The tragical1 end of the consultation2 related in the last chapter had the effect of immediately reconciling the disputants. With the exception of four or five of the most depraved and discontented among them, the Indians bore no particular ill-will to the unfortunate principal of Stoney Creek5; and although a good deal disappointed to find that he was a stern, unyielding trader, they had, in reality, no intention of coming to a serious rupture7 with him, much less of laying violent hands either upon master or men of the establishment.
When, therefore, they beheld8 Mr Whyte weltering in his blood at their feet, a sacrifice to the ungovernable passion of Misconna, who was by no means a favourite among his brethren, their temporary anger was instantly dissipated, and a feeling of deepest indignation roused in their bosoms9 against the miserable10 assassin who had perpetrated the base and cowardly murder. It was, therefore, with a yell of rage that several of the band, immediately after the victim fell, sprang into the woods in hot pursuit of him whom they now counted their enemy. They were joined by several men belonging to the fort, who had hastened to the scene of action on hearing that the people in the hall were likely to come to blows. Redfeather was the first who had bounded like a deer into the woods in pursuit of the fugitive11. Those who remained assisted Charley and his friends to convey the body of Mr Whyte into an adjoining room, where they placed him on a bed. He was quite dead, the murderer’s aim having been terribly true.
Finding that he was past all human aid, the young men returned to the hall, which they entered just as Redfeather glided12 quickly through the open doorway13, and approaching the group, stood in silence beside them, with his arms folded on his breast.
“You have something to tell, Redfeather,” said Jacques, in a subdued14 tone, after regarding him a few seconds; “is the scoundrel caught?”
“Misconna’s foot is swift,” replied the Indian, “and the wood is thick. It is wasting time to follow him through the bushes.”
“What would you advise, then?” exclaimed Charley, in a hurried voice. “I see that you have some plan to propose.”
“The wood is thick,” answered Redfeather, “but the lake and the river are open. Let one party go by the lake, and one party by the river.”
“That’s it, that’s it, Injin,” interrupted Jacques energetically; “yer wits are always jumpin’. By crossin’ over to Duck River, we can start at a point five or six miles above the lower fall; an’ as it’s thereabouts he must cross, we’ll be time enough to catch him. If he tries the lake, the other party’ll fix him there; an’ he’ll be soon poked15 up if he tries to hide in the bush.”
“Come, then; we’ll all give chase at once,” cried Charley, feeling a temporary relief in the prospect16 of energetic action from the depressing effects of the calamity17 that had so suddenly befallen him in the loss of his chief and friend.
Little time was needed for preparation. Jacques, Charley, and Harry18 proceeded by the river; while Redfeather and Hamilton, with a couple of men, launched their canoe on the lake, and set off in pursuit.
Crossing the country for about a mile, Jacques led his party to the point on the Duck River to which he had previously19 referred. Here they found two canoes, into one of which the guide stepped with one of the men, a Canadian, who had accompanied them, while Harry and Charley embarked20 in the other. In a few minutes they were rapidly descending21 the stream.
“How do you mean to act, Jacques?” inquired Charley, as he paddled alongside of the guide’s canoe. “Is it not likely that Misconna may have crossed the river already? in which case we shall have no chance of catching23 him.”
“Niver fear,” returned Jacques. “He must have longer legs than most men if he gets to the flat-rock fall before us, an’ as that’s the spot where he’ll nat’rally cross the river, being the only straight line for the hills that escapes the bend o’ the bay to the south o’ Stoney Creek, we’re pretty sartin to stop him there.”
“True; but that being, as you you say, the natural route, don’t you think it likely he’ll expect that it will be guarded, and avoid it accordingly?”
“He would do so, Mister Charles, if he thought we were here; but there are two reasons agin this. He thinks that he’s got the start o’ us, an’ won’t need to double by way o’ deceivin’ us; and then he knows that the whole tribe is after him, and consekintly won’t take a long road when there’s a short one, if he can help it. But here’s the rock. Look out, Mister Charles. We’ll have to run the fall, which isn’t very big just now, and then hide in the bushes at the foot of it till the blackguard shows himself. Keep well to the right, an’ don’t mind the big rock; the rush o’ water takes you clear o’ that without trouble.”
With this concluding piece of advice, he pointed6 to the fall, which plunged25 over a ledge26 of rock about half a mile ahead of them, and which was distinguishable by a small column of white spray that rose out of it. As Charley beheld it his spirits rose, and forgetting for a moment the circumstances that called him there, he cried out—
“I’ll run it before you, Jacques. Hurrah27! Give way, Harry!” and in spite of a remonstrance28 from the guide, he shot the canoe ahead, gave vent29 to another reckless shout, and flew, rather than glided, down the stream. On seeing this the guide held back, so as to give him sufficient time to take the plunge24 ere he followed. A few strokes brought Charley’s canoe to the brink30 of the fall, and Harry was just in the act of raising himself in the bow to observe the position of the rocks, when a shout was heard on the bank close beside them. Looking up they beheld an Indian emerge from the forest, fit an arrow to his bow, and discharge it at them. The winged messenger was truly aimed; it whizzed through the air and transfixed Harry Somerville’s left shoulder just at the moment they swept over the fall. The arrow completely incapacitated Harry from using his arm, so that the canoe, instead of being directed into the broad current, took a sudden turn, dashed in among a mass of broken rocks, between which the water foamed31 with violence, and upset. Here the canoe stuck fast, while its owners stood up to their waists in the water, struggling to set it free—an object which they were the more anxious to accomplish that its stern lay directly in the spot where Jacques would infallibly descend22. The next instant their fears were realised. The second canoe glided over the cataract32, dashed violently against the first, and upset, leaving Jacques and his man in a similar predicament. By their aid, however, the canoes were more easily righted, and embarking33 quickly they shot forth34 again, just as the Indian, who had been obliged to make a détour in order to get within range of their position, reappeared on the banks above, and sent another shaft35 after them—fortunately, however, without effect.
“This is unfortunate,” muttered Jacques, as the party landed and endeavoured to wring36 some of the water from their dripping clothes; “an’ the worst of it is that our guns are useless after sich a duckin’, an’ the varmint knows that, an’ will be down on us in a twinklin’.”
“But we are four to one,” exclaimed Harry. “Surely we don’t need to fear much from a single enemy.”
“Humph!” ejaculated the guide, as he examined the lock of his gun. “You’ve had little to do with Injins, that’s plain. You may be sure he’s not alone, an’ the reptile37 has a bow with arrows enough to send us all on a pretty long journey. But we’ve the trees to dodge38 behind. If I only had one dry charge!” and the disconcerted guide gave a look, half of perplexity, half of contempt, at the dripping gun.
“Never mind,” cried Charley; “we have our paddles.—But I forgot, Harry, in all this confusion, that you are wounded, my poor fellow. We must have it examined before doing anything further.”
“Oh, it’s nothing at all—a mere39 scratch, I think; at least I feel very little pain.”
As he spoke40 the twang of a bow was heard, and an arrow flew past Jacques’s ear.
“Ah, so soon!” exclaimed that worthy41, with a look of surprise, as if he had unexpectedly met with an old friend. Stepping behind a tree, he motioned to his friends to do likewise; an example which they followed somewhat hastily on beholding42 the Indian who had wounded Harry step from the cover of the underwood and deliberately43 let fly another arrow, which passed through the hair of the Canadian they had brought with them.
From the several trees behind which they had leaped for shelter they now perceived that the Indian with the bow was Misconna, and that he was accompanied by eight others; who appeared, however, to be totally unarmed—having, probably, been obliged to leave their weapons behind them, owing to the abruptness44 of their flight. Seeing that the white men were unable to use their guns, the Indians assembled in a group, and from the hasty and violent gesticulations of some of the party, especially of Misconna, it was evident that a speedy attack was intended.
Observing this, Jacques coolly left the shelter of his tree, and going up to Charley, exclaimed, “Now, Mister Charles, I’m goin’ to run away, so you’d better come along with me.”
“That I certainly will not. Why, what do you mean?” inquired the other, in astonishment46.
“I mean that these stupid redskins can’t make up their minds what to do, an’ as I’ve no notion o’ stoppin’ here all day, I want to make them do what will suit us best. You see, if they scatter47 through the wood and attack us on all sides, they may give us a deal o’ trouble, and git away after all; whereas, if we run away, they’ll bolt after us in a body, and then we can take them in hand all at once, which’ll be more comfortable-like, an’ easier to manage.”
As Jacques spoke they were joined by Harry and the Canadian; and being observed by the Indians thus grouped together, another arrow was sent among them.
“Now, follow me,” said Jacques, turning round with a loud howl and running away. He was closely followed by the others. As the guide had predicted, the Indians no sooner observed this than they rushed after them in a body, uttering horrible yells.
“Now, then, stop here; down with you.”
Jacques instantly crouched48 behind a bush, while each of the party did the same. In a moment the savages50 came shouting up, supposing that the white men were still running on in advance. As the foremost, a tall, muscular fellow, with the agility51 of a panther, bounded over the bush behind which Jacques was concealed52, he was met with a blow from the guide’s fist, so powerfully delivered into the pit of his stomach, that it sent him violently back into the bush, where he lay insensible. This event, of course, put a check upon the headlong pursuit of the others, who suddenly paused, like a group of infuriated tigers unexpectedly balked54 of their prey55. The hesitation56, however, was but for a moment. Misconna, who was in advance, suddenly drew his bow again, and let fly an arrow at Jacques, which the latter dexterously57 avoided; and while his antagonist58 lowered his eyes for an instant to fit another arrow to the string, the guide, making use of his paddle as a sort of javelin60, threw it with such force and precision that it struck Misconna directly between the eyes and felled him to the earth. In another instant the two parties rushed upon each other, and a general mélée, ensued, in which the white men, being greatly superior to their adversaries61 in the use of their fists, soon proved themselves more than a match for them all, although inferior in numbers. Charley’s first antagonist, making an abortive62 attempt to grapple with him, received two rapid blows, one on the chest and the other on the nose, which knocked him over the bank into the river, while his conqueror63 sprang upon another Indian. Harry, having unfortunately selected the biggest savage49 of the band as his special property, rushed upon him and dealt him a vigorous blow on the head with his paddle. The weapon, however, was made of light wood, and, instead of felling him to the ground, broke into shivers. Springing upon each other, they immediately engaged in a fierce struggle, in which poor Harry learned, when too late, that his wounded shoulder was almost powerless. Meanwhile, the Canadian, having been assaulted by three Indians at once, floored one at the onset64, and immediately began an impromptu65 war-dance round the other two, dealing66 them occasionally a kick or a blow, which would speedily have rendered them hors de combat, had they not succeeded in closing upon him, when all three fell heavily to the ground. Jacques and Charley, having succeeded in overcoming their respective opponents, immediately hastened to his rescue. In the meantime, Harry and his foe67 had struggled to a considerable distance from the others, gradually edging towards the river’s bank. Feeling faint from his wound, the former at length sank under the weight of his powerful antagonist, who endeavoured to thrust him over a kind of cliff which they had approached. He was on the point of accomplishing his purpose, when Charley and his friends perceived Harry’s imminent68 danger, and rushed to the rescue. Quickly though they ran, however, it seemed likely that they would be too late. Harry’s head already overhung the bank, and the Indian was endeavouring to loosen the gripe of the young man’s hand from his throat, preparatory to tossing him over, when a wild cry rang through the forest, followed by the reports of a double-barrelled gun, fired in quick succession. Immediately after, young Hamilton bounded like a deer down the slope, seized the Indian by the legs, and tossed him over the cliff, where he turned a complete somersault in his descent, and fell with a sounding splash into the water.
“Well done, cleverly done, lad!” cried Jacques, as he and the rest of the party came up and crowded round Harry, who lay in a state of partial stupor69 on the bank.
At this moment Redfeather hastily but silently approached; his broad chest was heaving heavily, and his expanded nostrils70 quivering with the exertions71 he had made to reach the scene of action in time to succour his friends.
“Thank God,” said Hamilton, softly, as he kneeled beside Harry and supported his head, while Charley bathed his temples—“thank God that I have been in time! Fortunately I was walking by the river considerably72 in advance of Redfeather, who was bringing up the canoe, when I heard the sounds of the fray73, and hastened to your aid.”
At this moment Harry opened his eyes, and saying faintly that he felt better, allowed himself to be raised to a sitting posture74, while his coat was removed and his wound examined. It was found to be a deep flesh-wound in the shoulder, from which a fragment of the broken arrow still protruded75.
“It’s a wonder to me, Mister Harry, how ye held on to that big thief so long,” muttered Jacques, as he drew out the splinter and bandaged up the shoulder. Having completed the surgical76 operation after a rough fashion, they collected the defeated Indians. Those of them that were able to walk were bound together by the wrists and marched off to the fort, under a guard which was strengthened by the arrival of several of the fur-traders who had been in pursuit of the fugitives77, and were attracted to the spot by the shouts of the combatants. Harry and such of the party as were more or less severely78 injured were placed in canoes and conveyed to Stoney Creek by the lake, into which Duck River runs at the distance of about half a mile from the spot on which the skirmish had taken place. Misconna was among the latter.
On arriving at Stoney Creek, the canoe party found a large assemblage of the natives awaiting them on the wharf79, and no sooner did Misconna land than they advanced to seize him.
“Keep back, friends,” cried Jacques, who perceived their intentions, and stepped hastily between them.—“Come here, lads,” he continued, turning to his companions; “surround Misconna. He is our prisoner, and must ha’ fair justice done him, accordin’ to white law.”
They fell back in silence on observing the guide’s determined80 manner; but as they hurried the wretched culprit towards the house, one of the Indians pressed close upon their rear, and before any one could prevent him, dashed his tomahawk into Misconna’s brain. Seeing that the blow was mortal, the traders ceased to offer any further opposition81; and the Indians, rushing upon his body, bore it away, amid shouts and yells of execration82, to their canoes, to one of which the body was fastened by a rope, and dragged through the water to a point of land that jutted83 out into the lake near at hand. Here they lighted a fire and burned it to ashes.
There seems to be a period in the history of every one when the fair aspect of this world is darkened—when everything, whether past, present, or future, assumes a hue84 of the deepest gloom; a period when, for the first time, the sun, which has shone in the mental firmament85 with more or less brilliancy from childhood upwards86, entirely87 disappears behind a cloud of thick darkness, and leaves the soul in a state of deep melancholy88; a time when feelings somewhat akin59 to despair pervade89 us, as we begin gradually to look upon the past as a bright, happy vision, out of which we have at last awakened90 to view the sad realities of the present, and look forward with sinking hope to the future. Various are the causes which produce this, and diverse the effects of it on differently constituted minds; but there are few, we apprehend91, who have not passed through the cloud in one or other of its phases, and who do not feel that this first period of prolonged sorrow is darker, and heavier, and worse to bear, than many of the more truly grievous afflictions that sooner or later fall to the lot of most men.
Into a state of mind somewhat similar to that which we have endeavoured to describe our friend Charley Kennedy fell immediately after the events just narrated92. The sudden and awful death of his friend Mr Whyte fell upon his young spirit, unaccustomed as he was to scenes of bloodshed and violence, with overwhelming power. From the depression, however, which naturally followed he would probably soon have rallied had not Harry Somerville’s wound in the shoulder taken an unfavourable turn, and obliged him to remain for many weeks in bed, under the influence of a slow fever; so that Charley felt a desolation creeping over his soul that no effort he was capable of making could shake off. It is true he found both occupation and pleasure in attending upon his sick friend; but as Harry’s illness rendered great quiet necessary, and as Hamilton had been sent to take charge of the fishing-station mentioned in a former chapter, Charley was obliged to indulge his gloomy reveries in silence. To add to his wretchedness, he received a letter from Kate about a week after Mr Whyte’s burial, telling him of the death of his mother.
Meanwhile, Redfeather and Jacques—both of whom, at their young master’s earnest solicitation93, agreed to winter at Stoney Creek—cultivated each other’s acquaintance sedulously94. There were no books of any kind at the outpost, excepting three Bibles—one belonging to Charley, and one to Harry, the third being that which had been presented to Jacques by Mr Conway the missionary95. This single volume, however, proved to be an ample library to Jacques and his Indian friend. Neither of these sons of the forest was much accustomed to reading, and neither of them would have for a moment entertained the idea of taking to literature as a pastime; but Redfeather loved the Bible for the sake of the great truths which he discovered in its inspired pages, though much of what he read was to him mysterious and utterly96 incomprehensible. Jacques, on the other hand, read it, or listened to his friend, with that philosophic97 gravity of countenance98 and earnestness of purpose which he displayed in regard to everything; and deep, serious, and protracted99 were the discussions they plunged into, as night after night they sat on a log, with the Bible spread out before them, and read by the light of the blazing fire in the men’s house at Stoney Creek. Their intercourse100, however, was brought to an abrupt45 conclusion by the unexpected arrival, one day, of Mr Conway, the missionary, in his tin canoe. This gentleman’s appearance was most welcome to all parties. It was like a bright ray of sunshine to Charley to meet with one who could fully53 sympathise with him in his present sorrowful frame of mind. It was an event of some consequence to Harry Somerville, inasmuch as it provided him with an amateur doctor who really understood somewhat of his physical complaint, and was able to pour balm, at once literally101 and spiritually, into his wounds. It was an event productive of the liveliest satisfaction to Redfeather, who now felt assured that his tribe would have those mysteries explained which he only imperfectly understood himself; and it was an event of much rejoicing to the Indians themselves because their curiosity had been not a little roused by what they heard of the doings and sayings of the white missionary, who lived on the borders of the great lake. The only person, perhaps, on whom Mr Conway’s arrival acted with other than a pleasing influence was Jacques Caradoc. This worthy, although glad to meet with a man whom he felt inclined both to love and respect, was by no means gratified to find that his friend Redfeather had agreed to go with the missionary on his visit to the Indian tribe, and thereafter to accompany him to the settlement on Playgreen Lake. But with the stoicism that was natural to him, Jacques submitted to circumstances which he could not alter, and contented4 himself with assuring Redfeather that if he lived till next spring he would most certainly “make tracks for the great lake,” and settle down at the missionary’s station along with him. This promise was made at the end of the wharf of Stoney Creek the morning on which Mr Conway and his party embarked in their tin canoe—the same tin canoe at which Jacques had curled his nose contemptuously when he saw it in process of being constructed, and at which he did not by any means curl it the less contemptuously now that he saw it finished. The little craft answered its purpose marvellously well, however, and bounded lightly away under the vigorous strokes of its crew, leaving Charley and Jacques on the pier102 gazing wistfully after their friends, and listening sadly to the echoes of their parting song as it floated more and more faintly over the lake.
Winter came, but no ray of sunshine broke through the dark cloud that hung over Stoney Creek. Harry Somerville, instead of becoming better, grew worse and worse every day, so that when Charley dispatched the winter packet, he represented the illness of his friend to the powers at headquarters as being of a nature that required serious and immediate3 attention and change of scene. But the word immediate bears a slightly different signification in the backwoods to what it does in the lands of railroads and steamboats. The letter containing this hint took many weeks to traverse the waste wilderness103 to its destination; months passed before the reply was written, and many weeks more elapsed ere its contents were perused104 by Charley and his friend. When they did read it, however, the dark cloud that had hung over them so long burst at last; a ray of sunshine streamed down brightly upon their hearts, and never forsook105 them again, although it did lose a little of its brilliancy after the first flash. It was on a rich, dewy, cheerful morning in early spring that the packet arrived, and Charley led Harry, who was slowly recovering his wonted health and spirits, to their favourite rocky resting-place on the margin106 of the lake. Here he placed the letter in his friend’s hand with a smile of genuine delight. It ran as follows:—
My Dear Sir,—Your letter containing the account of Mr Somerville’s illness has been forwarded to me, and I am instructed to inform you that leave of absence for a short time has been granted to him. I have had a conversation with the doctor here, who advises me to recommend that, if your friend has no other summer residence in view, he should spend part of his time in Red River settlement. In the event of his agreeing to this, I would suggest that he should leave Stoney Creek with the first brigade in spring, or by express canoe if you think it advisable. I am, etcetera.
“Short but sweet—uncommonly sweet!” said Harry, as a deep flush of joy crimsoned107 his pale cheeks, while his own merry smile, that had been absent for many a weary day, returned once more to its old haunt, and danced round its accustomed dimples like a repentant108 wanderer who has been long absent from and has at last returned to his native home.
“Sweet indeed!” echoed Charley. “But that’s not all; here’s another lump of sugar for you.” So saying, he pulled a letter from his pocket, unfolded it slowly, spread it out on his knee, and, looking up at his expectant friend, winked109.
“Go on, Charley; pray, don’t tantalise me.”
“Tantalise you! My dear fellow, nothing is farther from my thoughts. Listen to this paragraph in my dear old father’s letter:—
“‘So you see, my dear Charley, that we have managed to get you appointed to the charge of Lower Fort Garry; and as I hear that poor Harry Somerville is to get leave of absence, you had better bring him along with you. I need not add that my house is at his service as long as he may wish to remain in it.’
“There! what think ye of that, my boy?” said Charley, as he folded the letter and returned it to his pocket.
“I think,” replied Harry, “that your father is a dear old gentleman, and I hope that you’ll only be half as good when you come to his time of life; and I think I’m so happy to-day that I’ll be able to walk without the assistance of your arm to-morrow; and I think we had better go beck to the house now, for I feel, oddly enough, as tired as if I had had a long walk. Ah, Charley, my dear fellow, that letter will prove to be the best doctor I have had yet. But now tell me what you intend to do.”
Charley assisted his friend to rise, and led him slowly back to the house, as he replied—
“Do, my boy? That’s soon said. I’ll make things square and straight at Stoney Creek. I’ll send for Hamilton, and make him interim110 commander-in-chief. I’ll write two letters—one to the gentleman in charge of the district, telling him of my movements; the other (containing a screed111 of formal instructions) to the miserable mortal who shall succeed me here. I’ll take the best canoe in our store, load it with provisions, put you carefully in the middle of it, stick Jacques in the bow and myself in the stern, and start, two weeks hence, neck and crop, head over heels, through thick and thin, wet and dry, over portage, river, fall, and lake, for Red River settlement!”
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tragical
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| adj. 悲剧的, 悲剧性的 | |
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consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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rupture
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| n.破裂；(关系的)决裂；v.(使)破裂 | |
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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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bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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glided
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| 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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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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subdued
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| 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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poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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previously
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embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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descending
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descend
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catching
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plunge
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plunged
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ledge
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hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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remonstrance
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| n抗议，抱怨 | |
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vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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30
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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31
foamed
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| 泡沫的 | |
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32
cataract
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| n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障 | |
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33
embarking
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| 乘船( embark的现在分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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34
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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35
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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36
wring
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| n.扭绞；v.拧，绞出，扭 | |
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37
reptile
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| n.爬行动物；两栖动物 | |
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38
dodge
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| v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计 | |
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39
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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40
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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41
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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42
beholding
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| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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43
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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44
abruptness
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| n. 突然，唐突 | |
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45
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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46
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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47
scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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48
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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50
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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51
agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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52
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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53
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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54
balked
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| v.畏缩不前，犹豫( balk的过去式和过去分词 )；（指马）不肯跑 | |
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55
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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56
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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dexterously
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| adv.巧妙地，敏捷地 | |
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58
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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59
akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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60
javelin
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| n.标枪，投枪 | |
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61
adversaries
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| n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 ) | |
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62
abortive
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| adj.不成功的，发育不全的 | |
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63
conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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onset
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| n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始 | |
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impromptu
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| adj.即席的，即兴的；adv.即兴的(地)，无准备的(地) | |
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dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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67
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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68
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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stupor
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| v.昏迷；不省人事 | |
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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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71
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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73
fray
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| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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protruded
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| 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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surgical
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| adj.外科的，外科医生的，手术上的 | |
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77
fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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78
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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79
wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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80
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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81
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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82
execration
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| n.诅咒，念咒，憎恶 | |
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83
jutted
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| v.（使）突出( jut的过去式和过去分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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84
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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85
firmament
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| n.苍穹；最高层 | |
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86
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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87
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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88
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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89
pervade
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| v.弥漫，遍及，充满，渗透，漫延 | |
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awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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91
apprehend
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| vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑 | |
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92
narrated
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| v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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93
solicitation
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| n.诱惑；揽货；恳切地要求；游说 | |
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94
sedulously
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| ad.孜孜不倦地 | |
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95
missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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96
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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97
philosophic
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| adj.哲学的，贤明的 | |
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98
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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99
protracted
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| adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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100
intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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101
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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102
pier
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| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
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103
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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104
perused
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| v.读（某篇文字）( peruse的过去式和过去分词 )；（尤指）细阅；审阅；匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览（某篇文字） | |
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105
forsook
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| forsake的过去式 | |
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106
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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107
crimsoned
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| 变为深红色（crimson的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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108
repentant
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| adj.对…感到悔恨的 | |
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109
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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110
interim
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| adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间 | |
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111
screed
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| n.长篇大论 | |
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