Smarting under the indignity4, he wrote a witheringly sarcastic5 note to Count von Ritter, and demanded that the guard should see to its expeditious6 delivery. At the end of an hour he received a brief reply:
“The Chancellor7,” it read, “regrets deeply that250 he is unable to aid Mr. Grey. The Chancellor repeated his interview of the early evening to His Highness, the Prince Regent, and it is by His Highness’s command that the present temporary restraint exists.”
Thereupon Grey set about devising some means of escape; but the barred windows and the armed guard, which, he learned from Johann, was not alone at his door but on the landings above and below and surrounding the Tower as well, were seemingly insurmountable obstacles. He thought of bribery8, and as an entering wedge endeavoured to have a note taken to Miss Van Tuyl, offering a sum of money out of all proportion to the service, but the offer was phlegmatically9 declined.
It was very late before he threw himself upon the great high bed in the dingy10 bedchamber and tried to snatch a few hours’ sleep; and he was up again at dawn. But if his slumber11 had been brief, Johann’s had even been briefer. He had spent hours in conversation with the soldier in the passage, and he had gathered at least one fact of interest, if not of importance—there were other prisoners on the floor above. How many, he was251 unable to learn, and of the strength of the guard he was also uninformed. There would be a change, though, at seven o’clock, and then it would be possible to ascertain12.
From the window of the library which was over the Tower door the approach of the relief and the departure of the night watch could be seen. The bars were too close to permit of a head being thrust between them, but the barracks were at some distance from the Palace, and the route, Johann said, lay diagonally across the uppermost terrace in full view of this particular window. There Grey watched, and promptly13 at seven, as the bell in the Bell Tower on another corner of the quadrangle clanged the hour, a cornet sounded and seven armed infantry14 men came marching over the stone pavement. That, he concluded, meant one man on each of the three landings and four men on guard below. Not counting the guard on the floor above, there were six against two, and escape under these conditions appeared hopeless. If, however, the prisoners on the floor above could be communicated with and a plan of concerted action agreed upon there might be a252 fighting chance of success. But the question was, how to reach them. The ceilings were high and the floors thick, and to invent and execute a code of signals by rapping would be a tedious and not at all promising15 undertaking16. Nevertheless Grey was more than half inclined to try it. By piling one piece of furniture on another the ceiling could be reached readily enough, and by giving each letter of the alphabet its number it would be possible to hammer out words. Those above might not be able to hear or, hearing, might not be clever enough to understand, but the American was desperate, and, notwithstanding the odds17 against him, he determined18 after some little consideration to make the effort.
Upon a large table in the centre of the salon19 he and Johann lifted a smaller one which they brought from the library, and upon this in turn they placed a chair. To the top of this edifice20 Grey climbed, armed with a heavy walking-stick, with which he began a series of regular and irregular blows upon the heavy oaken panelling which ceiled the room. Having continued this for something like three minutes without intermission, he253 paused in the hope of some response. But none was forthcoming, and he repeated the signalling with increased vigour22. When he halted again there was a distinct reply—an exact reproduction, in fact, of his rhythm—and the serious, anxious expression he had worn gave way to one of relief, if not indeed of triumph.
His next move was to repeat in strokes the entire alphabet, beginning with one for A, two for B, and so on. This was a long and rather laborious23 operation, but when he had finished he was given the prompt gratification of an alert understanding from those above, for immediately taking the cue, the answering thuds spelled out the word “window,” and turning his glance in the direction of the barred casement24 he saw hanging there, at the end of an improvised25 string made of torn and tied strips of linen26, a fluttering piece of paper.
With a single bound he reached the floor, and the next instant he was reading with eager interest the pencilled words:
“Write what you wish to say, attach it, pull gently twice, and we will raise it.”
“Johann,” he cried, enthusiastically, “see this!254 If those fellows have as much nerve as they have wit we’ll soon be out of here, all right.”
And while Johann read and smiled his approval Grey sat down and wrote.
For an hour or more questions and answers, propositions and suggestions, went back and forth21 from floor to floor by means of this novel line of communication, and by the end of that time a complete scheme of escape with all its details had been arranged and was mutually understood.
There were two prisoners above—a gentleman and his man; just as there were two prisoners below—a gentleman and his man. Who the two gentlemen were was not asked by either. That they were guarded in the Flag Tower was proof that their offences were political merely. Nevertheless, the two gentlemen resented the indignity put upon them, and both were anxious to escape. The two men were loyal to their masters and could be depended upon to act with valour. The gentleman above was unarmed, but the gentleman below had a revolver. The time agreed upon for the delivery was two o’clock in the morning. As that hour sounded from the Bell Tower the guards on255 their respective floors were to be called in on some pretext27, overpowered and stripped of their uniforms, which would be donned by the two gentlemen. Their weapons would be appropriated, likewise, and thus disguised and armed it would be comparatively easy to make captive the guard on the first landing. There would then remain but the four soldiers outside the Tower, and the chances of their subduing28 were largely in favour of the prisoners, three of whom would by this time be as well equipped as the watch, while the fourth would have Grey’s revolver. The advantage is invariably with the surprising party, and the plan was to take the guardsmen unawares and effect their capture before they were even conscious of attack.
All this having been definitely decided29 on there was nothing to do but wait, and the hours, for Grey at least, dragged interminably. Again and again at intervals30 he rehearsed the plan with Johann, so that there could be no possible chance of error, but this after a while grew monotonous31 and he looked about for something interesting to read. The books he found in the library, however, were256 not diverting. They were for the most part historical and written in the heaviest of German; nevertheless their very ponderousness32 was in a way an advantage. They provoked somnolence33, and late in the afternoon the uninterested reader fell asleep and was so snugly34 wrapped in slumber when his dinner was brought in that Johann found it a rather difficult task to rouse him. He had slept but little the night before, and his rest on the train the night previous to that had been broken and fitful. His nerves needed just this repose35, and when he finally awakened36 it was with a clearer eye and a steadier hand. He ate heartily37 of the distinctively38 Teutonic dishes that were provided, and when he finished he remarked to Johann on his general fitness, indulging in an Americanism which the valet vainly tried to interpret.
“I feel tonight, Johann,” he said, stretching himself with arms extended and fists doubled, “that I could lick my weight in wildcats and paint whole townships red.”
As the hours wore away he sat with one leg thrown over the arm of his chair, smoking placidly39 and with evident enjoyment40. It was not until257 some time after the Bell Tower had bellowed41 its single note that Grey alluded42 to the business of the night.
“Everything is ready, is it, Johann?” he asked; “where are the thongs43 you made from the sheet?”
“Safe in my coat pockets, your Highness,” the youth answered.
“Now you may bring me my revolver,” the American continued; “it is on the cheffonier in my dressing-room.”
The revolver was brought, and Grey examined its chambers44 once again to make sure that it was fully45 loaded. Then, throwing the end of his cigar through an open window, he lighted a cigarette and continued in desultory46 talk with his valet.
A few minutes before two he rose and went into his dressing-room, which separated the salon from the bedchamber. In the latter candles were alight, but the dressing-room was in darkness. He stepped behind the curtains, close to the wall, and stood there, silent, hidden, and shortly from the Bell Tower solemnly sounded the hour. Simultaneously47 Johann tried the door which gave from258 the little library on to the landing. But it was locked and bolted from without. Then he hammered loudly, a little excitedly; and very promptly the bolt was drawn48 and the key turned.
“Quick!” he cried to the guard, who swung open the heavy oaken planking. “Quick! His Royal Highness is ill! I fear that he is dying! Come!” And he started off hurriedly, the soldier following unsuspectingly.
In a second the little comedy was played. At the entrance to the dressing-room Johann stepped back and the guardsman went in ahead, to find his arms caught in a flash from behind by Grey and held hard and fast in spite of his struggles, while Johann slung49 about his wrists the heavy linen thongs and knotted them with deft50 and muscular hands. Meanwhile the fellow was kicking and stamping viciously, but, barring a barked shin for Johann and a bruised51 toe for Grey, the effects were not material. And, once his arms were bound and the glittering barrel of the revolver brought to his attention, his rebellion ceased. Then Johann bound his feet as well, having first marched him into the bedchamber and compelled259 him, protesting, to stretch himself upon the high, old-fashioned bed.
Grey was in the act of unbuckling the captive’s belt when a pistol shot, muffled52 but unmistakable, echoed from overhead, and he stopped, breathless, just as a hoarse53 shriek54 split the silence which for an instant followed the report. The door from the library to the landing had been left open, and from that direction now came a scuffle of feet on stone, mingled55 with a succession of crashing, thumping56, jolting57 noises, alarmed shouts and angry imprecations.
Through the three connecting rooms Grey dashed, revolver in hand and with Johann close at his heels. The lantern the guard had left on the landing had been knocked over and was out, but by the light from the open doorway58 they at once discovered the huddled59, distorted body of a man, whose groans60 added to the bedlam61 of hurrying feet and excited voices from below and oaths, cries, and sounds of struggle from above.
And as they looked there came bounding down the stairs, by jumps of a half-dozen or more steps at a time, another figure, followed by futile62 shot260 after shot from rapidly belching63 revolver and rifle. The fugitive’s feet landed on the groaning64, doubled heap on the landing, and that he did not stumble to his death was a miracle. But he kept his balance, flashed by down the next winding65 flight, and, striking the first of the ascending66 guards, toppled him backwards67 against his followers68.
For the space of a heart-beat Grey and Johann paused, staring at each other. In that instant of his passing both had recognised the fleeing prisoner. It was Captain Lindenwald.
And then, as they stood inert69, the guard from above, his rifle still smoking, reached the landing, tripped over the crumpled70 body and went staggering, lurching, clutching at the air, towards the confusion below.
The moment for action had now come; and Grey, calm and collected in spite of the flurry of events, motioning to Johann to follow, ran swiftly down the stone stairs, which, once they were out of the meagre glow from the library, grew dark as Erebus. The struggling, swearing, wriggling71 mass blocked the way at the next landing, but261 Grey and the lad, guided by the sounds, were not taken unawares. They were, moreover, for the moment on their feet, which no one of the others was; and though they were caught by desperate hands and more than once dragged to their knees, their clothing torn and ripped, their hands scratched, and their arms and legs wellnigh disjointed, they kept their wits and gained the last flight of steps without serious injury.
Down this they veritably hurled72 themselves, and with no further impediment to delay them reached the open door of the Tower and dashed out onto the stone flagging of the upper terrace, into the brilliant starlight of the early morning.
“So far, so good,” said Grey, inhaling73 deeply of the cool, clear air; and catching74 Johann’s sleeve he pulled him back into the shadow of the buttress75. “But,” he added, “we are not free yet, are we? The gates of the Palace Gardens are locked at night, I suppose.”
“Yes, your Royal Highness,” the youth answered.
“Never mind that Royal Highness business now, Johann,” he directed; “Herr Arndt will do262 for the present. I’m no more a Royal Highness than you are.”
“Yes, Herr Arndt,” acquiesced76 Johann, imperturbably77, without change of tone, “and the walls are very high.”
“Nevertheless, we had better move on in the direction of some exit,” Grey advised, in a whisper; “it won’t do to stop here. They may come rushing down on us at any minute. You know the way; you lead.”
Johann started off to the right, hugging the Tower walls, and Grey followed. At a distance of fifty yards they came to a clump78 of shrubbery, into which the younger man plunged79 with Grey still close behind. Through this a gravelled path led into a wood, under the trees of which they walked in silence for at least a quarter of an hour, their course one of gradual descent.
“Without our hats we’ll be suspicious figures in the streets of Kürschdorf,” Grey observed, despondently80, as they came out upon a driveway, “and our recapture is certain. After all, I don’t see that we have gained a very great deal. The gates won’t be open till morning, and by that time,263 if we are not captured inside, every exit will be guarded against us. Are the walls too high to scale?”
“Yes, Herr Arndt,” answered Johann, respectfully, but he did not slacken his pace.
“What do you propose, then? Come, now, this is serious. You know every inch of ground here, don’t you? Is there no way we can get out?”
“Yes, Herr Arndt,” came the stereotyped81 answer.
“There is? Then why didn’t you say so? How? In God’s name, Johann, how?”
The youth halted and turned.
“At the head gardener’s is a long ladder,” he answered; “we are going to the head gardener’s, Herr Arndt.”
At the head gardener’s they very shortly arrived. Johann’s familiarity with the place was now more than ever evident. Without hesitation82 he entered one of the larger greenhouses, the door of which stood invitingly83 ajar, and, though it was quite dark within, he very promptly laid his hand upon a ladder which lay stretched against the wall264 to the right of the entrance. Having thus assured himself that it was in its usual place, he groped to the left and from a row of pegs84 there secured two hats; one of green felt and the other of dark straw, soiled and dilapidated, it is true, but in the present strait of the fugitives85 of inestimable value.
The high wall of the garden was, it subsequently developed, but a stone’s throw distant, and the work of carrying and placing the ladder, climbing to the coping and springing over onto the border of soft turf without was a matter of a very few minutes.
“And now,” said Grey, as with the faded and stained green hat upon his head he stood looking up and down the dark, silent street, “where are we to go? Our presence at a hotel would simply invite detection. It is too early for me to call on the American Minister. All of your usual haunts will be searched before sunrise.”
“The sister of the Fr?ulein von Altdorf,” suggested Johann, “to whom the Fr?ulein herself was going, lives in the country, about two miles away.”
265 “You know where?” cried Grey, delightedly; “you can find it?”
“I know it well,” answered the youth; “at the next farm I was born, Herr Arndt.”
“Then we will go there, by all means.”
And they set off walking rapidly through the narrow side streets of the old town to the bridge of Charlemagne, and thence across the river, and on through the wider avenue of the new city out into the silent lanes of the sweet-scented suburbs.
Both were busy with their thoughts and neither was inclined to conversation. After twenty minutes’ trudging86, however, Grey asked:
“Do you suppose that fellow on the landing will die, Johann?”
“That fellow?” repeated the valet, “which, Herr Arndt? Do you mean Lutz?”
“Lutz!” exclaimed Grey, surprisedly, “was Lutz there?”
“Of a certainty, Herr Arndt. Did you not see his face? It was Lutz who lay outside our door.”
点击收听单词发音
1 confession | |
n.自白,供认,承认 | |
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2 investigation | |
n.调查,调查研究 | |
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3 pending | |
prep.直到,等待…期间;adj.待定的;迫近的 | |
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4 indignity | |
n.侮辱,伤害尊严,轻蔑 | |
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5 sarcastic | |
adj.讥讽的,讽刺的,嘲弄的 | |
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6 expeditious | |
adj.迅速的,敏捷的 | |
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7 chancellor | |
n.(英)大臣;法官;(德、奥)总理;大学校长 | |
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8 bribery | |
n.贿络行为,行贿,受贿 | |
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9 phlegmatically | |
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10 dingy | |
adj.昏暗的,肮脏的 | |
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11 slumber | |
n.睡眠,沉睡状态 | |
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12 ascertain | |
vt.发现,确定,查明,弄清 | |
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13 promptly | |
adv.及时地,敏捷地 | |
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14 infantry | |
n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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15 promising | |
adj.有希望的,有前途的 | |
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16 undertaking | |
n.保证,许诺,事业 | |
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17 odds | |
n.让步,机率,可能性,比率;胜败优劣之别 | |
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18 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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19 salon | |
n.[法]沙龙;客厅;营业性的高级服务室 | |
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20 edifice | |
n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿,教室) | |
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21 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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22 vigour | |
(=vigor)n.智力,体力,精力 | |
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23 laborious | |
adj.吃力的,努力的,不流畅 | |
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24 casement | |
n.竖铰链窗;窗扉 | |
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25 improvised | |
a.即席而作的,即兴的 | |
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26 linen | |
n.亚麻布,亚麻线,亚麻制品;adj.亚麻布制的,亚麻的 | |
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27 pretext | |
n.借口,托词 | |
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28 subduing | |
征服( subdue的现在分词 ); 克制; 制服; 色变暗 | |
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29 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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30 intervals | |
n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 );间隔时间;[数学]区间;(戏剧、电影或音乐会的)幕间休息 | |
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31 monotonous | |
adj.单调的,一成不变的,使人厌倦的 | |
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32 ponderousness | |
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33 somnolence | |
n.想睡,梦幻;欲寐;嗜睡;嗜眠 | |
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34 snugly | |
adv.紧贴地;贴身地;暖和舒适地;安适地 | |
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35 repose | |
v.(使)休息;n.安息 | |
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36 awakened | |
v.(使)醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 );(使)觉醒;弄醒;(使)意识到 | |
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37 heartily | |
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很 | |
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38 distinctively | |
adv.特殊地,区别地 | |
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39 placidly | |
adv.平稳地,平静地 | |
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40 enjoyment | |
n.乐趣;享有;享用 | |
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41 bellowed | |
v.发出吼叫声,咆哮(尤指因痛苦)( bellow的过去式和过去分词 );(愤怒地)说出(某事),大叫 | |
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42 alluded | |
提及,暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43 thongs | |
的东西 | |
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44 chambers | |
n.房间( chamber的名词复数 );(议会的)议院;卧室;会议厅 | |
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45 fully | |
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
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46 desultory | |
adj.散漫的,无方法的 | |
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47 simultaneously | |
adv.同时发生地,同时进行地 | |
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48 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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49 slung | |
抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 ); 吊挂; 遣送; 押往 | |
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50 deft | |
adj.灵巧的,熟练的(a deft hand 能手) | |
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51 bruised | |
[医]青肿的,瘀紫的 | |
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52 muffled | |
adj.(声音)被隔的;听不太清的;(衣服)裹严的;蒙住的v.压抑,捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 );用厚厚的衣帽包着(自己) | |
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53 hoarse | |
adj.嘶哑的,沙哑的 | |
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54 shriek | |
v./n.尖叫,叫喊 | |
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55 mingled | |
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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56 thumping | |
adj.重大的,巨大的;重击的;尺码大的;极好的adv.极端地;非常地v.重击(thump的现在分词);狠打;怦怦地跳;全力支持 | |
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57 jolting | |
adj.令人震惊的 | |
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58 doorway | |
n.门口,(喻)入门;门路,途径 | |
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59 huddled | |
挤在一起(huddle的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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60 groans | |
n.呻吟,叹息( groan的名词复数 );呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 );发牢骚;抱怨;受苦 | |
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61 bedlam | |
n.混乱,骚乱;疯人院 | |
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62 futile | |
adj.无效的,无用的,无希望的 | |
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63 belching | |
n. 喷出,打嗝 动词belch的现在分词形式 | |
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64 groaning | |
adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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65 winding | |
n.绕,缠,绕组,线圈 | |
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66 ascending | |
adj.上升的,向上的 | |
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67 backwards | |
adv.往回地,向原处,倒,相反,前后倒置地 | |
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68 followers | |
追随者( follower的名词复数 ); 用户; 契据的附面; 从动件 | |
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69 inert | |
adj.无活动能力的,惰性的;迟钝的 | |
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70 crumpled | |
adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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71 wriggling | |
v.扭动,蠕动,蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 );(使身体某一部位)扭动;耍滑不做,逃避(应做的事等);蠕蠕 | |
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72 hurled | |
v.猛投,用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 );大声叫骂 | |
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73 inhaling | |
v.吸入( inhale的现在分词 ) | |
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74 catching | |
adj.易传染的,有魅力的,迷人的,接住 | |
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75 buttress | |
n.支撑物;v.支持 | |
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76 acquiesced | |
v.默认,默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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77 imperturbably | |
adv.泰然地,镇静地,平静地 | |
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78 clump | |
n.树丛,草丛;vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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79 plunged | |
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降 | |
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80 despondently | |
adv.沮丧地,意志消沉地 | |
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81 stereotyped | |
adj.(指形象、思想、人物等)模式化的 | |
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82 hesitation | |
n.犹豫,踌躇 | |
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83 invitingly | |
adv. 动人地 | |
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84 pegs | |
n.衣夹( peg的名词复数 );挂钉;系帐篷的桩;弦钮v.用夹子或钉子固定( peg的第三人称单数 );使固定在某水平 | |
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85 fugitives | |
n.亡命者,逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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86 trudging | |
vt.& vi.跋涉,吃力地走(trudge的现在分词形式) | |
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