“He doubted least it were some magicall
Illusion that did beguile1 his sense;
Or wandering ghost that wanted funerall,
Or aery spirite under false pretence2.”
SPENSER.
He was a tremulous long-legged foal on the Christmas Day we became known to each other. I accepted him as an appropriate gift, and he regarded me with a blending of reserve, curiosity, and suspicion, as he snoodled beside his demure3 old mother. The name at once suggested itself. It seems the more appropriate now, for he is whitish, with flowing mane and sweeping4 tail, of a fair breadth, and open countenance5.
Can the biography of a horse be anything but crude, lacking reference to ancestry6? On this point there is the silence of a pure ignorance, and the record will be deficient7 in other essentials. Moreover, none of the phrases of the cult8 are at command, nor can a purely9 domestic story be decorated with clipped, straw-in-the-mouth, stable-smelling terms.
Christmas’s mother was a commonplace cart creature with a bad cough. It was a chronic10 cough, and in course of time its tuggings took her on a very long journey. She passed away, assisted towards the end with a cruel yet compassionate11 bullet, for in my agitation12 I made a fluky shot. She died on the beach, and as the tide rose we floated her carcass into the bay to the outer edge of the coral reef. The following morning the sea gave up the dead not its own. Once more we towed it away into the current which races north.
Some time before these reiterated13 ceremonies Christmas had been born, and I was grateful to the old mare14, whose chronic cough had become one of the sounds of the Island, for he is an ornament15, a chum, a companion, and a real character. I find myself confronted by inherent disadvantage, for I cannot even describe his points in popular language. He is a “clean-skin.” That is the only horsey (or should it be equine?) phrase in my vocabulary. He is a “clean-skin,” and in more than one sense. Clean describes him — character and all — and I like the word. He is 5 ft. 4? in. at the shoulders, barefooted, for he has never known a shoe, and his toes are long; his waist measurement is 6 ft. 8 in., his tail sweeps the ground, his forehead is broad, his eyes clear, with just a gleam of wickedness now and again; his ears neat, furry16, and very mobile; his colour a greyish roan, tending more to white in his maturity17, which now is. Lest the detail might prejudice him in his love affairs, of which he is as yet entirely18 innocent, I am determined19 not to mention his age, even in the strictest confidence, and though the anniversary of his birth is at hand.
Though he spends most of his time in the forest, he takes astounding20 interest in maritime21 affairs, watching curiously22 passing sailing boats and steamers. More than once he has been first to proclaim, “A sail!” for when he flourishes his head and tosses his mane and gives a semi-gambol with his hind23 quarters, we know that he sees something strange, and look in the direction in which he gazes.
But I am ahead of my story. When he was in his shy, frisky24 foalage — as nervous and twitchy as might be — one lucky day I offered him from a distance of thirty yards one of the luscious25 bananas I was enjoying as I strolled down the path to the beach. The aroma26 was novel, and apparently27 very pleasant, for to my astonishment28 he walked towards me gingerly, but with a very decided29 interest in the banana. As he approached on the pins and needles of alertness, I extolled30 the qualities of the banana. He stopped, and started again, anxious to taste the hitherto unknown delicacy31, but not at all trustful. Soon he came boldly up, and taking the banana from my hand, ate it with the joy of discovery in his features, and calmly demanded another. Thus began the breaking of Christmas, and if I had had sense enough to have followed up his education on similar lines, a deal of hard work, risk to life and limb, and the loss of some little personal property might have been saved. Ever after, Christmas could not resist the decoy of a banana.
When he was two and a half years old we decided to break him in. He was big, and strong, and wilful32, and how was a feeble man with no experience and a black boy confessedly frightened of the big horse to accomplish such purpose? Tom is at home on a boat, and enjoys outwitting fish and turtle and dugong. However unstable33 his craft and surly the sea, he keeps calm; but with a tempestuous34 horse, who was wont35 to play about on the flat, pawing the air like a tragic36 actor, and kicking it with devastating37 viciousness, well —“Look out!” As was the horse, so was the yard designed — big and strong. Some of the posts are one foot in diameter, and four and a half feet in the ground. As neither of us had built a yard before, there may be original points about this one; but I would admonish38 others not to imitate them unless they have time, heaps of time, and an oppressive stock of enthusiasm, and I may add, fascinating experience, upon which to draw. The last-mentioned quality is invaluable39 in all such enterprises. If you have it, full play is permitted the speculative40, if not the imaginative, faculties41. If you have it not, then the work is merely a brutal43 exercise, in which a dolt44 might excel.
During the building of the yard I frequently reflected whether, though Christmas lived to enjoy a long and laborious45 age, would all the work he performed compensate46 for the strains and aches and bruises48 suffered. Circumstances prevented the completion of the yard in exact accordance with plans, for experience, that harsh stepmother, proved that the enclosure was unnecessary. The yard exists as a monument to profane49 misunderstanding of Christmas’s character. Had I realised his high-mindedness, his amiability50, his considerateness and shrewdness, the yard would never have been built; a month of fearful over-exertion, and many pains would have been obviated51, and poor Christmas saved much physical weariness and perplexity. At the cost of three ripe bananas all the virtue52 of the yard might, had we but known, have been purchased.
High and strong, and especially ponderous53 where it was weak, the yard was at last ready. The next process was to induce Christmas to enter it. We had another horse, Jonah, the nervous, stupid, vexatious skew-ball. In the absence of saddle and bridle54, Tom deemed it wise not to attempt to round up Christmas. I admired his wisdom without exactly committing myself, and we resorted to strategy.
Naturally Christmas is inquisitive55. He watched the building of the yard so intently that we half expected his curiosity might prompt him to try if it were adapted to his tastes and requirements. But when we chuckled56 and coaxed57 he grew suspicious, behaved quite disdainfully with his heels, and took a marine58 excursion to a neighbouring island. When he came back after three days, a banana tempted59 him. He was a prisoner before he realised. We giggled60. The next thing was to rope him. Our perversity61 converted a trustful, gentle creature temporarily into a ramping62 rogue63. Twice he snapped a new Manilla rope of like make and dimensions to that which is used in the harpooning64 of whales. For two days the conflict continued. Sullen65 and suspicious, Christmas ate scantily66 of the green grass we cut for him and drank from a bucket when we were not looking. At last a crisis came. Tom lassooed him once more. Nelly (Tom’s spouse) assisted me to take up the slack round a blockwood tree as Tom cautiously, but with great demonstrations67 of evil intentions, hunted the weary horse into the corner, where we designed to so jam him that a halter might be put on with a minimum of risk to ourselves. Christmas made a supreme68 effort. He roared and reared, and when the rope throttled69 him, in rage and anger dashed his head against the foot-thick corner-post. The shock loosened it, so that two rails sprang out (just missing my scalp) and stunned70 Christmas.
As he lay on the ground with twitching71 lips, with frantic72 haste we cut the rope, and in a few seconds he rose to his feet, discovering that he was in the land of the living with a joyful73 whinnying. If he had not been endowed with the suavity74 of a gentleman and the long-suffering of a saint, he would have walked off, for the yard was in a disreputable state of repair, and we were all shaky from the effects of nerve-shock. But no, in spite of abuse and misunderstanding, he was resolved at cost of whatever discomfort75 to himself to give us further lessons in the science of horse-breaking. He stood patiently while we patched up the fence. Then, taking the halter, and my courage, in both hands, I walked to his head, and with a few comforting words put it on. The good horse looked down at me with wondrous76 eloquence77. His sensitive upper lip spoke78, and his sneering79 nostrils80; his twitchy ears told his thoughts as truly as semaphores; his clear eyes under sagacious white lashes81 transmitted emotions I could not fail to comprehend. “Is that what you wanted me to do?” said he. “Why didn’t you do it before? We have quite misunderstood one another! And what an exciting time we have had! I thought you were going to garrotte me. Yes, give me a banana. Follow you? Yes, of course, with pleasure; but don’t attempt to hang me again or else there’ll be trouble. Another banana if you please. Now, don’t be frightened, I’m not going to run over you. I’m not that sort of horse. If I were there might have been a beastly mess in this yard any time the last two days. I was beginning to feel quite peevish82. I don’t know what might happen if I became really vexed83. Another banana. Certainly you took great risks for a little man. We are beginning to understand one another. Are there any more ripe bananas handy?” He said all this and more, as he looked round, cheerfully accepting peace-offerings and listening to many consolatory84 words. The next morning he showed us how a young and not foolish horse should accept bit and bridle.
Several other episodes embellish85 the early career of Christmas as a working horse, all of them, I conscientiously86 confess, arising from gross misunderstanding. He knew in what manner a good-natured, competent, lusty horse should be handled and trained. We didn’t, and necessarily had to learn. He trained himself while we took hearty87 lessons in holding him. Once he decided to gallop88 with a sled. It was a mere42 whim89 — a gay little prank90 — but Tom couldn’t stop him. He ran too, holding on to the reins91 at arm’s length, contrary to my counsel, urged from discreet92 distance. Christmas ran faster, and by and by Tom sat down on his chin, and Christmas went on without him. He didn’t quite remember the width of the sled. Consequently when with a careless flourish he whisked between two bloodwoods the sled struck one with a shock that for a moment “dithered” the Island. It was just like that sucking earthquake which went off bang under Kingsley’s bed when he was in Italy. The bruise47 is on the tree now, and the sled wasn’t worth taking home for firewood. Christmas went on but just as the passion of the moment calmed down, the trailing reins — fit to hold a whale, be it repeated — caught in a tough sapling, and it was Christmas that went down. It was only a trip, but as he got up and faced about looking for the remains93 of the sled, the harness, tugged94 by the reins, crowded on his neck — backband, collar, hames, chains and all. Then began a merry-go-round, for Christmas, properly bedevilled, lost his presence of mind, and in a fancy costume of the Elizabethan age — a ruff of harness — waltzed most fantastically.
Again a few soothing95 words and two bananas calmed his affrighted and angry soul. Great is the virtue of the banana! A goodly hour was spent in untying96 the knots, and Tom made the one joke of his life. “My word, that fella Christmas he no good for boat. He make’m knot — carn let go quick!” Christmas is not petulant97, though he is occasionally indignant on a large and complicated scale.
Early in his career Christmas showed and materialised the quality of masterfulness, his chief trait. He bullied98 Jonah, now banished99 to “an odd angle of the Isle,” courted encounters with a huge nondescript dog belonging to the blacks which once disrespectfully snapped at his heels and for ever after took a distorted view of things on account of a lop-sided jaw100, and was wont to scatter101 the goats with a wild gallop through the flock. How meek102 and gentle his demeanour when he whinnies over the gate for bananas, or screws his head beneath the kitchen shutter103 and shuts his eyes and opens his lips, tempting104 his mistress to treat him to unknown dainties! And for all his masterful spirit did he not once fly from Jonah? During one of Tom’s many absences ex-trooper George was chief assistant in the administration of the affairs of the Island, between whom and Christmas cordial companionship was manifested; for George, in his understanding of horses, knew how to flatter and gratify Christmas with small attentions.
More at home in the saddle than on foot, having improvised105 bit and bridle, he rode off on Jonah into the bush, unobserved of Christmas, who had never beheld106 one of his species so hampered107 by a human being. While George was away it occurred to one of us to suggest that a high-mettled, never-ridden steed might be flustered108 when confronted with novel and incomprehensible circumstances. When George cantered home, Christmas gazed, horror-struck, for a moment, bounded into the air, snorted, and with flowing mane and flying tail fled to the most secluded109 corner of the paddock with strides that seemed to gulp110 the ground. In a few minutes he returned at the trot111, inquisitive, high-stepping, tossing his head, flinging little clods of earth far behind, snorting, and tail trailing like a plume112 of steam from a locomotive. Again he looked, baulked, and with a contemptuous fling of heels raced up the paddock. Retreating to him was not running away, nor was staying wisdom when danger overbalanced hope. Again he made a gallant113 effort to vanquish114 his fear, but at the critical moment Jonah, under the stimulus115 of George’s heels, charged, and Christmas, with a squeal116 of terror, thundered blindly among the trees. Now was he convinced of the grisliness of the visitation. That downtrodden, servile Jonah, from whom he exacted prompt obedience117 to every passing whim, should be thus translated and so puffed118 up with audacity119 as to chase him was proof of the presence of incredible mischief120 from which the most valorous might with discretion121 retire; and without pause he galloped122 — free and wild as the blast of a tempest — round the paddock time and again, keeping the greatest possible space between himself and the pursuing apparition123.
George kept up the fun until Christmas, beginning to reflect, swerved124 from fear to the attitude of anger, and to paw the ground and to sniff125 defiantly126 the air. Trotting127 boldly up towards Jonah, he neighed imperatively128, but George waved off his assurance with his hat, and Christmas collapsing129 with fright, made furious haste for non-existing solitude130. Once more he ventured, with bolder, more menacing front. He reared, pranced131, kicked, savaged132 the air — not an item of all his pentup wickedness being undemonstrated. Then George dismounted suddenly, and calling in soothing tones, Christmas realised that the appalling133 creature was but a temporary compound of his playmate and the abject135 Jonah. Cautiously advancing in a series of contours dislocated with staccato stops and starts and frothy exclamations136, he seemed to recognise the whole episode as a practical joke, of which he had been the victim, and to promise retaliation137 upon Jonah, for no sooner was that meek animal at liberty than he became the sport and jeer138.
From the catalogue of the more theatrical139 doings of Christmas one more may be cited. Within a week of his yarding he had taught us so much, inspired us with such confidence in his resourcefulness and ability, that we resolved to give him a treat in the plantation140 dragging round a miniature disc-harrow, a particular brand of agricultural implement141 known as the “pony dot.” Being so, in fact and appearance, it was quite a misfit for Christmas — a mere toy with which a gay young horse might condescend142 to beguile a few loose hours. It was a charming morning. Birds were vulgarly sportful. Honey-eaters whistled among the trees, scrub-fowl chuckled in the jungle. Christmas, too, was bent143 on amusing himself, and he was so lusty and jocund144, and the toy jangled and clattered145 so cheerfully that neither Tom nor myself could bestow146 much attention to the birds. What was gentle exercise to Christmas was quite sensational147 to us. He did not mind what stumps148 and logs were in the way. We did. Our agility149 was distinctly forced. But it was a charming morning, and Christmas was out for pleasure. In an hour or so the monotony of the picnic began to pall134 on Christmas, and as Tom began to chirp150 at him familiarly, if not quite authoritatively151, I sat down in the shade to reflect that while Christmas had been violently exercising me, some of the charm of the day had filtered through my aching fingers. How pleasant it was to think that the discordant152 labour of the tropical agriculturist was past! This charming morning had settled it all. Tom and Christmas and the “pony dot” would keep the whole plantation as innocent of weeds as the Garden of Eden. Thus to muse153 in the dim arcade154 of the jungle absorbing the sounds of the birds, and of the murmuring sea, while a horse did all the work, in holiday humour, was the very bliss155 of the tropical farmer.
In the midst of a soothing, inarticulate soliloquy the “pony dot” burst out into a furious jangle. Tom yelled. Quick hoofs156 thudded on the soil, and Christmas swept through the banana-plants like a destroying angel, in a glorious bolt for home. The picnic had palled157; and Tom, shouting rebukes158, orders, and suggestions from behind a tree, showed by his dun-coloured skin that he had been dragged ignominiously159 through the freshly tilled soil. A remarkable160 feature of the plantation is a steep bank, the original strand161 line of the Island. Christmas, with the reins soaring like lassos, and harness welting his fat sides, stampeded to his fate. In a flash I saw what a ludicrous misfit the “pony dot” was. The impish invention — malignant162 purpose in its incompassionate metallic163 heart — furiously pursued Christmas twenty feet at a bound, discs whirling, every bearing squeaking164 with spite and fury. Struck with bewilderment, the honey-eaters became dumb, the dismayed doves forgot to coo, the scrub-fowl ceased their chuckling165, and three cockatoos flew from the blue-fruited quandong-tree shrieking166 abominable167 sarcasms168. As Christmas heaved over the banks the reins thrashed him. Resenting the insult, his heels flew high. The “pony dot” flew higher and jangled and screeched169 with accumulating vindictiveness170. To what fearsome figure had this hasty flight transformed the mean little emblem171 of rusticity172? A tipsy goblin? No — rather a limping aeroplane of the Stone Age; and it rattled173 like a belfry under the shock of bombardment. Could there be any crueller device to tie an unsophisticated horse to, and a horse whose single thought had been a merry morning? It would, when the crisis came, leap frenziedly on Christmas and slice him with keen, whizzing blades.
Tom raced past — a five-act tragedy in pantomime! A terrible jangle and catastrophic silence! No groan174 from misused175 Christmas. No remarks from the dumbfounded birds! With the vicious aeroplane hopping176 after him, he had galloped for the narrow aisle177 through the ribbon of jungle concealing178 the beach. There he had met his fate! Yes, the “pony dot” anyhow and everywhere, and Christmas all of a heap beyond. With imprecations on all “pony dots” in my mind, I hastened to inspect the mangled179 remains. They groaned180, struggled to their feet, shook themselves and went placidly181 home as soon as we had unhitched the chains. One scratch on the most rotund part of the body was the only record of the “brief, eventful history,” and Christmas smiled in Tom’s face as he munched182 a soul-soothing banana.
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1
beguile
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| vt.欺骗，消遣 | |
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2
pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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3
demure
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| adj.严肃的；端庄的 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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5
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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6
ancestry
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| n.祖先，家世 | |
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7
deficient
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| adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的 | |
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8
cult
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| n.异教，邪教；时尚，狂热的崇拜 | |
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9
purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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10
chronic
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| adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的 | |
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11
compassionate
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| adj.有同情心的，表示同情的 | |
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12
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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13
reiterated
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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15
ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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16
furry
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| adj.毛皮的；似毛皮的；毛皮制的 | |
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17
maturity
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| n.成熟；完成；(支票、债券等)到期 | |
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18
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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19
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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astounding
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| adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
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maritime
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| adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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frisky
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| adj.活泼的，欢闹的；n.活泼，闹着玩；adv.活泼地，闹着玩地 | |
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25
luscious
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| adj.美味的；芬芳的；肉感的，引与性欲的 | |
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aroma
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| n.香气，芬芳，芳香 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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extolled
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| v.赞颂，赞扬，赞美( extol的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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wilful
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| adj.任性的，故意的 | |
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unstable
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| adj.不稳定的，易变的 | |
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tempestuous
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| adj.狂暴的 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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devastating
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| adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的 | |
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admonish
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| v.训戒；警告；劝告 | |
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invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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speculative
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| adj.思索性的，暝想性的，推理的 | |
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faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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43
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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dolt
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| n.傻瓜 | |
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laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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46
compensate
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| vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消 | |
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47
bruise
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| n.青肿，挫伤；伤痕；vt.打青；挫伤 | |
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48
bruises
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| n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 ) | |
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49
profane
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| adj.亵神的，亵渎的；vt.亵渎，玷污 | |
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50
amiability
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| n.和蔼可亲的，亲切的，友善的 | |
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51
obviated
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| v.避免，消除（贫困、不方便等）( obviate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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53
ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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54
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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55
inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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56
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
coaxed
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱 | |
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58
marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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59
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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60
giggled
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
perversity
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| n.任性；刚愎自用 | |
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62
ramping
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| 土堤斜坡( ramp的现在分词 )； 斜道； 斜路； （装车或上下飞机的）活动梯 | |
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63
rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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64
harpooning
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| v.鱼镖，鱼叉( harpoon的现在分词 ) | |
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65
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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66
scantily
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| adv.缺乏地；不充足地；吝啬地；狭窄地 | |
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67
demonstrations
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| 证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威 | |
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68
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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69
throttled
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| v.扼杀( throttle的过去式和过去分词 )；勒死；使窒息；压制 | |
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70
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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71
twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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72
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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73
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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74
suavity
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| n.温和；殷勤 | |
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75
discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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76
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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77
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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78
spoke
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| 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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79
sneering
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| 嘲笑的，轻蔑的 | |
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80
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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81
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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82
peevish
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| adj.易怒的，坏脾气的 | |
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83
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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84
consolatory
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| adj.慰问的，可藉慰的 | |
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85
embellish
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| v.装饰，布置；给…添加细节，润饰 | |
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86
conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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87
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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88
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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89
whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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90
prank
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| n.开玩笑，恶作剧；v.装饰；打扮；炫耀自己 | |
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91
reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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92
discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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93
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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94
tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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95
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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96
untying
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| untie的现在分词 | |
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97
petulant
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| adj.性急的，暴躁的 | |
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98
bullied
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| adj.被欺负了v.恐吓，威逼( bully的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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99
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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100
jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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101
scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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102
meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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103
shutter
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| n.百叶窗；(照相机)快门；关闭装置 | |
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104
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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105
improvised
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| a.即席而作的,即兴的 | |
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106
beheld
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| 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 | |
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107
hampered
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| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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108
flustered
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| adj.慌张的；激动不安的v.使慌乱，使不安( fluster的过去式和过去分词) | |
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109
secluded
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| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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110
gulp
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| vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽 | |
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111
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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112
plume
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| n.羽毛；v.整理羽毛，骚首弄姿，用羽毛装饰 | |
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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
vanquish
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| v.征服，战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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115
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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116
squeal
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| v.发出长而尖的声音；n.长而尖的声音 | |
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117
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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118
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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119
audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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120
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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121
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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122
galloped
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| （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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123
apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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124
swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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125
sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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126
defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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127
trotting
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| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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128
imperatively
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| adv.命令式地 | |
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129
collapsing
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| 压扁[平]，毁坏，断裂 | |
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130
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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131
pranced
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| v.（马）腾跃( prance的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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132
savaged
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| （动物）凶狠地攻击（或伤害）( savage的过去式和过去分词 )； 残害； 猛烈批评； 激烈抨击 | |
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133
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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134
pall
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| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
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135
abject
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| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
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136
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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137
retaliation
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| n.报复，反击 | |
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138
jeer
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| vi.嘲弄，揶揄；vt.奚落；n.嘲笑，讥评 | |
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139
theatrical
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| adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的 | |
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140
plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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141
implement
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| n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行 | |
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142
condescend
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| v.俯就，屈尊；堕落，丢丑 | |
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143
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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144
jocund
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| adj.快乐的，高兴的 | |
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145
clattered
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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146
bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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147
sensational
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| adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的 | |
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148
stumps
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| （被砍下的树的）树桩( stump的名词复数 )； 残肢； （板球三柱门的）柱； 残余部分 | |
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149
agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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150
chirp
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| v.(尤指鸟)唧唧喳喳的叫 | |
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151
authoritatively
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| 命令式地，有权威地，可信地 | |
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152
discordant
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| adj.不调和的 | |
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153
muse
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| n.缪斯（希腊神话中的女神），创作灵感 | |
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154
arcade
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| n.拱廊；(一侧或两侧有商店的)通道 | |
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155
bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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156
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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157
palled
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| v.（因过多或过久而）生厌，感到乏味，厌烦( pall的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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158
rebukes
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的第三人称单数 ) | |
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159
ignominiously
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| adv.耻辱地，屈辱地，丢脸地 | |
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160
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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161
strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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162
malignant
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| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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163
metallic
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| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
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164
squeaking
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| v.短促地尖叫( squeak的现在分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
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165
chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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166
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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167
abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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168
sarcasms
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，挖苦( sarcasm的名词复数 ) | |
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169
screeched
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的过去式和过去分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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170
vindictiveness
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| 恶毒；怀恨在心 | |
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171
emblem
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| n.象征，标志；徽章 | |
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172
rusticity
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| n.乡村的特点、风格或气息 | |
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173
rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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174
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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175
misused
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| v.使用…不当( misuse的过去式和过去分词 )；把…派作不正当的用途；虐待；滥用 | |
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176
hopping
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| n. 跳跃 动词hop的现在分词形式 | |
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177
aisle
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| n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道 | |
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178
concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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179
mangled
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| vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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180
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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181
placidly
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| adv.平稳地，平静地 | |
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182
munched
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| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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