A few miles south of Soledad, the Salinas River drops in [1] close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green. The water is warm too, for it has slipped [2] twinkling over the yellow sands in the sunlight before reaching the narrow pool. On one side of the river the golden foothill slopes curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan mountains, but on the valley side the water is lined with trees—willows fresh and green with every spring, carrying in their lower leaf junctures [3] the debris [4] of the winter's flooding; and sycamores [5] with mottled [6] , white, recumbent [7] limbs [8] and branches that arch [9] over the pool. On the sandy bank under the trees the leaves lie deep and so crisp [10] that a lizard makes a great skittering [11] if he runs among them. Rabbits come out of the brush [12] to sit on the sand in the evening, and the damp [13] flats [14] are covered with the night tracks of ' coons [15] , and with the spread [16] pads [17] of dogs from the ranches [18] , and with the split-wedge [19] tracks of deer that come to drink in the dark.

There is a path through the willows and among the sycamores, a path beaten [20] hard by boys coming down from the ranches to swim in the deep pool, and beaten hard by tramps [21] who come wearily [22] down from the highway in the evening to jungle-up [23] near water. In front of the low horizontal limb of a giant sycamore there is an ash pile made by many fires; the limb is worn smooth by men who have sat on it.

Evening of a hot day started the little wind to moving among the leaves. The shade climbed up the hills toward the top. On the sand banks the rabbits sat as quietly as little gray sculptured stones. And then from the direction of the state highway came the sound of footsteps on crisp sycamore leaves. The rabbits hurried noiselessly for cover. A stilted [24] heron [25] labored [26] up into the air and pounded [27] down river. For a moment the place was lifeless, and then two men emerged [28] from the path and came into the opening by the green pool.

They had walked in single file down the path, and even in the open one stayed behind the other. Both were dressed in denim [29] trousers and in denim coats with brass [30] buttons. Both wore black, shapeless hats and both carried tight blanket rolls slung [31] over their shoulders. The first man was small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Every part of him was defined [32] : small, strong hands, slender arms, a thin and bony nose. Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, and wide, sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws. His arms did not swing at his sides, but hung loosely.

The first man stopped short in the clearing, and the follower nearly ran over him. He took off his hat and wiped the sweat-band [33] with his forefinger [34] and snapped [35] the moisture [36] off. His huge companion dropped his blankets and flung [37] himself down and drank from the surface of the green pool; drank with long gulps [38] , snorting [39] into the water like a horse. The small man stepped nervously beside him.

“Lennie!” he said sharply. “Lennie, for God' sakes don't drink so much.”Lennie continued to snort into the pool. The small man leaned over and shook him by the shoulder. “Lennie. You gonna [40] be sick like you was last night.”

Lennie dipped [41] his whole head under, hat and all, and then he sat up on the bank and his hat dripped down on his blue coat and ran down his back. “That's good,” he said. “You drink some, George. You take a good big drink.” He smiled happily.

George unslung [42] his bindle [43] and dropped it gently on the bank. “I ain't [44] sure it's good water,” he said. “Looks kinda [45] scummy [46] .”

Lennie dabbled [47] his big paw in the water and wiggled [48] his fingers so the water arose in little splashes; rings widened across the pool to the other side and came back again. Lennie watched them go. “Look, George. Look what I done.”

George knelt beside the pool and drank from his hand with quick scoops [49] .“Tastes all right,” he admitted. “Don't really seem to be running, though. You never oughta [50] drink water when it ain't [51] running, Lennie,” he said hopelessly.“You'd drink out of a gutter [52] if you was thirsty.” He threw a scoop of water into his face and rubbed it about with his hand, under his chin and around the back of his neck. Then he replaced his hat, pushed himself back from the river, drew up his knees and embraced them. Lennie, who had been watching, imitated George exactly. He pushed himself back, drew up his knees, embraced them, looked over to George to see whether he had it just right. He pulled his hat down a little more over his eyes, the way George's hat was.

George stared morosely [53] at the water. The rims [54] of his eyes were red with sun glare. He said angrily, “We could just as well of rode clear to the ranch if that bastard bus driver knew what he was talkin' [55] about. ‘ Jes' [56] a little stretch down the highway, ’ he says. ‘Jes’ a little stretch.' God damn near four miles, that's what it was! Didn't wanta [57] stop at the ranch gate, that's what. Too God damn lazy to pull up [58] . Wonder he isn't too damn good to stop in Soledad at all. Kicks us out and says‘Jes’a little stretch down the road.'I bet it was more than four miles. Damn hot day.”

Lennie looked timidly over to him. “George? ”

“Yeah, what ya [59] want? ”

“Where we goin', George? ”

The little man jerked [60] down the brim [61] of his hat and scowled [62] over at Lennie. “So you forgot that awready [63] , did you? I gotta [64] tell you again, do I? Jesus Christ, you're a crazy bastard!”

