"To-day week it is, sir!" returned the captain as Carstairs cast him the painter.
"You might fire the gun to let us know you're back," cried the baronet.
"Right-o!"
Lawless turned to bend over the engine. Then he looked round quickly and grinned.
"Good luck!" he cried, "and good hunting!" and waved a friendly hand. With that he pushed over the lever and with a mighty1 flurry of propeller2 and vast bustle3 among the sea-birds on the foreshore, the Naomi's launch throbbed4 her way out into the bay towards where, spanning as it seemed the harbour's narrowest part, a creamy band of white spume marked the surf-line. Silently we watched the pretty craft, her paint and brass-work flashing in the morning sun, gliding5 through the green water. Then Lawless raised an arm in a parting greeting, and the white launch melted into the spume and spray of the open sea.
We stood on a long sloping beach of gleaming white sand shut in on all sides save the sea by lofty grey rocks. Their jagged points out-topped the bright-green fronds6 of the waving palm-trees which grew almost down to the water's edge. Their column-like appearance, coupled with the singular silence of the island, gave me a sort of solemn feeling, like being in a cathedral.
Some three hundred yards from where the foam-crested rollers beat their thunderous measure on the beach, the ground rose abruptly7. The sand ended and became emerged in a tangle8 of coarse grass. Alternating with a wild and luxuriant undergrowth of a great variety of tree ferns and other plants, it formed a kind of tasselling to a great curtain of greenery which rose, as it seemed, sheer from the sea.
The verdure was so dense9 that it completely hid the bases of the pointed10 cliffs which, clustered together like a bundle of faggots, formed the high central part of the island. From some hidden source a clear cold stream of water came plunging11 down from the cliff, rushing and gurgling until it lost itself in the sea.
It was the first time I had ever set foot on an uninhabited shore. It was a curious sensation. The sea-birds wheeled aloft with their harsh melancholy12 cries; among the trees above the beach there was sometimes the flash of a brilliantly-plumaged bird and here and there some animal rustled13 in the undergrowth. But otherwise a deep silence brooded over the island. There was an atmosphere of expectancy15 about the place which rather intrigued16 me.
I lost no time in setting about choosing a site for our camp. The appearance of the foreshore, exposed to the full force of the wind in unfavourable weather, did not impress me favourably17, nor, owing to the danger from lightning in the thunderstorms that spring up so suddenly in these climes, did the obvious solution of erecting19 our huts under the shelter of the trees higher up on the shore commend itself. Moreover, I knew very little about conditions on Cock Island and, were there any wild animals about, it would be as well, I reflected, to pitch our camp in some spot not easily accessible to attack.
After exploring round a bit I came, behind a mantle20 of hanging creeper, upon the mouth of a cave. Set in the lofty grey rocks dominating the beach, it was well clear of high-tide level and clean and dry into the bargain. The roof sloped somewhat, but there was ample clearance21 for Garth's six feet when he stood erect18 and the cave ran back for some twenty feet into the rock.
So we plumped for the cave. Having stripped to vest and trousers, Garth and I started carrying up our stores from where the launch of the Naomi had deposited them on the beach. While we stacked the various boxes neatly22 at the back of the cave, Carstairs was busy fitting up what he called his "field-kitchen." Higher up the rocks, in a little cavity well-sheltered from the wind, he installed his Primus stove, cook-pots and other impedimenta.
It was with the utmost reluctance23 that I spared the time for this tiring but necessary fatigue24. I was on fire to be off into the interior of the island and locate the grave. Garth, too, was as keen as mustard, and fairly jumped at my proposal that, as soon as the stores were stowed away, we should set forth25 on a voyage of discovery.
It was a long job; for the cases were heavy and the going was bad, but when I stood on the beach below and, with the roar of the ocean in my ears, looked up at our temporary home, I felt rather pleased. Absolutely no trace of our presence was discernible. Though I was aware that perhaps not one vessel26 in two years called at the island, I have always had a very healthy respect for the long arm of coincidence. I did not wish my investigations27 at Cock Island to become the mark of prying28 eyes.
It was past three o'clock and the sun very warm when Garth and I set out. We took with us a flask29 of cold tea apiece, some biscuits and some dates and a shot-gun each. With a wave of the hand to Carstairs, our guns slung30 across our backs, we plunged31 into the tangle of steep woods growing down to the shore.
The climate of the island seemed to be temperate32 enough. The air was a little steamy but mild and at first there was a pleasant breeze off the sea to cool us. To be equipped for the rocky nature of the island both of us had brought stout33 hob-nailed boots, and we praised our circumspection34 when we realised that only by boulder35-climbing should we gain access to the higher parts of the island.
The climbing was arduous36 (for neither of us was in form) but not too difficult. I kept a sharp look-out for any traces of former visitors. Once I found some sheep droppings and again a large bleached37 bone which looked as if it might have come from a sheep. But of man there was no trace.
The scrub soon gave way to forest and for a good half hour we toiled38 up the jungle-clad slopes. Great trees formed an almost impenetrable roof over our heads through which the sunshine fell but sparsely39. We went forward in a dim and mysterious twilight40 with no sounds in our ears other than the swift rushing of the stream which gave us our direction, our laboured breathing and the rattle41 of our nailed boots on the boulders42. It was an eerie43 place which somehow filled me with misgivings44.
Suddenly Garth, who was leading, gave a shout. He stood on the flat top of a rock, a dozen feet above my head, and pointed excitedly in front of him. I scrambled45 to his side.
We were looking down into a deep circular depression shaped like a basin. It reminded me of a quarry47, but I imagine it was in reality the crater48 of some small extinct volcano. What had brought the shout to Garth's lips was the sight of a ruined hut which thrust its broken roof from out of a tangle of gigantic ferns.
So breathless were we with our climb that we were past speech. In silence we slithered and scrambled down into the hollow, the long tendrils of the plants twisting themselves round our legs and the thorns catching49 in our coats.
It was a rude timber shack50 with a door and a window, the interior choked roof-high with growing ferns. The timber flooring had rotted away and through the mouldering51 planks52 the jungle had thrust its shoots profusely53 as though to claim its own. But in one corner, where a roughly-carpentered bedstead of timber stood, some attempt had apparently54 been made to thin out the ferns for a space. On the bed there lay a rotting blanket; on the floor close by some empty canned beef tins red with rust14. The blanket practically fell to pieces at the touch. It was not marked and, though we groped pretty thoroughly55 among the ferns, that was all we found in the hut.
"There's nothing here," I said at last. "Let's have a look round outside. I am wondering...."
The words died away on my lips. I had reached the hut door, my face turned towards the farther edge of the crater, the opposite side from that by which we had descended56. A hundred and fifty yards from where I stood a large timber cross was planted in the ground. Between it and the hut lay a great isolated57 boulder which had probably concealed58 the cross from our view when we had climbed down into the hollow.
For a moment I could hardly speak. I have seen the proud loneliness of Cecil Rhodes' resting-place in the Matoppos; I have stood (like everybody else) in the amber59 light that bathes Napoleon's tomb "on the banks of the Seine among this French people I have loved so well." But I have never seen a sight more impressive than that solitary60 grave on that desert island set down beneath the little round canopy61 of blue sky which seemed to be borne by the lofty frowning cliffs towering all around. Beneath that plain wooden cross, I told myself, in a silence unbroken by Man, lies the Unknown. It was a mighty impressive thought.
A rudimentary path, still to be discerned through the all-pervading undergrowth, led, round the boulder of which I have spoken, to the cross. The grave lay out in the open in a little patch which had been cleared of ferns. As we came up to it I noted63, with an odd little trick of the memory, that the grey and weather-beaten surface of the cross was highly polished, even as the beach-comber had described, by the action of the sand grains blown by the wind from the seashore.
Fashioned out of two baulks of timber wired together and solidly implanted in the ground, the cross stood at the head of a long hillock of earth. On the grave lay, face upwards64, a small round mirror and, a little beyond it, an empty bottle, uncorked, which had fallen on its side.
"You see," I remarked to Garth, "it's just as Adams said!"
I stooped to pick up the mirror. Then to my surprise I saw that it was wired to a timber cross-piece which ran out from the cross as a support. It was a little glass set in a metal frame.
"It looks like a shaving-glass!" said Garth.
I did not undeceive him. I am not a secretive person by nature but by training. The very character of Intelligence work—the careful sifting65 of every apparently insignificant66 scrap67 of evidence, the lengthy68 process of surmise69 and deduction—tends to make one discreet70, even when dealing71 with one's familiars, until a plain statement of fact can be drawn72 up. So I did not tell my host that, the moment I saw that the glass was attached to the cross, my brain leaped at the first clear clue to the Unknown's baffling cipher73.
For the sight of the mirror, loosely wired so that it faced the foot of the grave, immediately brought into my mind the first line of that bewildering doggerel74:
"Flimmer', flimmer' viel."
The reference to flashing surely indicated that the mirror was to be used as a heliograph. The next line—that about "the garrison75 of Kiel"—still utterly76 floored me; but, I reflected, since we had a heliograph, the following lines which I surmised77 to give a compass bearing of 27 degrees ("The Feast of Orders" i.e., Jan. 27), might well furnish the direction in which—for reasons still unknown to me—the sun's rays were to be flashed. The wiring of the mirror to the timber indicated the direction in which the bearing was to be taken. It looked to me as though the Unknown must have set up his own cross and wired the mirror to it before he died.
I opened the little leathern case which hung at my belt and drew out my prismatic compass, trusty friend of my campaigning days in France. The grave faced practically due north. I laid the compass on the mirror and took a bearing of 27 degrees. The white arrow on the floating centre of the compass swung round. The mark of the 27th degree pointed towards a gaunt and barren pile of rock on the far side of the crater. I took as my line of direction a tall bush aflame with some gorgeous flower on the edge of the clearing.
Some cautious instinct made me detach the mirror. Holes had been bored on either side of the frame through which strands78 of copper79 wire were passed and knotted to holes bored in the timber cross-piece. I removed wire and all and slipped the mirror into my pocket. Garth did not notice the action; for he was busy pottering about the clearing. From the luxuriant undergrowth he ultimately collected a cigar box which, I made no doubt, was the identical one from which the man Dutchey had established the fact that Black Pablo and his friends had visited the island. It was curious to find everything in the same state as it had been left more than a year ago. I felt rather like a man must feel who violates a grave.
"There's a path beyond," Garth said, pointing over to the left. "It leads to the spring. I found an old bucket on the bank. But otherwise there's no sign of our Unknown friend here. In fact the whole place looks as if it had been undisturbed since the flood. Whew! but it's hot! Okewood, I believe we're going to have a storm!"
The air was indeed strangely oppressive. The patch of sky which thatched the clearing was now flecked with daubs of white cloud and there was a curiously80 menacing stillness in the atmosphere. On trees and bushes the leaves hung motionless without a tremor81. We sat down to cool off a bit.
"It doesn't look too good to me," I answered. "Garth, I shouldn't wonder if we were in for a soaking to-night!"
Sir Alexander Garth, Bart., who had never slept out in the rain in his life, smiled in rather superior fashion.
"I shouldn't wonder," he returned. "As a matter of fact, I rather like roughing it. It's a devilish healthy life, my boy! What's the next move? Has the grave given you any ideas for the location of the treasure?"
"Do you see that plant with the red flowers?" said I. "I have a fancy to take a stroll in that direction and see how far we can get up the cliff."
"Okewood!" he exclaimed, "By Jove! I believe you're on to something!"
"I am!" I answered rashly and cursed myself for a babbling84 fool. For Garth, his curiosity afire, forthwith plied85 me with questions.
"Don't press me just yet!" I countered. "I'm still groping in the dark. You shall know all in good time!"
But he would not be pacified86. Two heads were better than one, he argued, and very often a clear-sighted, shrewd man of business could see a deal farther than an expert.
"Well," I said, "for all that, I think I'll keep my own counsel until we've looked round a bit more!"
At that Garth became huffy. We were partners in this venture, he reminded me, and we must have no secrets. He did not think he should have to recall that fact to my mind.
The stifling87 heat and the fatigue of our long climb had made us both a bit cross, I suppose. At any rate I was pretty short with him.
"My dear fellow," I said, and rose to my feet by way of putting an end to the conversation, "all in good time. In this sort of work one must work alone, at any rate in the initial stages. Give me a little breathing space!"
Garth followed my example and stood up.
"Shall we go on?" he asked.
He spoke62 without heat, but there was a look in his face which reminded me that at our first meeting, I had noticed signs of temper about his nose and mouth. Garth was a man who obviously did not like to be thwarted88. Now I thought I knew where Marjorie got her proud temper from.
A little puff89 of hot wind came whirling into the hollow. The trees swayed to it as it rustled through the leaves with a melancholy sound.
"We don't want to go too far," remarked Garth, cocking an eye at the sky, "or we shall have this storm on us before we can get under cover at the camp."
At the first blush the cliff on the far side of the hollow looked perfectly90 inaccessible91. But handy to my bush with the red flowers a succession of flat boulders, like a giant's staircase, enabled us to scramble46 up until we found ourselves on a plateau of rock dominated on one side by an immense crag which towered above our heads in a succession of shelving ledges93. In front of us the ground dropped to a steep nullah from which rose a sheer wall of rock and barred the way.
It was a desolate94 scene. Neither tree nor shrub95 nor anything green grew in this barren landscape of grey and friable96 volcanic97 rock. The bare and frowning heights oppressed me. I turned to Garth.
"This looks like the end of things," said I, "unless we can find a way up by these terraces. What do you say? Shall we have a try?"
"If we could manage to reach that first shelf," my companion answered, "we could at any rate get a view. There's nothing to be seen from here."
I had to give Garth a back to do it and his sixteen stone I felt convinced, punched a pretty pattern of his hobnails into my skin. However, at the cost of my back and sundry98 abrasions99 of his hands and knees, Garth at last gained a footing on the sheer face of the rock and then, giving me a hand, swung me up beside him. After a vertiginous100 climb, which at one time brought us on to a ledge92 a hundred feet above the nullah, we struck something like a steep track that eventually landed us on the first terrace.
The view was disappointing. We were still too low to clear the frowning cliffs encircling the nullah and we looked forth on the same gloomy prospect101 of grey volcanic peaks that had confronted us from below. The shelf on which we stood was only about thirty feet wide and ran for a distance of sixty yards across the face of the cliff and then stopped abruptly. It had obviously been cut by the hand of man out of the friable rock; for a number of caves scooped102 out of the back wall showed that cave-dwellers must have lived here in that remote period when the island had been inhabited. The ledge was in fact nothing but a street for communication between the different cave-houses. The caves were low-roofed and empty. By craning our necks upward we saw that the whole face of the cliff was thus honeycombed with cave-dwellings in a succession of terraces. At the far end the steep track, by which we had gained access to the first terrace, wound its way upward to the higher levels. There were three terraces in all.
We rested for a while on our rocky shelf and ate some biscuits and chocolate. From our post of vantage we looked down on to the grave in the clearing. The sun had gone in but it was still oppressively sultry. The sky had assumed a forbidding leaden tinge103. It looked like some great furnace door radiating a fierce heat from the fire within.
Whilst we ate our frugal104 lunch we discussed our plans. We decided105 that, in view of the weather, we would break off our exploration for the day, return to camp and get comfortably installed and make an early start the next morning in order to visit the upper ledges of the rock. Garth had apparently quite recovered his equanimity106 after our little breeze.
The descent from the rock was a thrilling business. In places the track had crumbled107 away and more than once we found ourselves, held only by the nails of our boots, on a slippery slope overhanging a sheer deep drop. I have a poor head for heights and to me it was a nightmare experience. The result was that our progress was slow and it took us a full hour to make the descent. By the time we had reached the rocky plateau the wind was whirling the grey volcanic dust in great pillars about our heads. The sky had grown perceptibly darker with an eerie yellow glow and a few big drops of rain splashed down on the bushes. With startling suddenness a long drawn-out rumble108 of thunder awakened109 a thousand echoes as it reverberated110 among the lonely island peaks.
"By George," said Garth turning up his coat collar, "we're going to catch it, Okewood. We'll have to steer111 clear of these trees."
"We'd better make a bolt for the hollow," I counselled. "The hut is out in the open. If it stands the wind it will give us some shelter!"
We started to run while the light perceptibly diminished, like a lighting112 effect on the stage. We were actually crossing the hollow when the storm broke. There was a blinding glare of lightning, a deafening113 peal114 of thunder and the light went out while, with a whooshing115 and rushing and crashing, the rain suddenly descended in what seemed to be a dense sheet of water.
"The hut!" I shouted in Garth's ear.
Well it was that we were just upon it or in that inky darkness we should never have found it. Over the wooden bedstead in the corner the roof was whole and solid and it kept the worst part of the rain off us, though we were splashed by the cataract116 of water which poured off the roof into the centre of the hut. The air was so highly charged that one could almost smell the electricity in the atmosphere as the lightning rent the sky in blinding flashes which illuminated117 the whole clearing and the trees and cliffs all round with the brightness of daylight.
The storm was at its height; the thunder was echoing in and out of the rocky hollows of the island and in the moments of stillness the gurgling and splashing of the rain filled our ears. Then came a blinding lightning flash, brighter and more enduring than the rest. It lit up the whole clearing and revealed the cross over the grave of the Unknown standing118 out hard and black against a fantastic background of bending, straining tree-trunks with branches and leaves blown out in the wind. And by its light, before the brightness died, I saw the figure of a man standing with bowed head at the grave.
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1
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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propeller
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| n.螺旋桨，推进器 | |
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bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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fronds
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| n.蕨类或棕榈类植物的叶子( frond的名词复数 ) | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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13
rustled
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| v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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rust
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| n.锈；v.生锈；(脑子)衰退 | |
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expectancy
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| n.期望，预期，（根据概率统计求得）预期数额 | |
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intrigued
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| adj.好奇的，被迷住了的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的过去式)；激起…的兴趣或好奇心；“intrigue”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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favourably
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| adv. 善意地，赞成地 =favorably | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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erecting
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| v.使直立，竖起( erect的现在分词 )；建立 | |
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mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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clearance
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| n.净空；许可(证)；清算；清除，清理 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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investigations
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| （正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究 | |
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prying
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| adj.爱打听的v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的现在分词 )；撬开 | |
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flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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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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temperate
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| adj.温和的，温带的，自我克制的，不过分的 | |
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circumspection
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| n.细心，慎重 | |
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boulder
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| n.巨砾；卵石，圆石 | |
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arduous
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| adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的 | |
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bleached
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| 漂白的，晒白的，颜色变浅的 | |
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toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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sparsely
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| adv.稀疏地；稀少地；不足地；贫乏地 | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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boulders
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| n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 )；巨砾；（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾 | |
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43
eerie
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| adj.怪诞的；奇异的；可怕的；胆怯的 | |
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misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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47
quarry
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| n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找 | |
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48
crater
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| n.火山口，弹坑 | |
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49
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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50
shack
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| adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚 | |
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51
mouldering
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| v.腐朽( moulder的现在分词 )；腐烂，崩塌 | |
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52
planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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53
profusely
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| ad.abundantly | |
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54
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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55
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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56
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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57
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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58
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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59
amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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60
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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61
canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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62
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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63
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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64
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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65
sifting
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| n.筛，过滤v.筛( sift的现在分词 )；筛滤；细查；详审 | |
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66
insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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67
scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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68
lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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69
surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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70
discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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71
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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72
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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73
cipher
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| n.零；无影响力的人；密码 | |
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74
doggerel
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| n.拙劣的诗，打油诗 | |
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75
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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76
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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77
surmised
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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78
strands
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| n.（线、绳、金属线、毛发等的）股( strand的名词复数 )；缕；海洋、湖或河的)岸；（观点、计划、故事等的）部份v.使滞留，使搁浅( strand的第三人称单数 ) | |
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79
copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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81
tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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82
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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84
babbling
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| n.胡说，婴儿发出的咿哑声adj.胡说的v.喋喋不休( babble的现在分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密 | |
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85
plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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86
pacified
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| 使（某人）安静( pacify的过去式和过去分词 )； 息怒； 抚慰； 在（有战争的地区、国家等）实现和平 | |
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87
stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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88
thwarted
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| 阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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89
puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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91
inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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92
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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93
ledges
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| n.（墙壁，悬崖等）突出的狭长部分( ledge的名词复数 )；（平窄的）壁架；横档；（尤指）窗台 | |
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94
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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95
shrub
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| n.灌木，灌木丛 | |
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96
friable
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| adj.易碎的 | |
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97
volcanic
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| adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的 | |
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98
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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99
abrasions
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| n.磨损( abrasion的名词复数 )；擦伤处；摩擦；磨蚀（作用） | |
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100
vertiginous
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| adj.回旋的；引起头晕的 | |
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101
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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102
scooped
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| v.抢先报道( scoop的过去式和过去分词 )；（敏捷地）抱起；抢先获得；用铲[勺]等挖（洞等） | |
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103
tinge
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| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
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104
frugal
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| adj.节俭的，节约的，少量的，微量的 | |
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105
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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106
equanimity
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| n.沉着，镇定 | |
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107
crumbled
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| （把…）弄碎， （使）碎成细屑( crumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 衰落； 坍塌； 损坏 | |
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108
rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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109
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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110
reverberated
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| 回响，回荡( reverberate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使反响，使回荡，使反射 | |
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111
steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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112
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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113
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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114
peal
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| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
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115
whooshing
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| v.（使）飞快移动( whoosh的现在分词 ) | |
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116
cataract
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| n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障 | |
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117
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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118
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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