Chief of the obstacles to our progress were the tributaries14 of the Menam Chow Pya. Sometimes they were swift and deep. Then we had only to strip and swim them, our bundles slung15 around our heads. What we dreaded16 more were the sluggish18 streams, through which we must wade19 waist deep in black, foul-smelling slush or half-acres of nauseating20 green slime, cesspools that seemed designed to harbor poisonous snakes. Once we despaired for a time of continuing our way. We had been halted by a stagnant21 rivulet22 more than a furlong wide, too deep to be waded23, too thickly covered with stewing25 slime to be swum. We wandered back along it for some distance. No stream could have been less fitting a scene for romance. Yet what was our surprise to find, where the green scum was thickest, an old dug-out scow, half roofed with attap leaves, anchored to a snag equi-distant 445from either shore; and in it that same youthful priest of our mountain tramp, engrossed26 in the entertainment of as comely27 a female as one could have run to earth in the length and breadth of these Siamese wilds. We half suspected that he would resent being disturbed. At sight of the scowling29 face that he raised when we hallooed to him we were sure of it.
Still we could not halt where we were merely out of respect for romance. We beckoned30 to him to paddle ashore31 and set us across. He refused and snarled32 back at us. We picked up the stoutest34 clubs at hand and shook them at him. He laughed scornfully. I threw my weapon at the craft. It struck the roof and went through it. The priest sprang up with a whine35, slipped his mooring36, and, twisting his face into an ugly grin of feigned37 amiability38, paddled slowly towards us. We sprang into the scow and five minutes later were plunging39 through the jungle beyond.
The sun was still well above the horizon when we reached Kung Chow. The Dane had told us it was twenty-two miles from Rehang. Kung Chow was no ordinary jungle village. It consisted of a bungalow40 of unusual magnificence, set in the center of a clearing on the bank of the Menam, with a half-circle of smaller dwellings41 round about and at a respectful distance from it. The main building was the residence of the “jungle king”; the smaller housed his servants and retainers.
Of this royal person we had heard much at breakfast that morning. To the commander of Rehang he was “almost a fellow countryman,” as he hailed from Sweden. For many years he had been stationed at Kung Chow as manager of a company that is exploiting the teak forests, and the style in which he lived in spite of his isolation43 had won him his sobriquet44.
We found him sitting in state on the veranda45 of his palace, gazing serenely46 out across the clearing. The servants that hovered47 about him looked like ludicrous little manikins in his presence, for he would have tipped the scales at perilously48 near a quarter-ton. The unruffled mien49 with which he noted50 our arrival bespoke51 a truly regal poise53. We halted at the foot of the throne and craved54 the boon55 of a drink of water. Judging from the calm wave of the hand with which the “king” ordered a vassal56 to fetch it, one would have supposed that white men passed his palace every hour. He watched us silently as we quenched57 our thirst. There was no tremor58 of excitement in the voice in which he asked our nationality and destination, and he inquired no further.
446“I can put a bungalow at your disposal,” he said, “if you had planned on stopping here.”
We were of half a mind to push on. It lacked an hour of sunset, and, to tell the truth, we had grown so accustomed to being received with open arms by Europeans that we were a bit disgruntled at his impassionate demeanor59. In the end we swallowed our pride and thanked him for the offer. That decision turned out to be the most fortunate of all the days of our partnership60.
The “king” waved a hand once more and a henchman in scarlet61 livery stepped forth62 and led us to one of the half-circle of bungalows63. It was a goodly dwelling42, as dwellings go, up along the Menam. Five servants were detailed64 to attend us. They prepared two English tub-baths and stood ready with crash towels to rub us down. The condition of our skins forced us to dispense65 with that service. When we had changed our garments a laundryman took charge of those we had worn. By this time, a servant had brought a phonograph from the palace and set it in action. The phonograph is not a perfected instrument; but even its tunes66 are soothing67 when one has heard nothing approaching music for weeks except the ballads68 sung by a crack-voiced Australian or the no less symphonic croaking69 of lizards70.
Then came our evening banquet. For days afterwards James could not speak of that without a tremor in his voice. The supper of the night before was a free lunch in a Clark street “slop’s house” in comparison. Least of the wonders that arrived from the storehouse of his jungle majesty72 was a box of fifty fat Habana cigars and a dozen bottles of imported beer; ice cold in these sweltering tropics.
We had just settled down for an evening chat when a sudden violent hubbub73 burst forth. I dashed out upon the veranda. Around the palace fluttered half the population of Kung Chow, squawking like excited hens; and the others were tumbling out of their bungalows in their haste to add to the uproar.
The royal residence was afire. From the back of the building a shaft74 of black smoke wavered upward in the evening breeze. When we pushed through the panic-stricken throng75, a slim blaze was licking at a corner of the back veranda. Its origin was not hard to guess. At the foot of the supporting bamboo pillar lay a sputtering76 kettle over a heap of charred77 fagots. Around it the natives were screaming, pushing, tumbling over each other; doing everything, in fact, but what the emergency called for. A dozen of them carried buckets. Twenty 447yards away was a stream. But they were as helpless as stampeded sheep.
James snatched a bucket and ran for the creek78. I caught up the tilting79 kettle and dumped its contents of half-boiled rice on the blaze. With the Australian’s first bucketful we had the conflagration80 under control and it was but the work of a moment to put it out entirely81. When the last ember had ceased to glow, the first native arrived with water from the stream. Behind him stretched a long line of servants with overflowing82 buckets. They fought with each other in their eagerness to deluge83 the charred corner of the veranda. Those who could not reach it dashed their water on the surrounding multitude, and the real firemen; then ran for more. We were forced to resort to violence to save ourselves from drowning.
As the last native was fleeing across the clearing, I looked up to see “his majesty” gazing down upon us. There was not a sign of excitement in the entire rotundity of his figure.
“These wild men are a useless lot of animals,” he said. “I’m glad you turned out.” Then he waddled84 back into his palace.
We returned to our bungalow and started the phonograph anew. Fully an hour afterward71 the “king” walked in upon us. He carried what looked like a great sausage, wrapped in thick, brown paper.
“I’m always glad to help a white man,” he panted, “especially when he has done me a service.”
I took the parcel in one hand and nearly lost my balance as he let it go. It weighed several pounds. By the time I had recovered my equilibrium85 “his majesty” was gone. I sat down and unrolled the package. It contained fifty silver tecals.
Our second day down the Menam was enlivened by one adventure. About noonday, we had cooked our food in one of the huts of a good-sized village and paid for it by no means illiberally86. Outside the shack87 we were suddenly surrounded by six “wild men” of unusually angry and determined88 appearance. Five of them carried dahs, the sixth, a long, clumsy musket89. While the others danced about us, waving their knives, the latter stopped three paces away, raised his gun, and took deliberate aim at my chest. The gleam in his eye suggested that he was not “bluffing.” I sprang to one side and threw the cocoanut I was carrying in one hand hard at him. It struck him on the jaw90 below the ear. His scream sounded like a factory whistle in the wilderness91 and he put off into the jungle as fast as his thin legs could carry him, his companions shrieking93 at his heels.
448“When you are attacked by an Oriental mob,” the Dane had said, “hurt one of them, and hurt him quick. That’s all that’s needed.”
Miles beyond, as we reposed94 in a tangled96 thicket97, a crashing of underbrush brought us anxiously to our feet. We peered out through the interwoven branches. An elephant, with a mahout dozing98 on his head, was advancing towards us. Behind him came another and another of the bulky animals, fifteen in all, some with armed men on their backs, others bearing a small carload of baggage. We stepped out of our hiding place in time to meet the chief of the caravan99, who rode between the seventh and eighth elephants on a stout33-limbed pony100. He was an Englishman, agent of the Bombay-Burma Lumber101 Company, and had spent fifteen years in wandering through the teak forests of Siam. Never before, he asserted, had he known a white man to cross the peninsula unarmed and unescorted. For a time he was convinced that we were playing a practical joke on him and had hidden our porters and guns away in the jungle. Disabused102 of that idea, he warned us to beware the territory beyond, asserting that he had killed two tigers and a murderous outlaw103 within the past week.
“I shall pitch my camp a few miles from here,” he concluded. “You had better turn back and spend the night with me. It’s all of thirty miles from Kung Chow to here, more than enough for one day.”
We declined the offer, having no desire to cover the same territory thrice. The Englishman wrote us a letter of introduction to his subagent in the next village, and, as that hamlet was some distance off, we took our leave at once.
For miles we struggled on through the tangle95 of vegetation without encountering a sign of the hand of man. The shadows lengthened104 eastward105, twilight106 fell and thickened to darkness. To travel by night in this jungle country is utterly107 impossible. We paid for our attempt to do so by losing our way and sinking to our knees in a slimy swamp. When we had dragged ourselves to more solid ground, all sense of direction was gone. With raging thirst and gnawing108 hunger we threw ourselves down in the depths of the wilderness. The ground was soft and wet. In ten minutes we had sunk half out of sight. I pulled my “swag” loose and rolled over to another spot. It was softer and wetter than the one I had left.
“Hark!” murmured James suddenly. “Is that a dog barking? Perhaps there’s a village near.”
“An elephant, with a mahout dozing on his head, was advancing toward us”
Myself after four days in the jungle, and with the Siamese soldiers with whom we fell in now and then between Myáwadi and Rehang. I had sold my helmet
We listened intently, breathlessly. A far-off howl sounded above the droning of the jungle. Possibly some dog was baying the faint 449face of the moon. There was an equal possibility that we had heard the roar of some beast abroad in quest of prey109. “Tigers abound110,” the Englishman had said. So must snakes in this reptile-breeding undergrowth. A crackling of twigs111 close beside me sent an electric shock along my spine112. I opened my mouth to call to James. He forstalled me.
“Hello!” he whispered. “Say, I’ll get a fever if I sleep in this mud. Let’s try that big tree there.”
It was a gigantic growth for the tropics. The lowest of its wide-spreading branches the Australian could reach from my shoulders. He pulled me up after him and we climbed higher. I sat down astride a great limb, tied my bundle above me, and, leaning against the trunk, sank into a doze3.
I was aroused by a blow in the ribs113.
“Quit it!” cried James angrily, thumping114 me again, “What the deuce are you tearing my clothes off for?”
I opened my mouth to protest, but was interrupted by a violent chattering115 in the branches above, as a band of monkeys scampered116 away at sound of our voices. They soon returned. For half the night those jabbering117, clawing little brutes118 kept us awake and ended by driving us from the tree entirely. We spent the hours of darkness left, on the ground at its foot, indifferent alike to snakes and tigers.
When daylight came we found the river again within a few hundred yards of our resting place. A good hour afterward we stumbled, more asleep than awake, into a village on the northern bank of a large tributary119 of the Menam. It was Klong Sua Mak, the home of the lumberman’s subagent; but our letter of introduction served us no purpose, for we could not find the addressee. It did not matter much. The place had so far advanced in civilization as to possess a shop where food was sold. In it we made up for our fast of the night before.
The meal was barely over when we were again in the midst of a village riot. It was all the fault of the natives. We offered them money to row us across the tributary, but they turned scornfully away. When we stepped into one of the dug-outs drawn120 up on the bank, they charged down upon us, waving their dahs. It was no such burlesque121 of a fight as that of the day before. But for a pike pole in the boat we might not have continued our wanderings beyond Klong Sua Mak. At the crisis of the conflict a howling fellow, swinging a 450great knife, bounded suddenly into the craft. James caught him by an arm and a leg. A glistening122 brown body flashed high in the air; there sounded one long-drawn shriek92; and the bold patriot123 sank in the murky124 water some distance behind us. When he came again to the surface, unarmed, we had pushed off from the shore.
“Damn niggers!” growled125 the Australian, catching126 up a paddle. “Serve ’em right if we kept their bloody127 old hollow log and went down to Bangkok in her. What say we do?” he cried, “My feet are nothing but two blisters128.”
For answer I swung the craft half round and we glided129 out into the Menam. A boat load of natives put out behind us, but instead of following in our wake they paddled across the river and down the opposite bank. We stretched out in the bottom of the dug-out and, drifting with the current, let them outstrip130 us. Far down the stream they turned in at a grove131 above which rose a white building. I dozed132 a moment and then sat up suddenly with a shout. The boat load had pushed off again, and behind them came a second canoe bearing six khaki-clad soldiers, armed with muskets133. The white building was a military post, and a part of the redoubtable134 Siamese army was on our trail.
“Swing her ashore,” cried James, grasping his paddle. “No naval135 battles in mine.”
The dug-out grounded on the sloping bank. Between the jungle and the water’s edge was a narrow open space. Adjusting our “swag,” we set off down the bank at any easy pace. The “wild men” beached their boats near the abandoned dug-out and dashed after us, shouting angrily. A few paces away the soldiers drew up a line and leveled five muskets at us. The sergeant136 shouted an order commandingly. An icy chill ran up and down my spinal137 column, but we marched on with even stride. Knowing what we did of the Siamese soldier, we were convinced that the little brown fellows would not dare shoot down a white man in cold blood. Nor was our judgment138 at fault. When we had advanced a few yards the squad139 ran after us and drew up once more in firing line. The sergeant bellowed140 in stentorian141 tones; but the guns hung fire.
Seven times this man?uvre was repeated. We were already a half-mile from the landing place. Suddenly, a villager snatched a musket from a soldier and, running close up on our heels, took deliberate aim. His appearance stamped him as the bold, bad man of that region. My flesh crawled in anticipation142 of the sting of a bullet. I caught myself wondering in what part of my body it would be lodged143. But the fellow vented144 his anger in shrieking and aiming; he dared not pull the trigger.
Bangkok is a city of many canals
451Finding us indifferent to all threats, the sergeant changed his tactics. The scene became ludicrous. One by one the barefooted troopers slipped up behind us and snatched at our packs and jackets. When we turned on them they fell back wild eyed. Their persistence145 grew annoying.
“Tip me off when the next one tries it,” said James.
Out of a corner of an eye I watched a soldier steal up on my companion and reach for his depleted146 “swag.”
“Now!” I shouted.
The Australian whirled and caught the trooper’s musket in both hands. The fellow let go of it with a scream, and the whole following band, sergeant, soldiers, villagers, and bold, bad man turned tail and fled.
Miles beyond we met two lone147 soldiers perambulating northward148, and, knowing that they were sure to stop at the post of our recent adversaries149, we forced the musket upon them and plodded150 on clear of conscience.
Once more we were benighted151 in the jungle and again the ground was soggy and the trees alive with monkeys. On the following day, for all our sleepiness and blistered152 feet, we tramped a full thirty miles and spent that night in an odoriferous bamboo hut, much against the owner’s will—and our own.
Forty-eight hours after our escape from the soldiers we reached Pakhampo, an important village numbering several Europeans among its inhabitants. With one of these we took dinner. His house floated on a bamboo raft in a tributary of the Menam, his servants were “wild men” of his own training, and his wife a native. Unfeminine as is the female of Siam, with her black teeth and her bristling pompadour, half the white residents of the kingdom, many of them men of education and personality, are thus mated.
A German syndicate has undertaken the construction of the first railway of Siam. We struck out along the top of the unfinished grade in the early afternoon, and, no longer hampered153 by entangling154 undergrowth, set such a pace as we had not before in weeks. Long after dark we reached the residence of a German superintendent155 of construction, who gave us leave to sleep in an adjoining hut, in which were stored several tons of dynamite156. An hour’s tramp next morning 452brought us to “rail head” and the work train. Hundreds of Chinese coolies, in mud-bespattered trousers and leaf hats three feet in diameter, swarmed157 upon the flat cars as they were unloaded. With them we jolted158 away through the sun-scorched jungle.
Ten miles south the train took a siding and stopped before a stone quarry159 around which had sprung up a helter-skelter Chinese village. A deluge drove us into a shop where samshoo, food, and coolie clothing were sold, and we whiled away a gloomy morning in discussing the characters of the proprietors160, whose chief pastime, when they were not quarreling over their cards, was to toss back and forth about the room a dozen boxes of dynamite. At noon they set out on these same boxes a generous dinner of spitted pork, jerked duck, and rice wine; and invited us to join them. We did so, being hungry, yet anticipating a sad depletion162 of our funds when the quarter-hour of Gargantua came. All through the meal the Chinamen were most attentive163. When it was ended they rolled us cigarettes in wooden wrappers, such as they smoked incessantly164 even while eating.
“Suppose they’ll want the whole bloody fortune now,” sighed James, as I drew out money to pay them. To our unbounded surprise, however, they refused to accept a copper165.
“What the devil do you suppose their game is?” gasped166 the Australian. “Something foxy, or I’m a dingo. Never saw a pig-tail look a bob in the face before without grabbing for it.”
The dean of the shopkeepers, a shifty-eyed old fellow with a straggly grey cue, swung suddenly round upon us.
“Belly fine duck,” he grinned.
Our faces froze with astonishment167.
“Dinner all light?” he went on, “Belly good man, me. No takee dollies for chow. Many Chinyman takee plenty. You fink allee same me. No damn fear. One time me live Flisco by white man allee same you, six year. Givee plenty dollies for joss stick. Me no takee for chow.”
The Celestials169 had grouped themselves about us, laughing gleefully at the surprise which the old man had sprung on us. Of the eight Chinamen in the hut, six spoke52 “pidgin” English fluently and had understood our every word.
We spent the afternoon in acquiring a Chinese vocabulary for the days to come. Nor were these jungle merchants poor tutors. At dusk they prepared a second feast, after which two of them shouldered our packs and led the way through the wilderness to a point on the 453main line, where the locomotive of the work train was to halt on its way south. If we had not progressed many miles during the day, we had at least discovered an entirely new side to the Chinese character.
Freed of its burden of flat cars, the engine raced like a thing of life through the cool, silent night, taking the curves at breathless angles. We sat high up on the tender chatting with the Eurasian driver, who, having a clear right of way, left his throttle170 wide open until the station lights of Choung Kae flashed up out of the darkness. There was no hotel in the village; but the railway agent sent his coolies to arrange a first-class coach for our accommodation. The lamps lighted, the leather cushions dusted, a chettie set within reach, and our chamber171 was ready. A servant brought a bundle of Bangkok newspapers, and we sat late into the night, listening, for the first time in weeks, to the voice of the outside world.
At noon next day a passenger train left Choung Kae, and for hours we rumbled172 across inundated173 paddy fields, with frequent halts at excited bamboo villages. Then towering pagodas174 rose slowly above the southern horizon, the jungle died away, and at five o’clock the daily train of Siam pulled in at the Bangkok station. It is doubtful if Rice, meeting us face to face, would have recognized the men of whom he had taken leave in the streets of Rangoon just three weeks before. Until we had shaved and washed in a barber’s booth we had not the audacity175 to introduce ourselves as white men to an innkeeper of the Siamese capital.
Somewhat to our disappointment, Bangkok was in no sense the barbaric metropolis176 of heartless infanticides we had so often pictured to ourselves in fighting eastward through the jungle. Spread out in the low, flat basin of the Menam, there was something of monotony in her rambling177 rows of weather-beaten cottages. Her ill-paved streets were intersected by many canals, alive with shipping178 in the morning hours, but stagnant during the rest of the day with low-roofed boats yawning at their moorings. Pagodas and rambling temples and monasteries179 were everywhere, occupying a large proportion of the city’s area, yet unusual neither in architecture nor in Oriental ugliness. To the traveler who has seen the Far-East elsewhere, there was little novelty in the capital except her floating houses, set on bamboo rafts in the Menam and rising and falling with the tide.
The inhabitants, lacking the politeness of the Burmese, were dull and docile180, stirring abroad, often, as briefly181 clothed as their brethren of the trackless bush. Chinamen were numerous, the European community 454by no means small. Not all her white residents dwell in Bangkok by choice. A majority of them, if popular tradition is to be credited, came thither182 hastily and show no longing183 to depart. For Siam has few treaties of extradition184 with the outside world. A few of these exiles have prospered185 and are commercial powers in the capital. Others seem content to live out their declining years in a simple bungalow of the suburbs, with a native wife and naught186 to disturb their tropical day-dreams save the dread17 of that hour in which France or England may absorb the little buffer187 state and drive them forth to seek new refuge. Of these latter we met a half-dozen, among them two of my own countrymen, who made no secret of their wayward conduct in other climes.
There were neither beachcombers nor shipping-offices in Bangkok. Deck passage to Hong Kong, however, cost next to nothing, and four days after our arrival we made application for tickets at the steamship188 offices. To our surprise the company refused to sell them. Deck passage was for natives only; white men, insisted the agent, must travel first or second class.
We hurried back to our respective consulates189 and met again a half-hour later, each armed with a letter to the obdurate191 agent. What the representatives of our outspoken192 governments had written we had no means of knowing; but the notes were evidently brief and to the point, for the clerk, muttering angrily to himself, made out deck tickets with unusual celerity. The next afternoon an unclad female paddled us lazily across the Menam in a raging downpour and set us aboard the Paklat, a miniature North German Lloyd steamer that cast off her shore lines three hours later, and, slipping down over the sand bar at the mouth of the river, dropped anchor next morning in the cove24 outside to finish loading.
The Paklat was officered by five Germans and manned by a hundred Chinese seamen193, stokers and stewards194, between which two nationalities conversation was carried on entirely in English. In the first cabin were several wealthy Oriental merchants; “on deck,” a half-hundred Chinese coolies. Discipline was there none aboard the craft. The sailors obeyed orders when they chose and heaped abuse on the officers when they preferred to loaf. For the latter, in constant dread of being betrayed to the pirates that abound in these waters, stood in abject196 fear of the crew.
Never before had the Paklat carried white men as deck passengers. The Chinese seamen, therefore, considering our presence on board 455an encroachment197 on the special privileges of their race, had greeted our first appearance with scowls198 and snarls199, and vied with each other in so arranging their work as to cause us as much annoyance200 as possible. We laughed at their enmity and, choosing a space abaft201 the wheelhouse, stripped to trousers and undershirt and settled down for a monotonous202 voyage.
Two sweltering days the steamer rode at anchor in the outer bay. On the afternoon of the second the entire force of stewards, some thirty strong, marched aft with their bowls of rice and squatted203 in a semicircle near us. Not satisfied with merely encroaching on our chosen precincts, one of the band sat down on the bundle containing my kodak. When I voiced an objection the fellow leered at me and refused to move. I threw down the book I was reading and, putting a bare foot against his naked shoulder, pushed him aside and took possession of my pack. In his fall he dropped and broke his rice bowl. The entire band, accustomed, like most Orientals, to avoid angry white men, retreated several yards, leaving their dishes of “chow” where they had been sitting. The chief steward195, a snaky-eyed Celestial168 with a good command of English, berated204 us roundly in that tongue and then ran forward to summon the first mate.
“Vell! Vell! Und vat205 I can do?” demanded that pudgy-faced Teuton, when he had heard both sides of the story. “Vy you come deck-passengers? You must look out by yourselfs yet,” and, picking his way apologetically among the screaming stewards, he hurried back to the bridge.
For a moment the Chinamen stood silent. I turned my back upon them and, sitting down on the bare deck beside the Australian, fell again to reading.
“Kang kweitze!” (Kill the foreign devils!) screamed the chief of the stewards suddenly. With a roar as of an overturned hive of gigantic bees, the Chinamen surged forward. A ten-foot scantling, left on the deck by the carpenter, struck me a stunning206 blow on the back of the head, knocking my book overboard; and I landed face down among the rudder-chains at the rail.
When I collected my wits a dozen Chinamen were belaboring207 me with bamboo cudgels. I struggled to my feet. James was laying about him right merrily. At every blow of his hard, brown fists a shrieking Celestial went spinning across the deck. We stood back to back and struck out desperately208. Buckets, clubs, and rope-ends beat a continual tattoo209 on our heads and shoulders. Of a dozen bamboo 456stools that had been scattered210 about the deck no less than eight were smashed to bits over our bare crowns. Inch by inch we fought our way around the deck house and, escaping from our assailants, raced forward.
In the waist stood four of the German officers, huddled211 together like frightened sheep.
“You bloody Dutchman!” cried the Australian, shaking his fist in the face of the first mate. “You’d hang back and see a man killed. If there was one Englishman on board we’d clean out that bunch.”
The Chinamen had retreated; but fearing that they would throw our bundles overboard, we armed ourselves with two stout clubs and again started aft.
“Keep avay!” shrieked212 the first mate, “You make riot and ve all get kilt!”
“It’d be no loss,” growled James, over his shoulder. We marched around the deck house, swinging our weapons, and rescued our “swag” without mishap213. In our haste, however, we forgot our shoes and the Australian’s helmet. Once more we turned back towards the scene of conflict.
“Let dem alone,” pleaded the chief engineer, “vy you pick fight?”
Having no desire to flaunt214 our belligerency in the face of the crew, and fancying their anger had cooled by this time, we tossed aside our clubs and continued unarmed. Grouped abaft the deck house, the Chinamen allowed us to pass unmolested. We stooped to pick up our footwear.
“Kang kweitze!” screeched215 the chief steward, and before we could straighten up they were upon us. It was a more savage216 battle than the first. The remaining bamboo stools were wrecked217 at the first onslaught. We struggled forward and had all but freed ourselves again when James stumbled over a bollard and fell prone218 on the deck. A score of Celestials swarmed about his prostrate219 form; every man of them struck him at least a dozen blows with some weapon. Whole constellations220 of shooting stars danced before my eyes as I sprang to his assistance. A Chinaman bounded forward with a scream and struck at me with a long, thin knife. Instinctively221 I threw up my right hand, grasping the blade. It cut one of my fingers to the bone, split open the palm, and slashed222 my wrist. But the fellow let go of the weapon and, thus unexpectedly armed, we were not long in fighting our way back to the waist.
When we had washed our wounds in salt water and bound them 457up as best we could, we marched to the cabin to charge the captain with cowardice223. He denied our assertion and, to prove his valor224, armed himself with two revolvers and led the way aft. It was with considerable satisfaction that we watched a dozen of our assailants show wounds they had received in the encounter. The commander endeavored to make light of the affair, but assigned us to an unfurnished cabin in the deck house and left us to spend a feverish225 and painful night on the slats of the narrow bunks226. In the morning there was not a spot the size of a man’s hand on either of our bodies that was not black and blue. The Australian, too, had suffered an injury to the spine, and all through the voyage he was confined to his comfortless couch, where he subsisted227 chiefly on black pills doled228 out by the skipper, not only because his appetite had failed him but because he lived in constant fear of being poisoned by the Chinese “boy” who served us.
Eight weary days the decrepit229 old tramp wheezed230 like an asthmatic crone along the indented231 coast of Cochin-China. On the morning following the anniversary of my departure from Detroit two small islands of mountainous formation rose from the sea on our port bow. Several junks, manned by evil-faced, unshaven Monguls, bobbed up out of the dawn and, hooking the rail of the Paklat with grappling-irons, towed beside us, shouting offers of assistance to the passengers possessed232 of baggage. More verdant233 islands appeared and when we slipped into the horseshoe harbor of Hong Kong it was still half shaded by the wooded amphitheater that incloses it.
A sampan, floating residence of a numerous family, set us ashore. We made our way to the Sailors’ Home. My hand had healed, but James had by no means recovered. As the day waned234 we made application in his behalf at the municipal hospital. It was the Australian’s misfortune that he was a British subject. Had he been of any other nationality his consul190 would soon have arranged for his admission. But as an Englishman he was legally at home and must therefore shift for himself. For several days he was turned away from the infirmary on threadbare pleas. Then at last he was admitted, and I turned my attention to outgoing ships, eager to be off, yet sorry to leave behind the best companion with whom I had ever shared the joys and miseries235 of the open road.
The next morning I boarded the Fausang, an English cargo236 steamer about to sail for Shangha?, and explained my desires to the good-humored British mate.
458“Sure, lad!” he cried, booting across the hatchway a Chinaman who was belaboring a female stevedore237. “Come on board to-night and go to work. We can’t sign you on, but the old man will be glad to give you a few bob for the run.”
At midnight we sailed. Again I quickly fell into the routine of watch and watch and life in the forecastle. Four days later we anchored in quarantine at the mouth of the Woosung, then steamed slowly up the murky stream between flat, verdureless banks adorned238 by immense godowns, and docked close off the Sailors’ Home.
It is at Shangha? that the American wanderer, circumnavigating the globe from west to east, begins to feel that he is approaching his native land. Not only is he technically239 at home in one section of the international city, but it is here that he meets the vanguard of penniless adventurers from “the States.” Tramps from the Pacific slope venture now and then thus far afield, as those along the opposite seaboard drift across to the British Isles240. But the world that lies between these outposts knows little of the “hobo.”
Rumor241 had it that “the graft242” was good in the Chinese port. Before I had been a day ashore I came across a dozen or more fellow-countrymen who had picked up a living for weeks among the tender-hearted white residents and tourists. That was no great difficulty, to be sure, for samshoo, the Chinese fire-water, sold cheaply; and an abundant meal of milk, bread, potatoes, and eggs was to be had for ten cents “Mex” in the establishment of a native who enjoyed the distinction of having lived in “Flisco.”
There were delightful243 spots, too, in the close-packed city. Along the Bund in the English section was a pleasant little park to which white men, Indians, or plain “niggers” might retreat; but to which no Chinaman, be he coolie or mandarin244, was admitted. When the sun was well on its decline a stroll out Bubbling Well Road proved an agreeable experience. Towards nightfall the European rendezvous245 was the broad, grassy246 Maidan, where Englishmen, in spotless flannels247, and crumple-shirted Americans, perspired248 at their respective national pastimes. So numerous were the residents of Shangha? hailing from “the States” that each evening two teams struggled against each other in a series that was to decide the baseball championship of southern China.
European Shangha? is the center of business activity. Round about it lies many a square mile of two-story shanties249 that throttle each other for leave to stand erect250, fed by a maze251 of narrow footpaths252 459aglow with brilliant signboards and gay joss-houses, and surcharged with sour-faced Celestials who scowl28 threateningly at the European pedestrian or mock his movements in exaggerated gesture and grimace253. Cackling vendors254 zigzag255 through the throng; wealthy Chinamen in festive256 robes and carefully oiled cues pick their way along the meandering257 lanes; burly runners, bearing on one shoulder a lady of quality crippled since infancy258 by dictate259 of an ancient custom, jog in and out among the shoppers.
There is in Shangha? an institution known officially as “Hanbury’s Coffee House,” popularly, as the “bums’ retreat.” Of the two titles the latter is more exactly descriptive. But its charges were lower than those of the Sailors’ Home, and on my third day in the city I moved thither. With my “swag” under one arm I strolled into the common room and approached the proprietor161 behind the register. A dozen beachcombers were sitting over cards and samshoo at the small tables. As I reached for the pen a sudden shout sounded behind me:—
“By God! There’s the very bloke now! The bum260 that carries a camera. Hello, Franck!”
The speaker dashed across the room with outstretched hand. It was Haywood, that much-wanted youth, famous for his adventures in Sing Sing and India.
“I was this minute spinnin’ your yarn261 to Bob here,” he cried, indicating a grinning seaman262 at his heels, “when who should come in but yourself as big as life. Gee263! I thought for a minute this rice-water was beginning to put me off my feet. So you’ve beat it to here, eh? Show Bob the phizz-snapper or he’ll think I’m a liar264.
“Say,” he continued, as Bob turned the apparatus265 over in his stubby fingers with the nervousness of a bachelor handling a baby, “where in Niggerland did you and Marten go that night you beat me out of the chow-room at the Home in Cally? You sure faded fast.”
“Up country,” I answered, and gave him a brief account of my travels since we had separated.
“Well, I’ve had a hell of a run, too,” he said, when I had finished, “though there was no jungle in it. When I made that pier-head jump out of Rangoon I thought I was signed on A. B. But the skipper thought different and it was down in the sweat-box for mine. The lads had told me she was bound for China, but before we was two days out the mate passed the tip that she was off for the States. It near give me heart failure, but I took a ramble266 through the bunkers 460and as they was half empty I knew the old man’d have to put in somewhere for coal. So I tried soldierin’, hopin’ to be kicked ashore. In three weeks we dropped into Yoko, but when I hit the skipper for my discharge he give me the glassy eye. So I packed my swag and went down the anchor-chain into a sampan at midnight, and the next mornin’ give the consul a song and dance about the tub bein’ the hungriest craft afloat and the mate the meanest. He took it all in and when the old man come ashore he told him to pay me off p. d. q.
“The month’s screw give me a good blow-out that ended in two days by me gettin’ broke an’ pinched. When I got out I hit it off for Kobe on a passenger and turned a little trick the night I got there that landed me over seventy yen267. It was a cinch I had to fade away, so I took a pasteboard to Naggy268. But the graft was no good there, so I picked up with Bob an’ a deck passage an’ here we are. This is plenty near enough the States for mine. But say,” he concluded, in a confidential269 whisper, “I haven’t got a red. Happen to have the price of a flop270 that ain’t workin’?”
In memory of old times I paid his lodging271 for the night and we wandered out into the city.
When I awoke two mornings later a dismal272 downpour promised a day of forced inactivity; and inactivity in a foreign land means ennui273 and a stirring of the Wanderlust. I packed my “swag” hurriedly, therefore, and an hour later was slipping down the Woosung on board the Chenan of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha. Among several hundred third-class passengers I was the only European; but I have yet to be treated more considerately by fellow-travelers. Our sleeping quarters consisted of two inclined platforms running half the length of the ship, on which, in my ignorance, I neglected to preempt274 a claim. But I lost nothing thereby275, for no sooner was it noised among the Japanese that an American was unprovided for, than a dozen crowded round to offer me their places. I joined a party of four students returning from Pekin, and, by packing ourselves together like spoons, we found room without depriving any other of his quarters.
Three times daily we filed by the galley276 and received each a small wooden box divided into three compartments277; the larger contained rice, the smaller, oily vegetables and tiny baked fish. With each meal came a new pair of chopsticks. Japanese food does not appeal greatly to the white man’s appetite; but the food supplied on the Chenan was 461far less depressing to the spirits than the steerage rations278 on many a transatlantic liner.
On the second morning out, the rolling green hills of Japan rose slowly above the sun-flecked sea. My companions hailed each landmark279 with patriotic280 fervor281 and strove to convince me that we had reached the most beautiful spot on the globe. In reality they were not far wrong. The verdure-framed harbor of Nagasaki was little less charming than that of Hong Kong; from the water’s edge rose an undulating, drab-roofed town that covered the low coast ranges like a wrinkled brown carpet, and faded away in the blue wreaths of hillside forests.
The port was bustling282 with activity. Sampans, in which stood policemen in snow-white uniforms, scurried283 towards us. Close at hand two dull grey battle ships scowled284 out across the roadstead. Doctors, custom officers, and gendarmes285 crowded on board. For the first time in months I was sensible of being in a civilized286 country. In consequence there were formalities without number to be gone through; but a sailor’s discharge is a passport in any land. By blazing noonday I had stepped ashore.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
westward
|
|
| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
doze
|
|
| v.打瞌睡；n.打盹，假寐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
yelping
|
|
| v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
uproar
|
|
| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
heralded
|
|
| v.预示( herald的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
abode
|
|
| n.住处，住所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
squatting
|
|
| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的现在分词 )；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。 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
dexterity
|
|
| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
bristling
|
|
| a.竖立的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
porcupines
|
|
| n.豪猪，箭猪( porcupine的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
robust
|
|
| adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
bellies
|
|
| n.肚子( belly的名词复数 )；腹部；（物体的）圆形或凸起部份；腹部…形的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
tributaries
|
|
| n. 支流 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
slung
|
|
| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
dreaded
|
|
| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
dread
|
|
| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
sluggish
|
|
| adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
wade
|
|
| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
nauseating
|
|
| adj.令人恶心的，使人厌恶的v.使恶心，作呕( nauseate的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
stagnant
|
|
| adj.不流动的，停滞的，不景气的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
rivulet
|
|
| n.小溪，小河 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
waded
|
|
| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
cove
|
|
| n.小海湾，小峡谷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
stewing
|
|
| 炖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
engrossed
|
|
| adj.全神贯注的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
comely
|
|
| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
scowl
|
|
| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
scowling
|
|
| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
beckoned
|
|
| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
ashore
|
|
| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
snarled
|
|
| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
stoutest
|
|
| 粗壮的( stout的最高级 )； 结实的； 坚固的； 坚定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
whine
|
|
| v.哀号，号哭；n.哀鸣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
mooring
|
|
| n.停泊处；系泊用具，系船具；下锚v.停泊，系泊（船只）(moor的现在分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
feigned
|
|
| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
amiability
|
|
| n.和蔼可亲的，亲切的，友善的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
plunging
|
|
| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
bungalow
|
|
| n.平房，周围有阳台的木造小平房 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
dwellings
|
|
| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
dwelling
|
|
| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
isolation
|
|
| n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
sobriquet
|
|
| n.绰号 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
veranda
|
|
| n.走廊；阳台 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
serenely
|
|
| adv.安详地，宁静地，平静地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
hovered
|
|
| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
perilously
|
|
| adv.充满危险地，危机四伏地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
mien
|
|
| n.风采；态度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
bespoke
|
|
| adj.（产品）订做的；专做订货的v.预定( bespeak的过去式 )；订（货）；证明；预先请求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
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： |
|
|
|
|
53
poise
|
|
| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
craved
|
|
| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
boon
|
|
| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
vassal
|
|
| n.附庸的；属下；adj.奴仆的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
quenched
|
|
| 解（渴）( quench的过去式和过去分词 )； 终止（某事物）； （用水）扑灭（火焰等）； 将（热物体）放入水中急速冷却 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
tremor
|
|
| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
demeanor
|
|
| n.行为；风度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
partnership
|
|
| n.合作关系，伙伴关系 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
scarlet
|
|
| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
bungalows
|
|
| n.平房( bungalow的名词复数 )；单层小屋，多于一层的小屋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
detailed
|
|
| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
dispense
|
|
| vt.分配，分发；配(药)，发(药)；实施 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
tunes
|
|
| n.曲调，曲子( tune的名词复数 )v.调音( tune的第三人称单数 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
soothing
|
|
| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
ballads
|
|
| 民歌，民谣，特别指叙述故事的歌( ballad的名词复数 )； 讴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
croaking
|
|
| v.呱呱地叫( croak的现在分词 )；用粗的声音说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
lizards
|
|
| n.蜥蜴( lizard的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
afterward
|
|
| adv.后来；以后 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
majesty
|
|
| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
hubbub
|
|
| n.嘈杂；骚乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
shaft
|
|
| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
throng
|
|
| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
sputtering
|
|
| n.反应溅射法；飞溅；阴极真空喷镀；喷射v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的现在分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
charred
|
|
| v.把…烧成炭( char的过去式)；烧焦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
creek
|
|
| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
tilting
|
|
| 倾斜，倾卸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
conflagration
|
|
| n.建筑物或森林大火 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
overflowing
|
|
| n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
deluge
|
|
| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
waddled
|
|
| v.（像鸭子一样）摇摇摆摆地走( waddle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
equilibrium
|
|
| n.平衡，均衡，相称，均势，平静 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
illiberally
|
|
| adv.吝啬地，小气地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
shack
|
|
| adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
musket
|
|
| n.滑膛枪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
jaw
|
|
| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
wilderness
|
|
| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
shriek
|
|
| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
shrieking
|
|
| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
reposed
|
|
| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
tangle
|
|
| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
tangled
|
|
| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
thicket
|
|
| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
dozing
|
|
| v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
caravan
|
|
| n.大蓬车；活动房屋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
pony
|
|
| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
lumber
|
|
| n.木材，木料；v.以破旧东西堆满；伐木；笨重移动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
disabused
|
|
| v.去除…的错误想法( disabuse的过去式和过去分词 )；使醒悟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
103
outlaw
|
|
| n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
104
lengthened
|
|
| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
105
eastward
|
|
| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
106
twilight
|
|
| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
107
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
108
gnawing
|
|
| a.痛苦的，折磨人的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
109
prey
|
|
| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
110
abound
|
|
| vi.大量存在；(in，with)充满，富于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
111
twigs
|
|
| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
112
spine
|
|
| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
113
ribs
|
|
| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
114
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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
115
chattering
|
|
| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
116
scampered
|
|
| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
117
jabbering
|
|
| v.急切而含混不清地说( jabber的现在分词 )；急促兴奋地说话；结结巴巴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
118
brutes
|
|
| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
119
tributary
|
|
| n.支流；纳贡国；adj.附庸的；辅助的；支流的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
120
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
121
burlesque
|
|
| v.嘲弄，戏仿；n.嘲弄，取笑，滑稽模仿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
122
glistening
|
|
| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
123
patriot
|
|
| n.爱国者，爱国主义者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
124
murky
|
|
| adj.黑暗的，朦胧的；adv.阴暗地，混浊地；n.阴暗；昏暗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
125
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： |
|
|
|
|
126
catching
|
|
| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
127
bloody
|
|
| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
128
blisters
|
|
| n.水疱( blister的名词复数 )；水肿；气泡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
129
glided
|
|
| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
130
outstrip
|
|
| v.超过，跑过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
131
grove
|
|
| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
132
dozed
|
|
| v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
133
muskets
|
|
| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
134
redoubtable
|
|
| adj.可敬的；可怕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
135
naval
|
|
| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
136
sergeant
|
|
| n.警官，中士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
137
spinal
|
|
| adj.针的，尖刺的，尖刺状突起的；adj.脊骨的，脊髓的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
138
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
139
squad
|
|
| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
140
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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
141
stentorian
|
|
| adj.大声的，响亮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
142
anticipation
|
|
| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
143
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： |
|
|
|
|
144
vented
|
|
| 表达，发泄（感情，尤指愤怒）( vent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
145
persistence
|
|
| n.坚持，持续，存留 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
146
depleted
|
|
| adj. 枯竭的, 废弃的 动词deplete的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
147
lone
|
|
| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
148
northward
|
|
| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
149
adversaries
|
|
| n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
150
plodded
|
|
| v.沉重缓慢地走（路）( plod的过去式和过去分词 )；努力从事；沉闷地苦干；缓慢进行（尤指艰难枯燥的工作） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
151
benighted
|
|
| adj.蒙昧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
152
blistered
|
|
| adj.水疮状的，泡状的v.（使）起水泡( blister的过去式和过去分词 )；（使表皮等）涨破，爆裂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
153
hampered
|
|
| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
154
entangling
|
|
| v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
155
superintendent
|
|
| n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
156
dynamite
|
|
| n./vt.(用)炸药(爆破) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
157
swarmed
|
|
| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
158
jolted
|
|
| （使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
159
quarry
|
|
| n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
160
proprietors
|
|
| n.所有人，业主( proprietor的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
161
proprietor
|
|
| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
162
depletion
|
|
| n.耗尽，枯竭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
163
attentive
|
|
| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
164
incessantly
|
|
| ad.不停地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
165
copper
|
|
| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
166
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： |
|
|
|
|
167
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
168
celestial
|
|
| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
169
celestials
|
|
| n.天的，天空的( celestial的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
170
throttle
|
|
| n.节流阀，节气阀，喉咙；v.扼喉咙，使窒息，压 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
171
chamber
|
|
| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
172
rumbled
|
|
| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
173
inundated
|
|
| v.淹没( inundate的过去式和过去分词 )；（洪水般地）涌来；充满；给予或交予（太多事物）使难以应付 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
174
pagodas
|
|
| 塔，宝塔( pagoda的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
175
audacity
|
|
| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
176
metropolis
|
|
| n.首府；大城市 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
177
rambling
|
|
| adj.[建]凌乱的，杂乱的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
178
shipping
|
|
| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
179
monasteries
|
|
| 修道院( monastery的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
180
docile
|
|
| adj.驯服的，易控制的，容易教的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
181
briefly
|
|
| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
182
thither
|
|
| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
183
longing
|
|
| n.（for）渴望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
184
extradition
|
|
| n.引渡（逃犯） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
185
prospered
|
|
| 成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
186
naught
|
|
| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
187
buffer
|
|
| n.起缓冲作用的人(或物)，缓冲器；vt.缓冲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
188
steamship
|
|
| n.汽船，轮船 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
189
consulates
|
|
| n.领事馆( consulate的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
190
consul
|
|
| n.领事；执政官 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
191
obdurate
|
|
| adj.固执的，顽固的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
192
outspoken
|
|
| adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
193
seamen
|
|
| n.海员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
194
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： |
|
|
|
|
195
steward
|
|
| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
196
abject
|
|
| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
197
encroachment
|
|
| n.侵入，蚕食 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
198
scowls
|
|
| 不悦之色，怒容( scowl的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
199
snarls
|
|
| n.（动物的）龇牙低吼( snarl的名词复数 )；愤怒叫嚷（声）；咆哮（声）；疼痛叫声v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的第三人称单数 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
200
annoyance
|
|
| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
201
abaft
|
|
| prep.在…之后；adv.在船尾，向船尾 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
202
monotonous
|
|
| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
203
squatted
|
|
| 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。 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
204
berated
|
|
| v.严厉责备，痛斥( berate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
205
vat
|
|
| n.(=value added tax)增值税，大桶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
206
stunning
|
|
| adj.极好的；使人晕倒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
207
belaboring
|
|
| v.毒打一顿( belabor的现在分词 )；责骂；就…作过度的说明；向…唠叨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
208
desperately
|
|
| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
209
tattoo
|
|
| n.纹身，(皮肤上的)刺花纹；vt.刺花纹于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
210
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
211
huddled
|
|
| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
212
shrieked
|
|
| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
213
mishap
|
|
| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
214
flaunt
|
|
| vt.夸耀，夸饰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
215
screeched
|
|
| v.发出尖叫声( screech的过去式和过去分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
216
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
217
wrecked
|
|
| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
218
prone
|
|
| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
219
prostrate
|
|
| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
220
constellations
|
|
| n.星座( constellation的名词复数 )；一群杰出人物；一系列（相关的想法、事物）；一群（相关的人） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
221
instinctively
|
|
| adv.本能地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
222
slashed
|
|
| v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
223
cowardice
|
|
| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
224
valor
|
|
| n.勇气，英勇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
225
feverish
|
|
| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
226
bunks
|
|
| n.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的名词复数 )；空话，废话v.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的第三人称单数 )；空话，废话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
227
subsisted
|
|
| v.（靠很少的钱或食物）维持生活，生存下去( subsist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
228
doled
|
|
| 救济物( dole的过去式和过去分词 )； 失业救济金 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
229
decrepit
|
|
| adj.衰老的，破旧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
230
wheezed
|
|
| v.喘息，发出呼哧呼哧的喘息声( wheeze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
231
indented
|
|
| adj.锯齿状的，高低不平的；缩进排版 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
232
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
233
verdant
|
|
| adj.翠绿的，青翠的，生疏的，不老练的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
234
waned
|
|
| v.衰落( wane的过去式和过去分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
235
miseries
|
|
| n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 )；痛苦的事；穷困；常发牢骚的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
236
cargo
|
|
| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
237
stevedore
|
|
| n.码头工人；v.装载货物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
238
adorned
|
|
| [计]被修饰的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
239
technically
|
|
| adv.专门地，技术上地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
240
isles
|
|
| 岛( isle的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
241
rumor
|
|
| n.谣言，谣传，传说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
242
graft
|
|
| n.移植，嫁接，艰苦工作，贪污；v.移植，嫁接 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
243
delightful
|
|
| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
244
Mandarin
|
|
| n.中国官话，国语，满清官吏；adj.华丽辞藻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
245
rendezvous
|
|
| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
246
grassy
|
|
| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
247
flannels
|
|
| 法兰绒男裤； 法兰绒( flannel的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
248
perspired
|
|
| v.出汗，流汗( perspire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
249
shanties
|
|
| n.简陋的小木屋( shanty的名词复数 )；铁皮棚屋；船工号子；船歌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
250
erect
|
|
| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
251
maze
|
|
| n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
252
footpaths
|
|
| 人行小径，人行道( footpath的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
253
grimace
|
|
| v.做鬼脸，面部歪扭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
254
vendors
|
|
| n.摊贩( vendor的名词复数 )；小贩；（房屋等的）卖主；卖方 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
255
zigzag
|
|
| n.曲折，之字形；adj.曲折的，锯齿形的；adv.曲折地，成锯齿形地；vt.使曲折；vi.曲折前行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
256
festive
|
|
| adj.欢宴的，节日的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
257
meandering
|
|
| 蜿蜒的河流，漫步，聊天 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
258
infancy
|
|
| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
259
dictate
|
|
| v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
260
bum
|
|
| n.臀部；流浪汉，乞丐；vt.乞求，乞讨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
261
yarn
|
|
| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
262
seaman
|
|
| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
263
gee
|
|
| n.马；int.向右！前进！，惊讶时所发声音；v.向右转 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
264
liar
|
|
| n.说谎的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
265
apparatus
|
|
| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
266
ramble
|
|
| v.漫步，漫谈，漫游；n.漫步，闲谈，蔓延 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
267
yen
|
|
| n. 日元；热望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
268
naggy
|
|
| 小马 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
269
confidential
|
|
| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
270
flop
|
|
| n.失败(者)，扑通一声；vi.笨重地行动，沉重地落下 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
271
lodging
|
|
| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
272
dismal
|
|
| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
273
ennui
|
|
| n.怠倦，无聊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
274
preempt
|
|
| v.先发制人；先取 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
275
thereby
|
|
| adv.因此，从而 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
276
galley
|
|
| n.（飞机或船上的）厨房单层甲板大帆船；军舰舰长用的大划艇； | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
277
compartments
|
|
| n.间隔( compartment的名词复数 )；（列车车厢的）隔间；（家具或设备等的）分隔间；隔层 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
278
rations
|
|
| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
279
landmark
|
|
| n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
280
patriotic
|
|
| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
281
fervor
|
|
| n.热诚；热心；炽热 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
282
bustling
|
|
| adj.喧闹的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
283
scurried
|
|
| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
284
scowled
|
|
| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
285
gendarmes
|
|
| n.宪兵，警官( gendarme的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
286
civilized
|
|
| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |