“Yes, you were right on one point and wrong on another. I confess I did not believe in the floating mine, because it is not an article you can buy at every ironmonger’s; but you were wrong in predicting they would leave a channel for the Rajah to get out: they have completely sealed the river. Of course that is an advantage. When it is time for the Rajah to leave, you will see those mines picked up and brought inshore; so, by watching the mine field on the river, we will receive notice of the Rajah’s departure.”
“And do you intend to follow her out when the mines are cleared away?”
“Bless you, no. We will depart by the main channel.”
“Then you will do nothing about this nest of explosives?”
“What is there to do? If we were Japanese, and reckless of human life, we might steal down there and set the mines adrift; but that would be a dangerous business, and if one or more got out into the ocean we might find ourselves practically responsible for the destruction of a Cape2 liner. But after all,” continued his lordship dreamily, sprawling3 at full length on the place that Mackeller had deserted4, “after all, what is the use of this gold? You can’t eat it or drink it, except in London or Paris, or some such center of so-called civilization. You have just seen what brutes5 it makes of men in quest of it, when they will in cold blood prepare for the annihilation of their fellow creatures.”
“But you knew all that, sir, before you left England.”
“True, true, so I did; but here the fact has made a greater impression on my mind. I have arrived at a theory. I believe this spot to be the Garden of Eden. The soil and climate will grow anything. You may enjoy whatever temperature you like by simply rising higher and higher in the hills; the higher you get the lower the temperature. There is ample timber of all kinds, and yesterday I discovered a lovely waterfall which would give us enough electricity to endow a city with power, so I intend to found a modern Utopia, and have selected a spot where this very day we will begin to clear away the forest and build log huts. The nucleus6 of our colony will be situated7 at the head of the delta8 alongside the stream that passes the gold field and flows direct to the ocean. I shall move the steamer over there, and thus, Peter, you will be deserted, for I insist that you shall watch our potential enemies from this spot, and report by wireless10 what they are doing.”
“So you intend to give up this mining property without a struggle?”
“Oh, I hate struggling. The climate is too perfect to struggle. Let us be happy when there is a chance of happiness.”
The young man reclined there with his hands clasped behind his head, looking up quizzically with half-closed eyes at the bewildered Mackeller.
“By the way, Mackeller, there is something afloat on the river near the yacht that would interest you. Did I tell you I had picked up a little gem11 of a motor boat at Thomycroft’s, actually armored and bullet-proof? In it we could go down and visit the mine, and return, letting them pepper away at us, while we lay full length on deck protected by the armored bulwarks12. No one could be hit, unless the shooter were on top of a church steeple. I think I’ll visit the mining camp.”
“I strongly advise you, sir, to do nothing of the kind.”
“Oh, very well, I won’t, then, but this little craft will come in handy for visiting you. It is a nimble little beast, and much more effective on these waters than the row boat.”
“Are you in earnest about that Utopia, sir?”
“Certainly, which reminds me I must make a beginning.”
He rose, lazily stretched himself, nodded good-by to Mackeller, and proceeded in leisurely13 fashion down the hill.
The woodmen on board The Woman in White received the announcement of the new Utopia in a spirit quite differing from that of Mackeller, but of course they knew nothing of the gold that had been the object of the cruise. The yacht proceeded to the side of the plateau that Stranleigh had selected as the site of his first village, and presently the air was filled with a crash of falling trees, with the ringing sound of the ax, and the snarl14 of the saw. Gamekeepers and crew were all set to work, those who could not chop being useful at the two-handed saw, or the rolling of logs to the river bank, where Stranleigh ordered them to be piled.
Mackeller and the telegrapher occupied their lonely perch15 night and day, and sent in reports of progress. At last Mackeller announced that the loading of ore had gone so far that the Plim-soll’s mark on the Rajah’s side was already submerged, which fact, added Mackeller, showed that the steamer did not intend sailing to England. Within half an hour of the receipt of this message the swift little motor boat brought Stran-leigh and the doctor to the foot of Outlook Hill, and presently the two arrived at the summit.
“Mackeller,” said Stranleigh, “turn your telescope upstream to the first bit of clear water you see.”
While Mackeller was doing this, the chief turned to the operator—and said:
“Send a message to your colleague: these words—‘Let’em all come.’ Ask him to repeat them to show that he has understood.”
“Are you expecting an attack?” asked Mackeller, putting his own interpretation16 on the familiar defiant17 phrase.
“A sort of an attack,” replied Stranleigh. “You watch the surface of that water, and tell me what you see.”
“Oh!” cried Mackeller, “there seems to be a raft coming down.”
“No, they are separate logs. They have understood our signal, doctor, and have acted promptly18. Now, Mackeller, turn your glass on the floating mines, and give up your place to the doctor. I have promised him the first sight. How many mines did they lay down, Mackeller?”
“I don’t know, sir.”
“Ah, yes, I remember; you were asleep at your post. Well, I’m happy to inform you that the number I saw placed in the river was exactly twenty-seven. Now, Mr. Telegrapher, stand up here and make yourself useful. If explosions occur, no man is to speak, but each is to keep count of the number of spurts19 of water he sees, then we will compare notes at the end of the fusillade.”
“By Jove!” exclaimed the doctor, his eyes glued to the telescope.
A tall pillar of water, white as snow, rose into the air, paused, broke like a sky-rocket, and subsided20 in a misty21 rain, which the wind caught and blew along the surface of the water. Then three more shot up into the air as if in competition. A sound like distant thunder came across the delta, and now it seemed that one mine had set off another, or else the logs were even thicker than might have been expected, for a wall of water rose from the surface of the river, extending, with breaks here and there, from shore to shore, and instead of a rumble22, a sharp thunderclap was heard by the four men on the mountain. This made counting impossible. For a few moments nothing further happened, then a quarter of a mile down the river the line of mines went off practically simultaneously23, forming for a brief instant a Niagara in the sky.
“I think we’ve got them,” said Stranleigh quietly, as he slung24 over his shoulder again the binoculars25 he had been using. “Turn your telescope to the land again, doctor, and see those comical people tumbling over each other in their haste to find out what has happened. They look like a nest of disturbed ants.”
“What have you done with the yacht?” asked Mackeller. “If any of those people have seen sawn logs float down the river there will be an investigation27 very speedily to discover who has done the sawing.”
“That is true, Mackeller. I have therefore taken the yacht across the river out of gunshot, or the sight of our abandoned Utopia. If they come by land they can’t reach her.”
“They are not coming by land,” said the doctor. “The steam launch is being got ready, and three men are standing28 on the rock ledge29 preparing to go aboard, I fancy. They are armed with rifles, too.”
“Just glance through the telescope, Mackeller,” said Stranleigh, “and tell me if you recognize the three men.”
“Yes; there is the tall manager, with the captain of the Rajah on one side of him, and the first mate on the other.”
“Don’t say ‘first mate,’ Peter,” corrected Stranleigh. “Clark Russell says there’s no such thing as a first mate. He is merely the mate, and then you have second and third mate, and I don’t know how many more. Well, doctor, let us get away, and meet them in the motor boat. We’re innocent lumbermen, searching for timber that has tumbled off the bank, remember.”
“You are surely not going down there,” protested Mackeller.
“Why, of course. We’ll fill them up with our story before they even begin to ask questions.”
“But you are unarmed.”
“Quite.”
“And they possess rifles.”
“So it seems.”
“Then it is a foolhardy thing to meet them without being accompanied by an equal body of armed men to protect you, at least. I should take all that the motor boat will hold.”
“I know you would, Peter, but then, as I have often said, you are a bloodthirsty person. We can drop behind the bulwarks flat on our faces, before any one of the three can shoot; then in that recumbent position I will explain to them as well as I can that the Thornycroft motor boat possesses a submarine prow31 as effective as that of a battle ship, and if they don’t want their steam launch rammed32 and sunk, they’d better drop their rifles to the deck. I shall insist that whoever speaks to me shall talk as one gentleman to another. I’ll tell them I’m a member of the Peace Conference at The Hague. Come along, doctor. We’ll invite those johnnies to lunch, and cheer them up with the best wine and cigars that’s to be had in Africa,” and with that Stranleigh and the doctor departed for the waiting motor boat.
The steersman of the little motor boat crouched33 over his wheel, which had some resemblance to that of an automobile34, as the swift craft sped up the river until it came to the branch that led to the mine, then into this watery35 lane it turned at full speed. Stranleigh and the doctor were standing up, and on rounding a bend came in sight of the steam launch laboriously36 churning up toward them against the current.
“Stop the engine,” said Stranleigh. “Swing round the stem of the launch, and come up alongside at a distance of about twenty feet, then regulate her speed to suit that of the launch.”
The manager, captain, and mate, all standing up, seemed struck into immobility with astonishment37 at seeing such a cutter in such a region.
They made no motion to raise their guns, or even to salute38 the oncomer. The motor boat came past them like a wild duck, without sound of machinery39 or sight of vapor40, swung gracefully41 round, and came up alongside with a light precision which should have aroused the admiration42 of an old salt like the captain of the Rajah.
0159
But the three men were filled with consternation43. The ruddy, weather-beaten face of the captain turned to a mottled purple; his jaw44 dropped, and he stood there gaping45, with fear in his bulging46 eyes. The erect47, easy grace of Lord Stran-leigh, clad in white, instantly suggested to his experienced eye the British naval48 officer. This error was heightened by the natty49, gold-braided hat worn by the doctor; but the attitude of the two men in white was not so disquieting50 as the demeanor51 and appearance of the boat herself. She was most expertly handled, and came alongside with that impudent52, saucy53 air characteristic of midshipmen and the smaller units of the British navy. There was a touch of arrogance54 in her rakish build, as if she knew the whole power of a maritime55 nation was typified in her. The significance of her armored sides was not lost on the two seafaring men, even though the manager of the mine did not become immediately conscious of it, but all three recognized the sinister56 significance of that projecting prow of steel, which was plainly, if waveringly seen, through the transparent57 green waters, dangerous as the nose of a maneating shark.
Lord Stranleigh smiled as he realized the panic his sudden appearance had caused.
“Good morning,” he greeted them pleasantly. “Have you seen anything of timber floating down this river?”
“Timber?” gasped58 the manager of the mine. “Yes—yes—we have.”
“Is it lost, do you think?”
“I—I suppose most of it is bobbing about in the surf of the Atlantic Ocean.”
“Not lost, but gone before,” murmured the doctor.
Stranleigh surmised60 that captain and mate knew more of the piratical, thieving nature of their expedition than he had supposed. They were both well aware that British cruisers were nosing about in all sorts of odd comers of the world, mostly where they were not wanted, but even so a worthy61 seaman62, if engaged in his lawful63 occupation, had no reason to fall into a state of nervous collapse64 at the sight of a craft which looked like a baby torpedo65 boat. He had hitherto believed that captain, officers, and crew of the Rajah were innocent participators in a scheme of villainy and theft, but now he knew that the captain and mate were equally in the plot with the tall, dark-looking manager, and this information he placed at the back of his brain for future use when he should meet the captain on the open sea.
“Are you a naval officer, sir?” stammered66 the captain, speaking for the first time.
“Oh, dear, no,” replied Stranleigh airily; “merely a private person.”
All three heaved a simultaneous sigh of relief, and their statuesque posture67 lost something of its stiffness.
“I’m cruising about the coast in my yacht.”
“That isn’t your yacht, is it?” asked the mine manager.
“No, my yacht lies a few miles farther up the river, and is an ocean-going affair. It is built with an eye to comfort and to the housing of a good number of men.”
“Ah, how many men do you carry?” demanded the manager, his courage visibly returning.
“Blessed if I know,” replied his lordship. “How many men have we, doctor?”
“I never counted them, sir,” replied the doctor with a noncommittal air of indifference68.
“They are scattered69 over the face of the country,” continued the chief. “Many of them are woodmen, and the rest are gamekeepers from my own estates in England. They can all shoot a bit—trust a gamekeeper for that.”
“And is your yacht built on the model of this boat of yours?”
“No. As I told you, it is built for comfort. I’d like very much to show her to you if you will honor me with a visit. Indeed, it is getting near to midday, so I should be delighted if you three gentlemen would be good enough to lunch with me. I can promise you a passable meal, some excellent wine, and cigars that will call up recollections of Havana.”
The manager whispered to the captain, who somewhat doubtfully nodded his head, as who would say: “Well, I suppose we’d better see what’s in this, anyway.”
The manager then spoke70 up:
“Thank you, sir,” he said. “We’ll be very glad of a bite and a drink and a smoke. My friend here is captain of the Rajah, and this is Mr. Thompson, the mate. I am Frowningshield, representing the owners of this district.”
“Delighted to make your acquaintance, gentlemen. My name is Stranleigh.”
“And a very well-known name in Africa, Mr. Stanley.”
“S-t-r-a-n-l-e-i-g-h,” spelled his lordship. “I cannot claim the distinction of being a namesake of the explorer.”
“May I inquire the object of your visit in these regions?” asked the manager.
“In a small way I am looking after big game, and so carry some of my gamekeepers with me. Then again, as you are probably aware, I am interested in timber, hence my woodmen with their axes and saws. We have cut a considerable quantity of firewood, with which we hope to supplement our coal. My third object may strike you as largely impractical71. I had some thoughts of founding a settlement here, or on any other healthy and suitable spot not too far from the coast. I am delighted with this section of the country. Back in the hills while shooting I have discovered several waterfalls which could supply cheap power. Some days ago I gave orders to my woodmen to prepare logs for the building of huts. I was away shooting at the time they began operations, and I fear rather neglecting my duties as a settlement founder72. Be that as it may, they piled the logs too near the brink73 of the river, where the incline is steep. This morning, like the Gadarene swine, the logs seem to have tumbled one after another into the water. I suppose one heap set another going. As I tell you, I was absent, but when word was brought to me, I took this launch and followed down the river, thinking perhaps the sawn logs had lodged74 or jammed somewhere, and might be towed back; but if, as you say, they are already in the ocean, I fear they are lost to us, and we’ll need to cut some more.”
Frowningshield listened to this recital75 with wrinkled brow, and intense gaze upon the speaker, who talked in an easy, indolent manner which impressed the manager with the belief that he had encountered some rich fool with more money at his disposal than was good for him, and gradually the nerve of the man who had kicked Mackeller into the hold began to reassert itself. He felt ashamed of his failure in courage when he had supposed he was confronted by the power of Great Britain.
“Perhaps you are not aware, Mr. Stranleigh, that the timber you are cutting is situated on private property.”
“You are surely mistaken,” protested the young man. “All the maps I have seen—I’ll show you them when we come aboard the yacht—depict this district as a sort of no-man’s-land.”
“Such is not the case, Mr. Stranleigh. More than a hundred square miles of this territory has been acquired by a European syndicate, of whom I am the representative.”
“You amaze me. From what government did this syndicate buy the property?”
“They did not buy it from any government, they acquired the concession76 from native chiefs. No European government holds jurisdiction77 over this section of Africa.”
“That’s what I thought. Are you forming a settlement, then, farther down the river? Is that where you have come from?”
“Yes.”
“You arrived in the steamer you spoke of—I forget the name?”
“The Rajah. Yes. I am a mining engineer, and we are experimenting with the mineral resources of this country.”
“I see. Then you are probably loading the Rajah with such ore as you can find, and are taking it back to Europe to test it.”
“Exactly.”
“What you tell me is most interesting, but surely you were not here when I came up this river in my yacht less than a month ago?”
“No, we were not here then, but we prospected78, and secured possession more than a year ago.”
“Then you are clothed with authority to order me to move on?”
“I assure you, Mr. Stranleigh, that so far as I am personally concerned you might form your settlement, or stay here as long as you please, but I am not acting79 for myself. In the interest of my employers, and to prevent future complications, should we discover valuable minerals, I fear I must warn you off.”
“Could you oblige me with the address of that European syndicate?”
“It would be useless, sir. I was instructed that they do not intend to grant any concessions80 or franchises81 to outsiders. Whether they gain or lose, they intend to exploit this region for their own sole benefit. If you dispute my authority, I shall be pleased to produce documentary evidence corroborating82 what I say.”
“My dear Mr. Frowningshield,” protested Stranleigh, “I should not dream of disputing your authority. I confess I was rather taken with this upper country, though I don’t think much of the stretch of land along the coast. However, Africa is large, and I do not doubt I may find some spot equally favorable for the carrying out of my plans. What you say merely shows how small the world is getting to be. Who would have imagined that in this seemingly virgin83 territory, thousands of miles from what we call civilization, the land should be all taken up, just as if it were a newly plotted piece of acreage in the vicinity of New York or London, to be exploited and covered with jerry-built villas84. Well, well, we live and learn. It’s rather disappointing, but it can’t be helped. I hope you won’t send in an exorbitant85 bill for the trees I have illegally felled, especially when you remember that I have lost most of the timber.”
“Oh, no,” said Frowningshield, with a laugh. “That will be all right.”
“It seems so strange that I, of all people, should be a trespasser86 and a poacher, for when at home I am a stern upholder of the rights of property. I own several estates in England, and am a very pig-headed Tory when any of my privileges are threatened; so I should be the last man to trespass87 on the rights of others, and I hope, Mr. Frowningshield, when you are communicating with the proprietors88, you will convey to them my humble89 apologies, with the assurance that if ever again I fell a tree, I shall take pains to know it has grown on my own land.”
“Oh, that will be all right,” repeated Frowningshield reassuringly90.
“There!” cried Stranleigh, as they approached the triple outflow, and waving his hand to the right, “you see the gash91 I have made in your forest. That is the spot I had chosen for the nucleus of my settlement. There are the remainder of the logs, and I present them freely to you with no charge for the cutting.”
“They are piled rather close to the edge,” commented Frowningshield.
“Yes, we all realize that now, when it is too late. Locking the door when the horse is stolen. I must inquire how it happened. I have not seen my men since I heard of the disaster. I suppose they will present plenty of plausible92 excuses, and will fasten the fault of the occurrence on anything but their own stupidity. Ah, captain, what do you think of my yacht?”
“Very fine lines, sir,” replied the captain, as he and the mate gazed at the white steamer lying on the other bank of the main stream.
“If you will excuse me,” said Stranleigh, “I will precede you on board, to inform cook and steward93 that three more plates are to be provided.”
He and the doctor sprang up the steps; the motor boat gave itself a flick94 astern, and then the steam launch came to the floor of the gangway. Stranleigh welcomed his guests at the head of the stair, conducted captain and manager to easy-chairs aft, and ordered the deck steward to bring them sherry and bitters. He made a mental note of the fact that the mate had remained in the launch, and from this surmised that he had not succeeded in allaying95 the suspicions of captain and manager. He resolved to give them an opportunity of consulting alone together, wondering what their action would be when they had come to a decision regarding recent events.
“I must go below to see about the wine. Like a prudent96 owner I hold the keys of the wine bin26 myself. With a mixed crew you know the wisdom of such a course, captain.”
“Yes, sir, I do,” and with this the genial97 host went down the companion way with the doctor.
“What do you think of him?” muttered the captain, when they were thus left in solitude98 on the after deck.
“Oh, he’s all right,” said Frowningshield confidently. “I’ve met plenty of that kind before. A rich ass9, good-natured, without too much brains, blowing in the money he has inherited.”
“I’m not so sure of that,” replied the captain.
“Oh, you’re suspicious of everybody. He has blundered in here, and I dare say has amused himself as he said, shooting and chopping, and what not.”
“Do you see,” murmured the captain, “that this boat is fitted up for wireless telegraphy? That’s the meaning of the line between the masts.”
Frowningshield looked aloft.
“Oh, that’s it, is it? Well, I don’t see anything to worry about, even if it is so. I suppose plenty of yachts are fitted with Marconi apparatus99 nowadays. It certainly can’t be much use to him here in West Africa.”
“He might be in communication with some one outside.”
“Out in the ocean, you mean? What would be the good of that?”
“I don’t know,” replied the captain. “This chap is too smooth-tongued to suit my book.”
“What do you propose to do? Sink his craft and drown the lot of them?”
“No.”
“What then?”
“Keep an eye on him, and not drink too much of his wine.”
“You don’t need to give that warning to me, captain. It would come more pat applied100 nearer home.”
“You are right,” admitted the captain. “If you notice me becoming talkative, just give me a nudge, will you? We must sit together at table.”
“I think you are unduly101 suspicious, captain. This boat must have left England before we did.”
“I’m not so sure of that. Some of these oceangoing yachts are very fast. She may be turbine-engined.”
“Can’t a sea-wise man like you tell whether she is or not by the look of her?”
“No, not from the outside. A question to one of the men would settle it.”
“Ah, here comes a waiter with the drinks. Well, my man, this is a very nice yacht you have here.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Turbine engines, I suppose?”
“I don’t know, sir. The engineer would be able to tell you.”
“Yes, I suppose he would. How long is it since you left England?”
“Very sorry, sir, but I don’t remember the date. The captain or the owner would know.”
“Why, of course. Have you been stopping at many places since you quit the old sod?”
“Running in here and there, sir.”
“Lisbon, or Teneriffe, perhaps?”
“Well, sir, I never had no head for them foreign places. They all look alike to me, sir. Plymouth, or Southampton, or Liverpool, sir, there’s some difference between them.”
“So there is, so there is,” murmured Frowningshield, as the man respectfully withdrew.
“You see,” said the captain, “even the stewards102 are on their guard.”
“Oh, that’s the noncommittal nature of the English servant. I imagine Stranleigh is by way of being a swell103. There’s something of that ‘You-be-damned’ air about him, in spite of his politeness, and the servants of such people know when they’re in a good place, and keep their mouths shut. Still, I can’t imagine a la-de-da chap like this, with a fashionable yacht, and a gang of gamekeepers, sent out to interfere104 with us. What can he do?”
“The steel prow of that motor boat didn’t look fashionable,” growled105 the captain. “She could sink the Rajah, loaded down as she is, in about ten seconds, although she’d crumple106 herself up if she tried it, and as to what he can do, look at what he has already done. The tumbling of all that timber in the river may have been an accident, as he says, but I don’t believe it. It fitted the case of the mines too cursedly pat to suit me. He couldn’t have hit it off better, and at less cost to himself, if he had studied for a year.”
“Yes, it does take a bit of explaining, doesn’t it? Still, there’s nothing to be done with his crew of landlubbers. He daren’t attack us; there are too many of us.”
“I think you’ll change your opinion before the week is out, Mr. Frowningshield. See what he’s already done. He’s cleared the river, and the waterway from the ocean to the mine is open. I tell you what it is, Mr. Frowningshield; there’s been a miscalculation, and that man Schwartzbrod isn’t as clever as you thought he was.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because, according to your story, it should have taken them a week or two to fit out another steamer, and by that time you expected to get the river protected, and erect a few forts. Now what has happened? Instead of that they have chartered the quickest yacht they could find in England, and they have cut in here ahead of us. This fellow’s smooth talk about founding a colony is all balderdash. They’ve been spying upon us ever since we came here. The other fellows in England have taken their time in fitting up a steamer, or perhaps two steamers, or perhaps three. This chap has cleared the channel for them, and any fine morning you may see three or four ships in the offing, carrying perhaps three or four hundred men. Then what are you going to do?”
“There wouldn’t be anything to do, of course, if all that happened. Nevertheless, all you say is mere30 surmise59, but if the worst came to the worst they couldn’t touch us. We’re doing nothing illegal. I tell you old Schwartzbrod assured me he would get from the new owners a legal document covering everything he ordered done.”
“But suppose he didn’t get that document?”
“‘We’re both blooming prisoners, that’s what we are!’”
“Oh, trust him! Of course he’s got it, but even if he hadn’t, we are doing nothing illegal. Here you are with your fortune made if you run three trips to Lisbon and back. You are quite safe, whatever comes, for you are bound to obey the orders of those who chartered the vessel107. But apart from all that, we are out of British jurisdiction here, and you will be out of British jurisdiction at Lisbon. You’ve done nothing, and can do nothing, so long as you obey orders, that will render you liable to British law.”
“I don’t like the job a bit, Mr. Frowningshield; I tell you that straight.”
“Nonsense, man. If any one is in danger, it’s me, and I’m not afraid. You’re protected by your ship’s papers. You are under orders, and you must obey them. If anything is wrong, it is other people who must stand the brunt. It isn’t criminal to sail a ship from Southampton to the West African coast, and it isn’t criminal to make voyages to Lisbon and back. You are all right, who-ever’s hurt, so don’t get into a panic, captain, merely because a rich fool and his yacht appears to have discovered the Paramakaboo River.”
The captain, sorely troubled, but somewhat comforted by the confident tone of his comrade, was absentmindedly turning the picture pages of the Sphere, which he had taken from the wicker table at his elbow. Suddenly something caught his eye.
“By the Lord, Frowningshield, look at the date of the Sphere! 24th of May, it says, and we sailed on the 13th—a mighty108 unlucky day I call it. He bought this paper more than a week after we left! I tell you, Frowningshield, we’re done for. We’re blooming prisoners, that’s what we are!”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
triumphantly
|
|
| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
cape
|
|
| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
sprawling
|
|
| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
brutes
|
|
| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
nucleus
|
|
| n.核，核心，原子核 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
situated
|
|
| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
delta
|
|
| n.（流的）角洲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
ass
|
|
| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
wireless
|
|
| adj.无线的；n.无线电 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
gem
|
|
| n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
bulwarks
|
|
| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
leisurely
|
|
| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
snarl
|
|
| v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
perch
|
|
| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
interpretation
|
|
| n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
defiant
|
|
| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
spurts
|
|
| 短暂而突然的活动或努力( spurt的名词复数 )； 突然奋起 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
subsided
|
|
| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
misty
|
|
| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
rumble
|
|
| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
simultaneously
|
|
| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
slung
|
|
| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
binoculars
|
|
| n.双筒望远镜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
bin
|
|
| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
investigation
|
|
| n.调查，调查研究 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
ledge
|
|
| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
prow
|
|
| n.(飞机)机头，船头 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
rammed
|
|
| v.夯实（土等）( ram的过去式和过去分词 )；猛撞；猛压；反复灌输 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
crouched
|
|
| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
automobile
|
|
| n.汽车，机动车 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
watery
|
|
| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
laboriously
|
|
| adv.艰苦地；费力地；辛勤地；（文体等）佶屈聱牙地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
salute
|
|
| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
machinery
|
|
| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
vapor
|
|
| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
gracefully
|
|
| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
admiration
|
|
| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
consternation
|
|
| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
jaw
|
|
| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
gaping
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
bulging
|
|
| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
erect
|
|
| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
naval
|
|
| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
natty
|
|
| adj.整洁的，漂亮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
disquieting
|
|
| adj.令人不安的，令人不平静的v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
demeanor
|
|
| n.行为；风度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
impudent
|
|
| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
saucy
|
|
| adj.无礼的；俊俏的；活泼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
arrogance
|
|
| n.傲慢，自大 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
maritime
|
|
| adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
sinister
|
|
| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
transparent
|
|
| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
surmise
|
|
| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
surmised
|
|
| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
seaman
|
|
| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
lawful
|
|
| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
collapse
|
|
| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
torpedo
|
|
| n.水雷，地雷；v.用鱼雷破坏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
stammered
|
|
| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
posture
|
|
| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
indifference
|
|
| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
impractical
|
|
| adj.不现实的，不实用的，不切实际的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
Founder
|
|
| n.创始者，缔造者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
brink
|
|
| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
lodged
|
|
| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
recital
|
|
| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
concession
|
|
| n.让步，妥协；特许(权) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
jurisdiction
|
|
| n.司法权，审判权，管辖权，控制权 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
prospected
|
|
| vi.勘探（prospect的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
concessions
|
|
| n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
franchises
|
|
| n.（尤指选举议员的）选举权( franchise的名词复数 )；参政权；获特许权的商业机构（或服务）；（公司授予的）特许经销权v.给…以特许权，出售特许权( franchise的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
corroborating
|
|
| v.证实，支持（某种说法、信仰、理论等）( corroborate的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
virgin
|
|
| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
villas
|
|
| 别墅，公馆( villa的名词复数 )； （城郊）住宅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
exorbitant
|
|
| adj.过分的；过度的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
trespasser
|
|
| n.侵犯者；违反者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
trespass
|
|
| n./v.侵犯，闯入私人领地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
proprietors
|
|
| n.所有人，业主( proprietor的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
humble
|
|
| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
reassuringly
|
|
| ad.安心，可靠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
gash
|
|
| v.深切，划开；n.(深长的)切(伤)口；裂缝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
plausible
|
|
| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
steward
|
|
| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
flick
|
|
| n.快速的轻打，轻打声，弹开；v.轻弹，轻轻拂去，忽然摇动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
allaying
|
|
| v.减轻，缓和( allay的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
prudent
|
|
| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
genial
|
|
| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
solitude
|
|
| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
apparatus
|
|
| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
applied
|
|
| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
unduly
|
|
| adv.过度地，不适当地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
stewards
|
|
| （轮船、飞机等的）乘务员( steward的名词复数 )； （俱乐部、旅馆、工会等的）管理员； （大型活动的）组织者； （私人家中的）管家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
swell
|
|
| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
104
interfere
|
|
| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
105
growled
|
|
| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
106
crumple
|
|
| v.把...弄皱，满是皱痕，压碎，崩溃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
107
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
108
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |