to probe; to search; to sound out; to investigate
beneficial; profitable; useful; helpful; instructive
slight; little; insignificant
killing a would-be avenger; having the tables turned on someone (e.g. by a challenger); being beaten at one's own game
unthinkable; count for nothing; not matter; out of the question
to worry about (someone's welfare or comfort); to feel anxious about; to have apprehensions of
marriage proposal; courtship
assertion; declaration; affirmation
considerably; not a little; in no small numbers
to choke up; to be speechless; to hold one's tongue
to swear; to vow; to take an oath; to pledge
to become indisposed; to feel unwell; to have one's physical condition deteriorate
to raise an objection; to voice an opinion different from those of others
to be subject to punishment; to be punished
to suffer; to groan; to be worried
immediately; as soon as possible; as quickly as possible
to return to normal; to revert to the starting point; to go back to how it was
way (of doing); manner; method; means
searching for someone; search for a missing person; searching for a (job) candidate; recruitment; scouting
darkness; the dark; bewilderment; despair; hidden place; secrecy
normalcy; normality; normal
judgment; judgement; discernment
to get blurry vision; to get bleary eyes; to get dim eyesight
to steel oneself to; to brace oneself
heartache; ache in one's heart; emotional pain
reckless; daredevil; frantic; foolhardy
to whine; to make feeble complaints
to breathe out; to exhale
one's post; one's position; one's station; one's round; one's beat; one's route
to reach one's ears; to come to one's knowledge; to hear about; to learn of (by chance)
to quiet; to calm down; to compose oneself; to settle down
simultaneous; concurrent; same time; synchronous; together
(one's) whereabouts; destination; where one is headed; outcome; course (of events); future
total darkness; pitch dark; bleak future; poor prospects
to rub on; to rub against; to lay the blame on; to strike (a match)
art; technique; means; way; trick; trap
level; standard; water level