"Big Tom is a wise ol' owl," said Dailey. "He'll move when he gets ready. Just now he's on a nest, hatchin' out somethin' that is mebby tender, bein' so young. He ain't layin' down so easy. I know him."
"He reckons, mebby, that th' man that dealt th' hands has got an ace3 in a hole," replied Fanning. "It's an old sayin' that you never want to buck4 another man's game. I don't know that Nelson has got an ace laid away, but he don't have to have any; Big Tom figgers he has, mebby, because them Double X hombres are so friendly with him; an' it's what Big Tom thinks that counts with him. Mebby somethin' will happen today, an' mebby it won't; but it's goin' to happen, just th' same, some time."
"I'm favorin' th' ace idea," said Dave, thoughtfully. "If I was Big Tom I'd be plumb5 suspicious of any man that made th' suggestion that Nelson made when he knew there was an outfit6 ag'in' him. I'd figger he was[308] either a cussed fool or knowed just exactly what he was doin', an' all th' time. Nobody down here believes that he is a fool, not now, anyhow; an' I'm dead shore he wasn't bluffin'. He's got an ace, all right—an' I'm admirin' Big Tom's waitin' game. When he thinks he's figgered out how far th' Double X will go we'll hear his answer. Besides, th' Bar H has got to round up an' brand that herd7 for McCullough. That may be holdin' him back some."
"Slim's remarks slid in like they was made to fit," commented Dailey. "An' he wasn't bluffin', neither. If th' Double X is backin' Nelson, all th' way, he'll win; if they ain't, he won't. But I'm shore waitin' to see, an' hear."
Down on the Bar H dinner was over before the foreman had much to say, and he was careful not to reveal his personal experiences of the morning. He counseled patience, and gave good reasons for it. They had until fall to start on the SV herd, and many things could, and would, occur before then. The first thing to do was to get ready for the round-up of the trail herd, and in order to lull8 suspicions they would not work on the tabooed section. There was to be no branding done out there, and in order to show their fairness in not too noticeable a way, they would help the Triangle with its five hundred head. This over with, the Triangle punchers would have to hold the herd together until McCullough came along and, not being able to call on them for aid, the Bar H would have to appeal to the Double X for the loan of some of its men, who thus would be on the ground and see[309] what cattle were to be cut out for the trail. Nelson was to be ignored until the herd was sold and the money put in the bank at Sherman, after which he would be taken care of.
"Nelson is a good man," Big Tom assured them; "but he ain't good enough not to never make mistakes, an' no man can take every trick. He's goin' to miss one, th' last he'll ever miss, or win, for that matter, but there ain't no use of any of us gettin' killed unless we have to. We can get him without it, an' without gettin' any of his sudden new friends on th' prod9. I promise that. I know how we're goin' to play it—an' it's so easy it makes me laugh. He's a good man; but there are older heads than his'n. You foller my orders an' set tight. I'll handle this when th' time comes, an' it ain't here yet. Stay out of Gunsight unless you can go in peaceful, keep yore mouths tight shut, an' stay sober. I've said enough about him.
"Now, we got work ahead of us, an' we start at it on th' Triangle day after tomorrow. I'm goin' over to see Hank Lewis now. There'll be somebody from Twitchell an' Carpenter comin' up any day now to select th' cattle an' stay with 'em till McCullough counts 'em into his herd. After I see Hank I'm ridin' to town to leave word at Dave's for Sherwood to see if I can borrow some of his boys when we start our own round-up. Look over yore gear an' be ready for workin'."
His prophecy regarding the representatives of Twitchell and Carpenter was fulfilled at mid-afternoon, when two strangers rode up to the bunkhouse and[310] inquired for him and, being told that he could very likely be found in town, they explained who they were and rode on to Gunsight, accompanied by Fraser. To the saddle of each were fastened three stamping irons bearing their road brand.
Big Tom was in Dave's when they arrived and after a few rounds of drinks they settled down to discuss the herds10 and range topics in general.
"Th' T an' C sendin' many over th' trails this year?" Dave asked during a lull in the talk.
"Shore," replied the older and taller visitor, who answered to the name of Ridley. "We've been busy since winter. We looked over a big herd of beeves south of th' Grande for th' first herd. There was over thirty-five hundred head and they was three- an' four-year-olds. They went up north of th' Yellowstone, on government contract. Another herd of three thousand two- an' three-year-olds went past th' Platte, bound west for new ranges. There was two more big herds went up to Dodge—one of 'em bein' sold without th' new owners even seein' 'em. This bunch is goin' to new range north of here, some of 'em. I don't reckon there'll be many more this year. There ain't an animal in them that McCullough's bringin' up that's more than two years old, an' those are th' ones goin' to range. We took 'em from four different ranches12 to get 'em choice, an' they're all long-laigged long-horns an' a purty sight to a cowman. I'm bettin' Mac won't lose a single head neither. He's a trail boss that is a trail boss. He knows every river an' ford13, water hole an' dry section from here to Montanny. He took that[311] first herd north this spring, an' here he is back in time to swing this drive. He has a knack14 of pickin' good men for his trail outfits15, an' he's daddy to 'em all from th' jump, without nobody knowin' it."
Big Tom arose. "Well, friends," he said, shaking hands, "yo're welcome to stay at either ranch11 while yo're here; but I reckon Fanning can make you more comfortable. We start on th' Triangle day after tomorrow—come down when you get ready. I told you how to get to th' Double X. If you go over there before any of 'em come to town, let 'em know that I'm countin' on usin' three of their men when I start my own round-up. See you later."
Dawn found activity on the range. The Double X, having rounded up its hundred head the day before, with a few additional to make up for possible rejections16, held them apart from the SV herd, which also had extra cattle to offset17 any not up to the required standard. The majority of them, those which were certain to be accepted, had already been branded. The C and T inspectors18 watched the cutting out and indicated their choices as the cattle left the round-up herd, those rejected being turned aside and allowed to go back to freedom on the range, while those accepted were driven to the beef cut, which grew rapidly. A hundred and five finally were accepted, the odd five to make up for possible losses on the trail. Then the SV herd went through the same proceeding20 until four hundred and ten had been thrown into the beef cut. Because of Cimarron's discriminating21 judgment22 in making up the herd there were but few rejections; and, besides, the[312] standard was not high, for, broadly, a cow was a cow. The remaining SV cattle were not returned to their ranch, but were set free to wander where they would. The general round-up would find them later and throw them back then if Arnold wished, although with the coming of the new round-up conditions there would be no great reason to throw them over—the brand would protect his interests, no matter where it was found. There was some talk about the SV cattle, but Johnny was credited as representing Arnold, and the matter was settled by agreeing that the T and C should pay Arnold, direct. Then the road branding began, and when it was over the consolidated23 herd was held to await the arrival of McCullough. It was then that Sherwood turned to three of his men.
"Th' Triangle ain't asked for no help, but you boys go down an' give 'em a hand," he said. "We're introducin' th' comin' of th' general round-up out in this country, an' we're doin' it gradual. There won't be no thought of us watchin' out for Arnold's interests over there, because these inspectors will do that anyhow. Go down an' show that we're friendly; an' from there go to th' Bar H."
On the Triangle the following morning things were running in full blast. After a breakfast eaten by firelight, the outfit was in the saddle at the first flush of dawn, and rode far out on the range. At an agreed-upon point it spread out in a thin line, the riders spaced at irregular intervals24, depending upon the nature of the ground, and as they turned and moved back in the direction of Rock Creek25 they were joined by the Bar H[313] contingent26, which took up its position on one end of the line.
Draws, brush, and coulees shed cattle before the advance. A cow with a big, husky, and friskily27 independent calf28 arose to its feet and looked wonderingly at the disturbance29. Gardner espied30 her and galloped31 forward, shouting and waving his hat as he rode. "G'wan, you! Get goin'!"
The cow stood irresolute32, debating between the lessons of experience and her own wishes, and the pugnacious33 counseling of her indignant offspring. Deciding in favor of the former, she wheeled and moved away, the rebellious34 calf protesting by kicking up its heels and by the defiant35 erectness36 of its tail.
"Th' devil you say!" grinned Gardner, watching them depart. "Yo're big enough to be weaned, you overgrown baby—an' yo're shore goin' to be, for yore ma's goin' north."
Out of a clump38 of brush popped a group of two-year-olds, heads up, curious and mildly frightened. They stood defiant until Gardner was nearly upon them, and then his sudden whoop39 sent them whirling and off toward Rock Creek, discretion40 overbalancing valor41. He gave them no further thought, for they would continue to travel unless crowded too much, and he was too old a hand to do that. A cow with a dogie he let slip through, pity joining hands with common sense in their behalf. It was not his purpose to bother with sickly, stunted42 youngsters, nor to take from them the maternal43 care so necessary to their sense of security.
By this time the outpouring of cattle had put a[314] respectable number in front of him, and as others were routed out they more willingly went forward, for the gregarious44 spirit urged them to join the little herd. Occasionally one having more spirit than the others would wheel around and attempt to escape, but in all instances, except one, the speedy dash of the trained cow-horse headed them off and sent them on the about-face. The exception was a five-year-old steer45, crusty and sullen46, his hide bearing mute witness to his combativeness47. He planted himself on rigid48 legs, lowered his sweeping49 horns and without even a grunt50 of warning charged straight for the watchful51 horseman.
"Blasted mosshead," muttered Sam, avoiding the rush, and watching some of the cattle which had turned to see how the affair came out before making up their minds to duplicate it. Too old for the drive, Sam would have let him go, except for the bad effect it might have on the rest of the cattle, and except for his own aroused spirit. He swung his rope and it darted52 up and out, and caught a hind53 leg of the "mosshead" as the pony54 settled back. There was a blur55 of over-turning steer, a bellow56 of rage, injury, and surprise, and a resounding57 thump58. Riding forward and taking up the slack as he went, Sam suddenly took two quick turns of the rope around his pommel, checked the horse, and grinned. Down went the mosshead again with another thump, and before the animal could get on its feet the rope was slipped off his leg, and when he arose he found himself alone. Gardner had seen the waverers start back to freedom and had to leave the craggy fighter to check a catastrophe59. Hard riding won out[315] for him and again he went forward. Several weaners shot out of a draw and took great credit to themselves for outwitting the puncher; but Sam saw no use of collecting infants only to have them turned loose at the cut-out. One cow arose, spread its feet apart and moved its low-held head slowly from side to side. He gave it a pitying glance and let it alone. "Locoed," he muttered, and as he spoke60 it shied at a weed swaying in the wind and went cautiously around it. There came a sudden bellowing61 ahead and he dashed forward at the pair of bulls who were pawing streams of dirt into the air as they met in the dust cloud, head on, and locked for the fight, their great, muscular backs bowed under the power of straining legs. This was no time for masculine duels62 and he broke it up with quirt and hat, driving the testy63 combatants apart and sending them on their ways. Dust arose over the moving herd, under which was turmoil64, confusion, the lowing of cows, and the bawling65 of calves66; but it rolled steadily67 westward68, slowly but surely. A rattler coiled swiftly and launched its venomous, dart-shaped head at the horse, which reared up with a snort of terror. Sam, stirred to sudden anger and recklessness, spurned69 a gun, and leaned over as the horse dropped to all four feet. His quirt whizzed viciously and a headless, splotched body writhed70 in the dust.
"I'm purty bad, myself, when I'm riled," he told it, and rode on. Shortly afterward71 a gray streak72 flashed from a heavy bit of brush, and Sam's Colt leaped into action, but in vain. The coyote punched a hole in the air and disappeared almost as though it had shrunk[316] into nothing. He grinned: "That slug will catch you when you stop, less'n you turns out," he said.
Rock Creek coming into view, the long line of horsemen became a crescent, the ends moving forward at the center slowed, and soon a circle of riders held the herd on all sides. It slowed, grew compact, and stopped, shifting like a kaleidoscope, the different colors weaving in and out like patches of some animated73, changing crazy-quilt. There was good grass here, plenty of water, and no more urging riders. Calves went bawling their panicky ways in frantic74 search for lost mothers, butting76 and worrying through the herd, receiving rebuffs and impersonal77 chastisements as they disturbed their elders. One stood outside the press and bawled79 like a spoiled child, its defiant tail as high as its sinewy80 neck and more erect37. There came an answering call from the herd and a frantic mother shot out, nosed the squaller, and then both grew instantly silent, contented81, and at peace with the turbulent world.
"G'wan back!" ordered Lefferts, grinning from ear to ear. "I'm sayin' that it's a great thing to have a ma, you bellerin' cry-baby."
The round-up had taken less time than had been expected and it was decided82 to go ahead with the cutting out. The riders took turns in going to the horse wrangler's flimsy rope corral, made by lariats strung from the wheels of the chuck wagon83 to the pommels of saddles on the backs of old, docile84, and well-trained horses. Selecting from their best cutting-out animals, saddles were hastily changed, a quick meal eaten, and then the men rode back to the herd to relieve others,[317] who duplicated the performance. The herd was gently made more compact so as to cover less ground and need fewer riders to loaf in their saddles and hold it, the inspectors rode out in front of it and the cutters-out went to work, trying to pick from the outer fringe of cattle. Cows and steers85 lumbered86 from the press and went either to the beef cut, or to freedom, according to the signal of the inspector19. Quickly the round-up herd shrunk and the beef cut grew. At first there was some trouble to get the chosen cattle to leave the herd—they tried to rejoin it; but as the beef cut grew it drew more and more until it was hardly more than necessary to start the individual cattle for it. When night fell the original herd had disappeared, its more fortunate units ranging free upon the ranch. The beef cut, allowed to graze and not bothered more than necessary, was headed for a rise, where in due time it bedded down and prepared to spend a quiet, peaceful night.
A passer-by would have come upon a picturesque87 scene on the banks of Rock Creek that night. The cook's fire, blazing high, was surrounded by the men off watch, squatted88, seated, or reclining as they swapped89 stories and told jokes. The chuck wagon was magnified and made grotesque90 by the firelight and shadows, saddled horses tied to it or picketed91 a short distance away, and the flimsy rope corral running from wagon wheels to stakes driven in the ground, was ready to hold a change of mounts in case of a sudden need. In the distance was the bedded herd, lying on the top of a rise where it could catch any passing breeze, the[318] cattle chewing their cuds and blowing and grunting92 contentedly93.
A yearling bummed94 among them, filled with the mischievous95 deviltry of youth, making life miserable96 for its elders as it stumbled and butted97 its erratic98 way. It left a fight or two in its wake and finally fled, abandoning all dignity when a crusty steer arose to chastise78 it. But the chip on its shoulder remained there until it tried to butt75 a calf from its warm bed, whereupon the indignant mother scrambled99 to all fours and sent the disturber on the run for safety. The calf was there because it bore no brand, which would be taken care of on the morrow. The bummer had no excuse to create any trouble over a warmed bed because the night was warm. Finally, the edge gone from its exuberant100 deviltry, it began to look for a place to sleep—and after barely escaping several thrashings it worked out of the herd and sought a place by itself, doubtless to ruminate101 upon the cruelties and indignities102 endured by yearlings.
The four night riders of the first shift went slowly, lazily around the herd, keeping a score or more yards from it, singing and carrying on chanted conversations as they met and passed each other. Gone was the dust and turmoil of the day and in its place had come rest and quiet. Over all the crescent moon, nightly to grow fuller, worked its alchemy on earth and cattle, shedding its soft silvery light. The distant camp fire grew steadily lower and finally glowed like the end of a great cigar, winking103 as gentle breezes fanned its embers and passed on. Somewhere out on the silvery range a lonely coyote poured a burbling plaint to the moon and[319] passed on like a shadow in search of food to stop the clamoring ache of an empty stomach, gradually approaching the winking fire, where choice titbits might perhaps be found.
"I want a big chew of tobacco," chanted Gardner, as he drew nearer to Reilly, "An' I want it bad, for mine's all gone."
"It allus is," sang Reilly. "Don't bother that spotted104 yearlin' over by them bushes. He's finally quit his bummin' an' has bedded down all by hisself outside th' herd. You'll know where he is even if you went blind. He's real friendly an' lonesome, an' likes to converse105 with everythin' that passes."
"I know th' scamp," sang Gardner, returning the plug. "He's had one gosh-awful time today keepin' out of a lickin'. I'm sayin' he earned a dozen." Soon he made out Lefferts' song, who mourned a long-lost love.
Her hair was th' color of 'lasses,
As soft as a bundle of wire;
An' birds made their nests in its fastness:
If they didn't I shore am a liar106.
Gardner was stirred by the melody and burst into song out of sympathy:
Her eyes was as bright as old saddles,
An' crossed on th' end of her nose;
Her hands was as shapely as paddles
An' hung down almost to her toes.
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Lefferts retaliated107 promptly108:
Her cheeks was as smooth as th' cactus109,
An' pink as a big hunk of mud;
At primpin' she was allus in practice,
An' she was daintily shaped, like a tub.
From across the herd came Reilly's natural tenor110, a little ragged111, but still a tenor:
Her voice was as sweet as a longhorn's,
It sounded as soft as a scream;
I'm scared to roll up in my blankets
For fear that of her I will dream.
The song was too much for the coyote, and he paused to yield to the craving112 for harmony reawakened in him.
"He's imitatin' you, Jim," chanted Gardner as he passed Lefferts. "Which same I says is well done."
"Go to th' devil, an' join yore tribe," sang Jim in delicate repartee113, and forthwith began the mournful lay of Clementine:
In a hut a-mong th' bushes, all a-long th' foamin' brine,
Lived a min-er, 'forty nin-er, an' his daugh-ter, Clementine.
She was fair-er than th' ros-es, an' her for-m-m, it was di-vine;
Two dry-goods box-es, without their top-ses, made gaiters for-r my Clementine.
At half-past eleven Gardner rode in to the wagon, aroused the next shift, sought his blankets and was[321] sound asleep before his three shift companions reached the camp. At three o'clock the second shift was relieved by the third, and last, which would stay with the herd until it was taken over by all the others, after breakfast.
The new day brought further developments. Several fires burned not far from the herd, irons projecting from them. The cattle were again cut out and driven away to a new herd, one by one, but this time they were taken close to the fires, and because of their weight and strength two ropers joined in the efforts of branding each animal. The glowing iron bit deeply through hair and into the skin on the left flank, filling the air with bellowing anguish114, surprise, and indignation, and the odors of burning hair and flesh. There were fights, balkings, charges, but the hard-working, hard-riding punchers, the deftly115 cast ropes, and the trained horses, together with waving hats and an occasional revolver shot close to the nose of refractory116, pugnacious bulls, and an occasional waved slicker or coat, won out, and the work proceeded at a good pace in spite of the general and apparent confusion. But whatever aspect of confusion there was, very little really existed except among the victims themselves, for the men proceeded along well-established lines, and the work went on as though it were running in a groove117. Horses were changed every hour or two, depending upon the rider's judgment, and the inspectors, with the Triangle foreman, checked off the branded animals as they joined the road-branded herd. This herd grew rapidly and its guards were increased as needed from the ropers[322] and iron men at they became too tired to hold the pace set. All day long the busy scene continued in the dust and the heat of the sun, with a bedlam118 of noise, an endless weaving and shifting, with lathered119 horses, sweat-and-dust-grimed riders, shouts of "Hot iron! Hot iron!" "Tally120 one!" "Ropers up!" and cries of warning and bursts of laughter. It were well that the Double X had sent three men to help; ten would not have been too many. Even with their help there was only one pair of ropers working at the fires and only three cutters-out, the rest being used to hold the two herds of restless cattle; and when night finally put an end to the operations less than half of the trail herd had been branded.
"Two more days," growled121 an inspector. "It's time you fellers throwed this worn-out, ancient way aside, an' got up even with th' times. You can build a chute that'll hold eight head an' by usin' stampin' irons you can turn out from sixty to eighty, yes, sometimes even a hundred, an hour, after you get th' hang of it. This handful should 'a' been done by noon. If I was you, Huff," he said, turning to the Bar H foreman, "I'd get on th' jump an' make a couple of them chutes, an' lay in half a dozen irons. One iron will do two or three with one heatin'; sometimes, if th' iron handlers work fast, two irons will stamp th' whole eight. You'll laugh when you see 'em comin' out, all branded, eight to a clip; an' th' work ain't near so hard. There ain't no holdin', nor ropin', nor throwin'. Here we've toted half a dozen Question Mark irons up here, an' they ain't hardly saved us any time. You've got plenty of[323] time to put up a chute before we start on yore thousand—if you don't, we'll be a week on 'em, an' a week's too long."
His companion nodded emphatically, and offered to superintend the work. "Ridley can handle th' tallyin' for us out here. They've all been selected, an' comin' as slow as they do, it ain't no two-man job. Mebby th' Double X will lend a couple more men to help—they're finishin' a pair of chutes up there, an' know what's wanted. What you say about it?"
Big Tom considered, and grudgingly122 gave his consent. Gus Thompson, tired as he was, volunteered to go to his ranch with the request, and started as soon as he had eaten. And by the night of the second day following, when the road-branded Triangle herd was being held to await the coming of McCullough, two eight-cow chutes were ready on the Bar H for the handling of its thousand head.
The round-up on the Bar H went forward with a swing and when it came time for the road branding the chutes proved their worth. The cattle, driven up in groups of eight, were forced into the long, narrow boxes as fast as the branded group went out at the other end. A bar dropped past the nose of the leader, and another bar dropped behind the last one in. Two men standing123 on a platform running along the side of the chute, each was handed a freshly heated iron and hurried from animal to animal, stamping the brand on each in turn. All morning the long chutes filled and emptied, the men changing places as they tired, the iron handlers so bothered by the stinging odor of burning hair that[324] none of them worked longer than two or three hours without being relieved.
"I'm backin' this here magazine-action brandin' with a hundred an' fifty pounds of fightin' Irish," declared Reilly, chuckling124 at the almost automatic working of the chutes. "Eight in, stamped an' out again while we'd be workin' on one slippery cuss. Seventy th' last hour for Sam's chute, an' Fraser crowdin' him close; an' us tenderfeet at it—I'm bettin' th' last hour does ninety to th' chute. We're gettin' th' hang of it, an' gettin' it fast."
"Slippin' along like water down hill," laughed Slim, borrowed from his bed and board to help the Bar H. "Hey, Ridley!" he called to the busy inspector, "got any new-fangled improvements that'll make these chutes do it themselves, so th' hard-workin' punchers won't have to loaf in their saddles, but can set around an' gamble? Holy Maverick125! Look at him tallyin'! He's shore workin' harder than he was yesterday."
"Who's loafin', you fool?" snorted Sam, taking breath while the chute was being refilled. "I've stamped close to eight thousand since I climbed up here, an'—Hot iron! Hot iron!" he yelled as the front bar dropped. "Wake up, you tramp!"
"You've got a lot to say, you has!" snapped Lefferts, running up with the irons. "All you got to do is push 'em ag'in' their hides—I'm near wore out!"
"Why use any bars at all?" queried126 Reilly, grinning at the hard-working Sam. "Just let 'em filter through, stamping 'em on th' run. We're wastin' time, this way."
[325]
"You've got near as much sense as Sam has!" retorted Lefferts, stirring his fire. "Which ain't payin' neither of you no compliments," he grunted127.
Big Tom could not deny the advantage of chute and stamping irons, and the ocular demonstration128 took from him his last reasonable objection to them, although he found fault with them because the herd had to be driven to the same place each round-up, and because he did not believe them to be suitable for calf branding; but when it was pointed129 out that the cattle had to be driven somewhere before the herd would be worth bothering with, and might as well be driven to the chutes, and that it would be a saving of time to do that, or to build more chutes on the ranch rather than to revert130 to the old methods, he could not deny it. Regarding the branding of calves there was a division of opinion; but calf branding was not nearly as hard or slow as the branding of grown animals. He knew, however, that the styles were changing, and changing under his eyes, and that for him to become stubborn and set against the change would be to appear ridiculous, and to become a source from which much levity131 would spring.
The branding done and the tallies132 compared, the visiting punchers departed for their ranches, the inspectors accepting Big Tom's invitation to spend the night with him, and rode to the ranchhouse; and the herd, restless, sore, and in sullen mood, was watered well at the muddy pond and thrown upon the high bed ground, and would remain a herd until delivered to McCullough, and for some weeks thereafter.
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1
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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ace
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| n.A牌；发球得分；佼佼者；adj.杰出的 | |
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4
buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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plumb
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| adv.精确地，完全地；v.了解意义，测水深 | |
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outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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lull
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| v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇 | |
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prod
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| vt.戳，刺；刺激，激励 | |
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herds
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| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
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ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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ranches
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| 大农场， （兼种果树，养鸡等的）大牧场( ranch的名词复数 ) | |
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Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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14
knack
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| n.诀窍，做事情的灵巧的，便利的方法 | |
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outfits
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| n.全套装备( outfit的名词复数 )；一套服装；集体；组织v.装备，配置设备，供给服装( outfit的第三人称单数 ) | |
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rejections
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| 拒绝( rejection的名词复数 )； 摒弃； 剔除物； 排斥 | |
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offset
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| n.分支，补偿；v.抵消，补偿 | |
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inspectors
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| n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官 | |
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inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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20
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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21
discriminating
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| a.有辨别能力的 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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23
consolidated
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| a.联合的 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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contingent
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| adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队 | |
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friskily
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| adv.活泼地，闹着玩地 | |
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calf
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| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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30
espied
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| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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31
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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irresolute
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| adj.无决断的，优柔寡断的，踌躇不定的 | |
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pugnacious
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| adj.好斗的 | |
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rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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35
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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36
erectness
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| n.直立 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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whoop
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| n.大叫，呐喊，喘息声；v.叫喊，喘息 | |
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40
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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41
valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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42
stunted
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| adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的 | |
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43
maternal
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| adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的 | |
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44
gregarious
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| adj.群居的，喜好群居的 | |
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45
steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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46
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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47
combativeness
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| n.好战 | |
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48
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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49
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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50
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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51
watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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52
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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53
hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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54
pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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55
blur
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| n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚 | |
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56
bellow
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| v.吼叫，怒吼；大声发出，大声喝道 | |
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57
resounding
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| adj. 响亮的 | |
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58
thump
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| v.重击，砰然地响；n.重击，重击声 | |
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59
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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60
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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61
bellowing
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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62
duels
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| n.两男子的决斗( duel的名词复数 )；竞争，斗争 | |
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63
testy
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| adj.易怒的；暴躁的 | |
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64
turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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65
bawling
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的现在分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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66
calves
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| n.(calf的复数)笨拙的男子，腓；腿肚子( calf的名词复数 )；牛犊；腓；小腿肚v.生小牛( calve的第三人称单数 )；（冰川）崩解；生（小牛等），产（犊）；使（冰川）崩解 | |
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67
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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68
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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69
spurned
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| v.一脚踢开，拒绝接受( spurn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
writhed
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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71
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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72
streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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73
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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74
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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75
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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76
butting
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| 用头撞人（犯规动作） | |
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77
impersonal
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| adj.无个人感情的，与个人无关的，非人称的 | |
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78
chastise
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| vt.责骂，严惩 | |
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79
bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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80
sinewy
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| adj.多腱的，强壮有力的 | |
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81
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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82
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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83
wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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84
docile
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| adj.驯服的，易控制的，容易教的 | |
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85
steers
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| n.阉公牛，肉用公牛( steer的名词复数 )v.驾驶( steer的第三人称单数 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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86
lumbered
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| 砍伐（lumber的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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87
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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88
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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89
swapped
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| 交换（工作）( swap的过去式和过去分词 )； 用…替换，把…换成，掉换（过来） | |
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90
grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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91
picketed
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| 用尖桩围住（picket的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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92
grunting
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| 咕哝的，呼噜的 | |
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93
contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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94
bummed
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| 失望的，沮丧的 | |
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95
mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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96
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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97
butted
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| 对接的 | |
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98
erratic
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| adj.古怪的，反复无常的，不稳定的 | |
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99
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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100
exuberant
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| adj.充满活力的；（植物）繁茂的 | |
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101
ruminate
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| v.反刍；沉思 | |
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102
indignities
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| n.侮辱，轻蔑( indignity的名词复数 ) | |
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103
winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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104
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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105
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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106
liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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107
retaliated
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| v.报复，反击( retaliate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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108
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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109
cactus
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| n.仙人掌 | |
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110
tenor
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| n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意 | |
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111
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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112
craving
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| n.渴望,热望 | |
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113
repartee
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| n.机敏的应答 | |
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114
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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115
deftly
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| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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116
refractory
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| adj.倔强的，难驾驭的 | |
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117
groove
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| n.沟，槽；凹线，（刻出的）线条，习惯 | |
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118
bedlam
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| n.混乱，骚乱；疯人院 | |
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119
lathered
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| v.（指肥皂）形成泡沫( lather的过去式和过去分词 )；用皂沫覆盖；狠狠地打 | |
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120
tally
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| n.计数器，记分，一致，测量；vt.计算，记录，使一致；vi.计算，记分，一致 | |
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121
growled
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| 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 | |
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122
grudgingly
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123
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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124
chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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125
maverick
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| adj.特立独行的；不遵守传统的；n.持异议者，自行其是者 | |
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126
queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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127
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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128
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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129
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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130
revert
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| v.恢复，复归，回到 | |
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131
levity
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| n.轻率，轻浮，不稳定，多变 | |
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132
tallies
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| n.账( tally的名词复数 )；符合；（计数的）签；标签v.计算，清点( tally的第三人称单数 )；加标签（或标记）于；（使）符合；（使）吻合 | |
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