Shoe-Bar Stratton - Chapter 35

时间：2021-02-24 07:34:19

（单词翻译:单击）

Vaguely1, as of a sound coming from far distances, the crack of a revolver-shot penetrated2 to the girl's numbed3 brain. It did not surprise her. Indeed, it roused only a feeling of the mildest curiosity in one whose nerves had been strained almost to the breaking-point. When Lynch, with a hoarse4 cry, toppled back against her, she merely stepped quickly to one side, and an instant later she was on her knees beside Stratton.
 
"Buck5!" she sobbed6. "Oh, Buck!" clutching at him as if from some wild fear that he would topple into the abyss.
 
Hands suddenly put her gently to one side, and some one dragged Stratton from his dangerous position and supported him against an upraised knee. It was Bud Jessup, and behind him loomed7 the figures of Sheriff Hardenberg and several of his men.
 
Mary's glance noted8 them briefly9, incuriously, returning anxiously to the man beside her. His eyes were open now, and he was sucking in the air in deep, panting gulps10.
 
"How yuh feelin'?" asked Bud briefly.
 
"All right--get my breath," mumbled11 Buck.
 
"Yuh hurt any place?" Jessup continued, after a brief pause.
 
"Not to speak of," returned Stratton in a stronger tone. "When I first jumped for the cuss, I hit my head the devil of a crack, and--pretty near went out. But that don't matter--now."
 
His eyes sought the girl's and dwelt there, longingly12, caressingly13. There was tribute in their depths, appreciation14, and something stronger, more abiding15 which brought a faint flush into her tired face and made her heart beat faster. Presently, when he staggered to his feet and took a step or two toward her, she felt no shame in meeting him half way. Quite as naturally as his arm slipped around her shoulders, her lifted hands rested against the front of his flannel16 shirt, torn into ribbons and stained with grime.
 
"For a little one," he murmured, looking down into her eyes, "you're some spunky fighter, believe me!"
 
She flushed deeper and her lids drooped18. Of a sudden Sheriff Hardenberg spoke19 up briskly:
 
"That was a right nice shot, kid. You got him good."
 
He was standing20 beside the body sprawling21 on the ground, and the words had scarcely left his lips when Lynch's eyes opened slowly.
 
"Yes--yuh got me," he mumbled.
 
Slowly his glance swept the circle of faces until it rested finally on the man and girl standing close together. For a long moment he stared at them silently, his pale lips twitching22. Then all at once a look of cunning satisfaction swept the baffled fury from his smoldering23 eyes.
 
"Yuh got me," he repeated in a stronger voice. "Looks like yuh got her, too. Maybe yuh think you've gobbled up the ranch24, likewise, an'--an' everything. That's where yuh get stung."
 
He fell to coughing suddenly, and for a few minutes his great body was racked with violent paroxysms that brought a bright crimson25 stain to the sleeve he flung across his mouth. But all the while his eyes, full of strange venomous triumph, never once left Stratton's face.
 
"Yuh see," he choked out finally, "the ranch--ain't--hers."
 
He paused, speechless; and Mary, looking down on him, felt merely that his brain was wandering and found room in her heart to be a little sorry.
 
"Why ain't it hers?" demanded Bud with youthful impetuosity. "Her father left it to her, an'--"
 
"It wasn't his to--to leave. He stole it." Lynch's voice was weaker, but his eyes still glowed with hateful triumph. "He forged the deed--from--from papers--Stratton left with him--when he went--to war." He moistened his dry lips with his tongue. "When Stratton was--killed--he didn't leave--no kin--to make trouble, an' Thorne--took a chance."
 
His voice faltered26, ceased. Mary stared at him dumbly, a slow, oppressive dread27 creeping into her heart. Little forgotten things flashed back into her mind. Her father's financial reverses, his reticence28 about the acquisition of the Shoe-Bar, the strange hold Lynch had seemed to have on him, rose up to torment29 her. Suddenly she glanced quickly at Buck for reassurance30.
 
"It isn't so!" she cried. "It can't be. My father--"
 
Slowly the words died on her lips. There was love, tenderness, pity in the man's eyes, but no--denial!
 
"Ain't it, though?" Lynch spoke in a labored31 whisper; his eyes were glazing32. "Yuh thinks--I'm--loco. I--ain't. It's--gospel truth. Yuh find Quinlan, the--the witness. No, Quinlan's dead. It's--it's--Kaylor. Kaylor got--got-- What was I sayin'." He plucked feebly at his chap-belt. "I know. Kaylor got--a clean thousand for--for swearin'--the signature--was--Stratton's. Yuh find Kaylor. Hardenberg ... thumbscrew ... the truth...."
 
The low, uneven33 whisper merged34 into a murmur17; then silence fell, broken only by the labored breathing of the dying man. Dazed, bewildered, conscious of a horrible conviction that he spoke the truth, Mary stood frozen, struggling against a wave of utter weariness and despair that surged over her. She felt the arm about her tighten35, but for some strange reason the realization36 brought her little comfort.
 
Suddenly Hardenberg broke the silence. He had been watching the girl, and could no longer bear the misery37 in her white, strained face.
 
"You think you've turned a smart trick, don't you?" he snapped with angry impulsiveness39. "As a matter of fact the ranch belongs to him already. The man you've known as Green is Buck Stratton himself."
 
Lynch's lids flashed up. "Yuh--lie!" he murmured. "Stratton's--dead!"
 
"Nothing like it," retorted the sheriff. "The papers got it wrong. He was only badly wounded. This fellow here is Buck Stratton, and he can prove it."
 
A spasm40 quivered over Lynch's face. He tried to speak, but only a faint gurgle came from his blood-flecked lips. Too late Hardenberg, catching41 an angry glance from Buck, realized and regretted his impulsive38 indiscretion. For Mary Thorne, turning slowly like a person in a dream, stared into the face of the man beside her, lips quivering and eyes full of a great horror.
 
"You!" she faltered, in a pitiful, small voice. "You--"
 
Stratton held her closer, a troubled tenderness sweeping42 the anger from his eyes.
 
"But--but, Mary--" he stammered--"what difference does--"
 
Suddenly her nerves snapped under the culminating strain of the past few hours.
 
"Difference!" she cried hysterically43. "Difference!" Her heart lay like a cold, dead thing within her; she felt utterly44 miserable45 and alone. "You--My father! Oh, God!"
 
She made a weak effort to escape from his embrace. Then, abruptly46, her slim, girlish figure grew limp, her head fell back against Stratton's shoulder, her eyes closed.

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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 vaguely BfuzOy     
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。
2 penetrated 61c8e5905df30b8828694a7dc4c3a3e0     
adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式
参考例句：
  • The knife had penetrated his chest. 刀子刺入了他的胸膛。
  • They penetrated into territory where no man had ever gone before. 他们已进入先前没人去过的地区。
3 numbed f49681fad452b31c559c5f54ee8220f4     
v.使麻木，使麻痹( numb的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • His mind has been numbed. 他已麻木不仁。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He was numbed with grief. 他因悲伤而昏迷了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
4 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。
5 buck ESky8     
n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃
参考例句：
  • The boy bent curiously to the skeleton of the buck.这个男孩好奇地弯下身去看鹿的骸骨。
  • The female deer attracts the buck with high-pitched sounds.雌鹿以尖声吸引雄鹿。
6 sobbed 4a153e2bbe39eef90bf6a4beb2dba759     
哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说
参考例句：
  • She sobbed out the story of her son's death. 她哭诉着她儿子的死。
  • She sobbed out the sad story of her son's death. 她哽咽着诉说她儿子死去的悲惨经过。
7 loomed 9423e616fe6b658c9a341ebc71833279     
v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近
参考例句：
  • A dark shape loomed up ahead of us. 一个黑糊糊的影子隐隐出现在我们的前面。
  • The prospect of war loomed large in everyone's mind. 战事将起的庞大阴影占据每个人的心。 来自《简明英汉词典》
8 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的，知名的
参考例句：
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
9 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。
10 gulps e43037bffa62a52065f6c7f91e4ef158     
n.一大口（尤指液体）( gulp的名词复数 )v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的第三人称单数 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住
参考例句：
  • He often gulps down a sob. 他经常忍气吞声地生活。 来自辞典例句
  • JERRY: Why don't you make a point with your own doctor? (George gulps) What's wrong? 杰瑞：你为啥不对你自个儿的医生表明立场？有啥问题吗？ 来自互联网
11 mumbled 3855fd60b1f055fa928ebec8bcf3f539     
含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • He mumbled something to me which I did not quite catch. 他对我叽咕了几句话，可我没太听清楚。
  • George mumbled incoherently to himself. 乔治语无伦次地喃喃自语。
12 longingly 2015a05d76baba3c9d884d5f144fac69     
adv. 渴望地 热望地
参考例句：
  • He looked longingly at the food on the table. 他眼巴巴地盯着桌上的食物。
  • Over drinks,he speaks longingly of his trip to Latin America. 他带着留恋的心情，一边喝酒一边叙述他的拉丁美洲之行。
13 caressingly 77d15bfb91cdfea4de0eee54a581136b     
爱抚地，亲切地
参考例句：
  • His voice was caressingly sweet. 他的嗓音亲切而又甜美。
14 appreciation Pv9zs     
n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨
参考例句：
  • I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
  • I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。
15 abiding uzMzxC     
adj.永久的，持久的，不变的
参考例句：
  • He had an abiding love of the English countryside.他永远热爱英国的乡村。
  • He has a genuine and abiding love of the craft.他对这门手艺有着真挚持久的热爱。
16 flannel S7dyQ     
n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服
参考例句：
  • She always wears a grey flannel trousers.她总是穿一条灰色法兰绒长裤。
  • She was looking luscious in a flannel shirt.她穿着法兰绒裙子，看上去楚楚动人。
17 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。
18 drooped ebf637c3f860adcaaf9c11089a322fa5     
弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • Her eyelids drooped as if she were on the verge of sleep. 她眼睑低垂好像快要睡着的样子。
  • The flowers drooped in the heat of the sun. 花儿晒蔫了。
19 spoke XryyC     
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
参考例句：
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
20 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。
21 sprawling 3ff3e560ffc2f12f222ef624d5807902     
adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着）
参考例句：
  • He was sprawling in an armchair in front of the TV. 他伸开手脚坐在电视机前的一张扶手椅上。
  • a modern sprawling town 一座杂乱无序拓展的现代城镇
22 twitching 97f99ba519862a2bc691c280cee4d4cf     
n.颤搐
参考例句：
  • The child in a spasm kept twitching his arms and legs. 那个害痉挛的孩子四肢不断地抽搐。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • My eyelids keep twitching all the time. 我眼皮老是跳。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
23 smoldering e8630fc937f347478071b5257ae5f3a3     
v.用文火焖烧，熏烧，慢燃( smolder的现在分词 )
参考例句：
  • The mat was smoldering where the burning log had fallen. 燃烧的木棒落下的地方垫子慢慢燃烧起来。 来自辞典例句
  • The wood was smoldering in the fireplace. 木柴在壁炉中闷烧。 来自辞典例句
24 ranch dAUzk     
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。
25 crimson AYwzH     
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色
参考例句：
  • She went crimson with embarrassment.她羞得满脸通红。
  • Maple leaves have turned crimson.枫叶已经红了。
26 faltered d034d50ce5a8004ff403ab402f79ec8d     
（嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃
参考例句：
  • He faltered out a few words. 他支吾地说出了几句。
  • "Er - but he has such a longhead!" the man faltered. 他不好意思似的嚅嗫着：“这孩子脑袋真长。”
27 dread Ekpz8     
vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧
参考例句：
  • We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。
  • Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。
28 reticence QWixF     
n.沉默，含蓄
参考例句：
  • He breaks out of his normal reticence and tells me the whole story.他打破了平时一贯沈默寡言的习惯，把事情原原本本都告诉了我。
  • He always displays a certain reticence in discussing personal matters.他在谈论个人问题时总显得有些保留。
29 torment gJXzd     
n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠
参考例句：
  • He has never suffered the torment of rejection.他从未经受过遭人拒绝的痛苦。
  • Now nothing aggravates me more than when people torment each other.没有什么东西比人们的互相折磨更使我愤怒。
30 reassurance LTJxV     
n.使放心，使消除疑虑
参考例句：
  • He drew reassurance from the enthusiastic applause.热烈的掌声使他获得了信心。
  • Reassurance is especially critical when it comes to military activities.消除疑虑在军事活动方面尤为关键。
31 labored zpGz8M     
adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转
参考例句：
  • I was close enough to the elk to hear its labored breathing. 我离那头麋鹿非常近，能听见它吃力的呼吸声。 来自辞典例句
  • They have labored to complete the job. 他们努力完成这一工作。 来自辞典例句
32 glazing efbb002113a7b05827a36cd681ab6eb5     
n.玻璃装配业；玻璃窗；上釉；上光v.装玻璃( glaze的现在分词 )；上釉于，上光；（目光）变得呆滞无神
参考例句：
  • You should ensure against loss of heat by having double glazing. 你应装双层玻璃以免散热。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • You should ensure yourself against loss of heat by having double glazing. 你应该装双层玻璃防止热量散失。 来自《简明英汉词典》
33 uneven akwwb     
adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的
参考例句：
  • The sidewalk is very uneven—be careful where you walk.这人行道凹凸不平—走路时请小心。
  • The country was noted for its uneven distribution of land resources.这个国家以土地资源分布不均匀出名。
34 merged d33b2d33223e1272c8bbe02180876e6f     
（使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中
参考例句：
  • Turf wars are inevitable when two departments are merged. 两个部门合并时总免不了争争权限。
  • The small shops were merged into a large market. 那些小商店合并成为一个大商场。
35 tighten 9oYwI     
v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧
参考例句：
  • Turn the screw to the right to tighten it.向右转动螺钉把它拧紧。
  • Some countries tighten monetary policy to avoid inflation.一些国家实行紧缩银根的货币政策，以避免通货膨胀。
36 realization nTwxS     
n.实现；认识到，深刻了解
参考例句：
  • We shall gladly lend every effort in our power toward its realization.我们将乐意为它的实现而竭尽全力。
  • He came to the realization that he would never make a good teacher.他逐渐认识到自己永远不会成为好老师。
37 misery G10yi     
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。
38 impulsive M9zxc     
adj.冲动的，刺激的；有推动力的
参考例句：
  • She is impulsive in her actions.她的行为常出于冲动。
  • He was neither an impulsive nor an emotional man,but a very honest and sincere one.他不是个一冲动就鲁莽行事的人，也不多愁善感.他为人十分正直、诚恳。
39 impulsiveness c241f05286967855b4dd778779272ed7     
n.冲动
参考例句：
  • Advancing years had toned down his rash impulsiveness.上了年纪以后，他那鲁莽、容易冲动的性子好了一些。
  • There was some emotional lability and impulsiveness during the testing.在测试过程中，患者容易冲动，情绪有时不稳定。
40 spasm dFJzH     
n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作
参考例句：
  • When the spasm passed,it left him weak and sweating.一阵痉挛之后，他虚弱无力，一直冒汗。
  • He kicked the chair in a spasm of impatience.他突然变得不耐烦，一脚踢向椅子。
41 catching cwVztY     
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。
42 sweeping ihCzZ4     
adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的
参考例句：
  • The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
  • Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？
43 hysterically 5q7zmQ     
ad. 歇斯底里地
参考例句：
  • The children giggled hysterically. 孩子们歇斯底里地傻笑。
  • She sobbed hysterically, and her thin body was shaken. 她歇斯底里地抽泣着，她瘦弱的身体哭得直颤抖。
44 utterly ZfpzM1     
adv.完全地，绝对地
参考例句：
  • Utterly devoted to the people,he gave his life in saving his patients.他忠于人民，把毕生精力用于挽救患者的生命。
  • I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled.她的微笑使我完全陶醉了。
45 miserable g18yk     
adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的
参考例句：
  • It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。
  • Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。
46 abruptly iINyJ     
adv.突然地，出其不意地
参考例句：
  • He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
  • I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。

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