"Chy-loon Villa7.
"Dear Mr. Thompson,
"We have expected you would call upon us ever since your ship has been in harbour. As we know you would prefer not meeting strangers, we beg you will dine with us alone on Friday at 8 o'clock.
"Ever your sincere friend,
"Walter Mackay."
To which Jerry replied,
"H. M. S. Stinger.
"My Dear Friends,
"I am very much obliged to you, and will be there punctual.
"Your obedient friend,
"J. Thompson.
"P. S. I hope none of the officers will drop in."
Having dispatched the foregoing, the acting boatswain sought the advice of a friendly midshipman as to costume and deportment, and upon the appointed evening proceeded to make the call, about which he felt very nervous. When he arrived at the place he was met by Mr. Mackay, who was waiting in the verandah to welcome him. Jerry seated himself in a rocking-chair, but looked so uncomfortable, that his friend inquired if he were unwell. Upon which Thompson got up, and beckoning10 his host into a small reception-room, gravely asked him if he thought he would do.
"My dear fellow, what do you mean?"
"Well, am I all square? Rigging all right?"
Mr. Mackay could scarcely preserve the gravity of his countenance11, but after a short pause he replied,
"Why, you look, very nice indeed, Thompson. What makes you ask me such a question?"
"Why," said the acting boatswain in a whisper, and getting more mysterious than ever, "he said I warn't all square, and I don't want to pay Miss Moore such a ill compliment as to come to dine with you and not be all right, you know."
"Oh, you're splendid. Why, you look as handsome as a post-captain."
Thus assured, Jerry became more easy in his manner, but he was terribly put out[Pg 169] when, upon Mrs. Mackay making her appearance, he found her accompanied by a dark-eyed girl, who was just as affable towards him as his hostess; and when the dinner-gong sounded he actually started, thinking he would have to escort the young lady into the dining-room; but to his relief Mrs. Mackay held out her arm, which the sailor took, and thus reversing the order of things, walked solemnly from the apartment.
The dinner passed off without any mishap13, as Thompson had seen enough life to keep him all right at table, while his natural gallantry and devotion to the fair sex caused him to show all proper attention to the dark-eyed young lady seated by his side. When the ladies had withdrawn16, his kind host lit a cigar, having in vain tried to induce his guest to do the same, and after a little chat asked him what he thought of the young lady.
"She's a real fine lady, but I'm afraid of her."
"Nonsense, Thompson. Why?"
"Well, she's got a sort of a half-laughing sort of way, as much as to say she thinks I'm a poor sort of a imitation of a reg'ler warrant-officer, and she sees through it."
"Chut, chut; let us join the ladies."
Jerry entered the drawing-room upon tip-toe, as the dark-eyed one was playing the piano, and having taken his seat on the chair furthest from the instrument, fixed18 his eyes upon her, and watched the motion of her fingers in a curiously19 anxious manner. When she had finished she turned to him and exclaimed, "Can you sing, Mr. Thompson?"
"Me, miss?"
"Surely you can. Don't you know one song?"
"No, miss. Not what you'd call songs."
"Not a sea-song?"
"Well, I know 'The Gal15 I left behind me,' and 'Hearts of Oak,' and 'Tom Bowline,' and—"
"Oh, do sing 'Tom Bowline,' Mr. Thompson."
After much persuasion20 Jerry got over his bashfulness; then, in a full mellow21 voice, sang that fine old sea-song, and ere the last verse was completed he heard the ladies sobbing22 as if their hearts would break. When he had finished, the younger lady wiped her eyes, and looked at him with the greatest admiration23. He was no longer the bashful-awkward sailor, but a man of genuine tenderness of heart, and she began fully24 to understand how it was that her friends thought so highly of him. As he sang his voice seemed filled with pity for some lost shipmate, and it would have been an unsympathetic ear upon which such a song fell without calling forth25 some pitying response; and the young lady, though not intending to do so, looked at the acting boatswain in such a manner, that a much less susceptible26 person would have easily understood her meaning.
Jerry began to feel uncomfortable. I wish she wouldn't stare at me so, he thought. I'll ask her to sing.
"Please, miss, as it's my call, may I be so bold as to ask you to sing?"
"What song would you like, Mr. Thompson? I am almost ashamed to sing after you."
"Anything, miss; they are all pretty."
Not without a touch of mischief27 in her voice, the dark-eyed one sang "Love not." Now, had she wished to captivate the sailor she could not have chosen a more inappropriate song. When she commenced Thompson was all attention, but at the words
"Love flings a halo round the fair one's head,"
[Pg 170]
the poor fellow got up, and walked into the verandah, where he sobbed28 like a child. A-tae, the truest love in the world, the heart which once so fondly beat for him, now stilled in death—the beautiful lips which, when parted with a smile for him, seemed like an angel's; the stars which shone down upon him then, were shining upon her silent grave, and he should never see her again. All this flashed across his mind, and, sailor as he was, he wept. However, after a few moments he recovered, and crept quietly into the room, his friends pretending not to have noticed his absence. Mrs. Mackay sang several songs, and played some animated29 airs upon the piano, which, with a little brandy pawnee, somewhat enlivened the sailor. About eleven o'clock the dark-eyed one went home, and his hostess wishing to have a little conversation with him, begged he would not hurry his departure, as they did not generally retire until a late hour.
The young lady gone, Thompson threw off his bashfulness, and was once more the merry fellow of old, but he cautiously avoided expressing any opinion about the dark-eyed visitor.
"Do you know who she is, Mr. Thompson?"
"No, miss."
"She is our new governess of the native girls' school; and, I think, would make you an excellent wife."
"Me, miss? Me marry? No, no. I'll keep single. I ain't a marrying man."
"But she was very much interested with your song, and I noticed you were with hers. Take care, Mr. Thompson; take care."
"Bless your heart, miss, you don't know human nature as I do. Why, if every young woman that I have sung that song to, and who has cried over it, had been sentimentyle over me, I should have been prosecuted30 for breach31 of promise years ago. It's only for a moment—they feels sorry for poor Tom Bowline. He's gone aloft, they thinks, and his widder is a-crying about him—probable his half-pay note stopped, and no pension, and her little children going into the werkus. But it's soon all over, and then they are ready for another song of a similar sentimentyle specee, at which they cries, just as they would smile at a comic song, bless their little hearts all on 'em, miss."
"Thompson, you only talk like that to deceive me as to the real state of your feelings. You don't mean what you say."
"Indeed, miss, but I does. I've a lonely widowed mother at home, and I intend devoting the remainder of a rather precarious32 existence to her. I am going to die a bachelor, and I think it's just as well for any one in my situation."
Mrs. Mackay laughed, and when she bade him good-bye, said, "We hear the Stinger is going home as soon as Canton is taken. You will let us know when your happy event takes place, will you not, and send us a description of the bride?"
Jerry shook his head and replied in a mournful sort of way, "Miss, if ever you hears of such a melancholy33 episode, you may rest assured that I am somebody's victim, not a convict by my own free will."
A few days after the foregoing occurrence, the Stinger was despatched to the Canton River, where Captain Woodward was directed to take possession of a small fortified34 island called Yin-sin, situated35 about ten miles below the Barriers; and, to hold himself in readiness to receive, pay for, and take care of all live stock which could be collected by a party of contractors36, who had volunteered to obtain any quantity of cattle the government required, provided the authorities would assist them, and place a war-ship off Yin-sin Fort, to which they could retreat when pursued by the Imperial row boats. As the contractors could not speak a word of English, Hoo-kee, the old pilot, was sent on board to act as interpreter.
[Pg 171]
Having cleared out and whitewashed37 the fort, the ship's company were employed in building sheds upon a level piece of ground near the lower end of the island, and in a few days they put up accommodations for over five hundred head of cattle, besides a house for the Chinese contractors; then having thrown up an embankment round the island, which they further protected by palisades driven near the water's edge, Woodward directed Lieutenant38 Russell to take command of the fort, assisted by the acting boatswain, a gunner's mate, and a garrison39 of thirty-five seamen40.
In a few nights the contractors began to receive bullocks from all parts of the river, and the supply seemed unlimited41; but after several lots had been despatched to Hong-Kong, the number brought decreased, and at length only one or two would be forthcoming, and these were very ordinary beasts indeed. Upon the pilot being questioned, he informed them that "Comprador no can catchee peecee Boolaky, him all lib topside river," or, in other words, the supply was exhausted42 about Yin-sin Fort, and they would have to go further up the river. Woodward did not like to leave the cattle to the sole guard of the garrison, so he concluded to wait for a few days, when he could obtain a gun-boat to assist the contractors, preferring that course to risking the safety of his men.
It was well that he did so, for one night as he was quietly anchored ahead of the island, the man upon the look-out on the port side of the forecastle suddenly announced that a big craft was dropping down upon them, and before they could get up anchor two immense junks filled with brushwood, pitch, oil, and other combustibles, were cleverly floated across the Stinger's bows, and in an instant the fore8 part of the ship was enveloped44 in flame. Woodward knowing the probability of such an attack, had an anchor fastened to the jib-boom in such a manner that in case a fire-ship got across his bows, it might be dropped on board the burning craft, then slipping his own bower45 to the chain of which this suspended anchor was attached, he would be able to drop quite clear of the fire-ship, which being left anchored to his late moorings, would burn itself out, while he was hove off at a short distance.
This was all very nice in theory, but the fire-junks were floated down so silently, that no one saw them until they were almost fast to the bows. When the officer of the watch ordered the suspended anchor to be cut adrift, it was found to be foul46 and would not start, and Woodward getting on deck, saw at a glance that the ship would be lost if no one could manage to cut the obstruction47 to their only means of safety. However, he did not show what he felt, but gave his orders in a cool and deliberate manner.
"Pay out the cable, and stand by to slip the anchor."
"Aye, aye, sir," replied the boatswain's mate of the watch.
The fire-junks hung for a few moments upon his bows, but being slack water, did not drop upon her; and the Stinger having steam up, "went astern" slowly, leaving the Chinese engines of destruction moored48 by the lines by which they had been towed down upon the man-of-war. As the ship receded49 from their fiery50 contact the flames ran along her bowsprit and caught the bulwarks51, but a well-directed stream of water from her pumps soon extinguished that, and the further burning of the bowsprit and projecting spars was prevented.
The Chinese who were managing the attack seeing the Stinger move from her anchorage slacked their tow-lines, and Woodward saw the junks were coming down upon him again.
"Who'll volunteer to cut away that spare anchor when the junks are again under the bows?"
[Pg 172]
"I will, sir," cried Tom Clare, who, dressed in a blanket frock and trousers, looked more like an Esquimaux than a sailor. "The fire won't hurt this rig."
"Up you get, then; the fire won't touch you if you're smart, as the wind has fallen, and is drawing aft. The tricing line has fouled52 just abaft53 the foretopmast stay. Don't cut until I give the order."
Luckily the stays were made of corrugated54 iron wire, and Clare knew if he could feel those he was safe, even though the smoke blinded him. He was determined55 to save the ship; and, axe56 in hand, mounted the head grating, and running out upon the bowsprit, calmly waited for the fire-junks to drop down near enough for the anchor to plump aboard them. As he stood there, with the red gleam of the burning junks showing every line in his face, he looked the handsome Tom Clare of former days; and knowing how perilous57 his position was, many of the crew wished almost any other man of their number there instead of him.
"They're coming, Clare. Stand by, and let them get close enough. I'll give you orders when to cut."
"Aye, aye, sir," quietly replied Tom.
Down dropped the burning craft towards the ship, every now and then sending a volume of smoke into the sky, as some store of combustible43 exploded on board them, flaming like furnace tops, with their entire length an unbroken mass of roaring, singing fire. Tom felt the glare upon his face, and found a difficulty in breathing. Nearer and nearer they approached, until the flying jib-boom was again on fire, and he began to experience the sensation of burning whiskers and singed59 eyebrows60 and face. But as no order came, he waited.
"Cut away!"
Steadying himself upon the bowsprit, which was now enveloped in flame, the gallant14 fellow gave one smart cut. The obstruction was severed61, and the anchor dropped crashing on board the starboard fire-junk. In an instant the chain cable was slipped on board, and the Stinger tore astern at full speed. When they got clear of the burning masses Woodward enquired62 for Clare, but no one had noticed him come in, and the commander feared he had fallen a victim to his bravery.
"Clare! Where's Clare?"
"Clare! Clare!" bawled63 half-a-dozen voices, but no response came. It was a moment of great anxiety, for the Chinese, finding their junks anchored, were endeavouring to drop down another burning craft; and although the captain would willingly have risked his own life in an endeavour to pick up Clare, he felt the safety of the ship was of more consequence, and was compelled to move down the river until he was below the fort and quite secure from further attempts with fire-junks.
The crew soon managed to extinguish the fire forward, and within ten minutes of Clare's gallant act a number of men were standing64 upon the spot where he performed it. Loud and hearty65 were their commendations, and all regretted his sad fate.
"He's drowned. Can't ye see? When he cut the lashing66 of that anchor the bowsprit was burning under him, and the tar12 on the stays was alight. The smoke choked him, and he fell overboard."
"Poor Tom! and he a gettin' on so nicely. Well, it are hard."
When the fire-junks began to burn down, a number of guns laid in rows in their holds, went off, and sent their shot scattering67 across the paddy fields. Seeing this, Lieutenant Russell opened fire with the guns of Yin-sin Fort, and after several rounds, sunk one of the ships and blew up another. The third, now no longer obstructed68, floated with the tide up the river, and exploding, set fire to some Chinese row-boats which were hovering69 near.
[Pg 173]
Lieutenant Russell, knowing the Chinese might take advantage of the confusion, and endeavour to carry off the live stock, had ordered his men to rouse the contractors, and direct them to get the bullocks inside the walls, while he watched the progress of the attack, and kept off a fleet of row-boats, which were evidently bent70 on following up the fire-ships. The cattle being securely got in, the compradors were rigged in sailor's attire71, and all hands got ready to resist any attack which might be made upon their position, the lieutenant knowing it would be useless to depend upon assistance from the ship.
Just as the latter got clear of the fire-junks, and while the attention of the garrison was drawn17 to their shipmates' peril58, a party of "braves" succeeded in making a landing upon a small jetty or pier72, which had been run out from the lower end of the island, and in a short time the cattle sheds and compradors' huts were wrapped in flames. Finding the live stock out of their reach, they advanced boldly towards the fort, and threw over the ramparts lighted balls composed of flax steeped in resin73.
Wonderful to relate, instead of intimidating74 the imprisoned75 Fanquis, the braves found their flaming missiles come flying back upon them; and to add to their discomforture, a party, headed by the acting boatswain, sallied forth from a small gate, the existence of which was unknown to them, whereupon they threw down their arms, and made for the water, but were caught in the gap between the outside slope of the embankment and the palisades. The sailors showed no quarter, and made short work of the braves, who crouched76 down and allowed themselves to be killed in a calmly Oriental manner.
Having cleared the island of their enemies, the party were about to return, when one of them declared he heard some one in the water, and proceeded to fire his pistol in the direction from which the sound proceeded, when, to their astonishment77, they heard a voice faintly cry, "Stop."
"It's one of our fellers," observed a boy.
"Nonsense! How can that be?"
"Hold hard! It's me, C—lare."
Thompson was shading his eyes, and looking towards the water, when he heard this; but in a moment after forced his way through the palisades, and waded78 towards Clare, crying.
"Just another stroke, Tom, old man, and you're safe; there's bottom all along here."
Hearing Jerry's voice, Clare dropped his feet, and found he could touch the mud, upon which he waded towards his friend, who advanced to meet him with outstretched hands.
"Tom, old chap, however did you come here?"
Clare grasped the acting boatswain by the arm, then fell heavily forward, as if fainting.
"You fellers, come here! He's gone off like a dead un!"
The mystified sailors waded into the water, and bore the inanimate form towards the bank, when, a light being produced, it was found that Clare was in a sort of fit.
At that moment the cutter arrived from the ship, and Tom was placed in it, and conveyed on board. Captain Woodward hastened to the gangway, and himself received the suffering sailor, who was in a very precarious state; and as it was considered desirable to keep him quiet, he was placed in the acting boatswain's cabin, and immediately taken charge of by the kind doctor.
When the latter had attended to Clare, he went aft to the captain's cabin, and[Pg 174] reported the coxswain to be suffering from great prostration79, resulting from excitement and sudden immersion80 in the water, adding, "it may be weeks before he is fit to go to duty again."
The next morning Thompson went on board and saw his friend, who looked as if he would not be long with them; but in a few days a marked improvement took place, and Clare was able to get up.
When Tom was well enough to walk up to the quarter-deck, Captain Woodward mustered81 his crew, and publicly thanked him for his gallant conduct. "I have written to the admiral, and given him a full account of your noble deed, and I hope in a few days to tell you what he thinks of your bravery."
Upon hearing these kind words Tom shuddered82. He knew that he deserved them, but the assembly of men reminded him so strongly of the occasion upon which he was flogged, that instead of expressing satisfaction, he felt depressed83; his only pleasure was in thinking how it would please his wife when she heard of it; and, to his great joy, shortly after the men were dismissed, a mail arrived from England bringing him several letters from her, one of which was, singularly enough, dated the 16th of August, and ended with the words, "We are all in good health, thank goodness," upon reading which Tom informed his friend that now he had such evidence he would not believe that she was dead, and from that day never spoke84 of the illusion to any one.
One day, when he found his patient in a suitable state, the doctor questioned him as to his feelings when he was standing upon the bowsprit, with the fire blazing up under him, to which he replied, "Well, doctor, when I heered the captain say he wanted a volunteer, I somehow got hold of an axe and ran out, never thinking or caring for the fire. I felt like I used to afore I were flogged,—bold, plucky85 like. It seemed an age afore I heard his voice a ordering me to cut, and the smoke came up so thick and stifling86 that I could scarcely breathe. All at once the flame caught my whiskers and singed my dress! but, thank God, the wind drew aft, and beyond the smoke I didn't feel no hurt, but I thought the captain never would call out. Suddenly I hears his voice, loud and clear as a bell, crying, 'Cut away!' So I ups axe, and away went the anchor, which I knew by the end of the line being gone. Just as I turned to go inboard the screw began to revolve87, and as the ship left the junks the smoke drew aft again, and I got half choked and fell overboard. Lucky it were slack water and I a good swimmer; so kicking off my heavy flannel88 trousers and pulling off my frock, I struck out for the island, where I were picked up by Mr. Jerry Thompson."
Finding the supply of live stock becoming beautifully less every day, Woodward wrote to the admiral and obtained a gun-boat, guarded by which the compradors collected a great quantity of bullocks, in fact, rather overstocked the island, and as they charged a good price for the cattle, they waxed rich and insolent89. Hoo-kee was constantly with them; and according to his account, there never were such honest compradors in that line before. However, one morning a little affair occurred which not only damaged the pilot's veracity90 but convicted that diplomatic individual of collusion with them to cheat the Fanqui authorities. As the ship's company were scrubbing decks, the signal-man observed to the officer of the watch, that there were a lot of Chinese fellows on the banks waving a white flag, which intelligence was at once communicated to the commander, who sent Hoo-kee to ascertain91 what they wanted, when, upon nearing the bank, the pilot thus addressed them:—
"You precious half-starved, mean-looking miserables, what are you kow-towing there for?"
"We want to see the Fanqui chief," chorussed the villagers.
"Do you? Well, he don't want to see you."
[Pg 175]
"But we will see him, we will see him, you man of the two faces! You no Chinese, no Fanqui, eater-of-women's-hearts."
"Who stole our bullocks?" screamed the women among the crowd.
"You shut up, or it will be worse for you, my pretty hens," retorted the ungallant pilot.
"Who stole our ducks?" yelled the children.
"Come," said the officer in charge of the boat, "what do they want? What's all the jabber92 about?"
"Him say him wantchee mi go way."
"Shove off! oars93!"
"Stop, smallee peecee," cried a villager in very decent pigeon English. "Him com catchee mi duck, me wantchee speekee claptlain man."
"Jump in, then, you fellows who want to go aboard," cried the officer: and in a few seconds the gentleman who spoke English and four venerable elders of the village were seated in the boat, and on their way towards the dreaded94 Fanqui ship, "with their hearts in their mouths," and fear or astonishment exhibited in every line of their faces; none of them being sure if the head Foreign Western Devil would treat them kindly95, or have them cooked for the delectation of his red and blue devils, who were reported to be fond of baked Celestials96.
Hoo-kee subsided97 into a sulky state, and did not condescend98 to cajole or abuse the elders, and it was very evident to the officer that an exposure of some kind or another was in store for that valiant99 individual. Upon arrival on board, the Pigeon-Englishman walked aft, and with the venerable elders performed a solemn kow-tow, and when they had sufficiently100 consolidated101 their ideas by knocking their heads upon the quarter-deck, the leader craved102 permission to speak, which being granted he went ahead as follows:—
"Big peecee claptlain, all peecee man cum catchee boolakki no payee mi one tam cash."
"Do you mean to say that the compradors have not paid you for the bullocks you have sent off to us?"
"Mi no sendee off. Him cum catchee teefee. Him long tim no hab catchee, now alla gonne. Him all same teefee peecee gallee"
"Hoo-kee, come here!"
The pilot advanced with fear and trembling, declaring that the speaker was "a nomba one first-class liar," and "would sell his own long-tim faader for one peecee dolla," but when he had finished the sentence he found a marine103 at each elbow, with their drawn bayonets pointed9 at his breast; seeing which he held his tongue, and prepared himself for the worst.
"Send for the contractors, and bring their money bags with them."
As the Chinese supplicants for justice felt rather nervous, they again kow-tow'd, by way of fortifying104 themselves for what was to follow, imagining that the Fanqui captain would at least behead the contractors, and torture the pilot; further supposing he would seize the cash belonging to the scoundrels, and appropriate it to his own uses, that being the way many of their own rulers would dispense105 justice under such circumstances. All they wanted, or at least expected to get was revenge—blood for bullocks was their idea.
Upon the contractors making their appearance, they were compelled to disgorge their dollars, whereupon the captain sent for the acting boatswain and told him to rig a block upon which to behead the party, and in a short time the butcher's log was [Pg 176]conveyed aft, and placed in position, Thompson sprinkling sawdust round the place, and sharpening the cleaver106 in a most artistic107 and dramatic manner.
After a patient investigation108, the commander, finding it necessary to make a severe example of the head comprador, directed him to be placed in the gangway, and having given him "time to say his prayers," which the fellow refused with scorn, the marines levelled their rifles and shot him, his body falling overboard and sinking immediately. Then the rest of his band were placed behind a screen, and one by one brought out, and told to place their heads upon the block, and it was strange to see with what composure they shut their eyes and awaited the fatal cut. At a signal from the captain the cleaver descended109 and cut off their—queues; then, they were led to a port, and bundled overboard, to sink or swim as best able.
When all were disposed of, the captain turned to the pilot and ordered him to confess or share the fate of the others, upon which Hoo-kee fell upon his knees and made a clean breast of it. Not only had the compradors, under threat of bringing the Fanquis down upon the villagers, obtained cattle and other live stock, but actually the scoundrels, sheltered by the ship's guns, had seized and carried away a large number of girls, whom they had sold to Hong-Kong dealers110.
The English-speaking villager and his friends were asked of how much they had been plundered112, when, finding they had a chance of being repaid, one of the old gentlemen put on a pair of horn spectacles, and taking out a square of paper and a wet pencil, ran off a bill which would have done credit to the ingenuity113 of a French hotel-keeper.
"Two thousand dollars for women, and one thousand dollars for cattle stolen," observed the spectacled one in Chinese, tendering the bill to the commander.
"How much does he say pilot? Mind you speak the truth."
"Him speekee to tousance peecee dolla catchee gallee, one tousance catchee boolakki."
"Paymaster, give them three thousand dollars, and take their receipt."
"Fo—!" cried the most venerable of the elders when the money was handed over, and found to be correct. "What a pack of fools they are, and how weak we were not to ask more;" then, having humbly114 kow-tow'd, they took up their money-bags and hurried over the side, fearing if they lingered that the Fanquis might change their minds and "squeeze them," as their own officials would have done under like circumstances.
Hoo-kee was sent to Hong-Kong, and kicked out of H.M. Service, after which he hired a bum-boat, and swindled the sailors belonging to the fleet.
A few days after the execution of the head comprador and dismissal of his band, a gun-boat arrived from Hong-Kong, bearing orders for the ship to proceed to Canton.
Visions of loot, crape shawls, old china, wooden gods, bars of silver, curios, and chests of tea, flitted through the minds of the Stingers, who imagined how rich they would be when they got at the treasures in Yeh's palace, while that astute115 Tartar prepared to repel116 their assaults; and when the plundering117 of his ya-mun was hinted at by a nervous mandarin118, first drove the craven from his presence, and then, knowingly winking119 his pig-like eyes, exclaimed, "Plunder111 my palace, indeed! Take my city? Never!"
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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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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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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tar
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| n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于 | |
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mishap
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| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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gal
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| n.姑娘，少女 | |
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withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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19
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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20
persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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21
mellow
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| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
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22
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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23
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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24
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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25
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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susceptible
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| adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的 | |
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27
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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28
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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29
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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30
prosecuted
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| a.被起诉的 | |
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31
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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32
precarious
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| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
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33
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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34
fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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35
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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36
contractors
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| n.（建筑、监造中的）承包人( contractor的名词复数 ) | |
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37
whitewashed
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| 粉饰，美化，掩饰( whitewash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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39
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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40
seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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41
unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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42
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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43
combustible
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| a. 易燃的,可燃的; n. 易燃物,可燃物 | |
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44
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
bower
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| n.凉亭，树荫下凉快之处；闺房；v.荫蔽 | |
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46
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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47
obstruction
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| n.阻塞，堵塞；障碍物 | |
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48
moored
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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49
receded
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的过去式和过去分词 )；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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50
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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51
bulwarks
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| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
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52
fouled
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| v.使污秽( foul的过去式和过去分词 )；弄脏；击球出界；（通常用废物）弄脏 | |
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53
abaft
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| prep.在…之后；adv.在船尾，向船尾 | |
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54
corrugated
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| adj.波纹的；缩成皱纹的；波纹面的；波纹状的v.（使某物）起皱褶(corrugate的过去式和过去分词) | |
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55
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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56
axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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57
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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58
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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59
singed
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| v.浅表烧焦( singe的过去式和过去分词 )；（毛发）燎，烧焦尖端[边儿] | |
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60
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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61
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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62
enquired
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| 打听( enquire的过去式和过去分词 )； 询问； 问问题； 查问 | |
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63
bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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64
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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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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66
lashing
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| n.鞭打；痛斥；大量；许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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67
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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68
obstructed
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| 阻塞( obstruct的过去式和过去分词 )； 堵塞； 阻碍； 阻止 | |
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69
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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70
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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71
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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72
pier
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| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
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73
resin
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| n.树脂，松香，树脂制品；vt.涂树脂 | |
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74
intimidating
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| vt.恐吓，威胁( intimidate的现在分词) | |
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75
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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76
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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77
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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78
waded
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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79
prostration
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| n. 平伏, 跪倒, 疲劳 | |
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80
immersion
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| n.沉浸；专心 | |
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81
mustered
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的过去式和过去分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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82
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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83
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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84
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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85
plucky
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| adj.勇敢的 | |
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86
stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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87
revolve
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| vi.(使)旋转；循环出现 | |
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88
flannel
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| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
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89
insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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90
veracity
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| n.诚实 | |
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91
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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92
jabber
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| v.快而不清楚地说；n.吱吱喳喳 | |
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93
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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94
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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95
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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96
celestials
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| n.天的，天空的( celestial的名词复数 ) | |
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97
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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98
condescend
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| v.俯就，屈尊；堕落，丢丑 | |
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99
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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100
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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101
consolidated
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| a.联合的 | |
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102
craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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103
marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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104
fortifying
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| 筑防御工事于( fortify的现在分词 )； 筑堡于； 增强； 强化（食品） | |
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105
dispense
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| vt.分配，分发；配(药)，发(药)；实施 | |
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106
cleaver
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| n.切肉刀 | |
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107
artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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108
investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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109
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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110
dealers
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| n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者 | |
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111
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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112
plundered
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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113
ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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114
humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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115
astute
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| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
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116
repel
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| v.击退，抵制，拒绝，排斥 | |
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117
plundering
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的现在分词 ) | |
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118
Mandarin
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| n.中国官话，国语，满清官吏；adj.华丽辞藻的 | |
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119
winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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