Exhaust all your tortures, you try them in vain;
For the chief of oswego shall never complain.
Long ere dawn the next day the bushrangers were afoot, bringing with them the wretched Rashleigh, who, though he was perforce compelled to swallow a large draught3 of the fiery4 spirit that morning to revive his prostrate5 energies, yet felt so ill that he would fain obtain permission to lie down and die. And never did he hail a place of repose6 with more heartfelt joy than spread itself over him when they at length arrived at the cavern7 and he was at liberty to stretch his palsied limbs upon the rocky floor of that secure retreat.
Here he lay all day in a state of semi-insensibility, until, in the evening, he was aroused by the full deep tones of Foxley, who ordered him to get up directly and come along with them, a command which he was fain to obey, though every nerve in his body trembled like the leaves of an aspen through the latent effects of his involuntary but deep debauch8.
The moon was in its first quarter, and its pale light was just glimmering9 above the trees when the little band of plunderers set forth11 from their hiding-place, as Rashleigh doubted not, upon remembering the last night’s conversation, to carry havoc12, and perhaps slaughter13, to some peaceful fireside. By the great caution evinced among the party, it was evident they feared detection more than was their custom, and the oft-repeated baying of watch-dogs near them proved that human habitations were numerous and close to the route they were pursuing.
For some hours they continued their journey in silence and at length entered a spacious15 clearing, in the centre of which a cluster of huts appeared, that they boldly approached. All was silent within, nor was there any light to be seen, and the outer door being fastened only by a latch16, the whole party soon stood in an apartment which served the usual purposes of dining-room and kitchen to the family, none of whom were yet apparently17 awake; though many dogs, who had probably been absent at the critical moment of the marauders’ approach, were now exerting their vigilance too late, by baying most furiously around the door, which some of them were making fierce efforts to open, but in vain, for the uninvited visitors had taken the precaution of shutting it fast behind them.
A light was obtained by McCoy, and at that instant a man clad in sleeping dress came out of an inner apartment to that occupied by the intruders, grumbling18, as he came forth, sundry19 drowsy20 imprecations against the dogs for their clamour. He had, however, scarce placed his foot upon the floor of the outer room when the hand of Foxley upon his shoulder and the muzzle21 of a pistol presented at his forehead caused him to start and utter an equivocal sound, which the robber at once checked by growling22 in a suppressed tone, “Silence! On your life! Or I’ll drive a brace23 of bullets through your skull24!!”
Foxley then dragged him to the opposite side of the room, when he continued, “What men are there asleep in the house?”
“Only my two sons and a stranger,” was the reply.
“Where are they?” was the next demand.
“In yonder,” returned the old man, shaking as if with an ague fit, and pointing out a door different from that at which himself had entered.
Foxley now, with a mute motion to Smith that he should guard the settler, took a light, entered the room with McCoy, and soon his rude voice was heard arousing the inmates25, who then, to the number of three, as the old man had said, came forth in their shirts and were ordered to take their places beside the first prisoner.
“Now,” said Foxley, addressing the old farmer, “call your wife and daughters out here; but mind! if there’s any more men, even another one, he shall die and all of you too!”
The women soon made their appearance, pale, disordered and trembling; but McCoy desired them to lay aside their fears, assuring them no harm was intended to their personal safety, an assurance which was echoed by Foxley, who ordered the mistress of the house and her daughters to prepare a feed for all the party.
While this request was being complied with, Foxley spoke26 to the settler himself, who now stood motionless in the corner where he had been placed, evidently suppressing strong feelings of indignation at the unceremonious behaviour of the bushranger.
“Well, Mr Shanavan,” said the robber chief, “I’ve been informed that you came up from Sydney with a swag of property the other day. I mean to have my share of it. So look sharp and bring it out here to the light; and mind that there is not one article deficient27 in the lot you bought; for if there is I shall be able to tell in a minute and I’ll cob you within an inch of your life . . . Where is it?” resumed the ruffian after a pause.
“In my bedroom,” stammered29 out the old man at length.
“Then come with me,” was the next direction given by the outlaw30 in such a tone of command that Shanavan dared not deny him, and taking up a lamp, he marshalled the bold intruder into another room.
In the mean time Smith the bushranger had been steadfastly31 looking in the face of the stranger whose ill fortune had brought him that night to partake of Shanavan’s hospitality, and who was now standing32 beside the two young men, sons of his host. This man did not seem at all easy under the scrutiny33 of Smith and repeatedly changed his position in order to evade34 the ruthless gaze of the other, which was evidently fraught35 with no kindly36 meaning.
At length Foxley returned with the master of the house, whom he compelled to carry out a quantity of wearing apparel and other goods, which were consigned37 to the care of McCoy.
Smith now addressed his leader thus, “I say, Foxley. who do you think we ve nailed upon the ground hop39 at last?”
“I can’t tell, I’m sure. Who is it?” replied the other, examining the man whom Smith’s gesture indicated, but whose face was now hidden from view, until the bushranger, stepping over to him, laid hold of that ear which was nearest to him, and with a sudden jerk, turned his head completely round to the light, saying, as he did so, in tones of the coarsest sarcasm40, “Come, Mr McGuffin, let us have a look at your pretty mug (face). You didn’t use to be so bashful!”
“Why, ’tis McGuffin the tyrant41!” roared Foxley in tones of savage42 triumph.
“You may well say that,” rejoined Smith. “Why, the very last time I ever saw him, he flogged our whole gang, fifteen in number, overseer and all, giving all us that were working hands fifty lashes43 each, and the overseer a hundred without being charged with any crime, and of course without the shadow of a trial; and when jack44 Bunn, the overseer, as good a fellow as ever broke the world’s bread, asked what we were all to be flogged for, this scoundrel said, ‘Why, to keep the hair out of your eyes, to be sure, you rascal45!’”
“Aye, aye. I know him well by report!” now remarked Foxley. “An’t he the beautiful inspector46 of falling parties that Major Fireplace got the Governor to grant power to, so that he might flog any or all the men in the gangs under him without the trouble of bringing them to Court? And ever since that time, hasn’t he gone about on horseback all through the country, with a flogger at his heels for a running footman, sarving out stripes to all and sundry, so as to show, not only that he had got the power, but also that he was determined47 not to let it go to sleep in his hands. And now, my gentleman, I’ve got you. I’ll try if I can’t clear off all scores with you. At any rate, you’ve sarved out your last slops!!!”
McGuffin. who was a tall, weather-beaten, dark-complexioned man with unusually stern and determined features, seemed quite appalled48 by the ferocity of Foxley’s tone and manner when the latter began to talk; but by the close of the robber’s speech he recovered self-possession, and said, in a cone49 as resolved and stern as that of the other, “Well, you infernal, cold-blooded, murdering, treacherous50 ruffian, and what can you do after all but only take my life? And that you may do and be damned, if you like. Yes, I have had hundreds of such crawling caterpillars51 as you and your mob well flogged before now, and I’ve got one comfort left yet. It is this, that neither God nor man can much longer keep you from the gallows52; for the Devil has almost done with you, and Jack Ketch must soon get his due in choking you and your loblolly boys. So you may do your worst, for I defy you!”
The bushrangers appeared paralyzed by his indomitable boldness. At almost his first word Foxley had taken a pistol from his belt, which he deliberately53 cocked, and with a scornful sneer54, as coolly levelled at the captive’s head, still, as it seemed, suspending his final purpose, though his brow, true index to a tragic55 page, grew black with the darkness of tenfold night. As for Smith and McCoy, they stood gaping56 at McGuffin as though they were charmed with the audacity57 of his defiance58; but the instant he had ceased to speak, McCoy, whose face was perfectly59 livid with the intensity60 of his rage, lifted his musket61 and felled the prisoner to the earth with the butt62 end of his weapon; while a loud shriek63 burst from one of the girls, who dropped senseless on the floor.
Foxley sprang up and said, “Now, by all my hopes of deep and black revenge, I’m glad you knocked the bragging64 bully65 down! For I was just that instant going to shoot him, and it would have been ten thousand pities he should get such an easy death! Is he hurt much?”
This query66 being satisfactorily replied to, Foxley next demanded what had ailed38 the girl who cried out, and having elicited67 that she had fainted through fear at the fate she supposed intended for McGuffin, to whom she was about to be married, the heartless ruffian roared out, striking his hand with tremendous energy upon the table, “Better and better . . . Why, this is glorious. We shall have most capital sport here presently. Bring the wench to, as quick as you can.”
He paced the apartment for a few moments with hurried strides as if under the influence of some extraordinary excitement, and presently broke out again with, “McCoy, throw a bucket of water over that grovelling68 beast. So! That will revive him! And now, mistress, let’s have our supper directly!”
McGuffin was then bound fast to a mill post that stood on one side of the room. The bushrangers had before this secured Shanavan and his two sons by placing them back to back, next tying their arms, legs and bodies together with many cords and lastly girthing them tight up with a horse’s surcingle.
Foxley and the other two now sat down to supper in such a position that they could keep their eyes upon the prisoners. Rashleigh was also invited by the former to partake, but he declined. He in truth felt such a sensation of nausea69, which arose from apprehending70 that perhaps a scene of worse atrocity71 might here be perpetrated than any he had yet witnessed, that it was quite impossible for him to swallow any food whatever; and he sat shivering with dread72 and longing73 for a means of escape, yet completely cowed and fascinated by the searching glances which Foxley directed towards him from time to time.
This ruffian compelled the girl betrothed74 to McGuffin to serve him with food upon her knees and to taste everything on the table prepared for their supper. He also bade her, “Remember, as nobody else but such a superfine scoundrel as McGuffin would do you for a husband, his life is now in my hands; so you’d better try to keep me in good temper.”
After supper was over the involuntary attendants were obliged to produce spirits, and Foxley, having ascertained75 there was very little flour in the house, directed one of the girls to fill the hopper of the steel mill with wheat. This being done, McGuffin was partially76 unbound and ordered by McCoy to set to work and grind the grain.
His reply was equally brief and energetic. “I’ll see you all in hell first!”
Foxley heard this, and leaping up, cried, “Oho, you mutiny, do you? I’ll see how game you are!”
And he ran to a saddle, from which he stripped the stirrup-leather. Then, pouncing77 upon McGuffin, he tore the shirt from his back and this being his only garment, the latter was quite naked. The bushranger then began to beat him with the buckle78 end of his heavy weapon. The prisoner struggled violently; yet, though he was a very powerful man, he could not loosen the ligatures with which he was tied; but from the peculiar79 manner in which they were secured, his efforts only served to make the rude cords cut into his flesh.
For all this, the sufferer, whose courage and fortitude80 appeared indomitable, instead of deprecating the barbarity of Foxley, only continued to excite him with the keenest sarcasms81, such as, “Strike, scoundrel! You couldn’t knock a sprat off a gridiron. You couldn’t brush a fly off your mother’s nose!”
Although through the powerful blows inflicted82 by his bulky antagonist83 his back was sorely mangled84 and the blood running in a fair stream down to the ground, yet his courage quailed85 not, until Foxley was fairly exhausted86 and compelled to leave off for lack of strength.
McGuffin then roared out. “Ah, you beast. I knew from your looks you was nothing but a flogger the first time I set eyes upon you. And you can’t say ever I flogged a man myself in my life!”
Stung to the very quick by this sarcasm — for the reproach attached to the name of a flogger is synonymous with that which attends the hangman in New South Wales, both offices being there considered as being upon a par14, and a man who has once borne either being scouted87 from society as the vilest88 of the human race — Foxley now threw down his implement89 of torture, and muttering as well as his loss of breath would permit that he would be deeply revenged on the other, left him to himself.
His eyes next rested suddenly upon the females, who had been shrieking90 in concert at the sight of the cruel punishment; but now, awed91 to silence by the brutal92 threats of McCoy and Smith, they sat sobbing93 together. The girls clung round their mother, who appeared more dead than alive; and when Foxley saw them in this posture94, a thought worthy95 of a demon96 rushed into his mind.
“Ha!” he suddenly roared. “I have it!” And springing upon McGuffin’s betrothed, he tore her from the maternal97 embrace, and went on, “McCoy, take the other girl . . . Smith, push that old bitch into the bedroom. And mind she don’t get out again!”
In spite of the poor mother’s resistance and heart-breaking entreaties98, she was forced from the apartment, when Rashleigh, whose blood began to curdle99 within him at the horrid100 anticipations101 he formed respecting Foxley’s purpose, jumped out of his seat and entreated102 that ruthless villain103 to be merciful for once and spare the girls, adjuring104 him to think of his own mother, of his sisters, and what he would think of such an outrage105 being offered to them. The only reply he received was, at last, as in his energy, he had laid hold of the fainting girl, hoping to prevail, a blow from the butt end of Foxley’s pistol in the centre of his forehead stretched him senseless on the floor. And alas106, upon his reviving, he saw enough to convince him that the worst of crimes had been perpetrated upon the poor girls by all three of his villainous associates, one of whom shortly afterwards demanded if Rashleigh were satisfied now to mind his own business, or whether he would like to have a blue pill (bullet) to finish the sports of the night.
Ralph, almost mad, and quite sick of this wretched life, clasped his hands, saying, “Go on, shoot me! And end it at once. As well die that way as by the hangman!”
“What’s all this?” now demanded Foxley.
“Only this jackass is tired of his life,” returned Smith. “And I think ’twere a good deed to finish it for him!”
“No, no, you shan’t,” rejoined the chief. “The crawling beggar shan’t get out of our hands half so easy as that! We’ll make him wish himself dead a hundred times over before we have done with him!” And so saying, he pushed the captive to the door.
It was now dawn, and Foxley, directing Ralph to follow him, went to a neighbouring open hovel, under which there stood a horse that the bushranger made his unwilling107 companion prepare for riding and lead to the house. When this was done, Foxley called out to McCoy, directing him to bring out McGuffin, who accordingly made his appearance with his hands tied fast together. The chief having mounted the horse, Rashleigh was ordered to take up a huge bundle of plunder10 and bring it along. This he steadily108 refused to do, nowithstanding the blows and kicks which he received from Smith and McCoy, who at last bound the load upon his back, and he was himself then fastened to Foxley’s stirrup by his wrists.
While the bushrangers were completing this, McGuffin was left standing alone, and Rashleigh saw the unfortunate girl who was to marry him come out of the house with a knife in her hand. As quick as thought she cut the cord that bound her lover’s arms. They instantly slipped back into the dwelling109, the door of which was directly shut.
This last operation, however, was not so quietly performed but that it attracted the attention of Foxley, who was before intent on directing the others how best to secure the recalcitrant110 Ralph; but now, turning his head, he missed McGuffin.
“Ten thousand devils seize the bloody111 dog, he’s gone!” yelled the astonished robber, gazing round for an instant, then digging both his heels into the flanks of his horse.
The animal, which was quite young, leaped forward in great alarm, dragging Rashleigh to the ground and pulling him on a few feet; but the horse, growing more restive112, plunged113, reared, and finally flung Foxley over his head, while the stirrup-leather giving way at the same moment, Ralph was freed from the furious animal, which started off at full speed. Foxley, however, regained114 his feet, and gazing around, saw McGuffin, who had gone through the house without stopping, and who now, in his frantic115 race, was nearly at the river’s bank. The three bushrangers levelled their guns, and the charges of all their muskets116 appeared to plough the ground on either side of McGuffin, who still ran unharmed. Foxley and McCoy started after him, Smith being left to watch our luckless adventurer, whom, tied as he was, the bushranger began to beat with the butt end of his gun, swearing that he had turned obstinate117 on purpose for McGuffin to escape.
In the mean time the latter had reached the stream. At the moment he plunged into it his two pursuers again discharged their pieces, which they had reloaded as they ran; but in an incredibly short space the fugitive118 reappeared on the opposite bank, which echoed his loud shout of defiance as he dived into a thicket119 that effectually concealed120 him from further observation.
Foxley and McCoy now returned with sullen121 looks and slow pace to the house, where Rashleigh and Smith still remained. They both fell upon the former and gave him a severe beating, until at last Foxley remarked, “There, blast him! I think he’s had enough now! And we must be off or we shall have all Richmond after us.”
The burden of spoil was now divided and apportioned122 among all the party, who began their retreat, forcing their unhappy prisoner along with many blows and oft-repeated execrations. In this guise123 they got to the riverside once more, and plunged among the tall reeds on its banks, through which they waded124 often up to their middles in mud or water, McCoy urging the adoption125 of this plan, as he remarked they should thus leave no trace behind, and besides, if pursued, no person would think of looking there for them.
After some hours of most fatiguing126 toil127 in this new Slough128 of Despond, they arrived at a large tree, which had long previously129 fallen into the river; but the water being shallow at this place, many of its yet undecayed limbs were still above the surface, though so much overgrown by reeds as not to be at all visible to any person from the bank, however near. This formed a welcome resting-place to the weary runaways130, and to none more so than to Rashleigh, who, finding a forked limb in which he could he down without the danger of falling, stretched his bruised131 and toil-worn limbs upon it, and overcome by pain and fatigue132, slept for some time.
His rest was perturbed133 by fearful dreams. He fancied himself engaged in mortal struggle with his oppressive tyrant Foxley, whom he had almost overpowered, when McCoy gripped him by the throat and presented a pistol close to his head, which at length went off, inflicting134 a painful wound, with the anguish135 of which our exile awoke to find that it was not all a dream; for Smith’s hand was really grasping his throat, while with demoniac gestures he pointed136 to the shore, motioning him at the same time to shift with silence and caution to a place of more secure concealment137.
Rashleigh obeyed this mandate138, and his new position on the log enabled him to see the high ground on the river bank, though it was next to impossible any person standing there could observe him. He could scarcely analyze139 his own feelings as he perceived there were a number of armed men close at hand, one of whom, mounted on horseback, he soon recognised to be McGuffin, their late prisoner. The other two he found were the sons of Shanavan. The former swearing, as they could most distinctly hear, that he saw a man down among the reeds only a few moments since, young Shanavan suggested, “If you think there’s anybody there, let’s fire down a volley or two; and it’s ten to one but among so many bullets one might tell; or if not, we might make them sing out.”
This advice being apparently considered excellent by all the others, a discharge from full twenty muskets rattled141 among the reeds and logs close by the party of bushrangers. Foxley was apparently struck by one of the balls, for Ralph observed him to change colour, and he seemed to stagger, as if about to fall from the cowering142 attitude he had assumed upon one of the limbs. But an instant removed the hope Rashleigh was forming that the wretch2 had at last got his deserts, for the bushranger sternly compressed his lips and tightened143 his grasp of the bough28 that upheld him.
The experiment having thus failed, the party on shore, apparently deeming that it was impossible any human beings were harboured in the suspected spot, moved slowly off, firing from time to time into the reeds as often as they saw anything to attract their attention. It was very late at night before the fugitives144 dared to leave their place of concealment, and when they did so, they had several miles to walk before they once more gained the cavern in which they had made their temporary abode145.
There, however, they found other occupants, being no less than the three young women at whose dwelling they had so recently passed a night, and who, as it now appeared, had been waiting in this gloomy place since long ere dawn of the previous day for the return of the bushrangers from their marauding expedition. These wantons, at the instance of one of whom the nefarious146 excursion had at first been planned, were anxious, it seemed, until their temporary lovers should return, that they might, according to promise, share in the spoils of the ill-fated Shanavan, whose purchase of many articles of unwonted female finery, to grace his eldest147 daughters’ approaching nuptials148 with McGuffin, had led to the envy of the girls in question, to whom they had often boasted of their new acquisitions. And one of their visitors, being an old sweetheart of the bushranger McCoy, had eagerly embraced the opportunity afforded by his unexpected visit, to incite149 himself and Foxley to the commission of this act of violence, so that they might not only participate in the plunder, but deprive their rivals, the Shanavans, of their fine clothing.
When, therefore, the young women saw the plunderers return, and when each laid down the share of spoil he bore, requesting them to take what they thought fit, and when, beyond all, the silks, ribands, laces, etc., of which they had received such glowing descriptions from the former proprietors150, were now unfolded to their longing eyes, it may be conceived that they most warmly welcomed the men who had thus risked more than life for the gratification of their own paltry151 vanity.
They eagerly requested to hear all about it, and when the party sat down to a meal which had been prepared by the females during the absence of their male companions in villainy, a full description of the whole affair was given by Foxley in the coarsest terms, not even excepting the disgusting details of the violation152 of the poor girls’ chastity, which only made these fiends in female shape laugh heartily153; and one of them observed that the Shanavan girls would not hold up their heads so high any more above any other young women who were fond of sweethearting.
Rashleigh could hardly believe the evidence of his senses. These girls, so fair and yet so callous154, so totally lost to all womanly pity or shame, appeared to him absolute anomalies, though he had before heard that the most sinful deeds of shame were of common occurrence among the children belonging to the lower class of settlers in that early day. The long-continued evil habits of their parents, who generally on both sides had served sentences of transportation, had rendered them quite indifferent to virtue155 and inured156 to vice140. Means of instruction there were none, and the promiscuous157 intercourse158 of the sexes, either at work, at their merrymakings, or bathing in the rivers, which last the heat of the climate renders indispensable, all these very early destroyed any innate159 principles of modesty160. Still, there were many and very honourable161 exceptions even among the convict parents, some of whom often thought, and as often expressed their thought, that “If we have been bad all our lives, that is no reason why our children should be so too.”
Our adventurer had ample leisure, during the progress of this merry meal in the cavern, to observe the fulsome162 conduct of the damsels in question, who each. attached herself to one of the bushrangers as if it were a matter of course. And after supper was over, each pair retired163 together to their rude sleeping-places, leaving to Rashleigh, who was not now permitted to eat with his imperious tyrants164, the fragments of their meal for his refreshment165, and the choice of any unoccupied portion of the cavern for his repose.
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1
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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2
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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3
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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4
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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5
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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debauch
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| v.使堕落，放纵 | |
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glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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11
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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12
havoc
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| n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱 | |
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13
slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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par
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| n.标准，票面价值，平均数量；adj.票面的，平常的，标准的 | |
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15
spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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latch
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| n.门闩，窗闩；弹簧锁 | |
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17
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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21
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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22
growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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23
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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24
skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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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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27
deficient
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| adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的 | |
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28
bough
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| n.大树枝，主枝 | |
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29
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30
outlaw
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| n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法 | |
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31
steadfastly
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| adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝 | |
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32
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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33
scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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34
evade
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| vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避 | |
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35
fraught
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| adj.充满…的，伴有(危险等)的；忧虑的 | |
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36
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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37
consigned
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| v.把…置于（令人不快的境地）( consign的过去式和过去分词 )；把…托付给；把…托人代售；丟弃 | |
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38
ailed
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| v.生病( ail的过去式和过去分词 )；感到不舒服；处境困难；境况不佳 | |
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39
hop
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| n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过 | |
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40
sarcasm
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
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41
tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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42
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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43
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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44
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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45
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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46
inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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47
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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48
appalled
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| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
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49
cone
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| n.圆锥体，圆锥形东西，球果 | |
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50
treacherous
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|
| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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51
caterpillars
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| n.毛虫( caterpillar的名词复数 )；履带 | |
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52
gallows
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| n.绞刑架，绞台 | |
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53
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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54
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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55
tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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56
gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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57
audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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58
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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59
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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60
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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61
musket
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| n.滑膛枪 | |
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62
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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63
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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64
bragging
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| v.自夸，吹嘘( brag的现在分词 )；大话 | |
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65
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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66
query
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| n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑 | |
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67
elicited
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| 引出，探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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68
grovelling
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| adj.卑下的，奴颜婢膝的v.卑躬屈节，奴颜婢膝( grovel的现在分词 )；趴 | |
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69
nausea
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| n.作呕，恶心；极端的憎恶(或厌恶) | |
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70
apprehending
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的现在分词 )； 理解 | |
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71
atrocity
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| n.残暴，暴行 | |
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72
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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73
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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74
betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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75
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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76
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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77
pouncing
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的现在分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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78
buckle
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| n.扣子，带扣；v.把...扣住，由于压力而弯曲 | |
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79
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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80
fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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81
sarcasms
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，挖苦( sarcasm的名词复数 ) | |
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82
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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83
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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84
mangled
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| vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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85
quailed
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| 害怕，发抖，畏缩( quail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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86
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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87
scouted
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| 寻找，侦察( scout的过去式和过去分词 )； 物色（优秀运动员、演员、音乐家等） | |
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88
vilest
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| adj.卑鄙的( vile的最高级 )；可耻的；极坏的；非常讨厌的 | |
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89
implement
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| n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行 | |
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90
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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91
awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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92
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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93
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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94
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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95
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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96
demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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97
maternal
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| adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的 | |
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98
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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99
curdle
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| v.使凝结，变稠 | |
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100
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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101
anticipations
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| 预期( anticipation的名词复数 )； 预测； （信托财产收益的）预支； 预期的事物 | |
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102
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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103
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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104
adjuring
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| v.（以起誓或诅咒等形式）命令要求( adjure的现在分词 )；祈求；恳求 | |
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105
outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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106
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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107
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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108
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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109
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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110
recalcitrant
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| adj.倔强的 | |
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111
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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112
restive
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| adj.不安宁的，不安静的 | |
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113
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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114
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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115
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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116
muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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117
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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118
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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119
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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120
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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121
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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122
apportioned
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| vt.分摊，分配（apportion的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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123
guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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124
waded
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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125
adoption
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| n.采用，采纳，通过；收养 | |
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126
fatiguing
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| a.使人劳累的 | |
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127
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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128
slough
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| v.蜕皮，脱落，抛弃 | |
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129
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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130
runaways
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| （轻而易举的）胜利( runaway的名词复数 ) | |
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131
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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132
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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133
perturbed
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| adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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134
inflicting
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的现在分词 ) | |
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135
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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136
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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137
concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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138
mandate
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| n.托管地；命令，指示 | |
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139
analyze
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| vt.分析，解析 (=analyse) | |
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140
vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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141
rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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142
cowering
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的现在分词 ) | |
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143
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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144
fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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145
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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146
nefarious
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| adj.恶毒的，极坏的 | |
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147
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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148
nuptials
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| n.婚礼；婚礼( nuptial的名词复数 ) | |
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149
incite
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| v.引起，激动，煽动 | |
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150
proprietors
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| n.所有人，业主( proprietor的名词复数 ) | |
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151
paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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152
violation
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| n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯 | |
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153
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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154
callous
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| adj.无情的，冷淡的，硬结的，起老茧的 | |
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155
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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156
inured
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| adj.坚强的，习惯的 | |
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157
promiscuous
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| adj.杂乱的，随便的 | |
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158
intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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159
innate
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| adj.天生的，固有的，天赋的 | |
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160
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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161
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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162
fulsome
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| adj.可恶的，虚伪的，过分恭维的 | |
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163
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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164
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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165
refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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