Ned awoke about noon. The morning had been cold, but having been wrapped very thoroughly1 in the great serape, he had remained snug2 and warm all through his long sleep. He rose very cautiously, lest the spikes3 and thorns should get him, and then went to a comparatively open place among the giant cactus4 stems whence he could see over the hills and valleys. He saw in the valley nearest him the flat roofs of a small village. Columns of smoke rose from two or three of the adobe5 houses, and he heard the faint, mellow6 voices of men singing in a field. Women by the side of a small but swift stream were pounding and washing clothes after the primitive7 fashion.
Looking eastward8 he saw hills and a small mountain, but all the country in that direction seemed to be extremely arid9 and repellent. The bare basalt of volcanic10 origin showed everywhere, and, even at the distance, he could see many deep quarries11 in the stone, where races older, doubtless, than Aztecs and Toltecs, had obtained material for building. It was always Ned's feeling when in Mexico that he was in an old, old land, not ancient like England or France, but ancient as Egypt and Babylon are ancient.
He had calculated his course very carefully, and he knew that it would lead through this desert, volcanic region, but on the whole he was not sorry. Mexicans would be scarce in such a place. He remained a lad of stout12 heart, confident that he would succeed.
He ate sparingly and reckoned that with self-denial he had food enough to last three days. He might obtain more on the road by some happy chance or other. Then becoming impatient he started again, keeping well among cypress13 and cactus, and laying his course toward the small mountain that he saw ahead. He pressed forward the remainder of the afternoon, coming once or twice near to the great road that led to Vera Cruz. On one occasion he saw a small body of soldiers, deep in dust, marching toward the port. All except the officers were peons and they did not seem to Ned to show much martial14 ardor15. But the officers on horseback sternly bade them hasten. Ned, as usual, had much sympathy for the poor peasants, but none for the officers who drove them on.
About sunset he came to a little river, the Teotihuacan he learned afterward16, and he still saw before him the low mountain, the name of which was Cerro Gordo. But his attention was drawn17 from the mountain by two elevations18 rising almost at the bank of the river. They were pyramidal in shape and truncated19, and the larger, which Ned surmised21 to be anywhere from 500 to 1000 feet square, seemed to rise to a height of two or three hundred feet. The other was about two-thirds the size of the larger, both in area and height.
Although there was much vegetation clinging about them Ned knew that these were pyramids erected22 by the hand of man. The feeling that this was a land old like Egypt came back to him most powerfully in the presence of these ancient monuments, which were in fact the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. There they stood, desolate23 and of untold24 age. The setting sun poured an intense red light upon them, until they stood out vivid and enlarged.
So far as Ned knew, no other human being was anywhere near. The loneliness in the presence of those tremendous ruins was overpowering. He longed for human companionship. A peon, despite the danger otherwise, would have been welcome. The whole land took on fantastic aspects. It was not normal and healthy like the regions from which he came north of the Rio Grande. Every nerve quivered.
Then he did the bravest thing that one could do in such a position, forcing his will to win a victory over weirdness25 and superstition26. He crossed the shallow river and advanced boldly toward the Pyramid of the Sun. His reason told him that there were no such things as ghosts, but it told him also that Mexican peons were likely to believe in them. Hence it was probable that he would be safer about the Pyramid than far from it. The country bade fair to become too rough for night traveling and he would stop there a while, refreshing27 his strength.
Although the sun was setting, the color of the skies promised a bright night, and Ned approached boldly. As usual his superstitious28 fears became weaker as he approached the objects that had called them into existence. But before he reached the pyramids he found that he was among many ruins. They stood all about him, stone fragments of ancient walls, black basalt or lava29, and, unless the twilight30 deceived him, there were also traces of ancient streets. He saw, too, south of the larger pyramids a great earthwork or citadel31 thirty or forty feet high enclosing a square in which stood a small pyramid. The walls of the earthwork were enormously thick, three hundred feet Ned reckoned, and upon it at regular intervals32 stood other small pyramids fourteen in number.
