The happiness that now beamed in the faces of Makarooroo, Okandaga, and Njamie was a sufficient reward to us for all the trouble we had taken and all the risk we had run on their account. Poor Njamie was exceedingly grateful to us. She sought by every means in her power to show this, and among other things, hearing us call her son by the name of Puggy, she at once adopted it, to the immense amusement and delight of Peterkin.
After the first excitement of our meeting had subsided2 somewhat, we consulted together as to what we should now do. On the one hand, we were unwilling3 to quit the scene of our hunting triumphs and adventures; on the other hand, Makarooroo and his bride were anxious to reach the mission stations on the coast and get married in the Christian4 manner.
“Our opposing interests are indeed a little perplexing,” said Jack5, after some conversation had passed on the subject.—“No doubt, Mak, you and Mbango with his friends might reach the coast safely enough without us; but then what should we do without an interpreter?”
Our poor guide, whose troubles seemed as though they would never end, sighed deeply and glanced at his bride with a melancholy6 countenance7 as he replied—
“Me’ll go wid you, massa, an’ Okandaga’ll go to coast an’ wait dere for me come.”
“Ha!” ejaculated Peterkin, “that’s all very well, Mak, but you’ll do nothing of the sort. That plan won’t do, so we’ll have to try again.”
“I agree with you, Peterkin,” observed Jack. “That plan certainly will not do; but I cannot think of any other that will, so we must just exercise a little self-denial for once, give up all further attacks on the wild beasts of Africa, and accompany Mak to the coast.”
“Could we not manage a compromise?” said I.
“What be a cumprumoise?” asked Makarooroo, who had been glancing anxiously from one to the other as we conversed8.
Peterkin laid hold of his chin, pursed up his mouth, and looked at me with a gleeful leer.
“There’s a chance for you, Ralph,” said he; “why don’t you explain?”
“Because it’s not easy to explain,” said I, considering the best way in which to convey the meaning of such a word.—“A compromise, Mak, is—is a bargain, a compact—at least so Johnson puts it—”
“Yes,” interposed Peterkin; “so you see, Mak, when you agree with a trader to get him an elephant-tusk, that’s a cumprumoise, according to Johnson.”
“No, no, Mak,” said I quickly; “Peterkin is talking nonsense. It is not a bargain of that kind; it’s a—a—You know every question has two sides?”
“Yis, massa.”
“Well, suppose you took one side.”
“Yis.”
“And suppose I took the other side.”
“Then suppose we were to agree to forsake9 our respective sides and meet, as it were, half-way, and thus hold the same middle course—”
“Ay, down the middle and up again; that’s it, Mak,” again interrupted Peterkin—“that’s a cumprumoise. In short, to put it in another and a clearer light, suppose that I were to resolve to hit you an awful whack10 on one side of your head, and suppose that Ralph were to determine to hit you a frightful11 bang on the other side, then suppose that we were to agree to give up those amiable12 intentions, and instead thereof to give you, unitedly, one tremendous smash on the place where, if you had one, the bridge of your nose would be—that would be a cumprumoise.”
“Ho! ha! ha! hi!” shouted our guide, rolling over on the grass and splitting himself with laughter; for Makarooroo, like the most of his race, was excessively fond of a joke, no matter how bad, and was always ready on the shortest notice to go off into fits of laughter, if he had only the remotest idea of what the jest meant. He had become so accustomed at last to expect something jocular from Peterkin, that he almost invariably opened his mouth to be ready whenever he observed our friend make any demonstration13 that gave indication of his being about to speak.
From the mere14 force of sympathy Mbango began to laugh also, and I know not how long the two would have gone on, had not Jack checked them by saying—
“I suspect we are not very well fitted to instruct the unenlightened mind,” (“Ho—hi!” sighed Makarooroo, gathering15 himself up and settling down to listen), “and it seems to me that you’ll have to try again, Peterkin, some other mode of explanation.”
“Very good, by all means,” said our friend.—“Now, Mak, look here. You want to go there” (pointing to the coast with his left hand), “and we want to go there” (pointing to the interior with his right hand). “Now if we both agree to go there,” (pointing straight before him with his nose), “that will be a cumprumoise. D’ye understand?”
“Ho yis, massa, me compiperhend now.”
“Exactly so,” said I; “that’s just it. There is a branch of this river that takes a great bend away to the north before it turns towards the sea, is there not? I think I have heard yourself say so before now.”
“Yis, massa, hall right.”
“Well, let us go by that branch. We shall be a good deal longer on the route, but we shall be always nearing the end of our journey, and at the same time shall pass through a good deal of new country, in which we may hope to see much game.”
“Good,” said Jack; “you have wisdom with you for once, Ralph—it seems feasible.—What say you, Mak? I think it a capital plan.”
“Yis, massa, it am a copitle plan, sure ’nuff.”
The plan being thus arranged and agreed to, we set about the execution of it at once, and ere long our two canoes were floating side by side down the smooth current of the river.
The route which we had chosen led us, as I had before suspected, into the neighbourhood of the gorilla16 country, and I was much gratified to learn from Mbango, who had travelled over an immense portion of south-western Africa, that it was not improbable we should meet with several of those monstrous17 apes before finally turning off towards the coast. I say that I was much gratified to learn this; but I little imagined that I was at that time hastening towards a conflict that well-nigh proved fatal to me, and the bare remembrance of which still makes me shudder18.
It occurred several weeks after the events just related. We had gone ashore19 for the purpose of hunting, our supply of provisions chancing at that time to be rather low. Feeling a desire to wander through the woods in solitude20 for a short time, I separated from my companions. I soon came to regret this deeply, for about an hour afterwards I came upon the tracks of a gorilla. Being armed only with my small-bore double rifle, and not being by any means confident of my shooting powers, I hesitated some time before making up my mind to follow the tracks.
At first I thought of retracing21 my steps and acquainting my comrades with the discovery I had made; but the little probability there was of my finding them within several hours deterred22 me. Besides, I felt ashamed to confess that I had been afraid to prosecute23 the chase alone; so, after pondering the matter a little, I decided24 on advancing.
Before doing so, however, I carefully examined the caps of my rifle and loosened my long hunting-knife in its sheath. Then I cautiously followed up the track, making as little noise as possible, for I was well aware of the watchfulness25 of the animal I was pursuing.
The footprints at first were not very distinct, but ere long I came on a muddy place where they were deeply imprinted26, and my anxiety was somewhat increased by observing that they were uncommonly27 large—the largest I had ever seen—and that, therefore, they had undoubtedly28 been made by one of those solitary29 and gigantic males, which are always found to be the most savage30.
I had scarcely made this discovery when I came unexpectedly on the gorilla itself. It was seated at the foot of a tree about fifty yards from the spot where I stood, the space between us being comparatively clear of underwood. In an instant he observed me, and rose, at the same time giving utterance31 to one of those diabolical32 roars which I have before referred to as being so terrible.
I halted, and felt an irresistible33 inclination34 to fire at once; but remembering the oft-repeated warnings of my companions, I restrained myself. At that moment I almost wished, I freely confess, that the gorilla would run away. But the monster had no such intention. Again uttering his horrible roar, he began slowly to advance, at the same time beating his drum-like chest with his doubled fist.
I now felt that my hour of trial had come. I must face the gorilla boldly, and act with perfect coolness. The alternative was death. As the hideous35 creature came on, I observed that he was considerably36 larger than the biggest we had yet seen; but, strange to say, this fact made no deeper impression upon me. I suppose that my whole mental and nervous being was wound up to the utmost possible state of tension. I felt that I was steady and able to brave the onset37. But I was not aware of the severity of the test to which I was destined38 to be subjected. Instead of coming quickly on and deciding my fate at once, the savage animal advanced slowly, sometimes a step or two at a time, and then pausing for a moment ere it again advanced. Sometimes it even sat down on its haunches for a second or two, as if the weight of its overgrown body were too much for its hind39 legs; but it did not cease all that time to beat its chest, and roar, and twist its features into the most indescribable contortions40. I suppose it took nearly five minutes to advance to within twelve yards of me, but those five minutes seemed to me an hour. I cannot describe the mental agony I endured.
When within ten yards of me I could restrain myself no longer. I raised my rifle, aimed at its chest, and fired. With a terrible roar it advanced. Again I fired, but without effect, for the gorilla rushed upon me. In despair, I drew my hunting-knife and launched it full at the brute’s chest with all my might. I saw the glittering blade enter it as the enormous paw was raised to beat me down. I threw up my rifle to ward1 off the fatal blow, and at the same moment sprang to one side, in the hope of evading41 it. The stock of the rifle was shattered to pieces in an instant, and the blow, which would otherwise have fallen full on my head or chest, was diverted slightly, and took effect on my shoulder, the blade of which was smashed as I was hurled42 with stunning43 violence to the ground. For one moment I felt as if I were falling headlong down a precipice44; the next, I became unconscious.
On recovering, I found myself lying on my back at the bottom of what appeared to be a large pit. I must have lain there for a considerable time, for I felt cold and stiff; and when I attempted to move, my wounded shoulder caused me unutterable anguish45. I knew, however, that I must certainly perish if I did not exert myself; so with much difficulty I crept out of the pit. The first object that met my eyes, on rising to my feet, was the carcass of my late antagonist46; which, on examination, I found, though badly wounded by both bullets, had eventually been killed by the knife. It must have died almost immediately after giving me the blow that had hurled me into the pit. I had not observed this pit, owing to the screen of bushes that surrounded it, but I have now no doubt that it was the means of saving my life.
My recollections of what followed this terrible adventure are exceedingly confused. I remember that I wandered about in a state of dreamy uncertainty47, endeavouring to retrace48 my steps to our encampment. I have a faint recollection of meeting, to my surprise, with Jack and Peterkin, and of their tender expressions of sympathy; and I have a very vivid remembrance of the agony I endured when Jack set my broken shoulder-blade and bandaged my right arm tightly to my side. After that, all was a confused dream, in which all the adventures I had ever had with wild beasts were enacted49 over again, and many others besides that had never taken place at all.
Under the influence of fever, I lay in a state of delirium50 for many days in the bottom of the canoe; and when my unclouded consciousness was at length restored to me, I found myself lying in a bed, under the hospitable51 roof of a missionary52, the windows of whose house looked out upon the sea.
And now, reader, the record of our adventures is complete. During the few weeks that I spent with the kind missionary of the Cross, I gained strength rapidly, and amused myself penning the first chapters of this book. Makarooroo and Okandaga were married, and soon became useful members of the Christian community on that part of the African coast. Mbango and his friends also joined the missionary for a time, but ultimately returned to the interior, whither I have no doubt they carried some of the good influences that they had received on the coast along with them.
King Jambai proved faithful to his engagement. All our packages and boxes of specimens53 arrived safely at the coast; and when unpacked54 for examination, and displayed in the large schoolroom of the station, the gorillas55, and other rare and wonderful animals, besides curious plants, altogether formed a magnificent collection, the like of which has not yet been seen in Great Britain, and probably never will be.
When I was sufficiently56 restored to stand the voyage, Jack and Peterkin and I embarked57 in a homeward-bound trading vessel58, and taking leave of our kind friends of the coast, and of Makarooroo and Okandaga, who wept much at the prospect59 of separation from us, we set sail for Old England.
“Farewell,” said I, as we leaned over the vessel’s side and gazed sadly at the receding60 shore—“farewell to you, kind missionaries61 and faithful negro friends.”
“Ay,” added Peterkin, with a deep sigh, “and fare-you-well, ye monstrous apes; gorillas, fare-you-well!”
The End.
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1
ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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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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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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forsake
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| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
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whack
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| v.敲击，重打，瓜分；n.重击，重打，尝试，一份 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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gorilla
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| n.大猩猩，暴徒，打手 | |
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17
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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retracing
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| v.折回( retrace的现在分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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22
deterred
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| v.阻止，制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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prosecute
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| vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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watchfulness
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| 警惕，留心； 警觉（性） | |
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26
imprinted
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| v.盖印（imprint的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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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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31
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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diabolical
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| adj.恶魔似的，凶暴的 | |
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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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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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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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onset
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| n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始 | |
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38
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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contortions
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| n.扭歪，弯曲；扭曲，弄歪，歪曲( contortion的名词复数 ) | |
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41
evading
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| 逃避( evade的现在分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
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42
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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43
stunning
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| adj.极好的；使人晕倒的 | |
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44
precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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45
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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46
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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47
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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48
retrace
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| v.折回；追溯，探源 | |
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49
enacted
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
delirium
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| n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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51
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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52
missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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53
specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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54
unpacked
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| v.从（包裹等）中取出（所装的东西），打开行李取出( unpack的过去式和过去分词 )；拆包；解除…的负担；吐露（心事等） | |
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55
gorillas
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| n.大猩猩( gorilla的名词复数 )；暴徒，打手 | |
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56
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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57
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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58
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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60
receding
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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missionaries
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| n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 ) | |
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