His hunger was so great that he would have continued this almost futile6 search longer, but for the fact that the sun was sending an intense heat down upon the exposed beach, and already had he begun to feel the greatest inconvenience, and even pain. Prostration7, if nothing worse, would most surely follow, unless he beat a speedy retreat.
To regain8 the shelter of the woods was absolutely necessary despite the desire for food; but before doing so Philip believed it of the highest importance that he should contrive9 some signal which might possibly attract the attention of those on board passing vessels10.
The means for doing such work were limited, yet he did succeed in raising what might, perhaps, be seen half a mile away, although knowing full well[61] that no trading-vessels would venture so near the inhospitable coast.
Cutting the straightest and tallest stick of bamboo which could be found within a distance of a hundred yards, he stripped it of the leaves, and to the top fastened one of the two white handkerchiefs he had about him at the time of the shipwreck1. This feeble attempt at a signal was planted firmly in the sand, and by the expenditure11 of considerable labor3 he heaped around the base a huge quantity of shells.
As far up and down the shore as the eye could reach a line of reef extended fully12 a quarter of a mile into the sea, and it was with a feeling of despondency that he looked at the fruits of his labor, knowing there was but little chance the fluttering cloth could bring any one to his relief.
To continue the journey around the coast would be to expose himself to the direct rays of the sun, and inasmuch as the reef precluded13 the possibility of a settlement in the vicinity, Philip determined14 to make his way directly across the island.
To that end he went straight into the underbrush toward the south, keeping careful watch on every hand lest he should be surprised by any of his former monkey acquaintances, and at the expiration15 of an hour was clambering up the side of a rocky elevation16.
Of course it would have been possible to travel around the base of this hill, but the hope that from the summit he might obtain a good view of the odd[62] land on which he had been thrown caused him to court rather than avoid labor.
While making his way through the trees, pausing now and then to brush away the insects which rendered every movement so painful, he saw descending17 from a palm what he mistook for a flying-squirrel. With but little hope that he could succeed in capturing this tiny game, which would make a tempting18 lunch for one in his half-famished condition, he darted19 forward.
There was no difficulty in catching20 the supposed squirrel, for it proved to be anything rather than active in its movements, and as Philip’s fingers clutched the body he found to his surprise that he had seized a huge frog whose deep green skin looked, in the dim light, so much like fur.
Naturalist21 though he was, Philip had never before seen such a specimen22 as this. The toes were very long and webbed at their extremities23, so that upon being expanded they presented a surface much larger than the body. The fore-legs were also bordered by a membrane24, and it was evident the frog was inflated25 during the leap, for he shrank to one-half his previous size immediately the hunter grasped him.
There could be no mistake but that this was the veritable flying-frog of the Malay Archipelago, and Philip examined it with great interest. The back and legs were of a deep green, while the under-surface was yellow, as were also the webs of the feet, each of which covered a surface of about four[63] square inches. The extremities of the toes were formed similar to those of a tree-frog, and it is probable the membrane was intended to be used as often for swimming as for flying.
It was not a particularly dainty morsel26 of food, however, and after satisfying his curiosity concerning it Philip set the little fellow at liberty, he continuing on up the difficult ascent27.
He expended28 his strength uselessly in climbing the hill, however, for when the highest point of the elevation had been gained it was not possible to see anything above the surrounding trees. His fatigue29 and disappointment might have caused him to give way in despair if, just at the moment when his mental troubles were greatest, he had not observed a small animal, evidently some species of deer, about two hundred yards away.
The desire for food now outweighed30 all other considerations, and he crept forward among the scanty31 foliage32 with his revolver in hand, hoping a chance shot might supply him with a dinner.
When it was no longer possible to approach without danger of being seen, he took careful aim over the top of a bowlder and discharged two barrels of his weapon in rapid succession.
The deer sprang into the air and then staggered forward; but instead of falling, as the hunter so ardently33 desired, he started down the sharp descent on the south side of the hill.
Philip forgot his fatigue and pursued, taking a course at right-angles with the one made by the animal,[64] in order to intercept34 him at the point of bushes which was evidently his destination.
With his eye fixed35 on the deer, noting not the nature of the ground over which he traveled, Philip rushed forward, gaining rapidly on his prey36. At the objective point of foliage the animal halted for an instant, and the hunter bent37 every energy toward increasing his speed.
When his pursuer was hardly three yards away the deer disappeared, and thinking he had merely taken refuge behind the bushes, Philip darted around the other side, only to stop suddenly as he saw a chasm38 yawning before him.
He attempted to check himself so suddenly that a small stone was loosened under his foot, throwing him forward with still greater impetus39, and it became impossible to regain a foot-hold.
At the very edge of the precipice40 he clutched wildly at what seemed to be a bush, as he was literally41 hurled42 among the branches. This slight support gave way beneath his weight, and he dropped his revolver to seize with both hands the trunk of the bush.
Down, down he went, seemingly a great distance, but still holding on for dear life; and then the foliage swung upward again in the rebound43, carrying him with it, as a matter of course.
Hanging like an apple on a limb, he swayed to and fro, up and down, until the trunk upon which his very life depended had settled into nearly a stationary44 position.
[65]
Now it could be seen that he had dropped hardly more than twenty feet from the brow of the cliff; but this was not exactly cheering information, for he was hanging over a sheer descent of thirty or forty yards. That which he had mistaken for a bush was simply the upper portion of a reasonably large tree which grew on a shelf of the rock ten or twelve feet below the crest45 of the ledge46.
He was grasping the trunk within three or four feet of the very top, and his weight made a tremendous strain upon the root. The wood was tough, however, and fortunately for him he bent so far from the cliff as to be suspended almost at right-angles with it.
These points were noted47 with the quickness of thought at the same time that a plan for saving himself came like a flash of light into his mind.
Before the strain on his arms should grow too great he determined to pull himself along the trunk like an acrobat48 on a horizontal bar. He could not do this, however, without causing the tree to sway violently again, and it became necessary to throw one leg over the yielding wood, where he hung in imminent49 danger not only of slipping off, but of being carried down the precipice together with that which he clutched so desperately50, for it was only a question of time before the roots would be torn from their slight hold.
Therefore it became essential that the attempt at escape should be made in another direction.
Carefully letting himself down until he was once[66] more in the first position, he worked his way, with every muscle strained to its utmost tension, hand over hand toward the roots, impeded51 by twigs52 and branches until the task seemed well-nigh impossible.
Each inch gained in this direction caused the tree to resume more nearly its original position, until when he was a little more than half way toward the base the trunk stood upright, and by dropping down he succeeded in reaching the narrow ledge, from which to gain the top of the cliff was a reasonably easy task.
When Philip was once more in a place of safety it became necessary to rest his weary limbs before going in search of the game that had so nearly cost him his life. Lying prone53 upon the earth for fifteen minutes was sufficient to give him the required strength, and then he began to search for a practicable path to the foot of the precipice.
A detour54 of a quarter of a mile was sufficient to take him from the edge of the cliff to the rocky side of the hill, down which it was possible to make his way without any great difficulty.
Despite the pangs55 of hunger his first care was the revolver, and he followed up the narrow ravine or gully, which was thickly overgrown with shrubs56, until he stood directly beneath the tree which had saved him from a terrible fall. Here he searched the ground in vain, and was about to give up the task to find the trail of the deer when glancing, by chance, along the side of the cliff, he saw the weapon lodged57 in the branches of a stout58 sapling, while not more[67] than thirty feet distant was an immense panther standing59 over the mangled60 carcass of the game.
Surely he was between the horns of a dilemma61 now. Both his revolver and the postponed62 dinner were so near the ferocious63 animal that it would be as dangerous to make any attempt at getting one as the other, and during several moments he stood undecided, knowing that the first step taken in retreat would bring the beast upon him.
A youth less versed64 in the habits of wild animals than Philip Garland might unwittingly have brought on an encounter to which there could be but one end. He, however, remained motionless, save as he worked his way, inch by inch, toward a thicket65 of shrubs without lifting his feet from the ground.
Even this stealthy retreat was noted by the animal, who began to twitch66 its tail as if preparing for a leap, and the shipwrecked youth knew he could no longer hold the enemy by his gaze nor gain the desired shelter. There was little opportunity for further preparation. The panther was already crouching67 for the spring.
Mentally bracing68 himself for that which seemed inevitable69, he awaited the supreme70 moment with but one faint hope in his mind—that it might be possible to jump aside while the animal was in the air.
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1
shipwreck
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| n.船舶失事，海难 | |
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2
oysters
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| 牡蛎( oyster的名词复数 ) | |
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3
labor
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| 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 | |
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4
laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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5
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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6
futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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7
prostration
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| n. 平伏, 跪倒, 疲劳 | |
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8
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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9
contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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10
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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11
expenditure
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| n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗 | |
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12
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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13
precluded
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| v.阻止( preclude的过去式和过去分词 )；排除；妨碍；使…行不通 | |
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14
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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15
expiration
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| n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物 | |
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16
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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17
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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18
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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19
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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20
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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21
naturalist
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| n.博物学家(尤指直接观察动植物者) | |
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22
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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23
extremities
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| n.端点( extremity的名词复数 )；尽头；手和足；极窘迫的境地 | |
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24
membrane
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| n.薄膜，膜皮，羊皮纸 | |
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25
inflated
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| adj.（价格）飞涨的；（通货）膨胀的；言过其实的；充了气的v.使充气（于轮胎、气球等）( inflate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）膨胀；（使）通货膨胀；物价上涨 | |
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26
morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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27
ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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28
expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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29
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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30
outweighed
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| v.在重量上超过( outweigh的过去式和过去分词 )；在重要性或价值方面超过 | |
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31
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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32
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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33
ardently
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| adv.热心地，热烈地 | |
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34
intercept
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| vt.拦截，截住，截击 | |
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35
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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36
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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37
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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38
chasm
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| n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突 | |
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39
impetus
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| n.推动，促进，刺激；推动力 | |
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40
precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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41
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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42
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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43
rebound
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| v.弹回；n.弹回，跳回 | |
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44
stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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45
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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46
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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47
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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48
acrobat
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| n.特技演员，杂技演员 | |
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49
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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50
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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51
impeded
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| 阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
twigs
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| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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53
prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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54
detour
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| n.绕行的路，迂回路；v.迂回，绕道 | |
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55
pangs
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| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
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56
shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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57
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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59
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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60
mangled
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| vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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61
dilemma
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| n.困境，进退两难的局面 | |
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62
postponed
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| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
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63
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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64
versed
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| adj. 精通，熟练 | |
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65
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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66
twitch
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| v.急拉，抽动，痉挛，抽搐；n.扯，阵痛，痉挛 | |
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67
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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68
bracing
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| adj.令人振奋的 | |
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69
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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70
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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