A lank¹, strong, red-faced man with a Wellington beak² and small, fiery³ eyes tempered by flaxen lashes⁴, sat on the station platform at Los Pinos swinging his legs to and fro. At his side sat another man, fat, melancholy⁵, and seedy, who seemed to be his friend. They had the appearance of men to whom life had appeared as a reversible coat-- seamy on both sides.

"Ain't seen you in about four years, Ham," said the seedy man. "Which way you been travelling?"

"Texas," said the red-faced man. "It was too cold in Alaska for me. And I found it warm in Texas. I'll tell you about one hot spell I went through there.

"One morning I steps off the International at a water-tank and lets it go on without me. 'Twas a ranch⁶ country, and fuller of spite-houses than New York City. Only out there they build 'em twenty miles away so you can't smell what they've got for dinner, instead of running 'em up two inches from their neighbors' windows.

"There wasn't any roads in sight, so I footed it 'cross country. The grass was shoe-top deep, and the mesquite timber looked just like a peach orchard⁷. It was so much like a gentleman's private estate that every minute you expected a kennelful of bulldogs to run out and bite you. But I must have walked twenty miles before I came in sight of a ranch-house. It was a little one, about as big as an elevated- railroad station.

"There was a little man in a white shirt and brown overalls⁸ and a pink handkerchief around his neck rolling cigarettes under a tree in front of the door.

"'Greetings,' says I. 'Any refreshment⁹, welcome, emoluments

点击收听单词发音  

1 lank
adj.瘦削的；稀疏的
参考例句：
He rose to lank height and grasped Billy McMahan's hand.他瘦削的身躯站了起来，紧紧地握住比利·麦默恩的手。 The old man has lank hair.那位老人头发稀疏

2 beak
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。

3 fiery
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。

4 lashes
n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥
参考例句：
Mother always lashes out food for the children's party. 孩子们聚会时，母亲总是给他们许多吃的。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Never walk behind a horse in case it lashes out. 绝对不要跟在马后面，以防它突然猛踢。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 melancholy
n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的
参考例句：
All at once he fell into a state of profound melancholy.他立即陷入无尽的忧思之中。 He felt melancholy after he failed the exam.这次考试没通过，他感到很郁闷。

6 ranch
n.大牧场，大农场
参考例句：
He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。 The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

7 orchard
n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场
参考例句：
My orchard is bearing well this year.今年我的果园果实累累。 Each bamboo house was surrounded by a thriving orchard.每座竹楼周围都是茂密的果园。

8 overalls
n.（复）工装裤；长罩衣
参考例句：
He is in overalls today.他今天穿的是工作裤。 He changed his overalls for a suit.他脱下工装裤，换上了一套西服。

9 refreshment
n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点
参考例句：
He needs to stop fairly often for refreshment.他须时不时地停下来喘口气。 A hot bath is a great refreshment after a day's work.在一天工作之后洗个热水澡真是舒畅。

10 emoluments
n.报酬，薪水( emolument的名词复数 )
参考例句：
The emoluments of this profession is not satisfactory. 此行业的报酬不令人满意。 来自辞典例句 Emoluments connected with this position include free education for the children. 与这职务有关的酬劳包括为子女提供免费教育。 来自互联网

11 retirement
n.退休，退职
参考例句：
She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。 I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

12 herd
n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起
参考例句：
She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。 He had no opinions of his own but simply follow the herd.他从无主见，只是人云亦云。

13 masticating
v.咀嚼( masticate的现在分词 )；粉碎，磨烂
参考例句：
Her mouth was working, as if she was masticating some tasty titbit. 她的嘴在动，好像在嚼什么好吃的。 来自辞典例句

14 rations
定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量
参考例句：
They are provisioned with seven days' rations. 他们得到了7天的给养。 The soldiers complained that they were getting short rations. 士兵们抱怨他们得到的配给不够数。

15 crook
v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处)
参考例句：
He demanded an apology from me for calling him a crook.我骂他骗子，他要我向他认错。 She was cradling a small parcel in the crook of her elbow.她用手臂挎着一个小包裹。

16 outfit
n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装
参考例句：
Jenney bought a new outfit for her daughter's wedding.珍妮为参加女儿的婚礼买了一套新装。 His father bought a ski outfit for him on his birthday.他父亲在他生日那天给他买了一套滑雪用具。

17 herded
群集，纠结( herd的过去式和过去分词 )； 放牧； （使）向…移动
参考例句：
He herded up his goats. 他把山羊赶拢在一起。 They herded into the corner. 他们往角落里聚集。

18 costly
adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的
参考例句：
It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。 This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

19 sociable
adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的
参考例句：
Roger is a very sociable person.罗杰是个非常好交际的人。 Some children have more sociable personalities than others.有些孩子比其他孩子更善于交际。

20 peculiar
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。

21 outlaw
n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法
参考例句：
The outlaw hid out in the hills for several months.逃犯在山里隐藏了几个月。 The outlaw has been caught.歹徒已被抓住了。

22 monotonous
adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的
参考例句：
She thought life in the small town was monotonous.她觉得小镇上的生活单调而乏味。 His articles are fixed in form and monotonous in content.他的文章千篇一律，一个调调儿。

23 ribs
n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹
参考例句：
He suffered cracked ribs and bruising. 他断了肋骨还有挫伤。 Make a small incision below the ribs. 在肋骨下方切开一个小口。

24 overhaul
v./n.大修，仔细检查
参考例句：
Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。 It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。

25 despoiler
参考例句：

26 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。

27 disingenuous
adj.不诚恳的，虚伪的
参考例句：
It is disingenuous of him to flatter me.他对我阿谀奉承，是居心叵测。 His brother Shura with staring disingenuous eyes was plotting to master the world.他那长着一对狡诈眼睛的哥哥瑞拉，处心积虑图谋征服整个世界。

28 forth
adv.向前；向外，往外
参考例句：
The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。 He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

29 strings
n.弦
参考例句：
He sat on the bed,idly plucking the strings of his guitar.他坐在床上，随意地拨着吉他的弦。 She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。

30 shuffling
adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式
参考例句：
Don't go shuffling along as if you were dead. 别像个死人似地拖着脚走。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹 Some one was shuffling by on the sidewalk. 外面的人行道上有人拖着脚走过。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

31 expeditious
adj.迅速的，敏捷的
参考例句：
They are almost as expeditious and effectual as Aladdin's lamp.他们几乎像如意神灯那么迅速有效。 It is more convenien,expeditious and economical than telephone or telegram.它比电话或电报更方便、迅速和经济。

32 afterward
adv.后来；以后
参考例句：
Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。 Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。

33 garb
n.服装，装束
参考例句：
He wore the garb of a general.他身着将军的制服。 Certain political,social,and legal forms reappear in seemingly different garb.一些政治、社会和法律的形式在表面不同的外衣下重复出现。

34 buffalo
n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛
参考例句：
Asian buffalo isn't as wild as that of America's. 亚洲水牛比美洲水牛温顺些。 The boots are made of buffalo hide. 这双靴子是由水牛皮制成的。

35 baton
n.乐队用指挥杖
参考例句：
With the baton the conductor was beating time.乐队指挥用指挥棒打拍子。 The conductor waved his baton,and the band started up.指挥挥动指挥棒，乐队开始演奏起来。

36 rouge
n.胭脂，口红唇膏；v.(在…上)擦口红
参考例句：
Women put rouge on their cheeks to make their faces pretty.女人往面颊上涂胭脂，使脸更漂亮。 She didn't need any powder or lip rouge to make her pretty.她天生漂亮，不需要任何脂粉唇膏打扮自己。

37 scout
n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索
参考例句：
He was mistaken for an enemy scout and badly wounded.他被误认为是敌人的侦察兵，受了重伤。 The scout made a stealthy approach to the enemy position.侦察兵偷偷地靠近敌军阵地。

38 octopus
n.章鱼
参考例句：
He experienced nausea after eating octopus.吃了章鱼后他感到恶心。 One octopus has eight tentacles.一条章鱼有八根触角。

39 shearing
n.剪羊毛，剪取的羊毛v.剪羊毛( shear的现在分词 )；切断；剪切
参考例句：
The farmer is shearing his sheep. 那农夫正在给他的羊剪毛。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The result of this shearing force is to push the endoplasm forward. 这种剪切力作用的结果是推动内质向前。 来自辞典例句

40 frowzy
adj.不整洁的；污秽的
参考例句：
The drowsy browser knits its brows to browbeat the frowzy crow.昏昏欲睡的吃草动物皱眉头恐吓邋遢的乌鸦。 The frowzy street was disgusting.那条肮脏的街道令人作呕。

41 snip
n.便宜货，廉价货，剪，剪断
参考例句：
He has now begun to snip away at the piece of paper.现在他已经开始剪这张纸。 The beautifully made briefcase is a snip at £74.25.这个做工精美的公文包售价才74.25英镑，可谓物美价廉。

42 hustled
催促（hustle的过去式与过去分词形式）
参考例句：
He grabbed her arm and hustled her out of the room. 他抓住她的胳膊把她推出房间。 The secret service agents hustled the speaker out of the amphitheater. 特务机关的代理人把演讲者驱逐出竞技场。

43 winding
n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈
参考例句：
A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。 The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。

44 brook
n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让
参考例句：
In our room we could hear the murmur of a distant brook.在我们房间能听到远处小溪汩汩的流水声。 The brook trickled through the valley.小溪涓涓流过峡谷。

45 second-hand
adj.用过的，旧的，二手的
参考例句：
I got this book by chance at a second-hand bookshop.我赶巧在一家旧书店里买到这本书。 They will put all these second-hand goods up for sale.他们将把这些旧货全部公开出售。

46 vent
n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄
参考例句：
He gave vent to his anger by swearing loudly.他高声咒骂以发泄他的愤怒。 When the vent became plugged,the engine would stop.当通风口被堵塞时，发动机就会停转。

47 metropolitan
adj.大城市的，大都会的
参考例句：
Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。 Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。

48 indigenous
adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的
参考例句：
Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。 Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

49 sartorial
adj.裁缝的
参考例句：
John has never been known for his sartorial elegance.约翰从来没有因为衣着讲究而出名。 Jeans a powerful egalitarian message,but are far more likely to a sartorial deathtrap for politicians.政客们穿上牛仔裤是传递亲民的讯息，但也更容易犯穿衣禁忌。

50 creek
n.小溪，小河，小湾
参考例句：
He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。 People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。

51 cavalry
n.骑兵；轻装甲部队
参考例句：
We were taken in flank by a troop of cavalry. 我们翼侧受到一队骑兵的袭击。 The enemy cavalry rode our men down. 敌人的骑兵撞倒了我们的人。

52 elevation
n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高
参考例句：
The house is at an elevation of 2,000 metres.那幢房子位于海拔两千米的高处。 His elevation to the position of General Manager was announced yesterday.昨天宣布他晋升总经理职位。

53 ranches
大农场， （兼种果树，养鸡等的）大牧场( ranch的名词复数 )
参考例句：
They hauled feedlot manure from the ranches to fertilize their fields. 他们从牧场的饲养场拖走肥料去肥田。 Many abandoned ranches are purchased or leased by other poultrymen. 许多被放弃的牧场会由其他家禽监主收买或租用。

54 preamble
n.前言；序文
参考例句：
He spoke without preamble.他没有开场白地讲起来。 The controversy has arisen over the text of the preamble to the unification treaty.针对统一条约的序文出现了争论。

55 disposition
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。

56 amiable
adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的
参考例句：
She was a very kind and amiable old woman.她是个善良和气的老太太。 We have a very amiable companionship.我们之间存在一种友好的关系。

57 desultory
adj.散漫的，无方法的
参考例句：
Do not let the discussion fragment into a desultory conversation with no clear direction.不要让讨论变得支离破碎，成为没有明确方向的漫谈。 The constables made a desultory attempt to keep them away from the barn.警察漫不经心地拦着不让他们靠近谷仓。

58 scoop
n.铲子，舀取，独家新闻；v.汲取，舀取，抢先登出
参考例句：
In the morning he must get his boy to scoop it out.早上一定得叫佣人把它剜出来。 Uh,one scoop of coffee and one scoop of chocolate for me.我要一勺咖啡的和一勺巧克力的。

59 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。

60 asunder
adj.分离的，化为碎片
参考例句：
The curtains had been drawn asunder.窗帘被拉向两边。 Your conscience,conviction,integrity,and loyalties were torn asunder.你的良心、信念、正直和忠诚都被扯得粉碎了。

61 cocktail
n.鸡尾酒；餐前开胃小吃；混合物
参考例句：
We invited some foreign friends for a cocktail party.我们邀请了一些外国朋友参加鸡尾酒会。 At a cocktail party in Hollywood,I was introduced to Charlie Chaplin.在好莱坞的一次鸡尾酒会上，人家把我介绍给查理·卓别林。

62 forsook
forsake的过去式
参考例句：
He faithlessly forsook his friends in their hour of need. 在最需要的时刻他背信弃义地抛弃朋友。 She forsook her worldly possessions to devote herself to the church. 她抛弃世上的财物而献身教会。

63 gondola
n.威尼斯的平底轻舟；飞船的吊船
参考例句：
The road is too narrow to allow the passage of gondola.这条街太窄大型货车不能通过。 I have a gondola here.我开来了一条平底船。

64 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。

65 abrupt
adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的
参考例句：
The river takes an abrupt bend to the west.这河突然向西转弯。 His abrupt reply hurt our feelings.他粗鲁的回答伤了我们的感情。

66 ammunition
n.军火，弹药
参考例句：
A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。 They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。

67 tussle
n.&v.扭打，搏斗，争辩
参考例句：
They began to tussle with each other for the handgun.他们互相扭打起来，抢夺那支手枪。 We are engaged in a legal tussle with a large pharmaceutical company.我们正同一家大制药公司闹法律纠纷。

68 odds
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？

69 scooped
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》

70 perspire
vi.出汗，流汗
参考例句：
He began to perspire heavily.他开始大量出汗。 You perspire a lot when you are eating.你在吃饭的时候流汗很多。

71 perspiring
v.出汗，流汗( perspire的现在分词 )
参考例句：
He had been working hard and was perspiring profusely. 他一直在努力干活，身上大汗淋漓的。 来自《简明英汉词典》 So they "went it lively," panting and perspiring with the work. 于是他们就“痛痛快快地比一比”了，结果比得两个人气喘吁吁、汗流浃背。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险

72 engraved
v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中）
参考例句：
The silver cup was engraved with his name. 银杯上刻有他的名字。 It was prettily engraved with flowers on the back. 此件雕刻精美，背面有花饰图案。 来自《简明英汉词典》

73 indemnity
n.赔偿，赔款，补偿金
参考例句：
They paid an indemnity to the victim after the accident.他们在事故后向受害者付了赔偿金。 Under this treaty,they were to pay an indemnity for five million dollars.根据这项条约，他们应赔款500万美元。

74 sniffed
v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说
参考例句：
When Jenney had stopped crying she sniffed and dried her eyes. 珍妮停止了哭泣，吸了吸鼻子，擦干了眼泪。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The dog sniffed suspiciously at the stranger. 狗疑惑地嗅着那个陌生人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

75 disparagingly
adv.以贬抑的口吻，以轻视的态度
参考例句：
These mythological figures are described disparagingly as belonging only to a story. 这些神话人物被轻蔑地描述为“仅在传说中出现”的人物。 来自互联网 In his memoirs he often speaks disparagingly about the private sector. 在他的回忆录里面他经常轻蔑的谈及私营（商业）部门。 来自互联网

76 blues
n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐
参考例句：
She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。 He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

77 sniffing
n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说
参考例句：
We all had colds and couldn't stop sniffing and sneezing. 我们都感冒了，一个劲地抽鼻子，打喷嚏。 They all had colds and were sniffing and sneezing. 他们都伤风了，呼呼喘气而且打喷嚏。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

78 alibis
某人在别处的证据( alibi的名词复数 )； 不在犯罪现场的证人； 借口； 托辞
参考例句：
The suspects all had alibis for the day of the robbery. 嫌疑人均有证据证明抢劫当天不在犯罪现场。 I'm not trying to beat your alibis any more than I'm trying to prove 'em. 我并不是不让你辩护，我只是想把那个人找出来。

79 bumpers
（汽车上的）保险杠，缓冲器( bumper的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Our bumpers just grazed (ie touched each other) as we passed. 我们错车时保险互相蹭了一下。 Car stickers can be attached to the bumpers or windows. 汽车贴纸可以贴在防撞杆上或车窗上。