CHAPTER XXXII AN AWFUL MOMENT

 “Bring out the hoss thief! Lynch him! Lynch him!”

“What's up?” asked the tramp drowsily¹, opening his eyes.

“Bring out the hoss thief!” cried a dozen rough voices, as the battering² at the door was repeated.

“They want you, young feller!” he continued, as he caught the meaning of the cry.

“What shall we do?” asked Walter helplessly.

“They don't want me,” returned the tramp complacently³. “It's you they want!”

“You will stand by me?” implored⁴ Walter, eager for any help.

“Won't do no good! There's a crowd of them. You're in a bad box, young feller!”

“Have you got a pistol?”

“No.”

Then it flashed upon Walter that he still had the revolver which belonged to Dick Ranney.

“I will sell my life dearly!” thought Walter, “They shan't kill me without some resistance.”

“Open the door, or it'll be wuss for ye!” cried a rough voice.

The door was strong, but it did not long withstand the fierce attacks made upon it. Walter, by the light that came in through a crevice⁵, saw it sway and gradually yield to the impetuous attacks of the mob.

“Here's the hoss thief!” exclaimed the leader, throwing the light into the cell occupied by the inebriate⁶.

The tramp was alarmed and completely sobered by the terrible suggestion.

“I ain't the man!” he said. “It's that young feller yonder.”

The man with the lantern turned in the direction of the other cell.

“He's only a kid!” he said doubtfully.

“All the same, he's the hoss thief!” said the tramp earnestly.

“Is he telling the truth?” asked the leader, turning to the men who were just behind him.

“He looks most like the hoss thief!” said Dan Muggins. “The other's a milk-and-water chap, just out of boardin'-school.”

“You're right! Smash in the cage!”

1 drowsily   

adv.睡地，懒洋洋地，昏昏欲睡地

参考例句：

• She turned drowsily on her side, a slow creeping blackness enveloping her mind. 她半睡半醒地翻了个身，一片缓缓蠕动的黑暗渐渐将她的心包围起来。 来自飘（部分）
• I felt asleep drowsily before I knew it. 不知过了多久，我曚扙地睡着了。 来自互联网

2 battering   

n.用坏，损坏v.连续猛击( batter的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The film took a battering from critics in the US. 该影片在美国遭遇到批评家的猛烈抨击。
• He kept battering away at the door. 他接连不断地砸门。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 complacently   

adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地

参考例句：

• He complacently lived out his life as a village school teacher. 他满足于一个乡村教师的生活。
• "That was just something for evening wear," returned his wife complacently. “那套衣服是晚装，"他妻子心安理得地说道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

4 implored   

恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She implored him to stay. 她恳求他留下。
• She implored him with tears in her eyes to forgive her. 她含泪哀求他原谅她。

5 crevice   

n.(岩石、墙等)裂缝；缺口

参考例句：

• I saw a plant growing out of a crevice in the wall.我看到墙缝里长出一棵草来。
• He edged the tool into the crevice.他把刀具插进裂缝里。

6 inebriate   

v.使醉

参考例句：

• Drinking tea can inebriate people in summer.夏季饮茶不当也会让人有醉的感觉。
• He was inebriated by his phenomenal success.他陶醉于他显赫的成功。