On the second day after his interview with the Judge, John Graham watched from his office window the blue coats march through the streets of Independence to their camp.
He turned to his chair beside a quaint2 old mahogany desk and wrote an official order to each of the eight district chiefs of the Invisible Empire who were under his command in the state.
When he had finished his task he sat for an hour in silence staring out of his window and seeing nothing save the big brown eyes of a beautiful girl—eyes of extraordinary size and brilliance3 that seemed to be searching the depths of his soul. It was a new and startling experience in his life. He had made love harmlessly after the gallant4 fashion of his race to many girls; yet none of them had found the man within.
He was angry with himself now for his inability to shake off the impression Stella Butler had made. He hated her very name. The idea of his ever seeking the hand of a Butler in marriage made him shiver. To even meet her socially with such a father was unthinkable. And yet he kept thinking.
Two things especially about her haunted him with persistence6 and had thrown a spell over his imagination—the strange appealing tenderness of her eyes and the marvellous low notes of her voice, a voice at once musical, and warm with slumbering7 passion. Her voice seemed the echo of ravishing music he had heard somewhere, or dreamed or caught in another world he fancied sometimes his soul had inhabited before reaching this. Never had he heard a voice so full of feeling, so soft, so seductive, so full of tender appeal. Its every accent seemed to caress8.
He cursed himself for brooding over her and then came back to his brooding with the certainty of fate. Yet it should make no difference in his fight with old Butler. He would kick that fawning9, creeping scoundrel out of his house if it was the last and only thing he ever accomplished10 on earth. The only question he still debated was the time and method of the execution of his plan.
One thing became more and more clear—he was going to need the full use of every faculty11 with which God had endowed him and he must set his house in order.
He opened the door of the little cupboard above his desk and took from it a decanter of moonshine whiskey Dan Wiley, one of his mountain men, had always kept filled for him. From the drawer he took two packs of cards and a case of poker12 chips. The cards and chips he rolled in a newspaper, placed in his stove and set them on fire. He smiled as he stood and listened to the roar of the sudden blaze. He raised his window and hurled13 the red-eyed decanter across the vacant lot in the rear of his office and saw it break into a hundred fragments on a pile of stones.
“Wonder what Dan will say to that when he comes this morning?” he exclaimed, looking at his watch and resuming his seat.
He heard a stealthy footfall at the door, turned and saw the tall lanky14 form of the mountaineer smiling at him.
“Well, Chief, you sent for me?”
“Yes, come in Dan!”
Dan Wiley tipped in and stood pulling his long moustache thoughtfully, before taking a chair.
“What’s on your mind?” asked John.
“I heered somethin’.”
“About me?”
“Yes, and it pestered15 me.”
“Well?”
“They say you got drunk night ’fore last.”
“And you’re going to preach me a sermon on temperance, you confounded old moonshining distilling16 sinner!”
“Ye mustn’t git drunk,” observed Dan seriously.
“But, didn’t you bring me the whiskey?”
“Not to git drunk on. I brought it as a compliment. My whiskey’s pure mountain dew, life restorer—it’s medicine.”
“It’s good whiskey, I’ll say that,” said John. “Even if you don’t pay taxes on it. You brought the men?”
“Yes, but Chief, I’m oneasy.”
“What about?”
“Don’t like the looks er them dam Yankees. I’m a member er the church an’ a law abidin’ citizen.”
“Yet I hear that a revenue officer passed away in your township last fall.”
“Rattlesnakes and Revenue officers don’t count—they ain’t human.”
“I see!” laughed John.
“Say,” Dan whispered, “you ain’t calculatin’ ter make a raid ternight with them thousand blue-coats paradin’ round this town, are ye?”
“That’s my business, Dan,” was John’s smiling answer. “It’s your business as a faithful night-hawk of the Empire to obey orders. Are you ready?”
“Well, Chief, I followed you four years in the war, an’ I’ve never showed the white feather yet, but these is ticklish17 times. There’s a powerful lot er damfools gettin’ ermongst us, an’ I want ter ax ye one question?”
“What?”
“Are ye goin’ ter git drunk ter-night?”
John walked to Dan’s side and placed his hand on his shoulder, and said slowly:
“I’ll never touch another drop of liquor as long as I live. Does that satisfy you?”
“I never knowd a Graham ter break his word.” John pressed the mountaineer’s hand.
“Thanks Dan.”
“I’m with you—and I’ll charge the mouth of the pit with my bare hands if you give the order.”
“Good. Meet me at the spring in the woods behind the old cemetery18 at eleven o’clock to-night with forty picked men.”
“Forty!—better make it an even thousand, man for man with the Yanks.”
“Just forty men, mark you—picked men, not a boy or a fool among them.”
“I understand,” said Dan, turning on his heel toward the door.
“And see to it”—called John—“I want them mounted on the best horses in the county and every man armed to the teeth.”
Dan nodded and disappeared.
By eight o’clock the town was in a ferment19 of excitement and the streets were crowded with feverish20 groups discussing a rumour21 which late in the afternoon had spread like wild-fire. From some mysterious source had come the announcement that a great Ku Klux parade was to take place in Independence at midnight for the purpose of overawing if not attacking the regiment of soldiers, which had just been quartered in the town.
By eleven o’clock the entire white population, men, women and children, were crowding the sidewalks of the main street.
Billy Graham passed John’s office with Susie Wilson leaning on his arm. Billy was in high feather and Susie silent and depressed22.
“Great Scott, Miss Susie, what’s the matter? This isn’t a funeral. It’s a triumphant23 demonstration24 of power to our oppressors.”
“I wish they wouldn’t do it with all these troops in town,” answered the girl, anxiously glancing at the dark window of John’s office.
“Bah! The Ku Klux have been getting pusillanimous25 of late—haven’t been on a raid in six months. They need a leader. Give me a hundred of those white mounted men and I’d be the master of this county in ten days!”
“It’s a dangerous job, Billy.”
“That’s the only kind of a job that interests me. A dozen wholesome26 raids would put these scalawags and carpetbaggers out of business. There ought to be five thousand men in line tonight. I’ll bet they don’t muster27 a thousand. It wouldn’t surprise me if they backed out altogether.”
“I wish they would,” sighed Susie.
“Of course you do, little girl,” said Billy with sudden patronising tenderness. “I know what you need.”
Susie smiled and asked demurely28:
“What?”
Billy seized both her hands and drew her under the shadow of a tree.
“A strong manly29 breast on which to lean—Susie, my Darling, I love you! Will you be my wife?”
Susie burst into a fit of laughter and Billy dropped her hands in rage.
“You treat the offer of my heart as a senseless joke, young woman?”
“No, Billy dear, I don’t. I appreciate it more than words can express. You have paid me the highest tribute a girl can receive, but the idea of marrying a boy of your age is ridiculous!”
“Ridiculous! Ridiculous! How dare you insult me? I’m as old as you are!” thundered Billy.
“Yes, we are each eighteen.”
“And your mother married at sixteen.”
“And she’s still only sixteen,” said the girl with a sigh.
“Wait a few days and I’ll show you whether I’m a man or not,” said Billy, with insulted dignity. “Come, your mother is waiting for us at the corner.”
Mrs. Wilson stood among a group of boys chatting and joking. She belonged to the type of widows, fair, fat and frivolous30. Time had dealt gently with her. She was still handsome in spite of her weight, and intensely jealous lest her serious daughter supplant31 her in the affections of the youth of Independence.
She greeted Billy with just the words to heal his wounded vanity.
“My! Billy, but you look serious and manly! I’d kiss you if the other boys were not here. You ought to be at the head of that line of white raiders to-night”—she dropped her voice to a whisper—“I’ll be making your disguise before long.”
Billy turned from Susie and devoted32 himself with dignity to her mother.
The widow lifted her hand in sudden warning.
“Sh! Billy, the enemy! There goes Stella Butler with that fat little detective whom the Judge has imported with the troops.”
“Captain” Suggs of the Secret Service was more than duly impressed with his importance as he forced his pudgy figure through the throng33 on the sidewalk, ostentatiously protecting Stella from the touch of the crowd.
“It’s arrant34 nonsense, Miss Stella,” he was saying, as they passed. “These Southern people are savages35, I know——”
“Why, Captain, I’m a Southerner too,” said the girl archly.
“I mean the disloyal traitors36 of the South—not the broad-minded patriots38 like your father,” Suggs hastened to explain. “I say it’s arrant nonsense this talk of such a parade by these traitors. I credit them with too much cunning to dare to flaunt39 their treason in the streets here to-night with a regiment of troops and the head of the Secret Service on the spot.”
The little fellow expanded his chest and puffed40 his cheeks.
Billy doubled his fist, and made a dash for him. With a suppressed scream, Mrs. Wilson caught him.
“Billy! for heaven’s sake, are you crazy!” They passed on down the street toward the Judge’s house.
“I’m not so sure they will not parade, Mr. Suggs,” Stella replied.
“Don’t be alarmed, Miss Stella!” he urged soothingly41. “I’ve taken ample means to protect you and your father from any attack of these assassins and desperadoes if they dare enter the town.”
“I’m not afraid of them, Captain, she answered lightly.
“Of course not—we’re here and ready for them. The very audacity42 of their manner is an insult to the Government.”
“I like audacity. It stirs your blood,” Stella cried, her brown eyes twinkling.
Suggs leaned nearer and said in his deepest voice:
“Let them dare this insult to authority to-night and you’ll see audacity come to sudden grief in front of your father’s house.”
“Have you prepared an ambush43?” Stella asked eagerly.
“Better. We’ve an extra hundred loyal policemen on the spot. Each of them is sworn to capture dead or alive any Ku Klux raider who shows his head. I hope they’ll come—but it’s too good to be true. With a dozen prisoners safe in jail, before to-morrow dawns I’ll have the secrets of the Klan in my pocket. I’ll make things hum in Washington. Watch me. It’s the big opportunity of life I’ve been waiting for—my only fear is I’ll miss it.”
“I think you’ll get it, Mr. Suggs,” was the laughing answer.
She had scarcely spoken, when a tow-headed boy rushed into the middle of the street and yelled, “Gee bucks45! Look out! They’re a comin’!”
Men, women and children rushed into the street.
Suggs stood irresolute46 and tightened47 his grip on Stella’s arm.
Down the street cheers burst forth48 and as they died away the clatter49 of horses’ hoofs50 rang clear, distinct, defiant51. They were riding slowly as in dress parade.
Another cheer was heard and Suggs stepped into the street and reconnoitred.
His face wore a puzzled look as he returned to Stella’s side.
“They’ve actually ridden past the regimental camp. I can’t understand why the Colonel did not attack them.”
“Gee Whilikens, there’s a million of ’em!” cried a boy nearby.
“Perhaps the Colonel thought discretion52 the better part of valour, Mr. Suggs,” suggested Stella smilingly.
“Red tape,” the detective explained with disgust—“he has no order. Just wait until the assassins walk into the trap I’ve laid for them. Come, we will hurry to your gate. I want you to see what happens.”
They crossed the street and hurried to the Judge’s place.
Suggs summoned the commander of his force of “metropolitan” police and in short sharp tones gave his orders.
“Are your men all ready, officer?”
“Yessir!”
“Fully armed?”
“You bet.”
“Handcuffs ready?”
“All ready.”
“Good. Throw your line, double column, across the street, stop the parade and arrest them one at a time.”
Suggs squared his round shoulders as best he could; the officer saluted53 and returned to his place to execute the order.
When the cordon54 formed across the street the boys yelled and the news flashed from lip to lip far down the line. A great crowd quickly gathered surging back and forth in waves of excitement as the raiders approached.
The white ghostlike figures could now be seen, the draped horse and rider appearing of gigantic size in the shimmering55 moonlight.
“Now we’ll have some fun,” exclaimed Suggs with a triumphant smile.
Stella trembled with excitement, two bright red spots appearing on her dimpled cheeks, her eyes sparkling.
