Save for the six ominous-looking protuberances from the shutters4, everything about the village was as it had been when the colonists fled before the pirates, and even human beings might have been deceived by this pretended abandonment of the island.
It was not expected that the apes would make any demonstration5 during the hours of darkness; therefore, with the exception of a sentinel at each loop-hole, the entire party slept until morning, when certain noises in the adjacent forest proclaimed the fact that Goliah’s forces had taken note of the unusual silence.
It so chanced that Philip was stationed at a point overlooking the same portion of the thicket6 as when he alone defended the building; and inasmuch as it[267] was directly opposite his station that Goliah had taken his stand during both times the settlement had been attacked, the animal-trainer naturally hoped the huge baboon7 would direct the movements of his followers8 from the spot he had previously9 occupied.
If the leader could be killed it was but natural to suppose his followers would be dispersed10, and Philip’s great desire was to put an end to the career of the baboon who had caused him so much suffering.
Two hours after sunrise the first decisive move was made by the enemy. Previous to this moment they could have been heard chattering11 among the thickets12; but now a party of about a dozen, who had evidently been sent forward to spy out the situation of affairs, came boldly from the shelter of the trees and marched entirely13 around the settlement.
The purpose of the concealed14 party was to wait until the main body of the enemy had been massed where a volley of grape-shot could be sent into their midst; therefore these spies were allowed to return to their leaders unmolested.
At the end of the third hour another party reconnoitered in much the same fashion as had the first, save that they went on the verandas15 of several cottages, trying the doors and windows, and when they disappeared to make a report Philip understood that the time was near at hand when a salutary lesson might be given.
From the thicket could be heard a noise as of[268] breaking limbs, shrill16 cries of command, and now and then a hoarse17 shout from Goliah, until suddenly fully18 one-half the main body of apes burst into view from among the foliage19.
Philip looked in vain for Goliah; that wily old baboon had no intention of exposing his precious person when there were soldiers enough under his command to do the fighting.
The guns were already trained, and at the signal, which was the discharge of a revolver by one of the men stationed near Captain Seaworth, the six cannon20 belched21 forth22 their iron hail, mowing23 great gaps through the enemy’s lines.
There was no opportunity to repeat this dose, for in a twinkling every animal who yet had command of his limbs disappeared, and nothing was left in view of the concealed party save huge piles of dead and wounded.
Although it was not probable the apes would show themselves again, no sound was made by those in concealment24 save such as was necessary in reloading the cannon, and until four o’clock that afternoon all remained on the alert, but without seeing or hearing a single member of Goliah’s forces.
That it was useless to continue the ambush25 any longer Captain Seaworth knew perfectly26 well, and at the word of command the colonists came out from their hiding-places to perform such duties as were absolutely necessary in the way of preparing food for themselves and their wounded comrades in the court-yard.
[269]
Among the first work to be done was to bury the slain27, for in that tropical climate the bodies would decompose28 rapidly, and thus, even after death, be a source of danger to those who had killed them.
The number of the fallen was less than had at first been supposed. One hundred and twelve were all that could be found, and while it was reasonable to believe fully as many more had received wounds of which they would soon die, the ranks of the enemy had not been decimated to any appreciable29 extent.
The sun set before the deep trench30 which had been dug to receive the bodies was filled, and after this duty had been performed preparations were made for the night, since it was possible Goliah might try to avenge31 the blow which had been struck.
As the shadows lengthened32 and the deep gloom settled down over the island gunners were stationed at the pieces once more, and again the little village was in a state of comparative repose33, save directly in the rear, where half a dozen men were bringing water and hewing34 wood.
Captain Seaworth had the same idea as had Philip, that, true to their imitative habits, the apes, if they made an attack after nightfall, would do so at the same point from which their previous efforts had been directed, and, therefore, but little attention was given to what might be passing in the rear.
The cooks were preparing a hearty35 meal, for the men in ambush had not been served with anything warm during two days. The kitchen doors and[270] windows were open, and the laborers36 were pursuing their respective tasks without thought of harm, when suddenly a volley of rocks, coming thickly as drops of rain in a summer shower, descended38 upon the unprotected portion of the main building, taking by most complete surprise even those who were on the alert.
As these missiles struck the sides and roof of the house or fell through the open doors and windows, the noise was so deafening39 that fully five minutes elapsed before Captain Seaworth could make his orders understood, and in that brief time no slight amount of damage had been done.
The awning40 in the court-yard was partially41 torn down; several of the wounded men received still further injury; two of the cooks were disabled, and the stove was overturned, strewing42 the coals on the kitchen floor in such a way as started a blaze among the dry wood, which threatened speedy destruction to the house.
There was no longer any thought of retaliation43, for it was necessary that the flames should be extinguished before they gained too much headway, and the orders were to form lines for passing water.
Hardly had this work been begun when another shower of rocks descended upon the laborers, driving them in from the spring as several of the party fell under the well-directed assault, and during the short time of confusion which ensued the fire gained no inconsiderable headway.
Only three or four men could work to advantage[271] at bringing water from the spring in the court-yard, for the flow was not large enough to permit of much being carried at a time, and while they were engaged in this nearly useless labor37 Captain Seaworth ordered all the others save those in charge of the cannon to form a cordon44 around the building for the purpose of keeping up an incessant45 discharge of musketry into the thicket.
Not a single ape could be seen as the men marched bravely to their posts amid the falling missiles, and their volleys, however rapid, had but little effect, owing to the fact that they were forced to fire at random46.
After the muskets47 had been emptied half a dozen times, and the attack had been checked in some slight degree, every third man was told off to fight the flames; but so much time had elapsed that before the work was well begun it could be plainly seen that all their efforts were vain.
Then, in order to save the lives of the helpless ones in the court-yard, a still larger number of defenders48 were assigned the duty of conveying the wounded to a building on the outskirts49 of the settlement, and while this was being done it seemed as if every tree in the vicinity concealed an enemy who kept up a continuous discharge of rocks.
For those in charge of the cannon to remain in the house where they could only shoot directly in front was useless, and under Philip’s command the ordnance50 was taken outside. From this point, first in one direction and then another, heavy charges of[272] small shot were poured into the thicket from whence came the missiles in the greatest profusion51, but evidently without doing much injury to the enemy.
The situation was now deplorable. That the main portion of the settlement would be consumed there could be no question, for the flames had fastened upon the wings on either side of the court-yard, and as all the cottages were of such an inflammable material it needed but little to complete the work of destruction.
The glare of the flames threw into brightest relief those who were struggling to protect themselves and save the property, and thus they afforded good targets for the unseen enemy, who had now completely surrounded the village.
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1
myriad
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| adj.无数的；n.无数，极大数量 | |
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2
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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3
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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4
shutters
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| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
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5
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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6
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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baboon
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| n.狒狒 | |
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8
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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9
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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10
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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11
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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12
thickets
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| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
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13
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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14
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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15
verandas
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| 阳台，走廊( veranda的名词复数 ) | |
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16
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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17
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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18
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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19
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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20
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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21
belched
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| v.打嗝( belch的过去式和过去分词 )；喷出，吐出；打（嗝）；嗳（气） | |
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22
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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23
mowing
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| n.割草，一次收割量，牧草地v.刈，割( mow的现在分词 ) | |
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24
concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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25
ambush
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| n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击 | |
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26
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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27
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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28
decompose
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| vi.分解；vt.（使）腐败，（使）腐烂 | |
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29
appreciable
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| adj.明显的，可见的，可估量的，可觉察的 | |
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30
trench
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| n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕 | |
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31
avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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32
lengthened
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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34
hewing
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| v.（用斧、刀等）砍、劈( hew的现在分词 )；砍成；劈出；开辟 | |
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35
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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36
laborers
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| n.体力劳动者，工人( laborer的名词复数 )；（熟练工人的）辅助工 | |
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37
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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38
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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39
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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40
awning
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| n.遮阳篷；雨篷 | |
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41
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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42
strewing
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| v.撒在…上( strew的现在分词 )；散落于；点缀；撒满 | |
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43
retaliation
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| n.报复，反击 | |
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44
cordon
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| n.警戒线，哨兵线 | |
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45
incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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46
random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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47
muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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48
defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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49
outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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50
ordnance
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| n.大炮，军械 | |
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51
profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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