for an instant, then on Brown. A moment later he and I were jostling each other in our eagerness to obey her slightest suggestion. It is that way with men.
So we built her a fire and unpacked104 our provisions, and we waited very politely on the ladies when dinner was ready.
It was a fine dinner — coffee, bacon, flap-jacks, soup, ash-bread, stewed105 chicken.
The heavy artillery, made ravenous106 by their journey, required vast quantities of ammunition107. They banqueted largely. I gazed in amazement108 at Mrs. Doolittle Batt as she swallowed one flap-jack after another, while her eyes bulged109 larger and larger.
Nor was the capacity of Miss Dingleheimer and the Reverend Dr. Jones to be mocked at by pachyderms.
Brown and I left them eating while we erected110 the row of little tents. Every lady had demanded a separate tent.
So we cut saplings, set up the silk, drove pegs111, and brought armfuls of balsam boughs112.
I was afraid they’d demand their knitting and other utensils113, but they had eaten to repletion114, and were sleepy; and as each toilet case or reticule contained also a nightgown, they drew the flaps of their several tents without insisting that we unpack103 Arthur’s panniers.
They all had disappeared within their tents except Miss White, who insisted on cooking something for us, although we protested that the scraps115 of the banquet were all right for mere12 guides.
She stood beside us for a few minutes, watching us busy with our delicious dinner.
“You poor fellows,” she said gently. “You are nearly starved.”
It is agreeable to be sympathized with by a tall, fair, fresh young girl. We looked up, simpering gratefully.
“This is really a most lovely little lake,” she said, gazing out across the still, crystalline water which was all rose and gold in the sunset, save where the sombre shapes of the towering mountains were mirrored in glassy depths.
“It’s odd,” I said, “that no trout are jumping. There ought to be lots of them there, and this is their jumping hour.”
We all looked at the quiet, oval bit of water. Not a circle, not the slightest ripple116 disturbed it.
“It must be deep,” remarked Brown.
We gazed up at the three lofty peaks, the bases of which were the shores of this tiny gem among lakes. Deep, deep, plunging117 down into dusky profundity118, the rocks fell away sheer into limpid119 depths.
“That little lake may be a thousand feet deep,” I said. “In 1903 Professor Farrago, of Bronx Park, measured a lake in the Thunder Mountains, which was two thousand seven hundred and sixty-nine feet deep.”
Miss White looked at me curiously120.
Into a patch of late sunshine flitted a small butterfly — one of the Grapta species. It settled on a chip of wood, uncoiled its delicate proboscis121, and spread its fulvous and deeply indented122 wings.
“Grapta California,” remarked Brown to me.
“Vanessa asteriska“ I corrected him. “Note the anal angle of the secondaries and the argentiferous discal area bordering the subcostal nervule.”
“The characteristic stripes on the primaries are wanting,” he demurred123.
“It is double brooded. The summer form lacks the three darker bands.”
A few moments’ silence was broken by the voice of Miss White.
“I had no idea,” she remarked, “that Alaskan guides were so familiar with entomological terms and nomenclature.”
We both turned very red.
Brown mumbled124 something about having picked up a smattering. I added that Brown had taught me.
Perhaps she believed us; her blue eyes rested on us curiously, musingly125. Also, at moments, I fancied there was the faintest glint of amusement in them.
She said:
“Two scientific gentlemen from New York requested permission to join this expedition, but Mrs. Batt refused them.” She gazed thoughtfully upon the waters of Lake Gladys Doolittle Batt. “I wonder,” she murmured, “what became of those two gentlemen.”
It was evident that we had betrayed ourselves to this young girl.
She glanced at us again, and perhaps she noticed in our fascinated gaze an expression akin21 to terror, for suddenly she laughed — such a clear, sweet, silvery little laugh!
“For my part,” she said, “I wish they had come with us. I like — men.”
With that she bade us goodnight very politely and went off to her tent, leaving us with our hats pressed against our stomachs, attempting by the profundity of our bows to indicate the depth of our gratitude126.
“There’s a girl!” exclaimed Brown, as soon as she had disappeared behind her tent flaps. “She’ll never let on to Medusa, Xantippe, Cassandra and Company. I like that girl, Smith.”
“You’re not the only one imbued127 by such sentiments,” said I.
He smiled a fatuous128 and reminiscent smile. He certainly was good-looking. Presently he said:
“She has the most delightful129 way of gazing at a man —”
“I’ve noticed,” I said pleasantly.
“Oh. Did she happen to glance at you that way?” he inquired. I wanted to beat him.
All I said was:
“She’s certainly some kitten.” Which bottled that young man for a while.
We lay on the bank of the tiny lake, our backs against a huge pine-tree, watching the last traces of colour fading from peak and tree-top.
“Isn’t it queer,” I said, “that not a trout has splashed? It can’t be that there are no fish in the lake.”
“There are such lakes.”
“Yes, very deep ones. I wonder how deep this is.”
“We’ll be out at sunrise with our reel of piano wire and take soundings,” he said. “The heavy artillery won’t wake until they’re ready to be loaded with flap-jacks.”
