In this frightful23 situation we lay until the day broke so as to show us more fully24 the horrors which surrounded us. The brig was a mere25 log, rolling about at the mercy of every wave; the gale was upon the increase, if any thing, blowing indeed a complete hurricane, and there appeared to us no earthly prospect26 of deliverance. For several hours we held on in silence, expecting every moment that our lashings would either give way, that the remains of the windlass would go by the board, or that some of the huge seas, which roared in every direction around us and above us, would drive the hulk so far beneath the water that we should be drowned before it could regain27 the surface. By the mercy of God, however, we were preserved from these imminent dangers, and about midday were cheered by the light of the blessed sun. Shortly afterward28 we could perceive a sensible diminution29 in the force of the wind, when, now for the first time since the latter part of the evening before, Augustus spoke30, asking Peters, who lay closest to him, if he thought there was any possibility of our being saved. As no reply was at first made to this question, we all concluded that the hybrid31 had been drowned where he lay; but presently, to our great joy, he spoke, although very feebly, saying that he was in great pain, being so cut by the tightness of his lashings across the stomach, that he must either find means of loosening them or perish, as it was impossible that he could endure his misery32 much longer. This occasioned us great distress33, as it was altogether useless to think of aiding him in any manner while the sea continued washing over us as it did. We exhorted him to bear his sufferings with fortitude34, and promised to seize the first opportunity which should offer itself to relieve him. He replied that it would soon be too late; that it would be all over with him before we could help him; and then, after moaning for some minutes, lay silent, when we concluded that he had perished.
As the evening drew on, the sea had fallen so much that scarcely more than one wave broke over the hulk from windward in the course of five minutes, and the wind had abated35 a great deal, although still blowing a severe gale. I had not heard any of my companions speak for hours, and now called to Augustus. He replied, although very feebly, so that I could not distinguish what he said. I then spoke to Peters and to Parker, neither of whom returned any answer.
Shortly after this period I fell into a state of partial insensibility, during which the most pleasing images floated in my imagination; such as green trees, waving meadows of ripe grain, processions of dancing girls, troops of cavalry36, and other phantasies. I now remember that, in all which passed before my mind’s eye, motion was a predominant idea. Thus, I never fancied any stationary37 object, such as a house, a mountain, or any thing of that kind; but windmills, ships, large birds, balloons, people on horseback, carriages driving furiously, and similar moving objects, presented themselves in endless succession. When I recovered from this state, the sun was, as near as I could guess, an hour high. I had the greatest difficulty in bringing to recollection the various circumstances connected with my situation, and for some time remained firmly convinced that I was still in the hold of the brig, near the box, and that the body of Parker was that of Tiger.
When I at length completely came to my senses, I found that the wind blew no more than a moderate breeze, and that the sea was comparatively calm; so much so that it only washed over the brig amidships. My left arm had broken loose from its lashings, and was much cut about the elbow; my right was entirely38 benumbed, and the hand and wrist swollen39 prodigiously40 by the pressure of the rope, which had worked from the shoulder downward. I was also in great pain from another rope which went about my waist, and had been drawn41 to an insufferable degree of tightness. Looking round upon my companions, I saw that Peters still lived, although a thick line was pulled so forcibly around his loins as to give him the appearance of being cut nearly in two; as I stiffed, he made a feeble motion to me with his hand, pointing to the rope. Augustus gave no indication of life whatever, and was bent42 nearly double across a splinter of the windlass. Parker spoke to me when he saw me moving, and asked me if I had not sufficient strength to release him from his situation, saying that if I would summon up what spirits I could, and contrive43 to untie44 him, we might yet save our lives; but that otherwise we must all perish. I told him to take courage, and I would endeavor to free him. Feeling in my pantaloons’ pocket, I got hold of my penknife, and, after several ineffectual attempts, at length succeeded in opening it. I then, with my left hand, managed to free my right from its fastenings, and afterward cut the other ropes which held me. Upon attempting, however, to move from my position, I found that my legs failed me altogether, and that I could not get up; neither could I move my right arm in any direction. Upon mentioning this to Parker, he advised me to lie quiet for a few minutes, holding on to the windlass with my left hand, so as to allow time for the blood to circulate. Doing this, the numbness45 presently began to die away so that I could move first one of my legs, and then the other, and, shortly afterward I regained46 the partial use of my right arm. I now crawled with great caution toward Parker, without getting on my legs, and soon cut loose all the lashings about him, when, after a short delay, he also recovered the partial use of his limbs. We now lost no time in getting loose the rope from Peters. It had cut a deep gash47 through the waistband of his woollen pantaloons, and through two shirts, and made its way into his groin, from which the blood flowed out copiously48 as we removed the cordage. No sooner had we removed it, however, than he spoke, and seemed to experience instant relief — being able to move with much greater ease than either Parker or myself — this was no doubt owing to the discharge of blood.
We had little hopes that Augustus would recover, as he evinced no signs of life; but, upon getting to him, we discovered that he had merely swooned from the loss of blood, the bandages we had placed around his wounded arm having been torn off by the water; none of the ropes which held him to the windlass were drawn sufficiently49 tight to occasion his death. Having relieved him from the fastenings, and got him clear of the broken wood about the windlass, we secured him in a dry place to windward, with his head somewhat lower than his body, and all three of us busied ourselves in chafing50 his limbs. In about half an hour he came to himself, although it was not until the next morning that he gave signs of recognizing any of us, or had sufficient strength to speak. By the time we had thus got clear of our lashings it was quite dark, and it began to cloud up, so that we were again in the greatest agony lest it should come on to blow hard, in which event nothing could have saved us from perishing, exhausted as we were. By good fortune it continued very moderate during the night, the sea subsiding51 every minute, which gave us great hopes of ultimate preservation52. A gentle breeze still blew from the N. W., but the weather was not at all cold. Augustus was lashed carefully to windward in such a manner as to prevent him from slipping overboard with the rolls of the vessel, as he was still too weak to hold on at all. For ourselves there was no such necessity. We sat close together, supporting each other with the aid of the broken ropes about the windlass, and devising methods of escape from our frightful situation. We derived53 much comfort from taking off our clothes and wringing54 the water from them. When we put them on after this, they felt remarkably55 warm and pleasant, and served to invigorate us in no little degree. We helped Augustus off with his, and wrung57 them for him, when he experienced the same comfort.
Our chief sufferings were now those of hunger and thirst, and when we looked forward to the means of relief in this respect, our hearts sunk within us, and we were induced to regret that we had escaped the less dreadful perils58 of the sea. We endeavoured, however, to console ourselves with the hope of being speedily picked up by some vessel and encouraged each other to bear with fortitude the evils that might happen.
The morning of the fourteenth at length dawned, and the weather still continued clear and pleasant, with a steady but very light breeze from the N. W. The sea was now quite smooth, and as, from some cause which we could not determine, the brig did not he so much along as she had done before, the deck was comparatively dry, and we could move about with freedom. We had now been better than three entire days and nights without either food or drink, and it became absolutely necessary that we should make an attempt to get up something from below. As the brig was completely full of water, we went to this work despondently59, and with but little expectation of being able to obtain anything. We made a kind of drag by driving some nails which we broke out from the remains of the companion-hatch into two pieces of wood. Tying these across each other, and fastening them to the end of a rope, we threw them into the cabin, and dragged them to and fro, in the faint hope of being thus able to entangle60 some article which might be of use to us for food, or which might at least render us assistance in getting it. We spent the greater part of the morning in this labour without effect, fishing up nothing more than a few bedclothes, which were readily caught by the nails. Indeed, our contrivance was so very clumsy that any greater success was hardly to be anticipated.
We now tried the forecastle, but equally in vain, and were upon the brink61 of despair, when Peters proposed that we should fasten a rope to his body, and let him make an attempt to get up something by diving into the cabin. This proposition we hailed with all the delight which reviving hope could inspire. He proceeded immediately to strip off his clothes with the exception of his pantaloons; and a strong rope was then carefully fastened around his middle, being brought up over his shoulders in such a manner that there was no possibility of its slipping. The undertaking62 was one of great difficulty and danger; for, as we could hardly expect to find much, if any, provision in the cabin itself, it was necessary that the diver, after letting himself down, should make a turn to the right, and proceed under water a distance of ten or twelve feet, in a narrow passage, to the storeroom, and return, without drawing breath.
Everything being ready, Peters now descended63 in the cabin, going down the companion-ladder until the water reached his chin. He then plunged65 in, head first, turning to the right as he plunged, and endeavouring to make his way to the storeroom. In this first attempt, however, he was altogether unsuccessful. In less than half a minute after his going down we felt the rope jerked violently (the signal we had agreed upon when he desired to be drawn up). We accordingly drew him up instantly, but so incautiously as to bruise66 him badly against the ladder. He had brought nothing with him, and had been unable to penetrate67 more than a very little way into the passage, owing to the constant exertions68 he found it necessary to make in order to keep himself from floating up against the deck. Upon getting out he was very much exhausted, and had to rest full fifteen minutes before he could again venture to descend64.
The second attempt met with even worse success; for he remained so long under water without giving the signal, that, becoming alarmed for his safety, we drew him out without it, and found that he was almost at the last gasp70, having, as he said, repeatedly jerked at the rope without our feeling it. This was probably owing to a portion of it having become entangled71 in the balustrade at the foot of the ladder. This balustrade was, indeed, so much in the way, that we determined72 to remove it, if possible, before proceeding73 with our design. As we had no means of getting it away except by main force, we all descended into the water as far as we could on the ladder, and giving a pull against it with our united strength, succeeded in breaking it down.
The third attempt was equally unsuccessful with the two first, and it now became evident that nothing could be done in this manner without the aid of some weight with which the diver might steady himself, and keep to the floor of the cabin while making his search. For a long time we looked about in vain for something which might answer this purpose; but at length, to our great joy, we discovered one of the weather-forechains so loose that we had not the least difficulty in wrenching74 it off. Having fastened this securely to one of his ankles, Peters now made his fourth descent into the cabin, and this time succeeded in making his way to the door of the steward’s room. To his inexpressible grief, however, he found it locked, and was obliged to return without effecting an entrance, as, with the greatest exertion69, he could remain under water not more, at the utmost extent, than a single minute. Our affairs now looked gloomy indeed, and neither Augustus nor myself could refrain from bursting into tears, as we thought of the host of difficulties which encompassed75 us, and the slight probability which existed of our finally making an escape. But this weakness was not of long duration. Throwing ourselves on our knees to God, we implored76 His aid in the many dangers which beset77 us; and arose with renewed hope and vigor56 to think what could yet be done by mortal means toward accomplishing our deliverance.
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1
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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2
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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exhorted
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| v.劝告，劝说( exhort的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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7
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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foundering
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| v.创始人( founder的现在分词 ) | |
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10
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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tempestuously
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| adv.剧烈地，暴风雨似地 | |
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16
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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17
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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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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20
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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22
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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diminution
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| n.减少；变小 | |
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30
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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hybrid
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| n.(动，植）杂种，混合物 | |
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32
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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35
abated
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| 减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
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cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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37
stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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38
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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39
swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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40
prodigiously
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| adv.异常地，惊人地，巨大地 | |
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41
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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42
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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43
contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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44
untie
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| vt.解开，松开；解放 | |
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45
numbness
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| n.无感觉，麻木，惊呆 | |
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46
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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47
gash
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| v.深切，划开；n.(深长的)切(伤)口；裂缝 | |
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48
copiously
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| adv.丰富地，充裕地 | |
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49
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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50
chafing
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| n.皮肤发炎v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的现在分词 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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51
subsiding
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的现在分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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52
preservation
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| n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持 | |
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53
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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54
wringing
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| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
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55
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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56
vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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57
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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58
perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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59
despondently
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| adv.沮丧地，意志消沉地 | |
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60
entangle
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| vt.缠住，套住；卷入，连累 | |
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61
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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62
undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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63
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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64
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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65
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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66
bruise
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| n.青肿，挫伤；伤痕；vt.打青；挫伤 | |
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67
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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68
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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69
exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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70
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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71
entangled
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| adj.卷入的；陷入的；被缠住的；缠在一起的v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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73
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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74
wrenching
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| n.修截苗根，苗木铲根（铲根时苗木不起土或部分起土）v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的现在分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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75
encompassed
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| v.围绕( encompass的过去式和过去分词 )；包围；包含；包括 | |
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76
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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77
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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