Even before they left the train they could hear the continuous cannonading away to the northeast. It was like the constant rolling of heaviest thunder dotted with many quick staccato explosions. The fire from the heavy artillery6 was also visible along the horizon.
At first they went forward through open[91] country, undulating and broken, but soon entered intermittent7 woods, with deep ravines and sharp ridges8, just the sort of country for hard fighting.
Much of this region was so rough that the ambulances could not penetrate9 it, and the wounded had to be brought out for leagues on stretchers; but most of them lay where they fell and the surgeons and Red Cross men gave them first aid there, and trusted to luck to get them out later.
The region had been the scene of heavy fighting for two days, and the signs of war’s horrible devastation10 were on every hand. Shrapnel had stripped the trees of much of their foliage11. Many of them were down while others were torn and broken, with limbs hanging or strewed12 on the ground. The whole face of nature was scarred and furrowed13, seamed and made hideous14 by the passing of the hurricane of battle.
How beautiful was the fair face of France in peace, yet how terrible in war.
But now the heaviest fighting had rolled away to the north and the immediate15 work was that of the regiment in front of them[92] which was clearing out the hornet’s nest of machine-guns that the Boche had left behind.
But the doctor was a man of courage, deeply absorbed in his profession, and he soon found himself cutting out proud flesh and bandaging up gaping16 wounds, with the bullets whistling through the treetops above him, just as unconcerned as though he were still in the hospital at Brest. From point to point these brave men followed in the wake of battle, here and there snatching a desperately17 wounded man from the very mouth of hell. No bands played to divert them. There was no glitter of uniforms, or bright flag to inspire them, only the call of duty and the pathetic gratitude18 of the poor fellows whom they succored19.
Just at dusk the doctor found himself alone in a narrow gulch20. Deep shade was overhead, and a little brook21 babbled22 softly through the gulch, but now its cool waters were red with blood and roiled23 with the passing of many feet. In this gulch the surgeon found several dead and wounded men, and it was while binding24 up the wounds[93] of a Tennessee mountaineer who had been shot through the hip25 that a stray bullet found the surgeon and stretched him beside the man whom he was trying to save.
At first he was not in great pain, only paralyzed, but as the hours passed and the stars appeared up among the tops of the trees, fever mounted in his veins26 and finally delirium27 seized him and he talked incoherently to a dead man beside him of home and friends far away.
Meanwhile faithful Pep still galloped28 on to the northeast, obedient to the strong magnet that pulled him, the call of his master’s heart to his own loving dog heart, which knew but this one strong passion.
All through that night he galloped, only occasionally slowing down for a few kilometers to rest. He did not know to what place he was going, or what it would be like when he arrived, but he did know that at the end of the long road his master was calling for him. By noon of the day following his escape from the hospital he was so foot-sore he sometimes had to stop to lick his paws. They were stone bruised29 and bleeding at the[94] roots of the nails. But he did not pause for long, he could not with his master calling.
By evening he had reached the small station where his master had deployed30 with his unit at noon the day before. He immediately struck into the partly wooded undulating country. The sight of trees and woods pleased Pep. All the way he had been fearful that some one would catch him and carry him back to the hospital before he should find his master. In the woods he felt more secure for here he could hide, besides something told him that somewhere here in the forest he would find the doctor.
It was now ten o’clock at night, and the Boche had decided31 that they did not want the enemy to bring up fresh troops and occupy the woods, so they were sweeping32 the thickets33 and gulches34 with shrapnel and shells. Pep was terrified with the deafening35 noise and the bright flashes all about him. Occasionally he would stop and whimper and crouch36 close to the ground. The earth was friendly. It would not let these fierce bolts of lightning or the terrible thunder get him.[95] Occasionally he would stand uncertain for several seconds and whimper softly.
Instinctively37 he knew that these sounds were full of danger to himself. He had seen what desolation such sounds could make the night the Boche bombed the hospital. He wanted to go back, but he could not for his master was still calling. To him there was but one law, and that was obedience38 to the voice which he loved. So after a short time he would again creep forward.
At last after a more fearful explosion than usual, which rained small particles all about him, he found himself in the narrow gulch, by the little stream near which his master lay. He stopped for a moment to cool his burning feet in the water and to lick up some of the refreshing39 liquid, then, joy of joys, he discovered the doctor’s footprints in the sand close to the brook. He sniffed40 excitedly and then with a glad yelp41 sprang forward eagerly keeping his nose close to the ground in order not to miss the trail. It wound in and out for several rods. Once it stopped by the side of a dead soldier. Pep sniffed at the man’s cold face, then hurried[96] on. Would his master be like that when he found him? He missed the trail for a few feet where the doctor had stepped on some stones, but he soon recovered it again. Then joy unyelpable, he took the body scent42 and abandoned the trail. Three or four bounds carried him to the spot where the surgeon lay, prone43 upon the ground and very still.
Pep sniffed at his master’s face eagerly. It was not cold like the soldier’s. He licked the face frantically44 and whimpered pitifully. He sought the hand and thrust his muzzle46 into it. That, too, was warm, but very limp.
Again Pep began washing the dear face and something in the familiar touch penetrated47 to the surgeon’s slumbering48 consciousness, bringing him partly out of his swoon.
Pep noted49 with delight that the limp fingers closed gently over his muzzle and he registered his joy with a glad bark. Had his master been fully1 possessed50 of his senses he would have warned him that it was very dangerous to bark in the enemy’s country,[97] but the doctor was only partly conscious. The gentle pressure did not mean as much as the dog imagined.
It was partly an involuntary movement. He was so used to squeezing the dog’s muzzle that it was something that he did instinctively. Then the hand lay still for a long time and the faithful watcher became very anxious. He returned to the face and showered it with dog kisses. But his master did not respond, so he went back to the hand.
Here, after a long time, he was again rewarded, for the fingers tweaked his ears gently. This was an old love token of his master’s and the dog was delighted. From this time on he went from hand to face licking and encouraging his master.
It is quite possible that these gentle ministrations did much to revive the fainting man. They at least gave him something to hold on to. They formed an objective, something towards which he might struggle, just as a gleam of light affords the needed clew in the darkness.
At last the physician came to himself enough to speak the dog’s name in a thick,[98] strange voice, but it was unmistakable and the frantic45 terrier was overjoyed. Then the man lapsed51 into silence and was very still for another long time.
Finally to the great relief of the agonized52 dog the hand began fumbling53 about and the man to talk incoherently.
“I’m shot through the hips54. It is dark. I was lost, and faithful Pep came and found me. He’s a good dog, faithful old Pep.”
At the sound of his name Pep renewed his frantic kissing of his master’s face.
“Pep he sticks by me. He is a good dog. God, how weak I am! I am burning up. If I only had a drop of water.”
His hand went instinctively to his canteen. With a great effort after many trials he found it, but the hand was too weak to carry it to his lips. Pep watched these feeble efforts with dismay, his master was usually so strong and decided in his movements. He had seen men in the hospital act just like this. His master must be sick, indeed.
Again the doctor rested and Pep waited, not knowing what to do.
Finally, with a deep sigh, the physician[99] raised the canteen slowly to his lips. He was at least a minute in performing this simple act, but when his fevered, parched55 lips closed over the nozzle, the canteen was found to be entirely56 empty. With a groan57 he let it fall and sank back discouraged. Pep was quick to notice the distress58 in his master’s voice when he again addressed him.
“Pep, old comrade, I am dying for the want of a little water. Water, Pep, I want some water.”
The dog listened intently, but could not catch the man’s meaning, so he gave him another score of dog kisses.
The doctor reached down and lifted up the empty canteen. “See here, Pep, old comrade, I want water. I am dying for water.”
Pep whimpered softly, echoing his master’s agonized tones. Then the gleam of a wonderful idea shot through the doctor’s brain. It was an inspiration, a thought the good God who watched over all his children had given him. He laughed as he considered it dazedly59. It seemed feasible. Anyhow it was his only hope. He would try it.
[100]“Pep,” he said, lifting the canteen feebly and tossing it a few feet away.
“Bring, Pep. Bring.”
The dog at once sprang to the canteen and brought it in his mouth to his master.
“Good dog, we’ll try again. This time he tossed it towards the brook, which was about twenty feet away. Again Pep retrieved60 the canteen. Then the doctor threw the canteen as far towards the brook as he could, having first removed the top. It fell just a little short, but Pep brought it to him, thinking it a fine game.
The next time the physician had the satisfaction of hearing it drop in the water. Pep was after it in a flash. This was great fun.
To the doctor’s disgust there were only a few drops of water in the canteen when the dog returned with it as he had held it on its side. But even these few drops were most grateful to the parched tongue. The next time they had much better luck. Pep by accident held it by the nozzle and the doctor found the canteen half full of water. He seized it with delight and drank long and[101] deep. Then he petted and praised Pep generously and with a deep sigh of satisfaction lay down to rest.
“You stay here, old comrade, and watch while I sleep. I’m just about all in. When I have rested we will see if we can get out of this.”
Soon his beloved master was so quiet that Pep was once more alarmed lest he become like the dead soldier he had seen beside the brook a few rods back. For a long time he sat on his haunches watching. Occasionally he would steal close to the man and lick his hand or face. Then he would return to his silent vigil.
In the bushes near by he could hear a wounded soldier groaning61 and moaning, talking in his delirium. In another direction he could hear some one breathing deeply. The doctor could have told him that this man was dying, but Pep did not know this. All about them in the woods shells were bursting. Shrapnel was making the woods hideous, stripping the foliage and green branches from the already partly denuded62 trees.
[102]Through open places Pep could see strange lights to the north. These were signal rockets.
Pep was very tired and foot-sore. He did not feel sleepy, but very wide awake. There was a glad joy in his faithful dog heart for he had found his master, but all was not well with them yet. His master wanted to sleep and sleep. It was not like him. They were far from the hospital. These frightful63 noises were not good for either men or dogs, but he could do nothing else but just watch and wait. Again his master awoke and began talking to him strangely. He first threw the canteen and drank from it twice, but he did not seem to get relief. The truth was his fever was mounting and he was even weaker than he had been before. Both of these facts finally filtered into his consciousness. Something must be done at once.
He must have medical aid immediately. Somebody or something must come to them shortly or it would be too late. Again he drowsed and considered the facts in the case vaguely64.
Once more he had a bright idea, which was[103] another inspiration. He must manage in some way to get Pep to go for help. This was his only chance. He could not tell the dog what he wanted, but he could send him away. Perhaps he would find a Red Cross man somewhere in this inferno65 of a woods and bring him back, so he summoned all his remaining strength for this attempt.
“Here, Pep, old comrade. Come up close and listen.” Pep crowded a little closer and cocked his ears, alert and eager to do his master’s bidding.
“You must go for help. I can’t tell you so you will understand, but go home. Go home.” He struck the dog feebly on the shoulder and repeated the words, “Go home.”
The blow, slight as it was, hurt Pep keenly, but he listened. The doctor repeated the blow and the admonition.
The dog knew well what those words meant. They were the most hateful words in his dog vocabulary, which was not large. How many times his master had turned, when Pep wanted so much to follow, and said sternly, “Go home.”
[104]He waited. Surely his master could not mean it this time. Here he was alone and sick away in the dark woods. Surely he wanted his dog to stay with him. But again the master struck him, and said, sternly, “Go home.”
Sadly, reluctantly, he turned, whimpering as he went and trotted66 off into the darkness occasionally looking back over his shoulder to see if his master had not repented67.
The doctor heard him splash into the brook to cross it, then he sank down wearily, a great drowsiness68 creeping over him. For awhile he fought it, but finally yielded and sank into deep oblivion.
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收听单词发音
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1
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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sector
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| n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形 | |
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artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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intermittent
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| adj.间歇的，断断续续的 | |
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ridges
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| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
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penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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devastation
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| n.毁坏；荒废；极度震惊或悲伤 | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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12
strewed
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| v.撒在…上( strew的过去式和过去分词 )；散落于；点缀；撒满 | |
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furrowed
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| v.犁田，开沟( furrow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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succored
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| v.给予帮助( succor的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gulch
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| n.深谷，峡谷 | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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22
babbled
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| v.喋喋不休( babble的过去式和过去分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密 | |
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23
roiled
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| v.搅混（液体）( roil的过去式和过去分词 )；使烦恼；使不安；使生气 | |
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binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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27
delirium
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| n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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28
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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29
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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deployed
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| （尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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thickets
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| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
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gulches
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| n.峡谷( gulch的名词复数 ) | |
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35
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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36
crouch
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| v.蹲伏，蜷缩，低头弯腰；n.蹲伏 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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38
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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40
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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41
yelp
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| vi.狗吠 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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43
prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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46
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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47
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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48
slumbering
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| 微睡，睡眠（slumber的现在分词形式） | |
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49
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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50
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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51
lapsed
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| adj.流失的，堕落的v.退步( lapse的过去式和过去分词 )；陷入；倒退；丧失 | |
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52
agonized
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| v.使（极度）痛苦，折磨( agonize的过去式和过去分词 )；苦斗；苦苦思索；感到极度痛苦 | |
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53
fumbling
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| n. 摸索,漏接 v. 摸索,摸弄,笨拙的处理 | |
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54
hips
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| abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的 | |
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55
parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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56
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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57
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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58
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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59
dazedly
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| 头昏眼花地，眼花缭乱地，茫然地 | |
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60
retrieved
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| v.取回( retrieve的过去式和过去分词 )；恢复；寻回；检索（储存的信息） | |
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61
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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62
denuded
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| adj.[医]变光的，裸露的v.使赤裸( denude的过去式和过去分词 )；剥光覆盖物 | |
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63
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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64
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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65
inferno
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| n.火海；地狱般的场所 | |
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66
trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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67
repented
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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68
drowsiness
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| n.睡意；嗜睡 | |
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