The bugles7 sounded calls for the routine at Fort Steele—a mere8 cantonment, yet, of tents and rough board buildings squatting9 upon the bare brown soil near the river bank, north of us, and less than a month old. The wagon2 road was a line of white dust from the river clear to Benton, and through the murk plodded10 the water haulers and emigrants11 and freighters, animals and men alike befloured and choked. The dust cloud rested over Benton. It fumed12 in another line westward13, kept in suspense14 by on-traveling stage and wagon—by wheel, hoof15 and boot, bound for Utah and Idaho. From the town there extended northward16 a third dust line, marking the stage and freighting 163road through the Indian country to the mining settlements of the famous South Pass of the old Oregon Trail; yes, and with branches for the gold regions of Montana.
The railroad trains kept thundering by us—long freights, dusty and indomitable, bringing their loads from the Missouri River almost seven hundred miles in the east. And rolling out of Benton the never-ceasing construction trains sped into the desert as if upon urgent errands in response to some sudden demand of More, More, More.
Upon all sides beyond this business and energy the country stretched lone17 and uninhabited; a great waste of naked, hot, resplendent land blotched with white and red, showing not a green spot except the course of the Platte; with scorched18, rusty19 hills rising above its fantastic surface, and, in the distance, bluish mountain ranges that appeared to float and waver in the sun-drenched air.
The sounds from Benton—the hammering, the shouting, the babbling20, the puffing21 of the locomotives—drifted faintly to us, merged22 into the cracking of whips and the oaths and songs by the wagon drivers along the road. Of our own little camp I took gradual stock.
It, like the desert reaches, evinced little of feverishness23, for while booted men busied themselves at tasks similar to mine, others lolled, spinning yarns24 and whittling25; the several women, at wash-boards and at 164pots and pans and needles, worked contentedly26 in sun and shade; children played at makeshift games, dogs drowsed underneath27 the wagons, and outside our circle the mules29 and oxen grazed as best they might, their only vexation the blood-sucking flies. The flies were kin3 of Benton.
Captain Adams loped away, as if to town. Others went in. While I was idle at last and rather enjoying the hot sun as I sat resting upon a convenient wagon-tongue Daniel hulked to me, still snapping his ox goad30.
“Haowdy?” he addressed again; and surveyed, eying every detail of my clothing.
“Howdy?” said I.
“Yu know me?”
“Your name is Daniel, isn’t it?”
“No, ’tain’t. It’s Bonnie Bravo on the trail.”
“All right, sir,” said I. “Whichever you prefer.”
“I ’laow we pull out this arternoon,” he volunteered farther.
“I’m agreeable,” I responded. “The sooner the better, where I’m concerned.”
“I ’laow yu (and he pronounced it, nasally, yee-ou) been seein’ the elephant in Benton an’ it skinned yu.”
“I saw all of Benton I wish to see,” I granted. “You’ve been there?”
“I won four bits, an’ then yu bet I quit,” he greedily proclaimed. “I was too smart for ’em. I ’laow yu’re a greenie, ain’t yu?”
“In some ways I am, in some ways I’m not.”
“I ’laow yu aim to go through with this train to Salt Lake, do yu?”
“That’s the engagement I’ve made with Mr. Jenks.”
“Don’t feel too smart, yoreself, in them new clothes?”
“No. They’re all I have. They won’t be new long.”
“Yu bet they won’t. Ain’t afeared of peterin’ aout on the way, be yu? I ’laow yu’re sickly.”
“I’ll take my chances,” I smiled, although he was irritating in the extreme.
“It’s four hunderd mile, an’ twenty mile at a stretch withaout water. Most the water’s pizen, too, from hyar to the mountings.”
“I’ll have to drink what the rest drink, I suppose.”
“I ’laow the Injuns are like to get us. They’re powerful bad in that thar desert. Ain’t afeared o’ Injuns, be yu?”
“I’ll have to take my chances on that, too, won’t I?”
“They sculped a whole passel o’ surveyors, month ago,” he persisted. “Yu’ll sing a different tyune arter yu’ve been corralled with nothin’ to drink.” He viciously snapped his whip, the while inspecting me as if seeking for other joints31 in my armor. “Yu aim to stay long in Zion?”
“I haven’t planned anything about that.”
“Reckon yu’re wise, Mister. We don’t think much o’ Gentiles, yonder. We don’t want ’em, nohaow. They’d all better git aout. The Saints settled that country an’ it’s ourn.”
“If you’re a sample, you’re welcome to live there,” I retorted. “I think I’d prefer some place else.”
“Haow?” he bleated32. “Thar ain’t no place as good. All the rest the world has sold itself to the devil.”
“How much of the world have you seen?” I asked.
“I’ve seen a heap. I’ve been as fur east as Cheyenne—I’ve teamed acrost twice, so I know. An’ I know what the elders say; they come from the East an’ some of ’em have been as fur as England. Yu can’t fool me none with yore Gentile lies.”
As I did not attempt, we remained in silence for a moment while he waited, provocative34.
“I presume I could if I had to. Why?”
“Becuz I’m the dangest best shot with a Colt’s in this hyar train, an’ I’ll shoot ye for—I’ll shoot ye for (he lowered his voice and glanced about furtively)—I’ll shoot ye for two bits when my paw ain’t ’raound.”
“I’ve no cartridges36 to waste at present,” I informed. “And I don’t claim to be a crack shot.”
“Damn ye, I bet yu think yu are,” he accused. “Yu set thar like it. All right, Mister; any time yu want to try a little poppin’ yu let me know.” And 167with this, which struck me as a veiled threat, he lurched on, snapping that infernal whip.
He left me with the uneasy impression that he and I were due to measure strength in one way or another.
Wagon Boss Adams returned at noon. The word was given out that the train should start during the afternoon, for a short march in order to break in the new animals before tackling the real westward trail.
After a deal of bustle38, of lashing40 loads and tautening covers and geeing41, hawing and whoaing, about three o’clock we formed line in obedience42 to the commands “Stretch out, stretch out!”; and with every cask and barrel dripping, whips cracking, voices urging, children racing43, the Captain Adams wagon in the lead (two pink sunbonnets upon the seat), the valorous Daniel’s next, and Mormons and Gentiles ranging on down, we toiled44 creaking and swaying up the Benton road, amidst the eddies45 of hot, scalding dust.
It was a mixed train, of Gentile mules and the more numerous Mormon oxen; therefore not strictly46 a “bull” train, but by pace designated as such. And in the vernacular47 I was a “mule28-whacker” or even “mule-skinner” rather than a “bull-whacker,” if there is any appreciable48 difference in rôle. There is none, I think, to the animals.
Trudging49 manfully at the left fore37 wheel behind Mr. Jenks’ four span of mules, trailing my eighteen-foot tapering50 lash39 and occasionally well-nigh cutting off my own ear when I tried to throw it, I played the 168teamster—although sooth to say there was little of play in the job, on that road, at that time of the day.
The sun was more vexatious, being an hour lower, when we bravely entered Benton’s boiling main street. We made brief halt for the finishing up of business; and cleaving51 a lane through the pedestrians52 and vehicles and animals there congregated53, the challenges of the street gamblers having assailed54 us in vain, we proceeded—our Mormons gazing straight ahead, scornful of the devil’s enticements, our few Gentiles responding in kind to the quips and waves and salutations.
Thus we eventually left Benton; in about an hour’s march or some three miles out we formed corral for camp on the farther side of the road from the railroad tracks which we had been skirting.
Travel, except upon the tracks (for they were rarely vacant) ceased at sundown; and we all, having eaten our suppers, were sitting by our fires, smoking and talking, with the sky crimson55 in the west and the desert getting mysterious with purple shadows, when as another construction train of box cars and platform cars clanked by I chanced to note a figure spring out asprawl, alight with a whiffle of sand, and staggering up hasten for us.
First it accosted56 the hulk Daniel, who was temporarily out on herd57, keeping the animals from the tracks. I saw him lean from his saddle; then he rode spurring in, bawling58 like a calf:169
“Paw! Paw! Hey, yu-all! Thar’s a woman yonder in britches an’ she ’laows to come on. She’s lookin’ for Mister Jenks.”
Save for his excited stuttering silence reigned59, a minute. Then in a storm of rude raillery—“That’s a hoss on you, George!” “Didn’t know you owned one o’ them critters, George,” “Does she wear the britches, George?” and so forth—my friend Jenks arose, peering, his whiskered mouth so agape that he almost dropped his pipe. And we all peered, with the women of the caravan60 smitten61 mute but intensely curious, while the solitary62 figure, braving our stares, came on to the fires.
Likewise straightening I mentally repeated the ejaculation, for now I knew her as well as he. Yes, by the muttered babble64 others in our party knew her. It was My Lady—formerly My Lady—clad in embroidered65 short Spanish jacket, tightish velvet66 pantaloons, booted to the knees, pulled down upon her yellow hair a black soft hat, and hanging from the just-revealed belt around her slender waist, a revolver trifle.
She paused, small and alone, viewing us, her eyes very blue, her face very white.
“Is Mr. Jenks there?” she hailed clearly.
“Damn’ if I ain’t,” he mumbled67. He glowered68 at me. “Yes, ma’am, right hyar. You want to speak with me?”170
“By gosh, it’s Montoyo’s woman, ain’t it?” were the comments.
“I do, sir.”
Come on she did, with only an instant’s hesitation70 and a little compression of the lips. She swept our group fearlessly—her gaze crossed mine, but she betrayed no sign.
“I wish to engage passage to Salt Lake.”
“Yes. You are bound for Salt Lake, aren’t you?”
She faintly smiled, but her eyes were steady and wide.
“For my health. I’d like to throw in with your outfit73. I will cook, keep camp, and pay you well besides.”
“We haven’t no place for a woman, ma’am. You’d best take the stage.”
“No. There’ll be no stage out till morning. I want to make arrangements at once—with you. There are other women in this train.” She flashed a glance around. “And I can take care of myself.”
“If you aim to go to Salt Lake your main holt is Benton and the stage. The stage makes through in four days and we’ll use thirty,” somebody counseled.
“An’ this bull train ain’t no place for yore kind, anyhow,” grumbled74 another. “We’ve quit roarin’—we’ve cut loose from that hell-hole yonder.”
“So have I.” But she did not turn on him. “I’m never going back. I—I can’t, now; not even for the stage. Will you permit me to travel with you, sir?”
“No, ma’am, I won’t,” rasped Mr. Jenks. “I can’t do it. It’s not in my line, ma’am.”
“I’ll be no trouble. You have only Mr. Beeson. I don’t ask to ride. I’ll walk. I merely ask protection.”
“So do we,” somebody sniggered; and I hated him, for I saw her sway upon her feet as if the words had been a blow.
“No, ma’am, I’m full up. I wouldn’t take on even a yaller dog, ’specially a she one,” Jenks announced. “What your game is now I can’t tell, and I don’t propose to be eddicated to it. But you can’t travel along with me, and that’s straight talk. If you can put anything over on these other fellers, try your luck.”
“Oh!” she cried, wincing76. Her hands clenched77 nervously78, a red spot dyed either cheek as she appealed to us all. “Gentlemen! Won’t one of you help me? What are you afraid of? I can pay my way—I ask no favors—I swear to you that I’ll give no trouble. I only wish protection across.”
“Where’s Pedro? Where’s Montoyo?”
“He? That snake? I shot him.”
“What! You? Killed him?” Exclamations80 broke from all quarters.
She stamped her foot.
“No. I didn’t have to. But when he tried to abuse me I defended myself. Wasn’t that right, gentlemen?”
“Right or wrong, he’ll be after you, won’t he?”
The question held a note of alarm. Her lip curled.
“You needn’t fear. I’ll meet him, myself.”
“By gosh, I don’t mix up in no quarrel ’twixt a man and his woman.” And—“’Tain’t our affair. When he comes he’ll come a-poppin’.” Such were the hasty comments. I felt a peculiar81 heat, a revulsion of shame and indignation, which made the present seem much more important than the past. And there was the recollection of her, crying, and still the accents of her last appeals in the early morning.
“I thought that I might find men among you,” she disdainfully said—a break in her voice. “So I came. But you’re afraid of him—of that breed, that vest-pocket killer82. And you’re afraid of me, a woman whose cards are all on the table. There isn’t a one of you—even you, Mr. Beeson, sir, whom I tried to befriend although you may not know it.” And she turned upon me. “You have not a word to say. I am never going back, I tell you all. You won’t take me, any of you? Very well.” She smiled wanly83. “I’ll drift along, gentlemen. I’ll play the lone hand. Montoyo shall never seize me. I’d rather trust to the 173wolves and the Indians. There’ll be another wagon train.”
“I am only an employee, madam,” I faltered84. “If I had an outfit of my own I certainly would help you.”
She flushed painfully; she did not glance at me direct again, but her unspoken thanks enfolded me.
“Here’s the wagon boss,” Jenks grunted87, and spat88. “Mebbe you can throw in with him. When it comes to supers, that’s his say-so. I’ve all I can tend to, myself, and I don’t look for trouble. I’ve got no love for Montoyo, neither,” he added. “Damned if I ain’t glad you give him a dose.”
Murmurs89 of approval echoed him, as if the tide were turning a little. All this time—not long, however—Daniel had been sitting his mule, transfixed and gaping90, his oddly wry91 eyes upon her. Now the large form of Captain Adams came striding in contentious92, through the gathering93 dusk.
“What’s this?” he demanded harshly. “An ungodly woman? I’ll have no trafficking in my train. Get you gone, Delilah. Would you pursue us even here?”
“I am going, sir,” she replied. “I ask nothing from you or these—gentlemen.”
“Them’s the two she’s after, paw: Jenks an’ that greenie,” Daniel bawled94. “They know her. She’s follered ’em. She aims to travel with ’em. Oh, gosh! She’s shot her man in Benton. Gosh!” His voice trailed off. “Ain’t she purty, though! She’s dressed in britches.”
“Get you gone,” Captain Adams thundered. “And these your paramours with you. For thus saith the Lord: There shall be no lusting95 of adultery among his chosen. And thus say I, that no brazen96 hussy in men’s garments shall travel with this train to Zion—no, not a mile of the way.”
“Mind your words, Adams. I’m under no Mormon thumb, and I’ll thank you not to connect me and this—lady in ary such fashion. As for your brat99 on horseback, he’d better hold his yawp. She came of her own hook, and damned if I ain’t beginnin’ to think——”
I sprang forward. Defend her I must. She should not stand there, slight, lovely, brave but drooping100, aflame with the helplessness of a woman alone and insulted.
“Wait!” I implored101. “Give her a chance. You haven’t heard her story. All she wants is protection on the road. Yes, I know her, and I know the cur she’s getting away from. I saw him strike her; so did Mr. Jenks. What were you intending to do? Turn her out into the night? Shame on you, sir. She says she can’t go back to Benton, and if you’ll be humane102 enough to understand why, you’ll at least let her stay in your camp till morning. You’ve got women there who’ll care for her, I hope.”
“You have one man among you all. But I am going. Good-night, gentlemen.”
“No! Wait!” I begged. “You shall not go by yourself. I’ll see you into safety.”
Daniel cackled.
“Haw haw! What’d I tell yu, paw? Hear him?”
“By gum, the boy’s right,” Jenks declared. “Will you go back to Benton if we take you?” he queried103 of her. “Are you ’feared of Montoyo? Can he shoot still, or is he laid out?”
“I’ll not go back to Benton, and I’m not afraid of that bully,” said she. “Yes, he can shoot, still; but next time I should kill him. I hope never to see him again, or Benton either.”
The men murmured.
“You’ve got spunk104, anyhow,” said they. And by further impulse: “Let her stay the night, Cap’n. It’ll be plumb105 dark soon. She won’t harm ye. Some o’ the woman folks can take care of her.”
Captain Adams had been frowning sternly, his heavy face unsoftened.
“Who are you, woman?”
“I am the wife of a gambler named Montoyo.”
“Why come you here, then?”
“He has been abusing me, and I shot him.”
“There is blood on your hands? Are you a murderess as well as a harlot?”
“Shame!” cried voices, mine among them. “That’s tall language.”
Strangely, and yet not strangely, sentiment had veered106. We were Americans—and had we been English that would have made no difference. It was the Anglo-Saxon which gave utterance107.
“You would not dare bait a man that way, sir. Blood on my hands? Not blood; oh, no! He couldn’t pan out blood.”
“You killed him, woman?”
“Not yet. He’s likely fleecing the public in the Big Tent at this very moment.”
“And what did you expect here, in my train?”
“A little manhood and a little chivalry110, sir. I am going to Salt Lake and I knew of no safer way.”
“She jumped off a railway train, paw,” bawled Daniel. “I seen her. An’ she axed for Mister Jenks, fust thing.”
“I’ll give you something to stop that yawp. Come mornin’, we’ll settle, young feller,” my friend Jenks growled.
“I did,” she admitted. “I have seen Mr. Jenks; I have also seen Mr. Beeson; I have seen others of you in Benton. I was glad to know of somebody here. I rode on the construction train because it was the quickest and easiest way.”
“And those garments!” Captain Adams accused. 177“You wish to show your shape, woman, to tempt33 men’s eyes with the flesh?”
She smiled.
“Would you have me jump from a train in skirts, sir? Or travel far afoot in crinoline? But to soothe111 your mind I will say that I wore these clothes under my proper attire112 and cloak until the last moment. And if you turn me away I shall cut my hair and continue as a boy.”
“If you are for Salt Lake—where we are of the Lord’s choosing and wish none of you—there is the stage,” he prompted shrewdly. “Go to the stage. You cannot make this wagon train your instrument.”
“The stage?” She slowly shook her head. “Why, I am too well known, sir, take that as you will. And the stage does not leave until morning. Much might happen between now and morning. I have nobody in Benton that I can depend upon—nobody that I dare depend upon. And by railway, for the East? No. That is too open a trail. I am running free of Benton and Pedro Montoyo, and stage and train won’t do the trick. I’ve thought that out.” She tossed back her head, deliberately113 turned. “Good-night, ladies and gentlemen.”
Involuntarily I started forward to intercept114. The notion of her heading into the vastness and the gloom was appalling115; the inertness116 of that increasing group, formed now of both men and women collected from all the camp, maddened. So I would have besought117 her, pleaded with her, faced Montoyo for her—but a new voice mediated118.
“She shall stay, Hyrum? For the night, at least? I will look after her.”
The Captain’s younger wife, Rachael, had stepped to him; laid one hand upon his arm—her smooth hair touched ashine by the firelight as she gazed up into his face. Pending119 reply I hastened directly to My Lady herself and detained her by her jacket sleeve.
“Wait,” I bade.
Whereupon we both turned. Side by side we fronted the group as if we might have been partners—which, in a measure, we were, but not wholy according to the lout120 Daniel’s cackle and the suddenly interrogating121 countenances122 here and there.
“We are commanded to feed the hungry and shelter the homeless, Hyrum.”
“Verily that is so. Take her. I trust you with her till the morning. The Lord will direct us further. But in God’s name clothe her for the daylight in decency123. She shall not advertise her flesh to men’s eyes.”
“Quick!” I whispered, with a push. Rachael, however, had crossed for us, and with eyes brimming extended her hand.
“Will you come with me, please?” she invited.
“You are not afraid of me?”
“I? No. You are a woman, are you not?” The intonation124 was gentle, and sweet to hear—as sweet as her rosy125 face to see.
“Yes,” sighed My Lady, wearily. “Good-night, sir.” She fleetingly126 smiled upon me. “I thank you; and Mr. Jenks.”
They went, Rachael’s arm about her; other women closed in; we heard exclamations, and next they were supporting her in their midst, for she had crumpled127 in a faint.
Captain Adams walked out a piece as if musing128. Daniel pressed beside him, talking eagerly. His voice reached me.
“She’s powerful purty, ain’t she, paw! Gosh, I never seen a woman in britches before. Did yu? Paw! She kin ride in my wagon, paw. Be yu goin’ to take her on, paw? If yu be, I got room.”
“Go. Tend to your stock and think of other things,” boomed his father. “Remember that the Scriptures129 say, beware of the scarlet130 woman.”
“Wall, there she is,” my friend Jenks remarked non-committally. “What next’ll happen, we’ll see in the mornin’. Either she goes on or she goes back. I don’t claim to read Mormon sign, myself. But she had me jumpin’ sideways, for a spell. So did that young whelp.”
There was some talk, idle yet not offensive. The men appeared rather in a judicial133 frame of mind: 180laid a few bets upon whether her husband would turn up, in sober fashion nodded their heads over the hope that he had been “properly pinked,” all in all sided with her, while admiring her pluck roundly denied responsibility for women in general, and genially134 but cautiously twitted Mr. Jenks and me upon our alleged135 implication in the affair.
Darkness, still and chill, had settled over the desert—the only discernible horizon the glow of Benton, down the railroad track. The ashes of final pipes were rapped out upon our boot soles. Our group dispersed136, each man to his blanket under the wagons or in the open.
“Wall,” friend Jenks again broadly uttered, in last words as he turned over with a grunt86, for easier posture137, near me, “hooray! If it simmers down to you and Dan’l, I’ll be there.”
With that enigmatical comment he was silent save for stertorous138 breathing. Vaguely139 cogitating140 over his promise I lay, toes and face up, staring at the bright stars; perplexed141 more and more over the immediate142 events of the future, warmly conscious of her astonishing proximity143 in this very train, prickled by the hope that she would continue with us, irritated by the various assumptions of Daniel, and somehow not at all adverse144 to the memory of her in “britches.”
That phase of the matter seemed to have affected145 Daniel and me similarly. Under his hide he was human.
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wagons
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| n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车 | |
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wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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interim
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| adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间 | |
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vividly
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| adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地 | |
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6
transpiring
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| （事实，秘密等）被人知道( transpire的现在分词 )； 泄露； 显露； 发生 | |
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bugles
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| 妙脆角，一种类似薯片但做成尖角或喇叭状的零食； 号角( bugle的名词复数 )； 喇叭； 匍匐筋骨草； （装饰女服用的）柱状玻璃（或塑料）小珠 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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squatting
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的现在分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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plodded
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| v.沉重缓慢地走（路）( plod的过去式和过去分词 )；努力从事；沉闷地苦干；缓慢进行（尤指艰难枯燥的工作） | |
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emigrants
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| n.（从本国移往他国的）移民( emigrant的名词复数 ) | |
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fumed
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| 愤怒( fume的过去式和过去分词 )； 大怒； 发怒； 冒烟 | |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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hoof
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| n.(马，牛等的)蹄 | |
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northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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scorched
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| 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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rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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babbling
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| n.胡说，婴儿发出的咿哑声adj.胡说的v.喋喋不休( babble的现在分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密 | |
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21
puffing
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| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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22
merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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23
feverishness
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24
yarns
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| n.纱( yarn的名词复数 )；纱线；奇闻漫谈；旅行轶事 | |
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25
whittling
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| v.切，削（木头），使逐渐变小( whittle的现在分词 ) | |
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26
contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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27
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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28
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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29
mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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30
goad
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| n.刺棒，刺痛物；激励；vt.激励，刺激 | |
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31
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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32
bleated
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| v.（羊，小牛）叫( bleat的过去式和过去分词 )；哭诉；发出羊叫似的声音；轻声诉说 | |
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33
tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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34
provocative
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| adj.挑衅的，煽动的，刺激的，挑逗的 | |
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35
blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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36
cartridges
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| 子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头 | |
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37
fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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38
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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39
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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40
lashing
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| n.鞭打；痛斥；大量；许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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41
geeing
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| v.驭马快走或向右（gee的现在分词形式） | |
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42
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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43
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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44
toiled
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| 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 | |
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45
eddies
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| （水、烟等的）漩涡，涡流( eddy的名词复数 ) | |
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46
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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47
vernacular
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| adj.地方的，用地方语写成的；n.白话；行话；本国语；动植物的俗名 | |
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48
appreciable
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| adj.明显的，可见的，可估量的，可觉察的 | |
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49
trudging
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的现在分词形式） | |
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50
tapering
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| adj.尖端细的 | |
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51
cleaving
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| v.劈开，剁开，割开( cleave的现在分词 ) | |
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52
pedestrians
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| n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 ) | |
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53
congregated
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| （使）集合，聚集( congregate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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55
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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56
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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57
herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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58
bawling
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的现在分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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59
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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60
caravan
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| n.大蓬车；活动房屋 | |
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61
smitten
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| 猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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62
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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63
almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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64
babble
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| v.含糊不清地说，胡言乱语地说，儿语 | |
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65
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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66
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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67
mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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68
glowered
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| v.怒视( glower的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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69
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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70
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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71
gasped
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| 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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72
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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73
outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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74
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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75
rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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76
wincing
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的现在分词 ) | |
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77
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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78
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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79
jeer
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| vi.嘲弄，揶揄；vt.奚落；n.嘲笑，讥评 | |
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80
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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81
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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82
killer
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| n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者 | |
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83
wanly
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| adv.虚弱地；苍白地，无血色地 | |
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84
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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85
spoke
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| 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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86
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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87
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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88
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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89
murmurs
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| n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 )；低语声；怨言；嘀咕 | |
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90
gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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91
wry
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| adj.讽刺的；扭曲的 | |
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92
contentious
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| adj.好辩的，善争吵的 | |
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93
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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94
bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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95
lusting
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| 贪求（lust的现在分词形式） | |
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96
brazen
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| adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的 | |
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97
stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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98
bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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99
brat
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| n.孩子；顽童 | |
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100
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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101
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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102
humane
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| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
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103
queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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104
spunk
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| n.勇气，胆量 | |
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105
plumb
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| adv.精确地，完全地；v.了解意义，测水深 | |
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106
veered
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| v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的过去式和过去分词 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转 | |
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107
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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108
crimsoned
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| 变为深红色（crimson的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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109
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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110
chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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111
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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112
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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113
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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114
intercept
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| vt.拦截，截住，截击 | |
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115
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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116
inertness
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| n.不活泼，没有生气；惰性；惯量 | |
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117
besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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118
mediated
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| 调停，调解，斡旋( mediate的过去式和过去分词 )； 居间促成； 影响…的发生； 使…可能发生 | |
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119
pending
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| prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的 | |
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120
lout
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| n.粗鄙的人；举止粗鲁的人 | |
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121
interrogating
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| n.询问技术v.询问( interrogate的现在分词 )；审问；（在计算机或其他机器上）查询 | |
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122
countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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123
decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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124
intonation
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| n.语调，声调；发声 | |
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125
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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126
fleetingly
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| adv.飞快地，疾驰地 | |
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127
crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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128
musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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129
scriptures
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| 经文，圣典( scripture的名词复数 )； 经典 | |
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130
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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131
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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132
whooping
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| 发嗬嗬声的，发咳声的 | |
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133
judicial
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| adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的 | |
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134
genially
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| adv.亲切地，和蔼地；快活地 | |
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135
alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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136
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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137
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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138
stertorous
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| adj.打鼾的 | |
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139
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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140
cogitating
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| v.认真思考，深思熟虑( cogitate的现在分词 ) | |
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141
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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142
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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143
proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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144
adverse
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| adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的 | |
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145
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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