To the biggest of the trees I was tightly bound; and a little way apart a fire, newly kindled8, smoked and blazed up fitfully. By the light of the fire a good score of the Cherokees were gathering9 deadfalls and dry branches to heap beside me; and from the camp below, the Indian lodges10 of which were in plain view beyond the intervening horse meadow, other savages11 were hurrying to join the wood carriers.
So far as these hasting preliminaries applied13 to me, their meaning was not difficult to read. I was to be burned at the stake in proper savage12 fashion. But Richard Jennifer—what had become of him? A sound, half sigh, half groan14, told me where to look. Hard by, bound to a tree as I was, and so near that with a free hand I could have touched him, was my poor lad.
"Dick!" I cried.
He turned his head as the close-drawn15 thongs16 permitted and gave me a smile as loving-tender as a woman's.
"Aye, Jack17; they have us hard and fast this time. I have been praying you'd never come alive enough to feel the fire."
"We were taken together?" So much I dared ask.
"In the same onset18. 'Twas but a question of clock ticks in that back-to-back business. But they paid scot and lot," this with an inching nod toward a row of naked bodies propped19 sitting against a fallen tree; nine of them in all, one with its severed20 head between its knees, and three others showing the gaping21 hacks22 and hewings of the great broadsword.
"They've fetched them here to see us burn," he went on. "But by the gods, we have the warrant of two good blades and Ephraim Yeates's hunting-knife that the only fires they'll ever see are those of hell."
"Not alive, you may be sure, else we should have them for company. But it has a black look for our friends that the flying column we met in the stream-cave came back so soon. Moreover, the bodies of the three peace-pipe smokers24 were found and brought in; that will be the Great Bear holding his head in his hands at the end of yonder bloody25 masquerade."
"I guessed as much. God rest our poor comrades!"
"Aye; and God help Madge! 'Tis no time for reproaches, but amongst us we have signed her death warrant with our bunglings."
"'Tis just that, Jack," said he; "no better, mayhap, but no worse. When we were downed by that screeching27 mob, she was out and on her knees to Falconnet, beseeching28 him to spare us. He put her off smoothly29 at first, saying 'twas the Indians' affair—that they would not be balked30 of their vengeance31 by any interference of his. But when she only begged the more piteously, he showed his true colors, rapping out that we should have as swift a quittance as we had meant to give him, and that within the hour she should be the mistress of Appleby and free to marry an English gentleman."
"Well?" said I, making sure that now at last he must know all.
"At that she stood before him bravely, and I saw that all the time she had had the Catawba's knife hidden in the folds of her gown. 'You have spoken truth for once, Captain Falconnet; I shall be free,' she said. 'Come and tell me when you have added these to your other murders.'"
"And then?"
"Then she went back to her prison wigwam, walking through the rabble33 of redcoats and redskins as proudly as the Scottish Mary went to the block."
"She will do it, think you?" I queried, fearful lest she would, but more fearful lest her courage should fail at the pinch.
"Never doubt it. Good Catholic as she is, there is martyr34 blood in her on the mother's side, and that will help her to die unsullied. And God nerve her to it, say I."
I said "Amen" to that; and thereupon we both fell silent, watching as condemned35 men on the gallows36 the busy preparations for our taking off.
Again, as in the late battle, it was the trivial things that moved me most. Chief among them the grinning row of dead Indians propped against the fallen tree is the constant background for all the memory pictures of that waiting interval, and I can see those stiffening37 corpses38 now, some erect39, as if defying us; some lopping this way or that, as if their bones had gone to water at the touch of the steel.
I know not why these poor relics40 of mortality should have held me fascinated as they did. Yet when I would look away, through the vista41 to where the light of the great fire in the savanna camp played luridly42 upon the Indian lodges, or, nearer at hand, upon the savages gathering the wood to burn us with, this ghastly file of the dead drew me irresistibly43, and I must needs pass the fearsome figures in review again, marking the staring eyes and unnatural44 postures45, and the circular blood-black patches on the heads of the three peace-men whom Yeates and the Catawba had scalped.
While they were making ready for the burning, our executioners were strangely silent; but when the work was done they formed in a semicircle to front the row of corpses and set up a howling chant that would have put a band of Mohammedan dervishes to the blush.
"'Tis the death song for the slain," said Richard; and while it lasted, this moving tableau46 of naked figures, keeping time in a weird47 stamping dance to the rising and falling ululation of the chant, held us spellbound.
But we were not long suffered to be mere48 curious onlookers49. In its dismalest flight the death song ended in a shrill50 hubbub51, and the dancers turned as one man to face us.
I hope it may never be your lot, my dears, to meet and endure such a horrid52 glare of human ferocity as that these wrought-up avengers of blood bent53 upon us. 'Twas more unnerving than aught that had gone before; more terrible, I thought, than aught that could come after. Yet, as to this, you shall judge for yourselves.
The pause was brief, and when a lad ran up to cut the thongs that bound us from the middle up, the torture-play began in deadly earnest. Whilst the Indian youth was slashing54 at the deerskin, Richard gave me my cue.
"'Tis the knife and hatchet56 play; they are loosing us to give us freedom to shrink and dodge57. Look straight before you and never flinch58 a hair, as you would keep the life in you from one minute to the next!"
"Trust me," said I. "We must eke59 it out as long as we can, if only to give our dear lady time for another prayer or two. Mayhap she will name us in them; God knows, our need is sore enough."
The lad ran back, and a warrior60 stood out, juggling61 his tomahawk in air. He made a feint to cast it at Richard, but instead sent it whizzing at me.
That first missile was harder to face unflinching than were all the others. I saw it leave the thrower's hand; saw it coming straight, as I would think, to split my skull62. The prompting to dodge was well-nigh masterful enough to override63 the strongest will. Yet I did make shift to hold fast, and in mid7 flight the twirling ax veered64 aside to miss me by a hair's-breadth, gashing65 the tree at my ear when it struck.
"Bravo! well met!" cried Richard; and then, betwixt his teeth: "Here comes mine."
As he spoke32, a second tomahawk was sped. I heard it strike with a dull crash that might have been on flesh and bone, or on oak-bark—I could not tell. I dared not look aside till Richard's taunting66 laugh gave me leave to breathe again.
The Indians answered the laugh with a yell; and now the marksmen stood out quickly one after another and for a little space the air was full of hurtling missiles. You will read in the romances of the wondrous67 skill of these savages in such diversions as these; how they will pin the victim to a tree and never miss of sticking knife or hatchet within the thickness of the blade where they will. But you must take these tales with a dash of allowance for the romancers' fancy. Truly, these Indians of ours threw well and skilfully68; 'tis a part of the only trade they know—the trade of war—to send a weapon true to the mark. None the less, some of the missiles flew wide; and now and then one would nip the cloth of sleeve or body covering—and the flesh beneath it, as well.
Dick had more of the nippings than I; and though he kept up a running fire of taunts69 and gibing70 flings at the marksmen, I could hear the gritting71 oaths aside when they pinked him.
Notwithstanding, the worst of these miscasts fell to my lot. A hatchet, sped by the clumsiest hand of all, missed its curving, turned, and the helve of it struck me fair in the stomach. Not all the parting pangs73 of death, as I fondly believe, will lay a heavier toll74 on fortitude75 than did this griping-stroke which I must endure standing72 erect. 'Tis no figure of speech to say that I would have given the reversion of a kingdom, and a crown to boot, for leave to double over and groan out the agony of it.
Happily for us, there were no women with the band, so we were spared the crueler refinements76 of these ante-burning torments77; the flaying78 alive by inch-bits, and the sticking of blazing splints of pitchwood in the flesh to make death a thing to be prayed for. There was naught79 of this; and tiring finally of the marksman play, the Indians made ready to burn us. Some ran to recover the spent weapons; others made haste to heap the wood in a broad circle about our trees; and the chief, with three or four to help, renewed the deer-thong lashings.
'Twas in the rebinding that this headman, a right kingly-looking savage as these barbarians80 go, thrust a bit of paper into my hand, and gave me time to glance its message out by the light of the fire. 'Twas a line from Margery; and this is what she said:
Dear Heart:
Though you must needs believe my love is pledged to your good friend and mine, 'tis yours, and yours alone, my lion-hearted one. I am praying the good God to give you dying grace, and me the courage to follow you quickly. Margery.
This by the hand of Tallachama.
For one brief instant a wave of joy caught and flung me upon its highest crest81, and all these savage tormentors could do to me became as naught. Then the true meaning of this her brave Ave atque vale smote82 me like a space-flung meteor, and the joy-wave became an ocean of despair to engulf83 me in its blackest depths. The letter was never meant for me; 'twas for Richard Jennifer, who, as she would think, must know the story of her marriage to his friend and must believe her love went with the giving of her hand. And she named him Lion-Heart because he was brave, and true, and strong, like that first English Richard of the kingly line.
I thrust the message back upon the bearer of it, begging him in dumb show to give it quickly to my companion. I knew not at the time if he did it, being so crushed and blinded by this fresh misery84. But when the Indians drew off to ring us in a chanting circle for the final act, I would not let the lad see my face for fear he might fathom85 the heart-break in me and know the cause of it.
'Twas at this crisis, when all was ready and one had run to fetch the fire, that I heard a smothered86 oath from Dick and saw the Indian who was coming up to fire the wood heaps drop his brand and tread upon it.
"Ecod!" said a voice, courtier-like and smoothly modulated87. "'Tis most devilish lucky I came, Captain Ireton. Another moment and they would have grilled88 you in the king's uniform—a rank treason, to say naught of poor Jack Warden89 left without a clout90 to cover him."
It needed not the glance aside to name mine enemy. But I would not pleasure him with an answer. Neither would Richard Jennifer. He stood silent for a little space, smiling and nursing his chin in one hand, as his habit was. Then he spoke again.
"I came to bid you God-speed, gentlemen. You tumbled bravely into my little trap. I made no doubt you'd follow where the lady led, and so you did. But you'll turn back from this, I do assure you, if there be any virtue91 in an Indian barbecue."
At this Richard could hold in no longer.
"Curse you!" he gritted92. "Do you mean that you kidnapped Mistress Stair to draw us out of hiding?"
"Truly," said this arch-fiend, smiling again. "Most unluckily for you, you both stood in my way,—you see I am speaking of it now as a thing past,—and I chanced upon this thought of killing93 two birds with the one stone; nay94, three, I should say, if you count the lady in."
"Have done!" choked Richard, in a voice thick with impotent rage. "Give place, you hound, and let your savages to their work!"
"At your pleasure, Mr. Jennifer. I have no fancy for funeral baked meats, hot or cold, though they be made, as now, to furnish forth95 a marriage supper. I bid you good night, gentlemen. I'll go and make that call upon the lady which you were so rude as to interrupt a little while ago." And with that he turned his back upon us and strode away, forgetting to tell his redskinned myrmidons to strip me of that king's uniform he was so loath96 to have me burned in.
The Cherokees waited till the master-executioner was out of sight among the trees. Then they set up their infernal howling again, and the fire-lighter ran to fetch a fresh brand.
"Courage, lad! 'twill soon be over now," said I, hearing a groan from my poor Dick.
His reply was a chattering97 curse, not upon Falconnet or the Indians, but upon his malady98, the tertian fever.
"Now, by all the fiends! I'm chilling again, Jack!" he gasped99. "If these cursed wood-wolves mark it, they'll set it down to woman cowardice100 and that will break my heart!"
Again I bade him be of good courage, assuring him, not derisively101, as it looks when 'tis written out, that the fire would presently medicine the chilling. In the middle of the saying the lighted brand was fetched and thrust among our fagotings, and the upward-curling smoke wreaths made me gasp1 and strangle at the finish.
For a little time after the sucking in of that first smoke-breath—nature's anodyne102 for any of her poor creatures doomed103 to die by fire—I saw and heard less clearly and suffered only by anticipation104. But to this day the smell of burning pine-wood is like a sleeping potion to me; and the sleep it brings is full of dreams vaguely105 troubled.
So, while the Indians danced and leaped about us, brandishing106 their weapons and chanting the captives' death song, and while the blue and yellow tongues of flame mounted from twig107 to twig, climbing stealthily to flick108 at us like little vanishing demon109 whips, I saw and heard and felt as one remote from all the torture turmoil110 of the moment. Through the dimming haze111 of sleeping sensibility the dancing savages became as marionettes in some cunning puppet show; and the blood stained figures stiffening against their log took shapes less horrifying112.
'Twas Dick's voice, coming, as it seemed, from a mighty113 distance, that broke the spell and brought me back to quickened agonies. He spoke in panting gasps114, as the smoke would let him.
"One word, Jack, before we go—go to our own place. He said—he said she would be free to—to marry him. Tell me ... O God in Heaven!"
His agony was a lash55 to cut me deeper than any flicking115 demon whip of flame, yet I must needs add to it.
"Aye, Richard, I have wronged you, wronged you desperately116; can you hear me yet? I say I have wronged you, and I shall die the easier if you'll forgive—"
Once more the smoke, rising again in denser117 clouds, cut me off, and through the blinding blue haze of it I saw the Indians running up with green branches to beat it down lest it should spoil their sport oversoon by smothering118 us out of hand.
With the chance to gasp and breathe again I would have confessed in full to Richard Jennifer and had him shrive me if he would. But when I called, he did not answer. His head was rolling from side to side, and his handsome young face was all drawn and distorted as in the awful grimaces119 of the death throe.
You will not wonder that I could not look at him; that I looked away for very pity's sake, praying that I might quickly breathe the flames, as I made sure he had, and so be the sooner past the anguish120 crisis.
There was good hope that the prayer would have a speedy answer. The fires were burning clearer now, leaping up in broad dragon's tongues of flame from the outer edges of the fagot piles to curtain off all that lay beyond. Through the luminous121 flame-veil the capering122 savages took on shapes the most weird and grotesque123; and when I had a glimpse of the dead men's row, each hideous124 face in it seemed to wear a grin of leering triumph.
Thus far there had been never a puff125 of wind to fan the blaze. But now above the shrilling126 of the Indian chant and the crackling of the flames a low growl127 of thunder trembled in the upper air, and a gentle breeze swept through the tree-tops.
So now I would commend my soul to God, making sure that the breath He gave would go out on the wings of the first gust128 that should come to drive the fiery129 veil inward. But when the gust came it was from behind; a sweeping130 besom to beat down the leaping dragons' tongues; a pouring flood of blessed coolness to turn the ebbing131 life-tide and to set the dulled senses once more keenly alert.
With the wind came the rain, a passing summer-night's shower of great drops spattering on the leaves above and dripping thence to fall hissing132 in the fires. Then the thunder growled133 again; and into the monotonous134 droning of the Indian chant, or rather rising sharp and clear above it, came a sudden rattling135 fire of musketry from the camp in the savanna—this, and the sharp skirling of the troop captain's whistle shrilling the assembly.
While yet the flames lay flattened136 in the wind, I saw the Indians wheel and bound away to the rescue of their camp like a pack of hounds in full cry. In a trice they were wallowing through the stream at the foot of the powder boulder137; and then, as the flames leaped up again, a dark form burst through the fiery barrier, my bonds were cut, and a strong hand plucked me out of the scorching138 hell-pit.
If I did aught to help it was all mechanical. I do remember dimly some fierce struggle to free my legs from the blazing tangle139; this, and the swelling140 sob141 of joy at the sight of the faithful Catawba hacking142 at Dick's lashings and dragging him also free of the fire. And you may believe the welcome tears came to ease the pain of my seared eyes when my poor lad—I had thought him gone past human help—took two staggering steps and flung his arms about my neck.
Uncanoola gave us no time to come by easy stages to full-wit sanity143. In a twinkling he had pounced144 upon us to crush us one upon the other behind the larger tree. And now I come upon another of those flitting instants so crowded with happenings that the swiftest pen must seem to make them lag. 'Twas all in a heart-beat, as it were: the Catawba's freeing of us; his flinging us to earth behind the tree; a spurt145 of blinding yellow flame from the foot of the powder-cliff, and a booming, jarring shock like that of an earthquake.
The momentary146 glare of the yellow flash lit up a scene most awe-inspiring. The spouting147 fountain of fire at the base of the great powder-rock was thick with flying missiles; and on high the very cliff itself was tottering148 and crumbling149. So much I saw; then the Catawba sprang up to haul us afoot by main strength, and to rush us, with an arm for each, headlong through the wood toward the valley head.
But Dick hung back, and when the dull thunder of the falling rocks, the crash of the tumbling cliff and the shrill death yells of the doomed ones came to our ears, he fought loose from the Indian and flung himself down, crying as if his heart would break.
"O God! she's lost, she's lost!—and I have missed the chance to die with her or for her!"
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收听单词发音
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1
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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savanna
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| n.大草原 | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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brawling
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| n.争吵，喧嚷 | |
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mid
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| adj.中央的，中间的 | |
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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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9
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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lodges
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| v.存放( lodge的第三人称单数 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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thongs
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| 的东西 | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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onset
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| n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始 | |
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propped
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| 支撑，支持，维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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hacks
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| 黑客 | |
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queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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smokers
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| 吸烟者( smoker的名词复数 ) | |
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bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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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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screeching
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的现在分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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beseeching
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| adj.恳求似的v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的现在分词 ) | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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balked
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| v.畏缩不前，犹豫( balk的过去式和过去分词 )；（指马）不肯跑 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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rabble
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| n.乌合之众，暴民；下等人 | |
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martyr
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| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
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condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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gallows
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| n.绞刑架，绞台 | |
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stiffening
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| n. (使衣服等)变硬的材料, 硬化 动词stiffen的现在分词形式 | |
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corpses
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| n.死尸，尸体( corpse的名词复数 ) | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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relics
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| [pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸 | |
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vista
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| n.远景，深景，展望，回想 | |
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42
luridly
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| adv. 青灰色的(苍白的, 深浓色的, 火焰等火红的) | |
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43
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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44
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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45
postures
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| 姿势( posture的名词复数 )； 看法； 态度； 立场 | |
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tableau
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| n.画面，活人画（舞台上活人扮的静态画面） | |
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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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48
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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49
onlookers
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| n.旁观者，观看者( onlooker的名词复数 ) | |
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50
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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51
hubbub
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| n.嘈杂；骚乱 | |
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52
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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53
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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54
slashing
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| adj.尖锐的；苛刻的；鲜明的；乱砍的v.挥砍( slash的现在分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
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55
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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56
hatchet
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| n.短柄小斧；v.扼杀 | |
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57
dodge
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| v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计 | |
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58
flinch
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| v.畏缩，退缩 | |
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59
eke
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| v.勉强度日，节约使用 | |
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60
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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61
juggling
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| n. 欺骗, 杂耍(=jugglery) adj. 欺骗的, 欺诈的 动词juggle的现在分词 | |
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62
skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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63
override
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| vt.不顾，不理睬，否决；压倒，优先于 | |
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64
veered
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| v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的过去式和过去分词 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转 | |
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65
gashing
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| v.划伤，割破( gash的现在分词 ) | |
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66
taunting
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| 嘲讽( taunt的现在分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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67
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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68
skilfully
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| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
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69
taunts
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| 嘲弄的言语，嘲笑，奚落( taunt的名词复数 ) | |
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70
gibing
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| adj.讥刺的，嘲弄的v.嘲笑，嘲弄( gibe的现在分词 ) | |
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71
gritting
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| v.以沙砾覆盖（某物），撒沙砾于( grit的现在分词 )；咬紧牙关 | |
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72
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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73
pangs
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| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
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74
toll
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| n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟) | |
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75
fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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76
refinements
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| n.（生活）风雅；精炼( refinement的名词复数 )；改良品；细微的改良；优雅或高贵的动作 | |
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77
torments
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| （肉体或精神上的）折磨，痛苦( torment的名词复数 )； 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
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78
flaying
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| v.痛打( flay的现在分词 )；把…打得皮开肉绽；剥（通常指动物）的皮；严厉批评 | |
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79
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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80
barbarians
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| n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 )；外国人；粗野的人；无教养的人 | |
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81
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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82
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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83
engulf
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| vt.吞没，吞食 | |
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84
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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85
fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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86
smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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87
modulated
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| 已调整[制]的，被调的 | |
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88
grilled
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| adj. 烤的, 炙过的, 有格子的 动词grill的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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89
warden
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| n.监察员，监狱长，看守人，监护人 | |
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90
clout
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| n.用手猛击；权力，影响力 | |
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91
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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92
gritted
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| v.以沙砾覆盖（某物），撒沙砾于( grit的过去式和过去分词 )；咬紧牙关 | |
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93
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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94
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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95
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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96
loath
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| adj.不愿意的；勉强的 | |
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97
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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98
malady
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| n.病，疾病(通常做比喻) | |
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99
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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100
cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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101
derisively
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| adv. 嘲笑地，嘲弄地 | |
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102
anodyne
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| n.解除痛苦的东西，止痛剂 | |
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103
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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104
anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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105
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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106
brandishing
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| v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀 | |
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107
twig
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| n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解 | |
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108
flick
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| n.快速的轻打，轻打声，弹开；v.轻弹，轻轻拂去，忽然摇动 | |
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109
demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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110
turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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111
haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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112
horrifying
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| a.令人震惊的，使人毛骨悚然的 | |
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113
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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114
gasps
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| v.喘气( gasp的第三人称单数 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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115
flicking
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的现在分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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116
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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117
denser
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| adj. 不易看透的, 密集的, 浓厚的, 愚钝的 | |
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118
smothering
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的现在分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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119
grimaces
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| n.（表蔑视、厌恶等）面部扭曲，鬼脸( grimace的名词复数 )v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的第三人称单数 ) | |
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120
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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121
luminous
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| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
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122
capering
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| v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的现在分词 )；蹦蹦跳跳 | |
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123
grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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124
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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125
puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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126
shrilling
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| （声音）尖锐的，刺耳的，高频率的( shrill的现在分词 )； 凄厉 | |
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127
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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128
gust
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| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
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129
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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130
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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131
ebbing
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| （指潮水）退( ebb的现在分词 )； 落； 减少； 衰落 | |
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132
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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133
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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134
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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135
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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136
flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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137
boulder
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| n.巨砾；卵石，圆石 | |
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138
scorching
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| adj. 灼热的 | |
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139
tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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140
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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141
sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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142
hacking
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| n.非法访问计算机系统和数据库的活动 | |
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143
sanity
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| n.心智健全，神智正常，判断正确 | |
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144
pounced
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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145
spurt
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| v.喷出；突然进发；突然兴隆 | |
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146
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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147
spouting
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| n.水落管系统v.（指液体）喷出( spout的现在分词 )；滔滔不绝地讲；喋喋不休地说；喷水 | |
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148
tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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149
crumbling
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| adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
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