FOR a short time a silence that seemed oppressive followed the fierce turmoil1 of the last charge of the rebels upon Snodgrass Hill and its repulse2. Both sides had exhausted3 themselves in the awful grapple, and had to regain4 breath and thought. Then the night was pierced by the agonizing5 groans6 of the innumerable wounded, the stern commands of officers to their men to re-form, the calls of scattered7 men seeking their regiments9 and companies.
The sadly-shrunken remnant of the unconquer able 200th Ind. gathered around its regimental colors, on the front of the crest11 of Snodgrass Hill, and grimly, silently prepared for the next event, whatever it might be. The wounds of those still able to fight were bound up, and they resumed their places in line. The worst hurt were helped or carried back to the busy Surgeon under the shelter of the hill. The newly-dead were brought up and added to the row of those who had already fought their last battle. Cartridge-boxes of both dead and wounded were carefully searched for remaining cartridges13. Si and Shorty were laid at the end of the long row.
The chill air of the evening began to revive Si and Shorty. Si's brain responded long before any of his muscles. At first it seemed the vaguest and most shadowy of dreams. There was a dim consciousness of lying somewhere. Where it was, how he came there, what was going on around he had not the slightest idea nor desire to know. There was just the feeling of being there, without any sensation of comfort or discomfort14, wish or longing15.
One by one, and very slowly, other nerves awoke. He became conscious that there was a sharp stone or knot under his head, which hurt, and he tried to move it, but queerly his head would not move, and then he found that neither would his hands. This was faintly puzzling, as things are in dreams. Then his throat became on fire with thirst, and somehow there came a dream of the deliciously cool well on the farm at home, the bucket covered with green moss16 swinging over it, the splash of cool water when it was lowered, the trough by the side, where they used to pour water for the fowls17 to drink, the muddy spot around, where water plants grew on the splashings and drippings. Then were visions of the eternal, parching18 thirst of the damned, which he had often heard preachers describe, and he was conscious of a faint curiosity as to whether he had died and waked up in the home of the lost.
Still not a muscle waked up to obey his will, and he seemed indifferent whether it did or not. Then he forgot everything again, until presently his burning throat recalled his consciousness.
He felt the cold, bracing19 air in his nostrils20, and slowly, very slowly at first, he began to hear and understand the sounds around him. The shriek21 of a wounded comrade carried past, whose leg had been shattered, first sounded like the hum of bees, and finally translated itself into something like its true meaning, but he had no comprehension or sympathy for its misery22.
He tried to make some sound himself, but his tongue was as hypnotized as his other muscles, and refused to obey his will. Yet at the moment he did not seem to care much. His wishes were as numb23 as his tendons and sinews. He became shadowly conscious of his comrades gathering24 around him, picking him up, carrying him back up the hill, and laying him down again. This relieved the sharp pain from the stone under his head; but when they laid him down again his head fell too low. He heard the murmur25 of their voices, and felt their hands searching his pockets for cartridges.
Consciousness began returning more swiftly, though the muscles were yet paralyzed. He could feel to the tips of his fingers, yet he could not move them. He began to understand the words spoken about him, and comprehend their meaning. The first sentence that filtered its way to his brain was Lieut. Bowersox's order to the regiment10:
"The orders are to fall back quietly. We'll follow the 1st Oshkosh, on our right. As soon as it is well down the hill we'll move by the right flank, and fall in behind it. Our wagon26 is right at the bottom of the hill. Those that are not able to march will start now, and get in it. It will move right after the regiment. Don't anybody say a word of this above his breath. The rebels are listening sharply for our movements. We dare not even cheer, for fear they'll find out how few are left of us. All of you keep a lookout27, and follow right after me when I start, for I won't give any order."
Then all his consciousness seemed to wake up at once into an agony of fear of being left behind to fall into the hands of the rebels. He made a desperate effort to call out, but his tongue seemed dry and useless as a cornhusk in his parched28 mouth, and his throat too burning hot to perform its office. Nor could he lift a finger nor move a toe.
He found room for anger at Shorty that he did not look him up, and satisfy himself as to his condition, and Lieut. Bowersox and the rest seemed selfishly thoughtful of their own safety and neglectful of his.
He listened in agony to the regiment on the right marching off, to the cautions and admonitions given those who were carrying off the badly-wounded, and then to Lieut. Bowersox starting off with the right of the 200th Ind.
Then he heard little Abel Waite say:
"I know that Si Klegg has some things on him that his folks' d like to have. I know where they live. I'm goin' to git 'em, and send 'em to 'em."
"Make haste, then, young feller," he heard Wat Burnham growl29. "Don't let the rebels ketch yer. We're movin' now."
He heard Abel Waite's steps running toward him, and felt his hands thrust into his blouse pocket over his breast. Then the boy said with a start of surprise:
"Why, he's alive yet. Come here, Wat."
Wat and the Irishmen hastened to him. He felt
Wat's hand laid on his breast, and then held over his mouth.
"'E's certainly warm yet. Hand 'e breathes."
Shorty made a violent effort, and summoned enough strength to reach over and touch the Englishman's foot.
"The tall feller's alive, too," said Wat.
"We must take 'em along with us," said Abel Waite excitedly.
"Yes, but 'ow?" growled30 the Englishman. "Don't speak so loud, you young brat31. Do you want to hopen hup that 'ell's kitchen hagin?"
"The Liftinant's far down the hill wid the regiment," said Barney McGrath. "There's no toime to sind for him. Here, lit's pick thim up an' carry thim down to the wagon."
He put his hand under Si's shoulder. The others did the same, Wat lifting Shorty's feet.
"Halt, there, you Yanks, and surrender," said a stern voice just behind Wat.
Wat looked back over his shoulder and saw a single adventurous32 rebel who, divining what was going on, had slipped forward in the darkness, with his gun leveled on the squad33 bearing Si. Wat realized instantly that the rebel must be suppressed with out alarm to others that might be behind him. He dropped Shorty's foot, and with a backward sweep of his mighty34 right took the rebel in the stomach with such force as to double him up. The next instant Wat had his throat in his terrific grip, and tried to tear the windpipe from him. Then he flung the rebel forward down the hill, gathered up Shorty's feet again, and gave the command:
"Hall right. Go a'ead, boys, quick has you can."
With great difficulty they made their way over the wreckage35 of battle down the hill toward where they expected to find the regimental wagon. But it had received all that it could hold of its ghastly freight and moved off.
They were is despair for a few minutes, until Abel Waite discovered an abandoned wagon near by, with one mule36 still hitched37 to it. Next they found a wounded artillery38 horse which had been turned loose from his battery. He was hitched in, and Si and Shorty were laid on the layer of ammunition39-boxes which still covered the bottom of the bed.
"Who'll drive the bloody40 team?" growled Wat. "Hi never druv a 'oss hin my life. 'Ere, Barney, you get hin the saddle."
"Not Oi," answered Barney. "Oi niver could droive ayven a pig, on the brightest day that shone. Oi'll not fool wid a couple av strange horses, a wagon-load av foire an' brimstone, an' a brace41 av dead men, in the midst av Aygytian darkness. Not Oi."
"Here, I kin8 drive two horses, anyway," said Abel Waite, climbing into the saddle. "I've done that much on the farm."
They pushed off into the road marked by the dark line of troops moving silently toward McFarland's Gap, and after some contest with other drivers secured a place behind one of the regiments of their brigade.
A couple of miles ahead Forrest's cavalry42 was making a noisy dispute of the army's retreat, the woods were on fire, and the fences on either side of the road were blazing.
The long line was halted in anxious expectation for a little while, as the storm of battle rose, and the men looked into each other's faces with sickening apprehension43, for it seemed much like defeat and capture. Then loud cheers, taken up clear down the line', rose as Turchin's Brigade, by a swift bayonet charge, swept away all opposition44, scattered the rebels to the shelter of the woods, and reopened the way. But the rebels still continued to fire long distance shots at the road as outlined by the burn ing fences.
The Dead Being Collected After the Battle. 220
Though one of his team was wounded, Abel Waite had little difficulty in keeping his place in column until the burning lane was reached. The regiment ahead had gone through on the double-quick, and teams as fast as they could be lashed45.
"What'll we do now?" he called out to the others in his boyish treble. "I can't git these plugs out of a walk. If we go ahead the fire'll bust46 the ammunition, and send us all sky-huntin'. If we stop here them rebels 'll git us, sure."
"Go a'ead, Habe," growled Wat, after a moment's thought. "We can't 'elp you, but we'll stay wi' you. Hif she busts47, she busts, hand that's hall there'll be hof hit hor hof us. We'll stick by the wagon, though, till she busts, hand then nobuddy but the crows 'll hever find hany hof hus. Go a'ead, you bloody brat."
"Cut me one o' them young hickories for a gad," said Abel, pointing to the brush by the side of the road, "and I'll git as good time out o' these poor brutes48 as they kin make, if I skin 'em alive."
Abel lashed his animals with all the strength of his young arm, and succeeded in keeping them in something like a trot49. The men ran alongside, and fought the fire as well as they were able. Several times the wagon-cover caught fire from the intense heat, but it was at once beaten out by hats and blouses, and blouses were laid over the holes to protect them against the sparks.
They succeeded at last in getting through the fire-bordered road without an explosion, but they were all so exhausted that they could not move another step until they rested. The poor horse lay down and refused to get up.
Wat and Abel looked in to see how Si and Shorty had fared. The jolting50 of the wagon and the cold night air had at first revived them so that they could speak. Then they swooned again from the effects of the heat and the stifling51 smoke, and were speech less and motionless when Wat and Abel looked in.
"We've 'ad hall hour trouble for nothink," said Wat disconsolately52, as he felt them over. "The 'eat and smoke's killed 'em."
"Not by a durned sight," slowly gasped53 Shorty. "Seen sicker dogs'n this git well. Nearly dead for a drink o' water, though. Then I'll be all right."
Abel snatched a canteen, ran to a branch a little way off, filled it, and returning, put it to Shorty's lips.
"Jehosephat, how good that tastes," said Shorty, speaking still faintly, but far more freely than at first, after he had drained the canteen. "Sonny, run and git some more; and mind you fill the canteen full this time. I feel as if I could drink up the Mississippi River. Say, boys, what's happened? Appearintly, I got a sock-dologer on my head from some feller who thought I was too fresh. I'm afraid I'll have a spell o' headache. But we got the flag, didn't we?"
"Yo're bloody right we did," said Wat; "hand we wolloped them bloomin' rebels till they 'unted their 'oles hin the woods."
"That's good enough," said Shorty, sinking back.
"The column's movin' agin," said Abel Waite, turn ing his attention to his team.
Shortly after daybreak the team limped painfully up the slope of Mission Ridge12, through Rossville Gap, on either side of which stood Thomas's indomitable army in battle array, sternly defying the rebel hosts of Bragg and Longstreet, which swarmed54 over the hills and valleys in front, but without much apparent appetite for a renewal55 of the dreadful fray56.
"Where do you men belong? What have you got in that wagon? Where are you going?" demanded the Provost officer in the road.
"We belong to the 200th Hinjianny. We've got two badly-wounded men and ha lot o' hammynition in the wagon. We want to find our regiment," an swered Wat Burnham.
"Stop your wagon right there. We need all the ammunition we can get. Lift your wounded men into that ambulance, and then go up to that side of the gap. Your division is up there somewhere."
It was late in the afternoon before the overworked Surgeon in the field hospital at Chattanooga, in which Si and Shorty were finally deposited, found time to examine them.
"You got a pretty stiff whack57 on your head, my man," he said to Shorty, as he finished looking him over; "but so far as I can tell now it has not fractured your skull58. You Hoosiers have mighty hard heads."
"Reglar clay-knob whiteoak," whispered Shorty; "couldn't split it with a maul and wedge. Don't mind that a mite59, since we got that flag. But how's my pardner over there?"
"I think you'll pull through all right," continued the Surgeon, "if you don't have concussion60 of the brain. You'll have to be—"
"No danger o' discussion of the brains," whispered Shorty. "Don't carry 'em up there, where they're liable to get slubbed. Keep 'em in a safer place, where there's more around 'em. But how's my pardner?"
"You'll come through all right," said the Surgeon smiling. "You're the right kind to live. You've got grit61. I'll look at your partner now."
He went to Si and examined him. Shorty turned on his side and watched him with eager eyes. His heart sickened as he saw the Surgeon's face grow graver as he proceeded. The Surgeon probed the bullet's track with his fingers, and drew out a piece of folded letter paper stained with blood. Instinctively62 he unfolded it, and read through the ensanguined smears63, written in a cramped64 school-girl hand:
"Dear Si: Though I did not have the heart to say it, Ime
yours till death, and Ime sure you feel the same way.
Annabel."
"I'm much afraid the end has come too soon to a brave as well as loving heart," said the Surgeon sadly.
"Doctor, he can't die. He mustn't die," said Shorty in agony. "The regiment can't spare him. He's the best soldier in it, and he's my pardner."
"He may live, but it's a very slender chance," said the Surgeon. "Men live in this war against all science and experience, and it is possible that he may."
"Major," said Lieut. Bowersox, coming in, "I understand that two of my men were brought in here wounded. The report which was sent North this morning gave them as killed. If you have them here I want to correct it and save their people sorrow."
"One of them," answered the Surgeon, "has no thought of dying, and will, I'm sure, pull through. I am sorry I cannot say the same for the other. It he lives it will be a wonder."
"Neither of us is a-going to die till we've put down this damned rebellion, and got home and married our girls," gasped Shorty with grim effort. "You can jist telegraph that home, and to ole Abe Lincoln, and to all whom it may concern."
And he fell back exhausted on his blanket.
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1
turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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repulse
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| n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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4
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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5
agonizing
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| adj.痛苦难忍的；使人苦恼的v.使极度痛苦；折磨(agonize的ing形式) | |
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6
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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7
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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11
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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12
ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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13
cartridges
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| 子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头 | |
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14
discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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15
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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17
fowls
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| 鸟( fowl的名词复数 )； 禽肉； 既不是这； 非驴非马 | |
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18
parching
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| adj.烘烤似的，焦干似的v.（使）焦干， （使）干透( parch的现在分词 )；使（某人）极口渴 | |
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19
bracing
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| adj.令人振奋的 | |
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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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21
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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numb
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| adj.麻木的，失去感觉的；v.使麻木 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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26
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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lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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29
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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30
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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brat
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| n.孩子；顽童 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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squad
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| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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wreckage
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| n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏 | |
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mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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hitched
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| （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上 | |
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38
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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40
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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41
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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42
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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43
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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45
lashed
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| 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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46
bust
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| vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部 | |
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47
busts
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| 半身雕塑像( bust的名词复数 )； 妇女的胸部； 胸围； 突击搜捕 | |
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48
brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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49
trot
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| 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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50
jolting
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| adj.令人震惊的 | |
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51
stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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52
disconsolately
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| adv.悲伤地，愁闷地；哭丧着脸 | |
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53
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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54
swarmed
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| 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 | |
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55
renewal
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| adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来 | |
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56
fray
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| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
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57
whack
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| v.敲击，重打，瓜分；n.重击，重打，尝试，一份 | |
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58
skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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59
mite
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| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
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60
concussion
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| n.脑震荡；震动 | |
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61
grit
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| n.沙粒，决心，勇气；v.下定决心，咬紧牙关 | |
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62
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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63
smears
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| 污迹( smear的名词复数 )； 污斑； （显微镜的）涂片； 诽谤 | |
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64
cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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