For that matter all the world could see us—certainly the incoming steamer must; for we lay as near to the pier as safety permitted, abreast17 of the berth18 she would occupy, as we knew by a gangway and a knot of sailors.
“Remember, we’re not supposed to know he’s coming,” I said; “let’s go below.” Besides the skylight, our “coach-house” cabin top had little oblong side windows. We wiped clean those on the port side and watched events from them, kneeling on the sofa.
The steamer backed her paddles, flinging out a wash that set us rolling to our scuppers. There seemed to be very few passengers aboard, but all of them were gazing at the Dulcibella while the packet was warped19 alongside. On the forward deck there were some market-women with baskets, a postman, and a weedy youth who might be an hotel-waiter; on the after-deck, standing20 close together, were two men in ulsters and soft felt hats.
“There he is!” said Davies, in a tense whisper; “the tall one.” But the tall one turned abruptly21 as Davies spoke22 and strode away behind the deck-house, leaving me just a lightning impression of a grey beard and a steep tanned forehead, behind a cloud of cigar-smoke. It was perverse23 of me, but, to tell the truth, I hardly missed him, so occupied was I by the short one, who remained leaning on the rail, thoughtfully contemplating24 the Dulcibella through gold-rimmed pince-nez: a sallow, wizened25 old fellow, beetlebrowed, with a bush of grizzled moustache and a jet-black tuft of beard on his chin. The most remarkable26 feature was the nose, which was broad and flat, merging27 almost imperceptibly in the wrinkled cheeks. Lightly beaked28 at the nether29 extremity30, it drooped31 towards an enormous cigar which was pointing at us like a gun just discharged. He looked wise as Satan, and you would say he was smiling inwardly.
“Who’s that?” I whispered to Davies. (There was no need to talk in whispers, but we did so instinctively32.)
“Can’t think,” said Davies. “Hullo! she’s backing off, and they’ve not landed.”
Some parcels and mail-bags had been thrown up, and the weedy waiter and two market-women had gone up the gangway, which was now being hauled up, and were standing on the quay33. I think one or two other persons had first come aboard unnoticed by us, but at the last moment a man we had not seen before jumped down to the forward deck. “Grimm!” we both ejaculated at once.
The steamer whistled sharply, circled backwards34 into the roadstead, and then steamed away. The pier soon hid her, but her smoke showed she was steering35 towards the North Sea.
“What does this mean?” I asked.
“There must be some other quay to stop at nearer the town,” said Davies. “Let’s go ashore36 and get your letters.”
We had made a long and painful toilette that morning, and felt quite shy of one another as we sculled towards the pier, in much-creased blue suits, conventional collars, and brown boots. It was the first time for two years that I had seen Davies in anything approaching a respectable garb37; but a fashionable watering-place, even in the dead season, exacts respect; and, besides, we had friends to visit.
We tied up the dinghy to an iron ladder, and on the pier found our inquisitor of the night before smoking in the doorway38 of a shed marked “Harbour Master”. After some civilities we inquired about the steamer. The answer was that it was Saturday, and she had, therefore, gone on to Juist. Did we want a good hotel? The “Vier Jahreszeiten” was still open, etc.
“Juist, by Jove!” said Davies, as we walked on. “Why are those three going to Juist?”
“I should have thought it was pretty clear. They’re on their way to Memmert.”
“Is it some meeting, do you think?” said Davies.
“Looks like it. We shall probably find the Kormoran here, wind-bound.”
And find her we did soon after, the outermost42 of the stack of galliots, on the farther side of the harbour. Two men, whose faces we took a good look at, were sitting on her hatch, mending a sail.
Flooded with sun, yet still as the grave, the town was like a dead butterfly for whom the healing rays had come too late. We crossed some deserted43 public gardens commanded by a gorgeous casino, its porticos heaped with chairs and tables; so past kiosques and cafés, great white hotels with boarded windows, bazaars44 and booths, and all the stale lees of vulgar frivolity45, to the post-office, which at least was alive. I received a packet of letters and purchased a local time-table, from which we learned that the steamer sailed daily to Borkum via Norderney, touching46 three times a week at Juist (weather permitting). On the return journey to-day it was due at Norderney at 7.30 p.m. Then I inquired the way to the “Vier Jahreszeiten”. “For whatever your principles, Davies,” I said, “we are going to have the best breakfast money can buy! We’ve got the whole day before us.”
The “Four Seasons” Hotel was on the esplanade facing the northern beach. Living up to its name, it announced on an illuminated47 signboard, “Inclusive terms for winter visitors; special attention to invalids48, etc.” Here in a great glass restaurant, with the unruffled blue of ocean spread out before us, we ate the king of breakfasts, dismissed the waiter, and over long and fragrant49 Havanas examined my mail at leisure.
“What a waste of good diplomacy50!” was my first thought, for nothing had been tampered51 with, so far as we could judge from the minutest scrutiny52, directed, of course, in particular to the franked official letters (for to my surprise there were two) from Whitehall.
The first in order of date (October 6) ran: “Dear Carruthers.—Take another week by all means.—Yours, etc.”
The second (marked “urgent”) had been sent to my home address and forwarded. It was dated October 15, and cancelled the previous letter, requesting me to return to London without delay—“I am sorry to abridge53 your holiday, but we are very busy, and, at present, short-handed.—Yours, etc.” There was a dry postscript54 to the effect that another time I was to be good enough to leave more regular and definite information as to my whereabouts when absent.
“I’m afraid I never got this!” I said, handing it to Davies.
“You won’t go, will you?” said he, looking, nevertheless, with unconcealed awe55 at the great man’s handwriting under the haughty56 official crest57. Meanwhile I discovered an endorsement58 on a corner of the envelope: “Don’t worry; it’s only the chief’s fuss.—M——” I promptly59 tore up the envelope. There are domestic mysteries which it would be indecent and disloyal to reveal, even to one’s best friend. The rest of my letters need no remark; I smiled over some and blushed over others—all were voices from a life which was infinitely60 far away. Davies, meanwhile, was deep in the foreign intelligence of a newspaper, spelling it out line by line, and referring impatiently to me for the meaning of words.
“Hullo!” he said, suddenly; “same old game! Hear that siren?” A curtain of fog had grown on the northern horizon and was drawing shorewards slowly but surely.
“It doesn’t matter, does it?” I said.
“Well, we must get back to the yacht. We can’t leave her alone in the fog.”
There was some marketing61 to be done on the way back, and in the course of looking for the shops we wanted we came on the Schwannallée and noted62 its position. Before we reached the harbour the fog was on us, charging up the streets in dense63 masses. Happily a tramline led right up to the pier-head, or we should have lost our way and wasted time, which, in the event, was of priceless value. Presently we stumbled up against the Harbour Office, which was our landmark64 for the steps where we had tied up the dinghy. The same official appeared and good-naturedly held the painter while we handed in our parcels. He wanted to know why we had left the flesh-pots of the “Vier Jahreszeiten”. To look after our yacht, of course. There was no need, he objected; there would be no traffic moving while the fog lasted, and the fog, having come on at that hour, had come to stay. If it did clear he would keep an eye on the yacht for us. We thanked him, but thought we would go aboard.
“You’ll have a job to find her now,” he said.
The distance was eighty yards at the most, but we had to use a scientific method, the same one, in fact, that Davies had used last night in the approach to the eastern pier.
“Row straight out at right angles to the pier,” he said now. I did so, Davies sounding with his scull between the strokes. He found the bottom after twenty yards, that being the width of the dredged-out channel at this point. Then we turned to the right, and moved gently forward, keeping touch with the edge of the mud-bank (for all the world like blind men tapping along a kerbstone) and taking short excursions from it, till the Dulcibella hove in view. “That’s partly luck,” Davies commented; “we ought to have had the compass as well.”
We exchanged shouts with the man on the pier to show we had arrived.
“It’s very good practice, that sort of thing,” said Davies, when we had disembarked.
“You’ve got a sixth sense,” I observed. “How far could you go like that?”
“Don’t know. Let’s have another try. I can’t sit still all day. Let’s explore this channel.”
“Why not go to Memmert?” I said, in fun.
“To Memmert?” said Davies, slowly; “by Jove! that’s an idea!”
“Good Heavens, man! I was joking. Why, it’s ten mortal miles.”
“More,” said Davies, absently. “It’s not so much the distance—what’s the time? Ten fifteen; quarter ebb—— What am I talking about? We made our plans last night.”
But seeing him, to my amazement65, serious, I was stung by the splendour of the idea I had awakened66. Confidence in his skill was second nature to me. I swept straight on to the logic67 of the thing, the greatness, the completeness of the opportunity, if by a miracle it could be seized and used. Something was going on at Memmert to-day; our men had gone there; here were we, ten miles away, in a smothering68, blinding fog. It was known we were here—Dollmann and Grimm knew it; the crew of the Medusa knew it; the crew of the Kormoran knew it; the man on the pier, whether he cared or not, knew it. But none of them knew Davies as I knew him. Would anyone dream for an instant——?
“Stop a second,” said Davies; “give me two minutes.” He whipped out the German chart. “Where exactly should we go?” (“Exactly!” The word tickled70 me hugely.)
“To the depôt, of course; it’s our only chance.”
“Listen then—there are two routes: the outside one by the open sea, right round Juist, and doubling south—the simplest, but the longest; the depôt’s at the south point of Memmert, and Memmert’s nearly two miles long.” [See Chart B]
“How far would that way be?”
“Sixteen miles good. And we should have to row in a breaking swell71 most of the way, close to land.”
“Out of the question; it’s too public, too, if it clears. The steamer went that way, and will come back that way. We must go inside over the sands. Am I dreaming, though? Can you possibly find the way?”
“I shouldn’t wonder. But I don’t believe you see the hitch72. It’s the time and the falling tide. High water was about 8.15: it’s now 10.15, and all those sands are drying off. We must cross the See Gat and strike that boomed channel, the Memmert Balje; strike it, freeze on to it—can’t cut off an inch—and pass that ‘watershed73’ you see there before it’s too late. It’s an infernally bad one, I can see. Not even a dinghy will cross it for an hour each side of low water.”
“Well, how far is the ‘watershed’?”
“Good Lord! What are we talking for? Change, man, change! Talk while we’re changing.” (He began flinging off his shore clothes, and I did the same.) “It’s at least five miles to the end of it; six, allowing for bends; hour and a half hard pulling; two, allowing for checks. Are you fit? You’ll have to pull the most. Then there are six or seven more miles—easier ones. And then—What are we to do when we get there?”
“Leave that to me,” I said. “You get me there.”
“Supposing it clears?”
“After we get there? Bad; but we must risk that. If it clears on the way there it doesn’t matter by this route; we shall be miles from land.”
“What about getting back?”
“We shall have a rising tide, anyway. If the fog lasts—can you manage in a fog and dark?”
“The dark makes it no more difficult, if we’ve a light to see the compass and chart by. You trim the binnacle lamp—no, the riding-light. Now give me the scissors, and don’t speak a word for ten minutes. Meanwhile, think it out, and load the dinghy—(by Jove! though, don’t make a sound)—some grub and whisky, the boat-compass, lead, riding-light, matches, small boathook, grapnel and line.”
“Foghorn?”
“Yes, and the whistle too.”
“A gun?”
“What for?”
“We’re after ducks.”
I left Davies absorbed in the charts, and softly went about my own functions. In ten minutes he was on the ladder, beckoning75.
“I’ve done,” he whispered. “Now shall we go?”
“I’ve thought it out. Yes,” I answered.
This was only roughly true, for I could not have stated in words all the pros76 and cons77 that I had balanced. It was an impulse that drove me forward; but an impulse founded on reason, with just a tinge78, perhaps, of superstition79; for the quest had begun in a fog and might fitly end in one.
It was twenty-five minutes to eleven when we noiselessly pushed off. “Let her drift,” whispered Davies, “the ebb’ll carry her past the pier.”
We slid by the Dulcibella, and she disappeared. Then we sat without speech or movement for about five minutes, while the gurgle of tide through piles approached and passed. The dinghy appeared to be motionless, just as a balloon in the clouds may appear to its occupants to be motionless, though urged by a current of air. In reality we were driving out of the Riff Gat into the See Gat. The dinghy swayed to a light swell.
“Now, pull,” said Davies, under his breath; “keep it long and steady, above all steady—both arms with equal force.”
I was on the bow-thwart; he vis-à-vis to me on the stern seat, his left hand behind him on the tiller, his right forefinger80 on a small square of paper which lay on his knees; this was a section cut out from the big German chart. [See Chart B] On the midship-thwart between us lay the compass and a watch. Between these three objects—compass, watch, and chart—his eyes darted81 constantly, never looking up or out, save occasionally for a sharp glance over the side at the flying bubbles, to see if I was sustaining a regular speed. My duty was to be his automaton82, the human equivalent of a marine83 engine whose revolutions can be counted and used as data by the navigator. My arms must be regular as twin pistons84; the energy that drove them as controllable as steam. It was a hard ideal to reach, for the complex mortal tends to rely on all the senses God has given him, so unfitting himself for mechanical exactitude when a sense (eyesight, in my case) fails him. At first it was constantly “left” or “right” from Davies, accompanied by a bubbling from the rudder.
“This won’t do, too much helm,” said Davies, without looking up. “Keep your stroke, but listen to me. Can you see the compass card?”
“When I come forward.”
“Take your time, and don’t get flurried, but each time you come forward have a good look at it. The course is sou’-west half-west. You take the opposite, north-east half-east, and keep her stern on that. It’ll be rough, but it’ll save some helm, and give me a hand free if I want it.”
I did as he said, not without effort, and our progress gradually became smoother, till he had no need to speak at all. The only sound now was one like the gentle simmer of a saucepan away to port—the lisp of surf I knew it to be—and the muffled85 grunt86 of the rowlocks. I broke the silence once to say “It’s very shallow.” I had touched sand with my right scull.
“Don’t talk,” said Davies.
About half an hour passed, and then he added sounding to his other occupations. “Plump” went the lead at regular intervals87, and he steered88 with his hip69 while pulling in the line. Very little of it went out at first, then less still. Again I struck bottom, and, glancing aside, saw weeds. Suddenly he got a deep cast, and the dinghy, freed from the slight drag which shallow water always inflicts89 on a small boat, leapt buoyantly forward. At the same time, I knew by boils on the smooth surface that we were in a strong tideway.
“The Buse Tief,” [See Chart B] muttered Davies. “Row hard now, and steady as a clock.”
For a hundred yards or more I bent90 to my sculls and made her fly. Davies was getting six fathom91 casts, till, just as suddenly as it had deepened, the water shoaled—ten feet, six, three, one—the dinghy grounded.
“Good!” said Davies. “Back her off! Pull your right only.” The dinghy spun92 round with her bow to N.N.W. “Both arms together! Don’t you worry about the compass now; just pull, and listen for orders. There’s a tricky93 bit coming.”
He put aside the chart, kicked the lead under the seat, and, kneeling on the dripping coils of line, sounded continuously with the butt-end of the boathook, a stumpy little implement94, notched95 at intervals of a foot, and often before used for the same purpose. All at once I was aware that a check had come, for the dinghy swerved96 and doubled like a hound ranging after scent97.
“Stop her,” he said, suddenly, “and throw out the grapnel.”
I obeyed and we brought up, swinging to a slight current, whose direction Davies verified by the compass. Then for half a minute he gave himself up to concentrated thought. What struck me most about him was that he never for a moment strained his eyes through the fog; a useless exercise (for five yards or so was the radius98 of our vision) which, however, I could not help indulging in, while I rested. He made up his mind, and we were off again, straight and swift as an arrow this time, and in water deeper than the boathook. I could see by his face that he was taking some bold expedient99 whose issue hung in the balance.... Again we touched mud, and the artist’s joy of achievement shone in his eyes. Backing away, we headed west, and for the first time he began to gaze into the fog.
“There’s one!” he snapped at last. “Easy all!”
A boom, one of the usual upright saplings, glided100 out of the mist. He caught hold of it, and we brought up.
“Rest for three minutes now,” he said. “We’re in fairly good time.”
It was 11.10. I ate some biscuits and took a nip of whisky while Davies prepared for the next stage.
We had reached the eastern outlet101 of Memmert Balje, the channel which runs east and west behind Juist Island, direct to the south point of Memmert. How we had reached it was incomprehensible to me at the time, but the reader will understand by comparing my narrative102 with the dotted line on the chart. I add this brief explanation, that Davies’s method had been to cross the channel called the Buse Tief, and strike the other side of it at a point well south of the outlet of the Memmert Balje (in view of the northward103 set of the ebb-tide), and then to drop back north and feel his way to the outlet. The check was caused by a deep indentation in the Itzendorf Flat; a cul-de-sac, with a wide mouth, which Davies was very near mistaking for the Balje itself. We had no time to skirt dents104 so deep as that; hence the dash across its mouth with the chance of missing the upper lip altogether, and of either being carried out to sea (for the slightest error was cumulative) or straying fruitlessly along the edge.
The next three miles were the most critical of all. They included the “watershed”, whose length and depth were doubtful; they included, too, the crux105 of the whole passage, a spot where the channel forks, our own branch continuing west, and another branch diverging106 from it north-westward. We must row against time, and yet we must negotiate that crux. Add to this that the current was against us till the watershed was crossed; that the tide was just at its most baffling stage, too low to allow us to risk short cuts, and too high to give definition to the banks of the channel; and that the compass was no aid whatever for the minor107 bends. “Time’s up,” said Davies, and on we went. I was hugging the comfortable thought that we should now have booms on our starboard for the whole distance; on our starboard, I say, for experience had taught us that all channels running parallel with the coast and islands were uniformly boomed on the northern side. Anyone less confident than Davies would have succumbed108 to the temptation of slavishly relying on these marks, creeping from one to the other, and wasting precious time. But Davies knew our friend the “boom” and his eccentricities109 too well; and preferred to trust to his sense of touch, which no fog in the world could impair110. If we happened to sight one, well and good, we should know which side of the channel we were on. But even this contingent111 advantage he deliberately112 sacrificed after a short distance, for he crossed over to the south or unboomed side and steered and sounded along it, using the ltzendorf Flat as his handrail, so to speak. He was compelled to do this, he told me afterwards, in view of the crux, where the converging113 lines of booms would have involved us in irremediable confusion. Our branch was the southern one, and it followed that we must use the southern bank, and defer114 obtaining any help from booms until sure we were past that critical spot.
For an hour we were at the extreme strain, I of physical exertion115, he of mental. I could not get into a steady swing, for little checks were constant. My right scull was for ever skidding116 on mud or weeds, and the backward suck of shoal water clogged117 our progress. Once we were both of us out in the slime tugging118 at the dinghy’s sides; then in again, blundering on. I found the fog bemusing, lost all idea of time and space, and felt like a senseless marionette119 kicking and jerking to a mad music without tune120 or time. The misty121 form of Davies as he sat with his right arm swinging rhythmically122 forward and back, was a clockwork figure as mad as myself, but didactic and gibbering in his madness. Then the boathook he wielded123 with a circular sweep began to take grotesque124 shapes in my heated fancy; now it was the antenna125 of a groping insect, now the crank of a cripple’s self-propelled perambulator, now the alpenstock of a lunatic mountaineer, who sits in his chair and climbs and climbs to some phantom126 “watershed”. At the back of such mind as was left me lodged127 two insistent128 thoughts: “we must hurry on,” “we are going wrong.” As to the latter, take a link-boy through a London fog and you will experience the same thing: he always goes the way you think is wrong. “We’re rowing back!” I remember shouting to Davies once, having become aware that it was now my left scull which splashed against obstructions129. “Rubbish,” said Davies. “I’ve crossed over”; and I relapsed.
By degrees I returned to sanity130, thanks to improved conditions. It is an ill wind that blows nobody good, and the state of the tide, though it threatened us with total failure, had the compensating131 advantage that the lower it fell the more constricted132 and defined became our channel; till the time came when the compass and boathook were alike unnecessary, because our handrail, the muddy brink133 of the channel, was visible to the eye, close to us; on our right hand always now, for the crux was far behind, and the northern side was now our guide. All that remained was to press on with might and main ere the bed of the creek134 dried.
What a race it was! Homeric, in effect; a struggle of men with gods, for what were the gods but forces of nature personified? If the God of the Falling Tide did not figure in the Olympian circle he is none the less a mighty135 divinity. Davies left his post, and rowed stroke. Under our united efforts the dinghy advanced in strenuous136 leaps, hurling137 miniature rollers on the bank beside us. My palms, seasoned as they were, were smarting with watery138 blisters139. The pace was too hot for my strength and breath.
“Well, I think we’re over it,” said Davies.
We stopped the dinghy dead, and he stabbed over the side with the boathook. It passed gently astern of us, and even my bewildered brain took in the meaning of that.
“Three feet and the current with us. Well over it,” he said. “I’ll paddle on while you rest and feed.”
It was a few minutes past one and we still, as he calculated, had eight miles before us, allowing for bends.
I took his word for it, and munched142 at tongue and biscuits. As for muscle, we were both in hard condition. He was fresh, and what distress143 I felt was mainly due to spasmodic exertion culminating in that desperate spurt144. As for the fog, it had more than once shown a faint tendency to lift, growing thinner and more luminous145, in the manner of fogs, always to settle down again, heavy as a quilt.
Note the spot marked “second rest” (approximately correct, Davies says) and the course of the channel from that point westward. You will see it broadening and deepening to the dimensions of a great river, and finally merging in the estuary146 of the Ems. Note, too, that its northern boundary, the edge of the now uncovered Nordland Sand, leads, with one interruption (marked A), direct to Memmert, and is boomed throughout. You will then understand why Davies made so light of the rest of his problem. Compared with the feats147 he had performed, it was child’s play, for he always had that visible margin148 to keep touch with if he chose, or to return to in case of doubt. As a matter of fact—observe our dotted line—he made two daring departures from it, the first purely149 to save time, the second partly to save time and partly to avoid the very awkward spot marked A, where a creek with booms and a little delta150 of its own interrupts the even bank. During the first of these departures—the shortest but most brilliant—he let me do the rowing, and devoted151 himself to the niceties of the course; during the second, and through both the intermediate stages, he rowed himself, with occasional pauses to inspect the chart. We fell into a long, measured stroke, and covered the miles rapidly, scarcely exchanging a single word till, at the end of a long pull through vacancy152, Davies said suddenly:
“Now where are we to land?”
“Where are we?”
“A quarter of a mile from Memmert.”
“What time is it?”
“Nearly three.”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
stringent
|
|
| adj.严厉的；令人信服的；银根紧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
barometer
|
|
| n.气压表，睛雨表，反应指标 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
fickle
|
|
| adj.(爱情或友谊上)易变的，不坚定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
attenuated
|
|
| v.（使）变细( attenuate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）变薄；（使）变小；减弱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
opaque
|
|
| adj.不透光的；不反光的，不传导的；晦涩的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
commodious
|
|
| adj.宽敞的；使用方便的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
piers
|
|
| n.水上平台( pier的名词复数 )；（常设有娱乐场所的）突堤；柱子；墙墩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
pier
|
|
| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
spacious
|
|
| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
haven
|
|
| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
tug
|
|
| v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
tugs
|
|
| n.猛拉( tug的名词复数 )；猛拖；拖船v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
moored
|
|
| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
varnished
|
|
| 浸渍过的，涂漆的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
brass
|
|
| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
abreast
|
|
| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
berth
|
|
| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
warped
|
|
| adj.反常的；乖戾的；（变）弯曲的；变形的v.弄弯，变歪( warp的过去式和过去分词 )；使（行为等）不合情理，使乖戾， | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
perverse
|
|
| adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
contemplating
|
|
| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
wizened
|
|
| adj.凋谢的；枯槁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
merging
|
|
| 合并（分类） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
beaked
|
|
| adj.有喙的，鸟嘴状的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
nether
|
|
| adj.下部的，下面的；n.阴间；下层社会 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
extremity
|
|
| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
drooped
|
|
| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
instinctively
|
|
| adv.本能地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
quay
|
|
| n.码头，靠岸处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
backwards
|
|
| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
steering
|
|
| n.操舵装置 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
ashore
|
|
| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
garb
|
|
| n.服装，装束 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
longingly
|
|
| adv. 渴望地 热望地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
westward
|
|
| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
streak
|
|
| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
outermost
|
|
| adj.最外面的，远离中心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
bazaars
|
|
| （东方国家的）市场( bazaar的名词复数 )； 义卖； 义卖市场； （出售花哨商品等的）小商品市场 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
frivolity
|
|
| n.轻松的乐事，兴高采烈；轻浮的举止 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
touching
|
|
| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
illuminated
|
|
| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
invalids
|
|
| 病人，残疾者( invalid的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
fragrant
|
|
| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
diplomacy
|
|
| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
tampered
|
|
| v.窜改( tamper的过去式 )；篡改；（用不正当手段）影响；瞎摆弄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
scrutiny
|
|
| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
abridge
|
|
| v.删减，删节，节略，缩短 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
postscript
|
|
| n.附言，又及；(正文后的)补充说明 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
awe
|
|
| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
haughty
|
|
| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
crest
|
|
| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
endorsement
|
|
| n.背书；赞成，认可，担保；签(注)，批注 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
infinitely
|
|
| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
marketing
|
|
| n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
dense
|
|
| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
landmark
|
|
| n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
awakened
|
|
| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
logic
|
|
| n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
smothering
|
|
| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的现在分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
hip
|
|
| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
tickled
|
|
| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
swell
|
|
| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
hitch
|
|
| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
watershed
|
|
| n.转折点，分水岭，分界线 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
muffle
|
|
| v.围裹；抑制；发低沉的声音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
beckoning
|
|
| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
pros
|
|
| abbr.prosecuting 起诉；prosecutor 起诉人；professionals 自由职业者；proscenium （舞台）前部n.赞成的意见( pro的名词复数 )；赞成的理由；抵偿物；交换物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
cons
|
|
| n.欺骗，骗局( con的名词复数 )v.诈骗，哄骗( con的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
tinge
|
|
| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
superstition
|
|
| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
forefinger
|
|
| n.食指 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
darted
|
|
| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
automaton
|
|
| n.自动机器，机器人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
marine
|
|
| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
pistons
|
|
| 活塞( piston的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
muffled
|
|
| 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） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
grunt
|
|
| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
intervals
|
|
| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
steered
|
|
| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
inflicts
|
|
| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
fathom
|
|
| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
spun
|
|
| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
tricky
|
|
| adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；(工作等)棘手的，微妙的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
implement
|
|
| n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
notched
|
|
| a.有凹口的，有缺口的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
swerved
|
|
| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
scent
|
|
| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
radius
|
|
| n.半径，半径范围；有效航程，范围，界限 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
expedient
|
|
| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
glided
|
|
| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
outlet
|
|
| n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
narrative
|
|
| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
northward
|
|
| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
104
dents
|
|
| n.花边边饰；凹痕( dent的名词复数 )；凹部；减少；削弱v.使产生凹痕( dent的第三人称单数 )；损害；伤害；挫伤（信心、名誉等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
105
crux
|
|
| adj.十字形；难事，关键，最重要点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
106
diverging
|
|
| 分开( diverge的现在分词 )； 偏离； 分歧； 分道扬镳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
107
minor
|
|
| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
108
succumbed
|
|
| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
109
eccentricities
|
|
| n.古怪行为( eccentricity的名词复数 )；反常；怪癖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
110
impair
|
|
| v.损害，损伤；削弱，减少 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
111
contingent
|
|
| adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
112
deliberately
|
|
| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
113
converging
|
|
| adj.收敛[缩]的，会聚的，趋同的v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的现在分词 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
114
defer
|
|
| vt.推迟，拖延；vi.(to)遵从，听从，服从 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
115
exertion
|
|
| n.尽力，努力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
116
skidding
|
|
| n.曳出，集材v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的现在分词 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
117
clogged
|
|
| （使）阻碍( clog的过去式和过去分词 )； 淤滞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
118
tugging
|
|
| n.牵引感v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
119
marionette
|
|
| n.木偶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
120
tune
|
|
| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
121
misty
|
|
| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
122
rhythmically
|
|
| adv.有节奏地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
123
wielded
|
|
| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的过去式和过去分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
124
grotesque
|
|
| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
125
antenna
|
|
| n.触角，触须；天线 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
126
phantom
|
|
| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
127
lodged
|
|
| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
128
insistent
|
|
| adj.迫切的，坚持的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
129
obstructions
|
|
| n.障碍物( obstruction的名词复数 )；阻碍物；阻碍；阻挠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
130
sanity
|
|
| n.心智健全，神智正常，判断正确 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
131
compensating
|
|
| 补偿，补助，修正 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
132
constricted
|
|
| adj.抑制的，约束的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
133
brink
|
|
| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
134
creek
|
|
| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
135
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
136
strenuous
|
|
| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
137
hurling
|
|
| n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的现在分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
138
watery
|
|
| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
139
blisters
|
|
| n.水疱( blister的名词复数 )；水肿；气泡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
140
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
141
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
142
munched
|
|
| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
143
distress
|
|
| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
144
spurt
|
|
| v.喷出；突然进发；突然兴隆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
145
luminous
|
|
| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
146
estuary
|
|
| n.河口，江口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
147
feats
|
|
| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
148
margin
|
|
| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
149
purely
|
|
| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
150
delta
|
|
| n.（流的）角洲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
151
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
152
vacancy
|
|
| n.（旅馆的）空位，空房，（职务的）空缺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
153
looming
|
|
| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |