Like everything in Nature, the variety of seats is infinite. They may, however, generically3 be divided into two classes:
1. In the great plains of South America, in which it29 may truly be stated that for every male inhabitant above five or six years of age Nature maintains at no cost, no tax, and at no trouble to him, a stud of horses whose number is legion, the rider sits almost perpendicularly4, with the great toe of each foot resting very lightly on, and often merely touching6 its small triangular7 stirrup, his legs grasping the horse's sides slightly or tightly, as prosperous or adverse8 circumstances may require.
In this attitude, which may be said to be that of standing9 astride over rather than sitting upon the saddle, the pivot10 upon which the rider, gracefully12 bending his body with a ball and socket13 movement, turns—in throwing his lasso, in thrusting his lance forwards on either side, or in looking behind him—is what is termed by sporting men his "fork."
In the few instances where pistols are carried, they are affixed15 behind the right thigh16, firstly, that in the common occurrence of the horse falling in his gallop17, they may not prevent the rider from rolling clear away from him; and, secondly18, because in that position the weapons are close to the rider's right hand, which, as he flies along, is to be seen always dangling19 just above the but ends, ready to grasp them the instant they are required.
This attitude is not only highly picturesque20, but particularly 30easy to the rider, who, while partaking of the undulating motion of his horse, can rest his wearied body by slight imperceptible changes of position on the pivot or "fork," on which, like corn waving in the wind, it bends.
The British cavalry21 sit astride above their saddles very nearly in this attitude, which, as we have just explained, enables them with great facility to cut, or give point in front, right or left, at cavalry or at infantry22; and if they were not embarrassed by their clothing, as well as by their accoutrements, and if, as in the region to which we have alluded23, they were to use no pace but the gallop, each would soon become, or rather he could not help apparently becoming, part and parcel of his horse. But our gallant24 men, although they have been subjected to innumerable experimental changes of dress, &c., continue not only hampered25 and imperilled by a hard cloak, holsters, and carbine affixed in front of their thighs26, and imprisoned27, especially round their necks, within tight clothing, but their travelling pace, the trot28 (a jolting30 movement unknown and unheard of in the plains of South America), gives to their body and limbs a rigidity31 painful to look at, and in long journeys wearisome to man and horse. Indeed in the French cavalry, and occasionally in our own, the manner in which the soldier, in not a bad attitude, is31 seen hopping32 high into the air, on and off his saddle, as his horse, at apparently a different rate, trots33 beneath him, forms as ridiculous a caricature of the art of riding as the pencil of our Punch's "Leech34" could possibly delineate.
2. Throughout the United Kingdom, civilians35 of all classes, gentlemen, farmers, and yeomen, especially those who occasionally follow the hounds, adopt what is commonly called "the hunting seat," in which, instead of "the fork," the knees form the pivot, or rather hinge, the legs beneath them the grasp, while the thighs, like the pastern of a horse, enable the body above to rise and fall as lightly as a carriage on its springs.
In this attitude the rider cannot turn his body to the right or left, or look behind him as easily as he could revolve36 upon his "fork."
For rough riding, however, of every description, the hunting seat, though infinitely37 less graceful11, is superior to that of the cavalry of Europe, for the following reasons:—
One of the most usual devices by which a horse endeavours to, and but too often succeeds in dislodging his rider, is by giving to his back, by a sudden kick, a jerk upwards38, which, of course, forces in the same direction towards the sky that nameless portion of humanity which32 was partly resting on it, and which in the cavalry cannot possibly get very far away from it.
But, in the hunting seat, the instant the rider expects such a kick, by merely rising in his stirrups he at once raises or abstracts from the saddle the point his enemy intends to attack, and accordingly the blow aimed at it fails to reach it.
Again, on approaching a large fence, by the same simple precaution, the rider entirely39 avoids the concussion40 of that sudden jerk or effort necessary to enable the horse to clear it. In a fall, the pommel of the saddle and the horse's neck and head are much easier cleared by short stirrup-leathers than by long ones. Lastly, in a common trot, the former soften41 the jolt29, which the latter cannot easily avoid. In short, in a hunting seat, the rider, to his great comfort and relief, rests more or less on his saddle as long as he likes, and yet, the instant he anticipates a blow from it, leaves it, without metaphor42 ... behind him.
Of horsemanship it may truly be said, that about four-fifths of the art depend on attaining43 a just seat, and one-fifth on possessing a pair of light hands.[B] But although the attainment44 of these advantages is not incompatible45 with an easy, erect46 position on horseback,33 the generality of riders are but too apt to sit on their horses in the bent47 attitude of the last paroxysm or exertion48 which helped them into the saddle. Now, when a man in this toad-like position rides along—say a macadamized road—he travels always ready, at a moment's notice, to proceed by himself in the direction in which he is pointing, in case the progress of his horse should be suddenly stopped by his falling down. Indeed, when a horse, without falling down, recovers by a violent struggle from a bad trip, a heavy rider in this attitude (called by Sir Bellingham Graham "a wash-ball seat") is very liable to shoot forwards over his head in a parabolic curve, ending in a concussion of his brain or in the dislocation of his neck,—the horse standing by his motionless body perfectly49 uninjured.
On the other hand, when a man sits upright, justly balanced on his saddle, any sudden jerk or movement forwards throws his shoulders backwards50. If therefore, while proceeding52 in that position, the horse thinks proper to fall, the animal in the first instance is the sole sufferer. He cuts his forehead, hurts his nose, breaks his knees, bruises53 his chest, while his head, neck, fore51-legs, and the forepart of his body, forced into each other like the joints54 of a telescope, form a buffer55, preventing the concussion the horse has received, from injuring, in the smallest degree, the rider, or even the watch in his34 pocket, which, without being ejected from the saddle, goes ticking, ticking, ticking on, just as merrily as if nothing had happened. If he only trips, a rider poised56 justly in his saddle can easily recover him.
A horse will not only refrain from treading upon any creature lying on the ground, but in hunting he will make the utmost possible effort to avoid putting a foot upon his master whenever
"On the bare earth exposed he lies."
If, however, his owner, from a bad seat or from false precaution, has suddenly thrown himself from his back, it is often impossible for the animal, while struggling to recover from a desperate trip, to avoid either trampling57 upon or violently striking him.
For this reason a rider should never abandon his saddle so long as his horse beneath it has a leg, or an infinitesimal part of one, to stand on. But so soon as his downfall is announced by that heavy, thundering concussion against the ground, the meaning of which it is impossible to mistake, the partnership58 should instantaneously be dissolved by the horseman rolling, if possible, out of harm's way.
But it occasionally happens not only that the horse rolls too, but that the larger roller overtakes the smaller one, the two lying prostrate59, with the legs in boots under the body whose limbs wear only shoes.
35
If the rider happens fortunately to have the saddle between him and the horse, his legs merely sustain a heavy weight, from which they are harmlessly extricated60 the instant the animal rises.
Should he happen unfortunately to have the girths between him and the horse, he lies, like Ariel in the cloven pine, "painfully imprisoned," in a predicament of which it is impossible for any one to foretell61 the results.
As the quadruped is always more or less cowed by his fall, he remains62 usually for about a minute or two as still as if he were dead.
All of a sudden, however, just as if a bayonet had been run into him, he struggles to rise.
To do so it is necessary that all his feet should take hold of the ground. This they are prevented from doing by the rider's boots, which, operating as a handspike under the body, keep it in a horizontal position, thereby63 causing the four legs, like two pairs of blacksmith's sledge-hammers, to continue to strike heavily towards each other.
Between them lies, acting64 in this little tragedy the part of Anvil65, the poor rider, who can only avoid the hard blows of two fore iron shoes, by wincing66 from them to within the reach of two hind14 ones.
This violent struggle eventually ends by the horse rising, leaving on the field of battle, slightly, seriously, or36 desperately67 wounded, his master, whom he never intended to hurt.
In the hunting field, the bent position in the saddle produces equally unpleasant results. On man and horse coming cheerily to a fence, with what mathematicians68 call "an unknown quantity" on the other side, if the rider sits justly on his saddle, it is the horse and not he that receives the concussion of any fall that may ensue, simply because the spring of his animal in taking the leap had thrown his shoulders backwards, and consequently his head out of danger; whereas the nose of the gentleman who had been riding alongside of him in the bent attitude of a note of interrogation, is seen to plough into its mother earth the instant the muzzle69 of his horse impinges upon it.
For exactly the same reasons, in every description of fall (and no volume would be large enough to contain them all), similar results occur; and yet there is no predicament in which "Toady70" appears to greater disadvantage, and so keenly feels it, than when, in following the hounds, he has to descend71 a very precipitous and rather slippery grass hill.
If a horse be but properly dealt with, he can gallop down a turf hill with nearly as much rapidity as along a race-course. A tea-table would stand ill at ease on the 37declivity, because its limbs are immoveable; but a quadruped, by throwing all his legs forwards and his body backwards, has the power to adjust himself, with mathematical precision, to almost any descent.
To insure his safety, however, it is essential that he should be encouraged, by a loose rein73, to carry his head as low as possible, to enable him to take care of his feet, and in case of treading on a rolling-stone to recover his balance by throwing it up. Now, when in this position, if the rider, following the instinct and the example of the horse, throws his weight backwards—in fact, if from the saddle the backs of the two animals are separated from each other by only a very small angle, both can descend the hill together at considerable speed without the smallest danger. The only embarrassment74 the rider has to contend against is an over-caution on the part of the horse, amounting to fear, which induces him to try to take the slope diagonally, very likely to result in the poor animal slipping up on his side. In keeping his head straight, however, care must be taken not to induce him to raise it up; and when this little difficulty is overcome, no other of any sort or kind remains to impede75 a safe and rapid descent.
Seated on his saddle, in the attitude we have described, that admirable rider Jack76 Shirley, whipper-in to the Tedworth hunt, with a large open clasp-knife in his mouth, was one day observed fixing a piece of38 whipcord to his lash77, while following his hounds at a slapping pace, down hill, his reins78 lying nearly loose on old "Gadsby's" neck.
On the other hand when a gentleman, however fearless he may be, sitting at an angle of 45°, like a 13-inch mortar79 on its bed, attempts to ride down the steep declivity72 described, the afflictions that befall him are really piteous, for the instant his horse's fore legs sink considerably80 lower than the hind ones, he feels that unless he holds on very tightly, he must inevitably81 pitch over the bows of the vessel82 that is carrying him. To maintain his equilibrium83 he therefore pulls a little at his curb84-bit, which not only raises his horse's head till it nearly touches his nose, but throws the animal and the weight he carries into such a false position, that it becomes difficult and dangerous to advance. The restrained quadruped, impatient to follow the horses before him, yet altogether out of gear, on every little twitch85 at his bridle86 keeps chucking up his head, until the rider, who a moment ago expected to fall over his ears, now feels that he is going to glide87 backwards over his tail, which is nearly touching the hill. In short, the poor horse is resting on his hocks instead of his hoofs88, with his fore feet barely touching the ground.
When a lot of riders find themselves in this hopeless attitude, they generally, according to their amount of39 activity, crawl, jump, or vault89 from their saddles to descend on foot, which they soon find very little improves their case, for the heels of their boots not being, like horse-shoes, concave, take insufficient90 hold of the turf; and thus while they are slipping, sliding, and tottering91 in the descent, each linked to a quadruped that is bothering him to death, if, feeling a little alarmed, they resolve to stop for a moment or two, their impatient horses, unable to advance and unwilling92 to stand still, often compromise the matter by running round their masters, with the chance of rolling them, like ninepins, down the hill.
In galloping93 for many hours, and especially for many days, as soon as the muscles of the rider, by getting tired, lose their obstinacy94, it becomes impossible for him, if he sits upright, to prevent his body undulating, to the infinite relief of both parties, with every movement of the horse; whereas, if, like an English jockey, whose seat is well adapted for galloping at the utmost speed for a few minutes, he rides like a frog on a shovel95, he inflicts96 upon his whole frame, as well as upon the poor animal that carries him, an amount of unnecessary fatigue97 which prematurely98 tires both.
For the foregoing reasons if gentlemen sportsmen who occupy on the road and the hunting-field this false position, would but allow Mr. Calcraft, in his peculiar99 way,40 to lift them about half a dozen times a few inches into the air, and then, as a tallow-chandler dips his candles, lower them gently, easily, and perpendicularly to their saddles, they would find themselves promoted in the world to a seat on horseback which they would never wish to abandon.
As, however, our readers, we fear, must have become very tired of the saddle, we will now relieve them from hogskin, to submit to them a very few practical observations on the management of the bridle, the ordinary uses of which, as everybody knows, are twofold, namely, first to guide a horse, and secondly to restrain, or, when requisite101, to stop him.
As it is the disposition102 of a horse, when mounted, to go fast, and as it is the disposition of a man to pull at any thing in this world as little as possible, curb-bits and curb-chains (as their names truly denote) have been invented, by which the animal in all his movements on parade or on the road is slightly thrown on his haunches, with his head raised more or less above its natural level. In this position his eyes are of course proportionally elevated, and as there exists no obstruction103 on the macadamized roads, &c., on which he travels, he soon ceases to look downwards104; and although, if he then happens to pass over a little hole, he may put a foot into it, or may slightly blunder over half a shovelfull of loose stones which41 had escaped his observation, yet, if he has good action, and a tolerable rider, he earns the character of being a "capital hack105."
Now to metamorphose "a hack" into "a hunter" is principally effected by the bridle, and yet the great difficulty of the art is to learn not how much, but how little to use it; in short, a considerable portion of what the bridle has done has to be undone106. Accordingly, instead of being encouraged to travel on his haunches with his fore legs lightly touching the ground, the latter must be required to bear the greater portion of the burden, which it is the duty of the hind legs to propel. The head has to be brought down to its proper level; and to induce or rather to oblige the horse to make his eyes the lantern of his feet, to study geology instead of astronomy, he should be slowly ridden, with a loose rein, over every little hole, grip, or heap that would be likely to throw a hack down. Whenever he can be made to stumble (if the rider feels that he will not actually fall), the reins should instantly be dropped. In like manner he should be walked for several days over the roughest ground that can be found, particularly land that has been excavated107 to obtain the substratum and left in holes. With a perfectly loose rein he should be gently trotted108, gently cantered, and gently galloped109 over a surface of this description, the rider always dropping the rein when42 he blunders. Vegetius, in describing the horsemanship of the Parthians in the time of Xerxes, states that in order to make their horses sure-footed over rough, broken ground, they placed on a space of level ground a number of wooden troughs of different heights, filled with earth, over which in galloping they had many falls.
Under similar treatment, the strength, activity, intelligence, and eyesight of the animal will, as in a wild state, cordially be combined by him to protect himself from the degradation110 as well as punishment of falling; and so ample and sufficient are these powers, that the rider will soon find, that instead of having to hold his horse up, it has become out of his power to throw him down. In fact, under the guidance of nature, rather than of man, "the hack" in a very short period, and without going over a fence of any sort or kind, may thus be made competent to follow hounds across any country in the United Kingdom; while, on the other hand, the nag100 that had only been taught in a riding-school or in a dealer's yard to jump neatly111 over bars, gates, and hurdles112, would, most particularly to the neck of his rider, prove to be infinitely worse than useless.
Of course a horse is not a perfect hunter until he has had a small amount (for he does not require much) of experience in leaping; but as, with the exception of water, every horse is able, willing, and eager to jump,43 generally speaking, more than is desired, his rider has merely to teach the noble animal beneath him to add to his valour just enough discretion113 to induce him to look, not before, but while he leaps.
A hunter when following hounds is so excited, that if, in addition to his own eagerness, he be hurried at his fences, he rushes more and more recklessly at them, until he gets into needless trouble. On the other hand, just as he approaches every fence, if he be always patted on the neck, and gently restrained, he feels satisfied that he is to be allowed to do the job; and accordingly, curtailing114 his stride as he approaches, he does it not only cleverly, but without any waste of exertion, which, to use a common hunting-field expression, "he may want before the day's over."
When a horse is enabled, like a soldier whose stiff stock has just been unbuckled, to drop his head to its natural position, he not only goes safely, but, without risk of cutting his fetlocks, he can gallop over ground deeply covered with loose impediments of any description; and, accordingly, in Surrey it has long been a hunting axiom that it is the curb bridles115 which by throwing hunters on their haunches in a false position cause them to cut their back sinews with those sharp flints which, in a snaffle bit, they can clatter116 over without injury. A good Northamptonshire rider, in lately44 taking a fence, jumped over it into a stone quarry117. Now, if he had been in the bent attitude we have described, he must inevitably have pitched on, and have fractured his skull118. From, however, sitting correctly on his saddle, his ankles, and not his head, suffered.
In like manner when Mehemet Ali, under the pretence119 of investing his son, Toossoon Pacha, with the command of an army, by a treacherous120 invitation inveigled121 the Mamelukes into the summit of the citadel122 of El Kahira (the Victorious), commonly called Cairo, and then suddenly dropping the portcullis, directed upon them from barred windows on three sides a murderous fire, Amyn Bey, rather than submit to such a death, spurring his Arab charger over his writhing123 comrades, and across the low crenated wall, jumped over a precipice124 of about fifty feet; and yet, although of the horse it may truly be said that
"Headlong from the mountain's height
for, on reaching the hard rock, he was smashed to death, the rider, who, no doubt, had expected the same fate, was enabled, with only a broken ankle, to crawl away, recover, and for nearly thirty years enjoy, with health and wealth, the well-earned appellation126 of "the last of the Mamelukes;" in short
"The man recovered from the blow, the horse it was that died."
45
In further evidence, however, of the theory that when a man sits properly in his saddle, it is the horse, and not he, who suffers by a tumble, we submit to our readers the following extraordinary narration127 by a young General officer of high character, who has kindly128 permitted us to publish it, briefly129 describing a fall on horseback to a depth equal to 40 feet more than the height of the weather-cock on the steeple of St. Martin's church, in London, or to double the height of the Duke of York's monument at the bottom of Regent Street.
"United Service Club, 18th March, 1860."
"In June, 1848, at the island of Dominica, in the West Indies, I fell over a precipice of 237 feet perpendicular5 height, upon the rocks by the sea-side. This occurred about a quarter past 7 o'clock p.m., then quite dark, as no twilight130 exists in the tropics. Every bone of my horse was broken, and I conceive my escape from instant death the most miraculous131 that ever occurred. Three men, at various periods, had previously132 been dashed to atoms at the same spot, and one man twelve months after me, when the Legislative133 Assembly passed a resolution to secure the road; but if twenty thousand men were to fall there, I think nothing short of a miracle could save one of them. My recovery from the shock I sustained was also as miraculous as my escape with life. I sent out an artist to take a drawing on the spot, and also had the place surveyed by an engineer. I have often thought of putting down all the circumstances of that extraordinary accident, but the dread134 of being taken for a Baron135 Munchausen has restrained me. I do not expect that any one will believe it, although there are many living witnesses. Nor do I expect any sympathy, for, as soon as I could hold a pen, I detailed136 the catastrophe137 to my mother to account for my long silence. I received, in reply, in due course, a long letter detailing family news, without any allusion138 to my unfortunate case, except in a 46postscript, in which she merely said, 'Oh! William, I wish you would give up riding after dinner.'[C]
"Wm. Yorke Moore, Major-Gen.
"P.S. During the fall I stuck to my horse."
The details of this astonishing accident are very shortly as follows:—
Colonel Moore, while commanding the troops in Dominica, lost his way one evening after sunset.
As, in utter darkness, he was endeavouring to get home, he came to several little imperceptible objects which he forced his horse to cross. Shortly afterwards the animal stopped at one which he seemed particularly afraid of.
The soldier, unwilling to halt between two opinions, but, on the contrary, determined139 to proceed as he thought straight towards his home, at almost full speed rode at the unknown impediment several times in vain, until the animal, surrendering his instinctive140 fears, and possibly knowledge, to the spurs that were propelling him, with a violent jump into the air cleared the little low hedge, for such it proved to be, bounding that awful precipice which, like a wall, connected the upper story or table-land of the island with the ocean which in solemn darkness reigned141 beneath it.
Colonel Moore states that during his passage on horseback 47through the air, almost every event of his life, large as well as small, at about the rate of the electric telegraph, which transmits its ideas one hundred and eighty thousand miles in a second, flashed across his mind as distinctly and as vividly142 as if they were recurring143.
By a sort of clairvoyance144, of which in medical annals there exist recorded several similar instances, he saw all that in his lifetime he had done or left undone, and was thinking, seriatim, of almost every friend and relative, when, in an instant, all these bright fiery145 thoughts on the past, present, or future tenses of his existence became extinguished by a concussion which, depriving him of his senses, left him with his legs in the sea and his body on the rocks, apparently dead.
While lying, corpse-like, in this lonely state, whose beneficent hand was it that all of a sudden dashed upon his face the cool, fresh soft water that recovered him? Whose voice was it that, almost at the same moment, explained to him, not only the accident which had befallen him, but the time that had elapsed since it occurred?
The hand that restored to him his senses was that which had already graciously placed his head in safety upon the rock above the ocean that would have drowned him, but in which his feet had been harmlessly floating. It was the hand that had just created the tropical shower48 which, as if administered to him by an angel, awakened146 him from his swoon.
It was the hand that, "in the beginning," when the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep, had created that "lesser147 light to rule the night," which, just before he fell, he had observed rising from the horizon, but which now, shining above his head, upon four upturned glittering horse-shoes (all he could see of his mangled148 beast), made known to him, at a glance, that what had evidently befallen him, according to the illuminated149 clock in the heavens, must have occurred many hours ago.
With cool presence of mind, Colonel Moore, after making several experimental movements, ascertained150 that he was severely151 cut about the body and head; that his right ankle was dislocated, and that his back was benumbed or paralysed by the concussion of his fall. As soon, however, as the long wished-for sun rose, it shone upon his bare, bleeding head with such excruciating force, that, as a protection from its rays, he transferred his cotton neckerchief to his scalp and forehead, leaving sticking up above them the two ends, which, like the remainder, were stained with his red blood.
After remaining in extreme pain for several hours, to his great joy he saw a boat full of sable152 natives rowing towards the spot on which, in the head-dress just49 described, he was reclining. As soon as they came near to him, in a faint tone he hailed them. On hearing his voice, for a few moments they looked eagerly around in all directions, until they espied153 him, when, instantly, just as if they had seen and were pursued by an evil spirit, away they rowed at their utmost speed.
After a considerable interval154 another black man came clambering over the rocks, intent only on catching155 fish.
As soon, however, as his eyes caught a glimpse of the poor sufferer's bloody156 head and head-gear, the fisherman was evidently seized with the same impression, and, accordingly, in a paroxysm of fear, chucking his rod and line upwards to fall into the sea, as fast as his hands and feet could carry him, he also, in his way, scrambled157 out of sight.
After a long, painful interval, Colonel Moore's servant, who, alarmed by his master not having returned, had for many hours been in search of him, at last tracked his horse's feet to the edge of the precipice, and on looking over it, seeing about half way down a pockethandkerchief sticking in the boughs158 of a small projecting tree, he returned to the barracks, gave the alarm, and accordingly, as soon as a boat could be procured159, the soldiers, who rushed forward to man it, proceeded round the rocks, until Colonel Moore (who knew nothing of his servant's discovery) joyfully160 saw them50 pulling, as hard as they could lay to their oars161, towards him.
It need scarcely be added that, regardless of the overwhelming heat of the sun, the gallant fellows succeeded in conveying their commanding officer on their shoulders to the barracks, where he lay for some months in great pain and danger.
However, in due time, the paralysed muscles of his back recovered their tone, and eventually, without even being lame162, he became completely restored to the health, activity, and energy that had always characterised him.
For a considerable time portions of his saddle, strips of the hide and the broken bones of his horse, which, lacerated by the branches of the trees through which the poor animal had fallen, was literally163 smashed to atoms, were collected by people, who amassed164 a considerable amount of money by exhibiting and selling them as relics165 in evidence of one of the most extraordinary accidents that, under the superintending direction of Divine Providence166, has ever been survived by man.
51
[B]Beckford says, "First attribute of a good huntsman is courage. Next, hands and seat."
[C]The accident occurred before dinner.
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flexibility
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| n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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generically
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| adv.一般地 | |
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perpendicularly
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| adv. 垂直地, 笔直地, 纵向地 | |
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perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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6
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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7
triangular
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| adj.三角（形）的，三者间的 | |
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8
adverse
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| adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的 | |
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9
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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10
pivot
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| v.在枢轴上转动；装枢轴，枢轴；adj.枢轴的 | |
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11
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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12
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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13
socket
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| n.窝，穴，孔，插座，插口 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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affixed
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| adj.[医]附着的，附着的v.附加( affix的过去式和过去分词 )；粘贴；加以；盖（印章） | |
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16
thigh
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| n.大腿；股骨 | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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18
secondly
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| adv.第二，其次 | |
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19
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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20
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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21
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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22
infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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23
alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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25
hampered
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| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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thighs
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| n.股，大腿( thigh的名词复数 )；食用的鸡（等的）腿 | |
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27
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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28
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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29
jolt
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| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
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30
jolting
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| adj.令人震惊的 | |
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31
rigidity
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| adj.钢性，坚硬 | |
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32
hopping
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| n. 跳跃 动词hop的现在分词形式 | |
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33
trots
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| 小跑，急走( trot的名词复数 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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34
leech
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| n.水蛭，吸血鬼，榨取他人利益的人；vt.以水蛭吸血；vi.依附于别人 | |
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35
civilians
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| 平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓 | |
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36
revolve
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| vi.(使)旋转；循环出现 | |
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37
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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38
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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39
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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40
concussion
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| n.脑震荡；震动 | |
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41
soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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42
metaphor
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| n.隐喻，暗喻 | |
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43
attaining
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的现在分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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44
attainment
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| n.达到，到达；［常pl.］成就，造诣 | |
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45
incompatible
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| adj.不相容的，不协调的，不相配的 | |
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46
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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47
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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48
exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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49
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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50
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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51
fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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52
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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53
bruises
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| n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 ) | |
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54
joints
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| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
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55
buffer
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| n.起缓冲作用的人(或物)，缓冲器；vt.缓冲 | |
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56
poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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57
trampling
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| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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58
partnership
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| n.合作关系，伙伴关系 | |
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59
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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60
extricated
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| v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
foretell
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| v.预言，预告，预示 | |
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62
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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63
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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64
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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65
anvil
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| n.铁钻 | |
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66
wincing
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的现在分词 ) | |
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67
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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68
mathematicians
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| 数学家( mathematician的名词复数 ) | |
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69
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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70
toady
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| v.奉承；n.谄媚者，马屁精 | |
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71
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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72
declivity
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| n.下坡，倾斜面 | |
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73
rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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74
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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75
impede
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| v.妨碍，阻碍，阻止 | |
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76
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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77
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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78
reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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79
mortar
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| n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合 | |
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80
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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81
inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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82
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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83
equilibrium
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| n.平衡，均衡，相称，均势，平静 | |
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84
curb
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| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
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85
twitch
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| v.急拉，抽动，痉挛，抽搐；n.扯，阵痛，痉挛 | |
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86
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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87
glide
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| n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝 | |
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88
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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89
vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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90
insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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91
tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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92
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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93
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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94
obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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95
shovel
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| n.铁锨，铲子，一铲之量；v.铲，铲出 | |
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96
inflicts
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的第三人称单数 ) | |
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97
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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98
prematurely
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| adv.过早地，贸然地 | |
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99
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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100
nag
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| v.(对…)不停地唠叨；n.爱唠叨的人 | |
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101
requisite
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| adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品 | |
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102
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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103
obstruction
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| n.阻塞，堵塞；障碍物 | |
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104
downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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105
hack
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| n.劈，砍，出租马车；v.劈，砍，干咳 | |
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106
undone
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| a.未做完的，未完成的 | |
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107
excavated
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| v.挖掘( excavate的过去式和过去分词 )；开凿；挖出；发掘 | |
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108
trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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109
galloped
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| （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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110
degradation
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| n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变 | |
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111
neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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112
hurdles
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| n.障碍( hurdle的名词复数 )；跳栏；（供人或马跳跃的）栏架；跨栏赛 | |
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113
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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114
curtailing
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| v.截断，缩短( curtail的现在分词 ) | |
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115
bridles
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| 约束( bridle的名词复数 )； 限动器； 马笼头； 系带 | |
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116
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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117
quarry
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| n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找 | |
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118
skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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119
pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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120
treacherous
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| 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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121
inveigled
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| v.诱骗，引诱( inveigle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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122
citadel
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| n.城堡；堡垒；避难所 | |
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123
writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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124
precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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125
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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126
appellation
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| n.名称，称呼 | |
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127
narration
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| n.讲述，叙述；故事；记叙体 | |
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128
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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129
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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130
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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131
miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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132
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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133
legislative
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| n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的 | |
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134
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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135
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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136
detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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137
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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138
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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139
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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140
instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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141
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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142
vividly
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| adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地 | |
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143
recurring
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| adj.往复的，再次发生的 | |
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144
clairvoyance
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| n.超人的洞察力 | |
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145
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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146
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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147
lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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148
mangled
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| vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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149
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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150
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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151
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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152
sable
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| n.黑貂；adj.黑色的 | |
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153
espied
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| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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154
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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155
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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156
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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157
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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158
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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159
procured
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| 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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160
joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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161
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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162
lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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163
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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164
amassed
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| v.积累，积聚( amass的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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165
relics
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| [pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸 | |
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166
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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