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中篇小说:巴斯克维尔猎犬(9)
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  • Chapter 9.

    The Light upon the Moor1 [Second Report of Dr. Watson]

    Baskerville Hall, Oct. 15th.

    MY DEAR HOLMES,

    If I was compelled to leave you without much news during the early days of my mission you must acknowledge that I am making up for lost time, and that events are now crowding thick and fast upon us. In my last report I ended upon my top note with Barrymore at the window, and now I have quite a budget already which will, unless I am much mistaken, considerably2 surprise you. Things have taken a turn which I could not have anticipated. In some ways they have within the last forty-eight hours become much clearer and in some ways they have become more complicated. But I will tell you all and you shall judge for yourself.

    Before breakfast on the morning following my adventure I went down the corridor and examined the room in which Barrymore had been on the night before. The western window through which he had stared so intently has, I noticed, one peculiarity3 above all other windows in the house—it commands the nearest outlook on to the moor. There is an opening between two trees which enables one from this point of view to look right down upon it, while from all the other windows it is only a distant glimpse which can be obtained. It follows, therefore, that Barrymore, since only this window would serve the purpose, must have been looking out for something or somebody upon the moor. The night was very dark, so that I can hardly imagine how he could have hoped to see anyone. It had struck me that it was possible that some love intrigue4 was on foot. That would have accounted for his stealthy movements and also for the uneasiness of his wife. The man is a striking-looking fellow, very well equipped to steal the heart of a country girl, so that this theory seemed to have something to support it. That opening of the door which I had heard after I had returned to my room might mean that he had gone out to keep some clandestine5 appointment. So I reasoned with myself in the morning, and I tell you the direction of my suspicions, however much the result may have shown that they were unfounded.

    But whatever the true explanation of Barrymore’s movements might be, I felt that the responsibility of keeping them to myself until I could explain them was more than I could bear. I had an interview with the baronet in his study after breakfast, and I told him all that I had seen. He was less surprised than I had expected.

    “I knew that Barrymore walked about nights, and I had a mind to speak to him about it,” said he. “Two or three times I have heard his steps in the passage, coming and going, just about the hour you name.”

    “Perhaps then he pays a visit every night to that particular window,” I suggested.

    “Perhaps he does. If so, we should be able to shadow him and see what it is that he is after. I wonder what your friend Holmes would do if he were here.”

    “I believe that he would do exactly what you now suggest,” said I. “He would follow Barrymore and see what he did.”

    “Then we shall do it together.”

    “But surely he would hear us.”

    “The man is rather deaf, and in any case we must take our chance of that. We’ll sit up in my room tonight and wait until he passes.” Sir Henry rubbed his hands with pleasure, and it was evident that he hailed the adventure as a relief to his somewhat quiet life upon the moor.

    The baronet has been in communication with the architect who prepared the plans for Sir Charles, and with a contractor6 from London, so that we may expect great changes to begin here soon. There have been decorators and furnishers up from Plymouth, and it is evident that our friend has large ideas and means to spare no pains or expense to restore the grandeur7 of his family. When the house is renovated8 and refurnished, all that he will need will be a wife to make it complete. Between ourselves there are pretty clear signs that this will not be wanting if the lady is willing, for I have seldom seen a man more infatuated with a woman than he is with our beautiful neighbour, Miss Stapleton. And yet the course of true love does not run quite as smoothly9 as one would under the circumstances expect. Today, for example, its surface was broken by a very unexpected ripple10, which has caused our friend considerable perplexity and annoyance11.

    After the conversation which I have quoted about Barrymore, Sir Henry put on his hat and prepared to go out. As a matter of course I did the same.

    “What, are you coming, Watson?” he asked, looking at me in a curious way.

    “That depends on whether you are going on the moor,” said I.

    “Yes, I am.”

    “Well, you know what my instructions are. I am sorry to intrude12, but you heard how earnestly Holmes insisted that I should not leave you, and especially that you should not go alone upon the moor.”

    Sir Henry put his hand upon my shoulder with a pleasant smile.

    “My dear fellow,” said he, “Holmes, with all his wisdom, did not foresee some things which have happened since I have been on the moor. You understand me? I am sure that you are the last man in the world who would wish to be a spoil-sport. I must go out alone.”

    It put me in a most awkward position. I was at a loss what to say or what to do, and before I had made up my mind he picked up his cane13 and was gone.

    But when I came to think the matter over my conscience reproached me bitterly for having on any pretext14 allowed him to go out of my sight. I imagined what my feelings would be if I had to return to you and to confess that some misfortune had occurred through my disregard for your instructions. I assure you my cheeks flushed at the very thought. It might not even now be too late to overtake him, so I set off at once in the direction of Merripit House.

    I hurried along the road at the top of my speed without seeing anything of Sir Henry, until I came to the point where the moor path branches off. There, fearing that perhaps I had come in the wrong direction after all, I mounted a hill from which I could command a view—the same hill which is cut into the dark quarry15. Thence I saw him at once. He was on the moor path about a quarter of a mile off, and a lady was by his side who could only be Miss Stapleton. It was clear that there was already an understanding between them and that they had met by appointment. They were walking slowly along in deep conversation, and I saw her making quick little movements of her hands as if she were very earnest in what she was saying, while he listened intently, and once or twice shook his head in strong dissent17. I stood among the rocks watching them, very much puzzled as to what I should do next. To follow them and break into their intimate conversation seemed to be an outrage18, and yet my clear duty was never for an instant to let him out of my sight. To act the spy upon a friend was a hateful task. Still, I could see no better course than to observe him from the hill, and to clear my conscience by confessing to him afterwards what I had done. It is true that if any sudden danger had threatened him I was too far away to be of use, and yet I am sure that you will agree with me that the position was very difficult, and that there was nothing more which I could do.

    Our friend, Sir Henry, and the lady had halted on the path and were standing16 deeply absorbed in their conversation, when I was suddenly aware that I was not the only witness of their interview. A wisp of green floating in the air caught my eye, and another glance showed me that it was carried on a stick by a man who was moving among the broken ground. It was Stapleton with his butterfly-net. He was very much closer to the pair than I was, and he appeared to be moving in their direction. At this instant Sir Henry suddenly drew Miss Stapleton to his side. His arm was round her, but it seemed to me that she was straining away from him with her face averted19. He stooped his head to hers, and she raised one hand as if in protest. Next moment I saw them spring apart and turn hurriedly round. Stapleton was the cause of the interruption. He was running wildly towards them, his absurd net dangling20 behind him. He gesticulated and almost danced with excitement in front of the lovers. What the scene meant I could not imagine, but it seemed to me that Stapleton was abusing Sir Henry, who offered explanations, which became more angry as the other refused to accept them. The lady stood by in haughty21 silence. Finally Stapleton turned upon his heel and beckoned22 in a peremptory23 way to his sister, who, after an irresolute24 glance at Sir Henry, walked off by the side of her brother. The naturalist’s angry gestures showed that the lady was included in his displeasure. The baronet stood for a minute looking after them, and then he walked slowly back the way that he had come, his head hanging, the very picture of dejection.

    What all this meant I could not imagine, but I was deeply ashamed to have witnessed so intimate a scene without my friend’s knowledge. I ran down the hill therefore and met the baronet at the bottom. His face was flushed with anger and his brows were wrinkled, like one who is at his wit’s ends what to do.

    “Halloa, Watson! Where have you dropped from?” said he. “You don’t mean to say that you came after me in spite of all?”

    I explained everything to him: how I had found it impossible to remain behind, how I had followed him, and how I had witnessed all that had occurred. For an instant his eyes blazed at me, but my frankness disarmed25 his anger, and he broke at last into a rather rueful laugh.

    “You would have thought the middle of that prairie a fairly safe place for a man to be private,” said he, “but, by thunder, the whole countryside seems to have been out to see me do my wooing—and a mighty26 poor wooing at that! Where had you engaged a seat?”

    “I was on that hill.”

    “Quite in the back row, eh? But her brother was well up to the front. Did you see him come out on us?”

    “Yes, I did.”

    “Did he ever strike you as being crazy—this brother of hers?”

    “I can’t say that he ever did.”

    “I dare say not. I always thought him sane27 enough until today, but you can take it from me that either he or I ought to be in a straitjacket. What’s the matter with me, anyhow? You’ve lived near me for some weeks, Watson. Tell me straight, now! Is there anything that would prevent me from making a good husband to a woman that I loved?”

    “I should say not.”

    “He can’t object to my worldly position, so it must be myself that he has this down on. What has he against me? I never hurt man or woman in my life that I know of. And yet he would not so much as let me touch the tips of her fingers.”

    “Did he say so?”

    “That, and a deal more. I tell you, Watson, I’ve only known her these few weeks, but from the first I just felt that she was made for me, and she, too—she was happy when she was with me, and that I’ll swear. There’s a light in a woman’s eyes that speaks louder than words. But he has never let us get together and it was only today for the first time that I saw a chance of having a few words with her alone. She was glad to meet me, but when she did it was not love that she would talk about, and she wouldn’t have let me talk about it either if she could have stopped it. She kept coming back to it that this was a place of danger, and that she would never be happy until I had left it. I told her that since I had seen her I was in no hurry to leave it, and that if she really wanted me to go, the only way to work it was for her to arrange to go with me. With that I offered in as many words to marry her, but before she could answer, down came this brother of hers, running at us with a face on him like a madman. He was just white with rage, and those light eyes of his were blazing with fury. What was I doing with the lady? How dared I offer her attentions which were distasteful to her? Did I think that because I was a baronet I could do what I liked? If he had not been her brother I should have known better how to answer him. As it was I told him that my feelings towards his sister were such as I was not ashamed of, and that I hoped that she might honour me by becoming my wife. That seemed to make the matter no better, so then I lost my temper too, and I answered him rather more hotly than I should perhaps, considering that she was standing by. So it ended by his going off with her, as you saw, and here am I as badly puzzled a man as any in this county. Just tell me what it all means, Watson, and I’ll owe you more than ever I can hope to pay.”

    I tried one or two explanations, but, indeed, I was completely puzzled myself. Our friend’s title, his fortune, his age, his character, and his appearance are all in his favour, and I know nothing against him unless it be this dark fate which runs in his family. That his advances should be rejected so brusquely without any reference to the lady’s own wishes and that the lady should accept the situation without protest is very amazing. However, our conjectures28 were set at rest by a visit from Stapleton himself that very afternoon. He had come to offer apologies for his rudeness of the morning, and after a long private interview with Sir Henry in his study the upshot of their conversation was that the breach29 is quite healed, and that we are to dine at Merripit House next Friday as a sign of it.

    “I don’t say now that he isn’t a crazy man,” said Sir Henry; “I can’t forget the look in his eyes when he ran at me this morning, but I must allow that no man could make a more handsome apology than he has done.”

    “Did he give any explanation of his conduct?”

    “His sister is everything in his life, he says. That is natural enough, and I am glad that he should understand her value. They have always been together, and according to his account he has been a very lonely man with only her as a companion, so that the thought of losing her was really terrible to him. He had not understood, he said, that I was becoming attached to her, but when he saw with his own eyes that it was really so, and that she might be taken away from him, it gave him such a shock that for a time he was not responsible for what he said or did. He was very sorry for all that had passed, and he recognized how foolish and how selfish it was that he should imagine that he could hold a beautiful woman like his sister to himself for her whole life. If she had to leave him he had rather it was to a neighbour like myself than to anyone else. But in any case it was a blow to him and it would take him some time before he could prepare himself to meet it. He would withdraw all opposition30 upon his part if I would promise for three months to let the matter rest and to be content with cultivating the lady’s friendship during that time without claiming her love. This I promised, and so the matter rests.”

    So there is one of our small mysteries cleared up. It is something to have touched bottom anywhere in this bog31 in which we are floundering. We know now why Stapleton looked with disfavour upon his sister’s suitor—even when that suitor was so eligible32 a one as Sir Henry. And now I pass on to another thread which I have extricated33 out of the tangled34 skein, the mystery of the sobs35 in the night, of the tear-stained face of Mrs. Barrymore, of the secret journey of the butler to the western lattice window. Congratulate me, my dear Holmes, and tell me that I have not disappointed you as an agent—that you do not regret the confidence which you showed in me when you sent me down. All these things have by one night’s work been thoroughly37 cleared.

    I have said “by one night’s work,” but, in truth, it was by two nights’ work, for on the first we drew entirely38 blank. I sat up with Sir Henry in his rooms until nearly three o’clock in the morning, but no sound of any sort did we hear except the chiming clock upon the stairs. It was a most melancholy39 vigil and ended by each of us falling asleep in our chairs. Fortunately we were not discouraged, and we determined40 to try again. The next night we lowered the lamp and sat smoking cigarettes without making the least sound. It was incredible how slowly the hours crawled by, and yet we were helped through it by the same sort of patient interest which the hunter must feel as he watches the trap into which he hopes the game may wander. One struck, and two, and we had almost for the second time given it up in despair when in an instant we both sat bolt upright in our chairs with all our weary senses keenly on the alert once more. We had heard the creak of a step in the passage.

    Very stealthily we heard it pass along until it died away in the distance. Then the baronet gently opened his door and we set out in pursuit. Already our man had gone round the gallery and the corridor was all in darkness. Softly we stole along until we had come into the other wing. We were just in time to catch a glimpse of the tall, black-bearded figure, his shoulders rounded as he tiptoed down the passage. Then he passed through the same door as before, and the light of the candle framed it in the darkness and shot one single yellow beam across the gloom of the corridor. We shuffled42 cautiously towards it, trying every plank43 before we dared to put our whole weight upon it. We had taken the precaution of leaving our boots behind us, but, even so, the old boards snapped and creaked beneath our tread. Sometimes it seemed impossible that he should fail to hear our approach. However, the man is fortunately rather deaf, and he was entirely preoccupied44 in that which he was doing. When at last we reached the door and peeped through we found him crouching45 at the window, candle in hand, his white, intent face pressed against the pane46, exactly as I had seen him two nights before.

    We had arranged no plan of campaign, but the baronet is a man to whom the most direct way is always the most natural. He walked into the room, and as he did so Barrymore sprang up from the window with a sharp hiss47 of his breath and stood, livid and trembling, before us. His dark eyes, glaring out of the white mask of his face, were full of horror and astonishment48 as he gazed from Sir Henry to me.

    “What are you doing here, Barrymore?”

    “Nothing, sir.” His agitation49 was so great that he could hardly speak, and the shadows sprang up and down from the shaking of his candle. “It was the window, sir. I go round at night to see that they are fastened.”

    “On the second floor?”

    “Yes, sir, all the windows.”

    “Look here, Barrymore,” said Sir Henry sternly, “we have made up our minds to have the truth out of you, so it will save you trouble to tell it sooner rather than later. Come, now! No lies! What were you doing at that window?”

    The fellow looked at us in a helpless way, and he wrung50 his hands together like one who is in the last extremity51 of doubt and misery52.

    “I was doing no harm, sir. I was holding a candle to the window.”

    “And why were you holding a candle to the window?”

    “Don’t ask me, Sir Henry—don’t ask me! I give you my word, sir, that it is not my secret, and that I cannot tell it. If it concerned no one but myself I would not try to keep it from you.”

    A sudden idea occurred to me, and I took the candle from the trembling hand of the butler.

    “He must have been holding it as a signal,” said I. “Let us see if there is any answer.” I held it as he had done, and stared out into the darkness of the night. Vaguely53 I could discern the black bank of the trees and the lighter54 expanse of the moor, for the moon was behind the clouds. And then I gave a cry of exultation55, for a tiny pinpoint56 of yellow light had suddenly transfixed the dark veil, and glowed steadily57 in the centre of the black square framed by the window.

    “There it is!” I cried.

    “No, no, sir, it is nothing—nothing at all!” the butler broke in; “I assure you, sir—”

    “Move your light across the window, Watson!” cried the baronet. “See, the other moves also! Now, you rascal58, do you deny that it is a signal? Come, speak up! Who is your confederate out yonder, and what is this conspiracy59 that is going on?”

    The man’s face became openly defiant60. “It is my business, and not yours. I will not tell.”

    “Then you leave my employment right away.”

    “Very good, sir. If I must I must.”

    “And you go in disgrace. By thunder, you may well be ashamed of yourself. Your family has lived with mine for over a hundred years under this roof, and here I find you deep in some dark plot against me.”

    “No, no, sir; no, not against you!” It was a woman’s voice, and Mrs. Barrymore, paler and more horror-struck than her husband, was standing at the door. Her bulky figure in a shawl and skirt might have been comic were it not for the intensity61 of feeling upon her face.

    “We have to go, Eliza. This is the end of it. You can pack our things,” said the butler.

    “Oh, John, John, have I brought you to this? It is my doing, Sir Henry—all mine. He has done nothing except for my sake and because I asked him.”

    “Speak out, then! What does it mean?”

    “My unhappy brother is starving on the moor. We cannot let him perish at our very gates. The light is a signal to him that food is ready for him, and his light out yonder is to show the spot to which to bring it.”

    “Then your brother is—”

    “The escaped convict, sir—Selden, the criminal.”

    “That’s the truth, sir,” said Barrymore. “I said that it was not my secret and that I could not tell it to you. But now you have heard it, and you will see that if there was a plot it was not against you.”

    This, then, was the explanation of the stealthy expeditions at night and the light at the window. Sir Henry and I both stared at the woman in amazement63. Was it possible that this stolidly64 respectable person was of the same blood as one of the most notorious criminals in the country?

    “Yes, sir, my name was Selden, and he is my younger brother. We humoured him too much when he was a lad and gave him his own way in everything until he came to think that the world was made for his pleasure, and that he could do what he liked in it. Then as he grew older he met wicked companions, and the devil entered into him until he broke my mother’s heart and dragged our name in the dirt. From crime to crime he sank lower and lower until it is only the mercy of God which has snatched him from the scaffold; but to me, sir, he was always the little curly-headed boy that I had nursed and played with as an elder sister would. That was why he broke prison, sir. He knew that I was here and that we could not refuse to help him. When he dragged himself here one night, weary and starving, with the warders hard at his heels, what could we do? We took him in and fed him and cared for him. Then you returned, sir, and my brother thought he would be safer on the moor than anywhere else until the hue65 and cry was over, so he lay in hiding there. But every second night we made sure if he was still there by putting a light in the window, and if there was an answer my husband took out some bread and meat to him. Every day we hoped that he was gone, but as long as he was there we could not desert him. That is the whole truth, as I am an honest Christian66 woman and you will see that if there is blame in the matter it does not lie with my husband but with me, for whose sake he has done all that he has.”

    The woman’s words came with an intense earnestness which carried conviction with them.

    “Is this true, Barrymore?”

    “Yes, Sir Henry. Every word of it.”

    “Well, I cannot blame you for standing by your own wife. Forget what I have said. Go to your room, you two, and we shall talk further about this matter in the morning.”

    When they were gone we looked out of the window again. Sir Henry had flung it open, and the cold night wind beat in upon our faces. Far away in the black distance there still glowed that one tiny point of yellow light.

    “I wonder he dares,” said Sir Henry.

    “It may be so placed as to be only visible from here.”

    “Very likely. How far do you think it is?”

    “Out by the Cleft67 Tor, I think.”

    “Not more than a mile or two off.”

    “Hardly that.”

    “Well, it cannot be far if Barrymore had to carry out the food to it. And he is waiting, this villain68, beside that candle. By thunder, Watson, I am going out to take that man!”

    The same thought had crossed my own mind. It was not as if the Barrymores had taken us into their confidence. Their secret had been forced from them. The man was a danger to the community, an unmitigated scoundrel for whom there was neither pity nor excuse. We were only doing our duty in taking this chance of putting him back where he could do no harm. With his brutal69 and violent nature, others would have to pay the price if we held our hands. Any night, for example, our neighbours the Stapletons might be attacked by him, and it may have been the thought of this which made Sir Henry so keen upon the adventure.

    “I will come,” said I.

    “Then get your revolver and put on your boots. The sooner we start the better, as the fellow may put out his light and be off.”

    In five minutes we were outside the door, starting upon our expedition62. We hurried through the dark shrubbery, amid the dull moaning of the autumn wind and the rustle70 of the falling leaves. The night air was heavy with the smell of damp and decay. Now and again the moon peeped out for an instant, but clouds were driving over the face of the sky, and just as we came out on the moor a thin rain began to fall. The light still burned steadily in front.

    “Are you armed?” I asked.

    “I have a hunting-crop.”

    “We must close in on him rapidly, for he is said to be a desperate fellow. We shall take him by surprise and have him at our mercy before he can resist.”

    “I say, Watson,” said the baronet, “what would Holmes say to this? How about that hour of darkness in which the power of evil is exalted71?”

    As if in answer to his words there rose suddenly out of the vast gloom of the moor that strange cry which I had already heard upon the borders of the great Grimpen Mire72. It came with the wind through the silence of the night, a long, deep mutter, then a rising howl, and then the sad moan in which it died away. Again and again it sounded, the whole air throbbing73 with it, strident, wild, and menacing. The baronet caught my sleeve and his face glimmered74 white through the darkness.

    “My God, what’s that, Watson?”

    “I don’t know. It’s a sound they have on the moor. I heard it once before.”

    It died away, and an absolute silence closed in upon us. We stood straining our ears, but nothing came.

    “Watson,” said the baronet, “it was the cry of a hound.”

    My blood ran cold in my veins76, for there was a break in his voice which told of the sudden horror which had seized him.

    “What do they call this sound?” he asked.

    “Who?”

    “The folk on the countryside.”

    “Oh, they are ignorant people. Why should you mind what they call it?”

    “Tell me, Watson. What do they say of it?”

    I hesitated but could not escape the question.

    “They say it is the cry of the Hound of the Baskervilles.”

    He groaned77 and was silent for a few moments.

    “A hound it was,” he said at last, “but it seemed to come from miles away, over yonder, I think.”

    “It was hard to say whence it came.”

    “It rose and fell with the wind. Isn’t that the direction of the great Grimpen Mire?”

    “Yes, it is.”

    “Well, it was up there. Come now, Watson, didn’t you think yourself that it was the cry of a hound? I am not a child. You need not fear to speak the truth.”

    “Stapleton was with me when I heard it last. He said that it might be the calling of a strange bird.”

    “No, no, it was a hound. My God, can there be some truth in all these stories? Is it possible that I am really in danger from so dark a cause? You don’t believe it, do you, Watson?”

    “No, no.”

    “And yet it was one thing to laugh about it in London, and it is another to stand out here in the darkness of the moor and to hear such a cry as that. And my uncle! There was the footprint of the hound beside him as he lay. It all fits together. I don’t think that I am a coward, Watson, but that sound seemed to freeze my very blood. Feel my hand!”

    It was as cold as a block of marble.

    “You’ll be all right tomorrow.”

    “I don’t think I’ll get that cry out of my head. What do you advise that we do now?”

    “Shall we turn back?”

    “No, by thunder; we have come out to get our man, and we will do it. We after the convict, and a hell-hound, as likely as not, after us. Come on! We’ll see it through if all the fiends of the pit were loose upon the moor.”

    We stumbled slowly along in the darkness, with the black loom41 of the craggy hills around us, and the yellow speck78 of light burning steadily in front. There is nothing so deceptive79 as the distance of a light upon a pitch-dark night, and sometimes the glimmer75 seemed to be far away upon the horizon and sometimes it might have been within a few yards of us. But at last we could see whence it came, and then we knew that we were indeed very close. A guttering80 candle was stuck in a crevice81 of the rocks which flanked it on each side so as to keep the wind from it and also to prevent it from being visible, save in the direction of Baskerville Hall. A boulder82 of granite83 concealed84 our approach, and crouching behind it we gazed over it at the signal light. It was strange to see this single candle burning there in the middle of the moor, with no sign of life near it—just the one straight yellow flame and the gleam of the rock on each side of it.

    “What shall we do now?” whispered Sir Henry.

    “Wait here. He must be near his light. Let us see if we can get a glimpse of him.”

    The words were hardly out of my mouth when we both saw him. Over the rocks, in the crevice of which the candle burned, there was thrust out an evil yellow face, a terrible animal face, all seamed and scored with vile85 passions. Foul86 with mire, with a bristling87 beard, and hung with matted hair, it might well have belonged to one of those old savages89 who dwelt in the burrows90 on the hillsides. The light beneath him was reflected in his small, cunning eyes which peered fiercely to right and left through the darkness like a crafty91 and savage88 animal who has heard the steps of the hunters.

    Something had evidently aroused his suspicions. It may have been that Barrymore had some private signal which we had neglected to give, or the fellow may have had some other reason for thinking that all was not well, but I could read his fears upon his wicked face. Any instant he might dash out the light and vanish in the darkness. I sprang forward therefore, and Sir Henry did the same. At the same moment the convict screamed out a curse at us and hurled92 a rock which splintered up against the boulder which had sheltered us. I caught one glimpse of his short, squat93, strongly built figure as he sprang to his feet and turned to run. At the same moment by a lucky chance the moon broke through the clouds. We rushed over the brow of the hill, and there was our man running with great speed down the other side, springing over the stones in his way with the activity of a mountain goat. A lucky long shot of my revolver might have crippled him, but I had brought it only to defend myself if attacked and not to shoot an unarmed man who was running away.

    We were both swift runners and in fairly good training, but we soon found that we had no chance of overtaking him. We saw him for a long time in the moonlight until he was only a small speck moving swiftly among the boulders94 upon the side of a distant hill. We ran and ran until we were completely blown, but the space between us grew ever wider. Finally we stopped and sat panting on two rocks, while we watched him disappearing in the distance.

    And it was at this moment that there occurred a most strange and unexpected thing. We had risen from our rocks and were turning to go home, having abandoned the hopeless chase. The moon was low upon the right, and the jagged pinnacle95 of a granite tor stood up against the lower curve of its silver disc. There, outlined as black as an ebony statue on that shining background, I saw the figure of a man upon the tor. Do not think that it was a delusion96, Holmes. I assure you that I have never in my life seen anything more clearly. As far as I could judge, the figure was that of a tall, thin man. He stood with his legs a little separated, his arms folded, his head bowed, as if he were brooding over that enormous wilderness97 of peat and granite which lay before him. He might have been the very spirit of that terrible place. It was not the convict. This man was far from the place where the latter had disappeared. Besides, he was a much taller man. With a cry of surprise I pointed36 him out to the baronet, but in the instant during which I had turned to grasp his arm the man was gone. There was the sharp pinnacle of granite still cutting the lower edge of the moon, but its peak bore no trace of that silent and motionless figure.

    I wished to go in that direction and to search the tor, but it was some distance away. The baronet’s nerves were still quivering from that cry, which recalled the dark story of his family, and he was not in the mood for fresh adventures. He had not seen this lonely man upon the tor and could not feel the thrill which his strange presence and his commanding attitude had given to me. “A warder, no doubt,” said he. “The moor has been thick with them since this fellow escaped.” Well, perhaps his explanation may be the right one, but I should like to have some further proof of it. Today we mean to communicate to the Princetown people where they should look for their missing man, but it is hard lines that we have not actually had the triumph of bringing him back as our own prisoner. Such are the adventures of last night, and you must acknowledge, my dear Holmes, that I have done you very well in the matter of a report. Much of what I tell you is no doubt quite irrelevant98, but still I feel that it is best that I should let you have all the facts and leave you to select for yourself those which will be of most service to you in helping99 you to your conclusions. We are certainly making some progress. So far as the Barrymores go we have found the motive100 of their actions, and that has cleared up the situation very much. But the moor with its mysteries and its strange inhabitants remains101 as inscrutable as ever. Perhaps in my next I may be able to throw some light upon this also. Best of all would it be if you could come down to us. In any case you will hear from me again in the course of the next few days.



    点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

    1 moor [mɔ:(r)] T6yzd   第9级
    n.荒野,沼泽;vt.(使)停泊;vi.停泊
    参考例句:
    • I decided to moor near some tourist boats. 我决定在一些观光船附近停泊。
    • There were hundreds of the old huts on the moor. 沼地上有成百上千的古老的石屋。
    2 considerably [kənˈsɪdərəbli] 0YWyQ   第9级
    adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上
    参考例句:
    • The economic situation has changed considerably. 经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
    • The gap has narrowed considerably. 分歧大大缩小了。
    3 peculiarity [pɪˌkju:liˈærəti] GiWyp   第9级
    n.独特性,特色;特殊的东西;怪癖
    参考例句:
    • Each country has its own peculiarity. 每个国家都有自己的独特之处。
    • The peculiarity of this shop is its day and nigth service. 这家商店的特点是昼夜服务。
    4 intrigue [ɪnˈtri:g] Gaqzy   第7级
    vt.激起兴趣,迷住;vi.耍阴谋;n.阴谋,密谋
    参考例句:
    • Court officials will intrigue against the royal family. 法院官员将密谋反对皇室。
    • The royal palace was filled with intrigue. 皇宫中充满了勾心斗角。
    5 clandestine [klænˈdestɪn] yqmzh   第9级
    adj.秘密的,暗中从事的
    参考例句:
    • She is the director of clandestine operations of the CIA. 她是中央情报局秘密行动的负责人。
    • The early Christians held clandestine meetings in caves. 早期的基督徒在洞穴中秘密聚会。
    6 contractor [kənˈtræktə(r)] GnZyO   第8级
    n.订约人,承包人,收缩肌
    参考例句:
    • The Tokyo contractor was asked to kick $6000 back as commission. 那个东京的承包商被要求退还6000美元作为佣金。
    • The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land. 承包商所建房屋的式样,有几分要看地势而定。
    7 grandeur [ˈgrændʒə(r)] hejz9   第8级
    n.伟大,崇高,宏伟,庄严,豪华
    参考例句:
    • The grandeur of the Great Wall is unmatched. 长城的壮观是独一无二的。
    • These ruins sufficiently attest the former grandeur of the place. 这些遗迹充分证明此处昔日的宏伟。
    8 renovated [ˈrenəveitid] 0623303c5ec2d1938425e76e30682277   第8级
    翻新,修复,整修( renovate的过去式和过去分词 )
    参考例句:
    • He renovated his house. 他翻修了房子。
    • The house has been renovated three years earlier. 这所房子三年前就已翻新。
    9 smoothly [ˈsmu:ðli] iiUzLG   第8级
    adv.平滑地,顺利地,流利地,流畅地
    参考例句:
    • The workmen are very cooperative, so the work goes on smoothly. 工人们十分合作,所以工作进展顺利。
    • Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly. 这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。
    10 ripple [ˈrɪpl] isLyh   第7级
    n.涟波,涟漪,波纹,粗钢梳;vt.使...起涟漪,使起波纹; vi.呈波浪状,起伏前进
    参考例句:
    • The pebble made a ripple on the surface of the lake. 石子在湖面上激起一个涟漪。
    • The small ripple split upon the beach. 小小的涟漪卷来,碎在沙滩上。
    11 annoyance [əˈnɔɪəns] Bw4zE   第8级
    n.恼怒,生气,烦恼
    参考例句:
    • Why do you always take your annoyance out on me? 为什么你不高兴时总是对我出气?
    • I felt annoyance at being teased. 我恼恨别人取笑我。
    12 intrude [ɪnˈtru:d] Lakzv   第7级
    vi.闯入;侵入;打扰,侵扰
    参考例句:
    • I do not want to intrude if you are busy. 如果你忙我就不打扰你了。
    • I don't want to intrude on your meeting. 我不想打扰你们的会议。
    13 cane [keɪn] RsNzT   第8级
    n.手杖,细长的茎,藤条;v.以杖击,以藤编制的
    参考例句:
    • This sugar cane is quite sweet and juicy. 这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
    • English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment. 英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。
    14 pretext [ˈpri:tekst] 1Qsxi   第7级
    n.借口,托词
    参考例句:
    • He used his headache as a pretext for not going to school. 他借口头疼而不去上学。
    • He didn't attend that meeting under the pretext of sickness. 他以生病为借口,没参加那个会议。
    15 quarry [ˈkwɒri] ASbzF   第10级
    n.采石场;v.采石;费力地找
    参考例句:
    • Michelangelo obtained his marble from a quarry. 米开朗基罗从采石场获得他的大理石。
    • This mountain was the site for a quarry. 这座山曾经有一个采石场。
    16 standing [ˈstændɪŋ] 2hCzgo   第8级
    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。
    17 dissent [dɪˈsent] ytaxU   第10级
    n./v.不同意,持异议
    参考例句:
    • It is too late now to make any dissent. 现在提出异议太晚了。
    • He felt her shoulders gave a wriggle of dissent. 他感到她的肩膀因为不同意而动了一下。
    18 outrage [ˈaʊtreɪdʒ] hvOyI   第7级
    n.暴行,侮辱,愤怒;vt.凌辱,激怒
    参考例句:
    • When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage. 他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
    • We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders. 我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。
    19 averted [əˈvə:tid] 35a87fab0bbc43636fcac41969ed458a   第7级
    防止,避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 ); 转移
    参考例句:
    • A disaster was narrowly averted. 及时防止了一场灾难。
    • Thanks to her skilful handling of the affair, the problem was averted. 多亏她对事情处理得巧妙,才避免了麻烦。
    20 dangling [ˈdæŋgəlɪŋ] 4930128e58930768b1c1c75026ebc649   第9级
    悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 ); 摆动不定; 用某事物诱惑…; 吊胃口
    参考例句:
    • The tooth hung dangling by the bedpost, now. 结果,那颗牙就晃来晃去吊在床柱上了。
    • The children sat on the high wall,their legs dangling. 孩子们坐在一堵高墙上,摇晃着他们的双腿。
    21 haughty [ˈhɔ:ti] 4dKzq   第9级
    adj.傲慢的,高傲的
    参考例句:
    • He gave me a haughty look and walked away. 他向我摆出傲慢的表情后走开。
    • They were displeased with her haughty airs. 他们讨厌她高傲的派头。
    22 beckoned [ˈbekənd] b70f83e57673dfe30be1c577dd8520bc   第7级
    v.(用头或手的动作)示意,召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 )
    参考例句:
    • He beckoned to the waiter to bring the bill. 他招手示意服务生把账单送过来。
    • The seated figure in the corner beckoned me over. 那个坐在角落里的人向我招手让我过去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    23 peremptory [pəˈremptəri] k3uz8   第11级
    adj.紧急的,专横的,断然的
    参考例句:
    • The officer issued peremptory commands. 军官发出了不容许辩驳的命令。
    • There was a peremptory note in his voice. 他说话的声音里有一种不容置辩的口气。
    24 irresolute [ɪˈrezəlu:t] X3Vyy   第12级
    adj.无决断的,优柔寡断的,踌躇不定的
    参考例句:
    • Irresolute persons make poor victors. 优柔寡断的人不会成为胜利者。
    • His opponents were too irresolute to call his bluff. 他的对手太优柔寡断,不敢接受挑战。
    25 disarmed [dɪs'ɑ:rmd] f147d778a788fe8e4bf22a9bdb60a8ba   第9级
    v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 );使息怒
    参考例句:
    • Most of the rebels were captured and disarmed. 大部分叛乱分子被俘获并解除了武装。
    • The swordsman disarmed his opponent and ran him through. 剑客缴了对手的械,并对其乱刺一气。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    26 mighty [ˈmaɪti] YDWxl   第7级
    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。
    27 sane [seɪn] 9YZxB   第8级
    adj.心智健全的,神志清醒的,明智的,稳健的
    参考例句:
    • He was sane at the time of the murder. 在凶杀案发生时他的神志是清醒的。
    • He is a very sane person. 他是一个很有头脑的人。
    28 conjectures [kənˈdʒektʃəz] 8334e6a27f5847550b061d064fa92c00   第9级
    推测,猜想( conjecture的名词复数 )
    参考例句:
    • That's weighing remote military conjectures against the certain deaths of innocent people. 那不过是牵强附会的军事假设,而现在的事实却是无辜者正在惨遭杀害,这怎能同日而语!
    • I was right in my conjectures. 我所猜测的都应验了。
    29 breach [bri:tʃ] 2sgzw   第7级
    n.违反,不履行;破裂;vt.冲破,攻破
    参考例句:
    • We won't have any breach of discipline. 我们不允许任何破坏纪律的现象。
    • He was sued for breach of contract. 他因不履行合同而被起诉。
    30 opposition [ˌɒpəˈzɪʃn] eIUxU   第8级
    n.反对,敌对
    参考例句:
    • The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard. 该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
    • The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition. 警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。
    31 bog [bɒg] QtfzF   第10级
    n.沼泽;室...陷入泥淖
    参考例句:
    • We were able to pass him a rope before the bog sucked him under. 我们终于得以在沼泽把他吞没前把绳子扔给他。
    • The path goes across an area of bog. 这条小路穿过一片沼泽。
    32 eligible [ˈelɪdʒəbl] Cq6xL   第7级
    adj.有条件被选中的;(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的
    参考例句:
    • He is an eligible young man. 他是一个合格的年轻人。
    • Helen married an eligible bachelor. 海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。
    33 extricated [ˈekstrɪˌkeɪtid] d30ec9a9d3fda5a34e0beb1558582549   第10级
    v.使摆脱困难,脱身( extricate的过去式和过去分词 )
    参考例句:
    • The meeting seemed to be endless, but I extricated myself by saying I had to catch a plane. 会议好象没完没了,不过我说我得赶飞机,才得以脱身。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • She extricated herself from her mingled impulse to deny and guestion. 她约束了自己想否认并追问的不可明状的冲动。 来自辞典例句
    34 tangled ['tæŋɡld] e487ee1bc1477d6c2828d91e94c01c6e   第7级
    adj. 纠缠的,紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词
    参考例句:
    • Your hair's so tangled that I can't comb it. 你的头发太乱了,我梳不动。
    • A movement caught his eye in the tangled undergrowth. 乱灌木丛里的晃动引起了他的注意。
    35 sobs ['sɒbz] d4349f86cad43cb1a5579b1ef269d0cb   第7级
    啜泣(声),呜咽(声)( sob的名词复数 )
    参考例句:
    • She was struggling to suppress her sobs. 她拼命不让自己哭出来。
    • She burst into a convulsive sobs. 她突然抽泣起来。
    36 pointed [ˈpɔɪntɪd] Il8zB4   第7级
    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。
    • A safety pin has a metal covering over the pointed end. 安全别针在尖端有一个金属套。
    37 thoroughly [ˈθʌrəli] sgmz0J   第8级
    adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地
    参考例句:
    • The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting. 一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
    • The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons. 士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。
    38 entirely [ɪnˈtaɪəli] entirely   第9级
    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。
    39 melancholy [ˈmelənkəli] t7rz8   第8级
    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。
    40 determined [dɪˈtɜ:mɪnd] duszmP   第7级
    adj.坚定的;有决心的;v.决定;断定(determine的过去分词)
    参考例句:
    • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation. 我已决定毕业后去西藏。
    • He determined to view the rooms behind the office. 他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
    41 loom [lu:m] T8pzd   第7级
    n.织布机,织机;vi.隐现,(危险、忧虑等)迫近;vt.在织布机上织
    参考例句:
    • The old woman was weaving on her loom. 那位老太太正在织布机上织布。
    • The shuttle flies back and forth on the loom. 织布机上梭子来回飞动。
    42 shuffled [ˈʃʌfəld] cee46c30b0d1f2d0c136c830230fe75a   第8级
    v.洗(纸牌)( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 );拖着脚步走;粗心地做;摆脱尘世的烦恼
    参考例句:
    • He shuffled across the room to the window. 他拖着脚走到房间那头的窗户跟前。
    • Simon shuffled awkwardly towards them. 西蒙笨拙地拖着脚朝他们走去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    43 plank [plæŋk] p2CzA   第8级
    n.板条,木板,政策要点,政纲条目
    参考例句:
    • The plank was set against the wall. 木板靠着墙壁。
    • They intend to win the next election on the plank of developing trade. 他们想以发展贸易的纲领来赢得下次选举。
    44 preoccupied [priˈɒkjupaɪd] TPBxZ   第10级
    adj.全神贯注的,入神的;被抢先占有的;心事重重的v.占据(某人)思想,使对…全神贯注,使专心于( preoccupy的过去式)
    参考例句:
    • He was too preoccupied with his own thoughts to notice anything wrong. 他只顾想着心事,没注意到有什么不对。
    • The question of going to the Mount Tai preoccupied his mind. 去游泰山的问题盘踞在他心头。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    45 crouching ['kraʊtʃɪŋ] crouching   第8级
    v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 )
    参考例句:
    • a hulking figure crouching in the darkness 黑暗中蹲伏着的一个庞大身影
    • A young man was crouching by the table, busily searching for something. 一个年轻人正蹲在桌边翻看什么。 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译
    46 pane [peɪn] OKKxJ   第8级
    n.窗格玻璃,长方块
    参考例句:
    • He broke this pane of glass. 他打破了这块窗玻璃。
    • Their breath bloomed the frosty pane. 他们呼出的水气,在冰冷的窗玻璃上形成一层雾。
    47 hiss [hɪs] 2yJy9   第10级
    vi.发出嘶嘶声;发嘘声表示不满
    参考例句:
    • We can hear the hiss of air escaping from a tire. 我们能听到一只轮胎的嘶嘶漏气声。
    • Don't hiss at the speaker. 不要嘘演讲人。
    48 astonishment [əˈstɒnɪʃmənt] VvjzR   第8级
    n.惊奇,惊异
    参考例句:
    • They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment. 他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
    • I was filled with astonishment at her strange action. 我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。
    49 agitation [ˌædʒɪˈteɪʃn] TN0zi   第9级
    n.搅动;搅拌;鼓动,煽动
    参考例句:
    • Small shopkeepers carried on a long agitation against the big department stores. 小店主们长期以来一直在煽动人们反对大型百货商店。
    • These materials require constant agitation to keep them in suspension. 这些药剂要经常搅动以保持悬浮状态。
    50 wrung [rʌŋ] b11606a7aab3e4f9eebce4222a9397b1   第7级
    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)
    参考例句:
    • He has wrung the words from their true meaning. 他曲解这些字的真正意义。
    • He wrung my hand warmly. 他热情地紧握我的手。
    51 extremity [ɪkˈstreməti] tlgxq   第9级
    n.末端,尽头;尽力;终极;极度
    参考例句:
    • I hope you will help them in their extremity. 我希望你能帮助在穷途末路的他们。
    • What shall we do in this extremity? 在这种极其困难的情况下我们该怎么办呢?
    52 misery [ˈmɪzəri] G10yi   第7级
    n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦
    参考例句:
    • Business depression usually causes misery among the working class. 商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
    • He has rescued me from the mire of misery. 他把我从苦海里救了出来。
    53 vaguely [ˈveɪgli] BfuzOy   第9级
    adv.含糊地,暖昧地
    参考例句:
    • He had talked vaguely of going to work abroad. 他含糊其词地说了到国外工作的事。
    • He looked vaguely before him with unseeing eyes. 他迷迷糊糊的望着前面,对一切都视而不见。
    54 lighter [ˈlaɪtə(r)] 5pPzPR   第8级
    n.打火机,点火器;驳船;v.用驳船运送;light的比较级
    参考例句:
    • The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter. 这张画经过润色,色调明朗了一些。
    • The lighter works off the car battery. 引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。
    55 exultation [egzʌl'teiʃən] wzeyn   第10级
    n.狂喜,得意
    参考例句:
    • It made him catch his breath, it lit his face with exultation. 听了这个名字,他屏住呼吸,乐得脸上放光。
    • He could get up no exultation that was really worthy the name. 他一点都激动不起来。
    56 pinpoint [ˈpɪnpɔɪnt] xNExL   第9级
    vt.准确地确定;用针标出…的精确位置
    参考例句:
    • It is difficult to pinpoint when water problems of the modern age began. 很难准确地指出,现代用水的问题是什么时候出现的。
    • I could pinpoint his precise location on a map. 我能在地图上指明他的准确位置。
    57 steadily ['stedɪlɪ] Qukw6   第7级
    adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地
    参考例句:
    • The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow. 人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
    • Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path. 我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。
    58 rascal [ˈrɑ:skl] mAIzd   第9级
    n.流氓;不诚实的人
    参考例句:
    • If he had done otherwise, I should have thought him a rascal. 如果他不这样做,我就认为他是个恶棍。
    • The rascal was frightened into holding his tongue. 这坏蛋吓得不敢往下说了。
    59 conspiracy [kənˈspɪrəsi] NpczE   第7级
    n.阴谋,密谋,共谋
    参考例句:
    • The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder. 这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
    • He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him. 他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。
    60 defiant [dɪˈfaɪənt] 6muzw   第10级
    adj.无礼的,挑战的
    参考例句:
    • With a last defiant gesture, they sang a revolutionary song as they were led away to prison. 他们被带走投入监狱时,仍以最后的反抗姿态唱起了一支革命歌曲。
    • He assumed a defiant attitude toward his employer. 他对雇主采取挑衅的态度。
    61 intensity [ɪnˈtensəti] 45Ixd   第7级
    n.强烈,剧烈;强度;烈度
    参考例句:
    • I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue. 我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
    • The strike is growing in intensity. 罢工日益加剧。
    62 expedition [ˌekspəˈdɪʃn] fhTzf   第8级
    n.远征,探险队,迅速;
    参考例句:
    • The scientists will go on an expedition to the South Pole. 这些科学家们将要去南极考察。
    • Who will be responsible for the expedition's supplies? 谁将负责探险队的物资供应?
    63 amazement [əˈmeɪzmənt] 7zlzBK   第8级
    n.惊奇,惊讶
    参考例句:
    • All those around him looked at him with amazement. 周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
    • He looked at me in blank amazement. 他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
    64 stolidly ['stɒlɪdlɪ] 3d5f42d464d711b8c0c9ea4ca88895e6   第9级
    adv.迟钝地,神经麻木地
    参考例句:
    • Too often people sat stolidly watching the noisy little fiddler. 人们往往不动声色地坐在那里,瞧着这位瘦小的提琴手闹腾一番。 来自辞典例句
    • He dropped into a chair and sat looking stolidly at the floor. 他坐在椅子上,两眼呆呆地望着地板。 来自辞典例句
    65 hue [hju:] qdszS   第10级
    n.色度;色调;样子
    参考例句:
    • The diamond shone with every hue under the Sun. 金刚石在阳光下放出五颜六色的光芒。
    • The same hue will look different in different light. 同一颜色在不同的光线下看起来会有所不同。
    66 Christian [ˈkrɪstʃən] KVByl   第7级
    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。
    67 cleft [kleft] awEzGG   第10级
    n.裂缝;adj.裂开的
    参考例句:
    • I hid the message in a cleft in the rock. 我把情报藏在石块的裂缝里。
    • He was cleft from his brother during the war. 在战争期间,他与他的哥哥分离。
    68 villain [ˈvɪlən] ZL1zA   第9级
    n.反派演员,反面人物;恶棍;问题的起因
    参考例句:
    • He was cast as the villain in the play. 他在戏里扮演反面角色。
    • The man who played the villain acted very well. 扮演恶棍的那个男演员演得很好。
    69 brutal [ˈbru:tl] bSFyb   第7级
    adj.残忍的,野蛮的,不讲理的
    参考例句:
    • She has to face the brutal reality. 她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
    • They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer. 他们表面上温文有礼,骨子里却是野蛮残忍。
    70 rustle [ˈrʌsl] thPyl   第9级
    vt.沙沙作响;偷盗(牛、马等);vi.发出沙沙声;n.沙沙声声
    参考例句:
    • She heard a rustle in the bushes. 她听到灌木丛中一阵沙沙声。
    • He heard a rustle of leaves in the breeze. 他听到树叶在微风中发出的沙沙声。
    71 exalted [ɪgˈzɔ:ltɪd] ztiz6f   第10级
    adj.(地位等)高的,崇高的;尊贵的,高尚的
    参考例句:
    • Their loveliness and holiness in accordance with their exalted station. 他们的美丽和圣洁也与他们的崇高地位相称。
    • He received respect because he was a person of exalted rank. 他因为是个地位崇高的人而受到尊敬。
    72 mire [ˈmaɪə(r)] 57ZzT   第10级
    n.泥沼,泥泞;v.使...陷于泥泞,使...陷入困境
    参考例句:
    • I don't want my son's good name dragged through the mire. 我不想使我儿子的名誉扫地。
    • He has rescued me from the mire of misery. 他把我从苦海里救了出来。
    73 throbbing ['θrɔbiŋ] 8gMzA0   第9级
    a. 跳动的,悸动的
    参考例句:
    • My heart is throbbing and I'm shaking. 我的心在猛烈跳动,身子在不住颤抖。
    • There was a throbbing in her temples. 她的太阳穴直跳。
    74 glimmered [ˈglɪməd] 8dea896181075b2b225f0bf960cf3afd   第8级
    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
    75 glimmer [ˈglɪmə(r)] 5gTxU   第8级
    vi.发出闪烁的微光;n.微光,微弱的闪光
    参考例句:
    • I looked at her and felt a glimmer of hope. 我注视她,感到了一线希望。
    • A glimmer of amusement showed in her eyes. 她的眼中露出一丝笑意。
    76 veins ['veɪnz] 65827206226d9e2d78ea2bfe697c6329   第7级
    n.纹理;矿脉( vein的名词复数 );静脉;叶脉;纹理
    参考例句:
    • The blood flows from the capillaries back into the veins. 血从毛细血管流回静脉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • I felt a pleasant glow in all my veins from the wine. 喝过酒后我浑身的血都热烘烘的,感到很舒服。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    77 groaned [ɡrəund] 1a076da0ddbd778a674301b2b29dff71   第7级
    v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 );发牢骚;抱怨;受苦
    参考例句:
    • He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。
    • The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    78 speck [spek] sFqzM   第9级
    n.微粒,小污点,小斑点
    参考例句:
    • I have not a speck of interest in it. 我对它没有任何兴趣。
    • The sky is clear and bright without a speck of cloud. 天空晴朗,一星星云彩也没有。
    79 deceptive [dɪˈseptɪv] CnMzO   第8级
    adj.骗人的,造成假象的,靠不住的
    参考例句:
    • His appearance was deceptive. 他的外表带有欺骗性。
    • The storyline is deceptively simple. 故事情节看似简单,其实不然。
    80 guttering [ˈgʌtərɪŋ] e419fa91a79d58c88910bbf6068b395a   第8级
    n.用于建排水系统的材料;沟状切除术;开沟
    参考例句:
    • a length of guttering 一节沟槽
    • The candle was guttering in the candlestick. 蜡烛在烛台上淌着蜡。 来自辞典例句
    81 crevice [ˈkrevɪs] pokzO   第10级
    n.(岩石、墙等)裂缝;缺口
    参考例句:
    • I saw a plant growing out of a crevice in the wall. 我看到墙缝里长出一棵草来。
    • He edged the tool into the crevice. 他把刀具插进裂缝里。
    82 boulder [ˈbəʊldə(r)] BNbzS   第11级
    n.巨砾;卵石,圆石
    参考例句:
    • We all heaved together and removed the boulder. 大家一齐用劲,把大石头搬开了。
    • He stepped clear of the boulder. 他从大石头后面走了出来。
    83 granite [ˈgrænɪt] Kyqyu   第9级
    adj.花岗岩,花岗石
    参考例句:
    • They squared a block of granite. 他们把一块花岗岩加工成四方形。
    • The granite overlies the older rocks. 花岗岩躺在磨损的岩石上面。
    84 concealed [kən'si:ld] 0v3zxG   第7级
    a.隐藏的,隐蔽的
    参考例句:
    • The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
    • I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。
    85 vile [vaɪl] YLWz0   第10级
    adj.卑鄙的,可耻的,邪恶的;坏透的
    参考例句:
    • Who could have carried out such a vile attack? 会是谁发起这么卑鄙的攻击呢?
    • Her talk was full of vile curses. 她的话里充满着恶毒的咒骂。
    86 foul [faʊl] Sfnzy   第7级
    adj.污秽的;邪恶的;vt.弄脏;妨害;犯规;vi. 犯规;腐烂;缠结;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!
    87 bristling ['brisliŋ] tSqyl   第8级
    a.竖立的
    参考例句:
    • "Don't you question Miz Wilkes' word,'said Archie, his beard bristling. "威尔克斯太太的话,你就不必怀疑了。 "阿尔奇说。他的胡子也翘了起来。
    • You were bristling just now. 你刚才在发毛。
    88 savage [ˈsævɪdʒ] ECxzR   第7级
    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。
    89 savages ['sævɪgɪz] 2ea43ddb53dad99ea1c80de05d21d1e5   第7级
    未开化的人,野蛮人( savage的名词复数 )
    参考例句:
    • There're some savages living in the forest. 森林里居住着一些野人。
    • That's an island inhabited by savages. 那是一个野蛮人居住的岛屿。
    90 burrows [ˈbʌrəuz] 6f0e89270b16e255aa86501b6ccbc5f3   第9级
    n.地洞( burrow的名词复数 )v.挖掘(洞穴),挖洞( burrow的第三人称单数 );翻寻
    参考例句:
    • The intertidal beach unit contains some organism burrows. 潮间海滩单元含有一些生物潜穴。 来自辞典例句
    • A mole burrows its way through the ground. 鼹鼠会在地下钻洞前进。 来自辞典例句
    91 crafty [ˈkrɑ:fti] qzWxC   第10级
    adj.狡猾的,诡诈的
    参考例句:
    • He admired the old man for his crafty plan. 他敬佩老者的神机妙算。
    • He was an accomplished politician and a crafty autocrat. 他是个有造诣的政治家,也是个狡黠的独裁者。
    92 hurled [hə:ld] 16e3a6ba35b6465e1376a4335ae25cd2   第8级
    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》
    93 squat [skwɒt] 2GRzp   第8级
    vi. 蹲,蹲下;蹲坐;蹲伏 vt. 使蹲坐,使蹲下 n. 蹲坐,蜷伏
    参考例句:
    • For this exercise you need to get into a squat. 在这次练习中你需要蹲下来。
    • He is a squat man. 他是一个矮胖的男人。
    94 boulders [ˈbəʊldəz] 317f40e6f6d3dc0457562ca415269465   第11级
    n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 );巨砾;(受水或天气侵蚀而成的)巨石;漂砾
    参考例句:
    • Seals basked on boulders in a flat calm. 海面风平浪静,海豹在巨石上晒太阳。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • The river takes a headlong plunge into a maelstrom of rocks and boulders. 河水急流而下,入一个漂砾的漩涡中。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    95 pinnacle [ˈpɪnəkl] A2Mzb   第9级
    n.尖塔,尖顶,山峰;(喻)顶峰
    参考例句:
    • Now he is at the very pinnacle of his career. 现在他正值事业中的顶峰时期。
    • It represents the pinnacle of intellectual capability. 它代表了智能的顶峰。
    96 delusion [dɪˈlu:ʒn] x9uyf   第8级
    n.谬见,欺骗,幻觉,迷惑
    参考例句:
    • He is under the delusion that he is Napoleon. 他患了妄想症,认为自己是拿破仑。
    • I was under the delusion that he intended to marry me. 我误认为他要娶我。
    97 wilderness [ˈwɪldənəs] SgrwS   第8级
    n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等,荒漠
    参考例句:
    • She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness. 她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
    • Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means. 荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。
    98 irrelevant [ɪˈreləvənt] ZkGy6   第8级
    adj.不恰当的,无关系的,不相干的
    参考例句:
    • That is completely irrelevant to the subject under discussion. 这跟讨论的主题完全不相关。
    • A question about arithmetic is irrelevant in a music lesson. 在音乐课上,一个数学的问题是风马牛不相及的。
    99 helping [ˈhelpɪŋ] 2rGzDc   第7级
    n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
    参考例句:
    • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
    • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来,他们在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
    100 motive [ˈməʊtɪv] GFzxz   第7级
    n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的
    参考例句:
    • The police could not find a motive for the murder. 警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
    • He had some motive in telling this fable. 他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。
    101 remains [rɪˈmeɪnz] 1kMzTy   第7级
    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。

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