But the winter winds are moody6, the temper of the Arctic is uncertain, hence luck played a large part in these enterprises. Both Rock and Doret were sufficiently7 familiar with the hazards and the disappointments of travel at this time of year to feel extremely doubtful of overhauling8 the two McCaskeys, and so they were by no means sanguine9 of success as they drove headlong into the night.
Both teams were loaded light; neither driver carried stove, tent, or camp duffle. Sleeping-bags, a little cooked food for themselves, a bundle of dried fish for the dogs, that was the limit the pursuers had allowed themselves. Given good weather, nothing more was needed. In case of a storm, a sudden blizzard10, and a drop in temperature, this lack of equipment was apt to prove fatal, but neither traveler permitted himself to think about such things. Burdened thus lightly, the sleds rode high and the malamutes romped12 along with them. When the late dawn finally came it found them far on their way.
That wind, following the snowfall of the day before, had been a happy circumstance, for in many places it had blown the trail clean, so that daylight showed it winding14 away into the distance like a thread laid down at random15. Here and there, of course, it was hidden; under the lee of bluffs17 or of wooded bends, for instance, it was drifted deep, completely obliterated18, in fact, and in such places even a seasoned musher would have floundered aimlessly, trying to hold it. But 'Poleon Doret possessed19 a sixth sense, it appeared, and his lead dog, too, had unusual sagacity. Rock, from his position in the rear, marveled at the accuracy with which the woodsman's sled followed the narrow, hard-packed ridge20 concealed21 beneath the soft, new covering. Undoubtedly22 the fellow knew his business and the officer congratulated himself upon bringing him along.
They had been under way for five or six hours when the tardy23 daylight came, but even thereafter Doret continued to run with his hand upon his sled. Seldom did he ride, and then only for a moment or two when the going was best. For the most part he maintained a steady, swinging trot24 that kept pace with the pattering feet ahead of him and caused the miles rapidly to drop behind. Through drifts knee-deep, through long, soft stretches he held to that unfaltering stride; occasionally he turned his head and flashed a smile or waved his hand at the man behind.
Along about ten o'clock he halted his team where a dead spruce overhung the river-bank. By the time Rock had pulled in behind him he had clambered up the bank, ax in hand, and was making the chips fly. He sent the dry top crashing down, then explained:
"Dem dogs go better for l'il rest. We boil de kettle, eh?"
Rock wiped the sweat from his face. "You're certainly hitting it off, old man. We've made good time, but I haven't seen any tracks. Have you?"
"We see 'em bimeby."
"Kind of a joke if they hadn't come, after all—if they'd really gone out to Hunker. Gee26! The laugh would be on us."
Soon a blaze was going; then, while the ice in the blackened tea-bucket was melting, the drivers sliced a slab28 of bacon into small cubes and fed it sparingly to their animals, after which they carefully examined the dogs' feet and cleaned them of ice and snow pellets.
The tea was gulped30, the hardtack swallowed, and the travelers were under way again almost before their sweaty bodies had begun to chill. On they hurried, mile after mile, sweeping31 past bends, eagerly, hopefully scanning every empty tangent that opened up ahead of them. They made fast time indeed, but the immensity of the desolation through which they passed, the tremendous scale upon which this country had been molded, made their progress seem slower than an ant-crawl.
Eventually 'Poleon shouted something and pointed33 to the trail underfoot. Rock fancied he could detect the faint, fresh markings of sled runners, but into them he could not read much significance. It was an encouragement, to be sure, but, nevertheless, he still had doubts, and those doubts were not dispelled34 until Doret again halted his team, this time beside the cold embers of a fire. Fresh chips were scattered35 under the bank, charred36 fagots had embedded37 themselves in the ice and were frozen fast, but 'Poleon interpreted the various signs without difficulty.
"But they're going pretty fast, for all that. We'll never get them this side of Forty Mile."
"You don' spec' it, do you? Dey got beeg scare, dem feller. Dey runnin' so fas' dey can."
Forty Mile, so called because the river of that name enters the Yukon forty miles above the Boundary, was a considerable camp prior to the Dawson boom, but thereafter it had languished38, and this winter it was all but deserted39. So, too, was Cudahy, the rival trading-post a half-mile below. It was on the bars of this stream that the earliest pioneers had first found gold. Here at its mouth, during the famine days before the steamboats came, they had cached their supplies; here they had brewed40 their hootch in the fall and held high carnival41 to celebrate their good luck or to drown their ill-fortune.
Rock and his companion pulled up the bank and in among the windowless cabins during the afternoon; they had halted their dogs before the Mounted Police station, only to find the building locked and cold. The few faithful Forty-Milers who came out to exchange greetings explained that both occupants of the barracks had gone down-river to succor42 some sick Indians.
Rock was disgusted, but his next question elicited43 information that cheered him. Yes, a pair of strangers had just passed through, one of them an active, heavy-set fellow, the other a tall, dark, sinister44 man with black eyes and a stormy demeanor45. They had come fast and they had tarried only long enough to feed their dogs and to make some inquiries46. Upon learning that the local police were on the main river somewhere below, they had held a consultation47 and then had headed up the Forty Mile.
"UP Forty Mile?" Rock cried, in surprise. "Are you sure?"
"We seen 'em go," his informant declared. "That's what made us think there was something wrong. That's why we been on the lookout48 for you. We figgered they was on the dodge49 and hard pressed, but we couldn't do nothing about it. You see, it's only about twenty-three miles to the Line up Forty Mile. Down the Yukon it's forty. They been gone 'most two hours, now."
"What do you want 'em for?" another bystander inquired.
"Murder," Rock exclaimed, shortly; then he heaved his sled into motion once more, for 'Poleon had started his team and was making off through the town. Down into the bed of the smaller stream the pursuers made their way and up this they turned. Again they urged their dogs into a run. It took some effort to maintain a galloping50 pace now, for the teams were tiring, and after some mental calculations Rock shook his head doubtfully. Of course, his quarry51 was at a disadvantage, there being two men to one sled, but—twenty-three miles, with a two-hour start! It was altogether too great a handicap. The lieutenant52 had figured on that last forty miles, the last five or ten, in fact, but this change of direction had upset all his plans and his estimates. Evidently the McCaskeys cared not how nor where they crossed the Line, so long as they crossed it quickly and got Canadian territory behind them. Barring accident, therefore, which was extremely unlikely, Rock told himself regretfully that they were as good as gone. Two hours! It was too much. On the other hand, he and 'Poleon now had a fresh trail to follow, while the fleeing brothers had unbroken snow ahead of them, and that meant that they must take turns ahead of their dogs. Then, too, fifty miles over drifted trails at this season of the year was a heavy day's work, and the McCaskeys must be very tired by now, for neither was in the best of condition. In the spring, when the snows were wet and sled runners ran as if upon grease, such a journey would have been no great effort, but in this temperature the steel shoes creaked and a man's muscles did not work freely. Men had been known to play out unexpectedly. After all, there was a possibility of pulling them down, and as long as there was that possibility the Mounted Policeman refused to quit.
Rock assured himself that this flight had established one thing, at least, and that was Pierce Phillips' innocence53 of the Courteau killing54. The murderers were here; there could be no doubt of it. Their frantic55 haste confessed their guilt56. Friendship for the boy, pride in his own reputation, the memory of that ovation57 he had received upon leaving, gave the officer new strength and determination, so he shut his teeth and spurred his rebellious58 limbs into swifter action. There was no longer any opportunity of riding the sled, even where the trail was hard, for some of the Police dogs were limping and loafing in their collars. This was indeed a race, a Marathon, a twenty-three-mile test of courage and endurance, and victory would go to him who could call into fullest response his last uttermost ounce of reserve power.
Doret had promised that he would show his trail-mate how to travel, and that promise he had made good; all day he had held the lead, and without assistance from the lash25. Even now his dogs, while not fresh, were far from exhausted59. As for the man himself, Rock began to feel a conviction that the fellow could go on at this rate eternally.
Luck finally seemed to break in favor of the pursuers; accident appeared to work in their behalf. The day was done, night was again upon them, when Doret sent back a cry of warning, and, leaping upon his sled, turned his leader at right angles toward the bank.
His companion understood the meaning of that move, but the Police team was less responsive to command, and before Rock could swing them he felt his feet sink into soft slush.
"Dam' overflow60!" Doret panted when the two teams were safely out upon the bank. "You wet your feet, eh?"
Apprehensively61 the officer felt of his moccasins; they were wet to the touch, but as yet no moisture had penetrated62 his socks. "You yelled in the nick of time," he declared, as he dried his soles in the loose snow.
This prediction came true. As the travelers rounded the next bluff16 they smelled the odor of burning spruce and came upon a trampled63 bed of boughs64 beside which some embers were still smoldering65.
"Jove! That gives us a chance, doesn't it?" Rock panted.
His companion smiled. "We goin' start travel now, for sure. Dey can't be more 'n a mile or two ahead."
Down upon the river-bed the teams rushed. With biting lash and sharp commands the drivers urged them into a swifter run. Rock was forcing his dogs now; he made the smoke fly from their hides when they lagged. He vowed66 that he would not permit this French Canadian to outdistance him. He swore a good deal at his malamutes; he cursed himself as a weakling, a quitter; anger at his fatigue67 ran through him.
The travelers were up among the hills by now. Occasionally they passed a deserted cabin, home of some early gold-digger. Valleys dark with night opened up to right and to left as the Forty Mile wound higher, deeper into the maze68 of rounded domes70: the Boundary was close at hand. The hillsides hid their feet in black thickets71 of spruce, but their slopes were thinly timbered, their crests72 were nearly bare, and the white snow gave off a dim radiance that made traveling possible even after the twilight74 had deepened. By and by it grew lighter75 and the north horizon took on a rosy76 flush that spread into a tremendous flare77. The night was still, clear, crackly; it was surcharged with some static force, and so calm was the air, so deathlike the hush78, that the empty valley rang like a bell. That mysterious illumination in the north grew more and more impressive; great ribbons, long pathways of quivering light, unrolled themselves and streamed across the sky; they flamed and flickered79, they writhed81 and melted, disappearing, reappearing, rising, falling. It was as if the lid had been lifted from some stupendous caldron and the heavens reflected the radiance from its white-hot contents. Mighty82 fingers, like the beams of polar search-lights, groped through the voids overhead; tumbling waves of color rushed up and dashed themselves away into space; the whole arch of the night was lit as from a world in flames. Red, yellow, orange, violet, ultra-violet—the tints83 merged84 with one another bewilderingly and the snows threw back their flicker80 until coarse print would have been readable. Against that war of clashing colors the mountain-crests stood out in silhouette85 and the fringe of lonely wind-twisted trunks high up on their saddles were etched in blackest ink.
It was a weird86, an unearthly effect; it was exciting, too. As always when the Aurora87 is in full play, the onlookers88 marveled that such a tremendous exhibition of energy could continue in such silence. That was the oddest, the most impressive feature of all, for the crash of avalanches89, the rumble90 of thunder, the diapason of a hundred Niagaras, should have accompanied such appalling91 phenomena92. It seemed odd indeed that the whine93 of sled runners, the scuff94 of moccasins, the panting of dogs, should be the only audible sounds.
There were other overflows95 underfoot now, but the cold had frozen them and the going was getting constantly better. The snow was thin and in places the sleds slewed96 sidewise and the dogs ran on slack traces across long stretches of bare glare ice. It was while negotiating such a place as this that Rock paid the price of his earlier carelessness. Doret's dry moose-skin soles had a sure grip, hence he never hesitated, but the lieutenant's moccasins were like a pair of tin shoes now and, without warning, he lost his footing. He was running swiftly at the moment; he strove to save himself, to twist in midair, but he failed. 'Poleon heard a cry of pain and dismay, so he halted his team and came striding back. Rock raised himself, then took a step, but faltered97 and clung helplessly to the handlebars. He began to curse furiously; he undertook to estimate the extent of his injury, then explained:
"My foot doubled under me and I came down on it like a ton of bricks.
By Heavens! I believe something broke!"
'Poleon was solicitous98. He blamed himself, too. "It's dem wet moccasin'. I should have stop' an' mak' you change," said he.
"We can't stop," Rock groaned99. "I'll be all right as soon as—" The words ended in another explosive oath as he again put his weight upon the injured member. Blasphemy100 poured from his lips as repeatedly he tried to force his foot to carry him. He cursed himself for a clumsy, blundering ass32; he shouted at his dogs; he sent his sled forward and lurched along behind it, half supporting himself, until 'Poleon finally halted him.
"It's no good mak' bad t'ing worse, M'sieu'," the woodsman declared. "You bus' him for sure, an' it's no use goin' furder. S'pose mebbe we boil de kettle, eh?"
"And let them get away clean? When we had 'em? They can't be a mile ahead. Let 'em slip between our fingers?" raved101 the officer. "I can't. I won't—"
"We mak' li'l fire an' look him over dat foot. Me, I t'ink you don' walk no more for two, free week'."
"You go! I'll deputize you! Get 'em, Doret, quick! You can do it! I'll wait! Go ahead!"
The other nodded. "Sure, I can get 'em! I never have no doubt 'bout dat in de least, but it's better we fix you comfor'ble."
"They'll be across, I tell you—over the Line—"
"I came pas' dat place more 'n once or twice"—the French Canadian grinned—"an' I never seen it no Line." He forced his companion to lower himself upon the sled, then swung it toward the river-bank, calling upon his own lead dog to follow. Up and into the shelter of the spruce he drove the Police team; quickly he felled dry wood and kindled102 a fire. This took but a few moments, but Rock was wet with sweat and in consequence he was shivering wretchedly; his teeth were chattering104 even before the blaze had taken hold. 'Poleon continued to work with what speed he could, and in a surprisingly short time he had built a snug105 wickiup and filled it with boughs. This done, he unhitched and fed both teams, spread Rock's sleeping-bag under the shelter, and set a pail of snow to melt. By the light of the fire he examined the latter's injury, but could make little of it, for already it was badly swollen106 and every manipulation caused its owner extreme pain. There were no remedies available; there was not even a vessel107 of sufficient size in which to bathe the foot; hence 'Poleon contented108 himself by bandaging it and helping109 his trail-mate into bed.
Not since leaving Dawson had either man tasted hot food, but their hunger was as nothing to their thirst. Even in this length of time their bodies had shrunk, withered110, inside their clothing, and for perhaps an hour they took turns greedily draining the pail of its tepid111 contents. Under intense cold the human body consumes itself at a rapid rate. Once it has burned itself out it preys112 upon those deep-hidden forces which nature holds in reserve, and the process of recuperation waits upon a restoration of a normal balance of moisture.
Both men were weighed down by an aching, nightmare fatigue, and as they sat gulping113 hot water, absorbing heat from within and without, their muscles set and they felt as if their limbs had turned to stone.
But, once the first mad craving114 for drink had been assuaged115, they fried bacon and made tea. Like wolves they fell upon the salt meat; they dipped the hot grease up in their spoons and swallowed it with relish116; they crunched117 their hardtack and washed the powdery mouthfuls down with copious118 draughts119 from the blackened pail. When the tea was gone they brewed another scalding bucketful.
Rock lay back, finally, but the movement caused him to bare his teeth in agony. At 'Poleon's quick inquiry120 he shook his head.
"I'm all right," he declared. "Good for the night. You can pull out any time you want to."
"Dere's plenty tam." 'Poleon lit his pipe and reached again for the tea-bucket.
"I go bimeby—sooner I get li'l drinkin' done."
"They'll fight," Rock announced, after a silence of perhaps five minutes. "I feel pretty rotten, playing out like this."
"You done firs' rate," the woodsman told him. "If I come alone I catch 'em ten mile below, but—li'l tam, more less, don' mak' no differ."
"I believe you WOULD have got 'em," the officer acknowledged. After a time he persisted: "They'll put up a battle, Doret. You'll need to be careful."
'Poleon was squatted122 Indian fashion over the blaze; he was staring fixedly124 into the flames, and an aboriginal125 reticence126 had settled upon him. After a long time he answered: "Mebbe so I keel de beeg feller. I dunno. So long one is lef' I mak' him clear dat boy Phillips."
"Decent of you to take a chance like that for Pierce," Rock resumed. "It's different with me; I have to do it. Just the same, I wouldn't care to follow those fellows over the Boundary. I don't think you'd better try it."
In spite of his suffering, the lieutenant fell into a doze127; whether he slept ten minutes or an hour he never knew, but he awoke, groaning128, to find the big woodsman still bulked over the campfire, still smoking, still sipping129 tea. Rock ate and drank some more; again he slept. For a second time his pain roused him, and once more he marveled to discover 'Poleon occupied as before. It seemed to him that the fellow would never satisfy himself. Eventually, however, the latter arose and made preparations to leave.
The Northern Lights had flickered out now; the empty sky was sprinkled with a million stars which glittered like scintillating130 frost jewels frozen into the dome69 of heaven; there were no sounds whatever to break the deathlike silence of the night, for the Arctic wastes are all but lifeless. There were no bird-calls, no sounds of insects, not even the whisper of running water, for the river was locked deep beneath its icy armor.
"You got 'nough wood to las' long tam," 'Poleon declared. "If I don' come back, dem Forty Mile Police is sure to pick you up."
"I can go in alone if I have to," the injured man declared. "Au revoir and good luck."
'Poleon made no attempt to hurry his tired team; for several miles he plodded131 along behind them, guiding them to right or left by a low-spoken word. Years before, he had rocked on the bars of this stream; therefore its landmarks133 were familiar to him, and in spite of the darkness he readily identified them. In time he made out the monuments marking the International Boundary, and a short distance beyond that point he unhitched his dogs, then took a carbine from his sled and slipped it full of shells. Next he removed his lash rope, coiled it, and placed it in his pocket, after which he resumed his journey alone.
Occasionally he dimly glimpsed deserted cabins, habitations built by the gold-diggers of other days. Carefully he followed the all but indistinguishable sled tracks ahead of him until they swerved134 abruptly135 in toward the bank. Here he paused, pulled a mitten136, and, moistening a finger, held it up to test the wind. What movement there was to the air seemed to satisfy him, for, step by step, he mounted the steep slope until his head finally rose over its crest73. Against the skyline he now made out a small clearing; straining his eyes, he could see the black square of a cabin wall. No light shone from it, therefore he argued that his men had supped and were asleep. He had assumed that they would not, could not, go far beyond the Boundary; he had purposely allowed them sufficient time in which to overcome the first agony of fatigue and to fall asleep. He wondered apprehensively where they had put their dogs, and if by any evil chance the McCaskey team included an "outside" dog of the watchful137, barking variety.
Gingerly he stepped out, and found that the snow underfoot gave off only the faintest whisper. Like a shadow he stole closer to the hut, keeping the imperceptible night breeze in his face.
So noiseless was his approach that the tired dogs, snugly138 curled each in its own deep bed of snow, did not hear him—your malamutes that are broken to harness are bad watch-dogs at best. Not until he had melted into the gloom beneath the wide overhang above the cabin door did the first disturbance139 come. Then something started into life and the silence was broken.
'Poleon saw that a canvas sled-cover had been used to curtain the door opening, and during the instant following the alarm he brushed the tarpaulin140 aside and stepped into the pitch-black interior.
It had been a swift maneuver141, the result of a lightning-like decision, and not so reckless as it appeared.
He stood now with his back to the rough log wall, every muscle in his body taut142, his ears strained for some sound, some challenge. He had been prepared for a shot out of the darkness, but nothing came. His lungs were filling with the first deep breath of relief when a sleepy voice spoke132:
"That you, Frank?" 'Poleon remained fixed123 in his tracks. "Frank!" There was a moment's pause, then, "FRANK!"
"Was that you?" Joe McCaskey's voice again demanded.
"Me? What—?"
"Was you outside?"
"Outside?"
"I heard the dogs rowing. They're stirring now. Hear 'em? I'll swear I saw that fly drop—" McCaskey's words died out and again the interior of the cabin became soundless.
"Who's there?" the former speaker suddenly barked.
When another moment had dragged by, a sulphur match was struck. For a second or two it shed a sickly blue radiance sufficient only to silhouette a pair of hands cupped over it; then, as the flame ignited the tiny shaft145, it burst into a yellow glow and sent the shadows of the cabin leaping.
Joe McCaskey uttered a cry, a scream. The flame was crushed in his palms and again the cabin was ink black. It remained as silent as before except for a dry rattling146 of breath in the elder brother's throat.
"Wha—what'd you—see?" the younger one gasped147. Both men were now fully29 awake, but, disregarding the question, Joe cried, wildly:
"Who are you? What d'you want?" And then, when no answer came: "Christ!
SAY something."
'Poleon could hear the wretch103 moisten his dry lips; he could picture both men sitting bolt upright in their sleeping-bags; he could feel the terror that was creeping over them.
"Who'd you see?" Frank whispered again.
"S-something big! Right there! By God! Something's in here!"
Joe's tone was firmer now; nevertheless, fright still held him motionless, paralyzed. He was staring with blind eyes into the velvet148 blackness, and his flesh was rippling149 with a superstitious150 horror of that formless creature he had glimpsed. What was it that had walked in out of the night and now crouched151 ready to spring? Nothing human, nothing natural, that was sure.
Similar thoughts raced madly through his brother's brain, and the latter let forth152 a thin wail—almost a sob153. The sound set Joe into motion. Swiftly but clumsily he fumbled154 through the dry grass with which his bunk155 was filled. He uttered a throaty curse, for he had laid his revolver by his side, right where his hand would fall upon it. Where was the thing—?
Joe's body turned rigid156, his shaking fingers grew stiff and useless, when out of the darkness came a sigh—faint but unmistakable; whence it issued neither brother could tell.
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1
artery
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| n.干线，要道；动脉 | |
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2
behooved
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| v.适宜( behoove的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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4
northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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6
moody
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| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
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7
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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8
overhauling
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| n.大修；拆修；卸修；翻修v.彻底检查( overhaul的现在分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
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sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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blizzard
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| n.暴风雪 | |
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bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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12
romped
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| v.嬉笑玩闹( romp的过去式和过去分词 )；（尤指在赛跑或竞选等中）轻易获胜 | |
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fin
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| n.鳍；(飞机的)安定翼 | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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15
random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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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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bluffs
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| 恐吓( bluff的名词复数 )； 悬崖； 峭壁 | |
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obliterated
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| v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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tardy
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| adj.缓慢的，迟缓的 | |
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trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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25
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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26
gee
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| n.马；int.向右！前进！，惊讶时所发声音；v.向右转 | |
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stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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slab
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| n.平板，厚的切片；v.切成厚板，以平板盖上 | |
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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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gulped
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| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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31
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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32
ass
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| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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dispelled
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| v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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36
charred
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| v.把…烧成炭( char的过去式)；烧焦 | |
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embedded
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| a.扎牢的 | |
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38
languished
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| 长期受苦( languish的过去式和过去分词 )； 受折磨； 变得（越来越）衰弱； 因渴望而变得憔悴或闷闷不乐 | |
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39
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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40
brewed
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| 调制( brew的过去式和过去分词 )； 酝酿； 沏（茶）； 煮（咖啡） | |
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41
carnival
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| n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演 | |
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42
succor
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| n.援助，帮助；v.给予帮助 | |
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43
elicited
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| 引出，探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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45
demeanor
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| n.行为；风度 | |
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46
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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47
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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48
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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49
dodge
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| v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计 | |
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50
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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51
quarry
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| n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找 | |
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52
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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53
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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54
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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55
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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56
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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57
ovation
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| n.欢呼，热烈欢迎，热烈鼓掌 | |
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58
rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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59
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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60
overflow
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| v.(使)外溢，(使)溢出；溢出，流出，漫出 | |
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61
apprehensively
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| adv.担心地 | |
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62
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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63
trampled
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| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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64
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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65
smoldering
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| v.用文火焖烧，熏烧，慢燃( smolder的现在分词 ) | |
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66
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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67
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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68
maze
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| n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑 | |
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69
dome
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| n.圆屋顶，拱顶 | |
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70
domes
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| n.圆屋顶( dome的名词复数 )；像圆屋顶一样的东西；圆顶体育场 | |
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71
thickets
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| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
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72
crests
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| v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的第三人称单数 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
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73
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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74
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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75
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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76
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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77
flare
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| v.闪耀，闪烁；n.潮红；突发 | |
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78
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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79
flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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80
flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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81
writhed
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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82
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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83
tints
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| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
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84
merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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85
silhouette
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| n.黑色半身侧面影，影子，轮廓；v.描绘成侧面影，照出影子来，仅仅显出轮廓 | |
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86
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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87
aurora
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| n.极光 | |
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88
onlookers
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| n.旁观者，观看者( onlooker的名词复数 ) | |
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89
avalanches
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| n.雪崩( avalanche的名词复数 ) | |
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90
rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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91
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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92
phenomena
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| n.现象 | |
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93
whine
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| v.哀号，号哭；n.哀鸣 | |
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94
scuff
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| v. 拖着脚走；磨损 | |
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95
overflows
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| v.溢出，淹没( overflow的第三人称单数 )；充满；挤满了人；扩展出界，过度延伸 | |
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96
slewed
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| adj.喝醉的v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去式 )( slew的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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97
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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98
solicitous
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| adj.热切的，挂念的 | |
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99
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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100
blasphemy
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| n.亵渎，渎神 | |
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101
raved
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| v.胡言乱语( rave的过去式和过去分词 )；愤怒地说；咆哮；痴心地说 | |
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102
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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103
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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104
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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105
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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106
swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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107
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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108
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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109
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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110
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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111
tepid
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| adj.微温的，温热的，不太热心的 | |
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112
preys
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| v.掠食( prey的第三人称单数 )；掠食；折磨；（人）靠欺诈为生 | |
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113
gulping
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| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的现在分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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114
craving
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| n.渴望,热望 | |
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115
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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116
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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117
crunched
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| v.嘎吱嘎吱地咬嚼( crunch的过去式和过去分词 )；嘎吱作响；（快速大量地）处理信息；数字捣弄 | |
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118
copious
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| adj.丰富的，大量的 | |
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119
draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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120
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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121
stiffen
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| v.(使)硬，(使)变挺，(使)变僵硬 | |
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122
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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123
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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124
fixedly
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| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
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125
aboriginal
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| adj.（指动植物）土生的，原产地的，土著的 | |
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126
reticence
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| n.沉默，含蓄 | |
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127
doze
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| v.打瞌睡；n.打盹，假寐 | |
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128
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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129
sipping
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
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130
scintillating
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| adj．才气横溢的,闪闪发光的; 闪烁的 | |
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131
plodded
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| v.沉重缓慢地走（路）( plod的过去式和过去分词 )；努力从事；沉闷地苦干；缓慢进行（尤指艰难枯燥的工作） | |
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132
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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133
landmarks
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| n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 )；目标；（标志重要阶段的）里程碑 ~ (in sth)；有历史意义的建筑物（或遗址） | |
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134
swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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135
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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136
mitten
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| n.连指手套，露指手套 | |
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137
watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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138
snugly
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| adv.紧贴地；贴身地；暖和舒适地；安适地 | |
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139
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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140
tarpaulin
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| n.涂油防水布，防水衣，防水帽 | |
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141
maneuver
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| n.策略[pl.]演习；v.(巧妙)控制；用策略 | |
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142
taut
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| adj.拉紧的，绷紧的，紧张的 | |
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143
rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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144
mumble
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| n./v.喃喃而语，咕哝 | |
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145
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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146
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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147
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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148
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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149
rippling
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| 起涟漪的，潺潺流水般声音的 | |
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150
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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151
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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152
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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153
sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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154
fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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155
bunk
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| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
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156
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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157
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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158
burrowed
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| v.挖掘（洞穴），挖洞( burrow的过去式和过去分词 )；翻寻 | |
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