"The chances are," said he, "that, when we do strike it at the lower level, the wash itself will be deeper and wider."
[Pg 67]
This thought was a wonderful incentive10 to them all, for the gold-carrying gravel laid bare in the other workings was scarcely two feet in thickness, and, though its richness was unquestionable, its limited nature was only too apparent. Bob and Jack took their turns in the shaft with great good humour and enthusiasm, and though at first their efforts to penetrate11 the flinty formations encountered were almost unavailing, they quickly acquired the science of the work under the constant guidance of Mackay, who also taught them how to temper their tools for the different kinds of strata12, how to drill holes for the gelignite charges so as to obtain the most efficient results. Their early training especially fitted them for this kind of tuition, and they proved very apt pupils. Mackay, though such a strong man himself, was no advocate of the supremacy13 of muscle even in shaft-sinking.
"Science beats it every time," said he. "Of course, I'm no denyin' that, where baith strength and science are combined there's a wonderfu' advantage, but it doesna often happen that a strong man physically14 is blessed wi' a superabundity o' mental gifts——"
Jack, of course, could not resist the interruption. "We can't allow that from you, sir," in his most sedate15 tones.
Mackay smiled. "I'm vera pleased to have your implied testimonial, Jack," he returned, with twinkling eyes; "but then I was aboot to remark that an exception was needed to prove any rule, an' I was to assume mysel' to be the exception in this case. No, no, mind conquers matter, and that is why you two are just as fitted to pit doon a shaft as the strongest navvy in the country." All of which the boys found to be quite in accordance[Pg 68] with facts when they got accustomed to wielding16 the pick, hammer, and drill.
"Observe any cracks in the formation," their kindly17 instructor18 would call down to them; "attack everything in the lines o' least resistance." And by following his advice to the letter they quickly discovered that gold-mining was by no means as difficult as they had imagined.
Now, just when the first week of their labours had concluded, the shaft was sunk twenty feet; a few more feet would decide whether or not Bob's theory would prove correct.
"I tell you what, mates," said Nuggety Dick that evening, "you were just a bit venturesome in sinking so far from the main workings."
"I don't think so," returned Bob, confidently. "We'll get there all right, Nuggety. Another five feet should do it." And another five feet did do it. Two days later Mackay's pick broke through the covering layer of diorite in the bottom of the shaft, and with a grunt19 of satisfaction he called on Jack, who was at the windlass, to lower the bucket.
"I'm sending up some specimens20," he cried.
Jack gave a howl of delight; hearing which, Bob, who had been reading in the tent, rushed out, and with eyes gleaming with suppressed excitement, hurried to the shaft mouth. He was just in time to assist in the raising of the heavily laden22 bucket. Nearer and nearer it came to the surface. Would the wash be gold-bearing or would it be barren? The boys' agitation23 was intense. Their limbs trembled and their hands could scarcely retain their grip on the windlass arms. Down below stood Mackay, perspiring24 with his arduous25 toil26, watching the[Pg 69] bucket ascend27 with somewhat anxious eyes. The glare of the sun across the shaft's mouth made everything apparent to him, while he himself was obscured from view in the shadows. The bucket had almost reached the top; already Bob had stretched out his hand to grasp it, when a stentorian28 shout from below arrested the movement, and, for a space, the fateful harbinger of good or evil tidings hung motionless.
"Keep a good grip o' your nerves—an' the windlass, lads. Heave away!"
The caution came in time. It suddenly flashed upon them both that a single slip on their part, a momentary29 hesitation30, might prove disastrous31 to their friend below. Again Bob stretched out his hand, his eyes caught the glisten32 of gold, but his grip was sure. Next instant he and Jack were gazing at a whitish mass, through which shone myriad33 dazzling particles of the yellow metal. A few minutes later Mackay was jerked to the surface; there was no hesitancy in the movement of the windlass now; the moment of extreme tension had come and gone. Together they sat down on the sand and examined the specimens one by one without speaking. Then Mackay rose to his feet.
"The theory was right, Bob," he said calmly. "This is the richest stuff on the lead. I don't know how much there is of it yet, but there's enough to make you glad you came out to Australia, anyhow. Run up the flag, Jack," he directed, turning to that youth, who was still joyously34 examining his treasures. "Let Golden Flat know that we three are right here every time." He spoke35 jovially36, yet so quietly, that his words exercised a kind of restraint over his hearers, which he was quick to notice.
[Pg 70]
"Never mind me, my lads," he said. "You've got every reason to rejoice, but you must remember that I'm an old hand at gold digging, an' the yellow dirt doesna mak' me enthuse like it aince did." Truly enough, to this strange Scot of many moods, the excitement and risk attending discovery was everything; he viewed the rich reward likely to be his with almost stoical indifference37. Indeed, he was engaged in a deep philosophical38 argument with Bob concerning the uses and abuses of gold as a factor in the world's history, when the population of Golden Flat arrived in a body to tender their congratulations.
"But in these days," Bob was saying, "not to have gold is held to be almost a proof of one's inferiority. The world does not judge from an intellectual standpoint. It demands wealth. No matter what brains a young man may have at home, the chances are against his ever coming to the front unaided. Gold——" Bob stopped suddenly, having become aware of a growing audience behind him.
From the group old battered39 Dead Broke made grave utterance40.
"I believe your ideas are kerect, Bob; but from what I sees here you can thank your lucky stars that the gold has come to you early in life. Look at me an' Nuggety——"
"An' me," broke in the youthful Shadow, with affected41 mournfulness.
At this stage Jack came forward with a handful of fine gold slugs and coarse dust.
