"Up! Up, everybody!" was the shout that reached Dick's sleeping ears. He sprang to his feet and found that the gorgeous sun was flooding the prairie with light. Already the high, brilliant skies of the Great West were arching over him. Men were cooking breakfast. Teamsters were cracking their whips and the whole camp was alive with a gay and cheerful spirit. Everybody seemed to know now that they were going for the gold, and, like Dick, they had found it in fancy already.
Breakfast over, the train took up its march, turning at a right angle from its old course and now advancing almost due north. But this start was made with uncommon1 alacrity2 and zeal3. There were no sluggards now. They, too, had golden visions, and, as if to encourage them, the aspect of the country soon began to change, and rapidly to grow better. The clouds of dust that they raised were thinner. The bunch grass grew thicker. Off on the crest4 of a swell5 a moving figure was seen now and then. "Antelope6," said the hunters. Once they passed a slow creek7. The water was muddy, but it contained no alkali, and animals and men drank eagerly. Cottonwoods, the first trees they had seen in days, grew on either side of the stream, and they rested there awhile in the shade, because the sun was now out in full splendor8, and the vast plains shimmered9 in the heat.
Albert resumed his place in the wagon11. Dick had a horse which, on becoming foot-sore, had been allowed to rest for a few days, and was now well. He mounted it and galloped12 on ahead. The clouds were all gone away and the golden visions had come back. He felt so strong, so young, and the wonderful air of the plains was such a tonic14 that he urged his horse to a gallop13, and it was hard for him to keep from shouting aloud in joy. He looked eagerly into the north, striving already for a sight of the dark mountains that men called the Black Hills. The blue gave back nothing but its own blue.
His horse seemed to share his spirits, and swung along with swift and easy stride. Dick looked back presently, and saw that the train which had been winding15 like a serpent over the plains was lost to sight behind the swells16. The surface of the earth had become more rolling as they advanced northward17, and he knew that the train, though out of sight, was nor far away.
He enjoyed for the moment the complete absence of all human beings save himself. To be alone then meant anything but loneliness. He galloped to the crest of a higher swell than usual, and then stopped short. Far off on the plain he saw tiny moving figures, a dozen or so, and he was sure that they were antelope. They had seen antelope before at a great distance, but had not bothered about them. Now the instincts of the hunter rose in Dick, and he resolved to make a trial of his skill.
He found in one of the depressions between the swells a stunted18 cottonwood, to which he hitched19 his horse, knowing it would be well hidden there from the observation of the herd20. He then advanced on foot. He had heard that the antelope was a slave to its own curiosity, and through that weakness he intended to secure his game.
When he had gone about half the distance he sank down on his hands and knees and began to crawl, a laborious21 and sometimes painful operation, burdened as he was with his rifle, and unused to such methods of locomotion22. Presently he noticed a flutter among the antelope, a raising of timid heads, an alarmed looking in his direction. But Dick was prepared. He lay flat upon his face, and dug the point of the long hunting knife that he carried into the ground, while the wind blew out the folds of the red handkerchief which he had tied to the handle.
Mr. Big Buck23 Antelope, the chief of the herd and a wary24 veteran, saw the waving red spot on the horizon and his interest was aroused, despite his caution. What a singular thing! It must be investigated! It might be some new kind of food very good for Mr. Big Buck's palate and stomach, and no provident25 antelope could afford to let such an opportunity pass.
He was trembling all over with curiosity, and perhaps his excitement kept him from seeing the dark shape that blurred26 with the earth just beyond the red something, or he may have taken it for a shadow. At any event, his curiosity kept him from paying heed27 to it, and he began to approach. His steps were hesitating, and now and then he drew away a little, but that singular red object lured28 him on, and yard by yard he drew nearer.
He suddenly saw the black shadow beyond the fluttering red object detach itself from the ground, and resolve into a terrible shape. His heart sprang up in his bosom29, and he was about to rush madly away, but it was too late. A stream of fire shot forth30 from the dark object and the buck fell, a bullet through him.
Dick prepared the animal for dressing31, thinking of the tender, juicy steaks that Albert would enjoy, and then throwing the body across the horse, behind him, rode back to the train, proud of his success.
Conway frowned and said grudging32 words. He did not like, he said, for anybody to leave the train without his permission, and it was foolish, anyhow, for a boy to be galloping33 about as he pleased over the prairie; he might get lost, and there would be nobody to take care of the other boy, the sick one. Dick made an easy diplomatic reply. He knew that Conway merely wished to be unpleasant, but Dick was of a very good nature, and he was particularly averse34 just then to quarreling with anybody. He was too full of the glory of living. Instead, he offered some of the antelope steaks to Conway, who churlishly accepted them, and that night he broiled35 others for Albert and himself, dividing the rest among the men.
Albert found antelope steak tender and juicy, and he ate with an increasing appetite. Dick noted36 the increase with pleasure.
"I wish I could go out and kill antelope," said Albert.
Dick laughed cheerfully.
"Kill antelope," he said. "Why, Al, in six months you'll be taking a grizzly37 bear by the neck and choking him to death with your two hands."
"Wish I could believe it," said Albert.
But Dick went to sleep early that night, and slept peacefully without dreams or visions, and the next morning the train resumed its sanguine38 march. They were still ascending39, and the character of the country continued to improve. Bunch grass steadily40 grew thicker and buffalo41 chips were numerous. The heat in the middle of the day was still great, but the air was so dry and pure that it was not oppressive. Albert dismounted from the wagon, and walked for several miles by the side of his brother.
"Shouldn't be surprised if we saw buffalo," said Dick. "Heard 'em talking about it in the train. Bright Sun says these are favorite grazing grounds, and there's still a lot of buffalo scattered42 about the plains."
Albert showed excitement.
"A buffalo herd!" he exclaimed. "Do you think it can really happen, Dick? I never thought I'd see such a thing! I hope it'll come true!"
It came true much sooner than Albert hoped.
Scarcely a half hour after he spoke44, Bright Sun, who was at the head of the column, stopped his pony45 and pointed46 to indistinct tiny shadows just under the horizon.
"A great herd comes!"
Dick and Albert were on foot then, but they heard his words and followed his pointing finger with the deepest interest. The tiny black shadows seemed to come out of the horizon as if they stepped from a wall. They grew in size and number, and all the west was filled with their forms.
The train resumed its march, bending off under the guidance of Bright Sun a little toward the west, and it was obvious that the herd would pass near. Dick and Albert rejoiced, because they wished to see the buffaloes48 at close quarters, and Dick was hoping also for a shot. Others, too, in the train, although their minds were set on gold, began to turn their attention now to the herd. The sport and the fresh meat alike would be welcome. It was Dick's impulse to mount his horse and gallop away again, gun in hand, but he made a supreme49 conquest over self and remained. He remembered Albert's longing50 words about the antelope, his wish that he, too, tireless, might be able to pursue the game. Dick remained quietly by his brother's side.
The whole train stopped presently at Conway's order on the crest of a swell, and drew itself up in a circle. Many of the men were now mounted and armed for an attack upon the herd, but at the suggestion of Bright Sun they waited a little, until the opportunity should become more convenient.
"It is a big herd," said Bright Sun; "perhaps the biggest that one can ever see now."
It certainly seemed immense to Dick and Albert. The great animals came on in an endless stream from the blue wall of the horizon. The vast procession steadily broadened and lengthened51 and it moved with unceasing step toward the south. The body of it was solid black, with figures which at the distance blended into one mass, but on the flanks hung stragglers, lawless old bulls or weaklings, and outside there was a fringe of hungry wolves, snapping and snarling52, and waiting a chance to drag down some failing straggler.
Far over the plain spread the herd, thousands and tens of thousands, and the earth shook with their tread. Confused, bellowings and snortings arose, and the dust hung thick.
Dick and Albert stared with intent eyes at the wonderful scene. The herd was drawing nearer and nearer. It would pass only a few hundred yards from the crest on which the train stood. Already the hunters were shouting to one another and galloping away, but Dick did not stir from Albert's side. Albert's eyes were expanded, and the new color in his face deepened. His breath cam in the short, quick fashion of one who is excited. He suddenly turned to his brother.
"The men are off! Why aren't you with them Dick?" he exclaimed.
"I thought I wouldn't go," replied Dick evasively. "There'll be enough without me."
Albert stared. Not hunt buffalo when one could. It was unbelievable. Then he comprehended. But he would not have it that way! It was noble of Dick, but it should not be so for a moment. He cried out, a note of anxiety in this voice:
"No, Dick, you shall not say here with me! My time will come later on! Jump on your horse, Dick, and join 'em! I won't forgive you if you don't!"
Dick saw that Albert was in earnest, and he knew that it would be better for them both now if he should go.
"All right, Al!" he cried, "I'll pick out a good fat one." He jumped on his horse and in a moment was galloping at full speed over the plain toward the great herd which now rushed on, black and thundering.
Dick heard shots already from those who had preceded him, and the exultant53 shouts of the men mingled54 with the roar of mighty55 tramplings. But it was not all triumph for the men, few of whom were experienced. Two or three had been thrown by shying horses, and with difficulty escaped being trodden to death under the feet of the herd. The herd itself was so immense that it did not notice these few wasps56 on a distant flank, and thundered steadily on southward.
Dick's own horse, frightened by such a tremendous sight, shied and jumped, but the boy had a sure seat and brought him around again. Dick himself was somewhat daunted57 by the aspect of the herd. If he and his hose got in the way, they would go down forever, as surely as if engulfed58 by an avalanche59.
The horse shied again and made a mighty jump, as a huge bull, red-eyed and puffing60, charged by. Dick, who was holding his rifle in one hand, slipped far over, and with great difficulty regained61 his balance on the horse's back. When he was secure again, he turned his mount and galloped along for some distance on the flank of the herd, seeking a suitable target for his bullet. The effect was dizzying. So many thousands were rushing beside him that the shifting panorama62 made him wink63 his eyes rapidly. Vast clouds of dust floated about, now and then enveloping64 him, and that made him wink his eyes, too. But he continued, nevertheless, to seek for his target a fat cow. Somehow he didn't seem to see anything just then but old bulls. They were thick on the flanks of the herd either as stragglers or protectors, and Dick was afraid to press in among them in his search for the cow.
His opportunity came at last. A young cow, as fat as one could wish, was thrown on the outside by some movement of the herd, caught, as it were, like a piece of driftwood in an eddy65, and Dick instantly fired at her. She staggered and went down, but at the same instant a huge, shaggy bull careened against Dick and his horse. It was not so much a charge as an accident, the chance of Dick's getting in the bull's way, and the boy's escape was exceedingly narrow.
His horse staggered and fell to his knees. The violence of the shock wrested66 Dick's rifle from his hand, and he was barely quick enough to grasp it as it was sliding across the saddle. But he did save it, and the horse, trembling and frightened, recovered his feet. By that time the old bull and his comrades were gone.
Dick glanced around and was relieved to see that nobody had noticed his plight67. They were all too much absorbed in their own efforts to pay any heed to him. The body took a deep, long breath. He had killed a buffalo, despite his inexperience. There was the cow to show for it.
The herd thundered off to the southward, the clouds of dust and the fringe of wolves following it. About a dozen of their number had fallen before the rifles, but Dick had secured the fattest and the tenderest. Albert, as proud as Dick himself of his triumph, came down on the plain and helped as much as he could in skinning and cutting up the cow. Dick wished to preserve the robe, and they spread it out on the wagon to dry.
The train made no further attempt to advance that day, but devoted68 the afternoon to a great feast. Bright Sun showed them how to cook the tenderest part of the hump in the coals, and far into the night the fires blazed.
"We will see no more buffaloes for a while," said Bright Sun. "To-morrow we reach another little river coming down from the hills, and the ground becomes rough."
Bright Sun told the truth. They reached the river about noon of the next day, and, as it flowed between steep banks, the crossing was difficult. It took many hours to get on the other side, and two or three axles were broken by the heavy jolts69. Conway raged and swore, calling them a clumsy lot, and some of the men refused to take his abuse, replying to his hard words with others equally as hard. Pistols were drawn70 and there was promise of trouble, but it was finally stopped, partly by the persuasion71 of others, and partly of its own accord. The men were still feeling the desire for gold too strongly to fight while on the way to it. Dick and Albert kept aloof72 from these contentions73, steadily minding their own business, and they found, as others do, that it paid.
They came presently into a better country, and the way led for a day or two through a typical part of the Great Plains, not a flat region, but one of low, monotonous74 swells. Now and then they crossed a shallow little creek, and occasionally they came to pools, some of which were tinged75 with alkali. There were numerous small depressions, two or three feet deep, and Dick knew that they were "buffalo wallows." He and Albert examined them with interest.
"This is buffalo country again," said Dick. "Everything proves it. The grass here is the best that we have seen in a long time, and I imagine that it's just the sort of place they would love."
The grass was, indeed, good, as Dick had said, not merely clumps76 of it, but often wide, carpeted spaces. It was somewhat dry, and turning brown, but so big and strong an animal as the buffalo would not mind it. In fact, they saw several small groups of buffaloes grazing at a distance, usually on the crest of one of the low swells. As they already had plenty of buffalo meat, the men of the train did not trouble them, and the great animals would continue to crop the grass undisturbed.
About a week after the buffalo hunt they camped in a great plain somewhat flatter than any that they had encountered hitherto, and drew up the wagons77 in a loose circle.
The day had been very hot, but, as usual on the plains, the night brought coolness. The fire which Dick made of buffalo chips was not only useful, but it felt pleasant, too, as they sat beside it, ate their supper, and watched the great inclosing circle of darkness creep up closer and closer to the camp. There was not much noise about them. The men were tired, and as soon as they ate their food they fell asleep in the wagons or on the ground. The tethered horses and mules79 stirred a little for a while, but they, too, soon rested in peace.
"You take the wagon, Al," said Dick, "but I think I'll sleep on the ground."
Albert said good night and disappeared in the wagon. Dick stood up and looked over the camp. Only two or three fires were yet burning, and not a dozen men were awake. He saw dark figures here and there on the ground, and knew that they were those of sleepers80. Three sentinels had been posted, but Dick was quite sure from the general character of the train that later on they would sleep like the others. All his instincts of order and fitness rebelled against the management of this camp.
Dick rolled himself in his blanket and lay down by the little fire that he had built. The dry, clean earth made a good bed, and with his left elbow under his head he gazed into the fire, which, like all fires of buffalo chips, was now rapidly dying, leaving little behind but light ashes that the first breeze would scatter43 through space.
He watched the last blaze sink and go out, he saw the last coal die, then, when a few sparks flew upward, there was blank darkness where the fire had been. All the other fires were out, too, and only the dim figures of the wagons showed. He felt, for a little while, as if he were alone in the wilderness81, but he was not afraid. All was darkness below, and the wind was moaning, but overhead was a blue sky filled with friendly stars.
Dick could not go to sleep for a long time. From the point where he lay he could now see two of the sentinels walking back and forth, rifle on shoulder. He did not believe that they would continue to do so many hours, and he had a vague sort of desire to prove that he was right. Having nothing else to do he watched them.
The nearer sentinel grew lazier in his walk, and his beat became shorter. At last he dropped his rifle to the ground, leaned his folded arms on its muzzle82, and gazed toward the camp, where, so far as he could see, there was nothing but darkness and sleep. The other presently did the same. Then they began short walks back and forth, but soon both sat down on the ground, with their rifles between their knees, and after that they did not stir. Watching as closely as he could Dick could not observe the slightest movement on the part of either, and he knew that they were asleep. He laughed to himself, pleased, in a way, to know that he had been right, although it was only another evidence of the carelessness and indifference83 general throughout the train.
He fell asleep himself in another half hour, but he awoke about midnight, and he was conscious at once that he had been awakened84 not by a troubled mind, but by something external and unusual. He was lying with his right ear to the ground, and it seemed to him that a slight trembling motion ran through the solid earth. He did not so much hear it as feel it, and tried to persuade himself that it was mere10 fancy, but failed. He sat up, and he no longer observed the trembling, but when he put his ear to the ground again it was stronger.
It could not be fancy. It was something real and extraordinary. He glanced at the sentinels, but they were sound asleep. He felt a desire to rouse somebody, but if it proved to be nothing they would laugh at him, or more likely call him hard names. He tried ear to earth once more. The trembling was still growing in strength, and mixed with it was a low, groaning85 sound, like the swell of the sea on the shore. The sound came with the wind from the north.
Dick sprang to his feet. There, in the north was a faint light which grew with amazing rapidity. In a minutes almost it seemed to redden the whole northern heavens, and the groaning sound became a roll, like that of approaching thunder.
A shadow flitted by Dick.
"What is it, Bright Sun?? What is it?" exclaimed the boy.
"The dry grass burns, and a mighty buffalo herd flees before it."
Then Bright Sun was gone, and the full sense of their danger burst upon Dick in overwhelming tide. The flames came on, as fast as a horse's gallop, and the buffaloes, in thousands and tens of thousands, were their vanguard. The camp lay directly in the path of fire and buffalo. The awakened sentinels were on their feet now, and half-clad men were springing from the wagons.
Dick stood perfectly86 still for perhaps a minute, while the fire grew brighter and the thunder of a myriad87 hoofs88 grew louder. Then he remembered what he had so often read and heard, and the crisis stirred him to swift action. While the whole camp was a scene of confusion, of shouts, of oaths, and of running men, he sped to its south side, to a point twenty or thirty yards from the nearest wagon. There he knelt in the dry grass and drew his box of matches from his pocket. It happened that Conway saw.
"What are you doing, you boy?" he cried, threateningly.
But Dick did not care for Conway just then.
"Back fire! Back fire!" he shouted, and struck a match. It went out, but he quickly struck another, shielded it with one hand and touched the tiny flame to the grass. A flame equally tiny answered, but in an instant it leaped into the size and strength of a giant. The blaze rose higher than Dick's head, ran swiftly to right and left, and then roared away to the south, eating up everything in its path.
"Well done," said a voice at Dick's elbow. "It is the only thing that could save the train."
It was Bright Sun who spoke, and he had come so silently that
Dick did not see him until then.
Conway understood now, but without a word of approval he turned away and began to give orders, mixed with much swearing. He had a rough sort of efficiency, and spurred by his tongue and their own dreadful necessity, the men worked fast. The horses and mules, except three or four which had broken loose and were lost, were hitched to the wagons in half the usual time. There were no sluggards now.
Dick helped, and Albert, too, but to both it seemed that the work would never be done. The back fire was already a half mile away, gathering90 volume and speed as it went, but the other was coming on at an equal pace. Deer and antelope were darting91 past them, and the horses and mules were rearing in terror.
"Into the burned ground," shouted Conway, "an' keep the wagons close together!"
No need to urge the animals. They galloped southward over earth which was still hot and smoking, but they knew that something was behind them, far more terrible than sparks and smoke.
Dick made Albert jump into their own wagon, while he ran beside it. As he ran, he looked back, and saw a sight that might well fill the bravest soul with dread89. A great black line, crested92 with tossing horns, was bearing down on them. The thunder of hoofs was like the roar of a hurricane, but behind the herd was a vast wall of light, which seemed to reach from the earth to the heavens and which gave forth sparks in myriads93. Dick knew that they had been just in time.
They did not stop until they had gone a full quarter of a mile, and then the wagons were hastily drawn up in a rude circle, with the animals facing the center, that is, the inside, and still rearing and neighing in terror. Then the men, rifle in hand, and sitting in the rear of the wagons, faced the buffalo herd.
Dick was with the riflemen, and, like the others, he began to fire as soon as the vanguard of the buffaloes was near enough. The wagons were a solid obstacle which not even King Bison could easily run over, but Dick and Albert thought the herd would never split, although the bullets were poured into it at a central point like a driven wedge.
But the falling buffaloes were an obstacle to those behind them, and despite their mad panic, the living became conscious of the danger in front. The herd split at last, the cleft94 widened to right and left, and then the tide, in two great streams, flowed past the wagon train.
Dick ceased firing and sat with Albert on the tail of the wagon. The wall of fire, coming to the burned ground, went out in the center, but the right and left ends of it, swinging around, still roared to the southward, passing at a distance of a quarter of a mile on either side.
Dick and Albert watched until all the herd was gone, and when only smoke and sparks were left, helped to get the camp into trim again. Conway knew that the boy had saved them, but he gave him no thanks.
It took the ground a long time to cool, and they advanced all the next day over a burned area. They traveled northward ten days, always ascending, and they were coming now to a wooded country. They crossed several creeks95, flowing down from the higher mountains, and along the beds of these they found cottonwood, ash, box elder, elm, and birch. On the steeper slops were numerous cedar96 brakes and also groves97 of yellow pine. There was very little undergrowth, but the grass grew in abundance. Although it was now somewhat dry, the horses and mules ate it eagerly. The buffaloes did not appear here, but they saw many signs of bear, mule78 deer, panther or mountain lion, and other game.
They camped one night in a pine grove98 by the side of a brook99 that came rushing and foaming100 down from the mountains, and the next morning Albert, who walked some distance from the water, saw a silver-tip bear lapping the water of the stream. The bear raised his head and looked at Albert, and Albert stopped and looked at the bear. The boy was unarmed, but he was not afraid. The bear showed no hostility101, only curiosity. He gazed a few moments, stretched his nose as if he would sniff102 the air, then turned and lumbered103 away among the pines. Albert returned to camp, but he said nothing of the bear to anybody except Dick.
"He was such a jolly, friendly looking fellow, Dick," he said, "that I didn't want any of these men to go hunting him."
Dick laughed.
"Don't you worry about that, Al," he said. "They are hunting gold, not bears."
On the twelfth day they came out on a comparatively level plateau, where antelope were grazing and prairie chickens whirring. It looked like a fertile country, and they were glad of easy traveling for the wagons. Just at the edge of the pine woods that they were leaving was a beautiful little lake of clear, blue water, by which they stayed half a day, refreshing104 themselves, and catching105 some excellent fish, the names of which they did not know.
"How much long, Bright Sun, will it take us to reach the gold country?" asked Conway of the Indian, in Dick's hearing.
"About a week," replied Bright Sun. "The way presently will be very rough and steep, up! up! up! and we can go only a few miles a day, but the mountains are already before us. See!"
He pointed northward and upward, and there before them was the misty106 blue loom107 that Dick knew was the high mountains. In those dark ridges108 lay the gold that they were going to seek, and his heart throbbed109. Albert and he could do such wonderful things with it.
They were so high already that the nights were crisp with cold; but at the edge of the forest, running down to the little lake, fallen wood was abundant, and they built that night a great fire of fallen boughs110 that crackled and roared merrily. Yet they hovered111 closely, because the wind, sharp with ice, was whistling down from the mountains, and the night air, even in the little valley, was heavy with frost. Dick's buffalo robe was dry now, and he threw it around Albert, as he sat before the fire. It enveloped112 the boy like a great blanket, but far warmer, the soft, smooth fur caressing113 his cheeks, and as Albert drew it closer, he felt very snug114 indeed.
"We cross this valley to-morrow," said Dick, "and then we begin a steeper climb."
"Then it will be mountains, only mountains," said Bright Sun. "We go into regions which no white men except the fur hunters, have ever trod."
Dick started. He had not known that the Indian was near. Certainly he was not there a moment ago. There was something uncanny in the way in which Bright Sun would appear on noiseless footstep, like a wraith115 rising from the earth.
"I shall be glad of it, Bright Sun," said Albert. "I'm tired of the plains, and they say that the mountains are good for many ills."
Bright Sun's enigmatic glance rested upon Albert a moment.
"Yes," he said, "the mountains will cure many ills."
Dick glanced at him, and once more he received the impression of thought and power. The Indian's nose curved like an eagle's beak116, and the firelight perhaps exaggerated both the curve and its effect. The whole impression of thought and force was heightened by the wide brow and the strong chin.
Dick looked back into the fire, and when he glanced around a few moments again, Bright Sun was not there. He had gone as silently as he had come.
"That Indian gives me the shivers sometimes," he said to Albert.
"What do you make of him?"
"I don't know," replied the boy. "Sometimes I like him and sometimes I don't."
Albert was soon asleep, wrapped in the buffalo robe, and Dick by and by followed him to the same pleasant land. The wind, whistling as it blew down from the mountains, grew stronger and colder, and its tone was hostile, as if it resented the first presence of white men in the little valley by the lake.
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1
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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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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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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antelope
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| n.羚羊；羚羊皮 | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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shimmered
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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tonic
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| n./adj.滋补品，补药，强身的，健体的 | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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swells
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| 增强( swell的第三人称单数 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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stunted
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| adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的 | |
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19
hitched
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| （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上 | |
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20
herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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21
laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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22
locomotion
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| n.运动，移动 | |
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23
buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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24
wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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provident
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| adj.为将来做准备的，有先见之明的 | |
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blurred
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| v.（使）变模糊( blur的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）难以区分；模模糊糊；迷离 | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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lured
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| 吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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29
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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30
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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31
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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32
grudging
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| adj.勉强的，吝啬的 | |
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33
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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34
averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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35
broiled
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| a.烤过的 | |
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36
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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37
grizzly
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| adj.略为灰色的，呈灰色的；n.灰色大熊 | |
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38
sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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39
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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40
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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41
buffalo
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| n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛 | |
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42
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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43
scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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44
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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45
pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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46
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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47
tersely
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| adv. 简捷地, 简要地 | |
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48
buffaloes
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| n.水牛（分非洲水牛和亚洲水牛两种）( buffalo的名词复数 )；（南非或北美的）野牛；威胁；恐吓 | |
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49
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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50
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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51
lengthened
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
snarling
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的现在分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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53
exultant
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| adj.欢腾的，狂欢的，大喜的 | |
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54
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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55
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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56
wasps
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| 黄蜂( wasp的名词复数 )； 胡蜂； 易动怒的人； 刻毒的人 | |
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57
daunted
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| 使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
engulfed
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| v.吞没，包住( engulf的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
avalanche
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| n.雪崩，大量涌来 | |
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60
puffing
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| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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61
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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62
panorama
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| n.全景，全景画，全景摄影，全景照片[装置] | |
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63
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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64
enveloping
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的现在分词 ) | |
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65
eddy
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| n.漩涡，涡流 | |
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66
wrested
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| （用力）拧( wrest的过去式和过去分词 )； 费力取得； （从…）攫取； （ 从… ） 强行取去… | |
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67
plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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68
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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69
jolts
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| （使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的名词复数 ) | |
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70
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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71
persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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72
aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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73
contentions
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| n.竞争( contention的名词复数 )；争夺；争论；论点 | |
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74
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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75
tinged
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| v.（使）发丁丁声( ting的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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76
clumps
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| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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77
wagons
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| n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车 | |
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78
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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79
mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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80
sleepers
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| n.卧铺（通常以复数形式出现）；卧车( sleeper的名词复数 )；轨枕；睡觉（呈某种状态）的人；小耳环 | |
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81
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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82
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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83
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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84
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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85
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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86
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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87
myriad
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| adj.无数的；n.无数，极大数量 | |
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88
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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89
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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90
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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91
darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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92
crested
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| adj.有顶饰的，有纹章的，有冠毛的v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的过去式和过去分词 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
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93
myriads
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| n.无数，极大数量( myriad的名词复数 ) | |
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94
cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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95
creeks
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| n.小湾( creek的名词复数 )；小港；小河；小溪 | |
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96
cedar
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| n.雪松，香柏(木) | |
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97
groves
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| 树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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98
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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99
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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100
foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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101
hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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102
sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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103
lumbered
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| 砍伐（lumber的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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104
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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105
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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106
misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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107
loom
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| n.织布机，织机；v.隐现，(危险、忧虑等)迫近 | |
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108
ridges
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| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
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109
throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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110
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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111
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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112
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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113
caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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114
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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115
wraith
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| n.幽灵；骨瘦如柴的人 | |
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116
beak
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| n.鸟嘴，茶壶嘴，钩形鼻 | |
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