Thus, closing his telescope with a bang, the elegant chief officer of the Mirzapore, steel four-masted clipper ship of 5000 tons burden, presently devouring1 the degrees of longitude2 that lay between her and Melbourne on the arc of a composite great circle, at the rate of some 360 miles per day. As he spoke3 he cast his eyes proudly aloft at the splendid spread of square sail that towered upward to a height of nearly 200 feet. Twenty-eight squares of straining canvas, from the courses, stretched along yards 100 feet or so in length, to the far-away skysails of 35 feet head, that might easily be handled by a pair of boys.
Truly she made a gallant4 show—the graceful5 ship, that in spite of her enormous size was so perfectly6 modelled on yacht-like lines that, overshadowed as she was by the mighty7 pyramid of sail, the eye refused to convey a due sense of her great capacity. And the way in which she answered the challenge of the west wind, leaping lightsomely over the league-long ridges8 of true-rolling sea, heightened the illusion by destroying all appearance of burden-bearing or cumbrousness. But the vessel9 which had given rise to Mr. Curzon’s contemptuous remark was in truth the antipodes of the Mirzapore. There was scarcely any difference noticeable, as far as the contour of the hull10 went, between her bow and stern. Only, at the bows a complicated structure of massive timbers leaned far forward of the hull, and was terminated by a huge “fiddle-head.” This ornament11 was carved out of a great balk12 of timber, and in its general outlines it bore some faint resemblance to a human form, its broad breast lined out with rude carving13 into some device long ago made illegible14 by the weather; and at its summit, instead of a head, a piece of scroll-work resembling the top of a fiddle-neck, and giving the whole thing its distinctive15 name.
The top-hamper of this stubby craft was quite in keeping with her hull. It had none of that rakish, carefully aligned16 set so characteristic of clipper ships. The three masts, looking as if they were so huddled18 together that no room was left to swing the yards, had as many kinks in them as a blackthorn stick; and this general trend, in defiance19 of modern nautical20 ideas, was forward instead of aft. The bow-sprit and jibboom looked as if purposely designed by their upward sheer to make her appear shorter than she really was, and also to place her as a connecting link between the long-vanished galleasses of Elizabethan days and the snaky ships of the end of the nineteenth century. In one respect, however, she had the advantage of her graceful neighbour. Her sails were of dazzling whiteness, and when, reflecting the rays of the sun, they glistened21 against the deep blue sky, the effect was so fairy-like as to make the beholder22 forget for a moment the ungainliness of the old hull beneath.
The wind now dropped, in one of its wayward moods, until the rapid rush past of the Mirzapore faltered23 almost to a standstill, and the two vessels24, scarcely a mile apart, rolled easily on the following sea, as if in leisurely25 contemplation of each other. All the Mirzapore’s passengers, a hundred and twenty of them, clustered along the starboard poop-rail, unfeignedly glad of this break in what they considered the long monotony of a sailing passage from London to the colonies. And these seafarers of fifty-five days, eagerly catching27 their cues from the officers, discussed, in all the hauteur28 of amateur criticism, the various short-comings of the homely29 old tub abeam30. Gradually the two vessels drew nearer by that mysterious impulse common to idly-floating things. As the different details of the old ship’s deck became more clearly definable, the chorus of criticism increased, until one sprightly31 young thing of about forty, who was going out husband-seeking, said—
“Oh, please, Captain James, do tell me what they use a funny ship like that for.”
“Well, Miss Williams,” he replied gravely, “yonder vessel is one of the fast-disappearing fleet of Yankee whalers—‘spouters,’ as they love to term themselves. As to her use, if I don’t mistake, you will soon have an object-lesson in that which will give you something to talk about all the rest of your life.”
And as he spoke an unusual bustle34 was noticeable on board of the stranger. Four boats dropped from her davits with such rapidity that they seemed to fall into the sea, and as each struck the water she shot away from the side as if she had been a living thing. An involuntary murmur35 of admiration36 ran through the crew of the clipper. It was a tribute they could scarcely withhold37, knowing as they did the bungling38, clumsy way in which a merchant seaman39 performs a like manœuvre. Even the contemptuous Curzon was hushed; and the passengers, interested beyond measure, yet unable to appreciate what they saw, looked blankly at one another and at the officers as if imploring41 enlightenment.
With an easy gliding42 motion, now resting in the long green hollow between two mighty waves, and again poised43, bird-like, upon a foaming45 crest46, with bow and stern a-dry, those lovely boats sped away to the southward under the impulse of five oars47 each. Now the excitement on board the Mirzapore rose to fever-heat. The crew, unheeded, by the officers, gathered on the forecastle-head, and gazed after the departing boats with an intensity49 of interest far beyond that of the passengers. For it was interest born of intelligent knowledge of the conditions under which those wonderful boatmen were working, and also tempered by a feeling of compunction for the ignorant depreciation50 they had often manifested of a “greasy spouter32.” Presently the boats disappeared from ordinary vision, although some of the more adventurous51 passengers mounted the rigging, and, fixing themselves5 in secure positions, glued their eyes to their glasses trained upon the vanishing boats. But none of them saw the object of those eager oarsmen. Of course, the sailors knew that they were after whales; but not even a seaman’s eye, unless he be long-accustomed to watching for whales, possesses the necessary discernment for picking up a vapoury spout33 five or six miles away, as it lifts and exhales52 like a jet of steam against the broken blue surface. Neither could any comprehend the original signals made by the ship. Just a trifling53 manipulation of an upper sail, the dipping or hoisting54 of a dark flag at the mainmast head, or the disappearance55 of another at the gaff-end sufficed to guide the hunters in their chase, giving them the advantage of that lofty eye far behind them.
More than an hour passed thus tantalizingly56 on board the Mirzapore, and even the most eager watchers had tired of their fruitless gazing over the sea and at the sphinx-like old ship so near them. Then some one suddenly raised a shout, “Here they come!” It was time. They were coming—a-zoonin’, as Uncle Remus would say. It was a sight to fire the most sluggish57 blood. About five hundred yards apart two massive bodies occasionally broke the bright surface up into a welter of white, then disappeared for two or three minutes, to reappear at the same furious rush. Behind each of them, spreading out about twenty fathoms58 apart, came two of the boats, leaping like dolphins from crest to crest of the big waves, and occasionally hidden altogether by a curtain of spray. Thus they passed the Mirzapore, their gigantic steeds6 in full view of that awe-stricken ship’s company, privileged for once in their lives to see at close quarters one of the most heart-lifting sights under heaven—the Yankee whale-fisher at hand-grips with the mightiest59, as well as one of the fiercest, of all created things. No one spoke as that great chase swept by, but every face told eloquently60 of the pent-up emotion within.
Then a strange thing happened. The two whales, as they passed the Mirzapore, swerved61 each from his direct course until they met in full career, and in a moment were rolling each over each in a horrible entanglement62 of whale-line amid a smother63 of bloody64 foam44. The buoyant craft danced around, one stern figure erect65 in each bow poising66 a long slender lance; while in the stern of each boat stood another man, who manipulated a giant oar26 as if it had been a feather, to swing his craft around as occasion served. The lookers-on scarcely breathed. Was it possible that men—just homely, unkempt figures like these—could dare thrust themselves into such a vortex amongst those wallowing, maddened Titans. Indeed it was. The boats drew nearer, became involved; lances flew, oars bent67, and blood—torrents of blood—befouled the glorious azure68 of the waves. Suddenly the watchers gasped69 in terror, and little cries of pain and sympathy escaped them: a boat had disappeared. Specks71 floated, just visible in the tumult—fragments of oars, tubs, and heads of men. But there was no sound, which made the scene all the more impressive.
Still the fight went on, while the spectators forgot all else—the time, the place; all senses merged72 in wonder7 at the deeds of these, their fellow-men, just following, in the ordinary way, their avocation73. And the thought would come that but for an accident this drama being enacted74 before their eyes would have had no audience but the screaming sea-birds hovering75 expectantly in the unheeding blue.
The conflict ceased. The distained waters became placid76, and upon them floated quietly two vast corpses77, but recently so terrible in their potentialities of destruction. By their sides lay the surviving boats—two of them, that is; the third was busy picking up the wrecked78 hunters. And the old ship, with an easy adaptation of her needs to the light air that hardly made itself felt, was gradually approaching the scene. The passengers implored79 Captain James to lower a boat and allow them a nearer view of those recently rushing monsters, and he, very unwillingly80, granted the request. So slow was the operation that by the time the port lifeboat was in the water the whaler was alongside of her prizes, and all her crew were toiling81 slavishly to free them from the entanglement of whale-line in which they had involved themselves. But when the passengers saw how the lifeboat tumbled about alongside in the fast-sinking swell82, the number of those eager for a nearer view dwindled83 to half a dozen—and they were repentant84 of their rashness when they saw how unhandily the sailors manipulated their oars. However, they persisted for very shame’s sake, their respect for the “spouters’” prowess, and, through them, for their previously85 despised old ship, growing deeper every moment. They hovered86 about the old8 tub as they saw the labour that was necessary to get those two enormous carcases alongside, nor dared to go on board until the skipper of her, mounting the rail, said cheerily, “Wunt ye kem aboard, sir,’n’ hev a peek87 roun’?”
Thus cordially invited, they went, their wonder increasing until all their conceit88 was effectually taken out of them, especially when they saw the wonderful handiness and cleanliness of everything on board. The men, too, clothed in nondescript patches, with faces and arms almost blackened by exposure, and wearing an air of detachment from the world of civilized90 life that was full of pathos91; these specially89 appealed to them, and they wished with all their hearts that they might do something to atone92 for the injustice93 done to these unblazoned warriors94 by their thoughtless, ignorant remark of so short a time before.
But time pressed, and they felt in the way besides; so, bidding a humble95 farewell to the grim-looking skipper, who answered the inquiry96 as to whether they could supply him with anything by a nonchalant “No, I guess not; we aint a-ben eout o’ port hardly six month yet,” they returned on board, having learned a corner of that valuable lesson continually being taught: that to judge by appearances is but superficial and dangerous, especially at sea.
Night fell, shutting out from the gaze of those wearied watchers the dumpy outlines of the old whale-ship. Her crew were still toiling, a blazing basket of whale-scrap swinging at a davit and making a lurid97 smear98 on the gloomy background of the night. One9 by one the excited passengers sauntered below, still eagerly discussing the stirring events they had witnessed, and making a thousand fantastic additions to the facts. Gradually the conversation dwindled to a close, and the great ship was left to the watch on deck. Fitful airs rose and fell, sharp little breaths of keen-edged wind that but just lifted the huge sails lazily, and let them slat against the masts again as if in disgust at the inadequacy99 of cat’s-paws. So the night wore on, till the middle watch had been in charge about half an hour. Then, with a vengeful hiss100, the treacherous101 wind burst upon them from the north-east, catching that enormous sail-area on the fore48 side, and defying the efforts of the scanty102 crew to reduce it. All hands were called, and manfully did they respond; Briton and Finn, German and negro toiled103 side by side in the almost impossible effort to shorten down, while the huge hull, driven stern foremost, told in unmistakable sea-language of the peril104 she was in. Hideous105 was the uproar106 of snapping, running gear, rending107 canvas, breaking spars, and howling wind; while through it all, like a thread of human life, ran the wailing108 minor109 of the seamen’s cries as they strove to do what was required of them.
Slowly, oh, so slowly! the great ship paid off; while the heavier sails boomed out their complaint like an aerial cannonade, when up from the fore-hatch leapt a tongue of quivering flame. Every man who saw it felt a clutch at his heart. For fire at sea is always terrible beyond the power of mere110 words to describe; but fire under such conditions was calculated10 to paralyze the energies of the bravest. There seemed to be an actual hush40, as if wind and waves were also aghast at this sudden appearance of a fiercer element than they. Then rang out clear and distinct the voice of Captain James—
“drop everything else, men, and pass along the hose! Smartly, now! ’Way down from aloft!” He was obeyed, but human nature had something to say about the smartness. Men who have been taxing their energies, as these had done, find that even the spur actuated by fear of imminent111 death will fail to drive the exhausted112 body beyond a certain point. Moreover, all of them knew that stowed in the square of the main-hatch were fifty tons of gunpowder113, which knowledge was of itself sufficient to render flaccid every muscle they possessed114. Still, they did what they could, while the stewards115 went round to prepare the passengers for a hurried departure. All was done quietly. In truth, although the storm was now raging overhead, and the sails were being rent with infernal clamour from the yards, a sense of the far greater danger beneath their feet made the weather but a secondary consideration.
Then out of a cowering116 group of passengers came a feeble voice. It belonged to the lady querist of the afternoon, and it said, “Oh, if those brave sailors from that wonderful old ship were only near, we might be saved!”
Simple words, yet they sent a thrill of returning hope through those trembling hearts. Poor souls! None of them knew how far the ships might have11 drifted apart in that wild night, nor thought of the drag upon that old ship by those two tremendous bodies alongside of her. So every eye was strained into the surrounding blackness, as if they could pierce its impenetrable veil and bring back some answering ray of hope. The same idea, of succour from the old whale-ship, had occurred to the captain, and presently that waiting cluster of men and women saw with hungry eyes a bright trail of fire soaring upward as a rocket was discharged. Another and another followed, but without response. The darkness around was like that of the tomb. Another signal, however, now made itself manifest, and a much more effective one. Defying all the puny117 efforts made to subdue118 it, the fire in the fore-hatch burst upward with a roar, shedding a crimson119 glare over the whole surrounding sea, and being wafted120 away to leeward121 in a glowing trail of sparks.
“All hands lay aft!” roared the captain, and as they came, he shouted again, “Clear away the boats!”
Then might be seen the effect of that awful neglect of boats so common to merchant ships. Davits rusted122 in their sockets123, falls so swollen124 as hardly to render over the sheaves, gear missing, water-breakers leaky—all the various disastrous125 consequences that have given sea-tragedies their grim completeness. But while the almost worn-out crew worked with the energy of despair, there arose from the darkness without the cheery hail of “Ship ahoy!”
Could any one give an idea in cold print of the revulsion of feeling wrought126 by those two simple12 words? For one intense moment there was silence. Then from every throat came the joyful127 response, a note like the breaking of a mighty string overstrained by an outburst of praise.
Naturally, the crew first recovered their balance from the stupefaction of sudden relief, and with coils of rope in their hands they thronged128 the side, peering out into the dark for a glimpse of their deliverers.
“Hurrah!” And the boatswain hurled129 the mainbrace far out-board at some dim object. A few seconds later there arrived on board a grim figure, quaint130 of speech as an Elizabethan Englishman, perfectly cool and laconic131, as if the service he had come to render was in the nature of a polite morning call.
“Guess you’ve consid’ble of a muss put up hyar, gents all,” said he; and, after a brief pause, “Don’t know ez we’ve enny gre’t amount er spare time on han’, so ef you’ve nawthin’ else very pressin’ t’ tend ter, we mout so well see ’bout transhipment, don’t ye think?”
He had been addressing no one in particular, but the captain answered him.
“You are right, sir; and thank you with all our hearts! Men, see the ladies and children over-side!”
No one seemed to require telling that this angel of deliverance had arrived from the whale-ship; any other avenue of escape seemed beyond all imagination out of the question. Swiftly yet carefully the helpless ones were handed over-side; with a gentleness most sweet to see those piratical-looking exiles bestowed132 them in the boat. As soon as she was safely laden133, another13 moved up out of the mirk behind and took her place. And it was done so cannily134. No roaring, agitation135, or confusion, as the glorious work proceeded. It was the very acme136 of good boatmanship. The light grew apace, and upon the tall tongues of flame, in all gorgeous hues137 that now cleft138 the night, huge masses of yellow smoke rolled far to leeward, making up a truly infernal picture.
Meanwhile, at the earliest opportunity, Captain James had called the first-comer (chief mate of the whaler) apart, and quietly informed him of the true state of affairs. The “down-easter” received this appalling139 news with the same taciturnity that he had already manifested, merely remarking as he shifted his chaw into a more comfortable position—
“Wall, cap’, ef she lets go ’fore we’ve all gut140 clear, some ov us ’ll take th’ short cut t’ glory, anyhaow.”
But, for all his apparent nonchalance141, he had kept a wary142 eye upon the work a-doing, to see that no moment was wasted.
And so it came to pass that the last of the crew gained the boats, and there remained on board the Mirzapore but Captain James and his American deliverer. According to immemorial precedent143, the Englishman expressed his intention of being last on board. And upon his inviting144 his friend to get into the waiting boat straining at her painter astern, the latter said—
“Sir, I ’low no dog-goned matter ov etiquette145 t’ spile my work, ’n’ I must say t’ I don’ quite like th’ idee ov leavin’ yew146 behine; so ef yew’ll excuse me——”
And with a movement sudden and lithe147 as a leopard’s he had seized the astonished captain and dropped him over the taff-rail into the boat as she rose upon a sea-crest. Before the indignant Englishman had quite realized what had befallen him, his assailant was standing148 by his side manipulating the steer-oar and shouting—
“Naow then, m’ sons, pull two, starn three; so, altogether. Up with her, lift her, m’ hearties149, lift her, ’r by th’ gre’t bull whale it’ll be a job spiled after all.”
And those silent men did indeed “give way.” The long supple150 blades of their oars flashed crimson in the awful glare behind, as the heavily-laden but still buoyant craft climbed the watery151 hills or plunged152 into the hissing153 valleys. Suddenly there was one deep voice that rent the heavens. The whole expanse of the sky was lit up by crimson flame, in the midst of which hurtled fragments of that once magnificent ship. The sea rose in heaps, so that all the boatmen’s skill was needed to keep their craft from being overwhelmed. But the danger passed, and they reached the ship—the humble, clumsy old “spouter” that had proved to them a veritable ark of safety in time of their utmost need.
Captain James had barely recovered his outraged154 dignity when he was met by a quaint figure advancing out of the thickly-packed crowd on the whaler’s quarter-deck. “I’m Cap’n Fish, at yew’re service, sir. We haint over ’n’ above spacious155 in eour ’commodation, but yew’re all welcome t’ the best we hev’; ’n’15 I’ll try ’n’ beat up f’r th’ Cape70 ’n’ lan’ ye’s quick ’s it kin17 be did.”
The Englishman had hardly voice to reply; but, recollecting156 himself, he said, “I’m afraid, Captain Fish, that we shall be sadly in your way for dealing157 with those whales we saw you secure yesterday.”
“Not much yew wunt,” was the unexpected reply. “We hed t’ make eour ch’ice mighty sudden between them fish ’n’ yew, ’n’, of course, though we’re noways extravagant158, they hed t’ go.”
The simple nobility of that homely man, in thus for self and crew passing over the loss of from eight to ten thousand dollars at the first call from his kind, was almost too much for Captain James, who answered unsteadily—
“If I have any voice in the matter, there will be no possibility of the men, who dared the terrors of fire and sea to save me and my charges, being heavily fined for their humanity.”
“Oh, thet’s all right,” said Captain Silas Fish.
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收听单词发音
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1
devouring
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| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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2
longitude
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| n.经线，经度 | |
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3
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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4
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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5
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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6
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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7
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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ridges
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| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
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9
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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11
ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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12
balk
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| n.大方木料；v.妨碍；不愿前进或从事某事 | |
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13
carving
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| n.雕刻品，雕花 | |
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14
illegible
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| adj.难以辨认的，字迹模糊的 | |
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15
distinctive
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| adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的 | |
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aligned
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| adj.对齐的，均衡的 | |
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kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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18
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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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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nautical
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| adj.海上的，航海的，船员的 | |
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21
glistened
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| v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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beholder
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| n.观看者，旁观者 | |
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23
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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24
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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25
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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27
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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hauteur
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| n.傲慢 | |
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homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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30
abeam
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| adj.正横着(的) | |
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sprightly
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| adj.愉快的，活泼的 | |
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32
spouter
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| 喷油井；捕鲸船；说话滔滔不绝的人；照管流出槽的工人 | |
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33
spout
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| v.喷出，涌出；滔滔不绝地讲；n.喷管；水柱 | |
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34
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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35
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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36
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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37
withhold
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| v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡 | |
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38
bungling
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| adj.笨拙的，粗劣的v.搞糟，完不成( bungle的现在分词 )；笨手笨脚地做；失败；完不成 | |
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seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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40
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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41
imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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42
gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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43
poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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44
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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46
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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47
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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48
fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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49
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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50
depreciation
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| n.价值低落，贬值，蔑视，贬低 | |
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51
adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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52
exhales
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| v.呼出，发散出( exhale的第三人称单数 )；吐出（肺中的空气、烟等），呼气 | |
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53
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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54
hoisting
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| 起重，提升 | |
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55
disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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56
tantalizingly
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| adv.…得令人着急，…到令人着急的程度 | |
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57
sluggish
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| adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的 | |
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58
fathoms
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| 英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
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59
mightiest
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| adj.趾高气扬( mighty的最高级 )；巨大的；强有力的；浩瀚的 | |
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60
eloquently
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| adv. 雄辩地(有口才地, 富于表情地) | |
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61
swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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62
entanglement
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| n.纠缠，牵累 | |
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63
smother
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| vt./vi.使窒息；抑制；闷死；n.浓烟；窒息 | |
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64
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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65
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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66
poising
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| 使平衡( poise的现在分词 )； 保持（某种姿势）； 抓紧； 使稳定 | |
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67
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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68
azure
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| adj.天蓝色的，蔚蓝色的 | |
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69
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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70
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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71
specks
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| n.眼镜；斑点，微粒，污点( speck的名词复数 ) | |
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72
merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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73
avocation
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| n.副业，业余爱好 | |
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74
enacted
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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76
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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77
corpses
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| n.死尸，尸体( corpse的名词复数 ) | |
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78
wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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79
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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80
unwillingly
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| adv.不情愿地 | |
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81
toiling
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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82
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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83
dwindled
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| v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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84
repentant
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| adj.对…感到悔恨的 | |
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85
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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86
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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87
peek
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| vi.偷看，窥视；n.偷偷的一看，一瞥 | |
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88
conceit
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| n.自负，自高自大 | |
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89
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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90
civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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91
pathos
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| n.哀婉，悲怆 | |
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92
atone
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| v.赎罪，补偿 | |
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93
injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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94
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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95
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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96
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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97
lurid
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| adj.可怕的；血红的；苍白的 | |
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98
smear
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| v.涂抹；诽谤，玷污；n.污点；诽谤，污蔑 | |
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99
inadequacy
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| n.无法胜任，信心不足 | |
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100
hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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101
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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102
scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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103
toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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104
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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105
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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106
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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107
rending
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| v.撕碎( rend的现在分词 )；分裂；（因愤怒、痛苦等而）揪扯（衣服或头发等）；（声音等）刺破 | |
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108
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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109
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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110
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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111
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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112
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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113
gunpowder
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| n.火药 | |
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114
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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115
stewards
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| （轮船、飞机等的）乘务员( steward的名词复数 )； （俱乐部、旅馆、工会等的）管理员； （大型活动的）组织者； （私人家中的）管家 | |
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116
cowering
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的现在分词 ) | |
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117
puny
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| adj.微不足道的，弱小的 | |
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118
subdue
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| vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制 | |
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119
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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120
wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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121
leeward
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| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
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122
rusted
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| v.（使）生锈( rust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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123
sockets
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| n.套接字，使应用程序能够读写与收发通讯协定(protocol)与资料的程序( Socket的名词复数 )；孔( socket的名词复数 )；（电器上的）插口；托座；凹穴 | |
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124
swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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125
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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126
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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127
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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128
thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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129
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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130
quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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131
laconic
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| adj.简洁的；精练的 | |
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132
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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133
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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134
cannily
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| 精明地 | |
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135
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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136
acme
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| n.顶点，极点 | |
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137
hues
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| 色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点 | |
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138
cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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139
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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140
gut
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| n.[pl.]胆量；内脏；adj.本能的；vt.取出内脏 | |
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141
nonchalance
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| n.冷淡，漠不关心 | |
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142
wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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143
precedent
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| n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的 | |
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144
inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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145
etiquette
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| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
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146
yew
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| n.紫杉属树木 | |
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147
lithe
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| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
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148
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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149
hearties
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| 亲切的( hearty的名词复数 )； 热诚的； 健壮的； 精神饱满的 | |
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150
supple
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| adj.柔软的，易弯的，逢迎的，顺从的，灵活的；vt.使柔软，使柔顺，使顺从；vi.变柔软，变柔顺 | |
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151
watery
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| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
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152
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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153
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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154
outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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155
spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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156
recollecting
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| v.记起，想起( recollect的现在分词 ) | |
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157
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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158
extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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