Gervaise detected an expression of doubt in the tone the officer had spoken to the interpreter, and replied at once, “It is not altogether the sun. Since I have obtained permission to come to my work alone, I have taken to slightly darkening my skin, in order to go to and fro unmolested, and free from the insults that the boys and beggars hurl6 at Christians8.”
The master mason nodded approvingly when the answer was translated to him.
“It is a wise step,” he said; “for truly the hatred9 of Christians is very strong among the lower classes, especially since it became known that the galleys11 that sailed from here nearly two years ago were, with all the fleet from which so much was expected, utterly12 destroyed. It is well, then, that you should pass unnoticed, for were there a tumult13 in the street you might lose your life, and I should lose the best labour overseer I have ever had.”
Thus, then, as Gervaise walked through the streets on the first occasion of obtaining his liberty, he attracted no attention whatever. When he saw Ben Ibyn approaching he stepped out to meet him. The merchant looked in his face, but for a moment failed to recognise him, then he exclaimed suddenly, “It is Gervaise! Ah, my son, I am indeed rejoiced to see you. We have spoken of you so often at home, and sorely did my wife and daughters grieve when you were torn from us. I did not dare to send any message to you, for the sultan pretended great anger against me, and used the opportunity to squeeze me hardly; but I have frequently made inquiries14 about you, and was glad indeed to find that even in prison you received promotion15; had it been otherwise—had I found that you were in misery—I would have endeavoured, whatever the risk, to aid you to escape.”
“I have indeed nothing to complain of, and was sorry to learn that you had suffered on my account. Have you ever learned how it came about that I was denounced?”
“No, indeed; I would have given much to know, and assuredly the dog, whoever he was, should have been made to suffer.”
“It was Hassan. The villain16 met me when I was with the gang, and boasted that it was he who had sent me there. He had told the news to some official, who had, of course, repeated it to the sultan; doubtless he concealed17 his own share in the matter, otherwise he too would, next time he returned here, have had to pay for his part in it.”
“I will make him pay more heavily than the sultan would,” Ben Ibyn said sternly; “I will speak to my friends among the merchants, and henceforth no Berber will buy aught from him; and we have hitherto been his best customers. But let us not waste our time in speaking of this wretch18. How comes it that you are walking freely in the streets of Tripoli? I can see that your face is stained, although you are no longer a Nubian.”
Gervaise told him how it was that he was free to walk in the city after his work was done.
“I shall now,” he went on, “be able to carry out any plan of escape that may occur to me; but before I leave, as I shall certainly do ere long, I mean to settle my score with Hassan, and I pray you to send one of the men who were with me in the galley10, and whom you took into your employment, directly you hear that his ship is in harbour. Do not give him either a note or a message: bid him simply place himself in the road between the prison gate and the palace, and look fixedly20 at me as I pass. I shall know it is a signal that Hassan is in the port.”
“Can I aid you in your flight? I will willingly do so.”
“All that I shall need is the garb21 of a peasant,” Gervaise said. “I might buy one unnoticed; but, in the first place, I have no money, and in the second, when it is known that I have escaped, the trader might recall the fact that one of the slave overseers had purchased a suit of him.”
“The dress of an Arab would be the best,” the merchant said. “That I will procure22 and hold in readiness for you. On the day when I send you word that Hassan is here, I will see that the gate of my garden is unbarred at night, and will place the garments down just behind it. You mean, I suppose, to travel by land?”
“I shall do so for some distance. Were I to steal a boat from the port, it would be missed in the morning, and I be overtaken. I shall therefore go along the coast for some distance and get a boat at one of the villages, choosing my time when there is a brisk wind, and when I may be able to get well beyond any risk of being overtaken. Now, Ben Ibyn, I will leave you; it were better that we should not meet again, lest some suspicion might fall upon you of having aided in my escape. I cannot thank you too much for all your past kindness, and shall ever bear a grateful remembrance of yourself and your family.”
“Perhaps it were better so,” Ben Ibyn said; “for if the Moors23 can find any excuse for plundering24 us, they do so. Have you heard the news that the Sultan of Turkey's expedition for the capture of Rhodes is all but complete, and will assuredly sail before many weeks have passed?”
“I have not heard it,” Gervaise replied; “and trust that I may be in time to bear my share in the defence. However, the blow has been so often threatened that it may be some time before it falls.”
“May Allah bless you, my son, and take you safely back to your friends! Be assured that you shall have notice as soon as I know that Hassan has returned, and you shall have the bundle with all that is needful, behind my gate.”
Another two months passed. Gervaise looked in vain for Ben Ibyn's messenger as he went to and from the palace, and chafed25 terribly at the delay, when, for aught he knew, the Turkish fleet might already have brought Mahomet's army to Rhodes. At last, as he came back from work, he saw with intense satisfaction one of the men, whose face he recognised, leaning carelessly against the wall. The man gave no sign of recognition, but looked at him earnestly for a minute, and then sauntered off up the street. Gervaise went up into the town as usual, walked about until it became quite dark, and then went to the gate that led into the merchant's garden. He found that it was unfastened, and, opening it, he went in and closed it behind him. As he did so he started, for a voice close by said,
“Master, it is I, the messenger whom you saw two hours since. Ben Ibyn bade me say that he thought you might require some service, and, knowing that I could be trusted, bade me wait for you here. He thought that you might possibly need a messenger to Hassan.”
“The very thing,” Gervaise exclaimed. “I have been puzzling myself in vain as to how I could get speech with him in some quiet place; but with your assistance that will be easy; but first let me put on this disguise.”
This was easily effected, even in the dark. A loose flowing robe of white cotton, girt in at the waist, a long bernouse with hood26 to cover the head, a sash with a dagger27, and a scimitar, completed the disguise.
“Here is a pouch,” the man said, “with money for your journey, and a long sword, which he says you can hang at your back beneath your bernouse.”
Gervaise gave an exclamation28 of pleasure. By its length and weight he was sure that the weapon must have been the property of a Christian7 knight29.
“Shall I carry the message this evening?” the man asked. “It is early still, and it were best that you should not linger in the city, where there is sure to be a strict search for you in the morning.”
“But perhaps he may recognise your face?”
“It is blackened, my lord, and I am dressed as you were when with Ben Ibyn.”
“Let us settle our plans, then, before we sally out from here; we could not find a safer place for talking. What message, think you, would be the most likely to tempt30 Hassan to come ashore31? You do not know what spoil he has brought?”
“No; besides, if a merchant wanted to buy he would go on board to inspect Hassan's wares33. We must have something to sell. It must be something tempting34, and something that must be disposed of secretly. I might tell him that my employer—and I would mention some merchant whose name would carry weight with him—has received from the interior a large consignment35 of slaves, among whom are three or four girls, who would fetch high prices in Egypt, and as he believes they have been captured from a tribe within the limits of the sultan's territory, he is anxious to get rid of them, and will either dispose of them all cheaply in a lot, or will hand them over to him to take to Egypt to sell, giving him a large commission for carrying them there and disposing of them.”
“I do not like tempting even an enemy by stories that are untrue,” Gervaise said doubtfully.
“I have no scruples37 that way,” the man said, with a laugh; “and it is I who shall tell the story, and not you.”
Gervaise shook his head.
“Could you not say that you came from one who owes him a heavy debt and desires to pay him?”
“I do not think that would bring him ashore. Hassan doubtless trades for ready money, and must be well aware that no one here can be greatly in his debt. No, my lord; leave the matter in my hands. I will think of some story before I go on board that will fetch him ashore. But first we must settle where I am to bring him; there are some deserted38 spots near the wall on the east side of the town.”
“I know where you mean,” Gervaise agreed; “let us go in that direction at once, for the sooner you are off the better.”
In half an hour a spot was fixed19 on, near some huts that had fallen into ruin. Here Gervaise seated himself on a sand heap, while the man hurried away. The moon had just risen, it being but three days since it was at its full. The night was quiet; sounds of music, laughter, and occasional shouts came faintly from the town. Seated where he was, Gervaise could see the port and the ships lying there. Half an hour later he saw a boat row off to one of them, which he had already singled out, from its size and general appearance, as being that of Hassan; ten minutes later he saw it returning. At that distance separate figures could not be made out, but it seemed to him that it loomed39 larger than before, and he thought that certainly one, if not more, persons, were returning with his messenger. Presently he heard men approaching; then Hassan's voice came distinctly to his ears.
“How much farther are you going to take me? Remember, I warned you that unless I found that my journey repaid me, it would be bad for you.”
“It is but a few yards farther, my lord. There is my master the sheik of the Beni Kalis awaiting you.”
Gervaise rose to his feet as Hassan and two of his crew came up.
