On gaining the building he shut the door in the faces of his anxious and suspicious subjects and betook himself once more to the second-story room, from the windows of which he had previously1 waged battle against the apes.
This apartment, like all others in the house, had been remodeled, and, thanks to the energy of his subjects, was in a better condition to withstand a siege than when he first entered it. During all his labor2 he had kept ever in mind the thought that at some future time it might be necessary to have a place of refuge, and to this end he restored the rooms to their original condition and location, thus giving him, as before, free range from the kitchen to what had been Captain Seaworth’s office.
It is true the doors were no stronger than before, and should the apes select either one of them as a distinct point of attack, it might soon be battered3 down. Against such an event he could take no precautions, but trusted that, should another battle ensue, the missiles would be thrown with the same[224] absence of studied aim as had been previously displayed.
Arriving in this corner apartment, Philip threw himself in Captain Seaworth’s chair disheartened and almost weary of life, even though he was trying to devise some plan for prolonging it.
Without having recourse to a mirror, he knew exactly how large was the rent in his predecessor4’s skin and the difficulties he would have in repairing it. Had it been possible to present himself boldly before his subjects he might have searched in the other houses of the village and probably found needles and thread to repair the damage; but now that he could show no more than his face, such an opportunity for benefiting himself was out of the question.
Mechanically he looked about him, although every article in the room was familiar, and perhaps he had opened the desk for at least the twentieth time, when his eyes fell upon a piece of string.
It was what he most needed, and with it the rent made by “envious fortune” might possibly be repaired.
Taking off the hide carefully and with considerable difficulty, he found that it had been split from just below the jointure of the tail to a distance of fully5 twelve inches straight up the back, and of course in that particular place his body would serve to make the opening greater.
It was necessary to close it as nearly as possible, and with a splinter of wood as an awl6 with which[225] to puncture7 the hide, he finally succeeded in lacing it up like a shoe.
The job was anything rather than satisfactory. The nearest-sighted ape on the island would have perceived at once that there was something the matter with the king’s back, and so familiar were Philip’s subjects with their monarch8, there could be no question about their immediately investigating the cause of his singular appearance. Once curiosity was aroused in this direction the secret must be exposed within a very few moments, and he knew that his life would be spared only so long as he succeeded in keeping the apes at a proper distance.
One can readily imagine his condition of mind when he put on, probably for the last time, the dress of skin which had brought him such questionable10 honors and might now prove to be the immediate9 cause of his death. He could well say “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown” when only the face should be seen by the subjects.
Goliah’s suspicions were undoubtedly11 aroused, and beyond a question he would be the first, under the guise12 of excessive loyalty13, to discover why the military review had been brought to such an abrupt14 termination. Therefore Philip understood that unless he could remain in a sitting posture15 during the balance of his reign16, discovery of his false character was certain, and also that under no circumstances must his followers17 be allowed to approach him.
The entire night was passed in these gloomy reflections,[226] and when the first gray light of dawn appeared in the sky the chattering18 of apes under his window told Philip that his followers had come to learn the cause of his sudden indisposition.
That they would remain until he showed himself was absolutely positive, and without opening the door he stepped from the window to the balcony as a great howl of joy went up from the assembled throng19. They danced and cut capers20 as if imploring22 the king to come down, and at the risk of disarranging his very tender hide he was obliged to show them many a royal caper21 before their anxious solicitude23 could be stilled in the slightest degree.
Even after he had executed these dangerous maneuvers24, for fully half an hour did they refuse to be satisfied, and he had good reason to deplore25 what probably no other king ever did—the intense affection of his subjects.
Now and then some very zealous26 monkey clambered up on the balcony to make sure the monarch was not deceiving them as to the state of his health, but at a gesture from him the animal would leap back among the crowd; and when Philip felt certain the lacing of his hide could no longer withstand the strain he retreated into the room, taking good care to close the window behind him.
That this voluntary imprisonment27 could not be continued many days he understood before another hour passed. The number of those who were eager to ascertain28 the exact condition of their monarch’s health increased each moment, and in the absence of[227] a court physician who could issue regular bulletins regarding the patient it was necessary Philip should show himself on the balcony several times during the afternoon, otherwise the building might have been attacked again.
As a matter of course, he was forced on every occasion to go through the apish capers which were supposed to display affection for his subjects, and each time a warning rip from behind told that his gestures of love must be moderated, otherwise his hide and his reign would soon be at an end.
During this alternate appearance and disappearance29 Goliah remained seated among the feathery branches of a palm which grew directly in front of the building, and one could almost fancy he was taking notes, so carefully did he watch every movement of the king, or so eagerly did he peer around when his majesty30 retreated.
It was hardly to be supposed that the huge baboon31 would exert himself to prolong a reign which had begun with his own discomfiture32, and on his last appearance Philip realized that to again leave the building would be to give Goliah an opportunity of pursuing his investigations33 to a successful termination.
To repel34 an attack was no longer possible. During the last battle the ammunition35 had been so far exhausted36 that not more than twenty cartridges37 and one not very serviceable weapon was left. Therefore from force of arms Philip could expect nothing.
[228]
That evening the animal-trainer who was playing the part of king in Apeland made one more attempt to restore the symbol of his royalty38 to its former condition. With infinite care he laced and relaced the rent until he flattered himself it was nearly as well concealed39 as if done by the most skillful tailor, and putting it on again, decided40 that he might trust himself even in the presence of Goliah.
His mind was so nearly at ease that he ate a hearty41 supper from the store of provisions in the kitchen pantry and laid himself down to rest, believing he had secured a yet longer lease to the throne of apedom.
Alas42 for the vanity of human hopes! Immediately on falling asleep he dreamed he was once more standing43 before his army, saluting44 them with mighty45 leaps and wonderful contortions46 of body. He awakened47 to find himself sprawling48 on the floor, with the hide of his predecessor slit49 from the jointure of the tail entirely50 to the neck!
His struggles in dreamland had precipitated51 the catastrophe52. There was not string enough in the building to repair this last rent, even had he been sufficiently53 skillful to thread it into the partially54 decayed hide.
To appear in public on the balcony was no longer possible, and he was a king only while he could remain hidden from view. When the least intelligent of his subjects got a glimpse of him his crown was lost, never more to be recovered, and Goliah would reign in his stead—Goliah, from whom he[229] might expect the most cruel reprisals55 for the temporary loss of power.
Philip was so certain a cruel fate awaited him that he immediately began to barricade56 the suite57 of apartments as thoroughly58 as possible under the circumstances, and before another morning dawned every movable article of furniture was piled against the doors in the hope that the final moment might be delayed a short time.
Then, retreating to the kitchen, he awaited the inevitable59.
From this retired60 spot he could hear the chattering and howling of his subjects as they assembled once more to make inquiries61 concerning his health, and he knew beyond a peradventure that not many hours would elapse before they began to force their way into the building.
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1
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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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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3
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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4
predecessor
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| n.前辈，前任 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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6
awl
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| n.尖钻 | |
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7
puncture
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| n.刺孔，穿孔；v.刺穿，刺破 | |
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8
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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9
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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10
questionable
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| adj.可疑的，有问题的 | |
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11
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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12
guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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13
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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14
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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15
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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16
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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17
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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18
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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19
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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20
capers
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| n.开玩笑( caper的名词复数 )；刺山柑v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的第三人称单数 ) | |
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21
caper
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| v.雀跃，欢蹦；n.雀跃，跳跃；续随子，刺山柑花蕾；嬉戏 | |
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22
imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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23
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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24
maneuvers
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| n.策略，谋略，花招( maneuver的名词复数 ) | |
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25
deplore
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| vt.哀叹，对...深感遗憾 | |
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26
zealous
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| adj.狂热的，热心的 | |
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27
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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28
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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29
disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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30
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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baboon
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| n.狒狒 | |
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32
discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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33
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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34
repel
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| v.击退，抵制，拒绝，排斥 | |
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35
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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36
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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37
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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38
royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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39
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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40
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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41
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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42
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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43
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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44
saluting
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的现在分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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45
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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46
contortions
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| n.扭歪，弯曲；扭曲，弄歪，歪曲( contortion的名词复数 ) | |
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47
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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48
sprawling
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| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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49
slit
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| n.狭长的切口；裂缝；vt.切开，撕裂 | |
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50
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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51
precipitated
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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52
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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53
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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54
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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55
reprisals
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| n.报复（行为）( reprisal的名词复数 ) | |
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56
barricade
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| n.路障，栅栏，障碍；vt.设路障挡住 | |
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57
suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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58
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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59
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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60
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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61
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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