PART 1 CHAPTER 17

PART 1 CHAPTER

17

January 1863. From Mary.

Tom, do you remember Mr. Shumate’s girl Sukie? A year before the war, we spied

her along the road clutching a handwritten pass that permitted her to leave her

master’s property. She balanced a knobby bundle on her head under a sky that

dumped buckets of rain. Pa offered her a ride on the back of the wagon². She seemed

about my age and had a quiet nature. I recently saw her in the awfulest circumstances

and have no one to confide³ in for fear of our parents’ wrath⁴.

Pa encouraged me on New Year’s Day to accompany him on one of his usually

futile⁶ visits to town with his sack of smoked possum and rabbit to trade for salt to

preserve what meat we trapped. The government now distributes small quantities to

the few shops, but salt is fetched up quick as a blink when set out for sale. Any

diversion was welcome, and I had not been on such a long jaunt⁷ since that time

several summers ago—you must remember it—when we rode into Staunton for that

traveling minister’s tent revival⁸.

As Pa would be a while, I thought to stroll around by the train station. But as I

neared the courthouse, I could hear a hubbub⁹ from as far away as two blocks. A

crowd of finely dressed strangers milled around at the foot of the wide stone steps and

stretched out down along Augusta Street. Law, I never heard such deep Southern

drawls as they hailed one another. The street was a sea of black stovepipe hats that

bobbed alongside felt bowlers¹⁰. They were atop gentlemen dressed to the nines in sack

coats, vests, and matched trousers. Some streamed from the American Hotel and must

have arrived the previous night by train, come all this way north in such perilous¹¹

times.

A crimson¹² cloth banner bound to one column rippled¹³ in the air as I climbed the

porch steps to read the small bulletins pinned at all angles to it. There was much

jostling and elbowing to get a good view, and I had only a minute to see the headlines:

“Negroes to Be Disposed of Today,” and then the lists. “Patience, fine seamstress

with small boy child; Moses, rented out for hotel waiter; Joseph, excellent carpenter;

James, fine cook; and Stephen, strong field laborer¹⁴.” And there was Sukie’s name next

to the description “girl aged⁵ 19, good laundress.”

“What are you doing here, Miss? A refined young lady doesn’t belong at a slave

auction¹⁵. Go yonder back home with your family where you belong,” an uncivil fellow

in a white silk scarf growled¹⁶ as he shoved his way in front of me to better read the

notices.

You know we have never witnessed anything of this kind, and I had an untoward¹⁷

inquisitiveness¹⁸ as well as being sorely vexed¹⁹ about Sukie. The man was correct. I wish

I had heeded²⁰ his rough counsel. Before I could think whether to leave or stay, a fellow

next to me gestured, “Look there, Josiah. Here comes the coffle, straight from the jail

behind the courthouse. It’s about time we get to see the merchandise. I hope there’s a

strong buck¹ there worth my traveling from South Carolina.”

Well, Tom, that was just the beginning of the most miserable²¹ sights you could ever

imagine. Down Augusta Street out of Barrister’s Alley²² came rows of Black men, two

abreast²³, shackled²⁴ at the ankle by iron cuffs²⁵ linked by heavy chain. The chains clanked

on the cobblestones as the men stumbled along and the cuffs bloodied²⁶ their ankles.

Slowly behind them marched the women, arrayed in their finest calicoes with red

bandanas wrapped on their heads, clasping children by the hand or against their

breasts. Hemp²⁷ rope tied one hand to that of another slave woman, and the ones with

babes made the most pitiful cries. Certain of separation, they implored²⁸ the heavens for

mercy. Two stocky white men preceded and followed, each with a twitching²⁹ cat-o’-

nine whip. I was searching the lines for Sukie when a frantic³⁰ scuffle ensued. When the

lead slave was released from his fetters³¹, he kicked and screamed, then shoved and

punched the white men who rushed to detain him. Out came the whip, and down

lashed³² the strips of knotted leather against his back until his shirt oozed³³ red. He

uttered not a sound during it all, but if looks could kill, that man with the whip would

have died on the spot. I expect his owner thought the Black man’s value as a

marketable commodity was reduced then and there, and he was borne off with loud

blaspheming to be sold another day to an unsuspecting set of customers.

I know I shouldn’t have been tempted³⁴, but I was repulsed³⁵ and yet craved³⁶ to learn

more. I sidled along the wall behind the stirred-up crowd to a crude warehouse³⁷ door

where some female slaves were being confined until their time for sale. Just as I pried³⁸

the heavy door open a crack, I saw Sukie. Four potential buyers were ogling³⁹ her when

one drew her by the arm into light from a square, barred window across the empty

brick space. Another pried her mouth open and jammed his finger inside to inspect her

teeth. The third drew down her bodice and pinched and poked⁴⁰ her breasts. And the

one named Josiah pulled at her blue-checked skirt. He commented on the width of her

hips⁴¹ and their potential for carrying a child. Her glance locked with mine over their

heads as their uncouth⁴² hands pawed her. Scalding anger flashed my way. Confounded

and dismayed, I realized that I too was a target of her rage in this heinous⁴³

circumstance. Only later did I understand.

Outside, the auctioneer warmed to his task. Clad in stained, brown-striped pants, a

grimy white shirt, and a moth- eaten green topcoat, he was the very picture of

unwholesomeness as he paced around a strong, young black man. The slave was

mounted upon a wooden block for all to appraise⁴⁴ easily. “Who will offer the first bid

for a strong Negro of good color? I am told he’s industrious⁴⁵, so let me hear $200 in

Federal greenbacks. Now do I hear $250 for this prime worker?” He did not write

anything down, but just held up two fingers to signify sold when the raucous⁴⁶ bidding

finally reached $1,600. Even if I had some money, I would never have enough to buy

Sukie and free her. I know for a fact that this sum is three times Pa’s yearly income at

the mill during the best of times. It would take years for a hardworking man to earn

enough money to buy one slave, and that without spending a cent on his family,

foodstuffs⁴⁷, and shelter.

But the worst was yet to come. Sukie and other women were displayed on the block

with their chests exposed, blouses scrunched⁴⁸ around their waists, afforded no more

consideration than beeves at market. I was horrified⁴⁹ for them, shocked at such a

circumstance, and then finally outright⁵⁰ shamed to be in such a situation surrounded by

those men. I sheltered my eyes with my hand and turned away while those poor

women were on the block. Even more grievous, a number of buyers declared the

children an irksome burden, and the little ones were auctioned⁵¹ separately from their

mothers to other bidders⁵². The children howled piteously with arms stretching toward

to their wailing⁵³ mothers as the distance between them grew. It cleaved⁵⁴ the heart right

out of my chest.

By this time, I thought to flee then and there. But having come this far, I struggled

to pull myself together and to endure until the bitter end. Coffles were formed up

under direction of the new owners, with slaves again shackled and paraded this time

up Augusta Street to the train station. Others gathered for who knows how long a

march to locations far from a rail line. The sun was dropping, and I knew Pa would be

most anxious if I didn’t hasten to Beverly Street where we had agreed to meet, so I did

not linger around the courthouse as the crowd dispersed⁵⁵. A few freed Blacks were

scattered⁵⁶ in the group. They solemnly wandered off down the street after their own

desires, in heart-wrenching contrast to the coffles marching away.

My somber⁵⁷ silence and downcast eyes were hard to ignore as we started on the

tedious ride home, now after sundown. Pa finally asked, “What ails⁵⁸ you, Mary? I’ve

seldom seen you so sore-hearted.” I mumbled⁵⁹ a non-response, and he turned back to

manage the wagon, its bobbing lantern casting brief patches of yellow onto the

emerging landscape. Do you ever wonder about all the articles in The Spectator that

quote this slave and that about how good their lot is, and how few could hope for a

better life and kinder masters? Do you think the newspaper is in the sway of

businessmen who make their living from the slave trade? And the politicians who

depend upon them? I have only met slaves in town who serve as waiters, shopkeepers,

and blacksmiths’ helpers. I had no idea of the falsehoods and deceptions⁶⁰ those

newspapers promulgate⁶¹, and I’m sore ashamed to say I had never given the slaves’

situation much thought.

Finally, through the dreary⁶² silence, I said, “Pa, why didn’t you tell me about slave

auctions⁶³ in Staunton, and that one would be held in town today?”

“I plumb⁶⁴ forgot it was today. I guess it is New Year’s Eve, after all. It’s a once-a-

year tradition.” He hesitated and then said, “And as a girl, it’s not something you

needed to know.”

“You do me no favors by hiding such things from me. I’m old enough to know lots

of things,” I told him, drawing myself up tall on the wagon seat.

“You reckon so, now?” he said. “Well, Staunton is a major stop on the rail line,

easy to get to and leave. Which is why plantation⁶⁵ owners and their managers come

here from all over down South — though not as many as come to the Richmond

auctions. Yes, indeed, selling slaves is mighty⁶⁶ lucrative⁶⁷ business. I’ve heard said that

their value in Augusta is more than eight million dollars, and the slave trade is as

profitable an enterprise as any merchandise slaves might produce. That’s what’s

driving this war, you know. People in power don’t want their incomes threatened.”

I asked him, “But what about Lincoln’s emancipation⁶⁸ address in Gettysburg that

everyone is talking about? Didn’t that have any effect?”

“No. None at all here in Virginia. The state hasn’t been defeated. Won’t have any

effect until that happens. As I understand it, that proclamation is legal only where the

Feds are in control,” he answered, and then fell silent.

The day presented me with an abundance to contemplate⁶⁹. I have been guilty of a

failure to imagine a slave’s plight⁷⁰. Why had I never conjured⁷¹ myself in their place? I

couldn’t bear to think of Sukie’s future somewhere far away in the deep South. Where

is her family now? What about those little children? How could they endure such a

terrible separation from their mothers and home? What kind of scars would they bear

for the rest of their lives? And then another question occurred to me. Where in the

practice of slavery is the Christian⁷² compassion⁷³ taught in Sunday School? Have you

ever pondered this? Now I hadn’t the temper for more conversation during the bumpy⁷⁴

ride home. Please don’t let on to Beards about my day in Staunton. He might think

badly of me for going to the auction.

I remember how my hands shook after reading this letter the day the postmaster handed it

over. I had barely noticed Sukie when Pa gave her a ride that rainy day before the war, and

neither Mary nor I had witnessed an auction at that time. Only a vague knowledge of slave

auctions had hovered⁷⁵ on the edges of our awareness⁷⁶. But Mary’s account had filled me with

shame and grieving for those people.

1 buck   

n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃

参考例句：

• The boy bent curiously to the skeleton of the buck.这个男孩好奇地弯下身去看鹿的骸骨。
• The female deer attracts the buck with high-pitched sounds.雌鹿以尖声吸引雄鹿。

2 wagon   

n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车

参考例句：

• We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
• The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。

3 confide   

v.向某人吐露秘密

参考例句：

• I would never readily confide in anybody.我从不轻易向人吐露秘密。
• He is going to confide the secrets of his heart to us.他将向我们吐露他心里的秘密。

4 wrath   

n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒

参考例句：

• His silence marked his wrath. 他的沉默表明了他的愤怒。
• The wrath of the people is now aroused. 人们被激怒了。

5 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

6 futile   

adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的

参考例句：

• They were killed,to the last man,in a futile attack.因为进攻失败，他们全部被杀，无一幸免。
• Their efforts to revive him were futile.他们对他抢救无效。

7 jaunt   

v.短程旅游；n.游览

参考例句：

• They are off for a day's jaunt to the beach.他们出去到海边玩一天。
• They jaunt about quite a lot,especially during the summer.他们常常到处闲逛，夏天更是如此。

8 revival   

n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振

参考例句：

• The period saw a great revival in the wine trade.这一时期葡萄酒业出现了很大的复苏。
• He claimed the housing market was showing signs of a revival.他指出房地产市场正出现复苏的迹象。

9 hubbub   

n.嘈杂；骚乱

参考例句：

• The hubbub of voices drowned out the host's voice.嘈杂的声音淹没了主人的声音。
• He concentrated on the work in hand,and the hubbub outside the room simply flowed over him.他埋头于手头的工作，室外的吵闹声他简直象没有听见一般。

10 bowlers   

n.（板球）投球手( bowler的名词复数 )；圆顶高帽

参考例句：

• Many London businessmen wear bowlers. 伦敦的许多商人戴常礼帽。 来自辞典例句
• In America in the 1800s, bowlers began betting money on games. 19世纪在美国，保龄球员们开始在游戏上赌钱。 来自互联网

11 perilous   

adj.危险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• The journey through the jungle was perilous.穿过丛林的旅行充满了危险。
• We have been carried in safety through a perilous crisis.历经一连串危机，我们如今已安然无恙。

12 crimson   

n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色

参考例句：

• She went crimson with embarrassment.她羞得满脸通红。
• Maple leaves have turned crimson.枫叶已经红了。

13 rippled   

使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The lake rippled gently. 湖面轻轻地泛起涟漪。
• The wind rippled the surface of the cornfield. 微风吹过麦田，泛起一片麦浪。

14 laborer   

n.劳动者，劳工

参考例句：

• Her husband had been a farm laborer.她丈夫以前是个农场雇工。
• He worked as a casual laborer and did not earn much.他当临时工，没有赚多少钱。

15 auction   

n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖

参考例句：

• They've put the contents of their house up for auction.他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。
• They bought a new minibus with the proceeds from the auction.他们用拍卖得来的钱买了一辆新面包车。

16 growled   

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

参考例句：

• \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道：“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 untoward   

adj.不利的，不幸的，困难重重的

参考例句：

• Untoward circumstances prevent me from being with you on this festive occasion.有些不幸的事件使我不能在这欢庆的时刻和你在一起。
• I'll come if nothing untoward happens.我要是没有特殊情况一定来。

18 inquisitiveness   

好奇，求知欲

参考例句：

• It especially excited their inquisitiveness. 这尤其引起了他们的好奇心。
• This attitude combines a lack of class consciousness, a somewhat jaunty optimism and an inquisitiveness. 这种态度包括等级观念不强，得意洋洋的乐观劲儿和刨根问底的好奇心。

19 vexed   

adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论

参考例句：

• The conference spent days discussing the vexed question of border controls. 会议花了几天的时间讨论边境关卡这个难题。
• He was vexed at his failure. 他因失败而懊恼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

20 heeded   

v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 )；变平，使（某物）变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She countered that her advice had not been heeded. 她反驳说她的建议未被重视。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I heeded my doctor's advice and stopped smoking. 我听从医生的劝告，把烟戒了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

21 miserable   

adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的

参考例句：

• It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。
• Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。

22 alley   

n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路

参考例句：

• We live in the same alley.我们住在同一条小巷里。
• The blind alley ended in a brick wall.这条死胡同的尽头是砖墙。

23 abreast   

adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地

参考例句：

• She kept abreast with the flood of communications that had poured in.她及时回复如雪片般飞来的大批信件。
• We can't keep abreast of the developing situation unless we study harder.我们如果不加强学习，就会跟不上形势。

24 shackled   

给（某人）带上手铐或脚镣( shackle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The hostage had been shackled to a radiator. 当时人质被铐在暖气片上。
• He was shackled and in darkness of torment. 他被困在黑暗中备受煎熬。

25 cuffs   

n.袖口( cuff的名词复数 )v.掌打，拳打( cuff的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• a collar and cuffs of white lace 带白色蕾丝花边的衣领和袖口
• The cuffs of his shirt were fraying. 他衬衣的袖口磨破了。

26 bloodied   

v.血污的( bloody的过去式和过去分词 )；流血的；屠杀的；残忍的

参考例句：

• his bruised and bloodied nose 他沾满血的青肿的鼻子
• His pants leg was torn and bloodied when he fell. 他跌交时裤腿破了，还染上了血。 来自辞典例句

27 hemp   

n.大麻；纤维

参考例句：

• The early Chinese built suspension bridges of hemp rope.古代的中国人建造过麻绳悬索桥。
• The blanket was woven from hemp and embroidered with wool.毯子是由亚麻编织，羊毛镶边的。

28 implored   

恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She implored him to stay. 她恳求他留下。
• She implored him with tears in her eyes to forgive her. 她含泪哀求他原谅她。

29 twitching   

n.颤搐

参考例句：

• The child in a spasm kept twitching his arms and legs. 那个害痉挛的孩子四肢不断地抽搐。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• My eyelids keep twitching all the time. 我眼皮老是跳。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

30 frantic   

adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的

参考例句：

• I've had a frantic rush to get my work done.我急急忙忙地赶完工作。
• He made frantic dash for the departing train.他发疯似地冲向正开出的火车。

31 fetters   

n.脚镣( fetter的名词复数 )；束缚v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They were at last freed from the fetters of ignorance. 他们终于从愚昧无知的束缚中解脱出来。
• They will run wild freed from the fetters of control. 他们一旦摆脱了束缚，就会变得无法无天。 来自《简明英汉词典》

32 lashed   

adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥

参考例句：

• The rain lashed at the windows. 雨点猛烈地打在窗户上。
• The cleverly designed speech lashed the audience into a frenzy. 这篇精心设计的演说煽动听众使他们发狂。 来自《简明英汉词典》

33 oozed   

v.（浓液等）慢慢地冒出，渗出( ooze的过去式和过去分词 )；使（液体）缓缓流出；（浓液）渗出，慢慢流出

参考例句：

• Blood oozed out of the wound. 血从伤口慢慢流出来。
• Mud oozed from underground. 泥浆从地下冒出来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

34 tempted   

v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）

参考例句：

• I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
• I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

35 repulsed   

v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝

参考例句：

• I was repulsed by the horrible smell. 这种可怕的气味让我恶心。
• At the first brush,the enemy was repulsed. 敌人在第一次交火时就被击退了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

36 craved   

渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求

参考例句：

• She has always craved excitement. 她总渴望刺激。
• A spicy, sharp-tasting radish was exactly what her stomach craved. 她正馋着想吃一个香甜可口的红萝卜呢。

37 warehouse   

n.仓库；vt.存入仓库

参考例句：

• We freighted the goods to the warehouse by truck.我们用卡车把货物运到仓库。
• The manager wants to clear off the old stocks in the warehouse.经理想把仓库里积压的存货处理掉。

38 pried   

v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的过去式和过去分词 )；撬开

参考例句：

• We pried open the locked door with an iron bar. 我们用铁棍把锁着的门撬开。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• So Tom pried his mouth open and poured down the Pain-killer. 因此汤姆撬开它的嘴，把止痛药灌下去。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险

39 ogling   

v.（向…）抛媚眼，送秋波( ogle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was not in the habit of ogling women. 他没有盯着女人看个没完的习惯。
• Uncle Geooge got a black eye for ogling a lady in the pub. 乔治叔叔在酒店里对一女士抛媚眼而被打黑了一只眼睛。

40 poked   

v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交

参考例句：

• She poked him in the ribs with her elbow. 她用胳膊肘顶他的肋部。
• His elbow poked out through his torn shirt sleeve. 他的胳膊从衬衫的破袖子中露了出来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

41 hips   

abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的

参考例句：

• She stood with her hands on her hips. 她双手叉腰站着。
• They wiggled their hips to the sound of pop music. 他们随着流行音乐的声音摇晃着臀部。 来自《简明英汉词典》

42 uncouth   

adj.无教养的，粗鲁的

参考例句：

• She may embarrass you with her uncouth behavior.她的粗野行为可能会让你尴尬。
• His nephew is an uncouth young man.他的侄子是一个粗野的年轻人。

43 heinous   

adj.可憎的，十恶不赦的

参考例句：

• They admitted to the most heinous crimes.他们承认了极其恶劣的罪行。
• I do not want to meet that heinous person.我不想见那个十恶不赦的人。

44 appraise   

v.估价，评价，鉴定

参考例句：

• An expert came to appraise the value of my antiques.一位专家来对我的古玩作了估价。
• It is very high that people appraise to his thesis.人们对他的论文评价很高。

45 industrious   

adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的

参考例句：

• If the tiller is industrious,the farmland is productive.人勤地不懒。
• She was an industrious and willing worker.她是个勤劳肯干的员工。

46 raucous   

adj.(声音)沙哑的，粗糙的

参考例句：

• I heard sounds of raucous laughter upstairs.我听见楼上传来沙哑的笑声。
• They heard a bottle being smashed,then more raucous laughter.他们听见酒瓶摔碎的声音，然后是一阵更喧闹的笑声。

47 foodstuffs   

食物，食品( foodstuff的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Imports of foodstuffs accounted for a small proportion of total imports. 食物进口仅占总进口额的一小部份。
• Many basic foodstuffs, such as bread and milk, are tax-free. 许多基本食物如牛奶和面包是免税的。

48 scrunched   

v.发出喀嚓声( scrunch的过去式和过去分词 )；蜷缩；压；挤压

参考例句：

• The snow scrunched underfoot. 雪在脚下发出嘎吱嘎吱的声音。
• He scrunched up the piece of paper and threw it at me. 他把那张纸揉成一个小团，朝我扔过来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

49 horrified   

a.(表现出)恐惧的

参考例句：

• The whole country was horrified by the killings. 全国都对这些凶杀案感到大为震惊。
• We were horrified at the conditions prevailing in local prisons. 地方监狱的普遍状况让我们震惊。

50 outright   

adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的

参考例句：

• If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事，你应该直率地对我说。
• You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。

51 auctioned   

v.拍卖( auction的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• It was sad to see all grandmother's lovely things being auctioned off. 眼看着祖母那些可爱的东西全都被拍卖掉，心里真不好受。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• TV franchises will be auctioned to the highest bidder. 电视特许经营权将拍卖给出价最高的投标人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

52 bidders   

n.出价者，投标人( bidder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Bidders should proceed only if they intend on using a PayPal account to complete payment. Bidders的唯一形式，应继续只当他们在使用贝宝帐户，以完成付款打算。 来自互联网
• The other bidders for the contract complained that it had not been a fair contest. 其他竞标人抱怨说该合同的竞标不公平。 来自《简明英汉词典》

53 wailing   

v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱

参考例句：

• A police car raced past with its siren wailing. 一辆警车鸣着警报器飞驰而过。
• The little girl was wailing miserably. 那小女孩难过得号啕大哭。

54 cleaved   

v.劈开，剁开，割开( cleave的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• His spade cleaved the firm sand with a satisfying crunch. 他的锹凿开了坚实的砂土，发出令人舒心的嘎扎声。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Eagles cleaved the sky. 鹰击长空。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

55 dispersed   

adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的

参考例句：

• The clouds dispersed themselves. 云散了。
• After school the children dispersed to their homes. 放学后，孩子们四散回家了。

56 scattered   

adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的

参考例句：

• Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。

57 somber   

adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• He had a somber expression on his face.他面容忧郁。
• His coat was a somber brown.他的衣服是暗棕色的。

58 ails   

v.生病( ail的第三人称单数 )；感到不舒服；处境困难；境况不佳

参考例句：

• He will not concede what anything ails his business. 他不允许任何事情来干扰他的工作。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Measles ails the little girl. 麻疹折磨着这个小女孩。 来自《简明英汉词典》

59 mumbled   

含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He mumbled something to me which I did not quite catch. 他对我叽咕了几句话，可我没太听清楚。
• George mumbled incoherently to himself. 乔治语无伦次地喃喃自语。

60 deceptions   

欺骗( deception的名词复数 )； 骗术，诡计

参考例句：

• Nobody saw through Mary's deceptions. 无人看透玛丽的诡计。
• There was for him only one trustworthy road through deceptions and mirages. 对他来说只有一条可靠的路能避开幻想和错觉。

61 promulgate   

v.宣布；传播；颁布（法令、新法律等）

参考例句：

• The king promulgate a decree.国王颁布了一项命令。
• The shipping industry promulgated a voluntary code.航运业对自律守则进行了宣传。

62 dreary   

adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的

参考例句：

• They live such dreary lives.他们的生活如此乏味。
• She was tired of hearing the same dreary tale of drunkenness and violence.她听够了那些关于酗酒和暴力的乏味故事。

63 auctions   

n.拍卖，拍卖方式( auction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They picked up most of the furniture at auctions in country towns. 他们大部分的家具都是在乡村镇上的拍卖处买的。 来自辞典例句
• Our dealers didn't want these cars, so we had to dump them at auctions. 我们的承销商都不要这些车子，因此我们只好贱价拍卖。 来自辞典例句

64 plumb   

adv.精确地，完全地；v.了解意义，测水深

参考例句：

• No one could plumb the mystery.没人能看破这秘密。
• It was unprofitable to plumb that sort of thing.这种事弄个水落石出没有什么好处。

65 plantation   

n.种植园，大农场

参考例句：

• His father-in-law is a plantation manager.他岳父是个种植园经营者。
• The plantation owner has possessed himself of a vast piece of land.这个种植园主把大片土地占为己有。

66 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

67 lucrative   

adj.赚钱的，可获利的

参考例句：

• He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline.他决定把自己的爱好变成赚钱的副业。
• It was not a lucrative profession.那是一个没有多少油水的职业。

68 emancipation   

n.（从束缚、支配下）解放

参考例句：

• We must arouse them to fight for their own emancipation. 我们必须唤起他们为其自身的解放而斗争。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They rejoiced over their own emancipation. 他们为自己的解放感到欢欣鼓舞。 来自《简明英汉词典》

69 contemplate   

vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视

参考例句：

• The possibility of war is too horrifying to contemplate.战争的可能性太可怕了，真不堪细想。
• The consequences would be too ghastly to contemplate.后果不堪设想。

70 plight   

n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定

参考例句：

• The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
• She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。

71 conjured   

用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 )； 祈求，恳求； 变戏法； （变魔术般地） 使…出现

参考例句：

• He conjured them with his dying breath to look after his children. 他临终时恳求他们照顾他的孩子。
• His very funny joke soon conjured my anger away. 他讲了个十分有趣的笑话，使得我的怒气顿消。

72 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

73 compassion   

n.同情，怜悯

参考例句：

• He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
• Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。

74 bumpy   

adj.颠簸不平的，崎岖的

参考例句：

• I think we've a bumpy road ahead of us.我觉得我们将要面临一段困难时期。
• The wide paved road degenerated into a narrow bumpy track.铺好的宽阔道路渐渐变窄，成了一条崎岖不平的小径。

75 hovered   

鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫

参考例句：

• A hawk hovered over the hill. 一只鹰在小山的上空翱翔。
• A hawk hovered in the blue sky. 一只老鹰在蓝色的天空中翱翔。

76 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。