〜ヒント〜
７月２４日出題分
あまりなじみの無い単語・熟語をちょっと解説。
Seven Years in Tibet :
Escape-6As I was loping along in the gray of the dawn, I found myself facing my first leopard. My heart nearly stopped beating, as I was completely defenseless. My only weapon was a long knife, which the camp blacksmith had made expressly for me. I carried it sheathed in a stick. The leopard sat on a thick branch fifteen feet or more above the ground, ready to spring. I thought like lightning what was the best thing to do; then, masking my fear, I walked steadily on my way. Nothing happened, but for a long time I had a peculiar feeling in my back.
Up to now I had been following the ridge of Nag Tibba, and now at last I tumbled onto the road again. I had not gone far when I got another surprise. In the middle of the track lay some men - snoring! They were Peter Aufschnaiter and his three companions. I shook them awake, and we all betook ourselves to a sheltered spot, where we recounted what had befallen us on the trek. We were all in excellent shape and were convinced that we should get through to Tibet. After passing the day in the company of my friends, I found it hard to go on alone in the evening, but I remained true to my resolve. The same night I reached the Ganges. I had been five days on the run.
At Uttar Kashi, the temple town that I have mentioned in connection with my first escape, I had to run for my life. I had just passed a house when two men came out and started running after me. I fled headlong through fields and scrub down to the Ganges and there hid myself between two great blocks of boulders. All was quiet, and it was clear that I had escaped from my pursuers, but only after a longish time did I dare to come out into the bright moonlight. It was a pleasure for me at this stage to travel along a familiar route, and my happiness at such speedy progress made me forget the heavy load I was carrying. It is true that my feet were very sore, but they seemed to recover during my daytime rest. I often slept for ten hours at a stretch.
was loping along：足早に進んでいく
in the gray of the dawn：明け方の薄闇の中を
leopard：ヒョウ
defenseless：無防備な
blacksmith：鍛冶屋
expressly：特別に
it：a long knifeのことです
sheathe：鞘におさめる、覆う
thick：太い
like lightning：電光石火のごとく
steadily：着々と、一歩一歩しっかりと
peculiar：奇妙な、嫌な
Up to now：ここまで、今まで
ridge：尾根
Nag Tibba：地名
tumbled onto 〜：〜に出くわす
track：小道
They：some menを指します
Peter Aufschnaiter：人名
shook them awake：体を揺り動かして起こした
betook ourselves to 〜：〜へ行く
recount：詳しく述べる
befall：降りかかる
trek：移動、旅
in excellent shape：体調が良さそうに見える、という意味だと思います
convince：確信する
get through to 〜：に到着する
remain 〜：〜のままでいる
true to my resolve：決心に厳密に従う
the Ganges：ガンジス川
run：行程
Uttar Kashi：地名
in connection with 〜：〜と関連して
for my life：命がけで
fled：逃げた
headlong：慌てふためいて
scrub：藪
there：the Gangesを指します
between two great blocks of boulders：大きな石の間に
longish：やや長めの
dare to 〜：勇気を持って〜する
It：to travel along a familiar routeを指します
at this stage：この段階では
sore：ちょっと触れてもぴりぴりする
It：my feet were very soreを指します
they：my feetを指します