Now if you wish, like the dwarves1, to hear news of Smaug, you must go back again to the evening when he smashed the door and flew off in rage, two days before.
The men of the lake-town Esgaroth were mostly indoors, for the breeze was from the black East and chill, but a few were walking on the quays2, and watching, as they were fond of doing, the stars shine out from the smooth patches of the lake as they opened in the sky. From their town the Lonely Mountain was mostly screened by the low hills at the far end of the lake, through a gap in which the Running River came down from the North. Only its high peak could they see in clear weather, and they looked seldom at it, for it was ominous3 and dreary4 even in the light of morning. Now it was lost and gone, blotted5 in the dark.
Suddenly it flickered6 back to view; a brief glow touched it and faded.
"Look!" said one. "The lights again! Last night the watchmen saw them start and fade from midnight until dawn. Something is happening up there."
"Perhaps the King under the Mountain is forging gold," said another. "It is long since he went north. It is time the songs began to prove themselves again."
"Which king?" said another with a grim voice. "As like as not it is the marauding fire of the Dragon, the only king under the Mountain we have ever known."
"You are always foreboding gloomy things!" said the others. "Anything from floods to poisoned fish. Think of something cheerful!"
Then suddenly a great light appeared in the low place in the hills and the northern end of the lake turned golden.
"The King beneath the Mountain!" they shouted. "His wealth is like the Sun, his silver like a fountain, his rivers golden run! The river is running gold from the Mountain!" they cried, and everywhere windows were opening and feet were hurrying.
There was once more a tremendous excitement and enthusiasm. But the grim-voiced fellow ran hotfoot to the Master. "The dragon is coming or I am a fool!" he cried. "Cut the bridges! To arms! To arms!"
Then warning trumpets7 were suddenly sounded, and echoed along the rocky shores. The cheering stopped and the joy was turned to dread8. So it was that the dragon did not find them quite unprepared. Before long, so great was his speed, they could see him as a spark of fire rushing towards them and growing ever huger and more bright, and not the most foolish doubted that the prophecies had gone rather wrong. Still they had a little time. Every vessel9 in the town was filled with water, every warrior10 was armed, every arrow and dart11 was ready, and the bridge to the land was thrown down and destroyed, before the roar of Smaug's terrible approach grew loud, and the lake rippled12 red as fire beneath the awful beating of his wings.
Amid shrieks14 and wailing15 and the shouts of men he came over them, swept towards the bridges and was foiled! The bridge was gone, and his enemies were on an island in deep water-too deep and dark and cool for his liking16. If he plunged17 into it, a vapour and a steam would arise enough to cover all the land with a mist for days; but the lake was mightier18 than he, it would quench19 him before he could pass through.
Roaring he swept back over the town. A hail of dark arrows leaped up and snapped and rattled20 on his scales and jewels, and their shafts21 fell back kindled23 by his breath burning and hissing25 into the lake. No fireworks you ever imagined equalled the sights that night. At the twanging of the bows and the shrilling26 of the trumpets the dragon's wrath27 blazed to its height, till he was blind and mad with it. No one had dared to give battle to him for many an age; nor would they have dared now, if it had not been for the grim-voiced man (Bard28 was his name), who ran to and fro cheering on the archers29 and urging the Master to order them to fight to the last arrow.
Fire leaped from the dragon's jaws30. He circled for a while high in the air above them lighting31 all the lake; the trees by the shores shone like copper32 and like blood with leaping shadows of dense33 black at their feet. Then down he swooped35 straight through the arrow-storm, reckless in his rage, taking no heed36 to turn his scaly37 sides towards his foes38, seeking only to set their town ablaze39.
Fire leaped from thatched roofs and wooden beam-ends as he hurtled down and past and round again, though all had been drenched40 with water before he came. Once more water was flung by a hundred hands wherever a spark appeared. Back swirled41 the dragon. A sweep of his tail and the roof of the Great House crumbled42 and smashed down. Flames unquenchable sprang high into the night. Another swoop34 and another, and another house and then another sprang afire and fell; and still no arrow hindered Smaug or hurt him more than a fly from the marshes43. Already men were jumping into the water on every side. Women and children were being huddled44 into laden45 boats in the market-pool. Weapons were flung down. There was mourning and weeping, where but a little time ago the old songs of mirth to come had been sung about the dwarves. Now men cursed their names. The Master himself was turning to his great gilded46 boat, hoping to row away in the confusion and save himself. Soon all the town would be deserted47 and burned down to the surface of the lake. That was the dragon's hope. They could all get into boats for all he cared. There he could have fine sport hunting them, or they could stop till they starved. Let them try to get to land and he would be ready. Soon he would set all the shoreland woods ablaze and wither48 every field and pasture. Just now he was enjoying the sport of town-baiting more than he had enjoyed anything for years. But there was still a company of archers that held their ground among the burning houses. Their captain was Bard, grim-voiced and grim-faced, whose friends had accused him of prophesying49 floods and poisoned fish, though they knew his worth and courage. He was a descendant in long line of Girion, Lord of Dale, whose wife and child had escaped down the Running River from the ruin long ago. Now he shot with a great yew50 bow, till all his arrows but one were spent. The flames were near him. His companions were leaving him. He bent51 his bow for the last time. Suddenly out of the dark something fluttered to his shoulder. He started-but it was only an old thrush. Unafraid it perched by his ear and it brought him news. Marvelling52 he found he could understand its tongue, for he was of the race of Dale.
"Wait! Wait!" it said to him. "The moon is rising. Look for the hollow of the left breast as he flies and turns above you!" And while Bard paused in wonder it told him of tidings up in the Mountain and of all that it had heard. Then Bard drew his bow-string to his ear. The dragon was circling back, flying low, and as he came the moon rose above the eastern shore and silvered his great wings.
"Arrow!" said the bowman. "Black arrow! I have saved you to the last. You have never failed me and always I have recovered you. I had you from my father and he from of old. If ever you came from the forges of the true king under the Mountain, go now and speed well!"
The dragon swooped once more lower than ever, and as he turned and dived down his belly53 glittered white with sparkling fires of gems54 in the moon-but not in one place. The great bow twanged. The black arrow sped straight from the string, straight for the hollow by the left breast where the foreleg was flung wide. In it smote55 and vanished, barb56, shaft22 and feather, so fierce was its flight. With a shriek13 that deafened57 men, felled trees and split stone, Smaug shot spouting58 into the air, turned over and crashed down from on high in ruin.
Full on the town he fell. His last throes splintered it to sparks and gledes. The lake roared in. A vast steam leaped up, white in the sudden dark under the moon. There was a hiss24, a gushing59 whirl, and then silence. And that was the end of Smaug and Esgaroth, but not of Bard. The waxing moon rose higher and higher and the wind grew loud and cold. It twisted the white fog into bending pillars and hurrying clouds and drove it off to the West to scatter60 in tattered61 shreds62 over the marshes before Mirkwood. Then the many boats could be seen dotted dark on the surface of the lake, and down the wind came the voices of the people of Esgaroth lamenting63 their lost town and goods and ruined houses. But they had really much to be thankful for, had they thought of it, though it could hardly be expected that they should just then: three quarters of the people of the town had at least escaped alive; their woods and fields and pastures and cattle and most of their boats remained undamaged; and the dragon was dead. What that meant they had not yet realized.
They gathered in mournful crowds upon the western shores, shivering in the cold wind, and their first complaints and anger were against the Master, who had left the town so soon, while some were still willing to defend it.
"He may have a good head for business-especially his own business," some murmured, "but he is no good when anything serious happens!" And they praised the courage of Bard and his last mighty64 shot. "If only he had not been killed," they all said, "we would make him a king. Bard the Dragon-shooter of the line of Girion! Alas65 that he is lost!"
And in the very midst of their talk, a tall figure stepped from the shadows. He was drenched with water, his black hair hung wet over his face and shoulders, and a fierce light was in his eyes.
"Bard is not lost!" he cried. "He dived from Esgaroth, when the enemy was slain66. I am Bard, of the line of Girion; I am the slayer67 of the dragon!"
"King Bard! King Bard!" they shouted; but the Master ground his chattering68 teeth.
"Girion was lord of Dale, not king of Esgaroth," he said. "In the Lake-town we have always elected masters from among the old and wise, and have not endured the rule of mere69 fighting men. Let 'King Bard' go back to his own kingdom-Dale is now freed by his valour, and nothing binders70 his return. And any that wish can go with him, if they prefer the cold shores under the shadow of the Mountain to the green shores of the lake. The wise will stay here and hope to rebuild our town, and enjoy again in time its peace and riches."
"We will have King Bard!" the people near at hand shouted in reply. "We have had enough of the old men and the money-counters!" And people further off took up the cry: "Up the Bowman, and down with Moneybags," till the clamour echoed along the shore.
"I am the last man to undervalue Bard the Bowman," said the Master warily71 (for Bard now stood close beside him). "He has tonight earned an eminent72 place in the roll of the benefactors73 of our town; and he is worthy74 of many imperishable songs. But, why O People?"-and here the Master rose to his feet and spoke75 very loud and clear — "why do I get all your blame? For what fault am I to be deposed76? Who aroused the dragon from his slumber77, I might ask? Who obtained of us rich gifts and ample help, and led us to believe that old songs could come true? Who played on our soft hearts and our pleasant fancies? What sort of gold have they sent down the river to reward us? Dragon-fire and ruin! From whom should we claim the recompense of our damage, and aid for our widows and orphans78?"
As you see, the Master had not got his position for nothing. The result of his words was that for the moment the people quite forgot their idea of a new king, and turned their angry thoughts towards Thorin and his company. Wild and bitter words were shouted from many sides; and some of those who had before sung the old songs loudest, were now heard as loudly crying that the dwarves had stirred the dragon up against them deliberately79!
"Fools!" said Bard. "Why waste words and wrath on those unhappy creatures? Doubtless they perished first in fire, before Smaug came to us." Then even as he was speaking, the thought came into his heart of the fabled80 treasure of the Mountain lying without guard or owner, and he fell suddenly silent. He thought of the Master's words, and of Dale rebuilt, and filled with golden bells, if he could but find the men.
At length he spoke again: "This is no time for angry words. Master, or for considering weighty plans of change. There is work to do. I serve you still-though after a while I may think again of your words and go North with any that will follow me."
Then he strode off to help in the ordering of the camps and in the care of the sick and the wounded. But the Master scowled81 at his back as he went, and remained sitting on the ground. He thought much but said little, unless it was to call loudly for men to bring him fire and food. Now everywhere Bard went he found talk running like fire among the people concerning the vast treasure that was now unguarded. Men spoke of the recompense for all their harm that they would soon get from it, and wealth over and to spare with which to buy rich things from the South; and it cheered them greatly in their plight82. That was as well, for the night was bitter and miserable83. Shelters could be contrived84 for few (the Master had one) and there was little food (even the Master went short). Many took ill of wet and cold and sorrow that night, and afterwards died, who had escaped uninjured from the ruin of the town; and in the days that followed there was much sickness and great hunger.
Meanwhile Bard took the lead, and ordered things as he wished, though always in the Master's name, and he had a hard task to govern the people and direct the preparations for their protection and housing. Probably most of them would have perished in the winter that now hurried after autumn, if help had not been to hand. But help came swiftly; for Bard at once had speedy messengers sent up the river to the Forest to ask the aid of the King of the Elves of the Wood, and these messengers had found a host already on the move, although it was then only the third day after the fall of Smaug.
The Elvenking had received news from his own messengers and from the birds that loved his folk, and already knew much of what had happened. Very great indeed was the commotion85 among all things with wings that dwelt on the borders of the Desolation of the Dragon. The air was filled with circling flocks, and their swift-flying messengers flew here and there across the sky. Above the borders of the Forest there was whistling, crying and piping. Far over Mirkwood tidings spread: "Smaug is dead!" Leaves rustled86 and startled ears were lifted. Even before the Elvenking rode forth87 the news had passed west right to the pinewoods of the Misty88 Mountains; Beorn had heard it in his wooden house, and the goblins were at council in their caves.
"That will be the last we shall hear of Thorin Oakenshield, I fear," said the king. "He would have done better to have remained my guest. It is an ill wind, all the same," he added, "that blows no one any good." For he too had not forgotten the legend of the wealth of Thror. So it was that Bard's messengers found him now marching with many spearmen and bowmen; and crows were gathered thick, above him, for they thought that war was awakening89 again, such as had not been in those parts for a long age. But the king, when he received the prayers of Bard, had pity, for he was the lord of a good and kindly90 people; so turning his march, which had at first been direct towards the Mountain, he hastened now down the river to the Long Lake. He had not boats or rafts enough for his host, and they were forced to go the slower way by foot; but great store of goods he sent ahead by water. Still elves are light—footed, and though they were not in these days much used to the marches and the treacherous91 lands between the Forest and the Lake, their going was swift. Only five days after the death of the dragon they came upon the shores and looked on the ruins of the town. Their welcome was good, as may be expected, and the men and their Master were ready to make any bargain for the future in return for the Elvenking's aid.
Their plans were soon made. With the women and the children, the old and the unfit, the Master remained behind; and with him were some men of crafts and many skilled elves; and they busied themselves felling trees, and collecting the timber sent down from the Forest. Then they set about raising many huts by the shore against the oncoming winter; and also under the Master's direction they began the planning of a new town, designed more fair and large even than before, but not in the same place. They removed northward92 higher up the shore; for ever after they had a dread of the water where the dragon lay. He would never again return to his golden bed, but was stretched cold as stone, twisted upon the floor of the shallows. There for ages his huge bones could be seen in calm weather amid the ruined piles of the old town. But few dared to cross the cursed spot, and none dared to dive into the shivering water or recover the precious stones that fell from his rotting carcass.
But all the men of arms who were still able, and the most of the Elvenking's array, got ready to march north to the Mountain. It was thus that in eleven days from the ruin of the town the head of their host passed the rock-gates at the end of the lake and came into the desolate93 lands.
1 dwarves | |
n.矮子( dwarf的名词复数 );有魔法的小矮人 | |
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2 quays | |
码头( quay的名词复数 ) | |
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3 ominous | |
adj.不祥的,不吉的,预兆的,预示的 | |
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4 dreary | |
adj.令人沮丧的,沉闷的,单调乏味的 | |
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5 blotted | |
涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 ); (用吸墨纸)吸干 | |
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6 flickered | |
(通常指灯光)闪烁,摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7 trumpets | |
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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8 dread | |
vt.担忧,忧虑;惧怕,不敢;n.担忧,畏惧 | |
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9 vessel | |
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
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10 warrior | |
n.勇士,武士,斗士 | |
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11 dart | |
v.猛冲,投掷;n.飞镖,猛冲 | |
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12 rippled | |
使泛起涟漪(ripple的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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13 shriek | |
v./n.尖叫,叫喊 | |
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14 shrieks | |
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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15 wailing | |
v.哭叫,哀号( wail的现在分词 );沱 | |
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16 liking | |
n.爱好;嗜好;喜欢 | |
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17 plunged | |
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降 | |
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18 mightier | |
adj. 强有力的,强大的,巨大的 adv. 很,极其 | |
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19 quench | |
vt.熄灭,扑灭;压制 | |
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20 rattled | |
慌乱的,恼火的 | |
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21 shafts | |
n.轴( shaft的名词复数 );(箭、高尔夫球棒等的)杆;通风井;一阵(疼痛、害怕等) | |
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22 shaft | |
n.(工具的)柄,杆状物 | |
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23 kindled | |
(使某物)燃烧,着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 ); 激起(感情等); 发亮,放光 | |
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24 hiss | |
v.发出嘶嘶声;发嘘声表示不满 | |
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25 hissing | |
n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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26 shrilling | |
(声音)尖锐的,刺耳的,高频率的( shrill的现在分词 ); 凄厉 | |
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27 wrath | |
n.愤怒,愤慨,暴怒 | |
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28 bard | |
n.吟游诗人 | |
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29 archers | |
n.弓箭手,射箭运动员( archer的名词复数 ) | |
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30 jaws | |
n.口部;嘴 | |
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31 lighting | |
n.照明,光线的明暗,舞台灯光 | |
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32 copper | |
n.铜;铜币;铜器;adj.铜(制)的;(紫)铜色的 | |
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33 dense | |
a.密集的,稠密的,浓密的;密度大的 | |
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34 swoop | |
n.俯冲,攫取;v.抓取,突然袭击 | |
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35 swooped | |
俯冲,猛冲( swoop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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36 heed | |
v.注意,留意;n.注意,留心 | |
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37 scaly | |
adj.鱼鳞状的;干燥粗糙的 | |
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38 foes | |
敌人,仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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39 ablaze | |
adj.着火的,燃烧的;闪耀的,灯火辉煌的 | |
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40 drenched | |
adj.湿透的;充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 );在某人(某物)上大量使用(某液体) | |
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41 swirled | |
v.旋转,打旋( swirl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42 crumbled | |
(把…)弄碎, (使)碎成细屑( crumble的过去式和过去分词 ); 衰落; 坍塌; 损坏 | |
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43 marshes | |
n.沼泽,湿地( marsh的名词复数 ) | |
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44 huddled | |
挤在一起(huddle的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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45 laden | |
adj.装满了的;充满了的;负了重担的;苦恼的 | |
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46 gilded | |
a.镀金的,富有的 | |
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47 deserted | |
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的 | |
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48 wither | |
vt.使凋谢,使衰退,(用眼神气势等)使畏缩;vi.枯萎,衰退,消亡 | |
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49 prophesying | |
v.预告,预言( prophesy的现在分词 ) | |
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50 yew | |
n.紫杉属树木 | |
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51 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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52 marvelling | |
v.惊奇,对…感到惊奇( marvel的现在分词 ) | |
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53 belly | |
n.肚子,腹部;(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分,膛 | |
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54 gems | |
growth; economy; management; and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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55 smote | |
v.猛打,重击,打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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56 barb | |
n.(鱼钩等的)倒钩,倒刺 | |
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57 deafened | |
使聋( deafen的过去式和过去分词 ); 使隔音 | |
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58 spouting | |
n.水落管系统v.(指液体)喷出( spout的现在分词 );滔滔不绝地讲;喋喋不休地说;喷水 | |
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59 gushing | |
adj.迸出的;涌出的;喷出的;过分热情的v.喷,涌( gush的现在分词 );滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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60 scatter | |
vt.撒,驱散,散开;散布/播;vi.分散,消散 | |
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61 tattered | |
adj.破旧的,衣衫破的 | |
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62 shreds | |
v.撕碎,切碎( shred的第三人称单数 );用撕毁机撕毁(文件) | |
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63 lamenting | |
adj.悲伤的,悲哀的v.(为…)哀悼,痛哭,悲伤( lament的现在分词 ) | |
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64 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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65 alas | |
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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66 slain | |
杀死,宰杀,杀戮( slay的过去分词 ); (slay的过去分词) | |
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67 slayer | |
n. 杀人者,凶手 | |
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68 chattering | |
n. (机器振动发出的)咔嗒声,(鸟等)鸣,啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的,啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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69 mere | |
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
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70 binders | |
n.(司机行话)刹车器;(书籍的)装订机( binder的名词复数 );(购买不动产时包括预付订金在内的)保证书;割捆机;活页封面 | |
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71 warily | |
adv.留心地 | |
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72 eminent | |
adj.显赫的,杰出的,有名的,优良的 | |
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73 benefactors | |
n.捐助者,施主( benefactor的名词复数 );恩人 | |
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74 worthy | |
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
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75 spoke | |
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 | |
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76 deposed | |
v.罢免( depose的过去式和过去分词 );(在法庭上)宣誓作证 | |
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77 slumber | |
n.睡眠,沉睡状态 | |
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78 orphans | |
孤儿( orphan的名词复数 ) | |
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79 deliberately | |
adv.审慎地;蓄意地;故意地 | |
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80 fabled | |
adj.寓言中的,虚构的 | |
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81 scowled | |
怒视,生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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82 plight | |
n.困境,境况,誓约,艰难;vt.宣誓,保证,约定 | |
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83 miserable | |
adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的 | |
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84 contrived | |
adj.不自然的,做作的;虚构的 | |
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85 commotion | |
n.骚动,动乱 | |
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86 rustled | |
v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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87 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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88 misty | |
adj.雾蒙蒙的,有雾的 | |
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89 awakening | |
n.觉醒,醒悟 adj.觉醒中的;唤醒的 | |
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90 kindly | |
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 | |
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91 treacherous | |
adj.不可靠的,有暗藏的危险的;adj.背叛的,背信弃义的 | |
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92 northward | |
adv.向北;n.北方的地区 | |
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93 desolate | |
adj.荒凉的,荒芜的;孤独的,凄凉的;v.使荒芜,使孤寂 | |
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