I shuddered131:
“They’re fearsome creatures, Brown. Somehow, that resolute132 and bony one has inspired me with a terror unutterable.”
“Mrs. Batt?”
“Yes.”
He said seriously:
“She’ll make a horrid outcry when she asks for her knitting. What are you going to tell her?”
“I shall say that Indians ambuscaded us while she was asleep, and carried off all those things.”
“You lie very nicely, don’t you?” he remarked admiringly.
“In vitium ducit culp? fuga,” said I. “Besides, they don’t really need those articles.”
He laughed. He didn’t seem to be very much afraid of Mrs. Batt.
It had grown deliciously dusky, and myriads133 of stars were coming out. Little by little the lake lost its shape in the darkness, until only an irregular, star-set area of quiet water indicated that there was any lake there at all.
I remember that Brown and I, reclining at the foot of the tree, were looking at the still and starry134 surface of the lake, over which numbers of bats were darting135 after insects; and I recollect136 that I was just about to speak, when, of a sudden, the silent and luminous137 surface of the water was shattered as with a subterranean138 explosion; a geyser of scintillating139 spray shot upward flashing, foaming140, towering a hundred feet into the air. And through it I seemed to catch a glimpse of a vast, quivering, twisting mass of silver falling back with a crash into the lake, while the huge fountain rained spray on every side and the little lake rocked and heaved from shore to shore, sending great sheets of surf up over the rocks so high that the very tree-tops dripped.
Petrified142, dumb, our senses almost paralyzed by the shock, our ears still deafened143 by the watery144 crash of that gigantic something that had fallen into the lake, and our eyes starting from their sockets146, we stared at the darkness.
Slap — slash147 — slush went the waves, hitting the shore with a clashing sound almost metallic148. Vision and hearing told us that the water in the lake was rocking like the contents of a bath-tub.
“G-g-good Lord!” whispered Brown. “Is there a v-volcano under that lake?”
“Did you see that huge, glittering shape that seemed to fall into the water?” I gasped149.
“Yes. What was it? A meteor?”
“No. It was something that first came out of the lake and fell back — the way a trout leaps. Heavens! It couldn’t have been alive, could it?”
“W-wh-what do you mean?” stammered Brown.
“It couldn’t have been a f-f-fish, could it?” I asked with chattering150 teeth.
“No! No! It was as big as a Pullman car! It must have been a falling star. Did you ever hear of a fish as big as a sleeping car?”
I was too thoroughly unnerved to reply. The roaring of the surf had subsided151 somewhat, enough for another sound to reach our ears — a raucous152, gallinacious, squawking sound.
I sprang up and looked at the row of tents. White-robed figures loomed153 in front of them. The heavy artillery was evidently frightened.
We went over to them, and when we got nearer they chastely154 scuttled155 into their tents and thrust out a row of heads — heads hideous156 with curl-papers.
“What was that awful noise? An earthquake?” shrilled157 the Reverend Dr. Jones. “I think I’ll go home.”
“Was it an avalanche158?” demanded Mrs. Batt, in a deep and shaky voice. “Are we in any immediate102 danger, young man?”
I said that it was probably a flying-star which had happened to strike the lake and explode.
“What an awful region!” wailed159 Miss Dingleheimer. “I’ve had my money’s worth. I wish to go back to New York at once. I’ll begin to dress immediately —”
“It might be a million years before another meteor falls in this latitude,” I said, soothingly160.
“Or it might be ten minutes,” sobbed162 Miss Dingleheimer. “What do you know about it, anyway! I want to go home. I’m putting on my stockings now. I’m getting dressed as fast as I can —”
Her voice was blotted163 out in a mighty crash from the lake. Appalled164, I whirled on my heel, just in time to see another huge jet of water rise high in the starlight, another, another, until the entire lake was but a cluster of gigantic geysers exploding a hundred feet in the air, while through them, falling back into the smother165 of furious foam141, great silvery bulks dropped crashing, one after another.
I don’t know how long the incredible vision lasted; the woods roared with the infernal pandemonium166, echoed and re-echoed from mountain to mountain; the tree-tops fairly stormed spray, driving it in sheets through the leaves; and the shores of the lake spouted167 surf long after the last vast, silvery shape had fallen back again into the water.
As my senses gradually recovered, I found myself supporting Mrs. Batt on one arm and the Reverend Dr. Jones upon my bosom168. Both had fainted. I released them with a shudder130 and turned to look for Brown.
Somebody had swooned in his arms, too.
He was not noticing me, and as I approached him I heard him say something resembling the word “kitten.”
In spite of my demoralization, another fear seized me, and I drew nearer and peered closely at what he was holding so nobly in his arms. It was, as I supposed, Angelica White.
I don’t know whether my arrival occultly revived her, for as I stumbled over a tent-peg she opened her blue eyes, and then disengaged herself from Brown’s arms.
“Oh, I am so frightened,” she murmured. She looked at me sideways when she said it.
“Come,” said I coldly to Brown, “let Miss White retire and lie down. This meteoric169 shower is over and so is the danger.”
He evinced a desire to further soothe170 and minister to Miss White, but she said, with considerable composure, that she was feeling better; and Brown came unwillingly171 with me to inspect the heavy artillery lines.
That formidable battery was wrecked172, the pieces dismounted and lying tumbled about in their emplacements.
But a vigorous course of cold water in dippers revived them, and we herded173 them into one tent and quieted them with some soothing161 prevarication174, the details of which I have forgotten; but it was something about a flock of meteors which hit the earth every twelve billion years, and that it was now all over for another such interim175, and everybody could sleep soundly with the consciousness of having assisted at a spectacle never before beheld176 except by a primordial177 protoplasmic cell.
Which flattered them, I think, for, seated once more at the base of our tree, presently we heard weird178 noises from the reconcentrados, like the moaning of the harbour bar.
They slept, the heavy guns, like unawakened engines of destruction all a-row in battery. But Brown and I, fearfully excited, still dazed and bewildered, sat with our fascinated eyes fixed179 on the lake, asking each other what in the name of miracles it was that we had witnessed and heard.
On one thing we were agreed. A scientific discovery of the most enormous importance awaited our investigation180.
This was no time for temporising, for deception181, for any species of polite shilly-shallying. We must, on the morrow, tear off our masks and appear before these misguided and feminine victims of our duplicity in our own characters as scientists. We must boldly avow182 our identities and flatly refuse to stir from this spot until the mystery of this astounding183 lake had been thoroughly investigated.
And so, discussing our policy, our plans for the morrow, and mutually reassuring184 each other concerning our common ability to successfully defy the heavy artillery, we finally fell asleep.
3
Dawn awoke me, and I sat up in my blanket and aroused Brown.
No birds were singing. It seemed unusual, and I spoke49 of it to Brown. Never have I witnessed such a still, strange daybreak. Mountains, woods, and water were curiously silent. There was not a sound to be heard, nothing stirred except the thin veil of vapour over the water, shreds185 of which were now parting from the shore and steaming slowly upward.
There was, it seemed to me, something slightly uncanny about this lake, even in repose186. The water seemed as translucent187 as a dark crystal, and as motionless as the surface of a mirror. Nothing stirred its placid188 surface, not a ripple, not an insect, not a leaf floating.
Brown had lugged189 the pneumatic raft down to the shore where he was now pumping it full: I followed with the paddles, pole, and hydroscope. When the raft had been pumped up and was afloat, we carried the reel of gossamer190 piano-wire aboard, followed it, pushed off, and paddled quietly through the level cobwebs of mist toward the centre of the lake. From the shore I heard a gruesome noise. It originated under one of the row of tents of the heavy artillery. Medusa, snoring, was an awesome191 sound in that wilderness and solitude192 of dawn.
I was unscrewing the centre-plug from the raft and screwing into the empty socket145 the lens of the hydroscope and attaching the battery, while Brown started his sounding; and I was still busy when an exclamation193 from my companion started me:
“We’re breaking some records! Do you know it, Smith?”
“Where is the lead?”
“Three hundred fathoms194 and still running!”
“Nonsense!”
“Look at it yourself! It goes on unreeling: I’ve put the drag on. Hurry and adjust the hydroscope!”
I sighted the powerful instrument for two thousand feet, altering it from minute to minute as Brown excitedly announced the amazing depth of the lake. When he called out four thousand feet, I stared at him.
“There’s something wrong —” I began.
“There’s nothing wrong!” he interrupted. “Four thousand five hundred! Five thousand! Five thousand five hundred —”
“Are you squatting195 there and trying to tell me that this lake is over a mile deep!”
“Look for yourself!” he said in an unsteady voice. “Here is the tape! You can read, can’t you? Six thousand feet — and running evenly. Six thousand five hundred! . . . Seven thousand! Seven thousand five —”
“It can’t be!” I protested.
But it was true. Astounded196, I continued to adjust the hydroscope to a range incredible, turning the screw to focus at a mile and a half, at two miles, at two and a quarter, a half, three-quarters, three miles, three miles and a quarter — click!
“Good Heavens!” he whispered. “This lake is three miles and a quarter deep!”
Mechanically I set the lachet, screwed the hood197 firm, drew out the black eye-mask, locked it, then, kneeling on the raft I rested my face in the mask, felt for the lever, and switched on the electric light.
Quicker than thought the solid lance of dazzling light plunged198 down through profundity, and the vast abyss of water was revealed along its pathway.
Nothing moved in those tremendous depths except, nearly two miles below, a few spots of tinsel glittered and drifted like flakes199 of mica200.
At first I scarcely noticed them, supposing them to be vast beds of silvery bottom sand glittering under the electric pencil of the hydroscope. But presently it occurred to me that these brilliant specks201 in motion were not on the bottom — were a little less than two miles deep, and therefore suspended.
To be seen at all, at two miles’ depth, whatever they were they must have considerable bulk.
“Do you see anything?” demanded Brown.
“Some silvery specks at a depth of two miles.”
“What do they look like?”
“Specks.”
“Are they in motion?”
“They seem to be.”
“Do they come any nearer?”
After a while I answered:
“One of the specks seems to be growing larger. . . . I believe it is in motion and is floating slowly upward. . . . It’s certainly getting bigger. . . . It’s getting longer.”
“Is it a fish?”
“It can’t be.”
“Why not?”
“It’s impossible. Fish don’t attain202 the size of whales in mountain ponds.”
There was a silence. After an interval203 I said:
“Brown, I don’t know what to make of that thing.”
“Is it coming any nearer?”
“Yes.”
“What does it look like now?”
“It looks like a fish. But it can’t be. It looks like a tiny, silver minnow. But it can’t be. Why, if it resembles a minnow in size at this distance — what can be its actual dimensions?”
“Let me look,” he said.
Unwillingly I raised my head from the mask and yielded him my place.
A long silence followed. The western mountain-tops reddened under the rising sun; the sky grew faintly bluer. Yet, there was not a bird-note in that still place, not a flash of wings, nothing stirring.
Here and there along the lake shore I noticed unusual-looking trees — very odd-looking trees indeed, for their trunks seemed bleached204 and dead, and as though no bark covered them, yet every stark205 limb was covered with foliage — a thick foliage so dark in colour that it seemed black to me.
I glanced at my motionless companion where he knelt with his face in the mask, then I unslung my field-glasses and focussed them on the nearest of the curious trees.
At first I could not quite make out what I was looking at; then, to my astonishment206, I saw that these stark, gray trees were indeed lifeless, and that what I had mistaken for dark foliage were velvety207 clusters of bats hanging there asleep — thousands of them thickly infesting208 and clotting209 the dead branches with a sombre and horrid effect of foliage.
I don’t mind bats in ordinary numbers. But in such soft, motionless masses they slightly sickened me. There must have been literally210 tons of them hanging to the dead trees.
“This is pleasant,” I said. “Look at those bats, Brown.”
When Brown spoke without lifting his head, his voice was so shaken, so altered, that the mere sound of it scared me:
“Smith,” he said, “there is a fish in here, shaped exactly like a brook211 minnow. And I should judge, by the depth it is swimming in, that it is about as long as an ordinary Pullman car.”
His voice shook, but his words were calm to the point of commonplace. Which made the effect of his statement all the more terrific.
“A— a minnow— as big as a Pullman car?” I repeated, dazed.
“Larger, I think. . . . It looks to me through the hydroscope, at this distance, exactly like a tiny, silvery minnow. It’s half a mile down. . . . Swimming about. . . . I can see its eyes; they must be about ten feet in diameter. I can see its fins212 moving. And there are about a dozen others, much deeper, swimming around. . . . This is easily the most overwhelming contribution made to science since the discovery of the purple-spotted dingle-bock, Bukkus dinglii. . . . We’ve got to catch one of those gigantic fish!”
“How?” I gasped. “How are we going to catch a minnow as large as a sleeping car?”
“I don’t know, but we’ve got to do it. We’ve got to manage it, somehow.”
“It would require a steel cable to hold such a fish and a donkey engine to reel him in! And what about a hook? And if we had hook, line, steam-winch, and everything else, what about bait?”
He knelt for some time longer, watching the fish, before he resigned the hydroscope to me. Then I watched it; but it came no nearer, seeming contented213 to swim about at the depth of a little more than half a mile. Deep under this fish I could see others glittering as they sailed or darted214 to and fro.
Presently I raised my head and sat thinking. The sun now gilded215 the water; a little breeze ruffled216 it here and there where dainty cat’s-paws played over the surface.
“What on earth do you suppose those gigantic fish feed on?” asked Brown under his breath.
I thought a moment longer, then it came to me in a flash of understanding, and I pointed at the dead trees.
“Bats!” I muttered. “They feed on bats as other fish feed on the little, gauzy-winged flies which dance over ponds! You saw those bats flying over the pond last night, didn’t you? That explains the whole thing! Don’t you understand? Why, what we saw were these gigantic fish leaping like trout after the bats. It was their feeding time!”
I do not imagine that two more excited scientists ever existed than Brown and I. The joy of discovery transfigured us. Here we had discovered a lake in the Thunder Mountains which was the deepest lake in the world; and it was inhabited by a few gigantic fish of the minnow species, the existence of which, hitherto, had never even been dreamed of by science.
“Kitten,” I said, my voice broken by emotion, “which will you have named after you, the lake or the fish? Shall it be Lake Kitten Brown, or shall it be Minnius kittenii? Speak!”
“What about that old party whose name you said had already been given to the lake?” he asked piteously.
“Who? Mrs. Batt? Do you think I’d name such an important lake after her? Anyway, she has declined the honour.”
“Very well,” he said, “I’ll accept it. And the fish shall be known as Minnius Smithii!”
Too deeply moved to speak, we bent217 over and shook hands with each other. In that solemn and holy moment, surcharged with ecstatic emotion, a deep, distant reverberation218 came across the water to our ears. It was the heavy artillery, snoring.
Never can I forget that scene; sunshine glittering on the pond, the silent forests and towering peaks, the blue sky overhead, the dead trees where thousands of bats hung in nauseating219 clusters, thicker than the leaves in Valembrosa — and Kitten Brown and I, cross-legged upon our pneumatic raft, hands clasped in pledge of deathless devotion to science and a fraternity unending.
“And how about that girl?” he asked.
“What girl?”
“Angelica White?”
