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Chapter 17
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Adavale — The Bulloo River — Emudilla — Jim Collins — Comongin — Corrobboree — Bushed1 — Gouryanah — Cowley Plains

FOR a bush township, Adavale is a pretty-enough place. At any rate it is a decided2 improvement on Stonehenge, Jundah, or Windorah; though, how people can ever bring themselves to live in any of them will always remain a matter of mystery to me. We had, long before, arranged that our letters should be sent here, consequently we had quite a budget to receive. It was like resuming touch with the world to look once more upon English postage stamps, and for an hour we were absorbed in the fascination3 of home news.

Leaving Adavale, we departed over a rough and dry stage towards the Bulloo River. After the first few miles, however, the appearance of the country began to improve. Well-filled waterholes became more frequent, and the grass was not only more abundant, but beautifully green. It was like a new earth, and, after a few camps (for we did not hurry ourselves), our horses became like difierent animals. Cyclops carried his banana-like tail with a new air, while Polyphemus arched his neck like a two hundred guinea brougham horse; even Mr. Pickwick looked a little less doleful under the changed circumstances.

Some of our camps were perfectly4 charming: overhanging trees, good water for cooking and bathing, and plenty of grass, not only for the horses, but to make the most luxurious5 of beds. What could we have wished for more? Birds and fish were abundant, and here, for the first time, we met with the yellow crested6 White Cockatoo, the Native Companion, the Bower7, the Apostle, the Butcher, and the Bell bird. All are unique in their own difierent fashions.

The Native Companion, is a tall, slender, grey bird, something after the style of a heron, and is quite a character in his way. It is an amusing sight to watch a number of them playing on the sand-banks at dusk. They march up and down, advance, wheel, and execute the most intricate and involved manoeuvres, with all the precision and aplomb8 of trained soldiers. They even dance quadrilles and lancers with wonderful accuracy, and their performances on the pearly grey sands, among the long shadows of approaching night, have a most weird9 and picturesque10 effect. Fortunately for their own sakes, they are useless for food, but as pets they are much prized.

The Bower Bird, though a smaller fellow, is not behind his friend in point of interest. Among other things, he is an architect of no mean order, inasmuch as he builds for himself a bewitching little bower of grass and sticks. This is his treasure house, where he collects every bright and glittering object that attracts his fancy, particularly stones from the dry creek11 beds, amusing himself with them as a child plays with glittering beads12. For this reason valuable gems13 may not unfrequently be discovered in his bower, their brilliance14 having caught his eye when on the search for playthings.

The Butcher Bird somewhat resembles an English thrush, and possesses the power of imitating any animal, with a ventriloquial effect truly remarkable15. The Apostle Bird’s peculiarity16 is always to move about with eleven of his fellows. And the Bell Bird the bushman has good reason to know on account of his note being an exact imitation of a horse bell, which, when searching in thick scrub for horses, is apt to be terribly misleading.

The country along the Bulloo is both well timbered and well grassed, mulga, gidea, yapunya, and gum trees being most en evidence.

Our first station down the river was Emudilla, an out station of gigantic Milo. We found them in the midst of shearing17, and too busy to attend to strangers. The manager’s hut was a miserable18 place, not fit for a dog to live in, and after camping the night there, we headed away along the Bulloo for Comongin.

Crossing a lightly timbered plain, about five or six miles from the station, we met with a curious experience. Jogging quietly along in the eye of the burning sun, wishing to goodness we were anywhere but where we were, our horses suddenly came to a dead stop before something huddled19 up on the ground. Our first impulse was to jump out and see what it was, but before we had time to move it rose, and we beheld20 the most weird and unearthly creature ever dignified21 with the name of man. He was of about middle age, very tall and thin, his clothes hung in rags about him, and to all appearance he was suffering from a terrible attack of ophthalmia, combined with a fit of delirium22 tremens. He rose out of the sand like a spirit of the waste, and confronted us. Then in a voice of extraordinary monotony, illustrative of the condition of his mind, he said:

‘Now don’t you be afraid of me — have a drink, do! I’m old Jim Collins, old Jim Collins, gone a mucker — poor old Jim! have a drink, do! Lord, but I’m dead broke; you should see the little devils — little green devils with pink eyes that run after me — through the cotton bush singing, “ Old Jim Collins, gone dead broke — gone dead broke.” Lord! and to think I’ve got a brother in London, who’s — well, never you mind what he is, but take a drink, do!’

We declined with thanks, having a pretty fair idea of what the stuff was made of, and tried to move forward, but he clung to the wheels, babbling23 on in the same foolish fashion. ‘Lor! you wouldn’t hurt old Jim Collins, I know! I’m old Jim Collins — poor old Jim, gone dead broke, and chased through the cotton bush by little green devils — little green devils with white legs and pink eyes, and Lord! look at’em there, forty thousand million of’em!’ etc. etc.

On our asking where he had come from, he pointed24 over his shoulder to nowhere in particular, saying — ‘From the Dead Finish, back there. You’ll take me back, won’t you now? You’ll take me back to the pub. Say you will or I’ll pull your livers out! Don’t leave me here to die — old Jim Collins — I’m desperate — Lor’! you don’t know what devils have been following me through the bush. Take me back to the pub, d’ye hear! or I’ll murder yer. I’m old Jim Collins,’ etc. etc.

But for more reasons than one, it would have been folly25 to have taken him back, so, seizing our opportunity, we whipped up and left him, standing26 hopelessly in the centre of the plain, looking after us. Half an hour later, we encountered a bullock team travelling in the same direction; the bullocky promised to keep an eye open for him.

These grog shanties27, or ‘dead finishes’ as they are often termed, are the curse of the bush, and in no other colony are they so bad as in Queensland. Anything like the scenes enacted28 in them there would not be believed or tolerated in print. But they are of everyday occurrence, and from the fact that they are carried on hundreds of miles from civilisation29, no one is the least bit the wiser.

As a rule, the shanty30 is a rude log or galvanised iron hut, which springs into existence beside the track, at a spot convenient to the surrounding stations. Here the shanty-keeper commences his nefarious31 traffic with very little real stock, the component32 parts of the various liquors sold being vitriol and kerosene33, with a little flavouring mixture thrown in.

Owing to its position, it is generally impossible for any station hand, making for civilisation, to avoid passing the door. But woe34 betide that unfortunate man if he allows himself to be prevailed upon to enter. The following is the usual course of procedure.

We will presume that John Brown, of Yapunya Station, is going to take his holiday in the south. Perhaps, as is very likely, he has not been off the station for three years, during which time he has accumulated an amount on the station books equal to perhaps one hundred and fifty pounds. On asking for his cheque, it is given him, with much good advice against the attractions of the ‘dead finishes’ in the neighbourhood. Boasting his strength of mind, he saddles his riding and pack horses, and sets off, contented35 with himself and the world in general. It is a long and dusty journey, and just as he is thinking about camping for the night, the shanty appears in sight. He argues that he cannot possibly harm himself if he pulls up at the door just for one drink — only one. Maybe, one of the landlord’s daughters, nieces, or female cousins, catches his eye, and he then remembers that he has not seen a female for three years. He takes just one nip of whisky, and that one, manufactured on the premises36, does the business. Five minutes later, he has determined37 just to spend the night there, and to resume his journey in the morning; but in half an hour he is hopelessly incapable38, has planked his cheque on the counter, and told the landlord to let him know when it is finished. After that, for many days, he has no knowledge of passing events, and when he comes to his senses, it is only to find himself in the dead house, as the log hut at the rear of the hotel is called, about as near a dead man as he well can be. Then, nearly perishing for a drink, he crawls into the bar, to find his cheque finished (or said to be) and his horse and gear the property of the landlord for an additional debt. He is informed that while drunk he stood champagne39 for every passer-by, and in evidence of the fact, he is shown empty bottles lying freely scattered40 about the place. In reality he has given the landlord a cheque for one hundred and fifty pounds, in exchange for about five pounds’ worth of doctored liquor! Comment is needless!

In order that he shall not carry away with him a bad impression of the place, he is presented with a bottle of manufactured whisky to see him home. With the help of this, he returns to the station a very much sadder — though, I fear, but little wiser — man. This craving41 for drink reasserts itself at intervals42, and every time his cheque grows sufficiently43 large, it goes the same way as the first. After a big shearing, or a general muster44, when numbers of men are abroad in the district, everyone with plenty of money to spend, these back country ‘dead finishes’ are nothing more nor less than little hells. It is a well-known jest with landlords, that they ‘have men earning good wages for them on many of the surrounding properties.’

Two days after leaving Emudilla we reached Comongin, to find them also busy with their shearing. The homestead is built on a little hill, overlooking a lovely lagoon45, which teems46 with fish and wild fowl47. This station is a great meeting-place for natives, and we were fortunate enough while there to be permitted an opportunity of witnessing a Corrobboree. It was a strange and impressive sight.

Viewed by the light of enormous fires, the figures of the dancers, streaked48 with white paint into the resemblance of skeletons, leaping and bounding in perfect unison49 under the massive gum trees, to the music of wailing50 voices and beating drums, produced an effect not easily to be forgotten. One moment they were depicting51 a bloodthirsty battle, the next a kangaroo hunt, but it was all with the same marvellous precision and accuracy. No trained ballet could have given a better performance, and long after we had retired52 we could hear them keeping it up with unimpaired vigour53. A Corrobboree is generally held to celebrate the meeting of old friends after a long parting. It was so on this occasion. Unfortunately, however, the same friendly spirit did not animate54 it throughout, for before the night was over, a sort of Donnybrook occurred, and next morning quite a dozen warriors55 were whining56 round the station house for shin plaster.

Leaving North Comongin, we made a two days’ stage down the river to South Comongin, camping a night, en route, in a charming nook on the river-bank. beneath the shelter of some of the stateliest old gum-trees I ever remember to have seen.

At South Comongin we had an earnest talk with the manager on the prospects57 of the track further along the Bulloo. Strangely enough the plenteous rains which had fallen lower down had stopped here, and from the accounts of some of the drovers who had come up from Thargomindah, the drought was as severe below this point as in any other part of the country through which we had passed. The manager’s advice to us was to strike due east to a waterhole named Gooryanah, thence to Bechel Creek, and to follow that watercourse down until we could cross on to the Warrego river, and so on, via Cunamulla, to the New South Wales border.

Accordingly next morning, after an early breakfast, off we set for Gooryanah, where we were told we should find some teams (carriers) camped, the men connected with which would direct us on to Cowley Plains Cattle Station, distant some sixty miles. By the directions given us we understood that we ought to strike Gooryanah about midday.

Our route lay through dense58 mulga scrub, alternating with patches of open plain, dreary59 and desolate60 to the eye, but very comforting from the fact that horse feed was abundant. Under a blazing sun we toiled61 along, keeping a bright look out for the water-hole and the teams, but no sign of either could we see. Midday came and went, the afternoon wore on, the sun dropped lower and lower on to the horizon, yet no sign came of what we sought. Evidently, once more, something had gone wrong. We fought against the idea, but at length it was to be resisted no longer, and we were again compelled to own ourselves bushed. What was worse, we had been so confident of finding the waterhole and the teams, that we had only brought a little lunch with us. Worse still, owing to the heat of the day, our water-bags were well-nigh empty. There was nothing for it but to camp where we were.

All the next day, without food or water, we struggled on; the same agonising symptoms of thirst manifested themselves as on a similar occasion. Though we explored every likely spot, not a drop of water could we find, and at last the advisability of killing62 one of our horses and drinking his blood, in order to sustain life in us, was seriously contemplated63. Horrible as the idea was, it seemed the only possible way out of the difficulty. We decided, however, to postpone64 the notion until everything else failed, and just at nightfall, as if to reward us for our endurance, we came upon a small creek, and following that down, upon a still smaller hole of thick muddy water, in which innumerable animals lay dead. Our delight was unbounded, and, with our usual sagacity, we said we had struck Gooryanah.

While the Long’un took the tired horses across the creek in search of grass, I fixed65 up camp. It was an almost useless proceeding66, for we had nothing to eat, and even our supply of tea was well-nigh exhausted67. Taking the billy down to the water, I was in the act of filling it, when I heard horses brushing through the bushes. On looking up I found a stockman and a black boy approaching me. They had been out hunting for horses, they said, and were going to camp near us. I told them of our troubles, and described our good fortune in striking Gooryanah in such an unexpected fashion. ‘Striking Gooryanah!’ said the stockman; ‘this ain’t Gooryanah. You’re close on fifty miles from it. You’ve come back on your tracks; you’re near North Comongin, half a mile from where you camped four nights ago. You’ve been going round with a vengeance68.’

This was news bad enough to break a man’s heart. Here we were fifty miles back on our tracks, with worn-out horses, no food, and all that distance to make up again. If it hadn’t been for the two men watching me, I believe I should have sat down and cried. But if our luck was so bad, it was indeed fortunate that we had met these men, otherwise God alone knows how far we might not have wandered. What was still more fortunate, they were able to spare us some damper and jerked beef.

A worse night’s camp than that I do not remember. The night was oppressively hot, our disappointment would not let us sleep, and the mosquitoes would have forced bad language out of the Pope himself. We tossed and tumbled, swore and scratched, half the night.

Next day there was nothing for it but to make the long stage for Gooryanah. It was an awful, awful journey: red sand, millions of flies that crawled into one’s eyes, mouth, and ears at the rate of hundreds per minute, a heat in the mulga like the blast of the furnace doors of Sheol, tired horses, and a blissful uncertainty69 about our destination. It was not cheerful, but it was that or nothing.

At length at the end of fourteen weary hours of crawling, we opened out on to a plain which possessed70 all the characteristics of Gooryanah, and here we alighted, thoroughly71 knocked up. Letting the horses go, we camped under a tope of trees beside a dried-up waterhole. No sign of water, however, could be seen anywhere, and after a brief rest we agreed to separate in search of it, one going west and the other east. At the end of two hours I returned unsuccessful, but when I had been in camp half an hour or so, the Long’un put in an appearance, with his water-bag and billy-can full of a thick mixture which might once (I say once advisedly) have been water. He had procured72 it from a hole nearly three miles away.

Jerked beef, a wedge of damper, and tea, thick with mud, constituted our evening meal. While we eat it, we criticised the weather. There was every appearance of a heavy thunderstorm. As night set in, these signs increased. Enormous clouds rolled into the sky, banking73 up one on the top of the other, till not a star was visible. The wind dropped altogether, and an unearthly stillness reigned74. Like frightened sheep we huddled together, talking in hushed voices, and wondering when the performance would commence. Then, suddenly, there was a flash of lightning sharp as a razor edge, and next moment a clap of thunder that seemed fairly to shake the earth. Another and another followed, until it was playing all round us. Flash, bang, rattle75 and rumble76: it was for all the world like an enormous battle. Now and again great trees in the scrub beyond the plain fell with awful crashes, and we thanked our stars that we had pitched our camp in the open instead of in the forest. The storm lasted all night, but save a few drops, hardly any rain fell. Towards daylight the clouds boomed off, and another weary day began.

Whether it was the water we had drunk or the food we had eaten I cannot say, but at any rate, as soon as we got up we were both horribly sick. For my own part I never felt so wretched in my life. My one thought was gratitude77 that my boots were laced on tight, otherwise I truly believe I should have got rid of them too, so complete was the clearance78. For nearly half an hour this nausea79 continued, until it seemed impossible for us to travel; but we reflected that to remain where we were spelt starvation, and starvation spells death, so willy nilly we were compelled to hitch80 up and proceed.

Three or four miles further on we came upon the real Gooryanah, where we found, as we had been told, half a dozen carriers’ teams camped round the waterhole. They directed us aright, and at the end of another long day’s stage, during which we took it in turns to stop and be ill, we drove into the horse paddock and pulled up before the verandah of Cowley Plains Head Station.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 bushed wxUzEx     
adj.疲倦的
参考例句:
  • I'm bushed.Let's call it a day.我很疲倦,今天到此为止吧!
  • I'm bushed.I'm going to bed.我太累了,我要睡觉了。
2 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
3 fascination FlHxO     
n.令人着迷的事物,魅力,迷恋
参考例句:
  • He had a deep fascination with all forms of transport.他对所有的运输工具都很着迷。
  • His letters have been a source of fascination to a wide audience.广大观众一直迷恋于他的来信。
4 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
5 luxurious S2pyv     
adj.精美而昂贵的;豪华的
参考例句:
  • This is a luxurious car complete with air conditioning and telephone.这是一辆附有空调设备和电话的豪华轿车。
  • The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。
6 crested aca774eb5cc925a956aec268641b354f     
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
参考例句:
  • a great crested grebe 凤头䴙䴘
  • The stately mansion crested the hill. 庄严的大厦位于山顶。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
7 bower xRZyU     
n.凉亭,树荫下凉快之处;闺房;v.荫蔽
参考例句:
  • They sat under the leafy bower at the end of the garden and watched the sun set.他们坐在花园尽头由叶子搭成的凉棚下观看落日。
  • Mrs. Quilp was pining in her bower.奎尔普太太正在她的闺房里度着愁苦的岁月。
8 aplomb GM9yD     
n.沉着,镇静
参考例句:
  • Carried off the difficult situation with aplomb.镇静地应付了困难的局面。
  • She performs the duties of a princess with great aplomb.她泰然自若地履行王妃的职责。
9 weird bghw8     
adj.古怪的,离奇的;怪诞的,神秘而可怕的
参考例句:
  • From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来,他好像有点怪。
  • His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。
10 picturesque qlSzeJ     
adj.美丽如画的,(语言)生动的,绘声绘色的
参考例句:
  • You can see the picturesque shores beside the river.在河边你可以看到景色如画的两岸。
  • That was a picturesque phrase.那是一个形象化的说法。
11 creek 3orzL     
n.小溪,小河,小湾
参考例句:
  • He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
  • People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。
12 beads 894701f6859a9d5c3c045fd6f355dbf5     
n.(空心)小珠子( bead的名词复数 );水珠;珠子项链
参考例句:
  • a necklace of wooden beads 一条木珠项链
  • Beads of perspiration stood out on his forehead. 他的前额上挂着汗珠。
13 gems 74ab5c34f71372016f1770a5a0bf4419     
growth; economy; management; and customer satisfaction 增长
参考例句:
  • a crown studded with gems 镶有宝石的皇冠
  • The apt citations and poetic gems have adorned his speeches. 贴切的引语和珠玑般的诗句为他的演说词增添文采。
14 brilliance 1svzs     
n.光辉,辉煌,壮丽,(卓越的)才华,才智
参考例句:
  • I was totally amazed by the brilliance of her paintings.她的绘画才能令我惊歎不已。
  • The gorgeous costume added to the brilliance of the dance.华丽的服装使舞蹈更加光彩夺目。
15 remarkable 8Vbx6     
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的
参考例句:
  • She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
  • These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。
16 peculiarity GiWyp     
n.独特性,特色;特殊的东西;怪癖
参考例句:
  • Each country has its own peculiarity.每个国家都有自己的独特之处。
  • The peculiarity of this shop is its day and nigth service.这家商店的特点是昼夜服务。
17 shearing 3cd312405f52385b91c03df30d2ce730     
n.剪羊毛,剪取的羊毛v.剪羊毛( shear的现在分词 );切断;剪切
参考例句:
  • The farmer is shearing his sheep. 那农夫正在给他的羊剪毛。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The result of this shearing force is to push the endoplasm forward. 这种剪切力作用的结果是推动内质向前。 来自辞典例句
18 miserable g18yk     
adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的
参考例句:
  • It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他,这是可耻的。
  • Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。
19 huddled 39b87f9ca342d61fe478b5034beb4139     
挤在一起(huddle的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • We huddled together for warmth. 我们挤在一块取暖。
  • We huddled together to keep warm. 我们挤在一起来保暖。
20 beheld beheld     
v.看,注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟
参考例句:
  • His eyes had never beheld such opulence. 他从未见过这样的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The soul beheld its features in the mirror of the passing moment. 灵魂在逝去的瞬间的镜子中看到了自己的模样。 来自英汉文学 - 红字
21 dignified NuZzfb     
a.可敬的,高贵的
参考例句:
  • Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中,他始终沉默以保持尊严。
  • He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。
22 delirium 99jyh     
n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋
参考例句:
  • In her delirium, she had fallen to the floor several times. 她在神志不清的状态下几次摔倒在地上。
  • For the next nine months, Job was in constant delirium.接下来的九个月,约伯处于持续精神错乱的状态。
23 babbling babbling     
n.胡说,婴儿发出的咿哑声adj.胡说的v.喋喋不休( babble的现在分词 );作潺潺声(如流水);含糊不清地说话;泄漏秘密
参考例句:
  • I could hear the sound of a babbling brook. 我听得见小溪潺潺的流水声。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Infamy was babbling around her in the public market-place. 在公共市场上,她周围泛滥着对她丑行的种种议论。 来自英汉文学 - 红字
24 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
25 folly QgOzL     
n.愚笨,愚蠢,蠢事,蠢行,傻话
参考例句:
  • Learn wisdom by the folly of others.从别人的愚蠢行动中学到智慧。
  • Events proved the folly of such calculations.事情的进展证明了这种估计是愚蠢的。
26 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
27 shanties b3e9e112c51a1a2755ba9a26012f2713     
n.简陋的小木屋( shanty的名词复数 );铁皮棚屋;船工号子;船歌
参考例句:
  • A few shanties sprawl in the weeds. 杂草丛中零零落落地歪着几所棚屋。 来自辞典例句
  • The workers live in shanties outside the factory. 工人们住在工厂外面的小棚屋内。 来自互联网
28 enacted b0a10ad8fca50ba4217bccb35bc0f2a1     
制定(法律),通过(法案)( enact的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
  • Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
29 civilisation civilisation     
n.文明,文化,开化,教化
参考例句:
  • Energy and ideas are the twin bases of our civilisation.能源和思想是我们文明的两大基石。
  • This opera is one of the cultural totems of Western civilisation.这部歌剧是西方文明的文化标志物之一。
30 shanty BEJzn     
n.小屋,棚屋;船工号子
参考例句:
  • His childhood was spent in a shanty.他的童年是在一个简陋小屋里度过的。
  • I want to quit this shanty.我想离开这烂房子。
31 nefarious 1jsyH     
adj.恶毒的,极坏的
参考例句:
  • My father believes you all have a nefarious purpose here.我父亲认为你们都有邪恶的目的。
  • He was universally feared because of his many nefarious deeds.因为他干了许多罪恶的勾当,所以人人都惧怕他。
32 component epSzv     
n.组成部分,成分,元件;adj.组成的,合成的
参考例句:
  • Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
  • Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。
33 kerosene G3uxW     
n.(kerosine)煤油,火油
参考例句:
  • It is like putting out a fire with kerosene.这就像用煤油灭火。
  • Instead of electricity,there were kerosene lanterns.没有电,有煤油灯。
34 woe OfGyu     
n.悲哀,苦痛,不幸,困难;int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌
参考例句:
  • Our two peoples are brothers sharing weal and woe.我们两国人民是患难与共的兄弟。
  • A man is well or woe as he thinks himself so.自认祸是祸,自认福是福。
35 contented Gvxzof     
adj.满意的,安心的,知足的
参考例句:
  • He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
  • The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。
36 premises 6l1zWN     
n.建筑物,房屋
参考例句:
  • According to the rules,no alcohol can be consumed on the premises.按照规定,场内不准饮酒。
  • All repairs are done on the premises and not put out.全部修缮都在家里进行,不用送到外面去做。
37 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
38 incapable w9ZxK     
adj.无能力的,不能做某事的
参考例句:
  • He would be incapable of committing such a cruel deed.他不会做出这么残忍的事。
  • Computers are incapable of creative thought.计算机不会创造性地思维。
39 champagne iwBzh3     
n.香槟酒;微黄色
参考例句:
  • There were two glasses of champagne on the tray.托盘里有两杯香槟酒。
  • They sat there swilling champagne.他们坐在那里大喝香槟酒。
40 scattered 7jgzKF     
adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的
参考例句:
  • Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来,塞进文件夹里。
41 craving zvlz3e     
n.渴望,热望
参考例句:
  • a craving for chocolate 非常想吃巧克力
  • She skipped normal meals to satisfy her craving for chocolate and crisps. 她不吃正餐,以便满足自己吃巧克力和炸薯片的渴望。
42 intervals f46c9d8b430e8c86dea610ec56b7cbef     
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
参考例句:
  • The forecast said there would be sunny intervals and showers. 预报间晴,有阵雨。
  • Meetings take place at fortnightly intervals. 每两周开一次会。
43 sufficiently 0htzMB     
adv.足够地,充分地
参考例句:
  • It turned out he had not insured the house sufficiently.原来他没有给房屋投足保险。
  • The new policy was sufficiently elastic to accommodate both views.新政策充分灵活地适用两种观点。
44 muster i6czT     
v.集合,收集,鼓起,激起;n.集合,检阅,集合人员,点名册
参考例句:
  • Go and muster all the men you can find.去集合所有你能找到的人。
  • I had to muster my courage up to ask him that question.我必须鼓起勇气向他问那个问题。
45 lagoon b3Uyb     
n.泻湖,咸水湖
参考例句:
  • The lagoon was pullulated with tropical fish.那个咸水湖聚满了热带鱼。
  • This area isolates a restricted lagoon environment.将这一地区隔离起来使形成一个封闭的泻湖环境。
46 teems 61b8eaf2974f281b7d0512335d2dae9b     
v.充满( teem的第三人称单数 );到处都是;(指水、雨等)暴降;倾注
参考例句:
  • The swamp teems with mosquitoes. 这片沼泽地蚊子多极了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • That book teems with blunders. 那本书错误不少。 来自辞典例句
47 fowl fljy6     
n.家禽,鸡,禽肉
参考例句:
  • Fowl is not part of a traditional brunch.禽肉不是传统的早午餐的一部分。
  • Since my heart attack,I've eaten more fish and fowl and less red meat.自从我患了心脏病后,我就多吃鱼肉和禽肉,少吃红色肉类。
48 streaked d67e6c987d5339547c7938f1950b8295     
adj.有条斑纹的,不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 );使布满条纹
参考例句:
  • The children streaked off as fast as they could. 孩子们拔脚飞跑 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • His face was pale and streaked with dirt. 他脸色苍白,脸上有一道道的污痕。 来自辞典例句
49 unison gKCzB     
n.步调一致,行动一致
参考例句:
  • The governments acted in unison to combat terrorism.这些国家的政府一致行动对付恐怖主义。
  • My feelings are in unison with yours.我的感情与你的感情是一致的。
50 wailing 25fbaeeefc437dc6816eab4c6298b423     
v.哭叫,哀号( wail的现在分词 );沱
参考例句:
  • A police car raced past with its siren wailing. 一辆警车鸣着警报器飞驰而过。
  • The little girl was wailing miserably. 那小女孩难过得号啕大哭。
51 depicting eaa7ce0ad4790aefd480461532dd76e4     
描绘,描画( depict的现在分词 ); 描述
参考例句:
  • a painting depicting the Virgin and Child 一幅描绘童贞马利亚和圣子耶稣的画
  • The movie depicting the battles and bloodshed is bound to strike home. 这部描写战斗和流血牺牲的影片一定会取得预期效果。
52 retired Njhzyv     
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的
参考例句:
  • The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
  • Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
53 vigour lhtwr     
(=vigor)n.智力,体力,精力
参考例句:
  • She is full of vigour and enthusiasm.她有热情,有朝气。
  • At 40,he was in his prime and full of vigour.他40岁时正年富力强。
54 animate 3MDyv     
v.赋于生命,鼓励;adj.有生命的,有生气的
参考例句:
  • We are animate beings,living creatures.我们是有生命的存在,有生命的动物。
  • The girls watched,little teasing smiles animating their faces.女孩们注视着,脸上挂着调皮的微笑,显得愈加活泼。
55 warriors 3116036b00d464eee673b3a18dfe1155     
武士,勇士,战士( warrior的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • I like reading the stories ofancient warriors. 我喜欢读有关古代武士的故事。
  • The warriors speared the man to death. 武士们把那个男子戳死了。
56 whining whining     
n. 抱怨,牢骚 v. 哭诉,发牢骚
参考例句:
  • That's the way with you whining, puny, pitiful players. 你们这种又爱哭、又软弱、又可怜的赌棍就是这样。
  • The dog sat outside the door whining (to be let in). 那条狗坐在门外狺狺叫着(要进来)。
57 prospects fkVzpY     
n.希望,前途(恒为复数)
参考例句:
  • There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
  • They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。
58 dense aONzX     
a.密集的,稠密的,浓密的;密度大的
参考例句:
  • The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。
  • The path was completely covered by the dense foliage. 小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。
59 dreary sk1z6     
adj.令人沮丧的,沉闷的,单调乏味的
参考例句:
  • They live such dreary lives.他们的生活如此乏味。
  • She was tired of hearing the same dreary tale of drunkenness and violence.她听够了那些关于酗酒和暴力的乏味故事。
60 desolate vmizO     
adj.荒凉的,荒芜的;孤独的,凄凉的;v.使荒芜,使孤寂
参考例句:
  • The city was burned into a desolate waste.那座城市被烧成一片废墟。
  • We all felt absolutely desolate when she left.她走后,我们都觉得万分孤寂。
61 toiled 599622ddec16892278f7d146935604a3     
长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 ); 艰难缓慢地移动,跋涉
参考例句:
  • They toiled up the hill in the blazing sun. 他们冒着炎炎烈日艰难地一步一步爬上山冈。
  • He toiled all day long but earned very little. 他整天劳碌但挣得很少。
62 killing kpBziQ     
n.巨额利润;突然赚大钱,发大财
参考例句:
  • Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
  • Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。
63 contemplated d22c67116b8d5696b30f6705862b0688     
adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式
参考例句:
  • The doctor contemplated the difficult operation he had to perform. 医生仔细地考虑他所要做的棘手的手术。
  • The government has contemplated reforming the entire tax system. 政府打算改革整个税收体制。
64 postpone rP0xq     
v.延期,推迟
参考例句:
  • I shall postpone making a decision till I learn full particulars.在未获悉详情之前我得从缓作出决定。
  • She decided to postpone the converastion for that evening.她决定当天晚上把谈话搁一搁。
65 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
参考例句:
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
66 proceeding Vktzvu     
n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报
参考例句:
  • This train is now proceeding from Paris to London.这次列车从巴黎开往伦敦。
  • The work is proceeding briskly.工作很有生气地进展着。
67 exhausted 7taz4r     
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的
参考例句:
  • It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长,到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
  • Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。
68 vengeance wL6zs     
n.报复,报仇,复仇
参考例句:
  • He swore vengeance against the men who murdered his father.他发誓要向那些杀害他父亲的人报仇。
  • For years he brooded vengeance.多年来他一直在盘算报仇。
69 uncertainty NlFwK     
n.易变,靠不住,不确知,不确定的事物
参考例句:
  • Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
  • After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后,压力开始产生影响了。
70 possessed xuyyQ     
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的
参考例句:
  • He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
  • He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。
71 thoroughly sgmz0J     
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地
参考例句:
  • The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
  • The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。
72 procured 493ee52a2e975a52c94933bb12ecc52b     
v.(努力)取得, (设法)获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 );拉皮条
参考例句:
  • These cars are to be procured through open tender. 这些汽车要用公开招标的办法购买。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • A friend procured a position in the bank for my big brother. 一位朋友为我哥哥谋得了一个银行的职位。 来自《用法词典》
73 banking aySz20     
n.银行业,银行学,金融业
参考例句:
  • John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
  • He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。
74 reigned d99f19ecce82a94e1b24a320d3629de5     
vi.当政,统治(reign的过去式形式)
参考例句:
  • Silence reigned in the hall. 全场肃静。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Night was deep and dead silence reigned everywhere. 夜深人静,一片死寂。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
75 rattle 5Alzb     
v.飞奔,碰响;激怒;n.碰撞声;拨浪鼓
参考例句:
  • The baby only shook the rattle and laughed and crowed.孩子只是摇着拨浪鼓,笑着叫着。
  • She could hear the rattle of the teacups.她听见茶具叮当响。
76 rumble PCXzd     
n.隆隆声;吵嚷;v.隆隆响;低沉地说
参考例句:
  • I hear the rumble of thunder in the distance.我听到远处雷声隆隆。
  • We could tell from the rumble of the thunder that rain was coming.我们根据雷的轰隆声可断定,天要下雨了。
77 gratitude p6wyS     
adj.感激,感谢
参考例句:
  • I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
  • She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。
78 clearance swFzGa     
n.净空;许可(证);清算;清除,清理
参考例句:
  • There was a clearance of only ten centimetres between the two walls.两堵墙之间只有十厘米的空隙。
  • The ship sailed as soon as it got clearance. 那艘船一办好离港手续立刻启航了。
79 nausea C5Dzz     
n.作呕,恶心;极端的憎恶(或厌恶)
参考例句:
  • Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕期常有恶心的现象。
  • He experienced nausea after eating octopus.吃了章鱼后他感到恶心。
80 hitch UcGxu     
v.免费搭(车旅行);系住;急提;n.故障;急拉
参考例句:
  • They had an eighty-mile journey and decided to hitch hike.他们要走80英里的路程,最后决定搭便车。
  • All the candidates are able to answer the questions without any hitch.所有报考者都能对答如流。


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