The worst was over. Fritz was done. The stranglehold of the British fleet had paralysed the most highly-trained military nation in the world, and now the civilian8 armies of Britain, France, and the United States were reaping the benefit, and were steadily9 driving the Hun towards the Rhine. No longer was it possible—thanks to the ever-increasing efficiency of the R.A.F.—for German machines to bomb the capital of the British Empire, or even to make "cut-and-run" raids upon the south-eastern ports. Outclassed and outnumbered, Fritz was a back number on land, on the sea, and in the air.
There were constant rumours10 of the Huns clamouring for an armistice11, and the fear of an armistice filled the Allies with alarm. They felt themselves in the position of a man who, having caught a burglar on his premises12, is compelled to hand the criminal over to be tried by a notoriously lenient13 judge. They realized that Germany might come to terms that would undo14 the result of four years' fighting. The diplomat15 would upset the carefully-laid plans of the soldier; therefore it was imperative16 to continue to strike hard while there was yet time.
From the North Sea to the Swiss frontier the German line had cracked. British and Belgian troops were in possession of Bruges; Ypres was no longer a salient; Cambrai, the scene of a grave reverse that paved the way for a gigantic German offensive, was in British hands; the French had overrun the debatable Chemin des Dames17 and had put Rheims beyond the range of the German heavy artillery18; Big Bertha and her sisters could no longer disturb the equanimity19 of the citizens of Paris; while the Americans had flattened20 out the Saint Mihiel salient, and were enveloping21 the fortress22 of Metz. After years of trench23 warfare24, the news seemed too good to be true.
Secret orders taken on the captured ground gave abundant evidence of the effect of the predominating weight of the Allies. Frantic25 appeals for reserves and munitions—appeals that, read between the lines, showed a mistrust between German officers and men—orders for the strictest conservation of shells; these and a hundred other signs told of the crisis through which Imperial Germany was passing—a crisis which was bound to tell against her.
Derek Daventry's period off duty was of short duration. In the circumstances he reckoned himself lucky to have twelve hours, most of which he spent in sleeping soundly. In those strenuous26 times, when every available man and machine had to spend hours in the air with but brief intervals27 of rest, it was only through sheer exhaustion28 that pilots and observers were excused duty.
He was off again at five in the morning, flying in another EG machine, almost identical with his much-regretted No. 19. The biplanes composing the "flight" were ordered to harass29 the Germans holding a series of defensive30 works at a distance of about five miles farther back than the ground captured by the tanks on the previous day.
In the present phase of the operations the employment of tanks was out of the question. Tanks are capable of surmounting33 many obstacles; those they cannot surmount32 they can frequently demolish34; but the mastodons have their limits. They don't like marshy35, boggy36 ground; while a canal or river offers an impassable barrier unless a bridge is available.
Eight hundred yards in front of the Huns' position ran a broad canal, seventy-four feet in width and six feet in depth. Every swing-bridge had been blown up and the lock-gates destroyed.
Earlier in the day British and French infantry38, under cover of a strong artillery-barrage, had succeeded in crossing the canal by means of pontoons, and had established themselves securely on the opposite bank; but so severe was the German machine-gun fire that the advance was held up and the troops compelled to dig themselves in.
Already thousands of sand-bags were being dropped into the canal to form a means of getting the tanks across, but a considerable time would necessarily elapse before the work, carried out under fire, could be perfected; while it was evident, from the determined39 resistance of the enemy, that the attackers were being held up by a crack Prussian division.
The attacking 'planes flew well to the east of their objective, and, turning, bore down, with the light of the rising sun well behind them. It meant flying against the wind, but when engaged in raking a trench, speed is not of paramount40 importance.
Five thousand feet above the machine-gunning biplanes hovered41 a squadron of battleplanes, ready at the first appearance of a Hun to swoop42 down and wipe him out of existence should he have the temerity43 to attack. But not a German machine showed itself, and the huge battleplanes had to be content with affording moral support to their smaller sisters of the air.
The German infantry had no stomach for the swift death that threatened from the sky. At the first appearance of the biplanes, the field-greys promptly44 abandoned their fire-steps and dived into their dug-outs. This was hardly what the British airmen expected, since it is to little purpose to fire thousands of rounds of small-arm ammunition45 into an empty trench.
Almost simultaneously46 three batteries of Archies opened fire, and soon the biplanes were rocking, lurching, and side-slipping in the air-eddies caused by the bursting shrapnel.