“Well,” said I, ”what about her?”
“Does she go with the lake or with the fish?”
“What do you mean?” I asked coldly, withdrawing my hand from his clasp.
“I mean, which of us gets the first chance to win her?” he said, blushing. “There’s no use denying that we both have been bowled over by her; is there?”
I pondered for several moments.
“She is an extremely intelligent girl,” I said, stalling.
“Yes, and then some.”
After a few minutes’ further thought, I said:
“Possibly I am in error, but at moments it has seemed to me that my marked attentions to Miss White are not wholly displeasing220 to her. I may be mistaken —”
“I think you are, Smith.”
“Why?”
“Because — well, because I seem to think so.”
I said coldly:
“Because she happened to faint away in your arms last night is no symptom that she prefers you. Is it?”
“No.”
“Then why do you seem to think that tactful, delicate, and assiduous attentions on my part may prove not entirely221 unwelcome to this unusually intelligent —”
“Smith!”
“What?”
“Miss White is not only a trained nurse, but she also is about to receive her diploma as a physician.”
“How do you know?”
“She told me.”
“When?”
“When you were building the fire last night. Also, she informed me that she had relentlessly222 dedicated223 herself to a eugenic marriage.”
“When did she tell you that?”
“While you were bringing in a bucket of water from the lake last night. And furthermore, she told me that I was perfectly224 suited for a eugenic marriage.”
“When did she tell you that?” I demanded.
“When she had — fainted — in my arms.”
“How the devil did she come to say a thing like that?”
He became conspicuously225 red about the ears:
“Well, I had just told her that I had fallen in love with her —”
“Damn!” I said. And that’s all I said; and seizing a paddle I made furiously for shore. Behind me I heard the whirr of the piano wire as Brown started the electric reel. Later I heard him clamping the hood on the hydroscope; but I was too disgusted for any further words, and I dug away at the water with my paddle.
In various and weird stages of morning déshabillé the heavy artillery came down to the shore for morning ablutions, all a-row like a file of ducks.
They glared at me as I leaped ashore226:
“I want my breakfast!” snapped Mrs. Batt. “Do you hear what I say, guide? And I don’t wish to be kept waiting for it either! I desire to get out of this place as soon as possible.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, “but I intend to stay here for some time.”
“What!” bawled227 the heavy artillery in booming unison228.
But my temper had been sorely tried, and I was in a mood to tell the truth and make short work of it, too.
“Ladies,” I said, “I’ll not mince229 matters. Mr. Brown and I are not guides; we are scientists from Bronx Park, and we don’t know a bally thing about this wilderness we’re in!”
“Swindler!” shouted Mrs. Batt, in an enraged230 voice. “I knew very well that the United States Government would never have named that puddle of water after me!”
“Don’t worry, madam! I’ve named it after Mr. Brown. And the new species of gigantic fish which I discovered in this lake I have named after myself. As for leaving this spot until I have concluded my scientific study of these fish, I simply won’t. I intend to observe their habits and to capture one of them if it requires the remainder of my natural life to do so. I shall be sorry to detain you here during such a period, but it can’t be helped. And now you know what the situation is, and you are at liberty to think it over after you have washed your countenances231 in Lake Kitten Brown.”
Rage possessed232 the heavy artillery, and a fury indescribable seized them when they discovered that Indians had raided their half ton of feminine perquisites233. I went up a tree.
When the tumult234 had calmed sufficiently for them to distinguish what I said, I made a speech to them. From the higher branches of a neighboring tree Kitten Brown applauded and cried, “Hear! Hear!”
“Ladies,” I said, “you know the worst, now. If you keep me up this tree and starve me to death it will be murder. Also, you don’t know enough to get out of these forests, but I can guide you back the way you came. I’ll do it if you cease your dangerous demonstrations235 and permit Mr. Brown and myself to remain here and study these giant fish for a week or two.”
They now seemed disposed to consider the idea. There was nothing else for them to do. So after an hour or two, Brown and I ventured to descend236 from our trees, and we went among them to placate them and ingratiate ourselves as best we might.
“Think,” I argued, “what a matchless opportunity for you to be among the first discoverers of a totally new and undescribed species of giant fish! Think what a legacy237 it will be to leave such a record to posterity238! Think how proud and happy your descendants will be to know that their ancestors assisted at the discovery of Minnius Smithii!”
“Why can’t they be named after me?” demanded Mrs. Batt.
“Because,” I explained patiently, “they have already been named after me!”
“Couldn’t something be named after me?” inquired that fearsome lady.
“The bats,” suggested Brown politely, “we could name a bat after you with pleasure —”
I thought for a moment she meant to swing on him. He thought so, too, and ducked.
“A bat!” she shouted. “Name a bat after me!”
“Many a celebrated239 scientist has been honoured by having his name conferred upon humbler fauna,” I explained.
But she remained dangerous, so I went and built the fire, and squatted240 there, frying bacon, while on the other side of the fire, sitting side by side, Kitten Brown and Angelica White gazed upon each other with enraptured241 eyes. It was slightly sickening — but let that pass. I was beginning to understand that science is a jealous mistress and that any contemplated242 infidelity of mine stood every chance of being squelched243. No; evidently I had not been fashioned for the joys of legal domesticity. Science, the wanton jade244, had not yet finished her dance with me. Apparently245 my maxixe with her was to be external. Fides servanda est.
That afternoon the heavy artillery held a council of war, and evidently came to a conclusion to make the best of the situation, for toward sundown they accosted246 me with a request for the raft, explaining that they desired to picnic aboard and afterward247 row about the lake and indulge in song.
So Brown and I put aboard the craft a substantial cold supper; and the heavy artillery embarked248, taking aboard a guitar to be worked by Miss Dingleheimer, and knitting for the others.
It was a lovely evening. Brown and I had been discussing a plan to dynamite249 the lake and stun250 the fish, that method appealing to us as the only possible way to secure a specimen of the stupendous minnows which inhabited the depths. In fact, it was our only hope of possessing one of these creatures — fishing with a donkey engine, steel cable, and a hook baited with a bat being too uncertain and far more laborious251 and expensive.
I was still smoking my pipe, seated at the foot of the big pine-tree, watching the water turn from gold to pink: Brown sat higher up the slope, his arm around Angelica White. I carefully kept my back toward them.
On the lake the heavy artillery were revelling252 loudly, banqueting, singing, strumming the guitar, and trailing their hands overboard across the sunset-tinted water.
I was thinking of nothing in particular as I now remember, except that I noticed the bats beginning to flit over the lake; when Brown called to me from the slope above, asking whether it was perfectly safe for the heavy artillery to remain out so late.
“Why?” I demanded.
“Suppose,” he shouted, “that those fish should begin to jump and feed on the bats again?”
I had never thought of that.
I rose and hurried nervously253 down to the shore, and, making a megaphone of my hands, I shouted:
“Come in! It isn’t safe to remain out any longer!”
Scornful laughter from the artillery answered my appeal.
“You’d better come in!” I called. “You can’t tell what might happen if any of those fish should jump.”
“Mind your business!” retorted Mrs. Batt. “We’ve had enough of your prevarications —”
Then, suddenly, without the faintest shadow of warning, from the centre of the lake a vast geyser of water towered a hundred feet in the air.
For one dreadful second I saw the raft hurled skyward, balanced on the crest254 of the stupendous fountain, spilling ladies, supper, guitars, and knitting in every direction.
Then a horrible thing occurred; fish after fish shot up out of the storm of water and foam, seizing, as they fell, ladies, luncheon255, and knitting in mid-air, falling back with a crashing shock which seemed to rock the very mountains.
“Help!” I screamed. And fainted dead away.
Is it necessary to proceed? Literature nods; Science shakes her head. No, nothing but literature lies beyond the ripples256 which splashed musically upon the shore, terminating forever the last vibration257 from that immeasurable catastrophe258.
Why should I go on? The newspapers of the nation have recorded the last scenes of the tragedy.
We know that tons of dynamite are being forwarded to that solitary259 lake. We know that it is the determination of the Government to rid the world of those gigantic minnows.
And yet, somehow, it seems to me as I sit writing here in my office, amid the verdure of Bronx Park, that the destruction of these enormous fish is a mistake.
What more splendid sarcophagus could the ladies of the lake desire than these huge, silvery, itinerant260 and living tombs?
What reward more sumptuous261 could anybody wish for than to rest at last within the interior dimness of an absolutely new species of anything?
For me, such a final repose as this would represent the highest pinnacle262 of sublimity263, the uttermost zenith of mortal dignity.
So what more is there for me to say?
As for Angelica — but no matter. I hope she may be comparatively happy with Kitten Brown. Yet, as I have said before, handsome men never last. But she should have thought of that in time.
I absolve264 myself of all responsibility. She had her chance.
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收听单词发音
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1
revel
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| vi.狂欢作乐，陶醉；n.作乐，狂欢 | |
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franchise
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| n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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4
gem
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| n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel | |
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glamour
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| n.魔力，魅力；vt.迷住 | |
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6
revered
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| v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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8
anthropology
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| n.人类学 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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11
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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14
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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15
interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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16
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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17
humane
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| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
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18
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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19
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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20
undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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23
utilize
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| vt.使用，利用 | |
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24
repelled
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| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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perjuring
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| v.发假誓，作伪证( perjure的现在分词 ) | |
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avuncular
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| adj.叔伯般的，慈祥的 | |
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flora
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| n.(某一地区的)植物群 | |
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fauna
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| n.(一个地区或时代的)所有动物，动物区系 | |
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bribe
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| n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通 | |
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pellucid
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| adj.透明的，简单的 | |
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31
gnawing
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| a.痛苦的，折磨人的 | |
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32
greasily
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| adv.多脂，油腻，滑溜地 | |
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trout
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| n.鳟鱼；鲑鱼(属) | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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35
rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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36
goaded
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| v.刺激( goad的过去式和过去分词 )；激励；（用尖棒）驱赶；驱使（或怂恿、刺激）某人 | |
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greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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39
enumerate
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| v.列举，计算，枚举，数 | |
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40
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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41
adipose
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| adj.脂肪质的，脂肪多的；n.（储于脂肪组织中的）动物脂肪；肥胖 | |
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42
temerity
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| n.鲁莽，冒失 | |
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43
emaciated
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| adj.衰弱的，消瘦的 | |
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prophylactic
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| adj.预防疾病的；n.预防疾病 | |
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profusely
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| ad.abundantly | |
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eugenic
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| adj.优生的 | |
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47
sinuously
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| 弯曲的，蜿蜒的 | |
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48
prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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49
spoke
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| 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 | |
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50
obsessed
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| adj.心神不宁的,鬼迷心窍的,沉迷的 | |
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51
mania
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| n.疯狂；躁狂症，狂热，癖好 | |
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52
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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53
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
tinted
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| adj. 带色彩的 动词tint的过去式和过去分词 | |
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55
nuance
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| n.(意义、意见、颜色)细微差别 | |
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56
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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57
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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58
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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59
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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60
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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61
stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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62
somber
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| adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的 | |
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63
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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64
placate
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| v.抚慰，平息(愤怒) | |
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65
varnished
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| 浸渍过的，涂漆的 | |
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66
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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67
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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68
inure
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| v.使惯于 | |
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69
snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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70
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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71
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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72
ponchos
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| n.斗篷( poncho的名词复数 ) | |
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73
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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74
inscription
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| n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文 | |
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75
extermination
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| n.消灭，根绝 | |
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76
plodded
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| v.沉重缓慢地走（路）( plod的过去式和过去分词 )；努力从事；沉闷地苦干；缓慢进行（尤指艰难枯燥的工作） | |
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77
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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78
barometers
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| 气压计，晴雨表( barometer的名词复数 ) | |
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79
smuggled
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| 水货 | |
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80
paraphernalia
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| n.装备；随身用品 | |
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81
embroidering
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| v.（在织物上）绣花( embroider的现在分词 )；刺绣；对…加以渲染（或修饰）；给…添枝加叶 | |
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82
hemming
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| 卷边 | |
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83
crocheting
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| v.用钩针编织( crochet的现在分词 )；钩编 | |
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84
cosmetics
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| n.化妆品 | |
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85
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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86
cosmos
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| n.宇宙；秩序，和谐 | |
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87
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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88
exultant
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| adj.欢腾的，狂欢的，大喜的 | |
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89
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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90
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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91
caper
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| v.雀跃，欢蹦；n.雀跃，跳跃；续随子，刺山柑花蕾；嬉戏 | |
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92
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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93
puddle
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| n.(雨)水坑，泥潭 | |
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94
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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95
ominously
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| adv.恶兆地，不吉利地；预示地 | |
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96
majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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97
sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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98
outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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99
odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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100
leeward
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| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
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101
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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102
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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103
unpack
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| vt.打开包裹（或行李），卸货 | |
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104
unpacked
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| v.从（包裹等）中取出（所装的东西），打开行李取出( unpack的过去式和过去分词 )；拆包；解除…的负担；吐露（心事等） | |
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105
stewed
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| adj.焦虑不安的，烂醉的v.炖( stew的过去式和过去分词 )；煨；思考；担忧 | |
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106
ravenous
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| adj.极饿的，贪婪的 | |
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107
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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108
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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109
bulged
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| 凸出( bulge的过去式和过去分词 )； 充满； 塞满（某物） | |
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110
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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111
pegs
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| n.衣夹( peg的名词复数 )；挂钉；系帐篷的桩；弦钮v.用夹子或钉子固定( peg的第三人称单数 )；使固定在某水平 | |
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112
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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113
utensils
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| 器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物 | |
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114
repletion
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| n.充满，吃饱 | |
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115
scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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116
ripple
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| 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 | |
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117
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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118
profundity
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| n.渊博；深奥，深刻 | |
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119
limpid
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| adj.清澈的，透明的 | |
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120
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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121
proboscis
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| n.（象的）长鼻 | |
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122
indented
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| adj.锯齿状的，高低不平的；缩进排版 | |
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123
demurred
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| v.表示异议，反对( demur的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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124
mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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125
musingly
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| adv.沉思地，冥想地 | |
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126
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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127
imbued
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| v.使（某人/某事）充满或激起（感情等）( imbue的过去式和过去分词 )；使充满；灌输；激发（强烈感情或品质等） | |
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128
fatuous
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| adj.愚昧的；昏庸的 | |
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129
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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130
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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131
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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132
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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133
myriads
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| n.无数，极大数量( myriad的名词复数 ) | |
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134
starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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135
darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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136
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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137
luminous
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| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
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138
subterranean
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|
| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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139
