He retraced¹ his steps by the safe-conduct of a full moon, which showed up the gaping² black mouths of circular shafts³ and silvered the water that flooded abandoned oblong holes to their brim. Tents and huts stood white and forsaken⁵ in the moonlight: their owners were either gathered on Bakery Hill, or had repaired to one of the gambling⁶ and dancing saloons that lined the main street. Arrived at the store he set his frantic⁷ dog free, and putting a match to his pipe, began to stroll up and down.

He felt annoyed with himself for having helped to swell⁸ the crowd of malcontents; and still more for his foolishness in giving the rein⁹ to a momentary¹⁰ irritation¹¹. As if it mattered a doit what trash these foreigners talked! No thinking person took their bombast¹² seriously; the authorities, with great good sense, let it pass for what it was — a noisy blowing-off of steam. At heart, the diggers were as sound as good pippins.

A graver consideration was Purdy’s growing fellowship with the rebel faction¹³. The boy was too young and still too much of a fly-by-night to have a black mark set against his name. It would be the more absurd, considering that his sincerity

点击收听单词发音  

1 retraced
v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯
参考例句：
We retraced our steps to where we started. 我们折回我们出发的地方。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》 We retraced our route in an attempt to get back on the right path. 我们折返，想回到正确的路上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 gaping
adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大
参考例句：
Ahead of them was a gaping abyss. 他们前面是一个巨大的深渊。 The antelope could not escape the crocodile's gaping jaws. 那只羚羊无法从鱷鱼张开的大口中逃脱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 shafts
n.轴( shaft的名词复数 )；（箭、高尔夫球棒等的）杆；通风井；一阵（疼痛、害怕等）
参考例句：
He deliberately jerked the shafts to rock him a bit. 他故意的上下颠动车把，摇这个老猴子几下。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子 Shafts were sunk, with tunnels dug laterally. 竖井已经打下，并且挖有横向矿道。 来自辞典例句

4 shaft
n.(工具的)柄，杆状物
参考例句：
He was wounded by a shaft.他被箭击中受伤。 This is the shaft of a steam engine.这是一个蒸汽机主轴。

5 Forsaken
adj. 被遗忘的, 被抛弃的 动词forsake的过去分词
参考例句：
He was forsaken by his friends. 他被朋友们背弃了。 He has forsaken his wife and children. 他遗弃了他的妻子和孩子。

6 gambling
n.赌博；投机
参考例句：
They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。 The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。

7 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。

8 swell
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。

9 rein
n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治
参考例句：
The horse answered to the slightest pull on the rein.只要缰绳轻轻一拉,马就作出反应。 He never drew rein for a moment till he reached the river.他一刻不停地一直跑到河边。

10 momentary
adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的
参考例句：
We are in momentary expectation of the arrival of you.我们无时无刻不在盼望你的到来。 I caught a momentary glimpse of them.我瞥了他们一眼。

11 irritation
n.激怒，恼怒，生气
参考例句：
He could not hide his irritation that he had not been invited.他无法掩饰因未被邀请而生的气恼。 Barbicane said nothing,but his silence covered serious irritation.巴比康什么也不说，但是他的沉默里潜伏着阴郁的怒火。

12 bombast
n.高调，夸大之辞
参考例句：
There was no bombast or conceit in his speech.他的演讲并没有夸大其词和自吹自擂。 Yasha realized that Wolsky's bombast was unnecessary.雅夏看出沃尔斯基是在无中生有地吹嘘。

13 faction
n.宗派，小集团；派别；派系斗争
参考例句：
Faction and self-interest appear to be the norm.派系之争和自私自利看来非常普遍。 I now understood clearly that I was caught between the king and the Bunam's faction.我现在完全明白自己已陷入困境，在国王与布纳姆集团之间左右为难。

14 sincerity
n.真诚，诚意；真实
参考例句：
His sincerity added much more authority to the story.他的真诚更增加了故事的说服力。 He tried hard to satisfy me of his sincerity.他竭力让我了解他的诚意。

