A warm wind came with daylight and he could hear the snow melting in the trees and the heavy sound of its falling. It was a late spring morning. He knew with the first breath he drew that the snow had been only a freak storm in the mountains and it would be gone by noon. Then he heard a horse coming, the hoofs1 balled with the wet snow thumping2 dully as the horseman trotted3. He heard the noise of a carbine scabbard slapping loosely and the creak of leather.
"Maria," he said, and shook the girl's shoulder to waken her. "Keep thyself under the robe," and he buttoned his shirt with one hand and held the automatic pistol in the othet loosening the safety catch with his thumb. He saw the girl's cropped head disappear with a jerk under the robe and then he saw the horseman coming through the trees. He crouched5 now in the robe and holding the pistol in both hands aimed it at the man as he rode toward him. He had never seen this man before.
The horseman was almost opposite him now. He was riding a big gray gelding and he wore a khaki beret, a blanket cape6 like a poncho7, and heavy black boots. From the scabbard on the right of his saddle projected the stock and the long oblong clip of a short automatic rifle. He had a young, hard face and at this moment he saw Robert Jordan.
He reached his hand down toward the scabbard and as he swung low, turning and jerking at the scabbard, Robert Jordan saw the scarlet8 of the formalized device he wore on the left breast of his khaki blanket cape.
Aiming at the center of his chest, a little lower than the device, Robert Jordan fired.
The pistol roared in the snowy woods.
The horse plunged9 as though he had been spurred and the young man, still tugging10 at the scabbard, slid over toward the ground, his right foot caught in the stirrup. The horse broke off through the trees dragging him, bumping, face downward, and Robert Jordan stood up holding the pistol now in one hand.
The big gray horse was galloping11 through the pines. There was a broad swath in the snow where the man dragged with a scarlet streak12 along one side of it. People were coming out of the mouth of the cave. Robert Jordan reached down and unrolled his trousers from the pillow and began to put them on.
"Get thee dressed," he said to Maria.
Overhead he heard the noise of a plane flying very high. Through the trees he saw where the gray horse had stopped and was standing13, his rider still hanging face down from the stirrup.
"Go catch that horse," he called to Primitivo who had started over toward him. Then, "Who was on guard at the top?"
"Rafael," Pilar said from the cave. She stood there, her hair still down her back in two braids.
"There's cavalry14 out," Robert Jordan said. "Get your damned gun up there."
He heard Pilar call, "Agust璯," into the cave. Then she went into the cave and then two men came running out, one with the automatic rifle with its tripod swung on his shoulder; the other with a sackful of the pans.
"Get up there with them," Robert Jordan said to Anselmo. "You lie beside the gun and hold the legs still," he said.
The three of them went up the trail through the woods at a run.
The sun had not yet come up over the tops of the mountains and Robert Jordan stood straight buttoning his trousers and tightening15 his belt, the big pistol hanging from the lanyard on his wrist. He put the pistol in its holster on his belt and slipped the knot down on the lanyard and passed the ioop over his head.
Somebody will choke you with that sometime, he thought. Well, this has done it. He took the pistol out of the holster, removed the clip, inserted one of the cartridges16 from the row alongside of the holster and shoved the clip back into the butt4 of the pistol.
He looked through the trees to where Primitivo, holding the reins18 of the horse, was twisting the rider's foot out of the stirrup. The body lay face down in the snow and as he watched Primitivo was going through the pockets.
"Come on," he called. "Bring the horse."
As he knelt to put on his rope-soled shoes, Robert Jordan could feel Maria against his knees, dressing19 herself under the robe. She had no place in his life now.
That cavalryman20 did not expect anything, he was thinking. He was not following horse tracks and he was not even properly alert, let alone alarmed. He was not even following the tracks up to the post. He must have been one of a patrol scattered21 out in these hills. But when the patrol misses him they will follow his tracks here. Unless the snow melts first, he thought. Unless something happens to the patrol.
"You better get down below," he said to Pablo.
They were all out of the cave now, standing there with the carbines and with grenades on their belts. Pilar held a leather bag of grenades toward Robert Jordan and he took three and put them in his pocket. He ducked into the cave, found his two packs, opened the one with the submachine gun in it and took out the barrel and stock, slipped the stock onto the forward assembly and put one clip into the gun and three in his pockets. He locked the pack and started for the door. I've got two pockets full of hardware, he thought. I hope the seams hold. He came out of the cave and said to Pablo, "I'm going up above. Can Agust璯 shoot that gun?"
"Yes," Pablo said. He was watching Primitivo leading up the horse.
"_Mira qu?caballo_," he said. "Look, what a horse."
The big gray was sweating and shivering a little and Robert Jordan patted him on the withers22.
"I will put him with the others," Pablo said.
"No," Robert Jordan said. "He has made tracks into here. He must make them out."
"True," agreed Pablo. "I will ride him out and will hide him and bring him in when the snow is melted. Thou hast much head today, _Ingl廥_."
"Send some one below," Robert Jordan said. "We've got to get up there."
"It is not necessary," Pablo said. "Horsemen cannot come that way. But we can get out, by there and by two other places. It is better not to make tracks if there are planes coming. Give me the _bota_ with wine, Pilar."
"To go off and get drunk," Pilar said. "Here, take these instead." He reached over and put two of the grenades in his pockets.
"_Qu?va_, to get drunk," Pablo said. "There is gravity in the situation. But give me the _bota_. I do not like to do all this on water."
He reached his arms up, took the reins and swung up into the saddle. He grinned and patted the nervous horse. Robert Jordan saw him rub his leg along the horse's flank affectionately.
"_Qu?caballo m嫳 bonito_," he said and patted the big gray again. "_Qu?caballo m嫳 hermoso_. Come on. The faster this gets out of here the better."
He reached down and pulled the light automatic rifle with its ventilated barrel, really a submachine gun built to take the 9 mm. pistol cartridge17, from the scabbard, and looked at it. "Look how they are armed," he said. "Look at modern cavalry."
"There's modern cavalry over there on his face," Robert Jordan said. "_Vamonos_."
"Do you, Andr廥, saddle and hold the horses in readiness. If you hear firing bring them up to the woods behind the gap. Come with thy arms and leave the women to hold the horses. Fernando, see that my sacks are brought also. Above all, that my sacks are brought carefully. Thou to look after my sacks, too," he said to Pilar. "Thou to verify that they come with the horses. _Vamonos_," he said. "Let us go."
"The Maria and I will prepare all for leaving," Pilar said. Then to Robert Jordan, "Look at him," nodding at Pablo on the gray horse, sitting him in the heavy-thighed herdsman manner, the horse's nostrils24 widening as Pablo replaced the clip in the automatic rifle. "See what a horse has done for him."
"That I should have two horses," Robert Jordan said fervently25.
"Danger is thy horse."
"Then give me a mule," Robert Jordan grinned.
"Strip me that," he said to Pilar and jerked his head toward where the man lay face down in the snow. "And bring everything, all the letters and papers, and put them in the outside pocket of my sack. Everything, understand?"
"Yes."
"_Vamonos_," he said.
Pablo rode ahead and the two men followed in a single file in order not to track up the snow. Robert Jordan carried the submachine gun muzzle26 down, carrying it by its forward hand grip. I wish it took the same ammunition27 that saddle gun takes, he thought. But it doesn't. This is a German gun. This was old Kashkin's gun.
The sun was coming over the mountains now. A warm wind was blowing and the snow was melting. It was a lovely late spring morning.
Robert Jordan looked back and saw Maria now standing with Pilar. Then she came running up the trail. He dropped behind Primitivo to speak to her.
"Thou," she said. "Can I go with thee?"
"No. Help Pilar."
She was walking behind him and put her hand on his arm.
"I'm coming."
"Nay."
She kept on walking close behind him.
"I could hold the legs of the gun in the way thou told Anselmo."
"Thou wilt28 hold no legs. Neither of guns nor of nothing."
Walking beside him she reached forward and put her hand in his pocket.
"No," he said. "But take good care of thy wedding shirt."
"Kiss me," she said, "if thou goest."
"Thou art shameless," he said.
"Yes," she said. "Totally."
"Get thee back now. There is much work to do. We may fight here if they follow these horse tracks."
"Thou," she said. "Didst thee see what he wore on his chest?"
"Yes. Why not?"
"It was the Sacred Heart."
"Yes. All the people of Navarre wear it."
"And thou shot for that?"
"No. Below it. Get thee back now."
"Thou," she said. "I saw all."
"Thou saw nothing. One man. One man from a horse. Vete. Get thee back."
"Say that you love me."
"No. Not now."
"Not love me now?"
"_D嶴amos_. Get thee back. One does not do that and love all at the same moment."
"I want to go to hold the legs of the gun and while it speaks love thee all in the same moment."
"Thou art crazy. Get thee back now."
"I am crazy," she said. "I love thee."
"Then get thee back."
"Good. I go. And if thou dost not love me, I love thee enough for both."
He looked at her and smiled through his thinking.
"When you hear firing," he said, "come with the horses. Aid the Pilar with my sacks. It is possible there will be nothing. I hope so."
"I go," she said. "Look what a horse Pablo rides."
The big gray was moving ahead up the trail.
"Yes. But go."
"I go."
Her fist, clenched29 tight in his pocket, beat hard against his thigh23. He looked at her and saw there were tears in her eyes. She pulled her fist out of his pocket and put both arms tight around his neck and kissed him.
"I go," she said. "_Me voy_. I go."
He looked back and saw her standing there, the first morning sunlight on her brown face and the cropped, tawny30, burned-gold hair. She lifted her fist at him and turned and walked back down the trail, her head down.
Primitivo turned around and looked after her.
"If she did not have her hair cut so short she would be a pretty girl," he said.
"Yes," Robert Jordan said. He was thinking of something else.
"How is she in the bed?" Primitivo asked.
"What?"
"In the bed."
"Watch thy mouth."
"One should not be offended when--"
"Leave it," Robert Jordan said. He was looking at the position.
黎明带来了一阵和风,他听到树上的积雪溶化了,啪嗒啪嗒地掉在地上。那是一个暮春的早晨。他呼了“口气就知道,这场蘿风雪只不过是山区里的反常现象,雪到中午就会化掉的。他接着听到有匹马来近了,骑手策马小跑,马蹄带着湿雪,发出重浊的得得声。他听到卡宾枪套摇晃时的桕打声,和皮鞍的咯吱咯吱声。
“玛丽亚,”他说,摇摇姑娘的肩膀,要她鼷来,“躲在睡袋里“
”别起来。”他一手扣衬衫钮扣,一手拿起自动手枪,用大拇指松弁保险。他看到姑娘剪短头发的脑袋猛的缩进睡袋,接着就看到那骑手从树林里过来了。他这会儿匍匐在睡袋里,两手握着枪,瞄准朝他骑来的人。他以前从没见过这个人。
这时,骑手几乎就在他对面了。他骑着一匹灰色大困马,头戴卡其贝雷帽,穿着毯子式的披风和笨重的黑靴,马鞍右面的枪套里撅出着一支短自动步枪的枪托和狭长的子弹夹。他长着一张年靑而冷酷的脸,这时他看到了罗伯特,乔丹。
他把手朝下伸向枪套,当他弯腰转身从枪套里急速拔枪的时候,罗伯特 乔丹看到他卡其披风的左胸前佩戴着大红色的统一标记①,
罗伯特、乔丹瞄准这标记稍下方,朝他当胸一枪。1枪声在积雪的树林中震响着。
马儿仿佛突然被马刺踢了一下,向前猛地一冲;那年轻人还在拉扯枪套,身子就朝地面溜下去,右脚被马镫勾住了。马儿撒开四腿拖着脸朝下的骑手颠簸碰撞,在林中奔驰而去。罗伯特。乔丹一手握枪,站起身来。
那匹大灰马在松林中狂奔。那人的身子在雪地上拖出了一条宽阔的痕迹,一边是一道深红色的血迹。大家从山洞里走出来。罗伯特 乔丹伸手把当枕头用的裤子摊幵,开始穿着,“你把衣服穿上,他对玛丽亚说,
他听到头顶上一架飞得很高的飞机的声音。他穿过树林看见那匹灰马站在那儿不跑了,那骑手仍旧脸朝下地挂在马镫上。
①指天主教会内崇拜耶稣基督圣心的信徒们所佩的标记。该崇拜由法国修女玛格丽特,玛丽、阿拉科克于十七世纪倡议,在侑奉天主教的国家中传撟甚。”.
“去把那匹马拉住,”他朝向他走来的普里米蒂伏喊着。接着问,“山顶上谁在放哨?”
“拉斐尔,”比拉尔在山洞口说。她站在那儿,头发来不及梳,两股发辫披在背上。
“骑兵来了。”罗伯特,乔丹说。“把你那挺天杀的机枪架在山上。”
他听到比拉尔对山洞里叫奥古斯丁。接着她走进山洞,然后两个男人跑出来,一个拿着自动步枪,三脚架撂在肩上;“个拿着一袋子弹盘,
“跟他们一起上山,”罗伯特’乔丹对安塞尔莫说,“你伏在枪边,抓住枪架别动,”他说,
三个人贓着山路,穿过树林,跑上山去,太阳还没照上山顶,罗伯特“乔丹站直了身体,扣上裤子,收紧腰带,手腕上的绳子上挂着那支大手枪。他把手枪插在膝带上的枪套里,把活结移到下端,把绳圈套在自己脖子上,
他想,总有一天人家会用这个绳困把你纹死。得了,这次它可帮了个大忙。他从枪套里拔出手枪,抽出子弹夹,拿枪套外边那排子弹中的“颗塞进子弹夹,再把子弹夹推入枪柄。
他朝树林中苷里米蒂伏那儿望去,只见他抓住了马邇,正把那骑手的脚从马镫里拔出来。?“体的脸朝下,伏在雪地上;他望着普里米蒂伏正在搜他的衣袋。〃过来,”他喊道。“把马带来。”
罗伯特 乔丹跪着穿绳底鞋时,觉得玛丽亚靠在他膝旁,正在睡袋里穿衣服。她这时在他生活里没有地位了
他在想 这骑兵没料到会出意外。他没有循着马蹄印走,竟没有理所当然地保持着费惕,更不用说心怀恐惧了。他甚至没顺着那通向岗哨的脚印走。他准是散开在这些山里的巡逻队中的一员。可是等巡逻队发现他失琮了,他们会循着他的马蹄印找到这里来的。他想。”除非雪先化掉,除非巡逻队遇到什么情况。
“你最好到下面去,”他对巴勃罗说。这时大家都走出了山洞,提着卡宾枪站在那儿,腰带里插着手榴弹。比拉尔把一皮袋手榷弹递给罗伯特 乔丹,他拿了三个,插在衣袋里。他低头钻进山洞,找到他那两个背包,打开里面有手提机枪的那只,取出枪管枪托,将枪托接好,在枪里推进一个子弹夹,衣袋里藏了三个。他锁上背包,随即走向山洞口。他想。”我两个口袋都装了硬货。但愿口袋的线缝别绽开。他走到山洞外,对巴勃罗说,“我要上山去。奥古斯丁会使那挺机枪吗?”“会,”巴勃罗说,他望着带马来的普里米蒂伏。“瞧,多好的马,”他说。
那匹大灰马渗着汗,微微战栗,罗伯特 乔丹拍拍马肩隆。“我把它和别的马放在一起,”巴勃罗说。“不行。”罗伯特 乔丹说。”它留下了来这里的蹄印,还得踩—条出去的印子。“
“对,”巴勃罗同意。“我骑它出去,把它戴起来,等化了雪再带回来。你今天很有头脑,英国人。”
“派个人下山吧。”罗伯特 乔丹说。“我们得上山了。”“不用了,”巴勃罗说。“骑兵不会从那条路来。不过我们倒可以从那条路以及别的两条路撤走。如果有飞机来,还是不要留下脚迹的好。给我皮酒袋,比拉尔。”
“想走开了喝个醉!”比拉尔说。“还是把这拿去吧,“他伸过手去,把两只手榴弹栽进衣袋。
“什么话,去喝个醉!”巴勃罗说。“情况严重哪。不过还是把酒袋给我。干这种事叫我喝水可不行。”
他抬起双臂,抓住缰绳,一翻身上了马鞍。他露齿笑笑,拍拍那心惊肉跳的马。罗伯特,乔丹看他亲切地用腿儿磨雎着马的傰腹。
“这匹马棒极了,”他说,又拍拍这匹大灰马,11这匹马美极了。走。它越早离开这里越好一
他伸手从枪套里拔出枪筒上有敢热孔的轻自动步枪,打量着它,实际上那是一支改装成可以用九毫米手枪子弹的手提机枪。“瞧他们的装备多好。”他说。“瞧这现代化的骑兵。”
“现代化的骑兵正脸朝下地躺在那儿哪,罗伯特,乔丹说。“咱们走吧。”
“安德烈斯,你把那些马儿备好鞍,作好准备。要是听到枪声,把它们带到山隘后的树林里去。带着你的武器前来接应,让妇女们看管马。费尔南多,注意把我的背包也带着。最要紧的,拿时要特别小心,你也得把我的背包看好。”他对比拉尔说。“你要保证它们跟马“起走。咱们走吧,”他说。
“撤走的事由玛丽亚和我来准备,”比拉尔说。接着对罗伯特 乔丹说,“瞧他那副德行。”一边朝巴勃罗点点头。巴勃罗象牧人那样骑在灰马背上,用两条肥腿夹住了马腹,给自动步枪换子弹夹,这时马儿张大了彝孔。“瞧,一匹马使他多精神啊,““但愿我有两匹马,“罗伯特 乔丹带劲地说。“你骑马可不稳当。“
“那么给我一头骡子吧,”罗伯特‘乔丹露齿笑着说。“给我把那家伙的衣服剥下来,”他对比拉尔说,朝那脸面朝下、躺在雪里的骑兵点了点头。“信呀,证件呀,什么都傘来,戏在我背包的外口袋里。什么都别丢,懂吗。”“是。”
“咱们走吧,”他说。
巴勃罗一马当先,后面两个人单行相随,免得在雪里留下琮迹。罗伯特,乔丹提着手提机枪的前把手,枪口朝下。他想。”伹愿它用的子弹和这骑兵的马鞍枪①的一祥就好了。但是不一样。这是德国制造的。就是卡希金留下的那支。
这时,阳光盖满山岭,和风吹拂着,雪在溶化。真是一个可爱的暮春早晨。
罗伯特‘乔丹回过头来,看见玛丽亚和比拉尔一起站着。接着她从山路上跑来。他有意落在普里米蒂伏的后面,跟她说活。
“你,”她说。“我可以跟你去吗?”“不。帮比拉尔做事。”她跟着他走,一只手搭在他胳膊上。“我要去。”“不行。”
她还是紧跟他走着,
“我可以按住枪架,就象你吩咐安塞尔莫做的那样。”〃不要你按枪架。不管是枪架还是别的,什么也不要。”她走在他身边,把手插进他的口袋。“别,”他说。“只要好好保护你的结婚衬衫。”
①泛指骑兵插在马桉上的枪套里的枪支,此处为自动步枪,较一般的略短
“如果你要走,”她说,“吻吻我。〃“你真不知害臊,”他说。“对。”她说。“一点也不。”
“你现在回去。要做的事很多。如果他们循着这些马蹄印来,我们说不定要在这里开火。”
“你,”她说。“你看到他胸前佩戴着什么?”“看到。怎么会不看到?”“那是圣心啊。”
“不错。所有的纳瓦拉人都佩戴圣心,““你就瞄着它幵枪?”“不。瞄在圣心下面。你现在回去吧“你。”她说。“我全看到了。”
“你什么也没看到。一个男人,一个从马背上覼下来的男人。你回去吧。”
“说你爱我。”“不。现在不行。”“现在不爱我了?”
“别说了。你回去吧。一个人不能一边幵枪一边谈恋爱啊。”“我要去按住枪架,一边听枪响,一边爱你。”“你疯了。你现在回去。”“我不疯。”她说。“我爱你。”“那么你回去。”
“好。我走。你要是不爱我,我对你的爱够我们俩消受的。”他望着她,想了一想,不禁微笑了。“你听到了枪声,”他说,“就跟那些马匹一起走。帮比拉尔背我的背包。说不定太平无事 但愿这样。”
“我走,”她说。“瞧,巴勃罗骑的马多棒。”大灰马在山路上一直跑在前面。“对。走吧。”“我走。”
她把手在他口袋里紧捏成拳头,狠狠地捶他的大瞄。他对她看看,看到她眼睛里噙着泪水。她从他口袋里抽出拳头,张开双臂紧紧搂着他的脖子,吻他。“我走,”她说。“我走。”
他回过头来,看到她站在那儿,黎明的曙光照着她那揭色的脸,和那一头金光闪闪的剪短的褐发。她向他举举拳头,垂下头去,在小路上转身往回走了。
普里米蒂伏转过身来,望着她的背影。
“要是头发不剪得这么短,她准是个漂亮的姑娘,”他说
“是啊,”罗伯特‘乔丹说。他正在想别的事。
“她在床上怎么样?”苷里米蒂伏问。
“什么?”
“在床上。”
"小心你的嘴。”
“不该为听了这话生气,因为一”“算了吧,”罗伯特 乔丹说。他在察看地形。
1 hoofs | |
n.(兽的)蹄,马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.(兽的)蹄,马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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2 thumping | |
adj.重大的,巨大的;重击的;尺码大的;极好的adv.极端地;非常地v.重击(thump的现在分词);狠打;怦怦地跳;全力支持 | |
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3 trotted | |
小跑,急走( trot的过去分词 ); 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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4 butt | |
n.笑柄;烟蒂;枪托;臀部;v.用头撞或顶 | |
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5 crouched | |
v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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6 cape | |
n.海角,岬;披肩,短披风 | |
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7 poncho | |
n.斗篷,雨衣 | |
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8 scarlet | |
n.深红色,绯红色,红衣;adj.绯红色的 | |
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9 plunged | |
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降 | |
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10 tugging | |
n.牵引感v.用力拉,使劲拉,猛扯( tug的现在分词 ) | |
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11 galloping | |
adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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12 streak | |
n.条理,斑纹,倾向,少许,痕迹;v.加条纹,变成条纹,奔驰,快速移动 | |
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13 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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14 cavalry | |
n.骑兵;轻装甲部队 | |
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15 tightening | |
上紧,固定,紧密 | |
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16 cartridges | |
子弹( cartridge的名词复数 ); (打印机的)墨盒; 录音带盒; (唱机的)唱头 | |
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17 cartridge | |
n.弹壳,弹药筒;(装磁带等的)盒子 | |
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18 reins | |
感情,激情; 缰( rein的名词复数 ); 控制手段; 掌管; (成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的)保护带 | |
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19 dressing | |
n.(食物)调料;包扎伤口的用品,敷料 | |
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20 cavalryman | |
骑兵 | |
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21 scattered | |
adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的 | |
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22 withers | |
马肩隆 | |
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23 thigh | |
n.大腿;股骨 | |
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24 nostrils | |
鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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25 fervently | |
adv.热烈地,热情地,强烈地 | |
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26 muzzle | |
n.鼻口部;口套;枪(炮)口;vt.使缄默 | |
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27 ammunition | |
n.军火,弹药 | |
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28 wilt | |
v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎;(指人)疲倦,衰弱 | |
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29 clenched | |
v.紧握,抓紧,咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30 tawny | |
adj.茶色的,黄褐色的;n.黄褐色 | |
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