“Here’s a fine chance to show Will how much I think of him!” he mused2 radiantly. “Yes, I’ll get a whole gang of us boys together, and we’ll swoop3 down on the old villain4, and we’ll do it! Oh! what roaring fun it will be! I guess it’ll teach the old loon5 to leave honest boys alone!”
Steve began to work with a will, and soon mustered6 a squad8 of idle and saucy9 little wretches10, who sported Guy Fawkes’ head-pieces, and were not overstocked with either virtue11 or clothing. Nevertheless, their apparel had at least one merit—it could be slipped on or stripped off in a trice.
Moonlight would be too bright for his dark schemes, and he waited impatiently for a starlight night. Three days passed with unheard of slowness. Then Steve convoked13 a council of his satellites; and after having enjoined14 a promise of secrecy15, he laid bare his plot in all its details, and asked if they would stand by him.
“Guess we will!” they chorused, mad with delight; and Steve needed no further assurance of their co-operation and fidelity16.
About seven o’clock this worthy young avenger17 set out, his “gang” at his heels, and one of the heroes who had seen Will taken over Jackson’s fence bringing up the rear. This warlike company had no drums, but their fast-beating hearts served instead; and they marched intrepidly18 onward19, measuring three miles an hour. Some were burdened with sundry21 stout22 cords, ropes and straps24; others were sweating under armfuls of pine and cedar25 boughs26, which Steve had gathered that afternoon; one[55] lank27 stripling was poising28 a couple of wooden levers on his grimy palms; Stephen himself was freighted with a clumsy engine, which he fondly imagined was a piece of wondrous29 mechanism—in fact, one of the six mechanical powers.
Having left the village, they struck out for a pasturage about a mile and a half to the right. Captain Stephen directed his forces to march in single file. In vain: they were but raw levies30, and in spite of all his discipline, would persist in straggling or in huddling31 together. But in good time they drew up at the seat of war, with every regiment32 intact, and eager to engage the enemy.
As the atrocities33 they practiced there are unworthy of the most abandoned renegate, it would be more seemly to lay aside martial34 idioms,—particularly, as we do not wish to commit ourself,—and speak of them as Steve’s minions35.
They peered warily36—perhaps, quakingly—to the right and left, but not seeing any bugbears, human or otherwise, they boldly and jauntily37 flung themselves over the fence of the pasture field.
Steve advanced a few steps, then halted, laid his burden gently on the ground, and whistled a sigh of relief. His followers38 threw down their burdens; and, after having ejected a great deal of spittle—purposely on their hands, accidently on the ground,—they raised a grating “ye-oh-heave ’er,” that reminded the “mournful whip-poor-will” of a rooster’s first crow. Now they were ready to go to work.
In front of them was an old well; disused, perfectly39 dry, and partly filled with rubbish. The top was covered with two layers of bulky and heavy planks40, so that the well was safe. Notwithstanding the number of workers, it was no easy task to remove these planks; but the avenger and his “gang” griped their handspikes, and toiled41, groaned43, and puffed44 with a will.
What is toil42 to a boy when mischief45 is on foot? In play there are no difficulties that a boy cannot surmount46. Ah! if he would only do his duty as willingly and efficiently47 as he builds a dam, how much happier he and others would be!
[56]
As soon as the planks were removed, the boughs were dropped one by one, so evenly that they formed a soft couch, only twenty feet from the mouth of the well.
Then Steve took up the engine he had constructed, and set it up over the well. This engine was neither more nor less than a thick and roundish bar of tough wood, with each end playing in the apex48 of a rude and frail49 scalene triangle. To impart strength and dignity to this contrivance, the triangles were connected at their base by a long and stout fork-handle; but whether this fork-handle served to keep the triangles apart or to hold them together, Steve did not know. A triangle was placed on each side of the wells mouth, over which the bar and fork-handle directly passed. Steve pinned his triangles fast to the ground, but finding them still unsteady, he had them propped50 with the planks. Then he announced that it was ready for use. The bar revolved51, it is true; but somewhat reluctantly, and, alas52! it wobbled!
We have said that Steve considered his contrivance one of the six mechanical powers. Let us examine it further and see if he was right. It might have been intended for the wheel and axle; but, if so, it lacked the wheel. Or perhaps it was the pulley, with an extremely elongated53 wheelless axle, the triangles taking the place of the block.
“Now, boys,” said the deviser of this novel engine, “see what comes from knowing science! I learnt how to make this from George’s Philosophy. It tells you all about powerful mechanics—no, mechanics powerful—no,—well, I guess it’s all one in meaning. Now let us go to work.”
With a Zulu holloa they rushed towards a couple of donkeys that were grazing peaceably in the inclosure.
It will not require a particularly long-headed reader to guess that these boys were trespassing54 on Mr. Jackson’s domains55, or that the avenger sought to retaliate56 on him by means of the innocent donkeys.
Steve endeavored to ward20 off the stings of conscience by telling himself that he was avenging57 Will; while in reality he was indulging his love of fun and mischief. His warty58 and freckle-faced followers were actuated by the same motive59.
[57]
They surrounded the donkey nearest them, resolved to take it prisoner. After a violent conflict and four or five barked and bruised60 shins,—for the beast was agile61, as well as headstrong, and resented this nocturnal abduction,—the seizure62 was effected, and Stephen adroitly63 slipped on a halter. While some tugged64 at this halter, others pushed warily and perhaps bootlessly; still others noisily threatened; one entreated65; but, in compliance66 with their leaders instructions, none belabored67. The school-boy avenger did not wish the poor animal to suffer “more than was necessary!”
In a short time the donkey was brought close to the abandoned well. Then the cords, straps, and ropes were picked up, and so securely bound on the poor animal that it was utterly69 helpless, and at the mercy of Steve’s youthful desperadoes. This was a hazardous70 attempt, considering all things; but again, what does a properly organized boy care for danger, when bent71 on mischief?
Stephen, weltering in sweat and already smarting from blisters72 and bruises73, then called a halt and addressed his “accomplices” in the following approved strain: “Well, boys, we’ve nearly done it! Oh! won’t Mr. Jackson be mad when he finds his donkey in the well! Won’t he dance and holler! I know it’s a scurvy74 trick; but then he is so scurvy a man, it serves him just right. I guess he won’t know what to say to himself when he sees the ass12 here! At any rate, it will take him all the forenoon to get him out!”
Gentle reader, please to observe how rich that harangue75 is in notes of exclamation76, and ask yourself if they were not invented as a safety-valve for the emotions of overjoyed schoolboys and bloody-minded or weak-headed romancers.
While speaking, Steve had run his hands into the pockets of his most serviceable garment. He now drew his hands out of those pockets and took up a strong rope, one end of which he made fast to the donkey, and the other end he passed over the bar of his engine. Then, the rest helping77 him, the donkey was slowly and carefully lowered into the well. Poor beast, how foully78 it was degraded!
[58]
Then those wicked boys laughed—laughed till the tears came.
All but Steve. He could not laugh. The core of an apple that he had eaten seven years before rose in his throat and choked him—him! the most uproarious and unconscionable laugher in the village!
But the truth is, Stephen was beginning to relent. Now that the deed was actually done, he saw his trick in a different light and conjured79 up all sorts of horrors. What if a frightful80 thunderstorm should come on during the night, and the donkey should be struck by lightning? What if the sides of the well should cave in and fossilize it? Or, what if Jackson should discover the guilty ones and transport him, as “ringleader,” to Botany Bay?
These and many other disquieting82 thoughts rose in the boys mind. He bitterly repented84 of his folly85, and no longer considered himself a hero. He pitied the donkey with all his heart; and if he had not shrunk from provoking the derision of his uncivil and hard-hearted minions, he would have drawn86 it out of the well and turned it loose.
Thus we get an insight into Stephen’s nature. His love of fun often ran away with his better judgment87; but as soon as the mischief was done, he suffered, more than any one believed, from the agony of remorse88.
But he roused himself and said, “Now, who will slide down on the rope and set the donkey free? Of course we mus’n’t go away and leave the poor beast tied fast; for it might get sick and die if it couldn’t move. You agreed to do it, Pat Murphy.”
“I reckon we want our ropes and things back again, anyway,” growled89 a practical strap23 owner.
“Certainly,” Stephen assented90, with a faint smile. “Well, Pat?”
“Shure an’ I’m willin’ to stick to my bargain; only make haste, for mebby the old feller ’ll be after prowlin’ around to look to his beasts.”
This was enough to disquiet83 every member of the “gang.” One excitable boy, a famous seer of ghosts,[59] instantly beheld91 a myriad92 of Jacksons, hobgoblins, and banshees, hovering93 dangerously near. In his terror he uttered a cry of deprecation—which so dismayed little Pat, who was then in the act of descending94, that he lost his hold on the rope and had a fall of several feet. But the soft boughs and the ass so broke his fall that he received no hurt.
Honest Pat’s mind must have been disturbed by a presentiment95; for, just at this conjuncture, Mr. Jackson, who was taking a by-path to the village, entered the field from another direction. Being still at a distance, he could not make out the boys clearly, but he could hear their voices. Now, this Mr. Jackson was not famed for his discretion96; and instead of creeping upon them slyly, he hallooed at them from the place where he stood.
Then, for the first time, the boys caught sight of him, and a panic, which soon became a stampede, ensued. Setting up a dismal97 shriek98 of consternation99, the whole “gang” dashed to the fence, squeezed through it, and ingloriously fled.
Little Pat heard the hurly-burly, and, clutching the rope, attempted to scramble100 out of his narrow quarters. But, alas! no one was holding the upper end of this rope, and it had not been made fast; consequently, it rattled101 down into the well, leaving Pat a prisoner. Poor little Pat! Believing he was deserted102, he gave way to despair, yelled like a fish peddler, and frisked about like an untutored dancer, now on the boughs, now on the donkey, beating time to his piteous yet horrible screams for mercy. This loosened the strap round the donkey’s snout; and an horrisonous bray103 of righteous indignation smote104 upon the night air, lending variety to a scene already sufficiently105 ludicrous. But one bray was not enough to relieve the donkey’s pent-up emotion, and between its bellowing106 groans107 Pat might be heard vociferating shrilly108, “Tain’t me! I ain’t done nothin’! I never did! It’s him! It’s Steve! It’s Ste-e-e-ve!”
A swarm109 of outraged110 hornets could not have hastened the flight of Steve’s redoubtable111 desperadoes more than the united exertions112 of Pat and the donkey. They flew[60] towards the village as if hounded by demons113, and were speedily out of sight and earshot.
But where was Stephen! On the impulse of the moment he also took to his heels; but when he reached the fence his native courage and honor returned. He stopped, sighed profoundly, and nervously114 broke a splinter off a loose rail. He did not know whether this splinter would be of any service to him, but he mechanically carried it in his hand as he slunk back to the well. There he sank down in a heap, and awaited Mr. Jackson’s coming with much perturbation. However, he retained sufficient presence of mind to pluck a tawdry feather out of his hat band, and then set the hat fairly on his head. Wretched trickster! he did not consider how dusk it was, or that Mr. Jackson would probably be more concerned about the donkey than about a rattle-pated schoolboy’s headgear.
Now, if ever, he should have indulged in laughter, for the scene was risible115 in the extreme. Ah! if he had been an innocent bystander, he would have overnoised even Pat and the donkey. Alas! he felt his guilt81, and was more inclined to cry than to laugh.
“Oh,” he groaned, “why did I mix myself with such a pack of nasty little cowards? I knew all the time that I had no business to meddle116 with that ass. Ass?—why, I’ve made an ass of myself! Where will it all end, and what will Mr. Jackson say to me or do with me?—Well,” with a sigh of relief, “there’s one good thing: the ass will be let loose again!”
Stephen’s gloomy surmises117 were cut short by Jackson himself. “What does all this mean, you scoundrel?” he roared. “What are you doing here? Where are those boys? have they all gone and left you?”
At that instant another hideous118 bray, followed by a moan of mortal terror, reverberated119 in the well, and the new-comer turned and looked in. A boisterous120 laugh burst from his lips when he discerned the occupants of the well. “Oh! this is rich!” he exclaimed, so jubilantly that Stephen was stupified with amazement121.
Encouraged by Mr. Jackson’s merriment, timorous122 Pat began with redoubled energy. “It’s him! I hain’t done[61] nothin’; so don’t tetch me, Mr. Jackson, for I ain’t had nothin’ to do with it. Lemme go, please!”
Turning to Stephen, Jackson again demanded an explanation. Stephen did not give a “succinct account of the whole proceeding;” but Jackson gathered from his faltering123 confession124 that a trick lay at the bottom of the affair.
“Yes, I understand it all,” Jackson replied; “but I don’t see your motive. Well, little boy, I might put you to considerable inconvenience; but it’s so capital a joke—so deep, so surprising, so silly—that I will let you off. The grudge125 I owe Lawrence is paid now; paid in full.”
This last expression was probably not intended for Steve’s ears; but he overheard it, and asked, with a start, “What about Mr. Lawrence, sir?”
“‘Lawrence,’ eh? Nothing about him; except that he must settle with you. That’s one reason why I’m letting you off. Yes, just take your bill and your story to him; for its his place to deal with you.”
“I—I don’t know what you mean,” Steve made answer, becoming more and more perplexed126.
“I see that we don’t understand each other very well. I don’t know why you put his donkey into this well; and you don’t know—well, what? You seem puzzled about something; but when I refer the matter to Mr. Lawrence, I think you’ll find that he will understand it well enough to send for a magistrate127. Then come a lawsuit128 and all sorts of good things.”
When a youthful offender129 or an ignorant person was the object of his resentment130, this man loved to enlarge on the terrors of the law; but when he himself was the culprit, he shrank from the bare mention of the word.
“His donkey, did you say?” Steve said, utterly confounded. “Oh! please to tell me what you mean!”
“I mean what I’m talking about. You know, of course, the donkey in that well belongs to Mr. Lawrence; you know, of course, he pastures both donkeys in this field, which is leased to me. He will show you that you can’t make a plaything of his donkeys, and to-morrow you will be wanted. If this maltreated beast belonged to me, I would have ample satisfaction!” savagely131.
[62]
“I see your mates have left you,” he continued. “Well, I hope you will enjoy yourself here with the donkeys. I should like to stop and see the sport; but I can’t, I must go on. You had better haul the donkey out—if you can. Of course, I’ve no time to help you; and it’s no concern of mine, anyway; so, good night! Hurrah132! your rope is out of your reach! This is an interesting case indeed! Well, you and your little friend there can amuse yourselves by endeavoring to adjust matters. You won’t be entirely133 alone; for the quadrupeds grazing in this field will occasionally come and gape134 at you. The moon will soon be up; appeal to it!”
Then, with a mocking bow, he turned on his heel and made off, leaving Stephen alone with his troubles.
And this was the retaliation135 which Steve had planned so craftily136! How wretchedly his scheme had failed! Instead of imprisoning137 Jackson’s donkey, he had imprisoned138 that of his friend Mr. Lawrence. Truly, here was a case that called for many interjections—for more, in fact, than hapless Steve could muster7.
And he had been detected in the very act. What would be the consequences? Would those dark threats of Jackson’s be put into execution? What penalties might the law inflict139 on him? What did the Law say about feloniously dumping another man’s donkey into a disused well, anyway? Alas! Steve did not know.
But, oh! comforting thought! Jackson plainly did not suspect anybody of playing a trick on him. And it was well for Stephen that it was so, as a suspicion of the truth would have stirred up the waspish old blusterer’s fury.
“O dear!” groaned Steve, “I wish I was at home! I wish I hadn’t done it! I wish—O dear! Well, I will never have anything more to do with those mean sneaks140. Why couldn’t they have stuck by me? Now they’ll go and spread it all over, and what will people think of me? What will become of me? Well, I shall be laughed at for a month, that’s very certain.”
This doleful soliloquy manifests that Stephen was but a boy, and that he was but human. A man’s great care is (or should be) to guard his reputation: a boy’s great[63] care is to keep from becoming a laughing-stock. This is a bug-bear which haunts him (the boy) from the day when masculine apparel is first girded on him, and which prompts him to do many things that, to his elders, are foolish and incomprehensible. It is for this reason that a well-organized boy, however learned he may be, prefers to use simple words of Anglo-Saxon origin, when he knows he could make his meaning clearer by using Latin polysyllables.
But Steve’s disquieting speculations141 were interrupted by Pat, who whispered warily, “Is he gone?”
Now, Steve did not know that this is a polite expression, and he answered snappishly, “Yes, he has gone.”
This was good news to little Pat. Forgetting that he had just been accusing Stephen to Mr. Jackson, he began beseechingly142: “Lemme out, Steve! Lemme out, that’s a good boy. I al’ays knowed you was a good boy, Steve, didn’t I? Lemme out now, and I’ll do anythin’ fur you.”
This reminded Stephen of the labor68 that lay before him. How was he to get hold of the rope? The one could not climb up the sides of the well; the other could not climb down; all the cords were bound on the ass.
However, Stephen searched his pockets carefully, and lighted on a new and strong fish-line, with a fish-hook affixed143. The fish-line was not long enough to reach down to Pat; but by noosing144 the end to one of the handspikes that difficulty was removed. There was now direct communication between the two boys. Pat was rather fidgety when he saw the fish-hook dangling145 under his nose, but he caught it fast to the rope, which Stephen carefully and fearfully drew up.
If that fish line had parted, those boys and the writer would have been placed in a sorry plight146.
The rope was no sooner made fast than Pat scrambled147 up it, caught up his shabby coat, and exercised his limbs of locomotion148 so nimbly that he was nearly out of sight before Steve could recover from his amazement. This was a whimsical way of manifesting gratitude149!
“How he scampers150!” Steve muttered. “What a pack of little wretches, and what a mean man Jackson is! I[64] wanted to slide down into the well myself; and those boys know I agreed to let Pat do it on purpose to please him. Well, I’ve done with ragamuffins!—I say,” he bellowed151 to the nimble runaway152, “you needn’t run so fast; I don’t want you: you’re no good, anyway.”
Pat knew that Stephen longed for his help; he knew that a boy, when left in the lurch153, speaks somewhat as Stephen had spoken, and yet Pat hurried on.
Poor Pat! he was not aware that his unique and valued button ring, the fruit of several hours’ toil with boiling water, a broken-bladed knife, and a spoilt file, had been fractured in the well. Unconscious of his loss, he clapped his hands over his mouth, and bleated154 playfully and hideously155.
Stephen now racked his brains to hit upon some feasible plan of taking the donkey out of the well. Suddenly a happy thought struck him. His eyes sparkled with joy. “My stars!” he exclaimed, “I see the very way to do it! I can manage it after all.”
Then he mused on Jackson’s behavior, and another thought occurred to him. “I suppose he believed I couldn’t get either of ’em out of the well. Yes, of course he did; and he thought I should have to go to the village for help. And then I wonder if he’d have set the magistrate and folks after me! Ten to one. Well, I can beat ’em all, and keep out of trouble, too.”
Yes, that was the point. If he had been necessitated156 to seek help, he would have been taught a wholesome157 lesson; but when his own precocity158 suggested a way out of the difficulty, he was only hardened in his mischievousness160, and he admired his great cleverness.
Without further deliberation the deserted and frustrated161 avenger slid down the rope, took the halter and a few straps off the donkey, coiled them around his own neck, and then clambered up.
This was a foolhardy thing for him to do; for if the fastenings of the rope had given way, he and the donkey world have been left to their own resources. But the generality of boys delight in doing such things. With a careless “I’ll risk it,” they rush headlong into danger, day after day.
[65]
Then Steve set about carrying his plans into effect. He sidled up to the other donkey and chased it over the pasturage till the moon rose. This was weary work for him, but at length he caught the donkey, slipped the halter over its head, and led—or rather coaxed—it up to the well.
“Well, old fellow,” he said, addressing his first captive, “I didn’t make any preparations to haul you out, but so much the better. Now, keep your mouth shut, and don’t be afraid, and you’ll be kicking around this field before no time. Now, heave away, boys! Ho! Heave ’er!”
He then pitched on the two lightest planks, exerted all his remaining strength, and placed them so as to form a floor or platform, extending from the transverse bars of his engine to the curb162 of the well. Thus half the well’s mouth was covered.
Next, the donkey last caught was hitched163 to the rope, and by dint164 of entreaty165, induced to draw its yoke-fellow out of the gloomy prison.
“Saved!” cried Stephen, in tragic166 accents, as he turned both donkeys loose. “Saved! And I have saved you!”
And then he fell to turning summersets, chuckling167, and disporting168 himself like a noodle. “Oh! this is fun!” he said.
A heavy fall brought the boy to his senses; and without more ado he gathered up his belongings169 and began to whistle “Yankee Doodle,” as only a boy whose conscience is tranquillized can whistle it.
The would-be avenger had expended170 so much of his strength that he was not in a condition to attempt to replace the rest of the planks, or to carry home his beloved pulley.
“Mr. Jackson may arrange those planks himself,” he muttered. “As for the pulley—well,” with a last fond backward glance, “I suppose he’ll knock it up into kindling-wood.”
It was late when Stephen reached home that night. Notwithstanding his proneness171 to be mischievous159 and to play monkey tricks, he was free from deceit and he was not deficient172 in moral courage. As soon as he and his[66] mother were alone, he made a clean breast of it, then walked off to bed, with tears in his eyes, but loving his mother better than ever.
Although Mr. Jackson, while returning through the field that night, should have precipitated173 himself into the half-open well, there to perish miserably174, yet he did not. The writer does not thirst for the blood of his villains175; but—lest he should be accounted utterly devoid176 of common sense—the following statement is offered, by way of consolation177, for the punctilious178 readers perusal:—
Whilst replacing the planks, which were permeated179 with humidity, he contracted a catarrhal cold, which did not yield to the apothecary’s patent medicines till the next spring.
When Mr. Lawrence heard the particulars of Stephen’s prank180, and the “motive,” he laughed heartily181.
Of course the peace-officers did not gain or lose by the affair; and Steve observed oracularly, “I knew he was only fooling. He didn’t scare me a bit!”
It is not necessary to waste time in tracing Jackson’s career further—in fact, as he never annoyed our heroes again, he may as well be formally thrown overboard now.
It was hoped that this experience would have a wholesome and lasting182 effect on Stephen. Alas, no! Stephen Goodfellow was one of the many irrepressible incorrigibles that flourish in this country.
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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swoop
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| n.俯冲，攫取；v.抓取，突然袭击 | |
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villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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loon
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| n.狂人 | |
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mustered
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的过去式和过去分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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squad
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| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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saucy
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| adj.无礼的；俊俏的；活泼的 | |
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wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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ass
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| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
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convoked
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| v.召集，召开（会议）( convoke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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enjoined
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| v.命令( enjoin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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avenger
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| n. 复仇者 | |
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intrepidly
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| adv.无畏地，勇猛地 | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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strap
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| n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎 | |
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straps
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| n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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25
cedar
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| n.雪松，香柏(木) | |
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26
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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27
lank
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| adj.瘦削的；稀疏的 | |
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poising
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| 使平衡( poise的现在分词 )； 保持（某种姿势）； 抓紧； 使稳定 | |
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29
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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levies
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| （部队）征兵( levy的名词复数 )； 募捐； 被征募的军队 | |
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31
huddling
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| n. 杂乱一团, 混乱, 拥挤 v. 推挤, 乱堆, 草率了事 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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33
atrocities
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| n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪 | |
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34
martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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35
minions
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| n.奴颜婢膝的仆从( minion的名词复数 )；走狗；宠儿；受人崇拜者 | |
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36
warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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jauntily
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| adv.心满意足地；洋洋得意地；高兴地；活泼地 | |
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38
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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40
planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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41
toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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42
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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43
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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44
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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45
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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46
surmount
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| vt.克服；置于…顶上 | |
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47
efficiently
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| adv.高效率地，有能力地 | |
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48
apex
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| n.顶点，最高点 | |
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49
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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50
propped
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| 支撑，支持，维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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51
revolved
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| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
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52
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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53
elongated
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| v.延长，加长( elongate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
trespassing
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| [法]非法入侵 | |
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55
domains
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| n.范围( domain的名词复数 )；领域；版图；地产 | |
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56
retaliate
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| v.报复，反击 | |
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57
avenging
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|
| adj.报仇的，复仇的v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的现在分词 )；为…报复 | |
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58
warty
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| adj.有疣的，似疣的；瘤状 | |
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59
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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60
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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61
agile
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| adj.敏捷的，灵活的 | |
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62
seizure
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| n.没收；占有；抵押 | |
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63
adroitly
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| adv.熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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64
tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66
compliance
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| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
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67
belabored
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| v.毒打一顿( belabor的过去式和过去分词 )；责骂；就…作过度的说明；向…唠叨 | |
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68
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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69
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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70
hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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71
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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72
blisters
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| n.水疱( blister的名词复数 )；水肿；气泡 | |
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73
bruises
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| n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 ) | |
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74
scurvy
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| adj.下流的，卑鄙的，无礼的；n.坏血病 | |
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75
harangue
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| n.慷慨冗长的训话，言辞激烈的讲话 | |
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76
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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77
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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78
foully
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| ad.卑鄙地 | |
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79
conjured
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| 用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 )； 祈求，恳求； 变戏法； （变魔术般地） 使…出现 | |
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80
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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81
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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82
disquieting
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| adj.令人不安的，令人不平静的v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的现在分词 ) | |
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83
disquiet
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| n.担心，焦虑 | |
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84
repented
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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85
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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86
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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87
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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88
remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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89
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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90
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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91
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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92
myriad
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| adj.无数的；n.无数，极大数量 | |
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93
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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94
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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95
presentiment
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| n.预感，预觉 | |
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96
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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97
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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98
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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99
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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100
scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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101
rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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102
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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103
bray
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| n.驴叫声, 喇叭声；v.驴叫 | |
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104
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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105
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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106
bellowing
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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107
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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108
shrilly
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| 尖声的； 光亮的，耀眼的 | |
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109
swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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110
outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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111
redoubtable
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| adj.可敬的；可怕的 | |
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112
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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113
demons
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| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
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114
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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115
risible
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| adj.能笑的；可笑的 | |
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116
meddle
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| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
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117
surmises
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的第三人称单数 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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118
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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119
reverberated
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| 回响，回荡( reverberate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使反响，使回荡，使反射 | |
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120
boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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121
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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122
timorous
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| adj.胆怯的，胆小的 | |
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123
faltering
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| 犹豫的，支吾的，蹒跚的 | |
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124
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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125
grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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126
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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127
magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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128
lawsuit
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| n.诉讼，控诉 | |
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129
offender
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| n.冒犯者，违反者，犯罪者 | |
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130
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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131
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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132
hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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133
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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134
gape
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| v.张口，打呵欠，目瞪口呆地凝视 | |
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135
retaliation
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| n.报复，反击 | |
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136
craftily
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| 狡猾地，狡诈地 | |
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137
imprisoning
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| v.下狱，监禁( imprison的现在分词 ) | |
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138
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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139
inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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140
sneaks
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| abbr.sneakers (tennis shoes) 胶底运动鞋（网球鞋）v.潜行( sneak的第三人称单数 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状 | |
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141
speculations
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| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
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142
beseechingly
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| adv. 恳求地 | |
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143
affixed
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| adj.[医]附着的，附着的v.附加( affix的过去式和过去分词 )；粘贴；加以；盖（印章） | |
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144
noosing
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| v.绞索，套索( noose的现在分词 ) | |
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145
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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146
plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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147
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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148
locomotion
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| n.运动，移动 | |
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149
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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150
scampers
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| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的第三人称单数 ) | |
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151
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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152
runaway
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| n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的 | |
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153
lurch
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| n.突然向前或旁边倒；v.蹒跚而行 | |
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154
bleated
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| v.（羊，小牛）叫( bleat的过去式和过去分词 )；哭诉；发出羊叫似的声音；轻声诉说 | |
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155
hideously
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| adv.可怕地，非常讨厌地 | |
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156
necessitated
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| 使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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157
wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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158
precocity
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| n.早熟，早成 | |
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159
mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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160
mischievousness
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| 恶作剧 | |
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161
frustrated
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| adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
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162
curb
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| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
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163
hitched
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| （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上 | |
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164
dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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165
entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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166
tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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167
chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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168
disporting
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| v.嬉戏，玩乐，自娱( disport的现在分词 ) | |
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169
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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170
expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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171
proneness
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| n.俯伏，倾向 | |
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172
deficient
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| adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的 | |
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173
precipitated
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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174
miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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175
villains
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| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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176
devoid
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| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
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177
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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178
punctilious
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| adj.谨慎的，谨小慎微的 | |
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179
permeated
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| 弥漫( permeate的过去式和过去分词 )； 遍布； 渗入； 渗透 | |
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180
prank
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| n.开玩笑，恶作剧；v.装饰；打扮；炫耀自己 | |
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181
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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182
lasting
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| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
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