scintillating
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| adj．才气横溢的,闪闪发光的; 闪烁的 | |
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140
foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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141
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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142
petrified
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| adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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143
deafened
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| 使聋( deafen的过去式和过去分词 )； 使隔音 | |
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144
watery
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| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
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145
socket
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| n.窝，穴，孔，插座，插口 | |
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146
sockets
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| n.套接字，使应用程序能够读写与收发通讯协定(protocol)与资料的程序( Socket的名词复数 )；孔( socket的名词复数 )；（电器上的）插口；托座；凹穴 | |
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147
slash
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| vi.大幅度削减；vt.猛砍，尖锐抨击，大幅减少；n.猛砍，斜线，长切口，衣衩 | |
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148
metallic
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|
| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
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149
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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150
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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151
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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152
raucous
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| adj.(声音)沙哑的，粗糙的 | |
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153
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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154
chastely
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| adv.贞洁地，清高地，纯正地 | |
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155
scuttled
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| v.使船沉没( scuttle的过去式和过去分词 )；快跑，急走 | |
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156
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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157
shrilled
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| （声音）尖锐的，刺耳的，高频率的( shrill的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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158
avalanche
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| n.雪崩，大量涌来 | |
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159
wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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160
soothingly
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| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
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161
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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162
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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163
blotted
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| 涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 )； （用吸墨纸）吸干 | |
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164
appalled
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| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
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165
smother
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| vt./vi.使窒息；抑制；闷死；n.浓烟；窒息 | |
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166
pandemonium
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| n.喧嚣，大混乱 | |
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167
spouted
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| adj.装有嘴的v.（指液体）喷出( spout的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地讲；喋喋不休地说；喷水 | |
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168
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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169
meteoric
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| adj.流星的，转瞬即逝的，突然的 | |
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170
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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171
unwillingly
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| adv.不情愿地 | |
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172
wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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173
herded
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| 群集，纠结( herd的过去式和过去分词 )； 放牧； （使）向…移动 | |
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174
prevarication
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| n.支吾；搪塞；说谎；有枝有叶 | |
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175
interim
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| adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间 | |
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176
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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177
primordial
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| adj.原始的；最初的 | |
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178
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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179
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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180
investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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181
deception
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| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
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182
avow
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| v.承认，公开宣称 | |
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183
astounding
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| adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
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184
reassuring
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| a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的 | |
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185
shreds
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| v.撕碎，切碎( shred的第三人称单数 )；用撕毁机撕毁（文件） | |
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186
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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187
translucent
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| adj.半透明的；透明的 | |
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188
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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189
lugged
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| vt.用力拖拉（lug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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190
gossamer
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| n.薄纱，游丝 | |
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191
awesome
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| adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的 | |
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192
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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193
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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194
fathoms
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| 英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
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195
squatting
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的现在分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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196
astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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197
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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198
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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199
flakes
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| 小薄片( flake的名词复数 )； （尤指）碎片； 雪花； 古怪的人 | |
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200
mica
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| n.云母 | |
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201
specks
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| n.眼镜；斑点，微粒，污点( speck的名词复数 ) | |
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202
attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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203
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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204
bleached
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| 漂白的，晒白的，颜色变浅的 | |
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205
stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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206
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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207
velvety
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| adj. 像天鹅绒的, 轻软光滑的, 柔软的 | |
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208
infesting
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| v.害虫、野兽大批出没于( infest的现在分词 )；遍布于 | |
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209
clotting
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| v.凝固( clot的现在分词 )；烧结 | |
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210
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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211
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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212
fins
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| [医]散热片；鱼鳍；飞边；鸭掌 | |
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213
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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214
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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216
ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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217
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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218
reverberation
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| 反响； 回响； 反射； 反射物 | |
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219
nauseating
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| adj.令人恶心的，使人厌恶的v.使恶心，作呕( nauseate的现在分词 ) | |
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220
displeasing
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| 不愉快的，令人发火的 | |
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221
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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222
relentlessly
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| adv.不屈不挠地；残酷地；不间断 | |
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223
dedicated
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| adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的 | |
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224
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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225
conspicuously
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| ad.明显地，惹人注目地 | |
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226
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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227
bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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228
unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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229
mince
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| n.切碎物；v.切碎，矫揉做作地说 | |
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230
enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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231
countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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232
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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233
perquisites
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| n.（工资以外的）财务补贴( perquisite的名词复数 )；额外收入；（随职位而得到的）好处；利益 | |
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234
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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235
demonstrations
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| 证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威 | |
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236
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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237
legacy
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| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
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238
posterity
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| n.后裔，子孙，后代 | |
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239
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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240
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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241
enraptured
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| v.使狂喜( enrapture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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242
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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243
squelched
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| v.发吧唧声，发扑哧声( squelch的过去式和过去分词 )；制止；压制；遏制 | |
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244
jade
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| n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠 | |
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245
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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246
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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247
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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248
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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249
dynamite
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| n./vt.(用)炸药(爆破) | |
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250
stun
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| vt.打昏，使昏迷，使震惊，使惊叹 | |
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251
laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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252
revelling
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| v.作乐( revel的现在分词 )；狂欢；着迷；陶醉 | |
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253
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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254
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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255
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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256
ripples
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| 逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 ) | |
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257
vibration
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| n.颤动，振动；摆动 | |
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258
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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259
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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260
itinerant
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| adj.巡回的；流动的 | |
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261
sumptuous
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| adj.豪华的，奢侈的，华丽的 | |
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262
pinnacle
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| n.尖塔，尖顶，山峰；(喻)顶峰 | |
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263
sublimity
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| 崇高，庄严，气质高尚 | |
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264
absolve
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| v.赦免，解除（责任等） | |
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