"Well, well!" said Lee, coming to the door. "You're travellin' kind of early, ain't you?"
"Yes—early and late," one of them laughed, while the other two sprawled3 about as if to rest.
"How far are you goin'?"
"Not far," the spokesman answered.
Now in the North there is one formality that must be observed with friend or enemy, and, though Lee knew these men for what they were, he said:
"Better have some breakfast, anyhow."
"We just ate." There was an uncomfortable pause, then the speaker continued: "Look here. It's no use to flush around. We want a piece of this creek5."
"What are you goin' to do with it?"
"Cut that out, Lee. We're on."
"Who wised you up to this?" inquired the miner, angrily, for he had other friends besides those present whom he wished to profit by this strike, and he had hoped to keep out this scum.
"Never mind who put us Jerry. We're here, ain't we?"
Stark6 spoke4 up. "You can't keep news of a gold strike when the wind blows, Lee. It travels on the breeze."
The harm was done, and there was no use in concealment7, so Lee reluctantly told them of his discovery and warned them of the stakes already placed.
"And see here, you fellers," he concluded, "I've been forty years at this game and never had a creek named after me, but this one is goin' to be called '"No Creek" Lee Creek' or I fight. Does it go?"
"Sure, that's a good name, and we'll vote for it."
"Then go as far as you like," said the miner, dismissing them curtly8.
"I'll step along with the boys and show them where our upper stakes are," volunteered Stark, and Runnion offered to do the same, adding that it were best to make sure of no conflict so early in the game. The five disappeared into the woods, leaving the others at the cabin to make preparations for the homeward trip.
"That man who did the talking is a tin-horn gambler who drifted in a month ago, the same as Runnion, and the others ain't much better," said Gale9, when they had gone. "Seems like the crooks10 always beat the straight men in."
"Never knowed it to fail," Lee agreed. "There's a dozen good men in camp I'd like to see in on this find, but it'll be too late 'gin we get back."
"Dose bum11 an' saloon feller got all de bes' claims at Klondike," said Poleon. "I guess it's goin' be de same here."
"I don't like the look of this," observed the Lieutenant12, thoughtfully. "I'm afraid there's some kind of a job on foot."
"There's nothing they can do," Gale answered. "We've got our ground staked out, and it's up to them to choose what's left."
They were nearly ready to set out for Flambeau when the five men returned.
"Before you go," said Stark, "I think we'd better organize our mining district. There are enough present to do it."
"We can make the kind of laws we want before the gang comes along," Runnion chimed in, "and elect a recorder who will give us a square deal."
"I'll agree if we give Lee the job," said Gale. "It's coming to him as the discoverer, and I reckon the money will be handy, seeing the hard luck he's played in."
"That's agreeable to me," Stark replied, and proceeded forthwith to call a miners' meeting, being himself straightway nominated as chairman by one of the strangers. There was no objection, so he went in, as did Lee, who was made secretary, with instructions to write out the business of the meeting, together with the by-laws as they were passed.
The group assembled in the cleared space before the cabin to make rules and regulations governing the district, for it is a custom in all mining sections removed from authority for the property holders13 thus to make local laws governing the size of claims, the amount of assessment14 work, the size of the recorder's fees, the character of those who may hold mines, and such other questions as arise to affect their personal or property interests. In the days prior to the establishment of courts and the adoption15 of a code of laws for Alaska, the entire country was governed in this way, even to the adjudication of criminal actions. It was the primitive17 majority rule that prevails in every new land, and the courts later recognized and approved the laws so made and administered, even when they differed in every district, and even when these statutes18 were often grotesque19 and ridiculous. As a whole, however, they were direct in their effect and worked no hardship; in fact, government by miners' meeting is looked upon to this day, by those who lived under it, as vastly superior to the complicated machinery21 which later took its place.
The law permits six or more people to organize a mining district and adopt articles of government, so this instance was quite ordinary and proper.
Lee had come by his learning slowly, and he wrote after the fashion of a school-boy, who views his characters from every angle and follows their intricacies with corresponding movements of the tongue, hence the business of the meeting progressed slowly.
It was of wondrous22 interest to Necia to be an integral part of such important matters, and she took pride in voting on every question; but Burrell, who observed the proceedings23 from neutral ground, could not shake off the notion that all was not right. Things moved too smoothly24. It looked as if there had been a rehearsal25. Poleon and the trader, however, seemed not to notice it, and Lee was wallowing to the waist in his own troubles, so the young man kept his eyes open and waited.
The surprise came when they had completed the organization of the district and had nearly finished adopting by-laws. It was so boldly attempted and so crude in its working-out that it seemed almost laughable to the soldier, until he saw these men were in deadly earnest and animated26 by the cruelest of motives28. Moreover, it showed the first glimpse of Stark's spite against the trader, which the Lieutenant had divined.
Runnion moved the adoption of a rule that no women be allowed to locate mining claims, and one of the strangers seconded it.
"What's that?" said Lee, raising his one eye from the note-book in which he was transcribing29.
"It isn't right to let women in on a man's game," said Runnion.
"That's my idea," echoed the seconder.
"I s'pose this is aimed at my girl," said Gale, springing to his feet. "I might have known you bums30 were up to some crooked31 work."
Poleon likewise rose and ranged himself with the trader.
"Ba Gar! I don' stan' for dat," said he, excitedly. "You want for jump Necia's claims, eh?"
"As long as I'm chairman we'll have no rough work," declared Stark, glaring at them. "If you want trouble, you two, I reckon you can have it, but, whether you do or not, the majority is going to rule, and we'll make what laws we want to."
He took no pains now to mask his dislike of Gale, who began to move towards him in his dogged, resolute32 way. Necia, observing them, hastened to her father's side, for that which she sensed in the bearing of both men quite overcame her indignation at this blow against herself.
"No, no, don't have any trouble," she pleaded, as she clung to the trader. "For my sake, daddy, sit down." Then she whispered fiercely into his ear: "Can't you see he's trying to make you fight? There's too many of them. Wait! Wait!"
Burrell attempted to speak, but Stark, who was presiding, turned upon him fiercely:
"Now this is one time when you can't butt33 in, Mr. Soldier Man. This is our business. Is that plain?"
The Lieutenant realized that he had no place in this discussion, and yet their move was so openly brazen34 that he could restrain himself with difficulty. A moment later he saw the futility35 of interference, when Stark continued, addressing the trader:
"This isn't aimed at you in particular, Gale, nor at your girl, for a motion to disqualify her isn't necessary. She isn't old enough to hold mining property."
"She's eighteen," declared the trader.
"Not according to her story."
"Well, I can keep her claims for her till she gets of age."
"We've just fixed36 it so you can't," grinned Runnion, cunningly. "No man can hold more than one claim on a creek. You voted for that yourself."
Too late, Gale saw the trick by which Stark had used him to rob his own daughter. If he and his two friends had declined to be a part of this meeting, the others could not have held it, and before another assembly could have been called the creek would have been staked from end to end, from rim16 to rim, by honest men, over whom no such action could pass; but, as it was, his own votes had been used to sew him up in a mesh37 of motions and resolutions.
"No Creek" Lee had the name of a man slow in speech and action, and one who roused himself to anger deliberately38, much as a serpent stings itself into a painful fury; but now it was apparent that he was boiling over, for he stammered39 and halted and blurted40 explosively.
"You're a bunch of rascals41, all of you, tryin' to down a pore girl and get her ground; but who put ye wise to this thing, in the first place? Who found this gold? Just because there's enough of you to vote that motion through, that don't make it legal, not by a damned sight, and it won't hold, because I won't write it in the book. You—you—" He glared at them malevolently42, searching his mind for an epithet43 sufficiently44 vile45, and, finding it, spat46 it out—"dressmakers!"
