"The Lord is with us, lad. She shall be delivered! The Lord is with us; but don't you bungle3 His plans!" ejaculated Father Holland for the twentieth time; and each time the French trapper looked waggishly4 over his shoulder at me and winked5.
"Bungle! Pah!" Louis clapped his paddle athwart the canoe and laughed a low, sly, defiant6 laugh. "Bungle! Pah! Catch Louis bungle his cards, ha, ha! Trumps7! He play trumps—he hold his hand low—careless—nodings in it—he keep quiet—nodings worth play in his hand—but his sleeve—ha, ha!" and Louis laughed softly and winked at the full moon.
"The daughter of L'Aigle, she cuff9 Louis, she[Pg 410] slap his cheek, she call him lump—lout—slouch! Ha, ha!—Louis no fool—he pare the claws of L'Aigle to-night!"
At that, Little Fellow's stolid10 face took on a vindictive11 gleam, and he snapped out something in Indian tongue which set Louis to laughing. Suddenly the Indian's paddle was suspended in mid-air, and Little Fellow bent12 over the prow13, gazing at the moon-tracked water.
"Sacredie!" cried Louis, catching14 up water that trickled15 through his fingers, "'tis dried rabbit thong16! They are ahead of us! They have passed while that Scotch17 mule18 was balk19! We must catch the Englishman," and he began hitting out with his paddle at a great rate.
We had overtaken Mr. Sutherland's canoe within half an hour of Louis' discovery, and Eric wheeled about with a querulous demand.
"What's wrong? Are they ahead? I thought you said they were behind," and he turned suspiciously to Laplante.
"You thought wrong," said Louis, ever facile with subterfuges20. "You thought wrong, Mister High-and-Mighty! Camp here and watch; they come before morning!"
"No lies to me," shouted Eric, becoming uncontrollably excited. "If you mislead us, your life shall——"
"Pig-head! I no save your wife for back chin! Camp here, I say," and Louis' fitful temper began to show signs of sulking.
"For goodness' sake, Eric, do what you're[Pg 411] told! We've made a bad enough business of it——"
"Give the Frenchman a chance! Do what you're told, I say, ye blunderers! Troth, the Lord Himself couldn't bring success to such blundering idiots," was Father Holland's comment.
"I'll take na orders frae meddlesome21 papists," began the Scotchman; but Little Fellow had forcibly turned the prow of the canoe shoreward. I gave them a shove with my paddle. Frances took the cue, and while her father was yet scolding raised her paddle and had them close to the river bank.
"Get your tent up here," I called to conciliate them. "Then come to the bank and watch for the Indians."
"That's the ground," said I, as the other canoe bumped over the pebbles23; and I stopped paddling and dangled24 my hand in the water.
Something in the dark drifted wet and soft against my fingers. Ordinarily such an incident would not have alarmed me; but instantly a shudder25 of apprehension26 ran through my frame. I scarce had courage to look into the river lest the white face of a woman should appear through the watery27 depths. Clutching the water-soaked tangle28, I jerked it up. Something gave with a rip, and my hand was full of shawl fringe.
"What's that, Rufus?" asked Father Holland.[Pg 412] "Don't know." I motioned him to be silent and held it up in the moonlight. Distinctly it was, or had been, red fringe.
"Do you think—" he began, then stopped. Our keel had rubbed bottom and Hamilton was springing out of the other canoe.
"Yes, I do," I replied, choking with dread29. "This is too terrible! He'll kill himself! Go up the bank with him! Keep him busy at the tent! Little Fellow and I'll pole for it. The water's shallow there——"
"What do you think?" said the priest to Laplante.
"T'ink! I never t'ink! I finds out." But all the same, Louis' assurance was shaken and he peered searchingly into the river.
"Aren't you coming? What's your plan?" called Eric.
"Certainly we are, but get this truck to higher ground, will you?" I hoisted30 out the camp trappings. "I want to paddle out for something."
"What is it?" he asked.
"Something lost out there. I lost it out of my hand."
Frances Sutherland, I know, suspected trouble from the alarm which I could not keep out of my speech; for she pressed to the water's edge.
"Get the tent ready," I urged.
"What's the meaning of this mystery?" persisted Hamilton sharply. "What have you lost?"
"Don't press him too closely. Faith, it may[Pg 413] be a love token," interjected Father Holland, as he stepped ashore31; but he whispered in my ear as he passed, "You're wrong, lad! You're on the wrong track!"
I leaped back to the canoe, Little Fellow and the Frenchman following, and we paddled to the shallows where I had caught the fringe. I prodded32 the soft mud below and trailed the paddle back and forward over the clay bottom. Louis did likewise; but in vain. Only soft ooze33 came up on the blade. Then Little Fellow stripped and dived. Of course it was dark under water, as it always is dark under the muddy Red, and the Indian could not feel a thing from which fringe could have ripped. Had my jerk disturbed whatever it was and sent it rolling down to mid-current? I asked Father Holland this when I came back.
"Tush, faint-heart," he muttered, drawing me aside. "'Tis only a trial of your faith."
I said something about trials of faith which I shall not repeat here, but which the majority of people, who are on the tenter-hooks of such trials, have said for themselves.
"Faith! Pah!" exclaimed Louis, joining our whispered conference, while Eric and Mr. Sutherland were hoisting34 a tent. "That shawl, it mean nodings of things heavenly! It only mean rag stuck in the mud and reds nearabouts here! I have told the Great Bear and his snarl35 Englishman the Indians not come till morning. They get tent ready and watch! You follow Louis, he[Pg 414] lead you to camp. The priest—he good for say a little prayer; the Indian for fight; Louis—for swear; Rufus—to snatch the Englishwoman, he good at snatching the fair, ha-ha."
He darted37 to the shore, calling Little Fellow from the canoe and leaving Father Holland and me to follow as best we could.
"We'll be back soon, Eric," I shouted. "We're going to get the lie of the land. Keep watch here," and I broke into a run to keep up with the French trapper and the Indian, who were leading into the woods away from the river. I could hear Father Holland puffing38 behind like a wind-blown racer. Abruptly39 the priest came to a stop.
"By all the saints," he ordered. "Go back to the tent!"
"May I not come?" she asked.
"No—dearest, there will be fighting."
"No—Lord—no," panted Father Holland coming up to us. "We're not swapping41 one woman for another. What would Rufus do without ye?"
"You are going for Miriam?" she questioned, holding my hand. "God speed you and bring you back safely!"
"Say rather—bring Miriam," and I unfastened the clinging hand almost roughly.
"Come on, slugs, sloths42, laggards," commanded Laplante impatiently, and we dashed into the thick of the woods, leaving the white figure alone against the shadowy thicket43. She called out[Pg 415] something, of which I heard only two words, "Miriam" and "Rufus"; but I knew those names were uttered in supplication44 and they filled my heart with daring hope. Surely, we must succeed—for the Little Statue's prayers were following me—and I bounded on with a faith as buoyant as the priest's blind trust. Thus we ran through the moon-shafted woods pursuing the flitting, lithe45 figures of trapper and Indian, who scarce disturbed a fern leaf, while Father Holland and I floundered through the underbrush like ramping46 elephants. Then I found myself panting as hard as the priest and clinging to his arm for support; for illness had taken all the bravery out of my muscles, like champagne47 uncorked and left in the heat.
A long, low whistle came through the dark, a whistle that was such a perfect imitation of the night hawk49, no spy might detect it for the signal of a runner. After the whistle, was the soft, ominous50 hiss51 of a serpent in the grass; and we were abreast52 of Louis Laplante and Little Fellow standing53 stock still sniffing54 forward as hounds might scent55 a foe56.
"She may not be there! She may be drown;" whispered Louis, "but we creep on, quiet like hare, no noise like deer, stiller than mountain cat, hist—what that?"
The night breeze set the leaves all atremble—clapping their hands, as the Indians call it—and a whiff of burning bark tainted57 the air.[Pg 416] "That's it," said I under my breath.
The smoke was blowing from wooded flats between us and the river. Cautiously parting interlaced branches and as carefully replacing each bough58 to prevent backward snap, we turned down the sloping bank. I suppose necessity's training in the wilds must produce the same result in man and beast; and from that fact, faddists of the various "osophies" and "ologies" may draw what conclusions they please; but I affirm that no panther could creep on its prey59 with more stealth, caution and cunning than the trapper and Indian on the enemy's camp. I have seen wild creatures approaching a foe set each foot down with noiseless tread; but I have never seen such a combination of instincts, brute60 and human, as Louis and Little Fellow displayed. The Indian felt the ground for tracks and pitfalls61 and sticks, that might crackle. Louis, with his whole face pricked62 forward, trusted more to his eyes and ears and that sense of "feel," which is—contradictory as it may seem—utterly intangible. Once the Indian picked up a stick freshly broken. This was examined by both, and the Indian smelt63 it and tried his tongue on the broken edge. Then both fell on all fours, creeping under the branches of the thicket and pausing at every pace.
"Would that I had taken lessons in forest lore64 before I went among the Sioux," I thought to myself. Now I knew what had been incomprehensible before—why all my well-laid plans had been detected.[Pg 417]
A wind rustled65 through the foliage. That was in our favor; for in spite of our care the leaves crushed and crinkled beneath us. At intervals66 a glimmer67 of light shone from the beach. Louis paused and listened so intently our breathing was distinctly audible. A vague murmur68 of low voices—like the "talking of the trees" in Little Fellow's language—floated up from the river; and in the moonlight I saw Laplante laugh noiselessly. Trees stood farther apart on the flats and brushwood gave place to a forest of ferns, that concealed70 us in their deep foliage; but the thick growth also hid the enemy, and we knew not at what moment we might emerge in full view of the camp. So we stretched out flat, spying through the fern stalks before we parted the stems to draw ourselves on a single pace. Presently, the murmur separated into distinct voices, with much low laughing and the bitter jeers71 that make up Indian mirth. We could hear the crackling of the fire, and wormed forward like caterpillars72.
There was a glare of light through the ferns, and Louis stopped. We all three pulled abreast of him. Lying there as a cat watches a mouse, we parted first one and then another of the fronds73 till the Indian encampment could be clearly seen.
The camp was not a hundred feet away. Fire blazed in the centre. Poles were up for wigwams,[Pg 418] and already skins had been overlaid, completing several lodges74. Men lay in lazy attitudes about the fire. Squaws were taking what was left of the evening meal and slave-women were putting things to rights for the night. Sitting apart, with hands tied, were other slaves, chiefly young women taken in some recent fray75 and not yet trusted unbound. Among these was one better clad than the others. Her wrists were tied; but her hands managed to conceal69 her face, which was bowed low. In her lap was a sleeping child. Was this Miriam? Children were with the other captives; but to my eyes this woman's torn shawl appeared reddish in the fire glow.
"Let's go boldly up and offer to buy the slaves," I suggested; but Louis' grip tightened76 forbiddingly and Little Fellow's forefinger77 pointed78 towards a big creature, who was ordering the others about. 'Twas a woman of giant, bronzed form, with the bold stride of a conquering warrior79 and a trophy-decked belt about her waist. The fire shone against her girdle and the stones in the leather strap80 glowed back blood-red. Father Holland breathed only one word in my ear, "Agates81;" and the fire of the red stones flashed like some mystic flame through my being till brain and heart were hot with vengeance82 and my hands burned as if every nerve from palm to finger-tips were a blade point reaching out to destroy that creature of cruelty.
"Diable's squaw," I gasped83 out, beside myself[Pg 419] with anger and joy. "Let me but within arm's length of her——"
"Hold quiet," the priest hissed84 low and angry, gripping my shoulder like a steel winch. "'Vengeance is mine,' saith the Lord! See that you save the white woman! Leave the evil-doer to God! The Lord's with us, but I tell you, don't you bungle!"
"Bungle!" I could have shouted out defiance85 to the whole band. "Let go!" I ordered, trying to struggle up; for the iron hand still held me. "Let go, or I'll——"
But Louis Laplante's palm was forcibly slapped across my mouth and his other hand he laid significantly on his dagger86, giving me one threatening look. By the firelight I saw his lips mechanically counting the numbers of the enemy and mechanically I audited87 his count.
"Twenty men, thirty squaws and the slaves," said he under his breath.
An Indian left the fire and approached the captives.
"See! Watch! Is that woman Miriam?" demanded the priest. "She'll take her hands from her face now."
"Of course it is!" I was furious at the restraint and hesitancy; but as I said before, the experienced intriguer88 proceeds as warily as a cat.
"You not sure—not for sure—Mon Dieu—no," muttered Laplante; and he was right. With the forest shadows across the captives, it was impossible to distinguish the color of their faces.[Pg 420] Taking a knife from his belt, the Indian cut the cords of all but the woman with her hands across her face. A girl brought refuse of food; but this woman took no notice, never moving her hands. Thereupon the young squaw sneered89 and the Indian idlers jeered90 loud in harsh, strident laughter. This roused the big squaw. She strode up, Little Fellow all the while with glistening91 teeth following her motions as a cat's head turns to a mouse. With the flat of her hand she struck the silent woman, who leaped up and ran to a wigwam. In speechless fear, the child had scrambled92 to its feet and backed away from the angry group towards the ferns; but the light was fitful and shadowy, and we could recognize neither woman, nor child.
"I can't stand this any longer," I declared. "I must know if that's Miriam. Let's draw closer."
Father Holland and I crawled stealthily to the very border of fern growth, Louis and the Indian lying still and muttering over some plan of action.
"Hist," said the priest, "we'll try the child."
Unlike naked Indian children, the little thing had a loose garment banded about its waist; but its feet were bare and its hair as raven93 black as that of any young savage94. It stood like some woodland elf in the maze95 of heavy sleepiness, at each harsh word from the camp, sidling shyly closer to our hiding-place. We dragged forward till I could have touched the child, but feared to startle it.[Pg 421]
Putting his hand out slowly, Father Holland caught the little creature's arm. It gave a start, jerked back and looked in mute wonderment at our strange hiding-place.
"Is it white?" I whispered.
"I can't see."
"Good little man," he went on, slowly folding his hands about it. Drawing quickly back, he lifted the child completely into his arms.
"Is boy sleepy?" he asked.
"Call him 'Eric,'" I urged.
"Is Eric sleepy?"
The child's head fell wearily against the priest's shoulder. Snuggling closer, he lisped back in perfect English, "Eric's tired."
At once Father Holland's free hand caught my arm as if he feared I might rush out. For a moment neither of us spoke99.
Then he said, "Give me your coat."
I ripped off my buckskin-smock. Wrapping the sleeping boy about, the priest laid him gently among the ferns.
I pointed to the wigwam. The big squaw had come out, leaving Miriam alone and was engaged in noisy dispute with the men. Louis and Little Fellow had now wriggled102 abreast of us.
"Ha, ha, mon brave—your time, it come now! You save the white woman! I pay my devoirs[Pg 422] to the lady, ha, ha—I owe her much—I pay you both back with one stroke, one grand stroke. Little Fellow, he watch for spring surprise and help us both! Swoop—snitch—snatch—snap her up! 'Tis done—tra-la!" and Louis drew up for all the world like a tiger about to spring, but the priest drew him down.
"Listen," commanded the churchman, in the slow, tense way of one who intended to be obeyed. "I'll go back and come up by the beach. I'll brow-beat them and tongue-whack them for having slaves. They'll offer fight; so'll I. They'll all run down; that's your chance. Wait till they all go. I'll make them, every one. That's your chance. You rush! Try that! If it fail, in the name of the Lord, have y'r weapons ready—and the Lord be with us!"
"They'll kill you," I protested. "Let me go!"
"You? What about Frances?"
"Hush104 to ye, ye braggart," interrupted the priest. "Gillespie is as flabby as dough105 from an illness. 'Tis here you sit quiet, and help with Miriam as ye'd save y'r soul! Howld down with y'r bouncing nonsense, lad, and the saints be with ye; for it's a fight there'll be, and there is the fightin' stuff of a soldier in ye! Never turn to me—mind ye never turn to help me, or the curse of the fool be on y'r head—and the Lord be with us!"
"Amen." But I spoke to vacancy106.[Pg 423] While a rising wind set the branches overhead grating noisily, he had risen and darted away. Louis Laplante, contrary to the priest's orders, also rose and disappeared in the woods. Little Fellow still lay by me, but I could not rely on him for intelligent action, and there came over me that sense of aloneness in danger, which I knew so well in the Mandane country. The child's slightest cry might alarm the camp, and I shivered when he breathed heavily, or turned in his sleep. The Indians might miss the boy and search the woods. Instinctively107 my hand was on my pistol. It was well to be as near Miriam's tent as possible; and I, too, took advantage of the wind to change my place. I moved back, signalling the Indian to follow, and skirted round the open till I was directly opposite Miriam's wigwam. Why had Louis gone off, and why did he not come back? Had he gone to keep secret guard over the priest, or to decoy the vigilant108 Sioux woman? In his intentions I had confidence enough, but not in his judgment109. At that moment my speculations110 were interrupted by a loud shout from the beach. Every Indian in camp started up as if hostiles had uttered their war-cry.
"Hallo, there! Hallo! Hallo!" called the priest. Indians dashed to the river, while bedraggled squaws and naked children rushed from wigwams and stood in clamorous111 groups between the lodges and the water. The topmost branches of the trees swayed back and forward in the wind,[Pg 424] alternately throwing shafts112 of moonlight and shadows across the opening of Miriam's wigwam. When the light flooded the tent a solitary113, white-faced form appeared in dark, sharp outline. The bare arms were tied at the wrists, and beat aimlessly through the darkness. And there was a sound of piteous weeping.
Should I make the final, desperate dash now? "Don't bungle His plans," came the priest's warning; and I waited. The squaws were very near; and the angular figure of Diable's wife hung on the rear of the group. She was scolding like a termagant in the Sioux tongue, ordering the other women to the fray; but still she kept back, looking over her shoulder suspiciously at Miriam's tent, uncertain whether to go or stay. We had failed in every other attempt to rescue Miriam. If the Lord—as the priest believed—had planned the sufferer's aid, His instruments had blundered badly. There must be no more feeble-fingering.
"Thieves! Thieves! Cut-throats!" bawled114 Father Holland in a storm of abuse. "Ye rascals," he thundered, cutting the air with his stick and purposely backing away from the camp to draw the Indians off. Then his voice was lost in a chorus of shrill115 screams.
The moonlight shone across the wigwam opening. The captive had heard the English tongue, and was listening. But the Sioux squaw had also heard and recognized the voice of a former prisoner. She ran forward a pace, then hesitated,[Pg 425] looking back doubtfully. As she turned her head, out from the gloom of the thicket with the leap of a lynx, lithe and swift, sprang the crouching116 form of Louis Laplante. I felt Little Fellow all in a tremor117 by my side; the tremor not of fear, but of the couchant panther; and he uttered the most vicious snarl I have ever heard from human throat. Louis alighted neatly118 and noiselessly, directly behind the Sioux woman. She must have felt his presence, for she turned round and round expectantly. Louis, silent and elusive119 as a shadow, circled about her, tripping from side to side as she turned her head. But the fire betrayed him. She had wheeled towards the forest as if spying for the unseen presence among the foliage, and Louis deftly121 dodged122 behind. The move put him between the fire and his antagonist123, and the full profile of his queer, bending figure was shadowed clear past the woman. She turned like some vengeful, malign124 goddess, and I thought it all up with the daring trapper; but he doffed125 his red toque and swept the advancing fury the low bow of a French courtier. Then he drew himself erect126 and laughed insolently127 in the woman's face. His careless assurance allayed129 her suspicions.
"'Tis I, fleet-foot, winged messenger, humble131 slave," laughed Louis, with another grotesque132 bow; but the rogue133 had cleverly put himself between the squaw and Miriam's tent.
I should have rushed to Miriam's rescue long[Pg 426] since, instead of watching this by-play between trapper and mountain cat; but as the foray waxed hotter with the priest, the young braves had run back to their tents for guns and clubs.
"Stand off, ye scoundrels," roared the priest, in tones of genuine anger; for the Indians were closing threateningly about him. "Stand back, ye knaves134, ye sons of Satan," and every soul but Louis Laplante and the Sioux squaw ran with querulous shouts to the river.
"Cruel! Cruel! Cruel!" sobbed135 a voice from the wigwam; and there was a straining to break the thongs136 which bound her. "Cruel! Cruel! Hast Thou no pity? O my God! Hast Thou no pity? Shall not a sparrow fall to the ground without Thy knowledge? Is this Thy pity? O my God!" The voice broke in a torrent137 of heart-piercing cries.
I could endure it no longer.
"Have at ye, ye villains138! Come out like men! Now, me brave bhoys, show the stuff that's in ye! A fig36 for y'r valor139 if ye fail! The curse o' the Lord on the coward heart! Back with ye; ye red divils! Out with ye, Rufus! The Lord shall deliver the captive! What, 'an wuld ye dare strike a servant o' the Lord? Let the deliverer appear, I say," he shouted, weaving in commands to us as he dealt stout140 blows about him and receded141 down the river bank. "Take that—and that—and that," I heard him shout, with a rat-tat-too of sharp thuds from the staff accompanying each word.[Pg 427] Then I knew the quarrel on the beach was at its height; and Louis Laplante was still foiling the Sioux's approach to Miriam's wigwam like a deft120 fencer.
"Follow me, Little Fellow," I commanded. "Have your knife ready," and I had not finished speaking when three shrill whistles came from Louis. 'Twas his old-time signal of danger. Above the hubbub142 at the river the Sioux squaw was screaming to the braves.
Bounding from concealment143, I tore off the layer roofing of the wigwam, plunged144 through the tapering145 pole frame, shaking the frail146 lean-to like a house of cards, and was beside Miriam. Again I heard Louis' whistle and again the squaw's angry scream; but Little Fellow had followed on my heels and stood with knife-blade glittering bare at the tent-entrance.
"Hush," I whispered, slashing147 my dagger through the thongs around her hands and cutting the rope that held her to the central stake. "We've found you at last. Come! Come!" and I caught her up.
"O my God!" she cried. "At last! At last! Where is the child? They have taken little Eric!"
"We have him safe! His father is waiting! Don't hesitate, Miriam!"
"Run, Little Fellow," I ordered, "Across the camp. Get the child," and I sprang from the wigwam, which crashed to the ground behind me. I had thought to save skirting the[Pg 428] woods by a run across the camping-ground; but when my Indian dashed for the child and the Sioux saw me undefended with the white woman in my arms, she made a desperate lunge at Laplante and called at the top of her voice for the braves.
Louis, with weapons in hand, still kept between the fury and Miriam; but I think his French chivalry148 must have been restraining him. Though the Sioux offered him many opportunities and was doing her best to sheathe149 a knife in his heart, he seemed to refrain from using either dagger or pistol. An insolent128 laugh was on his face. The life-and-death game which he was playing was to his daring spirit something novel and amusing.
"The lady is—perturbed," he laughed, dodging150 a thrust at his neck; "she fences wide, tra-la," this as the barrel of his pistol parried a drive of her knife; "she hits afar—ho—ho—not so fast, my fury—not so furious, my fair—zipp, ha—ha—ha—another miss—another miss—the lady's a-miss," for the squaw's weapon struck fire against his own.
"Look out for the braves, have a care," I shouted; for a dozen young bucks100 were running up behind to the woman's aid.
"Ha—ha—-prenez garde—my tiger-cat has kittens," he laughed; and he looked over his shoulder.
That backward look gave the fury her opportunity. In the firelight blue steel flashed bright.[Pg 429] The Frenchman reeled, threw up his arms, and fell. One sharp, deep, broken draw of breath, and with a laugh on his lips, Louis Laplante died as he had lived. Then the tiger-cat leaped over the dead form at Miriam and me.
What happened next I can no more set down consecutively151 than I can distinguish the parts in a confused picture with a red-eyed fury striking at me, naked Indians brandishing152 war-clubs, flashes of powder smoke, a circle of gesticulating, screeching153 dark faces in the background, my Indian fighting like a very fiend, and a pale-faced woman with a little curly-headed boy at her feet standing against the woods.
"Run, Monsieur; I keep bad Indians off," urged Little Fellow. "Run—save white squaw and papoose—run, Monsieur."
Now, whatever may be said to the contrary, however brave two men may be, they cannot stand off a horde154 of armed savages155. I let go my whole pistol-charge, which sent the red demons156 to a distance and intended dashing for the woods, when the Sioux woman put her hand in her pocket and hurled157 a flint head at Little Fellow. The brave Indian sprang aside and the thing fell to the ground. With it fell a crumpled158 sheet of paper. I heard rather than saw Little Fellow's crouching leap. Two forms rolled over and over in the camp ashes; and with Miriam on my shoulder and the child under the other arm, I had dashed into the thicket of the upper ground.
Overhead tossed the trees in a swelling159 wind,[Pg 430] and up from the shore rushed the din8 of wrangling160 tongues, screaming and swearing in a clamor of savage wrath161. The wind grew more boisterous162 as I ran. Behind the Indian cries died faintly away; but still with a strength not my own, always keeping the river in view, and often mistaking the pointed branches, which tore clothing and flesh from head to feet, for the hands of enemies—I fled as if wolves had been pursuing.
Again and again sobbed Miriam—"O, my God! At last! At last! Thanks be to God! At last! At last!"
We were on a hillock above our camp. Putting Miriam down, I gave her my hand and carried the child. When I related our long, futile163 search and told her that Eric was waiting, agitation164 overcame her, and I said no more till we were within a few feet of the tents.
"Please wait." I left her a short distance from the camp that I might go and forewarn Eric.
Frances Sutherland met me in the way and read the news which I could not speak.
"Have you—oh—have you?" she asked. "Who is that?" and she pointed to the child in my arms.
"Where's Hamilton? Where's your father?" I demanded, trembling from exhaustion165 and all undone166.
"Mr. Hamilton is in his tent priming a gun. Father is watching the river. And oh, Rufus! is it really so?" she cried, catching, sight of Miriam's[Pg 431] stooped, ragged96 figure. Then she darted past me. Both her arms encircled Miriam, and the two began weeping on each other's shoulders after the fashion of women.
I heard a cough inside Hamilton's tent. Going forward, I lifted the canvas flap and found Eric sitting gloomily on a pile of robes.
"Eric," I cried, in as steady a voice as I command, which indeed, was shaking sadly, and I held the child back that Hamilton might not see, "Eric, old man, I think at last we've run the knaves down."
"Hullo!" he exclaimed with a start, not knowing what I had said. "Are you men back? Did you find out anything?"
"Why—yes," said I: "we found this," and I signalled Frances to bring Miriam.
This was no way to prepare a man for a shock that might unhinge reason; but my mind had become a vacuum and the warm breath of the child nestling about my neck brought a mist before my eyes.
"What did you say you had found?" asked Hamilton, looking up from his gun to the tent-way; for the morning light already smote167 through the dark.
"This," I said, lifting the canvas a second time and drawing Miriam forward.
I could but place the child in her arms. She glided168 in. The flap fell. There was the smothered169 outcry of one soul—rent by pain.
"Miriam—Miriam—my God—Miriam!"[Pg 432] "Come away," whispered a choky voice by my side, and Frances linked her arm through mine.
Then the tent was filled and the night air palpitated with sounds of anguished170 weeping. And with tears raining from my eyes, I hastened away from what was too sacred for any ear but a pitying God's. That had come to my life which taught me the depths of Hamilton's suffering.
"Dearest," said I, "now we understand both the pain and the joy of loving," and I kissed her white brow.
点击收听单词发音
1 warily | |
adv.留心地 | |
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2 vice | |
n.坏事;恶习;[pl.]台钳,老虎钳;adj.副的 | |
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3 bungle | |
v.搞糟;n.拙劣的工作 | |
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4 waggishly | |
adv.waggish(滑稽的,诙谐的)的变形 | |
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5 winked | |
v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 );递眼色(表示友好或高兴等);(指光)闪烁;闪亮 | |
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6 defiant | |
adj.无礼的,挑战的 | |
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7 trumps | |
abbr.trumpets 喇叭;小号;喇叭形状的东西;喇叭筒v.(牌戏)出王牌赢(一牌或一墩)( trump的过去式 );吹号公告,吹号庆祝;吹喇叭;捏造 | |
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8 din | |
n.喧闹声,嘈杂声 | |
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9 cuff | |
n.袖口;手铐;护腕;vt.用手铐铐;上袖口 | |
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10 stolid | |
adj.无动于衷的,感情麻木的 | |
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11 vindictive | |
adj.有报仇心的,怀恨的,惩罚的 | |
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12 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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13 prow | |
n.(飞机)机头,船头 | |
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14 catching | |
adj.易传染的,有魅力的,迷人的,接住 | |
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15 trickled | |
v.滴( trickle的过去式和过去分词 );淌;使)慢慢走;缓慢移动 | |
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16 thong | |
n.皮带;皮鞭;v.装皮带 | |
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17 scotch | |
n.伤口,刻痕;苏格兰威士忌酒;v.粉碎,消灭,阻止;adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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18 mule | |
n.骡子,杂种,执拗的人 | |
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19 balk | |
n.大方木料;v.妨碍;不愿前进或从事某事 | |
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20 subterfuges | |
n.(用说谎或欺骗以逃脱责备、困难等的)花招,遁词( subterfuge的名词复数 ) | |
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21 meddlesome | |
adj.爱管闲事的 | |
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22 gravel | |
n.砂跞;砂砾层;结石 | |
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23 pebbles | |
[复数]鹅卵石; 沙砾; 卵石,小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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24 dangled | |
悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 ); 摆动不定; 用某事物诱惑…; 吊胃口 | |
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25 shudder | |
v.战粟,震动,剧烈地摇晃;n.战粟,抖动 | |
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26 apprehension | |
n.理解,领悟;逮捕,拘捕;忧虑 | |
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27 watery | |
adj.有水的,水汪汪的;湿的,湿润的 | |
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28 tangle | |
n.纠缠;缠结;混乱;v.(使)缠绕;变乱 | |
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29 dread | |
vt.担忧,忧虑;惧怕,不敢;n.担忧,畏惧 | |
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30 hoisted | |
把…吊起,升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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31 ashore | |
adv.在(向)岸上,上岸 | |
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32 prodded | |
v.刺,戳( prod的过去式和过去分词 );刺激;促使;(用手指或尖物)戳 | |
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33 ooze | |
n.软泥,渗出物;vi.渗出,泄漏;vt.慢慢渗出,流露 | |
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34 hoisting | |
起重,提升 | |
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35 snarl | |
v.吼叫,怒骂,纠缠,混乱;n.混乱,缠结,咆哮 | |
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36 fig | |
n.无花果(树) | |
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37 darted | |
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
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38 puffing | |
v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 );喷着汽(或烟)移动;吹嘘;吹捧 | |
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39 abruptly | |
adv.突然地,出其不意地 | |
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40 foliage | |
n.叶子,树叶,簇叶 | |
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41 swapping | |
交换,交换技术 | |
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42 sloths | |
懒散( sloth的名词复数 ); 懒惰; 树獭; (经济)停滞。 | |
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43 thicket | |
n.灌木丛,树林 | |
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44 supplication | |
n.恳求,祈愿,哀求 | |
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45 lithe | |
adj.(指人、身体)柔软的,易弯的 | |
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46 ramping | |
土堤斜坡( ramp的现在分词 ); 斜道; 斜路; (装车或上下飞机的)活动梯 | |
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47 champagne | |
n.香槟酒;微黄色 | |
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48 brace | |
n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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49 hawk | |
n.鹰,骗子;鹰派成员 | |
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50 ominous | |
adj.不祥的,不吉的,预兆的,预示的 | |
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51 hiss | |
v.发出嘶嘶声;发嘘声表示不满 | |
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52 abreast | |
adv.并排地;跟上(时代)的步伐,与…并进地 | |
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53 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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54 sniffing | |
n.探查法v.以鼻吸气,嗅,闻( sniff的现在分词 );抽鼻子(尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气);抱怨,不以为然地说 | |
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55 scent | |
n.气味,香味,香水,线索,嗅觉;v.嗅,发觉 | |
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56 foe | |
n.敌人,仇敌 | |
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57 tainted | |
adj.腐坏的;污染的;沾污的;感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 );使污染;败坏;被污染,腐坏,败坏 | |
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58 bough | |
n.大树枝,主枝 | |
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59 prey | |
n.被掠食者,牺牲者,掠食;v.捕食,掠夺,折磨 | |
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60 brute | |
n.野兽,兽性 | |
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61 pitfalls | |
(捕猎野兽用的)陷阱( pitfall的名词复数 ); 意想不到的困难,易犯的错误 | |
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62 pricked | |
刺,扎,戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 ); 刺伤; 刺痛; 使剧痛 | |
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63 smelt | |
v.熔解,熔炼;n.银白鱼,胡瓜鱼 | |
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64 lore | |
n.传说;学问,经验,知识 | |
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65 rustled | |
v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66 intervals | |
n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 );间隔时间;[数学]区间;(戏剧、电影或音乐会的)幕间休息 | |
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67 glimmer | |
v.发出闪烁的微光;n.微光,微弱的闪光 | |
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68 murmur | |
n.低语,低声的怨言;v.低语,低声而言 | |
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69 conceal | |
v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽 | |
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70 concealed | |
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的 | |
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71 jeers | |
n.操纵帆桁下部(使其上下的)索具;嘲讽( jeer的名词复数 )v.嘲笑( jeer的第三人称单数 ) | |
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72 caterpillars | |
n.毛虫( caterpillar的名词复数 );履带 | |
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73 fronds | |
n.蕨类或棕榈类植物的叶子( frond的名词复数 ) | |
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74 lodges | |
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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75 fray | |
v.争吵;打斗;磨损,磨破;n.吵架;打斗 | |
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76 tightened | |
收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 ); (使)变紧; (使)绷紧; 加紧 | |
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77 forefinger | |
n.食指 | |
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78 pointed | |
adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
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79 warrior | |
n.勇士,武士,斗士 | |
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80 strap | |
n.皮带,带子;v.用带扣住,束牢;用绷带包扎 | |
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81 agates | |
n.玛瑙( agate的名词复数 );玛瑙制(或装有玛瑙的)工具; (小孩玩的)玛瑙纹玩具弹子;5。5磅铅字 | |
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82 vengeance | |
n.报复,报仇,复仇 | |
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83 gasped | |
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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84 hissed | |
发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 ); 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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85 defiance | |
n.挑战,挑衅,蔑视,违抗 | |
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86 dagger | |
n.匕首,短剑,剑号 | |
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87 audited | |
v.审计,查账( audit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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88 intriguer | |
密谋者 | |
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89 sneered | |
讥笑,冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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90 jeered | |
v.嘲笑( jeer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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91 glistening | |
adj.闪耀的,反光的v.湿物闪耀,闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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92 scrambled | |
v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 );攀登;争夺;(军事飞机)紧急起飞 | |
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93 raven | |
n.渡鸟,乌鸦;adj.乌亮的 | |
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94 savage | |
adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人 | |
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95 maze | |
n.迷宫,八阵图,混乱,迷惑 | |
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96 ragged | |
adj.衣衫褴褛的,粗糙的,刺耳的 | |
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97 coaxing | |
v.哄,用好话劝说( coax的现在分词 );巧言骗取;哄劝,劝诱;“锻炼”效应 | |
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98 tightening | |
上紧,固定,紧密 | |
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99 spoke | |
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 | |
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100 bucks | |
n.雄鹿( buck的名词复数 );钱;(英国十九世纪初的)花花公子;(用于某些表达方式)责任v.(马等)猛然弓背跃起( buck的第三人称单数 );抵制;猛然震荡;马等尥起后蹄跳跃 | |
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101 intake | |
n.吸入,纳入;进气口,入口 | |
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102 wriggled | |
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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103 snare | |
n.陷阱,诱惑,圈套;(去除息肉或者肿瘤的)勒除器;响弦,小军鼓;vt.以陷阱捕获,诱惑 | |
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104 hush | |
int.嘘,别出声;n.沉默,静寂;v.使安静 | |
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105 dough | |
n.生面团;钱,现款 | |
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106 vacancy | |
n.(旅馆的)空位,空房,(职务的)空缺 | |
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107 instinctively | |
adv.本能地 | |
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108 vigilant | |
adj.警觉的,警戒的,警惕的 | |
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109 judgment | |
n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见 | |
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110 speculations | |
n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 );思考;投机活动;推断 | |
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111 clamorous | |
adj.吵闹的,喧哗的 | |
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112 shafts | |
n.轴( shaft的名词复数 );(箭、高尔夫球棒等的)杆;通风井;一阵(疼痛、害怕等) | |
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113 solitary | |
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士 | |
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114 bawled | |
v.大叫,大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 );放声大哭;大声叫出;叫卖(货物) | |
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115 shrill | |
adj.尖声的;刺耳的;v尖叫 | |
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116 crouching | |
v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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117 tremor | |
n.震动,颤动,战栗,兴奋,地震 | |
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118 neatly | |
adv.整洁地,干净地,灵巧地,熟练地 | |
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119 elusive | |
adj.难以表达(捉摸)的;令人困惑的;逃避的 | |
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120 deft | |
adj.灵巧的,熟练的(a deft hand 能手) | |
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121 deftly | |
adv.灵巧地,熟练地,敏捷地 | |
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122 dodged | |
v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 );回避 | |
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123 antagonist | |
n.敌人,对抗者,对手 | |
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124 malign | |
adj.有害的;恶性的;恶意的;v.诽谤,诬蔑 | |
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125 doffed | |
v.脱去,(尤指)脱帽( doff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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126 erect | |
n./v.树立,建立,使竖立;adj.直立的,垂直的 | |
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127 insolently | |
adv.自豪地,自傲地 | |
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128 insolent | |
adj.傲慢的,无理的 | |
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129 allayed | |
v.减轻,缓和( allay的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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130 growled | |
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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131 humble | |
adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;v.降低,贬低 | |
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132 grotesque | |
adj.怪诞的,丑陋的;n.怪诞的图案,怪人(物) | |
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133 rogue | |
n.流氓;v.游手好闲 | |
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134 knaves | |
n.恶棍,无赖( knave的名词复数 );(纸牌中的)杰克 | |
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135 sobbed | |
哭泣,啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 ); 哭诉,呜咽地说 | |
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136 thongs | |
的东西 | |
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137 torrent | |
n.激流,洪流;爆发,(话语等的)连发 | |
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138 villains | |
n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 );罪犯;(小说、戏剧等中的)反面人物;淘气鬼 | |
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139 valor | |
n.勇气,英勇 | |
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141 receded | |
v.逐渐远离( recede的过去式和过去分词 );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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142 hubbub | |
n.嘈杂;骚乱 | |
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143 concealment | |
n.隐藏, 掩盖,隐瞒 | |
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144 plunged | |
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降 | |
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145 tapering | |
adj.尖端细的 | |
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146 frail | |
adj.身体虚弱的;易损坏的 | |
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147 slashing | |
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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148 chivalry | |
n.骑士气概,侠义;(男人)对女人彬彬有礼,献殷勤 | |
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149 sheathe | |
v.(将刀剑)插入鞘;包,覆盖 | |
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150 dodging | |
n.避开,闪过,音调改变v.闪躲( dodge的现在分词 );回避 | |
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151 consecutively | |
adv.连续地 | |
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152 brandishing | |
v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 );炫耀 | |
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153 screeching | |
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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154 horde | |
n.群众,一大群 | |
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155 savages | |
未开化的人,野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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156 demons | |
n.恶人( demon的名词复数 );恶魔;精力过人的人;邪念 | |
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157 hurled | |
v.猛投,用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 );大声叫骂 | |
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158 crumpled | |
adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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159 swelling | |
n.肿胀 | |
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160 wrangling | |
v.争吵,争论,口角( wrangle的现在分词 ) | |
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161 wrath | |
n.愤怒,愤慨,暴怒 | |
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162 boisterous | |
adj.喧闹的,欢闹的 | |
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163 futile | |
adj.无效的,无用的,无希望的 | |
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164 agitation | |
n.搅动;搅拌;鼓动,煽动 | |
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165 exhaustion | |
n.耗尽枯竭,疲惫,筋疲力尽,竭尽,详尽无遗的论述 | |
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166 undone | |
a.未做完的,未完成的 | |
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167 smote | |
v.猛打,重击,打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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168 glided | |
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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169 smothered | |
(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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170 anguished | |
adj.极其痛苦的v.使极度痛苦(anguish的过去式) | |
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