As one in a dream, and hardly more conscious of his movements than a sleeper1, he remained during the next five days in the lower story of the building.
A most unnatural3 and unhealthy condition of mind it was; but another under the same circumstances might have displayed even less fortitude4. He believed death to be inevitable5 in a very short time, and that it was an equal chance whether the blow would be dealt by pirates or apes; therefore, with his sensibilities dulled by the conviction that his days on earth were few, he passed them as does the brute6, and without thought save for the one supreme7 moment.
Mechanically he ate, drank and slept, seeing nothing save those objects which were revealed by the rays of the candles, and it is more than probable his mind would have given way under the continued monotony had it not been for the rebellion his body made against this unnatural mode of life.
His clothes, which had been literally8 torn to rags during his painful experience in trying to amuse[181] the apes and his subsequent flight through the thicket9, actually fell from his body, and since he possessed10 neither needle nor thread he was almost in a complete state of nudity.
The rainy season, which answers in the tropics to our winter, had just commenced. The nights were damp, even cold; and it was against this exposure that his body rebelled. During the first two or three days the deprivation11 of natural beverage12 affected13 him but slightly. He drank frequently of the different wines and liquors to be found in the closet, and therefore was always thirsty. The greater amount of spirits he consumed the more necessary did water become, and as his body protested against the cold, so did his stomach and brain cry out against such stimulants14.
That which at the end of the second day had simply been an inconvenience became absolute suffering as time wore on. His eyes were swollen15 and bloodshot; his pulse beat with feverish16 rapidity, his mouth felt parched17 and dry, and the throbbing18 of his brain was like violent blows against the skull19. It needed but little to deprive him of reason, and yet he realized not his own condition.
It was while suffering from that which was so nearly akin20 to delirium21 that, hardly knowing what he did he ascended22 the staircase, took once more the weapons from the closet and approached the window.
The fever in his blood rendered him irresponsible, and now a conflict was something to be desired. In[182] his mind came a vague idea that he would end it all and die fighting. Better such an end than to yield up his life amid the loneliness of that dwelling23.
Piling all the ammunition24 under the window which was situated25 directly beneath the tower, and loading every musket26 and rifle, a savage27 glee took possession of him as he opened the loop-hole.
That which met his gaze temporarily sobered him. The fumes28 of the liquor were driven from his brain, and he saw clearly the danger which menaced.
On the day when he descended29 to the kitchen with the intention of remaining until death should come to his release there had been perhaps two hundred apes guarding the dwelling. As he looked forth30 now, five times as many were to be seen. To count them was impossible; they were as the sands of the sea, and equally silent.
Five days previous these besiegers had gathered only insignificant31 piles of stones. Now this rude ammunition had increased to such an enormous extent that it formed veritable hills, placed so close one to the other that it was as if an army had been throwing up breastworks, and behind them three men each raised on the shoulders of the other could hardly have looked over the top. The dwelling, instead of commanding a view of the surrounding country, was now so inclosed that he was forced to lift his eyes in order to see the grinning faces which were gazing down upon him. The house no longer stood on an elevation32, but in a valley formed by these walls of projectiles33.
[183]
Just within the edge of the woods, where was yet an open space, two large apes were engaged in a deadly struggle, and Philip watched them for a moment with a sort of savage pleasure, as if delighting in the brutal34 scene.
Then a delirium of fever seized him once more. He was no longer a reasoning animal, but a brute sunk to the level of those who held him captive.
Without questioning as to what might be gained by such a course, he discharged both barrels of his musket into the crowd of those who had gathered around the combatants, and three fell at the first discharge. Again and again he emptied his weapons, mowing35 down long lines of apes, but apparently36 increasing their numbers, for as one fell a dozen sprung to fill his place in the line of battle which was now formed.
In five minutes, where perhaps a hundred had stood, half a thousand were gathered.
Neither were these new-comers idle. It was as if the report of his weapon had been waited for as the signal of a general assault, and in an instant the air was filled with fragments of rocks and stones, until one might have fancied a furious hailstorm was raging. Pelting37 against the building on all sides came the missiles, doing little damage at first; but it was not possible such a frail38 structure could long withstand the assault.
Amid the shower of stones were handfuls of sand, as if the latter was thrown by weaker arms; and, accompanied by grunts39 and shrieks40 of the besiegers,[184] the effect can hardly be described. It was deafening41, and at the same time horrible.
Maddened by continued drinking of liquor, and also by the terrific din2 without, Philip kept up a perfect fusillade, until the moment came when his weapons were so choked and heated that it was necessary to pause.
Not for an instant did the apes cease their attack, however. It was as if this silence on the part of the besieged42 gave them renewed courage, and the splintering of wood from time to time told that some timber had yielded to their repeated assaults.
