CHAPTER XXXIII WALTER SAVES ANOTHER'S LIFE

 Meanwhile the feelings of Walter were hard to describe. He saw that perhaps his only chance of life lay in remaining quiet and letting the mistake remain uncorrected.

On the other hand, the poor wretch¹ was as much entitled to life as he.

“He's the hoss thief!” shrieked² the tramp. “Ask him if he isn't.”

The leader, who had him by the collar, paused, and the words of the captive seemed to make some impression on him.

“We don't want to make no mistake,” he said. “Mebbe we might ask him.”

“You hear what this man says?”

“Yes,” answered Walter, in husky accents.

“Is it true? Are you the hoss thief?”

“No!”

And the poor tramp would have been dragged away, but Walter, his face pale, but resolute³, held up his hand to secure attention.

“Listen!” he said. “I am not a horse thief, but I was put here charged with stealing the horse of Colonel Owen.”

“Just as I said, gentlemen,” chimed in the inebriate⁴.

“Then we've got the wrong one!” said the leader. “Here, you can go!”

“We must have you!” went on the leader, approaching Walter's cell.

“What do you want to do with me?” asked Walter, with sinking heart.

“String you up! That's the way we serve hoss thieves!”

“Gentlemen!” said Walter, “you are making a terrible mistake.

“Didn't you say just now you was the thief?”

“No; I said I was put in here charged with horse-stealing.”

An assault was made on the door of his cell, and within three minutes Walter was dragged out.

He began to speak, but was roughly ordered to shut up.

The line of march was resumed, and a quarter of a mile distant they passed through a gate and began the ascent⁵ of a hill, at the summit of which was a grove⁶ of tall trees. Walter shuddered⁷ and his heart sank within him, for he understood only too well what fate was in store for him.

 

1 wretch   

n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人

参考例句：

• You are really an ungrateful wretch to complain instead of thanking him.你不但不谢他，还埋怨他，真不知好歹。
• The dead husband is not the dishonoured wretch they fancied him.死去的丈夫不是他们所想象的不光彩的坏蛋。

2 shrieked   

v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She shrieked in fright. 她吓得尖叫起来。
• Li Mei-t'ing gave a shout, and Lu Tzu-hsiao shrieked, "Tell what? 李梅亭大声叫，陆子潇尖声叫：“告诉什么？ 来自汉英文学 - 围城

3 resolute   

adj.坚决的，果敢的

参考例句：

• He was resolute in carrying out his plan.他坚决地实行他的计划。
• The Egyptians offered resolute resistance to the aggressors.埃及人对侵略者作出坚决的反抗。

4 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。

5 ascent   

n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高

参考例句：

• His rapid ascent in the social scale was surprising.他的社会地位提高之迅速令人吃惊。
• Burke pushed the button and the elevator began its slow ascent.伯克按动电钮，电梯开始缓慢上升。

6 grove   

n.林子，小树林，园林

参考例句：

• On top of the hill was a grove of tall trees.山顶上一片高大的树林。
• The scent of lemons filled the grove.柠檬香味充满了小树林。

7 shuddered   

v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动

参考例句：

• He slammed on the brakes and the car shuddered to a halt. 他猛踩刹车，车颤抖着停住了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I shuddered at the sight of the dead body. 我一看见那尸体就战栗。 来自《简明英汉词典》