“I forgot,” Lennie said softly. “I tried not to forget. Honest to God I did, George.”

“O.K—O.K. I'll tell ya again. I ain't [65] got nothing to do. Might jus' as well [66] spen' [67] all my time tellin' you things and then you forget 'em [68] , and I tell you again.”

“Tried and tried,” said Lennie, “but it didn't do no good. I remember about the rabbits, George.”

“ The hell with [69] the rabbits. That's all you ever can remember is them rabbits. O.K.! Now you listen and this time you got to remember so we don't get in no trouble. You remember settin' in that gutter [70] on Howard Street and watchin' that blackboard? ”

Lennie's face broke [71] into a delighted smile. “Why sure, George. I remember that . . . but . . . what'd we do then? I remember some girls come by and you says . . . you says . . .”

“The hell with what I says. You remember about us goin' in to Murray and Ready's, and they give us work cards and bus tickets? ”

“Oh, sure, George. I remember that now.” His hands went quickly into his side coat pockets. He said gently, “George . . . I ain't got mine. I musta [72] lost it.”He looked down at the ground in despair.

“You never had none, you crazy bastard. I got both of 'em here. Think I'd let you carry your own work card? ”

Lennie grinned [73] with relief [74] . “I . . . I thought I put it in my side pocket.”His hand went into the pocket again.

George looked sharply at him. “What'd you take outa [75] that pocket? ”

“Ain't a thing in my pocket,” Lennie said cleverly.

“I know there ain't. You got it in your hand. What you got in your hand—hidin' it? ”

“I ain't got nothin', George. Honest.”

“Come on, give it here.”

Lennie held his closed hand away from George's direction. “It's on'y [76] a mouse, George.”

“A mouse? A live [77] mouse? ”

“Uh-uh. Jus' a dead mouse, George. I didn't kill it. Honest! I found it. I found it dead.”

“Give it here!” said George.

“Aw, leave me have it, George.”

“ Give it here !”

Lennie's closed hand slowly obeyed [78] . George took the mouse and threw it across the pool to the other side, among the brush. “What you want of a dead mouse, anyways [79] ? ”

“I could pet [80] it with my thumb while we walked along,” said Lennie.

“Well, you ain't [81] petting no mice while you walk with me. You remember where we're goin' now? ”

Lennie looked startled [82] and then in embarrassment hid his face against his knees. “I forgot again.”

“Jesus Christ,” George said resignedly [83] . “Well—look, we're gonna work on a ranch like the one we come from up north.”

“Up north? ”

“In Weed.”

“Oh, sure. I remember. In Weed.”

“That ranch we're goin' to is right down there about a quarter mile. We're gonna go in an' [84] see the boss. Now, look—I'll give him the work tickets, but you ain't gonna say a word. You jus' stand there and don't say nothing. If he finds out what a crazy bastard you are, we won't get no job, but if he sees ya work before he hears ya talk, we're set [85] . Ya got that? ”

“Sure, George. Sure I got it.”

“O.K. Now when we go in to see the boss, what you gonna do? ”

“I . . . I . . .” Lennie thought. His face grew tight with thought. “I . . . ain't gonna say nothin'. Jus' gonna stan' [86] there.”

“Good boy. That's swell [87] . You say that over two, three times so you sure won't forget it.”

Lennie droned [88] to himself softly, “I ain't gonna say nothin' . . . I ain't gonna say nothin' . . . I ain't gonna say nothin'.”

“O.K.,” said George. “An' you ain't gonna do no bad things like you done in Weed, neither.”

Lennie looked puzzled. “Like I done in Weed? ”

“Oh, so ya forgot that too, did ya? Well, I ain't gonna remind ya, fear ya do it again.”

A light of understanding broke on Lennie's face. “They run us outa Weed,”he exploded [89] triumphantly.

“Run us out, hell,” said George disgustedly. “We run. They was lookin' for us, but they didn't catch us.”

Lennie giggled happily. “I didn't forget that, you bet.”

George lay back on the sand and crossed his hands under his head, and Lennie imitated him, raising his head to see whether he was doing it right. “God, you're a lot of trouble,” said George. “I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn't have you on my tail [90] . I could live so easy and maybe have a girl.”

For a moment Lennie lay quiet, and then he said hopefully, “We gonna work on a ranch, George.”

“ Awright [91] . You got that. But we're gonna sleep here because I got a reason.”

The day was going fast now. Only the tops of the Gabilan mountains flamed [92] with the light of the sun that had gone from the valley. A water snake slipped along on the pool, its head held up like a little periscope [93] . The reeds [94] jerked slightly in the current. Far off toward the highway a man shouted something, and another man shouted back. The sycamore limbs rustled [95] under a little wind that died immediately.

“George—why ain't we goin' on to the ranch and get some supper? They got supper at the ranch.”

George rolled on his side. “No reason at all for you. I like it here. Tomorra [96] we're gonna go to work. I seen thrashin' machines [97] on the way down. That means we'll be buckin' [98] grain [99] bags, bustin' a gut [100] . Tonight I'm gonna lay right here and look up. I like it.”

Lennie got up on his knees and looked down at George. “Ain't we gonna have no supper? ”

“Sure we are, if you gather up some dead willow sticks. I got three cans of beans in my bindle. You get a fire ready. I'll give you a match when you get the sticks together. Then we'll heat the beans and have supper.”

Lennie said, “I like beans with ketchup.”

“Well, we ain't got no ketchup. You go get wood. An' don't you fool around [101] . It'll be dark before long.”

Lennie lumbered [102] to his feet and disappeared in the brush. George lay where he was and whistled softly to himself. There were sounds of splashings down the river in the direction Lennie had taken. George stopped whistling and listened.

“Poor bastard,” he said softly, and then went on whistling again.

In a moment Lennie came crashing [103] back through the brush. He carried one small willow stick in his hand. George sat up. “Awright,” he said brusquely [104] .“ Gi'me [105] that mouse!”

But Lennie made an elaborate [106] pantomime [107] of innocence. “What mouse, George? I ain't got no mouse.”

George held out his hand. “Come on. Give it to me. You ain't puttin’ nothing over [108] .”

Lennie hesitated, backed away, looked wildly at the brush line as though he contemplated [109] running for his freedom. George said coldly, “You gonna give me that mouse or do I have to sock [110] you? ”

“Give you what, George? ”

“You know God damn well what. I want that mouse.”

Lennie reluctantly reached into his pocket. His voice broke [111] a little. “I don't know why I can't keep it. It ain't nobody's mouse. I didn't steal it. I found it lyin' right beside the road.”

George's hand remained outstretched imperiously [112] . Slowly, like a terrier [113] who doesn't want to bring a ball to its master, Lennie approached, drew back [114] , approached again. George snapped [115] his fingers sharply, and at the sound Lennie laid the mouse in his hand.

“I wasn't doin' nothing bad with it, George. Jus' strokin' [116] it.”

George stood up and threw the mouse as far as he could into the darkening brush, and then he stepped to the pool and washed his hands. “You crazy fool. Don't you think I could see your feet was wet where you went acrost [117] the river to get it? ” He heard Lennie's whimpering [118] cry and wheeled [119] about.“ Blubberin' [120] like a baby! Jesus Christ! A big guy like you.” Lennie's lip quivered [121] and tears started in his eyes. “Aw, Lennie!” George put his hand on Lennie's shoulder. “I ain't takin' it away jus' for meanness. That mouse ain't fresh, Lennie; and besides, you've broke it pettin' it. You get another mouse that's fresh and I'll let you keep it a little while.”

Lennie sat down on the ground and hung his head dejectedly [122] . “I don't know where there is no other mouse. I remember a lady used to give 'em to me— ever' [123] one she got. But that lady ain't here.”

George scoff ed [124] . “Lady, huh? Don't even remember who that lady was. That was your own Aunt Clara. An' she stopped givin' 'em to ya. You always killed 'em.”

Lennie looked sadly up at him. “They was so little,” he said, apologetically.“I'd pet 'em, and pretty soon they bit my fingers and I pinched [125] their heads a little and then they was dead—because they was so little.

“I wisht [126] we'd get the rabbits pretty soon, George. They ain't so little.”

“The hell with the rabbits. An' you ain't to be trusted with no live mice.Your Aunt Clara give you a rubber mouse and you wouldn't have nothing to do with it.”

“It wasn't no good to pet,” said Lennie.

The flame [127] of the sunset lifted from the mountaintops and dusk came into the valley, and a half darkness came in among the willows and the sycamores. A big carp [128] rose to the surface of the pool, gulped [129] air and then sank mysteriously into the dark water again, leaving widening rings on the water. Overhead the leaves whisked [130] again and little puff s [131] of willow cotton [132] blew down and landed on the pool's surface.

“You gonna get that wood? ” George demanded [133] . “There's plenty right up against the back of that sycamore. Floodwater wood. Now you get it.”

Lennie went behind the tree and brought out a litter [134] of dried leaves and twigs. He threw them in a heap [135] on the old ash pile and went back for more and more. It was almost night now. A dove's wings whistled [136] over the water. George walked to the fire pile and lighted the dry leaves. The flame cracked [137] up among the twigs and fell to [138] work. George undid [139] his bindle and brought out three cans of beans. He stood [140] them about [141] the fire, close in against the blaze [142] , but not quite touching the flame.

“There's enough beans for four men,” George said.

Lennie watched him from over the fire. He said patiently, “I like 'em with ketchup.”

“Well, we ain't got any,” George exploded. “Whatever we ain't got, that's what you want. God a'mighty [143] , if I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an' work, an' no trouble. No mess at all, and when the end of the month come I could take my fifty bucks [144] and go into town and get whatever I want. Why, I could stay in a cat house [145] all night. I could eat any place I want, hotel or any place, and order any damn thing I could think of. An' I could do all that every damn month. Get a gallon of whisky, or set in a pool room [146] and play cards or shoot [147] pool.” Lennie knelt and looked over the fire at the angry George. And Lennie's face was drawn [148] with terror. “An' whatta [149] I got,”George went on furiously [150] . “I got you! You can't keep a job and you lose me ever' job I get. Jus' keep me shovin' [151] all over the country all the time. An' that ain't the worst. You get in trouble. You do bad things and I got to get you out.”His voice rose nearly to a shout. “You crazy son-of-a-bitch. You keep me in hot water [152] all the time.” He took on the elaborate manner of little girls when they are mimicking [153] one another. “Jus' wanted to feel that girl's dress—jus' wanted to pet it like it was a mouse—Well, how the hell did she know you jus' wanted to feel her dress? She jerks back and you hold on like it was a mouse. She yells and we got to hide in a irrigation [154] ditch [155] all day with guys lookin' for us, and we got to sneak [156] out in the dark and get outa the country. All the time somethin' like that—all the time. I wisht I could put you in a cage with about a million mice an' let you have fun.” His anger left him suddenly. He looked across the fire at Lennie's anguished [157] face, and then he looked ashamedly at the flames.

It was quite dark now, but the fire lighted the trunks of the trees and the curving [158] branches overhead. Lennie crawled slowly and cautiously around the fire until he was close to George. He sat back on his heels. George turned the bean cans so that another side faced the fire. He pretended to be unaware of Lennie so close beside him.

“George,” very softly. No answer. “George!”

“Whatta you want? ”

“I was only foolin' [159] , George. I don't want no ketchup. I wouldn't eat no ketchup if it was right here beside me.”

“If it was here, you could have some.”

“But I wouldn't eat none, George. I'd leave it all for you. You could cover your beans with it and I wouldn't touch none of it.”

George still stared morosely at the fire. “When I think of the swell time I could have without you, I go nuts [160] . I never get no peace.”

Lennie still knelt. He looked of f [161] into [162] the darkness across the river.“George, you want I should go away and leave you alone? ”

“Where the hell could you go? ”

“Well, I could. I could go off in the hills there. Some place I'd find a cave.”

“Yeah? How'd you eat? You ain't got sense enough to find nothing to eat.”

“I'd find things, George. I don't need no nice food with ketchup. I'd lay out in the sun and nobody'd hurt me. An' if I foun' [163] a mouse, I could keep it. Nobody'd take it away from me.”

George looked quickly and searchingly [164] at him. “I been mean, ain't I? ”

“If you don' want me I can go off in the hills an' find a cave. I can go away any time.”

“No—look! I was jus' foolin', Lennie. ‘Cause I want you to stay with me. Trouble with mice is you always kill ’em.” He paused. “Tell you what I'll do, Lennie. First chance I get I'll give you a pup [165] . Maybe you wouldn't kill it . That'd be better than mice. And you could pet it harder.”

Lennie avoided the bait [166] . He had sensed his advantage. “If you don't want me, you only jus' got to say so, and I'll go off in those hills right there—right up in those hills and live by myself. An' I won't get no mice stole from me.”

George said, “I want you to stay with me, Lennie. Jesus Christ, somebody'd shoot you for a coyote [167] if you was by yourself. No, you stay with me. Your Aunt Clara wouldn't like you running off by yourself, even if she is dead.”

Lennie spoke craftily [168] , “Tell me—like you done before.”

“Tell you what? ”

“About the rabbits.”

George snapped [169] , “You ain't gonna put nothing over on me.”

Lennie pleaded, “Come on, George. Tell me. Please, George. Like you done before.”

“You get a kick [170] outa that, don't you? Awright, I'll tell you, and then we'll eat our supper . . .”

George's voice became deeper. He repeated his words rhythmically [171] as though he had said them many times before. “Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don't belong no place. They come to a ranch an' work up [172] a stake [173] and then they go inta [174] town and blow [175] their stake, and the first thing you know they're poundin' their tail on some other ranch. They ain't got nothing to look ahead to.”

Lennie was delighted. “That's it—that's it. Now tell how it is with us.”

George went on. “With us it ain't like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about [176] us. We don't have to sit in no bar room blowin' in [177] our jack [178] jus' because we got no place else to go. If them other guys gets in jail they can rot [179] for all anybody gives a damn [180] . But not us.”

Lennie broke in [181] .“ But not us!An'why? Because . . . because I got you to look after me,and you got me to look after you,and that's why. ”He laughed delightedly. “Go on now, George!”

“You got it by heart. You can do it yourself.”

“No, you. I forget some a' [182] the things. Tell about how it's gonna be.”

“O.K. Someday—we're gonna get the jack together and we're gonna have a little house and a couple of acres an' a cow and some pigs and—”

“ An'l ive off the fatta the lan' [183] ,”Lennie shouted.“An'have rabbits .Go on, George! Tell about what we're gonna have in the garden and about the rabbits in the cages and about the rain in the winter and the stove [184] , and how thick the cream is on the milk like you can hardly cut it. Tell about that, George.”

“ Why'n't [185] you do it yourself? You know all of it.”

“No . . . you tell it. It ain't the same if I tell it. Go on . . . George. How I get to tend [186] the rabbits.”

“Well,” said George, “we'll have a big vegetable patch [187] and a rabbit hutch [188] and chickens. And when it rains in the winter, we'll just say the hell with goin' to work, and we'll build up a fire in the stove and set [189] around it an' listen to the rain comin' down on the roof— Nuts [190] !” He took out his pocket knife. “I ain't got time for no more.” He drove his knife through the top of one of the bean cans, sawed [191] out the top and passed the can to Lennie. Then he opened a second can. From his side pocket he brought out two spoons and passed one of them to Lennie.

They sat by the fire and filled their mouths with beans and chewed [192] mightily [193] . A few beans slipped [194] out of the side of Lennie's mouth. George gestured [195] with his spoon. “What you gonna say tomorrow when the boss asks you questions? ”

Lennie stopped chewing and swallowed. His face was concentrated. “I . . . I ain't gonna . . . say a word.”

“Good boy! That's fine, Lennie! Maybe you're gettin' better. When we get the coupla [196] acres I can let you tend the rabbits all right. 'Specially if you remember as good as that.”

Lennie choked [197] with pride. “I can remember,” he said.

George motioned [198] with his spoon again. “Look, Lennie. I want you to look around here. You can remember this place, can't you? The ranch is about a quarter mile up that way. Just follow the river? ”

“Sure,” said Lennie. “I can remember this. Di'n't [199] I remember about not gonna say a word? ”

“' Course [200] you did. Well, look. Lennie—if you jus' happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an' hide in the brush.”

“Hide in the brush,” said Lennie slowly.

“Hide in the brush till I come for you. Can you remember that? ”

“Sure I can, George. Hide in the brush till you come.”

“But you ain't gonna get in no trouble, because if you do, I won't let you tend the rabbits.” He threw his empty bean can off into the brush.

“I won't get in no trouble, George. I ain't gonna say a word.”

“O.K. Bring your bindle over here by the fire. It's gonna be nice sleepin’here. Lookin' up, and the leaves. Don't build up no more fire. We'll let her [201] die down.”

They made their beds on the sand, and as the blaze dropped from the fire the sphere [202] of light grew smaller; the curling [203] branches disappeared and only a faint [204] glimmer [205] showed where the tree trunks were. From the darkness Lennie called, “George—you asleep? ”

“No. Whatta you want? ”

“Let's have different color rabbits, George.”

“Sure we will,” George said sleepily. “Red and blue and green rabbits, Lennie. Millions of 'em.”

“Furry ones, George, like I seen in the fair [206] in Sacramento.”

“Sure, furry ones.”

“'Cause I can jus' as well [207] go away, George, an' live in a cave.”

“You can jus' as well go to hell,” said George. “Shut up now.”

The red light dimmed [208] on the coals [209] . Up the hill from the river a coyote yammered [210] , and a dog answered from the other side of the stream. The sycamore leaves whispered in a little night breeze [211] .

---

[1] in[in] ad． 朝里，向（或至）某地，向某一方向

[2] slip [slip] v． 滑行

[3] juncture [ˈdʒʌŋ(k)tʃə] n. 接合点，交接处

[4] debris [ˈdeibri:] n． 碎片，残骸

[5] sycamore [ˈsikəmɔ:] n. 【植】悬铃木（指树或其木材）

[6] mottled [ˈmɔtld] a． 杂色的，斑驳的

[7] recumbent [riˈkʌmb(ə)nt] a. 【植】横卧的，平卧的

[8] limb [lim] n. 【植】大枝，主枝

[9] arch [ɑ:tʃ] v． 拱起，成弓形

[10] crisp [krisp] a． 脆的，易碎的

[11] skittering [ˈskitəriŋ] n． 轻捷跳动声，嗖嗖声

[12] brush [brʌʃ] n. 〈美〉居民稀少的丛林地带

[13] damp [dæmp] a． 潮湿的

[14] flat [flæt] n． 浅滩

[15] 'coon [ku:n] n. 【动】浣熊（racoon的缩略）

[16] spread [spred] a． 展开的

[17] pad [pæd] n （ ． 动物的）脚印

[18] ranch [rɑ:n(t)ʃ] n． 大牧场，农场

[19] split-wedge （中间）裂开的楔形（的）

[20] beaten [ˈbi:t(ə)n] a. （路）被踏成的，走出来的，人们常走的

[21] tramp [træmp] n． 流浪者

[22] wearily[ˈwɛərili] ad． 疲劳地，疲倦地，消沉地，精神不振地

[23] jungle-up在游民露营地食宿，扎营露宿

[24] stilted [ˈstiltid] a． 踩高跷的，如踩高跷的

[25] heron [ˈher(ə)n] n. 【鸟】鹭

[26] labor [ˈleibə] v． 费力地前进

[27] pound [paund] v． 连续重击，猛击

[28] emerge [iˈmə:dʒ] v． 出现

[29] denim [ˈdenim] n． 粗斜棉布，劳动布（经纱蓝或褐色，纬纱白色）

[30] brass [brɑ:s] a． 黄铜制的，含黄铜的

[31] slung [slʌŋ] v. （sling的过去式和过去分词）吊挂，悬挂

[32] define [diˈfain] v． 画出……的线条，描出……的外形

[33] sweat-band （用皮革或其他衬料制的）帽子（防）汗带

[34] forefinger [ˈfɔ:fiŋɡə] n． 食指

[35] snap [snæp] v． 使迅速地行动，急速做出

[36] moisture [ˈmɔistʃə] n． 水分

[37] flung [flʌŋ] v. （fling的过去式和过去分词）使扑，使投身

[38] gulp [ɡʌlp] n． 吞咽，一大口

[39] snort [snɔ:t] v． 喷鼻息，鼓鼻

[40] gonna[ˈɡɔnə] abbr. 〈口〉=going to

[41] dip [dip] v． 浸，蘸

[42] unslung [ˌʌnˈslʌŋ] v. （unsling的过去式和过去分词）从悬挂处取下，把……从背上取下

[43] bindle [ˈbindl] n. 〈美俚〉（尤指流浪汉肩挑的）铺盖卷

[44] ain't[eint] abbr. 〈口〉=am not

[45] kinda [ˈkaində] 有点儿，有几分，相当，可以这么说（= kind of）

[46] scummy [ˈskʌmi] a． 浮渣（或浮垢、浮藻、铁渣等）的，似浮渣（或浮垢等）的，盖满浮渣（或浮垢等）的

[47] dabble [ˈdæb(ə)l] v． 把（手、脚等）浸入水中

[48] wiggle [ˈwiɡ(ə)l] v. 使……扭动，使摆动

[49] scoop [sku:p] n． 舀

[50] oughta[ˈɔ:tə] abbr. 〈口〉应当，应该（=ought to）

[51] ainˈt[eint] abbr. 〈粗〉=is not

[52] gutter [ˈɡʌtə] n. （道路的）排水边沟

[53] morosely[mɔˈrɔsli] ad. 阴郁地，脾气不好地

[54] rim [rim] n． 边，边缘

[55] talkin'= talking，非正式口语中-ing有时也作’in

[56] jes'= just

[57] wanta = want to

[58] pull up （人把车等）开到某处停下

[59] ya[jə;jæ] pron. 〈口〉（非规范）= you

[60] jerk [dʒə:k] v． 使猝然一动

[61] brim [brim] n． 帽檐

[62] scowl [skaul] v． 皱眉，作怒容，沉下脸，绷着脸

[63] awready = already

[64] gotta[ˈɡɔtə] abbr. 〈口〉= (have) got to

[65] ainˈt[eint] abbr. 〈口〉=have not

[66] might just as well倒不如，（满）可以

[67] spen'= spend

[68] 'em[əm] pron. 〈口〉=them

[69] the hell with〈口〉让……见鬼去吧

[70] gutter [ˈɡʌtə] n. 〈口〉贫民窟，贫困地区

[71] broke [brəuk] v. （break的过去式）突然出现

[72] musta = must have （-a [ə] suf. 〈口〉代替助动词have）

[73] grin [ɡrin] v． 咧嘴而笑，露齿而笑

[74] relief [riˈli:f] n. （痛苦、忧虑等消除后感到的）轻松，宽心，宽慰

[75] outa=out of

[76] on'y = only

[77] live [laiv] a． 活的，有生命的

[78] obey [ə(u)ˈbei] v． 服从，顺从，听从

[79] anyways [ˈeniweiz] n. 〈美口〉〈美方〉不管怎么样，无论如何

[80] pet [pet] v． 抚摸，轻按

[81] ain't[eint] abbr. 〈粗〉=are not

[82] startled [ˈstɑ:tld] a． 受惊吓的，吃惊的

[83] resignedly [riˈzainidli] ad． 听从地，顺从地

[84] an' [ 强æn，弱ən, n] conj. 〈口〉和，与

[85] set [set] a． 作好准备的

[86] stan'= stand

[87] swell [swel] a. 〈美口〉[用以表示赞许] 极好的，第一流的，了不起的

[88] drone [drəun] v． 低沉单调地说

[89] explode [ikˈspləud; ek-] v． 爆发，突发，迸发

[90] on sb's tail 尾随

[91] awright = all right

[92] flame [fleim] v． 发光，闪耀

[93] periscope [ˈperiskəup] n． 潜望镜

[94] reed [ri:d] n. 【植】芦苇，[总称]芦丛

[95] rustle [ˈrʌs(ə)l] v. （如枯叶、绸衣、纸张等相擦时）沙沙作响，发出窸窣声

[96] tomorra = tomorrow

[97] thrashing machine 脱粒机，脱谷机

[98] buck [bʌk] v． 传递，搬动（或装载）（重物）

[99] grain [ɡrein] n． 谷（物）

[100] bust a gut〈口〉努力做

[101] fool around〈口〉闲荡

[102] lumber [ˈlʌmbə] v． 笨拙地移动，缓慢吃力（发出响声）地移动

[103] crash [kræʃ] v． 哗啦啦地猛冲直闯

[104] brusquely[ˈbrʌskli] ad. （言语、态度上）粗鲁地，简慢地，生硬无礼地

[105] gi'me [ɡimi:]〈口〉=give me （或give it to me）

[106] elaborate [iˈlæb(ə)rət] a. 精心计划（或制作的）

[107] pantomime [ˈpæntəmaim] n． 形体动作，示意动作，手势

[108] put over （用欺骗手段）使信以为真，使接受

[109] contemplate [ˈkɔntempleit; -təm-] v. 盘算，打算

[110] sock [sɔk] v. 〈俚〉（尤指）用拳头猛击

[111] broke [brəuk] v. （break的过去式）（嗓音）突变

[112] imperiously [imˈpiriəsli] ad． 专横地

[113] terrier [ˈteriə] n. 【动】㹴

[114] drew back 向后移动，后退，后缩（drew [dru:] v. draw的过去式）

[115] snap [snæp] v． 捻（手指）发噼啪声

[116] stroke [strəuk] v. （用手等）轻抚

[117] acrost = across

[118] whimper [ˈwimpə] v． 抽搭，抽泣

[119] wheel [wi:l] v． 转弯，转变方向

[120] blubber [ˈblʌbə] v． 放声哭，抽泣

[121] quiver [ˈkwivə] v． 颤抖，发抖

[122] dejectedly [diˈdʒektidli] ad． 沮丧地，垂头丧气地，情绪低落地，泄气地

[123] ever' [ˈevə(r)] a. 〈方〉每一的（=every）

[124] scoff [skɔf] v． 嘲弄，嘲笑，讥笑

[125] pinch [pin(t)ʃ] v． 捏，拧

[126] wisht = wished

[127] flame [fleim] n． 光辉，光泽，闪光，光亮

[128] carp [kɑ:p] n． 鲤鱼

[129] gulp [ɡʌlp] v． 大口大口地吸（气）

[130] whisk [wisk] v． 迅速地移动

[131] puff [pʌf] n. （空气、烟雾、气味等的）一股

[132] cotton [ˈkɔt(ə)n] n. （其他植物产的）似棉花般柔软的纤维

[133] demand [diˈmɑ:nd] v． 询问

[134] litter [ˈlitə] n. （一堆）杂乱的东西

[135] heap [hi:p] n. （一）堆

[136] whistle [ˈwis(ə)l] v. （风、炮弹等）发啸叫声，呼啸而行

[137] crack [kræk] v． 噼啪地响，发出爆裂声

[138] fall to 开始（fell [fel] v. fall的过去式）

[139] undid [ʌnˈdid] v. （undo的过去式）解开，打开，松开

[140] stood [stud] v. （stand的过去式和过去分词）竖放

[141] about[əˈbaut] prep. （空间上）在……附近

[142] blaze [bleiz] n． 火焰，火堆

[143] aˈmighty = almighty [ɔ:lˈmaiti] a． 全能的，万能的，有无限权力的，有强大力量的

[144] buck [bʌk] n. 〈美口〉（一）元

[145] cat house〈美俚〉妓院

[146] pool room〈美〉台球房，弹子房，桌球房

[147] shoot [ʃu:t] v. （将球、弹子等）击向目标

[148] drawn [drɔ:n] a. （脸等）扭歪的，紧张的

[149] whatta = what have

[150] furiously [ˈfjuəriəsli] ad． 狂怒地，暴怒地

[151] shove [ʃʌv] v． 推，猛推

[152] in hot water有麻烦，惹麻烦

[153] mimic [ˈmimik] v． 模仿，学……的样子

[154] irrigation [ˌiriˈɡeiʃn] n. 灌溉

[155] ditch [ditʃ] n． 水道，渠道

[156] sneak [sni:k] v． 偷偷地走，溜

[157] anguished [ˈæŋɡwiʃt] a. 感到极度痛苦的，表示出极度痛苦的

[158] curve [kə:v] v． 使弯曲

[159] fool [fu:l] v． 开玩笑

[160] go nuts 发疯

[161] off[ɔf] ad． 向一边

[162] into[ˈintu;ˈintə] prep． 朝，向

[163] foun'= found

[164] searchingly [ˈsə:tʃiŋli] ad． 敏锐地，锐利地，洞察地

[165] pup [pʌp] n． 小狗，幼犬

[166] bait [beit] n. 〈喻〉诱饵，诱惑（物）

[167] coyote [kaiˈəuti] n. 【动】丛林狼，郊狼

[168] craftily[ˈkrɑ:ftli] ad． 狡猾地，诡计多端地

[169] snap [snæp] v． 厉声说话

[170] kick [kik] n. 〈口〉极大的乐趣

[171] rhythmically [ˈriðmikli] ad． 有节奏地，有韵律地

[172] work up 逐步建立，逐步发展；up[ʌp] ad. （数量等）由小到大

[173] stake [steik] n. （投机生意等的）股本，股份

[174] inta = into

[175] blow [bləu] v. 〈口〉挥霍，把钱花在……身上

[176] not give a damn〈口〉毫不在乎

[177] blow in〈美口〉挥霍，花光

[178] jack [dʒæk] n. 〈美俚〉钱

[179] rot [rɔt] v. 〈喻〉（因被幽禁、缺乏活动等而）变得憔悴，失去活力，走向毁灭

[180] for all sb. gives a damn= for all sb. cares 与某人全然不相干，不关某人的事

[181] break in打断，插嘴

[182] a'= of

[183] live off the fatta the lan'=live off the fat of the land;live off the land靠地吃饭，靠狩猎或耕种生活；fat [fæt] n． 积蓄，储备

[184] stove [stəuv] n. （取暖或烹饪用的）炉

[185] why'n't = why don't;'n't [nt]〈口〉= not

[186] tend [tend] v． 照顾，照料，照管

[187] patch [pætʃ] n． 一小块地，（种有某种植物的）一块田地

[188] hutch [hʌtʃ] n. （关兔等小动物的）笼，舍，棚

[189] set = sat

[190] nuts[nʌts] int. [表示憎恶、失望、惊讶、不赞成、拒绝、藐视等] 呸！胡说！混蛋！

[191] saw [sɔ:] v． 拉锯般地来回移动

[192] chew [tʃu:] v． 咀嚼，咬

[193] mightily[ˈmaitili] ad. 竭尽全力地，猛烈

[194] slip [slip] v． 滑落，脱落

[195] gesture [ˈdʒestʃə] v． 做手势，用动作示意

[196] coupla = couple of

[197] choke [tʃəuk] v. （因感情激动而）哽得说不出话来

[198] motion [ˈməuʃ(ə)n] v． 做手势

[199] di'n't = didn't

[200] 'course = of course

[201] her 指fire

[202] sphere [sfiə] n． 范围，领域

[203] curling [kə:liŋ] a． 弯曲的

[204] faint [feint] a． 不清楚的，模糊的，隐约的，暗淡的

[205] glimmer [ˈɡlimə] n． 微光，微弱的闪光

[206] fair [fɛə] n． 定期集市

[207] jus' as well = just as well不必遗憾，正好，幸好，不妨

[208] dim [dim] v． 变暗淡，变模糊

[209] coal [kəul] n． 余火，灰烬

[210] yammer [ˈjæmə] v. 〈口〉〈方〉哀号，呜咽

[211] breeze [bri:z] n． 微风，轻风 zqbbH70F+qKwbeARWmtV0Gl+URzQPEaRIBBU7ORNKFM5av3DD1gK4fzo3T+C/Xk8