The battle between the Bon Homme Richard and the Serapis stands in history as the first signal collision on the sea between the Englishman and the American. For obstinacy1, mutual2 hatred3, and courage, it is without precedent4 or subsequent in the story of ocean. The strife5 long hung undetermined, but the English flag struck in the end.
There would seem to be something singularly indicatory in this engagement. It may involve at once a type, a parallel, and a prophecy. Sharing the same blood with England, and yet her proved foe7 in two wars—not wholly inclined at bottom to forget an old grudge—intrepid, unprincipled, reckless, predatory, with boundless8 ambition, civilized9 in externals but a savage10 at heart, America is, or may yet be, the Paul Jones of nations.
Regarded in this indicatory light, the battle between the Bon Homme Richard and the Serapis—in itself so curious—may well enlist11 our interest.
Never was there a fight so snarled12. The intricacy of those incidents which defy the narrator's extrication13, is not illy figured in that bewildering intertanglement of all the yards and anchors of the two ships, which confounded them for the time in one chaos14 of devastation15.
Elsewhere than here the reader must go who seeks an elaborate version of the fight, or, indeed, much of any regular account of it whatever. The writer is but brought to mention the battle because he must needs follow, in all events, the fortunes of the humble16 adventurer whose life lie records. Yet this necessarily involves some general view of each conspicuous17 incident in which he shares.
Several circumstances of the place and time served to invest the fight with a certain scenic18 atmosphere casting a light almost poetic19 over the wild gloom of its tragic20 results. The battle was fought between the hours of seven and ten at night; the height of it was under a full harvest moon, in view of thousands of distant spectators crowning the high cliffs of Yorkshire.
From the Tees to the Humber, the eastern coast of Britain, for the most part, wears a savage, melancholy21, and Calabrian aspect. It is in course of incessant22 decay. Every year the isle23 which repulses24 nearly all other foes25, succumbs26 to the Attila assaults of the deep. Here and there the base of the cliffs is strewn with masses of rock, undermined by the waves, and tumbled headlong below, where, sometimes, the water completely surrounds them, showing in shattered confusion detached rocks, pyramids, and obelisks27, rising half-revealed from the surf—the Tadmores of the wasteful28 desert of the sea. Nowhere is this desolation more marked than for those fifty miles of coast between Flamborough Head and the Spurm.
Weathering out the gale29 which had driven them from Leith, Paul's ships for a few days were employed in giving chase to various merchantmen and colliers; capturing some, sinking others, and putting the rest to flight. Off the mouth of the Humber they ineffectually manoeuvred with a view of drawing out a king's frigate30, reported to be lying at anchor within. At another time a large fleet was encountered, under convoy31 of some ships of force. But their panic caused the fleet to hug the edge of perilous32 shoals very nigh the land, where, by reason of his having no competent pilot, Paul durst not approach to molest33 them. The same night he saw two strangers further out at sea, and chased them until three in the morning, when, getting pretty nigh, he surmised34 that they must needs be vessels36 of his own squadron, which, previous to his entering the Firth of Forth37, had separated from his command. Daylight proved this supposition correct. Five vessels of the original squadron were now once more in company. About noon a fleet of forty merchantmen appeared coming round Flamborough Head, protected by two English man-of-war, the Serapis and Countess of Scarborough. Descrying38 the five cruisers sailing down, the forty sail, like forty chickens, fluttered in a panic under the wing of the shore. Their armed protectors bravely steered39 from the land, making the disposition41 for battle. Promptly42 accepting the challenge, Paul, giving the signal to his consorts43, earnestly pressed forward. But, earnest as he was, it was seven in the evening ere the encounter began. Meantime his comrades, heedless of his signals, sailed independently along. Dismissing them from present consideration, we confine ourselves, for a while, to the Richard and the Serapis, the grand duellists of the fight.
The Richard carried a motley, crew, to keep whom in order one hundred and thirty-five soldiers—themselves a hybrid45 band—had been put on board, commanded by French officers of inferior rank. Her armament was similarly heterogeneous46; guns of all sorts and calibres; but about equal on the whole to those of a thirty-two-gun frigate. The spirit of baneful47 intermixture pervaded48 this craft throughout.
The Serapis was a frigate of fifty guns, more than half of which individually exceeded in calibre any one gun of the Richard. She had a crew of some three hundred and twenty trained man-of-war's men.
There is something in a naval49 engagement which radically50 distinguishes it from one on the land. The ocean, at times, has what is called its sea and its trough of the sea; but it has neither rivers, woods, banks, towns, nor mountains. In mild weather it is one hammered plain. Stratagems51, like those of disciplined armies—ambuscades, like those of Indians, are impossible. All is clear, open, fluent. The very element which sustains the combatants, yields at the stroke of a feather. One wind and one tide at one time operate upon all who here engage. This simplicity52 renders a battle between two men-of-war, with their huge white wings, more akin40 to the Miltonic contests of archangels than to the comparatively squalid tussles53 of earth.
As the ships neared, a hazy54 darkness overspread the water. The moon was not yet risen. Objects were perceived with difficulty. Borne by a soft moist breeze over gentle waves, they came within pistol- shot. Owing to the obscurity, and the known neighborhood of other vessels, the Serapis was uncertain who the Richard was. Through the dim mist each ship loomed55 forth to the other vast, but indistinct, as the ghost of Morven. Sounds of the trampling56 of resolute57 men echoed from either hull58, whose tight decks dully resounded59 like drum-heads in a funeral march.
The Serapis hailed. She was answered by a broadside. For half an hour the combatants deliberately60 manoeuvred, continually changing their position, but always within shot fire. The. Serapis—the better sailer of the two—kept critically circling the Richard, making lounging advances now and then, and as suddenly steering61 off; hate causing her to act not unlike a wheeling cock about a hen, when stirred by the contrary passion. Meantime, though within easy speaking distance, no further syllable62 was exchanged; but an incessant cannonade was kept up.
At this point, a third party, the Scarborough, drew near, seemingly desirous of giving assistance to her consort44. But thick smoke was now added to the night's natural obscurity. The Scarborough imperfectly discerned two ships, and plainly saw the common fire they made; but which was which, she could not tell. Eager to befriend the Serapis, she durst not fire a gun, lest she might unwittingly act the part of a foe. As when a hawk64 and a crow are clawing and beaking high in the air, a second crow flying near, will seek to join the battle, but finding no fair chance to engage, at last flies away to the woods; just so did the Scarborough now. Prudence65 dictated66 the step; because several chance shot—from which of the combatants could not be known—had already struck the Scarborough. So, unwilling67 uselessly to expose herself, off went for the present this baffled and ineffectual friend.
Not long after, an invisible hand came and set down a great yellow lamp in the east. The hand reached up unseen from below the horizon, and set the lamp down right on the rim68 of the horizon, as on a threshold; as much as to say, Gentlemen warriors69, permit me a little to light up this rather gloomy looking subject. The lamp was the round harvest moon; the one solitary70 foot-light of the scene. But scarcely did the rays from the lamp pierce that languid haze71. Objects before perceived with difficulty, now glimmered72 ambiguously. Bedded in strange vapors73, the great foot-light cast a dubious74, half demoniac glare across the waters, like the phantasmagoric stream sent athwart a London flagging in a night-rain from an apothecary's blue and green window. Through this sardonical mist, the face of the Man-in-the-Moon—looking right towards the combatants, as if he were standing75 in a trap-door of the sea, leaning forward leisurely76 with his arms complacently77 folded over upon the edge of the horizon—this queer face wore a serious, apishly self-satisfied leer, as if the Man-in-the-Moon had somehow secretly put up the ships to their contest, and in the depths of his malignant78 old soul was not unpleased to see how well his charms worked. There stood the grinning Man-in-the-Moon, his head just dodging79 into view over the rim of the sea:—Mephistopheles prompter of the stage.
Aided now a little by the planet, one of the consorts of the Richard, the Pallas, hovering80 far outside the fight, dimly discerned the suspicious form of a lonely vessel35 unknown to her. She resolved to engage it, if it proved a foe. But ere they joined, the unknown ship—which proved to be the Scarborough—received a broadside at long gun's distance from another consort of the Richard the Alliance. The shot whizzed across the broad interval81 like shuttlecocks across a great hall. Presently the battledores of both batteries were at work, and rapid compliments of shuttlecocks were very promptly exchanged. The adverse82 consorts of the two main belligerents83 fought with all the rage of those fiery84 seconds who in some desperate duels85 make their principal's quarrel their own. Diverted from the Richard and the Serapis by this little by-play, the Man-in-the-Moon, all eager to see what it was, somewhat raised himself from his trap-door with an added grin on his face. By this time, off sneaked86 the Alliance, and down swept the Pallas, at close quarters engaging the Scarborough; an encounter destined87 in less than an hour to end in the latter ship's striking her flag.
Compared to the Serapis and the Richard, the Pallas and the Scarborough were as two pages to two knights88. In their immature89 way they showed the same traits as their fully90 developed superiors.
The Man-in-the-Moon now raised himself still higher to obtain a better view of affairs.
But the Man-in-the-Moon was not the only spectator. From the high cliffs of the shore, and especially from the great promontory91 of Flamborough Head, the scene was witnessed by crowds of the islanders. Any rustic92 might be pardoned his curiosity in view of the spectacle, presented. Far in the indistinct distance fleets of frightened merchantmen filled the lower air with their sails, as flakes93 of snow in a snow-storm by night. Hovering undeterminedly, in another direction, were several of the scattered94 consorts of Paul, taking no part in the fray95. Nearer, was an isolated96 mist, investing the Pallas and Scarborough—a mist slowly adrift on the sea, like a floating isle, and at intervals97 irradiated with sparkles of fire and resonant98 with the boom of cannon63. Further away, in the deeper water, was a lurid99 cloud, incessantly100 torn in shreds101 of lightning, then fusing together again, once more to be rent. As yet this lurid cloud was neither stationary102 nor slowly adrift, like the first-mentioned one; but, instinct with chaotic103 vitality104, shifted hither and thither105, foaming106 with fire, like a valiant107 water-spout careering off the coast of Malabar.
To get some idea of the events enacting108 in that cloud, it will be necessary to enter it; to go and possess it, as a ghost may rush into a body, or the devils into the swine, which running down the steep place perished in the sea; just as the Richard is yet to do.
Thus far the Serapis and the Richard had been manoeuvring and chasing to each other like partners in a cotillion, all the time indulging in rapid repartee110.
But finding at last that the superior managableness of the enemy's ship enabled him to get the better of the clumsy old Indiaman, the Richard, in taking position, Paul, with his wonted resolution, at once sought to neutralize111 this, by hugging him close. But the attempt to lay the Richard right across the head of the Serapis ended quite otherwise, in sending the enemy's jib-boom just over the Richard's great tower of Pisa, where Israel was stationed; who, catching112 it eagerly, stood for an instant holding to the slack of the sail, like one grasping a horse by the mane prior to vaulting113 into the saddle.
"Aye, hold hard, lad," cried Paul, springing to his side with a coil of rigging. With a few rapid turns he knitted himself to his foe. The wind now acting109 on the sails of the Serapis forced her, heel and point, her entire length, cheek by jowl, alongside the Richard. The projecting cannon scraped; the yards interlocked; but the hulls114 did not touch. A long lane of darkling water lay wedged between, like that narrow canal in Venice which dozes115 between two shadowy piles, and high in air is secretly crossed by the Bridge of Sighs. But where the six yard-arms reciprocally arched overhead, three bridges of sighs were both seen and heard, as the moon and wind kept rising.
Into that Lethean canal—pond-like in its smoothness as compared with the sea without—fell many a poor soul that night; fell, forever forgotten.
As some heaving rent coinciding with a disputed frontier on a volcanic116 plain, that boundary abyss was the jaws117 of death to both sides. So contracted was it, that in many cases the gun-rammers had to be thrust into the opposite ports, in order to enter to muzzles119 of their own cannon. It seemed more an intestine121 feud122, than a fight between strangers. Or, rather, it was as if the Siamese Twins, oblivious123 of their fraternal bond, should rage in unnatural124 fight.
Ere long, a horrible explosion was heard, drowning for the instant the cannonade. Two of the old eighteen-pounders—before spoken of, as having been hurriedly set up below the main deck of the Richard—burst all to pieces, killing125 the sailors who worked them, and shattering all that part of the hull, as if two exploded steam-boilers had shot out of its opposite sides. The effect was like the fall of the walls of a house. Little now upheld the great tower of Pisa but a few naked crow stanchions. Thenceforth, not a few balls from the Serapis must have passed straight through the Richard without grazing her. It was like firing buck-shot through the ribs126 of a skeleton.
But, further forward, so deadly was the broadside from the heavy batteries of the Serapis—levelled point-blank, and right down the throat and bowels127, as it were, of the Richard—that it cleared everything before it. The men on the Richard's covered gun-deck ran above, like miners from the fire-damp. Collecting on the forecastle, they continued to fight with grenades and muskets128. The soldiers also were in the lofty tops, whence they kept up incessant volleys, cascading129 their fire down as pouring lava130 from cliffs.
The position of the men in the two ships was now exactly reversed. For while the Serapis was tearing the Richard all to pieces below deck, and had swept that covered part almost of the last man, the Richard's crowd of musketry had complete control of the upper deck of the Serapis, where it was almost impossible for man to remain unless as a corpse131. Though in the beginning, the tops of the Serapis had not been unsupplied with marksmen, yet they had long since been cleared by the overmastering musketry of the Richard. Several, with leg or arm broken by a ball, had been seen going dimly downward from their giddy perch132, like falling pigeons shot on the wing.
As busy swallows about barn-eaves and ridge-poles, some of the Richard's marksmen, quitting their tops, now went far out on their yard-arms, where they overhung the Serapis. From thence they dropped hand-grenades upon her decks, like apples, which growing in one field fall over the fence into another. Others of their band flung the same sour fruit into the open ports of the Serapis. A hail-storm of aerial combustion133 descended134 and slanted135 on the Serapis, while horizontal thunderbolts rolled crosswise through the subterranean136 vaults137 of the Richard. The belligerents were no longer, in the ordinary sense of things, an English ship and an American ship. It was a co-partnership and joint-stock combustion-company of both ships; yet divided, even in participation138. The two vessels were as two houses, through whose party-wall doors have been cut; one family (the Guelphs) occupying the whole lower story; another family (the Ghibelines) the whole upper story.
Meanwhile, determined6 Paul flew hither and thither like the meteoric139 corposant-ball, which shiftingly dances on the tips and verges141 of ships' rigging in storms. Wherever he went, he seemed to cast a pale light on all faces. Blacked and burnt, his Scotch142 bonnet143 was compressed to a gun-wad on his head. His Parisian coat, with its gold-laced sleeve laid aside, disclosed to the full the blue tattooing144 on his arm, which sometimes in fierce gestures streamed in the haze of the cannonade, cabalistically terrific as the charmed standard of Satan. Yet his frenzied145 manner was less a testimony146 of his internal commotion147 than intended to inspirit and madden his men, some of whom seeing him, in transports of intrepidity148 stripped themselves to their trowsers, exposing their naked bodies to the as naked shot The same was done on the Serapis, where several guns were seen surrounded by their buff crews as by fauns and satyrs.
At the beginning of the fray, before the ships interlocked, in the intervals of smoke which swept over the ships as mist over mountain-tops, affording open rents here and there—the gun-deck of the Serapis, at certain points, showed, congealed149 for the instant in all attitudes of dauntlessness, a gallery of marble statues—fighting gladiators.
Stooping low and intent, with one braced150 leg thrust behind, and one arm thrust forward, curling round towards the muzzle120 of the gun, there was seen the loader, performing his allotted151 part; on the other side of the carriage, in the same stooping posture152, but with both hands holding his long black pole, pike-wise, ready for instant use—stood the eager rammer118 and sponger; while at the breech, crouched153 the wary154 captain of the gun, his keen eye, like the watching leopard's, burning along the range; and behind all, tall and erect155, the Egyptian symbol of death, stood the matchman, immovable for the moment, his long-handled match reversed. Up to their two long death-dealing batteries, the trained men of the Serapis stood and toiled156 in mechanical magic of discipline. They tended those rows of guns, as Lowell girls the rows of looms157 in a cotton factory. The Parcae were not more methodical; Atropos not more fatal; the automaton158 chess-player not more irresponsible.
"Look, lad; I want a grenade, now, thrown down their main hatchway. I saw long piles of cartridges159 there. The powder monkeys have brought them up faster than they can be used. Take a bucket of combustibles, and let's hear from you presently."
These words were spoken by Paul to Israel. Israel did as ordered. In a few minutes, bucket in hand, begrimed with powder, sixty feet in air, he hung like Apollyon from the extreme tip of the yard over the fated abyss of the hatchway. As he looked down between the eddies160 of smoke into that slaughterous161 pit, it was like looking from the verge140 of a cataract163 down into the yeasty pool at its base. Watching, his chance, he dropped one grenade with such faultless precision, that, striking its mark, an explosion rent the Serapis like a volcano. The long row of heaped cartridges was ignited. The fire ran horizontally, like an express on a railway. More than twenty men were instantly killed: nearly forty wounded. This blow restored the chances of battle, before in favor of the Serapis.
But the drooping164 spirits of the English were suddenly revived, by an event which crowned the scene by an act on the part of one of the consorts of the Richard, the incredible atrocity165 of which has induced all humane166 minds to impute167 it rather to some incomprehensible mistake than to the malignant madness of the perpetrator.
The cautious approach and retreat of a consort of the Serapis, the Scarborough, before the moon rose, has already been mentioned. It is now to be related how that, when the moon was more than an hour high, a consort of the Richard, the Alliance, likewise approached and retreated. This ship, commanded by a Frenchman, infamous168 in his own navy, and obnoxious169 in the service to which he at present belonged; this ship, foremost in insurgency170 to Paul hitherto, and which, for the most part, had crept like a poltroon171 from the fray; the Alliance now was at hand. Seeing her, Paul deemed the battle at an end. But to his horror, the Alliance threw a broadside full into the stern of the Richard, without touching172 the Serapis. Paul called to her, for God's sake to forbear destroying the Richard. The reply was, a second, a third, a fourth broadside, striking the Richard ahead, astern, and amidships. One of the volleys killed several men and one officer. Meantime, like carpenters' augers, and the sea-worm called Remora, the guns of the Serapis were drilling away at the same doomed173 hull. After performing her nameless exploit, the Alliance sailed away, and did no more. She was like the great fire of London, breaking out on the heel of the great Plague. By this time, the Richard had so many shot-holes low down in her hull, that like a sieve174 she began to settle.
"Do you strike?" cried the English captain.
"I have not yet begun to fight," howled sinking Paul.
This summons and response were whirled on eddies of smoke and flame. Both vessels were now on fire. The men of either knew hardly which to do; strive to destroy the enemy, or save themselves. In the midst of this, one hundred human beings, hitherto invisible strangers, were suddenly added to the rest. Five score English prisoners, till now confined in the Richard's hold, liberated175 in his consternation176 by the master at arms, burst up the hatchways. One of them, the captain of a letter of marque, captured by Paul, off the Scottish coast, crawled through a port, as a burglar through a window, from the one ship to the other, and reported affairs to the English captain.
While Paul and his lieutenants177 were confronting these prisoners, the gunner, running up from below, and not perceiving his official superiors, and deeming them dead, believing himself now left sole surviving officer, ran to the tower of Pisa to haul down the colors. But they were already shot down and trailing in the water astern, like a sailor's towing shirt. Seeing the gunner there, groping about in the smoke, Israel asked what he wanted.
At this moment the gunner, rushing to the rail, shouted "Quarter! quarter!" to the Serapis.
"Do you strike?" now came from the Serapis.
"Aye, aye, aye!" involuntarily cried Israel, fetching the gunner a shower of blows.
"Do you strike?" again was repeated from the Serapis; whose captain, judging from the augmented180 confusion on board the Richard, owing to the escape of the prisoners, and also influenced by the report made to him by his late guest of the port-hole, doubted not that the enemy must needs be about surrendering.
"Do you strike?"
"Aye!—I strike back" roared Paul, for the first time now hearing the summons.
But judging this frantic181 response to come, like the others, from some unauthorized source, the English captain directed his boarders to be called, some of whom presently leaped on the Richard's rail, but, throwing out his tattooed182 arm at them, with a sabre at the end of it, Paul showed them how boarders repelled183 boarders. The English retreated, but not before they had been thinned out again, like spring radishes, by the unfaltering fire from the Richard's tops.
An officer of the Richard, seeing the mass of prisoners delirious184 with sudden liberty and fright, pricked185 them with his sword to the pumps, thus keeping the ship afloat by the very blunder which had promised to have been fatal. The vessels now blazed so in the rigging that both parties desisted from hostilities186 to subdue187 the common foe.
When some faint order was again restored upon the Richard her chances of victory increased, while those of the English, driven under cover, proportionably waned188. Early in the contest, Paul, with his own hand, had brought one of his largest guns to bear against the enemy's mainmast. That shot had hit. The mast now plainly tottered189. Nevertheless, it seemed as if, in this fight, neither party could be victor. Mutual obliteration190 from the face of the waters seemed the only natural sequel to hostilities like these. It is, therefore, honor to him as a man, and not reproach to him as an officer, that, to stay such carnage, Captain Pearson, of the Serapis, with his own hands hauled down his colors. But just as an officer from the Richard swung himself on board the Serapis, and accosted191 the English captain, the first lieutenant178 of the Serapis came up from below inquiring whether the Richard had struck, since her fire had ceased.
So equal was the conflict that, even after the surrender, it could be, and was, a question to one of the warriors engaged (who had not happened to see the English flag hauled down) whether the Serapis had struck to the Richard, or the Richard to the Serapis. Nay192, while the Richard's officer was still amicably193 conversing194 with the English captain, a midshipman of the Richard, in act of following his superior on board the surrendered vessel, was run through the thigh195 by a pike in the hand of an ignorant boarder of the Serapis. While, equally ignorant, the cannons196 below deck were still thundering away at the nominal197 conqueror198 from the batteries of the nominally199 conquered ship.
But though the Serapis had submitted, there were two misanthropical200 foes on board the Richard which would not so easily succumb—fire and water. All night the victors were engaged in suppressing the flames. Not until daylight were the flames got under; but though the pumps were kept continually going, the water in the hold still gained. A few hours after sunrise the Richard was deserted201 for the Serapis and the other vessels of the squadron of Paul. About ten o'clock the Richard, gorged202 with slaughter162, wallowed heavily, gave a long roll, and blasted by tornadoes203 of sulphur, slowly sunk, like Gomorrah, out of sight.
The loss of life in the two ships was about equal; one-half of the total number of those engaged being either killed or wounded.
In view of this battle one may ask—What separates the enlightened man from the savage? Is civilization a thing distinct, or is it an advanced stage of barbarism?
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1
obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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precedent
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| n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的 | |
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strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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enlist
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| vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍 | |
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snarled
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| 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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extrication
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| n.解脱；救出，解脱 | |
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chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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devastation
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| n.毁坏；荒废；极度震惊或悲伤 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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scenic
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| adj.自然景色的，景色优美的 | |
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poetic
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| adj.富有诗意的，有诗人气质的，善于抒情的 | |
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tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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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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incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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repulses
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| v.击退( repulse的第三人称单数 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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succumbs
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的第三人称单数 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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obelisks
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| n.方尖石塔，短剑号，疑问记号( obelisk的名词复数 ) | |
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28
wasteful
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| adj.（造成）浪费的，挥霍的 | |
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29
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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30
frigate
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| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
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31
convoy
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| vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队 | |
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32
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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33
molest
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| vt.骚扰，干扰，调戏 | |
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34
surmised
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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35
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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36
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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37
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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38
descrying
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| v.被看到的，被发现的，被注意到的( descried的过去分词 ) | |
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39
steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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40
akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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41
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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42
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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43
consorts
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| n.配偶( consort的名词复数 )；（演奏古典音乐的）一组乐师；一组古典乐器；一起v.结伴( consort的第三人称单数 )；交往；相称；调和 | |
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44
consort
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| v.相伴；结交 | |
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45
hybrid
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| n.(动，植）杂种，混合物 | |
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46
heterogeneous
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| adj.庞杂的；异类的 | |
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47
baneful
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| adj.有害的 | |
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48
pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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50
radically
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| ad.根本地，本质地 | |
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51
stratagems
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| n.诡计，计谋( stratagem的名词复数 )；花招 | |
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52
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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53
tussles
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| n.扭打，争斗( tussle的名词复数 ) | |
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54
hazy
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| adj.有薄雾的，朦胧的；不肯定的，模糊的 | |
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55
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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56
trampling
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| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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57
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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58
hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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59
resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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60
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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61
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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62
syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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63
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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64
hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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65
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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66
dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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67
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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68
rim
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| n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界 | |
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69
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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70
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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71
haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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72
glimmered
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| v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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73
vapors
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| n.水汽，水蒸气，无实质之物( vapor的名词复数 )；自夸者；幻想 [药]吸入剂 [古]忧郁（症）v.自夸，（使）蒸发( vapor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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74
dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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75
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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76
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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77
complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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78
malignant
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| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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79
dodging
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| n.避开，闪过，音调改变v.闪躲( dodge的现在分词 )；回避 | |
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80
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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81
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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82
adverse
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| adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的 | |
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83
belligerents
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| n.交战的一方（指国家、集团或个人）( belligerent的名词复数 ) | |
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84
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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85
duels
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| n.两男子的决斗( duel的名词复数 )；竞争，斗争 | |
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86
sneaked
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| v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状 | |
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87
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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88
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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89
immature
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| adj.未成熟的，发育未全的，未充分发展的 | |
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90
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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91
promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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92
rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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93
flakes
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| 小薄片( flake的名词复数 )； （尤指）碎片； 雪花； 古怪的人 | |
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94
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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95
fray
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| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
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96
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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97
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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98
resonant
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| adj.(声音)洪亮的，共鸣的 | |
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99
lurid
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| adj.可怕的；血红的；苍白的 | |
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100
incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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101
shreds
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| v.撕碎，切碎( shred的第三人称单数 )；用撕毁机撕毁（文件） | |
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102
stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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103
chaotic
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|
| adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的 | |
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104
vitality
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| n.活力，生命力，效力 | |
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105
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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106
foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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107
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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108
enacting
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的现在分词 ) | |
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109
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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110
repartee
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| n.机敏的应答 | |
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111
neutralize
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| v.使失效、抵消，使中和 | |
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112
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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113
vaulting
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| n.（天花板或屋顶的）拱形结构 | |
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114
hulls
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| 船体( hull的名词复数 )； 船身； 外壳； 豆荚 | |
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115
dozes
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| n.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的名词复数 )v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的第三人称单数 ) | |
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116
volcanic
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| adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的 | |
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117
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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118
rammer
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| n.撞锤；夯土机；拨弹机；夯 | |
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119
muzzles
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| 枪口( muzzle的名词复数 )； （防止动物咬人的）口套； （四足动物的）鼻口部； （狗）等凸出的鼻子和口 | |
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120
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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121
intestine
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| adj.内部的；国内的；n.肠 | |
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122
feud
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| n.长期不和；世仇；v.长期争斗；世代结仇 | |
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123
oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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124
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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125
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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126
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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127
bowels
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| n.肠，内脏，内部；肠( bowel的名词复数 )；内部，最深处 | |
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128
muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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129
cascading
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| 流注( cascade的现在分词 )； 大量落下； 大量垂悬； 梯流 | |
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130
lava
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| n.熔岩，火山岩 | |
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131
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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132
perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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133
combustion
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| n.燃烧；氧化；骚动 | |
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134
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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135
slanted
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| 有偏见的； 倾斜的 | |
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136
subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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137
vaults
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| n.拱顶( vault的名词复数 )；地下室；撑物跳高；墓穴 | |
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138
participation
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| n.参与，参加，分享 | |
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139
meteoric
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| adj.流星的，转瞬即逝的，突然的 | |
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140
verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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141
verges
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| 边，边缘，界线( verge的名词复数 ) | |
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142
scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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143
bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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144
tattooing
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| n.刺字，文身v.刺青，文身( tattoo的现在分词 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击 | |
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145
frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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146
testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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147
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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148
intrepidity
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| n.大胆，刚勇；大胆的行为 | |
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149
congealed
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| v.使凝结，冻结( congeal的过去式和过去分词 )；（指血）凝结 | |
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150
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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151
allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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153
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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154
wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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155
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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156
toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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157
looms
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| n.织布机( loom的名词复数 )v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的第三人称单数 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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158
automaton
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| n.自动机器，机器人 | |
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159
cartridges
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| 子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头 | |
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160
eddies
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| （水、烟等的）漩涡，涡流( eddy的名词复数 ) | |
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161
slaughterous
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| adj.好杀戮的 | |
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162
slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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163
cataract
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| n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障 | |
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164
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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165
atrocity
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| n.残暴，暴行 | |
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166
humane
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| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
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167
impute
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| v.归咎于 | |
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168
infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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obnoxious
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| adj.极恼人的，讨人厌的，可憎的 | |
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170
insurgency
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| n.起义；暴动；叛变 | |
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171
poltroon
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| n.胆怯者；懦夫 | |
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172
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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173
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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174
sieve
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| n.筛，滤器，漏勺 | |
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175
liberated
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| a.无拘束的，放纵的 | |
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176
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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177
lieutenants
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| n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 )；副职官员；空军；仅低于…官阶的官员 | |
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178
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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179
smiting
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的现在分词 ) | |
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180
Augmented
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| adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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181
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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182
tattooed
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| v.刺青，文身( tattoo的过去式和过去分词 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击 | |
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183
repelled
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| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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184
delirious
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| adj.不省人事的，神智昏迷的 | |
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185
pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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186
hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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187
subdue
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| vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制 | |
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188
waned
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| v.衰落( wane的过去式和过去分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡 | |
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189
tottered
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| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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190
obliteration
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| n.涂去，删除；管腔闭合 | |
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191
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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192
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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193
amicably
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| adv.友善地 | |
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194
conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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195
thigh
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| n.大腿；股骨 | |
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196
cannons
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| n.加农炮，大炮，火炮( cannon的名词复数 ) | |
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197
nominal
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| adj.名义上的；(金额、租金)微不足道的 | |
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198
conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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199
nominally
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| 在名义上，表面地； 应名儿 | |
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200
misanthropical
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201
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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202
gorged
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| v.（用食物把自己）塞饱，填饱( gorge的过去式和过去分词 )；作呕 | |
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203
tornadoes
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| n.龙卷风，旋风( tornado的名词复数 ) | |
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