However, in the midst of the anxiety and the impatience2 General Sheridan arrived. With his escort he appeared in the afternoon of November 21. He brought in 350 men: a company of the Tenth Regular Cavalry3; the “Sandy” Forsyth scouts4 who had fought at the Arikaree, now under Lieutenant6 Lewis Pepoon; two companies of the Kansas Volunteers who had been sent ahead of the regiment7 to Fort Dodge8; twelve Osage Indian scouts, and ten Kansas Indian scouts. Lieutenant Thomas Lebo of the Tenth Cavalry was in command of the escort.
Everybody was glad to see General Sheridan come. With “Little Phil” on the scene, the campaign would start right up. General Custer had gone enthusiastically galloping10 to meet him and ride in with him, and discuss the situation.
[181]
Most interesting of the new arrivals were the Osages. They hated the Cheyennes, Comanches, Kiowas, and all these raiding Indians who pillaged11 them as well as the whites; through the Civil War the Osages had acted as union scouts, on the plains.
The chief in the squad12 was a tall straight old man named Cha-pa-jen-kan, or Little Beaver13. Another chief was old Wen-tsi-kee or Hard Rope, rather fat and reported to be very wise. Of the warriors14 Koom-la-Manche or the Trotter was the most famous, as a fast runner and a fine shot.
The Osages had “made medicine” for the warpath at Fort Hays; the Kaws had made their medicine on the way down. They all were armed with the new breech-loading Springfield rifles; and were paid seventy-five dollars a month and expenses. To show how they could shoot, that evening the Osages on their war-ponies15 galloped16 past a log of wood, firing at it; and every shot struck.
The Sheridan column reported terrible weather, on their march down from Fort Hays. One blizzard17 after another had assailed18 them; the plains were covered with snow; the Arkansas River at Fort Dodge was thick with floating ice.
This very evening the winter descended19 upon Camp Supply also. The snow began to fall heavily; but standing20 out in the storm the Seventh Cavalry band lustily serenaded the Sheridan headquarters. The Seventh were proud of their band. Odell said that it[182] was the best in the army. It could play as well on horseback as afoot. Wherever the troopers went, the band went too. General Custer was fond of music and believed that it did the regiment good.
General Custer was in consultation21 with General Sheridan that evening; and in the morning was it soon known that the Seventh Cavalry would not wait for the Kansas Volunteers, but would start at once against the Indians. The General Sheridan column, in coming down from the Arkansas, had struck a fresh trail of an Indian war party heading north, on a raid. The Seventh Cavalry were to follow this trail backward, so that it would lead them to the village.
Ned heard his general reading the orders over to Adjutant Moylan. They sounded just like Sheridan, as they said:
To proceed south, in the direction of the Antelope22 Hills, thence toward the Washita River, the supposed winter seat of the hostile tribes; to destroy their villages and ponies; to kill or hang all warriors, and bring back all women and children.
The snow was still falling fast; but nobody cared, and least of all General Custer. He had told General Sheridan that he would be ready to move out in twenty-four hours; and so he was. By night the wagon-train of supplies for thirty days had been made up. Only a few tents were allowed; the baggage was stripped down to blankets and overcoats.
Reveille was at three o’clock; into the snow and the dark tumbled out the troopers of the Seventh;[183] and at stables and mess and even at roll-call sundry23 jokes passed about. Everybody was uncomfortable, but nobody was complaining.
The sentries24 were knee-deep in the snow; the horses shivered; the cooks had hard work to cook the breakfasts.
“How’s this for a winter campaign?” demanded Adjutant Moylan, trudging25 almost over his cavalry boots, to the headquarters tent.
“Fine! Fine!” declared General Custer, peering out. “Just what we want.”
“Well, we’ve got it, then,” assured the adjutant, snow-covered.
So they were off, willy-nilly, thought Ned.
It was just daylight when at the word from the adjutant he blew “Boots and Saddles.” The notes not only set the cavalry into action, but seemed to awaken26 all the camp; for tents were thrown open and officers and men of the infantry27 and the volunteers poked28 out their heads. The general went galloping across to the tent of General Sheridan.
“Is that you, Custer? What do you think about the storm?” The words of General Sheridan issued muffled29 but plain, into the driving flakes30.
“Just the thing, general,” answered so buoyantly “Old Curly.” “We can move but the Indians can’t. I’d ask nothing better than a week of this.”
“Good-by, old fellow. Take care of yourself,” called from the door of his tent Lieutenant Taylor,[184] an aide, as General Custer galloped back. Wrapped in a huge buffalo31-robe, Lieutenant Taylor looked like a chief.
The general waved at him.
“To horse,” sounded Ned.
“Prepare to mount!” was shouted the order. “Mount! By fours—right! For-r’d—march!”
All along the line of tents hands waved and voices called, for good-by and good luck, as in column of fours out at a walk rode the Seventh Cavalry, eleven companies, 800 men, bound against the storm and the Indians. Bravely blared the band, playing “The Girl I Left Behind Me.”
General Custer wore a round wolf-fur cap with ear-tabs, fur mittens33, and on his feet great buffalo-hide over-shoes with the hair inside. That was trapper style. His double-breasted cavalry overcoat kept his body warm. The whole command was dressed after any fashion that would be comfortable. California Joe was rigged as customary in his old slouch hat tied down scoop-shape, on his hands were enormous buffalo-hide mittens, on his feet hide shoes like the general’s. The Osages, who were taken, sat stiffly with their buffalo robes projecting above their heads, behind. Hard Rope shivered and shook, and murmured plaintively34.
[185]
“He says it’s bad for an old man to be alone in cold weather, and he will capture a Cheyenne squaw to keep his back warm,” explained the interpreter.
But the scouts were soon out of hearing and out of sight. They were supposed to take the advance, so as to read sign and guide the column to the next camping place, fifteen miles. After them trailed the long column of snow-covered troopers and horses, with the baggage wagons36 toiling37 at the rear. Behind the wagons rode a troop as guard.
The scouts knew where the trail of the hostile war party had been crossed, but the snow concealed38 it and all landmarks39. And still the snow fell, until when after the fifteen miles march (which required all day) the column went into camp the chill white mantle40 was eighteen inches thick.
“How is it, Joe? Cleared off, hasn’t it?” invited the general, as on a short tour of inspection41 in the gray of the next morning he encountered that worthy42.
“Yep, trav’lin’s good overhead to-day, good mornin’, gen’ral,” answered the ready Joe. “An’ I’ve got an infarnal chronical cough that’s been nigh scuttlin’ me this two days, an’ I’ve bin43 thinkin’ that I cotched the glanders, an’ they might as well shoot a fellow to onct as to have that botherin’ him.”
“Sorry, Joe,” laughed the general.
The march was south, up the valley of Wolf Creek44. Patches of willows45 and timber were full of deer and elk46 and buffalo that had been driven there by the[186] storm. Maida and Blucher the general’s stag-hounds had great fun chasing them; and the column secured plenty of meat.
Now the march left the valley of the Wolf, and crossed to the valley of the Canadian, a day’s march southward. Beyond the Canadian lay the country of the Washita River, where, everybody believed, were the winter villages of the hostile Indians. The Cheyennes, the Kiowas, the Comanches, the Apaches—there might they be found, snugly47 encamped until the call of spring.
This was the third day. The Yellow Hair and his cavalry were sixty miles into the Indian’s own country, where white cavalry never before had been. Around-about stretched the snowy wilderness48 of plains and water-course. It was time that some trace of the Indians be found. On a scout5 up along the Canadian was sent the gallant49 Major Joel Elliot, who never did things by halves. He was given three troops. He was to travel light, without wagons, but with one hundred rounds of carbine ammunition50 to the man, one day’s rations51, and horse forage52. If an Indian trail was discovered, he was to pursue at once, and to send back a courier with the news. With soldiers and scouts, both red and white, west along the snowy banks of the Canadian, from whose red soil the wind had blown the snow, rode Major Elliot.
California Joe had found a ford53, and aiming for the Washita, through the floating ice of the swift[187] current crossed the horses and the wagons. Helping54, the men must wade55 waist-deep. This was cold, mean work, but it was done in three hours.
The high round Antelope Hills loomed56 ahead. These were the landmarks of the march and Little Beaver and Hard Rope and their followers57 had struck them exactly. Up the further slope of the Canadian Valley toiled58 the hooded59, heavy army wagons.
Major Elliot had been gone three hours or more.
From a little knoll60 the general had been surveying and directing, while Ned sat his horse beside him, and Adjutant Moylan bustled61 hither-thither. The rear guard finally had crossed, below. For this they were waiting.
“All right,” remarked the general, shortly, to Ned. “Sound to horse.” And—“No! Wait!” he thundered. “Here comes somebody.”
He pointed62, and leveled his glasses. Down from the north was approaching at steady gallop9 a figure black against the white background.
“It’s Corbin,” pronounced the general, gazing earnestly through his glass. His tanned face flushed high.
Yes, it was Corbin—Jack63 Corbin the scout who was a partner of California Joe. Evidently he bore important news, for he was urging his horse mercilessly. He arrived—his face frosty and his horse gasping64 through wide frosty nostrils65. The general[188] did not say a word, in query66; none was needed, for Corbin spoke67 at once.
“We’ve struck the trail, about twelve miles north. Hundred and fifty Injuns, pointin’ southeast, for the Washita. Made within twenty-four hours.”
“Good!” ejaculated the general. “Where’s Elliot?”
“Follerin’.”
“Can you catch him, with a fresh horse?”
“Reckon I can.”
“Take that horse there,” directed the general.
Corbin was changing saddle in a jiffy.
“Tell Major Elliot to push the pursuit as rapidly as he can, and I’ll cut across country and join him. If the trail changes direction so that I may not strike it, he is to let me know. If I do not join him by eight o’clock tonight he is to halt and wait for me.”
Without a word away galloped Jack Corbin.
“Sound officers’ call, bugler,” bade the general, to Ned.
So busy had been the officers that apparently69 none had noted70 the arrival and departure of Jack. But now at the bugle68 notes they hastened up, curious to know the occasion. In his quick, sharp manner the general told them what had happened.
“Now, gentlemen, this is our chance,” he added. “We mustn’t neglect it, and we mustn’t let Major Elliot do all the fighting. We’ll cut loose. The wagons are to be left here, under guard of one officer[189] and of ten men detailed71 from each company. Company commanders will make their own details. The officer of the day will remain in charge of the guard, and bring on the wagons, following our trail as fast as practicable. The pursuing column will be in light marching order. Never mind the weather. The Indians are of more importance. Commands will be limited to one hundred rounds of ammunition to the man, and such coffee, hard bread, forage and blankets as he can carry on the saddle. Tents and extra blankets to be left with the wagons. That is all, gentlemen.” And the general looked at his watch. “The advance will be sounded in twenty minutes. Adjutant, you will inform the officer of the day as to the arrangements.”
At once half a dozen voices spoke, in little chorus.
“That’s Hamilton! Oh, we ought to have Hamilton with us!”
The general smiled and shook his head.
“Somebody’s duty is with the wagon-train.”
Out scattered72 the officers, for time was indeed short, and the general never accepted excuses for delay. Young Captain Hamilton, as officer of the day in charge of the rear guard, which had just crossed, had been absent from the conference; now he came galloping, interrupting the general who had plunged73 into the preparations. The captain’s face was white and anxious. He saluted74.
[190]
“Beg your pardon, general,” he blurted75. “But do I understand that the officer of the day remains76 with the wagon-train?”
“Yes, captain.”
“But, general! I’m officer of the day!”
“I did not think of it at the time, Hamilton,” replied the general, frankly77. “I simply gave the instructions, and I’m afraid they must be followed.”
“General!” exclaimed the captain. He was much distressed78. Ned knew why, and appreciated. To stay behind, while the others fought, would be awful. “Then I must remain? Can’t I go, sir?”
“The wagon-train must be protected,” answered the general, kind but firm. “We’d like to have you with us, Hamilton. We need such men as you. But the train needs an officer, too; and this is soldier’s luck. Your duty is here.”
“It seems pretty hard that I’ve got to stay,” he murmured, dismayed. “There’s liable to be a big fight—and I won’t be on hand to lead my squadron.”
The general surveyed him, with eyes softening79. Truly, the young captain, high-mettled and soldierly, made a sorry figure.
“I’ll tell you, Hamilton. If—if you can find an officer who by one reason or another feels convinced that he should stay rather than you, he may take your place. Otherwise, as officer of the day your duty is with the train.”
Captain Hamilton’s face lighted.
[191]
“Thank you, general! Thank you! I’ll go and see.” And whirling his horse, back he galloped, on this forlorn hope. Ned rather trusted that he would be successful.
Presently, here he came again. He was fairly shining, as he saluted.
“Lieutenant Mathey, sir! He has snow-blindness so he can scarcely see, and he would be of no use with the column. He has kindly80 consented to exchange with me. Shall I join my squadron, sir?”
“Very well, sir,” approved the general. And the glad Captain Louis Hamilton, grandson of Alexander Hamilton, went flying to his post.
“All ready, Moylan,” he called. And, to Ned: “Sound the advance.”
点击收听单词发音
1 erect | |
n./v.树立,建立,使竖立;adj.直立的,垂直的 | |
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2 impatience | |
n.不耐烦,急躁 | |
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3 cavalry | |
n.骑兵;轻装甲部队 | |
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4 scouts | |
侦察员[机,舰]( scout的名词复数 ); 童子军; 搜索; 童子军成员 | |
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5 scout | |
n.童子军,侦察员;v.侦察,搜索 | |
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6 lieutenant | |
n.陆军中尉,海军上尉;代理官员,副职官员 | |
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7 regiment | |
n.团,多数,管理;v.组织,编成团,统制 | |
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8 dodge | |
v.闪开,躲开,避开;n.妙计,诡计 | |
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9 gallop | |
v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔;飞速发展 | |
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10 galloping | |
adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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11 pillaged | |
v.抢劫,掠夺( pillage的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12 squad | |
n.班,小队,小团体;vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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13 beaver | |
n.海狸,河狸 | |
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14 warriors | |
武士,勇士,战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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15 ponies | |
矮种马,小型马( pony的名词复数 ); £25 25 英镑 | |
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16 galloped | |
(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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17 blizzard | |
n.暴风雪 | |
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18 assailed | |
v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 );困扰;质问;毅然应对 | |
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19 descended | |
a.为...后裔的,出身于...的 | |
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20 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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21 consultation | |
n.咨询;商量;商议;会议 | |
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22 antelope | |
n.羚羊;羚羊皮 | |
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23 sundry | |
adj.各式各样的,种种的 | |
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24 sentries | |
哨兵,步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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25 trudging | |
vt.& vi.跋涉,吃力地走(trudge的现在分词形式) | |
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26 awaken | |
vi.醒,觉醒;vt.唤醒,使觉醒,唤起,激起 | |
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27 infantry | |
n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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28 poked | |
v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 );戳出;拨弄;与(某人)性交 | |
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29 muffled | |
adj.(声音)被隔的;听不太清的;(衣服)裹严的;蒙住的v.压抑,捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 );用厚厚的衣帽包着(自己) | |
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30 flakes | |
小薄片( flake的名词复数 ); (尤指)碎片; 雪花; 古怪的人 | |
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31 buffalo | |
n.(北美)野牛;(亚洲)水牛 | |
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32 misty | |
adj.雾蒙蒙的,有雾的 | |
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33 mittens | |
不分指手套 | |
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34 plaintively | |
adv.悲哀地,哀怨地 | |
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35 queried | |
v.质疑,对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 );询问 | |
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36 wagons | |
n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 );铁路货车;小手推车 | |
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37 toiling | |
长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 ); 艰难缓慢地移动,跋涉 | |
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38 concealed | |
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的 | |
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39 landmarks | |
n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 );目标;(标志重要阶段的)里程碑 ~ (in sth);有历史意义的建筑物(或遗址) | |
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40 mantle | |
n.斗篷,覆罩之物,罩子;v.罩住,覆盖,脸红 | |
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41 inspection | |
n.检查,审查,检阅 | |
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42 worthy | |
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
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43 bin | |
n.箱柜;vt.放入箱内;[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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44 creek | |
n.小溪,小河,小湾 | |
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45 willows | |
n.柳树( willow的名词复数 );柳木 | |
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46 elk | |
n.麋鹿 | |
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47 snugly | |
adv.紧贴地;贴身地;暖和舒适地;安适地 | |
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48 wilderness | |
n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等,荒漠 | |
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49 gallant | |
adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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50 ammunition | |
n.军火,弹药 | |
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51 rations | |
定量( ration的名词复数 ); 配给量; 正常量; 合理的量 | |
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52 forage | |
n.(牛马的)饲料,粮草;v.搜寻,翻寻 | |
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53 Ford | |
n.浅滩,水浅可涉处;v.涉水,涉过 | |
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54 helping | |
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的 | |
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55 wade | |
v.跋涉,涉水;n.跋涉 | |
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56 loomed | |
v.隐约出现,阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 );隐约出现,阴森地逼近 | |
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57 followers | |
追随者( follower的名词复数 ); 用户; 契据的附面; 从动件 | |
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58 toiled | |
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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59 hooded | |
adj.戴头巾的;有罩盖的;颈部因肋骨运动而膨胀的 | |
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60 knoll | |
n.小山,小丘 | |
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61 bustled | |
闹哄哄地忙乱,奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 ); 催促 | |
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62 pointed | |
adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
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63 jack | |
n.插座,千斤顶,男人;v.抬起,提醒,扛举;n.(Jake)杰克 | |
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64 gasping | |
adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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65 nostrils | |
鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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66 query | |
n.疑问,问号,质问;vt.询问,表示怀疑 | |
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67 spoke | |
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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68 bugle | |
n.军号,号角,喇叭;v.吹号,吹号召集 | |
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69 apparently | |
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
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70 noted | |
adj.著名的,知名的 | |
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71 detailed | |
adj.详细的,详尽的,极注意细节的,完全的 | |
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72 scattered | |
adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的 | |
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73 plunged | |
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降 | |
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74 saluted | |
v.欢迎,致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 );赞扬,赞颂 | |
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75 blurted | |
v.突然说出,脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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76 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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77 frankly | |
adv.坦白地,直率地;坦率地说 | |
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78 distressed | |
痛苦的 | |
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79 softening | |
变软,软化 | |
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80 kindly | |
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 | |
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81 precisely | |
adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地 | |
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82 vaulted | |
adj.拱状的 | |
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