From time to time a swarthy Mexican waiter came with his tray from the rooms at the rear, and called his orders across the bar. The sounds of the indolent stir of the city, awakening4 from its siesta5, floated over the screens which barred the sun and the inquisitive6 eye. From the far-away kitchen could be heard the roar of the old French chef, driving, herding7, and abusing his Mexican helpers.
A string of men came suddenly in from the street. They stormed up to the bar. There were impatient shouts. "Come now, Freddie, don't stand there like a portrait of yourself. Wiggle!" Drinks of many kinds and colours, amber9, green, mahogany, strong and mild, began to swarm10 upon the bar with all the attendants of lemon, sugar, mint and ice. Freddie, with Mexican support, worked like a sailor in the provision of them, sometimes talking with that scorn for drink and admiration11 for those who drink which is the attribute of a good bar-keeper.
At last a man was afflicted12 with a stroke of dice13-shaking. A herculean discussion was waging, and he was deeply engaged in it, but at the same time he lazily flirted14 the dice. Occasionally he made great combinations. "Look at that, would you?" he cried proudly. The others paid little heed15. Then violently the craving16 took them. It went along the line like an epidemic17, and involved them all. In a moment they had arranged a carnival18 of dice-shaking with money penalties and liquid prizes. They clamorously made it a point of honour with Freddie that he should play and take his chance of sometimes providing this large group with free refreshment19. With bended heads like football players, they surged over the tinkling20 dice, jostling, cheering, and bitterly arguing. One of the quiet company playing seven-up at the corner table said profanely21 that the row reminded him of a bowling22 contest at a picnic.
After the regular shower, many carriages rolled over the smooth calle, and sent a musical thunder through the Casa Verde. The shop-windows became aglow23 with light, and the walks were crowded with youths, callow and ogling24, dressed vainly according to superstitious25 fashions. The policemen had muffled26 themselves in their gnome-like cloaks, and placed their lanterns as obstacles for the carriages in the middle of the street. The city of Mexico gave forth28 the deep organ-mellow tones of its evening resurrection.
But still the group at the bar of the Casa Verde were shaking dice. They had passed beyond shaking for drinks for the crowd, for Mexican dollars, for dinners, for the wine at dinner. They had even gone to the trouble of separating the cigars and cigarettes from the dinner's bill, and causing a distinct man to be responsible for them. Finally they were aghast. Nothing remained in sight of their minds which even remotely suggested further gambling29. There was a pause for deep consideration.
"Well——"
"Well——"
A man called out in the exuberance30 of creation. "I know! Let's shake for a box to-night at the circus! A box at the circus!" The group was profoundly edified31. "That's it! That's it! Come on now! Box at the circus!" A dominating voice cried—"Three dashes—high man out!" An American, tall, and with a face of copper32 red from the rays that flash among the Sierra Madres and burn on the cactus33 deserts, took the little leathern cup and spun34 the dice out upon the polished wood. A fascinated assemblage hung upon the bar-rail. Three kings turned their pink faces upward. The tall man flourished the cup, burlesquing36, and flung the two other dice. From them he ultimately extracted one more pink king. "There," he said. "Now, let's see! Four kings!" He began to swagger in a sort of provisional way.
The next man took the cup, and blew softly in the top of it. Poising37 it in his hand, he then surveyed the company with a stony38 eye and paused. They knew perfectly39 well that he was applying the magic of deliberation and ostentatious indifference40, but they could not wait in tranquillity41 during the performance of all these rites42. They began to call out impatiently. "Come now—hurry up." At last the man, with a gesture that was singularly impressive, threw the dice. The others set up a howl of joy. "Not a pair!" There was another solemn pause. The men moved restlessly. "Come, now, go ahead!" In the end, the man, induced and abused, achieved something that was nothing in the presence of four kings. The tall man climbed on the foot-rail and leaned hazardously43 forward. "Four kings! My four kings are good to go out," he bellowed44 into the middle of the mob, and although in a moment he did pass into the radiant region of exemption45, he continued to bawl46 advice and scorn.
The mirrors and oiled woods of the Casa Verde were now dancing with blue flashes from a great buzzing electric lamp. A host of quiet members of the Anglo-Saxon colony had come in for their pre-dinner cock-tails. An amiable47 person was exhibiting to some tourists this popular American saloon. It was a very sober and respectable time of day. Freddie reproved courageously48 the dice-shaking brawlers, and, in return, he received the choicest advice in a tumult49 of seven combined vocabularies. He laughed; he had been compelled to retire from the game, but he was keeping an interested, if furtive50, eye upon it.
Down at the end of the line there was a youth at whom everybody railed for his flaming ill-luck. At each disaster, Freddie swore from behind the bar in a sort of affectionate contempt. "Why, this kid has had no luck for two days. Did you ever see such throwin'?"
The contest narrowed eventually to the New York kid and an individual who swung about placidly51 on legs that moved in nefarious52 circles. He had a grin that resembled a bit of carving53. He was obliged to lean down and blink rapidly to ascertain54 the facts of his venture, but fate presented him with five queens. His smile did not change, but he puffed55 gently like a man who has been running.
The others, having emerged unscathed from this part of the conflict, waxed hilarious56 with the kid. They smote57 him on either shoulders. "We've got you stuck for it, kid! You can't beat that game! Five queens!"
Up to this time the kid had displayed only the temper of the gambler, but the cheerful hoots58 of the players, supplemented now by a ring of guying non-combatants, caused him to feel profoundly that it would be fine to beat the five queens. He addressed a gambler's slogan to the interior of the cup.
"Oh, five white mice of chance,
Shirts of wool and corduroy pants,
Gold and wine, women and sin,
All for you if you let me come in—
Into the house of chance."
Flashing the dice sardonically60 out upon the bar, he displayed three aces35. From two dice in the next throw he achieved one more ace27. For his last throw, he rattled the single dice for a long time. He already had four aces; if he accomplished61 another one, the five queens were vanquished62 and the box at the circus came from the drunken man's pocket. All the kid's movements were slow and elaborate. For the last throw he planted the cup bottom-down on the bar with the one dice hidden under it. Then he turned and faced the crowd with the air of a conjuror63 or a cheat.
"Oh, maybe it's an ace," he said in boastful calm. "Maybe it's an ace."
Instantly he was presiding over a little drama in which every man was absorbed. The kid leaned with his back against the bar-rail and with his elbows upon it.
"Maybe it's an ace," he repeated.
The kid's eyes searched for a moment among the men. "I'll bet fifty dollars it is an ace," he said.
Another voice asked—"American money?"
"Yes," answered the kid.
"Oh!" There was a genial66 laugh at this discomfiture67. However, no one came forward at the kid's challenge, and presently he turned to the cup. "Now, I'll show you." With the manner of a mayor unveiling a statue, he lifted the cup. There was revealed naught68 but a ten-spot. In the roar which arose could be heard each man ridiculing69 the cowardice70 of his neighbour, and above all the din8 rang the voice of Freddie be-rating every one. "Why, there isn't one liver to every five men in the outfit71. That was the greatest cold bluff72 I ever saw worked. He wouldn't know how to cheat with dice if he wanted to. Don't know the first thing about it. I could hardly keep from laughin' when I seen him drillin' you around. Why, I tell you, I had that fifty dollars right in my pocket if I wanted to be a chump. You're an easy lot——"
Nevertheless the group who had won in the theatre-box game did not relinquish73 their triumph. They burst like a storm about the head of the kid, swinging at him with their fists. "'Five white mice'!" they quoted, choking. "'Five white mice'!"
"Oh, they are not so bad," said the kid.
Afterward74 it often occurred that a man would jeer65 a finger at the kid and derisively75 say—"'Five white mice.'"
On the route from the dinner to the circus, others of the party often asked the kid if he had really intended to make his appeal to mice. They suggested other animals—rabbits, dogs, hedgehogs, snakes, opossums. To this banter76 the kid replied with a serious expression of his belief in the fidelity77 and wisdom of the five white mice. He presented a most eloquent78 case, decorated with fine language and insults, in which he proved that if one was going to believe in anything at all, one might as well choose the five white mice. His companions, however, at once and unanimously pointed79 out to him that his recent exploit did not place him in the light of a convincing advocate.
The kid discerned two figures in the street. They were making imperious signs at him. He waited for them to approach, for he recognized one as the other kid—the Frisco kid: there were two kids. With the Frisco kid was Benson. They arrived almost breathless. "Where you been?" cried the Frisco kid. It was an arrangement that upon a meeting the one that could first ask this question was entitled to use a tone of limitless injury. "What you been doing? Where you going? Come on with us. Benson and I have got a little scheme."
The New York kid pulled his arm from the grapple of the other. "I can't. I've got to take these sutlers to the circus. They stuck me for it shaking dice at Freddie's. I can't, I tell you."
The two did not at first attend to his remarks. "Come on! We've got a little scheme."
"I can't. They stuck me. I've got to take'm to the circus."
At this time it did not suit the men with the scheme to recognize these objections as important. "Oh, take'm some other time. Well, can't you take'm some other time? Let 'em go. Damn the circus. Get cold feet. What did you get stuck for? Get cold feet."
But despite their fighting, the New York kid broke away from them. "I can't, I tell you. They stuck me." As he left them, they yelled with rage. "Well, meet us, now, do you hear? In the Casa Verde as soon as the circus quits! Hear?" They threw maledictions after him.
In the city of Mexico, a man goes to the circus without descending80 in any way to infant amusements, because the Circo Teatro Orrin is one of the best in the world, and too easily surpasses anything of the kind in the United States, where it is merely a matter of a number of rings, if possible, and a great professional agreement to lie to the public. Moreover, the American clown, who in the Mexican arena81 prances82 and gabbles, is the clown to whom writers refer as the delight of their childhood, and lament83 that he is dead. At this circus the kid was not debased by the sight of mournful prisoner elephants and caged animals forlorn and sickly. He sat in his box until late, and laughed and swore when past laughing at the comic foolish-wise clown.
When he returned to the Casa Verde there was no display of the Frisco kid and Benson. Freddie was leaning on the bar listening to four men terribly discuss a question that was not plain. There was a card-game in the corner, of course. Sounds of revelry pealed84 from the rear rooms.
When the kid asked Freddie if he had seen his friend and Benson, Freddie looked bored. "Oh, yes, they were in here just a minute ago, but I don't know where they went. They've got their skates on. Where've they been? Came in here rolling across the floor like two little gilt85 gods. They wobbled around for a time, and then Frisco wanted me to send six bottles of wine around to Benson's rooms, but I didn't have anybody to send this time of night, and so they got mad and went out. Where did they get their loads?"
In the first deep gloom of the street the kid paused a moment debating. But presently he heard quavering voices. "Oh, kid! kid! Com'ere!" Peering, he recognized two vague figures against the opposite wall. He crossed the street, and they said—"Hello-kid."
"Say, where did you get it?" he demanded sternly. "You Indians better go home. What did you want to get scragged for?" His face was luminous86 with virtue87.
As they swung to and fro, they made angry denials. "We ain' load'! We ain' load'. Big chump. Comonangetadrink."
The sober youth turned then to his friend. "Hadn't you better go home, kid? Come on, it's late. You'd better break away."
The Frisco kid wagged his head decisively. "Got take Benson home first. He'll be wallowing around in a minute. Don't mind me. I'm all right."
"Cerly, he's all right," said Benson, arousing from deep thought. "He's all right. But better take'm home, though. That's ri—right. He's load'. But he's all right. No need go home any more'n you. But better take'm home. He's load'." He looked at his companion with compassion88. "Kid, you're load'."
The sober kid spoke89 abruptly90 to his friend from San Francisco. "Kid, pull yourself together, now. Don't fool. We've got to brace91 this ass1 of a Benson all the way home. Get hold of his other arm."
The Frisco kid immediately obeyed his comrade without a word or a glower92. He seized Benson and came to attention like a soldier. Later, indeed, he meekly93 ventured—"Can't we take cab?" But when the New York kid snapped out that there were no convenient cabs he subsided94 to an impassive silence. He seemed to be reflecting upon his state, without astonishment95, dismay, or any particular emotion. He submitted himself woodenly to the direction of his friend.
Benson had protested when they had grasped his arms. "Washa doing?" he said in a new and guttural voice. "Washa doing? I ain' load'. Comonangetadrink. I——"
"Oh, come along, you idiot," said the New York kid. The Frisco kid merely presented the mien96 of a stoic97 to the appeal of Benson, and in silence dragged away at one of his arms. Benson's feet came from that particular spot on the pavement with the reluctance98 of roots and also with the ultimate suddenness of roots. The three of them lurched out into the street in the abandon of tumbling chimneys. Benson was meanwhile noisily challenging the others to produce any reasons for his being taken home. His toes clashed into the kerb when they reached the other side of the calle, and for a moment the kids hauled him along with the points of his shoes scraping musically on the pavement. He balked99 formidably as they were about to pass the Casa Verde. "No! No! Leshavanothdrink! Anothdrink! Onemore!"
But the Frisco kid obeyed the voice of his partner in a manner that was blind but absolute, and they scummed Benson on past the door. Locked together the three swung into a dark street. The sober kid's flank was continually careering ahead of the other wing. He harshly admonished100 the Frisco child, and the latter promptly101 improved in the same manner of unthinking complete obedience102. Benson began to recite the tale of a love affair, a tale that didn't even have a middle. Occasionally the New York kid swore. They toppled on their way like three comedians103 playing at it on the stage.
At midnight a little Mexican street burrowing104 among the walls of the city is as dark as a whale's throat at deep sea. Upon this occasion heavy clouds hung over the capital and the sky was a pall105. The projecting balconies could make no shadows.
"Shay," said Benson, breaking away from his escort suddenly, "what want gome for? I ain't load'. You got reg'lar spool-fact'ry in your head—you N' York kid there. Thish oth' kid, he's mos' proper shober, mos' proper shober. He's drunk, but—but he's shober."
"Ah, shup up, Benson," said the New York kid. "Come along now. We can't stay here all night." Benson refused to be corralled, but spread his legs and twirled like a dervish, meanwhile under the evident impression that he was conducting himself most handsomely. It was not long before he gained the opinion that he was laughing at the others. "Eight purple dogsh—dogs! Eight purple dogs. Thas what kid'll see in the morn'. Look ou' for 'em. They—"
As Benson, describing the canine106 phenomena107, swung wildly across the sidewalk, it chanced that three other pedestrians108 were passing in shadowy rank. Benson's shoulder jostled one of them.
A Mexican wheeled upon the instant. His hand flashed to his hip109. There was a moment of silence, during which Benson's voice was not heard raised in apology. Then an indescribable comment, one burning word, came from between the Mexican's teeth.
Benson, rolling about in a semi-detached manner, stared vacantly at the Mexican, who thrust his lean face forward while his fingers played nervously110 at his hip. The New York kid could not follow Spanish well, but he understood when the Mexican breathed softly: "Does the señor want to fight?"
Benson simply gazed in gentle surprise. The woman next to him at dinner had said something inventive. His tailor had presented his bill. Something had occurred which was mildly out of the ordinary, and his surcharged brain refused to cope with it. He displayed only the agitation111 of a smoker112 temporarily without a light.
The New York kid had almost instantly grasped Benson's arm, and was about to jerk him away, when the other kid, who up to this time had been an automaton113, suddenly projected himself forward, thrust the rubber Benson aside, and said—"Yes."
There was no sound nor light in the world. The wall at the left happened to be of the common prison-like construction—no door, no window, no opening at all. Humanity was enclosed and asleep. Into the mouth of the sober kid came a wretched bitter taste as if it had filled with blood. He was transfixed as if he was already seeing the lightning ripples114 on the knife-blade.
But the Mexican's hand did not move at that time. His face went still further forward and he whispered—"So?" The sober kid saw this face as if he and it were alone in space—a yellow mask smiling in eager cruelty, in satisfaction, and above all it was lit with sinister115 decision. As for the features, they were reminiscent of an unplaced, a forgotten type, which really resembled with precision those of a man who had shaved him three times in Boston in 1888. But the expression burned his mind as sealing-wax burns the palm, and fascinated, stupefied, he actually watched the progress of the man's thought toward the point where a knife would be wrenched117 from its sheath. The emotion, a sort of mechanical fury, a breeze made by electric fans, a rage made by vanity, smote the dark countenance118 in wave after wave.
Then the New York kid took a sudden step forward. His hand was at his hip. He was gripping there a revolver of robust119 size. He recalled that upon its black handle was stamped a hunting scene in which a sportsman in fine leggings and a peaked cap was taking aim at a stag less than one-eighth of an inch away.
His pace forward caused instant movement of the Mexicans. One immediately took two steps to face him squarely. There was a general adjustment, pair and pair. This opponent of the New York kid was a tall man and quite stout120. His sombrero was drawn121 low over his eyes. His serape was flung on his left shoulder. His back was bended in the supposed manner of a Spanish grandee122. This concave gentleman cut a fine and terrible figure. The lad, moved by the spirits of his modest and perpendicular123 ancestors, had time to feel his blood roar at sight of the pose.
He was aware that the third Mexican was over on the left fronting Benson, and he was aware that Benson was leaning against the wall sleepily and peacefully eying the convention. So it happened that these six men stood, side fronting side, five of them with their right hands at their hips124 and with their bodies lifted nervously, while the central pair exchanged a crescendo125 of provocations126. The meaning of their words rose and rose. They were travelling in a straight line toward collision.
The New York kid contemplated127 his Spanish grandee. He drew his revolver upward until the hammer was surely free of the holster. He waited immovable and watchful128 while the garrulous129 Frisco kid expended130 two and a half lexicons131 on the middle Mexican.
The eastern lad suddenly decided132 that he was going to be killed. His mind leaped forward and studied the aftermath. The story would be a marvel133 of brevity when first it reached the far New York home, written in a careful hand on a bit of cheap paper, topped and footed and backed by the printed fortifications of the cable company. But they are often as stones flung into mirrors, these bits of paper upon which are laconically134 written all the most terrible chronicles of the times. He witnessed the uprising of his mother and sister, and the invincible135 calm of his hard-mouthed old father, who would probably shut himself in his library and smoke alone. Then his father would come, and they would bring him here and say—"This is the place." Then, very likely, each would remove his hat. They would stand quietly with their hats in their hands for a decent minute. He pitied his old financing father, unyielding and millioned, a man who commonly spoke twenty-two words a year to his beloved son. The kid understood it at this time. If his fate was not impregnable, he might have turned out to be a man and have been liked by his father.
The other kid would mourn his death. He would be preternaturally correct for some weeks, and recite the tale without swearing. But it would not bore him. For the sake of his dead comrade he would be glad to be preternaturally correct, and to recite the tale without swearing.
These views were perfectly stereopticon, flashing in and away from his thought with an inconceivable rapidity until after all they were simply one quick dismal136 impression. And now here is the unreal real: into this kid's nostrils137, at the expectant moment of slaughter138, had come the scent116 of new-mown hay, a fragrance139 from a field of prostrate140 grass, a fragrance which contained the sunshine, the bees, the peace of meadows, and the wonder of a distant crooning stream. It had no right to be supreme141, but it was supreme, and he breathed it as he waited for pain and a sight of the unknown.
But in the same instant, it may be, his thought flew to the Frisco kid, and it came upon him like a flicker142 of lightning that the Frisco kid was not going to be there to perform, for instance, the extraordinary office of respectable mourner. The other kid's head was muddled143, his hand was unsteady, his agility144 was gone. This other kid was facing the determined145 and most ferocious146 gentleman of the enemy. The New York kid became convinced that his friend was lost. There was going to be a screaming murder. He was so certain of it that he wanted to shield his eyes from sight of the leaping arm and the knife. It was sickening, utterly147 sickening. The New York kid might have been taking his first sea-voyage. A combination of honourable148 manhood and inability prevented him from running away.
He suddenly knew that it was possible to draw his own revolver, and by a swift manoeuvre149 face down all three Mexicans. If he was quick enough he would probably be victor. If any hitch150 occurred in the draw he would undoubtedly151 be dead with his friends. It was a new game; he had never been obliged to face a situation of this kind in the Beacon152 Club in New York. In this test, the lungs of the kid still continued to perform their duty.
"Oh, five white mice of chance,
Shirts of wool and corduroy pants,
Gold and wine, women and sin,
All for you if you let me come in—
Into the house of chance."
He thought of the weight and size of his revolver, and dismay pierced him. He feared that in his hands it would be as unwieldy as a sewing-machine for this quick work. He imagined, too, that some singular providence153 might cause him to lose his grip as he raised his weapon. Or it might get fatally entangled154 in the tails of his coat. Some of the eels155 of despair lay wet and cold against his back.
But at the supreme moment the revolver came forth as if it were greased and it arose like a feather. This somnolent156 machine, after months of repose157, was finally looking at the breasts of men.
Perhaps in this one series of movements, the kid had unconsciously used nervous force sufficient to raise a bale of hay. Before he comprehended it he was standing158 behind his revolver glaring over the barrel at the Mexicans, menacing first one and then another. His finger was tremoring on the trigger. The revolver gleamed in the darkness with a fine silver light.
The fulsome159 grandee sprang backward with a low cry. The man who had been facing the Frisco kid took a quick step away. The beautiful array of Mexicans was suddenly disorganized.
The cry and the backward steps revealed something of great importance to the New York kid. He had never dreamed that he did not have a complete monopoly of all possible trepidations. The cry of the grandee was that of a man who suddenly sees a poisonous snake. Thus the kid was able to understand swiftly that they were all human beings. They were unanimous in not wishing for too bloody160 combat. There was a sudden expression of the equality. He had vaguely161 believed that they were not going to evince much consideration for his dramatic development as an active factor. They even might be exasperated162 into an onslaught by it. Instead, they had respected his movement with a respect as great even as an ejaculation of fear and backward steps. Upon the instant he pounced163 forward and began to swear, unreeling great English oaths as thick as ropes, and lashing59 the faces of the Mexicans with them. He was bursting with rage, because these men had not previously164 confided165 to him that they were vulnerable. The whole thing had been an absurd imposition. He had been seduced166 into respectful alarm by the concave attitude of the grandee. And after all there had been an equality of emotion, an equality: he was furious. He wanted to take the serape of the grandee and swaddle him in it.
The Mexicans slunk back, their eyes burning wistfully. The kid took aim first at one and then at another. After they had achieved a certain distance they paused and drew up in a rank. They then resumed some of their old splendour of manner. A voice hailed him in a tone of cynical167 bravado168 as if it had come from between lips of smiling mockery. "Well, señor, it is finished?"
The kid scowled169 into the darkness, his revolver drooping170 at his side. After a moment he answered—"I am willing." He found it strange that he should be able to speak after this silence of years.
"Good-night, señor."
"Good-night."
When he turned to look at the Frisco kid he found him in his original position, his hand upon his hip. He was blinking in perplexity at the point from whence the Mexicans had vanished.
"Well," said the sober kid crossly, "are you ready to go home now?"
The Frisco kid said—"Where they gone?" His voice was undisturbed but inquisitive.
Benson suddenly propelled himself from his dreamful position against the wall. "Frishco kid's all right. He's drunk's fool and he's all right. But you New York kid, you're shober." He passed into a state of profound investigation171. "Kid shober 'cause didn't go with us. Didn't go with us 'cause went to damn circus. Went to damn circus 'cause lose shakin' dice. Lose shakin' dice 'cause—what make lose shakin' dice, kid?"
The New York kid eyed the senile youth. "I don't know. The five white mice, maybe."
Benson puzzled so over this reply that he had to be held erect172 by his friends. Finally the Frisco kid said—"Let's go home."
Nothing had happened.
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ass
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| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
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rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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ironical
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| adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的 | |
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awakening
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| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
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siesta
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| n.午睡 | |
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inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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7
herding
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| 中畜群 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dice
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| n.骰子；vt.把（食物）切成小方块，冒险 | |
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flirted
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| v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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craving
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| n.渴望,热望 | |
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epidemic
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| n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的 | |
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carnival
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| n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演 | |
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refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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tinkling
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| n.丁当作响声 | |
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profanely
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| adv.渎神地，凡俗地 | |
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22
bowling
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| n.保龄球运动 | |
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23
aglow
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| adj.发亮的；发红的；adv.发亮地 | |
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24
ogling
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| v.（向…）抛媚眼，送秋波( ogle的现在分词 ) | |
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25
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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26
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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27
ace
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| n.A牌；发球得分；佼佼者；adj.杰出的 | |
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28
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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29
gambling
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| n.赌博；投机 | |
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30
exuberance
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| n.丰富；繁荣 | |
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31
edified
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| v.开导，启发( edify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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33
cactus
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| n.仙人掌 | |
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34
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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35
aces
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| abbr.adjustable convertible-rate equity security (units) 可调节的股本证券兑换率；aircraft ejection seat 飞机弹射座椅；automatic control evaluation simulator 自动控制评估模拟器n.擅长…的人( ace的名词复数 )；精于…的人；（ 网球 ）（对手接不到发球的）发球得分；爱司球 | |
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36
burlesquing
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| v.（嘲弄地）模仿，（通过模仿）取笑( burlesque的现在分词 ) | |
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37
poising
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| 使平衡( poise的现在分词 )； 保持（某种姿势）； 抓紧； 使稳定 | |
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38
stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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39
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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40
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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41
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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42
rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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43
hazardously
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| adv.冒险地，有危险地 | |
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44
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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45
exemption
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| n.豁免，免税额，免除 | |
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46
bawl
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| v.大喊大叫，大声地喊，咆哮 | |
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47
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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48
courageously
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| ad.勇敢地，无畏地 | |
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49
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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50
furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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51
placidly
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| adv.平稳地，平静地 | |
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52
nefarious
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| adj.恶毒的，极坏的 | |
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53
carving
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| n.雕刻品，雕花 | |
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54
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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55
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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56
hilarious
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| adj.充满笑声的，欢闹的；[反]depressed | |
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57
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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58
hoots
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| 咄，啐 | |
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59
lashing
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| n.鞭打；痛斥；大量；许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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60
sardonically
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| adv.讽刺地，冷嘲地 | |
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61
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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62
vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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63
conjuror
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| n.魔术师，变戏法者 | |
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64
jeering
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| adj.嘲弄的，揶揄的v.嘲笑( jeer的现在分词 ) | |
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65
jeer
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| vi.嘲弄，揶揄；vt.奚落；n.嘲笑，讥评 | |
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66
genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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67
discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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68
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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69
ridiculing
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| v.嘲笑，嘲弄，奚落( ridicule的现在分词 ) | |
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70
cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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71
outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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72
bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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73
relinquish
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| v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手 | |
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74
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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75
derisively
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| adv. 嘲笑地，嘲弄地 | |
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76
banter
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| n.嘲弄，戏谑；v.取笑，逗弄，开玩笑 | |
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77
fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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78
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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79
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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80
descending
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|
| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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81
arena
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| n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台 | |
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82
prances
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| v.（马）腾跃( prance的第三人称单数 ) | |
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83
lament
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| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
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84
pealed
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| v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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85
gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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86
luminous
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| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
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87
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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88
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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89
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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90
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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91
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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92
glower
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| v.怒目而视 | |
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93
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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94
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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95
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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96
mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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97
stoic
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| n.坚忍克己之人，禁欲主义者 | |
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98
reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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99
balked
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| v.畏缩不前，犹豫( balk的过去式和过去分词 )；（指马）不肯跑 | |
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100
admonished
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| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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101
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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102
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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103
comedians
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| n.喜剧演员，丑角( comedian的名词复数 ) | |
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104
burrowing
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| v.挖掘（洞穴），挖洞( burrow的现在分词 )；翻寻 | |
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105
pall
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| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
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106
canine
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| adj.犬的，犬科的 | |
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107
phenomena
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| n.现象 | |
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108
pedestrians
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| n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 ) | |
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109
hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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110
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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111
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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112
smoker
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| n.吸烟者，吸烟车厢，吸烟室 | |
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113
automaton
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| n.自动机器，机器人 | |
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114
ripples
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| 逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 ) | |
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115
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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116
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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117
wrenched
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| 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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118
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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119
robust
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| adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的 | |
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121
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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122
grandee
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| n.贵族；大公 | |
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123
perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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124
hips
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| abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的 | |
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125
crescendo
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| n.(音乐)渐强，高潮 | |
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126
provocations
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| n.挑衅( provocation的名词复数 )；激怒；刺激；愤怒的原因 | |
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127
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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128
watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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129
garrulous
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| adj.唠叨的，多话的 | |
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130
expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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131
lexicons
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| n.词典( lexicon的名词复数 )；专门词汇 | |
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132
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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133
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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134
laconically
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| adv.简短地，简洁地 | |
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135
invincible
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| adj.不可征服的，难以制服的 | |
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136
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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137
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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138
slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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139
fragrance
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| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
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140
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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141
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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142
flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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143
muddled
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| adj.混乱的；糊涂的；头脑昏昏然的v.弄乱，弄糟( muddle的过去式)；使糊涂；对付，混日子 | |
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144
agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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145
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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146
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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147
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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148
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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149
manoeuvre
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| n.策略，调动；v.用策略，调动 | |
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150
hitch
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| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
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151
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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152
beacon
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| n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔 | |
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153
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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154
entangled
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| adj.卷入的；陷入的；被缠住的；缠在一起的v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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155
eels
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| abbr. 电子发射器定位系统（=electronic emitter location system） | |
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156
somnolent
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| adj.想睡的，催眠的；adv.瞌睡地；昏昏欲睡地；使人瞌睡地 | |
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157
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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158
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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159
fulsome
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| adj.可恶的，虚伪的，过分恭维的 | |
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160
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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161
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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162
exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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163
pounced
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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164
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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165
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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166
seduced
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| 诱奸( seduce的过去式和过去分词 )； 勾引； 诱使堕落； 使入迷 | |
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167
cynical
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| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
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168
bravado
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| n.虚张声势，故作勇敢，逞能 | |
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169
scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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170
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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171
investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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172
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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