A shock-headed boy, hailed as Max, who had been an ironworker in Bremen, showed a decided2 disposition3 to “pick upon” Henri and Billy in their daily occupation of valeting the aircraft.
He was nursing a jealous spirit, aroused by a chance word of praise bestowed4 upon our Aviator5 Boys by Lieutenant Hume, and tried to enlist6 the sympathy of the other employees of the hangars in common cause against the “fancy fellows,” as he persisted in calling the newcomers. But as a rule they were a good-natured lot, and not inclined to worry about anything except a food shortage at meal time.
[209]
Max, before our boys had arrived, had claimed rank as first among those serving the more noted8 aviators9, who were constantly coming and going.
The climax10 of wrath11 with Max came when Ingold, the great aviator, starting for the war zone, dispensed12 with his clumsy services and accepted those of Billy and Henri in overhauling13 a double-decker, or biplane, that was to be used in active military movement.
“You’ll get a cracked head for this,” hissed14 Max, when the lieutenant and the big airman had passed out of hearing.
Billy, to whom the threat was addressed, did not understand the words, but he guessed from the attitude of the threatener that something ugly was intended.
So Billy, who never counted fear a burden worth the bother, simply grinned, turned, and went on with his work of tuning15 the biplane.
Henri, tinkering at the motor end of the machine, looked up just in time to see Max, wrench16 in hand, poised17 to strike at the back of Billy’s head.
“Look out, Billy!”
The warning cry from Henri saved Billy from a stunning18 blow on the head, but he caught the jolt19 from the wrench on his right shoulder, as he swiftly faced about.
With a good left uninjured, however, Billy gave Max a short-arm jab in the neck, at the chin, that[210] tumbled the would-be slugger upon the packed earth floor of the hangar.
“Good arm!” exclaimed Henri. “But how about the other?”
With the question, Henri gently worked his comrade’s right arm up and down to see if there was any hitch20 in the shoulder where the wrench had landed.
“Not a chance for a surgeon,” assured Billy. “Just a little numb—that’s all.”
Max slowly gathered himself up from the ground, with a hand on his jaw21, and a vicious glitter in his eyes.
“It will be to the finish next time.”
His tone was full of menace.
“What’s he saying?” inquired Billy.
Henri translated.
“Tell him,” said Billy, “that the day and the hour is his very own to name, so long as he comes in the front way.”
Henri did not comply with this request, but hooked arms with Billy, and walked him away.
This was the glove in the ring that led to one of the liveliest lightweight come-togethers that the aviation camp boys had ever witnessed.
Neither Henri nor Billy had mentioned the wrench incident to the lieutenant. They were too self-reliant for that kind of business. There was[211] nothing, either, to induce Max to relate his sorry part in the hangar scrap22.
It was not until several days later that Henri was approached by a lad with the name handle of Jacob. The latter was apparently23 not a willing messenger.
“Max wants a fight with your friend,” he explained, “and if it was me he couldn’t get it, for he’s a tricky24 one and as strong as a bull. But I just had to do this to get rid of him.”
“You tell that fellow that we don’t want anything to do with him,” was Henri’s message to the challenger.
The next morning, while many of the machines were aloft in practice and test flights, and the aviation helpers were grouped at the far end of the parade ground, Max deliberately25 called Billy an unbearable26 name, and followed the insult with a ringing slap on the cheek of the boy from Bangor.
The fat was in the fire!
Billy ruled a strong favorite, but Henri alone made a noise about it, for the others were reluctant to take a chance of offending Max, unless they were assured in advance that he was going to be thoroughly29 whipped.
[212]
It certainly did not appear that way in the opening of the bout7, for Max had gashed30 Billy’s forehead with a full knuckle31 blow, and also landed a rib-cracker on the latter’s body.
Billy now sparred warily32, seeking time to recover from the body blow, which had proved the most serious, though the bleeding bruise33 on the forehead made the most show of injury.
He kept his antagonist34 on the move, at the same time keeping out of range of the fists swinging like windmills. Max had the strength, and a certain skill as a rough-and-tumble fighter, but he also had too much flesh on his bones, and little science as a boxer35.
Billy was as clean built as a greyhound, muscled like a young gladiator, and learned where to hit and how to hit under an old master of the craft in Boston.
“Take your time, Billy,” encouraged Henri, “he’s a beef, and you’ll get him all right.”
Henri’s blood was running warm at the sight of his chum’s bruised36 face, and he would have violently resented any attempt to interfere37 in what he firmly believed would result in payment in full by the loose fighter who had provoked the battle and inflicted38 first injury.
Max began to exhibit distress39 from his exertions40, which had ceased to count since the opening onslaught. He struck hard, but he struck at random41.[213] Enraged42 at the useless and wearing practice of hitting at something where it was not, the panting slugger made the break to get under Billy’s guard and clinch43. It was a grievous error for him.
Billy, keen-eyed, caught him coming, and nothing but daylight between a ready fist and the knockout point of a square chin.
Biff! There was everything behind that blow in the way of steam.
The Bremen lad had been coming too fast for the impact to hurl44 him backward. He simply sagged45 at the knees, and dropped in a heap.
The fight was over, but not all of the trouble. Billy rushed to the side of his fallen foe46, who, showing the whites of his eyes and rattling47 the breath in his throat, was viewed with alarm by the witnesses of the exciting mill.
Henri ran to a platform nearby where water buckets were placed, and the chums gave all of the first aid in their experience to the vanquished49.
Max, directly, recovered consciousness, and raised his head and dazedly50 looked about him. Finding that his head was pillowed in Billy’s lap, Max struggled to free himself from the sheltering embrace of the arm that put him down and out.
Recovering speech, the way he expressed his chagrin[214] and humiliation51 was enough to make the air blue.
Jacob told him that he ought to be satisfied now, and Billy offered truce52 by extended hand. Max, however, was far from the mood that finds any consolation53 in defeat.
“Here comes the lieutenant,” announced Henri; “we’d better skip, Billy, and patch up that face of yours before we are put on the question rack.”
All the boys scattered54 in pairs, or several more together, except Max, and he walked alone, brooding, sullen55, and implacable.
Billy had been washed clean of blood and holding a washer-plate of cold steel against the bump on his forehead, when Jacob came into the hangar with the information that the lieutenant had been calling for his pair of late recruits, and wanted them forthwith.
“Do I look like a pug?” Billy inquired, lifting the plate from the bruised spot.
“You will likely go into training on bread and water,” gloomily predicted Henri.
“Oh, quit croaking,” advised Billy. “Come ahead, and we’ll take the medicine, whatever it is.”
The lieutenant was framed in the flaps of his canvas house when the boys presented themselves for supposed correction.
[215]
The officer calmly inspected the recruits through the smoke that wreathed around the bowl of his meerschaum.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
lieutenant
|
|
| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
disposition
|
|
| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
bestowed
|
|
| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
aviator
|
|
| n.飞行家，飞行员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
enlist
|
|
| vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
bout
|
|
| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
aviators
|
|
| 飞机驾驶员，飞行员( aviator的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
climax
|
|
| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
wrath
|
|
| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
dispensed
|
|
| v.分配( dispense的过去式和过去分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
overhauling
|
|
| n.大修；拆修；卸修；翻修v.彻底检查( overhaul的现在分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
hissed
|
|
| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
tuning
|
|
| n.调谐，调整，调音v.调音( tune的现在分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
wrench
|
|
| v.猛拧；挣脱；使扭伤；n.扳手；痛苦，难受 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
poised
|
|
| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
stunning
|
|
| adj.极好的；使人晕倒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
jolt
|
|
| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
hitch
|
|
| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
jaw
|
|
| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
scrap
|
|
| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
tricky
|
|
| adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；(工作等)棘手的，微妙的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
deliberately
|
|
| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
unbearable
|
|
| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
tongs
|
|
| n.钳；夹子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
referee
|
|
| n.裁判员．仲裁人，代表人，鉴定人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
gashed
|
|
| v.划伤，割破( gash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
knuckle
|
|
| n.指节；vi.开始努力工作；屈服，认输 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
warily
|
|
| adv.留心地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
bruise
|
|
| n.青肿，挫伤；伤痕；vt.打青；挫伤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
antagonist
|
|
| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
boxer
|
|
| n.制箱者，拳击手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
bruised
|
|
| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
interfere
|
|
| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
inflicted
|
|
| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
distress
|
|
| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
exertions
|
|
| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
random
|
|
| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
enraged
|
|
| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
clinch
|
|
| v.敲弯，钉牢；确定；扭住对方 [参]clench | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
hurl
|
|
| vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
sagged
|
|
| 下垂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
foe
|
|
| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
rattling
|
|
| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
hoarsely
|
|
| adv.嘶哑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
vanquished
|
|
| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
dazedly
|
|
| 头昏眼花地，眼花缭乱地，茫然地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
humiliation
|
|
| n.羞辱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
truce
|
|
| n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
consolation
|
|
| n.安慰，慰问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
sullen
|
|
| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
surmise
|
|
| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |