The scene which was presented under the awning3 during the next half-hour would have given a disinterested4 spectator no slight amount of amusement, but in Philip’s eyes it was too painful to admit of even a smile.
The party were seated as near the border of the pond as possible, and to have some idea of the picture the reader should multiply any grossly intoxicated5 person he has seen by about four hundred; but even then, and with the most vivid imagination, he could hardly do full justice to the spectacle.
They leered at each other, called names in the monkey language, very likely told improbable stories, and argued after the fashion of men. Here and there a party of a dozen were raising their[126] voices in discordant7 notes, which was not unlike the maudlin8 singing of human beings. Now and then one would stagger back and forth9 in a vain attempt to get nearer the pond, while his companions did all in their power to keep him back. Then an ape, catching10 a glimpse of his own tail, and believing that it belonged to his neighbor, would seize and pull it until he literally11 overturned himself. If in falling he struck any other member of the party, an incipient12 riot was started, but not to continue very long, owing to the inebriated13 condition of all.
Those nearest the prisoner overwhelmed him with rough caresses14, which at times threatened to leave him entirely15 bald, because of the desire to show affection by examining each particular hair on his head. If they had understood the custom and significance of hand-shaking, the animal-trainer’s troubles would have been much greater; but as it was, he had even more in the way of trials than could be borne with any respectable show of equanimity16.
Taking the scene as a whole, and knowing exactly how these disagreeable companions had been made more brutish than was natural, it presented such a lesson as Philip must have profited by, for one cannot see even drunken men without realizing the beauties and benefits of temperance.
To move ever so slightly was to find the others doing the same thing, and Philip waited patiently throughout the whole of that long, dreary17 day, hoping his companions would soon be wrapped in[127] slumber18, when he might make his escape to the grotto19.
But he waited in vain. At intervals20 certain members of the party would doze6; but there was no moment when more than fifty were in a state even approaching unconsciousness, although the entire troop grew more quiet, if not more sober, when the shadows of night began to gather.
Probably no man ever so desired to escape observation as did Philip, when, just after sunset, he arose cautiously and made his way toward the kitchen in the hope of being able to penetrate21 that portion of the house, where he might find some degree of privacy. Surely, there should be a small apartment in which he could barricade22 himself, and it was with this in his mind that he entered the building.
Here, however, the gloom was already filling the room—for night in the tropics comes on very rapidly—rendering some artificial light necessary. With every reason to believe there might be lamps or candles in the cupboard he opened the door once more, closing it very suddenly as the entire body of apes rushed in, ready for any further mischief which might present itself.
Philip stood for an instant with his back to the closet, wondering if it would be safe to make any investigations23 while his companions were so near, and as he faced the party it was impossible to check his mirth despite all the reasons he had for sorrow.
The monkey-topers, now partially24 recovered from[128] the effects of the wine, were looking thoroughly demoralized and repentant25. Some were holding their paws to their heads as if to check the pain, while others appeared to be suffering most in the region of the stomach. The majority of the party yet walked unsteadily, and at short intervals squads26 of from ten to twenty would return to the pond in order to quench27 the unnatural28 thirst which was causing them to feel very wretched.
Under such a condition of affairs Philip believed that his followers29 were incapable30 of any serious mischief, and, holding the cupboard door only partially open, he reached inside for the purpose of providing himself with a light.
Again chance aided, and the apes outwitted him. His hand struck the lid of a box, and, displacing the cover, he found that it was filled with candles, while piled in one corner immediately behind it was a quantity of matches.
Now it became necessary to use both hands, and with one he extracted a candle from the box, while with the other he ignited the wick.
This movement necessarily prevented him from retaining his hold on the cupboard-door, and the half-sobered apes in the rear immediately seized upon the opportunity. Philip’s candle was but just lighted when with a rush they dashed into the closet, and behold32! three hundred apes each with a candle and a package of matches, forming a cordon33 around Philip, and making the air heavy with brimstone as they rubbed the “fire-sticks” on[129] the doors, floor, stove, or more than once on their own hides. As Philip had done so did every ape in the room, and with the most alarming consequences. Now and then one less sober than his companions would ignite a full bunch of matches, much to his alarm and confusion. As a matter of course, such a blunderer immediately threw the blazing bits of wood to the floor, thereby34 causing the animal-trainer no slight fear, for it was impossible to say when the others might not do the same thing.
It seemed as if this was the culmination35 of all Philip’s troubles, for to place a match and candle in the hands of a sober ape is to supply the means of a conflagration36, and what must be the result when these dangerous things are controlled by intoxicated brutes37?
Philip’s first thought was to extinguish his own candle; but even while on the point of doing so it flashed into his mind that by causing the flame to disappear he might seem to have thrown it away, and then would ensue a scene similar to the one with the bottles, making the immediate31 destruction of the building inevitable38.
It was plain that, having thus far committed himself to the necessity of artificial light, he must retain possession of it, and he made great show of holding it carefully in both hands—a movement which was at once imitated by the others, but not so cleverly as would have been the case under other circumstances.
The result of this precaution was that at least one[130] ape out of every three burned his paws, while the other two singed39 their nearest neighbors until the odor of burning hair was almost stifling40.
Now the room resounded41 with cries of pain, and those who had been burned belabored42 the party next to them, regardless of whether they had inflicted43 the injuries or not, until the entire throng44 were flogging each other with these tiny flames, scattering45 wicks and tallow in every direction, while the blazing of hair added to the general illumination.
Philip realized that something must be done immediately, and he forced his way out through the drunken crowd to the court-yard, going from there to the sitting-room46 with the intention of gaining the street.
The door to this last apartment was fastened, however, and in order to push back the bolts he placed his candle on the window-sill.
Before five seconds had elapsed every portion of the room was decorated with lighted candles, and for the time being all danger of a conflagration was averted47, while the apes themselves gave evidence of being in some familiar place.
It was probable that Captain Seaworth had given a party, or sanctioned a gathering48 of his officers and the colonists49, when the room had been illuminated50 after this same fashion, and equally probable that the apes were spectators, at some time in the past, of the scene from the outside.
They exchanged glances with each other, chattered[131] noisily, and gesticulated vigorously, while Philip stood gazing at them in amazement51, wondering what new phase of danger he was about to encounter.
An instant later four or five, whose memory was better than their companions’, seized upon the musical instruments which hung on the wall and began striking the strings52 with both hands and feet, while the others, each with a partner, whirled, leaped and shouted as they went through with the movements of a dance. One couple would dart53 up and down the room, taking about four strides to cover the entire distance; another set circled around and around within a circumscribed54 space; and yet more stood bowing and scraping, until, had the scene been presented on the stage of a theater, it would have called forth the most generous applause.
Every detail of a ball-room was here depicted55 after a certain apish fashion, and the fact that at least half the company wore some portion of clothing lent a decided56 air of realism to the scene.
The amateur musicians were most industrious57, and since their idea of perfect harmony was the greatest possible amount of noise, the result can be imagined. Their facilities for playing were much greater than man’s. For instance, a huge ape who had taken one of the banjos was seated on the floor holding it with his left foot, while the right and both hands were used to strike resounding58 blows on the strings. The performer on the guitar had pressed into service a small monkey as assistant, and while the[132] latter held the instrument above his head, the musician used hands and tail with which to draw forth wild and discordant strains.
Goliah had left the apartment immediately the dance began, and Philip’s idea was that he had simply gone to station sentinels around the building to prevent his escape; therefore he remained in one corner of the room, hidden as far as possible from the merry-makers, not daring to show the least desire to quit the scene of the festivities.
The remainder of the party did not appear to be at all disturbed by the absence of their leader. They waltzed, polkaed, bowed and promenaded59, chatting gaily60 meanwhile; but after half an hour of this sport the greater number followed the big baboon61’s example, until not more than twenty couples were left to go through the motions of keeping time to the discordant braying62 of the instruments.
If Philip deluded63 himself with the idea that they were growing tired, and that he would speedily find an opportunity of making his escape, he was mistaken.
In less than a quarter of an hour the outer doors were thrown open with a crash, and the animal-trainer looked up in astonishment64 to see entering the room what at first glance appeared to be a party of richly-dressed ladies and gentlemen.
There were half a hundred apes wearing muslin, silk and calico dresses; some with shawls, others with bonnets65, and not a few carrying gloves in their[133] hands, all attended by male escort clad in a variety of costumes.
It was Goliah who led this brilliant party, and leaning on his arm, but looking terrified, was Sweet Alice, who had evidently been forced by the baboon to take part in the merry-making while her mate remained a prisoner in the cage.
After what Philip had already witnessed there was no trouble in divining where these costumes had come from. The memory of a similar scene, when the colonists had appeared dressed in their best, was probably so vivid in the minds of the apes that the houses of the settlement had been immediately ransacked66 for a supply of finery.
Had Philip been able to so far disassociate himself from the painful fact that he was a captive, and become once more a student of natural history, he would have received a most interesting lesson regarding the point where instinct ceases and mental effort begins.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
mischief
|
|
| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
awning
|
|
| n.遮阳篷；雨篷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
disinterested
|
|
| adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
intoxicated
|
|
| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
doze
|
|
| v.打瞌睡；n.打盹，假寐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
discordant
|
|
| adj.不调和的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
maudlin
|
|
| adj.感情脆弱的，爱哭的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
catching
|
|
| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
literally
|
|
| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
incipient
|
|
| adj.起初的，发端的，初期的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
inebriated
|
|
| adj.酒醉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
caresses
|
|
| 爱抚，抚摸( caress的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
equanimity
|
|
| n.沉着，镇定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
dreary
|
|
| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
slumber
|
|
| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
grotto
|
|
| n.洞穴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
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： |
|
|
|
|
21
penetrate
|
|
| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
barricade
|
|
| n.路障，栅栏，障碍；vt.设路障挡住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
investigations
|
|
| （正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
partially
|
|
| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
repentant
|
|
| adj.对…感到悔恨的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
squads
|
|
| n.（军队中的）班( squad的名词复数 )；（暗杀）小组；体育运动的运动（代表）队；（对付某类犯罪活动的）警察队伍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
quench
|
|
| vt.熄灭，扑灭；压制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
unnatural
|
|
| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
followers
|
|
| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
incapable
|
|
| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
cordon
|
|
| n.警戒线，哨兵线 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
thereby
|
|
| adv.因此，从而 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
culmination
|
|
| n.顶点；最高潮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
conflagration
|
|
| n.建筑物或森林大火 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
brutes
|
|
| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
inevitable
|
|
| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
singed
|
|
| v.浅表烧焦( singe的过去式和过去分词 )；（毛发）燎，烧焦尖端[边儿] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
stifling
|
|
| a.令人窒息的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
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： |
|
|
|
|
42
belabored
|
|
| v.毒打一顿( belabor的过去式和过去分词 )；责骂；就…作过度的说明；向…唠叨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
inflicted
|
|
| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
throng
|
|
| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
scattering
|
|
| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
sitting-room
|
|
| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
averted
|
|
| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
gathering
|
|
| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
colonists
|
|
| n.殖民地开拓者，移民，殖民地居民( colonist的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
illuminated
|
|
| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
strings
|
|
| n.弦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
dart
|
|
| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
circumscribed
|
|
| adj.[医]局限的：受限制或限于有限空间的v.在…周围划线( circumscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；划定…范围；限制；限定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
depicted
|
|
| 描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
industrious
|
|
| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
resounding
|
|
| adj. 响亮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
promenaded
|
|
| v.兜风( promenade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
gaily
|
|
| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
baboon
|
|
| n.狒狒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
braying
|
|
| v.发出驴叫似的声音( bray的现在分词 )；发嘟嘟声；粗声粗气地讲话（或大笑）；猛击 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
deluded
|
|
| v.欺骗，哄骗( delude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
bonnets
|
|
| n.童帽( bonnet的名词复数 )；（烟囱等的）覆盖物；（苏格兰男子的）无边呢帽；（女子戴的）任何一种帽子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
ransacked
|
|
| v.彻底搜查( ransack的过去式和过去分词 )；抢劫，掠夺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |