Thus excitingly, and, we presume, pleasantly, passed the time at Tiger’s hut during three days.
In that period the Indian hunter quite recovered from his wounds, and his little girl, Manca by name, began to show decided1 signs of amendment2 under Manuela’s careful nursing. During that period, also, Spotted3 Tiger conducted his visitors to many scenes of beauty, where the young doctor not only shot a variety of game, large and small, feathered and furred, but made acquaintance with many quite new species of plants. He collected and preserved a few of the rarest of these, but owing to the style of travelling, both past and prospective5, he had to deny himself much in that respect.
Likewise, during those three days, he made acquaintance with the numerous pets of Tiger’s household—not the human pets, (although he became a great favourite with these also), but the lower-animal pets—the turtle, and the noisy parrot already mentioned, a fat little guinea-pig, a most melancholy6 red monkey, a young jaguar7, a very juvenile8 tapir, a flamingo9, and other creatures.
The tapir was about the size of a six months’ old pig. Instead of the blackish brown hair peculiar10 to the adult tapir, its coat was striped longitudinally with black, grey, and yellow, and was so brilliant in colour that the animal was quite a dazzling pet! besides which, it was an affectionate little thing, and particularly susceptible11 to the pleasure of being tickled12.
The tame jaguar, however, was a very different style of animal. It did indeed like to be caressed13, but it had gradually grown too large to be a safe plaything, and there was an occasional gleam in its eye which rendered Lawrence uneasy when he saw the Indian children playing with it. It was about the size of a small Newfoundland dog, but had grown up so gradually with the family that they appeared not to realise the danger attending its great strength. Spotted Tiger himself had indeed perceived something of it, for at the time we write of he had tied the animal to a stake with a stout14 rope, which was long enough to permit of his ranging in a wide circle.
Little did Lawrence dream of the part that peculiar pet was to play before the period of three days closed.
It was on the evening of the third day. They were all seated round a fire at supper, in front of the hut. Lawrence sat beside Manuela, as usual, and was taking much pains to teach her the correct pronunciation of an English word, of which she made a wonderful bungle15, and seemed to derive16 much amusement from the fact, to judge from her occasional peals17 of silvery laughter. We use the word advisedly, in deference18 to the feelings of our hero, who thought and called the laughter silvery!
Tiger sat on the girl’s other side, and Quashy was seated opposite, with Little Cub19 and several of the lesser20 cubs21 beside him. The pet jaguar crouched22 close to its stake, glaring at them. There was nothing unusual either in the attitude or the glare to cause anxiety, yet Lawrence did not like it, and while engaged in imparting the difficult lesson referred to, kept his eye on the brute23.
Suddenly, without warning or roar, the dangerous pet sprang at Manuela! Why it selected her we cannot imagine, unless it was that, being a brute of good taste, it chose her as the tenderest of the party. The strong cord by which it was fastened snapped like a piece of thread, but Lawrence threw himself in front of the girl, caught the animal by the throat, and held him with both hands, as if in a vice24. Instantly every claw of the four paws was buried in the flesh of his legs and arms, and he would certainly have been fearfully rent by his powerful antagonist25 if Tiger had not, with lightning stroke, buried his long keen knife in the animal’s heart.
So swiftly and effectually was the deed done, that the jaguar next moment hung limp and dead in our hero’s grasp. Dropping it on the ground, he turned up his sleeves to examine the wounds.
“Deep enough, but not lacerated, thank God,” he said. “They won’t give me much trouble. Come, Quash, into the bush, and help me to look at the other scratches and dress them. I must appoint you assistant-surgeon for the occasion!”
Manuela murmured her thanks in a deep, tremulous voice that said much for her power of gratitude26, and, timidly taking the youth’s hand as he passed, humbly27 touched it with her lips.
The wounds were soon dressed, and, thanks to Tiger’s promptitude, they did not afterwards give much trouble.
That night, as they were about to retire to their several hammocks, Lawrence went up to the Indian girl, and, for the first time, held out his hand for a shake in the white man’s fashion.
“I’m glad, Manuela,” he said, as she frankly28 grasped it, “that it has pleased God to make me the instrument of—of—protecting you.”
“Twice,” replied the girl quickly, and then paused, with a confused look,—“how you say, twice—or two times?”
“Say which you like,” replied Lawrence, with a hearty29 laugh; “the words will sound equally well from your lips, but ‘twice’ is the right way.”
“Well, twice you have save me. I am gratitude. My father will be gratitude.”
“Tell me, Manuela,” returned Lawrence, earnestly, “is your father a chief?”
“Yes,—a great chief.”
There was a peculiar smile on the girl’s lips as she said this that disconcerted him. We have said that he was naturally shy. He had intended to follow up his first question by asking if her father was descended30 from the Incas, but the peculiar smile checked him. He bade her good-night, and turned abruptly31 away.
While he was sitting by the fire meditating32 on this matter, he heard a step in the bushes. Tiger, who had already retired33 to his hammock, also heard it, and bounded to his feet. Next instant Pedro glided34 into the circle of light and saluted35 them.
He appeared to be worn out with exhaustion36, for, flinging himself on the ground beside the fire, he rested his head in silence for a few minutes on a poncho37. Then, observing a piece of manioca cake that had been dropped by some one at supper, he took it up and ate it almost ravenously38.
“Why, you seem to be starving, Pedro,” said Lawrence, earnestly
“Not so bad as that,” returned Pedro with a faint smile. “A man can scarcely be said to starve with so many of the fruits of the earth around him. But I’ve been hard pressed since early morning, and—”
“Stay,” interrupted Lawrence, “before you say another word, I will go and fetch you some food.”
“No need, senhor. My old friend Spotted Tiger has forestalled39 you.”
This was true. The Indian, having seen at a glance how matters stood, had gone up to the hut without speaking. He now returned with a bowl of boiled maize40, a bunch of bananas, and a jar of water.
From the expression of the Indian’s face, Lawrence gathered that these replies caused him some anxiety. As the guide’s appetite became gradually appeased42 his loquacity43 increased, but he made few remarks to Lawrence until the meal was finished. Then, turning to him with a sigh of contentment, he said—
“I’ve been slightly wounded, senhor, but I doubt not that you can soon put me all right.”
Taking off his poncho as he spoke44, and pushing aside his light cotton shirt, he revealed the fact that his left breast was bound with a piece of blood-stained calico.
Lawrence at once examined the wound.
“A slight wound, indeed,” he said, “but vigorously dealt. I can see that,—and you’ve had a narrow escape, too. Half an inch higher up would have been fatal.”
“Yes, it was meant to kill,” was Pedro’s quiet rejoinder; “but, thank God, I had a friend near who meant to save, and he turned the knife aside in time. Sit down now, I’ll tell you how it happened.
“My business required me to visit a certain tribe of Indians at a considerable distance from here, where the country is somewhat disturbed, and the white inhabitants are threatening to cut each other’s throats by way of mending political affairs. They took me for a spy. It is not the first time that I have been taken for a spy, and I suppose it won’t be the last,” continued Pedro, with a grave smile. “Of course I protested my innocence45, explained my object, and showed that my visit was one of peace. They would have let me go if an enemy had not been in the camp. You see, Senhor Armstrong, I have many enemies as well as friends everywhere.”
“That is always the case with men who hold decided principles, and try to act up to them with vigour,” returned Lawrence.
“So I have found it,” rejoined Pedro, looking earnestly at his young friend. “You have had a more varied46 experience of life than I. Has that been your experience too?”
“It has. But I suspect that my experience of life has not been so much varied as yours, Pedro, for it has been chiefly among civilised communities until now. Still, I have observed that it is only those who swim with the current of public opinion, and jostle nobody, who manage to keep friends with everybody. When a man ventures to think for himself,—as he ought to do,—and take action, he is sure to have enemies as well as friends,—supposing, of course, that he is a man of any power or influence.”
“Well, I suppose it is because I try to have influence,” rejoined Pedro, “that I manage to have plenty of friends and foes48,—the last being sometimes unreasonably49 bitter.”
“That proves your influence to be powerful,” said Lawrence.
