Heeding3 not the volume, which had fallen to the floor, he made a hasty circuit of the room, opening closet after closet until all but one had been examined, and in this last he found that for which he sought. Captain Seaworth had referred to it as “the armory,” but it must have been his own private sporting weapons, for there were three fine fowling-pieces, two rifles, and a large quantity of cartridges4 made up for every kind of game.
To buckle5 on one of the ammunition6-belts, fill it with ball-cartridges and seize a rifle from the hooks was but the work of a moment, after which Philip felt that at last he was in a condition to cope with a hundred such as Goliah.
It was hardly possible to exterminate7 all the apes on the island from the windows of the building, but[167] he could certainly slay8 the most vicious, and having done so, would in a certain measure be free to move around.
Philip now understood that Goliah had taken the place of the mandrill whom Captain Seaworth killed, and was exercising the rights of leader over them—an office which they probably respected because he approached so nearly in size to their late chief. With Goliah and his counselors9 dead, however, Philip’s position would be far more safe, if not comfortable, and using the two chimpanzees as guard, it might be possible to roam about the island at will. Then he could gather yet more gold from the subterranean10 stream, and stow it away preparatory to removal as soon as any vessel11 might visit that shore, unless, indeed, the pirates spoken of in the journal should first make their appearance.
Now that he felt reasonably secure from the apes he began to fear those marauders of the sea about whom he had read, and he could readily fancy that to them was due the absence of the colonists12. The pirates had most likely made a raid upon the island, and killed or carried off as prisoners those who were trying to establish the plantation13.
Although this seemed the true and only reasonable explanation as to why Captain Seaworth and his party had disappeared, it was certainly strange and beyond Philip’s power to imagine why a more thorough sack of the buildings had not taken place. That the pirates should leave all this property—for so far as he had seen the houses were filled with a[168] plentiful14 supply of movable goods—seemed incomprehensible; but he was not disposed to waste much time in these useless speculations15. It was as if he wished to enjoy the sense of security given by the weapons, and advancing to the window he gazed through the loop-holes into the street.
The besiegers were still in the same places and the same attitudes of hostility16, but they had increased in numbers. From this point of vantage he counted among the foliage17 and crouching18 behind the trunks of the trees more than a hundred animals, all watching the closed windows with the greatest intentness, and evidently waiting for an opportunity to begin the attack.
Philip laughed to himself as he saw the vindictive19 faces of the apes, and thought what a surprise he had in store for them, or how useless would be their attempts to drive him out. But he failed to realize what they could do in case of an attack, or how fierce might be the battle. The knowledge that he had plenty of ammunition caused him to look upon these brute20 enemies with a certain disdain21 which was destined22 to be changed to one of fear before many days passed.
Leaving his position at the window he took the journal from the floor and laid it on the table, but without any intention of reading it. He would have plenty of time in which to pursue the investigation23, and was resolved now to enjoy himself after his own fashion. Besides, he was weary with sitting still so long, and hungry. A further perusal[169] of the document which might reveal to him the cause of the colonists’ absence could be had at any time, and there would undoubtedly24 be many dull hours to while away; consequently he was in no haste to finish the captain’s story.
A spiral staircase from the library led to the rooms below, and he went into the kitchen intending there to have a hearty25 meal, for it would be foolish not to enjoy that with which he was so generously provided.
There was an ample store of candles, and he lighted half a dozen in order to give the semblance26 of a feast to his lonely repast.
Since his stay was indefinite and might be prolonged even into months, he resolved to be methodical in his manner of living. Therefore, as the first step in this direction, he set about arranging the table with as much care as if he was to entertain a party of epicures27.
Even at this moment, when he fancied his wants were so generously provided for, came the knowledge that he would be denied water. During his previous repast he congratulated himself that there was plenty of wine, and thought this the most pleasant method of assuaging28 thirst; but now he was of a different opinion. Although having been deprived of nature’s beverage29 so short a time, he would have bartered30 a case of the finest champagne31 in Captain Seaworth’s collection for a single pint32 of such water as he had found in the grotto33. But this it was impossible to obtain, and during the elaborate meal he[170] fancied how refreshing34 would be coffee or tea rather than the rare vintages with which he was plentifully35 supplied.
In the preparation of this meal he had an opportunity of taking account of the stores on hand, and, as nearly as could be judged, there was sufficient to last him at least three months; therefore fear of starvation was not among his troubles.
