Two hours into the night Kingozi, following in the rear, saw a cluster of lights, and shortly came to a compact group of those who had gone before him. They were drinking eagerly from water bottles. Simba, lantern in hand, stood nearby. A number of savages2 carrying crude torches hovered3 around the outskirts4. Kingozi could not make out the details of their appearance: only their eyeballs shining. He drew Simba to one side.
"There are many _shenzis_?"
"Many, like the leaves of the grass, _bwana_."
"The huts are far?"
"One hour, _bwana_, in the hills."
"These _shenzis_ are good?"--meaning friendly.
"_Bwana_, the _sultani_ of these people is a great lord. He has many people, and much riches. He has told, his people to come with me. He prepares the guest house for you."
"Tired, Simba?"
"It has been a long path since sunup, _bwana_. But I had water, and the people gave me _potio_ and meat. I am strong."
"Cazi Moto is back there--in the Thirst," suggested Kingozi, "and many others. And there is no water."
"I will go, _bwana_, and take the _shenzis_ with me."
He set about gathering5 the water bottles and gourds6 that had not been emptied. Mali-ya-bwana and, unexpectedly, a big Kavirondo of Kingozi's safari7, volunteered. The rest prepared to continue the journey.
But another delay occurred. The Leopard8 Woman, who had walked indomitably, now collapsed9. Her eyes were sunken in her head, her lips had paled; only the long white oval of her face recalled her former splendid and exotic beauty. When the signal to proceed was given, she stepped forward as firmly as ever for perhaps a dozen paces, then her knees crumpled11 under her.
"I'm afraid I'm done," she muttered to Kingozi.
In the latter's eyes, for the first time, shone a real and ungrudging admiration12. He knelt at her side and felt her pulse. Without hesitation14, and in the most matter-of-fact way, he unbuttoned her blouse to the waist and tore apart the thin chemise beneath.
"Water," he commanded.
With the wetted end of his neck scarf he beat her vigorously below the left breast. After a little she opened her eyes.
"That's better," said Kingozi, and began clumsily to rebutton her blouse.
A slow colour rose to her face as she realized in what manner she had been exposed, and she snatched her garments together. Kingozi, watching her closely, seemed to see in this only a satisfactory symptom.
"That's right; now you're about again. Blood going once more."
They proceeded. A man on either side supported the Leopard Woman's steps.
Shortly the hills closed around them. The dark velvet15 masses compassed them about, and the starry16 sky seemed suddenly to have been thrust upward a million miles. The open plain narrowed to a track along which they groped single file. They caught the sound of running water to their left; but far below. There seemed no end to it.
But then, unexpectedly, they found themselves on a plateau, with the mass of the mountains on one side and the sea of night on the other, as though it might be the spacious17 deck of a ship. A multitude of people swarmed18 about them, shining naked people, who stared; and there seemed to be huts with conical roofs, and a number of little winking19 fires that shifted position. The people led the way to a circular hut of good size, with a conical thatched roof and wattle walls. Kingozi stooped his head, thrusting the lantern inside. The interior had been swept. A huge earthen tub full of water stood by the door. The place contained no other furnishings.
"Bring the _memsahib_ here," he commanded.
She was half dragged forward. Kingozi took her in his arms to prevent her falling.
"Bring grass," he ordered.
The request was repeated outside in Swahili, and turned into a strange tongue. Kingozi heard many feet hurrying away.
He stood supporting the half-fainting form of the Leopard Woman. Her head rested against his shoulder. Her eyes were closed, her muscles had all gone slack, so that her body felt soft and warm. Kingozi, waiting, remembered her as she had looked the evening of his call--silk-clad, lithe20, proud, with blood-red lips, and haughty21, fathomless22 eyes, and the single jewel that hung in the middle of her forehead. Somehow at this moment she seemed smaller, in her safari costume, and helpless, and pathetic. He felt the curve of her breast against him, and the picture of her as he had seen her out there in the Thirst arose before his eyes. At that time it had not registered: he was too busy about serious things. But now, while he waited, the incident claimed, belated, his senses. His antagonism23, or distrust, or coldness, or suspicion, or indifference24, or whatever had hardened him, disappeared. He stared straight before him at the lantern, allowing these thoughts and sensations to drift through him. Subconsciously25 he noted26 that the lamp flame showed a halo, or rather two halos, one red and one green. By experience he knew that this portended27 one of his stabbing headaches through the eyes. But the thought did not hold him. He contemplated28 unwaveringly the spectacle of this soft, warm, helpless but indomitable piece of femininity fronting the African wilderness29 unafraid. Unconsciously his arms tightened30 around her, drawing her to him. She gave no sign. Her form was limp. Apparently31 she was either half asleep or in a stupor32. But had Kingozi looked down when he tightened his arms, instead of staring at the halo-encircled lantern, he would have seen her glance sidewise upward into his face, he would have discerned a fleeting33 smile upon her lips.
Almost immediately the people were back with armfuls of the long grass that grows on the edge of mountainous country. Under Kingozi's directions they heaped it at one side. He assisted the Leopard Woman to this improvised34 couch and laid her upon it. She seemed to drop instantly asleep.
They brought more grass and piled it in another place. Mali-ya-bwana superintended these activities zealously35. He had drunk his fill, had bolted a chunk36 of goat's flesh one of the savages had handed him, now he was ready to fulfil his _bwana's_ commands.
"You will eat?" he asked.
But Kingozi was not hungry. His strong desire was for a tall _balauri_ of hot tea, but this could not be. He knew it Was unsafe to drink the water unboiled--it is unsafe to drink any African water unboiled--but this time it could not be helped. He was not even very tired, though his eyes burned. There was nothing more to do. Kingozi knew that Simba and Cazi Moto would not attempt to come in.
They now had both food and water, and would camp somewhere out on the plain.
Mali-ya-bwana at once thrust the savages outside, without ceremony, peremptorily38. When the _bwana_ of an African belonging to the safari class wants anything, the latter gets it for him. The headman of the author of these lines went single handed and stopped in its very inception39 a royal _n'goma_, or dance, to which men had come a day's journey, merely because his _bwana_ wanted to sleep! Kingozi was here alone, in a strange country, for the moment helpless; but Mali-ya-bwana hustled40 the tribesmen out as brusquely as though a regiment41 were at his back. Which undoubtedly42 had its effect.
Kingozi sat down on the straw and blew out his lantern. The wattle walls were not chinked; so the sweet night wind blew through freely; and elusively43 he saw stars against the night. The Leopard Woman breathed heavily in little sighs. He was not sleepy. Then everything went black----
When Kingozi awakened44 it was full daylight. A varied45 murmur46 came happily from outside, what the Africans call a _kalele_--a compound of chatter47, the noise of occupation, of movement, the inarticulate voice of human existence. He glanced across the hut. The Leopard Woman was gone.
"Boy!" he shouted.
At the sound of his voice the _kalele_ ceased. Almost immediately Cazi Moto stooped to enter the doorway48. Cazi Moto was dressed in clean khaki, and bore in his hand a _balauri_ of steaming tea. Kingozi seized this and drained it to the bottom.
"That is good," he commented gratefully. "I did not expect to see you, Cazi Moto. Did all the men get in?"
"Yes, _bwana_."
"_Vema!_ And the men of the Leopard Woman?"
"Many died, _bwana_; but many are here."
Kingozi arose to his feet.
"I must have food. These _shenzis_ eat what?"
"Food is ready, _bwana_."
"I will eat. Then we must make _shauri_ with these people to get our loads. My men must rest to-day."
"Come, _bwana_," said Cazi Moto.
Kingozi stooped to pass through the door. When he straightened outside, he paused in amazement50. Before him stood his camp, intact. The green tent with the fly faced him, the flaps thrown back to show within his cot and tin box. White porters' tents had been pitched in the usual circle, and before each squatted51 men cooking over little fires. The loads, covered by the tarpaulin52, had been arranged in the centre of the circle. At a short distance to the rear the cook camp steamed.
Cazi Moto stood at his elbow grinning.
"Hot water ready, _bwana_," said he; and for the first time Kingozi noticed that he carried a towel over his arm.
"This is good, very good, Cazi Moto!" said he. "_Backsheeshi m'kubwa_ for this; both for you and for Simba."
"Thank you, _bwana_," said Gaza Moto. "Simba brought the water, and it saved us; and I thought that my _bwana_ should not sleep on grass a second time before these _shenzis_."
"Who carried in the loads? Not our porters?"
"No, _bwana_, the _shenzis_."
Kingozi glanced at his wrist watch. It was only ten o'clock. "When?"
"Last night."
"They went back last night?"
"Yes, _bwana_. Mali-ya-bwana considered that it was bad to leave the loads. There might be hyenas--or the _shenzis_----"
Kingozi slapped his thigh53 with satisfaction. This was a man after his own heart.
"Call Mali-ya-bwana," he ordered.
The tall Baganda approached.
"Mali-ya-bwana," said Kingozi. "You have done well. For this you shall have _backsheeshi_. But more. You need not again carry a load. You will be--" he hesitated, trying to invent an office, but reluctant to infringe54 upon the prerogatives55 of either Simba or Cazi Moto. "You will be headman of the porters; and you, Cazi Moto, will be headman of all the safari, and my own man besides."
The Baganda drew himself erect56, his face shining. Placing his bare heels together, he raised his hand in a military salute57. Kingozi was about to dismiss him, but this arrested his intention.
"Where did you learn to do that?" he asked sharply.
"I was once in the King's African Rifles."[7]
[Footnote 7: Only, of course, Mali-ya-bwana gave the native name for these troops.]
"You can shoot, then?"
"Yes, _bwana_."
"Good!" commented Kingozi thoughtfully. Then after a moment: "_Bassi_."
Mali-ya-bwana saluted58 once more and departed. Kingozi turned toward his tent.
It had been pitched under a huge tree, with low, massive limbs and a shade that covered a diameter of fully49 sixty yards. Before it the usual table had been made of piled-up chop boxes, and to this Cazi Moto was bearing steaming dishes. The threatened headache had not materialized, and Kingozi was feeling quite fit. He was ravenously59 hungry, for now his system was rested enough to assimilate food. His last meal had been breakfast before sunup of the day before. Without paying even casual attention to his surroundings he seated himself on a third chop box and began to eat.
Kingozi's methods of eating had in them little of the epicure60. He simply ate all he wanted of the first things set before him. After this he drank all he wanted from the tall _balauri_. Second courses did not exist for Kingozi. Then with a sigh of satisfaction, he fumbled61 for his pipe and tobacco, and looked about him.
The guest house had been built, as was the custom, a little apart from the main village. The latter was evidently around the bend of the hill, for only three or four huts were to be seen, perched among the huge outcropping boulders62 that were, apparently, characteristic of these hills. The mountains rose rather abruptly63, just beyond the plateau; which, in turn, fell away almost as abruptly to the sweep of the plains. The bench was of considerable width--probably a mile at this point. It was not entirely64 level; but on the other hand not particularly broken. A number of fine, symmetrical trees of unknown species grew at wide intervals65, overtopping a tangle66 of hedges, rank bushes, vines, and shrubs67 that appeared to constitute a rough sort of boundary between irregular fields. A tiny swift stream of water hurried by between the straight banks of an obviously artificial ditch.
But though the village was hidden from view, its inhabitants were not. They had invaded the camp. Kingozi examined them keenly, with curiosity. Naked little boys and girls wandered gravely about; women clung together in groups; men squatted on their heels before anything that struck their attention, and stared.
These people, Kingozi noted, were above middle size, of a red bronze, of the Semitic rather than the Hamitic type, well developed but not obviously muscular, of a bright and lively expression. The women shaved their heads quite bare; the men left a sort of skull68 cap of hair atop the head. Earlobes were pierced and stretched to hold ivory ornaments69 running up to the size of a jampot. There were some, but not many, armlets, leglets, and necklets of iron wire polished to the appearance of silver. The women wore brief skirts of softened70 skins: the men carried a short shoulder cape71, or simply nothing at all. Each man bore a long-bladed heavy spear. Before squatting72 down in front of whatever engaged his attention for the moment, the savage1 thrust this upright in the ground. Kingozi, behind his pipe, considered them well: and received a favourable73 impression. An immovable, unblinking semicircle crouched74 at a respectful distance taking in every detail of the white man's appearance and belongings75, watching his every move. Nobody spoke76; apparently nobody even winked77.
Now appeared across the prospect78 two men walking. One was an elderly savage, with a wrinkled, shrewd countenance79. He was almost completely enveloped80 in a robe of softened skins. Followed him a younger man, dangling81 at the end of a thong82 a small three-legged stool cut entire from a single block of wood. The old man swept forward with considerable dignity; the younger, one hand held high in the most affected83 fashion, teetered gracefully85 along as mincingly86 as any dandy.
The visitor came superbly up to where Kingozi sat, and uttered a greeting in Swahili. He proved to possess a grand, deep, thunderous voice.
"_Jambo!_" he rolled.
Kingozi stared up at him coolly for a moment; then, without removing his pipe from his teeth, he remarked:
"_Jambo!_"
The old man, smiling, extended his hand.[8]
[Footnote 8: Many African tribes shake hands in one way or another.]
Kingozi, nursing the bowl of his pipe, continued to stare up at him.
"Are you the _sultani?_" he demanded abruptly.
The old man waved his hand in courtly fashion.
"I am not the _sultani_," he answered in very bad Swahili; "I am the headman of the _sultani_."
Kingozi continued to stare at him in the most uncompromising manner. In the meantime the younger man had loosed the thong from his wrist and had placed the stool on a level spot. The prime minister to the _sultani_ arranged his robe preparatory to sitting down.
Kingozi removed his pipe from his lips, and sat erect.
"Stand up!" he commanded sharply. "If you are not the _sultani_ how dare you sit down before me!"
The youth whisked the stool away: the old man covered his discomfiture87 in a flow of talk. Kingozi listened to him in silence. The visitor concluded his remarks which--as far as they could be understood--were entirely general: and, with a final courtly wave of the hand, turned away. Then Kingozi spoke, abruptly, curtly88.
"Have your people bring me eggs," he said, "milk, _m'wembe_."[9]
[Footnote 9: A sort of flour ground from rape89 seeds.]
The old man, somewhat abashed90, made the most dignified91 retreat possible through the keenly attentive92 audience of his own people.
Kingozi gazed after him, his blue eyes wide with their peculiar93 aggressive blank stare. A low hum of conversation swept through the squatting warriors94. Those who understood Swahili murmured eagerly to those who did not. These uttered politely the long drawn95 "A-a-a-a!" of savage interest.
"Cazi Moto, where is my chair?" Kingozi demanded, abruptly conscious that the chop box was not very comfortable.
"Bibi-ya-chui has it."
"Where is she?"
"Right behind you," came that young woman's voice in amused tones. "You have been so busy that you have not seen me."
Kingozi turned. The chair had been placed in a bare spot close to the trunk of the great tree. He grinned cheerfully.
"I was pretty hungry," he confessed, "and I don't believe I saw a single thing but that curry96!"
[Footnote 9: A sort of flour ground from rape seeds.]
"Naturally. It is not to be wondered at. Are you all rested?"
"I'm quite fit, thanks. And you?"
She was still in her marching costume; but her hair had been smoothed, her face washed. The colour had come back to her lips, the light to her expression. Only a faint dark encircling of the eyes, and a certain graceful84 languor97 of attitude recalled the collapse10 of yesterday.
"Oh, I am all right; but perishing for a cigarette. Have you one?"
"Sorry, but I don't use them. Are not all your loads up yet?"
"None of them."
"Well, they should be in shortly. Cazi Moto has given you breakfast, of course."
"Yes. But nobody has yet gone for my loads."
"What!" exclaimed Kingozi sharply. "Why did you not start men for them when you first awakened?"
She smiled at him ruefully.
"I tried. But they said they were very tired from yesterday. They would not go."
"Simba!" called Kingozi.
"Suh!"
"Bring the headman of Bibi-ya-chui. Is he that mop-headed blighter?" he asked her.
"Who? Oh, the Nubian, Chake. No; he is just a faithful creature near myself. I have no headman."
"Who takes your orders, then?"
"The _askaris_."
"Which one?"
"Any of them." She made a mouth. "Don't look at me in that fashion. Is that so very dreadful?"
"It's impossible. You can never run a safari in that way. Simba, bring all the _askaris_."
Simba departed on his errand. Kingozi turned to her gravely.
"Dear lady," said he gravely, "I am going to offend you again. But this won't do. You are a wonderful woman; but you do not know this game well enough. I acknowledge you will handle this show ordinarily in tiptop style; but in a new country, in contact with new peoples--it's a specialist's job, that's all."
"I'm beginning to think so," she replied with unexpected humility98.
"Already you've lost control of your organization: you nearly died from lack of water--By the way, why didn't you push ahead with your Nubian, and find the water?"
"I had to get my men on."
He looked on her with more approval.
"Well, you're safe out of it. And now, I beg of you, don't do it any more."
"Is my little scolding all done?" she asked after a pause.
"Forgive me. I did not mean it as a scolding."
She sat upright and rested her elbows on her knees, her chin in her hands. Her long sea-green eyes softened.
"Listen: I deserve that what you say. I thought I knew, because always I have travelled in a good country. But never the hell of a dry country. I want you to know that you are quite right, and I want to tell you that I know you saved me and my men: and I would not know what to do now if you were not here to help me. There!" she made a pretty outward-flinging gesture. "Is that enough?"
Kingozi, like most men whose natural efficiency has been hardened by wide experience, while impervious99 to either open or wily antagonism, melted at the first hint of surrender. A wave of kindly100 feeling overwhelmed the last suspicions--absurd suspicions--his analysis had made. He was prevented from replying by the approach of Simba at the head of eight of the _askaris_. They slouched along at his heels, sullen101 and careless, but when they felt the impact of Kingozi's cold glare, they straightened to attention. Kingozi ran his eye over them.
"Where are the other four?" he demanded.
"Three are in the _shenzis'_ village. One says he is very tired."
"Take Mali-ya-bwana and Cazi Moto. Take the leg chains. Bring that one man before me with the chains on him. Have him bring also his gun; and his cartridges102."
Ignoring the waiting eight, Kingozi resumed his conversation with the Leopard Woman.
"They are out of hand," said he. "We must impress them."
"_Kiboko?_" she inquired.
"Perhaps--but you have rather overdone103 that. We shall see."
"I heard you talk with that old man a few moments ago," she said. "And I heard also much talk of our men about it. He is a very powerful chief-- next to the _sultani_. Are not you afraid that your treatment of him will make trouble? You were not polite."
"What else have you heard?"
"This _sultani_ has apparently several hundred villages. They keep goats, fat-tailed sheep, and some few cattle. They raise _m'wembe_, beans, peanuts, and bananas. They have a war caste of young men."
Kingozi listened to her attentively104.
"Good girl!" said he. "You use your intelligence. These are all good points to know."
"But this old man----"
"No; I have not insulted him. I know the native mind. I have merely convinced him that I am every bit as important a person as his _sultani_."
"What do you do next? Call on the _sultani_."
"By no means. Wait until he comes. If he does not come by, say to-morrow, send for him."
Simba appeared leading a downcast _askari_ in irons. Kingozi waved his hand toward those waiting in the sun; and the new captive made the ninth.
"Now, Simba, go to the village of these _shenzis_. Tell the other three _askaris_ to come; and at once. Do not return without them."
Simba, whose fierce soul all this delighted beyond expression, started off joyfully105, trailed by a posse of his own choosing.
"What are you going to do?" asked the Leopard Woman curiously106.
"Get them in line a bit," replied Kingozi carelessly. "I feel rather lazy and done up to-day; don't you?"
"That is so natural. And I am keeping your chair----"
"I've been many trips without one. This tree is good to lean against----"
They chatted about trivial matters. A certain ease had crept into their relations: a guard had been lowered. To a small extent they ventured to question each other, to indulge in those tentative explorations of personality so fascinating in the early stages of acquaintanceship. To her inquiries107 Kingozi repeated that he was an ivory hunter and trader; he came into this country because new country alone offered profits in ivory these days; he had been in Africa for fifteen years. At this last she looked him over closely.
"You came out very young," she surmised108.
"When my father took me out of the medical school to put me into the ministry109. I had a knack110 for doctoring. I ran away."
"Why did you come to Africa?"
"Didn't particularly. Started for Iceland on a whaling ship. Sailed the seven seas after the brutes111. Landed on the Gold Coast--and got left behind."
She looked at him hard, and he laughed.
"'Left' with my kit112 and about sixty pounds I had hung on to since I left home--my own money, mind you! _And_ a harpoon113 gun! Lord!" he laughed again, "think of it--a harpoon gun! You loaded it with about a peck of black powder. Normally, of course, it shot a harpoon, but you could very near cram114 a nigger baby down it! And kick! If you were the least bit off balance it knocked you flat. It was the most extraordinary cannon115 ever seen in Africa, and it inspired more respect, acquired me more _kudos_ than even my beard."
"So _that's_ why you wear it!" she murmured.
"What?"
"Nothing; go on."
"Just the sight of that awe-inspiring piece of ordnance116 took me the length of the Congo without the least difficulty."
"Tell me about the Congo."
Apparently, at this direct and comprehensive question, there was nothing to tell about the Congo. But adroitly117 she drew him on. He told of the great river and its people, and the white men who administered it. The subject of cannibals seemed especially to fascinate her. He had seen living human beings issued as a sort of ration13 on the hoof118 to native cannibal troops.
Simba returned with the other three _askaris_.
Kingozi arose from the ground and stretched himself.
"I'm sorry," said he, "I'm afraid I shall have to ask you for the chair now."
She arose, wondering a little. He placed the chair before the waiting line of _askaris_, and planted himself squarely in it as in a judgment119 seat. He ran his eye over the men deliberately120.
"You!" said he suddenly, pointing his forefinger121 at the man in irons. "You have disobeyed my orders. You are no longer an _askari_. You are a common porter, and from now on will carry a load. It is not my custom to use _kiboko_ on _askaris_; but a common porter can eat _kiboko_, and Mali-ya- bwana, my headman of safari, will give you twenty-five lashes122. _Bassi!_"
Mali-ya-bwana, well pleased thus early to exercise the authority of his new office, led the man away.
Kingozi dropped his chin in his hand, a movement that pushed out his beard in a terrifying manner. One after another of the eleven men felt the weight of his stare. At last he spoke.
"I have heard tales of you," said he, "but I who speak know nothing about you. You are _askaris_, soldiers with guns, and next to gun bearers are the greatest men in the safari. Some have told me that you are not _askaris_, that you are common porters--and not good ones--who carry guns. I do not know. That we shall see. This is what must be done now, and done quickly: the loads of your _memsahib_ must be brought here, and camp made properly, according to the custom. Perhaps your men are no longer tired: perhaps you will get the _shenzis_. That is not my affair. You understand?"
The answer came in an eager chorus.
He ran his eye over them again.
"You," he indicated, "stand forward. Of what tribe are you?"
"Monumwezi, _bwana_."
"Your name?"
The man uttered a mouthful of gutturals.
"Again."
He repeated.
"That is not a good name for me. From now on you are--Jack."
"Yes, _bwana_."
"Do you know the customs of _askaris?_"
"Yes, _bwana_."
"H'm," Kingozi commented in English, "nobody would guess it. Then understand this: You are headman of _askaris_. You take the orders: you report to me--or the _memsahib_," he added, almost as an afterthought. "To-morrow morning _fall in_, and I will look at your guns. _Bassi!_"
They filed away. Kingozi arose and returned the chair.
"Is that all you will do to them?" she demanded. "I tell you they have insulted me; they have refused to move; they should be punished."
"That's all. They understand now what will happen. You will see: they will not refuse again."
She appeared to struggle against a flare123 of her old rebellious124 spirit.
"I will leave it to you," she managed at last.
The squatting savages had not moved a muscle, but their shining black eyes had not missed a single detail.
收听单词发音 |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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gourds
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| n.葫芦( gourd的名词复数 ) | |
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safari
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| n.远征旅行(探险、考察)；探险队，狩猎队 | |
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leopard
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| n.豹 | |
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9
collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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crumpled
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| 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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12
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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ration
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| n.定量(pl.)给养，口粮；vt.定量供应 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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18
swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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19
winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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20
lithe
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| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
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21
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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22
fathomless
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| a.深不可测的 | |
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23
antagonism
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| n.对抗，敌对，对立 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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25
subconsciously
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| ad.下意识地，潜意识地 | |
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26
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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27
portended
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| v.预示( portend的过去式和过去分词 )；预兆；给…以警告；预告 | |
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28
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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29
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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30
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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31
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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32
stupor
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| v.昏迷；不省人事 | |
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33
fleeting
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| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
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34
improvised
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| a.即席而作的,即兴的 | |
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35
zealously
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| adv.热心地；热情地；积极地；狂热地 | |
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36
chunk
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| n.厚片，大块，相当大的部分（数量） | |
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37
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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38
peremptorily
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| adv.紧急地，不容分说地，专横地 | |
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39
inception
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| n.开端，开始，取得学位 | |
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40
hustled
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| 催促（hustle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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41
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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42
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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43
elusively
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| adv.巧妙逃避地，易忘记地 | |
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44
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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45
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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46
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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47
chatter
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| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
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48
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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49
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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50
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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51
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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52
tarpaulin
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| n.涂油防水布，防水衣，防水帽 | |
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53
thigh
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| n.大腿；股骨 | |
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54
infringe
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| v.违反，触犯，侵害 | |
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55
prerogatives
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| n.权利( prerogative的名词复数 )；特权；大主教法庭；总督委任组成的法庭 | |
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56
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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57
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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58
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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59
ravenously
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| adv.大嚼地，饥饿地 | |
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60
epicure
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| n.行家，美食家 | |
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61
fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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62
boulders
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| n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 )；巨砾；（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾 | |
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63
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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64
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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65
intervals
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| 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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66
tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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67
shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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68
skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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69
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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70
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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71
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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72
squatting
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的现在分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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73
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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74
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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76
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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77
winked
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| 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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78
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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79
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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80
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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81
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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82
thong
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| n.皮带；皮鞭；v.装皮带 | |
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83
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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84
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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85
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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86
mincingly
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87
discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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88
curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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89
rape
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| n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸 | |
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90
abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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91
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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92
attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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93
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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94
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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95
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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96
curry
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| n.咖哩粉，咖哩饭菜；v.用咖哩粉调味，用马栉梳，制革 | |
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97
languor
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| n.无精力，倦怠 | |
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98
humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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99
impervious
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| adj.不能渗透的，不能穿过的，不易伤害的 | |
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100
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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101
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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102
cartridges
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| 子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头 | |
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103
overdone
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| v.做得过分( overdo的过去分词 )；太夸张；把…煮得太久；（工作等）过度 | |
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104
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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105
joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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106
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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107
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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108
surmised
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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109
ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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110
knack
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| n.诀窍，做事情的灵巧的，便利的方法 | |
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111
brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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112
kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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113
harpoon
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| n.鱼叉；vt.用鱼叉叉，用鱼叉捕获 | |
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114
cram
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| v.填塞，塞满，临时抱佛脚，为考试而学习 | |
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115
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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116
ordnance
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| n.大炮，军械 | |
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117
adroitly
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| adv.熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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118
hoof
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| n.(马，牛等的)蹄 | |
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119
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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120
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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121
forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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122
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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123
flare
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| v.闪耀，闪烁；n.潮红；突发 | |
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124
rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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