He continued to sit under the shade of the palm-tree where the feast had been brought to such an abrupt2 conclusion by the rapid consumption of the eatables, and these two leaders approached in a manner which was evidently friendly, but at the same time most inquisitive3.
They first smelled of him, touched his hands, face and hair, and proceeded on the work of examination down to his feet, where they suddenly discovered that the shoes were not a portion of his body.
With a scream of delight one of the examiners removed the foot-covering, and then evinced the most profound astonishment4 at being able to take off the stockings also.
The shipwrecked man’s toes next attracted his attention, and he amused himself by moving them[53] back and forth5, evidently wondering why this stranger should be formed almost as perfectly6 as himself.
The other ape, chagrined7 at not having made as important a discovery as his companion, now gave the most profound attention to Philip’s trousers, catching8 hold of the lower portion and attempting to pull them off.
How to check these investigations9, which might be more than inconvenient10 when the main body of apes should consider it their duty to take part in the operation, was what Philip could not decide, as, when he stood in the midst of the throng11 during the first meeting, he dared not make any threatening gestures; and it is very probable he would speedily have been disrobed had not several of the spectators strenuously12 objected to the two leaders monopolizing13 all the sport.
This objection was first shown when a dozen of the party began pulling at Philip’s coat and vest, some even going so far as to fancy his hair might be easily removed, and dragging out large handfuls by the roots. Before five minutes had elapsed another squad14 marched up to perform their part in the entertainment.
Owing to the inability of all to participate in the sport, these last seemed to consider it a solemn duty to prevent their companions from enjoying themselves, and then ensued a rough-and-tumble fight in which Philip certainly played the part of “under dog.”
[54]
They screamed, tugged15, pulled, and yelled over his prostrate16 body without either side gaining the mastery, and although he received many bruises17 and scratches, it was preferable to being entirely18 disrobed, or to seeing his garments decorating the bodies of his antagonists19 or companions, whichever we may call them.
Had he remained immovable much longer his clothes would speedily have been torn into shreds20 by the yelling, scrambling21 crew around him; and to lose this artificial covering in a forest through which one could not walk without being seriously wounded by the brambles would be almost as fatal as a desperate encounter. Therefore, for the first time since meeting these strange inhabitants he decided to stand upon the defensive22.
By dint23 of much pushing and pulling, and at the expense of many scratches, he succeeded in extricating24 himself from the combatants, but only to be confronted by a fresh force of assailants, who were lingering on the outside of the struggling crowd. These, following the example of their leaders, seemed to consider it the proper thing to engage him in battle, and in a very few seconds it became absolutely necessary to defend himself with force.
“It’s death if I don’t shoot, and it can be no worse if I kill four or five; besides, the report of the revolver may frighten them,” he said to himself as, backing against a gigantic palm-tree, he drew and leveled the weapon directly at the foremost ape.
His position at this moment was most critical.[55] That he would be torn in pieces as had been his cravat26, after shooting the first ape, seemed inevitable27; but he said grimly, between his set teeth:
“It is better to die while fighting than to yield without a struggle,” and he took deliberate aim.
Another second and the weapon would have been discharged, unless, indeed, as was quite possible, its long immersion28 in the sea had rendered it useless.
Just as he was on the point of pressing the trigger a terrific shriek29, such as it would hardly seem could have come from any pair of lungs, however vigorous, was heard some distance in the rear, and was prolonged until the echoes sent it rolling down the lake like detonations30 of thunder.
Philip stared about him in alarm, trying in vain to discover the meaning of this strange noise, and to his great astonishment the crowd of apes started with the rapidity of the wind in the direction from which the shriek had come.
On every hand among the foliage31 could be seen for one brief second the disappearing tails of his troublesome companions, and then he was left alone, the tumult32 in the distance growing fainter and fainter, as this army of animals dispersed33 at the highest rate of speed, until finally all was hushed and still.
He was alone on the border of the lake. Silence and solitude34 had in the twinkling of an eye replaced the frightful35 tumult, and the shadows of night were closing rapidly around him.
Utter despair gave way to hope. Now that he[56] was alone, the possible dangers to be encountered in the forest during the hours of darkness were as nothing compared to the relief he felt at having lost sight of the grinning, chattering36 apes.
It might be possible to find human beings before the mantle37 of night had been fully38 spread over the land, and he made his preparations for continuing the tramp as calmly as if his life had never been threatened. The most important task was to regain39 possession of his shoes and stockings, for without them it would be a matter of impossibility to walk a hundred yards, and he began the most careful search on the scene of the late encounter.
When, after not more than five minutes’ hunt, the missing and highly necessary articles were found, he accepted it as a good omen25, and was almost convinced that he would soon have food and shelter among human beings. This belief was strengthened by the terrific shriek which brought the battle of the apes to such a sudden end. He felt positive that the noise had been made by some contrivance of man’s, although why the apes rushed directly toward it was what he could not explain.
From among the branches cut off when the animals were bombarding the trees he selected the stoutest40 one as a cane41, as well as an additional weapon of defense42, and then started around the lake, hoping to find the outlet43, which must necessarily flow into the sea, before it became necessary to halt for the night.
At this place, if anywhere, would he come upon[57] the inhabitants of the island; and as his late tormentors might return at any moment after sunrise—it was hardly probable they would do so during the night—time must be economized44 at the risk of meeting with wild animals in the jungle.
Following along the shore of the lake for fully half an hour, he met with no obstacles save where the foliage came in a matted tangle45 close to the water, and then the sound as of a cascade46 fell upon his ears.
He had arrived at the destination set; but not content to remain here, although the darkness was almost impenetrable, he continued on down the bank of this waterfall until arriving at a second, ending in a basin from which, contrary to his expectations, flowed a stream of considerable size.
It was evident the coast was further away than he had fancied; and weary in limb as well as sore in body he halted for the night.
The sleep that came to his eyelids47 was neither profound nor refreshing48. He made for himself such a bed as could be formed of leaves and moss49; but on lying down, the strangeness of his surroundings and the fear of what might be lurking50 in the darkness prevented his eyes from closing many moments at a time.
It was a relief rather than otherwise when the surrounding objects began to stand out from a background of violet, and he knew the coming day was sending heralds51 abroad to announce its near approach.
[58]
A welcome breeze, the accompaniment of sunrise, swept across the jungle, cooling his fevered brow, and the fact that it was not heated caused him to believe the sea but a short distance away. As he arose to his feet, following the conformation of the stream, the thicket52 became less dense53, and the foliage so scanty54 that one could see many yards ahead, until, when the sun showed itself above the horizon, not two hundred yards off the waves of the boundless55 ocean were revealed to view.
To his disappointment there were no signs of inhabitants; but it might be possible a village was located further up on the shore, and he made his way along the beach, halting at every sound in the thicket, fearing his old enemies might be in pursuit.
During the first hour he saw nothing to encourage, save it might be in the thousands of oysters57 which were spread out on the beach, a goodly portion of which had been opened, not naturally, but with the aid of a little stone placed between the shells.
Philip knew that this must be a favorite feeding-ground for such inhabitants of the island as he had already met. Oysters are a luxury to the entire monkey tribe, who succeed in procuring58 the bivalves by a variety of cunning means, the most common of which is to throw a stone between the shells when the oyster56 chances to be open. In this manner they are sure of their prey59 without having to run the risk of getting their paws or muzzles60 caught in the powerful grip of the shell-fish.
Some monkeys, as Philip knew from what he had read on the subject, particularly those of Burmah, open the oyster with a stone by striking the base of the upper valve until it dislocates or breaks, and then extract the meat with their fingers, occasionally putting the shell straight to their mouths.
The necessity of observing and understanding every object in his path, for the purpose of learning as much as possible concerning the island, caused the traveler to scan these shells carefully. The fact that monkeys are adept61 oyster-openers had no interest for him, save as it was the means of showing that human beings had not visited this portion of the shore; therefore he understood it would be necessary to look elsewhere for aid.
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1
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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3
inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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7
chagrined
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| adj.懊恼的，苦恼的v.使懊恼，使懊丧，使悔恨( chagrin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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9
investigations
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| （正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究 | |
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10
inconvenient
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| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
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11
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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12
strenuously
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| adv.奋发地，费力地 | |
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13
monopolizing
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| v.垄断( monopolize的现在分词 )；独占；专卖；专营 | |
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14
squad
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| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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15
tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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17
bruises
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| n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 ) | |
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18
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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19
antagonists
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| 对立[对抗] 者，对手，敌手( antagonist的名词复数 )； 对抗肌； 对抗药 | |
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20
shreds
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| v.撕碎，切碎( shred的第三人称单数 )；用撕毁机撕毁（文件） | |
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21
scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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22
defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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23
dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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24
extricating
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| v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的现在分词 ) | |
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25
omen
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| n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示 | |
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26
cravat
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| n.领巾，领结；v.使穿有领结的服装，使结领结 | |
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27
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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28
immersion
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| n.沉浸；专心 | |
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29
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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30
detonations
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| n.爆炸 （声）( detonation的名词复数 ) | |
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31
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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32
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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33
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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34
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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35
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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36
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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37
mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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38
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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39
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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40
stoutest
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| 粗壮的( stout的最高级 )； 结实的； 坚固的； 坚定的 | |
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41
cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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42
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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43
outlet
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| n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄 | |
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44
economized
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| v.节省，减少开支( economize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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46
cascade
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| n.小瀑布，喷流；层叠；vi.成瀑布落下 | |
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47
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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48
refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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49
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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50
lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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51
heralds
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| n.使者( herald的名词复数 )；预报者；预兆；传令官v.预示( herald的第三人称单数 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
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52
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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53
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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54
scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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55
boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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56
oyster
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| n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人 | |
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57
oysters
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| 牡蛎( oyster的名词复数 ) | |
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58
procuring
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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59
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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60
muzzles
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| 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 | |
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61
adept
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| adj.老练的，精通的 | |
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