Chapter I · Chapter 1

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

anew

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading This grim-looking man, fumbling in his breast as if for the ever-ready knife or pistol, must be dreaming of some desperate struggle by his set teeth and hard breathing.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading This grim-looking man, fumbling in his breast as if for the ever-ready knife or pistol, must be dreaming of some desperate struggle by his set teeth and hard breathing.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

not in a state of sleep; completely conscious

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading This grim-looking man, fumbling in his breast as if for the ever-ready knife or pistol, must be dreaming of some desperate struggle by his set teeth and hard breathing.

the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

next to; at the side of

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen

From this reading This grim-looking man, fumbling in his breast as if for the ever-ready knife or pistol, must be dreaming of some desperate struggle by his set teeth and hard breathing.

the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation

From this reading This grim-looking man, fumbling in his breast as if for the ever-ready knife or pistol, must be dreaming of some desperate struggle by his set teeth and hard breathing.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

the appearance conveyed by a person's face

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope

From this reading This grim-looking man, fumbling in his breast as if for the ever-ready knife or pistol, must be dreaming of some desperate struggle by his set teeth and hard breathing.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake

From this reading This grim-looking man, fumbling in his breast as if for the ever-ready knife or pistol, must be dreaming of some desperate struggle by his set teeth and hard breathing.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This grim-looking man, fumbling in his breast as if for the ever-ready knife or pistol, must be dreaming of some desperate struggle by his set teeth and hard breathing.

opinion or judgment

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

without fault or error

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

occurring in spells and often abruptly

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

living quarters consisting of a superstructure in the bow of a merchant ship where the crew is housed

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

the part of a scene that is near the viewer

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

showing lack of skill or aptitude

From this reading This grim-looking man, fumbling in his breast as if for the ever-ready knife or pistol, must be dreaming of some desperate struggle by his set teeth and hard breathing.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE FURNACE-ROOM.

very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

be shiny, as if wet

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This grim-looking man, fumbling in his breast as if for the ever-ready knife or pistol, must be dreaming of some desperate struggle by his set teeth and hard breathing.

deep ditch cut by running water (especially after a prolonged downpour)

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading This grim-looking man, fumbling in his breast as if for the ever-ready knife or pistol, must be dreaming of some desperate struggle by his set teeth and hard breathing.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading This grim-looking man, fumbling in his breast as if for the ever-ready knife or pistol, must be dreaming of some desperate struggle by his set teeth and hard breathing.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading This grim-looking man, fumbling in his breast as if for the ever-ready knife or pistol, must be dreaming of some desperate struggle by his set teeth and hard breathing.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading This grim-looking man, fumbling in his breast as if for the ever-ready knife or pistol, must be dreaming of some desperate struggle by his set teeth and hard breathing.

situated within or suitable for inside a building

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

and nothing more

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle

From this reading This grim-looking man, fumbling in his breast as if for the ever-ready knife or pistol, must be dreaming of some desperate struggle by his set teeth and hard breathing.

inflected form of “lie” — be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

provided with artificial light

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading This grim-looking man, fumbling in his breast as if for the ever-ready knife or pistol, must be dreaming of some desperate struggle by his set teeth and hard breathing.

tangled in a dense mass

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

the force of workers available

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading This grim-looking man, fumbling in his breast as if for the ever-ready knife or pistol, must be dreaming of some desperate struggle by his set teeth and hard breathing.

a state in the western United States

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading This grim-looking man, fumbling in his breast as if for the ever-ready knife or pistol, must be dreaming of some desperate struggle by his set teeth and hard breathing.

suggesting or suitable for a picture; pretty as a picture

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

a firearm that is held and fired with one hand

From this reading This grim-looking man, fumbling in his breast as if for the ever-ready knife or pistol, must be dreaming of some desperate struggle by his set teeth and hard breathing.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

worried and uneasy

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

unhealthy looking

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

a mark left (usually on the skin) by the healing of injured tissue

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

plural of “scene” — the place where some action occurs

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading This grim-looking man, fumbling in his breast as if for the ever-ready knife or pistol, must be dreaming of some desperate struggle by his set teeth and hard breathing.

a garment worn on the upper half of the body

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

wither, as with a loss of moisture

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

an instance of visual perception

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading This grim-looking man, fumbling in his breast as if for the ever-ready knife or pistol, must be dreaming of some desperate struggle by his set teeth and hard breathing.

of size and dignity suggestive of a statue

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

a clam that is usually steamed in the shell

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

make a strenuous or labored effort

From this reading This grim-looking man, fumbling in his breast as if for the ever-ready knife or pistol, must be dreaming of some desperate struggle by his set teeth and hard breathing.

be agreeable or acceptable to

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

changing location by moving back and forth

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal

From this reading This grim-looking man, fumbling in his breast as if for the ever-ready knife or pistol, must be dreaming of some desperate struggle by his set teeth and hard breathing.

express in words

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE FURNACE-ROOM.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This grim-looking man, fumbling in his breast as if for the ever-ready knife or pistol, must be dreaming of some desperate struggle by his set teeth and hard breathing.

(of land or fields) not prepared for raising crops

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

used to ask for information about something

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

belonging to which person

From this reading That huge scar on the face of the gaunt, sallow figure beside him, whose soiled red shirt and matted beard would just suit the foreground of a Nevada gully, might tell a strange tale.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Had Frank lain awake he would have seen a curious sight; for there are few more picturesque scenes than the "forecastle interior" of an ocean steamer at night, lit by the fitful gleam of its swinging lamp.

distant but within sight (“yon” is dialectal)

From this reading That handsome, statuesque countenance yonder, again, faultless but for the sinister gleam of its restless eyes--what can it be doing among these coarse, uncultivated men, not one of whom can tell why they should all shrink from it as they do?