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CHAPTER X. THE MEN OF THE RING.
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It was at the end of my first week in London that my uncle gave a supper to the fancy, as was usual for gentlemen of that time if they wished to figure before the public as Corinthians and patrons of sport.  He had invited not only the chief fighting-men of the day, but also those men of fashion who were most interested in the ring: Mr. Fletcher Reid, Lord Say and Sele, Sir Lothian Hume, Sir John Lade, Colonel Montgomery, Sir Thomas Apreece, the Hon. Berkeley Craven, and many more.  The rumour1 that the Prince was to be present had already spread through the clubs, and invitations were eagerly sought after.
 
The Waggon2 and Horses was a well-known sporting house, with an old prize-fighter for landlord.  And the arrangements were as primitive3 as the most Bohemian could wish.  It was one of the many curious fashions which have now died out, that men who were blasé from luxury and high living seemed to find a fresh piquancy4 in life by descending5 to the lowest resorts, so that the night-houses and gambling-dens in Covent Garden or the Haymarket often gathered illustrious company under their smoke-blackened ceilings.  It was a change for them to turn their backs upon the cooking of Weltjie and of Ude, or the chambertin of old Q., and to dine upon a porter-house steak washed down by a pint8 of ale from a pewter pot.
 
A rough crowd had assembled in the street to see the fighting-men go in, and my uncle warned me to look to my pockets as we pushed our way through it.  Within was a large room with faded red curtains, a sanded floor, and walls which were covered with prints of pugilists and race-horses.  Brown liquor-stained tables were dotted about in it, and round one of these half a dozen formidable-looking men were seated, while one, the roughest of all, was perched upon the table itself, swinging his legs to and fro.  A tray of small glasses and pewter mugs stood beside them.
 
“The boys were thirsty, sir, so I brought up some ale and some liptrap,” whispered the landlord; “I thought you would have no objection, sir.”
 
“Quite right, Bob!  How are you all?  How are you, Maddox?  How are you, Baldwin?  Ah, Belcher, I am very glad to see you.”
 
The fighting-men rose and took their hats off, except the fellow on the table, who continued to swing his legs and to look my uncle very coolly in the face.
 
“How are you, Berks?”
 
“Pretty tidy.  ’Ow are you?”
 
“Say ‘sir’ when you speak to a genelman,” said Belcher, and with a sudden tilt9 of the table he sent Berks flying almost into my uncle’s arms.
 
“See now, Jem, none o’ that!” said Berks, sulkily.
 
“I’ll learn you manners, Joe, which is more than ever your father did.  You’re not drinkin’ black-jack10 in a boozin’ ken7, but you are meetin’ noble, slap-up Corinthians, and it’s for you to behave as such.”
 
“I’ve always been reckoned a genelman-like sort of man,” said Berks, thickly, “but if so be as I’ve said or done what I ’adn’t ought to—”
 
“There, there, Berks, that’s all right!” cried my uncle, only too anxious to smooth things over and to prevent a quarrel at the outset of the evening.  “Here are some more of our friends.  How are you, Apreece?  How are you, Colonel?  Well, Jackson, you are looking vastly better.  Good evening, Lade.  I trust Lady Lade was none the worse for our pleasant drive.  Ah, Mendoza, you look fit enough to throw your hat over the ropes this instant.  Sir Lothian, I am glad to see you.  You will find some old friends here.”
 
Amid the stream of Corinthians and fighting-men who were thronging12 into the room I had caught a glimpse of the sturdy figure and broad, good-humoured face of Champion Harrison.  The sight of him was like a whiff of South Down air coming into that low-roofed, oil-smelling room, and I ran forward to shake him by the hand.
 
“Why, Master Rodney—or I should say Mr. Stone, I suppose—you’ve changed out of all knowledge.  I can’t hardly believe that it was really you that used to come down to blow the bellows13 when Boy Jim and I were at the anvil14.  Well, you are fine, to be sure!”
 
“What’s the news of Friar’s Oak?” I asked eagerly.
 
“Your father was down to chat with me, Master Rodney, and he tells me that the war is going to break out again, and that he hopes to see you here in London before many days are past; for he is coming up to see Lord Nelson and to make inquiry15 about a ship.  Your mother is well, and I saw her in church on Sunday.”
 
“And Boy Jim?”
 
Champion Harrison’s good-humoured face clouded over.
 
“He’d set his heart very much on comin’ here to-night, but there were reasons why I didn’t wish him to, and so there’s a shadow betwixt us.  It’s the first that ever was, and I feel it, Master Rodney.  Between ourselves, I have very good reason to wish him to stay with me, and I am sure that, with his high spirit and his ideas, he would never settle down again after once he had a taste o’ London.  I left him behind me with enough work to keep him busy until I get back to him.”
 
A tall and beautifully proportioned man, very elegantly dressed, was strolling towards us.  He stared in surprise and held out his hand to my companion.
 
“Why, Jack Harrison!” he cried.  “This is a resurrection.  Where in the world did you come from?”
 
“Glad to see you, Jackson,” said my companion.  “You look as well and as young as ever.”
 
“Thank you, yes.  I resigned the belt when I could get no one to fight me for it, and I took to teaching.”
 
“I’m doing smith’s work down Sussex way.”
 
“I’ve often wondered why you never had a shy at my belt.  I tell you honestly, between man and man, I’m very glad you didn’t.”
 
“Well, it’s real good of you to say that, Jackson.  I might ha’ done it, perhaps, but the old woman was against it.  She’s been a good wife to me and I can’t go against her.  But I feel a bit lonesome here, for these boys are since my time.”
 
“You could do some of them over now,” said Jackson, feeling my friend’s upper arm.  “No better bit of stuff was ever seen in a twenty-four foot ring.  It would be a rare treat to see you take some of these young ones on.  Won’t you let me spring you on them?”
 
Harrison’s eyes glistened16 at the idea, but he shook his head.
 
“It won’t do, Jackson.  My old woman holds my promise.  That’s Belcher, ain’t it—the good lookin’ young chap with the flash coat?”
 
“Yes, that’s Jem.  You’ve not seen him!  He’s a jewel.”
 
“So I’ve heard.  Who’s the youngster beside him?  He looks a tidy chap.”
 
“That’s a new man from the West.  Crab17 Wilson’s his name.”
 
Harrison looked at him with interest.  “I’ve heard of him,” said he.  “They are getting a match on for him, ain’t they?”
 
“Yes.  Sir Lothian Hume, the thin-faced gentleman over yonder, has backed him against Sir Charles Tregellis’s man.  We’re to hear about the match to-night, I understand.  Jem Belcher thinks great things of Crab Wilson.  There’s Belcher’s young brother, Tom.  He’s looking out for a match, too.  They say he’s quicker than Jem with the mufflers, but he can’t hit as hard.  I was speaking of your brother, Jem.”
 
“The young ’un will make his way,” said Belcher, who had come across to us.  “He’s more a sparrer than a fighter just at present, but when his gristle sets he’ll take on anything on the list.  Bristol’s as full o’ young fightin’-men now as a bin18 is of bottles.  We’ve got two more comin’ up—Gully and Pearce—who’ll make you London milling coves19 wish they was back in the west country again.”
 
“Here’s the Prince,” said Jackson, as a hum and bustle20 rose from the door.
 
I saw George come bustling21 in, with a good-humoured smile upon his comely22 face.  My uncle welcomed him, and led some of the Corinthians up to be presented.
 
“We’ll have trouble, gov’nor,” said Belcher to Jackson.  “Here’s Joe Berks drinkin’ gin out of a mug, and you know what a swine he is when he’s drunk.”
 
“You must put a stopper on ’im gov’nor,” said several of the other prize-fighters.  “’E ain’t what you’d call a charmer when ’e’s sober, but there’s no standing23 ’im when ’e’s fresh.”
 
Jackson, on account of his prowess and of the tact24 which he possessed25, had been chosen as general regulator of the whole prize-fighting body, by whom he was usually alluded26 to as the Commander-in-Chief.  He and Belcher went across now to the table upon which Berks was still perched.  The ruffian’s face was already flushed, and his eyes heavy and bloodshot.
 
“You must keep yourself in hand to-night, Berks,” said Jackson.  “The Prince is here, and—”
 
“I never set eyes on ’im yet,” cried Berks, lurching off the table.  “Where is ’e, gov’nor?  Tell ’im Joe Berks would like to do ’isself proud by shakin’ ’im by the ’and.”
 
“No, you don’t, Joe,” said Jackson, laying his hand upon Berks’s chest, as he tried to push his way through the crowd.  “You’ve got to keep your place, Joe, or we’ll put you where you can make all the noise you like.”
 
“Where’s that, gov’nor?”
 
“Into the street, through the window.  We’re going to have a peaceful evening, as Jem Belcher and I will show you if you get up to any of your Whitechapel games.”
 
“No ’arm, gov’nor,” grumbled27 Berks.  “I’m sure I’ve always ’ad the name of bein’ a very genelman-like man.”
 
“So I’ve always said, Joe Berks, and mind you prove yourself such.  But the supper is ready for us, and there’s the Prince and Lord Sole going in.  Two and two, lads, and don’t forget whose company you are in.”
 
The supper was laid in a large room, with union Jacks11 and mottoes hung thickly upon the walls.  The tables were arranged in three sides of a square, my uncle occupying the centre of the principal one, with the Prince upon his right and Lord Sele upon his left.  By his wise precaution the seats had been allotted28 beforehand, so that the gentlemen might be scattered29 among the professionals and no risk run of two enemies finding themselves together, or a man who had been recently beaten falling into the company of his conqueror30.  For my own part, I had Champion Harrison upon one side of me and a stout31, florid-faced man upon the other, who whispered to me that he was “Bill Warr, landlord of the One Tun public-house, of Jermyn Street, and one of the gamest men upon the list.”
 
“It’s my flesh that’s beat me, sir,” said he.  “It creeps over me amazin’ fast.  I should fight at thirteen-eight, and ’ere I am nearly seventeen.  It’s the business that does it, what with loflin’ about behind the bar all day, and bein’ afraid to refuse a wet for fear of offendin’ a customer.  It’s been the ruin of many a good fightin’-man before me.”
 
“You should take to my job,” said Harrison.  “I’m a smith by trade, and I’ve not put on half a stone in fifteen years.”
 
“Some take to one thing and some to another, but the most of us try to ’ave a bar-parlour of our own.  There’s Will Wood, that I beat in forty rounds in the thick of a snowstorm down Navestock way, ’e drives a ’ackney.  Young Firby, the ruffian, ’e’s a waiter now.  Dick ’Umphries sells coals—’e was always of a genelmanly disposition33.  George Ingleston is a brewer’s drayman.  We all find our own cribs.  But there’s one thing you are saved by livin’ in the country, and that is ’avin’ the young Corinthians and bloods about town smackin’ you eternally in the face.”
 
This was the last inconvenience which I should have expected a famous prize-fighter to be subjected to, but several bull-faced fellows at the other side of the table nodded their concurrence35.
 
“You’re right, Bill,” said one of them.  “There’s no one has had more trouble with them than I have.  In they come of an evenin’ into my bar, with the wine in their heads.  ‘Are you Tom Owen the bruiser?’ says one o’ them.  ‘At your service, sir,’ says I.  ‘Take that, then,’ says he, and it’s a clip on the nose, or a backhanded slap across the chops as likely as not.  Then they can brag36 all their lives that they had hit Tom Owen.”
 
“D’you draw their cork37 in return?” asked Harrison.
 
“I argey it out with them.  I say to them, ‘Now, gents, fightin’ is my profession, and I don’t fight for love any more than a doctor doctors for love, or a butcher gives away a loin chop.  Put up a small purse, master, and I’ll do you over and proud.  But don’t expect that you’re goin’ to come here and get glutted38 by a middle-weight champion for nothing.”
 
“That’s my way too, Tom,” said my burly neighbour.  “If they put down a guinea on the counter—which they do if they ’ave been drinkin’ very ’eavy—I give them what I think is about a guinea’s worth and take the money.”
 
“But if they don’t?”
 
“Why, then, it’s a common assault, d’ye see, against the body of ’is Majesty’s liege, William Warr, and I ’as ’em before the beak39 next mornin’, and it’s a week or twenty shillin’s.”
 
Meanwhile the supper was in full swing—one of those solid and uncompromising meals which prevailed in the days of your grandfathers, and which may explain to some of you why you never set eyes upon that relative.
 
Great rounds of beef, saddles of mutton, smoking tongues, veal40 and ham pies, turkeys and chickens, and geese, with every variety of vegetables, and a succession of fiery41 cherries and heavy ales were the main staple42 of the feast.  It was the same meal and the same cooking as their Norse or German ancestors might have sat down to fourteen centuries before, and, indeed, as I looked through the steam of the dishes at the lines of fierce and rugged43 faces, and the mighty44 shoulders which rounded themselves over the board, I could have imagined myself at one of those old-world carousals of which I had read, where the savage45 company gnawed46 the joints48 to the bone, and then, with murderous horseplay, hurled49 the remains50 at their prisoners.  Here and there the pale, aquiline51 features of a sporting Corinthian recalled rather the Norman type, but in the main these stolid52, heavy-jowled faces, belonging to men whose whole life was a battle, were the nearest suggestion which we have had in modern times of those fierce pirates and rovers from whose loins we have sprung.
 
And yet, as I looked carefully from man to man in the line which faced me, I could see that the English, although they were ten to one, had not the game entirely53 to themselves, but that other races had shown that they could produce fighting-men worthy54 to rank with the best.
 
There were, it is true, no finer or braver men in the room than Jackson and Jem Belcher, the one with his magnificent figure, his small waist and Herculean shoulders; the other as graceful55 as an old Grecian statue, with a head whose beauty many a sculptor56 had wished to copy, and with those long, delicate lines in shoulder and loins and limbs, which gave him the litheness57 and activity of a panther.  Already, as I looked at him, it seemed to me that there was a shadow of tragedy upon his face, a forecast of the day then but a few months distant when a blow from a racquet ball darkened the sight of one eye for ever.  Had he stopped there, with his unbeaten career behind him, then indeed the evening of his life might have been as glorious as its dawn.  But his proud heart could not permit his title to be torn from him without a struggle.  If even now you can read how the gallant58 fellow, unable with his one eye to judge his distances, fought for thirty-five minutes against his young and formidable opponent, and how, in the bitterness of defeat, he was heard only to express his sorrow for a friend who had backed him with all he possessed, and if you are not touched by the story there must be something wanting in you which should go to the making of a man.
 
But if there were no men at the tables who could have held their own against Jackson or Jem Belcher, there were others of a different race and type who had qualities which made them dangerous bruisers.  A little way down the room I saw the black face and woolly head of Bill Richmond, in a purple-and-gold footman’s livery—destined to be the predecessor59 of Molineaux, Sutton, and all that line of black boxers61 who have shown that the muscular power and insensibility to pain which distinguish the African give him a peculiar62 advantage in the sports of the ring.  He could boast also of the higher honour of having been the first born American to win laurels63 in the British ring.  There also I saw the keen features of Dada Mendoza, the Jew, just retired64 from active work, and leaving behind him a reputation for elegance65 and perfect science which has, to this day, never been exceeded.  The worst fault that the critics could find with him was that there was a want of power in his blows—a remark which certainly could not have been made about his neighbour, whose long face, curved nose, and dark, flashing eyes proclaimed him as a member of the same ancient race.  This was the formidable Dutch Sam, who fought at nine stone six, and yet possessed such hitting powers, that his admirers, in after years, were willing to back him against the fourteen-stone Tom Cribb, if each were strapped66 a-straddle to a bench.  Half a dozen other sallow Hebrew faces showed how energetically the Jews of Houndsditch and Whitechapel had taken to the sport of the land of their adoption67, and that in this, as in more serious fields of human effort, they could hold their own with the best.
 
It was my neighbour Warr who very good-humouredly pointed68 out to me all these celebrities69, the echoes of whose fame had been wafted70 down even to our little Sussex village.
 
“There’s Andrew Gamble, the Irish champion,” said he.  “It was ’e that beat Noah James, the Guardsman, and was afterwards nearly killed by Jem Belcher, in the ’ollow of Wimbledon Common by Abbershaw’s gibbet.  The two that are next ’im are Irish also, Jack O’Donnell and Bill Ryan.  When you get a good Irishman you can’t better ’em, but they’re dreadful ’asty.  That little cove6 with the leery face is Caleb Baldwin the Coster, ’im that they call the Pride of Westminster.  ’E’s but five foot seven, and nine stone five, but ’e’s got the ’eart of a giant.  ’E’s never been beat, and there ain’t a man within a stone of ’im that could beat ’im, except only Dutch Sam.  There’s George Maddox, too, another o’ the same breed, and as good a man as ever pulled his coat off.  The genelmanly man that eats with a fork, ’im what looks like a Corinthian, only that the bridge of ’is nose ain’t quite as it ought to be, that’s Dick ’Umphries, the same that was cock of the middle-weights until Mendoza cut his comb for ’im.  You see the other with the grey ’ead and the scars on his face?”
 
“Why, it’s old Tom Faulkner the cricketer!” cried Harrison, following the line of Bill Warr’s stubby forefinger71.  “He’s the fastest bowler72 in the Midlands, and at his best there weren’t many boxers in England that could stand up against him.”
 
“You’re right there, Jack ’Arrison.  ’E was one of the three who came up to fight when the best men of Birmingham challenged the best men of London.  ’E’s an evergreen73, is Tom.  Why, he was turned five-and-fifty when he challenged and beat, after fifty minutes of it, Jack Thornhill, who was tough enough to take it out of many a youngster.  It’s better to give odds74 in weight than in years.”
 
“Youth will be served,” said a crooning voice from the other side of the table.  “Ay, masters, youth will be served.”
 
The man who had spoken was the most extraordinary of all the many curious figures in the room.  He was very, very old, so old that he was past all comparison, and no one by looking at his mummy skin and fish-like eyes could give a guess at his years.  A few scanty75 grey hairs still hung about his yellow scalp.  As to his features, they were scarcely human in their disfigurement, for the deep wrinkles and pouchings of extreme age had been added to a face which had always been grotesquely76 ugly, and had been crushed and smashed in addition by many a blow.  I had noticed this creature at the beginning of the meal, leaning his chest against the edge of the table as if its support was a welcome one, and feebly picking at the food which was placed before him.  Gradually, however, as his neighbours plied77 him with drink, his shoulders grew squarer, his back stiffened78, his eyes brightened, and he looked about him, with an air of surprise at first, as if he had no clear recollection of how he came there, and afterwards with an expression of deepening interest, as he listened, with his ear scooped79 up in his hand, to the conversation around him.
 
“That’s old Buckhorse,” whispered Champion Harrison.  “He was just the same as that when I joined the ring twenty years ago.  Time was when he was the terror of London.”
 
“’E was so,” said Bill Warr.  “’E would fight like a stag, and ’e was that ’ard that ’e would let any swell80 knock ’im down for ’alf-a-crown.  ’E ’ad no face to spoil, d’ye see, for ’e was always the ugliest man in England.  But ’e’s been on the shelf now for near sixty years, and it cost ’im many a beatin’ before ’e could understand that ’is strength was slippin’ away from ’im.”
 
“Youth will be served, masters,” droned the old man, shaking his head miserably81.
 
“Fill up ’is glass,” said Warr.  “’Ere, Tom, give old Buckhorse a sup o’ liptrap.  Warm his ’eart for ’im.”
 
The old man poured a glass of neat gin down his shrivelled throat, and the effect upon him was extraordinary.  A light glimmered82 in each of his dull eyes, a tinge83 of colour came into his wax-like cheeks, and, opening his toothless mouth, he suddenly emitted a peculiar, bell-like, and most musical cry.  A hoarse84 roar of laughter from all the company answered it, and flushed faces craned over each other to catch a glimpse of the veteran.
 
“There’s Buckhorse!” they cried.  “Buckhorse is comin’ round again.”
 
“You can laugh if you vill, masters,” he cried, in his Lewkner Lane dialect, holding up his two thin, vein-covered hands.  “It von’t be long that you’ll be able to see my crooks85 vich ’ave been on Figg’s conk, and on Jack Broughton’s, and on ’Arry Gray’s, and many another good fightin’ man that was millin’ for a livin’ before your fathers could eat pap.”
 
The company laughed again, and encouraged the old man by half-derisive and half-affectionate cries.
 
“Let ’em ’ave it, Buckhorse!  Give it ’em straight!  Tell us how the millin’ coves did it in your time.”
 
The old gladiator looked round him in great contempt.
 
“Vy, from vot I see,” he cried, in his high, broken treble, “there’s some on you that ain’t fit to flick86 a fly from a joint47 o’ meat.  You’d make werry good ladies’ maids, the most of you, but you took the wrong turnin’ ven you came into the ring.”
 
“Give ’im a wipe over the mouth,” said a hoarse voice.
 
“Joe Berks,” said Jackson, “I’d save the hangman the job of breaking your neck if His Royal Highness wasn’t in the room.”
 
“That’s as it may be, guv’nor,” said the half-drunken ruffian, staggering to his feet.  “If I’ve said anything wot isn’t genelmanlike—”
 
“Sit down, Berks!” cried my uncle, with such a tone of command that the fellow collapsed87 into his chair.
 
“Vy, vitch of you would look Tom Slack in the face?” piped the old fellow; “or Jack Broughton?—him vot told the old Dook of Cumberland that all he vanted vas to fight the King o’ Proosia’s guard, day by day, year in, year out, until ’e ’ad worked out the whole regiment88 of ’em—and the smallest of ’em six foot long.  There’s not more’n a few of you could ’it a dint89 in a pat o’ butter, and if you gets a smack34 or two it’s all over vith you.  Vich among you could get up again after such a vipe as the Eytalian Gondoleery cove gave to Bob Vittaker?”
 
“What was that, Buckhorse?” cried several voices.
 
“’E came over ’ere from voreign parts, and ’e was so broad ’e ’ad to come edgewise through the doors.  ’E ’ad so, upon my davy!  ’E was that strong that wherever ’e ’it the bone had got to go; and when ’e’d cracked a jaw90 or two it looked as though nothing in the country could stan’ against him.  So the King ’e sent one of his genelmen down to Figg and he said to him: ‘’Ere’s a cove vot cracks a bone every time ’e lets vly, and it’ll be little credit to the Lunnon boys if they lets ’im get avay vithout a vacking.’  So Figg he ups, and he says, ‘I do not know, master, but he may break one of ’is countrymen’s jawbones vid ’is vist, but I’ll bring ’im a Cockney lad and ’e shall not be able to break ’is jawbone with a sledge91 ’ammer.’  I was with Figg in Slaughter’s coffee-’ouse, as then vas, ven ’e says this to the King’s genelman, and I goes so, I does!”  Again he emitted the curious bell-like cry, and again the Corinthians and the fighting-men laughed and applauded him.
 
“His Royal Highness—that is, the Earl of Chester—would be glad to hear the end of your story, Buckhorse,” said my uncle, to whom the Prince had been whispering.
 
“Vell, your R’yal ’Ighness, it vas like this.  Ven the day came round, all the volk came to Figg’s Amphitheatre, the same that vos in Tottenham Court, an’ Bob Vittaker ’e vos there, and the Eytalian Gondoleery cove ’e vas there, and all the purlitest, genteelest crowd that ever vos, twenty thousand of ’em, all sittin’ with their ’eads like purtaties on a barrer, banked right up round the stage, and me there to pick up Bob, d’ye see, and Jack Figg ’imself just for fair play to do vot was right by the cove from voreign parts.  They vas packed all round, the folks was, but down through the middle of ’em was a passage just so as the gentry92 could come through to their seats, and the stage it vas of wood, as the custom then vas, and a man’s ’eight above the ’eads of the people.  Vell, then, ven Bob was put up opposite this great Eytalian man I says ‘Slap ’im in the vind, Bob,’ ’cos I could see vid ’alf an eye that he vas as puffy as a cheesecake; so Bob he goes in, and as he comes the vorriner let ’im ’ave it amazin’ on the conk.  I ’eard the thump93 of it, and I kind o’ velt somethin’ vistle past me, but ven I looked there vas the Eytalian a feelin’ of ’is muscles in the middle o’ the stage, and as to Bob, there vern’t no sign’ of ’im at all no more’n if ’e’d never been.”
 
His audience was riveted94 by the old prize-fighter’s story.  “Well,” cried a dozen voices, “what then, Buckhorse: ’ad ’e swallowed ’im, or what?”
 
“Yell, boys, that vas vat95 I wondered, when sudden I seed two legs a-stickin’ up out o’ the crowd a long vay off, just like these two vingers, d’ye see, and I knewed they vas Bob’s legs, seein’ that ’e ’ad kind o’ yellow small clothes vid blue ribbons—vich blue vas ’is colour—at the knee.  So they up-ended ’im, they did, an’ they made a lane for ’im an’ cheered ’im to give ’im ’eart, though ’e never lacked for that.  At virst ’e vas that dazed that ’e didn’t know if ’e vas in church or in ’Orsemonger Gaol96; but ven I’d bit ’is two ears ’e shook ’isself together.  ‘Ve’ll try it again, Buck,’ says ’e.  ‘The mark!’ says I.  And ’e vinked all that vas left o’ one eye.  So the Eytalian ’e lets swing again, but Bob ’e jumps inside an’ ’e lets ’im ’ave it plumb97 square on the meat safe as ’ard as ever the Lord would let ’im put it in.”
 
“Well?  Well?”
 
“Vell, the Eytalian ’e got a touch of the gurgles, an’ ’e shut ’imself right up like a two-foot rule.  Then ’e pulled ’imself straight, an’ ’e gave the most awful Glory Allelujah screech98 as ever you ’eard.  Off ’e jumps from the stage an’ down the passage as ’ard as ’is ’oofs would carry ’im.  Up jumps the ’ole crowd, and after ’im as ’ard as they could move for laughin’.  They vas lyin’ in the kennel99 three deep all down Tottenham Court road wid their ’ands to their sides just vit to break themselves in two.  Vell, ve chased ’im down ’Olburn, an’ down Fleet Street, an’ down Cheapside, an’ past the ’Change, and on all the vay to Voppin’ an’ we only catched ’im in the shippin’ office, vere ’e vas askin’ ’ow soon ’e could get a passage to voreign parts.”
 
There was much laughter and clapping of glasses upon the table at the conclusion of old Buckhorse’s story, and I saw the Prince of Wales hand something to the waiter, who brought it round and slipped it into the skinny hand of the veteran, who spat100 upon it before thrusting it into his pocket.  The table had in the meanwhile been cleared, and was now studded with bottles and glasses, while long clay pipes and tobacco-boxes were handed round.  My uncle never smoked, thinking that the habit might darken his teeth, but many of the Corinthians, and the Prince amongst the first of them, set the example of lighting101 up.  All restraint had been done away with, and the prize-fighters, flushed with wine, roared across the tables to each other, or shouted their greetings to friends at the other end of the room.  The amateurs, falling into the humour of their company, were hardly less noisy, and loudly debated the merits of the different men, criticizing their styles of fighting before their faces, and making bets upon the results of future matches.
 
In the midst of the uproar102 there was an imperative103 rap upon the table, and my uncle rose to speak.  As he stood with his pale, calm face and fine figure, I had never seen him to greater advantage, for he seemed, with all his elegance, to have a quiet air of domination amongst these fierce fellows, like a huntsman walking carelessly through a springing and yapping pack.  He expressed his pleasure at seeing so many good sportsmen under one roof, and acknowledged the honour which had been done both to his guests and himself by the presence there that night of the illustrious personage whom he should refer to as the Earl of Chester.  He was sorry that the season prevented him from placing game upon the table, but there was so much sitting round it that it would perhaps be hardly missed (cheers and laughter).  The sports of the ring had, in his opinion, tended to that contempt of pain and of danger which had contributed so much in the past to the safety of the country, and which might, if what he heard was true, be very quickly needed once more.  If an enemy landed upon our shores it was then that, with our small army, we should be forced to fall back upon native valour trained into hardihood by the practice and contemplation of manly32 sports.  In time of peace also the rules of the ring had been of service in enforcing the principles of fair play, and in turning public opinion against that use of the knife or of the boot which was so common in foreign countries.  He begged, therefore, to drink “Success to the Fancy,” coupled with the name of John Jackson, who might stand as a type of all that was most admirable in British boxing.
 
Jackson having replied with a readiness which many a public man might have envied, my uncle rose once more.
 
“We are here to-night,” said he, “not only to celebrate the past glories of the prize ring, but also to arrange some sport for the future.  It should be easy, now that backers and fighting men are gathered together under one roof, to come to terms with each other.  I have myself set an example by making a match with Sir Lothian Hume, the terms of which will be communicated to you by that gentleman.”
 
Sir Lothian rose with a paper in his hand.
 
“The terms, your Royal Highness and gentlemen, are briefly104 these,” said he.  “My man, Crab Wilson, of Gloucester, having never yet fought a prize battle, is prepared to meet, upon May the 18th of this year, any man of any weight who may be selected by Sir Charles Tregellis.  Sir Charles Tregellis’s selection is limited to men below twenty or above thirty-five years of age, so as to exclude Belcher and the other candidates for championship honours.  The stakes are two thousand pounds against a thousand, two hundred to be paid by the winner to his man; play or pay.”
 
It was curious to see the intense gravity of them all, fighters and backers, as they bent105 their brows and weighed the conditions of the match.
 
“I am informed,” said Sir John Lade, “that Crab Wilson’s age is twenty-three, and that, although he has never fought a regular P.R. battle, he has none the less fought within ropes for a stake on many occasions.”
 
“I’ve seen him half a dozen times at the least,” said Belcher.
 
“It is precisely106 for that reason, Sir John, that I am laying odds of two to one in his favour.”
 
“May I ask,” said the Prince, “what the exact height and weight of Wilson may be?”
 
“Five foot eleven and thirteen-ten, your Royal Highness.”
 
“Long enough and heavy enough for anything on two legs,” said Jackson, and the professionals all murmured their assent108.
 
“Read the rules of the fight, Sir Lothian.”
 
“The battle to take place on Tuesday, May the 18th, at the hour of ten in the morning, at a spot to be afterwards named.  The ring to be twenty foot square.  Neither to fall without a knock-down blow, subject to the decision of the umpires.  Three umpires to be chosen upon the ground, namely, two in ordinary and one in reference.  Does that meet your wishes, Sir Charles?”
 
My uncle bowed.
 
“Have you anything to say, Wilson?”
 
The young pugilist, who had a curious, lanky109 figure, and a craggy, bony face, passed his fingers through his close-cropped hair.
 
“If you please, zir,” said he, with a slight west-country burr, “a twenty-voot ring is too small for a thirteen-stone man.”
 
There was another murmur107 of professional agreement.
 
“What would you have it, Wilson?”
 
“Vour-an’-twenty, Sir Lothian.”
 
“Have you any objection, Sir Charles?”
 
“Not the slightest.”
 
“Anything else, Wilson?”
 
“If you please, zir, I’d like to know whom I’m vighting with.”
 
“I understand that you have not publicly nominated your man, Sir Charles?”
 
“I do not intend to do so until the very morning of the fight.  I believe I have that right within the terms of our wager110.”
 
“Certainly, if you choose to exercise it.”
 
“I do so intend.  And I should be vastly pleased if Mr. Berkeley Craven will consent to be stake-holder.”
 
That gentleman having willingly given his consent, the final formalities which led up to these humble111 tournaments were concluded.
 
And then, as these full-blooded, powerful men became heated with their wine, angry eyes began to glare across the table, and amid the grey swirls112 of tobacco-smoke the lamp-light gleamed upon the fierce, hawk-like Jews, and the flushed, savage Saxons.  The old quarrel as to whether Jackson had or had not committed a foul113 by seizing Mendoza by the hair on the occasion of their battle at Hornchurch, eight years before, came to the front once more.  Dutch Sam hurled a shilling down upon the table, and offered to fight the Pride of Westminster for it if he ventured to say that Mendoza had been fairly beaten.  Joe Berks, who had grown noisier and more quarrelsome as the evening went on, tried to clamber across the table, with horrible blasphemies114, to come to blows with an old Jew named Fighting Yussef, who had plunged115 into the discussion.  It needed very little more to finish the supper by a general and ferocious116 battle, and it was only the exertions117 of Jackson, Belcher, Harrison, and others of the cooler and steadier men, which saved us from a riot.
 
And then, when at last this question was set aside, that of the rival claims to championships at different weights came on in its stead, and again angry words flew about and challenges were in the air.  There was no exact limit between the light, middle, and heavyweights, and yet it would make a very great difference to the standing of a boxer60 whether he should be regarded as the heaviest of the light-weights, or the lightest of the heavy-weights.  One claimed to be ten-stone champion, another was ready to take on anything at eleven, but would not run to twelve, which would have brought the invincible118 Jem Belcher down upon him.  Faulkner claimed to be champion of the seniors, and even old Buckhorse’s curious call rang out above the tumult119 as he turned the whole company to laughter and good humour again by challenging anything over eighty and under seven stone.
 
But in spite of gleams of sunshine, there was thunder in the air, and Champion Harrison had just whispered in my ear that he was quite sure that we should never get through the night without trouble, and was advising me, if it got very bad, to take refuge under the table, when the landlord entered the room hurriedly and handed a note to my uncle.
 
He read it, and then passed it to the Prince, who returned it with raised eyebrows120 and a gesture of surprise.  Then my uncle rose with the scrap121 of paper in his hand and a smile upon his lips.
 
“Gentlemen,” said he, “there is a stranger waiting below who desires a fight to a finish with the best men in the room.”

