Vocabulary

gradually; slowly but steadily

to that extent; so (much)

with a broad grin; smirking

jumbling together; lumping together; mixing up

without fail; diligently; without missing a single ...

focusing on only one thing; obsessively; intensely

completely submerged (e.g. in water)

as soon as possible; ASAP

being startled; getting a shock

fizzlingly; sputteringly

rocking from side to side (of a boat)

suddenly (esp. falling); dramatically

not at all; not in the least

(not) at all; wholly; entirely; completely; totally

soon; momentarily; before long; any time now

strikingly; perfectly

drop-by-drop; dripping; dribbling; in a trickle

a few years later

logically; from a logical point of view

some ... and others ...; sometimes ... and at other times ...

heart-wrenchingly; with a thrill in one's heart

hiss; swish; whoosh; whiz; fizzle; sputter

one by one; one at a time; in turn

thickly (of smoke, steam, etc.); stiflingly (hot air); suffocatingly; pungently

very; extremely; so

rumbling (of thunder, drums, etc.); booming

with surprise; with a start

why; how

for some reason or other; somehow

gooily; with a squeeze; squishily; with a squish

oilily; slimily; slipperily

foolishly; stupidly

straining (with physical exertion); crying; groaning; huffing and puffing

awfully; terribly; tremendously; exceedingly; extremely

mercilessly; ruthlessly

with a clink (of metal); with a chink

with a thud; with a flop; with a plop; with a snap; with a crash

bouncily; with a stretch; with a boing

quickly; briefly

with a squeaking sound (of metal)