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首页 » 经典英文小说 » The island of the stairs » CHAPTER IV SHOWS HOW TWO PIECES OF PARCHMENT WERE FITTED TOGETHER
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CHAPTER IV SHOWS HOW TWO PIECES OF PARCHMENT WERE FITTED TOGETHER
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UNDER the circumstances, therefore, and without a thought that my action might be considered a possible violation1 of confidence, I looked at the parchment I held in my hand. It was evidently the half of a larger sheet which had been torn in two. The right half was in my possession. A glance showed me that it was a part of a rudely-drawn map, apparently3 of an island, although, lacking the other half, of that I could not be quite certain. Being a seafaring man, I was familiar with maps and charts of all sorts but I must admit that I had never seen a map that looked exactly like that one. It was lettered in characters which were very old and quaint4, and some figures in the upper right-hand corner appeared to indicate a longitude5. The outlines of the map and the letters and figures were all very dim and faded and a longer and[49] closer inspection6 than I could give it then would be needed to show just what they were.
 
My lady’s letter was a short one, for she looked up from it presently, her eyes filled with tears, the first I had seen there, and for that reason I was glad she could enjoy this relief. I suppose the fact that she was so alone and had no one else induced her to confide2 in me. At any rate, she extended the paper to me.
 
“Read it,” she said. “’Tis my father’s last word to me.”
 
I took it from her and this is what I read:—
 
My Dear Lucy:
 
As an ancient King of France once said, everything is lost but honor, and that trembles in the balance. I have speculated, gambled, tempted7 fortune; first because I loved it and at last hoping to win for you. But everything has gone wrong. You are penniless, even your mother’s fortune, of which she foolishly made me trustee, has followed my own. Master Ficklin may save something from the wreck8. I hope so. I can do no more and perhaps, nay9 certainly, the best thing I can do for you is to leave you. May God help you since I cannot.
 
Your shamed and unhappy father,
Geoffrey Wilberforce.
 
Post Scriptum: The last thing that I possess is this[50] scrap10 of parchment. It has been handed down from father to son for five generations. The tradition of it is lost, but there has always been attached to it a singular value. Perhaps some day the missing part may turn up. There used to be a little image with it, but that has disappeared, too. At any rate, of all that I once had, this alone is left. Should you marry and have children pass it to them, a foolish request, but I am moved to make it as my father made it to me.
 
G. W.
 
I read it slowly. It was not a brave man’s letter. I liked Sir Geoffrey less then than ever before. Some of the ancient awe11 and reverence12 I felt for the family went out of my heart then. Well, the man was dead, and there was no use dwelling13 on that any longer. I handed the letter back to Mistress Lucy without comment. As she took it I extended the parchment in the other hand.
 
“Here,” said I, “is the enclosure to which your father refers. It seems to be a chart or map but in its torn condition it is of but little use.”
 
She took it listlessly, but as her glance fell upon it her face brightened.
 
“Why!” she exclaimed, brushing aside her[51] tears, “I, myself, have the other half and also the image.”
 
I stared at her stupidly, not in the least taking in her meaning and she evidently resented my dullness.
 
“I have the other half of the parchment, the missing portion of the map, and the little idol14, I tell you,” she urged.
 
“You don’t mean to say—” I began in amazement15.
 
“Yes,” she interrupted, “they came to me from my mother. When she died five years ago she gave them to me with much the same account as my father writes. I have never shown them to anyone, never mentioned the circumstances, even.”
 
“Why not?” I asked.
 
“I scarcely know. The torn map was valueless. I attached no special importance to the hideous16 little image. But now, now—”
 
“It is a miracle,” I said, “that the two pieces should have come together in your hands.”
 
“I don’t yet understand what it all means,” she said, “but—”
 
“Meanwhile,” said I, “may I respectfully[52] suggest that you get the other piece and the idol or image and let me look at them? I know something about such matters.”
 
“You!” she flashed out in one of those sudden changes of mood, sometimes so delightful18 and sometimes the reverse.
 
“I am a seafaring man, as you know, Mistress,” said I humbly19, “and I have seen many strange gods in different parts of the world. Also I am accustomed to study maps and charts. Perhaps this may contain information vital to your fortunes which I can decipher more easily than another.”
 
She nodded and went rapidly out of the room. In a few moments she came back with another piece of parchment and a little stone figure, which I glanced at and laid aside for the moment, fixing my attention on the parchments. I placed them side by side and the torn and jagged edges fitted into each other perfectly20. I had laid them on a table and bent21 over them in great excitement, excitement on my part caused by her proximity22 rather than by the faded, yellow sheepskin.
 
“It is an island!” she exclaimed.
 
[53]“Yes,” said I.
 
“Where is it?” she asked.
 
I pointed23 with my huge index finger to the figures in the upper left-hand corner and the upper right-hand corner marked respectively latitude24 and longitude.
 
“That will tell us exactly.”
 
“And you can find it?”
 
“If it be there, where the figures say it is, I can, as easily as I can find the park gate yonder.”
 
She looked at me with a certain amount of awe. Evidently the nice possibilities of the art of navigation had not been brought to her attention. I went up several degrees in her respect it seemed because I knew something she did not. Well, she was to find out that I knew many things that she did not—but I must not boast.
 
“Why, that is wonderful!” she exclaimed.
 
“Not at all. It is done by seamen25 every day.”
 
“Have you ever been there?”
 
“No,” said I, “I have crossed the South Seas several times but I have never chanced upon that[54] island or in fact sailed anywhere near that latitude or longitude.”
 
“But you know where it is?”
 
“Exactly, and if I had my great chart of the South Seas here, I could put my finger upon it and show it to you.”
 
“What,” she asked, pointing with her own dainty finger in her turn, “is that ring around the island?”
 
“That will be a coral reef, I take it. They usually are broken at some point so that ships can sail within, but here is a complete circle enclosing the island. There seems to be no entrance anywhere. ’Tis unusual and most strange.”
 
“Perhaps the man that drew the map made a mistake.”
 
“I think not. The map has been made by a seafaring man, that is plain.”
 
“I see, and the island itself is a circle,” she said, bending to inspect it more closely.
 
“Yes,” said I, “and it is like no island that I have ever seen, for here be two great rings like a gigantic wall and a hill or something of the sort in the middle.” I bent lower over it in[55] my turn. My eyes are unusually keen and I saw words written on the outside of the island proper and between it and the coral reef. “See,” said I, “the words ‘ye stairs’!”
 
“Stairs!” exclaimed the girl in amazement, “did you ever see stairs on such an island?”
 
“No, I have not. But these may only be some natural means of ascent26.”
 
“It is most strange and meaningless,” she said.
 
“Not so, my lady,” I said, “these torn halves of the map have not been preserved through generations and handed down from father to son, or daughter, so carefully unless there be some meaning attached to them. What do you know about it? Forgive the presumption27 of my inquiry28, but in this matter perhaps I can be of more service to you than I could be in anything else.”
 
“You have been a faithful, devoted29 servitor, Master Hampdon,” she said, “and I have no hesitation30 in telling you all I know. My mother and father were distantly related, that is they were descendants in the fifth generation from two brothers.”
 
“Exactly,” said I, “your father’s note says this[56] piece of parchment has been in possession of his family for five generations and evidently the other was in the possession of your mother’s people for the same time.”
 
“Why, that must be so,” said the girl amazed, “indeed, I think you are very acute to have reasoned it out.”
 
“I have but anticipated your own reflections, I am sure,” said I. “Who was the father of these two brothers?”
 
She thought a moment.
 
“Sir Philip Wilberforce was his name. He was—”
 
“A sailor!” I exclaimed on a venture.
 
“You have guessed rightly; he voyaged in distant seas in Queen Elizabeth’s time. It is reported that he was one of the first who went around the world after Sir Francis Drake showed all Englishmen the way.”
 
“Exactly,” I cried, “we are on the right track now. What further?”
 
“It is in my mind,” she said, “that Geoffrey and Oliver, his sons, quarreled over his property after his death, and—”
 
“There you have it. They divided his fortune[57] and tore the parchment apart, it being thought valuable for some reason, and each kept half,” I returned confidently.
 
“That is the tradition as regards the fortune, and it may account for the parchment,” she admitted in admiration31 of my conclusion, though indeed it was an easy one to draw.
 
“What next, madam?”
 
“The families drifted apart and gradually died out until Sir Geoffrey and my mother were alone left of their respective lines, and without knowing the relationship at the time they met and married, and I—” she faltered32 and put her hand over her face—“am the only one left of the family, of either branch.”
 
“Now here,” said I devoutly33, for I fully17 believed what I said, “are the workings of Divine Providence34. The parchment came from old Sir Philip, it was torn apart by his sons, and the pieces came not together until in you the ancient lines were united.”
 
“Yes, but what does it mean?” she asked turning to the table again.
 
As she did so the sleeves of her dress caught the parchment and separated the two pieces.[58] One of them fell to the floor face downward. I picked it up.
 
“Why, there is writing on it!” I exclaimed.
 
“So there is. I had forgotten that. It was unintelligible35 to me and, in fact, I put it in my jewel case and forgot about it.”
 
“And the image?”
 
“It was so hideous and so repellent I thrust it into a drawer of my cabinet and forgot it too.”
 
“Let’s put the two pieces together and take them to the light and see if we cannot decipher it,” said I. “Mistress Wilberforce,” I continued, “I have a sailor’s premonition that we are on the track of something that may greatly better your fortunes.”
 
There was no table near the window but I spread the two pieces of parchment on my two broad hands, from which you can get an idea of how large they were. The writing was dim and faded with age. It seemed to have been done with some sharp pointed instrument which cut into the sheepskin, and where the ink which had been used had faded, the scratches still remained. This that follows is what I made out.[59] I have reproduced exactly the old spelling and capitalization, and for your further illumination I have copied as best I could the map, or chart, upon the other side, so you can easily comprehend the story of our adventures upon it as I am now endeavoring to relate them. Of course my memory may be at fault in some particulars, but if so they are unimportant. As for the image, I can never forget its grinning, malign36, evil hideousness37, no, not to my dying day.
 
In ye yeare of oure Lorde 1595, I, Philip Wilberforce, Bt., of ye countie of Devon, being ye captaine of ye good shippe Scourge38 of Malice39, didde take ye grate Spanish Galleon40 Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion after a bloudie encountre, wherein mine own shippe was sunke. Ye lading of ye galleon was worthe muche monaie, milliones of pounds esterling, I take yt. Withe manie jewelles and stones of price, pieces of eight and bullione, together with silkes and spicerie. Being blowne to ye southe and weste manie days in a grate tempeste, ye galleon was caste awaye on Ye Islande of ye Staires. Wee landed ye tresor and hidde yt in ye walle. Alle my menne being in ye ende dead ye natives came over ye seas from ye other Islandes in their grate cannos and tooke me, being like a madde manne. Godde mercifullie preserving my life, I escaped frome themm and at last am comme safe intoe mine own sweet lande of Englande once[60] more. Toe finde ye mouthe of ye tresor cave, take a bearing alonge ye southe of ye three Goddes on ye Altar of Skulles on ye middel hille of ye islande. Where ye line strykes ye bigge knicke in ye walle withe ye talle palmme tree bee three hoales. Climbe ye stones. Enter ye centre one. Yt. is there. Lette him that wille seek and finde. Here bee two of ye littel goddes I picked uppe and fetched awaye. Ye others are lyke onlie muche larger.I spelt out the letters slowly, deciphering the quaint, faint writing with difficulty. Mistress Lucy drew near to me, bending over the parchment closely, following my efforts, indeed anticipating them with her quicker eye. Her[61] presence was a distraction41 to me, yet I was so glad to have her near me that I wished the parchment letter as long as this story I am writing bids fair to be. Well, we finished it at last.
 
Then I turned to the table in the center of the room where I had left the image. I stooped over it, picked it up and brought it to the light. It was a head, with the neck and the top of the shoulders showing, mounted on a pedestal roughly cut in imitation masonry42. It was made of some hard pinkish stone like granite43. There was no skill or nicety in its carving44; it was rough and rude, inexpressibly so, and the marks of the chisel45, or whatever the tool with which it had been carved, were quite apparent here and there; and yet years of exposure to wind and weather had smoothed it off in part. The evil face was long and the dog teeth fell over the protruding46 lip in a peculiarly brutal47 and ferocious48 way. There was sort of a crown on the head, the eyes were sightless, and the whole expression was revolting and beastly.
 
What kind of people made and what kind of people worshiped such a god I wondered. I was not surprised that my little mistress had[62] hid it away, nor that the one that came down through Sir Geoffrey’s line had been lost. If I had possessed49 it, I would have destroyed it long since. It fairly radiated evil, and the contrast between my lady’s face, all sweetness, purity, and light and this hideous image was the more marked. She has since confessed that she drew the same contrast between it and what she was pleased to call my brave and honest countenance50! But of that more anon. We stared from the image to the parchment and then looked wonderingly at each other.
 
There was much in the letter, of course, that we could not possibly understand. We could only comprehend it fully if we were lucky enough to stand beneath “ye Stone Goddes,” of which I held a sample in my hand, on the island itself. Still the general purport51 was sufficiently52 clear. Sir Philip Wilberforce had evidently concealed53 a very considerable treasure there. If we could find it our fortunes would be made, or hers rather, for I swear I never thought of myself at all.
 
“Think you,” my little mistress began at last, her pale face flushing for the first time, her[63] bosom54 heaving quickly, “that the treasure may still be there watched over by those awful gods?”
 
She glanced at the image I still held in my hand as she spoke55.
 
“Who can tell?” I answered. “I am probably as familiar with the South Seas and their islands as any sailor; which is not saying a very great deal, for there are thousands of islands in those unknown seas which have never been visited by man, by white men, that is, or by any race which preserves records. I have never heard even a rumor56 of the Island of the Stairs, yet it would seem to be sufficiently different from all other islands to have been published abroad if it had been discovered. Its latitude and longitude place it in unfrequented seas among others peopled by races of savage57 cannibals. I think it not at all unlikely that it may have remained unvisited by any who would appreciate the value of the treasure since Sir Philip’s day.”
 
“But would such treasure last so long?”
 
“Stored in a cave, gold and silver and jewels would last forever. Everything else would have rotted away probably.”
 
[64]“It says to the value of millions of pounds, you notice,” she repeated thoughtfully, pointing to the parchment again.
 
“Aye,” I answered, “there is nothing unusual or unbelievable in that; the cargoes58 of those old Spanish galleons59 ran up into the millions often, I have read.”
 
“How could we get there?” she asked.
 
“If you had a ship,” said I, “well commanded and found and manned you could reach the spot without difficulty.”
 
“How much would it cost?”
 
Well, I quickly and roughly estimated in my mind the necessary outlay60. Such a vessel61 as she would require might be bought for perhaps twenty-five hundred or three thousand pounds; provisioning, outfitting62, together with the pay of the officers and the crew, would require perhaps from fifteen hundred to two thousand five hundred pounds more, or a total of between five and six thousand pounds. And she had but two!
 
I was about to tell her the prohibitive truth when the solution of the problem suddenly came to me. In one way or another I had been a[65] fortunate voyager and I had saved up or earned by trading and one or two adventures in which I had taken part, something over four thousand pounds, which was safely lodged63 to my credit in a London bank. Her fortune was two thousand pounds. Alone she could do nothing, together we could accomplish it. I had no right to put the suggestion in her mind, but I did it.
 
“I should think,” I said slowly, “that two thousand pounds would be ample to cover everything.”
 
“Ah,” she said triumphantly64, “exactly the sum that Master Ficklin said was left of my mother’s fortune.”
 
“Yes,” said I, and then I added in duty bound, “but you surely would not be so foolish, Mistress Wilberforce, as to risk your all in this wild goose chase?”
 
“If you were in my position, Master Hampdon, what would you do?” she asked pointedly65.
 
“I am a man,” I answered, “accustomed to shift for myself. I might take a risk which I would not advise you to essay.”
 
“I must shift for myself, too,” she said, her eyes sparkling. The Goddess Fortune which[66] had ruined her father was evidently jogging her elbow. “Indeed, I shall take the chance,” she persisted. “I am resolved upon it.”
 
“But you could easily live on two thousand pounds for a long while,” I urged, against my wish, for I was keen to go treasure hunting with her for a shipmate.
 
“Not such life as I crave66. If I cannot have enough for my desires I would be no worse off had I nothing.”
 
“But it is a long chance,” I persisted, “upon which to risk your all.”
 
“Master Hampdon,” she said solemnly, “the fact of the separation of those two pieces of parchment for a century and a half, and the fact that they come together in me, one half received from each of the dead who in neither case knew of the existence of the other half, the fact that I am Sir Philip Wilberforce’s last descendant through both the original heirs—see you not something providential in all this?”
 
“A strange coincidence,” I admitted.
 
“More than that,” she protested.
 
Well, I was arguing against my wishes and from a sense of duty, so I at last gave way.[67] After all, the treasure might be there. If so, it was hers and it would be a shame not to get it. The pulse of adventure leaped in my veins67.
 
“So be it,” I said.
 
“Will you help me to make my arrangements, you are accustomed to the sea, and—”
 
“I will do more than that,” said I, “with your gracious permission I will go with you.”
 
“To the island?”
 
“To the end of the world,” I replied, whereat she stared at me a moment, then looked away.
 
She extended her hand to me and I tried to kiss it like a gentleman. I made, no doubt, a blundering effort, but at least it was that of an honest man.
 
“I must go and get ready to go to Master Ficklin’s in the town,” she said softly. “You know the house.”
 
I nodded.
 
“Come to me there tomorrow and we will talk further about the project.”
 
“Can I be of any other service?”
 
“Not now,” she answered, “you have been of great service already. I shall not forget it.”
 
[68]And so I turned and walked out of the hall, leaving her standing68 there for the last time, at least so we thought, the last little descendant of a brave race. But you never can tell what the future will bring forth69. I little dreamed that she and I were to stand there again some day under quite different circumstances. It is a good thing for me that I did not dream that dream then. It would have turned my head if I had.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 violation lLBzJ     
n.违反(行为),违背(行为),侵犯
参考例句:
  • He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说,那是违反规则的。
  • He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。
2 confide WYbyd     
v.向某人吐露秘密
参考例句:
  • I would never readily confide in anybody.我从不轻易向人吐露秘密。
  • He is going to confide the secrets of his heart to us.他将向我们吐露他心里的秘密。
3 apparently tMmyQ     
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎
参考例句:
  • An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽,豁然开朗。
  • He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
4 quaint 7tqy2     
adj.古雅的,离奇有趣的,奇怪的
参考例句:
  • There were many small lanes in the quaint village.在这古香古色的村庄里,有很多小巷。
  • They still keep some quaint old customs.他们仍然保留着一些稀奇古怪的旧风俗。
5 longitude o0ZxR     
n.经线,经度
参考例句:
  • The city is at longitude 21°east.这个城市位于东经21度。
  • He noted the latitude and longitude,then made a mark on the admiralty chart.他记下纬度和经度,然后在航海图上做了个标记。
6 inspection y6TxG     
n.检查,审查,检阅
参考例句:
  • On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查,发现肉变质了。
  • The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。
7 tempted b0182e969d369add1b9ce2353d3c6ad6     
v.怂恿(某人)干不正当的事;冒…的险(tempt的过去分词)
参考例句:
  • I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚,但还是没开口。
  • I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。
8 wreck QMjzE     
n.失事,遇难;沉船;vt.(船等)失事,遇难
参考例句:
  • Weather may have been a factor in the wreck.天气可能是造成这次失事的原因之一。
  • No one can wreck the friendship between us.没有人能够破坏我们之间的友谊。
9 nay unjzAQ     
adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者
参考例句:
  • He was grateful for and proud of his son's remarkable,nay,unique performance.他为儿子出色的,不,应该是独一无二的表演心怀感激和骄傲。
  • Long essays,nay,whole books have been written on this.许多长篇大论的文章,不,应该说是整部整部的书都是关于这件事的。
10 scrap JDFzf     
n.碎片;废料;v.废弃,报废
参考例句:
  • A man comes round regularly collecting scrap.有个男人定时来收废品。
  • Sell that car for scrap.把那辆汽车当残品卖了吧。
11 awe WNqzC     
n.敬畏,惊惧;vt.使敬畏,使惊惧
参考例句:
  • The sight filled us with awe.这景色使我们大为惊叹。
  • The approaching tornado struck awe in our hearts.正在逼近的龙卷风使我们惊恐万分。
12 reverence BByzT     
n.敬畏,尊敬,尊严;Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称;v.尊敬,敬畏,崇敬
参考例句:
  • He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
  • We reverence tradition but will not be fettered by it.我们尊重传统,但不被传统所束缚。
13 dwelling auzzQk     
n.住宅,住所,寓所
参考例句:
  • Those two men are dwelling with us.那两个人跟我们住在一起。
  • He occupies a three-story dwelling place on the Park Street.他在派克街上有一幢3层楼的寓所。
14 idol Z4zyo     
n.偶像,红人,宠儿
参考例句:
  • As an only child he was the idol of his parents.作为独子,他是父母的宠儿。
  • Blind worship of this idol must be ended.对这个偶像的盲目崇拜应该结束了。
15 amazement 7zlzBK     
n.惊奇,惊讶
参考例句:
  • All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
  • He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
16 hideous 65KyC     
adj.丑陋的,可憎的,可怕的,恐怖的
参考例句:
  • The whole experience had been like some hideous nightmare.整个经历就像一场可怕的噩梦。
  • They're not like dogs,they're hideous brutes.它们不像狗,是丑陋的畜牲。
17 fully Gfuzd     
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地
参考例句:
  • The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气,然后全部呼出。
  • They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
18 delightful 6xzxT     
adj.令人高兴的,使人快乐的
参考例句:
  • We had a delightful time by the seashore last Sunday.上星期天我们在海滨玩得真痛快。
  • Peter played a delightful melody on his flute.彼得用笛子吹奏了一支欢快的曲子。
19 humbly humbly     
adv. 恭顺地,谦卑地
参考例句:
  • We humbly beg Your Majesty to show mercy. 我们恳请陛下发发慈悲。
  • "You must be right, Sir,'said John humbly. “你一定是对的,先生,”约翰恭顺地说道。
20 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
21 bent QQ8yD     
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的
参考例句:
  • He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
  • We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
22 proximity 5RsxM     
n.接近,邻近
参考例句:
  • Marriages in proximity of blood are forbidden by the law.法律规定禁止近亲结婚。
  • Their house is in close proximity to ours.他们的房子很接近我们的。
23 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
24 latitude i23xV     
n.纬度,行动或言论的自由(范围),(pl.)地区
参考例句:
  • The latitude of the island is 20 degrees south.该岛的纬度是南纬20度。
  • The two cities are at approximately the same latitude.这两个城市差不多位于同一纬度上。
25 seamen 43a29039ad1366660fa923c1d3550922     
n.海员
参考例句:
  • Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather. 有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
  • In the storm, many seamen wished they were on shore. 在暴风雨中,许多海员想,要是他们在陆地上就好了。
26 ascent TvFzD     
n.(声望或地位)提高;上升,升高;登高
参考例句:
  • His rapid ascent in the social scale was surprising.他的社会地位提高之迅速令人吃惊。
  • Burke pushed the button and the elevator began its slow ascent.伯克按动电钮,电梯开始缓慢上升。
27 presumption XQcxl     
n.推测,可能性,冒昧,放肆,[法律]推定
参考例句:
  • Please pardon my presumption in writing to you.请原谅我很冒昧地写信给你。
  • I don't think that's a false presumption.我认为那并不是错误的推测。
28 inquiry nbgzF     
n.打听,询问,调查,查问
参考例句:
  • Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
  • The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。
29 devoted xu9zka     
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的
参考例句:
  • He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
  • We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
30 hesitation tdsz5     
n.犹豫,踌躇
参考例句:
  • After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天,他终于直说了。
  • There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。
31 admiration afpyA     
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕
参考例句:
  • He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
  • We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。
32 faltered d034d50ce5a8004ff403ab402f79ec8d     
(嗓音)颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 ); 支吾其词; 蹒跚; 摇晃
参考例句:
  • He faltered out a few words. 他支吾地说出了几句。
  • "Er - but he has such a longhead!" the man faltered. 他不好意思似的嚅嗫着:“这孩子脑袋真长。”
33 devoutly b33f384e23a3148a94d9de5213bd205f     
adv.虔诚地,虔敬地,衷心地
参考例句:
  • She was a devoutly Catholic. 她是一个虔诚地天主教徒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • This was not a boast, but a hope, at once bold and devoutly humble. 这不是夸夸其谈,而是一个即大胆而又诚心、谦虚的希望。 来自辞典例句
34 providence 8tdyh     
n.深谋远虑,天道,天意;远见;节约;上帝
参考例句:
  • It is tempting Providence to go in that old boat.乘那艘旧船前往是冒大险。
  • To act as you have done is to fly in the face of Providence.照你的所作所为那样去行事,是违背上帝的意志的。
35 unintelligible sfuz2V     
adj.无法了解的,难解的,莫明其妙的
参考例句:
  • If a computer is given unintelligible data, it returns unintelligible results.如果计算机得到的是难以理解的数据,它给出的也将是难以理解的结果。
  • The terms were unintelligible to ordinary folk.这些术语一般人是不懂的。
36 malign X8szX     
adj.有害的;恶性的;恶意的;v.诽谤,诬蔑
参考例句:
  • It was easy to see why the cartoonists regularly portrayed him as a malign cherub.难怪漫画家总是把他画成一个邪恶的小天使。
  • She likes to malign innocent persons.她爱诋毁那些清白的人。
37 hideousness 3a44e36f83b8b321e23b561df4a2eef0     
参考例句:
  • Hideousness of aspect, deformity of instinct, troubled him not, and did not arouse his indignation. 外形的丑陋和本性的怪异都不能惊动他,触犯他。 来自互联网
38 scourge FD2zj     
n.灾难,祸害;v.蹂躏
参考例句:
  • Smallpox was once the scourge of the world.天花曾是世界的大患。
  • The new boss was the scourge of the inefficient.新老板来了以后,不称职的人就遭殃了。
39 malice P8LzW     
n.恶意,怨恨,蓄意;[律]预谋
参考例句:
  • I detected a suggestion of malice in his remarks.我觉察出他说的话略带恶意。
  • There was a strong current of malice in many of his portraits.他的许多肖像画中都透着一股强烈的怨恨。
40 galleon GhdxC     
n.大帆船
参考例句:
  • The story of a galleon that sank at the start of her maiden voyage in 1628 must be one of the strangest tales of the sea.在1628年,有一艘大帆船在处女航开始时就沉没了,这个沉船故事一定是最神奇的海上轶事之一。
  • In 1620 the English galleon Mayfolwer set out from the port of Southampton with 102 pilgrims on board.1620年,英国的“五月花”号西班牙式大帆船载着102名
41 distraction muOz3l     
n.精神涣散,精神不集中,消遣,娱乐
参考例句:
  • Total concentration is required with no distractions.要全神贯注,不能有丝毫分神。
  • Their national distraction is going to the disco.他们的全民消遣就是去蹦迪。
42 masonry y21yI     
n.砖土建筑;砖石
参考例句:
  • Masonry is a careful skill.砖石工艺是一种精心的技艺。
  • The masonry of the old building began to crumble.旧楼房的砖石结构开始崩落。
43 granite Kyqyu     
adj.花岗岩,花岗石
参考例句:
  • They squared a block of granite.他们把一块花岗岩加工成四方形。
  • The granite overlies the older rocks.花岗岩躺在磨损的岩石上面。
44 carving 5wezxw     
n.雕刻品,雕花
参考例句:
  • All the furniture in the room had much carving.房间里所有的家具上都有许多雕刻。
  • He acquired the craft of wood carving in his native town.他在老家学会了木雕手艺。
45 chisel mr8zU     
n.凿子;v.用凿子刻,雕,凿
参考例句:
  • This chisel is useful for getting into awkward spaces.这凿子在要伸入到犄角儿里时十分有用。
  • Camille used a hammer and chisel to carve out a figure from the marble.卡米尔用锤子和凿子将大理石雕刻出一个人像。
46 protruding e7480908ef1e5355b3418870e3d0812f     
v.(使某物)伸出,(使某物)突出( protrude的现在分词 );凸
参考例句:
  • He hung his coat on a nail protruding from the wall. 他把上衣挂在凸出墙面的一根钉子上。
  • There is a protruding shelf over a fireplace. 壁炉上方有个突出的架子。 来自辞典例句
47 brutal bSFyb     
adj.残忍的,野蛮的,不讲理的
参考例句:
  • She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
  • They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼,骨子里却是野蛮残忍。
48 ferocious ZkNxc     
adj.凶猛的,残暴的,极度的,十分强烈的
参考例句:
  • The ferocious winds seemed about to tear the ship to pieces.狂风仿佛要把船撕成碎片似的。
  • The ferocious panther is chasing a rabbit.那只凶猛的豹子正追赶一只兔子。
49 possessed xuyyQ     
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的
参考例句:
  • He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
  • He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。
50 countenance iztxc     
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同
参考例句:
  • At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
  • I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地,仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。
51 purport etRy4     
n.意义,要旨,大要;v.意味著,做为...要旨,要领是...
参考例句:
  • Many theories purport to explain growth in terms of a single cause.许多理论都标榜以单一的原因解释生长。
  • Her letter may purport her forthcoming arrival.她的来信可能意味着她快要到了。
52 sufficiently 0htzMB     
adv.足够地,充分地
参考例句:
  • It turned out he had not insured the house sufficiently.原来他没有给房屋投足保险。
  • The new policy was sufficiently elastic to accommodate both views.新政策充分灵活地适用两种观点。
53 concealed 0v3zxG     
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的
参考例句:
  • The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
  • I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。
54 bosom Lt9zW     
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的
参考例句:
  • She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
  • A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。
55 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
56 rumor qS0zZ     
n.谣言,谣传,传说
参考例句:
  • The rumor has been traced back to a bad man.那谣言经追查是个坏人造的。
  • The rumor has taken air.谣言流传开了。
57 savage ECxzR     
adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人
参考例句:
  • The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
  • He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。
58 cargoes 49e446283c0d32352a986fd82a7e13c4     
n.(船或飞机装载的)货物( cargo的名词复数 );大量,重负
参考例句:
  • This ship embarked cargoes. 这艘船装载货物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The crew lashed cargoes of timber down. 全体船员将木材绑牢。 来自《简明英汉词典》
59 galleons 68206947d43ce6c17938c27fbdf2b733     
n.大型帆船( galleon的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The larger galleons made in at once for Corunna. 那些较大的西班牙帆船立即进入科普尼亚。 来自互联网
  • A hundred thousand disguises, all for ten Galleons! 千万张面孔,变化无穷,只卖十个加隆! 来自互联网
60 outlay amlz8A     
n.费用,经费,支出;v.花费
参考例句:
  • There was very little outlay on new machinery.添置新机器的开支微乎其微。
  • The outlay seems to bear no relation to the object aimed at.这费用似乎和预期目的完全不相称。
61 vessel 4L1zi     
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管
参考例句:
  • The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
  • You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。
62 outfitting 518894948025d2d1f8b290fc0bc07872     
v.装备,配置设备,供给服装( outfit的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • The outfitting installation activities carried out on the building berth or dock. 舾装在船台上或船钨内完成。 来自互联网
  • There is so much outfitting work. Do you subcontract some of them? 有这么多的舾装工作要做,你们将工程分包出去吗? 来自互联网
63 lodged cbdc6941d382cc0a87d97853536fcd8d     
v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 );暂住;埋入;(权利、权威等)归属
参考例句:
  • The certificate will have to be lodged at the registry. 证书必须存放在登记处。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Our neighbours lodged a complaint against us with the police. 我们的邻居向警方控告我们。 来自《简明英汉词典》
64 triumphantly 9fhzuv     
ad.得意洋洋地;得胜地;成功地
参考例句:
  • The lion was roaring triumphantly. 狮子正在发出胜利的吼叫。
  • Robert was looking at me triumphantly. 罗伯特正得意扬扬地看着我。
65 pointedly JlTzBc     
adv.尖地,明显地
参考例句:
  • She yawned and looked pointedly at her watch. 她打了个哈欠,又刻意地看了看手表。
  • The demand for an apology was pointedly refused. 让对方道歉的要求遭到了断然拒绝。 来自《简明英汉词典》
66 crave fowzI     
vt.渴望得到,迫切需要,恳求,请求
参考例句:
  • Many young children crave attention.许多小孩子渴望得到关心。
  • You may be craving for some fresh air.你可能很想呼吸呼吸新鲜空气。
67 veins 65827206226d9e2d78ea2bfe697c6329     
n.纹理;矿脉( vein的名词复数 );静脉;叶脉;纹理
参考例句:
  • The blood flows from the capillaries back into the veins. 血从毛细血管流回静脉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I felt a pleasant glow in all my veins from the wine. 喝过酒后我浑身的血都热烘烘的,感到很舒服。 来自《简明英汉词典》
68 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
69 forth Hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。


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