The hunt, we need scarcely say, was abruptly1 terminated, and immediate2 preparations were made for conveying the wounded man and the two orangs to the Dyak village. This was quickly arranged, for the convenient bamboo afforded ready-made poles wherewith to form a litter on which to carry them.
The huge creature which had given them so much trouble, and so nearly cost them one human life, was found to be indeed of the largest size. It was not tall but very broad and large. The exact measurements, taken by the professor, who never travelled without his tape measure, were as follows:—
Height from heel to top of head 4 feet 2 inches.
Outstretched arms across chest 7 feet 8 inches.
Width of face 1 foot 2 inches
Girth of arm 1 foot 3 inches
Girth of wrist 8 inches
The muscular power of such a creature is of course immense, as Nigel and the professor had a rare chance of seeing that very evening—of which, more presently.
On careful examination by Nigel, who possessed3 some knowledge of surgery, it was found that none of Gurulam's bones had been broken, and that although severely4 lacerated about the shoulders and right thigh5, no very serious injury had been done—thanks to the promptitude and vigour6 of the hermit7's spear-thrust. The poor youth, however, was utterly8 helpless for the time being, and had to be carried home.
That afternoon the party reached a village in a remote part of the forest where they resolved to halt for the night, as no other resting-place could be reached before dark.
While a supper of rice and fowl9 was being cooked by Moses, Van der Kemp attended to the wounded man, and Nigel accompanied the professor along the banks of the stream on which the village stood. Having merely gone out for a stroll they carried no weapons except walking-sticks, intending to go only a short distance. Interesting talk, however, on the character and habits of various animals, made them forget time until the diminution10 of daylight warned them to turn. They were about to do so when they observed, seated in an open place near the stream, the largest orang they had yet seen. It was feeding on succulent shoots by the water-side: a fact which surprised the professor, for his inquiries11 and experience had hitherto taught him that orangs never eat such food except when starving. The fat and vigorous condition in which this animal was forbade the idea of starvation. Besides, it had brought a Durian fruit to the banks of the stream and thrown it down, so that either taste or eccentricity13 must have induced it to prefer the shoots. Perhaps its digestion14 was out of order and it required a tonic15.
Anyhow, it continued to devour16 a good many young shoots while our travellers were peeping at it in mute surprise through the bushes. That they had approached so near without being observed was due to the fact that a brawling17 rapid flowed just there, and the mias was on the other side of the stream. By mutual18 consent the men crouched19 to watch its proceedings20. They were not a little concerned, however, when the brute22 seized an overhanging bough23, and, with what we may style sluggish24 agility25, swung itself clumsily but lightly to their side of the stream. It picked up the Durian which lay there and began to devour it. Biting off some of the strong spikes26 with which that charming fruit is covered, it made a small hole in it, and then with its powerful fingers tore off the thick rind and began to enjoy a feast.
Now, with monkeys, no less than with men, there is many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip, for the mias had just begun its meal, or, rather, its dessert, when a crocodile, which the professor had not observed and Nigel had mistaken for a log, suddenly opened its jaws27 and seized the big monkey's leg. The scene that ensued baffles description! Grasping the crocodile with its other three hands by nose, throat, and eyes, the mias almost performed the American operation of gouging—digging its powerful thumbs and fingers into every crevice28 and tearing open its assailant's jaws. The crocodile, taken apparently29 by surprise, went into dire30 convulsions, and making for deep water, plunged31 his foe32 therein over head and ears. Nothing daunted33, the mias regained34 his footing, hauled his victim on to a mudbank, and, jumping on his back began to tear and pommel him. There was nothing of the prize-fighter in the mias. He never clenched35 his fist—never hit straight from the shoulder, but the buffeting36 and slapping which he gave resounded37 all over the place. At last he caught hold of a fold of his opponent's throat, which he began to tear open with fingers and teeth. Wrenching38 himself free with a supreme39 effort the crocodile shot into the stream and disappeared with a sounding splash of its tail, while the mias waded40 lamely41 to the shore with an expression of sulky indignation on its great black face.
Slowly the creature betook itself to the shelter of the forest, and we need scarcely add that the excited observers of the combat made no attempt to hinder its retreat.
It is said that the python is the only other creature that dares to attack the orang-utan, and that when it does so victory usually declares for the man-monkey, which bites and tears it to death.
The people of the village in which the hunters rested that night were evidently not accustomed to white men—perhaps had never seen them before—for they crowded round them while at supper and gazed in silent wonder as if they were watching a group of white-faced baboons42 feeding! They were, however, very hospitable43, and placed before their visitors abundance of their best food without expecting anything in return. Brass44 rings were the great ornament45 in this village—as they are, indeed, among the Dyaks generally. Many of the women had their arms completely covered with them, as well as their legs from the ankle to the knee. Their petticoats were fastened to a coil of rattan46, stained red, round their bodies. They also wore coils of brass wire, girdles of small silver coins, and sometimes broad belts of brass ring-armour.
It was break of dawn next morning when our hunters started, bearing their wounded comrade and the dead orangs with them.
Arrived at the village they found the people in great excitement preparing for defence, as news had been brought to the effect that the pirates had landed at the mouth of the river, joined the disaffected47 band which awaited them, and that an attack might be expected without delay, for they were under command of the celebrated48 Malay pirate Baderoon.
Nigel observed that the countenance49 of his friend Van der Kemp underwent a peculiar50 change on hearing this man's name mentioned. There was a combination of anxiety, which was unnatural51 to him, and of resolution, which was one of his chief characteristics.
"Is Baderoon the enemy whom you saw on the islet on our first night out?" asked Nigel, during a ramble52 with the hermit that evening.
"Yes, and I fear to meet him," replied his friend in a low voice.
Nigel was surprised. The impression made on his mind since their intercourse53 was that Van der Kemp was incapable54 of the sensation of fear.
"Is he so very bitter against you?" asked Nigel.
"Very," was the curt55 reply.
"Have you reason to think he would take your life if he could?"
"I am sure he would. As I told you before, I have thwarted56 his plans more than once. When he hears that it is I who have warned the Orang-Kaya against him he will pursue me to the death—and—and I must not meet him."
"Indeed!" exclaimed Nigel, with renewed surprise.
But the hermit took no note of the exclamation57. Anxiety had given place to a frown, and his eyes were fixed58 on the ground. It seemed to Nigel so evident that he did not wish to pursue the subject, that he slightly changed it.
"I suppose," he said, "that there is no fear of the Dyaks of the village being unable to beat off the pirates now that they have been warned?"
"None whatever. Indeed, this is so well known to Baderoon that I think he will abandon the attempt. But he will not abandon his designs on me. However, we must wait and see how God will order events."
Next morning spies returned to the village with the information that the pirates had taken their departure from the mouth of the river.
"Do you think this is an attempt to deceive us?" asked the chief, turning to Van der Kemp, when he heard the news.
"I think not. And even should it be so, and they should return, you are ready and well able to meet them."
"Yes, ready—and well able to meet them," replied the Orang-Kaya, drawing himself up proudly.
"Did they all go in one direction?" asked Van der Kemp of the youths who had brought the news.
"Yes, all went in a body to the north—except one boat which rowed southward."
"Hm! I thought so. My friends, listen to me. This is no pretence59. They do not mean to attack you now you are on your guard; but that boat which went south contains Baderoon, and I feel certain that he means to hang about here till he gets the chance of killing60 me."
"That is well," returned the chief, calmly. "My young men will hunt till they find where he is. Then they will bring us the information and Van der Kemp will go out with a band and slay61 his enemy."
"No, my friend," said the hermit, firmly; "that shall not be. I must get out of his way, and in order to do so will leave you at once, for there will be no further need for my services here."
The chief looked at his friend in surprise. "Well," he said, "you have a good judgment62, and understand your own affairs. But you have already rendered me good service, and I will help you to fly—though such is not the habit of the Dyaks! There is a trader's vessel63 to start for Sumatra by the first light of day. Will my friend go by that?"
"I am grateful," answered the hermit, "but I need no help—save some provisions, for I have my little canoe, which will suffice."
As this colloquy64 was conducted in the native tongue it was unintelligible65 to Nigel, but after the interview with the chief the hermit explained matters to him, and bade Moses get ready for a start several hours before dawn.
"You see we must do the first part of our trip in the dark, for Baderoon has a keen eye and ear. Then we will land and sleep all day where the sharpest eye will fail to find us—and, luckily, pirates have been denied the power of scenting66 out their foes67. When night comes we will start again and get out of sight of land before the next dawn."
"Mine frond68," said the professor, turning his moon-like goggles69 full on the hermit. "I vill go viz you."
"I should be only too happy to have your company," returned the hermit, "but my canoe cannot by any contrivance be made to hold more than three."
"Zat is no matter to me," rejoined Verkimier; "you forget zee trader's boat. I vill go in zat to Sumatra. Ve vill find out zee port he is going to, ant you vill meet me zere. Vait for me if I have not arrived—or I vill vait for you. I have longed to visit Sumatra, ant vat12 better fronds70 could I go viz zan yourselfs?"
"But, my good friend," returned the hermit, "my movements may not exactly suit yours. Here they are,—you can judge for yourself. First I will, God permitting, cross over to Sumatra in my canoe."
"But it is t'ree hoondert miles across, if not more!"
"No matter—there are plenty of islands on the way. Besides, some passing vessel will give me a lift, no doubt. Then I will coast along to one of the eastern ports, where I know there is a steamboat loading up about this time. The captain is an old friend of mine. He brought me and my companions the greater part of the way here. If I find him I will ask him to carry my canoe on his return voyage through Sunda Straits, and leave it with another friend of mine at Telok Betong on the south coast of Sumatra—not far, as you know, from my home in Krakatoa. Then I will proceed overland to the same place, so that my friend Nigel Roy may see a little of the country."
"Ant vat if you do not find your frond zee captain of zee steamer?"
"Why, then I shall have to adopt some other plan. It is the uncertainty71 of my movements that makes me think you should not depend on them."
"Zat is not'ing to me, Van der Kemp; you joost go as you say. I vill follow ant take my chance. I am use' to ooncertainties ant difficoolties. Zey can not influence me."
After a good deal of consideration this plan was agreed to. The professor spent part of the night in giving directions about the preserving of his specimens72, which he meant to leave at the village in charge of a man whom he had trained to assist him, while Van der Kemp with his companions lay down to snatch a little sleep before setting out on their voyage, or, as the Dyak chief persisted in calling it, their flight!
When Nigel had slept about five minutes—as he thought—he was awakened73 by Moses.
"Don't make a noise, Massa Nadgel! Dere may be spies in de camp for all we knows, so we mus' git off like mice. Canoe's ready an' massa waitin'; we gib you to de last momint."
In a few minutes our hero was sleepily following the negro through the woods to the spot where the canoe was in waiting.
The night was very dark. This was in their favour,—at least as regarded discovery.
"But how shall we ever see to make our way down stream?" asked Nigel of the hermit in a whisper on reaching the place of embarkation74.
"The current will guide us. Besides, I have studied the river with a view to this flight. Be careful in getting in. Now, Moses, are you ready?"
"All right, massa."
"Shove off, then."
There was something so eerie75 in the subdued76 tones, and stealthy motions, and profound darkness, that Nigel could not help feeling as if they were proceeding21 to commit some black and criminal deed!
Floating with the current, with as little noise as possible, and having many a narrow escape of running against points of land and sandbanks, they flew swiftly towards the sea, so that dawn found them among the mud flats and the mangrove77 swamps. Here they found a spot where mangrove roots and bushes formed an impenetrable screen, behind which they spent the day, chiefly in sleep, and in absolute security.
When darkness set in they again put forth78, and cautiously clearing the river's mouth, were soon far out on the open sea, which was fortunately calm at the time, the slight air that blew being in their favour.
"We are safe from pursuit now," said Van der Kemp in a tone of satisfaction, as they paused for a breathing spell.
"O massa!" exclaimed Moses at that moment, in a voice of consternation79; "we's forgotten Spinkie!"
"So we have!" returned the hermit in a voice of regret so profound that Nigel could scarce restrain a laugh in spite of his sympathy.
But Spinkie had not forgotten himself. Observing probably, that these night expeditions were a change in his master's habits, he had kept an unusually watchful80 eye on the canoe, so that when it was put in the water, he had jumped on board unseen in the darkness, and had retired81 to the place where he usually slept under hatches when the canoe travelled at night.
Awakened from refreshing82 sleep at the sound of his name, Spinkie emerged suddenly from the stern-manhole, right under the negro's nose, and with a sleepy "oo, oo!" gazed up into his face.
"Ho! Dare you is, you mis'rible hyperkrite!" exclaimed Moses, kissing the animal in the depth of his satisfaction. "He's here, massa, all right. Now, you go to bed agin, you small bundle ob hair."
The creature retired obediently to its place, and laying its little cheek on one of its small hands, committed itself to repose83.
Van der Kemp was wrong when he said they were safe. A pirate scout84 had seen the canoe depart. Being alone and distant from the rendezvous85 of his commander, some time elapsed before the news could be conveyed to him. When Baderoon was at length informed and had sailed out to sea in pursuit, returning daylight showed him that his intended victim had escaped.
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1
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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thigh
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| n.大腿；股骨 | |
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vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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hermit
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| n.隐士，修道者；隐居 | |
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8
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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9
fowl
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| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
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diminution
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| n.减少；变小 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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12
vat
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| n.(=value added tax)增值税，大桶 | |
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eccentricity
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| n.古怪，反常，怪癖 | |
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digestion
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| n.消化，吸收 | |
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tonic
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| n./adj.滋补品，补药，强身的，健体的 | |
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devour
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| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
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brawling
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| n.争吵，喧嚷 | |
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18
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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19
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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bough
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| n.大树枝，主枝 | |
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sluggish
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| adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的 | |
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agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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spikes
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| n.穗( spike的名词复数 )；跑鞋；（防滑）鞋钉；尖状物v.加烈酒于( spike的第三人称单数 )；偷偷地给某人的饮料加入（更多）酒精（ 或药物）；把尖状物钉入；打乱某人的计划 | |
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27
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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crevice
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| n.(岩石、墙等)裂缝；缺口 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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daunted
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| 使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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buffeting
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| 振动 | |
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resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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wrenching
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| n.修截苗根，苗木铲根（铲根时苗木不起土或部分起土）v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的现在分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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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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lamely
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| 一瘸一拐地，不完全地 | |
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42
baboons
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| n.狒狒( baboon的名词复数 ) | |
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43
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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45
ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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rattan
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| n.藤条，藤杖 | |
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47
disaffected
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| adj.（政治上）不满的，叛离的 | |
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48
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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50
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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51
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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52
ramble
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| v.漫步，漫谈，漫游；n.漫步，闲谈，蔓延 | |
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53
intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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54
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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55
curt
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| adj.简短的，草率的 | |
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56
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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57
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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58
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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59
pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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61
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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62
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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63
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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64
colloquy
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| n.谈话，自由讨论 | |
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65
unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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66
scenting
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| vt.闻到（scent的现在分词形式） | |
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67
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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68
frond
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| n.棕榈类植物的叶子 | |
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goggles
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| n.护目镜 | |
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70
fronds
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| n.蕨类或棕榈类植物的叶子( frond的名词复数 ) | |
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71
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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72
specimens
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| 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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73
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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74
embarkation
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| n. 乘船, 搭机, 开船 | |
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eerie
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| adj.怪诞的；奇异的；可怕的；胆怯的 | |
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subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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mangrove
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| n.(植物)红树，红树林 | |
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78
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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79
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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80
watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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81
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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82
refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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83
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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84
scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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85
rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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