CHAPTER XXXVII HERR SCHMIDT DANCES.

 HE FIDDLER struck up a lively polka. The members of the band, two by two, begun to dance. Gates, entering into the spirit of the joke, impressed Tom as a not unwilling¹ partner, and Morton was seized by one of his captors and compelled to join in. But Herr Schmidt looked on stupidly, and stood motionless.

 

Alonzo gave a signal for the music to cease.

 

“Why don’t you dance?” he demanded sternly of the German.

 

“Ich kann nicht. I have never learn,” said Johann, in a tone of apology.

 

“Then I will teach you,” and the lieutenant² seized the unwilling Teuton, and forced him to jump and caper³ as well as his great bulk would permit.

 

Gradually the rest stopped, and fixed⁴ their eyes upon the Dutchman’s unwilling gambols⁵. The lieutenant had threatened him with instant death if he did not do his best, and the distressed⁶ Teuton, fearing to be shot, exerted himself to please his captor.

 

 

“THE LIEUTENANT THREATENED THE DUTCHMAN WITH INSTANT DEATH IF HE DID NOT DO HIS BEST.”

 

If the reader will imagine a frisky⁸ elephant, he can form some idea of mynheer’s wonderful feats⁹, as in panic-stricken resignation he hopped¹⁰ and jumped at the will of the lieutenant. But he was short of breath and yielded at last to fatigue¹¹, sinking in a heap upon the earth.

 

“I can no more,” he said, panting heavily. “I am ausgespielt!”

 

“He looks played out,” said the lieutenant. “Dick, bring him a drop of brandy.”

 

“Have you any lager,” asked Herr Schmidt eagerly.

 

“No; don’t deal in that article. Brandy is better.”

 

“Nothing so good as lager,” murmured Johann, closing his eyes and panting.

 

Nevertheless he took the brandy, and was mischievously¹² plied¹³ with more till, sad as I am to record it, the worthy¹⁴ Johann got decidedly fuddled, and losing sight of his unfortunate position, volunteered a German song, which convulsed his audience with mirth.

 

“You’re a jolly old boy,” said the lieutenant, slapping him on the shoulder. “Won’t you stay with us and take up our trade?”

 

“What’s der wages?” asked Johann gravely.

 

“Fifty dollars a month and found.”

 

“You give me fifty dollars a month, and then you find me,” repeated the Dutchman soberly.

 

Probably this was not meant as a joke, but it was so understood, and Herr Schmidt was amazed at the universal merriment which followed. But he bethought himself of a condition.

 

“I must have my Katrine and my Kinder here, too.”

 

“What’s Kinder?” asked Jack¹⁵.

 

“Children. I know enough German for that,” said Tom.

 

“I don’t know about that,” said the lieutenant gravely. “Is Katrine beautiful?”

 

“She was once,” said Johann. “She is now one fine woman.”

 

“And you will promise to help us in all our undertakings¹⁶?”

 

“What will you have me to do?” asked the Teuton with returning intelligence.

 

“Stop travelers on the highway—make them give up their money—and if they won’t, shoot ’em,” said the lieutenant.

 

“You want me to be one robber!” exclaimed Herr Schmidt in horror, “and kill de people! I cannot do it. I am a good man. I am not a robber.”

 

“If you will join us,” said the lieutenant with a wink¹⁷ to his men, “we’ll make you our captain—that is, if you steal a good deal of money.”

 

“Nein, nein!” said Herr Schmidt vehemently¹⁸. “I will not do it—Katrine would leave me. She would not live with her Johann if he was become a robber.”

 

“Is that your fixed, unalterable determination?” demanded the lieutenant, assuming a fierce look.

 

“Ich verstehe nicht—I not understand,” stammered¹⁹ the captive.

 

“You won’t accept our flattering proposal, then?”

 

“I cannot indeed, my good friend,” said the German piteously. “I shall make one very poor robber.”

 

“Fancy him at the head of the band,” said Jack laughing.

 

The idea was ludicrous. The robbers laughed till the tears run down their cheeks, and the other three prisoners joined in.

 

The lieutenant recovered himself first. He frowned, and in a harsh voice said, in a mock, imperious tone:

 

“Remove him at once to the dungeon²⁰. He has spurned²¹ my offer. He despises our companionship. Let him prepare for a most terrible retribution.”

 

The affrighted Dutchman was borne back to the subterranean²² apartment, groaning²³ piteously under the impression that he was to be killed on the morrow. But his fatigue was great, and in spite of his mental distress⁷, half an hour had not passed before snoring of a particularly boisterous²⁴ character apprised²⁵ his fellow-prisoners that he was asleep. Happy are they who can so readily command the blissful oblivion of slumber²⁶.

1 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

2 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

3 caper   

v.雀跃，欢蹦；n.雀跃，跳跃；续随子，刺山柑花蕾；嬉戏

参考例句：

• The children cut a caper in the yard.孩子们在院子里兴高采烈地乱蹦乱跳。
• The girl's caper cost her a twisted ankle.小姑娘又蹦又跳，结果扭伤了脚踝。

4 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

5 gambols   

v.蹦跳，跳跃，嬉戏( gambol的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

6 distressed   

痛苦的

参考例句：

• He was too distressed and confused to answer their questions. 他非常苦恼而困惑，无法回答他们的问题。
• The news of his death distressed us greatly. 他逝世的消息使我们极为悲痛。

7 distress   

n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛

参考例句：

• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
• Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。

8 frisky   

adj.活泼的，欢闹的；n.活泼，闹着玩；adv.活泼地，闹着玩地

参考例句：

• I felt frisky,as if I might break into a dance.我感到很欢快，似乎要跳起舞来。
• His horse was feeling frisky,and he had to hold the reins tightly.马儿欢蹦乱跳，他不得不紧勒缰绳。

9 feats   

功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He used to astound his friends with feats of physical endurance. 过去，他表现出来的惊人耐力常让朋友们大吃一惊。
• His heroic feats made him a legend in his own time. 他的英雄业绩使他成了他那个时代的传奇人物。

10 hopped   

跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花

参考例句：

• He hopped onto a car and wanted to drive to town. 他跳上汽车想开向市区。
• He hopped into a car and drove to town. 他跳进汽车，向市区开去。

11 fatigue   

n.疲劳，劳累

参考例句：

• The old lady can't bear the fatigue of a long journey.这位老妇人不能忍受长途旅行的疲劳。
• I have got over my weakness and fatigue.我已从虚弱和疲劳中恢复过来了。

12 mischievously   

adv.有害地；淘气地

参考例句：

• He mischievously looked for a chance to embarrass his sister. 他淘气地寻找机会让他的姐姐难堪。 来自互联网
• Also has many a dream kindheartedness, is loves mischievously small lovable. 又有着多啦a梦的好心肠，是爱调皮的小可爱。 来自互联网

13 plied   

v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意

参考例句：

• They plied me with questions about my visit to England. 他们不断地询问我的英国之行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They plied us with tea and cakes. 他们一个劲儿地让我们喝茶、吃糕饼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

15 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

16 undertakings   

企业( undertaking的名词复数 )； 保证； 殡仪业； 任务

参考例句：

• The principle of diligence and frugality applies to all undertakings. 勤俭节约的原则适用于一切事业。
• Such undertakings require the precise planning and foresight of military operations. 此举要求军事上战役中所需要的准确布置和预见。

17 wink   

n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁

参考例句：

• He tipped me the wink not to buy at that price.他眨眼暗示我按那个价格就不要买。
• The satellite disappeared in a wink.瞬息之间，那颗卫星就消失了。

18 vehemently   

adv. 热烈地

参考例句：

• He argued with his wife so vehemently that he talked himself hoarse. 他和妻子争论得很激烈，以致讲话的声音都嘶哑了。
• Both women vehemently deny the charges against them. 两名妇女都激烈地否认了对她们的指控。

19 stammered   

v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠，结结巴巴地说，“你是什么意思？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

20 dungeon   

n.地牢，土牢

参考例句：

• They were driven into a dark dungeon.他们被人驱赶进入一个黑暗的地牢。
• He was just set free from a dungeon a few days ago.几天前，他刚从土牢里被放出来。

21 spurned   

v.一脚踢开，拒绝接受( spurn的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Eve spurned Mark's invitation. 伊夫一口回绝了马克的邀请。
• With Mrs. Reed, I remember my best was always spurned with scorn. 对里德太太呢，我记得我的最大努力总是遭到唾弃。 来自辞典例句

22 subterranean   

adj.地下的，地表下的

参考例句：

• London has 9 miles of such subterranean passages.伦敦像这样的地下通道有9英里长。
• We wandered through subterranean passages.我们漫游地下通道。

23 groaning   

adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• She's always groaning on about how much she has to do. 她总抱怨自己干很多活儿。
• The wounded man lay there groaning, with no one to help him. 受伤者躺在那里呻吟着，无人救助。

24 boisterous   

adj.喧闹的，欢闹的

参考例句：

• I don't condescend to boisterous displays of it.我并不屈就于它热热闹闹的外表。
• The children tended to gather together quietly for a while before they broke into boisterous play.孩子们经常是先静静地聚集在一起，不一会就开始吵吵嚷嚷戏耍开了。

25 apprised   

v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价

参考例句：

• We were fully apprised of the situation. 我们完全获悉当时的情况。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I have apprised him of your arrival. 我已经告诉他你要来。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

26 slumber   

n.睡眠，沉睡状态

参考例句：

• All the people in the hotels were wrapped in deep slumber.住在各旅馆里的人都已进入梦乡。
• Don't wake him from his slumber because he needs the rest.不要把他从睡眠中唤醒，因为他需要休息。