Weeks had elapsed. The Germans were contesting stubbornly every mile of waterless, thorn-covered ground and clinging desperately8 to their positions along the railway. The officers of the Second Rhodesians had seen nothing more of Tarzan of the Apes since he had slain9 Underlieutenant von Goss and disappeared toward the very heart of the German position, and there were those among them who believed that he had been killed within the enemy lines.
"They may have killed him," assented10 Colonel Capell; "but I fancy they never captured the beggar alive."
Nor had they, nor killed him either. Tarzan had spent those intervening weeks pleasantly and profitably. He had amassed12 a considerable fund of knowledge concerning the disposition13 and strength of German troops, their methods of warfare14, and the various ways in which a lone11 Tarmangani might annoy an army and lower its morale15.
At present he was prompted by a specific desire. There was a certain German spy whom he wished to capture alive and take back to the British. When he had made his first visit to German headquarters, he had seen a young woman deliver a paper to the German general, and later he had seen that same young woman within the British lines in the uniform of a British officer. The conclusions were obvious—she was a spy.
And so Tarzan haunted German headquarters upon many nights hoping to see her again or to pick up some clew as to her whereabouts, and at the same time he utilized16 many an artifice17 whereby he might bring terror to the hearts of the Germans. That he was successful was often demonstrated by the snatches of conversation he overheard as he prowled through the German camps. One night as he lay concealed19 in the bushes close beside a regimental headquarters he listened to the conversation of several Boche officers. One of the men reverted20 to the stories told by the native troops in connection with their rout21 by a lion several weeks before and the simultaneous appearance in their trenches of a naked, white giant whom they were perfectly22 assured was some demon18 of the jungle.
"The fellow must have been the same as he who leaped into the general's headquarters and carried off Schneider," asserted one. "I wonder how he happened to single out the poor major. They say the creature seemed interested in no one but Schneider. He had von Kelter in his grasp, and he might easily have taken the general himself; but he ignored them all except Schneider. Him he pursued about the room, seized and carried off into the night. Gott knows what his fate was."
"Captain Fritz Schneider has some sort of theory," said another. "He told me only a week or two ago that he thinks he knows why his brother was taken—that it was a case of mistaken identity. He was not so sure about it until von Goss was killed, apparently23 by the same creature, the night the lion entered the trenches. Von Goss was attached to Schneider's company. One of Schneider's men was found with his neck wrung24 the same night that the major was carried off and Schneider thinks that this devil is after him and his command—that it came for him that night and got his brother by mistake. He says Kraut told him that in presenting the major to Fr?ulein Kircher the former's name was no sooner spoken than this wild man leaped through the window and made for him."
Suddenly the little group became rigid—listening. "What was that?" snapped one, eyeing the bushes from which a smothered25 snarl26 had issued as Tarzan of the Apes realized that through his mistake the perpetrator of the horrid27 crime at his bungalow28 still lived—that the murderer of his wife went yet unpunished.
For a long minute the officers stood with tensed nerves, every eye riveted29 upon the bushes from whence the ominous30 sound had issued. Each recalled recent mysterious disappearances31 from the heart of camps as well as from lonely out-guards. Each thought of the silent dead he had seen, slain almost within sight of their fellows by some unseen creature. They thought of the marks upon dead throats—made by talons32 or by giant fingers, they could not tell which—and those upon shoulders and jugulars33 where powerful teeth had fastened and they waited with drawn34 pistols.
Once the bushes moved almost imperceptibly and an instant later one of the officers, without warning, fired into them; but Tarzan of the Apes was not there. In the interval35 between the moving of the bushes and the firing of the shot he had melted into the night. Ten minutes later he was hovering36 on the outskirts37 of that part of camp where were bivouacked for the night the black soldiers of a native company commanded by one Hauptmann Fritz Schneider. The men were stretched upon the ground without tents; but there were tents pitched for the officers. Toward these Tarzan crept. It was slow and perilous38 work, as the Germans were now upon the alert for the uncanny foe39 that crept into their camps to take his toll40 by night, yet the ape-man passed their sentinels, eluded41 the vigilance of the interior guard, and crept at last to the rear of the officers' line.
Here he flattened42 himself against the ground close behind the nearest tent and listened. From within came the regular breathing of a sleeping man—one only. Tarzan was satisfied. With his knife he cut the tie strings43 of the rear flap and entered. He made no noise. The shadow of a falling leaf, floating gently to earth upon a still day, could have been no more soundless. He moved to the side of the sleeping man and bent44 low over him. He could not know, of course, whether it was Schneider or another, as he had never seen Schneider; but he meant to know and to know even more. Gently he shook the man by the shoulder. The fellow turned heavily and grunted45 in a thick guttural.
"Silence!" admonished46 the ape-man in a low whisper. "Silence—I kill."
The Hun opened his eyes. In the dim light he saw a giant figure bending over him. Now a mighty47 hand grasped his shoulder and another closed lightly about his throat.
"Make no outcry," commanded Tarzan; "but answer in a whisper my questions. What is your name?"
"Luberg," replied the officer. He was trembling. The weird48 presence of this naked giant filled him with dread49. He, too, recalled the men mysteriously murdered in the still watches of the night camps. "What do you want?"
"Where is Hauptmann Fritz Schneider?" asked Tarzan, "Which is his tent?"
"He is not here," replied Luberg. "He was sent to Wilhelmstal yesterday."
"I shall not kill you—now," said the ape-man. "First I shall go and learn if you have lied to me and if you have your death shall be the more terrible. Do you know how Major Schneider died?"
Luberg shook his head negatively.
"I do," continued Tarzan, "and it was not a nice way to die—even for an accursed German. Turn over with your face down and cover your eyes. Do not move or make any sound."
The man did as he was bid and the instant that his eyes were turned away, Tarzan slipped from the tent. An hour later he was outside the German camp and headed for the little hill town of Wilhelmstal, the summer seat of government of German East Africa.
Fr?ulein Bertha Kircher was lost. She was humiliated50 and angry—it was long before she would admit it, that she, who prided herself upon her woodcraft, was lost in this little patch of country between the Pangani and the Tanga railway. She knew that Wilhelmstal lay southeast of her about fifty miles; but, through a combination of untoward51 circumstances, she found herself unable to determine which was southeast.
In the first place she had set out from German headquarters on a well-marked road that was being traveled by troops and with every reason to believe that she would follow that road to Wilhelmstal. Later she had been warned from this road by word that a strong British patrol had come down the west bank of the Pangani, effected a crossing south of her, and was even then marching on the railway at Tonda.
After leaving the road she found herself in thick bush and as the sky was heavily overcast52 she presently had recourse to her compass and it was not until then that she discovered to her dismay that she did not have it with her. So sure was she of her woodcraft, however, that she continued on in the direction she thought west until she had covered sufficient distance to warrant her in feeling assured that, by now turning south, she could pass safely in rear of the British patrol.
Nor did she commence to feel any doubts until long after she had again turned toward the east well south, as she thought, of the patrol. It was late afternoon—she should long since have struck the road again south of Tonda; but she had found no road and now she began to feel real anxiety.
Her horse had traveled all day without food or water, night was approaching and with it a realization53 that she was hopelessly lost in a wild and trackless country notorious principally for its tsetse flies and savage54 beasts. It was maddening to know that she had absolutely no knowledge of the direction she was traveling—that she might be forging steadily55 further from the railway, deeper into the gloomy and forbidding country toward the Pangani; yet it was impossible to stop—she must go on.
Bertha Kircher was no coward, whatever else she may have been, but as night began to close down around her she could not shut out from her mind entirely56 contemplation of the terrors of the long hours ahead before the rising sun should dissipate the Stygian gloom—the horrid jungle night—that lures57 forth58 all the prowling, preying59 creatures of destruction.
She found, just before dark, an open meadow-like break in the almost interminable bush. There was a small clump61 of trees near the center and here she decided62 to camp. The grass was high and thick, affording feed for her horse and a bed for herself, and there was more than enough dead wood lying about the trees to furnish a good fire well through the night. Removing the saddle and bridle63 from her mount she placed them at the foot of a tree and then picketed64 the animal close by. Then she busied herself collecting firewood and by the time darkness had fallen she had a good fire and enough wood to last until morning.
From her saddlebags she took cold food and from her canteen a swallow of water. She could not afford more than a small swallow for she could not know how long a time it might be before she should find more. It filled her with sorrow that her poor horse must go waterless, for even German spies may have hearts and this one was very young and very feminine.
It was now dark. There was neither moon nor stars and the light from her fire only accentuated66 the blackness beyond. She could see the grass about her and the boles of the trees which stood out in brilliant relief against the solid background of impenetrable night, and beyond the firelight there was nothing.
The jungle seemed ominously67 quiet. Far away in the distance she heard faintly the boom of big guns; but she could not locate their direction. She strained her ears until her nerves were on the point of breaking; but she could not tell from whence the sound came. And it meant so much to her to know, for the battle-lines were north of her and if she could but locate the direction of the firing she would know which way to go in the morning.
In the morning! Would she live to see another morning? She squared her shoulders and shook herself together. Such thoughts must be banished—they would never do. Bravely she hummed an air as she arranged her saddle near the fire and pulled a quantity of long grass to make a comfortable seat over which she spread her saddle blanket. Then she un-strapped a heavy, military coat from the cantle of her saddle and donned it, for the air was already chill.
Seating herself where she could lean against the saddle she prepared to maintain a sleepless68 vigil throughout the night. For an hour the silence was broken only by the distant booming of the guns and the low noises of the feeding horse and then, from possibly a mile away, came the rumbling69 thunder of a lion's roar. The girl started and laid her hand upon the rifle at her side. A little shudder70 ran through her slight frame and she could feel the goose flesh rise upon her body.
Again and again was the awful sound repeated and each time she was certain that it came nearer. She could locate the direction of this sound although she could not that of the guns, for the origin of the former was much closer. The lion was up wind and so could not have caught her scent71 as yet, though he might be approaching to investigate the light of the fire which could doubtless be seen for a considerable distance.
For another fear-filled hour the girl sat straining her eyes and ears out into the black void beyond her little island of light. During all that time the lion did not roar again; but there was constantly the sensation that it was creeping upon her. Again and again she would start and turn to peer into the blackness beyond the trees behind her as her overwrought nerves conjured72 the stealthy fall of padded feet. She held the rifle across her knees at the ready now and she was trembling from head to foot.
Suddenly her horse raised his head and snorted, and with a little cry of terror the girl sprang to her feet. The animal turned and trotted73 back toward her until the picket65 rope brought him to a stand, and then he wheeled about and with ears up-pricked gazed out into the night; but the girl could neither see nor hear aught.
Still another hour of terror passed during which the horse often raised his head to peer long and searchingly into the dark. The girl replenished74 the fire from time to time. She found herself becoming very sleepy. Her heavy lids persisted in drooping75; but she dared not sleep. Fearful lest she might be overcome by the drowsiness76 that was stealing through her she rose and walked briskly to and fro, then she threw some more wood on the fire, walked over and stroked her horse's muzzle77 and returned to her seat.
Leaning against the saddle she tried to occupy her mind with plans for the morrow; but she must have dozed78. With a start she awoke. It was broad daylight. The hideous79 night with its indescribable terrors was gone.
She could scarce believe the testimony80 of her senses. She had slept for hours, the fire was out and yet she and the horse were safe and alive, nor was there sign of savage beast about. And, best of all, the sun was shining, pointing the straight road to the east. Hastily she ate a few mouthfuls of her precious rations81, which with a swallow of water constituted her breakfast. Then she saddled her horse and mounted. Already she felt that she was as good as safe in Wilhelmstal.
Possibly, however, she might have revised her conclusions could she have seen the two pairs of eyes watching her every move intently from different points in the bush.
Light-hearted and unsuspecting, the girl rode across the clearing toward the bush while directly before her two yellow-green eyes glared round and terrible, a tawny82 tail twitched83 nervously84 and great, padded paws gathered beneath a sleek85 barrel for a mighty spring. The horse was almost at the edge of the bush when Numa, the lion, launched himself through the air. He struck the animal's right shoulder at the instant that it reared, terrified, to wheel in flight. The force of the impact hurled86 the horse backward to the ground and so quickly that the girl had no opportunity to extricate87 herself; but fell to the earth with her mount, her left leg pinned beneath its body.
Horror-stricken, she saw the king of beasts open his mighty jaws88 and seize the screaming creature by the back of its neck. The great jaws closed, there was an instant's struggle as Numa shook his prey60. She could hear the vertebrae crack as the mighty fangs89 crunched90 through them, and then the muscles of her faithful friend relaxed in death.
Numa crouched91 upon his kill. His terrifying eyes riveted themselves upon the girl's face—she could feel his hot breath upon her cheek and the odor of the fetid vapor92 nauseated93 her. For what seemed an eternity94 to the girl the two lay staring at each other and then the lion uttered a menacing growl95.
Never before had Bertha Kircher been so terrified—never before had she had such cause for terror. At her hip96 was a pistol—a formidable weapon with which to face a man; but a puny97 thing indeed with which to menace the great beast before her. She knew that at best it could but enrage98 him and yet she meant to sell her life dearly, for she felt that she must die. No human succor99 could have availed her even had it been there to offer itself. For a moment she tore her gaze from the hypnotic fascination100 of that awful face and breathed a last prayer to her God. She did not ask for aid, for she felt that she was beyond even divine succor—she only asked that the end might come quickly and with as little pain as possible.
No one can prophesy101 what a lion will do in any given emergency. This one glared and growled102 at the girl for a moment and then fell to feeding upon the dead horse. Fr?ulein Kircher wondered for an instant and then attempted to draw her leg cautiously from beneath the body of her mount; but she could not budge103 it. She increased the force of her efforts and Numa looked up from his feeding to growl again. The girl desisted. She hoped that he might satisfy his hunger and then depart to lie up, but she could not believe that he would leave her there alive. Doubtless he would drag the remains104 of his kill into the bush for hiding and, as there could be no doubt that he considered her part of his prey, he would certainly come back for her, or possibly drag her in first and kill her.
Again Numa fell to feeding. The girl's nerves were at the breaking point. She wondered that she had not fainted under the strain of terror and shock. She recalled that she often had wished she might see a lion, close to, make a kill and feed upon it. God! how realistically her wish had been granted.
Again she bethought herself of her pistol. As she had fallen, the holster had slipped around so that the weapon now lay beneath her. Very slowly she reached for it; but in so doing she was forced to raise her body from the ground. Instantly the lion was aroused. With the swiftness of a cat he reached across the carcass of the horse and placed a heavy, taloned105 paw upon her breast, crushing her back to earth, and all the time he growled and snarled106 horribly. His face was a picture of frightful107 rage incarnate108. For a moment neither moved and then from behind her the girl heard a human voice uttering bestial109 sounds.
Numa suddenly looked up from the girl's face at the thing beyond her. His growls110 increased to roars as he drew back, ripping the front of the girl's waist almost from her body with his long talons, exposing her white bosom111, which through some miracle of chance the great claws did not touch.
Tarzan of the Apes had witnessed the entire encounter from the moment that Numa had leaped upon his prey. For some time before, he had been watching the girl, and after the lion attacked her he had at first been minded to let Numa have his way with her. What was she but a hated German and a spy besides? He had seen her at General Kraut's headquarters, in conference with the German staff and again he had seen her within the British lines masquerading as a British officer. It was the latter thought that prompted him to interfere112. Doubtless General Jan Smuts would be glad to meet and question her. She might be forced to divulge113 information of value to the British commander before Smuts had her shot.
Tarzan had recognized not only the girl, but the lion as well. All lions may look alike to you and me; but not so to their intimates of the jungle. Each has his individual characteristics of face and form and gait as well defined as those that differentiate114 members of the human family, and besides these the creatures of the jungle have a still more positive test—that of scent. Each of us, man or beast, has his own peculiar115 odor, and it is mostly by this that the beasts of the jungle, endowed with miraculous116 powers of scent, recognize individuals.
It is the final proof. You have seen it demonstrated a thousand times—a dog recognizes your voice and looks at you. He knows your face and figure. Good, there can be no doubt in his mind but that it is you; but is he satisfied? No, sir—he must come up and smell of you. All his other senses may be fallible, but not his sense of smell, and so he makes assurance positive by the final test.
Tarzan recognized Numa as he whom he had muzzled117 with the hide of Horta, the boar—as he whom he handled by a rope for two days and finally loosed in a German front-line trench, and he knew that Numa would recognize him—that he would remember the sharp spear that had goaded118 him into submission119 and obedience120 and Tarzan hoped that the lesson he had learned still remained with the lion.
Now he came forward calling to Numa in the language of the great apes—warning him away from the girl. It is open to question that Numa, the lion, understood him; but he did understand the menace of the heavy spear that the Tarmangani carried so ready in his brown, right hand, and so he drew back, growling121, trying to decide in his little brain whether to charge or flee.
On came the ape-man with never a pause, straight for the lion. "Go away, Numa," he cried, "or Tarzan will tie you up again and lead you through the jungle without food. See Arad, my spear! Do you recall how his point stuck into you and how with his haft I beat you over the head? Go, Numa! I am Tarzan of the Apes!"
Numa wrinkled the skin of his face into great folds, until his eyes almost disappeared and he growled and roared and snarled and growled again, and when the spear point came at last quite close to him he struck at it viciously with his armed paw; but he drew back. Tarzan stepped over the dead horse and the girl lying behind him gazed in wide-eyed astonishment122 at the handsome figure driving an angry lion deliberately123 from its kill.
When Numa had retreated a few yards, the ape-man called back to the girl in perfect German, "Are you badly hurt?"
"I think not," she replied; "but I cannot extricate my foot from beneath my horse."
"Try again," commanded Tarzan. "I do not know how long I can hold Numa thus."
The girl struggled frantically124; but at last she sank back upon an elbow.
"It is impossible," she called to him.
He backed slowly until he was again beside the horse, when he reached down and grasped the cinch, which was still intact. Then with one hand he raised the carcass from the ground. The girl freed herself and rose to her feet.
"You can walk?" asked Tarzan.
"Good," commented the ape-man. "Back slowly away behind me—make no sudden movements. I think he will not charge."
With utmost deliberation the two backed toward the bush. Numa stood for a moment, growling, then he followed them, slowly. Tarzan wondered if he would come beyond his kill or if he would stop there. If he followed them beyond, then they could look for a charge, and if Numa charged it was very likely that he would get one of them. When the lion reached the carcass of the horse Tarzan stopped and so did Numa, as Tarzan had thought that he would and the ape-man waited to see what the lion would do next. He eyed them for a moment, snarled angrily and then looked down at the tempting126 meat. Presently he crouched upon his kill and resumed feeding.
The girl breathed a deep sigh of relief as she and the ape-man resumed their slow retreat with only an occasional glance from the lion, and when at last they reached the bush and had turned and entered it, she felt a sudden giddiness overwhelm her so that she staggered and would have fallen had Tarzan not caught her. It was only a moment before she regained128 control of herself.
"I could not help it," she said, in half apology. "I was so close to death—such a horrible death—it unnerved me for an instant; but I am all right now. How can I ever thank you? It was so wonderful—you did not seem to fear the frightful creature in the least; yet he was afraid of you. Who are you?"
"He knows me," replied Tarzan, grimly—"that is why he fears me."
He was standing129 facing the girl now and for the first time he had a chance to look at her squarely and closely. She was very beautiful—that was undeniable; but Tarzan realized her beauty only in a subconscious130 way. It was superficial—it did not color her soul which must be black as sin. She was German—a German spy. He hated her and desired only to compass her destruction; but he would choose the manner so that it would work most grievously against the enemy cause.
He saw her naked breasts where Numa had torn her clothing from her and dangling131 there against the soft, white flesh he saw that which brought a sudden scowl132 of surprise and anger to his face—the diamond-studded, golden locket of his youth—the love token that had been stolen from the breast of his mate by Schneider, the Hun. The girl saw the scowl but did not interpret it correctly. Tarzan grasped her roughly by the arm.
The girl drew herself to her full height. "Take your hand from me," she demanded, but the ape-man paid no attention to her words, only seizing her more forcibly.
"Answer me!" he snapped. "Where did you get this?"
"What is it to you?" she countered.
"It is mine," he replied. "Tell me who gave it to you or I will throw you back to Numa."
"You would do that?" she asked.
"You were going to kill me, then?"
"I was going to take you to headquarters. They would dispose of you there; but Numa can do it quite as effectively. Which do you prefer?"
"Hauptmann Fritz Schneider gave it to me," she said.
"Headquarters it will be then," said Tarzan. "Come!" The girl moved at his side through the bush and all the time her mind worked quickly. They were moving east, which suited her, and as long as they continued to move east she was glad to have the protection of the great, white savage. She speculated much upon the fact that her pistol still swung at her hip. The man must be mad not to take it from her.
"What makes you think I am a spy?" she asked after a long silence.
"I saw you at German headquarters," he replied, "and then again inside the British lines."
She could not let him take her back to them. She must reach Wilhelmstal at once and she was determined135 to do so even if she must have recourse to her pistol. She cast a side glance at the tall figure. What a magnificent creature! But yet he was a brute136 who would kill her or have her killed if she did not slay137 him. And the locket! She must have that back—it must not fail to reach Wilhelmstal. Tarzan was now a foot or two ahead of her as the path was very narrow. Cautiously she drew her pistol. A single shot would suffice and he was so close that she could not miss. As she figured it all out her eyes rested on the brown skin with the graceful138 muscles rolling beneath it and the perfect limbs and head and the carriage that a proud king of old might have envied. A wave of revulsion for her contemplated139 act surged through her. No, she could not do it—yet, she must be free and she must regain127 possession of the locket. And then, almost blindly, she swung the weapon up and struck Tarzan heavily upon the back of the head with its butt140. Like a felled ox he dropped in his tracks.
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doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
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2
trench
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| n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕 | |
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trenches
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| 深沟，地沟( trench的名词复数 )； 战壕 | |
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memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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amassed
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| v.积累，积聚( amass的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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morale
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| n.道德准则，士气，斗志 | |
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utilized
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| v.利用，使用( utilize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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artifice
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| n.妙计，高明的手段；狡诈，诡计 | |
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demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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reverted
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| 恢复( revert的过去式和过去分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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rout
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| n.溃退，溃败；v.击溃，打垮 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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snarl
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| v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮 | |
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horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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bungalow
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| n.平房，周围有阳台的木造小平房 | |
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riveted
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| 铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意 | |
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ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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disappearances
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| n.消失( disappearance的名词复数 )；丢失；失踪；失踪案 | |
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talons
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| n.（尤指猛禽的）爪( talon的名词复数 )；（如爪般的）手指；爪状物；锁簧尖状突出部 | |
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33
jugulars
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| n.颈静脉( jugular的名词复数 ) | |
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34
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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35
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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36
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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37
outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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38
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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39
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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40
toll
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| n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟) | |
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41
eluded
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| v.（尤指机敏地）避开( elude的过去式和过去分词 )；逃避；躲避；使达不到 | |
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42
flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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43
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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44
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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45
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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46
admonished
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| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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47
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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48
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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49
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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50
humiliated
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| 感到羞愧的 | |
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51
untoward
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| adj.不利的，不幸的，困难重重的 | |
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52
overcast
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| adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天 | |
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53
realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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54
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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55
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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56
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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57
lures
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| 吸引力，魅力（lure的复数形式） | |
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58
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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59
preying
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| v.掠食( prey的现在分词 )；掠食；折磨；（人）靠欺诈为生 | |
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60
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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61
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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62
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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63
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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64
picketed
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| 用尖桩围住（picket的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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65
picket
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| n.纠察队；警戒哨；v.设置纠察线；布置警卫 | |
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66
accentuated
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| v.重读( accentuate的过去式和过去分词 )；使突出；使恶化；加重音符号于 | |
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67
ominously
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| adv.恶兆地，不吉利地；预示地 | |
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68
sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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69
rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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70
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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71
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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72
conjured
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| 用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 )； 祈求，恳求； 变戏法； （变魔术般地） 使…出现 | |
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73
trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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74
replenished
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| 补充( replenish的过去式和过去分词 )； 重新装满 | |
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75
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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76
drowsiness
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| n.睡意；嗜睡 | |
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77
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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78
dozed
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| v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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79
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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80
testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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81
rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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82
tawny
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| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
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83
twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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84
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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85
sleek
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| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
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86
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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87
extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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88
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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89
fangs
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| n.（尤指狗和狼的）长而尖的牙( fang的名词复数 )；（蛇的）毒牙；罐座 | |
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90
crunched
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| v.嘎吱嘎吱地咬嚼( crunch的过去式和过去分词 )；嘎吱作响；（快速大量地）处理信息；数字捣弄 | |
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91
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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92
vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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93
nauseated
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| adj.作呕的，厌恶的v.使恶心，作呕( nauseate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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94
eternity
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| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
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95
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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96
hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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97
puny
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| adj.微不足道的，弱小的 | |
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98
enrage
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| v.触怒，激怒 | |
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99
succor
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| n.援助，帮助；v.给予帮助 | |
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100
fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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101
prophesy
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| v.预言；预示 | |
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102
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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103
budge
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| v.移动一点儿；改变立场 | |
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104
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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105
taloned
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106
snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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107
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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108
incarnate
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| adj.化身的，人体化的，肉色的 | |
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109
bestial
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| adj.残忍的；野蛮的 | |
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110
growls
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的第三人称单数 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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111
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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112
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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113
divulge
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| v.泄漏(秘密等)；宣布，公布 | |
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114
differentiate
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| vi.(between)区分；vt.区别；使不同 | |
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115
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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116
miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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117
muzzled
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| 给（狗等）戴口套( muzzle的过去式和过去分词 )； 使缄默，钳制…言论 | |
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118
goaded
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| v.刺激( goad的过去式和过去分词 )；激励；（用尖棒）驱赶；驱使（或怂恿、刺激）某人 | |
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119
submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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120
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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121
growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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122
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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123
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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124
frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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125
numb
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| adj.麻木的，失去感觉的；v.使麻木 | |
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126
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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127
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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128
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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129
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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130
subconscious
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| n./adj.潜意识(的)，下意识(的) | |
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131
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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132
scowl
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| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
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133
bauble
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| n.美观而无价值的饰物 | |
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134
queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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135
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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136
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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137
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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138
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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139
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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140
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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