By sunrise on the 23d of May we had breakfasted; the tents were leveled, the animals saddled and harnessed, and all was prepared. “Avance donc! get up!” cried Delorier from his seat in front of the cart. Wright, our friend’s muleteer, after some swearing and lashing12, got his insubordinate train in motion, and then the whole party filed from the ground. Thus we bade a long adieu to bed and board, and the principles of Blackstone’s Commentaries. The day was a most auspicious14 one; and yet Shaw and I felt certain misgivings15, which in the sequel proved but too well founded. We had just learned that though R. had taken it upon him to adopt this course without consulting us, not a single man in the party was acquainted with it; and the absurdity16 of our friend’s high-handed measure very soon became manifest. His plan was to strike the trail of several companies of dragoons, who last summer had made an expedition under Colonel Kearny to Fort Laramie, and by this means to reach the grand trail of the Oregon emigrants17 up the Platte.
We rode for an hour or two when a familiar cluster of buildings appeared on a little hill. “Hallo!” shouted the Kickapoo trader from over his fence. “Where are you going?” A few rather emphatic18 exclamations19 might have been heard among us, when we found that we had gone miles out of our way, and were not advanced an inch toward the Rocky Mountains. So we turned in the direction the trader indicated, and with the sun for a guide, began to trace a “bee line” across the prairies. We struggled through copses and lines of wood; we waded20 brooks21 and pools of water; we traversed prairies as green as an emerald, expanding before us for mile after mile; wider and more wild than the wastes Mazeppa rode over:
Lay in the wild luxuriant soil;
The very air was mute.”
Riding in advance, we passed over one of these great plains; we looked back and saw the line of scattered27 horsemen stretching for a mile or more; and far in the rear against the horizon, the white wagons28 creeping slowly along. “Here we are at last!” shouted the captain. And in truth we had struck upon the traces of a large body of horse. We turned joyfully29 and followed this new course, with tempers somewhat improved; and toward sunset encamped on a high swell30 of the prairie, at the foot of which a lazy stream soaked along through clumps31 of rank grass. It was getting dark. We turned the horses loose to feed. “Drive down the tent-pickets hard,” said Henry Chatillon, “it is going to blow.” We did so, and secured the tent as well as we could; for the sky had changed totally, and a fresh damp smell in the wind warned us that a stormy night was likely to succeed the hot clear day. The prairie also wore a new aspect, and its vast swells32 had grown black and somber33 under the shadow of the clouds. The thunder soon began to growl34 at a distance. Picketing35 and hobbling the horses among the rich grass at the foot of the slope, where we encamped, we gained a shelter just as the rain began to fall; and sat at the opening of the tent, watching the proceedings36 of the captain. In defiance37 of the rain he was stalking among the horses, wrapped in an old Scotch38 plaid. An extreme solicitude39 tormented40 him, lest some of his favorites should escape, or some accident should befall them; and he cast an anxious eye toward three wolves who were sneaking41 along over the dreary42 surface of the plain, as if he dreaded43 some hostile demonstration44 on their part.
On the next morning we had gone but a mile or two, when we came to an extensive belt of woods, through the midst of which ran a stream, wide, deep, and of an appearance particularly muddy and treacherous45. Delorier was in advance with his cart; he jerked his pipe from his mouth, lashed46 his mules, and poured forth47 a volley of Canadian ejaculations. In plunged48 the cart, but midway it stuck fast. Delorier leaped out knee-deep in water, and by dint of sacres and a vigorous application of the whip, he urged the mules out of the slough49. Then approached the long team and heavy wagon of our friends; but it paused on the brink50.
“Drive on!” cried R.
But Wright, the muleteer, apparently53 had not as yet decided54 the point in his own mind; and he sat still in his seat on one of the shaft-mules, whistling in a low contemplative strain to himself.
“My advice is,” resumed the captain, “that we unload; for I’ll bet any man five pounds that if we try to go through, we shall stick fast.”
“By the powers, we shall stick fast!” echoed Jack55, the captain’s brother, shaking his large head with an air of firm conviction.
“Drive on! drive on!” cried R. petulantly56.
“Well,” observed the captain, turning to us as we sat looking on, much edified57 by this by-play among our confederates, “I can only give my advice and if people won’t be reasonable, why, they won’t; that’s all!”
Meanwhile Wright had apparently made up his mind; for he suddenly began to shout forth a volley of oaths and curses, that, compared with the French imprecations of Delorier, sounded like the roaring of heavy cannon58 after the popping and sputtering59 of a bunch of Chinese crackers60. At the same time he discharged a shower of blows upon his mules, who hastily dived into the mud and drew the wagon lumbering61 after them. For a moment the issue was dubious62. Wright writhed63 about in his saddle, and swore and lashed like a madman; but who can count on a team of half-broken mules? At the most critical point, when all should have been harmony and combined effort, the perverse64 brutes65 fell into lamentable66 disorder67, and huddled68 together in confusion on the farther bank. There was the wagon up to the hub in mud, and visibly settling every instant. There was nothing for it but to unload; then to dig away the mud from before the wheels with a spade, and lay a causeway of bushes and branches. This agreeable labor69 accomplished70, the wagon at last emerged; but if I mention that some interruption of this sort occurred at least four or five times a day for a fortnight, the reader will understand that our progress toward the Platte was not without its obstacles.
We traveled six or seven miles farther, and “nooned” near a brook22. On the point of resuming our journey, when the horses were all driven down to water, my homesick charger, Pontiac, made a sudden leap across, and set off at a round trot71 for the settlements. I mounted my remaining horse, and started in pursuit. Making a circuit, I headed the runaway72, hoping to drive him back to camp; but he instantly broke into a gallop73, made a wide tour on the prairie, and got past me again. I tried this plan repeatedly, with the same result; Pontiac was evidently disgusted with the prairie; so I abandoned it, and tried another, trotting74 along gently behind him, in hopes that I might quietly get near enough to seize the trail-rope which was fastened to his neck, and dragged about a dozen feet behind him. The chase grew interesting. For mile after mile I followed the rascal75, with the utmost care not to alarm him, and gradually got nearer, until at length old Hendrick’s nose was fairly brushed by the whisking tail of the unsuspecting Pontiac. Without drawing rein76, I slid softly to the ground; but my long heavy rifle encumbered77 me, and the low sound it made in striking the horn of the saddle startled him; he pricked78 up his ears, and sprang off at a run. “My friend,” thought I, remounting, “do that again, and I will shoot you!”
Fort Leavenworth was about forty miles distant, and thither79 I determined80 to follow him. I made up my mind to spend a solitary81 and supperless night, and then set out again in the morning. One hope, however, remained. The creek82 where the wagon had stuck was just before us; Pontiac might be thirsty with his run, and stop there to drink. I kept as near to him as possible, taking every precaution not to alarm him again; and the result proved as I had hoped: for he walked deliberately83 among the trees, and stooped down to the water. I alighted, dragged old Hendrick through the mud, and with a feeling of infinite satisfaction picked up the slimy trail-rope and twisted it three times round my hand. “Now let me see you get away again!” I thought, as I remounted. But Pontiac was exceedingly reluctant to turn back; Hendrick, too, who had evidently flattered himself with vain hopes, showed the utmost repugnance84, and grumbled85 in a manner peculiar86 to himself at being compelled to face about. A smart cut of the whip restored his cheerfulness; and dragging the recovered truant87 behind, I set out in search of the camp. An hour or two elapsed, when, near sunset, I saw the tents, standing88 on a rich swell of the prairie, beyond a line of woods, while the bands of horses were feeding in a low meadow close at hand. There sat Jack C., cross-legged, in the sun, splicing89 a trail-rope, and the rest were lying on the grass, smoking and telling stories. That night we enjoyed a serenade from the wolves, more lively than any with which they had yet favored us; and in the morning one of the musicians appeared, not many rods from the tents, quietly seated among the horses, looking at us with a pair of large gray eyes; but perceiving a rifle leveled at him, he leaped up and made off in hot haste.
I pass by the following day or two of our journey, for nothing occurred worthy90 of record. Should any one of my readers ever be impelled91 to visit the prairies, and should he choose the route of the Platte (the best, perhaps, that can be adopted), I can assure him that he need not think to enter at once upon the paradise of his imagination. A dreary preliminary, protracted92 crossing of the threshold awaits him before he finds himself fairly upon the verge94 of the “great American desert,” those barren wastes, the haunts of the buffalo95 and the Indian, where the very shadow of civilization lies a hundred leagues behind him. The intervening country, the wide and fertile belt that extends for several hundred miles beyond the extreme frontier, will probably answer tolerably well to his preconceived ideas of the prairie; for this it is from which picturesque96 tourists, painters, poets, and novelists, who have seldom penetrated97 farther, have derived98 their conceptions of the whole region. If he has a painter’s eye, he may find his period of probation99 not wholly void of interest. The scenery, though tame, is graceful100 and pleasing. Here are level plains, too wide for the eye to measure green undulations, like motionless swells of the ocean; abundance of streams, followed through all their windings101 by lines of woods and scattered groves102. But let him be as enthusiastic as he may, he will find enough to damp his ardor103. His wagons will stick in the mud; his horses will break loose; harness will give way, and axle-trees prove unsound. His bed will be a soft one, consisting often of black mud, of the richest consistency104. As for food, he must content himself with biscuit and salt provisions; for strange as it may seem, this tract93 of country produces very little game. As he advances, indeed, he will see, moldering in the grass by his path, the vast antlers of the elk105, and farther on, the whitened skulls106 of the buffalo, once swarming107 over this now deserted108 region. Perhaps, like us, he may journey for a fortnight, and see not so much as the hoof-print of a deer; in the spring, not even a prairie hen is to be had.
Yet, to compensate109 him for this unlooked-for deficiency of game, he will find himself beset110 with “varmints” innumerable. The wolves will entertain him with a concerto111 at night, and skulk112 around him by day, just beyond rifle shot; his horse will step into badger-holes; from every marsh113 and mud puddle114 will arise the bellowing115, croaking116, and trilling of legions of frogs, infinitely117 various in color, shape and dimensions. A profusion118 of snakes will glide119 away from under his horse’s feet, or quietly visit him in his tent at night; while the pertinacious120 humming of unnumbered mosquitoes will banish121 sleep from his eyelids122. When thirsty with a long ride in the scorching123 sun over some boundless124 reach of prairie, he comes at length to a pool of water, and alights to drink, he discovers a troop of young tadpoles125 sporting in the bottom of his cup. Add to this, that all the morning the hot sun beats upon him with sultry, penetrating126 heat, and that, with provoking regularity127, at about four o’clock in the afternoon, a thunderstorm rises and drenches128 him to the skin. Such being the charms of this favored region, the reader will easily conceive the extent of our gratification at learning that for a week we had been journeying on the wrong track! How this agreeable discovery was made I will presently explain.
One day, after a protracted morning’s ride, we stopped to rest at noon upon the open prairie. No trees were in sight; but close at hand, a little dribbling129 brook was twisting from side to side through a hollow; now forming holes of stagnant130 water, and now gliding131 over the mud in a scarcely perceptible current, among a growth of sickly bushes, and great clumps of tall rank grass. The day was excessively hot and oppressive. The horses and mules were rolling on the prairie to refresh themselves, or feeding among the bushes in the hollow. We had dined; and Delorier, puffing132 at his pipe, knelt on the grass, scrubbing our service of tin plate. Shaw lay in the shade, under the cart, to rest for a while, before the word should be given to “catch up.” Henry Chatillon, before lying down, was looking about for signs of snakes, the only living things that he feared, and uttering various ejaculations of disgust, at finding several suspicious-looking holes close to the cart. I sat leaning against the wheel in a scanty133 strip of shade, making a pair of hobbles to replace those which my contumacious134 steed Pontiac had broken the night before. The camp of our friends, a rod or two distant, presented the same scene of lazy tranquillity135.
“Hallo!” cried Henry, looking up from his inspection136 of the snake-holes, “here comes the old captain!”
The captain approached, and stood for a moment contemplating us in silence.
“I say, Parkman,” he began, “look at Shaw there, asleep under the cart, with the tar13 dripping off the hub of the wheel on his shoulder!”
At this Shaw got up, with his eyes half opened, and feeling the part indicated, he found his hand glued fast to his red flannel137 shirt.
“He’ll look well when he gets among the squaws, won’t he?” observed the captain, with a grin.
He then crawled under the cart, and began to tell stories of which his stock was inexhaustible. Yet every moment he would glance nervously138 at the horses. At last he jumped up in great excitement. “See that horse! There—that fellow just walking over the hill! By Jove; he’s off. It’s your big horse, Shaw; no it isn’t, it’s Jack’s! Jack! Jack! hallo, Jack!” Jack thus invoked139, jumped up and stared vacantly at us.
“Go and catch your horse, if you don’t want to lose him!” roared the captain.
Jack instantly set off at a run through the grass, his broad pantaloons flapping about his feet. The captain gazed anxiously till he saw that the horse was caught; then he sat down, with a countenance140 of thoughtfulness and care.
“I tell you what it is,” he said, “this will never do at all. We shall lose every horse in the band someday or other, and then a pretty plight141 we should be in! Now I am convinced that the only way for us is to have every man in the camp stand horse-guard in rotation142 whenever we stop. Supposing a hundred Pawnees should jump up out of that ravine, all yelling and flapping their buffalo robes, in the way they do? Why, in two minutes not a hoof would be in sight.” We reminded the captain that a hundred Pawnees would probably demolish143 the horse-guard, if he were to resist their depredations144.
“At any rate,” pursued the captain, evading145 the point, “our whole system is wrong; I’m convinced of it; it is totally unmilitary. Why, the way we travel, strung out over the prairie for a mile, an enemy might attack the foremost men, and cut them off before the rest could come up.”
“We are not in an enemy’s country, yet,” said Shaw; “when we are, we’ll travel together.”
“Then,” said the captain, “we might be attacked in camp. We’ve no sentinels; we camp in disorder; no precautions at all to guard against surprise. My own convictions are that we ought to camp in a hollow square, with the fires in the center; and have sentinels, and a regular password appointed for every night. Besides, there should be vedettes, riding in advance, to find a place for the camp and give warning of an enemy. These are my convictions. I don’t want to dictate146 to any man. I give advice to the best of my judgment147, that’s all; and then let people do as they please.”
We intimated that perhaps it would be as well to postpone148 such burdensome precautions until there should be some actual need of them; but he shook his head dubiously149. The captain’s sense of military propriety150 had been severely151 shocked by what he considered the irregular proceedings of the party; and this was not the first time he had expressed himself upon the subject. But his convictions seldom produced any practical results. In the present case, he contented152 himself, as usual, with enlarging on the importance of his suggestions, and wondering that they were not adopted. But his plan of sending out vedettes seemed particularly dear to him; and as no one else was disposed to second his views on this point, he took it into his head to ride forward that afternoon, himself.
“Come, Parkman,” said he, “will you go with me?”
We set out together, and rode a mile or two in advance. The captain, in the course of twenty years’ service in the British army, had seen something of life; one extensive side of it, at least, he had enjoyed the best opportunities for studying; and being naturally a pleasant fellow, he was a very entertaining companion. He cracked jokes and told stories for an hour or two; until, looking back, we saw the prairie behind us stretching away to the horizon, without a horseman or a wagon in sight.
“Now,” said the captain, “I think the vedettes had better stop till the main body comes up.”
I was of the same opinion. There was a thick growth of woods just before us, with a stream running through them. Having crossed this, we found on the other side a fine level meadow, half encircled by the trees; and fastening our horses to some bushes, we sat down on the grass; while, with an old stump153 of a tree for a target, I began to display the superiority of the renowned154 rifle of the back woods over the foreign innovation borne by the captain. At length voices could be heard in the distance behind the trees.
“There they come!” said the captain: “let’s go and see how they get through the creek.”
We mounted and rode to the bank of the stream, where the trail crossed it. It ran in a deep hollow, full of trees; as we looked down, we saw a confused crowd of horsemen riding through the water; and among the dingy155 habiliment of our party glittered the uniforms of four dragoons.
Shaw came whipping his horse up the back, in advance of the rest, with a somewhat indignant countenance. The first word he spoke156 was a blessing157 fervently158 invoked on the head of R., who was riding, with a crest-fallen air, in the rear. Thanks to the ingenious devices of the gentleman, we had missed the track entirely159, and wandered, not toward the Platte, but to the village of the Iowa Indians. This we learned from the dragoons, who had lately deserted from Fort Leavenworth. They told us that our best plan now was to keep to the northward160 until we should strike the trail formed by several parties of Oregon emigrants, who had that season set out from St. Joseph’s in Missouri.
In extremely bad temper, we encamped on this ill-starred spot; while the deserters, whose case admitted of no delay rode rapidly forward. On the day following, striking the St. Joseph’s trail, we turned our horses’ heads toward Fort Laramie, then about seven hundred miles to the westward161.
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1
encumbering
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| v.妨碍，阻碍，拖累( encumber的现在分词 ) | |
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wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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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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mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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crammed
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| adj.塞满的，挤满的；大口地吃；快速贪婪地吃v.把…塞满；填入；临时抱佛脚( cram的过去式) | |
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6
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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assortment
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| n.分类，各色俱备之物，聚集 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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caliber
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| n.能力；水准 | |
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slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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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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13
tar
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| n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于 | |
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14
auspicious
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| adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的 | |
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misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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absurdity
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| n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论 | |
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emigrants
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| n.（从本国移往他国的）移民( emigrant的名词复数 ) | |
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emphatic
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| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
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exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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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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brooks
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| n.小溪( brook的名词复数 ) | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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hoof
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| n.(马，牛等的)蹄 | |
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toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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wagons
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| n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车 | |
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joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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clumps
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| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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swells
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| 增强( swell的第三人称单数 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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somber
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| adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的 | |
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growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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picketing
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| [经] 罢工工人劝阻工人上班，工人纠察线 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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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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39
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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40
tormented
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| 饱受折磨的 | |
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41
sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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42
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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43
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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44
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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45
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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46
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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47
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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48
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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49
slough
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| v.蜕皮，脱落，抛弃 | |
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50
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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51
contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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52
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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53
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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54
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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55
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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56
petulantly
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57
edified
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| v.开导，启发( edify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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59
sputtering
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| n.反应溅射法；飞溅；阴极真空喷镀；喷射v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的现在分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出 | |
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60
crackers
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| adj.精神错乱的，癫狂的n.爆竹( cracker的名词复数 )；薄脆饼干；（认为）十分愉快的事；迷人的姑娘 | |
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61
lumbering
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| n.采伐林木 | |
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62
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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63
writhed
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64
perverse
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| adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的 | |
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65
brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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66
lamentable
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| adj.令人惋惜的，悔恨的 | |
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67
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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68
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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69
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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70
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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71
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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72
runaway
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| n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的 | |
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73
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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74
trotting
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| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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75
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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76
rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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77
encumbered
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| v.妨碍，阻碍，拖累( encumber的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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78
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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79
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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80
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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81
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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82
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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83
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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84
repugnance
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| n.嫌恶 | |
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85
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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86
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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87
truant
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| n.懒惰鬼，旷课者；adj.偷懒的，旷课的，游荡的；v.偷懒，旷课 | |
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88
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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89
splicing
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| n.编接（绳）；插接；捻接；叠接v.绞接( splice的现在分词 )；捻接（两段绳子）；胶接；粘接（胶片、磁带等） | |
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90
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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91
impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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92
protracted
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| adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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93
tract
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| n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林) | |
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94
verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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95
buffalo
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| n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛 | |
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96
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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97
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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98
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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99
probation
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| n.缓刑(期)，(以观后效的)察看；试用(期) | |
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100
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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101
windings
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| （道路、河流等）蜿蜒的，弯曲的( winding的名词复数 )； 缠绕( wind的现在分词 )； 卷绕； 转动（把手） | |
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102
groves
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| 树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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103
ardor
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| n.热情，狂热 | |
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104
consistency
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| n.一贯性，前后一致，稳定性；(液体的)浓度 | |
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105
elk
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| n.麋鹿 | |
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106
skulls
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| 颅骨( skull的名词复数 )； 脑袋； 脑子； 脑瓜 | |
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107
swarming
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| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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108
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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109
compensate
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| vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消 | |
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110
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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111
concerto
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| n.协奏曲 | |
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112
skulk
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| v.藏匿；潜行 | |
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113
marsh
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| n.沼泽，湿地 | |
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114
puddle
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| n.(雨)水坑，泥潭 | |
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115
bellowing
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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116
croaking
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| v.呱呱地叫( croak的现在分词 )；用粗的声音说 | |
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117
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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118
profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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119
glide
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| n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝 | |
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120
pertinacious
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| adj.顽固的 | |
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121
banish
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| vt.放逐，驱逐；消除，排除 | |
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122
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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123
scorching
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| adj. 灼热的 | |
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124
boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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125
tadpoles
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| n.蝌蚪( tadpole的名词复数 ) | |
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126
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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127
regularity
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| n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐 | |
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128
drenches
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| v.使湿透( drench的第三人称单数 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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129
dribbling
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| n.（燃料或油从系统内）漏泄v.流口水( dribble的现在分词 )；（使液体）滴下或作细流；运球，带球 | |
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130
stagnant
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| adj.不流动的，停滞的，不景气的 | |
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131
gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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132
puffing
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| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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133
scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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134
contumacious
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| adj.拒不服从的，违抗的 | |
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135
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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136
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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137
flannel
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| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
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138
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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139
invoked
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| v.援引( invoke的过去式和过去分词 )；行使（权利等）；祈求救助；恳求 | |
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140
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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141
plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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142
rotation
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| n.旋转；循环，轮流 | |
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143
demolish
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| v.拆毁(建筑物等)，推翻(计划、制度等) | |
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144
depredations
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| n.劫掠，毁坏( depredation的名词复数 ) | |
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145
evading
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| 逃避( evade的现在分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
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146
dictate
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| v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令 | |
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147
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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148
postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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149
dubiously
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| adv.可疑地，怀疑地 | |
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150
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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151
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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152
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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153
stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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154
renowned
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| adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的 | |
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155
dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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156
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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157
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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158
fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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159
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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160
northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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161
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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