"DON'T yo'uns crow too much over gittin' Shelbyville," the prisoners said to Si. "Yo'uns couldn't never 've got hit in the world if Jinerul Bragg hadn't a'wanted yo'uns to."
"O, come off," said Shorty. "You tried your best to keep us from gittin' in. You put up a very pretty little fight, but our cavalry1 jest rode over you."
"Thar wuz nobody thar but Jo Wheeler and his critter company," persisted the prisoners, "and they'd fout for anything. They'd fout yo'uns for a chaw of terbacker, and then gin the chaw back. Ole Bragg wuz jist a-foolin' with yo'uns. He wuz drawin' yo'uns on. He made up his mind that Shelbyville wuzn't the best place for a fout, and he'd lay for yo'uns at Tullyhomy. He's got his whole army together down thar, and he'll wollop yo'uns till your hides won't hold shucks. Ole Bragg's smarter'n ary Yankee that ever lived, and he's fixed2 up a dead-fall for yo'uns at Tullyhomy that'll mash3 yo'uns flatter'n a pancack."
"Let him go ahead with his mashin' flat," answered Shorty; "we're some on the mash ourselves, as you fellers found out at Stone River."
"We'uns 'd 'a' welted the life outen yo'uns at Stone River, if we'uns 'd had jest a few more men; ez hit wuz we'uns run yo'uns all over them 'ere old cotton-fields fur two days, tuk all yo'uns's cannon4, an' more'n a million prisoners. Fust night I done thought we'uns 'd tuk the whole Yankee army. We'uns done got tired pickin' up prisoners in them ceders an' sink-holes, an' concluded t' leave the rest thar fur seed. We'uns jest f'arly wore ourselves out lickin' yo'uns, an' then yo'uns got a whole passel 'o fresh men, an' we'uns jest pulled back t' Shelbyville t' rest, spit on we'uns' hands an' take a fresh holt."
"How about the last day," inquired Si, "over the river on the left, when we tore you all to flinders with artillery6, and run you back over the hill and took your guns?"
"O, that wuz Breckinridge's Division," said the prisoners, negligently7, as if dismissing a matter of little consequence. "They'uns desarved all they'uns got. They'uns wus sent for t' come over and help we'uns lick yo'uns the fust two days, but they'uns wouldn't come. I'm jest glad they'uns kotched hit good an' hard ez they'uns done got hit. But we'uns 's now got heaps more men than we'uns had at Stone River, an' they're all together over thar by Tullyhomy. Lordy, you jest orter seed 'em az I did. I wuz on the top of a mounting on gyard, whar I could see for a hundred miles in every direction, an' I seed men marchin' toward Tullyhomy till my eyes ached a-lookin' at 'em. Yo'uns 'll stir up a mouty sight wuss hornets' nest at Tullyhomy than yo'uns did at Murfreesboro.
"Well, we'll knock seven kinds o' brimstone out o' your hornets' nest, big as it may be," answered Shorty. "The more o' you there is the better, for we kin5 finish up the job then, and be done with it, instid o' havin' to run you down an' knock you on the head one at a time. We've more men, too, than we had at Stone River. There was enough of us before, but Old Abe just gethered up the men in three or four new States, and sent 'em down to us to help make a clean, quick job of it. All we want of you fellers is jest to stand up and give us a square fight. We're no grayhounds, to run you fellers down. We came down here to fight, not to trot8 races with you.
"Well, yo'uns'll git yer bellyful o' foutin' over by Tullyhomy," shouted back the prisoners as they were marched away under guard.
"It certainly does look like we're to have a bigger scrimmage than we had at Stone River," said Si, as he and Shorty were once more alone. "Our army is much larger, and it's all been gathered right around here. There's bin9 great rivers of men pouring through all these gaps for days, and we've talked with fellers from every division and brigade in the army. There's entirely10 too many men around here for the country to hold. Something's got to bust11 soon, and when it does bust there'll be an explosion like that you read about."
"Well, let her bust," answered Shorty. "The sooner the better. I want to see it right off. It's got to come before the war kin end, and for my part I don't want to march a step further to find it. They can't nohow git up a worse time than we had at Stone River, and we managed to live through that; so that I guess we kin pull through another. If we don't, this 's just as good a place to go to Heaven from as we kin find, and we'll save a whole lot o' worry by finishin' up now."
"Well," said Si, "let's git back to the regiment12 as soon's possible. THe battle may begin at any minute, and we musn't be away. We'd never forgive ourselves as long's we'd live if we wasn't with the boys when they line up under the colors for the great tussle13."
"Getting to the regiment" was tedious and hard. Shorty was still very weak from his tobacco experiment, and Si had worked almost to exhaustion14 in helping15 his sore-footed squad16 along. These were as eager to get back to the regiment in time for the fight, and Si had not the heart to leave any one of them behind. The roads were filled with teams being pushed forward with ammunition17 and rations18, and every road and path crowded with men hurrying to the "front." They were on the distant flank of their corps19 when they started out in the morning, and did not succeed in reaching the rear of their own division until nightfall. Though worn out by the day's painful tramping and winding20 around through the baffling paths between regiments21, brigades and divisions, sometimes halting and some times moving off suddenly and unexpectedly, they nerved themselves for one more effort to reach the 200th Ind. before they lay down for the night. But the night was far harder than the day. The whole country was full of campfires, around which were men' cooking their supper, standing22 in groups, pipe in mouth, anxiously discussing the coming momentous23 battle, and the part their regiments would likely play in it, or sitting writing what they felt might be their last letters home. All were unutterably tired, and all earnestly thoughtful over the impending24 conflict. None felt ordinarily jovial25, communicative and sympathetic with foot-sore stragglers trying to find their regiments. Even when they were, the movements and changes during the day had been so bewildering that their best-intentioned directions were more likely to be wrong than right.
"The 200th Ind.," they would say; "yes, we saw the 200th Ind. about the middle of the afternoon, right over there on that hillside, where you see that old tree blazing up. They were acting26 as if they were going into camp, and I expect that's their campfires you see there."
Si, Shorty and the rest would make their weary way to the point indicated, about a half-mile distant, only to find that their regiment had been sighted at another point a mile away in a different direction.
The morning of July 1, 1863, was almost ready to break when they at last came up with their regiment, and flung themselves down on the ground in absolute exhaustion. Worn out as they were, their soldierly ears could not be deaf to the stirring reveille which quickly followed the early daybreak of that Summer morning, and summoned the regiment for the final, decisive move upon the rebel stronghold of Tullahoma.
Though every bone and muscle seemed to cry out against it, Si, Shorty and their companions rose up promptly27 and joined the regiment.
Everybody seemed sobered by the nearness of the terrible battle. Nobody laughed, nobody swore, nobody joked, nobody played the usual light-hearted reveille tricks. The Orderly-Sergeant did not call the roll with his usual glibness28 and rasp. He seemed to linger a little over each name, as if thinking whether it would be answered to again, or he be there to call it. The officers gave the commands quietly, even gently. The men executed promptly, carefully, and silently, as one sees things done at a funeral or in church. A hasty breakfast was eaten in silence; the men fell into ranks again, and there was a low buzz as the cartridge-boxes were carefully inspected and each man supplied with his full quota29 of ammunition.
The Colonel mounted his horse, and gave the order, "Forward march," so quietly that only the leading company heard it. It moved promptly, and the others followed.
The same strange soberness ruled the other regiments they passed on their way to take the advance. There was for once no quip or jest from the men standing by the roadside, leaning thoughtfully on their muskets30, and awaiting their turn to march. They merely watched them file by, with steady, grave eyes and an occasional calm nod or quiet greeting to an acquaintance.
The hurrah31, the swagger, the noisy effervescence of a few months ago had disappeared from men who had learned to know what battle was.
The dripping clouds cleared away as the 200th Ind. drew out into the muddy road, and let the sun suddenly beam forth32 in full Midsummer power. In an instant everybody was reeking33 with perspiration34, panting for breath, and scorching35 inwardly and outwardly.
It was too much for some who had bravely maintained their places thus far, and they had to sink by the roadside.
Every minute of the first hour it seemed to Si and Shorty that they could not go a rod farther, but at the end of every rod they made an effort to go an other, and succeeded. The sun momentarily grew more burning, but also it seemed that every step brought them nearer the enemy, and the thought nerved them up to further exertion36. Occasional rippling37 shots from watching parties of the rebel cavalry helped stimulate38 them.
Noon passed. They were so near the works of Tullahoma that the collision might come at any minute could not be postponed39 many minutes. The regiments left the road and went into line-of-battle, stretching a long wave of blue through the deep green of the thick forests. How far it reached no one could tell. Occasional glimpses obtained through the openings in the woods showed miles of length.
Everything was deeply quiet, except occasional startling crashes from rebel outposts and the distant booming of cannon on the left.
The 200th Ind. was advancing through a heavy growth of jack-oaks.
Lines of rebel skirmishers had occasionally appeared in front of the regiment, fired a few shots, and then disappeared. The ease with which they were driven gave the impression that they were trying to lead the regiment into ambush40, and it moved slowly and very watchfully41.
At last, as the hot sun was beginning to sink in the far west, the regiment came to the edge of the young jack-oaks, and saw before it a sight which thrilled every heart.
There, a little distance away, lay the formidable works guarding Tullahoma. To the right and left, as far as the eye could reach, stretched a bristling42 line of abatis hundreds of yards wide and seemingly hopelessly impassable. It was made of the young jack-oaks felled outwards43 and their limbs sharp ened till they were like thorns.
Frowning behind this fearsome barrier were high-rising forts mounted with cannon, and connected with long, sinuous44 breastworks. A deep ditch filled with muddy water ran along the foot of the works.
Squads45 of rebels could be seen running back to the shelter of the fortifications. Every man in the regiment gave a quick, involuntary gasp46 as he saw his work before him.
The whole of the long line was halted and carefully dressed by the officers, still speaking as softly and kindly47 as if arranging a funeral procession, and the men stepping into places promptly, and with a tender solemnity of manner. There was none of the customary rude jostling and impatient sharpness. It was:
"You'll have to give away to the left a little, John; I haven't room."
"Come out there, boys, on the right. You're too far back."
"Jim, you'd better fall in behind. I don't believe you're strong enough to keep up."
Even the brash young "Second Lieutenant48 and Aid-de-Camp" seemed impressed with the intense gravity of the moment. He came up to the Colonel, and seeing he was on foot, respectfully dismounted, saluted49, and said, without a vestige51 of his usual pertness:
"Colonel, the General presents his compliments, and says that the battery is badly stuck in the mud a little ways back. As we shall need it very much, he directs that you send a company to bring it up at once."
"Very good, sir," said the Colonel, gravely returning his salute50, and speaking as gently as at a tea-table. "It shall be done. Capt. McGillicuddy, take your company back and bring up the battery."
"Attention, Co. Q," suggested rather than commanded Capt. McGillicuddy. "Stack arms. Corporal Klegg, you and your squad remain where you are. You are too tired to do any good. Right face; file left; forward march."
The Colonel mounted his horse, rode down to the center of the regiment, and said, in a tone hardly raised above the conversational52, but which made itself distinctly heard by every man:
"Fix bayonets."
There was an ominous53 crash of steel as the bright bayonets swept to their places.
"Men," continued the Colonel as quietly as if talk ing to a Sunday school, "we're going to take those works with the bayonet. Keep perfectly54 quiet; reserve your breath for quick, hard work, and pay close attention to orders. We'll move in quick time to the edge of that slashing55 of timber; every man make his way through it as best he can, keeping as near his Captain as possible. As soon as through it he will run with all his might for the works, fire his gun into the rebels as he jumps the works, and then rely on his bayonet. No man must fire a shot until we are crossing the works, and then I want every shot to fetch a rebel."
He waited a moment before giving the command to advance, for Co. Q, which had snaked the battery out of the mudhole in a hurry, was coming on a dead run in order to be on time for the charge. It snatched its guns from the stacks, and lined up like a long flash of blue light.
The artillerymen had lashed56 their jaded57 horses into a feverish58 run, swept out into an open space, flung their guns "into battery," and opened with a vicious bang on the rebel works.
So far not a head appeared above the breastworks; not a shot from the embrasures in the forts.
"They're just laying low," whispered Si to Shorty, as they instinctively59 brought their shoulders together and summoned their energies for the swift advance. "They'll blaze out like the fires o' hell just as we git tangled60 up in that infernal timber-slashin'."
"Well," muttered Shorty, "we'll know mighty61 soon now. In five minutes we'll either be in Heaven or bayoneting the rebels in that fort."
"Battalion62, forward march!" commanded the Colonel.
The regiments to the right and left got the command at the same instant, and the long wave of blue rolled forward without a break or fault in its perfect alignment63.
A hundred yards were quickly passed, and still the rebel works were as silent as a country churchyard. The suspense64 was fearful. Men bent65 their heads as if in momentary66 expectation of being struck by a fearful blast.
Another hundred yards. Still no bullet from the rifle-pits, no canister from the forts.
Another hundred yards, and they had struck the entangling67 abatis, and were feverishly68 working their clothes loose from the sharp-pointed limbs.
"Capt. McGillicuddy," excitedly shouted Si, "there's no men in them works. Didn't you see that flock o' blackbirds just settle down on that fort?"
"That's true," said the Captain, after a quick glance. "Colonel, they've evacuated69."
A little to the left of the company Si saw a path through the abatis made by the rebels taking short cuts in and out of the camp. He and Shorty quickly broke their way to it, and ran in feverish haste to the works. They found a puncheon laid to cross the ditch, ran over it, and mounted the rifle-pit. There was not a man inside of the works. The last of the garrison70 could be seen on the other side of Elk71 River, setting fire to the bridge by which they had just crossed.
Si and Shorty Were the First to Mount The Parapet. 91
Utterly72 exhausted73 by fatigue74 and the severe mental strain, Si and Shorty could do nothing more than give a delighted yell, fire their guns at the distant rebels, when they sank down in complete collapse75.
Almost at the same time the same discovery had been made at other points in the long line moving to the assault; the inside of the works were quickly filled with a mob of rushing men, who seemed to lift the clouds with their triumphant76 yells.
The campaign for Tullahoma was at an end. Bragg had declined battle, and put the whole of his army out of reach of pursuit behind the swollen77 waters of Elk River.
That night by its cheerful campfires the exultant78 Army of the Cumberland sang from one end of its long line to the other, with thousands of voices joining at once in the chorus, its song of praise to Gen. Rosecrans, which went to the air of "A Little More Cider."
Cheer up, cheer up, the night is past,
The skies with light are glowing.
Our ships move proudly on, my boys,
And favoring gales79 are blowing.
Her flag is at the peak, my boys,
To meet the traitorous80 faction81.
We'll hasten to our several posts,
And immediately prepare for action.
Chorus.
Old Rosey is our man.
Old Rosey is our man.
We'll show our deeds where'er he leads,
Old Rosey is our man.
点击收听单词发音
1 cavalry | |
n.骑兵;轻装甲部队 | |
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2 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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3 mash | |
n.麦芽浆,糊状物,土豆泥;v.把…捣成糊状,挑逗,调情 | |
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4 cannon | |
n.大炮,火炮;飞机上的机关炮 | |
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5 kin | |
n.家族,亲属,血缘关系;adj.亲属关系的,同类的 | |
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6 artillery | |
n.(军)火炮,大炮;炮兵(部队) | |
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7 negligently | |
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8 trot | |
n.疾走,慢跑;n.老太婆;现成译本;(复数)trots:腹泻(与the 连用);v.小跑,快步走,赶紧 | |
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9 bin | |
n.箱柜;vt.放入箱内;[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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10 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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11 bust | |
vt.打破;vi.爆裂;n.半身像;胸部 | |
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12 regiment | |
n.团,多数,管理;v.组织,编成团,统制 | |
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13 tussle | |
n.&v.扭打,搏斗,争辩 | |
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14 exhaustion | |
n.耗尽枯竭,疲惫,筋疲力尽,竭尽,详尽无遗的论述 | |
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15 helping | |
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的 | |
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16 squad | |
n.班,小队,小团体;vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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17 ammunition | |
n.军火,弹药 | |
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18 rations | |
定量( ration的名词复数 ); 配给量; 正常量; 合理的量 | |
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19 corps | |
n.(通信等兵种的)部队;(同类作的)一组 | |
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20 winding | |
n.绕,缠,绕组,线圈 | |
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21 regiments | |
(军队的)团( regiment的名词复数 ); 大量的人或物 | |
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22 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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23 momentous | |
adj.重要的,重大的 | |
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24 impending | |
a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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25 jovial | |
adj.快乐的,好交际的 | |
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26 acting | |
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的 | |
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27 promptly | |
adv.及时地,敏捷地 | |
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28 glibness | |
n.花言巧语;口若悬河 | |
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29 quota | |
n.(生产、进出口等的)配额,(移民的)限额 | |
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30 muskets | |
n.火枪,(尤指)滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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31 hurrah | |
int.好哇,万岁,乌拉 | |
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32 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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33 reeking | |
v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的现在分词 );散发臭气;发出难闻的气味 (of sth);明显带有(令人不快或生疑的跡象) | |
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34 perspiration | |
n.汗水;出汗 | |
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35 scorching | |
adj. 灼热的 | |
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36 exertion | |
n.尽力,努力 | |
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37 rippling | |
起涟漪的,潺潺流水般声音的 | |
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38 stimulate | |
vt.刺激,使兴奋;激励,使…振奋 | |
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39 postponed | |
vt.& vi.延期,缓办,(使)延迟vt.把…放在次要地位;[语]把…放在后面(或句尾)vi.(疟疾等)延缓发作(或复发) | |
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40 ambush | |
n.埋伏(地点);伏兵;v.埋伏;伏击 | |
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41 watchfully | |
警惕地,留心地 | |
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42 bristling | |
a.竖立的 | |
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43 outwards | |
adj.外面的,公开的,向外的;adv.向外;n.外形 | |
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44 sinuous | |
adj.蜿蜒的,迂回的 | |
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45 squads | |
n.(军队中的)班( squad的名词复数 );(暗杀)小组;体育运动的运动(代表)队;(对付某类犯罪活动的)警察队伍 | |
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46 gasp | |
n.喘息,气喘;v.喘息;气吁吁他说 | |
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47 kindly | |
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 | |
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48 lieutenant | |
n.陆军中尉,海军上尉;代理官员,副职官员 | |
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49 saluted | |
v.欢迎,致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 );赞扬,赞颂 | |
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50 salute | |
vi.行礼,致意,问候,放礼炮;vt.向…致意,迎接,赞扬;n.招呼,敬礼,礼炮 | |
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51 vestige | |
n.痕迹,遗迹,残余 | |
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52 conversational | |
adj.对话的,会话的 | |
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53 ominous | |
adj.不祥的,不吉的,预兆的,预示的 | |
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54 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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55 slashing | |
adj.尖锐的;苛刻的;鲜明的;乱砍的v.挥砍( slash的现在分词 );鞭打;割破;削减 | |
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56 lashed | |
adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 );煽动;紧系;怒斥 | |
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57 jaded | |
adj.精疲力竭的;厌倦的;(因过饱或过多而)腻烦的;迟钝的 | |
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58 feverish | |
adj.发烧的,狂热的,兴奋的 | |
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59 instinctively | |
adv.本能地 | |
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60 tangled | |
adj. 纠缠的,紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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61 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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62 battalion | |
n.营;部队;大队(的人) | |
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63 alignment | |
n.队列;结盟,联合 | |
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64 suspense | |
n.(对可能发生的事)紧张感,担心,挂虑 | |
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65 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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66 momentary | |
adj.片刻的,瞬息的;短暂的 | |
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67 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 ) | |
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68 feverishly | |
adv. 兴奋地 | |
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69 evacuated | |
撤退者的 | |
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70 garrison | |
n.卫戍部队;驻地,卫戍区;vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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71 elk | |
n.麋鹿 | |
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72 utterly | |
adv.完全地,绝对地 | |
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73 exhausted | |
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的 | |
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74 fatigue | |
n.疲劳,劳累 | |
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75 collapse | |
vi.累倒;昏倒;倒塌;塌陷 | |
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76 triumphant | |
adj.胜利的,成功的;狂欢的,喜悦的 | |
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77 swollen | |
adj.肿大的,水涨的;v.使变大,肿胀 | |
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78 exultant | |
adj.欢腾的,狂欢的,大喜的 | |
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79 gales | |
龙猫 | |
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80 traitorous | |
adj. 叛国的, 不忠的, 背信弃义的 | |
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81 faction | |
n.宗派,小集团;派别;派系斗争 | |
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