"Keep your eye," he said, "on the door of the next house. You will see a Burman come out. You are to let him talk with the prisoner, but let no one else speak to him. Don't look as if you had any orders about him, but stand carelessly by. The fellow will tell us nothing, but it is likely enough that he will speak to one of his own countrymen."
"I understand, sir."
Stanley went into his house and told Meinik what he was wanted to do.
"I will find out," Meinik said confidently and, a minute or two later, went out and strolled along past the prisoner. As he did so he gave him a little nod and, returning again shortly, saluted3 him in Burmese. The third time he passed he looked inquiringly at the sentry, as if to ask whether he might speak to the prisoner. The soldier, however, appeared to pay no attention to him; but stood with grounded musket4, leaning against the wall, and Meinik went up to the man.
"You are in bad luck," he said. "How did you manage to fall into the hands of these people?"
"It matters not to you," the Burman said indignantly, "since you have gone over to them."
"Not at all, not at all," Meinik replied. "Do you not know that there are many here who, like myself, have come in as fugitives5, with instructions what to do when our people attack? I am expecting news as to when the soothsayers declare the day to be a fortunate one. Then we shall all be in readiness to do our share, as soon as the firing begins."
"It will be on the fourth day from this," the Burman said. "We do not know whether it will be the night before, or the night after. The soothsayers say both will be fortunate nights; and the Invulnerables will then assault the pagoda, and sweep the barbarians7 away. The princes and woongees will celebrate the great annual festival there, two days later."
"What are they going to do to me. Will they cut off my head?"
"No, you need not be afraid of that. These white men never kill prisoners. After they are once taken, they are safe. You will be kept for a time and, when our countrymen have destroyed the barbarians and taken the town, they will free you from prison.
"There are some of the white officers coming. I must get away, or they will be asking questions."
As he walked away, the sentry put his musket to his shoulder and began to march briskly up and down. A moment later the general stepped up to him.
"What are you doing, my man? Who put you on guard over that prisoner?"
"I don't know his name, sir," the sentry said, standing9 at attention. "He was a young staff officer. He came to the guard tent and called for a sentry and, as I was next on duty, the sergeant10 sent me with him. He put me to watch this man."
"All right; keep a sharp lookout over him.
"I wonder what Brooke left the fellow here for, instead of sending him to prison," the general said to Colonel Adair. "We examined him, but could get nothing out of him, even when I threatened to hang him."
"I will just run up to his quarters and ask him, sir."
Just as he entered the house, Stanley was coming down the stairs.
"The general wants to know, Mr. Brooke, why you placed a prisoner under a guard by his house; instead of sending him to the prison, as usual?"
"I was just coming to tell him, sir."
"Ah, well, he is outside; so you can tell us both together."
"Well, Mr. Brooke, what made you put a sentry over the man, and leave him here? The men are hard enough worked, without having unnecessary sentry duty."
"Yes, sir; I only left him for a few minutes. I was convinced the man knew something, by his demeanour when I questioned him; and I thought I might as well try if my man could not get more out of him than I could. So I put a sentry over him, and gave him instructions that he was to let a Burman, who would come out of this house, speak to the prisoner; but that no one else was to approach him.
"Then I instructed my man as to the part that he was to play. He passed two or three times, making a sign of friendship to the prisoner. Then, as the sentry had apparently11 no objection to his speaking to him, he came up. At first the man would say nothing to him, but Meinik told him that he was one of those who had been sent to Rangoon to aid, when the assault took place; and that he was anxiously waiting for news when the favourable12 day would be declared by the astrologers, so that he and those with him would be ready to begin their work, as soon as the attack commenced. The prisoner fell into the snare13, and told him that it would be made either on the night before or on the night of the fourth day from this; when the Invulnerables had undertaken to storm the pagoda. It seems that the date was fixed14 partly because it was a fortunate one, and also in order that the princes and head officials might properly celebrate the great annual festival of the pagoda; which falls, it seems, on the sixth day from now."
"Excellent indeed, Mr. Brooke. It is a great relief to me to know when the assault is going to take place, and from what point it will be delivered. But what made you think of the story that the Burman was one of a party that had come in to do something?"
"It was what Colonel Adair mentioned at dinner, last evening, sir. He was saying how awkward it would be if some of these natives who have come in were to fire the town, just as a strong attack was going on, and most of the troops engaged with the enemy. It was not unlikely that, if such a plan had been formed, the prisoner would know of it; and that he might very well believe what my man said, that some men had been sent into the town, with that or some similar intention."
"True enough. The idea was a capital one, Mr. Brooke; and we shall be ready for them, whichever night they come.
"Will you please go across to the guard tent, and tell the sergeant to send a corporal across to the man on sentry, with orders to take the prisoner to the jail, and hand him over to the officer in command there? When you have done that, will you ride out to the pagoda and inform your colonel what you have discovered? It will be a relief to him, and to the men for, as the date of the attack has been uncertain, he has been obliged to largely increase his patrols, and to keep a portion of his force, all night, under arms. He will be able to decrease the number, and let the men have as much sleep as they can, for the next two nights.
"The clouds are banking15 up, and I am very much afraid that the rain is going to set in again. They say that we shall have another two months of it."
After seeing the prisoner marched away, Stanley rode to the pagoda and, saying that he had come with a message from the general, was at once shown into the colonel's quarters.
"Any news, Mr. Brooke?"
"Yes, Colonel; the general has requested me to inform you, at once, of the news that I have obtained from a prisoner; namely that, either on the night of the 30th or 31st, your position will be attacked, by the men who are called the Invulnerables."
"We will give them a chance of proving whether their title is justified," the colonel said, cheerfully. "That is very good news. The men are getting thoroughly16 worn out with the extra night duty caused by this uncertainty17. You think that there is no doubt that the news is correct?"
"None whatever, sir. I could do nothing with the prisoner; but my Burman pretended to have a mission here, to kick up a row in the town when the attack began; and the man, believing his story, at once told him that the attack will be made on the pagoda, by the Invulnerables, on the early morning of the fourth day from this--or on the next night--the astrologers having declared that the time would be propitious18, and also because they were very anxious to have the pagoda in their hands, in order that the princes might celebrate the great annual festival that is held, it seems, two days after."
The colonel laughed.
"I am afraid that they will have to put it off for another year. The general gave no special orders, I suppose?"
"No, sir; he had only just received the news, and ordered me to ride over at once to you, as he was sure that you would be glad to know that it would not be necessary to keep so many men on night duty, for the next two days."
"Thank you, Mr. Brooke. Will you kindly19 tell the general that I am very pleased at the news? No doubt he will be up here, himself, this afternoon or tomorrow."
Stanley rode back fast, and was just in time to escape a tremendous downpour of rain, which began a few minutes after he returned. He went in at once to the general's, but was told that he was engaged with the quartermaster and adjutant generals. He therefore went into the anteroom where Tollemache, his fellow aide-de-camp, was standing at the window, looking out at the rain.
"This is a beastly climate," he grumbled20. "It is awful to think that we are likely to get another two months of it; and shall then have to wait at least another, before the country is dry enough to make a move. You were lucky in getting in, just now, before it began."
"I was indeed," Stanley agreed, "for I had ridden off without my cloak, and should have been drenched21, had it begun two minutes earlier."
"I saw you gallop22 past, and wondered what you were in such a hurry about. Was it like this when you were out in the woods?"
"Not in the least. There is very little rain near Ava; though the country is a good deal flooded, where it is flat, from the rivers being swollen23 by the rains in the hills. We had lovely weather, all the time."
"I should like to see a little lovely weather here. The last week has been almost worse than the rain--the steamy heat is like being in a vapour bath. If it were not that I am on duty, I should like to strip, and go out and enjoy a shower bath for half an hour."
Stanley laughed.
"It really would be pleasant," he said. "I don't think that I gained much by hurrying back, for the gallop has thrown me into such a perspiration24 that I might almost as well be drenched by the rain, except that my clothes won't suffer so much."
"Ah, it is all very well for you," the other grumbled. "Of course, after once having wandered about in the forest, painted up like a nigger, you feel cheerful under almost any circumstances; but for us who have been cooped up, doing nothing, in this beastly place, it is impossible to look at things cheerfully."
"Have you heard that the enemy are going to attack, on Tuesday or Wednesday night?"
"No!" the other exclaimed, with a sudden animation25. "The general only came in a quarter of an hour ago and, as he had the two bigwigs with him, of course I did not speak to him. Is it certain? How did you hear it?"
"It is quite certain--that is, unless the Burmese change their mind, which is not likely. The princes want to celebrate the great annual festival at the pagoda, on Friday; and so the Invulnerables are going, as they think, to capture it either on Tuesday or Wednesday night. I have just been up there to tell the colonel.
"As to your other question--how did I learn it--I got it, or rather my Burman did, from that prisoner we were questioning this morning. He would not say anything then; but my man got round him and, believing that he was a spy, or something of that kind, the prisoner told him all about it."
"Are they only going to attack at the pagoda?"
"That I cannot say; that is the only point that the man mentioned. I should say that it would only be there."
"Why should it only be there?"
"Because I should imagine that even the Burmese must be beginning to doubt whether they could defeat our whole force and, as they particularly wish to occupy the pagoda on Friday, they would hardly risk an attack on other points, which might end in disaster while, what with the propitious nature of the day, and the fact that the Invulnerables have undertaken to capture the pagoda, no doubt they look upon that as certain."
"I suppose that you are right, Brooke. Well, I do hope that the general will let us go up to see the fun."
"What, even if it is raining?"
"Of course," the other said, indignantly. "What does one care for rain, when there is something to do? Why, I believe that, if it was coming down in a sheet, and the men had to wade27 through the swamps waist deep, they would all march in the highest spirits, if there was the chance of a fight with the Burmans at the end of the day.
"However, I am afraid that there is no chance of our getting off, unless the chief goes, himself. There may be attacks in other places. As you say, it is not likely; but it is possible. Therefore, of course, we should have to be at hand, to carry orders. Of course, if he takes his post at the pagoda it will be all right; though the betting is that we shall have to gallop off, just at the most interesting moment."
Presently the two officers left the general. The latter's bell rang, and Stanley went in.
"You saw the colonel, Mr. Brooke?"
"Yes, sir; and he begged me to say that he was extremely glad to get the news, and much obliged to you for sending it so promptly28."
"There is no occasion for you and Mr. Tollemache to stay here any longer, now; but at five o'clock I shall ride out to the pagoda. At any rate, should I want you before then, I shall know where to send for you."
This was the general order, for in the afternoon there was, when things were quiet, a hush29 for two or three hours. The work of the aides-de-camp was, indeed, generally very light for, as there were no movements of troops, no useless parades, and very few military orders to be carried, they had a great deal of time on their hands; and usually took it by turns to be on duty for the day, the one off duty being free to pay visits to acquaintances in the various camps, or on board ship. During the rainy season, however, very few officers or men went beyond shelter, unless obliged to do so and, from two till four or five, no small proportion passed the time in sleep.
Stanley had intended to pay a visit to the Larne; as Captain Marryat, who had dined at the staff mess on the previous evening, had invited him to go on board, whenever it might be convenient to him. The Larne had performed good service, in the operations against the stockades30; and her boats had been particularly active and successful. Her captain was one of the most popular, as well as one of the most energetic officers in the service; and was to become as popular, with future generations, as the brightest of all writers of sea stories.
However, the day was not favourable for an excursion on the water. Stanley therefore went back to his room where, divesting31 himself of his jacket, he sat down at the open window, and read up a batch32 of the last newspapers, from England, that had been lent him by Colonel Adair.
At five o'clock Meinik came in, to say that his horse was at the general's door. Stanley hastily put on his jacket and cloak, and sallied out. The general came down in a few minutes, followed by Tollemache and, mounting, they rode to the pagoda.
Here Sir Archibald had a talk with the colonel of the 89th, and the officer commanding the battery of the Madras Artillery33. Both were of opinion that their force was amply sufficient to resist any attack. The only approach to it from the forest was a long road between two swamps which, a short distance away, had become lakes since the wet weather set in.
"Had they taken us by surprise," the colonel said, "some of them might have got across, before we were quite ready for them, and might have given us some trouble but, as we shall be prepared, I don't think that any of them will reach the foot of this hill and, if they did, none of them would reach this terrace. If an attack were made from the other side, it would of course be a good deal more serious, as the ground is firm and they could attack all along the foot of the hill; but as they cannot get there, until they have defeated the rest of the army, I consider that, even without the assistance of the guns, we could hold the hill with musket and bayonet against any force that they are likely to bring against us."
"Very well, then; I shall not reinforce you, Colonel. Of course, we shall keep a considerable number of troops under arms, in case they should attack all along the line, at the same time that they make their principal effort here.
"I rather hope that the rain will keep on, until this affair is over."
The colonel looked surprised.
"I am much more afraid," the general went on, "of fire in the town, than I am of an attack without. The number of natives there is constantly increasing. No doubt the greater number of those who come in are natives of the place, who have managed, since we cleared out their war galleys34 from some of the creeks35 and channels, to escape from the authorities and to make their way in, either on foot or in fishermen's boats; but some of them may be sent in as spies, or to do us harm. I have been having a long talk over it with Colonel Adair, this afternoon, and he quite agrees with me that we must reckon on the probability of an attempt to fire the town. It would be a terrible blow to us if they succeeded, for the loss of our stores would completely cripple us. They would naturally choose the occasion of an attack upon our lines for the attempt for, in the first place, most of the troops will be under arms and drawn36 up outside the town; and in the second place the sight of the place on fire would cause much confusion, would inspirit our assailants, and necessitate37 a considerable force being withdrawn38 from the field, to fight the fire.
"If the rains continue we need feel no uneasiness, whatever, for there would be no getting anything to burn; whereas in dry weather, a man with a torch might light the thatch39 as fast as he could run along, and a whole street would be in a blaze in two or three minutes and, if a wind happened to be blowing, it might make a sweep of the whole place, in spite of all our efforts."
"I see that, sir. I own that I had never given it a thought, before."
"I shall come up here, Colonel, unless we obtain sure news, before the time arrives, that the attack is going to be a general one; indeed, it is in any case the best place to post myself, for I can see over the whole country, and send orders to any point where the enemy may be making progress, or where our men can advance with advantage. The line of fire flashes will be as good a guide, at night, as the smoke by day."
"I will get a cot rigged up for you, General, as we don't know which night it is to be."
"Thank you. Yes, I may just as well turn in, all standing, as the sailors say, and get a few hours' sleep; for in this climate one cannot keep at it, night and day, as we had to do in Spain."
The two aides-de-camp were kept in suspense40 as to what the general's intentions were, and it was not until the morning of Tuesday that he said to them:
"I am going up to the pagoda this evening, Mr. Tollemache; and you had better, therefore, put some provisions and a bottle of brandy into your holsters."
At nine in the evening they rode off. The rain had ceased; the moon was shining through the clouds.
"It will be down by twelve o'clock," Tollemache said. "I should think, most likely, they will wait for that. They will think that we shall not be able to take aim at them, in the darkness; and that they will manage to get to the foot of the hill, without loss."
When they reached the platform in front of the pagoda, their syces took their horses. Meinik had begged Stanley to let him take his groom's place on this occasion and, laying aside the dress he ordinarily wore, assumed the light attire41 of an Indian syce, and had run behind the horses with the others. He had a strong desire to see the fighting, but his principal motive42 in asking to be allowed to accompany Stanley was that, although greatly impressed with what he had seen of the drill and discipline of the white and native regiments43, he could not shake off his faith in the Invulnerables; and had a conviction that the pagoda would be captured, and therefore wished to be at hand, to bring up Stanley's horse at the critical moment, and to aid him to escape from the assailants.
Fires were burning, as usual, at several points on the terrace. Two companies were under arms, and were standing well back from the edge of the platform, so as to be out of sight of those in the forest. The rest of the men were sitting round the fires. Their muskets44 were piled in lines hard by.
When he alighted, the general proceeded to the battery.
"Have you everything in readiness, Major?" he asked the officer in command.
"Yes, sir. The guns are all loaded with grape and, as it will be very dark when the moon has set, I have pegged45 a white tape along, just under each gun; so that they can be trained upon the causeway, however dark it may be."
"That is a very good idea," the general said. "There is nothing more difficult than laying guns accurately46 in the dark."
The colonel now arrived, a soldier having brought the news to him, as soon as the general reached the platform.
"I see that you are well prepared to give them a hot reception, Colonel."
"I hope so, sir. I have a strong patrol out beyond the causeway. My orders are that they are to resist strongly, for a minute or two, so as to give us time to have the whole of our force in readiness here. Then they are to retreat at the double to the foot of the hill; and then to open fire again, so that we may know that they are out of the way, and that we can begin when we like. We have been making some port fires this afternoon, and I have a dozen men halfway47 down the hill and, directly the outposts are safely across, they are to light the port fires, which will enable us to take aim. These white tapes will be guide enough for the artillery; but my men would make very poor shooting, if they could not make out the muzzles48 of their guns. Anyhow, I don't think that it is likely that the enemy will get across the causeway, however numerous they may be."
"I don't think they will, Colonel. Certainly, so far, they have shown themselves contemptible49 in attack; and have never made a successful stand, even for a minute, when we once entered their stockades, though they defend them pluckily50 enough until we have once got a footing inside.
"Still, these fellows ought to fight well tonight for, if they are beaten, it will be a death blow to their reputation among their countrymen. Besides, many of them do believe in the power they claim and, as we have found before now, in India, fanatics51 are always formidable."
After taking a look round with the colonel, the general accompanied him to his quarters; while the two aides-de-camp remained on the terrace, chatting with the officers; and then, after a time, went with some of them to the mess tent, where they sat smoking and talking until midnight, when all went out.
The troops were formed up under arms, and all listened impatiently for something that would show that the long-delayed assault would take place that night. At half-past twelve there was the sound of a shot, which sent an electrical thrill through the troops. It was followed almost immediately by others. The troops were at once marched forward to the edge of the platform. A babel of wild shouts went up at the sound of the first shots, followed by a burst of firing.
The two aides-de-camp had taken their places close to the general, who was standing in the gap between the infantry52 and the guns; and was looking intently, through his night glasses, at the forest.
"They are in a dense53 mass," he said. "I cannot see whether they are in any regular order, but they are certainly packed a great deal closer than I have ever before seen them. Those in front have got lanterns. They are coming along fast."
As yet the enemy were half a mile away, but the lanterns and the flash of their guns showed their exact position, while the fire of the outposts was kept up steadily54. As the latter fell back along the causeway, the interval55 between the two forces decreased; and then the fire of the outposts ceased as, in accordance with their orders, they broke into the double.
Illustration: The Burmese make a great effort to capture Pagoda Hill.
The uproar56 of the advancing crowd was prodigious57. Every man was yelling, at the top of his voice, imprecations upon the defenders58 of the pagoda; who were standing in absolute silence, waiting eagerly for the word of command. Suddenly the firing broke out again at the foot of the hill and, immediately, a bright light shot up from its face.
The edge of the dense mass of Burmese was now but some fifty yards from the wall that surrounded the foot of the hill, and the causeway behind was occupied by a solid mass of men. Then came the sharp order to the artillerymen, and gun after gun poured its charge of grape into the crowd while, at the same moment, the infantry began to fire, by companies, in steady volleys. For an instant the din6 of the assailants was silenced, then their shouts rose again and, after a moment's hesitation59, they continued their advance.
But not for long. None but the most disciplined soldiers could have advanced under that storm of grape and bullets and, in ten minutes, they fled in wild confusion, leaving the causeway thickly covered with the dead. Again and again the British cheers rose, loud and triumphant60; then the infantry were told to fall out, but the guns continued their fire, until the fugitives were well in the forest.
Between the shots the general listened attentively61, and examined the country towards the town through his glasses.
"Everything is quiet," he said. "It is probable that, if those fellows had carried the hill, they would have made a signal, and there might have been a general attack. As it is, the affair is over for the night; and the Invulnerables will have some difficulty in accounting62 for their failure, and loss.
"Now, gentlemen, we may as well have up the horses, and ride back. We hardly expected to get away as soon as this."
"Well, Meinik, what do you think of your Invulnerables, now?" Stanley said, as the Burman, after picketing63 his horse, came up to his room to see if he wanted anything, before lying down on his bed in the passage.
"I don't know," the Burman replied, gravely. "They may be holy men; and proof, perhaps, against native weapons; but they are no good against your cannon64 and muskets. I understand, now, how it is that you beat us so easily. Your men all stood quiet, and in order; one only heard the voices of the officers, and the crash as they fired together.
"Then, your guns are terrible. I have seen ours firing but, though our pieces are smaller than yours, your men fire five shots to our one. I stood by while they were loading. It was wonderful. Nobody talked, and nobody gave orders. Each man knew what he had to do--one did something and, directly, another did something and, almost before the smoke of the last shot was out of the gun, it was ready to be fired again.
"It is clear to me that we have not learnt how to fight, and that your way of having only a few men, well taught and knowing exactly what they have to do, is better than ours of having great numbers, and letting everyone fight as he pleases. It is bad, every way. The brave men get to the front, and are killed; and then the others run away.
"You were right. We shall never turn you out of Rangoon, till Bandoola comes. He has all our best troops with him, and he has never been beaten. All the troops know him, and will fight for him as they will not fight for these princes--who know nothing of war, and are chosen only because they are the king's brothers. When he comes, you will see."
"No doubt we shall, Meinik; and you will see that, although they may make a better fight of it than they have done tonight, it will be just the same, in the end."
For the next two months the time passed slowly. No attacks were made by the enemy, after the defeat of the assault upon the pagoda. Peasants and deserters who came in reported that there was profound depression among the Burmese troops. Great numbers had left the colours, and there was no talk of another attack.
The troops being, therefore, relieved of much of their arduous65 night duty, the English took the offensive. The stockades on the Dalla river, and those upon the Panlang branch--the principal passage into the main stream of the Irrawaddy--were attacked and carried, the enemy suffering heavily, and many pieces of artillery being captured.
The rains continued almost unceasingly, and the troops suffered terribly in health. Scarce three thousand remained fit for duty, and the greater portion of these were so emaciated66 and exhausted67, by the effects of the climate, that they were altogether unfit for active operations.
Three weeks after the fight at the pagoda a vessel68 came up the river, with a letter from the officer in command of the troops assembled to bar the advance of Bandoola against Chittagong, saying that the Burmese army had mysteriously disappeared. It had gone off at night, so quietly and silently that our outposts, which were but a short distance from it, heard no sign or movement, whatever. The Burmese had taken with them their sick, tents, and stores; and nothing but a large quantity of grain had been found in their deserted69 stockades.
The news was received with satisfaction by the troops. There was little doubt that the court of Ava--finding that their generals had all failed in making the slightest impression upon our lines, and had lost vast numbers of men--had at last turned to the leader who had conquered province after province for it, and had sent him orders to march, with his whole army, to bring the struggle to a close. The soldiers rejoiced at the thought that they were at last to meet a real Burmese army. Hitherto they had generally stood on the defensive70, and had to fight the climate rather than the foe71; and it seemed to them that the campaign was likely to be interminable.
The march of the Burmese from Ramoo to Sembeughewn, the nearest point of the river to the former town, must have been a terrible one. The distance was over two hundred miles, the rains were ceaseless, and the country covered with jungles and marshes72, and intersected by rivers. No other army could have accomplished73 such a feat26. The Burmans, however, accustomed to the unhealthy climate, lightly clad, and carrying no weight save their arms and sixteen days' supply of rice, passed rapidly over it.
Every man was accustomed to the use of an axe74 and to the formation of rafts and, in an incredibly short time, rivers were crossed, deep swamps traversed on roads made by closely-packed faggots and, but a few days after hearing that Bandoola had started, the general learned, from peasants, that the news had come down that he and a portion of his army had arrived at Sembeughewn.
Almost at the same time, other parties who travelled down along the coast reached Donabew, a town on the Irrawaddy, some forty miles in direct line from Rangoon. This had been named as the rendezvous75 of the new army, and to this a considerable proportion of Bandoola's force made their way direct from Ramoo; it being the custom of the Burmese to move, when on a march through a country where no opposition76 was to be looked for, in separate detachments, each under its own leader, choosing its own way, and making for a general rendezvous. Travelling in this manner, they performed the journey far more rapidly than they could have done moving in one body, and could better find shelter and food.
Other forces from Prome, Tannoo, and other quarters were known to be marching towards Donabew. It was soon reported that the dejected forces around Rangoon had gained courage and confidence, at the news that Bandoola and his army were coming to their aid, and that the deserters were returning in large numbers from their villages. The British sick were sent away in the shipping77 to Mergy and Tavoy, two coast towns of which we had taken possession, and both of which were healthily situated78.
The change had a marvellous effect, and men who would have speedily succumbed79 to the poisonous exhalations of the swamps round Rangoon rapidly regained80 their strength, in their new quarters.
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pagoda
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| n.宝塔（尤指印度和远东的多层宝塔），（印度教或佛教的）塔式庙宇 | |
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sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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musket
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| n.滑膛枪 | |
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fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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barbarians
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| n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 )；外国人；粗野的人；无教养的人 | |
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lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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10
sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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12
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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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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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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banking
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| n.银行业，银行学，金融业 | |
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16
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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propitious
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| adj.吉利的；顺利的 | |
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19
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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21
drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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23
swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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24
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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wade
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| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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stockades
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| n.（防御用的）栅栏，围桩( stockade的名词复数 ) | |
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divesting
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| v.剥夺( divest的现在分词 )；脱去（衣服）；2。从…取去…；1。（给某人）脱衣服 | |
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batch
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| n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量 | |
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artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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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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creeks
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| n.小湾( creek的名词复数 )；小港；小河；小溪 | |
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36
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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37
necessitate
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| v.使成为必要，需要 | |
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38
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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39
thatch
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| vt.用茅草覆盖…的顶部；n.茅草(屋) | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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pegged
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| v.用夹子或钉子固定( peg的过去式和过去分词 )；使固定在某水平 | |
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accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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muzzles
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| 枪口( muzzle的名词复数 )； （防止动物咬人的）口套； （四足动物的）鼻口部； （狗）等凸出的鼻子和口 | |
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49
contemptible
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| adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的 | |
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pluckily
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| adv.有勇气地，大胆地 | |
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51
fanatics
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| 狂热者，入迷者( fanatic的名词复数 ) | |
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52
infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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53
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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54
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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56
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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58
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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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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60
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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accounting
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| n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表 | |
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63
picketing
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| [经] 罢工工人劝阻工人上班，工人纠察线 | |
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64
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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65
arduous
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| adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的 | |
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emaciated
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| adj.衰弱的，消瘦的 | |
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67
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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68
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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69
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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71
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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72
marshes
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| n.沼泽，湿地( marsh的名词复数 ) | |
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73
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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74
axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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75
rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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76
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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77
shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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78
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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79
succumbed
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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