Soon after this the explorers passed beyond the level country, and their sufferings were for the time relieved. The region through which they then passed was varied—hilly, wooded, and beautiful, and, to crown all, water was plentiful2. Large game was also abundant, and one day the footprints of elephants were discovered.
To some of the party that day was one of deepest interest and excitement.
Charlie Considine, who was, as we have said, an adept3 with the pencil, longed to sit down and sketch4 the lordly elephant in his native haunts. Andrew Rivers and Jerry Goldboy wanted to shoot him, so did George Rennie and the Mullers and Lucas Van Dyk. More moderate souls, like Sandy Black, said they would be satisfied merely to see him, while Slinger6 and Dikkop, with their brethren, declared that they wanted to eat him.
At last they came in sight of him! It was a little after mid-day. They were traversing at the time a jungle so dense7 that it would have been impassable but for a Kafir-path which had been kept open by wild animals. The hunters had already seen herds8 of quaggas, and buffaloes9, and some of the larger sorts of antelopes10, also one rhinoceros11, but not yet elephants. Now, to their joy, the giant tracks of these monsters were discovered. Near the river, in swampy12 places, it was evident that some of them had been rolling luxuriously14 in the ooze15 and mud. But it was in the forests and jungles that they had left the most striking marks of their habits and mighty16 power, for there thorny17 brakes of the most impenetrable character had been trodden flat by them, and trees had been overturned. In traversing such places the great bull-elephant always marches in the van, bursting through everything by sheer force and weight, breaking off huge limbs of the larger trees with his proboscis18 when these obstruct19 his path, and overturning the smaller ones bodily, while the females and younger members of the family follow in his wake.
A little further on they came to a piece of open ground where the elephants had torn up a number of mimosa-trees and inverted20 them so that they might the more easily browse21 on the juicy roots. It was evident from appearances that the animals had used their tusks22 as crowbars, inserting them under the roots to loosen their hold of the earth, and it was equally clear that, like other and higher creatures, they sometimes attempted what was beyond their strength, for some of the larger trees had resisted their utmost efforts.
As these signs multiplied the hunters proceeded with increased vigilance and caution, each exhibiting the peculiarity25 of his character, more or less, by his look and actions. The Mullers, Van Dyk, Rennie, Hans, and other experienced men, rode along, calmly watchful26, yet not so much absorbed as to prevent a humorous glance and a smile at the conduct of their less experienced comrades. Considine and Rivers showed that their spirits were deeply stirred, by the flash of their ever-roving eyes, the tight compression of their lips, the flush on their brows, and the position of readiness in which they carried their guns—elephant-guns, by the way, lent them by their Dutch friends for the occasion. Sandy Black rode with a cool, sober, sedate27 air, looking interested and attentive28, but with that peculiar24 twinkle of the eyes and slightly sarcastic29 droop30 at the corners of the mouth which is often characteristic of the sceptical Scotsman. On the other hand, Jerry Goldboy went along blazing with excitement, while every now and then he uttered a suppressed exclamation31, and clapped the blunderbuss to his shoulder when anything moved, or seemed to move, in the jungle.
Jerry had flatly refused to exchange his artillery32 for any other weapon, and having learned that small shot was useless against elephants, he had charged it with five or six large pebbles—such as David might have used in the slaying33 of Goliath. Mixed with these was a sprinkling of large nails, and one or two odd buttons. He was a source of constant and justifiable34 alarm to his friends, who usually compelled him either to ride in front, with the blunderbuss pointing forward, or in the rear, with its muzzle35 pointing backward.
“There go your friends at last, Jerry,” said Van Dyk, curling his black moustache, with a smile, as the party emerged from a woody defile36 into a wide valley.
“What? where? eh! in which direction? point ’em out quick!” cried Jerry, cocking the blunderbuss violently and wheeling his steed round with such force that his haunch hit Sandy Black’s leg pretty severely37.
Jerry subdued40 himself with a violent effort, while the experienced hunters pointed41 out the elephants, and consulted as to the best plan of procedure.
There were fifty at least of the magnificent animals scattered42 in groups over the bottom and sides of a valley about three miles in extent; some were browsing43 on the succulent spekboom, of which they are very fond. Others were digging up and feeding among the young mimosa-thorns and evergreens44. The place where the hunters stood was not suitable for an attack. It was therefore resolved to move round to a better position. As they advanced some of the groups of elephants came more distinctly into view, but they seemed either not to observe, or to disregard, the intruders.
“Why not go at ’em at once?” asked young Rivers in an impatient whisper.
“Don’t you see,” explained Van Dyk, with one of his quiet smiles, “that the ground where the nearest fellows stand is not suitable for horsemen?”
“Well, I don’t see exactly, but I’ll take your word for it.”
While they were speaking, and riding through a meadow thickly studded over with clumps46 of tall evergreens, Considine observed something moving over the top of a bush close ahead of him.
“Look out there!” he exclaimed, but those in advance had already turned the corner of a bush, and found themselves within a hundred paces of a huge male elephant.
Jerry at once pointed the blunderbuss and shut his eyes, and would infallibly have pulled the trigger, if Sandy Black, who had in some measure become his keeper, had not seized his wrist and wrenched48 the weapon from his grasp.
“Man, ye’ll be the death o’ somebody yet,” he said in a low stern tone.
Jerry at once became penitent49 and on giving a solemn promise that he would not fire till he obtained permission, received his weapon back.
“Een groot gruwzaam karl,” whispered one of the Hottentots, in broken Dutch.
“My certie, but he is a great gruesome carl!” said Black, echoing in Scotch50 the Dutchman’s expression as he gazed in admiration51.
“He’s fourteen feet high if he’s an inch,” observed George Rennie.
The scent52 and hearing of the elephant are both keen, but his sight is not very good. As the wind chanced to blow from him to the hunters he had not perceived them. This was fortunate, for it would have been highly dangerous to have attacked him in such ground. They wheeled round therefore and galloped54 away towards some scattered rocks, whence they could better approach him on foot. Dismounting, the leaders formed a hasty plan of operations, and immediately proceeded to put it in execution.
It may have been that their explanation of the plan was not lucid55, or that Jerry Goldboy’s head was not clear, but certain it is that after having been carefully told what to do, he dashed into the jungle after Sandy Black and did what seemed right in his own eyes.
Black kept close to the heels of Hans Marais, and so did Considine, but Jerry soon began to pant with excitement; then he stumbled and fell. Before recovering himself from a “wait-a-bit” thorn he had been left out of sight behind. He pushed valiantly56 on however and came to a small open plain, where he looked anxiously round, but his comrades were nowhere to be seen. Just then a shot was fired, it was followed quickly by another, and then was heard, above the shouting of excited Hottentots, the shrill57 screaming of wounded and enraged58 elephants. Jerry heard the tremendous sounds for the first time, and quaked in his spinal59 marrow60.
Observing the smoke of a shot on the opposite side of the little plain, he proceeded to cross over hastily, but had barely gained the middle of the open space when the shrill screams were repeated with redoubled fury. At the same time Jerry heard cries of warning, coupled with his own name. He looked right and left in alarm, not knowing where the threatened danger was likely to come from. He was not kept long in suspense61. Behind him he heard the crackling and crashing of branches caused by elephants bursting through the wood. Then a large female with three young, but by no means small, ones issued from the edge of the jungle and made straight at the unfortunate man. Jerry turned and ran, but he had no chance; the elephants gained on him so fast that he felt, with an awful sickening of the heart, it was not possible to reach the rocky ground beyond the meadow, where he might have been safe. With the courage of despair he faced about and fired straight in the face of the old female, which ran him down with a shriek62 of indignation. She had only one tusk23, but with that she made a prod63 at Jerry that would have quickly ended his days if it had not missed the mark and gone deep into the ground. She then caught him by the middle with her trunk, threw him between her fore-feet, and attempted to tread him to death. This she certainly would have accomplished64, but that Jerry was remarkably65 agile66 and very small; the ground being soft and muddy was also in his favour. Once she set her foot on his chest, and he felt the bones bending. Of course had the creature’s full weight pressed it, Jerry would have been cracked like a walnut67, but the monster’s foot was rounded and wet, and, the poor man making a desperate wrench47, it slipped into the mud; then she trod on his arm, and squeezed it into the ground without snapping the bone. Thus stamping and wriggling68 for a few seconds, the two fought on for vengeance69 and for life, while George Rennie, Hans, and the two Mullers ran to the rescue and fired a volley. This caused the animal to wince70 and look up. Jerry, taking advantage of the pause, jumped up and dived out from below her between her hind-legs—alighting on his head and turning a complete somersault. He regained71 his feet just as she turned round again to seize him. At that critical moment Lucas Van Dyk put a ball in her head, and Considine sent another into the root of her trunk, which induced her to turn and join her screaming offspring in the bushes.
The hunters pursued, while Jerry, covered with mud and bruises72, and scarcely able to run, made off in the opposite direction. He had scarcely reached the shelter of some broken ground, when the enormous male elephant which had been previously73 encountered, came running past, either to the rescue of its mate, or flying in alarm at the firing. It caught one of the Hottentots who had loitered in rear of the attacking party, carried him some distance in its trunk, and then, throwing him on the ground, brought its four feet together and trod and stamped on him for a considerable time. The unfortunate man was killed instantly. It left the corpse74 for a little, and then returned to it, as if to make quite sure of its deadly work, and, kneeling down, crushed and kneaded the body with its fore-legs. Then seizing it again with its trunk, it carried it off and threw it into the jungle.
This delay on the elephant’s part gave the hunters time to return from the destruction of the female, and with several successful shots to kill the male.
“’Tis a heavy price to pay for our sport,” said Considine sadly, as he stood with his companions gazing on the body of the Hottentot, which was trodden into a shapeless mass.
“Hunters don’t go out for mere5 sport,” said Lucas Van Dyk, “they do it in the way of business—for ivory and hides. Of course they must take the chances of a risky75 trade.”
This sad incident naturally cast a gloom over the party, and they remained there only long enough to cut out the tusks of the male elephant and stow them away with choice parts of the meat in their waggon76.
After quitting the valley they fell in with the party under John Skyd and Frank Dobson, and led by Stephen Orpin. They were much surprised to find with these their friends Kenneth McTavish and Groot Willem, who soon accounted for their unexpected appearance. They had been steadily77 tracing the spoor of poor Junkie, had lost and re-found it several times and, during their pursuit, had crossed the waggon-tracks of Skyd and his party, whom they followed up, in the faint hope that they might have heard or seen something to guide them in their search. In this they were disappointed.
After a brief council of war it was resolved to join their forces and continue the search after Junkie.
Proceeding78 on their way, they fell in with a wounded Kafir. He lay dying under a bush, and made no attempt to escape, although he evidently regarded the white men as enemies. Having been reassured79 on this point, and comforted with a piece of tobacco, he told them that his village had been attacked by the Fetcani and completely destroyed, with all the women and children—only a few of the wounded warriors80 like himself having escaped, to perish in the jungle. The Fetcani he described as the most ferocious81 warriors ever seen. They did not use the ordinary assagai or throwing spear, but a short stabbing one, and invariably closed at once with their foes83 with irresistible84 impetuosity.
On being questioned about prisoners, and reference being made to white men’s children, he said that he had heard of a white boy who was brought to a village a day’s march or more from where they then were, but added that the Fetcani hordes85 had gone off to destroy that village just after destroying his own, and that he had no doubt it was by that time reduced to ashes and all its inhabitants slain86.
On hearing this, and learning the direction of the village in question, the hunters went off at full gallop53, leaving the waggons87 to follow their spoor.
It was nearly sunset when they came to an eminence88 beyond which lay the Kafir town of which they were in search. The first glance showed that something unusual was going on in it—at the same time it relieved their fears to observe that it was not yet destroyed. The mud hovels, like huge beehives, in which the Kafirs dwelt, were not yet burnt, and the only smoke visible was that which rose from cooking fires. But it was quite plain that the people, who in the distance seemed to swarm89 in and about the place like black ants, were in wild excitement.
“No doubt they’ve heard that the Fetcani are coming,” said Groot Willem, riding to the highest point of the ridge90 on which they stood. “The place seems pretty strong. I think we might do worse than go lend the niggers a helping91 hand till we’ve made inquiries92 about the lad.”
Lucas Van Dyk echoed this sentiment, and so did Stephen Orpin, but there were others who thought it best to let the niggers fight their own battles.
“Well, friends,” said Kenneth McTavish, “you may hold what opinion you like on that point, but my business just now is to go into that town and see if I can find Junkie Brook93. The sooner I do so the better, so let those who choose follow me.”
He rode off at a brisk trot94, and was followed by the whole party. On reaching the town they halted, and the principal chief, Eno, came out to meet them. One of the Hottentots being called to interpret, the hunters were informed that the Fetcani had threatened to attack the town, and that the inhabitants were busy putting themselves in a state of defence. They were glad, said the chief, to see the white men, and hoped they would stay to assist him.
To this Stephen Orpin replied through the interpreter. Stephen somehow fell naturally into the position of spokesman and chief of the party in positions where tact95 and eloquence96 or diplomacy97 were wanted, though in the hunting-field he held a very subordinate place.
He told Eno that the white men had come to seek for a white boy who had been stolen from one of the frontier settlements, and that he had heard the boy was in his, Eno’s, town. That he was glad to hear it, though of course he did not suppose Eno had stolen the boy, seeing that none of his people had been yet near the colony. That he and his friends now came to claim the boy, and would be glad to aid them in defending the town, if attacked while they were in it.
In reply the chief said he knew nothing about a white boy being in his town, but would make inquires.
While this conference was going on, a man was seen to approach, running at full speed. He fell from exhaustion98 on arriving, and for some moments could not speak. Recovering, he told that he had just escaped from a band of two hundred Fetcani warriors, who were even then on their way to attack the town.
Instantly all was uproar99 and confusion. The warriors, seizing their shields and spears, sallied forth100 under their chief to meet the enemy—a few of the youngest being left behind to guard the women and children. A party of the Hottentots under Kenneth McTavish also remained to guard the town, while the rest set off to aid the Kafirs. They were compelled, however, to ride back a short distance to meet the waggons, and obtain a supply of ammunition101. Thus a little time was lost, and before they could reach the scene of action the Kafirs had met with the Fetcani warriors, been thoroughly102 beaten, and put to flight.
On the appearance, however, of the horsemen the pursuers halted.
“Now, lads,” cried Groot Willem, “a steady volley and a charge home will send them to the right about.”
“Better fire over their heads,” said Orpin earnestly. “We are not at war with these men. Let us not kill if we can help it.”
“I agree with that heartily,” cried Charlie Considine.
“So do I,” said Hans. “Depend on’t the sound will suffice for men who perhaps never saw fire-arms before.”
“Quite right, Maister Marais,” said Sandy Black, with grave approval, “an’ if oor charge is only heeded103 by Groot Willem an’ Jerry Goldboy, tak’ my word for’t thae Fit-canny craters’ll flee like chaff104 before the wund.”
“Very good,” said Groot Willem, with a grin.—“Come along, Jerry.”
The dauntless little man answered the summons with delight, and the whole party approached the wondering Fetcani at a trot. Halting when within about eighty yards, they fired a volley from horseback over the heads of the enemy. Then, through the smoke, they charged at full speed like thunderbolts, Groot Willem roaring like a mad buffalo-bull, Jerry Goldboy shrieking105 like a wounded elephant, and energising fearfully with legs, arms, reins106, and blunderbuss, while the others shouted or laughed in wild excitement.
The Fetcani, as Sandy Black had prophesied107, could not stand it. Turning their backs to the foe82, they fled as only panic-stricken and naked niggers can fly, and were soon scattered and lost in the jungle.
While this was going on far out on the plain, Kenneth McTavish had much ado to keep the people quiet in the town—so great was their dread108 of falling into the hands of the ferocious Fetcani. But when the wounded warriors began to come in, breathless, gashed109, and bleeding, with the report of their disaster, he found it impossible to restrain the people. The young warriors ignominiously110 left the place and fled, while the women followed, carrying their children and such of their worldly goods as they were loath111 to leave behind. For some time McTavish managed to restrain the latter, but when at last the hunters came thundering back after their bloodless victory, the poor women, fancying they were the enemy, flung down goods, and even babies, and ran.
The horsemen called out to assure them they were friends, but their terror was too great to permit of their comprehending, and they continued to fly.
“Come, Charlie, we must head these poor creatures, and drive them back,” said Hans, as he rode over ground which was strewn with utensils112, mantles113, and victuals114, among which many little black and naked children were seen running, stumbling, tottering115, or creeping, according to age and courage.
Followed by the other horsemen, they rode ahead of the flying multitude, and, cracking their whips menacingly in front, with an occasional charge, they succeeded in staying the flight and turning the poor women back. No sooner did these comprehend how matters stood than they turned, and caught up their little ones with as much affection and thankfulness as if they had just shown a readiness to die for, rather than forsake116, them.
Among these children was one who, although as black as the ace13 of spades in body and face, had light curly flaxen hair. He ran about in a wild unaccountable manner, darting117 hither and thither118, from side to side.
McTavish and the others, who had by that time dismounted, and were standing119 at their horses’ heads amused spectators of the scene, looked at this urchin120 in surprise, until they observed that he was endeavouring to escape from a stout121 young woman who did her best to catch him. She had nearly succeeded, when he suddenly doubled like a hare and bore straight down on the horsemen. Seeing this, the woman gave in, and, turning, fled to the town, while the little fellow ran and clasped the Highlander122 by the knees.
