For the next two days, all was quiet. A scout2 upon the hilltop, and others who were told off to watch the Spaniards, reported that the woods below were being thoroughly6 searched; that the enemy were acting7 in the most methodical way, the columns being now in close connection with each other, the intermediate forest being searched foot by foot; and that all were converging8 towards the central mountains of the position. The dogs had proved valuable assistants, and these were tracking the paths used by them, and steadily9 leading them towards the stronghold.
That they would finally escape detection none of the defenders had much hope. The Spaniards would be sure that they must be somewhere within their line; and after the loss suffered, and the immense preparations made, it was certain that they would not retire until they had solved the mystery, and, if possible, annihilated10 the forest bands.
On the fourth day after entering the wood, the Spaniards came to the point where the barricade11 of trees had been erected12. So skilfully13 had this been constructed that they would have retired14, believing that there was no path beyond this little gorge; however, the restlessness and anger of the dogs convinced them that there must be something behind. Slowly a passage was cut, with axes, through the virgin15 forest on either side; for the lesson they had received had checked their impetuosity. They came down at the side of the barricade, and thus having passed it, pressed forward in steady array until they came to the foot of the great cliff. Here the dogs were not long before they pointed16 out to the assailants the narrow path, scarce visible, running along its face; and a shout of satisfaction from the Spaniards testified that they now felt certain that they had caught their enemies in a trap.
Parties were sent off to positions whence they could obtain a good view of the place, and these soon reported that the ledge17 continued to a great opening in the face of the precipice18; that in some places logs had been fixed19 to widen the path; and that there was plenty of room, on the plateau formed by the retirement20 of the hill face, for a large body to have taken refuge. They also reported that the cliffs rose behind this amphitheater almost, if not quite perpendicularly21 for a great height; and that, still higher, the bare rock fell away at so steep an angle that it would be difficult, in the extreme, to take up such a position from above as would enable them to keep up a musquetry fire, or to hurl22 rocks upon the defenders of the amphitheater.
When the reports were considered by the Spanish leader, he saw at once that this was not an enterprise to be undertaken rashly. Men were sent down to the plain below to reconnoiter; while others were dispatched round the mountain, to see whether the path extended across the whole face of the precipice, and also to discover, if possible, whether the recess23 was commanded from above.
Both reports were unfavorable From the valley the great natural strength of the position was manifest, for half a dozen men could defend such a path as this against a thousand, by placing themselves behind an angle and shooting down all who turned the corner; while the men from above reported that the peak shelved so rapidly towards the top of the sheer precipice, that it would be impossible to get near enough to the edge to see down into the amphitheater They reported, however, that stones and rocks set going would dash down below, and that points could be gained from which these missiles could be dispatched on their errand.
A council of war was held; and it was determined24, in the first place, to endeavor to force the position by direct attack. Some men of approved courage were chosen to lead the forlorn hope; a number of marksmen, with arrows and firearms, were placed in the valley to keep up a fire upon any who might show themselves on the path, while above, several hundreds of men were sent up, with crowbars, to loosen and hurl down rocks.
The defenders, on their part, were not idle. Two spots had been chosen in the pathway for the defense25 At each of these the face of the cliff extended sharply out in an angle, and it was on the side of this angle next to the amphitheater that the preparations were made. Here barricades26 of stones were heaped up on the path, which at this point was some three yards wide. Six of the steadiest and most courageous27 negroes were placed here, with muskets28 and pikes. Two of them were to lie with their guns pointed at the protecting angle so that, the instant anyone showed himself round the corner, they could open fire upon him. The others were lying in readiness to assist, or to relieve those on guard. Either Gerald or Ned remained with them, always.
A few stones were thrown up on the outside edge of the path, to protect the defenders from the shots of those in the valley below; not indeed that the danger from this source was very great, for the face of the precipice was some eight hundred feet high, and the path ran along some four hundred from the bottom. With the clumsy arms in use, in those days, the fear of any one being struck from below was by no means great.
A similar barricade was erected behind, and the negroes were, in case of extreme necessity, to fall back from their first position. At the second point an equal number of men were placed.
Lastly, where the path ended at the amphitheater, strong barricades had been erected in a sort of semicircle; so that anyone, after having forced the first defenses, would, as he showed himself at the entrance to the amphitheater, be exposed to the fire of the whole of its defenders.
The position was so strong that Ned and Gerald had no fear, whatever, of its being forced. As the time approached when Ned expected an attack, the defenders of the farthest barricade were strengthened by a considerable number, lying down upon the path; for it was certain that, for the first two or three assaults, the Spaniards would push matters to the utmost; and that they would not be repulsed29, without severe fighting.
So indeed it proved. Advancing with great caution along the narrow path, which was sometimes seven or eight feet wide, sometimes narrowing to a few inches, the leaders of the party of attack made their way along, until they turned the projecting point. Then the guns of the two men on guard spoke30 out, and the two leaders fell, shot through the body, over the precipice. Now that they knew the position of their enemy, the Spaniards prepared for a rush. Gathering31 themselves as closely as they could together, they pressed round the corner. Shot after shot rang out from the defenders, as they turned it; but although many fell, the others pressed forward so numerously, and bravely, that they could be said fairly to have established themselves round the corner.
The barricade now, however, faced them; and behind this were gathered the bravest of the negroes, led by the boys. The barricade, too, had been covered with thorny32 branches, as had that which they had defended before; and the Spaniards, of whom only some ten or twelve could find fighting room round the corner, were shot down before they could make any impression, whatever.
Bravely as they fought, it was impossible for men to maintain so unequal and difficult a fight as this; and after trying for an hour to storm the barricade, the Spaniards fell back, having lost over fifty of the best of their men.
In the meantime, with a thundering sound, the rocks were rolling down from the summit of the mountain. The greater portion of them did not fall in the amphitheater at all; but, from the impetus33 of their descent down the sloping rocks above, shot far out beyond its edge. Others, however, crashed down on to the little plateau; but all who were there were lying so close to the face of the rock, that the missiles from above went far beyond them.
From below in the valley a constant fire was kept up, but this was as innocuous as the bombardment from above; and when the Spaniards fell back, only three of the defenders had been in any way injured, and these were hit by the pistol balls, fired by the assailants of the barricade.
When the Spaniards retired, all, except the men told off for the posts at the barricades, fell back to the amphitheater The negroes and natives were, both alike, delighted with the success of the defense; and were now perfectly34 confident of their ability to hold out, as long as their provisions lasted. There was no fear of want of water, for from the face of the hill a little stream trickled35 out. Piles of yams, bananas, sweet potatoes, and other tropical fruit had been collected, and a score of sheep; and with care, the boys calculated that for five weeks they could hold out.
The Spaniards were furious at the non-success of their enterprise, but after reconnoitering the position in every way, the commanders came to the conclusion that it was absolutely impregnable, and that the only plan was to starve out the besieged36. It did not appear that there could be any other way of retreat, and a small force could watch the path; as it would be as difficult for the besieged to force their way back by it, as for the besiegers to find an entry. The greater portion of the force was, therefore, marched home; a guard of two hundred men being set, to watch the point where the path along the precipice started.
The incidents of the five weeks which elapsed after the siege began were not important. It was soon found that the Spaniards had abandoned the notion of attack; but the vigilance of the defenders was never relaxed, for it was possible, that at any moment the enemy, believing that they had been lulled37 into carelessness, might renew their attack.
Twice, indeed, at nightfall the Spaniards advanced and crept round the point of defense; but were each time received so quickly, by the fire of the defenders of the barricade, that they were finally convinced that there was no hope, whatever, of catching38 them napping.
At the end of five weeks it was determined that the time had arrived when they should leave their fortress39. The Spaniards had placed a guard of fifty men near the foot of the precipice, to prevent any attempt of the besieged to descend40 its face by means of ropes; but above no precautions had been taken, as it appeared impossible, to anyone looking at the face of the cliff from a distance, that a human being could scale it.
Thanks, however, to the pains which had been taken previously, the way was open. In most places, rough steps had been cut; in others, where this was impossible, short stakes had been driven into crevices41 of the rock to form steps; and although the ascent42 was difficult, it was quite possible, to lightly clad and active men.
The time chosen for the attempt was just after dusk had fallen, when it was still light enough to see close at hand, but dark enough to prevent those in the valley observing what was passing. A young moon was already up, giving sufficient light to aid the enterprise. Some of the most active of the natives first ascended44. These were provided with ropes which, at every bend and turn of the ascent, they lowered so as to give assistance to those mounting behind. The strictest silence was enforced, and the arms were all wrapped up, so as to avoid noise should they strike the rock.
One by one the men mounted, in a steady stream. All were barefooted, for Ned and Gerald had imitated the example of the natives; and upon such a task as this, the bare foot has an infinitely45 safer hold than one shod with leather. Although the cliff looked quite precipitous, from a distance; in reality it sloped gently backwards46, and the task was far less difficult than it appeared to be.
The most dangerous part, indeed, was that which followed the arrival at the top. The mountain sloped so steeply back that it was like climbing the roof of a very steep house, and hand and foot were, alike, called into requisition to enable them to get forward; indeed, to many it would have been impossible, had not the leaders lowered their ropes down from above, affording an immense assistance to those following.
At last, the whole body reached the top and, descending47 upon the other side, plunged48 into the forest. They directed their course to a valley, ten miles distant, where considerable supplies of provisions had been stored up; and where some of their crops had been planted, a few weeks before the arrival of the Spaniards. Here for two days they feasted, secure that a considerable time might elapse, before the Spaniards discovered that they had vanished from the fortress.
Then they prepared to put into execution the plan upon which they had resolved. They knew that in the town, there would be no watch of any sort kept; for all believed them cooped up, without a chance of escape. The four troops then, commanded as before, issued from the forest as the sun went down, and marched towards the town. It was soon after midnight when they entered the streets and, proceeding49 noiselessly through them, advanced to the spot assigned to each.
One was to attack the governor's house, and to make him a prisoner; two others were to fall upon the barracks, and to do as much harm as possible; while the fourth was to proceed to the government magazines of stores and munitions50, to fire these at a great many places.
This programme was carried out successfully. The guards at the governor's house were overpowered in an instant and, as it had been surrounded, all the inmates51 were captured. Those of the men who defended themselves were cut down, but Gerald and Ned had insisted that no unnecessary slaughter52 should take place.
The party attacking the barracks had no such instructions. It was legitimate53 for them to inflict54 as much loss as possible upon the soldiers; and when, with terrible shouts, the negroes broke in upon them, the Spaniards, taken by surprise, offered but a feeble resistance. Large numbers of them were cut down, before they could rally or open fire upon their enemies. As soon as the resistance became serious, the negroes and Indians vanished, as quickly as they had come.
In the meantime, the whole of the town was lit up by sheets of fire, rising from the government magazines. The alarm bells of the churches tolled55 out, the shouts of the frightened inhabitants mingled56 with the yells of the natives, and the report of firearms, from all parts of the town; and the townspeople thought that a general sack and slaughter was at hand.
The negroes, however, entered no private house, but in an hour from their first appearance they had retired beyond the town; and were making their way, in a solid and well-ordered mass, for the forest, bearing in their center the governor and two of his sons.
The success of the enterprise had been complete. They were now, Ned thought, in a position, if not to dictate57 terms to the enemy, at least to secure for themselves an immunity58 from attacks. Day was breaking when they entered the hills and, an hour later, one of the sons of the governor was sent to the party still besieging59 their former stronghold, to inform them that the besieged had all escaped, had made a raid upon the city, and had carried off the governor; whose instructions to them was that they were to at once fall back, to avoid being attacked by the negroes.
The officer commanding the besiegers was glad enough to call his men together, and to retire unharmed from the forest; which now began to inspire an almost superstitious60 fear in the Spaniards, so unexpected and mysterious had been the defeats inflicted61 upon them there. The governor's son accompanied the troops back to the city, and was the bearer of a missive from Ned to the officer commanding the troops, and to the inhabitants. Ned offered, upon the part of the forest men, that if the Spaniards would consent to leave them unmolested in their forest; they upon their part would, in the first place, release the governor, and in the second, promise that no acts of violence, or raids of any kind, should be made beyond its boundaries. The question of fugitive62 slaves, who might seek refuge among them, was to be discussed at a meeting between the heads of each party, should the proposal be accepted. The governor sent a line, on his part, to say that he was well treated, that he authorized63 them to enter into any negotiations64 which they might think fit; adding that, in case they should decide to refuse the offer made them, no thought of his safety should be allowed, for an instant, to sway their notions.
It was two days before the messenger returned. Several stormy meetings had taken place in the town. The officers were, for the most part, anxious to renew the fighting. They were intensely mortified65 at the idea of the forces of Spain being compelled to treat, upon something like even terms, with a handful of escaped slaves; and would have again marched the troops into the forest, and renewed the war. The townspeople, however, were strongly opposed to this. They had suffered immensely, already, by the destruction of the outlying plantations67 and haciendas; and the events of the attack upon the town showed that there was no little danger of the whole place being burnt to the ground. They were, therefore, eager in the extreme to make terms with this active and ubiquitous enemy. The troops, too, were by no means eager to attempt another entry into the forest. They had fared so ill, heretofore, that they shrank from another encounter. There was neither glory nor booty to be obtained, and warfare68 such as this was altogether unsuited to their habits. Their discipline was useless, and they were so bewildered, by the tactics of their active foes69, that there was a very strong feeling among them in favor of making terms. The council sat the whole day, and finally the pacific party prevailed.
The deputation, consisting of the officer commanding the troops, of the ecclesiastic70 of highest rank in the town, and of one of the principal merchants, proceeded to the forest. When they were seen by the lookout71 to be approaching, Ned and Gerald, with the leading native and negro, proceeded to meet them. The details were soon arranged, upon the basis which had been suggested. The forest men were to enjoy their freedom, unmolested. They were to be allowed to cultivate land on the edge of the forest, and it was forbidden to any Spaniard to enter their limits, without previously applying for a pass. They, on their part, promised to abstain72 from all aggression73, in any shape.
The question of runaways74 was then discussed. This was by far the most difficult part of the negotiations. The Spaniards urged that they could not tolerate that an asylum75 should be offered, to all who chose to desert from the plantations. The boys saw the justice of this, and finally it was arranged that the case of every slave who made for the forest should be investigated; that the owners should, themselves, come to lay a formal complaint of their case; that the slave should reply; and each might produce witnesses. The negro was to be given up, unless he could prove that he had been treated with gross cruelty, in which case he was to be allowed protection in the forest.
These preliminaries settled, a short document embodying76 them was drawn77 up, in duplicate, and these treaties were signed, by the three Spaniards who formed the deputation and by the governor on the one side, and by the four representatives of the forest men on the other.
Thus ended the first successful resistance, to Spanish power, among the islands of the western seas.
The governor and his son then left for the city, and the forest men retired to what was now their country. Ned and Gerald impressed upon their allies the importance of observing, strictly78, the conditions of peace; and at the same time of continuing their exercises in arms, and maintaining their discipline. They pointed out to them that a treaty of this kind, extorted79 as it were from one, and that the strongest of the contracting powers, was certain not to have long duration. The Spaniards would smart at the humiliation80 which had, in their opinion, befallen them; and although the fugitive clause might for some time act favorably, it was sure, sooner or later, to be a bone of contention81. They impressed upon them also that although they might, as had been shown, achieve successes for a time, yet that in the long run the power of the Spaniards must prevail, and that nothing short of extermination82 awaited them; therefore he urged the strictest adherence83 to the treaty, and at the same time a preparedness for the recommencement of hostilities84.
Some months passed without incident, and the relations between the little community in the mountains and the Spaniards became more pacific. The latter found that the natives, if left alone, did them no damage. Bad masters learned that a course of ill treatment of their slaves was certain to be followed by their flight, and upon the bad treatment being proved, these found shelter among the mountains. Upon the other hand, the owners who treated their slaves with kindness and forbearance found that, if these took to the mountains in a fit of restlessness, a shelter there was refused them. Upon the edge of the forest, patches of plantation66 ground made their appearance; and the treaty was, upon the whole, well observed on both sides.
It was about a year after they had taken to the hills that news reached the boys that an English ship had come into those waters. It was brought them across at an island?? by some Simeroons who had been where the English ship anchored. They said that it was commanded by Master John Oxenford. The boys knew him, as he had been on board Captain Francis Drake's ship during the last expedition, and they determined to make an effort to join him. He had, however, left the island before the natives started with the news; and they made an arrangement with them, to convey them across to that place, when it should be learned that the vessel85 was returning, or was again there.
It was not long before they were filled with grief at the news that reached them, although they felt not a little thankful that they had not been able to join Captain Oxenford, when he first reached the islands. This adventurous86 seaman87 had, after the return to England of Captain Francis Drake's expedition, waited for some time on shore; and then, fretting88 under forced inactivity--for Captain Drake had, for the time, abandoned any project which he had entertained of a return to the Spanish seas, and had engaged in a war in Ireland--determined to equip an expedition of his own, with the assistance of several of those who had sailed in the last voyage with him, and of some Devonshire gentlemen who thought that a large booty might be made out of the venture.
He equipped a sloop89 of 140 tons burden, and sailed for Darien. When he arrived at this isthmus90, he laid up his ship and marched inland, guided by Indians. After traveling twelve leagues among the mountains, he came to a small river running down into the Pacific. Here he and his comrades built a boat, launched it in the stream, and dropped down into the bay of Panama. Then he rowed to the Isle91 of Pearls, and there captured a small barque, from Quito, with sixty pounds of gold. This raised the spirits of the adventurers, and six days later they took another barque, with a hundred and sixty pounds of silver. They then set off in quest of pearls. They searched for a few days, but did not find them in proportion to their expectations. They therefore determined to return, and re-entered the mouth of the river they had descended92. Here they loosed the prizes they had taken, and let them go.
The delay at Pearl Island was a mistake, and a misfortune. Captain Oxenford should have known that the Spanish authorities of the mainland would, when they heard that a single boat's load of Englishmen was ravaging93 their commerce, make a great effort to capture him; and his attack should have been swift and determined, and his retreat made without a halt. The fortnight which had been allowed to slip away caused his ruin. The news of their presence speedily arrived at Panama. Captain Ortuga was dispatched with four barques in search of them and, falling in with the liberated94 prizes, learned the course that the English had taken. The river had three branches, and the Spaniard would have been much puzzled to know which to ascend43; but the carelessness of the adventurers gave him a clue; for, as he lay with his boats, wondering which river he should ascend, he saw floating on the water large quantities of feathers. These were sufficient indications of a camp on the banks, and he at once followed that branch of the stream.
In four days he came upon the boat, which was hauled upon the sand, with only six men with her. They were lying asleep on the bank, and the coming of the Spaniards took them completely by surprise, and one of them was killed before he could make his escape into the woods. The rest got off. The Spaniards left twenty men to guard the boat, and with eighty others went up the country. Half a league away they found some huts, and in these the treasures of gold and silver which the English had captured were discovered.
Satisfied with having recovered these, Captain Ortuga was about to return to the river with his men; when Oxenford, with the English and two hundred Simeroons, attacked them. The Spaniards fought bravely, and the Simeroons would not stand against their fire. The English struggled desperately95. Eleven of these were killed, and the Simeroons took to their heels. Oxenford and a few of his companions escaped, and made their way back towards the spot where they had left their ship.
News of what was going on had, however, been sent across from Panama to Nombre de Dios, and four barques from that port had put out, and had found and taken Oxenford's ship. A band of a hundred and fifty men scoured96 the mountains, and into the hands of these Captain Oxenford and his companions fell. All of them were executed on the spot; except Oxenford, the master, the pilot, and five boys. These were taken to Panama, where the three men were executed, the lives of the five boys being spared.
This news was a sore blow to the lads, who had hoped much to be able to reach the ship, and to return to England in her. The delay, however, was not long, for a few weeks afterwards came the news that another English ship was in those waters. A party of Simeroons offered to take Ned and Gerald thither97 in their boat, and they determined to avail themselves of the offer.
Great was the lamentation98, among the community in the forest, when the news that their leaders were about to leave became known. The simple Indians assembled around them, and wept, and used every entreaty99 and prayer, to change their resolution. However, the boys pointed out to them that they had already been absent near three years from home; and that, as the settlers were now able to defend themselves, and had earned the respect of the Spaniards, they would, if they continued their present course of avoiding giving any cause of complaint to the whites, no doubt be allowed to live in peace. They had, too, now learned the tactics that should be pursued, in case of difficulty; and by adhering to these, the boys assured them that they might rely upon tiring out the Spaniards. Some of the negroes were in favor of retaining the English leaders by force, but this was objected to by the majority. Many of the Indians possessed100 gold, which had been the property of their ancestors before the arrival of the Spaniards; and some of these treasures were now dug up, and the boys were presented with a great store of pretty ornaments101, and other workmanship of the natives. Much rough gold was also placed on board their canoe, and a great portion of the dwellers102 of the hills marched down at night with them to the point of embarkation103, a lonely creek105 far from the settlement of the Spaniards, to bid them farewell.
The boys, themselves, were affected106 by the sorrow of their friends, and by the confidence which these had placed in them; and they promised that, should they return to those parts, they would assuredly pay a visit to them, again, in the hills. Before leaving, they had seen that two of the worthiest107 and wisest of the natives were chosen as leaders, and to these all the rest had sworn an oath, promising108 to obey their orders in all respects. They had constantly acted with the boys; and had, indeed, been their chief advisers109 in the matters internal to the tribe; and the lads had little doubt that, for some time at least, things would go well in the mountains. As to the ultimate power of the refugees to maintain their independence, this must, they felt, depend upon events beyond them. If the Spaniards were left at peace, and undisturbed by English adventurers or other troubles, there was little doubt, sooner or later, they would destroy the whole of the natives of this island, as they had destroyed them in almost every place where they had come in contact with them. However, the boys had the satisfaction of knowing that they had been the means of, at least, prolonging the existence of this band, and of putting off the evil day, perhaps for years to come.
The Simeroons paddled out from the creek and, hoisting110 the sail, the boat merrily danced over the water; and the boys felt their spirits rise, at the hope of seeing their countrymen, and hearing their native tongue again, after eighteen months passed, absolutely separate from all civilized111 communion.
After two days sailing and paddling, they reached the bay where the natives had reported the English ship to be lying; and here, to their great delight, they found the Maria, Captain Cliff, lying at anchor.
Ned and Gerald, when they explained who they were, were received with great joy and amazement112. The story of their loss had been told, in England; and the captain, who came from the neighborhood where Gerald's father dwelt, reported that the family had long mourned him as dead. He himself was bent113, not upon a buccaneering voyage--although, no doubt, if a rich ship had fallen into his hands he would have made no scruple114 in taking it--but his object was to trade with the natives, and to gather a store of such goods as the islands furnished, in exchange for those of English make. He had, too, fetched slaves from the western coast of Africa, and had disposed of them to much advantage; and the ship was now about to proceed on her way home, each man's share, of the profits of the expedition, amounting to a sum which quite answered his expectations.
It was two months later before the boys, to their great delight, again saw the hills behind Plymouth. None who had seen them embark104 in the Swanne would have recognized, in the stalwart young fellows who now stepped ashore115 on the hove, the lads who then set sail. Nearly three years had passed. The sun of the tropics had burnt their faces almost to a mahogany color Their habit of command, among the natives, had given them an air and bearing beyond their years; and though Ned was but eighteen, and Gerald a little older, they carried themselves like men of mature years.
It had been, indeed, no slight burden that they had endured. The fighting which had formed the first epoch116 of their stay in the island, serious as it had been, had been less wearing to them than the constant care and anxiety of the subsequent quiet time. The arrival of each fugitive slave was a source of fresh danger, and it had often needed all their authority to prevent the younger, and wilder, spirits of their little community from indulging in raids upon the crops of the Spaniards.
Once in Plymouth, the lads said goodbye to each other, promising to meet again in a few days. Each then proceeded to his home. Ned, indeed, found that he had a home no longer; for on reaching the village he found that his father had died, a few months after his departure; and a new pedagogue117 had taken his place, and occupied the little cottage.
The shock was a great one, although hardly unexpected, for his father's health had not been strong; and the thought that he would not be alive, when he returned, had often saddened Ned's mind during his absence. He found, however, no lack of welcome in the village. There were many of his school friends still there, and these looked with astonishment118 and admiration119 on the bronzed, military-looking man, and could scarce believe that he was their playmate, the Otter120.
Here Ned tarried a few days, and then, according to his promise to Gerald, started for the part of the country where he lived, and received a most cordial welcome from the father and family of his friend.
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1
defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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scouts
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| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
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4
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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5
gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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6
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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7
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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8
converging
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| adj.收敛[缩]的，会聚的，趋同的v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的现在分词 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集 | |
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9
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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10
annihilated
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| v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的过去式和过去分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃 | |
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11
barricade
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| n.路障，栅栏，障碍；vt.设路障挡住 | |
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12
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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skilfully
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| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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15
virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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18
precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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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
retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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21
perpendicularly
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| adv. 垂直地, 笔直地, 纵向地 | |
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22
hurl
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| vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂 | |
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23
recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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24
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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25
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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26
barricades
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| 路障，障碍物( barricade的名词复数 ) | |
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27
courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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28
muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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29
repulsed
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| v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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30
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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31
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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32
thorny
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| adj.多刺的，棘手的 | |
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33
impetus
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| n.推动，促进，刺激；推动力 | |
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34
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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35
trickled
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| v.滴( trickle的过去式和过去分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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36
besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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37
lulled
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| vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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38
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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39
fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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40
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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41
crevices
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| n.（尤指岩石的）裂缝，缺口( crevice的名词复数 ) | |
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42
ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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43
ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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44
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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46
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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47
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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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
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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50
munitions
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| n.军火，弹药；v.供应…军需品 | |
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51
inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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52
slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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53
legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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54
inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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55
tolled
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| 鸣钟（toll的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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56
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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57
dictate
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| v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令 | |
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58
immunity
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| n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权 | |
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59
besieging
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的现在分词 ) | |
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60
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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61
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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62
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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63
authorized
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| a.委任的，许可的 | |
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64
negotiations
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| 协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过 | |
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65
mortified
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| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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66
plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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67
plantations
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| n.种植园，大农场( plantation的名词复数 ) | |
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68
warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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69
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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70
ecclesiastic
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| n.教士，基督教会；adj.神职者的，牧师的，教会的 | |
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71
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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72
abstain
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| v.自制，戒绝，弃权，避免 | |
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73
aggression
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| n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害 | |
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74
runaways
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| （轻而易举的）胜利( runaway的名词复数 ) | |
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75
asylum
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| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
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76
embodying
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| v.表现( embody的现在分词 )；象征；包括；包含 | |
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77
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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78
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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79
extorted
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| v.敲诈( extort的过去式和过去分词 )；曲解 | |
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80
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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81
contention
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| n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张 | |
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82
extermination
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| n.消灭，根绝 | |
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83
adherence
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| n.信奉，依附，坚持，固着 | |
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84
hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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85
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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86
adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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87
seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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88
fretting
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| n. 微振磨损 adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的 | |
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89
sloop
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| n.单桅帆船 | |
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90
isthmus
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| n.地峡 | |
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91
isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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92
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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93
ravaging
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| 毁坏( ravage的现在分词 )； 蹂躏； 劫掠； 抢劫 | |
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94
liberated
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| a.无拘束的，放纵的 | |
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95
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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96
scoured
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| 走遍（某地）搜寻（人或物）( scour的过去式和过去分词 )； （用力）刷； 擦净； 擦亮 | |
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97
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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98
lamentation
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| n.悲叹，哀悼 | |
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99
entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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100
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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101
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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102
dwellers
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| n.居民，居住者( dweller的名词复数 ) | |
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103
embarkation
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| n. 乘船, 搭机, 开船 | |
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104
embark
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| vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机 | |
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105
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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106
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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107
worthiest
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| 应得某事物( worthy的最高级 )； 值得做某事； 可尊敬的； 有（某人或事物）的典型特征 | |
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108
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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109
advisers
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| 顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授 | |
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110
hoisting
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| 起重，提升 | |
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111
civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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112
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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113
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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114
scruple
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| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
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115
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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116
epoch
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| n.(新)时代；历元 | |
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117
pedagogue
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| n.教师 | |
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118
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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119
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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120
otter
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| n.水獭 | |
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