“Whom have we here?” exclaimed Erling, looking close into the face of the wounded man. “What! Swart of the Springs!”
Erling said this sternly, for he had no liking1 for Swart, who was a notorious character, belonging to one of the neighbouring fiords—a wild reckless fellow, and, if report said truly, a thief.
“That recent mischief2 has cost thee a cracked crown?” asked Erling, a little more gently, as he observed the exhausted3 condition of the man.
“Mischief enough,” said Swart, rising from the stone on which he had seated himself, and wiping the blood, dust, and sweat from his haggard face, while his eyes gleamed like coals of fire; “Skarpedin the Dane has landed in the fiord, my house is a smoking pile, my children and most of the people in the stede are burned, and the Springs run blood!”
There was something terrible in the hoarse4 whisper in which this was hissed7 out between the man’s teeth. Erling’s tone changed instantly as he laid his hand on Swart’s shoulder.
“Can this be true?” he answered anxiously; “are we too late? are all gone?”
“All,” answered Swart, “save the few fighting men that gained the fells.” The man then proceeded to give a confused and disjointed account of the raid, of which the following is the substance.
Skarpedin, a Danish viking, noted8 for his daring, cruelty, and success, had taken it into his head to visit the neighbourhood of Horlingdal, and repay in kind a visit which he had received in Denmark the previous summer from a party of Norsemen, on which occasion his crops had been burned, his cattle slaughtered10, and his lands “herried”, while he chanced to be absent from home.
It must be observed that this deed of the Northmen was not deemed unusually wicked. It was their custom, and the custom also of their enemies, to go out every summer on viking cruise to plunder11 and ravage12 the coasts of Denmark, Sweden, Britain, and France, carrying off all the booty they could lay hold of, and as many prisoners as they wanted or could obtain. Then, returning home, they made slaves or “thralls” of their prisoners, often married the women, and spent the winter in the enjoyment13 of their plunder.
Among many other simple little habits peculiar14 to the times was that called “Strandhug”. It consisted in a viking, when in want of provisions, landing with his men on any coast—whether that of an enemy or a countryman—and driving as many cattle as he required to the shore, where they were immediately slaughtered and put on board without leave asked or received!
Skarpedin was influenced both by cupidity16 and revenge. Swart had been one of the chief leaders of the expedition which had done him so much damage. To the Springs therefore he directed his course with six “longships”, or ships of war, and about five hundred men.
In the afternoon of a calm day he reached the fiord at the head of which were the Springs and Swart’s dwelling18. There was a small hamlet at the place, and upon this the vikings descended19. So prompt and silent were they, that the men of the place had barely time to seize their arms and defend their homes. They fought like lions, for well they knew that there was no hope of mercy if they should be beaten. But the odds20 against them were overwhelming. They fell in heaps, with many of their foes21 underneath23 them. The few who remained to the last retreated fighting, step by step, each man towards his own dwelling, where he fell dead on its threshold. Swart himself, with a few of the bravest, had driven back that part of the enemy’s line which they attacked. Thus they were separated for a time from their less successful comrades, and it was not till the smoke of their burning homesteads rose up in dense24 clouds that they became aware of the true state of the fight. At once they turned and ran to the rescue of their families, but their retreat was cut off by a party of the enemy, and the roar of the conflagration25 told them that they were too late. They drew together, therefore, and, making a last desperate onset26, hewed27 their way right through the ranks of their enemies, and made for the mountains. All were more or less wounded in the mêlée, and only one or two succeeded in effecting their escape. Swart dashed past his own dwelling in his flight, and found it already down on the ground in a blazing ruin. He killed several of the men who were about it, and then, bounding up the mountain side, sought refuge in a ravine.
Here he lay down to rest a few moments. During the brief period of his stay he saw several of his captured friends have their hands and feet chopped off by the marauders, while a terrible shriek28 that arose once or twice told him all too plainly that on a few of them had been perpetrated the not uncommon29 cruelty of putting out the eyes.
Swart did not remain many moments inactive. He descended by a circuitous30 path to the shore, and, keeping carefully out of sight, set off in the direction of Horlingdal. The distance between the two places was little more than nine or ten miles, but being separated from each other by a ridge31 of almost inaccessible32 mountains, that rose to a height of above five thousand feet, neither sight nor sound of the terrible tragedy enacted33 at the Springs could reach the eyes or ears of the inhabitants of Ulfstede. Swart ran round by the coast, and made such good use of his legs that he reached the valley in little more than an hour. Before arriving at Ulfstede his attention was attracted and his step arrested by the sight of a warship34 creeping along the fiord close under the shadow of the precipitous cliffs. He at once conjectured35 that this was one of the Danish vessels37 which had been dispatched to reconnoitre Horlingdal. He knew by its small size (having only about twenty oars6) that it could not be there for the purpose of attack. He crouched38, therefore, among the rocks to escape observation.
Now, it happened at this very time that Erling’s brother Alric, having executed his commission by handing the war-token to the next messenger, whose duty it was to pass it on, came whistling gaily39 down a neighbouring gorge40, slashing41 the bushes as he went with a stout42 stick, which in the lad’s eyes represented the broadsword or battle-axe he hoped one day to wield43, in similar fashion, on the heads of his foes. Those who knew Erling well could have traced his likeness44 in every act and gesture of the boy. The vikings happened to observe Alric before he saw them, as was not to be wondered at, considering the noise he made. They therefore rowed close in to the rocks, and their leader, a stout red-haired fellow, leaped on shore, ascended45 the cliffs by a narrow ledge46 or natural footpath47, and came to a spot which overhung the sea, and round which the boy must needs pass. Here the man paused, and leaning on the haft of his battle-axe, awaited his coming up.
It is no disparagement48 to Alric to say that, when he found himself suddenly face to face with this man, his mouth opened as wide as did his eyes, that the colour fled from his cheeks, that his heart fluttered like a bird in a cage, and that his lips and tongue became uncommonly50 dry! Well did the little fellow know that one of the Danish vikings was before him, for many a time had he heard the men in Haldorstede describe their dress and arms minutely; and well did he know also that mercy was only to be purchased at the price of becoming an informer as to the state of affairs in Horlingdal—perhaps a guide to his father’s house. Besides this, Alric had never up to that time beheld51 a real foe22, even at a distance! He would have been more than mortal, therefore, had he shown no sign of trepidation52.
“Thou art light of heart, lad,” said the Dane with a grim smile.
Alric would perhaps have replied that his heart was the reverse of light at that moment, but his tongue refused to fulfil its office, so he sighed deeply, and tried to lick his parched53 lips instead.
“Thou art on thy way to Ulfstede or Haldorstede, I suppose?” said the man.
Alric nodded by way of reply.
“To which?” demanded the Dane sternly.
“T–to—to Ulf—”
At this the truant56 blood rushed back to Alric’s cheeks. He attempted to say no, and to shake his head, but the tongue was still rebellious57, and the head would not move—at least not in that way—so the poor boy glanced slightly aside, as if meditating58 flight. The Dane, without altering his position, just moved his foot on the stones, which act had the effect of causing the boy’s eyes to turn full on him again with that species of activity which cats are wont59 to display when expecting an immediate15 assault.
“Escape is impossible,” said the Dane, with another grim smile.
Alric glanced at the precipice60 on his left, full thirty feet deep, with the sea below; at the precipice on his right, which rose an unknown height above; at the steep rugged61 path behind, and at the wild rugged man in front, who could have clutched him with one bound; and admitted in his heart that escape was impossible.
“Now, lad,” continued the viking, “thou wilt go with me and point out the way to Ulfstede and Haldorstede; if not with a good will, torture shall cause thee to do it against thy will; and after we have plundered62 and burnt both, we will give thee a cruise to Denmark, and teach thee the use of the pitchfork and reaping-hook.”
This remark touched a chord in Alric’s breast which at once turned his thoughts from himself, and allowed his native courage to rise. During the foregoing dialogue his left hand had been nervously63 twitching64 the little elm bow which it carried. It now grasped the bow firmly as he replied:
“Ulfstede and Haldorstede may burn, but thou shalt not live to see it.”
With that he plucked an arrow from his quiver, fitted it to the string, and discharged it full at the Dane’s throat. Quick as thought the man of war sprang aside, but the shaft65 had been well and quickly aimed. It passed through his neck between the skin and the flesh.
A cry of anger burst from him as he leaped on the boy and caught him by the throat. He hastily felt for the hilt of his dagger66, and in the heat of his rage would assuredly have ended the career of poor Alric then and there; but, missing the hilt at the first grasp, he suddenly changed his mind, lifted the boy as if he had been a little dog, and flung him over the precipice into the sea.
A fall of thirty feet, even though water should be the recipient67 of the shock, is not a trifle by any means, but Alric was one of those vigorous little fellows—of whom there are fortunately many in this world—who train themselves to feats68 of strength and daring. Many a time had he, when bathing, leaped off that identical cliff into the sea for his own amusement, and to the admiration69 and envy of many of his companions, and, now that he felt himself tumbling in the air against his will, the sensation, although modified, was nothing new. He straightened himself out after the manner of a bad child that does not wish to sit on nurse’s knee, and went into the blue fiord, head foremost, like a javelin70.
He struck the water close to the vessel36 of his enemies, and on rising to the surface one of them made a plunge71 at him with an oar5, which, had it taken effect, would have killed him on the spot; but he missed his aim, and before he could repeat it, the boy had dived.
The Dane was sensible of his error the instant he had tossed Alric away from him, so he hastened to his boat, leaped into it, and ordered the men to pull to the rocks near to which Alric had dived; but before they could obey the order a loud ringing cheer burst from the cliffs, and in another moment the form of Swart was seen on a ledge, high above, in the act of hurling72 a huge mass of rock down on the boat. The mass struck the cliff in its descent, burst into fragments, and fell in a shower upon the Danes.
At the same time Swart waved his hand as if to someone behind him, and shouted with stentorian73 voice:
“This way, men! Come on! Down into the boats and give chase! huzza!”
The enemy did not await the result of the order, but pulled out into the fiord as fast as possible, while Swart ran down to the edge of the water and assisted Alric to land. It was not until they heard both man and boy utter a cheer of defiance74, and burst into a fit of laughter, and saw them hastening at full speed towards Horlingdal, that the vikings knew they had been duped. It was too late, however, to remedy the evil. They knew, also, that they might now expect an immediate attack, so, bending to the oars with all their might, they hastened off to warn their comrades at the Springs.
“Now, Swart,” said Erling, after hearing this tale to its conclusion, “if ye are not too much exhausted to—”
“Well, I see thou art still fit for the fight. Revenge, like love, is a powerful stirrer of the blood. Come along then; I will lead the way, and do thou tread softly and keep silence. Follow us, Alric, I have yet more work for thee, lad.”
Taking one of the numerous narrow paths that ran from Ulfstede to the shores of the fiord, Erling led his companions to a grassy77 mound78 which crowned the top of a beetling79 cliff whose base was laved by deep water. Although the night was young—probably two hours short of midnight—the sun was still high in the heavens, for in most parts of Norway that luminary80, during the height of summer, sinks but a short way below the horizon—they have daylight all night for some time. In the higher latitudes81 the sun, for a brief period, shines all the twenty-four hours round. Erling could therefore see far and wide over the fiord, as well as if it were the hour of noon.
“Nothing in sight!” he exclaimed in a tone of chagrin82. “I was a fool to let thee talk so long, Swart; but there is still a chance of catching83 the boat before it rounds the ness. Come along.”
Saying this hurriedly, the youth descended into what appeared to be a hole in the ground. A rude zigzag84 stair cut in the rock conducted them into a subterranean85 cavern86, which at first seemed to be perfectly87 dark; but in a few seconds their eyes became accustomed to the dim light, and as they advanced rapidly over a bed of pebbles88, Swart, who had never been there before, discovered that he was in an ocean-made cave, for the sound of breaking ripples89 fell softly on his ears. On turning round a corner of rock the opening of the cave towards the sea suddenly appeared with a dazzling light like a great white gem49.
But another beautiful sight met his astonished gaze. This was Erling’s ship of war, the Swan, which, with its figurehead erect90, as though it were a living thing, sat gracefully91 on the water, above its own reflected image.
“All ready?” asked Erling, as a man stepped up to him.
“All ready,” replied Thorer.
“Get on board, Swart,” said Erling; “we will teach these Danes a lesson they will not forget as long as the Springs flow. Here, Alric—where are ye, lad?”
Now, unfortunately for himself, as well as for his friend, Alric was almost too self-reliant in his nature. His active mind was too apt to exert itself in independent thought in circumstances where it would have been wiser to listen and obey. Erling had turned with the intention of telling his little brother that he had started thus quietly in order that he might have the pleasure of capturing the scouting92 boat, and of beginning the fight at the Springs with a small band of tried men, thus keeping the enemy in play until reinforcements should arrive; for he shrewdly suspected that if the whole valley were to go out at once against the vikings, they would decline the combat and make off. He had intended, therefore, to have warned Alric to watch the Swan past a certain point before sounding the alarm at Ulfstede. But Alric had already formed his own opinions on the subject, and resolved to act on them.
He suspected that Erling, in his thirst for glory, meant to have all the fun to himself, and to attack the Danes with his single boat’s crew of fifty or sixty men. He knew enough of war to be aware that sixty men against six hundred would have very small chance of success—in fact, that the thing was sheer madness—so he resolved to balk93, and by so doing to save, his headstrong brother.
When Erling turned, as we have said, he beheld Alric running into the cave at full speed. Instantly suspecting the truth, he dashed after him, but the boy was fleet, and Erling was heavily armed. The result was, that the former escaped, while the latter returned to the beach and embarked94 in the Swan in a most unenviable state of mind.
Erling’s “longship” was one of the smaller-sized war vessels of the period. It pulled twenty oars—ten on each side—and belonged to the class named Snekiars, or cutters, which usually had from ten to twenty rowers on a side. To each oar three men were apportioned—one to row, one to shield the rower, and one to throw missiles and fight, so that her crew numbered over sixty men. The forecastle and poop were very high, and the appearance of height was still further increased by the figurehead—the neck and head of a swan—and by a tail that rose from the stern-post, over the steersman’s head. Both head and tail were richly gilt95; indeed, the whole vessel was gaudily96 painted. All round the gunwales, from stem to stern, hung a row of shining red and white shields, which resembled the scaly97 sides of some fabulous98 creature, so that when the oars, which gave it motion, and not inaptly represented legs, were dipped, the vessel glided99 swiftly out of the cavern, like some antediluvian100 monster issuing from its den9 and crawling away over the dark blue sea. A tall heavy mast rose from the centre of the ship. Its top was also gilded101, as well as the tips of the heavy yard attached to it. On this they hoisted102 a huge square sail, which was composed of alternate stripes of red, white, and blue cloth.
It need scarcely be said that Erling’s crew pulled with a will, and that the waters of the fiord curled white upon the breast of the Swan that night; but the vikings’ boat had got too long a start of them, so that, when they doubled the ness and pulled towards the Springs, they discovered the enemy hurrying into their ships and preparing to push off from the land.
Now, this did not fall in with Erling’s purpose at all, for he was well aware that his little Swan could do nothing against such an overwhelming force, so he directed his course towards the mouth of a small stream, beside which there was a spit of sand, and, just behind it, a piece of level land, of a few acres in extent, covered with short grass. The river was deep at its mouth. About a hundred yards upstream it flowed out of a rugged pass in the mountains or cliffs which hemmed103 in the fiord. Into this dark spot the Northman rowed his vessel and landed with his men.
The vikings were much surprised at this manoeuvre104, and seemed at a loss how to act, for they immediately ceased their hurried embarkation105 and held a consultation106.
“Methinks they are mad,” said Skarpedin, on witnessing the movements of the Swan. “But we will give them occasion to make use of all the spirit that is in them. I had thought there were more men in the dale, but if they be few they seem to be bold. They have wisely chosen their ground. Rocks, however, will not avail them against a host like ours. Methinks some of us will be in Valhalla to-night.”
Saying this Skarpedin drew up his men in order of battle on the little plain before referred to, and advanced to the attack. Erling, on the other hand, posted his men among the rocks in such a way that they could command the approach to the pass, which their leader with a few picked men defended.
On perceiving the intention of the Danes to attack him, Erling’s heart was glad, because he now felt sure that to some extent he had them in his power. If they had, on his first appearance, taken to their ships, they might have easily escaped, or some of the smaller vessels might have pulled up the river and attacked his ship, which, in that case, would have had to meet them on unequal terms; but, now that they were about to attack him on land, he knew that he could keep them in play as long as he pleased, and that if they should, on the appearance of reinforcements, again make for their ships, he could effectively harass107 them, and retard108 their embarkation.
Meditating on these things the young Norseman stood in front of his men leaning on his battle-axe, and calmly surveying the approaching foe until they were within a few yards of him.
“Thorer,” he said at length, raising his weapon slowly to his shoulder, “take thou the man with the black beard, and leave yonder fellow with the red hair to me.”
Thorer drew his sword and glanced along its bright blade without replying. Indeed, there was scarce time for reply. Next moment the combatants uttered a loud shout and met with a dire17 crash. For some time the clash of steel, the yells of maddened men, the shrieks109 of the wounded, and the wails110 of the dying, resounded111 in horrible commotion112 among the echoing cliffs. The wisdom of Erling’s tactics soon became apparent. It was not until the onset was made, and the battle fairly begun, that the men whom he had placed among the rocks above the approach to the pass began to act. These now sent down such a shower of huge stones and masses of rock that many of the foe were killed, and by degrees a gap was made, so that those who were on the plain dared not advance to the succour of those who were fighting in the pass.
Seeing this, Erling uttered his war-cry, and, collecting his men together, acted on the offensive. Wherever his battle-axe swung, or Thorer’s sword gleamed, there men fell, and others gave way, till at last they were driven completely out of the pass and partly across the plain. Erling took care, however, not to advance too far, although Skarpedin, by retreating, endeavoured to entice113 him to do so; but drew off his men by sound of horn, and returned to his old position—one man only having been killed and a few wounded.
Skarpedin now held a council of war with his chiefs, and from the length of time they were about it, Erling was led to suspect that they did not intend to renew the attack at the same point or in the same manner. He therefore sent men to points of vantage on the cliffs to observe the more distant movements of the enemy, while he remained to guard the pass, and often gazed anxiously towards the ness, round which he expected every minute to see sweeping114 the longships of Ulf and his father.
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1
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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7
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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slaughtered
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| v.屠杀，杀戮，屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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ravage
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| vt.使...荒废，破坏...；n.破坏，掠夺，荒废 | |
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13
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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cupidity
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| n.贪心，贪财 | |
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dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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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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conflagration
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| n.建筑物或森林大火 | |
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onset
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| n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始 | |
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hewed
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| v.（用斧、刀等）砍、劈( hew的过去式和过去分词 )；砍成；劈出；开辟 | |
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shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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circuitous
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| adj.迂回的路的，迂曲的，绕行的 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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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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warship
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| n.军舰，战舰 | |
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conjectured
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| 推测，猜测，猜想( conjecture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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slashing
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| adj.尖锐的；苛刻的；鲜明的；乱砍的v.挥砍( slash的现在分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
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wield
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| vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等) | |
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likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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45
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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footpath
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| n.小路，人行道 | |
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48
disparagement
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| n.轻视，轻蔑 | |
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49
gem
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| n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel | |
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uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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51
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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52
trepidation
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| n.惊恐，惶恐 | |
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53
parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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54
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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56
truant
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| n.懒惰鬼，旷课者；adj.偷懒的，旷课的，游荡的；v.偷懒，旷课 | |
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57
rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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58
meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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59
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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60
precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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61
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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62
plundered
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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64
twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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65
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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66
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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recipient
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| a.接受的,感受性强的 n.接受者,感受者,容器 | |
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feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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javelin
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| n.标枪，投枪 | |
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plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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hurling
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| n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的现在分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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stentorian
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| adj.大声的，响亮的 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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mound
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| n.土墩，堤，小山；v.筑堤，用土堆防卫 | |
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beetling
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| adj.突出的，悬垂的v.快速移动( beetle的现在分词 ) | |
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luminary
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| n.名人，天体 | |
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latitudes
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| 纬度 | |
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82
chagrin
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| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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84
zigzag
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| n.曲折，之字形；adj.曲折的，锯齿形的；adv.曲折地，成锯齿形地；vt.使曲折；vi.曲折前行 | |
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subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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ripples
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| 逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 ) | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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92
scouting
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| 守候活动，童子军的活动 | |
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93
balk
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| n.大方木料；v.妨碍；不愿前进或从事某事 | |
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embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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95
gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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96
gaudily
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| adv.俗丽地 | |
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scaly
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| adj.鱼鳞状的；干燥粗糙的 | |
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fabulous
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| adj.极好的；极为巨大的；寓言中的，传说中的 | |
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99
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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100
antediluvian
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| adj.史前的，陈旧的 | |
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101
gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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102
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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103
hemmed
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| 缝…的褶边( hem的过去式和过去分词 )； 包围 | |
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104
manoeuvre
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| n.策略，调动；v.用策略，调动 | |
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105
embarkation
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| n. 乘船, 搭机, 开船 | |
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106
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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107
harass
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| vt.使烦恼，折磨，骚扰 | |
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108
retard
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| n.阻止，延迟；vt.妨碍，延迟，使减速 | |
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109
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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110
wails
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| 痛哭，哭声( wail的名词复数 ) | |
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111
resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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112
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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113
entice
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| v.诱骗，引诱，怂恿 | |
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114
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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