Runnion annoyed him with his volubility, for the news of his good-fortune had fired the man with a reckless disregard for money, and he turned to gaming as the one natural recourse of his ilk. As the irony20 of fate would have it, he won what the Canadian lost, together with the stakes of various others who played for a time with him and then gave up, wagging their heads or swearing softly at the cards.
It was shortly after midnight that Stark came into the place. Poleon was not too absorbed in his own fortunes to fail to notice the extraordinary ferocity and exhilaration of the saloon-keeper, nor that his face was keener, his nostrils21 thinner, his walk more nervous, and his voice more cutting than usual when he spoke22 to Runnion.
"Come here."
"I'll be with you when I finish this hand," said the player, over his shoulder.
"Come here!" Stark snapped his command, and Runnion threw down his cards.
But the other only frowned impatiently, and, drawing the reluctant gambler aside, began to talk rapidly to him, almost within ear-shot of Poleon, who watched them, idly wondering what Stark had to say that could make Runnion start and act so queerly. Well, it was their affair. They made a bad pair to draw to. He knew that Runnion was the saloon-keeper's lieutenant and obeyed implicitly24 his senior's commands. He could distinguish nothing they said, nor was he at all curious until a knot of noisy men crowded up to the bar, and, forcing the two back nearer to the table where he sat, his sharp ears caught these words from Runnion's lips:
"Not with me! She'd never go with me!" and Stark's reply:
"She'll go where I send her, and with anybody I tell her to."
The Frenchman lost what followed, for a newly dealt hand required study. He scanned his cards, and tossed them face up before the dealer25; then he overheard Runnion say:
"It's the only one in camp. He might sell it if you offered him enough." At this Stark called one of the men at the bar aside, and the three began to dicker.
"Not a cent less," the third man announced, loudly. "There ain't another Peterborough in town."
It was Poleon's deal now, and when he had finished both Stark and Runnion had disappeared, also the man they had accosted26, which pleased the Canadian, for now that Runnion was eliminated from the game he might win a little. A steady, unvarying run of bad hands is uninteresting, and does not occupy one's mind as well as an occasional change of luck.
Outside Runnion was saying again to Stark:
"She won't go with me, Ben; she don't like me. You see, I made love to her, and she got mad and wanted me killed."
"She'll never know who you are until it's too late to turn back," said the other, "and you are the only man I can trust to take her through. I can trust you—you owe me too much to be crooked27."
"Oh, I'll act square with you! But look here, what's all this about, anyhow? Why do you want that girl? You said you didn't care for her that way; you told me so yourself. Been having a change of heart, or is it your second childhood?" He laughed disagreeably.
"It's none of your business," said the gambler. "I want her, and that's enough. All you have to do is to take her to St. Michael's and keep her there till you hear from me. She thinks she is going to the Mission, and you needn't tell her otherwise until you get her aboard a steamer; then take her, no matter what kind of a fight she puts up. You've got a light-rowing skiff, and you'd better keep going till you're overtaken by a down-river boat. I want her as far away from here as possible. There's going to be some hell in this camp. Now, hike, and get yourself ready."
"All right! But I ain't the safest kind of a chaperon for a good-looking girl."
Stark laid a cold hand on Runnion's shoulder, close up to his neck.
"Get that out of your mind. She belongs to me."
"You said just now—"
"Never mind what I said. She's mine, and you've got to promise to be straight with her. I've trusted you before, and if you're not on the level now, say so. It will save you a lot of trouble."
He melted into the darkness and Stark returned to his cabin, where he paced back and forth30 impatiently, smiling evilly now and then, consulting his watch at frequent intervals31. A black look had begun to settle on his face, but it vanished when Necia came, and he met her with a smile.
"I was afraid you had weakened," he said. "Everything is ready and waiting. I've got the only canoe in the place, a Peterborough, and hired a good oarsman to put you through, instructing him to make as fast time as he can, and to board the first steamer that overtakes you. Too bad this freighter that just got in isn't going the other way. However, there's liable to be another any hour, and if one doesn't come along you'll find enough blankets and food in the skiff, so you needn't go ashore32. You'll be there before you know it."
"You are very kind," said the girl. "I can't thank you enough." She was clothed in her simple everyday dress, and looked again the sun-colored half-breed girl with the wide, dark eyes and the twin braids of crow-black hair.
"You didn't run into anybody, eh?"
She shook her head. Then he led her out into the darkness, and they stumbled down to the river's-bank, descending33 to the gravelly water's edge, where rows of clumsy hand-sawed boats and poling-skiffs were chafing34 at their painters. The up-river steamer was just clearing.
Stark's low whistle was answered a hundred yards below, and they searched out a darker blot2 that proved to be a man's figure.
"Is everything ready?" he inquired, at which the shadow grunted35 unintelligibly36. So, holding Necia by the arm, Stark helped her back to a seat in the stern.
"This man will take you through," he said. "You can trust him, all right."
The oarsman clambered in and adjusted his sweeps, then Stark laid a hand on the prow37 and shoved the light boat out into the current, calling softly:
"Good-bye, and good-luck."
"Good-bye, Mr. Stark. Thank you ever so much," the girl replied, too numb38 and worn out to say much, or to notice or care whither she was bound or who was her boatman. She had been swept along too swiftly to reason or fear for herself any more.
Half an hour later the scattered39 lights of the little camp winked40 and twinkled for the last time. Turning, she set her face forward, and, adjusting the cushions to her comfort, strained her tired eyes towards the rising and falling shadow of her boatman. She seemed borne along on a mystic river of gloom that hissed41 and gurgled about her, invisible but all-pervading, irresistible42, monstrous43, only the ceaseless, monotonous44 creak of the rowlocks breaking the silence.
Stark did not return to his cabin, but went back instead to his saloon, where he saw Poleon Doret still sprawling45 with elbows on the table, his hat pulled low above his sullen46 face. The owner of the place passed behind the bar and poured himself a full glass of whiskey, which he tossed off, then, without a look to right or left, went out and down towards the barracks. A light behind the drawn47 curtains of the officer's house told that his man was not abed, but he waited a long moment after his summons before the door was opened, during which he heard the occupant moving about and another door close in the rear. When he was allowed entrance at last he found the young man alone in a smoke-filled room with a bottle and two empty glasses on the table.
For at the sound of his voice Gale48 had whispered to Burrell, "Keep him out!" and the Lieutenant had decided49 to refuse his late visitor admittance when he lighted on the expedient50 of concealing51 the trader in the bedroom at the rear. It was only natural, he reasoned, that Gale should dislike to face a man like Stark before he had regained52 his composure.
"Go in there and wait till I see what he wants," he had said, and, shutting the old man in, he had gone forth to admit Stark, resenting his ill-timed intrusion and inquiring brusquely the cause of it.
Before answering, Stark entered and closed the door behind him.
"I've got some work for you, Lieutenant."
"I guess it can wait till morning," said Meade.
"No, it can't; it's got to be done to-night, right now! You represent the law, or at least you've taken every occasion to so declare yourself, and to mix in with little things that don't cut much figure; so now I've come to you with something big. It's a serious affair, and being as I'm a peaceful man I want to go by the law." His eyes mocked the words he uttered. "You're mighty prompt and determined53 when it comes to regulating such affairs. You seem to carry the weight of this whole community on your shoulders, so I'm here to give you some information."
Burrell ignored the taunt54, and said, quietly: "It's a little late for polite conversation. Come to the point."
"I've got a criminal for you."
"What kind?"
"Murderer."
"No, I've just made a discovery. I found it all out by accident, too—pure accident. By Heaven! You can't tell me there isn't a beneficent Providence56 overlooking our affairs. Why, this felon57 has lived here among us all this time, and only for the merest chance I never would have recognized him."
"Well, well! Go on!" snapped Burrell, impatiently.
"He's a friend of yours, and a highly respected party. He's a glorious example to this whole river."
The officer started. Could it be? he wondered. Could knowledge of this affair have reached this man? He was uncomfortably aware of that presence in the back room, but he had to know the truth.
"Who is the man?"
"Go on." "He's everybody's friend. He's the shining mark of this whole country. He's the benevolent59 renegade, Squaw-man Gale."
"John Gale?"
"Gaylord is his name, and I was a fool not to know it sooner."
The disclosure had not affected61 the soldier as Stark expected, and his anger began to lift itself.
"That's neither here nor there; the man's a murderer; he's wanted in California, where I came from; he's been indicted62, and there's a price on his head. He's hidden for fifteen years, but he'll hang as sure as I stand here."
Disclosures of a complex nature had so crowded on Burrell in the last few hours that he saw himself the centre of a most unfortunate and amazing tangle63. Things were difficult enough as it was, but to have this man appear and cry for justice—this man above all others!—it was a complication quite unlocked for—a hideous64 mockery. He must gain time for thought. One false step might ruin all. He could not face this on the spur of the moment, so, shrugging his shoulders with an air of polite scepticism, he assumed a tone of good-natured raillery.
"Fifteen years? Murder? John Gale a murderer? Why, that's almost—pardon me if I smile—I'm getting sleepy. What proof have you?"
"Proof!" blazed the gambler. "Proof! Ask Gaylord! Proof! Why, the woman he murdered was my wife!"
It was Burrell's turn now to fall incoherent, and not only did his speech forsake65 him, but his thoughts went madly veering66 off into a wilderness67 where there was no trail, no light, no hope. What kind of a coil was this? What frightful68 bones were these he bared? This man was Bennett! This was Necia's father! This man he hated, this man who was bad, whose name was a curse throughout the length and breadth of the West, was the father of the girl he loved! His head began to whirl, then the story of the trader came back to him, and he remembered who and what the bearer of these later tidings was. He raised a pair of eyes that had become furious and bloodshot, and suddenly realized that the man before him, who persisted in saddling upon Gale this heinous69 crime, was the slayer70 of Necia's mother; for he did not doubt Gale's story for an instant. He found his fingers writhing71 to feel the creature's throat.
"Proof!" Stark was growling72. "How much proof do you need? I've followed him for fifteen years. I've tracked him with men and dogs through woods and deserts and mining-camps. I've slept on his trail for five thousand miles, and now do you think I'm mistaken? He killed my wife, I say, and robbed me of my little girl! That's her in his house. That's her he calls Necia. She's my girl—MY GIRL, do you understand?—and I'll have his life."
It was hate that animated73 him, and nothing more. He had no joy in the finding of his offspring, no uplifted thought of justice. The thirst for revenge, personal, violent, utter, was all that prompted this man; but Burrell had no inkling yet of the father's well-shaped plans, nor how far-reaching they were, and could barely stammer74:
"So! You—you know?"
"Yes! She wears the evidence around her neck, and if that isn't enough I can furnish more—evidence enough to smother75 you. My name isn't Stark at all; I changed it years ago for certain reasons. I've changed it more than once, but that's my privilege and my own affair. Her name is Merridy Bennett."
"I don't suppose you know I'm going to marry her," said the Kentuckian, irrelevantly76.
"No," replied the other, "I wasn't aware of the fact."
"Well, I am. I'll be your son-in-law." He said this as if it were the statement of an astonishing truth, whereat Stark grinned, a mirthless, disquieting77 sort of grimace78, and said:
"There's a lot of things for you and me to settle up first. For one thing, I want those mines of hers."
"Why?"
"Well, I'm her father, and she's not of age."
"I'll think it over."
Burrell did not follow up this statement, for its truth was incontrovertible, and showed that the father's ill-will was too tangible79 a thing to be concealed80; so he continued:
"We'll adjust that after Gale is attended to; but, meanwhile, what do you want me to do?"
"I want you to arrest the man who killed my wife. If you don't take him the miners will. I've got a following in this camp, and I'll raise a crowd in fifteen minutes—enough to hang this squaw-man, or batter81 down your barracks to get him. But I don't want to do that; I want to go by the law you've talked so much about; I want you to do the trick."
At last Burrell saw the gambler's deviltry. He knew Stark's reputation too well to think that he feared a meeting with Gale, for the man had lived in hope of that these fifteen years, and had shaped his life around such a meeting; but this indirect method—the Kentuckian felt a flash of reluctant admiration82 for a man who could mould a vengeance83 with such cruel hands, and, even though he came from a land of feuds84, where hate is a precious thing, the cunning strength of this man's enmity dwarfed85 any he had ever known. Stark had planned his settlement coldly and with deliberate malice86; moreover he was strong enough to stand aside and let another take his place, and thus deny to Gale the final recourse of a hunted beast, the desperate satisfaction that the trader craved. He tied his enemy's hands and delivered him up with his thirst unsatisfied—to whom? He thrust a weapon into the hand of his other enemy, and bade this other enemy use it; worse than that, forced him to strike the man he honored—the man he loved. Burrell never doubted that Stark had carefully weighed the effect of this upon Necia, and had reasoned that a girl like her could not understand a soldier's duty if it meant the blood of a parent. If he refused to act, the gambler could break him, while every effort he made to protect Gale would but increase the other's satisfaction. There was no chance of the trader's escape. Stark held him in his hand. His followers87 would do his bidding. It was a desperate affair. Was it impossible, the Lieutenant wondered, to move this man from his purpose?
"Have you thought of Necia? She loves Gale. What effect will this have on her?"
At this a vicious frenzy89 overtook Burrell, and he thought of the man behind yonder door, whom he had forgotten until these words woke something savage90 in him. Well! Why not? These two men had stalked each other clear into the farthest places, driven by forces that were older than the hills. Who was he to stand between such passions? This was ordained91, it was the course of nature, the clash of elements, and this was a fair battle-ground, so why should he undertake to stop a thing decreed?
The gambler's words rang in his ears—"I want John Gaylord"—and before he knew what he was doing he had answered: "Very well. I'll give him to you," and crossed quickly to the door of his bedroom and flung it open. On the threshold he paused stock-still. The place was empty; a draught92 sucked through the open window, flirting93 with the curtain and telling the story of the trader's exit.
"If you're looking for your coat, it's here," he heard Stark say. "Get into it, and we'll go for him."
The Lieutenant's mind was working fast enough now, in all conscience, and he saw with clear and fateful eyes whither he was being led, at which a sudden reckless disregard for consequences seized him. He felt a blind fury at being pulled and hauled and driven by this creature, and also an unreasoning anger at Gale's defection. But it was the thought of Necia and the horrible net of evil in which this man had ensnared them both that galled94 him most. It was all a terrible tangle, in which the truth was hopelessly hidden, and nothing but harm could come from attempting to unravel95 it. There was but one solution, and that, though fundamental and effective, was not to be expected from an officer of the law. Nevertheless, he chose it, for Ben Stark was too potent96 a force for evil to be at large, and needed extermination97 as truly as if he were some dangerous beast. He determined to finish this thing here and now.
Meade went to his bureau, took his revolver from the belt where he had hung it, and came out into the other room. Stark, seeing the weapon, exclaimed:
"You don't need that; he won't resist you."
"I've decided not to take him," said Burrell.
"Decided not to take him?" shouted the other. "Have you weakened? Don't you intend to arrest that man?"
"No!" cried the soldier. "I've listened to your lies long enough; now I'm going to stop them, once for all. You're too dangerous to have around."
They faced each other silently a moment; then Stark spoke in a very quiet voice, though his eyes were glittering:
"What's the meaning of this? Are you crazy?"
"Gale was here just before you came, and told me who killed your wife. I know."
"You do?"
"I do."
"Well?"
"It's pretty late. This place is lonely. This is the simplest way."
The gambler fell to studying his antagonist98, and when he did not speak Burrell continued:
But Stark shook his head.
"Don't be afraid," insisted the Lieutenant. "There are no witnesses. If you get me, nobody will know, and your word is good. If not—it's much simpler than the other." Then, when the gambler still made no move, he insisted, "You wouldn't have me kill you like a rattlesnake?"
"You couldn't," said the older man. "You're not that kind—and I'm not the kind to be cheated, either. Listen! I've lived over forty years, and I never took less than was coming to me. I won't begin to-night."
"You'll get your share—"
"Bah! You don't know what I mean. I don't want you; it's him I'm after, and when I'm done with him I'll take care of you; but I won't run any risk right now. I won't take a chance on losing what I've risked so much to gain, what I've lived these fifteen years to get. You might put me away—there's the possibility—and I won't let you or any other man—or woman either, not even my girl—cheat me out of Gale. Put up your gun."
The soldier hesitated, then did as he was bidden, for this man knew him better than he knew himself.
"I ought to treat you like a mad dog, but I can't do it while your hands are up. I'm going to fight for John Gale, however, and you can't take him."
"I'll have his carcass hung to my ridge-pole before daylight."
"No."
"I say yes!" Stark turned to go, but paused at the door. "And you think you'll marry Necia, do you?"
"I know it."
"Like hell you will! Suppose you find her first."
"What do you mean? Wait—"
But his visitor was gone, leaving behind him a lover already sorely vexed100, and now harassed101 by a new and sudden apprehension102. What venom103 the man distilled104! Could it be that he had sent Necia away? Burrell scouted105 the idea. She wasn't the kind to go at Stark's mere13 behest; and as for his forcing her, why, this was not an age of abductions! He might aim to take her, but it would require some time to establish his rights, and even then there were Gale and himself to be reckoned with. Still, this was no time for idling, and he might as well make certain, so the young man put on his coat hurriedly, knowing there was work to do There was no telling what this night would bring forth, but first he must warn his friend, after which they would fight this thing together, not as soldier and civilian106, but as man and man, not for the law, but against it. He smiled as he realized the situation. Well, he was through with the army, anyhow; his path was strange and new from this time henceforth, and led him away from all he had known, taking him among other peoples; but he did not flinch107, for it led to her. Behind him was that former life; to-night he began anew.
Stark traced his way back to his cabin in a ten times fiercer mood than he had come, reviling108, cursing, hating; back past the dark trading-post he went, pausing to shake his clenched109 fist and grind out an oath between his teeth; past the door of his own saloon, which was a-light, and whence came the sound of revelry, through the scattered houses, where he went more by feel than by sight, up to the door of his own shack110. He fitted his key in the lock, but the door swung open without his aid, at which he remembered that he had only pulled it after him when he came away with Necia. He closed it behind him now, and locked it, for he had some thinking to do; then felt through his pockets for a match, and, striking it, bent111 over his lamp to adjust the wick. It flared112 up steady and strong at last, flooding the narrow place with its illumination; then he straightened up and turned towards the bed to throw off his coat, when suddenly every muscle of his body leaped with an uncontrollable spasm113, as if he had uncovered a deadly serpent coiled and ready to spring. In spite of himself his lungs contracted as if with the grip of giant hands, and his breath came forth in a startled cry.
John Gale was sitting at his table, barely an arm's-length away, his gray-blue eyes fixed114 upon him, and the deep seams of his heavy face set as if graven in stone. His huge, knotted hands were upon the table, and between them lay a naked knife.
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收听单词发音
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1
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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blot
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| vt.弄脏（用吸墨纸）吸干；n.污点，污渍 | |
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blotted
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| 涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 )； （用吸墨纸）吸干 | |
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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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distraction
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| n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐 | |
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consignment
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| n.寄售；发货；委托；交运货物 | |
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wrangle
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| vi.争吵 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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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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primal
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| adj.原始的；最重要的 | |
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kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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truce
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| n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束 | |
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16
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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eked
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| v.（靠节省用量）使…的供应持久( eke的过去式和过去分词 )；节约使用；竭力维持生计；勉强度日 | |
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irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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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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streak
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| 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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implicitly
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| adv. 含蓄地, 暗中地, 毫不保留地 | |
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dealer
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| n.商人，贩子 | |
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accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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27
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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testily
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| adv. 易怒地, 暴躁地 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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chafing
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| n.皮肤发炎v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的现在分词 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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36
unintelligibly
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| 难以理解地 | |
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37
prow
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| n.(飞机)机头，船头 | |
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38
numb
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| adj.麻木的，失去感觉的；v.使麻木 | |
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39
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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40
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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41
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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42
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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43
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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44
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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45
sprawling
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| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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46
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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47
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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48
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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49
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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50
expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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51
concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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52
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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53
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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54
taunt
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| n.辱骂，嘲弄；v.嘲弄 | |
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55
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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57
felon
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| n.重罪犯；adj.残忍的 | |
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58
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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59
benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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60
lamely
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| 一瘸一拐地，不完全地 | |
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61
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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62
indicted
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| 控告，起诉( indict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63
tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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64
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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forsake
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| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
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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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67
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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heinous
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| adj.可憎的，十恶不赦的 | |
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slayer
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| n. 杀人者，凶手 | |
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71
writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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72
growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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73
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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74
stammer
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| n.结巴，口吃；v.结结巴巴地说 | |
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75
smother
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| vt./vi.使窒息；抑制；闷死；n.浓烟；窒息 | |
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irrelevantly
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| adv.不恰当地，不合适地；不相关地 | |
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disquieting
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| adj.令人不安的，令人不平静的v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的现在分词 ) | |
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78
grimace
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| v.做鬼脸，面部歪扭 | |
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79
tangible
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| adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的 | |
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80
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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81
batter
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| v.接连重击；磨损；n.牛奶面糊；击球员 | |
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82
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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83
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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84
feuds
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| n.长期不和，世仇( feud的名词复数 ) | |
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85
dwarfed
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| vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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86
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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87
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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88
brat
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| n.孩子；顽童 | |
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89
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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90
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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91
ordained
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| v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定 | |
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92
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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93
flirting
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| v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的现在分词 ) | |
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94
galled
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| v.使…擦痛( gall的过去式和过去分词 )；擦伤；烦扰；侮辱 | |
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95
unravel
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| v.弄清楚（秘密）；拆开，解开，松开 | |
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96
potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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97
extermination
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| n.消灭，根绝 | |
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98
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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99
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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100
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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101
harassed
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| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
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102
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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103
venom
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| n.毒液，恶毒，痛恨 | |
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104
distilled
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| adj.由蒸馏得来的v.蒸馏( distil的过去式和过去分词 )；从…提取精华 | |
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105
scouted
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| 寻找，侦察( scout的过去式和过去分词 )； 物色（优秀运动员、演员、音乐家等） | |
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106
civilian
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| adj.平民的，民用的，民众的 | |
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107
flinch
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| v.畏缩，退缩 | |
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108
reviling
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| v.辱骂，痛斥( revile的现在分词 ) | |
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109
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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110
shack
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| adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚 | |
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111
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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112
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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113
spasm
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| n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作 | |
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114
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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