The rock-platform below which he stood was backed by a lofty limestone2 wall. The latter rose straight up in seamed and jagged layers and ended in a high table-land crowned with snow and leafless shrubs3. A cavern4 opened at its base. In front of the cavern crouched5 the figure of a man. His back was turned towards the two friends, giving them only the rear view of a large bun-shaped head almost buried in broad, massive shoulders. A hyena6 skin partly covered his nakedness. It was but a single garment thrown over his back, with the forepaws tied together beneath his chin. Shoulders, arms and legs were left exposed. They bulged7 with fibre and sinew beneath their covering of short thick hair.
Suddenly the unknown half-turned to glance down beside him, revealing his features in profile; a low forehead, heavy brow-ridges and deep-set eyes. His lower face projected strongly forward.[24] Its effect was massive rather than protruding9 because of the well-formed nose which amply filled the space between mouth and eyes. The lower jaw10 had a round, receding11 chin. The huge head was set upon a thick neck, so short that the base of the skull12 melted away into the shoulders and gave the latter a stooped appearance.
The stranger was about five feet tall. He sat, or rather squatted13, thigh15 on heel with knees apart, devoting his entire attention to some peculiar16 task. In his right hand he held a large granite17 pebble18 with which he repeatedly struck a flint-flake19 held in his left. At every stroke, the chips flew about his ears beneath the blow of the hammer-stone.
To the Mammoth, this performance was more puzzling than the performer himself. He had seen cave-men before but never at such close range.
“Odd creatures these Trog-folk,” he whispered. “See how he sits on his hind20 legs and uses the front ones—just like a squirrel. What can he be doing?”
“Cracking rocks,” Wulli replied. “All Trog-men do the same thing—I know not why.”
“Indeed; I never noticed what they were doing,” said the Mammoth and he continued to watch the scene before him with the greatest interest. Apparently21 the Cave Man had espied22 neither him nor the Rhinoceros23,—the two eavesdroppers peering over the terrace behind him. Rock-cracking claimed[25] his sole and undivided attention. The hammer-stone in his right hand rose and fell with unbroken regularity24 upon the flint-flake held in his left.
Wulli quickly tired of this monotonous25 performance; but with every blow, the Mammoth’s eyes and mouth opened wider and wider.
“What does it mean?” he exclaimed. “So unusual. There must be something in rocks of which we have not yet learned.”
“Perhaps he eats them,” grunted27 the Rhinoceros. “If so he can have my share. They break teeth and taste of nothing. I prefer grass.”
“Look,” Hairi whispered in an awed28 voice. The Cave Man had ceased pounding the flint he held and was examining it with the greatest care, first on one side then on the other, meanwhile running his thumb along its ragged29 edges. Something about it must have displeased30 him, for with a grunt26 he tossed the flake over his left shoulder, then selected another from a small pile before him. The rejected flint, hurled31 so unceremoniously over the ledge32, struck the Mammoth’s trunk. Hairi emitted a muffled33 squeal34 which instantly betrayed his presence.
The Cave Man sprang quickly to his feet. For an instant, he glared fiercely at the two eavesdroppers, then snatching up a jagged rock, bounded nimbly to the terrace edge.
[26]
“Ugh! What Are You Doing There?”
[27]
“Ugh-h! What are you doing there?” he demanded in a deep guttural voice. The rock was poised35 threateningly over the Mammoth’s head.
Hairi was too startled by the suddenness of it all to speak or move. Wulli’s eyes sparkled. He was taking note of the Cave Man’s resolute36 bearing and the huge rock held aloft with such seeming ease. He was amazed that the Cave Man was prepared to defend himself and at the great physical strength which could lift a stone of such size and weight. No fear that it might at any moment come tumbling down upon his own head disturbed Wulli’s trend of thought.
The stranger had spoken words that neither of his hearers could grasp, the man-language which in their ears was a confused jabber38 of meaningless sounds. But his look and actions were enough. He had not flinched39 from even such a formidable pair as the Mammoth and Woolly Rhinoceros; and then as though realizing that he had none but brutes40 to deal with, he burst forth42 into the Mother Nature tongue:
“By the Lion’s tooth! What are you doing there?”
Hairi shrank back amazed. He now heard and saw familiar sounds and gestures—the beast-talk which all creatures could understand. Never had he thought Trog-men capable of talking sense—these[28] strange beings who huddled43 together in caves and made no friends among the beasts about them.
“The Cave Lion—where is he?” was all the Mammoth could say.
“Gone. What do you want of him?”
“We came to fight,” replied the Elephant who by this time was fast recovering from his first astonishment44. “He lives in that cave; so we have been told.”
The other lowered his arms and tossed the rock to one side. “Then you did not come here to fight me?” he demanded.
“As you please,” snorted the Rhinoceros. “But we must attend to Grun Waugh first. Then you may have your turn.”
The Cave Man smiled. Beasts never more than snarled45 and showed their teeth; and in their hideous46 mouthings was none of the joy and sunshine which now softened47 that friendly face. The smile was a revelation. Both the Mammoth and Rhinoceros unconsciously felt its warmth. Unkind thoughts were for the moment cast aside. After much effort, they dragged their great bodies up the steep face of the terrace. Seeing that the two beasts were peaceably inclined, the Cave Man stepped back and permitted them a foothold upon the rock-platform. As they scrambled48 up and found room for themselves, he stood fearlessly beneath the mighty49 Mammoth’s[29] trunk and curling tusks50; unabashed within thrusting range of the Rhino’s horn. With a confidence born only of the moment, he unhesitatingly placed himself at the mercy of his visitors, a situation which they were quick to see and appreciate.
“Oo-wee! No teeth nor claws and yet you do not fear us,” Wulli could not help saying. “But all is well; we wish you no harm.”
“Who are you?” Hairi asked.
“Pic.”
The Mammoth frowned. “None but leaders and fighters have names,” he said sternly. “You are but one of the poor Trog-folk as we can plainly see. We are Hairi the Mammoth and Wulli the Rhinoceros——”
“And I am Pic,”—said the other boldly. He hesitated a moment, then added—“the Ape Boy.”
“Ape Boy?” Wulli asked. “What is that?”
“A boy is a young man. As for the ape part I do not know, nor am I so sure I would like it if I did know. The Cave Lion, even men call me that.”
“Owk, the Cave Lion,” said the Mammoth, suddenly remembering what he was there for. “Where is he? How did you come here?”
“I live here,” was the answer. “I have lived in this valley ever since I can remember. Do you see that cave?”—the Ape Boy pointed51 to the dark[30] opening in the rock-wall,—“It is mine. I sleep there.”
“Then we have come to the wrong place.”
“Yes and no. The Cave Lion lived there too but that was when I was away. When the cold weather came, I had to find shelter, so I drove him out.”
Hairi and Wulli pricked52 up their ears at this. Of all animals, Grun Waugh was a tough customer, as they well knew. As experts they took no small pride in their ability to tame him. But lo and behold53! here was a puny54 Trog Boy who spoke37 of ousting55 him from his den8 as though that were a simple matter indeed.
“Drove him out, did you?” the Rhinoceros snorted. “Oo-wee! How did the Cave Lion like that?”
“He was angry,” replied the Ape Boy with a bland56 smile; “Arrah, so angry! He absolutely refused to be driven away at first; but I was determined57 that he must go. The air became so cold, I had to find shelter. You would not expect me to stay there with him in it, would you?” he demanded.
By this time Wulli’s professional pride was deeply wounded.
“We came to rid that den of its owner, Grun Waugh,” he said. “But now that he is gone, you who can manage the brute41 so easily may serve our[31] purpose even better.” In spite of his endeavor to appear calm, Wulli’s voice jerked perceptibly.
The Ape Boy set his jaws58 tightly together and glared at the Rhinoceros.
“Take care,” he growled59. “You see that I wear the skin of a hyena—my own killing60. I have disposed of the Cave Lion for all of his sharp teeth and claws. You two—horns, tusks and everything—can be dealt with in the same way.”
Wulli promptly61 accepted this threat as a challenge. He trotted62 to the cave mouth and backed into the dark opening until only head and horn protruded63. The Mammoth lumbered64 after and strove to imitate him. When about half-way in, he came to a sudden stop. His shoulder-hump had bumped against the roof and he could proceed no farther.
“Owk, owk; this hole is too small,” he bellowed65. “What shall I do?”
“Be quiet,” sounded Wulli’s muffled voice behind him. “You are a cave-lion; so am I. Now let us see if he can drive us out.”
After waiting until the pair were firmly intrenched, the Ape Boy left them to their own devices for the moment while he darted66 about the rock-platform, picking up such dry leaves, sticks and brush as lay there fallen from above. These he piled in front of the two animals, now playing[32] the parts of a pair of fierce cave-lions about to be driven forth into the cold world by the third and star performer—himself. The Mammoth and Wulli—peering between his partner’s forelegs—looked on, curious rather than fierce. They saw the Ape Boy glide67 away and disappear in a cleft68 behind a projection69 in the back wall. They were preparing to claim a well-earned victory when the youth suddenly reappeared with a smoking firebrand in one hand. As the odor of burning wood reached their nostrils70, Hairi and Wulli coughed and stamped their feet uneasily. They saw the Ape Boy kneel down and thrust the brand into the mass of twigs71 and leaves. Then came a strange crackling sound followed by a sight fearful to behold.
From the pile arose red writhing72 tongues which leaped and lashed73 with burning breath. White cloud-puffs scattered74 by the breeze, curled about in all directions and filled the eyes and nostrils of the now terrified animals. Retreat was impossible; advance hopeless. Solid rock behind; red tongues and white clouds in front. Amid a chorus of frantic75 squeals76 and trumpetings, a voice rang out loud and clear from behind the red tongues and white curling clouds:
“Ya-ya, hi-yi! Come out of my cave or stay in and choke.”
But by this time, the two animals were in a panic[33] of fear and took no heed77. Nothing, not even the nearness of death, could have induced them to dash through the scorching78 heat and suffocating79 smoke. The Ape Boy saw their terror and decided80 that he had done enough. His heart softened. With one well-directed kick, he sent the burning embers flying across the ledge in all directions.
Out dashed the two would-be cave-lions in mad haste and raced along the platform until the grotto81 was hidden from their view by a projecting portion of the back-wall. Here they paused to gather breath and calm their nerves. Their eyes and noses still smarted from the irritating smoke.
“Kerchoo! I have had enough of that Ape Boy and his little red and white animal,” said the Mammoth.
“And I; oo-oo, my nose!” the Rhinoceros wailed82. “Let us climb down again.”
So the two friends labored83 sideways down the steep terrace incline and were preparing to retreat along the main slope when a rustling84 sounded upon the rock-platform. There stood the Ape Boy watching them. His knees were bent85 forwards. His arms dangled86 with the palms of his hands turned backwards87.
“Wait. Don’t go. Do come back.” He spoke so earnestly that the two animals paused. They saw him squat14 on the very edge of the terrace, perched[34] like a bird with feet tightly gripping the shelving ledge. Each big toe was separate from its mates like a thumb. This peculiar arrangement enabled him to grasp the edge of the rock and hold himself securely anchored. No trace of red tongues or white clouds were to be seen about him. Hairi and Wulli made certain of this. They sniffed88 and sniffed but detected no alarming signs.
“What has become of the red animal with the bad, hot breath?” the Mammoth inquired.
At first the Ape Boy failed to understand, then his face expanded in an amused smile: “You mean fire and smoke. It is asleep now and I will not awaken89 it again if such is your wish.”
“It is,” declared Wulli emphatically. “I will not face it again.”
“I know,” the Ape Boy laughed. “All animals are afraid of fire. That is why I use it to fight them. The Cave Lion fears it too. Without it, I could never have driven him away. He could crush me with one blow of his big paw; but heat and smoke are too much for him.”
At this account of Grun Waugh’s discomfiture90, the two animals were much interested.
“Tell us about him,” Wulli asked.
“And of yourself,” the Mammoth added. “Why do you live here alone?”
“Alone? Yes; why?” The youth’s face sobered[35] in an instant. “Because I have no friends; that is why. You would not understand. None but men know what it means to live forever alone.”
The great Mammoth trembled. His ears fluttered like fans. Yes, he knew. Solitude92 was his own greatest dread93. No lone91 beast or man need call vainly upon his sociable94 nature. The Ape Boy’s words and manner now impressed him more profoundly than even his first glimpse of the friendly, grinning face.
He wheeled and scrambled up to the rock-platform. “Come, Wulli,” he said. “The little red beast sleeps. We must remember our manners and show some courtesy to one who bears himself so boldly before the Rhinoceros, the Mammoth and Grun Waugh.”
点击收听单词发音
1 mammoth | |
n.长毛象;adj.长毛象似的,巨大的 | |
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2 limestone | |
n.石灰石 | |
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3 shrubs | |
灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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4 cavern | |
n.洞穴,大山洞 | |
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5 crouched | |
v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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6 hyena | |
n.土狼,鬣狗 | |
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7 bulged | |
凸出( bulge的过去式和过去分词 ); 充满; 塞满(某物) | |
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8 den | |
n.兽穴;秘密地方;安静的小房间,私室 | |
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9 protruding | |
v.(使某物)伸出,(使某物)突出( protrude的现在分词 );凸 | |
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10 jaw | |
n.颚,颌,说教,流言蜚语;v.喋喋不休,教训 | |
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11 receding | |
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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12 skull | |
n.头骨;颅骨 | |
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13 squatted | |
v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 );非法擅自占用(土地或房屋);为获得其所有权;而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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14 squat | |
v.蹲坐,蹲下;n.蹲下;adj.矮胖的,粗矮的 | |
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15 thigh | |
n.大腿;股骨 | |
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16 peculiar | |
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的 | |
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17 granite | |
adj.花岗岩,花岗石 | |
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18 pebble | |
n.卵石,小圆石 | |
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19 flake | |
v.使成薄片;雪片般落下;n.薄片 | |
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20 hind | |
adj.后面的,后部的 | |
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21 apparently | |
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
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22 espied | |
v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23 rhinoceros | |
n.犀牛 | |
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24 regularity | |
n.规律性,规则性;匀称,整齐 | |
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25 monotonous | |
adj.单调的,一成不变的,使人厌倦的 | |
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26 grunt | |
v.嘟哝;作呼噜声;n.呼噜声,嘟哝 | |
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27 grunted | |
(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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28 awed | |
adj.充满敬畏的,表示敬畏的v.使敬畏,使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29 ragged | |
adj.衣衫褴褛的,粗糙的,刺耳的 | |
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30 displeased | |
a.不快的 | |
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31 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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32 ledge | |
n.壁架,架状突出物;岩架,岩礁 | |
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33 muffled | |
adj.(声音)被隔的;听不太清的;(衣服)裹严的;蒙住的v.压抑,捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 );用厚厚的衣帽包着(自己) | |
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34 squeal | |
v.发出长而尖的声音;n.长而尖的声音 | |
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35 poised | |
a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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36 resolute | |
adj.坚决的,果敢的 | |
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37 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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38 jabber | |
v.快而不清楚地说;n.吱吱喳喳 | |
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39 flinched | |
v.(因危险和痛苦)退缩,畏惧( flinch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40 brutes | |
兽( brute的名词复数 ); 畜生; 残酷无情的人; 兽性 | |
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41 brute | |
n.野兽,兽性 | |
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42 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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43 huddled | |
挤在一起(huddle的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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44 astonishment | |
n.惊奇,惊异 | |
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45 snarled | |
v.(指狗)吠,嗥叫, (人)咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 );咆哮着说,厉声地说 | |
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46 hideous | |
adj.丑陋的,可憎的,可怕的,恐怖的 | |
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47 softened | |
(使)变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 ); 缓解打击; 缓和; 安慰 | |
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48 scrambled | |
v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 );攀登;争夺;(军事飞机)紧急起飞 | |
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49 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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50 tusks | |
n.(象等动物的)长牙( tusk的名词复数 );獠牙;尖形物;尖头 | |
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51 pointed | |
adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
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52 pricked | |
刺,扎,戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 ); 刺伤; 刺痛; 使剧痛 | |
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53 behold | |
v.看,注视,看到 | |
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54 puny | |
adj.微不足道的,弱小的 | |
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55 ousting | |
驱逐( oust的现在分词 ); 革职; 罢黜; 剥夺 | |
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56 bland | |
adj.淡而无味的,温和的,无刺激性的 | |
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57 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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58 jaws | |
n.口部;嘴 | |
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59 growled | |
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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60 killing | |
n.巨额利润;突然赚大钱,发大财 | |
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61 promptly | |
adv.及时地,敏捷地 | |
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62 trotted | |
小跑,急走( trot的过去分词 ); 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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63 protruded | |
v.(使某物)伸出,(使某物)突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64 lumbered | |
砍伐(lumber的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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65 bellowed | |
v.发出吼叫声,咆哮(尤指因痛苦)( bellow的过去式和过去分词 );(愤怒地)说出(某事),大叫 | |
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66 darted | |
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
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67 glide | |
n./v.溜,滑行;(时间)消逝 | |
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68 cleft | |
n.裂缝;adj.裂开的 | |
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69 projection | |
n.发射,计划,突出部分 | |
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70 nostrils | |
鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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71 twigs | |
细枝,嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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72 writhing | |
(因极度痛苦而)扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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73 lashed | |
adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 );煽动;紧系;怒斥 | |
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74 scattered | |
adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的 | |
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75 frantic | |
adj.狂乱的,错乱的,激昂的 | |
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76 squeals | |
n.长而尖锐的叫声( squeal的名词复数 )v.长声尖叫,用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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77 heed | |
v.注意,留意;n.注意,留心 | |
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78 scorching | |
adj. 灼热的 | |
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79 suffocating | |
a.使人窒息的 | |
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80 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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81 grotto | |
n.洞穴 | |
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82 wailed | |
v.哭叫,哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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83 labored | |
adj.吃力的,谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 );苦干;详细分析;(指引擎)缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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84 rustling | |
n. 瑟瑟声,沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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85 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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86 dangled | |
悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 ); 摆动不定; 用某事物诱惑…; 吊胃口 | |
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87 backwards | |
adv.往回地,向原处,倒,相反,前后倒置地 | |
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88 sniffed | |
v.以鼻吸气,嗅,闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 );抽鼻子(尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气);抱怨,不以为然地说 | |
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89 awaken | |
vi.醒,觉醒;vt.唤醒,使觉醒,唤起,激起 | |
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90 discomfiture | |
n.崩溃;大败;挫败;困惑 | |
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91 lone | |
adj.孤寂的,单独的;唯一的 | |
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92 solitude | |
n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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93 dread | |
vt.担忧,忧虑;惧怕,不敢;n.担忧,畏惧 | |
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94 sociable | |
adj.好交际的,友好的,合群的 | |
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