Scattered33 all about, alone or in groups, were tumuli, and leading away from the largest group of tumuli Ned saw a street or causeway, which, passing by the Pyramid of the Sun, ended in front of the Pyramid of the Moon, where it widened out into a great circle, with a tumulus standing34 in the center.
Despite all the courage that he had shown Ned felt a superstitious thrill as he looked at these ancient and solemn ruins. He and they were absolutely alone. Antiquity35 looked down upon him. The sun was gone now and the moon was coming out, touching36 pyramids and tumuli, earthworks and causeway with ghostly silver, deepening the effect of loneliness and far-off time.
While Ned was looking at these majestic37 remains38 he heard the sound of voices, and then the rattle39 of weapons. He saw through the twilight the glitter of uniforms and of swords and sabers. A company of Mexican soldiers, at least a hundred in number, had come into the ancient city and, no doubt, intended to camp there. Being so absorbed in the strange ruins he had not noticed them sooner.
As the men were already scattering40 in search of firewood or other needs of the camp Ned saw that he was in great danger. He hid behind a tumulus, half covered by the vegetation that had grown from its crevices41. He was glad that his serape was of a modest brown, instead of the bright colors that most of the Mexicans loved. A soldier passed within ten feet of him, but in the twilight did not notice him. It was enough to make one quiver. Another passed a little later, and he, too, failed to see the fugitive43. But a third, if he came, would probably see, and leaving the tumulus Ned ran to another where he hid again for a few minutes.
It was the boy's object to make off through the neighboring forest after passing from tumulus to tumulus, but he found soon that another body of soldiers was camping upon the far side of the ruined city. He might or might not run the gauntlet in the darkness. The probabilities were that he would not, and hiding behind a tumulus almost midway between the two forces he took thought of his next step.
The Pyramid of the Moon rose almost directly before him, its truncated mass spotted44 with foliage45. Ned could see that its top was flat and instantly he took a bold resolution. He made his way to the base of the pyramid and began to climb slowly and with great care, always keeping hidden in the vegetation. He was certain that no Mexican would follow where he was going. They were on other business, and their incurious minds bothered little about a city that was dead and gone for them.
Up he went steadily46 over uneven47 terraces, and from below he heard the chatter48 of the soldiers. A third fire had been lighted much nearer the pyramid, and pausing a moment he looked down. Twenty or thirty soldiers were scattered about this fire. Their muskets49 were stacked and they were taking their ease. Discipline was relaxed. One man was strumming a mandolin already, and two or three began to sing. But Ned saw sentinels walking among the tumuli and along the Calle de los Muertos which led from the Citadel to the southern front of the Pyramid of the Moon. He was very glad now that he had sought this lofty refuge, and he renewed his climb.
As he drew himself upon another terrace he saw before him a dark opening into the very mass of the pyramid, which was built either of brick or of stone, he could not tell which. He thought once of creeping in and of hiding there, but after taking a couple of steps into the dark he drew back. He was afraid of plunging50 into some well and he continued the ascent51. He was now about sixty or seventy feet up, but he was not yet half way to the top of the pyramid.
He was so slow and cautious that it took more than a half hour to reach the crest52, where he found himself upon a platform about twenty feet square. It was an irregular surface with much vegetation growing from the crevices, and here Ned felt quite safe. Near him and sixty feet above him rose the crest of the Pyramid of the Sun. Beyond were ranges of mountains silvery in the moonlight. He walked to the edge of the pyramid and looked down. Four or five fires were burning now, and the single mandolin had grown to four. Several guitars were being plucked vigorously also, and the sound of the instruments joined with that of the singing voices was very musical and pleasant. These Mexicans seemed to be full of good nature, and so they were, with fire, food and music in plenty, but now that he had been their prisoner Ned never forgot how that dormant54 and Spanish strain of cruelty in their natures could flame high under the influence of passion. The dungeons55 of Spanish Mexico and of the new Mexico hid many dark stories, and he believed that he had read what lay behind the smiling mask of Santa Anna's face. He would suffer everything to keep out of Mexican hands.
He crept away from the edge of the pyramid, and chose a place near its center for his lofty camp. There was much vegetation growing out of the ancient masonry56, and he had a fear of scorpions57 and of more dangerous reptiles58, perhaps, but he thrashed up the grass and weeds well with his machete. Then he sat down and ate his supper. Fortunately he had drunk copiously59 at a brook60 before reaching the ruined city and he did not suffer from thirst.
Then, relying upon the isolation61 of his perch62 for safety, he wrapped himself in the invaluable63 serape and lay down. The night was cold as usual, and a sharp wind blew down from northern peaks and ranges, but Ned, protected by vegetation and the heavy serape, had an extraordinary feeling of warmth and snugness64 as he lay on the old pyramid. Held so long within close walls the wild freedom and the fresh air that came across seas and continents were very grateful to him. Even the presence of an enemy, so near, and yet, as it seemed, so little dangerous, added a certain piquancy65 to his position. The pleasant tinkle66 of the mandolins was wafted67 upward to him, and it was wonderfully soothing68, telling of peace and rest. He inhaled69 the aromatic70 odors of strange and flowering southern plants, and his senses were steeped in a sort of luxurious71 calm.
He fell asleep to the music of the mandolin, and when he awoke such a bright sun was shining in his eyes that he was glad to close and open them again several times before they would tolerate the brilliant Mexican sky that bent72 above him. He lay still about five minutes, listening, and then, to his disappointment, he heard sounds below. He judged by the position of the sun that it must be at least 10 o'clock in the morning, and the Mexicans should be gone. Yet they were undoubtedly73 still there. He crept to the edge of the pyramid and looked over. There was the Mexican force, scattered about the ruined city, but camped in greatest numbers along the Calle de los Muertos. Their numbers had been increased by two hundred or three hundred, and, as Ned saw no signs of breaking camp, he judged that this was a rendezvous74, and that there were more troops yet to come.
He saw at once that his problem was increased greatly. He could not dream of leaving the summit of the pyramid before the next night came. Food he had in plenty but no water, and already as the hot sun's rays approached the vertical75 he felt a great thirst. Imagination and the knowledge that he could not allay76 it for the present at least, increased the burning sensation in his throat and the dryness of his lips. He caught a view of the current of the Teotihuacan, the little river by the side of which the pyramids stand, and the sight increased his torments77. He had never seen before such fresh and pure water. It sparkled and raced in the sun before him and it looked divine. And yet it was as far out of his reach as if it were all the way across Mexico.
Ned went back to the place where he had slept and sat down. The sight of the river had tortured him, and he felt better when it was shut from view. Now he resolved to see what could be accomplished78 by will. He undertook to forget the water, and at times he succeeded, but, despite his greatest efforts, the Teotihuacan would come back now and then with the most astonishing vividness. Although he was lying on the serape with bushes and shrubs79 all around, there was the river visible to the eye of imagination, brighter, fresher and more sparkling than ever. He could not control his fancy, but will ruled the body and he did not stir from his place for hours. The sun beat fiercely upon him and the thin bushes and shrubs afforded little protection. Toward the northern edge of the pyramid a small palm was growing out of a large crevice42 in the masonry, and it might have given some shade, but it was in such an exposed position that Ned did not dare to use it for fear of discovery.
How he hated that sun! It seemed to be drying him up, through and through, causing the very blood in his veins80 to evaporate. Why should such hot days follow such cold nights? When his tongue touched the roof of his mouth it felt rough and hot like a coal. Perhaps the Mexicans had gone away. It seemed to him that he had not heard any sounds from them for some time. He went to the edge of the pyramid and looked over. No, the Mexicans were yet there, and the sight of them filled him with a fierce anger. They were enjoying themselves. Tents were scattered about and shelters of boughs81 had been erected. Many soldiers were taking their siestas82. Nobody was working and there was not the slightest sign that they intended to depart that day. Ned's hot tongue clove83 to the roof of his hot mouth, but he obstinately84 refused to look at the river. He did not think that he could stand another sight of it.
He went back to his little lair85 among the shrubs and prayed for night, blessed night with its cooling touch. He had a horrible apprehension86 which amounted to conviction that the troops would stay there for several days, awaiting some maneuver87 or perhaps making it a rallying point, and that in his hiding place on the pyramid he was in as bad case as a sailor cast on a desert island without water. Nothing seemed left for him but to steal down and try to escape in darkness. Thus night would be doubly welcome and he prayed for it again and with renewed fervor88.
Some hours are ten times as long as others, but the longest of all come to an end at last. The sun began to droop89 in the west. The vertical glare was gone, yet the masonry where it was bare was yet hot to the touch. It, too, cooled soon. The sun dropped wholly down and darkness came over all the earth. Then the fever in Ned's throat died down somewhat, and the blood began to flow again in his veins. It seemed as if a dew touched his face, delicious, soothing like drops of rain in the burning desert.
He rose and stretched his stiffened90 limbs. Overhead spread the dark, cool sky, and the bright stars were coming out, one by one. After the first few moments of relief he heard the cry for water again. Despite the night and the coming chill he knew that it would make itself heard often and often, and he began to study the possibilities of a descent. But he saw the fires spread out again on all sides of the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon and flame thickly along the Calle de los Muertos. It did not seem that he could pass even on the blackest night.
He moved over toward the northern edge of the pyramid, and stood under the palm which he had noticed in the day. One of its broad green leaves, swayed by the wind, touched him softly on the face. He looked up. It was a friendly palm. Its very touch was kindly91. He stroked the blades and then he examined the stem or body minutely. He was a studious boy who had read much. He had heard of the water palm of the Hawaiian and other South Sea Islands. Might not the water palm be found in Mexico also? In any event, he had never heard of a palm that was poisonous. They were always givers of life.
He raised the machete and slashed92 the stem of the palm at a point about five feet from the ground. The wound gaped93 open and a stream of water gushed94 forth95. Ned applied96 his mouth at once and drank long and deeply. It was not poison, nor was it any bitter juice. This was the genuine water palm, yielding up the living fluid of its arteries97 for him. He drank as long as the gash98 gave forth water and then sat down under the blades of the palm, content and thankful, realizing that there was always hope in the very heart of despair.
Ned sat a long time, feeling the new life rushing into his veins. He ate from the food of which he had a plentiful99 supply and once more gave thanks to Benito and Juana. Then he stood up and the broad leaves of the palm waving gently in the wind touched his face again. He reached up his hand and stroked them. The palm was to him almost a thing of life. He went to the edge of the pyramid and strove for a sight of the Teotihuacan. He caught at last a flash of its waters in the moonlight and he shook his fist in defiance100. "I can do without you now," was his thought. "The sight of you does not torture me."
He returned to his usual place of sleep. As long as he had a water supply it was foolish of him to attempt an escape through the Mexican lines. He was familiar now with every square inch of the twenty feet square of the crowning platform of the pyramid. It seemed that he had been there for weeks and he began to have the feeling that it was home. Once more, hunger and thirst satisfied, he sought sleep and slept with the deep peace of youth.
Ned awoke from his second night on the pyramid before dawn was complete. There was silvery light in the east over the desolate ranges, but the west was yet a dark blur101. He looked down and saw that nearly all the soldiers were still asleep, while those who did not sleep were as motionless as if they were. In the half light the lost city, the tumuli and the ruins of the old buildings took on strange and fantastic shapes. The feeling that he was among the dead, the dead for many centuries, returned to Ned with overpowering effect. He thought of Aztec and Toltec and people back of all these who had built this city. The Mexicans below were intruders like himself.
He shook himself as if by physical effort he could get rid of the feeling and then went to the water palm in which he cut another gash. Again the fountain gushed forth and he drank. But the palm was a small one. There was too little soil among the crevices of the ancient masonry to support a larger growth, and he saw that it could not satisfy his thirst more than a day or two. But anything might happen in that time, and his courage suffered no decrease.
He retreated toward the center of the platform as the day was now coming fast after the southern fashion. The whole circle of the heavens seemed to burst into a blaze of light, and, in a few hours, the sun was hotter than it had been before. Many sounds now came from the camp below, but Ned, although he often looked eagerly, saw no signs of coming departure. Shortly after noon there was a great blare of trumpets102, and a detachment of lancers rode up. They were large men, mounted finely, and the heads of their long lances glittered as they brandished103 them in the sun.
Ned's attention was drawn to the leader of this new detachment, an officer in most brilliant uniform, and he started. He knew him at once. It was the brother-in-law of Santa Anna, General Martin Perfecto de Cos, a man in whom that old, cruel strain was very strong, and whom Ned believed to be charged with the crushing of the Texans. Then he was right in his surmise20 that Mexican forces for the campaign were gathering104 here on the banks of the Teotihuacan!
More troops came in the afternoon, and the boy no longer had the slightest doubt. The camp spread out further and further, and assumed military form. Not so many men were lounging about and the tinkling105 of the guitars ceased. Ned could see General de Cos plainly, a heavy man of dark face, autocratic and domineering in manner.
Night came and the boy went once more to the palm. When he struck with his machete the water came forth, but in a much weaker stream. In reality he was yet thirsty after he drank the full flow, but he would not cut into the stem again. He knew that he must practice the severest economy with his water supply.
The third night came and as soon as he was safe from observation Ned slashed the palm once more. The day had been very hot and his thirst was great. The water come forth but with only half the vigor53 of the morning, which itself had shown a decrease. The poor palm, too, trembled and shook when he cut into it with the machete and the blades drooped106. Ned drank what it supplied and then turned away regretfully. It was a kindly palm, a gift to man, and yet he must slay107 it to save his own life.
He lay down again, but he did not sleep as well as usual. His nerves were upset by the long delay, and the decline of the palm, and he was not refreshed when he awoke in the morning. His head felt hot and his limbs were heavy.
As it was not yet bright daylight he went to the palm and cut into it. The flow of water was only a few mouthfuls. Cautious and doubly economical now he pursed his lips that not a single drop might escape. Then, after eating a little food he lay down, protected as much as possible by the scanty108 bushes, and also sheltering himself at times from the sun with the serape which he drew over his head. He felt instinctively109 and with the power of conviction that the Mexicans would not depart. The coming of Cos had taken the hope from him. Cos! He hated the short, brusque name.
It was another day of dazzling brightness and intense heat. Certainly this was a vertical sun. It shot rays like burning arrows straight down. The blood in his veins seemed to dry up again. His head grew hotter. Black specks110 in myriads111 danced before his eyes. He looked longingly112 at his palm. When he first saw it, it stood up, vital and strong. Now it seemed to droop and waver like himself. But it would have enough life to fill its veins and arteries through the day and at night he would have another good drink.
He scarcely stirred throughout the day but spent most of the time looking at the palm. He paid no attention to the sounds below, sure that the Mexicans would not go away. He fell at times into a sort of fevered stupor113, and he aroused himself from the last one to find that night had come. He took his machete, went to the tree, and cut quickly, because his thirst was very great.
The gash opened, but not a drop came forth.
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1
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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3
spikes
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| n.穗( spike的名词复数 )；跑鞋；（防滑）鞋钉；尖状物v.加烈酒于( spike的第三人称单数 )；偷偷地给某人的饮料加入（更多）酒精（ 或药物）；把尖状物钉入；打乱某人的计划 | |
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4
cactus
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| n.仙人掌 | |
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adobe
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| n.泥砖，土坯，美国Adobe公司 | |
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6
mellow
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| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
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primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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arid
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| adj.干旱的；(土地)贫瘠的 | |
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volcanic
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| adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的 | |
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quarries
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| n.（采）石场( quarry的名词复数 )；猎物（指鸟，兽等）；方形石；（格窗等的）方形玻璃v.从采石场采得( quarry的第三人称单数 )；从（书本等中）努力发掘（资料等）；在采石场采石 | |
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cypress
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| n.柏树 | |
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martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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ardor
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| n.热情，狂热 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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elevations
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| （水平或数量）提高( elevation的名词复数 )； 高地； 海拔； 提升 | |
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truncated
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| adj.切去顶端的，缩短了的，被删节的v.截面的( truncate的过去式和过去分词 )；截头的；缩短了的；截去顶端或末端 | |
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surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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surmised
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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untold
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| adj.数不清的，无数的 | |
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weirdness
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| n.古怪，离奇，不可思议 | |
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superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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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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superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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lava
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| n.熔岩，火山岩 | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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citadel
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| n.城堡；堡垒；避难所 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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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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antiquity
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| n.古老；高龄；古物，古迹 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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41
crevices
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| n.（尤指岩石的）裂缝，缺口( crevice的名词复数 ) | |
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42
crevice
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| n.(岩石、墙等)裂缝；缺口 | |
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43
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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44
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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45
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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46
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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47
uneven
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| adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的 | |
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chatter
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| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
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49
muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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50
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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51
ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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52
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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53
vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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54
dormant
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| adj.暂停活动的；休眠的；潜伏的 | |
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dungeons
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| n.地牢( dungeon的名词复数 ) | |
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56
masonry
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| n.砖土建筑；砖石 | |
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57
scorpions
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| n.蝎子( scorpion的名词复数 ) | |
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58
reptiles
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| n.爬行动物，爬虫( reptile的名词复数 ) | |
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copiously
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| adv.丰富地，充裕地 | |
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60
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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61
isolation
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| n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离 | |
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62
perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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63
invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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snugness
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piquancy
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| n.辛辣，辣味，痛快 | |
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66
tinkle
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| vi.叮当作响；n.叮当声 | |
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67
wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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68
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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inhaled
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| v.吸入( inhale的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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aromatic
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| adj.芳香的，有香味的 | |
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luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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vertical
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| adj.垂直的，顶点的，纵向的；n.垂直物，垂直的位置 | |
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allay
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| v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等) | |
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torments
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| （肉体或精神上的）折磨，痛苦( torment的名词复数 )； 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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81
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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82
siestas
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| n.（气候炎热国家的）午睡，午休( siesta的名词复数 ) | |
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clove
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| n.丁香味 | |
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84
obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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lair
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| n.野兽的巢穴；躲藏处 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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maneuver
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| n.策略[pl.]演习；v.(巧妙)控制；用策略 | |
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fervor
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| n.热诚；热心；炽热 | |
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89
droop
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| v.低垂，下垂；凋萎，萎靡 | |
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90
stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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slashed
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| v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
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gaped
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| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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gushed
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| v.喷，涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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arteries
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| n.动脉( artery的名词复数 )；干线，要道 | |
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98
gash
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| v.深切，划开；n.(深长的)切(伤)口；裂缝 | |
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99
plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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100
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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101
blur
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| n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚 | |
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102
trumpets
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| 喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花 | |
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103
brandished
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| v.挥舞( brandish的过去式和过去分词 )；炫耀 | |
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104
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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105
tinkling
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| n.丁当作响声 | |
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106
drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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107
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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108
scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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109
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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110
specks
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| n.眼镜；斑点，微粒，污点( speck的名词复数 ) | |
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111
myriads
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| n.无数，极大数量( myriad的名词复数 ) | |
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112
longingly
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| adv. 渴望地 热望地 | |
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stupor
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| v.昏迷；不省人事 | |
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