An immense fire had been built in the sitting-room7. Thither8 Mary and Louise repaired. Here they were joined by Dale, Langford, and Gordon.
“You should be out at the ranch9 looking after your poor cattle, Mr. Langford,” said Mary, smilingly. She could be light-hearted now,—since a little secret had been whispered to her last night at a tea party where no tea had been drunk. Langford had gravitated toward her as naturally as steel to a magnet. He shrugged10 his big shoulders and laughed a little.
“The Scribe will do everything that can be done. Honest, now, did you think this trial could be pulled off without me?”
“But there can be no trial to-day.”
“Why not?”
“Did I dream the court-house burned last night?”
“If you did, we are all dreamers alike.”
“Then how can you hold court?”
“We have gone back to the time when Church and State were one and inseparable, and court convenes11 at ten o’clock sharp in the meeting-house,” he said.
“You are not contemplating13 running away, are you?” asked Gordon. “This is unusual weather—really.”
She looked at him with a pitiful smile.
“I should like to be strong and brave and enduring and capable—like Mary. You don’t believe it, do you? It’s true, though. But I can’t. I’m weak and homesick and cold. I ought not to have come. I am not the kind. You said it, too, you know. I am going home just as soon as this court is over. I mean it.”
There was no mistaking that. Gordon bowed his head. His face was white. It had come sooner than he had thought.
All the records of the work of yesterday had been burned. There was nothing to do but begin at the beginning again. It was discouraging, uninteresting. But it had to be done. Dale refused positively14 to adjourn15. The jurymen were all here. So the little frame church was bargained for. If the fire-bugs had thought to postpone16 events—to gain time—by last night’s work, they would find themselves very greatly mistaken. The church was long and narrow like a country schoolhouse, and rather roomy considering the size of the town. It had precise windows—also like a country schoolhouse,—four on the west side, through which the fine snow was drifting, four opposite. The storm kept few at home with the exception of the people from across the river. There were enough staying in the town to fill the room to its utmost limits. Standing17 room was at a premium18. The entry was crowded. Men not able to get in ploughed back through the cutting wind and snow only to return presently to see if the situation had changed any during their brief absence. So all the work of yesterday was gone over again.
Mingled19 with the howl and bluster20 of the wind, and the swirl3 and swish of the snow drifting outside during the small hours of last night, sometimes had been distinguishable the solemn sound of heavy steps running—likened somewhat to the tramp of troops marching on the double-quick. To some to whom this sound was borne its meaning was clear, but others wondered, until daylight made it clear to all. The sorry day predicted for the cattle had come. The town was full of cattle. They hugged the south side of the buildings—standing in stolid21 patience with drooping22 heads. Never a structure in the whole town—house or store or barn or saloon—but was wind-break for some forlorn bunch huddled23 together, their faces always turned to the southeast, for the wind went that way. It was an odd sight. It was also a pitiful one. Hundreds had run with the wind from the higher range altitude, seeking the protection of the bluffs24. The river only stopped the blind, onward25 impetus26. The flat where the camps had been might have been a close corral, so thickly were the animals crowded together, their faces turned uncompromisingly with the wind.
But the most pathetic part of the situation made itself felt later in the day when the crying need of food for this vast herd27 began to be a serious menace. Starvation stared these hundreds of cattle in the face. Men felt this grimly. But it was out of the question to attempt to drive them back to the grass lands in the teeth of the storm. Nothing could be done that day at least. But during the second night the wind fell away, the snow ceased. Morning dawned clear, still, and stingingly cold, and the sun came up with a goodly following of sun-dogs. Then such a sight greeted the inhabitants of the little town as perhaps they had never seen before—and yet they had seen many things having to do with cattle. There was little grass in the town for them, but every little dead spear that had lived and died in the protection of the sidewalk or in out-of-the-way corners had been ravenously28 nipped. Where snow had drifted over a likely place, it had been pawed aside. Where there had been some grass, south of town and east, the ground was as naked now as though it had been peeled. Every bit of straw had been eaten from manure29 piles, so that only pawed-over mounds30 of pulverized31 dust remained. Garbage heaps looked as if there had been a general Spring cleaning-up. And there was nothing more now. Every heap of refuse, every grass plot had been ransacked—there was nothing left for those hundreds of starving brutes32. Many jurors, held in waiting, begged permission to leave, to drive their cattle home. Whenever practicable, these requests were granted. The aggregate33 loss to the county would be enormous if the cattle were allowed to remain here many more days. Individual loss would go hard with many of the small owners. The cattle stupidly made no move to return to the grass lands of their own volition34.
Later in the day, the numbers were somewhat thinned, but things were happening in the little church room that made men forget—so concentrated was the interest within those four walls. So close was the pack of people that the fire roaring in the big stove in the middle of the room was allowed to sink in smouldering quiet. The heavy air had been unbearable35 else. The snow that had been brought in on tramping feet lay in little melted pools on the rough flooring. Men forgot to eat peanuts and women forgot to chew their gum—except one or two extremely nervous ones whose jaws36 moved the faster under the stimulus37 of hysteria. Jesse Black was telling his story.
“Along toward the first of last July, I took a hike out into the Indian country to buy a few head o’ cattle. I trade considerable with the half-breeds around Crow Creek38 and Lower Brule. They’re always for sellin’ and if it comes to a show-down never haggle39 much about the lucre—it all goes for snake-juice anyway. Well, I landed at John Yellow Wolf’s shanty40 along about noon and found there was others ahead o’ me. Yellow Wolf always was a popular cuss. There was Charlie Nightbird, Pete Monroe, Jesse Big Cloud, and two or three others whose mugs I did not happen to be onto. After our feed, we all strolled out to the corral. Yellow Wolf said he had bought a likely little bunch from some English feller who was skipping the country—starved out and homesick—and hadn’t put ’em on the range yet. He said J R was the English feller’s brand. I didn’t suspicion no underhand dealin’s. Yellow Wolf’s always treated me white before, so I bargained for this here chap and three or four others and then pulled out for home driving the bunch. They fed at home for a spell and then I decided41 to put ’em on the range. On the way I fell in with Billy Brown here. He was dead set on havin’ the lot to fill in the chinks of the two carloads he was shippin’, so I up and lets him have ’em. I showed him this here bill-o’-sale from Yellow Wolf and made him out one from me, and that was all there was to it. He rode on to Velpen, and I turned on my trail.”
It was a straight story, and apparently42 damaging for the prosecution43. It corroborated44 the attestations of other witnesses—many others. It had a plausible46 ring to it. Two bills of sale radiated atmospheric47 legality. If there had been dirty work, it must have originated with that renegade half-breed, Yellow Wolf. And Yellow Wolf was dead. He had died while serving a term in the penitentiary48 for cattle-rustling. Uncle Sam himself had set the seal upon him—and now he was dead. This insinuated49 charge he could not answer. The finality of it seemed to set its stamp upon the people gathered there—upon the twelve good men and true, as well as upon others. Yellow Wolf was dead. George Williston was dead. Their secrets had died with them. An inscrutable fate had lowered the veil. Who could pierce it? One might believe, but who could know? And the law required knowledge.
“We will call Charlie Nightbird,” said Small, complacently50.
There was a little waiting silence—a breathless, palpitating silence.
“Is Charlie Nightbird present?” asked Small, casting rather anxious eyes over the packed, intent faces. Charlie Nightbird was not present. At least he made no sign of coming forward. The face of the young counsel for the State was immobile during the brief time they waited for Charlie Nightbird—whose dark, frozen face was at that moment turned toward the cold, sparkling sky, and who would never come, not if they waited for him till the last dread51 trump52 of the last dread day.
There was some mistake. Counsel had been misinformed. Nightbird was an important witness. He had been reported present. Never mind. He was probably unavoidably detained by the storm. They would call Jesse Big Cloud and others to corroborate45 the defendant53’s statements—which they did, and the story was sustained in all its parts, major and minor54. Then the defence rested.
Richard Gordon arose from his chair. His face was white. His lean jaws were set. His eyes were steel. He was anything but a lover now, this man Gordon. Yet the slim little court reporter with dark circles of homesickness under her eyes had never loved him half so well as at this moment. His voice was clear and deliberate.
“Your honor, I ask permission of the Court to call a witness in direct testimony55. I assure your honor that the State had used all efforts in its power to obtain the presence of this witness before resting its case, but had failed and believed at the time that he could not be produced. The witness is now here and I consider his testimony of the utmost importance in this case.”
Counsel for the defendant objected strenuously56, but the Court granted the petition. He wanted to hear everything that might throw some light on the dark places in the evidence.
“I call Mr. George Williston,” said Gordon.
Had the strain crazed him? Louise covered her eyes with her hands. Men sat as if dazed. And thus, the cynosure57 of all eyes—stupefied eyes—Williston of the ravaged58 Lazy S, thin and worn but calm, natural and scholarly-looking as of old—walked from the little ante-room at the side into the light and knowledge of men once more and raised his hand for the oath. Not until this was taken and he had sat quietly down in the witness chair did the tension snap. Even then men found it difficult to focus their attention on the enormous difference this new witness must make in the case that a few moments before had seemed settled.
Mary sat with shining eyes in the front row of wooden chairs. It was no wonder she had laughed and been so gay all the dreary59 yesterday and all the worse to-day. Louise shot her a look of pure gladness.
Small’s face was ludicrous in its drop-jawed astonishment60. The little lawyer’s face was a study. A look of defiance61 had crept into the defendant’s countenance62.
The preliminary questions were asked and answered.
“Mr. Williston, you may state where you were and what you saw on the fourteenth day of July last.”
Williston, the unfortunate gentleman and scholar, the vanquished63 cowman, for a brief while the most important man in the cow country, perhaps, was about to uncover to men’s understanding the dark secret hitherto obscured by a cloud of supposition and hearsay64. He told the story of his visit to the island, and he told it well. It was enough. Gordon asked no further questions regarding that event.
“And now, Mr. Williston, you may tell what happened to you on the night of the thirtieth of last August.”
Williston began to tell the story of the night attack upon the Lazy S, when the galvanic Small jumped to his feet. The little lawyer touched him with a light hand.
“Your honor,” he said, smoothly65, “I object to that as incompetent66, irrelevant67, and immaterial, and not binding68 on the defendant.”
“Your honor,” interrupted Gordon, with great calmness, “we intend to show you before we get through that this testimony is competent, and that it is binding upon the defendant.”
“Was the defendant there?”
“The defendant was there.”
The objection was overruled.
So Williston told briefly69 but to the point the story of the night attack upon his home, of the defence by himself and his daughter, and of the burning of his house and sheds. Then he proceeded:
“Suddenly, some one caught me from behind, my arms were pinioned70 to my sides, something was clapped over my mouth. I was flung over a horse and strapped71 to the saddle all in less time than it takes to tell it, and was borne away in company with the man who had overpowered me.”
He paused a moment in his recital72. Faces strained with expectancy73 devoured74 him—his every look and word and action. Mary was very pale, carried thus back to the dread realities of that night in August, and shuddered75, remembering that ghastly galloping76. Langford could scarce restrain himself. He wanted to rip out a blood curdling77 Sioux war-whoop on the spot.
“Who was this man, Mr. Williston?” asked Gordon.
“Jesse Black.”
Small was on his feet again, gesticulating wildly. “I object! This is all a fabrication, put in here to prejudice the minds of the jury against this defendant. It is a pack of lies, and I move that it be stricken from the record.”
The little lawyer bowed his head to the storm and shrugged up his shoulders. Perhaps he wished that he, or his associate—one of the unholy alliance at least—was where the wicked cease from troubling, on the far away islands of the deep seas, possibly, or home on the farm. But his expression told nothing.
“Gentlemen! gentlemen!” expostulated Judge Dale. “Gentlemen! I insist. This is all out of order.” Only one gentleman was out of order, but that was the Judge’s way. Gordon had remained provokingly cool under the tirade78.
Again the soft touch. Small fell into his chair. He poured himself a glass of water from the pitcher79 standing on the attorneys’ table and drank a little of it nervously80.
“I move,” said the little lawyer, “that all this touching81 upon the personal matter of this witness and having to do with his private quarrels be stricken out of the evidence as not bearing on the case in question.”
All in vain. The Judge ruled that it did bear on the case, and Williston picked up the thread of his story.
“We rode and rode hard—it must have been hours; daylight was coming before we stopped. Our horses were spent I had no idea where we were. From the formation of the land, I judged we were not far from the river. We were surrounded by bluffs. I can hardly make you see how cleverly this little retreat had been planned. It was in a valley—one of a hundred similar in all essential respects. The gulch82 at the bottom of the valley was heavily wooded with scrub-oak, cottonwood, woodbine, and plum-trees, and this tangle83 of foliage84 extended for some distance up the sides of the hills. In the midst of this underbrush—a most excellent screen—was a tiny cabin. In this tiny cabin I have lived, a closely watched prisoner, from that day until I escaped.”
The defendant stirred a little uneasily. Was he thinking of Nightbird with the dark, frozen face—who had not answered to his call?
“Black left me soon after. He did not unbind me, rather bound me the tighter. There was no one then to watch me. He deigned85 to inform me that he had found it rather inconvenient86 to kill me after the relief party rode up, as then there was no absolute surety of his making a clean get-away, and being caught in the act would be bound to be unpleasant, very unpleasant just then, so he had altered his plans a little—for the present. He gave me no hint either that time, nor either of the two times I saw him subsequently, as to what was to be his ultimate disposal of me. I could only suppose that after this trial was well over in his favor, and fear of indictment87 for arson88 and murder had blown over—if blow over it did,—he would then quietly put an end to me. Dead men tell no tales. The shanty in the gulch did not seem to be much of a rendezvous89 for secret meetings. I led a lonely existence. My jailers were mostly half-breeds—usually Charlie Nightbird. Two or three times Jake Sanderson was my guard.”
Then from the doorway90 came a loud, clear, resonant91 voice, a joyful92 voice, a voice whose tones fairly oozed93 rapture94.
“Hellity damn! The Three Bars’s a gettin’ busy, Mouse-hair!”
Judge Dale started. He glared angrily in that direction.
“Remove that man!” he ordered, curtly95. He liked Jim, but he could not brook96 this crying contempt of court. Jim was removed. He went quietly, but shaking his head reproachfully.
“I never would ’a’ thought it o’ the Jedge,” he murmured, disconsolately97. “I never would ’a’ thought it.”
There was a movement in the back of the room. A man was making his way out, slipping along, cat-like, trying to evade98 attention. Quietly Gordon motioned to the sheriff and slipped a paper into his hand.
“Look sharp,” he whispered, his steady eyes on the shifty ones of the sheriff. “If you let him get away, just remember the handwriting on the wall. It’s our turn now.”
Presently, there was a slight scuffle by the door and two men quietly left the improvised99 court-room.
“Day before yesterday, in the afternoon,” continued Williston, “I managed to knock Nightbird down at the threshold as he was about to enter. I had secretly worked a cross-beam from the low, unfinished ceiling. There was nothing else in the room I might use for a weapon. They were very careful. I think I killed him, your honor and gentlemen of the jury. I am not sorry. There was no other way. But I would rather it had been the maker100, not the tool. By the time I had made my way back to the Lazy S, I was too exhausted101 to go further; so I crawled over to my neighbors, the Whites, and Mother White made me a shake down. I lay there, nearly dead, until this morning.”
He leaned back wearily.
Black stood up. He was not lank102 nor lazy now, nor shuffling103. His body was drawn104 to its full height. In the instant before the spring, Mary, who was sitting close to the attorneys’ table, met his glance squarely. She read there what he was about to do. Only a moment their eyes held each other’s, but it was time enough for a swift message of understanding, of utter dislike, and of a determined105 will to defeat the man’s purpose, to pass from the accusing brown eyes to the cruel ones of the defendant.
Quick as a flash, Black seized the chair upon which he had been sitting, sprang clear of the table and his lawyers, and landed close to Mary’s side. With his chair as a weapon, he meant to force his way to the nearest window. Mary’s eyes dilated106. Unhesitatingly she seized the half-emptied glass on the table and dashed the contents of it full into the prisoner’s face. Blinded, he halted a moment in his mad rush. Mary’s quick man?uvre made Langford’s opportunity. He grappled with Black. The crowd went mad with excitement.
The prisoner still retained his chair. When Langford grappled with him, he attempted to bring it down upon the fair head of his antagonist107. Mary gasped108 with dread, but Langford grasped the chair with one muscular hand, wrested109 it from the desperado’s hold, and threw it to the floor. The two men locked in a close embrace. Langford’s great strength was more than sufficient to hold the outlaw110 until the dazed officers could do their duty—had he been let alone; but two men, who had been standing near the door when the prisoner made his unexpected leap for liberty, had succeeded in worming their way through the excited crowd, and now suddenly threw themselves upon the ranchman, dragging him back.
“Stand aside or I’ll shoot!”
It was a girl’s voice, clear and firm. Mary had been the first to realize that Black’s friends, not Langford’s, had joined in the struggle. She snatched her revolver from her cowboy belt—she had not been without either since the Lazy S was burned—and cried out her challenge. Glancing quickly from the gleaming barrel to the determined face of the young girl, the men let go their hold of Langford and fell back precipitately111.
Instantly, Langford sprang forward, but Black had made good use of his moment of grace. Swinging his arms to the right and left, he had beaten his way to the window, when Langford again seized him, but he had the advantage this time and he tore himself loose, throwing Langford violently against the window-casing. With his bare, clinched112 fist, he shivered the glass and leaped out—into the arms of Jim Munson.
The officers made gallant113 plunges114 through the stampeded crowd in their efforts to get clear of the room to follow the fugitive115. But certain men managed to keep themselves clumsily, but with marvellous adroitness116 nevertheless, between the deputies and the doors and windows; so that several moments elapsed before the outside was finally gained.
Meanwhile, Jim struggled heroically with the outlaw. Black was far superior to him in weight and strength of limb, but Jim was quick and tough and daring. Expelled from the court room, he had been watching through the window. He had seen Mary’s quick action and his Boss’s splendid attack. He had also seen the little “gun play” and his eyes glowed in admiration117 of “Williston’s little girl,” though his generous heart ached for love of the woman who was not for him. He saw Black coming. He was ready for him. He grappled with him at once. If the Boss or the officers would only come now!
When they did come, they found Jim stretched at length on the frozen ground. He sat up slowly.
“You’re too late, boys,” he said; “the hoss thief was too much for me. He’s gone.”
It was true. The little street stretched before them still—deserted. Early twilight118 was coming on. The biting cold struck them broadside. The deputies scattered119 in vain pursuit.
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1
abated
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| 减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
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blizzard
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| n.暴风雪 | |
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swirl
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| v.(使)打漩，(使)涡卷；n.漩涡，螺旋形 | |
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swirling
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
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obstructed
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| 阻塞( obstruct的过去式和过去分词 )； 堵塞； 阻碍； 阻止 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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convenes
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| 召开( convene的第三人称单数 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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adjourn
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| v.（使）休会，（使）休庭 | |
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postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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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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premium
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| n.加付款；赠品；adj.高级的；售价高的 | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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bluster
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| v.猛刮；怒冲冲的说；n.吓唬，怒号；狂风声 | |
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stolid
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| adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的 | |
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drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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bluffs
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| 恐吓( bluff的名词复数 )； 悬崖； 峭壁 | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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impetus
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| n.推动，促进，刺激；推动力 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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ravenously
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| adv.大嚼地，饥饿地 | |
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manure
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| n.粪，肥，肥粒；vt.施肥 | |
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mounds
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| 土堆，土丘( mound的名词复数 )； 一大堆 | |
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pulverized
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| adj.[医]雾化的，粉末状的v.将…弄碎( pulverize的过去式和过去分词 )；将…弄成粉末或尘埃；摧毁；粉碎 | |
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brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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aggregate
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| adj.总计的，集合的；n.总数；v.合计；集合 | |
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volition
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| n.意志；决意 | |
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unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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stimulus
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| n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物 | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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haggle
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| vi.讨价还价，争论不休 | |
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40
shanty
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| n.小屋，棚屋；船工号子 | |
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41
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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42
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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43
prosecution
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| n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营 | |
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44
corroborated
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| v.证实，支持（某种说法、信仰、理论等）( corroborate的过去式 ) | |
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45
corroborate
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| v.支持，证实，确定 | |
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46
plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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47
atmospheric
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| adj.大气的，空气的；大气层的；大气所引起的 | |
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48
penitentiary
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| n.感化院；监狱 | |
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49
insinuated
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| v.暗示( insinuate的过去式和过去分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入 | |
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50
complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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51
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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52
trump
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| n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭 | |
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53
defendant
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| n.被告；adj.处于被告地位的 | |
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54
minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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55
testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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56
strenuously
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| adv.奋发地，费力地 | |
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57
cynosure
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| n.焦点 | |
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58
ravaged
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| 毁坏( ravage的过去式和过去分词 )； 蹂躏； 劫掠； 抢劫 | |
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59
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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61
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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62
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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63
vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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64
hearsay
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| n.谣传，风闻 | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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incompetent
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| adj.无能力的，不能胜任的 | |
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67
irrelevant
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| adj.不恰当的，无关系的，不相干的 | |
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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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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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pinioned
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| v.抓住[捆住]（双臂）( pinion的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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71
strapped
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| adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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72
recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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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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devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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curdling
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| n.凝化v.（使）凝结( curdle的现在分词 ) | |
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78
tirade
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| n.冗长的攻击性演说 | |
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79
pitcher
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| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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82
gulch
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| n.深谷，峡谷 | |
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83
tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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85
deigned
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| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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inconvenient
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| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
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indictment
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| n.起诉；诉状 | |
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arson
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| n.纵火，放火 | |
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89
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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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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resonant
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| adj.(声音)洪亮的，共鸣的 | |
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92
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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oozed
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| v.（浓液等）慢慢地冒出，渗出( ooze的过去式和过去分词 )；使（液体）缓缓流出；（浓液）渗出，慢慢流出 | |
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rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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96
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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97
disconsolately
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| adv.悲伤地，愁闷地；哭丧着脸 | |
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98
evade
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| vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避 | |
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99
improvised
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| a.即席而作的,即兴的 | |
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100
maker
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| n.制造者，制造商 | |
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101
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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102
lank
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| adj.瘦削的；稀疏的 | |
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103
shuffling
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| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
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104
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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106
dilated
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| adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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107
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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108
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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109
wrested
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| （用力）拧( wrest的过去式和过去分词 )； 费力取得； （从…）攫取； （ 从… ） 强行取去… | |
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110
outlaw
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| n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法 | |
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111
precipitately
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| adv.猛进地 | |
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112
clinched
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| v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议） | |
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113
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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114
plunges
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| n.跳进，投入vt.使投入，使插入，使陷入vi.投入，跳进，陷入v.颠簸( plunge的第三人称单数 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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115
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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116
adroitness
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117
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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118
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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119
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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