When at last I became capable of connected thought, I found myself faced by a big problem. Should I place the facts of the matter, as I knew them to be, before the captain? or could I hope to apprehend7 Fu-Manchu’s servant by the methods suggested by my poor friend? That Smith’s death was an accident, I did not believe for a moment; it was impossible not to link it with the attempt upon Karamaneh. In my misery8 and doubt, I determined9 to take counsel with Dr. Stacey. I stood up, and passed out on to the deck.
Those passengers whom I met on my way to his room regarded me in respectful silence. By contrast, Stacey’s attitude surprised and even annoyed me.
“I’d be prepared to stake all I possess—although it’s not much,” he said, “that this was not the work of your hidden enemy.”
He blankly refused to give me his reasons for the statement and strongly advised me to watch and wait but to make no communication to the captain.
At this hour I can look back and savor10 again something of the profound dejection of that time. I could not face the passengers; I even avoided Karamaneh and Aziz. I shut myself in my cabin and sat staring aimlessly into the growing darkness. The steward11 knocked, once, inquiring if I needed anything, but I dismissed him abruptly12. So I passed the evening and the greater part of the night.
Those groups of promenaders who passed my door, invariably were discussing my poor friend’s tragic13 end; but as the night wore on, the deck grew empty, and I sat amid a silence that in my miserable14 state I welcomed more than the presence of any friend, saving only the one whom I should never welcome again.
Since I had not counted the bells, to this day I have only the vaguest idea respecting the time whereat the next incident occurred which it is my duty to chronicle. Perhaps I was on the verge15 of falling asleep, seated there as I was; at any rate, I could scarcely believe myself awake, when, unheralded by any footsteps to indicate his coming, some one who seemed to be crouching16 outside my stateroom, slightly raised himself and peered in through the porthole—which I had not troubled to close.
He must have been a fairly tall man to have looked in at all, and although his features were indistinguishable in the darkness, his outline, which was clearly perceptible against the white boat beyond, was unfamiliar17 to me. He seemed to have a small, and oddly swathed head, and what I could make out of the gaunt neck and square shoulders in some way suggested an unnatural18 thinness; in short, the smudgy silhouette19 in the porthole was weirdly20 like that of a mummy!
For some moments I stared at the apparition21; then, rousing myself from the apathy22 into which I had sunk, I stood up very quickly and stepped across the room. As I did so the figure vanished, and when I threw open the door and looked out upon the deck... the deck was wholly untenanted!
I realized at once that it would be useless, even had I chosen the course, to seek confirmation23 of what I had seen from the officer on the bridge: my own berth, together with the one adjoining—that of the bishop—was not visible from the bridge.
For some time I stood in my doorway24, wondering in a disinterested25 fashion which now I cannot explain, if the hidden enemy had revealed himself to me, or if disordered imagination had played me a trick. Later, I was destined26 to know the truth of the matter, but when at last I fell into a troubled sleep, that night, I was still in some doubt upon the point.
My state of mind when I awakened27 on the following day was indescribable; I found it difficult to doubt that Nayland Smith would meet me on the way to the bathroom as usual, with the cracked briar fuming28 between his teeth. I felt myself almost compelled to pass around to his stateroom in order to convince myself that he was not really there. The catastrophe29 was still unreal to me, and the world a dream-world. Indeed I retain scarcely any recollections of the traffic of that day, or of the days that followed it until we reached Port Said.
Two things only made any striking appeal to my dulled intelligence at that time. These were: the aloof30 attitude of Dr. Stacey, who seemed carefully to avoid me; and a curious circumstance which the second officer mentioned in conversation one evening as we strolled up and down the main deck together.
“Either I was fast asleep at my post, Dr. Petrie,” he said, “or last night, in the middle watch, some one or something came over the side of the ship just aft the bridge, slipped across the deck, and disappeared.”
I stared at him wonderingly.
“Do you mean something that came up out of the sea?” I said.
“Nothing could very well have come up out of the sea,” he replied, smiling slightly, “so that it must have come up from the deck below.”
“Was it a man?”
“It looked like a man, and a fairly tall one, but he came and was gone like a flash, and I saw no more of him up to the time I was relieved. To tell you the truth, I did not report it because I thought I must have been dozing31; it’s a dead slow watch, and the navigation on this part of the run is child’s play.”
I was on the point of telling him what I had seen myself, two evenings before, but for some reason I refrained from doing so, although I think had I confided32 in him he would have abandoned the idea that what he had seen was phantasmal; for the pair of us could not very well have been dreaming. Some malignant33 presence haunted the ship; I could not doubt this; yet I remained passive, sunk in a lethargy of sorrow.
We were scheduled to reach Port Said at about eight o’clock in the evening, but by reason of the delay occasioned so tragically34, I learned that in all probability we should not arrive earlier than midnight, whilst passengers would not go ashore35 until the following morning. Karamaneh who had been staring ahead all day, seeking a first glimpse of her native land, was determined to remain up until the hour of our arrival, but after dinner a notice was posted up that we should not be in before two A.M. Even those passengers who were the most enthusiastic thereupon determined to postpone36, for a few hours, their first glimpse of the land of the Pharaohs and even to forego the sight—one of the strangest and most interesting in the world—of Port Said by night.
For my own part, I confess that all the interest and hope with which I had looked forward to our arrival, had left me, and often I detected tears in the eyes of Karamaneh whereby I knew that the coldness in my heart had manifested itself even to her. I had sustained the greatest blow of my life, and not even the presence of so lovely a companion could entirely37 recompense me for the loss of my dearest friend.
The lights on the Egyptian shore were faintly visible when the last group of stragglers on deck broke up. I had long since prevailed upon Karamaneh to retire, and now, utterly38 sick at heart, I sought my own stateroom, mechanically undressed, and turned in.
It may, or may not be singular that I had neglected all precautions since the night of the tragedy; I was not even conscious of a desire to visit retribution upon our hidden enemy; in some strange fashion I took it for granted that there would be no further attempts upon Karamaneh, Aziz, or myself. I had not troubled to confirm Smith’s surmise39 respecting the closing of the portholes; but I know now for a fact that, whereas they had been closed from the time of our leaving the Straits of Messina, to-night, in sight of the Egyptian coast, the regulation was relaxed again. I cannot say if this is usual, but that it occurred on this ship is a fact to which I can testify—a fact to which my attention was to be drawn40 dramatically.
The night was steamingly hot, and because I welcomed the circumstance that my own port was widely opened, I reflected that those on the lower decks might be open also. A faint sense of danger stirred within me; indeed, I sat upright and was about to spring out of my berth when that occurred which induced me to change my mind.
All passengers had long since retired41, and a midnight silence descended42 upon the ship, for we were not yet close enough to port for any unusual activities to have commenced.
Clearly outlined in the open porthole there suddenly arose that same grotesque43 silhouette which I had seen once before.
Prompted by I know not what, I lay still and simulated heavy breathing; for it was evident to me that I must be partly visible to the watcher, so bright was the night. For ten—twenty—thirty seconds he studied me in absolute silence, that gaunt thing so like a mummy; and, with my eyes partly closed, I watched him, breathing heavily all the time. Then, making no more noise than a cat, he moved away across the deck, and I could judge of his height by the fact that his small, swathed head remained visible almost to the time that he passed to the end of the white boat which swung opposite my stateroom.
In a moment I slipped quietly to the floor, crossed, and peered out of the porthole; so that at last I had a clear view of the sinister44 mummy-man. He was crouching under the bow of the boat, and attaching to the white rails, below, a contrivance of a kind with which I was not entirely unfamiliar. This was a thin ladder of silken rope, having bamboo rungs, with two metal hooks for attaching it to any suitable object.
The one thus engaged was, as Karamaneh had declared, almost superhumanly thin. His loins were swathed in a sort of linen45 garment, and his head so bound about, turban fashion, that only his gleaming eyes remained visible. The bare limbs and body were of a dusky yellow color, and, at sight of him, I experienced a sudden nausea46.
My pistol was in my cabin-trunk, and to have found it in the dark, without making a good deal of noise, would have been impossible. Doubting how I should act, I stood watching the man with the swathed head whilst he threw the end of the ladder over the side, crept past the bow of the boat, and swung his gaunt body over the rail, exhibiting the agility47 of an ape. One quick glance fore2 and aft he gave, then began to swarm48 down the ladder: in which instant I knew his mission.
With a choking cry, which forced itself unwilled from my lips, I tore at the door, threw it open, and sprang across the deck. Plans, I had none, and since I carried no instrument wherewith to sever4 the ladder, the murderer might indeed have carried out his design for all that I could have done to prevent him, were it not that another took a hand in the game....
At the moment that the mummy-man—his head now on a level with the deck—perceived me, he stopped dead. Coincident with his stopping, the crack of a pistol shot sounded—from immediately beyond the boat.
Uttering a sort of sobbing49 sound, the creature fell—then clutched, with straining yellow fingers, at the rails, and, seemingly by dint50 of a great effort, swarmed51 along aft some twenty feet, with incredible swiftness and agility, and clambered onto the deck.
A second shot cracked sharply; and a voice (God! was I mad!) cried: “Hold him, Petrie!”
Rigid52 with fearful astonishment53 I stood, as out from the boat above me leaped a figure attired54 solely55 in shirt and trousers. The newcomer leaped away in the wake of the mummy-man—who had vanished around the corner by the smoke-room. Over his shoulder he cried back at me:
“The bishop’s stateroom! See that no one enters!”
I clutched at my head—which seemed to be fiery56 hot; I realized in my own person the sensation of one who knows himself mad.
For the man who pursued the mummy was Nayland Smith!
I stood in the bishop’s state-room, Nayland Smith, his gaunt face wet with perspiration57, beside me, handling certain odd looking objects which littered the place, and lay about amid the discarded garments of the absent cleric.
“Pneumatic pads!” he snapped. “The man was a walking air-cushion!” He gingerly fingered two strange rubber appliances. “For distending58 the cheeks,” he muttered, dropping them disgustedly on the floor. “His hands and wrists betrayed him, Petrie. He wore his cuff59 unusually long but he could not entirely hide his bony wrists. To have watched him, whilst remaining myself unseen, was next to impossible; hence my device of tossing a dummy60 overboard, calculated to float for less than ten minutes! It actually floated nearly fifteen, as a matter of fact, and I had some horrible moments!”
“Smith!” I said—“how could you submit me...”
He clapped his hands on my shoulders.
“My dear old chap—there was no other way, believe me. From that boat I could see right into his stateroom, but, once in, I dare not leave it—except late at night, stealthily! The second spotted61 me one night and I thought the game was up, but evidently he didn’t report it.”
“But you might have confided...”
“Impossible! I’ll admit I nearly fell to the temptation that first night; for I could see into your room as well as into his!” He slapped me boisterously62 on the back, but his gray eyes were suspiciously moist. “Dear old Petrie! Thank God for our friends! But you’d be the first to admit, old man, that you’re a dead rotten actor! Your portrayal63 of grief for the loss of a valued chum would not have convinced a soul on board!
“Therefore I made use of Stacey, whose callous64 attitude was less remarkable65. Gad66, Petrie! I nearly bagged our man the first night! The elaborate plan—Marconi message to get you out of the way, and so forth—had miscarried, and he knew the porthole trick would be useless once we got into the open sea. He took a big chance. He discarded his clerical guise67 and peeped into your room—you remember?—but you were awake, and I made no move when he slipped back to his own cabin; I wanted to take him red-handed.”
“Have you any idea...”
“Who he is? No more than where he is! Probably some creature of Dr. Fu-Manchu specially68 chosen for the purpose; obviously a man of culture, and probably of thug ancestry69. I hit him—in the shoulder; but even then he ran like a hare. We’ve searched the ship, without result. He may have gone overboard and chanced the swim to shore...”
We stepped out onto the deck. Around us was that unforgettable scene—Port Said by night. The ship was barely moving through the glassy water, now. Smith took my arm and we walked forward. Above us was the mighty70 peace of Egypt’s sky ablaze71 with splendor72; around and about us moved the unique turmoil73 of the clearing-house of the Near East.
“I would give much to know the real identity of the bishop of Damascus,” muttered Smith.
He stopped abruptly, snapping his teeth together and grasping my arm as in a vise. Hard upon his words had followed the rattling74 clangor as the great anchor was let go; but horribly intermingled with the metallic75 roar there came to us such a fearful, inarticulate shrieking76 as to chill one’s heart.
The anchor plunged77 into the water of the harbor; the shrieking ceased. Smith turned to me, and his face was tragic in the light of the arc lamp swung hard by.
“We shall never know,” he whispered. “God forgive him—he must be in bloody78 tatters now. Petrie, the poor fool was hiding in the chainlocker!”
A little hand stole into mine. I turned quickly. Karamaneh stood beside me. I placed my arm about her shoulders, drawing her close; and I blush to relate that all else was forgotten.
For a moment, heedless of the fearful turmoil forward, Nayland Smith stood looking at us. Then he turned, with his rare smile, and walked aft.
“Perhaps you’re right, Petrie!” he said.
The End
The End
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收听单词发音
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1
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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sever
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| v.切开，割开；断绝，中断 | |
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vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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apprehend
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| vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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savor
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| vt.品尝，欣赏；n.味道，风味；情趣，趣味 | |
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steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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15
verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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16
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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17
unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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18
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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silhouette
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| n.黑色半身侧面影，影子，轮廓；v.描绘成侧面影，照出影子来，仅仅显出轮廓 | |
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20
weirdly
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| 古怪地 | |
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apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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apathy
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| n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡 | |
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confirmation
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| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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disinterested
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| adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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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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fuming
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| 愤怒( fume的现在分词 )； 大怒； 发怒； 冒烟 | |
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catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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dozing
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| v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡 | |
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confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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malignant
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| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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tragically
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| adv. 悲剧地，悲惨地 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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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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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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40
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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42
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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43
grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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45
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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46
nausea
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| n.作呕，恶心；极端的憎恶(或厌恶) | |
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47
agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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48
swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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49
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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50
dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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51
swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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52
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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53
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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54
attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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56
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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57
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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58
distending
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| v.（使）膨胀，肿胀( distend的现在分词 ) | |
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59
cuff
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| n.袖口；手铐；护腕；vt.用手铐铐；上袖口 | |
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60
dummy
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| n.假的东西；(哄婴儿的)橡皮奶头 | |
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61
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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62
boisterously
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| adv.喧闹地，吵闹地 | |
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63
portrayal
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| n.饰演；描画 | |
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64
callous
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| adj.无情的，冷淡的，硬结的，起老茧的 | |
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65
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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66
gad
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| n.闲逛；v.闲逛 | |
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67
guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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68
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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69
ancestry
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| n.祖先，家世 | |
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70
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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71
ablaze
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| adj.着火的，燃烧的；闪耀的，灯火辉煌的 | |
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72
splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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73
turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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74
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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75
metallic
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| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
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76
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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77
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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78
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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