Having crossed in a punt the splendid sheet of water which the Nepean river forms at Penrith, nearly at sunset on the second day of their journey, our weary travellers had a view of the broad expanse of Emu Plains, which afforded a noble prospect2. But Rashleigh was too tired and full of pain to appreciate its beauties, only looking forward to the hope of a rest in some shed, however humble3, and caring but little, at the moment, what might be his lot on the morrow, so he might enjoy a little present repose4. They had yet a mile to pass over from the river; and when that intervening space had at last been crossed, they entered the camp — as it was called — a collection of huts built on both sides of the way, which might have reached to the number of nearly thirty. Though of all kinds, they were invariably of the same materials, being formed of split slabs6 of timber, one end of which was set in the earth and the other nailed to a pole, that formed a wall-plate above it, the whole being covered with sheets of bark.
The external appearance of these dwellings7 was anything but captivating, for the materials of which they were built had been all used quite green, and in seasoning9, the slabs had shrunk one from another, so that a man could easily pass his hand through between them. In different places these chinks had been stopped up with old rags, parts of which, projecting farther than they were intended, either hung down in beauteous negligence10 or waved to and fro at the bidding of each capricious breeze. Glass, of course, there was none to any of the numerous openings called windows, they being supposed to be closed by shutters12 made of boards nailed on a sort of frame; but both these and the doors, from the same cause as the slabs, had shrunk to such a degree that the openings between the boards were half as wide as the boards themselves.
Here Rashleigh was given over in charge to the camp constable13, a tall, stout14 countryman with a limp in his gait, who shortly piloted him to the residence of the superintendent16 of Emu Plains, or to Government house, as it was called. He was there directed by his conductor to wait while the other entered the mansion18. In a brief space a personage made his appearance followed by the constable, who stood bareheaded behind him and motioned our adventurer to pull off his hat.
The superintendent was engaged in reading a letter, during which operation Ralph had time to scan the personal appearance of a man whom he had often heard spoken of before as a terror to all the convicts in the Colony. This official was rather above the middle stature21, of an exceedingly swarthy complexion22, with brows of portentous23 gloom, and when he spoke20 the stern severity of his tone belied24 not the austerity of his looks.
“So, my fine fellow,” said he. “you are inclined to politics, are you? Wen, we will try if we cannot find you something else to think of here. You are sent to this establishment to learn field labour, and on no account to be employed in any other way for two years. When that time has expired you will he assigned to a settler. Take him away, Row, and send the principal overseer to me when the gangs come in.”
Our hero now followed his conductor back to the camp, where the latter said with a sneer25, in a strong west country dialect, “As you bees another of theasem dom’d quill26 drivers, I do zuppose you had better be put along with the rest; so you will stop in the pla’house there”, indicating an irregular sort of straggling-looking mass of buildings, all of them of the same stringy-bark order of architecture with the huts before described, from which it differed in no degree save size.
Rashleigh, who was really tired, nearly to death, and would have given worlds, had he possessed27 them, long before, to have been permitted to lie down, soon made his way to the hovel in question. Finding the door open, though the inmates28 were absent, he walked in and flung himself upon a rude bench made of a piece of split timber, set upon two stumps29 sunk in the earthen floor.
He now surveyed the interior of his future dwelling8, which he quickly discovered was in perfect good harmony with its external attractions. Like the famed mansion of that worthy31 who delighted in the cognomen32 of “Jack Straw”, it was neither wind — nor water-tight; frequent awful gaps in the bark roof plainly indicated the causes of the many puddles33 on the dirt floor, and the cracks between the slabs freely admitted the playful vagrancy35 of every sportive zephyr36. Furniture Rashleigh saw none save a table, made in the same manner as the bench on which he sat, two large iron pots, and a few vessels37 of tin.
His fatigue38 soon overpowered him, and he fell fast asleep; nor did he awake until he was rather roughly shaken by the shoulder, a man telling him at the same time that he must get up and answer his muster39. He now staggered half asleep outside the hut; and in a few minutes the camp constable, with a train of watchmen, came bearing a lantern, which one of them held while another called over the names of the prisoners belonging to that hut, Rashleigh, of course, being last. In his simplicity40 he now asked the great man of office where he was to sleep.
“Wherever yow like, and be dom’d to yow,” was the courteous41 reply.
“But shall I not get a bed and blanket?” asked the new chum.
“I’ll tell ‘ee what!” retorted the other. “On’y I think yow bees a fool, by what yow’ve been up to in Sydney, I’d knock yow down for axing me such a dom’d stupid question. But I’ll compute42 it to yower ignorance. and tell yow there an’t no blankets for nobody in the stores. There’s two hundred men here a’ready wi’out any, and many on ’em has been so for more nor this two years; so doan’t ‘ee be bothering me any more, or else I’ll be dom’d if I doan’t find a shop for ‘ee.”
With this cheering assurance he departed, and Ralph followed the party into the interior, where one of the men observed “old Tom Row was getting good because he did not put the new chum in the chokey,” and another man, assenting43, added that sometimes he had “knowed a dozen men put in for less than half that provocation44.”
Ralph now begged to be informed what he had said that could by any possibility be construed45 into a crime; and the first speaker replied, “Lord bless you, stop a bit. You’re like a motherless cub46, all your sorrows to come. You’ll soon find out the men in office here don’t want to receive no provocation to get a man flogged, for they delight in making out schemes to do so without”— an observation Rashleigh had abundant opportunities of verifying by actual experience afterwards. But he now enquired47 what shifts the rest of the men made for bedding who, like himself, were without any. His informant said some got a few sheepskins, which, indeed, were mostly stolen from drays passing on the road, and they sewed them together, rolling themselves up in them at night; while those who hadn’t the luck to get any skins had lately found out a way to prepare tea-tree bark for the same purpose; and he volunteered to show our hero the method of doing this the first leisure time he had.
Rashleigh returned his thanks, and as there was no other remedy, lay down in the ashes of the fireplace, Which, like those of the olden time in England, was spacious48 enough to allow half a dozen men to do so, besides leaving room enough for the fire, as it, in fact, occupied all one end of the hut. Here, though he was very hungry, he quickly fell asleep again, and awoke not until an excessive bustle49 caused him to do so.
Looking around him, he quickly perceived it was morning. The hut was nearly empty of its inmates, who were running out in great haste. Our adventurer jumped up. Being already dressed he found now to be some advantage, and he followed the throng50 of men he saw before him, going towards the camp gate, which Ralph was about to pass through, when the camp bell, which till now had been rolling most vociferously51, ceased to ring; and instantly as it did so, a florid-faced man mounted on a black mare52 spurred across the gateway53, stopping the egress54, and roaring out, “Stop there, you sons of bitches! I’ll teach you fellows to come a little smarter to muster. Here, Sam, take these men’s names down.”
“Sam” was a clerk. albeit55 he wore a most unclerkly appearance, being very ragged56, with an old pair of slop shoes on, that, having been immensely too large for him at first, had turned up at the toes, until the soles were now staring their wearer in the face. On the back part of his occiput he wore what had once been a cap made of kangaroo skin; but the crown, being nearly out, now overhung, flapping against his back; and the whole tout15 ensemble57 of this pupil of the pen much resembled what in Scotland is called a “potato bogle”, and in England a “scarecrow”. He now began to take down the names of those men that were inside the gate, of course, including our luckless adventurer whom the principal overseer no sooner saw than he cried Out, “Oho, my fine quill-driver, you are beginning well, at any rate! Here, Joe! Take this chap into your mob, and try if you can’t waken him up a bit.”
Upon this, Joe — as he was styled — a little bandy-legged chocolate-cheeked Jew, said, “Come here, you, sir. S’help mine Gott, I’ll shtir you up before night.”
Shortly afterwards, the names of all the men being read over, each shouldered his implement58 of labour, and the gangs began to move off; but for Rashleigh’s part, the overseer Joe called him and ordered him to take up a rope that lay near, and bring it along. Ralph looked at the rope, which appeared heavy enough to load a horse, it being nearly as thick as a cable and of great length. He attempted to lift it, but finding it far beyond his strength, he was fain to desist. He then received a volley of oaths from the little Jew, and two men being called, they placed the rope on his back. It was as much as he could stagger under, and finding it impossible to walk steadily60, he ran a few paces, when his foot caught something, and he fell beneath his load, cutting his shin upon a root, so that it bled profusely61. But the inflexible62 Joe directed the rope to be replaced on his back, which was done, and although he repeatedly fell down, it was as repeatedly again hoisted63 on his back, until at length, trembling in every limb from the intensity64 of this over-exertion, Ralph reached the scene of their appointed labour.
The gang under the orders of overseer Joe was at present employed in burning off the trees, which had been some time previously65 fallen, for the purpose of clearing the land and reducing it to culture. To do this the huge monarchs66 of the forest, now recumbent, were lopped of all their boughs67, and the larger limbs and branches cross cut with saws into convenient lengths, the stumps of the trees having before had all the earth dug away from around them, so that the roots were laid bare, many of tile smaller ones being cut through. The timber was then piled around and over these stumps, the butts69 or large logs beneath, and the smaller and lighter70 branches above, the interstices being filled up with twigs71, bark and chips, to make the whole ignite readily; and when a suitable number of the stumps had been thus made ready — or in wet weather, as fast as they were prepared — the masses were lighted, the fires, if necessary, being attended to until the firewood and with it the stump30 were completely burned out.
All the gang, having now arrived at the scene of action, were quickly distributed to their several tasks; and Ralph and some others each obtained a wooden handspike, with which to roll out the trunks of trees or carry them upon to the fires for which they were designed. A favourite plan with the overseer — Joe — who appeared to delight in oppressing his men as much as possible, was to cause six or eight handspikes to be laid on the ground before a large trunk of wood, which was then rolled thereupon; twelve or sixteen men, one at each end of the handspikes, lifted the trunk bodily up, on which master Joe would order six of their number away, on pretence72 that the remainder were well able to carry the log. These were thus often compelled to strain every nerve to do so; otherwise, if any one gave way, of course the log fell to the earth, and those on the same side with the defaulter stood in imminent73 danger of fractured limbs. But should they escape these, they were certain of incurring74 punishment from Joe, who would surely cause them, every man, to be flogged for neglect of work, or, at least, put into “Belly75 Bot” that night.
Again, this worthy would pitch upon one of the gang who had incurred76 his anger — which it was most easy to do, by the by — generally someone who was old or constitutionally infirm, and having selected a stump or short block of wood of the very uttermost weight any ordinary man could carry, he would call the culprit to him and cause two other men to lift this burden upon his shoulders, directing him to carry it to some distant fire. If the poor fellow could at all make shift to move under his load, he would stagger off, amid the jeers77 of the overseer and his toadies78. When he had nearly reached the place where he supposed he had been directed to carry the load to, Joe would shout with the lungs of a Stentor — for though a small, stunted79 abortion80 of humanity, he had wondrously82 effective lungs —: “You blasted crawler, where are you going to? That’s not the fire. Take it over to the one far over there, on your right.”
The poor wretch83, frightened at the threatening tone and language of the overseer, would now attempt to go as ordered; but Joe would still keep on, roaring out, “Not there”, “Or there”, wherever he went, until at last the man, being utterly84 exhausted85, would fail himself or perchance throw down the load, when he was certain of condign86 punishment from the bench of the magistrates88.
It may seern strange that such doings were allowed; but besides this establishment being a place of punishment for convicts who misbehaved in a minor89 degree, yet whose offences were not cognisable by law, the superintendent was very anxious to get as much work done as possible by any means. To effect this he selected from among the convicts under his charge the worst behaved and most indolent of the number for his overseers and other subordinates, who, as he rightly judged, by being the most afraid of the hardships of work themselves, would exercise all manner of rigour towards their fellow-prisoners and exact as much labour as possible from each, in order to keep their places. Thus it was that the men were so much oppressed, for if one of these convict overseers were working a gang of fifty men and had ten of them flogged every week — no uncommon90 proportion — it became a mere91 matter of arithmetical certainty that another who had a gang of twenty-five could not do his duty unless he took five of his men to Court weekly also.
Again, it was the policy of the superintendent to put two gangs of similar strength at the same kind of work within view of each other, when the overseers would vie one with the other to try which could get most done; and dire17 was then the cursing, swearing, raging and tearing of the rivals, who would goad92 on their men every instant with threats of the torturing lash93, uttered with all the real arrogance94 of low-bred jacks-in-office, who, it need hardly be said, were capable of any atrocity95 themselves, and would commit any crime rather than descend96 from their ill-sustained eminences97 to work among their fellows. This is premised, lest the reader should scarcely believe what follows; yet there are many scores now alive in New South Wales who can vouch98 for the truth of the leading features.
Rashleigh and his fellows were quickly immersed in their fatiguing99 occupation, grimed from head to foot with charcoal100 from the logs they carried, and blinded by the smoke from the numerous fires near at hand; until at length, being employed with the others in turning the huge butt68 of a tree which was partially101 embedded102 in the earth by the force of its fall, Ralph, through his awkwardness, placed the end of his handspike between the body of the tree and a broken limb which was attached to it, and which formed a very acute angle with the body of the log. When, after many oaths and the expenditure103 of much sweat, the log at last was moved, it went over with a sudden jerk; and the branch referred to, striking the back of Ralph’s handspike as it turned over, of course forced the implement out of his grasp, and the handspike whizzed through the air, passing so close to overseer Joe’s head that it tore a portion of the brim of his hat away in its flight, and then ploughed a furrow104 in the earth for some distance behind him. Most assuredly, if it had struck his head, this worthy would have ended his days on the spot; but fate had otherwise decreed the issue, and Joe, transported with rage, now rushed towards Rashleigh, pouring forth105 a volley of mingled106 threats and execrations.
It chanced that upon his way he had to pass the trench108 out of which the log had just been turned; here there lay, now exposed to view, an enormous Jew lizard109 — a kind of reptile110 supposed to derive111 its name from the membranous112 bags around its jaws113, which it distends115 with air when enraged116, so as to form a slight resemblance to a human beard. This the overseer nearly trod upon; but drawing back, he lifted it on his foot, casting it with great fury towards the unlucky Rashleigh, who, on his part, seeing the unknown but very forbidding reptile come flying towards his throat, made an involuntary blow at it with his right hand; and Joe being now close to him. the lizard was flung full in his face. Dropping from thence on his breast, it began tearing away at his handkerchief and shirt, until one of the bystanders assisted the affrighted Israelite to remove it. The latter no sooner recovered himself than he ordered Rashleigh to be secured, vowing117, with the bitterest malice118 in every gesture, that “he’d make him pay for all”.
Accordingly, Ralph was seized by the deputy overseer and the water carrier of the gang, and hustled119 to a tall bare stump standing120 near, when a chain having been passed round it, he had his hands locked behind his back to the chain by a pair of handcuffs. In a few minutes Joe came up, and saying, “You blasted varment! I’ll teach you to mutiny and try to take my life, I will,” he then struck the defenceless prisoner on the head, knocking off his hat; and having thus given him a foretaste of what he might expect from his brutality121, this choice specimen122 of a government officer then withdrew.
Not long after, the superintendent made his appearance on the ground, and having demanded what Rashleigh had done, was informed by the overseer that he had thrown a handspike at him and attempted to take his life, showing his mutilated shirt and tom straw hat in proof of what he alleged123.
“Let him be confined in the camp until next Tuesday, and then brought to court,” said the great man.
At dinner-time, Rashleigh was marched a prisoner home, when being given up to old Tom Row, that functionary124 grinned and said, “Oho! Thee bees danngerous, boost thee? Oi’ll teake cear thee does noa more dommage for one whoile!” Thus saying, he laid hold of the culprit’s collar, and in this guise125 conducted him to an open triangular126 space formed by the converging127 ends of buildings erected129 on two sides of a square, the external side of this space being secured by a high palisade fence, in which was a small open wicket.
Tom Row pushed Ralph in at this opening with such force that the latter almost fell headlong; as it was, he lost his hat in going through. The old constable chuckled130 and said, “There! Thee bees safe enough naw! Thee’ll knock nobody’s brains out naw, I’ll warrant thee!” And he laughed heartily131 while he locked the gate. Rashleigh begged in vain that he might have the handcuffs he wore transferred from behind his back to his front, as the former position, besides being very painful, impeded132 any attempts at helping133 himself. The other, however, only grinned and left him.
Being bareheaded, and the sun now nearly vertical134, he knew not how to shield himself from its too powerful rays, which made him feel both giddy and sick; but the open area in which he was enclosed prevented his gaining any shelter until the afternoon, when the sun’s decline enabled him, by thrusting his head against the end of one of the buildings, to obtain a little shelter and relief. His dinner, a morsel135 of salt beef and a dough-boy, or dumpling made of boiled maize136 meal, had been brought to him soon after his confinement137; but at the time he felt much too sick to eat anything. When he got better he would fain have done so, but did not know how, as the position of his hands, thus secured behind him, would not permit any other mode of eating than by going down on his belly and gnawing138 his food, like a dog, out of the dish. This, at last, hunger compelled him to do, and he was compelled to remain this way from the Thursday night until the following Tuesday morning, without the handcuffs being once removed. It being advanced in autumn, the nights were piercingly cold and the dews abundant; so that our unhappy prisoner was regularly wet through his flimsy rags every evening soon after sunset, and he spent each long night shivering in this plight139, not being dry again until the sun acquired power enough to do so, after many evolutions and turnings on his part to expose each side of his person alternately to the beneficent source of heat. Sleeping, it may well be imagined, was almost out of his power, as independent of the cold preventing him, the constrained140 position in which his arms were confined produced intense pain. In the bitterness of his anguish141 he repeatedly wished for death, and in order to effect it ran his head with great violence two or three times against an angle of one of the sheds; but this only added to his excruciating torments142.
At last the morning of Tuesday arrived, and his keeper came to order him out of this wretched place of confinement. It was necessary he should he washed, and for this purpose his handcuffs were taken off, but the anguish of bringing his cramped143 arms round again into their natural position completely overpowered him, and he fell fainting to the earth. When he recovered he found himself lying in a puddle34 of water; and the cause of it was disclosed by the sneering144 laugh of one of the constables145 standing by with an empty bucket in his hand, who asked, “An’t I a fine doctor to bring any fellow out of a swound?”
Ralph got up, and then, for the first time, saw that his wrists were swollen146 to more than twice their original size; and when he tried to wash his face lie found he could not bend his arms to do so. This swelling147 produced one good effect: there was not a single pair of handcuffs to be procured148 that would go upon his wrists, and consequently they were, sorely against their will, obliged to permit him to go over to Penrith without any. But one of his feflow-convict constables marched alongside of him, having received strict injunctions from Tom Row at parting, that if the prisoner made the slightest attempt to escape, the constable was to knock him down that minute, for, added this humane149 official, “’Tis no odds150 breaking the heads of a score such fellows as he. There’s plenty more of his sort in the country.”
In this guise they reached the Court-house without any interruption, and they found the business of the day there far advanced. There were a great many men — as usual, from Emu Plains — brought up to answer various charges of insolence151 to overseers, neglect of work, breach152 of regulations, or disobedience to orders; and the majority of them had already been tried and sentenced to receive various amounts of corporal punishment, from seventy-five to a hundred lashes153 being the general proportion of the sentences. A very few accounted themselves fortunate in only having got fifty; and one man came out of the presence of the awful conclave154 of magistrates wearing a countenance155 radiant with smiles. On being asked by a compeer what had been his luck, he replied, laughing, “Oh, I’ve nobbed it. I’ve got life to Newcastle,” meaning that he was fortunate in being about to leave Emu Plains, though he was sentenced to go to pass the rest of his days at a place of punishment of no common degree of rigour.
Ralph’s turn now came to be heard, and he was placed at the bar before the magistrates, who were an ancient parson, an old settler and a young military officer. Overseer Joe, being now sworn, circumstantially related the facts of a most mutinous156 attack and murderous assault which had been made upon him by the culprit, who he said had shied a handspike with all his force at the head of the said overseer, and he once more produced the mutilated straw hat in proof of the narrow escape he had made from death. He added that after this Ralph had come up to him and violently assaulted his person, so as to tear his shirt — also produced — and wound up by assuring the bench that he “never knowed a more desp’rater, a more dangerouser ruffian than the willain before them”.
Rashleigh was now asked by the military gentleman what he had to say, though the settler J.P. muttered two or three times, “A clear case, a very clear case. Never heard a clearer case.” As for the clerical gentleman, he had been asleep nearly ever since Ralph came into Court. The prisoner, however, shortly detailed157 the real facts of the case, making use of his hands and fingers to show the relative positions of the log, branch and handspike. While he was doing so the young officer observed the swollen state of his wrists, and demanded to what this was owing, on which Rashleigh narrated158 his sufferings in handcuffs. As the captain had not been very long in the Colony, all these proceedings159 were quite new to him and appeared to excite his compassion160. He minutely questioned our adventurer as to the facts, and finally, appearing to be convinced that he spoke the truth, the military man turned to the farmer magistrate87 with an air of astonishment161 and asked if it was possible such cruelty could be allowed.
The other calmly replied that it was necessary the most stringent162 measures should be adopted to control the turbulent spirits of convicts and ensure their safe custody163, that no doubt the prisoner now before them was much better known to the authorities of Emu Plains than to any other persons, and that, in short, it would not do for the magistrates to interfere164 with the duties of a government establishment like that or they should never be out of hot water. The last portion of this reply was made in a very low tone of voice, as if confidentially165 to the captain; but Rashleigh’s ears being sharpened by self-interest, he caught it every word.
As soon, therefore, as he could speak with propriety166, he declared to the magistrates that this so-called offence had taken place on the very first day he had been sent to work upon Emu Plains, and also that this was the only charge that had as yet been made against him since his arrival in the Colony. On this the captain asked if he had any witnesses who could prove his statement. The settler J.P. observed with a sneer, “Witnesses! Aye! I’ll be bound he has. Fifty, if that’s all, ready to come and swear to that or anything else.”
“But,” returned the militaire, “we’ll take care of that. Let him name his witnesses to us only. Then let him be closely confined over here till the next Court day, so that he cannot see or speak to any of them. We will examine them ourselves, and if he has attempted to impose upon us, we will give him a hundred lashes in addition to the punishment of his crime.”
This proposal being agreed to, Rashleigh described four men who had been working with him as well as he could to the military magistrate, and the case stood over.
Upon the next Court day the same three magistrates attended, and shortly after their arrival Rashleigh was again ushered167 into the Courtroom. The reverend J.P. was installed into the chair, and the captain and settler sat on either side of him. The proceedings began by the clerk reading the deposition168 already made by the overseer and the prisoner’s defence. During this reading the chairman, as was his wont169, went to sleep, ever and anon making such profound reverences170 to the back of the clerk that his reverend nose appeared to be in imminent danger from the desk behind which he sat. The settler J.P. in the mean time amused himself by reading a newspaper. The captain next enquired whether the witnesses were in attendance, and having ascertained172 that they were, he ordered one to be called in.
This fellow, who was a raw countryman, made a loutish173 reverence171 and looked very much afraid as he entered the room. He was sworn, and the captain asked him if he knew the prisoner.
Witness: (scratching his head — with a sort of leer): Ees, sur; that is, noa, sur.
Captain: What do you mean by that? Did you ever see the prisoner before?
Witness: (very much afraid): Whoy, Oi’ve a-seed un, sur, on the pleans.
Captain: Were you ever at work with him? Don’t be afraid, but speak.
Witness: Ees, sur, Oi wor.
Captain: Well, do you know what he did to be brought here?
Witness: Whoy sur, they do zay he troyed to kill th’ overseer.
Captain: When did that happen?
Witness: That day as he wor at work wi’ Oi.
Captain: Were you there?
Witness: Oi wor a-working alongside of him.
Captain: Now, tell us what you saw of the matter.
Witness: Whoy, sur, Oi on’y seed the Jew lizard a-tearing of Joe’s shirt.
Captain: You did not see this man throw a handspike at his overseer.
The witness replied that he did not, and a few more questions satisfied the captain that the matter had occurred as Rashleigh had stated; which was unwillingly174 confirmed by the other men, who all gave their evidence in the prisoner’s behalf with great apparent reluctance175, being obviously fearful that they would suffer the ill will of the dreaded176 Joe for speaking the truth.
The captain now addressed the settler, and enquired what he thought of the matter after that.
The agricultural Lycurgus smiled sarcastically177 and said, “Oh, captain, I leave it entirely178 to you. But when you have been so long in this country as I have, you will not take much notice of anything these fellows either say or swear!”
The captain now ventured to disturb the profundity179 of the reverend chairman’s slumbers180 by a gentle nudge, asking him at the same time what he thought of the case.
That holy man suddenly jumped out of his seat, pulling up the slack of his black silk small-clothes as he did so, and cried, “A most dreadful scoundrel, an atrocious villain181. Send him to Newcastle. Or stay! He won’t stop there . . . Send him . . . Send him Aye, send him to eternity182!”
“Nay, but,” remonstrated183 the captain, “it don’t appear to me he’s guilty of any offence. Mr Clerk, read over the last evidence!”
While this was being done the reverend gent settled himself for another nap; but ere he could go to sleep again the brief notes taken in the case were concluded, and he then said, “Well, well. Give him a hundred; it will help to smarten him.”
“Pardon me,” quoth the son of Mars, “I can’t see he has deserved any punishment; or if he has, surely what he has already suffered ought to be taken into consideration.”
“Oh, you don’t know the artfulness of these scoundrels,” retorted this christian184 pastor185. “You’d better give him seventy-five, at any rate.”
I think rather,” persisted the captain, “we may let him go this time; but if ever he comes again, we’ll double his punishment.”
“Well, well. Do as you please, captain,” said the chairman with an air of virtuous186 resignation; “but the overseers ought to be supported in their duty.”
“True,” said the captain; “but this man has been twelve days now in strict confinement, and we’ll take that for his present punishment. Prisoner, you are discharged. Go back and mind your work, for if ever you are brought here again, you will not escape so easily.”
“No,” added the farmer J.P. “You shall receive double punishment for giving us all this trouble.”
Rashleigh was removed, and when the Court had concluded was about to leave the place in charge of a constable, when overseer Joe came up to them, his saffron-coloured cheeks fairly livid with rage; and shaking his fist at our adventurer, he said, “Gott shtrike me dead, my fine fellow, if you an’t the very first man that ever beat me at Court; and I’ll take blasted good care you don’t come off free next Tuesday.”
A commanding voice was now heard from within a pair of Venetian blinds attached to the window of one of the rooms in the Court-house close by. It called out, “Come here, you, sir!”
Joe’s jaw114 dropped. He was about to walk off when the blinds were pushed open suddenly, and the military magistrate thrust his head out of the window and again called loudly and passionately187, “Here, you, sir! You, overseer, I mean! Come back instantly!”
Joe now very reluctantly complied, and pulling off his hat, confronted the dreaded man of power bareheaded, while the latter said, “Now, sir, I happened to overhear your language just now, and in the first place I’ve the greatest mind in the world to give you a most sound flogging for the daring impiety188 of your expression; but as the Court has now broken up I will overlook that. Still, I’d have you take great care what you are about, for if I catch you tripping in an oath, I’ll prosecute189 you myself for perjury190. And by heaven, sir, I’ll make you wish you never had been born. Now be off to your duty, sir . . . and beware!” shaking his finger at Joe in a most significant manner.
Joe now sneaked191 off, and he suffered not the grass to grow under his feet until he was completely out of view from His Majesty192’s Court-house, Penrith. Our adventurer was shortly afterwards reconducted to the camp, when he was received by his fellow-prisoners with a kind of awe193, such as vulgar minds feel towards a conjuror194 or person of wondrous81 acquirements. In fact, he was looked upon by the convicts as being a kind of lusus naturae, solely195 on account of his acquittal; for such a phenomenon had never before been known in the history of Emu Plains as a working man obtaining a victory over an overseer, or even of getting the benefit of a doubt in his case when a charge was preferred against him by such a hard-swearing fellow as Joe was well known to be, it being a common saying of him “that he would swear a white horse was a chandler’s shop, and every hair upon his back a pound of candles”, rather than be vanquished196.
Rashleigh slept this night in clover, for a man who had run away a short time before had left behind him a little nook formed of a sheet of bark like a boxed shelf, which was filled with the inner husks of Indian corn. Among these the wearied wretch, who had not since his arrival had any better resting-place than the slab5 door of a lock-up or the cold earth, was too happy to burrow197 as quickly as he could. In the dead hour of the night, however, he was aroused by a most discordant198 din11, arising, as it appeared, from half a score or upwards199 of old tin dishes, beaten with fists, after the fashion of gongs, and sundry200 other noises, which reminded him of the manner in which the country people of England swarmed201 their bees.
Upon enquiry, he learned that this unearthly turmoil202 was occasioned by a party of men, who, having resolved to run away themselves, adopted these means of beating up, as they called it, for “recruits for the bush”!
In consequence of the execrable system of tyranny and intolerable oppression perpetrated by the convict overseers, constables, watchmen and others “dressed in a little brief authority” upon this government farm, scarcely a week passed without numbers of men absconding203 in this manner; and others were actually paid by the petty officers, their fellow-convicts in place, to do so, that the latter might gain either a pecuniary205 reward or a remission of sentence for taking them prisoners again. For instance, there was either a sum of ten shillings in money or a remission of six months’ servitude allowed for every runaway206 convict apprehended207 by another. It was a common practice, therefore, for the overseers to oppress some poor fellow under them until they had, as they called it, converted him into a crawler, that is, a spiritless wretch heart-broken by hardship and hunger, who could scarcely move, and who could not, then, do any proper share of hard work. The overseer would next say to him. “Why the devil don’t you bolt (run away)? I’ll give you some grub, to get rid of you;” and the poor fellow, willing even to earn a few days’ rest from labour by a sound flogging, would at last agree to abscond204. The same night he would receive from his kind friend a few pounds of flour a small quantity of tea and sugar, and perhaps a little meat, the overseer promising208 him in addition his favour and protection after he should succeed in getting the reward for taking him. It would then be agreed by the crawler that in three days’ time, which it was necessary should elapse before any reward would be given, the overseer should meet him in a certain place, whither the latter would go, as if by chance, and capture him. He would then bring his prisoner before the magistrates, magnifying his exertions209, of course, in making this capture, and swearing a host of lies respecting the desperate resistance made by the runaway, who would, if it was his first offence, get off for the punishment of a hundred lashes, being then returned to his work, where his overseer would quickly turn him out of his gang, to be subject to the same discipline from another, ending in the same results, except that the runaway, on his second offence, would be punished by being sent to a penal210 settlement. In this manner many of the convicts’ officers shortened their allotted211 periods of servitude; for the terms being eight, six, and four years for a life, fourteen, or seven-year convict respectively, of course, if any of them could thus capture half a dozen runaways212, it at once wiped off three years from his servitude.
The next day after Rashleigh returned from the Court at Penrith he was ordered into a different gang, which was employed in felling timber under the orders of one David Muffin, a Welshman, the brutality of whose character will best be exemplified by the following incident, which occurred the first morning our adventurer was at work in his party.
The men were employed in pairs, and it chanced that two were cutting down a huge tree, which proved to be quite decayed at the heart; so that when they had chopped through the living timber, it snapped off suddenly, and falling in the line on which the boughs spread heaviest and farthest, crushed two ill-fated wretches213 beneath its ponderous214 top. So instantaneous was its fall that not a second’s space was afforded for warning the sufferers, who, being intent upon their work, did not observe the mass until, as it proved, they were hurried into eternity. But four of the men who were nearest ran to see if they could help their comrades; and they were penetrated215 with horror to find only a shapeless mass of quivering flesh and bones. denuded216 of all resemblance to the human form, where but a twinkling of an eye before had stood two robust217, athletic218 young men in all the pride of conscious strength.
Davy, however, did not allow them to stand moralizing a moment on the subject, for with a volley of oaths, he ordered his satellites to put them, all four, into handcuffs for daring to leave their work without his permission; and for this crime they each got a punishment of fifty lashes on the next Court day. Such being the temper of his overseer, it may very easily be imagined Ralph Rashleigh’s employment under him was anything but agreeable, and as, although he was willing enough to work, he was most awkward in his attempts to do so, he came in for a double share of threats and abuse every time the overseer approached him.
Thus waned219 the day, until, at the sound of a bell, the overseer directed his deputy, or assistant, to collect the men and tools, while he started off to the camp. Rashleigh was loaded with a heavy rope, which he was told always fell to the lot of the man who had last joined the gang to carry, and consequently he was among the last that reached the tool-house, where, on throwing down his burden, he found Davy, Joe and other overseers standing by a number of men handcuffed to a chain, two and two, and guarded by two or three of the camp constables. He was ordered to join this body, which he did with a heavy heart, not doubting but that he was about to be confined again, in order to be brought once more to Court. In a few minutes the miserable220 cortège set forth towards a place of security called “Belly Bot”, which was situated221 about a mile from the camp, inside the first range of the Blue mountains.
Upon their arrival here, they were ordered into the interior of this receptacle, which was subdivided222 into cells about seven feet by four feet in area and eight feet high, into each of which they were literally223 crammed224 in an erect128 posture225, until it was absolutely impossible any more could be stowed in them, when the doors, which shut from the outside, were closed upon them, squeezing them in tight against each other.
They were then left to pass the night as best they could. To sit or lie down was out of the question, unless some of them had been willing to be undermost and would also permit the others to lie upon them. But to prevent this possible contingency226, a quantity of water was daily thrown into each cell, which converted the stratum227 of clay that formed the floor, with a very little trampling228, into mire229, ankle-deep at least; and thus these unfortunates were obliged to stand all night.
A little after daybreak next morning the doors of their dens230 were thrown open, and they were ordered to be off to muster. This they did as quickly as possible for fear of being too late, in which case they were sure of receiving some further punishment; and by the time they had reached the camp, the bell demanding their attendance began to ring, so that they had barely time to snatch a morsel of bread, which, eaten as they walked to work, formed their only breakfast.
In this wretched manner Rashleigh spent five nights out of each week for nearly three months after this, and was besides lumbered231 almost six months, the latter meaning being obliged to work for Government on Saturdays, while the rest of the men were allowed from one o’clock on that day to mend and wash their clothing. This was the mode by which Mr Davy Muffin avenged232 upon our adventurer the outrage233 which, through him, the majesty of overseership had received in the person of his brother officer Joe. This system of confining the men all night was allowed by the regulations of the place to be put in force by the petty officers as a sort of minor punishment for the misconduct of the working prisoners, which they were at liberty to inflict234 without appealing to any superior.
This, however, produced one tragical235 event in our hero’s presence. A man named Bright, of a gloomy morose236 temper, had been confined in Belly Bot one night by his overseer. As was this man’s wont, he bore it in silence, not even grumbling237 or saying one word to the men who were in durance with him; but on reaching the camp next morning, he went into his hut, like the others, for a piece of bread, and then walked across to the tool-house, where the implements238 of labour were laid in readiness for each man to take one with him to work. Bright here picked up a very narrow felling-axe239, which he generally used, and went on towards the gate.
It chanced his overseer passed him on the way; and Bright said to him, “What made you put me into Belly Bot last night, ToM?”
“For a lark240, you b — — ” replied Tom.
“Then take that for a lark!” responded Bright, at the same time swinging his axe down with irresistible241 force, so that he sank the head of the weapon to the poll in the overseer’s skull242, until the edge protruded243 beneath his victim’s jaw.
So fell had been the blow that he could not disengage the axe again; but the dying man having sunk on the ground before him, he placed his foot on the body — for the overseer had neither spoke nor moved from the moment he was struck; and Bright was now struggling in vain to free his murderous weapon. In the mean time some of the camp constables, whom his demoniac fury had perfectly244 paralyzed before, rushed in and secured the murderer, who now surrendered himself, saying, however, “I wish I could have loosed my axe. I’d have made dog’s meat of a dozen more of you blasted tyrants245.”
This man was soon after tried and hanged for his crime. When called on for his defence, he only said he was tired of his life, and all that he was sorry for was that he had not killed a hundred such wretches instead of only one.
It might be supposed this would have some effect in altering the system of the remaining overseers for the better. So far from it, however, they became more brutally246 oppressive than ever, each one after this carrying a huge club for protection; and if any of the men only looked cross at one of them the overseer would say, “You are a-going to bright me, are you, you rascal247? I’ll chalk you first, at any rate,” finishing his speech by knocking the offender248 down.
Nor was the ill-treatment of the overseers, combined as it was with the hardship of perpetual labour, all the evil these luckless men on Emu Plains had then to contend with. As remarked before, nearly one half of them had no blankets or any other bedding. Happy and luxuriously249 lodged250 was the wight who was master of a few pieces of sheepskin, however acquired. The rest made beds of corn husks, thrown loose on their berths251; these, however, could be obtained only once a year. For a covering to sleep under, they fabricated a kind of rug by stitching together layers of the paper-like inner bark of the Australian teatree. These rugs, indeed, were exceedingly fragile, and when they became perfectly dry, would tear like tissue paper. Some others wove a kind of matting of long grass. But all these expedients252 were wretchedly inefficient253, and were it not that fuel was abundant, so that the prisoners could thus maintain large fires at night in the winter season, they must have suffered much more severely254 than they did. As it was, most of the elder men were periodically laid up with the rheumatism255, and not a few lost the entire use of their limbs from paralysis256.
The period of our adventurer’s sojourn257 at Emu Plains was also one of great dearth258 in the Colony, almost amounting to famine, arising from drought. No rain having fallen in any part of the country in sufficient quantity to cause vegetation for upwards of two years, all the inhabitants were reduced nearly to a state of starvation. Wheat was sold the year of his arrival on the Nepean river at seventy shillings per bushel, and maize at forty shillings, very little of either being in fact procurable259 at all. And such indeed were the necessities of the lower class of free colonists260 that when the government cattle were being slaughtered261 upon Emu Plains — which was done weekly to supply meat for the prisoners’ rations107 — the stockyard was absolutely besieged262 by old and young, the inhabitants of the once fertile district around, to beg of the convict butchers the entrails and offal of the cattle, a bullock’s paunch being esteemed263 a rich gift, and the feet almost invaluable264.
This being the destitution265 of the free population, it may well be conceived the prisoners did not fare very luxuriously. The ration19 they at this time received was a fractional quantity more than five and a half pounds of flour and nine pounds of beef to all men in the service of Government weekly. In addition to this each obtained one gill of pease or an equivalent quantity of rice per day. This formed the whole quantity out of which they were supposed to make twenty-one meals; but in many places, where the whole weekly supply was issued to each individual at once, the prisoners would devour266 it all in, at most, three days, many of them, indeed, in one day; and they would then starve through the rest of the week as best they might, eking267 out a meal with various grasses and herbs — for vegetables were not accessible to them even if the seasons had permitted their growth — and in many cases satisfying the cravings of hunger with snakes, rats, lizards268 and even far more repugnant materials.
On one occasion a party of men stationed upon a road over the mountains coaxed269 a fine dog belonging to a traveller. When he came near they secured him with a noose270 after the mode of the South American lasso, and managed to stifle271 his yells. When the proprietor272 missed his faithful companion, and returned to the camp of the road party, where he remembered having seen him within the last half-hour, he saw a gaunt and hungry-looking wretch busily engaged in skinning the poor dog’s head. Upon questioning this man, it turned out that a regular fight had ensued for the dismembered limbs of poor “Nelson” as soon as the carcase was skinned, and that this man, in the scramble273, had only got hold of the head, which he loudly complained was unfair.
As for the men on Emu Plains, their food was issued to them daily, so that they were at least certain of one meal. such as it was, in the twenty-four hours. To obtain more than this, many very ingenious schemes were resorted to. From the time that peaches, of which great quantities grew almost wild along the river banks, and even nearer to the camp, had attained274 the size of hazel nuts, they were eagerly sought after and devoured275, many boiling them and adding salt to the mess.
When the crop of maize began to ripen276, a fresh plan was followed by the starving wretches with much avidity. The men in the camp were mustered277 twice every evening, the last time at eight o’clock, after which it was a punishable offence for anyone to be found out of the hut to which he belonged; yet very many, impelled278 by hunger, would, at the season referred to, dare all the danger of being caught by the numerous watchmen round the camp, or those in the corn fields, and steal off to the latter provided with an old tin dish converted into a grater, or fiddle279, as they called it. They would then spend perhaps three or four hours grating the scarcely Ripe cobs of maize with these implements, until they might probably have succeeded in obtaining four quarts of pulpy280 meal, and for this wretched booty they were content to lose the greater portion of their rest, beside running the hazard of obtaining at least a hundred lashes if detected.
So stringent were the rules of Emu Plains at this period of scarcity281 that if a constable or watchman, on entering a hut — which was done by one or other many times in the course of every evening, to see what was going on — should chance to observe the print of a cob of maize in the ashes of the fireplace, where they were sometimes roasted by the prisoners for food, the constable would question that unlucky wight who at the moment stood nearest to the fire, and if he could not point out the offender or would not do so, he was confined, and being brought before the worshipful bench of magistrates the next Court day, he was certain to receive seventy-five lashes, whether he had been roasting a Hawkesbury duck — which was the colonial phrase for a cob of parched282 maize — or not.
While our adventurer was thus placed amid scenes of suffering the like of which he had never before wimessed, it may excite surprise that he was not many times tempted59 to commit suicide; but the fact is no less singular than certain, that the majority of men only value life in a directly inverse283 ratio to the enjoyment284 it might be supposed to afford them. Thus Rashleigh declared that during his life of criminal prosperity in London, when he indulged in every pleasure that money could purchase, he had never valued existence half so highly as he did during the time of his most intense suffering as an Australian convict. This appears a most merciful dispensation of providence285, for were it otherwise, there can be no doubt that eighty out of every hundred malefactors who for their crimes were exiled from England to this Colony of New South Wales until about ten years ago would most certainly have rushed headlong into eternity.
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1
robin
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| n.知更鸟，红襟鸟 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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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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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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5
slab
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| n.平板，厚的切片；v.切成厚板，以平板盖上 | |
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6
slabs
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| n.厚板，平板，厚片( slab的名词复数 )；厚胶片 | |
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7
dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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8
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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9
seasoning
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| n.调味；调味料；增添趣味之物 | |
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10
negligence
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| n.疏忽，玩忽，粗心大意 | |
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11
din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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shutters
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| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
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13
constable
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| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
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tout
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| v.推销，招徕；兜售；吹捧，劝诱 | |
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16
superintendent
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| n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长 | |
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17
dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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18
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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ration
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| n.定量(pl.)给养，口粮；vt.定量供应 | |
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20
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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21
stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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23
portentous
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| adj.不祥的，可怕的，装腔作势的 | |
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24
belied
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| v.掩饰( belie的过去式和过去分词 )；证明（或显示）…为虚假；辜负；就…扯谎 | |
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25
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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quill
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| n.羽毛管；v.给（织物或衣服）作皱褶 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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29
stumps
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| （被砍下的树的）树桩( stump的名词复数 )； 残肢； （板球三柱门的）柱； 残余部分 | |
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stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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31
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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cognomen
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| n.姓；绰号 | |
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puddles
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| n.水坑， （尤指道路上的）雨水坑( puddle的名词复数 ) | |
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puddle
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| n.(雨)水坑，泥潭 | |
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vagrancy
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| （说话的，思想的）游移不定； 漂泊； 流浪； 离题 | |
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zephyr
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| n.和风，微风 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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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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40
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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41
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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42
compute
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| v./n.计算，估计 | |
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43
assenting
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| 同意，赞成( assent的现在分词 ) | |
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44
provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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45
construed
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| v.解释（陈述、行为等）( construe的过去式和过去分词 )；翻译，作句法分析 | |
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46
cub
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| n.幼兽，年轻无经验的人 | |
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47
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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48
spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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49
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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50
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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51
vociferously
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| adv.喊叫地，吵闹地 | |
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52
mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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53
gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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54
egress
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| n.出去；出口 | |
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55
albeit
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| conj.即使；纵使；虽然 | |
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56
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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57
ensemble
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| n.合奏(唱)组；全套服装；整体，总效果 | |
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58
implement
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| n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行 | |
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59
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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60
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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61
profusely
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| ad.abundantly | |
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62
inflexible
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| adj.不可改变的，不受影响的，不屈服的 | |
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63
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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65
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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66
monarchs
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| 君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 ) | |
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67
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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68
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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69
butts
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| 笑柄( butt的名词复数 )； （武器或工具的）粗大的一端； 屁股； 烟蒂 | |
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70
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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71
twigs
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| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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72
pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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73
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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74
incurring
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| 遭受，招致，引起( incur的现在分词 ) | |
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75
belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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76
incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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77
jeers
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|
| n.操纵帆桁下部（使其上下的）索具；嘲讽( jeer的名词复数 )v.嘲笑( jeer的第三人称单数 ) | |
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78
toadies
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|
| n.谄媚者，马屁精( toady的名词复数 )v.拍马，谄媚( toady的第三人称单数 ) | |
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79
stunted
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| adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的 | |
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80
abortion
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| n.流产，堕胎 | |
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81
wondrous
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|
| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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82
wondrously
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| adv.惊奇地，非常，极其 | |
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83
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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84
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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85
exhausted
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|
| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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86
condign
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| adj.应得的，相当的 | |
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87
magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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88
magistrates
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| 地方法官，治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
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89
minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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90
uncommon
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|
| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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91
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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92
goad
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| n.刺棒，刺痛物；激励；vt.激励，刺激 | |
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93
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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94
arrogance
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|
| n.傲慢，自大 | |
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95
atrocity
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|
| n.残暴，暴行 | |
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96
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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97
eminences
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| 卓越( eminence的名词复数 )； 著名； 高地； 山丘 | |
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98
vouch
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| v.担保；断定；n.被担保者 | |
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99
fatiguing
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| a.使人劳累的 | |
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100
charcoal
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| n.炭，木炭，生物炭 | |
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101
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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102
embedded
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| a.扎牢的 | |
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103
expenditure
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| n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗 | |
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104
furrow
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| n.沟；垄沟；轨迹；车辙；皱纹 | |
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105
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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106
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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107
rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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108
trench
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| n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕 | |
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109
lizard
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| n.蜥蜴，壁虎 | |
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110
reptile
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| n.爬行动物；两栖动物 | |
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111
derive
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| v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自 | |
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112
membranous
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| adj.膜的，膜状的 | |
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113
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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114
jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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115
distends
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| v.（使）膨胀，肿胀( distend的第三人称单数 ) | |
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116
enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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117
vowing
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式） | |
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118
malice
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|
| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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119
hustled
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| 催促（hustle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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120
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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121
brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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122
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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123
alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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124
functionary
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| n.官员；公职人员 | |
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125
guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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126
triangular
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|
| adj.三角（形）的，三者间的 | |
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127
converging
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|
| adj.收敛[缩]的，会聚的，趋同的v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的现在分词 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集 | |
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128
erect
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|
| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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129
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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130
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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131
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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132
impeded
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| 阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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133
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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134
vertical
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| adj.垂直的，顶点的，纵向的；n.垂直物，垂直的位置 | |
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135
morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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136
maize
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| n.玉米 | |
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137
confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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138
gnawing
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| a.痛苦的，折磨人的 | |
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139
plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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140
constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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141
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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142
torments
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| （肉体或精神上的）折磨，痛苦( torment的名词复数 )； 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
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143
cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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144
sneering
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| 嘲笑的，轻蔑的 | |
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145
constables
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| n.警察( constable的名词复数 ) | |
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146
swollen
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|
| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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147
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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148
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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149
humane
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| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
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150
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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151
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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152
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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153
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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154
conclave
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| n.秘密会议，红衣主教团 | |
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155
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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156
mutinous
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| adj.叛变的，反抗的；adv.反抗地，叛变地；n.反抗，叛变 | |
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157
detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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158
narrated
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| v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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159
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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160
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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161
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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162
stringent
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| adj.严厉的；令人信服的；银根紧的 | |
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163
custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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164
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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165
confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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166
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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167
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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168
deposition
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| n.免职，罢官；作证；沉淀；沉淀物 | |
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169
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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170
reverences
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| n.尊敬，崇敬( reverence的名词复数 )；敬礼 | |
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171
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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172
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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173
loutish
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| adj.粗鲁的 | |
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174
unwillingly
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| adv.不情愿地 | |
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175
reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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176
dreaded
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|
| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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177
sarcastically
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| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
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178
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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179
profundity
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| n.渊博；深奥，深刻 | |
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180
slumbers
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| 睡眠，安眠( slumber的名词复数 ) | |
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181
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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182
eternity
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| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
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183
remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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184
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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185
pastor
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| n.牧师，牧人 | |
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186
virtuous
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|
| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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187
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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188
impiety
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| n.不敬；不孝 | |
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189
prosecute
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| vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官 | |
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190
perjury
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| n.伪证；伪证罪 | |
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191
sneaked
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| v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状 | |
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192
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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193
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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194
conjuror
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| n.魔术师，变戏法者 | |
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195
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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196
vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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197
burrow
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| vt.挖掘(洞穴)；钻进；vi.挖洞；翻寻；n.地洞 | |
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198
discordant
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| adj.不调和的 | |
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199
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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200
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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201
swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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202
turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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203
absconding
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| v.（尤指逃避逮捕）潜逃，逃跑( abscond的现在分词 ) | |
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204
abscond
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| v.潜逃，逃亡 | |
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205
pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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206
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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207
apprehended
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 )； 理解 | |
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208
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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209
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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210
penal
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| adj.刑罚的；刑法上的 | |
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211
allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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212
runaways
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| （轻而易举的）胜利( runaway的名词复数 ) | |
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213
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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214
ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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215
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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216
denuded
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| adj.[医]变光的，裸露的v.使赤裸( denude的过去式和过去分词 )；剥光覆盖物 | |
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217
robust
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| adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的 | |
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218
athletic
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| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
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219
waned
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| v.衰落( wane的过去式和过去分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡 | |
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220
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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221
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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222
subdivided
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| 再分，细分( subdivide的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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223
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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224
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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225
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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226
contingency
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| n.意外事件，可能性 | |
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227
stratum
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| n.地层，社会阶层 | |
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228
trampling
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| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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229
mire
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| n.泥沼，泥泞；v.使...陷于泥泞，使...陷入困境 | |
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230
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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231
lumbered
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| 砍伐（lumber的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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232
avenged
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| v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复 | |
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233
outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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234
inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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235
tragical
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| adj. 悲剧的, 悲剧性的 | |
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236
morose
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| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
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237
grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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238
implements
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| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
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239
axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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240
lark
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| n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏 | |
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241
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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242
skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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243
protruded
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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244
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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245
tyrants
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| 专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物 | |
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246
brutally
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| adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地 | |
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247
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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248
offender
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| n.冒犯者，违反者，犯罪者 | |
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249
luxuriously
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| adv.奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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250
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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251
berths
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| n.（船、列车等的）卧铺( berth的名词复数 )；（船舶的）停泊位或锚位；差事；船台vt.v.停泊( berth的第三人称单数 )；占铺位 | |
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252
expedients
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| n.应急有效的，权宜之计的( expedient的名词复数 ) | |
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253
inefficient
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| adj.效率低的，无效的 | |
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254
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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255
rheumatism
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| n.风湿病 | |
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256
paralysis
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| n.麻痹(症)；瘫痪(症) | |
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257
sojourn
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| v./n.旅居，寄居；逗留 | |
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258
dearth
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| n.缺乏，粮食不足，饥谨 | |
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259
procurable
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| adj.可得到的，得手的 | |
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260
colonists
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| n.殖民地开拓者，移民，殖民地居民( colonist的名词复数 ) | |
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261
slaughtered
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| v.屠杀，杀戮，屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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262
besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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263
esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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264
invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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265
destitution
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| n.穷困，缺乏，贫穷 | |
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266
devour
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| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
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267
eking
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| v.（靠节省用量）使…的供应持久( eke的现在分词 )；节约使用；竭力维持生计；勉强度日 | |
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268
lizards
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| n.蜥蜴( lizard的名词复数 ) | |
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269
coaxed
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱 | |
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270
noose
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| n.绳套，绞索（刑）；v.用套索捉；使落入圈套；处以绞刑 | |
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271
stifle
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| vt.使窒息；闷死；扼杀；抑止，阻止 | |
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272
proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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273
scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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274
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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275
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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276
ripen
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| vt.使成熟；vi.成熟 | |
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277
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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278
impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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279
fiddle
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| n.小提琴；vi.拉提琴；不停拨弄，乱动 | |
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280
pulpy
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| 果肉状的，多汁的，柔软的； 烂糊； 稀烂 | |
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281
scarcity
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| n.缺乏，不足，萧条 | |
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282
parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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283
inverse
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| adj.相反的，倒转的，反转的；n.相反之物；v.倒转 | |
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284
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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285
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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