Sam Nesterwood’s door faced north, and Phil Boyd’s door looked south; while they were building the cabins Phil remarked that it looked so much more sociable5 that way.
When Phil came out in the morning to plunge6 his wind-browned face into the tin wash basin, filled with cold water from the stream below, he usually saw Sam doing the same; or perhaps, taking the grimy towel off the wooden peg7 just outside the door, with which he scrubbed his face, and even the tiny bald spot on the top of his head, to a shiny red.
Phil came out as usual one still October morning; the cottonwoods were just turning a soft golden color—fairy gold—in a setting of dark green and gray—autumn’s gorgeous mosaic8.
A chipmunk9 darted10 saucily11 by, and just beyond reach sat up chattering13 a comical defiance14; a lone15 bluebell16 nodded in the wind, swaying from side to side seeking its vanished companions; blood-red leaves peeped out from under dry grasses, or decked the sides of a gray bowlder.
197Phil looked cheerfully around; he snapped his fingers at the saucy18 squirrel, and laughed at the blinking, black eyes; looking across at the opposite cabin he bawled19, “Hello, Sam!”
“Hello yourself!” retorted Sam. This had been the morning salutation, never varied20, though all the summer months. Each evening after their day’s work they met at one or the other cabin to compare rock; to talk over a lucky strike, or the mishap21 of a mutual22 acquaintance, not that much sympathy was expended23 or needed.
“Jim’s claim has petered out; he’s out about six months’ work, and all his money.”
“You don’t say! Oh, well, Jim won’t stay broke very long; he’s a hustler.” It was not from want of sympathy, but because of a confidence begotten24 of this hard life, much as the sparrow might argue, “having never wanted for food, I shall be always fed.”
Later in the morning Phil climbed the steep trail which led to his claim high upon the mountain side. The days were perceptibly growing shorter, and it was quite dark when he came down this October evening. Halfway25 down the trail he thought he heard a groan26.
His halting foot dislodged a stone, and sent it crashing down the mountain side; the rushing sound of a night hawk27 overhead; the melancholy28 hoot29 of an owl17 in the pi?ons; the bark of a coyote in the distance, all seemed but to accentuate30 the silence.
As I have said, night had fallen, coming suddenly, as it ever does in the mountains; no 198dewy, tender twilight31 as in lower altitudes; the sun hanging low in the western sky seems phantasm-like to drop behind the distant peaks; a chill wind whistles through the pi?ons like a softly sung dirge32; darkness settles down like a pall—and it is night.
Phil thought that he must be mistaken, and again started on his homeward way; the groaning34 was repeated almost at his very feet.
He searched vainly, but could find no person, nothing to account for the sound.
Dead silence had fallen again. Phil shivered, “This wind is mighty35 cold!” he muttered, his hand shaking, his teeth inclined to chatter12. He took off his hat to wipe the perspiration36 from his brow, which had gathered in great drops notwithstanding the chill wind; he cast a furtive37 glance behind him; it was all so terribly uncanny. “Oh! O—h!” came again at his very feet; he gave a frightened start, and an involuntary ejaculation: “Great God!” then gathered himself together and renewed his search, this time rewarded by finding Sam lying under the shelter of a rock badly wounded.
It was a hard task to carry him down that steep trail, and Phil said, pityingly, many times, “It’s awful rough, pard, but there’s no help for it.”
He carried him into the cabin, and laying him on his bed, built a fire, and with a touch gentle as that of a woman bathed and dressed his wound.
He found that a bullet had plowed38 a ragged39 furrow40 down his leg, and shattered the smaller bone halfway between the knee and the ankle.
199Phil had a little knowledge of surgery; these nomads41 of the hills are often far from surgical42 aid, and of a necessity attain43 a degree of skill in such matters. Having made his patient as comfortable as possible, Phil lay down on the floor, rolled in a single blanket, to rest until morning.
The autumn days crept by in drowsy44 calm—a stillness deeper and more sad than in lower altitudes; the whistle of the late bird as he calls to his mate to hasten their migration45 is unheard here; the shrill46 notes of the cicada, which fills the autumn days in the moist, odorous woods is unknown in these barren heights; the dry, stubbly bunch grass, the gray, dusty sage47 brush harbors no insect life save an occasional lonely cricket, and even these are strangely silent. No birds flit from tree to tree save the magpies48, with their gorgeous black and white plumage, and their harsh discordant49 cries, and these are only seen along the streams. An occasional hawk sails above the pi?ons in graceful50 curves, or darts51 downward like an arrow shot from a bow. All else is silent and lifeless.
The sun lies white and brilliant over all; the long shadows lie on the gray ground as though painted there; the tiny streams hurry between their rocky banks, as though in haste to get away from a too cloudless sky.
Long stretches of hills rise and fall away, dry, desolate52 and gray; a weird53 loneliness and beauty lies over all—the grandeur54 of desolation.
The leaves had fluttered down to the bare earth, and a few flakes55 of snow had been tossed 200about by the nipping wind, ere Sam Nesterwood was able to tell the story of his accident. He was riding up the trail to a claim he thought of relocating; he considered the broncho he rode “all right,” but some reminiscence of his forefathers56, some prompting of the wild blood which is never wholly subdued57, must have possessed58 the animal, for without the slightest warning, head down, back arched like an angry cat, he bucked59 outrageously60.
Sam was too good a rider to be easily thrown, but the unexpected movement threw his pistol from his belt; it struck the pommel of the saddle, discharging its contents into his leg, and although it felt as though red-hot iron tore through the flesh, he still retained his seat; then he must have fainted, for he knew no more until near nightfall. When consciousness returned he was lying on the ground; he felt chilled through, and his limb was so stiff and sore that he could scarcely move. He sought to get nearer to a large rock for shelter from the cold wind; it had by this time grown quite dusk, and beneath the rock was so dark that he could not see, thus he rolled into the hole beneath, where Phil found him.
During all the time of Sam’s illness, Phil each day climbed the rugged61 trail to work for a neighboring miner, letting his own assessment62 work wait, while he earned the money to pay doctor’s bills, buy medicines, supply Sam with books to read, and delicacies63 to tempt64 his appetite. Phil denied himself all but the barest subsistence. Sam smoked cigars, read books, 201and ate the most expensive delicacies, as though such things were no more than his right.
Thus affairs went on until near the beginning of February. Sam was practically well, but he made no effort to get about.
Phil had bought a great easy-chair for him in the first stages of his convalescence65, and he sat in the coziest corner, and piled the fireplace high with wood, although Phil had to “snake” it more than half a mile down the steep mountain side.
It was a bitter night; the wind blew bleak66 over the hills, driving the little snow that had fallen before it, so many needle like points, which left the face stinging with pain. Just at nightfall it had grown warmer, and the scudding67 clouds began to drop their fleecy burden, a fairy mantle68 over all the rugged hills.
Phil came home covered with snow, his long mustache ridiculously lengthened69 by icicles, his eyebrows70 white as those of Father Time.
He set his lunch pail down moodily71, and shook himself much as a spaniel shakes the water from his shaggy coat; he threw himself on a bench before the fire with a tired sigh; and rested his elbows on his knees, his chin dropped in his upturned palms.
Sam shivered as some of the flying particles of snow struck him.
“I did not intend to wet you,” answered Philip very gently, not changing his position.
This habit of half-grumbling74 and fault-finding had become so common with Sam that Phil made no reply. After a minute’s silence, he began again:
“Aren’t we going to have any supper to-night? It’s most infernal monotonous75 sitting here alone all day with nothing to read, and not even a square meal.”
Phil arose wearily, and began laying the cloth on the table; soon the bacon was sizzling merrily, the teakettle bumping the lid up and down for very joy, and the fragrance76 of coffee filled the room.
Phil took from the box nailed against the wall a small dish of peaches, a couple of slices of cake, and a little cheese, which he put beside Sam’s plate.
“Supper is ready,” said he gravely.
Sam arose lazily, and Phil wheeled his easy-chair up to the table; then poured out the coffee, and drew up his own rough bench. He offered a slice of the bacon to Sam, before helping77 himself.
“No,” said Sam testily78, “I’m tired of bacon. I hate the very smell of it. I do wish I could have something decent to eat!”
Phil made no reply, but ate his bread and bacon, and drank his coffee in silence. Sam leaned back in his chair, his head resting on the cushion, and looked at Phil from under half-closed eyelids79. “Your countenance80 is an appetizer81! You are about as cheerful as a tombstone!” 203a curious anxiety underlying82 his sneering83 tone.
As Phil did not reply, he continued: “Can’t you open your clam85 shell, and spit out your grievance86? I suppose I have offended your saintship in some way, ’though what I’ve done except to stay all alone and put up with all sorts of discomforts87 is more than I know,” the questioning tone in the first part of his speech shading off into a sullen88 grumbling toward the end.
Phil lifted his gloomy face.
“I have given you no reason for that kind of talk; I can’t grin very much when some galoot has jumped my claim,” he replied slowly.
“You don’t say! Who the deuce——”
“The name marked on the new stake is Jim Redmond, but that don’t count much,” answered Phil despondently89.
“I suppose you think I’d be sneak90 enough to do it,” retorted Sam, the strange, questioning look deepening in his eyes.
“Oh, come off, Sam! What is the use of talking that kind of stuff? I’m not quite so suspicious as that; why, you haven’t been up the trail in months,” answered Phil, with a kindly91 look.
“No; and my name is not Jim Redmond; but you ought to have done your assessment work; you can’t very well blame him, whoever he may be.”
“No; p’raps not,” said Phil slowly, and it seemed somewhat doubtingly; then he added: “What makes me sore is that it was looking so good. Well, there’s no use in wearing 204mourning, I suppose;” and he tried to laugh cheerfully. After supper, notwithstanding the inclemency92 of the night Phil trudged93 patiently the long six miles into town, that Sam might have the coveted94 books, and a tender steak for his breakfast.
Sam evinced no desire to return to his own cabin; on the contrary he said, in his peculiarly soft tones, “I guess we’d better finish the winter together, hadn’t we, Phil? I’m not very strong yet, and one fire will do for both; of course I’ll put up my share of the grub.”
“Oh, that’s all right; I’m glad of your company,” replied Phil.
Sam must have considered his company a sufficient compensation, for he contributed nothing toward the expense of living; he took the most and the best of everything; the choicest of the food; the only chair; the warmest corner of the fireplace; and the only good bed. If he ever saw Phil’s self denial, he made no sign. If Phil ever thought him selfish, he did not show it; that which he gave he gave royally.
One evening Phil came in from work; it was bitter cold; the stars snapped and twinkled; the frost showed a million glittering points in the white moonlight; the ground cracked like tiny pistol shots; the wind whistled shrilly95, and cut like a whiplash.
Phil shook himself, and threw off his cap and coat:
Sam had hovered97 over the fire all day, reading. 205He leaned back in his chair, a tantalizing98 light in his eyes.
“You’ve been working the Mollie Branscome,” he asserted, rather than asked.
Phil nodded his head. Sam continued: “I say, Phil, is Mollie Branscome your sweetheart, that you named your claim after her?”
Phil colored painfully, but after a minute he replied dryly: “It must be information you’re seekin’; I wasn’t aware that it concerned anyone but myself.”
Sam laughed sneeringly99.
“Awful close with your little romance!”
To Phil it was a romance; and in giving the name to his claim he but obeyed the impulse to have it ever on his lips. “Mollie,” his manner of speaking it was ever a caress100.
Sam laughed, and passed the remark off as a joke.
One day Sam brought Phil a letter from his old father, asking him to come home, as he was very ill and wished to see him once more before he died. Phil turned the letter over thoughtfully, and Sam hastened to say: “I tried to get on to the horse, and he jumped sideways and dumped the whole pile of mail into the dirt; it’s an awful mess, but I couldn’t help it,” apologetically.
“Oh ’t wasn’t that! but the old man’s writing don’t look natural. I am afraid he is pretty bad.” He pulled his mustache thoughtfully for a few minutes.
“I don’t just see how I can manage it. I have 206just about money enough to get there, but none to return,” said he.
Sam leaned back in his chair, blowing a long cloud of smoke meditatively101. Finally he said: “I had an offer for the Little Darling this morning; you go, if you want to, and I’ll make the deal, and send you a fifty; you can pay it after you come back.”
Phil’s face lit up with a pleasant smile.
“Sam, it’s awful good of you!” he exclaimed impulsively102.
“Oh, I’m always willing to do a favor when I can,” nonchalantly, seeming to be utterly103 forgetful of all that Phil had done for him; unmindful that at this very moment he was smoking Phil’s tobacco, warming himself at Phil’s fire, and this moment contemplating104 the eating of the food of Phil’s providing. His manner of speaking would imply that this was but one more of many benefits of his conferring.
As Phil was leaving to go to his father, Sam said:
“I’ll take good care of everything for you.”
Phil’s father was very much surprised to see him; no message had been sent; and he was well but none the less glad to see Phil.
Phil wrote to Sam at once, but as he received no reply wrote again and again.
He did not need money, as his father had given him more than enough, but he feared that some ill had befallen his friend.
As Phil left the stagecoach106 on his return 207home, three months later, he at once sought Mollie; he had received no letter from her during his absence, although he had repeatedly written. He knocked, and Mollie herself opened the door. Phil reached out his hand in glad greeting; she drew back coldly.
“Is there anything you wish, sir?” as she would address a stranger.
Phil’s face flushed hotly, then went deadly pale. He looked at her reproachfully.
“I think not,” he replied sadly, as he turned away.
With natures such as these a tragedy may occur unobserved by the bystander.
To Phil the sun seemed to have set, all looked so dark and gloomy. As he swung off over the lonely mountain trail, the gurgling water in the brook below seemed to mock him; the scent107 of the springing vegetation caused a feeling of irritation108, his heart was so full of bitter disappointment.
Lonely and more lonely grew the way; no life save himself, he just a dark speck109 upon that yellow trail crawling up the mountain side. Even his panting breath seemed to disturb the dead calm, as he paused—taking off his hat—to look up to his cabin. He shaded his eyes, and looked eagerly. Only a blackened spot marked where his home—humble, but still a home—had stood. He looked higher up the side of the mountain to where the Mollie Branscome lay; he drew his breath sharply; where he had left a windlass and bucket, a frame shafthouse arose. The sharp spurt110 of steam rising on the 208fast chilling air denoted a perfectly111 set valve; he saw hurrying forms of men at work; he shut his teeth hard together, a fiery112 red spot rising in either cheek. He felt neither fatigue113 nor depression now; he breathed stertoriously as he toiled114 up the steep trail.
Sam was the first person that he met.
Phil pointed115 to a name above the shafthouse door: “The New Discovery.” “What does that mean?” he demanded hoarsely116.
“What’s it to you?” answered Sam derisively117.
Poor Phil! His blood seemed on fire. The sneer84; the taunting118 look; it was like letting a brilliant light shine into a dark place; he knew by that ‘sixth sense,’ intuition, all the treachery of this false friend. He knew who had sent him upon a fool’s errand; he knew who had stolen his first claim, and had some accomplice119 mark the stake in a false name; a memory of his systematic120 sponging for more than half a year goaded121 him to madness; many, very many acts, before unconsidered, came to his mind fraught122 with meaning. The veins123 on his forehead stood out like purple cord, and he made a wild lunge at Sam. Sam turned to run; he stepped on a rolling stone and went down helplessly; he lay there glaring up at Phil, fear and vindictive124 hatred125 strangely blent in his gaze.
“So! You thought to rob me of this claim as you did of the other, did you?” his voice quivering hoarsely.
“You’ve got me down, now strike me!” answered 209Sam, his eyes glaring wildly, his teeth showing like those of a wild animal. “Yes, I did jump your claim; and I’ve got the papers to show for the Mollie Branscome; the Mollie Branscome! You thought you were awful sly, but I jumped that claim too; your letters to her put me on. She thinks you went East to marry your old love; we are going to be married to-morrow night!” he cried tauntingly127; he seemed to have gone insane with rage.
As Phil listened to him the fierce anger died out of his face, and contempt took its place; but he only ejaculated:
“You contemptible128 cur!” as he stepped back and folded his arms.
The workmen had gathered about, and stood in silent amazement129; their looks seemed to anger Sam still more, and he continued his insane taunting:
“Oh, you wanted me to take care of your things, didn’t you? I took care of them, oh, yes!” and he thrust his tongue in his cheek derisively.
He had risen to his feet by this time, and stood leaning his back against the shafthouse. Phil stood a minute without speaking, pity struggling with contempt in his heart; finally he said slowly, and without a trace of anger:
“Well! You’re slopping over pretty freely. If you burned my cabin thinking to destroy my papers, you got left; I took them with me, and you must have forgotten that they are recorded. As to the other affair which you have tangled130 with your dirty fingers, I think that I can 210straighten that out all right. You are too contemptible to whip, but I advise you to make yourself scarce.”
“I believe he did burn that cabin, because no one has ever been inside of his shack131 since the fire; probably he has some things there that he’d rather not have seen. I always thought that things looked mighty queer,” said big Cal Wagner.
“Let’s all quit work. I’ll not strike another stroke for the likes of ’im,” said Denny Colby.
“Well, you’d better git up and dust, you miserable134 apology for a man!” cried Cal, indignantly turning to Sam.
“And he made out that you had skipped the country, and that he bought the claim, so that you needn’t go dead broke. If he don’t leave it’s a necktie party we’ll be havin’!” added Denny Colby.
“Oh, let him alone, boys; he isn’t worth the rope it would take to hang him; upon my word I pity him, he is so contemptible that I don’t think he can enjoy his own company,” drawled Phil lazily.
Sam limped away unmolested, cursing wildly as far as they could hear him.
Phil turned from looking after him, and said to the men, “It makes me feel pretty sore, but I guess that he feels worse’n I do,” he added philosophically135. After a few minutes he continued, “You might as well knock off for the 211rest of the day, I don’t suppose he will give me any trouble because he knows that I have the papers to prove my right. I’ll square whatever wages is coming to you as soon as I get things in good shape.”
He walked direct to Mollie’s house, and as before she opened the door; she started in surprise and anger; he did not wait for her to speak, but said in a determined140 tone, “You asked me this morning if there was anything that I wished, and not understanding the circumstances I said no; I have since learned some things which caused me to change my mind—Mollie, would you condemn141 me unheard?” reaching out both hands.
She, flushing and trembling, stood irresolute142 for one minute, then placed her hands in his.
“No, that would not be just; but why did you not write?”
“I did write several times, but could get no reply from you.”
“I wonder—” she commenced, but Phil cut the sentence short.
“Were you going to marry Sam, Mollie?”
They had entered the little parlor144, and Phil caught her in his arms and said quizzically, “What about me?”
Just what Mollie answered I had best not repeat, 212but it seemed to be perfectly satisfactory, as he left the house an hour later, whistling as happily as a boy.
Just after dark Sam hurried into town, cursing his lameness145 and Phil, indiscriminately; he wanted to keep things square with Mollie, as he expressed it.
As he came near the house he observed that the little parlor was brilliantly lighted; his heart filled with exultation146: “I’ll bet Mollie is expecting me! Let Phil keep his old claims; the girl is worth more than all of them; it will hurt him most to lose her, too. Of course it was all a lie about our going to be married; but I can get her all right, you bet there isn’t many women but that I could get!” with a ridiculous air of importance.
He knocked confidently, and was at once ushered147 into the midst of a number of guests. Coming as he did, from the darkness, the glare of the lights blinded him; but as he advanced into the room, Cal Wagner said, “We were waiting for you, sir. Please be seated.”
Turning to the group near the center of the room, he continued, “Reverend sir, this is the guest we were expecting; will you now proceed with the ceremony.”
Looking radiantly happy, Mollie and Phil took their places in front of the minister, and the solemn marriage service commenced.
Sam made a bolt for the door; but Cal’s great hand closed over his shoulder like a vise, and he was compelled to stand and see his last shred148 of 213revenge slip away from him, amid the happy smiles of those around him.
Then he crept out into the darkness, out of the ken33 of those who knew him, blaming everybody but himself, yet at war with himself and all the world, because he had not succeeded in ill-doing.
Phil said to his wife: “I am sorry for him; I wish he had been content to be my friend; I did like Sam.”
Of course there was not the slightest opposition149 to Phil’s assuming control of his own property, but his conscience troubled him because Sam had built the shafthouse: “I had much rather have paid him for it,” he remarked; but when later he learned that neither lumber150 nor labor151 were paid for, and all bought upon his credit, he had no more regrets.
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1
grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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3
babbling
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| n.胡说，婴儿发出的咿哑声adj.胡说的v.喋喋不休( babble的现在分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密 | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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sociable
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| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
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plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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peg
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| n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定 | |
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mosaic
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| n./adj.镶嵌细工的，镶嵌工艺品的，嵌花式的 | |
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chipmunk
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| n.花栗鼠 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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saucily
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| adv.傲慢地，莽撞地 | |
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chatter
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| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
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13
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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bluebell
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| n.风铃草 | |
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owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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saucy
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| adj.无礼的；俊俏的；活泼的 | |
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bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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mishap
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| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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begotten
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| v.为…之生父( beget的过去分词 )；产生，引起 | |
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halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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hoot
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| n.鸟叫声，汽车的喇叭声； v.使汽车鸣喇叭 | |
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accentuate
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| v.着重，强调 | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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dirge
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| n.哀乐，挽歌，庄重悲哀的乐曲 | |
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ken
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| n.视野，知识领域 | |
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34
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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35
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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36
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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37
furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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38
plowed
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| v.耕( plow的过去式和过去分词 )；犁耕；费力穿过 | |
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39
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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40
furrow
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| n.沟；垄沟；轨迹；车辙；皱纹 | |
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41
nomads
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| n.游牧部落的一员( nomad的名词复数 )；流浪者；游牧生活；流浪生活 | |
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42
surgical
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| adj.外科的，外科医生的，手术上的 | |
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43
attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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44
drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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45
migration
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| n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙 | |
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46
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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47
sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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48
magpies
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| 喜鹊（magpie的复数形式） | |
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49
discordant
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| adj.不调和的 | |
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50
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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51
darts
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| n.掷飞镖游戏；飞镖( dart的名词复数 )；急驰，飞奔v.投掷，投射( dart的第三人称单数 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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52
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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53
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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54
grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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55
flakes
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| 小薄片( flake的名词复数 )； （尤指）碎片； 雪花； 古怪的人 | |
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56
forefathers
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| n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人 | |
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57
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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58
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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59
bucked
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| adj.快v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的过去式和过去分词 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃 | |
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60
outrageously
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| 凶残地； 肆无忌惮地； 令人不能容忍地； 不寻常地 | |
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61
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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62
assessment
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| n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额 | |
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63
delicacies
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| n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到 | |
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64
tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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65
convalescence
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| n.病后康复期 | |
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66
bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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67
scudding
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| n.刮面v.（尤指船、舰或云彩）笔直、高速而平稳地移动( scud的现在分词 ) | |
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68
mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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69
lengthened
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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71
moodily
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| adv.喜怒无常地；情绪多变地；心情不稳地；易生气地 | |
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72
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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73
irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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74
grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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75
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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76
fragrance
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| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
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77
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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78
testily
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| adv. 易怒地, 暴躁地 | |
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79
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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80
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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81
appetizer
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| n.小吃，开胃品 | |
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82
underlying
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| adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的 | |
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83
sneering
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| 嘲笑的，轻蔑的 | |
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84
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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85
clam
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| n.蛤，蛤肉 | |
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86
grievance
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| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
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87
discomforts
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| n.不舒适( discomfort的名词复数 )；不愉快，苦恼 | |
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88
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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89
despondently
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| adv.沮丧地，意志消沉地 | |
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90
sneak
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| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
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91
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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92
inclemency
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| n.险恶，严酷 | |
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93
trudged
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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94
coveted
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| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
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95
shrilly
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| 尖声的； 光亮的，耀眼的 | |
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96
basking
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| v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的现在分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽 | |
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97
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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98
tantalizing
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| adj.逗人的；惹弄人的；撩人的；煽情的v.逗弄，引诱，折磨( tantalize的现在分词 ) | |
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99
sneeringly
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| 嘲笑地，轻蔑地 | |
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100
caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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101
meditatively
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| adv.冥想地 | |
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102
impulsively
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| adv.冲动地 | |
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103
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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104
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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105
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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106
stagecoach
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| n.公共马车 | |
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107
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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108
irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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109
speck
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| n.微粒，小污点，小斑点 | |
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110
spurt
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| v.喷出；突然进发；突然兴隆 | |
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111
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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112
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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113
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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114
toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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115
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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116
hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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117
derisively
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| adv. 嘲笑地，嘲弄地 | |
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118
taunting
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| 嘲讽( taunt的现在分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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119
accomplice
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| n.从犯，帮凶，同谋 | |
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120
systematic
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| adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的 | |
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121
goaded
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| v.刺激( goad的过去式和过去分词 )；激励；（用尖棒）驱赶；驱使（或怂恿、刺激）某人 | |
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122
fraught
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| adj.充满…的，伴有(危险等)的；忧虑的 | |
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123
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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124
vindictive
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| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
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125
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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126
avenger
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| n. 复仇者 | |
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127
tauntingly
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| 嘲笑地，辱骂地； 嘲骂地 | |
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128
contemptible
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| adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的 | |
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129
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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130
tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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131
shack
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| adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚 | |
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132
skunk
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| n.臭鼬，黄鼠狼；v.使惨败，使得零分；烂醉如泥 | |
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133
tersely
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| adv. 简捷地, 简要地 | |
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134
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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135
philosophically
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| adv.哲学上；富有哲理性地；贤明地；冷静地 | |
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136
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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137
acquiescence
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| n.默许；顺从 | |
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138
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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139
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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140
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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141
condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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142
irresolute
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| adj.无决断的，优柔寡断的，踌躇不定的 | |
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143
conceited
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| adj.自负的，骄傲自满的 | |
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144
parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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145
lameness
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| n. 跛, 瘸, 残废 | |
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146
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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147
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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148
shred
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| v.撕成碎片，变成碎片；n.碎布条，细片，些少 | |
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149
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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150
lumber
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| n.木材，木料；v.以破旧东西堆满；伐木；笨重移动 | |
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151
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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