Under its adventitious1 guidance we should strike the stage road at Bitter Creek2, eighty or one hundred miles; thence trundle, veering3 southwestward, for the famed City of the Saints, near two hundred miles farther.
Therefore after nooning at a pool of stagnant5, scummy water we hooked up and plunged6 ahead, creaking and groaning8 and dust enveloped9, constantly outstripped10 by the hurrying construction trains thundering over the newly laid rails, we ourselves the tortoise in the race.
My Lady did not join me again to-day, nor on the morrow. She abandoned me to a sense of dissatisfaction with myself, of foreboding, and of a void in the landscape.
Our sorely laden11 train went swaying and pitching across the gaunt face of a high, broad plateau, bleak12, hot, and monotonous13 in contour; underfoot the reddish granite14 pulverized15 by grinding tire and hoof16, over us the pale bluish fiery17 sky without a cloud, distant in the south the shining tips of a mountain range, and distant below in the west the slowly spreading vista18 of a great, bared ocean-bed, simmering bizarre with reds, yellows and deceptive19 whites, and ringed about by battlements jagged and rock hewn.
Into this enchanted20 realm we were bound; by token of the smoke blotches21 the railroad line led thither22. The teamsters viewed the unfolding expanse phlegmatically23. They called it the Red Basin. But to me, fresh for the sight, it beckoned24 with fantastic issues. Even the name breathed magic. Wizard spells hovered25 there; the railroad had not broken them—the cars and locomotives, entering, did not disturb the brooding vastness. A man might still ride errant into those slumberous26 spaces and discover for himself; might boldly awaken27 the realm and rule with a princess by his side.
But romance seemed to have no other sponsor in this plodding28, whip-cracking, complaining caravan29. So I lacked, woefully lacked, kindred companionship.
Free to say, I did miss My Lady, perched upon the 207stoic mule30 while like an Arab chief I convoyed her. The steady miles, I admitted, were going to be as disappointing as tepid31 water, when not aërated by her counsel and piquant32 allusions33, by her sprightly34 readiness and the essential elements of her blue eyes, her facile lips, and that bright hair which no dust could dim.
After all she was distinctly feminine—bravely feminine; and if she wished to flirt35 as a relief from the cock-sure Daniel and the calm methods of her Mormon guardians36, why, let us beguile37 the way. I should second with eyes open. That was accepted.
Moreover, something about her weighed upon me. A consciousness of failing her, a woman, in emergency, stung my self-respect. She had twitted me with being “afraid”; afraid of her, she probably meant. That I could pass warily38. But she had said that she, too, was afraid: “horribly afraid,” and an honest shudder39 had attended upon the words as if a real danger hedged. She had an intuition. The settled convictions of my Gentile friends coincided. “With Daniel in the Lion’s den”—that phrase repeated itself persistent40. She had uttered it in a fear accentuated41 by a mirthless laugh. Could such a left-handed wooer prove too much for her? Well, if she was afraid of Daniel I was not and she should not think so.
I could see her now and then, on before. She rode upon the wagon42 seat of her self-appointed executor.And I might see him and his paraded impertinences.
Except for the blowing of the animals and the mechanical noises of the equipment the train subsided43 into a dogged patience, while parched44 by the dust and the thin dry air and mocked by the speeding construction crews upon the iron rails it lurched westward4 at two and a half miles an hour, for long hours outfaced by the blinding sun.
Near the western edge of the plateau we made an evening corral. After supper the sound of revolver shots burst flatly from a mess beyond us, and startled. Everything was possible, here in this lone45 horizon-land where rough men, chafed46 by a hard day, were gathered suddenly relaxed and idle. But the shots were accompanied by laughter.
“They’re only tryin’ to spile a can,” Jenks reassured47. “By golly, we’ll go over and l’arn ’em a lesson.” He glanced at me. “Time you loosened up that weepon o’ yourn, anyhow. Purty soon it’ll stick fast.”
I arose with him, glad of any diversion. The circle had not yet formed at Hyrum’s fire.
“It strikes me as a useless piece of baggage,” said I. “I bought it in Benton but I haven’t needed it. I can kill a rattlesnake easier with my whip.”
“Wall,” he drawled, “down in yonder you’re liable to meet up with a rattler too smart for your whip, account of his freckles48. ’Twon’t do you no harm to 209spend a few ca’tridges, so you’ll be ready for business.”
The men were banging, by turn, at a sardine49 can set up on the sand about twenty paces out. Their shadows stretched slantwise before them, grotesquely50 lengthened51 by the last efforts of the disappearing sun. Some aimed carefully from under pulled-down hat brims; others, their brims flared52 back, fired quickly, the instant the gun came to the level. The heavy balls sent the loose soil flying in thick jets made golden by the evening glow. But amidst the furrows53 the can sat untouched by the plunging54 missiles.
“Hyar’s the champeens!”
“Now they’ll show us.”
“Ain’t never see that pilgrim unlimber his gun yit, but I reckon he’s a bad ’un.”
“Jenks, old hoss, cain’t you l’an that durned can manners?”
“I’ll try to oblige you, boys,” friend Jenks smiled. “What you thinkin’ to do: hit that can or plant a lead mine?”
“Give him room. He’s made his brag,” they cried. “And if he don’t plug it that pilgrim sure will.”
Mr. Jenks drew and took his stand; banged with small preparation and missed by six inches—a fact that brought him up wide awake, so to speak, badgered by derision renewed. A person needs must have a bull hide, to travel with a bull train, I saw.
“Gimme another, boys, and I’ll hit it in the nose,” he growled57 sheepishly; but they shoved him aside.
“No, no. Pilgrim’s turn. Fetch on yore shootin’-iron, young feller. Thar’s yore turkey. Show us why you’re packin’ all that hardware.”
Willy-nilly I had to demonstrate my greenness; so in all good nature I drew, and stood, and cocked, and aimed. The Colt’s exploded with prodigious58 blast and wrench—jerking, in fact, almost above head; and where the bullet went I did not see, nor, I judged, did anybody else.
“He missed the ’arth!” they clamored.
“No; I reckon he hit Montany ’bout the middle. That’s whar he scored center!”
“Shoot! Shoot!” they begged. “Go ahead. Mebbe you’ll kill an Injun unbeknownst. They’s a pack o’ Sioux jest out o’ sight behind them hills.”
And I did shoot, vexed59; and I struck the ground, this time, some fifty yards beyond the can. Jenks stepped from amidst the riotous60 laughter.
“Hold down on it, hold down, lad,” he urged. “To hit him in the heart aim at his feet. Here! Like this——” and taking my revolver he threw it forward, fired, the can plinked and somersaulted, lashed61 into action too late.
“By Gawd,” he proclaimed, “when I move like it had a gun in its fist I can snap it. But when I think on it as a can I lack guts62.”
The remark was pat. I had seen several of the men 211snip the head from a rattlesnake with a single offhand63 shot—yes, they all carried their weapons easily and wontedly. But the target of an immobile can lacked in stimulation64 to concord65 of nerve and eye.
Now I shot again, holding lower and more firmly, out of mere66 guesswork, and landed appreciably67 closer although still within the zone of ridicule68. And somebody else shot, and somebody else, and another, until we all were whooping69 and laughing and jesting, and the jets flew as if from the balls of a mitrailleuse, and the can rocked and gyrated, spurring us to haste as it constantly changed the range. Presently it was merely a twist of ragged70 tin. Then in the little silence, as we paused, a voice spoke71 irritatingly.
“I ’laow yu fellers ain’t no great shucks at throwin’ lead.”
Daniel stood by, with arms akimbo, his booted legs braggartly straddled and his freckled73 face primed with an intolerant grin at our recent efforts. My Lady had come over with him. Raw-boned, angular, cloddish but as strong as a mule, he towered over her in a maddening atmosphere of proprietorship74.
She smiled at me—at all of us: at me, swiftly; at them, frankly75. And I knew that she was still afraid.
“Reckon we don’t ask no advice, friend,” they answered. Again a constraint76 enfolded, fastened upon us by an unbidden guest. “Like as not you can do better.”
Daniel laughed boisterously77, his mouth widely open.212
“I couldn’t do wuss. I seen yu poppin’ at that can. Hadn’t but one hole in it till yu all turned loose an’ didn’t give it no chance. Haw haw! I ’laow for a short bit I’d stand out in front o’ that greenie from the States an’ let him empty two guns at me.”
“S’pose you do it,” friend Jenks promptly78 challenged. “By thunder, I’ll hire ye with the ten cents, and give him four bits if he hits you.”
“He wouldn’t draw on me, nohaow,” scoffed79 Daniel. “I daren’t shoot for money, but I’ll shoot for fun. Anybody want to shoot ag’in me?”
“Ever see me shoot?” He was eager. “I’ll show ye somethin’. I don’t take back seat for ary man. Yu set me up a can. That thar one wouldn’t jump to a bullet.”
“How fur?”
“Fur as yu like.”
It was tossed contemptuously out; and watching it, to catch its last roll, I heard Daniel gleefully yelp83 “Out o’ my way, yu-all!”—half saw his hand dart84 down and up again, felt the jar of a shot, witnessed the can jump like a live thing; and away it went, with spasm85 after spasm, to explosion after explosion, tortured by him into fruitless capers86 until with the final ball peace came to it, and it lay dead, afar across the twilight87 sand.
Verily, by his cries and the utter savagery88 and 213malevolence of his bombardment, one would have thought that he took actual lust89 in fancied cruelty.
There was not, judging by the silence again ensuing. Only—
“A can’s a different proposition from a man, as I said afore,” Jenks coolly remarked. “A can don’t shoot back.”
“I don’t ’laow any man’s goin’ to, neither.” Daniel reloaded his smoking revolver, bolstered90 it with a flip91; faced me in turning away. “That’s somethin’ for yu to l’arn on, ag’in next time, young feller,” he vouchsafed92.
If he would have eyed me down he did not succeed. His gaze shifted and he passed on, swaggering.
“Come along, Edna,” he bade. “We’ll be goin’ back.”
A devil—or was it he himself?—twitted me, incited93 me, and in a moment, with a gush94 of assertion, there I was, saying to her, my hat doffed95:
“I’ll walk over with you.”
“Do,” she responded readily. “We’re to have more singing.”
The men stared, they nudged one another, grinned. Daniel whirled.
“I ’laow yu ain’t been invited, Mister.”
“If Mrs. Montoyo consents, that’s enough,” I informed, striving to keep steady. “I’m not walking with you, sir; I am walking with her. The only ground you control is just in front of your own wagon.”
“Yu’ve been told once thar ain’t no ‘Mrs. Montoyo,’” he snarled96. “And whilst yu’re l’arnin’ to shoot yu’d better be l’arnin’ manners. Yu comin’ with me, Edna?”
“As fast as I can, and with Mr. Beeson also, if he chooses,” said she. “I have my manners in mind, too.”
“By gosh, I don’t walk with ye,” he jawed97. And in a huff, like the big boy that he was, he flounced about, vengefully striding on as though punishing her for a misdemeanor.
“The entertainment is concluded, gentlemen. I wish you good-night.”
Yet underneath99 her raillery and self-possession there lay an appeal, the stronger because subtle and unvoiced. It seemed to me every man must appreciate that as a woman she invoked100 protection by him against an impending101 something, of which she had given him a glimpse.
“Shall we stroll?” she asked.
“With pleasure,” I agreed.
Daniel was angrily shouldering for the Mormon 215wagons, his indignant figure black against the western glow. She laughed lightly.
“You’re not afraid, after all, I see.”
“Not of him, madam.”
“And of me?”
“I think I’m more afraid for you,” I confessed. “That clown is getting insufferable. He sets out to bully104 you. Damn him,” I flashed, with pardonable flame, “and he ruffles105 at me on every occasion. In fact, he seems to seek occasion. Witness this evening.”
“Witness this evening,” she murmured. “I’m afraid, too. Yes,” she breathed, confronted by a portent106, “I’m afraid. I never have been afraid before. I didn’t fear Montoyo. I’ve always been able to take care of myself. But now, here——”
“You have your revolver?” I suggested.
“No, I haven’t. It’s gone. Mormon women don’t carry revolvers.”
“They took it from you?”
“It’s disappeared.”
“But you’re not a Mormon woman.”
“Not yet.” She caught quick breath. “God forbid. And sometimes I fear God willing. For I do fear. You can’t understand. Those other men do, though, I think. Do you know,” she queried107, with sudden glance, “that Daniel means to marry me?”
“He?” I gasped108. “How so? With your—consent, of course. But you’re not free; you have a husband.” 216My gorge109 rose, regardless of fact. “You scarcely expect me to congratulate you, madam. Still he may have points.”
“Daniel?” She shrugged110 her shoulders. “I cannot say. Pedro did. Most men have. Oh!” she cried, impulsively111 stopping short. “Why don’t you learn to shoot? Won’t you?”
“I’ve about decided112 to,” I admitted. “That appears to be the saving accomplishment113 of everybody out here.”
“Of everybody who stays. You must learn to draw and to shoot, both. The drawing you will have to practice by yourself, but I can teach you to shoot. So can those men. Let me have your pistol, please.”
I passed it to her. She was all in a flutter.
“You must grasp the handle firmly; cover it with your whole palm, but don’t squeeze it to death; just grip it evenly—tuck it away. And keep your elbow down; and crook114 your wrist, in a drop, until your trigger knuckle115 is pointing very low—at a man’s feet if you’re aiming for his heart.”
“Certainly. We are speaking of shooting now, and not at a tin can. You have to allow for the jump of the muzzle117. Unless you hold it down with your wrist, you over shoot; and it’s the first shot that counts. Of course, there’s a feel, a knack118. But don’t aim with your eyes. You won’t have time. Men file off the front sight—it sometimes catches, in the draw. And it’s useless, anyway. They fire as they point with the finger, by the feel. You see, they know.”
“Not all,” she panted. “But I’ve heard the talk; I’ve watched—I’ve seen many things, sir, from Omaha to Benton. Oh, I wish I could tell you more; I wish I could help you right away. I meant, a dead-shot with the revolver knows beforehand, in the draw, where his bullet shall go. Some men are born to shoot straight; some have to practice a long, long while. I wonder which you are.”
“If there is pressing need in my case,” said I, “I shall have to rely upon my friends to keep me from being done for.”
“You?” she uttered, with a touch of asperity120. “Oh, yes. Pish, sir! Friends, I am learning, have their own hides to consider. And those gentlemen of yours are Gentiles with goods for Salt Lake Mormons. Are they going to throw all business to the winds?”
“You yourself may appeal to his father, and to the women, for protection if that lout121 annoys you,” I ventured.
“To them?” she scoffed. “To Hyrum Adams’ outfit122? Why, they’re Mormons and good Mormons, 218and why should I not be made over? I’m under their teachings; I am Edna, already; it’s time Daniel had a wife—or two, for replenishing Utah. Rachael calls me ’sister,’ and I can’t resent it. Good at heart as she is, even she is convinced. Why,” and she laughed mirthlessly, “I may be sealed to Hyrum himself, if nothing worse is in store. Then I’ll be assured of a seat with the saints.”
“You can depend upon me, then. I’ll protect you, I’ll fight for you, and I’ll kill for you,” I was on the point of roundly declaring; but didn’t. Her kind, I remembered, had spelled ruin upon the pages of men more experienced than I. Therefore out of that super-caution born of Benton, I stupidly said nothing.
She had paused, expectant. She resumed.
“But no matter. Here I am, and here you are. We were speaking of shooting. This is a lesson in shooting, not in marrying, isn’t it? As to the pressing need, you must decide. You’ve seen and heard enough for that. I like you, sir; I respect your spirit and I’m sorry I led you into misadventure. Now if I may lend you a little something to keep you from being shot like a dog, I’ll feel as though I had wiped out your score against me. Take your gun.” I took it, the butt123 warm from her clasp. “There he is. Cover him!”
“Where?” I asked. “Who?”
“There, before you. Oh, anybody! Think of his heart and cover him. I want to see you hold.”
“No, no! You’ll not have time to close an eye; both eyes are none too many. And you are awkward; you are stiff.” She readjusted my arm and fingers. “That’s better. You see that little rock? Hit it. Cock your weapon, first. Hold firmly, not too long. There; I think you’re going to hit it, but hold low, low, with the wrist. Now!”
I fired. The sand obscured the rock. She clapped her hands, delighted.
“You would have killed him. No—he would have killed you. Quick! Give it to me!”
And snatching the revolver she cocked, leveled and fired instantly. The rock split into fragments.
“I would have killed him,” she murmured, gazing tense, seeing I knew not what. Wrenching125 from the vision she handed back the revolver to me. “I think you’re going to do, sir. Only, you must learn to draw. I can tell you but I can’t show you. The men will. You must draw swiftly, decisively, without a halt, and finger on trigger and thumb on hammer and be ready to shoot when the muzzle clears the scabbard. It’s a trick.”
“Like this?” I queried, trying.
“Partly. But it’s not a sword you’re drawing; it’s a gun. You may draw laughing, if you wish to dissemble for a sudden drop; they do, when they have iron in their heart and the bullet already on its way, in their mind. I mustn’t stay longer. Shall we go to 220the fire now? I am cold.” She shivered. “Daniel is waiting. And when you’ve delivered me safe you’d better leave me, please.”
“Why so?”
She smiled, looking me straight in the eyes.
“Quién sabe? To avoid a scene, perhaps; perhaps, to postpone126. I have an idea that it is better so. You’ve baited Daniel far enough for to-night.”
We walked almost without speaking, to the Hyrum Adams fire. Daniel lifted upper lip at me as we entered; his eyes never wandered from my face. I marked his right hand quivering stiffly; and I disregarded him. For if I had challenged him by so much as an overt127 glance he would have burst bonds.
Rachael’s eyes, the older woman’s eyes, the eyes of all, men and women, curious, admonitory, hostile and apprehensive128, hot and cold together—these I felt also amidst the dusk. I was distinctly unwelcome. Accordingly I said a civil “Good-evening” to Hyrum (whose response out of compressed lips was scarce more than a grunt) and raising my hat to My Lady turned my back upon them, for my own bailiwick.
The other men were waiting en route.
“Didn’t kill ye, did he?”
“No.”
“Wall,” said one, “if you can swing a rattler by the tail, all right. But watch his haid.”
Friend Jenks paced on with me to our fire.
“We were keepin’ cases on you, and so was he. He saw that practice—damn, how he did crane! She was givin’ you pointers, eh?”
“Yes; she wanted amusement.”
“It’ll set Bonnie Bravo to thinkin’—it’ll shorely set him to thinkin’,” Jenks chuckled129, mouthing his pipe. “She’s a smart one.” He comfortably rocked to and fro as we sat by the fire. “Hell! Wall, if you got to kill him you got to kill him and do it proper. For if you don’t kill him he’ll kill you; snuff you out like a—wall, you saw that can travel.”
“I don’t want to kill him,” I pleaded. “Why should I?”
Jenks sat silent; and sitting silent I foresaw that kill Daniel I must. I was being sucked into it, irrevocably willed by him, by her, by them all. If I did not kill him in defense130 of myself I should kill him in defense of her. Yet why I had to, I wondered; but when I had bought my ticket for Benton I had started the sequence, to this result. Here I was. As she had said, here I was, and here she was. I might not kill for love—no, not that; I was going to kill for hate. And while I never had killed a man, and in my heart of hearts did not wish to kill a man, since I had to kill one, named Daniel, even though he was a bully, a braggart72 and an infernal over-stepper it was pleasanter to think that I should kill him in hot blood rather than in cold.
“I can l’arn you a few things; all the boys’ll help you out,” he proffered132, “When you git him you’ll have to git him quick; for if you don’t—adios. But we’ll groom133 ye.”
Could this really be I? Frank Beeson, not a fortnight ago still living at jog-trot in dear Albany, New York State? It was puzzling how detached and how strong I felt.
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1
adventitious
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| adj.偶然的 | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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veering
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| n.改变的；犹豫的；顺时针方向转向；特指使船尾转向上风来改变航向v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的现在分词 )；（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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westward
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stagnant
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| adj.不流动的，停滞的，不景气的 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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kin
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groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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outstripped
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laden
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bleak
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monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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granite
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pulverized
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| adj.[医]雾化的，粉末状的v.将…弄碎( pulverize的过去式和过去分词 )；将…弄成粉末或尘埃；摧毁；粉碎 | |
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hoof
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| n.(马，牛等的)蹄 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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vista
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| n.远景，深景，展望，回想 | |
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deceptive
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| adj.骗人的，造成假象的，靠不住的 | |
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enchanted
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blotches
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| n.（皮肤上的）红斑，疹块( blotch的名词复数 )；大滴 [大片]（墨水或颜色的）污渍 | |
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thither
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phlegmatically
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beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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slumberous
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awaken
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plodding
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caravan
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mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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tepid
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| adj.微温的，温热的，不太热心的 | |
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piquant
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| adj.辛辣的，开胃的，令人兴奋的 | |
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33
allusions
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| 暗指，间接提到( allusion的名词复数 ) | |
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34
sprightly
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| adj.愉快的，活泼的 | |
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35
flirt
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| v.调情，挑逗，调戏；n.调情者，卖俏者 | |
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36
guardians
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| 监护人( guardian的名词复数 )； 保护者，维护者 | |
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37
beguile
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| vt.欺骗，消遣 | |
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38
warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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39
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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40
persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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41
accentuated
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| v.重读( accentuate的过去式和过去分词 )；使突出；使恶化；加重音符号于 | |
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42
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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43
subsided
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| 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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44
parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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45
lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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46
chafed
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| v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的过去式 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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47
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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48
freckles
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| n.雀斑，斑点( freckle的名词复数 ) | |
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49
sardine
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| n.[C]沙丁鱼 | |
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50
grotesquely
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| adv. 奇异地,荒诞地 | |
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51
lengthened
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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53
furrows
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| n.犁沟( furrow的名词复数 )；（脸上的）皱纹v.犁田，开沟( furrow的第三人称单数 ) | |
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54
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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55
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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56
banter
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| n.嘲弄，戏谑；v.取笑，逗弄，开玩笑 | |
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57
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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58
prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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59
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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60
riotous
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| adj.骚乱的；狂欢的 | |
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61
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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62
guts
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| v.狼吞虎咽，贪婪地吃，飞碟游戏（比赛双方每组5人，相距15码，互相掷接飞碟）；毁坏（建筑物等）的内部( gut的第三人称单数 )；取出…的内脏n.勇气( gut的名词复数 )；内脏；消化道的下段；肠 | |
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63
offhand
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| adj.临时，无准备的；随便，马虎的 | |
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64
stimulation
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| n.刺激，激励，鼓舞 | |
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65
concord
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| n.和谐；协调 | |
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66
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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67
appreciably
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| adv.相当大地 | |
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68
ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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69
whooping
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| 发嗬嗬声的，发咳声的 | |
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70
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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71
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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72
braggart
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| n.吹牛者；adj.吹牛的，自夸的 | |
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73
freckled
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| adj.雀斑；斑点；晒斑；（使）生雀斑v.雀斑，斑点( freckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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74
proprietorship
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| n.所有（权）；所有权 | |
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75
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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76
constraint
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| n.(on)约束，限制；限制(或约束)性的事物 | |
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77
boisterously
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| adv.喧闹地，吵闹地 | |
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78
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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79
scoffed
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| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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80
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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81
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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82
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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83
yelp
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| vi.狗吠 | |
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84
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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85
spasm
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| n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作 | |
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86
capers
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| n.开玩笑( caper的名词复数 )；刺山柑v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的第三人称单数 ) | |
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87
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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88
savagery
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| n.野性 | |
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89
lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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90
bolstered
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| v.支持( bolster的过去式和过去分词 )；支撑；给予必要的支持；援助 | |
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91
flip
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| vt.快速翻动；轻抛；轻拍；n.轻抛；adj.轻浮的 | |
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92
vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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93
incited
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| 刺激，激励，煽动( incite的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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94
gush
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| v.喷，涌；滔滔不绝(说话)；n.喷，涌流；迸发 | |
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95
doffed
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| v.脱去，（尤指）脱帽( doff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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96
snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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97
jawed
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| adj.有颌的有颚的 | |
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98
demure
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| adj.严肃的；端庄的 | |
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99
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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100
invoked
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| v.援引( invoke的过去式和过去分词 )；行使（权利等）；祈求救助；恳求 | |
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101
impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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102
subdued
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| 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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103
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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104
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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105
ruffles
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| 褶裥花边( ruffle的名词复数 ) | |
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106
portent
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| n.预兆；恶兆；怪事 | |
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107
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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108
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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109
gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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110
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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111
impulsively
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| adv.冲动地 | |
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112
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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113
accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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114
crook
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| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
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115
knuckle
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| n.指节；vi.开始努力工作；屈服，认输 | |
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116
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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117
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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118
knack
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| n.诀窍，做事情的灵巧的，便利的方法 | |
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119
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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120
asperity
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| n.粗鲁，艰苦 | |
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121
lout
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| n.粗鄙的人；举止粗鲁的人 | |
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122
outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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123
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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124
squinting
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| 斜视( squint的现在分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看 | |
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125
wrenching
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| 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 | |
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126
postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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127
overt
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| adj.公开的，明显的，公然的 | |
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128
apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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129
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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130
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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131
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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132
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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133
groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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