Boo Bekr Sumbhool and Datah Mohammad, co-chiefs of that section of the Débeni styled Sidi Hábroo, shortly sneaked1 into the camp at the head of an appropriate retinue2 of ruffians, and having been duly propitiated3 with tobacco and blue calico, deputed a son of the latter to represent the tribe, as an earnest of the black mail having been levied4. Mohammad Ali proposed under these circumstances to halt a day, both in order to profit by the first opportunity enjoyed of purifying raiment, and, which was of still higher importance, to refresh the way-worn beasts. But the Ras was in such dire5 alarm of the Bedouins and Galla, that he had been with the utmost difficulty prevailed upon to encamp near the water, and no persuasion6 could now elicit7 his consent to tarry. Columns of smoke which arose high and dense8 from the country in advance, did not tend to diminish his apprehensions9. A shadowy human figure stealing along the summit of the gloomy cliffs which overhung the camp, redoubled his mental perturbation; and anathematising Moolu as the most dangerous nest of thieves and cut-throats along the entire road, he would that minute have resumed the march in the dead of night, had not heavy rain compelled him to bite his nails until a late hour the following forenoon, by which time the camel furniture had become dry.
But the event proved that there were on this occasion some grounds for uneasiness. During the process of loading, three mounted Muda?to scouts10, wild-looking beings, rode into camp in a suspicious manner; and immediately after moving out of the bed of the hollow, whence the road led over an extensive plain covered with low shrubby11 undergrowth, the Ras el Káfilah, who momentarily waxed more fidgety and excited, called a general halt, and assumed his shield and brass-mounted spear.
“Look well to your weapons,” he observed with a truly commander-in-chief-like delivery, “and let all the proprietors12 of fire-arms lead the van with myself. Two thousand of the Dar Muda?to are out on a foray against the Galla of the neighbouring hills, and I have received certain intelligence that they purpose this day to fall upon the caravan13. May Allah protect his servants in the coming strife14!”
Suitable defensive15 preparations were made without delay, and the camels formed ten deep to admit of the whole line being enfiladed by rifle balls; whilst the Danákil and Hy Somauli escort, with loins girded for the fight, brought up the rear. Scarcely had these arrangements been completed, when a band of fifty warriors17 were descried18 advancing in a compact body over the brow of an adjacent eminence19. Carrying their round bucklers on the left arm, and bristling20 their bright spears, they pressed rapidly towards the front of the line, “on hostile deeds intent.” Out to meet them sprang the fiery21 little champion Ibrahim Shehém, who panted to flesh his creese in the body of another Muda?to, and twenty stout22 warriors, casting off their upper garments to give freedom to their limbs, were not far behind him. The caravan remained motionless to watch the event, and the formidable line of rifles fronted the foe23, who no sooner perceived the muzzles24 bearing directly on their phalanx, than they lowered their spears to demand a parley25, and described themselves to be en route from Jebel Abida to join their clansmen, who were gathering26 at the waters of Mároo, preparatory to a “goom” or onslaught, upon their hereditary27 enemies, the Alla and Ittoo Galla.
The march was resumed immediately upon this banditti passing quietly to the rear, and Ibrahim Shehém Abli relapsed into his wonted composure; but the foot-prints of several other parties being shortly afterwards discovered, the beaten track was abandoned altogether, in order, if possible, to avoid meeting the marauders in number, when the plunder28 of so rich a caravan would doubtless have been essayed. An advance guard reconnoitred the country round from the summits of trees and termite29 cones30, which alone admitted of an uninterrupted view over the thick verdant31 bushes that clothed the entire face of the plain. These were interspersed32 with rich yellow grass, swarming33 with antelope35, hares, bustard, and florikin; whilst fine cedar-like camel-thorns stretched their long arms over troops of pintadoes, coveys of partridges, and spur-fowl. Not a trigger was suffered to be drawn36, lest the report should attract to the spot the much-dreaded Muda?to; but although hundreds of warriors might have been ambushed37 in the dense covert38 unperceived, it was safely traversed without further hostile demonstration39; and the country becoming gradually more and more open, the view extended to the fine peaked range near Afrubba, inhabited by the Ittoo Galla—war-hawks of the mountains, who are distinguished40 for their sanguinary ferocity.
A cloud of dust in the extreme distance being believed to prognosticate a rush of these wild horsemen, the caravan was again halted ere it had proceeded far over the open plain; but the magnifying powers of a pocket telescope converting the objects of alarm into a troop of scudding41 ostriches42, Izhák’s confidence once more returned. The residue43 of the march lay over cracked and blackened soil, from which the vegetation had been burnt the preceding day, the embers still smouldering in various directions, although the columns of smoke had ceased to ascend44.
Neither fuel nor water could be discovered at the ground selected for the bivouac, but a small supply of the latter requisite45 was obtained on the way, from a muddy brook46 trickling47 over the charred48 surface of the soil, and filling the gaping49 cracks and crevices50 on its progress towards the lower ground. This strange phenomenon arose from the wady at Moolu Zughír, near Afrubba, some miles to the southward, having been filled to overflowing51 by the recent heavy rain. Moolu Táni, or “the other Moolu,” afforded a most alluring52 spot of bright green vegetation just sprouting53 from the rich soil which here abounds54, and among it the cattle luxuriated until dark. Sundry55 invocations were now performed with horrid56 yells, to enable one of the savages57 to divine the coming of rain; but a night passed in vigilance by sentinels posted on ant-hills, which afforded an uninterrupted view over the surrounding plain, gave place to dawn without any molestation59 from thunder-storm, Galla, or Muda?to.
Betimes in the morning the march was resumed across an alluvial60 plain, which a few days later in the season would probably have presented a swamp impassable to camels; but no difficulties were now experienced, and the caravan passed merrily on towards a conspicuous61 barn-shaped hill, which had been visible for many miles. At its base, among sundry other cairns, stood a mound62 of loose stones encircled by a thorn fence, and almost concealed63 under the forest of withered64 boughs65 that decked every part. Beneath this grotto66 reposed67 the sainted bones of Othmán, a celebrated68 Tukha?el she?kh of days long gone. Amidst prayers and ejaculations in honour of the departed, according to the custom still prevalent in the southern parts of continental69 Europe, each warrior16 of the Bedouin escort first in order, and then the drivers as they passed, having previously70 plucked from some adjacent tree a branch of verdant mistletoe, adorned71 the venerated72 pile; and long ere the arrival of the last camel, it had exchanged its sober autumnal garb73 for the bright green mantle74 of spring.
Picturesque75 clumps76 of magnificent camel-thorns of ancient growth here studded the face of the landscape, and, covered with golden blossoms, perfumed the entire atmosphere. The myrrh tree flourished on the hill-side, and the “garsee” was first found under a load of fruit resembling the “leechee.” The bright crimson77 pulp78 possesses an agreeable acidity79, and the kernel80 that it envelopes pleases the Danákil in a mess of sheep’s-tail fat. No wood had hitherto been seen sufficiently81 dense to invite the elephant; but in this covert the giant evidently existed; and the oryx, appropriately styled “Aboo el kuroon,” “the father of horns,” ranged in considerable numbers; the half-devoured carcase of one which had been slain82 the preceding night, attesting83 the presence also of the “king of beasts.”
The agility84 of the Ada?el in reclaiming85 a refractory86 camel, although often witnessed with admiration87, had never been more prominently exhibited than during this march. One of the most skittish88 and unmanageable animals of the whole hundred and seventy, had very judiciously89 been selected by Izhák for a large chest containing medical stores, and the halter was usually held by a gentle slave girl, whom it was the delight of the Sahib el Bayzah to cuff90 and maltreat. Taking a sudden whim91 into its head, the restive92 beast, after the performance of sundry preliminary plunges93 to ascertain94 if the load were firm, dashed off the road, galloped95 over the feeble maid, and, smashing her water-gourd into a thousand fragments, roaring and bellowing96, pursued its headlong career across the stony97 plain. Phials and bottles were undergoing a most destructive discipline, when a fleet-footed savage58, who was in hot pursuit, and had already twice turned the fugitive98, darting99 across its orbit, abruptly100 terminated these gratuitous101 and uncouth102 gambols103 by a sudden twitch104 of the nose-rope, which brought owner, dromedary, and medicine-chest simultaneously105 to the earth, with a crash that sounded ominously106 enough, although not the slightest injury was sustained by either.
Meanwhile the caravan had reached Burdúdda, where a large pool of dirty rain-water extended strong inducements to encamp, and again led to a violent altercation107 between the authorities. Apprehensive108 of misunderstandings with the Bedouin shepherds in the vicinity, Izhák had sapiently109 resolved to proceed some miles further to a waterless station, whilst Mohammad Ali, insisting that the káfilah should halt, commenced the work of unloading. The camels of either party were for some time divided; but the Ras, after trying the stratagem110 of advance without shaking his rival’s resolution, finally yielded up the point with a bad grace, and all set up their staff.
The outline of the highlands of Abyssinia, which had been first indistinctly visible from Sultélli, now stood out in bold relief; and to the southward the view was bounded by the lofty hills of the Afrubba, Farsa, and Azbóti Galla, where coffee grows wild in abundance. An intermediate extensive prospect111 is obtained over the thickly-wooded Moolu plain, stretching some thirty miles in the direction of Errur. This latter is the residence of the old sheikh Hajji Ali Mohammad, and the head-quarters of the Débeni, who take hereditary share in the waters of the valley with their brethren the Wóema. It forms, moreover, a place of resort for every wandering vagabond in the surrounding country who possesses a sheep, a goat, or an ox, or has the ability and the inclination112 to assert his privilege of erecting113 a temporary cabin; and thus the recurrence114 of each season of drought, compelling the abandonment of less favoured pastures, pours in its migratory115 swarm34 to swell116 the more permanent muster117 upon the sultry plains of Errur, and to create the strife inseparable from a gathering of these lawless hordes118.
点击收听单词发音
1 sneaked | |
v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 );偷偷溜走;(儿童向成人)打小报告;告状 | |
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2 retinue | |
n.侍从;随员 | |
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3 propitiated | |
v.劝解,抚慰,使息怒( propitiate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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4 levied | |
征(兵)( levy的过去式和过去分词 ); 索取; 发动(战争); 征税 | |
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5 dire | |
adj.可怕的,悲惨的,阴惨的,极端的 | |
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6 persuasion | |
n.劝说;说服;持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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7 elicit | |
v.引出,抽出,引起 | |
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8 dense | |
a.密集的,稠密的,浓密的;密度大的 | |
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9 apprehensions | |
疑惧 | |
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10 scouts | |
侦察员[机,舰]( scout的名词复数 ); 童子军; 搜索; 童子军成员 | |
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11 shrubby | |
adj.灌木的,灌木一般的,灌木繁茂著的 | |
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12 proprietors | |
n.所有人,业主( proprietor的名词复数 ) | |
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13 caravan | |
n.大蓬车;活动房屋 | |
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14 strife | |
n.争吵,冲突,倾轧,竞争 | |
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15 defensive | |
adj.防御的;防卫的;防守的 | |
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16 warrior | |
n.勇士,武士,斗士 | |
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17 warriors | |
武士,勇士,战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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18 descried | |
adj.被注意到的,被发现的,被看到的 | |
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19 eminence | |
n.卓越,显赫;高地,高处;名家 | |
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20 bristling | |
a.竖立的 | |
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21 fiery | |
adj.燃烧着的,火红的;暴躁的;激烈的 | |
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23 foe | |
n.敌人,仇敌 | |
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24 muzzles | |
枪口( muzzle的名词复数 ); (防止动物咬人的)口套; (四足动物的)鼻口部; (狗)等凸出的鼻子和口 | |
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25 parley | |
n.谈判 | |
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26 gathering | |
n.集会,聚会,聚集 | |
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27 hereditary | |
adj.遗传的,遗传性的,可继承的,世袭的 | |
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28 plunder | |
vt.劫掠财物,掠夺;n.劫掠物,赃物;劫掠 | |
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29 termite | |
n.白蚁 | |
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30 cones | |
n.(人眼)圆锥细胞;圆锥体( cone的名词复数 );球果;圆锥形东西;(盛冰淇淋的)锥形蛋卷筒 | |
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31 verdant | |
adj.翠绿的,青翠的,生疏的,不老练的 | |
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32 interspersed | |
adj.[医]散开的;点缀的v.intersperse的过去式和过去分词 | |
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33 swarming | |
密集( swarm的现在分词 ); 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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34 swarm | |
n.(昆虫)等一大群;vi.成群飞舞;蜂拥而入 | |
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35 antelope | |
n.羚羊;羚羊皮 | |
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36 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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37 ambushed | |
v.埋伏( ambush的过去式和过去分词 );埋伏着 | |
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38 covert | |
adj.隐藏的;暗地里的 | |
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39 demonstration | |
n.表明,示范,论证,示威 | |
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40 distinguished | |
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的 | |
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41 scudding | |
n.刮面v.(尤指船、舰或云彩)笔直、高速而平稳地移动( scud的现在分词 ) | |
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42 ostriches | |
n.鸵鸟( ostrich的名词复数 );逃避现实的人,不愿正视现实者 | |
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43 residue | |
n.残余,剩余,残渣 | |
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44 ascend | |
vi.渐渐上升,升高;vt.攀登,登上 | |
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45 requisite | |
adj.需要的,必不可少的;n.必需品 | |
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46 brook | |
n.小河,溪;v.忍受,容让 | |
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47 trickling | |
n.油画底色含油太多而成泡沫状突起v.滴( trickle的现在分词 );淌;使)慢慢走;缓慢移动 | |
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48 charred | |
v.把…烧成炭( char的过去式);烧焦 | |
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49 gaping | |
adj.口的;张口的;敞口的;多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 );张开,张大 | |
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50 crevices | |
n.(尤指岩石的)裂缝,缺口( crevice的名词复数 ) | |
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51 overflowing | |
n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的,充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
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52 alluring | |
adj.吸引人的,迷人的 | |
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53 sprouting | |
v.发芽( sprout的现在分词 );抽芽;出现;(使)涌现出 | |
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54 abounds | |
v.大量存在,充满,富于( abound的第三人称单数 ) | |
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55 sundry | |
adj.各式各样的,种种的 | |
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56 horrid | |
adj.可怕的;令人惊恐的;恐怖的;极讨厌的 | |
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57 savages | |
未开化的人,野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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58 savage | |
adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人 | |
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59 molestation | |
n.骚扰,干扰,调戏;折磨 | |
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60 alluvial | |
adj.冲积的;淤积的 | |
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61 conspicuous | |
adj.明眼的,惹人注目的;炫耀的,摆阔气的 | |
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62 mound | |
n.土墩,堤,小山;v.筑堤,用土堆防卫 | |
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63 concealed | |
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的 | |
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64 withered | |
adj. 枯萎的,干瘪的,(人身体的部分器官)因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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65 boughs | |
大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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66 grotto | |
n.洞穴 | |
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67 reposed | |
v.将(手臂等)靠在某人(某物)上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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68 celebrated | |
adj.有名的,声誉卓著的 | |
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69 continental | |
adj.大陆的,大陆性的,欧洲大陆的 | |
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70 previously | |
adv.以前,先前(地) | |
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71 adorned | |
[计]被修饰的 | |
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72 venerated | |
敬重(某人或某事物),崇敬( venerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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73 garb | |
n.服装,装束 | |
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74 mantle | |
n.斗篷,覆罩之物,罩子;v.罩住,覆盖,脸红 | |
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75 picturesque | |
adj.美丽如画的,(语言)生动的,绘声绘色的 | |
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76 clumps | |
n.(树、灌木、植物等的)丛、簇( clump的名词复数 );(土、泥等)团;块;笨重的脚步声v.(树、灌木、植物等的)丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 );(土、泥等)团;块;笨重的脚步声 | |
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77 crimson | |
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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78 pulp | |
n.果肉,纸浆;v.化成纸浆,除去...果肉,制成纸浆 | |
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79 acidity | |
n.酸度,酸性 | |
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80 kernel | |
n.(果实的)核,仁;(问题)的中心,核心 | |
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81 sufficiently | |
adv.足够地,充分地 | |
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82 slain | |
杀死,宰杀,杀戮( slay的过去分词 ); (slay的过去分词) | |
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83 attesting | |
v.证明( attest的现在分词 );证实;声称…属实;使宣誓 | |
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84 agility | |
n.敏捷,活泼 | |
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85 reclaiming | |
v.开拓( reclaim的现在分词 );要求收回;从废料中回收(有用的材料);挽救 | |
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86 refractory | |
adj.倔强的,难驾驭的 | |
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87 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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88 skittish | |
adj.易激动的,轻佻的 | |
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89 judiciously | |
adv.明断地,明智而审慎地 | |
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90 cuff | |
n.袖口;手铐;护腕;vt.用手铐铐;上袖口 | |
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91 whim | |
n.一时的兴致,突然的念头;奇想,幻想 | |
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92 restive | |
adj.不安宁的,不安静的 | |
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93 plunges | |
n.跳进,投入vt.使投入,使插入,使陷入vi.投入,跳进,陷入v.颠簸( plunge的第三人称单数 );暴跌;骤降;突降 | |
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94 ascertain | |
vt.发现,确定,查明,弄清 | |
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95 galloped | |
(使马)飞奔,奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 ); 快速做[说]某事 | |
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96 bellowing | |
v.发出吼叫声,咆哮(尤指因痛苦)( bellow的现在分词 );(愤怒地)说出(某事),大叫 | |
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97 stony | |
adj.石头的,多石头的,冷酷的,无情的 | |
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98 fugitive | |
adj.逃亡的,易逝的;n.逃犯,逃亡者 | |
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99 darting | |
v.投掷,投射( dart的现在分词 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
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100 abruptly | |
adv.突然地,出其不意地 | |
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101 gratuitous | |
adj.无偿的,免费的;无缘无故的,不必要的 | |
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102 uncouth | |
adj.无教养的,粗鲁的 | |
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103 gambols | |
v.蹦跳,跳跃,嬉戏( gambol的第三人称单数 ) | |
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104 twitch | |
v.急拉,抽动,痉挛,抽搐;n.扯,阵痛,痉挛 | |
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105 simultaneously | |
adv.同时发生地,同时进行地 | |
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106 ominously | |
adv.恶兆地,不吉利地;预示地 | |
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107 altercation | |
n.争吵,争论 | |
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108 apprehensive | |
adj.担心的,恐惧的,善于领会的 | |
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109 sapiently | |
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110 stratagem | |
n.诡计,计谋 | |
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111 prospect | |
n.前景,前途;景色,视野 | |
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112 inclination | |
n.倾斜;点头;弯腰;斜坡;倾度;倾向;爱好 | |
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113 erecting | |
v.使直立,竖起( erect的现在分词 );建立 | |
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114 recurrence | |
n.复发,反复,重现 | |
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115 migratory | |
n.候鸟,迁移 | |
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116 swell | |
vi.膨胀,肿胀;增长,增强 | |
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117 muster | |
v.集合,收集,鼓起,激起;n.集合,检阅,集合人员,点名册 | |
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118 hordes | |
n.移动着的一大群( horde的名词复数 );部落 | |
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