Amid constant cheers from the crowds the line of white figures slowly approached the cordon of police without apparently56 noticing their existence.
“Now for the climax57 of the drama!” cried Suggs, watching with eager interest the rapidly closing space between the Clansmen and his police.
The officer in command, noting an uneasy tension along his lines, crossed the street in front of his men exhorting58 them.
“Stand your ground, boys!” he said firmly.
“Better save your hides, you scalawag skunks59!” yelled an urchin60 from the crowd.
The leader of the Klan was now but ten feet away, towering tall, white and terrible, with an apparently interminable procession of mounted ghosts behind him.
The line of police swayed in the centre.
The Clansman leader lifted his hand, and the shrill61 scream of his whistle rang three times, and each white figure answered with a long piercing cry.
The police cordon broke into scurrying62 fragments and melted into the throngs63 on the sidewalks, while the procession of white and scarlet64 horsemen, without a pause, passed slowly on amid shouts of laughter from the people who had witnessed the fiasco.
“Well, I’ll be d———! excuse me, Miss Stella!”
Suggs cried in a stupor65 of blank amazement66, his round little figure suddenly collapsing67 like a punctured68 balloon.
“You can’t help admiring such men, Captain!” the girl laughed.
Suggs who had lost the power of speech wandered among the crowd in search of his commanding officer.
As the parade passed the Judge’s gate, Stella stood wide-eyed, tense with excitement, watching the tall horseman with two scarlet crosses on his breast who led the procession.
“The spirit of some daring knight69 of the middle ages come back to earth again!” she cried. “Superb! Superb! I could surrender to such a man!”
A lace handkerchief fluttered from her bosom70 and waved a moment above her head. The tall figure turned in astonishment71, bowed, tipped his spiked72 helmet, and without realising it suddenly reined73 his horse to a stand—and the whole line halted.
The leader whispered to a tall figure by his side, apparently his orderly, who turned to the line behind and shouted.
“Boys! three cheers for the little gal5 at the gate! She’s all right! The purtiest little gal in the countee—oh!”
A rousing cheer rose from the ranks.
A ripple74 of sweet girlish laughter broke the silence which followed, the lace handkerchief fluttered again and the line moved slowly on.
Stella counted them.
“Only forty men. And they dared a regiment!” With another laugh, she deserted75 Suggs and disappeared in the flowers and shrubbery toward the house as the last echoes of the raiders died away in the distance.
The Clansmen descended76 a hill, turned sharply to the right toward the river and broke into a quick gallop77. Within thirty minutes they entered a forest on the river bank, and down its dim aisles78, lit by moonbeams, slowly wound their way to their old rendezvous79.
The signal was given to dismount and disrobe the horses. Within a minute the white figures gathered about a newly opened grave.
The men began to whisper excitedly to one another.
“What’s this?”
“What’s the matter?”
“Who’s dead?”
“You’re too many for me!”
“What’s up, Steve Hoyle?” asked one of the raiders.
“It’s beyond me, sonny. The Grand Dragon of the State honours us with his presence to-night and is in command—he will no doubt explain. Have a drink.” He handed the group a flask80 of whiskey, and passed on.
When the men had assembled beside the shallow grave, the chaplain led in prayer.
The tall figure with the double scarlet cross on his breast removed his helmet and faced the men.
“Boys,” began John Graham, “you have assembled here to-night for the last time as members of the Invisible Empire!”
“Hell!”
“What’s that?”
The exclamations81, half incredulous, half angry, came from every direction with suddenness and unanimity82 which showed the men to be utterly83 unprepared for such an announcement.
“Yes,” the even voice went on, “I hold in my hand an official order of the Grand Wizard of the Empire, dissolving its existence for all time. Our Commander-in-chief has given the word. As loyal members of the order, we accept his message.”
“Then our parade to-night was not a defiance84 of these soldiers who have marched into town?” sneered85 a voice.
“No, Steve Hoyle, it was not. Our parade to-night was in accordance with this order of dissolution. It was our last formal appearance. Our work is done——”
Steve saw in a flash his opportunity to defeat his enemy and make himself not only the master of his Congressional District but of the state itself.
“Not by a damn sight!” snapped the big square jaw86.
“You refuse as the commander of this district to obey the order of the Grand Wizard?” asked the tall quiet figure.
“I refuse, John Graham, to accept your word as the edict of God!” was the quick retort. “Our men can vote on this and decide for themselves.”
“Yes, vote on it!”
“We’ll decide for ourselves!”
The quick responses which came from all sides showed the temper of the men. John Graham stepped in front of the big leader of the district.
“Look here, Steve Hoyle, I want no trouble with you to-night, nor in the future—but I’m going to carry this order into execution here and now.”
“Let’s see you do it!” was the defiant answer.
“I will,” he continued. “Boys!”
There was the ring of conscious authority in his tones and the men responded with sharp attention.
“You have each sworn to obey your superior officer on the penalty of your life?”
“Yes!”
“You are men of your word. As the Grand Dragon of the State I command you to deliver to me immediately your helmets and robes.”
With the precision of soldiers they deposited them in the open grave. Steve Hoyle surrendered his last.
When all had been placed in the grave, John Graham removed his own, reverently87 placed it with the others, tied two pieces of pine into the form of the fiery88 cross, lighted its ends, drew the ritual of the Klan from his pocket, set it on fire and held it over the grave while the ashes slowly fell on the folds of the white and scarlet regalia which he also ignited. Some of the men were sobbing89. While the regalia rapidly burned he turned and said:
0073
“Boys, I thank you. You have helped me do a painful thing. But it is best. Our work is done. We have rescued our state from Negro rule. We dissolve this powerful secret order in time to save you from persecution90, exile, imprisonment91 and death. The National Government is getting ready to strike. When the blow falls it will be on the vanished shadow of a ghost. There’s a time to fight, and a time to retreat. We retreat from a field of victory.
“I should have dissolved the Klan a month ago. I confess to you a secret. I waited because I meant to strike with it a blow at a personal enemy. I realise now that I stood as your leader on the brink92 of the precipice93 of social anarchy94. Forgive me for the wrong I might have done, had you followed me. As Grand Dragon of the Empire I declare this order dissolved forever in the state of North Carolina!”
He seized a shovel95 and covered with earth and leaves the ashes of the burned regalia.
Steve Hoyle stepped quickly in front of his rival. The veins96 on his massive neck stood out like cords and his eyes shone ominously97 in the moonlight. The slender figure of John Graham instinctively98 stiffened99 at the threat of his movement as the two men faced each other.
“The Klan is now a thing of the past?” asked Steve.
“Yes.”
“As though it had never been?”
“As though it had never existed.”
“Then your authority is at an end?”
“As an officer of the Klan, yes. As a leader of men, no.”
“The officer only interests me—Boys!” Steve’s angry voice rang with defiance.
The men gathered closer.
“The Invisible Empire is no more. Its officers are as dead as the ashes of its ritual. Meet me here to-morrow night at eleven o’clock to organise100 a new order of patriots! Will you come?”
“Yes!”
“You bet your life!”
The answers seemed to leap from every throat at the same moment.
John Graham’s face went white for a moment and his fist closed.
“Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel, Steve Hoyle,” he said with slow emphasis.
“And traitors pose as moral leaders,” was the retort.
“Time will show which of us is a traitor37. Will you dare thus to defy me and reorganise this Klan?”
“Wait and see!”
John Graham stepped close to his rival, and, in a low voice unheard save by the man to whom he spoke44, said:
“Take back that order and tell those men to go home and stay there.”
“I’ll see you in hell first!” came the answer in a growl101.
Scarcely had the words passed his lips when John Graham’s fist shot into his rival’s face.
The blow was delivered so quickly Steve’s heavy form struck the ground before the astonished men could interfere102.
In a moment a dozen men sprang between them and John said with quiet emphasis, glaring at his enemy:
“I’ll be in my office at ten o’clock to-morrow morning, to receive any communication you may wish to make—you understand!”
And deliberately103 mounting his horse, he rode away into the night alone.
点击收听单词发音
1 regiment | |
n.团,多数,管理;v.组织,编成团,统制 | |
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2 quaint | |
adj.古雅的,离奇有趣的,奇怪的 | |
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3 brilliance | |
n.光辉,辉煌,壮丽,(卓越的)才华,才智 | |
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4 gallant | |
adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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5 gal | |
n.姑娘,少女 | |
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6 persistence | |
n.坚持,持续,存留 | |
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7 slumbering | |
微睡,睡眠(slumber的现在分词形式) | |
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8 caress | |
vt./n.爱抚,抚摸 | |
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9 fawning | |
adj.乞怜的,奉承的v.(尤指狗等)跳过来往人身上蹭以示亲热( fawn的现在分词 );巴结;讨好 | |
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10 accomplished | |
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的 | |
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11 faculty | |
n.才能;学院,系;(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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12 poker | |
n.扑克;vt.烙制 | |
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13 hurled | |
v.猛投,用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 );大声叫骂 | |
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14 lanky | |
adj.瘦长的 | |
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15 pestered | |
使烦恼,纠缠( pester的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16 distilling | |
n.蒸馏(作用)v.蒸馏( distil的过去式和过去分词 )( distilled的过去分词 );从…提取精华 | |
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17 ticklish | |
adj.怕痒的;问题棘手的;adv.怕痒地;n.怕痒,小心处理 | |
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18 cemetery | |
n.坟墓,墓地,坟场 | |
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19 ferment | |
vt.使发酵;n./vt.(使)激动,(使)动乱 | |
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20 feverish | |
adj.发烧的,狂热的,兴奋的 | |
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21 rumour | |
n.谣言,谣传,传闻 | |
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22 depressed | |
adj.沮丧的,抑郁的,不景气的,萧条的 | |
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23 triumphant | |
adj.胜利的,成功的;狂欢的,喜悦的 | |
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24 demonstration | |
n.表明,示范,论证,示威 | |
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25 pusillanimous | |
adj.懦弱的,胆怯的 | |
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26 wholesome | |
adj.适合;卫生的;有益健康的;显示身心健康的 | |
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27 muster | |
v.集合,收集,鼓起,激起;n.集合,检阅,集合人员,点名册 | |
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28 demurely | |
adv.装成端庄地,认真地 | |
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29 manly | |
adj.有男子气概的;adv.男子般地,果断地 | |
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30 frivolous | |
adj.轻薄的;轻率的 | |
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31 supplant | |
vt.排挤;取代 | |
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32 devoted | |
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 | |
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33 throng | |
n.人群,群众;v.拥挤,群集 | |
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34 arrant | |
adj.极端的;最大的 | |
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35 savages | |
未开化的人,野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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36 traitors | |
卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 ); 叛徒; 背叛者; 背信弃义的人 | |
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37 traitor | |
n.叛徒,卖国贼 | |
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38 patriots | |
爱国者,爱国主义者( patriot的名词复数 ) | |
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39 flaunt | |
vt.夸耀,夸饰 | |
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40 puffed | |
adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 );喷着汽(或烟)移动;吹嘘;吹捧 | |
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41 soothingly | |
adv.抚慰地,安慰地;镇痛地 | |
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42 audacity | |
n.大胆,卤莽,无礼 | |
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43 ambush | |
n.埋伏(地点);伏兵;v.埋伏;伏击 | |
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44 spoke | |
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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45 bucks | |
n.雄鹿( buck的名词复数 );钱;(英国十九世纪初的)花花公子;(用于某些表达方式)责任v.(马等)猛然弓背跃起( buck的第三人称单数 );抵制;猛然震荡;马等尥起后蹄跳跃 | |
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46 irresolute | |
adj.无决断的,优柔寡断的,踌躇不定的 | |
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47 tightened | |
收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 ); (使)变紧; (使)绷紧; 加紧 | |
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48 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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49 clatter | |
v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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50 hoofs | |
n.(兽的)蹄,马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.(兽的)蹄,马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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51 defiant | |
adj.无礼的,挑战的 | |
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52 discretion | |
n.谨慎;随意处理 | |
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53 saluted | |
v.欢迎,致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 );赞扬,赞颂 | |
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54 cordon | |
n.警戒线,哨兵线 | |
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55 shimmering | |
v.闪闪发光,发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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56 apparently | |
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
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57 climax | |
n.顶点;高潮;v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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58 exhorting | |
v.劝告,劝说( exhort的现在分词 ) | |
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59 skunks | |
n.臭鼬( skunk的名词复数 );臭鼬毛皮;卑鄙的人;可恶的人 | |
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60 urchin | |
n.顽童;海胆 | |
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61 shrill | |
adj.尖声的;刺耳的;v尖叫 | |
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62 scurrying | |
v.急匆匆地走( scurry的现在分词 ) | |
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63 throngs | |
n.人群( throng的名词复数 )v.成群,挤满( throng的第三人称单数 ) | |
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64 scarlet | |
n.深红色,绯红色,红衣;adj.绯红色的 | |
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65 stupor | |
v.昏迷;不省人事 | |
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66 amazement | |
n.惊奇,惊讶 | |
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67 collapsing | |
压扁[平],毁坏,断裂 | |
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68 punctured | |
v.在(某物)上穿孔( puncture的过去式和过去分词 );刺穿(某物);削弱(某人的傲气、信心等);泄某人的气 | |
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69 knight | |
n.骑士,武士;爵士 | |
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70 bosom | |
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的 | |
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71 astonishment | |
n.惊奇,惊异 | |
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72 spiked | |
adj.有穗的;成锥形的;有尖顶的 | |
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73 reined | |
勒缰绳使(马)停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 ); 驾驭; 严格控制; 加强管理 | |
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74 ripple | |
n.涟波,涟漪,波纹,粗钢梳;vt.使...起涟漪,使起波纹; vi.呈波浪状,起伏前进 | |
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75 deserted | |
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的 | |
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76 descended | |
a.为...后裔的,出身于...的 | |
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77 gallop | |
v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔;飞速发展 | |
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78 aisles | |
n. (席位间的)通道, 侧廊 | |
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79 rendezvous | |
n.约会,约会地点,汇合点;vi.汇合,集合;vt.使汇合,使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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80 flask | |
n.瓶,火药筒,砂箱 | |
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81 exclamations | |
n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 );感叹;感叹语;感叹词 | |
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82 unanimity | |
n.全体一致,一致同意 | |
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83 utterly | |
adv.完全地,绝对地 | |
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84 defiance | |
n.挑战,挑衅,蔑视,违抗 | |
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85 sneered | |
讥笑,冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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86 jaw | |
n.颚,颌,说教,流言蜚语;v.喋喋不休,教训 | |
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87 reverently | |
adv.虔诚地 | |
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88 fiery | |
adj.燃烧着的,火红的;暴躁的;激烈的 | |
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89 sobbing | |
<主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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90 persecution | |
n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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91 imprisonment | |
n.关押,监禁,坐牢 | |
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92 brink | |
n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘,边沿 | |
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93 precipice | |
n.悬崖,危急的处境 | |
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94 anarchy | |
n.无政府状态;社会秩序混乱,无秩序 | |
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95 shovel | |
n.铁锨,铲子,一铲之量;v.铲,铲出 | |
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96 veins | |
n.纹理;矿脉( vein的名词复数 );静脉;叶脉;纹理 | |
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97 ominously | |
adv.恶兆地,不吉利地;预示地 | |
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98 instinctively | |
adv.本能地 | |
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99 stiffened | |
加强的 | |
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100 organise | |
vt.组织,安排,筹办 | |
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101 growl | |
v.(狗等)嗥叫,(炮等)轰鸣;n.嗥叫,轰鸣 | |
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102 interfere | |
v.(in)干涉,干预;(with)妨碍,打扰 | |
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103 deliberately | |
adv.审慎地;蓄意地;故意地 | |
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