Ask any old Bornean bee-hunter, and he will tell you just such a tale as the above; adding that the ourang-outang, or red gorilla7, which he calls mias, is a match, and more than a match, for any animal it may encounter in forest or jungle; and that the only two creatures which dare attack it are the crocodile and the great ular or python, the latter a serpent of the boa-constructor kind, with one of which our castaways had already formed acquaintance. But the Bornean bee-hunter, usually a Dyak, will also tell you that in these conflicts the red gorilla is the victor, though each of the two great reptile8 antagonists9 that attack it is often thirty feet in length, with a girth almost equalling its own. Only fancy a snake ten yards long, and a lizard10 the same; either of which would reach from end to end of the largest room in which you may be seated, or across the street in which you may be walking! You will seldom find such specimens11 in our museums; for they are not often encountered by our naturalists12 or secured by our travellers. But take my word for it, there are such serpents and such lizards13 in existence, ay, and much larger ones. They may be found not only in the tropical isles14 of the Orient, but in the Western world, in the lagoons15 and forests of Equatorial America. Many of the “sailors’ yarns” of past times, which we have been accustomed so flippantly to discredit16, on account of their appearing rather tough, have under the light of recent scientific exploration been proved true.
And although some of them may seem to be incorporated in this narrative17, under the guise18 of mere19 romance, the reader need not on this account think himself misled, or treat them with sublime20 contempt. If it should ever be his fate or fortune to make a tour through the East Indian Archipelago, he will cease to be incredulous.
Henry Redwood and his sister Helen had no such tranquil21 reflections, as they stood under the shadow of the great tree, concealing22 themselves behind its trunk, and watching the terrible conflict between the two huge creatures, both in their eyes equally hideous23.
Giving way to an instinct of justice, they would have taken sides with the party assailed24 and against the assailant. But, under the circumstances, their leanings were the very reverse; for in the triumphant25 conqueror26 they saw a continuance of their own danger; whereas, had the amphibious animal been victorious27, this would have been at an end. The strife28 now terminated, they stood trembling and uncertain as ever.
The crocodile, although crushed, and no longer dangerous for any offensive manoeuvre29, was not killed. Its body still writhed30 and wriggled31 upon the ground; though its movements were but the agonised efforts of mortal pain, excited convulsively and each moment becoming feebler.
And the red gorilla stood near, squatted32 on its haunches; at intervals33 tossing its long hairy arms around its head, and giving utterance34 to that strange coughing laughter, as if it would never leave off exulting35 over the victory it had achieved. How long was this spectacle to last? It was sufficiently36 horrid37 for the spectators to desire its speedy termination.
And yet they did not; they were in hopes it might continue till a voice coming from the forest, or the tread of a foot, would tell them that help was near.
Tremblingly but attentively38 they listened. They heard neither one nor the other—neither voice nor footstep. Now and then came the note of a bird or the cry of some four-footed creature prowling through the glades39; but not uttered in accents of alarm. The hunters must have wandered far in their search for game. They might not return in time.
Again Henry bethought him of firing the musket40 to give them a signal. But even if heard, it might not have this effect. They knew that he was able to hold and handle the great gun, and might think some bird or animal had come near and tempted41 him to take a shot at it.
On the other hand, the report would strike upon the ears of the mias, might distract it from the triumph in which it was indulging, and bring it to the spot where they were standing42. Then, with an empty gun in his hand, what defence could the youth make, either for himself or for his sister?
To fire the gun would never do. Better leave the trigger unpulled, and trust to Providence43 for protection.
And then, as the brave boy reflected on the many dangers through which they had passed, and how they had always been delivered by some fortunate interposition, he knew it must be the hand of Providence, and was content to rely upon it again.
He said so to his little sister, whispering consolation44, as with one hand he drew her close to him, the other resting upon the musket. And Helen whispered back a pious45 response, as she nestled upon the breast of her brother.
A moment more, and the faith of both was submitted to a severe trial.
The red gorilla, after gloating for a long time over the agonised contortions46 of its disabled enemy, seemed at length satisfied that it was disabled to death, and facing toward the forest, showed signs of an intention to take its departure from the spot.
Now came the crisis for Henry and Helen. Which way would the animal take?
They had not time to exchange question and answer—scarce time even to shape them in their thoughts—when they saw the red satyr turn to the tree behind which they were standing, and come directly toward them.
点击收听单词发音
1 sensational | |
adj.使人感动的,非常好的,轰动的,耸人听闻的 | |
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2 fabulous | |
adj.极好的;极为巨大的;寓言中的,传说中的 | |
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3 yarn | |
n.纱,纱线,纺线;奇闻漫谈,旅行轶事 | |
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4 naturalist | |
n.博物学家(尤指直接观察动植物者) | |
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5 astonishment | |
n.惊奇,惊异 | |
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6 recesses | |
n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 );(工作或业务活动的)中止或暂停期间;学校的课间休息;某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 );将(墙)做成凹形,在(墙)上做壁龛;休息,休会,休庭 | |
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7 gorilla | |
n.大猩猩,暴徒,打手 | |
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8 reptile | |
n.爬行动物;两栖动物 | |
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9 antagonists | |
对立[对抗] 者,对手,敌手( antagonist的名词复数 ); 对抗肌; 对抗药 | |
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10 lizard | |
n.蜥蜴,壁虎 | |
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11 specimens | |
n.样品( specimen的名词复数 );范例;(化验的)抽样;某种类型的人 | |
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12 naturalists | |
n.博物学家( naturalist的名词复数 );(文学艺术的)自然主义者 | |
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13 lizards | |
n.蜥蜴( lizard的名词复数 ) | |
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14 isles | |
岛( isle的名词复数 ) | |
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15 lagoons | |
n.污水池( lagoon的名词复数 );潟湖;(大湖或江河附近的)小而浅的淡水湖;温泉形成的池塘 | |
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16 discredit | |
vt.使不可置信;n.丧失信义;不信,怀疑 | |
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17 narrative | |
n.叙述,故事;adj.叙事的,故事体的 | |
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18 guise | |
n.外表,伪装的姿态 | |
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19 mere | |
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
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20 sublime | |
adj.崇高的,伟大的;极度的,不顾后果的 | |
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21 tranquil | |
adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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22 concealing | |
v.隐藏,隐瞒,遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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23 hideous | |
adj.丑陋的,可憎的,可怕的,恐怖的 | |
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24 assailed | |
v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 );困扰;质问;毅然应对 | |
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25 triumphant | |
adj.胜利的,成功的;狂欢的,喜悦的 | |
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26 conqueror | |
n.征服者,胜利者 | |
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27 victorious | |
adj.胜利的,得胜的 | |
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28 strife | |
n.争吵,冲突,倾轧,竞争 | |
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29 manoeuvre | |
n.策略,调动;v.用策略,调动 | |
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30 writhed | |
(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 wriggled | |
v.扭动,蠕动,蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 );(使身体某一部位)扭动;耍滑不做,逃避(应做的事等) | |
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32 squatted | |
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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33 intervals | |
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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34 utterance | |
n.用言语表达,话语,言语 | |
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35 exulting | |
vi. 欢欣鼓舞,狂喜 | |
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36 sufficiently | |
adv.足够地,充分地 | |
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37 horrid | |
adj.可怕的;令人惊恐的;恐怖的;极讨厌的 | |
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38 attentively | |
adv.聚精会神地;周到地;谛;凝神 | |
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39 glades | |
n.林中空地( glade的名词复数 ) | |
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40 musket | |
n.滑膛枪 | |
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41 tempted | |
v.怂恿(某人)干不正当的事;冒…的险(tempt的过去分词) | |
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42 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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43 providence | |
n.深谋远虑,天道,天意;远见;节约;上帝 | |
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44 consolation | |
n.安慰,慰问 | |
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45 pious | |
adj.虔诚的;道貌岸然的 | |
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46 contortions | |
n.扭歪,弯曲;扭曲,弄歪,歪曲( contortion的名词复数 ) | |
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