15 espousing
v.（决定）支持，拥护（目标、主张等）( espouse的现在分词 )
参考例句：

16 relish
n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味
参考例句：
I have no relish for pop music.我对流行音乐不感兴趣。 I relish the challenge of doing jobs that others turn down.我喜欢挑战别人拒绝做的工作。

17 theatrical
adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的
参考例句：
The final scene was dismayingly lacking in theatrical effect.最后一场缺乏戏剧效果，叫人失望。 She always makes some theatrical gesture.她老在做些夸张的手势。

18 imperative
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。

19 rebutted
v.反驳，驳回( rebut的过去式和过去分词 )；击退
参考例句：
Has Mr. Chiang or any member of his party ever rebutted this? 蒋先生及其党人曾经对这话提出过任何驳斥吗？ 来自互联网 He rebutted the argument of the other team in a debate. 他在辩论会中反驳对方的论点。 来自互联网

20 modicum
n.少量，一小份
参考例句：
If he had a modicum of sense,he wouldn't do such a foolish thing.要是他稍有一点理智，他决不会做出如此愚蠢的事来。 There's not even a modicum of truth in her statement.她说的话没有一点是真的。

21 innate
adj.天生的，固有的，天赋的
参考例句：
You obviously have an innate talent for music.你显然有天生的音乐才能。 Correct ideas are not innate in the mind.人的正确思想不是自己头脑中固有的。

22 temperament
n.气质，性格，性情
参考例句：
The analysis of what kind of temperament you possess is vital.分析一下你有什么样的气质是十分重要的。 Success often depends on temperament.成功常常取决于一个人的性格。

23 fixed
adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的
参考例句：
Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？ Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

24 par
n.标准，票面价值，平均数量；adj.票面的，平常的，标准的
参考例句：
Sales of nylon have been below par in recent years.近年来尼龙织品的销售额一直不及以往。 I don't think his ability is on a par with yours.我认为他的能力不能与你的能力相媲美。

25 bin
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。

26 tune
n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整
参考例句：
He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。 The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

27 jack
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。

28 deserted
adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的
参考例句：
The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。 The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

29 attuned
v.使协调( attune的过去式和过去分词 )；调音
参考例句：
She wasn't yet attuned to her baby's needs. 她还没有熟悉她宝宝的需要。 Women attuned to sensitive men found Vincent Lord attractive. 偏爱敏感男子的女人，觉得文森特·洛德具有魅力。 来自辞典例句

30 anticipation
n.预期，预料，期望
参考例句：
We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。 The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

31 justification
n.正当的理由；辩解的理由
参考例句：
There's no justification for dividing the company into smaller units. 没有理由把公司划分成小单位。 In the young there is a justification for this feeling. 在年轻人中有这种感觉是有理由的。

32 prosper
v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣
参考例句：
With her at the wheel,the company began to prosper.有了她当主管，公司开始兴旺起来。 It is my earnest wish that this company will continue to prosper.我真诚希望这家公司会继续兴旺发达。

33 joyfully
adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地
参考例句：
She tripped along joyfully as if treading on air. 她高兴地走着，脚底下轻飘飘的。 During these first weeks she slaved joyfully. 在最初的几周里，她干得很高兴。

34 wholesome
adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的
参考例句：
In actual fact the things I like doing are mostly wholesome.实际上我喜欢做的事大都是有助于增进身体健康的。 It is not wholesome to eat without washing your hands.不洗手吃饭是不卫生的。

35 engrossing
adj.使人全神贯注的，引人入胜的v.使全神贯注( engross的现在分词 )
参考例句：
He told us an engrossing story. 他给我们讲了一个引人入胜的故事。 来自《简明英汉词典》 It might soon have ripened into that engrossing feeling. 很快便会发展成那种压倒一切的感情的。 来自辞典例句

36 ramble
v.漫步，漫谈，漫游；n.漫步，闲谈，蔓延
参考例句：
This is the best season for a ramble in the suburbs.这是去郊区漫游的最好季节。 I like to ramble about the street after work.我下班后在街上漫步。

37 caress
vt./n.爱抚，抚摸
参考例句：
She gave the child a loving caress.她疼爱地抚摸着孩子。 She feasted on the caress of the hot spring.她尽情享受着温泉的抚爱。

38 serenely
adv.安详地，宁静地，平静地
参考例句：
The boat sailed serenely on towards the horizon.小船平稳地向着天水交接处驶去。 It was a serenely beautiful night.那是一个宁静美丽的夜晚。

39 impudently
参考例句：
She was his favorite and could speak to him so impudently. 她是他的宠儿，可以那样无礼他说话。 来自教父部分 He walked into the shop and calmly (ie impudently and self-confidently) stole a pair of gloves. 他走进商店若无其事地偷了一副手套。 来自辞典例句

40 averred
v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出
参考例句：
She averred that she had never seen the man before. 她斩钉截铁地说以前从未见过这个男人。 The prosecutor averred that the prisoner killed Lois. 检察官称被拘犯杀害洛伊丝属实。 来自互联网

41 loutish
adj.粗鲁的
参考例句：
He was not as loutish as his manner suggested.他举止粗野，但人不是那样的。 I was appalled by the loutish behaviour.这种粗野行为令我大为震惊。

42 gall
v.使烦恼，使焦躁，难堪；n.磨难
参考例句：
It galled him to have to ask for a loan.必须向人借钱使他感到难堪。 No gall,no glory.没有磨难，何来荣耀。

43 inter
v.埋葬
参考例句：
They interred their dear comrade in the arms.他们埋葬了他们亲爱的战友。 The man who died in that accident has been interred.在那次事故中死的那个人已经被埋葬了。

44 muddle
n.困惑，混浊状态；vt.使混乱，使糊涂，使惊呆；vi.胡乱应付，混乱
参考例句：
Everything in the room was in a muddle.房间里每一件东西都是乱七八糟的。 Don't work in a rush and get into a muddle.克服忙乱现象。

45 disapproval
n.反对，不赞成
参考例句：
The teacher made an outward show of disapproval.老师表面上表示不同意。 They shouted their disapproval.他们喊叫表示反对。

46 mischief
n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹
参考例句：
Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。 He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。

47 lighting
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。

48 invoice
vt.开发票；n.发票，装货清单
参考例句：
The seller has to issue a tax invoice.销售者必须开具税务发票。 We will then send you an invoice for the total course fees.然后我们会把全部课程费用的发票寄给你。

49 bogged
adj.陷于泥沼的v.（使）陷入泥沼， （使）陷入困境( bog的过去式和过去分词 )；妨碍，阻碍
参考例句：
The professor bogged down in the middle of his speech. 教授的演讲只说了一半便讲不下去了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》 The tractor is bogged down in the mud. 拖拉机陷入了泥沼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

50 marsh
n.沼泽，湿地
参考例句：
There are a lot of frogs in the marsh.沼泽里有许多青蛙。 I made my way slowly out of the marsh.我缓慢地走出这片沼泽地。

51 cram
v.填塞，塞满，临时抱佛脚，为考试而学习
参考例句：
There was such a cram in the church.教堂里拥挤得要命。 The room's full,we can't cram any more people in.屋里满满的，再也挤不进去人了。

52 prosecute
vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官
参考例句：
I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。 Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据？

53 quill
n.羽毛管；v.给（织物或衣服）作皱褶
参考例句：
He wrote with a quill.他用羽毛笔写字。 She dipped a quill in ink,and then began to write.她将羽毛笔在墨水里蘸了一下，随后开始书写。

54 eldest
adj.最年长的，最年老的
参考例句：
The King's eldest son is the heir to the throne.国王的长子是王位的继承人。 The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son.城堡和土地限定由长子继承。

55 solicitor
n.初级律师，事务律师
参考例句：
The solicitor's advice gave me food for thought.律师的指点值得我深思。 The solicitor moved for an adjournment of the case.律师请求将这个案件的诉讼延期。

56 catching
adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住
参考例句：
There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。 Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。