“Come, brother!” said François, addressing Lucien, “bother your viburnums and your oxycocks! Tell us something about these swans. See! there goes another of them! What a splendid fellow he is! I’d give something to have him within range of buck-shot.”
As François spoke42 he pointed43 down-stream to a great white bird that was seen moving out from the bank. It was a swan, and one of the very largest kind—a “trumpeter” (Cygnus buccinator).
It had been feeding in a sedge of the wild rice (Zizania aquatica), and no doubt the sight of the canoe or the plash of the guiding oar4 had disturbed, and given it the alarm. It shot out from the reeds with head erect44 and wings slightly raised, offering to the eyes of the voyageurs a spectacle of graceful45 and majestic46 bearing, that, among the feathered race at least, is quite inimitable.
A few strokes of its broad feet propelled it into the open water near the middle of the stream, when, making a half wheel, it turned head down the river, and swam with the current.
At the point where it turned it was not two hundred yards ahead of the canoe. Its apparent boldness in permitting them to come so near without taking wing, led François to hope that they might get still nearer; and, begging his companions to ply the paddles, he seized hold of his double-barrel, and leaned forward in the canoe. Basil also conceived a hope that a shot was to be had, for he took up his rifle, and looked to the cock and cap. The others went steadily47 and quietly to work at the oars. In a few moments the canoe cleft48 the current at the rate of a galloping49 horse, and one would have supposed that the swan must either at once take wing or be overtaken.
Not so, however. The “trumpeter” knew his game better than that. He had full confidence both in his strength and speed upon the water. He was not going to undergo the trouble of a fly, until the necessity arose for so doing; and, as it was, he seemed to be satisfied that that necessity had not yet arrived. The swim cost him much less muscular exertion50 than flying would have done, and he judged that the current, here very swift, would carry him out of reach of his pursuers.
It soon began to appear that he judged rightly; and the voyageurs, to their chagrin51, saw that, instead of gaining upon him, as they had expected, every moment widened the distance between him and the canoe. The bird had an advantage over his pursuers. Three distinct powers propelled him, while they had only two to rely upon. He had the current in his favour—so had they. He had oars or paddles—his feet; they had oars as well. He “carried sail,” while they spread not a “rag.” The wind chanced to blow directly down-stream, and the broad wings of the bird, held out from his body, and half extended, caught the very pith of the breeze on their double concave surfaces, and carried him through the water with the velocity52 of an arrow. Do you think that he was not aware of this advantage when he started in the race? Do you suppose that these birds do not think? I for one am satisfied they do, and look upon every one who prates53 about the instinct of these creatures as a philosopher of a very old school indeed. Not only does the great swan think, but so does your parrot, and your piping bullfinch, and the little canary that hops54 on your thumb. All think, and reason, and judge. Should it ever be your fortune to witness the performance of those marvellous birds, exhibited by the graceful Mademoiselle Vandermeersch in the fashionable salons55 of Paris and London, you will agree with me in the belief that the smallest of them has a mind like yourself.
Most certainly the swan, which our voyageurs were pursuing, thought, and reasoned, and judged, and calculated his distance, and resolved to keep on “the even tenor56 of his way,” without putting himself to extra trouble by beating the air with his wings, and lifting his heavy body—thirty pounds at least—up into the heavens. His judgment57 proved sound; for, in less than ten minutes from the commencement of the chase, he had gained a clear hundred yards upon his pursuers, and continued to widen the distance. At intervals58 he raised his beak59 higher than usual, and uttered his loud booming note, which fell upon the ears of the voyageurs as though it had been sent back in mockery and defiance60.
They would have given up the pursuit, had they not noticed that a few hundred yards farther down the river made a sharp turn to the right. The swan, on reaching this, would no longer have the wind in his favour. This inspired them with fresh hopes. They thought they would be able to overtake him after passing the bend, and then, either get a shot at him, or force him into the air. The latter was the more likely; and, although it would be no great gratification to see him fly off, yet they had become so interested in this singular chase that they desired to terminate it by putting the trumpeter to some trouble. They bent61, therefore, with fresh energy to their oars, and pulled onward in the pursuit. First the swan, and after him the canoe, swung round the bend, and entered the new “reach” of the river. The voyageurs at once perceived that the bird now swam more slowly. He no longer “carried sail,” as the wind was no longer in his favour. His wings lay closely folded to his body, and he moved only by the aid of his webbed feet and the current, which last happened to be sluggish62, as the river at this part spread over a wide expanse of level land. The canoe was evidently catching63 up, and each stroke was bringing the pursuers nearer to the pursued.
After a few minutes’ brisk pulling, the trumpeter had lost so much ground that he was not two hundred yards in the advance, and “dead ahead.” His body was no longer carried with the same gracefulness64, and the majestic curving of his neck had disappeared. His bill protruded65 forward, and his thighs66 began to drag the water in his wake. He was evidently on the threshold of flight. Both François and Basil saw this, as they stood with their guns crossed and ready.
At this moment a shrill67 cry sounded over the water. It was the scream of some wild creature, ending in a strange laugh, like the laugh of a maniac68!
On both sides of the river there was a thick forest of tall trees of the cotton-wood species (Populus angustifolia). From this forest the strange cry had proceeded, and from the right bank. Its echoes had hardly ceased, when it was answered by a similar cry from the trees upon the left. So like were the two, that it seemed as if some one of God’s wild creatures was mocking another. These cries were hideous69 enough to frighten any one not used to them. They had not that effect upon our voyageurs, who knew their import. One and all of them were familiar with the voice of the white-headed eagle!
The trumpeter knew it as well as any of them, but on him it produced a far different effect. His terror was apparent, and his intention was all at once changed. Instead of rising into the air, as he had premeditated, he suddenly lowered his head, and disappeared under the water!
Again was heard the wild scream and the maniac laugh; and the next moment an eagle swept out from the timber, and, after a few strokes of its broad wing, poised70 itself over the spot where the trumpeter had gone down. The other, its mate, was seen crossing at the same time from the opposite side.
Presently the swan rose to the surface, but his head was hardly out of the water when the eagle once more uttered its wild note, and, half folding its wings, darted71 down from above. The swan seemed to have expected this, for before the eagle could reach the surface, he had gone under a second time, and the latter, though passing with the velocity of an arrow, plunged73 his talons74 in the water to no purpose. With a cry of disappointment the eagle mounted back into the air, and commenced wheeling in circles over the spot. It was now joined by its mate, and both kept round and round watching for the reappearance of their intended victim.
Again the swan came to the surface, but before either of the eagles could swoop75 upon him he had for the third time disappeared. The swan is but an indifferent diver; but under such circumstances he was likely to do his best at it. But what could it avail him? He must soon rise to the surface to take breath—each time at shorter intervals. He would soon become fatigued76 and unable to dive with sufficient celerity, and then his cruel enemies would be down upon him with their terrible talons. Such is the usual result, unless the swan takes to the air, which he sometimes does. In the present case he had built his hopes upon a different means of escape. He contemplated77 being able to conceal78 himself in a heavy sedge of bulrushes (Scirpus lacustris) that grew along the edge of the river, and towards these he was evidently directing his course under the water. At each emersion he appeared some yards nearer them, until at length he rose within a few feet of their margin79, and diving again was seen no more! He had crept in among the sedge, and no doubt was lying with only his head, or part of it, above the water, his body concealed80 by the broad leaves of the nymphae, while the head itself could not be distinguished81 among the white flowers that lay thickly along the surface. The eagles now wheeled over the sedge, flapping the tops of the bulrushes with their broad wings, and screaming with disappointed rage. Keen as were their eyes they could not discover the hiding-place of their victim. No doubt they would have searched for it a long while, but the canoe—which they now appeared to notice for the first time—had floated near; and, becoming aware of their own danger, both mounted into the air again, and with a farewell scream flew off, and alighted at some distance down the river.
“A swan for supper!” shouted François, as he poised his gun for the expected shot.
The canoe was headed for the bulrushes near the point where the trumpeter had been last seen; and a few strokes of the paddles brought the little craft with a whizzing sound among the sedge. But the culms of the rushes were so tall, and grew so closely together, that the canoemen, after entering, found to their chagrin they could not see six feet around them. They dared not stand up, for this is exceedingly dangerous in a birch canoe, where the greatest caution is necessary to keep the vessel7 from careening over. Moreover, the sedge was so thick, that it was with difficulty they could use their oars. They remained stationary82 for a time, surrounded by a wall of green bulrush. They soon perceived that that would never do, and resolved to push back into the open water. Meanwhile Marengo had been sent into the sedge, and was now heard plunging83 and sweltering about in search of the game. Marengo was not much of a water-dog by nature, but he had been trained to almost every kind of hunting, and his experience among the swamps of Louisiana had long since relieved him of all dread84 for the water. His masters therefore had no fear but that Marengo would “put up” the trumpeter.
Marengo had been let loose a little too soon. Before the canoe could be cleared of the entangling85 sedge, the dog was heard to utter one of his loud growls86, then followed a heavy plunge72, there was a confused fluttering of wings, and the great white bird rose majestically87 into the air! Before either of the gunners could direct their aim, he was beyond the range of shot, and both prudently88 reserved their fire. Marengo having performed his part, swam back to the canoe, and was lifted over the gunwale. The swan, after clearing the sedge, rose almost vertically89 into the air. These birds usually fly at a great elevation—sometimes entirely beyond the reach of sight. Unlike the wild geese and ducks, they never alight upon land, but always upon the bosom91 of the water. It was evidently the intention of this one to go far from the scene of his late dangers, perhaps to the great Lake Winnipeg itself. After attaining92 a height of several hundred yards, he flew forward in a horizontal course, and followed the direction of the stream. His flight was now regular, and his trumpet-note could be heard at intervals, as, with outstretched neck, he glided along the heavens. He seemed to feel the pleasant sensations that every creature has after an escape from danger, and no doubt he fancied himself secure. But in this fancy he deceived himself. Better for him had he risen a few hundred yards higher, or else had uttered his self-gratulation in a more subdued93 tone; for it was heard and answered, and that response was the maniac laugh of the white-headed eagle. At the same instant two of these birds—those already introduced—were seen mounting into the air. They did not fly up vertically, as the swan had done, but in spiral curves, wheeling and crossing each other as they ascended94. They were making for a point that would intersect the flight of the swan should he keep on in his horizontal course. This, however, he did not do. With an eye as quick as theirs, he saw that he was “headed;” and, stretching his long neck upward, he again pursued an almost vertical90 line. But he had to carry thirty pounds of flesh and bones, while the largest of the eagles—the female bird—with a still broader spread of wing, was a “light weight” of only seven. The result of this difference was soon apparent. Before the trumpeter had got two hundred yards higher, the female of the eagles was seen wheeling around him on the same level. The swan was now observed to double, fly downward, and then upward again, while his mournful note echoed back to the earth. But his efforts were in vain. After a series of contortions95 and manoeuvres, the eagle darted forward, with a quick toss threw herself back downward, and, striking upward, planted her talons in the under part of the wing of her victim. The lacerated shaft96 fell uselessly down; and the great white bird, no longer capable of flight, came whistling through the air. But it was not allowed to drop directly to the earth; it would have fallen on the bosom of the broad river, and that the eagles did not wish, as it would have given them some trouble to get the heavy carcass ashore97. As soon as the male—who was lower in the air—saw that his partner had struck the bird, he discontinued his upward flight, and, poising98 himself on his spread tail, waited its descent. A single instant was sufficient. The white object passed him still fluttering; but the moment it was below his level he shot after it like an arrow, and, clutching it in his talons, with an outward stroke sent it whizzing in a diagonal direction. The next moment a crashing was heard among the twigs99, and a dull sound announced that the swan had fallen upon the earth.
The eagles were now seen sailing downward, and soon disappeared among the tops of the trees.
The canoe soon reached the bank; and François, accompanied by Basil and Marengo, leaped ashore, and went in search of the birds. They found the swan quite dead and lying upon its back as the eagles had turned it. Its breast was torn open, and the crimson blood, with which they had been gorging100 themselves, was spread in broad flakes101 over its snowy plumage. The eagles themselves, scared by the dog Marengo, had taken flight before the boys could get within shot of them.
As it was just the hour for a “noon halt” and a luncheon102, the swan was carried to the bank of the river, where a crackling fire was soon kindled103 to roast him; and while this operation was going on the “naturalist” was requested by his companions to give them an account of the “swans of America.”
点击收听单词发音
1 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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2 swollen | |
adj.肿大的,水涨的;v.使变大,肿胀 | |
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3 ply | |
v.(搬运工等)等候顾客,弯曲 | |
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4 oar | |
n.桨,橹,划手;v.划行 | |
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5 oars | |
n.桨,橹( oar的名词复数 );划手v.划(行)( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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6 vessels | |
n.血管( vessel的名词复数 );船;容器;(具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的)人 | |
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7 vessel | |
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
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8 steered | |
v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 );操纵;控制;引导 | |
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9 skilful | |
(=skillful)adj.灵巧的,熟练的 | |
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10 dexterous | |
adj.灵敏的;灵巧的 | |
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11 highland | |
n.(pl.)高地,山地 | |
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12 habitually | |
ad.习惯地,通常地 | |
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13 glided | |
v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 );掠过;(鸟或飞机 ) 滑翔 | |
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14 onward | |
adj.向前的,前进的;adv.向前,前进,在先 | |
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15 memoranda | |
n. 备忘录, 便条 名词memorandum的复数形式 | |
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16 verged | |
接近,逼近(verge的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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17 configuration | |
n.结构,布局,形态,(计算机)配置 | |
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18 flora | |
n.(某一地区的)植物群 | |
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19 mingling | |
adj.混合的 | |
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20 willows | |
n.柳树( willow的名词复数 );柳木 | |
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21 indigenous | |
adj.土产的,土生土长的,本地的 | |
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22 shrub | |
n.灌木,灌木丛 | |
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23 esteemed | |
adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 );敬重;认为;以为 | |
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24 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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25 botanist | |
n.植物学家 | |
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26 lobed | |
adj.浅裂的,叶状的 | |
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27 cranberry | |
n.梅果 | |
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28 acrid | |
adj.辛辣的,尖刻的,刻薄的 | |
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29 cranberries | |
n.越橘( cranberry的名词复数 ) | |
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30 tarts | |
n.果馅饼( tart的名词复数 );轻佻的女人;妓女;小妞 | |
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31 corrupted | |
(使)败坏( corrupt的过去式和过去分词 ); (使)腐化; 引起(计算机文件等的)错误; 破坏 | |
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32 celebrated | |
adj.有名的,声誉卓著的 | |
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33 appellation | |
n.名称,称呼 | |
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34 sterile | |
adj.不毛的,不孕的,无菌的,枯燥的,贫瘠的 | |
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35 crimson | |
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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36 astonishment | |
n.惊奇,惊异 | |
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37 philosophic | |
adj.哲学的,贤明的 | |
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38 northward | |
adv.向北;n.北方的地区 | |
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39 migration | |
n.迁移,移居,(鸟类等的)迁徙 | |
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40 wary | |
adj.谨慎的,机警的,小心的 | |
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41 aquatic | |
adj.水生的,水栖的 | |
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42 spoke | |
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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43 pointed | |
adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
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44 erect | |
n./v.树立,建立,使竖立;adj.直立的,垂直的 | |
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45 graceful | |
adj.优美的,优雅的;得体的 | |
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46 majestic | |
adj.雄伟的,壮丽的,庄严的,威严的,崇高的 | |
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47 steadily | |
adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地 | |
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48 cleft | |
n.裂缝;adj.裂开的 | |
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49 galloping | |
adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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50 exertion | |
n.尽力,努力 | |
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51 chagrin | |
n.懊恼;气愤;委屈 | |
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52 velocity | |
n.速度,速率 | |
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53 prates | |
v.(古时用语)唠叨,啰唆( prate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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54 hops | |
跳上[下]( hop的第三人称单数 ); 单足蹦跳; 齐足(或双足)跳行; 摘葎草花 | |
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55 salons | |
n.(营业性质的)店( salon的名词复数 );厅;沙龙(旧时在上流社会女主人家的例行聚会或聚会场所);(大宅中的)客厅 | |
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56 tenor | |
n.男高音(歌手),次中音(乐器),要旨,大意 | |
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57 judgment | |
n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见 | |
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58 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 | |
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59 beak | |
n.鸟嘴,茶壶嘴,钩形鼻 | |
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60 defiance | |
n.挑战,挑衅,蔑视,违抗 | |
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61 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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62 sluggish | |
adj.懒惰的,迟钝的,无精打采的 | |
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63 catching | |
adj.易传染的,有魅力的,迷人的,接住 | |
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64 gracefulness | |
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65 protruded | |
v.(使某物)伸出,(使某物)突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66 thighs | |
n.股,大腿( thigh的名词复数 );食用的鸡(等的)腿 | |
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67 shrill | |
adj.尖声的;刺耳的;v尖叫 | |
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68 maniac | |
n.精神癫狂的人;疯子 | |
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69 hideous | |
adj.丑陋的,可憎的,可怕的,恐怖的 | |
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70 poised | |
a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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71 darted | |
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
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72 plunge | |
v.跳入,(使)投入,(使)陷入;猛冲 | |
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73 plunged | |
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降 | |
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74 talons | |
n.(尤指猛禽的)爪( talon的名词复数 );(如爪般的)手指;爪状物;锁簧尖状突出部 | |
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75 swoop | |
n.俯冲,攫取;v.抓取,突然袭击 | |
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76 fatigued | |
adj. 疲乏的 | |
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77 contemplated | |
adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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78 conceal | |
v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽 | |
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79 margin | |
n.页边空白;差额;余地,余裕;边,边缘 | |
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80 concealed | |
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的 | |
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81 distinguished | |
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的 | |
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82 stationary | |
adj.固定的,静止不动的 | |
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83 plunging | |
adj.跳进的,突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降 | |
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84 dread | |
vt.担忧,忧虑;惧怕,不敢;n.担忧,畏惧 | |
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85 entangling | |
v.使某人(某物/自己)缠绕,纠缠于(某物中),使某人(自己)陷入(困难或复杂的环境中)( entangle的现在分词 ) | |
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86 growls | |
v.(动物)发狺狺声, (雷)作隆隆声( growl的第三人称单数 );低声咆哮着说 | |
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87 majestically | |
雄伟地; 庄重地; 威严地; 崇高地 | |
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88 prudently | |
adv. 谨慎地,慎重地 | |
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89 vertically | |
adv.垂直地 | |
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90 vertical | |
adj.垂直的,顶点的,纵向的;n.垂直物,垂直的位置 | |
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91 bosom | |
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的 | |
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92 attaining | |
(通常经过努力)实现( attain的现在分词 ); 达到; 获得; 达到(某年龄、水平、状况) | |
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93 subdued | |
adj. 屈服的,柔和的,减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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94 ascended | |
v.上升,攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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95 contortions | |
n.扭歪,弯曲;扭曲,弄歪,歪曲( contortion的名词复数 ) | |
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96 shaft | |
n.(工具的)柄,杆状物 | |
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97 ashore | |
adv.在(向)岸上,上岸 | |
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98 poising | |
使平衡( poise的现在分词 ); 保持(某种姿势); 抓紧; 使稳定 | |
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99 twigs | |
细枝,嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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100 gorging | |
v.(用食物把自己)塞饱,填饱( gorge的现在分词 );作呕 | |
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101 flakes | |
小薄片( flake的名词复数 ); (尤指)碎片; 雪花; 古怪的人 | |
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102 luncheon | |
n.午宴,午餐,便宴 | |
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103 kindled | |
(使某物)燃烧,着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 ); 激起(感情等); 发亮,放光 | |
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