The stores of the expedition were not difficult to obtain; by this time agencies of the large mercantile[Pg 193] houses in Kalgoorlie had been established on the Flat, and they were well able to provide all necessary supplies. But the commissariat department of the Australian explorer is never famed for his lavishness15; in it luxuries find no part, for here the ship of the desert is the mainstay of the traveller, and on its cumbrous back only room can be found for the bare essentials of life. Flour and tea, tinned beef and various "extracts," these are the sum total of the wanderer's requirements in the Australian wilderness, and with these he would usually be more than content if water could be found to quench17 his thirst. But this is too often denied, the arid18 wastes of the great Austral land contain few oases19. The scanty20 rains collected in reluctant drops in some deep rock hole, perhaps for years, are his only hope. Yet these grim forbidding tracts16 allure21 the roving spirit if only because of their very grimness. Across their scintillating22 sands what wonderful haven23 may be hid? Surely it is not all desert, something must lie beyond the far horizon. Nature's compensating24 law must hold some reward for the weary pioneer who gropes so desperately25 onward26 and ever onward into the rising sun. Such is the hope, the belief, of those who venture forth27 into the Never Never. With Mackay, who had already followed the beckoning28 phantom29 far back into an unknown mountain, the belief had become almost reality. The spirit of the bush enthralled30 him, its spell was ever over him. His young companions too were influenced by the air of mystery surrounding their distant goal. The unknown has ever exercised a powerful fascination31 over the Anglo-Saxon youth, and the two boys revelled32 in the thought of penetrating33 untrodden tracts, and rejoiced in their quest of El Dorado.
[Pg 194]
When all was ready for a start Mackay called them together for earnest consultation34.
"I don't want to shout much about the dangers o' the trail, my lads," said he. "But it is as well to understand that the risks are there a' the same, an' it would only be richt for you both to mak' a sort o' statement, an' leave it wi' the Warden35. I—I——"
"I know what you mean," said Bob, smiling; "you want us to make our wills—in case of accident."
Mackay looked relieved. "It would be better," he admitted quietly, "or send your money home. Don't think I want to force my advice on you, but I think—I think that would be the better plan."
"I've done that ever since we started to get returns from the battery," answered Bob. "I only have kept what I thought I would owe you for my share of the expedition."
"Mine has been sent home too," murmured Jack, diffidently; "but I've kept two hundred pounds for the expedition."
"An' mine has gone home too," added Mackay, slowly. "But the expedition is my consideration, and I must bear the expense alone. It's a duty, my dear young lads, it's a duty."
No amount of persuasion36 would shake his decision in this respect.
"It's a journey that's lain on my conscience for some time," he argued. "I have a mission to fulfil which I hope may be outside the other object o' the expedition altogether, though it's possible we may achieve the one while in pursuit o' the other." He chuckled37 dryly at the thought, then well pleased that his[Pg 195] young friends had disposed of their worldly goods to his liking38, he went off to give some instructions to Emu Bill about the loading of the camels.
The process had been left in charge of Nuggety Dick, who had received full information from Bob concerning its proper working. It had been open for public inspection39 all the week, and already many similar vats40 were being erected42 on the field; and Wynberg's discovery lay idle—its owner had vanished back whence he came.
The unfortunately placed Rockson, however, was soon given a position more to his liking than the control of a useless stamping mill. Jackson, whose time was required in Kalgoorlie, at Mackay's request, offered him the management of his mine, which was now turning out large quantities of the refractory43 ore, and this he gladly accepted under the generous arrangement of a fair salary and a considerable interest in the profits. It was Mackay's strange weakness that he could not allow another man undeservedly to suffer, even indirectly44, through any action of his or his partners, and hence the exceptional terms offered by Jackson for his services; he had only been too willing to oblige Mackay in the matter as a slight return for the great favour he had received.
Bob and Jack were amazed when, after the Golden Promise had closed down, they counted up the amount with which the Bank at Kalgoorlie had credited them for their share in the gold sent in. They found that they had each realized over a thousand pounds for their few months' labour; the last two weeks' results had swelled46 up their profits wonderfully, to Bob's deep satisfaction.
