Many years came and went while the Southern sealer plied28 his trade, until at last none of the reckless skippers could longer disguise from themselves the fact that their harvest fields were rapidly becoming completely barren. Few and far between were the islets frequented by the seals, the majority of the old grounds being quite abandoned. One by one the dejected fishermen gave up the attempt, until in due time those gaunt fastnesses resumed their primitive29 loneliness. The long, long tempest roared questioningly over the deserted30 islands, as if calling for its vanished children, and refusing to be comforted because they were not. Years passed in solitude31, but for the busy sea-fowl, who, because they had no commercial value, were left unmolested to eat their fill of the sea’s rich harvest, and rear among the bleak32 rock-crannies their fluffy33 broods. At last, out of the midst of a blinding smother34 of snow, there appeared one day off the most southerly outlier of the South Shetlands a little[315] group of round velvety35 heads staring with wide, humid eyes at the surf-lashed fortresses36 of the shore. Long and warily37 they reconnoitred, for although many generations had passed since their kind had been driven from those seas, the memory of those pitiless days had been so steadily38 transmitted through the race that it had become a part of themselves, an instinct infallible as any other they possessed39. No enemy appearing, they gradually drew nearer and nearer, until their leader, a fine bull seal of four seasons, took his courage in both flippers and mounted the most promising40 slope, emerging from the foaming41 breakers majestically42, and immediately becoming a hirpling heap of clumsiness that apparently43 bore no likeness44 to the graceful45, agile46 creature of a few moments before. Obediently his flock followed him until they reached a little patch of hard smooth sand sheltered by a semi-circle of great wave-worn boulders47, and admirably suited to their purpose. Here, with sleepless48 vigilance of sentinels, they rested, rather brokenly at first, as every incursion of the indignant sea-fowl startled them, but presently subsiding49 into ungainly attitudes of slumber50.
Whence they had come was as great a mystery as all the deep-water ways of the sea-people must ever be to man, or how many halting-places they must have visited and rejected at the bidding of their unerring instinct warning them that the arch-destroyers’ visits were to be feared. However, they soon made themselves at home, fattening51 marvellously upon the innumerable multitudes of fish that[316] swarmed52 around the bases of those barren islands, and between whiles basking53 in the transient sun-gleams that occasionally touched the desolate54 land with streaks55 of palest gold. And as time went on, being unmolested in their domestic arrangements, the coming generation tumbled about the rugged56 shore in those pretty gambols57 that all young things love, learning steadily withal to take their appointed places in the adult ranks as soon as they had proved their capability58 so to do. Thus uneventfully and happily passed the seasons until the little party of colonists59 had grown to be a goodly herd60, with leaders of mighty61 prowess, qualified62 to hold their own against any of their kind, and inured to combat by their constantly recurring63 battles with each other, their love affairs, in which they fought with a fury astonishing to witness.
But one bright spring morning, when after a full meal the females were all dozing64 peacefully among the boulders, and the pups were gleefully waddling65 and tumbling among them, there came a message from the sea to the fighting males, who instantly suspended their family battles to attend to the urgent call. How the news came they alone knew, its exact significance was hidden even from them, but a sense of imminent66 danger was upon them all. The females called up their young and retreated farther inland among the labyrinth67 of rocky peaks that made the place almost impossible for human travel. The males, about forty of them, ranged uneasily along the shore, their wide nostrils68 dilated69 and their whiskers bristling70 with apprehension71.[317] Ever and anon they would pause in their watchful72 patrol and couch silently as if carved in marble, staring seaward with unwinking eyes at the turbulent expanse of broken sea. Presently, within a cable’s length of the shore, up rose an awful head—the enemy had arrived. Another and another appeared until a whole herd of several scores of sea-elephants were massed along the land edge and beginning to climb ponderously73 over the jagged pinnacles74 shoreward. Not only did they outnumber the seals by about four to one, but each of them was equal in bulk to half-a-dozen of the largest of the defenders75. Huge as the great land mammal from whom they take their trivial name, ferocious77 in their aspect, as they inflated78 their short trunks and bared their big gleaming teeth, they hardly deigned79 to notice the gallant80 band of warriors81 who faced them. Straight upward they came as if the outlying rocks had suddenly been endowed with life and were shapelessly invading the dry land. But never an inch did the little company of defenders give back. With every head turned to the foe82 and every sinew tense with expectation they waited, waited until at last the two forces met. Such was the shock of their impact that one would have thought the solid earth trembled beneath them, and for a while in that writhing83, groaning84, roaring mass nothing could be clearly distinguished85. Presently, however, it could be seen that the lighter86, warier87 seals were fighting upon a definite plan, and that they carefully avoided the danger of being overwhelmed under the unwieldy masses of their[318] enemies. While the huge elephants hampered88 each other sorely, and often set their terrible jaws89 into a comrade’s neck, shearing90 through blubber and sinew and bone, the nimbler seals hung on the outskirts91 of the heavy leviathans and wasted no bite. But the odds92 were tremendous. One after another of the desperately93 fighting seals fell crushed beneath a mammoth94 many times his size; again and again a fiercely struggling defender76, jammed between two gigantic assailants, found his head between the jaws of one of them, who would instantly crush it into pulp95. Still they fought on wearily but unflinchingly until only six remained alive. Then, as suddenly as if by some instant agreement, hostilities96 ceased. The remnant of the invaders97 crawled heavily seaward, leaving the rugged battle-ground piled mountainously with their dead. The survivors98 sank exhausted99 where they had fought such a memorable100 fight, and slept securely, knowing well that their home was safe, the enemy would return no more. And the rejoicing, ravenous101 birds came in their countless102 hosts to feast upon the slain.

点击
收听单词发音

1
lust
![]() |
|
n.性(淫)欲;渴(欲)望;vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2
isles
![]() |
|
岛( isle的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3
gale
![]() |
|
n.大风,强风,一阵闹声(尤指笑声等) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4
toiled
![]() |
|
长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 ); 艰难缓慢地移动,跋涉 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5
toil
![]() |
|
vi.辛劳工作,艰难地行动;n.苦工,难事 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6
perils
![]() |
|
极大危险( peril的名词复数 ); 危险的事(或环境) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7
debauch
![]() |
|
v.使堕落,放纵 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8
utterly
![]() |
|
adv.完全地,绝对地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9
floe
![]() |
|
n.大片浮冰 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10
hissing
![]() |
|
n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11
wrenching
![]() |
|
n.修截苗根,苗木铲根(铲根时苗木不起土或部分起土)v.(猛力地)扭( wrench的现在分词 );扭伤;使感到痛苦;使悲痛 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12
resolutely
![]() |
|
adj.坚决地,果断地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13
folly
![]() |
|
n.愚笨,愚蠢,蠢事,蠢行,傻话 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14
wreaking
![]() |
|
诉诸(武力),施行(暴力),发(脾气)( wreak的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15
calf
![]() |
|
n.小牛,犊,幼仔,小牛皮 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16
slain
![]() |
|
杀死,宰杀,杀戮( slay的过去分词 ); (slay的过去分词) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17
slaughter
![]() |
|
n.屠杀,屠宰;vt.屠杀,宰杀 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18
fatigue
![]() |
|
n.疲劳,劳累 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19
interval
![]() |
|
n.间隔,间距;幕间休息,中场休息 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20
oblivious
![]() |
|
adj.易忘的,遗忘的,忘却的,健忘的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21
fascination
![]() |
|
n.令人着迷的事物,魅力,迷恋 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22
inured
![]() |
|
adj.坚强的,习惯的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23
sullen
![]() |
|
adj.愠怒的,闷闷不乐的,(天气等)阴沉的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24
vessel
![]() |
|
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25
civilisation
![]() |
|
n.文明,文化,开化,教化 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26
fretted
![]() |
|
焦躁的,附有弦马的,腐蚀的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27
relentless
![]() |
|
adj.残酷的,不留情的,无怜悯心的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
28
plied
![]() |
|
v.使用(工具)( ply的过去式和过去分词 );经常供应(食物、饮料);固定往来;经营生意 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
29
primitive
![]() |
|
adj.原始的;简单的;n.原(始)人,原始事物 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
30
deserted
![]() |
|
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
31
solitude
![]() |
|
n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
32
bleak
![]() |
|
adj.(天气)阴冷的;凄凉的;暗淡的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
33
fluffy
![]() |
|
adj.有绒毛的,空洞的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
34
smother
![]() |
|
vt./vi.使窒息;抑制;闷死;n.浓烟;窒息 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
35
velvety
![]() |
|
adj. 像天鹅绒的, 轻软光滑的, 柔软的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
36
fortresses
![]() |
|
堡垒,要塞( fortress的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
37
warily
![]() |
|
adv.留心地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
38
steadily
![]() |
|
adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
39
possessed
![]() |
|
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
40
promising
![]() |
|
adj.有希望的,有前途的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
41
foaming
![]() |
|
adj.布满泡沫的;发泡 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
42
majestically
![]() |
|
雄伟地; 庄重地; 威严地; 崇高地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
43
apparently
![]() |
|
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
44
likeness
![]() |
|
n.相像,相似(之处) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
45
graceful
![]() |
|
adj.优美的,优雅的;得体的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
46
agile
![]() |
|
adj.敏捷的,灵活的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
47
boulders
![]() |
|
n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 );巨砾;(受水或天气侵蚀而成的)巨石;漂砾 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
48
sleepless
![]() |
|
adj.不睡眠的,睡不著的,不休息的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
49
subsiding
![]() |
|
v.(土地)下陷(因在地下采矿)( subside的现在分词 );减弱;下降至较低或正常水平;一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
50
slumber
![]() |
|
n.睡眠,沉睡状态 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
51
fattening
![]() |
|
adj.(食物)要使人发胖的v.喂肥( fatten的现在分词 );养肥(牲畜);使(钱)增多;使(公司)升值 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
52
swarmed
![]() |
|
密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 ); 云集; 成群地移动; 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
53
basking
![]() |
|
v.晒太阳,取暖( bask的现在分词 );对…感到乐趣;因他人的功绩而出名;仰仗…的余泽 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
54
desolate
![]() |
|
adj.荒凉的,荒芜的;孤独的,凄凉的;v.使荒芜,使孤寂 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
55
streaks
![]() |
|
n.(与周围有所不同的)条纹( streak的名词复数 );(通常指不好的)特征(倾向);(不断经历成功或失败的)一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 );使布满条纹 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
56
rugged
![]() |
|
adj.高低不平的,粗糙的,粗壮的,强健的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
57
gambols
![]() |
|
v.蹦跳,跳跃,嬉戏( gambol的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
58
capability
![]() |
|
n.能力;才能;(pl)可发展的能力或特性等 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
59
colonists
![]() |
|
n.殖民地开拓者,移民,殖民地居民( colonist的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
60
herd
![]() |
|
n.兽群,牧群;vt.使集中,把…赶在一起 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
61
mighty
![]() |
|
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
62
qualified
![]() |
|
adj.合格的,有资格的,胜任的,有限制的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
63
recurring
![]() |
|
adj.往复的,再次发生的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
64
dozing
![]() |
|
v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
65
waddling
![]() |
|
v.(像鸭子一样)摇摇摆摆地走( waddle的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
66
imminent
![]() |
|
adj.即将发生的,临近的,逼近的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
67
labyrinth
![]() |
|
n.迷宫;难解的事物;迷路 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
68
nostrils
![]() |
|
鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
69
dilated
![]() |
|
adj.加宽的,扩大的v.(使某物)扩大,膨胀,张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
70
bristling
![]() |
|
a.竖立的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
71
apprehension
![]() |
|
n.理解,领悟;逮捕,拘捕;忧虑 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
72
watchful
![]() |
|
adj.注意的,警惕的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
73
ponderously
![]() |
|
参考例句: |
|
|
74
pinnacles
![]() |
|
顶峰( pinnacle的名词复数 ); 顶点; 尖顶; 小尖塔 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
75
defenders
![]() |
|
n.防御者( defender的名词复数 );守卫者;保护者;辩护者 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
76
defender
![]() |
|
n.保卫者,拥护者,辩护人 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
77
ferocious
![]() |
|
adj.凶猛的,残暴的,极度的,十分强烈的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
78
inflated
![]() |
|
adj.(价格)飞涨的;(通货)膨胀的;言过其实的;充了气的v.使充气(于轮胎、气球等)( inflate的过去式和过去分词 );(使)膨胀;(使)通货膨胀;物价上涨 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
79
deigned
![]() |
|
v.屈尊,俯就( deign的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
80
gallant
![]() |
|
adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
81
warriors
![]() |
|
武士,勇士,战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
82
foe
![]() |
|
n.敌人,仇敌 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
83
writhing
![]() |
|
(因极度痛苦而)扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
84
groaning
![]() |
|
adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
85
distinguished
![]() |
|
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
86
lighter
![]() |
|
n.打火机,点火器;驳船;v.用驳船运送;light的比较级 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
87
warier
![]() |
|
谨慎的,小心翼翼的( wary的比较级 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
88
hampered
![]() |
|
妨碍,束缚,限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
89
jaws
![]() |
|
n.口部;嘴 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
90
shearing
![]() |
|
n.剪羊毛,剪取的羊毛v.剪羊毛( shear的现在分词 );切断;剪切 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
91
outskirts
![]() |
|
n.郊外,郊区 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
92
odds
![]() |
|
n.让步,机率,可能性,比率;胜败优劣之别 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
93
desperately
![]() |
|
adv.极度渴望地,绝望地,孤注一掷地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
94
mammoth
![]() |
|
n.长毛象;adj.长毛象似的,巨大的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
95
pulp
![]() |
|
n.果肉,纸浆;v.化成纸浆,除去...果肉,制成纸浆 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
96
hostilities
![]() |
|
n.战争;敌意(hostility的复数);敌对状态;战事 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
97
invaders
![]() |
|
入侵者,侵略者,侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
98
survivors
![]() |
|
幸存者,残存者,生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
99
exhausted
![]() |
|
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
100
memorable
![]() |
|
adj.值得回忆的,难忘的,特别的,显著的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
101
ravenous
![]() |
|
adj.极饿的,贪婪的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
102
countless
![]() |
|
adj.无数的,多得不计其数的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |