A most unexpected sight met his gaze. The Mammoth and Ape Boy had not returned at all. In their stead, a fierce group sprawled6 upon the rock platform. Their backs were turned toward him; but Wulli knew them at once as the beasts of prey7, the flesh-eaters of the caves. Stretched at full length, lay Grun Waugh the Cave Lion with a Lioness seated by his side. A little apart squatted8 the Hyena9 and Cave Wolf.
“A wonderful place,” the Lioness was saying. “None but an eagle would presume to choose a home so high above the valley.”
[51]
“None but me you mean, my dear,” Grun Waugh gently but firmly corrected.
“Yes, none but you, of course,” the Lioness replied. “Is the cave unoccupied?”
“Hagh-gh-h!” Grun Waugh turned his head away and licked his singed10 whiskers. “That miserable11 Ape Boy I told you of, has taken to coming here. Between the two of us—you and I—we should now be able to keep him and his little hot beast away.”
“We might choose another home,” said the Lioness; “one that requires less climbing. There is Sha Pell—a charming cave and empty too or at least it was when I last passed that way.”
“Full now,” the Wolf humbly12 ventured to remark. “A man has just moved in—a man blind in one eye. He looked sick to me.”
“A sick man you say—and blind?” the Hyena asked. “That interests me. There was a blind man, leader of the Ape Men whom I have often seen while waiting around their camp for scraps13 of meat and other good things. I remember him well. He was old. He had grey hair. I had hoped soon to know him better. And so he is sick. If my lord will excuse me, I will now take my humble14 leave and pay my respects to this man who lives alone in Sha Pell and who is old, sick and blind in one eye.”
[52]
He was slinking away when Grun Waugh stopped him.
“Hold!” he growled15. “I will go with you. Man’s flesh would be a welcome change. There will be enough left for you when the carcass grows cold. Stay here, my dear,” he said to the Lioness. “You and the Wolf can have the Ape Boy for your portion—when he returns.”
The Hyena who had been listening to his master’s bidding with a thwarted16 hang-dog air suddenly raised his head and began sniffing17 vigorously in all directions. Finally his twitching18 nose pointed19 towards the grotto and held still. His ears stood erect20. He burst into an uproarious mirthless laugh:
“Hee-hee, ha-ha, wah-ho!” The other three animals looked around to seek the cause of his hilarity21 and were amazed to see the head of a rhinoceros protruding22 from the mouth of the grotto.
A scene of wild confusion followed. Grun Waugh sprang snarling23 to his feet while the Lioness made ready to dash in when he gave the signal.
The Rhinoceros saw in a moment that he was the surprise of the party; that his presence was neither welcome nor expected. He settled back again into his refuge, with horn lowered, legs squared and fully24 prepared to give a good account of himself.
[53]
Grun Waugh Sprang Snarling to His Feet
Grun Waugh snarled25 angrily as he observed how securely the Rhinoceros was placed. No way to[54] overpower him by numbers. The grotto protected his flanks and rear. His horn guarded the entrance. The matter was one requiring serious thought. He ceased snarling. To him, the Woolly Rhinoceros was a well-known character; an animal to be treated with the utmost caution and respect. He closed his jaws26 so that Wulli’s suspicions might be lulled27 by the concealment29 of red mouth and threatening teeth. His great claws withdrew into their sheath-pads. In a twinkle, the Cave Lion, according to his own ideas, was transformed into a lamb; but his tail writhed30 and squirmed—a fact which had not escaped Wulli’s notice. Beasts with squirming tails were not to be trusted.
“Prrr, prr, prr: there stands our old neighbor the Woolly Rhinoceros,” he purred in his most friendly manner. “I never knew you could climb mountains. How did you get here?”
“We walked,” the Rhino3 replied in a chilly31 voice. His piggy eyes kept close watch and he refused to move an inch from his secure retreat.
“We?” Grim Waugh pricked32 up his ears and looked nervously33 about him. “Who? Where?” he asked.
The question reminded Wulli of the wrong done him the evening before.
“The Mammoth. He ran away and left me[55] alone,” was his sullen34 response. “But my turn will come next. Wait and see.”
“Oho!” thought the Lion. “The Mammoth and this rascal35 have quarrelled.” Of course Hairi must be somewhere near. Grun Waugh had almost forgotten him, although fully aware of the friendship between the pair which did not meet with his approval. Either the Rhinoceros or Mammoth was a difficult proposition for the strongest flesh-eater to contend with. Combined, they were invincible36. He saw that Wulli was cherishing some grudge37 against his partner and inwardly vowed38 that the breach39 must be widened at any cost. Once divided, the pair could be dealt with, singly, thereby40 insuring greater chance of success.
“Hagh! I am not surprised that you are vexed,” he said with an effort to instil41 a bit of sympathy into his voice. “No animal could endure what he says about you.”
This was going a trifle too fast. Wulli preferred fighting his own battles.
“Oo-wee!” he squealed42; “I have not asked your advice. Fun is fun and hurts nobody.”
Grun Waugh saw that he must begin again. He caught sight of the wood-chunk on Wulli’s horn and took a shot at random43:
“Hagh! even so. You could not find the heart to be angry even though somebody fastened a piece of wood on the end of your horn.”
[56]
The Rhino winced44 and bit his lips. He was hard hit. The shot had told.
“Perhaps the Mammoth meant no harm,” the Lion continued much pleased with the rapid progress he was now making; “but little things often hurt; the things he says about you.” Grun Waugh shook his head sadly and glanced at the sky.
“Umph; what does he say?” Wulli demanded irritably45. “Nothing that I know of.”
Grun Waugh turned to his mates with an air of: “There, I told you so. He doesn’t know.”
The Lioness licked her lips and assumed an expression of mysterious wisdom. The Hyena leered and ducked his head. The Cave Wolf doubled up to kick at a flea46 on his neck as he always did when noticed by his superiors.
“It is not for me to conceal28 the truth,” the Cave Lion replied. “The Mammoth says that you are an inferior animal—a Moo Hoo. It seems a strange thing to say.”
“Inferior animal?” Wulli cried. “He never said that to me.”
“He would be a Moo Hoo himself if he did,” said the Lioness with a leer.
“Quite right, my dear,” observed Grun Waugh with an approving nod. “We must credit the Mammoth with some sense. He waits until the Rhinoceros[57] is beyond his hearing when he speaks of the fat little creature he has made friends with.”
“And horned pig—do not forget that,” added the Cave Wolf; and once more be doubled up to claw the back of his head. The Hyena emitted a fiendish laugh; in fact all viewed these tributes to the Rhinoceros with the utmost good-nature; all but Wulli. He was simply furious. He remembered well that the Mammoth always treated him in a free-and-easy manner—but friendly too, so he had not objected. The remarks he had just heard might have sounded differently if delivered to him first hand; but they were absolutely insulting in the mouths of others. He bit the ground with rage. The Cave Beasts exchanged satisfied glances. Things were progressing finely. No need of pushing matters too fast.
“I suppose the Ape Boy too has been annoying you,” purred Grun Waugh. “None but his paw could have fastened that piece of wood on the tip of your horn.”
Wulli’s ears pricked up quickly then flopped47 down again. “Umph,” was all he said.
“Mischievous little animal—that Ape Boy,” said Grun Waugh. “He was even worse before he had his tail pulled off when he jumped around in the trees.”
“Ho-ho, haw-haw-haw!” howled the Hyena in[58] fiendish glee. “Lost his tail; he-he! Now he has to stay on the ground.”
“And now he is pretending to be a man,” the Lioness sniffed48. “Miserable ape-beast hiding in a man’s skin. Hagh-h! Who would associate with him?”
“Too bad that the Rhinoceros has such untrustworthy friends,” said the Cave Lion in a choking voice. “We like him personally but he chooses bad company.”
These remarks were coldly received. Wulli remained stubbornly on his guard and the terrible nose-horn ever covered his enemies ranged about the mouth of the cave. “You attend to your own affairs. I will manage mine,” was his grim response.
Grun Waugh ground his teeth. He longed to spring upon the Rhinoceros and tear him to shreds49 but hesitated to impale50 himself upon that terrible nose-horn. He bit his lips perplexed51 and wondered what course to pursue. His associates fidgeted uneasily. They were unaccustomed to seeing their leader at a loss before any mere52 grass-eating animal. The fierce King of Beasts felt that his honor and dignity were at stake. He must act promptly53 to clear himself in the eyes of his friends.
Grun Waugh nodded to those behind him and settled down until his chest and stomach touched[59] the ground. He was about to give the signal for attack by dashing upon the Rhinoceros, when a faint thump54, thump, sounded below the terrace. He pricked up his ears and glanced in that direction. The other Cave Beasts too had heard. They faced about and stood motionless, listening intently to the sound of heavy feet plodding55 up the slope. Suddenly a wind-puff wafted56 an odor to their nostrils57, clear and unmistakable to all:
“The Mammoth! The Hairy Elephant! Here he comes.”
“To the ledge58,” whispered the Cave Lion. “Hagh! Take your places quick, before he sees us.”
Without a sound, the four animals glided59 to the edge of the terrace and took positions commanding the Mammoth’s point of approach. Here they crouched60 low and watched the approaching Elephant without themselves being seen.
To Wulli, these queer actions were of no great interest as they did not seem to concern himself. However it might all mean some trickery to coax61 him from his refuge. “When in doubt, play safe,” was his motto for the time being, so he refused to budge62.
His ears suddenly caught the sound of ponderous63 feet laboring64 up the slope. His nostrils swelled65 and sniffed in that direction as he waited with legs[60] stiffly braced66, tail rigid67 for the something about to happen. In a moment the peak of a great shaggy head thrust itself above the ledge followed by an uplifted trunk and long curling tusks68 rising higher with every step.
Like a flash, the sight of the Mammoth brought back to Wulli the memory of his wrongs. Once more the fires of wrath69 burned fiercely within his breast. He took a deep breath, lowered his horn and emerged from the grotto fully prepared and determined70 to give his partner a warm reception. Then his heart gave a great bound as a loud scuffling sounded upon the terrace—a bedlam71 of cries and rushing feet. He saw the Cave Beasts lying in ambush72, rise from their places of concealment and dash upon the Mammoth. He heard the latter’s terrified bellows73, the snarls74 of the Wolf, the Hyena’s laughing howl mingled75 with human cries and the roaring of lions.
Wulli looked down at his fore-feet much disturbed. The Cave Beasts seemed determined to interfere76 in his own personal affair. Hairi must be punished, of course, but this was his quarrel and one not to be entrusted77 to meddling78 strangers. The tumult79 was increasing in violence with every passing moment and still he remained motionless, debating within his mind what was to be done next.
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1
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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grotto
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| n.洞穴 | |
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3
rhino
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| n.犀牛，钱, 现金 | |
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rhinoceros
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| n.犀牛 | |
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mammoth
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| n.长毛象；adj.长毛象似的，巨大的 | |
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6
sprawled
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| v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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8
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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hyena
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| n.土狼，鬣狗 | |
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singed
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| v.浅表烧焦( singe的过去式和过去分词 )；（毛发）燎，烧焦尖端[边儿] | |
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11
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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13
scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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15
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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16
thwarted
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| 阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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sniffing
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| n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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18
twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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21
hilarity
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| n.欢乐；热闹 | |
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22
protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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23
snarling
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的现在分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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24
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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25
snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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26
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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lulled
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| vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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28
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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30
writhed
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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31
chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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32
pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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33
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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34
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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35
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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36
invincible
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| adj.不可征服的，难以制服的 | |
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37
grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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38
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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39
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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40
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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41
instil
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| v.逐渐灌输 | |
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42
squealed
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| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
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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44
winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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46
flea
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| n.跳蚤 | |
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47
flopped
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| v.（指书、戏剧等）彻底失败( flop的过去式和过去分词 )；（因疲惫而）猛然坐下；（笨拙地、不由自主地或松弛地）移动或落下；砸锅 | |
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48
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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49
shreds
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| v.撕碎，切碎( shred的第三人称单数 )；用撕毁机撕毁（文件） | |
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50
impale
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| v.用尖物刺某人、某物 | |
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51
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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52
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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53
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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54
thump
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| v.重击，砰然地响；n.重击，重击声 | |
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55
plodding
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| a.proceeding in a slow or dull way | |
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56
wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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58
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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59
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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60
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
coax
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| v.哄诱，劝诱，用诱哄得到，诱取 | |
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62
budge
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| v.移动一点儿；改变立场 | |
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63
ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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64
laboring
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| n.劳动，操劳v.努力争取(for)( labor的现在分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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65
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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66
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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67
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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68
tusks
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| n.（象等动物的）长牙( tusk的名词复数 )；獠牙；尖形物；尖头 | |
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69
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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70
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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71
bedlam
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| n.混乱，骚乱；疯人院 | |
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72
ambush
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| n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击 | |
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73
bellows
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| n.风箱；发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的名词复数 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的第三人称单数 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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74
snarls
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| n.（动物的）龇牙低吼( snarl的名词复数 )；愤怒叫嚷（声）；咆哮（声）；疼痛叫声v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的第三人称单数 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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75
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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76
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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77
entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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78
meddling
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| v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的现在分词 ) | |
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79
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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