WOOD-PILING time had come again. It found a new barn and a new shed already standing1, in place of the old ones, upon the Miller2 premises3. The scorched4 house had been repainted and the blistered5 buggy had been revarnished. Thus far the damage by the fire had been made good. But here the work must stop, for no new Bob could fill the place of the old Bob.
Bob had long been put away; still Ned often dreamed of him, and while knowing that such a thing was impossible, was always expecting to meet him, suddenly, around some corner. No other dog would Ned have, although his father told him to get whatever kind he chose. To Bob—faithful, human Bob,—there could be no second.
The long vacation had begun, and Ned was making his morning attack upon his eleven loads of slabs—that annual visitation to which he was subjected—when he heard a familiar whistle, answered it according to the code, and presently saw Hal climb over the alley7 fence.
“Hello,” greeted Hal. “Got to work?”
“Yes,” replied Ned, gloomily. “Just look at the wood, will you!”
“Want to know something?” queried8 Hal—news fairly sticking out all over him. “Well, listen here. What do you suppose old Belton has got planted ’way off behind his house! Watermelons!”
He paused in order to give his audience time to swallow the startling fact.
“Whereabouts?” asked Ned, delight in his tone.
“Near the ravine, beyond the grapes,” answered Hal. “He thinks he has them hid, I guess; but I ran slap into them yesterday when I was taking a short cut to the creek9. Come on, and I’ll show you.”
“I can’t come now,” said Ned, slowly. “I’ve got to pile wood till noon. But I’ll go with you right away after dinner.”
“Well, you come around, then,” agreed Hal.
Squire11 Belton’s “place,” at the outskirts12 of the town, was a standing challenge, for half the year, at least, to the Beaufort youth. Of course, the squire was only prudent13 in guarding his fruit as he did. He grew fruit to sell, not to donate to greedy boys. But they regarded him as a cantankerous14, mean old codger, and perfectly15 lawful16 prey17.
It was very tantalizing18 to trudge19 along the dusty road, on a day of late August, and to gaze helplessly at those trees laden20 with their delicious, beckoning21 apples! However, the squire’s big white house commanded this orchard23, and its windows were ever staring, and the squire himself or some of his family never failed to catch the least wavering from the straight path of honesty—in this case the path outside the orchard fence.
In addition, the barbed wires of the fence were close together, and as tight as fiddle-strings—ugly things to scale when the squire’s vigorous yellow dog was coming full tilt24.
There were grapes, too; and these were on the slope, facing the house, and in plain sight from the porch and sitting-room25.
Orchard and vineyard stayed proof against nearly all plots and attacks. But now, thanks to Hal’s “short cut,” for two Beauforters, anyway, a new field of action was opened.
His mind filled with the bright prospect27, Ned gobbled a hasty dinner, and made a bee-line for Hal’s house.
Together they took their way to the limits of town, and cunningly made a circuit of the Belton premises until safe from those prying28, alert windows and the ever watchful29 yellow dog. Then Hal led his companion into the ravine that pierced the squire’s lands. Amidst a jungle of undergrowth they worked a course, and when Hal gave the word warily30 mounted the flank.
In front of them lay a small, secluded32 area of low vines, with every few feet a smooth, green oval showing itself—peaceful promise of a fine feast to come.
“Isn’t this luck!” whispered Hal.
“Say!” sighed Ned, overcome by his feelings.
Having surveyed, they beat a crafty33 retreat. So very cautious were they, that on their way home they scarce even dared discuss the find. It seemed too good to be true, and might vanish.
That evening, when at supper Mr. Miller remarked that an extraordinary crop of melons was in view, Ned was so startled that he dropped his knife. Yet his father’s words had no reference at all to Squire Belton!
As the days passed Ned and Hal made regular visits to the melon-patch. When speaking of the patch, so careful were they that they always said “it,” and by “it” each knew what the other meant. Thirty yards was the nearest that they ventured to “it,” since this was the space separating “it” from the ravine. They kept their secret to themselves, deeming that they could manage the raid—and the melons—without help. Ned wanted to let Tom in, but Hal thought that two was enough, and inasmuch as the patch was his by reason of discovery, Ned could only yield.
Week by week the melons swelled34. The exact time for making closer acquaintance with them was hard to decide upon. The raid must not be too early, and on the other hand there was danger that it might be too late. Finally, Ned and Hal could no longer stand it. Melons were beginning to appear in market. The moment for action had come.
The boys chose a Tuesday night as the date for the attack. Ned invited Hal over to spend the evening at his house, and to sleep there. As this was nothing out of the way, it drew no suspicion.
They retired35 early up-stairs, the better to talk. They simply had to talk, or they would have exploded. About ten o’clock, when the household was quiet and abed, they climbed out of the window of Ned’s room, scampered36 softly in their stockinged feet across the sloping roof of the little side porch, lowered themselves to the ground, hurriedly put on their shoes, scurried37 for the back fence, vaulted38 it, and at last were safely in the protecting alley.
There was no moon, and, old woodsmen though they were, their way seemed to get all mixed up, full of sticks and cans and holes and hillocks. Even in the most open road they were continually stepping on things that snapped or clattered39, and they imagined that the whole country around-about must be aroused by the noise!
Faint in the distance, or near at hand, barked dogs of farmyard and town-yard. An owl10 hooted40 in an accusing tone, and Pete, Deacon Rogers’ venerable clay-colored horse, from his pasture wheezed41 at them through the misty42 blackness.
“What’s that!” exclaimed Hal, huskily, startled; and Ned, too, jumped at the sound.
Had they not been setting out to “hook” melons, they might have been braver. A nagging43 conscience is a bad escort, especially on a dark night!
They entered the ravine. What a ravine that was! Not very kindly44 by day, by night it was downright wicked! Every twig45 thrust up a finger to trap their feet; every branch shot out a hand to slap them in the face. And there was not a single guide-post. Darkness had swallowed all landmarks46, and the boys could only guess.
When it seemed that they surely ought to be opposite the proper spot, they climbed the steep slope.
“Hurrah!” cheered Hal, beneath his breath, when they reached the top. “We’ve just struck it! Here’s the poplar we go by!”
As they crossed the thirty yards that lay between them and the patch, how the weeds crackled under their tread! At length they arrived at the fence bordering the little field; formerly48 a fence with sagging49, swaying barbed wires betwixt which even the most awkward person ought to slip without touching50, but just at present a demon51 of a fence which left a stinging scratch along Ned’s back, and with a tearing sound clutched Hal by the trousers.
“Jiminy!” exclaimed Hal.
“Shut up!” cautioned Ned.
And they were among the vines!
The only thing they could do was, carry off as many melons as they were able—one under each arm—and eat them. The chief reward would be the glory of having got ahead of Squire Belton. How mad he would be when he found, in the morning, that he had been outwitted!
The boys groped about on the ground, with hands and feet as happened to be most convenient. What is apt to be the case, the fruit which they felt now here, now there, did not quite suit them. They fancied that a bit farther on they would come across some better in quality. Since they could take only a small quantity, they wanted it to be high in quality.
So they proceeded, step by step, always in the hope that they would light upon the melon, a melon worth while.
“Cr-rash!”
“Oh, thunder!”
“Bow-wow-wow! Bow-wow-wow-wow! Bow!”
The Belton yellow dog! Nothing was left for them but speedy flight. What a watchful animal that was!
“Leg it!” ordered Ned.
At the instant of the accident to Hal, Ned had been fingering a sphere of unusual fatness. Now with a jerk he wrenched53 it from its stem, and hugging it in his arms put his command into practice. He “legged it.” So did Hal.
All sense of direction was lost to them; they remembered not which was north or which was west; their sole thought was to escape the attack of the yellow dog. Off to the left they dashed, dimly believing that they were heading for the ravine.
But they met with no fence, where they expected. Crunch55, crash, stumble and plunge56, through the vines, out from the vines, and into a clump57 of raspberry bushes! Cracky! How those bushes punished them! Yet on they ploughed, each for himself, Ned clasping his melon, and the yellow dog yelping58 in their wake.
Out from amidst the raspberries—and suddenly Ned was hurled59 backward for a complete somersault! A wire fence, fortunately not barbed, had caught him fiercely, raising a huge welt across his chest and another across his knees.
“Hurt you?” panted Hal, alarmed, bringing up just in time.
“Not much,” panted Ned.
With a rush they overcame the fence. Their hope lay in motion on and on, until that dog was safely behind.
“Bow-wow-wow-wow! Wow! Wow-wow-wow!”
He was hard at their heels. Gallant60 old fellow, no doubt he enjoyed many a hearty61 laugh over it all.
Hello! The vineyard! They had actually been running toward the house, instead of away from it. No wonder the dog was so excited.
Ned was a few feet in advance—a credit to his fleetness, but not to his courage—and in trying to tack6 and veer62 in a new direction he slipped, fell, and rolled down the slope, staying not for stalk nor trellis, clear to the bottom.
“And Jill (or Hal) came tumbling after!”
Still Ned clung to his precious melon, which by a succession of miracles was yet unbroken!
With a thump63 they landed in the dry ditch that cut along the foot of the vineyard. They vaulted the board fence just beyond, noting, at the same moment, that a light was glimmering64 in the upper story of the Belton house. Evidently the dog’s clamor had been heard.
The house was too close for comfort, but it gave them their bearings. Only a stretch of level pasture now remained between them and the road.
“Almost there! Keep going!” urged Ned.
They imagined that they could feel his hot breath through the holes in their trousers. Hit or miss, they scaled the final fence—this time a vicious barbed wire thing which took tribute in the shape of both cloth and flesh—and for dear life pattered down the welcome road.
Towser’s voice became subdued66 by distance. Looking over their shoulders they saw the flicker67 of a lantern upon the squire’s front porch. They slackened their pace to a rapid walk.
“I’ve got a melon!” wheezed Ned.
“Bully for you!” praised Hal. “Let’s feel.”
Ned obeyed.
“Well, it doesn’t smell very musky,” he muttered, doubtfully.
“I guess perhaps it’s a watermelon,” declared Hal. “But either way it’s all right. What’s the matter with eating it now? Nobody’ll follow us this far.”
“That’s a go,” agreed Ned. “I’m dead tired,” and at once turning aside, with a grunt70 of relief he threw himself upon the grass by the hedge that skirted the road.
Hal lost no time in copying his example.
Mellowed71 by the damp night air, from the scene of the late hostilities72 floated to them the fitful voice of the yellow dog, as he continued to tell his family all about it. Of course he made out to them that the boys were a band of determined73 robbers, whom he had surprised and put to flight.
The moon, just rising, was shedding an uncertain light over the landscape.
“Slice her open,” suggested Hal—referring to the melon, not to the moon.
Already Ned was fumbling74 with a battered75 jack-knife, trying to divide the prize in a scientific fashion, so as to give each some of the heart.
It was a mighty76 tough rind. Could the melon be green, after all! He worked as rapidly as he could,considering the poor light, and the impatient remarks of Hal, who was getting thirstier and thirstier.
Victory! He managed to stick his fingers in a crack, and with a tug77 pulled the stubborn mass apart.
He himself took the mate to it, and carried to his mouth a handful of the spongy, stringy stuff.
“Faugh!” exclaimed Hal.
“Wa-a-a-a!” exclaimed Ned.
Words cannot express their disgust. They had missed the melon-patch entirely81. All that trouble for only a squash! And now their chances had been ruined. The squire would be on his guard.
“Come on—let’s go home,” blurted82 Ned; and the two stiffly stood up. Stiffly it was, indeed, for their spirits had been most effectually “squashed,” and they began to be conscious of tokens of their recent flight. They were drenched83 with dew. Every inch of their bodies and faces and hands smarted and ached from the briars and collisions with posts, wires, sticks and stones. Their heads throbbed84. They were cold, hungry, and completely fagged. They wished they were in bed.
Speaking scarcely another syllable85 they dragged their heavy feet along the well-nigh endless mile of homeward journey. As they entered the alley the town clock chimed twelve.
They scrambled86 over the fence, shinned up the porch—so tuckered that they did not care whether or not they made any noise—and tumbled across the bed. Such a soft, soothing87 bed as that was! Feebly they started to undress as they lay, but they did no more than kick off their shoes, and were asleep.
They slept like logs, until awakened88 by the rising-bell. Quite in vain would they make themselves respectable, although they tried their level best. All their scrubbings and brushings and pinnings really seemed to improve their appearance not one whit22. The raspberry bushes and the barbed wire had been too thorough. Court-plaster, rather than pins, was needed.
They were late to breakfast; and this enabled them to escape the keen eyes of Ned’s father, who, having been a boy, would know!
However, Mrs. Miller—thoughtful mother—was waiting for them.
“Goodness, boys! What have you been up to?” she cried, as they neared the table.
It might have been the scratches; it might have been the clothes; probably it was both.
“Oh, we fell down,” answered Ned, sheepishly.
His mother scanned him sharply, but made no farther remark; nevertheless, Ned suspected that the end was not yet.
Squire Belton, or his yellow dog, must have talked around town, so that certain fathers heard; and certain mothers, having patched and darned some sadly-abused garments, must have exchanged notes, as mothers will: at any rate, in a day or two the Miller family—save Ned—had watermelon for dessert, but Ned’s dessert was a huge piece of raw squash!
And Hal reported exactly the same treatment.
点击收听单词发音
1 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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2 miller | |
n.磨坊主 | |
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3 premises | |
n.建筑物,房屋 | |
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4 scorched | |
烧焦,烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 ); 使(植物)枯萎,把…晒枯; 高速行驶; 枯焦 | |
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5 blistered | |
adj.水疮状的,泡状的v.(使)起水泡( blister的过去式和过去分词 );(使表皮等)涨破,爆裂 | |
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6 tack | |
n.大头钉;假缝,粗缝 | |
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7 alley | |
n.小巷,胡同;小径,小路 | |
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8 queried | |
v.质疑,对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 );询问 | |
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9 creek | |
n.小溪,小河,小湾 | |
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10 owl | |
n.猫头鹰,枭 | |
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11 squire | |
n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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12 outskirts | |
n.郊外,郊区 | |
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13 prudent | |
adj.谨慎的,有远见的,精打细算的 | |
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14 cantankerous | |
adj.爱争吵的,脾气不好的 | |
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15 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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16 lawful | |
adj.法律许可的,守法的,合法的 | |
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17 prey | |
n.被掠食者,牺牲者,掠食;v.捕食,掠夺,折磨 | |
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18 tantalizing | |
adj.逗人的;惹弄人的;撩人的;煽情的v.逗弄,引诱,折磨( tantalize的现在分词 ) | |
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19 trudge | |
v.步履艰难地走;n.跋涉,费力艰难的步行 | |
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20 laden | |
adj.装满了的;充满了的;负了重担的;苦恼的 | |
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21 beckoning | |
adj.引诱人的,令人心动的v.(用头或手的动作)示意,召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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22 whit | |
n.一点,丝毫 | |
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23 orchard | |
n.果园,果园里的全部果树,(美俚)棒球场 | |
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24 tilt | |
v.(使)倾侧;(使)倾斜;n.倾侧;倾斜 | |
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25 sitting-room | |
n.(BrE)客厅,起居室 | |
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26 hurrah | |
int.好哇,万岁,乌拉 | |
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27 prospect | |
n.前景,前途;景色,视野 | |
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28 prying | |
adj.爱打听的v.打听,刺探(他人的私事)( pry的现在分词 );撬开 | |
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29 watchful | |
adj.注意的,警惕的 | |
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30 warily | |
adv.留心地 | |
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31 crest | |
n.顶点;饰章;羽冠;vt.达到顶点;vi.形成浪尖 | |
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32 secluded | |
adj.与世隔绝的;隐退的;偏僻的v.使隔开,使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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33 crafty | |
adj.狡猾的,诡诈的 | |
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34 swelled | |
增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 ); 肿胀; (使)凸出; 充满(激情) | |
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35 retired | |
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
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36 scampered | |
v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑,惊惶奔跑( scamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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37 scurried | |
v.急匆匆地走( scurry的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38 vaulted | |
adj.拱状的 | |
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39 clattered | |
发出咔哒声(clatter的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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40 hooted | |
(使)作汽笛声响,作汽车喇叭声( hoot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41 wheezed | |
v.喘息,发出呼哧呼哧的喘息声( wheeze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42 misty | |
adj.雾蒙蒙的,有雾的 | |
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43 nagging | |
adj.唠叨的,挑剔的;使人不得安宁的v.不断地挑剔或批评(某人)( nag的现在分词 );不断地烦扰或伤害(某人);无休止地抱怨;不断指责 | |
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44 kindly | |
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 | |
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45 twig | |
n.小树枝,嫩枝;v.理解 | |
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46 landmarks | |
n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 );目标;(标志重要阶段的)里程碑 ~ (in sth);有历史意义的建筑物(或遗址) | |
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47 hissed | |
发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 ); 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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48 formerly | |
adv.从前,以前 | |
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49 sagging | |
下垂[沉,陷],松垂,垂度 | |
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50 touching | |
adj.动人的,使人感伤的 | |
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51 demon | |
n.魔鬼,恶魔 | |
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52 sprawling | |
adj.蔓生的,不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 );蔓延;杂乱无序地拓展;四肢伸展坐着(或躺着) | |
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53 wrenched | |
v.(猛力地)扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 );扭伤;使感到痛苦;使悲痛 | |
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54 gasped | |
v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 );喘息;倒抽气;很想要 | |
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55 crunch | |
n.关键时刻;艰难局面;v.发出碎裂声 | |
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56 plunge | |
v.跳入,(使)投入,(使)陷入;猛冲 | |
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57 clump | |
n.树丛,草丛;vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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58 yelping | |
v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的现在分词 ) | |
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59 hurled | |
v.猛投,用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 );大声叫骂 | |
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60 gallant | |
adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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61 hearty | |
adj.热情友好的;衷心的;尽情的,纵情的 | |
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62 veer | |
vt.转向,顺时针转,改变;n.转向 | |
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63 thump | |
v.重击,砰然地响;n.重击,重击声 | |
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64 glimmering | |
n.微光,隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光,发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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65 bellowed | |
v.发出吼叫声,咆哮(尤指因痛苦)( bellow的过去式和过去分词 );(愤怒地)说出(某事),大叫 | |
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66 subdued | |
adj. 屈服的,柔和的,减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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67 flicker | |
vi./n.闪烁,摇曳,闪现 | |
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68 puffed | |
adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 );喷着汽(或烟)移动;吹嘘;吹捧 | |
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69 caressing | |
爱抚的,表现爱情的,亲切的 | |
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70 grunt | |
v.嘟哝;作呼噜声;n.呼噜声,嘟哝 | |
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71 mellowed | |
(使)成熟( mellow的过去式和过去分词 ); 使色彩更加柔和,使酒更加醇香 | |
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72 hostilities | |
n.战争;敌意(hostility的复数);敌对状态;战事 | |
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73 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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74 fumbling | |
n. 摸索,漏接 v. 摸索,摸弄,笨拙的处理 | |
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75 battered | |
adj.磨损的;v.连续猛击;磨损 | |
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76 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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77 tug | |
v.用力拖(或拉);苦干;n.拖;苦干;拖船 | |
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78 chunk | |
n.厚片,大块,相当大的部分(数量) | |
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79 precisely | |
adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地 | |
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80 sputtered | |
v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的过去式和过去分词 );发劈啪声;喷出;飞溅出 | |
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81 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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82 blurted | |
v.突然说出,脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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83 drenched | |
adj.湿透的;充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 );在某人(某物)上大量使用(某液体) | |
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84 throbbed | |
抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 ); (心脏、脉搏等)跳动 | |
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85 syllable | |
n.音节;vt.分音节 | |
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86 scrambled | |
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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87 soothing | |
adj.慰藉的;使人宽心的;镇静的 | |
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88 awakened | |
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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