Lazily he puffed6 upon his cigarette and watched his orderly who was preparing his evening meal. Captain Armand Jacot was well satisfied with himself and the world. A little to his right rose the noisy activity of his troop of sun-tanned veterans, released for the time from the irksome trammels of discipline, relaxing tired muscles, laughing, joking, and smoking as they, too, prepared to eat after a twelve-hour fast. Among them, silent and taciturn, squatted7 five white-robed Arabs, securely bound and under heavy guard.
It was the sight of these that filled Captain Armand Jacot with the pleasurable satisfaction of a duty well-performed. For a long, hot, gaunt month he and his little troop had scoured8 the places of the desert waste in search of a band of marauders to the sin-stained account of which were charged innumerable thefts of camels, horses, and goats, as well as murders enough to have sent the whole unsavory gang to the guillotine several times over.
A week before, he had come upon them. In the ensuing battle he had lost two of his own men, but the punishment inflicted10 upon the marauders had been severe almost to extinction11. A half dozen, perhaps, had escaped; but the balance, with the exception of the five prisoners, had expiated12 their crimes before the nickel jacketed bullets of the legionaries. And, best of all, the ring leader, Achmet ben Houdin, was among the prisoners.
From the prisoners Captain Jacot permitted his mind to traverse the remaining miles of sand to the little garrison13 post where, upon the morrow, he should find awaiting him with eager welcome his wife and little daughter. His eyes softened14 to the memory of them, as they always did. Even now he could see the beauty of the mother reflected in the childish lines of little Jeanne's face, and both those faces would be smiling up into his as he swung from his tired mount late the following afternoon. Already he could feel a soft cheek pressed close to each of his—velvet against leather.
His reverie was broken in upon by the voice of a sentry15 summoning a non-commissioned officer. Captain Jacot raised his eyes. The sun had not yet set; but the shadows of the few trees huddled16 about the water hole and of his men and their horses stretched far away into the east across the now golden sand. The sentry was pointing in this direction, and the corporal, through narrowed lids, was searching the distance. Captain Jacot rose to his feet. He was not a man content to see through the eyes of others. He must see for himself. Usually he saw things long before others were aware that there was anything to see—a trait that had won for him the sobriquet17 of Hawk18. Now he saw, just beyond the long shadows, a dozen specks19 rising and falling among the sands. They disappeared and reappeared, but always they grew larger. Jacot recognized them immediately. They were horsemen—horsemen of the desert. Already a sergeant20 was running toward him. The entire camp was straining its eyes into the distance. Jacot gave a few terse21 orders to the sergeant who saluted22, turned upon his heel and returned to the men. Here he gathered a dozen who saddled their horses, mounted and rode out to meet the strangers. The remaining men disposed themselves in readiness for instant action. It was not entirely23 beyond the range of possibilities that the horsemen riding thus swiftly toward the camp might be friends of the prisoners bent24 upon the release of their kinsmen25 by a sudden attack. Jacot doubted this, however, since the strangers were evidently making no attempt to conceal26 their presence. They were galloping27 rapidly toward the camp in plain view of all. There might be treachery lurking28 beneath their fair appearance; but none who knew The Hawk would be so gullible29 as to hope to trap him thus.
The sergeant with his detail met the Arabs two hundred yards from the camp. Jacot could see him in conversation with a tall, white-robed figure—evidently the leader of the band. Presently the sergeant and this Arab rode side by side toward camp. Jacot awaited them. The two reined30 in and dismounted before him.
"Sheik Amor ben Khatour," announced the sergeant by way of introduction.
Captain Jacot eyed the newcomer. He was acquainted with nearly every principal Arab within a radius31 of several hundred miles. This man he never had seen. He was a tall, weather beaten, sour looking man of sixty or more. His eyes were narrow and evil. Captain Jacot did not relish32 his appearance.
"Well?" he asked, tentatively.
The Arab came directly to the point.
"Achmet ben Houdin is my sister's son," he said. "If you will give him into my keeping I will see that he sins no more against the laws of the French."
Jacot shook his head. "That cannot be," he replied. "I must take him back with me. He will be properly and fairly tried by a civil court. If he is innocent he will be released."
"And if he is not innocent?" asked the Arab.
"He is charged with many murders. For any one of these, if he is proved guilty, he will have to die."
The Arab's left hand was hidden beneath his burnous. Now he withdrew it disclosing a large goatskin purse, bulging33 and heavy with coins. He opened the mouth of the purse and let a handful of the contents trickle34 into the palm of his right hand—all were pieces of good French gold. From the size of the purse and its bulging proportions Captain Jacot concluded that it must contain a small fortune. Sheik Amor ben Khatour dropped the spilled gold pieces one by one back into the purse. Jacot was eyeing him narrowly. They were alone. The sergeant, having introduced the visitor, had withdrawn35 to some little distance—his back was toward them. Now the sheik, having returned all the gold pieces, held the bulging purse outward upon his open palm toward Captain Jacot.
"Achmet ben Houdin, my sister's son, MIGHT escape tonight," he said. "Eh?"
Captain Armand Jacot flushed to the roots of his close-cropped hair. Then he went very white and took a half-step toward the Arab. His fists were clenched36. Suddenly he thought better of whatever impulse was moving him.
"Sergeant!" he called. The non-commissioned officer hurried toward him, saluting37 as his heels clicked together before his superior.
"Take this black dog back to his people," he ordered. "See that they leave at once. Shoot the first man who comes within range of camp tonight."
Sheik Amor ben Khatour drew himself up to his full height. His evil eyes narrowed. He raised the bag of gold level with the eyes of the French officer.
"You will pay more than this for the life of Achmet ben Houdin, my sister's son," he said. "And as much again for the name that you have called me and a hundred fold in sorrow in the bargain."
All of this happened some three years before the opening of this tale. The trail of Achmet ben Houdin and his accomplices39 is a matter of record—you may verify it if you care to. He met the death he deserved, and he met it with the stoicism of the Arab.
A month later little Jeanne Jacot, the seven-year-old daughter of Captain Armand Jacot, mysteriously disappeared. Neither the wealth of her father and mother, or all the powerful resources of the great republic were able to wrest40 the secret of her whereabouts from the inscrutable desert that had swallowed her and her abductor.
A reward of such enormous proportions was offered that many adventurers were attracted to the hunt. This was no case for the modern detective of civilization, yet several of these threw themselves into the search—the bones of some are already bleaching41 beneath the African sun upon the silent sands of the Sahara.
Two Swedes, Carl Jenssen and Sven Malbihn, after three years of following false leads at last gave up the search far to the south of the Sahara to turn their attention to the more profitable business of ivory poaching. In a great district they were already known for their relentless42 cruelty and their greed for ivory. The natives feared and hated them. The European governments in whose possessions they worked had long sought them; but, working their way slowly out of the north they had learned many things in the no-man's-land south of the Sahara which gave them immunity43 from capture through easy avenues of escape that were unknown to those who pursued them. Their raids were sudden and swift. They seized ivory and retreated into the trackless wastes of the north before the guardians44 of the territory they raped45 could be made aware of their presence. Relentlessly46 they slaughtered47 elephants themselves as well as stealing ivory from the natives. Their following consisted of a hundred or more renegade Arabs and Negro slaves—a fierce, relentless band of cut-throats. Remember them—Carl Jenssen and Sven Malbihn, yellow-bearded, Swedish giants—for you will meet them later.
In the heart of the jungle, hidden away upon the banks of a small unexplored tributary48 of a large river that empties into the Atlantic not so far from the equator, lay a small, heavily palisaded village. Twenty palm-thatched, beehive huts sheltered its black population, while a half-dozen goat skin tents in the center of the clearing housed the score of Arabs who found shelter here while, by trading and raiding, they collected the cargoes49 which their ships of the desert bore northward50 twice each year to the market of Timbuktu.
Playing before one of the Arab tents was a little girl of ten—a black-haired, black-eyed little girl who, with her nut-brown skin and graceful51 carriage looked every inch a daughter of the desert. Her little fingers were busily engaged in fashioning a skirt of grasses for a much-disheveled doll which a kindly52 disposed slave had made for her a year or two before. The head of the doll was rudely chipped from ivory, while the body was a rat skin stuffed with grass. The arms and legs were bits of wood, perforated at one end and sewn to the rat skin torso. The doll was quite hideous53 and altogether disreputable and soiled, but Meriem thought it the most beautiful and adorable thing in the whole world, which is not so strange in view of the fact that it was the only object within that world upon which she might bestow54 her confidence and her love.
Everyone else with whom Meriem came in contact was, almost without exception, either indifferent to her or cruel. There was, for example, the old black hag who looked after her, Mabunu—toothless, filthy55 and ill tempered. She lost no opportunity to cuff56 the little girl, or even inflict9 minor57 tortures upon her, such as pinching, or, as she had twice done, searing the tender flesh with hot coals. And there was The Sheik, her father. She feared him more than she did Mabunu. He often scolded her for nothing, quite habitually58 terminating his tirades59 by cruelly beating her, until her little body was black and blue.
But when she was alone she was happy, playing with Geeka, or decking her hair with wild flowers, or making ropes of grasses. She was always busy and always singing—when they left her alone. No amount of cruelty appeared sufficient to crush the innate60 happiness and sweetness from her full little heart. Only when The Sheik was near was she quiet and subdued61. Him she feared with a fear that was at times almost hysterical62 terror. She feared the gloomy jungle too—the cruel jungle that surrounded the little village with chattering63 monkeys and screaming birds by day and the roaring and coughing and moaning of the carnivora by night. Yes, she feared the jungle; but so much more did she fear The Sheik that many times it was in her childish head to run away, out into the terrible jungle forever rather than longer to face the ever present terror of her father.
As she sat there this day before The Sheik's goatskin tent, fashioning a skirt of grasses for Geeka, The Sheik appeared suddenly approaching. Instantly the look of happiness faded from the child's face. She shrunk aside in an attempt to scramble64 from the path of the leathern-faced old Arab; but she was not quick enough. With a brutal65 kick the man sent her sprawling66 upon her face, where she lay quite still, tearless but trembling. Then, with an oath at her, the man passed into the tent. The old, black hag shook with appreciative67 laughter, disclosing an occasional and lonesome yellow fang68.
When she was sure The Sheik had gone, the little girl crawled to the shady side of the tent, where she lay quite still, hugging Geeka close to her breast, her little form racked at long intervals69 with choking sobs70. She dared not cry aloud, since that would have brought The Sheik upon her again. The anguish71 in her little heart was not alone the anguish of physical pain; but that infinitely72 more pathetic anguish—of love denied a childish heart that yearns73 for love.
Little Meriem could scarce recall any other existence than that of the stern cruelty of The Sheik and Mabunu. Dimly, in the back of her childish memory there lurked74 a blurred75 recollection of a gentle mother; but Meriem was not sure but that even this was but a dream picture induced by her own desire for the caresses76 she never received, but which she lavished77 upon the much loved Geeka. Never was such a spoiled child as Geeka. Its little mother, far from fashioning her own conduct after the example set her by her father and nurse, went to the extreme of indulgence. Geeka was kissed a thousand times a day. There was play in which Geeka was naughty; but the little mother never punished. Instead, she caressed78 and fondled; her attitude influenced solely79 by her own pathetic desire for love.
Now, as she pressed Geeka close to her, her sobs lessened80 gradually, until she was able to control her voice, and pour out her misery81 into the ivory ear of her only confidante.
"Geeka loves Meriem," she whispered. "Why does The Sheik, my father, not love me, too? Am I so naughty? I try to be good; but I never know why he strikes me, so I cannot tell what I have done which displeases82 him. Just now he kicked me and hurt me so, Geeka; but I was only sitting before the tent making a skirt for you. That must be wicked, or he would not have kicked me for it. But why is it wicked, Geeka? Oh dear! I do not know, I do not know. I wish, Geeka, that I were dead. Yesterday the hunters brought in the body of El Adrea. El Adrea was quite dead. No more will he slink silently upon his unsuspecting prey83. No more will his great head and his maned shoulders strike terror to the hearts of the grass eaters at the drinking ford84 by night. No more will his thundering roar shake the ground. El Adrea is dead. They beat his body terribly when it was brought into the village; but El Adrea did not mind. He did not feel the blows, for he was dead. When I am dead, Geeka, neither shall I feel the blows of Mabunu, or the kicks of The Sheik, my father. Then shall I be happy. Oh, Geeka, how I wish that I were dead!"
If Geeka contemplated85 a remonstrance86 it was cut short by sounds of altercation87 beyond the village gates. Meriem listened. With the curiosity of childhood she would have liked to have run down there and learn what it was that caused the men to talk so loudly. Others of the village were already trooping in the direction of the noise. But Meriem did not dare. The Sheik would be there, doubtless, and if he saw her it would be but another opportunity to abuse her, so Meriem lay still and listened.
Presently she heard the crowd moving up the street toward The Sheik's tent. Cautiously she stuck her little head around the edge of the tent. She could not resist the temptation, for the sameness of the village life was monotonous88, and she craved89 diversion. What she saw was two strangers—white men. They were alone, but as they approached she learned from the talk of the natives that surrounded them that they possessed90 a considerable following that was camped outside the village. They were coming to palaver91 with The Sheik.
The old Arab met them at the entrance to his tent. His eyes narrowed wickedly when they had appraised92 the newcomers. They stopped before him, exchanging greetings. They had come to trade for ivory they said. The Sheik grunted93. He had no ivory. Meriem gasped94. She knew that in a near-by hut the great tusks95 were piled almost to the roof. She poked96 her little head further forward to get a better view of the strangers. How white their skins! How yellow their great beards!
Suddenly one of them turned his eyes in her direction. She tried to dodge97 back out of sight, for she feared all men; but he saw her. Meriem noticed the look of almost shocked surprise that crossed his face. The Sheik saw it too, and guessed the cause of it.
"I have no ivory," he repeated. "I do not wish to trade. Go away. Go now."
He stepped from his tent and almost pushed the strangers about in the direction of the gates. They demurred98, and then The Sheik threatened. It would have been suicide to have disobeyed, so the two men turned and left the village, making their way immediately to their own camp.
The Sheik returned to his tent; but he did not enter it. Instead he walked to the side where little Meriem lay close to the goat skin wall, very frightened. The Sheik stooped and clutched her by the arm. Viciously he jerked her to her feet, dragged her to the entrance of the tent, and shoved her viciously within. Following her he again seized her, beating her ruthlessly.
"Stay within!" he growled. "Never let the strangers see thy face. Next time you show yourself to strangers I shall kill you!"
With a final vicious cuff he knocked the child into a far corner of the tent, where she lay stifling99 her moans, while The Sheik paced to and fro muttering to himself. At the entrance sat Mabunu, muttering and chuckling100.
In the camp of the strangers one was speaking rapidly to the other.
"There is no doubt of it, Malbihn," he was saying. "Not the slightest; but why the old scoundrel hasn't claimed the reward long since is what puzzles me."
"There are some things dearer to an Arab, Jenssen, than money," returned the first speaker—"revenge is one of them."
"Anyhow it will not harm to try the power of gold," replied Jenssen.
"Not on The Sheik," he said. "We might try it on one of his people; but The Sheik will not part with his revenge for gold. To offer it to him would only confirm his suspicions that we must have awakened102 when we were talking to him before his tent. If we got away with our lives, then, we should be fortunate."
But bribery failed—grewsomely. The tool they selected after a stay of several days in their camp outside the village was a tall, old headman of The Sheik's native contingent105. He fell to the lure106 of the shining metal, for he had lived upon the coast and knew the power of gold. He promised to bring them what they craved, late that night.
Immediately after dark the two white men commenced to make arrangements to break camp. By midnight all was prepared. The porters lay beside their loads, ready to swing them aloft at a moment's notice. The armed askaris loitered between the balance of the safari107 and the Arab village, ready to form a rear guard for the retreat that was to begin the moment that the head man brought that which the white masters awaited.
Presently there came the sound of footsteps along the path from the village. Instantly the askaris and the whites were on the alert. More than a single man was approaching. Jenssen stepped forward and challenged the newcomers in a low whisper.
"Mbeeda," came the reply.
Mbeeda was the name of the traitorous109 head man. Jenssen was satisfied, though he wondered why Mbeeda had brought others with him. Presently he understood. The thing they fetched lay upon a litter borne by two men. Jenssen cursed beneath his breath. Could the fool be bringing them a corpse110? They had paid for a living prize!
The bearers came to a halt before the white men.
"This has your gold purchased," said one of the two. They set the litter down, turned and vanished into the darkness toward the village. Malbihn looked at Jenssen, a crooked111 smile twisting his lips. The thing upon the litter was covered with a piece of cloth.
"Well?" queried the latter. "Raise the covering and see what you have bought. Much money shall we realize on a corpse—especially after the six months beneath the burning sun that will be consumed in carrying it to its destination!"
"The fool should have known that we desired her alive," grumbled112 Malbihn, grasping a corner of the cloth and jerking the cover from the thing that lay upon the litter.
At sight of what lay beneath both men stepped back—involuntary oaths upon their lips—for there before them lay the dead body of Mbeeda, the faithless head man.
Five minutes later the safari of Jenssen and Malbihn was forcing its way rapidly toward the west, nervous askaris guarding the rear from the attack they momentarily expected.
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1
stunted
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| adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的 | |
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luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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overlapping
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| adj./n.交迭（的） | |
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meager
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| adj.缺乏的，不足的，瘦的 | |
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oasis
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| n.（沙漠中的）绿洲，宜人的地方 | |
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puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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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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scoured
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| 走遍（某地）搜寻（人或物）( scour的过去式和过去分词 )； （用力）刷； 擦净； 擦亮 | |
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inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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extinction
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| n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种 | |
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expiated
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| v.为（所犯罪过）接受惩罚，赎（罪）( expiate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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sobriquet
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| n.绰号 | |
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hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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specks
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| n.眼镜；斑点，微粒，污点( speck的名词复数 ) | |
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sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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terse
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| adj.(说话，文笔)精炼的，简明的 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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kinsmen
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| n.家属，亲属( kinsman的名词复数 ) | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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gullible
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| adj.易受骗的；轻信的 | |
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reined
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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radius
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| n.半径，半径范围；有效航程，范围，界限 | |
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relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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trickle
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| vi.淌，滴，流出，慢慢移动，逐渐消散 | |
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withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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saluting
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的现在分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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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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accomplices
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| 从犯，帮凶，同谋( accomplice的名词复数 ) | |
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wrest
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| n.扭，拧，猛夺；v.夺取，猛扭，歪曲 | |
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bleaching
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| 漂白法，漂白 | |
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relentless
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| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
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immunity
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| n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权 | |
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guardians
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| 监护人( guardian的名词复数 )； 保护者，维护者 | |
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raped
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| v.以暴力夺取，强夺( rape的过去式和过去分词 )；强奸 | |
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relentlessly
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| adv.不屈不挠地；残酷地；不间断 | |
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slaughtered
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| v.屠杀，杀戮，屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tributary
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| n.支流；纳贡国；adj.附庸的；辅助的；支流的 | |
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49
cargoes
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| n.（船或飞机装载的）货物( cargo的名词复数 )；大量，重负 | |
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50
northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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51
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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52
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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53
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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54
bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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56
cuff
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| n.袖口；手铐；护腕；vt.用手铐铐；上袖口 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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58
habitually
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| ad.习惯地，通常地 | |
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59
tirades
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| 激烈的长篇指责或演说( tirade的名词复数 ) | |
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60
innate
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| adj.天生的，固有的，天赋的 | |
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61
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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62
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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63
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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64
scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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66
sprawling
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| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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67
appreciative
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| adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的 | |
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68
fang
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| n.尖牙，犬牙 | |
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69
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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70
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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71
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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72
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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yearns
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| 渴望，切盼，向往( yearn的第三人称单数 ) | |
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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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blurred
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| v.（使）变模糊( blur的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）难以区分；模模糊糊；迷离 | |
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76
caresses
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| 爱抚，抚摸( caress的名词复数 ) | |
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77
lavished
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| v.过分给予，滥施( lavish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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79
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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80
lessened
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| 减少的，减弱的 | |
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81
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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displeases
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| 冒犯，使生气，使不愉快( displease的第三人称单数 ) | |
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83
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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Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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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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86
remonstrance
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| n抗议，抱怨 | |
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87
altercation
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| n.争吵，争论 | |
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monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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89
craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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palaver
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| adj.壮丽堂皇的；n.废话，空话 | |
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92
appraised
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| v.估价( appraise的过去式和过去分词 )；估计；估量；评价 | |
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93
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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94
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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95
tusks
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| n.（象等动物的）长牙( tusk的名词复数 )；獠牙；尖形物；尖头 | |
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96
poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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97
dodge
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| v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计 | |
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98
demurred
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| v.表示异议，反对( demur的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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99
stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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100
chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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101
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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102
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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103
bribery
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| n.贿络行为，行贿，受贿 | |
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104
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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105
contingent
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| adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队 | |
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106
lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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107
safari
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| n.远征旅行(探险、考察)；探险队，狩猎队 | |
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108
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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109
traitorous
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| adj. 叛国的, 不忠的, 背信弃义的 | |
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110
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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111
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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112
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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