It was late afternoon; there was no sound in all the Bass6 but the lap and bubble of a very quiet sea; and my four companions were all crept apart, the three [pg 194]Macgregors higher on the rock, and Andie with his Bible to a sunny place among the ruins; there I found him in deep sleep, and, as soon as he was awake, appealed to him with some fervour of manner and a good show of argument.
"If I thoucht it was to do guid to ye, Shaws!" said he, staring at me over his spectacles.
"It's to save another," said I, "and to redeem7 my word. What would be more good than that? Do ye no mind the scripture8, Andie? And you with the Book upon your lap! What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world?"
"Ay," said he, "that's grand for you. But where do I come in? I have my word to redeem the same's yoursel'. And what are ye asking me to do, but just to sell it ye for siller?"
"Andie! have I named the name of siller?" cried I.
"Ou, the name's naething," said he; "the thing is there, whatever. It just comes to this; if I am to service ye the way that you propose, I'll loss my lieihood. Then it's clear ye'll have to make it up to me, and a pickle9 mair, for your ain credit like. And what's that but just a bribe10? And if even I was certain of the bribe! But by a' that I can learn, it's far frae that; and if you were to hang, where would I be? Na: the thing's no possible. And just awa' wi' ye like a bonny lad! and let Andie read his chapter."
I remember I was at bottom a good deal gratified with [pg 195]this result; and the next humour I fell into was one (I had near said) of gratitude11 to Prestongrange, who had saved me, in this violent, illegal manner, out of the midst of my dangers, temptations, and perplexities. But this was both too flimsy and too cowardly to last me long, and the remembrance of James began to succeed to the possession of my spirits. The 21st, the day set for the trial, I passed in such misery12 of mind as I can scarce recall to have endured, save perhaps upon Isle13 Earraid only. Much of the time I lay on a braeside betwixt sleep and waking, my body motionless, my mind full of violent thoughts. Sometimes I slept indeed; but the court-house of Inverary and the prisoner glancing on all sides to find his missing witness, followed me in slumber14; and I would wake again with a start to darkness of spirit and distress15 of body. I thought Andie seemed to observe me, but I paid him little heed16. Verily, my bread was bitter to me, and my days a burthen.
Early the next morning (Friday, 22nd) a boat came with provisions, and Andie placed a packet in my hand. The cover was without address but sealed with a Government seal. It enclosed two notes. "Mr. Balfour can now see for himself it is too late to meddle18. His conduct will be observed and his discretion19 rewarded." So ran the first, which seemed to be laboriously20 writ1 with the left hand. There was certainly nothing in these expressions to compromise the writer, even if that [pg 196]person could be found; the seal, which formidably served instead of signature, was affixed21 to a separate sheet on which there was no scratch of writing; and I had to confess that (so far) my adversaries23 knew what they were doing, and to digest as well as I was able the threat that peeped under the promise.
But the second enclosure was by far the more surprising. It was in a lady's hand of writ. "Maister Dauvit Balfour is informed a friend was speiring for him, and her eyes were of the grey," it ran--and seemed so extraordinary a piece to come to my hands at such a moment and under cover of a Government seal, that I stood stupid. Catriona's grey eyes shone in my remembrance. I thought, with a bound of pleasure, she must be the friend. But who should the writer be, to have her billet thus enclosed with Prestongrange's? And of all wonders, why was it thought needful to give me this pleasing but most inconsequential intelligence upon the Bass? For the writer, I could hit upon none possible except Miss Grant. Her family, I remembered, had remarked on Catriona's eyes and even named her for their colour; and she herself had been much in the habit to address me with a broad pronunciation, by way of a sniff24, I supposed, at my rusticity25. No doubt, besides, but she lived in the same house as this letter came from. So there remained but one step to be accounted for; and that was how Prestongrange should have permitted her at all in an affair so secret, or let [pg 197]her daft-like billet go in the same cover with his own. But even here I had a glimmering26. For, first of all, there was something rather alarming about the young lady, and papa might be more under her domination than I knew. And second, there was the man's continual policy to be remembered, how his conduct had been continually mingled27 with caresses28, and he had scarce ever, in the midst of so much contention29, laid aside a mask of friendship. He must conceive that my imprisonment30 had incensed31 me. Perhaps this little jesting, friendly message was intended to disarm32 my rancour?
I will be honest--and I think it did. I felt a sudden warmth towards that beautiful Miss Grant, that she should stoop to so much interest in my affairs. The summoning up of Catriona moved me of itself to milder and more cowardly counsels. If the Advocate knew of her and of our acquaintance--if I should please him by some of that "discretion" at which his letter pointed--to what might not this lead? In vain is the net spread in the sight of any fowl33, the scripture says. Well, fowls34 must be wiser than folk! For I thought I perceived the policy, and yet fell in with it.
I was in this frame, my heart beating, the grey eyes plain before me like two stars, when Andie broke in upon my musing35.
"I see ye hae gotten guid news," said he.
I found him looking curiously36 in my face; with that, there came before me like a vision of James Stewart and [pg 198]the court of Inverary; and my mind turned at once like a door upon its hinges. Trials, I reflected, sometimes draw out longer than is looked for. Even if I came to Inverary just too late, something might yet be attempted in the interests of James--and in those of my own character, the best would be accomplished37. In a moment, it seemed without thought, I had a plan devised.
"Andie," said I, "is it still to be to-morrow?"
He told me nothing was changed.
"Was anything said about the hour?" I asked.
He told me it was to be two o'clock afternoon.
"And about the place?" I pursued.
"Whatten place?" says Andie.
"The place I'm to be landed at," said I.
He owned there was nothing as to that.
"Very well, then," I said, "this shall be mine to arrange. The wind is in the east, my road lies westward38; keep your boat, I hire it; let us work up the Forth39 all day; and land me at two o'clock to-morrow at the westmost we'll can have reached."
"Ye daft callant!" he cried, "ye would try for Inverary after a'!"
"Just that, Andie," says I.
"Weel, ye're ill to beat!" says he. "And I was kind o' sorry for ye a' day yesterday," he added. "Ye see, I was never entirely40 sure till then, which way of it ye really wantit."
"A word in your ear, Andie," said I. "This plan of mine has another advantage yet. We can leave these Hielandmen behind us on the rock, and one of your boats from the Castleton can bring them off to-morrow. Yon Neil has a queer eye when he regards you; maybe, if I was once out of the gate there might be knives again; these red-shanks are unco grudgeful. And if there should come to be any question, here is your excuse. Our lives were in danger by these savages42; being answerable for my safety, you chose the part to bring me from their neighbourhood and detain me the rest of the time on board your boat; and do you know, Andie?" says I, with a smile, "I think it was very wisely chosen."
"The truth is I have nae goo for Neil," says Andie, "nor he for me, I'm thinking; and I would like ill to come to my hands wi' the man. Tam Anster will make a better hand of it with the cattle onyway." (For this man, Anster, came from Fife, where the Gaelic is still spoken.) "Ay, ay!" says Andie, "Tam'll can deal with them the best. And troth! the mair I think of it, the less I see what way we would be required. The place--ay, feggs! they had forgot the place. Eh, Shaws, ye're a lang-heided chield when ye like! Forby that I'm awing43 ye my life," he added, with more solemnity, and offered me his hand upon the bargain.
[pg 200]Whereupon, with scarce more words, we stepped suddenly on board the boat, cast off, and set the lug44. The Gregara were then busy upon breakfast, for the cookery was their usual part; but, one of them stepping to the battlements, our flight was observed before we were twenty fathoms45 from the rock; and the three of them ran about the ruins and the landing-shelf, for all the world like ants about a broken nest, hailing and crying on us to return. We were still in both the lee and the shadow of the rock, which last lay broad upon the waters, but presently came forth in almost the same moment into the wind and sunshine; the sail filled, the boat heeled to the gunwale, and we swept immediately beyond sound of the men's voices. To what terrors they endured upon the rock, where they were now deserted46 without the countenance47 of any civilised person or so much as the protection of a Bible, no limit can be set; nor had they any brandy left to be their consolation48, for even in the haste and secrecy49 of our departure Andie had managed to remove it.
It was our first care to set Anster ashore50 in a cove17 by the Glenteithy Rocks, so that the deliverance of our maroons51 might be duly seen to the next day. Thence we kept away up Firth. The breeze, which was then so spirited, swiftly declined, but never wholly failed us. All day we kept moving, though often not much more; and it was after dark ere we were up with the Queensferry. To keep the letter of Andie's engagement (or [pg 201]what was left of it) I must remain on board, but I thought no harm to communicate with the shore in writing. On Prestongrange's cover, where the Government seal must have a good deal surprised my correspondent, I writ, by the boat's lantern, a few necessary words, and Andie carried them to Rankeillor. In about an hour he came aboard again, with a purse of money and the assurance that a good horse should be standing52 saddled for me by two to-morrow at Clackmannan Pool. This done, and the boat riding by her stone anchor, we lay down to sleep under the sail.
We were in the Pool the next day long ere two; and there was nothing left for me but sit and wait. I felt little alacrity53 upon my errand. I would have been glad of any passable excuse to lay it down; but none being to be found, my uneasiness was no less great than if I had been running to some desired pleasure. By shortly after one the horse was at the waterside, and I could see a man walking it to and fro till I should land, which vastly swelled54 my impatience55. Andie ran the moment of my liberation very fine, showing himself a man of his bare word, but scarce serving his employers with a heaped measure; and by about fifty seconds after two I was in the saddle and on the full stretch for Stirling. In a little more than an hour I had passed that town, and was already mounting Alan Water side, when the weather broke in a small tempest. The rain blinded me, the wind had nearly beat me from the saddle, and [pg 202]the first darkness of the night surprised me in a wilderness56 still some way east of Balwhidder, not very sure of my direction and mounted on a horse that began already to be weary.
In the press of my hurry, and to be spared the delay and annoyance57 of a guide, I had followed (so far as it was possible for any horseman) the line of my journey with Alan. This I did with open eyes, foreseeing a great risk in it, which the tempest had now brought to a reality. The last that I knew of where I was, I think it must have been about Uam Var; the hour perhaps six at night. I must still think it great good fortune that I got about eleven to my destination, the house of Duncan Dhu. Where I had wandered in the interval58 perhaps the horse could tell. I know we were twice down, and once over the saddle and for a moment carried away in a roaring burn. Steed and rider were bemired up to the eyes.
From Duncan I had news of the trial. It was followed in all these Highland59 regions with religious interest; news of it spread from Inverary as swift as men could travel; and I was rejoiced to learn that, up to a late hour that Saturday, it was not yet concluded; and all men began to suppose it must spread over to the Monday. Under the spur of this intelligence I would not sit to eat; but, Duncan having agreed to be my guide, took the road again on foot, with the piece in my hand and munching60 as I went. Duncan brought with [pg 203]him a flask61 of usquebaugh and a hand-lantern; which last enlightened us just so long as we could find houses where to rekindle62 it, for the thing leaked outrageously63 and blew out with every gust64. The more part of the night we walked blindfold65 among sheets of rain, and day found us aimless on the mountains. Hard by we struck a hut on a burn-side, where we got a bite and a direction; and, a little before the end of the sermon, came to the kirk doors of Inverary.
The rain had somewhat washed the upper parts of me, but I was still bogged66 as high as to the knees; I streamed water; I was so weary I could hardly limp, and my face was like a ghost's. I stood certainly more in need of a change of raiment and a bed to lie on, than of all the benefits in Christianity. For all which (being persuaded the chief point for me was to make myself immediately public) I set the door open, entered that church with the dirty Duncan at my tails, and finding a vacant place hard by, sat down.
"Thirteenthly, my brethren, and in parenthesis67, the law itself must be regarded as a means of grace," the minister was saying, in the voice of one delighting to pursue an argument.
The sermon was in English on account of the assize. The judges were present with their armed attendants, the halberts glittered in a corner by the door, and the seats were thronged68 beyond custom with the array of lawyers. The text was in Romans 5th and 13th--the [pg 204]minister a skilled hand; and the whole of that able churchful--from Argyle, and my Lords Elchies and Kilkerran, down to the halbertmen that came in their attendance--was sunk with gathered brows in a profound critical attention. The minister himself and a sprinkling of those about the door observed our entrance at the moment and immediately forgot the same; the rest either did not hear or would not heed; and I sat there amongst my friends and enemies unremarked.
The first that I singled out was Prestongrange. He sat well forward, like an eager horseman in the saddle, his lips moving with relish, his eyes glued on the minister: the doctrine69 was clearly to his mind. Charles Stewart, on the other hand, was half asleep, and looked harassed70 and pale. As for Symon Fraser, he appeared like a blot71, and almost a scandal, in the midst of that attentive72 congregation, digging his hands in his pockets, shifting his legs, clearing his throat, rolling up his bald eyebrows73 and shooting out his eyes to right and left, now with a yawn, now with a secret smile. At times too, he would take the Bible in front of him, run it through, seem to read a bit, run it through again, and stop and yawn prodigiously74: the whole as if for exercise.
In the course of this restlessness his eye alighted on myself. He sat a second stupefied, than tore a half leaf out of the Bible, scrawled75 upon it with a pencil, and passed it with a whispered word to his next neighbor. [pg 205]The note came to Prestongrange, who gave me but the one look; thence it voyaged to the hands of Mr. Erskine; thence again to Argyle, where he sat between the other two lords of session, and his Grace turned and fixed22 me with an arrogant76 eye. The last of those interested to observe my presence was Charlie Stewart, and he too began to pencil and hand about despatches, none of which I was able to trace to their destination in the crowd.
But the passage of these notes had aroused notice; all who were in the secret (or supposed themselves to be so) were whispering information--the rest questions; and the minister himself seemed quite discountenanced by the flutter in the church and sudden stir and whispering. His voice changed, he plainly faltered77, nor did he again recover the easy conviction and full tones of his delivery. It would be a puzzle to him till his dying day, why a sermon that had gone with triumph through four parts, should thus miscarry in the fifth.
As for me, I continued to sit there, very wet and weary, and a good deal anxious as to what should happen next, but greatly exulting78 in my success.
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1
writ
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| n.命令状，书面命令 | |
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tormented
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| 饱受折磨的 | |
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liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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bass
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| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
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redeem
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| v.买回，赎回，挽回，恢复，履行（诺言等） | |
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scripture
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| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
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pickle
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| n.腌汁，泡菜；v.腌，泡 | |
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bribe
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| n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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cove
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| n.小海湾，小峡谷 | |
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meddle
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| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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laboriously
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| adv.艰苦地；费力地；辛勤地；（文体等）佶屈聱牙地 | |
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affixed
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| adj.[医]附着的，附着的v.附加( affix的过去式和过去分词 )；粘贴；加以；盖（印章） | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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adversaries
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| n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 ) | |
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sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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rusticity
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| n.乡村的特点、风格或气息 | |
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glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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caresses
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| 爱抚，抚摸( caress的名词复数 ) | |
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contention
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| n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张 | |
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imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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disarm
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| v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和 | |
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fowl
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| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
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fowls
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| 鸟( fowl的名词复数 )； 禽肉； 既不是这； 非驴非马 | |
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musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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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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awing
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| adj.& adv.飞翔的[地]v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的现在分词 ) | |
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lug
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| n.柄，突出部，螺帽；(英）耳朵；（俚）笨蛋；vt.拖，拉，用力拖动 | |
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45
fathoms
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| 英寻( fathom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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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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maroons
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| n.逃亡黑奴（maroon的复数形式）vt.把…放逐到孤岛（maroon的第三人称单数形式） | |
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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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alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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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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highland
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| n.(pl.)高地，山地 | |
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munching
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| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的现在分词 ) | |
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flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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rekindle
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| v.使再振作；再点火 | |
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outrageously
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| 凶残地； 肆无忌惮地； 令人不能容忍地； 不寻常地 | |
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gust
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| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
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blindfold
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| vt.蒙住…的眼睛；adj.盲目的；adv.盲目地；n.蒙眼的绷带[布等]； 障眼物，蒙蔽人的事物 | |
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66
bogged
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| adj.陷于泥沼的v.（使）陷入泥沼， （使）陷入困境( bog的过去式和过去分词 )；妨碍，阻碍 | |
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parenthesis
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| n.圆括号，插入语，插曲，间歇，停歇 | |
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68
thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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70
harassed
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| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
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71
blot
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| vt.弄脏（用吸墨纸）吸干；n.污点，污渍 | |
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72
attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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73
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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74
prodigiously
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| adv.异常地，惊人地，巨大地 | |
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75
scrawled
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| 乱涂，潦草地写( scrawl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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76
arrogant
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的 | |
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77
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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exulting
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| vi. 欢欣鼓舞，狂喜 | |
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