Perhaps the best thing that any of our readers can do with their hundred thousand dollars, is to put it in a strong safe, or in a good solvent4 bank, where it can be drawn5 out piecemeal6 and devoted7 to charitable objects; but it will be seen at once that neither of these plans were practicable for our friends while their cargo8 was in transitu for San Francisco, and when we say that they all felt uneasy, we but feebly express their feelings.
“I tell you if it was know’d what a load we’s takin’ frough de mountains, dere’d be some fo’ks dat would rather like to git ’quainted wid us,” remarked Jim, as they toiled9 laboriously10 through the wild country.
“Yes; we may meet with strangers, and if so, we must be very careful that they don’t suspect we have so much gold with us.”
“Yes; I’s been tinkin’ dat I orter caution you an’ Ned ’bout keepin’ a close mouf when strangers am ’bout.”
“You needn’t be afraid of me,” replied Edwin. “If any one reveals it, I am sure it will be you.”
The third night after leaving the Enchanted11 Island, they encamped in a rocky gorge12, close by a small running stream, where immense precipitous walls rose on either hand, and at mid-day a twilight13 gloom rested upon the ground and stream. Fine, tender green grass was growing in profusion14; and, picketing15 the animals within ear-shot, the gold was removed with the saddles, and placed close to the camp-fire, where it could always be seen by every member of the party. They had a fine plump bird shot during the latter part of the afternoon, which Jim took in hand, and soon had sputtering16 and broiling17 over a small, brisk fire—“doing” it with a skill which would have tempted18 the appetite of the most fastidious epicure19.
By the time this was disposed of, it was entirely20 dark, and the three gathered more closely about the fire, for there was a chilliness21 in the air which made its warmth pleasant and grateful. Jim found solace22 in his inevitable23 pipe, while[89] the brothers chatted as usual. George lay with his head upon the saddles containing the gold, Edwin sat near him, while Jim was upon the opposite side the fire, half sitting and half reclining in his listlessness.
“Am dat a soft piller?” he asked of the older brother.
“I can’t say that it is,” was the reply, “but it would be pretty hard work to sleep with my head on anything else, so long as I know we had the gold with us.”
“I s’pose when folks have a big lot of gold they’re apt to think a good deal about. I never yet hefted dat ’ere pile. Jes’ luf me heft it.”
The African passed over to where the three saddles lay, and Inwood removed his head, picked them up and held them suspended for a few moments.
“I tell you gold am purty heavy——”
The next instant, the whole pile dropped from his hand, the nuggets giving forth24 an unmistakeable chink, for there before all stood a stranger, his appearance as sudden and unexpected as if he had risen from the very earth!
There was several bad things regarding the advent25 of this man. In the first place, he came at a moment when it was certain he had discovered that a large quantity of gold was in the possession of the little party. The words of the negro, and his sudden dropping of the riches, made it impossible that it should be otherwise.
And again, the stranger had an evil look. He was in the costume of a hunter, but his scowling26 features, keen eyes, low forehead, flat nose, and cunning expression, were those of an outlaw27 from society—one whom it was exceedingly perilous28 to encounter, where the arm of the law was powerless to protect or to strike terror.
“Good evening, friends,” was the salutation, before the party had time to recover from their surprise and indignation.
“Good evening,” returned Inwood, who could not be rude, even when under such great provocation29.
“Like to know what you want?” demanded Jim, as he seated himself upon the saddles, and defiantly30 looked at the new-comer.
“Me?” grinned the other, as he also seated himself as coolly as if he were an invited guest, “I can’t say that I want anything in particular. Happened to catch sight of your fire a little while ago, and I came down to see who you might be. Rather like your appearance.”
“We’re a company journeying alone,” said George Inwood, “and, wishing you good speed, you will let us say that we prefer to remain alone, and therefore ask you to pass on.”
This was rather a palpable hint, but there seemed no disposition31 upon the part of the stranger to act upon it. He sat still a few moments, and then also produced a pipe, which he lit with an ember from the fire.
“My name is Muffins,” said he, “and, as I told you a few minutes ago, I’m a hunter in this neighborhood. It isn’t often that I see a white man, and when I do, I must stick to him and enjoy his society all I can. So, of course, I couldn’t think of leaving you just yet.”
It occurred to George Inwood that he had not only been discourteous32, but had overdone33 matters altogether in manifesting such a prompt anxiety to get rid of Muffins, and he now attempted an impossible thing, namely, to undo34 his mistake.
“Are you alone?” he inquired.
“Yes, sir; nobody goes with me. I live alone in these woods, except when I meet a friend, as I have met you to-night; but I never stay with them long, so you needn’t be anxious regarding me, ’cause I’ll leave you as soon as it is daylight.”
This was intended to be reassuring35, but it was anything but that, and made Inwood more uneasy than ever. His great fear was that there were others close at hand, and the darkness, gloom and solitude36 gave opportunity for treachery. He did not see how he could rid himself of his dangerous visitor; but Jim now spoke37 up:
“See here, Mr. Buffin, I wants to ax you a question.”
“I am at your service, sir.”
“Did you ’serbe me when I dropped dese saddles?”
“I noticed that you let something fall as I came up, but[91] I didn’t pay any attention. It was no concern of mine, you know.”
“You didn’t tink—dat is, you don’t tink dere be any gold about dat?”
“Course not; why should I think so?”
George Inwood was greatly irritated, but there was such an air of simplicity39 about what Jim said, that it was impossible not to be amused. When the African received the reply of Mr. Muffin, he seemed satisfied, and seated himself upon the saddles.
George saw that their visitor understood the precise condition of affairs, and there was no further use of attempting concealment40.
“I s’pose you’re miners?” remarked Mr. Muffin, by way of initiating41 the conversation.
“Yes; we have spent several months among the mountains, part the time hunting and part the time mining.”
“What luck?”
“Quite good I may say; we have toiled long and hard, and have made pretty good wages—so much, that we have concluded to return home.”
“Live in California?”
“No; our home is in the Empire State, where I hope we shall shortly be.”
“Going to San Francisco?”
Inwood answered in the affirmative, and then concluded that it was about time he asked a few questions.
“Where are your friends?”
But Mr. Muffin was too sharp to be taken off his guard, and, with a meaning smile upon his evil countenance42, he said:
“The nearest I’ve got, I believe, are a couple of brothers in Sacramento City.”
“You hunt alone, do you?”
“I have done so for nigh onto five years—not quite that, howsumever.”
“That is a singular way of managing one’s affairs. A[92] man isn’t apt to act in that manner unless he has a strong motive43 for doing so.”
“What might be a chap’s motives44?” demanded the other, removing his pipe and glaring upon the speaker with an ugly look.
“Sometimes a man has a natural taste for solitude, but it more generally happens that he leaves society for society’s own good.”
“Do you mean to ’sinuate that that’s what I’ve done?”
“I don’t insinuate45 anything, because I know nothing about you; but I strongly suspect that you are some scamp who dare not return to the society of your people on account of the crimes you have committed against them.”
Mr. Muffin looked very angry, and Jim had strong hopes that he would say or attempt something bad, for he was eager to lay his hands upon him; but their visitor evidently concluded it unsafe to let his angry passions rise just then, and so he held his peace, and smoked his pipe harder than ever.
“When a man addresses me as I have addressed you,” said Inwood, “I quietly leave his company, and have nothing more to do with him.”
“Dat so,” added Jim, beginning to lose all patience at the impudence46 of their visitor. “If you know what’s best for yourself you’ll cl’ar out.”
Mr. Muffin smoked in silence a few moments longer, and then rose to his feet. Glaring first at Inwood, and then at Jim, he shook his fist at each, and said:
“I’ll go, but you’ll hear from me before long. You haven’t seen the last of me.”
And the next moment he strode off in the darkness.
The miners waited until they were sure of being alone, when George said:
“I am sorry we saw anything of that man—he has had his eyes on our gold, and has made up his mind to have it.”
“Yes; I’m sorry you told him about it,” gravely remarked Jim.
“I think you were the first to give him the hint.”
“He saw you drop the saddles, and heard you speak about them containing gold.”
“I know dat, but he told me he didn’t tink dere war any gold here, while you tole him dat we had had purty good luck, an’ had got ’siderable.”
“However, there is no need of disputing about it, Jim; he has made up his mind to rob us of that gold, if he has to cut our throats to do it, and the question with us is, how are we to prevent it.”
“The camp-fire has burned down pretty low,” said Inwood, “let’s pick up our traps and change our quarters.”
“No doubt he is watching us.”
“What if he is? It is so dark that we can give him the slip.”
The suggestion of the boy’s seemed to be the best under the circumstances, and the two concluded to act upon it at once. Jim quietly stole down the bank of the stream, slipped the lariat48 pegs49 by which the animals were held, and then led them about a half mile down the rocky bed of the brook50, several times stumbling and bruising51 himself. Finally he reached a spot which felt right, where he tethered them, and returned to the brothers, who were rather impatiently awaiting him.
“I’s found a place,” said he, “you needn’t tumble down more nor a dozen times in gitten’ dere.”
The gold was burdensome, but they distributed it among themselves, the African taking about nine-tenths, and George very nearly all that remained. They then began picking their way down the stream, being guided almost entirely by the sense of touch. The negro’s remarkable52 memory of places was found to assist them a great deal. George kept so close to him that he could touch him at any moment with his outstretched arms, while Edwin did touch his brother continually to make sure that he was not losing him. They stumbled quite often, and bruised53 themselves considerably54, but not enough to affect their progress to any degree, and at the end of something over an hour, Jim suddenly[94] came to a stand still, with the whispered exclamation55:
“Here we is!”
The brothers strained their eyes, but in vain; for the darkness was too great for them to perceive anything. The faint neigh of a horse, however, told them that Jim was not mistaken.
“Here we stays till mornin’,” said the latter, “an’ if Mr. Buffalo56 finds us, he’ll have to have purty sharp eyes.”
“I think we are safe, unless we have been followed. Be careful and speak in low tones, and say only the words that are necessary. Have you got your blankets and everything with you?”
“What do you s’pose I’ve done?” he asked.
Of course neither could answer his question.
“I’ve gone an’ left my gun up dere by de camp-fire.”
“Never mind, let it go,” said George, “we cannot be a great ways from home, and we can get along without it.”
“No, sah; can’t do widout dat; s’pose Mr. Bufton brings down a party ob men to-morrer mornin’, where’ll you be den2?”
There was reason in this question, and George added:
“We may need it, but you run a great risk in going back. They may be there, and you must take great care that you are not seen.”
“Yah, yah, won’t see much ob me—dark a colored man as I am, on such a dark night, ain’t apt to be generally visible, an’ what dey can see ob me, dey’re welcome to see.”
But Jim promised extra caution, and started on the back track. The trouble was that he was in a great hurry; for, by this time, the night was well advanced, and he was desirous of securing his usual allowance of sleep. It was not such a difficult matter for him to make his way, as he had become pretty well acquainted with the ground, and the rippling58 brook was an infallible guide, if he were dubious59 for a single moment.
It seemed a long time before he came upon the dull embers[95] of the fire, which were smouldering so low as to be hardly visible at any distance; but fortunately, Jim discovered it while several rods distant.
At this instant, he recalled that he had promised his young friend to be careful, and he therefore hesitated and took a survey as well as he could under the circumstances. Nothing was seen to arouse suspicion, and he was about to advance, when the embers assumed a glow so sudden and bright as to startle and alarm him.
Stepping back, he watched it intently, and, a moment later, saw a shadowy form pass in front of it, and then two others, although neither of them was heard to speak a word.
“So you’re dere, be you?” muttered Jim, as he sank down to the earth to watch his opportunity; “but you don’t find us, an’ don’t see noffin’ ob de gold.”
Prudence60 would have dictated61 to the negro to withdraw from the presence of such danger; but he placed too great a value upon his rifle to allow it to leave his hands in this unquestioned manner. He remembered while they were busy making their preparations, that he had laid it down to one side; where, as yet, Mr. Muffin and his friends had seen nothing of it.
Jim was several yards from the brook, where he could hear any words spoken. By-and-bye one of the men seemed to become very impatient, and, with a profane62 expletive, said:
“What’s the use? They’ve given you the slip, and we might as well go back again.”
“Where’ve they gone?” asked another.
“A pretty question to ask! I s’pose you think we can see ’em a dozen miles off on such a bright moonlight night as this.”
This remark was greeted with derisive63 laughter by the others, and the one propounding64 the question, no doubt was greatly discomfited65 thereby66. But, at this point, Jim began to grow apprehensive67 about his rifle and commenced crawling toward the spot where he had left it upon the ground.
The African’s complexion68 was greatly in his favor, and united with the extreme darkness of the night, secured his safety so long as he kept out of the light of the fire. Unfortunately this had been rekindled69 by one of the strangers, so that the attempt was attended with considerable risk.
Still Jim crept stealthily forward, and was already groping over the ground in search of his weapon, when it was suddenly snatched from the earth, and a voice called out:
“Helloa! here’s a gun anyhow. They left in such a hurry that they forgot to take that with ’em, and I guess——”
The speaker was suddenly prostrated70 by a powerful blow, and the weapon violently wrenched71 from his grasp.
“Quick! there’s one of ’em!” was the lusty cry of the man, as he staggered to his feet. The others were bewildered by the unexpected assault, but they attempted a pursuit, rushing off blindly in the darkness in a direction almost opposite the right one.
“Yaw! yaw!” chuckled72 Jim, as he stumbled and hurried down the bed of the stream. “Won’t have to run fur to git away from the likes ob you.”
A half hour later, the anxious brothers were relieved by the appearance of Jim among them, when he gleefully recounted his adventure, quite jubilant at his success.
“Won’t they follow you?” inquired Edwin.
“Dey undertook dat, but dey went de wrong way.”
“But they may now go the right one.”
“How dey know dat?”
“We are not sure that they have any suspicion of the truth,” said George, “but they would naturally suspect that they had followed the course of the brook.”
“Let ’em foller,” was the reply of the African, “an’ if dey do so, dey might tumble ober us widout seeing us.”
“Do you know how many there are?”
“Seed tree ob ’em, an’ I tink dey was more around.”
“I don’t fear that so much, as that they may encamp near us, and make an attack in the morning.”
“We must move off as soon as it is daylight,” said Edwin, “and get all the start we can before they discover us.”
Edwin and Jim finally lay down in their blankets and went to sleep, while George maintained watch. He was too nervous and troubled to feel any desire for slumber73, and too anxious to get out of this dangerous neighborhood to allow any advantage to escape him.
More than once, through the lonely hours of the night he was sure he heard whisperings and footsteps, and as often he raised the hammer of his rifle, and endeavored to pierce the Cimmerian gloom. The faint neigh of one of the animals sent a thrill of apprehension74 through him, and he was certain the outlaws75 were among them, but nothing further was heard, and, at the first streak76 of light, he aroused his friends, and told them they must start at once.
Their preparations required but a few moments, when they resumed their march. They found that the face of the country materially changed as they advanced, and they made much more rapid progress than they had dared to hope.
They were constantly looking back, and once Jim’s keen eyes were positive that he detected a number of men on a distant eminence77, evidently watching them; but nothing more was seen of their enemies, and when they encamped at night, they were confident that none but the All-seeing Eye observed them.
点击收听单词发音
1 slings | |
抛( sling的第三人称单数 ); 吊挂; 遣送; 押往 | |
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2 den | |
n.兽穴;秘密地方;安静的小房间,私室 | |
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3 mule | |
n.骡子,杂种,执拗的人 | |
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4 solvent | |
n.溶剂;adj.有偿付能力的 | |
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5 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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6 piecemeal | |
adj.零碎的;n.片,块;adv.逐渐地;v.弄成碎块 | |
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7 devoted | |
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 | |
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8 cargo | |
n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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9 toiled | |
长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 ); 艰难缓慢地移动,跋涉 | |
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10 laboriously | |
adv.艰苦地;费力地;辛勤地;(文体等)佶屈聱牙地 | |
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11 enchanted | |
adj. 被施魔法的,陶醉的,入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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12 gorge | |
n.咽喉,胃,暴食,山峡;v.塞饱,狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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13 twilight | |
n.暮光,黄昏;暮年,晚期,衰落时期 | |
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14 profusion | |
n.挥霍;丰富 | |
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15 picketing | |
[经] 罢工工人劝阻工人上班,工人纠察线 | |
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16 sputtering | |
n.反应溅射法;飞溅;阴极真空喷镀;喷射v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的现在分词 );发劈啪声;喷出;飞溅出 | |
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17 broiling | |
adj.酷热的,炽热的,似烧的v.(用火)烤(焙、炙等)( broil的现在分词 );使卷入争吵;使混乱;被烤(或炙) | |
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18 tempted | |
v.怂恿(某人)干不正当的事;冒…的险(tempt的过去分词) | |
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19 epicure | |
n.行家,美食家 | |
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20 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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21 chilliness | |
n.寒冷,寒意,严寒 | |
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22 solace | |
n.安慰;v.使快乐;vt.安慰(物),缓和 | |
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23 inevitable | |
adj.不可避免的,必然发生的 | |
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24 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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25 advent | |
n.(重要事件等的)到来,来临 | |
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26 scowling | |
怒视,生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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27 outlaw | |
n.歹徒,亡命之徒;vt.宣布…为不合法 | |
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28 perilous | |
adj.危险的,冒险的 | |
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29 provocation | |
n.激怒,刺激,挑拨,挑衅的事物,激怒的原因 | |
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30 defiantly | |
adv.挑战地,大胆对抗地 | |
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31 disposition | |
n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署 | |
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32 discourteous | |
adj.不恭的,不敬的 | |
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33 overdone | |
v.做得过分( overdo的过去分词 );太夸张;把…煮得太久;(工作等)过度 | |
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34 undo | |
vt.解开,松开;取消,撤销 | |
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35 reassuring | |
a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的,使人放心的 | |
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36 solitude | |
n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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37 spoke | |
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 | |
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38 buffer | |
n.起缓冲作用的人(或物),缓冲器;vt.缓冲 | |
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39 simplicity | |
n.简单,简易;朴素;直率,单纯 | |
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40 concealment | |
n.隐藏, 掩盖,隐瞒 | |
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41 initiating | |
v.开始( initiate的现在分词 );传授;发起;接纳新成员 | |
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42 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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43 motive | |
n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的 | |
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44 motives | |
n.动机,目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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45 insinuate | |
vt.含沙射影地说,暗示 | |
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46 impudence | |
n.厚颜无耻;冒失;无礼 | |
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47 amazement | |
n.惊奇,惊讶 | |
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48 lariat | |
n.系绳,套索;v.用套索套捕 | |
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49 pegs | |
n.衣夹( peg的名词复数 );挂钉;系帐篷的桩;弦钮v.用夹子或钉子固定( peg的第三人称单数 );使固定在某水平 | |
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50 brook | |
n.小河,溪;v.忍受,容让 | |
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51 bruising | |
adj.殊死的;十分激烈的v.擦伤(bruise的现在分词形式) | |
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52 remarkable | |
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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53 bruised | |
[医]青肿的,瘀紫的 | |
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54 considerably | |
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上 | |
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55 exclamation | |
n.感叹号,惊呼,惊叹词 | |
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56 buffalo | |
n.(北美)野牛;(亚洲)水牛 | |
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57 hearty | |
adj.热情友好的;衷心的;尽情的,纵情的 | |
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58 rippling | |
起涟漪的,潺潺流水般声音的 | |
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59 dubious | |
adj.怀疑的,无把握的;有问题的,靠不住的 | |
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60 prudence | |
n.谨慎,精明,节俭 | |
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61 dictated | |
v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 );口授;支配;摆布 | |
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62 profane | |
adj.亵神的,亵渎的;vt.亵渎,玷污 | |
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63 derisive | |
adj.嘲弄的 | |
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64 propounding | |
v.提出(问题、计划等)供考虑[讨论],提议( propound的现在分词 ) | |
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65 discomfited | |
v.使为难( discomfit的过去式和过去分词);使狼狈;使挫折;挫败 | |
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66 thereby | |
adv.因此,从而 | |
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67 apprehensive | |
adj.担心的,恐惧的,善于领会的 | |
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68 complexion | |
n.肤色;情况,局面;气质,性格 | |
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69 rekindled | |
v.使再燃( rekindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70 prostrated | |
v.使俯伏,使拜倒( prostrate的过去式和过去分词 );(指疾病、天气等)使某人无能为力 | |
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71 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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72 chuckled | |
轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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73 slumber | |
n.睡眠,沉睡状态 | |
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74 apprehension | |
n.理解,领悟;逮捕,拘捕;忧虑 | |
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75 outlaws | |
歹徒,亡命之徒( outlaw的名词复数 ); 逃犯 | |
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76 streak | |
n.条理,斑纹,倾向,少许,痕迹;v.加条纹,变成条纹,奔驰,快速移动 | |
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77 eminence | |
n.卓越,显赫;高地,高处;名家 | |
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