大学英语写作精选第三册(2)

They hitched Bettie's mare alongside Mr. Sam's mule. Bedell lay down in an old box filled with hay， his rifle and crutches beside him.

It was a long， slow journey that almost ended in disaster. Only an hour from the Union lines， two horsemen suddenly appeared. One pointed a pistol， demanding money while the other pulled Mr. Sam from the wagon. Shocked， Bettie sat still. Then a rifle shot cracked out， and the man with the pistol fell to the ground dead. A second shot， and the man went sprawling. It was Bedell shooting！ Bettie watched him lower the rifle and brush the hay out of his hair. "Come on， Mr. Sam，" he said. "Let's keep moving."

At Harpers Ferry， the soldiers stared in surprise at the old farmer and the girl. They were even more amazed when the Union officer with the missing leg rose from his hay-filled box.

Bedell was sent to Washington. There he told his story to Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Stanton wrote a letter of thanks to Bettie and-signed an order to free James Van Metre from prison. But first James had to be found. It was arranged for Bedell to go with Bettie as she searched for her husband.

Records showed that a James Van Metre had been sent to a prison camp in Ohio. But when the ragged prisoners were paraded before Bettie， James was not there. A second prison was checked， with the same result. Bettie Van Metre fought back a chilling fear that her husband was dead.

Then at Fort Delaware， near the end of the line of prisoners a tall man stepped out and stumbled into Bettie's arms. Bettie held him， tears streaming down her face. And Henry Bedell， standing by on his crutches， wept， too.

    NEW WORDS
    tell v. act as an informer 告发
    Yankee n. （in the Civil War） a native of any of the northern states； a citizen of the U.S. 北方佬；美国佬
    great-aunt n. an aunt of one's father or mother； sister of one's grandfather or grandmother
    civil a. 国内的；民间的
    Confederate a. of or belonging to the Confederacy 南部邦联的
    capture vt. make a prisoner of； seize 俘虏；夺得
    unknown a. whose name， nature， or origin is not known
    former a. of an earlier period 以前的
    farmhouse n. the main house on a farm， where a farmer lives
    groan n. a sound made in a deep voice that expresses suffering， grief or disapproval 呻吟（声）
    attic n. the space just under the roof of a house， esp. that made into a low small room 阁楼
    Union， the n. those states that supported the Federal government of the U.S. during the Civil War； the U.S.A. （美国南北战争期间的）联邦政府；美国a. of or having to do with the Union
    rifle n. 步枪
    awful a. terrible； very bad
    bandage n. a narrow long piece of material， esp. cloth， for binding a wound or injury 绷带
    dreadful a. very unpleasant or shocking； terrible
    bugle n. a musical wind instrument usually made of brass， used chiefly for military signals 军号，喇叭
    filth n. disgusting dirt 污秽
    futility n. uselessness
    futile a.
    lean vi. support or rest oneself in a bent position 靠，倚
    establish vt. find out or make certain of （a fact， answer， etc.）， prove 确立，证实
    identity n. who or what a particular person or thing is 身份
    identical a. 同一的；完全相同的确良Lt. abbr. lieutenant 陆军中尉
    company n. 连
   volunteer n. person who joins the army， navy， or air force of his own free will 志愿兵
    presence n. being present in a place
    skillfully ad. in a skillful manner 灵巧地，娴熟地
    skillful a. having or showing skill
    fan vt. 扇，扇动；激起
    spark n. 火花
    flicker vi. burn unsteadily； shine with an unsteady light
    drug n. a medicine or substance used for medical purposes
    supply n. （pl.） the food， equipment， etc. necessary for an army， expedition or the like 补给品
    pray vi. 祈祷
    valley n. a stretch of land between hills or mountains； the land through which a stated river or great river system flows 山谷；流域
    infection n. 感染；传染
    infect vt.
    flare vi. burn with a bright， unsteady flame （火焰）闪耀
    loft n. a room under the roof of a building， attic 阁楼
    ferry n. 渡口；渡船
    headquarters n. （used with a sing. or pl. v. ） the place from which the chief of a police force or the commanding officer of an army sends out orders 司令部
    proof n. evidence showing that sth. is true 证据
    bear vt. show； have
    seal n. 印，图章
    item n. a single thing among a set， esp. included in a list 条；项
    commanding a. having command； in charge
    commanding officer指挥官
    command vt. 指挥
    Gen. abbr. general 将军
    madam n. respectful form of address to a woman （whether married or unmarried）夫人，太太，女士，小姐