It was now the battleplanes' opportunity. Leaving two of their number to wireless47 the news that the enemy trench was no longer held, the remainder dived steeply at the troublesome anti-air-craft batteries. Although one British machine was shot down completely out of control, the remainder attained48 their objectives. With bombs of terrific explosive power they wiped the Archies out of existence, and then proceeded to drop more bombs upon the dug-outs in order to induce Fritz to bolt from his lair49.
Meanwhile the British infantry were advancing in open order with fixed50 bayonets and preceded by bombers51. Viewed from aloft, the movement lacked vigour52. A battle photograph, taken from an aeroplane, is a very tame picture compared with the results obtained by daring cinematographers, who frequently film the process of "going over the top". The absence of sound—or rather the drowning of it by the roar of the engine—the grotesque53 foreshortening of the figures, and their relatively54 slow rate of progress all fail to convey any picturesque55 aspect of a modern battle when observed from a machine flying high overhead.
Derek was describing a series of circles, ready to traverse the line of trenches56 at an instant's notice, when he saw a sight that bore testimony57 to the stubborn nature of the Prussian infantryman. It was not without a set purpose that the German High Command had manned this sector58 with picked troops. Apparently59 the underground works were of a very extensive nature, and concealed60 not only the troops presumably in the trench, but very stiff reserves as well. At a signal, the Prussians issued in swarms61 from their subterranean62 retreats. Along the parapet flashed a crackling line of fire, as machine-guns by scores and hundreds of rifles loosed their leaden hail upon the advancing khaki troops.
No living creature could last for long in that fire-swept zone. The ground was dotted with dead and wounded, many of the latter still using their rifles against their foes63. Individual courage was of no avail against the diabolical65 scientific devices of the Huns, who used petrol-bomb, flame-thrower, and poison-gas with horrible effect.
Stolidly66 the khaki-clad infantry retired67 to their former positions. Here, on the defensive, and with their backs to the broad canal, they must wait and sit tight until heavy artillery and tanks turned the scale of battle.
It was a chance for the airmen. Up and down, often at less than twenty feet above the densely-packed German lines, they flew, their machine-guns cutting broad swaths in the field-grey masses. Often hidden in clouds of smoke, risking collision with other British machines, the biplanes soared and swooped68 until red-hot guns and empty ammunition-trays called a halt.
Derek had just fired his last round, and was preparing to climb and fly back for more ammunition, when, like a blow from a titanic69 hammer, a fragment of shell shattered the swiftly-revolving blades of the propeller70. Other pieces of flying metal severed71 the aileron-controls, cut jagged rents in the doped canvas fabric72, and damaged the tail planes.
Switching off the now useless motor, which had begun to race furiously, Derek vainly endeavoured to glide73 back to the other side of the canal. The effort was beyond the power of the crippled 'bus. It was evident that, if not exactly out of control, there was very little tractability74 in its nature.
"She's bound to crash," thought Derek. "Hope to goodness I can get clear of Fritz's line."
In spite of imminent75 peril76, and the possibility of a tremendous crash, the young pilot's nerve did not desert him. Bullets were flying past in showers of metal, for nothing pleases the Hun better than to riddle77 a tricolour-circled machine that is falling helplessly to earth.
The actual fall was of short duration, although to Derek it seemed of interminable length. He mentally marked the spot where the ill-fated machine would crash—a shell-pitted piece of ground about one hundred and twenty yards from the first-line German trench.
"Now for it!" muttered Derek, as the ground appeared to rise to greet the disabled mechanical bird. "What an unholy mess of things there'll be!"
Relaxing his hold of the now useless joy-stick, and unfastening his quick-release belt, Derek raised both hands above his head, grasped and bore down the muzzle78 of his after machine-gun. Then, sliding under the decking of the fuselage, he waited.
With a thud that shook every bone and muscle of his body, and well-nigh wrenched79 his arms from their sockets80, the biplane struck the ground obliquely81 and nose first. The under-carriage splintered into matchwood, while both tyres burst with reports like that of a six-pounder gun. Then, rearing until the damaged tail stood completely on end, the distorted fuselage poised82 in the air like a grotesque obelisk83, while the pilot, shaken and bruised84, but otherwise unhurt, scrambled85 as quickly as he could from the wreckage and literally86 rolled into a shell-hole.
For some considerable time Derek lay motionless, listening to the rattle87 of musketry and machine-gun fire, and the crackling of his burning 'bus, until the increasing heat compelled him to make for another crater88.
Somewhat to his surprise, he found that he could move; he could even have walked, but for the fact that it was highly desirable to keep close to Mother Earth. So close together were the craters89 that at one place their lips interlocked and formed a shallow gap. Through this passage Derek began to make his way, noiselessly and stealthily.
If he had hoped to escape detection by the alert and vengeful Huns, he was vastly mistaken. Already streams of bullets from half a dozen machine-guns were playing upon the calcined earth that formed the rims90 of the craters, while bombs were being lobbed into the burning debris91 of the crashed biplane on the off-chance of "doing in" the pilot should he have escaped being battered92 to death by the fall.
Even as he crawled a hot searing pain swept across his forehead. Involuntarily he clapped one hand to his eye. His fingers were wet with a warm fluid. It was his blood welling from a wound. A machine-gun bullet had inflicted93 a clean gash94 on the lower part of his forehead, completely cutting away the left eyebrow95. It was a mere96 scratch, but very painful, the worst result being the flow of blood that, running into his eyes, temporarily blinded him.
It was some moments before Derek realized the comparatively slight nature of his wound. Many a man has been hit in action, and regarded his wound as slight when he has actually been hit in a vital spot. Numerous instances have been recorded of a mortally-wounded man "carrying on" in ignorance of the fact that in a very few moments his name will have to be added to the list of "killed in action". On the other hand, there have been cases of men but slightly hit, writhing97 and squealing98 and moaning in the genuine belief that their "number is up".
Finding himself hit, Derek lay motionless, his face buried in the soft earth. Presently the hot stabbing pain diminished. A sense of numbness99 that was almost soothing100, compared with the searing throb101 of the bullet-wound, began to assert itself. Even the cold ground seemed like a downy pillow.
The while Fritz in the nearmost trench was indefatigable102 in his efforts to complete the strafing of the crashed pilot. Thousands of pounds of machine-gun ammunition were practically thrown away in sweeping103 the dun-brown ridge37 of earth that encircled Derek's place of concealment104. Bombs, too, were continually being thrown, only to explode harmlessly in the crumbling105, carbonized soil, for beyond sundry106 and various showers of dirt, the effect of these missiles was negligible.
A quarter of an hour elapsed. Then Derek bestirred himself. It was not the thought that he was lying in a somewhat exposed position, and that a safer retreat in the bottom of the second crater was within a few yards, that urged him to move. It was the sudden realization107 that every second he was lying with an open wound in contact with the earth he was running the greatest possible risk of septic poisoning from the highly impure108 soil. He had known several cases where men with chilblains had knocked the open sores against the side of a trench, and the momentary109 contact with the septic soil had been sufficient to cause acute blood-poisoning, resulting, in several instances, in loss of a limb. On the other hand, the extreme velocity110 of a bullet generates heat to such a degree that the missile is sterilized111 before it hits a man, and, provided that no vital spot is touched, the chances of complications arising from a bullet-wound are very slight. With shell-wounds there is a difference. Minute particles of German shells frequently cause slight wounds that, unless carefully treated, become septic.
Derek freely admitted to himself that he "had the wind up" over the possibilities of tetanus. Even as he resumed his tedious crawl he incautiously showed the top of his head above the frail112 cover afforded by the ridge. The Huns, quick to perceive something in motion, swept the spot with their machine-guns. As a result Daventry ducked, but not before there were three or four bullet-rents in his leather flying-cap, while his triplex goggles113, which he had pushed back just before he had been hit, were cut away by a piece of metal.
Into the second crater he dropped, his legs buried above the knees of his fleece-lined flying-boots in the soft soil. Here he was relatively safe. He sat up and took stock of his surroundings: a circular sloping wall of debris descending114 to a pool of stagnant115 water eleven feet below the ordinary ground level. Here and there were coils of rusty116 barbed wire and the remains117 of calcined posts, while a Hun's "Dolly Varden" tin hat, sporting a bullet-hole front and back, and a battered dixie, alone served to break the monotony of the limited expanse of landscape.
Derek's wound was still bleeding freely. He made no attempt to staunch the flow, knowing that there was a chance of the cut cleansing118 itself. His old 'bus had practically burnt itself out. The fierce flames were succeeded by a thick, oily smoke that drifted in clouds across the crater and eddied119 down the slope, as if reluctant to soar and dissolve in the comparatively pure air above. It was with the greatest difficulty that the pilot managed to refrain from coughing. Temporarily the musketry-fire had ceased and comparative silence reigned120. Any noise coming from the crater would inevitably121 betray the presence of a yet-living man to the vigilant122 Huns. Yet, on the other hand, the smoke was of service. It acted as a screen and prevented the Germans seeing their foes; and behind this pall123 of smoke fresh British troops were massing for another attack, while the methods adopted for bridging the canal for the passage of the tanks were being carried out at high pressure.
Then ensued a tedious period of inactivity. Both British and German guns were firing desultorily124, the former putting over heavy stuff, while the Huns contented125 themselves by "watering" the back-areas with high-velocity shells of medium calibre. Overhead British aeroplanes passed and repassed—big bombing-machines, intent on their ceaseless task of harrying126 Fritz's lines of communication.
The crashed pilot was now almost unmolested. The tic-tac of the German machine-guns had ceased, but, with their customary cunning, the Huns would, after a period of inactivity, suddenly send over a number of bombs. As long as they had the faintest suspicion that somebody was alive in the crater they meant to continue the strafing. A remorseless resentment127 towards the British airman who had so effectually machine-gunned their trenches urged them to complete their task of wiping out the cause of their discomfiture128. Just as likely as not, the moment darkness set in Fritz would dispatch a party to search thoroughly129 the scene of the biplane's crash. Fervently130 Derek hoped that the tanks would be in action before night fell.
The misty131 sun sank lower and lower in the western sky. Steadily and stealthily the shadow of the lip of the crater rose higher and higher upon the opposite slope. Evening mists were rising from the dank, unwholesome soil. Then, as the sun set, away to the north-east, and again to the south-west, a steady rumble132, and the glare of numerous searchlights and star-shells, betokened133 considerable activity; while behind the German lines the sky glowered134 in the light of dozens of burning ammunition-dumps. Notwithstanding the determined resistance offered in this sector of the line, the Germans were preparing for a further retreat and abandonment of ground implacably held by them for more than four long years.
Listening intently, Derek heard slight, but unmistakable sounds of movement in the Hun trenches. Keenly alive to his chances of being carried off as a prisoner by a raiding-party, the pilot began to climb on hands and knees up the slippery, sliding soil of the crater in the direction of the British lines. It was a dangerous business, for, in the open, he would be exposed to the fire from friend and foe64, but that was preferable to being hauled off to a German prison camp.
Literally worming his way, Derek slid over the top of the crater and gained the comparatively level ground beyond. Here he lay, inert135 and silent, his ears strained to catch the faintest sound. He was not mistaken. Even as he was crawling from his place of concealment a number of Huns were, with equal caution, descending into the crater to search for a possible prisoner.
"I'll have a say in the matter," thought Derek, as he loosened his automatic-pistol in its holster. "If they wander round this way I'll give them a few rounds and then run for it. There'll be a risk of being strafed by our own people, but that's preferable to being done in by a Boche."
Fortunately the necessity of having to use his pistol did not arise, for the Huns, having made a survey of the wreckage of the EG machine and the interior of the two craters, were evidently satisfied. No doubt they were "jumpy", groping about in the darkness, for after a few minutes they cleared off as silently as they came.
Waiting for another quarter of an hour Derek resumed his way on all fours towards the British trenches. It was a tedious journey, for wherever, as frequently happened, a star-shell lit up the ground he had to remain immobile, simulating one of the many corpses136 that littered the ground. The slightest movement would have brought down a hail of machine-gun bullets and possibly a few unpleasantly-accurate rifle-shots from the alert Tommies, and, having gone thus far, Derek was becoming more and more anxious not to receive these attentions.
At length he reached a shell-hole within ten yards of the hastily-improvised parapet of sand-bags. Here he lay listening to the men conversing137 in low tones. Much of their language was lurid138, but nevertheless it was like music to hear English voices again after hours of mental and bodily tension.
He whistled softly. Then a voice hissed139 out a challenge.
"It's all right," replied Derek. "I'm one of the R.A.F. Can I make a dash for it?"
A consultation140 between several of the men followed, then a voice spoke141:
"In you come. Take your chance; but Heaven help you if you try any monkey-tricks. We'll riddle you."
The pilot waited till the blinding glare of a star-shell gave place to opaque142 darkness. Then, judging his direction, he made his way to the line of sandbags and crawled over the top.
Into the trench he rolled, to find himself confronted by the dull gleam of a bayonet.
"Looks all right, Sergeant," reported one of the men.
"Maybe," replied a non-com. "At anyrate take him along to the Platoon-Commander."
The subaltern was frankly143 sympathetic.
"You've had a rotten time, old man," he observed. "We'll send you back as soon as poss. There'll be a tender waiting on the other side of the canal, and you'll be in the dressing144-station in half a jiffy. Risky145 work, yours."
"I wouldn't change jobs," replied Derek, striving to raise a smile, but disastrously146. It was a difficult matter to use his facial muscles when an eyebrow was missing. "Yours is a sticky business, and, by Jove! a fellow can't help admiring the infantry. They've all the hard work to do."
"Collar-work, perhaps," agreed the Platoon-Commander. "But the way you fellows do stunts147 over Jerry's lines gives me the creeps."
"Safe enough," protested Derek, "except, of course, when Fritz gets one in with his Archibalds. I'm going in for a soft job after the war."
"What's that?" enquired148 the infantry officer.
"Flying," replied the R.A.F. officer. "You mark my words, it'll be one of the safest things going. I think I'll sign on as pilot to a fat city alderman. Take him every day from Hyde Park to the Mansion149 House in a 240-h.p. Scout150. Jolly sight healthier than skidding151 all over the shop in a car."
"Glad you think so," rejoined the subaltern. "Well, here you are. This Corporal will guide you past our reserve trenches. Good luck!"
Without mishap152 Derek followed the Corporal through the maze153 of hostile-constructed trenches and across the canal by means of a barrier of sandbags covered with "corduroyed" timber. In a sunken lane were several A.S.C. motor-vehicles which had just brought up the rations31.
"Here you are, sir!" exclaimed the Corporal. "This tender's just off."
"Not so fast, mate," protested the driver, who was sweating profusely154 in his efforts to start the engine. "She's a fair mule155. Come and bear a hand."
Even as the obliging Corporal grasped the cranking-handle a shell burst within twenty yards of the stationary156 motor-vehicle. Derek ducked involuntarily as he felt the blast of the explosion and the screech157 of the flying fragments. He was untouched, but the luckless Corporal was lying motionless on the ground, while the driver of the tender was swearing softly as he fumbled158 for his first-aid dressing.
"I've copped it, sir," he reported. "Got it somewhere in the thigh159. It's a Blighty for me, I reckon."
He paused, then, producing a knife, began to cut away his clothing with the deftness160 acquired by experimenting on his comrades.
"Now if I could get hold of a mate to start her up," he continued ruminatingly, "I'd soon drive the pair o' us to the dressing-station."
"I'll have a shot at it," volunteered Derek, and grasping the handle he swung it vigorously.
The next instant he was nursing a broken arm.
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1
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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3
wreckage
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| n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏 | |
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toll
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| n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟) | |
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drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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inviolate
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| adj.未亵渎的，未受侵犯的 | |
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invader
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| n.侵略者，侵犯者，入侵者 | |
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civilian
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| adj.平民的，民用的，民众的 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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armistice
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| n.休战，停战协定 | |
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premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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lenient
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| adj.宽大的，仁慈的 | |
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14
undo
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| vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销 | |
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diplomat
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| n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人 | |
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imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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dames
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| n.（在英国）夫人（一种封号），夫人（爵士妻子的称号）( dame的名词复数 )；女人 | |
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artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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equanimity
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| n.沉着，镇定 | |
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flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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enveloping
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的现在分词 ) | |
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fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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trench
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| n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕 | |
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warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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harass
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| vt.使烦恼，折磨，骚扰 | |
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defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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surmount
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| vt.克服；置于…顶上 | |
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surmounting
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| 战胜( surmount的现在分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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demolish
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| v.拆毁(建筑物等)，推翻(计划、制度等) | |
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marshy
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| adj.沼泽的 | |
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boggy
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| adj.沼泽多的 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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paramount
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| a.最重要的，最高权力的 | |
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41
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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42
swoop
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| n.俯冲，攫取；v.抓取，突然袭击 | |
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43
temerity
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| n.鲁莽，冒失 | |
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44
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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45
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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46
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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47
wireless
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| adj.无线的；n.无线电 | |
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48
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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49
lair
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| n.野兽的巢穴；躲藏处 | |
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50
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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51
bombers
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| n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟 | |
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52
vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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53
grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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54
relatively
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| adv.比较...地，相对地 | |
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55
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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56
trenches
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| 深沟，地沟( trench的名词复数 )； 战壕 | |
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57
testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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58
sector
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| n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形 | |
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59
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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60
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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61
swarms
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| 蜂群，一大群( swarm的名词复数 ) | |
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62
subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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63
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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64
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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65
diabolical
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| adj.恶魔似的，凶暴的 | |
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66
stolidly
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| adv.迟钝地，神经麻木地 | |
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67
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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68
swooped
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| 俯冲，猛冲( swoop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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69
titanic
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| adj.巨人的，庞大的，强大的 | |
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70
propeller
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| n.螺旋桨，推进器 | |
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71
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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72
fabric
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| n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织 | |
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73
glide
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| n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝 | |
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74
tractability
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| 温顺，易处理，易加工的东西 | |
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75
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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76
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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77
riddle
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| n.谜，谜语，粗筛；vt.解谜，给…出谜，筛，检查，鉴定，非难，充满于；vi.出谜 | |
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78
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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79
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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80
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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81
obliquely
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| adv.斜； 倾斜； 间接； 不光明正大 | |
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82
poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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83
obelisk
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| n.方尖塔 | |
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84
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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85
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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86
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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87
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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88
crater
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| n.火山口，弹坑 | |
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89
craters
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| n.火山口( crater的名词复数 )；弹坑等 | |
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90
rims
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| n.（圆形物体的）边( rim的名词复数 )；缘；轮辋；轮圈 | |
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91
debris
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| n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片 | |
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92
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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93
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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94
gash
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| v.深切，划开；n.(深长的)切(伤)口；裂缝 | |
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95
eyebrow
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| n.眉毛，眉 | |
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96
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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97
writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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98
squealing
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| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的现在分词 ) | |
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99
numbness
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| n.无感觉，麻木，惊呆 | |
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100
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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101
throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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102
indefatigable
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| adj.不知疲倦的，不屈不挠的 | |
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103
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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104
concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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105
crumbling
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| adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
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106
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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107
realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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108
impure
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| adj.不纯净的，不洁的；不道德的，下流的 | |
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109
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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110
velocity
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| n.速度，速率 | |
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111
sterilized
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| v.消毒( sterilize的过去式和过去分词 )；使无菌；使失去生育能力；使绝育 | |
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112
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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113
goggles
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| n.护目镜 | |
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114
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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115
stagnant
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| adj.不流动的，停滞的，不景气的 | |
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116
rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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117
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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118
cleansing
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| n. 净化(垃圾) adj. 清洁用的 动词cleanse的现在分词 | |
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119
eddied
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| 起漩涡，旋转( eddy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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120
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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121
inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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122
vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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123
pall
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| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
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124
desultorily
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| adv. 杂乱无章地, 散漫地 | |
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125
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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126
harrying
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| v.使苦恼( harry的现在分词 )；不断烦扰；一再袭击；侵扰 | |
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127
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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128
discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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129
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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130
fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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131
misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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132
rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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133
betokened
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| v.预示，表示( betoken的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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134
glowered
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| v.怒视( glower的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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135
inert
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| adj.无活动能力的，惰性的；迟钝的 | |
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136
corpses
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| n.死尸，尸体( corpse的名词复数 ) | |
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137
conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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138
lurid
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| adj.可怕的；血红的；苍白的 | |
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139
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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140
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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141
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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142
opaque
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| adj.不透光的；不反光的，不传导的；晦涩的 | |
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143
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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144
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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145
risky
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| adj.有风险的，冒险的 | |
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146
disastrously
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| ad.灾难性地 | |
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147
stunts
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| n.惊人的表演( stunt的名词复数 )；（广告中）引人注目的花招；愚蠢行为；危险举动v.阻碍…发育[生长]，抑制，妨碍( stunt的第三人称单数 ) | |
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148
enquired
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| 打听( enquire的过去式和过去分词 )； 询问； 问问题； 查问 | |
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149
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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150
scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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151
skidding
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| n.曳出，集材v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的现在分词 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区 | |
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152
mishap
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| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
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153
maze
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| n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑 | |
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154
profusely
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| ad.abundantly | |
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155
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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156
stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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157
screech
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| n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音 | |
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158
fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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159
thigh
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| n.大腿；股骨 | |
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160
deftness
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