"I've just dollied a few samples," said he, handing his treasure to Mackay. "That should go about twenty ounces to the ton, shouldn't it?"
[Pg 71]
"Nearer two hundred, Jack," returned Mackay, smiling at his eagerness.
"We're jolly glad to know you've struck it, boys," said Nuggety Dick, earnestly. "And we hopes it will be a thicker patch than ours, for, from what I sees, we can work out our claims in less than a month."
"Well, we sunk here on the spec. o' striking it bigger on the rise," said Mackay. "But whether or no we've been successful I canna say just yet."
"I'm going to sink for a deeper patch," growled43 Emu Bill. "I believe we've only got a floater in our claims, an' the true bottom should be further down."
"I'd advise you to work out all the shallow ground first," said Mackay. "You never know when a rush may come sailin' along. Keep stackin' the stuff until we get a battery up; don't trouble dollyin' it—it's only wasting time."
His advice was sound, and was greeted with murmurs44 of assent45. The water supply at the camp was daily becoming less and less; no doubt more could be tapped by sinking a deep shaft, but this would involve considerable delay, and the citizens of Golden Flat were by no means anxious to leave their congenial occupation at so early a period. By roughly grinding the cement-like wash, and rinsing46 off the lighter47 sands, fairly accurate assays48 could be obtained from sample specimens; but to continue such a work on a large scale would drain the soak within a week. The only feasible plan was to excavate49 as much of the gravel as possible in anticipation50 of a crushing battery arriving on the ground, which would surely be there immediately news of the Flat's richness spread abroad. And so the days passed, and the sun beat down fiercely on the[Pg 72] toiling51 band who strove with grim Nature for her treasure. Ever and anon the dull roar of exploding gelignite indicated how man was using the utmost help civilization could give in order to shatter the many refractory52 obstacles in his path.
At the Golden Promise Mine sinking operations were going on very successfully; three feet of the golden conglomerate had been penetrated54, and still there were no signs of the dreaded55 barren pipe-clay formation appearing. Bob's theory had already been proved to be correct. Tons upon tons of rich stone had been raised to the surface. The actual width of the channel was but eight feet; but the amount of cubic contents held in the claim was bound to be several hundred of tons at least, even supposing the drift went no deeper than the already known three feet.
Covered with dust and grime, and blackened by powder smoke, Bob and Jack were working together one morning in the large chamber57 they had made in the lower workings, and Mackay stood patiently by the windlass awaiting the call to raise the boys from the danger below, for they were firing a difficult charge. They had grown quite accustomed to the use of gelignite by this time, and, as Mackay proudly informed Emu Bill, they never once had had a misfire.
On this occasion, however, some delay had occurred owing to the fuse which Mackay had sent down becoming detached from the cap. He always arranged the charges on the surface, calculating the number of plugs required, and the length of fuse necessary, when he finished drilling the holes below, leaving the boys to insert the charges and see them properly fired. At last came the warning from Jack—"All ready!"—as he slipped his foot in the loop of the[Pg 73] wire rope which was hanging in readiness. In a few seconds he was on the surface, while the rope was again rapidly lowered for Bob, who was even then lighting58 a match to apply to the fuse. The two on top heard the match scratch on the box, and immediately thereafter the familiar sputtering59 of the fuse echoed to their ears, but still no sound from Bob! Yet the faint, insidious60 odour of the burning fuse crept up to their nostrils61, and they knew that something had happened. Mackay's face grew livid.
"It's only a sixty seconds' fuse," he muttered hoarsely62. "Stand by the windlass, Jack. I'll slide down the rope."
Jack seemed to awake from a stupor64. "I'm lightest," he cried; and threw himself at the rope without waiting for Mackay to brake the windlass barrel.
The iron arms of the windlass spun65 round, a few more loose coils only remained on the barrel. The brawny66 Scot hesitated not an instant. He rushed at the gyrating bar, and received the shock of the descending67 steel on his bared chest. The windlass rope held firm. Another revolution, and it would have run off the barrel and dashed the boy who clung to its strands68 to a certain death beside his companion. It was all over in a few seconds. Not knowing how his impetuous action had nearly caused certain disaster, Jack slid down the rope with lightning speed, and almost immediately his steady call—"Heave away!"—was heard. And now came the trial of strength where all the science in the world could not assist; only twenty seconds' grace, a double load on the windlass, and twelve plugs of one of the most powerful explosives known beneath! But Mackay was equal to the task. The windlass arm spun round once again, and on the fifteenth second Jack swung[Pg 74] into view, his foot resting in the loop, one lacerated hand grasping tightly at the rope, and supporting in his right arm the blood-dripping form of Bob, his comrade. Mackay reached out his strong arm, and drew them both to safety just as a thunderous explosion occurred which hurled69 tons of massive rocks to the shaft mouth and beyond.
Five minutes later all three were seated in the tent repairing their bruises70, and making sundry71 comments on the occurrence. Bob's face was almost deathly pallid72, and the blood still trickled73 from a deep gash74 in the back of his head; it appeared that just after he had applied75 the match to the fuse a portion of the iron roof of the excavation had given way, hurling76 him unconscious to the ground.
"I remembered no more," said he, "until I found myself in the tent here."
"It was a vera close shave, my lad," said Mackay, with suppressed emotion. "I'm no goin' to expatiate77 on Jack's quick action in the matter, but he maist certainly saved your life. It needed some nerve to gang doon on top o' a burnin' charge o' dynamite78."
Bob smiled affectionately at his companion, and reached out his hand; and Jack, flushing almost guiltily, was forced to show his cruelly torn fingers.
"And, Bob," said he, almost tearfully, "it was Mackay——"
"You stop, right there, youngster," interrupted that gentleman, "I'll tak' nane o' the credit from you. You deserve it a', my lad. I'm proud o' you, I am. Now, I think you'd both be the better o' a rest. I'll go up and see how the other boys are getting on. I hope none o' the grinning hyenas79 noticed anything."
[Pg 75]
But the "grinning hyenas" had noticed, and Mackay met them in a body immediately he went out of the tent. There was the Shadow, Nuggety, Emu Bill, and company hastening forward, dismay showing plainly on their features.
"What's happened, Mac? Any one killed?" they shouted.
"Calm yoursel's, boys, calm yoursel's," adjured80 Mackay, "there's been no serious damage done. But I'll need to timber the roof o' the drive before we do any more work below; a bit o' it fell and gave young Bob a nasty crack on the cranium just as he fired a heavy charge. Jack got him out a' richt, but it vera nearly was a funeral."
Very sincere were the sympathetic expressions of the group. The unassuming attitude of Mackay's mates, as the boys were called, their happy temperament81, had endeared them to the dwellers82 on Golden Flat, and now they trooped into the tent, and, in their rough kindly way, congratulated the pair on their escape, much to Jack's confusion. No truer-hearted men could be found than those battered pioneers of the desert land. Their life amid Nature's grim solitudes83 is one filled with unceasing cares, unseen dangers lurk84 for ever in their lonely path, their stern, set faces are but the result of bush environment which insidiously85 yet surely marks its victims with her stamp of immobility.
"You'll be all right in a day or so, Bob," spoke Nuggety Dick, cheerily, after examining the wound.
"If ye'll let me, I'll take your shift until ye're better," said the Shadow, hesitatingly; "I can't do much in my own shaft now without a mate, it's too deep for me to work alone."
[Pg 76]
Bob thanked him gratefully. "I hate to keep things back," said he, "and if Mackay has no objections——"
"Don't worry about that, Bob," broke in Mackay; "I'll mak' use o' the Shadow until ye are well again, unless he misbehaves vera badly."
That same afternoon a new discovery was made by Emu Bill, which had the effect of raising the excitement of the camp to fever heat. Having continued his shaft down through the supposed bottom of the golden wash in his claim, he suddenly came upon a strange soapy grey deposit, not unlike putty in appearance.
"That proves we hasn't struck bottom yet," was his verdict, as he examined the odd formation keenly; "there's no pipeclay about that, there isn't." Then his eyes blinked and stared and blinked again. "Howlin' blazes," he murmured gently to himself, "this will give the boys a shock, it will." He had carelessly broken a piece of the clayey mass between his finger and thumb, and behold86, the line of fracture showed golden yellow, and in the dim candle-light innumerable dazzling pin-points of colour gleamed throughout the entire specimen21. In a few moments he was on the surface, bearing the cherished find in his hand. "I have got something, Nuggety," said he, addressing his partner, "that shid make ye gasp87."
Nuggety gasped88 in anticipation, then uttered a yell of delight as his eyes beheld89 the glittering specimen.
"Is it a new level, Emu?" he asked eagerly.
Emu Bill nodded. "Round up the boys," said he. "It'll give them mighty90 encouragement to hiv' a look at this here bonanza91." Nuggety rushed away at once, and Bill ventured another gaze at his treasure. But somehow he did not seem to derive92 as much satisfaction from this[Pg 77] observation. "Hang it," he growled, closing his hands tightly over the specimen, "I could ha' sworn I saw more gold than that in it at first."
In a few short minutes he was surrounded by an enthusiastic throng93.
"Nuggety says you've struck a new level, Bill," they cried almost with one voice.
"I hiv' that," said Bill, with calm satisfaction, "an' from what I can see, there'll be thousands o' tons o' the stuff in our grounds, an' it's just crammed94 wi' gold."
He cautiously unclosed his hand, and proffered95 the wonderful stone to Never Never Dave, who examined it keenly, then passed it on to his next neighbour without a word, eyeing Emu Bill reproachfully the while. Strangely enough, no one seemed to appreciate Emu's find but himself; but he smiled and chuckled97 enough for them all. The last man to examine the specimen was Mackay; he was the latest arrival, having been down below, timbering the tunnel in the shaft which had given way so inopportunely, when the great news reached him.
"An' what's this ye've got, Bill?" he said, receiving the fateful fragment from old Dead Broke Dan, who sighed deeply as he handed it over. "What is it you're playin' at?" he demanded, after a first cursory98 glance.
"It's all straight, Mac," broke in Bill, eagerly. "It's a fair sample, an' there' lots more o' it, too."
Mackay eyed the speaker with fast-rising disgust. "Dae you ken56, Emu," said he, slowly, "if it werena for the fact that I got a' the wind squelched99 oot o' me the day, I would lay violent hands on ye for puttin' up such a meeserable joke on your friends."
Poor Emu Bill looked dazed. "Why, what's wrong wi'[Pg 78] the gold?" he asked feebly. "Surely you ain't goin' to tell me I doesn't know gold from iron pyrites——"
"Poor old Emu must ha' got a touch o' the sun to-day," grunted100 Never Never, sympathetically.
With a snort of indignation, Bill clutched back his specimen from Mackay, gave one glance at it, then subsided101 in the sand.
"You're right, boys," he announced from his lowly position in weary dejected tones; "I'm as mad as a hatter."
Not a trace of the yellow metal showed in the stone he now held in his hand.
"I would ha' sworn I saw gold in that stuff," he continued pathetically. "No, no, Emu Bill's finished. Crack me on the head, boys, for Heaven's sake, an' bury me quick."
"An' me too," groaned102 Nuggety. "I saw the gold, as I'm a livin' sinner, I did."
A glint of joy flashed into Bill's eyes at the words, and he struggled to his feet.
"Come down into the shaft, Mackay, and have a look for yourself," he said. "I do believe the curious stuff is so delicate it can't stand the light."
Still somewhat dubious104 about Emu Bill's professed105 honesty of purpose, Mackay was not slow to avail himself of the opportunity of judging for himself whether or not the new formation really did carry visible gold. Then, noting the truly distressed106 countenance107 of his old acquaintance, he relented.
"I believe ye did think ye saw gold, Emu," said he, before placing his foot in the sling108 preparatory to descending the shaft, "an' though I dinna expect to see any[Pg 79] glittering bonanza down below here, I'm sort o' convinced you saw it right enough. It's the sun, Emu, my man; that's what it is."
Bill shook his head feebly; it was all beyond his comprehension.
"I'll come down after you, Mac," he said. "It's a mighty funny stuff, and you need to break it before it shows colour."
By this time every man in the camp was around the windlass; even Bob, with his bandaged head, had put in appearance, and Jack and the Shadow were also there. Quickly the windlass ran out, and deposited Mackay at the new level exposed, and while the rope went up again for Bill he lit a candle and peered cautiously around. He was looking for snakes, the bite of a certain variety of which induces strange hallucinations. Observing nothing in the shape he dreaded, he heaved a sigh of relief, and turned his attention to the soapy-like stratum from which Bill had broken his wonderful specimen. Only a dull grey muddy deposit was visible. With a jerk and a rattle109 the haulage rope came down again, and Emu Bill arrived at his side.
"I see nothing, Bill, my man," grunted Mackay.
Bill said not a word, but, taking his pick, smote110 furiously at the deceiving substance, and as it became disintegrated111 great gleaming streaks112 and sheets and scintillating113 points of gold seemed to show all over it.
"Can ye see anything, Mac?" inquired the wielder114 of the pick, pausing in his labours, and glancing eagerly at his companion.
"I'm simply flabbergasted," came the slow response.[Pg 80] "There seems to be enough gold there to stock a second Bank o' England."
He picked up a piece of the strange formation which showed dazzling yellow lines across its newly broken face, and examined it closely and intently; he rubbed it with his finger, and the brilliance115 vanished.
"We'd better take up some o' the best-looking bits," he suggested.
Bill laughed. "Why, the hanged stuff won't show a colour on top," he said.
But they decided116 to chance it all the same, and accordingly Mackay arrived on the surface bearing the result of his investigations117 tightly wrapped in an old handkerchief, and when the package was opened up a cry of admiration118 broke from all beholders, so beautiful, indeed, did the specimens appear.
A hoarse63 call from the underground interrupted their scrutiny119.
"For Heaven's sake, boys, put a chain on that there mirage120, until I get a look at it."
And while two men went to the windlass and began to haul Bill to the surface, a gradual change began to take place in the nature of the specimens. The yellow sheen grew darker and darker until it shone like bronze, and in this state Bill viewed them on his arrival. Slowly yet surely the bronze shades merged121 into a strangely variegated122 purple hue123, and, while the onlookers124 stared aghast, this gradually evolved into the original clayey aspect of the formation surrounding it.
"Well, I'll be jiggered!" ejaculated the Shadow.
"It's just a mirage," said Bill, grimly.
The rest of the miners did not care to place on record[Pg 81] the state of their feelings, their usually fluent enough speech failed them on this trying occasion. Mackay broke the silence.
"There can be no doubt aboot the gold being there, boys," said he, "an' in sufficient quantities to make a' oor fortunes—if we could only catch it before it vanished." He stopped, absolutely nonplussed125.
Bob, who had not yet spoken, advanced and scrutinized126 the now wholly dulled ore fragments with alert eyes.
"I don't know that I can help you," he said quietly, "but I should like to try. Anyhow, it's more in my line than yours, for I've studied chemistry a bit."
"What do you make of it, Bob?" asked Mackay, quickly.
The reply came promptly127 from the lips of the thoughtful student.
"The formation contains gold in an unstable128 state, but more so gold in solution, both of which oxidize on contact with the air."
To say that Bob's words created extreme interest would be a very mild statement of fact. His audience was comprised of gold-miners of very varied129 experience and knowledge, yet none of them had ever heard of such a tantalizing130 deposit as that they had now encountered.
"I may be wrong," continued Bob, "but I don't think there was any mistaking the colours on the stones before they regained131 their normal aspect. I've seen the same thing often in the laboratory. It was simply Purple of Cassius, and you'll get the same result by dissolving a small piece of gold in nitric and hydrochloric acids."
"But what about the real gold which was there at[Pg 82] first?" inquired Emu Bill. "It was yellow enough, or I'm colour blind."
Bob looked a trifle puzzled. "I should say it was an unstable chloride or sulphide of the metal," he ventured at length. "A combination which very seldom occurs in Nature."
"I'm o' the opinion that Bob's right," spoke Mackay. "This country's full o' odd formations and no one has ever bothered studying them yet."
"If you can save this stuff afore it melts, Bob," grunted Nuggety Dick, "there's bound to be a fortune waiting for you right here; for the clay most likely covers the whole flat."
"I'll take these specimens with me now," decided Bob, "and try some experiments with them;" and he gathered up the deceptive132 samples and made his way back to the tent, leaving the wondering assembly still in a maze133 of doubt.
"I do believe he can do it," grunted Emu Bill.
"He's got the finest balanced brain-box I've seen since I struck this howling wilderness," commented Never Never Dave.
"Bob can do anything with chemistry," said Jack, proudly. Then they went their several ways, all pondering deeply.
No more work was done that day: it would have seemed like tempting134 Providence135 to continue further operations after two such thrilling happenings had taken place. Bob quietly set about his task of analyzing136 the troublesome specimens, then quickly discovered that he required a stock of various acids and alkalis to aid him in his efforts.
[Pg 83]
"We're a' running short of stores anyhow," said Mackay. "We'd better send some one into the township with the camels, and you could get the chemicals required at the same time."
He straightway went and broached137 the matter to Nuggety Dick and his satellites, and it was promptly arranged that old Dead Broke Dan should be despatched with the team at once. It was by this time near the hour of sundown, and the various camel bells of the party could be heard faintly tinkling138 in the eastward139 distance.
"I'll round them up in a jiff," volunteered the Shadow, starting off at a jog trot140.
"I'm coming too, Shad!" shouted Jack, and together they entered the scrub, and were soon lost to sight. They had not gone far, however, before the Shadow stopped and listened with something like dismay showing in his face. The bells seemed to be receding141 into the distance rather than coming nearer.
"I've never heard o' them brutes142 travelling so fast," he said discontentedly, and they increased their pace to a determined144 run, which they kept up for fully53 ten minutes. The bells sounded distinctly nearer now, but that the camels were on the march was plainly evident to the Shadow, whose ear was acutely trained to judging distances by sound.
"I reckon I know what's wrong, Jack," said he. "Some wretched niggers have got them in tow. It's very lucky we came out to-night."
"Is it?" asked Jack, doubtfully.
The Shadow laughed joyously. "We'll have a grand circus on our own to-night, if there ain't too many of them."
[Pg 84]
"But," said Jack, "we haven't even a rifle with us, and they'll have their spears and boomerangs, won't they?"
"I've got something that will skeer the beggars quicker than any shooting-iron," replied the Shadow. "See, look at this——"
He extracted from some secret recess145 in his meagre wardrobe a small curiously146 shaped piece of wood, about six inches long and two inches or so broad, tapering147 to a fine edge all round.
"That's a ghingi, Jack; I just hitch148 a bit o' string on to the end, and whizz it round in the air, an' it howls like a dyin' dingo."
"But what good does that do?" Jack persisted, by no means enlightened.
"What good does it do?" echoed the Shadow. "Why, when they hear the screech149 o' the ghingi-ghingi, they'll either vanish right away or come to hear what it says. The ghingi is their devil, you know, but only the sorcerers o' the tribes can make it speak. I made this here ghingi myself, and, by thunder! it can yell like a good 'un, it can."
The Shadow was evidently quite delighted at the prospect150 of making use of his handiwork, and as they strode along he managed to infuse Jack with a considerable amount of his enthusiasm. It was now as dark as an Australian night could be, but the steadfast151 radiance of the myriad stars somewhat neutralized152 the gloom of the shadows and reflected an eerie153 sort of half light over the motionless tips of the mulga scrub. At last they were almost up on the clanging bells, and if there had been any doubt in Jack's mind concerning the accuracy of his[Pg 85] companion's surmise154 as to their unusual clangour it disappeared utterly155 when he heard the droning chant of the aborigines mingle156 with the rhythmic157 peals158. They had reached a small clearing in the scrub which permitted an uninterrupted line of vision for nearly half a mile, but before leaving the sheltering timber they hesitated, and peered anxiously across the intervening sand plain, and there in the midst of it, darkly discernible, moved the ghostly camel train.
"Now for it," muttered the Shadow, getting the ghingi ready for action. "We must round up them camels afore they get into the bush country again."
He whirled his device quickly around his head, and at once a strange moaning broke upon the air. Faster and faster he spun it round, and the moaning increased to a weird159 wailing160 shriek161 which penetrated across the plain with shivering intensity162. At once the bells ceased their clamour and vague cries of alarm echoed back to the boys.
"Let us chase 'em up with it," exclaimed the Shadow, throwing all caution aside. "When they hear the ghingi comin' nearer they won't wait to argue long."
Together they made a wild burst over the ironshot flat, the ghingi sending forth163 varying notes of wailing terror as they ran. In their excitement they had not calculated on the nearness of the natives, the silence of the bells perhaps somewhat confused them, but they halted when they found themselves almost on the tail of the last camel, a huge animal which the Shadow had no difficulty in recognizing by its unusual size. All this time the harsh unmusical cries of the disquieted164 aborigines rent their ears, but apparently165 the dusky band had not yet decided to give up their stolen charges.
[Pg 86]
"Judging from the volume o' music let loose there must be 'bout42 half a dozen o' the beggars," whispered the Shadow. "Here, Jack, take this blooming ghingi, and let her rip. My arms are about busted166. I'll do a bit o' a yell myself and see what happens."
Jack seized the string of the syren and whirled with a will, and from the lips of the Shadow there issued a most lugubrious167 groan103, which seemed to combine in it all the horrors that any demon168 of darkness could have conjured169 up. That seemed to decide matters; with screams of terror seven or eight stalwart blacks broke away from a point where they had been huddled170 ahead of the camels; their dark forms were just visible as they fled, and they made a somewhat ghost-like spectacle. Jack gave a low chuckle96 of delight.
"Your voice fetched them, Shadow," said he.
"Keep the ghingi whizzing, Jack, keep it whizzing!" came the agonized171 reply. "I couldn't do it again for all the gold in Australia. My throat's burst, it is."