"I'm very glad," he said to Jack, "that Mackay will benefit a little by the process; it means that we have[Pg 196] made some slight return for his goodness to us, though money can never pay for all that he has done."
"He doesn't seem to value money as some people do," observed Jack. "I don't understand him yet, I don't."
It was after this that Mackay had ventured to express his views to them on private concerns, and when he went away he left the boys no little moved by his well-meant advice; the solemn note of warning in his tones, even when he touched so lightly on the dangers of the desert, had not escaped them.
"I do hope," said Bob, fervently47, "that he may never have to take the sextant from me. I—I get nervous when I think of the responsibility he has given me. I wish too," he continued gravely, "that I had some news from home before we start. I haven't heard a word since we left. Of course they couldn't write until they knew where we were, but I think there is time for an answer to my first letter by now."
Jack calculated it up hurriedly. "It would come in by to-night's mail," he said sadly, "and Mackay said we were to start after lunch. I think we should tell him, and ask him to wait."
But this Bob would not hear of for a moment. "Certainly not," he cried. "He treats us as men, not children, and I am not going to worry him with home affairs. All the same," he reflected calmly, "if I had thought of it before I would have mentioned it to him; but now that everything is in readiness for the start—no, I cannot."
"All aboard, boys; all aboard for the Never Never!"
It was the Shadow's voice, and they rushed out at once, turning to cast one look at the dismantled48 tent[Pg 197] which had been their home during these eventful months. No tent or shelter of any kind was being carried by the expedition. The starry49 heavens must now be their sole roof at night.
They found the camel team waiting the signal to move ahead, and Jack at once stepped to his position alongside Misery, the Shadow having for the time taken charge of Fireworks, who was promising51 to give trouble.
Mackay stood a little way off, and surveyed the team critically.
"Tighten52 up Fireworks' girth, Emu," he cried. "He'll slip his saddle in a minute."
Emu Bill proceeded deftly53 to obey the instruction, annoyed with himself because of having overlooked the defect.
"I'll swear the cunning brute54 has shrunk hissel' on purpose," he growled55. "I pulled him in as tight as a windlass barrel just a second ago. Woah, Fireworks, woah! ye cantankerous56 son o' a gun."
But Fireworks was intent on creating a diversion. For some time he had been allowed to roam the desert at his own sweet will, and probably his memory of pack-saddles and such like encumbrances57 had faded into happy oblivion, but now that he felt the old galling58 weight on his back his vicious temper was aroused to fury, and he stood waving his weird-looking head about in savage59 sweeps, and ever and again essayed to roll over, pack-saddle and all. When Emu Bill approached him now, the recalcitrant60 animal suddenly began a series of frisky61 antics, pulling wildly at the nose rope which the Shadow clutched firmly, and twisting its huge bulk into all sorts of contortions62.
[Pg 198]
"Woah, hang ye!" shouted Bill, again striving to get near.
In reply Fireworks snorted defiance63, then bent64 himself almost double; a sharp crack sounded out as the girths burst, and in a moment the sand was strewn with his load.
"So that was your little trick, was it? ye measly old quadrooped!" cried Emu Bill, in disgust. "Well, I reckon you kin1 try it over again."
He gathered up the saddle for another effort, but Mackay intervened.
"It won't do, Bill," he said. "We'll just have the circus repeated. We'd better postpone65 the start until the morning, an' meanwhile we'll put Fireworks through his paces. I didna think the beastie would be so obstreperous66."
And, indeed, to look at the animal now, no one would have thought that such a fiery67 temper lurked68 in that cumbrous body. Fireworks, after his unruly performance, stood gazing meekly69 at the wreckage70 he had created, the very picture of innocence71. Yet it was a wise policy to break him in to a more fitting tolerance72 with his burden before venturing into the great desert, where mishaps74 would cause more vexatious delays, and probably occasion damage which could not then be easily rectified75.
Thus it was that the whole team was unloaded, and the remainder of the day spent in coaxing76 the one refractory camel into a more tractable77 spirit, a result which Emu Bill and his companion bushman seemed to have thoroughly78 accomplished79 before sundown, and high hopes were entertained of making an early departure next morning.
[Pg 199]
The mail arrived somewhat earlier than usual that night, a fact which did not surprise any one when they saw Macguire sitting on the box-seat beside the driver. Mackay sighed wearily when he observed his old enemy.
"I had hoped I had seen the last o' him," he said to Bob; "but I suppose the misguided man is looking for trouble, as usual." To his astonishment80, however, Macguire purposely evaded81 him, and disappeared rapidly down the workings to where some of his old gang were still employed on none too lucrative82 holdings.
"Perhaps he's got tired of running up against us," said Bob. "I don't think the game has paid him too well, and he may be turning over the proverbial new leaf now."
"Umph!" Mackay's monosyllabic utterance83 was non-committal, but it was plain that his faith in that new leaf in the present instance was none of the strongest.
The mail brought a letter for each of the boys and one for Mackay, and on glancing at the handwriting on his envelope Bob was satisfied; the expected news from home had reached him, after all. Hurriedly he tore it open, and read the closely written sheets which a fond mother had penned. He smiled brightly at the anxious opening phrases, which inquired so minutely about his health and general welfare. "I have heard," she wrote, "that fever often breaks out in a gold-mining camp—malaria or gold fever, I think—and I am sending you a small bottle of quinine, which I want you to promise to take regularly——" Bob thought that rather good, and read the sentence aloud to Mackay, who had mastered the contents of his epistle at a hasty glance. That gentleman was gravely amused. "She's richt about the gold fever," said he, with, a short laugh, "an' it's a terribly rampagin'[Pg 200] disease in its way, though I dinna think quinine would affect it much. Prussic acid or some such deadly poison would be the only cure, for once a man gets the gold fever it remains84 in his blood a' his life, ready to be stirred up to violent action at the sight o' a nugget. Ay, it's a bad fever, Bob, an' we've a' got it in some degree. However, your guid mother needna fear aboot the other plague—malaria—for neither it nor any other disease o' the kind can live in Western Australia. You must just write a note an' tell her that. The air o' this country is too dry an' clear for any microbe to fancy."
Bob continued his silent perusal85 of the letter, and as he got towards the end a puzzled expression came into his features; it was clear that the letter from home contained something of more striking import than the warning against pernicious fevers. The intelligence which disturbed him was conveyed on the last two sheets, and this was how it ran:—
"I know you will be grieved to hear that your uncle Dick is dead. Since your father was drowned I have never had a line from him; he was the first to bring the sad news to me, and his own sorrow seemed greater than he could bear. Your father and he had been inseparable companions in their youth, and many times before the Sea King sailed on her last cruise I used to hear them planning out their great schemes for the future, for your uncle had ever been a wanderer, and was filled with strange ideas about the riches of some parts of the world he had visited. He went off to Australia after arranging your poor father's affairs, and nothing was ever heard of him again. All along I fancied that it was his money which provided the little income left to us, for you[Pg 201] father's savings86 could not have been much; sailors are so poorly paid. The solicitors87 always put me off when I inquired about it, but now I know that it was his great kindly88 heart which went out to the widow and the fatherless, and caused provision to be made for them out of his own scanty means. On the morning after you left I received a letter from a gentleman who had just returned from Australia, and who had been with him when he died, enclosing a draft for two hundred pounds, and saying that that was the sum realized by the sale of your uncle's effects, and that he had been entrusted89 to send it to me. No other information was given, and no address was on the letter. When I showed it to my solicitors they told me the truth of what I had guessed from the first. My boy, you were always uncle Dick's favourite, and you have every cause to remember him gratefully. If you can find out where he died, erect41 a little cross over his resting-place for me. I would so much like to have it done."
Bob read and re-read the strange story which brought back the past so vividly90 to his mind, and his eyes grew moist in spite of himself.
"No bad news, I hope, lad," spoke91 Mackay, kindly.
Bob struggled with his emotion for a moment without success, then handed the pages to his interrogator92 in silence. Mackay read them over carefully, with a face showing keen concern; indeed, he seemed even more moved than Bob when he had finished. "Ay, ay," he said huskily, "he was a good man, an' there's too few o' his sort in the world. But you'll dae what your mother bids you. You will put up that cross afore you leave Australia. I'll—I'll help you to find the place." Then[Pg 202] he turned abruptly93 to Jack, who had read his letter, and was now gazing at the envelope with profound content.
"You've been gloatin' over your billy doo for some time, Jack," he said lightly. "I don't suppose your news has affected94 your appetite."
Jack flushed, and made haste to secrete95 his precious missive; but in his hurry the envelope fell to the floor, and it was observed that it bore the same peculiar96 postmark as Bob's. The boy grabbed it up in confusion, while the big man laughed. Whereupon Jack waxed indignant.
"What about your own billet-doux?" he asked mischievously97. "I think I noticed you got a letter too."
"Here it is, young Lochinvar, here it is," and Mackay flung an open sheet at the youth. "Read it, read it; don't mind me. I'm sort o' pleased to mak' it known that somebody thinks o' me."
Obeying his request, Jack cleared his throat and read aloud the following:—
"Dear Mr. Mackay.—
"I have just heard that you are about to start out on a journey into the interior, and I thought I would remind you of a little account I have against you for several items you sent for last week. The amount is ￡10 17s. 6d. I'll let you off the odd sixpence, but please send your cheque for the remainder before you start. The Never Never is such an uncertain country—to get out of. Best wishes.
"Yours sincerely,
"J. Rannigan."
"Now, that is what I call a thoughtful letter," commented Jack, when he had finished.
[Pg 203]
"A vera thoughtful letter indeed," agreed Mackay, dryly.
Then they set about preparing tea, and while they were thus engaged the Shadow made his appearance, evidently in great good humour. He carried something concealed98 in his hand which he gazed at tenderly as he entered, then consigned99 it to some secret recess100 in his scanty wardrobe.
"I reckon," said he, "that I want an invite to your banquet to-night. I hasn't even an inch o' damper left in my tent. I broke up the happy home too soon, I calc'late."
Mackay laughed. "I ken50 you're a grand cook, Shadow," said he, "an', providin' ye behave, we'll be glad to have your company. Ye'll get flour in that bag at your feet, an' water in the kerosene-tin beside ye. Now ye can take my place an' mak' wi' these ingredients something nice an' tasty. I'll even gie ye a tootle on the flute101 to inspire ye in yer efforts."
The lad's countenance102 fell. "I see I has come along too soon," he grumbled103. Then he fished about in the folds of his shirt and drew forth the treasure he had secreted104. In the quickly fading light it was not easily observable what he held in his hand; but when the wondering trio saw him convey the same to his mouth their worst fears were realized. Before they could protest, the wailing105 of a mouth-organ filled the tent. The Shadow blew with might and main, an ecstatic joy illuminating106 his features, his foot keeping time to the music he perpetrated, and sending up clouds of dust from the sandy floor. That he anticipated a sudden closure was very apparent by the fierce energy he displayed, yet, strangely enough, he was allowed to[Pg 204] finish the first tune8 without mishap73; it was only when he adroitly107 essayed to glide108 off into a fresh outburst that Mackay intervened.
"Ye should play that first spasm109 mair pianissimo," he ventured mildly, while Jack sprinkled water about to allay110 the dust. "Now, put that orchestra in your pocket, an' keep it there until we get far oot into the bush. Then ye can kill the crows wi' it if ye like."
"Right O!" responded the Shadow, seemingly delighted to have escaped so easily. "Now, I reckon I'll bake a real bowser brownie for tea, an' we'll have a real ole blow out, we will."
