The cold of February, intense, searching, deadly, tightened1 its grip upon the wilderness2, sapping the life of the three struggling human derelicts--for derelicts Shad Trowbridge felt himself and his two companions to be--as they fought their way, now hopefully, now despondently3, but ever with slower pace, as strength ebbed4, toward the precious cache on the shores of the Great Lake; and with the slower progress that growing weakness demanded, it was quickly found necessary to reduce by half the already minute portion of dried caribou5 meat allotted6 to each.
Everything in the world save only themselves seemed to have been frozen into oblivion. There was no sound, save the monotonous7 swish, swish of their own snowshoes, to disturb the silence--a silence otherwise as absolute and vast as the uttermost depths of the grave.
Storms overtook them, but they mercifully were storms of short duration, and seldom interfered8 with hours of travel. Staggering, but ever struggling forward, they forced their way painfully on and on, over pitiless windswept ridges9, across life-sapping, desolate10 barrens, through scarcely less inhospitable forests. Exerting their waning11 strength to its utmost, they never stopped, save when exhausted12 nature compelled them to halt for brief intervals13 of sleep and rest, to recuperate14 their wasted energies.
Shad Trowbridge came finally to wonder vaguely15 if he were not dead, this another existence, and be doomed16 to keep going and going through endless ages over endless reaches of snow. To his numbed17 intellect it seemed that he had been thus going for months and years.
Like a vague, pleasant dream of something experienced in a previous life, he remembered Bob and the tilts18, Wolf Bight farther back, and the dear old college. What would the fellows say now, if they were to see him--the fellows who had known him in that former, happier life?
At other times he fancied he heard Ungava Bob and the others hallooing in the distance, and he would answer in glad, expectant shouts. But there never came a reply.
The first time this occurred Manikawan turned and looked inquiringly at him, through eyes sunk deep in their sockets20. When it was repeated later--and he came to hear the voices and to shout to the empty snow wastes at least once every day--she would step to his side, solicitously21 touch his shoulder and say:
"The friend of White Brother of the Snow hears the voices of the Matchi Manitu of Hunger. Let him close his ears and be deaf, for the Matchi Manitu is mocking him."
Mookoomahn's face was not pleasant to see now; it was horrible--the dark skin was drawn22 tight over the high cheek bones, the lips shrunken to the gums, and the eyes fallen far back into the skull23. His face resembled more than anything else the smoked and dried skull of a mummy.
Shad laughed sometimes when he looked at Mookoomahn's ghastly face, framed in a mass of long, straggling black hair; at other times he was overcome with a heart-rending pity for Mookoomahn that brought tears to his eyes. But tears froze, and were annoying and painful.
Manikawan, too, had changed woefully. The lean, gaunt figure stalking along uncomplainingly with Shad and Mookoomahn had small resemblance to the beautiful, commanding Manikawan that bade Bob and Shad be patient in their imprisonment24 on the island until she returned to relieve them; or the glowing, happy Manikawan that accompanied Shad and the others to the river tilt19 after she had accomplished25 the rescue. Though there still burned within her an unquenchable fire of energy, and she never lagged on the trail, she was no longer the Manikawan of old.
In spite of all the hardships and all the pain, and slowly starving as she was, she never ceased her attention to Shad, and she never once lost her patience with him.
When Shad laughed hysterically26 and derisively27 at his fate, as he did sometimes, Manikawan would step to his side, touch him lightly with her hand, and say in the same old voice, lower than of old, but even more musical and sweet:
"The friend of White Brother of the Snow is brave. He is not a coward. He is not afraid to die."
This always had a magical, soothing28 effect upon Shad. Though he never learned to interpret her language, the touch of the hand, the human note of encouragement in her voice, the light in the eyes that looked into his, never failed to recall him to his manhood and to himself, and to the remembrance of his vow29 that as a white man he must by mere30 force of will prove his superiority.
All record of time was lost. But the days were visibly lengthening31 with each sunrise and sunset, and when the wind did not blow to freeze them, and the snow did not drift to blind them, the sunshine gave forth32 a hint--just a hint--of warmth.
One day the dead silence was suddenly startled by the long-drawn-out howl of a wolf. It was a blood-curdling and almost human cry, and Shad likened it to the agonised cry of a lost soul in the depths of eternal torment33. Again and again it sounded, then suddenly ceasing, Shad discovered the animal itself trotting34 leisurely35 after them far in the rear, and a feeling of fellowship--of pity--welled up in his bosom36.
But when he discovered the creature still following them the next day, now so near that he could see its lolling red tongue, its lean sides, and ugly fangs37, he became possessed38 with a feeling of revulsion toward it. Then he fancied it the embodied39 Spirit of Starvation stalking them and awaiting an opportunity to destroy them. This fancy gave birth to a consuming, intense hatred40 of the thing. Finally it attained41 the proportions of a mocking, tantalising demon42.
Cunningly he watched for a moment when it was well within rifle shot, and drawing his rifle from the toboggan he dropped upon a knee, aimed carefully, and pulled the trigger. The frost-clogged firing pin did not respond, and the wolf, seeming to understand its peril43, slunk away unharmed.
Shad had seen it plainly--its repulsive44 gray sides so lank45 that they seemed almost to meet, its red, hungry tongue lolling from its ugly mouth, its cruel white fangs, and its malevolent46, gleaming eyes. His hatred for the creature became an obsession47, for it appeared again presently, persistently48 following, but now keeping at a respectful distance.
On the third day, however, the wolf had forgotten its temporary timidity, and with increased boldness stole steadily49 upon their heels. With a patience quite foreign to him Shad waited, glancing behind constantly, but making no demonstration50 until the wolf, apparently51 satisfied that it had little to fear from the hunger-stricken plodders, trotted52 boldly up and took a place behind them, so near that if the rifle failed at the first snap there would be opportunity for a second attempt before the beast could pass out of range.
Shad again stopped, and seizing the rifle discovered that the beast had also stopped and stood glaring at him, mocking and unafraid. As though, knowing their weakness, it had lost respect for their power to injure it.
A mighty53 rage took possession of Shad. He fell to his knee again, aimed carefully, and again pulled the trigger. This time there was a report, and in an insane frenzy54 of delight he beheld55 the carcass of the tantalising creature stretched upon the snow.
Mookoomahn and Manikawan had halted, and stood in breathless silence watching the result of Shad's shot. Now with an exclamation56 of pleasure from Mookoomahn the two rushed forward, knives in hand, and in an incredibly short time the carcass of the wolf was quartered, a fire lighted, and some of the meat cooking.
It was a lean, scrawny wolf, and the meat tough and stringy, but to the famished57 travellers it meant life, and Shad thought the half-cooked piece which Mookoomahn doled58 to him as his share the sweetest morsel59 he had ever eaten.
The wolf meat, carefully husbanded, supplied food until one morning Mookoomahn by a series of signs conveyed the information to Shad that they were within one day's march of the cache. Then they ate the last of it, that it might give them strength for the final effort.
It was evening, but not yet dark, when familiar landmarks60 told Shad that they were nearing the goal, and a little later they halted where the poles of Sishetakushin's lodge61 stood in the edge of the woods above the lake shore.
With furious haste Shad and Mookoomahn rushed to the cache, but suddenly stopped, aghast and stupefied. The cache had been rifled of its contents, and lying near it, half covered with snow, lay the frozen, emaciated62 body of an Indian.
收听单词发音 |
1
tightened
|
|
| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
wilderness
|
|
| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
despondently
|
|
| adv.沮丧地，意志消沉地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
ebbed
|
|
| （指潮水）退( ebb的过去式和过去分词 )； 落； 减少； 衰落 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
caribou
|
|
| n.北美驯鹿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
allotted
|
|
| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
monotonous
|
|
| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
interfered
|
|
| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
ridges
|
|
| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
desolate
|
|
| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
waning
|
|
| adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
exhausted
|
|
| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
intervals
|
|
| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
recuperate
|
|
| v.恢复 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
vaguely
|
|
| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
doomed
|
|
| 命定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
numbed
|
|
| v.使麻木，使麻痹( numb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
tilts
|
|
| （意欲赢得某物或战胜某人的）企图，尝试( tilt的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
tilt
|
|
| v.(使)倾侧；(使)倾斜；n.倾侧；倾斜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
sockets
|
|
| n.套接字，使应用程序能够读写与收发通讯协定(protocol)与资料的程序( Socket的名词复数 )；孔( socket的名词复数 )；（电器上的）插口；托座；凹穴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
solicitously
|
|
| adv.热心地，热切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
skull
|
|
| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
imprisonment
|
|
| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
accomplished
|
|
| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
hysterically
|
|
| ad. 歇斯底里地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
derisively
|
|
| adv. 嘲笑地，嘲弄地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
soothing
|
|
| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
vow
|
|
| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
lengthening
|
|
| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的现在分词 )； 加长 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
torment
|
|
| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
trotting
|
|
| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
leisurely
|
|
| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
fangs
|
|
| n.（尤指狗和狼的）长而尖的牙( fang的名词复数 )；（蛇的）毒牙；罐座 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
embodied
|
|
| v.表现( embody的过去式和过去分词 )；象征；包括；包含 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
hatred
|
|
| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
attained
|
|
| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
demon
|
|
| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
peril
|
|
| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
repulsive
|
|
| adj.排斥的，使人反感的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
lank
|
|
| adj.瘦削的；稀疏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
malevolent
|
|
| adj.有恶意的，恶毒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
obsession
|
|
| n.困扰，无法摆脱的思想(或情感) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
persistently
|
|
| ad.坚持地；固执地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
steadily
|
|
| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
demonstration
|
|
| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
trotted
|
|
| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
frenzy
|
|
| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
beheld
|
|
| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
famished
|
|
| adj.饥饿的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
doled
|
|
| 救济物( dole的过去式和过去分词 )； 失业救济金 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
morsel
|
|
| n.一口，一点点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
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） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
lodge
|
|
| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
emaciated
|
|
| adj.衰弱的，消瘦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |