Pay-day came and I received my account of wages, finding that I was entitled to nine golden sovereigns. At the appointed hour I made my way up the East India Dock-road to Green's Home, where I foregathered with most of my shipmates, who were dogged by villainous-looking men as closely as if they were criminals out for an airing. While waiting, they made frequent visits to the public-house at the back of the office, which fairly hummed with the accumulated rascality12 of the neighbourhood. But for the danger of actions for libel, I would tell some pretty little stories of what I have seen in some of the highly respectable (see evidence before the Licensing13 Committees) liquor-shops in "sailor town." But I must refrain, comforting myself with the knowledge that such tales have already been better told elsewhere. When at last my turn came, and I received that little pile of gold—more money than I had ever seen at one time before—I was almost afraid of being the possessor of so much wealth. And knowing well, as I did, the risk I ran if any one got an inkling of my riches, did not lessen14 my fears. I did not think of the Post Office, strange to say; but, in a few minutes, formed a resolution to lay all my money out in a stock of clothes—which, indeed, I was urgently in need of—and depend upon my weekly earnings15 from the ship to keep me. The thought of losing my employment never seems to have dawned upon me. Full of my project, I started for Aldgate; but brought up sharply at the Baths before I had gone a hundred yards. A nice warm bath—what a luxury! In I went and enjoyed myself immensely. In about half an hour I was out again and walking briskly westward16, when I stopped to make some trifling17 purchase—to find my money gone, purse and all. On the instant I turned and rushed back to the Baths, flew past the doorkeeper, and up the corridor towards the bath I had recently left. The door stood wide open, and there was my purse on the seat, with the money intact. I grabbed it and drew a long breath, the first, it seemed to me, since I missed it. Going out, I met an angry man at the door, who was anxious to know what I thought I was up to, and so on. A shilling assuaged18 all his curiosity and lit up his lowering face with sudden smiles. Clutching my purse, I made all the haste I could to Messrs. Moses and Sons, arriving there with a sigh of thankfulness. I didn't feel capable of owning so much money, much less taking care of it. A gorgeously attired19 individual strode forward with an ironical20 air of courtesy as I entered, and, bowing low, wished to know my pleasure. Ah! if I was going to spend all my money, here was at least a chance to taste the sweets of that power which its possession brings. With all the hauteur21 I could assume, I said, as I swelled22 my four feet of stature23 in opposition24 to the shopwalker's majestic25 presence, "I want an outfit26, something plain and substantial; say about nine or ten pounds." And as I spoke27 I secretly emptied my purse in my pocket, and drawing out a few sovereigns nonchalantly, I passed them through my fingers and dropped them into another pocket. Out of the corner of my eye I watched my gentleman's face. All his sarcastic28 attitude vanished, and for the time he was my obsequious29, humble30 servant. But oh! how shamelessly he made me pay for his attendance. Even after this lapse31 of years I blush to think how I was taken in—the shoddy rags which I received for my gold, and the swelling32 pride with which I ordered them to be sent down to my ship. When I left the huge shop I felt quite an important personage, although I had but five shillings left out of my year's wages. Still, such as they were, I had a complete stock of clothing, including a chest and bedding, oilskins and sea-boots; in fact, such an outfit as I had never owned before. When I returned on board I informed Bill of my purchases. He applauded my resolution, but blamed me for not keeping a little money in case of an emergency—he always did himself, he said. For a fortnight, however, I found no reason to regret my precipitate33 action. Then, on a Saturday afternoon, came the stunning34 intelligence that, as there was no more work to be done, I was no longer wanted. Fortunately I had saved enough out of my weekly wage to pay for a week's board; so I immediately made my way to my old boarding-house in the West India Dock-road, and was received with open arms. I paid my twelve shillings down manfully, telling the master that I wanted a ship as soon as possible. After finding out by cross-examination that I had been paid off with nine pounds, he was much less cordial. In fact, he grumbled36 a good deal; but finally promised to do his best to get me a ship at once. Fortunately (as I thought at the time), before the week was out, I got a berth37 on board a large American ship—the Pharos of Boston, which was lying in the South-West India Dock, loading general cargo38 for Melbourne. As she was only about half full, I begged permission to come and work on board for my food, so that I should not get into debt at the boarding-house. The mate, who engaged me, readily granted my request; in fact, he seemed to take no interest in the matter. So I took up my quarters on board, becoming great friends immediately with the amiable old mulatto steward39, who, besides being a most valuable servant, was a deeply religious man according to his lights.
And now my lines were cast in truly pleasant places. I had heard of the good times enjoyed by boys in American ships—such floating hells for their crews as a rule—and my experiences at present fully35 bore out the truth of my information. But I very soon saw that all was not right on board. The mate was utterly40 neglectful of the cargo, spending most of his time tippling in his berth with all sorts of visitors. The second mate, a stalwart youth of twenty, busied himself constantly with the rigging, studiously avoiding any encroachment41 upon the mate's province of attending to the shipment of the cargo. The captain rarely appeared. He was a very old man, with an awful scowl42, and, although bearing himself erect43, and smart-looking, was evidently long past the efficient performance of his duties. The only other members of the crew on board were the carpenter, a Finn of about sixty years of age, and the cook, a garrulous44 Dane, who spent most of his time yarning45 at the galley46 door with a huge knife in one hand as if it were his sceptre. A good deal of drinking went on about that galley, and often at knock-off time the stevedores47 had much ado to get ashore48, so drunk were they. At last the mate left—how or why I do not know—and from thenceforward no pretence49 was made of tallying50 in the cargo at all. Not until three days before she was advertised to sail did we get another mate, a prim51 little man, who had been long master of English ships, and looked like a fish out of water on board the Pharos.
Shipping52 day came, and, leaving the second mate, steward, and carpenter (who were on the original articles) on board, the rest of us went down to a shop in Ratcliff Highway to "sign on." It was a Jew tailor's, of all places in the world, and never shall I forget my astonishment53 at the sight it presented. When we got there the shop was full of as motley a crowd of scallawags as one could collect anywhere. Apparently54 they were shipping in some other American ship, from the scraps55 of conversation I heard. Presently one of the fellows asked a question of the sturdy-looking Israelite behind the counter. Looking up from his book, that worthy56 said fiercely, "Get out!" The man hesitated, and muttered some reply. With a howl like an enraged57 tiger the tailor snatched up a pair of shears58 and sprang over the counter after him. There was a regular scuffle among the crowd for a few seconds, as the thoroughly59 scared candidate rushed for the door, just succeeding in making his escape as the vengeful Jew reached the pavement. In another second the tailor was back at his book as if nothing had happened. But I noticed that nobody asked any more questions, except one man, whom I took to be the captain of the ship signing on. After some little confusion the first crowd took their departure, and another assortment60 took their places, ready to sign in the Pharos. The whole proceedings61 were an utter farce62, though with a semblance63 of legality; but what surprised me most of all was that each man received, whether he wanted it or not, two months' advance in the form of a promissory note, payable64 at this shop three days after the ship left Gravesend. Only three out of the whole crowd signed their names, the rest modestly made their mark, and the tailor wrote down such fantastic designations as his fancy suggested. Then one of his assistants marshalled us all together like a flock of sheep, and convoyed us to the office of the American Consul-General in the city, where, in wholesale65 fashion, we were made citizens of the United States of America. The ceremony was no sooner over than we were told to go, but sharply reminded of the hour of sailing. Our guide mysteriously disappeared, leaving us to find our way back to sailor-town as best we could.
To my surprise and gratification I found myself shipped as an ordinary seaman66, at thirty shillings per month, three pounds of which I already held in the form of a "promise to pay." I immediately hastened to my boarding-house to get the said paper converted into money, but, as I didn't owe him anything, the master refused to touch it, and further favoured me with his opinion that I shouldn't find anybody who would give me more than ten shillings for it. Somewhat alarmed at this, I hurried to various places where they professed67 to discount seamen's advance notes, finding to my amazement68, that he had spoken the truth. Then I suddenly remembered an old acquaintance with whom I had become friendly, and who, being a tradesman, might be able to change my note. Off to him I hurried, finding him both able and willing; so I got my three pounds in full. But I afterwards learnt that the highest amount any of the sailors had been able to get for their notes of six pounds had been two pounds ten shillings, and of this a goodly portion had to be taken out in clothes. And this I was told was because of the uncertainty69 attaching to the payment of these notes when they were presented. Under such conditions there was little room for wonder that cases of disappearance70 of the men who had obtained these advance notes were frequent. It was no unusual thing for half of a crew to be missing when a vessel71 sailed, when, of course, those who had given anything for the notes lost their money beyond hope of recovery.
Although it seems premature72 to say so, I feel bound to add that the friend who cashed my note received his money, when it was due, without question. Seven of the men who signed on with me did not turn up on sailing-day, so that we left the dock shorthanded to that extent. We anchored at Gravesend, however, and a scratch lot of "hard cases" were found to make up our complement73. For three days we lay at the Red Buoy74 below Gravesend, while I wondered mightily75 at such delay, foreign altogether to my notions of the despatch76 of Australian packets. But finally a huge lighter77 painted a brilliant red came alongside, and immediately the order was issued for all fire or light of any kind to be extinguished, as we were going to ship gunpowder78. As soon as the officers were satisfied that there was no danger from a stray spark to be apprehended79, the transhipment began, and soon fifty tons of explosives were transferred to the square of our main hatch, in cases and kegs, from which a good deal of loose powder was leaking. The stowing completed, the hatch was securely battened down for sea, the lighter left, and the order was given to man the windlass. Hitherto I had been agreeably surprised to see how quietly the work went on, altogether a different state of affairs to what I had expected on board a Yankee ship. But the reason was not far to seek. Vicious as the captain looked, he was utterly helpless to inaugurate a reign11 of terror on board, for he had no truculent80 set of officers to back him. The mate was a quiet, elderly man, looking as unlike a seaman as possible, and certainly was not the man to develop into a bully81. The second mate was too young, although as smart a man as ever stepped, to tackle the whole crew single-handed, even had he felt disposed; and, of course, the ancient carpenter counted for nothing. Half the crew were exceedingly hard citizens, who looked as if all the ways of "Western Ocean blood-boats" were familiar to them; the other half were Norwegians and Swedes, who were unable to speak English, and ready to endure any kind of brutality, at whoever's hands it might be presented. Poor wretches82! had they but known it, they were fortunate, for the worst that befell them was being treated as boys by the hard-bitten members of the crew, and made to wait on them hand and foot. On deck their lives were easy enough and the food was really good.
In order to save the skipper trouble, I suppose, we had a Channel pilot on board to take the ship as far as Portland. He, poor man, was sadly out of his element with the skipper, whom he early described, to the half-dozen passengers we carried, as an unmitigated hog83. Still there was no open breach84 between them until we arrived off the Wight. Then when the pilot altered the course (we had been coming down in mid-channel), too close in with the land, the old man walked up to the helmsman and sternly ordered him to resume the course he had been steering85, right down the centre of the Channel. Of course there was an explosion. The pilot protested in no measured terms against his behaviour, saying that, as his contract was performed, he was anxious to be put ashore. The captain, however, treated him with cool insolence86, assuring him that he wasn't going one mile out of his way to land him, and the utmost he would do would be to put him on board any homeward-bounder we might pass near enough. This nearly drove the pilot frantic87. We could hear him all over the ship. But, for all the impression he made upon the venerable Yankee, he might as well have saved his breath. Then there was trouble with the passengers. They had been led to believe that they would be sumptuously88 fed and waited upon, the charterers in London having painted in glowing colours the comforts sure to be met with in so large a ship for seven passengers. Now, however, they found that even the cooking of their food was a privilege for which they must fee the cook, the steward was forbidden to wait upon them, and they were entirely89 thrown upon their own resources. When they complained to the captain he calmly told them that their difficulties were no concern of his; he had quite sufficient annoyance90 in seeing them occupying his saloon, which he could assure them was intended for the reception of a very different class of people to them. Happily they were all fairly well used to roughing it, and so they sensibly set about making the best of their very bad bargain, and thenceforward ignored the scowling91 skipper altogether. The unfortunate pilot was kept on board five days, and finally put on board a homeward-bound Mediterranean92 steamer that we spoke half-way across the Bay. As he went over the side he hurled93 his opinion of the skipper back at him, his voice rising higher and higher, until he was no longer audible, to the huge delight of passengers and crew alike.
《Confessions of a Tradesman》
《A Sack of Shakings》
《Confessions of a Tradesman》
《A Sack of Shakings》
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1
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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condescending
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| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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cuffs
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| n.袖口( cuff的名词复数 )v.掌打，拳打( cuff的第三人称单数 ) | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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rascality
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| 流氓性，流氓集团 | |
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licensing
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| v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的现在分词 ) | |
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lessen
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| vt.减少，减轻；缩小 | |
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earnings
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| n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得 | |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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assuaged
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| v.减轻( assuage的过去式和过去分词 )；缓和；平息；使安静 | |
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attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ironical
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| adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的 | |
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hauteur
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| n.傲慢 | |
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swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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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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sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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obsequious
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| adj.谄媚的，奉承的，顺从的 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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precipitate
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| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
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stunning
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| adj.极好的；使人晕倒的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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encroachment
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| n.侵入，蚕食 | |
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scowl
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| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
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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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garrulous
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| adj.唠叨的，多话的 | |
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yarning
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| vi.讲故事（yarn的现在分词形式） | |
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galley
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| n.（飞机或船上的）厨房单层甲板大帆船；军舰舰长用的大划艇； | |
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stevedores
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| n.码头装卸工人，搬运工( stevedore的名词复数 ) | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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tallying
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| v.计算，清点( tally的现在分词 )；加标签（或标记）于；（使）符合；（使）吻合 | |
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51
prim
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| adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
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52
shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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shears
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| n.大剪刀 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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assortment
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| n.分类，各色俱备之物，聚集 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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farce
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| n.闹剧，笑剧，滑稽戏；胡闹 | |
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semblance
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| n.外貌，外表 | |
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payable
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| adj.可付的，应付的，有利益的 | |
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wholesale
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| n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售 | |
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seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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premature
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| adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的 | |
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73
complement
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| n.补足物，船上的定员；补语；vt.补充，补足 | |
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74
buoy
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| n.浮标；救生圈；v.支持，鼓励 | |
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75
mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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76
despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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77
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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78
gunpowder
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| n.火药 | |
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79
apprehended
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 )； 理解 | |
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80
truculent
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| adj.野蛮的，粗野的 | |
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81
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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82
wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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83
hog
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| n.猪；馋嘴贪吃的人；vt.把…占为己有，独占 | |
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84
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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85
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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86
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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87
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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88
sumptuously
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| 奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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89
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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90
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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91
scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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92
Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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93
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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