Henry and Helen were again left to themselves, but this time they were not to remain seated under any tree—at least, not all the time. The father, before leaving, had enjoined7 upon both of them to take a bath; ablution having become very necessary on account of their having been so long cribbed up in the somewhat dirty pinnace. It would be also of service in promoting their restoration to health and strength. They went into the water, not together, but at some distance apart—Henry choosing to go down to the sea, while Helen entered the stream close by, as it had clear water with a smooth, sandy bed; besides, she thought it was safer, being free from surf or currents.
It was only safer in appearance, as the sequel proved; for the hunters and fisherman had scarce scattered8 off out of hearing, when a cry broke upon the still air of noon that startled the bright-winged birds of the Bornean forest, and stopped their songs as quickly as would have done a shot from Captain Redwood’s rifle. It was heard by the captain himself, strolling among the tree trunks, and looking aloft for game; by Murtagh on the river bank, endeavouring to beguile9 the sly fish to his baited hook; by Saloo, wading10 knee-deep in search of Singapore oysters; and by Henry swimming about upon the buoyant incoming tide. More distinctly than all the rest, the little Helen heard it—since it was she who gave it utterance11.
It was a cry of distress12, and brought all the others together, and running toward the point whence it came. There was no difficulty about their knowing the direction, for one and all recognised Helen’s voice, and knew where she had been left.
In less than sixty seconds’ time they stood together upon the bank of the stream, on the same spot from which they had parted; and there beheld13 a spectacle that thrilled them with fear, and filled them with horror.
The girl, finding it not deep enough by the edge of the stream—at this point nearly a hundred yards in width—had waded midway across, where it came quite up to her neck; and there she stood, her head alone showing above the surface. Beyond her, and coming from the opposite side, showed another head, so hideous14 it was no wonder that, on first perceiving it, she had given way to affright, and voice to her terror.
It was the head of an enormous reptile15, of lizard16 shape, that had crawled out from a reedy covert17 on the opposite side of the river, and having silently let itself down into the water, was now swimming toward the terrified bather. There could be no mistaking the monster’s intent, for it was coming straight toward its victim.
“A gavial!” cried Saloo, as his eyes rested on the body of the huge saurian, full twenty feet in length, with its head over a yard long, and jaws18 nearly the same, the upper one surmounted19 by a long knob-like protuberance, that distinguishes it from all other reptiles20.
“A gavial!” echoed the others, though not inquiringly; for they knew too well both the shape and character of the creature that was crossing the river.
As all four first reached the bank—arriving nearly at the same instant of time—there were about twenty yards between the hideous saurian and her who seemed destined21 to destruction. On first perceiving her danger, the girl had made a few plunges22 to get back to the bank; but, hindered by the depth to which she had unwarily waded, and overcome by terror, she had desisted from the attempt; and now stood neck-deep, giving utterance to cries of despair.
What was to be done? In less than a minute more the jaws of the saurian would close upon her crashing her fair, tender form between its teeth as though she were only some ordinary prey—a fish, or the stem of some succulent water-plant!
Her father stood on the bank a very picture of distress. Of what use the rifle held half-raised in his hands? Its bullet, not bigger than a pea, would strike upon the skull25 of such a huge creature harmlessly, as a drop of hail or rain. Even could he strike it in the eye—surging through the water as it was, a thing so uncertain—that would not hinder it from the intent so near to accomplishment26. The Irishman, with only fish-hooks in his hand, felt equally impotent; and what could the boy Henry do, not only unarmed but undressed—in short, just as he had been bathing—in puris naturalibus!
All three were willing to rush into the water, and getting between the reptile and its victim, confront the fierce creature, even to their own certain sacrifice.
And this, one, or other, or all of them, would have done, had they not been prevented by Saloo. With a loud shout the Malay, hitherto apparently28 impassive, called upon them to hold back. They obeyed, seeing that he intended to act, and had already taken his measures for rescuing the girl. They could not tell what these were, and only guessed at them by what they saw in his hands. It was nothing that could be called a weapon—only a piece of bamboo, pointed at one end, which he had taken from among the embers of last night’s fire and sharpened with his knife, when he went off in search of the Singapore oysters. It was the same stick he had been using to probe for them under the sand. On seeing the gavial as it started toward the girl, he had quickly drawn29 out his knife, and sharpened the other end of the stake while coming across the beach.
With this sorry apology for a weapon, and while they were still wondering, he dashed into the stream; and almost before any of the others had recovered from their first surprise, they saw him plunge23 past the spot where stood the affrighted girl. In another instant his black head, with the long dark hair trailing behind it, appeared in close juxtaposition30 to the opened jaws of the reptile. Then the head was seen suddenly to duck beneath the surface, while at the same time a brown-skinned arm and hand rose above it with a pointed stake in its grasp—like the emblematic31 representation seen upon some ancient crest32. Then was seen an adroit33 turning of the stick, so quick as to be scarce perceptible—immediately followed by a backward spring upon the part of the lizard, with a series of writhings and contortions34, in which both its body and tail took part, till the water around it was lashed35 into foam36.
In the midst of this commotion37, the head of the Malay once more appeared above the surface, close to that of the girl; who, under the guidance of her strangely-skilled and truly courageous38 rescuer, was conducted to the bank, and delivered safe into her father’s arms; stretched open to embrace her.
It was some time, however, before the stream recovered its wonted tranquillity39. For nearly half an hour the struggles of the great saurian continued, its tail lashing40 the water into foam, as through its gagged jaws a stream rushed constantly down its throat, causing suffocation41. But, in spite of its amphibious nature, drowning was inevitable42; and soon after became an accomplished43 fact—the huge reptilian44 carcass drifting down stream, towards the all-absorbing ocean, to become food for sharks, or some other marine45 monster more hideous and ravenous46 than itself.
If, indeed, a more hideous and ravenous monster is to be found! It is sometimes called the Gangetic crocodile, but it is even uglier than either crocodile or alligator47, and differs from both in several important particulars.
As, for instance, in its mouth—its jaws being curiously48 straight, long, and narrow; and in the shape of its head, which has straight perpendicular49 sides, and a quadrilateral upper surface. It has double, or nearly double, the number (Note 1.) of the teeth of the crocodile of the Nile, though the latter is well enough supplied with these potent27 implements50 of destruction!
It is an amphibious animal, and fond of the water, in which its webbed hind24 feet enable it to move with considerable celerity.
The huge reptile which threatened Helen’s safety was twenty feet in length, but the gavial sometimes attains51 the extraordinary dimensions of eight to nine yards.
Sincere was the gratitude52 of Captain Redwood for the address and courage displayed by the Malay in rescuing his daughter, and his regret was great that he had no means of rewarding his faithful follower53.
Note 1. As many as one hundred and twenty.
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1
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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fowl
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| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
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waded
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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4
oyster
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| n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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oysters
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| 牡蛎( oyster的名词复数 ) | |
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7
enjoined
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| v.命令( enjoin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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9
beguile
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| vt.欺骗，消遣 | |
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wading
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的现在分词 ) | |
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11
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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13
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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14
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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reptile
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| n.爬行动物；两栖动物 | |
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lizard
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| n.蜥蜴，壁虎 | |
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covert
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| adj.隐藏的；暗地里的 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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reptiles
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| n.爬行动物，爬虫( reptile的名词复数 ) | |
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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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plunges
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| n.跳进，投入vt.使投入，使插入，使陷入vi.投入，跳进，陷入v.颠簸( plunge的第三人称单数 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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28
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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29
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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juxtaposition
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| n.毗邻，并置，并列 | |
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emblematic
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| adj.象征的，可当标志的；象征性 | |
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32
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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adroit
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| adj.熟练的，灵巧的 | |
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34
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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35
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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36
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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38
courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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39
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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lashing
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| n.鞭打；痛斥；大量；许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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41
suffocation
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| n.窒息 | |
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42
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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43
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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44
reptilian
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| adj.（像）爬行动物的；（像）爬虫的；卑躬屈节的；卑鄙的n.两栖动物；卑劣的人 | |
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45
marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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46
ravenous
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| adj.极饿的，贪婪的 | |
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47
alligator
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| n.短吻鳄(一种鳄鱼) | |
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48
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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49
perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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50
implements
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| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
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51
attains
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的第三人称单数 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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52
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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53
follower
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| n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒 | |
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