So this was why both Stark and Runnion had gone up the creek with the three new men, thought Burrell. No doubt they had deliberately arranged the whole thing so that the new arrivals could immediately relocate each of Necia's claims—the pick of all the ground outside Lee's discovery, and the surest to be valuable—and that Stark would share in the robbery. He or Runnion, or both of them, had broken Lee's oath of secrecy47 even before leaving camp, which accounted for the presence of these thugs; and now, as he revolved48 the situation rapidly in his mind, the soldier looked up at a sudden thought. Poleon had begun to speak, and from his appearance it seemed possible that he might not cease with words; moreover, it was further evident that they were all intent on the excited Frenchman and had no eyes for the Lieutenant. Carefully slipping around the corner of the cabin, and keeping the house between him and the others, Burrell broke into a swift run, making the utmost possible speed for fear they should miss him and guess his purpose, or, worse yet, finish their discussion and adjourn49 before he could complete his task. He was a light man on his feet, and he dodged50 through the forest, running more carelessly the farther he went, visiting first the upper claims, then, making a wide detour51 of the cabin, he came back to the initial stake of Necia's lower claim, staggering from his exertions52, his lungs bursting from the strain. He had covered nearly a mile, but, even so, he laughed grimly as he walked back towards the cabin, for it was a game worth playing, and he was glad to take a hand on the side of the trader and the girl. Coming within earshot, he heard the meeting vote to adjourn. It could not have terminated more opportunely53 had he held a stopwatch on it.
From the look of triumph on Runnion's face, the Lieutenant needed no glance at Gale or Poleon or Necia to know that the will of the majority had prevailed, and that the girl's importunities had restrained her advocates from a resort to violence. She looked very forlorn, like a little child just robbed and deceived, with the shock of its first great disillusionment still fresh in its eyes.
Runnion addressed the other conspirators54 loudly.
"Well, boys, there are three good claims open for relocation. I'm sorry I can't stake one of them."
"They won't lie open long," said one of the undesirable citizens, starting to turn down-stream while his two companions made for the opposite direction. But Burrell stopped them.
"Too late, boys. Your little game went wrong. Now! Now! Don't get excited. Whew! I had quite a run."
Gale paused in his tracks and looked at the young man queerly.
"What do you mean?"
"I've jumped those claims myself."
"YOU jumped them!" cried Necia.
"Sure! I changed my mind about staking."
"It's a lie!" cried Runnion, at which Burrell whirled on him.
"I've been waiting for this, Runnion—ever since you came back. Now—"
"I mean you haven't had time," the other temporized55, hurriedly.
"Oh, that sounds better! If you don't believe me take a look for yourself; you'll find my notice just beneath Miss Gale's." Then to "No Creek" Lee he continued, "Kindly56 record them for me so there will be no question of priority."
"I'll be damned if I do!" said the belligerent57 recorder. "You're worse'n these crooks. That ground belongs to Necia Gale."
Up to this time Stark had remained silent, his impassive face betraying not a shadow of chagrin58, for he was a good loser; but now he spoke at large.
"Anybody who thinks the American army is asleep is crazy." Then to Burrell, "You certainly are a nice young man to double-cross your friends like that."
"You're no friend of mine," Meade retorted.
"I? What do you mean?"
"I double-crossed you, Stark, nobody else."
The Kentuckian glared at him with a look like that which Runnion had seen in his face on that first day at the trading-post. The thought of these five men banded together to rob this little maid had caused a giddiness to rise up in him, and his passions were beginning to whirl and dance.
"There's no use mouthing words about it," said he. "These thugs are your tools, and you tried to steal that ground because it's sure to be rich."
Stark exclaimed angrily, but the other gave him no time to break in.
"Now, don't get rough, because THAT is my game, and I'd be pleased enough to take you back a prisoner." Then turning to Lee, he said: "Don't make me force you to record my locations. I staked those claims for Miss Gale, and I'll deed them to her when she turns eighteen."
Poleon Doret called to Runnion: "M'sieu, you 'member w'at I tol' you yestidday? I'm begin for t'ink it's goin' be you."
The man paled in his anger, but said nothing. Necia clapped her hands gleefully.
Seeing that the game had gone against him, Stark got his feelings under control quickly, and shrugged59 his shoulders as he turned away.
"You're in the wrong, Lieutenant," he remarked; "but I don't want any trouble. You've got the law with you." Then to Runnion and the others he said, "Well, I'm ready to hit the trail."
When they had shouldered their packs and disappeared down the valley, Gale held out his hand to the soldier. "Young man, I reckon you and I will be friends."
"Thank you," said Burrell, taking the offer of friendship which he knew was genuine at last.
"I'm in on that!" said "No Creek" Lee; "you're all right!"
Poleon had been watching Stark's party disappear, but now he turned and addressed the young soldier.
"You mak' some enemies to-day, M'sieu."
"That's right," agreed Lee. "Ben Stark will never let up on you now."
"Very well, that is his privilege."
"You don't savvy60 what it means to get him down on you," insisted Lee. "He'll frame things up to suit himself, then pick a row with you. He's the quickest man on a trigger in the West, but he won't never make no open play, only just devil the life out of you with little things till you flare61 up, then he'll down you. That's how he killed the gold commissioner62 back in British Columbia."
Necia had said little so far, but the look in her eyes repaid the soldier for his undertaking63 in her behalf, and for any mischief64 that might ensue from it. She came forward and laid her hands upon his.
"Promise that you won't have trouble with him," she begged, anxiously, "for it's all my fault, and I'd—I'd always blame myself if any hurt came to you. Promise! Won't you?"
"Don't worry, daughter," reassured65 Gale. "There's nothing Stark can do, and whatever happens we're with the Lieutenant. He's our kind of people."
Burrell liked this grizzled old fellow with the watchful66 eyes, and was glad now that he could grip his hand and face him squarely with no guilt67 upon his conscience.
By this time Doret had finished with their blankets, and the four set out for town, but instead of following the others they accepted Necia as guide and chose the trail to Black Bear Creek. They had not gone far before she took occasion to lag behind with the Lieutenant.
"I couldn't thank you before all those people—they would have read our secret—but you know how I feel, don't you, Meade?"
"Why! It was a simple thing—"
"It was splendid when you defied them. My, what a fierce you are! Oh, boy! What if something should happen to you over this!"
"But there's no chance. It's all done, and you'll have your fine dresses and be able to hold your nose just as high as you want."
"Whatever I get I will owe to you. I—I've been thinking. Suppose—well, suppose you keep two of those claims; they are sure to be rich—"
"Why, Necia!" he exclaimed.
"They're yours, and I have no right to them under the law. Of course it would be very handsome of you to give me one—the poorest."
"You ought to have your ears boxed," he laughed at her.
"I don't see why. You—you—may be very poor, for all I know."
"I am," he declared, "but not poor enough to take payment for a favor."
"Well, then, if they are really mine to do with as I please, I'll sell one to you—"
"Thanks. I couldn't avail myself of the offer," he said, with mock hauteur68.
"If you were a business man instead of a fighting person you would listen to my proposition before you declined it. I'll make the price right, and you may pay me when we get behind yonder clump69 of bushes." She pouted70 her lips invitingly71, but he declared she was a minor72 and as such her bargain would not hold.
It was evidently her mood to re-enter the land of whims73 and travel again, as they had on the way from town, but he knew that for him such a thing could not be, for his eyes had cleared since then. He knew that he could never again wander through the happy valley, for he vowed74 this maid should be no plaything for him or for any other man, and as there could be no honorable end to this affair, it must terminate at once. Just how this was to be consummated75 he had not determined76 as yet, nor did he like to set about its solution, it hurt him so to think of losing her. However, she was very young, only a child, and in time would come to count him but a memory, no doubt; while as for him—well, it would be hard to forget her, but he could and would. He reasoned glibly77 that this was the only honest course, and his reasoning convinced him; then, all of a sudden, the pressure of her warm lips came upon him and the remembrance upset every premise78 and process of his logic79. Nevertheless, he was honest in his stubborn determination to conclude the affair, and finally decided80 to let time show him the way.
She seemed to be very happy, her mood being in marked contrast to that of Poleon and the trader, both of whom had fallen silent and gloomy, and in whom the hours wrought81 no change. The latter had tacitly acknowledged his treachery towards Stark on the previous night, but beyond that he would not go, offering no motive27, excuse, or explanation, choosing to stand in the eyes of his friend as an intended murderer, notwithstanding which Poleon let the matter drop—for was not his friend a good man? Had he not been tried in a hundred ways? The young Frenchman knew there must have been strong reason for Gale's outburst, and was content to trust him without puzzling his mind to discover the cause of it.
Now, a secret must either grow or die—there is no fallow age for it—and this one had lived with Gale for fifteen years, until it had made an old man of him. It weighed him down until the desire to be rid of it almost became overpowering at times; but his caution was ingrained and powerful, and so it was that he resisted the temptation to confide82 in his partner, although the effort left him tired and inert83. The only one to whom he could talk was Alluna—she understood, and though she might not help, the sound of his own voice at least always afforded him some relief.
As to Poleon, no one had ever seen him thus. Never in all his life of dream and song and romance had he known a heavy heart until now, for if at times he had wept like a girl, it was at the hurts of others. He had loved a bit and gambled much, with equal misfortune, and the next day he had forgotten. He had lived the free, clean life of a man who wins joyously84 or goes down with defiance85 in his throat, but this venomous thing that Runnion had planted in him had seeped86 and circulated through his being until every fibre was penetrated87 with a bitter poison. Most of his troubles could be grappled with bare hands, but here was one against which force would not avail, hence he was unhappy.
The party reached Flambeau on the following day, sufficiently ahead of Stark and his men for Lee to make known his find to his friends, and by sunset the place was depopulated, while a line of men could be seen creeping slowly up the valleys.
Gale found Alluna in charge of the store, but no opportunity of talking alone with her occurred until late in the evening, after Necia had put the two little ones to bed and had followed them wearily. Then he told his squaw. She took the news better than he expected, and showed no emotion such as other women would have displayed, even when he told her of the gunshot. Instead, she inquired:
"Why did you try it there before all those others?"
"Well, when I heard him talking, the wish to kill him was more than I could stand, and it came on me all at once, so that I was mad, I suppose. I never did the like before." He half shuddered88 at the memory.
"I am sorry," she said.
"Yes! So am I."
"Sorry that you failed, for you will never have as good a chance again. What was the matter with your aim? I have seen you hit a knot-hole, shooting from the hip20."
"The man is charmed," declared Gale. "He's bullet-proof."
"There are people," she agreed, "that a gunshot will not injure. There was a man like that among my people—my father's enemy—but he was not proof against steel."
"Your old man knifed him, eh?"
She nodded.
"Ugh!" the man shivered. "I couldn't do that. A gun is a straight man's friend, but a knife is the weapon of traitors89. I couldn't drive it home."
"Does this man suspect?"
"No."
"Then it is child's play. We will lay a trap."
"No, by God!" Gale interrupted her hotly. "I tried that kind of work, and it won't do. I'm no murderer."
"Those are only words," said the woman, quietly. "To kill your enemy is the law."
The only light in the room came from the stove, a great iron cylinder90 made from a coal-oil tank that lay on a rectangular bed of sand held inside of four timbers, with a door in one end to take whole lengths of cord-wood, and which, being open, lit the space in front, throwing the sides and corners of the place into blacker mystery.
When he made no answer the squaw slipped out into the shadows, leaving him staring into the flames, to return a moment later bearing something in her hands, which she placed in his. It was a knife in a scabbard, old and worn.
"There is no magic that can turn bright steel," she said, then squatted91 again in the dimness outside of the firelight. Gale slid the case from the long blade and held it in his palm, letting the firelight flicker92 on it. He balanced it and tested the feel of its handle against his palm, then tried the edge of it with his thumb-nail, and found it honed like a razor.
"A child could kill with it," said Alluna. "Both edges of the blade are so thin that a finger's weight will bury it. One should hold the wrist firmly till it pierces through the coat, that is all—after that the flesh takes it easily, like butter."
The glancing, glinting light flashing from the deadly thing seemed to fascinate the man, for he held it a long while silently. Then he spoke.
"For fifteen years I've been a haunted man, with a soul like a dark and dismal93 garret peopled with bats and varmints that flap and flutter all the time. I used to figger that if I killed this man I'd kill that memory, too, and those flitting, noiseless things would leave me, but the thought of doing it made me afraid every time, so I ran away, which never did no good—you can't outfoot a memory—and I knew all the while that we'd meet sooner or later. Now that the day is here at last, I'm not ready for it. I'd like to run away again if there was any place to run to, but I've followed frontiers till I've seen them disappear one by one; I've retreated till my back is against the Circle, and there isn't any further land to go to. All the time I've prayed and planned for this meeting, and yet—I'm undecided."
"Kill him!" said Alluna.
"God knows I've always hated trouble, whereas it's what he lives on. I've always wanted to die in bed, while he's been a killer94 all his life and the smoke hangs forever in his eyes. Only for an accident we might have lived here all our days and never had a 'run-in,' which makes me wonder if I hadn't better let things go on as they are."
"Kill him! It is the law," repeated Alluna, stubbornly, but he put her aside with a slow shake of the head and arose as if very tired.
"No! I don't think I can do it—not in cold blood, anyhow. Good-night! I'm going to sleep on it." He crossed to the door of his room, but as he went she noted95 that he slipped the knife and scabbard inside the bosom96 of his shirt.
收听单词发音 |
1
undesirable
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| adj.不受欢迎的，不良的，不合意的，讨厌的；n.不受欢迎的人，不良分子 | |
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boisterously
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| adv.喧闹地，吵闹地 | |
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3
sprawled
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| v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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4
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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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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crooks
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| n.骗子( crook的名词复数 )；罪犯；弯曲部分；（牧羊人或主教用的）弯拐杖v.弯成钩形( crook的第三人称单数 ) | |
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bum
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| n.臀部；流浪汉，乞丐；vt.乞求，乞讨 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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holders
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| 支持物( holder的名词复数 )； 持有者； （支票等）持有人； 支托（或握持）…之物 | |
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assessment
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| n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额 | |
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adoption
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| n.采用，采纳，通过；收养 | |
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rim
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| n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界 | |
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primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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statutes
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| 成文法( statute的名词复数 )； 法令； 法规； 章程 | |
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grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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25
rehearsal
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| n.排练，排演；练习 | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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29
transcribing
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| （用不同的录音手段）转录( transcribe的现在分词 )； 改编（乐曲）（以适应他种乐器或声部）； 抄写； 用音标标出（声音） | |
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30
bums
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| n. 游荡者，流浪汉，懒鬼，闹饮，屁股 adj. 没有价值的，不灵光的，不合理的 vt. 令人失望，乞讨 vi. 混日子，以乞讨为生 | |
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31
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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33
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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34
brazen
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| adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的 | |
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futility
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| n.无用 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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37
mesh
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| n.网孔，网丝，陷阱；vt.以网捕捉，啮合，匹配；vi.适合； [计算机]网络 | |
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38
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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39
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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40
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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41
rascals
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| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
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42
malevolently
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43
epithet
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| n.（用于褒贬人物等的）表述形容词，修饰语 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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46
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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47
secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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48
revolved
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| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
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adjourn
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| v.（使）休会，（使）休庭 | |
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50
dodged
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| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
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detour
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| n.绕行的路，迂回路；v.迂回，绕道 | |
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52
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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opportunely
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| adv.恰好地，适时地 | |
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conspirators
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| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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temporized
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| v.敷衍( temporize的过去式和过去分词 )；拖延；顺应时势；暂时同意 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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belligerent
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| adj.好战的，挑起战争的；n.交战国，交战者 | |
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58
chagrin
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| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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savvy
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| v.知道，了解；n.理解能力，机智，悟性；adj.有见识的，懂实际知识的，通情达理的 | |
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flare
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| v.闪耀，闪烁；n.潮红；突发 | |
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commissioner
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| n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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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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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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67
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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hauteur
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| n.傲慢 | |
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69
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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pouted
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| v.撅（嘴）( pout的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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invitingly
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| adv. 动人地 | |
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72
minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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WHIMS
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| 虚妄，禅病 | |
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74
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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75
consummated
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| v.使结束( consummate的过去式和过去分词 )；使完美；完婚；（婚礼后的）圆房 | |
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76
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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77
glibly
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| adv.流利地，流畅地；满口 | |
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78
premise
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| n.前提；v.提论，预述 | |
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79
logic
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| n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性 | |
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80
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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81
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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82
confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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83
inert
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| adj.无活动能力的，惰性的；迟钝的 | |
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84
joyously
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| ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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85
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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86
seeped
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| v.（液体）渗( seep的过去式和过去分词 )；渗透；渗出；漏出 | |
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87
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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88
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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89
traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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90
cylinder
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| n.圆筒，柱(面)，汽缸 | |
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91
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；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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92
flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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93
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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94
killer
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| n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者 | |
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95
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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96
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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