A hearty meal was conducive36 to sleep, and being thoroughly37 the master of his own time, Philip ascended38 the narrow staircase to the captain’s bed-chamber, where, for the first time since the gale39 which wrecked40 the Swallow sprung up, he was able to undress and retire in a Christian-like fashion.
The unwonted luxury of a soft bed, clean sheets and pillows, were well calculated to keep him within the borders of dreamland many hours, and when he awakened41 the morning sun was just peeping in through the crevices42 of the blind in the shutter43.
With the awakening44 came the further and perhaps even greater desire for water. He was denied even the pleasure of washing his face unless with wine, and contented45 himself as best he could by using a dry towel, after which he descended46 once more to the kitchen, where he made anything rather than a hearty meal of canned dainties. He was beginning to tire of delicacies47, and remembered with regret the coarse food from which he had turned with disgust while on board the Swallow.
It is strange in what a channel one’s fancies sometimes run. Here was Philip, virtually a prisoner[171] on an island inhabited by apes who would rend48 him limb from limb should he venture out of doors, and yet he was longing49 ardently50 for a commonplace plate of hash, and a cup of the weakest coffee that was ever set before the patrons of a cheap boarding-house would have tasted at that moment like nectar. However, neither the hash nor the coffee was to be had for the wishing, and he ascended once more to the library.
Another view of the surroundings was anything rather than reassuring51. The apes were there, with numbers still further increased, occupying the same points of vantage as when he had seen them the day previous, and now each had in front of him, or in a crotch of a tree where he was located, a little pile of heavy stones stacked up with as much care as if they had been cartridges, and Philip was soon to learn that they would be almost as effective as the heaviest charged shell in his collection.
His first thought on noting these missiles was that they were intended for him as soon as he made his appearance out of doors. He failed to comprehend how the apes might use them; but all too soon did he understand.
For a moment he stood undetermined whether to give his assailants a taste of powder and ball at once, believing a lesson might be beneficial; but the thought of the unfinished journal restrained him.
“I have plenty of time in which to show what can be done with fire-arms,” he said to himself, “and it won’t interfere52 with the effectiveness of the dose if I wait until the hours begin to drag. Beside, it is to Goliah that the first instruction must be given, and then that little ape who made me stand on my head shall be the next to receive one of the captain’s bullets.”
Thus it was that a desire for revenge had come into Philip’s mind with the first assurance of his own safety, as it often comes to the minds of others. We arrogate53 to ourselves the right to teach, and cloak under it a vengeance54 oftentimes as childish as the besieged55 animal-trainer’s may seem.
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1
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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heeding
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的现在分词 ) | |
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4
cartridges
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| 子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头 | |
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buckle
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| n.扣子，带扣；v.把...扣住，由于压力而弯曲 | |
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ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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7
exterminate
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| v.扑灭，消灭，根绝 | |
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8
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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9
counselors
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| n.顾问( counselor的名词复数 )；律师；（使馆等的）参赞；（协助学生解决问题的）指导老师 | |
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10
subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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colonists
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| n.殖民地开拓者，移民，殖民地居民( colonist的名词复数 ) | |
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13
plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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speculations
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| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
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hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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vindictive
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| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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semblance
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| n.外貌，外表 | |
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epicures
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| n.讲究饮食的人( epicure的名词复数 ) | |
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assuaging
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| v.减轻( assuage的现在分词 )；缓和；平息；使安静 | |
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beverage
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| n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料 | |
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bartered
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| v.作物物交换，以货换货( barter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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pint
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| n.品脱 | |
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grotto
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| n.洞穴 | |
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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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plentifully
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| adv. 许多地，丰饶地 | |
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conducive
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| adj.有益的，有助的 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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41
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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42
crevices
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| n.（尤指岩石的）裂缝，缺口( crevice的名词复数 ) | |
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shutter
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| n.百叶窗；(照相机)快门；关闭装置 | |
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44
awakening
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| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
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45
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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46
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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47
delicacies
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| n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到 | |
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48
rend
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| vt.把…撕开，割裂；把…揪下来，强行夺取 | |
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49
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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50
ardently
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| adv.热心地，热烈地 | |
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51
reassuring
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| a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的 | |
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52
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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53
arrogate
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| v.冒称具有...权利，霸占 | |
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54
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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55
besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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