“Oh! Miss’r Tavish!” he cried, and looked up.
“Ah! why—it’s Junkie!” cried the Highlander, catching123 the child up in his arms and hugging him, by which means he left a dark imprint124 of him on his own breast and face.
It was indeed Junkie—naked as on the day of his birth, greased from head to foot, and charcoaled125 as black as the King of Ashantee!
Although an object of the deepest interest to the white men, poor Junkie was not at that moment personally attractive. He was, however, unspeakably happy at seeing white and familiar faces once more. He was also very much subdued, and had obviously profited by the rude teaching he had undergone in Kafirland, for his obedience126 to orders was prompt and unquestioning.
The first important matter was to clean Junkie. This was only partially127 effected, and with difficulty. The next was to clothe him. This was done, on the spur of the moment, with pocket-handkerchiefs, each hunter contributing one till the costume was complete. A large red cotton one formed a sort of plaid; a blue one with a hole in the middle, through which his head was thrust, served as a pretty good poncho128 or tippet; a green one with white spots, tied round the loins, did duty as a tunic129 or kilt; and one of crimson130 silk round the head formed a gorgeous turban.
Returning to the village, the hunters found Eno the chief, and, after expressing much satisfaction at having arrived in time to lend him effectual aid at so critical a period, they presented him with gifts of brass131 wire and cotton cloth, from the stores in Skyd and Dobson’s waggons.
The chief expressed his gratitude132 in glowing terms, and begged the hunters to stay with him for some time. But this they would not do, as it was important to return to the colony, and report what they had seen without delay. Notwithstanding their professions of gratitude, however, these rascals133 stole as many small articles front the waggons as they could lay hands on, and would doubtless have taken all that the hunters possessed134, if they had not been impressed by their valour, and by the dreadful firearms which they carried.
This accidental skirmish was the first meeting of the colonists135 with the Fetcani. It was not till two years later that the Government felt constrained136 to take active measures against these savages137.
The Fetcani, or Mantatee hordes, having been driven from their own country by the bloodthirsty Zulu chief Chaka, had been preying138 upon other tribes for many years, and at last, in 1827, they precipitated139 themselves on the Tambookies, and afterwards on the Galekas, threatening to extirpate140 these Kafirs altogether, or to drive them into the colony as suppliants141 and beggars. In this extremity142 the Kafir chief Hintza urgently craved143 assistance.
It was granted. A body of the colonists sent out by Government, under Major Dundas of the Royal Artillery, defeated the warlike Fetcani, who were afterwards utterly144 routed and scattered, and their dreaded145 power finally annihilated146, near the sources of the Umtata river, by a body of troops under Colonel Somerset. Hintza’s warriors were present at that affair, to the number of about twenty thousand, and they hovered147 about during the engagement admiringly, though without rendering148 assistance. But when the enemy were routed and in confused retreat, they fell upon them, and, despite the remonstrances149 of the white men, committed the most appalling150 atrocities151, mutilating the dead, and cutting off the arms and legs of the living, in order the more easily to obtain their brass rings and ornaments152.
This warlike episode did not, however, affect the general condition of the frontier. The settlers, having overcome the misfortunes of the first years, began to prosper153 and multiply, troubled a good deal, no doubt, by the thievish propensities154 of their ungrateful black neighbours, but on the whole enjoying the fruit of their labours in comparative peace for several years.
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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adept
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| adj.老练的，精通的 | |
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sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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slinger
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| 投石者，吊物工人； 吊索 | |
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dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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herds
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| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
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buffaloes
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| n.水牛（分非洲水牛和亚洲水牛两种）( buffalo的名词复数 )；（南非或北美的）野牛；威胁；恐吓 | |
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antelopes
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| 羚羊( antelope的名词复数 )； 羚羊皮革 | |
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rhinoceros
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swampy
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| adj.沼泽的，湿地的 | |
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ace
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| n.A牌；发球得分；佼佼者；adj.杰出的 | |
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luxuriously
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| adv.奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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ooze
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| n.软泥，渗出物；vi.渗出，泄漏；vt.慢慢渗出，流露 | |
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mighty
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thorny
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proboscis
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obstruct
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inverted
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browse
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| vi.随意翻阅，浏览；(牛、羊等)吃草 | |
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tusks
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| n.（象等动物的）长牙( tusk的名词复数 )；獠牙；尖形物；尖头 | |
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tusk
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| n.獠牙，长牙，象牙 | |
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peculiar
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peculiarity
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watchful
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sedate
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attentive
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sarcastic
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droop
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exclamation
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artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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slaying
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justifiable
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muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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36
defile
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| v.弄污，弄脏；n.(山间)小道 | |
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37
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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38
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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39
nettled
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| v.拿荨麻打，拿荨麻刺（nettle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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40
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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41
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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42
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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43
browsing
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| v.吃草( browse的现在分词 )；随意翻阅；（在商店里）随便看看；（在计算机上）浏览信息 | |
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44
evergreens
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| n.常青树，常绿植物，万年青( evergreen的名词复数 ) | |
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45
laconic
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| adj.简洁的；精练的 | |
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46
clumps
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| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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47
wrench
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| v.猛拧；挣脱；使扭伤；n.扳手；痛苦，难受 | |
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48
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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49
penitent
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| adj.后悔的；n.后悔者；忏悔者 | |
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50
scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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51
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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52
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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53
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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54
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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55
lucid
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| adj.明白易懂的，清晰的，头脑清楚的 | |
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56
valiantly
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| adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳 | |
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57
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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58
enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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59
spinal
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| adj.针的，尖刺的，尖刺状突起的；adj.脊骨的，脊髓的 | |
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60
marrow
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| n.骨髓；精华；活力 | |
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61
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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62
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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63
prod
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| vt.戳，刺；刺激，激励 | |
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64
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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65
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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66
agile
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| adj.敏捷的，灵活的 | |
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67
walnut
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| n.胡桃，胡桃木，胡桃色，茶色 | |
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68
wriggling
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）；蠕蠕 | |
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69
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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70
wince
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| n.畏缩，退避，（因痛苦，苦恼等)面部肌肉抽动；v.畏缩，退缩，退避 | |
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71
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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72
bruises
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| n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 ) | |
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73
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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74
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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75
risky
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| adj.有风险的，冒险的 | |
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76
waggon
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| n.运货马车，运货车；敞篷车箱 | |
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77
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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78
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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79
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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80
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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81
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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82
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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83
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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84
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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85
hordes
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| n.移动着的一大群( horde的名词复数 )；部落 | |
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86
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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87
waggons
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| 四轮的运货马车( waggon的名词复数 )； 铁路货车； 小手推车 | |
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88
eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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89
swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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90
ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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91
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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92
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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93
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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94
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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95
tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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96
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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97
diplomacy
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| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
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98
exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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99
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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100
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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101
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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102
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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103
heeded
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 )；变平，使（某物）变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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104
chaff
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| v.取笑，嘲笑；n.谷壳 | |
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105
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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106
reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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107
prophesied
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| v.预告，预言( prophesy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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108
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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109
gashed
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| v.划伤，割破( gash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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110
ignominiously
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| adv.耻辱地，屈辱地，丢脸地 | |
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111
loath
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| adj.不愿意的；勉强的 | |
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112
utensils
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| 器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物 | |
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113
mantles
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| vt.&vi.覆盖（mantle的第三人称单数形式） | |
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114
victuals
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| n.食物；食品 | |
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115
tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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116
forsake
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| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
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117
darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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118
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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119
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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120
urchin
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| n.顽童；海胆 | |
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122
highlander
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| n.高地的人，苏格兰高地地区的人 | |
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123
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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124
imprint
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| n.印痕，痕迹；深刻的印象；vt.压印，牢记 | |
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125
charcoaled
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| vt.用木炭画（charcoal的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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126
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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127
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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128
poncho
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| n.斗篷，雨衣 | |
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129
tunic
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| n.束腰外衣 | |
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130
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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131
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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132
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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133
rascals
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| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
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134
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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135
colonists
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| n.殖民地开拓者，移民，殖民地居民( colonist的名词复数 ) | |
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136
constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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137
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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138
preying
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| v.掠食( prey的现在分词 )；掠食；折磨；（人）靠欺诈为生 | |
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139
precipitated
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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140
extirpate
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| v.除尽，灭绝 | |
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141
suppliants
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| n.恳求者，哀求者( suppliant的名词复数 ) | |
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142
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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143
craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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144
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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145
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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146
annihilated
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| v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的过去式和过去分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃 | |
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147
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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148
rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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149
remonstrances
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| n.抱怨，抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 ) | |
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150
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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151
atrocities
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| n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪 | |
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152
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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153
prosper
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| v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣 | |
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154
propensities
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| n.倾向，习性( propensity的名词复数 ) | |
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