"Let us eat, drink, and be merry," remarked Bob, thoughtfully, "for to-morrow we——"
"Start for the Never Never," prompted Jack.
Shortly after sunrise the camel team was once more loaded up, and now Fireworks' demeanour was beyond reproach; he submitted to his burden with philosophic111 calm, and only once showed his playful disposition112 by tearing the sleeve from Emu Bill's shirt while that gentleman was standing113 too conveniently near his head. By eight o'clock all was ready for the start, the last breakfast in camp had been partaken of, and the various members of the expedition were standing at their posts awaiting the signal for advance. The population of Golden Flat had turned out en masse to witness the departure. It was not every day that an expedition left for the distant Never Never. Nuggety Dick and Dead Broke Dan were there looking anything but happy; one word from Mackay even now would have made them join the party but the leader of the expedition sternly refused to meet their appealing eyes. Once more he glanced over the team critically, as[Pg 205] if mentally weighing up the amount of endurance contained in the four powerful animals. His scrutiny114 seemed to give him much satisfaction, and he smiled grimly as he turned his face to the east.
"All ready, boys?" he cried.
"All ready!" came the unanimous reply.
Then, just as he was about to signal "Right away," the crowd parted, and Macguire struggled to the front.
"Hold on a minute, boys!" he shouted. "I want a word with Mackay."
As for Mackay, he viewed the interrupter with considerable disfavour.
"If you had any differences to settle, you might have come along last night," he said. "What's the trouble wi' you?"
"Why, man, I just want to say that I bear no ill feeling, an' that I hope you'll be successful, that's all. What course are ye making?"
Mackay gazed at the questioner in puzzled wonderment. "I'm glad to have your good wishes, Macguire," he said slowly. "Our course is east by north to a place that's a bit harder to find than Golden Flat. Let her go, boys!"
The long whips cracked, Misery's bell began to chime; the crowd stepped back to give the ponderous115 team free passage, uniting as they did so in a stentorian116 Coo-ee, that strange call of the bush which combines in its notes the acme117 of feeling and good fellowship. Bob and Jack coo-eed lustily in return, Mackay waved a cheery goodbye, Emu Bill and Never Never Dave chaffed their sorrowing acquaintances with tender affection as they passed along the line, and the Shadow, pulling at Fireworks' nose-rope with one hand contrived118 to unearth119 his[Pg 206] mouth-organ with the other. Strongly he blew, and stepped forth jauntily120 to the stirring time of "The Girl I left Behind Me," but his charge steadfastly121 refused to accelerate his gait in such undignified fashion, and the Shadow had perforce to seek around in his répertoire for a more suitable march, which he soon found in "There is a Happy Land," and he kept up his melancholy122 dirge123 until he heard Never Never's voice raised in dire45 threat against his person. Then there was silence, broken only by the tinkling124 bell of the leading camel, and the vague echoes of Golden Flat's farewells.
Thus they headed out towards the desert, into the land of the Never Never.
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1
kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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unduly
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| adv.过度地，不适当地 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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repentance
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| n.懊悔 | |
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opportunely
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| adv.恰好地，适时地 | |
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8
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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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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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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dubbed
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| v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制 | |
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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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14
buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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lavishness
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| n.浪费，过度 | |
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tracts
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| 大片土地( tract的名词复数 )； 地带； （体内的）道； （尤指宣扬宗教、伦理或政治的）短文 | |
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quench
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| vt.熄灭，扑灭；压制 | |
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arid
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| adj.干旱的；(土地)贫瘠的 | |
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oases
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| n.（沙漠中的）绿洲( oasis的名词复数 )；（困苦中）令人快慰的地方（或时刻）；乐土；乐事 | |
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scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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allure
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| n.诱惑力，魅力；vt.诱惑，引诱，吸引 | |
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scintillating
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| adj．才气横溢的,闪闪发光的; 闪烁的 | |
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haven
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| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
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compensating
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| 补偿，补助，修正 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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28
beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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phantom
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| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
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enthralled
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| 迷住，吸引住( enthrall的过去式和过去分词 )； 使感到非常愉快 | |
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fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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revelled
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| v.作乐( revel的过去式和过去分词 )；狂欢；着迷；陶醉 | |
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penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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warden
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| n.监察员，监狱长，看守人，监护人 | |
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persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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39
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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40
vats
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| varieties 变化，多样性，种类 | |
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41
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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42
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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43
refractory
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| adj.倔强的，难驾驭的 | |
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44
indirectly
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| adv.间接地，不直接了当地 | |
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45
dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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46
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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47
fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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48
dismantled
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| 拆开( dismantle的过去式和过去分词 )； 拆卸； 废除； 取消 | |
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49
starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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50
ken
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| n.视野，知识领域 | |
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51
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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52
tighten
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| v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧 | |
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53
deftly
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| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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54
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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55
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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56
cantankerous
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| adj.爱争吵的，脾气不好的 | |
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57
encumbrances
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| n.负担( encumbrance的名词复数 )；累赘；妨碍；阻碍 | |
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58
galling
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| adj.难堪的,使烦恼的,使焦躁的 | |
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59
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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60
recalcitrant
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| adj.倔强的 | |
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61
frisky
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| adj.活泼的，欢闹的；n.活泼，闹着玩；adv.活泼地，闹着玩地 | |
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62
contortions
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| n.扭歪，弯曲；扭曲，弄歪，歪曲( contortion的名词复数 ) | |
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63
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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64
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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65
postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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66
obstreperous
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| adj.喧闹的，不守秩序的 | |
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67
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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68
lurked
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| vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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69
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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70
wreckage
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| n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏 | |
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71
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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72
tolerance
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| n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差 | |
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73
mishap
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| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
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74
mishaps
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| n.轻微的事故，小的意外( mishap的名词复数 ) | |
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75
rectified
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| [医]矫正的，调整的 | |
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76
coaxing
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的现在分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱；“锻炼”效应 | |
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77
tractable
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| adj.易驾驭的；温顺的 | |
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78
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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79
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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80
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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81
evaded
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| 逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
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82
lucrative
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| adj.赚钱的，可获利的 | |
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83
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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84
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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85
perusal
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| n.细读，熟读；目测 | |
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86
savings
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| n.存款，储蓄 | |
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87
solicitors
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| 初级律师( solicitor的名词复数 ) | |
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88
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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89
entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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vividly
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| adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地 | |
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91
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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92
interrogator
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| n.讯问者；审问者；质问者；询问器 | |
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93
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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94
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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95
secrete
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| vt.分泌；隐匿，使隐秘 | |
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96
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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97
mischievously
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| adv.有害地；淘气地 | |
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98
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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99
consigned
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| v.把…置于（令人不快的境地）( consign的过去式和过去分词 )；把…托付给；把…托人代售；丟弃 | |
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100
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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101
flute
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| n.长笛；v.吹笛 | |
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102
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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103
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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104
secreted
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| v.（尤指动物或植物器官）分泌( secrete的过去式和过去分词 )；隐匿，隐藏 | |
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105
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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106
illuminating
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| a.富于启发性的，有助阐明的 | |
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107
adroitly
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| adv.熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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108
glide
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| n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝 | |
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109
spasm
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| n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作 | |
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110
allay
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| v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等) | |
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111
philosophic
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| adj.哲学的，贤明的 | |
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112
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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113
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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114
scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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115
ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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116
stentorian
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| adj.大声的，响亮的 | |
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117
acme
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| n.顶点，极点 | |
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118
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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119
unearth
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| v.发掘，掘出，从洞中赶出 | |
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120
jauntily
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| adv.心满意足地；洋洋得意地；高兴地；活泼地 | |
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121
steadfastly
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| adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝 | |
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122
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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123
dirge
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| n.哀乐，挽歌，庄重悲哀的乐曲 | |
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124
tinkling
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| n.丁当作响声 | |
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