What was the best thing to be done in order to escape him? Run off into the forest, and try to find their father and Saloo? They might go the wrong way, and by so doing make things worse. The great ape itself would soon be returning among the trees, and might meet them in the teeth; there would then be no chance of avoiding an encounter.
To go after Murtagh would be an equally doubtful proceeding2; they were ignorant of the direction the ship-carpenter had taken.
Young as they were, a moment’s reflection admonished3 them not to stir from the spot.
But what, then? Cry out, so that the absent ones might hear them? No; for this might also attract the attention of the ourang-outang, and bring it upon them. Besides, Helen had shrieked4 loudly on the first alarm. If any of the hunters had been within hearing, they would have needed no further signal to tell them that some danger threatened her. If not within hearing, it would be worse than idle for either of them to cry out again. They determined5, therefore, to remain silent, and keep to their position, in the hope that either their father, the Malay, or Murtagh, might come to their speedy relief.
But they were prudent6 enough not to expose themselves to any wandering glance of the red gorilla7’s. The moment Henry had joined his sister he had hurried her behind the trunk of the tree, and they were now on the side facing toward the forest. There, by looking through the leaves of some orchideous creepers that wreathed the great stem, they could see the dreaded9 creature without being seen by it. Hand in hand, still trembling, they stood silently and cautiously regarding the gorilla and its movements.
Under other and safer circumstances it would have been a curious and interesting spectacle: this gigantic, human-like ape, stretching forth10 its hairy arms, each full four feet in length—gathering in the heads of the tall water-plants, and munching11 them in great mouthfuls, then letting the stalks go and sweeping12 round to collect a fresh sheaf, at intervals13 wading14 a pace or two to reach some that were more tempting15 to its taste. For several minutes they remained looking at this rare sight, which would have absorbed the attention of the spectators could it have been witnessed in a menagerie.
But they regarded it with fear and awe16. Their eyes and ears were at the same time more occupied in looking and listening for some sign that might veil them of the return of their protectors.
Time passed; none was seen, none heard.
A long time passed, and no sound from the forest; no murmur17 of men’s voices, or cry of scared bird, to proclaim that any one was approaching the spot.
The brute18 was still browsing19, but with less apparent voracity20. He drew the shoots toward him with a gentler sweep of his arms, selecting only the most succulent. His appetite was on the wane21; it was evident he would soon leave off eating and return to his roosting or resting-place. In the forest, of course, though they knew not where. It might be on the tree over their heads, or on one close at hand; or it might be afar off. In any case, they felt that a crisis was approaching.
Both trembled, as they thought how soon they might be face to face with the hideous8 creature—confronting it, or perhaps enfolded in its long hairy arms. And in such an embrace, how would it fare with them? What chance of escape from it? None! They would be crushed, helpless as flies in the grasp of a gigantic spider. If the creature should come that way, and resolve upon assailing22 them, one or other, or both of them, would surely be destroyed.
If only one, Henry had fully23 made up his mind who it should be. The brave boy had determined to sacrifice his own life, if need be, to save his sister. Firmly grasping the great musket24, he said:—
“Sister Nell, if it come this way and offer to attack us, you keep out of the scrape. Leave everything to me. Go a good way off when you see me preparing to fire. I shan’t draw trigger till it is close up to the muzzle25 of the gun. Then there’ll be no fear of missing it. To miss would only make it all the madder. Saloo said so. If the shot shouldn’t kill it right off, don’t mind me. The report may be heard, and bring father or some of the others to our assistance. Dear sis, no matter what happens, keep out of the way, and wait till they come up. Promise me you will do so!”
“Henry! I will not leave you. Dear, dear brother, if you should be killed I would not care to live longer. Henry! I will die with you!”
“Don’t talk that way, sis. I’m not going to be killed; for I fancy that we can run faster than it can. It don’t appear to make much speed—at least along the ground; and I think we might both escape it if we only knew which way it was going to take. At any rate, you do as I say, and leave the rest to me.”
While they were thus discussing the course to be pursued—Henry urging his sister to retreat in the event of his being attacked, and Helen tearfully protesting against leaving him—a movement on the part of the mias claimed all their attention. It was not a movement indicating any design to leave the spot where it had been browsing; but rather a start, as if something caused it a surprise. The start was quickly followed by a gesture, not of alarm, but one that plainly betokened27 anger. Indeed, it spoke28 audibly of this, being accompanied by a fierce growl29, and succeeded by a series of hoarse30 barkings, just like those of a bull-dog or angry mastiff, whose mouth, confined in a muzzle, hinders him from giving full vent26 to his anger. At the same time, instead of rising erect31, as a human being under similar circumstances would have done, the frightful32 ape, that had been already in the most upright position possible to it, dropped down upon all fours, which still, however, from the great length of its arms, enabled it to preserve a semi-erect attitude.
With its huge cheek callosities puffed33 out beyond their natural dimensions—(they far exceed a foot in breadth)—its crested34 hair thrown forward in a stiff coronal ruff; underneath35 a pair of eyes, gleaming like two coals of fire, and, further down, its mouth wide agape, displaying two rows of great glistening36 teeth, it stood—or rather crouched—as if awaiting for the onset37 of some well-known enemy; a dangerous enemy, but yet not so dangerous that it need be avoided. On the contrary, the attitude now assumed by the red gorilla, as also its voice and gestures, told them that it was affected38 by no fear, but breathed only fury and defiance39.
Why should it fear? Was there any living thing in the forests of Borneo—biped, quadruped, or reptile40 possessed41 of sufficient powers to cope with the hairy colossus now before their eyes, which seemed to partake of the characters of all three, and twice the strength of any of them individually? Saloo had said there was none.
But it was not from the forests of Borneo its enemy was to come. Out of its waters was approaching the antagonist42 that had caused it to assume its attitude of angry defiance; and the spectators now saw this antagonist in the shape of an enormous lizard—a crocodile larger than they had ever seen before.
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1
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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2
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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3
admonished
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| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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4
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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5
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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gorilla
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| n.大猩猩，暴徒，打手 | |
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8
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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9
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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10
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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11
munching
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| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的现在分词 ) | |
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12
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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13
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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14
wading
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的现在分词 ) | |
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15
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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16
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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18
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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19
browsing
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| v.吃草( browse的现在分词 )；随意翻阅；（在商店里）随便看看；（在计算机上）浏览信息 | |
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20
voracity
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| n.贪食，贪婪 | |
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wane
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| n.衰微，亏缺，变弱；v.变小，亏缺，呈下弦 | |
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22
assailing
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| v.攻击( assail的现在分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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23
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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musket
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| n.滑膛枪 | |
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muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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betokened
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| v.预示，表示( betoken的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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28
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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29
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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30
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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31
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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32
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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33
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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34
crested
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| adj.有顶饰的，有纹章的，有冠毛的v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的过去式和过去分词 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
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35
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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36
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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37
onset
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| n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始 | |
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38
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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39
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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40
reptile
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| n.爬行动物；两栖动物 | |
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41
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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42
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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