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CHAPTER XXIII. MR. PEABODY'S TROUBLES.
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When the party camped for the night the custom was to arrange the baggage wagons1 in a semicircle, and provide a resting-place for the women and children inside. As they were passing through a country occupied by Indians it was necessary to post one or more sentinels to keep watch through the night, and give notice of any who might be seen lurking2 near the camp. Fortunately, however, an Indian attack was seldom made at night. The time generally selected was in the morning, when the party were preparing to start on their day's march. Tom, as a boy, would have been excused taking his turn; but this did not suit him. He requested as a favor, that he might stand watch with the rest.
"Can he be relied upon? Is he not too young?" asked Fletcher, the leader, of Mr. Ferguson.
"You can depend upon him," said the[185] Scotchman confidently. "There's more manliness3 in Tom than in many men of twice his years."
"Then I will put his name on the list," said Fletcher.
"That's right. I'll answer for him."
But there was one of the travelers who was by no means eager to stand on watch. This was Lawrence Peabody, the young man from Boston. He sought an interview with Fletcher, and asked to be excused.
"On what grounds, Mr. Peabody?" asked Fletcher, surprised.
"It doesn't agree with me to lose my night's sleep," said Peabody. "I am naturally delicate, and——"
"Your excuse is not satisfactory, Mr. Peabody. We are banded together in a little community, having mutual4 rights and mutual obligations. In the arrangements made for the common safety it is your duty to bear your part."
"I am willing to provide a substitute," said Peabody eagerly.
"Where will you find a substitute?"[186]
"I have been talking with Tom Nelson. He says he is willing to serve in my turn."
"He will serve when his own turn comes; that will be all we can expect of him."
"But he is only a boy. Why should he be expected to take his turn?"
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1
wagons
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n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 );铁路货车;小手推车 | |
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2
lurking
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潜在 | |
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3
manliness
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刚毅 | |
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4
mutual
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adj.相互的,彼此的;共同的,共有的 | |
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5
nervously
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adv.神情激动地,不安地 | |
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6
precisely
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adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地 | |
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7
chattering
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n. (机器振动发出的)咔嗒声,(鸟等)鸣,啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的,啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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8
tempted
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v.怂恿(某人)干不正当的事;冒…的险(tempt的过去分词) | |
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9
fervently
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adv.热烈地,热情地,强烈地 | |
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10
melancholy
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n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的 | |
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11
plaintively
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adv.悲哀地,哀怨地 | |
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12
inclination
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n.倾斜;点头;弯腰;斜坡;倾度;倾向;爱好 | |
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13
groan
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vi./n.呻吟,抱怨;(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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14
standing
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n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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15
averse
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adj.厌恶的;反对的,不乐意的 | |
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16
resolute
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adj.坚决的,果敢的 | |
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17
modesty
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n.谦逊,虚心,端庄,稳重,羞怯,朴素 | |
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18
perspiration
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n.汗水;出汗 | |
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19
fatigue
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n.疲劳,劳累 | |
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20
delicacy
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n.精致,细微,微妙,精良;美味,佳肴 | |
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21
wrung
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绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 ); 握紧(尤指别人的手); 把(湿衣服)拧干; 绞掉(水) | |
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22
spoke
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n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 | |
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23
obdurate
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adj.固执的,顽固的 | |
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24
grit
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n.沙粒,决心,勇气;v.下定决心,咬紧牙关 | |
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25
groaned
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v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 );发牢骚;抱怨;受苦 | |
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