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 rumour 1SYzZ     
n.谣言,谣传,传闻
参考例句:
  • I should like to know who put that rumour about.我想知道是谁散布了那谣言。
  • There has been a rumour mill on him for years.几年来,一直有谣言产生,对他进行中伤。
2 waggon waggon     
n.运货马车,运货车;敞篷车箱
参考例句:
  • The enemy attacked our waggon train.敌人袭击了我们的运货马车队。
  • Someone jumped out from the foremost waggon and cried aloud.有人从最前面的一辆大车里跳下来,大声叫嚷。
3 primitive vSwz0     
adj.原始的;简单的;n.原(始)人,原始事物
参考例句:
  • It is a primitive instinct to flee a place of danger.逃离危险的地方是一种原始本能。
  • His book describes the march of the civilization of a primitive society.他的著作描述了一个原始社会的开化过程。
4 piquancy 17ffe2d09b3a59945bf767af8e3aa79c     
n.辛辣,辣味,痛快
参考例句:
  • The tart flavour of the cranberries adds piquancy. 越橘的酸味很可口。
  • I`ve got a GOOD start,or at least,a piquancy start. 我有了一个好的开始;如果不算好,也至少是个痛快的开始。 来自互联网
5 descending descending     
n. 下行 adj. 下降的
参考例句:
  • The results are expressed in descending numerical order . 结果按数字降序列出。
  • The climbers stopped to orient themselves before descending the mountain. 登山者先停下来确定所在的位置,然后再下山。
6 cove 9Y8zA     
n.小海湾,小峡谷
参考例句:
  • The shore line is wooded,olive-green,a pristine cove.岸边一带林木蓊郁,嫩绿一片,好一个山外的小海湾。
  • I saw two children were playing in a cove.我看到两个小孩正在一个小海湾里玩耍。
7 ken k3WxV     
n.视野,知识领域
参考例句:
  • Such things are beyond my ken.我可不懂这些事。
  • Abstract words are beyond the ken of children.抽象的言辞超出小孩所理解的范围.
8 pint 1NNxL     
n.品脱
参考例句:
  • I'll have a pint of beer and a packet of crisps, please.我要一品脱啤酒和一袋炸马铃薯片。
  • In the old days you could get a pint of beer for a shilling.从前,花一先令就可以买到一品脱啤酒。
9 tilt aG3y0     
v.(使)倾侧;(使)倾斜;n.倾侧;倾斜
参考例句:
  • She wore her hat at a tilt over her left eye.她歪戴着帽子遮住左眼。
  • The table is at a slight tilt.这张桌子没放平,有点儿歪.
10 jack 53Hxp     
n.插座,千斤顶,男人;v.抬起,提醒,扛举;n.(Jake)杰克
参考例句:
  • I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
  • He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。
11 jacks 2b0facb0ce94beb5f627e3c22cc18d34     
n.抓子游戏;千斤顶( jack的名词复数 );(电)插孔;[电子学]插座;放弃
参考例句:
  • Hydraulic jacks under the machine produce the movement. 是机器下面的液压千斤顶造成的移动。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The front end is equipped with hydraulic jacks used for grade adjustment. 前瑞安装有液压千斤顶用来调整坡度。 来自辞典例句
12 thronging 9512aa44c02816b0f71b491c31fb8cfa     
v.成群,挤满( throng的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • Architects from around the world are thronging to Beijing theacross the capital. 来自世界各地的建筑师都蜂拥而至这座处处高楼耸立的大都市——北京。 来自互联网
  • People are thronging to his new play. 人们成群结队地去看他那出新戏。 来自互联网
13 bellows Ly5zLV     
n.风箱;发出吼叫声,咆哮(尤指因痛苦)( bellow的名词复数 );(愤怒地)说出(某事),大叫v.发出吼叫声,咆哮(尤指因痛苦)( bellow的第三人称单数 );(愤怒地)说出(某事),大叫
参考例句:
  • His job is to blow the bellows for the blacksmith. 他的工作是给铁匠拉风箱。 来自辞典例句
  • You could, I suppose, compare me to a blacksmith's bellows. 我想,你可能把我比作铁匠的风箱。 来自辞典例句
14 anvil HVxzH     
n.铁钻
参考例句:
  • The blacksmith shaped a horseshoe on his anvil.铁匠在他的铁砧上打出一个马蹄形。
  • The anvil onto which the staples are pressed was not assemble correctly.订书机上的铁砧安装错位。
15 inquiry nbgzF     
n.打听,询问,调查,查问
参考例句:
  • Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
  • The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。
16 glistened 17ff939f38e2a303f5df0353cf21b300     
v.湿物闪耀,闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Pearls of dew glistened on the grass. 草地上珠露晶莹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Her eyes glistened with tears. 她的眼里闪着泪花。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
17 crab xoozE     
n.螃蟹,偏航,脾气乖戾的人,酸苹果;vi.捕蟹,偏航,发牢骚;vt.使偏航,发脾气
参考例句:
  • I can't remember when I last had crab.我不记得上次吃蟹是什么时候了。
  • The skin on my face felt as hard as a crab's back.我脸上的皮仿佛僵硬了,就象螃蟹的壳似的。
18 bin yR2yz     
n.箱柜;vt.放入箱内;[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件
参考例句:
  • He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
  • He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。
19 coves 21569468fef665cf5f98b05ad4bc5301     
n.小海湾( cove的名词复数 );家伙
参考例句:
  • Grenada's unique layout includes many finger-like coves, making the island a popular destination. 格林纳达独特的地形布局包括许多手指状的洞穴,使得这个岛屿成为一个受人欢迎的航海地。 来自互联网
20 bustle esazC     
v.喧扰地忙乱,匆忙,奔忙;n.忙碌;喧闹
参考例句:
  • The bustle and din gradually faded to silence as night advanced.随着夜越来越深,喧闹声逐渐沉寂。
  • There is a lot of hustle and bustle in the railway station.火车站里非常拥挤。
21 bustling LxgzEl     
adj.喧闹的
参考例句:
  • The market was bustling with life. 市场上生机勃勃。
  • This district is getting more and more prosperous and bustling. 这一带越来越繁华了。
22 comely GWeyX     
adj.漂亮的,合宜的
参考例句:
  • His wife is a comely young woman.他的妻子是一个美丽的少妇。
  • A nervous,comely-dressed little girl stepped out.一个紧张不安、衣着漂亮的小姑娘站了出来。
23 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
24 tact vqgwc     
n.机敏,圆滑,得体
参考例句:
  • She showed great tact in dealing with a tricky situation.她处理棘手的局面表现得十分老练。
  • Tact is a valuable commodity.圆滑老练是很有用处的。
25 possessed xuyyQ     
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的
参考例句:
  • He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
  • He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。
26 alluded 69f7a8b0f2e374aaf5d0965af46948e7     
提及,暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • In your remarks you alluded to a certain sinister design. 在你的谈话中,你提到了某个阴谋。
  • She also alluded to her rival's past marital troubles. 她还影射了对手过去的婚姻问题。
27 grumbled ed735a7f7af37489d7db1a9ef3b64f91     
抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 ); 发牢骚; 咕哝; 发哼声
参考例句:
  • He grumbled at the low pay offered to him. 他抱怨给他的工资低。
  • The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. 天热得让人发昏,水手们边干活边发着牢骚。
28 allotted 5653ecda52c7b978bd6890054bd1f75f     
分配,拨给,摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • I completed the test within the time allotted . 我在限定的时间内完成了试验。
  • Each passenger slept on the berth allotted to him. 每个旅客都睡在分配给他的铺位上。
29 scattered 7jgzKF     
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。
30 conqueror PY3yI     
n.征服者,胜利者
参考例句:
  • We shall never yield to a conqueror.我们永远不会向征服者低头。
  • They abandoned the city to the conqueror.他们把那个城市丢弃给征服者。
31     
参考例句:
32 manly fBexr     
adj.有男子气概的;adv.男子般地,果断地
参考例句:
  • The boy walked with a confident manly stride.这男孩以自信的男人步伐行走。
  • He set himself manly tasks and expected others to follow his example.他给自己定下了男子汉的任务,并希望别人效之。
33 disposition GljzO     
n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署
参考例句:
  • He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。
  • He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。
34 smack XEqzV     
vt.拍,打,掴;咂嘴;vi.含有…意味;n.拍
参考例句:
  • She gave him a smack on the face.她打了他一个嘴巴。
  • I gave the fly a smack with the magazine.我用杂志拍了一下苍蝇。
35 concurrence InAyF     
n.同意;并发
参考例句:
  • There is a concurrence of opinion between them.他们的想法一致。
  • The concurrence of their disappearances had to be more than coincidental.他们同时失踪肯定不仅仅是巧合。
36 brag brag     
v./n.吹牛,自夸;adj.第一流的
参考例句:
  • He made brag of his skill.他夸耀自己技术高明。
  • His wealth is his brag.他夸张他的财富。
37 cork VoPzp     
n.软木,软木塞
参考例句:
  • We heard the pop of a cork.我们听见瓶塞砰的一声打开。
  • Cork is a very buoyant material.软木是极易浮起的材料。
38 glutted 2e5d1cc646141e5610898efeb7912309     
v.吃得过多( glut的过去式和过去分词 );(对胃口、欲望等)纵情满足;使厌腻;塞满
参考例句:
  • The market was glutted with shoddy goods. 次货充斥市场。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • The tour of Guilin glutted my eyes. 桂林一游使我大饱眼福。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
39 beak 8y1zGA     
n.鸟嘴,茶壶嘴,钩形鼻
参考例句:
  • The bird had a worm in its beak.鸟儿嘴里叼着一条虫。
  • This bird employs its beak as a weapon.这种鸟用嘴作武器。
40 veal 5HQy0     
n.小牛肉
参考例句:
  • She sauteed veal and peppers,preparing a mixed salad while the pan simmered.她先做的一道菜是青椒煎小牛肉,趁着锅还在火上偎着的机会,又做了一道拼盘。
  • Marinate the veal in white wine for two hours.把小牛肉用白葡萄酒浸泡两小时。
41 fiery ElEye     
adj.燃烧着的,火红的;暴躁的;激烈的
参考例句:
  • She has fiery red hair.她有一头火红的头发。
  • His fiery speech agitated the crowd.他热情洋溢的讲话激动了群众。
42 staple fGkze     
n.主要产物,常用品,主要要素,原料,订书钉,钩环;adj.主要的,重要的;vt.分类
参考例句:
  • Tea is the staple crop here.本地产品以茶叶为大宗。
  • Potatoes are the staple of their diet.土豆是他们的主要食品。
43 rugged yXVxX     
adj.高低不平的,粗糙的,粗壮的,强健的
参考例句:
  • Football players must be rugged.足球运动员必须健壮。
  • The Rocky Mountains have rugged mountains and roads.落基山脉有崇山峻岭和崎岖不平的道路。
44 mighty YDWxl     
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。
45 savage ECxzR     
adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人
参考例句:
  • The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
  • He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。
46 gnawed 85643b5b73cc74a08138f4534f41cef1     
咬( gnaw的过去式和过去分词 ); (长时间) 折磨某人; (使)苦恼; (长时间)危害某事物
参考例句:
  • His attitude towards her gnawed away at her confidence. 他对她的态度一直在削弱她的自尊心。
  • The root of this dead tree has been gnawed away by ants. 这棵死树根被蚂蚁唼了。
47 joint m3lx4     
adj.联合的,共同的;n.关节,接合处;v.连接,贴合
参考例句:
  • I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤,肩膀脫臼了。
  • We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。
48 joints d97dcffd67eca7255ca514e4084b746e     
接头( joint的名词复数 ); 关节; 公共场所(尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所) (非正式); 一块烤肉 (英式英语)
参考例句:
  • Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on gas mains. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在煤气的总管道上了。
  • Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on steam pipes. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在蒸气管道上了。
49 hurled 16e3a6ba35b6465e1376a4335ae25cd2     
v.猛投,用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 );大声叫骂
参考例句:
  • He hurled a brick through the window. 他往窗户里扔了块砖。
  • The strong wind hurled down bits of the roof. 大风把屋顶的瓦片刮了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
50 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹
参考例句:
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
51 aquiline jNeyk     
adj.钩状的,鹰的
参考例句:
  • He had a thin aquiline nose and deep-set brown eyes.他长着窄长的鹰钩鼻和深陷的褐色眼睛。
  • The man has a strong and aquiline nose.该名男子有强大和鹰鼻子。
52 stolid VGFzC     
adj.无动于衷的,感情麻木的
参考例句:
  • Her face showed nothing but stolid indifference.她的脸上毫无表情,只有麻木的无动于衷。
  • He conceals his feelings behind a rather stolid manner.他装作无动于衷的样子以掩盖自己的感情。
53 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
54 worthy vftwB     
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的
参考例句:
  • I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
  • There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。
55 graceful deHza     
adj.优美的,优雅的;得体的
参考例句:
  • His movements on the parallel bars were very graceful.他的双杠动作可帅了!
  • The ballet dancer is so graceful.芭蕾舞演员的姿态是如此的优美。
56 sculptor 8Dyz4     
n.雕刻家,雕刻家
参考例句:
  • A sculptor forms her material.雕塑家把材料塑造成雕塑品。
  • The sculptor rounded the clay into a sphere.那位雕塑家把黏土做成了一个球状。
57 litheness e38a6062dc2f6ec3a578445e0d48e384     
参考例句:
58 gallant 66Myb     
adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的
参考例句:
  • Huang Jiguang's gallant deed is known by all men. 黄继光的英勇事迹尽人皆知。
  • These gallant soldiers will protect our country.这些勇敢的士兵会保卫我们的国家的。
59 predecessor qP9x0     
n.前辈,前任
参考例句:
  • It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
  • The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。
60 boxer sxKzdR     
n.制箱者,拳击手
参考例句:
  • The boxer gave his opponent a punch on the nose.这个拳击手朝他对手的鼻子上猛击一拳。
  • He moved lightly on his toes like a boxer.他像拳击手一样踮着脚轻盈移动。
61 boxers a8fc8ea2ba891ef896d3ca5822c4405d     
n.拳击短裤;(尤指职业)拳击手( boxer的名词复数 );拳师狗
参考例句:
  • The boxers were goaded on by the shrieking crowd. 拳击运动员听见观众的喊叫就来劲儿了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The boxers slugged it out to the finish. 两名拳击手最后决出了胜负。 来自《简明英汉词典》
62 peculiar cinyo     
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的
参考例句:
  • He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
  • He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。
63 laurels 0pSzBr     
n.桂冠,荣誉
参考例句:
  • The path was lined with laurels.小路两旁都种有月桂树。
  • He reaped the laurels in the finals.他在决赛中荣膺冠军。
64 retired Njhzyv     
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的
参考例句:
  • The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
  • Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
65 elegance QjPzj     
n.优雅;优美,雅致;精致,巧妙
参考例句:
  • The furnishings in the room imparted an air of elegance.这个房间的家具带给这房间一种优雅的气氛。
  • John has been known for his sartorial elegance.约翰因为衣着讲究而出名。
66 strapped ec484d13545e19c0939d46e2d1eb24bc     
adj.用皮带捆住的,用皮带装饰的;身无分文的;缺钱;手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词);用皮带抽打;包扎;给…打绷带
参考例句:
  • Make sure that the child is strapped tightly into the buggy. 一定要把孩子牢牢地拴在婴儿车上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The soldiers' great coats were strapped on their packs. 战士们的厚大衣扎捆在背包上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
67 adoption UK7yu     
n.采用,采纳,通过;收养
参考例句:
  • An adoption agency had sent the boys to two different families.一个收养机构把他们送给两个不同的家庭。
  • The adoption of this policy would relieve them of a tremendous burden.采取这一政策会给他们解除一个巨大的负担。
68 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
69 celebrities d38f03cca59ea1056c17b4467ee0b769     
n.(尤指娱乐界的)名人( celebrity的名词复数 );名流;名声;名誉
参考例句:
  • He only invited A-list celebrities to his parties. 他只邀请头等名流参加他的聚会。
  • a TV chat show full of B-list celebrities 由众多二流人物参加的电视访谈节目
70 wafted 67ba6873c287bf9bad4179385ab4d457     
v.吹送,飘送,(使)浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The sound of their voices wafted across the lake. 他们的声音飘过湖面传到了另一边。
  • A delicious smell of freshly baked bread wafted across the garden. 花园中飘过一股刚出炉面包的香味。 来自《简明英汉词典》
71 forefinger pihxt     
n.食指
参考例句:
  • He pinched the leaf between his thumb and forefinger.他将叶子捏在拇指和食指之间。
  • He held it between the tips of his thumb and forefinger.他用他大拇指和食指尖拿着它。
72 bowler fxLzew     
n.打保龄球的人,(板球的)投(球)手
参考例句:
  • The bowler judged it well,timing the ball to perfection.投球手判断准确,对球速的掌握恰到好处。
  • The captain decided to take Snow off and try a slower bowler.队长决定把斯诺撤下,换一个动作慢一点的投球手试一试。
73 evergreen mtFz78     
n.常青树;adj.四季常青的
参考例句:
  • Some trees are evergreen;they are called evergreen.有的树是常青的,被叫做常青树。
  • There is a small evergreen shrub on the hillside.山腰上有一小块常绿灌木丛。
74 odds n5czT     
n.让步,机率,可能性,比率;胜败优劣之别
参考例句:
  • The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
  • Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗?
75 scanty ZDPzx     
adj.缺乏的,仅有的,节省的,狭小的,不够的
参考例句:
  • There is scanty evidence to support their accusations.他们的指控证据不足。
  • The rainfall was rather scanty this month.这个月的雨量不足。
76 grotesquely grotesquely     
adv. 奇异地,荒诞地
参考例句:
  • Her arched eyebrows and grotesquely powdered face were at once seductive and grimly overbearing. 眉棱棱着,在一脸的怪粉上显出妖媚而霸道。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
  • Two faces grotesquely disfigured in nylon stocking masks looked through the window. 2张戴尼龙长袜面罩的怪脸望着窗外。
77 plied b7ead3bc998f9e23c56a4a7931daf4ab     
v.使用(工具)( ply的过去式和过去分词 );经常供应(食物、饮料);固定往来;经营生意
参考例句:
  • They plied me with questions about my visit to England. 他们不断地询问我的英国之行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • They plied us with tea and cakes. 他们一个劲儿地让我们喝茶、吃糕饼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
78 stiffened de9de455736b69d3f33bb134bba74f63     
加强的
参考例句:
  • He leaned towards her and she stiffened at this invasion of her personal space. 他向她俯过身去,这种侵犯她个人空间的举动让她绷紧了身子。
  • She stiffened with fear. 她吓呆了。
79 scooped a4cb36a9a46ab2830b09e95772d85c96     
v.抢先报道( scoop的过去式和过去分词 );(敏捷地)抱起;抢先获得;用铲[勺]等挖(洞等)
参考例句:
  • They scooped the other newspapers by revealing the matter. 他们抢先报道了这件事。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The wheels scooped up stones which hammered ominously under the car. 车轮搅起的石块,在车身下发出不吉祥的锤击声。 来自《简明英汉词典》
80 swell IHnzB     
vi.膨胀,肿胀;增长,增强
参考例句:
  • The waves had taken on a deep swell.海浪汹涌。
  • His injured wrist began to swell.他那受伤的手腕开始肿了。
81 miserably zDtxL     
adv.痛苦地;悲惨地;糟糕地;极度地
参考例句:
  • The little girl was wailing miserably. 那小女孩难过得号啕大哭。
  • It was drizzling, and miserably cold and damp. 外面下着毛毛细雨,天气又冷又湿,令人难受。 来自《简明英汉词典》
82 glimmered 8dea896181075b2b225f0bf960cf3afd     
v.发闪光,发微光( glimmer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • "There glimmered the embroidered letter, with comfort in its unearthly ray." 她胸前绣着的字母闪着的非凡的光辉,将温暖舒适带给他人。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学
  • The moon glimmered faintly through the mists. 月亮透过薄雾洒下微光。 来自辞典例句
83 tinge 8q9yO     
vt.(较淡)着色于,染色;使带有…气息;n.淡淡色彩,些微的气息
参考例句:
  • The maple leaves are tinge with autumn red.枫叶染上了秋天的红色。
  • There was a tinge of sadness in her voice.她声音中流露出一丝忧伤。
84 hoarse 5dqzA     
adj.嘶哑的,沙哑的
参考例句:
  • He asked me a question in a hoarse voice.他用嘶哑的声音问了我一个问题。
  • He was too excited and roared himself hoarse.他过于激动,嗓子都喊哑了。
85 crooks 31060be9089be1fcdd3ac8530c248b55     
n.骗子( crook的名词复数 );罪犯;弯曲部分;(牧羊人或主教用的)弯拐杖v.弯成钩形( crook的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • The police are getting after the crooks in the city. 警察在城里追捕小偷。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The cops got the crooks. 警察捉到了那些罪犯。 来自《简明英汉词典》
86 flick mgZz1     
n.快速的轻打,轻打声,弹开;v.轻弹,轻轻拂去,忽然摇动
参考例句:
  • He gave a flick of the whip.他轻抽一下鞭子。
  • By a flick of his whip,he drove the fly from the horse's head.他用鞭子轻抽了一下,将马头上的苍蝇驱走。
87 collapsed cwWzSG     
adj.倒塌的
参考例句:
  • Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
  • The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。
88 regiment JATzZ     
n.团,多数,管理;v.组织,编成团,统制
参考例句:
  • As he hated army life,he decide to desert his regiment.因为他嫌恶军队生活,所以他决心背弃自己所在的那个团。
  • They reformed a division into a regiment.他们将一个师整编成为一个团。
89 dint plVza     
n.由于,靠;凹坑
参考例句:
  • He succeeded by dint of hard work.他靠苦干获得成功。
  • He reached the top by dint of great effort.他费了很大的劲终于爬到了顶。
90 jaw 5xgy9     
n.颚,颌,说教,流言蜚语;v.喋喋不休,教训
参考例句:
  • He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。
  • A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。
91 sledge AxVw9     
n.雪橇,大锤;v.用雪橇搬运,坐雪橇往
参考例句:
  • The sledge gained momentum as it ran down the hill.雪橇从山上下冲时的动力越来越大。
  • The sledge slid across the snow as lightly as a boat on the water.雪橇在雪原上轻巧地滑行,就象船在水上行驶一样。
92 gentry Ygqxe     
n.绅士阶级,上层阶级
参考例句:
  • Landed income was the true measure of the gentry.来自土地的收入是衡量是否士绅阶层的真正标准。
  • Better be the head of the yeomanry than the tail of the gentry.宁做自由民之首,不居贵族之末。
93 thump sq2yM     
v.重击,砰然地响;n.重击,重击声
参考例句:
  • The thief hit him a thump on the head.贼在他的头上重击一下。
  • The excitement made her heart thump.她兴奋得心怦怦地跳。
94 riveted ecef077186c9682b433fa17f487ee017     
铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 ); 把…固定住; 吸引; 引起某人的注意
参考例句:
  • I was absolutely riveted by her story. 我完全被她的故事吸引住了。
  • My attention was riveted by a slight movement in the bushes. 我的注意力被灌木丛中的轻微晃动吸引住了。
95 vat sKszW     
n.(=value added tax)增值税,大桶
参考例句:
  • The office is asking for the vat papers.办事处要有关增值税的文件。
  • His father emptied sacks of stale rye bread into the vat.他父亲把一袋袋发霉的黑面包倒进大桶里。
96 gaol Qh8xK     
n.(jail)监狱;(不加冠词)监禁;vt.使…坐牢
参考例句:
  • He was released from the gaol.他被释放出狱。
  • The man spent several years in gaol for robbery.这男人因犯抢劫罪而坐了几年牢。
97 plumb Y2szL     
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。
98 screech uDkzc     
n./v.尖叫;(发出)刺耳的声音
参考例句:
  • He heard a screech of brakes and then fell down. 他听到汽车刹车发出的尖锐的声音,然后就摔倒了。
  • The screech of jet planes violated the peace of the afternoon. 喷射机的尖啸声侵犯了下午的平静。
99 kennel axay6     
n.狗舍,狗窝
参考例句:
  • Sporting dogs should be kept out of doors in a kennel.猎狗应该养在户外的狗窝中。
  • Rescued dogs are housed in a standard kennel block.获救的狗被装在一个标准的犬舍里。
100 spat pFdzJ     
n.口角,掌击;v.发出呼噜呼噜声
参考例句:
  • Her parents always have spats.她的父母经常有些小的口角。
  • There is only a spat between the brother and sister.那只是兄妹间的小吵小闹。
101 lighting CpszPL     
n.照明,光线的明暗,舞台灯光
参考例句:
  • The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
  • The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。
102 uproar LHfyc     
n.骚动,喧嚣,鼎沸
参考例句:
  • She could hear the uproar in the room.她能听见房间里的吵闹声。
  • His remarks threw the audience into an uproar.他的讲话使听众沸腾起来。
103 imperative BcdzC     
n.命令,需要;规则;祈使语气;adj.强制的;紧急的
参考例句:
  • He always speaks in an imperative tone of voice.他老是用命令的口吻讲话。
  • The events of the past few days make it imperative for her to act.过去这几天发生的事迫使她不得不立即行动。
104 briefly 9Styo     
adv.简单地,简短地
参考例句:
  • I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
  • He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。
105 bent QQ8yD     
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的
参考例句:
  • He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
  • We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
106 precisely zlWzUb     
adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地
参考例句:
  • It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
  • The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。
107 murmur EjtyD     
n.低语,低声的怨言;v.低语,低声而言
参考例句:
  • They paid the extra taxes without a murmur.他们毫无怨言地交了附加税。
  • There was a low murmur of conversation in the hall.大厅里有窃窃私语声。
108 assent Hv6zL     
v.批准,认可;n.批准,认可
参考例句:
  • I cannot assent to what you ask.我不能应允你的要求。
  • The new bill passed by Parliament has received Royal Assent.议会所通过的新方案已获国王批准。
109 lanky N9vzd     
adj.瘦长的
参考例句:
  • He was six feet four,all lanky and leggy.他身高6英尺4英寸,瘦高个儿,大长腿。
  • Tom was a lanky boy with long skinny legs.汤姆是一个腿很细的瘦高个儿。
110 wager IH2yT     
n.赌注;vt.押注,打赌
参考例句:
  • They laid a wager on the result of the race.他们以竞赛的结果打赌。
  • I made a wager that our team would win.我打赌我们的队会赢。
111 humble ddjzU     
adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;v.降低,贬低
参考例句:
  • In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见,他将在选举中获胜。
  • Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。
112 swirls 05339556c814e770ea5e4a39869bdcc2     
n.旋转( swirl的名词复数 );卷状物;漩涡;尘旋v.旋转,打旋( swirl的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • Swirls of smoke rose through the trees. 树林中升起盘旋的青烟。 来自辞典例句
  • On reaching the southeast corner of Himalaya-Tibet, It'swirls cyclonically across the Yunnan Plateau. 在到达喜马拉雅--西藏高原东南角处,它作气旋性转向越过云南高原。 来自辞典例句
113 foul Sfnzy     
adj.污秽的;邪恶的;v.弄脏;妨害;犯规;n.犯规
参考例句:
  • Take off those foul clothes and let me wash them.脱下那些脏衣服让我洗一洗。
  • What a foul day it is!多么恶劣的天气!
114 blasphemies 03153f820424ca21b037633d3d1b7481     
n.对上帝的亵渎,亵渎的言词[行为]( blasphemy的名词复数 );侮慢的言词(或行为)
参考例句:
  • That foul mouth stands there bringing more ill fortune with his blasphemies. 那一张臭嘴站在那儿满嘴喷粪,只能带来更多恶运。 来自辞典例句
  • All great truths begin as blasphemies. 一切伟大的真理起初都被视为大逆不道的邪说。 来自辞典例句
115 plunged 06a599a54b33c9d941718dccc7739582     
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降
参考例句:
  • The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
  • She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳,从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。
116 ferocious ZkNxc     
adj.凶猛的,残暴的,极度的,十分强烈的
参考例句:
  • The ferocious winds seemed about to tear the ship to pieces.狂风仿佛要把船撕成碎片似的。
  • The ferocious panther is chasing a rabbit.那只凶猛的豹子正追赶一只兔子。
117 exertions 2d5ee45020125fc19527a78af5191726     
n.努力( exertion的名词复数 );费力;(能力、权力等的)运用;行使
参考例句:
  • As long as they lived, exertions would not be necessary to her. 只要他们活着,是不需要她吃苦的。 来自辞典例句
  • She failed to unlock the safe in spite of all her exertions. 她虽然费尽力气,仍未能将那保险箱的锁打开。 来自辞典例句
118 invincible 9xMyc     
adj.不可征服的,难以制服的
参考例句:
  • This football team was once reputed to be invincible.这支足球队曾被誉为无敌的劲旅。
  • The workers are invincible as long as they hold together.只要工人团结一致,他们就是不可战胜的。
119 tumult LKrzm     
n.喧哗;激动,混乱;吵闹
参考例句:
  • The tumult in the streets awakened everyone in the house.街上的喧哗吵醒了屋子里的每一个人。
  • His voice disappeared under growing tumult.他的声音消失在越来越响的喧哗声中。
120 eyebrows a0e6fb1330e9cfecfd1c7a4d00030ed5     
眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
  • His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。
121 scrap JDFzf     
n.碎片;废料;v.废弃,报废
参考例句:
  • A man comes round regularly collecting scrap.有个男人定时来收废品。
  • Sell that car for scrap.把那辆汽车当残品卖了吧。


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