Like bloodhounds now they seek me out.
I’ll couch me here till evening gray,
Then, darkling, try my dangerous way.
A few nights after the reception of the report by the unhappy confines of Newgate, the cry of “Lags away” warned those who were transported that the time had now arrived for their removal to the hulk; and shortly afterwards those who like Rashleigh had been respited2 from death, in number upwards3 of fifty, were placed in two large vans, strongly ironed, handcuffed and chained together, as well as to the van, which drove off at a rapid rate. None knew which of the hulks they were destined4 for; but when the morning came Ralph recognised some objects, by which he knew they were on the road for Portsmouth; and accordingly, late on the afternoon of the same day, they reached the dockyard of that town, and shortly afterwards were permitted to alight on a wooden wharf6, outside of which lay the gloomy bulk of the old Leviathan.
This vessel7, an ancient 74, after having for many years borne the victorious8 banner of Britain in every sea from pole to pole, was at last condemned9 to the vile10 purpose of a convict hulk. Stripped of all her imposing11 tackle save two sticks, now degraded to the office of clothes props12, with a singular sort of shed upon her deck, the unfortunate craft looked like a sort of living memento13 of the vicissitudes14 of all mundane15 matters and the perishable16 nature of all earthly grandeur17.
In a few minutes the newly arrived criminals were paraded upon the quarterdeck of this old hooker, mustered18, and received by the captain of the hulk, after which the irons they had brought with them were taken off and given back to the gaol20 authorities, who now departed. The convicts in the mean time were all marched to the forecastle and ushered21 into a washing-room, where each man was obliged to strip, get into a large tub of water, and cleanse22 himself thoroughly23. Each then received a suit of coarse grey clothing consisting of jacket, waistcoat and breeches. A very rough twilled cotton shirt, striped with blue and white, a round-crowned broad-brimmed felt hat, and a pair of heavily-nailed shoes completed this unique costume; and when they had been divested24 of their whiskers and got their hair closely cropped, the metamorphosis was so complete that Rashleigh no longer knew any of those who had arrived with him. Here, too, each man was double-ironed with a pair of heavy fetters25, and after this they again emerged on deck, where a hammock and two blankets, with a straw bed, were supplied every new prisoner, and they were now ordered to go below.
They followed one of the guards down what seemed to them an endless succession of step-ladders. When they reached the bottom, a perfect chaos26 of sounds saluted27 their ears. The first glimpse of the lower deck of this convict hulk showed a long passage bordered by iron palisading, with lamps hung at regular intervals28. Within these rows of palisades were wooden partitions, which subdivided29 the deck into upwards of a score of apartments. In each of these about fifteen or twenty convicts slept and ate. As Ralph and his associates in punishment marched past these dens30, they were saluted by obstreperous31 shouts of “New chums! New chums!” from both sides; and at length Rashleigh and another were placed in one of the cells, as they were called.
The first night our adventurer slept but little, the men who were there before him playing all sorts of tricks upon the newly arrived. At daybreak next morning he was awakened32 from a short doze33 by a most villainous smell, that seemed to pervade34 the whole atmosphere. Putting his head over the side of his hammock, he saw his companions all busily discussing the contents of a wooden tub, or kid, with their spoons, and from this tub the smell that had so much shocked his sensitive olfactory35 organs appeared to exhale36. He was now hailed by his future messmates, who demanded to know whether he did not intend to get up and have his breakfast.
In truth, Ralph was hungry, so up he got and hurried on his clothes. One of the men lent him a tin pot, which he filled at the kid, and, spoon in hand, prepared to attack this unsavoury mess.
Words must fail to describe the loathsome37 taste, even worse than the villainous smell, of this abominable38 compound, which Rashleigh declared he never could liken to anything earthly, and which he never from first to last could taste. He afterwards found out this food was composed of a very coarse kind of barley39, similar to that called Scotch40 or pearl barley, boiled up with the soup made from the meat which was allowed to the convicts upon every alternate day, this latter being designated bull — and if the flesh of bulls be most indescribably tough, then did it well deserve the sobriquet41.
The dietary of the hulk, exclusive of meat and barley soup, was, three days in each week, a portion of a mysterious semi-petrifaction, very much akin42 to chalk both in taste and durability43. Nay44, it was even much harder; but by the courtesy of the contractors45 dubbed46 for the nonce cheese, it was indeed. as Bloomfield described Suffolk bang, “too big to swallow and too hard to bite”. It possessed47 most singular qualities, its obduracy48 being proof against any mollifying influence arising from cookery of any sort. As it was perfectly49 uninflammable, it might have made most excellent fire-bricks. Nay, it could not be in any degree softened50 by boiling, so that by far the greater portion of it was thrown overboard every day, as the captain’s pigs were too haughty51 to touch any portion of this excellent relish52.
For breakfast and supper, when meat was not allowed, each man received a pint53 of the barley before named, plain boiled in water; and lucky was the wight who could muster19 a small quantity of salt to season it. Besides the above articles, a pound of very black unpalatable bread formed the daily allowance of each man, with a pint of very had vinegar, here dignified55 with the name of table beer.
The whole of the convicts, save those employed on board in cleaning the hulk, cooking, and attending on the officers, were sent every morning to labour in the dockyard, where they were employed in large parties, most appropriately designated gangs, at various works. Ralph was placed in a timber gang, and was quickly yoked56 to a large truck with twenty others, each man having a broad hempen57 band or collar put over one shoulder and beneath the other arm, so that in pulling, his weight pressed against it across his breast. Each gang was under the orders of a veteran sailor of the Royal Navy, some of whom were glad to repay upon the wretched convicts the tyranny with which they had been treated by their officers in former times, while others were more occupied in screwing out money from those under their charge, to enable them to pay frequent visits to the tap, where they solaced59 themselves with repeated libations of heavy wet.
Rashleigh’s ganger, or overseer, was of the first class. He assumed a the self-important airs which he perhaps thought became the quarter-deck of a man-of-war, and many a poor wretch58 was crippled under him; for being utterly60 ignorant of any proper mode of working among timber, he would frequently compel his gang to proceed so awkwardly that immense pieces of timber would fall from skids61 or other elevations62 and smash a leg or two, when the sufferers were carried off to the hospital ship, where they either lived or died as best pleased the naval63 surgeon who swayed the destinies of that receptacle, and who frequently was heard to say “that he must set to and dock (amputate) a dozen or two of those fellows, for he was getting most awfully64 out of practice”. Truly the latter was very strange, for scarcely a week passed without some poor devil being minus a leg or an arm through his case of instruments.
Rashleigh, who had never before worked at any species of manual labour, was quickly termed a skulker65, and was obliged to endure a double share of the oppression of his overseer on this account. The misery66 of his abode67, he being thus overwrought and rather more than half starved all day, and being devoured68 by myriads69 of vermin all night, made Ralph long for the arrival of the vessel which was to remove him to New South Wales; but that period was yet distant, as but a few days before his arrival, a draft had sailed from Portsmouth, and another was not to be dispatched for three months thereafter.
In the mean time he was taken sick; and though the doctor was of opinion he was only shamming70, he was placed on board the hospital ship. By means of powerful purgatives71, bleeding and blistering72. that skilful73 medico quickly brought his patient to death’s door; but after a few weeks’ illness, nature reasserted her sovereignty, and as Ralph carefully avoided taking any of the medicine lately provided for him, which he cunningly contrived74 instead to throw into the urinal, he rapidly recovered, in spite of medical art, when he was removed to the convalescent wards1.
One day three of the patients died, and as deceased convicts were then usually buried in a graveyard75 near a number of ruined buildings on the Gosport side which were among the prisoners called “Rats’ Castle”, some of the convalescent patients, of whom Rashleigh was one, were selected to go there and dig the graves. Accordingly, over the water they went, under the care of one of the old sailors before referred to, in a boat manned by convicts.
The soil was very light, and their task an easy one. When it was done the guard made a signal by waving a handkerchief upon a stick. While they were awaiting the return of their boat — which had on their arrival been dispatched for the coffins76 — Rashleigh and Ins companions lay or sat, as best suited them, among the nameless, shapeless grassy77 mounds78 which filled the convicts’ graveyard, each marking the narrow resting-place of one who had died degraded, forgotten and unknown, his last moments uncheered by the voice of affection or the soothing79 sympathies of kindred, and whose remains80 were scarcely cold ere he was hurried into the rude shell, hustled81 off in the boat, amid jokes or oaths, as the prevailing82 mood of the boatmen might be, and finally thrust into the ground, without a prayer, scarcely six inches below the surface of the earth,
These and many other melancholy83 thoughts passed rapidly through the mind of our adventurer, and after a time he looked up to see whether the boat was returning; but it had not yet left the side of the hospital ship. He gazed round on his companions, most of whom slept; the guard was at some distance, with his back turned. A thought of freedom darted84 into his brain; it was adopted with the speed of light. Not ten yards from him were the ruins; if he could reach them he would be screened from observation — and close to the ruins was the water. His irons had been struck from one of his legs while he was sick, so that all his chains were attached to the other side only. and he doubted not but he could easily swim or dive unimpeded by them. The weather was warm, and if he could gain about a mile higher up, there was a wood of osiers, in which he might conceal85 himself until he could take off his cumbrous appendages86.
Before he had done thinking about it, he was at the edge of the water, among the ruins, had thrown off all his clothing except his nether87 garments, and now slipped down into the stream, swimming very softly. When he had attained88 depth enough, he trod water until he got round a projecting point which formed the boundary of the graveyard. Beyond this point there were many bulrushes, which served to shelter him; nor did he hear any alarm given. Having by dint89 of swimming, wading90, and treading water, at, last reached the osiers unobserved, he found a small creek91, up which he swam, and coming in a thickly wooded spot, he scrambled92 through the mud, until he gained a piece of land hard enough to bear his weight. Here he began to think what should be his next step.
It was imperatively93 necessary he should get rid of his chain, and forturiately finding he was much wasted through his sickness, he persevered94 in his struggles until at last he slipped it down over his ankle. He now threw both it and his remaining garment into deep water. The evening was very chilly95, and he was fain to betake himself again to the stream, as he found that much warmer than the land. He next crossed the river again, and upon landing made towards a pile of buildings he saw standing96 at a short distance from the shore. These proved to be cattle sheds; but there were no human dwellings97 near and Ralph hardly knew what to do. At last he decided98 upon remaining where he was until the cattle tender should come, who might be induced by some pitiful tale to help him to a few rags, as decency99 forbade his going much about in his present utter nakedness.
Accordingly, our shivering adventurer prowled among some stalls on one side of the square formed by these buildings, and was at last lucky enough to find some litter, which had apparently100 been used only sufficiently101 to make it warm. Having successfully disputed possession of this treasure with an old cow, he crept in among it, heaping it over and around him, and finding himself very warm and comfortable, quickly went to sleep.
When he awoke, it was hardly daylight; but a boy was turning out the cattle. Ralph called most lustily to him for some time before the youngster heard. This youth gaped102 with astonishment103 at the tale Rashleigh told, that he was a poor sailor who, having got drunk, had lain down by the water-side, where some wretches104 had stripped him naked. He begged the lad, for God’s sake, to procure105 him any sort of old things that might cover him until he could get into Portsmouth.
The boy seemed a good deal moved by the recital106, and promised he would go up to his master’s house, to try whether he could get anything for him to wear. In less than ar hour he returned, bringing a blue smock frock, checked shirt, waggoner’s hat, pair of cord breeches, and high-low shoes, all very old, but still whole and tolerably clean, saying, at the same time, if Ralph would go up to the house, he might get “zummat t’ yeat, if he wor an ‘ongry”.
Rashleigh took the clothes most thankfully and asked the way to the house, telling the lad he would first go and wash himself in the river and then follow him. Having received directions, he once more thanked the boy, who departed with a speed that indicated he was “an ‘ongry”, if Ralph was not.
Our adventurer, after having cleansed107 his person in the river from the impurities108 of his last night’s lodgings109, now clad himself in this unwonted guise110. He then debated within himself whether it might not he dangerous to accept the hospitable111 invitation of the cow-boy, and finally resolved not to linger in such a perilous112 neighbourhood; so he set forth113 at a brisk pace along the stream, keeping his back to Portsmouth.
After walking upwards of a mile, he heard a female voice hailing loudly, “Whoi, Tummas! Tummas, I zay!”
As his name was not “Tummas”, and he was not thinking of anything except making the best of his way, he did not stop, until the voice, now close behind him, roared out, “Dam thee! Stop, I zay!”
He suddenly turned round and confronted the speaker, who was a pretty-looking country girl, about seventeen or eighteen years of age, and who had plainly lost what little breath the run had left her with astonishment at finding out she had overtaken a stranger.
The damsel opened both her mouth and eyes to the utmost of their capacity and stammered114 out, “Whoi, it bean’t Tummas, arter all.”
“No, I’m not Thomas, my pretty dear,” said Rashleigh; “but I would be just as willing to do anything to oblige you as ever he could be.”
“Drat it,” continued the maiden115. “That be’s so loike our Tummas’s slop! Whoi, I could a’most ha’ sworn to it, b’ the patch on the back.”
“And very likely,” quoth Rashleigh, “it was your Thomas’s slop; for it was given to me not far away when I’d been robbed of all my own clothes.”
“What, robbed of your Clothes, all on ’em?” responded the girl in amazement116. “And did ’em leave you quite naked?”
“They did so,” replied Ralph, “and I have got a very long way to go, without a penny to help myself.’’
“Poor fellow!” said the kind-hearted girl. If thee’ll come back again a bit, M mother’ll give thee zummat t’ yeat, I do know, at any rate, and thee’ll be my the better of that!’
Rashleigh willingly accompanied his guide to her lowly home, where a hearty117 laugh ensued between the girl and her mother at the mistake made by the former; and his misfortune being related, the old dame118 bestowed120 her warm sympathy, and a substantial breakfast of bread, bacon and small beer to the traveller, who shortly after took his leave, much refreshed and very thankful for the kind hospitality he had so very unexpectedly received.
He then travelled in the direction of Winchester. Upon Portsdown Heath he overtook a pedlar, who, in addition to his pack, had a very heavy bundle to carry. This man entered into conversation with our adventurer, who feigned121 a country dialect in his speech as much as possible, and learning that they were likely to travel some short distance together, the dealer122 offered Ralph a shilling if he would carry the bundle for him during the rest of the day. Rashleigh willingly complied with this offer, and they journeyed on till evening was drawing near, when they reached a village inn, at which the pedlar declared his intention of stopping for the night. Having given to our adventurer the sum agreed on, the latter also went in for the purpose of obtaining some bread and cheese, with a draught123 of beer, for supper.
The room he entered was full of various sorts of people, who took small notice of him. Having discussed his food, he was sitting in a corner, when in marched a party of soldiers, who stopped both the doors, while the sergeant124 who led them began to look most narrowly into the faces of every person present.
Rashleigh had taken off his hat, and the man of scarlet125 favoured him with a gaze of more attentive126 scrutiny127 than he seemed to bestow119 upon the rest. At last the sergeant asked our hero’s name.
“Thomas Harper,” was the reply.
“What are you?” was the next query128.
“A labouring man.”
“Where do you come from now?” demanded the “non-cornmissioned”.
“Havant.”
“Oh, do your” said the son of Mars. “When were you there last?”
“A week ago,” replied Rashleigh.
“Humph! A week ago . . . And where have you been to since?” demanded the martialist.
“Why, at Portsmouth, if you must know,” responded Rashleigh, beginning to lose his temper at the pertinacity129 of the querist, who now drew his sword saying, “Yes. At Portsmouth. I knew that; and you ‘listed there.”
“Me ‘listed?” said Ralph. “Not I, indeed, my good fellow.” Rashleigh, in the excitement of the moment, had thrown off his country accent and spoke130 with his natural idiom.
“Aha!” cried the sergeant. “Does anybody think this chap comes from Havant now, with such a tongue as that?
“No, no, my fine starter,” resumed the man of war, “you never come from Havant; and now I’ve got you, I’ll take care you don’t go there neither in a hurry.”
So saying, he gave a sign to two of his comrades, who advanced upon Ralph and quickly secured him with a pair of handcuffs, after which the sergeant ordered the whole party outside. Presently they were ordered to take possession of a loft131 above a stable, where the military shortly afterwards had their suppers brought to them. This over, an additional pair of handcuffs being provided, they were placed one on each of Rashleigh’s wrists. He being in this way secured between two soldiers that were fettered132 to him by one hand apiece, they lay down in this manner to rest. it was evident that he had been taken up, not as a runaway133 convict, but as a deserter; and he conceived he would soon be liberated134, as it must quickly be discovered to be a mistake. He therefore felt little anxiety for the result, and resigned himself to sleep as well as he could under such very uncomfortable circumstances.
At a very early hour of the next morning the party were aroused by their commander, and having partaken of a humble135 breakfast, began their march to Portsmouth. After journeying some time in silence, the sergeant came to the side of Ralph and with a jeering136 manner asked him whether he didn’t think he was a fool for trying to impose upon an old soldier like the sergeant — as if he were a raw recruit — by striving to pass himself off for a countryman. Ralph only replied that they would soon find out their mistake, to which the other rejoined with a laugh, “Why, then, I suppose you are some King’s son in disguise; but no matter. The next time you desart from the army, I’d advise you to buy yourself a wig54, for anybody could tell you had been a soldier by the way your hair is cut.”
Ralph now found out that the sergeant had been induced to believe him a deserter and to question him by this very circumstance, so that if he had only kept his hat on, it is probable he might have escaped the arrest of this vigilant137 commander. Being doubly vexed138 on this account by the annoyance139 of the sergeant’s sarcasms140, he retorted that he was no deserter, that he had never enlisted141 in his life, because he always thought the life of a dog far better than that of a soldier, and for his own part, had rather turn a nightman than enlist142. The son of Mars flew into a rage at this highly insulting speech, and threatened to knock his teeth down his throat if he did not hold his tongue; and for the remainder of the journey the sergeant and escort put every species of annoyance in practice towards their prisoner.
At length the weary march was ended, and they reached the “lines” of Portsmouth, inside of which was a guard-room, where they deposited their prisoner. Here he passed the night, and the next day was removed to Gosport Barracks, where it was quickly found out he was not the person whom the party had been dispatched in quest of; and Ralph had the great satisfaction of hearing the sergeant soundly rated for his stupidity in making such a mistake.
He was now set at liberty; but just as he was about to leave the barrack yard, he saw this same petty officer who had taken him in custody143, and could not resist the opportunity of repaying him in abuse for the oppression he had endured in the journey under his command. The sergeant roared out for the guard and gave our adventurer in charge for abusing him while on duty, and in a little while the luckless Rashleigh was again handcuffed and marched off to the watch-house, from whence he was taken in the evening before the Mayor of Portsmouth.
Upon being interrogated144 as to his name, place of abode, etc., Ralph said it was Jenkins and that he was a clerk out of employment who had come to Portsmouth a few days before; but having been robbed of his clothing on his return to London, he had been obliged to beg the articles he then wore. The clerk to the bench eyed him during this narrative145 with much distrust, and leaning over, whispered to the Mayor, who nodded with profound gravity. The sergeant was called on to state his complaint, which he did with a volubility of tongue that did not confine itself to the truth, but wound up by stating that the prisoner had threatened to take his life.
“Upon my word!” said the magisterial146 Solon. “A werry pretty feller, to abuse the honourable147 profession of a soldier, who spends his life fighting for his King and country, while such rapscallions as himself are skulking148 about, looking out for chances to rob their neighbours’ hen-roosts! What have you to say for yourself, you blackguard?”
To this highly temperate149 and very becoming speech, Rashleigh only replied that the sergeant had much exaggerated the truth, for that he (the prisoner) had not threatened the other at all, but only reproached him for his harsh treatment to himself while a prisoner under his charge.
Two or three non-commissioned officers now stepped forth, each anxious to be heard first, and all offering to swear to the truth of the sergeant’s statement; which of course they could very well do, as having been in Court all the time, not a word of what he had said had escaped them. The Mayor, however, declined to give them so much trouble, and after a short conference with his clerk, he again addressed the prisoner.
“Now, my fine feller, you might think to impose upon this ’ere Court with that there fine story of yourn; but I can tell you as how you shan’t; for I’m resolved, if I can’t do anything else, to send you to gaol for a month as a rogue150 and a wagabond what can’t give no proper account of himself, not by no manner of means. But then I thinks as how you are a suspicious feller besides, and I makes no manners of doubt but we shall have a hue151 and cry arter you in a werry little while for some willainous despredation or other; so I’ll remand you for a week, that our wigilant perleece may have time to make enquiries about you. Take him away.” And away Rashleigh was taken accordingly.
He had not been removed from the office, before he saw one of the guards of the hulk Leviathan, who, it seemed, had come there to report the escape of another convict from the dockyard that day. This person was possessed of the lynx-eyed sagacity proper for his calling, and he no sooner saw our hero than he went close up to him, and removing the waggoner’s hat worn by the luckless runaway, cried out, “Aha, my gentleman! You’re nabbed, are you?”
The constable152 who had Rashleigh in charge eagerly enquired153 if the guard knew his prisoner, and he being answered in the affirmative, the unfortunate Ralph was again placed before “His Worship”, to whom the tale was soon related of his being an escaped convict.
“Aha!” said that functionary154 in great exultation155. “I knew he was a dangerous willain. I am worry seldom deceived in my opinions about sitch ruffians. But as you say he’s already transported for life, I don’t see as how we can add anything to his sentence. I suppose the best thing we can do is to send him back to the hulk at once, and let the captain punish him for running away.”
In a few moments Ralph was hurried to the boat which had brought the officer on shore. Strongly chained and handcuffed, with the muzzle156 of a pistol held close to his head, he was rapidly reconveyed to his former gloomy place of abode.
Having been brought on board, he was ushered down to the “black hole”, as it was called — a dungeon157 in the ship’s eyes below the water-level, and there left to his solitary158 reflections, which, however, could scarcely he termed so, inasmuch as many myriads of rats inhabited this den5, which leaped, ran and gambolled159 about, over and around their human companion.
The tedious hours of night wore away. The day had begun some time, as the noise of the men trampling160 to and fro on the different decks indicated. These sounds ceased: all the convicts had gone to work. For some hours more Ralph still remained unvisited; but at length he heard a footstep approaching. His prison was opened and he was ordered to follow the guard, who preceded him to the quarter-deck. Here stood the captain, his mates, the surgeon and other officers of the hulk, in their full naval uniforms. The prisoner was placed on a certain spot indicated by a sign from the commander, and the tale of his escape, having been succinctly161 related by the guard in whose charge he had been sent to dig the graves, was followed by a recital of his recapture from the officer who had brought him from the shore. He was asked what he had to say, and having only the natural love of liberty inherent in the breast of all men to urge, he was sentenced to receive ten dozen lashes163 in presence of all the convicts that same day.
He was now again conducted to the black hole, and a little before sunset he was once more led to the quarter-deck, having now to pass through the lines of his fellow-prisoners, ranged there to witness his degrading punishment. His offence and sentence having been related aloud, he was commanded to strip and was quickly secured to the gratings, which had been lashed164 to the bulwarks165. A brawny166 boatswain’s mate now commenced the infliction167 of the agonising torture.
Rashleigh had long before been assured by persons who had suffered it, that shrieking168 out only added to the pain, which became less the quieter and more immovable the sufferer kept himself. When he was being tied up he had crammed169 his shirt into his mouth in such a way that it was jammed between his face and the grating; so that he could not get it out until he was released. Thus, during the whole time, he could breathe only through his nostrils170, and though the pain was most harrowingly intense — for he long afterwards declared it could only be likened to the sensation of having furrows171 torn in your flesh with jagged wire, and ore they closed filled up with burning molten lead running in streams of fire down your back — yet he could not at first cry out. By the time be had received four of the dozens, at each of which a fresh instrument and a fresh operator were applied172, the whole of his body had been entirely173 numbed174, and he only felt as if his lacerated flesh were receiving heavy blows from some huge club.
The punishment lasted more than an hour, at the end of which time he was released from the grating and fell insensible on the deck, whence he was carried to the hospital ship, where he was quickly resuscitated175, with a vengeance176, by the application of a dressing177 which was applied to his back, and which, he was subsequently assured, was composed chiefly of pepper and salt!!! — in compliance178 with the usual mild and merciful system pursued by the naval and military surgeons of that day; and the excruciating torment179 occasioned by this remedy completely mocked the horrors of the actual suffering of the lash162. So often as this dressing was removed and replaced by a new one — which was done every day for nearly a month — the sufferings of the wretched patient made him roar aloud with their intensity180; which could only have been equalled by the torture inflicted181 on the unfortunate cacique Atabalipa, when stretched upon his bed of fire by the monster Hernan Cortes.
Under even this discipline, however, Rashleigh slowly recovered, and became convalescent just in time to go in a draft that was ordered to proceed to New South Wales by the good ship Magnet of London, Captain, James Boltrope.
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1
wards
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| 区( ward的名词复数 )； 病房； 受监护的未成年者； 被人照顾或控制的状态 | |
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respited
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| v.延期（respite的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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props
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| 小道具； 支柱( prop的名词复数 )； 支持者； 道具； （橄榄球中的）支柱前锋 | |
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memento
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| n.纪念品，令人回忆的东西 | |
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vicissitudes
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| n.变迁，世事变化；变迁兴衰( vicissitude的名词复数 )；盛衰兴废 | |
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15
mundane
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| adj.平凡的；尘世的；宇宙的 | |
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16
perishable
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| adj.（尤指食物）易腐的，易坏的 | |
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17
grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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18
mustered
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的过去式和过去分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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19
muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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20
gaol
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| n.(jail)监狱；(不加冠词)监禁；vt.使…坐牢 | |
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21
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
cleanse
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| vt.使清洁，使纯洁，清洗 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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divested
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| v.剥夺( divest的过去式和过去分词 )；脱去（衣服）；2。从…取去…；1。（给某人）脱衣服 | |
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fetters
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| n.脚镣( fetter的名词复数 )；束缚v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的第三人称单数 ) | |
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26
chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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28
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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29
subdivided
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| 再分，细分( subdivide的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30
dens
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| n.牙齿，齿状部分；兽窝( den的名词复数 )；窝点；休息室；书斋 | |
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31
obstreperous
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| adj.喧闹的，不守秩序的 | |
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32
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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33
doze
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| v.打瞌睡；n.打盹，假寐 | |
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34
pervade
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| v.弥漫，遍及，充满，渗透，漫延 | |
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35
olfactory
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| adj.嗅觉的 | |
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36
exhale
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| v.呼气，散出，吐出，蒸发 | |
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37
loathsome
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| adj.讨厌的，令人厌恶的 | |
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38
abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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39
barley
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| n.大麦，大麦粒 | |
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40
scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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41
sobriquet
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| n.绰号 | |
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42
akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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43
durability
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| n.经久性，耐用性 | |
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44
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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45
contractors
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| n.（建筑、监造中的）承包人( contractor的名词复数 ) | |
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46
dubbed
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| v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制 | |
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47
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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48
obduracy
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| n.冷酷无情，顽固，执拗 | |
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49
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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50
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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51
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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52
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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53
pint
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| n.品脱 | |
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54
wig
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| n.假发 | |
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55
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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56
yoked
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| 结合（yoke的过去式形式） | |
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57
hempen
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| adj. 大麻制的, 大麻的 | |
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58
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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59
solaced
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| v.安慰，慰藉( solace的过去分词 ) | |
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60
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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61
skids
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| n.滑向一侧( skid的名词复数 )；滑道；滚道；制轮器v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的第三人称单数 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区 | |
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62
elevations
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| （水平或数量）提高( elevation的名词复数 )； 高地； 海拔； 提升 | |
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63
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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64
awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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65
skulker
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| n.偷偷隐躲起来的人，偷懒的人 | |
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66
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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67
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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68
devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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69
myriads
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| n.无数，极大数量( myriad的名词复数 ) | |
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70
shamming
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| 假装，冒充( sham的现在分词 ) | |
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71
purgatives
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| 泻剂( purgative的名词复数 ) | |
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72
blistering
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| adj.酷热的；猛烈的；使起疱的；可恶的v.起水疱；起气泡；使受暴晒n.[涂料] 起泡 | |
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73
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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74
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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75
graveyard
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| n.坟场 | |
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76
coffins
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| n.棺材( coffin的名词复数 )；使某人早亡[死，完蛋，垮台等]之物 | |
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77
grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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78
mounds
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| 土堆，土丘( mound的名词复数 )； 一大堆 | |
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79
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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80
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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81
hustled
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| 催促（hustle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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82
prevailing
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| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
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83
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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84
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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85
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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86
appendages
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| n.附属物( appendage的名词复数 )；依附的人；附属器官；附属肢体（如臂、腿、尾等） | |
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87
nether
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| adj.下部的，下面的；n.阴间；下层社会 | |
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88
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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89
dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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90
wading
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的现在分词 ) | |
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91
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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92
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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93
imperatively
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| adv.命令式地 | |
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94
persevered
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| v.坚忍，坚持( persevere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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95
chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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96
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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97
dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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98
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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99
decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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100
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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101
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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102
gaped
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| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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103
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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104
wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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105
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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106
recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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107
cleansed
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| 弄干净，清洗( cleanse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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108
impurities
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| 不纯( impurity的名词复数 )； 不洁； 淫秽； 杂质 | |
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109
lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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110
guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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111
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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112
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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113
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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114
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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115
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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116
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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117
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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118
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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119
bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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120
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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121
feigned
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| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
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122
dealer
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| n.商人，贩子 | |
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123
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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124
sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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125
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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126
attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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127
scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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128
query
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| n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑 | |
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129
pertinacity
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| n.执拗，顽固 | |
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130
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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131
loft
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| n.阁楼，顶楼 | |
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132
fettered
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| v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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133
runaway
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| n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的 | |
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134
liberated
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| a.无拘束的，放纵的 | |
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135
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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136
jeering
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| adj.嘲弄的，揶揄的v.嘲笑( jeer的现在分词 ) | |
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137
vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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138
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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139
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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140
sarcasms
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，挖苦( sarcasm的名词复数 ) | |
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141
enlisted
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| adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
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142
enlist
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| vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍 | |
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143
custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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144
interrogated
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| v.询问( interrogate的过去式和过去分词 )；审问；（在计算机或其他机器上）查询 | |
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145
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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146
magisterial
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| adj.威风的，有权威的；adv.威严地 | |
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147
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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148
skulking
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| v.潜伏，偷偷摸摸地走动，鬼鬼祟祟地活动( skulk的现在分词 ) | |
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149
temperate
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| adj.温和的，温带的，自我克制的，不过分的 | |
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150
rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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151
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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152
constable
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| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
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153
enquired
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| 打听( enquire的过去式和过去分词 )； 询问； 问问题； 查问 | |
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154
functionary
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| n.官员；公职人员 | |
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155
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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156
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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157
dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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158
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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159
gambolled
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| v.蹦跳，跳跃，嬉戏( gambol的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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160
trampling
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| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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161
succinctly
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| adv.简洁地；简洁地，简便地 | |
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162
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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163
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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164
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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165
bulwarks
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| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
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166
brawny
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| adj.强壮的 | |
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167
infliction
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| n.（强加于人身的）痛苦，刑罚 | |
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168
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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169
crammed
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| adj.塞满的，挤满的；大口地吃；快速贪婪地吃v.把…塞满；填入；临时抱佛脚( cram的过去式) | |
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170
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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171
furrows
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| n.犁沟( furrow的名词复数 )；（脸上的）皱纹v.犁田，开沟( furrow的第三人称单数 ) | |
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172
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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173
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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174
numbed
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| v.使麻木，使麻痹( numb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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175
resuscitated
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| v.使（某人或某物）恢复知觉，苏醒( resuscitate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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176
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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177
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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178
compliance
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| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
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179
torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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180
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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181
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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