One would have said that these animals were well skilled in the art of war. They advanced by platoons, discharging a volley and falling back to get more supplies, while fresh troops advanced.
Much as a skillful general might do when his enemy shows signs of weakening, Goliah appeared on the scene at the moment Philip’s fusillade ceased, and, urging his followers43 to greater exertions44, flung a heavy, jagged fragment of rock at the window with such force that the shutter45 was splintered, the pieces which fell inside knocking Philip to the floor.
This was the first evidence of what might be accomplished46 by such a bombardment, and through this rent in the wall came showers of stones, until the room was partially47 filled.
Philip was dazed for the moment by the fragments of wood; but he sprung to his feet on regaining48 consciousness, and once more opened fire, this time from another window. Such a fearful storm[185] of projectiles rained into the room that he would have been killed before one cartridge49 was exploded had he attempted to fire through the breach50.
He no longer heeded51 the condition of his weapons. One musket was used until the danger of explosion was so imminent52 as to make it apparent to his disordered mind, and dropping the useless gun he seized another, firing with accurate aim, but never diminishing in the slightest the enemy’s vigor53.
The second shutter gave way before the fierce assault. He was wounded by the splinters of wood and fragments of stone. His face was lacerated and several teeth were broken. His hands were bleeding, and the upper portion of his body was bruised54 and swollen.
The ammunition was becoming exhausted55, and he saw with dismay that not only was it impossible to vanquish56 the enemy unaided, but also that he could not continue the battle a great many hours longer.
Hundreds of cartridges57 had been used; the shells were strewn so thickly about him that he was forced now and then to stop and kick them away in order to gain a foot-hold.
Before nightfall two of the muskets58 had burst in his hands, fortunately without inflicting59 any serious injury, and he understood that it was necessary to cease hostilities60 on his side until the remainder of the weapons could be cleaned.
It was when he arrived at this decision that the shades of night began to fall, and never before, to[186] man, did the going down of the sun give more pleasure.
Darkness settled over the island. The apes ceased their bombardment, and victory was for the time undecided.
As a matter of fact, however, the apes were really the conquerors61, since the enemy whose ranks can be continually reinforced must triumph in the end were he a hundred times less clever and brave than his adversary62; therefore it is that in battle “might makes right.”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
sleeper
|
|
| n.睡眠者，卧车，卧铺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
din
|
|
| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
unnatural
|
|
| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
fortitude
|
|
| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
inevitable
|
|
| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
brute
|
|
| n.野兽，兽性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
supreme
|
|
| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
literally
|
|
| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
thicket
|
|
| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
deprivation
|
|
| n.匮乏；丧失；夺去，贫困 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
beverage
|
|
| n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
affected
|
|
| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
stimulants
|
|
| n.兴奋剂( stimulant的名词复数 )；含兴奋剂的饮料；刺激物；激励物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
swollen
|
|
| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
feverish
|
|
| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
parched
|
|
| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
throbbing
|
|
| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
skull
|
|
| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
akin
|
|
| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
delirium
|
|
| n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
ascended
|
|
| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
dwelling
|
|
| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
ammunition
|
|
| n.军火，弹药 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
situated
|
|
| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
musket
|
|
| n.滑膛枪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
fumes
|
|
| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
insignificant
|
|
| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
elevation
|
|
| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
projectiles
|
|
| n.抛射体( projectile的名词复数 )；（炮弹、子弹等）射弹，（火箭等）自动推进的武器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
brutal
|
|
| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
mowing
|
|
| n.割草，一次收割量，牧草地v.刈，割( mow的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
pelting
|
|
| 微不足道的，无价值的，盛怒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
frail
|
|
| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
grunts
|
|
| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的第三人称单数 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说； 石鲈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
shrieks
|
|
| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
deafening
|
|
| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
besieged
|
|
| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
followers
|
|
| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
exertions
|
|
| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
shutter
|
|
| n.百叶窗；(照相机)快门；关闭装置 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
accomplished
|
|
| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
partially
|
|
| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
regaining
|
|
| 复得( regain的现在分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
cartridge
|
|
| n.弹壳，弹药筒；(装磁带等的)盒子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
breach
|
|
| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
heeded
|
|
| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 )；变平，使（某物）变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
imminent
|
|
| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
vigor
|
|
| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
bruised
|
|
| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
exhausted
|
|
| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
vanquish
|
|
| v.征服，战胜；克服；抑制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
cartridges
|
|
| 子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
muskets
|
|
| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
inflicting
|
|
| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
hostilities
|
|
| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
conquerors
|
|
| 征服者，占领者( conqueror的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
adversary
|
|
| adj.敌手，对手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |