I took my bearings collectedly, placed one foot on the path, thought better of it, and turned back towards Esens. I knew without reference to the map that that path would bring them to the Benser Tief at a point somewhere near the timber-yard. In a fog I might have followed them there; as it was, the night was none too dark, and I had my strength to husband; and stamped on my memory were the words “the tide serves”. I judged it a wiser use of time and sinew to anticipate them at Bensersiel by the shortest road, leaving them to reach it by way of the devious9 Tief, to examine which was, I felt convinced, one of their objects.
It was nine o’clock of a fresh wild night, a halo round the beclouded moon. I passed through quiet Esens, and in an hour I was close to Bensersiel, and could hear the sea. In the rooted idea that I should find Grimm on the outskirts10, awaiting visitors, I left the road short of the village, and made a circuit to the harbour by way of the sea-wall. The lower windows of the inn shed a warm glow into the night, and within I could see the village circle gathered over cards, and dominated as of old by the assertive12 little postmaster, whose high-pitched, excitable voice I could clearly distinguish, as he sat with his cap on the back of his head and a “feine schnapps” at his elbow. The harbour itself looked exactly the same as I remembered it a week ago. The post-boat lay in her old berth13 at the eastern jetty, her mainsail set and her twin giants spitting over the rail. I hailed them boldly from the shore (without showing them who I was), and was told they were starting for Langeoog in a few minutes; the wind was off-shore, the mails aboard, and the water just high enough. “Did I want a passage?” “No, I thought I would wait.” Positive that my party could never have got here so soon, I nevertheless kept an eye on the galliot till she let go her stern-rope and slid away. One contingency14 was eliminated. Some loiterers dispersed15, and all port business appeared to be ended for the night.
Three-quarters of an hour of strained suspense16 ensued. Most of it I spent on my knees in a dark angle between the dyke17 and the western jetty, whence I had a strategic survey of the basin; but I was driven at times to relieve inaction by sallies which increased in audacity18. I scouted19 on the road beyond the bridge, hovered20 round the lock, and peered in at the inn parlour; but nowhere could I see a trace of Grimm. I examined every floating object in the harbour (they were very few), dropped on to two lighters22 and pried23 under tarpaulins25, boarded a deserted26 tug27 and two or three clumsy rowboats tied up to a mooring-post. Only one of these had the look of readiness, the rest being devoid28 of oars29 and rowlocks; a discouraging state of things for a prospective30 boat-lifter. It was the sight of these rowboats that suggested a last and most distracting possibility, namely, that the boat in waiting, if boat there were, might be not in the harbour at all, but somewhere on the sands outside the dyke, where, at this high state of the tide, it would have water and to spare. Back to the dyke then; but as I peered seaward on the way, contingencies32 evaporated and a solid fact supervened, for I saw the lights of a steamboat approaching the harbour mouth. I had barely time to gain my coign of vantage before she had swept in between the piers33, and with a fitful swizzling of her screw was turning and backing down to a berth just ahead of one of the lighters, and not fifty feet from my hiding-place. A deck-hand jumped ashore35 with a rope, while the man at the wheel gave gruff directions. The vessel36 was a small tug, and the man at the wheel disclosed his identity when, having rung off his engines, he jumped ashore also, looked at his watch in the beam of the sidelight, and walked towards the village. It was Grimm, by the height and build—Grimm clad in a long tarpaulin24 coat and a sou’wester. I watched him cross the shaft37 of light from the inn window and disappear in the direction of the canal.
Another sailor now appeared and helped his fellow to tie up the tug. The two together then went aft and began to set about some job whose nature I could not determine. To emerge was perilous38, so I set about a job of my own, tearing open my bundle and pulling an oilskin jacket and trousers over my clothes, and discarding my peaked cap for a sou’-wester. This operation was prompted instantaneously by the garb39 of two sailors, who in hauling on the forward warp40 came into the field of the mast-head light.
It was something of a gymnastic masterpiece, since I was lying—or, rather, standing41 aslant—on the rough sea-wall, with crannies of brick for foothold and the water plashing below me; but then I had not lived in the Dulcibella for nothing. My chain of thought, I fancy, was this—the tug is to carry my party; I cannot shadow a tug in a rowboat, yet I intend to shadow my party; I must therefore go with them in the tug, and the first and soundest step is to mimic42 her crew. But the next step was a hard matter, for the crew having finished their job sat side by side on the bulwarks43 and lit their pipes. However, a little pantomime soon occurred, as amusing as it was inspiriting. They seemed to consult together, looking from the tug to the inn and from the inn to the tug. One of them walked a few paces inn-wards and beckoned45 to the other, who in his turn called something down the engine-room skylight, and then joined his mate in a scuttle46 to the inn. Even while I watched the pantomime I was sliding off my boots, and it had not been consummated47 a second before I had them in my arms and was tripping over the mud in my stocking feet. A dozen noiseless steps and I was over the bulwarks between the wheel and the smoke-stack, casting about for a hiding-place. The conventional stowaway49 hides in the hold, but there was only a stokehold here, occupied moreover; nor was there an empty apple-barrel, such as Jim of Treasure Island found so useful. As far as I could see—and I dared not venture far for fear of the skylight—the surface of the deck offered nothing secure. But on the farther or starboard side, rather abaft50 the beam, there was a small boat in davits, swung outboard, to which common sense, and perhaps a vague prescience of its after utility, pointed51 irresistibly52. In any case, discrimination was out of place, so I mounted the bulwark44 and gently entered my refuge. The tackles creaked a trifle, oars and seats impeded53 me; but well before the thirsty truants54 had returned I was settled on the floor boards between two thwarts55, so placed that I could, if necessary, peep over the gunwale.
The two sailors returned at a run, and very soon after voices approached, and I recognised that of Herr Schenkel chattering56 volubly. He and Grimm boarded the tug and went down a companionway aft, near which, as I peeped over, I saw a second skylight, no bigger than the Dulcibella’s, illuminated57 from below. Then I heard a cork58 drawn59, and the kiss of glasses, and in a minute or two they re-emerged. It was apparent that Herr Schenkel was inclined to stay and make merry, and that Grimm was anxious to get rid of him, and none too courteous60 in showing it. The former urged that to-morrow’s tide would do, the latter gave orders to cast off, and at length observed with an angry oath that the water was falling, and he must start; and, to clinch61 matters, with a curt62 good-night, he went to the wheel and rang up his engines. Herr Schenkel landed and strutted63 off in high dudgeon, while the tug’s screw began to revolve64. We had only glided65 a few yards on when the engines stopped, a short blast of the whistle sounded, and, before I had had time to recast the future, I heard a scurry66 of footsteps from the direction of the dyke, first on the bank, next on the deck. The last of these new arrivals panted audibly as he got aboard and dropped on the planks67 with an unelastic thud.
Her complement68 made up, the tug left the harbour, but not alone. While slowly gathering69 way the hull70 checked all at once with a sharp jerk, recovered, and increased its speed. We had something in tow—what? The lighter21, of course, that had been lying astern of us.
Now I knew what was in that lighter, because I had been to see, half an hour ago. It was no lethal71 cargo72, but coal, common household coal; not a full load of it, I remembered—just a good-sized mound73 amidships, trimmed with battens fore2 and aft to prevent shifting. “Well,” thought I, “this is intelligible74 enough. Grimm was ostensibly there to call for a load of coal for Memmert. But does that mean we are going to Memmert?” At the same time I recalled a phrase overheard at the depôt, “Only one—half a load.” Why half a load?
For some few minutes there was a good deal of movement on deck, and of orders shouted by Grimm and answered by a voice from far astern on the lighter. Presently, however, the tug warmed to her work, the hull vibrated with energy, and an ordered peace reigned75 on board. I also realised that having issued from the boomed channel we had turned westward76, for the wind, which had been blowing us fair, now blew strongly over the port beam.
I peeped out of my eyrie and was satisfied in a moment that as long as I made no noise, and observed proper prudence77, I was perfectly78 safe until the boat was wanted. There were no deck lamps; the two skylights diffused79 but a sickly radiance, and I was abaft the side-lights. I was abaft the wheel also, though thrillingly near it in point of distance—about twelve feet, I should say; and Grimm was steering80. The wheel, I should mention here, was raised, as you often see them, on a sort of pulpit, approached by two or three steps and fenced by a breast-high arc of boarding. Only one of the crew was visible, and he was acting31 as look-out in the extreme bows, the rays of the masthead lights—for a second had been hoisted81 in sign of towage—glistening82 on his oilskin back. The other man, I concluded, was steering the lighter, which I could dimly locate by the pale foam83 at her bow.
And the passengers? They were all together aft, three of them, leaning over the taffrail, with their backs turned to me. One was short and stout—Böhme unquestionably; the panting and the thud on the planks had prepared me for that, though where he had sprung from I did not know. Two were tall, and one of these must be von Brüning. There ought to be four, I reckoned; but three were all I could see. And what of the third? It must be he who “insists on coming”, the unknown superior at whose instance and for whose behoof this secret expedition had been planned. And who could he be? Many times, needless to say, I had asked myself that question, but never till now, when I had found the rendezvous84 and joined the expedition, did it become one of burning import.
“Any weather” was another of those stored-up phrases that were à propos. It was a dirty, squally night, not very cold, for the wind still hung in the S.S.W.—an off-shore wind on this coast, causing no appreciable85 sea on the shoal spaces we were traversing. In the matter of our bearings, I set myself doggedly86 to overcome that paralysing perplexity, always induced in me by night or fog in these intricate waters; and, by screwing round and round, succeeded so far as to discover and identify two flashing lights—one alternately red and white, far and faint astern; the other right ahead and rather stronger, giving white flashes only. The first and least familiar was, I made out, from the lighthouse on Wangeroog; the second, well known to me as our beacon87 star in the race from Memmert, was the light on the centre of Norderney Island, about ten miles away.
I had no accurate idea of the time, for I could not see my watch, but I thought we must have started about a quarter past eleven. We were travelling fast, the funnel88 belching89 out smoke and the bow-wave curling high; for the tug appeared to be a powerful little craft, and her load was comparatively light.
So much for the general situation. As for my own predicament, I was in no mood to brood on the hazards of this mad adventure, a hundredfold more hazardous90 than my fog-smothered eavesdropping91 at Memmert. The crisis, I knew, had come, and the reckless impudence92 that had brought me here must serve me still and extricate93 me. Fortune loves rough wooing. I backed my luck and watched.
The behaviour of the passengers struck me as odd. They remained in a row at the taffrail, gazing astern like regretful emigrants94, and sometimes, gesticulating and pointing. Now no vestige95 of the low land was visible, so I was driven to the conclusion that it was the lighter they were discussing; and I date my awakening96 from the moment that I realised this. But the thread broke prematurely97; for the passengers took to pacing the deck, and I had to lie low. When next I was able to raise my head they were round Grimm at the wheel, engaged, as far as I could discover from their gestures, in an argument about our course and the time, for Grimm looked at his watch by the light of a hand-lantern.
We were heading north, and I knew by the swell98 that we must be near the Accumer Ee, the gap between Langeoog and Baltrum. Were we going out to open sea? It came over me with a rush that we must, if we were to drop this lighter at Memmert. Had I been Davies I should have been quicker to seize certain rigid99 conditions of this cruise, which no human power could modify. We had left after high tide. The water therefore was falling everywhere; and the tributary100 channels in rear of the islands were slowly growing impassable. It was quite thirty miles to Memmert, with three watersheds101 to pass; behind Baltrum, Norderney, and Juist. A skipper with nerve and perfect confidence might take us over one of these in the dark, but most of the run would infallibly have to be made outside. I now better understood the protests of Herr Schenkel to Grimm. Never once had we seen a lighter in tow in the open sea, though plenty behind the barrier of islands; indeed it was the very existence of the sheltered byways that created such traffic as there was. It was only Grimm’s métier and the incubus102 of the lighter that had suggested Memmert as our destination at all, and I began to doubt it now. That tricky103 hoop104 of sand had befooled us before.
At this moment, and as if to corroborate105 my thought, the telegraph rang and the tug slowed down. I effaced106 myself and heard Grimm shouting to the man on the lighter to starboard his helm, and to the look-out to come aft. The next order froze my very marrow107; it was “lower away”. Someone was at the davits of my boat fingering the tackles; the forward fall-rope actually slipped in the block and tilted108 the boat a fraction. I was just wondering how far it was to swim to Langeoog, when a strong, imperious voice (unknown to me) rang out, “No, no! We don’t want the boat. The swell’s nothing; we can jump! Can’t we, Böhme?” The speaker ended with a jovial109 laugh. “Mercy!” thought I, “are they going to swim to Langeoog?” but I also gasped110 for relief. The tug rolled lifelessly in the swell for a little, and footsteps retreated aft. There were cries of “Achtung!” and some laughter, one big bump and a good deal of grinding; and on we moved again, taking the strain of the tow-rope gingerly, and then full-speed ahead. The passengers, it seemed, preferred the lighter to the tug for cruising in; coal-dust and exposure to clean planks and a warm cuddy. When silence reigned again I peeped out. Grimm was at the wheel still, impassively twirling the spokes112, with a glance over his shoulder at his precious freight. And, after all, we were going outside.
Close on the port hand lay a black foam-girt shape, the east spit of Baltrum. It fused with the night, while we swung slowly round to windward over the troubled bar. Now we were in the spacious113 deeps of the North Sea; and feeling it too in increase of swell and volleys of spray.
At this point evolutions began. Grimm gave the wheel up to the look-out, and himself went to the taffrail, whence he roared back orders of “Port!” or “Starboard!” in response to signals from the lighter. We made one complete circle, steering on each point of the wind in succession, after that worked straight out to sea till the water was a good deal rougher, and back again at a tangent, till in earshot of the surf on the island beach. There the manœuvres, which were clearly in the nature of a trial trip, ended; and we hove to, to transship our passengers. They, when they came aboard, went straight below, and Grimm, having steadied the tug on a settled course and entrusted114 the wheel to the sailor again, stripped off his dripping oilskin coat, threw it down on the cabin skylight, and followed them. The course he had set was about west, with Norderney light a couple of points off the port bow. The course for Memmert? Possibly; but I cared not, for my mind was far from Memmert to-night. It was the course for England too. Yes, I understood at last. I was assisting at an experimental rehearsal115 of a great scene, to be enacted116, perhaps, in the near future—a scene when multitudes of seagoing lighters, carrying full loads of soldiers, not half loads of coals, should issue simultaneously117, in seven ordered fleets, from seven shallow outlets118, and, under escort of the Imperial Navy, traverse the North Sea and throw themselves bodily upon English shores.
Indulgent reader, you may be pleased to say that I have been very obtuse119; and yet, with humility120, I protest against that verdict. Remember that, recent as are the events I am describing, it is only since they happened that the possibility of an invasion of England by Germany has become a topic of public discussion. Davies and I had never—I was going to say had never considered it; but that would not be accurate, for we had glanced at it once or twice; and if any single incident in his or our joint121 cruise had provided a semblance122 of confirmation123, he, at any rate, would have kindled124 to that spark. But you will see how perversely125 from first to last circumstances drove us deeper and deeper into the wrong groove126, till the idea became inveterate127 that the secret we were seeking was one of defence and not offence. Hence a complete mental somersault was required, and, as an amateur, I found it difficult; the more so that the method of invasion, as I darkly comprehended it now, was of such a strange and unprecedented128 character; for orthodox invasions start from big ports and involve a fleet of ocean transports, while none of our clues pointed that way. To neglect obvious methods, to draw on the obscure resources of an obscure strip of coast, to improve and exploit a quantity of insignificant129 streams and tidal outlets, and thence, screened by the islands, to despatch130 an armada of light-draught131 barges132, capable of flinging themselves on a correspondingly obscure and therefore unexpected portion of the enemy’s coast; that was a conception so daring, aye, and so quixotic in some of its aspects, that even now I was half incredulous. Yet it must be the true one. Bit by bit the fragments of the puzzle fell into order till a coherent whole was adumbrated133. [The reader will find the whole matter dealt with in the Epilogue.]
The tug surged on into the night; a squall of rain leapt upon us and swept hissing134 astern. Baltrum vanished and the strands135 of Norderney beamed under transient moonlight. Drunk with triumph, I cuddled in my rocking cradle and ransacked136 every unvisited chamber137 of the memory, tossing out their dusty contents, to make a joyous138 bonfire of some, and to see the residue139 take life and meaning in the light of the great revelation.
My reverie was of things, not persons; of vast national issues rather than of the poignant140 human interests so closely linked with them. But on a sudden I was recalled, with a shock, to myself, Davies, and the present.
We were changing our course, as I knew by variations in the whirl of draughts141 which whistled about me. I heard Grimm afoot again, and, choosing my moment, surveyed the scene. Broad on the port-beam were the garish142 lights of Norderney town and promenade143, and the tug, I perceived, was drawing in to enter the See Gat. [See Chart B.]
Round she came, hustling144 through the broken water of the bar, till her nose was south and the wind was on the starboard bow. Not a mile from me were the villa11 and the yacht, and the three persons of the drama—three, that is, if Davies were safe.
Were we to land at Norderney harbour? Heavens, what a magnificent climax145!—if only I could rise to it. My work here was done. At a stroke to rejoin Davies and be free to consummate48 our designs!
A desperate idea of cutting the davit-tackles—I blush to think of the stupidity—was rejected as soon as it was born, and instead, I endeavoured to imagine our approach to the pier34. My boat hung on the starboard side; that would be the side away from the quay146, and the tide would be low. I could swarm147 down the davits during the stir of arrival, drop into the sea and swim the few yards across the dredged-out channel, wade148 through the mud to within a short distance of the Dulcibella, and swim the rest. I rubbed the salt out of my eyes and wriggled149 my cramped150 legs.... Hullo! why was Grimm leaving the helm again? Back he went to the cabin, leaving the sailor at the helm.... We ought to be turning to port now; but no—on we went, south, for the mainland.
Our destination was at last beyond dispute. [See Chart.] The channel we were in was the same that we had cut across on our blind voyage to Memmert, and the same my ferry-steamer had followed two days ago. It was a cul-de-sac leading to one place only, the landing stage at Norddeich. The only place on the whole coast, now I came to think of it, where the tug could land at this tide. There the quay would be on the starboard side, and I saw myself tied to my eyrie while the passengers landed and the tug and lighter turned back for Memmert; at Memmert, dawn, and discovery.
There was some way out—some way out, I repeated to myself; some way to reap the fruit of Davies’s long tutelage in the lore153 of this strange region. What would he do?
For answer there came the familiar frou-frou of gentle surf on drying sands. The swell was dying away, the channel narrowing; dusky and weird154 on the starboard hand stretched leagues of new-risen sand. Two men only were on deck; the moon was quenched155 under the vanguard clouds of a fresh squall.
A madcap scheme danced before me. The time, I must know the time! Crouching156 low and cloaking the flame with my jacket I struck a match; 2.30 a.m.—the tide had been ebbing157 for about three hours and a half. Low water about five; they would be aground till 7.30. Danger to life? None. Flares159 and rescuers? Not likely, with “him who insists” on board; besides, no one could come, there being no danger. I should have a fair wind and a fair tide for my trip. Grimm’s coat was on the skylight; we were both clean-shaved.
The helmsman gazed ahead, intent on his difficult course, and the wind howled to perfection. I knelt up and examined one of the davit-tackles. There was nothing remarkable160 about it, a double and a single block (like our own peak halyards), the lower one hooked into a ring in the boat, the hauling part made fast to a cleat on the davit itself. Something there must be to give lateral161 support or the boat would have racketed abroad in the roll outside. The support, I found, consisted of two lanyards spliced162 to the davits and rove through holes in the keel. These I leaned over and cut with my pocket-knife; the result being a barely perceptible swaying of the boat, for the tug was under the lee of sands and on an even keel. Then I left my hiding-place, climbing out of the stern sheets by the after-davit, and preparing every successive motion with exquisite163 tenderness, till I stood on the deck. In another moment I was at the cabin skylight, lifting Grimm’s long oilskin coat. (A second’s yielding to temptation here; but no, the skylight was ground glass, fastened from below. So, on with the coat, up with the collar, and forward to the wheel on tiptoe.) As soon as I was up to the engine-room skylight (that is to say, well ahead of the cabin roof) I assumed a natural step, went up to the pulpit and touched the helmsman on the arm, as I had seen Grimm do. The man stepped aside, grunting164 something about a light, and I took the wheel from him. Grimm was a man of few words, so I just jogged his satellite, and pointed forward. He went off like a lamb to his customary place in the bows, not having dreamt—why should he?—of examining me, but in him I had instantly recognised one of the crew of the Kormoran.
My ruse165 developed in all its delicious simplicity166. We were, I estimated, about half-way to Norddeich, in the Buse Tief, a channel of a navigable breadth, at the utmost of two hundred yards at this period of the tide. Two faint lights, one above the other, twinkled far ahead. What they meant I neither knew nor cared, since the only use I put them to was to test the effect of the wheel, for this was the first time I had ever tasted the sweets of command on a steamboat. A few cautious essays taught me the rudiments168, and nothing could hinder the catastrophe169 now.
I edged over to starboard—that was the side I had selected—and again a little more, till the glistening back of the look-out gave a slight movement; but he was a well-drilled minion170, with implicit167 trust in the “old man”. Now, hard over! and spoke111 by spoke I gave her the full pressure of the helm. The look-out shouted a warning, and I raised my arm in calm acknowledgement. A cry came from the lighter, and I remember I was just thinking “What the Dickens’ll happen to her?” when the end came; a euthanasia so mild and gradual (for the sands are fringed with mud) that the disaster was on us before I was aware of it. There was just the tiniest premonitory shuddering171 as our keel clove172 the buttery medium, a cascade173 of ripples174 from either beam, and the wheel jammed to rigidity175 in my hands, as the tug nestled up to her resting-place.
In the scene of panic that followed, it is safe to say that I was the only soul on board who acted with methodical tranquillity176. The look-out flew astern like an arrow, bawling177 to the lighter. Grimm, with the passengers tumbling up after him, was on deck in an instant, storming and cursing; flung himself on the wheel which I had respectfully abandoned, jangled the telegraph, and wrenched178 at the spokes. The tug listed over under the force of the tide; wind, darkness, and rain aggravated179 the confusion.
For my part, I stepped back behind the smoke stack, threw off my robe of office, and made for the boat. Long and bitter experience of running aground had told me that that was sure to be wanted. On the way I cannoned180 into one of the passengers and pressed him into my service; incidentally seeing his face, and verifying an old conjecture181. It was one who, in Germany, has a better right to insist than anyone else.
As we reached the davits there was a report like a pistol-shot from the port-side—the tow-rope parting, I believe, as the lighter with her shallower draught swung on past the tug. Fresh tumult182 arose, in which I heard: “Lower the boat,” from Grimm; but the order was already executed. My ally the Passenger and I had each cast off a tackle, and slacked away with a run; that done, I promptly183 clutched the wire guy to steady myself, and tumbled in. (It was not far to tumble, for the tug listed heavily to starboard; think of our course, and the set of the ebb158 stream, and you will see why.) The forward fall unhooked sweetly; but the after one lost play. “Slack away,” I called, peremptorily184, and felt for my knife. My helper above obeyed; the hook yielded; I filliped away the loose tackle, and the boat floated away.
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1
egress
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| n.出去；出口 | |
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fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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tickled
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| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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trudged
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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receding
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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devious
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| adj.不坦率的，狡猾的；迂回的，曲折的 | |
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outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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assertive
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| adj.果断的，自信的，有冲劲的 | |
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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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contingency
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| n.意外事件，可能性 | |
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dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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dyke
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| n.堤，水坝，排水沟 | |
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audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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scouted
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| 寻找，侦察( scout的过去式和过去分词 )； 物色（优秀运动员、演员、音乐家等） | |
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hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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21
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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lighters
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| n.打火机，点火器( lighter的名词复数 ) | |
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23
pried
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| v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的过去式和过去分词 )；撬开 | |
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24
tarpaulin
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| n.涂油防水布，防水衣，防水帽 | |
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25
tarpaulins
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| n.防水帆布，防水帆布罩( tarpaulin的名词复数 ) | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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tug
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| v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船 | |
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devoid
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| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
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29
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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30
prospective
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| adj.预期的，未来的，前瞻性的 | |
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31
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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32
contingencies
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| n.偶然发生的事故，意外事故( contingency的名词复数 )；以备万一 | |
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33
piers
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| 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 | |
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34
pier
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| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
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35
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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36
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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37
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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38
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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39
garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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40
warp
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| vt.弄歪，使翘曲，使不正常，歪曲，使有偏见 | |
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41
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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42
mimic
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| v.模仿，戏弄；n.模仿他人言行的人 | |
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43
bulwarks
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| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
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44
bulwark
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| n.堡垒，保障，防御 | |
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45
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
scuttle
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| v.急赶，疾走，逃避；n.天窗；舷窗 | |
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47
consummated
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| v.使结束( consummate的过去式和过去分词 )；使完美；完婚；（婚礼后的）圆房 | |
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48
consummate
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| adj.完美的；v.成婚；使完美 [反]baffle | |
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49
stowaway
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| n.（藏于轮船，飞机中的）偷乘者 | |
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50
abaft
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| prep.在…之后；adv.在船尾，向船尾 | |
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51
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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52
irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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53
impeded
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| 阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
truants
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| n.旷课的小学生( truant的名词复数 )；逃学生；逃避责任者；懒散的人 | |
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55
thwarts
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| 阻挠( thwart的第三人称单数 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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56
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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57
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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58
cork
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| n.软木，软木塞 | |
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59
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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60
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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61
clinch
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| v.敲弯，钉牢；确定；扭住对方 [参]clench | |
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62
curt
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| adj.简短的，草率的 | |
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63
strutted
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| 趾高气扬地走，高视阔步( strut的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64
revolve
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| vi.(使)旋转；循环出现 | |
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65
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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66
scurry
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| vi.急匆匆地走；使急赶；催促；n.快步急跑，疾走；仓皇奔跑声；骤雨，骤雪；短距离赛马 | |
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67
planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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68
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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69
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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70
hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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71
lethal
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| adj.致死的；毁灭性的 | |
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72
cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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73
mound
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| n.土墩，堤，小山；v.筑堤，用土堆防卫 | |
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74
intelligible
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| adj.可理解的，明白易懂的，清楚的 | |
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75
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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76
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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77
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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78
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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79
diffused
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| 散布的，普及的，扩散的 | |
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80
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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81
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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82
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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83
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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84
rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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85
appreciable
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| adj.明显的，可见的，可估量的，可觉察的 | |
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86
doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
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87
beacon
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| n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔 | |
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88
funnel
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| n.漏斗；烟囱；v.汇集 | |
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89
belching
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| n. 喷出，打嗝 动词belch的现在分词形式 | |
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90
hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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91
eavesdropping
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| n. 偷听 | |
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92
impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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93
extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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94
emigrants
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| n.（从本国移往他国的）移民( emigrant的名词复数 ) | |
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95
vestige
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| n.痕迹，遗迹，残余 | |
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96
awakening
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| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
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97
prematurely
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| adv.过早地，贸然地 | |
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98
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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99
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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100
tributary
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| n.支流；纳贡国；adj.附庸的；辅助的；支流的 | |
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101
watersheds
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| n.分水岭( watershed的名词复数 )；分水线；转折点；流域 | |
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102
incubus
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| n.负担；恶梦 | |
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103
tricky
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| adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；(工作等)棘手的，微妙的 | |
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104
hoop
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| n.（篮球）篮圈，篮 | |
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105
corroborate
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| v.支持，证实，确定 | |
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106
effaced
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| v.擦掉( efface的过去式和过去分词 )；抹去；超越；使黯然失色 | |
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107
marrow
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| n.骨髓；精华；活力 | |
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108
tilted
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| v. 倾斜的 | |
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109
jovial
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| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
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110
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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111
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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112
spokes
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| n.（车轮的）辐条( spoke的名词复数 )；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 | |
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113
spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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114
entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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115
rehearsal
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| n.排练，排演；练习 | |
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116
enacted
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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117
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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118
outlets
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| n.出口( outlet的名词复数 )；经销店；插座；廉价经销店 | |
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119
obtuse
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| adj.钝的；愚钝的 | |
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120
humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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121
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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122
semblance
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| n.外貌，外表 | |
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123
confirmation
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| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
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124
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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125
perversely
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| adv. 倔强地 | |
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126
groove
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| n.沟，槽；凹线，（刻出的）线条，习惯 | |
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127
inveterate
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| adj.积习已深的，根深蒂固的 | |
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128
unprecedented
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| adj.无前例的，新奇的 | |
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129
insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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130
despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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131
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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132
barges
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| 驳船( barge的名词复数 ) | |
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133
adumbrated
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| v.约略显示，勾画出…的轮廓( adumbrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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134
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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135
strands
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| n.（线、绳、金属线、毛发等的）股( strand的名词复数 )；缕；海洋、湖或河的)岸；（观点、计划、故事等的）部份v.使滞留，使搁浅( strand的第三人称单数 ) | |
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136
ransacked
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| v.彻底搜查( ransack的过去式和过去分词 )；抢劫，掠夺 | |
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137
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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138
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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139
residue
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| n.残余，剩余，残渣 | |
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140
poignant
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| adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的 | |
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141
draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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142
garish
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| adj.华丽而俗气的，华而不实的 | |
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143
promenade
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| n./v.散步 | |
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144
hustling
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| 催促（hustle的现在分词形式） | |
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145
climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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146
quay
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| n.码头，靠岸处 | |
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swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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148
wade
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| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
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149
wriggled
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等） | |
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150
cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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151
frustrated
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| adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
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152
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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153
lore
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| n.传说；学问，经验，知识 | |
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154
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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quenched
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| 解（渴）( quench的过去式和过去分词 )； 终止（某事物）； （用水）扑灭（火焰等）； 将（热物体）放入水中急速冷却 | |
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156
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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157
ebbing
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| （指潮水）退( ebb的现在分词 )； 落； 减少； 衰落 | |
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158
ebb
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| vi.衰退，减退；n.处于低潮，处于衰退状态 | |
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flares
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| n.喇叭裤v.（使）闪耀( flare的第三人称单数 )；（使）（船舷）外倾；（使）鼻孔张大；（使）（衣裙、酒杯等）呈喇叭形展开 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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161
lateral
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| adj.侧面的，旁边的 | |
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162
spliced
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| adj.（针织品）加固的n.叠接v.绞接( splice的过去式和过去分词 )；捻接（两段绳子）；胶接；粘接（胶片、磁带等） | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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grunting
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| 咕哝的，呼噜的 | |
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ruse
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| n.诡计，计策；诡计 | |
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166
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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167
implicit
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| a.暗示的，含蓄的，不明晰的，绝对的 | |
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168
rudiments
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| n.基础知识，入门 | |
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169
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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170
minion
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| n.宠仆；宠爱之人 | |
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171
shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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172
clove
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| n.丁香味 | |
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173
cascade
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| n.小瀑布，喷流；层叠；vi.成瀑布落下 | |
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174
ripples
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| 逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 ) | |
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175
rigidity
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| adj.钢性，坚硬 | |
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176
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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177
bawling
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的现在分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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178
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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179
aggravated
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| 使恶化( aggravate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使更严重； 激怒； 使恼火 | |
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180
cannoned
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| vi.与…猛撞（cannon的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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181
conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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182
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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183
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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184
peremptorily
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| adv.紧急地，不容分说地，专横地 | |
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