“Will you please to follow me into this courtyard?” Gervaise said. He had, while waiting, reconnoitred the neighbourhood, and found an enclosure with the walls still perfect, and had determined41 to bring Hassan there, in order to prevent him from taking to flight. Hassan entered it unsuspectingly, followed by his two men. Gervaise fell back a little, so as to place himself between them and the entrance. Then he threw back the hood of his bernouse.
“Do you recognise me, Hassan?” he said sternly. “I am the captive whom you beat almost to death. I told you that some day I would kill you; but even now I am willing to forgive you and to allow you to depart in peace, if you will restore the amulet42 you took from me.”
The corsair gave a howl of rage.
“Christian dog!” he exclaimed. “You thought to lead me into a trap, but you have fallen into one yourself. You reckoned that I should come alone; but I suspected there was something hidden behind the story of that black, and so brought two of my crew with me. Upon him, men! Cut him down!” So saying, he drew his scimitar, and sprang furiously upon Gervaise. The latter stepped back into the centre of the gateway43, so as to prevent the men, who had also drawn44 their swords, passing to attack him from behind. He had undone45 the clasp of his bernouse, and allowed it to fall to the ground as he addressed Hassan, and his long sword flashed in the moonlight as the corsair sprang forward.
Hassan was a good swordsman, and his ferocious47 bravery had rendered him one of the most dreaded48 of the Moorish49 rovers. Inferior in strength to Gervaise, he was as active as a cat, and he leapt back with the spring of a panther, avoiding the sweeping50 blow with which Gervaise had hoped to finish the conflict at once; the latter found himself therefore engaged in a desperate fight with his three assailants. So furiously did they attack him that, foot by foot, he was forced to give ground. As he stepped through the gateway one of the pirates sprang past him, but as he did so, a figure leapt out from beyond the wall, and plunged52 a dagger into his back, while at the same moment, by cutting down another pirate, Gervaise rid himself of one of his assailants in front; but as he did so, he himself received a severe wound on the left shoulder from Hassan, who, before he could again raise his weapon, sprang upon him, and tried to hurl him to the ground.
Gervaise's superior weight saved him from falling, though he staggered back some paces; then his heel caught against a stone, and he fell, dragging Hassan to the ground with him. Tightly clasped in each other's arms, they rolled over and over. Gervaise succeeded at last in getting the upper hand, but as he did so Hassan twisted his right arm free, snatched the dagger from Gervaise's girdle, and struck furiously at him. Gervaise, who had half risen to his knees, was unable to avoid the blow, but threw himself forward, his weight partly pinning the corsair's shoulders to the ground, and the blow passed behind him, inflicting53 but a slight wound in the back; then, with his right hand, which was now free, he grasped Hassan by the throat with a grip of iron. The pirate struggled convulsively for a moment, then his left hand released his grasp of his opponent's wrist. A minute later Gervaise rose to his feet: the pirate was dead.
Gervaise stooped and raised the fallen man's head from the ground, felt for the chain, pulled up Claudia's gage51, and placed it round his own neck; then he turned to his guide.
“I have to thank you for my life,” he said, holding out his hand to him. “It would have gone hard with me if that fellow had attacked me from behind. I had not bargained for three of them.”
“I could not help it, my lord. It was not until Hassan had stepped down into the boat that I knew he was going to take any one with him; then he suddenly told two of his men to take their places by him, saying to me, as he did so, 'I know not whether this message is a snare54; but mind, if I see any signs of treachery, your life at any rate will pay the forfeit55.' I knew not what to do, and indeed could do nothing; but, knowing my lord's valour, I thought that, even against these odds56, you might conquer with such poor aid as I could give you.”
“It was not poor aid at all,” Gervaise said heartily57. “Greatly am I indebted to you, and sorry indeed am I, that I am unable to reward you now for the great service that you have rendered me.”
“Do not trouble about that, my lord. I am greatly mistaken if I do not find in the sashes of these three villains58 sufficient to repay me amply for my share in this evening's work. And now, my lord, I pray you to linger not a moment. The gates of the town shut at ten o'clock, and it cannot be long from that hour now. But first, I pray you, let me bind59 up your shoulder; your garment is soaked with blood.”
“Fortunately my bernouse will hide that; but it were certainly best to staunch the blood before I start, for it would be hard for me to get at the wound myself.”
The man took one of the sashes of the corsairs, tore it into strips, and bandaged the wound; then with another he made a sling60 for the arm. As he took off the sashes a leather bag dropped from each, and there was a chink of metal. He placed them in his girdle, saying, “I shall have time to count them when I get back.”
Gervaise sheathed61 his sword, and put on the bernouse, pulling the hood well over his head; then, with a few more words of thanks, started for the gate, leaving the man to search Hassan's girdle.
The gate was a quarter of a mile distant. Gervaise passed through with the usual Arabic salutation to the sentry62, and with difficulty repressed a shout of exultation63 as he left Tripoli behind him.
Following the coast road he walked till daylight; then he left it and lay down among the sand hills for five or six hours. He calculated that no pursuit would be begun until midday. His absence was not likely to be noticed until the gangs began work in the morning, when an alarm would be given. The sentries64 at the gates on the previous evening would be questioned, and when it was found that no one answering to his description had passed out before these were closed, there would be a rigid65 search throughout the city and port. The vessels66 would all be examined, and the boatmen questioned as to whether any craft was missing. Not until the search proved absolutely fruitless would it be seriously suspected that he had, either by passing through the gates in disguise, or by scaling the walls, made for the interior. None knew that he could speak Arabic, and it would be so hopeless an undertaking68 for any one unacquainted with the language to traverse the country without being detected, that the Moors would be slow to believe that he had embarked69 upon such adventure. However, when all search for him in the town and in the vessels in the port proved fruitless, doubtless mounted men would be despatched in all directions; some would take the coast roads, while others would ride into the interior to warn the head men of the villages to be on the lookout70 for an escaped slave.
After a sleep of five hours, Gervaise pursued his journey. He had walked for eight hours, and calculated that he must be fully36 thirty miles from Tripoli, and that not until evening would searchers overtake him. After walking four miles he came to a large village. There he purchased a bag of dates, sat down on a stone bench by the roadside to eat them, and entered into conversation with two or three Moors who sauntered up. To these he represented that he belonged to a party of his tribe who had encamped for the day at a short distance from the village in order to rest their horses before riding into Tripoli, whither they were proceeding71 to exchange skins of animals taken in the chase, and some young horses, for cotton clothes, knives, and other articles of barter72 with the tribes beyond them.
After quenching73 his thirst at a well in front of the mosque74, he retraced75 his steps until beyond the village, then struck out into the country, made a detour76, came down into the road again, and continued his journey eastward77. He walked until nightfall, and then again lay down.
He was now fully fifty miles from Tripoli, and hoped that he was beyond the point to which horsemen from that town would think of pursuing their search. It was likely that they would not have gone beyond the village at which he had halted on the previous day; for when they learned from the inhabitants that no stranger, save an Arab, had entered it, they would content themselves with warning the head man to be on the watch for any stranger unable to speak their tongue, and would not consider it necessary to push their steps farther.
For four days Gervaise continued his journey. At each village through which he passed he added to his stock of dates, until he had as many as he could carry under his bernouse without attracting observation. He also purchased a large water bottle, which he slung78 round his neck.
All this time the sea lay to his left like a sheet of glass, and he knew that until a change of weather occurred, it was useless for him to attempt to escape by boat. On the fifth day there were signs of a change. He saw a dark line far out at sea; it came across the water rapidly, and presently a gentle breeze began to blow from the northwest; it gradually increased in strength, and when, in the afternoon, he stopped at a village, the waves were breaking upon the shore.
After repeating his usual story, he sauntered down to the water's edge. There were several boats hauled up, and a hundred yards out two or three larger craft were lying at anchor. He entered into conversation with some of the fishermen, and his questions as to the boats led them to believe him altogether ignorant of the sea. The craft were, they told him, used sometimes for fishing, but they often made voyages to towns along the coast with dates and other produce. Each boat carried a single short mast, to the top of which was attached a long tapering79 spar, on which the sail was furled.
Gervaise knew that these small feluccas were generally fast sailors and fair sea boats, and resolved to seize one of them, trusting that when once the sail was shaken out he would be able to manage it single handed. Accustomed to boats, he picked out that which he thought would be the fastest, and then walked away for half a mile, and lay down to sleep until the village was silent for the night. He had with him some oaten cakes he had bought there, a string of fish he had purchased from the boatmen, and with these and the dates he thought he could manage for four or five days at least. As to water, he could only hope that he should find a supply on board the boat. When he judged it to be about ten o'clock he went down to the shore again, took off his clothes and made them into a bundle; then, wading80 out into the water to within fifty yards of the felucca, swam off to it, towing the bundle behind him.
He had no difficulty in climbing on board, and after dressing81 himself in the clothes he had worn at Tripoli, and had kept on underneath82 the Arab attire83, he pulled the head rope until the craft was nearly over the anchor. He then loosened the line that brailed up the sail, got the stone that served as an anchor on board, hauled the sheet aft, and took his place at the tiller. The wind had dropped a good deal with the sun, but there was still sufficient air to send the light craft fast through the water. He steered84 out for a time, and then, when he thought himself a good mile from the shore, headed east. By the appearance of the water as it glanced past, he thought that he must be making from five to six miles an hour, and when the sun rose at five o'clock, believed that he was nearly forty miles on his way. He now fastened the tiller with a rope and proceeded to overhaul85 the craft.
It was decked over forward only, and he crept into the cabin, which was little more than three feet high. The first thing his eye lit on was a bulky object hanging against the side, and covered with a thick black blanket of Arab manufacture. Lifting this, he saw, as he expected, that the object beneath it was a large waterskin well filled; the blanket had evidently been placed over it to keep it cool when the sun streamed down on the deck above it. There was also a large bag of dates, and another of flat cakes, and he guessed that these had all been put on board the evening before, in readiness for a start in the morning. This relieved him of his chief anxiety, for he had been unable to think of any plan for replenishing his supply, or to concoct86 a likely tale that, were he obliged to go on shore, would account for his being alone in a craft of that size.
The wind increased again after sunrise, and being unable to reef the sail single handed he managed partially87 to brail it up. All day the craft flew along with the wind on the quarter, making six or seven miles an hour; and he felt that by morning he would be well beyond pursuit. On the run he passed several craft engaged in fishing, but these gave him no uneasiness. He had in the morning, with some old sails he found, constructed three rough imitations of human figures, one with the Arab dress and another with the bernouse, and had placed them against the bulwarks88, so that at a short distance it would appear that there were three men on board. Feeling confident that the deception90 would not be noticed, he kept his course without swerving91, and passed some of the fishing boats within hailing distance, waving his hand and shouting the usual Arab salutation to their crews.
During the day he contented92 himself with eating some dates and an oatmeal cake or two; but at sunset he added to this two or three fish that he had split open and hung up to dry in the sun and wind. There was charcoal93 on board, and a flat stone served as a hearth94 in the bottom of the boat, but he had no means of lighting95 a fire, for this the fishermen would have brought off when they came on board in the morning. After he had finished his meal and taken his place again at the tiller he altered his course. Hitherto he had been steering96 to the south of east, following the line of coast, but he now saw before him the projecting promontory97 of Cape1 Mezurata, which marks the western entrance of the great Gulf98 of Sydra; and he now directed his course two points north of east, so as to strike the opposite promontory, known as Grenna, more than a hundred miles away. The wind fell much lighter, and he shook out the sail to its full extent. All night he kept at his post, but finding the wind perfectly99 steady he lashed46 the tiller so as to keep the boat's head in the direction in which he was steering, and dozed100 for some hours, waking up occasionally to assure himself that she was keeping her course.
At sunrise he indulged in a wash in sea water, and felt freshened and revived. He now kept a sharp lookout for distant sails, for he was out of the ordinary course a coaster would take, and would have attracted the attention of any corsair coming out from the land; the sea, however, remained clear of ships. All day the felucca made rapid progress, for although the wind freshened, Gervaise did not lessen101 sail as before, being now accustomed to the boat and confident of her powers. As soon as the wind died away again after sunset, he lay down for a good sleep, feeling this was an absolute necessity, and knowing that before morning he should be obliged to keep a sharp lookout for land. He slept longer than he had intended, for the day was breaking when he opened his eyes. He sprang to his feet, and saw the land stretching ahead of him at a distance, as he thought, of some fifteen miles, and at once put the helm down and bore more to the north.
He judged, from what he had heard on the coast, that he must be nearly off Cape Tejones, behind which lies the town of Bengasi, and was confirmed in the belief on finding half an hour later that the coast, which had run nearly north and south, trended sharply away to the northeast. All day long he kept about the same distance from the land, and at night, instead of keeping on his course, brailed up the sail entirely, and allowed the vessel67 to drift, as he knew that before morning he should lose the coast if he continued as he was going. He slept without moving until daylight, and then saw, to his satisfaction, by means of landmarks102 he had noticed the evening before, that the boat had drifted but a few miles during the night. As the day went on, he saw that the coastline was now east and west, and felt that he must be off the most northerly point of the promontory; he accordingly laid his course to the northeast, which would take him close to Cape Saloman, the most easterly point of Crete, and from two hundred and fifty to three hundred miles distant.
For twenty-four hours he sailed quietly on, the wind dropping lighter and lighter; then it suddenly died out altogether; for some hours there was not a breath to stir the surface of the water, and the heat was stifling103. Gervaise slept for some time; when he awoke the same stillness reigned104, but there was a change in the appearance of the sky; its brightness was dulled by a faint mist, while, although the sea was of a glassy smoothness, there was an imperceptible swell105 that caused the felucca to sway uneasily. Gervaise had sufficient experience of the Levant to know that these signs were ominous106 of a change, and he at once set to work to prepare for it. Although he saw that it would be difficult for him unaided to hoist107 the long spar back into its place, he decided108 to lower it. This was not difficult, as its weight brought it down on to the deck as soon as he slackened the halliards; he unhooked it from the block, and then lashed the sail securely to it. When he had done this he looked round. A bank of dark clouds lay across the horizon to the northwest, and in a short time he could see that this was rising rapidly.
Before taking down the spar and sail, he had deliberated as to whether it would be better to run before the coming gale109 or to lie to, and had decided on the latter alternative, as, were it to continue to blow long, he might be driven on to the Egyptian coast. Moreover, the felucca's bow was much higher out of water than the stern, and he thought that she would ride over the waves with greater safety than she would did they sweep down upon her stern.
He had heard that the Greeks, when caught in a sudden gale in small boats, often lashed the oars110 together, threw them overboard with a rope attached, and rode to them safely through a sea that would otherwise have overwhelmed them. After much consideration as to what had best be done, he took the anchor rope, which was some sixty yards in length, fastened one end to each end of the spar, and then lashed the middle of the rope to the bow of the felucca; then, using an oar32 as a lever, he with great labour managed to launch the spar over the bow, with the sail still attached to it.
When he had completed this, he looked round at the state of the weather. The clouds had risen so fast that their edge was nearly overhead, spanning the sky like a great arch. Ahead of him it seemed almost as black as night. He had not been out in many of the gales111 that at times sweep the eastern waters of the Mediterranean112 with terrible violence, but had seen enough of them to know that it was no ordinary one that he was about to encounter. He looked over the bow; the spar at present was lying in contact with the stem. With an oar he pushed it across so as to be at right angles with the craft, and then, there being nothing else to do, sat down and waited for the storm to burst. In a short time he heard a dull moaning sound, a puff113 of wind struck the boat, but in a few seconds died out; it was sufficient to give the light craft stern way, and she drifted backwards114, the rope tightening115, until the spar lay across her bows, and some twenty yards away.
The dull moaning had grown louder; and now ahead of him he saw a white line. It approached with extraordinary rapidity. Knowing the fury with which it would burst upon him, he leapt down, and stood at the entrance to the cabin, with his head just above the deck. With a deafening116 roar the wind struck the boat, which staggered as if she had on her full course struck on a rock, while a shower of spray flew over her. Half blinded and deafened117, Gervaise crawled into the cabin, closed the door, and lay down there; whatever happened, there was nothing he could do. He was soon conscious that the spar and sail were doing their work, for the boat still lay head to wind. The noise overhead and around was deafening; above the howl of the wind could be heard the creaking of the timbers, and the boat seemed to shiver as each fresh gust118 struck her.
In half an hour he looked out again. There was, as yet, but little sea; the force of the wind seemed to flatten119 the water, and the instant a wave lifted its head it was cut off as if by a knife, and carried away in spray. The boat herself was moving rapidly through the water, dragging the spar behind her, and Gervaise almost trembled at the thought of the speed at which she would have flown along had it not been for the restraint of the floating anchor. Gradually the sea got up, but the light craft rode easily over it, and Gervaise, after commending his safety to God, lay down, and was soon fast asleep. In spite of the motion of the vessel, he slept soundly for many hours. When he awoke he opened the cabin door and looked out. A tremendous sea was running, but he thought the wind, although so strong that he could scarce lift his head above the shelter of the bulwark89, was less violent than it had been when it first broke upon him. He saw to his satisfaction that the felucca breasted the waves lightly, and that although enveloped120 in spray she took no green water over the bows.
The spar and sail acted not only as a floating anchor, but as a breakwater, and the white crested121 waves, which came on as if they would break upon the boat, seemed robbed of half their violence by the obstruction122 to their course, and passed under the felucca without breaking. For forty-eight hours the gale continued; at the end of that time it ceased almost as suddenly as it had begun. The sun shone brightly out, the clouds cleared entirely away. It was some hours before the sea went down sufficiently123 for Gervaise to attempt to get the spar on deck again. It was a heavy task, taxing his strength to the utmost, but after a deal of labour it was got on board, and then raised to its position at the masthead; the sail was shaken out, and the felucca again put on her course.
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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walnut
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| n.胡桃，胡桃木，胡桃色，茶色 | |
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lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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5
moor
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| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
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6
hurl
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| vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂 | |
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7
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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8
Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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9
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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10
galley
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| n.（飞机或船上的）厨房单层甲板大帆船；军舰舰长用的大划艇； | |
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11
galleys
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| n.平底大船，战舰( galley的名词复数 )；（船上或航空器上的）厨房 | |
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12
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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13
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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14
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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15
promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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16
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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17
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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18
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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19
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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20
fixedly
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| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
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21
garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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22
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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23
moors
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| v.停泊，系泊（船只）( moor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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24
plundering
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的现在分词 ) | |
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25
chafed
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| v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的过去式 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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26
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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27
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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28
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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29
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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30
tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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31
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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32
oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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33
wares
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| n. 货物, 商品 | |
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34
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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35
consignment
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| n.寄售；发货；委托；交运货物 | |
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36
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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37
scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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38
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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39
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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40
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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42
amulet
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| n.护身符 | |
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43
gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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44
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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45
undone
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| a.未做完的，未完成的 | |
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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
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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48
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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49
moorish
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| adj.沼地的，荒野的，生[住]在沼地的 | |
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50
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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51
gage
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| n.标准尺寸，规格；量规，量表 [=gauge] | |
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52
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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53
inflicting
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的现在分词 ) | |
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54
snare
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| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
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55
forfeit
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| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 | |
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56
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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57
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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58
villains
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| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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59
bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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60
sling
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| vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓 | |
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61
sheathed
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| adj.雕塑像下半身包在鞘中的；覆盖的；铠装的；装鞘了的v.将（刀、剑等）插入鞘( sheathe的过去式和过去分词 )；包，覆盖 | |
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62
sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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63
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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64
sentries
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| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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65
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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66
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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67
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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68
undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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69
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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70
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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71
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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72
barter
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| n.物物交换，以货易货，实物交易 | |
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73
quenching
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| 淬火，熄 | |
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74
mosque
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| n.清真寺 | |
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75
retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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76
detour
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| n.绕行的路，迂回路；v.迂回，绕道 | |
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77
eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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78
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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79
tapering
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| adj.尖端细的 | |
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80
wading
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的现在分词 ) | |
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81
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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82
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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83
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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84
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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85
overhaul
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| v./n.大修，仔细检查 | |
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86
concoct
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| v.调合，制造 | |
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87
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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88
bulwarks
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| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
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89
bulwark
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| n.堡垒，保障，防御 | |
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90
deception
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| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
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91
swerving
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的现在分词 ) | |
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92
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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93
charcoal
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| n.炭，木炭，生物炭 | |
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94
hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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95
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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96
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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97
promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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98
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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99
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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100
dozed
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| v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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101
lessen
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| vt.减少，减轻；缩小 | |
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102
landmarks
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| n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 )；目标；（标志重要阶段的）里程碑 ~ (in sth)；有历史意义的建筑物（或遗址） | |
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103
stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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104
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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105
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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106
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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107
hoist
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| n.升高，起重机，推动；v.升起，升高，举起 | |
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108
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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109
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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110
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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111
gales
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| 龙猫 | |
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112
Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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113
puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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114
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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115
tightening
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| 上紧，固定，紧密 | |
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116
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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117
deafened
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| 使聋( deafen的过去式和过去分词 )； 使隔音 | |
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118
gust
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| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
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119
flatten
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| v.把．．．弄平，使倒伏；使(漆等)失去光泽 | |
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120
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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121
crested
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| adj.有顶饰的，有纹章的，有冠毛的v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的过去式和过去分词 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
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122
obstruction
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| n.阻塞，堵塞；障碍物 | |
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123
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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