“H’m! it may be so. I know not. Time will show. At all events, this enemy of mine stirred up a number of men like himself in the camp to such an extent that they seized me, and carried me to the banks of their river, with the purpose of throwing me to the alligators50. Some of those who were in my favour ran along with them, and among them I observed one man who I knew would be willing to risk his life for me. This gave me hope; but my enemy did not approve of the mode of my execution; he thought—rightly—that a chance of escape was involved in it; so, to make sure, I suppose, he came close up, and when they were on the point of throwing me into the river, he drew his knife and made a plunge51 at my heart. My friend must have suspected something of the sort, for he had also pushed close to me, and I saw him give the would-be murderer the jostle that turned his knife aside.
“Next moment I was in the river. I knew that it swarmed52 with alligators, and felt an uncomfortable thrill as I went in head foremost; but I knew also that I was a strong and swift swimmer, so I struck out for my life to the opposite bank, which was not more than forty yards off. I splashed as much as I could, for you know, senhor, that splashing tends to keep alligators off, though it is not always successful. Before I had made half a dozen strokes, however, I felt my flesh creep. Do you know what it feels like to have your flesh creep?”
“No, not exactly,” replied Lawrence; “but I have a pretty good guess as to what you mean.”
“Well,” resumed the guide, “I felt my flesh creep, for I heard a most awful puffing53 and splashing close behind me. At the same time I heard a wild cheer on the bank, as if my foes were rejoicing at the prospect4 of my being eaten up! I looked back quickly, expecting to see the terrible jaws54 and the long rows of teeth; but, to my great surprise, I saw only my friend pursuing me with his knife in his teeth, as if he wanted to finish me. I understood the thing at once. The good fellow knew that two could make a better splashing than one, and he also hoped, no doubt, that his comrades would give him credit for extreme bravery in thus jumping into such danger for the sake—as they would suppose—of killing55 an enemy! The cheer they gave him showed what they thought on that point.
“We both gained the opposite bank—I a few yards in advance. You may be sure I was not slow in bounding up the bank. I could hear the howl of rage with which the villains56 saw the failure of their plan. What is more, I could both hear and see the arrows that were sent after me, but, through God’s blessing57, none of them touched me, and I was soon in the shelter of the woods. I could also hear my friend panting at my heels.
“I’m a pretty fair runner,” continued Pedro, “but my friend is a better. He passed me like a deer. ‘Come on,’ he cried, ‘you’ve no time to lose.’ From which I knew he meant that the blackguards would cross the river in canoes and pursue me. He led me across a spit of jungle-land where the river took a sudden bend, and came out on the bank at the head of a long rapid. On reaching the bank he pulled out a small canoe which had been concealed58 there, and told me to jump in. ‘You’ll have to run the rapid. It’s not much of a chance, but it’s your only one.’ I squeezed his hand, thanked him hastily, and was soon paddling quickly with the current. In a few moments I heard my friend shouting with rage and brandishing59 his knife. He was acting60, I knew. Looking back I saw that a number of men had joined him, and again the arrows began to drop around me, but I was soon beyond their reach and battling with the rapid.
“Well was it for me that I have been much used to canoeing, for the words of my friend, ‘It’s not much of a chance,’ were literally61 true. For some minutes I was whirled about by eddies62 and shoots in such a way that it seems to me now a miracle that I escaped being dashed to pieces several times. I forgot all about my pursuers, so great was the danger; but when at last I ran out of the lowest shoot into the water below the rapids, I saw, on looking back, that they were still following me along the banks. I was going faster, however, than they were, so I felt easier in my mind, till I saw them jump into several canoes and push off in chase. By that time I had more than a mile of start, and the sun was setting. ‘Now, Pedro,’ said I to myself, ‘it’s a fair race for your life; so bend your back to it, my boy.’ I went on till it grew so dark that I could hardly see twenty yards ahead of me. Then I put ashore63, hauled the canoe up among the reeds, climbed into a tree and went to sleep, for well I knew that it would be death both to them and me if we continued descending64 a stream like that in the dark.
“Well, I slept like a top, for I was dead beat; but two or three times I awoke with a tremendous start under the impression that I was falling. I’ve always found it so when obliged to spend the night in the branches of a tree. Did you ever sleep so, Senhor Armstrong?”
“Well, it’s not so difficult as you might think,” continued Pedro, with a meditative66 gaze at the fire, “especially if you’re very tired, hard pressed for time, and in some danger. Under these circumstances it’s wonderful what a fellow can do to make the best of his opportunities. You find out, somehow, the securest way to twine67 your legs and arms in among the branches, and twist your feet and fingers into the forks and twigs—don’t you know?”
Yes, Lawrence knew well; at least, if he did not know exactly, he had a powerful imagination!
“Well, then, long before daylight I was up and off, feeling my way as best I could in the first grey glimpses of dawn, so that I got a good start—at least I thought so; but soon I found my pursuers had also started early and were overhauling68 me; and no wonder, seeing that their canoes were large and well manned. I now felt that I had no chance of escaping by water, but I had by that time got into a part of the country with which I was well acquainted, and knew that if I could only reach a certain point before being caught, I might take to the bush and cross overland to my friend’s hut here. That was early this morning. The only trouble I had was that my wound was beginning to give me considerable pain, and I felt losing strength for want of food. I had scarce time to cat, much less to search for food, they pressed me so hard. However, a man makes a hard struggle for life, so I tightened69 my belt, and set to work with such good will, that I was soon a long way ahead of them, and got out of sight at a place where the river takes a number of bends and is full of small islands. At last, about noon, I reached the desired point, paddled carefully in among the reeds, so as to prevent the savages70 seeing where I had landed, jumped ashore, hid the canoe, stepped out as hard as I could, and—here I am.”
“But,” exclaimed Lawrence, with some excitement, “if you left the Indians so recently, won’t they be close on your heels?”
“No fear. I came here in a straight line overland. By the windings71 of the river they cannot be here, even at the soonest, before the afternoon of to-morrow. But they will probably give up the chase long before getting this length. Besides, if they did arrive, they would find a warm reception from four well-armed men, instead of catching72 one poor unarmed fugitive73. But we won’t give them the chance. We will be up and away by daybreak. Tiger here has agreed to join us in our trip to Buenos Ayres. He will take his wife and family down stream to his father-in-law’s tribe, where they will be safe till his return. Are you all well, and ready for a start?”
“Yes, all well—and shall be ready as soon as you please.”
“That’s right. Where’s Quashy?”
“Close alongside. Don’t you hear him?”
Lawrence referred to a sound like the drone of a giant mosquito, which proceeded from the negro’s nose, for that worthy74 was a heavy sleeper—when not in danger—and had not been disturbed by the arrival of the guide.
Giving vent47 to a prolonged yawn, Pedro rose and stretched himself. Then he went up to the sleeping Quashy and took him by the nose, at the same time putting his hand on his mouth to smother75 the inevitable76 yell in its birth. When sufficiently77 awake to be released with safety, the amiable78 negro was permitted to raise himself, and when aware of who had grasped him, he beamed with good-will, and gleamed with surprise.
Quashy was on his feet in a moment. “Don’t rouse me till it’s time to start,” added Pedro, who thereupon rolled into the vacant hammock, and was asleep—perchance in the land of dreams—almost as soon as his wearied head reposed80 on the negro’s pillow.
点击收听单词发音
1 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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2 amendment | |
n.改正,修正,改善,修正案 | |
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3 spotted | |
adj.有斑点的,斑纹的,弄污了的 | |
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4 prospect | |
n.前景,前途;景色,视野 | |
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5 prospective | |
adj.预期的,未来的,前瞻性的 | |
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6 melancholy | |
n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的 | |
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7 jaguar | |
n.美洲虎 | |
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8 juvenile | |
n.青少年,少年读物;adj.青少年的,幼稚的 | |
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9 flamingo | |
n.红鹳,火烈鸟 | |
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10 peculiar | |
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的 | |
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11 susceptible | |
adj.过敏的,敏感的;易动感情的,易受感动的 | |
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12 tickled | |
(使)发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 ); (使)愉快,逗乐 | |
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13 caressed | |
爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15 bungle | |
v.搞糟;n.拙劣的工作 | |
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16 derive | |
v.取得;导出;引申;来自;源自;出自 | |
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17 peals | |
n.(声音大而持续或重复的)洪亮的响声( peal的名词复数 );隆隆声;洪亮的钟声;钟乐v.(使)(钟等)鸣响,(雷等)发出隆隆声( peal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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18 deference | |
n.尊重,顺从;敬意 | |
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19 cub | |
n.幼兽,年轻无经验的人 | |
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20 lesser | |
adj.次要的,较小的;adv.较小地,较少地 | |
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21 cubs | |
n.幼小的兽,不懂规矩的年轻人( cub的名词复数 ) | |
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22 crouched | |
v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23 brute | |
n.野兽,兽性 | |
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24 vice | |
n.坏事;恶习;[pl.]台钳,老虎钳;adj.副的 | |
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25 antagonist | |
n.敌人,对抗者,对手 | |
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26 gratitude | |
adj.感激,感谢 | |
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27 humbly | |
adv. 恭顺地,谦卑地 | |
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28 frankly | |
adv.坦白地,直率地;坦率地说 | |
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29 hearty | |
adj.热情友好的;衷心的;尽情的,纵情的 | |
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30 descended | |
a.为...后裔的,出身于...的 | |
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31 abruptly | |
adv.突然地,出其不意地 | |
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32 meditating | |
a.沉思的,冥想的 | |
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33 retired | |
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
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34 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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35 saluted | |
v.欢迎,致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 );赞扬,赞颂 | |
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36 exhaustion | |
n.耗尽枯竭,疲惫,筋疲力尽,竭尽,详尽无遗的论述 | |
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37 poncho | |
n.斗篷,雨衣 | |
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38 ravenously | |
adv.大嚼地,饥饿地 | |
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39 forestalled | |
v.先发制人,预先阻止( forestall的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40 maize | |
n.玉米 | |
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41 briefly | |
adv.简单地,简短地 | |
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42 appeased | |
安抚,抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 ); 绥靖(满足另一国的要求以避免战争) | |
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43 loquacity | |
n.多话,饶舌 | |
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44 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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45 innocence | |
n.无罪;天真;无害 | |
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46 varied | |
adj.多样的,多变化的 | |
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47 vent | |
n.通风口,排放口;开衩;vt.表达,发泄 | |
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48 foes | |
敌人,仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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49 unreasonably | |
adv. 不合理地 | |
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50 alligators | |
n.短吻鳄( alligator的名词复数 ) | |
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51 plunge | |
v.跳入,(使)投入,(使)陷入;猛冲 | |
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52 swarmed | |
密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 ); 云集; 成群地移动; 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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53 puffing | |
v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 );喷着汽(或烟)移动;吹嘘;吹捧 | |
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54 jaws | |
n.口部;嘴 | |
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55 killing | |
n.巨额利润;突然赚大钱,发大财 | |
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56 villains | |
n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 );罪犯;(小说、戏剧等中的)反面人物;淘气鬼 | |
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57 blessing | |
n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿 | |
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58 concealed | |
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的 | |
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59 brandishing | |
v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 );炫耀 | |
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60 acting | |
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的 | |
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61 literally | |
adv.照字面意义,逐字地;确实 | |
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62 eddies | |
(水、烟等的)漩涡,涡流( eddy的名词复数 ) | |
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63 ashore | |
adv.在(向)岸上,上岸 | |
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64 descending | |
n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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65 repose | |
v.(使)休息;n.安息 | |
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66 meditative | |
adj.沉思的,冥想的 | |
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67 twine | |
v.搓,织,编饰;(使)缠绕 | |
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68 overhauling | |
n.大修;拆修;卸修;翻修v.彻底检查( overhaul的现在分词 );大修;赶上;超越 | |
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69 tightened | |
收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 ); (使)变紧; (使)绷紧; 加紧 | |
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70 savages | |
未开化的人,野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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71 windings | |
(道路、河流等)蜿蜒的,弯曲的( winding的名词复数 ); 缠绕( wind的现在分词 ); 卷绕; 转动(把手) | |
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72 catching | |
adj.易传染的,有魅力的,迷人的,接住 | |
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73 fugitive | |
adj.逃亡的,易逝的;n.逃犯,逃亡者 | |
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74 worthy | |
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
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75 smother | |
vt./vi.使窒息;抑制;闷死;n.浓烟;窒息 | |
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76 inevitable | |
adj.不可避免的,必然发生的 | |
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77 sufficiently | |
adv.足够地,充分地 | |
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78 amiable | |
adj.和蔼可亲的,友善的,亲切的 | |
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79 curtly | |
adv.简短地 | |
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80 reposed | |
v.将(手臂等)靠在某人(某物)上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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