Philip continued his flight, regardless either of fatigue1 or the insects, through the brambles which tore his flesh until, on passing half-around a slight elevation2 which was covered with a greenish white moss3, he came upon a lake fully4 a mile in length, and bordered by tall trees.
As nearly as could be judged he had traveled at least three miles, and in this secluded5 and lovely spot, which was so surrounded by foliage6 as to render it impossible for him to peer into the thicket7 further than two or three feet, it surely seemed as if he was safe from his late tormentors.
The sensation of thirst was by this time so intense as to be almost painful, and the sight of the clear, sparkling water revived his spirits to a wonderful degree.
Running forward eagerly, he knelt on the soft turf at the edge of the lake, and remained in that position ten or fifteen minutes, drinking at intervals8 like one at a feast who is satisfied but delays leaving the festive-board because of the enjoyment9 of looking at the delicacies10.
With his thirst assuaged11 Philip’s hopes revived. He believed it would be possible to avoid the apes[47] on an island of such extent as this appeared to be; and when he finally raised his head it was to look about him for the purpose of deciding in which direction he would find refuge and shelter for the night.
As he did so, however, a cry of dismay burst from his lips. On either hand for a distance of many yards were the very apes from whom he was trying to escape. All were kneeling as he knelt, and raising their heads exactly as he raised his, with the water running in streams from their muzzles12.
No doubt they followed him through the thicket, or made their way overhead among the branches; but since the stick with which he had threatened them was not in sight, all idea of punishing the intruder was forgotten. Their faculties13 of imitation proved greater than the love for mischief14, and thus, while he congratulated himself upon having escaped, they had gathered noiselessly around him.
However dangerous the animal-trader’s position, he could not restrain a loud burst of laughter at the grotesque15 scene before him; but his mirth was very quickly turned to surprise when he heard the sounds of his own voice echoed from five hundred pairs of lungs.
This mockery aroused still further his mirth, and he laughed yet louder, the apes redoubling their efforts until it seemed as if each hairy throat was swollen16 almost to bursting.
It was an orchestra of the tropics with a leader who had no pride in the achievements of his subordinates.
[48]
As Philip sat up on his heels so did the animals, and with their heads raised high in their effort to emulate17 what they possibly thought was a song, a bright blue object around the throats of fifteen or twenty of the larger apes attracted the shipwrecked boy’s attention.
It was hardly probable that the long-tailed denizens18 of the woods were educated to the fashion of wearing neckties, but yet there could be no question that these select few had on such an article of adornment19. Not until after several moments did Philip understand how prominent a part his own neckerchief was playing in the scene. Each of the apes thus decorated had secured a fragment of the cravat20, and, true to their imitative instincts, tied it around his neck.
Now that his strange companions were in apparently21 such a friendly mood, Philip thought it possible, by abstaining22 from any threatening movements, to get on with some degree of comfort, even though they still continued to surround him.
To sleep just then was out of the question, for the smaller members of the party were yet struggling to laugh, and he looked around for something with which to appease23 his hunger, which had increased very decidedly since his thirst was satisfied.
He gazed scrutinizingly along the borders of the lake, hoping to see at least some fresh-water mussels. The apes did the same, although probably not with a similar hope.
His eyes roamed among the foliage. So did those[49] of his companions. He saw on a number of trees near the water fruit of a bright yellow color, resembling a crab-apple in shape. If the apes observed the same they made no mention of the fact.
The trees were at least two hundred feet tall, with branches shooting from their very tops, and to climb up these smooth trunks, where there was not the slightest support for either hand or foot, was an utter impossibility.
To throw a stone so high with any degree of accuracy would be rather a difficult matter; but yet Philip resolved to try it. The shore of the lake in certain places was covered with small, sharp, flint-like stones, and thus there was plenty of ammunition24 at hand, even if he should be forced to try very many times before succeeding.
The first shot was not a success. The stone, after striking the trunk of the tree a few feet below the branches, bounded among the foliage with a loud noise.
The apes, who had been intently watching all his movements, hardly waited until the stone reached the ground before the entire party gathered armfuls of stones and began to fling them at the topmost branches, causing the leaves and fruit to fly in every direction.
The smaller animals, who could not send the missiles so high, formed a chain, and passing the ammunition from hand to hand, supplied those who were more skillful, until that particular portion of the forest was almost entirely25 denuded26 of its foliage.
[50]
Impelled27 by his hunger Philip seized a handful of the small fruits, which were evidently a species of guava, and began to eat eagerly.
At that instant the army of stone-throwers ceased their labor28 as each gathered a supply of fruit, and began eating exactly as did their human companion. When he raised one of the guavas to his mouth they imitated his exact movement. When he chewed they worked their jaws29 most industriously30. When he ejected a seed from his mouth a perfect shower of seeds fell upon the sand. If he threw away a stem they repeated the action; and when, by chance, he made a smacking31 noise with his lips, the shore of the lake resounded32 with such a snapping and clattering33 of jaws as would have caused the “end-man” of a minstrel troupe34 to grow exceedingly green with envy.
The abundant harvest which, when it was first gathered, gave promise of supplying Philip with food for many days, was disposed of in a very few moments. Before his hunger was satisfied the last guava had disappeared, and the army of apes looked up expectantly, wondering what was to be the next move in this queer sport.
It may seem comical to have one’s every gesture repeated by four or five hundred long-tailed, human-like animals, but it soon becomes annoying, to use the mildest term.
During fully fifteen minutes Philip sat silent and motionless, not daring so much as to raise his finger lest ten or twelve hundred fingers should be pointed[51] toward him; and his companions observed the same immobility.
The approach of night, which comes on so rapidly in the tropics, gave him plenty of food for reflection as he sat there surrounded by his statue-like companions. To remain in the forest during the hours of darkness with such a following was something that filled him with dread35, for it was impossible to say at what moment their capricious fancies might lead to another attack, and he racked his brain in vain for some answer to the vexed36 question.
He had every reason to believe that during the next day he should find human beings who, however unfriendly, would at least relieve him of this throng37 of attendants, for the island was apparently so large that it seemed hardly probable it was uninhabited. Thus, according to his belief, the only difficulties to be encountered were from this time until morning.
But how and where should the night be passed?
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
fatigue
|
|
| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
elevation
|
|
| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
moss
|
|
| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
secluded
|
|
| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
foliage
|
|
| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
thicket
|
|
| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
intervals
|
|
| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
enjoyment
|
|
| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
delicacies
|
|
| n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
assuaged
|
|
| v.减轻( assuage的过去式和过去分词 )；缓和；平息；使安静 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
muzzles
|
|
| 枪口( muzzle的名词复数 )； （防止动物咬人的）口套； （四足动物的）鼻口部； （狗）等凸出的鼻子和口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
faculties
|
|
| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
mischief
|
|
| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
grotesque
|
|
| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
swollen
|
|
| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
emulate
|
|
| v.努力赶上或超越，与…竞争；效仿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
denizens
|
|
| n.居民，住户( denizen的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
adornment
|
|
| n.装饰；装饰品 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
cravat
|
|
| n.领巾，领结；v.使穿有领结的服装，使结领结 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
abstaining
|
|
| 戒（尤指酒），戒除( abstain的现在分词 )； 弃权（不投票） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
appease
|
|
| v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
ammunition
|
|
| n.军火，弹药 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
denuded
|
|
| adj.[医]变光的，裸露的v.使赤裸( denude的过去式和过去分词 )；剥光覆盖物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
impelled
|
|
| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
labor
|
|
| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
jaws
|
|
| n.口部；嘴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
industriously
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
smacking
|
|
| 活泼的，发出响声的，精力充沛的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
resounded
|
|
| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
clattering
|
|
| 发出咔哒声（clatter的现在分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
troupe
|
|
| n.剧团，戏班；杂技团；马戏团 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
dread
|
|
| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
vexed
|
|
| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
throng
|
|
| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |