From behind a low bush across the wide lawn a pair of eyes transferred to an alert brain these simple perceptions from which the brain deduced with Sherlockian accuracy and Raffleian purpose that the family of the president of The First National Bank of—Oh, let's call it Oakdale—was at dinner, that the servants were below stairs and the second floor deserted4.
The owner of the eyes had but recently descended5 from the quarters of the chauffeur6 above the garage which he had entered as a thief in the night and quitted apparelled in a perfectly7 good suit of clothes belonging to the gentlemanly chauffeur and a soft, checked cap which was now pulled well down over a pair of large brown eyes in which a rather strained expression might have suggested to an alienist a certain neophytism which even the stern set of well shaped lips could not effectually belie8.
Apparently9 this was a youth steeling himself against a natural repugnance10 to the dangerous profession he had espoused11; and when, a moment later, he stepped out into the moonlight and crossed the lawn toward the house, the slender, graceful12 lines which the ill-fitting clothes could not entirely13 conceal14 carried the conviction of youth if not of innocence15.
The brazen16 assurance with which the lad crossed the lawn and mounted the steps to the verandah suggested a familiarity with the habits and customs of the inmates17 of the house upon the hill which bespoke18 long and careful study of the contemplated19 job. An old timer could not have moved with greater confidence. No detail seemed to have escaped his cunning calculation. Though the door leading from the verandah into the reception hall swung wide to the balmy airs of late Spring the prowler passed this blatant20 invitation to the hospitality of the House of Prim21. It was as though he knew that from his place at the head of the table, with his back toward the great fire place which is the pride of the Prim dining hall, Jonas Prim commands a view of the major portion of the reception hall.
Stooping low the youth passed along the verandah to a window of the darkened library—a French window which swung open without noise to his light touch. Stepping within he crossed the room to a door which opened at the foot of a narrow stairway—a convenient little stairway which had often let the Hon. Jonas Prim pass from his library to his second floor bed-room unnoticed when Mrs. Prim chanced to be entertaining the feminine elite22 of Oakdale across the hall. A convenient little stairway for retiring husbands and diffident burglars—yes, indeed!
The darkness of the upper hallway offered no obstacle to this familiar housebreaker. He passed the tempting23 luxury of Mrs. Prim's boudoir, the chaste24 elegance25 of Jonas Prim's bed-room with all the possibilities of forgotten wallets and negotiable papers, setting his course straight for the apartments of Abigail Prim, the spinster daughter of the First National Bank of Oakdale. Or should we utilize26 a more charitable and at the same time more truthful27 word than spinster? I think we should, since Abigail was but nineteen and quite human, despite her name.
Upon the dressing28 table of Abigail reposed29 much silver and gold and ivory, wrought30 by clever artisans into articles of great beauty and some utility; but with scarce a glance the burglar passed them by, directing his course straight across the room to a small wall safe cleverly hidden by a bit of tapestry31.
How, Oh how, this suggestive familiarity with the innermost secrets of a virgin's sacred apartments upon the part of one so obviously of the male persuasion32 and, by his all too apparent calling, a denizen33 of that underworld of which no Abigail should have intimate knowledge? Yet, truly and with scarce a faint indication of groping, though the room was dark, the marauder walked directly to the hidden safe, swung back the tapestry in its frame, turned the knob of the combination and in a moment opened the circular door of the strong box.
A fat roll of bills and a handful of jewelry34 he transferred to the pockets of his coat. Some papers which his hand brushed within the safe he pushed aside as though preadvised of their inutility to one of his calling. Then he closed the safe door, closed the tapestry upon it and turned toward a dainty dressing table. From a drawer in this exquisite35 bit of Sheraton the burglar took a small, nickel plated automatic, which he slipped into an inside breast pocket of his coat, nor did he touch another article therein or thereon, nor hesitate an instant in the selection of the drawer to be rifled. His knowledge of the apartment of the daughter of the house of Prim was little short of uncanny. Doubtless the fellow was some plumber36's apprentice37 who had made good use of an opportunity to study the lay of the land against a contemplated invasion of these holy precincts.
But even the most expert of second story men nod and now that all seemed as though running on greased rails a careless elbow raked a silver candle-stick from the dressing table to the floor where it crashed with a resounding38 din2 that sent cold shivers up the youth's spine39 and conjured40 in his mind a sudden onslaught of investigators41 from the floor below.
The noise of the falling candlestick sounded to the taut42 nerved house-breaker as might the explosion of a stick of dynamite43 during prayer in a meeting house. That all Oakdale had heard it seemed quite possible, while that those below stairs were already turning questioning ears, and probably inquisitive44 footsteps, upward was almost a foregone conclusion.
Adjoining Miss Prim's boudoir was her bath and before the door leading from the one to the other was a cretonne covered screen behind which the burglar now concealed45 himself the while he listened in rigid46 apprehension47 for the approach of the enemy; but the only sound that came to him from the floor below was the deep laugh of Jonas Prim. A profound sigh of relief escaped the beardless lips; for that laugh assured the youth that, after all, the noise of the fallen candlestick had not alarmed the household.
With knees that still trembled a bit he crossed the room and passed out into the hallway, descended the stairs, and stood again in the library. Here he paused a moment listening to the voices which came from the dining room. Mrs. Prim was speaking. “I feel quite relieved about Abigail,” she was saying. “I believe that at last she sees the wisdom and the advantages of an alliance with Mr. Benham, and it was almost with enthusiasm that she left this morning to visit his sister. I am positive that a week or two of companionship with him will impress upon her the fine qualities of his nature. We are to be congratulated, Jonas, upon settling our daughter so advantageously both in the matter of family and wealth.”
Jonas Prim grunted48. “Sam Benham is old enough to be the girl's father,” he growled49. “If she wants him, all right; but I can't imagine Abbie wanting a bald-headed husband with rheumatism50. I wish you'd let her alone, Pudgy, to find her own mate in her own way—someone nearer her own age.”
“The child is not old enough to judge wisely for herself,” replied Mrs. Prim. “It was my duty to arrange a proper alliance; and, Jonas, I will thank you not to call me Pudgy—it is perfectly ridiculous for a woman of my age—and position.”
The burglar did not hear Mr. Prim's reply for he had moved across the library and passed out onto the verandah. Once again he crossed the lawn, taking advantage of the several trees and shrubs51 which dotted it, scaled the low stone wall at the side and was in the concealing53 shadows of the unlighted side street which bounds the Prim estate upon the south. The streets of Oakdale are flanked by imposing54 battalions55 of elm and maple56 which over-arch and meet above the thoroughfares; and now, following an early Spring, their foliage57 eclipsed the infrequent arclights to the eminent58 satisfaction of those nocturnal wayfarers59 who prefer neither publicity60 nor the spot light. Of such there are few within the well ordered precincts of law abiding61 Oakdale; but to-night there was at least one and this one was deeply grateful for the gloomy walks along which he hurried toward the limits of the city.
At last he found himself upon a country road with the odors of Spring in his nostrils62 and the world before him. The night noises of the open country fell strangely upon his ears accentuating63 rather than relieving the myriad64 noted65 silence of Nature. Familiar sounds became unreal and weird66, the deep bass67 of innumerable bull frogs took on an uncanny humanness which sent a half shudder68 through the slender frame. The burglar felt a sad loneliness creeping over him. He tried whistling in an effort to shake off the depressing effects of this seeming solitude69 through which he moved; but there remained with him still the hallucination that he moved alone through a strange, new world peopled by invisible and unfamiliar70 forms—menacing shapes which lurked71 in waiting behind each tree and shrub52.
He ceased his whistling and went warily72 upon the balls of his feet, lest he unnecessarily call attention to his presence. If the truth were to be told it would chronicle the fact that a very nervous and frightened burglar sneaked73 along the quiet and peaceful country road outside of Oakdale. A lonesome burglar, this, who so craved74 the companionship of man that he would almost have welcomed joyously75 the detaining hand of the law had it fallen upon him in the guise76 of a flesh and blood police officer from Oakdale.
In leaving the city the youth had given little thought to the practicalities of the open road. He had thought, rather vaguely77, of sleeping in a bed of new clover in some hospitable78 fence corner; but the fence corners looked very dark and the wide expanse of fields beyond suggested a mysterious country which might be peopled by almost anything but human beings.
At a farm house the youth hesitated and was almost upon the verge79 of entering and asking for a night's lodging80 when a savage81 voiced dog shattered the peace of the universe and sent the burglar along the road at a rapid run.
A half mile further on a straw stack loomed82 large within a fenced enclosure. The youth wormed his way between the barbed wires determined83 at last to let nothing prevent him from making a cozy84 bed in the deep straw beside the stack. With courage radiating from every pore he strode toward the stack. His walk was almost a swagger, for thus does youth dissemble the bravery it yearns85 for but does not possess. He almost whistled again; but not quite, since it seemed an unnecessary provocation87 to disaster to call particular attention to himself at this time. An instant later he was extremely glad that he had refrained, for as he approached the stack a huge bulk slowly loomed from behind it; and silhouetted88 against the moonlit sky he saw the vast proportions of a great, shaggy bull. The burglar tore the inside of one trousers' leg and the back of his coat in his haste to pass through the barbed wire fence onto the open road. There he paused to mop the perspiration89 from his forehead, though the night was now far from warm.
For another mile the now tired and discouraged house-breaker plodded90, heavy footed, the unending road. Did vain compunction stir his youthful breast? Did he regret the safe respectability of the plumber's apprentice? Or, if he had not been a plumber's apprentice did he yearn86 to once again assume the unharried peace of whatever legitimate91 calling had been his before he bent92 his steps upon the broad boulevard of sin? We think he did.
And then he saw through the chinks and apertures93 in the half ruined wall of what had once been a hay barn the rosy94 flare95 of a genial96 light which appeared to announce in all but human terms that man, red blooded and hospitable, forgathered within. No growling97 dogs, no bulking bulls contested the short stretch of weed grown ground between the road and the disintegrating98 structure; and presently two wide, brown eyes were peering through a crack in the wall of the abandoned building. What they saw was a small fire built upon the earth floor in the center of the building and around the warming blaze the figures of six men. Some reclined at length upon old straw; others squatted99, Turk fashion. All were smoking either disreputable pipes or rolled cigarets100. Blear-eyed and foxy-eyed, bearded and stubbled cheeked, young and old, were the men the youth looked upon. All were more or less dishevelled and filthy101; but they were human. They were not dogs, or bulls, or croaking102 frogs. The boy's heart went out to them. Something that was almost a sob103 rose in his throat, and then he turned the corner of the building and stood in the doorway104, the light from the fire playing upon his lithe105 young figure clothed in its torn and ill fitting suit and upon his oval face and his laughing brown eyes. For several seconds he stood there looking at the men around the fire. None of them had noticed him.
“Tramps!” thought the youth. “Regular tramps.” He wondered that they had not seen him, and then, clearing his throat, he said: “Hello, tramps!”
Six heads snapped up or around. Six pairs of eyes, blear or foxy, were riveted106 upon the boyish figure of the housebreaker. “Wotinel!” ejaculated a frowzy107 gentleman in a frock coat and golf cap. “Wheredju blow from?” inquired another. “'Hello, tramps'!” mimicked108 a third.
The youth came slowly toward the fire. “I saw your fire,” he said, “and I thought I'd stop. I'm a tramp, too, you know.”
“Oh,” sighed the elderly person in the frock coat. “He's a tramp, he is. An' does he think gents like us has any time for tramps? An' where might he be trampin', sonny, without his maw?”
The youth flushed. “Oh say!” he cried; “you needn't kid me just because I'm new at it. You all had to start sometime. I've always longed for the free life of a tramp; and if you'll let me go along with you for a little while, and teach me, I'll not bother you; and I'll do whatever you say.”
The elderly person frowned. “Beat it, kid!” he commanded. “We ain't runnin' no day nursery. These you see here is all the real thing. Maybe we asks fer a handout109 now and then; but that ain't our reg'lar way. You ain't swift enough to travel with this bunch, kid, so you'd better duck. Why we gents, here, if we was added up is wanted in about twenty-seven cities fer about everything from rollin' a souse to crackin' a box and croakin' a bull. You gotta do something before you can train wid gents like us, see?” The speaker projected a stubbled jaw110, scowled111 horridly112 and swept a flattened113 palm downward and backward at a right angle to a hairy arm in eloquent114 gesture of finality.
The boy had stood with his straight, black eyebrows115 puckered116 into a studious frown, drinking in every word. Now he straightened up. “I guess I made a mistake,” he said, apologetically. “You ain't tramps at all. You're thieves and murderers and things like that.” His eyes opened a bit wider and his voice sank to a whisper as the words passed his lips. “But you haven't so much on me, at that,” he went on, “for I'm a regular burglar, too,” and from the bulging117 pockets of his coat he drew two handfuls of greenbacks and jewelry. The eyes of the six registered astonishment118, mixed with craft and greed. “I just robbed a house in Oakdale,” explained the boy. “I usually rob one every night.”
For a moment his auditors119 were too surprised to voice a single emotion; but presently one murmured, soulfully: “Pipe de swag!” He of the frock coat, golf cap, and years waved a conciliatory hand. He tried to look at the boy's face; but for the life of him he couldn't raise his eyes above the dazzling wealth clutched in the fingers of those two small, slim hands. From one dangled120 a pearl necklace which alone might have ransomed121, if not a king, at least a lesser122 member of a royal family, while diamonds, rubies123, sapphires124, and emeralds scintillated125 in the flaring126 light of the fire. Nor was the fistful of currency in the other hand to be sneezed at. There were greenbacks, it is true; but there were also yellowbacks with the reddish gold of large denominations127. The Sky Pilot sighed a sigh that was more than half gasp128.
“Can't yuh take a kid?” he inquired. “I knew youse all along. Yuh can't fool an old bird like The Sky Pilot—eh, boys?” and he turned to his comrades for confirmation129.
“He's The Oskaloosa Kid,” exclaimed one of the company. “I'd know 'im anywheres.”
“Pull up and set down,” invited another.
The boy stuffed his loot back into his pockets and came closer to the fire. Its warmth felt most comfortable, for the Spring night was growing chill. He looked about him at the motley company, some half-spruce in clothing that suggested a Kuppenmarx label and a not too far association with a tailor's goose, others in rags, all but one unshaven and all more or less dirty—for the open road is close to Nature, which is principally dirt.
“Shake hands with Dopey Charlie,” said The Sky Pilot, whose age and corpulency appeared to stamp him with the hall mark of authority. The youth did as he was bid, smiling into the sullen130, chalk-white face and taking the clammy hand extended toward him. Was it a shudder that passed through the lithe, young figure or was it merely a subconscious131 recognition of the final passing of the bodily cold before the glowing warmth of the blaze? “And Soup Face,” continued The Sky Pilot. A battered132 wreck133 half rose and extended a pudgy hand. Red whiskers, matted in little tangled134 wisps which suggested the dried ingredients of an infinite procession of semi-liquid refreshments135, rioted promiscuously136 over a scarlet137 countenance138.
“Pleased to meetcha,” sprayed Soup Face. It was a strained smile which twisted the rather too perfect mouth of The Oskaloosa Kid, an appellation139 which we must, perforce, accept since the youth did not deny it.
Columbus Blackie, The General, and Dirty Eddie were formally presented. As Dirty Eddie was, physically140, the cleanest member of the band the youth wondered how he had come by his sobriquet—that is, he wondered until he heard Dirty Eddie speak, after which he was no longer in doubt. The Oskaloosa Kid, self-confessed 'tramp' and burglar, flushed at the lurid141 obscenity of Dirty Eddie's remarks.
“Sit down, bo,” invited Soup Face. “I guess you're a regular all right. Here, have a snifter?” and he pulled a flask142 from his side pocket, holding it toward The Oskaloosa Kid.
“Have a smoke?” suggested Columbus Blackie. “Here's the makin's.”
The change in the attitude of the men toward him pleased The Oskaloosa Kid immensely. They were treating him as one of them, and after the lonely walk through the dark and desolate144 farm lands human companionship of any kind was to him as the proverbial straw to the man who rocked the boat once too often.
Dopey Charlie and The General, alone of all the company, waxed not enthusiastic over the advent145 of The Oskaloosa Kid and his priceless loot. These two sat scowling146 and whispering in the back-ground. “Dat's a wrong guy,” muttered the former to the latter. “He's a stool pigeon or one of dese amatoor mugs.”
“It's the pullin' of that punk graft147 that got my goat,” replied The General. “I never seen a punk yet that didn't try to make you think he was a wise guy an' dis stiff don't belong enough even to pull a spiel that would fool a old ladies' sewin' circle. I don't see wot The Sky Pilot's cozyin' up to him fer.”
“You don't?” scoffed148 Dopey Charlie. “Didn't you lamp de oyster149 harness? To say nothin' of de mitful of rocks and kale.”
“That 'ud be all right, too,” replied the other, “if we could put the guy to sleep; but The Sky Pilot won't never stand for croakin' nobody. He's too scared of his neck. We'll look like a bunch o' wise ones, won't we? lettin' a stranger sit in now—after last night. Hell!” he suddenly exploded. “Don't you know that you an' me stand to swing if any of de bunch gets gabby in front of dis phoney punk?”
The two sat silent for a while, The General puffing150 on a short briar, Dopey Charlie inhaling151 deep draughts152 from a cigarette, and both glaring through narrowed lids at the boy warming himself beside the fire where the others were attempting to draw him out the while they strove desperately153 but unavailingly to keep their eyes from the two bulging sidepockets of their guest's coat.
Soup Face, who had been assiduously communing with a pint154 flask, leaned close to Columbus Blackie, placing his whiskers within an inch or so of the other's nose as was his habit when addressing another, and whispered, relative to the pearl necklace: “Not a cent less 'n fifty thou, bo!”
“Fertheluvomike!” ejaculated Blackie, drawing back and wiping a palm quickly across his lips. “Get a plumber first if you want to kiss me—you leak.”
“He thinks you need a shower bath,” said Dirty Eddie, laughing.
“The trouble with Soup Face,” explained The Sky Pilot, “is that he's got a idea he's a human atomizer an' that the rest of us has colds.”
“Well, I don't want no atomizer loaded with rot-gut and garlic shot in my mug,” growled Blackie. “What Soup Face needs is to be learned ettyket, an' if he comes that on me again I'm goin' to push his mush through the back of his bean.”
An ugly light came into the blear eyes of Soup Face. Once again he leaned close to Columbus Blackie. “Not a cent less 'n fifty thou, you tinhorn!” he bellowed155, belligerent156 and sprayful.
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1
spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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emanate
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| v.发自，来自，出自 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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chauffeur
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| n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车 | |
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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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belie
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| v.掩饰，证明为假 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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repugnance
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| n.嫌恶 | |
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espoused
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| v.（决定）支持，拥护（目标、主张等）( espouse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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brazen
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| adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的 | |
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inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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bespoke
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| adj.（产品）订做的；专做订货的v.预定( bespeak的过去式 )；订（货）；证明；预先请求 | |
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contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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blatant
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| adj.厚颜无耻的；显眼的；炫耀的 | |
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prim
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| adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
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elite
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| n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的 | |
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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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chaste
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| adj.贞洁的；有道德的；善良的；简朴的 | |
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elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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utilize
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| vt.使用，利用 | |
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truthful
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| adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的 | |
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dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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reposed
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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tapestry
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| n.挂毯，丰富多采的画面 | |
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persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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denizen
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| n.居民，外籍居民 | |
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jewelry
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| n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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plumber
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| n.(装修水管的)管子工 | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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resounding
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| adj. 响亮的 | |
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spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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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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investigators
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| n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 ) | |
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taut
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| adj.拉紧的，绷紧的，紧张的 | |
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dynamite
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| n./vt.(用)炸药(爆破) | |
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inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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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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49
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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50
rheumatism
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| n.风湿病 | |
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51
shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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52
shrub
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| n.灌木，灌木丛 | |
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53
concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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54
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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55
battalions
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| n.（陆军的）一营（大约有一千兵士）( battalion的名词复数 )；协同作战的部队；军队；（组织在一起工作的）队伍 | |
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56
maple
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| n.槭树，枫树，槭木 | |
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57
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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58
eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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59
wayfarers
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| n.旅人，（尤指）徒步旅行者( wayfarer的名词复数 ) | |
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60
publicity
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| n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告 | |
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61
abiding
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| adj.永久的，持久的，不变的 | |
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62
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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63
accentuating
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| v.重读( accentuate的现在分词 )；使突出；使恶化；加重音符号于 | |
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64
myriad
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| adj.无数的；n.无数，极大数量 | |
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65
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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66
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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67
bass
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| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
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68
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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69
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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70
unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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71
lurked
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| vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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72
warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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73
sneaked
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| v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状 | |
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74
craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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75
joyously
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| ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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76
guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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77
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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78
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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79
verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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80
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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81
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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82
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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83
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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84
cozy
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| adj.亲如手足的，密切的，暖和舒服的 | |
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85
yearns
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| 渴望，切盼，向往( yearn的第三人称单数 ) | |
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86
yearn
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| v.想念；怀念；渴望 | |
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87
provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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88
silhouetted
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| 显出轮廓的，显示影像的 | |
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89
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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90
plodded
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| v.沉重缓慢地走（路）( plod的过去式和过去分词 )；努力从事；沉闷地苦干；缓慢进行（尤指艰难枯燥的工作） | |
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91
legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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92
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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93
apertures
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| n.孔( aperture的名词复数 )；隙缝；（照相机的）光圈；孔径 | |
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94
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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95
flare
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| v.闪耀，闪烁；n.潮红；突发 | |
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96
genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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97
growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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98
disintegrating
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| v.（使）破裂[分裂，粉碎]，（使）崩溃( disintegrate的现在分词 ) | |
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99
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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100
cigarets
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| 纸烟，香烟( cigaret的名词复数 ) | |
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101
filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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102
croaking
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| v.呱呱地叫( croak的现在分词 )；用粗的声音说 | |
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103
sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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104
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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105
lithe
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| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
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106
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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107
frowzy
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| adj.不整洁的；污秽的 | |
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108
mimicked
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| v.（尤指为了逗乐而）模仿( mimic的过去式和过去分词 )；酷似 | |
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109
handout
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| n.散发的文字材料；救济品 | |
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110
jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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111
scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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112
horridly
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| 可怕地，讨厌地 | |
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113
flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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114
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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115
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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116
puckered
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| v.（使某物）起褶子或皱纹( pucker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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117
bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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118
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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119
auditors
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| n.审计员，稽核员( auditor的名词复数 )；（大学课程的）旁听生 | |
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120
dangled
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| 悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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121
ransomed
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| 付赎金救人，赎金( ransom的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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122
lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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123
rubies
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| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
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124
sapphires
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| n.蓝宝石，钢玉宝石( sapphire的名词复数 )；蔚蓝色 | |
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125
scintillated
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| v.（言谈举止中）焕发才智( scintillate的过去式和过去分词 )；谈笑洒脱；闪耀；闪烁 | |
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126
flaring
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| a.火焰摇曳的，过份艳丽的 | |
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127
denominations
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| n.宗派( denomination的名词复数 )；教派；面额；名称 | |
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128
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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129
confirmation
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| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
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130
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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131
subconscious
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| n./adj.潜意识(的)，下意识(的) | |
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132
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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133
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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134
tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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135
refreshments
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| n.点心,便餐;(会议后的)简单茶点招 待 | |
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136
promiscuously
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| adv.杂乱地，混杂地 | |
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137
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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138
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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139
appellation
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| n.名称，称呼 | |
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140
physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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141
lurid
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| adj.可怕的；血红的；苍白的 | |
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142
flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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143
wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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144
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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145
advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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146
scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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147
graft
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| n.移植，嫁接，艰苦工作，贪污；v.移植，嫁接 | |
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148
scoffed
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| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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149
oyster
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| n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人 | |
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150
puffing
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| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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151
inhaling
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| v.吸入( inhale的现在分词 ) | |
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152
draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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153
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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154
pint
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| n.品脱 | |
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155
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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156
belligerent
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| adj.好战的，挑起战争的；n.交战国，交战者 | |
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