Their concerted action was now prompt and effective. In a trice the Shadow had a grip of the nose-rope of the leading camel, and had turned the unwieldly train on a backward course. Once more the bells rang out their noisy clamour, yet still the ghingi sounded loud and shrill172, and still the jarring cries of the stricken warriors173 echoed in reply from a not too remote distance. The adventuresome pair were not yet out of all danger. Indeed it soon became evident to them that the mystified aborigines were not altogether willing to accept the warning call of the ghingi as a reason for the total abdication175 of their plunder176. Their discordant177 cries were just a bit too close to be pleasant.
[Pg 87]
"If they rush us, Jack," the Shadow hoarsely whispered, as he tugged178 at Misery179's nose-rope, "we'll have to make a bolt for it."
Jack grunted a sympathetic affirmative. "I can't swing this wretched old ghingi much longer," he said.
Even while he spoke the savages180 seemed to decide on a definite course of action; their yells suddenly grew louder and nearer. It was very probable they had observed the boys through the gloom, and were thus awakened181 to a knowledge of the ruse182 by which they had been deceived. Anyhow there could be no doubt as to their intentions; they meant to recapture the camels, and that right speedily, and yet the Shadow was loth to leave his charges.
"They'll get us when we enter the scrub," said he, with dismal183 resignation. "The beggars won't tackle us in the open. I reckon we'll have to do a scoot, Jack."
Jack had already arrived at that conclusion; but now, as he rested from his labours for an instant, a bright idea seized him. They were scarcely a hundred yards from the edge of the timber; whatever was to be done must be done quickly. Without a word he rushed back to the rearmost camel, and hastily secured the tongue of the bell encircling its neck by passing it through a loop in the leathern thong184 which hung loose for that purpose. Moving hurriedly on he silenced each of the jangling bells in the same way, and for a short space the cumbrous train proceeded in absolute quiet.
"They'll think we've stopped, and it may keep them back for a bit," Jack whispered.
The Shadow nodded comprehensively. It had come as a shock to him that this new chum companion of his[Pg 88] should have thought of the simple plan first, and he felt somewhat aggrieved185 in consequence. Surely enough the yells of the natives seemed to recede186 into the distance; the silence of the bells had certainly confused them.
"They'll be with us in a jiff," calmly said the Shadow, as they entered the scrub, in which prognostication he was quite correct.
A chorus of fiercer yells than before suddenly broke upon the still air, then came the angry beating of spears upon shields, and the pat-pat of many feet on the sand. But now came another unexpected diversion. Away in the distance a heavy report boomed out; again and again the thunderous echoes of exploding cordite crashed through the night.
The Shadow chuckled long and joyously. "That's Mackay's new rifle," he said. "I would know the crack of it anywhere."
Other and varying discharges quickly followed, making it plain that the entire community at Golden Flat had grown alarmed at the prolonged absence of the boys, and were signalling in order to guide their return in the darkness. The yelling horde187 at the first ominous188 sound had ceased their clamour, but soon they broke out afresh and with renewed energy. They meant to make one more effort to recover their prize before it was hopelessly beyond their reach. With appalling189 shouts they quickly drew near.
"It's hard luck to be forced to clear out now," complained Jack, marvelling190 much at his companion's unsubdued joy.
That wily youth quietly unhitched the bells from the necks of the three leading camels.
"I think we'll best the niggers after all, Jack," he[Pg 89] said. "I wasn't exactly willing to let you risk it before; but you can steer191 by the gunshots, can't you?"
"Of course," replied Jack, clutching at the nose-rope of Misery which the Shadow had relinquished192.
"Well, you take the team into camp, and I'll run the niggers a bit o' a circus dance." He was gone at once, but not an instant too soon; the blacks were already within a hundred yards of them.
Jack continued his course guided by the reports which now rang out at regular intervals193, and he smiled quietly to himself when a confused jangle of bells sounded away to the southward, and his smile developed into a hearty194 laugh when, with howls presumably of delight, the warrior174 band stampeded in that direction.
"I think the Shadow knows how to take care of himself," he reflected contentedly143, as he continued his course in peace.
The Shadow's trick was certainly effective. It was also risky195, but that feature seemed rather enjoyable than otherwise to the impetuous young Australian. Far to the south he sped, jangling the bells at intervals to draw his pursuers on, and when their noisy yelling sounded too close for his liking196, he silenced the tell-tale alarms and veered197 off in a different direction, always taking care to work in towards the camp. A veritable will-o'-the-wisp he was, and the baffled natives soon tired of their hopeless chase, no doubt marvelling much at the extraordinary activity shown by the fleeing camel train!
At the camp considerable consternation198 was felt over the non-return of the camel hunters. They had been gone over two hours, before Mackay ventured to express his fears for their safety.
[Pg 90]
"The Shadow must have got twisted in his bearings," he said. "The bells were within a couple o' miles off when they started, and they seem to have gone further away instead o' comin' nearer."
"Mebbe the cantankerous199 brutes bolted," suggested Nuggety Dick. "The Shadow couldn't bush hissel' in creation wi' the old Cross showin' in the sky."
So, indeed, they all thought, but each of them felt strangely anxious nevertheless, and when Mackay fetched his rifle from his tent and began to blaze away methodically, they were not long in following his lead. The bells had been some time out of range when the first shot was fired, but suddenly their harsh jangling burst afresh on their ears, and to their surprise and dismay they seemed to be heading towards the south.
"Keep your popguns going," said Mackay. "The Shadow must have lost his nerve and got slewed200."
So was the young bushman condemned201 and abused while he pursued his erratic202 course, and Jack came in for more sympathy than he would have appreciated had he been within hearing.
"What in thunder can the howlin' idiot mean by zig-zagging like that?" exclaimed Never Never Dave, listening to the intermittent203 peals of the bells with deep concern. Then faintly over the mulga scrub came the yells of the discomfited204 blacks, and at once Golden Flat camp was aroused to strenuous205 action; scarcely a word was spoken, each man gripped his rifle, and almost as one body, they made a wild burst in the direction from which the alarming sounds had come. And Bob, though almost in a high fever from the effects of the wound in his head, entirely206 forgot his weakness, and kept pace with Mackay.
[Pg 91]
Silent and grim, like a raging Nemesis207, the small company hurried on their vengeful way; but they had not gone far when they became aware of a slight commotion208 in the bush directly in their path, and almost before they could realize it, the great hulking forms of the camels loomed209 out through the darkness, with Jack at their head.
"Well, I'll be kicked! And why isn't ye slaughtered210, young feller?" demanded Nuggety Dick, in helpless amazement211. "We never dreamt o' seein' ye alive again——"
"Where's the Shadow, Jack?" interrupted Mackay.
Jack laughed. "He's acting212 decoy for the blacks," he said.
The big man seemed to tremble with suppressed emotion.
"And I was blaming him for getting bushed213!" he said, in a tone of deep self-reproach.
A harsh jangle of bells close at hand interrupted further speech, and a cheery voice spoke from the gloom.
"Say, boss, ye needn't ever be skeerd 'bout me gettin' bushed; but them camel bells are mighty heavy, an' I'm just about blown out waltzing them around."
The Shadow approached, gave the bells a final shake, then flung them with a clatter214 to the ground. A few words served to explain matters, and it was with a feeling of devout215 thankfulness that the party returned slowly to camp.
"You must never run risks like that again, my laddies," Mackay admonished216 quietly, in the midst of the general rejoicings over the plucky217 rescue of the camel train.
"Jack and me didn't take no risks," came the gay[Pg 92] reply. "We always knew by their howling when the beggars were coming too close. It's been a grand picnic for us both, hasn't it, Jack?"
"I wouldn't have missed it for anything," answered Jack, with a chuckle of keen delight.
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1
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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excavation
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| n.挖掘，发掘；被挖掘之地 | |
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3
gravel
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| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
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4
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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scooping
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| n.捞球v.抢先报道( scoop的现在分词 )；（敏捷地）抱起；抢先获得；用铲[勺]等挖（洞等） | |
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conglomerate
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| n.综合商社，多元化集团公司 | |
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industriously
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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stratum
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| n.地层，社会阶层 | |
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incentive
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| n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机 | |
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penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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12
strata
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| n.地层（复数）；社会阶层 | |
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13
supremacy
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| n.至上；至高权力 | |
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14
physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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15
sedate
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| adj.沉着的，镇静的，安静的 | |
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16
wielding
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| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的现在分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
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17
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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18
instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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19
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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24
perspiring
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| v.出汗，流汗( perspire的现在分词 ) | |
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25
arduous
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| adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的 | |
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toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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27
ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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28
stentorian
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| adj.大声的，响亮的 | |
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29
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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30
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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31
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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32
glisten
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| vi.（光洁或湿润表面等）闪闪发光，闪闪发亮 | |
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33
myriad
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| adj.无数的；n.无数，极大数量 | |
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34
joyously
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| ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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35
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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jovially
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| adv.愉快地，高兴地 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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philosophical
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| adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的 | |
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39
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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40
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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41
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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43
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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44
murmurs
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| n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 )；低语声；怨言；嘀咕 | |
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45
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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46
rinsing
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| n.清水，残渣v.漂洗( rinse的现在分词 )；冲洗；用清水漂洗掉（肥皂泡等）；（用清水）冲掉 | |
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47
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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48
assays
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| n.化验( assay的名词复数 )；试验；尝试；试金 | |
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49
excavate
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| vt.挖掘，挖出 | |
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50
anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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51
toiling
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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52
refractory
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| adj.倔强的，难驾驭的 | |
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53
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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54
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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55
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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56
ken
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| n.视野，知识领域 | |
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57
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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58
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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59
sputtering
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| n.反应溅射法；飞溅；阴极真空喷镀；喷射v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的现在分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出 | |
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60
insidious
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| adj.阴险的，隐匿的，暗中为害的，（疾病）不知不觉之间加剧 | |
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61
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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62
hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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63
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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64
stupor
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| v.昏迷；不省人事 | |
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65
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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66
brawny
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| adj.强壮的 | |
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67
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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68
strands
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| n.（线、绳、金属线、毛发等的）股( strand的名词复数 )；缕；海洋、湖或河的)岸；（观点、计划、故事等的）部份v.使滞留，使搁浅( strand的第三人称单数 ) | |
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69
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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70
bruises
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| n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 ) | |
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71
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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72
pallid
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| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
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73
trickled
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| v.滴( trickle的过去式和过去分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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74
gash
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| v.深切，划开；n.(深长的)切(伤)口；裂缝 | |
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75
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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76
hurling
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| n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的现在分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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77
expatiate
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| v.细说，详述 | |
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78
dynamite
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| n./vt.(用)炸药(爆破) | |
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79
hyenas
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| n.鬣狗( hyena的名词复数 ) | |
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80
adjured
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| v.（以起誓或诅咒等形式）命令要求( adjure的过去式和过去分词 )；祈求；恳求 | |
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81
temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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82
dwellers
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| n.居民，居住者( dweller的名词复数 ) | |
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83
solitudes
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| n.独居( solitude的名词复数 )；孤独；荒僻的地方；人迹罕至的地方 | |
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84
lurk
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| n.潜伏，潜行；v.潜藏，潜伏，埋伏 | |
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85
insidiously
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| 潜在地，隐伏地，阴险地 | |
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86
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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87
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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88
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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89
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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90
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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91
bonanza
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| n.富矿带，幸运，带来好运的事 | |
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92
derive
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| v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自 | |
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93
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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94
crammed
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| adj.塞满的，挤满的；大口地吃；快速贪婪地吃v.把…塞满；填入；临时抱佛脚( cram的过去式) | |
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95
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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96
chuckle
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| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
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97
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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98
cursory
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| adj.粗略的；草率的；匆促的 | |
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99
squelched
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| v.发吧唧声，发扑哧声( squelch的过去式和过去分词 )；制止；压制；遏制 | |
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100
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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101
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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102
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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103
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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104
dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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105
professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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106
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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107
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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108
sling
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| vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓 | |
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109
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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110
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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111
disintegrated
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| v.（使）破裂[分裂，粉碎]，（使）崩溃( disintegrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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112
streaks
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| n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹 | |
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113
scintillating
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| adj．才气横溢的,闪闪发光的; 闪烁的 | |
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114
wielder
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| 行使者 | |
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115
brilliance
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| n.光辉，辉煌，壮丽，（卓越的）才华，才智 | |
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116
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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117
investigations
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| （正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究 | |
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118
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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119
scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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120
mirage
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| n.海市蜃楼，幻景 | |
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121
merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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122
variegated
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| adj.斑驳的，杂色的 | |
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123
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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124
onlookers
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| n.旁观者，观看者( onlooker的名词复数 ) | |
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125
nonplussed
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| adj.不知所措的，陷于窘境的v.使迷惑( nonplus的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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126
scrutinized
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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127
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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128
unstable
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| adj.不稳定的，易变的 | |
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129
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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130
tantalizing
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| adj.逗人的；惹弄人的；撩人的；煽情的v.逗弄，引诱，折磨( tantalize的现在分词 ) | |
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131
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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132
deceptive
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| adj.骗人的，造成假象的，靠不住的 | |
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133
maze
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| n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑 | |
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134
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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135
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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136
analyzing
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| v.分析；分析( analyze的现在分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析n.分析 | |
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137
broached
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| v.谈起( broach的过去式和过去分词 )；打开并开始用；用凿子扩大（或修光）；（在桶上）钻孔取液体 | |
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138
tinkling
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| n.丁当作响声 | |
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139
eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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140
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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141
receding
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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142
brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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143
contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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144
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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145
recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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146
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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147
tapering
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| adj.尖端细的 | |
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148
hitch
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| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
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149
screech
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| n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音 | |
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150
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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151
steadfast
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| adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的 | |
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152
neutralized
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| v.使失效( neutralize的过去式和过去分词 )；抵消；中和；使（一个国家）中立化 | |
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153
eerie
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| adj.怪诞的；奇异的；可怕的；胆怯的 | |
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154
surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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155
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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156
mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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157
rhythmic
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| adj.有节奏的，有韵律的 | |
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158
peals
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| n.（声音大而持续或重复的）洪亮的响声( peal的名词复数 )；隆隆声；洪亮的钟声；钟乐v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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159
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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160
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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161
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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162
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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163
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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164
disquieted
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| v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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165
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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166
busted
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| adj. 破产了的，失败了的，被降级的，被逮捕的，被抓到的 动词bust的过去式和过去分词 | |
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167
lugubrious
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| adj.悲哀的，忧郁的 | |
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168
demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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169
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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170
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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171
agonized
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| v.使（极度）痛苦，折磨( agonize的过去式和过去分词 )；苦斗；苦苦思索；感到极度痛苦 | |
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172
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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173
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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174
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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175
abdication
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| n.辞职；退位 | |
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176
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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177
discordant
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| adj.不调和的 | |
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178
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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179
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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180
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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181
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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182
ruse
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| n.诡计，计策；诡计 | |
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183
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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184
thong
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| n.皮带；皮鞭；v.装皮带 | |
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185
aggrieved
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| adj.愤愤不平的，受委屈的；悲痛的；（在合法权利方面）受侵害的v.令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式)；令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式和过去分词) | |
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186
recede
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| vi.退(去)，渐渐远去；向后倾斜，缩进 | |
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187
horde
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| n.群众，一大群 | |
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188
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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189
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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190
marvelling
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的现在分词 ) | |
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191
steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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192
relinquished
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃 | |
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193
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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194
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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195
risky
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| adj.有风险的，冒险的 | |
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196
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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197
veered
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| v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的过去式和过去分词 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转 | |
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198
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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199
cantankerous
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| adj.爱争吵的，脾气不好的 | |
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200
slewed
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| adj.喝醉的v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去式 )( slew的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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201
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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202
erratic
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| adj.古怪的，反复无常的，不稳定的 | |
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203
intermittent
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| adj.间歇的，断断续续的 | |
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204
discomfited
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| v.使为难( discomfit的过去式和过去分词)；使狼狈；使挫折；挫败 | |
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205
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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206
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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207
nemesis
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| n.给以报应者，复仇者，难以对付的敌手 | |
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208
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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209
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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210
slaughtered
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| v.屠杀，杀戮，屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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211
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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212
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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213
bushed
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| adj.疲倦的 | |
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214
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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215
devout
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| adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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216
admonished
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| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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217
plucky
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| adj.勇敢的 | |
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