"M'sieu! m'sieu! It ees time to eat!"
Stane rubbed his eyes and looked round. Then he stood upright and stretched himself, every stiff muscle crying out against the process. He looked at the waiting breakfast and then at Bènard. One glance at the drawn1 face of the latter told him that he had not slept, but he refrained from comment on the fact, knowing well what thoughts must have made sleep impossible for him.
"Have you seen anything yet, Jean?" he asked as he seated himself again.
"Not yet, m'sieu," answered the trapper. "But eef Chief George did not lie we cannot miss Chigmok—an zee oders."
"But if he lied?" asked Stane with a sudden accession of anxiety.
"Then we shall haf to range an' find zee trail. But I do not tink he lie. He too mooch afraid! Eat, m'sieu, den2 we can watch zee lak' for zee comin' of Chigmok."
Stane ate his breakfast quickly, and when he had finished, accompanied Bènard a little way up the trail, which running along the base of the cliff by which they had camped, made a sudden turn between the rocks and unexpectedly opened out on a wide view.
Before him lay the snow-covered lake of the Little Moose, a narrow lake perhaps fifteen miles long. On one side ran a range of high rocky hills, a spur of which formed his own vantage place, and on the other side were lower hills covered with bush and trees almost to their crests3. From the height where he stood he had an almost bird's-eye view of the lake, and he examined it carefully. Nothing moved on its virgin4 surface of snow. It was as blank as Modred's shield. He examined the shore at the foot of the wood-covered hills carefully. Creek5 by creek, bay by bay, his eye searched the shore-line for any sign of life. He found none, nowhere was there any sign of life; any thin column of smoke betokening6 the presence of man. He looked at the other shore of the lake, though without any expectation of finding that which he sought. It was bleak7 and barren, and precipitous in places, where the hills seemed to rise directly from the lake's edge. Nothing moved there, and a single glance told him that the land trail on that side was an impossibility. He looked at his companion.
"Dey haf not yet arrive," said Bènard, answering his unspoken question. "Dey camp in zee woods for zee night."
"If Chief George lied——"
"I say again I tink he not lie. We must haf zee patience, m'sieu. Dere is noding else dat we can do. We are here an' we must watch."
The minutes passed slowly, and to keep themselves from freezing the two men were forced to do sentry9-go on the somewhat narrow platform where they stood, occasionally varying the line of their short march by turning down the trail towards their camp, a variation which for perhaps a couple of minutes hid the lake from view. Every time they so turned, when the lake came in sight again, Stane looked down its length with expectation in his eyes, and every time he was disappointed. An hour passed and still they watched without any sign of their quarry11 to cheer them. Then Jean Bènard spoke8.
"We tire ourselves for noding, m'sieu. We walk, walk, walk togeder, an' when Chigmok come we too tired to follow heem. It ees better dat we watch in turn."
Stane admitted the wisdom of this, and since he felt that it was impossible for himself to sit still, and suspected that his companion was sadly in need of rest, he elected to keep the first watch.
"Very well, Jean, do you go and rest first; but tell me before you go where the party we are looking for should strike the lake."
"Ah, I forgot to tell you dat, m'sieu." He pointed10 towards the southern shore of the lake, where a small tree-covered island stood about half a mile from the shore. "You see zee island, m'sieu. Just opposite dere ees a creek. Zee regular trail comes out to zee lak' just dere, an' it ees dere dat you may look for zee comin' of Chigmok."
Stane looked at the island and marked the position of the creek, then an idea struck him. "Would it not be better, Bènard, if we removed our camp to the island? We could then surprise Chigmok when he came."
"Non, m'sieu! I tink of dat las' night; but I remember dat we must build a fire, an' zee smoke it tell zee tale; whilst zee odour it ees perceived afar. Den zee dogs, dey give tongue when oder dogs appear, an' where are we? Anoder ting, s'pose Chigmok not come zee regular trail; s'pose he knew anoder way through zee woods, an' come out further up zee lak'. Eef we on zee island we not see heem, but up here—" he swept a hand in front of him—"we behold12 zee whole lak' and we not miss him."
"Yes," agreed Stane. "You are right, Jean. Now go and rest. I will keep a bright look-out."
"I not doubt dat, m'sieu. You haf zee prize to watch for, but I——"
He turned away without finishing his sentence, and Stane resumed his sentry go, stopping from time to time to view the long expanse of the snow-covered lake, and to search the woods along the shore. As the time passed without bringing any change, and as the unbroken surface of the snow mocked him with its emptiness, he grew sick at heart, and a feverish13 anxiety mounted within him. He felt utterly14 helpless, and a fear that Chief George had lied, and had deliberately15 misled them, grew in him till it reached the force of conviction. Watching that empty valley of the lake, he felt, was a waste of time. To be doing nothing, when Helen was being hurried to be knew not what fate, was torture to him. It would, he thought, be better to go back on their trail, and endeavour to pick up that of the kidnappers16, since that way they would at least be sure that they were on the right lines. So strongly did this idea appeal to him, that he turned down the trail to the camp to propose the plan to his companion. But when he turned the corner of the cliff, it was to find Jean Bènard fast asleep in front of the fire, and though his first impulse was to waken him, he refrained, remembering how tired the man must be, and how necessary it was that he should be as fresh as possible when the moment for action arrived.
"No," he whispered, as he looked at the bent17 form of the sleeping man. "I will wait one hour, and then we will decide."
He himself was beginning to feel the strain of the steady marching to and fro, and decided18 that it would be wise to spare himself as much as possible. Accordingly he seated himself by the fire, contenting himself by walking to the top of the trail to view the lake at intervals19 of from twelve to fifteen minutes. Twice he did this and the second time was made aware of a change in the atmosphere. It had grown much colder and as he turned the corner of the cliff a gust20 of icy-wind smote21 him in the face. He looked downwards22. The surface of the lake was still barren of life; but not of movement. Films of snow, driven by the gusty23 wind, drove down its narrow length, were lifted higher and then subsided24 as the wind fell. Overhead the sky was of a uniform leaden hue25 and he knew that before long there would be snow. And if snow came——
His heart stood almost still at the thought. It might snow for days, and in the storm, when all trails would be obliterated26 it would be an easy matter to miss Helen and her captors altogether. As he returned to the fire, his mind was full of forebodings. He was afraid, and though Jean Bènard slept on, he himself could not rest. He made up the fire, prepared bacon and moose meat for cooking, set some coffee to boil. It would be as well to have a meal in case the necessity for a start should arise. These things done he went once more to the outlook, and surveyed the snow-covered landscape. The wind was still for the moment, and there were no wandering wisps of snow. His first glance was towards the creek opposite the island. There was nothing there to arrest attention. His eyes travelled further without any light of expectation in them. Creek by creek, bay by bay, he followed the shore line, then, in a second, his gaze grew fixed27. The lake was no longer devoid28 of life. Far-off, at least ten miles, as he swiftly calculated, a blur29 of black dots showed on the surface of the snow. Instantly he knew it for what it was—a team of sled dogs. His heart leaped at the sight, and the next moment he was running towards the camp.
"Jean! Jean!" he cried. "Jean Bènard!"
The sleeping man passed from slumber30 to full wakefulness with the completeness that characterizes a healthy child.
"I do not know. But there is a dog-train a long way up the lake."
"I weel tak' one look," said the trapper, beginning to walk quickly towards the head of the trail.
Stane went with him and indicated the direction.
"There, where the shore sweeps inward! Do you see, Jean?"
"Oui, m'sieu."
With bent brows the trapper stared at the blur of dots on the white surface, and after a couple of seconds began to count softly to himself. "Un, deux, trois, quatre——" Then he stopped. "Four dogs and one man," he said, turning to his companion. "But Chigmok it ees not. Behold, m'sieu, he comes dis way."
"Then who——"
"Dat ees not to be told. Zee men in zee wilderness32 are many." As he finished speaking a gust of wind drove suddenly in their faces, bringing with it a few particles of snow, and he looked up into the leaden sky. "Presently," he said, "it weel snow, m'sieu. Let us go and eat, then eef Chigmok has not appeared we weel go meet dat man out dere. He may haf zee news."
Reluctantly Stane turned with him, and went back to the camp. He had no desire for food, but he forced himself to eat, and when the meal was finished he assisted his companion to load the sledge33. Then Bènard spoke again.
"We weel tak' one look more, m'sieu, before we harness zee dogs."
They went up to the outlook together. The lake once more showed its white expanse unbroken; the little blot34 of moving dots having withdrawn35. Stane stared on the waste, with an expression of blank dismay upon his face, then he turned to his companion.
"Zee man, he camp," explained Bènard. "He not pushed for time, an' he know it snow b'fore long. We find heem, m'sieu, an' den—By gar! Look dere!"
As he gave vent36 to the exclamation37, he pointed excitedly up the lake, two miles beyond the island, the neighbourhood of which Stane had gazed at so often and hopelessly during the last three hours. A dog-train had broken from the wood, and taken to the surface of the lake, three men accompanying it.
"Chigmok! Behold, m'sieu!"
On a mutual38 impulse they turned and running back to the camp, began hurriedly to harness the dogs to the sledge. A few minutes later they were on the move, and turning the corner of the cliff began the descent towards the lake. As they did so both glanced at the direction of the sled they were pursuing. It was moving straight ahead, fairly close in shore, having evidently sought the level surface of the lake for easier travelling. More than that they had not leisure to notice, for the descent to the lake was steep, and it required the weight and skill of both to keep the sled from overrunning the dogs, but in the space of four minutes it was accomplished39, and with a final rush they took the level trail of the lake's frozen and snow-covered surface. As they did so a gust of wind brought a scurry40 of snow in their faces, and Bènard looked anxiously up into the sky.
"By-an'-by it snow like anythin', m'sieu. We must race to catch Chigmok b'fore it come."
Without another word he stepped ahead, and began to make the trail for the dogs, whilst Stane took the gee-pole to guide the sledge. Bènard bent to his task and made a rattling41 pace, travelling in a bee-line for their quarry, since the lake's surface offered absolutely no obstructions42. Stane at the gee-pole wondered how long he could keep it up, and from time to time glanced at the sled ahead, which, seen from the same level, now was half-hidden in a mist of snow. He noted43 with satisfaction that they seemed to be gaining on it; and rejoiced to think that, as Jean Bènard's dogs were in fine mettle44 and absolutely fresh, they could not be long before they overhauled45 it. Presently the trapper stopped to rest, and Stane himself moved ahead.
"I will take a turn at trail-breaking," he said, "and do you run behind, Jean."
It was a different matter going ahead of the dogs on the unbroken snow. In a little time his muscles began to ache intolerably. It seemed as if the ligaments of the groin were being pulled by pincers, and the very bone of the leg that he had broken, seemed to burn with pain. But again, as on the previous night, he set his teeth, and defied the dreaded46 mal de roquette. New hope sustained him; before him, within sight as he believed, was the girl, whom, in the months of their wilderness sojourn47, he had learned to love, and who on the previous night (how long ago it seemed!) in the face of imminent48 death, had given herself to him unreservedly. His blood quickened at the remembrance. He ignored the pangs49 he was enduring. The sweat, induced by the violent exertion50 froze on eyebrows51 and eyelashes, but he ignored the discomfort52, and pressed on, the snow swirling53 past his ankles in a miniature storm. Twice or thrice he lifted his bent head and measured the distance between him and the quarry ahead. It was, he thought nearer, and cheered, he bent his body again to the nerve-racking toil54.
Half an hour passed, and though the wind was rising steadily55, blowing straight in their teeth and adding greatly to their labours, the snow kept off. They were still gaining slowly, creeping forward yard by yard, the men with the train ahead apparently56 unaware57 of their pursuit. Then they struck the trail made by their quarry and the work became less arduous58 and the pace quickened.
"By gar!" cried Bènard as they hit the trail, "we get dem now, dey make zee trail for us."
A mile and three quarters now separated the two teams, and as they followed in the trail that the others had to make, their confidence seemed justified60. But nature and man alike were to take a hand and upset their calculations. In the wind once more there came a smother61 of snow. It was severe whilst it lasted, and blotted62 out all vision of the team ahead. As it cleared, the two pursuers saw that their quarry had turned inshore, moving obliquely63 towards a tree-crowned bluff64 that jutted65 out into the lake. Jean Bènard marked the move, and spoke almost gleefully.
"Dey fear zee snow, an' go to make camp. By zee mass, we get dem like a wolf in zee trap!"
The sledge they pursued drew nearer the bluff, then suddenly Jean Bènard threw back his head in a listening attitude.
"Hark!" he cried: "what was dat?"
"I heard nothing," answered Stane. "What did you fancy you——"
The sentence was never finished, for borne to him on the wind came two or three sharp sounds like the cracks of distant rifles. He looked at his companion.
"The detonation66 of bursting trees far in the wood," he began, only to be interrupted.
"Non, non! not zee trees, but rifles, look dere, m'sieu, someting ees happening."
It certainly seemed so. The sled which had almost reached the bluff, had swung from it again, and had turned towards the open lake. But now, instead of three figures, they could see only one; and even whilst they watched, again came the distant crack of a rifle—a faint far-away sound, something felt by sensitive nerves rather than anything heard—and the solitary67 man left with the sledge and making for the sanctuary68 of the open lake, plunged69 suddenly forward, disappearing from sight in the snow. Another fusillade, and the sled halted, just as the two men broke from the cover of the bluff and began to run across the snow in the direction of it.
"By gar! By gar!" cried Jean Bènard in great excitement. "Tings dey happen. Dere are oder men who want Chigmok, an' dey get heem, too."
Then with a clamouring wind came the snow, blotting70 out all further vision of the tragedy ahead. It hurtled about them in fury, and they could see scarcely a yard in front of them. It was snow that was vastly different from the large soft flakes71 of more temperate72 zones—a wild rain of ice-like particles that, as it struck, stung intolerably, and which, driven in the wind, seemed like a solid sheet held up to veil the landscape. It swirled73 and drifted about them and drove in their faces as if directed by some malevolent74 fury. It closed their eyes, clogged75 their feet, stopped their breathing, and at the moment when it was most essential, made progress impossible. Dogs and men bowed to the storm, and after two minutes of lost endeavour in attempting to face it, the course was altered and they raced for the shore and the friendly shelter of the trees. When they reached it, breathless and gasping76, they stood for a moment, whilst the storm shrieked77 among the tree-tops and drove its icy hail like small shot against the trunks. In the shelter of one of them, Stane, as his breath came back to him, swung his rifle off his shoulder, and began to strip from it the deer-hide covering. Jean Bènard saw him, and in order to make himself heard shouted to him.
"What you do, m'sieu?"
"I'm going after them, Jean. There's something badly wrong."
"Oui! But with zee storm, what can you do, m'sieu?"
"I can find that girl," he said. "Think, man, if she is bound to the sled—in this——"
"Oui! Oui! m'sieu, I understand, but——"
"I shall work my way in the cover of the trees till I reach the bluff. If the storm abates78 you will follow but do not pass the bluff. There will be shelter in the lee of it, and I will wait your coming there."
"Go, and God go with you, m'sieu; but do not forget zee rifles which were fired dere."
"I will keep them in mind," answered Stane, and then setting his face to the storm, he began to work his way along the edge of the wood.
点击收听单词发音
1 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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2 den | |
n.兽穴;秘密地方;安静的小房间,私室 | |
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3 crests | |
v.到达山顶(或浪峰)( crest的第三人称单数 );到达洪峰,达到顶点 | |
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4 virgin | |
n.处女,未婚女子;adj.未经使用的;未经开发的 | |
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5 creek | |
n.小溪,小河,小湾 | |
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6 betokening | |
v.预示,表示( betoken的现在分词 ) | |
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7 bleak | |
adj.(天气)阴冷的;凄凉的;暗淡的 | |
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8 spoke | |
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 | |
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9 sentry | |
n.哨兵,警卫 | |
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10 pointed | |
adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
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11 quarry | |
n.采石场;v.采石;费力地找 | |
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12 behold | |
v.看,注视,看到 | |
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13 feverish | |
adj.发烧的,狂热的,兴奋的 | |
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14 utterly | |
adv.完全地,绝对地 | |
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15 deliberately | |
adv.审慎地;蓄意地;故意地 | |
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16 kidnappers | |
n.拐子,绑匪( kidnapper的名词复数 ) | |
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17 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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18 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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19 intervals | |
n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 );间隔时间;[数学]区间;(戏剧、电影或音乐会的)幕间休息 | |
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20 gust | |
n.阵风,突然一阵(雨、烟等),(感情的)迸发 | |
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21 smote | |
v.猛打,重击,打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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22 downwards | |
adj./adv.向下的(地),下行的(地) | |
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23 gusty | |
adj.起大风的 | |
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24 subsided | |
v.(土地)下陷(因在地下采矿)( subside的过去式和过去分词 );减弱;下降至较低或正常水平;一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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25 hue | |
n.色度;色调;样子 | |
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26 obliterated | |
v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 );涂去;擦掉;彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
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27 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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28 devoid | |
adj.全无的,缺乏的 | |
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29 blur | |
n.模糊不清的事物;vt.使模糊,使看不清楚 | |
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30 slumber | |
n.睡眠,沉睡状态 | |
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31 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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32 wilderness | |
n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等,荒漠 | |
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33 sledge | |
n.雪橇,大锤;v.用雪橇搬运,坐雪橇往 | |
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34 blot | |
vt.弄脏(用吸墨纸)吸干;n.污点,污渍 | |
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35 withdrawn | |
vt.收回;使退出;vi.撤退,退出 | |
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36 vent | |
n.通风口,排放口;开衩;vt.表达,发泄 | |
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37 exclamation | |
n.感叹号,惊呼,惊叹词 | |
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38 mutual | |
adj.相互的,彼此的;共同的,共有的 | |
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39 accomplished | |
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的 | |
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40 scurry | |
vi.急匆匆地走;使急赶;催促;n.快步急跑,疾走;仓皇奔跑声;骤雨,骤雪;短距离赛马 | |
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41 rattling | |
adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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42 obstructions | |
n.障碍物( obstruction的名词复数 );阻碍物;阻碍;阻挠 | |
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43 noted | |
adj.著名的,知名的 | |
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44 mettle | |
n.勇气,精神 | |
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45 overhauled | |
v.彻底检查( overhaul的过去式和过去分词 );大修;赶上;超越 | |
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46 dreaded | |
adj.令人畏惧的;害怕的v.害怕,恐惧,担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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47 sojourn | |
v./n.旅居,寄居;逗留 | |
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48 imminent | |
adj.即将发生的,临近的,逼近的 | |
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49 pangs | |
突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 ); 悲痛 | |
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50 exertion | |
n.尽力,努力 | |
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51 eyebrows | |
眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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52 discomfort | |
n.不舒服,不安,难过,困难,不方便 | |
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53 swirling | |
v.旋转,打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
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54 toil | |
vi.辛劳工作,艰难地行动;n.苦工,难事 | |
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55 steadily | |
adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地 | |
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56 apparently | |
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
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57 unaware | |
a.不知道的,未意识到的 | |
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58 arduous | |
adj.艰苦的,费力的,陡峭的 | |
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59 ablaze | |
adj.着火的,燃烧的;闪耀的,灯火辉煌的 | |
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60 justified | |
a.正当的,有理的 | |
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61 smother | |
vt./vi.使窒息;抑制;闷死;n.浓烟;窒息 | |
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62 blotted | |
涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 ); (用吸墨纸)吸干 | |
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63 obliquely | |
adv.斜; 倾斜; 间接; 不光明正大 | |
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64 bluff | |
v.虚张声势,用假象骗人;n.虚张声势,欺骗 | |
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65 jutted | |
v.(使)突出( jut的过去式和过去分词 );伸出;(从…)突出;高出 | |
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66 detonation | |
n.爆炸;巨响 | |
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67 solitary | |
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士 | |
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68 sanctuary | |
n.圣所,圣堂,寺庙;禁猎区,保护区 | |
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69 plunged | |
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降 | |
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70 blotting | |
吸墨水纸 | |
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71 flakes | |
小薄片( flake的名词复数 ); (尤指)碎片; 雪花; 古怪的人 | |
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72 temperate | |
adj.温和的,温带的,自我克制的,不过分的 | |
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73 swirled | |
v.旋转,打旋( swirl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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74 malevolent | |
adj.有恶意的,恶毒的 | |
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75 clogged | |
(使)阻碍( clog的过去式和过去分词 ); 淤滞 | |
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76 gasping | |
adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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77 shrieked | |
v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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78 abates | |
减少( abate的第三人称单数 ); 减去; 降价; 撤消(诉讼) | |
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