It was an ill oath better broke than kept--
The laws of nature, and of nations, do
In such a case.
---TATEHAM.
CHAPTER I. THE HUT ON THORNE WASTE
Are all our horses and our arms in safety?
Furbo.
They feed, like Pluto's palfreys, under ground.
Our pistols, swords, and other furniture,
Are safely locked up at our rendezvous3.
The hut on Thorne Waste, to which we have before incidentally alluded6, and whither we are now about to repair, was a low, lone7 hovel, situate on the banks of the deep and oozy8 Don, at the eastern extremity9 of that extensive moor10. Ostensibly its owner fulfilled the duties of ferryman to that part of the river; but as the road which skirted his tenement11 was little frequented, his craft was, for the most part, allowed to sleep undisturbed in her moorings.
In reality, however, he was the inland agent of a horde12 of smugglers who infested13 the neighboring coast; his cabin was their rendezvous; and not unfrequently, it was said, the depository of their contraband14 goods. Conkey Jem--so was he called by his associates, on account of the Slawkenbergian promontory15 which decorated his countenance16--had been an old hand at the same trade; but having returned from a seven years' leave of absence from his own country, procured17 by his lawless life, now managed matters with more circumspection18 and prudence19, and had never since been detected in his former illicit20 traffic; nor, though so marvellously gifted in that particular himself, was he ever known to nose upon any of his accomplices21; or, in other words, to betray them. On the contrary, his hut was a sort of asylum22 for all fugitives23 from justice; and although the sanctity of his walls would, in all probability, have been little regarded, had any one been, detected within them, yet, strange to say, even if a robber had been tracked--as it often chanced--to Jem's immediate24 neighborhood, all traces of him were sure to be lost at the ferryman's hut; and further search was useless.
Within, the hut presented such an appearance as might be expected, from its owner's pursuits and its own unpromising exterior25. Consisting of little more than a couple of rooms, the rude whitewashed26 walls exhibited, in lieu of prints of more pretension27, a gallery of choicely-illustrated ballads28, celebrating the exploits of various highwaymen, renowned29 in song, amongst which our friend Dick Turpin figured conspicuously30 upon his sable31 steed, Bess being represented by a huge rampant32 black patch, and Dick, with a pistol considerably33 longer than the arm that sustained it. Next to this curious collection was a drum-net, a fishing-rod, a landing-net, an eel-spear, and other piscatorial34 apparatus35, with a couple of sculls and a boat-hook, indicative of Jem's ferryman's office, suspended by various hooks; the whole blackened and begrimed by peat-smoke, there being no legitimate36 means of exit permitted to the vapor37 generated by the turf-covered hearthstone. The only window, indeed, in the hut, was to the front; the back apartment, which served Jem for dormitory, had no aperture39 whatever for the admission of light, except such as was afforded through the door of communication between the rooms. A few broken rush-bottomed chairs, with a couple of dirty tables, formed the sum total of the ferryman's furniture.
Notwithstanding the grotesque40 effect of his exaggerated nasal organ, Jem's aspect was at once savage41 and repulsive42; his lank43 black hair hung about his inflamed44 visage in wild elf locks, the animal predominating throughout; his eyes were small, red, and wolfish, and glared suspiciously from beneath his scarred and tufted eyebrows45; while certain of his teeth projected, like the tusks46 of a boar, from out his coarse-lipped, sensual mouth. Dwarfish47 in stature48, and deformed49 in person, Jem was built for strength; and what with his width of shoulder and shortness of neck, his figure looked as square and as solid as a cube. His throat and hirsute50 chest, constantly exposed to the weather, had acquired a glowing tan, while his arms, uncovered to the shoulders, and clothed with fur, like a bear's hide, down, almost, to the tips of his fingers, presented a knot of folded muscles, the concentrated force of which few would have desired to encounter in action.
It was now on the stroke of midnight; and Jem, who had been lying extended upon the floor of his hovel, suddenly aroused by that warning impulse which never fails to awaken51 one of his calling at the exact moment when they require to be upon the alert, now set about fanning into flame the expiring fuel upon his hearth38. Having succeeded in igniting further portions of the turf, Jem proceeded to examine the security of his door and window, and satisfied that lock and bolt were shot, and that the shutter52 was carefully closed, he kindled53 a light at his fire, and walked towards his bedroom. But it was not to retire for the night that the ferryman entered his dormitory. Beside his crazy couch stood a litter of empty bottles and a beer cask, crowding the chamber54. The latter he rolled aside, and pressing his foot upon the plank55 beneath it, the board gave way, and a trap-door opening, discovered a ladder, conducting, apparently56, into the bowels57 of the earth. Jem leaned over the abyss, and called in hoarse58 accents to some one below.
An answer was immediately returned, and a light became soon afterwards visible at the foot of the ladder. Two figures next ascended59; the first who set foot within the ferryman's chamber was Alan Rookwood: the other, as the reader may perhaps conjecture60, was his grandson.
"Is it the hour?" asked Luke, as he sprang from out the trap-door.
"Ay," replied Jem, with a coarse laugh, "or I had not disturbed myself to call you. But, maybe," added he, softening61 his manner a little, "you'll like some refreshments62 before you start? A stoup of Nantz will put you in cue for the job, ha, ha!"
"Not I," replied Luke, who could ill tolerate his companion's familiarity.
"Give me to drink," said Alan, walking feebly towards the fire, and extending his skinny fingers before it. "I am chilled by the damps of that swampy63 cave--the natural heat within me is nigh extinguished."
"Here is that shall put fresh marrow64 into your old bones," returned Jem, handing him a tumbler of brandy; "never stint65 it. I'll be sworn you'll be the better on't, for you look desperate queer, man, about the mazard."
Alan was, in sooth, a ghastly spectacle. The events of the last few days had wrought66 a fearful change. His countenance was almost exanimate; and when, with shaking hand and trembling lips, he had drained the fiery67 potion to the dregs, a terrible grimace68 was excited upon his features, such as is produced upon the corpse69 by the action of the galvanic machine. Even Jem regarded him with a sort of apprehension70. After he had taken breath for a moment, Alan broke out into a fit of wild and immoderate laughter.
"Why, ay," said he, "this is indeed to grow young again, and to feel fresh fire within one's veins71. Who would have thought so much of life and energy could reside in this little vessel72? I am myself once more, and not the same soulless, pulseless lump of clay I was a moment or two back. The damps of that den5 had destroyed me--and the solitude--the waking dreams I've had--the visions! horrible! I will not think of them. I am better now--ready to execute my plans--your plans I should say, grandson Luke. Are our horses in readiness? Why do we tarry? The hour is arrived, and I would not that my new-blown courage should evaporate ere the great work for which I live be accomplished73. That done, I ask no further stimulant74. Let us away."
"We tarry but for Turpin," said Luke; "I am as impatient as yourself. I fear some mischance must have befallen him, or he would have been true to his appointment. Do you not think so?" he added, addressing the ferryman.
"Why," replied Jem, reluctantly, "since you put it home to me, and I can't conceal75 it no longer, I'll tell you what I didn't tell afore, for fear you should be down in the mouth about it. Dick Turpin can do nothing for you--he's grabb'd."
"Turpin apprehended76!" ejaculated Luke.
"Ay," returned Jem. "I learnt from a farmer who crossed the ferry at nightfall, that he were grabb'd this morning at York, after having ridden his famous cherry-colored prad to death--that's what hurts me more not all the rest; though I fear Dick will scarce cheat the nubbing cheat this go. His time's up, I calculate."
"Will you supply his place and accompany us?" asked Luke of the ferryman.
"No, no," replied Jem, shaking his head; "there's too much risk, and too little profit, in the business for me--it won't pay."
"More than you have to offer, Master Peter," replied Jem, who had not been enlightened upon the subject of Alan's real name or condition.
"How know you that?" demanded Alan. "Name your demand."
"To part with your soul to the devil, I doubt not," said Luke, fiercely stamping the ground. "Let us be gone. We need not his mercenary aid. We will do without him."
"Stay," said Alan, "you shall have the hundred, provided you will assure us of your services."
"Cut no more blarneyfied whids, Master Sexton," replied Jem, in a gruff tone. "If I'm to go, I must have the chink down, and that's more nor either of you can do, I'm thinking."
"Give me your purse," whispered Alan to his grandson. "Pshaw," continued he, "do you hesitate? This man can do much for us. Think upon Eleanor, and be prudent79. You cannot accomplish your task unaided." Taking the amount from the purse, he gave it to the ferryman, adding, "If we succeed, the sum shall be doubled; and now let us set out."
During Alan's speech, Jem's sharp eyes had been fastened upon the purse, while he mechanically clutched the bank-notes which were given to him. He could not remove his gaze, but continued staring at the treasure before him, as if he would willingly, by force, have made it all his own.
Alan saw the error he had committed in exposing the contents of the purse to the avaricious80 ferryman, and was about to restore it to Luke, when the bag was suddenly snatched from his grasp, and himself levelled by a blow upon the floor. Conkey Jem found the temptation irresistible81. Knowing himself to be a match for both his companions, and imagining he was secure from interruption, he conceived the idea of making away with them, and possessing himself of their wealth. No sooner had he disposed of Alan, than he assailed82 Luke, who met his charge half way. With the vigor83 and alacrity84 of the latter the reader is already acquainted, but he was no match for the herculean strength of the double-jointed ferryman, who, with the ferocity of the boar he so much resembled, thus furiously attacked him. Nevertheless, as may be imagined, he was not disposed to yield up his life tamely. He saw at once the villain85's murderous intentions, and, well aware of his prodigious86 power, would not have risked a close struggle could he have avoided it. Snatching the eel-spear from the wall, he had hurled87 it at the head of his adversary88, but without effect. In the next instant he was locked in a clasp terrible as that of a Polar bear. In spite of all his struggles, Luke was speedily hurled to the ground: and Jem, who had thrown himself upon him, was apparently searching about for some weapon to put a bloody89 termination to the conflict, when the trampling90 of a horse was heard at the door, three taps were repeated slowly, one after the other, and a call resounded91 from a whistle.
"Damnation!" ejaculated Jem, gruffly, "interrupted!" And he seemed irresolute92, slightly altering his position on Luke's body.
The moment was fortunate for Luke, and, in all probability, saved his life. He extricated93 himself from the ferryman's grasp, regained94 his feet, and, what was of more importance, the weapon he had thrown away.
"Villain!" cried he, about to plunge95 the spear with all his force into his enemy's side, "you shall----"
The whistle was again heard without.
"Don't you hear that?" cried Jem: "'Tis Turpin's call."
"Turpin!" echoed Luke, dropping the point of his weapon. "Unbar the door, you treacherous96 rascal97, and admit him."
"Well, say no more about it, Sir Luke," said Jem, fawningly98; "I knows I owes you my life, and I thank you for it. Take back the lowre. He should not have shown it me--it was that as did all the mischief99."
Jem complied with pretended alacrity, but real reluctance101, casting suspicious glances at Luke as he withdrew the bolts. The door at length being opened, haggard, exhausted102, and covered with dust, Dick Turpin staggered into the hut.
"Well, I am here," said he, with a hollow laugh. "I've kept my word--ha, ha! I've been damnably put to it; but here I am, ha, ha!" And he sank upon one of the stools.
"We heard you were apprehended," said Luke. "I am glad to find the information was false," added he, glancing angrily at the ferryman.
"Whoever told you that, told you a lie, Sir Luke," replied Dick; "but what are you scowling103 at, old Charon?--and you, Sir Luke? Why do you glower104 at each other? Make fast the door--bolt it, Cerberus--right! Now give me a glass of brandy, and then I'll talk--a bumper--so--another. What's that I see--a dead man? Old Peter--Alan I mean--has anything happened to him, that he has taken his measure there so quietly?"
"The blow?" repeated Turpin. "What! there has been a quarrel then? I thought as much from your amiable106 looks at each other. Come, come, we must have no differences. Give the old earthworm a taste of this--I'll engage it will bring him to fast enough. Ay, rub his temples with it if you'd rather; but it's a better remedy down the gullet--the natural course; and hark ye, Jem, search your crib quickly, and see if you have any grub within it, and any more bub in the cellar: I'm as hungry as a hunter, and as thirsty as a camel."
点击收听单词发音
1 dispense | |
vt.分配,分发;配(药),发(药);实施 | |
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2 hind | |
adj.后面的,后部的 | |
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3 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 | |
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4 revels | |
n.作乐( revel的名词复数 );狂欢;着迷;陶醉v.作乐( revel的第三人称单数 );狂欢;着迷;陶醉 | |
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5 den | |
n.兽穴;秘密地方;安静的小房间,私室 | |
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6 alluded | |
提及,暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7 lone | |
adj.孤寂的,单独的;唯一的 | |
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8 oozy | |
adj.软泥的 | |
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9 extremity | |
n.末端,尽头;尽力;终极;极度 | |
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10 moor | |
n.荒野,沼泽;vt.(使)停泊;vi.停泊 | |
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11 tenement | |
n.公寓;房屋 | |
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12 horde | |
n.群众,一大群 | |
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13 infested | |
adj.为患的,大批滋生的(常与with搭配)v.害虫、野兽大批出没于( infest的过去式和过去分词 );遍布于 | |
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14 contraband | |
n.违禁品,走私品 | |
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15 promontory | |
n.海角;岬 | |
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16 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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17 procured | |
v.(努力)取得, (设法)获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 );拉皮条 | |
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18 circumspection | |
n.细心,慎重 | |
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19 prudence | |
n.谨慎,精明,节俭 | |
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20 illicit | |
adj.非法的,禁止的,不正当的 | |
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21 accomplices | |
从犯,帮凶,同谋( accomplice的名词复数 ) | |
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22 asylum | |
n.避难所,庇护所,避难 | |
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23 fugitives | |
n.亡命者,逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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24 immediate | |
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 | |
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25 exterior | |
adj.外部的,外在的;表面的 | |
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26 whitewashed | |
粉饰,美化,掩饰( whitewash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27 pretension | |
n.要求;自命,自称;自负 | |
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28 ballads | |
民歌,民谣,特别指叙述故事的歌( ballad的名词复数 ); 讴 | |
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29 renowned | |
adj.著名的,有名望的,声誉鹊起的 | |
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30 conspicuously | |
ad.明显地,惹人注目地 | |
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31 sable | |
n.黑貂;adj.黑色的 | |
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32 rampant | |
adj.(植物)蔓生的;狂暴的,无约束的 | |
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33 considerably | |
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上 | |
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34 piscatorial | |
adj.鱼的;渔业的 | |
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35 apparatus | |
n.装置,器械;器具,设备 | |
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36 legitimate | |
adj.合法的,合理的,合乎逻辑的;v.使合法 | |
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37 vapor | |
n.蒸汽,雾气 | |
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38 hearth | |
n.壁炉炉床,壁炉地面 | |
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39 aperture | |
n.孔,隙,窄的缺口 | |
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40 grotesque | |
adj.怪诞的,丑陋的;n.怪诞的图案,怪人(物) | |
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41 savage | |
adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人 | |
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42 repulsive | |
adj.排斥的,使人反感的 | |
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43 lank | |
adj.瘦削的;稀疏的 | |
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44 inflamed | |
adj.发炎的,红肿的v.(使)变红,发怒,过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45 eyebrows | |
眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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46 tusks | |
n.(象等动物的)长牙( tusk的名词复数 );獠牙;尖形物;尖头 | |
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47 dwarfish | |
a.像侏儒的,矮小的 | |
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48 stature | |
n.(高度)水平,(高度)境界,身高,身材 | |
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49 deformed | |
adj.畸形的;变形的;丑的,破相了的 | |
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50 hirsute | |
adj.多毛的 | |
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51 awaken | |
vi.醒,觉醒;vt.唤醒,使觉醒,唤起,激起 | |
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52 shutter | |
n.百叶窗;(照相机)快门;关闭装置 | |
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53 kindled | |
(使某物)燃烧,着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 ); 激起(感情等); 发亮,放光 | |
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54 chamber | |
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所 | |
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55 plank | |
n.板条,木板,政策要点,政纲条目 | |
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56 apparently | |
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
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57 bowels | |
n.肠,内脏,内部;肠( bowel的名词复数 );内部,最深处 | |
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58 hoarse | |
adj.嘶哑的,沙哑的 | |
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59 ascended | |
v.上升,攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60 conjecture | |
n./v.推测,猜测 | |
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61 softening | |
变软,软化 | |
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62 refreshments | |
n.点心,便餐;(会议后的)简单茶点招 待 | |
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63 swampy | |
adj.沼泽的,湿地的 | |
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64 marrow | |
n.骨髓;精华;活力 | |
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65 stint | |
v.节省,限制,停止;n.舍不得化,节约,限制;连续不断的一段时间从事某件事 | |
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66 wrought | |
v.引起;以…原料制作;运转;adj.制造的 | |
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67 fiery | |
adj.燃烧着的,火红的;暴躁的;激烈的 | |
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68 grimace | |
v.做鬼脸,面部歪扭 | |
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69 corpse | |
n.尸体,死尸 | |
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70 apprehension | |
n.理解,领悟;逮捕,拘捕;忧虑 | |
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71 veins | |
n.纹理;矿脉( vein的名词复数 );静脉;叶脉;纹理 | |
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72 vessel | |
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
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73 accomplished | |
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的 | |
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74 stimulant | |
n.刺激物,兴奋剂 | |
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75 conceal | |
v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽 | |
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76 apprehended | |
逮捕,拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 ); 理解 | |
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77 tempt | |
vt.引诱,勾引,吸引,引起…的兴趣 | |
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78 bribe | |
n.贿赂;v.向…行贿,买通 | |
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79 prudent | |
adj.谨慎的,有远见的,精打细算的 | |
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80 avaricious | |
adj.贪婪的,贪心的 | |
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81 irresistible | |
adj.非常诱人的,无法拒绝的,无法抗拒的 | |
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82 assailed | |
v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 );困扰;质问;毅然应对 | |
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83 vigor | |
n.活力,精力,元气 | |
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84 alacrity | |
n.敏捷,轻快,乐意 | |
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85 villain | |
n.反派演员,反面人物;恶棍;问题的起因 | |
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86 prodigious | |
adj.惊人的,奇妙的;异常的;巨大的;庞大的 | |
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87 hurled | |
v.猛投,用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 );大声叫骂 | |
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88 adversary | |
adj.敌手,对手 | |
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89 bloody | |
adj.非常的的;流血的;残忍的;adv.很;vt.血染 | |
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90 trampling | |
踩( trample的现在分词 ); 践踏; 无视; 侵犯 | |
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91 resounded | |
v.(指声音等)回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 );产生回响;(指某处)回荡着声音 | |
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92 irresolute | |
adj.无决断的,优柔寡断的,踌躇不定的 | |
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93 extricated | |
v.使摆脱困难,脱身( extricate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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94 regained | |
复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 ); 赢回; 重回; 复至某地 | |
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95 plunge | |
v.跳入,(使)投入,(使)陷入;猛冲 | |
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96 treacherous | |
adj.不可靠的,有暗藏的危险的;adj.背叛的,背信弃义的 | |
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97 rascal | |
n.流氓;不诚实的人 | |
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98 fawningly | |
adv.奉承地,讨好地 | |
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99 mischief | |
n.损害,伤害,危害;恶作剧,捣蛋,胡闹 | |
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100 parley | |
n.谈判 | |
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101 reluctance | |
n.厌恶,讨厌,勉强,不情愿 | |
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102 exhausted | |
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的 | |
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103 scowling | |
怒视,生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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104 glower | |
v.怒目而视 | |
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105 stunned | |
adj. 震惊的,惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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106 amiable | |
adj.和蔼可亲的,友善的,亲切的 | |
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